The Earl and the Demon Fox

He was a young man with black hair, so beautiful that words failed to describe him.

His face was so exquisitely refined that one could hardly discern his true gender. His figure was tall and slender, with absolutely perfect proportions; his hair was glossy and smooth as silk; and most strikingly—his eyes: one a soul-stealing violet, the other a captivating gold.

He wore a magnificent, long robe in the traditional style, white with pale blue brocade patterns. His brows and eyes carried a gentle smile, and he stood there quietly, the very image of an ancient beauty come to life.

In that moment, everyone—including Kurama—was rendered speechless, not for any reason other than the breathtaking brilliance emanating from the young man.

Yet, it was a pity: this spell lasted only a few seconds before the person responsible for it shattered the illusion himself—

“Ahh—Mokona?!”

Just a second ago, he had stood there with an enigmatic, elegant smile, as if a deity on high, inspiring awe and reverence. Now, in the next instant, all that aloof nobility (or was it?) vanished, replaced by an aura so intensely pink it was almost palpable.

Like a child spotting a beloved toy, he darted toward Kurama’s direction, only to halt abruptly just before collision, and scoop into his arms a swiftly leaping white puffball!

“Mokona? Is it really Mokona?! It’s been so long, and you’re still just as adorable!” he exclaimed, rubbing his cheek fervently against the soft, round creature in his arms. His face radiated such bliss that anyone unaware might have thought he’d just acquired some rare, priceless treasure.

The white puffball, having leaped into his embrace and now being thoroughly cuddled by the beautiful youth, squinted with delight and replied in a soft, sweet voice:

“Count D! It’s been so long! Mokona is so happy to meet you here!”

……

Wait a minute.

Kurama, finally regaining his senses, looked at the surreal tableau of beautiful youth and white puffball, his temple throbbing in disbelief.

—Count?

Could it really be as he suspected?

＊＊＊

If, at first, Kurama had harbored a faint hope that his guess was mistaken, those illusions vanished the moment he was ushered into the shop by the black-haired youth Mokona called “Count.”

Richly decorated in Chinese style, the place was filled with idly lounging animals and wondrous, oddly-shaped creatures—some resembling sheep, some dogs, some tigers.

—This was none other than the renowned Count D’s pet shop.

Kurama turned his head, still unable to fathom how he’d run into Count D in the world of Home Tutor.

Could it be that the “plot” elements composing this world were not of a single origin?

For now, that was all Kurama could surmise.

He had been invited into the shop alongside Tsuna and the others. Yet, after only a short while in the reception room, Lambo, I-Pin, and Fuuta were led off to see the “pets” by a stunningly beautiful woman who seemed to adore children.

Tsuna, worried for them, insisted on accompanying the group. As the boss, his Guardians—Gokudera and Yamamoto—naturally followed.

Reborn gave Kurama a meaningful glance, said nothing, and joined the others. Thus, only Kurama, Mokona, and Count D remained in the reception room.

Across the table, the pair—reunited after a long separation—sat blissfully enjoying their desserts. Seeing this, Kurama began to understand the easy friendship they displayed. Aside from Mokona’s own extraordinary nature, which naturally captivated Count D, they were also united by their mutual love of sweets—a camaraderie born of shared indulgence.

Their movements and expressions were nearly identical—such is the magic of those obsessed with confections.

Kurama silently raised his teacup and took a small sip, sighing inwardly. Yet, before he could finish the thought, he was startled by the black-haired beauty, who, in a move almost like teleportation, slid from the opposite seat to right beside him.

“Mr. Kurama?” the Count smiled sweetly, his tone unbelievably gentle. “I heard your name from Mokona.”

Kurama was a little surprised by the Count’s warmth, but after a brief pause, he nodded graciously. “Yes, that’s me. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Count.”

“Oh, don’t call me Count. That’s merely a title inherited from my grandfather.” The Count waved it off, gazing at Kurama with an intense and eager look.

Kurama blinked, beginning to understand why the Count was so unusually enthusiastic toward him.

“To manage such a wondrous pet shop, Count, you are truly remarkable.” Kurama’s lips curled into a gentle, harmless smile. “So what does it matter whether you possess a title or not? It doesn’t stop people from sincerely calling you so.”

Count D’s face lit up with delight.

“To receive such praise from you, Mr. Kurama, is an honor beyond compare—believe me, you are the first kitsune I’ve ever met. Until this miraculous encounter, I never could have imagined what a fox spirit was truly like.”

“So beautiful, so graceful—just having these emerald eyes of yours turn upon me fills me with happiness! Not to mention hearing your compliments from those enchanting lips…”

Just as he thought.

With the Count’s words, Kurama’s earlier suspicions were confirmed, and he could only smile ruefully.

He did not ask how the Count had seen through his true nature.

“You are too modest, Count. As I understand it, your shop houses a being who, though not exactly the same as I, is quite similar, does it not?”

“…Oh?” The Count blinked in puzzlement, then realization dawned. “You mean… Ten?”

Kurama nodded. “Indeed. Though we’re of different species, our fox forms should not differ much.”

Kurama’s complete beast form was that of a giant silver nine-tailed fox—very similar to Ten.

Having lived so long in this world as a kitsune, Kurama had grown accustomed to his identity, and was genuinely curious to meet a potential “kindred spirit.”

But Count D looked crestfallen.

“Ten just told me yesterday that he’d be away for a while. I don’t know when he’ll return. How unfortunate…”

Such a coincidence, and such a pity.

Kurama was momentarily taken aback, but soon smiled with acceptance.

“Perhaps… it’s for the best. I imagine you’ve heard from Mokona, Count—my price for traveling with him is my powers as a kitsune.”

In other words, at present, Kurama couldn’t even transform into his silver-haired fox form, let alone his full beast form. Even if Ten were here, the Count’s dream of seeing “two different kinds of nine-tailed foxes, so alike in form, meet under one roof” could not be realized.

Reminded of this, the black-haired Count pouted like a child denied his candy.

But he soon perked up, peppering Kurama with a string of questions—about the habits and preferences of kitsune, for instance—that left Kurama torn between amusement and exasperation.

Being treated as an “animal” was somewhat unsettling for Kurama, but he understood that Count D meant no disrespect; on the contrary, it was a sign of the Count’s high regard and esteem for him. So Kurama answered as sincerely and thoroughly as he could.

By the end, the conversation left both host and guest thoroughly content.

“No wonder Yuuko mentioned that she might be needing my help soon,” Count D mused contentedly, swallowing a mouthful of tea. “It seems… she was referring to you, Kurama.”

After their deep conversation, the two had forged a genuine friendship, and the formalities of address were no longer needed.

Kurama’s expression shifted at the Count’s words—he’d suspected as much when the Count and Mokona first reunited, but now he was certain: Count D, too, must possess some ability to travel between worlds. Otherwise, it was hard to explain his evident familiarity with Yuuko.

Though Yuuko was famously known as a dimensional witch, and many people in different worlds had heard of her, mere hearsay and true acquaintance were worlds apart. Kurama was far from naïve enough to confuse the two.

Still, this knowledge was of little practical use to Kurama. Their friendship was new; he had no standing to ask the Count for any favors.

He’d thought that to meet and befriend such a remarkable person was already a rare fortune. Yet, when Tsuna and the others returned and the group prepared to depart, the Count gave Kurama one final surprise.

“What’s this…?”

Kurama looked at the beautiful gemstone in his palm, obviously extraordinary, and then at Count D in confusion.

The Count had just presented it as a parting gift: a large jewel, and a matching chain adorned with over twenty smaller stones of the same kind.

“As I said, this is a farewell gift, and… a little token of my affection,” the Count said, leaning down to take a lock of Kurama’s red hair and pressing a gentle kiss to it.

“I look forward to seeing you again, Kurama—of course, in another form, one that will no doubt enchant me even more.”

Kurama froze for a moment, immediately understanding the Count’s meaning.

The fox spirit fell silent for a second, then, out of nowhere, revealed a rare, devilishly charming smile.

“As you wish, my Count,” he murmured, and with the Count so near, pressed a gentle kiss onto the gemstone in his palm.

Was this… the sealing of a pact?

A shadowy gleam flickered in the Count’s mismatched eyes.

“Then I shall look forward to it—seeing your most captivating self, sooner rather than later… Kitsune, Kurama.”

Author’s Note: Everyone guessed right about the Count (~￣▽￣)~ Probably because his traits and aura are just too obvious? Such a beauty… covering my face.

But make no mistake—the Count is not a simple man, and just how complicated he is, we’ll see in the future =w=. Honestly, I really want to see the Count with long hair! Black and straight is the best! [throws mud]

As for that final showdown of charm between Kurama and the Count… Ahahaha, as a pure and innocent soul, I have no idea what was going on there! [turns away]

Next up: an illustration of the beautiful Count D—

I think I already commented on this in Kaitou, but Matsuri Akino’s color illustrations… The black-and-white manga art is so beautiful! Why does coloring make it feel so off… orz. Still, it doesn’t affect the Count’s beauty! Count, you’re gorgeous! Count, I love you! Count, marry me! [Honestly, proposing to every beauty you meet, that’s enough! ==+]

…→_→ And finally, the usual preview for the next chapter: Communication and Retrieval. How will meeting the Count affect Kurama’s next plans? Will he still choose to leave as scheduled? The Death Perception Ball finally arrives, and Kurama is about to have his first communication with Yuuko! How much power can he recover, and will it be enough to support his next adventure? Please look forward to the next chapter of “The Fox Spirit Kurama”: Communication and Retrieval!

Last but not least, please add this story to your favorites—my friend teased me, “If you don’t ask, of course no one will!” qaq

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