18. First Steps in the Crimson Light

Nine Lives in Neon Lights

## Chapter 18: First Steps in the Crimson Light

The morning sun, usually a welcome beacon, felt alien as it streamed through the ancient windows of Ryouta's estate. Akira woke not to her alarm, but to the subtle, rhythmic pulse of her new tail, a constant, warm presence against her lower back. She peeled back the covers, staring at the magnificent crimson appendage. It looked exactly as it had in the alley — long, sleek, and impossibly real, its fur shimmering with an inner, fiery glow.

"Still here," she murmured, a mix of awe and sheer terror in her voice. She wiggled it tentatively. It twitched in response, a reflexive movement that sent a jolt of power through her. This wasn't a dream. This was her.

She carefully got out of bed, trying to navigate the extra appendage. It was like learning to walk again, but with an unexpected limb. Every movement felt awkward, yet oddly natural, as if her body instinctively knew how to accommodate it.

After a quick shower, where the tail proved surprisingly resilient to water, she found Ryouta in his study, surrounded by towering bookshelves filled with ancient texts. He was calmly sipping what looked like black tea. His eyes, though back to their usual dark shade, still held a faint, residual crimson glint in the low light. His fangs were no longer visible.

"Good morning, Akira-chan," he said, his voice even. "I trust you slept well?"

Akira eyed him, then glanced at her tail, which she'd tried to tuck inside her pajamas. It was a futile effort. "Slept? I think I might have spent half the night arguing with my tail about how inconvenient it is."

Ryouta allowed himself a small, knowing smile. "That is a common first reaction. Control over your form comes with practice. For now, try to relax into it. Your tail is a part of you, an extension of your Kitsune essence."

He gestured to a comfortable armchair opposite his desk. "Sit. We have much to discuss. Your formal education begins today."

---

### The Unseen World

Ryouta began by explaining the supernatural world in broad strokes, carefully easing Akira into concepts that defied everything she'd been taught. He spoke of **supernatural beings**, not as mere monsters from folklore, but as diverse, sentient entities who shared the world with humans, existing in parallel planes of reality. They were everywhere, he explained, often unseen and unheard by the unawakened, living their lives, pursuing their own goals. Some were benign, some mischievous, and some, like the Oni she encountered, were outright malevolent.

"The world you knew, Akira-chan, is merely a thin veil," he explained, gesturing vaguely towards the window overlooking the garden. "Beneath it, a vibrant, complex ecosystem of spirits, demons, and other **supernatural beings** thrives. They coexist, sometimes in harmony, sometimes in conflict. My kind, vampires, and your kind, Kitsune, are just two of many."

He delved into the nature of Kitsune, explaining their connection to spiritual energy, their innate shapeshifting abilities, and their capacity for immense power, which grew with age and the manifestation of more tails. "The crimson color of your tail, Akira, signifies a direct lineage to one of the **Ancient Fox Spirits**, a rare and powerful bloodline. It means your potential is vast, but also that you will attract significant attention from those who seek to exploit such power."

He then introduced her to the concept of **spiritual energy**, or **ki (気)**, which permeated everything. "It is the life force of the world, the essence that nourishes both humans and **supernatural beings**. You, as a Kitsune, can sense it, absorb it, and eventually manipulate it. The Oni you met last night feed on it, which is why they were drawn to your raw, untamed essence."

He explained that his guidance was not just about survival, but about ethical responsibility. "With great power comes great scrutiny, Akira-chan. Many **supernatural beings** live by ancient laws and codes, unseen by humans. You will need to understand them to navigate this world safely."

Akira listened, her mind racing to keep up. It was like trying to fit an ocean into a teacup. Every word he spoke, as fantastical as it sounded, resonated with the inexplicable reality of her new tail and the terrifying encounter from the previous night.

"So, all this time," she began, gesturing around the study, "all the folklore books, the meditation, the 'sensory exercises'—it was all training for this?"

Ryouta inclined his head. "I could sense your awakening was imminent. And in this modern era, without proper guidance, a Hengeyokai's emergence can be chaotic, even deadly. My goal was to prepare you, to help you understand what was happening before it overwhelmed you."

"And you just… transferred to my school, became my study partner, all to watch over me?"

"A necessary precaution," he admitted. "A new Kitsune, particularly one of your lineage, is a rare and valuable discovery. It was imperative to ensure your safety and guide your path." He paused, his crimson-tinged eyes meeting hers. "Some Kitsune, without proper guidance, can lose themselves to their primal nature, becoming feral or destructive. Others can be corrupted by malicious **supernatural beings**."

Akira shivered. The idea of losing control, of becoming something monstrous, was chilling. "And what about you? What exactly *is* a vampire in this 'real' world?"

Ryouta smiled faintly. "My kind are ancient, yes. We sustain ourselves on life force, typically blood. But unlike the common myths, we are not mindless monsters. We form communities, we uphold our own codes, and many of us strive for balance, for coexistence. I, personally, have lived for centuries, dedicated to preserving the delicate balance between worlds." He didn't offer any more specifics about his own powers or history, keeping his past a carefully guarded secret.

---

### Controlling the Crimson Flame

The next few hours were a dizzying blur of practical exercises. Ryouta didn't ask her to shapeshift immediately; instead, he focused on rudimentary control.

"Your tail is your starting point," he instructed. "It is the most direct physical manifestation of your Kitsune essence. Concentrate. Visualize it becoming invisible. Not merely hiding it, but making it **unseen** to human perception."

Akira closed her eyes, picturing her crimson tail. She focused on the warmth, the subtle energy that flowed through it. She imagined it fading, blurring at the edges, becoming transparent. She concentrated, trying to push the image into reality.

"Now, open your eyes."

She opened them. Her tail was still there, vibrant and crimson.

"It will take time," Ryouta said, without a hint of disappointment. "This is not a parlor trick. It is a fundamental alteration of reality, a manipulation of your spiritual energy. Try again. Feel the energy, mold it with your will."

They repeated the exercise, over and over. Akira would concentrate until her head ached, focusing on making the tail vanish. Slowly, incrementally, she noticed subtle shifts. Sometimes, the vibrant crimson would appear to dim slightly, or the edges would blur. It was frustrating, but the tiny glimmers of progress kept her going. The more she focused, the more she felt the deep, resonant connection to her tail, as if it were a part of her soul, not just her body.

"Good," Ryouta finally said, after what felt like hours. "You're beginning to touch the essence. We will work on this daily. For now, you can learn to conceal it under clothing, but true invisibility is the goal."

Next, he had her try to manipulate small objects with her spiritual energy. He placed a single, smooth river stone on the desk.

"Feel its ki," he instructed. "Then, with your will, try to move it."

Akira stretched out her hand, focusing. She felt the faint, earthy hum of the stone, its ancient presence. She concentrated, trying to push, to nudge. Nothing happened. The stone remained stubbornly still.

"It's like trying to move it with my mind," she mumbled, frustrated.

"It is," Ryouta confirmed. "But it is not your human mind. It is your **Kitsune mind**, intertwined with your spiritual core. It requires immense focus and refinement. We will start small. You will begin by sensing the ki in all things around you, discerning its flow, its strength. Once you can perceive it clearly, manipulating it will come."

He spent the rest of the day guiding her through basic ki sensing exercises. He had her close her eyes and focus on the subtle energy currents in the air, the faint glow of ki around living plants, the deeper, slower pulse of energy within stone and wood. It was like tuning into a radio frequency she'd never known existed. Bits and pieces of the world that had been overwhelming her previously now appeared as distinct, discernible currents. She could feel the subtle, vibrant energy radiating from Ryouta himself – a vast, ancient power that hummed just beneath his calm exterior.

By late afternoon, Akira was exhausted, but a strange sense of exhilaration hummed beneath her fatigue. She had a tail. Her study partner was a vampire. The world was full of invisible demons and ancient powers. And she was learning to navigate it. The terror hadn't vanished, but it was now laced with a burgeoning sense of purpose.

"I need to text my mom," she said, pulling out her phone. "And I probably should tell Hiroshi I'm okay."

Ryouta nodded. "Maintain your human facade, Akira-chan. For now, it is your greatest defense."

Akira sent a quick text to her mother, saying she was settled in for a long night of "chemistry project" work. Then she hesitated over Hiroshi's contact. What could she say? *Hey, survived a demon attack, grew a tail, found out my study partner is a vampire. You were right about him being mysterious, just not in the way you thought!*

She decided on something simple. "Hey, just letting you know I'm fine. Staying at Ryouta's to finish that project."

She hit send, then looked at Ryouta. "So, this is my life now, isn't it? Supernatural history lessons and trying to make my tail disappear."

"This is the beginning, Akira-chan," Ryouta said, a rare, almost gentle smile touching his lips. "And you are not alone."