Chapter Text
Giyuu's POV
Another offering is set down in front of the altar. Another human who bows their head in reverence. They come. They make their offerings. They pray. They leave. This has been Giyuu's life for as long as he can remember.
None ever find the temerity to raise their heads and meet his gaze, let alone speak to him. He's heard the whispers of their minds, sensed the feelings they hide in their hearts. They think it taboo, impudent even, for lowly humans as themselves to presume they can even look upon such divinity. He wishes even one of them would be brazen enough. Maybe then he could find himself a companion. Maybe then he could step down from his perch among the clouds and no longer be untouchable.
Alas, even the bravest, burliest and most intimidating of men cower and shrink themselves at his delicate feet. None step out of line. None speak unless spoken to. None dare approach.
His temple is not the largest by any means, there are high arches and columned entryways leading into an open atrium, a staircase along one wall the leads up to his quarters and in the center stands a raised altar with three levels where those who come to ask for guidance and protection place their offerings.
Giyuu's own station is a ten foot high plinth, wide enough for him to lounge comfortably among his many pillows, set against the back wall of the atrium.
It is where he sits now, one bare leg hanging off the ledge as he lounges with his head resting in his palm, watching the humans come and go. None step out of line. None speak apart from their reverently whispered prayers. None dare approach.
They bring him sweet smelling incense and candles, tasty fruits and crops from their harvests and delicious wine which he enjoys very much. The passing merchants bring beautiful and soft pillows, plush blankets and gorgeous robes which he tucks away in his chambers upstairs.
Still none approach. He wishes one would.
Even the priests who show the passing merchants the way to his temple fear him. They bow low, hands and heads pressed to the cold marble while they ask for safe passage, or a good harvest or fertility or any number of other things humans worry about, then with their eyes downcast, they turn and leave.
Giyuu hops down from his plinth after the last of the humans disappear beyond the tree line, the pads of his paws silent against the marble. He turns in a slow circle, robes flowing out around him as he sends a small gust of wind to blow out the candles burning closer to the walls.
He glides over to the raised altar, excited to peruse his small selection of offerings. He pulls out the enchanted pouch he uses to store all the food he receives, sitting cross legged on the floor as he picks off the fruits, vegetables, bread, cheese and bottle of water and wine, depositing them all into the bag with a gleeful smile.
Giyuu loves food, even if he doesn't need to eat it, he quite enjoys the sweet wines and juicy fruits the humans leave for him. His eyes catch on a parcel wrapped in parchment paper and tied with a bit of twine, nose twitching as he tries to make out what it might be.
It has a rich, creamy scent to it that he doesn't recognize. It doesn't smell like soap- much too sweet for that- though he's been tricked by the scents before and bitten into a bar of the stuff. He shivers as he relives the unpleasant memory.
Today though, as he unwraps the little parcel he's almost certain it's not soap. It's a long brown rectangular bar, about the size of his palm, hard to the touch but sweet smelling and tempting to his sensitive nose.
He hazards a small bite at one of the corners and is pleasantly surprised to find that it is indeed, some sort of confectionery. Its taste is rich, sweet and smoky with a hint of bitterness that has Giyuu immediately taking another bite. His whole body relaxes and his tails swish back and forth as he absorbs the delicious flavor. He indulges in one more bite of the delightful treat before rewrapping it carefully and putting it away.
The rest of the offerings are blankets and gilded robes he gathers into his arms before heading up the stairs to his sleeping quarters. He leaves the candles and incense behind to burn the next time he has visitors.
Once he reaches his chambers, he adds the blankets to his nest, placing the new robes inside his dresser to try on another time. There's not much else to do around his little temple so he transforms into his animal form, a scruffy little black fox with a bushy tail and ventures out to a nearby meadow where he often plays with the other animals. It's a good way for him to get some much needed exercise while also practicing his transformation magic.
He returns to his temple at nightfall, turning back to his normal state to draw himself a bath, then he indulges in some of the fresh fruits from today's offerings before falling into his nest for the night.
Sanemi’s POV
When Sanemi had set out on this leg of his never-ending journey, he never imagined the road would be so treacherous. He seems to be plagued with bad luck and nothing he does seems to improve his perilous misfortune.
First, he'd somehow managed to lose his hatchet and getting the money to buy a new one had cost him a day's labor. Then the stray dog who'd been keeping him company for the last three months disappeared without a trace, that hurt Sanemi quite a bit because he'd grown to love that dog.
Right now, he's deep in the forest, nowhere near any towns or settlements he can seek shelter for the night, with storm clouds rolling in overhead. Thunder rumbles overhead every few minutes and he knows it's only a matter of time before the downpour begins.
He quickens his pace, trudging through the sloping terrain of this unfamiliar stretch of forest, releasing a frustrated groan as he feels the patter of the first few drops against his face. He'd hoped to make it to a safe place before the rain started but that clearly isn't going to happen now. The density of the trees keeps some water off but he's still drenched within minutes.
Sanemi mutters angrily, exasperated by his terrible luck and just when he thinks things can't possibly get worse, a nearby tree is struck by lightning and falls on him. A broken branch gouging through the muscles of his left arm, leaving it limp and bleeding.
He lets out a foul curse at the sharp pain, having to slow his gait and try to stem the flow of the bleeding, lest he fall unconscious or worse. Relief washes over him when he spots a clearing up ahead, a relieved laugh bubbly up in his chest at the possibility of finding shelter from the downpour and a place to tend his wounds.
When he breaks through the tree line, he realizes he's found a small temple and sighs in relief at the possibility he might be alone. Stumbling into a large open space decorated with sweet smelling candles and incense burners of every kind, he drops his baggage and lays down on the floor to catch his breath.
The temple is clean and a few of the candles are lit so Sanemi assumes humans do visit it but he can't see or hear anyone so he figures he's alone. He lays with his eyes closed, breathing deeply, simply taking a moment to gather himself.
He doesn't notice the silent master of the temple sitting atop his pedestal, watching him with curious eyes. That is, until he finally rises in search of a place to clean his wounds. He catches a movement from the corner of his eye, his head snapping around to find that he's being watched.
‘A fox spirit.’
The creature sits quietly, so incredibly still that Sanemi could almost convince himself it was a statue if it weren't for the mass of swaying tails behind it. He can't help but think how beautiful it is. He's never come across one before in his travels and he starts to wonder what they are like.
He slowly steps closer to the pedestal on which it sits, hoping not to startle the creature.
“Hello. Would you happen to have a place where I could wash myself and clean my wounds?”
The creature audibly gasps, a surprised look on its face as their eyes meet. With slow, graceful movement, it jumps down from its high perch and pads silently towards him.
The closer it gets the more startled Sanemi is by its beauty. Its skin pale and flawless with streaks of blue markings on its cheeks, forehead and down its arms. Eyes as blue as the ocean take him in as the creature circles him.
“Let me see.” Sanemi hadn't had any expectations when it came to this creature but he's still surprised by how soft and deep its voice is. ‘So a male then.’
He removes the hand he'd kept wrapped around his bleeding bicep, blood dripping down his arm to stain the pristine marble floors.
“Would you like me to heal you?”
“I have no offerings to give.” Sanemi responds, trying to assess the damage to his arm. “It'll heal on its own, I just need to clean it.”
“You've given quite enough. Let me heal you.”
Sanemi has no idea what that means but he's heard these creatures can be tricky so he doesn't want to take any chances. “I'll be just fine. I heal fast.”
The creature tips his head to the side, observing him with an unreadable look before relenting, “Very well then. Follow me.”
Sanemi does as he's told and allows this beautiful man to guide him through the temple. He takes him to a door he hadn't noticed before that opens into a small bathroom and Sanemi smiles gratefully.
“I will bring you your things and a cloth to bandage yourself with. I apologize that I have no ointments for you to use as I have no need for them.”
“No need to apologize, your kindness is appreciated, I will make due.”
The creature bows his head and moves to walk away but Sanemi stops him, “May I ask your name? My name is Sanemi.”
“Names hold such power yet you willingly give me yours,” The creature smiles for the first time, showing off rows of pretty, sharp teeth. “Brave. My name is Giyuu.” With that, he walks away.
Sanemi watches him go, his graceful, silent movements bellies his divinity and Sanemi finds himself enamored with this beautiful man.
He starts to think maybe his luck isn't so bad after all.