Stepping into a small inn a few Li from of Kyuden Kitsune, Sunset checked her katana and bow at the door, adjusted the brim of her straw hat and made her way to one of the small tables. The smells of meat and fish cooking over fire entered her nostrils, as did the smells of dumplings baking, noodles and soup boiling, and vegetables roasting. Lowering herself onto the floor, she sat on a mat in front of the table. In the corner a musician sawed a bow across a kokyu.

A waitress, wearing an elaborate kimono, her hair in a tight bun, walked up to Sunset and bowed. "So happy to have you here today. What can I get you."

"A bowl of noodles, a plate of roasted vegetables, some dumplings and sake, please."

The waitress bowed and left the table. A few minutes later she returned with a small decanter of sake and a small ceramic cup. Sunset poured some of the sake into the cup. Taking a sip, she mentally noted that this wasn't the usual rot-gut she had grown accustomed to. Her thoughts wandered onto her strange encounter on the road several weeks prior. That being was definitely dark and dangerous, obviously very skilled. The memory of the encounter disturbed her. This being was clearly a spirit of some sort. She had encountered many spiritual beings in her time living in the Emerald Empire, most called her a child of Celestia, a few had called her a daughter of Equestria. That's not what disturbed her, spirits knew she wasn't originally from this world and that she wasn't human. This spirit was strong, stronger than any she had ever encountered before, it also seemed to almost look right through her. There had only ever been two beings that she had encountered before that could do that, the first was Princess Celestia, which was no surprise as she was a millennia old alicorn and had magic powerful enough to move the very heavens. The second was that solar being, which the Rokugani called Amaretsu, which she had a face-to-face encounter shortly before entering into this world. This being was studying her, commenting on her techniques, asking questions, almost like it was toying with her. Then there was its parting words, 'Miku is yours to hunt, all of her students are yours to claim. But she is mine to take! I warn you now, little pony, if you claim her, you will find that my anger is something to behold and we won't be having a fun sparing session.'

That was definitely a threat against her if she slew Miku. But what did he mean that Miku was his? He said though many have called him a demon, he was not one. So what was he? He could be a demon in disguise, but he offered no deals, no promises that sounded sweet to the ears but carried venom.

Sunset was snapped out of her thoughts as the waitress placed the food on the table in front of her. Pulling a pair of chopsticks from inside of her travelling pack, she picked up some of the noodles and slurped them down. The almost musical yipping of a fox drew her attention. Looking over, there was a red-furred canine perched on the windowsill staring at her.

"Shoo! Shoo! Go away!"

Sunset darted her eyes over to the old woman shouting and waving at the fox. The fox didn't move from its spot, simply darted a quick glance at the old woman then turned its attention back to Sunset. Sunset dipped her head at the fox, who in turn returned the gesture and then jumped down from the windowsill and out of view.

"Oh brother!" Sunset blew out a sigh as she rolled her eyes under the brim of her straw hat. "Will this be the same spirit as outside my house or a different one?" She mulled over the question as she finished her food.

Leaving a small stack of koku on the table, Sunset gathered her things and stood up from the table. She reclaimed her sword and bow from where she had checked it.

A fox darted in and out of the brush, following Sunset as she walked down the road. "So, are you the one of the ones who came to my house?" The fox let out a series of yips, yelps and high pitched growls. "Fine, keep your secrets. Not like I speak fox anyways."

The fox ran alongside Sunset for several Li then darted down a small path that led into a wooded thicket. She stood there looking down the path for a moment, then decided to continue walking down the road to her destination. The fox darted back to her side and started yipping. Sunset looked over at the fox without breaking her stride and said, "Look, just say what you gotta say. I don't have all day to play guessing games with disguised spirits." The fox let out a growl. "I don't care if that makes you mad, I've got a blood witch that is long overdue with a meeting with the edge of my sword and probably a demon after that. So if you won't come out and say it, just go back to your foxy brothers and si--HEY!"

The fox quickly scurried up a tree, leapt off, grabbed Sunset's hat off her head and started running away down the road.

Sunset took off after the fox. "WHY YOU LITTLE-- Get back here or I'll chop off your tail and make it into a fob for my hat!"

Sunset ran as fast as her legs could carry her, but the fox carrying her straw hat was just a little bit faster. She poured on just the extra bit of speed and closed the distance. Closing in on the fox, she reached for the hat, just as her fingers near its brim, her foot caught a root sticking out of the ground and tripped.

Sunset tumbled on the ground for a few feet. Coming to a stop, she gripped at a bruise on her shin. "*sucks through teeth* Ah! *sucks through teeth* Ah! *sucks through teeth* Ah!"

*snap*

Sunset's ears twitched at the sound of a twig breaking. Springing to her feet, she quickly turned and got into a combat stance, gripping the hilt of her sword in preparation for delivering a single lethal strike.

There stood a young boy, carrying a bundle of wood on his back and staring at her wide-eyed.

Sunset quickly relaxed her stance and averted her gaze, covering the side of her face with a hand. "I apologize. It was not my intention to scare you. You surprised me."

"I'm not scared of you, gaijin. My brother asked me to distract you."

"Wha?"

*fwip* *pock*

An arrow zipped past Sunset's face, missing her by a barest fraction of an inch and embedding its point in the ground. She moved her hand to her katana.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. My brother doesn't miss twice."

"We'll see about that." Sunset panned her gaze around, looking for any vantage points for an archer to fire from. There's only one option to resolve this quickly. Sunset quickly moved her hand to her katana.

*fwip* *crack*

Sunset quickly drew her sword and cut the arrow out of the air. "Maybe if your brother was smarter, he would've put that first one through my heart. Sloppy-sloppy~." Returning her sword to its sheath, she reached for her bow. "Let's make this interesting, shall we?"

"Silly gaijin, you have now arrows."

"I'll have all the arrows I need in a moment."

*fwip*

An arrow sailed through the air as Sunset. She quickly raised a hand, stopping it a few feet from her head in a field of teal light. With a gesture of her finger, she drew the arrow closer, plucked it out of the air and nocked it onto her bowstring.

As Sunset drew back the bowstring, she recalled one of the many lessons Yobanjin taught her. Draw the bowstring back until your hand reaches your ear. Take your time, line up your target, keep your breaths slow and even. Once you find your target and are ready to loose, slowly take in a breath, hold it, count to three in your mind. Once you reach three, open your palm in a steady but quick manner. If you do it correctly, you will hit your target exactly where you aimed.

Sunset never had much use for bows. She preferred to use her katana and magic when dealing with an enemy. That being said, she was no slouch when it came to a bow.

Sunset quickly locked her eyes on a young bushi perched on a small wooden platform up in a tree. One. Two. Three. *twang*

The young bushi who had loosed three arrows at Sunset, name Kitsune Hidehito, was getting ready to nock another arrow when suddenly...*fwip* *snap* *pock* The gaijin woman fired an arrow that cut his bowstring and sliced his cheek. "Ah!" He recoiled away from the wound and brought a hand up to his cheek.

Sunset quickly pulled the first arrow loosed at her from the ground, nocked and loosed it.

*fwip* *pock* "Gah!" Kitsune Hidehito stared in surprised shock at the arrow that slipped just under a gap in his armor, pierced the sleeve, narrowly missing his arm and pinning it to the tree.

Sunset gave a satisfied smirk at her shots, returned the bow to her back and looked over at the boy. "Tell your brother next time don't give a warning shot.

"You can tell him yourself.", a masculine voice said from behind her.

Snatching her katana from its sheath, Sunset spun in place to deliver a lethal strike. Her strike was stopped by the bracer of a bushi wearing red-brown armor with silver accents. He wore a helmet the same color as his armor, adorned with a broad silver crest in the shape of oak branches. He wore a mask that covered the lower half of his face in the likeness of a fierce grimace. He had two other bushi with him, armed with tsunkinari-yari1, that were now pointed at her neck.

The bushi whom had blocked Sunset's katana with his bracer dark eyes burned under the brim of his helmet like cold fire as he stared into Sunset's eyes, which burned like teal coals in a furnace. He looked to the katana which he had just barely gotten his armored forearm in the way of, then back to Sunset's eyes. He gently nudged Sunset's katana away with his arm as he gestured with his other hand in a silent order to his accompanying bushi to stand down. "Peace be upon you, She With the Red and Gold Hair." He reached up and removed his mask, revealing the grizzled and scarred face of a middle aged man who has seen his fair share of battles. He gave a bow. "I am Kitsune Toyama. Allow me to apologize for the actions of my two cousins."

Sunset returned her sword to its sheath and returned the bow. "No apologies are required. I simply hope your cousin learned a valuable lesson."

Toyama let out a belly laugh. "Indeed it shall!"

"So, how did you three manage to sneak up on me in full armor?"

"We of the Fox Clan know our lands better than the Moto of the Unicorn know their horses!" Toyama slapped Sunset on the shoulder as he let out a deep chuckle. "So what brought you to the path that leads to the Shrine of the Fox Maiden?"

"A fox snatched my hat right off my head and started running down path."

"Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha! Those fox spirits can be quite the mischievous tricksters! Come! Since you're already on the path, let's go pay a visit to the shrine. Maybe we'll find that fox who stole your hat."

"I hope so. And maybe I'll get me a fox tail to use as a tassel for my hat."

"Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Toyama's countenance became serious as he looked at the boy. "Yoshi! You want to become a bushi, yet you behave like an honorless bandit!" He gave Yoshi a slap to his head. "When I tell your father how the two of you acted, he'll punish the both of you harshly."

Hidehito freed his arm from where it was pinned and scuttled down the tree. He gave Sunset a sharp glare. "You got lucky."

Sunset snapped a sharp side-eyed glance at him.

Toyama gave Hidehito a sharp slap to the side of his head. "Mind your manners, boy. She might look to be only a few years older than you, but her eyes tell that she's seen more battles and death than a hundred bushi." He looked to Sunset. "I apologize for the boy's actions. He's young brash and stupid, a good shot though. He hasn't gone on a Musha Shgyo2 yet. It'll do him some good. Did me some good, got the piss and vinegar out."

***

Reaching the Shrine of the Fox Maiden, the group stopped in front of the arch gate. They formed a line in front of a small sign that had the silhouette of a woman with three fox tail painted on it. One by one they stepped in front of the sign, clapped their hands and bowed.

They walked into the shrine ground and were met by a shrine maiden, wearing a white robe with foxes embroidered on it. She was wearing a straw hat that Sunset immediately recognized, her dark hair flowed from underneath it. Foxes scurried around the grounds of the shrine. The shrine maiden pressed her palms together in front of her chest and bowed. "Greetings travelers. I am Kotoe, keeper of the Shrine of the Fox Maiden." She removed the straw hat from her head. "It seems that a rather cheeky fox has stolen this possession." She presented the straw hat to Sunset. "I believe this is yours. I apologize for any troubles you may have endured. Fox spirits are known to pull tricks and pranks."

As Sunset put the hat on her head, Kotoe pulled a strip of rice paper and a small box of glue from her robes. She put a few dabs of glue on the paper and stuck it to the brim of Sunset's hat. "A small blessing to appease the fox spirits."

Sunset looked up and saw a fox hop up onto the top of the shrine wall. It stuck out its tongue and blew a raspberry at her, then shook its tail in a mocking manner before hopping down from the wall, out of sight. Sunset scrunched up her face at the display of disrespect from the fox.

"What brings you to this shrine, other than a mischievous fox, I mean?", Kotoe asked Sunset.

"I am hunting a blood witch that escaped me several years ago. I intend to correct that mistake."

Kotoe's face turned sour. "The spirits have told me of a practitioner of Maho that has been using profane rituals in the hope of catching a kitsune."

Toyama scratched at his face."It is unheard of for any whom you hunt to escape. She must have been powerful or lucky to escape your blade."

"She had help from some strange, four-armed demons who whisked her away."

Toyama gave a long, growling hum. "This is most disturbing. I must bring this news to the daimyo and you must present yourself as well."

Sunset rubbed her chin. "I prefer to hunt without the constraints of bureaucracy."

"You are in Fox lands without permission. I could have you clapped in irons and forcibly dragged before the daimyo."

Sunset raised her hand. Teal light wreathed her fingers. "I can be gone from here in a blink before you can act."

Kotoe levitated a few inches off the ground, leaves swirled around her body as her robes fluttered in the wind. "Before I forsook my clan to follow the path of a monk and became a shrine maiden, I apprenticed under the Master of Air. Your magic might be strong, She Withe the Red and Gold Hair, but even you cannot hope to stop the wind. You have wandered the length and breadth of the land for two centuries like a...hmm that is most odd." She lowered back onto the ground. "When I focus my sight upon you, I see a horse...no...a pony...and the setting sun." She gently placed her hand on Sunset's shoulder. "For two centuries you have been on your Musha Shgyo. You have learned more in the ways of a samurai than any other bushi. It is time to become a true samurai. I implore you, present yourself to the Fox daimyo and present yourself to the emperor."

Sunset took a long moment to weigh her options. She could fight her way out of the shrine, but that would brand her as a murderer and an outlaw. She could teleport out of here and run, but that would put every emerald magistrate and clan enforcer on her trail. She let out a long sigh. "Fine! I'll present myself to the Fox daimyo. Once I finish my hunt here in Fox territory, I will go see the emperor."

The gathered bushi let out a collective sigh of relief.

***

It had been several days by wagon to reach Kyuden Kitsune and then it was several days more of being housed in a room on the castle grounds, but now Daimyo Kitsune Katsuhiro was willing to see Sunset. Standing in the antechamber waiting her turn to see the daimyo, she fidgeted in the silk kimono that attendants had dressed her in. It was tight and restricted her movements.

After waiting in the antechamber for several hours, alongside other people waiting. The number slowly dwindled over time. The door opened and a court attendant gestured for Sunset to enter the throne room.

Sunset was directed to a carpeted path that led to a few feet in front of the throne which the daimyo of the Fox Clan sat. On either side stood a row of samurai in full battle armor, swords drawn. As she walked past, each raised their swords into a high position, ready to strike if needs must. Stopping at the end of the carpet, there was a small, thin cushion. Kneeling on the cushion, she pulled her katana, still in its sheath, from her waist and placed it on the floor before her, then sat back on her heels.She then bowed forward until her forehead touched the floor and her arms extended before her.

For several minutes Sunset sat in a prostrated bow, a tingling numbness spreading in her feet and calves. Finally the majordomo spoke. "Daimyo Kitsune Katsuhiro, I present to you She With the Red and Gold Hair."

Several more moments in silence passed. I hope I can stand up before my butt goes numb.

Katsuhiro spoke. "You may sit up."

Sunset lifted her body so she could look at the daimyo.

"Is it true you've been wandering the land for over two hundred years?"

"It is."

"Fascinating! What is your secret?"

"Would you believe clean living and plenty of vegetables?"

This elicited several chuckles from the attendants.

"Thought not. I come from a land that is very different from yours."

Katsuhiro rubbed his chin. "Hmm. Are you a kami or a fortune?"

"No, but I did encounter one on my journey here. I believe you call her Amaterasu."

This elicited several whispers from the gathered attendants.

"Interesting. Most interesting. Is that why you're so long lived?"

"That might be the case, though it's more likely that the people of my land live for a very long time."

"So how long do the people in your land live?"

"It's common for us to see a thousand years. A few have live to see fifteen hundred years, but those are rare. Our ruler's life extends beyond surviving records and many believe her to be immortal."

This elicited even more whispers.

"Did your leader send you here to spy on Rokugan?"

"No. I was her personal protege until she cast me aside for another. So I ran away."

Katsuhiro leaned forward in his throne. "So after your leader cast you aside, you decided to come to Rokugan and become a bushi?"

"No. I stepped through a portal disguised as a mirror. It led me to a realm high above this world where I encountered Amaterasu. She sent me to this world."

Katsuhiro brushed his thumb across his lips. "So why did you choose to become a bushi?"

"When I came into this world, I was found by a ronin named Yobanjin. He took me in and adopted me as his daughter. He trained me to be a bushi."

"So what happened to Yobanjin?"

"He had been suffering from a poisoned wound inflicted on him by a Maho-tsukai for a long time. As the poison started to reach his heart and started to claim his life, I helped him commit seppuku."

"Where did you bury him?"

"That is a secret I will take to my grave."

"You have a cavalier attitude with me."

"When you lived with an immortal--" Sunset paused as she felt a dark tremor. Looking up, she saw a figure in dark clothing crawling across one of the timber beams. Without a thought she disappeared in a blink of light and reappeared in front of the daimyo. She spread her arms wide. Shuriken and darts sailed in from multiple directions, bouncing harmlessly off of her shield. The majordomo didn't fare so well, he cried out in pain as a shuriken embedded itself in his thigh. The majordomo fell to the floor a moment later, thrashing in pain and foaming at the mouth.

Some yelled, "Assassin!", others yelled, "Ninja!"

Sunset wasted no time. She summoned her sword to herself and teleported to the beam. The figure in dark clothing stared in shock for a split second before she delivered a sharp kick to his side, sending him tumbling to the floor where several armored samurai leapt upon him. She quickly glanced around and caught sight of another figure in dark clothing rearing back her arm to throw a shuriken.

Sunset disappeared in blink if light and reappeared in front of the dark clothed figure and quickly slashed downwards. The dark clothed figure cried out in pain as she clutched at the stump of her arm gushing blood. With a quick sweep kick, Sunset sent the figure tumbling to the floor.

Sunset quickly looked around again. She saw another dark clothed figure lifting a tube to his mouth. She teleported again and thrust with the tip of her katana. The blade pierced into the figure's throat and burst out the back of his neck.

Sunset quickly surveyed the throne room. Several dark clothed figures were scrambling out gaps that had been cut in the room. A few were on the floor surrounded by samurai and desperately trying to flee or fight their way out. Four samurai were quickly ushering the daimyo out.

Several large puffs of smoke exploded around the daimyo and his bodyguards. Sunset acted quickly, firing off a teleport followed by a telekinetic push spell that sent the daimyo and his bodyguards sailing across the room. In the next split second she erected a shield around herself. There were three loud, hollow thunks. A second later the smoke thinned and there were three dark clothed figures with very surprised looks in their eyes. Sunset gave them a "you're gonna die" smile.

The dark clothed figures turned to run. Sunset dropped her shield and unleashed a blinding flash spell. As the figures flailed blindly, she casually struck them at the base of their skull with the pommel of her sword, rendering them unconscious. The assassination attempt was over. She took in a deep breath and blew out, expelling her fury. Tearing a strip of cloth from on of the figures, she wiped the blood from her sword, summoned her scabbard over and sheathed her katana.

Katsuhiro hurried over and gave a deep bow. "I owe you a life's debt. You shall always be a friend to the Fox Clan. Any time you need help, call upon us and we shall arrive." He pulled the wakizashi from his waist and offered it to Sunset. "Take this gift."

Sunset held up a hand. "I couldn't. Your gift is too generous."

"Oh, but I insist."

Sunset waved her hands in front of her. "I couldn't. You insult me with such a generous gift."

"But it is I who shall take insult if you do not take this gift."

Sunset bowed low as she extended both hands in front of her. Katsuhiro laid the wakizashi in her hands. She stood up striaght and drew the short sword. "This is a fine sword."

"May it serve you well."

***

Sunset scowled as she looked over the reports that Daimyo Kitsune Katsuhiro had delivered to her. After hours of interrogation and torture, the surviving ninja had given up information. They had been operating near the outskirts of Kistune Mori3. They had been hired by a figure wearing black armor with the intent to draw out Sunset.

"Well it looks like it worked.", Sunset said to nobody in particular. "But now I've got a lead on where to start hunting."

Author's Note

i Tsunkinari-yari are spears that have a curved head that can be used for slashing or as a hook to pull someone off their feet.

2A Musha Shgyo is a warrior's pilgrimage when a young samurai will leave his clan, bear no mon and wander the land as a ronin, perfecting his art and learning what it means to be a samurai.

3 Kitsune Mori also known as Forest of the Fox i that home f the Fox Clan and several spirit creatures, especially the fox spirits.