Akio, the nine-tailed fox squealed in delight as he easily picked you up and slung you over his shoulder as if you weighed nothing, a silly grin stretching his lips from ear to ear.

Akio was the elder of the group of kitsunes, a scrawny 900-year-old who often lost his marbles over anything cute (especially you).

This quirk of his, no matter how cute it may be, didn't mean you were in safe hands. No, far from it. In this moment, you were being carried off by the apex predator in this forest, the very man known for single-handedly killing the 200-foot snake god who had dared to damage his flowers.

There was no need for you to worry though. He obviously thought you, the little lost mortal, was adorable. In fact, his pretty little head was full of thoughts that involved decorating your hair with flowers and letting you nap on his fluffy tail.

You were safe from his psychopathic tendencies. For now, that is.