Immortal spirits are not meant to stay in the mortal realm alone. Without a master, they lacked a source of magic to sustain themselves in an environment so devoid of it, causing their life to be used up the longer they stayed.

But, Michi had truly not meant to stay in the mortal realm for this long.

As a nine tailed fox, he was practically immortal, far outliving any being in the mortal realm and possessing a great deal of magic power. However, it was also due to his immortality that he frequently travelled down to the mortal realm in human disguises. While the heavenly realm was great, rich in magic and free of starvation, thirst, and sickness, there was nothing to do but meditate all day. Things were too peaceful! Kitsune like him were meant to thrive in amusement and mischief! If he stayed in the heavenly realm all the time, surely he would’ve gone mad before long!

Thus, Michi looked forward to his trips into the mortal realm every decade, eager for more entertainment. Perhaps it was due to the stronger influence time had on beings in the mortal realm, but humans never failed to come up with newer and more creative ways to have fun in the limited time they were alive. So each decade that he descended, Michi would make sure to bring back a sufficient amount of new games and books to stave off his boredom until his next trip.

But, one year, Michi found himself making the trip in only half a decade’s time, having not brought back enough entertainment on his trip previously.

Overconfident from his numerous successful trips, Michi failed to calculate for the weather during his week-long descent and found himself blindsided by a thunderstorm. Power diminished by the thunderstorm and barely able to maintain his human disguise without a tonic to regain his power, he met you. You sheltered him throughout the storm, and Michi found himself experiencing the love frequently recorded in all of the books he had read. He remained in the mortal realm to pursue this love, eventually becoming your husband.

You remained none the wiser about his true identity even after the two of you were married. Michi kept up his human disguise, and he used wards and herbs from the heavenly realm to maintain his waned power during thunderstorms.

Still, Michi was a kitsune, and they weren’t known for their discipline.

Once he settled into a comfortable life with you, Michi began to grow more and more lax about his preparations. Eventually, much like the day he met you, Michi fell asleep before a forewarned thunderstorm, forgetting to drink the concoction he prepared for such events.

So that’s why this is happening now.

You woke up to your husband—-who was most definitely fully human when you went to bed last night, with two fluffy ears and nine even fluffier tails. The tails (seriously, where did they come from?) were warm and curled tightly around you.

Michi hummed, eyes still closed and oblivious as to what had occurred overnight. He nuzzled into you, sighing as he breathed you in. “Morning, darling.”