"Okay hold on just one minute," Kiko exclaimed. Darren and Fukushu now watched as the tiny 9 year old kit lept from her chair, stomping over to the two teens before looking up at them.
"Your telling me that Dad not only wants a human to protect the clan but he wants YOU to lead," she exclaimed. Darren shrugged, meekly apologizing to the grown down kitsune.
"I'm not mad at you Darren," Kiko sighed. "I get why dad would do that. Over the last few decades he tried to improve relationships with mortals. He grew to trust the wizards. Making one the guardian of the clan was a step in him healing I guess. But there is no way I'm letting him lead the clan."
Kiko now glared up at her older brother. Darren would say it looked like a kid sister trying to stand up to her big brother. Kiko was quite small in comparison to the teenage kitsune, perhaps only chest high to him. The kits features making her look like she was pouting instead of fierce. Fukushu could see this also, Darren watching as he tried to hide a smirk.
"Little Kiko is right," Fukushu stated. "Our people will never accept me as leader. I have done far too much harm over the last century."
"Really," Kiko gasped, shocked her brother would agree with her.
"Yes Kiko," Fukushu said. "And I think father knew that as well. Tatsu was clever, he had a muted sense of humor about things. I'm sure he realized sometime ago that someone besides myself should lead the clan."
"Clever I believe," Chisai replied. "But Dad having a sense of humor? I call bullshit on that."
Fukushu chuckled, an impish smirk crossing his face.
"Well then I guess the only question is who leads," Takeo stated. The siblings all nodded, sloqly but surely turning to Kari. "Why are you all looking at me?"
"Well you're the second oldest," Chisai said. "And mom and dad have kind of been prepping you."
"Yeah as a diplomat," Kari exclaimed. "I mean sure I'm a nine tail...usually. But I was raised again by humans. I don't think I'm best qualified to lead."
"Well its not me either," Chisai said. "I'm just a blacksmith. I don't know the first thing about leading our people."
"Aiyo runs our house," Takeo replied sheepishly. "Even the kids know moms rule is law. So that takes me out."
"Maybe Akira," Kari said. "I mean you did want him to be guardian Fukushu."
"I think we are all missing the obvious choice," Fukushu stated. Slowly the others watched as the teenage kitsune pointed to his fuscha 9 year old sister.
"Me!"
"It makes the most sense," Fukushu stated. "Our parents have trusted you more and more over the years. Whether you wish to admit it or not, you already are seen as our peoples leader."
"But I'm not like our folks," Kiko stammered. "I'm no warrior. Hell, I'm not even a boy or the eldest! I go completely against tradition. How can I be the best option?"
"I hate to agree with Fukushu but he's right," Chisai shrugged. "Face it you kinda already run things day to day."
"And I think dad would want someone who wasn't so traditional leading our people forward," Kari added.
Kiko was at a loss for words. She had never fathomed being the successor to her father's rule. She wasn't married, had no children, she wasn't even a nine tail like her siblings. Kiko was the free spirit and had acted naturally on her own impulses. She never truely thought any of the ideas she had proposed would be accepted by the clan. "I don't know what to say."
"Not sure what needs to be said," Takeo shrugged. "I mean let's face it Kiko, you maybe a bit unorthodox but you definitely know what you're doing. Look how much better things have gotten with the ideas you helped usher in."
Kiko fidgeted slightly, feeling every bit the child she now resembled. "Dont worry Little Kiko," Fukushu smirked. "I'm sure you'll GROW into the role."
"I swear if I have to hear one more short joke from you brother my first act as leader will be throwing you in jail!"
Fukushu simply laughed softly, gazing down at his sister. Kiko took a deep breath, looking at her siblings before nodding. "Guess I'll take the job," she said. "Just as soon as we grow up again."
Gasping the siblings now began to glow once more. The three youngest seeming to shoot up in height becoming two tailed teens, like their older siblings. Kiko letting out a sigh of relief as her curves began to return.
Soon all the siblingsbwere racing back into adulthood. Chisai's pudgy body becoming muscular once more, his height shooting well beyond his siblings. Takeo thankful that he was no longer so small. Kari smirking as her feminine curves returned. Even Fukushu seemed to approve as his muscular kitsune body replaced the skinny teen from only moments before.
As the spell completed the siblings examined themselves, breathing a sigh of relief to find themselves restored to their proper ages. "Man I've never felt so happy to be old," Kiko exclaimed as she examined her seven tails.
"Your preaching to the choir on that one," Chisai added, flexing his massive biceps.
Fukushu nodded in agreement, satisfied to be his adult self once more. Turning he grinned, lowering his gaze at his seven tailed sister. "It is for the best Lady Kiko," he replied. "Our people would have had a difficult time following the laws of someone who still needed naps."
Kiko furrowed her brow, ignoring the snickers of her siblings as she now locked eyes with her eldest brother. "So what happens now," she asked.
"I'm not sure," Fukushu shrugged. "I should take my leave for now. Our people will not trust me after everything I've done. However, if you need me sister, I shall answer the call." Bowing before the new leader of the clan, Fukushu now turned his attention to Darren.
"We are not friends Catalyst," he stated. "But you are not my enemy. We shall see eachother soon." With that Fukushu now turned to leave, leaving Darren with more questions than he thought possible to answer.