"Wait!" I called after her as I followed her out, mentally wondering how she got all the clothing into my apartment. Did she just teleport it there, or did she spend the night moving it? "Pack food?"
"The magical realm is still part of Earth," Keru answered, "It's a different plane, but it is still Earth. My parent's palace is in Japan. We are presently in America. It will take us some time to get there."
I followed her through the apartment.
"Couldn't we just fly to Japan and then go that realm?" I asked.
"Ah yes... take a foreigner into Japan and then enter another dimensional plane... I'm sure every security camera and teen with a camera phone will miss us," Keru scolded, "If they think me real, I run the risk of being caught and killed by some Shinto or Buddhist priest... and if they think it a costume... I run the risk of being swarmed by fan-girls."
I could only blink.
"It is safer and easier for us to go into the Magical realm here and then go to Japan," Keru finished, "besides, my parents likely were here... or had an employee that was here."
"I trust getting there would be quick, once we're in the magical realm?" I asked as I went through the kitchen and then to the pantry that was on the other side of it.
Once I was there, I turned to see Keru holding out the backpack she had with her. In her other hand she had several plastic bags.
"If your parents have a worker here... would he or she be suspicious if we start asking questions?" I asked her nervously as began packing some packages of jerky.
"Possibly, but technically they'd also be MY employees, so they'd think I'm in on whatever it is my parents have planned," Keru shrugged. "Our biggest issues will be when we get to Japan's part of the magical realm."
I gave a nervous shrug as I squeezed the seal shut on the plastic bag that I'd placed my jerky in and began getting some sort of nutrition bar to go along as well. Those were quickly packed and then turned around to get ready to follow Keru out. I began zipping the backpack as I followed her. I was going along to help, so I had no intention trying to take a lead in the present mission. We both wanted the same thing, so fighting over who was in charge didn't matter. As we got to the door that lead out of my apartment she turned to me.
"Are you ready?" she asked me.
"As ready as I can," I commented, "though a bit nervous."
"So long as you do as I say, you should be fine," Keru said firmly, "and of course to remember protocol. Kitsune society revolves around respecting those who have power..."
"And I'd be at the very bottom of the totem as a human," I looked down.
"As a two tail, I'm not that far above you," Keru assured me, "we're both near the bottom, but I've been Kitsune society all my life. I know it, and know it well. You're new to it."
She offered me her hand, "and I don't want you getting killed because of something you don't know..."
"I fully intend to be respectful," I answered and then noticed more about the robe she had put on. It seemed to be a rather traditional Japanese garment with a specific fold and/or opening for her tails. For the moment she was still in a more human guise and the clothing partially hid them. "Though I feel a bit... under-dressed."
"Don't worry," Keru promised, "when we enter the magical realm, you will be wearing a man's kimono. They are simpler than the one I'm wearing but are still required for formal occasions."
I slowly nodded and took her hand. She gave me an assuring smile and then opened the door. As I watched, the opening of the door didn't reveal the hallway, but an image of bright light. I guessed that was the barrier between the two realms. Keru then walked forward, still holding my hand. As we did so, Keru's human guise dropped. Blue fur grew out and covered her body, though I could only see it on her face and hands. Her shoes vanished to reveal blue furred paws. She briefly grew taller as her feet lengthened into a digitigrade stance, though not much taller than I was. Her ears returned to the triangular ears of a fox, and her face painlessly pushed forward into a fox's vulpine muzzle. Her two tails also began to give off a soft glow and move so that they were not hidden by her clothing.
"You look very beautiful," I found myself saying saying even before he could control himself.
Keru gave soft smile and said, "Thank you."