Can a Test Subject Dream of a Little Fox Tsukumogami?

When Haruna was very young, she made a promise with a tsukumogami that they would be together when she turned eighteen.

Before the time they had agreed upon arrived, she became an experimental subject inside a jar. Outside the jar was an evil brain with stitches.

Eighteen became impossibly far away.

Missions, missions, missions.

Collapse, grow stronger, collapse again.

Haruna only remembered that she was supposed to have a little dog... or maybe a fox. He took the form of a fox, was fluffy, and said he was a sword.

She dreamed of the little fox tsukumogami.

"I'm fighting the Retrievers and doing my best to reach you," the little fox tsukumogami said. "Could you wait for me a little longer?"

What was a little more waiting? Haruna thought. She was going to get something fluffy!

Missions weren't all bad. Haruna always met decent people, and she grew stronger and stronger.

She promised the cursed technique user that they would play together again someday.

She promised the Heavenly Restriction tyrant that she would find happiness.

She promised the researcher who had used a rocket launcher for ten years that they would gain their freedom.

She promised the Six-Eyed Divine Child of the Gojo family...

Promises, promises, promises.

Haruna's technique was promises.

In the last month of winter, a child who would one day possess the Book of Friends told her, "I want you to be my family. I'm willing to share my surname with you!"

At the same time, the little fox parted a crack in the world and came toward her with a smile.

Spring came, and she returned to the world.

*

"I like you, so you have to like me too," Haruna told the little fox.

The little fox smiled, showing his sharp little teeth. "But I've liked you for a very, very long time."

At first, she was just a little child who made a pact with him. When they met again, she had become an inhuman experimental subject who could only call him "puppy."

Clumsy, resilient, kind Haruna.

When the girl carefully combed his fur, the little fox felt himself being tamed.

[Reading Guide]

1. The pairing is with the little fox, the little fox among the Sword Warriors. Everyone else is a friend.

2. A mountain of personal headcanons.

3. Yes, I changed the blurb again.

Recommending my upcoming work, "A Loyal Retainer Pushes Me to Become the Zenin Clan Head." Blurb below:

The evil spirit Rina awakened inside a body that had just lost its warmth.

The good news: the body's previous owner was also named Rina, Zenin Rina.

"I like it here," Rina remarked.

As an evil spirit who had been dead for who knew how many years, Rina was best at exploiting human malice to stir up conflict. The Zenin family was the perfect playground.

Naturally, Rina fit right into the large Zenin family.

*

Her peaceful life ended when a guard suddenly appeared in the courtyard.

He was even better at household chores than the Zenin girls, and called her "My Lord" over and over every day.

A harmless subordinate, but far too clingy.

That harmless subordinate killed Rina's fiance in name only on a stormy night.

"How could he insult you like that?!" The guard's violet eyes were full of fury.

"In my eyes, you are the only one worthy of becoming the clan head, My Lord! Let me support you!"

Huh...?!

So this is what I wanted.

Rina thought. The fiance, slumped over nearby, was no longer important or interesting enough.

Hasebe was interesting, the Zenin elders weeping and wailing were interesting, and so were the curses who kept claiming she was one of them, even though they were utterly useless.

Everything made Rina excited.

...All right, everything except being pushed into becoming the Zenin clan head. Thanks.

*

Hasebe knew at first glance that Rina was his future lord.

A cold lord, exquisitely crafted like a doll.

He was perfectly willing to be controlled by her.

Kill vassals? Burn temples? Even dirty work was fine! He was willing to do anything for his lord!

*

Here's an upcoming Hasebe story, still set against a Touken Ranbu and Jujutsu Kaisen background, with a few other series appearing briefly.

Theme: Love and peace