[POV: Kurama]
[Scene: Konoha Village Main Street]
[Track Change: Deltarune Ch. 1 'Before the Story']
The walk back through the village was uneventful at first.
My tails swayed low behind me, and Asriel walked just a step behind, the path from the river to the village was long enough for the boy to recover his breath.
Asriel's hood was down, horns exposed, cheek marks visible in the sunlight.
Civilians paused at the edge of the street, their eyes flicking toward Asriel's horns, the dark cheek marks, and his height that made him loom over most adults.
He didn't seem to mind the stares. But soon the whispers started.
They tried to be discreet, but humans never were.
"Look at his face…", one muttered.
"Those horns, what is he?"
"Is that… a demon?"
"Look at his eyes, the markings. Creepy."
"Strange foreigner. Why's he walking with the beast?"
I flicked an ear, irritation prickling at my fur.
"Hn. Cowards, the lot of them. Too small to look him in the eye, but not too small to gossip."
Asriel's ears twitched, his eyes lowering to the ground. He didn't stop walking, but his stride lost its confidence.
Asriel smiled faintly, though I could see the strain in it.
"It's fine, Uncle Kurama. In my last life I was a Prince, I'm used to people talking behind my back, at least positively."
Renjiro's voice slipped sharp into the air.
"Used to it doesn't mean you should accept it. They don't even know you. They just see something different and panic."
Asriel glanced down at his hands.
"Maybe. But what would you have me do? Yell at them? That'll just prove their fears right. The best thing I can do is keep walking. Minato hasn't yet made the announcement of our status."
I let out a low growl, not at him but at the villagers still whispering.
"Hn. You shouldn't have to earn their acceptance."
By then, the whispers had faded behind us. The main street opened wide, lined with shops and homes.
At the center stood the building. Our building.
When the house finally came into view, even I was impressed.
It was larger than most of the houses around it, standing proudly near the hospital and within sight of the stadium walls.
It was a tall wooden building with wide windows catching the afternoon sun. The doors were broad enough for me to stride through without crouching. The scent of new tatami mats reached even my nose.
I stopped in front of it, tail flicking.
"Well. It isn't small, I'll give it that."
Asriel stopped dead in his tracks, staring. His ears twitched like he couldn't believe it.
"This… is ours?"
"Of course it is," I said, pushing past him toward the steps. "Do you think Minato would lie about something like this?"
Renjiro whistled low.
"I'll admit, this is far nicer than I expected. Uncle, you didn't bribe the Hokage with fur clippings or something, did you?"
I snorted.
"Idiot. Come inside and look before you run your mouth."
[Scene: Home]
[Track Change: Deltarune Ch. 1 'You Can Always Come Home']
The common area opened up immediately, vast and airy, with the halls and floors wide enough for even my tails to stretch without knocking something over.
A kitchen and dining room big enough for a banquet was tucked just beyond, gleaming with unused cookware. Doors lined the hallways, each marked for bedrooms and baths.
Asriel stepped forward slowly, drinking it in with wide eyes.
"Six bedrooms… each with their own bathroom? And a master with a tub big enough for you, Uncle Kurama?"
I gave a satisfied grunt.
"Finally, someone understands scale. I've had enough of crouching in corners."
Renjiro chimed in,
"Two laundry rooms, too. What, you planning to wash your tails in one of them?"
"Don't tempt me," I said flatly, though the thought made my whiskers twitch.
Asriel ran a hand along one of the door frames.
"This doesn't feel like just a house. It feels like… it was made for us. Like someone actually thought about what we'd need."
"That's because they did," I replied. "Minato and Kushina aren't fools. They know we won't fit in an ordinary hole in the wall."
Asriel walked down the hall, running his hand across the wooden frame of the door. "This really is ours? Not just a place we're borrowing? Not a temporary shelter?"
"It's ours," I confirmed. "Your den. Your anchor in this village. No one can take it from you unless you let them."
Renjiro spoke again, softer this time. "It feels… strange. After everything, to finally have something like this. A place to call home."
Asriel pushed the door open. The common area spread out before us again, wide and welcoming.
Light filtered through the high windows, casting warm patches across the wooden floor.
I padded inside after him, my claws clicking against the floor.
"Well, nephews. First order of business. Lunch. Prove this kitchen isn't just decoration."
Asriel laughed, his earlier tension dissolving.
"Fine, fine. But don't expect us to cook a four course meal."
Renjiro added with a chuckle,
"Just make sure not to burn the place down on day one."
I settled down near the doorway, tails curling behind me, watching as they moved toward the kitchen.
[POV: Asriel]
The kitchen was big, with more counter space than when we were at Kushina's, a wide stove sat in the center, and enough space for me to stretch my arms without bumping into anything.
Kurama laid down near the doorway, tails spread lazily, golden eyes fixed on us like a judge waiting for his trial to begin..
Renjiro stood at the stove, already tying an apron loosely over our robes, while I moved to gather ingredients from the crates Kushina had stocked for us.
Rice, chicken, eggs, scallions, garlic, soy, oil. It all came out in quick order, laid neatly across the counter.
"We've done this before," Renjiro said, his voice steady in my head. "So don't mess up just because Uncle's watching."
Uncle Kurama, sprawled near the doorway with his tails spread wide, cracked one eye open.
"Complaint depends on quality. If it's undercooked, you'll hear about it."
Renjiro smirked through me.
"Don't worry, Uncle. I won't let Asriel near the knives."
"Hey!" I protested, though I knew he was right. I was too clumsy with the blade; last time I nearly diced my own sleeve instead of the garlic.
Renjiro took over, slipping into motion with the easy confidence of someone who had done this before.
"Alright, let's keep it simple. Chicken Fried Rice. Cuts fast, cooks fast, feeds a fox without complaint."
Renjiro set the chicken on the cutting board, and I felt the steady rhythm of his hands, firm, efficient strokes as he cubed the meat.
At the same time, I drew in a breath and summoned a faint white flame to my palm, steadying it until it burned like a small lantern.
"Low heat first," Renjiro reminded me. "Don't torch it like you did the test fireball."
"Yeah, yeah." I focused, sliding the flame beneath the waiting wok. The metal shimmered, heat building evenly. Renjiro dropped in oil, the sizzle snapping through the air.
Uncle Kurama lifted his head, nose twitching. "Better. At least it smells like food already."
Renjiro added the chicken, stirring it with quick, practiced motions. I adjusted the fire carefully, watching the edges crisp golden but not burn.
"Remember spaghetti?" Renjiro said as he stirred.
I grinned faintly. "No mistakes that time."
"Because I didn't let you near the sauce pot."
Uncle Kurama chuckled, the deep sound filling the room. "And yet you'll trust him with fire."
"It's controlled fire," Renjiro answered, tossing in garlic and onion, the scent growing sharper.
"Besides, he's focused when it matters."
I steadied the flame, listening to the crackle of chicken searing.
Renjiro slid in carrots, peas, and scrambled egg, stirring them through. Each motion was smooth, efficient. I could almost see him standing beside me instead of within, moving with the rhythm of cooking.
"Rice next," Renjiro said, reaching for the bowl of cold grains we'd prepped earlier. He broke them apart with the spatula, mixing until the wok was full. I pushed more heat into the flame, steady but hot enough to fry.
The kitchen filled with the savory scent, oil and smoke swirling.
Uncle Kurama's tails flicked lazily.
"If it tastes as good as it smells, maybe you two will finally prove you can feed more than yourselves."
Renjiro sprinkled soy sauce and a touch of sesame oil, stirring until the rice darkened evenly.
"Done." He set the spatula aside, steam rolling up from the wok.
I dimmed the fire and let it fade, exhaling. "Teamwork again," I said quietly.
Renjiro chuckled.
"That's how it's supposed to be, right?"
We scooped the fried rice into a wide dish and set it on the table.
Uncle Kurama rose, padding over with deliberate slowness before lowering himself to sit. His claws clicked against the wood as he leaned forward.
He took the first bite, eyes narrowing in thought. For a long moment, silence.
Finally, a sharp nod. "Acceptable. Better than acceptable. You've done well, nephews."
(A/N: It should be known that every time I have written a cooking scene, the food made is one I had eaten within a few days of writing. Except the last time I made Chicken Fried Rice I somehow burnt the frozen veggies. *Sobs in Frying Pan* The tears wash the grease away.)