In the Shadow Realm, chaos only ever came from one portion of the dimension…
For the Kitsune family of Tamayō, unreasonable quarrels, reckless violence, and spurts of bloodshed were simply the order of the day.
But today—
"Onee-sama! Nom, nom! This stuff is way too good!" Brown exclaimed, his words spilling out between eager bites of rice.
"Do not speak while you eat, Brown," Onee-sama reminded calmly, though her eyes revealed mild disapproval.
"But he's right... nom, nom... I could honestly employ you to be a chef in my soon-to-come empire at this rate. What do you say? The pay will be good."
"Thank you for your compliments," Onee-sama answered evenly. "I am glad I could satisfy your palates... although you and Green have a most irritating habit of disappearing whenever I decide to step into the kitchen."
"Wh-wh-wh-what?!" Green nearly dropped her chopsticks. "So when you enter the kitchen, it doesn't automatically mean hide-and-seek has begun?"
That evening, the family was dining in a hall within the palace, a space designed with arching beams, lacquered floors, and lanterns glowing faintly against the dim background.
They sat around a wide, polished wooden table. Tamayō rested at one end like a daydreaming queen, while Onee-sama presided at the other end in silent confidence. And the children filled the spaces between them, each in their usual disarray of manners.
Apparently, even chaos desired to eat.
But in truth, they did not need food. However, they had decided to indulge in the luxury of dining.
The meal consisted of steaming miso soup, bowls of white rice, grilled fish, pickled vegetables, and trays of tamagoyaki.
The scents filled the hall, giving the evening a normalcy that soothed the mind.
Onee-sama then placed her chopsticks neatly across her bowl, her eyes narrowing with thought. "...I will be conducting an inspection."
"CHOCK! Cough! Cough!" Gold spat her soup in shock, choking violently until Red slid a cup of water across to her and patted her back with casual ease.
"Ara? Is something the matter, Gold?" Onee-sama asked, her tone polite yet her gaze sharp with suspicion.
"Cough, cough... N-nothing... I just choked, that's all," Gold muttered raspingly.
"You don't say." Onee-sama let her eyelids close halfway, unreadable. "In any case, I will soon be doing an inspection across all of your pavilions."
"B... but why?!" Green slammed her hand onto the table, rattling the bowls. "Can we not have even the slightest bit of privacy?!"
"Of course, you can," Onee-sama replied without pause. "You may enjoy privacy once you have attained maturity of mind."
"Uhm..." Gold trembled slightly, her voice quivering. "So... like, when is this inspection thing happening…? Not like I intend to hide any incriminating evidence or anything like that..."
Onee-sama gave her a scornful side glance before answering. "I will not say. None of you will know the hour or the time I arrive. You must be prepared and blameless when I emerge."
"Hai, Onee-sama..." they all murmured, voices trailing into the clinking of dishes.
***
In the nearest quadrilateral building to Tamayō's throne room, Onee-sama set about her duties with precision.
She dusted the corners of her chamber, arranged the futon until every fold was aligned, and pulled open the shutters to allow a streak of pale morning light to slip in.
Mornings in their domain was rare; the skies were most often in hues of sunset or veiled in dark night, so this moment was well cherished.
Her chamber was orderly and regal, resembling the quarters of nobility.
When she finally stepped back and scanned her work, she saw that it was good. Then she gave a single approving nod.
"Tell me, daughter of mine," Tamayō's voice drifted in suddenly, coming from beyond the window. Her tone was soft, though touched with her usual quirk. "Do you hold some peculiar animosity toward dirt and grime? You even go so far as to clean the vast palace yourself. Do you enjoy such isolation so much?"
"That is precisely why I do it," Onee-sama replied, her fox ears flicking slightly in annoyance. "Because you and your children contribute to no work at all, unless I bare my fangs and demand it."
She turned toward the open window, where Tamayō leaned with a faintly amused expression.
"..."
"..."
They both stared at their faces for a while.
"...So? Why are you here?" Onee-sama finally asked, her voice cool.
Tamayō's frown deepened. "The children are restless. They panic still because of your supposed threat to ransack and raid their pavilions a few weeks ago."
"I made no such threat," Onee-sama rectified sharply.
"And yet," Tamayō sighed, turning her gaze aside, "if I start speaking to my friends again, I cannot say who will stumble upon me and once more brand me a lunatic."
"Then perhaps you should refrain from conversing with lifeless things in earnest?"
"Hmph. Of course you cannot possibly understand." Tamayō looked away, her voice heavy with defiance. "They are not objects; they have souls. And while all of you abandon me to solitude, they remain my only lifeline."
Onee-sama walked to the window, her steps unhurried. "Is that so? Very well, I have heard your plight. Now shoo."
With no hesitation, she pushed Tamayō back from the window frame and tried to slide it shut.
"Wait, wait, wait!!" Tamayō scrambled forward, pressing her hands against the panels to keep them from closing. Her eyes shimmered with slight tears. "Goodness! I am bored, alright?! Let me stay with you!"
"Now that you have chosen to be honest with yourself, Haha-ue," Onee-sama smiled faintly at her red-faced mother, "Does it not feel better?"
"T-tyrant..." Tamayō whispered, defeated.
***
Inside Onee-sama's pavilion, Tamayō sat cross-legged on a cushion, staring intently at her daughter who sat just across from her.
The chamber was quiet, and the faint fragrance of sandalwood incense drifted in the air.
"What is it?" Onee-sama finally asked, catching her mother's unwavering gaze.
"No, nothing..." Tamayō still stared. "I was only wondering if you might… like to stroke my hair again. Judging from how restless you look, the urge must be gnawing at you, no?"
"Sou?" Onee-sama blinked in fake surprise. "Are you certain this is not simply your secret wish, Haha-ue, that I should pet you?"