Chapter Text
The old man's name was Kurama-otera-sama. He was village priest and maintained the temple the stood as the center of life in the village. Kuwabara had seen the building on his way in with its oil lamps hanging at the gates. Amanda had eyed it with what Kuwabara had taken for fear before but now he knew it was probably just awe. Kuwabara had been rather impressed by it himself.
Apparently Kurama-otera-sama had left the village and gone a sacred mountain where he had received greater spiritual awareness. In recognition of this, the villagers called him Kurama, the name of the mountain. The old man headed the temple as well as acting as the de-facto leader of the village. He was also Obito's grandfather.
Kuwabara sat in the main room of the temple. Otera-sama was before the altar praying over Amanda's shroud-covered corpse. Obito was near him, now dressed as a monk, and praying as well. Some other high-rank villagers were in the temple too, all praying. Four guards were seated around Kuwabara, not that he would try to run away. He was still in shock and couldn't even think of moving an inch.
After what seemed like an eternity Otera-sama turned and addressed the red-head. "Kuwabara-san," the old man said gravely, "what you have done is very serious."
The large man nodded dumbly. "I … didn't mean to. It was an accident. I thought she was a –" The spirit detective stopped in mid-breath and shut his mouth however the monk just nodded his head.
"I understand. You believed the unfortunate girl to be a kitsune."
Kuwabara began to ask the monk how he knew but the older man held up his hand.
"I know many things beyond that of the average human. Kitsune are a part of our daily life here in this village."
The monk turned and cast a long look at the altar. Kuwabara noticed the others in the room lower their heads. Glancing around him Kuwabara frowned a little then looked up at the altar himself. The large wooden structure looked to be carved of a single piece of wood like a large tree. The way it was carved made it look like the wood gave way to passages and rooms creeping up and down the expanse of the structure. Inside the rooms and tiny darkened passages were kitsune. They were peeking out of corners, watching the room; some had real white-blue fox-fire burning around their little wooden tails.
"You see, Kuwabara-san, even if a kitsune wanders into this village they are respected and left to their own devices. If they become mischievous we simply ask the elder ones to control their children. It is always the children who make trouble." Otera-sama turned back the red-head. "However Amanda was not a kitsune. You are a spirit warrior. I know your kind well. You have broken something sacred in doing this. You will have to repent. This is a very serious matter."
Kuwabara finally tore his eyes from the altar. "I wasn't trying to kill her," he said finally. "I didn't want to hurt her, just expose her. Foxes can be pretty dangerous but usually not when they know someone's on to them."
"Yes," Obito said, speaking for the first time since this had all began. "Kitsune do tend to be better behaved when they know they're being watched."
Otera-sama glanced at his grandson. "That is true." Then he switched his gaze to Kuwabara. "However your error in judgment has cost the life of an innocent person. That cannot be easily overlooked."
"I understand," Kuwabara said as he bowed. "Just tell me what to do."
Otera-sama closed his eyes for a moment and the room fell silent. Kuwabara held his breath. The seconds seemed to trickle past.
"I believe I have a solution," the old priest said at last. "You will become a monk here at the temple. You may live with Obito and will work in the temple for one-hundred and eight lunar cycles. Each full moon who will cleanse yourself in the temple and one hundred and eight full moons later, you may leave, freed of your burden."
Kuwabara thought a moment. One hundred and eight was a sacred number. He wasn't one hundred percent sure about it, but that seemed like a good plan. And one hundred and eight full moons were only … nine years. Kuwabara swallowed. Nine years. That was a long time. But Amanda would be dead for a lot longer. Slowly the spirit detective raised his head.
"Will you let me send word to my sister?" he asked.
"Of course," Otera-sama said dismissively but kindly.
"Okay. I'll do it."
"Very good." Otera-sama motioned to someone off to the side and suddenly a shrine maiden was holding a knife out for him. "Bow your head so it can be shaved," the old monk said as he rose and moved closed to the red-head.
Kuwabara gulped and nodded before closing his eyes. He felt the sharp knife being pressed the back of his head and slid forward over his skin. The large man had to tried not to tremble as the blade pulled over his skin. After a few moments he felt the monk's hands brush over his bared head.
"It's finished," he said but his voice was different, smoother. "I have to say," the monk continued, with voice getting smoother with every syllable, "you look good, Kazuma."
Kuwabara looked up and was startled to see the monks bald head now brushed with a wispy fine layer of red fuzz. A small crooked smile tried to hide itself while two emerald eyes danced with amusement in the weathered old face.
A small snicker pulled Kuwabara's attention to the altar where Amanda was sitting up giggling with a single tail swaying behind her. Another snicker brought the red-head's attention to Obito whose fox ears were turned back with his effort not to laugh. Kuwabara looked around the room where the villagers were hiding smiles but not hiding fox attributes. Looking back up at the priest Kuwabara was not surprised to see that Kurama's young fine face had completely replaced the face of the old monk.
"Hiei," the fox said, "is going to love this."
Hiei in fact did love this. The oaf was currently polishing his swords and at his command. It was more than amusing.
"I can't believe you," the fire demon muttered as he watched the human slave over his swords. "I knew the fox was going to, what's the term, hand your ass to you. But for him to tell you his name and for you to just sit there."
"Hey I thought I had fucking killed a girl Hiei!" the normally-orangette snapped. "I was in shock! I'm not a fucking heartless bastard like you!"
"No. You're just brainless."
"He gave a perfectly reasonable explanation for the name."
"The fact that he explained his name didn't bother you."
"It made sense for a monk!" Kuwabara growled as he ran his hand over his now bald head.
Hiei laughed. "Yeah. Whatever. You still suck."
"Yeah well," the human muttered. "Right back at cha."
With that Kuwabara went back to his task occasionally rubbing his bald head in irritation.