January 3rd, Otherworld Access Portal

The kitsune walked up the steps of the ancient Shinto temple, the walls cracked with age but the pillars still strong. He paused and looked to the cluster of people that tagged along with him, all eager to depart this realm, most from the streets; one or two were his co-workers who volunteered to help with the resettlement. The kitsune then smiled and motioned for everyone to stay put a moment, then walked into the temple.

Inside, to normal eyes and ears, it was abandoned, the shades drawn, the surfaces with about 20 years of dust. He knew better though... In his native tongue, he intoned softly, "Dust of the ages, rise and form our path. Show the path kami of old."

The dust stirred, a wind forming and then rising as it gathered onto itself. The kitsune produced the dungeon hearts that the MEC hunted after him so long for, and set them at the foot of the pillar of dust as it began to grow. All three of them turned into sparkling gems, charged heavily with magic, the red, green and blue stones rising and circling around the pillar. He smiled as the magic took the gems and smashed them together, unleashing a pillar of light in the center of the dust column, growing so bright that he couldn't see for the moment.

When his vision cleared, a tori, the Japanese arches that are set along pathways to pay homage to the gods had reformed, with a view of his homeland beyond it. The path extended out underneath his feet from the doorway, following him to the doors of the temple as he pushed them open and allowed the emigrants access to their pathway to their new home...

January 4th, Ministry of Otherworld Activity, 4th Prefect

The kitsune watched as the emigrants he led to his homeland settled in, listening to several of the workers while they explained the local laws and customs, as well as training a few on the finer points of bowing. Demeaning work, but the kitsune, long abandoning their ancient homeland, were now determined to return, and this is but the first step in their plan.

"Hiro?"

The kitsune, Hiro, turned and bowed to a black furred vixen that sported 7 tails. "Kataya-sama, you are looking well."

"As do you. Your mission is a success," with the lilting tone that implied that she wanted to know more.

Hiro stood up again and nodded, "It is. The immigrants are from the dredges of human life, and are eager to find a fruitful life once more. They had nothing left, and will make for excellent mates, soldiers and geisha. I dare to say that one in particular, may appeal to you as a potential samurai." At Kataya's lifting eyebrow, he pointed out the MEC soldier that had joined them at the party, who was helping the humans out with adjusting.

Kataya nods, "I will keep him in mind. I see you have done far beyond what any have expected of you Hiro, as far as the gathering."

Hiro looked to Kataya and murred, "the dungeon hearts, as they humans call them, were as you said. The treasures that were long stolen have been returned to their rightful place, the gate now stands open for passage both to and from their realm. There were more but their dungeon delver teams destroyed them before I could get to them in time. For that, I am sincerely sorry. My fate is in your paws," bending his head so that if Kataya choose to take is life, she could.

Kataya shook her head and smiled, "you've forgotten that we're not as strict as their legends portrayed us to be Hiro... You've came back, which is more then we expected. We... Me, and the council, feel you've earned your tail Hiro. And, with it the additional duties. Your position will require you to establish a ministry on their side, to help open the pathways..."

Hiro sighed, and nodded, "I will do so. Somehow..."

Kataya looked to him and murred, worriedly, "There is an obstacle?"

Hiro nodded, "Yes... their laws set all non-humans as less then themselves. They elevate themselves out of fear, and hunt or kill who they can find. Without the cloak milady, I would have been dead long ago."

Kataya's face fell as she heard this and nodded. "I will report this to the council, and try to see your mission changed."

Hiro stepped closer to Kataya and touched his nose to hers, murring quietly, "one more tail and I can court you with their blessings milady... just, give me this chance, please. The council deserves to know what’s going on, and I'm the only one with the gift to open the passage both ways. We both know this..."

Kataya slipped her arms around him and hugged, "hurry back then." They hugged, his nose in her neck as she settled in, uncaring that anyone might watch them breech etiquette. They've grown up together; she's /allowed/ to do this damn it... She then sighed and slipped out of his arms, walking away towards her office, even as he turned towards the portal and left his home world once more, his 5 tails splitting to grow a 6th as her magic set in to elevate his status so nearer, yet still so far, from her own.

January 6th, Earth, on the news

"The police investigating the disappearances of an entire community in the downtown area, where MEC have been investigating rumors of a kitsune, a soul stealing spirit of Japanese folklore, was hunting. So far there has been no clue as to the cause of their disappearances. MEC has not returned our calls. This is the picture of their suspected kitsune, appearing as a human of Japanese descent, 5 foot 6 and about 170 pounds...

"Mean whiles, back in the Bronx, land developers are already crying foul since the MEC has claimed the entire neighborhood as the scene of a crime and refuse to allow family of the departed entry. Sale of these lands can only happen once the MEC have concluded their investigation, and until then, the neighboring land development project will have to be put on hold. A move that may potentially bankrupt many investors in the high profile project. Many living in the neighboring areas claim that there was no kitsune, as much as the MEC would love to believe. Instead blame should be laid at the feet of the developers, greedy for the land and known for their law bending ways...

"Now, this is chuck with our sports report...