Archive of Our Own

As a Kitsune you aged differently to all those around you and being surrounded by humans had only proven that human nature has never been black and white; it is awash with shades of grey.

It was hard for you to live amongst humans and if you were being truthful with yourself; it had become unbearably painful. Human lives seemed to be over in the blink of an eye, passing from existence just as soon as they had sprouted to life in the mind of a Kitsune. Outliving the people around you had caused you a lot of pain over the years, you didn’t like the idea of getting close to humans only to lose them when they grew frail and old. You had decided a long time ago for your own sake and for the good of your heart, that you would no longer allow yourself attachments to humans as you had done so carelessly in the past. Time didn’t ease the pain but you learned to live with it over the millennia, watching as dynasties passed you by and the world changed around you.

You had been called many things over the vast millennia that you’ve lived, ranging anywhere from being called a Goddess to being seen as a monster! Charming, cunning, strong, beautiful, and heavenly; some of the more positive names you’d heard whispered your way as you’d travelled the world searching for a place to call home.

It wasn’t until recently when humans decided living alongside a Kitsune had more benefits than what they had previously realised that different names started to surface. My Lady, honoured one and more but you didn’t care for the titles in the slightest, you just wanted to be called by your real name! Ten thousand years and not once in all that time had someone other than your own mother called you by your name; it made you feel so lonely in a world full of people.

You spent a lot of time waiting for that one special person to appear in your life, hoping that they would find you soon enough. Every Kitsune had a soulmate, the person who would complete them and make everything else in existence seem insignificant with their very presence. Despite the passing of the millennia, you were yet to find your soulmate and it was something that had come to pain you deeply. It was sorrowful to think about but in recent centuries you had started to convince yourself that perhaps there was no one I who was meant for you in this world.

The person you had spent your life waiting on was the only one, the only person who would be able to allow you to see it; to see the colours of the world!

~

“Alright, above all else the boss doesn’t like tardiness, so I’m actually pleased that you came early.” There was a sigh of relief and the shuffling of paper in the quiet room before onyx eyes locked with the bright golden ones before them. “Make sure you don’t stare at her and please be mindful of whatever words may leave your mouth.”

“Alright, alright… I get it already.” Mina combated as she shook her head at her friend and her eyebrows knitted together, putting her frustration on full display. Honestly, I appreciate you doing this for me but how hard could it possibly be to become a secretary to someone?”

“Mina… I did this favour for you, please don’t screw this up and heed my warnings.” Momo reiterated as she crossed her arms over her chest, turning to position herself directly in front of Mina. “Please, you have to understand these rules are in place for a good reason and that I’m not just being a pain in your arse for no reason.”

Mina sighed as she rubbed the back of her head, her nails scratching at the shared hair along the nape of her neck as she shook her head frivolously. “I don’t really get what all the fuss is about but fine, I’ll follow the rules you gave me just for you Yaomomo.”

Momo smiled as she nodded her head, a sense of nostalgia washing over her at the use of her old nick name from her old childhood friend. It had been several years now since Momo had seen Mina, the two of them had lost touch over the years and Mina had done a fair bit of travelling in her time away but now she was back home. Momo gave a quick once over of her friend, tilting her head to the right as she took in the subtle ways that Mina’s appearance had changed over the years. She had known Mina since they were in high school, the biggest change was clearly in Mina’s wardrobe; seeming to have lost her outlandish style for something far subtler than before.

When Mina had reached out to her old friend for help in finding a job now that she was back home, Momo hadn’t been able to simply turn her down and so she had pulled some strings to get her a chance within the company she worked at. The two of them had been very close during their school years and had spent a lot of time fawning over the same things, Mina was the biggest reason it had been so easy for Momo to make friends during her school years; mainly because Mina dragged her along to everything she did.

Things had been good for the two of them; they’d been fortunate enough to be born into the world after the Kitsune had been recognised and received by society. Now, some of the Kitsune held positions of high power and they ran some of the biggest companies in the world. Momo felt bad, hiding the fact from Mina that she was about to come face to face with one of those very creatures.

“Momo? You alright there?” There was a touch of concern laced into Mina’s voice as she reached her right hand out towards the woman standing before her.

“Yeah...”

Momo coughed as she straightened her posture and moved to brush some of Mina’s much longer hair out of her face. “You wait right here, I’ll come het you once I’ve let my boss know that you’re here to see her.” She stated before turning and walking away down the darkened corridor.

Mina blinked as she watched the other woman walk away, she could have sworn there was something wrong with Momo, but she had learned over the years that it was better to simply leave it be than to press for information. She sighed as she recalled the many days the two of them had spent together in their younger years, Mina had missed her friends while she had been out of the country travelling. The one person who had constantly kept in touch with her had been Katsuki and most of the time it was to make sure she had been taking care of herself and wasn’t dead in a ditch somewhere.

Running a hand back through her long her and pulling it to sit off to the left side of her head, Mina turned to look around the smaller area that Momo had left her to wait in. She had to admit it was a very beautiful place and it tended to give off the feel of a home more so than that of a business. The paintings and photos that hung on the walls were of places Mina had been fortunate enough to visit during her travels, but some of them seemed much older and had changed since they were done. The darkened atmosphere of the room, added to the ambience of some of the older photos and it only caused Mina to become more drawn in by the change in the times.

It wasn’t until Mina reached the back wall of the small space, the furthest point from the small window, that a particular picture managed to captivate Mina in her entirety. She blinked as her eyes landed on the breath-taking portrait displayed by itself on the wall. The photo of a woman dressed in a Kimono; her eyes closed as she stood beneath a peach tree in full bloom with blossoms falling all around her. Mina couldn’t quite explain what it was about the woman, but something made it seem as though she wasn’t real, as though she were conjured from a fantasy world. Of course, Mina couldn’t tell what colour the woman’s hair was or what colour the Kimono she was wearing was either; she was colour blind.

Monochromacy, it was a condition of the eyes that left the world awash of black and white; though many shades of grey blended the spaces between the two. Colour was something Mina had never been able to see, denied the ability to see it since the day she was born into the world and leaving her incapable of seeing the true beauty of the world. As a small child she had thought it rather cruel, to be robbed of the ability to see colour and left unable to enjoy the simplest of pleasures in life. With the help of her friends and growing older, she had come to change her mind, realising that some people couldn’t see at all; she was simply grateful for the fact she could see.

However, there were those in the world who simply didn’t understand and who didn’t take it well when they found out she was unable to see the world in the same light as them. This had caused many confrontations within her life and had even led to Mina missing out of the chance at several job opportunities. Thankfully, upon returning home Momo had been able to find an opportunity for her and that was why she was currently where she was.

Momo held her breath as she walked closer to the office at the end of the hallway, sighing heavily as she straightened up her dress and stopped in front of the heavy mahogany door. She reached her hand out cautiously, rapping her knuckles against the wood as she announced her arrival at her boss’s office. Momo was acutely aware of the fact that knocking was pointless, her boss had told her as much given her pinpoint hearing, but it was a matter of manners on Momo’s part. There was a pause as Momo awaited the response of her boss, knowing it was better to wait than to enter the office without permission.

“Enter.”

Momo stiffened slightly as she moved as quickly as she could, twisting the handle and pushing open the door just enough to allow herself to slip inside the office. Momo, moved swiftly, stepping further into the room, and allowing the door to close itself behind her, giving her boss the privacy she seemed to desire these days. She moved with tentative steps as she closed the gap between herself and the large desk that was situated under the window, bowing her head in respect to her boss. Momo was quiet as she lifted her head, flicking her eyes over to where her boss was sitting, a soft smile pulling at the corners of her lips as she watched the young woman standing before her.

“My Lady, the next candidate for your secretarial position is here.”

“Thank you, I’ll ask that you bring them to me immediately Miss Yaoyorozu.” She responded in a soft-spoken voice, her eyes never once leaving Momo’s own.

Momo nodded instantly and turned on her heal, heading straight for the door where she hesitated for the briefest of moments with her hand hovering over the handle. She wasn’t sure whether she should take the opportunity to inform her boss that Mina was colour blind or if letting her find out for herself would be the better option. It wasn’t something Momo had thought would be important when she had suggested Mina for the position, but now she was starting to wonder whether her boss would ridicule her friend for something like that.

She shook her head quickly, dispelling the doubts from her mind as she turned the handle and pulled the door open. There was no point in her ruining her friends’ chance at getting a new job before she had even been given a chance to prove her worth. She raced back down the darkened hall, the lights constantly dimmed just as the boss had asked for them to be; something Momo had never once questioned in her time working there. Her nerves were vibrating with excitement as she made her way back towards Mina, eager to get her back there into her boss’ office.

“Momo, why are you running?” Mina asked as she saw the woman bounding back down the hallway towards her, afraid that she might bound right out the top of her dress if she wasn’t careful!

“Oh yeah, who is this woman and what colour is her hair?” She turned to motion back towards to huge photo handing on the wall in the back of the small room, frowning as she looked at it before looking back to her friend.

Momo blinked as she looked over to the photo, giving out a soft giggle as she looked back to Mina quickly. “You’re about to meet her, actually.” She quipped before grabbing Mina’s hand and pulling her along down the hallway.

Mina gasped as she was wrenched away from the wall and forced to follow Momo, stumbling over her feet as she tried desperately to keep up with her much taller friend. She wasn’t used to being the one who got dragged around like this, in their younger years it had been her who had dragged Momo around everywhere she went; this was a strange change in circumstances.

“Momo, little legs back here!” Mina complained as she pulled back on the other woman’s hand and forced her to walk at a much slower pace; shortening her stride to match Mina’s own. “What’s got you so excited all of a sudden?”

“I’m just glad that you might be working here is all. If this interview goes well, then you and I will be spending most of our time together in the same building; it’ll be just like it was when we were in college.” Momo chattered excitedly as she continued to make her way down the hallway. “Aren’t you excited that I might have snagged you a job?”

Mina couldn’t deny that she was excited for the possibility, but she was also aware of how painful it could be to get her hopes up too soon. She was so tired of being turned away from so many different jobs or companies simply because her eyes didn’t work the same as other peoples’ eyes did. Her hand tightened on reflex around Momo’s, seeking the familiar comfort she had found in them when they were kids.

“You have no idea how happy I am for this opportunity Momo, but you and I both know this all comes down to one singular thing.” Mina whispered as she dipped her head, unable to meet her friends’ eyes as she peered down at her feet and her eyebrows knit together.

“I know…”

Mina blinked as she heard the hesitation in Momo’s voice, lifting her head instantly to look at the other woman, a sense of dread seeping into her as they came to a slow stop a fair distance from the last door at the end of the hallway. “Yaomomo?”

“I didn’t tell her.” Momo admitted as she let go of Mina’s hand and turned to face her fully. “It wasn’t something I thought would be important when I recommended you for the position…” She looked back over her shoulder quickly; they were a safe enough distance from the office for this conversation. “It’s entirely up to you whether you tell her about your eyes or not, I didn’t feel like my place to ruin any chance you had before you even had a chance to show her how amazing you are!”

There was a moment of silence between them as Momo looked down to where Mina’s hands had become tangled in the hem of her shirt, twisting the material tight between her fingers. She reached out and uncurled her fingers, pulling her hands tight into her own and giving a tight squeeze to them, hoping to reassure her friend in the process. Momo looked back up to Mina’s face and her heart ached as she saw the look of defeat and utter dismay plastered across her face.

“Hey, don’t make that face, smile. It’s not over yet. If she does happen to ask about it, then be honest with her please? For now, though, chin up and go in there with a smile.” Momo encouraged as she pulled Mina the rest of the way down the hallway towards the door.

“Also, remember what I said earlier yeah?”

Mina nodded as she recalled Momo’s previous words to her about how to act around her boss, though she couldn’t shake the feeling of terror that was starting to brew inside her. “It’s ok, I remember what you said perfectly.” She admitted before sighing heavily and straightening up.

“Right, no time to back out. I’m going to go in there and prove I can do this!”

“That’s the spirit!” Momo smiled as she clapped her hands together, glad to see that Mina had given up on herself just yet. “Right, knock and wait for approval before you enter the office, ok?”

“Yup, understood Yaomomo.” Mina said as she gave the best smile she could muster to the other woman before moving to hug her tight.” Thank you so much for this.” She whispered against her ear, trying to keep herself from breaking down into a nervous wreck as she held her friend close.

“My pleasure, go get that job girl.” Momo whispered before pulling away from her friend and walking off down the hallway, disappearing into the darkness.

Mina took a deep, steadying breath as she ran a hand back through her hair roughly, straightening her shirt as she looked down at herself. She felt like an utter mess as she stood there, her mind completely roiling in turmoil from the little bombshell Momo had blindsided her with at the last minute there. There was no telling what she looked like to others right now, but she was certain that if it had been too bad Momo would have said something or told her to get out of her head like Katsuki often did. Mina steadied her breathing as she looked up at the wooden door before her, quirking an eyebrow as she read the name printed across the door. She nodded to herself before extending her hand and rapping her knuckles against the door, holding her breath as she waited for a reply.

“Enter!”

God, that voice… Mina wasn’t sure if it was just because of the thick door standing between them but the voice that called out to her was amazing; it was almost heavenly. There was a sense of power behind that voice, as though they were someone who could ruin her entire life if she said the wrong thing to them. Mina shook her head, snapping herself from her ridiculous thought and grabbed the handle, twisting it quickly to open the door. She pushed the door open, struggling a bit as she realised the door wasn’t just thick but was sturdy and that made it far heavier than it had seemed. Managing to create a gap large enough for her smaller frame to slip through, Mina quickly stepped into the room and jumped slightly as the door snapped shut behind her. She blinked rapidly as she stared at the door, darkness enveloping her senses and causing the panic inside her to roar back to life fiercely.

Mina stood by the door as she allowed her eyes the time they needed to adjust to the minimal light in the room before her. She had thought the hallway had been dark but the room before her was extremely dark within and it was a little unsettling for her. She flicked her eyes about, noticing the blinds had been drawn shut and, in her opinion, it gave the office more of a bedroom feel. Her eyes focused on the small lamp that sat illuminating the vast desk of which it sat upon, though to her it was merely a speck of grey within the black that clouded her vision. Mina took a shaky breath as she registered the presence of someone sitting behind that large desk, their figure silhouette by the lamp as they shifted in their seat.

You watched from the comfort of your position behind your desk as the woman across the room hesitated by the door, unsure as to whether she should proceed into the darkened office. It wasn’t like it was dark outside or anything like that, you just preferred to sit in the darkness; it brought a strange sense of comfort to you. Your ear flicked towards the woman as she cleared her throat and proceeded to make her way across the room. As her figure drew closer to your desk, your eyes focused on her as she came into the light, her frame seemed slim at first glance but you could make out the muscle hidden beneath her clothing. You flicked your ears up fully as she bowed over before you, her face becoming hidden as she lowered her upper body in a sign of respect.

“You seemed to have hesitated at the door there.” You stated as you leaned back within your seat, watch the woman closely with your sharp eyes as you tilted your head to the left.

“I had to allow my eyes time to adjust to the room.” Mina whispered hesitantly as she kept her head bowed, not daring to look up at the woman before her.

“Perhaps this will help then.”

There was silence between the two of you as the lights flickered on over head with a quick wave of your hands, a slight smile pulling at the corners of your lips as the room was illuminated completely. You watched for a moment as Mina straightened up, blinking rapidly as she shielded her eyes from the sudden light of the room. “Now, be seated and let us begin.”

Mina nodded as she looked around her, moving to sit in the only seat present in the room other than the one you were currently sitting in, crossing her left leg over her right as she took her seat. She flicked her eyes over to you as she shuffled further back into the set, gaining comfort before going completely still in her seat. She gasped as she took you in, looking you over properly now, her heart stuttering as she allowed your image to sink in.

“It’s you!”

“Hmmm?”

Mina screamed internally, this was one of those times she cursed herself out for not having a filter between her brain and her mouth. “Ah, I just meant… the photo, the huge one hanging out in the main area.” She explained in a rush, scrambling to clarify what it was she was talking about. “The woman standing under the peach blossom tree in the kimono, it’s you, right?”

You blinked as you flicked your ears about, quirking an eyebrow as you watched the woman in wonder. “Yes, and it’s (Name) not you!” You stated matter-of-factly before sifting through the papers Momo had given you the day before.

“You’re Miss Ashido, correct?”

“Um, Mina… Mina would be preferred, please? If that wouldn’t be too much of a bother.” Mina corrected as she chewed on the inside of her cheek, her eyes never leaving your face as she stared at you. It had been a long time since anyone had called her by her family name, mainly because all her friends knew it was something that had bothered her. Miss Ashido was her mother and the only time Mina ever heard it was when said mother was reprimanding her for something she hadn’t even done.

Mina bit the inside of her cheek as she dragged herself out of her head, not wanting to think about her mother right now; there were far more important things to focus on. The biggest thing for her right now was you, there was so much Mina wanted to know about you but above everything else she wished she were able to see what colour your skin was and what colour your hair really was!

“Mina, you seem to be more than qualified for the position of being my secretary. Miss Yaoyorozu speaks very highly of you as well; I do hope you understand that her recommendation alone doesn’t guarantee you the position.” There was no hint of play in your voice as you skimmed over her resume in your hand.

“Yes mam, I’m well aware of that.” Mina reassured as she twisted her fingers into the hem of her shirt, urging her stomach to settle as it roiled violently and no doubt stressing the poor material of one of her favourite shirts.

You frowned as you read over her resume, you had noted her mention of having travelled overseas to various countries and there were several jobs that lined up with the time she had spent travelling but that wasn’t what bothered you. Mina had returned home roughly six months ago, yet despite that she had been unable to land herself a job, not that she wasn’t highly qualified for whatever job she desired. It didn’t sit well with you for whatever reason, was this because she was lazy and didn’t want to work or was there something else at play here?

It bothered you more than it should have, you looked over her resume once more from the beginning again. Mina had all the skills necessary, hell she’d spent her years studying while abroad and was more than qualified for being your secretary. So, what on earth was it that had made it hard for her to land herself a job in the last six months.

“Tell me, Mina… I want to know a bit more about you.” You declared as you placed her resume down, ignoring it as you looked over at the younger woman. “How was it you and Miss Yaoyorozu came to know each other?”

“Momo?” Mina was a bit taken aback at the sudden question about her friend, blinking quickly as she relaxed back into her seat as best as she could manage; she didn’t want to allow herself to get comfortable just yet. “We met each other when we were in high school. She was the tall, beautiful girl that all the guys were fawning over but she was a big nerd.” She whispered as she reminisced back to much simpler days.

“That doesn’t answer my question specifically.” You interrupted as you placed your elbows on your desk, tucking your hands under your chin as you leaned forwards and watched the woman. It was true she hadn’t answered your question, but she had shown you both with her answer and her facial expression, just how fond of Miss Yaoyorozu she was.

“You’ve given me the where but not the how.”

“Oh…ah…” Mina laughed nervously as she rubbed the back of her neck and looked away, her cheeks flooding with heat as she chewed her bottom lip. “It’s kind of embarrassing really.” She admitted eventually, looking back to you as she smiled sheepishly.

“I’d like to hear it, if you wouldn’t mind, Mina.”

Mina nodded as she smiled and dropped her hand from her hair, twisting her fingers back into her shirt as she lowered her eyes to focus on the surface of your desk. “We met when I beat up a guy who had been harassing her, really I just put him in his place.” She admitted sheepishly as her hand twisted into the fabric of her shirt tighter. She knew that it probably wasn’t something she should be admitting to at an interview for a job, the fact she got violent towards someone else, but you had asked her for an answer and Momo had told her to be honest with you.

“Embarrassing?”

Your voice cut through Mina’s turmoil as you watched her curiously, wondering just what it was that had her biting at her lip as she was. “I fail to see how that is embarrassing. You saved Miss Yaoyorozu the embarrassment of being harassed by a boy. Quite courageous of you.” You complemented as you pushed back into your chair, folding your arms over your stomach comfortably. “I can see now why Miss Yaoyorozu values you so.”

“Momo is too kind for her own good.” Mine whispered absentmindedly as she smoothed out the hem of her top properly.

“Oh? Care to explain?”

“Look what she’s gone and done for me. She bends over backwards for people all the time but never expects any help in return, it was the sort of thing that used to drive Blasty insane in high school.” Mina shrugged as she smiled and turned her head to the side, her eyes softening as she looked at the photo hanging on the wall. “Momo is like a sister to me; I don’t like seeing her upset.”

“Loyalty and devotion.” You whispered as you flicker your ears about, your tails swirling to life behind you as you watched Mina closely.

Mina’s focus on the photo hanging over on the wall was shattered when an odd sound reached her ears, whipping her head around instantly to locate the source of the noise. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of your tails bunched up behind you, a couple of them stirring to life as they squirmed about against the floor. She was more than willing to bet that your tails would have been the same colour as what your hair was, if only she could tell what colour that was exactly.

“Something wrong, Mina?” You interrupted as you curled your tails tighter into one another and hid them again. It hadn’t been your intention to distract her with your tails, in fact you hadn’t really been expecting her to notice them quite that fast, it was as though she had been able to sense their movement.

“No, your tails are just really pretty.” Mina whispered as she flicked her eyes down to the surface of your desk once more, too embarrassed to look you I the eye after saying the words.

You sighed heavily in annoyance as you leaned back away from her, your eyes flicking down to land on her resume on your desk. “I hear that quite often; people seem to have an odd fascination with my tails.” You stated in a dull tone as you flicked your ears back against your head.

“Don’t know why, your face is much prettier.” Mina muttered as she brushed her hand over her knee quickly, straightening out a kink in her pants and once against cursing her lack of filter.

It took you a moment to register what it was Mina had just muttered across from you, but as her words sunk in it caused your ears to flick up fully and for your tails to rapidly stir to life. Mina ad your full attention as you stared over at the woman before you. “You think I’m pretty?”

Mina was certain someone could cook a full three course meal off her face with the amount of heat she could feel in it. She shook her head quickly as her mind raced, not quite sure how to explain exactly how beautiful she thought you were in words. “Pretty doesn’t really do you justice… but you’ve probably heard all of that before, I can’t be the first person to call you pretty.” She admitted finally as she chewed feverishly at her bottom lip, her heart threatening to break through her ribs as it pounded in her chest.

“You hear quite a lot over ten thousand years.”

Mina’s head snapped up, tearing her eyes away from the surface of your desk as she looked over at you in bewilderment, her eyes finding your face but your own eyes were hidden from her. She hadn’t missed how soft your voice had sounded when you had spoken that sentence, nor had she missed the tenderness or how it was filled with a solemn desire. If Mina had to describe the way you looked in that moment, she would paint you as the depiction of raw sadness and an intangible loneliness. Just seeing you in such a state had her heart aching with pain, she had never seen someone so lonely before but then again, ten thought years; she’d be hard-pressed finding anyone who wasn’t lonely after that length of time.

“I’m sorry…”

“What for?”

“I made you sad.” Mina whispered as she leaned forwards in her seat, watching you as her bottom lip jutted out in a pout.

“I’m not sad, Mina.” You assured her as you lifted your eyes to look over at the much younger woman, not having expected her to be so emotionally inclined when it came to reading other people.

“(Name)!”

You couldn’t help the way your eyes instantly blew wide, your head snapping up as your tails flicked up off the ground and splayed out on full display behind you. “What did you just say?” You asked in disbelief as you stared across at Mina. It had been such a long time since you had last heard it, but even if just for a moment you had been given that chance to hear your name once again.

“Your name?”

Silence fell over the room as you watched Mina and she returned your gaze with a look of utter confusion. She had absolutely no idea what it was she had just done and honestly, it wasn’t something you ever expected her to understand, now was it something you would wish for her to have to experience in her lifetime.

“You said it before, (Name). Was I not supposed to call you by that or something? I’m so sorry if I’ve offended you in some way by using your actual name.” Mina quickly blurted out, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable in her seat.

You shook your head quickly, blinking back the flood of tears that had filled your eyes and were threatening to spill over as you flicked your ears about. “No… It’s quite alright.” You whispered as a smile graced your lips.

“That’s better, you look much prettier with a smile on your face.” Mina cooed without thinking as she smiled over at you, her hands clasping together in her lap as she rocked back into her seat.

“Mina… can I ask you something?” You murmured as your tails wrapped around your body gently.

“Sure, I’m kind of like an open book though and fair warning, most of the time I don’t really have a filter; you’ve probably gathered that by now though.” Mina blurted as she rocked back and forth in her seat, her eyes never leaving your face despite the level of embarrassment she was feeling right now with how many times she had called you pretty.

“Why is it that you haven’t been able to secure yourself a job? You’ve been back home in this country for the past six months but you’re only now trying to get a job?” You asked, not particularly wanting to dwell on the previous subject anymore; it was distracting.

Mina stopped with the rocking she had taken to, her smile slipping from her face as she flicked her eyes down away from your face and instead focused on the carpet beneath her feet. “I’ve had plenty of interviews since I got back, all of them for jobs I know I can do but… there was always a problem that would get in the way, things about me that they didn’t like or agree with.”

“Is that so? I take it your hair is one of those things?” You countered as you motioned towards her hair, you felt back about having made her stop smiling but you needed answers to the millions of questions nagging at your mind.

Mina blinked as she reached up and patted the long part of her hair which was still sitting to the left of her head, smiling as she looked up at it before allowing her eyes to meet with yours once more. “Yeah, kind of… I’ve always had it dyed pink, sorry if that bothers you.” She explained as she bowed her head, apologising to you in a respectful manner.

Oh? So, it was pink, was it? You quirked an eyebrow as you looked up at her hair, you hadn’t been thinking about the colour when you had mentioned her hair, but it was nice to know her hair was pink. It didn’t bother you what style of hair or what colour hair your employees had; it wasn’t like you could see the colours anyway.

“I think it’s still pink…”

You flicked your eyes up as you frowned, looking over at Mina as she fiddled with her shirt once more, the fabric so clearly stressed to your eyes from the number of times she had twisted it between her fingers. “What did you just say?” You asked as you leaned in towards your desk anxiously, wanting to know whether you had misheard her or not.

“Oh, ah… nothing. It doesn’t matter.” Minna rebutted as she waved her hand out in front of her face. “By the way, are you sitting on a stool?” She asked, an attempt no doubt to change the subject away from her momentary brain fart.

You frowned as you sat there in silence for a moment, staring across at Mina as you crossed your arms over your chest. “Yes, it’s a Yanagi Butterfly stool.” You clarified as you tilted your head to the side, watching as Mina chattered away.

There was no mistaking the words she had previously said, not if her reaction was anything to go by. She was unsure as to whether her hair was pink or not. You flicked your ears about as you looked down at your legs where they were crossed on your stool. Was it possible that Mina didn’t know what colour her hair was? Perhaps she was unable to see the colour of pink and thus she was unsure as to whether her hair was pink or not. There seemed to be more questions now than there were before.

What else did her previous interviewers not agree with about her?

Was she colour bling to the colour pink?

Why did your questions make her so uncomfortable before?

And why did she deny having said those words just now?

As you pondered over the questions that were springing to life in your mind and the possible answers to them, you had completely lost focus on Mina. You flicked your eyes over to her and noticed that she was still yapping away, causing you to smile softly at the way her eyes seemed to be full of such life or how her lips subconsciously pulled into a smile as she talked.

Your eyes widened as your mind suddenly traced back over the entire conversation you’d had with Mina. There wasn’t a single time that Mina had said anything about the colour of your hair, not your tails. She hadn’t said anything about the colour of the peach blossoms in the photo adorning the wall in the main lobby either. It struck you as off that she hadn’t said anything about the unusual shade of orange the blossoms had taken on that particular year. Momo had been the one to ask you why the petals were orange instead of their characteristic pink, you hadn’t known until then that they had even been orange.

As you continued to watch Mina, she stopped talking and looked over at you, she had obviously noticed that your mind was reeling as you thought over everything else that she had said and the history of her failed interviews. It wasn’t just pink!

It hit you like a tonne of bricks, as though the answer should have been obvious to you from the moment the interview had started. Mina couldn’t see colour and you were certain of that now; it was the only explanation as to why so many places would turn her away. She had an amazing personality; she was cheerful and chatty, there was no reason for her not to have a job really.

“(Name)?” Mina’s voice was shaky and uncertain as she watched you, her eyes focused away from your face as a look of panic began to etch across her features.

You blinked quickly as you followed her gaze, without thinking you had reached across the surface of your desk; your hand outstretched towards Mina’s face. You coughed as you pulled your hand back away from her instantly, hiding it away in your lap before draping one of your tails over your lap; as though doing that would stop your hand from moving again.

“I apologise for that; I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s fine, it just came out of nowhere was all.” Mina reassured you as she rubbed at the back of her neck. “You know, it you want to touch my hair, you only have to ask me.”

There was the briefest of pauses between the two of you as a frown etched itself across your face and her words sunk in to your very soul. You stood up from your stool instantly, moving away from your desk as your tails swayed briskly behind you. What the hell had come over you? It was almost like your instincts had spurred your body into motion with your realisation of what may be going on with the woman sitting across from you. You sighed heavily in exasperation as you closed your eyes, trying desperately to clear your mind of any thoughts at all. You couldn’t allow yourself to become deluded with the possibility that Mina might be colour blind as you were.

“Hey, (Name)… are you ok?” Mina’s voice was soft as she spoke and close, oh so very close.

You turned your head quickly, peering over your shoulder at her as your ears flicked around in her direction. There was one way to put your mind at ease and you knew that; the surest way to stop your stupid thoughts from pestering you for the remainder of this interview. You turned your body around slowly, facing towards Mina as she stood before you and flicked your eyes down to look into hers.

“I apologise, but there is a need for me to do this…” You whispered softly as you watched her intently, unable now to pull your eyes away from hers.

Mina was silent as she stared up at you, her eyebrows pulling together out of confusion as she thought about your words. Need to do what? The way you had said the words, it was an odd choice of phrasing; almost as though spoken by someone not from this time. Why were you apologising to her anyway, you hadn’t don’t anything wrong… wait, were you about to say no to her? Tell her she didn’t have the job, that she had failed because she talked too much!

“(Name)?”

“Forgive me.”

Your tails flicked about anxiously behind you, betraying the true nature of your feelings as you raised your hand up towards Mina’s face. You could keep your hands from shaking, it felt as though your heart was in your throat, threatening to suffocate you with its insufferable pounding. Your eyes locked with Mina’s as you pressed the palm of your hand against the warmth of her cheek, your breath catching in your throat as you braced yourself. Mina gasped as your hand met her skin and it hit you! Like a wave crashing against the shore, it hit you and it hit you hard. Your eyes widened in a wonderous mix of shock and elation as everything changed, as your mind was thrown into overdrive.

GOLD!

You had watched the precious metal be melted on several occasions and had often wondered to yourself what it would really look like; not you knew. It was like looking down into pools of molten lava, Mina’s eyes were shining bright as she stared up into your own. You couldn’t bring yourself to move and you didn’t dare to look away from those breath-taking orbs, the orbs that would forever be your first taste of colour!

Your world blurred rapidly as you stared down at Mina, the tears you’d previously blinked away now flooding your eyes and falling to land against your cheeks as you leaned into her. You pressed your foreheads together as you brought your other hand up to cup her other cheek. “Thank you…” Your voice was tender and shaky as you spoke the words, your breath barely there as you struggled to come to terms with your circumstances.

Ten millennia you had lived your life, constantly annoyed, and frustrated about not having colour in your life. Ten thousand painful years of thinking you would forever be alone in this world, trapped in a monochromatic world all of your own. You couldn’t help it, there was no containing your tears as relief flooded your system and your body shook from your sobs. This amazing woman, whose face you now held within your hands had given you the ultimate gift; the gift of colour. Her very existence in itself was the most precious gift you would ever be granted in life, but the ability to finally see colour was more than you could bare.

“(NAME)!”

Mina’s arms shot out instantly, moving around your body as your knees gave out, the two of you sinking to the floor as she pulled you in close to her body. She blinked back her tears as she moved her hand up to touch your hair, it was stunning, even more beautiful than she had imagined it would be. Her hand shook as she corded her fingers through your hair, the colour of your eyes still burned into her mind as she sat there with you.

“I don’t understand, why am I able to see colour all of a sudden?”

You let out a few laughs as you nuzzled your face into the crook of her neck, your hands remaining on her face and refusing to let go. Opening your eyes slowly, you took in what Mina was wearing and allowed yourself the chance to soak up the colours of your soulmate. She was so beautiful; her hair was the most vibrant shade of pink and her skin was sun-kissed. You pulled away from her reluctantly, looking into her eyes as you pulled her face in close to your own.

“It’s you!”

“Me? (Name), you’re not making much sense here.” Mina countered as she looked up into your eyes, there was such depth to them and they held so much lover for her that it was almost overwhelming.

“Kitsune keep it to themselves so I’m not surprised you don’t know, but we have soulmates. Each of us is different in the way we find out soulmates. I, myself, was born without the ability to see colour; I imagine your life has been much the same.” You managed to breath out as you tried desperate to reign in your composure.

“Yes… I was going to tell you but, I was born with Monochromacy; it means I see in black and white.” Mina admitted as her bottom lip jutted out into a pout, not having wanted to tell you about it like this.

“No, it was because of me. Mina, you are my soulmate!”

Your ears flicked up at the same time your tails stirred to life, the realisation of what was happening really dawning on you as the words were said aloud; making it real for the both of you. “I’ve spent ten millennia living in a world where I was unable to see the beauty of everything around me or that of the people who lived right beside me. I have been waiting all that time for my soulmate to complete me, I had given up hope a long time ago.” You whispered as you leaned down, pressing your forehead against hers once more and closing your eyes.

“So, I was born to love you huh?” Mina mumbled as she tilted her head back a fraction, touching the tip of her nose against your own as she gave a soft smile. “Ten thousand years… I’ve made you wait a long time, haven’t I (Name)?” She whispered tenderly as she rubbed her nose with yours.

You hummed in response to her as your tails moved carefully and wrapped themselves around her body, lifting her off the ground before pulling her into your lap as you sat there with her. As your heart settled back into a steady rhythm, you opened your eyes and were greeted by her golden orbs; a surge of pure adoration washing over you as you let it all sink in. This woman in your arms was yours, she was born to love you while you her and that was precisely what you planned to do.

“I’m here now…”

“Kept me waiting long enough…”