AN: FREEDOM for Foxgirls!
The moon hung high over Orario, casting a silver glow over the slumbering city. Most of the pleasure district was alive with drunken laughter and the faint scent of exotic perfumes, but within the Ishtar Familia's estate, tension buzzed beneath the surface. Guards prowled the hallways, and hidden eyes watched every movement within the brothel-like walls.
None of them noticed the shadow that slipped through their defenses.
Harry, clad in a dark, fitted coat, his features masked by illusion, moved without sound. With practiced ease, he scaled the walls, his enhanced senses guiding him toward a familiar presence. The moment he reached the balcony of Haruhime's quarters, he peered through the delicate silk curtains.
Inside, the golden-haired Renard sat on her futon, her ears twitching slightly as if sensing something out of place.
With a flick of his fingers, the lock on her window clicked open.
Haruhime gasped softly as the window slid open without a sound, revealing a shadowy figure. Before she could react, Harry stepped forward, placing a finger over his lips in a silent command. Recognition dawned in her eyes, and she swallowed back a cry of surprise.
"Yogiri-san?" she whispered, using the alias he had given her.
Harry smirked as he stepped inside, closing the window behind him. "It's me. But let's not use that name anymore. I'm here to get you out, Haruhime."
Her green eyes widened, shimmering with unshed tears. "You mean... truly? I can leave?"
He nodded, kneeling before her and taking her hands gently. "Yes. I have a place where you'll be safe—people who will welcome you, not as a tool, but as a person."
The fox girl bit her lip, tears slipping down her cheeks. For years, she had resigned herself to this fate, believing that her worth had been stolen along with her innocence. Yet, in Harry's emerald eyes, she saw no judgment, only an unshakable resolve to see her free.
"I... I have friends," she murmured, hope and hesitation warring within her. "Mikoto... and the others from Takemikazuchi Familia. I thought I'd never see them again."
"Then let's make sure you do." Harry smiled warmly before shifting to a more serious tone. "But first, we need to get you out without setting off alarms. That's where this comes in."
With a wave of his wand, a shimmering puppet took form beside them—a perfect replica of Haruhime, complete with her gentle breathing patterns and occasional twitches of her fox ears. From a distance, it would fool even the most watchful eyes.
Haruhime stared at it in awe, her ears perking up. "That looks just like me…"
"Good. Now, into the bag," he said, holding up an enchanted leather satchel.
She blinked at him. "I—What?"
Harry chuckled. "It's bigger on the inside, and it'll keep you hidden. Plus, you'll be perfectly comfortable. Trust me."
With an uncertain glance at the bag, Haruhime hesitated before nodding, placing her trust in him. She took a deep breath, then carefully stepped into the bag, vanishing within the dark interior.
Securing it over his shoulder, Harry cast one last glance at the room before stepping onto the balcony.
His body tensed for a moment before he vanished, flashing into the night sky.
From the streets below, Aisha Belka had just begun her journey toward the Dungeon. She was eager to burn off her frustrations, her thoughts heavy with the orders from Ishtar. Orders she had no intention of following.
Then, something caught her eye.
A golden streak shot through the sky like a falling star, disappearing into the distance.
A smirk spread across her lips, her sultry eyes shimmering with amusement. She could feel it in her gut—the shift of fate.
"Thank you, my hero, Harry," she murmured before turning back toward Babel, her mind now free of worry.
Atop the Hearth Manor, Harry settled down with his satchel, the city stretching before him. With a whispered spell, the bag loosened, and Haruhime slowly peeked out, her golden tail flicking in the cool air.
She blinked as she took in the sight of the desperate chaos below. Members of the Ishtar Familia scurried like headless chickens, calling her name, peeking into alleyways, and even interrogating bystanders.
Haruhime giggled softly, covering her mouth. "They're really searching everywhere."
Harry smirked, reclining against the rooftop. "Some of them are panicking so much they're interrogating their own guards."
She gasped, turning to look—and sure enough, two Amazonesses were arguing with another, accusing her of incompetence.
"W-Wait, is that one crying?" she asked, spotting a particularly distressed courtesan sitting against a wall, mumbling something about "no work until she returns."
Harry chuckled. "Told you. Some of them are pretty dramatic."
Haruhime giggled again, her laughter light and pure. For the first time in years, she felt free—light, as if the chains of her past were starting to slip away.
After a few more minutes of watching the disarray below, Harry stood, offering his hand.
"Come on. Time to meet your new family."
Haruhime hesitated for only a moment before taking his hand, her heart thudding with anticipation.
The reaction inside Hearth Manor was exactly as Harry had expected.
The moment Haruhime stepped inside, Lili and Hestia's eyes widened with instant adoration.
"She's adorable!" Hestia squealed, grabbing Haruhime into a tight hug, rubbing her cheek against the fox girl's.
Lili, ever the cautious one, initially narrowed her eyes. "She's from the Ishtar Familia, isn't she?"
Haruhime flinched at the accusation, but Harry stepped in with a reassuring smile. "Not anymore."
Lili sighed, then gave a small nod. "Fine. But if she causes trouble—"
"I won't," Haruhime promised sincerely.
Bell and Welf, meanwhile, had similar reactions—though Welf mostly admired her unique fox features, while Bell, in typical Bell fashion, blushed at her beauty.
And then came the moment of truth.
Hestia pricked Haruhime's finger, pressing it against the divine paper. A soft glow filled the room before the goddess's eyes widened.
"…It's official. Welcome to the Hestia Familia."
Haruhime's breath hitched.
After all this time… she was home.