The Tale Of Kitsuna

Chapter 132

Cannon Fodder, there is a lot of debate and references made worldwide for this word or phrase. Some say it’s meat shields that are made to protect the more trained or more privileged people in the world.

Others say they are there to distract. To be an annoyance to the enemy and make them let their guards from attacks behind or from the sides.

In essence, cannon fodder is a sacrifice made by the higher-ups because they are incompetent and can’t make proper strategies where fewer people die.

But what makes you cannon fodder? Your lack of strength? Your birthplace? Society? Are you being unmotivated and falling behind other people?

Do you want the answer to that?

Well, you aren’t getting any.

Remember this you are a living thing, and life is precious.

“That’s what my mother told me just before she died in battle protecting her soldier from a cannon shot.” An said with a tingle of sadness in her voice.

.....

“That quite dumb last words if I say so myself, rawr,” I said only to get hit over the head.

Bam.

“Kitsu, be respectful,” Kayda said, glaring at me.

“To someone, I have never met? I don’t think so and don’t bring it that she is a war hero. I don’t care.” I said, waving her off casually while rubbing the back of my head.

“Kitsu,” Kayda said in a low voice.

“Kayda, stop. I understand how you won’t respect the dead, but don’t you think her speech was somewhat inspiring.” An said, making Kayda calm down a bit.

“Hmm, for any normal person, it would be, I guess, but-”

“But for you, it sounds like complete bullshit?” An said, ending my sentence.

“No, not quite. It’s that she didn’t give you an answer that makes it dumb last words. How old were you when she died?” I said, shrugging and ignoring the questionable gazes.

“5.”

“So, at 5, what did you think about your mother?” I asked, looking at her, intrigued.

“She was my world.” An said with a nostalgic smile.

“Okay, and what do you think about her today?” I said, nodding at her answer.

“She is my hero, and I miss her a lot.” An said with a nostalgic smile.

“Hmm, okay then if she answered her own question with. ‘The peasant is there to sacrifice their lives for me.’ And I do mean me not us but for me.” I explain clearly.

“She would never.” An said, glaring up at me.

“Obviously not. Dumbass, she sacrificed herself for her soldiers. Do you really think someone like that would say something like this?” I said, looking at her like she was dumb.

“No, I guess not.” An mumbled, looking away, embarrassed.

“Thank you! Now back to the topic. What would you have thought about her answer back when you were 5?” I asked, giving her a side glance.

“Nothing, I wouldn’t really understand what she meant.” An said, tilting her head.

“Okay, if you were your age now?” I added with a small grin, already knowing her answer.

“She is trash. Someone who shouldn’t have been at her position.” An said to sound very disgusted.

“See, so in the end, with an answer to a question like that, you could learn a lot about someone even if it is 20 years later,” I said, smiling at their shocked faces.

“...”

“...”

“Man, this city is beautiful when it snows,” I said, looking at the white woof tops and roads.

“Kitsuna, what will your answer be to what is cannon fodder?” An asked, looking at me.

“What is? I will say everyone, I guess. There is nothing like standing or privileges when it comes to cannon fodder in my eyes.” I said, smiling, not taking my eyes off the white city.

“What?” Hearing my reply An shocked in surprised.

“Kitsu, what do you mean by that,” Kayda asked, confused.

“Hmm, how to explain this. Everyone is born to do something in their life. To protect someone, kill someone or whatnot. So, everyone is cannon fodder for someone else. It might not be like sacrificing the life of the person, but it could also be putting someone on the right path in life and later on bringing in more cannon fodder.” I explained, gesturing with my arms.

“So, you mean to say my mom and everyone else is cannon fodder in your eyes?”

“Yes, yes, of course, and when you die, you have fulfilled your mission as cannon fodder or whatever you want to call someone’s life circle,” I said, shrugging.

“... That something I didn’t think you would ever say.” An said, shaking her head.

“Hmm, really? why?” I said, surprised, tilting my head at her.

“It’s just I never thought you were that selfish.” An said, looking up at me with a thoughtful expression.

“Selfish? How am I self-? Oh, wait, when I said everyone, I did include myself, you know?”

“... Oh, I thought. Sorry, it was a misunderstanding then.”

“Kitsu, what am I to you?” Kayda suddenly asked, dropping a bomb o to me.

“...”

“...”

“...”

Complete silence and a very awkward one at that befell us after Kayda’s question. All I could do I look at her with an unreadable expression and a million answers and questions going around in my head.

Kayda, on her part, was looking at me with an expression that I didn’t want to even think about.

I didn’t know what An expression was, but I could swear she had stopped breathing.

‘Is she being stupid right now? What is she to me? Wait, does she actually want me to confess!?’ I thought in distress.

“Hey, guys, how could you just leave without me,” Katie said, running up to us.

“Oh, sorry, we didn’t mean to walk too far. We just got caught up in conversation.” An said to bring everyone out their thoughts.

Letting go of the wheelchair, I let Katie start pushing Her mother. Not long after, we began to walk again towards the festival. Walking next to Kayda, I grabbed her sleeve.

“I will answer it later. Let me just think,” I mumbled soft enough that only Kayda could hear me.

‘I guess at the end of the festival will be a good time to tell her about my feelings.’ I thought, putting an illusion on myself to hide my blushing face.

“Okay.”

“Hey, mom, did those two fights or something,” Katie whispered to her mother.

“No, they just left something unsaid, and it is making it awkward.” An answered, trying to be as soft as she could.

“Huh, I actually thought they would be on that same wavelength seeing as they are lovers and all.”

“... Katie, they aren’t lovers. Well, not yet.”

“What!? I thought they... wow guess I am bad at reading people.” Katie whispered, seeing her mom shaking her head.

“Well, to be honest, I also thought they were lovers at first and still do now, but I think it’s more like they haven’t declared it yet.”

“I see, so do you think.”

“Yeah, tonight might be the night they-”

“Fuck! I can fucken hear you two, you fucken elephants!!” I yelled, annoyed, flustered and twenty other emotions crawling around my body, making me feel uncomfortable.

“Elephant? What is that?”

“It’s a big fat animal,” I said, annoyed, glaring at the two.

“What are you call us fat!” Katie said, baffled.

“No loud,” I said, giving her a deadpan look.

“It’s your fault that you could hear us. Who said you should listen to our-”

“An shut up before I rip out your tongue,” I said, reaching the limit of my annoyance.

“Okay, okay, I will stop.” An said, lifting her hands in surrender.

‘Sigh, so fucking annoying. I am really starting to hate myself because I save her teasing asses. And Katie is like someone else since her mother came back.’ I thought, trying to calm myself down.

“But I want it to be fun to tease them.”

“Fucken hell, it’s someone else’s relationship. If you want to make a comment about it, at least think about them first,” I said, glaring at both of them.

“Okay, we-”

.....

“I mean, come on, the one is still too young to have one. Frankly, she is too young to even think about it. Then the other one divorced her husband or more like her sperm donor. Why did you even have a wedding and everything if you were going to divorce him after a few months? Oh, right, because you were pregnant.” I said in a sarcastic tone.

“Hey, that’s going.” An said, a bit angry.

“Oh, is it? I mean, I could also talk about your skin.”

“Kitsu, that’s enough,” Kayda said, grabbing my hand.

“Is it, though?” I said, tilting my head at her.

“Kitsu, calm down right now,” Kayda said, making me look at her.

“Sigh, okay, I am calm,” I said, still not feeling any calmer.

“And you two. You guys love to talk and talk, but you get all mad when someone else talks back. It’s pathetic, really.” Kayda said, glaring at the two demons reprimanding them with a demanding voice.

‘Sigh, she is so fucken hot right now. Did I just.’ I thought, feeling my face burn up. Dropping down in a crouch position, I covered my face.

“I want to disappear,” I mumbled.

“What happened with you,” Kayda said, just looking at me, confused with the other two demons doing the same.