Seek and Sought

Story by ReynartWrites on SoFurry

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A lone warrior wishes to test their mettle against others in order to discover themselves, and yet, there are other ways and many teachers in life willing to teach.

Shura belongs to https://twitter.com/LewdYua


A long road skirted the side of a range of mountains that covered a valley. This road was mainly used by travelers and merchants who had business outside of the valley and so it was littered in various parts with carts drawn by various feral creatures and the occasional single merchant carrying packs on their back. Bandits generally stayed off of this highway due to the fact that there were lords who put their money on the goods going through the road. Today was one of the few days that the road seemed empty, the winding paths only occupied by the passing leaves whispering on the breeze. A single feline walked the path with dark grey fur and pink hair frosted with black, a long scar touching one of their cheeks. Their eyes were a fierce rose and their haori was touched with the same color along the sleeves with black encompassing the main body. The haori was open and only half-worn as they only had one arm and a set of bandages wrapped around their waist. A katana sat in its sheath looped through a sash. They walked barely making a sound despite the sandals they wore and kept their eyes fixed on the winding road ahead of them. Shura had come through this way hearing that there were strong warriors often guarding the highway but all they had seen today were merchants who stepped aside and bowed toward them. Shura was a ronin, and yet, not at all. Ronin were wandering samurai searching for work and at times a shogun to give their blade to. They were indeed a wandering samurai but they did not draw their weapon for the whims of petty lords. All they wanted was the raw expression of battle to learn more about themselves and the world around them. They had nary a memory of their own and it felt like they had only been truly conscious for about a year. The way of the sword had come naturally to them and thus, they clung onto it for they knew nothing else about themselves except their name and an odd throbbing where their arm had once been. As they were about to lower their guard and bemoan how boring the day was, a stranger passed them by without making a sound.

The stranger in question was a tanuki with cinnamon fur and black coming up the arms and ending at the elbows. They had managed to catch a glimpse of those semi-canine features held in a smile. Shura had not sensed them at all, not in the slightest! They hadn't even heard their sandals on the dirt either. Excitement began to bubble in them as they took note of the frayed half-robes tanuki wore tied with a tight sash and more than that, she noted the weapon in their hands used as a walking stick. It was a simple long staff about the same height as the tanuki themselves.

Shura rushed ahead of the smiling stranger and turned toward them with a grin, their one paw resting atop of the pommel of their katana, "Hey! I noticed neither hide nor tail of your coming and with a stick like that, I can only guess that you're some sort of warrior or a monk, or both! Either way, let's have a duel!"

"No thank you." Said the tanuki with the same smile before they continued to walk past Shura.

As the tanuki walked past them, Shura blinked and remained entirely still for a few seconds as they registered the frank nature which they had been regarded. That had to be confirmation that the tanuki was a warrior because anyone else would have grovelled and yet, most warriors would ready themselves for a fight even if they said no. The tanuki had shown no sign of a guard, no care in the world at all as if Shura hadn't existed. Such a thing stung more than the tanuki would probably ever know and so they turned toward the raccoon dog and followed with a fluster.

"Hey! Don't think you can just brush me aside like that and get away with it! I asked for a duel!" Shura huffed as they followed along.

The tanuki chuckled and simply stated, "And I said no."

"Yeah, that's true but I could have drawn my weapon, and then you would have had to defend yourself. Why did you assume I would just accept your answer?"

A hum came from the tanuki as the smile faded from their face and a large hand came to grasp their chin, "You're correct. I could have been attacked with my back turned toward you or even while I was walking ahead of you but you didn't do such a thing and I suppose my instinct was right." The smile returned as the tanuki sighed, "It is good to know that there are those with blades that will not draw them without real reason. Of course, a duel might either be without reason or with depending on the context. Wouldn't you say?"

Shura blinked and opened their mouth for a moment before truly chewing on what the tanuki had said before they narrowed their eyes, "Hey...Did you just suggest that I had no reason to call a duel?"

"What I said, was that there are often those who fight without a reason and simply wish to draw steel for the sake of hearing it but if you were one of those you would have attacked me on the spot, correct?" When Shura looked down at the ground with a hard expression, the tanuki continued, "What are your reasons, little one?"

A small frown touched their features as they tried to think when was the last time someone had actually asked them for their reason for fighting. When they began, they looked up at the sky and sighed, "Well...I guess I started fighting because I have no memories and picking up a sword seemed like the most natural thing to do. I don't even really get how my emotions work most of the time. When I fight, there are a lot of sensations and feelings playing out at once. I feel like I'm actually here and that I actually exist when something strong, when something loud is happening and so I feel like it is the only way that I can figure out anything at all."

When those words left their mouth, they brought two digits up to their mouth and looked down wondering why in the world they had been so forthcoming about their reasoning? They did not know this stranger, did not even care about their name but they had run their mouth. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that looking at the odd tanuki made them feel like they were standing in an empty field awash in the gentle embrace of a spring breeze or perhaps they simply wanted to prove to themselves that they had a reason for fighting.

The tanuki continued smiling but the claws at their snout scratched at their chin while they spoke, "Interesting. I can't say I have met someone like you or that I have met someone with that type of story but I feel like I know of many who wish to thrust themselves into similar environments for similar reasons. I do not think it is wrong, however, many of these folk did not know that there are other ways to achieve what they wanted and so, the eventual strain of battling, of going after one opponent after another eventually changed many of them. There were some that remained resolute and managed to continue learning but others were not so lucky."

Shura frowned, "And who are you to say these things?"

Laughter came bubbling from tanuki as a hand came down on their stomach, "My name is Tano! But you should give your own when introducing yourself."

Despite the irritation they were feeling, their cheeks flushed with color beneath the fur as they snorted, "Shura. My name is Shura."

"Well, Shura." Tano began while stopping, "If you really are determined to learn about yourself through battle, then I suppose I can offer you a duel in exchange for a bet. If I win, then you will learn of a new way of experiencing life and if you win then I will give you the gourd hanging off of my waist. While it has alcohol in it right now, it could store plenty of water for your journey."

The feline didn't care about the gourd only that the tanuki had offered to accept the duel and so Shura rushed in front of Tano and inclined their head, "I accept your terms!"

Their paw came down to draw their sword in a single fluid motion, the blade held above their head in a stance to show that they were prepared but Tano simply stood in the same manner, one large hand holding onto their staff while those violet eyes watched them with a glimmer of something that appeared to them as humor. If they would not make the first move, then Shura would! Strong digits clutched their katana as they dashed forward and swiped down. As expected, the tanuki stepped back and away from the strike but the follow-up thrust met nothing. Not the staff, not the tanuki's body, simply nothing, and Shura noticed that they didn't see anyone standing before them either. A sound like a soft bell ringing from a breeze brushing against it touched their senses and they turned to see Tano standing there with the same smile and same stance. Shura's eyes grew wide, their grip wavering as they tried to remember if they had even seen the tanuki move. Surely it was a fluke, surely it was just a trick of their nervous mind, right?

Again they readied themselves to attack but this time they breathed in and out, calming the bubbling emotions they felt within them to sheathe their sword. They dashed forward and drew steel sparking against their sheathe and as it sang through the air, Tano brought a hand up as if in prayer. Their eyes grew wide but they could not stop their momentum now! The tanuki's claws pushed against the flat of the blade and they simply took a step to the side. Shura's momentum seemed to be pushed in the opposite direction, their blade hitting the ground along with their arm as they rolled through the dirt before they pushed themselves to their feet. Now Shura knew that hadn't been a fluke. The tanuki barely moved but each twitch of their body was made with such precision that even Shura could not fathom how it was possible. Such a warrior would give them a challenge but they would not give up. They dashed in again but stopped just before getting to Tano, swiping their blade through the air and turning. Tano avoided the slash as expected but Shura stopped mid-swing and thrust their elbow at the tanuki's body.

Tano brought their staff forward and absorbed the blow but it had been strong enough to send them skidding backward, the smile never fading from their expression as Shura followed and jumped to swing their sword again. Tano avoided the blade and Shura's leg twisted around in the air to drive into the tanuki's neck but their arm came up in time to block the blow. It was as if she were hitting the staff! Tano looked fluffy and even plump in places but their arms were hard! They kicked off of their block and landed before coming forward with their blade ready to swing again. This time, Tano moved forward and in one motion brought their staff up in a two-handed grip. Shura hissed and stopped their momentum as the wood sung up and past her chin. They stepped back and prepared themselves to strike back but sucked in a breath as they resisted the urge to yowl in pain. Tano's upward swing had not finished and attacking their face in such a way had masked a blow to the thigh. Where the staff had cracked, Shura could feel their muscles cramping and crying out in pain but they weren't going to give up so easily.

Just when they thought to attack again, they noticed that Tano's hand came off of the staff and was reaching out toward their chest. They noticed far too late and as it struck their chest, she was sent off of her feet. Their back hit the ground hard and they skid against the dirt while their katana fell to their side. Shura blew strands of hair from their face as they saw the staff hovering above their body.

"Learn anything?" Asked Tano.

Shura shut their eyes to not see the annoying tanuki while they answered with a sigh, "I learned that there are warriors in a class much higher than me."

A chuckle came from Tano, "I suppose if that is all you learned then I may claim my prize?"

They sat up with a groan and reached over to grab their sword, "I suppose so. Maybe I'll actually learn something instead of getting my tail summarily handed to me in a manner that I can't even be upset about."

Tano simply kept on smiling before they motioned for Shura to follow. The pair stepped off of the road and found a large tree to go behind. Shura watched as the tanuki set their staff against the tree but before they could ask what was happening, the tanuki began to strip. Their eyes grew wide as they watched Tano's clothes drop one by one until the raccoon dog was standing there in nothing at all, heavy balls and sheathe on display.

Coughing, Shura turned their head away, "Excuse me?! What exactly am I learning that involves you stripping?"

"The raw expression of the body. Certainly, there is fighting but have you ever thought of sex and passion?" Said the tanuki without a shred of shame.

The feline's cheeks had gone bright red, their mouth held in a firm line while they tried to think about what Tano was saying. Sex and passion? What did any of that have to do with figuring themselves out? They had enjoyed themselves with sex once or twice before but it didn't seem like anything special. Just something nice to earn a bit of extra coin or something to happen upon during a drunk evening. They had barely even thought of what they were feeling in the act, and yet, didn't that mean there was a blind spot? Shura only had limited experience and this tanuki seemed knowledgeable enough so perhaps they were onto something.

With a breath and a shrug, Shura began to slip out of their clothes, letting their katana rest against the tree while they muttered, "I suppose whether I learn something or not doesn't matter since this counts as your prize."

Gentle digits brushed along their back as the tanuki's voice came like a soft breeze against the ear, "You'll learn something. That I promise."

Shura rolled their eyes and finished stripping before turning toward the tanuki. They were sitting against the tree with their legs open, red tip poking out from the sheathe while they gestured with a hand, "So, what? Are we just going without any preparation?"

"Not at all. I have a few things prepared for us and more than that, I'd like for you to give the victor of this duel their proper respects."

Fist on hip, Shura snorted, "Didn't you say this was to teach me something?"

Tano grinned, fangs flashing as they spoke, "Now, I didn't say it wouldn't be fun for me!"

Again they found themselves rolling their eyes but that changed as they approached the tanuki and were seized by the legs and brought up in the air. Shura yelped and kicked out at Tano's face as the raccoon dog avoided the strike and placed their chin on Shura's thigh. One arm looped around their waist while a hand rested over their head pushing their lips against the tanuki's supple balls. Grumbling, guessing what Tano desired, Shura began to plant kisses along the balls, appreciating the warmth and heat but uncertain of how this could be a learning experience. The question in their mind repeated as their body was tugged up so their legs were resting on the tanuki's shoulders and their mouth was placed over the growing tip of Tano's cock. That canine shaft grew inch by inch until Shura found themselves wondering what type of preparations would ready them for such girth. They soon received their answer as the tanuki's tongue began to dig in their rear, their eyes growing wide and their body trembling while they felt warmth seeping within them. Tano's mouth planted kiss after kiss on their puckered hole, tongue dipping inside deeper with every lap while those strong hands held onto their rear cheeks as tight as possible. Shura had expected Tano to be a hound like the other folk they had slept with, hungry for the contact and not much else but the tongue inside of their rear moved and squirmed in a slower manner, steadily dripping spittle into their rump while the digits at their ass seemed to knead it rather than grip and yank.

Any moment now they expected to be brought up and then forced back down onto that heavy thing but the tanuki took their time enjoying Shura's rear while the feline's face remained pressed against the twitching shaft. Typically, things went fast enough that they never noticed the odd tingling feelings pushing at their gut, nor did they notice the thoughts creeping up on them about the person they were enjoying. This beast of a tanuki had bested them with barely a sweat broken and now that very same beast had their tongue buried deep inside of Shura's ass as if they were a sweetened treat. Tano said that this was a prize but treated their rump more like a treasure than anything else. Such a thought had their cheeks blazing, their eyes shut as they tried to ignore the odd flood of sensations crashing against their mind with each lash of the tongue on their rear.

Before they knew it, they were lost in a pleasant dream only interrupted by the occasional nagging caused by the fact that they had been bested in battle. That nagging barely mattered, however, as the pleasure they felt from their rear being so thoroughly stuffed with that sticky tongue. When the feeling stopped, their chest was rising and falling rapidly, their arm curled around the tanuki's leg to hold on for dear life while they pushed their face against the fur of the upper thigh. They could feel themselves sinking into the ever-growing ocean of sensations plaguing them until they were suddenly brought into the air and turned around. Shura yelped as they were dragged back to reality and back onto the other's lap with that canine shaft pressed between their legs.

"How are you holding up?" Asked the tanuki with a big smile.

Shura raised a brow while looking up at them, "How am I holding up? I'm doing fine but why should you care? Isn't this your prize?"

Tano chuckled and leaned down and over to bring their mouth over Shura's. Roses blossomed as Shura's eyes widened from the sudden meeting of lip on lip, maws parting to let tongues push and press together while they absorbed the warmth radiating through their form. A strong hand spread their legs while the other held a vial of something dark and strange that they dripped onto Shura's leg. Cool ink began to take the shape of a budding flower, their blossoming eyes growing wider as they tore their mouth away to ask what in the world was that.

An answer as given along with several issues along the ear, "A bit of magic from a friend. It is much more effective than my own attempts with similar mediums, although, someday I believe I'll be able to match them and what then? Won't that be interesting? Do you think they would feel threatened?"

Perhaps the tanuki's strange manner had washed off on them because they were seriously pondering the question and even answered, "No. If it is something hard to replicate and they're your friend then it might feel good...Like, having family? I don't know. I think about; what if I met someone like me, someone with something that I thought was unique to me and I know that I would be annoyed at first but I would want to know that person because I wouldn't be as alone as I thought I was."

Tano hummed as they rested their chin atop Shura's head, "And do you feel alone now?"

"Well...No but only because it is hard to when you're holding me so close and treating me with such care. It is annoying."

The tanuki rumbled with quiet laughter, "And so eventually you will want to come to know me because not being alone is nice, yes?"

Shura snorted, "Yes, and no. I mean, I guess I would want to experience this again but maybe I should pick someone better than a random old tanuki."

For a moment, Tano didn't say anything until they laughed aloud, "A trickster in disguise! You were trying to rile me up!"

At the curve of their mouth, a smile cut through their expression as Shura snorted, "Maybe? Maybe I wanna see you use that strength instead of wasting it."

They shuddered as their body was brought up, the tip of that massive shaft kissing their pucker while the Tanuki rumbled in their ear, "Another time. For now, it is still your lesson."

A question hung on their tongue but came out as a sweet sigh when they felt their insides being stretched slowly. Shura found themselves surprised that their cock was going in so easily and figured that they hadn't been lying about magic. What an odd and vexing magic. Whoever pioneered such a thing must've been a pervert and a genius all at the same time. Such thoughts began to blank and dot away as the tanuki kept on bringing them down and down until Shura's tail curled around the tanuki's waist and their plump rear kissed Tano's thighs. It didn't take long before the Tanuki began moving, bouncing them up and down on their lap while both arms wrapped around them and held them close. Shura's body was wreathed in a protective warmth that brought a shiver down their spine. Their own hips worked in time with the tanuki's thrusts but everything was moving so steadily that they barely had to worry about trying too hard. Still, even at this pace, they felt their pleasure rising and rising while the tanuki's protective arms held them close like a bulwark shielding treasure. These gentle touches truly made them feel like something to be loved and hidden for fear of being damaged but less restrictive. Tano's breaths were warm spots along their shoulders and back of the neck, those thrusts growing with strength with each one. They could only imagine how such a powerful beast would lay into them if given the chance, and yet, this sweetness was something new and not entirely irritating. Shura wasn't sure if they could handle doing it like this all the time but it gave them time to think and that was both a good and bad thing.

If given a chance, would they follow the tanuki after this just to feel like they weren't so alone? Normally, they didn't think of such things. With such a single-minded determination had they gone through warriors without even caring about their names. It had been for the sake of learning about themselves but they felt now as if by ignoring others that they were missing something key about themselves. These broiling emotions made very little sense to Shura and they weren't even sure that they had the right conclusion. It was also growing increasingly difficult to think as the tanuki's pace began to pick up and their knot began to swell, bulbous girth at the base of their shaft pushing up against Shura's rear over and over again. Thanks to that magic, it didn't take long before every inch popped inside of their rear. The tanuki didn't growl, didn't snarl or make any noise befitting such a beast, instead, they leaned down and met their lips again for a firm and heated kiss that locked them together just as the knot did while Tano's orgasm began. Shura felt shot after shot of warm cum filling them, their body trembling while they received such a blessing, lips locked to Tano's both for comfort and to feed their hunger while their one paw came up to rest at their cheek.

When the filling had ceased, their lips parted and Shura leaned their head against the tanuki's chest to shut their eyes and breathe out, "Can I get a repeat lesson..."

The tanuki chuckled, "Sorry dear, I'm not looking for any shrine maiden's just yet."

They opened an eye and frowned, "Shrine maiden? You're just some raccoon dog wandering the countryside, why would..." Shura then took a good look at those violet eyes reflecting a particular type of starlight and their heart began to sink, "Oh. Are you...?" When Tano simply nodded they placed a paw on their stomach, "Hm, so does this count as a blessing?"

Tano snickered, "Not quite. Honestly, I was going to do the disappearing act on you but part of me would feel bad if I did that, so instead, I offer you a traveling companion. One that will lecture you and talk your ear off about philosophy. What say you?"

Shura frowned and leaned back against the tanuki hard but their words were soft, "If you can help me figure out a lot of the confusing things in my head then maybe we have a deal...Even if you can't, at least point me out in the right way to the answer."

"I cannot promise anything of the sort...But I can say that I will try to help you with what I have experienced in life and hope that it will be enough."

For a second, they opened their eyes and looked up at the sky, wondering how it would be to travel with a companion and they realized for the first time in a long time how beautiful the blues mixing together with the whites of the skies were, "Sure. I think that will do just fine."