Part 3

The irritatingly happy cheerful sun peeked out of the horizon to wake Die from his slumber. He groaned and sat up a bit too fast. His head shrieked with pain. Dropping back onto his bed, Die gingerly felt the cloth wrapped around his forehead. It still hurts like hell.

Looking at the blank ceiling of his room, he casted his mind on what happened the night before. Who was that mysterious person in the garden? Why did he have my blanket? He’s that fox???

Die frowned. No way!!!

And more importantly, I am going to find that son of a bitch that made a hole in my head and make him pay!!!

Now, a bit satisfied after thinking about how he was going to make that person pay, Die closed his eyes and fell back into sleep with his new blanket.

A bracelet lay on his table; it shone in the bright light. Outside the window, a brown fox sniffed at the ledge, careful not to drop down to a horrible death. Shinya saw the bracelet. And also the damn human. It was so near yet he couldn't open these windows with his paws. The previously broken window had already been sealed up with a board. He would come back tonight to get it in his human body. His bushy tail swept against the leaves of the tall trees as he leaped down with ease back to safe ground. And he would come alone. Toshiya was in no condition whatsoever to accompany him, now with his injured leg.

Unfortunately he had no intentions of waiting for his leg to heal before he recovered the mystical charm.

So the somewhat innocent-looking canine made his way back home, passing the gates and guard easily. His stomach howled with hunger. He smelled the land for the scent of potential food, his whiskers twitching. He managed to catch some rodents and brought some back to feed Toshiya.

The black fox licked his cheek appreciatively before happily tearing up his meal. And it was then a thought ran past Shinya...how was he going to get back the charm without him knowing? He would have to sneak out. But Toshiya was not stupid...

Well, not that stupid, he corrected in his mind as he watched the other fox finishing whatever was left of the rabbit.

***

The checked board stared at him as if mocking him. Die frowned indignantly at the black and white pawns before him. The birds perched on the fence chirped noisily, distracting him from the game. The white-painted iron stands of the table stood steadily on the rough stone tiles of the floor; a pitcher of lemonade and glasses peered at the chess set. Kyo sat on the other side of the table, patiently wiping the lens of his specs with a white handkerchief. Its black rims gleamed in the sun. The oak trees provided shade for them as they contested in a match of chess in the garden. The scissors in Kaoru’s hand snapped incessantly at the rose bushes.

"It must be my head injury and the hot sun messing with my brain."

"Just admit it, you lost to me!" Kyo smirked at his cousin.

"No way! Don’t talk, I need to think," Die frowned harder. Kaoru stopped trimming the plants and turned around to look at his two young masters whom he grew up together with.

"Your mothers told me to inform you that we will be attending a dinner gathering at Madam Anne’s tonight. You both are expected to behave!"

"Oh, not another of those excursions! I don’t want to go!" Kyo complained.

***

Die let the cocktail swirl around in his mouth before gulping it down. It left a tangy and slightly sweet taste in his mouth. He placed the glass of pinkish liquid back on the long table.

"What happened to your head, Die-kun?!"

"I cracked it while trying to beat Kyo at chess," Die replied dryly.

"Oh, Die-kun, you are so funny!"

"Oh, really?" Die started a very fake laughter. But even that sent shots of pain to his head.

The girl, who was probably around eighteen, giggled shyly. She wore a modest pink dress with a broad ribbon tied around the waist, her blonde hair coiled in a low bun. She was cute, Die thought to himself.

Die glanced around at Madam Anne’s ‘gathering’. Women from all ages grouped around in their long gowns, gossiping noisily. Waiters in penguin suits went around bowing to guests and serving champagne on silver trays. Chipping off their bit, young men borne of aristocratic background went around introducing themselves to the lovely young ladies.

Just from he corner of his eyes, he could see his mother smiling approvingly at the sight of him talking with a girl. He sighed.

"Is something the matter, Die-kun?" the girl asked, her voice sounded very much like the tinkling of a bell.

"I’m just not feeling well tonight. You’d have to excuse me." Die bowed and kissed her hand before making his way through the people across to the main door. The carriage bumped on the uneven road as the horses pulled it through the moonlit night.

Mother would probably chew my head off when she comes home.

***

Night came. Since he had dumped the previously acquired clothes, Shinya had to repeat his trick. This time he attacked a woman who had innocently lost her way while admiring the wild flowers and tasting the blueberries.

He noted that humans wore real funny clothes. But this one was easier to put on although he found it hard to move with the long yellow drapery encasing him.

But anything was better than walking around naked, he supposed.

Looking up at Die’s room window, he saw no light. He climbed the tall tree with his nimble limbs, making swift ascend to the third floor of the mansion despite the constricting skirt. He peeped through the smooth glass. Upon seeing no movement nor hearing any sound, he assumed that there was no one in. He pried open the window and leapt in, his feet thudding against the carpeted floor as he landed inside the darkness.

He went in search for the bracelet, groping at the tabletop.

*grope…grope*…eh??

It was not where he last saw it…Strange…Where could it be? Shinya dug into the drawers, leaving the stuff that had fell out scattered on the thick carpet. Suddenly a wash of white light swarmed over him. Panicking, he stumbled and fell on his back.

Die stood at the doorway, not seeing anything in the dim condition of his room. With the light behind him, the silhouette figure entered the room.

Shinya backed against the wall, fearing for the worst.

Die fumbled for the switch and clicked it on. He blinked at the sight of a young frightened lady in yellow dress on his room floor.