Part 6

"Kaoru, where are you??" Die sighed as he looked out at the clear skies from the window.

The leaves of the tree rustled slightly. He abruptly turn to see if by any chance it was that girl…no, that man in yellow dress. He sighed again, regretting that he never even got to know his name.

"Ah…Die? Get me some water…" Kyo stretched his hand out, coughing.

Quickly Die went to his side and poured him a some water.

"Are you feeling better today?" he asked, concerned.

"Yeah…I thought I’d be dead," he said, drinking slowly. "How’s Mom and Auntie?"

"They’re fine…still in bed, complaining. But you’re the worst! Look at you- broken arm and fractured everywhere!"

Kyo stuck his tongue out at his cousin. "Not my fault the carriage toppled over! Kaoru was driving!"

"Oh, now it’s Kaoru’s fault?"

"Kaoru-" Kyo stopped mid-sentence. "Kaoru…" he clutched the glass in his hands and looked down mournfully at the checked blanket.

"I hope he’s okay…" Die said.

Kaoru, please be okay!

***

Shinya sat among the green leaves of the bush, resting his chin on his front paws as he looked up into the moving clouds in the sky. The sky was clear blue with sparrows flying low. But that didn’t lift his spirits, not at all.

Beads of the bracelet lay circled around his ankle. He had come home last night, in his human form, bursting with anticipation to see Toshiya’s look of surprised joy as he brought back his treasure. But when he entered the cave they lived together in, he found his friend to busy fussing with an injured human to even greet him.

The first thing Toshiya said was to go down to the river and get some water so that he could tend to the wounds, without even turning to look at him. Then Toshiya spent the whole night worrying about that being instead of asking him where he had gone.

If foxes could cry, Shinya would have waterfalls running down his face. But now only a stubborn tear managed to escape from his eyes, getting caught in fur as it rolled down.

Stupid Toshiya! Stupid, stupid human! He should’ve just died!

Somewhere near him, he heard something scurry about. His whiskers twitched as he tried to catch the scent. Finally, with a swift swipe, he caught a little rat in his claw. It struggled in fear as it tried to escape.

Heh!

Shinya released his paw for a split second before his other paw clamped down on the poor rodent. He enjoyed watching the pathetic thing squirm in his clutches.

If only I can do this to that human! Then Toshiya would have only had to pay attention to me!

Moving forward, he licked his soon-to-be food.

How many times do I have to repeat? Don’t play with your food!

Caught by surprise, Shinya jumped up and the rat ran the moment his paws released him.

Now look at what you made me do!

Shinya turned around to look for the rat but it was gone. Then he came back and glared at the black fox who sat there, calmly cleaning his shiny coat.

Who asked you not to eat it when you had the chance?

Shinya ignored him and trotted away.

Seeing this, his black partner trailed behind him. Hey, don’t be angry at me. My leg is okay now, I’ll hunt with you!

I don’t want to hunt with you! Why not hunt with your human?! Shinya sulked, looking away from the other fox.

Shinya’s angry tone seemed to ring in his head while Toshiya was trying to grasp what he was saying. Human? Could it be…you’re jealous??

He sat down beside Shinya who had again slumped down on the ground.

No.

Then why are you acting like this?

Shinya didn’t answer. The beads of the bracelet on his ankle gleamed in the sun, catching Toshiya’s attention. Upon closer inspection…

Eh? This is my bracelet! he exclaimed.

Glad you noticed. Shinya huffed, biting it off his ankle and dumping it down at Toshiya’s paws.

You went to that house and brought it back? For me? Toshiya asked, slipping his ankle through the ring of beads.

…

Oh, you’re so sweet! He began licking and nipping Shinya’s ears. Thank you, Shinya!

Shinya stood still. Is that all? Is that all you want to say, Toshiya? He turned and gazed at the black fox.

Shinya?

Unable to tell his feelings, Shinya got up and scurried away into the nearby bushes, away from Toshiya’s presence, leaving him to stare at the rustling leaves.

Shinya, sometimes you just say and do the weirdest things.

***

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! he berated himself.

You could’ve told him! But you ran away! Coward! He plopped down on his own bushy tail. Stupid Shinya!

***

The afternoon grew into the evening. The skies took on a mix of blue and orange as the sun struggled not to be swallowed by the darkness lurking in the hills and trees.

But in the darkness of the dense forest, a black fox darted bush to bush in his journey back home. Around his ankle, jangled the mystic charm. Toshiya slowed down as he approached the hole in the earth. He went inside, slightly disappointed that Shinya had not returned either. Where was that fox??

Snorting to himself, he thought, he’s probably out there catching rabbits.

Toshiya stretched himself, feeling his fur bristle into place. It’s not night yet although it was dark. It would be at least two hours more before he could turn into his human form. What to do till then?

Far in the corner lay the human he had dragged home the night before. He was sleeping soundly. Toshiya trotted next to him quietly as not to wake him.

The human had a weird colour for his hair, it was violet. He had never seen anybody with this shade of hair (not that he has seen many people…)

Crouching beside him, he noticed that the human’s lips were trembling and he looked as if he was very cold even though it was considerably warm. Instinctively, Toshiya snuggled close to his neck, hoping he would be a source of warmth. But his fox body was too small. But it was so comfortable lying there in the crook of the human’s neck, he purred softly.

But he was no help to the human so he pulled himself away.

His lips were turning into a shade of pale blue. Toshiya licked the human’s cheeks and panicked when he felt the ice-cold skin. He couldn’t help the human, he didn’t know what he could do in this form. Should he wait until night?

"C…Cold…" the human said through shaking teeth.

By night, he knew, the human would be dead.

No, please don’t die… Toshiya nudged at his neck, trying to wake him up but failing.

"…so cold..."

Why? Why am I so useless??

His eyes began to sting with frustrated tears.

If only I was human…

Child, use me…A soft voice said in his head.

Use my powers…

Toshiya looked around the cave but saw no one.

His ankle felt hot.

What?

His eyes widened as he stared at his ankle and saw the charm. It was glowing.