Do vaporwave kitsune count technicolor sheep? - 29. Chapter 29

The crunch of gravel beneath tires signals our return to the house. Once the sedan’s engine has been killed, Genghis walks around to open our door, slightly bowing at the waist. First Hikaru slides out of the vehicle before standing aside to wait for me.

I can only assume that the men he employs are slowly but surely growing used to my various forms. Instead of shock, they simply bow their heads graciously as they open the doors wide for me to enter.

As soon as Hikaru crosses the threshold one of his men rushes forward to relay something into his ear, and I watch with curiosity as a series of expressions cross his features.

“It seems Frau is awake. Why don’t you go check in with her while I attend to some things, Mi Tiefal. I am still worried that all of this has been too much for you in such a short span of time.”

For a moment, my lips lift in a toothy vulpine grin and I simply nod.

“Alright. I’m sure you will find me when you are done.”

Bending low, he places a tender kiss in between my ears on top of my head.

“I will always know where to find you.”

Trotting away, I leave him to his business and one of the guards hurries to precede me around the corner so that he can open the door to Frau’s room. Seeing her sitting up on the bed with a tray set in front of her has me bounding across the room and carefully jumping up to sit on the bedclothes beside her.

“I was so worried about you.”

This time they are happy tears that leave warm tracks down my violet fur.

“I’m so sorry, you were in the middle of eating and I just barged in here.”

Gently, her head shakes and her small crimson clawed fingers reach up to wipe away my weeping.

“Please continue eating, don’t stop on my account. You need your strength.”

Bowls full of finely pureed fruits and vegetables are arrayed before her on the tray. I sit idly by and careful to keep quiet for a change as her small hands carefully dip the spoon in a fruity smelling red sauce. The sight of her alive, sitting up and eating… It both softens and drives home the vision of poor Katia lying lifeless on the tunnel floor. Keeping my thoughts to myself for a time, I instead tell her happier things.

“Ein is doing well. I don’t know if anyone told you but he is in the room directly next to your own. When you have sufficiently healed you will be able to come and go through the house as you please. First you must focus on recovery, though.”

After she’s had the chance to eat her fill, she pushes the tray aside and turns to look up into my eyes. The wound is still too fresh for words to pass her lips, but she speaks to me with her gaze. I take a deep breath and fight hard against the fresh tears that well up.

“You know what I’m trying not to tell you… don’t you?”

She nods.

“We went there this morning. The same doctor who saved you, some others as well and we set about in the recovery of the rest of the Lost Ones. I saw…” One of her hands reaches out to take my shaking paw, “Katia. I saw the aftermath… I have been asked to find out if there are any burial customs for kobolds, but I will ask Ein.”

Kneeling upon the bedclothes, I feel her arms wrapping around my neck as she hugs me tight.

“I’m so sorry for all the ways I have messed up your lives, Frau.”

Her head shakes from side to side where it is nestled against the ruff of fur at my throat. Even now with her throat ravaged and unable to form the words, she is trying to comfort me. Humbled by her kindness, I wrap a paw around her and pull her close into a warm embrace.

I can feel her small body shaking as the emotions she has also tried to shove deep down break free in a torrent. Fear, sadness, pain, loss… everything floods us both.

It is a healing moment, and deep down I think we were both in desperate need to express it. Maybe it is a sign of life continuing and a thankfulness that we still have each other. After very long minutes, I can finally feel myself being drained of the weight those heavy emotions had borne on me.

The anger remains, and I am unsure if I will ever be able to shrug it away. I do not truly want to. In truth I am doing my best to wear it like a wound.

Never forget these harms.

Never.

Kindness and familial love were the chinks in my armor, and it was indeed my own fault that things had fell as they had. Frau was kind to offer comfort and forgiveness as she had, but I could not forgive myself.

Kemuri’s face flashes across my memories, not the creature he has become but the young kitsune who’d had the misfortune to be born into tragedy and then face the trials of the world at such a tender age.

Despite all of that, every time they had occasion to be in each other’s company, he’d always been bright and joking, especially for an assassin. The last time, they ate themselves sick in Kyoto. Nothing of this monster he’d become had been there…

Or had it been there all this time?

The thought only makes me feel angrier.

To be that blind…

Setting Frau back from myself, I smiled down at her.

“I will let you rest and have some time to yourself. Don’t worry, I will visit you again soon, but for now take care of yourself. Alright?”

Nodding in acquiescence, she reaches out one last time to wipe a stray tear from my cheek and give me a knowing look of her own.

“I’m okay, really I am. You have probably done me a favor because if I broke down sobbing in front of Ein the poor guy would likely panic at an outpouring of feminine weeping.”

Frau’s eyes light with amusement and I take it as another sign that things could be okay again. Hopping down from the bed, I walk towards the door where Hikaru is awaiting me out in the hallway.

“If you have a moment, I would like you to come with me. There is news, and I think it is right that you should hear it with me.”

“Okay… yes I have concluded my visit with Frau.”

He looks in on his guest and graces her with a smile and small bow before shutting the door and giving her back her privacy. Turning to the guard stationed outside the door, he murmurs a few words to the man who nods and sets off towards the entrance of the manor.

“In my office, Moon.”

“Lead the way.”

Trotting along beside him, I can tell that he is shortening his steps to match my gait and I cannot stop my little grin from escaping. Every inch the gentleman, he effortlessly pauses to open the door for me with a flourish. Preceding Hikaru into the room, a dark haired man with a scar running across his right cheek turns as we enter.

“My wife, Jackson, rest assured that you may speak freely in front of her.”

“As you wish, Boss.”

Sitting in a scrolled armchair, his impassive features betray nothing as he sits at ease with hands steepled before him. Hikaru takes his seat in the plush leather chair behind the large desk and pats his lap.

Without thinking twice, I leap up to settle upon his lap, turning in a small circle so that I might make myself comfortable. Careful of my pointed horns, I rest back against his chest so that I meet Jackson’s gaze across the expanse of wood.

“Begin whenever you are ready.”

“I looked into that matter, as per your request, and it was exactly as you surmised. In the matter of the neko, public release has most definitely been skewed to reflect fraudulent information. Nothing that could lead back to the Lapina, his hands are essentially clean in the matter.”

“There is something else…”

The man’s eyes darted to me and his words pause for a moment.

“What else, Jackson? Say it.”

“Other similar incidents are popping up around the city, and eyewitness testimonies are describing the perpetrator as a vicious beast-like creature whose description is not all that far off from your wife. Not to mention there are corroborating stories from among the merchants of a beast of that exact description robbing wares from their carts in broad daylight only days ago.”

Hikaru looks down at me with an accusing stare and I sheepishly fold my ears back in guilt.

“I deserve that look, I won’t deny that.”

“There’s no way you could.”

Giving me a look that promises he still has more to say on the matter, he turns back to his underling.

“Go on.”

Setting out two glasses before him, Hikaru pours out a serving of the sake and pushes it across the desk before filling his own. With a glance he shakes his head down at me.

“You don’t get any, especially hearing this. Bad kitsune.”

Jackson takes up the glass, pausing to appreciate the aroma before taking a small sip. His cheeks redden and he carefully sets the cup back on the desktop.

“I’ve heard of your private stock, Boss, but this is some potent stuff.”

“After we are done here, take the remainder of the day off. I will let Genghis know. Now, what else?”

Nodding, the sable haired man takes another appreciative sip before continuing.

“While you were out, something interesting came for you.”

“Oh?”

“A messenger came around from the Lender, left a missive for you It was received with due protocol and read as follows:

‘The Dragon, I am in possession of information that I believe would be of interest to you. It is my hope that we can reach an equally beneficial agreement. Have one of your men send word ahead and I stand ever ready to receive you. Try not to make me wait overlong,

Faes.’

“Is that all?”

“Yes, Boss. Nothing more to report.”

“Excellent. You are dismissed.”

With a nod he stands, throwing back the remainder of the sake before bowing low before Hikaru and exiting the room. Mi Tiefal, he looks me dead in the eye before raising his own. I watch as his throat slowly swallows the remaining wine.

“You will stay where you are.”