Hikari Okami: Kitsune Series (4 page)

Taking his sensu as he began to practice
different defensive and offensive wind, water and fire element
based techniques simultaneous while trying to work on combining
each into a strong weapon.

Afterwards he decided to take a quick journey
to the human’s place to see how well she was doing. He didn’t want
to shadow her mind because this will make her aware of his presence
neither did he want to perform kitsunebi on her as this will
further make her aware of him, for his plan was just to observe her
from afar to see how she was doing without alerting her to his
presence.

On getting there he saw the barrier
surrounding her apartment building was still intact as he made his
way through to her room. Watching the peaceful expression on her
face as she slept, moving gently around the place while studying
every part before making his way towards her to place a kiss on her
forehead “Sleep well little human” with that he went out the same
way he came.

With a start Miyako woke up from her sleep as
the alarm kept buzzing standing up to turn it off while making her
way to prepare breakfast in the kitchen before taking her bath,
thirty minutes later she was set to begin her day . Leaving the
room she locked the door, heading to corridor leading to the stairs
until she left the building.

While making her way to work completely
forgetting about the dream she had of a woman dressed in ancient
attire showing her different fighting skills coupled with spells
and magic.

Miyako thought back to when she felt a slight
impression on her forehead when she woke up
“It almost felt like
I dreamt that Hikari came over to my house and kissed me on the
forehead?”
She blushed while thinking of that.

Deciding that it may just be a dream, she
kept walking fast so as not to be late for work, on getting in the
manager was already there as usual, after greeting she made her way
to keep her belonging in the shop locker then began setting the
store in order to get herself ready for the arrival of the
customers, the day went by as the food café was bustling with
activity, people going and coming in as they ordered off the menu,
later at the job her boss called her aside that he had left some
pastries for her in a wrapped paper towel to take with her when she
leaves for the day, she thanked him for his generosity as she took
it from the utensil room countertop into her locker.

Seeing it was time to head for her second job
at a grocery store as she made her way to the store to begin
checking out the shoppers until it was time for her shift to end,
feeling tired and sore she took her bag as she left the store.
“I don’t think I can keep doing this job for long I need to look
for something to do that will pay well and wouldn’t require me
working for long”
thought Miyako.

On getting home she decided to warm the
pastries her boss gave her earlier at work, she was happy that this
time there would be no need to prepare dinner as she made tea while
settling on the tatami “wooden floor” to eat her meal.

“I don’t know if he eats human food as it
would have been nice to share this with him, anyway why do I care
if he does. I’m sure his forgotten all about me; he may already
have someone waiting for his return” as she said this for some
reason she felt bothered by the thought of a woman waiting for his
return.

“I can’t allow myself to get carried away by
thinking about him”

After clearing the dishes she made her way to
the study table touching the ikebana flower as she looked at the
beautiful drawings on the wall remembering how he placed them in
her room.

“
I want to speak with him but I don’t know
how, I wonder if he would ever show up?”
she thought to
herself

Lying down to sleep, Miyako kept thinking of
what the next day would bring for she was yet to let her manager
know of her decision concerning the position of manager at the new
store “
I need to make up my mind so that if I’m not taking it
then he could look for someone else to fill the position”
she
thought

Thinking back to what Hikari told her about
some sort of power lying within her “I should have asked him more
about it maybe he could help me understand more about myself for I
have always felt different from others, I need to know who or what
I am” feeling sad as memories of dark times at the orphanage
resurfaced.

Clearing her mind of those sad thoughts while
tossing around until she found a comfortable position on the bed
before settling down for the night, this time as she slept she
dreamt of Hikari carrying her in his arms as they both floated in
the air, while enjoying the sight of the night together.

Hikari had been in his chambers all day
wondering whether to go to the human’s house as the day slowly came
to an end. He thought about his family in the yokai world wondering
when he’ll see all of them, for a long time now he hadn’t seen his
brother and sisters knowing them they were probably off somewhere
doing one thing or the other.

He was older than them by five seasons even
though most yokai thought that Taiki was the first, although this
had never bothered him.

He thought of the human whose life he would
be endangering because of his carelessness when he got captured by
the onmyouji, he made a promise to himself to see her well
protected.

Not one to break a promise he resolve to do
everything in his power to keep her safe, watching the sky using
his Kitsune no maho to cause the leaves around him to float in the
air creating a musical sound with the wind only heard by a being
like him, thinking back to the time when he would blow on the
leaves as beautiful sounds would come out while his brother and
sisters would gather round to listen to him play, in a way he
missed those times they had together.

“This place must be getting to me for why
would the memory of so long ago be resurfacing” he thought
aloud

“
One of these days I’ll have to ask the
human if we could see some places together”
as the thought
crossed his mind, wondering why he wanted her by his side.

The next morning when Miyako woke up, what
she saw destroyed the initial dream she had about him, for lying
next to her in bed with his arms holding her close was Hikari.

“What are you doing in my bed?!” she asked
forcing her voice to sound annoyed so that he would not detect how
embarrassed she felt.

“I didn’t think you would be safe on your own
that was why I decided to spend the night with you”

“What do you mean by spend the night with me?
I didn’t ask for your protection, I have been doing fine on my own
before you came, so you can leave now!” she resorted as her voice
rose in anger

“Calm down young human, for I didn’t do
anything to you while we slept….”

“You had better not! You’re the first person
to sleep on the same bed with me, you cannot even imagine how I
feel right now, you invaded my space and you’re not even sorry”

“You have my sincere apology! I just wanted
you to be safe” said Hikari as he wondered why she was getting
agitated over such a trivial matter.

“You can go now I’ll be fine” while saying
this she inched forward to make her way out of the bed

“What is there to eat am sure you humans must
need food to survive”

“How can you expect me to prepare food in the
state I’m in” wondering why he couldn’t see that his words were
rubbing her the wrong way

“Very well tell me what there is to know
about how you prepare your food then I’ll take over from there” he
said in a placating tone

“As soon as am done taking my bath I’ll show
you what you need to know” with that she left him in the room

“
Humans sure are difficult creatures, what
have I said to cause such anger especially so early in the morning
now that I know she doesn’t want me here, but still her safety is
of great importance”
he thought within himself

In the shower she allowed the warm water to
rinse the soap suds that were on her body, as soon as she was done
Miyako stepped out of the bathroom only to be met on the way by
Hikari.

“You scared me! What are you doing here;
didn’t I say that I’ll teach you once I am done”

“I was wondering what was taking you so
long”

“You can wait for me in my room while I use
the bathroom to change” she said while trying to force herself to
calm down.

“There is no need for that, let me come back
later so that you can have some time to yourself” as he said that
his eyes trailed over her body

“Stop looking at me like that!” said Miyako
as she felt her face blaze with embarrassment, suddenly conscious
of the towel covering her body.

“I’m leaving so do whatever it is you want to
do” with that he swiftly left the room.

“Stupid Hikari…just barging into my room
without letting me know”

Walking over to her closet to select the
clothe she would be changing into, once done she laid on her bed to
rest

“How I wish he didn’t leave so soon even when
I told him it was ok to stay”

After waiting outside for a great while he
made his way back into her room, he saw that she was already
dressed “I’ll be going to work soon so make yourself comfortable
while am gone but first let’s get on with what I promised to show
you”

Making her way to the kitchen she showed him
how to make rice with miso soup and grilled fish for breakfast,
Hikari keenly watched how she went about it

“Let’s leave it to cook once it is done then
I’ll show you how to serve the food”

“You have my gratitude for showing me how to
cook a human food”

Miyako kept quiet for she didn’t know how to
respond to his show of appreciation for his words caused her to
experience a warm feeling in her heart.

While they waited for the food to be done she
filled her time by cutting some vegetables that would be used for
their meal then after which she began doing some light cleaning
around the room, so as to keep her eyes from wandering to the
creature who seem to captivate her by his manner and appearance for
even when she wished to talk to him in a nice way she just didn’t
know why it always came out wrong
“I don’t know why his presence
makes me feel hot and cold at the same time I feel a strange
sensation moving down my body”
thought Miyako

After the food was done he watched as she
served the food in the plates noticing the way in which she set
them on the tray, before placing them at the middle of the bed,
gesturing with her hand as she invited him to join her in
eating.

“Thanks for the food” he said as he waited
for her to start eating

Once done they cleared the plates together as
he observed how she went about cleaning the dishes, after which she
began preparing for work.

“I’ll be returning in the night you can wait
till I come, if not then I’ll be seeing you next time”

“Don’t worry Miyako I’ll be here when you
come back”

As soon as she left he felt how empty the
place was for it struck him at that moment that it was her
personality that brought the place to life, he wished that night
would come really fast so that he would be able to see her
again

Making his way to her bed he curled to his
side as he released the Kitune no hi allowing it to assume
different shapes after playing for hours upon hours he closed his
eyes freeing his mind to wander

“I just have to wait….”he muttered

At work Miyako was a bit distracted for she
didn’t know if Hikari would be alright being all alone by himself,
her manager seem to notice this as he said “ Murakami-san are you
ok you seem a bit spaced out”

“I’m ok” she quickly replied

“You don’t sound ok, but if you insist I
would not pry”

The day was not any faster as a lot of
students came around some with their dates to the food café mostly
cakes and drink were ordered only a few asked to be served tea, the
day went by in a blur as time came for her to make her way to her
second job. Bidding her manager a hasty goodbye she headed to the
grocery store where she would be closing for the night.

Entering into the store she noticed there
were not enough people shopping
“This is going to be a very long
shift”
she thought within herself

True to her words the day seem to drag on
until it was time for her to head for the apartment “I hope he
would still be waiting for me when I get there” as she muttered to
herself

Picking up pace she began walking really fast
in hope of seeing him, finally making it to her apartment, on
reaching the end of the stair she met him waiting for her at the
door

“What are you doing outside?” she asked

“I was waiting for you; I just couldn’t stand
how lonely it was in your room any longer”

“But I told you I’ll be coming back in the
night” as she spoke she didn’t know whether to be angry with him or
feel happy by his words.

“Please do not be angry I just wanted to see
you as soon as I came back”

Miyako felt that same warmth filtering
through her, feeling choked with emotion for she could not remember
a time when anyone had waited for her return; instead she said
“Don’t let me get used to this”

Together they made their way into the room as
Miyako informed him that she would teach him how to make cucumber
salad, grilled mackerel and potato stew “Let me to take a bath and
change then we’ll start preparing the food” she said while taking a
change of clothe with her

“Go on I’ll be waiting when you’re done” he
said as he watched her head for the bathroom

“Humans sure are too particular about their
appearance” he said to himself