Hikari Okami: Kitsune Series Read online

  At the early age of three she grew up in an orphanage because a car accident occurred that claimed the lives of her parents leaving her the only survivor, on checking her into an hospital doctors saw no bruises or bleeding, after that she was discharged and sent to the orphanage since no one showed up claiming to know her.

  Life at the orphanage was hard as she lived off scraps of food, hand-me-down clothing and used schooling materials as those were the things she was privileged to have.

  One of the things that made life more difficult was the unusual color of her hair; as one born with blood red hair no one understood why she would have that color of hair so this caused her to be treated harshly. She was often teased by other children in the orphanage as an ainoko “mixed blood” some had dared to whisper that she must have been a bastard child of some foreigner as she passed by even the matrons of the orphanage avoided her as much as possible.

  Feeling frustrated and lonely at such a tender age she learned to shut her emotions never allowing what she heard from people to affect her way of life, even when she got into high school there was not any difference as to the way she was treated as though invisible and by the age of sixteen she was told to start looking for jobs so that by her eighteenth birthday she would have left the orphanage.

  Luckily she found a part time job at a food café and a grocery store with both jobs close to the orphanage; she began saving money received from the places where she worked, as soon as the time came for her to move a representative of the orphanage stood as a guarantor by providing falsified document showing she was twenty one in order to meet the apartment renting requirement.

  Lately her dream was starting to bother her as it no longer looked as if it was just a dream, this time she saw that he opened his eyes which was lavender blue with piercing dark pupil, as he called her to rescue him.

  “How can I save you? Where are you? Are you real?” as she began to feel agitated with tears gathering in her eyes.

  Lately she didn’t know why she was beginning to think her ‘dreams’ were real because it was as though they were communicating face to face. He told her he was held captive in a barrier by magic spells which was used to bind him and seal him away.

  She remembered asking him how she was able to talk to him, for whom he replied that he didn’t know but what he was sure of is that she appears to have some sort of power which seems to be similar to those of a priestess and that the power is strong enough to break the seal and release him.

  “You’ll have to allow me to perform the kitsunebi “demon fox possession” technique on you so that I can use your body to locate where I am and you could utter the sacred words to break the barrier keeping me captive, once that is done I’ll be free ”

  “How does it work?” she asked while trying to stay calm

  “I’ll have control over your body and guide it to where I am then take something from you that would be strong enough to weaken the barrier after which once I break free I’ll release you from my hold”

  “If I don’t agree what will happen?”

  “This is the only time that have ever asked a human for help, I am putting my pride on the line by pleading with you to come to my aid, just this once and I’ll never ask anything of you”

  “I’m not a wicked person, of course I’ll help you just let me know when you’ll be performing this technique that you speak of”

  “I’ll be doing it now, just be prepared for you would have no control whatsoever over your body for your will would become mine”

  “That sounds scary! I think am about to have second thoughts”

  “I promise you this, that no harm shall befall you for you have my word on that”

  “Kyosei Kitsune suimin” he said

  Hikari uttered the sacred words from his mouth using his mental link to the human who was finally under his control as he sensed the emotions from her past life and current life seeing the pain she endured, the grief as a child for the loss of her parents, her uncertainty about the future the deep loneliness of growing up in a strange place with people who clearly hated her.

  He felt some remorse for using her to bring about his release but at the same time he was happy to have someone with powers strong enough to break the seal.

  Chapter 4

  He found her to be a fascinating human who didn’t know that she possessed a power that rivaled those of a yokai, “Was it possible she was a real priestess? He thought as he kept leading her out of her house to the place where he was sealed away.

  Miyako kept walking as though in a trance feeling a presence within her as she watched people pass by without really seeing them as though she was observing them from afar.

  On getting closer to where she worked at the food café then suddenly her body stopped at a particular spot; she noticed people were not looking at her it was as though she wasn’t even there. A strong urge overcame her as she bit into her palm cheek watching in dismay and horror as blood began flowing from the wound on her palm, “Akuma no shoheki wa watashi ga mujitsu no seinaru chi o kaiho shimasu” speaking some strange words she didn’t know she could utter and smearing blood on an invisible wall that she could only sense but not see.

  Suddenly she heard a sizzling sound as a dark spiraling hole appeared, the opening kept getting larger and larger until she saw something emerge from it then she realized she just released the creature of her dreams as soon as he was completely out the opening disappeared.

  Walking towards her Hikari held her hand close to his mouth as he spoke some healing spells to close her wound after which he released her from his technique.

  “You were of great use today, I thank you for that” as he bowed slightly to show his gratitude

  “What did you think you were doing, making me to bite myself? Why didn’t you tell me that you will do that to me?”

  “If I had told you would you have heeded my pleas for help?”

  On hearing that Miyako knew that, if he had told her then she would most likely not have gone out of her way to help him.

  “You really are real” she said while looking at him from all sides, she was surprised when she saw a tail protruding from him behind.

  “Can I touch your tail?”

  “As you please, just once and that will be all”

  She ran her finger over his tail as she felt it twitch slightly from her touch, she noticed it had a fluffy feel she wished she could touch it more but remembering he told her just one touch, straightway she took her hand off not wanting to annoy him.

  “If I may ask what are you? And why do I have the power to release you?”

  “I’m a kitsune from a strong noble family, as to why you were able to release me I saw that the spiritual energy you possess closely resembles those of a priestess and you seem to share the same color of hair as those of an ancient priestess clan and I think they were called the Miko clan”

  “My name is Murakami Miyako, if I may ask could you please tell me your name”

  “Hikari is my name, nice meeting a human who isn’t really human”

  “What do you mean by that?! Am human you know?!” she replied angrily.

  “If you would permit me”

  Stepping forward as he brought her close to himself tilting her head towards him as he bent to seal his lips with hers in order to replenish some of the energy he lost while sealed away for he knew that she had no need for the immense power dwelling within her, for he perceived she had no knowledge of how much power her body held.

  After taking in his fill of her energy he slowly released her, Miyako knew that one moment she was standing away from Hikari and the next she was swept in his arms as her mind went blank when his lips touched hers. She didn’t know for how long it lasted but the feeling of been held close lingered on as she struggled to regain her voice “Why…did you kiss me?”

  “You called that a kiss? I was merely nourishing my body”

  For a moment she felt a strong emotion swell up within as feeling o
f discomfort washed over her, she couldn’t believe that he callously dismissed what she knew to be her first kiss, instead she quietly whispered to herself “Stupid Hikari”

  Hikari kept looking around trying to feel the air for threats to him and the human while glancing towards her from time to time as they talked, since the last encounter with the onmyouji nearly caused him to be completely drained of spiritual energy.

  Seeing he wasn’t really paying her much attention Miyako continued to look at him fascinated by the unknown being that stood by her, feeling as if she was in a dream not wanting to admit that all this was real?

  “Let’s go human before thee onmyouji gets here for I do not want you to be in harm’s way” Hikari said as he waited for her to follow him, he knew that there was no way the onmyouji will come out to challenge one as old as him unless on the night when he unknowingly blunted the effect of his powers by assuming the form of a human.

  Thankfully his mind unconsciously sought out a highly skilled Priestess who according to his observation of her seem to be unaware of how much power she possessed.

  “Who are these onmyouji you speak of?

  “They are humans who wield powerful spells and magic whose power closely resemble those of a yokai they deal ruthlessly with any human that associates with a yokai”

  Feeling a bit frightened by what she heard Miyako decided to do as he said not wanting to be a victim of an unknown assailant.

  “Where are we going?”

  “We’ll be going to where you’re staying for I need to be sure that you’re properly protected from any form of spiritual attack now that I know that there are still some surviving onmyouji in this age and time”

  “Are you trying to suggest I may be under attack because I helped you?” Miyako felt frighten by what may happen to them, she didn’t want to be caught up in whatever things he said that could occur from her association with him.

  “Right now your safety is my priority before I head back to the Inari shrine because I don’t want either yokai or onmyouji to attack you as a result of my lingering spiritual power that may have been left on you because of the kitsunebi technique I performed on you and also when you touched my tail”

  “I never said I needed your help so don’t try to force your way into what isn’t your business!” she retorted sharply

  “Anyway it is getting late let’s hurry to where you’re staying”

  Deciding not to argue with him any longer she followed him obediently as they made their way through the crowed lively street, while walking she noticed people were not looking at them or walking close to where they were as though there was an invisible wall separating them from other people on the street, not wanting to start another round of question with him she decided to keep the strangeness of what was happening around them to herself, unknown to her Hikari was releasing a spell of protection to guard them as they passed in the mist of the humans, he did not want to leave it to chance that she may be attacked by anyone.

  On getting to her apartment building she noticed that none of the residents were walking about assuming they might be asleep or at work as the place seemed quiet, She kept climbing the steps leading to her place until she reached the last step before walking along the corridor leading to her own apartment room on getting there she remembered she didn’t lock her door for she wasn’t conscious enough while leaving earlier, opening the door she allowed herself in as Hikari closely walked behind her.

  All the while observing the human who just saved his life “Strange she isn’t asking anymore questions, as a young female is she supposed to allow any male entrance into her home?” he thought to himself not knowing where the possessive feeling came from as he felt irritated by the possibility that she allowed just anyone in.

  “Do you allow just anyone to come and see you?”

  “Why do you ask?” she said

  “I told you to take me to where you lived and you didn’t put up a fight do all humans act this way?” he said in a tone that barely suppressed his anger

  “You are the first person that I have ever invited into my room”

  Miyako wondered Hikari was acting in such a manner “Or may be his jealous that I allow any man into my room?” she thought within herself

  After she said that Hikari felt a measure of relief wash over him as he could not imagine any human male coming close to her, he wondered where such strange emotions were coming from for never once had he fought over anyone not to mention a human at that.

  “For it was not that she possessed the beauty that Kayo has so why I’m I getting anxious over her” he asked himself

  Chapter 5

  One of the first things Hikari noticed about her apartment was the size, as the space seem small to him, he saw she didn’t add any personal touches to the place almost as if she was going to be moving out at anytime.

  “Why is it that you don’t have any flowers, ornaments or paintings, this doesn’t look like a place anyone lives in”

  “I don’t have time for that, I work long hours and after that I can’t wait to sleep on my bed”

  “You could always make time to add something colorful, as a way to show my gratitude let me give you something to brighten the place”

  Hikari no kami released his kitsune no maho “demon fox magic” into the air, as it began to work its way into creating the things he wanted to give to her. Puzzled as to why they were no longer the light blue color he was accustomed to instead it was now the color of white, he wondered if it was because of his stay in the jigoku that brought about this change.

  Slowly the painting of the senbonzakura which reflected the bright pink hue of the flower as it began to appear on her wall afterward a small ikebana “living flower” appeared; to finish it up he created a lime green vase for the flower.

  “Thanks but you didn’t have to give me a flower, the painting would have been just enough for me”

  “I’ll need to start placing protection spells around you and your place, for I do not want you to be in danger”

  Hikari muttered the special protective spell as he released it to surround her and the apartment building after he was done he asked her where the bath was.

  Pointing to the entrance behind the kitchen, as he kept walking to where she directed him.

  Miyako could not help but wonder why she suddenly felt her life had just taken a turn for the worse not longer after she heard him shout, as she rushed to see what it was.

  “What happened? Why were you shouting?”

  “There is no hot bath; are there any hot springs around?”

  “Was that why you were shouting? For a moment I thought something terrible happened, anyway there are no hot springs around. Why don’t you go to your house and take your bath or hot spring or whatever it is that you do to take a bath” sounded a vexed Miyako

  Feeling irritable Hikari decided to leave her bathroom as he couldn’t imagine himself taking his bath in such a ridiculously small tub, taking his leave as he waved her goodbye.

  Heaving a sigh of relief as she shut the door behind him, Miyako couldn’t help wondering what brought them together as the events of the day began to sink in, her eyes became heavy as she made her way to the bed to lay down before closing her eyes, turning to look at beautiful flower in the vase that he gave her, with a smile on her face she slowly drifted into a restful sleep.

  Hikari floated all the way to the Inari Shrine something he didn’t want to do while the human was around him. “Was I scared of how she would have reacted being carried in the air?” he wondered while landing on the ground, noticing that the shrine seem to have a lingering scent of evil as he released the spell to ward off all evil, he watched as it disappeared.

  Walking into the shrine as he made his way into the inner room hidden from human eyes, discarding his Kimono and loin clothes he entered into the hot tube he prepared using his Kitsune no maho, once done cleaning himself after which he rose to dress up. Thinking back to his time with the hu
man, he didn’t know she could be so reliable even though she wasn’t a usual human but he sensed a kindness from her despite growing up in an environment where she didn’t receive much love or kindness from, he thought within himself that it would be interesting to get to know her more.

  Hikari wandered around the shrine at the late hour of midnight as he kept putting protective spells and evil warding spells around the place, using his Kitsune no hi “demon fox fire” lightening the lamps lining the entrance to the shrine watching as they glowed in the dark.

  He noticed the offering box was half full with the coins the worshippers dropped each time they came to the shrine to offer prayers for blessing, he emptied the box allowing it to float into the air as he read the desires of each person through the coins once he was done he took the coins into his room before heading out from house to house grant each desire according to what was within his power to do. Slowly he felt the approach of dawn as he made his way back to the shrine, deciding to rest in order to build up his strength, taking off his geta he settled on the futon “sleeping blanket” to rest as he closed his eyes.

  Miyako woke up to the sound of her alarm as she heard it buzz at 6am, knowing that her first job required that she be there at the food café by 8am, she quickly made her way into the kitchen to prepare breakfast before heading for the bathroom to take her shower. It took her twenty minutes to be fully dressed while she rushed to check on her breakfast within another ten minutes it was ready as she sat to eat for fifteen minutes clearing the dishes she packed her bag, locking the door she made her way out of the building heading straight for work as usual the day was starting to get busy as she saw school children heading for school and people rushing to work.

  On getting to work she saw the manager Ichikawa Hayao a man in his thirties, greeting him while heading to the locker room to place her belonging before starting the day, the food café majorly served pastries and lemonade drink with the occasional tea by the side. Business had been booming such that the manager was thinking of opening another branch some miles from where they were, since she was working part time he spoke to her of considering the position of becoming a manager at the new store he was going to have since she had been working with him for a long time and was familiar with the setup of the food café which opened by 9am and closed by 5pm.