Chapter 3



Putting the key up to the door, Keitaro found that it was already unlocked. He wondered who was home. He left before Naru, and Shinobu and Su said they wouldn't be home until dinner. He walked in anyway, not really paying any attention to it. He was exhausted from his day at prep school. All he wanted to do is run upstairs and take a nap. Guess what-that's what he did! However, when he reached the top of the stairs he heard sobbing coming from Kitsune's room. Confused by this unpleasant sound, he stepped silently toward her room. He slid the door open carefully, and peeked his head inside. What he saw astounded him. Kitsune, curled up like a little child, crying to herself. He had never seen Kitsune cry before. At worst she'd be a little cranky if she had a bad day, but to cry, he had never seen before.

"Kit-Kitsune. What's wrong?" he asked, with as much affection as he could.

Kitsune lowered her arms, and glimpsed at Keitaro. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her entire face was red. Her sleeves were wet with tears, as was her face. She sobbed a few times.

"I hate myself . . . " she whimpered.

Keitaro was aghast. He couldn't believe she'd say something like that. Then he worried that it might have been his harshness that made her like this.

"No," he thought to himself, "this has to be something else. Naru said she was fine after I left. But what could possibly make Kitsune so sad?"

"Kitsune. What's wrong? What happened today? Did somebody do something to you?"

"I-I don't know who. Some man I was talking to-to at the bar . . . He called me a slut, and said I'm some dirty horrible person." she chocked

Keitaro sat down next to her and embraced her. She immediately submerged her face into his shoulder, and began to cry harder.

"He-I don't even know him. I don't understand why he said that. And-and everyone there just looked at me. They all thought the same thing. Keitaro, am I really so bad?"

Keitaro was speechless. He knew she may be flirtatious or giddy sometimes, but he also knew she was a good person. He held her tighter now, trying to comfort her as much as possible.

"No of course you aren't a bad person, Kitsune."

Kitsune looked up at his face, and saw his big comforting smile, as well as his blush. The corners of her lips cracked a smile.

"Thank you, Keitaro." she said in a whisper.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the stairway. They got closer and closer to Kitsune and Keitaro.

"Keitaro! Are you home? Where are you?" Naru's voice bellowed.

Just then, Naru turned her head, and spied Kitsune deep within Keitaro's arms, not to mention Keitaro's bright red face. The oddness of jealousy can contort reality, and this is no exception to Naru. Her hand turned into a fist.

"Keitaro, just what the hell . . . " her voice quickly tapered off.

Then she observed that Keitaro's shirt was wet, and Kitsune was in tears. Naru swiftly ran over to them and kneeled down.

"Kitsune, what's the matter?"

"Some jerk down at the bar said some mean things to her." Keitaro answered sternly.

"Oh my God. Why would someone do that?"

Kitsune sniffled, "I don't know. I didn't even know who he was."

Naru gasped, and began caressing Kitsune's head.

"Don't worry about what some half-drunk asshole says. You are a good person and a great friend."

The two helped Kitsune to her feet. Naru pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the tears from Kitsune's sobbing red face. Then she covered her nose with it.

"Here, blow your nose."

Kitsune blew and coughed, and rubbed her eyes.

"Thanks guys. I'll be okay now." she conveyed soundlessly.

"Are you sure?" Naru asked; still very worried about Kitsune.

Kitsune nodded, and walked over to her window. Naru motioned to Keitaro to leave. The pair walked out, and proceeded downstairs.

"Just what was that all about Keitaro?" Naru asked anxiously.

Keitaro shrugged, "Honestly, I really don't know. I got home about 20 minutes ago. I saw that the door was unlocked, so I came in and went up to my room. That's when I found Kitsune in her room crying hysterically. All I found out from her was that some guy down at the bar called her a slut, and ridiculed her in front of everybody."

Naru clenched both of her fists, "If I ever find that son of a bitch, I'll beat the hell out of him!"

"Definitely!" he agreed.

On the bottom step, Naru stopped abruptly.

"You do know, Keitaro, that Kitsune isn't like that." she murmured softly.

Slightly shocked that Naru might actually think he feels that way, he replies, "Of course I know! She may be wild at times, but I understand that's just the way she is. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that."

Naru nodded, and the restarted their walking. Meanwhile, Kitsune leaned up against her window, brushing away a small tear from her eye.

"I know you mean well Naru and Keitaro, "she thought to herself, "but I'm not a good girl."