Vocabulary

Koto – Traditional Japanese string instrument

Chapter 5: Smiling Fox

The box slid easily out from under the dresser. She removed the cover, revealing the red silk garments. The top was elegant, embroidered with a complex design. It looked like a short kimono. The pants were wide legged with gold scales on the hem. She pulled the choker out of the box and placed it around her neck, with her finger she moved the gold bell to hear the sound. She moved the top a white fox mask stared back at her, the face painted in red. Fumiko traced the red lines with her finger.

Rini had been close to uncovering her hidden treasures this time. Fumiko feared that one day Rini's snooping would reveal her as Smiling Fox; everything she had would be in jeopardy if that happened. She certainly wouldn't be allowed to go on at the Dancing Ox. All her clients would abandon her, like Taka had when he learned of her secret.

Her eyes narrowed, she'd killed that man for fear he would betray her further. She should have known better then to think he would still love her if he knew what she truly was. She still wasn't proud of what she'd done. She had sent him a note, one she'd purposely stained with tears. She begged him to meet her one last time, under the cover of darkness and in the protection of the forest. He came, she knew he would, it was the type of man Taka had been. She suspected that even though he knew what she was, that he still loved her. Had Fumiko gone to meet him that night, another conclusion might have been reached. Unfortunately, it had been Smiling Fox that met him; she flew in the face of her feelings and chose to protect herself instead. Smiling Fox always chose herself.

It was odd how a mask and some red silk turned her into a different person. As Fumiko she never could have offered him the poisoned rice ball. Fumiko never could have sliced the man's throat as he fell prey to the poison he had so trustingly taken from her. But Smiling Fox could, and she had done so with pleasure.

Fumiko replaced the cover on the box, and gently pushed it back under the dresser.

"Fumiko," Maruko's voice cut through the silence. Fumiko jumped with a start, immediately standing to face her employer.

"Yes Maruko?" her voice was much sweeter then it had been earlier.

Maruko raised an eyebrow, but kept her comments to herself for the moment. It wasn't often Fumiko was in such a good mood. "We have a special customer tonight. I need you in top form. He is a member of my family, a Sohma. And wear that choker; it looks good on you Fumiko."

Her hand went to her neck, she'd forgotten she'd put it on. "Normal routine or Happy Ending?"

"Normal, he doesn't like being touched; an odd boy but dear to me. I want him to have the time of his life. Do not disappoint me."

"Give me a few moments to dress appropriately." She said, pulling open a drawer.

Maruko nodded, and backed out into the corridor, Fumiko didn't relax until she heard the woman going down the stairs. She sighed heavily. That had been yet again another close call. Tonight she would hide her box somewhere else, but first she had that client Maruko thought was special. She decided to wear her costume under her layers of kimonos. No one would know. After she was done with the special customer, she would hide her secret in a safer place.

Fumiko looked to the window as the low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance.

oxoxox

Rini carefully poured the tea. Nekai watched, amazed at the young woman's progress. It was hard to believe that only a short while ago Rini had been such a nervous creature she could barely talk. She had stuttered horribly, hardly able to get a few sentences out. Then when she did talk she did it so softly. Rabbits were nervous animals, and Nekai knew that was part of it. He also knew she had had a life that didn't help her situation. Nekai didn't know everything, but he did recall Rini's mother had died not too long after she was born. Her father blamed the loss of his wife on Rini, and didn't ever treat her well. He had taken another wife last year, and that was when Rini was sent to live with Maruko.

"You are going to fall in love with Fumiko as soon as you see her. Everyone does. She is stunning and she can sing so well and she . . ." Rini chattered on. Nekai could only smile back. His mind was on what he had come to the teahouse to do. He was trying to figure out a way to take the killing part outside, he didn't want to do it in the teahouse. He didn't want to cause more trouble then he already was to Maruko.

His gaze moved to the window, the thunder was getting closer. Nekai hoped that it would hold off until what he was here to do was done. Then what ever came next, he would accept. Even if it meant that room.

All thoughts ceased as he caught sight of Fumiko as she entered. Rini had been right, the woman was stunning. Pale skin and dark hair and features, she looked like a doll. She had a seductive way about her. Had he not been aware of what she was, Nekai could have easily been swept away in a wave of lust.

Rini started plucking strings on the koto, which she could play amazingly well. As she did this, Fumiko pulled a fan out of her sleeve. Had he been paying attention; he would have noticed one of the sleeves moved heavier then the other. But his mind wasn't on watching sleeves move. Fumiko danced with the grace of a crane and the beauty of a fluttering butterfly. Every movement was designed to entice a man, to touch on the edge of fantasies. Nekai was not immune, but it only made his hatred grow. Was this how she got close enough to kill his master?

Finally she stopped; with a motion of her hand she dismissed Rini from the room. The door slid shut behind the girl. Fumiko kneeled at the table next to Nekai, close enough for him to smell her sweet perfume. "I am very pleased you have come to see me," she was so polite he doubted for a moment that she could be Smiling Fox. "May I have your name?"

"Nekai." As soon as he said his name her eyes widened in surprise. She knew who he was. It hadn't been a simple murder, he realized. She had known master Taka. She had a close enough relationship with Taka to have been told about him. He moved quickly, grabbing her arm. "I know you are the one that killed my master, Smiling Fox." His voice was a low smoldering growl.

She immediately tried to pull away. He could tell by her expression that she was in a panic, a fact that soothed him and spurred him on. His need for revenge had overtaken every drop of logic; he didn't even realize that she wasn't screaming. It was as she was struggling that the fox mask fell out of her sleeve. "Tell me why?" he asked, another emotion welling up other then hate, hurt.

With her free hand she raked her long nails across his neck, drawing blood. The pain was enough to loosen his grip. She grabbed the mask and put it on, hiding her lovely face. "I told Taka my secret, about Smiling Fox." She untied her obi and let her kimonos drop to the floor, revealing the red silk costume Nekai remembered from that night. "He rejected me, I needed to protect myself," her voice had changed from meek and innocent to brazen and cold. "You plan on killing me don't you? One problem with that plan, have you ever tried to catch a fox?" she turned and ran straight through the rice paper wall. In an instant after, Nekai had done the same.

All the while the storm rumbled closer.

oxoxox

Outside the teahouse, Hakuma had made her self comfortable. She anticipated a long night; there were only so many ways out of the teahouse. Hakuma wasn't worried about catching the Cat on his way out, that would be the easy part.

What was really concerning her was if she would be able to go through with her mission. It was an awkward issue for her. She was a trained killer, more blood stained her hands then she even admitted to herself. She had convinced herself she was different then Smiling Fox. Hakuma never lied to those she killed, she even let them know she was coming. She never for a second preyed upon their trust or friendship, or made use of poison. That made her better right? She didn't expect it made her a good person, but she wasn't evil; just very ugly on the inside.

'Would Nekai smile at me if he knew how ugly I was?' she asked herself whimsically. She shook her head to clear the thoughts. Why did she suddenly care about what Nekai thought of her. There was something that naturally drew her to him, she couldn't place a finger on it. Was it because he was her beloved 'Cat'? Was it something else? She hadn't answers to give herself. She promised herself she'd not get caught up by Nekai, she had only spoken to him a few times, was that enough to change her life over?

She had put in place a plan that gave her a way out of capturing her 'Cat' herself. Going to see Haruki had been part of that plan. She had told him where Nekai was going to be, and she was sure he'd make use of the information she gave him. He would want the glory Nekai's capture would bring.

Her attention was brought again to the teahouse beneath her, out of the wall came Smiling Fox and Nekai after her. "That was an exit I hadn't been expecting," she snickered to herself. From the rooftop, Hakuma could see that Nekai had every intention of killing Smiling Fox in the street, a thought that gave Hakuma much joy. Nekai finally got a hold of Smiling Fox by her collar.

From seemingly no where Haruki came out of the dark and threw himself into Nekai. He was forced to release Smiling Fox to prevent himself from falling to the ground. Hakuma had been surprised by Haruki's appearance as much as anyone else. Had she been that caught up in watching Nekai that she hadn't noticed Haruki's approach? Or had he out smarted her? She would have to see him later on it.

"You have stood in my way for the last time you damn Rat!" Nekai said, his voice a roar of untamed fury.

Haruki replied, but it was too low for Hakuma to make out. Both men drew their weapons. The clank of metal rang out into the night, bringing the attention of everyone in the teahouse to those fighting outside. Maruko ushered them all quickly back inside, offering sake on the house. Haruki always seemed one step ahead of Nekai, even though he looked to be a weak opponent. Hakuma chalked it up to why Haruki was titled the best swordsman in the province.

Nekai was knocked to the ground, yet Haruki didn't stay his sword. Hakuma moved without thinking. Haruki meant to do Nekai harm, she could not allow that. A swirling of emotion was the only answer she could retrieve. She jumped down from the rooftop, between the fighting men. She dropped down and launched a sweep kick that brought Haruki to the ground as well. All this happened in a blink of an eye.

"Do not harm my mark!" she ordered. Haruki only blinked back at her with surprise. Smiling Fox had taken advantage of the distraction and had retreated into the darkness. Now her secret was out, Hakuma was sure she wouldn't see her in the province again. That was if Smiling Fox valued her life, she had no where to hide now.

The first raindrop landed, and rolled off Hakuma's nose. She took no notice, throwing a look over her shoulder to check on Nekai. She saw his contorting form change from the handsome man to the gruesome beast, the Cat's second transformation. The smell was worse then the sight. The odor that accompanied the form burned her eyes, and throat. She moved to the corner of the teahouse. Even vomiting didn't help. She hadn't been in control of her first reaction. Regaining her composure she made herself look back. He was still Nekai after all, the only difference between them was that his ugliness was on the outside.

She saw a hideous paw coming for her shoulder, to offer her comfort? Whatever the motive it was a motion that touched her deep down in that place where she was still human, where the woman lurked. The way he looked reminded her of how she felt when she contemplated her own secret ugliness. Even at his ugliest, Nekai cared enough about her that he had tried making contact with her. A connection was made in that moment that couldn't be undone.

Haruki pushed Nekai away, supposedly protecting Hakuma from the beast. "Don't you dare touch her. Don't even look at her," He yelled as the rain started to pour down upon them all. Haruki charged the beast.

Hakuma had only a few seconds to respond, it was time to share her secret with the Sohmas. She called upon the force deep with in. The power the Shikyo-te had sought, the sole reason they bought her contract. The reason they had even trained a woman was the power that lay hidden inside her. The power washed over her in a wave of unyielding cold. Pain was the price of her gift, which is why she only used it when absolutely needed.

Between her fingers thin needles of ice formed. With a backhand motion she threw them at Haruki's hand, the sudden pain causing him to drop the weapon. The whole purpose of the needles was to cause pain, and get the attention of her enemy. They always melted before they did any serious damage. It worked, Haruki looked back at her, giving Nekai a chance to slip into the darkness. Hakuma shivered, the cold lingering. She was used to the discomfort and pushed onward.

Haruki turned and stared her down. It was a glare she knew meant she was in trouble. Hakuma wasn't about to stand there and get scolded. She had made her stand and she didn't know how to explain herself at the moment. A mist formed at her feet, it coiled around her and expanded to hide her escape. Coupled with the rain, she was sure Haruki would never be able to catch her.

Her feet moved of their own accord in the direction Nekai had gone. She didn't know what she was going to do when she found him, she didn't know if she could comfort him. She hoped that when she found him that he would be human again. He repulsed her, and she wouldn't lie to him about it. But something had happened to her since she met him. Something she couldn't explain.

She had already thought of a plan. She knew how she was going to help Nekai, and she would make enemies of the Shikyo-te in the process. Since meeting Nekai she had been struggling with a realization. She didn't want to be the best kunoichi any longer. Since meeting Nekai, she had only wanted to become a better woman. It was enough to change her life for.

What is going to happen next? Will Nekai get a happily ever after? Do you really think its going to be easy for him. Heck no! Please remember to review, The next chapter will be up Thursday! On another topic, I would like a Beta for this story if anyone could spare the time, please email me if you can! I have Fan Art for Fruits blossom, check out my Profile for a link!