AN: I find it harder and harder to keep track of which story I'm writing. But I am a slave of my muse unfortunately. Here goes the next update to this modern folklore.


Part 2:

That child called Hikaru, she'd brought reinforcements.

Hidden behind the thick linen table cloth, Akihito observed beneath the low coffee table.

Five days now. It had been five whole freakish days since he was taken from his soft pillow at the corner of the living room and put into a cardboard box punched with holes to the vet. The thought of escape hadn't even crossed his mind then since he was still sleeping more than awake. Otherwise, he would have bolted for freedom and not be hiding from a measly eight year old girl.

Now he's disabled with large bandages wrapped excessively tight around his side and fed with sedative laced dog food to keep him bedridden. He'd refused at first to eat the food, throwing up upon the sight and thought of eating it. He saw what they put in it and didn't want to be drugged. But after a full day of revolt, Akihito caved in to the pain and hunger. His injured body couldn't heal without sustenance or sleep and so Akihito fought the accompanying nausea while he ate. Thus for those five days, he ate, slept, and healed. During that time, Akihito somehow was able to find out what happened to him.

He knew obviously he wasn't human. That was a given judging the by the silver-black paws he saw where his hands and feet once were. Also by the movements above his head and on his back just above his butt, he has large moveable ears and a fluffy tail as well. Akihito even experimented with his tail whenever he was awake long enough. So, he was some type of animal. Just what, he didn't quite know. It wasn't until the other day when they stopped lacing his food and he felt less pain that he ventured to explore the house.

It was weird at first, to be limping on all fours but Akihito soon got the hang of it, all the while minding the stitches on his side of course. His movements instinctively were natural and fluid. He could even jump and leap onto some of the furniture in the living room without opening the stitches. The new discovery of his flexibility and agility made him giddy but Akihito didn't loose his sense of purpose.

He had wandered into a bedroom and noticed the vanity dresser instantly. Wary of his injury, he worried only for a split second whether to attempt the jump before he pushed back onto his hind legs and leapt. The tips of his front paws barely reached the top before he fell. He yelped upon impact. Huffing and puffing for air as he gasped from the jarring pain on his side, Akihito braced himself to try again despite the sudden smell of blood. He new he had tore them open, but his overwhelming curiosity to find out exactly what he was held teeth. He must know.

So he backpedal a few steps further away and attempted again. The pain on his side constantly nagged for him to stop but Akihito increase his speed instead. Gaining momentum, he leapt, ignored the stinging stretch of his abs once more and dug his claws onto the top of the dresser. He whined amidst the heaving breathing at his success. With the help of his hind legs, he dug his claws against the side of the dresser and pushed his body upwards to lift himself on top completely.

Out of breath from his efforts, Akihito took a moment to regain his breath and took stock of his condition. Though he forget about breathing entirely when he caught his own reflection in the mirror. If he hadn't seen it with his own beady eyes, he wouldn't have believed it either. He was a freaking fox. A silver fur covered one complete with swiveling ears, a wet snout, black whiskers, paws and tail.

How in the world this happen? He walked closer to the mirror and sat down on his hind legs. He took a long look and tilted his head to the side. There was something familiar about his gestures. He couldn't pinpoint it. It wasn't until he peered into the reflection of his eyes that he remembered seeing this image before. Only, it wasn't his reflection but a real fox in a forest covered with snow.

His memories were hazy at best. Tried as he might, Akihito couldn't remember what he was doing in the forest and where'd he seen that fox. There had to be a reason for him to be in this form and injured.

Soon after, he was discovered by the grandmother. She scolded as if he was a child, change his bandages, and made sure to close all the doors ever since.

Now, as he watched warily the little girl's movement, Akihito was prepared to escape from her clutches. No way in hell was he going to let her manhandle him again.

Despite his best efforts, he wasn't prepared for the wily cunning of a pack of children. While he was busy tracking the girl, her other two friends had seen his tail peaking out from the table and squealed in excitement, giving his location away immediately. They pounce upon him like hungry wolves scenting a prey. Despite his injuries, Akihito maneuvered his body desperately, dodging left and right to escape their giant clutches but alas to no avail.

Hikaru surprised him from behind and yank on his tail. Succinctly dragging him from beneath the table and dangle him from the appendage. She swung him side to side, her victory dance gloating for all to see. His side hurt from the mistreatment as the blood rush to his head and seep through his reopened injury. He felt disoriented from the pain, and height of the movements. He fought the urge to throw up as he flailed his paws up and around, trying to get the girl to release him to no avail.

Akihito thought it couldn't get any much worse, but he was wrong. One of her friends must have wanted to hold him. Hikaru, oblivious to his state as a child her age is incapable of, tossed him to her friend. He whimpered in pain upon impact, only to yowl in further distress when the friend pressed directly on his injury. An instinctive growl release from his throat and he snap his head forward.

Her friend cried out as fresh blood not of his own flooded his mouth. She tossed him away immediately. Akihito thump to the ground hard. He whimpered in agony as he tried to scamper away without being stepped on by all the commotion generated from the crying girl. He returned to hide beneath the low coffee table, a low rumbling growl resonating at the back of his throat all the while, as he watched on protectively from his hiding place. He licks his chop clean of blood, tasting distinctly of copper, and somehow was satisfied by the smell of fear in the air.


He had to escape. He couldn't stay any longer. The grandmother and the girl's father didn't think he'd understand but they were wrong. Akihito heard every word from his comfy pillow as they discuss about him in the living room.

"Keiko-chan had to have five stitches on her hand. Her parents threaten to sue me, mother!"

"I'm sorry, Itsuki. Please send my well wishes to her parents. I'm sure they'll calm down and see reason when their anger blows over."

"It's not that simple, mother."

"Don't worry, you see. I'll come by the hospital tomorrow and bring her favorite cookies."

"No amount of cookies will resolve this…. Maybe his hide."

"Itsuki! Leave the poor fox alone. He was just trying to protect himself."

"They're children! Even an animal can tell the difference between predator and prey. I think this one has been in the wild too long. It's too dangerous mother! You must see that."

Round and round their discussion went while Akihito reflected upon what he heard. The father said he was too dangerous. Maybe he was right, Akihito thought. He hadn't thought about the natural behavior of children at all, but only of his own survival. Mayhap he's been a fox far too long if his humanity is to be in question.

Despite the guilt eating away his conscious and wanting to make amends, Akihito felt panic rising. Whether he's currently a silver fox or not Akihito desperately wanted to live. He must escape. But how?

Hikaru's father left. Grandmother had knelt down before him and petted his head before she retired for bed. Akihito stayed awake wondering about his future until sleep took him as well.

That morning, the option was denied him. Akihito smelt the trace of sedative too late as he ate the food the old grandmother prepared.

The sting of betrayal was softened as he sank into darkness.