Chapter 2 - Fox Guy! (^o^)

Oh wow, thank you FacetiousKitten and Cat girl for the reviews! It already made me so happy hearing (or in this case, reading) those words! :D BTW, Cat girl, you watch Fushigi Yuugi?

I hope my OC is alright. Please tell me what you think and if I need something fixed here!

Kagami blinked, her grip on the umbrella slacking, as she stared at the strangest thing she'd ever seen.

Of course, her night didn't always start like that. She's attending college, and her finals are getting closer. She isn't exactly a genius, and the exams are probably hard, so she spends a lot of time studying in the library after school that day. Then the rain started, and she knew she had to go home before it got stronger. But just as she was running across the streets, she passed by something which immediately caught her attention.

Actually, it wasn't a something. It was a someone.

There was this weird looking guy that was sleeping in an alley, not seeming to care that he was getting soaked from the harsh rain and that he was laying in one of the dirtiest places in the whole city. The guy didn't look homeless or poor, judging by his clothing and his necklace and even his props (his staff and straw hat) which looked like it can be for one of those cosplaying conventions her friend attends. She thought his clothes were the most unusual thing, until she got to his hair.

Actually, she didn't know what was more unusual, the guy's hair or his face. It probably sounded rude, but at the moment it was the only thing she could think of. She couldn't see much of his hair, because the straw hat was in the way, but she was sure as heck that the guy's hair was blue. BLUE! What kind of dye did he apply to get it to turn into a shade like that? It didn't look like a wig, (remind her to tug it later). He has wet blue bangs covering his right eye, and there was also a lock of hair tied but hidden behind his back, barely seen from her position in front of him. His face, however, was a different story. She knows you sleep with your eyes closed, but with a smile? Either he was crazy, or he found dark and wet alleys surprisingly comfortable. It reminded her somehow of a fox, (kitsune-san!)

Kagami looked around the place, but there was no one around. They're probably in their warm houses now drinking some hot chocolate while they waited for the rain to pass. It sure tempted her to leave the fox guy before she herself got wet and became sick, (she couldn't afford catching a cold when her exams are getting near) but sympathy and concern for him won out and she found herself walking nearer and nearer towards his slumped form, cautious and ready to bolt in case he turned out to be a bad guy and started robbing her right then and there. But he looked so kind, his weird cheerful smile a sharp contrast to his gloomy surroundings. She knelt in front of him, and with a deep breath, started tapping him on the shoulder.

"Um... hello? Excuse me, kitsune-san, are you awake?"

But there was no response. Kagami started shaking his shoulder but his only response was to slump forward. She even started patting his cheek and tugging his blue bangs roughly to no avail (at least she was sure that it wasn't a wig).

Huh. Maybe he's already dead? But that idea was quickly dashed when she saw the steady rise and fall of his chest. Okay, he's alive but unconscious. Great. She looked around, desperately thinking of ideas before she gets thoroughly soaked and sick. Maybe she can drag him towards the nearest police station? But that would be both weird and awkward for her to suddenly dump an unconscious, soaking wet guy in front of the police and say, "oh I found him in an alley. He's your responsibility now" and leave. She can't leave him here, because of obvious reasons. So all that's left now is her apartment, which is only a few blocks from here.

Wait, her apartment?! If this fox guy turns out to be a murderer or a rapist, she'll be long dead. She's living all alone in an apartment because the rest of her family lived in the countryside. She left because she wants to study in a university, leaving no choice but to go to the city. She quickly adjusted to the busy life here, and her parents supply her with money, so life was good. But to suddenly haul a stranger in there who was probably cold and sick by now, was both stupid and kind of her. But fox guy needs help! Kagami's sure he never intended to sleep in an alley. Maybe he has a family out there looking for him, and she'll be doing him a world of good by taking care of him until he's ready to leave.

God, she made him sound like a puppy or something…

But what if he DOES turn out to be a bad guy?

What if he isn't?

Kagami sighed, this was getting too complicated. It would be a good thing if he's just some ordinary guy, but if he's more than that…

Maybe she'll just scream and deck him upside the head the moment he wakes up. After confirming it of course. Then she'll call the cops. He'll be arrested before he can say 'hello'.

Decision set, she began pulling at his arm, but only succeeding in moving him a few centimeters from his original position. He's too heavy for her, and with the added weight of his wet clothes and her umbrella in one hand, it's impossible to drag him all the way to her apartment. She stood back and thought, eyes narrowing at the problem. As if on cue, a taxi suddenly rumbled past in the street. Kagami's head shot up and she ran to the end of the alley, waving a hand to signal it. The taxi pulled up in front of her and opened a door, but she didn't get in.

"Ano…. sumimasen, but can you help me with my friend over there? He's umm… he's drunk, and… and I can't exactly carry him…"

Kagami trailed off as the taxi driver grumbled and got out of the car, trudging towards fox guy, intent on picking him up. Kagami blinked when the driver lifted him and marched back towards her, shoving him headfirst into the vehicle. Kagami suddenly felt annoyed, and she yelled, "Hey, careful! What's your problem anyway?"

"You gonna get in or not?" The driver glared at her, obviously in a sour mood too. Maybe his last passenger left him no tip or something? Well, with his attitude, he wasn't going to get one from her either. It was Kagami's turn to grumble as she picked up fox guy's prop staff on the ground and begrudgingly got in the car. The driver went around and entered too, and they were off.

Kagami gave him her address without glancing at him, still annoyed over the fact that the driver just tossed fox guy into the seat without a care. That's not the way to your passenger's heart! He'll get absolutely no tip from her, even if he just carried fox guy.

Speaking of fox guy, (that was quickly becoming a mouthful), he was still unconscious. She could only tell he's still alive because of those steady, even breaths. But otherwise, he's as silent as a rock.

"Your boyfriend?"

Kagami's head snapped up and she stared at the driver in the rearview mirror. Boyfriend? Heck no, that was just wrong!

"N-No! He's just a friend! What makes you say that?" Kagami blurted. She glared when the driver raised a skeptical eyebrow at her.

"Maybe you broke up. Not surprising, considering he's drunk and collapsed in an alley. Those weird clothes are probably another reason too. Does he do drugs?"

Kagami fumed. Already, the driver managed to annoy her a lot in just one taxi ride. "I told you, he's just a friend! Stop snooping around and just focus on the road, will you?"

To her irritation, the driver just snorted but nevertheless kept his attention on the road.

The ride was silent after that. Though it made her worry a bit. What if he is a drug addict?

~oOo~

After asking the driver to help her carry fox guy up to her apartment and on the couch, as well as paying the fare (still no tip), she was exhausted. She headed straight to her bedroom, barely sparing the occupant of her couch a glance, set on changing her now wet clothes and drying her hair. Maybe she wouldn't be this annoyed and she could've avoided the stupid driver if she just dragged fox guy all the way to her apartment, considering she still got wet even after all her efforts. Humph. Fox guy better have a good excuse…

Looking around, she felt herself smile a bit before going in her room. She could almost imagine fox guy's face when he woke up and found himself in a stranger's home. Albeit a cozy one.

Her apartment was probably small for an average person. But to her it was more than enough. There was her living room with a single couch, a green beanie bag (she LOVED sitting there, so soft and comfy…) and an average TV. A couple of steps to the left and there was her kitchen with a stove, a mini fridge, and also a small round table for dining. The walls were white and plain, but she liked it that way. She wasn't going to stay here much until she graduated anyway. Besides, it looks clean. The only room where she bothered to put decoration is her bedroom. There was her bed, a study table, a closet, and a bookshelf. Taped across the walls serving as decorations were pictures of her family. Her sweet and beautiful mother, and her stubborn and adventurous father. She loved them all dearly, and could hardly wait to go back to the countryside and spend time with them. She's been away for nearly four years now. Well… there has been those visits on vacations and special occasions, but it's still different to stay all year round. Kagami missed her mother's cooking, and his father's daily 'expeditions'. (He couldn't really go as far as the countryside, but that didn't discourage him in the slightest.) She really missed going with her father to explore some places, or just hang out with him every once in a while.

Her eyes moved to the next picture, and it made her smile. They were her two friends from the city. There was Hikaru, her irritating but charming friend (he enjoys flirting with any person wearing a skirt). He's really annoying when Kagami first met him, but then realized that he's not so bad. He's not striving to be the best in school, but he can be extremely smart when he wants to. She bets he fails his exams on purpose, the idiot.

Her other friend was a girl named Saori. She's a really outgoing and fashion-obsessed person with a fascination for animes and cosplaying (she's too much of an otaku for her own good). If she can, she'll probably shop for clothes regularly, or probably hunt for anime costumes online for the next convention. Other than her obvious obsession, she's a really good friend and a good listener, though she can be really mischievous if she wants to. Sometimes, Hikaru and Saori gang up on her to make her life as interesting as possible. (In the form of random pranks and unexpected outings to any place in the city she hasn't known yet)

Her eyes suddenly drifted to the last picture against her will, half-hidden between a picture of Saori in a cute anime costume and Hikaru in a wacky shot.

Kagami quickly shifted her gaze to avoid looking at Ho- at the person smiling softly in the picture. She bit her lip as she hastily dressed into her pajama pants and shirt, collected a towel and a blanket, and left the room, closing the door with a soft click.

She rested her head against the door, eyes closed and breaths coming in short gasps. What happened? It's been two years ago. Why now?

Kagami hurriedly shook her head, determined not to go over it again. When she felt that she's okay for now, she turned and headed to the couch where she left fox guy, trying to ignore the depression at the back of her mind.

Fox guy was still unconscious and dripping wet. He probably had a cold now judging from how long he's been under the rain. She quickly dropped the extra blanket and towel beside her and knelt by fox guy's side, raising her hand to his forehead. His skin felt odd to the touch, but she thought nothing of it and presumed that it was the rain's fault. Speaking of the rain, he's certainly been under it for quite some time. He's developed a very high fever, his skin feeling uncomfortably hot against her hand. She frowned and looked at his wet clothes. He should get them off, or his fever would get even worse. But he's unconscious, how would he get them off? Should she do it herself?

Suddenly, the implications of what she just thought made her blush to the roots of her hair. She? Undress a guy? An unknown guy who's most likely a rapist? Maybe it'll be the opposite and he wakes up in the middle of it and think that she's the rapist? Heck no. Not going to happen. Nuh uh. NOPE.

"H-Hey, fox guy? Please wake up! I can't exactly remove your clothes by myself! Hey… come on, wake up!" She pleaded, but fox guy was just out of it at the time. She snapped and clapped her fingers near his ear, yelled, stomped, but there was still no reaction.

What she would give to call Hikaru right now. She could use another guy in here to help her with fox guy. But she couldn't call her friends now even though she has a complete stranger on her couch and she may require back-up. Especially in this weather. Not to mention it's already dark outside. She's gonna have to handle it on her own.

Not that it means she's gonna like it.

Kagami cracked her knuckles, her mouth forming into a determined frown. This is gonna get messy…