ALRIGHT!! THIS ONE WAS THE SHORTEST UPDATE YET!!
Now I must go work on my other stories.
Read, enjoy, and review. Please!
Ch. 4: A Date with Kokitsune
I brush my long dark chocolate hair humming a random tune, while rethinking my dream with Youko. I was so happy, and yet it kind of freaked me out. Normally when I have a dream with someone in it, I don't see him or her again. BUT WHO CARES?! Sure, Youko can be pervy but he can also be a complete gentleman.
We were in the garden again wearing the same thing as before, although I could've done without the crown. Both us talked throughout the dream, but I did most of the talking and Youko did most of the listening. I told him about the Human World (apparently there are three worlds), myself, Granny, Rebecca, and Mark and how I met them.
"Kokitsune, is it odd to love a dream?" I look at the small four tailed fox, that's curled up in a ball on the white oval rug. He looks up at me and tilts his head. With a sigh I resume taking care of my hair. "Its odd. I know it is, but Youko is such a… I can't say. But in the dreams he seems he wants to get to know me better, almost like he were real." I state quietly, frowning in confusion.
Placing by brush back in one of the white draws, smooth out my clothes for the day, and walk towards my 'door'. My 'shadow' following my very move. As I reach down for the handle it opens by itself, but seeing my sister on the other end I give her a smile. "What's up?"
"Apparently you." she states with a smile of her own.
"And when I'll step on the ground where you're standing, then I'll be down." We both laugh at the whole 'What's up?' conversation, rethinking the time we went to the Renaissance Fair. "Kitsune, breakfast is ready and come down here fast before Ookami eats it all."
With that I jump down and run towards the kitchen; seeing Mark stuff his face with sausage, left over bacon, eggs, and drinking it down with orange juice.
"Ohayo! Glow! Are you hungry?" he gives me one of those wolfish grins of his and right now I despise it. Feeling someone place their hand on my right shoulder I look over it, and see Becky with a plate just for me.
"Arigatou, Neko." I take the plate and sit across from Mark guarding my plate from his bottomless pit, also known as the male stomach. Rebecca sits by me as well, guarding her plate as well, and Grandma sits at the head of the table. Kokitsune is on his (what I guess to be) his favorite place… my shoulder.
Mark decided enough is enough and begun to eat like a gentleman.
We all discussed about what we dreamed about, if we did at all, and what detention was like for me. Hmmm, Kokitsune will have to go back to his friends and family soon now. Maybe I should celebrate that his wounds have healed in such a short time. I feed Kokitsune some of the sausage that he eats greedily. I rub my nose into the side of his snow-white furry face, I feel him tense a bit but he relaxes soon, and afterward leans inwards.
"GAH!! WILL YOU TWO STOP THAT, BEFORE I BURF UP MY BREAKFAST!!" I let out a giggle, when Kokitsune seems to sick out his tongue at Mark. I stop the 'loving act' and resume eating my breakfast. Rebecca occasionally feeds Kokitsune, too, making him very happy. All the while Grandma is sitting there reading one of her books, finished with her breakfast.
As odd as it is, I don't find Kokitsune 'weird' just differently unique.
I go about my day in my dark room staring up at the ceiling, thinking how I could take Kokitsune out on the 'date'. ARUGH!! Why am I making a big deal about this anyway?! He most likely doesn't even know what a date is anyway!! But… he is a fox; they do out wit a lot of the 'hound dogs'. With a heavy sigh I push myself off of my back and get a determined look on my face. "Alright! Here goes, something!!"
I'm now in the kitchen cooking and baking up all different kinds of goodies. Almost all of this stuff is something both of us can eat, I don't know much about cooking/baking but I'm giving it my all refusing any help (kindly). Course humans being nosey as we are, my friends and family ask what I'm doing I just reply with a simple 'Cooking and baking' retort. And when Kokitsune came in I shooed him right back out… though he came right back. Damn fox…
"ALRIGHT!! I'M FINISHED!!" My loved ones come rushing into the kitchen. "WAHHHHH!!" Their jaws literally drop when they seeing all the different foods I've made. "So does any of this look editable?" Rebecca blinks several times, before nodding her head slowly. "It looks editable, but if it is… I don't know. You hardly ever cook so…" she briefly looks up at me, but then resumes looking at all the foods. "If you followed the cook book you, and whomever you're eating with, should be fine."
"Well there's only one way to find out if this stuff is good enough to eat!" Mark rolls up his sleeves, and is about to touch the vanilla cake when… I slap his hand away with a wooden spoon. "This isn't for you, Mark!" He backs away slowly while rubbing his swore hand. Rebecca and Grandma are both giggle behind the hands'.
I place the wooden spoon on my shoulder I turn towards Kokitsune, with my other hand placed on my hip. "So, Kokitsune…" Kokitsune looks up at me, with curiosity shining in his golden eyes. "Do you have anything planed today?" I smile at him.
Kokitsune's wags his four snow-white tails, with his very own smile on his face. Jumping in my arms he rubs against me and begins to purr.
"Okay, you have everything, Gloria?" Grandma checks over everything again. "For the tenth time, YES!!" All three of us teenagers shout at her. The elderly woman sighs greatly, and looks at Kokitsune with a glare. "AND YOU!!" she wags her finger in front of his face. "You better bring her back before nightfall!" Kokitsune lets a yawn that gives off a squeaky noise with it. Causing Granny to get an anger pressure point. "Just make sure you get here before nightfall, I know how much you (and all of you) hate coming up that driveway when it's dark."
"Don't worry me and Kokitsune, will be fine. And if anything goes wrong," Kokitsune jumps onto my shoulder. "Kokitsune will help me!" Mark just rolls his eyes; Rebecca and Grandma can't help but give a little laugh. "Well, we're off!" I kick the stand of my bike backward and ride off towards the destination where our 'date' is.
With the wind and the smell of cherry blossoms in the air it almost seems that… What the hell? I can't think that! He may be to smart for his own good; in the what, three days that I've known him? He's not even human! He's a fox!! I've been doing a lot of sighing lately. Kokitsune looks up at me and behind me, eyeing the scented bag of goodies. "Not until we get to where we're going, Kokitsune." He pushes his white fluffy ears back against his head, though I ignore him and his cute act.
I've read about that if you scowled a puppy, they'll pull 'I did nothing' trick. I know that Kokitsune means small fox demon, but… he's a grown fox… just small enough to be on your shoulder… or… in your book bag.
We reach my favorite park, Micke Grove Regional Park! Seeing that nature is now around, Kokitsune jumps out of the wicker bike basket and runs around enjoying the feeling of grass between his paws. "KOKITSUNE!! WAIT!! HUMANS DON'T NORMALLY SEE FOXES AROUND THIS CITY!!" I state more to myself than the open air, MUCH LESS ONE'S WITH FOUR TAILS!! Kokitsune doesn't listen to me he just continues to run around the open grassy field.
Having the gut feeling that he'll come back I lock up my bike and bring the basket and the blanket over towards a cherry blossom tree that's by the lake. Placing the tan basket underneath the sakura tree. After spreading out the blanket, I set the foods about - leaving the cake inside so on one (Kokitsune) could get it. "There all perfect!" I wipe some imaginary sweat off my brow. "I'm so proud of myself today!" I place my fists on my hips and laugh, until I feel small-clawed paws on my back and working up my shoulder.
"Kokitsune?" Turning my head to the right I'm met with a soft lick on my nose, causing me to blush, and a soft head rubbing against my cheek while it's purring. I give this lovable-unique fox a soft smile. "I'm glad you like this, Kokitsune."
After petting him for a while, I set down on the blanket. "Take your pick, Kokitsune." Almost instantly he goes for the fish sticks. "So you're a fishy type of fox. I'll keep that in mind if we meet again!" Kokitsune just looks at me with his head tilted, and with a fish stick hanging out of his mouth. "Come on, Kokitsune, its not like I can keep you as a pet. You're a wild animal. I'm positive that you have loved ones waiting and worrying about you, and if you staying with me makes them worry more I don't want to be apart of it… gomen." For some odd reason, my eyes begin to sting and burn with tears. But, I refuse to let them fall. Whether Kokitsune be human, a fox, half demon, or demon I refuse to let my tears fall in front of someone. I haven't cried since my parents' death. There's no way in HELL THAT I'M STARTING NOW!!
+Youko/Kokitsune's POV+
The four-tailed fox could sense that the young human girl – also known as Gloria, Kitsune, and Glow – is upset. But why? Because he'll have to leave? No one has ever cried for him to stay… minus a few whores, but that's different.
Wanting the atmosphere to be lively and friendly again, Kokitsune jumped into the girl's lap and rubbed his furry snow colored head into her stomach and went back to eating his 'fish sticks'. These are much better than the fish back in Makai. He hears the girl's laughter, causing him to look up and give a fox-ish grin. "Now what happens if I want one?" Gloria asks with a smile. Kokitsune steps over his fish sticks and growls at her, Gloria puts up her happens like she's been caught by the Spirit Detectives. "Alright, alright, I get it. This is revenge for me not sharing my piece of chocolate cake with you. Is that it?" Kokitsune's respond it that is a 'deeper' growl. She laughs again and eats something that he doesn't know of.
After most of the food (mostly the fish sticks) Gloria puts them away. "Ready to play?" She grins at Kokitsune, with his kitsune grin.
For the rest of the day the two kitsunes played all different games. Tag, hide-n-seek, climbed some of the trees, saw who could eat their ice cream faster (not a very good idea though), and now they're skipping stones.
"You see, Kokitsune, its all in the wrist." With that Gloria snaps her wrist and the smooth rock skips five times before it sinks into the crystal water. "HA! Five times a new personal best!" she places her fists on her hips and laughs. "Lets see if you can beat that, Kokitsune!" Kokitsune looks around the line where the water and earth meets, searching for the perfect stone. He could feel the girl's smile widening.
Once his stone is found Kokitsune picks it up in his mouth, drops it on the, but grabs it with one of his tails. Snapping his tail towards the lake the stone skips, ten times! "Well, I'll be damned. Would cha' look at that." Kitsune's smile diminishes and she runs her hand through her long chocolate colored hair. "Maybe its in the tail, and not the wrist. Hm?" Shaking the feeling off she heads back over towards their area, underneath the sakura tree and took out something that smells marvelous.
Rushing over to see what the scent is, Kokitsune sees that it's a circular white… cake? He's only had one of these and that was when it was 'birthday' and his partner (Kuronue) made him one. Though it wasn't every good, it's the thought that counts. "Want some cake, Kokitsune?"
How odd is this human? She made a cake for them and yet it's not their birthdays. But so, she made it for him and not that Ookami guy.
Kokitsune let out a sound that a cat kind of makes and jumped on the human girl's lap. "Unlike the chocolate one, this one I'm pretty sure you can eat without getting sick." She cuts two pieces, one for her and the other for Kokitsune.
Unlike the first time he saw cake in Ningenkai, they didn't fight over this one. Good thing two, this is delicious. Kokitsune eats his piece of vanilla cake full of greed.
The girl gave a yawn, after putting what was left of the cake away and fell backwards on her back. She stretched her arms above her head – making her red ruffled shirt up and exposing her pale tummy – and stretched her long legs – making them seem longer due to the Capri's she's wearing. "Best. Date. Ever." She mumbles. "Though I can't really say that, seeing how's this is the only date I've been on." she looks towards Kokitsune. "Don't you feel special?" she asks with a smile.
Kokitsune jumped onto her still exposed belly, causing the girl to jump up slightly, and curled into a white fur ball. The girl smiles down at the four tailed fox she saved just three days ago and closed her chocolate eyes waiting for a little nap to come, her hand having a mind of it's own and petting the unique fox.
After about ten minutes, Kokitsune felt the Gloria's stomach rise and fall softly and evenly. And because no one was around now he was free to talk. "Kuronue, you can show yourself you know?"
Up in the sakura tree, a big dark shadow appears. So instead of the softness of the cherry blossom's silhouettes on Kokitsune and Gloria, a huge bat like shadow falls over them. A deep, amusing, chuckle fills the air. "Awww, but its so kawaii watching you and this human girl's date." Kuronue let another amusement chuckle. Kokitsune jumps off Gloria's belly and begins to glow silver and mist forms around him, making Kuronue stop his chuckling.
Kokitsune became to take the form of a human, a seven-foot tall. But he's not a human; soon after of looking like a human fluffily silver fox ears appear and so does a long-fluffily-lean tail takes it's place on the tailbone. Youko Kurama, King of Thieves of Makai, stood tall and proud with his muscular arms crossed over his chest, a 'friendly' glare on his face looking at the lavender eyes of his best friend, and standing next to and above the human girl that HELPED him. "What is it that you want, Kuronue?" he says in his deep masculine voice. The over grown bat sighs deeply and leans back on the scented tree. "What can't a bat demon thief be worried about his best fox friend?"
"Not without wanting something in return." Youko states, sitting high up on the other side of the tree much like his life long friend Kuronue. Kuronue lets out another sigh. "You know me to well my friend." Both friends let out smirk. "Anyway, the troops are getting restless trying to find you. Yomi is of no help to me, for trying to find you. But…"
"But…?" Youko is anxious to hear what this bat has to say. "But he was good for something." Youko raises an eyebrow at this. Kuronue never liked Yomi; so saying that he's good for something is a big step for Kuronue. "Yomi brought a blind old man to the hideout. Yomi said that 'this guy can find anyone we want to find'. Half of me wanted to but the other half did not. Heh. Call it being a thief, but…" Kuronue shakes his head riding himself of those thoughts, but the shaking of his head made his witches hat fall off of him and right on to Gloria's face.
"Mmm?" The two-demon thieves guess is that she woke. "My hat." She grips the dark purple witches hat off her, and uses it as a pillow. By now Kuronue is growling at the human girl, for that his hat is now hers. Youko is chuckling slightly at how the human kitsune thinks that the hat is hers. Kuronue will stop at nothing to get that back.
"K-Ko-kitsune…" Stopping his chuckle, Youko looks down at the rare human. "I-I'll… miss… you." Her sleeping face gains a sad expression on it, making Youko's golden eyes turn to sadness but only for a second.
"Seems that she knows what is going to happen." States Kuronue, Youko nods in responds. "I'll leave tonight make sure that there's a portal, or else I'll be staying here much, much, longer."
"And do you know how that will effect your reputation?" Youko Kurama nods to his friend's question.
Gloria groans in her sleep, her chocolate colored eyes blinking a few times before they are fully open. With a big yawn she looks around for what Youko believes to be himself… Kokitsune.
+Gloria's POV+
I've just woken up from an odd dream; sadly that one didn't have Youko. Looking around for Kokitsune I don't see him anywhere. Maybe he had to use the little fox's room. I place my hands behind me, so that I could lean back to stretch my tired limbs, but my hands touch a rough material. Looking back I see a worn out hat. "What the heck?" I pick it up and look inside of it, to see if they put their name in it… no such luck. "This hat sure is… unique. Never saw something like this." I inspect the hat all around. "But… it wasn't here before." I stand and look around the area to see if Mark and/or Rebecca are playing a prank on me. No such luck if that either.
I plop back down on the picnic blanket. Wanting to see if this fits my head, I place it on. "Wow, this person has a really big head." The hat didn't fit my head; it went right down around my neck. "If I just pop the rest of this thing out," I try to make my head go through the top. "I could make it into some kind of belt-skirt-thing." But a softness rubbing against my leg made stop and look down.
Seeing Kokitsune, I pick him up like he was a baby. "What do you think of this hat?" I take the rough purple hat off of my head and show Kokitsune. He rips it out of my hand and runs towards the end of the blanket. Dropping the hat he walks over it, growling. I sigh thinking that it's the fish sticks all over again.
Looking up at the sky I see that it's painted with marvelous colors, due to the setting sun. WAIT!! SETTING SUN?! "OH NO!! KOKITSUNE IF WE DON'T LEAVE NOW WE WON'T MAKE IT BEFORE THE CURFEW!!" I frantically fold up the blanket, place that inside the basket, along with the foods we didn't eat and didn't finish. "Come on!!" I pick him up and place the hat on my head, running towards the parking lot like a bunch of thieves are at my heels.
Partially slamming the basket down in front, I unlock my bike, kick the stand back and take off Kokitsune hanging on for dear life on my shoulder. So glad I wore pants.
We made it to my driveway, before dark. That's good because now, it doesn't look as creepy! The sunlight can get through the leaves and branches, but only a little, making it seem that God's light is shining through. The trees are still smiling but much more friendly, their long branches still reaching out and untrusting.
Walking through the driveway in the middle I take my time. Listen to the sounds of nature, the smells of nature, and… nature. Living past this is wonderful for a growing family who likes their privacy.
Once I see the log cabin that I grew up in after my parents' death, I walk faster.
After placing my bike against the wooden house, I walk inside with the basket and Kokitsune. Walking inside I see everyone doing their normal activities; Mark is watching TV, Grandma is sewing something, and Rebecca is reading something. "So how was your 'date' with Kokitsune, Kitsune?" I jump surprise hearing Rebecca's voice. She didn't even see me come in! Shaking the oddness of it I give her very happy smile.
"Great! Kokitsune and I did many things, mostly ate though! Now our belly's are full." After putting the basket on one of the kitchen counters, I come out rubbing my full tummy. Mark gets up his lying position on the couch and walks into the kitchen.
"What the hell happened!?" All of us go back into the kitchen, rushing. Seeing that Mark has his hand inside the wicker basket, we all get confused looks on our faces. Mark looks directly at me… scary. "I wanted to eat some of this, onna!" He brings out his hand; all four set of eyes see some inedible 'goop'.
Granny, points at the goop with her needle. "What?! Is that!" Suddenly a light bulb goes off in my head. "Ummm…" Aged Hazel, sky blue, and emerald green eyes set upon me. "You see, I-we were in such a rush to get home that, I kind of smashed everything into the bag. Gomen." I rub the back of my neck, laughing slightly. Mark groans seeing that he wouldn't get to try the stuff I cooked early this morning.
+Goodnight People (Youko's POV)+
Gloria lies sleeping underneath her warm covers, with a smile on her lips. Whenever Youko entered her dreams she smiles, and he likes that much more than any other expression.
Speaking of the silver Youko, he lies next to her in his humanoid form. His left hand lifting his head, his right arm across her stomach, and his long muscular yet lean legs hang off the bed slightly. Watching the healing woman sleeping, while they shared a conversation. Unfortunately, this is the last time they'll spend their nights together in her dreams. Kuronue is outside of the log cabin, waiting for Youko to open the window's up in the attic.
Youko didn't want to leave without saying good-bye to Gloria.
+Dream Mode+
Youko and Gloria lie down in the silver rose field, where they always spent their nights together. Gloria's head is on top of his muscular chest – listening to his demonic heart – her arms wrapped around him, staring up at the universal sky. One of Youko's arms is wrapped around her, too, while the other one is petting her dark chocolate hair, unlike her eyes Youko's are closed wondering how he'll tell this helpful human, that he'll leave tonight and they'll never see one another again.
The thought made him tense briefly Gloria took notice his body's reaction to something. Looking up at the real kitsune, curiosity shines in her chocolate eyes. "Youko, what's wrong?" Youko looks down at her confused face, another cute look for her. "Nothing, little one."
Now her expression is irritation. "Yeah right." she sighs and then continues her hug became tighter. "Youko, you do know that you can tell me anything right?" Youko laughs, so loud and hard that it feels like an earthquake again making Gloria grip on his white shirt.
The silver kitsune planets his palm on his forehead after the laughter. "Gloria, I've only known you for, what four days/nights now?" he sits up, taking along for the ride. He gazes down at her with his golden eyes. "How can you expect me to trust you so quickly?" The teenage girl's eyes gain sadness within their depths.
Gloria places her crowned head on his chest. "Well… you said that the first time we met… that… I saved you, right?" She looks up at him. "Isn't that enough for you?"
Damn she has a point there. It's now or never, too. Knowing Kuronue he's properly getting restless. With a heavy sigh Youko Kurama takes Gloria's hands and stands, again taking her along.
"Gloria…" Looking up in his golden orbs, she sees that this will be very serious. Seeing that Youko has her attention he just says it. "This will be the last time we'll see each other."
"N-Na-Nani?" Gloria's face is utter shock ness. But Youko keeps his cool and calm expression. "Hai."
Gloria pushes herself away from Youko Kurama, refusing to show him the tears outlining her eyes and refusing to let fall. "Baka." Youko attention is now on her back. "Baka, baka, baka!" Youko doesn't know if she's insulting him… or herself.
"I'm such baka." Yes, insulting herself. She continues to call herself awful names, and not wanting to hear Gloria degrade herself any longer Youko stealthy walks up behind her and strongly wraps his arms around her form. "Shut-up, already. You're not a baka, nor will you ever be."
She keeps quite, but suddenly is filled with hatred. Trying pry his arms open she begins to insult him, for being the way that he is – even though there's nothing wrong with him in her eyes.
Youko has had enough of this human's attempts to escape his steel grasp and insulting him; he turns her around, grabbing both of the wrists, overlapping one of his legs with hers, leans down, and places his lips over hers. The action was in one swift movement shocking the female human.
Pulling his smooth lips away from hers he sees that her eyes are wide-open, shock and confusion filled both of them equally. Youko let out an amused chuckle at her expression. But soon stopped remembering what he had said earlier.
Youko Kurama, Thieving King of Makai, embraced Gloria Arishima, the teenage human girl. Youko swallows his pride this one moment and forgets who and what he is, and says something that he'll never say again. "Gomen nasai, Gloria. But I really do have to leave. Though…" his embrace tightness around her waist. "I don't want to, but I must."
Gloria presses her head further in his chest, wanting to remember him in her mind's eye. Even though it's a dream it feels so real to her. "So you could keep up your reputation?" Youko stiffens only for a second though, most likely she already read about him in that red book of hers. "When I first saw you… and heard your name… it sounds and you look so familiar to me. Darn memory black out!" She would have hit her head like she normally does, but really couldn't because Youko's arms were around pinning them down and didn't want to ruin the moment.
Youko's furry silver ears twitch making him look behind him. Sensing the irritated sigh escape his throat, Gloria knew where this was going… their good-bye.
Youko slowly beings to fade, as well as the silver rose-universal sky-mountainous region-crystal lake-wonderful dream that was created about four nights ago.
Brown eyes gain salty tears but they don't fall, no matter how great the burning and sting. Youko leans down and kisses her pale forehead. "Farewell, lit-Gloria." Youko started to call her by her nickname that he of for her, but thought it would be better to use her real name. "Good-bye, Youko." Her voice is shaken now, doing her best to hide her sadness.
The dream, and Youko, vanishes leaving the girl in the darkness of nothingness.
+End of Dream Mode (Gloria's POV)+
"Youko!?" I spring up after the fright of being in the dark dream. Looking around I nothing out of ordinary… but… Kokitsune … is gone. "Kokitsune?" I call out, but I receive no answer. I flop back down on my bed, avoiding the head broad. I put my left arm over my brown eyes. "That good-bye… … sure was sad." I state to no one. I let out a sad laugh. "Man, I can't believe that it felt so real." Taking my arm off of my eyes, I trace my lips. "His lips sure were warm and soft… almost like rose petals."
My eyelids gain a heaviness to them, making me open and close them three times before I fall back asleep knowing that Youko won't be there this time…
