Chapter 17 Jasper

Part 1

Cold fear grips my heart as I cradle Poppy in my arms and bang on Yuki's door using magic.

She opens the door. "Kitsune, then. I had my suspicions. But are you good, evil or neither?"

I have no idea what she is talking about and at the moment it's unimportant. "Poppy's been hurt. She's bleeding, a lot. I need the ambulance. And I don't know how to call one."

She regards be coldly. "I thought you knew everything thanks to your tablet."

I do, why didn't I think of that?

"I'll drive you; it will be quicker. But first you need her health insurance card."

Doesn't she understand. "Poppy is dying." I thought Yuki loved her.

"It'll probably be with her phone."

Impotency and bewilderment make me feel like crying; however I don't have that luxury. I follow Yuki back into our flat. She finds Poppy's card and eventually she leads me out of the apartment to her car. If we don't get to the healers in time, I don't know what I will do. While Yuki drives like a snail, I hug Poppy to myself, whispering my love into her ear. I will not let her die; my spirit will cling to hers and anchor her to life as she anchored me.

Once we arrive at the hospital, we have to book in and pay a deposit. I'm told to accompany my 'foreign girlfriend' to the operating theatre in case I need to make a decision for her. Yuki seems to hate me at the moment, still I turn to her confused.

"Decisions about money and treatment, decisions about when to stop trying to save her." She says not bothering to soften her words.

I taste bile. What is this nightmare world that I've come to.

Part 2

Yuki's voice softens. "Don't worry, our hospitals are the best in the world. If it is even remotely possible that she can be saved, they will save her."

Still dazed, I follow after the nurses as they wheel Poppy to the operating theatre.

For all my concerns the healers turn out to be amazing. They refill her body with blood, and sew up her wounds. Yet still Poppy lies pale and unmoving in the sterile white bed. According to the nurses the operation went well, and I have no need to worry. That would be more believable if they didn't seem so worried about her themselves. Yuki and I are told to leave the communal ward Poppy has been placed in, as it is almost nine o'clock. They use the word 'please' but it isn't a choice.

As we exit the hospital, Yuki turns to me. "You still haven't answered my question, fox."

"I can assure you I am no fox."

"I've seen you use magic. A good fox would not lie. You sucked too much of her lifeforce out didn't you. That's why although her wounds have been tended to, she is still unconscious."

I flinch as if she has stabbed me with that truth. Although I have no idea how she could know.

"You were glowing. I will not let you harm Poppy."

"I had no idea she'd been injured." Why am I making excuses to Yuki, why do I feel the need to explain myself to her, to convince her that I would never hurt Poppy, and yet isn't that exactly what I have done. Yuki does not offer me a lift home. Which I'm glad about for one reason, I can walk straight back into the hospital, without her knowing.

Part 3

I am not meant to be sitting beside Poppy's bed this early in the morning. However, I am a thaumaturge and the nurses mundane. So, here I am, wanting to touch her so badly and yet knowing that I cannot because it will drain her.

I run a finger over the sheet covering her arm instead. I feel her magic leak into me even so and hastily withdraw my hand.

Her eyelids flicker. "Jasper?"

My hand has brushed her cheek before I can stop myself. "Poppy."

Her hands reach for mine as she tries to sit up. I help her and worry that her magic although as warm as usual seems a gentle presence, rather than the usual torrent, as she holds me. "I thought you had to leave?"

"I should have, but how could I, not knowing if you were alright…. or not." I stroke my fingers through her hair as she seems stressed, and I remember her saying she found it relaxing.

Instead of smiling happily at my concern, she frowns. "But you could be in danger. I met an ex of yours she was super crazy. I think if she saw you, she would try and kill you too."

I feel confused. For one, I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill Poppy. Secondly, I have had no serious relationships, so I don't have any exes. Surely none of the delightful women I've met through work, are crazy enough to think there has been something other than play acting between us. "She was trying to kill you, why?"

"She had a pin like yours, it glowed when she touched me. She said that meant I was the goddess Vane's vessel, but I was corrupted and had to die."

"What did she look like?"

Part 4

Poppy gives an exasperated sigh. "How many super crazy exes do you have? Her name was Kay, she had stunningly bright blue eyes, long light brown hair." She shivers. "I was so scared she did all this freaky stuff with ice, that's what a lot of the cuts were, ice daggers. If a raven hadn't rescued me, I'd be dead for sure."

I stare at her, numb in shock. In wanting to protect her from knowledge of magic users, I left her vulnerable, defenceless and unwarned about the danger she was in. If she had died it would have been my fault. "She wasn't my lover." I should be apologising why did I say that instead, however true.

Poppy frowns. "I gathered that you were not hers. As for what she initially felt for you, only she knows. Kay said you seduced her to learn secrets about a place called Qelsum for your master?"

"Why didn't you call an ambulance for yourself?"

She pulls a face thinking I'm changing the topic. "I didn't think of it, I just wanted to get home. If you hadn't been there, I'd be dead. Thank you for looking after me. But now I've endangered you."

I gently wipe the tears that are now trickling down her cheeks. "When you got home you said you loved me." She looks surprised and blushes, making me assume she doesn't remember that lapse. "Both your eyes and tears glisten with that love. Kay enjoyed my company that was all, the only time I've seen her eyes shine like that was when she first told me that she'd seen Vane's light."

Part 5

Instead of being reassured Poppy appears distraught. "Kay said you sent her roommate on a mission so dangerous it led to her death…"

I squeeze her hand and hasten to reassure her. "The mission wasn't dangerous, I spoke to the roommate afterwards, she was fine."

Poppy's eyebrows furrow and she looks like she's about to cry again as she shakes her head. Her voice sounds weak. "I don't think she is. I think Kay killed her. I want to go home"

I agree with her, it is only a matter of time before Kay is directed here. The doctor does not want Poppy to leave yet and implies that her future healthcare is at risk if she doesn't stay in the hospital until he is sure that she is well. The nurses gallantly try and hide their astonishment when he changes his mind.

As we exit the hospital, Milesse flies down and perches on my shoulder. Poppy smiles happily in recognition, "I'm sure that's the raven that saved me."

I smile back. "Milesse is mine, my master gave him to me."

Take a taxi or walk. I cannot seem to think straight. Kay could arrive at the hospital and charm the taxi driver into giving her our address. However, to walk will leave us exposed for longer. I don't want to gamble with Poppy's wellbeing, but what choice do I have now. Equally I don't have the time to deliberate.

Decision made; I send Milesse to scout out the way ahead and make sure we are not going to run into Kay. Poppy falls back asleep on the journey, so I take her straight round to Yuki's apartment.

As I knock for admittance, I hear barking. The door opens and a robust looking dog about twelve inches high, comes bounding out. It's a comical looking creature, grey with white bushy eyebrows, a white beard and white paws.

Chapter 18

Part 1

The dog jumps up at me, patting my trouser leg and barking happily with a grin that is decidedly mischievous. Yuki already knows I can caste magic, therefore I float Poppy in the air and bend down to pet him.

Yuki sighs, yet there is a hint of begrudging respect in her eyes. "His name is Leo. How old are you?"

I ignore the question as it has a more rhetorical feel about it anyway. "Please will you look after Poppy for me." I bow low. "I know that I am potentially putting you in danger and ask your forgiveness for it."

She snorts. "I have reached eighty years of age, that should speak to you of my resilience. However, I will forgive your insult."

I show her my mobile number. "Call me if there is even a hint of trouble."

She ignores it. "Follow me I will show you where to lay her."

Not wanting to annoy Yuki any more than I already have, and assuming she is as anti-shoes in the house as Poppy, I remove mine by magic and carry Poppy after her. Yuki's flat is so different from ours. Instead of carpet it has woven green mats placed alongside each other, and it is devoid of clutter. For instance, the room we are now entering has just the one scroll hanging up and a dish with a twig of maple leaves arching gracefully over three yellow chrysanthemum…

"You love her, don't you?"

Again, it is not a real question. Yuki thinks I am a fox! and she has me sussed. Whereas I know that I've had short flings before, during which I've indulged in greater levels of sexual intimacy than I've had with Poppy, and they have never caused me any issues of the heart.

Part 2

Still, I find myself answering Yuki's question. "My feelings are irrelevant."

"And yet you cradle her in your arms like she is the most precious thing in your world. Rather than doing whatever you were tasked to do in this place." Yuki turns from me to open a hidden cupboard in her wall. She brings out a thin mattress and unrolls it onto the floor.

I lay Poppy on it and Leo takes up a guard position by her head.

"She is safe here. Come, I will make you tea."

Yuki has no idea how powerful Kay is compared to her. An analogy suitable for this world would be a wrecking ball against a paper wall. I need to find Kay and deal with her as soon as possible. "Thank you for the offer, normally I would love to. Unfortunately, I have not got the time, I must…."

"Did you sleep last night?"

I consider lying. However, I imagine the shadows under my eyes have already betrayed me.

Yuki looks at me sternly. "Without peace, your thoughts cannot run clear. You have made mistakes, have you not. I will make you a cup of tea, it will bring calmness, and it will help you stay alert."

She makes a good point, and as it cannot take too long. I bow low, trying to emulate a good fox. "Thank you. I will accept your more than generous offer."

I follow Yuki back into her other room and she disappears into the kitchen. Again, the room is simple with a low table off to the side, a small tree on a tray and another beautiful scroll. Instead of a word though, this one has a painting of a maple tree in autumn, a single leaf has fallen into a pond where it is observed by a fish. She seems to have an autumnal theme, making me wonder what pictures decorate the scrolls she uses for the other seasons.

Part 3

Yuki returns with a tray and bows to me. "Please sit here."

I bow back and do as I'm bid. She places the tray between us, kneels on the floor and begins to wash the utensils. I've unwittingly agreed to be part of a tea ceremony. I swallow down my impatience. One of the suggestions for a date, I'd had from my colleagues was a visit to a tea house. I'd been intrigued and with Grayson in mind, I'd read up about them. The ceremony is meant to be an attempt by the host to build a connection to their guest on a spiritual level, which means if I want Poppy to be looked after well, I am stuck here until Yuki decides it is finished.

She offers me a sweet called a wagashi. It is beautiful and in keeping with her seasonal theme, it is in the shape of a maple leaf bearing its autumnal colours. I eat it, as a good fox would, if good foxes liked white bean paste.

Yuki places three scoops of matcha powder into a cup, adds some hot water and whisks. I find myself charmed by the harmonious flow of her movements from one action to the next. A pale green froth appears on the tea, and she places it in front of me.

I pick up the bowl with my right hand, resting it on my left palm as I admire it and pause, should I still turn it even though I am the only guest? Yuki is watching me; I feel like I am taking an exam. I decide to turn it ninety degrees clockwise anyway and take a slow sip. It is unexpectedly bitter, and I realize that the sweet was its perfect foil.

I also realise that I have been ungenerous, the tea is a gift, Yuki's way of making things right between us once more.

Part 4

I drink the tea slowly, savouring its flavour. Yuki's eyes smile at me, as having placed the cup in front of her, I come up from bowing low.

After she has cleaned the bowl again, I inspect it properly and notice a line of gold at the back where she has replaced a chip. As I run my finger over it, Yuki says, "It is important that we accept our scars. I have something to show you." She passes me her phone and presses play.

The video is shaky and from a weird angle. However, I can make out Poppy with Kay standing all too close to her. Time stretches and my stomach feels like lead as I wait to watch the inevitable unfold.

Yuki takes back her phone looking grim. "It was all over social media, then the news. A spokesperson from an English University issued an apology for any anxiety that had been caused by their students doing a short piece of film for their degree in film production. Allegedly they'd wanted realistic reactions to their set up and went too far."

I stand and bow to Yuki. "Worry not, I will find this woman and return her to my world."

I collect my pin from our apartment. Poppy said that Kay's pin glowed when she touched her. However, Kay must have already known who her target was. How? With her blue rather than dark eyes and purple rather than black hair, Poppy does not look like Vane, whereas many of the female commuters would have done so. It must be the pin.

Facing Yuki's apartment, I levitate my phone to use as a mirror and point the pin in Poppy's direction, gradually imbuing the pin with magic until it glows. It takes shockingly little of my power.

Feeling worried I carry the pin downstairs to the pavement. Again, I position the pin so that it faces towards Poppy.

Part 5

My experiment is not reassuring me at all. I click on google maps. Kay first met Poppy by the station. Assuming a proportional relationship, I estimate the amount of magic that would be needed to find Poppy's direction from there.

Of course, magic is not an unlimited commodity, except for those princes fortunate to have had a magical battery pack fall in love with them. Everyone else needs to wait for their magic to replenish or they will start using up their lifeforce, potentially dying if they misjudge the amount needed and use up too much.

I know so little about how Kay's mind works, or even how much magic she is capable off, having been more interested in tales about her mistress. Although from the video it appeared that she has a disturbing amount. Taking that into account, the easiest method for Kay to determine Poppy's location, would be to use a large burst of magic. Wait for her magic to replenish, take another reading, and triangulate.

Hmm, worst case scenario, she took her first reading when Poppy arrived home rather than when she was on the way home or at the hospital. That would mean she would have enough magic to take her second reading about one o'clock this afternoon….. I run back to Yuki's apartment.

Poppy is awake and eyes me curiously. I crouch beside her. "Did you have any plans for this weekend?"

"I was thinking of a trip to Osaka, that we'd stay the night…" She trails off, with the accompanying blush it looks like I'd have missed out on getting lucky, if I'd have gone home yesterday.

"Was there a particular reason for being there at night?" I ask deadpan, teasing her.

"Usually, you seem so mild-mannered and gentlemanly, yet sometimes a get a glimpse of another you, one that I think would enjoy Osaka's nightlife." I'm stunned, it looks like I've been far too unguarded in around Poppy.