XXXHolic Fan Fiction ❯ Kitsune Bi - An xXxHolic Fan-Fiction ❯ Nine ( Chapter 9 )

Kitsune Bi - An xXxHolic Fan-Fiction
By Ookami Kasumi

All characters property of CLAMP
Warning: Mature (NC-17) - Yaoi content, adult language, mild violence

Chapter Nine

In the center aisle of Yuuko's deeply shadowed vault, Watanuki Kimihiro sat in his prison of magic watching the scene playing in the enormous round mirror.

The kitsune general's tall black ears tilted back and the white tips of all three of his body-length fox tails twitched back and forth. His mouth tightened and turned downward at the corners. His blue eyes brightened until all trace of his pupils were swallowed by dancing blue flames. “Yuuko-sama, you know what will happen to that boy if he is not given a firm enough anchor in at least one realm.”

Yuuko looked away, casually sliding her fingers through her knee-length midnight hair. “I do.” She lifted her chin and gazed at the celestial kitsune. “However, I will not force him. I will let you make your offer, but the choice is his.”

General Osusuki's fox ears lifted and tipped forward. “Then by all means, bring him forth and let him choose.” A sour smile lifted his lips, revealing a long pointed tooth. “I trust he has not left?”

Yuuko turned to stare off the porch at apparently nothing in particular. “I know exactly where he is.”

Kimihiro sucked in a sharp breath. Yuuko was staring right at him from the mirror.

The mirror went dark, plunging the whole vault into shadow.

Kimihiro stared blankly at his shadowed reflection. The only light in the dark vault came from the slowly turning magical circle under him. For several breaths, he saw nothing beyond his own memory replaying the scene that had just appeared in the glass. Dream-walking…? The dreamscape…? Doors and pathways…? Anchors…? Blood ties…? Someone that was closing the doors to and from other worlds, and whose dream had to end…?

Kimihiro scowled at his dim reflection. It almost made sense, if he didn't think too hard about it. However, the parts that kind of made sense just filled his head with more questions.

What was this…dreamscape? The fox had given him the impression that that was where the fox oden cart was, so apparently he'd gone there, but was this…dreamscape also where he went to talk to Haruka-san and…others? Haruka-san had talked about walking into and out of other people dreams; was that dream-walking? He'd even followed Haruka-san through a dream into someone's bedroom, though that had ended…oddly, but he'd never mentioned a dreamscape. Nor had Haruka-san ever mentioned the fox, this…Osusuki person, who was some kind of a general. And why did a three-tailed kitsune that obviously lived in the spirit realm need a dream-walker? More importantly, why hadn't Yuuko ever mentioned anything about any of this?

He rolled his eyes. Oh yeah… Yuuko didn't volunteer information, ever. If you didn't ask, she wouldn't tell you, and the heavens only knew how much the answer would cost.

What he had seen in the mirror almost made sense, but not enough sense.

The only thing he did get out of that whole thing was that the fox wanted to train him to be a dream-walker, in addition to…to bedding him, and that Yuuko apparently needed a dream-walker too, a fully trained dream-walker to end someone's dream.

Kimihiro shook his head. What the hell did dream-walkers do anyway? Obviously, they could talk to people while they were sleeping, but what did that have to do with opening doors or making pathways? How could walking around in someone's dream end a dream?

Kimihiro heaved a sigh and rubbed his aching brow. Too many damned questions. He was not looking forward to finding out what it was going to cost him to get Yuuko to tell him what the hell was going on. He'd probably better talk to Haruka-san first, which meant he needed to see if he could get to his room for a quick nap.

Kimihiro rose to his feet and set out his hand. His palm encountered the smooth curved wall of…nothing. Damn… He was still trapped inside his invisible container. He looked around but didn't see the small black bunny creature that had led him into the vault and trapped him there. “Mokona?” He balled a fist and rapped his knuckles against it, inducing a hollow bonging. “Mokona you can let me out now! The show's over!”

“There's no need to shout Watanuki-kun.” The voice was smooth, sultry, feminine, and laced with just a touch of amusement.

Kimihiro turned all the way around, pressed his palms to the invisible wall, and peered into the shadows. “Yuuko-san?”

The lights flickered on overhead, revealing Yuuko moving toward him trailing her long flowing robes. She smiled. “So, did you enjoy your show?”

Kimihiro folded his arms and snorted. “I'm sure I would have…” He shot a glare at her and drummed his fingers on his folded arms. “…If any of it had made the slightest bit of sense!”

“I'm sure the General would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.” She lifted her hand and waved her fingers.

The circle of light under Kimihiro's feet dissipated.

Kimihiro lifted his palms. The invisible wall was gone. Finally… He stepped forward with caution. “I'm surprised you just didn't bring him with you.”

Yuuko's brows lifted. “Let a kitsune into my treasure vault?” She snorted and turned away. “I prefer to keep my treasures, thank you very much.” In a rustle of heavy silk, she swayed back down the aisle toward the door at the far end. “Come along Watanuki-kun, the General has something very important to ask you.”

Kimihiro followed her up the aisle with dragging feet. He had no clue how the fox planned to `anchor' him, but he had a strong suspicion that it involved something…perverted. “Do I have to talk to him? Can't I just…leave?”

Yuuko stopped before the vault's closed door. “You could.” She turned to glance at him from over her shoulder. “However, the General might take that as meaning that you did not want my protection, and that you were free for the…taking.”

Kimihiro stiffened. “Err…” That implied that the fox would have just walked off with him if not for Yuuko. Sighing he stepped up beside her, or as beside her as her floor sweeping robes would allow. Just for appearances sake, he rolled his eyes dramatically and scowled. “Okay, fine, I'll talk to him.”

Yuuko reached over to pat him on the head and smiled brightly. “Good boy!”

Kimihiro ducked and swatted at her hand. “Cut that out! I am not a dog!” He grabbed the door handle and pulled, sliding the door open.

Yuuko giggled and stepped through the doorway into the hall. “Now, now, Watanuki-kun, play nice!”

“Me, play nice?” Kimihiro turned to close the door behind him. “I'm not the one that likes to play games!”

“Oh no?” Yuuko swayed up the hall toward her sitting room, a smile on her scarlet lips. “Weren't you playing `tag' just a few minutes ago with Mokona?”

Kimihiro stomped after her. “That was not `tag'! I fully intend to deep-fry that pork bun as soon as I get my hands on him for what he did to me this morning!”

“Oh?” Yuuko turned and swept into her sitting room. “What did Mokona do?”

Kimihiro followed her, trying hard not to step on her trailing hem. “That little beast switched out my soap, and I had gym today!”

Yuuko turned to face him, one brow lifting. “Your…soap?”

Kimihiro waved his arms. “It was vanilla!”

Yuuko frowned. “I happen to like vanilla.”

“Yuuko-san…!” Kimihiro's temper surged to the fore and he stomped in a circle waving his arms in agitation. “I am not a girl!” He stopped and jabbed his long index finger toward her. “It damned near got me jumped in the shower!” A rustle of silk caught his attention. He turned sharply.

General Osusuki was still sitting cross-legged at the oval table, and he staring straight at Kimihiro, his ears up and his head slightly tilted.

Kimihiro's cheeks filled with embarrassed heat. “Um…” He gulped, then dropped into a quick bow. “My apologies for disturbing you, Kitsune-sama.”

The fox lifted his clawed hands, showing his palms. “Oh, I didn't mind!” He lowered his hands and a smile lifted his full lips. “I found it rather…entertaining.”

Entertaining…? He's laughing at me. Kimihiro forcibly restrained his temper, but felt a twitch starting in his left eye. “I…see.”

“Please…” The fox waved his hand indicating that Kimihiro should come to the table. “Would you pour the sake?”

Kimihiro blinked. “You mean there's some left?”

“Oh!” Yuuko pulled a fan out of nowhere and thwacked Kimihiro on the side of the head. “That was rude!”

“Ow!” Kimihiro ducked away, rubbing the sting on the side of his head. “What? I was just asking…!”

Yuuko huffed and strode past him to the right hand side of the oval table and flounce onto her cushion. She waved her fan. “You see what I have to deal with?”

The fox lifted a voluminous sleeve to shield his mouth, but his eyes were narrowed with obvious mirth. He coughed, then cleared his throat. “I…see.” He lowered his sleeve and smiled mildly at Yuuko then Kimihiro. “It must be…tiring for you.”

Both Kimihiro and Yuuko nodded. “It is,” they chorused, and then glared at each other.

Kimihiro knelt down on the cushion at the side of the table, lifted his chin and grabbed for the sake bottle sitting in the center of the table. It was half full. His brows lifted in surprise. How odd. He turned to the fox. “Are you drinking?”

The fox lifted his small shallow bowl. “I am, thank you.”

Kimihiro filled the fox's cup then turned to Yuuko.

She already had her bowl out.

Kimihiro filled it.

Rather than lift the bowl to her lips, Yuuko raised it toward the fox. “Watanuki, may I present Lord Osusuki Genko, the Senbii no kitsune, and general of Kami no Inari's armies.”

Kimihiro turned to stare at the fox. He was a general for Kami no Inari, as in, the rice goddess who also governed wealth?

The fox snorted. “Yes, that Kami no Inari.”

Kimihiro swallowed. “Then you're…?” He was one of the goddess's two celestial fox guardians?

The fox nodded. “Yes, I'm that Osusuki Genko. Lady Osusuki Byako no Myobu is my sister.”

Oh crap… Kimihiro jerked his gaze away to stare out into the night. This was no ordinary spirit. He was sitting next to something very close in power to a god. Crap, crap, crap!

“Relax…” General Osusuki leaned over and patted Kimihiro's ice cold hand. “Being a general is just a job like any other.”

Just a job? Riiight… The fox worked for a freaking goddess! Kimihiro nodded, his head bobbing all by itself. “Yeah, um…sure.” He voice came out embarrassingly tight.

Yuuko nodded toward Kimihiro but her gaze remained on the fox. “General. May I present Watanuki Kimihiro.”

The fox's brows lifted. “April first? Oh, so that's why Mokona called him an April fool.”

Kimihiro's state of awe was washed clean away by his temper. He ground his teeth. “I swear, I'm deep-frying that meat-bun then filleting him and rolling the pieces into sushi!”

General Osusuki blinked, snorted, then lifted his sake bowl in a poor attempt to cover his humor. “So, Watanuki Kimihiro, can you tell me what day this is?”

Eh…? Kimihiro frowned slightly. “It's Tuesday.”

The fox glanced at him then his gaze turned to Yuuko.

Yuuko held very still, and she was not smiling.

General Osusuki sipped at his sake, but did not break eye contact with Yuuko. “Watanuki-kun, can you tell me what you ate for lunch today?”

Kimihiro opened his mouth to say what he'd eaten, but nothing came to mind. He closed his mouth and frowned. He remembered going to the music room with Doumeki, he remembered eating and he remembered the kiss, but he couldn't quite remember what he'd eaten. His frown deepened. Damn it I should know this, I made it myself!

General Osusuki set his bowl down. “Watanuki-kun, it is not Tuesday, it's Friday.”

Friday? Kimihiro felt the prickling of cold sweat across his shoulders. That couldn't be right! He turned sharply to look over at the fox, then over at Yuuko. “But, I had gym today and we have gym on Tuesdays.”

Yuuko looked down at her lap and plucked at her robes. “If I am not mistaken, you have gym on Tuesdays and Fridays.”

Kimihiro stiffened. It was true, he did. “But… But I remember what I ate last night, and…” And Doumeki's kiss. Heat filled his cheeks and his heart gave a hard thump. “And something that happened after dinner.”

The fox tilted his head. “Something happened after dinner?”

Yuuko looked over at Kimihiro. “A very interesting conversation.” She smiled.

Kimihiro blinked. Oh yeah, we were talking about…sex. A chilling wash of alarm lift the hair on the back of his neck. He threw up a hand in her direction. “No need to go into details! Please!”

Yuuko's smile widened into a grin. “I'm afraid Watanuki-kun found it rather…shocking.”

Kimihiro ground his teeth even as his face filled with ferocious heat. “Yuuko-san…!”

Yuuko dissolved into giggles.

“Shocking eh?” General Osusuki lifted the sake bottle in an offer to fill Yuuko's bowl. “Shocking enough that you… passed out?”

“Eh?” Kimihiro turned sharply to stare at the fox. How the hell…? He squirmed on his cushion. “So what if I did? It was really embarrassing.” He ducked his head to hide his burning cheeks. Did everyone need to go out of their way to embarrass him?

Still giggling, Yuuko accepted her refill and offered to fill the general's bowl in return.

Kimihiro folded his arms across his narrow chest. “You can stop laughing Yuuko-san. It wasn't that funny.”

General Osusuki accepted his refill and sipped. “Do you pass out often?”

Yuuko's chuckles stopped cold.

“Eh?” Kimihiro lifted his head to stare at the fox, frowning.

The fox returned Kimihiro's point blank stare. “And how often do you dream when you pass out?”

Kimihiro's frowned deepened. “I dream every time.”

The fox smiled mildly. “Do you meet people there?”

Chill-bumps rose all over Kimihiro's body, lifting the small hairs and conjuring a shiver. He looked over at Yuuko. “Uh…”

Yuuko nodded solemnly.

Kimihiro turned back to the fox. “I do…meet people.”

General Osusuki set down his sake bowl. “How often do you…pass out and meet people?”

How often…? He frowned in thought. “I'm not sure. A few times a week, sometimes a couple of times a day.”

The fox sighed. “Watanuki Kimihiro, you are a very, very talented young man.” He offered a smile. “But I'm afraid that you are also in great danger of disappearing.”

Disappearing…? Kimihiro jolted back so hard he fell off his cushion and sprawled on the floor behind it. He scuttled back shaking in terror. Don't disappear! Don't disappear! Don't disappear!

General Osusuki blinked, then lifted both hands. “Calm down! I only want to help you.”

Kimihiro grabbed his elbows to stop the shaking. “Do you know what's happening to me?”

General Osusuki nodded. “Your soul is dispersing into the dreamscape.”

Kimihiro stared at him blankly. “Eh?”

The fox sighed and set his hands on the table. “Simply put, every time you step into a dream to meet someone part of you stays behind which is why your memories are missing.”

“Stays behind…?” Kimihiro shook his head. “I think I understand.” He sucked on his bottom lip. “Sort of.”

General Osusuki pursed his lips. “How to put this simply…” His tall ears flicked back then forward again. “When you come back from the dreamscape your soul become confused as to where it's supposed to go, so parts of your soul have become lost.”

Kimihiro stiffened in alarm. “What do you mean…lost? Do you mean gone forever?”

The general shook his head and smiled. “No, merely unable to find it's way back.”

Kimihiro shivered. “Is this…permanent.”

The fox smiled. “Not at all.”

Kimihiro inched closer. “How do I…fix it?”

General Osusuki took a slow deep breath. “You need an anchor, someone with a direct link to your soul to keep you connected to at least one world. Normally, your blood relations act as your anchors, but…”

Kimihiro swallowed hard. “But I don't have any.” He looked over at Yuuko. “But I am connected, to you, aren't I?”

Yuuko smiled. “You are connected to me, and this house, yes…”

General Osusuki folded his hands into his voluminous sleeves. “If you didn't have such a strong connection to Yuuko, you would have completely dissipated by now.”

Kimihiro felt his hair trying to stand on end. He looked over at Yuuko.

Yuuko smiled and reached out to pat his hand. “See? I really do have an attachment to you.” She lifted a brow and grinned. “And your cooking.”

Kimihiro rolled his eyes. “Gee, thanks.”

The general lifted his chin. “However…”

Kimihiro looked over at the general. “However?”

The fox took a deep breath. “However, Yuuko exists between worlds. Her house straddles several realities, not just the one you…came from. This makes it easier for you to dream-walk, and at the same time, harder for you to come back because…” He leaned forward to catch and hold Kimihiro's gaze. “Your closest connections are on worlds other than the one you came from.”

Kimihiro frowned. Closest connections…? Yuuko had told him on more than one occasion that he had a connection to Sayoran, both versions. In fact, Sayoran had even mentioned that there was a connection between them, though Sayoran wouldn't tell him what that connection was. If he remembered right, he also had a connection to Sakura, and none of them lived in his world. In fact, they were bouncing from world to world. Was that why his memories were drifting off and he felt so…unconnected all the time? He tilted his head to the side. I suppose it makes a weird kind of sense.

General Osusuki clasped his hands together on the table top. “I came to see Yuuko because I needed someone like you, a dream-walker, someone that can travel through the dreamscape.”

Kimihiro shook his head. “I can't control it. I just…do it.”

The fox lifted his hand, presenting his palm. “I'm well aware of that. However, in trade for your services…” He set his hand down on the table and smiled. “I'm willing to teach you how to control your talent, and act as your anchor.” His gaze drifted over to Yuuko. “And I'm willing to pay any price Yuuko cares to set for the privilege.”

Kimihiro frowned at him. “But I don't have any connection to you.”

The fox held out his hand. “Then we'll make a connection.”

“Don't touch him.” The voice was low, deep, and vibrating with anger.

Kimihiro whirled around.

Directly behind him stood Doumeki, back in his white summer school uniform and with his bow in hand with the string was drawn back to his ear. Silvery energy misted around him and coalesced into a line of blue-white fire that stretched between his extended hands, forming an arrow that appeared to be made of lightning.

Kimihiro stiffened in shock and his heart leapt into his throat. “D-Doumeki?” He rose to his knees, unable to look away from the glowing arrow. “What are you doing? And in Yuuko's house!”

Yuuko rose from her cushion. “Doumeki-kun, that will not be necessary.”

“You can shoot if you like, but I assure you, your arrow it will do nothing to me.” The fox's voice was low, and sounded somewhat amused.

Kimihiro turned sharply around. What?

General Osusuki folded his hands together on the table. His smile was wide, showing all of his long sharp teeth, and his blue gaze ice cold. “Your grandfather tried it, once.”

Doumeki's gaze narrowed to slits, his eyes cold hard brass. He bared his teeth and his bowstring vibrated with tension. “Watanuki, come here.”

Kimihiro rose to his feet. “Doumeki, what…?”

“We're leaving.” Doumeki's gaze didn't waver from the fox. “Now.”

Leaving? Kimihiro clutched at the kitchen smock he wore and looked over at Yuuko. “But I have to…”

Doumeki's ground his teeth. “Now, Watanuki.”

General Osusuki turned his gaze to Kimihiro and smoothed his smile to cover his teeth. “I'll return on the full moon for your answer, Watanuki Kimihiro.”

Doumeki released a growl and spoke through his clenched teeth. “So help me Watanuki, I will shoot him if you don't get your ass over here!”

Kimihiro felt his heart slam down into the pit of his stomach. Doumeki would shoot the fox and nothing Kimihiro could do or say would stop him. He'd learned that the hard way. Unable to think of anything else to do, he trotted over to Doumeki's side. “There, happy? Will you quit being an ass now?”

Doumeki didn't slacken his string or shift his gaze from the fox. “Out in the hall, go!”

Kimihiro rolled his eyes. “Fine, whatever…” He stepped out of Yuuko's parlor and into the hallway.

Doumeki backed out into the hallway, his bow still drawn, his arrow still glowing. “Pick up the bag, and go to the front door.”

Kimihiro looked down to see his own gray duffel bag sitting by the doorway. “What…?”

“Questions later, go!” Doumeki backed into him none to gently.

“Ow!” Kimihiro stumbled a step and grabbed the bag. “Why are you being such an ass?” He stopped at the end of the hall and looked back.

Doumeki released the tension on his bowstring, dissipating the glowing arrow, and slammed the double doors closed. He slapped a small piece of paper on the seam of the doors. The paper glowed briefly. He turned and trotted down the hallway toward Kimihiro with his strung bow in one hand. “Go! Get your shoes on!”

Kimihiro went to go put his shoes on. Hopefully he could reason with the cement-brained brute before Yuuko decided to do something…weird.

Doumeki joined him in the front alcove and stepped into his shoes.

Sitting on the step, Kimihiro held his shoes in his hand and looked up at him. “I can't leave. Yuuko said…”

“I heard what Yuuko said, I was in the hallway.” Doumeki rolled up the canvas case he normally carried his bow in. “She meant, you can't leave, voluntarily.”

Kimihiro tilted his head frowning. “Eh?”

Doumeki collected his school briefcase, then scowled at Kimihiro. “Your shoes, put them on.”

Kimihiro rolled his eyes and stepped into his shoes. “She said…”

Doumeki loomed over Kimihiro. “As long as you're not leaving voluntarily, you're not giving up her protection.”

Kimihiro stood up, scowling. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Doumeki shoved his briefcase and his canvas bag into Kimihiro's hands. “Grab your bag.”

Kimihiro juggled the stuff Doumeki had given him and grabbed the handles of his duffel. “Doumeki, you're not making any sense!”

Doumeki leaned close, glaring straight into Kimihiro's eyes. “I'm kidnapping you, idiot.”

Kimihiro blinked. “Eh?”

Doumeki grabbed him by the upper arm and propelled him out the double doors, then down the flagstone walkway toward the gate.

Kimihiro tripped along at his side, his house smock flapping in the breeze. “Doumeki! Doumeki, I don't think this is such a great idea!”

Doumeki's fingers tightened on Kimihiro's arm. “Shut up and keep moving.”

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