"Pardon?"
"How much longer 'til he can…go back to class? Sleep in his room. Leave the infirmary."
A frown settled on her overly pouty lips. "I am unsure. He is not getting his strength back as quickly as I had hoped."
I turned my attention back to David. He shrugged and struggled to sit up a little. Her hand pressed him back down against the bed, and she shot him an angry look. "Rest. Have a visit with your girlfriend and get some sleep." She looked up at me. "Stay with him, but not too long, okay? He needs his strength. Come see me when you are done."
"Thank you, Lornca," I said meekly, feeling horrible that David's condition was not improving.
She nodded and left us alone.
"Gosh. She's pretty." I raised an eyebrow at David once she was gone.
"If you're into elves."
"Elves?"
"Yep. She's from Alfheim."
"Oh, goody. She hasn't given you a sponge bath, has she?" I couldn't help it. It was the first question that popped into my head the moment I saw her, and it had been fighting to claw its way out of my mouth.
"What?"
"Sponge. Bath. You smell awfully clean."
"Well…yes, but it was just her cleaning me up. Not my proudest moment."
"So, hot, tall, and sexy rubs a soapy little sponge all over you, and you weren't standing proud and tall?"
"Uh…if you mean what I think you mean, then no."
"No movement?"
"Not even a twitch."
"Okay. You live. No twitchies." I poked him in the offending member.
"Well if you're gonna do that, no promises."
"I'm going to go jump off something really tall," Geri said from the doorway with an exasperated sigh. Then she turned around and faced outside the room, leaning against the jamb.
I giggled and poked him again.
"Kaede, stop!"
Smiling at him, I stood up, and then gave him a concerned look. "Get better. Quickly. I miss you." I leaned in and gave him a chaste kiss, not wanting to walk away leaving him all turned on and shit with a hot nurse giving him sponge baths.
"I'm trying."
"Do. There is no try or do nots. Get better, David. I mean it."
"Yes, ma'am." He winked at me.
"I love you."
"Love you, too. My little vixen."
Chapter 3
The spoon shook slightly as Professor Welheim slowly lifted it to her gnarled face portal. I had to forcibly drive the image of someone spoon feeding an anus from my brain as I watched her slurp my cream of asparagus soup and make appreciative clucking noises with her tentacle-like tongue. No, she wasn't a sea hag, she was just that ugly. Picture that aunt who only shows up on holidays, loves to hug you, and smells like a cross between mothballs and hippo balls.
She blinked in surprise.
My heart stopped. I'd finally done it and accidentally poisoned my teacher. It wasn't my fault Hiroki had been called to the office, and I'd warned her that I shouldn't be allowed to cook without supervision, but she'd insisted. Now she was going to pay for her mistake with her life.
"Miss Tanaka?"
"Yes, Professor?"
"That is delicious. Well done."
Oh, thank fuck. While her demise would have meant a more relaxed classroom atmosphere, I didn't relish in the thought of being Sabine's cellmate in the Aesir Academy dungeon. Once they caught her again. "Thank you, Professor."
She tossed the tasting spoon into the sink at the end of the station I shared with Roki and moved on to the next pair of fearful students. As soon as her back was turned, I opened the cabinet and took a long swig of mead from the plastic bottle I had filled during the cooking competition. Not being party to first-degree murder deserved a reward. Even mead.
While the sweet honey wine was a nice respite from the monotony of sake, I found myself missing the acidic burn of the only alcohol I'd been able to drink since birth. Not that I came out of the womb sucking down sake, but my inari fox half could create it as soon as we came into our power. A gift from the Inari-kami for our service. Since Fenrir had stolen me away from him, I'd ended up a honey sucker.
Do you not like my gift? I can take it away…
The image of suffering through Home Economics without any type of booze scared the ever-loving shit out of me. No! I am grateful. Thank you!
His mental chuckle faded just as the door to the classroom opened, and a very fearful looking Hiroki walked in. I took one last swig of mead and stuffed the bottle back into the cabinet, not caring for the worried look he was giving me as he walked over.
"What's wrong?" I didn't even give him a chance to sit down before blurting out the question. I could feel the fear coming off him in waves. Big waves. Fear tsunamis.
He just shook his head and sat down on the gray, metal stool beside me. "It is nothing, Kaede-sama."
"Nothing doesn't make you look like somebody just ran over your kitten. Spill your guts. What happened?"
"Your father is here."
The earth stopped spinning and rotating around the sun. The drop of sweat on Roki's forehead that had been slowly slithering down to the bridge of his nose halted its descent. Professor Welheim's inane chatter stopped mid-sentence at the precise moment my heart stopped beating. "What?"
"Your father. He is here. In Headmaster Tatsuo's office."
"Oh." Time began slowly ticking forward again. My heart restarted with a resounding thwump. I knew he was going to show up sooner or later. I was just hoping for later. Much later. Maybe for graduation. Then anger replaced my fear. "Wait a damn minute… He called you to Tatsuo's office and not me?"
Roki blinked, and then slowly nodded. "Hai."
"What did he want?"
"He wished for clarification as to some of the events that had…occurred."
"And he couldn't ask me?"
"I do not know, Kaede-sama." He stared off, lost in thought.
I took another swig of honey-flavored joy juice. Fuck it. I'm getting nuked, and then napalming the school.
"Miss Tanaka. I do believe I told you that beverages are not permitted in class…"
"Sorry, Professor Velkkkheim." I made her name extra juicy and chugged the rest of the contents of the bottle.
∞ ∞ ∞
"You put one foot in front of the other," I sang as I ran around the track, concentrating on not tripping or puking. Roki ran next to me, probably to catch me if I fell. He was trying to be unobtrusive but failing miserably. Every time I staggered, he frantically reached out to catch me. It was kind of cute, and I started to make a game of it. Even exclaiming, "Woah," with every other step and wobbling a little.
"Your father could appear at any moment to check on you, and you choose to become slovenly drunk?"
"I didn't choose to drink, Roki. The drink chose me."
"It chose poorly."
"Are you saying I'm a shitty drunk?"
"No. I am saying you have abysmal timing. Wait. Yes, you are a shitty drunk."
I chuckled and started singing again, the presence of my father at the school somewhat blurred by inebriation. As was my name. The only clear thought in my brain was smiling and waving at David every time I passed by him.
He'd finally been released from the infirmary. Unfortunately for me, he'd also been relegated to the ranks of sitting on the sidelines and watching the kids in full health run around the track until they were no longer at full health. I was kind of jelly. I wanted to sit with him. We could make fun of Hiroki together. Plus, it was too damn cold to be running outside. We were going to catch something that ended in itis or monia.
I must have been grinning and waving a little too hard. I stumbled and fell, Hiroki's hands grabbing me just before I faceplanted into the concrete track. "Thanks, Roki."
"Be careful, Kaede-sama."
"Careful, shmareful. The track rippled."
"I shall give it a stern talking to. Go sit with your David. I shall let the coach know you are not feeling well."
"Thanks, Roki. You're the most bestest." I glanced over at Coach Cobb and made sure he wasn't looking before I planted a quick kiss on Hiroki's lips. He blushed slightly as I turned and walked very slowly and steadily over to David. "Hey, handsome."
"Hi, Grace."
"Grace?"
He motioned to the track and smacked his palm with the other. "Graceful."
"Oh. You saw that."
"Couldn't take my eyes off of you."
Heat crept up my face and to other places as I sat down on the cold metal bleachers and tried to ignore the chill creeping its way into my buttocks.
"Cold?"
"Could you tell from the shivers, or me shifting from cheek to cheek?"
"Bit of both. Don't worry, your butt will warm the metal."
"Or freeze solid."
"That, too."
"Think the coach would notice if we slipped away to someplace warmer?"
"Probably."
I sighed until David leaned a little closer and put his arm around me, instantly defrosting me with his werewolf thermonuclear body temperature. I squealed and buried my face in his shoulder, fighting the temptation to crawl into his lap and live there for all eternity. Or at least until summer rolled around.
"Better?"
"Mmph mmph." It was hard to speak with my face buried in his sweatshirt.
I wrapped my arms around his stomach and turned my head, watching the poor unfortunate souls running around the track. Roki smiled as he passed, and I gave him a little wave.
"He seems much happier."
"Roki?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm sure it has a lot to do with getting laid."
David's bark of laughter jarred my little head. "I think it has to do with a little more than that."
"Oh? Do tell, great sage of the Moon Clan."
"I think it has more to do with who was doing the laying."
"Moi?"
"Of course. That man has been in love with you forever and a day. He's probably riding cloud nine right now."
I sat up a little straighter, putting my lips near David's ear. "Maybe it was having your cock in his mouth. I know that made me happy."
The heat from his face doubled in intensity. "I uh… Um. Yeah. Wow."
"Did you forget about that?" I chuckled softly in his ear.
"No."
"I sure didn't." I licked his ear for emphasis and laughed when he coughed.
I let go of him, letting my arm drop and accidentally brushing against his semi-erection. Looking at him in shock, I slowly cocked an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Somebody's got some happy memories floating through his widdle noggin…" I poked him in the chest.
He shifted in his seat. "Totally unrelated. You're very warm."
"So was Roki's mouth. Wasn't it?"
He slumped in his seat, slightly pouting. "Yes."
"You liked it, didn't you?" I grinned at him.
"Yes."
"Wanna do it again?"
He looked up and blinked. "Uh…"
The way he was struggling with it was beyond adorable. "You're worried people will think you're gay?"
His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. "No. Not at all."
"Good, cuz I would have had to clobber you with a rubber dick."
"You'd like that too much."
I grinned at him. "Bet your ass."
"That is the last place a rubber dick is going…"
I couldn't help completely losing it and laughing until the tears streamed down my face. "Come on… I'll call you Peggy."
"Peggy?"
"Pegging?"
"Do I even want to know what that is? Or how you know about it?"
"What? It's when a girl wears a strap on."
"Strap on what?"
"You can't be that naïve. Can you?' It was my turn to blink in surprise. "Don't you ever watch porn?"
"Yes? Of girls masturbating. Sometimes I watch lesbian porn."
"All guys do. Didn't you ever browse any of the other categories?"
He blushed.
Bingo. I didn't want to know what David's kinks were. I needed to know.
"You can tell me," I coaxed him gently.
"Sometimes. I like to uh watch…"
"What? Spit roasts? Threesomes?"
"What's a spit roast? I know what a threesome is. I've watched that."
"I'll show you later. What is it you're into? Glory holes? Squirting? Exhibitionism? Voyeurism? Creampies? DP? BDSM? CFNM? Sybian? Golden showers? What? Oh, please don't say scat. I can't handle that. That's just nasty."
I was getting further and further away from the mark. I could tell by the deepening confusion on his face. "Was that even English?"
"Kinda. Tell you what… You tell me. What is it you like, David?"
He looked around to make sure nobody was close enough to listen. After I blurted out a good portion of the Porn Hub library, he worried. Leaning in and putting his lips next to my ear, he finally whispered. "Upskirts."
I pulled away and stared at him to see if he was joking. He wasn't. I could see the excitement on his face. He was excited just by saying the word. "Upskirt what?"
The excitement was replaced by confusion. "That's it."
"You like looking up women's skirts? That's the big secret?"
He nodded.
"Oh, my sweet summer child. I love you."
"You think I'm gross?"
"What? Why?"
"Because I like seeing panties?"
And there it was. David's kryptonite. With that knowledge, I would conquer the earth. "Hate to break it to you, sweetie. Every guy does."
"They do?"
"Yerp."
He let out a breath I hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Oh, thank Fen–"
I slapped my hand over his mouth and shook my head. "Nerp. Nerp. Nerp. Do not say his name."
He nodded, and I pulled my hand away from his mouth. "Sorry."
"It's okay. I know it's a force of habit."
"So, it doesn't bother you that I like upskirt shots?"
"Hell, no. Sorry my panties are boring."
His blush spoke volumes.
"What?"
"Plain white cotton… Yeah. I like them."
The village had KFC. Maybe, they would have a Victoria's Secret. If he liked plain white cotton, white lace would blow his mind. Or other things. "You just opened up a whole can of worms, you know that, right?"
"Huh?"
"If I had known, I would have flashed you a whole lot more. I just wish we had more classes together. Either way, this is gonna be fun."
"You're going to flash me?"
"Whenever and wherever I can. Don't want you looking up other girls' skirts."
"I would never…"
"Bullshit. Hell, I do." I grinned. "Tell you what. If we're together, and I see somebody accidentally flashing, I'll point it out to you. We can look together." I winked, and he groaned, apparently liking the idea. I purposely ran my hand over his previously semi-erection. There was nothing semi about it. Except maybe the load he was hauling. I chuckled evilly. "Oh, you really like that," I said and left my hand in his lap, lightly touching him through his sweatpants.
"Kaede," he hissed my name. "There's people."
"Don't look at me. I'm not touching their junk. Perv."
"No! I mean mine. We're going to get busted."
"There's no way in hell. Look at them. They're running little miserable circles around the track. Plus, this is kind of hot." I took him between my fingers and slowly slid my hand up and down, letting the softness of his sweatpants glide over him. He shuddered next to me, obviously enjoying the sensation.
"Yes, but the wet spot on the front of my pants is going to be very noticeable."
"Guess you'll just have to run to the locker room after class. Gosh, I hope nobody sees." I grinned at him.
"Kaede!"
"David!" I said, mocking his exasperation and taking delight at his flutte
ring eyes.
If he had made any motion to stop me, I would have in a heartbeat. Hell, if he even told me to stop, I would have. Saying that there were people around wasn't clear enough.
"Do you want me to stop?" Even though I knew the answer, I asked anyway.
"No," he answered meekly.
My subtle ministrations became a little more forceful, only slowing when the possibility of discovery became too much. David's breathing took on a frantic pace I knew only too well. He was about to come. I grinned and tried to double my efforts without being noticed.
Roki was rounding the bend again, I gave him a wicked grin and waved with my free hand. He smiled for an instant, but then his eyes focused slightly above me and a horrified look crossed his face. I turned, and from the look on his face, I half expected Uncle Tatsuo to be in his draconic form, setting the school ablaze with his fiery breath.
"Greetings, Daughter," My father's voice stopped my hand and my heart in their tracks.
Chapter 4
Setting the tray down on the worn wooden table for two, I meekly sat down and folded my hands together in my lap as I waited for my father to join me. Hiroki, he called to the office. Me, he stalked during gym class and insisted that I have a private lunch with him before the dining hall filled with students. I hadn't been envious of Hiroki, but staring at my nearly empty plate of food, getting called to the headmaster's office seemed like the better of the two options. At least then, I would have been able to grub.
"Not like I'm hungry, anyway," I said to no one in particular.
Yes, you are. You always are. Fenrir's voice chuckled softly in my head.
Oh, no. No, you don't. Go lie down somewhere. I can't deal with you and my father at the same time. I can barely deal with him.
You would rather rise the ire of a god than your father?
Fuck yes.
I like him. I shall be…unobtrusive. His laughter was anything but.
When I opened my eyes, eyes I hadn't even realized I'd closed while talking to Fenrir, my father was sitting at the table across from me, hands folded under his chin, watching me intently. I might have screamed a little bit.
"You were conversing with him."
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
Sighing, he sat forward and moved one of the cups of tea from his tray to mine. "Fear not, Daughter. We shall mend the damage that has been done." He unrolled the napkin and stared in horror at the fork that tumbled out, skidding to a stop atop the thick plastic tray.
A Tail of Two Kitties: A Reverse Harem Academy Tail (The Fox and the Hounds Book 2) Page 3
