He pushed her back, putting some distance between them. Iris offered him an unrepentant grin, but he ignored it. He knew her well enough by now to realize that she was doing this to get a rise out of him.
“If you must know, I was thinking about how a human would break out of a kitsune illusion without having to hurt themselves.”
Iris blinked.
“Yeah, that’s not possible,” she declared. “Humans lack the ability to manipulate youki, which is the only way to break free of an illusion without hurting yourself. The only other way a human would be able to escape from an illusion is if a yōkai, kitsune or whatever, injected their own youki into the human in question, which would disrupt the illusion for them.”
“So, basically, the only hope a human has of escaping an illusion without damaging themselves is to have a yōkai help them?” Kevin felt disappointed. He’d been hoping to find a way to break illusions without outside help.
“Why do you want to find a way around illusions?” Iris’s lovely features morphed into an expression of honest curiosity.
“It was just something that Kiara and I were talking about. She mentioned that most kitsune fight using illusions, so if I ever get into a serious fight with one, then I need to know how to break them.”
“And the only way to do that is to hurt yourself,” Iris said, nodding. “Yeah, I can see why that would be a problem.”
“It’s more than just a problem. Do you know how distracting it would be to hurt yourself every time you got trapped in an illusion?” Kevin asked rhetorically. “Not to mention the possibility of all that accumulated damage taking its toll on your body. How many times can a human hurt themselves before the pain overwhelms them? How much blood can be lost before you succumb? Even the act of harming yourself is problematic because you have to take your attention off your opponent. Even a second on the battlefield can mean the difference between victory and defeat.”
Contrary to what most people believe, combat is almost never a drawn-out affair. Most fights lasted around a minute, five tops. This is because the longer a battle goes on, the more strength the fighters lose, until they eventually run out of juice.
Of course, there are times when drawn-out battles happen. When forces are so equal that neither side can gain an advantage over the other, or when one side is simply so superior they let their arrogance get the best of them and play with their opponent.
It happened to Kevin when he fought against Jiāoào; the boy’s arrogance had gotten the better of him. His belief in his own superiority had been his downfall. However, such instances were the exception, not the rule.
“You’ve been thinking about this a lot, haven’t you?”
Kevin blinked. His mind snapped back into focus, and he sought out the girl sitting in front of him. Her inquisitive stare caused him to nod.
“Of course I have. Kotohime once told me that, between Lilian and myself, I am the weakest link, the chink in her armor. If someone captured me and used me as bait, then they’ll have already won.” Kevin looked down at his hands. Human hands. Hands that had no powers, no abilities to speak of. “I can’t allow something like an illusion to beat me, and I can’t afford to hurt myself every time I get trapped in one, so I need to find a way around that.”
There it was again; respect hidden behind eyes that were wreathed in mocking amusement. The look in Iris’s eyes lasted for but a second, then it vanished into the unfathomable depths of her dark irises.
“Uhuhu…”
Kevin’s spine crawled at the sound of Iris’s laughter. It was creepy and unusual, but undeniably sexy. Her voice was like a musical instrument, capable of emitting sounds more beautiful than a harp.
“You say some of the most interesting things, Stud.”
“Would you please stop calling me that?”
“Hmm… nope!”
The cheerful reply, complete with a bright, smiling face, made him twitch.
“I rather like that nickname. I think it suits you.” Once again, Kevin’s ability to talk failed him as Iris leaned close enough that he could feel her breasts rubbing against his chest. Her finger trailed along his left arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake. “Don’t you agree—gya!”
Fortunately for Kevin’s quickly eroding teenage mind, his savior came in the form of a furry red tail. It smacked Iris in the temple before retracting just as quickly. His assailant fell off the chair and crashed to the ground, where she proceeded to lay splayed out, groaning in mild discomfort. Kevin turned his head when he realized that he was staring at her camel toe, and he discreetly readjusted himself.
“I’m still mad at you, Iris, so keep your sex-charged paws off my mate!”
This must be a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
“And you shut up!”
… Sorry.
***
Day turned to night. The sun passed down behind towering walls of steel and glass. The sky became dusk, a swirling mixture of reds, pinks, and purples that mixed together. This vibrant panorama only lasted for a few hours before twilight came upon them, perpetual darkness broken only by the light of the moon.
Kotohime and Kiara sat at a small table in their hotel room, along with Heather, who lounged in her seat more indulgently than the other two. Kirihime would have sat with them, but she was tenderly stroking her mistress’s hair, gently lulling the child-like woman into a place of dreams.
There was a tension in the room, which none of them could ignore.
“Does anyone else feel like we’re always getting caught up in problems that have nothing to do with us?” asked Heather.
“I wouldn’t say that all of the problems we find ourselves in have nothing to do with us,” Kotohime countered, tracing the lip of her teacup as steam wafted from the liquid contained within. “The people that you used to work for kidnapping Kevin-sama and using him as bait to capture Lilian-sama, that same group sending those unusual machines to kill you, and Lilian-sama being kidnapped by Jiāoào, all of it involved us.” Raising the cup to her lips, Kotohime took a small sip before setting it back down. “Even what is happening right now has something to do with us, albeit, inadvertently.”
“What do you know about this Mul Clan?” asked Kiara. “My knowledge on kitsune clans is pretty lacking.”
Kotohime sighed. “The Mul Clan are Ocean Kitsune. They have claimed both North and South Korea as their supernatural territory. They’re not a very large clan. Last I remember, they only had about fifty members, though that was one hundred years ago.”
“One hundred years…” Kiara muttered. “Then is this the clan that…?”
“Yes.” Kotohime nodded. “It is.”
“I see.”
“Hard to believe they’re a great clan with such small numbers,” Heather said, either not seeing or ignoring the pensive expressions of her companions.
“Do not let their numbers fool you,” Kotohime admonished the blonde. “That means very little in the kitsune world. The Pnév̱ma Clan is one of the smallest clans in the world, yet they are also one of the three most powerful. There are only about twenty direct descendants to Pnév̱ma-denka herself. Everyone else is loosely descended from the previous generations of leaders.”
The swordswoman paused to allow Heather time to absorb that information before continuing.
“While the Mul Clan is not as powerful as the Pnév̱ma Clan, they are still the strongest clan of Ocean Kitsune currently. Many of their kitsune are highly skilled illusionists, and their ocean techniques are said to be unrivaled.”
“No wonder I couldn’t kill the one I fought.” Kiara clicked her tongue, obviously irritated from being forced into a tie with her opponent. “He didn’t seem to have a whole lot of power to him, but he was really slippery. Every time I thought I had him, he would turn out to be an illusion, and when I started bringing out the big guns, he fled.”
Kotohime’s elegant shrug said almost as much as her words. “That’s a kitsune for you. Most of us aren’t the
fighting type. It’s only natural that one of them would retreat after realizing he’s been outclassed by a superior opponent.”
“You’re not like that.”
“I didn’t say all kitsune were like that,” Kotohime pointed out. “Just most of us. The one that I fought was more combative than many other kitsune I’ve met. He was quite talented.”
“I think we’re getting off topic here,” Heather said. “What we need to be asking ourselves now is: what are we going to do about them?”
Kiara and Kotohime looked at each other.
“I do not know if there is much that we can do right now,” Kotohime admitted after a poignant silence. “We have no clue where they’re currently operating out of, nor do we know what their goals are. Without knowing where to find them, we can’t do anything. Besides, this isn’t really our problem.”
“What I want to know is why they’re targeting those kappa.” Kiara tapped her index finger against the table. “I mean, it’s not like disrupting those operations will put a dent in the Pnév̱ma Clan’s coffers or anything. Isn’t this just a minor side business?”
“It is,” Kotohime confirmed. “I would even go so far as to say that it’s not even that. There are no members of the Pnév̱ma Clan overseeing operations here, which means it’s all being done by those kappa. This suggests that the operation is so far beneath Pnév̱ma-denka’s notice that it wasn’t worth sending a clansman over.” Kotohime paused. “If I had to take a guess, I’d say Abercio-san is the one who cut this deal. Pnév̱ma-denka has placed him in charge of mundane operations that don’t affect the clan, so it makes sense when you think about it.”
“Then why would these Ocean Kitsune bother with this?” asked Kiara.
“There could be any number of reasons: Land, wealth, power, they could just want to claim this city as their supernatural territory and the kappa are in their way.” Kotohime sighed. She was tired, but she wouldn’t allow herself to show a lackadaisical attitude in front of others. “You know how kitsune can be when we want something. We might not like to fight unless it's necessary, but that doesn’t mean we’re not above killing to acquire something that we desire.”
“I’ve noticed. A lot of kitsune are pretty damn greedy,” Kiara stated, amused. Kotohime didn’t disagree. Neither did Kirihime, who joined them once Camellia was fully asleep. “I’ve got to admit, it makes you guys a tenacious bunch. Hell, from what I understand of your charge’s relationship with my disciple, she practically wore him ragged for nearly two months before you even showed up.”
Kotohime smiled at the mention of Lilian. “Lilian-sama is a very determined young woman. However, she is fundamentally different from most kitsune.”
“How so?” asked Heather.
“Her innocence, for one. I don’t think I need to tell you how innocent she can be.”
Kiara snorted. “I don’t think innocent is the right word for it.”
“What other word would you use?”
“Naive, maybe?”
“It amounts to the same thing.”
“No, it doesn’t. Innocence implies moral purity. I’ve listened to some of the ideas that girl’s got in her head, and believe me when I say that there is nothing pure or innocent about her.”
“I was not implying pure thoughts,” Kotohime defended her charge. “I am speaking of her attitude towards life. She is a very free spirit and doesn’t want to be caged. That is the entire reason that she first ran away from home in the first place.”
Warmth coalesced in Kotohime’s chest as she thought of her charge. It permeated her being, spreading to her limbs, engulfing her entire body. It was a wonderful feeling.
“She always looks at the world as if she’s seeing it for the first time. Every day is bright and sunny and new. She has a love for life that I have never seen in another person, be they kitsune or otherwise.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that,” Kiara conceded. “She’s a pretty cheery girl. You don’t find enthusiasm like that every day.”
“Hey,” Heather interrupted before they could say anything else. “I was just wondering. This Mul Clan… they’re allies of that Bodhi-whatever, right?”
“The Bodhisattva, yes.”
“Right. And this Body-guy, he’s like, not really pleased with the Pnév̱ma Clan for what happened to his son, right?”
“Yes,” Kotohime said slowly, wondering where Heather was taking this.
“Do you think that maybe the reason these kitsune are in this city is because they know that Lilian is here as well?” Heather dropped the bomb. “Maybe they came here on orders from that Body-guy to kill her as revenge for what happened to his son?”
Kotohime was startled for a moment, but she quickly shook her head. “I doubt it. They have been here for several months already, and there’s no way they could have known that Lilian-sama was coming that long in advance. That means their reasons for being here are different.”
“Fair enough,” Heather conceded.
“Well…” Kiara stood up and groaned, stretching her arm above her head. “I don’t know about you gals, but I’m gonna hit the hot springs. It’s been a long day, and I’d like to relax.”
“I shall accompany you,” Kotohime said, standing up as well.
Heather followed suit. “Heh… if you two are going, then I guess I’ll go, too.”
As one, the group turned to Kirihime.
“I think I’ll stay here,” Kirihime said, her smile polite and demure as always. “Someone must remain behind to watch Lady Camellia, after all.”
“Suit yourself.” Kiara shrugged. “Come on, ladies. The hot spring awaits.”
***
The first clue Kyle had that something was wrong was the silence. The halls were too quiet, the rooms dead of life. Graves were noisier than this.
He walked down the hall toward the entrance, his footsteps echoing ominously loud in his ears. Ever since those kitsune began their extermination of his clan, he and the others had begun posting guards at the door. With only five members left, that meant four shifts, one for each member—except for their boss, who was too old to stand guard. It was the start of Kyle’s shift.
The second clue he had that something was wrong was the lack of a guard at the front.
Ever since opening their luxury yacht business, they’d taken up residence in a hotel that would have been demolished had they not bought it. The old tiles creaked as he turned around in a circle. The service desk remained, a remnant from when this place used to house people seeking a warm bed. However, that was the only thing he could see. The guard who should have been there was absent.
“Nick?” He called out, frowning when no one answered him. “Come on, man, this isn’t funny.”
As he walked further into the room, something wet dripped onto his head. Water? Reaching up with his left hand, he wiped at the liquid. His confusion increased when he felt how warm it was.
This is not water.
He brought his hand back down and looked at it. Shock rippled through him. It was blood.
Another drop fell onto his head. Kyle looked up. His breathing quickened. His heart pounded against his chest. Fear, rage, and horror coursed through him like a massive tidal wave.
More blood dripped onto his face, splashing against his cheek. Hanging from the ceiling, strung to the rafters, was Nick. Holes perforated Nick’s body, making him look like grated cheese. Blood leaked from these holes as his arms and legs dangled limply. His body was tangled in thick metal wires.
He was unequivocally dead.
Kyle stared for several more seconds before he realized something important. If his friend was dead, then it meant someone had killed him, and if someone had killed him, then that person must still be here. This meant that someone had infiltrated their home, killed his friend, and was now lurking around somewhere.
Oh, no…
“Boss!”
Kyle rushed towards the chamber where his boss slept. He ignored everything else. He didn
’t care about anything else. All that mattered was making sure his boss was safe. He burst through the door to his boss’s room and entered without ceremony.
He froze.
“No…”
Shuǐ lay in bed. He looked peaceful—except he couldn’t have been peacefully sleeping because blood was soaking his sheets, expanding like ink on paper. There was a large hole in his chest, as if a spear had impaled him. Water mixed with blood soaked the floor underneath the bed.
Kyle took a step forward.
“B-boss—ugh!”
His vision went white as pain overrode his nerves. It returned seconds later as numbness spread through his body. He looked down and saw something sticking out of his chest. A sword? No, a sword made of water. Swirling liquid hardened and sharpened into a blade. Blood mixed with the water, turning the blade red.
“O-oh…”
His vision blurred. The blade was pulled out, causing him to stumble forward. His legs wobbled as they turned to jelly. Unable to hold up his own weight, he toppled over onto his hands and knees. His arms gave out soon after, and he fell face-first to the floor.
He tried to move, tried to get up. He couldn’t afford to die. He didn’t want to die. But his strength was ebbing. His body felt cold. Numb. Why couldn’t he feel anything? Why? Why…
Darkness.
***
“It’s done. The entire clan of kappa has been wiped out.”
Luna smiled as she listened to the voice on the other end of the phone. She did so love it when a good plan came together.
“Wonderful. Head back home and get some rest. I’ll have another assignment for you soon.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
She ended the call and set her cellphone on the nightstand. “Hmm.” She eyed the object appreciatively. “Sleek, sophisticated, and lovely. If there is one thing that humans did right, it was creating cellphones. They’re such useful devices.”
“Was Kaine’s mission a success, Mistress?”
Luna peered down to see a naked Taer snuggling against her equally naked body. White hair framed wine-red eyes that stared at her inquisitively.
“It was,” she confirmed. Fingers dancing against flawless skin, Luna enjoyed her lover’s warmth. “Kaine has finally rooted out the last of those pesky kappa. I really must thank Tsuki-chan for leading me to them when we meet. Truly, her appearance was a blessing in disguise. Not only can I continue my operations without worrying about them inadvertently exposing my business, but this should serve to placate the Bodhisattva.”
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