THE KITSUNE'S LOVER

1

《Daniel Ito's POV》

"Yo!!!" Haruhiko, an old friend of mine greeted me as I was waiting for him at the bridge not far from my grandparent's house. "Gomen...gomen, I hope you didn't wait for us that long."

"Yo, nah it's okay, I just arrived here a couple of minutes ago by the way," I replied along with a small smile.

"You look good man!" he patted my shoulder. "What do you think, Hana-chan?"

Haruhiko's little sister seemed surprised when her brother suddenly asked her opinion. She quickly hit gently her brother's shoulder and then hides again behind his back.

Hana-chan was always shy whenever I was around and will turn red whenever I spoke to her.

"Oh come on, Hana-chan, you said you wanted to meet him earlier, now you are being shy all over again," Haruhiko pinched both of his little sister's red cheeks.

"Onichan!!!" She shouted out loud. Her cheeks turned redder than before and she looked so cute though when she was mad. "You're embarrassing me."

"Itai!!!" Haruhiko screamed in pain as Hana-chan kicked him on his right foot.." Gomen...gomen,"

I burst out of laughter after watching the whole funny situation between those two siblings. They are always like that whenever I come to visit here.

They never failed me once to make me laugh, every time.

"Come on guys, let's go have fun at the festival!" I quickly suggested to both of them before they end up wrestling with each other.

"Onichan no baka!!!" Hana-chan pushed her brother away and then started to walk first. She seemed so pissed this time that maybe she had reached his limit when Haruhiko teased her so much tonight.

"Sorry about that," Haruhiko said to me while putting his arm around my shoulder. "Anyway, Hana-chan seemed happy to see you again,"

I stopped my paces for a while, then took a glance behind my back as if like someone was watching me.

"Daijoubou?" Haruhiko asked me when he noticed my sudden action.

"Nandemonai, it's just I feel like someone is watching us," I said to him then continued to walk again with him. "Maybe it's just my feeling or something."

"Probably, let's be quick. I lost sight of Hana-chan now."

*

I never know that today is the festival of the birth of the Kitsune princess. Haruhiko said it is a special occasion to celebrate the princess who saved this town almost a thousand years ago.

And this festival is AWESOME!

Now I am dying to know the whole story of that princess.

Haruhiko and his sister are walking in front of me, and likewise, that silly friend of mine keeps teasing his sister.

I took a bite of the apple candy which I just bought a while ago from the candy booth when my eyes suddenly caught an extraordinary painting on my right side. It's a painting of the fox princess to be more precise and she's so beautiful, even though only the right side of her face is shown in that painting. The princess was wearing a beautiful kimono while holding an old umbrella with her fox's ears and tails also were also showing as in her human form.

Yup tails...she has three of them.

"Beautiful isn't it?" An old man snapped me out from staring at the painting for quite some time.

"Oh, did you paint it yourself, sir?"I politely asked the old man and took a few steps back away from the painting which mesmerized me so much.

The old man shook his head, "No, my father was the one who painted it. I still remember that day when my father yelled at me to bring him this paper when I was little. He said that the princess came into his dream that night and asked him to paint her in her human form."

"Oh, then what happened?" I found his story quite interesting. Probably this painting itself is almost 100 years old since this old man looks like he is 80 years old.

"He then lost his mind when people in town didn't believe his story and rejected this painting when he tried to put it in the museum," the old man seemed sad when he told me about what happened to his father.

"Oh...I'm so sorry for you, sir," I politely said to him.

"Thank you, "the old man said along with a small smile. "You're a very kind young man,"

"Daniel!!!" My friends called for me from several booths away from this painting display booth.

"I probably should go, sir..." I smiled then bowed to him a little as a thank you.

"Yes, sure sure, do enjoy the festival and be careful young man," the old man said while patting gently on my shoulder.

"Hai, Arigatou gozaimasu," I took one last glance towards the beautiful princess in the painting then swiftly went to my friend's direction which was not far from the booth.

"Let's buy takoyaki and hang out at the bench before the hanabi show starts," Haruhiko suggested to me and his little sister.

"Yeah, that's a great idea, I'll go get drinks then," I then volunteered myself.

"Cool, oh Hana-chan why don't you help Daniel-kun with the drinks?" Hmm... this guy never stops huh?

"Onichan!!" Hana-chan pouted in a very cute way.

"Just ignored your brother, Hana-chan," I said then offered my hand to Hana who is two years younger than me. "Let's go find drinks together...."

Hana who is always shy around took my hand with her cheeks turned a little bit red.

And of course, I will pretend not to see it though so it will not be awkward between us.

Hana never let my arm go as both of us are in the waiting line to buy the drinks from the booth not far from our meeting point.

"So, how's the school Hana-chan, everything alright?" I broke the silence between us by asking about her school life.

She nodded, "It's fine..."

"I see...that's great," I replied while looking at Hana who is still holding my arm.

"Daniel-onichan," It is the first time I heard Hana call my name out loud.

"Yes, What is it, Hana-chan?" I asked this time both of our eyes met with each other.

"Is it true you are going to Tokyo University this spring?" she asked.

"Yup, that's true. Did your brother tell you about it?"

She nodded.

"Why do you ask? Are you planning to go to the same university as me?" Sorry Hana-chan, I can't resist teasing you too like your brother.

"Tabun, if I get a good result like you, Daniel-onichan,"

So she is indeed trying to follow my footsteps. That's great Hana-chan.

I gently patted her head, "Ganbatte kudasai, do well in your exam then, Hana-chan," I curved a big smile for her. "Who knows you can be my junior in two years then..."

She smiled beautifully, "Arigatou, Daniel-onichan. Ganbarimasu."

*

It was pouring so hard when the three of us decided to go home. Haruhiko and Hana already took their route to their home and it will be 1km more for me to arrive at my grandparent's house. My clothes are all soaking wet and it is so freaking cold though. My whole body was shaking so badly so I made up my mind to stop by the nearest bus stop to take cover from the rain.

"I'm freezing..." I said while hugging myself to warm my whole body for a while.

But suddenly there is a sound coming from the back of the bus stop, a rustling sound as if like an animal is walking in the grass, followed by the distant raspy bark.

I took out my smartphone and switched on the torchlight mode to check on the sound coming from the back of the bus stop.

I was surprised to see an injured white fox laying on the ground in the middle of the rain. There are several cuts on its face and its left foot also seems to be broken.

"Oh my...what happened to you?" I said while crouching next to the injured fox and it seemed to be in so much pain. "Poor thing..."The helpless injured fox looked into my eyes and then slowly lost consciousness. I gently wrapped the white fox with my shirt and then held it in my arms while running as fast as I could to my grandparent's house to save her.

Ojisan helped me to treat the injured fox as soon as I arrived at his house. I was so scared at first if that injured fox might die while I was on my way home. Luckily I managed to arrive early or I might actually lose her in my arms.

I brought some snacks and a bowl of warm milk for the weak white fox from the kitchen. Fortunately, my grandma already went to bed or I might trouble her again in the middle of the night.

The fox finally awake after an hour lose consciousness and seemed to enjoy the food I brought earlier. She seemed so tame and her blue eyes even looked soft when she stared at me. Probably she feels safe around here so she wouldn't attack me or anything.

I brought the fox into my room and put her onto the bed I made for her by using a comfortable blanket.

"Rest well, okay...you will get better in no time," The fox made a purr sound as she was enjoying my gentle stroking. "Goodnight..."