She became startled when an arm wrapped around her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Kevin smiling out of the corner of his mouth. Beaming back at him, she moved closer and entwined her tails around his waist.
Both she and Kevin stared at Iris when she did the same thing.
“What?” the raven-haired succubus lily asked. “I like a little cuddle every now and then, too, you know?”
“Believe me, we know,” Kevin said.
Lilian nodded. “We’re just surprised that you’re not trying to steal all of the attention from Kuroneko.”
“I don’t do that all the time.” Iris scowled.
“Yes, you do,” Kevin and Lilian replied in unison.
“Oh, whatever.”
Walking along a blue cement floor, Lilian took in their new surroundings, feeling just a bit underwhelmed. She hadn’t been sure what to expect from a stadium, but a jam-packed hallway with several large exits, a few stands filled with overpriced food, and a couple of creepy-looking individuals were not part of those expectations.
While they were following Kuroneko, someone bumped into Iris, nearly knocking her to the ground. They probably would have, too, had Kevin not been holding onto her.
“Hey, jerk! Watch where you’re going!” Iris snapped, her tails bristling as she glared at the nondescript man with brown hair and eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I was looking for my sister and wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“Whatever,” Iris huffed.
The nondescript man walked off after mumbling another apology. Lilian frowned at his departing back. There was something odd about him that she just couldn’t place.
“Lilian?” Kevin asked.
“It’s nothing,” Lilian said, tightening her grip around his arm. “Let’s catch up to Kuroneko. She looks ready to pop a blood vessel.”
As the group hurried to catch up with Kuroneko, who did indeed appear rather peeved, Lilian tried to cast one last glance at the man.
But he had already disappeared.
***
Jill sat in the bleachers near the very top of the stadium. There were a pair of binoculars in her hands, held up to her eyes. However, she wasn’t looking at the pitch, but at the group belonging to Kuroneko. They were a couple hundred feet from her, sitting closer to the pitch.
“Sorry it took so long,” Jack said as he sat down next to her. “The lines were a real killer.”
“It’s fine. You’re not missing anything.” Jill pulled the binoculars away and turned to her brother. Her nose wrinkled, however, when she saw what he held in his hand. “Are you really going to eat that?”
Jack looked down at his meal; it was a gigantic chili cheese dog that was overflowing with chili, cheddar cheese, and relish.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“So gross.”
“It’s not gross! Chili cheese dogs are an all-American food! They’re a staple of American life, and you can’t go to watch a ball game without eating one!”
“You do remember that we’re not here for the ball game, right?”
“I’m aware of that. But just because we’re not here to watch baseball doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves.” Jack looked down at the group they’d been tasked with tailing. “Besides, it doesn’t look like they’re doing much anyway. They’re just having fun. I’m seriously beginning to wonder why we’re even spying on them.”
“Because we were ordered to by our superiors,” Jill responded flatly. She grimaced as Jack took a large bite out of his chili dog. “So gross,” she mumbled before putting the binoculars back to her face.
***
Kuroneko smiled as the baseball game started.
Having lived for over 1,000 years, she’d seen and done a lot. Perhaps it was because she had lived for so long, but very few things in this world gave her pleasure anymore. She enjoyed taking catnaps, spending time lazing about at the beach, spending time with her girls, and watching baseball.
Ah, baseball. It was the one sport that she’d taken a liking to. She remembered watching her first baseball game back in 1850 which, consequently, happened to have been the first official game of baseball ever played in the United States. Since then, she’d fallen in love with the sport. Unlike other sports, which were fast paced and brutal, baseball allowed her to both enjoy watching it and take a catnap between innings. Truly, this sport had been made for her entertainment.
And now I finally have people to share my passion with.
Kuroneko turned to the group of youngsters, a pleased smile on her face.
“Beloved, if you owned a restaurant, what would you name it?”
“A restaurant? Um, I’m not sure. I guess it would depend on what kind of food we cooked.”
“I think you should call it The G-String.”
“No one asked you for a name! And don’t give our restaurant a name that makes it sound like a lingerie store!”
“Tch. You really are tasteless.”
“Says the girl who acts completely shameless.”
“I do act shameless. Thank you for noticing.”
“That wasn’t a compliment!”
The smile quickly vanished.
“You children aren’t even paying attention to the game!” Kuroneko shouted.
Kevin, Lilian, and Iris sat huddled together. Lilian sat in between the two, a sketchpad in her hand. She was scribbling something onto the sketchpad, though just what that something was eluded Kuroneko. She honestly didn’t care about what the girl was writing. All that mattered to her was that they were not paying attention to the game.
The trio all looked up at Kuroneko with almost matching deadpanned expressions.
“We don’t really like baseball,” Kevin said.
“We’re actually not that fond of sports period,” Lilian added, “except for track. Kevin used to like track a lot, though I don’t know if he does anymore.”
“I still like running for track and field, but I’d never be able to watch other people run,” Kevin confessed. “I’d much rather play a sport than watch other people playing.”
“I don’t like anything that involves sweating.” Iris paused, then added an addendum. “Except for sex. I don’t mind getting all hot and sweaty then—oh, don’t look at me like that, you two. You enjoy getting frisky just as much as me, and don’t you dare try to deny it.”
The trio ignored her to continue bantering with each other; ribbing, teasing, and smiling as they laughed and had fun. While Kuroneko thought it was sweet how they got along so well, she wished they would pay more attention to the game taking place on the pitch.
She sighed and buried her face in her hands.
And just when I thought I could share my passion with someone. Young people these days have no appreciation for sports.
It looked like she’d be waiting a while longer to find someone whom she could enjoy watching baseball with.
How disappointing.
***
“This is your weapon,” Lilian declared.
Lindsay stared. “It’s a stick.”
“It is not a stick. It’s a magical implementation device.”
“I’m not sure which part of this is supposed to be magic, but it doesn’t look the least bit magical.”
What Lilian called a “magical implementation device” looked absolutely nothing like a magic wand. Its general appearance seemed to be that of a long metal rod. Studs ran along the circumference near the base, protruding like tiny circular bumps, and a large purple, heptagram-shaped jewel sat on the top. While the jewel did give it a mystical feel, the rest was all stick.
“Hawa… it’s not a stick. It’s a—”
“Right, right. Magical implementation device. I heard you the first time.”
Sighing in resignation, Lindsay reached out and gingerly took the magic stick from Lilian. It felt odd in her hands, like she was a child pretending to be a magical girl again. Ashamed though she was to admit it, Lindsay remembered when
she went through her Sailor Moon phase, and this stick made her recall those shameless times.
She supposed she should just be thankful that the “magical implementation device” didn’t actually look anything like a magical girl wand. She was already embarrassed enough.
You had better be grateful for this, Kevin!
“So… how am I supposed to make this sti—magical implementation device—work?” Lindsay asked, quickly changing her original name for the device when she saw Lilian’s petulant look.
“Ufufufu, I am so glad you asked.” After giggling like a certain katana-wielding maid, Lilian coughed into her hands several times, then adopted a lecture pose. “Before I begin teaching you how to use your new magical implementation device, I need to tell you a little bit about how it works. Firstly, while this is called a magic device, you’re not actually using magic.”
“Then why call it a magic device?” Lindsay had to ask.
“Because it sounded cooler than calling it a highly advanced and complex technological scepter that can replicate yōkai techniques.” Lilian shrugged.
“Uh… right. Sorry I asked.”
“Anyway, this device isn’t a “magical device” the way most people would think. It’s a device created by science. What it does is replicate abilities and powers similar to yōkai techniques. It does this by scanning your brainwave patterns to create ‘spells,’ which are then unleashed via voice-activated commands.”
Lindsay didn’t really get it, but she understood enough. This stick basically used “magic” by scanning her brain—something like that. She likened it to those electrodes that were put on people’s heads to scan their brain activity in movies, though she felt positive this wasn’t anything like what she saw in movies.
“So… how do I use this thing?”
“The first step towards learning how to use your magical implementation device is coming up with an activation code. You can think of it as a voice-activated password that only you can use. The activation code is what turns the device on and off.”
“Okay. I think I get it. What’s the activation password?”
“...”
“...”
Lindsay stared at Lilian, who’d suddenly broke out in a cold sweat and looked away. This caused her to become highly suspicious.
“You don’t know it, do you?” Lindsay deadpanned.
“No, there isn’t an activation password yet. That’s something you need to come up with—ah!” Lilian gasped when she saw Lindsay glare at her, and she quickly made to reassure the girl. “But don’t worry. I’m more than willing to help you come up with an activation password! I’m sure I can come up with something awesome like ‘Hawa Power!’ Or ‘Starlight Burst!’ Oh! Oh! What about ‘Ashente’?”
Lindsay stayed silent as Lilian went off into her own little world, blabbering to herself like there was no tomorrow.
She was beginning to regret agreeing to go along with this woman.
***
When Eric had let Julius drag him off, he hadn’t known what to expect. However, even so, he didn’t expect to have been dragged halfway across Neo Seiryuu.
Located near the dome wall of Neo Seiryuu, the place where he’d been dragged to held the appearance of an unused emergency exit. A large door akin to those found in vaults sat against the dome, looming over them like a monolithic giant. Its bronze surface glimmered, presenting a stark contrast to the sediment wall surrounding it. The ground underneath their feet was no longer grass but cement, ash gray and bland. Several dozen yards from where they stood were a number of office buildings.
“All right,” Eric said, having finally pulled free of the young boy. “I think you’ve dragged me far enough. I think it’s about time you tell me why you brought me here…” Eric trailed off, his eyes widening as he was struck by an epiphany.
Did he bring me to this abandoned place so he could have his way with my body?!
***
A devious grin covered Julius’s face as he pushed Eric against the wall. Knowing what would happen to him if he didn’t resist, Eric tried to fight him off, but it was no use. Julius was a lot stronger than he looked, and despite being nearly two heads shorter than him, the young bishounen easily overpowered him. Eric gasped as a leg moved underneath his crotch, and a blush lit up his cheeks.
“N-no…” he whimpered. “I don’t want this…”
“You’re lying,” Julius declared passionately. “I know you want this.”
“N-no, I…”
“Your mouth is saying one thing, but your body is saying something quite different. Now then, give into me and become my sex slave.”
“Iyah!” Eric squealed as flower petals surrounded his and Julius’s bodies.
***
Vomit surged within Eric’s stomach, bubbling up his throat and attempting to escape his mouth. He clamped a hand over his mouth to keep it in, yet even so, small trails of liquid slipped between his fingers.
“Ah, yes, I guess I should tell you the reason I brought you here,” Julius said. “The truth is, I have something very important to give you.”
“E-eh?” Eric was knocked out of his sickness-induced stupor. “Something important to give me? Like what?”
“Um, yes, I have a very important item with me. I’m supposed to find someone worthy of using it. However, until you came along, I had given up hope of ever finding someone… someone… w-where is it?”
Julius searched his pockets, pulling out all manner of objects. Eric saw everything from small items like pens and pencils to large items, which included but was not limited to a rubber duck, a tennis racket, a microwave, and…
“Why the hell do you have a kitchen sink in your pocket?!”
… a kitchen sink.
“Why wouldn’t I have a kitchen sink in my pocket?” Julius asked, still pulling items out of his pockets. The pile of random junk had now grown from a small hill to a large mountain.
“Don’t answer my question with another question! And stop pulling stuff out of your pockets that aren’t supposed to fit in pockets! I’m pretty sure that’s breaking several laws of reality!”
“Don’t worry,” Julius reassured Eric. “The author gave me permission to carry this stuff.”
Those words made Eric’s mind screech to a halt. “What?”
“Never mind. Anyway, like I was saying, I wanted to give you something and—ah-ha! Here it is!”
Julius pulled something from his pocket. Eric hadn’t seen something like it for a long time, but there was no way he wouldn’t recognize the object in Julius’s hands.
About one and a half feet long from end to end, the object could’ve been called a stick at its most base term. However, calling it a stick would have been a grave injustice. Its white surface ended on one side with a wide, pink skewed cone with two flat, pink-edged white wings on either side. The incomplete cone was connected to a ring-shaped neck with gold studs, which was in turn connected to a flat two-pronged structure shaped like a heart. A hole in the center housed a small, crimson, tear-shaped jewel. Yes, there was no mistaking it. It was…
“This is for you,” Julius declared, handing the scepter-like object to a baffled Eric, who was so confused he couldn’t do anything but take it.
Holding the strange rod in his hands, Eric stared at it like he was looking at an amorphous alien blob of horrific proportions. He then looked at Julius, who was all smiles. Then went back to the rod. Back to Julius. To the rod. Julius. Rod. Julius. Rod. Finally, he opened his mouth.
“This is…”
“This is your new companion,” Julius said. “She will help you on your journey toward becoming a magical girl.”
“HUUUUUHHHH?!”
***
Lindsay had never felt so ridiculous in her life.
“Hawa hawa hawa hawa hawa…”
On the ground several feet away, Lilian sat with her legs crossed, elbows on her knees, and her chin resting on her hands. There was an inscrutable look on her face
, like she was thinking about something really hard—or like she was really, really constipated.
“Hawa hawa hawa hawa hawa…”
Then there were the strange noises she was making. Lindsay knew that Lilian was known to make weird noises when she was surprised, but it was seriously off-putting to hear such a strange sound being repeated over and over again.
“Lilian?”
“Hawa ha…”
“Lilian,” Lindsay repeated to no effect.
“Hawa—”
“LILIAN!”
“GYA!”
Startled by the loud shout, Lilian leapt into the air. Her tails shot out from behind her; nine furry appendages that latched onto Lindsay with startling speed.
“Kya!”
Lindsay shrieked as the tails writhed over her body. Several slipped down her shirt, and at least two slid underneath her shorts. Moans and shrieks escaped her surprised lips as she tried to squirm out of her new furry bondage to no effect.
“L-Lilian! Stop!”
“Hawa?” Lilian blinked several times, as if she was just now realizing their situation. She blinked. Once. Then she smiled. “Well, now this is interesting. You really should know better than to surprise a kitsune like that, my dear.”
“Whatever! Just put me—ahn! Put me down! Please!”
Lilian did as she asked, setting Lindsay on her feet. She glared at the redhead, who had the audacity to giggle and stick her tongue out.
“Sorry about that. Tee-hee!”
Lindsay’s sigh was tired, the kind someone gave when they were resigning themselves to a terrible fate.
“Whatever. Look, could we just get started, please?”
“Muni?” Lilian tilted her head. “I thought we already had gotten started.”
“No, we haven’t! All you’ve been doing is sitting on the ground and making strange noises!” Lindsay spat.
Lilian huffed and crossed her arms. For just a moment, Lindsay was distracted by the woman’s superlative bosom. Wiping her nose of blood, she tore her eyes from the sight of such a magnificent chest.
She felt insanely jealous of Kevin.
“Look, I already told you what we’re doing,” Lilian explained patiently. “I can’t start teaching you magic until we come up with an activation phrase.”
A Fox's Alliance (American Kitsune Book 10) Page 19