Zero Foxes Given

by Nix Whittaker

  One of the men holding her let go to join his fellows fighting Haku. The one holding her tightened his grip. Katsu approached the fight from the other side of the accident, picking his way through pieces of the car that had flown off when it had been hit by the truck. He flinched away from the spray and avoided the arc of water from the broken fountain.

  In his hands was her naginata.

  She called for it, but it was like she was whispering in a concert. Katsu swung the naginata slowly as if he was getting used to the balance even though he was a distance from the fighting.

  Haku must have noticed the posturing as he picked up one of the tengu and threw him at Katsu. Making him dance out of the way.

  Katsu glared and said, “Arrogant jerk. You think you can take us on by yourself?”

  Haku was doing a good job but even she could see he was running out of energy. She pulled hard on the man holding her. At the same time, she stepped hard onto his foot. Jerking free, she pushed forward. She stumbled into the fight and shoved one of the tengu who had stepped back. She shoved him hard, and he fell as he struggled to avoid Haku who had fire now rippling over his upper half of his body. She called for the naginata, but it stayed firmly in Katsu’s hands.

  But Kiera had one goal. Katsu. There was no way she would let him use her naginata against Haku.

  Katsu laughed at her as she approached him. She could understand as she had no weapon, and she was only human.

  She danced out of the way as he swung at her lazily. She moved back in and made him lift the shaft of the naginata. Skipping back and to the side, she avoided the bladed end of the naginata.

  Lightning roiled down the shaft, and Katsu let go and shook off his hand. She grinned. It seemed he wasn’t immune to the lightning as she was. He growled and tightened both of his hands around the naginata staff. Anger twisted his features as he jabbed towards her. He over-extended himself, and she stepped forward and grabbed the shaft.

  She didn’t bother with a tug of war as that wouldn’t work with his superior strength. Instead, she spun and with her hip, shoved the naginata to the side. She sent it flying and kicked backwards. Her kick didn’t connect, but it forced Katsu to jump backwards.

  Calling the naginata again. This time, it flew into her hands. Whatever power Katsu had over the naginata, it seemed it was fleeting when he didn’t have direct control of it. Lightning cracked the sky, and ozone burned her nose as she spun around with the naginata in her hands. She made a large round arc. The naginata blade sliced into his neck.

  Shocked as she had thought he would just step back. Blood sprayed her, and she recoiled backwards. Katsu’s cry was eerie especially as it gurgled and whistled as it escaped his body. His body went to the knees and then flopped forward.

  Gagging at the blood cooling on her skin, she swiped at her arms. Panic at Haku’s fate had her spinning around. He was down to one knee. She pulled one of the tengu back by his shoulder while she stepped on the back of his leg. He screamed at the snap of bone.

  She grasped the naginata and swung with all of her weight at another of Haku’s attackers. The tengu danced back. Their eyes going to Katsu’s prone figure. They lifted their hands and backed up slowly. Only Sho refused to back down.

  The tengu didn’t leave but merely moved back enough that it was clear they wouldn’t participate anymore in the fight. She knew they were probably waiting for the spoils of the fight. They were no match for Sho in their state.

  Haku managed to get to his feet, but he was swaying. The flames had flickered out so there wouldn’t be any more magic. Sho had let the others fight, so he was still bouncing on his feet ready for another go at her. She stepped so Sho would have to face her first before going for Haku. Hopefully, he would have enough time to recover.

  She waited for Sho to make the first move. Shifting her hands on the staff of the naginata. Lightning crackled in anticipation.

  Haku, as a fox, came to her side, and she spared a quick glance. As fox was his true form, she knew he had used up all his magic. His presence gave her confidence, and she sliced in with the naginata. Haku dashed in, forcing Sho to dance away from snapping jaws. Sho parried and shifted in to slice at her left side.

  Instead of trying to bring up her weapon, she ducked and rolled. Haku harried Sho, but his movements were slow. She could see the fatigue in the hesitation. Going to a knee, she jabbed forward with the naginata to distract Sho as he swung at Haku.

  Sho moved with agility, dancing away from Haku and the naginata. His katana flicked in and sliced at Haku. He backed up with a whining yelp. She lunged in, but Sho had expected it, twisting his katana and swinging at her.

  She recoiled backwards, and the tip caught her cheek. Fire burned along the wound. Rallying, she danced with him. But he grinned. She stumbled over one of the downed men, and Sho took the advantage and stabbed forward with his katana. The move awkward, but the blade buried in a couple of inches into her torso just under her ribs.

  She rolled out of the way, but Sho had turned his attention to Haku who attacked. Nipping low. Sho swung, and Haku yelped.

  Grunting she got to her feet. Her hand pressed to her wound. Pain added a jolt to the adrenaline rushing through her. She gripped the naginata with two hands and surged forward. Sho brought his sword up and blocked her feeble blow. Her energy draining fast. He pushed aside the blade and kicked her. Separating her from the naginata as it flew out of her hands. She landed on her back, knocking all the air out of her lungs.

  Lightning again filled the air, cracking it as if the whole world was an egg. Lying on her back, Kiera struggled to get to her feet or even lift her head. Sho would be back soon to kill her. She was sure of it, and she no longer had a weapon.

  She blinked as water from the water fountain splattered her. Sho stood above her, blocking out the water for a moment. He smirked and raised his katana up for an overly dramatic and totally unneeded move to finish her off. Her only chance was to use the other ability the naginata had been demonstrating.

  Kiera called for her naginata and hoped Haku wasn’t anywhere close. Electricity crackled over the naginata as it hit her palm. She called for it to use all its power. Arcing over her whole body and into Sho, the electricity danced. He shuddered and collapsed sideways. His eyes stared sightlessly. Apparently, there was a limit to how much power a tengu could handle.

  Kiera lifted her head up to see if the others would finish what Sho had started. But they had also been stupid enough to come in closer and had been in the puddle made by the water fountain. They groaned in pain, so she hadn’t killed them. She couldn’t see Haku, so she hoped that meant he had been out of the radius.

  Dropping her head back to the tarmac with a wince, she contemplated getting help. Legs appeared by her head, and Akari peered down at her and asked, “Are you alright?”

  Kiera tried to speak, but it was too painful to take in the breath. Akari frowned and crouched down. She had a katana as well and left that on the ground as she checked Kiera’s wounds.

  Kiera managed to whisper, “Haku.”

  Before Akari could answer, Haku limped over to her and collapsed next to her. Resting his head on her midriff still in fox form.

  Akari shooed him away and said, “Move, Haku. She’s bleeding out.” The words faded at the end, and any thought to her own circumstances dissipated.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Kiera stood in a place of mist and wondered if she had died. Katsu said, “You aren’t dead.”

  She spun around, lifting her hands to fight him. He lounged on a log that sat half-enshrouded in mist. With an arm on one knee while he sat, he didn’t scream to her of violence. He waved with his free hand and said, “This is what is inside the naginata.”

  “You’re dead. I cut your throat.” At least that part she was sure of.

  “Yes, and Sho is in here somewhere as well. He’s sulking.”

  “Because he is dead?” She was confused by all of this, convinced it was a dream. Only she could fe
el the light beads of water forming on the hairs of her arm, and dreams were never vivid for her.

  “No, because he lost. This place isn’t so bad.”

  She frowned. It looked cold and miserable to her. He must be able to hear her thoughts as he said, “This is merely the meeting place. The naginata has created a home for all of us.”

  “Us?” Alarmed that she might be carrying around the souls of all the people killed by the naginata.

  He shook his head. “Only those with power remain.”

  She snorted at that idea. “You were all posture, Katsu.”

  He shrugged, not disagreeing with her.

  She frowned. “Where is the anger?”

  “No need to be angry when you are here.”

  “Ah, drank the cool aid, did you?” It was a dream. It had to be. He hadn’t disillusioned her to the dream concept, so that was still on the table.

  She held up a hand to stop him from saying anything as her mind caught on a theory. “I’m going mad, aren’t I?”

  “No. You fear the path your father went.”

  “Hey, stay out of my head.”

  “You’re only here in your thoughts. You’re the one that brings your private thoughts here.”

  She concentrated on blocking away her past behind walls. Wondering if she should bother. Katsu was a figment of her imagination anyway. He stood, and she backed up involuntarily.

  Frowning, he stopped his advance and said, “I have to tell you something.”

  “In a dream.”

  “This isn’t really a dream.” So much for that theory. “This is important, human.”

  “Why should I listen to you? You are my enemy.”

  “Have it your way.” Katsu turned on his heels. The mist closed in, obscuring Katsu from her.

  Kiera woke and gasped. Pain where the doctors had put in stitches had her wincing. She looked around. She was in a hospital room. The walls painted a soft mint green and accented with oil paintings. A posh place as that looked like a real painting. There was another bed so maybe not as posh as she had first thought if she had to share the place with someone else.

  She pulled the curtain back a little more to see who she was sharing the room with. Haku lay on top of the blankets. She must have made a noise as he opened his eyes and rolled on his side to look at her.

  She said, “Hey.” Her voice cracked, and she frowned.

  He kept his voice low as it was probably later in the night than she realised. “You alright?”

  “Just strange dreams. I’m cold though.” They always made hospitals just a little too cold for her. He got out of the bed and moved some tubing aside and climbed into the bed with her.

  She made a sleepy sound as his heat seeped into her. He shifted, and she rested her head on his chest. Her hand rubbed against the buttons of his shirt.

  He asked, “Better?”

  “Much.” Her eyes closed already.

  He said, “We almost lost you.” She knew very well he meant he had almost lost her.

  There was a silence and he asked, “Are you staying?” She wasn’t sure if he meant her to ask or not.

  As she was almost asleep. “No.” The answer automatic. She wasn’t ready to settle down.

  Her hand rubbed lazy circles to try to take the sting out of her answer. His hand brushed against her hair, but he didn’t answer, and sleep took her.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  If Haku hadn’t worked some of his time magic on her, she would still have been in the bed. Instead, she was moving very cautiously as she was still very tender as she packed up her things.

  There wasn’t much to salvage. The paramedics had cut off her clothes. Someone must have saved her leather jacket, and she suspected Haku or Akari, but she had no memory of it. That was hung up on the single coat hanger in the cupboard. Looking very lonely by itself.

  Akari had brought the last of her clothes from her bag at the house. She would have to go shopping as the fights had annihilated her wardrobe, which hadn’t been extensive to start with.

  Her hand closed around the naginata. The silver lettering glowed, reminding her of its magical origins. Voices outside her room had her raising her head. Akari stood at the door, but she could hear Haku. “What are you doing here?”

  Eiji’s voice answered, “I wanted to see how you were doing.”

  Kiera wasn’t keen to see the kitsune leader, shifting so she was on the other side of the bed and continued to pack her things. That didn’t stop her from listening though.

  Haku grumbled. “You’re here because you are hoping she died and that has freed me. For what reason? The woman you matched me up with has betrayed me. Stolen from me and sold me out to the tengu.”

  Eiji snorted. “Don’t be so dramatic. She only took it from the human.” Kiera noticed he didn’t deny that he had come to gloat over her deathbed. There was a thump, and she gave in to her curiosity and dashed to the door. Haku had shoved Eiji up against the wall.

  Kiera bumped into Akari as they flanked Haku. She put her hand on his shoulder, but his gaze stayed fixed on Eiji. Keeping her voice low, she said, “He isn’t worth it, Haku.”

  Haku dropped Eiji who tugged at his clothes to put himself to rights.

  She ran her hand down his arm and caught up his hand. She worried for a moment that he would reject her touch, but he tightened his fingers around her hand, and she let out a breath of relief.

  Haku turned to Eiji. “You should leave.”

  “Yes, I think I should. But contrary to what you think, I didn’t come here to insult your wife.” The emphasis on wife was clear. “I came to tell you that it’s official. You are no longer in the clan. It isn’t like you listen to anything I say.”

  Akari gasped. Haku went still, and Kiera could feel the tension all the way through his body. Kiera said, “They haven’t done anything wrong. Why are you punishing them?”

  Eiji glanced at her but went back to fixing his clothes even though there was no need.

  She wondered if there was more to this. Haku was powerful and defeating the tengu with only a human at his side only demonstrated his power. “You’re just using this all as an excuse. You wanted to get rid of him all along.”

  Haku finally came out of his shock and squeezed her hand. She didn’t stop. He might not be able to speak his mind, but she would. “Well, you really don’t have an excuse because I’m not sticking around.” Emotion raised in her throat at the thought of leaving. But she soldiered on, “Will that change your mind?”

  He confirmed that it really didn’t have anything to do with her relationship with Haku when he simply stated, “No.”

  Eiji’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t call on us, Haku, for anything.”

  Akari snorted. “What would be the point? You’ve never come through for us in the past.” Eiji ignored Akari and nodded his head to Haku before he left.

  When Haku remained still, Kiera dropped his hand to wrap him in a hug. Akari copied her move and hugged him from the other side as she said, “It’s going to be alright. We never needed him or the others anyway.”

  When he still didn’t say anything, Kiera glanced around to Akari. She shook her head slightly.

  Haku shifted and said, “I have to go.”

  Akari let him go and when Kiera hesitated, Akari said, “Let him. He just needs some space.”

  Haku didn’t even acknowledge them before he walked away. Kiera asked, “Is he alright?”

  “Yeah, he’ll be fine.”

  “I didn’t think you guys had that many ties with the kitsune community.” Certainly none of them had offered to help.

  “That isn’t what’s bothering him.”

  “Oh.” Still not enlightened.

  Akari thankfully recognised her tone and explained, “He cares about you. I think he will miss you.”

  “He’ll get over that.” She wasn’t nearly special enough for someone to pine for her.

  Akari shook her head. “I don’t think he will.”


  Kiera didn’t want to explore her own feelings about Haku. But it would be better if she wasn’t there. Besides, she had the naginata again, and she was sure with Katsu and Sho dead, there wouldn’t be random attacks. Haku hadn’t said she had to stay though. In fact, that feeling of being trapped didn’t bother her when she thought about staying. She shook herself. She didn’t want to be a burden, and she also couldn’t keep her job if she stayed.

  Epilogue

  Kiera realised she had been staring at the pencils in her hand for way to long when she was startled out of her thoughts when a door slammed elsewhere in the house. She had hoped to be packed and gone before Haku returned.

  Kiera had been out most of the day, checking off the last of the sites she needed to appease the city. Akari had left that morning for class and would only be back later. Haku had gone into work. She shoved the pencils in with the notebook in the side pocket. Throwing the bag over her shoulder, she moved to the door.

  She hesitated, unsure if she wanted to say goodbye or to sneak out. When he was gone, she might have had the courage, but she couldn’t leave without saying her farewells now.

  Cautious as she knew she didn’t want to have this conversation, she went looking for Haku. He was in his room, pulling things out of drawers. Frowning, as she had never seen him this agitated before.

  She shifted her bag and left it at the door. If he wasn’t agitated over her leaving, she didn’t want to add to that.

  “Haku?”

  He glanced up and stalked her and wrapped his arms around her without a word. His breath choked, and she wondered what the problem was.

  She asked again, “Haku?”

  He just held her, and she wondered if he could find the words. She tightened her hold around him and let him take the comfort he needed. After a moment, he pulled back and pointed to a note on the bed and went back to digging through his drawers.

  She picked up the note, and her heart dropped as she read it:

  We have your sister. You must bring the war club, or she will die.