Fable (on hiatsu)

43. Marketing Ploy

Well, that "Other Incident" had to do with Issa-san. He can be quite scary when he tries. What happened was this: It had been a minute or two since T'Ko had gotten here and I'd gone crazy-gorilla on everyone. I'd managed to tag pretty much everyone and 'we' were running around the school looking for the last person.

Imagine my despair when I turned the corner and saw Issa-san. He just gave me this really sweet smile before stabbing me with his stinger/tail. I stumbled back, barely in time. The air shuddered in front of me; a small wind created by the swift movement.

"You have got to be kidding me" I gasped.

Crazy problems call for crazy solutions, I think it went that way. My plan formed in a quarter of a second, I ran for my life back where I came.

I opened the window, two floors above where Craft was running from Issa. The moon light surprisingly well, making the windows glimmer like water. I climbed onto the windowsill and jumped. Wind hit me, snapping at my clothes, throwing my hair into a wind frenzy. Then I opened my wings, slowing immediately. One sudden powerful flap, aiming the ground, I flew swiftly to the side of the building Craft was headed.

Aha... Good thing I'd practiced endless hours manipulating both bodies at once. I'd be screwed if I hadn't.

Then I saw Craft, glowing a vibrant and pulsing yellow, running down the hall. I broke through the window. The shatter of glass timed perfectly with Issa's outstretched hand grasping Craft's shirt.

Shit! I wasn't fast enough!

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Ren?!" My boss yelled. T'Ko hesitated between catching Issa-san from behind or cowering. I felt my concentration waver, my life energy pouring unrestrained out of me... Then sudden blackness.

Issa slapped Craft. His neck went a loud CRACK and he slumped to the ground. I couldn't see anything out of his eyes, nor feel anything through his senses either. Collapsing, I stared, mouth agape, at my body.

"No..."

"Arg! You're such an idiot! How could you just let Craft run around the school using his spirit energy like that? Ren?" Issa growled, turning to me.

"I- he, urgh, we were keeping it circulating through him..."

"You could have completely turned him into an ayakashi doing that! Idiot!" Issa grinded his teeth. He then took a deep breath, reorganised his ruffled feathers and settled his wings comfortably resting on the small of his back. Calmed, he continued. "You even ruined the kimono I gave him!"

Eh.

That's all he wanted to say?

"So he'll pass the next week without getting paid."

"What! That's not fair!" I yelled.

"It's your damn fault. Also, you are going to help me pin advertisements all over school tomorrow."

"Ads? For what?" I asked, nonplussed.

"Our shop. What else? You'll have to be with me from nine to five, by the way." He added, ginning.

"Nine to five? What happened to the lazy Issa? Are you okay, boss? You NEVER get up before noon." Needless to say, I didn't really care much for 'loosing' most of my day.

"Somehow, that's insulting. I'll be nice and let it slide, though." He nodded to himself, proud of this exception.

Great...

I sure hope Craft doesn't get a concussion.

I got up and walked over to Issa. He lifted an eyebrow. That's the thing about masks; they allow you to conceal your true intensions. Which is probably why people find them so damn creepy. I lifted a hand and tapped Issa's arm.

"Tag~"