A Fox's Whisper

37: |几卂尺| Pt. 2

"I'll kill you," I whispered.
Getting to my feet was a task I found much harder than usual, but it wasn't because of my injuries. No, I was so overcome with rage that my legs shook and my hands trembled. I saw red spots dance before my eyes as my sight turned funneled, focused entirely on Yamabiko Dorobo.

My pulse thundered in my ears, my blood boiling in my veins. My lips curled against my teeth as my mouth went very dry.

Dorobo quirked an eyebrow at me. "You keep saying that. But you aren't a killer, stupid fox."

I stared down at the star ball in my hand. I saw double I was so furious. I swayed where I stood, the red spots of anger giving way to a dark shadow. Seething, ruthless shadow pooled into my head, cold and unforgiving. I would never forgive Dorobo. Ever.

I held my star ball to my chest, breathing deep, in and out. And the star ball faded away against me. Not vanishing into thin air, but rather like it was conforming to my body, molding and flowing back into it. I felt whole again like a missing puzzle piece had been replaced. Like the final cog in a wheel of mechanisms had begun to turn. Like I finally had my life force restored to me. I felt warm. I felt strong. The pain in my ankle and my head and everywhere else started to fade. The best thing in the world right then was to feel like everything just might fall back into place when it had been falling apart for so long.

Dorobo clicked his tongue in annoyance. "You reabsorbed it? How annoying." He brandished his blade of light at me, spinning it in his hand and tossing it behind his back only to catch it once more. "Well then, kitsune. If you're going to kill me, go ahead."

My head spun. The world spun. I had my star ball back. After all this time. Finally.
I caught sight of Legion's katana, dropped and useless by his still figure. I bent down and picked it up, examining it as I did so. The curved blade gleamed up at me, wickedly sharp. I saw my reflection in it. I saw the shadowy patterns across my face, the dozens of cuts and bruises along my skin, my disheveled hair. But I also saw the resolute hatred in my eyes. I would put an end to this.

I looked up at Dorobo who waited patiently for me to attack him. He looked remarkably unbothered. Unbothered by the storm, unbothered by Legion's corpse kneeling to the side...unbothered by me. It enraged me beyond belief.

My heart burned and burned and burned, and my hands tightened around the hilt of the sword. I had never tried fighting with a katana, save for that day I'd met Kazuha. I had no idea how to properly use it, but that was inconsequential to me. I was much changed from that first day. I would fight with anything I had, anything I was given. And I would kill Dorobo.

With a guttural yell, I rushed at him, swinging the sword with all my strength towards his head. He blocked it with ease, but the force of the blow made him step back a few paces. His feet left deep indentations in the mud.

He flicked his six tails. "Impressive. You're worse at this than I thought," he jeered. "Try again."

This time I swung for his torso. He parried the blow with a flick of his wrist as easily as if he were fighting a child. I didn't care. I kept coming at him, swinging the katana wildly towards him as fast as I could. If I could just knock him off guard that would be enough.

With every swing of the sword, I felt stronger, and I moved faster. I had no technique, no raw skill to forge into any kind of ability. But I was strong and I had speed so that would have to suffice. I planted my feet and held onto the sword hilt for all I was worth. I brought the blade around towards Dorobo's ribs.

His eyes widened and he swerved away from the attack just in time. The sword caught the edge of his sleeve, tearing it in two. I flicked the fabric off the blade and again lunged for him, gritting my teeth.