The Lost Fox

Chapter Three

            "Well?"

            Fang snorted with such rage that Senkulpa felt enticed to cower in guilt. She had never seen him so upset before, even when something had not gone his way. Looking up at Fang with a questioning look, Senkulpa managed out, "I... brought him here... to meet you, sensei..."

            Fang and Efu stared at each other for a long while. Senkulpa could sense the tension that was strung between them, and instantly recognized that they had already met each other before. With a strict eye, Fang looked at Senkulpa. "No," he simply said. "He has already met me once. Is this not right, justice-seeker?"

            Efu shook his head. "You do not understand," he retorted. "You don't even remember!"

            In a gust of wind, so quick that Senkulpa could barely see the movement, Fang darted at Efu. He reached out and grabbed the tattered shirt in a strong grip, holding his katana up to Efu's neck. When Senkulpa finally saw that Fang had flashed behind her, she turned and cried out, "No sensei! No!"

            "Tell me who sent you," Fang commanded like a dictator. When Efu did not answer, Fang shook the boy and then asked again, harsher, blunter. "Who sent you?!"

            Seeing that Efu would not answer, Senkulpa rushed forward and grabbed Fang's overcoat. "Sensei!" she pleaded. "Stop!"

            "I swear to God, I'll kill you," Fang threatened in a low voice. "Tell me who sent you. NOW!" Efu held his tongue, knowing that his answer would not please Fang's rage.

            "Sensei, listen to me!"

            "Tell me!"

            Finally, Efu let his breath loose and shouted back. "Nobody!" he yelled. "Nobody sent me! I came on my own accord!"

            Both breathing heavily, Fang and Efu stared at each other in the eyes. Fang felt that this was the truth, but he dared not let go of the person who was going to murder him earlier in the day. He kept Efu's hands pinned at his sides tightly, sure that he was unable to unsheathe any weapons.

            "Why are you here?" Fang asked. "Why did you come here?"

            "I've been tracking you," Efu admitted. "I've been following you for years. I already told you this, won't you just let me go-!"

            "Shut up!" Fang bellowed. "If you were smart enough to keep your head attached to your shoulders, you wouldn't give me any answers I didn't ask for!" He pressed the blade of the katana closer to Efu's neck as to intensify his threat.

            Senkulpa, staring dumbfounded at this spectacle, found her words and spoke once more. "Please sensei," she said, "don't hurt him."

            "Be quiet, Senkulpa," Fang muttered. His tone was soft until he turned back to Efu. "Why have you been following me? Why did you try to kill me?" It was only a two second period before Fang's impatience bested him and he shook Efu again. Senkulpa could see that Efu was trying to hold back from saying anything, but Fang's aggressive shaking was rattling his head. "Tell me!!"

            "What's the point? You would never understand!"

            "Tell me, goddamn it!"

            "Because you killed my parents!"

            Senkulpa gasped and looked at Fang. The anger and frustration etched on Fang's face had been replaced with confusion and a strike of the heart. His eyes mellowed and his hands lost their strength. It looked as though a ghost had just taken hold of Fang's soul and sucked his essence dry of emotions.