Chapter 9 - Release

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Hana still felt as if she was in a disoriented daze when she groggily opened her eyes. After a moment of staring up at a white ceiling, Hana shifted her weight to sit upwards.

A damp washcloth fell from her forehead as a hand reached out to support her back.

Hana let out a signature squeak of surprise as she recoiled from the touch. The sudden movement aggravated little particles of golden light to flicker in her vision.

A distinct chuckle sounded from the figure kneeling beside her bedside.

"Don't move too fast," the voice told her.

"Oh, it's you Hirano-sama." Hana revealed as she tried to rub the weird sensation away behind her eyes. "What happened to me?"

"You were hypnotised by a wisp."

"A what?" Hana mumbled, confused.

"A will-o-wisp. It's a type of kitsune magic."

Hana stared at Lord Hirano through the strange distortion she was experiencing as his words sunk in.

"Kitsune..." She repeated, feeling no less confused.

His soft grey hair was tied back and he had removed his coat. With the lighter amount of clothing and more of his face revealed he appeared to be younger than Hana had first assumed.

"How do you feel? Can you see okay?"

Lord Hirano lowered his face into Hana's to inspect her, momentarily leaving Hana no choice but to stare at the unique flecks of gold that intertwined into the dark blue of the man's irises.

She was suddenly very self-conscious of the acne on her cheeks and her obvious eye bags.

Hana bit her lip and tried to resist squinting as the little balls of light moved inside her eyes and brightened, further obstructing her vision.

"Akira, I think she needs more of the eye drops," the lord noted.

"Sure."

Hana froze as Akira's voice responded. Her senses suddenly returned enough to take in her surroundings. She noticed they were back at the Hirano villa. In Hana's room. And at the very end of Hana's futon, Akira sat poised. She smirked boldly as she leaned over Hana, attempting to hold her down with one hand, and in the other a dropper syringe angled high.

Hana screamed as she approached, kicking her legs out defensively under the bed covers that were between them.

Akira's tongue clicked impatiently. She was surprisingly strong, but Hana fought back hard as they began to tussle.

Akira struggled to overpower Hana with one hand trying to protect the little vial of yellow liquid substance.

"What is wrong with you?" Akira angrily yelled as she avoided some sharp kicks and tried to use her weight to subdue her.

Akira's pupils became thin slits as the light from a lantern that was placed beside Hana's bedding hit them. The gold glow of her irises was terrifying.

"No!" Hana yelled back between her shrill screams. "Get away from me, you demon woman!"

She balled her fists up, failing them wildly and intermittently pushing at Akira in an attempt to keep her away.

"For God's sake, Mizuiro! Hold her down!" Akira hissed at Lord Hirano who was just watching the scene bewilderedly.

Hana was suddenly hoisted up and then forced still as the lord grabbed hold of her. He held her closely against him, her arms to her side with a steely grip that Hana could not budge free from.

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