Inari's Renegade

Chapter 6

“Just make sure my Hurikos is done by Friday and I’ll come by to pick it up.” I told Zack.

And what’s in it for me?” He asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“We’ll talk later.” I said, patting his cheek. That seemed good enough for him as he walked back into his construction class. I was busy working on getting my costume together for the convention. I could have bought an authentic outfit online, but what would the fun be in that? Someone wrapped their arms around my waist and I immediately tensed.

“Hi Nelly-poo.” I heard a familiar voice whisper in my ear. I elbowed Rin in the ribs and he quickly let me go. “You’d think I would have learned my lesson.” He grunted.

“What’s with the pet names?” I asked. I was relieved it was him and not Lance…or worse, Kieran. I involuntarily shivered at the thought.

“Well we are dating aren’t we?” he asked with a smirk.

 I shushed him before bringing home to the side where we couldn’t be seen. I didn’t need unwanted rumors going around. “That was just an act for your dad to get him off your case.”

“I knew that. Thanks for getting me interrogated by the way. Well my dad wasn’t that upset  because he thinks I finally ‘nailed a girl’-his words not mine. And my mom wants to invite you over for dinner.”

“What?” I exclaimed.

He rolled his eyes. “She wants to make sure you’re not a harlot and that you know Jesus Christ.”

“I’m agnostic!”

“Something I failed to mention. Isn’t the bigger dilemma how are we going to get out of this?”

“So you’re ashamed of me.” I teased.

“Not of you, but of them.”

“Just tell them we broke up.”

Rin rubbed the back of his neck. “I kind of told them we were serious.”

“Why would you say such a thing?” I yelled. He flinched at my voice.”Guys don’t do serious relationships.”

“You shouldn’t label us under one category. Some of us are looking for more than a fling.”

I had a feeling we weren’t talking about guys in general anymore. “We’ll just keep the act around your parents okay? You may feel the need to practice, but with me around, you won’t need it.” I said patting his arm.

“I can act just as well.” He said, grinning.

“Oh really?” I challenged.

  He grabbed me around the waist, causing me to jump and his head slowly leaned towards mine. Oh crap! I thought. I knew I shouldn’t have provoked him. My heart started beating wildly in my chest and just as I was about to push him away…at the last minute. We were interrupted.

“Oswald!” A gruff voice shouted, causing us to jump a part. “Get your ass out on the field!”

“Coming coach!” Rin yelled back. “I was just getting some water.”

“You have one minute, before you’re running laps!”

Rin shot me an apologetic look. “You know I wouldn’t have meant anything by it right?”

I gave him a small smile. “I know,” Yeah right, it totally would have meant something. Fortunately, we were saved just in time.

  Once he left, I leaned against the wall and sighed. I don’t know what I would have done if he kissed me. Or worse confessed his love to me because that was something I couldn’t deal with right now. I would have had no choice, but to break his heart.

***

    “Come on stupid thing, work!” I yelled, slapping my hand on the sewing machine. Of course, that did nothing about the fabric that happened to be bunched under the needle. I guess there was nothing to be done about being a horrible seamstress, but I really wanted my costume to be the best it could be. I took a break from the infuriating machine and looked out the window.

     The last bit of the soccer team was in the student parking lot, getting into their cars. I was probably one of the few who were left. Almost all the human teachers were heading home for the day and the only ones left were the kitsunes who lived here—Akihiro being one of them—which made me feel safer and a bit anxious if Kieran decided to come around. I went over to the window and opened it to allow a breeze to come through the clay and oil paint scented room. I inhaled to breath in the crisp cool air when something foreign and odorous hit my nostrils. I gagged and immediately covered my nose.

  What is that? I thought. I held my breath as I tried to bring the windows back down, but they wouldn’t budge. Up ahead, I saw a thick black miasma rolling through the clouds and it seemed to be drifting towards my window. “Come on!” I grunted. What’s with inanimate objects not likening me today? I took a step back as the fog floating in through the window I immediately went for my sword on the table,, but I felt that it would do little to protect me.

“So you’re the little kitsune that my Ryu is after.” A deep voice rumbled.

  I didn’t like the sound of that voice at all. My hand had my sword sheath in a death grip and I fumbled to take it out of the sheath. The fog took the form of a human, the flesh slowly manifesting into a tall man with pale skin and electric blue eyes. Black eyeliner enhanced his almond shaped eyes and swept to the side like an Egyptian’s. His long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he wore a long black coat with white fur rimmed around the edges. Despite his humanistic features, something tol me he wasn’t human at all.

He was a dragon.

  Somehow I managed to free my word and I held it out in front of me to ward off the monster. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!” I said, willing my voice to stay strong. Despite that, my hands still shook violently.

He laughed at my false bravado, his voice sounding like rumbling thunder. “You would say that wouldn’t you. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Erebus, Ryu’s dragon.”

Is he talking about Kieran? I thought. Then why is he… Realization hit me and I bolted for the door, trying to pry it open, but that too wouldn’t give in to my wishes. I started banging on the door. “Akihiro, someone help!” I yelled.

“First, I’m going to devour you and then I’m going after him for trying to thwart me.”

  I turned around, my back pressing against the door as he closed in on me. “Please,” I begged. “I didn’t want anything to do with him. He roped me in on this. Just please let me go.” He grabbed me and I felt my glamour being stripped away as my fox ears formed on my head and my tails grew out from behind.

  He gave me the creepiest smile I ever seen, showing that he enjoyed my terror. “Too. Late.” He whispered. Not knowing what else to do, I blew fire. He screamed as the flames hit his  face and he dropped me. I scrambled for my sword and dodged pass him towards the window. I felt myself being tackled to the ground and I screamed as the dragon looked down on me with malice in his eyes.

“You’re going to pay for that!” He growled.

  Then the room went black. I screamed for I don’t know how long, until I realized that the  dragon’s weight on top of me anymore and quickly stood to my feet.

“Penelope?” I heard an omniscient voice ask, overhead.

I recognized it immediately. “K-Kieran?”

“You got to get out of here. I’m trying to hold him off…” That’s when I had a scream.

“Kieran?” I asked again.

    I was answered with a repetition of screams. I used my fox fire to illuminate my surroundings and found out I was still in the art room. The only thing I could see was the window I opened earlier. Not wasting time, I climbed out and jumped to the landing below. Once I landed on the ground I took off running from the school. There was nothing I could do to help him. When it came to a Kitsune fighting a dragon, the dragon was the one to win.

 AN: I felt like this chapter was rushed...and you guys might agree with mw...so what can I do to fix it? Tell me your thoughts...and vote if you like it. Thanks for reading!