A Tale of Two Foxes: (Kogitsune X Mikazuki)

A Tale of Two Foxes - Chapter 14

CHAPTER 18

Mikazuki lay on the ground staring up at the beautiful sky. Clusters of fluffy white clouds floated lazily across the powder blue backdrop, forming all manner of shapes.

"That one looks like a ship," Tsurumaru said, pointing to a particularly large cloud to their left. "Like the ones always pulling into port."

Mikazuki squinted. "You think? Looks like a fluffy blob to me."

Tsurumaru elbowed his friend playfully. "You're not playing the game right."

"Sorry, sorry," Mikazuki mumbled. "Okay, that one right there looks like a... smaller fluffy blob."

Tsurumaru burst out laughing. "You're hopeless, you know that?"

"Hopeless and tired," Mikazuki answered, chuckling softly. "I'm going to rest my eyes for a bit."

"You mean take a nap?"

Mikazuki smiled in reply, closing his eyes and resting his arm across his face. He rarely slept these days, and when he did it was never at night. The dreams haunted his slumber, following him into the waking hours of the day. There was no escape, no reprieve. He would never be able to move on. The Kogitsune in his dreams wouldn't let him...

Mikazuki opened his eyes, surprised to find the sun had set and the night sky filled with an infinite number of stars. He sat up, searching for Tsurumaru who was nowhere to be found. Climbing to his feet, Mikazuki brushed off his clothes and started to make his way back to the house. As he turned, a flicker of movement caught his eye. He searched the tree line, gasping softly when the flash of white bolted from the brush. It was an animal. To be more exact, it was a fox.

"Kogi..."

Mikazuki sprinted for the trees, keeping the animal in his sights. This was how the dream always started, and even though he knew none of it was real, Mikazuki couldn't stop himself. He dove into the trees, stumbling over exposed roots and swatting stray branches out of the way. The faster he ran, the further away the fox got. It was a pointless chase. Mikazuki would never catch the fox, because it was destined to get away.

Mikazuki came to an abrupt stop, forcing his body to still. It was a dream, so he shouldn't feel out of breath, but his heart was racing and his breathing was heavy and labored. He closed his eyes, willing himself awake. He felt his body relax and his heart rate return to normal. Satisfied he'd pulled himself out of the dream, he opened his eyes once more.

"Clever," Inari Okami said, smiling as she regarded Mikazuki from her spot atop a large exposed root.

Mikazuki's mouth fell open, his shock leaving him utterly speechless. He'd never met the Kami of Foxes, and what little he knew of her was from Tsurumaru's description. Needless to say, his friend hadn't done the goddess justice. Her silvery hair fell in waves around her shoulders, framing her lovely face and iridescent eyes. The kimono she wore just barely contained her voluptuous frame, the plum colored fabric a stark contrast against her pale skin. She was breathtaking, and though he'd never met her before, Mikazuki felt as if he'd known her his entire life.

"You have a gift, you know?" the goddess continued. "I keep sending you this dream and you keep pulling yourself out of it. It was amusing at first, but I'm afraid the time for games is over."

Mikazuki blinked in confusion, his mouth forming words, but nothing coming out.

Inari smiled, sliding off the root and walking towards Mikazuki. "I see why my son is so smitten. You are nothing short of adorable, Mikazuki Munechika."

"Your son?" Mikazuki asked, searching the trees. "You mean, Kogitsune? Is he... is he here?"

Inari sighed heavily, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Mikazuki's gaze. "Yes, but not in the way you're thinking. I was hoping to have you come to this conclusion on your own, but you never finish the dream."