His Light

Ch. I

Boxes fell onto the street as someone dropped them into their persueres away. The person almost tripped as they made a turn into the market place. It was so crowded they should be able to loose them.

People watched as they saw a red head running past them, mumbling a 'sorry' to those they bumped into. But each one looked at the person in disgust, not bothering to move or spare them a second glance.

The person stopped for a few short minutes to catch their breath and then looked over their shoulder to see if any of the others were close behind. After seeing that no one was there, they let out a sigh and started walking around.

The market was their destination, until the bullies walked by. Blue eyes scanned the different booths and red ears flicking to the noises around them. Long hair whipped around as the person looked for a certain booth. Nose sniffing for a certain scent. The person wasn't looking where they were going and bumped into someone.

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"where could he have gone?" the small boy questioned to no one in particular. His brother had slipped away from him again and he knew how much of a bully he can be if he wasn't their to keep an eye on him.

Ichirohiko walked around the market place, looking for Jiromaru. Then someone bumped into him sending the person to the floor. He looked at the person on the floor. It was a girl. She had orange-brown hair, and pointed ears at the top of her hair. "ow" she mumbled and looked up at him. He saw that she had blue eyes and had an innocent looking face. He reached his hand out to help her up.

"I'm sorry" he said pulling her up to her feet. The girl's eyes widened in shock, as if no one has shown her such kindness. Once she was up on her feet he noticed something moving around behind her. After seeing it move he notice, it was her tail. It was the same color as her hair and ears and it was puffy and fluffy.

The girl was too in shock to noticed he was staring. What caught her attention was how he looked so human-looking, she also noticed the beenie on his head--seems he likes hats. Ichirohiko noticed how she looked human too.

A shout was what brought them out of their train of thought. The girl looked back and saw her bullies coming her way. "Jiromaru!" the boy called. The girl looked back at him in shock. If he knew her bully, then maybe he's trouble too. She shook her head and ran past him.

"wait a minute" he said as she ran off. "Hi onii-chan" Jiromaru called as he ran past him, after the girl. Ichirohiko clicked his tongue, "not again" he mumbled as he ran after them.

When he finally found them, Jiromaru had the girl cornered. "I don't like weak people" Jiromaru started, "and a half-breed is the weakest, right beside humans" Ichirohiko started growling, whenever his brother started talking about weakness it always ticked him off for some unknown reason.

He ran over to them, and stopped his brother as he was about to hit the girl, "Jiromaru, that's enough!" he yelled. Jiromaru stopped and looked at his brother. "Father always says, strength isn't for showing off, but for kindness"

With that said he walked over to the girl and helped her up once more. "You'd help me even when I'm half-human?" she asked. Ichirohiko smiled, "You're also half-beast" he said, "so you're still part of this world"
The girl's eyes widened at his words to her. "Where were you headed?" He asked. The girl thought for a moment, since she forgot where she was headed because of his brother. Then she snapped her fingers, "oh that's right" she said as she started walking, "I was going to go nana's stall" she said to herself.
Ichirohiko started walking behind her, his brother too, until he stopped him, "you head home" he said, "b-but oni-chan-" he started but Ichirohiko interrupted, "Go. Home. I'll walk her to her destination then I'll go home too" he said and left.
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"Mind if I have your name?" Ichirohiko asked once he caught up to the girl.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah, I'm Sakumi" she said chuckling, "and May ai ask for yours"
"I'm Ichirohiko" he said and the Sakumi giggled, "that's a long name, but it suits you"
"What kind of monster are you, anyway?" He asked. Her ear flicker and she smiled, "I'm a fox" his eyes widened in wonder, "my mom was the human while my dad was the fox monster" she giggled, "sort of like Beauty and The Beast ne?"
Ichirohiko looked at her in confusion, "like what?" He asked. Sakumi looked at him, "oh, it's this book my mom left my dad with"
"Sakumi, dear!" Someone called. They turned to see an elderly woman waving at her from a stall. "I'll be right there Nana!" Sakumi said waving back. She turned back to the boy next to her, "I have to go, but maybe I can show that book some other time?"
Ichirohiko nodded his head, "I'm pretty sure I'll see you around here, right?" He asked.
The Kitsune girl chuckled, "if I'm not running from my bullies, you'll see helping out Nana over there"
Ichirohiko frowned a bit, "listen, if that happens again, just come to me and I'll help you out" he said giving her a confident smile.
Sakumi's eyes widened in shock. But then she gave him a closed eye smile "sure" she said, "if I find myself in a pinch, you'll be the first one I go to" with that said she took off to the elderly lady's stall, waving at him.
Ichirohiko watched as the old woman gave Sakumi a few bags and explaining something to her. "So she helps her here at the market" he mumbled and walked towards his own home.