Charming Tails

Chapter 13 - A Father's Treeline

Rouji runs toward a tree and wall runs up it and back flips to land on the ground again. He charges toward a dummy and slices it in half with ease. After being cut, the dummy slowly burns.

"Shit! Fire! I'll get some water!" he yells.

"Jeez Rouji!" Katsune shouts at him. "Be careful with that!"

Rouji runs toward the well and carries a pail of water and splashes it on the burning dummy.

"Phew." he wipes his forehead. He then looks at the flaming sword that he has. "Hey, Katsune, do you just apply it on me or do you need to concentrate your power and focus on me?" he looks at her.

"Ah, I learned how to command my fires and let them work independently." she then conceals her tails.

"Cool. Then, how do I get these fires off?"

"They belong to you now. You can call them anytime you want. Just focus and talk to them with your mind."

Oh. Okay. Then, fox-fires.. I command you to vanish.

"Uhm, they have names by the way. Ri, Ki, and Shi."

"What?! You're kidding me." he closes his eyes and concentrates. Ri, Ki, Shi, by my will, hide inside my sword and guard it.

The fire on his sword and hands slowly gets absorbed by his Katana.

"You controlled them. Great job Rouji. Hehe." she smiles and giggles.

"I did it. Hahaha." he cheers up. "I feel stronger now. It's like.. I have the fire within me." he smiles.

"Hehehe. I'm glad to hear that. You've been enjoying it for thirty minutes now." she laughs softly.

"I know. I just can't believe I could do those things because of your power Katsune." he looks at his hands and feet.

"Rouji, are you here?"

His mom calls out to him from outside the dojo.

"Shit! They're here. Katsune, act normally okay? Just.. be yourself." he tells her.

"Eh.. normally..?" she confusingly asks.

Rouji goes inside the dojo and comes out the other side to meet up with his mother.

I'm.. Rouji's girlfriend for the moment? How do human girlfriends even act like? What if.. his mom finds out? I think I'll just leave.

Katsune stood in silence. She fixes up her dress and skirt and combs her hair with her fingers. She stood silently for a moment and goes inside the dojo.

"Looks like the dojo's well maintained. Good job Rouji."

"Ah, it's nothing mom."

Katsune approaches a corridor that lead to the other side of the dojo and she hears them talk. She slowly walks to the terrace and attempts to go out.

"Who are you miss?"

Katsune was startled and immediately looks back. Rika stood in silence as she looked at Katsune.

"A-Ah.. h.. Hi!" she trembles.

"Hi. Who are you by any chance? Are you a student of gramps?" she asks.

"N-No.. I'm.. My name is Katsune."

*Shooog*

The sliding paper door opens and Rouji and his mother comes out of the room. He sees Katsune and Rika confront each other and hurries to them.