Beauty and the Beast (DRAMAtical Murder fanfic) (Boyxboy)

Chapter 19

I didn't say anything the rest of the ceremony. That's certainly what it was, as kitsune after kitsune stepped forward and spoke to empty hair in fluent native tongue before leaving.

Until all that was left was me, and Taiko, and a body.

Taiko didn't not step forward to speak. Neither did I. He wordlessly moved after a long moment, and gently pushed the body from the slab and into the thick liquid. Within seconds it dissolved away like black sand, leaving nothing but us there. He led me back, all the way to Fox's original quarters on the ship where Alluka should be sleeping.

Only then, in front of that door, did either of us speak.

"When will he return?"

Taiko does not look at me even when he answers.

"When he is ready. When his soul has healed any damage it sustained."

"How long will it take?"

"Depends on that damage. I do not think he fully healed from his grief, and the nature of his death this time is... catastrophic. Our lives are greatly disturbed in the absence of our leader, and though the other clans are lending aid... Things will not be as they were."

"Is that why you seem so worried?"

"Partially. What worries me most... is that because you are human, he may not take the time to heal as he should."

"Meaning?"

"He will not want to remain without a body for long, because he does not want you to age away. Though even I, at this point in time, would prefer he heal himself instead... I look at Hikaru and understand why he won't do what he should."

"What about Alluka?"

"What about him?"

"Now that you're here, is he going back to you?"

"No. Kyor will be very weak when he returns. For now it is best his son remains in his chambers here, since his soul has a stronger connection there. Besides, Alluka has taken to you. He won't come back without a fit."

"That's... not exactly reassuring."

"No, I suppose it is not. But neither is the world at the moment."

Taiko left.

And exactly eleven days later, I woke to a weight against my back. A weight I quickly sat up to see, because I already knew the very small weight against my leg was Alluka. The room still had a soft light on, since Alluka didn't seem to like the dark, and it illuminated what lay behind me.

A fox, larger than Alluka but far smaller than any other kitsune I've seen, curled up on itself. It seemed eerily thin and skeletal, more like skin and far pulled taut over bones. It jolted slightly when I reach out and touched its shoulder, but it's ears didn't move. An eye opened as if to try and see, but there was no eye to see from. It's coat was a mottled silvery grey, it's legs, ears, and face completely black.

Kyor had returned, but it was obvious even to me that he wasn't finished building himself. Had he done the bare minimum to return as quickly as possible?

What an idiot.

The fox moves, uncurling itself to stand up. I lay back down, since it seems intent on moving away. At least until a paw steps on bare floor, and it flinches backwards.

He couldn't see, and if the lack of ear movement said anything, he likely couldn't hear either. He stood, tense, before slowly turning and walking back. And when a paw bumped into me, again the same reaction. Only this time, it's head shifted towards me, as if even in its current state it was trying to tell if what it had stumbled into was actually me. His muzzle came closer and closer, eyes opening to show empty sockets and ears shifting to a timid position.