MARRIED TO A KITSUNE

CHAPTER XX

Honoree's enthusiasm in archery begins when she's seven. Her mother insisted and enrolled her to an archery summer camp as a head on. At first, Honoree attends the camp just to please her mother but as every summer passed, she grew to love the sport. It made her feel like a fighter. She was a member of Strasbourg Archery Club at the age of ten which made her mother proud. When she came to Japan, her mother made sure that the Academy she'll attend to have an archery club. A few months ago, when Honoree calls her overseas and asked her for some money to buy a new bow, her mother sound surprise to know that she's doing that kind of sport. Honoree put the phone down, asking herself how can her own mother forgot that she's the one who wants her to do archery on the first place.

"What is the birthday prince doing in here?" she asked her voice husky.

Yuuji moves closer and cross his arms in front his chest. The smell of blood too strong for him. "Where's my birthday cake?"

"I left it at the refreshment area."

"Oh, I didn't notice it. You should at least slice a part for me." He leans forward and reached for her left hand. He took a handkerchief out from the sleeve of his kimono and began wrapping Honoree's hand with the bandage still intact. "The arrows here aren't just made for simple competitions, dummy. They're for war."

"War?"

"Yes. We are zenko foxes, haven't you read it from one of your books? We're the ones associated with Inari-sama. And then, there are yako foxes. They're the mischievous types."

"Could it be that you have a mixed yako fox blood in you?" she teased.

Honoree flinched when Yuuji stroke her hand then tie the end of the handkerchief on her palm. "Hmmm, Yuuji-san, now that you're here, I can ask you about this Kohaku-san. I would like to know when he will arrive here."

Yuuji looks at her, surprise apparent on his eyes. He didn't let go of Honoree's hand. "I don't want him to come anymore."

"Why not?" I'm sure when he comes, he will---" Honoree's words stuck on her throat not because she can't bring herself to say it but because Yuuji put her palm on his cheek and kissed it gently. His eyes holding hers.

"It's almost time for the fireworks."

"Yeah, let's go outside." she let out a chuckle.

They watched the fireworks burn up the night sky at the branch of a pine tree beside the mansion. Yuuji carried her all the way. How can those mini bombs be so beautiful? It comes in many shapes and colors. The booming sounds echoes in the kingdom.

Honoree and Yuuji watched each one vanished after the other. Neither of them saying a word. They sat there, side by side.

When it ended, Honoree tries to start a conversation. "Happy birthday, Yuuji-san."

It took him a long moment to respond. "Katsumi-san. You know, she can be cunning sometimes..."

Honoree took it as him apologizing for everything that Katsumi said to her. "It抯 okay, you don't have to worry about it. Katsumi-san only wishes the best for me. Hey, I'm sure they're all searching for you now. You should go back."

Yuuji's expression change. He looks offended. His gray eyes turning into gleaming gold again. When he turns to Honoree, he speaks in a low tone of voice. "Please don't tell me to leave you, Honoree."

Honoree. When was the last time she heard someone called her like that? It was always Mademoiselle Ishirama, Hono-chan, Hono-san and Ishirama-san but never Honoree. It sounds so ancient and strange that Honoree feels like the name doesn't belong to her. "Can you say my name again Yuuji-san?"

But Yuuji shrugged her off.

"Wow! I never knew that name could sound so good." she laughs. She leans forward and bearhug Yuuji. "Thanks!" she whispered. When she let go, she gave him a soft smile, the smile she had at the picture above her study table. The one that can define happiness. Back when she and her parents were living under a roof and living is easy and everything feels like it's going to be okay. Honoree looks ahead at the suddenly dark night sky.

"I'm going to tell you a secret Yuuji-san. And it's a secret I didn't share with anyone up to this moment. Anyone but you." She broke into a laughter again and dangles her feet while they remain seated at the pine tree. "There are nights when I still dream about my parents and the child me, still living at our home in Strasbourg. In the dreams, my father will dance with me like those princess in the fairy tales. He would lift me high in the air and I will shout more! more! while giggling. Then my mother will appear from the kitchen with a tray of lemon cupcakes and she will join us dance. My father will put me down and he will take my mother's hand and they will dance even without music. The dream will always end there and I will wake up, trying to shut my eyes again so I can go back to that dream." Honoree starts feeling the tiny hot liquids pouring from her eyes down her cheeks. Yuuji stares at her, listening intently on every word she said. Honoree's story was the continuation of their conversation back on the night of Minori's birthday, under his favorite sakura tree. "Now that it reminds me, I'm going to have a new sister on my father's side. Isn't it great? But I still hate them. I hate my father for leaving us behind. I hate my mother for bringing Uncle Jules home. I hate all my siblings and I don't even know them. I hate all of them but not as much as I hate myself because I know that I can never really hate them." Yuuji let her sob. He took her hand and kissed it. It reminded him of Honoree back at Inari's statue in the honden* three years ago. She was crying hard in front of Inari-sama while he and Kenta watched her from behind. "When I arrive at my grandfather's, I told myself not to expect from anyone again. No one stays. They want to but they won't. If my own parents did that thing to me, I'm sure anyone will do the same. So I made sure to study hard and excel in every subject at the Academy. I will go to college and find a good job. I will show them that even if they abandon me, I can still be happy. I will go on and live a happy life. I learned to smile so no one will pity me. I wouldn't let anyone leave me again, do you understand me Yuuji-san?" Honoree then turns to him, her eyes red and her voice hoarse. She wipe a tear away and said, "I want to go home..."