The Oni

Chapter Three

>> Hey, can we talk?

You glance down to see a text from Waru, the red emoji silently staring up at you. It seemed odd for him to send something so short, and you couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong.

< Okay, sure. Are you alright?

You stare at your phone as you wait for a response, but it didn't seem to be forthcoming. Shaking your head, you set it down but keep an eye on it as you continue prepping ingredients for dinner.

A call comes through at one point, but it's from an unknown number, so you decline. Telemarketers were out in force lately, and you got at least six calls a day from numbers you didn't know.

An hour later, you still haven't gotten a response, and you bite your lip. Something was up; Waru has never gone this silent before, not in the whole time he's been with you and Amai.

You grab up your phone and send a text to him.

< Waru, is everything okay?

When there's still no answer for the better part of half an hour, you text Amai, growing increasingly worried.

< Amai, have you heard from Waru in the last hour?

Almost immediately, he responds.

>No, I haven't. He's been kind of quiet all day, I'd thought you guys were talking or something.

< He asked me something earlier, but then went radio silent. I'm getting worried.

> That is kind of weird. Should I come home?

You stare at the question for a long, long moment. In this sort of a situation, it would be nice to have Amai near, but you weren't sure if it was a good idea. Missing work was never really a good idea, even if--

You phone pings and you glance down.

> I'm on my way, I'll be there soon, sweetheart.

That fox.

Shaking your head, you can't help but smile. He always seemed to know what you were thinking, and it was a blessing sometimes. As such, there was no doubt in your mind that he was just as worried as you were.

In the months since you'd first met, Waru had never once gone silent, on either of you. It was unlike him to abruptly do so, he'd never seemed like the type to just... disappear. You pace the floor, staring at your phone, wondering just how many messages you could send the big guy before it seemed like you were being crazy.

Another call comes in, again from an unknown number, and you shake your head in irritation before declining it. Now was really not the time.

The front door opens, and you hear the telltale sounds of Amai dropping his keys on the table.

"Sweetheart?"

You hurry over, and see his ears flat against his head and tail flicking in agitation. Yeah, he was just as concerned.

"I tried to call him on my way here but I got sent straight to voicemail," he says, gathering you up in his arms. "And you still haven't heard from him?"

When you shake your head, he sighs.

"I'm not sure what to do here, I mean..." he glances into the kitchen. "We were supposed to have dinner together tonight, so... maybe he'll show up later? If he's having phone trouble, I'd assume that he wouldn't be able to get in touch with either of us."

Amai's tail swishes back and forth, and his brow is pinched. 

He did bring up a valid point, but it's not something that's ever happened before. As far as you could tell, Waru had never had any sort of phone trouble, ever. It pained you to say it, but he was far less accident prone than either you or Amai. Maybe with age came... coordination or something.