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“Quick! Retreat!”
Someone had shouted.
The enemy scurried away as their feet hit the bloody puddles from their bleeding comrades in the alleyway and were out of range to be taken care of by the time before Chuuya had realised what he got himself into.
An ambush.
The Port Mafia executive fell for an ambush. The great gravity manipulation user had fallen for something so simple.
He could only blame the alcohol running through his system.
Chuuyaa winced, sliding down against the wall leading to his dead end.
Blood smeared on the wall as he fell onto the wet concrete ground while pressing his hand against the wound with two bullets in his chest. He took heaving breaths and dug into his pocket for his phone.
He didn’t have much time.
Chuuya grunted as he tried to adjust himself to a comfortable position. Tapping his screen, his contacts are opened up.
Who… who should he call?
Who can he call?
Another deep breath.
Fuck, now his vision was losing him.
Come on…
Fucking do something…
He tilted his head up to get a better look at his options.
His chest pounded in excruciating pain, he couldn’t hold on much longer before he lost consciousness. Chuuya dragged his thumb against the screen, trying to find Kouyou’s number.
“A damsel in distress?”
Chuuya flinched.
Another enemy attack?
Just how many of them did he make?
He shakingly looked up at the shadowed figure standing a few metres away from him. He tried to keep his eyes open.
“Who… who are you?” He muttered.
The figure said nothing but the quiet tapping sound had gotten louder.
Getting closer and closer to him, he stopped in the shadows.
Chuuya couldn’t interpret what he was seeing. Whoever was standing there, there was something off about them. He didn’t know what, it wasn’t like could because his eyes were slowly giving up on him.
Chuuya gritted his teeth, his grip loosened on his phone and dropped onto the floor. He started to see doubles of the figure and opened his mouth, hoping those words would fall out.
The shadowed figure watched the mafioso collapse onto the ground.
They heaved a sigh, coming out from the shadows.
A man in a dark yukata that faded into white with a white coat draped over his shoulders with gold accents.
The moonlight beamed down on his long dark black strands of hair that reached to his shoulders.
His purple eyes shone under the light, staring at the unconscious human.
A pair of dark furry ears and a set of nine tails popped out as he crouched down to the young man.
A devious smile rested on his lips, using his tails to get the human off the ground and into his arms. Surprisingly he’s not that heavy and quite short for a man but he never understood humans in the first place, so it didn’t bother him.
He gazed down at the device on the concrete, vibrating with the name of ‘Ane-san’ on it.
He didn’t hesitate to smash it with his foot and secure the hold of the prey he had in his arms.
“Just because I’m feeling nice today, I’ll help you, little human.”
- - -
Chuuya’s eyes twitched from the ray of lights beaming onto his face.
He groaned slightly, lifting his hand that was covering the light.
There was still that throbbing pain in his chest but it didn’t hurt as much, though the only thing was, he was confused about how he was still in one piece.
“I see you’re finally awake.”
He tensed up upon hearing a familiar voice.
His eyes slowly cracked open, adjusting to where he was and moved his head to the right to see who was standing at the door. A man loomed over at the door with a small smile on his face with sharp magenta eyes.
Oh… he was sleeping on the ground in a futon. That's why he felt shorter than usual.
Chuuya tried to get up, but of course, he couldn’t as much due to the wound on his chest. The stranger helped him up.
“How… How did I get here?”
“I saved you, of course,” he simply said.
“You’re the person from last night…”
“That actually was two nights ago.”
His blue eyes widened, he was asleep for 2 days?
“Wait what? I was unconscious for that long?”
“You are a loud snorer, it was quite easy to tell that you were alive.”
Chuuya paid no attention to that comment and frowned, looking at his own clothes.
He wasn’t in his Port Mafia attire anymore, it was pretty much trash after that ambush, not like he could blame him.
The mafioso stared at the tails and ears on the stranger’s body, “Are you in a cosplay or something?”
“Cosplay? Do you think I’m some kind of child?”
“You look like it.”
The man chuckled and stood up from crouching, “No. For simple minds such as yourself, you may address me as a kitsune,” he replied.
Chuuya raised a brow, “Kitsune? That shit in legends?”
“Yes. Though I would rather you not call my ancestors or myself ‘shit legends’.”
He flicked through the next question, “Where the hell am I?”
“You’re in my house, as you humans, like to call it,” he explained, “you’ll be staying here until your wounds are fully healed.”
“Don’t you think that would be my decision, not yours?” Chuuya asked with a glare, whipping his head around trying to find his phone, “oi, fox man, do you know where my phone is?”
The kitsune crossed his arms with a small frown, “So rude for someone that just got saved, but if you must know, that funny looking digital thing is currently not with you.”
“What?! How am I supposed to tell Ane-san that I’m gone?!”
“She’ll assume that you have died and disappeared.”
Chuuya ruffled his hair in frustration, “No shit sherlock! I’m sure they’ll kill you if they found out you kidnapped me in your fucking old house!”
“How so?”
“I’m in the mafia!”
The fox dared to snort at his very serious reply, not to mention his tails were swaying in amusement which made Chuuya even more annoyed at him.
“I didn’t know the mafia employs people as short as you, little human.”
“Who the hell are you calling ‘little’, motherfucker—”
Something soft was placed on top of his lips and completely got him off guard and violently flinched.
“Alright, that’s enough. You do have quite a foul mouth for someone so young and tiny,” he replied, moving his tail away from Chuuya’s lips and walking towards the door. “I’ll bring in some food soon, relax and don’t move too much, little human.”
“OI!”
The door slid closed as Chuuya softened his expression.
He unravelled the covers and took a good look at his clothes.
A simple dark blue yukata and over it he wore a fuchsia haori with a blue flower pattern on it.
It sort of reminded him of the times he wore yukatas when he was around Kouyou because she enjoyed making him try her yukatas that she tried making or her female subordinates made.
How am I supposed to get out of here…?
A fox man has taken him hostage, while he has to live under his old house and isn’t letting him leave until he is fully recovered.
Maybe drinking that wine wasn’t a good idea if he was going to end up like this.
- - -
Chuuya was cautious when eating the food presented to him.
He’s fallen for way too many tricks from a certain annoying bastard who always served him poisonous food for breakfast or lunch out of ‘kind gestures’.
His eyes raised up to meet with the kitsune’s eyes on his. “What? You didn’t have breakfast or something?” He asked.
The fox shook his head.
“I’m not hungry. I’m still figuring out how someone like yourself can be in a mafia organisation,” he replied, putting it lightly.
“Are you trying to pick a fight?”
“No. Why would I want to fight a little human such as yourself?”
Chuuya wished he could use his ability to send this annoying fox away from him.
“So, what’s your name, little human?”
He batted an eye over him and swallowed his food, “Why would that be important to know? I’m going to leave soon anyway.”
“Don’t you think you can do that for me? For all the things I’ve done for you? I saved your life, little human,” he replied with a small grin on his face, “I’ve also given you food. Answering a question such as ‘what is your name’ doesn’t seem like a difficult request.”
“Nobody asked you to save me or feed me.”
“So you’re saying that when you were looking at me with desperate eyes during that night and begging me to save you was a choice?”
Chuuya placed his bowl of rice on the table. “Since when did I ‘beg’ you to save me?!” He yelled, shooting glares at the fox.
“Your eyes told me.”
“Fucking weirdo.”
The kitsune brushed off the comment, “So, your name?”
“You’re fucking annoying, did you know that?” Chuuya asked rhetorically and clicked his tongue, knowing if he doesn’t tell him he’ll keep bugging until… “Nakahara Chuuya, but Chuuya is fine.”
“Chuuya…” he hummed.
“What’s your name? Since I told mine.”
“Most people just call me ‘Fyodor’.”
“Fyodor? That isn’t Japanese, is it? How can you be kitsune then?” Chuuya raised a brow with a single rice grain on his cheek.
Fyodor wiped it off with his finger and pulled away.
“To put it simply, I’ve been here for far too long and I would rather go for a name that sounds better than my given name. Is that better?”
“A little but I didn’t really care.”
One side of his lips tilted as he lightly smirked, “Then why ask, Chuuya? Don’t pretend you didn’t care.”
Chuuya saw how his tails were swaying a little faster than before. He was finding this amusing, what an annoying fox, and decided to ignore his clear assumption.
He finished the bowl of rice and drank the rest of his water, “Can I go now?”
“You are quite a feisty one, aren’t you, small human?” Fyodor replied.
“Oi, I told you my fucking name, stop calling me ‘small’, annoying fox!”
“And I thought I told you my name, it’s Fyodor, Chuuya ,” he said back with a sly smile plastered on his lips and only aggravated Chuuya more, “but I have established you’ll be staying until your wounds are healed.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.”
“You can go if you’d like but trust me, you won’t get too far.”
Chuuya stood up from his spot.
His legs were barely stable when standing up. He hadn’t felt the ground for so long, no wonder he wanted to collapse back on the ground.
He winced in pain, forgetting about the bullets that pierced through his skin.
“Didn’t I tell you, little human?”
Fyodor appeared beside him and let Chuuya fall against him. Chuuya eyed him closely and placed a hand over his wounds and pushed him away, capable of holding himself up.
“Whatever. You better have good service here.”
“Demanding, are we?”
“If I’m going to be staying here for a while, I might as well,” Chuuya replied and stared at the door, “I want fresh air and show the place around for me.”
“Very demanding,” Fyodor corrected himself.
“Shut the fuck up, stupid fox.”
“And such foul language for a little human.”
Chuuya ignored his words and took a headstart and shuffled towards the door, sliding it open.
His mouth gaped and whipped his head at the kitsune.
“WHY ARE WE IN THE MOUNTAINS?!”
The fox stood beside him with a grin, “This is just where my home is. I told you won’t be able to go far.”
- - -
Until Chuuya fully recovered from his injuries, he’s stuck. On a mountain. With nothing to do. With an annoying kitsune to entertain him for the days here. Honestly taking those shots might’ve been better than this but not for him to get treated by this kitsune again.
“Do you not do anything here?” He asked, staring at the fox who was staring aimlessly at the clear blue sky.
“I do but unfortunately, I have to babysit for the next few days.”
The redhead glared at him. “Who the hell are you calling a baby—?!”
Fyodor spun the flute in his hand and exhaled a deep breath. His fox ears twitched in irritation as they folded down. “Why must you be so loud?”
“Because you left me with no choice but to stay here.”
“Ah. Right.”
“Don’t you ever find staying boring at all?”
“Occasionally. I would always be adventuring around here but get lost in the process.”
Chuuya stared at the flute in his hand, “you know how to play the flute?”
“If I didn’t know how to play it, why would I carry it, Chuuya?”
Chuuya shrugged his shoulders and laid on the floor with his hands on the back of his head. He had nothing else better to do and there wasn’t anyone else in this sad place.
“I don’t know. Sometimes it could be for the look?”
Fyodor raised a brow in amusement, “Is that what humans think?”
“Fuck off. Don’t look at me like I’m the weird one. You don’t see me carrying a gun and not knowing how to use it.”
“Such violence but I know you don’t carry any ‘gun’ with you. No matter how much you want to deny it, little human,” he said with a smug grin.
Chuuya furrowed his brows and avoided his stare.
What does he know?
“Have I offended you, Chuuya? I’m sorry.”
He scoffed and briefly closed his eyes.
“Shut the fuck up, no you’re not,” he said, hoping this was just one big horrible nightmare that he would wake up to be back at home.
Chuuya didn’t like the silence.
Why isn’t Fyodor talking anymore?
“Something wrong—?” He opened his eyes to only find the fox’s face suddenly close to his. Maybe an inch away from their noses to be touching.
He shoved him away as his cheeks glowed red, “What the hell are you trying to do?!”
Fyodor smiled, “I was wondering if Chuuya was upset. Forgive me for the intrusion into your privacy.”
The redhead rolled his eyes, “Yeah, yeah.”
“I’m serious though, Chuuya.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t believe you,” he responded and sat back up, “can you play anything on your flute—don’t even try to come with a smartass response.”
The fox stared at him blankly, “These days I don’t even know the human language anymore but fine. What would you like to listen to?”
“Anything is fine. I don’t care.”
Fyodor gazed down at the flute in his hand.
Chuuya glanced over at him.
He didn’t know what was with the expression on his face when he looked at the flute. It was unreadable.
“Something wrong?”
He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at him, “I haven’t played the flute in a while. It’s been a few 100 years.”
“100?!” Chuuya exclaimed.
“Did you think our lifespan is that short, little human? The tail can indicate how old a kitsune is. They gain one every 100 years.”
He peered at the dark tails free-flowing and wasn’t bothered to care how many he had.
“So? You haven’t played the flute in a few 100 years. You’ll never be able to pick it back up if you don’t try.”
“I guess so… but I made a promise to someone…”
“Promise?”
Fyodor met eyes with Chuuya. “I would never play the flute to anyone else but them.”
“That’s a dumb promise but fair enough. They were your loved one, right?”
“That’s right.”
Chuuya got up from the floor and stood up. The lonely cherry blossom tree from below had caught his eye during their conversation.
“That’s a shame, the flute is a nice instrument to listen to,” he said and put his left arm out, “I want to see that tree, help me and ‘no’ isn’t an option.”
Fyodor got up as well and took his arm. The unreadable expression left his face in exchange for a small smile.
“As you wish.”
- - -
“Never seen a cherry blossom tree?”
Chuuya’s eyebrows were knitted together when Fyodor asked that question.
“There wasn’t anything better to do! Of course I’ve seen cherry blossoms, they’re everywhere in Japan! For someone who thinks they’re top shit, you do ask dumb questions.”
Fyodor sat on the grassy fields, “I don’t think you could say much either, Chuuya.”
“Are you going to keep being an asshole?”
“Perhaps, it depends on how I feel.”
He wanted to argue back but he didn’t want to give him the attention he wanted.
“I’m bored, what was your lover like?”
His ears pique in interest with a small twitch. “Oh? Is that what was on your mind?” He asked with a teasing tone.
“Just answer the goddamn question.”
“Hm… I’d like to say they were similar to you. Extremely feisty and stubborn.”
Chuuya shot a glare at him, “Is this just to piss me off?”
“No, no. You were just similar to them. Maybe too similar.”
He noticed the fond look the kitsune had on his face.
He must’ve really liked them.
“No idea you were into people like me then. I’ll take that as a compliment. Thanks,” Chuuya said plainly and ran his gloved hands against the trunk, “how old is this tree?”
“A few hundred years.”
He faced Fyodor, “As well?”
“It started to grow once they passed away,” he replied with a frown on his lips.
“Oh…”
Okay… I kinda feel bad for mentioning them… should I apologise or something?
“Say, Chuuya.”
Chuuya broke out of his string of thoughts and looked back at Fyodor, “Yeah?”
“Do you believe that God gives second chances?”
“That’s a weird question.”
He chuckled softly to himself, “It’s supposed to be. What do you think?”
Chuuya walked up to the fox and sat beside him. He heaved a breath and looked at the sky.
“If you’re ready to accept reality and move on, yeah. I think God would give you a second chance. I’ve been given plenty and I’m still here, why should you be any different?”
Fyodor didn't respond to him.
Chuuya grew impatient with waiting.
“A reply would be nice.”
“I was thinking about what I should play.”
He let out a laugh, “I thought you didn’t want to? A sudden change of heart?”
The fox didn't want to admit it and kept quiet, focused on the flute in hand.
Chuuya watched him slowly close his eyes and softly blew into the flute.
He was surprised that for someone who hadn’t played it in a while, the music being produced wasn't as bad as he thought.
For some reason, Arahabaki, the raging beast in his body, seemed to be relaxed… calm even?
He hadn’t felt at peace from the beast’s yelling and calling, not without the touch of No Longer Human.
Why does it feel like I’ve heard this song before?
The melody was soothing to the ears.
The mountains and the scenery, the quietness and beauty there was something Chuuya could get used to.
He could almost forget about Port Mafia duties after his recovery. A little bittersweetness in the song.
Fyodor blew out one last note and looked at Chuuya's face. He brushed off a cherry blossom in his hair.
“That song was my lover’s favourite song.”
“I guess they have really good taste in music then. I like it as well.”
“Really?” His tails swayed fondly as he said that.
“Yeah. I haven’t felt so relaxed like this in a while now. So you have my thanks,” Chuuya said, deciding it was time to go back.
Fyodor had a sense of what he was up to, “You’re leaving now? I thought I said—”
“If I don't, who else is going to put up with my shitty paperwork?” He asked with a grin, “I’m not exactly the type to leave work hanging.”
“How will you get back?”
A red aura wrapped around his body, floating slightly off the grass.
“I’ll be fine. After your song, I think I’ll be able to make it back home. You don’t exactly live far from the city either. You can see it from here.”
The wary expression on his face faded into relief, “I see. Then before you go.” He removed the golden butterfly-shaped wing clip from his hair.
Chuuya's feet touched the ground as met his eyes, feeling Fyodor’s hand tuck a strand of his hair back and something clipped into place around the back of his ear.
“What is it?”
The fox pulled his hand away from the flushed face Chuuya had become.
“Consider it a goodbye gift. I think it suits you, Chuuya.”
“Oh… thanks…” Chuuya murmured back, still not knowing what he had put in his hair.
Fyodor smiled, “Safe travels, little human.”
Chuuya ignored the name-calling.
“See you some other time, shitty fox.” And launched himself higher and flew off into the distance.
Fyodor watched him and stared aimlessly at the sky before approaching closer to the cherry blossom tree.
He was surprised that Chuuya had not noticed it when he stood there.
A tombstone.
The letters were growing old and hard to read but the tree behind continued to flourish. His eyes lowered to the flute in his hand.
A gift that was given by the very person who adored his songs.
“If you’re ready to accept reality and move on, yeah. I think God would give you a second chance. I’ve been given plenty and I’m still here, why should you be any different?”
“I believe the same,” he said aloud, sitting next to the grave.
Engraved was the name; Arahabaki .
A torn up and rusty book was hidden beneath his tails as he took the book out.
He smirked at his prized possession in his hand.
“God has given me a second chance to finally find you once again, Chuuya.”