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This is the official journal for the original WIP being posted to FFA as M/m gothic-esque erotic horror. I'll probably do some minor edits as I bring this journal up to speed with the latest updates on FFA.
General content notes: m/m explicit sex with a variety of consent issues, completely un-negotiated informal D/s dynamics, violence and pain kink.
Everything tagged "main story" is the original novel-length story, beginning with
Part One: Tribute
There's also an alternate universe storyline (which is intended to be a shorter story) called Fox In A Box, which is set closer to modern day and flips some of the dynamics around.
Fox In A Box Part 1
Everything else is short prompt fills and drabbles, which may or may not be considered canon.
Part Sixty-Five: A Thread
Jan. 14th, 2024 10:44 pmBased on the previous night’s experience, Azu was braced for more disappointment, confusion and frustration… and sure enough, that’s what he got.
Honestly, it was hard to tell if Shin was bad at explaining magical things, or if Azu was just bad at doing them, but he was patient enough that Azu couldn’t really accuse him of being a bad teacher… even if it was demoralizing to keep pinching together the same crusted-over wounds on the dead rabbit over and over.
Still, Azu didn’t give up easily. Not when it came to things he actually wanted— or needed— to learn, anyway.
“Perhaps we should take a break,” Shin said, gently, in the tone of someone getting ready to explain to a child that it unfortunately was impossible for them to fly as they did not possess wings.
“No!” Azu snapped. The force of his anger was making him light-headed, but if he stopped now, he was sure he’d never get another chance. “I was close before. I know I was close. I’m going to try again.”
( Read more... )
Honestly, it was hard to tell if Shin was bad at explaining magical things, or if Azu was just bad at doing them, but he was patient enough that Azu couldn’t really accuse him of being a bad teacher… even if it was demoralizing to keep pinching together the same crusted-over wounds on the dead rabbit over and over.
Still, Azu didn’t give up easily. Not when it came to things he actually wanted— or needed— to learn, anyway.
“Perhaps we should take a break,” Shin said, gently, in the tone of someone getting ready to explain to a child that it unfortunately was impossible for them to fly as they did not possess wings.
“No!” Azu snapped. The force of his anger was making him light-headed, but if he stopped now, he was sure he’d never get another chance. “I was close before. I know I was close. I’m going to try again.”
( Read more... )
Part Sixty-Four: Feelings
Jul. 30th, 2023 09:26 pmShin’s eyes gleamed, the very air seeming to ripple with a strange energy. “I haven’t lied to you, Azu. But if it makes you happy, I will swear to never speak another lie in your presence again.”
“No more bargains,” Azu said, his heart pounding. He put his hands on Shin’s shoulders. “At least… not for now. That’s not what this is about.”
“Then what?” Shin seemed genuinely puzzled, even as Azu tugged him down, so their faces were closer. “I know you were… upset by the events of last night.” (Azu stiffened) “And if you wish me to be perfectly honest, I think that for all your talk of lying, there are things you have not made me aware of. And I cannot be sensitive to your feelings if I do not understand them. Are we going to talk about your feelings, Azu?”
“No,” Azu snapped, and kissed Shin forcefully.
( Read more... )
“No more bargains,” Azu said, his heart pounding. He put his hands on Shin’s shoulders. “At least… not for now. That’s not what this is about.”
“Then what?” Shin seemed genuinely puzzled, even as Azu tugged him down, so their faces were closer. “I know you were… upset by the events of last night.” (Azu stiffened) “And if you wish me to be perfectly honest, I think that for all your talk of lying, there are things you have not made me aware of. And I cannot be sensitive to your feelings if I do not understand them. Are we going to talk about your feelings, Azu?”
“No,” Azu snapped, and kissed Shin forcefully.
( Read more... )
Party Sixty-Three: Gifts
Jul. 19th, 2023 10:48 pmWhen Azu next opened his eyes it was dark outside again and there was a dead rabbit lying at his feet.
Azu screamed, flinging himself backward, and turned to find himself face-to-muzzle with Shin, whose teeth were stained with blood. Which of course made him scream again, even louder, as Shin’s ears flattened.
He didn’t actually mean to try to flee, but on pure instinct he’d flinched and started crawling backwards. When Shin rose up on his front legs and opened his jaws, Azu froze, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Really, there’s no need to be so dramatic, Azu.”
He felt Shin’s hands yank him back into what was obviously a more human embrace, encouraging Azu to open his eyes again. When he dared to look up, he could’ve sworn Shin looked sulky.
“What,” Azu managed, “the hell are you planning with that rabbit?”
“It’s a gift,” Shin said, blinking slowly. His bottom lip pushed out in what Azu could only describe as an actual pout. “You said you used to hunt for your own meals. So I thought you would appreciate it.”
( Read more... )
Azu screamed, flinging himself backward, and turned to find himself face-to-muzzle with Shin, whose teeth were stained with blood. Which of course made him scream again, even louder, as Shin’s ears flattened.
He didn’t actually mean to try to flee, but on pure instinct he’d flinched and started crawling backwards. When Shin rose up on his front legs and opened his jaws, Azu froze, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Really, there’s no need to be so dramatic, Azu.”
He felt Shin’s hands yank him back into what was obviously a more human embrace, encouraging Azu to open his eyes again. When he dared to look up, he could’ve sworn Shin looked sulky.
“What,” Azu managed, “the hell are you planning with that rabbit?”
“It’s a gift,” Shin said, blinking slowly. His bottom lip pushed out in what Azu could only describe as an actual pout. “You said you used to hunt for your own meals. So I thought you would appreciate it.”
( Read more... )
There was leftover seaweed salad in the fridge, and stuff for fried rice. Azu ate the hijiki first, then started on the fried rice, figuring if he put hot breakfast on the table Sei couldn’t complain too much. The sound of the shower going upstairs was a relief— Sei’s showers always seemed to take twice as long as Azu’s.
Azu cracked a couple eggs, whisking them together in a bowl before dumping them into the frying pan over some sizzling oil. He always eyeballed the measurements, and today was no exception. The rice was what was left in the fridge, the salmon was what looked like a reasonable amount. The scallions turned out to be bad, so he just added more garlic.
A whine from the next room nearly started Azu into burning himself.
“Shut up, I already fed you,” Azu hissed, turning off the stove and storming over to the closed door to the fox’s enclosure.
“But it smells good…” Another high noise, like a fussy baby. “Later?”
The shower shut off upstairs, and Azu tensed. “Fine, later, whatever, just shut up!”
He quickly returned to the stove, grabbed a bowl and spooned out a hearty portion, sitting down at the table with his meal just in the nick of time as he heard footsteps on the stairs.
“Azu?” Sei yawned, stretching one arm over his head while he lazily attempted to towel dry his hair with the other. “Why are you up so early?”
“Why do you think? The fox wouldn’t shut up so I had to come down and feed it.” Azu jerked his head at the stove. “Breakfast is ready, get it while it’s hot.”
“Fried rice again?” Sei sighed, making Azu’s eyebrow twitch. “It’s getting kind of boring…”
“If you don’t want it,” Azu said shortly, “you can make your own breakfast.”
“I didn’t say that. Don’t be so defensive, Azu.” Sei peered into the pan. “I wish you’d make it with shrimp, though—“
“I can’t use ingredients we don’t have. If you want shrimp, you go out there and pay for it.” Azu was aware that he sounded crabby, but Sei was the one who’d decided to come in and complain as though Azu was making food to order for him instead of just throwing together a meal from what was available because Azu also needed to fucking eat.
“Well, maybe I will. It’s not like there’s any use talking to you when you’re in one of your moods.”
Seriously? And now you’re just going to walk out on me?
Azu stood up to block Sei’s path. “I got up before dawn to feed the fox you decided to make our new roommate. The least you can do is go in there and check on it before you fuck off and leave me in charge again.”
Sei frowned. Was that the slightest twinge of guilt in his eyes, or was it wishful thinking on Azu’s part? “…All right,” he said, unexpectedly. “I owe you that much, don’t I? I’m sorry if I haven’t been more sensitive to your concerns.”
This was not exactly apology of the year, but it was an apology, and Azu was tired, so he just nodded, muttered, “It’s fine,” even though it wasn’t, and sat back down to eat his food in peace as Sei opened the door to the office now functioning as a fox prison.
That peace lasted exactly five seconds.
“What is that SMELL?!”
( Read more... )
Azu cracked a couple eggs, whisking them together in a bowl before dumping them into the frying pan over some sizzling oil. He always eyeballed the measurements, and today was no exception. The rice was what was left in the fridge, the salmon was what looked like a reasonable amount. The scallions turned out to be bad, so he just added more garlic.
A whine from the next room nearly started Azu into burning himself.
“Shut up, I already fed you,” Azu hissed, turning off the stove and storming over to the closed door to the fox’s enclosure.
“But it smells good…” Another high noise, like a fussy baby. “Later?”
The shower shut off upstairs, and Azu tensed. “Fine, later, whatever, just shut up!”
He quickly returned to the stove, grabbed a bowl and spooned out a hearty portion, sitting down at the table with his meal just in the nick of time as he heard footsteps on the stairs.
“Azu?” Sei yawned, stretching one arm over his head while he lazily attempted to towel dry his hair with the other. “Why are you up so early?”
“Why do you think? The fox wouldn’t shut up so I had to come down and feed it.” Azu jerked his head at the stove. “Breakfast is ready, get it while it’s hot.”
“Fried rice again?” Sei sighed, making Azu’s eyebrow twitch. “It’s getting kind of boring…”
“If you don’t want it,” Azu said shortly, “you can make your own breakfast.”
“I didn’t say that. Don’t be so defensive, Azu.” Sei peered into the pan. “I wish you’d make it with shrimp, though—“
“I can’t use ingredients we don’t have. If you want shrimp, you go out there and pay for it.” Azu was aware that he sounded crabby, but Sei was the one who’d decided to come in and complain as though Azu was making food to order for him instead of just throwing together a meal from what was available because Azu also needed to fucking eat.
“Well, maybe I will. It’s not like there’s any use talking to you when you’re in one of your moods.”
Seriously? And now you’re just going to walk out on me?
Azu stood up to block Sei’s path. “I got up before dawn to feed the fox you decided to make our new roommate. The least you can do is go in there and check on it before you fuck off and leave me in charge again.”
Sei frowned. Was that the slightest twinge of guilt in his eyes, or was it wishful thinking on Azu’s part? “…All right,” he said, unexpectedly. “I owe you that much, don’t I? I’m sorry if I haven’t been more sensitive to your concerns.”
This was not exactly apology of the year, but it was an apology, and Azu was tired, so he just nodded, muttered, “It’s fine,” even though it wasn’t, and sat back down to eat his food in peace as Sei opened the door to the office now functioning as a fox prison.
That peace lasted exactly five seconds.
“What is that SMELL?!”
( Read more... )
Part Sixty-Two: Comfort
May. 2nd, 2023 10:49 amThe house felt different by day. It was quiet, but not in the way it had been before Shin’s guests had arrived. Azu could actually hear crows cawing at each other from outside as he walked down the hall towards Shin’s chambers— which was what made him realize how odd it was that he’d gotten used to not hearing birds or other regular woodland noises even when he was alone in the house. Besides wind and rain, Shin’s house was usually too quiet.
Cautiously, Azu pulled open the enormous painted doors to Shin’s chamber, and peered inside.
An enormous white-furred creature was curled up in the very center of the bed— Shin, sleeping in his true form. There were rays of sunlight here and there, but the bed was firmly in shadow. As Azu slipped inside and closed the doors behind him, one of Shin’s ears twitched, but his large fox body continued to rise and fall at a slow, steady pace.
Azu took a few steps closer, then hesitated. It seemed entirely too easy that he would be able to simply go over to the bed and go to sleep without further arguments.
Two of Shin’s tails flicked, making Azu freeze in place. After a long moment, Shin lifted his head and stretched open his massive jaws in a truly intimidating yawn before blinking sleepily at Azu.
“Stop creeping around like a thief and come to bed.”
( Read more... )
Cautiously, Azu pulled open the enormous painted doors to Shin’s chamber, and peered inside.
An enormous white-furred creature was curled up in the very center of the bed— Shin, sleeping in his true form. There were rays of sunlight here and there, but the bed was firmly in shadow. As Azu slipped inside and closed the doors behind him, one of Shin’s ears twitched, but his large fox body continued to rise and fall at a slow, steady pace.
Azu took a few steps closer, then hesitated. It seemed entirely too easy that he would be able to simply go over to the bed and go to sleep without further arguments.
Two of Shin’s tails flicked, making Azu freeze in place. After a long moment, Shin lifted his head and stretched open his massive jaws in a truly intimidating yawn before blinking sleepily at Azu.
“Stop creeping around like a thief and come to bed.”
( Read more... )
Part Sixty-One: Appetite
Apr. 20th, 2023 11:09 pm“Whatever,” Azu muttered, walking a little bit faster so he wouldn’t have to look at her. Unfortunately, she effortlessly kept pace with him no matter how fast he walked. “You knew about the stuff in Sei’s drink. Maybe you even put it there yourself and let Izusa take the fall.”
“It was originally my recipe, yes, but I did not intend it for human consumption. Izusa was the one who dosed the sake, and Haru was the one who encouraged Sei to drink, if you recall.” Kiyo sighed, though her expression looked more annoyed than remorseful. “Izusa and I had no way of anticipating Haru bringing Sei without invitation, nor did we expect Sei to prove such a volatile ingredient to have in the mix, if you will.”
( Read more... )
“It was originally my recipe, yes, but I did not intend it for human consumption. Izusa was the one who dosed the sake, and Haru was the one who encouraged Sei to drink, if you recall.” Kiyo sighed, though her expression looked more annoyed than remorseful. “Izusa and I had no way of anticipating Haru bringing Sei without invitation, nor did we expect Sei to prove such a volatile ingredient to have in the mix, if you will.”
( Read more... )
Part Sixty: Grief
Apr. 1st, 2023 11:17 pmThe pain in Azu’s gut had eased a little, but he still felt wretched as he hurried out to the hallway and towards the stairs, needing… not to be here.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
The door slammed open, and suddenly Azu was blinking back against the bright lights of the dining room.
“Azu, what happened?!” It was Sei, and he sounded terrified and accusatory all at once, but Azu couldn’t look away from the fox, lying on the floor completely still. Too still.
“The fox…” There! Movement! It was breathing! “It’s still alive, it’s okay…” He couldn’t keep the utter relief out of his voice.
It’s my fault. I made him do that.
“What happened?!” Sei demanded.
“It…” He had to lie, he realized immediately. Or at least shortcut past the parts of the truth he didn’t want Sei to know. “It threw itself against the cage wall. When I was about to leave, after… after I finished cleaning up.”
“Well, it’s not very bright, is it? It should’ve known that would hurt.” Sei sighed. “But why did you scream?”
“Me?” Azu was confused. “The fox screamed.”
Sei sighed. “Never mind. Let’s get you out of here. The fox isn’t going anywhere.”
( Read more... )
“Azu, what happened?!” It was Sei, and he sounded terrified and accusatory all at once, but Azu couldn’t look away from the fox, lying on the floor completely still. Too still.
“The fox…” There! Movement! It was breathing! “It’s still alive, it’s okay…” He couldn’t keep the utter relief out of his voice.
It’s my fault. I made him do that.
“What happened?!” Sei demanded.
“It…” He had to lie, he realized immediately. Or at least shortcut past the parts of the truth he didn’t want Sei to know. “It threw itself against the cage wall. When I was about to leave, after… after I finished cleaning up.”
“Well, it’s not very bright, is it? It should’ve known that would hurt.” Sei sighed. “But why did you scream?”
“Me?” Azu was confused. “The fox screamed.”
Sei sighed. “Never mind. Let’s get you out of here. The fox isn’t going anywhere.”
( Read more... )
Cleaning was a miserable, tiresome business, but it helped to clear Azu’s head a little, especially once he opened the window and the smell of surface cleaners finally started to overcome the smell of blood (if not fox musk). But his thoughts kept drifting back to the fox’s goading words.
It hadn’t always been like this with Sei. In the beginning, Sei had been almost extravagantly charming, to the point where Azu didn’t trust him. Which, as it turned out, was the right instinct.
Azu had been working in security, employed for a department store that Masao’s gang was trying to rip off. Sei had been sent to pump Azu for information about the workings of the security cameras. When Masao got impatient about Sei’s failure to do so in a timely fashion, he ignored Sei’s advice and rushed the job… which went so badly that the whole gang minus Sei was either arrested or under direct surveillance by the police.
Sei, in need of a place to stay and panicking, came clean to Azu (who ended up quitting out of fear he would be fired). And after Azu’s anger wore off, things were, for a few months… nice. Peaceful. They didn’t have a lot of money, but they were honest with each other, and they made it work.
At least until the charges were dropped against Masao, and Sei started getting defensive about his inability to find skilled work.
( Read more... )
It hadn’t always been like this with Sei. In the beginning, Sei had been almost extravagantly charming, to the point where Azu didn’t trust him. Which, as it turned out, was the right instinct.
Azu had been working in security, employed for a department store that Masao’s gang was trying to rip off. Sei had been sent to pump Azu for information about the workings of the security cameras. When Masao got impatient about Sei’s failure to do so in a timely fashion, he ignored Sei’s advice and rushed the job… which went so badly that the whole gang minus Sei was either arrested or under direct surveillance by the police.
Sei, in need of a place to stay and panicking, came clean to Azu (who ended up quitting out of fear he would be fired). And after Azu’s anger wore off, things were, for a few months… nice. Peaceful. They didn’t have a lot of money, but they were honest with each other, and they made it work.
At least until the charges were dropped against Masao, and Sei started getting defensive about his inability to find skilled work.
( Read more... )
“You can talk!” Azu blurted out, even though it made the fox give him a look that was, frankly, both judgmental and unimpressed. “I mean… shit, that means you really are youkai, aren’t you?”
The fox snorted, rising up on its front legs, to its full intimidating height. “Obviously. And not some common two-tailed nogitsune, either! You can’t tell me you’ve ever seen a fox like me before.”
“Uh, definitely not. But…” Azu swallowed. “That means… Masao wasn’t necessarily wrong about you.”
The fox bristled, baring teeth. “In what way?”
“Well…” he hesitated, not wanting to anger a possibly-evil ancient youkai. “That whole thing about Masao’s family hunting you for generations…”
Laughter, though the fox’s jaw appeared closed. “Well, I can’t say I noticed them until recently. Most humans can’t tell foxes apart, you know.” It sat back down on its haunches, absently grooming its nearest tail. “But you didn’t answer my question.”
“What question?” Azu couldn’t remember being asked one.
The fox paused, shaking itself off before turning its attention to a different tail. “I suppose I should try to remember the other one’s name… and before you call me nosy, allow me to point out that I’ve scarcely been supplied with anything else to do except pay attention to my surroundings. Which, until very recently, was nothing but this cage and the pack of idiots who were always throwing cloth over it. So understand, I ask this with the utmost bored detachment: why is it you allow Sei such sway over your life and person?”
Azu felt his jaw tighten. “Were you always this much of a chatterbox?”
“Probably,” the fox said indifferently. “Though I have been unable to have a real conversation for some time now…” And just as Azu was feeling guilty, the fox added, “Did I strike a nerve?”
“No,” Azu snapped. “I’m just wondering how the hell you kept silent up until now, given how much you clearly love to hear yourself talk!”
“As I said, it was beyond my control. The fact that I can speak in a language your kind understands once more, well, that’s your fault.” It was hard to be completely sure, but Azu felt certain that the look the fox was giving him was downright mischievous. Two of his tails curved in the direction of where Azu had stood to deposit the chicken…
…where Azu now saw one of the charms had fallen off the cage and torn, clearly under Azu’s blood-stained foot.
“Shit!”
“Don’t worry. All it was good for was keeping me silent. Mostly.” The fox let Azu see his teeth again, letting out a strange little chittering sound that sounded unnervingly like laughter before settling back on his haunches. “Believe me, if that were all it took to set me free, I would have broken out of this cage long before being handed over to you and Sei.”
“Great…” That didn’t exactly make Azu feel better. “You know I don’t trust you, right?”
“Of course. I don’t trust you, either.” The fox yawned, settling down further. “Your kind love to throw around silly words like ‘good’ and ‘evil’, but the definitions always seem to change according to your own desires. I don’t care which you think you are, Azu, but the one thing I cannot abide is those who do not stand up for themselves.”
Rage boiled in Azu’s stomach. “You don’t know shit,” he bit out, clenching his fists. “If I walked out on the deal in the warehouse, they’d have killed me. And then you’d still be in this cage, with nobody to talk to and no one around who feels even the slightest bit sorry for you!”
The fox blinked sleepily, resting its snout on its tails. “And Sei? Am I to believe he would have ripped your throat out if you refused him sex that you obviously derived very little pleasure from?”
Azu flushed. “What the hell do you care about that?!”
“I told you, I’m bored. Very bored.” Another slow blink. “You taught him the wrong lesson. Now he thinks you secretly enjoy being browbeaten and humiliated. As long as it serves him to ignore your thoughts and feelings, he will.”
“Fuck you!” Azu grabbed a paperweight off the desk and hurled it at the fox’s cage. It bounced harmlessly off the bars, but the fox’s ears flattened at the noise, which was at least a little bit satisfying.
“By all means, stay angry,” the fox said, infuriatingly calm. “But do something with that anger, or your life will never change.”
“Oh yeah, because I’m definitely going to take life advice from a magic fox who got himself captured by humans!” Azu snarled. “All you’ve got now are your words! And I could easily get a new charm to shut you back up again tomorrow! But you know that, don’t you? You waited until Sei left to speak up! You’re talking to me because you think I’m a softer target!”
Silence.
For a long, uncomfortable moment, Azu wondered if he’d just snapped back to reality. The fox continued to stare at him, but the longer it was quiet, the more Azu felt sure that he couldn’t have really heard its voice. That he was just tired, or too upset to distinguish reality from—
“I’m not the only one here who lives in a cage.” The fox’s golden eyes gleamed in the dark, and for a moment its entire form glowed with that sickly pale blue light again. “Think on it. Before you return to his bed.”
Azu’s stomach turned over. “What the hell kind of response is that?!” he demanded.
But the fox had closed his eyes and stopped glowing, making Azu that much more aware of the filthy chaos that surrounded them. After another long, uncomfortable moment, Azu left the room to get cleaning supplies from the kitchen, his heart pounding.
The front door creaked and the fox paused in its grooming routine.
“That’ll be Sei, I guess,” Azu muttered. The fox lifted its head, sniffing the air.
“Azu, can you come out of there and help me with all this?”
Azu blew out an irritated breath but got up anyway, leaving the fox to resume cleaning itself in peace.
He was not prepared to find Sei hauling in an entire fridge on another dolly, with a fishing rod strapped to the side.
“What the hell is this?”
“The fox’s meal plan,” Sei said grimly. “Help me get it to the kitchen and plug it in.”
Underneath the clear glass sliding doors, it was clear the fridge was full of what looked like enough vacuum-packed meat to feed an entire lion pride.
“And is Masao going to pay our electric bill for the month too?”
Azu had meant it sarcastically but Sei just nodded, visibly exhausted. So for the time being he kept his mouth shut and just did what had been asked of him.
Once the fridge was plugged in and cool air was clearly circulating to keep the meat from rotting too quickly (horrible thought) Azu said, “So when’s the next mealtime, and how the hell is this supposed to work?”
Sei sighed, pulling out what looked like some netting from his jacket pocket. “We open up one of the packages, put it in the net raw, hook the net on the fishing rod and use it to drop the meat in the cage. Two or three times a day, depending on how much of a fuss it puts up.”
“Great. So we don’t even have a real schedule?”
“Let’s just have our own dinner before worrying about it,” Sei said irritably, turning away.
Azu found he didn’t have much of an appetite, even before the fox started screaming. He was oddly relieved for the excuse to jump up and leave the room, telling Sei he’d make sure nothing was actually wrong.
He walked in mid-scream, saw there was nothing out of the ordinary and yelled back “WHAT?”
The fox abruptly stopped and went still, staring at Azu for a moment. Then it began to pace back and forth, tails lashing around it though its jaws remained shut apart from the occasional, frustrated sounding whine.
Azu frowned, stepping closer to the cage than was probably wise. “Ok, if you understand me, you understand I can’t let you out. So we’ll go through the things I can do for you, and you’ll… give me some sort of sign for yes or no?”
That made the fox pause again. Its golden eyes seemed to be assessing Azu, and Azu was more certain than ever that it was actually listening to him.
“Okay, uh… if the answer is yes, move your head down like this,” Azu mimed a big nod, “and up again. And if the answer is no… stomp both your front paws? Is that okay?”
The fox let out an irritable whine and looked away for a long moment. Then, just when Azu was starting to wonder if he was losing his mind, the fox looked at him again… and slowly lowered its snout to the floor.
Holy fucking shit.
Azu realized his mouth was hanging open, and quickly shut it. “Okay! Good! So, first question! Do you need me to bring you something?”
The fox’s ears pricked up, and he quickly bobbed his head in another nod.
“Is it the litterbox?”
The fox bared his teeth and rose up on his hind legs, emphatically stomping his two front paws: No.
“Okay… is it food?”
The fox’s tails fanned out, and he bobbed his head again, and a second time for good measure.
Azu sighed, relieved. “Okay, that’s fine. I’ll be right back with your dinner, okay?”
“That’ll be Sei, I guess,” Azu muttered. The fox lifted its head, sniffing the air.
“Azu, can you come out of there and help me with all this?”
Azu blew out an irritated breath but got up anyway, leaving the fox to resume cleaning itself in peace.
He was not prepared to find Sei hauling in an entire fridge on another dolly, with a fishing rod strapped to the side.
“What the hell is this?”
“The fox’s meal plan,” Sei said grimly. “Help me get it to the kitchen and plug it in.”
Underneath the clear glass sliding doors, it was clear the fridge was full of what looked like enough vacuum-packed meat to feed an entire lion pride.
“And is Masao going to pay our electric bill for the month too?”
Azu had meant it sarcastically but Sei just nodded, visibly exhausted. So for the time being he kept his mouth shut and just did what had been asked of him.
Once the fridge was plugged in and cool air was clearly circulating to keep the meat from rotting too quickly (horrible thought) Azu said, “So when’s the next mealtime, and how the hell is this supposed to work?”
Sei sighed, pulling out what looked like some netting from his jacket pocket. “We open up one of the packages, put it in the net raw, hook the net on the fishing rod and use it to drop the meat in the cage. Two or three times a day, depending on how much of a fuss it puts up.”
“Great. So we don’t even have a real schedule?”
“Let’s just have our own dinner before worrying about it,” Sei said irritably, turning away.
Azu found he didn’t have much of an appetite, even before the fox started screaming. He was oddly relieved for the excuse to jump up and leave the room, telling Sei he’d make sure nothing was actually wrong.
He walked in mid-scream, saw there was nothing out of the ordinary and yelled back “WHAT?”
The fox abruptly stopped and went still, staring at Azu for a moment. Then it began to pace back and forth, tails lashing around it though its jaws remained shut apart from the occasional, frustrated sounding whine.
Azu frowned, stepping closer to the cage than was probably wise. “Ok, if you understand me, you understand I can’t let you out. So we’ll go through the things I can do for you, and you’ll… give me some sort of sign for yes or no?”
That made the fox pause again. Its golden eyes seemed to be assessing Azu, and Azu was more certain than ever that it was actually listening to him.
“Okay, uh… if the answer is yes, move your head down like this,” Azu mimed a big nod, “and up again. And if the answer is no… stomp both your front paws? Is that okay?”
The fox let out an irritable whine and looked away for a long moment. Then, just when Azu was starting to wonder if he was losing his mind, the fox looked at him again… and slowly lowered its snout to the floor.
Holy fucking shit.
Azu realized his mouth was hanging open, and quickly shut it. “Okay! Good! So, first question! Do you need me to bring you something?”
The fox’s ears pricked up, and he quickly bobbed his head in another nod.
“Is it the litterbox?”
The fox bared his teeth and rose up on his hind legs, emphatically stomping his two front paws: No.
“Okay… is it food?”
The fox’s tails fanned out, and he bobbed his head again, and a second time for good measure.
Azu sighed, relieved. “Okay, that’s fine. I’ll be right back with your dinner, okay?”
Masao’s overly cheerful laughter broke the tension in the air— or at least, changed it into a different kind of tension.
“Yes, I thought you’d want to get a good look before we load him into the truck. Ever the curious cat, aren’t you, Azu?”
Masao’s hand landed with an alarming thump on Azu’s shoulder, making him bristle and attempt to shake it off— which only made Masao’s grip tighten.
“Terrifying, isn’t he? My family’s pursued this bastard for generations, you know. I can’t wait to see the looks on my brothers faces when I tell them I finally trapped the fox!”
“What…” Azu’s mouth felt like it had ashes in it. “What are you going to do with him?”
“That’s not your concern.” Masao’s grin was ghoulishly wide. “Your job is to keep it in its cage, keep it alive and keep your mouth shut about it. You remember what happens to curious cats, don’t you?”
Azu flinched at a sudden touch to his waist, before realizing it was Sei pulling him out of Masao’s reach.
“He remembers,” Sei said flatly, his arm curling possessively around Azu. “And he’s still off-limits. Do you remember what I said I’d do to you if you tried anything with Azu?”
Masao’s mouth thinned below his mustache and some of the wind seemed to go out of his sails as he coughed nervously, smoothing down his suit and reaching into his pocket for another cigarette before pasting on another large, distinctly false smile. “It was a friendly clap on the shoulder! Come on, Sei, relax a little. All I want from Azu is his cooperation in this matter.”
“What choice have I got?” Azu retorted. They were already in too deep, and everyone in the warehouse knew it.
( Read more... )
“Yes, I thought you’d want to get a good look before we load him into the truck. Ever the curious cat, aren’t you, Azu?”
Masao’s hand landed with an alarming thump on Azu’s shoulder, making him bristle and attempt to shake it off— which only made Masao’s grip tighten.
“Terrifying, isn’t he? My family’s pursued this bastard for generations, you know. I can’t wait to see the looks on my brothers faces when I tell them I finally trapped the fox!”
“What…” Azu’s mouth felt like it had ashes in it. “What are you going to do with him?”
“That’s not your concern.” Masao’s grin was ghoulishly wide. “Your job is to keep it in its cage, keep it alive and keep your mouth shut about it. You remember what happens to curious cats, don’t you?”
Azu flinched at a sudden touch to his waist, before realizing it was Sei pulling him out of Masao’s reach.
“He remembers,” Sei said flatly, his arm curling possessively around Azu. “And he’s still off-limits. Do you remember what I said I’d do to you if you tried anything with Azu?”
Masao’s mouth thinned below his mustache and some of the wind seemed to go out of his sails as he coughed nervously, smoothing down his suit and reaching into his pocket for another cigarette before pasting on another large, distinctly false smile. “It was a friendly clap on the shoulder! Come on, Sei, relax a little. All I want from Azu is his cooperation in this matter.”
“What choice have I got?” Azu retorted. They were already in too deep, and everyone in the warehouse knew it.
( Read more... )
It would not be much of a chase even if they intended it to be. The loud one decays more quickly in motion, shedding bits of its soft, fleshy walls and thin little roof tiles as it attempts to flee the white-furred one. And the white-furred one can "smell" guests to track them down. The loud one also has a nose, but it does not seem to work the same way.
The white-furred one strolls down their halls, and notices how they have been moved. The white-furred one sinks down, human-shaped paws flat against the floor, and makes its displeasure known.
The white-furred one had hoped for more of a challenge.
Stairs drop sulkily beside the loud one, who flings itself towards them. The white furred one gently strokes their walls, promising it still loves their beautiful, devoted home most of all.
The loud one thunders down their stairs, and the white furred one follows the noise. One sees the other first. The loud one scrambles back up the stairs, heaving for breath and nearly stumbling over its foundations.
They are amused now, together. They lead the white-furred one around the loud one as they guide the flesh and fur ones towards a place for flesh and fur to join.