Updated. WARNING! Some of the actions are rather...creepy... In any case, enjoy!
Chapter 3
“Yuki!†Her father calls as she enters the living room with the man in all black behind her. Yuki’s father looks at the man.
“Jen, release her.†The man snorts lightly and closes his eyes while crossing his arms. “Fine.â€
Yuki feels a tingle run through her body as she suddenly becomes able to move on her own. Now being able to move, she runs to her father, holding a white knuckled grip of his shirt.
“Who is he, father?†Her father, Saije, puts an arm around his daughter.
“This is Jen Ide, Yuki. He is the family protector since the time of your grandfather’s grandfather. He has watched over the eldest of the children, protecting us from physical harm.â€
Yuki’s expression showing her lack of understanding. “I don’t understand it. Why is he protecting us?â€
Saije pulls out a small gold ball on a looped piece of string. “Because he swore to so he can have this returned to him.â€
He holds it out to her. Yuki picks it up and looks at it, seeing not a mark on it aside from a small spot that had been made to allow it to be put on the string.
“But, what is this?†She turns it from one side to the other. Jen grits his teeth and sulks at having to go through this again.
“It’s a star ball. It holds a great deal of my power, and its absence is most annoying.†The anger rising within him at having to suffer this humiliation.
Yuki looks confused at Jen. “Star ball? I’ve never heard of anything like it. It certainly doesn’t look like a star.â€
Jen grinds his teeth and does his best not to go over to her and rip her head off. “That’s what it’s called, okay? You seriously haven’t paid any attention to your mythology, have you.â€
Yuki frowns at him. “Why should I have? It’s not like the myths have any truth to them.â€
Without warning, Jen turns around and his clothes fall to the ground. A creature leaps out of the descending bundle of black clothing and stands proudly on its four feet.
Seeing the white fox-like animal with nine waving tails, Yuki jumps back and hides behind her father.
“What is it?†Saije sighs and pulls her from behind him.
“It is Jen in his true form. He is a kitsune.â€
Yuki looks up at her father, her blue eyes widening in understanding.
“A kitsune? You mean the animal portrayed in the Shinto shrines?â€
“I take offense to being called an animal. My charge or not, call me one again and I will make you bleed.†He snarls and bares his fangs.
Saije steps forward as Yuki begins to cower behind her father again.
“Enough. Yuki is not familiar with your kind by any means, and does not know the dangers of making you angry.â€
Jen raises his nose in annoyance. “Then she’d better be a quick study.†Jen changes back into his human form, slowly rising to his feet.
Yuki blushes and looks away from the naked form. Jen puts the clothes back on, buttoning the black pants and pulling the black shirt over his head. He slides the trench coat back on, shifting his hips to set the tails of the coat whishing close to his now booted feet. Jen picks up the sunglasses and places them on, covering his green eyes and finishing the neutral expression of disinterest.
“Say it, Pops.†Seiji glares at Jen before breathing in.
“I, Seiji Hiroshu, the great grandson of Katari Hiroshu, pass on the star ball to my eldest, Yuki Hiroshu.â€
Yuki looks at the star ball in wonder, rubbing its smooth and flawless sides. “Yuki.â€
She looks up at her father. “Yes?â€
He nods towards Jen. She looks at him as he removes his sunglasses.
“I, Jen Ide, acknowledge the passing of the star ball to the eldest child of Seiji Hiroshu, Yuki. As I promised her ancestor, I shall protect her from harm until the time comes for her to release the star ball back to me.â€
Seiji looks at Yuki. “Now he’ll do everything in his power to keep you from harm. That doesn’t mean it’s okay to do reckless things, but that if something happens, you will be able to make it out of it.â€
Yuki rubs the star ball and tries to understand just how this was occurring.
“I don’t really understand just what all is going on.†Jen hisses, vexed by her lack of any knowledge.
“You would think she went to school to gain some intelligence, not lose all common sense.†Seiji frowns.
“Jen, enough.†Jen lightly laughs.
“You passed it on with your own words. You have no hold over me.†Jen stretches and gives a feral grin.
Jen arches his eyebrow when he sees Yuki standing in the way.
“And what are you doing?†Yuki glares at Jen.
“He’s my father, and I don’t want him to be harmed.†Jen just starts laughing, his head going back as he thinks of how she couldn’t stop him.
“That may be, but once the protection has left the other, there’s no reason not to harm them for misdeeds done. Besides, it’s not like you could stop me.â€
Yuki jumps as he disappears and reappears behind her with his arms around her shoulders.
“I only have to protect, nothing really said about following orders.†He disappears again and reappears to her right side.
“I saved you from tripping because you were to inherit my star ball, just as I’ve protected you from harm throughout your whole childhood.â€
She looks at him. “How are you doing that?â€
He smiles and vanishes again, reappearing directly in front of her. He snakes his arms around her neck.
“Simple, darling, even with this human form, I move faster than the eye can keep up with.†She pulls back at the closeness of his grinning, sadistic face. He tips his head forward and locks her eyes with his.
“Your heart is beating real quickly. What are you so afraid of?â€
She stammers to find her voice when he disappears again. Her father had reached out to grab Jen, but found him gone when he did. Jen winds up standing beside Seiji, shaking his head.
“And here I thought you knew how fast I was.†Seiji tries again to grab him, but finds him gone once again. “Will you stop doing that?â€
The voice comes from beneath him this time. “No, this is far more entertaining.â€
Jen goes from lying on the floor between Seiji’s legs to being behind Yuki, who had turned around when he started to pester Seiji. He wraps his arms around her waist and leans in close, whispering softly into her ear.
“You never did answer the question. What are you so afraid of?â€
The fine hair on the back of her neck stands up on their ends, her breath comes quick and shallow at his presence. Her voice quakes as an icy, tingling feeling comes through her spine.
“Y, you.†Jen chuckles lightly, his chest hopping against her back.
“You have nothing to be afraid of, my dear. After all, I’m here for your protection…†He smirks and lets her go after licking her neck. Yuki rushes away to her father.
“He’s sick.†Her face and voice showing her disgust with him. Jen laughs and extends his hand.
“Then give me the star ball, and I’ll leave you alone for good.â€
Yuki looks at his extended hand and feels compelled to give him the ball hanging on the string in her hand.
“Yuki!†The voice of her father startles her. She looks up at him.
“Don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to get it back. He’ll do anything in order to acquire it, but you must remember that he is your servant in this matter, not the other way around.â€
Jen grinds his teeth as he sees Yuki take the star ball and put the looped string around her neck. The ball rests firmly against her chest.
“Fine, have it your way. I’ll find another way to get it back.†He scoffs indignantly and puts his hands in his coat pockets.
“You see, Yuki? He can be very persuasive when he wants to be, but never give in.â€
She nods and looks at the ball while stroking it. “It’s strange, since I don’t feel anything coming from it. No aura at all.â€
Seiji nods. “It’s his star ball, and none but he can tap into its power.â€
Yuki nods slowly and then looks at the strange man.
“And how is he going to protect me when I’m at school or in public?†Seiji slightly smiles.
“Well, he accompanies you, though he can be very discreet about his presence.â€
Jen nods and leans against the wall, his face once again a mask of neutrality.
“I chose to show myself to scare you into giving it to me. My plan obviously failed. However, you haven’t noticed before, have you? How I’ve always protected you?â€
Looking at her father, Yuki’s brow furrows in confusion.
“But what’s so special about this night?†Jen’s voice speaks up instead, directing her attention back to him.
“Tonight marks the night that your great-great-grandfather managed to steal my star ball. It has passed onto the descendent when it is this night of their sixteenth year. That was the arrangement, though I still don’t understand what’s so special about this particular age.â€
Jen closes his eyes and raises his nose. “After all, I’m more than a hundred times older.â€
Yuki slowly smiles. “So you remember history then, right?â€
Jen opens his eyes and looks at her. “Remember, yes. Allowing it for use in your assignments, no.â€
Seiji chuckles and pats Yuki’s shoulders. “He’s only here to protect you. I know, as I tried that as well.†Yuki lightly laughs and begins to yawn.
“All of these events have worn me out. I think I’ll go to bed.â€
She waves goodnight to her father and goes off to bed. Seiji looks at Jen, who just stares back.
“What?†Seiji frowns lightly.
“Don’t try to do that. You know that controlling people takes its toll on the victim. It could cause harm.â€
Jen scoffs and closes his eyes in irritation of the man.
“It only wears them down a little, causing them to become tired. I’m well aware of my powers, thank you.†He pushes off the wall and starts to leave the room.
“But as I said before, I’m not under any obligation to follow what you or her say.â€
Jen stops at the door and looks over his shoulder at Seiji.
“And I will kill you if you get in my way. As that phrase goes, ‘obstacles are for killing’. Don’t make yourself an obstacle.â€
Jen opens the door and closes it behind him. He leaves the house through the back door and leaps onto the rooftop, lying down to stare at the starry, moonlit night.
“I’ll get it back. Soon enough.â€