Fox, Wolf and Dragon (5)

Part 1    HQ       Part 2    Biwako-Ohashi-Bridge       Part 3    Rustling in the Dark

Part 4    Moonlight Market

Part 5    Giant Magic Spider

The pub was dark and silent, except for the lit candle sitting between two whiskey glasses shimmering with golden liquid and ice cubes. The counter was dividing the darkness and the mirrored shelves packed with gleaming liquor bottles, jars with herbs and other potions. “Aunty made us welcome drinks?” Lou whispered. I shook my head.

I breathed in the rich scented atmosphere. I recognized honey, beeswax, cold tobacco, leather, lemony and herbal notes, and polished wood. Home! I closed my eyes. This all meant home to me. Home. I opened my eyes. I wasn’t alone. Lou was here with me.”Remember! Nothing is for free. Ever! That’s a test.”

“But. You’re family! Aren’t yo-” I harrumphed, and Lou shut up.

Fox, Wolf and Dragon (4)

Part 1  HQ

Part 2  Biwako-Ohashi-Bridge

Part 3  Rustling in the Dark

Part 4   The Moonlight Market

The mists of the borders lifted, as soon as my foot touched the wooden planks of the landing stage boat. One way in, the only way out. Felix and Lou materialized by my side.

“Ugh, great! I’m barely dry from the downpour before, but you had to drag me through the lake too!” Lou shook water out of his fur. Poor puppy, he despised being wet. Most amusing weakness, so I made a mental note to buy a water squirt gun, as soon as possible.

Felix chuckled. “Who had the audacity to dip you into the lake, you hairy cookie? Point them out, and I shall smite them with lightning!” To my surprise, he had kept the antlers, never seen him do that with other supernatural entities.

“Smite yourself, you horned fishbrain!” Lou barked and clicked his tongue at him in disgust.

Fox, Wolf and Dragon (3)

Part 1  H.Q.

Part 2  Biwako-Ohashi-Bridge

Part 3   Rustling in the Dark

The sight of Lake Biwa had me in a headlock of a peculiar mix of joy and dread. The water surface shimmered with the natural and artificial magic mist, walled in by the lurking whispers in the trees around the shore. It could have been a gust of wind if this wasn’t a sacred place. The darkness of a starless sky moved. It hopped from tree to tree like a curious beast, deciding if the newly arrived people at the lake were prey or toy.

I heard the beating of multiple wings, the rustling of feathers ‘n claws, probably the menacing clicking of beaks. Several pairs of eyes fixed me and Lou. My skin tingled where the gazes touched me. The shadows whispered in a distant language, in their breaths: a distinct lack of innocence.

Fox, Wolf and Dragon (2)

Part 1   HQ

Part 2:  Biwako-Ohashi-Bridge

Dat: 30.10
Officers: Kuro, Lou Rouxgaroux, Felix Kanagawa

We reached Kyoto by bullet train. Rain clouds made the October afternoon look like an early winter greeting. Two very bored uniforms welcomed us at the platform.

First, their halfhearted attempts to hide their disinterest didn’t rub me the wrong way, but when one of them placed a folded up paper into my outstretched hand expecting a handshake…  I wanted to punch them. Who was I kidding, I wanted to punch everybody. Always. It was a note was from Superintendant Yatomi.

“That’s just peachy!” Lou read it over my shoulder.

Fox, Wolf and Dragon (1)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, 
M.E.L.Unit1;
Date:29.10. 
Officers: 
Kuro (BLACK, han'yo), 
Lou Rouxgaroux (Lou Wolfwolf, werewolf), 
Felix Kanagawa (HAPPY Kanagawa river, river spirit)

Part 1     HQ

Lou sat on the office couch reading his book.

Well… No, he didn’t. He was pretending to read, and he was pretending to sit. Being a werewolf seemingly gave him cat-like abilities to turn into liquid in and on any surface or furniture.

Lou was focused on Felix’s lunch.

How could I tell?

I was eying that lunch too.

The Weight Curse

Part 1/ Part 2

‘Leaf in the current, gravitate. Ignorant, until meaning finds you.’

The ocean around me moved, like a summer breeze. The strangest thoughts surfaced. Deep-sea creatures floated towards me. With their long sharp teeth, spikes for ribs and stone cold scales, they brushed my feet. I knew they would. My toes expected the chilly touch. Maybe that’s why I didn’t jump.

Fins broke the surface.

the weight curse

Part 1

It was the clattering in my kitchen that woke me. Stupid cat, I thought and turned under my blanket. Wait. I have no cat! I sat bolt upright and listened, heart pounding. The kitchen clammed up. I croaked a ‘hello’ into the dark apartment.

My dry throat begged for a glass of water and a panic room. Gosh, all these wishes were as likely as an oversized cockroach making me coffee. The air moved. Something smashed on the tile floor. It must be rats. ‘Mr. Burglar, go away. I’m broke.’