Caged - On hiatus

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

As Kairo continued to broodingly fix our place for the night, I was dragged by Fumi for a few meters to calm myself. She looked at me worriedly as I freaked out over my bleeding vision.

I stared at her beady black eyes as she blocked my view of Kairo. Losing him from my sight did wonders as my rationality came back again.

"Calm down Akane, what got you angry?" She asked in confusion since as stated I only get like this when extremely angry.

I shallowly breathed in a few times and I gave an internal sigh when my eyes stated to go back to normal. I looked up at Fumi who was blocking my view of everything else.

I think not seeing Kairo is helping a lot in calming me down.

"I have no idea." I answered her after a while, my eyes has become normal again and I leaned on Fumi when I lost control of my limbs.

All I know is that I didn't like her looking at him like that.

"What's happening?" a voice suddenly said and I was jerked into Fumi's chest when I attempted to look back. My whinning voice where muffled by her blossom.

"She's just tired, is the tent finished now? I think Akane needs to lay down and recuperate." I heard her say calmly and I'm proud of her for speaking with him smoothly despite her fears.

I don't know what Kairo's reaction was since Fumi's hnd kept a tight leash on my head. I tapped her back to indicate that I'm quickly loosing breath.

"Yes, it's done. I could help pick her up if she's too tired to walk." he said and I could feel him moving behind me but Fumi held up her right arm an politely declined.

"It's fine. I could take her there. Right Akane?" She allowed me to scoot a bit so she could look down at me. Her smile was telling me not to argue and I nodded my head.

She looked up at Kairo again with that same smile. You don't need to know her to see that it's her way to set the boundaries between us. She's drawing a line.

She bowed at him after a while of silence and then dragged me way. There was an uncomfortable silence and atmosphere around Kairo and I wanted to see his face but as I tried to move my head, Her hands caught it again and force it to look forward.

"Stop trying to look at him!" she hisses quietly. Her eyes glaring at me and despite not having any eyebrows, her gaze were sharp and painful.

I hung my head in obedience. "But it just seem so rude." I grumbled to her. In truth I just wanted to take a look at him and she's preventing me from doing so.

"Look your eyes bled so suddenly while looking at him. Until we understood why, you're not allowed to look at him. Okay?" she told me and I turned to her, my face crunching.

"What? Why do I need to do that? Maybe I'm just tired." I rebutted her words. Somehow, the thought of not being able to see him is weighing heavily in my chest.

Fumi looked at me unimpressed, shoving me inside the canopy of the tent. I didn't notice that we were actually there already if she didn't pushed me.

Forgetting about her I looked around, noting the use of dried leaves, twigs and ridges in the bark of the trees. The tent was simple but the sloping roof and the two walls on each side as well as the dried leaves draping hid us from view and protected us from the cold wind that were brewing now that the sun was down.

On the ground was a simple bed made of large dried leaves. I felt around it, it was rough but not as bad as the ground. Now I'm more guilty at Kairo knowing that he even made us a bed.

And seeing as how this tent is barely enough for the two of us. It was clear that the men will be sleeping on the hard forest floor.

I atleast wanted to thank them for their effort to keep us comfortable but just as I was going to go towards him, Fumi blocked my way. A frow set in her face.

"Akane." She said in a scolding voice and her hands on either side of her waist. I back up when she walk towards me. If she had a brow I bet that it will be up now with how she's looking at me.

"What?" I asked innocently at her, smiling up at her suspicious look.

"Lay down, and rest." she pointed at the made bed still with that stern expression.

I tried to reason with her. "But, I haven't had dinner yet." I told her. Seriously, we look like a mother and daughter who's arguing to let me stay up late into the night.

Granted, I do think of her as my second mother but thinking about it, this just look so embarrassing.

"I will wke you up once they're back." She rebutted and I let out a breath.

"But I'm not tired." I reasoned out and she just shook her head.

"Then just rest here. Don't look at him!" She snapped her fingers when she noticed that I'm trying to peak from her side over the slight opening on the draped leaves. What? I'm just wondering what he's doing.

It must be awkward just standing there.

I looked at Fumi with an indescribable face. Honestly, I think she's being paranoid, -Even if I was too just earlier- I think she's just blowing this out of proportion. I might just have used my powers too much, who knows? We're not really sure that my red eyes are really triggered by my anger.

"Look Fumi, I just want to thank him for doing this for us." I tried to play it cool and shrug as I pointed at the tent they made for us. I rained my eyes at her in a way that suggest that I'm just doing the polite thing.

She sighed and I thought that I finally won but she just raised her palm to stop me from rising. "Stay there, I will thank him for the both of us." She said with sly smile on her face.

I narrowed my eyes at her and she widened her smile. "Now rest." She said with emphasis as she pushed the leaves open, then she left with only the crinkling sounds accompanying me.

Pissed, I crossed my arms on my chest and sulked. I know very childlike but I get Fumi, she's just looking out for me and I have enough respect for her not to disobey her words.

Still, I can't help but peer from the slight viewpoint that the drapes provided me. It was just a slight crack but they were standing just in front of it so I didn't have to move just to eavesdrop on them.

Listening closely I watched as Fumi went towards Kairo who turned fully at her when he spotted her.

Their distance was too far and they were speaking relatively low for me to understand what was being said but even from here I could tell that Kairo wasn't looking very happy.

Now what the hell did Fumi told him to frown like that?

His demeanor changed and he was now standing straighter than better as if to intimidate Fumi. Who, I think is really nervous right now but in my surprise, she suddenly changed into her spider form, shredding the bottom half of her dress in the process.

Now she's towering over him and he growled at her defiance. I could feel a heated argument in the making so without preamble I jumped out of the bed and was going to run in between them when the grass rustled besides them to show Emmanuel and the other guys dragging a lifeless dear behind them.

I was frozen in front of the opening of the tent while the men were equally as stiff as they stared at the ginormous spider woman before them.

In seconds they let go of their spoils and assumed a fighting stance. Everything's seems to be in a slow motion as I watched the hairs poking from their skins and their bones breaking to allow the changes taking place.

Worried for Fumi's safety, my rooted feet finally decided to obey my mind and I dashed in front of her sheilding her from these beasts.

What shocked me was that Kairo also took a stance in front of us. "Stand down!" he shouted at the beast in front of him. Their mouths already frothing at the appearance of an enemy.

They stopped at his command but remained in their Lycan state. Fumi was cowering behind me, now remembering her fear of these creatures.

"Change back please, you're scaring her!" I shouted at them but they simply turned their attention to me and growled. Their reaction triggered Kairo who growled back.

"I said stand down. and change back this instant." He said angrily, his voice coming out guttural and the power behind it made the hair on my skin stand up.

They hesitated for a moment until he shouted, "Now." at them and then they changed back. I had to close my eyes knowing full well that they'll be completely naked after.

I closed my eyes for at least five minutes where I could hear the rustling of clothes.

A hand pressed on my shoulders an I shrieked little. "You can open your eyes now." He said and I did, Kairo was smiling at me, seemingly pleased with himself until he turned his attention to Fumi who was still in her spider form.

"You should also ask her to change back. She's triggering them to fight back." He said to me and I nodded my head seeing that the others are still eyeing Fumi. Their stance guarded.

Not wanting any altercation with them I turn to Fumi who was yet to open her six eyes.

"Fumi, change back." I told her and she shook her head.

"Fumi, you're making them anxious too. You have to change back to your human form." I told her in a panic but she just shook her head again.

"What? Why?" I asked her incredulously. She finally opened her eyes after my outburst and just stared at me as if I should know what she wanted to say.

I just stood there confused and helpless, feeling the sharp gazes of the lycans behind me.

"Just tell me. Why can't you change back?" I said in exasperation. Okay I'm not the most patient and there's a bunch of deadly beast behind me that are being triggered by her form so bare with me.

"I don't have any clothes to change back into." She finally said, shyly. I blanched at that and I hit my head with my palm. I'm so stupid. Of course, I should've thought of that.

Turning back towards the men I looked at them helplessly.

"Do you have any extra clothes?" I asked shyly, smiling at them for good measure but it may looked so force that they pitied me.

Emmanuel of all people, gave us his shirt that was big enough to pass as a dress for Fumi. After that I told the politely to turn around because Fumi's not as bold as them to turn back with them watching.

They got the point but I could see that they were curious. "They're looking away now." I told her and she nodded her head and proceeded to change to her human form.

Compared to the lycans, Fumi's transition looks so magical. Her whole body just disintegrate leaving two human legs in place. Her black coloration seemed like it was being wiped away to be replaced by porcelain skin.

I helped her out in putting the large shirt over her head because she was still frazzled. The shirt went below her knees and we had to tie it here and there to avoid ir slipping off.

After that we told them that's it's fine to look now. Fumi was pink all over as she said her thanks embarrassingly.

Emmanuel simply stared her down making her nervous once again. He just nodded his head and proceeded to continue where he left off, dragging a lifeless corpse of a deer.

I turned to Kairo wanting to apologize for the whole fiasco.

"I'm so sorry Kairo, I didn't know why she just transformed like that." I said while bowing down. It was mortifying that my friend was intimidating them when all they're doing is helping us.

He smiled and ruffled my hair. "It's fine, she's just looking out for you." he said and that made me curious. Just what did they talked about that made them angry enough to fight each other.

But he just left it at that and then turn his back at me to help the guys in preparing the meal.

It was guttural, no pun intended, to see them gut and prepare the deer. I had to look away from the scene and I understood once again that they're doing this for us.

They're used to killing and ripping these animals apart and based on their appearance they must be eating these raw. But because of us they had to cook it.

Now I'm worried that we're really making ity hard on them and imposing too much. Them ignoring our presence lines up.

I and Fumi was of no help at all. They did everything, they even started the fire in front of us so the chipping cold wouldn't bother us.

Even Fumi looked uncomfortable with them just serving us but they wouldn't let us help.

After the meal was done and we all ate, I finally gave out a relieved sigh.

Being with them makes me so anxious that I couldn't taste the food. Fumi was being weird as well as she constantly fidgeted besides me and looking around.

She's too paranoid.

We bid good night to them although we insisted that they should be the one using the tent but they dismissed our worries.

"They're made for you. It's more rude to reject such." Emmanuel told us in that deep stoic voice of his and I could only nod my head.

Kairo glared at him and then ruffled my hair again ensuring us that they're fine sleeping outside.

"Go to sleep now, you must be tired." He said and I sighed as I nod my head. I took Fumi's arms and we headed to the tent to sleep. And as I lay there, I wonder what tomorrow might bring.

--

A/N: Okay, I don't know if I like this or not. I think I did well but I also feel like I just made a filler chapter. (I hope not.)

I also just bought a keyboard that I could attach to my phone so I could type wherever because I hate taking my laptop out. It, s so heavy. So sorry if there's any mistake.

Also, this will be returning to its regular update schedule of every other Sunday.

By the way, you could check out my i********: as well. I rarely post there but I've been making crafts lately that's why I'm late in uploading. Sorry. My i********: is emc_maycrusade.