Yellow Hallucinations: The Return of the Kitsune

Chapter One – Weird Revelation Aoi stepped out of the bakery. The air felt different outside. She had a hunch that something was going wrong soon but couldn't tell how. Suddenly four men came out of a tinted Mercedes Benz and encompassed her. "s**t! How did they find me?" Aoi muttered under her breath a little confused on what to do. She quickly put her phone inside her bag and kept her mind open for anything.6 One of the men, the most fierce looking walked closer to her and grabbed her waist then pulled her closer, so close that she could feel his breath on her temple. "Where is the book." He asked sternly with his lips twitching on one side. Aoi looked at his lips and felt like biting them before she replied," I don't have it, it was stolen the same night I took it from the pent house." " Boss Yukio, I think she's lying." Another man said eyeing Aoi mischievously. Boss Yukio nodded his head and started pushing Aoi towards the car when the whole place went yellow and a handsome man appeared. He wasn’t just handsome—he was the kind of man people noticed without understanding why. A faint scar cut through his brow, giving him an edge that kept his beauty from being too perfect. He moved with a calm confidence, each step deliberate, as though the world naturally made space for him. He looked at Aoi, then at Boss Yukio. " Let her go!" His voice thundered leaving the men including Aoi with a shiver. Everyone was scared. The men pulled out their guns and started shooting at him but the bullets didn't penetrate, they disappeared before hitting his body. In a twinkle of an eye, the man shape shifted into a giant fox. Aoi couldn't believe what she just saw. Boss Yukio tried shoving Aoi inside the car but the giant fox pulled her out of his hands and disappeared into thin air. The men were left bewildered and terrified. ************************ " Do I have to kiss you to wake up?" The handsome man asked impatiently. Aoi had fainted . A lot had happened, too much for a young girl of 23. "Who are you?" She asked in a whisper, still scared. Aoi looked at him, how can this be possible? Her mother's stories were true, Kitsunes still existed. " Yes we do, you knuckle head." Kai chuckled. " Wait, you can read my mind?" She blurted out with her eyes almost popping out. Aoi wasn't feeling comfortable with what his gaze did to her, not to mention how her thoughts were no longer private. She felt naked and without walls. " Why did you save me? What do you want?" Kai smiled coyly, examining her hair down to her tiny toes slowly. He devoured every detail of her body and was satisfied. " If you were able to get the book, then you can get me the gem. Did you see it." " You're a Kitsune, can't you shape shift and go get it yourself?" She mocked him. Kai stood up, bent down and touched her cheeks softly until they blushed. " They're some rooms I can't penetrate my darling." Aoi felt disgusted by his touch and tried getting up. " I'm not your darling!" She muttered. "Hush...don't be ungrateful now, remember I saved your life so you owe me." He looked at her sternly. " If you want to see your mother again, then you must help me." " How did you know about my mother” Aoi began to cry. She could still remember that cold afternoon when she came back from ths bakery to find her mother lying lifeless on the floor. Aoi felt like her world was over, it was then she was determined to search for the Book of Life but didn't know she'll walk casually into it at the party. " You're such a pretty little thief!" Kai said with laughter in his eyes. " I'll help you as long as you bring my mother back to life!" Aoi commanded red eyed. " With my lips I bind you to me, with my strength I will protect you every second, and bring your mother back to life. I only need you to get the gem." Kai pledged and planted a kiss on her forehead. Aoi felt a tingle in her soul. She knew Kai may ask for more but didn't know what, then she felt dizzy and fainted again. Chapter Two – Two to Tango “ Yukio. You’re nothing but an incompetent fool!” Grandmaster yelled throwing his fists in the air. He was powerful and known all over Raven City. Boss Yukio shivered and couldn’t help but stare at the patterns on the floor. “ I got her boss, until the Kitsune came and snatched her away.” “ Don’t lie to me fool.” Grandmaster commanded. “ The last Kitsunes were wiped away by my great grandfather’s magic.” “ No Grandmaster, he actually transformed into a fox in our presence. You can ask the boys.” Boss Yukio tried to convince him. “ Hmmm. I want the book, the girl and the Kitsune!” Grandmaster thundered and landed a punch on Boss Yukio’s face. ***************************** Aoi had fallen unconscious for the second time in forty minutes. He bent low towards her, his lips almost brushing against hers. Suddenly she jerked into consciousness again. Aoi was still trying to figure out why she passed out for the second time. “ My energy level is too high for you,” Kai reassured her. She still had a little disbelief. “ Did you make me unconscious so you could do strange things to my body?” She asked with a pout. Kai looked at her with cold eyes before replying. “ Did you see the red gem the day you took the book?” “ Yes I did. Some ugly looking thing. It was in a glass box.” Aoi explained, wondering what was special about an ancient looking thingy.” “I’ll list some rules that’ll guide us.” He finally spoke. He touched her shoulders and immediately his fingers became very sharp. He inscribed K on her left shoulder. Aoi yelped in pain and punched Kai on his chest. “ Why did you do this?” Aoi asked with disgust in her voice. Kai went silent for a minute before responding,” Rule number one: Whenever you’re in danger, touch the mark on your arm. Rule number two: You must not call me by my real name in public, you can call me Sota. Rule number three: Don’t you ever lie to me, I need your trust and loyalty.” She blinked at him,” I don’t even know your name man.” “ You never asked.” He replied showing less interest. Aoi stretched out her hand for a shake,” I’m Aoi, you?” He held her hand and kissed it gently. “ I’m Kai. I promise to protect you in any way I can.” She couldn’t explain what these little kisses did to her but she wasn’t ready to fall in love with some fox, never. Kai gave her a cold stare and said, “ Firstly, let’s bring your mother back to life. “ He didn’t want to get her scared so he shape shifted into a car. Aoi was flabbergasted. The door opened slowly and a gushing wind drew her in. “ I thought you’d stand there all day,” Kai said moving in speed. “ Where’s your house?” “ Twenty four Tinko street off Zain Avenue.” She replied wondering what else this man could do. “ Hey peaches, I’m here…please keep calm.” He reassured her with a warm voice. “ Hold on, we’re going in invisible.” Aoi nodded silently. He suddenly shape shifted into a man and had her in his arms. “ Hey put me down,” she yelled. Kai let her down laughing hysterically. “ You’re so unromantic.” He blurted out. “ Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment,” she answered sarcastically. They went inside to find the house in mess. Kai smirked , clicked his fingers and every single furniture took its original position. The house cleaned itself up. Aoi quickly ran to her mother’s old box, she pushed it open. She removed the lid and there lay the Book of Life in perfect condition. She carried the book and pressed it to her chest. “ Careful, the book has a heart, It may fall in love with you.” Kai said jokingly while stretching out his hand to get the book. Aoi hesitated for a while before handing it over to him, she decided to trust him. “ Where’s your mother?” Kai asked unbothered by her action. “ In the mortuary, few blocks away.” She said with teary eyes. In a twinkle of an eye they were at the mortuary. Aoi got to where her mother was laid and froze. She became afraid, what if the ritual doesn’t work? What if her mother never comes back to life? Kai touched her mother’s forehead. “She still has some energy in her, she’s a strong woman. Now let’s get to work.” In a split of seconds, they were in her house again. Kai held the dead lady in his arms and carefully dropped her on the bed. He closed his eyes and connected to the spirit realm. He saw Aoi’s mother. She smiled at him. He opened the book and started murmuring the words on it, page by page till the end. Ten minutes had passed and it looked like nothing was going to happen. Then a golden light began to illuminate the room, Aoi didn’t know where exactly it came from. Her mother’s fingers and toes began to twitch uncontrollably. It happened for minutes. Few seconds after, a knock was heard on the door. Kai signaled her not to go but remain still. The person kept knocking and left. “ Don’t touch her, let her say something first. I want to be sure she came back unpossessed by another spirit.” Kai commanded. She nodded, waiting patiently for her mother to open her eyes. Chapter Three – Catch me If You Can! Grandmaster walked into a room full of men dressed in red robes. They all had crescent shaped blades in their hands. They kept murmuring incantations, strange creatures wailed for help whenever they did so. In these creatures, they had put the souls of men like magicians, Kitsunes and even saints. Grandmaster didn’t flinch. He’d seen this ritual before, it wasn’t worship. It was harvesting. The crescent shaped blades in their hands weren’t for cutting flesh. They were tuning forks, meant to split the veil between mind and soul. “Let them go,” he said. His voice didn’t echo. The man at the center raised his crescent. “You don’t understand what we’re making,” he hissed. He moved. “ We’ve got a living Kitsune to chase. This one is a rare but unique breed.” He said it flat, like reporting a fact. Not a threat. The center man didn’t stop chanting. He just opened one eye. “Kai.” Grandmaster nodded once. “Still alive. Still hiding and still stronger than when you lost him.” “Then why are you telling us?” the center man said. His voice was dry, careful. “If he’s alive, he’s a problem for all of us.” “Because I can’t take him alone,” Grandmaster said. “Not anymore. The last time I met him, he remembered my name.” The center man finally let the chant die. The air stopped vibrating. “And you want what?” he asked. “Our help? Our power? Our circle?” Grandmaster met his eyes. “I want to augment mine. I want to stand where he is and not flinch. Help me do that, and when I find Kai, then he is yours to bind.” The center man exhaled, slow. “The augmentation will cost you. More than blood. Are you sure You want this?” Grandmaster didn’t blink. “I don’t care what’s left after. I care that it’s enough to get or destroy him .” The robed man stopped in front of him. “Then kneel.” The center man raised both hands. The other robed men resumed their chant, lower this time. “By the circle broken, by the soul unbound,” the center man intoned, “We offer you the weight of our rite. Take it, and do not break.” Grandmaster’s breath hitched, but he didn’t make a sound. His hands clenched into fists. Veins stood out like ink on his hand.His heartbeat slowed. Grandmaster’s jaw was locked. He forced out one word, “More.” The chant rose. Power poured into him, raw, unfiltered, the kind that normally shattered a mortal body in second but it wasn’t shattering. It was fitting. When it was over, he exhaled. Steam left his mouth in the cold room, even though he hadn’t been breathing. He stood without using his hands. The center man stepped back half a pace. “You’re not human anymore.” Grandmaster flexed his fingers. The air around them bent slightly, like heat off asphalt. “No,” he said. “I’m enough.” ******************* Aoi’s mother was fully awake now, she kept staring at the white clear ceiling but didn’t say a word. Aoi was delighted and gave Kai a hug. The collision of their bodies caused a little yellow light to glow in the room, then the K sign on her arm darkened. Chapter Four – Now You See Me Aoi’s mother was trying to process things inside of her head. Images kept flashing through her eyes. She saw a woman been hit with a gun on her head, then she slowly fell to the floor. Then hours later, a young girl walks in and shakes the fallen woman uncontrollably till she lost herself. “ Mummy.” Aoi said softly, touching her mother’s cheek. “ I’m glad you’re awake. I thought I’d lose you forever.” Kai looked searchingly at Mama Aoi’s face, something was going on inside of her. “ She’s seeing visions of her last minutes before she died. Don’t try to make her remember anything as that will make her recovery process slow. “ Aoi nodded with a smile on her face, she felt like her whole world has found the light it lost. In a split of seconds, air started gushing inside of the room. The windows and door kept opening and shutting uncontrollably. It felt like a hurricane. Aoi was scared and confused but Kai knew that something was about to go down. He quickly created a portal that led to his friend’s Tae Yong’s place and asked Aoi to take her mother into safety. Everywhere became dark all of a sudden and Grandmaster appeared. He laughed fiercely. “ You little boy, you thought you could hide forever huh?” Kai wasn’t ready for a fight, Grandmaster looked too cooked to be defeated at the moment so he engaged him in a verbal combat. “ You didn’t believe a Kitsune will be back to take you down?” Grandmaster gave him a sinister look. He opened his mouth to say something then kept mute. Despite being made this powerful, he felt Kai’s word send inevitable fear down his spine. Kai could sense the fear in his eyes. He walked a little closer to him and said,” What would you do if I told you that I’m not the only Kitsune alive. A thousand of us are still out there.” Grandmaster flinched. If there are more of his kind alive then that’s a disaster. “ Oh that’s a sweet thing then. I’ll take all of you down bit by bit. You don’t know who you’re up against .” He said trying to ward fear away. Kai laughed hysterically, yellow light glowing in his eyes. “ Drazek Nullborne. Why do we always have to fight? We’ll achieve so much as friends. Come on let us be friends and you will not regret it. I can make you immortal. I can make all powers on earth to submit to you and bow at your feet. That little circle you belong to, you think they can make you all you want? I will make you greater, invincible and you live for more than 1000 years. Let's be friends let’s walk hand in hand and then all these can be yours. “ Grandmaster stood dumbfounded. He was not expecting such an offer from a Kitsune. Was he being tricked or did he actually mean the words that he said? Kai loved what was going on in Grandmaster’s mind. He called Grandmaster by his real name and that weakened his intelligence. “ So if we are acquaintances, you will make me immortal?” Grandmaster asked sheepishly. Kai gave out a little sigh. “ Yes, but I don’t trust you. What if you use the powers to destroy me or my kind?” Grandmaster fell to his knees, “ No, that won’t happen. I swear with my name, I will never betray you. I really want to be immortal. ” Kai kept silent, calculating his next words. He was trying to be careful for a fight not to be ensued and then again he wasn’t expecting Grandmaster to buy his lies. A Kitsune can’t make anyone immortal, well except in some rare cases. “ Rise Drazek Nullborne!” Kai commanded which weakened Grandmaster the more. Powerful beings aren’t addressed by their real names, it makes them feeble. Grandmaster wobbled slowly to his feet. He felt defeated and he couldn’t think straight. “ What shall I do for you my Lord just to be on your side? I surely know, nothing goes for nothing.” He blurted out. Kai smiled, he surely had him where he wanted him to be. “ How about an invitation to your upcoming new millennial party?” Grandmaster was dumbfounded, he wasn’t expecting it to be this cheap. He questioned,” Are you sure you want this?” Kai smiled. An invitation to the party will give Aoi access to the gem. “ Well, that’s all I want. It’s been pretty long I had some fun.” He said playing with his beards. “ Ok then, here you go.” Grandmaster said, pulling out a card from his pocket magically. Kai collected it with a weird smile, this was easier than he’d thought. “ You’ll get your side of the bargain after the party, I want to be sure you don’t change your mind and kick me out.’’ Grandmaster eyed him. He didn’t really understand what was going on anymore. He came for a fight and here he was making bargains. “ As you wish!” In a split of seconds Kai disappeared into thin air, leaving Grandmaster alone in the room. Chapter Five – A Kitsune to behold Tae Yong was watching a movie when he felt some strange wind gush in his bedroom. He was a little terrified at first then remembered he had a stubborn friend who could teleport and travel through time. “ Kai, why can’t you use the door for a…” The presence of Aoi and Mama Aoi cut him short of words. Aoi was carefully tucking her mother in and didn’t notice Tae walk in. “ Who are you guys?” He asked in a husky voice. Tae wasn’t as handsome as Kai but there was something innocent about him, unlike Kai who looked dangerous. “ I’m sorry to invade your privacy. Kai brought us here.” Aoi explained examining the room. “ Oh Kai. Where’s he?” Tae asked wondering what his friend was up to. “ He is at my house, fighting some creepy man.” Aoi replied uninterested. She kept watching her mother to see if she’ll say a word or make a move. “ What’s wrong with her? She seems pale.” He asked touching Mama Aoi’s forehead. Aoi was getting irritated by his questions. Can’t he just keep shut for a minute? She thought. Tae studied Mama Aoi for a while, he left the room and came back with an ointment. He rubbed a little on her nose and immediately she sneezed thrice. “ My baby.” Mama Aoi whispered. She gave out a weary smile. Aoi was very happy she wrapped her arms around her mother and gave her a kiss on her cheeks. “ Oh mummy. Please stay with me. Promise you won’t go away.” Tae held Aoi back for she was almost suffocating the weak woman with kisses. “ How about you give her some air?” He said carefully. Aoi didn’t listen, she was too excited to pay attention. “ I made some spaghetti, you want some?” He asked Aoi with concern in his voice. “ Yes, please. Bring for two.” Aoi replied with a growling stomach. “It’s safe for her to eat right?” “ Uhmm…yeah I guess.” Tae replied disappearing into the kitchen. He came back a few minutes later with a food tray of spaghetti, spicy chicken and orange juice. Aoi couldn’t control herself. She hadn’t eaten since the whole scenario. She used one of the pillows to pop her mother’s head so she could feed her comfortably. Mama Aoi ate like a newborn baby. Aoi couldn’t help but shed a little tear. While they were eating a yellow light glowed in the room and Kai appeared. “ Having a feast without me?” He asked with a mischievous smile and shoved a chicken wing down his throat. Aoi smiled,” I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it anymore. I was just too hungry.” Kai nodded his head and glanced at Tae who was by the door. “ Hey man. Sorry for the inconvenience.” Tae nodded in reply. He was a simple guy who had less worries, but always got more worries whenever his friend showed up uninvited. He stood there wondering the next crazy thing he’ll be doing. Last time they went into the jungle to get some strange leaves together. “ May I see you for a sec man?” Tae requested standing with hands akimbo. “ Sure.” Kai said and assured Aoi that he’ll e back soon. “ What’s up?” Tae questioned with an expressionless face. “ I need this gem and it’s only Aoi that can help me. You know I can possess her partially for a while…” Tae didn’t let him finish his statement. “Isn’t that risky? What if she passes out like the last girl you tried that with? What’s with this gem anyways?” “ I need the gem to enhance my powers and also live forever ,” Kai explained solemnly. “ Why can’t you possess me man? It’ll be fun right?” Tae chuckled. Kai looked at him with a coy smile. “ It’s more romantic when the females are being possessed. You have control of their bodies for a while. Possessing you will be way boring my friend.” Tae and Kai burst out laughing. Tae Yong loved his friend even though he was a special being. “ Everything okay?” Aoi asked interrupting their conversation. Kai looked at her, walked closer and began to kiss her slowly. He covered her lips with his, giving her no room to gasp for air. He tightened his grip around her waist, pulled her close to his body as though he wanted to merge it to his as one. Aoi was blown away. There was something about this while feeling. She began to see herself in a meadow, running through beautiful flowers while Kai was chasing her around. She’d began tooan when Kai has stopped kissing her, with that she jerked into reality. Tae was just watching with a perfect smirk all along. “ I…saw us. I mean I…” Aoi stuttered. Kai placed a finger on her lips. “ Shh, you were only hallucinating.” “ Why did you kiss me that way?” Aoi inquired confused. Kai paused before replying,” It’s part of our little ritual.” He didn’t tell her that the kiss helped in possessing her partially. He tried to control his feelings too because he was beginning to fall for her. It was quite unsafe at the moment but a Kitsune never hides his emotions from the one he loves. “Here’s the plan. I got an invite to the party at the pent house. The same place you stole the book.” Kai said rubbing his left temple. Fear gripped Aoi and she began to shudder. Kai noticed this and suddenly touched his heart and the fear inside of her disappeared like it was never there. “ Alright then, when is this party?” Aoi asked boldly. “ Tomorrow night.” Kai replied with a weird smile. He really loved this game.” Tae, I’ll be needing your help too. You’re gonna stay here and watch over Mama Aoi.” Tae squeezed his nose a little,” Hey I’ve got work tomorrow night, I don’t think I can watch over her. Besides she looks better.” They all turned and looked at Mama Aoi, she was feasting on her food peacefully. Kai didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone but couldn’t also stop Tae from going to work. Aoi was feeling a little dizzy, she began to hear voices from afar. She couldn’t really tell what was happening to her after that weird kiss. Suddenly, she wanted more. She drew closer to Kai and asked to see him in private. He agreed and took her to the balcony. “Are you okay?” Kai asked with a coy voice. Aoi didn’t say a word, she just buried Kai’s lips in hers and kissed him passionately. Kai wasn’t surprised, he was expecting it but not so soon. Kai allowed his hands to caress the cute mounds on her chest, the kiss became so intense that they didn’t notice the huge black bird watching in the corner. The bird was Grandmaster’s spy, she was always on the watch so as to send accurate reports to her master. Aoi saw the bird, it’s red shiny eyes caught her attention. Kai could see it too. The bird began to fly away but it was too late as Kai clicked his fingers and the bird disappeared into thin air. Kai looked at Aoi seductively. “ How about we find a room to finish what we had started?” Aoi’s heart skipped a beat. “ Huh? Finish what?” Kai smiled and walked inside. “ Aoi?” Mama Aoi called softly. “ Here mama.” Aoi hollered, rushing in. “ My baby.” Mama Aoi said with smiling eyes. “ I’m so proud of you. I will always love you.” Aoi was overwhelmed with emotions, she began to sob. Her mother held her closer and hugged her. Mama Aoi said, covering herself up with a blanket. “ Thanks Kai, you’re good man.” Kai nodded in response. He was happy he did a good job. **************************** The party had already started before Kai and Aoi made it down there. He made Aoi invisible so she could walk in without hitches. They walked into the party room and Kai saw a vison – he saw Mama Aoi been kidnapped by someone he trusted so much. He paused and motioned for Aoi to go upstairs while he waited for her by the stairway. “ Ahah! You made it!” Grandmaster exclaimed giving him a drink. “ These old bones need some fun. You have some pretty ladies I can spend the night with?” Kai grinned. Grandmaster couldn’t help but laugh. “ So you can transform into a fox and scare them away, right?” Kai stood there with a countenance that said nothing. “ Oh I’m sorry. Well I’ll have that sorted out after the party.” Grandmaster said apologetically. Aoi was in the room. The glass box was there with the gem sitting ugly in it. She was about to lift it up when a cold hand touched her. “ Who are you?” An old woman asked in a squeaky voice. Her eyes were green and wicked. “ You can see me? Who are you?” Aoi asked rubbing the mark on her arm. “ That won’t work here young lady.” The old woman laughed . “Well I’m neither a friend nor foe. My name is Kageko. Now tell me what you want the gem for?” “Uhmm, I want to give it to my friend…” She was about to mention Kai’s name when she remembered the rules. “ Your friend? Does this friend have a name?” She smelled something fishy about Aoi. “ His name is Sota.” Aoi answered firmly. “ Hmmm, Sota. Well be careful. I’ll just get my stuff and disappear.” She picked a buffalo’s horn and vanished into thin air. Aoi heaved a sigh of relief, what was she? She grabbed the glass gem then clicked her fingers just as Kai taught her and she found herself outside the building. She rubbed her arms and felt Kai standing beside her. “ Here is the box.” She said with a shy smile. “ Let’s go find your mother.” Kai said solemnly looking at the gem, he was too disappointed in Tae Yong. Kai felt someone watching, it was the witch Kageko. He did nothing, just looked at her direction, smiled and disappeared into thin air with Aoi. “ Sota my wrinkled foot!” Kageko scoffed.