Iron Rice Fox Ch. 1 d

If you forgot what happened in the last part, click here. Or click here to start from the beginning.

The sounds of the night began as Yuki’s body cooled. He ached to sit down or stretch his legs.

A low-pitched noise sounded at the edge of the forest. Yuki held his breath and wished he could see. The fox circled him.

“Do they think I am so stupid that I cannot differentiate between male and female?” the Fox growled.

“No, Master.” Yuki’s heart threatened to jump from his chest.

The Fox breathed loudly in Yuki’s ear, ruffling his hair and warming the cloth wrapped around his face. “You lie.”

Yuki said nothing but willed his breathing to remain even. When would he die?

“You smell like my son,” the Fox commented.

“Yes, Master.” Yukie supposed that was true enough, given the time Koh had spent with him.

The great beast resumed his pacing. “He told I’d kill you, then.”

Watching Him Back 4.2

The first part of the fourth installment is here.

“Crispin.” There’s a tiny person to my right, tugging on him. “Let’s go.” The boy gives the last word two syllables.

Crispin and I untangle ourselves swiftly and I wipe my face.

“Sorry, this is my little brother. Quentin,” he crouches to look the boy in the eye, “say hello to my friend Aaron.”

Quentin and I shake hands. “Were you crying?” he asks suspiciously.

Bunny Ch. 19

If you haven't read part 18, do so here. Or you can start from the beginning.

I had expected to feel lighter as I walked away, unburdened, carefree, but instead it is as though the sun had dimmed. My heart hurts, my chest hurts, my head hurts, and my eyes are stinging.

Iron Rice Fox Ch. 1 c

If you forgot what happened in the last part, click here. Or click here to start from the beginning.

Within a week the argument had turned from Yuki's health and safety to his attire. He shivered in the center of the bedroom with his arms spread while Auntie adjusted an old kimono around his shoulders. Mother clung to a bright white silk gown.

“Dear Father,” she argued gently, “what will Yumi wear for her wedding?”

Bunny Ch. 18

If you haven't read part 17, do so here. Or you can start from the beginning.

My fantasies usually involved a huge confrontation with Mr. Hale. I would yell, he would bluster and flush in shame of the searing truths I would hurl at him, and I would slam the door so forcefully that the frame would crack. Sometimes the fantasies involved him attacking me in indignant rage, and the subsequent use of combat skills that in reality I did not possess. The household staff would watch and be ashamed that they had never thought to help me, and would resign posthaste. The fantasies never went any further—I never had any clues as to what I could possibly be doing without Mr. Hale.

On Friday I tell my boss that I will not be in the following Tuesday, because I will be moving. She sighs, attempts to make me feel guilty, and then admits that they'll survive without me. On Tuesday, instead of going to the library, I go through the whole house, finding every item that I can claim as mine alone (it is unsurprisingly little, mostly mementos of my parents) and stuff it into a backpack. I grab the suitcase that was given to me for my high school "graduation" (from one of Mr. Hale's business associates) and stuff clothes into it. I resist the urge to feel guilty for taking that which I did not buy. I may not have paid using legal tender, but I earned them nonetheless.

I wait, because I will not be a coward.