"It's been two weeks since the incident."
"...and up and down and up and down... " went the games teacher, Mr. Hayato.
He was a shredded fellow with a great personality. He was the epitome of masculinity, but more so, he was a renowned teacher at Kunigami High School. He majorly taught Sciences but occasionally taught his class PE.
"I haven't seen or heard from him since then. Maybe it's for the best."
At that moment, he took the class through an intense warm-up that got him well-shredded, just three hundred squats and push-ups. Kitsune did not mind. She had always been fit all her life.
"Part of me wants to forget the whole incident, relegate it to a dream, but these damn bruises keep it fresh in my mind."
After ten minutes of warm-up up the students were finally allowed to go and pick out an activity.
"Thanks to Dad and Shinsuke, the matter was swept under the rug, no scandal, just a girl who got lost on a hiking trip."
Kitsune took a sip from her drinking bottle as she watched the others. The foreign exchange student caught her eye. A boy with striking blue eyes and a sharp gaze. He was about five feet eleven with a physical build for an athlete. He did not seem that much older than her.
He took a javelin spear and threw it. It went all the way across the field. He was strong. A feat that garnered him much attention.
"Tsune, what a hottie, right?" a sly voice called out.
"No way!" she said, turning to her best friend Akira.
Akira was a petite girl, around five feet tall. Dark hair and eyes, and often had an innocent and clueless expression, the kind that sends the wrong signals. A target of multiple confessions.
"Why are you staring so much?" she smiled mischievously.
"Most curious," said Kitsune with a chizzy grin, trying to mimic someone, "With that strength, he could easily set a world record."
"He is uber talented, sports, classwork, and to top it all up, he speaks several different languages fluently, and he is cute. He kinda reminds me of you," said Akira.
"He must be a genius. Wonder why he joined our school?" asked Kitsune.
"The way you talk about him, you seem interested."
"No way," declared Kitsune.
"Then, who's your type? Hayato, maybe?" Narrowing her eyes.
"Gross, no!" she said.
"Kitsune, you need a boyfriend," said Akira with a heavy sigh.
"Hmm... No, I don't. Let's join the others. Mr Hayato will get mad if he sees us slacking."
Kitsune hurriedly took Akira's hand, ignoring her protests and pulled her to the field. All this while the blonde boy watched them, his eyes fixed on Kitsune.
"I found you."
***
Maybe it was her rush. But she didn't see him till it was too late. By then, she was already on the floor, a lingering pain on her butt, her books scattered on the floor.
"Ow, ow," she said.
As she fixed her skirt, patted her butt, and looked at the scattered stationery, she wondered what she had bumped into.
"Are you alright?" a voice asked.
She looked ahead. The foreign boy on a knee, his hand stretched, looked back at her. Nervously, she took his hand and stood. She noted his blue eyes seemed to flicker, a colour that matched his blond hair.
"I'm good, no broken bones," she said as she proceeded to pick up her stationery.
"I'll help," he said.
"Thanks," she replied.
From the corner of her eyes, she noticed the pause from the other students. It was something she'd grown used to.
She could hear the low whispers, one in particular standing out, "The foreign boy and Kitsune, you think they are a thing?"
"Great, another rumour." She sighed. Attention was not something she enjoyed, but it always seemed to find her.
All done. It was then she noticed the boy still held one of her books, his eyes buried on the cover page.
"Titus Andronicus," he said, handing the book back to her. "Are you a fan?"
"Not yet. It's a recent thing."
"It's a good pick. I'm Adam Hermit by the way."
"Ohashi Kitsune,"
"You don't look like you are..." Adam tried to say, his hand on his chin, but the words could not escape his throat.
"Full Japanese," she said, then added in fluent English, " I get that a lot."
He smiled, "Mom or dad?" he asked.
"My mom. She was from Britain, but I take after my father."
"Clearly. It's hard to tell if you are not paying attention," he said
"Well, it's nice meeting you, Adam. Thanks again," she said with a bow, not wanting to extend the conversation. "I'll be on my way."
Hardly had she taken a step away when...
"Wait," his voice echoed slowly and deliberately.
Then, a clap reverberated. All around her, the vibrant hustle and bustle of the students was replaced by a sudden... silence.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"What's this? I can't move," she wondered.
It was then she noticed the darkness around her. A creepy sound, like a knife dragged on metal, caught her ear. The narrow halls, now dark and uninhabited, seemed to stretch on for miles. Shadows looming.
A chill ran down her spine.
Her body was stuck. Disoriented, her eyes darted from left to right.
"What's happening? Where am I? Where is everyone?" her thoughts raced.
"Shhhhhhh... Calm down, I can smell your fear."
In front of her, Adam stood.
***
Adam walked around her, her eyes following him. Then, he stopped in front of her.
"You must be uncomfortable; you can't move. Let me fix that."
He raised his hand.
Snap!
She could feel her body once more. She breathed slowly, controlling her breaths, a myriad of questions in her mind, but at that moment, she knew she could not talk straight.
"Calm down, Tsune," she thought. "It's just my imagination. Very vivid and detailedimagination."
A nervous chuckle escaped her lips.
"I'm impressed. Usually when I pull people to the astro plane for the first time, well, let's just say, it's not a pretty sight."
"What... are you?" she asked, standing straight.
"Not human," he said.
Her eyes widened for a moment. She clutched her books tightly, hiding the mild trembling of her hands.
"I am like the person you met on the island?"
"Are you... His friend?" she asked.
"No. I doubt I would be friends with a Demon."
He noted the startled look on her face. She looked at him defiantly, about to say something, but weighed against it.
"He didn't tell you? I bet, he smiled, made you feel safe, am I right?"
"He was kind... " she said almost in a whisper.
"That's a Demon from hell, and you freed him."
"He... didn't seem like a bad person," she said.
He walked closer to her. His steps echoed as he did, instinctively. She took a step back. He stopped noting the uncertain expression on her face.
"I'm not here to hurt you. Just to talk. Do you know why Demons and Devils are feared?" he asked.
"They... Kill, steal and destroy?"
"Half true. You see, Angels and Demons were not created in the image of the creator," he said, his movements animated, like a salesman pitching a product. "As such, you see only their real self. Kind of like looking in a true mirror."
"How does that make them scary?"
"It means they cannot lie," he paused and allowed her to take it in, then added, "When you look at them, you feel startled, a moment of awe like an epiphany. Sounds familiar?"
Her mind recalled. As her eyes met his in the cave, she would quickly look away. An unnatural, familiar awe that faded as soon as it started.
She looked at Adam closely, and he let her observe. Then there it was, the unmistakable startle like she had gazed into something otherworldly.
"...Regardless, they still trick you. A gentle smile, their intentions hidden in plain sight. That's why you fear them."
"Why are you doing this to me, then? What... do you want?" she asked.
"All I want is their name."
Her eyes turned away nervously. "Why?" she asked in a low tone.
"To exterminate him," he stretched his hand. "A thing like that should not exist. Help me kill that Demon."
Her head turned away, slightly avoiding his gaze.
"Then why?..." she wondered.
"I... can't," she said, her shoulders shrugged in, the book defensively held like a shield, and her eyes closed.
"...Why do I feel safer with him?"
"You've made your choice."
A clap followed.
Her eyes still closed tightly, her ears picked up the noise of the moving students. She looked for Adam, but he was gone.
***
Kitsune looked around but could not find Akira. She hurriedly packed her homework as her mind was in turmoil. Just then, her phone rang, startling her. Luckily, it was just Akira.
"Aki, where are you?"
"Tsune... you know that hottie Adam? He kinda cornered me. I was waiting by the gate for you when he offered me a ride."
"Turn him down."
"I tried, but he is so damn persistent; he says he'll kneel and beg."
"Akira, don't go in that car without me!" Said Kitsune, a hint of worry in it.
"Ok, got it."
Kitsune hung up the phone and quickly dashed for the gate.
"Did you have to go after Aki? That's not fair," she thought bitterly.
A helpless feeling engulfed her. She swallowed hard and tried to push it aside.
"Who was that?" asked Adam.
"It's Kitsune. She wants to come along. Hope it's fine," said Akira
"It is. I was hoping to talk to her too."
"It's okay, Tsune is awkward socially, but I know she won't hate you. So please bear with her."
"I'll do my best not to disappoint. Promise," replied Adam
There was a black limousine parked outside the gate, and the suited man who stood beside it drew the attention of the students.
Quickly changing to her outdoor boots, Kitsune ran over to Akira, who was among a crowd of students. She planned to take Akira and get out of the commotion.
"Aki... " she called in a whisper.
"Kitsune, I am glad you could join us," Adam said, appearing behind her. he added in a whisper, "For Aki's sake."
She nodded mildly.
"Good girl."
Adam watched the girls get in the vehicle and grinned.
"What a pity, I thought we wouldn't have to go this far."