How I was Murdered by a Fox Monster (21 page)
Read How I was Murdered by a Fox Monster Online
Authors: M.C Queen
Tags: #love, #horror, #humor, #fantasy, #hot, #teen, #free, #monsters, #guys, #free download
“
Hey Nina!” Mana yelled after her. She attempted to pursue
Nina until Kiyori grabbed Mana by her arm.
“
Just let her be,” said Kiyori. “It's probably just one of
those weird girl things.”
“
But Nina looked sad,” protested Mana.
“
Don't worry about it, Nina always looks sad,” said Kiyori.
“Let's just go home before the bus leaves.”
it was best to leave with them, but I lingered and watched the spot
where Nina had disappeared and I cursed my inability to run after
her. I felt like she'd run away to a distant place which even I
couldn't reach.
Something
like this wouldn't have sparked my interest if it weren't for what
I saw the day before. Due to Akito's negligence of my training, I
decided to take matters into my own hands by going to the library
to teach myself something. I hadn't been since Akito stopped
assigning compositions, but I thought I could conduct my own
research.
I walked
through the door only to find Nina with her head down against the
desk. I was overjoyed that there was someone else to keep me
company as I studied, and I slid into the seat next to hers. Nina
knew a lot about Obake so I was hoping that she could teach me
something awesome.
“
Hey Nina how's it going?” I asked.
“
Daisuke,” she muttered lethargically. “I'm sorry Daisuke but
I don't feel like talking now.”
“
Hey is there something wrong? Did Akito chew you out, or did
you get into a fight with Kurumi?”
“
It's nothing,” she muttered. “Could you please just leave me
alone for a moment.”
know what was wrong, but I couldn't think of the right thing to
say, so I gave up and left. Nina had looked depressed for a while,
and as much as I wanted, I wasn't sure what to do to make her smile
again. I tried joking around, or accidentally dropping all my books
on purpose, but Nina just looked at me with the same blank
expression as though I didn't exist.
“
Hey Mana,” I turned to ask Mana if she knew the reason behind
Nina's sudden lack of energy, but they'd all left and the only one
still standing there was Itsuki.
“
Hey you wanted to go to Judo practice right?” He asked. “We
better get going.”
Chapter
21
involved more pain than I expected. I was content with just
watching for the first ten minutes, but after that I was bored out
of my mind and begged them to let me join in. There was nothing a
novice like I could do except subject myself to being their human
rag doll who they used to practice various throws. Itsuki was kind
enough to throw me softly, but his fellow club members didn't show
much mercy. My whole body was aching by the time it was over.
I rolled my
shoulders to try and alleviate the pain as Itsuki and I walked back
towards the changing rooms. “That was painful,” I moaned.
“
You just need to learn how to fall correctly, and then the
rest will come with time,” Itsuki advised.
The rest will come with time.
Those words echoed around my
head like they had days before when I was told the same thing by
Akito. I was beginning to despise those words, and as much as I'd
been trying over the past few weeks, I never felt like I was
getting any better.
“
I have to put my things away,” said Itsuki as he pulled
his bag out of his locker. “I'll meet you outside.”
went outside into the courtyard. I sat myself on a small brick
fence around the garden, and stared at the moss which was peaking
through the cracks in the concrete. There were still a few students
mulling around after club activities, but their happy faces and
joyful laughs suddenly irritated me.
I didn't know why, but I couldn't make myself feel happy. All
I could think about was how I'd been putting so much effort into
studying, exorcising, and attempting to join the Judo club, but I
had nothing to show for it. Everyone kept telling me that
these
things
would come with time
, but what if they
didn't? What if I continued to work my butt off to become an
exorcist for ten years and I was still crap? Akito told Sis himself
that my chances of reaching the same level as Taisei and Itsuki
were slim. Maybe I was forever destined to be crap at
everything.
kicked the heals of my sneakers against the concrete.
This sucks, school sucks, everything sucks
, I thought to myself.
I watched as what looked like a new teacher came rushing
around the corner. She was dressed neatly in a black business suit
with her hair perfectly pinned back. She looked young so I assumed
she had to be new, or a student teacher who was doing a practical
for university.
I wished I wasn't in high school. If I was older than I'd
probably stand a chance with a pretty woman like that. But then
again, being me, she probably wouldn't care at all.
proved right when she rushed straight up to a group of Judo club
third years who had just emerged from the changing room. They
stopped and chatted to her with far more enthusiasm than what they
showed in practice. One of them even made a point of accidentally
letting his shirt slip so that his muscles were exposed. They also
laughed and pointed in my direction, probably lamenting on how my
pants fell down in the middle of practice, and my Doremon underwear
had been exposed. I scowled and averted my eyes away in
embarrassment. I feigned interest in the dying plant on my right so
I could pretend their words didn't reach me.
“
Hey,” called a soft voice. I was about to berate Itsuki about
sounding like a girl, until I turned to see the student teacher
standing before me. She squinted at the name tag stitched onto my
school uniform.
“
Daisuke Matsumoto
,” she read out loud. “Is your name really Daisuke
Matsumoto?”
“
Yeah,” I nodded. Her words brought back memories of my first
week of school when I met the others. I momentarily wondered if she
was also involved with the exorcists, but I had a feeling that if
she was, she'd probably be out battling Obake instead of wasting
her time at high school.
“
Yeah I'm Daisuke Matsumoto,” I muttered and began wondering
what depressing crap was going to come out of her mouth
next.
“
Wow,” she giggled like one of my
classmates. “That's such a
wonderful
name.”
“
Really?” I said as my depression
evaporated. Up until that moment I'd only associated my name with
my deceased older brother. It gave my name a gloomy feeling and Sis
didn't feel comfortable addressing me by anything other
than
Dai-chan
. Despite that, I'd always
known that my name was awesome (because it's me) but no one had
ever told me it was wonderful before.
“
Yes,” she giggled once again like she
couldn't contain her joy. “It's a pleasure to meet
you
Daisuke Matsumoto
.”
thrust her hand out before me while grinning manically. She held it
there in the air for at least a minute, and I stared blankly while
wondering what she expected me to do. Surely she didn't want to
begin holding hands already?
"Hey," she
said as her face twisted into a cute scowl. “Haven't you shaken
hands before?”
“
Oh, I see,” I felt quite embarrassed and I could feel my face
turning red, but I reached out to shake her hand regardless. This
was what high school was supposed to be like. Not failure and
constant disappointment.
“
DAISUKE GET DOWN!”
to ask Itsuki what he was yelling about, until a sudden ball of
lightning engulfed the teacher before me and sent her flying out of
sight. All that was left behind was a burnt patch on the ash-felt,
and my hand which luckily just felt number than normal. I glared at
Itsuki who was standing in the gym doorway with his school bag
still hanging over his shoulder. He hissed and shook his fingers.
“No it wasn't enough,” he muttered to himself.
I followed
his gaze to see the teacher lying in a collapsed heap on the other
side of the courtyard. She was a little disheveled than before, but
hopefully still alive. I couldn't understand what had gotten into
Itsuki, surely he didn't have a crush on her and had decided to
lash out in jealousy. Maybe the constant studying and exorcist
training had finally made him snap.
“
What are you doing!” I yelled. “That's a teacher! You just
attacked a teacher!”
aid her until Itsuki yelled “stop!” At the top of his lungs.
“
That's no teacher,” he said. “It's an Obake!”
“
An Obake! How can it be an O-”
The words died in my throat because
right
on cue, she began to pick
herself up. Except this time her eyes were no longer black, but a
deep red. “My my aren't you a smart one,” she grinned. “Cute little
exorcist.”
“
It's an Obake!” I screamed in shock.
“There's an Obake at school! There's an Obake at
school!
Taisei promised me that Obake wouldn't come to
school
!”
“
That's what I was trying to tell you!” Itsuki rushed to my
aid. He jumped in front of me and placed himself as a human shield
between the monster and I.
must have been strong enough to rattle her, and the monster had to
place her hands out beneath her to slowly pull herself up. The hair
which had been perfectly pinned back, slid out of place and fell to
obscure her face. Her previously spotless suit was also torn,
frayed, and looked like it was falling to pieces.
“
Daisuke
Matsumoto,”
her voice was deep, low, and I could have never imagined it
was the same cute woman I'd been speaking with moments
ago.
“Never did I imagine that I could eat
you once more.”
sent terror down my spine, and they hinted to the terrible truth
which I didn't want to believe. I tried to think up an alternative
explanation, but then the reality hit me and I could do nothing
more than grip onto Itsuki's shoulder in fear.
“
It's the fox monster and she's come back for seconds!” I
screamed.
“
Shh,”
Itsuki hissed and pushed me
back. “Calm down, don't rush to conclusions!”
pulled herself to her feet and leaned up against the school wall
for balance. Her skirt must have also been badly damaged because it
soon crumbled, fell from her waist, and left her bushy fox tail
exposed for the world to see.
“
Shit,” hissed Itsuki. “Why today?”
“
SHE'S STRIPPING!” I screamed. I was petrified that she'd come
to take off her clothes and rip my heart out. It wouldn't be long
before I was facing the same terrifying image which had haunted me
from Grandpa's book.
“
No, it just fell down on its own!” Itsuki yelled behind him
in an attempt to ease my panic.
his words she pulled off the damage jacket which left her in
nothing but a blouse. Judging by the state of her clothes the
lightning charm must have hit her hard, but maybe her abnormally
strong Obake body was immune to such things.
“
When I ate the heart of Daisuke Matsumoto it was the most
delicious thing I'd ever tasted,” she grinned. “But I never thought
I'd get the opportunity to consume such a wonderful heart again,
until now. Come Daisuke Matsumoto. Enjoy the honor of being my next
meal.”
The blood drained from my face and even Itsuki looked shaken
compared to his cool regular self. He dived his hands into his
pockets (without averting his eyes away) and pulled out a scrunched
up charm. He quickly glanced at the paper and gritted his teeth.
“So only this one
huh?
Looks like this is our only chance.”
paper between his fingers and began to chant. I glanced between him
and the monster nervously and wondered if he could finish before
she ripped our hearts out. Little did I know that no matter what we
did, or how far we ran, she would eventually find us.
The paper
suddenly caught fire. I was hoping it would produce a giant
fireball which would quickly burn her into little foxy ashes. But
the fire quickly died out only to be replaced by thick black smoke.
It spewed from the page and quickly engulfed the entire courtyard,
until the last thing I saw was the rabid fox woman grinning at me
like she knew my fate was sealed. I wanted to ask Itsuki how not
being able to see was going to save us, until he dropped the charm
and grabbed my elbow.
“
Run!” He yelled.
against a tree and gave my burning lungs some much wanted relief. I
looked back expecting to see a crazed naked fox monster, but all
that lay behind us was dense forest. I had attempted to lead us
back to the main road in our getaway, but Itsuki said it was too
dangerous to fight where people could see, which left us with no
other choice but to trudge through the forest. Apparently Itsuki
hadn't been expecting a freak fox attack when he got ready for
school that morning, so running was our only option.
