Kevin almost said,
“
I don’t have any perverted thoughts about you,”
but had the inkling that wouldn’t go over very well. “Then what are you doing in Arizona?”
Christine perked up at the change of subject. “I’m here because of my heritage and the circumstances of my birth. There is a law among yuki-onna that we must all abide by. Yuki-onna are only allowed to mate with humans. Yuki-onna do this because any child born from the union between a human and a yuki-onna will always be one hundred percent yuki-onna.”
Kevin listened silently, wondering if there might be some kind of scientific reason to explain why children born from humans and yuki-onna were always yuki-onna. Maybe they had really powerful DNA.
On a side note, Kevin had never heard anyone say “yuki-onna” so many times in a single statement.
“
I wasn’t born from a human and a yuki-onna,” Christine continued. “In fact, my mother committed what is considered a taboo amongst our kind. She mated with a bakeneko.”
“
That’s a type of nekomata, right? A cat yōkai.”
Bakeneko were one of three types of cat yōkai, along with nekomata and kasha. Kevin didn’t know much about bakeneko, as they weren’t as prominently featured in anime and manga as nekomata were. He guessed it was because they only had one tail.
“
That’s right. The literal translation of their name means Fire Cart, which is odd, because they have nothing to do with carts or any other form of transportation. Regardless, bakeneko, while not as powerful as nekomata or kasha, still have a strong affinity for fire.
“
Mating with any type of yōkai is considered taboo among our kind. Mating with a yōkai that has powers over fire is grounds for banishment. Because of this, the clan my mom belonged to banished her.”
Kevin winced. “That’s kinda harsh.”
Christine’s uncaring shrug said more about her state of mind than words ever could. “Life’s harsh, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“
I guess.” Kevin didn’t argue. After all the crap he’d been through, he agreed. “So where’s your mother? Does she live with you?”
“
My mother’s dead.”
Kevin closed his eyes as guilt slammed into him like a hailstorm of gunfire. “I’m sorry.”
“
It’s fine. She died soon after giving birth to me, so it’s not like I ever knew her. I grew up in an orphanage. Occasionally, a family would adopt me, but they would always give me back because I couldn’t control my powers. It wasn’t until I met my benefactor that I left the orphanage for good.”
“
Who’s your benefactor?”
“
Just some guy. He’s a yōkai, or at least I think he is. I’ve never met him in person before. He always contacts me through intermediaries to give me a monthly stipend.”
Listening to Christine made Kevin realize just how lucky he was. Yes, his mom was never at home, and yes, she certainly wouldn’t be winning any “Mother of the Year” awards, but at least he had a mom. He might not know his dad—and he honestly didn’t want to know—but he knew his mom, and he knew that she loved him.
Lilian and Christine had lived much harder lives than him. One had her own family trying to force her into a mating arrangement for some political crap, and the other didn’t even have a family to rely on. Compared to what these two had gone through, his own problems seemed insignificant.
“
You’re a really amazing person.” Kevin smiled at the gothic-clad female. “Really, I haven’t met many people who are as strong-willed and determined as you.”
Christine’s face turned into a raging storm normally only seen in the frozen tundra. “Wh-wh-wh-what the hell are you saying?! IDIOT!”
“
GOOOF!”
“
Jerk! Imbecile! Jackass! You don’t just—you can’t just say things like that to a girl, you moron!”
“
Guh,” Kevin lay on the ground in the fetal position, arms curled around his stomach where Christine had punched him. As the yuki-onna continued to rant, he groaned. “What did I do to deserve that?”
Christine didn’t answer him. She just continued yelling.
***
Track practice ended, though Kevin hadn’t been allowed to run for the last third of it. Coach Deretaine had insisted he rest, not wanting him to exacerbate his facial injury any further. Christine had left before then, huffing and stomping away like an angry rhinoceros.
Kevin would have wondered why, but he honestly didn’t care anymore. Trying to understand women was a pain. Trying to understand Christine was like trying to learn the meaning of life by playing eroge. He’d likely corrode his brain just making an attempt.
“
I’m telling you, the new series that just came out is fucking awesome. It’s the only show in the world about trains that I can actually get on board with.”
“
That’s just because it’s a complete T and A anime. I know what anime you’re talking about, and the only thing you’d find exciting about it are the massive boobs every chick in that series is sporting.”
“
So? You say that like boobs are a bad thing. Have you no pride as a man?”
“
I have plenty of pride as a man,” Kevin snapped as they walked into the school proper. “I just prefer anime with good stories as opposed to ‘Massive Plot.’”
“
Whatever,” Eric grumbled. “You just don’t know a good show when you see it.”
“
It’s not like Kevin needs to watch shows like that anyway,” Alex said.
“
Yeah. If he wants ‘Massive Plot,’ then he’s got both Lilian and that Kotohime chick to look at.”
“
Not to mention Christine. I think she’s got the hots for him, too, though her breasts are pretty tiny.”
Somewhere within the school campus, a certain yuki-onna sneezed. She then began raging uncontrollably as the powerful urge to freeze someone’s dick off consumed her.
“
Do you guys have to bring my love life into this?”
“
Yes.”
“
Definitely.”
“
Indubitably.”
“…
Love…”
“
W-whatever,” Kevin huffed. “And why bother mentioning Christine anyway? She doesn’t like me. I mean, have you seen how angry she gets whenever I open my mouth? It’s like she’s hardwired toward violent responses to everything I say.”
Kevin’s four friends stared at him.
“
Kevin.” Eric placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You’re an idiot.”
“
A big idiot,” Alex agreed.
“
A massive idiot.”
“…
. Stupid…”
A large vein pulsed on Kevin’s forehead. “Oh yeah? And why is that?”
“
No reason. You just are.”
The pulsing vein gained company in the form of Kevin’s twitching right eye.
They continued strolling to the makeshift locker room in the main office building. Kevin didn’t know how Coach Deretaine managed to convince the principal to let them use the main office building as a locker room. Perhaps Eric had a hand in convincing his father to let them change there, he theorized to himself.
While they were walking, a teacher walked up to them.
“
Ah, Mr. Swift. I was hoping to see you,” Professor Nabui’s accent was thicker than usual that day. Kevin had a hard time understanding him.
“
Um, did you need me for something?” Kevin asked.
“
Indeed. I wished to discuss your last test score. If you could come with me?”
Kevin was confused. Couldn’t his teacher just speak with him here? He didn’t protest, however, since this was a teacher, and Professor Nabui had always been unusual.
Really, what could go wrong?
***
Lilian was worried.
After parting ways with Lindsay, she’d gone searching for Kevin, first heading to the track field and then to the gym. After remembering that the gym—and subsequently the school locker rooms—were closed until further notice, she’d traveled to the main office building.
She’d passed Christine on the way. The girl looked angry, but that was nothing new. They spent a few moments arguing before they both stalked away in a huff.
She eventually reached the office, a square building that sat next to the library. Lined with windows and painted in the school colors, Lilian could easily see inside.
She was about to walk in when someone walked out first and, upon seeing her, brightened like a million watt bulb.
A very perverted million watt bulb.
“
My Tit Maiden!” Eric ran toward her, drool leaking from his mouth and blood from his nose. His hands were outstretched and his eyes were locked on her chest.
Lilian swiftly clotheslined him the moment he was within reach. She was not in the mood right now.
“
Do you guys know where Kevin is?” she asked, staring at Alex. The young man gulped. He didn’t know why, but that stare really scared the crap out of him.
“
Kevin? He’s, um, he’s, oh, blast it! Why can’t I remember?!”
Fear will do that to a man.
“…
Japanese…”
“
Oh, right!” Andrew snapped his fingers. “Professor Nabui said he wanted to speak with him, so they went off to his classroom, I think.”
Lilian’s stared hardened. “You think?”
“
I’m sure that’s where they are. I mean, where else would a teacher take a student that he wants to speak with?”
“
I see. Thanks.”
Lilian left soon after. Eric was still choking on the ground, his hands clasped around his throat. She didn’t wait for him to recover, which also meant she missed the waterworks his personal storm cloud made when it returned with a vengeance.
On a side note, Alex and Andrew were not pleased when their clothes got sopping wet.
Lilian didn’t bother knocking on Professor Nabui’s door, instead going straight for the handle. It was locked. A sense of apprehension washed over her. After glaring at the handle for several seconds, Lilian looked around to confirm she was alone before releasing her “foxy parts” and channeling youki through her body and into her arms.
The door dented, bent, and then yielded to her fist, before flying off its hinges and crashing to the ground. Lilian retracted her tails and ears, transforming back into a fully human form, and walked inside.
Kevin wasn’t there.
Neither was Professor Nabui, for that matter.
The room was empty.
Lilian walked further into the room. Nothing seemed to be out of place. Everything was exactly as she had last seen it.
As she continued searching, something on the professor’s desk grabbed her attention. Lilian crept over and saw a single sheet of paper lying on top, a small paperweight pinning it to the surface. She grabbed the paper and held it up to her face. It read:
Dear Ms. Pnév̱ma. By now you have no doubt realized that your mate, Kevin Swift, has been kidnapped. If you want him back unharmed, all you have to do is hand yourself over. I shall be waiting at the All 4 Anime store on 19th
Avenue and Dunlap Road. I suggest you come alone, otherwise, I cannot guarantee Kevin’s safety.
Lilian stared at the sheet of paper in her hands, uncomprehending. She could barely concentrate on the words written therein, and only one phrase within the entire letter penetrated the stormy haze brewing within her mind.
“
Kevin Swift has been kidnapped.”
“
Has been kidnapped…”
“
Has been…”
“
Has… has… has…”
Lilian frowned. That wasn’t right.
“
Been kidnapped…”
“
Kidnapped… kidnapped… kidnapped…”
That was better.
Her body began to shake.
Her lips trembled before they peeled back into a feral snarl.
The sound of paper crinkling was surprisingly loud as Lilian clenched her hands into fists. Her control over her transformation slipped, ears quickly sprouting crimson fur, elongating, and moving closer to the crown of her head. Her tails sprouted from between a flap in her shorts, writhing in a rictus of furious activity. While her face remained mostly unchanged, six whiskers did appear around her nose.
Lilian didn’t even bother to consider how the professor knew she was a kitsune, nor did she think about the ramifications that came with someone knowing about her origins. All her thoughts were focused on the building mass of rage coiling around the center of her stomach.
Someone had kidnapped her mate. Some pretentious little fool had taken
her mate! They had stolen him from her! And now she was going to find them and Kick! Their! Ass!