Kitsune: A Little Mermaid Retelling

Chapter Eighteen

Waking up next to Rin had to have been one of the most blissful moments of his life. He felt her warm body formed against his and thought it would be better to never wake. Because when he woke, his life and responsibilities would come crashing down. Just a few more moments to pretend. He nuzzled her neck and she squirmed a bit but did not wake. I should leave, the servants will be coming soon to get her dressed, and they would be shocked to see me here. Yet he could not help but stay a few moments longer.

After a while, Rin's stirring went from restless sleep to waking. She rolled over and came nose to nose with him. He smiled at her and she leaned forward to kiss him. What started as an innocent brushing of lips quickly escalated, but he could not let it go further. It was just the one night. That was what he told himself. He ended the kiss and she smiled at him innocently. She drew her fingers across his face. It pierced him more than he thought it would. This was only a brief respite. When he left this room, it would mean goodbye.

She seemed to be coming to the same conclusion. She sat up and looked at him for a moment.

"You did not transform into a fox as my father would have thought." Hikaru chuckled. He thought of what his mother's specter said and his final words. I was born with fox ears and a tail too. What does that mean, what am I? He pushed away these troubling thoughts. He did not want to cloud these precious moments with Rin.

She frowned. Her neat brows pulled together over her eyes.

"Did I offend? It was not my intention."

She shook her head. But he sensed there was more she was not telling him. Like why she appeared as a woman when she had been a fox when they first met. Why could she not speak? They both had their secrets, he supposed; let her keep hers and he would keep his. Either way, she must leave this place for her own protection. He dressed in a hurry and left her in contemplation on the futon. He stood for a moment watching her. She sat on her knees, naked and unashamed. Her thoughts appeared to be turned inward. Once again he wished he could read her thoughts to better understand what she was thinking, or better yet how he could help her.

"I cannot stay. I am sorry to leave you."

She did not respond. He touched her lightly on the shoulder and she startled and stared up at him. Seeing the tops of her naked breasts and her come-hither smile made him want to climb back in bed with her. But he had delayed this moment long enough, his uncle and the others would be waiting for him. It had been an indulgence just to spend the night with her.

He sighed and went down the hall. The day was young, but he suspected this matter would weigh on his mind for much of it. He snuck into his room just before Yori came to dress him and fortunately he was none the wiser. As Yori dressed him, another servant entered with a scroll. Hikaru took it and cracked the seal. He skimmed over the correspondence and then his stomach contracted.

He crumpled the note in his hand. So soon, I thought I would have more time.

Sensing Hikaru needed time alone, Yori departed with a bow and left his master with his thoughts. Hikaru smoothed out the paper and read the message once more just to be certain he had not misread it. But it was there in plain words. She was on her way; his wife was coming to the palace. She would arrive in a matter of days. I cannot have her here without this matter with my father settled. He tossed the paper aside. She cannot know about Rin. If they think I am having an affair with another clansmen's daughter, it may get back to her father and impact the treaty. What will Rin do if I turn her out, will she return to the forest? He cradled his head in his hands. What is wrong with me? There are more important things at stake than a Kitsune. Damn it. I've fallen in love with her.