Free Foxfire (Nine Tails, 1) by Yuki Edo Page B

no lover but
Inari for decades.”
    “ Hmmm.”
    Masaki sat up taller. “Our kami would
never hurt another out of jealousy. You know this well.”
    Toyohiko gave another dismissive wave.
“I’m thinking. Lady Inari will be just as angry one you love has
been hurt.” He rummaged in his bag. “Incense. We must light it and
keep watch. Where is our lady?”
    “ I am here.”
    Hiro looked up, seeing Inari in female
form again, her face concerned and compassionate. She came to stand
by Masaki, a hand on his shoulder. “The yokai came to me. What can
I do?”
    “ Can you lift it?” the
doctor asked.
    Inari touched the spot, closing her
eyes. “No. It’s not a simple spell. It’s personal.”
    “ Personal?” Hiro asked,
truly growing afraid now. What chance did he have if a kami could
not help him?
    “ Blood or hair has been
used,” Masaki explained, his gaze on Hiro’s face. He scowled, then
rubbed his hand down his face, sighing. “My lady, I have offended
no one. Not knowingly.”
    “ I believe you. You
wouldn’t let him suffer to hide any shame.” A chair appeared behind
Inari, and she sat, smoothing her blue silk kimono. “I shall
stay.”
    Hiro pulled the blankets up, his head
aching as he trembled from the cold. “Could I have done something
wrong?”
    Masaki shook his head. “No. You didn’t
bring this on yourself. It’s the work of another.”
    Hiro’s mind clouded. Something hovered
there, something he should tell them, but it slipped away. He
burrowed into the covers, wishing he was still out in the clearing
in Masaki’s arms. Resentment filled him. This strange illness was
ruining everything. A kind, handsome man had just made love to him,
but then the happy moment had been shattered. He didn’t understand
why this was happening, and soon a fitful sleep took him as the
voices in the room lulled him into slumber. He reached for Masaki
before losing consciousness, clutching the hand of the man who made
him feel worthy of the kind of love he wanted.

Chapter Five
     
    Masaki lay stretched out on top of the
blankets on Hiro’s bed. The smell of burning sage filled the room.
Hiro held one of Masaki’s hands to his chest in a tight grip, and
Masaki refused to disturb him. He’d been sleeping for nearly twelve
hours now, his skin cold to the touch and his heart beating at a
slow but steady rhythm. Inari moved about the room quietly,
occasionally disappearing briefly to consult with spirits she had
sent out. Though she appeared calm, Masaki knew his kami was upset
about Hiro and even angry with herself for not having the power to
help. She came over and gently touched his shoulder.
    “ Masaki, I want you to get
up. Eat something. Transform and run in the garden.
Anything.”
    Masaki shook his head. “He reached for
me in his sleep, said my name. I have to be here if he wakes. I
promised to stay with him.”
    She ran her fingers through Masaki’s
hair. While her touch gave comfort, it could not quiet his worrying
thoughts. He could not believe any being would wish harm on Hiro,
so it had to be an enemy of him or Inari. But they had none. Inari
did nothing but good with her blessings, and the price for her
favor was always fair. Masaki could think of nothing he had done to
anyone—he kept to himself and only did his kami’s
bidding.
    “ Your heart will be with
him. I can feel it, Masaki. You’re in love. You gave more than your
body last night.” She pulled away and sat close to him.
    “ I know I did, and that
means it will only hurt more if we can’t save him.”
    “ I won’t let that happen.
If he begins to slip away, I will take him to my temple and place
him beneath the first shrine ever built to me. He’ll rest there
until we find a way to bring him back. I won’t let his soul
depart.”
    “ Keeping him between the
worlds would not be fair.”
    “ But he wants to be with
you.”
    “ Yes, he wanted me last
night, but love takes time, especially for humans. We’re different
from