How I was Murdered by a Fox Monster (5 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
“
I knew it!” I didn't feel so stupid anymore for treating
every animal with caution as a child.
“
But different types of Obake often disguise themselves as the
same animal so you never know what you're going to get until it
unveils itself. Sometimes its just a talking cat, or a giant cat
with massive claws, or a half cat half person thing. It makes
exorcising really hard. When I started we had to run away a lot,
but now Taisei and Kurumi are pretty good, and Itsuki is probably
the best.”
“
Itsuki,” I snorted. I could feel my anger begin to rise up
already. I'd made a few attempts to be nice to the guy, but he
ignored me completely. “I don't get it, why is that Itsuki guy such
an arse all the time?”
“
Don't worry about Itsuki, he's still mad about having to go
to this school. Itsuki actually made it in to a really good high
school but they refused to let him go. He's been angry since
then.”
“
Still, that's no excuse to be a dick to everyone,” I
muttered.
“
Don't say that, Itsuki's a really loyal friend. He might be
angry now, but he's normally fun to hang around.”
“
Maybe,” but he had still gone out of his way to build a wall
between Mana and I. “So what's the deal with him and Mana?” I
asked
“
Itsuki and Mana, huh? They're the same age so they've always
been close. Mana was bullied in elementary school, but Itsuki
would always rush in and save her. Just like a knight in shining
armor.”
“
I see,” I wasn't sure how I was going to compete with
that.
“
He helps her with school work at home a lot too.”
“
What! Home? So he goes to her house?” The thought of the two
of them alone in Mana's bedroom made me want to puke.
“
Yes, sort of, we all live together.”
“
Really?” That wasn't as bad then. “All of you, as in all the
exorcists, like together, in one house?”
“
Yes. Taisei, Kiyori, and I have to sleep in the same room.
Taisei snores and Kiyori farts all night.”
“
And your parents are there too right?”
“
Nah, our parents are back home, we just live here during our
training.”
“
Wow that must be tough,” I tried to imagine what it would be
like the live far away from Sis, Shuro and Hikaru.
shrugged. “At first, but I've been here since middle school so I
don't really mind anymore. But Kiyori was really angry. I think he
sometimes sneaks off and goes home when he's not supposed to.”
I soon discovered that Kiyori was probably the biggest guy at
school. I'm really glad that he wasn't trying to beat me up because
I don't think I would have survived. The two of us got along pretty
well for a while, until
that
incident.
the oldest and the leader of the group. He was also Mana's older
brother, so I had to be nice to the guy if I wanted to date her.
This meant I had to try not to spill their secret.
I tried
talking to Mana a few times since the first day, but Itsuki would
always slip himself between us and foil all my plans.
Therefore she couldn't go with me to the cinema, the mall, the
water park, or all the other fantastic date locations I came up
with.
I considered
asking my sister about her father and older brother but I decided
against it. Sis always got depressed when we talked of them. I was
also paranoid of what Taisei would do if I told her there were
exorcists running around my school. I probably should have told her
immediately. Maybe I was too stupid to see what was coming, but
perhaps Sis could have saved me.
wonder if I would have been an exorcist if Grandpa hadn't passed
away. If I had a famous guy like him as a mentor I could have been
an awesome exorcist by now. Surely awesome enough to make those
other guys take me seriously. Maybe even awesome enough to rival
the first Daisuke Matsumoto.
I spent most
of my classes day dreaming about fighting Obake. I wasn't certain
how they were exorcised, so I made up most of the details on my
own. Like with giant swords, or magical weapons that sent out laser
beams. In my imagination I became a fantastic Obake hunter who
saved young maidens from terrifying monsters. Unless the maiden was
an Obake herself. In that case I would have to destroy her, despite
being almost overwhelmed by her beautiful looks.
Being the idiot that I used to be, I decided I couldn't take
it anymore. I
had
to
see an Obake, I
had
to
know if they were real.
best case of action would be to ask the exorcists if I could follow
along one day and take a quick look. One quick glance, then I would
be out of there straight away. I approached Taisei with this idea
in break time, but he wasn't very enthusiastic.
“
Absolutely not,” he said.
“
Why not, I promise I'll stay out of danger.”
“
There's no way I could guarantee your safety.”
“
Come on, I
really
want to see an Obake, I'll do
anything.”
like he was considering it, but he then shook his head. “They would
probably ground me, I have a date with Yui Murase on Friday and it
would suck if I couldn't go.”
I tried
begging for another five minutes, but he wouldn't budge. I later
found out that Yui Murase was the prettiest girl in third year,
which explained his decision, but I was certain I'd see her making
out with a student near my house.
I considered
approaching Mana or Itsuki, but I knew it would be a waste of time.
Some days they didn't arrive at school until lunch time. Unlike the
rest of us (who were lectured for arriving a few minutes late) the
teacher just nodded as they entered the room.
“
This is so unfair,” I muttered to Keira, the guy on my right
who was my new lunch buddy. “The teachers don't do anything when
they're late. I wouldn't mind not showing up until one.”
“
It's because they do community service,” said Keira as he
took a bite of his rice ball. “Like go to retirement homes and read
stories to old people. I asked Yoshida-sensei if I could join, but
he said all the places were full.”
“
Hmph,
” I
fumed. Only I knew the truth. I'd decided I wouldn't mind chasing
Obake all night if I didn't have to study anymore. High school was
far duller than I expected, and the teachers already started piling
on the homework. It was only the second week, and I had two
assignments due.
Taisei's advice and attempted to follow them after school.
Unfortunately they all seemed to possess some sort of exorcist
skill that allowed them to vanish when the final bell rang. All my
stalking attempts had failed.
I felt
deflated, but little did I know that I was about to meet my first
Obake within the next few hours.
through the shopping district on my way home. It was a closed off
street with shops on either side and a roof so you didn't get wet
when it rained.
I stopped to
look in the second-hand games store at things I couldn't afford. It
was unlikely that my sister would give me money for games, but if I
could convince Shuro, he may have brought it for me. He was a
really awesome guy when it came to things like that.
There were a
few girls hanging around the mall as well. Some were in groups, and
some were casually shopping on their own. There was a cute girl
gazing into the display window of the clothing store. Probably
imagining how she would look in the fashionable, but over priced
outfit the mannequin was wearing. I was tempted to stop and talk to
her, before I remembered the gruesome end to the first Daisuke
Matsumoto.
I decided I
would no longer attempt to pick up strange girls before confirming
they were human. I didn't want to meet the same end as my older
brother. I was paranoid that the fox monster really liked the taste
of his heart, and might come back looking for seconds. Looking back
on it now, I probably wouldn't have gotten into such a mess if I'd
just stuck to this rule.
I sighed and
turned to go home. So much had changed since I began high school. I
had to make new friends, found out my adopted family were
exorcists, and discovered that any pretty girl could be a heart
eating monster. If I'd known my death was also soon to come, I
would have returned home and locked myself in my room forever.
I heard the jingle of phone charms, and a flash of blonde
raced past me. I stared blankly at the girl running off into the
distance. She was wearing our school uniform, but her hair was
bleached blonde which was against school policy. The only person I
knew who could get away with that was
Kurumi!
I took a second glance. It was
definitely Kurumi. She must have been racing off to fight an Obake.
I couldn't figure out any other reason why she would be in such a
hurry.
bag strap with one hand to prevent it from falling off my shoulder,
and followed suit. Following her was like taking another step
closer to my demise, but I was just too excited about the chance to
see a real live Obake.
Chapter
6
Kurumi to the edge of town where there was nothing but trees. We
ran until the cement path became dirt and pebbles.
I thought she
would have heard my footsteps pounding behind her, but she was too
engrossed in her destination. Every now and again she would pull
out her cell phone and quickly glance at the screen before dashing
off again.
We kept
running until I could hear the voices of the other exorcists from
somewhere beyond the trees.
“
I don't know what you're waiting for, let's just attack now,”
came the obnoxious voice of Itsuki.
“
No, we should wait for it to make the first move, we don't
know what we're dealing with,” said Taisei.
“
You're just scared because the last one took a chunk out of
your arm,” Itsuki replied.
up speed and I wasn't far behind, within a matter of seconds she
burst through the trees and was out in an open field. I decided
things would be best if I didn't draw attention, so I hung back and
hid myself behind a bush. I pushed the branches apart and peeked
through the leaves to get a better view. The rest of the exorcists
were already there. Taisei, Nina, Mana, Itsuki, Kiyori, and Souta
were gathered around in a circle staring at something I couldn't
see.
“
Kurumi,
thank god
you're here!” Yelled
Taisei
“
Someone was late. Was there a sale at the mall?”
“
Shut your face Itsuki!”
excited, I could finally see a real life Obake and witness my first
exorcism. I expected them to be dressed in special clothes and
carrying mystical weapons, but compared to my day dreams they
looked more like they were going home from club
activities.
Taisei and
Mana were holding wooden poles which were similar to those used in
the Kendo club. Nina was holding a bow and arrow (which probably
came from the archery club) and Kiyori looked like he was prepared
to cut down a tree with a single ax in his hand. Itsuki and Souta
weren't holding anything, so maybe they intended to beat the Obake
to death.
I caught a
glance of a small raccoon in the center of the circle. It didn't
look anything like the monster Taisei showed me on his phone, and
it looked more like a tiny raccoon trembling in fear.
I stared in
confusion and began to wonder if what Taisei told me was the truth,
or a funny lie made up to mess with me. What if Obake didn't really
exist after all? What if the teenagers who I had mistaken for
having mystic powers, were actually just a bunch of weird kids?
Maybe they were all in a make-believe club which ran around the
forest pretending to be exorcists and killing animals. I was
embarrassed by how easily I had believed their strange
fantasies.
I felt pity
for the raccoon. I thought it was going to be beaten to death, so I
decided to intervene.
I walked out of the trees with both hands
up
to show
that I meant no harm.
“
Hey guys,” I said while trying to appear casual and relaxed.
I thought it was the best way to convey my voice of
reason.
around and stared at me.
“
Why is he here?!” Screeched Kurumi.
“
What do you mean
why is he
here?
Didn't
you bring him?” Asked Taisei.
“
No, why the hell would I do that?!”
“
He must have followed you,” said Itsuki. “Great job Kurumi, I
can see those exorcist skills hard at work.”
frantically waved his arms like he was trying to shoo me back
behind the trees.
“
Hey you! Just find a safe place to hide and get out of the
way!”