A naked man emerged from a blue pond. It was a stunning looking man with hair the color of snow. Feeling refreshed, he grabbed his green silky robe and started wearing it. He has the large ears of a fox and nine whitetails. It gives the vibe like a peacock's tail on his back as he walks. His dark-green eyes shine as it reflected the pond and his nicely built body made him look like a noble along with his expensive-looking robe.
"Finally, I've lost them. Ah, never have thought I'd get tired," he spoke to himself with hints of relief and excitement. He's been trying to escape from his family for years. And only today when he successfully made it.
That man was a nine-tailed fox, a nonhuman being gifted with immortality and various abilities. He was born lazy. Hence, doing tasks was not his style. Traveling, lying leisurely, sleeping, and enjoying luxury were the only things he wants to do.
After walking out of the forest, he found a house brightly lit except for one room. "Aren't I so lucky? I have a bed tonight."
He concealed his presence, nearly invisible to be seen by the eyes of humans. Suddenly, the man turned into a blur before disappearing into thin vast air. In a split second, he's inside the room. He laid his back on the bed and closed his eyes. But there was a noise. He hated the noisy environment. Someone was crying. Irritated, he sat down and muttered to himself, obviously wishing that someone would stop crying. But that someone saw and heard him. A mere human child has seen and heard him!
The man looked at her, amazed but at the same time dumbfounded. "You can see me?" The man stood up and walked towards her.
"Don't come near me! Or else I'll scream!" She warned.
"You're the only one who can see me anyway," the man replied calmly with a smirk on his face. Why would he be afraid of a mere human child?
Mizuki prepared herself to scream but was interrupted when the man's hand suddenly covered her mouth. She did not notice when and how the man got behind her. Mizuki inhaled the enchanting earthy scent that his body possesses. She finds it comfortable and felt secure. It's like having a big brother protecting her. When the man felt like Mizuki calmed a little, he removed his hand and went back to her bed.
"So why were you crying?" The man asked, obviously unconcerned but still asked as a form of politeness.
"Why are you here first? What are you?" Mizuki answered his question with a question. Slowly, she reached her hand to the doorknob, ready to open it. But when she almost made it, it got hard, difficult to move by even an inch.
The man sighed, "Hm. I need a bed to sleep. I'm Jiro, a nine-tailed fox. Though you're not supposed to see me," he replied nonchalantly while scratching the back of his head.
"I don't know about foxes with a lot of tails but big bro, I need you to get out of here now!" Mizuki demanded. Jiro's lips twitched. Big bro. He ignored it and chuckled. This little girl is brave. "Sure, but why were you crying first?"
Mizuki still stood stupefied, her back was drenched with sweat, and her face seems to have run out of blood. She only heard stories from her mom about nonhuman beings such as fairies, dwarfs, mermaids, centaurs, and more but never really encountered a real one personally as they were only stories, fantasies, and product of human's wide imagination. But most of the time in her mom's stories, they were kind and would help humans. The humans were even antagonists. Mizuki always wanted to meet a nonhuman being, but right now, she only wanted to wake up from this nightmare. Afraid of what Jiro might do to her, she contemplated for a while if she should tell him or not.
"This…" she showed the broken dancing figurine on her hand, "was broken. T'was the last thing dad gave me."
She looked down; both hands on the sides of her hips, clenched. Jiro sensed the sadness in her voice. Not good, she might start crying again.
"Give it to me," Jiro ordered, his hand on air reaching out.
"Why?"
"I'll fix it."
She remembers the scenes where nonhuman beings would help humans and thought Jiro was one of those kind of beings. Though doubtful, Mizuki still handed it. It floated on air surrounded with green smoke. A moment later, it rests on Mizuki's hands, her wide eyes staring at Jiro. The head and other pieces were again intact as if nothing happened to it. He really fixed it! It even looked brand new and much better than before.
"Big bro, thank you!" She jumped to Jiro and hugged him. Flustered, he tapped her back lightly, wanting to get out of the uncomfortable hug quickly.
"Now, let me sleep," he lies down and closed his eyes.
"What do you think you're doing?" Mizuki asked annoyed and a little afraid. It's true; Jiro had indeed helped to put her dancing figurine's broken pieces back when she thought fixing it was impossible. Her mom also taught her to be grateful to those people who helped her when she's in need. But letting a stranger sleep in her room, much more a man who looked 10 years older than her and worst a nonhuman being is just too much! She wanted to get Jiro out of her room as soon as possible.
"Mizuki, can I come in?" Mizuki's thoughts were disturbed and she almost jumped on her feet when she heard her aunt on the door's other side. Remembering the door was locked when she tried to open it earlier, she calmed a little. She looked at Jiro who's still lying like a sleeping beauty then back to the door. What if aunt saw him? She grew nervous. Before she could even answer, the door opened. Both Mizuki and her aunt froze.
"Aunt…"
"Dear, why are you still awake?" Sydny walked towards Mizuki who's visibly nervous. She noticed a bead of sweat forming on her temple.
"Are you okay? Is it about your figurine? I'm sorry about Angel's behavior. I've already scolded her enough." Sydny hugged Mizuki and kissed her forehead. "You go sleep now, okay? Goodnight." She smiled sweetly before leaving and did not think much of Mizuki's odd actions.
Mizuki waited several seconds before sighing in relief. She shifted her puzzled gaze to Jiro. The latter shuddered when Mizuki stared at him for minutes. "Hey human child," he finally opened his eyes and turned his body where Mizuki is, his head resting on his right hand supported by his elbow. Mizuki continued to stare, her eyes filled with bewilderment. "What?"
"Big bro, why did aunt ignore you?" She tilted her head, her eyebrows meeting and lips slightly pouted, obviously curious about what happened just then.
"Humans can't see me. But why can you? Are you sure you're human?"
"Of course I am!" Mizuki answered quickly accusingly.
Jiro chuckled. This human child is cute. He sat down as his eyes looked down on this small human child in front of him. "Have a name?"
"Of course, I'm Mizuki. Yamaguchi Mizuki," she then rolled her eyes. Who wouldn't have a name?
"How old are you?"
"I'm eight!" Mizuki even extended both her hands, all fingers on one hand-stretched, while two were closed on the other. "You?"
Jiro froze, finding the question more difficult to answer than why is he here. He's been living for so long humans can even imagine. He himself doesn't even know his real age. He's immortal, there's no use in counting how long he had lived. He contemplated for a while and thinks of his handsome appearance. If he compared it to humans, "I'm 19," he then smiled.
Mizuki raised an eyebrow. It took Jiro a minute before he managed to answer. "Hm, okay. Now big bro, leave." Mizuki reciprocated his smile sweetly, a finger pointing outside. Jiro feigned sadness.
His eyes were teary and his lips curved downward. Mizuki almost couldn't help pitying him but she immediately shook her head before smiling again.
"Big bro I'm not a fool. Go now, thank you," she jumped on the bed and kissed Jiro's cheek before pushing him away. She then lies down and covered her body with a blanket as she closed her eyes pretending to sleep. This way, Jiro might leave her room. She can't stay with Jiro alone anymore; she's still scared of his ears and tails.
Unbelievable. Jiro touched his blushing cheeks. The very first being who kissed him was a human, a human child. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He stared at Mizuki, studying the features of her face. Her breathing became heavy and stable indicating that she's fast asleep. Jiro reached for her nape with his hand and it glowed for a couple of seconds. Suddenly, a symbol appeared. It is a small circle with three diamond-like shapes with its sides curved inward at the center, surrounded by three arches, not overlapping the previous shapes mentioned; each has three small lines, equal in space and length. Jiro smiled before turning into a blur and vanishing. Once again, Mizuki was alone in her room.