Read Foxfire (Nine Tails, 1) for Free Online

Keep my
medallion with you, and you can summon me at any time. It will take
me but a moment, a single thought, to reach you.”
    Hiro reached up but didn’t touch the
medallion, which Masaki could now see was around his neck and
tucked under his shirt. Hiro managed a smile that looked genuine,
and the wave of relief Masaki felt from Hiro further assured him of
its sincerity. “Okay.”
    They continued eating, Masaki asking
questions about everyday things he already knew the answers to. He
doubted it would ever be a good idea to let Hiro know he’d spied on
him. When they were both done eating, he asked, “Would you like to
go out in the garden? Take a walk?”
    Hiro nodded and jumped up. “I’ll get
my sketchpad.”
    Masaki let him go and wandered out
into the hall at a leisurely pace. When Hiro returned, Masaki led
him outside to the darkened garden. Only the moon provided light,
but Masaki waved his hand, lighting small torches and red and gold
round paper lanterns all over the garden. The part closest to the
house had elements of both Japanese rock gardens and tea gardens. A
path wound its way through patches of white sand dotted with
carefully placed stones and areas of moss-covered rocks and
sculptures.
    “ I’ve never seen a garden
quite like this,” Hiro said, turning to a clean page.
    Masaki smiled, noting the spark that
came to Hiro’s eyes as he prepared to sketch. “Feel free to roam as
you wish. Nothing’s off-limits.”
    Hiro cast him a brief smile, blushing
slightly and turning away. Masaki had made a point of not asking if
Hiro had a girlfriend. He’d already given Hiro a hint about his
interest and didn’t wish to push it. Yet. He sat in a curved bamboo
lounge chair and watched Hiro move around. The young man finally
went down on his knees and began to draw.
    Masaki couldn’t help staring, several
minutes passing, and it took him a moment to realize Hiro stared
back. The young man rose and came to sit on a stool beside Masaki’s
chair. Masaki didn’t want to break the silence. Hiro showed him the
sketch he’d done.
    “ The swirls in the moss
almost look like foxfire. I’ve never seen patterns in moss before,”
Hiro said quietly.
    Masaki studied the sketch of the
cluster of mossy rocks, seeing the subtle pattern Hiro had
rendered. “The entire garden is full of magic. The influence comes
out in many ways.”
    “ Were you lonely? Is that
why you wanted me?” Hiro asked in an even lower voice.
    Masaki weighed his answer before
meeting Hiro’s eyes. “I did think you would make a good companion.
As I said, your work spoke to me.”
    Hiro didn’t seem quite satisfied with
that answer. “You seem lonely. By yourself in this giant
house.”
    “ It’s risky to bring
others into my world.”
    “ Is there someone, you
know, special?” Hiro asked, averting his eyes as soon as the
question passed his lips. “Or must you stay devoted to
Inari?”
    “ My devotion to Inari
doesn’t disallow other relationships. At the moment, I don’t have a
lover.” Masaki sat forward in his chair. “Is there someone special
I’m keeping you from? He could always visit you here.” Masaki
didn’t mean to trick Hiro, but he saw a good opportunity to discuss
a subject that would need to be breached eventually.
    “ He? What?” Hiro asked,
flustered, his face now bright red. His heart pounded as he stared,
wide-eyed. “I’m not, I mean, I’m not like that.”
    Masaki folded his hands in his lap,
angling to face Hiro more. “I’m not human, Hiro. I can sense many
things, and it’s clear you don’t desire women.”
    Hiro’s racing heart stuttered a bit,
and he leapt to his feet. He wouldn’t look at Masaki. He tore the
sketch from the pad and handed it over, letting it flutter to the
ground when Masaki didn’t take it. “I’m normal. I don’t like guys,
okay? It’s fine if you do, but…”
    “ But?” Masaki had felt
desire from him off and on all day. He could not read the young
man’s