Suzume was preparing an explanation but her throat had closed up on itself. Kaito’s expression was bland, but she could feel the anger rolling off him. As a rule, she would not be cowed by Kaito, but her body wasn’t willing to listen to her stubborn brain. It felt like the spell Rin had placed on her but much more terrifying.  Suzume’s skin tingled with the untamed spiritual energy rippling off her like waves against the shore. It did not go on the offensive as it had before, but she could feel it clinging to her like a protective second skin. This would be a really good time to be able to control these damn powers.

“You think you can seal me away?” Kaito asked. His voice rumbled over her.

When spoke it was as if the spell was broken. Suzume found her tongue once more, “Yes. Once I master my powers I am going to seal you like Kazue did.” Suzume met his stormy gaze. The darkness in his eyes should have been enough to make her guard her tongue, but her reckless side had a hold of the reins and there was no turning back now.

“Quiet you idiot,” Rin hissed. Rin attempted to grab Suzume. The crackling energy running over Suzume’s skin burned Rin. She cursed and pulled her hand back while examining the charred flesh.

Suzume ignored her and continued to gaze at Kaito. “Try and stop me. I’m sure you can already sense my powers flaring to protect me from you. You cannot—“ Before she had an opportunity to finish uttering her sentence, Kaito darted forward.

Suzume took a step back to dodge him. She was too slow and he grabbed her by the shoulders. Kaito slammed her against a nearby tree.  Suzume gasped as pain shot up her spine. She was pinned against the rough bark with Kaito’s hands biting into her shoulders, hard. A few gingko leaves broke free and floated down. Suzume glanced at the parasol shaped leaves as they floated downward and then back at Kaito. He actually attacked me. I cannot believe it. She was too shocked to even move. She was paralyzed both by his anger and her inability to stop him.

“Master, stop this! She didn’t mean it!” Rin shouted at Kaito and pulled at his arm trying to separate Kaito and Suzume.

He brushed Rin aside as if she were an insect buzzing about without moving his blazing blue eyes from Suzume.

She tried to meet his gaze. She didn’t want to show any fear but she couldn’t –she was terrified of him. She had seen the storm clouds gather in his eyes before. This was nothing like those other times. His eyes reminded her of a thunder storm and she was afraid where the lightning was going to strike.

Her powers were numb and even they failed to save her from his wrath.  She was helpless.

“You,” he growled. “Are not Kazue. Do not presume to have her level of power.” He dug his nails into her shoulder and Suzume gasped. “Do you understand? You are not her, nor will you ever be anything like her.”

“I understand,” Suzume snapped back at him. She bit back a retort with much more venom. From the way Rin was frowning behind Kaito, Suzume figured it was best not to anger him further. She was lucky he hadn’t killed her outright.

He pushed off the tree and stomped away. Suzume slumped to the ground as her knees gave out beneath her and she walked him stalk away. Rin watched Kaito go over her shoulder. When he disappeared down a corridor, she turned back to Suzume with a furrowed brow.

“You fool! What are you trying to do? Get yourself killed?” Rin shouted.

Suzume’s lifted a shaking hand. She was too shocked to respond. The power was there in my hands, I felt it protecting me why didn’t it stop him when he attacked me? Where did it go? It has been there every other time, why stop now?

Rin knelt down in front of Suzume and peered into her face.  Suzume looked past her to where Kaito had disappeared back into the building. Rin touched Suzume’s shoulder. Suzume winced with pain. Where Kaito had touched her it burned. Not like fire, it was not warm, but more of a cold burn. Suzume brushed Rin’s hand away and the cloth of Suzume’s sleeve and shoulder were ice cold.

“Don’t touch that, it hurts.” Suzume snarled at Rin. I cannot believe she saw him humiliate me like this. I thought I had more power than that.

Rin sat back on her haunches. “Well at least you’re not in shock.”

Suzume ignored Rin’s seeming concern. If it wasn’t for her, I might be dead right now. She glanced at the fox from the corner of her eye. Not that she would be admitting that to Rin. She would much rather focus on Kaito’s reaction and more importantly, the fact that he had not killed her.  “What is his problem?” Suzume asked.  She covered her fear with her brashness.  

Rin stood up and brushed off her robe. “I honestly can’t say. I thought for sure he was going to kill you. The real question is why he didn’t.”

“Maybe because he knows I am stronger than him.” Suzume voice trembled as she said this. She was still too weak to even stand. Kaito had her beat and Suzume knew it. No one believed her false bravado.

Rin laughed. “I bet it was that spell you put on him, the one that made him all soft and gushy. I bet it wasn’t reversed properly. The real dragon would never have let you live after saying what you did. Unless...”

“That wasn’t my fault!” Suzume jumped to her own defense. “The lord of the forest, or whatever he was, shouldn’t have turned him into that sentimental loser...” Suzume trailed off. Even her excuses sounded lame to her own ears. What does she mean by unless? Suzume was afraid to ask.

Rin rolled her eyes. “The forest god grants wishes. He couldn’t have made that up on his own. He had to do it based on a wish.”

Suzume scoffed. “Why would I want Kaito like that?” She huffed they were getting off topic. “Besides, it doesn’t matter now. What’s important is figuring out how we’re going to fix this. He knows who I am!”

“Not my problem.” Rin said with a twitch of her tail and a smirk.

“You said you were going to help me!” Suzume jabbed a finger at Rin’s chest.

Rin easily dodged and alighted on a nearby tree branch. Suzume spun around. The fox’s movements were quick and Suzume feared she would slip away leaving Suzume grasping at nothing.

“I didn’t say I would rescue you from this hole you’ve dug yourself into. This is your mess, figure it out.” Rin said in a sing-song voice.

Suzume stamped her foot. “You cannot do this to me!”

Rin, crouched in the bow of the tree, “Sure I can. I am free to do as I wish, beholden to none. Where you, on the other hand, you’re now in a very serious position.”

Suzume narrowed her eyes at the fox. I really hate her.  

“What will it take to get you to help me?” Suzume said. She kept her tone lofty but she was not above negotiating.

“Hmm.” Rin hummed and rubbed her chin as she thought. She sat down on the tree branch and swung her legs while humming to herself.

Suzume was getting a crick in her neck from watching Rin.

“I want your first born son,” Rin said at last.

“What!” Suzume squawked.

Rin laughed. “I’m joking. Human children are too fattening. I need to keep my figure.” She winked as she ran a hand down her side.

Suzume growled in frustration.  Rin laughed harder. I don’t need her. I’ll figure out a way to fix this on my own. Suzume turned to walk away when Rin shouted out to her.

“Wait. I’m kidding. come back.”

Suzume turned around and glared at Rin. “What do you want then?”

Rin jumped down and hurried of to Suzume who was glaring with a hand on her hip. Rin stopped a few feet away. The smile was gone and even the mischievous twinkle in her eye had faded somewhat. “I want you to promise that you won’t seal Kaito,” Rin said. 

“What does it matter to you?” Suzume asked with an arched brow. I am not going to fall for this fox’s tricks. She pretends to care and want to help, but I’m not convinced she’s not trying to use me somehow.

Rin folded her hands in front of her and twisted them together. “Because I care about Kaito. He’s more than a master to me, he is my friend. I’m afraid if he is betrayed again, he will not be able to recover.”

Suzume snorted but it was only half-hearted.  Is she serious? An unwanted thought wriggled in her mind. Is Rin in love with Kaito? The very idea made her sick to her stomach. Why else would she care what I do to him?  “You say he’s not your lover but I find it hard to believe when you’re willing make deals just to keep him safe. Besides what does it matter if I seal him? It wouldn’t be betrayal if there’s no trust. He treats me like an animal. He should be expecting this.”

Rin shook her head. “I can love someone and not be their lover. You’re just too young to understand that,” Rin said in sage voice. Suzume sputtered and tried to protest but Rin continued talking over her. “You don’t know Kaito like I do. He wouldn’t keep a human around for amusement. He cares about you. He may not realize it yet, but he trusts you too. I’m sure his soul is calling to yours. You’re destined to be together.”

Suzume forced a laugh while her heart skipped a beat. That’s ridiculous. There’s no way he feels anything for me other than sick amusement from torturing me.

“I’m sorry. You must be confused. I am not destined to be with him. I am betrothed to general Tsubaki.”

“Not anymore.” Rin said. Suzume was not sure if she was referring to Suzume’s banishment or the deluded idea that Kaito and Suzume were meant to be together.

“Right.” Suzume replied slowly, drawing out the ‘I’.

 Rin kept staring at Suzume, perhaps waiting for Suzume to agree to the bargain.  She’s giving me the creeps. There’s no way I am going to promise to not seal him. It’s him or me and I like myself much more than him.

A prolonged silence followed and Suzume cleared her throat. “Well. This has been – awful, actually.”

Suzume turned to walk away. Rin grabbed her hand and Suzume spun around, ripping her hand free of Rin’s grip. Suzume would not give Rin the chance to put another one of those freezing spells on her.

“I’m not going to change my mind,” Suzume said.

“I know,” Rin replied. “But I’ll still help you. I’ll go talk to Kaito for you.”

Suzume narrowed her eyes. “Why are you helping me if I won’t pay your price?”

Rin gave her a mischievous smile. “Because.”  Rin twirled around in a blur of fabric and light. Her robe seemed to come alive with color and the wind picked up wrapping Rin in a hurricane of leaves. When the wind died, Rin had disappeared and all that remained were gently drifting Gingko leaves.

“What do you mean ‘because’?  Do you have to be so dramatic? Couldn’t you walk away like a normal person?” Suzume shouted into thin air but Rin was gone. All that remained were the gentle fall of leaves and the wind rustling through the trees.