Lady Fox Part 1

Yumei had secrets. Everyone working in Hoshiba's corporate offices did. The difference was nobody would believe Yumei's. To her male co-workers, she was thought of as "the hot new girl." Though nobody dared say that aloud. Such a remark would be highly inappropriate...though both many colleagues made acceptable excuses to run into Yumei.

On Valentine's day, Yumei had brought chocolates for everyone in the office. There was a lot of gossip about the meaning but eventually it was agreed by most that they were merely a kind gesture.

This didn't stop plenty of co-workers from reciprocating on White Day. Yumei kindly received the expensive chocolates and left them on her desk till she was sure she was alone. Then she hastily used the desk's bottom drawer as a trash can.

"Why did you just throw away that chocolate?"

Yumei was so startled she almost lost her composure. She swiveled her chair to face her surprise guest. "Mr. Miyagi," she said. "I...please don't be offended...I, uh..."

"Don't worry," Mr. Miyagi said. "I've been watching you since you started working here two months ago. In that time I've never seen you eat chocolate. I figure you must be allergic."

He revealed the beautiful bouquet of roses and orchids that he'd been hiding behind his back. "Happy White Day, Ms. Junko."

Yumei took the flowers gently. She enjoyed their scent and colors. "Thank you, Mr. Miyagi," she said. "These are beautiful."


"Please call me Akira," he told her. "Do you have any plans tonight Ms. Junko?"

She sat the flowers down on the desk top. "If we're on first name basis, it's Yumei," she said. "I don't really have any plans. Why?"

"Yumei," Akira said. "Would you join me for a dinner date tonight? Nowhere fancy, just a ramen shop I know. They've got great noodles there."

"Sounds nice," Yumei answered. "Should we meet at a nearby metro station? Around six-thirty?"

"Sounds good."
"See you then."
"See you."

As promised the co-workers met at the Ginza Station that evening. Yumei wasn't sure this meeting was going to happen. There were people everywhere. Some of them might even have dogs. She loathed dogs.

"You look nice in that outfit."

Yumei pushed her anxiety down and looked for the familiar voice. She found Akira a few meters away, gazing at her as if she were the most beautiful lotus.

She blushed, and thanked the gods that her illusory magic had only gotten stronger with the years. It was so much cheaper to conjure a leaf into a nice dress.

"Thank you," Yumei said. "Are you sure I'm not overdressed?"

Akira rubbed the back of his head. He was feeling uncertain, his next words should be chosen carefully. "You should be fine," he said. "Ichiran's may be casual but I don't think they'll have a problem with your clothes."

The atmosphere inside was lively. The red lanterns outside glowed invitingly as the shop's owner called out "come on in!"

They strolled up to the counter and ordered.

"I'll have a tonkatsu ramen please," Akira told the waiter. "Yumei, have you had a chance to decide what you want?"

"Tonkatsu sounds delicious," she said. "I'll have the same."

"What would you like to drink?" The waiter asked.

"Two sake please," Akira said.

It wasn't long before their food arrived. The savory smell of meat and noodles greeted their noses. Almost in unison Akira and Yumei said, "Let's eat!"

The stalls, while comfy, were not conducive to conversation. The dividers between seats were more made for privacy. It made meal time much quieter than Akira had been hoping. Maybe he could spend more time with Yumei after the meal.

The waiter brought them their bills. Akira had just dug out his wallet when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Excuse me," Yumei said. "Is it customary for men to still pay on the first date?"

Akira almost laughed out loud. Of course he'd date the old fashioned woman. Nothing in his life had been as expected.
"Sure," he said. "I'll do that for you."

"Take care!" The waiter called after the couple as they left.

Yumei staggered a little as she left Ichiran's. Akira grabbed her arm. "Are you all right?" He asked.

Yumei gave him a smile. "I'm fine," she said. "I think I may have drank too much sake." She giggled but there was something odd about the way she sounded.

Akira decided it was just the alcohol affecting her speech. "Maybe a little air will help clear your head," Akira said. "Would you mind if we took a little stroll together?"

"Sure," Yumei said. "I don't see why not."

They walked along past a few of Ginza's shops. It wasn't until they stopped in front of a department store that things got weird. There was a digital camera for sale in the display window.

"Look," he said. "You can see us—"

While Akira was clearly picked up in the image, Yumei was really distorted. There were two red, pointy ears sticking up through her dark, well groomed hair. Yumei's face wasn't exactly human now either.

Akira looked over at where his date had been standing. Somehow, in a matter of seconds, Yumei had vanished completely. All that was left where the woman had been standing was a few leaves and a single, large, pink pearl.

There were so many questions that went through his mind. For one crazy moment, Akira thought of the old legends about fox shapeshifters might be true. It was pure ridiculousness. It was more likely Yumei was a member of some secret furry club. Yeah, that was it. She'd planned on going to a furry party and wore her costume underneath her clothes.

Her hairdo had been hiding the headband and the makeup for the cosplay had probably been so subtle that it wasn't notacble until her face had been magnified in the recording.

Yumei's hair must've come down revealing the fake ears. She was probably so embarrassed she'd run off and dropped an earring.

Akira silently cursed his luck and retrieved the pearl. He hadn't remembered Yumei wearing any jewelry. Whatever. He'd return the pearl to her at work tomorrow. She'd never missed a day since being employed by Hoshiba. Akira would confront her then.

Yumei sat hiding in the bushes silently wishing she hadn't lost control. In her hundred and fifty years, she'd never learned to hold her liquor. She should've known to stop at one dish of sake. Anytime she got too drunk, her human form slipped away.

It was too bad, Yumei actually liked Akira he was nice for a human. Not like those daimyo who had chased after her to steal her pearl so they could make her serve them. None of them had brought her flowers—or anything else for that matter.

It was both wonderful and terrible he was so observant. He had realized she couldn't eat chocolate. Then again he'd probably seen her ears pop out in front of the camera.

She suppressed a mournful cry, there probably wouldn't be a second date...foxes and humans were forbidden from having relationships. Perhaps this way was better.

Yumei was about to transform when she noticed something wrong with her tail. The pearl was gone!

This was terrible. She needed to get it back. She looked out of her hiding spot just in time to see Akira pick up her pearl. Dammit! So much for running away and starting over. She needed to get it back. Without it, she'd loose her powers and die.

The next morning Akira waited outside Yumei's cubicle. She arrived a few minutes before work started. As she walked to her desk, she noticed Akira standing there.

"Oh, Good morning," Yumei said. She nervously adjusted her hair while she waited for Akira to speak.

"Care to explain last night?" He asked.

She knew this was going to be difficult. Other worker bees were starting to peer over the tops of their cubicles. This was going to be some juicy drama.

"Do you mind ducking into the board room?" She asked. "I'd rather do this privately."

Without waiting for an answer, she dragged Akira into the glass walled room and closed the blinds. The onlookers were probably abuzz with speculation. Yumei didn't care this was more important.

"Look, I thought we were having a good time," Akira said. "Why'd you just disappear?"

"I'm kind of embarrassed—"
"About being a furry? Don't be."
"I'm not into—"
"Every one has—"
"I'M A FOX!"

All sound in the room evaporated. Akira blinked at Yumei a few times. He still didn't understand.

"Well I'm certain men find you attractive—"

"No," Yumei said. "Like from the old legends. I'm literally a shape shifting fox spirit. When I get drunk, I can't maintain human form as easily. I didn't want you to know, I was afraid you'd never see me again if you knew."

This was not what Akira had been expecting. If that was true then that pearl on the ground...

As he was processing this revelation, he heard a ruckus in the office surrounding the meeting room.

"Miyagi?!" An angry voice shouted. "Where is Mr. Miyagi?!"

"Who is that out there?" Yumei asked.

Akira was trying to loosen his tie as beads of sweat percolated through his skin. "It's the Yakuza," he said. "I lost a lot of money at their Pachinko parlor. That was over a month ago. I'd been meaning to pay them back but..."

Yumei mumbled, "you idiot," before grabbing Akira. She pressed him close to her body and locked her arms around his waist.

"What are you doing?"
"Be quiet and hold still. This won't work otherwise."

The panic rippling through the cubicles was audible. Finally the sound of wingtip shoes on carpet pounded up to the meeting room door.

"Boss!" A Yakuza soldier said. "The blinds are closed but I bet Miyamoto's holed up in here. Want me to search it?"

There was a grunt of approval. The door handle rattled as the thug tried to open it. Seconds after, the glass door shattered and a hand holding a gun reached around and opened what remained.

The goon's gaze searched the room. He looked right at where Akira and Yumei stood intwined. There was no reaction, just the crunching of glass as the Yakuza left.

"He's not there," the grunt said.
"Dammit! Let's search elsewhere."

The running footfalls got quieter as the armed men proceeded to the office's other exit. Not letting go of Akira's hand, Yumei peeked out to make sure they could leave.

"Looks like my illusion worked," she said. "As long as we're in contact, you'll be covered by my magic. The Yakuza won't give up. I need to get us out of the building, follow me and don't let go of my hand."

They dashed towards the stair well. As they went nobody noticed them. Akira wondered how this could possibly be. There were thousands of workers in the building; could Yumei's magic really fool them all?

Soon, they exited a side door into an alley. Yumei double checked they were alone before letting go of Akira's hand. They both panted as they caught their breath. Sprinting from the twentieth floor to ground level wasn't easy for anyone.

"Thank you, Yumei," Akira said. "How can I repay you for saving me?"

Yumei gulped some more air before responding. "Give me back my pearl," she said.

Akira had almost forgotten about the pink orb in his pocket. He was about to hand it over. Then a question made him hesitate.
"If I give this back to you, will I see you again?"

Yumei hadn't planned on leaving. One human knowing her secret wasn't too bad. Could she trust Akira not to betray or take advantage of her?

"Only if you promise me something," she said. "Never let people know my identity and don't think you own me. I've been around a while. I've met my share of human jerks."

"Yes of course," Akira promised. "I just want one tiny favor. On our second date, don't disappear on me."

This was amazing. Yumei had never dreamed of a human showing her affection. She smiled as she held the pearl Akira had placed in her palm. A wonderful warmth filled her being.

"You've got a deal," she said.

Word count: 2060