Kitsune: The Flip Side

“Kitty… kitten… it’s time,” Louis finally ventured to say, brushing his lips against her hair. They’d had a few hours to pillage this city, and their time was up. Kit sighed, lifted her head, purred something in Russian, and let it fall back down. It could have been “yes, of course,” “I don’t want to go anywhere,” or “go to hell"—dealer’s choice. She was exhausted, naturally, from the red-eye flight and the sex marathon they’d embarked on. Lou would have gladly told the world to sod off and stayed in this bed for another year himself. But he had to… he had to, had to, had to. Jeff had already called, dryly asking where the hell he was. “Baby, wake up… You can sleep on the bus, okay?” Lou kissed her again, stroking her back. When he’d asked how many days she was staying and Kit had held up five splayed fingers, he’d squealed like a fangirl seeing Justin Bieber: “You’recomingwithmeKit?!” She had nodded. Five days! Five whole days together! Lou thought he’d die of happiness back there by the river, lying on the sand after that mind-blowing sex, listening to her breathing, the chirping of insects in the grass, and the splash of the waves. But it turned out that happiness was a remarkably elastic thing. It just kept growing and growing, with no sign of snapping. It grew as they kissed quietly on the bank, washed off the sand, and got dressed. While they ate in a small cafe and Kit, brow arched and smiling, watched what he ordered for himself. While they shared champagne in her small hotel room, getting drunk more on passion than on wine. Happiness grew and grew as they loved each other—slowly, stretching out the pleasure. Louis made damn sure she enjoyed every second of it. And now, her sun-bright head was resting on his shoulder, her nose breathing warmth onto his chest, and it felt so right, so perfect… that his happiness was expanding somewhere beyond the solar system. Well, Kit woke up, sat astride his hips, and traced her finger over the tattoos on his stomach. His body shuddered, responding instantly. “Kitsune, what are you doing… we’ll never get up at this rate…” He caught her hands and pressed them to his chest. “Something else will get up…” “It already has… Kit…” Mmm, he really didn’t want to stop her. He was starting to understand why some guys preferred older women. But Kit was wriggling on him, it seemed, only to get another look at the tattoo of her name. She giggled, kissed him, and climbed out of bed. Lou sighed and reached for his clothes scattered across the floor. He froze, watching as Kit slowly dressed. It was just as pleasant as watching her undress. Probably because she was his woman now. At least, he liked thinking so. She noticed his gaze and said: “Breathe!” Ginger demon. That first evening, the demon sat with her legs tucked under her, tapping away at her tablet and peeking from under long lashes at the guys, who seemed a bit shy in her presence too. They’d heard enough about this Kitsune to last a lifetime, and now they were trying to figure out what was so miraculous about her—what had made their vocalist lose his mind so completely? Louis desperately wanted them to like each other because the band was family. And Kit… well, Kit was Kit. Lou also wanted her to drop that stupid tablet and talk to him. Better yet—cuddle. But she was texting someone, smiling at whatever she was reading, and it wound Lou up that he wasn’t part of it. It seemed Kitty had no intention of spending all five days hanging off his neck. A pity. He was reeling from her proximity. Terrified of appearing clingy, awkward, or boring. How was that possible? A few hours ago, they’d been doing things to each other that made him flush just thinking about them. And now he had to summon the courage just to hug her or even sit closer. Maybe because they weren’t alone? He had to pretend to be very interested in the two Jeffs’ conversation. Though… “Hi, Kit :)” “Hi, kid* :)))” “What are you up to?” “Riding in a tour bus with a bunch of handsome guys.” “Mmm… do I know them? :)” “Doubt it… Way too cool.” “Is that so? : O” “Yes. One especially. Tall, covered in tattoos, sad puppy eyes. Been staring at me for an hour.” “Probably for a reason… Maybe he’s in love? Wants to talk to you, but you’re too preoccupied with the internet.” “:)) You think?” “Positive!” “Why he so shy? Could come over :)))” “Probably thinks you’re too beautiful for him: (That you’ll tell him to bugger off.” “Let him check ;) Everyone is a bit stiff… Maybe we play?” “What?” “You see :)” Kitty set her tablet aside, rummaged in her backpack, and pulled out a regular deck of cards. “Shall we play, lads? 'Durak'. I’m bored. Rules are simple.” A few minutes later, she and Lou played their first game. If she wanted cards, cards it was—anything with her was a thrill. Kit made a predatory joke— “How about we play for your soul?” —and gave him a look that sent shivers down his spine. Though his soul already belonged entirely to her, didn’t it? The Kitsune left him as the 'fool' immediately. The first time, and the second. And the third. Lou started to get twitchy. The guys abandoned whatever they were doing and crowded around the table. “Deal me in too!” Sam chirped up. A few minutes later, the whole gang was looking serious, carefully hiding their “fans” of cards from their neighbors, playing this seemingly simple game with total focus. To make it interesting, they decided to play strip poker style. A bottle of whiskey, glasses, and ice materialized on the table. Things got livelier. Kit was unnaturally lucky—she didn’t lose once. They began to suspect her of cheating. Lou, to be honest, thought so too, but he defended her until he was hoarse, swearing it wasn’t true. Kit acted outraged, saying they were just “missing the cards.” All the while, she wore an incredibly devious smile, bluffed desperately, and crushed her opponents. The language barrier vanished. Everyone understood her broken English perfectly, and when Kitty lacked a word, she’d dive into her tablet, use the translator, and solve the problem. Jeff counted the deck three times. All thirty-six cards were there. It seemed Kit really was just that lucky. She was one of the first out of the game, and if she did end up one-on-one with an opponent, she’d take them to the cleaners even without trumps. Everyone was sitting half-naked, barefoot, glaring fiercely at one another and howling with laughter at every loss. Louis tucked his bare feet under him and admired Kit. The excitement and the whiskey had flushed her cheeks; her clever eyes sparkled. Her nostrils flared like a predator’s. He was almost certain the Kitsune was a literal demon and that he should probably take her to Vegas—right until she finally lost. She let out a sharp “Blyad!” and pointedly kicked off her shoes. Now the guys’ eyes lit up. The prospect of stripping Sparks’s girl seemed within reach. Everyone’s spirits soared. The next bottle of whiskey came out. However, Kit played a few more rounds without losing again and said she was tired. Louis was relieved. Firstly, tired meant sleep… mmm. Secondly—he wasn’t exactly keen on his girl stripping in front of so many men! With a very serious face, Kit inspected the sleeping berths—niches with cozy curtains—and said they looked like a “bee house” (meaning a honeycomb, probably). No, a “crypt.” And that she’d surely die of claustrophobia in there. Lou assured her he wouldn’t let her die. And he wouldn’t let her be afraid, either. Sweet shivers ran through his body while Kitty was in the shower. By the time she returned and lay down beside him, tucking her phone under her pillow, Louis had gone very far in his fantasies. She placed her palm on his stomach, tucked her cool nose into his neck… and fell asleep! Instantly. Like a child! He sighed sadly, and though the position was awkward for sleep, he didn’t move so as not to wake her. Let her sleep. He’d just think about some unpleasant, asexual things… Like dead rats, for instance. But in the morning, she woke up in such a playful mood that Lou was compensated for his suffering in full, with interest. And then there was the stage… and her eyes, looking with approval at everything he did. He sang as if he’d grown an extra pair of lungs. And a pair of wings to boot. Then they walked. Took photos. Messed around like kids. It was wonderful with her… not always easy or clear, but always wonderful. Getting to know her was the most pleasant occupation in the world, and he loved everything, even things that would have infuriated him in anyone else. Like the way she slept. Like a cat—however was comfortable for her. Often diagonally. He’d wake up either squashed into the corner of the bed, or completely uncovered, or with her leg across his stomach. But even that charmed him. And the sex? She bit sometimes, and it hurt. Even the tattoos couldn’t hide the blue teeth marks. But she did it at such moments… so perfectly timed… that he couldn’t be angry. She was predatory and tender, aggressive and helpless; she was afraid to sleep by the wall, afraid of spiders, but would rush to hug the most massive dog. She was as simple as a child, to the point of naivety, and wise as if she’d lived hundreds of years. To Louis, it seemed that behind those green wells of eyes lurked not just one soul, but several. Kit was the greatest mystery he’d ever encountered. And when the airport terminal swallowed her silhouette, Lou felt his heart tearing into a thousand bloody shreds. Dying would have been easier than letting her go. The world without the Kitsune went dark. He had lost… and she had taken his soul with her. Leaving another bracelet on his wrist, like a notch in his memory…