The Gift
Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 6.4 (alternate)
copyright comidacomida 2018
Kon had not been whole in some time-- not since he'd lost his soul. Spirits didn't have souls, at least, not in the traditional sense, but when he gave himself over so completely to the only Human he'd ever loved he experienced, in that too-short amount of time what it was like to really and truly feel. When he lost that feeling it was so traumatic, so emotionally rending that it pulled him apart.
Kon had been a powerful Yokai-- a Kitsune serving as a family guardian, and, thanks to that great honor, he was instilled with tremendous power, and earned his third tail. Despite having achieved greatness, Kon was willing to set that aside for his everything: his Kotomi... his only love. It was the singular period in his entire existence when Kon's eyes had been Blue, and it was far too short of a time. Kotomi had died, and it had not only been unfair, it had been brutal. Part of Kon died that day as well or, rather, had fallen by the wayside when the Spirit's heart was sundered.
Kon lost his third tail that day, not because the family he had sworn to protect had killed his beloved Kotomi, but because of the schism that had been created in his very psyche. The Yokai's spite grew to such a magnitude that there was no room for any part of him that wanted to coexist with Humans or to help them seek happiness. The Kitsune was down to two tails, and all that rmained was an overriding urge for revenge-- revenge against his former protected family and revenge against all Humans, who were petty and vile and spiteful. Kon wanted to destroy as many as it took to extinguish his light and then, only then would he find the silent stillness of blessed oblivion.
But something changed the day he met Daniel Serrit; there was something about the way the young Human had called out to him and tried to befriend what, to his eyes was just a wild, city-bound fox. The tiniest portion of Kon's curiosity override the inclination to savage, maim, and consume the boy in favor of at least taking the time to learn more. The next several weeks were spent in a limbo of sorts that, to all outward appearances gave off the impression of a devil-may-care Kitsune who was composed and collected, but appearances, especially where Yokai were concerned, were often misleading. Somewhere deep within Kon a tiny spark of the love he'd lost for Humans had rekindled... something.
Time passed and, although Kon could have engineered a number of ways to get Daniel alone to be consumed, the Fox didn't. He continued to watch and wait and learn and observe-- identifying dozens of reasons why Daniel was just like the rest, and that no Human deserved anything other than a horrible end in payment for what had happened to his beloved Kotome; strangely, he continued to seek even one to indicate that he was worth saving. When the time finally came and Kon made up his mind, he elected to bide his time and consume Daniel, even if it meant he would have to fight one of the Human's other spirit companions. It would be worth it.
In that moment, the tiny spark of Blue light within the Fox blazed brighter, and gained just enough power to separate from him completely. It was so faint and so small that not even Kon himself felt it or saw it or in any way realized what was happening-- he had lived without his love for Humans so long that he could just as easily have ignored it... but it was not ignoring him.
Separate from the festering pain in Kon's heart, the Azure Fox lingered in the area, watching, waiting, and biding its time. He knew what Kon had planned and, despite being Kon himself, the Azure Fox did not want harm to befall anyone, least of all Daniel.
The echo of what Kon had once been knew the time was drawing near and watched from an alley as Kon encountered Daniel and Aiden on the street. It watched as the Yokai shrewdly injected himself into Daniel's night and tried to wriggle himself between the Human and Fox; the Azure Fox even cheered silently when Daniel refused to give into the Yokai's manipulation. He then winced as Kon came at the two of them full force.
The Azure Fox kept to the shadows, trailing Daniel as he tried to run, not that it would do any good. The spark of what Kon had once been remained on the sidelines as Kon moved forward to take advantage of the paralyzed Human, and when Aiden freed Daniel by throwing himself at their attacker. The Azure Fox knew that the Bat was outmatched and it was confident that Aiden knew it too; it had much respect for the young Spirit's sacrifice.
Its respect for Daniel grew as well as the young man, rather than running, put some distance between himself and the fight, crying out for help. "HELP! HERNE! TALAPUS! HELP ME! PLEASE HELP!"
The Azure Fox was so intent on the confrontation that it failed to notice that it was not alone in the alley until a voice spoke up from behind him. "Well... this isn't somethin' ah see every day..."
Pulling away from the entrance to the alley, the Azure Fox slowly spun around, coming face to face with Bartholomew, the Coon Hound that Daniel and his Spirits had seen on the bus and the park in weeks past. The essence of Spirit that was an Echo of Kon blinked, cocking his head to the side in confusion. "You are not with your Human... why is that?"
The Dog's response was simple and to the point, then quickly glossed over as he asked a question of his own. "He is dying. Why are you not with the rest of you?"
The Azure Fox sighed, lowering his head as he gestured to the goings-on in the street: Kon was enchanting a man, convincing him that Daniel was an enemy and encouraging the stranger to beat the young man senseless. "I am sundered... and I do not agree with what I am doing."
It was almost surprised by the Dog's candid question. "Then why don'cha step in and help the kid?"
Only half half focused on the Spirit, the Azure Fox's attention was pulled back to the street as Talapus interceded and Herne was also on the scene. The Elk was powerful, and that made the Blue spark hopeful, but it also knew just how crafty Kon could be, which meant Daniel wasn't safe... not yet. Only as the Fox and Coyote started fighting did the Azure Fox look back to Bart and explained "I am too weak. I've been cast out and I do not stand a chance at changing my mind. I want to consume Daniel's soul... I am barely better than a Feral Spirit, and I can do nothing to stop myself."
The Hound shook his head. "That ain't true, an' yer old enough t'know better... ya got Blye Eyes fer a reason, Fox... ya know what's happenin' out there ain't right. I figger ya can still do somethin'..."
Daniel's cry of alarm pulled the Azure Fox's attention back to the street; Talapus was laying on the ground and Herne had stepped in to keep the Yokai away from the Human. Kon's chiding growl spoke with more than words. "Don't go anywhere, Danny... you and I aren't done yet."
Bart stepped up beside the Azure Fox but still lingered in the shadows of the alley. He looked as if he was about to reach out with a paw, but pulled back at the last second, calling out softly "Hey... kid?"
The Azure Fox pulled further back into the darkness as Daniel spun around and was surprised when the Hound did the same. The Human's voice was barely a whisper. "Is... someone there?"
The Dog Spirit stared at the Blue eyed shadow of the Yokai. "Your eyes are Blue for a reason... even if you can't do much you can still do something."
The Azure Fox lilted beneath the accusation; the Hound was right, of course, but the Azure Fox wasn't capable of much-- definitely not as much as the Hound. "What about you? You can help... can't you?"
Bart's follow-up question was so casual it was almost difficult to believe just how dripping it was with judgment. "Help him... or you?"
Watching Kon's pending victory, the Azure Fox cried out "--
2) -- Help me help him!"
3) -- Both! Help us both!"
4) -- KON! Watashi wa mushiro nanimonai yori mushiro itami o kanjirudeshou!"
Voting is now open, and will close as of midnight (pst) on Friday, November 9th.
.............................
2 Please
(3) Just doesn't sound right. It's like it's asking for too much. Help us both? No, it feels wrong and seems somewhat "greedy" in a sense.
That leaves (1) Help Him PLEASE! and (2) Help me help him!
I could go with either ... I like the please on (1) however, it's (2) that stands out to me, as it shows that the Azure Fox is willing to do what he can to help Daniel, but he needs help in doing so. He's not asking someone else to step on to fight his battle with himself, but rather asking for assistance so that he may have at least a chance of success in fighting the enraged "feral" Kon.
So that's (2) for me (sorry Dash, though I really don't know what you voted with "!") and I hope my reasoning was sound -- more importantly, that it's the right choice! ;)
Corrected translation.
You going to offer Kon *HIS LOST SHAKER OF SALT* ?! :P
:D
This does open another batch of questions, however. Although it does explain his, uh, dislike of humans. It would also suggest that Daniel is something at least a little bit special for Kon? I dunno if Kon ever can/will love again, but I'd like to think it possible...
I'm torn between 1, 2 & 4. I did try to translate 4, and what I got was some variation of "I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all!", Is that about correct? If so, it's a pretty powerful statement, but I'm not sure I get the context in this situation.
Hnnng, I'm gonna go for 2! Please don't make me regret this option like I know you plan to! :(
As for the statement of the Azure Fox to Kon: if you spent over 200 years pushing down a piece of you that was agonizing over loss with the intent to blot out the pain by drowning it in vengeance, what do you think that part of you would say if it had the chance?
Sorry to over-analyse things again, but now my heart aches for him. He's just 'running' from his grief, and I don't know if he can be saved :/
[I]And why the not-in-the-story Kon is so mentally healthy! *tail swish*[/I]
...something like that.
I cannot wait for next Wednesday now :<
I will agree with Cetacea's reasoning, so I am voting for #2. Hope it is possible and Daniel gets a chance.
The Azure Fox is speaking to Kon, so whatever it is, chances are that it relates to some kind of self-reflection or assessment.
I could totally be wrong here, but if that's what he is considering, I think that kind of sacrifice might end up better for everyone - even (arguably) himself. I'll go for four.