MYSTERY I: The Kitsune or not?

“If we get caught, we are dead. Do not scream even if you see your ex you're still hung up on.”

Yukio whispered the warning. Kaname knew he was dead serious but somehow it felt too personal. Kaname shrugged his shoulders, following in the tail of his new friends? Hikari sped up his pace as she was the shortest in the group. “Senpai, do you seriously intend to catch the Kitsune?” She asked the obvious, taking out her own flashlight from her bag. The lights were shut off from the main circuit, the chronicle university takes saving up electricity quite seriously.

Stingy.

Kaname noticed how every classroom was locked until Yukio stopped in front of a particular classroom on the 3rd floor. It was the literary club. “Tell me Hikari, how much do you know about Kitsunes?” Yukio asked, as if testing Hikari’s knowledge. The club room was not much different than any other club room. Some benches, pages with written plannings sprawled across the tables and many books on different topics stacked together. Kaname didn't engage in the conversation, he was curious about Hikari’s perception as well. He took Hikari's bag from her and placed it down on one of the benches and she smiled gratefully at Kaname. As Hikari fidgeted to come up with an answer, Yukio patiently waited for her, unlocking one of the windows and opening it for some cool air.

“Aren't they just nine tailed yokais with a lot of power? I'm not superstitious so I don't know much…” Hikari trailed off, flashing Kaname an apologetic smile, he had told her in passing conversation of him being a Shaman apprentice, she was afraid that she might offend him. Kaname wasn't offended, he really wasn't. He was a nerd but– if he had to be honest…

This is the shittiest way one can describe a Kitsune.

Kaname kept his kind smile on his lips anyway. He can't be getting mad at Hikari for something that wasn't common knowledge. “What about you, Kaname? Aren't you a shaman? You would know better?” Hikari averted her eyes, avoiding eye contact with Kaname.

She spilled it to him. This girl-!

Kaname crossed his arms, “hm…” He contemplated for a while, thinking where to begin with. “Kitsune is just the name of the species of a yokai. There are many kinds of kitsune with their own goals in mind. Some fancy human lives and some do severe spiritual practice to ascend to godhood. They are very mischievous beings who wouldn't harm humans unless provoked. I highly doubt a Kitsune is behind the disappearances. Oh! Also! They mostly fancy beautiful things or people, that's why their preference in people tend to be women, contrary to the bed time stories or television dramas, kitsune prefer women because they are better at hygiene, obviously beautiful, has proper etiquette and has better head on their shoulders. So I can see why the kitsune is  considered as the culprit-” in a world of his own, Kaname rambled on until he felt the stare of two burning gazes.

“Sorry I rambled on-” His hands went up to the back of his head, running through his hair with a hint of awkwardness, an old habit. Kaname loved what he did but he also knew how it came across to people. Weird. That's what people called him when he was a kid, simply for having an interest in supernatural and paranormal.

Yukio waved his hand in the air, dismissing his apology. “No, it's helpful. If our prime suspect is a supernatural, our best bet is to have trustable source on them. And you, Kaname, is our trustable source. No one knows the supernatural better than a shaman.”

“Shaman apprentice.” Kaname corrected him with a poker face. Kaname wouldn't show it but Yukio's words felt pleasant to hear. He felt- acknowledged. And above all, respected for what he did and believed in. Yukio didn't mock him, he listened to Kaname- actually listened to him. And that one act was enough for Kaname to see Yukio for who he really is, with his flaws and perfection alike. Kaname decided he won't judge Yukio just because of the mouth he had on him but truly put in an effort to understand him.

I mean, he still really gets on my nerves.

Yukio placed his sling bag on one of the wooden tables beside Kaname. He unzipped his bag, taking out a rolled up chart. He laid it out for both Kaname and Hikari to see. While Kaname tried reading the details on it, Hikari's smile fell upon seeing her boyfriend’s name- Hiroshi Kujo. Both Yukio and Kaname noticed, while Kaname gave her an assuring smile, Yukio wasn't one to show sympathy so easily. Instead- “I warned you before Hikari, you might not like how this investigation ends. You better brace yourself.”

Never mind, I still can't stand him.

“Hey, can't you be nice for once? Someone she loves is in danger, a small “don't worry, we'll find him.” Shouldn't be so hard to say.” Kaname turned Yukio by his shirt, one beat away from yanking Yukio towards him by his collar. Yukio's expressed visible repulsion, he swat Kaname's hand and dusted his shoulder. Obviously that just got on Kaname's nerves even more. “Hey now don't fight guys, we decided we'll work together.” Hikari intervened, the hurt still visible in her eyes. “It's okay Kaname. Senpai might sound harsh but he means well, please don't mind it, hm?”

After a minute of glaring at each other, Yukio was the one to break eye-contact first. “We don't have time to bicker like children. You don't like how I talk, ignore me. I wouldn't want you to leave because your opinion on certain things will be valuable, regardless if you still can't stand it, feel free to see yourself out.” Kaname didn't know if he was flattered or insulted by how curt Yukio's words were, with such nonchalance as well. Hikari patted Kaname's back in understanding, expressing how she understood his emotions.

Yukio didn't wait for Kaname to decide, it was as if he was certain that Kaname won't leave, he began speaking. “First, I gathered the intel around the 5 missing people. Like in any typical case of kidnapping, they all are linked in a bizarre fashion.” Hikari popped her head out from behind Yukio who was glaring at the names written in red.

“In what way, Manabe senpai?” Hikari inquired, she reread some of the details but she still didn't understand. “They all are girls who worship the Kitsune, a regular at its shrine…” Kaname mumbled, coming to a realization of his own.

“Oh-! I guess I'm so used to most crimes being against women that I'm desensitized, I didn't notice that detail.” Hikari wasn't wrong, Kaname knew it wasn't just a simple crime against women because if it was.. “I don't think it's a chain of crimes against women.” Kaname stated and Yukio nodded.

“And you are correct. Because if it was, why would they take Hiroshi Kujo? Sure his family funds the Kitsune shrine but he was still a man. If it's a Kitsune, shouldn't it only go after women?” While Yukio already had the answer, he wanted to see if his current team of investigation thought the same way.

Clank!

Something fell in the far back of the class. Kaname jolted up, turning his head towards the sound, taking a protective stance, his upper body and arms covering Yukio. Hikari followed in Kaname’s footsteps, covering Yukio's side. They needed Yukio. If something happens to the brain of the group, the investigation will fall apart without a bone to stand on. Yukio didn't flinch, he didn't seem afraid as he gathered his papers and shoved them in his sling bang.

“Let's go, he's finally here.”

Kaname raised a brow, confused. “Who?” He inquired.

“Our culprit.”