The Heart of a Fox by T. Isilwath

Author:T. Isilwath [Isilwath, T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781450782876
Publisher: T. Isilwath
Published: 2011-10-12T01:20:00+00:00

‘Ah, nothing like two women in a cat fight over him to make a man proud,’

she mused, suppressing a small smile. ‘Don’t let it go to your head, hon.’

There was a short stand-off with her and Akihiro presenting a unified front until the miko yielded and lowered her eyes to the teapot she was carrying.

“I brought more medicine,” she said.

Akihiro nodded. “Thank you, Suzuka-sama.”

The young woman placed the teapot next to the irori and stepped back.

Then she folded her hands in front of her and looked at them until her eyes fell to Joanna.

“I am glad that you are feeling better. I will let my brother and father know that you are awake. I am sure they will want to speak with you,” Suzuka said.

“That would be fine, thank you,” she answered.

The miko gave a little nod and left the room without saying another word.

The door slid softly closed behind her. Once Suzuka was gone, she turned to Akihiro and smiled. He smiled back and squatted on his haunches beside her.

“So that was Suzuka,” she said.

He nodded, his eyes flashing a moment of sadness. “Yes.”

“She’s a little… distant.”

“She has to be. She is a miko. They are above normal people. To keep herself pure, she must keep herself apart from others.”

‘Hmmm, looked like arrogance to me,’ she thought, but wouldn’t hurt Akihiro by saying so. She had an inkling that he had once been very fond of Suzuka and had deduced that her current cold treatment of him stung a little bit.

“She’s pretty, though,” she offered.

Akihiro brightened. “Yes, she is.” He paused, his brow creased, then smiled at her and leaned close. “But not as pretty as you, Joanna-sama.” She grinned. “Oh, you smooth talking fox you.”

He snickered and displayed a little, stretching out his spine and arching his back, and she found his actions highly amusing.

“I didn’t know what you would need so I brought the whole bag,” he told her, indicating her rollaway suitcase.

“I noticed. Although you should take it back after I get what I need from it.

It’s technology that I don’t want the people around here seeing. I want to limit their exposure to my things to an absolute minimum. Besides, this room is too small to clutter up with my junk.”

“As you wish. I brought your cooking spices too.” She laughed. “Ah hah! And the truth reveals itself. You were just complimenting me because you miss my cooking. Oh, poor fox had to eat plain food for four days,” she teased.

At first he didn’t seem to understand that she was joking, and he looked mortified. “Joanna-sama, I… I would never…”

She reached up and scratched him behind one ear, tugging at it lightly.

“I’m kidding, you dolt.”

He blinked then smiled, his expression sheepish and wry at the same time.

“You were teasing me.”

“Yep.”

“Sneaky vixen. Making me think you thought I was using you for your cooking. You shouldn’t do that. I’m apt to take you seriously,” he answered, sliding close, one shoulder brushing against hers.

She raised an eyebrow at him calling her a vixen, but didn’t comment on it.

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