Secret Life of Fox Tail - Final Chapter

Looking at the fox standing in front of me I still couldn’t believe my eyes. Slowly he started approaching me scared I backed away but he wouldn’t give up and finally pounced on me and started to act the same way like Fox Tail used to. Nudging my face with his little wet nose and licking me I forgot all my fears and started petting him, kissing him and hugging him, suddenly turning back to human form he hugged me and kept me close to his chest. Trying to hug back I realized he had nothing on and my towel is almost slipping away but he was my Fox and I didn’t care how I looked in front of him because he has seen me in the past more than a thousand times. But looking at him I panicked and looked away “well when I return to human form I am completely naked, sorry to show you things you weren’t ready for Marie” he said laughing. Once he started laughing I noticed the grey skies clearing and the sun blazing into the cave again. “Sorry I made our clothes wet again, if you make a fox cry the skies will start to cry as well that’s why it’s called the ‘Fox Rain’” he said proudly. Tears swelling up my eyes again I asked “How did this happen?” Looking in to my eyes he explained “you know the heavens above those clouds can go crazy sometimes, when I died my soul was always near you, I saw the way you destructed yourself over my loss. I was devastated just watching you I never thought a human girl could fall into pieces over a fox like me. Can’t bear to watch you grieving anymore I decided to go and plead to the gods to give me another life so I could make you happy. The gods laughed at me for my request and I was turned down but not giving up I daily went up to the castle begged and cried for a new life. One day the gods themselves came to earth just see you, they were shocked by the state you were in and their hearts felt your pain along with mine. All the gods together granted me the power to become a human but my origin as a fox will remain, with their help I came back to earth in search for you” he said clasping my face in his hands. I cried silently in my heart with all the happy and sad moments wrapped in my emotions as he explained further about what has happened in his life. He was born in to a human family as a human but was abandoned by them when they found out that he has an abnormal growth speed along with changing in to a fox. Who would want such a child, but I silently was grateful to them because they didn’t kill him. He lived in this forest until one day Mr. Browns found him and took him in. He has gone through such a terrible past and I didn’t want him to suffer anymore. “Why didn’t you come to me straight away? Why didn’t you tell me the first day I got here?” I questioned him. He looked at me and started to laugh which puzzled me “tell you on the first day? You couldn’t believe this story until short while ago if I had told you earlier without giving you any push to remember your past you would’ve freaked out and worst case scenario you would put me in to psychiatrist hospital” he told me wiping way the tears he laughed out. I stared at him and with a pout on my face I said to myself “great congratulations Mariya you got a talking fox who can make fun of you!” Rest of the afternoon we spent together inside the cave cuddled up on the sofa. Catching up to things we have missed in a very long time. He constantly changed from time to time inside the cave but it didn’t bother me at all anymore. I prayed my thanks back to the heavens who have granted me this miracle. All in my heart all I wanted was to go back home with my fox. As the sun was going down it was time for us to head down to the lodge.

At the lodge I was amazed to see the new guests flowing in. Most of them were students from my university in different faculties. Seeing us Mr. Browns rushed up to us, holding both my hands and a very happy face he said “thank you Ms. Maria, without you this place would have been a deserted” smiling back he returned to his front desk proudly. Bobby who was helping out growled at John upon seeing him “I don’t care what you do with Ms. Kurenai and it’s not my business but could you at least help us out now, the place is swarming with guests so stop hiding behind her and help us” Bobby said in a very stern voice. John looked at me like I was supposed to help him out, but this was a perfect chance to get back at him for making fun of me “John I think your brother is right, now go and help him like a good boy and in return you can sleep with me tonight” I said with a huge victory smile on my face. Disappointed and tail between his legs he went but turned back and said “what you have offered me, I already did it, so I want something else as my reward and I will come around 11 p.m to collect it, better think of something good” he said with sarcasm and walked away. Speechless I just stood there my eyes and mouth wide opened and completely defeated as all the guests brushed past me in the lounge.

Summer vacation was almost over and now it’s almost time to go back to my studying life. I so wished that John could come with me but taking him with me will burden Mr. Browns I stated to myself. “I better ask John tonight, what we are going to do about this situation” I said to myself. This was an amazing vacation I never have dream of, it’s been like a roller coaster ride. Lying on my bed I waited for John to come back, I couldn’t wait to be held by him. Tossing on my bed from one side to another I felt so uneasy and when I looked at the time it was almost midnight, getting out of bed I went to the window and looked out but he was nowhere. I looked up at the starry filled sky with the moonlight lighting up the dark night my thoughts just flew away with wind. I sat on the window pane and closed my eyes there was an unbearable pain suffocating my heart slowly the warm silent tears started to fall down my cheeks, with all my heart I wanted John to be here with me but he was nowhere to be found. As my thoughts drifted away along with my tears I opened my eyes to find John staring at my face which startled me and I almost fell off the window pane, steadying myself “when did you come? I missed you John” I said as I tried putting my arms around his neck, he backed away. But his reaction was the total opposite I expected from him. I felt like I have been stabbed right through my heart with no ounce of kindness. Getting down from the window pane I walked up to him and he kept backing away, “why” I asked in pain. “Forgive me Marie, I can’t come close to you tonight, it’s a full moon and I totally forgot that when I was with you” he said looking at me. Totally confused by those words I asked “full moon?” he took another few steps back but I kept going towards him. He looked down in an uneasy feeling shifting more backwards which I found very irritating and losing my cool “Fox Tail STOP!” I exclaimed. Shocked by my words he froze on the spot, going towards him I took his hand, as soon I did he transformed, picking him up I climbed back through the window in to my room. I placed him on the bed and he just stood there looking down all depressed.“Sweetie what’s wrong baby?” I asked while patting his soft furry head. He hung his head low and almost about to cry “baby don’t cry you know I love you so much, why are you avoiding me saying it’s a full moon? Does anything bad happen to you on a full moon? I questioned him still petting him and covering him with the bed sheets in case he turns back. After a long silence he turned back, coming out of the sheets he looked more beautiful than the moon shining in the clear night sky. “Marie, now that I have turned into a human boy I have these weird feelings when there is a full moon, I don’t want to do anything to hurt you that you will hate me for the rest of your life, I am afraid” he said very quietly. It all came together once he explained his situation and how he felt hopeless.

Reaching out to him I kissed him this time surprising him “I love you Fox Tail, I will love you more than ever before in return please don’t ever leave me again” I pleaded him. I have completely pledged my love to him even though his identity changes time to time. It’ll be our own secret as long as we live. That night we fell asleep in each other’s embrace, after long years of loneliness that night we both felt the happiness and complete. Waking up early next morning I found my baby sleeping soundly on top of my chest all curled up like a brown fuzzy ball. Gently I picked him up and laid him on the bed to go and get ready for the last day of sweet summer vacation. As I got ready and came into the room John was sitting on the bed wiping his sleepy eyes with a slight pout. “Good morning baby” I said to him, he looked at me and turned his back to me. I was slightly shocked but I instantly knew what he was pouting about. He was adorable. Hugging him from behind, I gave him a kiss on his cheek and whispered in his ears “I love you, baby do you love me back?” clinging on to my arms he nodded silently.

Upon entering the lobby it was crowded with customers and Mr. Browns was surrounded by them. Forest Paradise was fully booked but yet more people want reservations. Bobby was running here and there escorting the customers. John soon joined the crew and was very busy with the situation. I slowly managed to get out of the lodge and in to the woods. I knew my way around now as I have been here for the last two weeks. As I made my way up the hills I could see more and more cars pulling up at the lodge, smiling to myself and being proud that I could help them I just went up hill. As I wandered in to the deep forest I finally came up to John’s secret base. As I looked at the waterfall my heart ached so badly that I clutched my heart and sat down on the ground. Knowing this would be my last day at the lodge and I will be back in my room and back to studying pain seared through my heart. I wished with my whole heart that this day would be the longest day ever in my life. Sighing to myself I laid back on the soft green grass. Looking up at the sky through the tree branches and breathing in the atmosphere I started to think back what has happened, didn’t even know where to start. It all began with one summer vacation trip wanting to get away with studying and ending up with my fox boy from the past.

It was already noon; time has slipped by even without me knowing. It was time to head back to the lodge when I had a sudden impulse of going inside the base for just one last time as today will be the last day I will be able to see the forest paradise inside the cave. I knew I made up my mind not to go in there when John wasn’t around but my heart wanted to go no matter what. Unconsciously the next thing I knew I was inside the cave behind the waterfall, how did I get here? I thought in my mind scared as I was all alone. “Kirara, is that you?” a voice spoke suddenly scaring the life out of me. “Who’s here? Who are you?” I replied back shockingly. Slowly an image started appearing in front of me. It was hazy at the beginning but the image started to get clear by the minute. A tall elegant lady with a fox face, slender human body and long fluffy tail appeared in front of me. I was so scared I tried running away but instead I stumbled and fell straight to the ground. “Who are you?” asked this person in front of me. “Maria” I stuttered. She looked in to my eyes they were very tender and soft that made me feel at ease. She reached out to me and helped me up. “Who are you?” I asked after composing myself. “I am the Fox Goddess, and I came looking for Kirara” the goddess said. I was in shock to meet a goddess and out of all a Fox Goddess. “Who?” I asked puzzled. “Him” she replied pointing at someone. As I turned back to look who she was pointing at I saw John, my heart sank into an abyss, is she going to take him away from me? What does she want with John? What is happening? Please don’t anything bad happen on this last day especially to John I pleaded in my head. Tears start to fall down my cheeks as I watched John coming over to this lady and bowed down before her. She touched his head and said “It’s time Kirara now”. “Your wish is my command my Goddess” John replied. Instant pain went through my chest. “Please don’t take him away from me, I beg you” I cried to the goddess. “Kirara is she the one you have been searching all these years?” asked the goddess from John, he simply nodded still bowing down. With a sudden impulse I sprang in front of John removing the goddess hand from his head “Please don’t take him from me” I cried hugging John. She smiled gently at me and said “I am not taking him away from you, I am only taking his fox soul as he won’t need it any longer. He has found his true love. He can now be a normal human to live and die like one, one day”. I just tilted my head to one side and looked at her as if she has spoken in some other language that I don’t understand. “Fox Tail is the name you have given him long time ago, but in the fox world he is called Kirara, and it’s time for Kirara to go back leaving the human form behind. Please cherish this boy as long as you live Maria, he has gone into tremendous lengths to be here today. Remember the heavens won’t give you another chance” saying that the Goddess took Fox tails spirit along with her and disappeared from the cave. Holding on to John, I cried happy tears as he was with me from now forever.

Back at the lodge it has calmed down, and Mr. Browns was relaxing on the couch. Seeing us he stood up from the couch and said “I have something that I need to say to the both of you” in a stern voice. We looked at each other but had no choice so we followed Mr. Browns to his room, “Have a seat” he said. “I think it’s time I let you go John’s, I think you have found the most important thing in your life now, as a father I must understand your happiness as well, as an adult I’ll give you some advice to your future; love, trust, be faithful and mostly believe in each other as long as the two of you live. Never make mistakes like I did, don’t argue and fight, talk everything over. With time your appearances will change as you two will grow older but keep the love that you had from the beginning, cherish that love you will be able to live a long life together. I give you both my sincere blessings” saying this Mr. Browns broke down in tears. We hugged him reassuring him we won’t disappoint him. Bobby was standing in the door way, he looked at us and smiled then without saying a word he went away but we could see what he was thinking, he was sincerely happy for us. Wiping away the tears Mr. Browns said “But John, you will have to stay in the lodge and help us out as we all need you around here. And when we have less guests you can go see my sweet daughter and remember to behave properly if I hear any complaints from her I will see that you will be heavily punished” making us all laugh except for John who knew his father was serious when he said that he’ll punish him.

The End....