Chapter Forty-Seven: Waiting, Plotting, and Baiting:

October 30th, 2010.

Haruka sat alone in her darkened living room. Her latest plan only made sense to her.

“You sure about this?” Aki asked.

“Yes,” her mistress said. The kitsune lay at her feet. Haruka counted down to tomorrow. There was something she had to see.

“Do you think they will come?” Aki asked. The old lady patted her on the head.

“Oh, I know they will,” she said. “It’s set on that night too.”

“Ooo! You didn’t!”

“Why yes I did.”

The kitsune lifted her head, puzzled. “But… why?”

“I thought would be rather fitting.” Haruka smiled. “Ironic, but perfect at the same time.”

“Are you going to kill her tomorrow night?”

“Not yet, precious,” Haruka said, patting Aki. Her kitsune tilted her head.

“What?” she asked. “Why not?” Haruka winked.

“That my dear,” she said. “It’s my little secret.” Aki’s face became dim.

“You can’t be serious,” she said.

“Sorry.”

“Then… what about Hitomi?”

“Hm? What about her?”

Aki shifted in her lap. “Why did you invite her over?”

“Oh, you know.”

“No… What?” Before her mistress could speak, her cell phone rang.

“I bet that’s her now,” Haruka said. She picked up her phone. “Hello?”

“Haruka-san?” a small voice asked.

“Ah, just the person I wanted to talk to.”

“Why? Did something happen?”

“No, I just wanted to see if you had any doubts or anything.”

“No.”

“But?”

“Hm?”

“You always have a ‘but’ with my schemes. So, what is your ‘but’ this time?”

“What do you mean?”

“There is always a ‘but’.”

Hitomi sighed over the phone. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

Haruka’s lips curved into a smile in the darkness. “Why yes I am.”

“What if you get hurt?”

Haruka sat back on her couch. “It would be all for knowing the truth.”

“Please be careful, Haruka-san.”

“I will, my dear. Anything else?”

“No…”

“Okay, good night.”

“Good night, Haruka-san.” Her friend hung up, smirking. With all of the pieces set into motion, the only thing left was to wait for Halloween to arrive.

“Good night, Aki-chan,” she whispered in her sleeping kitsune’s ear. The old lady kissed her on the cheek. She giggled as Aki smiled in her sleep.