Ronin

Art by . I did not draw this, I take no credit for it, posted with permission.

From Kooks, chapter eight.

The creature walked over to a great leather chair and removed the black silk wrap it was wearing. The shapeless lump became a tall, slender young man with enormous black wings and a long fox-like tail. He could not see his face; he kept his head turned away from Rude.

‘Definitely Hojo’s work,’ thought Rude, but said nothing. As a Turk it was not his place to make comments about the appearance of those he was looking after.

“Did you need me to help with anything?” Rude asked.

“Not unless you have working knowledge of how viruses mutate.”

Rude smiled faintly. “I was out sick the day they taught that.”

The creature was silent, carefully setting up his work space. Then he spoke.

“You haven’t mentioned the wings. Or the tail.”

“I used to work at Shinra Tower. Wings and tails don’t excite me.”

“So you have seen Hojo’s…. work.”

“Yes.”

“Then can I assume you will not find some excuse to quit before your time here is up?”

“I don’t quit. I’m a Turk. I’m a professional. And I don’t see anything here that frightens me.”

The creature looked over his shoulder at Rude. From the nose down, all was as a normal human face should be. But from the eyes up was the head of a Nibelheim wolf; as if he was wearing an exceptionally life-like wolf mask. The yellow eyes stared at Rude with unfathomable brilliance and intelligence, the large grey ears tipped back slightly. Rather than hair he had long thick grey fur. Then Rude noticed his hands to the elbow were gloved in short black silky fur, like the legs of a fox.

“I think you’re beautiful,” said Rude.

Ronin just stared for a very long time. It was clear he’d never heard anyone say those words to him before.