The Fox's God by Anna Frost

late.”
    “The old ones go to bed at decent hours,” Usagi said. “It’s the young ones who annoy me.” Despite the hour, her eyes were bright. “Why are you awake? Is there a problem?”
    Though nothing stirred in the building, Mamoru gestured for her to come closer. She settled at his side almost indecently close, whispering, “Danger?” Her eyes scanned the room.
    “Not immediate danger,” he whispered back, trying to recall the perfect speeches he’d rehearsed in his head, the ones that helped Usagi-in-his-head understand everything. They eluded him; he’d have to make up a new one. “Advisor Yoshida ordered me to brief you on a situation Yoshio had forbidden me to speak of. Since Yoshio is dead, he can’t object. Don’t take it badly, please. It sounds scary, but it’s not.”
    Usagi made noises of the “go on, I’m listening” variety. They were very interesting noises. Mamoru tried not to reflect on the fact she must spend a great deal of her time making those noises at the men she spied upon, encouraging them to talk while she refilled their cups over and over.
    “I’m keeping to my room often because I’m doing special work for Advisor Yoshida.” He rushed the rest of the words out, hoping to finish before Usagi started calling him a liar or trying to stab him. “A while ago, Yoshio invited a demon into my body without my consent. It’s hard to explain, but we merged into one. Mamoru is still here, and the demon is still here, we just don’t know where one begins and the other ends anymore. Advisor Yoshida asks me, the new me, to leave my body behind and go spy as a spirit. That’s what I do.”
    Usagi wasn’t making those encouraging noises anymore.
    “It’s true,” he insisted, in case it was disbelief freezing her tongue. “I’m like the foxes are, you see? Half-human and half-not. It can be useful. I haven’t really changed.” She still wasn’t talking. “Usagi?”
    “Since when?” she asked. “Exactly when did this happen?”
    “Right after the leadership changed. We merged a little while later, after we’d gotten to know each other.”
    “So everything you did recently… That wasn’t Mamoru, not really.”
    She didn’t move, but he felt like she was leaning away from him. He scrambled to find words to reassure her, to bring her back. “Of course it was! Demons don’t have much in the way of personality, not like people do. This me is mostly Mamoru, enhanced.” That might have been a slight lie, but it also might not; he could hardly remember what it’d been like being two separate entities.
    “I see.” She rose, moving for the door.
    “Where are you going? Usagi, listen, don’t—” Don’t panic, don’t do anything rash, don’t make him tell me to hurt you because I won’t and we’ll be in so much trouble.
    “Advisor Yoshida sleeps little,” she said, stepping out. Their quarters were within Advisor Yoshida’s, separated only by sliding panels and a hallway. At least they wouldn’t encounter anyone who shouldn’t know they were out and about at this hour. Other than a handful of trustworthy servants, nobody else lived in this building.
    Mamoru trailed her helplessly. Were they succeeding or failing the test?
    Advisor Yoshida was at his worktable in the very same position as he had been when Mamoru had seen him hours ago. The only change from earlier was a plate of snacks left within reach.
    “What is it?” He didn’t sound displeased; perhaps this visit was expected.
    “Uncle,” Usagi said, respecting her cover story even when everybody present knew better. “What Mamoru has just told me, is it true?”
    “Yes.”
    “I see. I apologize for wasting your precious time.” She bowed and stepped back, but Advisor Yoshida stopped her with a raised hand. “Come in, the two of you.”
    They did. Usagi didn’t look alarmed, but she could have been calculating escape routes just like he was. Fleeing the room would be the easy part. Next they’d