How I was Murdered by a Fox Monster

By M.C Queen

Daisuke Matsumoto here! I see you picked up my book. I knew you would because its awesome, inspirational, life changing, and its all about me!

Let’s start from the beginning. I was adopted by an old man who named me after his dead son, creepy right? He used to tell me stories of monsters who pose and animals and attack humans, also known as Obake. I thought he made it all up to scare me, but I just met a group of exorcists who confirmed my worst fear, Obake are real! If that wasn’t enough to freak me out I discovered Grandpa was up to some shady stuff, Sis has secrets stashed away, and any hot chick could be a monster plotting to rip my insides out.

God must hate me, because I don’t know my own past, my real name, and......Akito? Hey, what’s up with the knife Akito?

Message from the author

Thank you for taking an interest in my story “How I was Murdered by a Fox Monster.” I wanted to create a first person adventure style story about a boy with an unknown past, and his group of friends who battle monsters that are hidden from our everyday lives. Although things may start off easy for him, the story slowly grows darker as he begins to realise the reality of his dreams and himself.

I wrote this while living in Japan, and I modeled many of the characters off young people I met in real life. I put a lot of work into giving each other them their own unique personalities and flaws. I also tried to add as many comedic elements as possible by using things and situations I had encountered in my own life. I may have read this story a thousand times, but even now I can still laugh at the jokes and keep reading until the end. I hope that you can as well.

Please feel free to check out the second part “How I was Murdered by a Monster King” which is available on Kindle and Unlimited. You can also check out the latest story updates and free previews on my website.

M.C.Queen

NOTE: This is the Japanese style version of the Monster Exorcist. Some of the names and setting have been changed but the story is pretty much the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.C Queen
• Release date: Dec 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301181209

M.C Queen

I really enjoy writing and I hope that you enjoy reading my work. Please feel free to try reading my stories and a review is really great as well. Please check out my blog at http://www.mcqueenwrites.com for free story previews and my most recent writing updates.Like my work? Donate me a coffee at https://ko-fi.com/mcqueenwrites

Book preview

How I was Murdered by a Fox Monster

By M.C.Queen

Copyright 2016 M.C.Queen

http://www.mcqueenwrites.com

Other Stories by M.C.Queen

How I Was Murdered By a Monster King (How I Was Murdered By a Fox Monster Book 2)

Khan and the Kingdom without Gods (Tales from a Land of Gods Part 2)

Memories of a Soul in the Underworld

Chapter 1

Daisuke Matsumoto! Sang a young woman's beautiful voice.

Her words bounced off the walls and echoed throughout our dark and silent home. Normally I'd be overjoyed to hear a pretty girl call my name, but the sound of her voice sent nothing but terror down my spine.

"It's her, she's coming," whispered Akito.

I expected my teacher to be freaking out in terror like me, but his black eyes were calm and his brow was narrowed in concentration.

But Mana! I hissed hysterically. We have to help Mana!

I couldn't forget the image of Mana lying face down unconscious on the floor. Her short black hair was messed up, bloody, and she looked like a broken doll beyond repair. The cute girl who helped me on several occasions could be moments away from death if someone didn't aid her soon.

I jumped up and attempted to climb over the desk we were hiding behind, but Akito quickly grabbed my shirt and pulled me back.

Don't worry about her! There's nothing we can do now! He hissed.

What! You can't be serious!

Mana wasn't my only concern. It was also uncertain if my other friends were alright. I lost track of them among the madness.

How can you say that? I cried. Aren't you supposed to protect them? Isn't that your job?!

It's not them she's after!

My mouth clamped shut. He was right. It wasn't poor Mana she was targeting.

She only had one target in mind, and that person was me.

I gave up and went limp.

He was right, it wasn't his fault, it was all mine.

The situation would have been more acceptable if I had done something to deserve it. Like throwing rocks at baby animals, or being a terrible person, but I didn't do anything to incur her wrath. Everything went to hell just because my name is Daisuke Matsumoto.

Akito was holding Nina back with his other hand, but she wasn't making any attempt to run.

Like me, Nina was also another one of Akito's students who had been caught up in this madness and probably wasn't going to live to see tomorrow. Her long brown hair was stuck to her forehead with sweat. She wasn't shaking with fear, but was abnormally silent and staring anxiously at the door like she knew what was to come.

I couldn't understand how she could endure being so still. But maybe like me, she was counting on Akito to protect her.

The monster stopped calling my name in her morbid game of hide and seek, and all was silent in Akito's Japanese style home.

Suddenly I could hear moans of pain from somewhere outside the room. I prayed that whoever it was would stay quiet, otherwise they'd be next on her dinner plate.

I heard the floorboards creak and groan with every step the vile monster took as she crept closer and closer towards us.

Did she know already? Had she heard us? Or maybe she was going to finally give up and return to whatever hell she came from.

My thoughts screamed Please don't stop here, whatever you do, please don't open this door!

BANG!

Suddenly the paper screen door went flying across the room. It hit the desk and splintered into two. We all ducked down and covered our heads to protect ourselves from the debris, but something must have hit Nina because she let out a cry of pain. Nina realized her mistake instantaneously and her hands flung to her mouth, but it was already too late.

That was all it took.

The monster knew we were here.

We were done for.

I peeked through a gap in Akito's hasty barricade of chairs and furniture, and found myself staring at her in horror, unable to move or look away.

In my mind, she was a possessed demon, but all that stood before me was an abnormally beautiful woman with long raven hair, dressed neatly in a red summer Kimono. She was smiling pleasantly which would have caught anyone unaware. I certainly was.

She was completely unharmed, except for her charred left sleeve which was almost blasted off by my friend's lightning charm.

You may be wondering why we were all so terrified and currently bleeding because of this pretty young woman, and the answer was incomprehensible but simple.

She was a fox monster.

Found you! She called.

I expected Akito to have a plan (he had to have a plan) but all I could hear was his sigh of defeat.

Looks like it's come to that, he said.

What! It can't be? Don't tell me he's given in. I thought to myself.

My teacher Akito had always gotten my hopes up and then quickly smashed them. Apparently now wasn't going to be any different.

I tore my eyes away from my approaching death and back to Akito, who was now holding a knife in his right hand instead of Nina. I was uncertain if he procured it from his clothes or desk, but the details don't matter anymore.

I forced myself to feel hope. Maybe it was a magical weapon that was highly effective against fox monsters.

Hey, Akito, I whispered hopefully. What's up with the knife? I was looking for words of reassurance but his face was stone cold. Akito? I asked again.

He grabbed me by the shoulder to stop me from fleeing and held the knife to my face.

I'm so sorry Daisuke, but I don't think we have any other choice.

What? What are you talking about Akito?

I'm so sorry Daisuke, he apologized again.

What, so this is it? I said. My eyes flicked from the knife to his face which wasn't giving anything away. Don't tell me that I'm going to die here?

They say that your life flashes before your eyes once you know you're going to die. I could see it all before me in the reflection of Akito's blade. I was standing under the slide on my first day of elementary school, eating cake at my sister's wedding, outside praying that the monster wouldn't come tonight.

 I'm sorry. You don't know what I'm talking about do you?

I've become so immersed in this world that I often forget that regular people don't know about the monsters lurking right under their noses. Maybe it's best if I explain to you the events of that morning, or the previous month, or from my first day of high school?

No, that still wouldn't be far enough.

How about we go way back?

Let's start from the beginning.

Let's go back to the day when I learned about monsters and the fox monster for the first time.

Chapter 2

I was five years old sitting in my Grandfather's study. Watching as he dusted the shelves. I used to follow him like a shadow back then. Normally he'd try to keep me amused by pulling funny faces, or putting the duster on his head and pretending to be a peacock, but that day was different. That day he was a man on a mission and there was nothing to laugh about.

Do you remember what I told you about the Obake Daisuke? he asked.

Obake? I thought to myself.

I stared up at my grandfather who was patiently waiting. I tilted my head and racked my brain for an answer, but my mind came up blank.

Obake? I questioned, wondering if it was a type of food.

He sighed and returned his attention to the bookshelf in front of him. Grandpa's study was amazing back then. It was full of numerous books and scriptures, some of them hundreds of years old. He scanned his fingers over the old volumes until he found what he was looking for. He pulled out a worn looking book and began to flip through the pages.

Oh-bah-kei,  he sounded out for me. Are animal spirits, or monsters if you prefer to call them, that inhabit this world. We talked about this the other day, does it ring any bells Daisuke?

Monsters, monsters.  It seemed vaguely familiar. Like one of the long speeches he would give me while my attention was elsewhere, like watching TV.

Grandpa sighed. Obake take the form of animals so they can blend in with the natural world.

I remember now! Actually I didn't, but I wanted to look smart in front of Grandpa.

He continued to flip through the pages until he landed on what he was looking for, and held it up for me too see. It appeared to be a picture book, except someone forgot to color the pages. I stared at the image of a raccoon, or maybe it was a dog, I wasn't certain.

There are many animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, wolves, or snakes, which Obake use to disguise themselves. Pay attention to this raccoon Daisuke. This Obake disguises itself as a harmless raccoon so that it can blend in unnoticed. But if an opportunity presents itself, this raccoon transforms into a monster and attacks or devours humans.

Attacks humans? My eyes scanned over the image of a giant raccoon assaulting a village. Miniature black and white people ran away in fear. Wow, so this little raccoon, can turn into that giant monster?

Not just monsters Daisuke, there are also Obake who can take the form of people.

He flipped to another page that illustrated a wolf turning into a man. It looked like a scene from a horror movie.

Really? I questioned.

I suddenly wondered if the strange old woman down the street was secretly a raccoon. She certainly smelled strange.

How can you tell?

Such Obake usually disguise themselves as beautiful young women so they can trick men and steal their hearts.

He turned the page to show me a naked woman. Her hand was halfway through a man's chest. I didn't appreciate her figure at the time, but looking back on it now she was pretty hot, except for the bushy tail sticking out from her behind.

He tapped his finger on her picture. And this is the fox, the most feared of them all. If you run into her, your chances of survival are slim.

Wow.

I stared at the picture intensely, and swore to myself that I would avoid all naked women from that moment on. I was grateful that Grandpa had decided to tell me about Obake. I never realized the world was such a dangerous place.

Have you ever met an Obake Grandpa?

Grandpa smiled and closed the book. More times than I can count, but Grandpa scared them all away.

I pictured my grandfather hobbling along after a pack of wild animals, waving his cane to fight them off. Grandpa was obviously more awesome than I ever expected.

Wow, that's great Grandpa! I want to scare away Obake too. Someone has to protect you from this heart eating lady.

He laughed. I hope so. Maybe when you get bigger you can give this fox monster a run for its money.

He reached out and ruffled my hair. His hand lingered there for a moment before he pulled away.

From that point on, I began to look at all animals differently. I made myself a miniature paper sword, so that I could fend off the fox monster if it suddenly attacked. I would sit on the verandah for hours as though guarding off an Obake invasion. I even began to wonder if the cat next door was an evil Obake who was planning to eat me.

Of course I was sadly disappointed when no mystical Obake appeared before me, and the neighbor's dog (which I often spoke with) never spoke back.

 As a child, my grandfather was my idol. He was one of those awesome guys you could brag to your friends about. We used to play catch together all afternoon, and he never refused a game of hide and seek. He was kind, patient, and I don't remember him ever raising his voice.

Unfortunately the monster stories are the only ones that I can remember. I was only five when he adopted me and he passed away a year later. He was the one who gave me my name, Daisuke Matsumoto, which was also the name of his deceased son.

I know it sounds creepy. Everyone thinks he was trying to use me as a replacement for his dead child. Apparently his wife left after the death of their son and his daughter went to college. I believe that he was just lonely and instead of getting a dog he decided to get himself a kid. Whatever his reasoning, it all worked out in the end. Even though I lost him, I would have nothing if it weren't for Grandpa.

But little did I know that his stories of monsters would one day become my reality.

Chapter 3

Flash forward to ten years later and I was happily dreaming away until my pleasant sleep was destroyed by my alarm. I cracked my eyes open to make sure it was daytime, then flinched at the sunlight which had infiltrated my bedroom. I attempted to muster the energy to get out of bed, but I was dead to the world until my snooze alarm rang.

I rolled out of bed and fell to the floor with a bang, completely unaware that I wasn't going to live to see the end of the year. My eyes glanced at the photo of Grandpa and I (which I had beside my bed) and I suddenly remembered what I'd been dreaming about. My adopted grandfather.

It was odd that I'd dreamed about Grandpa. There was once a time when I used to think of him everyday. Sometimes to the point where I would cry, only to be consoled by my older sister. Who would often cry as well. After entering middle school my life had become so much busier with homework, friends, and high school entrance exams. So I hadn't stopped to dwell on the man who adopted me almost ten years ago.

Maybe appearing in my dreams was his way to make sure I didn't forget him, or maybe he was just wishing me luck on my first day of high school.

I looked up at my uniform which was hanging on the door of my closet. It was blue military style with my family name  Matsumoto  neatly stitched on the pocket. Sis ironed it the day before, and made me swear to not get it dirty.

I lived with my older sister since my grandfather died. Well technically she wasn't my  real  sister. She was Grandpa's only daughter, which made her my adopted sister. She was about fifteen years older than me and already married. She quit college to raise me which was pretty cool, considering that we aren't related by blood.

She's strict and likes to tell me what to do, but she's nice sometimes too. I think if I was going to miss anyone it would definitely be Sis, or her five-year-old daughter Hikaru.

I picked myself up and got dressed. Then with a yawn, I made my way downstairs to eat breakfast.

My sister's husband Shuro was already sitting at the table.

The best way