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[Jackson]

"Hellllllllooooooooooo !" Alex called, holding a pile of sheets and blankets. "I was very tired and was thinking about sleeping, but I still brought you extra sheets and blankets because your crazy ex sat on your bed ! 'Why' ? You must be asking yourself. Because I am an extremely nice and charming gentleman that deserve all the food this haven has. Where are you- Holy sheet-"

He dropped the items on the floor and giggled. "Oh, man. That was a good one, isn't it ?"

"Mmmmm argh." I mumbled.

"Hmmmmm... What was that ? Did you say, 'That was an excellent pun, Alex ! Thank you for blessing my ears with your astonishing intelligence, please tell me more, oh great pun god' ?"

"I dunno how you got all that from 'Mmm argh'." I said, sitting up on the floor. "But I said, 'Thanks, now leave'."

"De nada, mi amigo ! Anytime !" Alex giggled. "Waaaaaait a minute... Someone sounds stressed ! Do you need to talk it out ?"

"It's nothing. I talked with Kana, that's it."

"Aw. Did you piss your pants in front of her ?" Alex snickered. "Is that why you are upset ? Are you embarrassed, or something ?"

"..."

"I'll leave." Alex walked out of my room while giggling.

Sigh

It's getting worse.

The blood lust, it was getting out of control.

It took all my willpower not to take Kana's knife and swipe her.

Although she was the one who threatened me first, I felt horrible for thinking about killing her.

Phyu had told me that remembering my happy memories could possibly ease my urges.

But I couldn't.

Because I couldn't remember ever having a joyful moment in my life.

I never experienced true happiness.

14 years ago // 2006

"Are you practicing, or are you sleeping ?" Vixxi questioned.

"Mm... sorry, mother. I have been stuck in this form even after trying to change back to human form so many times. It left me very exhausted. Snore"

"I see..." my mother laughed. "It's alright. Learning how to use your powers is deliberating at first, even for a being with such great potential such as yourself."

"There is something I want to ask you, mother."

"Yes, my little pup ?"

"Father... You have never told me about Father.Just that he was a horrible human being. Can you tell me more about him ?"

My mother exhaled silently and sat down next to me. "He was more than horrible, my little pup... He is a chaos spirit."

"Oh... But aren't we chaos spirits as well, mother ?"

"Well yes... We are known as a part of that group... Back in the war of Order and Chaos, hundreds... many thousands years ago... We were threatened and forced to fight... Not just foxes, but neutral spirits as well. We fought against peace... God, his angels, and his followers... When chaos lost, all the spirits, demons, and monsters were punished, banished, and sent underground. Below the earth... Mortals call it hell nowadays. But God gave us neutral spirits a chance. As long as we don't cause any trouble, we were free to do anything here in the Supernatural Realm."

"So... What about father ?"

"The Ruler of Hell is able to open the gates of Eternal Damnation from time to time. So many chaos spirits managed to escape. Your father was one of them. We met around 7 years ago... He disguised himself as a neutral spirit... He tricked me. I didn't know he was a... My point is, your father is more dangerous than any of the chaos spirits. He is greedy, evil, self centred... Possibly even worse than demons. I did not want him to use you for selfish reasons, so I ran away when you were just born. I've been living here in this enchanted forest, along with other foxes. And now, we're all one big, happy skulk !"

"Ace, how dare you fall asleep ?"

"Snore"

"So I was basically talking to myself. Great." My mother sighed. "I'll do anything to protect you, my little pup."

Poor mother...

[Vixxi]

It's already midnight ?

I yawned and glanced at my son sleeping beside me.

He's still stuck in his fox form ?

I need to teach him more so that he can survive without me.

I waved my hand and he transformed into his human form.

That's weird.

There's an eerie aura.

But I smell nothing odd.

A body suddenly flopped down in front of me, making me scream.

"K-kai ?" I whispered in horror.

Kai was lying on the floor, his eyes gauged out.

Blue blood was slowly dripping out from his mouth.

But the most terrifying thing of all, is that all the blood in his veins had turned purple.

"I would be lying if I say I never wanted to see a kitsune death." An evil voice cackled behind me. "But that was fairly unexciting to watch. How disappointing."

A-acheron ?

"I have been blessed long ago. I have been gifted to end a supernatural's life... with just a touch. Although my kind are the only one's who can use this power, it's still extremely rare. But it is tiring... very tiring indeed. I need a successor... my past children had failed to inherit these special powers. And I can sense it... The only one who won't fail me... is my little Ace. He belongs to me. He is my flesh and blood. Give him to me, Vixxi. And I'll spare you and the others."

"Belongs to you ?" I uttered coldly, my tone dead. "Ace does not belong to a selfish scum like you, Acheron. YOU KILLED AN INNOCENT SPIRIT... A KITSUNE."

I raised my hands, rain pouring from the sky.

"***HE DID NOT DESERVE TO BE SLAIN BY SOMEONE AS FOUL AS YOU ! YOU WILL DIE, NOT JUST FOR KAI'S LIFE, BUT FOR ALL THE INNOCENT LIVES YOU HAVE TAKEN. I WILL NOT LET YOU HARM OR TOUCH MY SON WITH THOSE BLOOD STAINED HANDS OF YOURS, ACHERON.***" I hurled a white fireball towards him.

"You are really breaking my heart here, dear." He sighed and blocked my attack. "It would be so much easier if you just hand Ace over. You can avoid a blood bath."

"I won't fall for your silver-tongued trickery ever again ! You don't have a heart. You wouldn't be treating your own children like failed experience if you did !" Nine fox tails sprouted from my back, blinding the forest with a bright light. "I will do everything in my power to protect my son !"

"Your determination and dedication was something that I admired…" Archeron smirked. "But that admiration easily became hate." I casted a lightening bolt towards him and disappeared.

"Are you running away just like last time, Vixxi ?" he called. "Where are you ?"

"Ace !" I teleported myself to the tree where my son was.

"M-mother ? Who is that…?" He trembled.

"I need you to listen to me, Ace. Your aunt will be here any second, okay ? You and Kaze are going through a portal. It'll take you somewhere safe."

"B-but… I…"

"Don't worry about me. I will be- Agh !"

A rope of darkness tangled my neck and I was levitated from the floor.

"Mother !"

"You dare make a fool out of me, fox ?" Acheron howled, his eyes violet.

"It's not that hard." I uttered. "You're as bright as the dens I sleep in. You may be more powerful than me, Acheron. But unlike me, you don't use that big head of yours. ***Even strength must bow to wisdom sometimes.***"

"Do not anger me, Vixxi…" He seethed, his body shaking with anger. He started glowing purple, and demon wings appeared on his back. "You have infuriated me so much already that I can barely control morphing into my true form. And remember… I am able to turn anybody into dust. Like what I have done to that pathetic water fox."

"K…Kai… Kai is not pathetic, you monster ! The only pathetic ones here in this forest is you !"

"Time to die, Vi-"

"I would stop, Acheron. This is unnecessary." My younger sister, Kaze appeared behind Acheron. "I have called the nature spirits and other kitsune… You are alone, so we outnumber you."

"And who said I'm the only one who came here, dear Kaze ?"

Kaze pointed her finger at Acheron and a tornado surround him, whisking him away.

"Kaze…" I muttered. "You could've at least cushioned my fall !" I rubbed my sore body.

"Be grateful that I saved you from your crazy ex, Vi." She rolled her eyes. "Come on, get up. How did he even find you ? This forest is supposed to be surrounded by enchantments that repel chaos spirits like him."

"It's… It's probably Ace… Acheron probably sense him…"

"Mother !" My little Ace came running to me. "A-are you okay, Mother ?"

"I'm… I'm doing splendid, my little pup ! Listen… Auntie Kaze will help you run-"

"No !" Kaze yelled. "You're coming with us, Vixxi."

"I knew you would say this, Kaze." My lips strained into a tired smile. "But I can't. Acheron came for Ace. I'll protect him at all costs. I'll give you two as much time as possible."

[Jackson]

She smiled…

Her blue eyes glistened with tears as she stared at me.

It was the last smile I would see from her.

"You don't have a choice !" Aunt Kaze shouted. "Against him, you'll die !"

My mother took off her keychain necklace and placed it on Aunt Kaze's hands.

"I don't fear death. In fact, I welcome it. If this is my fate, I have no choice but to accept it. If I die, at least it'll be a worthy death… A proud warrior's death. Take this key, and take him to safety. This is my last request. If you care about me… Please do what I just said."

"Okay… Please be careful."

"You know, I was considering being merciful…" My father cackled sinisterly, his voice echoing through the forest. "To only kill Vixxi and take my son. But I change my mind now. ***MY FOLLOWERS ! SLAUGHTER EVERYONE IN THIS FOREST… INCLUDING THOSE WHO DARE TAKE MY SON AWAY FROM ME.***"

Deafening sounds of monsters and demons howls could be heard.

"Kaze. Ace. Run." My mother uttered calmly.

"Vi-"

"***GOD DAMN IT, KAZE ! YOU THINK I WANT TO SEE MY ONLY FAMILY DIE IN FRONT OF ME ? I SAID RUN ! RUN, DAMN IT !***"

"Ace…" My mother turned to me with a sorrow smile. "I'm sorry… There's so much I need to tell you… But you need to go. Now. I'll see you later, okay ?"

I nodded and followed Aunt Kaze.

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Monsters closed on us.

There were so many innocent spirits lying on the floor…

So many blood splattered on the grass, the trees…

So many detached body parts…

So many carcasses that were once lively supernaturals.

So many…

A bloodsucker suddenly pounced on me but Aunt Kaze shielded me with her body.

"A-aunt Kaze !"

"Not so fast, you sly fox…" The bloodsucker rasped. "I have already put a paralysis spell on you… There is no point in struggling. I believe you'll be a tasty meal…"

"Ace… Run. Go through the portal I'm about to open."

"B-but… You and mother are my only-"

"NO ARGUING WITH ME !" Aunt Kaze shouted. "You need to make it… You need to stay alive. Run ! Do it for your mother."

Several bloodsuckers closed on Aunt Kaze, almost burying her body.

Aunt Kaze writhed in agony, her white gown soaked with blood.

"Well, well, well…" One of them cackled. "if it isn't Kaze, Kitsune of the Winds, younger sister of the queen of foxes. I can tell just by your scent, you are very powerful. That means you will be a tasty meal."

"Ace…" Aunt Kaze managed to choke out painfully. "GO !"

N-no…

Aunt Kaze…

A bright white portal appeared in front of me and I jumped, shutting my eyes.

I couldn't do anything as my own aunt was torn into pieces by those monsters.

Couldn't do anything…

Except to run, like a coward.

As for my mother…

She never came for me.

I couldn't come back for her.

I couldn't help the two people who saved my life.

The guilt and fear in my heart grew heavier every day.

My childhood was a big, confusing mess.

But one thing was clear.

My mother was dead.