To say Fukushu wasn't holding back would be an understatement. Darren was now useing all of his magic and skill to simply survive the training of the celestial nine tails.
"Stand up," Fukushu barked as Darren once more crumbled to the ground. Groaning the teenage boy dusted himself off as he readied himself yet again.
"I have been taking it easy on you Catalyst," he grumbled. "Do not think your enemies will do the same!"
"This is easy," Darren exclaimed in shock. Fukushu now darted forward, Darren deflecting the blow before trying to counter. The nine tailed kitsune simply scoffed, driving a knee into Darren's stomach. Darren now collapsed, gasping for air as the kitsune loomed overhead.
"Get up huma...HRK!!!"
Darren now gazed curiously at Fukushu, the kitsune grasping his throat as he was lifted into the air. Turning the teen now gawked as Yuriko angrily gazed at the kitsune.
"Ms. Yuriko its okay!"
"Darren run," Yuriko exclaimed.
"No Ms. Yuriko you don't understand," Darren exclaimed. "Hes not trying to hurt me. He's training me!"
Yuriko gave the teen a befuddled look as others now ran to her side. "Akira," Yuriko bellowed. "Where are you?"
The six tailed kitaune now appeared from the shadows, a sheepish look on his face as he gazed at Yuriko and Ayami. "My apologies Yuriko," he said sheepishly. "I should have mentioned this sooner to avoid any....unnecessary confusion."
Yuriko now looked between Akira, Darren, and Fukushu groaning in frustration as she released her hold on the kitsune. Fukushu collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath as Abolith now appeared by his side. The assassin gazing at Yuriko with murderous intent. "My apologies Fukushu," Yuriko grumbled.
"It is fine Yuriko," Fukushu gasped, rubbing his neck. "I can understand why you would have acted in this manner."
An awkward moment now hung between the group. Ayami berating her husband for not saying something as Darren's friends simply gawked at an obviously embarrassed Yuriko. Fukushu now rubbed the sore spot on his neck, Abolith checking on him as Darren blushed. It was finally Sachiko who helped ease the tension.
The white kitsune child now skipped towards Abolith and Fukushu, a pleasant smile upon her face. As she quietly sang she now paused in front of the nine tails. "Hi are you a friend of my Poppa?"
Fukushu gazed curiously at the child, the white kit beaming at him with an innocent smile. Akira and Ayami pausing as they fearfully watched their daughter.
"Yes child," Fukushu said softly. "I am an old friend of your fathers. My name is Fukushu, this is Abolith."
"Hi Fukushu," Sachiko smiled. "My names Sachiko." Sachiko now paused, reaching up as she grasped Fukushu's face. "You have sad eyes Mr. Fukushu," she said.
"I have had a sad life child," he said softly. "You are quite unique if you are able to notice such things."
"I get that from Momma," Sachiko stated proudly. "Did you know Mom is an angel?"
"I heard," Fukushu grinned.
"So did you come to teach Darren like Poppa," Sachiko asked to which Fukushu nodded. "I thought so. I've been watching Darren, he's getting better but he still has alot to learn." Darren sighed as the kitsune chuckled softly, even Sachiko now critiqued him.
"So will you be staying for awhile," Sachiko asked. "I am not sure," Fukushu replied. "Perhaps we should ask Ms. Yuriko."
"Ms. Yuriko can Fukushu stay," Sachiko called. "Hes not trying to hurt Darren. He's just teaching."
Yuriko was simply dumbfounded, the kitsune had been her enemy for her entire life. Fukushu despised her family, despised wizards, yet now he was willingly training Darren? "I'm not sure," Yuriko muttered.
"I promise Ms. Yuriko he's nice," Sachiko pleaded. Yuriko shifted nervously, yes Sachiko had the uncanny ability of seeing the intentions of someone, an empathic ability even the old wizard could not understand. Sachiko had never been deceived by someone with evil intentions, the child could sense emotion and with it, know if someone meant harm. Still, this was one of their oldest enemies.
"I suppose," Yuriko relented. "But I will be watching. Carefully!"
Sachiko smiled, turning back to Fukushu and Abolith. The kitsune child now took Aboliths hand as she gave the assassin an innocent smile. "Fukushu will be okay," she said. "Why don't you come inside but you have to be nice! I know what your thinking and doing that would be really, really, bad!"
Abolith gave the child a befuddled look, unsure how she could know that Abolith was willing to kill everyone here if anyone harmed Fukushu. "It will be okay Abolith," Fukushu said softly. "Go now while I stay and train the Catalyst." Abolith simply nodded, Sachiko taking the assassin by the hand as she skipped towards the others while singing.
As the group now made their way inside, leaving Akira, Fukushu and Darren, they looked at one another curiously. "Can someone tell me what just happened," Darren asked.
"It appears my daughter is playing peacemaker," Akira said softly.
Darren and Fukushu simply nodded, still stunned by what had transpired in the last few moments. "Your daughter is quite adorable Akira," Fukushu stated. "You should be proud."
Akira smiled as Darren now looked between the two kitsune. Sachiko appeared to have done something that none had been able to do in over 80 years. Get both sides to not try and kill eachother.