Darren and Fukushu now sprinted towards Yuriko's home, carrying their wounded friends in their arms. As they now burst through the front door, Yuriko gasped. "What happened?"
"They were attacked," Darren said quickly as he laid Misaki on the couch. "By something that looked like a kitsune."
"A kumiho," Fukushu scowled as he gently eased the kits off his shoulders. Akira, Ayami, and Rexie now joined them, immediately shocked to see how badly they were hurt.
As Ayami and Yuriko tended to the wounded, Fukushu now gazed out at the window, a serious look upon his face. It was Akira that now approached his former master, the six tailed kitsune wanting revenge for his daughter and nieces injuries. "Tell me everything you know about the kumiho Fukushu?"
"They are an ancient enemy," he stated. "One I thought destroyed centuries ago. It appears the Normal have revived one."
"Than we shall have to destroy them yet again," Akira stated. "After what they have done."
Before Fukushu could reply the door was now thrown open, the group turning in alarm. Abolith now gazed angrily at the others before approaching her son. As she knelt down next to her injured son, Darren could see the elf assassins eyes gleam with rage.
"Who did this to my son?"
"A kumiho beloved," Fukushu replied quietly. Abolith raised an eyebrow as she studied her kitsune lover. "They were destroyed years ago," Abokith exclaimed. "We both saw to that."
"One survives," Fukushu said. Abolith said nothing, touching her injured sons cheek before standing. The dark elf now downing her shawl as she stomped towards the door.
"What are you doing," Darren asked.
"My job," Abolith replied angrily. Fukushu now grabbed Aboliths arm tightly, narrowing his eyes as he gazed at the angry assassin. "What do you think you're doing," Fukushu asked.
"The Normal almost killed our son," Abolith yelled. "My son! Now release me! I will do to them what we should have done in the first place."
"Leaving would be suicide," Fukushu replied. "Think for a moment, our enemies want nothing more than for us to charge blindly. Who knows what else they have waiting."
"If you are too much of a coward to go then fine," Abolith bellowed as she tried to free her arm. "I will not stand here waiting for wizards to decide how to proceed. I am an assassin beloved, a killer, now move aside!"
Fukushu would not budge, the elf backhanding the kitsune across the face with no effect. Abolith now began to scream, a blood curdling sound as she continued to assault her kitsune lover. Darren and the others were to stunned to speak as they watched the elf unleash her anger on Fukushu.
"Mom?"
Abolith paused in her assault. Turning the elf assassin could see her son weakly lifting his head. "Mom I'm sorry," he said softly. Aboliths anger melted, the elf now rushing to the kits side as she knelt before him. "You don't have to apologize Raiden," she sighed. "I'm not angry with you."
"I tried to help Misaki and Sachiko," Raiden said weakly. "I tried to be brave like you and dad. I'm...I'm sorry mom. I couldn't help them."
Abolith said nothing, the elves eyes overflowing with tears as she now tried to soothe her injured child. "Shhh its okay," she sniffed, running her hand through the kits red and black fur. "Just get some rest. Mommy will be here for you."
As Raiden closed his eyes, Abolith now laid her cheek on the kits chest, listening to his heart and praying he would be okay. She was startled as a hand now rested on her shoulder. The elf glancing up at Fukushu. "Our son needs us," he said softly. "We will have our chance for vengeance later."
Abolith now began to weep quietly, laying her head down on Raiden as she ran her fingers through his fur. "I'm sorry," she wept. Fukushu said nothing, giving the elf a reassuring squeeze of the shoulder as now hovered over their child.
"Catalyst," he stated. "A moment."
Darren nodded, following Fukushu along with Yuriko and Akira. As they exited the house and stood on the porch, Fukushu turned, narrowing his eyes as he studied then carefully. "Thank you for saving my son."
"Um sure," Darren stammered. "No problem."
"What exactly is a kumiho," Yuriko interrupted. Fukushu sighed, staring off into the distance. "An ancient enemy of the kitsune," he started. "And a monstrous cousin of ours. They resided in Korea before they became extinct. Well, at least that's where their pocket dimension opened. Still, they are quite dangerous. Feeding upon the hearts of mortals."
"I've only heard of kumiho in legend," Akira stated. "Are you saying they are real?"
"Very real and very deadly," Fukushu said. "In the late 16th century we went to war against them. They murdered the previous holder of the Dragons Tongue. My master, Akane. For that action father cursed them before the two of us led a war that drove them to near extinction."
"Why would they kill your master," Yuriko asked.
"The kumiho wanted to expand their territory," Fukushu said. "However, they were not strong enough to kill my parents in a direct battle. Instead they would use trickery and illusion to thin our numbers. That was how Akane died. Stabbed with a poison dagger in the back after a peace summit. Needless to say father and myself made sure they were punished."
Fukushu now paused as he looked directly at Darren, the teen feeling apprehensive under the kitsunes gaze. "How were you able to summon Akanes ghost boy?"
Yuriko and Akiras jaw dropped as they too now stared at Darren. Darren gulped, feeling their eyes burning into him. "It's one of the powers of the Dragons Tongue," he stammered. "By useing it and my rings I was able to make their spirits corporeal. But I can only do it for a short period of time right now."
Fukushu simply nodded before glancing at the group. "The Normal have taken things to the next level," he said. "Yuriko, I will need your help and Akiras if we are to keep everyone safe."