Jackie breathed a sigh of relief, watching a joyful smile spread across May Harring's face. The gamble paid off, May was finally able to take a modicum of control over Void Dandelion. It should have been a moment of triumph. For most within the room it was.
Trisha and Misery hugged May, realizing the momentous occasion, congratulating the woman. The pair realized May had taken a massive step forward, happy for the woman making a breakthrough in her mental struggles. Fukushu on the other hand scowled, glaring at Jackie incredulous.
"What were you thinking human?!"
"I was helping May plain and simple," Jackie replied, narrowing her eyes as she glared at the kitsune. "For years she's struggled to suppress Void Dandelion. I theorized that it wasn't a matter of suppression, it was a matter of control."
"You gambled our lives on a theory," Fukushu exclaimed.
"But it worked," May interjected. "For the first time in years, I can't see her."
"For now," Fukushu grumbled.
"You really are a glass half empty kind of person huh," Misery grumbled. "And they call me Misery."
"I am a realist human. No more, no less."
"C..can I ask a question," Trisha stammered. "Why do you hate humans so much?"
"All I have ever seen from humanity is evil," Fukushu growled. "They are prejudice, cruel, and evil."
"And I've seen that from the kitsune," Trisha retorted. "I already told you how my family was treated by the kitsune. In my experience, it's the kitsune who are cruel."
Fukushu shifted, his eyebrow rising. He couldn't argue with Trisha's experience. Regrettably the kitsune could be superstitious about things. Yet, the nine tailed kitsune held onto his own experience. Humans had shown cruelty on more than one occasion.
"So now that May shared, I believe it's your turn Fukushu." Jackie stated.
"No."
"What do you mean no," Misery exclaimed. "Everyone else here delved into their shitty childhoods. What makes you so different?"
"I said NO," Fukushu exclaimed, grabbing his chair and heaving it at the wall. The group jumped, startled by the kitsunes actions as the chair left a hole in the wall. The rage etched into his vulpine face told everyone that something happened to Fukushu. If he would ever tell anyone though was crap shoot.
"Okay," Jackie said softly. "Okay I won't ask, but if you could; can you give an example of why you hate humans so much? I already know about Yomi, but I'm hoping you can tell us another instance. Just so we can understand."
"Fine," Fukushu growled, folding his arms across his chest as he glared at the group. "How many of you know of my old apprentice Isao?"
"That name seems familiar," Jackie and Misery stated.
"It should," Fukushu stated. "He served me during the Timeline War."
"Wait," Jackie gasped. "Was he the blind kitsune?!"
"He was," Fukushu replied, his voice low. "And it was humans that took his eyes."
"Took his eyes?" Trisha asked in alarm.
"Yes," Fukushu stated. "I first met Isao when he joined the Dragon Army. He was a young two tail. A teenage boy with a great deal of potential and a bright smile. I watched him carefully throughout his initial training. I appreciated his work ethic, his unending stamina and positivity. I was amazed not only at his exceptional swordsmanship but his incredible ability as a sorcerer. He was a natural."
"So how did humans take his eyes?" Misery asked.
Fukushu frowned, his eyes narrowed. "A wizard ambushed him," he grumbled. "I spent two hundred years training Isao. I viewed him as my apprentice, my ward, my....what is the name of the learners in that space movie?"
"Padawan?"
"Yes," Fukushu answered. "Isao was like a little brother. He was much different than myself. I saw him as one day leading the Dragon Army. Then, one day, we received a report that human warlords had stumbled into the kitsune realm."
"Wait how," Trisha asked. "I thought it was impossible for humans to cross into the kitsune realm without some seriously powerful magic."
"Centuries ago it was much easier," Fukushu answered. "Over time, we have strengthened the barrier between realms. How do you think the old myths and legends were created? Humans held onto the ancient beliefs for centuries, forgetting them in much the same way they have forgotten magic and the old Gods."
"So humans used to just randomly wander into the kitsune realm?" May asked.
"Yes and they were quickly disposed of."
"You just killed them?!" Trisha exclaimed.
"What part of humans are evil have I not made clear," Fukushu sighed. The group frowned, not agreeing with Fukushu's methodology for dealing with lost people. How many innocent people had Fukushu killed?
"Isao was sent to investigate," Fukushu continued, the kitsune taking a breath as his shoulders slumped. "He did not agree with me in regards to humanity. We argued often about humans, always respectfully. Isao felt that simply escorting humans out of our home was enough. He did not think killing every human was the answer. Not all humans deserved death."
The group was quiet, watching as the kitsune's face warped into an expression of both rage and sorrow.
"He was wrong," Fukushu said sadly. "The humans who invaded our lands worked for a wizard. The incursion was a trap. The last thing Isao saw was four humans holding him down as the wizard approached, knife in hand. After that, he hated humans more than I did."
"I'm sorry your friend went through that." Jackie said softly.
"That is but one example of the cruelty I have witnessed from humans," Fukushu said angrily. "I have many, many more experiences with humans that makes me loathe them."
"What about Mason?"
Fukushu looked to Jackie, flabbergasted by her question.
"That's different."
"Who's Mason?" Trisha asked.
"His nephew," Jackie stated. "His human nephew. The same human nephew who the Superior Church tried to kidnap."
"The Superior Church tried to kidnap your nephew?" Misery asked.
"They did," Fukushu growled. "And for their hubris, I turned the organization to ash."
"Okay I'm confused," May said. "If you hate humans so much, why would you care what happens to Mason?"
"He's family," Fukushu replied. "I care for the boy."
"Do you," May asked. "Because the way you talk about humans, I would think otherwise. What is so special about your nephew?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"Then explain," Trisha asked.
"No," Fukushu replied with a growl. "And I am tired of these conversations! I have explained enough."
Turning towards the door of the room, Fukushu now began to pound on it, yelling of the guard. Staff immediately entered alarmed by the ruckus. The kitsune now turned, placing his hands behind his back.
"Take me back to my cell," Fukushu grumbled. "I have had enough of this drivel."
Confused, the C.O.s turned to Jackie, watching as the woman simply nodded. As the guards placed restraints on Fukushu and led him away, Jackie could only shake her head. Obviously, achieving a breakthrough with the kitsune would take a lot of effort.