Written by z0mbiE💀
Translated by Gabi🐺
Corrected by Yukeshii☕
Enjoy!
- Hey, is everything alright? - she heard a gentle, male voice, rifed with a concern. When she opened her eyes, a light of lamp blinded her. She felt as if whole world was spinning around. After a few very long seconds, everything was coming back to normality. She was laying on the couch, covered by a warm blanket. Right next to her someone was sitting on the chair and having eyes pointed at her with a worry. This person was a young man, dressed in white suit with an unkempt brown hair and slant-eyed.
- Where am I? What happend? - finally she said something.
- No worries - he said calming her - I have found you in the forest nearby. I will help you. - he smiled gently - Do you have any name?
- I... I... - she stopped short, when realised that she didn't even know her own name. She had a total emptiness in her head. She didn’t know who she was, from where and why. Like someone who have been slepping for a couple of years. - I don’t know… - she murmured terrified.
- Don’t be afraid. It is possible, that it will be like that only for a short time. - he cheered her up. - I also once woke up, without knowing who I am. No past. Without name. Back then have found me a certain boy who took me home. He named me Kenji and raised as a brother. - he told.
- Have you brushed up on your past life?
- Yes. - he chimed in – But it turned out that I haven’t wanted to remember that. - he sighed a bit quieter.
- It’s weird like not remembering anything at all... - she said thughtfull.
- But now you are making new memories, the old ones may come back with time. Maybe let’s start with giving you a name? - he proposed and his intercolutor agreed - I have found you in the beast form. I think your name should be Kitsune. From Japanese it means ‘a fox’.
- In beast form? - her eyes widened. She had any clue what this boy was talking about.
- You don’t know who you are? No problem. Me and my brother Yugo will take care of you and catch up on what happend in your life. - he went for the mug with warm tea which was laying on the table and gave it black-haired girl. - Now you should rest and don’t be nervous about this whole situation. - he added when suddenly the whole sorrounding has flied apart like a glass and now she was all alone standing in entire darkness and emptiness. She was hearing a lot of muffled voices. Someone was talking to her. Way off in the distance she saw a small, single-family home which was illuminated by sickly band of light. She started run into its direction. The more closer she was, the more she saw. Two mans was standing on the porch. One older, and the second one younger with a similar facial features to her. Her attention she focused on the plate with adress. Suddenly she felt as if the bed under her legs has fallen in and she alone started falling into the abyss.
- Dad! - she screamed, waking up from the dream. - nervously sweating she saw that she is laying in her bed. Then came this young man who was wearing white suit in dream.
- Kitsune, is everything alright? - he asked upset.
- I saw my father… I know how does he look, where he is living… I’m sure that was him! - she added and Kenji sat on the corner of her bed.
- If you want, we can even drive there right now – he suggested.
- What if my mind is playing tricks on me? - she was feeling great uncertainty.
- And what if not? You have a chance to regain your past life! Your family must really be worried about you and is constantly looking for you! - he wanted to bring Kitsune to her senses.
- Living with you, Yugo and Alice also sounds appealing to me. You are also my family… - she didn’t know what she wanted. Through these weeks she already gifted them with a great sympathy.
- You’re unbelieviable… - he laughted – I understand that you have got attached to us because you had no one. But don’t forget that someone is waiting, and thinks that you are dead. - he was explaining.
- So why aren’t you continuing your old life? You didn’t even tell me anything about this expect of you are remembering it. - she frowned her eyebrows and the boy got annoyed.
- And what I have to tell you? - he asked suprised.
- The truth. - she pushed looking at his eyes. - It doesn’t matter what was that, it doesn’t matter how you were in the past. You are my friend and this will not change. I just want to know. - she said looking at Kenji who had a blank expression on his face.
- I was a murderer, this is what you wanted to know? - at his words it could be seen that she was entirely shocked by this. - Your silence speaks for yourself. - he murmured and has left the room. Kitsune didn’t know what to think about this. Kenji as a murderer? This shy, gentle and young man was capable of killing someone? She couldn’t believe at this, but on the other hand she knew that he wouldn’t lie to her. With an anormous reluctance she decided to got up and prepare for the journey. At the same time Kenji proclaimed his older brother that their charge have reminded herself about her father and the place where she lived. Deep inside in his soul, he didn’t want her to leave, but he knew that she should come back to her family. Opposite to him, she had somewhere to go back.
* A few hours later *
Yugo has stopped a car near the adress given by a girl. Kitsune looked through the window at her home that she saw in her dream. Looking at this new sorroundings, she felt really muddled and a little bit terrified. Kenji and Alice were silent.
- Ready? - asked Yugo while turning off the engine of the car.
- I have no choice… - she sighted and then whole team got out from the car. Black-haired girl was going as first, but her steps weren’t confident. She felt as if she was going weak at the knees. Finally she came to the door. She looked behind at her friends, and then by her wobbling hand she pushed the bell. Seconds were passing by very mercilessly when she was hearing more and more clearly steps. After a moment, the door became unlocked and at the doorstep she beholded a grey-haired man from her dream. And when he saw her, he was in tears.
- Hope!- he screamed her true name and hugged tightly. - I was scared that you came to ZLF or TYLON hands! I was searching for you all that time! - he cried when suddenly he saw the three of friends, and then let go off his hand her confused daughter. - Maybe we will talk inside? I want to know what happend! - he invited a whole team to his house. They all sit at the table in the living room. On the background was playing classical music and the walls were decorated by a lot of family photos. When the man was talking to the three of unknown people, Hope was just staring at them carefully and she was’t saying anything.
- So, how did my daughter get at your house? - he started, staring at them carefully.
- My brother Kenji has found her unconscious at the forest. He took her to our home. Hope haven’t remembered anthing, so we took care of her and named Kitsune. We assure that we was taking good care of her and that she was safe. Today she brought back her memories about you, sir, and that’s why we are here. - explained Yugo. He was a little bit chaotic in this, because explaining has always been for him a weak point.
- I’m very grateful that you took care of her. - the man smiled – And I am very sorry that she could bring you some problems… I know my daughter very well.
- Problems? - broke in Alice, at the same time massaging her pregnancy belly. - This girl is a true angel. Do you want to say, Sir, that she to be different?
- It doesn’t matter. The most important thing is that she’s healthy and alive, and I have a debt of gratitude. I have started already to get over her death and today it turned out that my daughter is living. - he looked at Hope who was still watching pictures of her family. She looked as if she wanted to remind herself about these all situations that were pepetuated on the illustrations. After a while he directed his vision on the younger boy who was still remaining silent.
- Kenji has been especially giving her a lot of attention. He didn’t know who he was himself and he really understood her. - added Yugo. - Unfortunately, it’s about time and you, Sir, should talk with Hope.
The man once again thanked them, and the friends of Hope has left his home. Alice and Yugo already were sitting in the car. Kenji wanted do the same, when he heard a call. He moved around and came to the girl who was staying on the porch. He wasn’t saying anything.
- I want you to know, that I’m thankful for what you, Yugo and Alice has done for me. It really means a lot. - she smiled.
- Will you promise me something? - he asked.
- What is this? - she got interested.
- Don’t forget about me, right? - he tried to remain serious.
- Are you joking? - she hugged him with all her might. - You won’t dump me so easy! - she chuckled, and Kenji hugged her back. - There are a lot of lessons from ninjutsu waiting for us. - she added and the man laughed.
- So… Goodbye? - he wanted to make sure while letting her go.
- Yes… - she nodded, also letting him go. She was staying like this besides her home until her friends vanished from her sight. She already was missing them. At the same time her mind was thinking about what Kenji said to her. That he was a murderer. She didn’t understand anything from that. After a moment she heard a yelling from her father.
A young man was staring at the passing setting through the car window. He seemed to be absent. Yugo noticed that looking at the upper mirror.
- You have probably gotten sick… - he started with a dumb smile.
- On what? - a brown-haired man asked suprised.
- I know very well on what. I didn’t born yesterday. - answered Yugo and Alice chuckled.
She knew what her husband meant.
- I will miss her, but it isn’t what you thinking. - he said, but after the amusement of his brother, he knew that he didn’t take his words seriously. All the way home he remained silent. After coming back also. He felt as if he have lost a part of himself. Propably like everyone who got isolated from their friend, who was there with you through the whole days.
An afternoon was coming and there was darker outside. After a long conversation when the Hope’s father fell asleep, Hope had the courage to enter her room. There, she was really shocked. The walls where dark and had posters of the rock and metal bands. Her desk was flooded with stud bracelets, and on the bed were laying two guitars. She started to wonder who she was. She felt as if in the strange place for her. She was standing montionlessly like this on the doorstep.
- Hope? - she heard her name and the voice sounded familiar. She looked back and saw an older tall boy. Like her, he had black hair and similar features. When he saw her face, his face turned pale as though he was staring at the ghost. She was silent, not knowing what to say. - You don’t remember me? - asked, and she shook her head. - It’s me, Levi. Your brother…
- My brother? - her eyes got glazed-over. - And where is mum? Father didn’t tell me anything about her yet… - she sighted and the boy was blank. - She passed away, right?
- Humans killed her. - he said – Only because they hate us, the zoanthropes. - he added, but she haven’t responded. She knew about the rules that were on the world. Their spieces were forcedly isolated from the people, and locked on the little ground of America.
Only a part of the Zoanthropes had an access to humans. Levi was only standing and observing her. Hope dropped the guitars from her bed, and after that she sat on it, covering her face by hands. She was imagining this a little bit different, and regreted that she reminded herself about this home. From the pocket of her hoodie she pulled photo out, which was showing her and Kenji. She immediately broke down in tears, when she glanced at it. Her older brother sat beside her and hugged gently.
- Who is this person? - he asked, glancing at the photo. He associated this young face from somewhere.
- My friend Kenji. He is the one who found me and took care of, along with his brother and his wife. - she responded.
- And you won’t be seeing each other again? - he was investigative. Hope didn’t know, or rather didn’t remember who Levi really was.
- Tomorrow I’m going to get there, to him…
- So why are you crying? - he was suprised.
- Because this whole situation is overhelming me. I don’t know still, who I am, I don’t know what a purpose I have in live. I feel horribly bad when they are not around… - she let out a sob.
- It doesn’t matter what was in the past, but what is right now, so you should focus on that. Everything will be alright… - he kissed her on the forehead. - You have to go to sleep with that. Goodnight… - he signed her off and left the room, fastening the door. In the way to his room, he smiled. Immediately he got at his laptop, to get to the old data of the ZLF from the times, when so called ShenLong was running this group. He was himself with them, and was a royal sidekick towards a new leader. There he found a file of the youngster, who was illusively similar to the friend of his sister. That was him.
- So Kenji is a murderer. Bakuryu… - he whispered to himself. - A weapon of the past TYLON, trained by an ancient master of the ninjutsu, Kato Ryuzo. Also an old warrior, working for the ZLF… - he laughted, knocking at the keyboard as if he was mad, with an urge to get to the TYLON files. No wonder, that he was respectable in the whole organisation, which he is a member. And he owed this all to his hacking skills. After a long fight, with breaking through all the safety barriers, he has found what he wanted. At the same time, he was terrified. TYLON, and the human army were working on the biology weapon. The purpose of this deadly weapon, was to wipe out, once and for all, the shapeshifters. Whatever… It seems, that Bakuryu will be once again useful as a puppet of the ZLF… - he murmured and after this he started to copy all the files. In the Levi’s head, a plan springed out. He joined this organisation, because of his hate towards the humankind, who took his mother live. At the same time he didn’t want to harm his countrymans, like it was the habit of the ZLF, who wanted to convince shapeshifters in any possible existing way.
He was going to use Kenji, noninvisiable, without the ingeretion into his mind. He wanted to show people, where is their place. According to his conception, the young man should set out, in the purpose, to baffle scientists plans. Without a problem he has found digits to the boy, and sent him an anonymous message about the TYLON’S plans. He only regreted that didn’t make up this idea earlier. Also, he sent an alarm to the human army, about the shapeshifter who was going to baffle their plans. Pursuant to his idea, Kenji should be cought, and taken by this wicked scientific corporation. He quickly grabbed the phone from his trausers pocket, to call to his leader.
- I hope that this is something important, because I’m a little bit busy… - an dry voice has broke the signal.
- I managed to find someone,who will help us turn this whole species against the humans. - he declared.
- I want see you tomorrow, in our lodging. Better not let me down again. - a person on the other side hung up.
Hope was sitting in the kitchen at the table, eating the food in silence, which was made by her father. He saw, that something is troubling his daughter. She was avoiding a talk. She didn’t ask for anything. She seemed to be absent. She wanted to be, as fast as possible, with her friends.
- I see that you are eating in a hurry. Give me digits, and I will take you there… - he wanted to start any talk.
- Even now? - she asked.
- If you want… - he got up from the table, giving her a sign that they are leaving. And she, without saying anything, went with him to the car. Without a hesistance, she said where does she want to go, and after that they drived away. Through the whole way between them was an awkard silence. The trace was dragging, and every minute seemed to last a couple of hours. Finally, they stopped.
- Hope… - a man started talking, seeing how the girl is catching the handle to get out. - You are my daughter, and the only thing that I want, is your hapiness. You are now a completely different person, and I am just a stranger for you, and I see, that you are feeling bad in our home. Nothing seems to change that. If you think that you belong there with your friends, then stay there. You are an adult now, and you know what you are doing. I don’t have any influence on your decision. I just want you to be happy.
- Dad… I… - she stuttered.
- I have to drive there for you at afternoon, or no? - giving her two options to choose.
- Don’t get back for me… - saying that, she almost cried and got out from the car. She only looked at her father, who was leaving. She felt peace. In unexplained way, she felt at her family house endangered. This feeling was never assisting her, being around Yugo, Kenji and Alice. Brightened, she run to their house and knocked. Alice opened her who was holding a piece of cake. When she beholded her, she dropped this goody. She didn’t expect her that fast.
- I came back. - Hope smiled hesistantly.
- What has happend? - she got worried, letting her go to the home.
- I wanted by myself. I was feeling bad at my house, and I don’t want to be there again. I feel that I belong here… - after all, she was afraid of the refusal.
- We also had a hard night, and we think the same. - she smiled - Admittedly, Kenji and Yugo are absent, they left to run but they should be there soon. - she announced. Black haired girl took off her sneakers and followed her friend to make a tea. When the water was boiling, they cleaned up the cake that was laying by the door. With the ready drinks, they went to the living room, and turned on the TV to kill some time. They were also eating salt crisps. Hope was again felling normally. However, thoughts about her brother tormented her. At the same time, he was subconsciusly close for her, but he was arousing fear. Not necessary his person, but something what could be connected with him. She didn’t know what, though.
Some memories from the past started to haunting her, but she couldn’t glue them back together. In her mind, the biggest hole was drilling a vision of the pale, greyish-violet eyes. When she was only thinking about them, she was fueled by fear and didn’t remember who was the owner of those pair of eyes. Surely no one who was good.
After a long time, the girls heard a lamming of the door, which meant the comeback two of the brothers. A laughing and joshing could be heard also. Hearing the sound of the TV, they immediately has gone to the living room, to greet Alice. They didn’t expect Hope, though. Seeing her, both of them were suprised.
- She came back to us. - started Alice.
- But we hope at last that she’s not going anywhere, anymore? - Yugo wanted to convince himself, but he knew the answer.
- You are my family... - sumed up black haired girl. Kenji didn’t say anything but deep inside he was content from how has it ended. He wanted to have her close, especially after receiving the anonymous message, that was revealing TYLON’S plans. He didn’t tell about that anyone. For all costs, he wanted to protect his close one’s.
