Chapter XV

The sun was getting low as Tenko pulled up to Stiles' house. Cora had called Tenko on his way home to be picked up from Stiles.

After Stiles had gotten the information that he needed, he was about to leave when Cora asked to leave with him. She didn't want to be alone with Peter.

Tenko stood in Stiles' room as he watched Cora sit silently on Stiles' bed.

"She's been like that almost all day," said Stiles.

"No, she hasn't," said Tenko. He walked over to her, then crouched down in front of her. "Cora, what's wrong?"

"I'm just ready to go to bed. Can we go?" she asked.

"Yeah." Tenko nodded.

Tenko stood up and held out his hand. Cora looked at it for a moment, then took his hand. She held Tenko's hand as she grabbed her sweater, then rose to her feet.

"Mareth is gone. Could you go by a friend's house to teach him the basics?" Tenko looked at Stiles as he spoke.

"He knows about everything?"

"Yeah. You need to show him how what to do if the supernatural comes for him. That's all. Do this, and I'll make Mareth write you a recommendation to Paranor." said Tenko.

Stiles nearly fell out of his chair when he heard Tenko's words. Stiles began to nod his head vigorously as he said. "Yeah. Yeah, I can do it. Just send me the address and his name."

"No names but mine. Tell him I sent you." Tenko interrupted.

"Got it,"

Tenko then began to leave when Cora suddenly stopped and thanked Stiles for helping her out.

In the truck, Tenko asked Cora what happened, and she just shook her head. She wanted to say so much, but only tears came forward, followed by sorrowful weeping. Tenko just started the truck and put it in gear. Before he drove off, he reached out and held Cora's hand. She instinctively squeezed it, and Tenko just sighed as he pulled her emotions into himself.

Tenko stopped at a small house after a ten-minute ride with only the lights shining from the living room window.

"Where are we?" Cora asked.

"My parents' house," Tenko replied in a flat tone. "Come on."

Before Tenko could knock on the door, it opened. It was Nikita with a warm smile for her son. Behind her, Mark was standing tall. An instant later, Cora and Tenko both smelled a floral scent coming from inside.

Cora thought nothing of it, but Tenko took in the sweet scent once more and muttered, "Choyo-no-sekku."

"What?" Cora asked.

" A festival with a deep history connected to our clan."

Tenko led Cora into the house, and together they were whipped with yellow cotton pads of chrysanthemum essence.

Nikita explained the chrysanthemum festival to Cora, who felt that she need a rest. Something a little extra to brush away the negative energy in her life.

Nikita then took Cora upstairs for a cleansing bath while Tenko sat and talked to mark.

"Melissa told me to tell you. Thank you," said Tenko.

Mark smiled. "She's welcome."

"What is she thanking you for?"

"Melissa wanted to help you. So, I connected with some people and got her into a program to become a nurse practitioner. " Marked explained as he was about to pour chrysanthemum tea but was stopped by Tenko.

"I want the Reishi. I know you have some ready," said Tenko.

Mark smirked. He went to the kitchen and returned with a new pot. "If your mother asks, you drunk the chrysanthemum first."

Tenko nodded in agreement.

"As I was saying, There are many young adults and teens that can be saved by the bite and bring power to your pack. Being a nurse practitioner gives Melissa more access."

"Thank you, dad. She deserves to climb the ladder," said Tenko.

"I know she does," he replied.

Tenko sipped his tea then glanced at the steps that led upstairs. Tenko cleared his through then leaned closer to Mark. "I need you to play a game of Go with me."

"Oh no, you know my game is Shogi. If you want to play Go, you ask your mother." Mark replied.

"She always starts to lecture me when we play. But Go is really my game, and I need to go up against your mind." Tenko explained in a hushed tone.

Mark frowned. "What's going on, son?"

"Deucalion, the Alpha bad guy, he made a move I wasn't expecting, and now he's in the wind. But he has two other Alphas, and they will want revenge."

"This Deucalion, he's a different player than your mom."

"For a demon wolf Alpha of alphas, he is the least impulsive man that I've met."

"How about his aggression?"

"Well managed," Tenko replied.

Mark nodded, then went to grab the board game. When he returned, the father and son began a riveting game of Go that lasted all night.

When Mark put down his last white stone, Tenko stared at the board in awe.

"Seki..." he muttered.

Cora yawned as she leaned forward on the couch. Nikita also raised an eye.

"The entire board, though?' Nikita asked.

"Not the entire board." Tenko gestured to a territory won by Mark.

"You committed suicide to take a territory?" she asked Mark.

"The question is, what suicide move could Deucalion to win this game?"

-------------------------------------------

During the days that passed, Tenko relaxed but remained vigilant as Deucalion could strike at any moment. Besides school and the brief visits he had to the Tates to speak of ways to reveal Malia to the world, officially, Tenko suddenly had a lot of free time. And apparently, so did Cora.

The problems Malia faced were that she was proclaimed dead after the accident eight years ago. Explaining how Mr.Tate found her would be difficult. Malia suggested the wild girl act, but with all the murders happening, they expected that no one would be paying enough attention. But one thing was certain. She couldn't just walk into a station full of federal agents with a background she couldn't explain.

Lost girls return aside, Mr.Tate just couldn't bring himself to approve of Malia's and Tenko's relationship, so their time together was limited.

On the other hand, Derek was still off without a word, and Cora had no plans to stay anywhere near Peter. She Told Tenko about her talk with Peter at the loft. Tenko wasn't surprised by Peter's schemes, but Cora wanted to wait until Derek returned to deal with him. But idle time together only led to daily and late-night trysts.

However, there was an anxiousness about Tenko that no one around him could understand. The game of Go that he played with Mark rocked something in him, and the only person that he could talk out an explanation with was still gone with Deaton.

Then suddenly, another body appeared at the high school, and it sent everyone scrambling. Tara, a police officer, was sacrificed. Everyone thought sheriff Stilinski was next, but couldn't be certain as Tara was many things.

The day after Tara's body was found, Tenko planned to skip school and show his parents the manor along with land he planned for them to purchase. Since the village of Forests and Rivers, Elder Akira's nagging voice of the Thunder Kitsunes and his mother's responsibilities as Toyotomi were always present in his mind. The land he planned for his parents to buy was enough to start rebuilding the Thunder clan.

Although none of that went to plan when.

"I'm sorry, man. I just need some time to think," said Derek.

Tenko pursed his lips and shook his head as he pulled the phone from his ear.

"Well, are you done thinking?" Tenko asked.

"Yes, but I'm calling you to tell you that they're back. The twins are at the high school right now." Derek replied.

Tenko looked to Cora, and she nodded her head. "We'll be there in a minute."

----------

Sometime later, Tenko had a crazy idea and wanted to test it out. Surprisingly, the twins were separated. Tenko and Cora had caught their scent when they walked through the halls. Near the locker rooms, Aiden and Lydia's scent was intertwined.

Cora smirked, and Tenko knew she wanted to take him on. Tenko gestured for her to go as he went for Ethan. Along the way, he caught Stiles and Scott's scent as wells. The three of them were together.

When Tenko found them, they were in the middle of a conversation. Ethan was explaining his life before he met Deucalion. A true sob story that only Scott would listen to.

At the same time, Cora had drawn Aiden out of the coach's office and into the locker room. For an alpha, Aiden's senses were a bit dull. Cora had clawed the mark of revenge on the office window. Aiden assumed it was Derek, but Cora was close enough for him to smell.

When Cora noticed this blunder, she smirked. Cora then picked up a forty-five-pound weight and took it to Aiden's head. Aiden's reaction time was slow. Even his counter lacked force as Cora stopped him in his tracks pushed him against the lockers.

Then the sound of ripping flesh and cries filled the locker room as Cora clawed into Aiden's chest while Lydia cried out. The only thing that saved Aiden was his fighting experience.

Aiden gathered his strength and attacked Cora's left knee's inner side, causing it to snap. Aiden, in rage, decided to return the favor by hitting Cora with the same forty-five-pound plate. Like a kite with a broken string, Cora went from the cold cement floor to the metal lockers.

With a loud crash, one row of lockers hit another and set off a domino effect. Aiden began to walk toward Cora to deliver another blow when the heel of Tenko's foot found his jaw. As Tenko's kick connected, Aiden's jaw snapped, and he looked like a ballerina as his body spun the air.

Aiden pushed himself up and was about to run towards Tenko when Scott and Ethan held him back. Tenko walked to Cora and pulled her to her feet. Even though Ethan was across the school, he felt everything that Aiden went through. Tenko found that the connection between the twins useful.

"You alright?" he asked.

"He hits like a bitch." Cora spits a glob of blood onto the floor.

"Haa, you've got spunk," Tenko commented.

"You should know how much of a fighter I am by now." Cora winked at him, "We good?"

"Yeah, we're good," Tenko replied before looking at Aiden.

"It's good to see you guys came back. The territory is unsettled. Where's Deucalion?"

Aiden was fixing his jaw, so Ethan replied, "He's been here."

The fire alarm then sounded. Ethan and Aiden walked out of the locker rooms, and Tenko followed them. The moment Tenko stepped outside, I fire was started on the front lawn of the school. Everyone watched it spiral-shaped fire burn, but only a few knew what it meant.

"Is this for Kali?" Cora asked.

"It has to be," said Scott.

Tenko didn't say a word because he knew exactly what kind of Alpha burnt the spiral. Tenko silently walked away, got in his truck then left.

On the road, Tenko called his parents and told them to be ready. After getting his parents, Tenko went for Malia. She was practically dragging her father from the house, but it had to be done.

"Tenko, what happened?" Nikita finally asked.

"Do you remember what happened after I killed Duke's beta?" Tenko replied.

"He lit the street on fire. He wanted everyone to know he was coming for you," said Mark.

"Yeah, the Duluths are here. They burnt the spiral into the school lawn. I think this is Daucalion's suicide move. You all can stay in the manor while I handle his father. If the rumors were true, his father should be an Alpha."

"What? No, I'm going with you!" Malia nearly shouted.

"No, you're not. Mom, no, she isn't." Tenko declared into his rearview mirror.

Nikita reached to her right, and a surge of electricity zipped through Malia's thigh, giving her the shock of a lifetime.

---------------------------

After Tenko left his parents, Mr.Tate, and Malia in the Manor, Tenko heard the door latch shut, and he reached out to touch the manor but was met by a barrier. Tenko had the house rebuilt of Rowan wood that worked just like Deaton's clinic. Once locked, the place is sealed, and all of the locks are controlled by the security system in case Tenko ever had to flee his prison.

Tenko was dressed in all black combat pants, a long sleeve black shirt, and an all-black flack jacket with a mask covering half of his face. On his back were his two ninjatos. He was ready to hunt when he got a call from Melissa. Cora had been brought to the hospital and was in bad shape.

"Stay with her and call Jack for some help. Things are about to get ugly in this town."

"That's nothing new. I'll handle it," said Melissa.

----------------------------

It was now dark out, and Tenko was riding around trying to catch a scent when he caught multiple. Tenko immediately slammed on his breaks.

Tenko stepped out of his truck and stood in the middle of the road as a group of betas appeared. one of which was holding Tenko's lacrosse jersey in his hand. Tenko drew his ninjatos and prepared to fight when the wail of a banshee gave everyone a sharp sting to the ears.

"Never heard a banshee cry?" Tenko smirked as he closed his eyes. "let's go."

"Kill him!" Kane Duluth roared.

Tenko didn't want to, but if a group of betas was sent after him, that meant more energy was spent elsewhere. Tenko didn't have the time to waste, so he moved to kill them all.

Tenko pointed his blade at Kane when the last beta that attacked him was killed. "Why are you in charge?" Tenko asked.

"After Deucalion kills that bitch, they're going to kill you and take back out Alpha spark." Kane pulled a pin then tossed flashbang at Tenko.

Tenko leaped to the side, but he was still close enough to get hit with concussive effects of the ordinance. Tenko began to sneeze, and his nose began to sting. Something else was in that flashbang.

Tenko felt drowsy and began to wobble. He then collapsed to his needs. The night seemed to become darker in his eyes. He could hear Kane cackling as another flashbang was tossed near him. Tenko's vision was blurred when it exploded, his ears rang louder, and a second dose of the mysterious poison clouded the air.

"Did you think I wouldn't come prepared to face an Alpha? The Fox that killed my black market dealing uncle. Come on, man! You should have seen this coming. Now I'll take back what you stole from my family." Kane moved closer as Tenko fought to stay conscious.

Towering over Tenko like a conqueror, Kane's blue eyes shined, and he roared into the night sky. A roar that rolled across Beacon Hills.

Across town, Deucalion, Jema, and Bartholomew dawned victorious smiles.

Kane stepped on Tenko's back and pressed him against the road. He then turns him over as he wanted to rip the heart from Tenko's chest. "This is for Uncle Duke."

Kane's claws penetrated Tenko's chest, then past his ribs, slightly grazing his heart when a rhino-like horn blew through Kane's back.

"Get off of my Alpha." Mareth's voice was the last thing Tenko heard before passing out.

Mareth and Deaton appeared out of thin air. "Know you must grab the take to absorb his power," Deaton instructed.

Mareth gripped the Tak that she had taken from the Kungai. It immediately glowed like a molten rock as power flowed from Kane, through the Tak, and into Mareth. A moment later, Kane turned to dust.

"Remember what I said, Mareth; this is sacrificial magic. Much of your soul was corrupted to just bond with that thing. Use it too often."

"I know, Deaton. You should go. Guardians are next, and if that bitch gets juiced up. We may need your help too."

"Just take care of him." Deaton pointed at the unconscious fox before vanishing

---------------

Tenko was taken back to the manor where he was treated for Anconitum Anthora, wolfsbane from the Alps.

"What happened to him?" Malia asked.

"His past has come back to kill him," Mareth replied. "But I won't let them."

"You won't let them?" Malia scoffed, "You've been gone for days!"

"Okay!" Nikia stepped in and took Malia. Nikita looked back and said, "Whatever you're going to do, do it fast. Melissa called the Alphas are at the hospital with two new faces, and the storm outside is only getting worse."

"Wait!" Mareth called out before Nikita could leave. "We have to tell him. If the Darach makes the last three sacrifices, this place will light up like a Christmas. Nikita, you asked me when I felt like the war was coming. I feel it now. So if you don't tell him, I will."