Flashback

*FLASHBACK*

"Mom, Dad, where are you going!" Junya's voice trembled while holding back tears.

The night blazed in an azure blue hue, stemming from the many portals that opened within the fabric of space.

Boom!

Loud explosions reverberated through the air violently, signifying the start of the Eve of Chaos.

At the moment there was no name for the pandemonium that befell them, many saw it as the revelation, the end of time, for others - the second coming of Christ, while for many, it simply spelled doom.

Junya's parents knew that it was unlike anything that they had ever seen. It was an anomaly that would be seen only in fiction, which was surreal no matter how vivid it looked.

A sudden eruption, full of destruction and carnage fell upon the earth, annihilating a quarter of the human population in an instant. Its speed left some still unknowing of their own death

Fire and explosions, flying streaks of different colors illuminated the sky as they crashed to the ground. Lightning struck down, its fiery intensity broke the earth they dwelled upon. Each wave destroys thousands of kilometres spreading across to the surrounding continents. If one had not known of the damage being caused the sight could have been called breathtakingly bittersweet. As each blow left the earth shuddering violently, an end to the assault became increasingly impossible.

"Jun, don't start crying now, your father and I will be fine. The Military has a plan, there is no need to worry, your father and I... Well, I'm very strong, so don't worry about us."

"Mom! It's not funny, How can you joke like this?!!"

"Jun... your right, I'm sorry."

His mother Harriet, had a playful smile, even with the earth smashing explosions in the air threatening them. Her platinum-colored hair was cut short and tied nearly in a bun while she was donned in her military uniform.

"Jun are you still a cry baby? Wasn't It last week you told me you were a man?"

"Not anymore! I don't want you to go" Junya cried once more while clutching after his mother's knee.

"Come here, son. Your mother will be fine. You got your good 'ole pops right here to take care of her. I might be a little on the weaker side, but I have spirit and a heart full of love for you both"

His father Bennet came with a hug strong enough to squeeze a bear, but it was only something that strong that made him feel some sort of comfort.

He was very tall and had a light tan which contrasted with pitch-black hair, He wore a face that was hard to ever take seriously. His father Bennet was always the cheerful type and a joker who never took things to heart. The years of his lightheartedness showed in the smile lines and crow's feet that lined his eyes.

"Now listen here buddy, remember we promised to go to the beach?" Bennet reminded his son.

Junya nodded.

"Well when we come back we will get on a boat and sail far out and get all kinds of sea critters, even better you can keep one as a pet! Just like you have always wanted" Bennet assured with a warm smile.

"Tr...True man's honour?"

His father stomped his foot and placed his fist on his chest. "I hereby promise Junya Wotanbe, the son of Bennet Cole and Harriet Wotanbe, that I, his father will take him out to sea and let him capture all the critters he can get his little hands-on... True man's honour!"

Bennet sounded resolute.

Junya felt a little more at ease looking at his father's joking manner at a time like this. They chuckled for a bit before hurriedly sending Junya back into the armoured cave.

Junya tried to hold on as long as possible, but after his hands left his mother's grip, It suddenly felt like he barely spent time with her.

The crowd moved fast and he was taken inside by another family, his parents soon left his view, with his last memory of them seeing them sling their rifles over their shoulders.

The moment in Junya's mind replayed slowly. The shelter doors started to close as the final wave of people started flooding inside. Even though they said goodbye, he couldn't resist the urge to call back one more time.

"We have to go Jun!" Imani's mother looked frantic holding him around the waist and carrying him further into the shelter.

As the shelter was about to close, his parents snuck outside, he could see what looked like a human-like figure lined with fur and nine tails flowing from its back. On its face, a white ceramic mask covered face, it wore a sadistic smile splattered with blood.

Soldiers all went prone and started putting shots on target including Junya's parents who rushed fearlessly unloading magazines within a second.

Countless bullets reached the head of the kitsune, but it stood still, allowing all their pitiful attempts to pass right through.

Dun!

The door slammed quickly locking the outside, shuddering the walls with its force. What happened outside remained unseen but the violent blazing heat left the walls of the shelter glowing brightly. The inside began heating at an astronomical degree while the sorrowful screams of soldiers filled the air, begging for a quicker death.

Junya remembered that moment as if they had been burned into his memory.

"My mom! Someone help my mom!" Junya shouted,

"Your mom is a dead child! I killed her!" A maniacal voice shouted striking fear into Junya's heart.

Soon from the outside, the kitsune melted her way into the shelter and her image filled Junya's mind. He felt an unbearable pressure that consumed his heart, making him unable to fight the paralysis it brought.

Jun…..Juny..Junya!

"Wh- What, where's a mom!" Junya awoke in a pool of cold sweat.

"We are at your apartment Junya, you had a flashback during the viewing of the clip and passed out… I was the one that brought you here" Imani hushed while calming him down.

Junya needed a few minutes to come to reality, his chest heaving for air, "Gosh I'm sorry, I thought I had gotten over it by now".

"It's fine that day scars all of us. And it's definitely still the most traumatic, trust me it's okay, you don't need to apologize for anything". Imani soothed while caressing his head.

"I made dinner for you if you want, I just need to warm it up"

"It's fine, I need to start training" Junya hopped out of bed, obviously disheveled to the point of needing to take a couple of steps to maintain his balance.

"No, you have to eat first. I don't want you working this hard for my sake. You're… no good to me dead" Imani demanded.

Junya felt some regret in his heart hearing her speak in that tone. He managed a reluctant, "Fine, I'll eat"

Imani clapped seeing that she prevailed over his inhumane work ethic and started warming up dinner.

She wore a silk apron over her casual clothes while she warmed up his food. Junya accepted the beef stew and shoveled it down his mouth while 'hashing' to cool it.

"That was good" Junya returned the dish with a smile. "Can I train now?"

Imani was shocked, but this was not the first time she had seen him do it, It became less surprising every time.

Junya tried to leave the bed but Imani stopped him again while he tried to leave, "Why don't you rest for tonight, I don't want to be the reason you overwork yourself"

"You're not, I want to avenge my parents by dyeing the sky red with the blood of a million corpses in their honor" Junya proudly proclaimed.

"Hmph, well you're not moving tonight. You're going to rest, it's the weekend". Imani snorted as she jumped into his chest, forcing him to lay down.

"W- what are you doing," Junya asked with his face blushing.

"Let's just stay like this..." Imani calmly spoke. Junya saw that she wasn't flustered and calmed down, instead, she snuggled down with him.

They stayed like this for an unknown time without speaking. Junya could feel the soft embrace of her developed chest.

"Do you want to do it?" Imani asked after some time. Their breathing fell in time with one another.

"W- what do you mean?"

"Junya, you know what I mean, stop playing a fool" Imani pouted, twisting to glance at him. "We are both adults, we can do it all we want"

"You're right, we could… but I want our first time to be something special," Junya added. "Sunday is valentines day, I wanna make it super romantic, I have some savings for this exact moment"

Imani looked flattered at the thought he put into it, Then a hint of guilt was hidden in her eyes.

"Will it be your first time?" She asked.

Junya nodded in reply.

Imani went silent for a while, "Fine, after the trip, we can come back straight here. You don't need to spend money, Just bring you and your friend" Imani teasingly whispered.

"Haha, Fine, N- no problem at all..." Junya muttered with a red face, stuttering some of his words. Her large assets would press on him every time she snuggled in tighter making it impossible to ignore, his blood rushed to certain places.

"Since it's the weekend, I can give your friend something to look forward to" Imani whispered with a smug smile on her face.

Junya's heart did an extra beat as he watched Imani's hand travel down to his zipper.