Chapter 118: The Nogitsune

Scott and his pack gathered in the living room. Across from them sat the Yukimuras and Satomi.

Scott leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Alright, tell us what's going on. Why did a banshee know about you and your daughter? And what does that French phrase mean?"

Noshiko's voice was calm. "Coup de foudre. The literal translation is 'a bolt of lightning.' In French, it can also mean 'love at first sight.' But right now, a bolt of lightning is exactly what we need."

Lydia frowned. "For what?"

"To fight the Nogitsune." Noshiko replied.

Scott's brows furrowed. "A Nogitsune? So that's why you came to Beacon Hills."

Noshiko met his gaze. "Yes. I returned to kill him."

Stiles asked. "We know a Nogitsune is a type of Kitsune, but what exactly is it?"

Noshiko's expression darkened. "A Nogitsune is a dark fox spirit. A Void spirit. It feeds on pain and chaos, growing stronger from suffering. And, worst of all… it possesses people."

Allison asked. "So, it could already be inside someone?"

Noshiko nodded. "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

Scott said. "If we don't stop it, people are going to die again. That must be why Lydia told us about you and your daughter."

Melissa asked. "So how do we find it?"

Noshiko sighed, frustration flickering across her face. "I don't know. I used the Oni the find it, but they didn't find anything yet."

Stiles looked between Noshiko and Kira. "By the way, what exactly are you? And what about Kira?"

Noshiko glanced at him with a small smile. "I am a Celestial Kitsune. I have walked this earth for nine hundred years."

Stiles blinked. "Of course, you have." He turned to Kira. "What about you?"

Kira answered quickly. "I'm seventeen?" She then shot her mother a look. "Nine hundred years old? Mom, you didn't mention that yesterday! What about Dad? Is he, like, a thousand or something?"

Ken chuckled. "I'm just a normal human, Kira. Remember?"

Kira crossed her arms. "I don't know, Dad. You two lied to me for seventeen years, maybe you lied yesterday, too."

"Kira." Noshiko's voice was sharp, and Kira rolled her eyes before looking away.

After a brief pause, Noshiko turned back to Stiles. "Kira is a Thunder Kitsune. But she hasn't awakened her powers yet."

Lydia leaned forward, curiosity in her gaze. "And this Nogitsune… who is he? And why do you feel the need to kill him yourself?"

Ken sighed, exchanging a look with his wife. "Perhaps you should tell them everything. From the start."

Satomi exhaled slowly before meeting Scott's eyes. "Do you remember when I told you that I lost control in 1943 and killed someone?"

Scott nodded. "Yeah. You said it was one of the worst things you've ever done."

Satomi's expression was heavy with memory. "It was. But what I didn't tell you was that Noshiko was with me that night. And that night… was when it all started."

Noshiko sighed. "In the 1940s, during the war, I lived here in Beacon Hills. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, everything changed. We were taken from our homes, stripped of everything, and sent to Camp Oak Creek, an internment camp. Satomi and I were both prisoners there simply because we were Japanese."

She continued, her voice heavy with old memories. "The conditions were terrible, but we survived. And then I met him." Her expression softened for just a moment. "Corporal Rhys. He was one of the soldiers stationed at the camp, but unlike the others, he was kind. We fell in love."

Kira's eyes widened. "Another thing you didn't tell me about."

Ken frowned. "Kira, now is not the time. Let her finish."

Noshiko gave her daughter a sad smile before continuing. "One day, we discovered that two of the camp's MPs were working with the camp physician to sell much-needed medication on the black market. Because of their greed, many internees died from pneumonia, unable to get the antibiotics they desperately needed."

Melissa clenched her fists. "Bastards."

"When Rhys and I found out the truth, we tried to expose them, but we were caught. And then, the riot happened. The prisoners fought back, desperate, angry, sick of being treated like less than human. Gunfire broke out. I was shot." She paused, her voice thick with emotion. "So many died that night. Including Rhys… he was burned alive after being hit by a Molotov cocktail."

Scott and his pack turned to Satomi, who met their gazes with a solemn nod. "Yes. It was me. I lost control… and I killed Rhys."

Silence filled the room.

Stiles coughed, shifting uncomfortably. "And then what happened?"

Noshiko's eyes darkened. "They wanted to cover everything up. They dragged the bodies, mine included, out to the field to burn them. I was so badly injured that they thought I was dead." She took a slow breath. "At that moment, I was heartbroken, desperate. I begged for power. For vengeance. And my wish was answered."

Scott's eyes narrowed. "That's when you summoned the Nogitsune."

Noshiko nodded. "I wanted a fox spirit to possess me. Specifically, a Nogitsune that fed on chaos, strife, and pain, something powerful enough to heal me and help me avenge my people. But Nogitsune are tricksters. They have cruel senses of humor. Instead of possessing me… it took over the body of the man I loved."

Erica muttered. "That's messed up."

"The Nogitsune fed on the suffering in that camp. It went on a rampage, killing soldiers, nurses, prisoners—everyone. It was unstoppable." She exhaled. "I had to stop it. Satomi and I fought together. She was a Beta Werewolf at the time."

Satomi spoke next. "The Nogitsune was too strong. We couldn't kill it. But we could trap it. So, we forced it back into its true form, a fly. And sealed it in a jar."

Lydia tilted her head. "And where did you put it?"

Noshiko said. "I buried it under the Nemeton. A sacred tree. I thought that would be enough."

Scott exhaled. "But he escaped… because the Nemeton was weakened."

Lydia's expression darkened. "Because the Leshy drained its power."

Deaton, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "If it was only recently released, it may still be weak. It'll need to create suffering, pain, and chaos to grow stronger before it becomes a real threat."

Stiles turned to Lydia. "Lydia, do you have any clue where it might be?"

Lydia shook her head. "No, sorry."

Scott sighed. "Since Lydia doesn't feel anything yet, it means he hasn't started making trouble. At least, I hope not."

Allison let out a breath. "We just dealt with the Yuki-Onna, and now we have to find a demon fox? I'm starting to think these creatures are coming to Beacon Hills because of us, not just the Nemeton."

Stiles frowned. "What do you mean?"

Allison said. "Well, if the Nemeton was always drawing strong supernatural creatures here, then before Scott and our pack were around to protect this town, who was stopping them?"

Satomi answered. "Before she was killed, Talia Hale was the one protecting this town."

Allison frowned. "I know about her, but I doubt she was strong enough to beat something like the Cerberus and his pack."

Scott shook his head. "Babe, the Cerberus and his pack weren't drawn here by the Nemeton, your crazy aunt brought them here, remember?"

Allison gave him a playful smile. "What aunt? I don't remember having an aunt."

Scott chuckled. "So you disowned her, just like you disowned Gerard and your great-uncle Sebastien."

Allison glared at him. "Are you looking for a fight?"

Scott held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'm not talking about your crazy, evil family anymore."

Stiles raised an eyebrow. "Wait… who's Sebastien?"

Allison's eyes glowed red as she let out a low growl. "Do you really want to know, Stiles?"

Stiles quickly shook his head. "Never mind. Scott, control your girlfriend."

Noshiko watched their exchange with mild amusement before speaking. "You don't seem scared of the Nogitsune."

Scott said. "Scared? No. My only concern is stopping it before it causes too much damage."

Noshiko studied him for a moment. "I see."

Scott's expression turned thoughtful. "By the way, how many tails does your Nogitsune have?"

"None." Noshiko answered. "But if we let him run unchecked, he will grow very powerful."

Scott nodded. "And what about you? How many tails do you have, if you don't mind me asking?"

Noshiko hesitated, glancing at her husband. Satomi, noticing her reluctance, spoke up. "Noshiko, you can trust them."

After a moment, Noshiko gave a small nod and turned back to Scott. "I have nine."

Scott said. "Then you better keep them safe. Since the Nogitsune has no tails, he'll come after yours. He'll use them to summon Oni, and from what you've told us, he'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants, including hurting your family."

Noshiko's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes. "I know he will come for my tails, but not yet. He is still too weak to face me. As for my family… I hope you can help keep my husband safe at school. And I'd like Kira to spend time with you and your pack so she can learn more about the supernatural world."

Lydia tilted her head. "You're a nine-hundred-year-old kitsune. I think you'd be the best teacher for her, or even for all of us."

Noshiko raised an eyebrow. "Is that a no?"

Lydia shook her head. "I didn't mean that. Kira can hang out with us, and she'll be safe when she's with us. What I meant was… why don't you teach her about the supernatural yourself?"

Noshiko let out a soft sigh. "Sometimes, when you deny the truth and live a lie for too long, your mind starts believing the lie as reality. I've been denying what I am for seventy years. I never even told my daughter what she is… because of what I did that day."

Ken gently took her hand. "That wasn't you, Noshiko. That was the Nogitsune."

Noshiko gave him a sad smile. "Maybe I didn't kill those people with my own hands, but I might as well have."

Ken squeezed her hand. "You were hurt and angry. You didn't know the Nogitsune would possess someone else."

Noshiko shook her head. "Those are just excuses."

Allison spoke up. "Well, we'll keep Kira safe as long as she's with us."

Noshiko gave a small nod. "Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse us, it's time for us to leave."

With that, the Yukimuras and Satomi said their goodbyes to Scott and his pack before heading out.

To be continued… 😊

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