Chapter 6: Fighting Back

Some days had passed on by, as Joey sat in his apartment at his desk with rolls of tape and tubes of glue. His desk was illuminated by a simple desk lamp and his computer monitor. He had been working hard to put the shell back together, but struggled to keep the pieces from falling apart. Taking a look at the clock in his room he saw that it was eleven at night. He sighed to himself realizing the time that had passed today. With another futile attempt to fix the shell, he just rubbed the sides of his head. He was set and dedicated to fixing Ben and Sashas gift, but it was not an easy task. Taking a break from working on restoring the shell Joey continued to browse the internet looking for any ways to return to the world he had grown to love, hoping there'd be something remotely possible. Try as he might though, his searches yielded no results, leaving him to hold his head in hands not wanting to give up on returning to Sasha.  As Joey sat in his chair, he nearly fell back in surprise when his phone began to ring loudly. Startled, he picked up the phone and answered it.

"Hello?" Joey asked wondering who could of been calling him at this hour

"Listen carefully as I can only say this once, there's no time to explain things now, meet me in half an hour at the storm drain under the bridge, near the park" the voice replied out quickly, before hanging up immediately afterwards

Joey glanced at the phone as a dial tone sounded leaving him to stare at it with a quizzical expression. "That voice....was that....Ryuchi?" Joey asked himself  feeling unsure

Seeing he had nothing to lose at this point, he hopped up setting the phone back on the receiver. He grabbed the pieces of the shell, hopeful Ryuchi could fix it with his magic. Joey dashed out the door slamming it shut making a mad dash down the stairs and out the front door stopping only to catch his breath. He ran as fast as his legs could go hoping to not be late for the meeting.

"I really hope it's you Ryuchi, your the only one who can help me now" Joey commented to himself

He ran to the storm drain looking around trying to spot who it was that arranged the meeting but wasn’t seeing anyone. Joey checked his watch trying to make sure he was on time wondering where the mystery person was till a figure walked up behind him.

"I'm glad you decided to show up despite the obvious risks this holds" a familiar voice called out

Joey turned around seeing the shopkeeper and smiled happily glad to see he hadn't actually left him and was all right.

"Ryuchi, what happened back at the store?" Joey asked wanting to know what happened to him
"Well... that escalated faster than I could have anticipated, to be honest I truly believed you had fallen asleep in the cot and would have returned to Sasha and Ben. It was my mistake to have assumed that, but at the same time if I had went back to check on you then I would of brought that monster to you.. though it seems that happened despite my attempts to keep him away from you" Ryuchi replied

"Well... that much was more my fault that he caught me, I had left the room I was in when I heard the commotion. I only left because I was worried something happened and wanted to make sure no one was hurt, but in my investigation he found me. He threatened to bring harm to Ben and Sasha, if I didn't return to his domain.. I did the only thing I could" Joey replied with a glum look on his face

"I feared as much, but fret not child, for I can still send you back the shop is not needed to return" Ryuchi replied to give Joey hope

"Really!? That's great news to hear, but wait, what about that monster? If he finds out I returned...." Joey trailed off not wishing to finish the sentence, feeling sick just thinking of it

"Yes, that is something we must take care of, hopefully that kitsune has yet to bring this news to the attention of any others. If this is so, we may yet have a chance to correct this issue" Ryuchi answered. Ryuchi took notice of Joey not wearing his shell necklace anymore. "Dear child, what happened to your shell, did it not come with you when you returned here?" Ryuchi asked in concern.

Joey merely shook his head showing the shattered remains of the shell to Ryuchi. "That demon bastard broke it in spite.... I have spent all my time since I returned here trying to fix it.. i haven't had any luck though" Joey replied with a heavy sigh

"Hrm, tape and what's this... glue? Bah these materials wont put shells together, but you have heart and persistence, most would have given up and just used a new shell" Ryuchi replied

"I'm not like most others, if I used a new shell, it wouldn’t carry the same feeling. This one was a gift from them both, it carries more feelings with it than just some shell i can buy. They hand picked it out and gave it as a token of love, buying a shell to replace it.... I just can't do that" Joey replied

"I see then.... '' Ryuchi commented as he thought to himself "Let me work on this shell, can't have you going back to them with their gift shattered" he replied 

Joey handed the shell to Ryuchi as he smiled a bit, chanting out some words as the shell began to glow in a golden aura. The pieces began to instantly fuse seamlessly back together, till it was restored to its former glory. Pleased with his work, Ryuchi returned the shell to Joey, who smiled with joy holding it close to his chest, happy to see it was fixed.

"Now then child, we must get a move on, we have idled here too long as it is, every second we wait here, only increases the risk of us being found out. We must move off to a new location so that we might plan our strategy to stopping this monster" Ryuchi replied

"Right, where to?" Joey asked

Without an answer though, Ryuchi dashed off in an instant as Joey watched for a second before hurrying off after the kitsune trying not to lose sight of Ryuchi. Running from the park they passed through the city to an industrial park taking shelter in a warehouse to hide in for them to make their plan of attack.

"This location should suffice for our needs, now then, we just need a plan of how we can trap him or distract him so that we can vanquish him" Ryuchi replied laying out a roll of paper and pencil

"So how will we vanquish him once he is trapped?” Joey asked curiously

"My plan is to use a type of exorcism spell, it should be able to banish him from this plane of existence, the only issue is, it takes a vast amount of time to prepare" Ryuchi answered

Joey began to think some as to how he could aid in Ryuchi's plan as he watched. Ryuchi was sketching out the warehouse as he was trying to think of where he could hide while readying the exorcism spell. Joey began looking at the sketch thinking some as a shadow passed over the sketch. Joey turned around in horror to see the evil kitsune standing atop a scaffolding watching them. The Fox was undisguised, covered in dark red and black fur. He had five long tails and very sharp claws on his hands, and blood red eyes.

"Naughty naughty otty, it seems like you didn't take me seriously back in that shop, I guess I'm gonna hafta beat the lesson into you now. Which is fine by me if I’m being honest, it's more fun that way" He replied jumping down as the building shook from the impact.

Ryuchi watched cursing to himself wondering how he caught onto them so quickly. The monster dashed towards Joey with incredible speed as Joey just stared paralyzed in fear. Without a second thought, Ryuchi shoved Joey away at the last second. The only thing Joey could see was a silhouette of a clawed arm piercing through Ryuchi against the shining light from the windows. Falling to the floor Joey couldn't help but yell out in horror seeing Ryuchi fall to the ground severely injured as he reached out to Joey holding his hand as he inaudibly mouthed out some words before going limp and lifeless.

"Hmph, so predictable Ryuchi, you were too soft for your own good, the second I saw you repair the kid's stupid sea shell I knew you'd taken a liking to the kid. Only natural you'd throw your life away for a common human" the demon replied coldly

Joey scrambled to his feet shaking violently looking towards the demon
"His death was quick and merciful, you though, I'm gonna make it long and slow. I don't like it when those I show mercy to try to go and do this" He replied walking up

With a loud gulp Joey grabbed a handful of dirt and dust and threw it at the fox’s eyes blinding him momentarily. This allowed Joey to get up and hide from the kitsune, taking shelter behind one of the old packaging machines.

"ARGH! you little brat! I'll make you pay for that little stunt you just pulled" The fox hissed angrily

Joey tried to calm himself down not wanting Ryuchi's sacrifice to be in vain. "I have to calm myself down....it's hard... but if I don't then Ryuchi's sacrifice.. it would've been for nothing.... and ....I don't want to think of it.... but... yes .. I must collect myself, if not for my life then it will be for theirs, I won't let this ass hurt them" he thought to himself

Taking a deep silent breath Joey calmed himself down to think clearly, hearing the fox walking on up to where he was.  Taking a slight peek he saw the kitsune approaching and began looking for a way to defend himself, seeing a lead pipe laying on the ground. Picking it up Joey carefully waited for his opportunity, silently walking around the other side of the machine. 

"Its now or never..." he thought  to himself

Closing his eyes he swung at the fox as he turned around landing a punishing blow to the side of his face. As Joey opened his eyes he saw that a fanged tooth flew from the kitsune’s mouth landing on the floor. Looking at the kitsune, Joey backed away quickly seeing him breathing hard in anger as he held his right eye that was now swollen shut.

"I have never been hit so hard by a mortal like yourself. You went and pushed me over the edge, now ... I'm not gonna beat you to a pulp, I’m going to rip you to shreds after I rip your eye out in exchange for mine" he hissed

Joey jumped back as the demon slashed his claws at the human. Joey watched as the claws sliced through the steel frame of the packaging machine like it was made of nothing, only reinforcing the thought of staying the hell away from the demon at all costs. Ducking and jumping over the old conveyor belts, Joey did his best to keep away from the demon and tried to stay in his new blind spot.

"Little runt, this is growing tiresome, show yourself and I promise you will only suffer for a month instead of eternity" The fox growled searching around.

Joey moved as quietly as he could standing behind the demon watching his ears twist and turn all over trying to find the human through sound. Looking around Joey spotted an old electrical utility box getting an idea to trick him into slashing it, hoping to give him a jolt. Before Joey could  get a chance to to trick the monster, he stepped on broken glass, leading to the crunching of glass causing the fox to snap his head around glaring at the human. Joey made a dash to the fuse box chucking old rusted tools at the kitsune, to keep him pissed off so he would swing his claws wildly. Baiting the fox, Joey soon had the kitsune right where he wanted him and only needed to give him one last push over the edge to make him lose all sense.

"Hey idiot, for a big scary monster, you sure are having a tough time killing one defenseless human" Joey replied tauntingly 

The human didn't have much time to act as the demon quickly slashed his claws towards Joey, he barely had enough time to dodge, getting a close shave as the fox’s claws sliced away some hairs off his head before striking the fuse box. At that very moment sparks shot out as the lights flickered and flashed as several lightbulbs began exploding violently in a shower of glass. Machines began starting and stopping erratically as alarms blared while the box began to smoke, before an explosion of sparks sent the fox falling back unconscious as smoke arose from the kitsune’s body.

"There's no way anyone or anything could of possibly survived that" Joey thought to himself carefully walking up slowly trying to look and see if the fox was dead or not

Unfortunately at that moment the fox’s eye opened up as its piercing red gaze left Joey in shock that he could survive such a thing.

"You... little.... '' the fox grunted getting up to his feet, straining a bit to speak after his electrocution, "I'm gonna burn you alive for that little stunt.. I'm gonna burn you slowly so very slowly you will wish for death" the fox panted out 

Joey fell back as he was cornered, seeing no way out as black flames engulfed the fox’s hands as a dark aura engulfed the kitsune. As the fox prepared his own hellfire spell,  Joey could only brace himself, shutting his eyes in terror. The fox cast the flames towards him, cackling maniacally. Joey sat there for a few minutes feeling nothing but the cool air that had been around him. Opening a single eye in curiosity, he saw he was shrouded in a golden aura, hearing a voice assuring him that he would not come to harm. 

"What the hell!? How did that damned fox manage this!?" the fox asked, looking over at Ryuchi's lifeless body, turning back to Joey, who now stood in front of the kitsune. 

With a swing of his arm, Joey had dispelled the flames that surrounded him glaring at the demon with eyes showing no fear to the demon.

As Joey spoke out, it was Ryuchis voice that came out "Foul beast, you who have sold out your soul for power, you will face a fate worse than death. It would only return you to the flames of the underworld you have grown to call home to grant death. Instead you will live out eternity in an a realm of nothingness, a realm of nonexistence, a realm of oblivion" 

"Like hell I will you damned fox" the beast yelled out trying to strike at Joey with a claw.
Before the beast could even come close, Joey had grabbed hold of the fox’s hand bending it back to stop his attack. 

"I shall not allow harm to come to this child, you have harmed your last mortal beast, welcome to oblivion!" Ryuchi yelled out 

At that moment the demon was engulfed in the golden glow. A Large black door, with no markings appeared behind the kitsune. The doors swung open of their own accord, as inky black tendrils shot out from the abyss waiting on the other side. They latched themselves around the monster's wrists and ankles, dragging him towards the endless darkness that awaited him. The fox struggled and thrashed, fear could be seen in his eyes as he tried to get free. His struggles would be in vain, as the tendrils pulled the monster through the doorway, causing the doors to slam shut. An eerie whisper filled the room, that made Joey grit his teeth for a second. In a flash of light, Joey collapsed to the ground holding his head as the demon was gone. Panting hard, Joey's vision blurred as everything spun around till he blacked out, as he saw himself face to face with Ryuchi

"As I said child, I would not allow any harm to come to you. That was a promise I kept even after death" Ryuchi spoke to Joey

"Ryuchi!, I’m.. I'm so sorry..." Joey replied sadly

Sniffing he looked up feeling a hand rub his head.

"Child calm yourself, it was no one's fault, it is how things go. But I'm still here with you, before I fell, I transferred myself into you using a type of fox possession. This was to keep you safe. I’m part of you and am always with you now, my frail old body may be gone, but I still exist here with you now, to always keep you safe should this ever occur again." Ryuchui replied reassuringly

"But..." Joey started to speak before being shushed

"Child, it was just a mere shell, a vessel to house my spirit,  to allow me to exist in the mortal plane. Don't let it get to you, now I will always be at your side when you need it, now I don't wish to see anymore tears shed for me. I shall not have it, if a tear is to be shed it is to be a tears of joy. Now that he is gone you can return to your family." Ryuchi replied

Joey just wipes his eyes with his arm getting up nodding his head happily

"Good, that's what I wish to see" Ryuchi replied

"So, are you able to take control of me again like that?" Joey asked curiously

"That? no child, that was one time deal, I won't be able to do that again. For the best though, its your body and life to control, not mine, but while I'm not able to control you to cast magic, you can still use it yourself though" Ryuchi answered

"Wait, magic?  but how I'm no kitsune" Joey replied quizzically

"No but you now house my spirit, as such my magic and mana flows through you. As time goes on it will grow in strength and become more powerful. For now though, it's not much but a faint glow, mere embers if you will. Soon be able to use it but it won't be anything big right now" Ryuchi explained

"Wow, thats.. thats incredible" Joey replied stunned

"We are not done though, while I could have sent you back with my power alone, losing my physical form has taken its toll. I can no longer send you to the world on my own, that power now flows through you but it is not yet mature enough to use even the most basic of magic. We will need to find  another to assist in sending you back home" Ryuchi explained sighing 

"Well we can't wait around forever then, I wish to return to Ben and Sasha as soon as possible, just tell me where to go" Joey replied with a look of determination

Ryuchi could only smile seeing the humans resolve to return "Those two got someone who is one of a kind, they got a child who would move heaven and hell for them. I can only pray and hope he can return" Ryuchi thought to himself "Very well, there is a museum not far from your college. There is someone there who can help, if we find him, then there may be a chance we can end this nightmare" Ryuchi told Joey

Joey nodded his head as he came to, waking up back in the factory. Holding his head he stumbled a bit to get back onto his feet as he brushed himself off. Taking only a moment to regain his composure, Joey dashed on out making his way to the museum.

"Just wait for me a bit longer, I swear I will come home no matter what the cost" Joey thought to himself