"So then she starts talking about phosphors and the key having chemicals on it, right? And so that made me think of the chemistry closet and the fact that someone had to let Barrow in-" Stiles paused standing in front of the board. "It's gone" he said in shock. "Okay, it doesn't matter though. It doesn't matter. I've still got the key"

He ran over to the storage door and started fumbling to find the key.

"What the hell? I had it I had it here.
I had it here this morning, I swear to God, I had it this morning"

"The key you were talking about last night?" I asked.

"Yeah, I showed it to you, right? Didn't I show it to you?"

"No, you just told me about it. I never actually saw it" Scott said.

"Me neither" I added.

"I was here a couple of hours ago. And the message left to Barrow spelling Kira's name was right there on the board in my handwriting and I had the key to the chemistry closet" Stiles said.

"So you unlocked the chemistry closet so Barrow could hide in it from the cops and then you wrote him a message to kill Kira?" I asked with a frown.

"I know how it sounds but look at this-" He pulled out a newspaper. "This is the news report that came out about Barrow when they caught him, okay. About the shrapnel bomb that he used. See this? See what he did? He put nuts, bolts and screws. And then he hid the bomb and the detonator in a box that he wrapped as a birthday present. What does that sound like to you?"

Scott opened his mouth and closed it again in shock. "Coach" he said. "The joke we played on Coach"

"That was my idea. You remember? That was my idea. That's no coincidence. It can't be" Stiles rushed out.

"I don't want to sound like I'm trying to tell you that you're wrong. But I don't think you're trying to kill people either" Scott said.

Stiles looked over at the board. "It was here. It was all here"

"Dude, are you feeling okay? You're looking really tired" Scott pointed out.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just haven't been sleeping really"

"Why don't you go home?" I said.

Scott nodded. "Take a sick day or something"

Stiles looked at the board again.

So did I.

Something isn't right.

~

"Could you lock the door?" Scott asked Kira.

"Yeah" she replied, letting me go past and then shutting it.

"We're running out of time" I reminded.

"I know. But Allison, her dad and Isaac are working on something that could help" Scott replied.

"I don't want to sound pessimistic or anything, but you really think that's going to keep them out?" Kira asked.

"Actually, we have a kind of security system. Things happened a couple of weeks ago, a lot of things, and we had my boss help make a few changes to the house" Scott said, checking all the locks.

"Your boss? Do you work for a security company or something?"

"No, he's a veterinarian" Scott dead panned.

Kira looked at me in confusion. "You had a vet put in your alarm?"

"Yeah, sort of. But I can't arm it.
Only my mom can"

"Where's she?" Kira asked.

"Don't worry. She'll be here"

"We're going to be okay. I promise" I said to Kira with a smile as Scott headed up to his room and we followed.

"We? Or me?" Kira asked.

"All of us" I answered.

"You didn't bring the twins here because you didn't want them to get hurt, right?" Kira said to Scott.

"I don't want anyone getting hurt"

"Yeah, he's only cool with me getting hurt. That's why I'm here" I winked.

Scott rolled his eyes at me.

"Then why did you bring me? If those things are coming after you, and anyone who gets in the way gets killed, then shouldn't I be somewhere else?" Kira questioned.

"I'm not letting you get hurt" Scott said.

"And I don't want you getting hurt. Especially because of me"

Think my cue to leave is coming up incredibly soon.

"It could be either of us" Scott pointed out.

"Yeah, I think I'm gonna go and check the locks again. No harm in being extra secure" I grinned, heading to the door.

"Wait" Kira called out. "I have to show you something" she took off her bag and pulled out a book of mythology. "Have you ever heard of something called a kitsune?"

~

After Kira had showed us the book on the Kitsune, I left the room.

And stood outside of the door.

Okay, yes I was spying on Scott and Kira.

Well I wouldn't call it spying.

Maybe eavesdropping.

"That looks like what happened to you at the power station" I heard Scott say.

"When a kitsune rubs its tails together it can create fire or lighting. It's called foxfire" she explained. There was a pause. "I don't have any tails"

Scott laughed. "How'd you know what I was thinking?"

"Because kitsune are also psychic.
I can hear all of your thoughts" she said. "Just kidding"

Oh god they're adorable.

"The sun's setting" Kira pointed out.

"Yeah, I know. Are you scared?"

"Not right now. I'm supposed to be back before dinner"

"Tell them you can't make it"

"What should I say?"

"Say, uh, you're going on a date"

"Are you sure that's a good idea? You know, foxes and wolves don't really get along" she pointed out.

"That's just a drawing. In a children's book"

It went silent.

For a long time.

Oh my god are they kissing?

I then heard the sound of a car pulling up outside and quickly dived away from the door.

"My mom's back" I heard Scott say.

I dashed down the stairs to greet Melissa but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw that it wasn't Melissa.

"God not you" I groaned.

"Shay, nice to see you too" Mr McCall smiled sarcastically at me. "It's nice to know how highly Scott's friends think of me"

I faked a laugh and then rolled my eyes.

Asshole .

"What are you doing here?" I heard Scott ask from behind me. "And why do you still have a key?"

"Funny you mention keys. Because while I have a key to this house, I'm not exactly sure how you got a key to my office" His dad replied, opening up his laptop, showing a picture of Scott and Kira.

We all went silent.

"Let me help you out here. This kind of thing usually begins with something along the lines of, 'It's not what you think' Or, 'I can explain'"

Everything started to go dark.

It's happening.

Scott looked at me with a panicked expression on his face. "Dad, let me help you out. You need to leave" he said.

"I will. With a satisfactory explanation"

I scoffed. "Go get a fricking warrant"

"I don't need a warrant" he turned to Scott. "I'm your father"

"No, you're a gene donor. I got my hair color from you. And that's all I got. So you're not allowed to play tough dad with me"

The door closed shut and Melissa walked in.

"Hey, what's going on?" She asked.

"Maybe one of you should explain" Mr McCall looked between us.

I stepped forwards. "Maybe you should back off"

Scott grabbed my wrist and gave me a cautioning look.

I groaned internally.

Not my fault his dad is an asshole that needs to have his throat slashed.

Suddenly, it went incredibly dark.

"Scott-" Kira said worriedly.

I heard the sound of an Oni appearing.

"Who the hell is this?" Scott's dad asked, walking towards the other room.

"Dad, no! Dad, wait"

The Oni drew out a sword and slashed him with it.

Unfortunately not in the throat but still.

Kira screamed.

"Dad!" Scott yelled, running over to his lifeless body and dragging him out of the way.

The door opened and Derek slid in.

I swear to god his timing.

Scott growled, Derek growled, I growled.

We charged at the Oni.

"Mom, the ash!" Scott yelled out.

An Oni came up behind Kira and I spun around, kicking it backwards.

The window smashed and the twins landed on the floor, glass all around them.

They roared.

All five of us fought the Oni's, managing to push them away.

"Mom, now! Do it now" Scott yelled.

Melissa ran and smashed the jar on the floor.

I took a deep breath.

We all stood there in silence, staring at the Oni who couldn't cross past the barrier.

Kira put her hand forwards, reaching out.

The barrier sparked.

"You okay?" I asked her.

She nodded, seeming a little overwhelmed with everything.

"It's Kira, right?" Aiden said. He turned to her. "You going to tell us what you are?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"Aiden-" I warned.

"Watch!" He pushed her hand back to the protective field around us. "See that? She can't go through it either. So, what are you?"

"She's a kitsune, idiot" I said in a 'duh' tone.

"Use your eyes. You can see it all around her" Derek said, walking into the room. "The younger ones give off an aura. She just hasn't learned how to conceal it yet. She probably doesn't know what kind she is either"

~

"I wasn't going to hurt her" Aiden commented once Kira and Scott were out of the room.

"Not yet" Derek said.

"Why do you think we're here, Derek? For a study group? We're here to protect Scott. We're trying to fight for him" The twins said.

"I'm sure you are. I'm sure you'd kill for him" Derek turned around to face them. "But are you willing to die for him?"

The twins glanced at each other.

I heard a clashing sound and watched as the Oni's tried to hit their swords against the mountain ash protecter field.

"What are they doing?" Scott asked.

"Testing for weaknesses" I said.

Vases and ornaments started smashing on the floor.

Two of the Oni's put their swords together and started to push through.

"Guys?" Ethan said. "We have a problem"

"Allison, please tell me that you have something. They're here. They're trying to get in. And it looks like they're gonna' be able to" Scott said over the phone.

"Okay, okay listen. They're Japanese demons. They're called the oni.
They're looking for someone possessed. Someone with a dark spirit attached to them"

"A nogitsune" Scott said.

"How'd you know that? Scott?"

"Just- Tell me what else"

"Okay, they won't hurt you. They know you're supernatural but once they do this check, once they realize that you're not carrying with you this dark spirit, then they won't hurt you, I promise. All they're looking for is the nogitsune"

"I'm right, aren't I? They're looking for me" Kira said.

"They're looking for a dark spirit. And I know it's not you" Scott reassured.

"Scott, we're going to have to do something" Derek spoke up.

The Oni's finally broke the barrier and stepped in.

Ethan, Aiden, Derek and I stood in front of Scott and Kira protectively.

"Don't do anything" Scott said.

"Is he serious?" Aiden asked.

"I said don't do anything" he turned to Kira and held out his hand. She took it. "Trust me" the two of them stepped forward as did the Oni's, pressing their hands against the sides of their faces.

The two of them dropped to the floor and I stepped forwards but Derek tugged me back.

The Oni's vanished and I rushed over to Scott's side.

"You're gonna be okay" I said as Derek and I bent down next to him.

"You're gonna be okay"

~

Kira and Scott had recovered and the ambulance for Mr McCall could be heard in the distance.

Scott was going to leave soon to find Stiles at the hospital so I took this opportunity to quickly speak to him alone.

"Hey, Scott" I grabbed his hand and lead him away from everyone.

"What Allison said about them looking for someone with a dark spirit. About them doing checks to find the nogitsune" I said. "There's only three people we know that haven't actually been checked yet"

Scott stared at me blankly.

"Peter" I started.

Scott breathed out, realisation hitting him. "Allison"

I nodded with a sigh before saying the final name.

"Stiles"