Archive of Our Own ^beta

     Y'know, a lot of people are always in a heated debate about what comes after death. Whether it be Heaven, hell, Valhalla, or just plain Ol nothing. I am going to be honest, the last one scared me a LOT. So, while to an unexpected but not unwelcome surprise. I found myself inexplicably FREEZING after death, so I only did what's natural. I started to cry, and cry, and cry, until I felt myself placed in someone's arms and looked up to my new mother and immediately stopped crying and looked at her in shock and awe.

     '.....IS MY MOTHER FREAKING YAMAMURA SADAKO!?!!?!?!!??', were my current thoughts as I had looked into my new mother's-tired eyes.

     My new Mother had looked at me for all but a few seconds before tearing up and smiling at me. I was still too busy looking at her eyes, they were ..... weird, but in a cool way though! My Mom's eyes had weird black pupils with what looked like a glowing white iris in the middle, her skin was a pale white with beautiful black hair, and a smile so bright the sun had seemed to grow dim in comparison. My mind was going a 100 miles a minute trying to figure out what kind of world I had spawned into. Is this some happy end version of the grudge? …. Please don't tell me I'm some kind of protagonist, I wanted to just laze back in my new life.

 - And Then - 

     After the room was FINALLY cleared out and everything was finally said and done, I got to meet my father AND get a new name......... Isaac...... My new name is Isaac D. Williams. I can't help but feel like there is some sort of irony here? Regardless, I definitely like how the name has a nice ring to it. Speaking of names, so while my Mother is NOT Yamamura Sadako, she is Emiko Williams and my Father is Sam Williams. Compared to my Mom my Dad had actually seemed pretty normal. He looked like an American author if I had to be brutally honest. He had blonde hair and glasses and was pretty well built! This had me curious as to how I came out looking. That was swiftly answered once my mother had turned and I saw myself in a reflection and I was slightly disappointed that the only thing I got from my mom was her hair color.

     Don't get me wrong it's nice to see I don't look too crazy; it just would have been nice to have the glowing eyes at least. After a couple of days Mom and I were able to go home, definitely loving the aesthetics and it's layout, it was certainly an upgrade compared to the home I had in my previous life ... before I could ponder more on those thoughts, Mom had showed me around the house while cooing at me and making baby noises. When we finally got to my room, my Mother had placed me on a rocker and began to sing a lullaby. I ... couldn't recognize the lyrics but that wasn't what caught my attention. My new mother, Emiko, has an AMAZING singing voice, so much so that before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.

Emiko's POV

     As I had watched my newborn son fall asleep, I couldn't help but start tearing up at how adorable my new baby boy is, Sam had walked into the room to help me place Isaac into his crib.  After everything that has happened, all the hardships, pain, sweat, and tears, we finally have a child. It was almost surreal, in a sense I felt like everything was normal and nothing had changed. Yet at the same time ... everything has changed I still couldn't come to terms with the fact we finally did it.

     "I can't believe it.." I had muttered.

     "Neither can I Emiko. 2 proud parents of one Isaac Williams." Sam had said as he had gently hugged my side while looking down at our baby boy. As I had looked at our sleeping son's face, I couldn't help but think of the future, my son's future, and started to wonder if I was ready for all this. How if I wasn't careful enough my little baby boy could get hurt and possibly be .....

     "... I'm Scared Sam." I started to tremble as I felt fear, a fear I had never felt before, settle in.

     "....?" Sam had looked at me confused and worried for me.

     "What if we are bad parents? What if something happens to him because I wasn't paying attention? What if I'm not fast enough or what if I end up hurting him as he grows up?...... I don't know if I'm ready yet Sam." I had started to crying my heart out over what could happen because of me. I don't want to outlive my son much less bury him because of my mistakes. I don't even want to know if I could live with my son hating me the way I hate dad. I snapped out of my musings when Sam had started rubbing my back while putting his hand on my head.

     "Emiko, nobody is ever ready for something like this. We can prepare and prepare all we want, but the thing about children is that they learn more from what you are than what you teach. and knowing the type of people we are Emiko. You should have absolutely NOTHING to worry about." Sam had said while kissing my forehead. This man never fails to remind me why I love him.

     "...I Love You."

     "I Love You Too honey."

     "........You knooow." ... I always did want a daughter.

     "...?"

     "Isaac could use a sibling growing up."

     "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

     I had started cackling when Sam had gone catatonic with a face as red as a tomato.

                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Isaac's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     If I wasn't able to confirm it before, I can definitely confirm it now, but my mother is definitely what I would call a worrywart. Why bring this up? Simply because my mother hasn't left my side at all. Yes, she does leave to go to the restroom and to do other things she can't exactly do with a baby in one hand. It only got even worse after my mom remembered the fact, she could in simply hold me using her hair for the tasks she can't do with one hand occupied. There are over 7,000 spoken languages and none of them are able to express how grateful I was my father was able to talk my mother out of taking me with her to the restroom. 

     Moving on from that incident aside, going shopping for books and toys was something. You see my mom wasn't too sure on what books to read for me so she simply bought whatever caught my attention. When we went shopping for the toys the same thing had ensued and so, by the end of our trip I had gotten a new bin of toys and a new bookshelf full of books. Every chance my mother got since the bookshelf got set up, she would be reading one of the books to me. I will admit 'The Hungry, Hungry, Caterpillar' will always be a favorite of mine. On a related note, I have no clue if Dav Pilkey exists or not in this new life of mine, but one way or another I will be reading Captain Underpants again!!!

     Over the past couple of weeks, my mom had finally started to calm down a bit when it came to my wellbeing and had decided to take me out to the park in a stroller. As weird as it might sound, my favorite experience so far is looking at the trees. You see(pun intended), in my last life I had to wear glasses. When I wasn't wearing them, everything would be blurry and my eyes would strain to try and comprehend what I'm seeing. So being able to see how the leaves in the tree's moved with the light reflecting off it in crystal clear vision, without needing glasses. Was a level of joy and satisfaction I didn't even know existed. Unfortunately, I didn't know I was crying and my Mom, noticing this, started freaking out thinking I had some allergy to the pollen in the air and rushed me to the car.

     Once we got home, Mom had gotten started on dinner and Dad had me next to him while he worked on his laptop. This had me wondering, should I share some creepypasta from my past life in this new one? Assuming they haven't already been shared of course, I feel I should start off with sharing the tale of 'The Bubak' or my rather personal favorite snrk, a much better version of it I assure you, Carmen Winstead. Although seeing as the SEGA franchise is making rounds with Sonic, I might just decide traumatize a generation of kids with either the official Sonic.EXE remake or One Last Round.exe albeit slightly modified to have the title make more sense. Any plan had shriveled up and died once I was placed in a high chair and I saw the familiar(revolting) sight of the jar of baby food placed in front of me.

     ' ... sigh Growing up is going to be a pain in the-'

     One of the good sides to growing up as a baby is all the naps make time go by very fast. Especially when you get to monopolize the TV. I had gotten to like this one show called unicorn warrior something, it was a surprisingly brutal show. If I could describe the show, I'd say it's a weird combination of Berserk and My Little Pony. One of the only major downsides to growing up was the absolute bane of my existence .....Baby Food.

     My reasoning for despising this so-called 'Food' is because of the smell and texture. I don't really care for the taste, but you have no idea how weird it is being able to taste certain flavors with the textures it has. The closest comparison I can make would be like eating frosting on cake ... if said frosting had the texture of Jello. I powered through the baby food however because when I wouldn't eat the baby food my mom would start to worry and start panicking, and I didn't like causing that kind of stress to my mom.

     Moving forward, it wasn't until I was around 3 months old before I had this very nice babysitter every now and then, she had wavy blonde hair and had a very go-lucky type of smile. She gets very squeamish and gets scared easily though and would change some of the shows I usually like to watch to something more appropriate for my age. You have absolutely no idea how happy I was Coco-Melon did not exist yet, I already sat through that with my little brother and little sister trying to put them to sleep. I had absolutely no plans to go through that again! My favorite thing about Sarah though, was her laugh. Her laughter was honestly the most harmonious thing I have ever heard. I didn't even know I was laughing with her until I felt the need to breathe. I started spending extra time writing and drawing, so I could write the jokes, to make her laugh more.

     As I got older, every now and then Sarah and I would 'play' games like hide and seek or peak-a-boo. What I had absolutely loved doing with Sarah however, was solving puzzles. I was a puzzle solving maniac every time she came to visit. Thankfully, she got the hint to bring harder and harder puzzles every time I solved the ones she'd bring. Once I was around 8 months old, there was an ... incident with one puzzle I had solved. As much as I love my babysitter, Sarah has a tendency to be ... vacuous at times, by which I mean she had accidentally brought the 4 x 4 Rubix cube instead of the 3 by 3. It took me roughly hour and half of unmitigated attention, lots of frustration, and immense satisfaction before I had finally solved that cursed cube.

     After I had solved the cube, I had heard something hit the floor before turned to Sarah, who was in the doorway, and had a look of shock and a surprising amount of fear on her face. It didn't take me long to figure out why once I had realized the state the room was in. The books that were neatly organized in the wardrobe were scattered around the room. The toy bin was knocked onto its side with all the toys joining the books across the room. It was at that moment I realized; I had done all that ... Unintentionally! I then began to take in the fact that by doing what I had done. I must have terrified Sarah and now she ... thinks I am some kind of monster.

  "... I'm s-sorry Sawah *sniff* " and before I knew it. I had started to cry.

                                                                                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sarah's POV ( 5 Months Prior ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     I am not going to lie; I was a little nervous at first when I had started this whole babysitting gig. Mostly because this was my first 'Job' so to speak, aaand it was the first time I was babysitting somebody other than my cousins. So, I had found myself more than pleasantly surprised to find Isaac was a very well-behaved baby for his age! He never threw a temper tantrum, he ate everything without a fuss, and the only times he 'cried' so to speak were to get my attention to change his diaper, or to change the channel! I am starting to think there might be more to this kid than meets the eye.

     As the months went by, my curiosity for the most part had been growing. How was Isaac so smart for a baby his age? While his mom is a bit ... peculiar for the most part Isaac is a completely normal baby! At least from what I was told. Something else I noticed about Isaac I will admit melts my heart a little bit thinking about, is that ever since he heard me laugh for the first time. He has made it his absolute mission, to make me laugh again. Laughing himself every time I would laugh honestly made me wish I had Isaac as a brother. What really through me for a loop however, came by one afternoon when we were playing a simple puzzle game. I began to watch in astonishment how Isaac in little-to-no time flat solve the puzzle. I was in so much shock at how FAST he had solved it I didn't notice him crawling to me.

     "Ore?"

     " ... A-are you asking for more?"

     I had watched dumbfounded as this child who was barely 6 months old. Nod his head up and down to my question. Don't get me wrong, I have known Isaac was smart, but this was something else entirely! He shouldn't even be attempting to ask a question until at LEAST 2 years down the road!

     " U-um d-do you have a preference? Do you prefer ones with flowers, or ones with dragons?", I began to think I might have gone crazy asking a 6-month-old baby this, until I had watched as he simply smiled and shook his head. I felt like I had walked into a parallel universe as I watched Isaac point at the numbers on the box, the numbers resembling the pieces that is, and I dropped my jaw as he made a bigger motion with his hands.

     " ... Y-y-you want the bigger ones?!?!?!", I had exclaimed in shock as I had watched the sweet little boy, I had been babysitting the past 3 months start beaming with happiness at me. I will admit any worry I might have had about him being a little scary went away ... only to be replaced with embarrassment(and guilt) at the fact I was scared of Isaac of all people. After all, Isaac at the end of the day is still just a baby, and even at that a well behaved one! What's the worse that could happen?

                                                                                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sarah's POV ( Present Time)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     I had watched with complete and utter terror at what I was witnessing in Isaac's room. The job and day had started out normally, I brought the usual puzzles and a new one for Isaac to fiddle with while I had gotten his bath ready. It wasn't until after I had gotten the bath ready, I had started looking up the age recommendation for the Rubix Cube I had gotten Isaac. After a couple of google searches, I started to realize that wasn't what I had gotten Isaac and I had begun to feel a pit grow in my stomach as I had started to see. That instead of getting him the normal 3 x 3 Rubix cube, I had gotten him the considerably harder version that is the 4 x 4 Rubix's Revenge.began to walk to Isaac's room ready to apologize to him when 3 things became very apparent to me in the span of all but 3 seconds. The first thing was Isaac had solved 3 SIDES OF IT ALREADY AND FINISHING THE FOURTH. The second was OHMYGODHISEYESAREGLOWING. And the third thing was-

     'WHY ARE ALL THE OBJECTS IN THE ROOM FLOATING AND SPINNING AROUND!!!!!!', was what I was internally screaming. I had started to feel a panic attack setting in as I began clutching the sides of my head looking at the objects spinning around the room before looking back down at Isaac and freezing. He had just finished the cube, his eyes had dimmed a little, and he began to smile. I had watched as the objects hitting the ground startled him and he turned to me in the doorway ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶m̶e̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶k̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶.

     As (t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶s̶t̶e̶r̶) Isaac had stared at me with those eyes, all I wanted to do was run. I wanted to go hide in the closet and call his parents and ask what was going on. I wanted to run straight to my house and lock myself in the room after what I had just witnessed. All of those thoughts ground to a halt as I heard a sniffle and came back to reality as I looked at Isaac. Who looked downright heartbroken at my reaction and began crying-

     "I-I'm sowwy Sawah hic !", And before I knew it, he began to bawl and I mean bawl. Ignoring my flight or fight instincts, I had picked him up and started comforting him. Any fear I had of him before was now replaced with soul crushing guilt. What was I thinking?!?! This m̶o̶n̶s̶-No Isaac, was still a baby, not even a toddler yet! And ... and yet I was about to ... oh my god ... I'm a horrible person. Chances are Isaac didn't even know he could do this, and the first thing I want to do was run away. Even now I'm trying to justify my thought process and it sickens me to my core as I am trying to comfort Isaac.

     "No, it's okay Isaac. I was just scared you got hurt that's all!", I wish that was the case, and judging by the look on Isaac's face. I am inclined to believe he wasn't buying it ... and I don't blame him. 

     "Isaac, you have nothing to be sorry for if anything I... I'm sorry for reacting the way I did. I looked at you like you were some kind of monster, when you are still the sweet little boy, I've been babysitting these past months. The same boy who likes puzzles, who loves to hear me laugh, who always breaks into the happiest grin when I come over to babysit you, and who likes to sneak cheese slices when you think I'm not looking snrk." I say as I watch his face go from heartbroken, to awed, and what I hope to be happy tears in his eyes... before I begin to laugh as he looks embarrassed and mortified.

     "SAAAWWWAAAAAAAHHH!" I had watched as his adorable cheeks redden before starting to laugh at his voice. Any thoughts I have had of Isaac being a monster long gone. I made a silent vow to myself as I had poked Isaac's pouting face, to never let what happened today repeat nevermore.

     'And I know EXACTLY how to make that happen.' I thought to myself as I felt smile grow on my face As I came up with an ever-glorious plan. I can't help but feel like I am forgetting something ... I forgot about the bath ... SON OF A-

                                                                                                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Isaac's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     After the whole fiasco I had dubbed the, 'Rubix Cube Incident', Sarah and I had only gotten closer together. To the point where I had called her 'Aunt Sarah' causing the woman to start tearing up before glomping me, my Mom overhearing this was only reinforcing it by saying 'Auntie Sarah has to go now' only caused the poor woman to breakdown before nearly squeezing me to death in a hug. I had noticed however, as my birthday drew closer and closer, my dad was the one stressing out on what to do for the theme surprisingly.

     'where is mom actually?' I had thought to myself ' I hope she is doing okay.', as I was worrying about my mom, I began having flashbacks of my previous life and how I saved my Mother and siblings from that mugger ... and how I died in the process.

     '     ... I need to be stronger this time', were my current thoughts as I had begun imagining my mom, dad, or aunt in that situation. I began to feel something within me bubbling, urging to come to the surface. I was so focused on the feeling I didn't notice my dad.

     "Hey Isaac today we are having mashed potatoes for lunch! By the way Mommy is coming by with a surprise later!" My dad had said, startling me in the process, before picking me up and placing me in a highchair. I had tried but the feeling had vanished and I had no clue how to bring the feeling back. It took a few seconds before it began to register what he had told me.

     'Wait what -', My thoughts were interrupted as I had heard the doorbell ring and my dad had picked me up, taking me with him, all while sporting an eager grin on his face, to the front door. I had watched as my mom was pushed into the house with a wheel chair while holding a little bundle in her arms. Once my dad had placed me on the floor I had started crawling towards my mom to get a closer look. It was a baby with ... strangely long amount of hair already. My Mom as being supported by my dad ash she had gingerly placed the baby on the weird puzzle, foam, mat, floor thing we had in the living room.

       "Say hello to your new baby sister Isaac." My mother had told me as I had crawled forward towards my new baby sister, questioning how she was born and still wondering why she had longish hair, before patting her head and smooshing her adorable face. My mother seemed to know what I wanted to ask as I had looked up from my strangely familiar sister towards her.

     " Her name is Erma, Isaac.

     'Oh, Erma is rather beautiful na- wait just a burger flipping second.'

                                                                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Emiko's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     "Hey Sam?" I had asked my husband slightly worried.

     "Yes Honey?"

     "... Do you think its weird how Isaac looks completely human, while Erma looks like a normal yokai?" I had hesitated to ask while watching our son crawl to Erma and had to resist the urge to just glompthetwoofthemashestartedpattingherhead-

     "If I didn't know any better, I would think I married a tea kettle Yokai, and I'm sure it's just a genetics thing honey." My husband had snickered as I playfully slapped his shoulder while blushing, before looking towards my son who had gone from playing with Erma to looking up at me questioningly.

     "...! Her name is Erma, Isaac." A mixed myriad of emotions had flashed across my son's face, what had surprised and concerned me the most was his most prominent emotion. Recognition.

    'Why would my son have recognition of all things?..... he probably heard the name on a TV show.' I had reassured myself, before smiling and picking up Isaac.

     "Now Isaac, since you are the older brother, it's your job to look after your baby sister. Can we trust you to look after and be there for your little sister? I had watched Isaac's face go from what almost looked like melancholy? To a look so determined I almost flinched. Yet, I found myself smiling at Isaac's face.

     "Something tells me Erma is in good hands Emmy." I had turned to find my husband looking our son with a proud smile on his face.

     "He definitely takes after you more Sammy, ohdontyoutakeafterhimmore-" I began to coo at our son who immediately began to laugh as I cooed at him. As I had began to make my way to Isaac and Erma's crib my mind began to ... wander.

     I love my kids, but Isaac worries me, not as in bad behavior no my little boy has been a saint the past year..., but that's what worries me. There are moments when Isaac acts... older for his age. My husband says it's normal for some children to be smarter than others, but I can't help but feel something isn't right with Isaac sometimes...... I think I would care less regarding the circumstances surrounding Isaac in the end. He is my son after all and nothing will stop me from loving him, he is MY child and I will be DAMNED before I lose him to anything, even .... Him.

                                                                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~3 years Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Hey Dad?"

     "Yeah Isaac?"

     " Why was the baby born?", It had taken every fiber of my being to not start laughing as my dad's face began to rapidly pale and his eyes shrink to mere pinpricks as he slowly looked to me. I was now sweating bullets from how much laughter I was holding in when I saw mom in the corner of my eye have her hair start floating with her face pitch black and 2 glowing eyes.

     "...........Why?", he had asked before swallowing.

     "Because it ran out of WOMB!", seeing my dad practically deflate from all the stress and start laughing it off made me absolutely lose it. I was actually laughing so hard I didn't notice my mother walk up to me and grab my shoulder in a vise not too tight grip, but tight enough to know I better have an excuse at the ready.

     "That is so FUNNY Isaac," I had put on my best innocent expression before turning to face my mother who had one of her eyes in an eye smile, with grin that certainly didn't match the aura she was trying to give off. And her grip on my shoulder was starting togetalittletootight-

     "Can you tell Mommy where you heard that joke from?", she had asked with but all the sweetness of a cat that caught a mouse.

     " I made it up after reading a book about animals!"

     To my immense relief, just as quickly as it came, the aura had left and my mom had a genuine smile on her face. I had then discreetly let loose the breath I didn't know i was holding go, and my dad did as well from what I noticed. As I had looked at my mom however, I began to have a bit of a dilemma. I had found out what the bubbly feeling once shortly after my birthday(we had a Pokémon theme thank god the franchise exists in this world) and I was completely caught off guard by what it was. The power caused me to question everything I already knew about the Erma webcomic and even had me wondering if other powers existed besides this one. The dilemma in question however is if I should tell my mother. 

     After wrestling with me, myself and I, it was decided later that day I would reveal the little power I'd been hiding for 2 years now.  I was able to bring back the bubbly feeling in question when I was thinking about my past life and remembered ....the INCIDENT that happened to Erma. The main reason I am coming clean with my mother regarding my power is because after thinking more on it, I had realized I am going to need all the help I can get. The main reason being, that there is a very good chance that I'm not the only one with this power. After steeling my nerves, I had walked to the kitchen to confront my mother about my power.

"......Hey mom?", I had looked up to her worried on how she would react.

"Yes, sweetie?", she had been focused on cooking dinner and so couldn't see my expression which made me feel more confident on what I was about to do.

"There is something i need to show you. Something I've been hiding for a while now because I was scared on how you would react to it." I know had my mother's full attention as she had stopped cooking and turned to me with her eyes filled with worry.

"Do you promise you won't hate me?" I then watched as my mom looked utterly heartbroken before she knelt down to me grabbing both my arms.

"Isaac, I will never hate you; I might be upset or disappointed with you but I will never hate my baby boy. I promise you, that I will never stop loving you." I start to feel teary eyed by the utter conviction in my mother's eyes and words as she said that and it was then I decided to show it.

"Promise?"

"I promise my little Miki." she said before kissing my forehead and smiling at me both of her eyes now showing. I then grabbed her arms and gently pushed them towards her. I took a couple of steps back before rolling up my sleeves. And then proceeded to start covering my arms in Haki. I had watched my Mom's expression go from confused and worried to shocked and amazed at my arms. After she looked at me and I nodded she had grabbed my arm and then somehow became even more amazed at how hard the coating was.

"...wha..hu-...I... how?" my mom was struggling to formulate a sentence and it was at that moment I took the final leap.

"I had accidentally done this when I thought about Erma, you, Dad, or Aunt Sarah getting hurt and how much I didn't want it to happen. Then I looked down and saw my hands coated in this." I saw a Myriad of emotions flash across my mother's face happiness, worry, but the most prominent 2 being shock and recognition. Seeing as how my mom was utterly speechless at the coating I decided to press my luck.

     "Mom, do you know what this is?", I watched as my mother got a very conflicted look on her face.

     " I do sweetie but, as far as me or my family was concerned, he was the only one able to use it, or rather strong enough to use it."

     "Who and what is this mom?" I was racking my head trying to figure out who could possibly know

     "sigh ... your grandfather Isaac and it goes by many names; my family knows it as Haki." Oh my god, the old man can use Haki. It honestly makes sense when I start to think about it, only because the old man had to stay where he is now somehow. Why is it never easy when it comes to getting stronger? I'm guessing whatever face I was making made my mom continue talking about him.

     "I am going to be honest with you here Isaac, I am not ready to tell you about your grandfather yet. Maybe when you are older but.....not yet, not now......I'm sorry." My mom genuinely looked depressed at the fact she wouldn't be able to help me with this. So, I did what any good son would do. I gave my mom the mother of all hugs while smiling at her.

     "Mom, I would never hate you for not being able to do something. That's nonsensically dramatic, even for my tastes." I had watched my mom smile before she picked me up and started hugging me back.

     "I swear Isaac, why and how do you learn all those fancy words?" I giggled at this question before answering.

     "I read the dictionary when I am bored sometimes. Also, do you have any idea how funny it is to insult someone over 4 times my age using words like that? All while they have absolutely no idea what my words mean, and when they do find out what they mean. The reactions they make are the funniest!!!!" I say before I start laughing, with my mom starts joining once she imagines it. Once our laughter dies down I look at my mom smiling at her.

     "I Love You Mom!"

     "I Love You More!" We both just smiled at each other before we heard a noise and looked into the entryway only to see Erma looking at us both pouting at not being included in the group hug. Then she started smiling and giggling when I started to chase after her with mischievous grin on my face.

     "I gotcha!" I had yelled as I started tickling my baby sister until the objects in the room had started levitating. They all had lightly clattered to the ground once I had stopped tickling my baby sis. I had looked her straight in the eye with a most contagious smile.

     "And III Love You the Most Erma!" I had shouted vowing that I hadn't failed my duty to protect my siblings in the last life, and I'm sure as HELL not going to fail it now. I began formulating training regimens, as well as thinking of various ways to unlock the forms of power this verse might have. I want to know if this world has Chi, Touki, Ki, or most importantly Chakra. I want to be able to use as many of these abilities as possible so when whoever or whatever comes knocking. I will be able to protect my Ohana, by any means necessary.

     The progress on mastering Haki is strange. There are times where I have it down to a T, but then there are times where it won't even come out. I suspect Haki is more of an emotion-based power in this world rather than the willpower-based one in One Piece. The power seems to respond more to feelings of rage or in some cases happiness. The happiness incident being when Erma had hand made me a figurine from our favorite show and I may or may have not almost crushed Erma with a hug. Other than that Erma and I have started engaging in pranks with other people in the neighborhood. I had to make it Very clear to Erma that Aunt Sarah was off-limits since she had a tendency of being a Volkswagen Jetta. That being she breaks down ... a lot. I can safely say however, that after 'The Rubix Cube' incident she had certainly gotten better at maintaining her composure, but I still wanted to play it safe knowing how Erma's pranks can be a little over the top, especially during Halloween.

     Erma's cute quirks aside, I found out this weekend I'm heading out with Aunt Sarah to her niece's place!!! I am surprised she hasn't told me about them till now, I'm sure she has her reasons though. The trip in question came up when Aunt Sarah had come over for dinner. Erma and I were in the living room trying to piece together one of my puzzles while Sarah was in the kitchen helping Mom. Dad had come over to let us know dinner was ready and started helping us put everything away. Once we all sat down and started eating was when Sarah had asked Mom.

     "So, Mrs. Williams, I had a question regarding Isaac if you don't mind me asking.", Sarah had asked my mother with an almost nervous expression on her face.

     "Oh, come now Sarah, you can call me Emiko. You are all but family at this point to Isaac. I mean let's be honest here Sarah. Do you even remember the last time I had to pay you to watch Isaac?", My Mom had asked with familial smile on her face

     "W-well, I-I mean of course I do Emiko! I-It was u-uh um-", she got cutoff by my mom who had deadpan expression on her face.

     "Sarah, it has been almost 3 1/2 years at this point. You and I both know how much you care for the kids and how much Isaac looks up to you.", Mom had explained in an enervated tone.

     "O-ok, I just didn't want to overstep is all. So, this weekend I'm heading over to visit my nieces on my brother-in-law's side and I had wanted to know if it's alright that Isaac could possibly ... tag-along?", Sarah had asked with a nervous smile. I saw Mom had looked over at Dad, before nodding and turning back to Sarah with a smile on her face.

     "We see absolutely no problem with that Sarah. Just be sure to keep Isaac safe or they'd never find the body!❤", My Mom had said kindly to Sarah like the last part was completely normal. That was a joke, right? By the looks of Aunt Sarah's face towards the end she seemed to be believe(hope) it was.

     "Ah, it's more than understandable you wouldn't want Isaac travelling with- wait. Really??? squuueeeeee You won't regret this Emiko I promise! Isaac and I are going to have the best weekend of all ti- wait what was that last part?" Sarah had gone from disappointed, surprised, happy, to absolutely terrified all in the span of a minute.

     "Nothing important, after all you are going to keep Isaac in one piece❤!" Emiko had said while smiling endearingly towards a rapidly paling Sarah.

     "Is it too late to pretend I never asked Emiko?" Sarah had asked with a glum resigned expression on her face.

     "Aww, don't be like that Sarah! I have the upmost faith in your abilities to keep Isaac safe from harm!" My Mom had reassured Sarah, while pulling her into a hug.

     While Sarah was regretting her life decisions, I had decided to head to the backyard to train up my other ability, that being, telekinesis. So far if I can concentrate hard enough, I can uproot a tree! ... Granted it was a dead tree, it was still a tree regardless! I decided to start using boulders after that, due to there being a hornet's nest in said dead tree. Right now, I am currently able to levitate about 7 head sized rocks around my head. As I began levitating the rocks, I began thinking about the people I love, my Ohana, to keep my focus before making the rocks zip around the air as fast as they can. They make noises as they zoom around, almost invisible to the naked eye, before I launched them as hard as I could toward our forest in the lake. Considering I could feel the droplets from the aftermath and I could see the splash through the trees. I'd say my training is coming along just fine~~~. I decided to hit the hay, after showering of course, after 3-ish hours of telekinesis training and some minor Haki training. Once I got into my bed, Erma had jumped onto my stomach holding a book with a big smile on her adorable little face.

     "You want me to read you a bedtime story?" I had asked.

     Erma nodded her head with that goofy smile on her face showing one eye to me. I started laughing before ruffling her hair and grabbing the book.

     " Alright, alright, let me just-", I shuffled around to get more comfortable with Erma lying next to me, "OK! So, The Hungry, Hungry, Caterpillar huh?", another adorable nod, "Well you got fine taste for a lady of your stature!", Erma had giggled at the snooty accent I had donned, " Alright *AHEMHEMEHM*,Ok so, in the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf. One Sunday morning the warm sun came up… and pop, out of the egg came a tiny, very hungry caterpillar-", As I had read the story to Erma, she started getting more and more relaxed, "- the caterpillar is transformed into a beautiful butterfly. So, which book did you want to read next Erma? ... Erma? Oh, ... that was fast." I had exclaimed noticing Erma asleep while holding her arms around my stomach. I had smiled at this before using my powers to put away the book and turn off the lights. After both of the tasks were done, I had gently gotten more comfortable, before joining Erma in sleep.

Zzzz ... Zzzz ... Zzzz ...

     I had woken up to a squirming Erma, which had me worried since her face looked scrunched up in trepidation, and decided to try and wake her up carefully. The last time I had woken her up, resulted in a furiously deprecatory Erma and me halfway through the wall with only my legs sticking out. Of course I had instantly forgiven Erma during this incident! It was simply a coincidence I had decided to try and train my observatory Haki after this incident had occurred a little a bit harder than usual, to a minor degree I had managed to actually get observation Haki! ... to a degree. I basically have a spider-sense that one would find in the bargain bin at a goodwill, that being one that either works or doesn't work(more often the latter than the former unfortunately). After coating myself in Haki, I had tried gently shaking Erma awake while saying her name.

     "Erma."

     " ... "

     "Erma." I start shaking her more as i call out to her.

     " ... Mmmm." Erma had groaned while her face scrunched up with more fear. 'Ok that's it.' I think to myself before I take a deep breath.

     "ERMA!", I had screamed while furiously shaking her. When she opened her eyes, I immediately slapped my hands over my ears after seeing the look in them

     "SCREEEEEE!", Erma had all but burst my eardrums as she bolted awake utterly terrified. I was more focused on the fact that ERMA of all people was terrified. Now don't get me wrong, she has had nightmares before and she has woken up scared. But Erma wasn't scared, ... she was horrified. I didn't even notice Dad burst into the room or the thud of various belongings hitting the floor, as I was too busy locked onto Erma's eyes as they were looking around wildly before freezing as we came eye-to-eye. One second, she was on the bed, the next she was locked onto my chest in a vice grip as if i might disappear.

     "Hey, what's wrong Erma? I'm not going anywhere," Is what I tell her as I start patting her head making her look up to me, " See? I'm still here and I will NEVER abandon you, ok?" Erma then nodded her head at my question before I slowly set her down. Dad had then kneeled down to Erma and asked her a question.

     "Hey sweetheart, are you okay? What happened?" Erma had nodded to the first question before pausing at the second question. After thinking for a moment or two, Erma had simply smiled before shaking her head while shrugging her shoulders.

     " ... Are you sure it was nothing Ermy?", I had serious doubts it was nothing. After watching her nod again, dad and I shared one last look before he sighed and picked us up to take us downstairs.

     "Alright Erma, if you say so. Remember none of us will judge you, we don't care what the nightmare was about as long as you are ok.", Erma had smiled before hugging Dad and then me after giggling at my face.

- Erma's POV -

     After daddy had taken us downstairs for breakfast. I began to think back about the dream, but not a dream, I had that, Ani-Chan was in. The dream had me outside tall white house, surrounded by a cornfield, with Ani-Chan and 2 girls I haven't seen before playing tag in the large open space in front of the house. I began to smile and tried to join them, but realized I couldn't, when one of them went through me like I wasn't there. I began to pout and just sat on the ground already hating the dream when something felt ... off. I don't know why but something about this dream didn't feel right to me. I began to wonder why I was feeling this way when I started to hear a something off in the distance.

     WaAaAaAaAaA

    Something about the noise felt ... wrong... unnatural and I had started to feel anxious about the noise, before I had gathered my wits and began heading towards the noise. I froze when I realized the noise was coming from the cornfield. I glanced back at Ani-Chan and the 2 girls playing tag, before I decided to start trudging towards the sound in the cornfield. As I got closer and to the sounds of the baby crying in this maze of a cornfield, I couldn't help but start wondering, why the heck would there be a baby in the middle of a corn field? Or better yet WHO would leave a baby in a cornfield?!?!?. When out of nowhere the cries of the baby had stopped. Leaving me in the middle of a cornfield, with nothing but the sun and the sound of rustling cornstalks.

     'I almost want the crying baby back.' Was my current wish as I began running through the cornfield at breakneck speed. It was nerve-wracking enough listening to the crying baby, but I do NOT want to spend the rest of my dream(?) lost in a cornfield! After running for a while, I had come across a clearing with a scarecrow in the middle of it ... but something felt off. I had heard a crying baby coming from the fields

     c reaaak

     I had whirled around to face the noise in the clearing and found nothing but the scarecrow looking ... at ... me ... oh sugar honey iced tea.

     CREAAAAAAAAAK 

     SNAP

     SNAP

     I had fallen onto my butt crawling back as fast as I could, while watching the SCARECROW snap off from its binding to the post, and make its way towards me while holding a sack. All the while making the baby noise from its mouth. I felt my heart drop as its hand went right through me ... and grabbed one of the girls from earlier right behind me. She started screaming as it unhinged its jaw and began to bring her head towards its mouth. I watched in pure horror as its jaw began to close with her head in its mouth, I closed my eyes, and then ... the screaming stopped. I couldn't do anything to stop it as it began blitzing towards my Ani-Chan as I was trying to convince myself that  ThE BlOoD oN mY sKiN wAsN't ReAl It'S jUsT  a DrEaM iStHaTaPiEcEoFhErBrAiNoNmE-

     "Erma? Honey, are you ok? Your food is getting cold.", Mommy had asked me, snapping me out of my thoughts, causing me to look around and see the looks of worry on their faces. Putting on a brave face I had nodded and began digging into my food, the looks they had shared going unnoticed by me.

- Later Isaac's POV - 

     I started packing my things and was getting ready for tomorrow morning when Tia Sarah and I would leave to her niece's place. When I saw Erma looking at book with a gloomy expression. I had stopped what I was doing before getting up to take a seat next to Erma. She had looked up to me with one eye peeking through her hair with a still glum expression on her face. I had looked down at her and began to smile as I leaned forward and kissed her forehead before hugging her tightly. As I pulled back, I saw Erma with a considerably brighter expression on her face, still a bit too sad for me though.

     "Hey, I'll be back before you know it sis. Tell you what, I will bring you back a souvenir for the two of us! Don't worry, I settle for nothing but the BEST for my adorable little Hermana!",  As I say this, Erma finally cracks a smile and starts to hug me. I want to start questioning her about what happened this morning, but I didn't want to get her in a bad mood so I just let it be. I watched as Erma made a couple gestures at me, before tilting her head quizzically.

     "Eh, all I know is her brother-in-law's place is out of town somewhere, their house from what I've heard is almost an hour and a half drive away from the nearest town. Although what makes it worth living there is the fact that said town is home to some of the coolest attractions! They got the UFO, it's a ride that spins very fast making you stuck to the walls, they have the Iron Rattler, The Steel Curtain, they have the new super awesome Texas Giant!", I got particular excited at the texas part.

     Erma had made a disgruntled expression.

     "Oh, come on Texas is cool!"

    Erma rolled her eyes at me while grunting.

     "What's that supposed to mean?!"

     Erma then made several gestures, with a deadpan expression and a raised eyebrow.  

     "Keep that up nina and I will tell mom you put your gum in your hair on purpose that one time!"

     Erma's expression had gone even paler than usual all while making a scandalized expression. She then schooled her face before gaining a cocky expression with a smug smile and made a gesture.

     "If you think for even a minute young lady, that I will not own up to the fact I used Haki on purpose, you will find yourself right next to me in the corner of shame!"

     Erma's smile faded, but had narrowed her eyes at me in return. I then proceeded to gain a smile, whether said smile belonging to cat that a canary was here and there. Erma noticing this had gotten a look of horror as I took in a deep breath.

     "HEY MOM! REMEMBER THAT TIME WHEN MMPBLTHH-", Was all I was able to get out of my mouth before a screeching Erma had launched a plushie at me covering my face with a plushie. My adorable Hermana began to throw various plushies at my face in hopes of making sure mom couldn't hear me tattle on her. All those hopes quickly went out the window as her eyes shrank to pinpricks and watched as mom came in the room.

     "Is everything alright? I heard one of you calling my name and ... Did something happen in here?", Mom had asked while looking around the room. I watched as Erma had slowly turned to me with a pleading look on her face. It took every ounce of strength I had to not laugh at the genuine fear in her eyes.

     "Yeah, everything is alright mom. I just wanted to ask what you might want as a souvenir from the trip with Aunt Sarah! Right Eeeerrrmaaaaaa?", I had slowly turned to Erma who gained an annoyed, resigned expression before reluctantly nodding. We had watched as mom got a heartwarming smile before hugging us very tightly.

     "What did I do to deserve such nice amazing children!", Mommy had squealed in delight as she picked us up. I would feel guilty but I was already going to ask her this. Messing with Erma however, is always my number one priority as her big bro!

     "You existed." Was my response to her as Erma and I kissed mom on the cheek. We then developed into a three-way tickle war that ended when dad came into the room.

     "Alright guys it's time to go to bed. You especially Isaac, you got a big day tomorrow.", He smiled as he ruffled my hair before picking me up and putting me to bed. Mom was leaving to Erma's room when she started tugging at mom's shirt and pointing towards me.

     "You want to sleep with Isaac before he goes?", Erma started beaming before nodding like her life depended on it. Mom started chuckling before walking towards me, "Alright, Alright Erma don't want your head to fall off now.", Erma started snuggling up next to me once she got comfortable under the blanket. Mom just stopped and stared at us, with both of her eyes showing and a huge smile on her face. "You guys have no idea how happy I am the two of you are so close to each other. It honestly reminds me of when I was with ... my ... siblings.", My heart had ached at how pained my mom had looked when she brought up her siblings.

     "Do you regret it, Mom?"

     "... Regret what Isaac?", My mother had stopped and looked at me with curiosity.

     "Having us? Because if you never had us then you'd have been able to stay with your siblings. It's fine if you feel that way mo-mmfplh -" I was cut off for the second time this week as my mom had grabbed me into a hug so tight I legit felt my back pop. Any complaint I had died in my throat as I heard what my mom had to say.

     "Isaac, I will never regret having either of you. I might regret not staying with my family. I might regret not taking my siblings with me. I might even regret not convincing my husband to stay. But the both of you, have given me so much joy in my life. The two of you are every reason I have to look forward to tomorrow. The both of you, and your father of course, are my life now.", I watched as my mom started getting tears in her eyes and I groaned when I noticed.

     "C'mon mooom you know I'm gonna cry if you crrryyyy.", I fake moaned and smiled as I watched my mom start chuckling with tears in her eyes.

    "You laugh now, but I will have you know I just applied Chantecaille Faux Cils, and you know how expensive that is!", I say, in my The Real Housewives of New Jersey impression, causing her to start howling with laughter leading to Erma and dad joining in on the laughter. For context, my mom absolute despises reality shows, especially the real housewives of any series. So, at one point in time I started mocking them by using a voice impression and acting obnoxious. Along with every now and then I would be saying an overly expensive brand I use. 

     After a while, our laughter had died down mom and dad had left to their rooms leaving me and Erma on the bed.

     "Hey Erma?"

     Erma had turned to face me with a quizzical expression on her face.

     "I love you."

     "...I love you too Ani-chan.", I whirled around to face Erma, in complete shock, only to find her asleep. Now Erma can talk yes, but it's VERY rare she does, whether or not why is her choice. Getting my sis to talk more has always been something I wanted but ultimately something I left entirely up to her. Keep in mind the only times I have heard her talk was to say happy birthday to me, mom, or dad. I looked at her for a couple moments before assuming I was just hearing things.

     Little did I know, If I had waited a little longer, I would have been able to see that Erma had turned to me with a huge smile.

- The Next Day -

     As the morning came and went Tia Sarah had arrived shortly in the afternoon after Erma and I had decided to read one last story before I go with Aunt Sarah for the weekend.

     "OH NO, HERE WE GO AGAIN! TRALALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!", I had read with exaggerated poses to Erma as she had clapped excitedly at her Ani-Chan's 'new book' ... ok in my defense I am actively trying not to have this book published, fooor at least One more year because I am still furious at how he ended Captain Underpants, LIKE SERIOUSLY HE DESERVED A BETTER ENDING THAN THAT!!! 

     "You ready to go Isaac?", Sarah had asked me with a huge smile that I had matched with my own. After giving one last goodbye hug to my ohana I had all but teleported to the 'shotgun' side of the car.

     "Isaac."

     "Yes auntie?", I had looked towards my designated Tia with a mischievous grin.

     "You know you can't sit there.", She had sighed out with an exasperated tone.

     "That's what makes it so fun though!"

     "Isaaaac.", Sarah had made the mistake of looking towards me as I used weaponized cuteness ... I gave her the biggest puppy eyes I could.

     "uuuuggghhhhh." Wow if I didn't know any better, I'd say she was related to mom in some way with that groan.

     "FINE, but so help me Isaac if I get pulled over because of this You are going to be spending the entire weekend at just the house. No carnival, no tv, and no games!", Sarah had said to me with a stern expression.

     "Ok!", I had said excitedly towards her with a huge smile.

     "... I am already regretting this."

     "Well, IIIIII am already having fun! Are there any rollercoasters you wanna ride with me, aunt Sarah? I WANNA RIDE THE TEXAS GIANT!", I had exclaimed in the car as we started pulling out of the driveway.

     "Hehe, I am pretty sure you need to be a certain height to be on those kind of rides Isaac.", Tia had explained with an amused expression. Causing most of the excitement in me, to deflate like a whoopie cushion, leaving me just sulking out the window of the car. My aunt had apparently noticed this and tried to cheer me up.

     "H-Hey, we aren't just going to the amusement park. We are also going to the zoo and some of the bookstores!", I will admit that did lift my mood. I turned to Sarah with a shy expression to ask an admittedly embarrassing question for me.

     "So, uh auntie?"

     "Yes Isaac?"

     "Can get me a unicorn plush?"

     "What?", My Tia had asked with a confused look after she got on the highway.

     "Can you get me unicorn plush?"

     "Isaac, It's a little hard to hear you over this radio. There, what was your question?", Tia had reached over to turn off the radio before asking again.

     " inhale C-Can you get me a unicorn plush?", As I was asking this I had turned away to put my face in my hand while blushing.

     "Sure! Is it like uh souvenir for Erma or- hey what's the matter? ... ooooohhhhh.", It took Sarah a second or two to figure it out but once she did, I just felt my ears burn.

     "Hey now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with liking unicorns Isaac. I mean believe it or not I used to watch wrestling growing up." Ok now I was absolutely BEWILDERED by what I had just heard.

     "You ... were into wrestling?"

     "Uh yeah.", Sarah had said in a defensive tone.

     "So which wrestler was your favorite?", I swear if she says Rey Mysterio.

     "John Cena of course! I swear, the fact that some people prefer stone cold Steve Austin over John Cena absolutely bewilders me and oh don't even get me started on Rey Mysterio fans. I mean liked him too, but wow he tested the friendships I had with a lot of people back in Middle school." Sarah had said all this with such pure nostalgia and sincerity I couldn't help but just be captivated by every word she said.

     "Ok, this is going to sound like a crazy coincidence Tia Sarah but, I absolutely love John Cena." My Tia is based.

     "Shut- the front door! You're also a Cena fan? Also, Tia Sarah?"

     "Sarah it's friggin John Cena who doesn't like him? Also, I like how it has a ring to it ya know ... do you like it?"

     "You'd be surprised. I don't particularly mind the change, per say I just wanted to know why the change of heart. I will like anything you call me." Sarah had turned to me with a smile on her face. That had promptly dropped the moment she saw my smirk.

     "Even if I call you a Rey Mys-" I found myself abruptly cut off when she hit the brakes and pulled over on the side of the freeway. Before I could even register what was going on. I turned to Tia Sarah only to have chills go down my spine seeing The Look on her face. The Look in question is terrifying to me because with the way she looks at me from my perspective is terrifying along with the fact that it feels like to her I'm nothing less than an ant she accidentally squished whenever she uses The Look.

     "You are pushing your luck, Isaac." She had told me in a dead tone that had promised punishment if I went any further. So of course, I Immediately shut up and looked the other way.

     "I am sorry please forgive me Tia Sarah." I had said(begged).

     "Forgiven!" Just like that she was all smiles and rainbows ... She can be absolutely terrifying for airhead.

     "I know that look on your face Isaac~! All I can say is~, One of those thoughts better not have to do with me being a blonde."

     " I WAS JUST THINKING HOW PRETTY YOUR HAIR IS I SWEAR!"

- 1 1/2 Hours Later -

     After driving for a what felt like an hour, we had FINALLY made it to the ... awfully familiar house. No seriously why does this house look so familiar? Now one of my main takes away from this place is the cornfields. Trust me, I am the last person you will hear complain about a cornfield, but something about these fields doesn't seem right. Even my bargain bin Spider-sense is going off, yet I don't see anything. As we were approaching the house Tia Sarah had noticed something that made me regret coming here.

     "Strange, I don't see his car."

     "What do you mean Tia?" I watched as she bit her lip nervously and clutched her purse a little tighter.

     "Usually, his truck is parked out in front of the house yet i don't see it anywhere ... pleasedon'ttellmeIgotthedatewrong." While Sarah was furiously rummaging through her phone. I started looking around the field for anything out of place, yet I couldn't see anything not even a scarecrow. I have no clue why but, the sound of the cornstalks in the wind was strangely unsettling to me.

     Rustle

     I had immediately whirled around to the direction of the sound only to find nothing but the car and yet I swear to god the cornstalks next to the car were moving. I started slowly making my way to Sarah while keeping my eye on the field around us. My observation Haki was going absolutely nuts right now, I was starting to get a headache from it.

When it just stopped, my Haki that was ringing practically blaring klaxon alarms in my head just stopped. I was even more terrified now; something was here AND I COULDN'T SEE IT.

     "Huh, the date is right. I was worried we might have gone on the wrong weekend, but where the heck are they?!?!" My Tia had screamed out in frustration.

     "Hey Sarah?"

     "Yes Isaac?"

     "Maybe they went to town or something I don't know, but can we leave to look for them? I am getting a funny feeling about all this." I wasn't scared of course, just being smart. You are definitely imagining things if you think I was shaking a little. My Tia was apparently not expecting me to be ... distressed and so tried to give me very much unneeded comfort me as we made our way back to the car.

     "Alright Isaac I'll give'em a call once we make it to the town to see if we can meet up at a restaurant or something." 

     Once we had gotten into the car, I had immediately locked the door and then fastened my seatbelt. Once Sarah had started the car i felt my worries dissipate, only for them to manifest 100-fold when the car wasn't moving. My Tia was equal parts worried and confused when the car wasn't moving.

     "What on earth? Come on Isaac, something's wrong." We had gotten out of the car and looked at the tires causing my stomach to fold in on itself. The tires were flat, and I felt myself grow cold when I remembered the rustling cornstalks next to the car. Something was in the fields; something doesn't want us to leave and whatever that something was is smart enough to take out our ride. I turned to the house as I realized something.

     'It wants us to take refuge in the house.' I thought horrified. Before I could continue with my line of thinking, my Tia had grabbed my hand before walking us to the house.

     "Ok, so for now Isaac we just have to pray and hope someone stayed behind at the house." I mentally sighed before gathering my wits and mentally reminding myself to call mom and come up with a plan.

     Knock Knock Knock

     "Hello~~, Marissa? Issabelle? Please tell me you guys chose to stay behind?!?!" I watched as the door opened and I saw a tanned girl with a pony tail open the door, mental note, try and get Erma a ponytail haircut. I watched as the girl in question get a huge smile on her face before launching a hug at my Tia.

     "AUNT SARAAAAAAH!!" I watched as my aunt giggled at the girl's antics.

     "Well hello to you too Issabelle! You have no idea how happy we are to see you as well." I watched as the girl that wasn't THAT much taller than me preen before getting a look of confusion.

     "We?" I heard Tia giggle before moving to show me to Issabelle. I gave her my biggest smile before holding out a hand to her all while making eye contact.

     "Hi! My name's Isaac D. Williams. But my friends call me Nakakainis or Naka for short!" I watched as her face turned red with a funny look, oh come on it's not that embarrassing to love your aunt, before the last thing I said finally clicked and she started laughing. (Isaac you dunce.)

     "Isaac, what does nakakainis mean?" I had turned to my aunt giving her the most innocent and happy smile I could muster.

     "Annoying." Watching my aunt barely hold back her laughter was therapeutic to me. I had then turned back to Issabelle as I had come up with an official nickname for her.

     "So, Saby can we come in? I want to lay down on the couch." I watched as Issabelle stopped laughing and started to smile before gesturing us to come on in. Huh, I guess she likes the nickname.

     "Sure! Make yourself-SELVES-ahem make yourselves at home!" she stuttered out before opening the door for us. I wouldn't ever come to know about this but when I walked in Sarah had looked Issabelle in the eyes with a raised brow and a teasing smile causing Issabelle to make frantic gestures towards her. Once I got on(fwomped into) the couch 

Issabelle had sat right next to me on the only available seat.

     "Sorry about dad and the others not being here. They were initially supposed to be back an hour ago but their car broke down so they have been getting it repaired in the city. They just called 10 minutes ago, before their phone died, when they got to said repair place." Issabelle had said with a sheepish expression.

     "Huh, that explains the unanswered calls. So, is Marissa here?" While they were busy talking, I was taking a look around my surroundings and seeing if they were anything we could barricade ourselves in when night falls. Let's be honest here, EVERYTHING bad happens when night falls. Especially, when some kind of freaky thing is hiding in the corn fields.

     "Yeah, she's in the restroom but she should be out soon."

     "Hey, Saby quick question. Do you guys have like a cool basement with windows or that could lead outside?" I had interjected to try and see if we could bunker down when things take a turn for the worse.

     "Sadly, it's just a normal boring basement with no windows. It's pretty spacious though so if we wanted, we could play board games or watch tv down there." I completely missed the expression on her face as I was, I had started planning on what excuse to use to get everyone in the basement. (damn it Isaac)

     'Now I just need to find a way to get everyone to sleep in the basement.' My thoughts were broken as someone came down the stairs and I felt my veins freeze as I saw her. She had tanned skin like Issabelle and was a little shorter than me, but what got me terrified was the hair. The moment I saw her haircut everything clicked into place. The house, the cornfields and the thing inside them, even the two of them staying here.

     'This was all from snarled. But what was that thing called that pretended to be a scarecrow?!!? Babik, Babuk, kabab?' Whatever that thing was called. Point is that thing is absolutely terrifying and from what I remember, that thing is way too strong for something that's supposed to be a scarecrow. Before I panic, I just need to confirm the situation by asking her a question.

     "gasp AUNT SARAH!!" ... right after I get introduced to her. I watched as she hugged Tia who looked just as happy to see her.

     "Hey Marissa! Has Issabelle played any pranks on you yet?" Huh talk about a happy accident.

     "snort Ever since I got here she's been nonstop, earlier she put up this scarecrow in the fields and then took it down to try and freak me out" I felt my heart stop at this.

     "For the last time Marissa. I. Have. No. Clue. What you are talking about!" As Issabelle groaned that out, I had realized that's my cue to start setting up traps for the impending , but before I do just need to double check.

     "Hey Sarah, you called Mum and told her everything right?"

     "Of course I did! I even told her how you got scared by the cornfield." Sarah had told me with a teasing grin that Issabelle had quickly donned upon her face as well.

     "Ooohh~ easily scared are ya Isaac~!" I do not like that look on her face. Fighting back the urge to shiver I stared her directly in the eyes before responding.

     "Try anything and you will wake up with Potter on your face." 

     "Sarah who's potter?" I watched as my Tia gave me a warning look before telling Issabelle.

     "Potter is Isaac's pet Tarantula." Wow, judging by how pale Issabelle got, I think it's safe to say she has arachnophobia. I don't why but her being a tomboy yet having a childish fear is a 'Gap Moe' I didn't realize existed.

     'Huh, you know what that's honestly pretty cute' I was confused by how quite the room got before Marissa's stifling laughter drew my attention. Confused, I looked back at Sarah who had looked absolutely dumbfounded with a dropped jaw, what on earth is ... Oh, I had gotten my answer when I looked at Issabelle and saw her red with anger.(I had thought at the time was anger.)

     "In my defense, I didn't mean to say any of that out loud pleasedon'tkillme." I started getting frantic as she simply walked past me and went up the stairs.

     " ... I'll be back, I just need to use the restroom." Huh, hopefully whatever luck I just had right now will happen later.

     "Hey Sarah, can we get some pizza ready? I want us to play boardgames in the basement!"

     "... Sure Isaac. I just need to ... talk to Emiko really quick." Sarah had finally managed to get over whatever that was ... I SAID I WAS SORRY I DON'T GET THE ALL COMMOTION!!!

- Later (Emiko's POV) -

     After I had finished setting the table, my husband had come downstairs with our daughter. I quickly went into the kitchen to pull the lasagna out of the oven and start getting ready to hand out everyone's serving. After Isaac had left Erma was feeling a bit down so I had decided to cook her favorite tonight! Sam and I plan to take her out for some Ice cream and maybe bowling some time tomorrow just to help lift her spirits a bit. 

     Once we sat down and started eating, I remembered what Sarah had told me over the phone and I squealed out loud getting Sam's attention who then started chuckle.

     "Something interesting happen my darling wife of mine." I had grinned a grin that made Sam start to sweat a little.

     "A girl has become smitten with our baby boy❤! Apparently, Isaac is quite the smooth talker when he wants to be~!" I had watched Sam's face blanche for a moment before coming back to his senses. Going unnoticed by me was Erma freezing in place with a blank expression.

     "Wait, WHAT?!? Who?" I grinned at how flabbergasted Sam was at the mere prospect of Isaac even attempting to woo a lady much less be interested with such things at his age. Again, going unnoticed by me was Erma clutching her fork in a tighter grip. I began to giggle like a gremlin before answering him.

     "Evidently it was one of Sarah's nieces, she's 8 years old by the way, so once she visits, I am going to have some nice girl talk with her❤!"

     THWANG

     THUMP

     We had all sat there stunned before looking at wall next to us and seeing the top half of a fork stuck into it. We began looking around and saw Erma missing the top half of her fork.

     "... Is everything alright Erma?" I had carefully asked my daughter who was looking at the fork in her hand with disbelief. She slowly turned to me before looking down with sadness.

     "Hey, it's alright sweetie, I'm sure you didn't mean to do it on purpose." I went around the table to give my daughter her new fork, but not before giving her a hug and a kiss, and then sat back down in my chair before I remembered the other thing Sarah had told me, making me curious and somewhat worried. Of course, the man who I had married noticed my look.

     "Is something wrong Emmy?" I had sighed at this before answering.

     "... Isaac is scared. Sarah and I don't know why but reputedly Isaac is afraid of the cornfield. Maybe it's the fact it's just a house with a seemingly endless cornfield? He has stated he was afraid of um... what were those things called again dear?" I had unknowingly overlooked Erma's expression that went from content due to the lasagna, to absolutely still as she heard the words cornfield. Her expression slowly grew more and more horrified as my sentence went on. Thankfully, I can't say the same for my husband.

     "It's called Liminal spaces dear a- ... Erma?" Upon hearing my husband's words, I turned to Erma and was instantly by her side seeing the look of horror on her face.

     "Hey, hey, hey, it's alright Daddy and I are right here ok, everything is fine." I watched in shock as Erma looked as with the utmost panic in her eyes as some of the heavier objects in the room lifted a little bit. What really had our attention however was the fact that our darling little Erma had yelled.

     "ANI-CHAN IS GOING TO DIE IF WE DON'T SAVE HIM!!!" I was doing the absolute perfect example of a fish out of water with how mouth opened and closed with no words at the fact our adorable little daughter had yelled. I then schooled my face as our daughter's words had finally registered.

     "Explain." Upon hearing my words Erma began wasting no time in explaining the dream she had this morning. I was utterly horrified at what she had said happened at the end. I was also completely floored by the fact that first our son has our grandfather's Haki and now our daughter has the Vision. After the feelings came to pass however, I felt nothing but broiling, vitriolic, RAGE at the fact some damn straw for brains toy has the gall to go after MY god damn son.

     "Emiko." After calming down marginally I had turned to face my husband as he nodded while holding Erma.

     "You need to burn it. It will keep coming back otherwise" At those words I launched myself at the T.V. going through the all to familiar static riddled world, at breakneck speeds, towards Isaac all while praying I wasn't too late.

      I looked outside the window as I watched the Sun start to set, anxiety creeping into my heart as I watched everyone finish eating. Marissa's parents called earlier, apparently the engine had something going on so they won't be able to come back to the house for the weekend most likely. I started helping Sarah with the dishes as I began wondering what game should we play in the basement? It would have to be something absolutely time-consuming but addictive at the same time ... I got the perfect game in mind. I felt myself grow a mischievous grin as I had spotted an oh so perfect distraction on the top shelf in the living room across the kitchen. I had slowly turned to my Tia who had gotten nervous at seeing my smile.

     "Hey Tia?"

    "Yeeess, Isaac?" I felt my grin only grow as I knew Tia couldn't resist playing the only game, she could beat me at. I am quite frankly amazed at how many times I have beaten her at Chess, checkers, tic tac toe, I even managed to beat her in terms of who can do math questions... I may have let my competitive nature get to me and ended up beating her with algebra questions. Of course, this came at the price of my mother going overdrive when it came asking me math questions. I truly had wanted to fail on purpose, but ... I made a mistake not making my mom happy in my last life, I am not going to repeat it. Anyway, I had slowly pulled out the game from behind my back towards Tia, who went from a confused/fearful look to a smug/confidant expression at seeing what game it was.

     "Ooooh, are you sure you want to play that one Isaac? I seem to recall our score being, hmmm, ooh what was it again?" I felt a spike of annoyance at the smug grin on my Tia's as I started scowling.

     "sigh It's 6-0." I watched as my Tia got a cat got the canary grin and asked me again.

     "I am sorry I couldn't quite hear you what was the score?" I am going to remind myself to ask Erma to prank Tia later.

     "inhaaale exhaaaleee It's 6-0 Tia Sarah." I had said with mild annoyance as my Tia had a look of bliss as I announced it, I swear I am not going to be holding back against this damn airhead on Halloween!!!!!

     "I would looove to beat you at monopoly Isaac~!" My eye had twitched and judging by her smile she noticed.

     "What game are y'all playing? OOOH, CAN I PLAY WITH YOU GUYS?!?!?" Marissa had come up to us from the couch and got excited when she noticed the board game in our hands. I had smiled

     "Sure! Is Issabelle gonna join us?" I watched as Marissa got mischievous look on her face ... Did something happen?

     "Oooh~~? Are you not gonna play if Issabelle wooon't~?" she asked with that grin on her face. I watched as Issabelle came down the stairs and from the look on her face was annoyed by her cousin's antics.

     "No, I'll just find something for me and Issabelle to do while you guys play monopoly." and then 'use the restroom' so I can blockade the door went unsaid. I saw as Issabelle went red again, seriously what did I do to make her hate me!?!?! 

     "I mean if you don't want to it's understandable, I guess." Makes my job easier.

     "I WO-ahem I would love to play monopoly with you Isaac a-and t-the others of course I mean it'd be a little weird if it was monopoly with just two people." You know what, I honestly get what she means, despite being able to be a 2-player game. It does feel weird playing that game with just 2 people. Not weird in a good way but weird in a ... lonely way.

     "Yeah, I know the feeling. It's kind of lonely playing 4 player games with just 2 people." To my surprise I watched as Issabelle's eyes went from surprise to loneliness at my declaration. Marissa's face and demeanor had shifted to sadness to my bewilderment. 'What kind of bombshell is about to drop?', were my current thoughts.

     "Yeah ... It is." Uuuuggghhh I hate how nice I am sometimes. Unnoticed by Issabelle and I were Marissa and Sarah slowly getting behind the couch to eavesdrop on our conversation.

     "What's wrong?"

     "I mean ... It's nothing." Welp in for penny out with a dollar.

     "Hey, you could ask any of my family members, which includes Tia Sarah by the way, and each and every one of them will tell you I am NOT a judgmental person."

     "Really?"

     "Of course!" Unless you are rude and selfish but that's more of a golden rule kind of thing.

     "... Promise me you won't laugh."

     "I promise I won't laugh." Not too sure if it was my words or how genuine I was, but she smiled a little brighter shortly after what I said. She looked down, sighed and began to talk.

     "I'm not too sure if you've noticed Isaac, but I'm not exactly a ... normal girl."

     "So, you're like a monster human hybrid?"

     "Wait what?" She looked at me in bewilderment.

     "Well, I mean ... I don't know what else you mean. Do you mean like more athletic than normal? I find that pretty cool to be honest with you." I watched as she looked at me with wide eyes and an open mouth before she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After a couple of moments, she started talking to me again with more confidence than before .

     "People don't like approaching me because I don't act like the other girls in my class. The other girls are all ... girly? They like doing makeup and gossiping and I don't. I get along with the guys better, but they stopped playing with me when they found out I was a girl. They talk to me still, but nobody ever makes an effort now to hang out with me. I'm always The One. Y'know?" Unnoticed by the both of us, Marissa looked more and more sad as she heard her cousin. Sarah was downright heartbroken, she felt horrible she didn't know about any of this before wondering if her parents even knew about this. I was meanwhile confused by her classmates' behavior towards her as well as the last thing she said.

     "What do you mean by 'The One'? Like the Jet Li movie?" I watched as her eyes lit up and looked at me with eyes full of delight.

     "snort I wish! Do you have any idea how awesome that would be? Me out of all the other variants being the best? No, I'm ... I'm the back up so to speak. Always there to fill in when nobody else could make it. Never the first ... always the second. I just want to, to, to MATTER! I don't care if I'm popular or the strongest I, I, I just want show people I'm here and I exist." 

     I watched with silence as she lost her vibrant mood and began to recount no doubt the semester she went through. By the end of it I saw her shoulder shaking as she sat on the floor with her eyes starting to moisten. I had to push down the slight amount of anger I was feeling right now as she had explained to me what her on-the-daily is at school. After some thought I gave a resolute nod before smiling and placing my hand on your shoulder. She had started sniffling by the time I was sitting next to her on the floor. I had nudged her and she wiped her face before looking at me with a smile and ... I could feel that pain for a split second before I started talking to her.

     "Hey Issabelle?"

     "Yes Isaac?" She had blinked in surprise when I booped her nose before looking me in the eye as I smiled at her.

     "I See You, and so does everyone else. Well, everyone important, that is." I watched as she began to process what I said and what I meant by it.

     "But w-what about everybody else at school-"

     "Come to mine." She had a look of confusion on her face as if the thought was some kind of outlandish improbability.

     "Issabelle, I start school next year and I want you to join me there. Don't even worry about what your parents would say. It's easy to tell they love you and only want what's best for you. If you truly don't like it there, your parents will move heaven and earth to get you out of there." I watched as she had something in her eyes before it vanished and she asked me.

     "No offense Isaac but how could you possibly know what my parents are like if you haven't even met them?" she had asked with narrowed eyes.

     "... I remember a while ago my mom told me what happened when I was born and my dad had said something." 

     "?" she eyed me with curiosity in her eyes

     "He said, 'The thing about children is that they learn more from 'what you are than what you teach' and from what Sarah was telling me about you on the way here. You are an amazing person, Issabelle." I watched as her eyes widened with tears and her mouth began to smile the most radiant smile I have ever seen(on someone other than Erma!) and I am pretty sure sheispoppingmyspinewiththishugsomeonehelp-

     FLASH

     We both froze as we saw what looked like a camera flash going off, before slowly turning to face the couch as we saw a pale and absolutely terrified Marissa staring at a sweating Sarah who had a big smile with empty eyes, most likely due to the fact she forgot to turn off the flash. I facepalmed as I saw Issabelle's smile take on a sickly hue and her eyes start to dim as she skipped towards them. I couldn't tell what she was telling them, but seeing how Sarah starting sweating harder before gripping her hair with Marissa on her hands and knees begging, I'm guessing it's something I am gonna have a good laugh at later.

     I looked outside to see the progress only to freeze in terror as I had realized, that night had already fallen. With no time to waste I had gathered the blankets and pillows before launching them down the basement ignoring my ohana's cries of protest. I had stormed down to the basement and started setting everything up and began arranging the Tv and setting up the board and Its pieces. Once I was done I went up the stairs to try and convince the others to head on down I swore I heard something on the roof.

     "Can you guys do me a massive favor and get everything set up in the basement really quickly while I use the restroom?" I smiled nervously.

     "What's with the rush Isaac?!" Sarah had asked, annoyed and suspicious of me.

     "I just can't wait to beat you at are you smarter than a fifth grader again." I had said poking the dumber than a child button she had. It worked ... a little too well

     "Everything will be ready in 5 be down by then." I almost regretted pushing that button. What I did regret however, was doing what I was about to at the door of the basement, once Issabelle, Marissa, and Tia reached the bottom of the basement stairs. Marissa had noticed me at the top of the basement stairs and called out to me.

     "What's wrong Isaac?"

     " ... I'm sorry."  I had steeled myself before slamming the door and locking it. I heard their shouts of alarm as I began pulling various items to block off the door before just nailing the door shut. I felt horrible hearing them shout at me through the door.

     "ISAAC OPEN THE DOOR!!!! WHAT RE YOU DOING!!!"

     "I'M SORRY TIA, BUT WHATEVER WAS IN THE CORNFIELD IS TRYING TO GET IN. AND  I DONT CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME AS LONG YOU ALL ARE SAFE!!!!!" 

     I began making my way towards the kitchen looking at the various pots and pans, before opening the knife draw and pulling out the sharpest ones I could find. All the while trying to ignore their shouts, as I was getting everything ready, I had felt it. With the sensation came a feeling of dread as I had slowly turned around to the living room. It was empty but I knew had known better. The shouts coming from the door were drowned away by this feeling as I felt my instincts kick into overdrive as I used a pan as a make shift shield with a steak knife in the other. In the silence ... a cry of noise had emerged. It wasn't loud by any means but the silence had exaggerated it's volume.

     WaAaAaAaAaA

     The others in the basement grew silent as they were to figure out what they were hearing beyond the door. Trying to figure out why on earth a baby was crying in the house, when they were the only ones there. I was panning around the living room trying to figure out where on Earth the sound was coming from. I was so focused, and full of panic that I had almost missed it. A lamp was in the corner of the living room, so inconspicuous and right at home, and it was making the noise of a crying baby.

     Creaaak

     Clack

     To my credit, I had managed to suppress a violent shiver as the shade of the 'Lamp' had looked up revealing a ghastly face that belonged on a corpse. Its jaw clacking open making me flinch violently at the sight.

     Creaaaaaak

     Click

     Clack

     Clack

     I had watched in muted horror as the 'lamp' had started to unfold. Two handle bar like protrusions came out of its sides by the head akin to shoulders. The 'drapes' moved revealing its arms underneath. Finally, I had watched the 'lamp's' pole slowly begin to elongate into something snake like, I watched this thing's final form start to truly resemble something of a scarecrow. As I had watched it begin to elongate its jaw, I had finally begun realizing the imminent danger I was in.

     "Oh sh-"

     WaAaAaAaAaAaAaAa

     " ... Nuh uh." 

     I had stared a few moments before noping out of there with the thing chasing me all while screaming at me with that terrifying noise. I had bolted up the stairs while trying to ignore all the crashing behind me as it slithered up the stairs. Once I had gotten into the nearest room, I had slammed it shut while moving the dresser and bed in front of the door to stall for time. I began looking around the room for a place to hide as it started banging on the door before settling with the closet. Once I had gotten settled into the closet under a pile of sheets and blankets. The door had banged open and the Bubak was in the room making the crying baby noises. I watched as it slithered around the room looking for me before going towards the closet. Had I been in any other situation I would have definitely been terrified, but I am most certainly not who I used to be as well as what I used to be.

     I waited until the Bubak was directly above me, before using my feet to kick its hand to make it off balance. I then used telekinesis as I was running from underneath it to get it tangled up into the blankets and sheets. While it was tangled up, I had stabbed the butcher as hard I could into its weird pole tail thingy pinning it to the ground. While it was thrashing with the blankets and pinned tail, I had booked it down the stairs. I was halfway down when to my annoyance it already wrenched free from its prison from what I could hear.

     Once I was cornered in the kitchen, I had begun using my telekinesis to start throwing various objects at it, throwing the thing off guard. I started to throw all of the spoons and knives directly into its face causing to screech in anger and try to get the objects out of its face. While it was doing that, I had started to lift the couch, telekinetically of course, directly above its head. Once I had it in position, I let loose the grip I had on the various utensils in its face causing it to look at me in extreme aggravation before it looked confused at my expression. I had an innocent smile at my face before pointing up.

     The Bubak had looked up before stilling and turning to me in what looked like I daresay respect in its eyes. Right before I had slammed the couch as HARD as possible on IT causing there to be a roaring CRASH to reverberate around the house. The windows had shaken and some of the only things standing upright had fallen over, with area zero being a ...  Wow I went into the ground beneath the house. My heart had stopped thinking I had accidentally sent it into the basement when I had noticed it was just dirt underneath. Confident I had put this thing down I began making my way towards the basement door.

     I was almost at the door when my Haki started going off again. I immediately began to cloak myself in Haki, I was using the thoughts of what would happen to others should I fail here for motivation, and slowly made my way towards the hole. Once there I lifted up the couch, or rather what was left of it and found ... nothing! I immediately began making my way to the living room all while panning around to try and avoid getting hit in the back- PAINPAINPAINITHUUUUUURRRRTSSSS

     CRASH

     THUD

     I began gasping for air as I clutched my stomach. The Bubak had broken through the floor and hit me directly in the stomach. I have no clue what he hit exactly; all I know is that I am currently regretting not going in the basement. I watched as it slowly slithered to me before wrapping me up in his weird pole tail thing. As it lifted me towards its face, all the while squeezing me as hard as it could, I was immediately in shock as the THING STARTED TO SPEAK.

     "That hurt."

     "... Y-you can TALK?!" I started screaming towards the end as the squeezing intensified.

     "Yes, I do. Now let's see if you can listen, to their screams, that is." I began to thrash against his weird tail thing. I then found out the hard way, he could in fact squeeze even tighter. I felt my vision start to darken from lack of air, before being given some breathing room. 

     "Hehehe, oh you aren't going to pass out on me boy. Not when the show hasn't even begun!" With deceptive strength for something of his stature had cleared away the clutter with 2 swipes. He had slithered to the door and had grabbed the handle and after some attempts. Managed to rip the door off its hinges, sending the nails flying in various directions. 3 of which imbedding in my arm, shoulder, and chest causing me to yelp out in pain. The Bubak chuckled as he had slowly slithered down the stairs taking me with him. I felt myself fill up with shame and fear seeing my Tia and cousins in the corner of the room with their faces filled with worry and fear. I hated seeing that look on their faces and I hated knowing that they would get hurt because I had failed.

     "Don't you dare, TOUCH THEM!!!" 

     In one last desperate attempt to put him down for good I had mustered the rest of my stamina and embedded the nails that went flying off the door directly into The Bubak's eyes causing it cry out in pain and start thrashing around. This had, unexpectedly, sent me flying towards the wall right next to the girls who were crying. My Tia had rushed towards me cradling my body and put her hand over her mouth seeing the bruises, scrapes, and nails on my body. Seeing Sarah this horrified, fills me with a pain I have quickly come to despise.

     "This is all my fault Isaac! I should have never taken you with me." My Tia was absolutely bawling right now while cradling me.

     "D-don't you DARE apologize. You never knew this would happen."

     "It doesn't change the fact that because we came here you got nails in your chest, you're bleeding and littered with bruises and you have a broken arm, Isaac." My Tia started bawling even more as she said this- wait I HAVE A WHAT.

     I began to slowly look down and noticed my arm which was definitely not bent the right way and realized. Ah, it was when he threw me into the wall. Between the feelings of these nails and the sounds of his thrashing I couldn't hear and was too distracted to noticed my arm breaking. I looked towards my Tia only to see her frozen in fear staring at the very much no longer occupied Bubak staring directly into my soul with complete and utter hatred for my well-being. It shot out an arm and started lifting me by the throat squeezing just enough to hurt and just enough to not suffocate me.

     My Tia had raised an axe on the floor only for The Bubak to send her flying with a punch to the face. She had hit the ground unconscious with a broken and bloody nose. Her nieces shrieked as they clamored to her and tried to wake her up. Going unnoticed by everybody in the midst of the chaos, was the tv on the basement wall turning on by itself with nothing but static showing. 

     I had watched with utter despair as I saw Tia's unmoving body, and I began to feel something within me start to change until I had noticed her chest moving and felt myself filled with utter relief and joy at my aunt still being alive. Said feelings were short lived as I felt The Bubak's hand start to tighten around my throat. I began to thrash around and pry the hands off my throat. I watched as its empty eyes pierced my soul as it began to distort its voice in anger.

     "You have annoyed me FOR THE LAST DAMN TIME!!!!" I watched in a type of horrified fascination as it unhinged its jaws. It was akin to watching a snake swallow an egg. As my life began to flash for a second time, I felt myself start to cry as I realized, I am never going to see my baby sis grow up. I am never going to see my dad again. I had failed my mom a second time.

     "I'm sorry mom." I began to quietly cry as the maw got closer and closer. Despite the fact I was about to die again, I oddly felt myself smiling at the face of my death. Maybe it was because I died trying to save the ones I love. Maybe it was because despite how short my new life was I already had so many fond memories. What I do know is that I am dying with very few regrets this time.

     BANG   BOOM

     My eyes widen as I began to fall when I felt myself in a soft embrace. It was warm, familiar, it was ... mom. I had looked into my mother's wide eyes who was saying something while looking over me with her eyes widening and expression worsening with every injury she saw. She had started to cry when she saw my arm and when she looked me in the eyes she froze and started getting blurry? Oh, I was crying. I then felt the adrenaline wear off and the stress of everything come crashing down as I bawled into my mom's shoulder.

     "It's ok baby, Mommy's got you. Mommy's got you." I started crying even harder into her shoulder as now the pain from the arm and the nails started kicking in. what?!! OH, LIKE AS IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULDN'T CRY AT THIS LEVEL OF PAIN!!!! MY FLIPPING ARM IS BROKEN AND IM PRETTY SURE THE NAILS ARE IN THE BONE!!!

     "I-it hurts so much mom, make it stop." I had looked up to her teary eyed and watched as her face contorted into something monstrous before calming down and beginning to focus. I watched as my mom began to slowly but surely use her telekinesis and I almost broke my teeth at how painful my arm setting back into place felt. I had to put a death grip on my mom as the nails were pulled out and she used my shirt After my injuries had 'healed' the pain had started to recede(slightly) and I started to calm down. 

     "Are you okay now honey?" I was about to answer when I saw the absolutely MASSIVE cratered in section of the wall The Bubak was in. I felt my eyes bug out and my jaw drop at how big the crater was, JESUS IT EVEN DUG INTO THE FLOOR. I slowly turned to face my mom and ask her a question.

     "H-how strong are you mom?" I watched as my mom smiled before giving me a kiss on my forehead

     "As strong as I need to be." I watched in awe before remembering what happened to Tia!

     "MOM! CAN YOU HELP TIA?!?! SHE GOT HURT TRYING TO SAVE ME!!!" I watched her eyes widen before looking where I was pointing and rushed towards her. I watched as my mom cringed at the sight of Sarah's face.

     "Oh Sarah. I don't think I can Isaac."

     "Why not!?!"

     "It's one thing to put an arm back in place. But a nose is very... articulate." Ah, I had forgotten the nose is a cartilage. In other words, it's something that breaks into tiny little pieces VERY easily ... I think I'm not an expert at human anatomy. Also why do I feel like I am forgetting something-

     "Isaac, I don't mean to be rude to you or the nice scary lady but, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE!?!?!?" I had turned to face Issabelle's panicked face before it finally hit me. 'Oooh, it was Tia's nieces I forgot about.' Oh boy, how do I explain this properly

     " so, its-uh kind of like Um. sigh Issabelle, this is my Mom, Emiko Williams." I watched as she went from confused/panicked to just plain confused.

     "Huh?"

     "Yeah, I got my looks from my Pa. Well, at least the human looks that is." I shyly look away with trepidation of her reaction towards my not so human side.

     "So, wait the whole you and the nails earlier-?" Issabelle asked with widening eyes looking from my mom to me.

     "Yup." I was looking at anywhere except her at this point.

     "And that weird black shimmer you kept trying to bring-?" She began getting louder and louder

     "Yeah."

     "Isaac. That. Is. The coolest thing I have ever heard!! I am actually super jealous of you!" I had watched in disbelief as she had looked into my eyes with stars in hers as she started proclaiming how much cooler her life would be if she was in my shoes. I don't know how long I was staring; all I know is my mom had leaned down and whispered something in my ear that made me burn with embarrassment.

     "I approve." shooing her away I watched as she made her way to Issabelle. I went over to Marissa who was keeping Sarah's head in an elevated position. I am surprised she hasn't really asked any questions regarding all this. I figured she'd be the one freaking out the most. Reading my expression Marissa had sighed before looking at me in the eyes.

     "You aren't the only hybrid family out there Isaac." Huh ... did not see that one coming.

      "We are going into more detail on this later." I watched as Marissa nodded before I had walked back towards Mom and Issabelle who had a determined look on her face? While my mom looked like someone who had found something both absolutely adorable and hilarious. I had gotten to them when my Haki started going off again. I had whirled around to the crater just in time to see The Bubak crawling out of it. My mom had started walking towards it with the temperature getting colder by the minute.

     "Isaac, get them out of here and start a fire." There are no words to describe how dumb I feel for not realizing the freaking thing made of straw was weak to fire. As mom stepped between us and The Bubak we had started to carry Sarah up the stairs. Once we got up the stairs, I opened the front door for Issabelle and Marissa to carry Sarah out the front door and towards the car. I had fished the car keys out and phone of Sarah's pocket and unlocked the doors. I began adjusting the seats of the car to help them get Sarah into a proper position. Once I had helped them get the knocked-out Sarah into a comfortable position I got out of the car and gave them her phone with instructions..

     "Alright you guys stay in the car and call 911. Don't tell them about the monster, obviously, just tell them she fell down the stairs and broke her nose and hasn't woken up. I'm going back inside to try and start a fire. Apparently, the thing made of straw is weak to fire." I had explained seeing the looks of confusion on their faces. Had I stayed behind I would have noticed Marissa trying to tell me something through the window. I'm pretty sure they have a gas stove I mean this house is old so it'd make sense right?... Please tell me this house has a gas oven.

3RD Person POV(The Basement)

     Meanwhile down in the basement the apoplectic mother and The Bubak circle each other. Neither breaking sight of each other. After sizing each other up, The Bubak had grown arrogant and spoken up towards the mother.

     "Sending the children away won't do them any favors woman. Once I have their scent, nothing will stop me from-." The Bubak had frozen as a Presence had formed in the room in the form of pressure. The Man of Straw had looked up and froze at the sight of the woman's face. It was at that moment The Bubak had realized he had felt this presence before, not one of this magnitude, but he has felt it. Every now and then he will mess with the wrong family that would give him a fight for his life, he would still win in the end but that was the case with normal people. 

     The Bubak had the common sense to only take human children and whoever else he was able to get his claws on, he was an opportunist after all. He began running laps in his mind trying to figure out what he did to tick off the very livid mother(why is it getting so cold in here?). Before he froze and remembered the odd human with supernatural abilities and began comparing the face and hair to the woman in front of him. Once he saw the similarities between the face of the boy and the hair color, he then began to realize his mistake.

     'Oh no.' For the first time in what seemed to be centuries, was starting to heavily regret his diet choices. However, before he could say anything he had finally noticed it, in the corner of his eyes he saw frost began to line the walls and floors of the basement and the woman with her hands in an odd position. When it finally clicked what she was doing it was too late. Emiko had breathed out a breath filled with frost as she had declared the first words in this entire exchange with the most vitriolic stare he had seen in his life. Her face was pure darkness with only twin orbs of light staring back at him. His regret turned into downright terror as he recognized the color of the woman's blade of Ice.

     "Ice Make: Kogarasu Maru." 

Emiko's POV

     I was already at its neck with my katana almost at its neck before the thing finally registered that I was at its neck and slithered out of range. Not even giving it a second to breathe I was already at it again, this time aiming for its tail. Hearing its cries and screeches as it wiggled on the floor, I'd say it didn't dodge this time. The thing took a second before using its hands to steady itself next to rack of paint tubs. As I had begun my walk towards it, it reached over and started chucking the cans of paint. I could honestly care less about said projectiles and simply parried them with the sides of my katana before thrusting into one and riposting it back towards the thing. The contents of the pan spilled onto its face making it thrash about as it got into its eye sockets. While I was ignoring the bug and its screeching I had placed my hands on the floor for the next spell.

     "Ice Make: Geyser" As my spell was cast, ice from below the wriggling dust mite began to shoot through and above it causing it to scream.

     AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

     The amount of satisfaction I am getting just by hearing this lower than dirt being scream in complete and utter agony is beyond therapeutic for me. I began to ramp up the amount of ice shooting through it to make it scream louder. This insignificant dust mite broke my son's arm and broke his aunt's nose. If it thinks for even a second it has a fighting chance, I am going to remind it why I was the most feared amongst my siblings. I began to use my curse energy to mold the next spell and I know I need fire to kill this dust mite, but I'm not trying to kill him.

     "Ice Make: Chains." I am trying to make him suffer.

Marissa's POV

     Issabelle and I had watched the house with baited breath as every now and then the ground would shake. Earlier, Isaac mentioned he would need fire to kill that thing. I don't exactly have handle on my powers, but if all he needs is a fire. I can get one started and together we can take it down, but I just don't want my cousin to be disgusted with me. I saw how she treated Isaac earlier but he is practically human while Furaribi's are something else entirely! All Issac has to show his mother is a yokai is the fact his hair is black! And again, that's something a lot of people can look over. I have feathers I have to pluck every now and then!!! 

     I groaned to myself as I fought over what to do. On one hand we wait and Isaac somehow manages to start a fire when everything we usually use to start is in ... the ... barn. Oh my god he doesn't have anything to start a fire with in the house. Does he think we have a gas oven or something?!? I stopped as I took a moment to look at our house and how old it looks before facepalming myself. I sighed to myself before mentally preparing to drop a bombshell on my cousin, you see I don't really need a babysitter. I just need someone who would be able to make sure I don't burn down the house while I sleep.

     "Issabelle, I'm going in to help Isaac." I watched as she whirled around with eyes full of fear for me.

     "Are you crazy?!? No, out of the question." 💢This stubborn musclehead!

     "Issabelle, Isaac doesn't have anything to start a fire in the house, my parents keep all of that locked up in the barn." I watched as she stared at me incredulously.

     "Why would they keep all of that inside a barn? Isn't a barn catching fire even worse than a house catching fire? I'm saying this because hay is very flammable and barns are full of it." I hate how much of a good point she was making. I was starting to burn with embarrassment as I realized how accident prone, I was around flammable things with my abilities.

     "Well-I-uh-you- THAT'S NOT THE POINT, the point is that Isaac is in that house right now trying to start a fire he won't be able to start." I watched as Issabelle made a face before making her decision.

     "Alright, fine. Keep in mind the only reason I am letting you go is because I am the only one between the two of us capable of carrying Sarah should anything happen."

     "Alright." I opened the car door as I was about to close it my cousin called out to me.

     "Hey!"

     "Yes, Issabelle?"  I had groaned in annoyance before looking back in my cousin before blinking back at the amount of care and worry for me in her eyes.

     "Don't get hurt okay?" I smiled at my cousin mentally promising myself to reveal my secret to her at a later date.

     "I always win hide and seek for a reason Issa." she rolled her eyes at me as I shut the door.

     As I was running towards the house a pillar of freezing what seemed to be black ice shot out from right next to me making me yelp in in fear. I don't know why but I felt the black Ice was familiar, but not in a good way. I redoubled my efforts after seeing the Ice and threw the door open before looking for Isaac. I found him in the kitchen levitating numerous drawers and emptying the contents to try and find anything to start a fire with. I cringed as I saw the mess of the kitchen and started wondering who was cleaning all this up later. I snapped out of those thoughts before calling out to Isaac.

     "Isaac!" I watched as he whirled around to find me

     "Marissa?! Thank god you are here! I can't find anything and I started freaking out when you guys had an electric stove instead of a gas one!" I had sighed out when he had proved my suspicions true. I had walked up to him and started calling forth my abilities. As I had called them forward my transformation had begun. My nose and mouth were replaced by a beak and my ears had shrunken in showing nothing but feathers in their place. My body grew red orange feathers and my hair was replaced by blood red feathers. My arms became wings and my feet became bird like with talons.(Think like The Rito from Legend of Zelda but a little more human like.)

     "Isaac, did you find anything to start a fire with?" He didn't notice my transformation yet as he was busy putting whatever he found in the middle of the living room .

     "Yes! I found some logs by the side of the house and started stacking them up on top of this carpet. Don't worry I drenched the carpet in water so it wouldn't ... catch ... fire."

     I watched as his jaw dropped at the sight of me with wings and orange feathers. I started to feel a little embarrassed with ho intense he was staring when he started walking towards me. Subconsciously, I had taken a step back out of fear, because every time I had revealed this to a friend, they would either stop talking to me or call me a freak. Isaac had a reached out a hand towards me and I had closed my eyes out of fear. To my confusion I then started to feel a hand on my forehead before he started to scratch it. Oh, wow ~~ that feels good ~~~. It's like scratching that one spot on your back that can't quite get but somehow better ~~~.

     "Wow, just like my aunt's parrot. She absolutely LOVED the scritches in this spot." I swear I am going to get him for that.

     "💢HEY! I AIN'T A DANG PARROT!!!" The jerk had the audacity to laugh when I swatted his hand away!

     "Was this what you were so afraid of? You look like something I'd eat with shredded cheese and corn tortillas!!! Don't worry though, that's only with normal chickens. I feel like you'd have given me too much cholesterol. You do look like you'd be good emergency chicken though." I AM GONNA KILL HIM IF WE LIVE THROUGH THIS!!! 

     "Isaac." Judging by how he stopped laughing and how still he had gotten, I'm assuming the tanga(*) had finally stopped pushing his luck! It was just his imagination if I had a smirk on my face.

     "Um, Marissa?"

     "Yea Isaac?"

     "How exactly is you being foghorn leghorn going to help us out with our lack of a fire problem?" I had a deadpan face at the Tanga's joke as I slowly walked past him and onto the logs.

     "..." My response was simply being silent and engulfing myself in flames to have the logs catch fire. Of course, the Tanga had a response to this.

     "Is this why the ice cream melted so fast in your hand?" I had sighed as I got off the logs and began shifting to my human state towards Isaac.

     "Yeah, one of the many downsides of my given heritage is that my body heat is much more -um-uh-"

     "Elevated?"

     "Yeah, it's why my room is freezing compared to everyone else's."

     "Yea~ that might be just a you thing though." I frowned as I turned to Isaac.

     "I make it a point to never have the fan off in my room since I also get hot pretty easily." Oh, come on that's just a guy thing, right?

     "Are you sure that isn't because you're a boy Isaac?"

     "Yeah, my dad isn't exactly fond of the cold. I see what you mean by downsides now by the way." I yelped as he pulled a feather from my head. I watched in anger and embarrassment as he pocketed my feather!?

     "You have 5 seconds to tell me what you plan on doing with that feather." I hate how he wasn't fazed by my anger as he looked down on me

     "I was planning on making a dream catcher with it since this is one of my favorite colors." I blushed as he said that with a straight face. Well ... if that's all he's gonna do.

     "Fine, but only if that's all your going to do." Isaac looked back at me confused.

     "What else what I do with it?"... I probably shouldn't tell Isaac our feathers are used as the main ingredient for a ... specific area of potions.

     "Whatever weirdos usually do with other people's hair. That's basically what it is." I watched as Isaac just shrugged nonchalantly at my statement.

     "Valid."

     "Hey Isaac, why did it get so quiet?" I turned to face him and was confused when his eyes were bugged out and his jaw was dropped at the basement door. I then saw her, Isaac's mother, coming out of the basement with absolutely no blemishes, no sweat, no tears, absolutely nothing indicating she has been fighting. All the while dragging the slowly reforming and whimpering Bubak with black ... ice ... chains. I then froze as it finally registered who Isaac's mom actually is. Not a lot of mages can use Ice Make magic but out of all them only one had reigned supreme. A yokai with long black hair of the Yureimoto clan had a type of ice that was different. This ice was hot, this was an ice that melted other ice regardless of its properties. His mother was none other than, The Kuro-shi-byō. 

     My father would tell us stories about The Kuro-shi-byō, how they singlehandedly defeated some of the strongest yokai out there. And how merciless she was should something happen to her siblings. There was an incident a while back involving her sister, a Nure-Onna, and a human village. Her sister went with purest intent, only to receive murderous intent in return with a scar to show for it. Enraged by the humans' actions, The Kuro-shi-byō went to that village and massacred everyone down to the last man. I began to shiver and quake with fear as my father's words of what he saw bounced around my head. My breathing only intensified as she began walking towards me and reached her hand out towards me. I stopped shaking when I felt her hand on my forehead and looked up. What I saw were not the eyes of The Kuro-shi-byō, but of a mother worried for her child.

     "I never touched the women or children ... or anybody that wasn't involved. It's understandable you're afraid however. I would be too." I felt bad as Isaac's mother pulled away from me.

     We had all watched as the now fully reformed Bubak was now struggling against its burning chains to try and escape all while screeching the whole time. We were all having an internal struggle on what to do with The Bubak. On one hand, we can't help with what were born with, but on the other, he was going to kill and eat all of us. With absolutely no remorse, we would have all been dead and gone if not for Isaac's mom and Isaac distracting it as long as he did. I turned to face Isaac's mom as she and I stared at each other as if asking the other for permission. There was a moment of unspoken words and silence before the mother broke the silence.

     "sigh You and Isaac should leave. Monster or not, seeing something die much less killing it has a heavy burden no child should bear."

     FWOOSH

      ScReEeEeAaAaAaAaAa Aa Aa Aaa

     We had both turned only to freeze as we saw Isaac was in front of the fire motionless, watching as it burned alive in the fire. I went up to Isaac to ask him if he was alright only to freeze as I saw the look on his face. Complete and utter Apathy, as if he didn't just take a life no rather he knew but didn't care. I flinched as he slowly turned to me with that look in his eyes, before changing to a tired look in his face when he saw I was scared. He looked like he wanted to say something to me but stopped when he saw the look on his mother's face. Now he had a more befitting emotion on his face, regret.

Isaac's POV

     I messed up, big time messed up. Don't get me wrong I could personally care less about The Bubak, I feel absolutely no regret killing that thing. It ate and tore apart Lord knows how many families for how long. The fact it died here can make me rest easy knowing another can family live without having to fear that thing ever again. No, I had messed up in terms of forgetting one thing when I threw the thing into the fire and it was how my mom would react to it. I had watched as my mom was shocked/horrified with eyes small as pinpricks, as if she couldn't comprehend me of all people throwing that thing into the flames.

     "I respect all forms of life mom. I personally, genuinely, believe everything has the right to live, but every time I saw the blood on that thing's teeth. I couldn't help but start to imagine, how many kids much less people in general. Were in my position when you saved me, but had no one there to save them." My tears were streaming down my face as I fell onto my knees as the gravity of what this thing has done and almost did start kicking in.

     "How many kids had died because they weren't as lucky as me, mom? How many families had lost their loved ones because of what it has done to them?!? How many had to suffer because of one thing's SELFISH EXISTANCE!!!!" At this point my mom had gotten me into a tight hug as I began to lose it thinking about all of the Babuk's victims. Unbeknownst to me my mother was relieved, because she was under the impression that I didn't kill it simply because it tried to kill us, I was just simply overwhelmed with emotion. She was wrong and right. I did in fact not kill it simply because I could. I killed it because of the fact it was trying to reform out of its chains and because of the fact all it did was exist to eat children. I was crying because of what I said. I am genuinely depressed about everything I had stated.

     "Honestly Isaac, I was more worried you killed it out of revenge. Or you simply killed it for the better. The fact that when you killed it, you were thinking about everyone other than you, tells me you are still the selfless little man you were this morning. I was so scared, so terrified, that you ended up like ... like." Oh, she thought I was ... Ok I need to nip that thought in the bud asap. I had booped my mom in the nose making her blink in surprise.

     "Mom, I promise you, that today was an exception. I will never ever take another life as carelessly as I did today. I want to become an example Erma can learn from and I don't want her to ever take a life." I had said to my mother with complete and utter honesty making her slump with relief.

     cough

     We both blinked before slowly turning to a blushing Marissa who was slowly shuffling in place.

     "I'm sorry I didn't want to intrude in uh. What you guys had going on." We were all just standing there awkwardly with the fire going on before I had spoken up.

     "We should probably put out the fire before it uh, spreads to the ceiling." There were murmurs of agreement as mom had gotten her hand together like she was going to blow a kiss.

     "Ice Make: Snow Powder"

     We watched in amazement as my mom had blown a blanket of snow onto the fire causing it to be put out from the blanket of snow. Wait a minute.

     "Wasn't your ice black a second ago?" I watched as my mom chuckled before ruffling my hair and explaining her magic to me.

     "I can control the ice I use Isaac so long as I know the ice's properties and how it works. You should have seen the time I used Dry Ice against a Fire User." I shivered at that.

     "Wait then what was the black Ice you were using? And how did you find it?" I watched as my mom got a faraway look in her eyes before chuckling to herself.

     "It was from a meteor and heh the day I first met your father, Isaac. I decided to venture out into the human world for the first time. I was amazed by the vast wilderness and starry night sky when I- or rather we saw it. A meteor had come from the cosmos and hit the forest not far from where I was. Where you stay inside all day, I would stay outside as long as I could." I grumbled at the jab, muttering how I wasn't lazy just selectively active, making my mom and Marissa giggle.

     "So of course I ran to the meteor out of curiosity. It was the first time I have seen something come from space after all. Your father and I locked eyes with each other once we came into the clearing with the meteor in the middle. Now your father wasn't as well built as he is now back then, so he had the stereotypical 'nerd' thing going on as you youngsters put it." My mom then started to blush, oh ... ooooh so it was her pinning for dad then huh. Definitely teasing her about this later.

     "While your dad certainly needed to take a hint or two. I fell in love with your father the moment I saw him. After we uh ... talked, we went towards the meteor to try and find out what was in it. In there we found Ice that was melting from the asteroids entrance. I had reached out with my magic as the last bit of ice was ... let's go with destabilizing, to find its properties and found ... something impossible. I had found what was frozen electricity." I am sorry my mom said it was what.

     "What was even weirder, was the fact that this ice had been a solid but liquid at the same time. The liquid being pure electricity. That day 2 things happened that had changed my life forever. The ice I had discovered, and the love of my life. As for how the ice changed my life well, let's save that for another time." I chuckled before noticing some lights way off in the distance.

     "Yeah, we should go get Sarah and Issabelle out of the car. It looks like the ambulance is down the road. Oh, and mom can you uh, bring the car? The thing slashed our tires." I made an annoyed face as I remembered what happened with the car. My mom had winced at that little proclamation.

     "Sure Isaac! Oh, but will the girls be fine on their own?" I had slowly turned to the house that had some broken windows and a hole in the ground that more than likely led to the basement.

     "... We should leave a note on where we took them and try to explain what happened." I began wondering how well Erma and Issabelle get along. Seeing the movies she had gathered for the basement when I set things up earlier, she was definitely a horror movie fan. This made me wonder how Erma would react to a fellow yokai!

     "I'll explain what went down although I'll leave out the part where Mrs. Williams is you know." Marissa had piped up from behind us as we walked to the car. Now I was just confused what did my mother being a yokai have to do with anything? I didn't notice but my mom had stilled right next to me.

     "What does, my mother, being a yokai have to do with anything? Isn't your dad a yokai? I am assuming he is since a Furaribi sounds yokai-ish." I watch as Marissa was confused before gaining a look of realization and fear.

     "Ah, it's not my secret to give ... I am sorry." Huh, what kind of reputation did my get in her past? Was it the fact my grandpa was some kind of OP tengu? You know what it probably has something to do with the ice.

     "Hey mom I have a question." I watched as my mother smiled and looked nervous for some reason?

     "What is it, Isaac?" Welp, in for a penny-

     "Can you teach me how to use magic? I noticed earlier you used something called Ice make and even if I don't have some kind of affinity for it. I need to get stronger, and not just for my sake but Erma's sake too." I watched as my mom had a frown on her face as she had contemplated on what to answer with.

     "We will talk about this later, for now we have to do damage control." As we walked towards the car Marissa had plucked the last of the remaining feathers off. Right when we helped Issabelle and the stirring Sarah out of the car the ambulance had arrived on scene. While the grownups were talking, I decided to break the news to Issabelle.

     "So, guess what Issabelle?" I watched as she turned to me with a curious expression.

     "So instead of me hanging out with you guys for next 3 days. You guys get to hang out with me. How does that sound?"

     Judging by the stars in Issabelle's eyes I'd say she was positively thrilled by the idea.

     Once Sarah got wheeled away and mom had got into the tv universe thingy. We decided to play Monopoly in our spare time and I. Kept. On. Losing. These freaking gremlins would laugh every single time I would land on their property!! Don't even get me started on the number of times I would almost get a complete set of property AND ONE OF THEM WOULD MIRACULOUSLY LAND ON THE LAST ONE I NEED. Right as I was feeling lucky one game my mom had arrived with the car and we had set off back to my home.

     "Are you kidding me!?!?!?" My thoughts matched my mother's statement. Seeing as how there was a tipped over semi-truck blocking the road on the way home. One of the officers on the scene had walked towards our car with an apologetic look on her face.

     "I am sorry ma'am but until further notice the road will be closed off for everyone's safety. There are sensitive materials inside the truck that could level this road if not handled right. Quite frankly I'm amazed nothing's been set off from what they told me." I am more than positive it's something magic related with how the truck driver looks. My mom got upset with this seeing as how the only other option was to stay somewhere for the night.

     "Well, what else am I supposed to do? I have 3 kids in the car and this is the only road home!"

     "Just down the road where you came there is a motel. We are covering the charges being placed for the inconvenience." I am guessing that last part was due to how agitated(terrifying) my mom was getting. My mom had reluctantly agreed to the officer's statements before heading back towards the motel.

     "Did we do something to have what's basically the worst day possible?" I had snorted before answering Issabelle

     "Trust me it could be a lot worse." I had turned to see Marissa giving me a deadpan stare before she replied.

     "Isaac you literally got a broken arm and almost died." I had smiled before replying back.

     "I got better. No seriously, we heal up pretty quick. I got lucky it was a dislocation otherwise I would actually need to be at the hospital with Sarah." I had explained seeing the confused looks on their faces.

     "Oooh, that makes sense. I was wondering why you didn't go with Aunt Sarah." Issabelle had a look of wonder on her face as she had contemplated what I had said.

     "I just want to hurry up and sleep." Wow, Marissa practically falling asleep with how tired she looks. Mom had turned back to us as we pulled up to the motel.

     "Don't worry Marissa I just need to get us our room key and you will be able to sleep on a bed." And with that mom got out of the car to go to the weird... shack thing.

     We had watched in boredom as Mom went inside to get us our room key. While waiting for the room key, I decided to scope out the surroundings. The motel honestly wasn't too bad if i had to rate it on looks alone I would give it a 3.5 out 5 stars. Mostly because it has a pool and everything looks professional, I do like the woods surrounding this place though. It gives this place an outdoorsy type of feel and I do not like the fact I am starting to find this place familiar. The last time something felt familiar I got mauled by a scarecrow. Issabelle had noticed this and gained a worried expression.

     "Everything ok Isaac?" I turned to her with an unreadable expression.

     "I don't know Issabelle, but I am starting to get a bad feeling about this place. The last time I got a bad feeling resulted in what had happened at your place."

     "M-maybe it's just the paranoia." I realized I was causing Issabelle to panic and quickly placated her feelings.

     "Yeah, you're right. I'm probably still on edge from that whole kerfuffle." I watched as Issabelle started to relax at my words before looking towards the shack our mom was coming out from. She had a frown on her face with a look of annoyance as a blonde woman with a blue shirt had walked beside her who had an apologetic look on her face. They had a brief exchange before the woman had walked towards her room. Shortly after, mom got into the car and re-arranged us into a better parking space, all while explaining the situation with a tone as dry as the Sahara Desert.

     "So apparently there is only one room left and we have to share it with that woman you saw earlier." Ok, I am now convinced something might be actually out to get me.

     "Wow, our luck is just dirt today ain't it?" I watched as my mom gave a dry laugh as she parked. We all had got out and mom had to carry Marissa since she had fallen asleep. The woman seemed to be kind enough as she had opened the door for us. Once we had set everything down and laid down some ground rules, we all started taking turns on getting changed. I simply went outside so they could all change at once. Once I was outside, I saw the owner smoking a cigarette outside of his shack thing and he also looked familiar... Something about this place is making terrified and I don't know what it is

     "Isaac sweetie! You can come in now!" 

     After shaking off those thoughts I had walked back into our room and saw everyone wearing their pj's. I had walked towards the restroom when I remembered the lady from earlier said the toilet wasn't working. I was annoyed at the fact this might be a problem later for me, I drank a lot of water after what went down earlier. I started getting changed into my pj's when I remembered I had left my phone in the car. I decided against getting it since it was already kind of late to begin with and I just wanted to get some shut eye. I had crawled into the bed with the random lady since my new friends were a little scared to be anywhere except by mom after today.

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     I had woken up, annoyed that it was still dark as night could be and with an urge to use the restroom. I had reluctantly gotten up to use the restroom only to get even more annoyed when I remembered the toilet didn't. Freaking. Work. With a snarl I went by mom's bedside and grabbed the keys since I figured If I am going outside to pee, I might as well get my phone. I had walked outside when I see a lady with red orange hair, a blue jacket(?), and a purple shirt with some headphones on listening to something on her tablet. I had gotten into the car and grabbed my phone, I groaned at seeing it was 2 a.m. but I was grateful at seeing mt phone was at 45%. I had walked up to the lady sitting on the bench listening to the tablet and after some staring, she had finally noticed me in front of her and quirked up an eyebrow at me.

     "Can I help you kid?" I sighed while looking away from her eyes and asked-

     "Can I use your restroom? Ours is broken and I really need to pee."

     "..." I just stood there awkwardly for a couple moments before I started to blush and looked down.

     "Please....?" The lady sighed with a guilty expression before motioning towards her room.

     "Alright, c'mon my room's right here. I will be watching you though so no funny business." I had thanked the lady before going into her restroom. Once I was done, I had walked out of the restroom to see the redhead waiting for me outside the restroom door. After she went in and made sure I didn't do anything to her restroom, we had walked out of her room towards mine.

     "... Sorry for being a jerk about the whole restroom thing. There was a pervert here not that long ago and I shouldn't have assumed you would try anything." Understandable.

     "It's fine considering what you went through, besides you apologized. Not a lot of people do that anymore." It's a sad truth. The lady smiled at that.

     "You're pretty wise for 6-year-old." I had sighed out while hating my height.

     "I turn 8 in a couple of months." To my horror she started awwwing at me

     "It's ok you'll get that growth spurt soon kiddo." I smacked her hand away making her chuckle. What happened next however was, to my absolute horror, the fact that I had forgotten my door key. I watched as the lady started guffawing at my idiocy before I decided to sit at the bench with her right sitting next to me. I had to admit her laugh was a little infectious with how ridiculous it was so I couldn't help but join in. After the laughter had subsided, I had just sat there, unsure of what to do when my mom wouldn't pick up after 5 calls, when the lady had spoken up.

     "You know what, that was a good laugh kid. God knows I've needed one today. C'mon I'll let you sleep in my room for the night." I stared at the lady before smiling.

     "Really?!? Thanks lady!" The lady had given a small genuine small before answering back.

     "My name's Eleanor alright." She grabbed my hand to take me to her room.

     "Well, my name is Isaac-" I had frozen up. My body had refused to move as my observation Haki was absolutely screaming at me there was danger and I need to run.

     "Hey, what's wrong? Isaac, hey look at me I got you okay. Tell me ... what's-" She had started panicking before trailing off as she followed my stare

     You know that brief moment of silence in nature? For instance, when you're out hunting, whether it's with family or not, and whatever you're hunting. You accidentally step on something causing the animal to look up and see you. That brief silence that's shared as both parties freeze up waiting for the other to make the first move. That brief moment when both parties lock eyes with each other. That feeling was firing on all cylinders when we locked eyes with the woman 'walking' out of the darkness and into the light of the motel parking lot. 

     There was blood all over its becauseitwasn'tapersonit'sfakeit'sfakeit'sfakeit'sfake face. Its apparel was that of someone in a hospital or as a ... test subject. I am more inclined into believing the latter since nothing about this thing feels natural. Neither of us had moved, the both of us too afraid to so much as make a sound lest that thing come at us. I felt my grip on her hand grow tighter as it was, slowly but surely, walking along the road. After some tense moments it looked like it was going to pass the motel without issue. Maybe this wasn't my unlucky day after al-

     CLACK

     CLATTER

     We froze as the forgotten table that was propped up on the bench had fallen over and hit the ground. We watched with baited silence as the thing stopped in its tracks. It slowly turned its head to face us and began to start walking towards us. I felt the lady start to quickly pull me towards her room and try and use her door key to open the door. I heard her moan in misery as I quickly turned to face her before looking inside her room to find ... the ... door key on the bed... Scheiße. We had both turned to find the lady in the middle of the parking lot motionless.

     "Eleanor for the love of god please tell me your car is the one right in front of us." She began to cry as she pointed to the car right ... next .. to . it. I hate today.

     "Hey, maybe we were just over reacting Isaac. I mean she is in hospital gowns so she probably needs ... ooooooooohhhhhhmygodwhatthef-!!!!" We had watched in horror as its head began to uproot itself from the body. As it was uprooting itself from the body, I felt Eleanor dry heaving at what she was seeing before throwing up next to me. By the time the whole process was done we were looking at some type of demonic earwig from hell as it had an upper body similar to that of a human but it was very insect like and as it went down it ended with a 2 pronged tail, like you would see on an earwig.

     SSSCCCCCREEEEEEEEE

     "RUN!!!!" We began to run like hell as the thing was surprisinglyfastandjumpedatLeannohgeez!!

     "ELEANOR DUCK!!!!!" I began to spam my telekinetic abilities at the thing. I was uprooting everything in the area I could from uprooting loose benches to random chunks of cement and started chucking them at that thing. Causing it to abort midjump and start parring with its tail blade thing While the thing was distracted trying to avoid or destroy the various projectiles with its blades. I grabbed Eleanor and bolted towards the car. She had snapped out of the breakdown she was having and immediately started asking questions.

     "YOU HAVE SUPERPOWERS KID!?!?!"

     "Not exactly! But less talking and more car key grabbing!"

     "I'M TRYING!!" Once we got to the car Eleanor fumbled with the keys trying to unlock the car door while I had some objects at the ready. In case it decided to try something. I made a mistake; I turned around when Eleanor unlocked the door to go inside the car. Her look of alarm was the only warning I got before I coated myself In Haki and whirled around only to be slammed against the car with my arms pinned to the sides as it used its arms to have mine pinned. As it raised its twin scythe-like tail and plunged it towards me. At the last minute I caught it with my telekinesis making it stop in midair. We were just there at a stalemate that I was slowly losing, as it began to pull at my arms making me yell out in pain.

     It wasn't long before the arm that got dislocated a while ago was dislocated ... again, making me drop the telekinesis, due to the pain. I had stared at the thing as the dead face the thing was wearing started to grin, and I began to push through the pain to use my power in order to keep the tail away. I am starting to feel this thing was meant to be some kind of assassination weapon. It would use its arms to pin and then its tail to decapitate and replace its current ... oh HELL no!!!!! I began to thrash even harder to try and wiggle out and I saw as it reared its tail back and plunged-

     BANG

     I slumped to the ground and started heaving for breath when I felt someone pick me up and start running towards the owner who has A FREAKING LOCKWOOD 380?!?!?! He began to show that thing the power of the second amendment as he began shooting at the thing making it scurry around the parking lot. I watched as the owner began to load the gun while keeping an eye on the bug. Of course, the damn bug would be smart enough to know he needs to reload and began blitzing the man. I began chucking rocks via telekinesis making it stop mid blitz to try and avoid being crushed.

     "Isaac! Do you have a phone!?!? We gotta call the cops, because I don't think Mr. Randall has much more ammo left!" I watched as he dropped some slugs on the floor while loading from the ones in his pocket . After giving it some thought I began pulling out my phone. Once I pulled it out, I began taking a look around the parking lot to see if the owner dropped anymore slugs. After spotting only 2 to my luck I handed Eleanor the phone with clear instructions.

     "Tell them It's some maniac with a gun shooting around! Otherwise, they'd think we're crazy and hang up!"

     And with that I began searching the area for something big to squish the bug with. My eyes hand landed on a boulder in the forest and I had a smile filled with malicious glee as I began to carefully lift the thing up and I began to slowly walk towards the chaos in the parking lot. I had walked towards the parking to see Mr. Randall aiming at the bug that was up on the railing. I was almost there when it leaped at Mr. Randall, I watched in slow motion as he calmly raised his shotgun, took aim, and fired. It utterly eviscerated the head making the bug jerk back mid air and fell on the ground, unmoving.

     There was a moment of trepidation as Eleanor, Mr. Randall and I slowly approached the bug. We had slowly made a wide berth around the thing while I motioned for Eleanor to back up towards her car and start it. While Eleanor ran towards her car, I saw its blade tail twitch and I jumped back, causing Mr. Randall to back up quickly. While I was hurriedly passing Mr. Randall, the 2 slugs I had picked up off the ground earlier, I kept an eye on the bug. I watched as the moment he cocked back the chamber for the bullet. The bug flipped over making Leann scream and fall back, and as fast it was able to it leaped towards Randall's face ... which just so happened to be right below the boulder.

     THUD

     I watched as the hotel owner fell on his face as the now trapped Earwig from Hell was stuck. The boulder had pinned its blades into the now cratered ground below the boulder. It was making hideous and disgusting screeching noises as it tried to escape its new and short-lived prison as the owner aimed a shot gun at it's REAL face on the body and popped 2 cold one's in it.

     BANG

     BANG

     "... Is it dead?"

     "I don't know Eleanor."

     "... Don't get too close kids. Those were my last bullets." I watched as Eleanor made a face at being called kid and started grumbling under her breath.

     "Yeah, we should just wait for the cops to show up. In the meantime, can you both do me a favor and keep the whole 'I have powers' thing a secret?"

     "Young man, you saved my granddaughters life. It's the least I could do, if you were old enough, I would have demanded her to start courting you. All she does is sit around in her room all day watching that weird anime stuff. Not even the cool ones like dragon ball or One piece. Just overly sappy romance!" I started howling with laughter at the sight of Eleanor going bright red. I started laughing even louder as she tried to say something but couldn't even form a proper sentence.

      "No offense Mr. Randall, but if what you said is true. I might be too good for your granddaughter." It took every fiber of my being not to start laughing again as I saw Eleanor making strangling motions with her hands in the corner of my eye. What caught me completely off-guard however, was Mr. Randall's next words.

     "Oh, I completely agree with that. Unlike my granddaughter you feel like someone who would make it to high school."

     "GRANDPAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!" Wow, I am amazed how much of a shut in she is. Wait high school? How old is she!?!?!?

     "Sorry to interrupt but how old is Eleanor if you don't mind me asking?" I watched as Eleanor stiffened up at the question before slowly turning her head away.

     "Oh, my little Eleanor just turned 11 a couple of months ago!" I am sorry what? I had turned dumbfounded to a guilty and embarrassed? looking Eleanor.

     "... You guys wouldn't mind keeping one more secret, would you?" I had asked with some fear and minor regret. They had both turned to me confused before I let it out.

     "I am half yokai." I watched as Eleanor looked at me with awe and kinship? While the old man just looked at me with indifference.

     "What kind of yokai are you if you don't mind me asking? Little Elly here is an Oni yokai! Don't be scared of her, she just likes to write that bl whatever manga." My laughter died at this as I just turned and walked away hearing the last bit.

     "I DON'T WRITE BL GRAMPS!!!! Isaac! Wait! DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT ISAAC!! SWEAR I CAN EXPLLAAAAAAIN!!!!" I just walked off the moment Eleanore started shouting towards her room with the spare key gramps gave me. When she shouted my name, I just turned to her with a look of pity and disappointment, pity that she was a bl writer. I simply unlocked the door and fwomped onto the bed and went to sleep.

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Eleanor POV

     I hate my grandpa. I absolutely hate how embarrassing it was when he said all that!!!! It felt Isaac was piercing my soul with that stare of pity/disappointment. I hope we can still be friends after this, it felt nice to be judged by something other than my age w/ appearance. It's not like I chose to be born half-Oni ... or to have no friends. Well Isaac seemed friendly enough, maybe he has a sister? I could finally have someone to do normal girl stuff with! My other siblings were all about growing stronger and finding a mate even stronger. I could honestly care less about all that dumb strength stuff! Well, it's nice to train every now and then but I love fashion and makeup.

     "You go on to bed dear, I will take care of the police when they arrive. I have 82 years of experience dealing with the police after all. Have a goodnight, Elly and I love you!" I had sighed at my grandpa before heading off to my room.

     "I love you too grandpa!" I decided I was just done with the day and decided to sleep as well. I started poking Isaac in the back to ask him to move over so I could sleep next to him. He just grumbled and moaned. I poked even harder, making him turn around and look at me. I had froze seeing his yokai side for the first time.

     "What. Do. You. Want?" I had gulped at seeing his glowing red irises in the dark and started talking quickly 

     "I-uh-um-duh. Can I sleep with you?​ I don't want to be alone after what had happened earlier. I-I'm scared." I watched as he seemed to realize something before the glow in his eyes went away making me sigh in relief as he scooted over so i can get in the bed with him.

     "Goodnight, friend? Also, your glowing red eyes were kind of scary."

     "Goodnight, buddy. Wait what?" I smiled at this before going to sleep. I have made my first friend! After so long I finally have someone to call my friend! NOTHING CAN RUIN THIS AWESOME WEEKEND!!!(AN: these people never learn)

Isaac POV

     I had woken up to the sun's rays hitting my face and I felt myself smile at a surprisingly good night's rest! I started to stretch probably one of the best stretches so far while yawning. I had grabbed my phone on the dresser while cringing as I had forgotten to charge it and proceeded to bug my eyes out as I saw my mom holding Eleanor in the air by her throat. There was a brief moment of silence between everyone before I spoke up.

     "Mother that is a child you're strangling."

     Today was the day I was going to take my little sis to have some fun with me at the Science Fair! I figured I could use a little break from everything and unwind so to speak from everything that's happened so far. The main reason I am taking my little sister to this fair is to get her interested in Science! The reason being is well ... I want to do something cool with Erma. Like making a tiny robot or making a potion, heck we could even go as far as coding! Well, at least that was the plan, the problem was or rather the problem is -

     "Ok sis you don't need to be making that face right now. What do you mean you thought we were going to have fun!?!?" I stared incredulously at the audacity of my sister.

     I watched as my sister pouted and made some hand signs before putting her hands around her eyes making ... Ooooh you are lucky I love you sis.

     "Ok, first of all Erma science is AWESOME, keep in mind it's because of science we have stuff like movies and television. Along with cars, phones, and video games!"

     Erma just stared at me with the most bored expression I have seen a while. The last time she was this bored was when she went fishing with me and dad. It hurt a little.

     "... Can you please just give it a chance?"

     We had stopped walking and sis just stared at me.

     "I want you to walk around with me and see if there is something you like. Can we at least do that? Please?"

     She just looked around the fair unsure and I didn't want to force my sister to go along with my selfish desires.

     "You know what it's fine. I don't want to force you to come along and I'm sure there's something else we can do." I put on a fake smile

     I had then turned around intent on looking for an arcade when I felt a tug on my shirt. I turned around to see Erma looking at me with her head tilted in curiosity.

     "I am fine really Erma."

     She frowned harder before stomping her foot and making more gestures.

     "I-I-sigh I wanted us to bond." She stared at me, extremely confused.

     "Yes, I am aware we already have a great bond and all, but what I mean is." I had groaned before turning away in embarrassment

     "I wanted us to share a hobby."

     She had stared at me with one of her eyes poking out in curiosity now.

     "You make plushies and figurines. I do coding and literature. groan No, Erma I did not forget training because that's not a hobby."

     She started giggling at me, then I started blushing as I had finally cracked. I groaned out before finally getting to the point

     "I wanted to make something cool with you alright!!!"

     She stopped giggling and looked at me with both of her eyes this time.

     "I wanted us to make like I-I don't know a potion a robot or heck maybe even get you into coding! Do you have any idea how amazing that sounds to me? You and me making our own game or even our own AI! Just the mere thought of me and you making Mecha Godzilla makes me so happy I can't even ... begin to describe it Ermy. Granted, while it's practically impossible now. You never know what the future might hold. So, it's alright if you want to do something else sis, I'll take you to one of these when you're old-."

     I got cut off when she hugged me out of nowhere. I stared down at her smiling face as she booped my nose before she made several gestures.

     "Yeah, I should have been more direct about it. Sorry sis."

     She had whispered for me not to worry about it and we had walked off into the science fair to find something interesting for her.

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     I will admit there were quite a bit of ... mundane science experiments we saw, while at the same time there were some pretty cool ones! One of the first stands we came across were inventions that were cool for this time. Keep in mind they barely announced the ps4 in this weird time period I found myself in. So, while it was pretty cool to Erma seeing all the new devices like VR, The Typhoon Motion Theatre Simulator(that ride 2 people sit on that moves around), and even I had to admit the 3d printer was cool to see as always. I just wasn't impressed. I could single handedly come up with something from my time and just make cash money like that ... but I want Erma to have credit for it too.

     We kept going through stands until one had caught my eye, but not the invention but rather the logo. It had three sets of horizontal lines on both sides but in the middle, it had these 3 triangles 2 facing down and 1 facing up, making a w in the middle. What had really set off alarm bells in my head was the name of the company, 'Weyland Corporation', which was underneath the logo. They just so happened to be showcasing off a rifle and holograms.

     'I have a feeling I am gonna get involved sooner or later so why not' were my current thoughts as I sighed at Erma practically teleporting over to their booth.

     I had walked over to the both with unease as I watched my sister vibrating in place as she saw the holograms. I wish I could say I was surprised, but knowing she's constantly trying to come up with new ways to scare people. Doesn't make me surprised in the least seeing her be interested in the holograms. I, however, am more interested in the rifle that has a really nifty looking scope on it. While the man running the booth was busy explaining to sis how the holograms worked aand oh my god she's answering back. While I was in the middle of a panic attack at the thought of Erma using holograms next Halloween the other one, a woman, running the booth came up to me.

     "Hello! I noticed you were checking out one of our prototypes!" She smiled at me as she approached me. She wore a blue shirt with white pants and name tag with the name Esmer on it. Huh, it's been a while since I heard that name. A little bizarre how different the person is compared to the last person who had it.

     "Yeah, I was curious about what the sight of it does. I know like most guns its purpose is to shoot and kill, but this one has a sight integrated on it. What does it do?"

     "Interesting observation there, you are right, but not many people focused on that." I whirled around to face a woman of Asian heritage with black hair in a business suit. She had eyes full of interest on me almost making me shiver. I had my eyes focused on her as she began explaining to me what the sight does and it's purpose.

     "This new sight is going to revolutionize the battlefield once deployed. It can determine the target's health, physique, and their threat level. They main issue we are having at the moment is range." I saw her sigh out in frustration once she brought up the range and the issues they were having with it.

     "How far is the range supposed to be?" I decided to try my luck today.

     "The range is supposed to be 500 km." JESUS LADY!!!

     "But right now the range can barely detect 10 feet in front of it. We might have to scrap the whole thing if we don't come up with something soon." In for penny ...

     "Have you tried a combination of network tracking and satellites?" I watched as the mysterious lady froze before slowly turning to me. As if I had just casually walked up to her and gave her a pig with wings.

     "What?"

     "Well, I am assuming since you guys are developing weapons you guys' plan on having a division specifically for security and military contracts, right?"

     "W-w-uh Yes, we in fact plan to?" She asks/says a little confused she is getting an answer this well developed from a child.

     "Well in that case you can use the satellites for thermal imaging to approximate the distance between the targets and have information be sent to the weapons network."

     "..." I watch as she is doing an in fact fantastic impression of a fish out of water.

     "Any worries about the weapons being hacked can simply being circumvented using a private server while the weapon itself uses a vpn. As for the whole network thing when deploying a squad simply have the highest-ranking officer carry a device connected to the server and provide the data via encrypted network to the weapon."

     "H-how-" I cut her off by pulling out my phone and began pulling out some of the code sheets I prepped in my spare time. I am actually positive I could code this thing to work after connecting it to the Wi-Fi.

     "Give me a minute. May I see the prototype for a moment?" The higher up of Weyland dumbly nodded before handing the protype from the stand to me and began to watch in fascination as I pulled out my phone and a laptop from my backpack and began to work my magic.

     "Quick question, does the prototype have a USB port or anything to insert like an SD card?" I was surprised when she handed me a tiny SD card without even flinching. After inserting the SD card and putting in some C++ prompts and chain codes, I had popped out the SD card and after some help from the Weyland employee, inserted the SD card into the prototype. I watched with baited breath as the sight went blank before turning on with a new prompt causing the Weyland employee to get on the phone with someone.

     After some brief back and forth I watched as she entered something into the prompt before it closed. Leading us to watch as the range increased exponentially. She had one of her employees go the entrance of the fair and watched in astonishment as it still worked! That was over 70 meters! I watched as the lady started to chuckle, before laughing, and now she was guffawing with tears coming out of her eyes. There was legitimately no malice coming from this laugh, just pure humor. I watched as the lady turned to me and got on her knees before grabbing my shoulders before asking me with a huge smile.

     "What is your name?" I had smiled back.

     "My name is Isaac Williams! What's yours?" 

     "My name is Cullen Yutani and I want you to intern with us!" Huh that last name sounds familiar I wonder why?

     "Wow! Wasn't expecting an internship offer from Weyland today! I kind of feel underdressed!" I joked as the lady started laughing before replying back

     "Oh no, I am the head and founder of the Yutani corporation. This is simply a joint project between my company and Weyland. We are looking into merging in the future but not right now." I had felt any shred of hope I had for a normal life die very painfully before fading from existence as I finally fit the pieces together. The mc%%%%ing Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

     "Oh, come now Ms. Yutani. Surely, we can work something out with Mr. Williams here." I turned and felt my heart drop as I witnessed Charles Bishop Weyland himself right before me. I watched as the lady smiled before she ... huh?

     "Oh~, I wasn't aware you were coming in today, Charles." I watched as Charles scoffed before smiling good naturedly.

     "Pleasure before business as always with you." I watched as her smile became ... ooooooooohhhhhhhhhh.

     "Only with you Charles." I watched as they hugged and I began to tune everything out at that point.

     '... Whyyyyy.' Such were my current thoughts as I dejectedly started putting my things away before Erma had run up to me excitedly making all these rapid gestures before giving me a bone crushing hug. I have adorable imouto into science ... but at what cost. I watched as Weyland and Yutani seemed to have reached an agreement before walking up to me and asking me a question.

     "Mr. Williams, how would you like to be the first intern for the recently new Weyland and Yutani Corporation." Out with a pound...

     "I look forward to it." I had said with a smile before asking sheepishly.

     "Would you mind giving us a ride home? We are running a little late and our parents might be worried." I watched as Yutani smiled before answering.

     "No problem. We will discuss the details with your parents then." I wonder if I'd be getting paid? I'll tell you what that Mecha-Godzilla is looking a lot closer now.

.

.

.

.

     Once we got home, I invited Weyland and Yutani in the house. After waiting for a while and making delightful small talking with Charles and Cullen, the others got home from grocery shopping. After we started helping them put away groceries, they began to introduce themselves and started to join us with helping put away the groceries. Fishing for brownie points already, eh? Once done, we had all sat at the table, with the exception of Issabelle and Marissa. Weyland decided to go first.

     "So, I just want to get it out of the way Mrs. Williams your son is in no trouble at all, rather the exact opposite."

     "Please call me Emiko, and what do you mean?" My mom had known I was a smart noodle but wasn't aware of how smart. It was the same with dad and he helped me with some of the literature I would make in my spare time. Yutani this time spoke up.

     "You see earlier at the science fair today we were showcasing a prototype. A work in progress that our companies were going to have to scrap. That is, until your son dropped by and 'fixed it'. You see were having issues regarding the software that even the smartest of our groups couldn't fix. And your son came in and solved the entire issue and then some more in less than 10 minutes." I watched and struggled not to laugh as my mom tried wrap her head around what the lady had said.

     "So, what are you trying to say? Also, you never said which companies you two worked for?" I watched as Charles grabbed Cullen's hand and they smiled at each other before turning back to my mom.

     "I am the CEO and founder of the Weyland Corporation." 

     "And I am the CEO of the Yutani Corporation."

     "And your son, after today's events, made us merge into the Weyland-Yutani Corporation for one sole purpose." I am sorry I fucking what?

     "To have your son intern with us." 

     My mother had stared dumbfounded while my dad had dropped his coffee mug now realizing who was in front of us. There was a moment of silence before my mother had fainted dead on the spot making everyone shout in surprise while my Dad was trying to make sure she was alright while I just sat there. Unable to comprehend the fact that I had inadvertently may or may not have a certain woman use a blowtorch on me assuming I live that long.

     "I hope I have normal life span or Ellen Ripley is going to blowtorch me." 

    I woke up the morning groggy and tired. I looked at the clock and groaned when I saw it was 6:30 A.M., after pulling myself from the bed I went to go take care of my face and oral hygiene when I kept thinking back to the conversation me and mom had yesterday. It absolutely broke my heart to see my mom in the state she was in. She was going on about how she shouldn't have put her phone on mute or how I should have known better than to leave the room period. I agreed, I should have known better, especially when I already had a bad feeling about the place to begin with. So, after some talking and accountability, for better or for worse my mom decided to start teaching me magic! After we have a fun weekend with the girls of course we could start.

     Once I was done washing up, I decided to head to the backyard and train the one thing I have been neglecting ... my body. I have been training my Haki and telekinesis for 2 years, 4 technically, yet the entire time I was neglecting my body. That changes today! Donned in basketball shorts and a white shirt, I got into a running position and took off. My goal for this week was 2 miles for every run and next week 3 miles and so on and so forth. I remembered to leave a note of course and I took my phone with me just in case I don't get back before mom wakes up. Once I had set off for the run, I started to admire my surroundings and nature of the forest I was in. I love admiring how sharp and contrast everything is compared to my last life when I needed glasses for everything.

     Eventually after going past the mile mark, I had set this up a week prior, I had come across a clearing with a flat-enough looking rock and decided to take a 5-minute water break. After draining the bottle of water, I had carried with me I squished it and stuffed it into my pocket to throw away later. I did some light stretching before running back towards the house. I noticed on the way back to the house there was a flyer on the ground. A freshly made one by the looks of it. I had plucked it off the ground and felt my eyes widen and what I saw on the flyer.

                                                       Come On Down To The Grand Re-Opening

                                                                                       OF

                                                                 Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria!!!!!!

                                         A magical place for kids and grown-ups alike, where fantasy and fun come to life.

                                                                                              Opening up This Saturday!!!!

     "You know what? Might as well, I have always wanted to go and now would be good as a time as ever." I am very well aware of what had happened in the games, but that isn't going to happen. At least not with the ones I love. While I would most certainly would love to put Afton's head on a pike and stop about 4 more games. I can't just kill someone if they haven't done anything, but that doesn't mean I can't stop it and kill him afterwards. People are only innocent until proven guilty, and I will not be showing any mercy to that man. On a side note, the designs look a lot more streamlined than they did in game. Although I suppose that is due to the year being vastly different. I am amazed however; at the fact Toy Chica still has her original outfit.

     After pocketing the flyer, I finished up my run and made it all the way back to the house with nothing notable other than few deer along the way. Once I got home and looked at the time, I was surprised to see the time only being 7:15. I just shrugged and went into the shower by my room. I am embarrassed to say while I was showering, I slipped and uh ... we need a new shower curtain now. After that whole kerfuffle, I got dressed(after getting dry you psychopaths) and went to the guest room and had to duck underneath a pillow zooming over my head and did it just dent the $$$$$$$ wall?!!?!??

     "I TOLD YOU IT WAS AN ACCIDENT ERMA!!!! Ok, Ok, wait, wait Erma!!" I slowly peeked in to see my sister snarling at Issabelle who was slowly backing up to the wall.

     "I was sleepy and it's early!!!!!! I didn't know heOHGEEZ!!!" Erma had screeched ash she launched herself at Issabelle causing them to start fighting. I sighed and walked up to the dust cloud and grabbed the both of them by the back of their necks and start to pinch hard. Within seconds they were groaning and yelping at the pain, I let up after they stopped and ignored the betrayed look Sis had sent me before asking the big question.

     "What On Earth Is Going On Here?!"

     "..." Issabelle looked away with a massive blush refusing to meet my eyes.

     This had prompted my sister's hair to start raising as she straight up growled at her.

     "HEY! That's enough sis. Now I don't know what's going on here but I am sure Issabelle didn't mean it. Right Issabelle?" I turned to face Issabelle.

     "Of course! I would never do something like that on purpose! I was raised better than that." Issabelle looked scandalized.

      I watched as sis's expression did lighten up but she still scoffed at her and said how it still didn't excuse what she did. Wow must be serious if she talked.

     "I am not saying it does either! sigh Erma I am sorry, I mean it! I didn't mean to do what I did and I swear I will make it up to you."

     I watched as she raised a brow and said how it wasn't her, she should be making it up to before pointing at me.

     "What do you mean? She hasn't done anything to me last I checked." 

     I watched as Erma sent a flat and slightly disgusted glare at Issabelle who was covering her face with her hands. Erma had sighed after Issabelle whispered something to her and explained how she had walked into the restroom earlier. While I was still in it ... and it just so happened to be during the uhm incident with the shower curtain. So not only did I not see her but I couldn't hear her as well. I'd be embarrassed but eh, we're kids accidents happen. Don't get me wrong, it is embarrassing for sure, but I kind of got desensitized to it once I started showering with my new family. I just rubbed the back of my head with a slight blush and waved it off.

     "Eh, it's fine as long as you didn't mean to Issa and thanks sis, for looking out for me."

     I watched as Issabelle looked at me still full of guilt after what occurred earlier. While my sister just froze and then turned to me as if unable to comprehend what I said.

     "Yes Ermy, I did say thank you. I don't mind you doing what you did, just don't be so quick on the trigger next time."

     I watched as my sister stared blankly at me before going about how I'm supposed to be all I can handle my own battles or don't fight my fights for me. I chuckled at that.

     "Sissy, why on Earth would I say that? Family isn't just one of us looking out for each other, it's the both of us looking out for one another. What kind of big bro would I be for not accepting my sister's help." I watched as-oh geeeeez- Ermy got teary eyed and starting going on about how she loves her Ani-Chan and how she'd fight off any hussy trying to take me. I will admit that bit caught me off guard and I absolutely started losing it with laughter.

     "Erma, even if I did have a wife and kids at some point. I still wouldn't want to leave you for anything." I laughed as she started crying into my chest. My little imouto is the absolute cutest ❤! While I was calming her down with head pats, Issabelle and a laughing Marissa went to go wash up in the restroom passing a confused mom. She saw us in the room and was confused by Ermy's distress.

     "What happened with Erma?" I laughed at this.

     "She was scared some hussy might steal me away so I made a vow to never let anyone take me from her." My mom's face went blank trying to process that.

     "I'm sorry can your repeat that?" I started chuckling before repeating it back.

     "I had to make a vow to Erma, I wouldn't leave her behind to a hussy-snrk!!" I lost it there and began laughing all over again with my mom joining me this time. Poor little Ermy had stopped crying and was now pouting and blushing from indignation. Erma then out of anger explained what happened earlier and how she has every right to ask me that. Wow I don't think I have ever heard my mom laugh this hard before. I wasn't embarrassed before, but I am now. My mom laughed even harder when she saw how red I was. To rapidly change the subject, I quickly pulled out the flyer and showed mom.

     "A-a-anyway MOM CHECK THIS OUT!!!"I watched as she blinked at the poster before smiling wide.

     "Oooooh! This place looks amazing! Did you want to go there Isaac today?"

     "Yeah! I figured we could take Erma and the others tomorrow since it's the grand re opening and all!" I watched as mom looked at me confused.

     "What do you mean the grand reopening is tomorrow honey?" I paused confused.

     "Well, isn't today Friday?"

     Erma stared at me with a deadpan face before facepalming.

     "Isaac, you left with Nancy on Friday."

     "Oooooh ... I forgor. Speaking of Nancy, will she be going with us and is she alright?" My mom giggled at my face before smiling serenely.

     "We will be picking her up from the hospital and taking her straight there. She got discharged this morning." I sighed in relief before turning to Sis.

     "So, are you excited my adorkable little imouto?"I watched her pout at the name before getting stars in her eyes at what I called her. I am not too sure if it's because of my birth, or simply because of the time frame, but my sister is a lot more into the Japanese culture than I expected. I suspect this is because I take more from my dad than my sister does. Either way it was very hard not to laugh at her face as she grabbed my hand as she demanded(AN: begged) me to say it again. Obviously being the best brother, I am, I did as she asked.

     Mom and I watched in amusement as Ermy squeed while doing a little happy dance at my words. Once everything was all said and done, we headed downstairs to break the news to everyone. Marissa and Issabelle started jumping into excitement at the fact we are heading to the grand opening of the pizzeria. My dad had gotten surprisingly excited, something about a family diner and a first date? For my own sanity I am going to pretend he isn't talking about Fredbear Family Diner. It's one thing for my mom to know ice make magic but I draw the line at their first date being at Fredbear's!!!!

------

     "TIA NANCY!!!!" I ran up to her and started squeezing her in a hug.

     Said Tia had grunted in surprise before chuckling and patting my head. I felt myself start to tear up as I looked up at her smiling down at me.

     "Miss me?"

     "sniff Y-yeah!" she chuckled before patting me again

     "Hey don't worry about it. We made it out fine. I'm fine, you are fine, and so is everyone else."

     "...ok.." I watched as she just rubbed my head before leaning down with a serious face.

     "Hey, uh that thing ... is it?" I shook off any more tears before gaining a resolute look on my face.

     "I made sure it won't tear apart any more families." I watched as she became relieved.

     "Good. Now, where is everyone else?"

     "Mom wanted me to have some closure with you after what happened, they are waiting in the car. O h yeah, they already got the car towed and tires patched up."

     "OH, THANK GOD!" I snickered as Nancy just deflated from the burden leaving her body.

     "You have no idea how much I was stressing about that Isaac."

     Once we got into the car, Nancy was bombarded with questions by her nieces asking if she was ok and how long will her nose be like that. After everyone calmed down, Dad had told Nancy we were going somewhere that was a surprise. So, with anticipations high and huger levels near maximum, we were all dying from sheer excitement of where we might be going, well everyone but me I mean I already know. Once we pulled into the surprisingly empty parking lot everyone got excited once they saw the sign with the iconic trio.

     "Woooooowww! What is this place?"

     "What kind of food does it have?"

     Ermy had loved how spooky the bunny looked. I had snorted at that before rubbing her head affectionately and quietly ignoring Nancy's eye twitch at Erma's words.

     "Well Issabelle, if I had to guess by the name. I assume this place probably has pizza." Issabelle socked my shoulder as I snickered at her scowl that had a bit of a smile to it.

     "I know that, you dork! I meant other than pizza what do you think they have?" Marissa and I started thinking before Nancy answered.

     "Oh, come on! It can't be a pizzeria without at least having burgers, fries, and wings as an option!" I nodded sagely at this before turning with a serious face at Nancy.

     "Nancy."

     "Uuuh, yes Isaac?" She was confused by the utter seriousness on my face.

     "Do you think they have Boneless Pizza?" I had asked this with face that one could swear was carved by stone.

     "Isaac -SNRK- shut up!!!" I watched as Nancy started to chuckling at what I said, trying to hold back her laughter. My parents and everyone else were bewildered by my statement. Issabelle started laughing at the combination of my face and question. While Marissa just looked downright disgusted at my statement. I watched as her face grew a little green before groaning out to me.

     "Why did you ask that!?!? Ugghhhh, now I am getting images of pizzas with bones in theeeeeem! sigh I hate you, Isaac." THAT was the tipping point for Nancy, making her let out the laughter I know and love. Issabelle was now howling after hearing Marissa's sounds of annoyance and disgust. Mom and dad were simply chuckling at this before getting out of the car. Once everyone got out of the car, we really began to notice how empty the parking lot was, which took everyone by surprise. There was cras for the employees of course, but then questions were how many of these are customers and how many of these were employees?

     "You guys don't think anything bad happened, do you?" Marissa had asked aloud.

     "No, we would be seeing things in disarray and the parking lot would have a mess. Nobody even came." There were sighs of relief at dad's deduction.

     "Oh, it says here there was major traffic pile up due to a ... I'm sorry what ...ok had to open and close to make sure I read that right. A plane landing."

     "What?" I slowly turned with a face of disbelief at Tia Nancy's words. She turned to me with a dead look.

     "I wish I was joking." She passed me the phone and I couldn't help but give out a small 'huh'.

     "Good thing we took the backroads, right honey?" I watched as Mom kissed my dad on the cheek.

     "You always did have good intuition. Now, who's ready to have some fun?" We had all cheered before going to the front doors and bursting through them. There were shouts of surprise and welcomes from the staff who were under the impression nobody would be arriving due to the plane down the road(seriously who makes a main road a one-way?!?!). The Game Attendants started talking to my parents and Tia Nancy while the Party Hosts who weren't already booked for the party showed us around and began giving us a bunch of cool coupons. Apparently, they had Laser Tag and Glow in the Dark Mini Golf, and if that wasn't cool enough, WE GOT PIZZA ON THEM FOR A YEAR!!! It was only 2 per-day BUT STILL FREE PIZZA!!!!!!!

     Once they took us to get our orders and drinks, they took us to Faz-token dispenser and gave us 75 Faz-tokens each. After that they took us to the game rooms and WOW there was so much more space than the games had implied, AND THE GAMES ARE EVEN BETTER!!! They had the ORIGINAL JURASSIC PARK GAME and the new one of course. Time Crysis, Deadstorm Pirates, Terminator, Lets Go Jungle, and even Lets Go Island!! I felt myself start tearing up as a plethora of memories with my siblings, cousins, and friends playing these at peter piper came forth. I looked at the various other claw machines, stackers, even the weird duck claw machines and I felt something I haven't felt since I have been here. Pure Nostalgia.

     "WELL, WHAT ARE YOU THREE WAITING FOR!!!! LAST ONE TO A THOUSAND TICKETS IS A ROTTEN EEEEEGGGG!!!" With that proclamation I ran to the nearest machines,  ignoring their squawks of surprise, and immediately began farming for tickets. I don't know how long we were in there for. All I know is I was having a BLAST, and if you call me a cheater for using my powers on some the claw games you are absolutely right, I am! Normally you wouldn't catch me dead cheating on games like these but after working for an arcade place and knowing they rig these things I am 100% in the right cheating to get a plushy for my Imouto! Eventually, one of the party hosts came back, she had a smile on her face with black hair and green eyes. What got my attention was the name on the name tag, Mary Schmidt, is what was on her green jacket thing. 

     "Hey kid, wanna see something cool?" I had grabbed my tickets and bundled them up, once I did, I turned to face her.

     "... Sure!" I smiled at her before grabbing her hand as she had walked me by the entrance before taking a turn towards the prize counter. The room had various prizes on the counter that obviously got better as the ticket count went up. I froze as I saw the huge blue box with the purple ribbon on it in the corner right next to the prizes. I watched as Mary went up to it and gently knocked on it before taking a step back as the box began to open up. I watched as The Puppet began to slowly rise out of the box with a dropped jaw. I watched as its eyes 'turned on' before taking a look at its surroundings before locking eyes with me.

     "Don't be scared, he's a friend." I slowly turn to face her with a dead expression.

     "I am coming back to haunt you if I get turned into a marketable plushy." She chuckled at the remark as I had walked towards the puppet with the tickets.

     "Hello! Welcome to the prize counter. I am The Marionette, but you can call me Puppet. How can I help you little one?" My eyes were wide open at this.

     "He can talk?" I had absolutely no clue this guy was able to talk.

     "He sure can! He, along with the rest of them, is programmed with some of the best interactive ai for children as well as being connected to the criminal database. These guys can spot and detect any criminal that comes into the place almost instantly!" As Mary went on and on about their various features, I gave the tickets to the puppet and was amazed at how fast and easily it counted all the tickets.

     "Wow, that is a lot of tickets! You are able to get any prizes worth up to 1,000 tickets! Which one would you like little one?" After scanning the prizes available I simply chose the giant gummy bear worth 1,000 tickets.

     "I see you have a fine taste when it comes to candy1 Please make sure not to eat it all in one go! Or you might get a tummy ache ok?" I found myself smiling at his response before responding back to him.

     "You got it Mr.P!" I started turning around when I noticed My little Imouto poking around the corner before running up to me and making some gestures.

-.-

Erma's POV

     After getting off of the cool dinosaur game I had noticed my Ani-Chan had gone missing! I began to ask the other two if they had seen Ani-Chan. Marissa said she hadn't seen him since they played Time Crysis. Issabelle luckily had seen my Ani-Chan walking out of the room a moment ago with a lady! I quickly ran out and started asking various staff members when one of them pointed to the Prize Corner. Once I went to the Prize Corner I saw Ani-Chan and ran towards him and began asking him where he went.

     "Oh, this nice lady took me over to redeem my tickets! The Puppet over there gave me my prize after I redeemed them!"

     I watched as my sister's eyes behind her hair went wide at the puppet before she started to smile at his appearance in awe. She quickly ran up to him listening.

     "Hello there and welcome to the prize counter! Here we can redeem your tickets for various prizes! If you would like to redeem your current tickets please hand them over!"

     I began to smile giddily and grabbed his hand andfeltmyselftakeadeepbreath- I had watched as I saw various kids coming and going throughout the pizzeria and somehow i had felt them through some kind of wristbands? I felt something was wrong with one of them as the wristband was outside when they are suppossed to leave them inside(howdidiknowthis) I began to go against various protocols as I went outside into the rain and saw the sleeping child on the ground. It was raining and cold so I tried to drag them to safety and instead felt myself begin to shutdown due to the rain. I felt myself slowly drape over her sleeping form and then ... there was darkness before life was given.