A Boy and His Fox: Redux Ch. 14

AN: Hey everyone! Sorry this chapter took so long. I hope you've all been enjoying it so far. Needless to say, this is probably going to be much longer than the original A Boy and His Fox. For those of you unaware, I've started a new series: A Kat and Her Man. It's an AU that takes place at the end of A Boy and His Fox. I've also begun work on more original works. However, come the summer, I will cease to be employed. So I'm attempting to find more work so that I can pay for rent. That being said, I may not be writing for much longer until that point. One plan is to start up the Vlog again, but I'm also looking for any artists who may be interested in working together on a comic. If you're willing to collaborate, feel free to send me a message. -Kiba

"Ahri? What's going on?" I groaned, rubbing my eyes just before another vibration ran through the building. Screams began to rise from the streets below. The sleep that had clouded my senses faded quickly as I leapt from the bed, looking out the window to see what was happening. Just as I did, a rocket came hurtling through the pane of glass. I dove out of the way, just in time to avoid the blast that sent a portion of our roof crumbling in. "Ahri! We're under attack!"

She jumped up as well, now fully awake as we both quickly struggled to get dressed. "Pretty boy! Where are you?!" The voice was one I recognized all too well. It was the cold-blooded, lilting sing-song of Jinx. How in the Hells did she find us?

"That bitch is ready for round two, is she?" Ahri hissed, clenching her fist tightly as I drew out my Sphere of Influence. "Kal, get me down there. Let's Summon and take her down before she can hurt any more people."

"Agreed," i replied, focusing intently through the connection shared between our souls. Somehow, it came far more easily than it had in the past. Was it because of what we'd done? It sounded ridiculous, but at the same time it still felt feasible. Sure enough, her glyph appeared on my hand, and mine on hers. Running for the door of the inn, we crashed through the door, Ahri already prepared to hurl her orb straight at the attacking criminal.

"Ah, there you are," she giggled, pointing her large shark-shaped rocket launcher at us. With a click, the rocket rolled into place and I quickly directed Ahri to dive to the left. Her body was moving fluidly, swifter than it had even when she was battling against Miss Fortune. Just as she got into range, she hurled her orb. Yet, instead of the fiery soaring sphere that we both had anticipated, it just bounced along the ground as if it were any normal beach ball.

Just as the rocket flew towards her, I managed to dodge her out of the way. Rolling, she scooped up the ball and tried again, only for the same effect to occur, leaving us stupefied for the second time. "Kal, what's going on?" Her voice echoed through the link. "My magic isn't working."

"I don't know," I confessed. "The connection seems very strong. Ahri, look out!" Jinx had just hurled a handful of snaptrap grenades towards the confused and vulnerable vixen.

There was no way she'd be able to dodge out of the way in time. Something welled up inside of me. I flashed to my champion, scooping her up in my arms before I felt myself rocket out of the way of the explosives. In my wake, there rested a glimmering blue trail of fire. "Kal?" Ahri whispered in awe, her fingers trailing through the blue flames that now coated my body. "This is fox-fire! How did you…?"

Now was not the time for talk, however. "Ah, so you've got some new tricks pretty-boy? How did you manage that? It also looks like your girlfriend isn't able to fight your battles for you this time. I hope your new tricks work or else you're a goner."

"Get to safety," I instructed her, setting her down. "We'll figure this out after we win."

"No, Kal! I can still fight! Just let me…"

"Ahri," I snapped. "Now is not the time. Evacuate the citizens. I'll handle Jinx."

Nodding, she turned and began to run. With a click, Jinx's rocket launcher transformed into a machine gun with cat ears. "Get 'er Pow-Pow!" she commanded, leveling its rotating barrels at my champion. With all the strength I had, I rushed her, causing her to turn at me at the last second. "Psyche!"

She released a volley of bullets in my direction, tearing up the earth in a destructive path towards me. I quickly dove to the left, feeling the heat of the lead tearing through my clothes. A few even grazed me, but I could feel a strength welling up inside of me. She was going down! Another burst of flame rocketed me towards her and above her head.

Her eyes widened as she saw me arcing over her before with one last jettison of flame, I slammed hard into her back, driving her forward into the ground. "Stop this, Jinx! I know this isn't you!"

"Oh, sweet, naive, Pretty-Boy! How wrong you are," she giggled, picking herself up off the ground and aiming her mini-gun at me again. My eyes felt as if they were burning now. The flames were back, already?! Where had they come from?

Taking a deep breath, I put my hand to my lips. Something was speaking to my instincts, and I wasn't sure where the voice was coming from. Exhaling into my hand, I hurled the pink mist that had come from me straight towards Jinx. It was something I'd seen before. The glimmering heart shape struck the surprised criminal straight in the face, sending her reeling back.

Coughing, her eyes focused on me as a confused expression came to her face. Her machine gun dropped from her hands, collapsing back into its compressed form. "Pretty boy?" she whispered, stepping closer to me.

Feed! The voice was coming back, drawing me closer to her as well. Was this the gauntlet that compelling me.

"You know, I've been thinking about you a lot lately," she murmured, her eyes glazed from the pheromones she'd inhaled. "The kiss we shared."

My body, against my will, grasped her through roughly, causing a confused and happy sigh to emit from her throat before dissolving into a choking gurgle. Placing my lips close to hers, I began to drain her. Her energy was flowing into me, and as it did, awful perverse images flooded my mind. I could take her. I could make her my slave. Next would come Ahri, then any one else that I willed. I'd make them all my harem!

Repulsed by the thoughts, I shoved her away, using my magic to teleport her somewhere else. Anywhere but here was better. I fell to my knees, coughing and gagging, trying to eject her essence from me, but it was too late. My retching slowly transformed into a quiet giggle, before erupting into fully maniacal laughter. Now was the time for fun! Now was the time for anarchy! I'd burn this city to ashes. I would end their pathetic neatness.

As I ushered another building full of Yordles to the outskirts of town, I began to look around frantically for Kal. Where was he? A breeze rushed through me and suddenly I felt my orb beginning to hum in my hand once again.

Experimentally, I splayed my fingertips and found that my fire had returned. Now I was able to fight by his side again! My feet thundered heavily against the pavement of the city's road, my eyes scanning this way and that to try to locate my Summoner.

Just as I was about to return the square, I heard it. It was an awful cackle that tore shivers through my spine, like icy buzzsaws, setting my hair on end. It was truly sadistic, and my animal instincts told me to turn and run. However, I had to find Kal, and so I swallowed my fear.

When I entered, I found the horrible laughter was, in fact his. The buildings all around him were alight in flames, sending black clouds of smoke into the air. In one hand, a ball of flame was formed, ready to strike at the thing in his other: Teemo. The small furry creature clung to his hand which was wrapped around his throat, squeezing tighter and tighter. "Kal!" I shouted, causing him to turn towards me.

His eyes weren't the same as before. Inside of them, I could see a cold-blooded blood lust that rivaled even that of my old Summoner. "Hello, Ahri," he replied, flashing me a jester like grin. I didn't like this, not at all. I took a nervous step back, but he just dropped the unconscious Yordle to the ground, turning back to me. "What's the matter?" he cooed, taking a step forward. "You seem tense."

"Kal, what's happened to you?" I gasped, backing away with every movement he made towards me.

"Nothing much," he replied, his eyes locked on mine. "I just realized something is all. You've been right all along, Ahri. I'm far too stuck up for my own good. I'm so by the book, it must be awful having to be in my presence."

"You're scaring me," I answered.

"Scaring you?" he let out another horrid cackle. "What reason have you to be afraid of me? After all, I could control you at any time, couldn't I? That's why you really chose me. Secretly, you wish to be controlled. You want to be a submissive little pet."

As I tried to back away faster, my heel caught on a piece of loose cobblestone, sending me on to my butt. Even still, I tried to scramble away from him. "N-no. That's not true, Kal. Why are you saying these things?"

"Of course, it's true. Do you think I haven't noticed? You're so eager to please, Ahri. You'd do just about anything for a soft kiss and a pat on the head. All it takes is three little words and you'd do anything I say, isn't that the case?"

I shook my head frantically. There was nothing he could say that would make me his slave. Now backed against a stone well, he crept upon me, the air around him like that of a horrible monster.

"Do you want to know what those words are?" he hissed, now having fallen to all fours and crawling just a few feet away from me. "I can tell you, if you like."

My throat felt dry, my chin trembling as my eyes became entrapped in his. Despite my fear, I nodded my head. I had to know. If something could control me, I needed to know what it was so I could fight it.

He was over me know, his thighs straddling my legs, and both hands planted firmly on either side of my head. Leaning closer, I closed my eyes, bracing myself tightly as he leaned ever closer. The next time he spoke, the sadistic tone was gone. It was his true voice again. "I love you."

My heart raced as he pulled back, the sinister gleam having returned. I couldn't stop shaking now. "How could you say that to me?" I asked, tears streaming down my cheeks. "How could you possibly tell me that you love me?!"

"Because I do," he chuckled again. "I'm afraid Kal is gone, little Ahri. I'm running the show now." My eyes fell to the glowing stone glove before his other hand gently lifted my chin. "So...what do you say? Do you love me, too? Will you agree to be my servant in love? My pet fox? My beautiful, beautiful companion in passion?"

I wanted to say 'No'. I wanted to say it so badly. Even still, the touch I felt on my chin was the same that I felt when Kal touched me. The bright blue eyes I stared into were the ones I found myself drowning in, time and time again. I could smell the scent of Kal's sweat, taste his lips on my own, and because of that, my lips parted and the words just escaped. "Yes. I love you." He smirked, leaning forward to kiss me, but I placed my hand on his lips, stopping him. "Not...you…" I growled, my fangs beginning to protrude.

"What?"

"I love Kal. Not you!" I lashed outward with my tails, firing a large volley of fox-fire square into his chest. The force was enough to repel him away from me. Instead of falling flat on his back, he nimbly landed on his feet.

"I told you already; there is no Kal."

"Then I will kill you," I stated firmly, summoning my orb to my hand. "He is my Summoner, and regardless of my feelings, I won't let him become this monster just because some stupid glove is pulling the puppet strings."

"How did you know?"

I just smirked. "I dated a nerd for a bit. He was always obsessed with video games. If there's one thing I've learned from him…" I hurled my orb as hard as I can, causing him to quickly guard himself before the flames erupted around the gauntlet."It's always the shiny part that is the enemy's weakpoint."

He let out a hiss, hiding the gauntlet behind his back. "Fine then, I just won't block. Let's see you hit the man you love when he's just standing still."

As the orb rocketed back to my hand, I spun hurling it straight towards him once more, bursting it around his chest, drawing out a scream of pain as I raced forward. "You don't know anything about me!" I snarled, lashing out in a fierce flurry of punches and kicks, specially augmented by my fox-fire. "I've put up with a lot of assholes in my time as a human! I've been tricked…" My fist crashed into his stomach. "Manipulated…" I followed it up with a spinning kick to the side of his head. "Abused…" Planting my foot, I struck out with both of my fists, to his chest. "All my life, every single person has treated me like trash!" Just as he went to swing back at me, I countered it, striking him hard in the jaw. "They've called me slut…" I struck out again and again, each blow causing him to slide back a foot in the loose dirt beneath him. He was starting to try to defend himself now. "Whore…" Waves of flame erupted outward to consume him, pieces of his fabric burning to ash. "I've even been called a slave! Everyone has used me just because I have tits!" I began to channel energy into my orb, drawing all of the flames in the area into it as it grew bigger and bigger. Soon it was so big that I had to hold it in both hands. "Kal was the first person, to ever look me in the eyes!" I slammed the gigantic sphere straight on top of him, causing a cascade of cobalt fire that looked more like a burning waterfall as it spread out around him. When the light faded, he was laying on the ground. Both of us were breathing heavily as I stormed over to him, straddling his stomach. Grabbing his collar, I pulled back my fist causing it to ignite in fox-fire. "He is the only person who didn't ask for my love first! He just gave it to me, no strings attached! Now you've corrupted him and for that you're going to die.

Just as I went to strike down, he held up his hands and in Kal's voice, he shouted, "Wait, Ahri stop!" My fist froze, just inches from his face. "It's okay, Ahri. You won! You saved me."

The flames slowly faded. "How much of that did you hear?" I whispered sheepishly.

"Every word."

"Gods," I whimpered, brushing the hair out of my eyes. "That's so embarrassing."

"Ahri?"

"Yes?"

He smirked. "I lied." Before I could react, he struck me hard, rolling over on top of me. Forming his own flame in his hand, He went to kill me, but before he could, there was a whoosh of wind, followed by the sight of three feathery darts, now protruding him from his neck. "Wh-what?"

As he collapsed on top of me, I quickly shoved him off, only to turn and see Teemo, smiling weakly at me. He gave me the thumbs up before collapsing on to the ground in a heap, leaving me the only person still awake in the square that was now little more than embers and ash.

Groaning, my eyes opened to find myself in a large field. Flowers were all around me and I wasn't aware of much save a throbbing pain in my head and an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. Turning over, I pushed myself up slightly before I began retching. My entire body heaved until at last I vomited, a small glowing marble flooding out of me. Picking it up, I shook it clean trying to figure out just what in the Hells it was.

Before my eyes, the thing turned into dust and blew away on the breeze. "Whoa! Is this a G37 R3kT?" A voice asked nearby. "I've never seen one in real life, but it looks like it's been modified! This is so cool!" Looking around myself, I found that the voice came from a small Yordle nearby. Staring at my hips, she dropped the fish shaped weapon, quickly staring at the gun on my hip. "Is that a Shockrocker 1337?! I didn't even know they still made those anymore! But it still looks brand new! Can I touch it? Can I, can I, can I?" She bounced up and down excitedly.

I slipped the gun out of my waistband, handing it to her. She began to inspect it every which way. "Umm...where am I?"

"Just outside of Bandle City," she replied, not even looking up from the gun. "Had one too many and woke up somewhere else? Yeah, I've been there. So what's your name? A girl who loves her firearms this much has to be counted as a friend."

"I...don't know," I admitted, looking down to see that I had the word 'Jinx' etched into the bullet around my neck. Holding it up to examine it, I sighed. "I guess 'Jinx' will have to do until I can remember."

"Jinx, huh? Weird name, but whatever." Handing me back the gun, she beamed at me. "Name's Tristana, by the way. Friends just call me Trist. I was just coming home from some demolitions practice when I heard you vomiting. Naturally, I assumed a friend of mine was involved so I came to have a look-see. Lucky I found you instead, huh?"

"Y-yeah. I guess so." My eyes scanned the area around me. It was all so unfamiliar. When I thought of home, what came to mind was tall buildings and skyscrapers. "I...think I'm from Piltover," I murmured, rubbing my temples. "I...can't remember though." That was when I saw it. The billowing black column high up in the sky. "Trist, what's that way?" I pointed.

She let out a gasp of shock. "That's Bandle City. Come on Jinx, we've got to get over there as quickly as possible!" She grasped my hand pulling me after her. As we rushed to the town, we found that a majority of it had been completely decimated. "Teemo?! Teemo, where are you?!" Tristana shouted at the top of her lungs, looking around frantically. When her eyes rested on a small furry creature, she rushed to his side, placing her head on his chest. "Oh thank the Gods," she whimpered, hugging him tightly. I thought he was dead."

"He's just resting," a voice assured her. Turning to look, I saw a woman with fox ears and nine white tails sitting there with the limp body of a man in her arms. "He fell unconscious after helping me to stop this one." The woman looked so familiar. The man, too. As if I knew them from somewhere. Coming closer, her eyes fell on to me and she quickly pulled the man so that she was shielding him from me. "Stay away from us Jinx! I won't let you lay a finger on my Summoner!"

I stumbled back in surprise. "I...I'm not going to hurt you, I swear. I don't...I don't even know what's going on. Do we know each other?"

"Don't play dumb!" she snarled. "This is all your fault! You're the one who started blowing up the city. You taunted Kal into fighting and now look what's happened!"

There was an audible click as Tristana approached the three of us, grenade launcher leveled. "That's enough! Which of you is responsible for this? Tell me, now!" she barked. "You have to the count of three before I blow you all to the Nine Hells!"

The fox-woman raised one arm to point an accusatory finger at me. "She did," she replied before her eyes softened slightly. "Well...partially, anyway. This one did quite a bit of damage too." She nodded towards the man in her arms. "But I promise, it's not his fault! He's being controlled, he can't help it."

"I don't even remember doing any of this," I protested, but Tristana just bared her teeth, deep in thought. "Trist, you have to believe me. I don't know why I'd attack this city."

"Because you're a heartless monster who gets enjoyment out of destroying people's lives!" the girl accused. "It was probably your fault that Kal became even more corrupted too!"

"Enough!" Tristana boomed. "Everyone, just shut up! Don't talk unless I'm talking to you." Turning to me she sighed. "I believe you, Jinx. At least, I believe you don't remember doing this. Even still, you know I'm going to have to take you in." My heart sank as I looked down at my feet. "You, foxy…"

"Ahri."

"Ahri. If you're telling the truth and this guy isn't able to control himself, then what are we supposed to do?"

"I...I don't know," she admitted. "He's my Summoner, so we can't just kill him, and he's too powerful to lock up." She closed her eyes, thinking in deep concentration. "Wait...I know someone who may be able to help in Ionia. We can't help repair the village, but if we get there, maybe she can get the gauntlet off of him."

"I'm not just going to let you go free under the premise that you're going to Ionia."

"Please, you have to! I don't know how long he'll be out, but we have to try."

She sighed, looking back at her friend. "Was it you who saved him?" she asked her.

"I suppose so."

"Then I may have a plan. The five of us will all go to Ionia. We'll find our answers there. Until you get your memories back Jinx, we'll hold you as a prisoner. We'll keep him sedated to stop him from wreaking more havoc."

Ahri shook her head. "No way, it's too dangerous to get him on a train."

"Then it's a good thing we're not taking the train," Trist countered with a grin. Picking up her limp friend and slinging his arm over her shoulder, she nodded towards the Southern part of town. "I have a boat tied up at the pier. We'll take that to Ionia. She may be small, but you can rest assured that she's also quick. We can get there in just a couple days."

Ahri was speechless for a moment before standing and picking up Kal in her arms as well. "Thank you. Thank you so much, Trist." She looked as if she were about to cry any minute, so without a word, I walked over to her and gave her a reassuring hug. She quickly jerked from my grip, turning on me in shock. "What are you doing?!"

"You seemed upset," I replied. "I was trying to make you feel better. You must be really worried about him, right?"

"Yes," she answered suspiciously. "But what do you care? I don't buy this whole amnesia act. I swear to you, I'm going to have my eyes glued to you like a hawk. If you so much as take one step out of line, I'll incinerate you where you stand, capiche?"

I nodded, following her as we made our way to the ship.

Magnus sat expectantly in his chair, Katarina draped over his lap like a well-trained escort. His lips were upon her neck, sucking and nibbling in ways that made her heart race and her breath heavy, until the moment was interrupted by the ringing of the nearby phone.

He made no attempts to reach it, electing instead to continue feeling her up, but still giving her a nip to indicate his will. Obediently, her arm reached out and picked up the phone, just as his hand wove between her legs. "Hell-OH-?" she asked, her voice jumping as his fingers found her clit.

"Erm...yes. This is Viktor. I wish to speak with Magnus."

Katarina looked to the man whose fingers were now slipped inside of her. "He's a little...ungh...busy at the moment...oh!" Her free hand tangled in his hair, pulling him deeper into her neck. A soft purr escaped her lips before the voice once more came through the line.

"This is urgent. Far more so than some screw."

"Ungh...piss off," she moaned, but against what she desired, he stopped his ministrations momentarily to pluck the receiver from her grasp.

"Clean yourself up," he instructed her. "We'll finish your training later."

Reluctantly, she clambered from his lap, stooping down to pick up her clothes. "As you command, Master," she sighed, running her other hand through her unkempt hair with a pout. A slap across her bare ass hurried her along.

"This had better be good, Viktor," Magnus growled.

"One of the orbs has been destroyed."

"What?! How?"

"I'm not sure."

"What the fuck do you mean, 'you're not sure'? What the Hells am I paying you for?" He boomed, rubbing his temples. "Well, who the fuck was it?"

"According to the signal, it was Jinx. I enacted the self-destruct protocol quickly, so there's no evidence. Chances are there's a few mental injuries from the sphere's infleunce as well as your...adjustments."

"So we just have a lobotomized girl just catatonic somewhere?"

"Not just somewhere: Bandle City."

"The Yordles? What the Hells was she doing there?"

"Checking…" the claking of the keys signaled that Viktor was hurriedly pulling up information that had been recorded from the Sphere of Influence. "Well, this is interesting. She was chasing after the Summoner you put a bounty on. His Champion too."

"That's impossible. Miss Fortune contacted me to say that they were both en route to the collection point."

"Miss Fortune has recently reached port back in Bilgewater, seeking cure for some unknown curse the Summoner has put on her. You may find her more to your liking now, even without the sphere."

Magnus chose to ignore his comment. "Any idea where they're going now?"

"No, but I know a way to draw them out. Word around the rumor mill indicates that the Summoner has a close relationship with Soraka, the Star-Child. Maybe it's time to activate your agent in Ionia. If she's hurt, Kal'adamsul will certainly come running. He's a big fan of heroics. Not that you care, but Ahri will also be with him, even though she and Soraka have had troubles in the past."

Magnus scratched his beard in thought for a moment. "Perhaps I was too hasty in my judgment of Ahri. If she's gotten stronger, then I see no reason not to bring her back to her true master." Viktor rolled his eyes. He knew the true motivation Magnus had for his comment.

Katarina came from the bathroom, fresh out of the shower. "Still on the phone, Master?" she asked, giving a bored sigh as she returned to perch herself in the chair.

"Don't get comfortable kitten," he smirked. "I have a job for you. It's time for you to teach that uppity Summoner a lesson in respecting his betters. Take Warwick and go to Ionia. Find his friend Soraka and make her scream loud enough that he can hear her from wherever the Hells in Runeterra he is."

A sadistic grin crossed her lips. "With pleasure," she purred, standing up. "Can I kill him?"

"Only if you must. No point in causing more trouble for us from the League. His Champion, however, I want captured alive. Understand? We'll see what we can do to make her more obedient."

"As you command, Master." Katarina stood, leaving to make the preparations necessary for her trip to Ionia.

"Still there Viktor?"

"Yes, sir. How is the prototype holding up on the Hastur girl?"

He looked to the small ten year old, her eyes still staring straight ahead, blinking only once every few moments. "She still hasn't become responsive yet. It must be taking a lot longer to process in her system."

"Yes, I was afraid of that. When you're commanding her with your Sphere, she may be a bit sluggish, so be sure to compensate for that."

"You know what, Viktor? How about you just stick to your machines and I'll be the one who deals with the Summoning." With that, Magnus slammed down the telephone with a sigh, rubbing his temples. Going to the cage, he began to sort through the champions he'd begun to collect. There were quite a few of them now. Nearly a dozen.

Ashe had proven to be less effective than he'd have liked. Thresh was presently working on gathering a Champion he'd had his eyes on in the Shadow Isles. Standing off to the corner, A large humanoid crocodile snapped its teeth over and over again. He was still resisting the effects of the Sphere? Once it finally took hold, as it inevitably would, Magnus knew he'd make for one valuable asset for his team.

To be continued...