I know this chapter has a lot of TW storyline in it, but don't worry! Next chapter will have more GG!

.

.

Kira swung the bedroom door closed behind her, having snuck past the Gilmores who were in the kitchen. She leaned back against it and closed her eyes, reminding herself to breathe. Bruises were beginning to form from her fight and with some effort she willed herself to heal. The last thing she needed was Lane or Rory noticing she was hurt.

With a sigh she walked over to her bed and laid her head on the pillow, curled in a fetal position, ready to cry. But crying wouldn't help her. Kira needed to be strong, for herself, and for the safety of everyone. Shifting her head slightly, she noticed something hard underneath her pillow. Confused, she sat up slowly and moved the pillow to reveal what was underneath. She had to stifle a gasp. It was her katana!

A million questions raced through her mind as to why, and how the katana seemed to just appear to her. Perhaps it was a supernatural calling, an ability she had but didn't know about which would make it appear to her when she needed it. Regardless of the how, the katana would certainly be a help in defeating the nogitsune. After all, it had helped before.

Not really, though, a small voice inside her head said. It didn't actually destroy him. You didn't actually destroy him.

This thought nagged at Kira, and though she knew the katana could help with defeating him, she also knew that this time, she'd need a new plan. She needed something else.

Suddenly a realization dawned on her. Kira sat bolt upright. How had the nogitsune known where she was? Who knew to send the katana?

Her parents.

The nogitsune must have found her location from them. Kira picked up the phone and called her father's phone.

.

.

Screams from the gazebo echoed through Stars Hollow as the town rose to life that morning. A man was hung in the middle of the gazebo, his grotesque bloodied body swaying back and forth. When Kira arrived to the scene not long after the first screams were made, the police were there, faces grim, taking down the body. It was clear to Kira by the shock on their faces, that they had never seen a murder occur in Stars Hollow, and certainly not one to this degree. This realization made her feel even more guilty in leading the nogitsune to this town.

Stars Hollow was already in chaos, people ushering their children away from the crime scene, rushing by each other, suspicion obvious in all their faces as they looked across the street to one another, as if the murderer would be showing his face out in the open. Little did they know that this… This is just the beginning, Kira thought. She also knew it was unlikely the man just died. He was more than likely tortured first, his pain absorbed by the Void, before he was killed, strung up to ensure chaos and to prove a point to Kira.

No one was safe. And there was nothing she could do about it.

But she refused to believe that. She had to do something. When her dad had picked up the phone that morning, she was overjoyed. Of course she knew the nogitsune had only kept her parents alive as a precaution… in case he needed Kira's cooperation with anything, he had a way. Still, her parents were packing up, moving somewhere that they didn't dare tell Kira, as they all knew it was for the best. She hoped they were going out of the country.

They'd also discussed another matter and Kira knew they were right. For their own safety, she had to tell Lane and Rory everything. Being kept in the dark, especially when they were so close to her, was too dangerous.

.

.

The low, murmur of a chuckle came from under the shade of a tree which stood adjacent to the horrific scene in the gazebo. The noise could just go unnoticed by the frantic people who were hustling past, as Void looked at the commotion in gleeful wonder. A dark smile was upon his face as he wondered what they would do when the real fun would begin. What would their reaction be to the dozens more who would start and continue dying, as long as Kira was still breathing? How sweet would the smell of betrayal and distrust in the air be, when the town inevitably turned against each other? And above all else, how would the bold, brave kitsune feel when she finally was the last person alive in this accursed town?

Perhaps he was supposed to be masking his true self when out in public, but the nogitsune could not help but to smile, a viciously dark smile, at the thought of Kira, all alone, unable to escape the chaos of her own mind or the physical pain he'd be sure to inflict when the time came. He could barely wait. But a game was no game without the proper time, and so wait he must. When all the territory was his, then the game was over. For now... for now he could play.

.

.

Rory and Lane exchanged nervous glances as they sat at the Gilmores' kitchen table, per Kira's request. A feeling was mutual between the friends that something was very wrong, something they should've noticed sooner, before the display the town had woken up to that morning. For a moment, both girls were uncharacteristically silent as they watched Kira, seated at the other side of the table, try to compose herself though she looked clearly agitated.

"There's something... I have to tell you. I - I wasn't completely honest about why I'm here. In Stars Hollow."

As if unable to help herself, Lane blurted out, "Are you in trouble with the police? Or - or a gang or something? Or both? Because, I mean not that I'm not into gangs, um unless they're the violent type, it's kinda rock n roll, I guess, but if you are, are you a target, is that why... I guess I'm not making sense." She stopped when Rory nudged her arm indignantly gesturing to Kira, who looked as though she might be sick.

Rory breathed. "Just... what was it you wanted to tell us?" She asked patiently.

Kira looked hesitant. "Okay. For this to make sense I'm going to have to start at the beginning."

Watching as her cousin and her friend's eyes widened during the story, and the look of skepticism replaced by horror as she continued to explain the supernatural parts of it, Kira realized that her plan to run had been foolish. Even as she recounted the past and her more recent decisions she knew she should've stayed home, instead of bringing this with her.

"I am so, so sorry I brought the nogitsune here." Kira said finally. "It was foolish and reckless and I was wrong."

She was greeted with silence as the girls across from her were rendered wordless, and simply stared with astonishment.