Headcanon time. Since discovering that Lewis was indeed adopted by the Pepper family, here's my take on what happened.

Everything was cold…

"It's too strong!"

His entire body felt numb. He didn't even feel the rain pelting his skin anymore.

"Quick, get him to safety!"

But his mind was so foggy. He didn't know where he was going. He had to keep moving, but why?

"I can't–I can't leave you here!"

He couldn't even run anymore. It was so hard to move. But he had to keep going.

"Take our son and go. I'll catch up with you later, I promise."

Up ahead, he could see the blurry outline of a building. There was a sign on it but he couldn't read what it said.

"Oh god it–it caught up!"

"Mom…?"

The ground was suddenly pressed against his face. When had his legs given out on him?

"What did you do to him?!"

So cold…

"It won't stop…"

"Oh my g–HONEY! Quick, get over here!"

"Lewis RUN!"

The last thing he saw before everything went dark was a flash of green…

And then it was suddenly warm.

Slowly he opened his eyes. It took a minute but things were starting to come into focus. The room around him was entirely unfamiliar. Everything looked so white and blinding. And it smelled like medicine. As he sat up, he only became more confused. His arm was attached to a few machines beside him.

His whole body ached. His head was aching. But at least that meant he wasn't numb anymore.

He froze when he felt another pair of eyes on him. In the corner, there sat a little girl with light pink eyes staring, amazed. She couldn't be older than two or three. Was there something on his face…?

As soon as he made a move to speak, the little girl bolted out the open door. "He's up!" Came a shrill voice. "Mama, Papa, he's up!"

Seconds later another two unfamiliar faces peered into the room, a man and a woman. They looked relieved. "Oh thank goodness…" The woman walked over and brushed a few strands of his purple hair out of his face. He didn't flinch away. Her touch was gentle and warm and…safe.

The man sat down next to him as well. "We were all worried. You gave us a little scare there."

"What's your name, dear?"

He didn't answer. In fact, the boy looked slightly panicked.

The two of them smiled gently at him, and as they introduced themselves and their three two-year-old daughters. Perhaps if they did it first, he would feel more comfortable about telling them his name. The boy felt himself relaxing. Already he liked these people. They were kind to him, to a complete stranger…

But still he did not speak. It dawned on the Peppers that perhaps this child was incapable of speaking. They decided to try again, just in case. "Where are your parents?" Mr. Pepper asked, finding it rather appalling that this child had been left alone in the state they found him in. Half starved, half dead…who would leave their child in such a state?!

Maybe he was a runaway…?

But at his silence, the Peppers grew a little nervous. The poor boy seemed to think about it for a moment and then suddenly looked horrified. "I…I don't…"

He spoke! The Peppers leaned forward in anticipation. "You don't…?"

He stared into his lap. "I d-don't…remember…" Almost everything in his life was a complete blur. Parents, family, even his name…he knew nothing. Everything was blank. "Why can't I…?" What could he do? Where could he go? He felt tears welling in his eyes. He was so scared…

A hand found its way onto his shoulder and Mrs. Pepper offered Lewis a gentle smile. "Don't you worry. You'll find them." She wiped away some stray tears. "And we'll do everything we can to help you."

The boy sniffed and leaned into the gentle touch. He needed any kind of comfort. "R-really…?"

Mr. Pepper nodded, watching as their three girls peeked their heads up over the bed to look this new face over. "Really. We promise."

He didn't know what to say. He had only just woken up and already people were taking care of him. What could he even say? How could someone with no memories possibly find his previous life? How could someone with no memories ever make it up to them?

Wait, no…that wasn't true.

"Le…"

"LEWIS RUN!"

His head was throbbing, like someone had taken a jackhammer to it. All he could see was green. Why green? What did that mean? Who was screaming in his ears?! The pulse meter sped up greatly and a nurse came rushing in a few seconds later to see what the noise was about. She would see three tiny girls trying to comfort the boy on the bed. "Did something happen?"

The Peppers looked at each other, unsure. But the triplets knew what to do. Their parents would always do this for them when they were scared. Hugs, back rubs, humming a soothing melody, they were incredibly smart for their age. The boy calmed down in no time and finally spoke up.

"L…Lewis. That's my name."

Days turned into weeks and there was still no sign of this strange boy's family. They tried everything, going to the police, missing children reports… The triplets even wanted to make posters.

The police had deduced Lewis couldn't be any older than twelve. Mulberry colored hair with matching eyes, and he was pretty tall for his age as well. He was someone you couldn't miss in a crowd. His family would know immediately if they saw him.

But nothing ever came back. It was as if his parents had vanished; as if his whole family had vanished. Nobody was looking for a boy named Lewis, and with no last name to go with, they couldn't do a thorough search.

With nowhere else to go, Lewis was released into the care of the Pepper family (by request) after the hospital allowed him to leave, and within a few days he was up and walking. The sign he saw before was a sign for a restaurant, Pepper Paradiso, that specialized in sweet and spicy foods. Lewis wasn't exactly sure what that meant but he was more than willing to learn.

He had decided. For as long as he stayed here, he would help these kind people. Even when Mister and Missus Pepper were hesitant, Lewis insisted. He would do anything; needed to do something. It would drive him crazy if he didn't.

Dish washing was perhaps the safest job they could give to an eleven-year-old, and even then the Peppers weren't completely comfortable with it. But Lewis just looked so happy to finally being able to help in some way. He never complained. They couldn't take that away from him.

Late night talks only confirmed to the Peppers that nobody was coming for the poor boy. He had either been abandoned or something had happened to his family. With the state Lewis was in when they found him, either option seemed equally likely.

They decided. They couldn't let this poor child into an adoption home. In fact their girls had already taken to calling Lewis their big brother. It only seemed natural to adopt him…and Lewis was more than overjoyed.

They sent him to school. He made wonderful friends and even found someone he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

He had a family. He had people who cared for him. He would dedicate his life to these people.

He never imagined that, a mere ten years later, his life would end.

And a broken family was soon to follow.

Something felt off as soon as he stepped foot into the cave. A strange sense of déjà vu? Lewis couldn't place it but it almost felt like he had been here before.

But that was impossible…wasn't it?

Welcome back~

He froze for a split second, causing the blonde trailing behind him to crash into his back. "Shit –Lew? You okay?"

"…Yeah. I'm alright, Arthur. Just a chill, that's all."

"Ugh, tell me about it…"

No, he just imagined that. It was nothing.

He wished he had listened to his instinct.

Everything happened so fast. One second he was looking over the edge of a very steep cliff, wincing at the sharp stalagmites below. The next second he heard a noise, one that almost sounded like a plea for help. He turned to face the one behind him.

And then the next, he was falling. Panic. Terror. Disbelief. Arthur couldn't have, no, not Arthur!

Suddenly he wasn't falling anymore. The seconds started to drag. Something was wrong. He felt odd, his body was so heavy.

And…he was pretty sure…his chest wasn't…supposed to have that…sticking out of it…

Arthur. Arthur pushed him. Arthur killed him.

Why?

His head flopped to the side, completely limp.

Vivi?

The girl of his dreams, the one he loved more than anything, the one he wanted to marry. She looked terrified and Lewis realized with horror at what she was witnessing.

Vivi no…!

She sank to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks and she screamed.

"I don't…want you…to see…!"

The only words that could describe it were "chain reaction". Everything happened so fast.

Possession.

Murder.

Dismemberment.

Heartbreak.

Nobody was certain what had truly happened that day, not even the one who caused it all.

Damned fox. Because of him…!

It had finally gotten rid of the last of the line. How perfect its plan had been! And the host was just so easy to possess; to feed off his jealousy was delicious. It only made it stronger.

And then the kitsune stepped in. As soon as the possessed arm was ripped from its host's body, it felt its power drained away. Sapped straight from the source.

But where had it gone? Power like that didn't just vanish. It needed a host as well. But the spirit did not get its answer. It was trapped and tossed aside, skittering off.

Meanwhile, Lewis made sure Vivi did not see this. See the bloody mess he had become. How? He didn't know. Suddenly he had power, despite how weakened and drained he felt. And he was going to use it to make her forget all of this.

I'm sorry…