Biohuman

Chapter 25 The Fox Boy With A Fox

'We are one.'

Lee Seng nodded. He didn't know whether or not he was too hasty. He was only thinking about himself and he felt like Keng just came along for the ride. He felt bad for that.

"I feel bad that I'm dragging you along." Lee Seng whispered. "I feel bad about it. You aren't going to get anything in return..."

"I'm not going to get anything in return? Ha, you underestimate me." Keng nipped at Lee Seng and Lee Seng yelped. Keng quickly jumped before Lee Seng could even swing at him and happily pranced in his spot.

"Ow, why did you do that?" Lee Seng rubbed his stomach.

"Sometimes I'm amazed by how short you see yourself." Keng began. "I already told you what I want. You just need to collect souls."

"But I can't do that without--"

"Without passing and enrolling into the Academy, I know. Right now it seems like you're using me a lot more than you'd like according to your 'rules' or whatever. It's fine. Think of it as an investment. I invest in you now and you'll eventually give me the money!" Lee Seng giggled at that comparison. Keng was comparing him to investing in a company with stocks.

"So you're putting stocks into me?" Lee Seng giggled. "That's a strange way to look at it." Keng began to stomp, pouting.

"It doesn't matter! You know what I mean!"

"I know, I know." Lee Seng waved. "I get it. Thanks for making the picture clear."

"Lee, who are you talking to?" Akio asked. Lee Seng had forgotten all about Akio. He remembered tuning everything out at one point but didn't realize he tuned Akio out after being subdued. Lee Seng tightened his fist and sighed. He turned around and looked.

Akio was in the same exact spot. He was facing Lee Seng now but he was still there. Lee Seng sighed and stood. Keng followed besides him and the two met Akio. Lee Seng glanced at Keng and then back at Akio.

'Can he... see you?' Lee Seng asked.

"Only if you want him to." Keng said. Lee Seng's face became puzzled.

'I wasn't expecting that answer.' Lee Seng thought. Keng laughed and turned to Lee Seng.

"If you want others to see me, then just say so." Keng told Lee Seng. Lee Seng nodded and glanced back at Keng.

"Lee, are you okay? I-I know things are rough right now but if you just... If you trust me enough and let me know, I'm willing to listen." Akio said concerned. Lee Seng nodded and knelt down. He put a hand on Keng and Akio glanced and saw nothing.

"I want you to know something. I... I know it's sudden but..." Lee Seng trailed off. He took a breath and his red and blue eyes glinted. Akio could feel something oozing out of them. "I need time to figure things out, but I'll trust you with this. Keng, show yourself."

The air shimmered. Lee Seng's tail drifted towards the shimmering area and a portion of the white energy spilled into the shimmer. His tail grew smaller but a small white fox took it's place. Keng's bushy tail wagged and his red and blue eyes stared at Akio.

"Woah!" Akio scooted back. Two sets of red and blue eyes watched Akio and Lee Seng chuckled.

"It's okay, he won't bite. Well, I can't be sure." Lee Seng second guessed. Keng glanced up at Lee Seng and then back to Akio.

"I won't bite unless you say so." Keng answered. Lee Seng nodded and Akio watched in disbelief. The white fox seemingly answered with a barked.

"W-w-what is this?" Akio stuttered. He pointed at the fox and then glanced at Lee Seng's smaller tail. "Your tail, it grew smaller."

"Oh, did it?" Lee Seng asked. He turned to look but barely caught his tail. "I guess that makes sense. Keng is apart of me."

"Apart of you?" Akio stuttered. "How's that possible?" Lee Seng puckered his lips and pondered for a bit. He didn't know how to exactly explain it so he shrugged.

"He's more or less my soul animal. He's apart of the reason I have a fox tail and my ears are like this."

"S-soul animal?" Akio slowly moved into a squat. Keng casually started to move around the space, ignoring Akio. Lee Seng nodded.

"I don't know much about it either but him and I are tethered together. I also think all the changes that are happening have finally bursted today so that's why I acted the way I did. I talked to Keng earlier and I feel a bit better."

"You can.. talk to him?" Akio pointed. He stood up and Keng walked over towards Akio and sat near him. Lee Seng nodded. Akio made a "oh" face and looked at Keng who was looking at Lee Seng.

"Why is that the hardest thing to swallow?" Keng asked. "Fantasy is now reality and talking to a spirit animal is strange?"

"I don't think a lot of people get this opportunity to take in that part of fantasy." Lee Seng answered.

"Huh?" Akio asked.

"Oh, Keng asked why that's so hard to understand. Fantasy is reality so why is talking to a spirit animal strange."

"Ahh," Akio exclaimed. He knelt down and out his hand out to Keng. Keng noticed and looked at his hand before moving his head for Akio to pet him. Akio pet Keng and smiled. "He's cute and soft. I, uh, haven't come across anything like this before so... Understand my shock."

Keng barked and wagged his tail. Lee Seng smiled.

"He says it's fine." Lee Seng translated. Akio smiled and removed his hand. Keng got up and scampered back to Lee Seng.

"Well, If that solves everything, I'll go back." Keng said. Lee Seng nodded. Keng started to run and jumped up towards Lee Seng's stomach and disappeared. Lee Seng's tail started to grow back to it's normal length and Akio watched in amazement.

"He can go back whenever?" Akio asked.

"Yup. He can come out whenever but he insists on me saying so." Lee Seng answered. Akio noises slowly and the two started to move closer to each other.

"Hey, I'm sorry." Akio said. "I didn't realize how much stress you were under with... Everything. I'm sorry about that." Lee Seng half-smiled at Akio. He understood Akio felt bad but most of it was because of how Lee Seng acted. Lee Seng shifted in his spot and hugged Akio tightly.

"It's fine, Akio." Lee Seng let out a deep breath. "I've spent so many years being hated and hiding. When I got my powers, I was scared. Would Dad take me back? Would he great me differently? Could I somehow repair the mistakes I made and make him proud?"

Lee Seng started to let out staggered breaths. Tears began to roll and Akio only hugged tighter, patting his younger brother's back.

"It's okay, Seng. I know how much you want your Dad to recognize you. He will. You got your powers and you are probably the first case that's significantly different physically. You will figure this out." Akio comforted. He pulled his younger brother away and smiled. He wiped away his brothers tears and pulled him in for a hug again.

"Remember, even if I can't be here for you all the time, give me a text or a call. We can always talk when I have a sliver of time to answer. I may not be the best brother but trust me, you aren't bothering me, ever."

Lee Seng nodded and pulled away. He wiped away tears and snot and couldn't help but laugh. Akio ruffled Lee Seng's hair and wrapped his arm around him.

"Thanks, bro." Lee Seng said. He took in a couple of deep breaths and pulled away from Akio's grasp. He slapped himself in the face a couple of times and jumped around. "I think I feel better now. Could we practice some more?"

- - - -

"Hello?" Manny answered.

"Manny, my boy, how are you?" Dr. Valentin asked. Manny smiled and sat up in his bed.

"I'm doing good, Dad. What's up?"

"Oh, well as you know, Lee Seng is testing in about a week and a half's time. I just wanted to run something by you."

"What is it, Pops? Spill it." Manny impatiently said. He jumped onto his feet and started to pace around his dorm room. He passed his bookshelf and desk area and wandered over to the empty desk and bookshelf. Two twin beds opposite of each other with mirrored looks. He wandered into the bathroom and turned to look at himself in the mirror.

"Lee Seng will pass the test no matter what. The Entrance Exam will be a way for the Creator to access how strong he really is. I know you don't have a team and was wondering if you would do me a favor by forming a team with Lee Seng. It woul--"

"Yeah, I'll do it!" Manny interjected. Dr. Valentin chuckled.

"Ah, alright. Impatient as always when it comes to Lee Seng." Dr. Valentin chuckled. "One more thing, Manny. The Creator wants you to keep a detailed log on Lee Seng. Importantly on any potential friendships he makes, his progress with his powers and anything that stands out with Lee Seng's tail."

"His tail?" Manny asked. "Why his tail?"

"Well, we don't know much about the tail but the Creator was told from Number 10 that 9 could feel a difference between the White Matter and Dark Matter. The Creator wants to know what happens with the White Matter, if anything happens at all."

Manny nodded. It was a particularly weird phenomenon that Manny hadn't come across before. The tail did throw him off as much as he didn't want to admit it.

"Okay, Pops, I'll keep an eye out for these things." Manny accepted.

"Alright, boy. Thanks so much. I hope you're doing fine at the dorms. Don't go overboard and don't get into too much trouble!" Dr. Valentin scolded.

"Yes, yes. I'll be good. I gotta go." Manny quickly said.

"Alright, bye, Manny."

"Bye, Pops."

Manny hung the phone up and set it in the counter. He sighed and stared into the mirror.

"Form a team with Lee Seng?" He grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be fun! I wonder if I can get him to be my roommate..."