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<span class="mu-s">“Which one? Mom or the evil Kumiho?”</span> you asked in a half-mocking tone, watching her face for any visible changes.
Her eyes widened ever so slightly, before narrowing again.
<span class="mu-s">“How much do you know?”</span> she said carefully.
You knew it!
<span class="mu-s">“Was I seriously the only one who didn’t know that I was half fox demon!?”</span> you shouted, your hands clenched on either side of you.
Ben’s eyes went wide at that.
<span class="mu-r">“WHAT!? Well, I mean…now that you say it, it sounds kind of obvious with the ears and tail, but…y’know, that’s news to me.”</span>
You rolled your eyes and pointed a finger at him.
<span class="mu-s">“Not you. You’re terrible at keeping secrets.”</span>
You thought back to all the times that Ben sat down and told you, in great detail, everything that would happen on his missions and heists. You really wished that he would leave some things out here and there. The less you knew about some of his criminal activities, the better.
Instead of getting offended, Ben breathed a sigh of relief.
<span class="mu-r">“Exactly.”</span> he agreed. <span class="mu-r">“But, what’s a Kumiho?”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“They are Korean fox demons that feed on the life force of humans.”</span> Young answered. <span class="mu-s">“They usually target men, but they’re known to harm and deceive most humans that cross their path. And because of Cindy’s mother, her spirit is infused with that of a powerful and dangerous Kumiho by the name of ‘Ami Han’.”</span>
Ben was frantically looking back and forth between you and Young, but you kept your eyes trained on her.
Shaggy walked up beside the younger…”Young”, and raised his head so that your eyes met.
<span class="mu-i">“Perhaps we should continue this conversation inside.”</span> he suggested. You ignored him.
<span class="mu-s">“How long have you known?”</span> you asked in a low, dangerous voice. It was easier to hear each other now, since the storm had started to die down.
<span class="mu-s">“I found out several months after Nari had Ami Han banished.”</span> she replied, after a moment’s pause. <span class="mu-s">“Your mother wasn’t very forthcoming about your problem until she got desperate enough to reach out to me. For a decent chunk of that year, I was helping your parents find a way to remove the marble. But…everything changed when your mother found out about that prophecy.”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“Prophecy? What prophecy?”</span> Ben asked, clearly the only one lost in this conversation. <span class="mu-r">“And what’s this about Cindy swallowing a marble?”</span>
<span class="mu-s">“Ugh! Again with the ‘Slayer’ thing?”</span>
Now, the surprise that registered on Young's face was clear to see.
<span class="mu-s">“You know of this too?”</span>
<span class="mu-r">“You know who doesn't ‘know of this’? Me. And probably Mekara.”</span> Ben pointed out.
Mekara raised a finger to her lips and shushed you.
[ed]“That’s why I’m staying quiet//hushed//mute while they talk.” she admonished.
Ben threw his hands up in frustration and shook his head.
<span class="mu-s">“Smokey’s right.”</span> Young declared. <span class="mu-s">“This isn’t the kind of conversation we should be having out in the open. The less people know about this prophecy, the better.“</span>
