you're the nogitsune.

[ 3.17 ]

There wasn't much time for sleeping in between school and the party that ended in chaos. But Willow still managed to get a little. Derek, who wouldn't be letting her out of his sight after the way those shadow warriors looked at her, had her stay at the loft.

Willow had been completely silent as Derek set her on a counter and wiped the paint from her body with a wet rag, neither mentioning how it got there. Then he pulled one of his shirts over her shoulders, giving her something to sleep in. Despite how worried she was about this new threat, it didn't take long at all for her to fall asleep in his arms.

Derek didn't get any sleep. He couldn't. He didn't want to shut his eyes and let his guard down, allowing those things a window of opportunity to come after Willow. He silently stared up at the ceiling, deep in thought as Willow curled up against his chest.

Whatever those things were, they wanted Willow and Scott now. And Derek wouldn't let them get to her, having gone through the painful process of — well, whatever it was they did to the rest of them. A backward five-looking symbol was burned into his skin behind his left ear, and not even his werewolf healing could get it to disappear.

Derek's head was swimming with worry and plans to follow Willow and Scott around all day, but the thoughts slowed when Willow shifted against him, letting out a sigh. He glanced down at her, thinking that she might have been waking up. It wouldn't be long before he'd need to wake her for school anyway. No matter how exhausted she was, he knew Willow wouldn't let herself miss a day of school willingly.

But Willow wasn't waking up. She was dreaming.

Another sigh escaped her lips which was followed by a needy whimper. Willow squirmed in her sleep, back arching as she pressed herself closer to him. Derek couldn't help the smug smile that made its way onto his face, having a rather good idea as to what kind of dream she was having.

But then Derek felt as if a bucket of freezing water had been poured over him, his veins turning to ice as a breathy "Stiles" traveled past her parted lips. Derek pulled himself away from her, letting Willow's body rest on the mattress as hurt washed over him, hearing her call out another man's name.

With narrowed eyes, Derek watched Willow, who kept on dreaming. His eyes traveled from her face to her shifting body, catching sight of a patch of paint he had missed when cleaning her off. It was on the back of her upper thigh, a sign that someone's fingers had gone under her skirt in order to get paint that high.

A horrible, angry feeling in Derek's chest told him those fingers belonged to Stiles. His heart ached at the thought, wishing for him to be overreacting — that he was just paranoid. But his head knew better. It was obvious back when he met them all that Stiles had a thing for her, but never did he entertain the thought that Willow felt the same. But something was different between Willow and Stiles. Derek just had to see it with his own eyes to prove it to himself.

☽︎

Willow had to speed in order to get to school on time. Derek hadn't woken her up on time, but she of course didn't blame him. She knew he was just as exhausted as she was and likely dozed off on accident. She supposed that same tiredness was why he didn't say much to her as she rushed to get ready.

Though he certainly found his energy just before she ran out the door. Derek had come up behind her suddenly and pushed her back against the wall, fingers digging into her thighs so tightly that small red bruises were left behind in their shape, kissing her roughly — almost angrily. Willow's knees nearly gave out right then and there, not expecting such a forceful kiss that left her quite flustered so early in the morning.

Then he whispered lowly in her ear that he'd be watching her all day. And even though Willow suspected those things wouldn't come back until the sun went down, it was comforting to know he'd be around.

After racing to school, Willow managed to make it there before first period started. She went straight to Scott and Stiles. He had just finished explaining everything that happened at the blacklight party after Stiles left. And Stiles went into a frantic explanation of why he ran off.

Stiles thought he was the one that helped Barrow.

"So then, she starts talking about phosphors, and the key having chemicals on it, right?" Stiles asked, rushing into the chemistry classroom with the others following him. Evidently, the new key on his keyring had been glowing at the party. "And so that made me think of the chemistry closet, and the fact that someone had to let Barrow in—"

Stiles froze when he saw that the writing on the board was gone. He had no way to prove that his handwriting matched the numbers.

"It's gone," he muttered. Then he shook his head and moved back toward the closet. "Okay, it doesn't matter though. It doesn't matter. I've still got the key—"

Scott and Willow watched as Stiles fumbled with his keyring, searching for the one that had him so enamored. But it appeared to be gone.

"What the hell?" he asked. He looked back up at Scott and Willow anxiously. "I had it - I had it here. I had it here this morning, I swear to God, I had it this morning."

"The key you were talking about last night?" Scott asked skeptically.

"Yeah. I showed it to you, right?" Stiles asked him. "Didn't I show it to you?"

"No, you just told me about it. I never actually saw it," he denied.

Stiles' eyes landed on Willow, who had a concerned frown on her lips. "You saw it. I showed it to you."

"Stiles," Willow said softly. "Sti, you never showed me the key. We only talked about it."

He shook his head, none of it making sense. Willow saw the key at least twice. She must have. Stiles looked back at the blank board, his mind racing. "I was here a couple hours ago. And the message left to Barrow spelling Kira's name was right there on the board in my handwriting, and I had the key to the chemistry closet."

"So, you unlocked the chemistry closet so Barrow could hide in it from the cops, and then you wrote him a message to kill Kira?" Scott asked slowly. Did Stiles know how insane he sounded?

"I know how it sounds. But look at this," Stiles said. He pulled out a folded-up piece of paper from his pocket. "This is the news report that came out about Barrow when they caught him, okay? About the shrapnel bomb that he used. See this? See what he did? He put nuts, bolts, and screws, and then he hid the bomb and the detonator in a box that he wrapped as a birthday present. What does that sound like to you?"

"Coach," Scott muttered in realization. "The joke we played on Coach."

"That was my idea. You remember? That was my idea. That's no coincidence. It can't be," Stiles said, shaking his head.

"I don't want to sound like I'm trying to tell you that you're wrong," he replied cautiously. "But I don't think you're trying to kill people, either."

"It was here," Stiles insisted. "It was all here."

"Dude, are you feeling okay?" he asked gently. "You're looking really tired."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Stiles said, taking in a shaky breath. "I just haven't been sleeping, really."

"Why don't you go home? Take a sick day or something?" Scott offered. But Stiles didn't answer. He only stared blankly ahead at the empty chalkboard.

☽︎

As the day went on, Stiles didn't manage to calm down. In fact, he had worked himself up even more by the time lunch rolled around. That led to Willow forcing him to leave school for the day. Even as they walked through the parking lot to her car, he wouldn't stop rambling about his theory.

"H - how can you say you didn't — Will, you saw the key," he said, his breathing increasing. "You - you were there when I found it, weren't you? I'm not making this up!"

"I don't think you're making this up," Willow said, placing her hands on his shoulder. "But I didn't see the key, Stiles. I'm sorry."

Stiles shook his head and his breathing turned to hyperventilating. "This is - this is another dream. I'm not - I'm not awake. This isn't - the key—"

"Stiles!" Willow exclaimed as his knees gave out. She crouched in front of him while he leaned back against the side of her car. "You're not dreaming, Stiles."

He looked up at her with wide eyes. "I'm - I'm not?"

"Count with me," she said softly.

Willow put her hands in his. With each finger, Stiles calmed down a bit more, whispering the numbers to himself until he reached ten. Then he interlocked their fingers, not letting her go.

"I'm awake," Stiles whispered, trying to convince himself. "There - there's no key?"

"I never saw it," Willow told him. "Let's just - let's get you home."

"Can you take me somewhere else, actually?" he asked. "The hospital? I think something's wrong with me."

"Of course," she said, helping him stand.

Before they got in the car, Stiles hugged her tightly. She couldn't see the hardly noticeable smirk on his face, nor could she sense the presence of the werewolf watching them like Stiles could.

"I love you," Stiles said softly, burying his nose in her hair, knowing that he'd be heard.

"I love you too," Willow whispered. She placed a kiss to Stiles' shoulder before pulling away and unlocking the car. "Let's go, Sti."

☽︎

Willow accompanied Stiles into the hospital, not wanting him to be alone after how upset he got. He went up to the reception desk to ask Melissa if his regular doctor had any appointments left for the day.

"Dr. Gardner's not back until next week. Do you want to try waiting for one of the urgent care doctors, or..." Melissa trailed off, watching Stiles carefully as he stepped back, rubbing his face. "Stiles? Are you all right?"

"I don't know," he answered anxiously. "I guess - I guess not really?"

"All right, kiddo, all right," Melissa said, coming around the desk and trying to keep him calm. She'd treat him herself. "Come with me. It's okay."

Melissa led Stiles to a room. Willow sat next to him on the bed, letting him toy with her fingers in his lap to keep calm as Melissa asked for all his symptoms.

"Blackouts, but not for that long. And sleepwalking, which I used to do a lot as a kid," Stiles muttered. "Um, I'm also having some really bad anxiety—"

"Panic attacks?" Melissa asked for clarification.

"A couple," Willow told her, having been the one to ease him out of them.

"Oh, and I temporarily lost the ability to read," Stiles added. "But, that might have had more to do with this giant magic tree and the whole human sacrifice thing."

Melissa grinned, glad that he was at least able to joke still. "I remember something vaguely about that, yes," she said. "How many hours of sleep are you getting?"

"Eight," Stiles replied.

"A night?"

"In the last three days." Melissa turned to sharply look at Stiles, not believing the answer. Stiles was staring down at Willow's fingers, who knew he was silently counting them. "Yeah, definitely eight."

Melissa nodded and walked over to a cabinet to search through it. "Been feeling irritable?"

"Yeah," he admitted. "Possibly to the point of homicide."

"Inability to focus?"

"No, the Adderall's not working."

"Impulsive behavior?"

"More than my usual?" he asked, earning a soft smile from Willow. "Hard to tell."

"Vivid dreams during the day?"

"Okay, basically all of the above," Stiles told her, getting frustrated. "Do you know what this is?"

"I think so," Melissa said, coming back over. She had a needle in her hand with some kind of medicine in it.

"Uh, what's that?" he asked nervously.

"Do you trust me?" she asked.

"When you're not holding a needle," he mumbled.

Melissa raised his shirt sleeve and wiped his skin with an alcohol swap before giving him the shot. "It's midazolam — a sedative."

Stiles looked up at her in alarm. "Why'd you give me a sedative?"

"Because you, Stiles, are one profoundly sleep-deprived young man. You need rest, and you need it now," she informed him. Willow slid off the bed and let Melissa guide his head to the pillow. "Lie down."

"Okay, how long's it take to — Oh. Not long at all," Stiles mumbled, his eyes feeling heavy.

"Get some rest," Melissa told him, pulling the blanket over his body.

Just as Melissa turned to leave, Stiles began to speak drowsily. "Thanks, Mom."

Melissa bit her lip, feelings of affection and pain both overcoming her. She blinked back a few tears before looking at Willow. "You can come get him in a little bit. But I know you need to get to Scott, especially with the sun coming down. I'll be at the house as soon as my shift is over in a few minutes."

"Got it," Willow said, gently combing a hand through Stiles' hair. "Thank you for helping him. I hate seeing him like this."

Willow was reluctant to leave Stiles on his own, but she knew he'd just be sleeping. Besides, they had a plan. She, Scott, and Kira were going to hide in his house once the sun went down. Hopefully, they could keep the shadow warriors out with mountain ash.

When Willow got outside, there was a figure leaning against the side of her car, arms crossed tightly across his chest.

"You left school early. You never leave school early," Derek noted, only glancing at her for a second before staring at the hospital.

"Yeah, but Stiles needed me to bring him," she replied, knowing he was too tired to drive. "Are the twins following Scott?"

"They stuck with him and I followed you after you left the school," he told her. "We need to go find them. We don't need to split up like this."

"He's at his house. Don't worry," Willow said. She pulled her keys out of her pocket, and Derek immediately snatched them, determined to drive.

"I am worried. The sun's about to go down," he said, getting behind the wheel. "We're not gonna let those things hurt you."

"You couldn't stop them doing it to everyone else," Willow said quietly. Yes, she was terrified of the things coming for them, but she was trying to be brave for once. "And maybe Isaac and the Argents will have answers before those things show up. We'll be able to buy them time."

Chris had taken Allison and Isaac to meet with some Japanese gangster from his past called Katashi. Evidently, he had experience with the things that had attacked them. Hopefully, they'd get answers as to why they were here and how to stop them.

The rest of the car ride was mostly silent. For some reason, it felt awkward. But Willow had no idea what was making it so awkward. She kept an eye on Derek, taking note of how tight he was clenching the steering wheel. She didn't know what else to blame the frustration on other than the fact that the sun was beginning to set.

Derek couldn't be frustrated with her, could he?

☽︎

It was just after the sun set that Derek and Willow arrived at the McCall house. And when Kira's horrified scream sounded, they realized that the shadow warriors were already there.

Derek ran in first, fully shifted and ready for a fight. Willow saw Melissa dragging Agent McCall away from the fight, who seemed to be bleeding from a stab wound in his chest. While Derek and Scott fought off the warriors, Willow edged closer to Kira, figuring that it was best to stay together.

Unfortunately, the two girls didn't hear as another one manifested in the shadows behind them, too consumed with making sure the others were hurt.

But feeling as if they were being watched, Kira turned and let out a quiet scream when she saw one of them standing less than five feet away. Willow snatched her wrist and pulled her back just as two figures crashed through the living room window.

The twins had arrived, roaring loudly before attacking the new warrior and also helping Scott, who was still fighting two of them. One by one, they began to overpower the shadow warriors enough to throw them out of the house.

"Mom, the ash!" Scott shouted when only one was left in the house. While Derek fought it off, Melissa ran for her purse and pulled out a jar of mountain ash. Scott watched as Derek managed to throw the last one out the front door. "Mom, now! Do it now!"

Melissa ran beside Derek and threw down the jar of mountain ash. Once it broke, it sealed off the house, keeping everyone inside and hopefully the shadow warriors out. The warriors crowded around the front door, standing completely still as they stared at the barrier. When it seemed that they couldn't come through, Willow let out a sigh of relief.

"It worked," Willow said to Scott, both of them smiling in victory.

"All the baseboards are ash wood?" Derek asked, eying the new addition to the house. He was impressed by the plan even though Scott and Willow hadn't told him beforehand.

"Uh, yeah, it was Deaton's idea," he stated. Then he eyed Derek. "And where the hell did you come from?"

"I've been following you and Willow," he said.

"For how long?" Scott asked, surprised. He hadn't even picked up on the werewolf tailing him.

Derek simply shrugged. "All day."

"Scott, this isn't good!" Melissa suddenly yelled, who was checking on Agent McCall. Scott quickly rushed to the back of the house to check on his father.

"Told you we could buy Isaac and the Argents time," Willow told Derek. "I'm gonna go make sure Kira isn't too shaken up."

As Willow and Derek walked back toward the front of the house, she saw Ethan and Aiden surrounding Kira. Aiden was forcing Kira's hand up against the invisible barrier, which couldn't pass through.

"See that? She can't go through it, either," Aiden told his brother. Then he glared at Kira, perceiving her as a threat. "So, what are you?"

"She's a Kitsune, idiot," Derek said, rolling his eyes. "Use your eyes. You can see it all around her. The younger ones give off an aura. She just hasn't learned how to conceal it, yet. She probably doesn't know what kind she is, either."

"Now let her go, Aiden," Willow commanded, eyes glowing pink.

Aiden's own eyes glowed as he was forced to drop Kira's hand. As soon as the compulsion lifted, he grumbled unhappily under his breath. "I hate when she does that."

Kira looked at Willow with wide eyes, never having seen her Charmspeak in action. In fact, as far as she was aware, Willow was human. Before she could question it though, Scott returned and pulled her to the side, not wanting her near the twins.

"Why do you think we're here, Derek?" Aiden asked defensively. "For a study group? We're here to protect Scott and Willow."

"We're trying to fight for him," Ethan added.

"I'm sure you are. I'm sure you'd kill for him," Derek told them. "But are you willing to die for him?"

Ethan and Aiden shared a hesitant look. Really, the only person they'd give their life for was each other, and it had always been like that. Being a part of a pack — at least one like Scott's — was a completely new world and set of rules for them. Rules they had to get used to.

"Look, no one is dying for anyone—"

Willow was cut off when the house shook violently. They all turned in alarm to see the shadow warriors pressing their hands and swords against the barrier, not letting it push them back.

Feeling the disruption, Scott and Kira ran back to join them. Scott stared with wide eyes, watching the warriors. It was terrifyingly similar to the time he broke past the mountain ash barrier.

"What are they doing?" Scott asked warily.

"Testing for weaknesses," Ethan stated, not taking his eyes off them.

The house continued to shake so violently that plates tumbled from the cabinets, smashing on the ground. Derek reached for Willow, pulling her into his chest so that nothing would hit her. One of the warriors pressed its gloved hand all the way through the barrier.

"Guys? We have a problem," Ethan said, as everyone had been distracted by the house shaking and things falling.

Seeing that the intruders were definitely going to get through, Scott pulled out his phone to call Allison. They had to of found out something that could help.

"Allison, please tell me that you have something," Scott pleaded. "They're here. They're trying to get in, and it looks like they're gonna be able to do it."

Everyone listened anxiously as Allison replied over speakerphone. "Okay, okay, listen. They're Japanese demons. They're called the Oni. They're looking for someone possessed — someone with a dark spirit attached to them."

"A Nogitsune," Scott murmured, glancing at Kira.

"How'd you know that?" Allison asked, confused. She didn't know about Kira being a Kitsune. "Scott?"

"Just tell me what else," he said.

"Okay. They won't hurt you. They know you're supernatural, but once they do this check, once they realize you're not carrying with you this dark spirit, then they won't hurt you. I promise. All they're looking for is the Nogitsune," she explained.

"I'm right, aren't I?" Kira asked nervously. "They're looking for me."

"They're looking for a dark spirit. And I know it's not you," Scott told her.

"Look, Scott," Allison said, still on the phone. "If the Nogitsune is here, then you have to keep Willow away from it."

"What?" Willow asked. Everyone was already looking at her. "What do you mean?"

"We're on the way back and will explain more, but it's dangerous, especially to an Incantator. Just have someone stay with her all the time," Allison warned.

"Will the Oni hurt her because of it?" Derek asked, holding Willow tighter.

"No. No, they'll test her just like everyone else and move on," she assured him.

Derek nodded and then glanced at the door. The Oni were breaking past the barrier. "Scott, we're going to have to do something."

"Don't do anything," Scott decided as soon as the Oni made it through.

"Is he serious?" Aiden asked in disbelief.

"I said, don't do anything," Scott said, sounding more commanding. Then he reached for Kira's hand. "Trust me."

Scott and Kira stepped toward the Oni. After gently squeezing Derek's wrist, he released Willow. Before she could join the other two, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss to her lips.

Willow managed a smile before walking to stand on Scott's other side. Three Oni stepped forward, one for each of them. As their eyes began to glow yellow like a firefly, Willow shut her eyes in fear, not wanting to watch.

Then a cold hand clutched the side of her face, just behind her ear. Her entire body seized up, feeling how the Oni searched deep in her mind and soul for the evil spirit. A cold like no other crept over her.

Scott was the first to drop and then Kira. The Oni testing Willow stood there a moment longer, and for just a second, his yellow eyes flashed pink. But it was gone before any of the pack could notice. Then her knees gave out and she collapsed on the carpet.

The Oni weren't even gone before Derek was at Willow's side, pulling her into his arms. Willow, who was violently shivering and unable to move on her own, welcomed his warmth.

"You're gonna be okay," Derek whispered softly. He brushed the hair covering her left ear to the side, spotting the backward five-looking symbol that was burned into her skin. "You're gonna be okay."

☽︎

While Scott rushed after his mother and father in the hospital, Willow declared that she was going to find Stiles. Hopefully, he was well-rested now. He'd certainly be surprised by everything he missed while sedated. But at least he hadn't been at the house where he could've been hurt.

The first place Willow checked was the room that Stiles had been sleeping in. However, it was empty. Before she could even contemplate calling him, her body moved through the hospital, seemingly knowing where to go.

Willow found Stiles in an empty hallway, pushing through the doors to get to him. Except just as she stepped foot in the room, three beings appeared out of the shadows and surrounded Stiles. He looked at them with wide eyes, backing away as the Oni in front of him raised its hand to test him.

"Stiles!" Willow exclaimed. "Don't do anything. They're just testing for a—"

Stiles suddenly snatched the Oni's hand in an impossibly tight hold. The look of fear washed away, turning into a smirk. Then he reached forward, shoving his hand into the Oni's chest, which was glowing a bright yellow. Stiles ripped his hand back out, uncurling his fingers to look at a dying firefly.

Before Willow's very eyes, the Oni died, caving in on itself in a cloud of shadows.

Then Stiles turned to look at the other Oni, letting the firefly in his hand drop. Realizing that he had the ability to kill them, the other Oni vanished, prepared to come back once they were stronger.

"St - Stiles?" Willow whispered, unable to hide the waver in her voice.

Slowly, he turned to face her, a dark look on his face. "No. Not quite," he said in a deep tone.

"You're what they're after," she said in disbelief, her eyes watering. "You're the Nogitsune."

"Smart girl," he said in a mocking tone. Stiles strode forward, and Willow backed away until he had her against the wall.

"W - what do you want?" Willow asked, beginning to tremble.

"Oh, my little Charmer," he muttered. Stiles reached up and cupped her face, fingers digging into the sides of her neck. "I want you."

Stiles' eyes glowed a bright pink, and Willow's did as well a moment later. She was lost to the world, lost to everything but Stiles.

"We're gonna have so much fun once he lets me in," Stiles said, thumb harshly pulling Willow's bottom lip down. "Until then, you stay with Stiles. Keep him close. Don't let anyone know you know. Understand?"

With his father rushed into surgery, Scott had nothing to do but hunt down Stiles. The werewolf followed his friend's scent to the back of the hospital. As he pushed open the doors leading to him, he saw Stiles and Willow standing in the middle of the hallway, facing away from him.

"Stiles?" Scott asked, seeing how close Willow was to him. Was she comforting him? "You okay?"

"Yeah. Fine," Stiles said, turning to look at Scott. The dark expression on his face was long gone, replaced once more with the helpless human. "Willow was about to fill me in. What's been going on?"

☽︎

Chris, Allison, and Isaac rushed into the McCall house. The only ones that remained were Derek and the twins. While everyone else went to the hospital, they stayed to clean up the blood and broken glass — it was the least the twins could do considering they were the ones to crash through the window.

"Where's Willow?" Isaac asked immediately, not spotting the girl with Derek.

"She's at the hospital with Scott," Derek informed them, ceasing his cleaning and standing up.

"Good," Allison said, sighing in relief. "He'll keep an eye on her."

"What exactly did you mean when you said she needs to be kept away from the Nogitsune?" Ethan asked. He and Aiden also wandered over, curious to know what they found.

"Is she in danger?" Derek asked, a frown settling on his face.

"She's dangerous," Chris stated. "Or she could be if there really is a Nogitsune in Beacon Hills."

"Willow is not dangerous," Aiden said scoffing. "We kidnapped her multiple times, and she still baked us a batch of cookies to welcome us back to school last week."

"Willow on her own isn't, but it's a different story with the Nogitsune around," Chris said. "It's the way that her powers act around it."

"Katashi heard a rumor that we had an Incantator in the pack," Isaac told them. "He gave us a warning."

"What warning?" Derek asked. "Why does she need to be kept away specifically?"

"Willow's powers work by tricking a person's emotions — altering and manipulating feelings of love and affection," Chris explained. "It's why her Charmspeak is so powerful. You do what she tells you to because she tricks your emotions, making you want to do what she says."

"We're all familiar," Aiden muttered. All three werewolves had been a victim of Willow's powers. Even though she never had them do something bad, being controlled still wasn't fun.

"Right. Except you can't trick a trickster," Allison told them, biting her lip.

"So, her powers don't work on a Nogitsune?" Ethan asked for clarification.

"Worse," Chris said. "Think of the Nogitsune like a satellite dish. Willow's aura and energy will bounce right off it while also being amplified. The Nogitsune will then be able to harness her power as its own — though it will only work on her."

"It can control her?" Derek asked in alarm.

"Yes," Allison said. "And she won't even know it. It could be something as subtle as her wanting to be around it, want to protect it. Or it could completely take over her mind, manipulating her into doing whatever it wants. And she'll want to do those things, no matter how bad, just to please it."

"How do we protect her from that?" Derek asked. He couldn't lose Willow to some evil spirit. "How do we prevent it?"

Chris shared a concerned look with Allison and Isaac, and Derek had a feeling he wouldn't like the answer.

"We don't know."

☽︎

[ even though it's void and not stiles, i'm still gonna type it as 'stiles said' or 'stiles did...' because i'm lazy. once they separate, i'll probably say void/the nogitsune. besides, we all know it's not actually stiles. ]