Seven years had passed on in almost a blink of an eye.

  For those who have suffered, it was a long and painful experience. But for those who have lived peacefully, it was a short and calming experience.

  *WHOOOSSHH!!!*

  The winds blow hard and wild over the grass plains, through the leaves of the trees, and on the rocks that stayed completely still in the ground.

  Deep inside the mountains, yet near the ocean waters, where pink cherry blossom trees blooms, lies before a clan that the Galactus Clan has always and will always safeguard and protect through the years — for this clan is the clan that is connected to the World Spirit Tree and the one that guards said tree and is favored by the Goddess of Creation during her life.

  This clan was known as the “Akane Clan”, where the foxians lived in harmony and prosperity throughout their lives and are the most welcoming among all of the clans in the world of Arcadia.

  They do not discriminate anyone, they do not think that they are stronger — nor do they think that they are weaker than anyone else. This clan was known far and wide as “The Clan with that bares no hate towards others, but will show once fully necessary”.

  In a sense, this clan is known as the “Mediator” towards the affairs of the Galactus Clan should there be any ill intent or rumors that directly target the main clan. The Clan that always resolves nearly all conflicts directed towards the Galactus Clan.

  Inside the Noble Akane Clan Family Garden…

  A gigantic cherry blossom tree stands tall that reached about the size of a three story building, its pink petals were already blossoming and glowing, and distinct pink vines seemed to be growing from the roots to its trunk.

  It signified an ancient symbol to the noble family of the Akane Clan.

  And right below that said tree, was a boy that’s seven years of age. He wasn’t a foxian… at least not yet, for this boy was the adopted son of the noble family.

  Steely Akane

  A boy who always has a colder temperature than any normal person, snow-white hair with navy blue eyes, and has an indifferent personality at things he didn’t consider to be worth his time—but is affectionate to those he holds dear.

  He was currently wearing a deep red haori with intricate fox designs over his black and white combat long-sleeve shirt. He was also wearing a black hakama-style pants with a white sash tied around his waist while also wearing white socks and wooden sandals.

  Right now, Steely was staring into the bright blue sky while under the shade of the cherry blossom tree with his back laid on the soft green grass.

  “Gramps said that my “Blood Transfusion” ritual is about to begin in the evening.” He thought.

  “Even though it’s still late in the evening and I have a lot of time to relax or prepare, I still can’t help but be a bit nervous.” He added to his train of thoughts.

  Blood Transfusion.

  It was a tradition that the Akane Clan created for the purpose of turning an impure blooded Akane Clan member and non-blood related people into a Pure Akane Blood, transferring the blood of a compatible Akane Clan member to said person.

  Since Akane Blood were always dominant, this tradition became an extension for the reason why the Akane Clan hasn’t died out throughout the history of the world and has continued to thrive ever since.

  The transfusion not only leads to the characteristics of a foxian being added to the person, but also the clan’s ability that was given to them by the Goddess of Creation.

  “Gramps taught me all those things whenever he wasn’t being busy with his work. I still remember how many hours I spent inside our library because of that, not to mention the physical and mental training.” Steely reminisced with a small smile on his face.

  “It was all worth it though. I did it all because I admire gramps a lot!” He added before he closed his eyes.

  “STEELY!!!”

  A feminine voice called out to him. Steely leaned his head off the ground, opening his eyes, and he saw his quote-on-quote “twin sister” standing on the wooden porch of their wooden noble house.

  Stella Akane

  Back-long light-blonde hair with dark red tips that was tied in a ponytail, deep crimson eyes with golden pupils, fox ears, and nine fox tails — but three of each of those nine fox tails were combined to make it seem like she only has three fox tails. She also had the same black horns as Shiranui’s but hers was shorter than her mother’s

  She wore a deep red yukata over her white shirt, black hakama-style pants with a white sash around her waist, with white socks and wooden sandals.

  The so-called “Bijo” of their family, and she has a huge pout on her face right now with her hands on her hips.

  “Mou! I’ve been looking all over for you, you sneaky fox!”

  Stella said as she ran to Steely’s side before she knelt on his right side.

  “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been searching around our gigantic house just to see you lazing around here under our tree’s shady shadows?”

  Steely’s face showed a small smile before he sat up.

  “Sorry, Stella. I was just trying to take my time to relax for a bit, the shade keeps me cool while I bask under the sun’s heat. Also, I’m not a fox.”

  “Not yet, you aren’t, but you will be in a few hours!” Stella replied before leaning her head on his shoulder.

  “Aren’t you nervous?”

  She asked before adding:

  “I know that the Blood Transfusion Ritual is an important part of our tradition for outsiders, but that would mean that you’ll be leaving your biological heritage behind. I know that it doesn’t really “remove” ALL of your biological heritage, but it would still remove a huge part of it.”

  “Oh I’m nervous, alright.”

  Steely answered before leaning his head over his twin sister’s.

  “It just doesn’t show, does it? But I’ve come to accept about the things that you’ve said earlier, sis. Ever since I was born, the Akane Clan is the only family that I’ve ever truly called home. So I have no regrets of leaving a family that I’ve never really met before.”

  “That’s kinda cold, don’t you think?”

  Stella asked with a worried look on her face.

  “What would your biological parents think if they heard you say that? They might still be trying to find you even ‘til this day. Don’t you think that it’d be a complete waste?”

  Steely only shook his head.

  “As I said earlier; ever since I was born, the Akane Clan is the only family that I’ve ever truly called home. I don’t think it’d be a waste. And besides…”

  Steely had a small smirk on his face before he rubbed Stella’s head with his left hand, ruffling her hair.

  “Doesn’t that mean that we’ll became true “twins” now? What’s there to be getting all sad about? Aren’t you happy?” He kept on ruffling Stella’s hair.

  “Aaaahh!! Steely, you’re hand stings!”

  “Oh sorry!”

  Steely immediately stopped ruffling his sister’s hair.

  “Are you hurt?” He asked in a worried tone.

  “I’m fine… Heehee.”

  Stella let out a small smile before she leaned on his shoulder again.

  “This happens a lot of times, doesn’t it? We almost nearly forget about the fact that skin contact with you can cause a stinging sensation whenever we touch. That extremely low body temperature of yours sure is a painfully annoying trait. I can’t even get a proper hug from you without feeling a small bit of frostbite.”

  Stella said while rubbing her head.

  “I can’t really do anything about it. It’s been like this ever since I was a child, that’s what mom and dad told me at least.”

  Steely replied with a solemn tone as he gripped his left hand.

  “For me, it just feels like a normal body temperature. But whenever I tried to touch someone, they feel the stinging pain of my cold body. It’s annoying, yes. However…”

  He let out a small smile before turning to Stella.

  “It’s a trait that I want to keep, even though there is a small percentage of me keeping it after the Blood Transfusion, it’s a trait that I want to keep just so that I can remember that I also have a biological family out there.”

  “So that you’ll always remember what you truly are, and not lose sight of who you once were and who you are going to be now.” Stella finished his sentence.

  Steely nodded his head before he wrapped his right arm around Stella’s shoulder.

  “Yup! You get it.”

  “Well, I just hope that you don’t end up regretting this decision, Steely.”

  Stella said before adding.

  “But knowing you, you probably won’t. Anything to become close to the ones you call a “family”, right?” She asked with a grin.

  “I’d be lying if I said “no” to that, but yes — anything to become close to the ones I call a “family”, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Also…”

  Steely started ruffling Stella’s hair once more.

  “Wipe that stupid grin off your face!”

  “Ahahaha! Steely’s all mad now!”

  Stella immediately got out of Steely’s embrace and ran around their garden before Steely got up and chased after her.

  “Can’t catch me~!”

  “Oh it’s on, you little rascal!”

  Both “twins” grinned at each other as they chased one another inside their house garden, unbeknownst that they were being watched by their parents through a window on the second floor.

  Noble Akane Household, Second Floor—Aki Akane’s Office…

  “The kids are chasing each other around again.”

  Shiranui giggled at the sight of her children playing around in the garden.

  “Let them have their fun.”

  Aki, who was working on the papers on his table, let out a small smile.

  “Steely’s Blood Transfusion Ritual will begin this afternoon. It’s good for the two of them to have their fun to remove any nervousness out of their system.”

  He stared at his wife and his smile turned into a grin.

  “You were quite nervous yourself back then, dear. I still remember your scared and sweaty face when it was time for your Blood Transfusion Ritual.”

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  Shiranui looked a little offended and pouted.

  “You don’t need to remind me of that, dear! Oh Goddess above, I still remember how mother-in-law’s face looked back then when she saw me.”

  “Haha! Oh yeah~. Mother back then looked quite mischievous and wanted to tease you because of the way you looked back then. You were so tense.”

  Aki let out a teasing smile at his wife.

  “You don’t need to remind me… Also, that attitude of yours is something that I’m still not used to.” Shiranui sighed.

  “I get that a lot, and I take it as a compliment. It just means that my mother’s genetics were still passed to me, despite it being a small amount.”

  “And that teasing personality that barely comes out once in a few while is the small amount of mother-in-law’s genetics showing.” Shiranui huffed with a small smile.

  “Now that genetics is also passed on to Stella.” She added.

  “I too can see some of my mother’s visage on our daughter’s image. If she was still alive to this day, I bet she’d ball her eyes out at the familiar sight on her granddaughter’s face.”

  “It’s like looking at a mirror, isn’t it?” Shiranui asked and smiled at her husband.

  Aki just smiled before nodding his head and going back to his paper work.

  Shiranui stared at their children down below and silence was in the room for a while.

  That was until a minute or two had passed that Shiranui asked her husband:

  “Do you think… it’s really a good idea to have Steely go do the Blood Transfusion despite us nor him not knowing who his real parents are?”

  That brought Aki’s right hand fall to a halt as he looked at his wife’s worried face.

  “Do you ask that because you’re worried that Steely may became even more attached to us that he doesn’t want to find his true parents?”

  When Shiranui nodded her head, Aki sighed.

  “It’s Steely’s choice, dear. We can’t do much about it if he’s already thought about doing it. And from the looks of it, he doesn’t seem to care much about his biological parents.” He answered.

  “But he still thinks about them from time to time.” Shiranui answered back.

  “I’m not sure how to really feel about this. I love Steely liked I loved Amber and Stella, not to mention that Stella and Amber have become attached to him. If he suddenly left after finding out who his true parents are…”

  Shiranui trailed, but Aki already knew what his wife was trying to say.

  “You’re worried because their heart may break once Steely leaves, is that it?” When he added that question, his wife nodded.

  Silence once again engulfed the entire room.

  The couple don’t know what to answer to this question. They’ve never had this kind of experience before. Sure they have experiences one different things, a few hundred even—considering that foxians are one of the long-life species out there.

  But towards the situation that they’re family is in right now and the thought of Steely leaving?

  They didn’t have even a single answer. The best thing that they could ever possibly do is ignore this situation for now and change the subject so that they can think of a solution for this soon.

  And that’s what Aki just did.

  “Let’s try to put a hold onto this predicament for now. Steely’s Blood Transfusion should be something joyous to celebrate about! So let’s just hope for best, alright?”

  “I guess so. Sorry for making you worry, dear.” Shiranui apologized.

  “No need to apologize, hun. If anything, this gave me a lot to think about. And in all honesty, I think that’s a good thing.”

  With that, Aki returned to doing his paperwork while Shiranui kept a watchful eye on their children, who she saw was now rolling on the grass floor. This sight made Shiranui giggle.

  “Yes… Let’s just hope for the best.”

  An hour later…

  The bustling streets of the Akane Clan was overwhelming to say the least... Yeah, no, scratch that — it was getting annoying for Steely.

  “I am never really going to be a huge fan of crowded places.” He muttered.

  “I get that my Blood Transfusion is a big deal since I’m part of the Noble Akane Family, but for gramps to schedule it right at the same time as the Nine Fox, Nine Tails Festival is just way too much!”

  Steely soon arrived at a massive restaurant in the “Festivity District” of the Akane Clan.

  The “Festivity District” is a very popular district in the Akane Clan where festivals, live shows, concerts, and holiday events, just to name a few, are usually being held. With its large and engaging popularity, the Festivity District has managed to build some restaurants and cafes too.

  It was no wonder why the place was so crowded. Even foreigners from different clans and kingdoms from different parts of Arcadia come here just to enjoy the districts lively and joyful atmosphere as well as join in on some events being held.

  *DING!*

  A bell rang once Steely opened the door and when he entered, he saw the talisman decorations and ramen-style interior of the restaurant with a lot of costumers sat on their chairs while eating ramen noodles and other foods served in the restaurant menu.

  “Hey, bossman! You there or something?!” Steely shouted as he glanced around.

  “Oh? I hear a familiar voice!”

  A manly voice echoed throughout the kitchen of the restaurant and then came out the boss of the business.

  “Well if it isn’t Little Steel! Glad to see you taking some time off just to visit this old man!”

  Yamori Akane

  A one-hundred and fifty-six years old Foxian of the Akane Clan that has all the same traits as every regular Akane that has the light-blond hair with red tips and nine fox tails, but his hair was about neck-length long and has a beard.

  He’s the most famous ramen cook among all of the Akane Clan and the owner of the most popular open kitchen ramen restaurant of the Akane Clan called: Talis-Main Dish.

  “Can you please stop calling me “Little Steel” from now on, bossman? I’m not a little kid anymore.” Steely said with a flat face and a flat voice.

  “You’ll always be “Little Steel” to me, Little Steel!” Yamori pushed it.

  “Besides, I have to thank you for giving me a good word to your father. If it weren’t for your intervention, I don’t think that my cooking would’ve been recognized this much! I even have my own restaurant now!” He grinned.

  “It was just a coincidence, bossman.”

  Steely answered before he sat right on the chair in front of the open kitchen.

  “I was just getting hungry one day and I stumbled upon your little abode. To be honest, the smell captivated me a lot when I was a kid.” He answered with a calm look.

  “I would never get used to seeing you so emotionless while saying such meaningful words, Little Steel.” Yamori commented with a sweat drop.

  “But still, I have to thank you nonetheless. Not to mention you’ve been a regular at my restaurant for about four years now. And with your Blood Transfusion Ritual coming up, there has to be something that I can give as a thank you gift.”

  “Your cooking and ramen recipes, if you would so kindly please give me a copy of it.”

  Steely immediately answered and shot his right hand forward with an open palm and a “give it to me” gesture was moving on his fingers. He truly enjoyed every single meal that he ever ate at this establishment, despite his face only showing a smug look on his face right now.

  “No can do, Little Steel! Those ones are a trade secret and will always stay as a trade secret no matter what! I’m never sharing my recipes to anyone else!”

  Yamori replied back with an equal size of a smug look as Steely.

  “Geh… You’re really persistent about that, aren’t you?”

  “And you still haven’t given up on learning my recipes either, so I guess we’re equally persistent then.”

  The two grinned at each other before Steely sighed as his face contorted into a small smile.

  “Well alright then. If I can’t have you’re recipes, just let me have my usual set.”

  “Coming right up!” Yamori flexed his right arm before entering the kitchen once more.

  Steely’s face returned to its neutral, calm, and collected state once Yamori was gone. He was used to switching personalities like flipping a switch. On one person, he was warm and joyful; on the other, he was cold and indifferent.

  That’s just how he was, he kept saying that to himself every time and sometimes even hears than from other people.

  Was it so wrong? He was comfortable around the people he cares about. So why would he need to pretend to be comfortable around strangers he didn’t even know?

  He'd just be fooling himself with a fake personality and he really doesn’t like that.

  “Aww~. And here I was enjoying that smile of yours~.” A female voice echoed through Steely’s left ear.

  When he turned to the side, the person he saw left him speechless.

  Beautiful and graceful look, shining silver white waist-length hair with a single glowing gold strip along her bangs, and with eyes as blue as the morning summer sky and sun-like yellow pupils.

  She seemed to be a bit older than him.

  Five years apart, perhaps? The same age as his older sister, Amber.

  What’s more was that this beauty of a lady had a little girl accompanying her, who was sat right next to her. She was probably the little sister of the one that caught Steely’s eyes.

  Although Steely didn’t pay attention to the little girl, he still saw that she was as beautiful as the older one and that she had more gold than the older lady.

  “You should smile more often, you know? I loved the way you smiled earlier, it was quite pure.” The older girl said.

  “And please, don’t mistake this as a form of me hitting on you. I’m merely complimenting your smile.” She added.

  “And you are?” Steely questioned.

  “Me? I guess… you can call me an angel.”

  The “Angel” replied with a small yet pure smile on her face that nearly captivated all those who were watching or those who had caught a glimpse at her and couldn’t look away.

  Was she really an angel as she said though?