《The Beasts Under Your Bed》


 Prologue

    The concert hall, once so full and vibrant, was mostly empty now. Not that the band had finished playing, or that the crowd had gotten bored, but rather because a massive canine-esque monstrosity had appeared and started making everyone present into its snack, totally ignorant of the fact that midnight snacks should be had at midnight, and not in the middle of the day. However, when it tried to sink it''s massive, dagger-like teeth into a man with a suspicious overcoat on, it got promptly shot in the face. While this was not enough to kill it outright, it did recoil from the shot, and stared at the man, snarling and saliva dripping from its mouth. The man pointed the large caliber revolver at the creature, and grinned.


    "So, you thought you''d come here, eat some people, and have a gay ol'' time, aye?" He asked, kind of rhetorically considering A; the creature wasn''t coherent enough to understand him and B; the screaming masses that were still fleeing for the exits made any attempt to speak pointless. Still, quips were the lifeblood of sanity, and one could not hunt giant, eldritch abominations from beyond the realm of normality for a living without developing a mental tick to keep from turning into a gibbering mess. ¡°Well, unfortunately for you, I am here to tell you that the party is cancelled. Buffet is closed. Cafe is shutting down for the night. And don''t ask why buffet sounds like it should have a y in it, that''s just how language is" He then shot the creature in the face as it lunged for him again, an explosive gout of fire erupting from the point of impact and knocking the creature into the stage, severely scorching it''s face.


    It tried to stand, but the front leg was filled with several flaming rounds which all but rendered it useless. "See, we knew you were coming, and so my first goal was to stop you from getting here in the first place. Didn''t exactly work, as you can see" he continued, fluidly sliding to the side and sticking a bullet into the creature''s eye as it tried one last, desperate lunge. Anatomy wasn''t the same with these things, so there was little hope that hitting its eye was a kill-shot, but it certainly stayed on the ground, mewling in pain. "So, now, I gotta keep shooting you with my Arigo until you stop moving and start to melt. I''ll admit, it is the more fun of the two options"


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    The creature, who had been thoroughly outmatched, lay on the floor, pottered with holes, and baring its teeth in a vicious growl, not that it could do much else at this point. A black liquid, with the consistency of oil, slowly ran down its face from the ocular wound. It hissed when it hit the floor, and then evaporated into nothing. The Man opened the cylinder of his revolver, and dumped the casings onto the ground. There was a soft clatter, and then they vanished as if they had never really existed in the first place. Which, some smart people with high IQ and far too much time on their hands would argue that they didn''t. The Man didn''t quite understand all that, he just shot things. And occasionally punched things. Rarely, hit things with his trump card, but these days he practically never got to play that.


    "Now. We''ve got sit, stay, and don''t eat the people down. Not a bad collection of skills, if I do say so. But there is just one more I¡¯d like you to learn before we call it a day" he said, cocking back the hammer and pointing it at the hound. "Play dead". The order was punctuated by six loud gunshots, filling the empty hall with a surprisingly sharp noise. The creature readily learned the last trick, and stopped moving, or making any sort of noise. Then, as if the air had suddenly turned corrosive, it started to melt. Nodding to himself, The Man dumped out the casings again, then holstered his gun and gave one last look around. Now he wasn''t distracted by an evil demon from Across the Road trying to eat his face, his sharp eyes picked out a small girl hiding behind the curtains on the stage. She must have thought that it was safer than trying to flee. So, putting on his best, most friendly face, he walked over to her, and kneeled down in front of her.


    "Hey kiddo. No need to be scared now. I''ve dealt with the ugly one. So, can you tell me your name?" He asked. The girl simply cowered a bit more behind the curtain, so he decided to try open up some more. "I''m Drax. Drax Ator. I''m the good guy. So, do yo-" he was cut off, as the young girl''s index fingernail had hyper-extended from her finger, and punched through his chest, penetrating his heart and going out the other side. Drax looked down at it, confused, and then looked to the girl. "Foul..." he managed, before several more fingernails punctured his chest, slicing his heart to ribbons, and killing him quite effectively.


    "You kill my puppy then expect to talk? That is a faux pas, Mr. Drax" The girl said, in an airy voice that seemed to originate from several different points at once. She walked up to the body, and stared, smiling for a few moments, before the sound of powerful engines could be heard clearly outside. She scoffed softly, not fancying her chances with a dozen SIR agents, so turned and sliced open the air with her long fingernail, a vertical slit opening up in front of her. She walked through it, and vanished from the hall, the slit closing up several moments later, and leaving one dead man, on the stage.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter Two


    Anyone who walked behind the old gym of Ashfield School would be granted with an interesting sight. A smallish, blonde girl in a ratty, short school uniform was facing three guys in front of her, all wearing their uniform as well. One would think that such a brazen, open act would be foolish, but since the school had mostly migrated to the new buildings, the old part of school was patrolled only sporadically, making it a breeding ground for all manner of delinquents. Another reaction would be the feeling of immense pity for the girl, as she was outnumbered by larger, more physically robust men, each easily able to overpower her.


    Sticking around for any length of time would have them proven wrong, as the young blonde girl was Kiko, the most delinquent of the lot. The teen furthest on her left would charge in, at the same time as the one in the centre, clearly with no co-ordination or forth-planning. A strong kick to the side, carried though with formidable leg muscles would knock the left-charging teen off his feet, and send him crashing into the second boy, introducing them both to the ground in a painful manner. The largest of the three then let out a growl of vexation and rushed her, only to have a fist sunk firmly into his gut, and his nose broken across her knee as his body doubled over and allowed her to grab his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s always the same with you lot¡± Kiko commented as the third man saw how badly it was going and decided just to stay down. ¡°Chat shit, get hit. Are you notr bored of this already?¡± she asked rhetorically.  A fourth man, a slimy and insidious git, tried to come round the back of her with a makeshift garrote out of his tie, but never made it to his target as he let out a convulsing gurgle and collapsed to the ground.


    "Give me your lightning fingers. You cannot measure the level of jealous I am" Kiko exclaimed, turning round to see a much, much better dressed woman of similar age.


    "Mmm, most people do seem to like them. Except when they are turned on those people, then I lose popularity fast" The savior replied, stepping up and checking the physical state of the four. "But still, you got in a fight, and really did a whammy on two of them, the third pretending to be hurt so he doesn¡¯t have to face the music" She quipped, a strangled cry of surprise coming from below them. The Lightning Girl then pushed the unconscious teen off the pretender, and dragged him up roughly.


    "Ease up Remmy! Man''s threads are precious, ya get me?" He exclaimed, and looked like he was going to carry on, but quickly shut up after some static danced between Remmy''s fingers.


    "Remokr. You are not my friend" she replied, staring intently.


    "Hell, she is my friend and even I don''t call her Remmy. Something about her nature as a walking Taser makes me want to be polite" Kiko put in, with a coy half-smile.


    "Friend or not, I have my duty. Now come on" She ordered, dragging the man along and trusting Kiko to move on her own volition as they headed to the Head Teacher¡¯s office.


    Tall, fanged, and hairier than the average man, the Head Teacher was clearly not one to hide his Lupus nature. And this overt showing of his nature just added to the intimidating nature. Even Kiko¡¯s thuggish assailant was cowed in the Head Teacher¡¯s presence. He did not seem very happy to see Kiko, indicating that she was a repeat-offender to his office.


    ¡°So. Why has Remokr dragged you here this time¡± He growled, staring down the two of them. The teen boy just muttered incomprehensibly, but Kiko had clearly been planning a speech on the way here.


    ¡°Well. This one and his friends stole a girl¡¯s schoolbag, and told her that if she wanted it back, she was to go to the old gym and get it back from them. I, happened to be passing by at the time, and took it upon myself to go get her bag back personally¡± She explained.


    ¡°Knowing your opinion on my staff, I can see why you did not go to them. But this is the third time this month you have been brought here for acts of violence¡± The Head replied, sighing softly.


    ¡°You have a crap anti-bullying problem. Half the time it¡¯s done in front of the teachers, and one of them actively joins in¡± Kiko retorted. Not that it elected too negative of a response, however.


    ¡°I am aware of that. I cannot simply maul the offenders into obedience, so I must take subtle steps that do nothing. Really, any anti-bullying campaign is for publicity more than any practical outcome. It relies on the entire staff being upright people unafraid of conflict, and no school has that. But, this does not change the fact that you are a menace to the school, and the people in it. Everyone is on my back about you and the state their ¡®darling children¡¯ return home in. You have to stop this one-woman war against every asshole in the school, or will be expelled. Do you understand?¡± He asked, staring down the blond teen.


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    ¡°You know that¡¯s never going to happen, right?¡± Kiko replied, her eyebrow cocked.


    ¡°I do, but it sounds good¡± he sank back into his chair and brooded some about what to do. ¡°The number of incidents with you are growing, and I know there are three others behind my back for each one. I may¡­¡± he¡¯d stare into the distance for a moment and then glanced to Kiko. ¡°If you can keep yourself from assailing anyone for the next week or so, I shall contact your father and start a plan of action. This has honestly gone on far too long, and it is time to start a crackdown¡±


    The giant wolf man would nod to himself, and then look at all three gathered before him.


    ¡°You can go now. Finish your classes and return home without causing any more trouble, ok?¡± He did not receive a reply, just another nod before Kiko left, leaving Remokr and the teen boy in the office.


    She did as she was told, and did not start any more trouble, as difficult as that was to accomplish. There was always more trouble to start around this place. On the way home she expected the little brat and his band of dickish dooshbags to try something, but they did not. So she got home pretty easily. Opening the door, she saw a person in the kitchen, but didn¡¯t pay any mind to it, purple hair aside. She lived with her dad, so having someone around wasn¡¯t strange. Of course, she got as far as half way up the stairs before realizing that her dad was off at work, and wasn¡¯t a woman besides. So she slowly walked back down the stairs and stared at the apparently random person in the kitchen.


    ¡°So, do you often break into people¡¯s houses like this, or am I just special?¡± Kiko asked. The woman seemed to be standing there like she owned the place, which she didn¡¯t because it was their house, not hers.


    ¡°On occasion. But, in this instance, you are special¡± The woman replied, slowly walking over to Kiko. As she moved, Kiko¡¯s eyes were drawn to her body, and could make out the uniform she was wearing. It was very militant, and she recognized it immediately, the black base and red trim was famous worldwide these days. And the recognition made her slightly embarrassed to be so rude. But then, the woman did just break in without invitation.


    ¡°You are a SIR agent? Now I¡¯m both confused and curious. Why did you break in here, and why am I special?¡± Kiko asked. She tempered her tone so it wasn¡¯t quite as pointed as it was, but she was still rather annoyed.


    ¡°I broke in here to get to you. And you are special because your father was special. He worked for us for quite a long time. Almost everyone in the ODD knew him¡± She has a soft tone to her voice now, as if trying to avoid her voice breaking.


    ¡°Why are you speaking in past tense..? It''s kind of ominous, you know¡± Kiko said, looking at her with eyes that didn¡¯t want to think about the reason why and suppressing the stutter that came with her nerves. Suddenly, the woman came forward and embraced her in a hug. It was surprising, and made her even more filled with dread.


    ¡°He died. We don¡¯t know how; it was far too precise for what he was hunting to have done it. But he¡¯s just¡­dead¡± the woman¡¯s voice did not hold out, and cracked at the end, her sorrow clearly evident. However, Kiko just stared, frowning softly. Like she was trying to comprehend, to understand. And it wasn¡¯t really happening.


    ¡°I¡­.¡± she started, but didn¡¯t know how to continue, so just didn¡¯t. The woman eventually stopped hugging her, and pulled back, wiping her eyes.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know how you feel, right? You don¡¯t really feel anything at all?¡± She inquired, regaining her professionalism as Kiko nodded. ¡°Your father told me it¡¯s a Kitsune thing. Basically, any strong emotion is suppressed, and fed to your psyche over time. A holdover from The Great War. It can be overwhelmed, in which case its activation is delayed, but for the most part it helps keep you sane¡± she explained. Then when Kiko cocked her head softly, she continued.


    ¡°Wha¡­?¡± Kiko was not in a mind to think properly, just looked up. And the woman took it as a prompt to continue.


    ¡°It¡¯s not taught in schools anymore, it¡¯s held for higher learning. There was a time when the creatures that SIR hunt roamed this land like any other animal. You¡¯ve no doubt heard about them, seen news broadcasts. It was a bad time, I am told. But then, the history books tell of a many tailed man who rose up, wielding a crystalline sword of the deepest blue, he led his people into battle against the creatures.


    And after victories began to mount up, he gathered support from both the humans and the quasi-humans. With the human¡¯s ingenuity and determination, combined with the quasi-human¡¯s versatility and raw power, the creatures were hunted down and killed in their millions, with a few escaping somewhere unreachable. Apparently it was decided that such a upsetting concept should be kept out of the schools and reserved for those who take a higher course of history. But, several of the quasi-humans have kept traits from that war. The Kitsune most of all, But the Lupians and the Dragons as well, to name a few¡± She looked to continue, but Kiko buried her head in her hands before she could.


    ¡°Why are you telling me all this? I didn¡¯t need to know any of it. And now you are telling me all of it, and just¡­why?¡± The cold, slightly dead eyes were unnerving, but the woman was a member of SIR, she had seen much more unnerving things in her life, and brought them to heel.


    ¡°You, as your father, are a Kitsune. Kitsunes rarely interact with humanity these days, and so we really have a shortage of them on our staff. With the passing of your father, there is a space we need to fill drastically. Which is why we have come to you¡± She said, before straightening her uniform, and holding out her hand.


    ¡°So, to do this formally. I am Colonel Lysaida Mizia. On behalf of ODD, I would offer you a place within the specialist squadrons of SIR¡± Lysaida almost barked, in a very military fashion. As a response, Kiko could only stand, somewhere between awestruck, and confused.

 Chapter 3

    Chapter Three


    Totally unaware of how, exactly, it happened, Kiko found herself outside the building of the Supernatural Incursion Response division of the Otherworld Divination and Defence. It was an impressive place, but that wasn¡¯t the point. One moment she was in her kitchen, talking to Colonel Lysaida, she was crying, Kiko was feeling nothing, and then¡­. she was here. Maybe she just wasn¡¯t paying attention and agreed to all of it¡­that would probably be the clearest explanation. Her mind had gone on vacation, it seemed.


    ¡°Thank you for accepting my offer. We need all the Kitsunes we can get to fend off the threats, and your race are among the best to do it¡± Lysaida told Kiko, reinforcing the idea that she had agreed, but not sparking any memories. SIR and ODD in general were not the true military, but rather an extragovermental attachment born out of the circumstances. Just because the Beasts were about didn¡¯t obviate the need for a conventional military, after all. But their special positioning meant that they had differing rules on recruitment and joining, so despite the fact that Kiko had yet to finish school - last year, sure, but still - there was nothing stopping her from joining. And as such, it was pretty easy for her to imagine having joined, unlike the army proper. But, she couldn¡¯t remember having done it. And so, Kiko just nodded and stepped in. The world was numb right now, and concentrating was hard. So she didn¡¯t realize Lysaida taking her by the hand until she had been led off in another direction. Kiko stared, but said nothing and allowed herself to be led. Up, and down halls, it felt like forever, but eventually she was led to a small wing with half a dozen people milling around.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a fair bit of work to be getting on with, your transfer and all. These will help you, Kiko. They know a lot more than I do¡± she told the young Kitsune, and then just, vanished, the air where she was making a sucking sound as it filled the suddenly vacant spot.


    So, that happened. And now she was surrounded by people. Tails swished, ears perked, and then someone stepped forward. Four tails could be seen, bushy and looking so amazingly fluffy. She almost wanted to hug it. But before she could do that she was dragged into the girl¡¯s amble bosom, and embraced.


    ¡°We see your pain, little one. We will sooth it, so you may hunt again¡± The woman who was quite obviously the leader exclaimed, in a tone that sounded more like a quote than anything. Then the tone changed, to be more conversational, more directed at Kiko than simply a phrase.


    ¡°We are sorry you had to experience that so young. Your father, was a father to us all. His greatness shone like a beacon, and was the strongest leadership we have had in so many years. The burden now falls to me, and I fear I will never match him, even in part. But enough of this horridness. I am Asha. I am a Kitsune of Four Tails, and I lead this skulk of Kitsunes. I provide assistance to them when they are sent out to battle the Great Beasts, and comfort when they return¡± Asha¡¯s words had a reverence for Kiko, and for the rest as well, it seemed. They all hung off her words with religious-like fervour. Unknowing why, or where it came from, Kiko felt like she was so secure in this woman¡¯s presence, like nothing could ever go wrong. ¡°Now, you may release your tails, young Kitsune¡± Asha continued, like she was giving permission. Totally out of her depth here, she just stared for a few moments, and then managed to speak.


    ¡°I¡­. don¡¯t have any¡­¡± it was a revelation that was met with soft gasps of shock. But Asha just stared for a few seconds.


    ¡°All Kitsunes have one...He did not bring you into the fold. Did not make you aware of your heritage, nor inform you of your culture. It is understandable, Kitsunes are called upon to fight the Great Beasts and he wished to save you from this fate. He was great enough that he could do this, but now, he is gone, stripped untimely from this world. And his legacy falls, to you¡± Asha put two hands on Kiko¡¯s shoulders, and they felt tremendously heavy, more so than any hands had the right to feel. Her eyes burned so intensely, and her words again turned to ritual and ceremony. ¡°There is fire in you, child, and it is our duty to kindle it, so it may grow¡± As Asha finished speaking, Kiko felt something in her. It filled her, like a balloon, the deep breath of the ritual inflating her as it did. This feeling, this connection with people who were both total strangers, and close kin, was one that she would never be able to get used to, but would not want to see it go for the life in her.


    And then it was all over. Asha took her hands away, and just nodded before turning and walking through one of the nearby doors. The connection with the others surrounding her remained, but there were no more breaths filling her up, and for that she was glad. Felt like she was going to blow up if it continued. The whole thing was intense, she wasn¡¯t sure she could handle it any more than she had. Luckily, she didn¡¯t need to worry about that, because, after swaying on the spot for a few seconds in the wake of Asha¡¯s departure, she collapsed onto the floor, and quickly passed out.


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    Waking up some hours later, she seemed to be in what looked to be a hospital, or at least a hospital-based wing. It had a half dozen beds and some medical equipment around, but nothing she could recognize, since she kind of avoided hospitals in general. They creeped her out and she hated the smell. She was alone, for the moment, and so decided to lay back on the rather comfortable bed, and use the time to try and clear her mind. Her dad was a SIR agent, she was apparently a Kitsune, her dad was dead, she had a tail, she¡¯d been recruited into the employment of ODD, and whatever happened to that crystalline sword from the story? It seemed like the sort of thing that one would keep track of, if it had enough prominence in his slaying of the beasts to warrant an addition to the story.


    A few minutes into this, a man in a white coat walked through the doors to her left, and smiled as he saw Kiko was awake, and conscious.


    ¡°Ahh, you are up. That¡¯s good. While you were out we ran some tests on your vitals and whatnot, just to make sure you were healthy, beyond the sudden passing out from Kitsune rituals and all. We were told that was a common reaction from Belonging, but wanted to check anyway. Science can stand alongside mojo after all. It¡¯s all in the green, so if you feel up to walking around, Queenie wants to give you a check-up. She says she trusts our medical stuff to see what is wrong, but now it is her job to see what is right. It makes sense, when you get to know her¡± he then grinned, and scrawled something on her clipboard. Everyone in a hospital seemed to have a clipboard for some reason. But, putting that out of her head for the moment ¨C she had enough to worry about without pondering the all-encompassing nature of clipboards ¨C she got out of bed, and nodded to the doctor man.


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯m ready¡­ish. Take me to this Queenie¡±


    As it turned out, this Queenie was the Overseer of Physical Prowess within SIR. Basically making her the boss of the gym, but the woman was imposing and so Kiko didn¡¯t give her that title, worried that it might be taken the wrong way. She was not overly tall, but had an aura of superiority that made Kiko feel like an ant, all of a sudden. It was this oppressive feeling of power that distracted Kiko from the woman¡¯s appearance. Horns on her head, glowing red eyes, and hooved feet, on the end of what looked to be some sort of goat legs. She was quite clearly a Demon, which made Kiko suddenly let out a noise between a shriek and a yelp and stumble backwards, nearly losing her balance as she did so. Queenie, for her part, looked to the doctor, and held out her hand. Which was filled with a bit of money, to much eye rolling from the doctor.


    ¡°To be honest that was a terrible bet from what I heard, but had to make it anyway. You get the shit end of the stick Queenie. Again¡± He then cocked his head softly, as if listening to something nobody else could hear. ¡°gotta get back, team just got back from a Rakasha nest. One of them made sweet love to the business end of their claws. Try not to break her, aye?¡± He then left Kiko with this Demon, who just stared for a few seconds. Then walking up close and while roughly the same size, towering over Kiko.


    ¡°Boo¡± Queenie said. Kiko recoiled, expecting something totally different, and was rewarded with surprisingly light laughter. ¡°The benefit of all this hate has to be how much fun I can get out of practically every recruit that comes by¡± Her voice was pleasant and soft, and even the tone shift from humour to seriousness didn¡¯t hurt its auditable beauty. ¡°But seriously. Take off your clothes. All of them¡± Queenie ordered. Kiko just gave a look between confusion and wonder, if this was a joke or an actual order. The smouldering red in her eyes was a hell of a thing to stare into though and so after a few seconds, began to strip out of her clothes until she was naked. As soon as that that had happened, Queenie¡¯s fingers ran across her abdomen. They were surprisingly gentle, and they felt very good, making Kiko blush rather deeply only a few seconds into the contact. The touch traced it¡¯s way upwards, and her mind braced herself for when the woman did what she thought was going to happen and molested her breasts. However, she went right past them with barely a glancing touch, sliding her hands down Kiko¡¯s arms, and then moving on to her back, giving her ass more attention than her boobs ever got, and then finishing off with a swift but seemingly sensuous stroke to Kiko¡¯s thighs and calves.


    Once it was all done, Queenie stood up, and returned to Kiko¡¯s front. Kiko was distinctly heated and embarrassed from the experience, but Queenie either didn¡¯t see it, or didn¡¯t really care and carried on regardless.


    ¡°You have a good muscular structure. Quite a few of the recruits who come here have to be built from the ground up. Now, little Kitsune. No tails I am guessing?¡± Queenie¡¯s eyes seemed to be staring very intently at Kiko, as if to avoid looking anywhere else.


    ¡°I¡­no. Didn¡¯t, know, I was, a Kitsune¡± Kiko stammered, broken sentences as she tried to cover herself from the gaze of Queenie. It was a hard thing to do, the woman¡¯s eyes felt like they could penetrate right through her to the very soul of her underneath. And souls never wore clothes.


    ¡°Ahh, that¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t wanna step on Asha¡¯s toes too much, but don¡¯t overthink it. Kitsunes are born with a tail in their soul, but they have a Belonging before they can call it. A Belonging is generally done with your family, but Drax wanted to keep you out of that life so he didn¡¯t. Asha did last night, so your tail will be coming along soon¡± She counselled, before nodding to Kiko¡¯s pile of clothes. ¡°You can put them back by the way¡± Queenie told her. Kiko did so with alacrity, thankful to have some kind of barrier between her and the woman. Everything had been going so fast! When would life slow down for a second and let her catch her breath?


    ¡°Let¡¯s get started with this show on the road¡± Queenie exclaimed, seemingly mixing her words as she led Kiko to a ring, and then turned to her. ¡°I¡¯m going to hit you, you are going to try to stop me, and we will see where it goes from there¡± as plans went, Kiko had heard worse, but she had certainly heard better as well. ¡°Ohh, also¡± Queenie then squirted something in Kiko¡¯s face. It tasted like perfume and made her hack and cough. ¡°There. Now we can begin¡±

 Chapter 4 (m)

    Chapter Four


    It seemed Queenie was serious with her exclamation, and Kiko took the first blow to her jaw, stumbling across the mat. Queenie seemed to have pulled her punch as well, so while it made Kiko stumble, it didn¡¯t really hurt all that much. But still, there was that stare. The stare of disappointment, like Queenie was expecting something Kiko didn¡¯t deliver. Irritated, and annoyed by this stare, Kiko batted away the second punch, ducked under the third, and thrust out a punch to Queenie¡¯s gut.


    It was like punching a brick wall. Immediately regretting her decision with a sharp yelp of pain, Kiko backed off, scowling and taking a more defensive stance. She did say just stop her, after all. Maybe the frigging brick wall abs was the reason she didn¡¯t advise offense. So she did just that, dodging and ducking and parrying for a few sets, before she heard herself panting deeply. The panting was confusing, she hadn¡¯t been doing that much to warrant such exhaustion, and it didn¡¯t really feel like exhaustion. It was more the feeling of violent, intense warmth from her body that was throwing off her breathing. Every movement gave her a new flush of the feeling, and for want of a better word, it felt good. Queenie took advantage of this distraction, and laid down the strikes harder, faster, more aggressively pursuing Kiko across the mat, making her move to Queenie¡¯s will rather than Kiko¡¯s. Keeping her off balance and on the defensive. As the minutes passed, Kiko¡¯s guard dipped, Queenie got in more and more blows, until her entire body sagged, and Queenie delivered a strong kick that knocked Kiko over, crashing into the mat with a groan, and just failing to get back up. Queenie was on her in moments, in a literal sense. The cheeks that were already flushed red blazed even hotter, with Kiko unsure what was happening, or what she should do.


    ¡°Well, looks like you have had enough of that fun for one day. What do you say we have some of the other fun?¡± Queenie suggested, bending down to stroke Kiko¡¯s lips. Her eyes fluttered and her brain just left her for the sunny shores of somewhere saner, catching a ride of the earliest flight out of Kiko¡¯s head.


    There was no resisting this woman. She was just too powerful, and the teasing she was doing was just, so, hard to keep her head on around. And then a sensual whisper came into Kiko¡¯s ear.


    ¡°So, you look ready to pop. Do you want to just, give in and be my pet for the rest of your life? I¡¯ll make sure to look after you. It might be an embarrassing time for the first month or so, but I¡¯ll make sure to take you on walks and feed you properly, dress you up all nice, and take care of any urges you might have. Just have to surrender your will to me. You¡¯ll get used to it, and then you¡¯ll question how you had ever lived without me¡± She finished, before staring into the girl¡¯s eyes. It sounded so good, so enticing. So embarrassing, but like she said, she¡¯d get used to it.


    ¡°I¡­B-but, Ly-Lys¡± she started, stammering.


    ¡°The Colonel brought you here for me, poppet. I just want to hear you say it¡± Queenie replied, kissing down to her neck. That, gods, that~ That was the key.


    ¡°Yes! P-please¡± She exclaimed, not knowing what she had done. Just knowing that those words...she couldn¡¯t refuse those words.


    ¡°Good Girl. Can you bark for me?¡± Queenie asked, kissing Kiko¡¯s neck. The lips on her burning hot flesh were driving her mad, she couldn¡¯t think of anything. Couldn¡¯t begin to prepare a proper remark, and just let out a pathetic little bark. It was rewarded with a deep, passionate kiss on her lips, with Queenie¡¯s tongue sliding into her mouth and sparking pleasure across her entire body. Her thighs clenched together and rubbed against one another, totally unable to handle this sensual assault. Queenie played with her for a few more minutes, making her bark on demand and giving her mind-blowing rewards when she obeyed. This was good, she didn¡¯t need to think about anything, just obey Queenie and she would see everything through. This went on for nearly an hour, Queenie playing with Kiko¡¯s sensitive body, and whispering in her ear about how she should relax, follow orders, be a good little pet. How she¡¯d get to go on walks and meet new people and have a lovely collar around her neck. And after this hour of conditioning, and multiple times when Kiko lost control of her body completely, the Demon stood up and looked down at Kiko.


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    ¡°All you need to do is follow your orders. There is nothing else for you in this world. Just, follow, orders. If you don¡¯t, I will be most displeased, and you don¡¯t want to displease me, do you?¡± Queenie asked rhetorically. ¡°Stand up, Doll¡± she ordered. Kiko obeyed, her legs trembling as they did, hoping that Queenie would give her something for following orders so quickly.


    Instead, the doctor man came back in.


    ¡°Ohh, nearly forgot. That thing you wanted? Ma-¡± he¡¯d stop when he saw Queenie looming over the red-cheeked Kiko.


    ¡°A witness. Get him for me, Doll¡± Queenie ordered, turning KIko to the doctor, the tone subtle but malicious. Get him¡­.it sounded so simple at first, but seconds past and that tone...really made her nervous. What did she intend to do? Calling him a witness in that kind of voice really made her anxious and she just stood there, looking between the two, paralyzed. The seconds dragged on, her heart a pit of dread. Any second now Queenie would punish her for disobeying, for displeasing her. The idea was crippling, made her nearly cry from the guilt of it, but she was frozen to the spot.


    ¡°Well, at least she¡¯s not totally a novice¡± the doctor said, writing some more on his clipboard. Queenie, on the other hand, slid her hands around Kiko¡¯s waist and pulled her into her bosom.


    ¡°I want to keep her~¡± Queenie exclaimed, a playful and teasing tone totally at odds with the power and control of earlier.


    ¡°You want to keep all of them¡± The doctor replied, clearly having seen this one before.


    ¡°Yea, but I want to keep this one even more. Such an obedient doll¡± the voice returned, stroking Kiko¡¯s chin and lifting her teary eyes to meet the Demon¡¯s hellish red. ¡°Sorry to upset you, Doll. Usually we do this over a week or two, but I got bored. And what¡¯s the point of authority if you can¡¯t have fun with it?¡± Queenie asked, again rhetorically.


    ¡°Wh¡­? Yo-you, aren¡¯t, displeased?¡± Kiko asked. Her body was a blazing inferno ready to pop in an instant.


    ¡°Nope. I am not displeased, my little fox¡± Queenie replied. It was such a deep relief that a fluffy tail popped out of Kiko almost immediately.


    ¡°Explain before she breaks down, aye?¡± The doctor commented, shaking his head. This whole thing was very heavy handed.


    ¡°E-expl-plain, what?¡± Kiko asked, barely able to stand on her own.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Queenie started, thinking for a moment on what she was going to say. ¡°See, we face a lot of creatures, of many, many different varieties. And amongst them, though rare, there are Succubi. Lesser Succubi are distracting and can get you thinking about things you really don¡¯t need to be thinking about because they don¡¯t travel alone. Your average Succubi can really wrap a person around her finger with the powers she¡¯s got, get someone to follow them home, and from there...it¡¯s pretty bad. And if you meet a Greater Succubus, well¡­you are basically a mindless slave until she grows bored of you. In a few days she¡¯ll have you so indoctrinated you¡¯ll kill your own parents for the asking, and she will reward you with a kiss~¡± Queenie would then bend down and kiss Kiko, deep and passionate, making the fox girl melt in her arms and actively consider doing anything she asked, whatever it was.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t have the willpower to resist a Succubus, your mind will no longer be your own, and you¡¯ll be a danger to everyone. Following orders without thought. Which is the nature of this testing. The perfume I sprayed in your face was a rapid acting solvent designed to mimic how a Succubus would mess with your mind¡± Queenie finished, watching the embarrassed lights go on in Kiko¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°So, this is anti-succubus training, and you couldn¡¯t tell me before because that would ruin the whole surprise?¡± She offered, to which Queenie nodded.


    ¡°It¡¯s to gauge your willpower and see how to tailor the situation to you personally. Your father and I were friends, and so I wanted to see his daughter for myself. For being completely out of this life, you did surprisingly well¡± Queenie would nod, finally letting go of Kiko.


    ¡°S¡­.so, t-th-hat, wh-whole thing about ow-owning m-me l-like a-a-a pet¡­¡± Kiko stammered. She needed to get to the toilets and deal with this burning need. She was eighteen, after all, she knew how to deal with feeling horny. Just...never to this extreme.


    ¡°Give it a few days for the conditioning to wear off and then come talk to me about that. Until then, I will not accept you are in your right mind, and will not accept your consent towards it. What I did will save your life and others, but I will not repeat it without your clear-headed go ahead¡± Queenie spoke with a surprisingly serious tone, given the situation.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter Five


    After being dismissed, she scurried off to the toilets and dealt with the overbearing need. New underwear was definitely in order, but that was for later. For now, she managed to put her tail away by telling it to go, and sheepishly returned to the gym, and Queenie would take her somewhere else. ¡®Maintaining the mystery¡¯ of not knowing where she was going.


    ¡°Ok, what the actual frack. This place is big from the outside, but it isn¡¯t this big¡± she exclaimed, recovering some vigour and looking up at Queenie¡¯s amused grin.


    ¡°Ahh, that little thing. Well, you see, this area has space bent around it. We aren¡¯t exactly sure why, or what is causing it, but it allows for a vast infrastructure over a small area, like we have pulled off here. Uniquely placed to deal with our needs without having to give half the city over to do it¡± She explained, before arriving at the showers, having set a brisk pace to get there. ¡°Now, you need some help getting clean? I can¡¯t promise my hands won¡¯t wander while I assist you¡­¡± She cracked a broad grin, openly admiring Kiko¡¯s body. Kiko quickly nodded in delight, but Queenie just have a soft laugh and left Kiko on a bench. Why there was a bench in the showers, Kiko was not entirely sure, but it was probably there for a reason.


    Her heart sank a little as Queenie just left, but she remembered what the woman said. It was all a test, she didn¡¯t need to get all worked up like this...She''d need a good shower. Showers, were great for clearing one¡¯s head, so Kiko got up, stripped, turned the shower on cold, and stood under it for a few moments before she started to shiver. Shivering was good, eased her stress and cleaned out the mind. Then after a bit of that, she turned the shower on hot and cleaned herself properly.


    Once she was done, she would wrap up in towels ¨C even though Queenie had had intimate control over every inch of her body, she was still conscious of just showing it off willy-nilly ¨C she saw the Demon woman with a broad grin on her face. Recognising the grin as one of mischief, Kiko gave her a withering stare.


    ¡°Wh-what have you done?¡± She asked, in what she hoped was an assertive tone. The stutter didn¡¯t help.


    ¡°Done? Nothing, I¡¯m a good girl¡± Queenie tried, but couldn¡¯t keep a straight face, and so broke into laughter. ¡°Ok, fine. Your clothes were crap, darling. It¡¯s like you¡¯ve been wearing just them every day for the last four years¡± Queenie stated.


    ¡°Yyyyea. I didn¡¯t want to bother dad too much. He wasn¡¯t home often and so I wanted to talk about things other than my school uniform. Hence a really short skirt. It didn¡¯t used to be that short¡± Kiko replied.


    ¡°Ohh. Thought you liked shorter skirts. Damn, you¡¯ll probably not like this so much¡± Queenie would then gesture to a uniform that made Kiko¡¯s jaw drop. The corset was beautiful, looked crafted to tease her assets while keeping it stately. The pair of stockings were shiny and opaque, going up to her waist to double as underwear. And the skirt went down to her knees, or would if it wasn¡¯t flared so it hung a little away from her and blended modesty with promiscuity. It was all shaded in the black with red trims that was the official SIR colours, and the quality of the material¡­


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Queenie asked, a warm and delicate smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s too much. It¡¯s something you¡¯d find in one of them shops that charge like three hundred Kris for a pair of socks¡± Kiko exclaimed, hugging the towels tightly. She couldn¡¯t accept that, just...couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°Would you prefer I order you to wear it, Doll?¡± Queenie asked. Though she did not mean it and wouldn¡¯t force Kiko into anything, teasing her was not off the table it seemed. Kiko felt her cheeks flush with heat, and barely managed to fight off the desire to try it on.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t going to let me not wear it, are you?¡± Kiko asked, looking at her feet.


    ¡°I am absolutely going to let you not wear it, Kiko. I brought your SIR base uniform if you didn¡¯t want to wear this¡± Queenie would shift the outfit to another hook and reveal the uniform below. Skirt just above her knees, like someone had needed to kick a guy in the head once and designed the skirt to not hinder that, polo shirt and jacket, all in the predominant colour scheme of SIR. It was actually quite¡­.casual. ¡°You¡¯ll be given four uniforms in total. Base uniform is here, you¡¯ll wear this going to and from activities in the base, outside of activities here in the gym, where you¡¯ll have a gym uniform, which is tight fitting shirt and shorts. Dress uniforms are far more flashy, something you¡¯ll wear for press conferences, parade grounds, exhibitions. Basically it¡¯s what you put on when we go out for good PR. And finally deployment uniform. That depends on who you get, but it is generally pragmatic and woven with a mesh fibre to help protect you in the field. If you would prefer trousers then we can get you some. I just like a girl in a skirt¡±


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    Queenie seemed to want to distract Kiko from the outfit before, so broached into indepth explanation of what she¡¯d be wearing. It kind of worked, though Kiko fixated on the idea of being protected in the field. She¡¯d seen some pictures of The Beasts on the internet. They were not friendly at all¡­.And she was fighting them. Getting ahead of those thoughts, she spoke quickly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s too nice. H-hand me the uniform, please?¡± Kiko asked, getting dressed in it once given. Underwear seemed to be a personal choice, but she felt far too on show so took the full length stockings from the other outfit. They were just as high quality as they looked, but it was a compromise.


    When she had dressed and refused the satin shoes with low heels in favour of more practical shoes, she took her through the building to Lysaida¡¯s office. Once the two had arrived, Queenie didn¡¯t even bother to knock, she just walked right in, and up to the desk, piled with paperwork, and grinned at a vexed looking Lysaida.


    ¡°Still refusing my offer to burn all the paperwork?¡± Queenie asked, before looking back to Kiko, who was kind of lingering on the door, not exactly sure how to handle the outfit she was in.


    ¡°Yes, I am. And I see you have wasted no time dressing up the new recruit. Come on in, Miss Ator. We need to officially sign you into SIR, deal with your education, and so on. There is quite a bit that goes into someone of your age joining us¡± She was being a lot more formal than when she had broken into Kiko¡¯s house, but maybe that was just because she was in Work mode right now.


    ¡°So, lots of pieces of paper to sign?¡± Kiko asked, grinning sheepishly as she walked into the office, taking up the offer to come in. It was better than out in the hallway, after all.


    ¡°Yes. The recruitment sheet, the basic rules and tenants, and a list of the Quasi-humans we have here, so you know what to expect¡± She gestured with a folder, which Kiko walked over to take, and then opened, starting reading immediately. The recruitment sheet and the rules were pretty simple, she got through them quickly, but she took more time with the quasi-human list.


    ¡°Phoenix¡­¡± she muttered, a slight elation in her voice. Phoenixes where pretty rare, mostly because they were very humble creatures and never really revealed themselves in public. Anyone could be a Phoenix until they got shot, or stabbed, or otherwise mortally wounded. But one part of the list made her look up with a broad grin. ¡°Dragon, huh? You SIR agents get all the fun stuff¡± She quipped, taking a pen and beginning to fill out the form. Name, date of birth, occupation, kin, Quasi-human nature [If applicable]. It was all pretty basic.


    ¡°Yes, we SIR agents get all the fun stuff. Although the Dragons are not exactly social people. They can interact on occasion, but are surprisingly shy, and their draconic forms are...not as easily obtained as you think from the story books¡± Lysaida replied, flicking her eyes to Queenie to make sure the woman wasn¡¯t up to anything, and then returning her gaze to Kiko as she finished the form and handed it back. Lysaida checked it over, and then nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Benefit of being the boss, is that I can accept you on the spot now this paperwork is done, rather than having to go through channels to get to me. Welcome to SIR, Recruit¡± Lysaida nodded, and Queenie returned to Kiko¡¯s side, beaming like a dog with a bone. Lysaida didn¡¯t seem to be finished, however, so Kiko kept her attention on the Colonel as slid something forward and spoke more.


    ¡°This is a care package, of sorts. Map, schedule, names of the heads and a notepad for writing down things to remember. It is advisable to meet the heads of the division in anticipation for the end of basic training. You have met me already. Queenie can help you with the rest of the Division Heads, as she is the head of the Assault Teams¡± Lysaida explained. Queenie thought Mizia¡¯s division title sounded really cool, but also, looked to Queenie.


    ¡°She heads the Assault teams? I thought, she was boss of the gym¡± Kiko said, before blushing and covering her mouth. She didn¡¯t mean to give her the title that popped into her head. Queenie, however, found it amusing.


    ¡°Boss of the Gym? Heh. Well, I¡¯m the Overseer of ¡®the Gym¡¯ as you put it, but the boss of the Assault Teams. I lead routine workouts for the rookies and occasion squads, but I head the assault teams. The two mesh well, so I take care of both¡± Queenie explained, before giving a terribly wide, scary grin. ¡°And I¡¯ll see to making sure that you know my title much better than you do now¡± It sounded somewhere between a threat, and a promise for more of what happened in the gym. Kiko wasn¡¯t sure which one worried her more¡­

 Chapter 6

    After letting Queenie torment Kiko for a couple of seconds, Lysaida stood from her chair and looked at the two.


    ¡°I appreciate you dressing her properly rather in some two thousand Kris outfit that you¡¯d find on a model¡± Lysaida commented. Clearly the woman was a menace around the place. Made her wonder why they even kept her around.


    ¡°Two thousand?! Tell me that outfit didn¡¯t cost that!¡± Kiko exclaimed, looking to Queenie with a panicked expression.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t cost anything. I made it myself, for a woman who...went on to prove she didn¡¯t deserve anything like it. So instead of having it going to waste, I thought I¡¯d see if you¡¯d fit into it¡± Queenie replied.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to talk to her soon, you know¡± Lysaida commented, eyes still on the paperwork.


    ¡°Let her come to me. I ain¡¯t going there¡± Queenie replied.


    ¡°Fair enough. Now get out, I¡¯ve got work to do¡± Lysaida dismissed the two with a wave. As soon as they were out, Queenie turned to Kiko, but found the girl already staring.


    ¡°She was a lot less¡­stern when we first met, and a lot more emotional¡± Kiko muttered. Queenie decided to drop her ideas to flirt with the girl and make her cheeks flush again, and just looked to the explanation.


    ¡°She¡¯s a Schattenganger. She can walk through the shadows of most things, either organic or synthetic. Though, walking past organic shadows can give a flash of their current mental state. Over her time here she has walked past the shadows of a lot of people here, and mostly everyone knew your father in some way or another, so his loss is felt by most. She has taken the sadness and loss of many people, as well as her own. To be honest, I¡¯m amazed the woman is still on her feet and not at the bottom of a bottle, or in a padded room. Her mental fortitude is amazing¡± Queenie¡¯s voice was heavy with admiration, which was pretty nice to hear.


    ¡°So, that¡¯s the Colonel¡¯s default state? With a stare that can crush walnuts?¡± Kiko quipped. Queenie looked at her with a frown, not exactly how a stare could crush walnuts.


    ¡°No. She don¡¯t really have a default state. She is an emotionally versatile woman. That was just paperwork mode¡± Queenie replied, before stopping outside a door in some wing. Kiko wasn¡¯t entirely sure she could get back to where she was without Queenie, so kept close to the woman as she continued her tour.


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    ¡°So¡­.Strange question, but where is Asha, in the whole, hierarchy?¡± Kiko was glad that the question had popped into her head, it allowed her to talk to Queenie but also not in an obsessive co-dependant way. Gods she needed to get over that quickly.


    ¡°Ahh, good question, actually. Asha is sort of an advisor. She doesn¡¯t work for SIR officially, but is an associate attached to ODD in general. We have them for the Quasi-humans that had a wider, more varied culture. Some of them are basically just humans with extra arms. Others, like your father¡¯s clan, have an entirely different outlook on life and need someone else to look after them. So, in our Hierarchy, she isn¡¯t anywhere. In your hierarchy, she is quite highly placed¡± Queenie explained. ¡°And on the topic of placement, we need to get you situated in a room. You can have a spot in the Kitsune quarters, Asha has some comfortable burrows, and being close to her will be helpful for you¡± Queenie finished. Kiko, still struggling with the queen worship, just nodded her head.


    ¡°Mmm. Being close to her will help ask what I do with this tail¡± Kiko made the comment and looked up, telling it to come out. It would, popping from the top of her skirt and swishing gently. It looked real, felt real, and the muscles that controlled the swishing motion - while strange - were definitely real. But if she told it to go, it went.


    ¡°Wonderful. Follow me¡± Queenie ordered, heading deeper into the maze of corridors and making Kiko scramble to keep up.


    While setting a demanding pace, Queenie didn¡¯t leave Kiko behind, making sure she could always keep up and measuring her step when the girl seemed to be falling behind. Eventually, the two got to the Kitsune quarters, and entered. It was certainly an intimate situation, with eight bunk beds, three across the left wall and three across the right, two bedside cabinets for each bunk.


    ¡°You know, it occurs to me...the Colonel said there weren¡¯t any Kitsunes, or at least they were really understaffed. But there are quite a few here¡± Kiko muttered to Queenie.


    ¡°These Kitsunes are special. They are basically aides to Asha, and low-positioned ambassadors to small clans. A military still needs cooks and janitors and other trained personnel outside the soldiers. Can¡¯t make the soldiers do everything, after all. But Kitsunes hate to fight for us because of history reasons you¡¯ll find out later. So this is a good compromise¡± Queenie replied. And then Kiko got mobbed by the other Kitsunes.


    Swiftly bombarded with rapid chitter about her Belonging, about how they were so happy to have a new sister, about tail-fluffing and ear-rubbing. Before she knew it she got dragged away from Queenie and into some sort of card game that she lost and had to brush everyone¡¯s tails as a penalty.  And then after the game was over, she went to bed with another woman who liked to cuddle in bed. It was a very strange night, but there was a tight bond in her heart that she never felt. So it was ultimately, a good night.

 Chapter 7

    Paperwork. It was always paperwork. Though Lysadia was skilled at it, she often found herself just reading and signing than being out in the field. She wasn¡¯t sure how she felt, with her fingers stained with ink rather than blood. She was a warrior at heart, and that was what landed her here, though she wasn''t as good at the other side of being here. She needed a secretary or something. She¡¯d ask Queenie, but that one would probably get her a pencil-skirted bimbo than anyone who was actually helpful. Potentially take any opportunity to dress Kiko up like a pencil skirted bimbo. So she¡¯d just do it herself, and keep Queenie here for different things.


    ¡°So, care to explain why I have a report of you having sex with the new recruit in the Physical Exercise Facilities? Don¡¯t give me the Succubus training crap, you know that comes later. And you drugged her¡± Lysadia commented, not looking up from her paperwork.


    ¡°Heh~ Well, she¡¯d not have gone in for it otherwise¡± Queenie replied, leaning forward to show off her ample breasts. She probably didn¡¯t even realize the action these days, just something done on reflex. Though the comment was one that made Lysadia look up and think for a moment.


    ¡°Do I need to call your Mother?¡± Lys asked. Immediately, Queenie¡¯s face fell and she lent back on her chair, looking meek and mild.


    ¡°..No. I¡¯ll behave¡± Queenie said, before settling in and exhaling. ¡°So, Drax. Very warm man, surprisingly soft despite his very iconic masculinity. Did he ever try to schmooze you?¡± Queenie asked.


    ¡°Once¡± was the deadpan reply. It had Queenie in uproarious laughter imagining what Lys had done to so perfectly dissuade Drax.


    ¡°Well. Drax and¡­.Her-¡± Queenie didn¡¯t even try to hide the vitriol, which just got an impassive stare.


    ¡°It¡¯s been twenty years, have you still not gotten over it?¡± Lys asked.


    ¡°Hey! It¡¯s been like, fourteen. I wasn¡¯t so upset with Drax and her. Same race, and they complimented each other really well. Which, is actually where I am going with this. What I was pissed with is how she left Drax and Kiko. AND! Now he is dead, she is nowhere to be seen¡± Queenie seethed with rage at the idea that that one would just ditch her child for dumb fuck reasons. ¡°Tsk. Anyway, she was a cool, shadowy woman as iconically feminine as Drax was masculine. He brightened up the room, but she complimented him perfectly. Tempered him, and gave the subtle promise that there is time for rest, as much as he gave the promise that there is time for action. As he embodied the positivities of life and encouraged you to live life with all you had, she, as bad as it sounds, embodied the negativities of life. Accept and prepare for failure. Allow life¡¯s despairs to teach you how to avoid them, and encourage you to be better so you can best them.


    The two together were a powerful couple, empowered each other, and were empowered as a result. It wasn¡¯t just the emotional toll that weakened Drax when she left. Those two came together, perhaps accidentally, and ritualistically created a babe that is a perfect showcase of both. The warm of day, and the quiet of night. Cautioned passion and tempered zeal. Masculine in activity, and Feminine in passivity¡± Queenie would finish her big commentary, and then lean back and shake her head, letting out a deep sigh.


    ¡°Powerful foundations. Completely ruined by her. That massive, perfectly crafted receptacle didn¡¯t get what it needed. ¡­..You ever get that feeling when you know something¡¯s name without ever hearing it?¡± Queenie looked back to Lys, who was doing her standard thing of doing paperwork and giving Queenie her full attention. It was a great talent, triply so for one in such a position of command.


    ¡°...A few times, yes. Like, what does Shattenganger even mean? Does it mean anything? And yet everyone knows that is what I am. I was born knowing that was what I was called, even before I knew words¡± Lys would pause for a moment and put the pen away, looking up. ¡°It¡¯s deep philosophy that I don¡¯t bother with because I haven¡¯t remotely got an answer and it would take too long to find one¡±


    Queenie would stare for a few moments and then shake her hair, a few sparks spitting out for a moment before she got back to the topic.


    ¡°Getting a bit into the nature of existence itself there, so back on track. There are two energies within you, called Yin and Yan - excluding Mana, but that¡¯s it¡¯s own thing. Everyone has them, in varying degrees. Females have more Yin, males more Yang. I¡¯m not sure what the order of operation is here though. If Yin is Feminine because females have more, or if females have more because Yin is Feminine. These two make up your life. It is the very essence of being alive.


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    Most people don¡¯t really have a notable level of it, but there are some. Again, in an indefinite order of operations. They have a lot because of how they act, or they act like that because they have a lot. When you are growing up, your mother and father give you both energies to help you grow. Often times it¡¯s not really notable, but when you¡¯ve got Drax and her making a child, it¡¯s notable. So a lack of cool feminine energy caused an imbalance.


    This imbalance tied her energies up and caused spikes of untempered Yang. You can check her school records for what that means. So I wanted to fix that. The best way to do it is by dripping some into her and then spinning it into an infinitely creative loop that propagates itself in her. But that, is some crazy high level shit that requires some Real Shit to pull off. Much easier to just use tantric energy exchange. When you orgasm, part of you goes into them, and part of them goes into you. I¡¯m nothing notable, so it would take about twelve or thirteen sessions to give her enough to actually kick off¡±


    Finishing up, Lys would stare for a few moment, then crack a smile and laugh gently.


    ¡°That was the longest ¡®she was cute and I was in the mood¡¯ I have ever heard¡± the Colonel exclaimed.


    ¡°Hey again! That was only part of it¡± Queenie replies, crossing her arms.


    ¡°And sexually claiming her child for your own had nothing to do with it?¡± Lys asked. Queenie, however, just stayed silent and slid the chair back, getting up and leaving.


    ¡°¡®F you rather I not bone the new recruit for a few weeks, I can give you the names of a few people who can come do it for me¡± Queenie replied as she opened the door.


    ¡°So where did you learn all this, anyway? Doesn¡¯t seem common curriculum¡± Lysa asked, deciding that was enough paperwork for today and standing up to follow Queenie. Might get a snack, or a fight, or both.


    "Heh. A Kitsune called Tria, from the Azlati tribe, mostly. She came to our place when I was just a wee¡¯un. We¡¯ve got a decent library, strong oral-¡± Queenie flicked her eyebrows seductively ¡°- and generally a good focus on history. So Tria had come to the palace library to study something called Zarh. Or, Zah. Or, whatever. While she was learning that, she and my mother got into a long and deep talk going on for weeks. Kitsunes, it turns out, are exceptional at magic. Both the actual use of it like Eteria and something natural to them called Borrowing. Basically drawing energies surrounding them to cast things they once knew. Don¡¯t¡­..ask what that meant, she was very forthcoming with the explanation and I understood none of it¡±


    Rolling into the mess hall, it was unstaffed due to the late hour, but Queenie had a basic culinary capability, enough to survive in the wild. Though, she was displaced by Lys quickly and ordered to take a seat.


    ¡°One of the main things, the biggest......you get the basics of magic, right?¡± Queenie would ask, making sure that Lysadia knew what she was about to be rambling about.


    ¡°Not really. I know it¡¯s a special power that needs a lot of training but I have never had a talent for it, so never looked into it¡± she replied, flicking on the equipment and digging something snackworthy out of the freezer.


    ¡°Hmm, makes this harder then...Basically, one of two ways to get stronger magic. You better the vessel, or you better the source. The source, is meditation and introspection, becoming more firmly established with who you are and aligning yourself with the universe so that you might feed, and be fed by it. The vessel, is being physically healthy. Fit and active. So, her and my mother connected well and have deep conversations about their Selfs, fought and trained a lot, and then shared energy¡± Queenie cracked a smirk at that, flicking her eyebrows, and it was enough for Lysadia to look up with a cocked eyebrow.


    ¡°Your mother, the Queen, had vigorous magical sex with a Kitsune in your father¡¯s palace? Seems...unwise¡± the Colonel commented, watching the food and paying attention to Queenie.


    ¡°Pah. My father has such self-confidence he can literally project thoughts into the physical plane. He knows exactly where my mother¡¯s love lies, and wouldn¡¯t so much as twitch if she had a baby with every man in the country. They are madly in love, and often seem to emphasize the mad part when outsiders look on. Only reason he didn¡¯t offer to join in is because he is a being so powerful that sex with him would have incapacitated Tria¡± Queenie would grin at the memories of her family, but Lysadia, taking in all she had heard, finally understood what was going on.


    ¡°So you want to consistently have sex with Kiko for a few weeks so this imbalance is fixed and she can be more mentally any emotionally?¡± She¡¯d state.


    ¡°Yes, pretty much¡± Queenie nodded confidently.


    ¡°Denied¡± Lysadia stated, and served up the snack food.


    ¡°What? But it¡¯s totally a great idea!¡± Queenie exclaimed.


    ¡°Aside from the fact that you need to continue to mess with Kiko¡¯s mind when she needs to be focusing on the here and now. There is a lot she will be going through. Basic training is not a walk for anyone. And you want to add the emotional and social dissonance of having sex with her superior officer several times a week for several weeks into this mix? That¡¯ll break the woman. This imbalance evidently isn¡¯t fatal, so I will look into your contacts and see if there is someone trustworthy who can complete this with discretion and alacrity. But you, will have to stay out of her pants until at very least the end of basic¡± Lysadia explained, keeping hard at work.


    ¡°Tall order, though I¡¯ll give it a go. For a kiss~¡± Queenie teased. Lysadia contemplated pros and cons for a moment, and then lent over and gave her a kiss. ¡°Perfect. Consider me a good girl~¡± Queenie cooed, teasingly.


    ¡°I think the very word itself shudders when the attempt to connect it to you is made¡± Lys replied, smiling gently.

 Chapter 8

    Waking up was just about as confusing as going to bed, but Kiko managed to do it without making an absolute fool of herself. Though, she seemed stunned enough that the woman she had slept with led her chin on Kiko¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Chichichichu?¡± she asked. It was just absurd enough to pull Kiko out of the worry and give her a look of abject confusion. ¡°I like that look, it suits you~¡± the woman replied, chuckling and getting out of bed.


    ¡°Kizi, stop flirting with everything that has a pulse and come get breakfast!¡± Asha exclaimed, her stern motherly voice setting the young Kitsune scurrying for the door, and having Kiko standing and looking for breakfast as well. ¡°Kiko, you should get dressed and head to the mess hall. We can house you here as long as you need it, but you should interact with your peers. Nothing breeds competence better than filial bonds¡± Asha continued, before herding the rest of the foxes into a bunch and guiding them out the door. She did it well, with a practiced grace that made Kiko somewhat in awe.


    ¡°So, did you know my father? A-and...Queenie?¡± Kiko asked, pulling on her uniform slowly.


    ¡°Most people knew your father, Kiko. Be prepared for that. The man was a hurricane of vibrance and activity. He seemed made of panache, skill, and dad jokes. As for Queenie, well...those two had a fun little relationship with each other¡± Asha had such a lovely voice, such a gentle, warm, and supporting tone. Like Kiko could go on for days about the most useless of crap, and Asha would always be there, listening to it all.


    ¡°S¡­.so. Is there anyone that Queenie might have disliked? Someone evident enough that she didn¡¯t need to be named for Queenie to understand who was being referenced?¡± Kiko asked again, not very confident, but probing all the same as she finished the uniform and stood up.


    Hearing this question, Asha would step up and take Kiko¡¯s hands, looking into her eyes. ¡°Yes. Yes there is. But that is not my place to say, young Canid. That is for Queenie to say, and her alone¡±


    ¡°C..anid?¡± Kiko asked. ¡°I get the whole fox thing because Kitsune but...what¡¯s a Canid?¡± Kiko was never good at school, always busy with other stuff, like the people in the school. So her education was, lacking.


    ¡°It¡¯s a term referring to all Dog-type Quasi-humans. Lupines, Inu, Kitsunes. They are all Canids. It is good to know who you are related to. It can lead to something to talk to, if nothing else¡± Asha was really going hard with this mother thing, being a font of useful knowledge not just generally, but life-wise as well.


    ¡°Ok¡± Kiko replied simply, not wanting to try her luck with anything more than that and screw up royally. Her head was already stuffed. Asha nodded gently and headed off to deal with the rest of the skulk, allowing Kiko to leave, and head to the mess hall. Getting there was easy, her uniform and wide-eyed look marked her as a new recruit, and she got an escort in short order.


    Her ideal breakfast, was a mad one. Her brain cooked up a funny little thing as she headed to get the food. Sausages and beans and eggs and hashbrowns and more hashbrowns and ohh my god why do you have so many hashbrowns and please stop your plate can¡¯t handle anymore hashbrowns and well done you have officially split the plate in half from the sheer weight of hashbrowns, you mad woman. Unfortunately, Breakfast wasn¡¯t quite as amazing as all that, but it was still big and satisfying, and nobody called her a mad woman for the amount of hashbrowns she had. Albeit, they were a much less number than she had originally planned for.


    Setting down in front of a woman with a similar uniform to Kiko¡¯s own, she decided to start trying that socializing thing, and stabbed one of her Hashbrowns, holding it up.


    ¡°You know, Hashbrowns are pretty light. How many do you think it would take to break a plate?¡± Kiko asked. It was an attempt to open a conversation in a way weird enough to engage. Or put off, but that would also teach her something about the person. Still, what she wasn¡¯t expecting, was the woman to break down the specifics of how much a hashbrown weighed over how much a standard ceramic plate could hold. After an eternity, she finished with some big formula that detailed exactly how many hash browns, would break a plate.


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    ¡°Well¡­now I know¡± Kiko said, before breaking into a fit of giggles.


    ¡°S¡­.s-orry, about that. I just like, reading¡± she replied, burying her face in the table and nibbling on her food.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, dear. I liked it, it makes you look really smart. You could easily get into any of the smart places like that¡± Kiko would nod proudly, and then bite most of a sausage off her fork to reinforce the exclamation. Though, became the living embodiment of the phrase ¡®bite off more than you can chew¡¯ as she had to awkwardly chipmunk to get it swallowed. After that awkward moment, Kiko would storm on ahead. Confidence could sure up any misstep in the world! ¡°So, I¡¯m Kiko. Looking for a friend to hang around with and generally linger near so it looks like I know what I am doing. Additionally someone that I can hide behind if they start asking questions that need a smart person to answer. Do you want, to be that person?¡± Kiko asked. It was a humorous request, but the woman smiled in a much different way to getting the joke.


    ¡°I would like that, yes¡± she replied, in a more solemn manner than Kiko was expecting. Still, these people were strange people, so she would just brush it off as weird and carry on.


    ¡°Excellent! I¡¯m Kiko¡± she¡¯d stick her hand over the table and give her the biggest smile possible. Which, possibly made her seem desperate or insane, but her new friend didn¡¯t seem to worry. Nor did the worry that Kiko had introduced herself twice...


    ¡°Melinda¡± her new friend replied, reaching out to shake Kiko¡¯s hand. It was excellent, and glorious, and the first friend she had here at SIR!


    Breakfast was finished uneventfully, and she took her friend by the hand to saunder off in...the wrong direction. Melinda seemed to know where she was going better, and dragged Kiko in the correction direction.


    ¡°So. M¡­¡­¡± Kiko stalled for a moment, and cursed. She¡¯d forgotten the woman¡¯s name already!


    ¡®Melinda¡¯


    ¡°Melinda¡± she spoke, and then frowned for a moment. That wasn¡¯t her voice. That was, a different voice in her head. Maybe. She could, have just heard it wrong. ¡°Where¡­.um, exactly are we going?¡± She¡¯d ask. There was apparently a map of where she was going, and a schedule. But between the card games and the kissing games and the weird day in general, she totally forgot about it.


    ¡°You forgot your schedule, didn¡¯t you?¡± Melinda asked, a soft smile on her face.


    ¡°Y...ea. This place is turning out to be more like school than I expected. It¡¯s got me in a daze, like I am doomed to finish that last year whatever happens¡± she replied, scratching her head.


    ¡°It is a school. More than just a combative arm of ODD, SIR endeavours to educate you so you can take up positions as a tutor if you need to, or if this whole physical rawr thing doesn¡¯t pan out for you¡± Melinda explained. It was good, short, and more than she got from Queenie.


    ¡°Whole physical rawr thing?¡± Kiko mimicked, snorting softly with laughter.


    ¡°Indeed. Whole, physical. Rawr thing¡± and with that, Melinda was silent and pushed on, eventually reaching the large ¡®Room of Physical Prowess¡¯ which was basically just a posh name for the gym. But she knew Queenie didn¡¯t like being called the boss of the gym, so giving it a flashy name suited the woman''s  desire for pretentiousness. Several other people, in identical uniforms were milling about, but nothing started as she walked in, so she was clearly not the last one. A few looked in her direction, but said little.


    Wanting to get involved, Kiko walked up to the nearest group and listened to them chatter about how exciting it was being here, and how they really wanted to impress the Overseer of Physical Prowess because she sounded like a very interesting woman to know. The way that was said made their intentions clear, and if Queenie heard it, well¡­the reaction from the Demon Woman would be rather amusing to say the least. Kiko wouldn¡¯t put it past that woman to have them here and now if she heard that they wanted to get with her. Melinda had phased into the crowd, and Kiko couldn¡¯t quite remember how she looked, so trying to find her was pretty useless. It was a little weird that Kiko couldn''t remember how she looked. Her mind wasn''t that much of a sieve, after all...


    Still, complaining would do nothing. So instead, she just milled over to the changing rooms and got into her gym uniform, which passed the time well enough for Queenie to have arrived by the time she was done. Seeing that woman made her flush a deep red. They had done that. Right here. Seeing her really threw off Kiko¡¯s head...

 Chapter 9

    On the topic of throwing off, everyone¡¯s train of thought was subject to that when a bright blue haired girl barrelled in. Her gym uniform was explicitly different from the others, shining in the light and being skin-tight. Plus, a gold ring hung from the middle of her nose, and a dozen other golden piercings were scattered across her lips, ears, and eyebrows. When her mouth fell open to pant, the glint of a ring in her tongue could be seen; making it obvious that this girl really enjoyed getting piercings. Kiko wondered if they were anywhere else as well, but gave herself a quick mental slap at that. Queenie was not going to turn her into a deviant.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late Mistress, I set the alarm for pm, rather than am¡± She told Queenie, still panting hard. Kiko¡¯s eyes bulged at the title, and looked to Queenie with suspicious eyes. Mistress?! The whole idea that the girl¡¯s voice was cute and light didn¡¯t even find purchase in Kiko¡¯s mind, despite how many piercings were adorning her face and the rather amusing disparity between the two.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Ceal. Not like this is important or anything¡± Queenie replied, sarcasm dripping heavy and thick from her tone, before snapping her fingers and pointed to a point next to her. Queenie caught Kiko¡¯s glare as she waited for Ceal to come, but just gave an apologetic smile. Which turned to a grimace when Ceal tripped over her own feet and hit the mat.


    ¡°This miscoordinated klutz is my assistant Ceal. She might seem a useless bint right now, but I like her. I am Overseer Queenie; you can call me Overseer if you wish. If any of you decide to be over familiar and call me Queenie, then I will drag you to my bedroom and roughly exhaust you there before forcing you to repeat today¡¯s training¡± It was a threat that was just like the Demon woman. The sudden explicit threat had shocked the recruits, and there were a few flushed red faces, which allowed Kiko to hide her own pretty well in the crowd.


    ¡°For the people joining us for the first time, Welcome to SIR. Some of you have been physically active before you joined, but now you are here and you will learn how I say. I do not care about what you know or how long you have known it, and if you dislike that then I invite you to come up to the stage and show exactly what you know with dear Ceal here¡± Queenie finished. A ripple of giggles ran through the recruits. Ceal looked to be the kind of person to swing a punch and hit herself. And you just had to tug on one of her nose rings and she was on the floor. This thought clearly ran through the mind of a rather large man, who stepped up with a laugh.


    ¡°Hey Tiny¡± he said, looming ominously.


    ¡°H-hello, sir¡­¡± Ceal replied, a gentle stammer to her voice. This whole situation was so obviously a trap, but the guy was in his own little world, or had such an ego he couldn¡¯t back down even from a trap.


    Queenie nodded at the man, and gave an order for everyone to clear some space, clearing the mat for Ceal and the man.


    ¡°Alright. Three-minute round. First to surrender loses. And, let¡¯s make it more interesting~ If you lose, then you will be punished by making you have to follow everything she says for a day. Of course if you win then she will have to do everything you say¡± Queenie explained. A lewd grin stretched across the big man¡¯s face, as he towered over the girl. It was going to be over in seconds, and then the cute girl was going to be forced into indentured servitude for the day, all because of Queenie¡¯s boasting. Kiko had half a mind to step in and stop this, but that would be troublesome on her first day... ¡°Ok. Take stances¡± Queenie ordered. The big man took a solid position, showing skill as well as size and strength. Ceal just looked on, as awkward and shy as the moment she had entered.  ¡°And, begin!¡±


    The big man wasted no time and rushed in, quick for his size, and agile as well. An unrestrained fist flew towards Ceal¡¯s face and the girl looked liable to have her face disintegrate when that connected, but it never did. The earlier prediction that the fight would be over in seconds was correct, but nobody had guessed to whom it would go. Leaning almost casually out of the way of the punch, Ceal grabbed the wrist, stepped in and kicked his leg while dragging him down with impressive bodily control and incredible kinetic sense. In that few seconds Ceal had the man on the ground, standing over him with his arm in a clutch just shy of dislocating it and a foot on his shoulder. A simple twitch and he would have an arm popped from its shoulder. The loud thud of him hitting the mat shocked several people, one of them even letting out a cute yelp of surprise. The man struggled, trying to use his formidable strength to force his way out of the hold, but it was perfect, and kept him latched to the ground as if he was stuck in a tar pit.


    ¡°I suggest you surrender, big guy. Ceal¡¯s got a rather disturbing fetish, she likes to hear people¡¯s bones snap, and you are in prime position to indulge her¡± Queenie put in. Ceal¡¯s focused face turned a deep red and she looked to Queenie frantically.


    ¡°Mistress! I don¡¯t do that anymore!¡± She exclaimed, keeping the big guy in the hold as if all his squirming and writhing didn¡¯t matter in the slightest. ¡®anymore¡¯ implying that she did it at one point, was all that the man needed to tap rapidly on the mat, surrendering to this waif of a girl.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s game. And a good first lesson. The creatures you are going to be up against can¡¯t always judge what they can do from first glance. You¡¯ve got to be on guard and never underestimate your opponent, or you will probably be eaten¡± She told the group. Ceal had let her opponent go the moment he had tapped, but he stayed on the ground, wallowing in self-pity.


    ¡°Don¡¯t feel too bad. Ceal here, is a Slyph. They get a magical compulsion to focus their mind to a single task, and while focusing they learn and grow at a startling rate. Only mastery will allow them to move on to something else. Ceal¡¯s mind focused on Combat, which she mastered a few years ago. She has about a hundred years of combat experience, so you stood no chance against her. It was a rigged fight from the start, I just wanted to demonstrate that you shouldn¡¯t judge a klutz by her stumble¡± Queenie continued, ruffling the girl¡¯s blue hair and smiling down at her. Ceal had such a look of contentment on her face from the petting, Kiko thought she might blow a gasket right here in front of everyone. But she kept it together, even when Queenie whispered in her ear. No doubt lewd and horrifying to hear, from the way Ceal turned into the same colouration as a tomato.


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    ¡°Right, now we are done showing off, listen up¡± Queenie exclaimed, looking to everyone and then back to Ceal. ¡°Form up into pairs, and we will begin unarmed sparring. I want a good five-minute match so I can see where you need help and what you excel in¡± she then started pointing out pairs, leaving Kiko out as there was an odd number. Then paring Kiko with Ceal, like Queenie had planned it or something. The blue haired Slyph came forward and Kiko had a much greater appreciation for her abilities, which led the five-minute match to be one filled with a deeper air of caution than she would have ever given the girl before. Ceal managed to restrain herself and match Kiko, making it a hard-pushed workout rather than an ego-destroying match that she had had with the man. Kiko even managed to get a conversation out of the girl while they fought.


    ¡°So, Mistress huh?¡± Kiko started. Ceal blushed deeply and faltered for a moment, but the young Kitsune didn¡¯t take advantage of that and let her recover. It took a whole minute of mock fighting before Ceal even spoke, however.


    ¡°She sort of owns me. It¡¯s our culture to give ourselves to one that can best us in our chosen art. Although I was a fool to accept a challenge from the Ever-Burning Lady. So I honour our culture, and my ancestors¡± Ceal then finished her explanation with a rapid movement that launched Kiko over her flip and saw her deposited none-to-gently on the floor.


    ¡°Ow¡­¡± Kiko muttered, getting up as Ceal looked worried.


    ¡°Was that too much?¡± She asked, an intense look of concern plastered over her face. Kiko gave her a disarming smile and got back up, brushing herself off.


    ¡°No, no. It was fine. So, what all this about Ever-Burning Lady? I have never heard that term before, definitely not referring to Queenie¡± Kiko¡¯s curiosity pushed her to ask what this title meant. It was clearly related to her Demonic heritage, as they could use fire, but what it meant¡­she was unsure. And it seemed Ceal was not in the mood to share that little tit-bit.


    Mumbling something about not being hers to tell, Ceal pushed the next two minutes so that Kiko couldn¡¯t focus on anything other than the fight. And so she did just that, getting her ass thoroughly, but educationally, kicked by the piercing-covered Slyph. When Queenie finally called an end to the match, Kiko caught her breath in the break, and made a plan to get information from the girl. A teasing whisper entered her head as she thought on the plan. Wait till she as naked, and then take advantage of the rings most probably located elsewhere around the cute girl¡¯s body. The thought snapped Kiko out of the planning session, and she shook her head, denying that she would ever do something like that. Where did that come from? And from who? Fortunately, Queenie gathered the recruits and got them in a line, and began to speak, which gave Kiko something to focus on.


    ¡°You''ll rarely be in a position to punch your enemy, but most of this will be refine your physique and keep your reflexes sharp. That is not to say that close quarters is useless, however. Guns are good, but knives don¡¯t jam or run out of ammo, and give you more satisfaction that whatever it is you are swinging at is dead when you stick it through its skull. Specialized close quarter weapons shall be available on request, but a silver knife and an iron knife are standard issue to all SIR agents. Knowing how to use this seemingly small bit of kit may save your life in the field. They may lack the reach of a sword and the punch of a gun, but they are easy to pull out, quick to use, and can slip through gaps better than most¡± She explained, before smiling. ¡°But that is for later. Right now, we are going to make use of the expansive building to get some cardio done. Being able to outrun a Hell Hound is literally a matter of life and death¡± Queenie didn¡¯t sugar coat anything, it seemed, and got everyone lined up on the track, before getting them running.


    She set a harsh pace, anyone who fell behind would get eaten, she said. What being eaten entailed, was unclear, but by the eight-hundred-meter mark, most were falling behind.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got hooves, it¡¯s totally unfair¡± Kiko exclaimed breathlessly as she ran. The rest of the group joined in, voicing exhausted disdain of Queenie¡¯s extended run because she had the legs to do it whereas the lesser Quasi-humans, and the humans, did not. So Queenie stopped and grinned broadly.


    ¡°It was only a Kilometre, but fine. Reme wasn¡¯t razed in a day¡± She''d stop the running and drop her form, then pointed over to a door in the distance. ¡°That way are showers, no peaking on the other person, or I will set fire to your genitals. You are encouraged to pick up some extra activities related to the division you wish to join, or to solidify an idea if you don¡¯t know. I head the Assault Teams, generally found here or at my quarters, of which you are welcome to come by any time and try to broker some preferential treatment. Assault Teams are close quarters and physically demanding, so don''t step up simply for pride.


    Elis is the head of the Intelligence division, mostly found by following the smell of nerd and takeout food to the Computer labs. Though don''t expect to see the sun or other people if you pick her up, they tend to be very insular and idiosyncratic.


    Bruyn is the head of the Rifles, located in the firing range. She''s got strict aspirations for capabilities and violently hates misuse of firearms, so only go there if you are passionate about firearms.


    Lasadora is in command of the Infiltration Operation Squads. You don¡¯t find Lasadora, she will find you if she thinks you will fit in with her squads. If you want to try attract her attention, she focuses on espionage, undercover operations and stealth.


    If all of these sound too stressful for you, then Rem is the Captain of the Standardized Foot Teams. Nothing particularly notable or glorious about these, but you''ve also got no real stress that comes with the specialist squads¡±


    Queenie didn¡¯t seem worried at all that she made Lasadora sound like some psychopathic nutjob, or that she had casually advocated for sexual favours, and just made sure everyone had heard her before heading off, letting people mill off to the showers.


    Kiko, for her part, scratched her head intensely and tried to get the idea of tormenting Ceal out of her head. Still, from the looks of it it seemed a few others were still glancing in the direction of the woman, even after she had demolished that guy.


    Deciding to trust once again in the power of the shower, Kiko would head that way. Getting her clothes off and into the shower, she rolled into the stall next to Ceal, and saw that she did indeed, have shiny golden ring in many, many places of her body.


    ¡°So...what¡¯s with the whole¡­¡± Kiko trailed off, looking at the Sylph¡¯s body.


    ¡°Decoration. I guess it looks good or something¡± Ceal replied, in a teasing, bratty tone.


    ¡°You...make my head spin¡± Kiko was about to say something else, but shook it off and just excused herself.


    ¡°Mmm, that is an effect I have. It affects them much worse than you, so don¡¯t worry about that¡± Ceal replied. That was, an interesting way to end the conversation, but end it, it did. And so Kiko just cleaned herself up, got dressed, and headed back to the dorm for her schedule and map. She killed half an hour taking a quick nap to recover from the run. And then had another half an hour before her next session. So she would spend that, wandering around getting her bearings. Eventually, she got up to a mirrored door and saw herself in it. She was smart, in the SIR uniform, tail swishing behind her...it hadn¡¯t been a week and she barely recognized herself...

 Chapter 10

    After a few moments, Kiko stopped using the window to check herself out, and glanced through a nearby window, seeing she was outside a firing range. Kiko had never seen a gun, let alone held one, but it was interesting...So, Kiko opened the door, and then retrieved a pair of earmuffs from a row of them, with a sign above stating that they were necessary for all personnel in the firing range. Probably to prevent ear damage, or something like that.


    Putting them on, the world suddenly became strangely dulled. Not muted like she had expected, but the edge was taken off all sound. With sufficient ear protection, she opened the second door that connected the earmuff room to the firing range proper, and was glad for the muffs. The air was filled with loud pops, bangs, and cracks as dozens of SIR agents practiced their marksmanship with a multitude of weaponry. If this was what it was like with ear protection, she wondered how people got on in the field, unless there were some sort of plugs, but then that would mess with communication. Lost in her own little world, she didn¡¯t notice when someone came up and placed a hand on her shoulder. Jumping slightly, she turned to the amused visage of the woman standing next to her. With nothing distinctive, Kiko thought she was just another operative, and so gave her a smile. No risk of weird stuff here.


    ¡°Fresh Meat. How lovely¡± The woman said, flashing some impressive fangs as a glint of light revealed a cadaverous look to her face. It earned her a shriek and a punch in the face, which was apparently not what she was expecting, as the woman went reeling back, and clutched her nose.


    ¡°Ow. Dam, you have a hell of a left hook, girl. I was only going to nibble¡± The girl stated, dropping her hands from her face to show a much friendlier smile.


    ¡°We are surrounded by too many guns for you to start that kind of crap¡± Kiko retorted, electing a rather cute giggle-snort from the woman. Kiko¡¯s hand was throbbing from the punch, apparently having thrown a blow at a brick wall rather than a woman¡¯s face. Did fucking everyone had supernatural durability here, or something?


    ¡°Fair point. I¡¯m Bruyn. I run the shooting range. I hope I scared you, I just haven¡¯t smelled you before and so thought I¡¯d come over and say hi¡± Bruyn explained, and introduced herself. After a few seconds, Kiko was confident that Bruyn was just messing about, and wasn¡¯t actually about to bite, so walked over and took the outstretched hand. The woman¡¯s face had returned to a normal look, so she wasn¡¯t all that scary anymore.


    "Bruyn...head of the Rifles" Kiko commented, remembering what she had just been told.


    "Yea, best shots in SIR. With a Rifle at your back, you can be assured you''ve got all the Fire Support you need" Bruyn exclaimed. Queenie was not exaggerating about the fact that she had strict aspirations, it seemed.


    ¡°So....Smelled me? What happened to seeing? Are you blind?¡± Kiko was still a bit nervous, put off by the look the girl had given. She had obviously plastered those emotions on her face, since Bruyn offered some more.


    ¡°Na. I¡¯m a Draugr. Hence the rotting face¡± She said, before noticing Kiko had no idea what a Draugr was. ¡°Think¡­Awesome...super zombie. Shit happened, I died, and now I am back to help the world fight the Beasts from Beyond. And in return SIR keeps me from rotting and dropping my body parts were I may. Also covers up the stretch. If there is one problem with being a super strong, neigh-invincible zombie, it¡¯s the stench¡± she quipped, laughing to herself.


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    Kiko listened, and then cocked her head softly as she said neigh-invincible.


    ¡°Invincible being the reason for awesome super-zombie rather than the normal, shuffling, ''hit the head'' zombie?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Yea. We Draugr are impervious to weapons, but need to be dismembered and burned to die. As you might think, it¡¯s difficult to dismember a super strong zombie when you can¡¯t use any weapons on her. Clever, huh? Makes me a great asset on the field against the Shriekers and the Succubi. I¡¯m dead, they can¡¯t bugger with anything that makes you humans tick. Plus, I don¡¯t actually rot, I sort of just desiccate. But! You did not come here to talk about me, did you?¡± She asked, and then continued when Kiko shook her head. ¡°Good. Then let us begin the tour of guns! Have you ever shot a gun before?¡± She finished.


    ¡°W-wait, I just came here to explore. I only joined the other day¡± Kiko admitted, looking around and feeling a bit self-conscious at all the confident gunslingers around here.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. No problem with never shooting before. It¡¯s what we work for, after all. Now, you¡¯ll wanna start with a small calibre weapon so you can get used to the weight of guns, and the recoil, and then move up. I¡¯ve got an open booth, we can start you off with the thirty two. I''d not trust it if you are hunting big monsters, but it''s good for the smaller guys¡± she then took Kiko to the booth, and there was a spread of pistols in individual slots, with numbers above them. Kiko¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to a huge thing near the end, with ¡®.650¡¯ above it. She moved over to it and stared, with a grin.


    ¡°What the hell do you need something this big for?¡± Kiko would ask incredulously.


    "Some monsters need putting down hard. Funny you go for that gun, it''s the same make your father used" Bruyn commented, walking over and taking a position behind Kiko.


    "....I feel jealous. Everyone here seems to know him so well, and I never got to meet that side of him" Kiko muttered, pulling out the gun and feeling the thing''s weight. It was hefty, and she never expected her Dad to be the muscle man to wield something like this.


    "It was on purpose. He never wanted you to find out about this part of him. He, and we, never thought he would die like that. It''s sent Elis and Lassadora into a major tizzy to know there is something out there we don''t know, that can take out men like him" Bruyn''s sombre tone echoed her movements, which reached around Kiko and took hold of her hands. "Sorry, to be a buzz kill. Let''s have fun. Grasp firmly, spread your legs, and squeeze the trigger when you feel ready"


    Kiko, avid for something to focus on that wasn''t her dad getting killed by an unknown monster, did just that. It was just a gun, even if it was hellishly heavy. She''d seen the movies, she knew that recoil was hardly a concern when you were fit and healthy like her. So she slowly pulled the trigger, and there was a monumental force suddenly thrown onto her, the gun went up, ripped out of her grasp, and clattered onto the floor, while Kiko herself let out a strangled yelp and lost her balance completely, hitting Bruyn hard, though the Draugr didn''t seem to flinch.


    Making sure Kiko was fine and then recovering the gun, Bruyn smiled.


    "So?" She asked Kiko, who was rubbing her sore hands.


    "I reiterate. What the hell needs that kind of a gun?" she grumbled, glaring at it.


    "Honestly? Nothing. You can get by with a .357 or a .44 if you need the firepower. This gun was designed for people like me, the super-strong Quasi-Humans who can casually handle something like this" Bruyn stated, aiming at the target and cocking the hammer before firing off a round with one hand. Unlike Kiko¡¯s wild shot which had gouged a small chunk of rock out of the concrete wall at the back, Bruyn¡¯s bullet hit the wooden target and blew apart the head, sending wooden splinters across the firing range. "There is comfort in something being super-dead rather than just dead or nearly dead, after all. Now, to the thirty two"


    Bryun''s orders were not something Kiko could argue with, and so spent the next half an hour learning basic gunmanship. She was a very strict teacher, but one with a firm grasp on how to teach, so Kiko left to her lecture on Beast Biology feeling like she had really learned something...

 Chapter 11

    The lessons were fascinating, both physical and educational. She learned a lot about her capabilities she didn''t get from her boxing classes, and learned a lot about the creatures she was fighting. The day was exhausting though, and she collapsed as soon as she got into bed, only managing to get undressed before crashing out. She got a different partner this night, apparently beds were not assigned to individuals but just chosen as you will. It was comforting and invigorating to be so close to her Kitsunes, and she was up with fire, ready to take on the morning.


    The first thing, was Asha telling her to go with one of the Kitsune''s to Queenie''s office. Kiko didn''t know she even had an office, but went anyway and saw it was quite nice, actually. Far neater than she ever expected Queenie to be capable of.


    "Thank you, Erin" Queenie would nod to the Kitsune guide, and then look to Kiko. "So. It''s been a few days, we need to get your life in order. SIR is a full time commitment, as you have no doubt guessed by now. So we need to go to your school and l and talk to the head teacher about why you are not going to be going there anymore, spreading that to the general population that knows you. Would you prefer to tell them the truth, or do you want me to make something up for you?¡± Queenie offered, sitting in the seat and looking surprisingly official.


    ¡°Why, would I lie about joining SIR?¡± She asked, a little confused at the idea.


    ¡°You are still a teenager, late teens though they may be. And a recruit with no immediate family. It''s an invite for seedy elements to target you, should you joining SIR come to light. There are a few people that are less than happy that we exist. Some think that the Beasts are oppressed animals we just need to try and understand. Symptoms of society reaching a state where people can dick about and make crackpot theories.


    There are also those who actively worship the Beasts as the true masters of the planet and see humans as cattle. And outside of the dark parts, there are obsessives, fans, and journalists who will mob you when it becomes known. SIR Agents are not exactly celebrities, but are still well known individuals. The subterfuge is only until you finish your training, and even then it''s just cautionary more than needed. But it will make your free days harder if it is well known¡± Queenie explained. Kiko never knew there was such depth to being a SIR Agent, though could imagine exactly how Queenie dealt with her belligerents.


    ¡°Hmm, I guess I should then. You can make something up for me. Just, make it believable, I''m not exactly a nun you know?¡± Kiko replied, finally looking to Queenie, and feeling a tad uncomfortable at the way her eyes lit up at the permission.


    * * * * * *


    Never again, Kiko mentally stated, as she was standing in the Head Teacher¡¯s office, wearing an - albiet beautiful and very finely maid Maid¡¯s uniform. The usual black dress and white apron was only deviated from with some ice-blue trimming around the apron''s frills. And of course, she''d obeyed like a good little girl when Queenie had suggested to get into it and then follow her to the car. The woman was a true nightmare, and Kiko really needed to find out why SIR was keeping her around.


    Never one to pass up a chance to dress up, Queenie¡¯s outfit was magnificent. The finest red silk, a full length skirt and gloves, studded with fire drops, rubies and emeralds. The look topped off by a red-gold necklace with a large ruby set. It all gave the impression that she was some sort of rich noblewoman or something, and having a Maid just finished the touches.


    Dragged inside, Queenie had made some touches to be hard to identify for people who knew her, hair growing out radically and bright red as opposed to the soft ginger it usually was. Kiko, on the other hand, was still very much identifiable, and several of her friends - and many of those she had clashed with - commented on it as they made their way to the Head Teacher''s office.


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    "You miss a few days and now get dragged here again? I''d have loved your tenacity, if nothing else" Head exclaimed, having smelled Kiko coming. But then he looked up and saw Queenie, before glancing to the clock. "Or not. I certainly wasn''t expecting to see her wander in with a lady of the Igara Household" the giant wolf man commented, to Queenie''s delight.


    "Ohh, you are well travelled, aren''t you? I can''t imagine a man like you maxes out at teacher, head or not" Queenie spoke. Even the tone in her voice was different. Like she was born into money the likes of which few could ever comprehend.


    "I had an adventurous youth, My Lady. Eventually, too adventurous, and I decided on a job that would not have such, surprises" he replied.


    "Please, Alara. Or miss Igara if you must, but My Lady is far too formal" Queenie exclaimed, holding out her hand.


    "Very well, Miss Igara. I am Endran Ridas, it is a pleasure to meet you" he would then take her hand and kiss it gently.


    "Endran?!" Queenie''s tone slipped in the confusion, and her eyes bulged some at the shock. "Well travelled barely covers it. I used to listen to stories of you when I was a child"


    Kiko was blown away by the idea that her Head Teacher that she had argued with and butted heads against was some kind of hero figure that had stories told about him. Stories enough to attract Queenie''s attention. Gods, she felt so bad now at every word she had said against the man.


    "Mmm. Still, I assume Kiko is here dressed in a uniform more expensive than a modest car for more than just hearing about my youth, no?" he would prompt, gesturing to the maid.


    "Ahh, yes. The Ator family has inherited half a Wergild for the just murder of my cousin. Since Kiko is the only remaining family who retains the name, it falls to her. Though I am not heartless and I know exactly the weight of such debt, so I offered Kiko a position as one of my Maids until she can pay off such a debt. Adding in the cost of training, board and suchlike, and it comes about eight years in total. So I came to speak with her prior obligations to ensure a smooth passage" Queenie explained, making a lie with such confidence and panache that Kiko was just stunned.


    ¡°Hmmm. I am not well disposed to such a thing, but I will not oppose it. I appreciate you coming to tell me rather than just whisking her away, Miss Fitzen. I hope you will take care of Kiko. She can be a handful at times but don¡¯t let that dissuade you. She¡¯s a good girl. That is, indeed, often why she is a handful at timea¡± The head teacher explained, flashing his fangs in a smile.


    ¡°Thank you for your advice, mister Ridas¡± Queenie replied, giving a gentle curtsey. Kiko, for her part, was busy internally scowling at Queenie. Maybe if she thought really hard, a large pan would come out of nowhere and hit her on the head or something. Alas, the world did not work like that, and they left Ridas¡¯ office and got to the car with no flying pans. Bundling into the very nice car and having the chauffer start the car and drive off, Queenie seemed highly amused. But Kiko was livid.


    ¡°Maid!? Could you really have thought of nothing else, at all, that might have worked?!¡± Kiko exploded, nails digging into her palms, even though the gloves Kiko was wearing.


    ¡°Maybe. But this was the most fun. Besides, you amazing in that outfit, Kiko. It was a suspicion of mine that I wanted to confirm. You can strip naked if you¡¯d prefer. I certainly wouldn¡¯t mind¡± Queenie was, with her glorious clothes and her laid back superiority and her beautiful car, the perfect picture of royalty right now. Kiko''s cheeks flushed at the idea and just sat back down hard, glowering at the whole thing. "And I do hope you''ll wear it again for me some time" Queenie put in, further flushing Kiko''s body.


    "Shut up. And what was all that back there? You made up such crap with out a blink" Kiko exclaimed, wanting to get off the topic.


    "It''s not crap. At least, not entirely. It''s the culture of the northern states of Skivoa. They are pretty violent by our standards and have a more loose moral code. People are kept polite and civil by the fact that a man can throw down the gauntlet and demand you fight him for any insult you give him. And there is no legal or social obligation to keep you alive in this, though neither is there to kill you. Weregild is basically a payment to the family of a man justly killed. You get in trouble if you are a psychopath with it, but the fact that you can get your shit kicked in for being a dick keeps people civil and closely knit" Queenie explained, seemingly well read on the whole subject.


    "That''s...more than I expected you to know. You''ve got a lot of personalities, huh?" Kiko would ask, which elected a laugh from Queenie.


    "Mmm. I have fun when I want to have fun, and am serious when I need to be serious. But still. Life sorted, you are now free to be a full and proper SIR Agent" Queenie exclaimed. Which, despite everything, was nice.

 Chapter 12

    Between seething rage and invigoration with her Kitsunes, Kiko took the next week by storm. She learned biology of the beasts she was hunting, took extra lessons with Queenie - mostly to glare at her, partially to get a better physique - and fit in an hour''s session in the range each day. Recruits didn''t have standard firearm training till their fourth week, but Bruyn accepted anyone with the desire to get a headstart. Using the fact she woke up with vim and vigor every day, Kiko pushed harder than most would be able to, having a competitive desire to beat Queenie and put her in a damn maid uniform.


    There was a ten week basic course of recruits, and then a series of tests where you were marked and scored based on your aptitudes. Kiko got hold of the numbers needed and looked them over with fascinating. There was a low celling to enter the Standardized Foot Teams, and then varying numbers to join the rest of the Specialist Squads. Bruyn was serious about the fact that the Rifles were the best shots in SIR. The Marksmanship test needed to be passed with a 96/100, though Bruyn would offer three weeks of personal tutorship and then a retrial if you managed to score at least a 90.


    Such was not offered by the Colonel, who has her own group called the Ten Blades. Apprentices directly under them were called the Sheaths, and required very high scores in Marksmanship, Physical Aptitude, Close Quarter Combat, Mental Aptitude, and Combined Arms. It seemed impossible to Kiko for a person to reach all the marks required in just ten weeks.


    The first week was to get everyone oriented and settled into what they were doing. But the second week had a day off because it was unhealthy to go hard all day every day. Recruits were allowed town leave on specific days, to avoid the entire swarm descending upon the town and once and causing a ruckus. So on the fifth of the weeks nine days, Kiko and some other recruits were allowed out into the town. She had not particularly made any close friends, so went off to do her own thing.


    Though, what that thing was, was the question. Food was good on base, so she didn''t need to grab anything like that. She didn''t particularly drink either, so no pub crawling. It occured to her at this moment that she didn''t have many hobbies, beyond being at school, working out, and making dinner for herself...Eventually she decided to drop by her old gym and see how the boss was doing.


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    But before managing to get there, she passed a woman flanked by two men. There was something about the look on her face that raised an eyebrow. She let them go past and then turned and began to subtly follow them as they took the woman out of the town square and into a


    and into a car park. Meeting up with two more men there, Kiko bit her lip. Four on one was poor odds, she should call someone to get help. But if she waited, then they would be gone. As the men threw the woman into the van, Kiko broke into a sprint, rushing in and smashing one of the men''s heads against the van before they could react to her presence.


    She''d smelt blood before. She''d spilt blood before. But now? It was...intoxicating. She felt her body light up, on fire. Her tail came out unbidden and seemed to bulk up her body with an unknown power. There were cries of alarm around her, screams of the civilians and roars of the men, but Kiko didn''t really hear them. All she could hear, all she could feel, was the rush. The need. All she could hear, all she could feel, was the rush. The need. The second man was blinded by Kiko as she raked her nails across his face, and the third had half his teeth knocked out and his nose broken when she countered his mad rush with her fist in his face.


    The final of their number was the strongest. She slugged him across the face and he knocked her right back. Blows being traded back and forth as Kiko got more violent, more aggressive. Eventually shattering the man''s jaw and splattering blood all over herself as the man inadvertently ripped his tongue open. In retaliation, he sunk a knife deep into her shoulder, though it did little to her, she simply grabbed his stabbing arm, shattered the forearm, and drove the heel of her palm into his chest, cracking bone and knocking him to the ground where he stayed.


    With the men dealt with, Kiko would open the van door and look at the woman inside. Expecting some sort of amazement or relief, she simply saw terror in the woman''s eyes. The terror knocked Kiko out of her haze and had her stumble back into another car, which set off the alarm and had Kiko running out of the park, away from the noise.


    The run was staggered, undirected, and confused. Though perhaps unconsciously, she arrived at the SIR building, and certainly got a reception. Covered in blood, face bruised and battered, a knife sticking out of her shoulder. The world was ringing by this point, slowly tilting on an axis that she could hardly keep her balance on. The ring became louder, omnipresent, and then finally Kiko''s eyes rolled up into her head and she passed out as the adrenal crash hit her hard.

 Chapter 13

    Last thing she remembered was crashing outside SIR, but now she was...home.Or a very realistic dream of home. It even had her father sat across her, smiling to him with deep gold eyes.


    ¡°Dad¡­¡± Kiko couldn¡¯t believe it. He was dead, what was he doing here?


    ¡°Hey Kid. You really got the shit end of the stick, huh?¡± He asked, smiling his coy, confident smile, before leaning forward to pour some tea.


    ¡°You¡¯re dead¡­¡± She muttered, not able to believe her eyes.


    ¡°Yea. Kinda sucks. But no Kitsune close to your heart ever truly dies. I get to be here, with nifty golden eyes that let me Look into your mind and make a perfect helper for your problems. If you want to get technical, I am not actually Drax, but what makes a person, if it is not memory and emotion? I¡¯m as Drax as Drax was, which is why I feel comfortable with the claim that I am him¡± Drax liked to talk, and Kiko liked his voice. So it was a good partnership between father and daughter. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I  forced you to deal with all this so quickly. I thought I would be alive a lot longer than I was. We Kitsunes are born to kill the Beasts from Beyond. It is our calling and our nature. And I wanted to spare you that, I wanted you to have a normal life, not a life that would have you out there, against them.


    As a five-tailed Kitsune, I thought I was going to be able to keep you out of the life for a lot longer. But it seems something big caught me by surprise. Little bitch¡± He finished pouring the tea, and took his own cup, pushing Kiko¡¯s towards her.


    ¡°I¡­missed you. And...you...say you can, look into my mind?¡± She muttered. Drax stared for a second, as if looking through her mind ¨C the way he said ¡®look¡¯ made it sound as if it was something different to using your eyes to see things ¨C and then sighed and leaned back.


    ¡°Yea. Fuckin'' Blood Moon. Where were the chances of that happening to you, of all people?¡± He asked rhetorically, shaking his head. "Tell Asha about it when you wake up. They probably have you locked up somewhere because you did go psycho and obliterate four guys in a parking lot. But that will at least give them a reason" he counselled, giving her a warm smile.


    This was nice. It was comforting. And, with everything she had heard, Kiko knew that this was exactly what they were designed to do. Hallucinations that acted as a portable, personal therapist. What kind of situation would require this kind of modification, however, she didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°So I heard you had a relationship with Queenie¡± Kiko put in, slumping back on her chair.


    ¡°Ha, ran into Queenie huh? Yea, she was a good''un back in the day. Fiery little tike. We had some good days with her" Drax would give a coy and elated smirk.


    ¡°Is she my mother?¡± Kiko asked. Her mother had left when Kiko was very young, and Drax was disgruntled enough to have no pictures about the place. Though, from the reaction of Drax spitting out his tea, she immediately knew she was not.


    "Vanaet, No. No. We never got that far. Nor, I think, ever had any intention of that far to begin with. Your mother is a different woman entirely" Drax seemed to have quite a lot of feelings on that particular subject, so just changed to another one.


    "Vanaet? Is that an old curse word or something?" Kiko asked, leaning in. If this was going to be a proper conversation with a Dad-Equivalent, might as well make the most of it.


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    "No, no. She''d kick my ass for using it like that, if I wasn''t already dead. Vanaet is the God of the Kitsunes, often appears as the feminine side of the Trinity. Agnaet is the God of the Lupines and the Inu, and is the male side of the Trinity. Inari sort of covers both of them but isn''t really explicit to either. And appears male or female as they will" he''d explain, before glancing into his cup. "Though, theology lesson needs to go on hold, you are waking up now" Drax exclaimed, and before Kiko could argue, she was in a rather empty room.


    Her body was sluggish and drowsy, her shoulder...was surprisingly good actually. Though the handcuff locking her to the bed was less good. Not an out of character reaction considering what she did. She was clearly being monitored, as a few minutes after she woke up, someone unlocked the door and came in. T''was the doctor man from before, who nodded to Kiko and wisely stayed out of reach.


    "I''m not going to attack you" Kiko told him, leaning back and relaxing.


    "I''d rather keep a safe distance anyway. It was quite the brutal video to watch. Though, there is nothing on the tests to imply what would cause that kind of reaction. And Asha has no records of a Kitsune''s fur turning red" the man replied. That certainly cause Kiko''s attention, and she sat up with a bolt.


    "My fur turned red? Holy shit...it didn''t happen to be a bloody red, did it?" She asked, apprehensively.


    "...It did, yea. Why do you ask?" the Doctor questioned, looking up from his clip board.


    "I...this whole, thing started after the first guy started bleeding. My whole body felt flushed and filled with power.  And this is going to sound terribly weird, but my dead father told me it''s a Blood Moon thing" she explained, being as helpful as she could. Wasn''t his fault she was kind of scary.


    "Blood Moon? That''s...not good" the doctor muttered to himself, turning for the door and leaving Kiko, as if forgetting she was even there. She had been dealing with it before, helped by the Kitsune mentality. But now...that reaction...it made her feel like a monster. And then an invasive voice came to her ears. Different to the one before, this one was seductive, but cruel.


    ¡®They fear you now. Nobody will trust you again. Whatever you do, however you try to redeem yourself, they will always look at you different¡¯ it said. The words were so true. The doctor''s reaction. Avoiding her like that, and then running away when he figured out what she was. No wonder Drax wanted to keep her away from this life, he wanted to keep everyone from realizing the monster he had given birth to.


    ¡®But I can help you, my dear. I can make it so that you are never subjected to this pain again¡¯ it promised. ''I will take your sadness, your despair, and treat you right. I will never see you as a Monster. Only as the glorious woman you can be'' the voice promised. Silky smooth and irresistable, Kiko gave into the hypnotic beauty of it and let herself be taken. There was soft laughter in her head before she felt teeth sink into her neck, ripping into her. It was an  agony she could not stand, but now she was paralyzed, unable to do anything about it.


    For a few moments she felt her emotions being drained and replaced with something repulsive. Something she wanted to run from, to fight off. But the paralysis was total, and she could only sit here and let the creature take control of her.


    Or so she thought. The voice, so haughty and proud, suddenly turned frantic and frightened as a second appeared. The creature that sunk into her neck screamed inside her head, before the shrieks became wordless and it faded away into nothing.


    Freed from the paralysis, Kiko¡¯s hand went to her neck, and felt the wound there, saw the blood from the puncture mark. Whatever had happened wasn¡¯t in her mind, it was real....And that was very bad.


    "What the fuck?" she gasped, her head swimming as her emotions snapped back and burned out the repulsive replacement.


    ¡®You are the closest I have been in hundreds of years. People are moving away from us and towards them, and this may be my last chance. And I will not lose you to some abandoned scavenger. There is nothing wrong with asking for and receiving help, little one. Just don¡¯t rely on it to save you from everything¡¯ it replied, ringing in her mind. The voice was so powerful, so confident, so fearless. But then it faded away like fog in the noonday sun, and left Kiko. Exhausted from the ordeal, Kiko tried to fight off the fatigue but failed and passed out again on the bed.

 Chapter 14

    As sleep must, it eventually retreated from her mind and she was back in prison-hospital. Though, this time, Asha was sat next to her on a chair. It was weird, given the reaction of the man. And her memories, of being so terribly distraught...but it felt artifical, inflated somehow, like it wasn''t what she was really feeling.


    ¡°Good morning Kiko. You are probably very distraught over what has happened with those men, it was quite the mess. But you did tell Alex about the Blood Moon. So I looked into it and I finally found record of what, exactly, it is you are going through¡± Asha started. Such definitive words made Kiko sit up, as much as she could in a hospital bed you were handcuffed to, and pay emphatic attention. The incredibly intense staring would probably be off-putting for others, but Asha had seen enough in her life to be steeled against that sort of thing. Most sorts of things, if she was honest. "If you are down for a history lesson, of course" she finished.


    "I''m down for listening to you about anything" Kiko replied, only realizing the creepy stalker vibe after she said it. Didn''t seem to bother Asha though.


    ¡°It stems back to the Great War. That fight was not our own, it seems. Ancient legends suggest that the sky was filled with chariots of fire as the denizens of the stars descended upon our planet to aid us. It¡¯s mostly gibberish, but ¡®denizens of the stars¡¯ does seem to imply that there were people from other planets here at the time of the Great War.


    Extra-terrestrial life has always been an interesting discussion, and while I wouldn¡¯t say some ancient writing that seems to be using thematics in lieu of actual words is to be trusted entirely, it¡¯s food for thought. In this, there is a mention of a woman who ruled over the Life of all who stood on the field. Cross-reference that with a later treatise on The Great War, with some professional translators, I might add. I can really appreciate the effort a man puts into something like this. An-"


    Asha would look at Kiko, and then grin sheepishly. "Sorry. This woman who ¡®ruled over the Life of all who stood on the field¡¯ was recorded as the Queen of Blood. Name not put down, unfortunately. But, she had a small cadre of Kitsunes known as Blood Moon Kitsunes. They were entrusted with powerful runic enhancements that fed off blood and gave them physical abilities far beyond their kin. Today, there are very few hereditary inheritors of the Blood Moon Kitsunes, and these are often suppressed through medical concoctions.


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    Unfortunately, your body is too developed for those concoctions as you were not brought into the Kitsune fold until a week ago. So we didn¡¯t catch it and as a result we didn¡¯t manage to get you with what you needed. So, for the first time in a few hundred years, we have a chance to observe the full power of the Blood Moon Kitsunes.


    From what Eternia and his people say, Your runic enchantments seem to have gone into overdrive and so their ¡®vigorous appetite for battle¡¯ seems to overtaken your ability to think rationally. We don¡¯t have anything specific for a cure. Trans-planetary theorems are not exactly prolific. We are trying to repurpose the All-Range Communications Installation to broadcast into the stars in hopes of picking someone up, but we don¡¯t have any idea who this Queen of Blood is or where she is or even who ¨C if anyone ¨C will pick up the transmission. We could be inviting horrific creatures to our world. We could be the last bastion in the entire universe after everything was destroyed by these Beasts from Beyond, and we are just talking to empty space.


    We could get into contact with this Queen of Blood and she neglects to help us. She is a Queen, after all. There are a lot of variables we have to consider¡± Asha watched Kiko, and seeing the girl¡¯s face fall slightly, decided to speak again. ¡°That, is not to say we aren¡¯t going to do it. Just that you are aware of what might happen in the future. As for now, we can¡¯t do anything about it. So just, take what you now know and try to hold off the feeling if it comes again. You were caught off guard before, but in the future you''ll know what is coming and should be able to dampen it down"


    Asha''s long monologue finished, and then she uncuffed Kiko from the bed and took a step back to give her space.


    "Am I not...dangerous?" Kiko asked, with a raised eyebrow.


    "Are you?" Asha replied, a soft, gentle smile that buoyed Kiko''s spirits and made her think. She could do this.


    "I guess not"

 Chapter 15

    Luck was not on her side though, at least she didn''t feel it. Instead of getting back to work, she was ambushed in the lobby by three Kitsunes. She knew they were Kitsunes because they had their ears and tails out. Dressed weirdly as well, in some red top with long white robe bottoms. She wasn''t the only one who saw them however, as Queenie came storming over a few moments after, before they could say anything to Kiko.


    "Three fucking weeks. Did it take you that long to pull your heads out from your arses and start using your head for more than catching bullets?" She exclaimed, starting the whole situation out hostile as holy hell. Clearly, not so happy they were here.


    "It was the-" one of them started before getting cut off when Queenie rounded on him with all her looming presence.


    "It was rhetorical, shit-for-brains. You were all scared he was going to jump out from behind the curtain, go ''aha'' and then beat the shit out of you, huh?" Queenie shook her head in disgruntlement they were even here, let alone what they were her for.


    "We were not-" the same man started again, more agitated this time, though it went just as well.


    "I''m not done! Unlike you lot, Drax would never do that to his family, so you know he is proper dead, and don''t need to be so afraid. Take her and fuck off before I start stomping on toes" she ordered, before looking to Kiko and exhailing.


    "These useless bags of meat are going to take you to your family. Mother''s side of your family, your father''s side won''t do anything unless paid. It''s the principle of the Jom" Queenie told Kiko. Though the dismissive tone made it very clear how Queenie thought of it, Kiko was just...filled with emotion. Excitement and despair and terror and anger.


    "My....they will take me to my mother?" Kiko asked, looking to them, and then back to Queenie. "I''m..I''m sorry" she apologised. Queenie seemed to know exactly what it was for, and gave a soft shake of the head.


    "I''m pissed they took this long, not that you are going. I knew you were going to go with them as soon as they arrived. Weither you''ll stay with her is another question, you are Drax''s daughter after all. And I don''t know if they can handle a woman like that" Queenie counselled with a gentle tone, before turning back to steel. "If she does want to leave and you stand in her way, the Fires Of Ars will descend upon you. Just so you are aware"


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    With that, Queenie would turn and leave the three. On the back foot and shocked by the cataclysm that was Queenie, they reached out to put their hands on Kiko. One on each shoulder and one of her head. It felt weird, an ice cold energy ran into her body and then...the world was so bleak, so dark. So grey. Suddenly she felt so alone, and couldn''t leave the presence of the Kitsunes if she wanted to.


    Without stopping to get her gear or tell anyone, they simply left like a thief in the night. Her own natural physique and training over the weeks allowed her to keep up with their gruelling pace, though even then they only got outside the city and deep into the woods before the night came and they broke camp. Kiko had never gone camping and relied on them for support and shelter. The food was pretty tasteless but well filling, and the bedrolls simple but no worse than a bad mattress. Though, it was the first time in weeks that she woke up tired, mentally and physically.


    Another full day of the ceaseless pace led them through the woods and up a hill, to a plateu where a huge sea of tents spread out. Something between an established town and a nomadic camp, it was large and sprawling with many distinct ¡®buildings¡¯ but made entirely out of tents of varying size and grandeur. The largest of which was in the middle, made with a crimson red silk and made Kiko feel somewhat in awe. It was just a tent, but the tent made her feel both comforted and amazed. The hundreds of people milling around were all Kitsunes, tails out and proud. Dressed in the same red and white uniform that the men who came to get her were dressed in. She felt awkward without her own, and immediately dropped out her single tail and ears.


    Brought to a small, diddy one-person tent, she was told to get dressed and all but shoved inside. Not seeing any reason to not do as she was told, she did exactly that and got dressed. The clothing was so fine she could hardly feel it at all, softer than silk could ever hope to be, softer than any material even. The same red top and white skirt as everyone else, with soft white socks and a simple pair of shoes. Something about it made her heart swell. Made her feel nostalgic and loved. Wiping away the tears that were forming, She walked out of the tent and looked at the one man who still remained, the other two leaving after she got into the tent. Something was definitely missing. While she was nostalgic and warm in this outfit, it didn''t have the same brilliance as with Asha and her Skulk...


    This dull cloud lingered for the rest of the day, and she was piloted like a puppet. Given clothes to wash, food to cook, and sewing to sew. The last one had a lot of pricked fingers before it got took off her and she was chased off to get something else to do. Sitting in her tent at the end of the day, tired and worn from the work she had been doing, she wondered what was even going on. Stolen from her life, thrown here and then basically ignored. She wanted to be...anything, that wasn''t this dull and lifeless corpse...

 Chapter 16

    Apparently come the morning, the Belonging was more important for a Kitsune than Kiko understood. It was the crux of her bubbly, bouncing step back at SIR, and being taken from that was what had caused such despair. So when she woke and dressed in the morning, there was a woman outside her tent. With an aura of glory and five tails behind her, she had an inverted colour pallet that marked her out as special, and stretched out a hand. Taking the hand before she even realized, Kiko was taken off to a special tent, where a dozen Kitsunes, all with a single tail were found. Joined in a circle similar to the one she had in SIR, the five tail would take her position at the head of the circle and invite Kiko to take the hands of those next to her.


    Joining in, she was immediately blown out of the grey world and filled with purpose and desire once again. The world had colour and the air had smell. Her blood flowed again and there was a song in the air that was so beautiful. It was quite terrifying how different it was to be separated from this pseudo-hive, but right now she didn''t care about how bad it was to be outside it, just that she was inside it again.


    Chittering, it seemed, was a universal Kitsune thing, as those that made up her circle immediately mobbed her and circled around her as they were shifted out of the tent by the woman with five tails. Here, she regaled tales of the city and of her exploits in SIR. Chores were an every day thing, but Kiko didn''t mind cleaning up and cooking with them around. It was great to be with others again, and she never expected to miss sleeping with another so much. The guy she was in the bed of didn''t seem to even consider the idea of doing anything, and they just slept until the morning.


    Though, the Belonging wasn''t all a good thing. With the return of emotion came emotional reactions. Slowly wearing her patience to the bone, it all boiled over when she pricked herself yet again with the goddamned needle! Her fingers were covered in tiny wounds from the pricking, and she threw the clothes to the ground with a scream.


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    "Fuck! What the fuck am I doing here!?" She shouted, standing up and raging at the sky. "I am not a seamstress. I am not a launderette, and I am hardly a cook. I am a fucking SIR Agent!" she screamed. "Recruit. Whatever! Literally, what the hell am I doing here?!"


    Her outburst caused near the whole camp to pause and stare. And, to attract the woman who had been at her Belonging. Clearly an important person, as the crowd gathered around her parted at her presence, and she spoke with confidence. ¡°Give us a moment¡±


    Everyone backed off at that, but kept an eye on what was going on anyway because it was interesting. Few city foxes came here, and people wondered if they were all so unstable.


    "You. You were there at the Belonging" Kiko almost accused, her eyes burning with emotion as she was ready to savage anyone, to get her answers.


    ¡°Mmm. First thing I ever got to do. I don¡¯t blame him, I understand exactly why he did it. But it still hurt¡± the woman had a mournful voice, one that made Kiko want to cry. But, she was too burning with fire to let it happen.


    ¡°I suck at the pronoun game¡± Kiko replied, body tense from the overboiling of emotion.


    ¡°Ahh, yes. No doubt he hasn¡¯t told you anything about it, would kind of defeat the whole purpose if he did. Guess he never got anyone else either....not that I expected he would. Wasn''t his kind of thing¡± The woman continued the pronoun game, as if teasing her or something. But from the tone, Kiko could tell she was just nervous and dragging out this to work up the courage to say what she needed to say.


    ¡°I¡¯m Yeni, your mother¡± She eventually managed to get out. Kiko, for her part, deflated almost immediately. Flames extinguished in an instant. This was why she was here, what she had come for. Why she was so angry, because she had come for this woman, who just didn''t even turn up. Unable to really say anything, she just stared.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡­¡±

 Chapter 17

    Mother. Mother. Kiko went through so many different emotions in a short length of time. First she was relieved, that her mother actually came out to talk to her rather than just not acknowledging her. Her heart swelled with elation to see this beautiful woman, full of comfort and gentleness. And then her mind burned with fury. Why had she left? Why had she done that to her? Why had she dragged her away from her life? Why?!


    ¡°Why?¡± Kiko¡¯s feelings spilling over to a point of speech. ¡°Why did you leave me?¡± Kiko¡¯s eyes filled with tears and was frozen to the spot, just staring mournfully.


    ¡°We have an intricate culture. A culture of Conflict with The Beasts, and of disdain for the city dwellers for the betrayal. Though, it was  a culture that your father disagreed with and wanted to keep you from. And I couldn¡¯t stay with him telling me that I couldn¡¯t teach you who you were. I couldn¡¯t watch you bounce about life not knowing who you were. So I returned to my clan and waited for him to come talk to me. To come discuss this. He never did¡± Yeni spoke with a mournful tone as she told the story of her absence.


    But for Kiko, she just cracked. She felt split in half down the middle at the emotional blow that she had been given. This, culture, was one to abandon your child rather than love her for who they were? Kiko felt a boiling heat build up in her, and Yeni let out a light gasp before stepping forward and clamping her hands on both of Kiko''s tail-tips.


    "I could handle you leaving me. I never knew you. But you left him, and you broke his heart, and he died. You could have been there, to save him. To support him. To make sure, he didn''t die" Kiko''s words were staggered and dull, her eyes just staring into bleak nothing. Seeing this, Yeni''s heart swelled with a sadness that was then dampened by her mentality. Given objectivity of the situation, she pulled Kiko into her bosom and hugged tightly.


    "You have suffered so much, because of me. I can only tell you why, but I know why will never be accepted, we are like night and day. Fatherborn without a father" Yeni would speak, while hugging her daughter. Ignoring everything, she was glad for this moment. After some time, Kiko''s arms moved, and slid around Yeni''s waist, hugging her tightly and sobbing gently into her chest. Today had just been...far too much. She didn''t want to be around anymore, just wanted tomorrow to come and give her some distance from all this.


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    Such wishes were never given, but eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the delayed mentality asserted itself, and the barbed hooks in her mind fell away, leaving her only her mother.


    "What''s a Fatherborn?" Kiko asked, a somewhat dry tone as she wrestled with the physical impact of hysteria.


    "We retained a strict hierarchy from the Great War. Every Kitsune has a duty, daughters to their mother and sons to their fathers. They learn their parent''s craft and then aid them in it for a number of years varying from clan to clan. And then they take this craft and aid the clan with it for, again, varying number of years. Once this duty is done, then you are free to be your own Kitsune. It is how we have lived for so very long, and how we survived the despair that was The Great War.


    But people are not all the same. Some men are gentle and soft, unsuited for war. Some women are vigorous and passionate, unsuited for the camp. With population growing to a point, larger clans can afford to be slightly more loose on the strictures of duty. And so a relatively recent development has been that of the Fatherborn, and Motherborn. In essence, it changes who your duty is to, as if you were the other.


    A Fatherborn is taught as a man is, learning the craft of her father and then fulfilling her duty to the clan with it. I assume from your outburst that you do not wish to learn from me. So we can send you to the Fatherborn to learn from them instead" Yeni gave a deep explanation of the culture, and it even let Kiko understand the woman some. She grew up in a strict culture and could not flex around the idea of letting another grow outside it.


    Decoupling and snorting to get the crap out of her nose, Kiko would nod.


    "Yea. Sounds, more my speed" Kiko would state, rubbing the dried tears out of her eyes and trying to get herself back into a proper physical state.


    "Also. Sorry to load all this onto you so soon but, tails. A Kitsune''s tails are a mark of their age and power, the grow out every fifty to a hundred years depending on the Kitsune. Though, there is also a survival mechanism built into us that in times of intense stress and trauma, a new tail is born to give us the capabilities to survive the coming trial. Kitsunes grow stronger and more aware of their surroundings the more tails they have, so it is treated as a social standing thing. You, were more aggrieved than I thought and birthed your second tail. People will see this and treat you differently than before, so be prepared for that. Also people with more tails than you will expect respect from you, which is why everyone here has their tails out constantly. To hide your tails is considered very rude and shows you are a thief or thought or deed"


    Kiko watched, mouth a little slack from the explanation layered on to the other explanation right before it, and just nodded.


    "...Right. I''ll...try, remember, all that" Kiko muttered, scratching her head and leaving Yeni to go find these Fatherborn. She''d prefer to explore herself than be guided, right now.

 Chapter 18

    Yeni was certainly right. People were looking at her differently now. Like she was going to do backflips and skateboarding kickflips all while being on fire and chased by bees, or something equally ridiculous. But, it did give her more freedom to explore the camp. She''d go find the Fatherborn eventually, when she was less aggrieved about her life in general. She''d look about the tent sea some, and then grab a young looking Kitsune with one tail. He seemed pretty surprised to be grabbed, but immediately dampened any response when he saw Kiko''s tails.


    "SIR. Tell me about them" she almost ordered. The subtle disgust in people''s reactions when she exclaimed she was a SIR Agent did not go unnoticed, after all.


    "The Betrayers? I-i, what is there to say about them?" he''d ask, staring at Kiko wildly.


    "Let''s start with that one. I was born in the city, so I have no idea about the culture you were born into. Tell me about their betrayal, and I want your honest truth. I won''t judge you for it or get angry. I swear on..." Kiko would pause for a moment and mentally flail for something relevant to them both. "...Vanaet" she finished. It was hard to really objectively talk about SIR in the city. The whole ''saving us from horrible monsters that want to eat us and shit on our family with the faeces from eating us'' tended to colour people''s perceptions of them.


    ''Using my name in vain already, huh? We are going to get along~'' came the voice again. So glorious and vibrant, how could any living being have a voice like that? Kiko wasn''t dumb, she understood the connotations of the voice''s claims towards it''s identity, but also wasn''t just going to take it at face value.


    What was taken at face value, however, was Kiko''s words. The kid''s eyes bulged wide and he immediately dropped the backpack he was carrying, and took a seat on the ground.


    "Long, long ago, there was a War. It scou-" he started his voice entering into a tone like he was reciting an epic tale around a campfire, though Kiko sat down more roughly and held up a hand.


    "Yea, I got the cliff notes. Big war, Kitsune guy, crystal sword" Kiko interrupted, gesturing with her hand for him to carry on.


    "Ohh. Umm..." the kid made some incoherent mumbles and then eventually found his linguistic feet again and picked up the storyteller tone again. "At the moment of triumph, he was betrayed by his ally. A Tengu drove a blade into his back and tarnished his soul, reducing him to ashes in but moments. The fury of the Kitsunes was great, and we tore the remnants of the enemy to shred in our hatred. A hatred directed at a Tengu we could never have revenge on, because the blade he used took his own life as fuel, once the task was done.


    The war ended, and we rounded upon the untrustworthy and insidious Tengu. They refused responsibility for their actions, and war would have broken out between the two, had the great Talia''Zian not stood between us, preventing either from striking the other.


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    Time passed, and the Beasts were driven off, though incursions were everywhere. The Kitsunes who had taken to the central plains came together to form a village, that grew then into a city, and from there into a bustling town-"


    "Cities are bigger than towns" Kiko put in. Though, it seemed she was not immune to reprisal, as the kid scowled and grew irate.


    "Do you want me to tell you this story or not?" He asked, some grump to his tone now.


    "Sorry, continue. I''ll not interrupt again" Kiko apologised. The kid took a few moments again, ran through where he was in his head, and then carried on.


    "As the infrastructure of civilization grew, so did the need to cover people from the incursions that plagued the lands. Night watchmen because formalized, and over time they came together as a wing of the government, the Otherworld Defence Department.


    But treason! Their armoured fist, the Supernatural Incursion Response, did eschew the valour and strength of the Kitsunes in favour of the vile, repugnance of the Tengu. How could we serve such people? And so we retreated from the cities, and those who would support the enemy and their poisonous ways. To mountain homes, were we protect our own and grow in peace. Over the ages, the Ess Eye Are became repugnant and morally bankrupt, a cruel and merciless division of the corrupt and decadent government. Power makes them bold, but blind, and they will topple. One day"


    Kiko would stare, expectantly, but when the kid didn''t carry on, she would nod. So much for an objective viewpoint, they were as biased as the people in the city. She''d need to go on a serious journey, to Alza or Merin if she was to get an opinion untainted by bias. Though, her own quiet bid him ask her a question burning in his mind.


    "Though you didn''t know any of this, surely you knew they were creatures of the darkness. What drove you to join them regardless?" he asked, leaning in with glimmering eyes.


    "We''ve our own biases, so there isn''t a prevailing thought of them being evil. Most people just see them as part of society, the same way a school education is, only less mandatory. I personally...was curious. The initial joining was a shock, I hadn''t had time to put my head on right. But, could have left whenever I wanted. But, curiosity.


    My father hid all this from me. Not just being a SIR Agent, but even me being a Kitsune. I grew up thinking myself a normal woman." the kid would react as Kiko paused for a moment, in a harshly negative fashion, recoiling at the very idea.


    "How could someone ever keep that, from their child?!" He asked, in disbelief.


    "Dunno. Never knew my mother either. The big kerfuffle there was the first time I met her. First time I knew anything of her. So, I needed to know why. Why had he joined? Why had he hidden it? Did they know my mother? I couldn''t ask him because his death is the only way I know any of this"


    The kid would make a sign and mutter something under his breath as he heard that her father was dead. She didn''t know what it was, but it felt nice to see.


    "The other half was a flash of anger. A burning need for revenge on what had killed him. And SIR was my ticket to the skills I needed for that. Though, the big secret being...I never really voiced these thoughts. I was driven by them without knowing what was driving me, until now when you asked" she''d take a breath and nod to herself, standing up and brushing off her ass. "So, I am going to find the Fatherborn, learn everything I can, and go kick it''s fucking ass for stealing my father" Kiko exclaimed.


    "Well at least there is diligence in you" a gruff and rumbling voice sounded. From the kid''s reaction and hastily stammered apology while scrambling up, it wasn''t the three tails that he recognized....

 Chapter 19

    The Kitsune was a towering man, six foot tall. Blind in one eye and having most of his left ear missing, the man was clearly no stranger to conflict. A heavy, well-kept beard and a build like a house added to the view of him being the kind of guy you want to stand behind in a fight, even if there was only half of him left.


    "How did you not notice him?" Kiko asked, almost rhetorically as she looked up at the great mass of man in front of her.


    "Perception filter. My Magic is basic, but it works on people not particularly paying attention" The big man replied. The casual commentary about Magic went right over Kiko''s head as her brain went ''hey, let''s focus on something totally different to awesome mystical power'' and focused more on the fact she had interrupted some guy''s day.


    "Sorry, I intercepted your son because I wanted to have someone to talk to about all this. May I offer...ai..help to, him or you to repay him for his time?" Kiko asked, stumbling through the second part and eventually landing on something that felt right. From the gruff smile of the father, it was the right one.


    "Mmm. I actually came over here to see you. With an outburst like that, I would have come to see you regardless of what the outburst was for, because it shows a great well of unchecked passion. A boon, if cultivated. A curse, if left to fester. But to see you as Yeni''s cub...Well, my interest is peaked. And I wish to know how the maligned brothers of the lowlands train, under SIR" he was very forward with his intent, and Kiko felt that was kind of nice. Not having to guess or assume, but to have a man who came out and stated what he wanted. he would turn and gesture for both Kiko and her new friend to follow.


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    "Well, I was looking for where to get into the Fatherborn anyway, so might as well start here. Though, side note? I''ve been a Kitsune for three weeks, and didn''t even get half way through basic, so I don''t think I''ll be much good as a true and proper showcase of how they train" Kiko replied, following him to a clearing in the tent-town were women sat on the sidelines working on things, and the men honed their physical strengths. There were one or two women around, but certainly not enough for Kiko to feel comfortable. Standing out in front of all of these Kitsunes...that wasn''t good. What if she messed up? She was representing the whole of SIR to this guy! AHHHHH!


    "First, Foxfire" he announced, nodding to a collection of targets off to the side with a large wall behind it. They had numerous holes burned in them, and the name suggested she was meant to fire something, but Kiko just stood dumbstruck. First test and already fucking up. This was spectacular. The man stared silently and then, finally, crossed his arms and exhaled. "Right. Don''t panic, Kiko. My own was a pup once" he said, stepping over to be by her side rather than just watching.


    "I''m...panicking. How do you know my name?" she asked him, giving him a sidelong glance.


    "Yeni forlornly spoke often of her lost child Kiko. Now you have very publicly shown yourself to be that child, expect people to react to you, even if you do not know them. Now, Foxfire" the man would bend down so he was level with Kiko''s head, and point at the target. "Imagine a warmth budding in your gut, and spread that outwards, into the tip of your tail. Concentrate on that warm, let it fill you, and then release it in a directed burst" he advised, shooting a beam of light at the far target and putting a clean hole in it. "Failure is merely a prelude to success, for you gain wisdom every time. So do not stress if it takes you a while"

 Chapter 20

    Failure was merely a prelude to success. In that case, success was sick of being introduced every five minutes without actually being part of the party yet. Kiko was focusing on the budding warmth in her gut, but it was just, stuck there. Like she was trying to suck a drink out of a glass bottle or something. The big guy had stepped back to give her space, but Kiko felt awkward that he was watching. Sure, it was a supportive watching, but still. Fuck.


    "It''s stuck" she eventually exclaimed after a few minutes of trying, and failing. The man seemed confused at this particular reason, and raised an eyebrow.


    "Stuck? That''s....new. Can you describe it?" he asked, stepping closer again and putting a hand on her gut.


    "It''s...I got the warm gut feeling, but when I try to move it upwards there is something just blocking it from getting any further. I don''t want to force it too much because it is threatening to turn from uncomfortable blockage to painful blockage, and pain is a sign something is wrong" she''d glare at the targets in front of her, mocking her. "I''d fuckin'' hit them with a gun, but my super tail beams are going to have to wait for later" Kiko finished with crossed arms, looking away from the target with crossed arms.


    "It''s definitely building up, but there is a problem with the release..." He''d comment, stepping back and making Kiko look down at her gut.


    "You can feel the magic tail beams building up in my stomach?" She asked incredulously, looking up to him and then back to her gut.


    "Mmm. Magic is pseudo-physical. The stronger you are, the more Mana you can store in your soul. Foxfire is inherent, so you don''t need any of the Gates open to use it, but is still magical and so does still have physical impact. There could be a problem on the aeonic side, I''ll talk to Eternia later about it" he''d take a step back and then note that Kiko was still staring at him with wonder.


    "Magic" was all she said, her eyes gleaming with delight at the concept.


    "Ahh. I guess city-dwellers aren''t much into it these days. Technology is easier than magic for the average man to use, so those down there embrace it. Up here, we''ve not the industry to support firearms on a broad scale, so we rely more on magic. It''s spiritual and physical but doesn''t require any reagents of production to use" He''d seem to somewhat enjoy the role of teacher, if that gruff, beard-hidden smile was any indication. "But all that is for later! Right now we''ll get to a more accessible means of training. I assume your arms are not stuck in the same manner?" he asked with a humorous laugh, leading her into the centre of the training ground.


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    Kiko was introduced to a group of other women training among themselves, that looked about her age. Paired up with a beautiful looking Kitsune with the same tails as she had, Kiko would go through a few unarmed combat drills before giving free spar time. She showcased what she had learned at SIR and the few years of training before that with much better results that the foxfailure that came before her. And, she got a good work out as her partner was good at what she did as well. All in all, it was a good session despite how poorly it started. Then, however, after the hour she got to show off how well she could fight with her hands - and totally ignore the provocative eyebrow flick that her partner gave when Kiko was on top for the groundwork - it went bad again when they were gathered together and given quarterstaves for the next set of drills.


    Here, she stumbled. SIR had given weapon drills, but they were for knives, not staves, and Kiko had screwed up several times. The spar was a pathetic, pitiful thing as her partner barely did anything. Every opening Kiko''s incompetence left was not taken, nor was she hit particularly hard when blocking and parrying. It made her feel like crap, but that was noticed and her partner came over after the hour was up.


    "Not much of a staff girl, ehh?" She teased, handing a small wooden cup of tea to Kiko, who took it abashedly.


    "No. I''ve some capability with knives and guns, but mostly it''s unarmed. And even then it''s not really combat grade like I see around here. Mostly just street" Kiko replied, downing the tea. It was...very nice tea. Very calming.


    "Two hours a day is mandatory, but you''ll not get much more than guard duty if that''s all you do. So we have plenty of extras to fill the day with. If you want to really sharpen your unarmed, or further better your knifework, there are instructors for that. But, they are both pretty niche weapons against the Beasts. Staffwork is mandatory because a spear or zeldi is the best weapon to for basic fighters. Keeps the Beasts at a distance and lets you strike. Closer weapons means you need to get closer and that''s dangerous" her new friend explained between sips of her own tea. It was smart, that was the whole reason of a gun after all. Further you could keep from the other guy, the better. Though she didn''t know what a zeldi was, probably some kitsune weapon.


    "Do you study any additional fields, like weapons, or magic?" Kiko inquired, finishing the tea because fuck self-control. It was the right question, as it got a response from the woman that grew more passionate as she went on.


    "Yea, I got hunting dagger and zeldi, along with strength and stamina building exercises. Magic is a once-a-week thing that I go to because it''s really complicated and to be anything more than a Borrower, you gotta seriously commit. I wanna be a Sei-Bushi of Vanaet! I shall blaze my way to five tails through triumph and victory, and then become a Den Mother to teach the younger generation that they can aspire to all things!" she''d stand up and clench her fist, staring into the distance as she dreamed.


    Kiko...was more subdued, however.


    "Gonna need a damn dictionary for all these new terms I gotta learn" she commented, shaking her head and leaning back.


    "Ohh, we have those. Come on" the woman replied, knocking the rest of the drink back and heading off, fully confident that Kiko would follow. Which, she did.

 Chapter 21

    Surprisingly, for what looked like a place that could pack up and vanish in two days, There was a library in one of the tents. The shelves and chairs looked segmented, as if they could be pulled apart and packed away, further reinforcing the idea that this place was nomadic. Would she move further from her home, in time? What event could cause such a massive group of people to uproot themselves and move?


    That was for later though, and depressing to boot, so she would turn to the shelf and glance the the titles. The dictionary was found and taken to a chair to start reading through.


    "So do you have a romantic partner yet?" the other Kiko asked, having picked her own book off the shelf and sitting on another chair. Kiko, who had barely gotten into the first page before she dropped that one on her. Spluttering a little, Kiko found her words eventually.


    "I don''t even know your name. What kind of a question is that?!" Kiko asked with a strained squawk of a voice.


    "Ohh, right. It''s Ele. So do you?" Ele pressed, as if not seeing the inherent problems at all.


    "N-No. N-not that it even matters to you!" She stammered, glaring defensively at Ele.


    "Of course it matters to me. You are new and thus very interesting. You are a beautiful woman, and you share my interests in life. That is three things, so I want you as my partner. If you can think of three reasons to do something, then do it, regardless of what might stand in your way" Ele spoke with such determination that Kiko was stunned. It, was a very good principle to have but...to be so forthright and forward about the whole thing...well, it made Kiko''s cheeks light up in a shade to match her top.


    "I....hardly even know you. But..." Kiko would brush some hair out of her face and behind her ear as a tactic to stall for time and get her thoughts in some kind of order. "I...can''t just ignore or dismiss something said with such determination. There are no promises I can make, but I will not stand in the way of your attempts. Maybe you can win me over after all" Kiko replied, with stalls, stutters and deliberation. And then, after a few seconds, she got back to the book.


    "So that''s a no on the kissing, then?" Ele asked after Kiko was in the book again. The dictionary was slammed shut and Kiko glared at the woman irritably, to Ele''s great amusement. It was obviously just a joke from the coy grin instead of any kind of disappointment, so Kiko took it as such and just glared for a few more seconds before finally, for the third time, getting back to the book.


    This time, she had no interruptions, and could finally get to reading. She''d not read the whole thing because that''d just confuse her, but she had three specific terms to look up. First was in the B, so she''d flip there and go down to Borrower


    ''Borrower - A Kitsune who''s main source of magic comes from Borrowing''


    "Fuck you, book" she grumbled, looking for Borrowing this time and getting much more luck.


    ''Borrowing - A hereditary form of magic exclusive to Kitsunes, Borrowing is calling upon your past incarnation to use magic that they learned. Generally not considered True Magic, and is often looked down on by Magus''


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    That was...cool, actually. She was connected to people she used to be and could use what they had learned. How could that not be cool? She''d definitely have to look into true magic before going for the easier of the two though.


    Next, was Sei-Bushi, which was found deeper into the book, and solidified what she had assumed about Kitsune society.


    ''Sei-Bushi - A Warrior who spends their life developing a connection to Vanaet, Agnaet, or Inari. For most, this is merely a personal vow, but the rare and exceptional Canid can often become connected to the God directly''


    "Ohh, wow. You''ve got quite the aspiration, huh?" Kiko said to Ele, looking up at her.


    "There we go. Finally got to that part. Yes, I want to be connected to Vanaet herself, as her very claw, to protect her children. Because Vanaet made us and supported us, and I want to return the favour to such a great woman" Ele spoke, for the first time, without that playful and half-serious tone in her voice.


    ''Thank you darling. I love all my children, but especially ones who love me back'' the head voice spoke


    ''You stay out of this, head voice...who, saved me life probably but also are still just a head voice'' Kiko replied. She didn''t get anything back or even any assurance that the head voice had heard her. Which...made her even more mad than if the voice spoke back, no doubt.


    To focus on the physical world she knew existed, Kiko found the last entry in the Z, and read that.


    ''Zeldi - A spear-like weapon designed by the Blood Moon Reiana Dana, it incorporates a point for thrusting, that can be flicked into a curved blade for slashing when required. It requires a certain degree of manual dexterity and is harder to train than a simple spear, so is uncommon on the battlefield''


    That last one was awesome. A frigging sword spear could be really good to use. Though, it raised a good question.


    "How do people view Blood Moons?" Kiko asked, a slight tinge of trepedation but not something Ele picked up. She was focused on something else.


    "How do you not know basic stuff like Fox-Fire and Sei-Bushis, but you know something as old as Blood Moons?" Ele asked in return, raising an eyebrow.


    "I''m...sorta...one, of them" Kiko replied in a staggered, awkward tone. Ele would stare at her for a few moments and then drive her nails into her own palm, spilling the blood.


    Kiko was immediately hit like a truck with the smell and resulting desire, though it didn''t sweep her away like last time and she managed to keep hold of herself.


    "D-dick....move...." she growled, resisting the urge to act at the slightest provocation.


    "Huh, wow. Come on then, we''ll go see Yeni about this" Ele exclaimed, closing the book and standing up, the cut in her palm closing up and the blood evaporating. Kiko jolted as Ele stood up, a war between a furious need for action, and a furious leash on restraint.


    "I can''t...go out there...Too many people" Kiko told Ele, through fractured sentences.


    "Ohh, wow your self-control is low. Culture or not, that''s kind of poor" Ele muttered. Kiko didn''t take such provocation laying down and exploded from the chair, taking a step towards Ele before getting in control of herself.


    "If I had low self-control, I wouldn''t just be standing here!" Kiko snarled in a furious manner. Her every thought baying for blood, and only held back by a hair''s breadth.


    "Please. You city-dwellers are soft like silk. You''d make me a fine wife, but you aren''t remotely good for anything else" Ele continued. And that, was too much. Kiko snapped her frayed leash and lunged at the woman, clawed hand swinging for her. Didn''t do anything, because Ele deployed a well-trained block and then struck Kiko in the gut a moment afterwards. Her exhale was cloudy, as if her temperature had just dropped radically in a moment. Seemingly not to be out done, Kiko felt her body freeze from the blow, her entire frame shuddering as it was wracked with intense shivers. The fire in her blood vanished instantly from this sudden influx of cold, and she would have collapsed if she wasn''t caught by Ele.


    "Nice try, darling. But, don''t do it again" she warned, taking the shivering furry bundle out of the tent and to Yeni.

 Chapter 22

    The day was strange, and seemed intent on getting stranger every minute. Kiko wasn''t entirely sure what kind of deranged mad shit was going on that made her feel better after getting a hard punch in the gut, but she did. She felt calmer, softer. Less prone to emotional outburst...Though, whatever her friend had done didn''t seem something that could be repeated. As they went along, Kiko found herself propping the woman up as she staggered a little, breath gently panting as if trying to hide it from Kiko and herself.


    Eventually, the two bumbled into the giant red-silked tent and found Yeni taking care of a large wooden statue. The statue was of a woman with nine tails, and carved to a delicate perfection, with Yeni and her forbearers taking absolute care of it so it stood the test of time.


    "Kiko, Ele. What are you two doing here?" Yeni asked, a touch of concern given the poor state of the two.


    "Kiko is a Blood Moon" Ele exclaimed, collapsing into a nearby seat and giving up on the subterfuge of panting softly.


    "She...triggered it and then kept goading me and...then punched me in the gut and froze my blood" Kiko elaborated with a look between worry and irritation.


    "Froze your...Hmm. Yin Sunset?" Yeni asked to Ele, who nodded. Whatever that meant, Yeni understood and let out a sigh, shaking her head. "You know you have no control over that, and that it drains you to the dregs. You didn''t think that coming to me right away was a better idea?" Yeni asked rhetorically, crouching down and opening a small compartment at the base of the statue. From here, Yeni retrieved a small box of stones. One was withdrawn and clasped in her hand as gentle whispers filled the air.


    "You are taking this....better than the last lot" Kiko commented, staring at Yeni a little. Ele got side-long glances to make sure she was ok, but the woman had just punched Kiko, so there wasn''t a mass of care.


    "You are not the first Blood Moon and you won''t be the last. Unfettered, they are cursed creatures. So we developed our own ways to deal with the issue. This will keep it from coming out" Yeni explained, handing the stone - now attached to a light choker - to Kiko. "You can take it off in times of absolute peril, but it won''t work on you once you are in the Blood Moon state, so be careful when you do, ok?" Yeni asked, as Kiko put the Choker on and felt somewhat suppressed, but glad she wouldn''t be going mad again. She was going to ask Yeni why they didn''t give these to SIR and the City-Kitsunes, but before she could speak,  Yeni chopped Ele''s head with the side of her hand, making a resounding and rather satisfying crack.


    "And you, will not do something so reckless again or I will have you nannying the kits and cubs till you''ve grown your seventh tail from age alone. Understood?" Yeni asked with an overwhelming presence. Ele was sufficiently cowed by it and meekly nodded. "Good, now get out, the both of you. I have work to do and so do you. Slacking off your training as Fatherborn brings shame to all who have a hand in you" Yeni waved her hand and turned back to the statue, allowing Kiko and Ele to scurry out.


    "So...training then" Ele spoke, rubbing the top of here head where she had gotten hit.


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    "You so eager to get your ass kicked? Well, I can get behind that for this whole debacle you caused" Kiko replied in a teasing tone, gesturing for Ele to lead the way to the training grounds.


    Quips aside, Kiko and Ele were bruised and exhausted from their recent endeavours, and so postponed further training to get lunch. It was a nice stew with thick slices of bread, and made Kiko feel rural, but welcome. There was heart in this food that was lacking with more orderly meals.


    "So, a thought occurs" Kiko spoke, tearing her bread and soaking it entirely in the broth. "I''m wearing a skirt. Like, a full length skirt. And, didn''t notice it at all during the two hour combat session or staggering to the tent. They are renowned for getting in the way of trying to move, so why doesn''t this one?" Kiko asked, tearing the soaked bread up with her wooden knife and fishing it out with her fingers.


    Ele, pondered for a moment. It was hard to talk sometimes because Ele had to go through everything Kiko knew and didn''t know before saying anything. But eventually, she managed to get herself caught up and spoke.


    "Ahh, that''ll be the Moon-Silk strands. Really cool stuff, it''s basically a pseudo-liquid that nestles into whatever you apply it to and grants high elasticity. Moon-Silk clothing flexes and shifts, even if it is skintight. If you could make an outfit out of Moon-Silk, then you''d have all the clothes you ever needed because it could just shift itself into a new outfit and change it''s form to drop all the dirt that it might pick up in a day.


    The trouble being, Moon-Silk is expensive and highly limited, so making an entire outfit out of it is a level of decadence nobody has been able to reach. So it is just used to give the clothes a flex and spring to them" Ele finished, dipping her bread rather than soaking, but eating it all the same.


    "Hmm...You know, life has been kind of-" Kiko would cut herself off to eat some of the bread and then get back to talking "-boring. It''s all so........." she''d stare at her stew for a few seconds, looking for the words. "Everything just is, you know? And then I come here and I see the world is fascinating, fantastical, and amazing. Powers beyond imagination, and I haven''t even seen any magic yet. Why is it that all this is not embraced in the cities? They could revolutionize everything by adding this into society" Kiko rambled, staring at the stew bowl in awe of this whole thing.


    "You think that because you are new to this whole thing. But there isn''t much your average Magus can do that can''t be replicated technologically. Stronger Magus means bigger technology to be sure, but that technology is easier to use and make than the Magus is to become stronger. It''s a lifestyle, almost. You have to be physically strong, mentally strong, you need to study both science and aeonics, you need to practice and better yourself in the art, and you need to be able to do all this in a high stress situation.


    Kitsunes like us don''t have access to a lot of technology and are predisposed to Magic beyond what most lay claim to, so we use it a lot. But, even then we just use it for simple stuff you''d use machines like microwaves and lightbulbs and cars for. Going ''Ignis'' and lighting something up with a flame from your finger is cool. But when people can use a lighter or even rub two sticks together, they aren''t going to want to spent the time and effort to learn how to use Magic"


    The way Ele spoke was not off the cuff, nor on the spot. It seemed Kiko was not the only one to mention or bring up this disparity of magic. So she''d just scratch her head awkwardly and grin.


    "So...you get, a lot of people asking that question?" Kiko asked.


    "Yea. Kitsunes are well known for their magical prowess, so we get a lot of people bothering us to teach them it, and then bitching out when they realize it''s not an overnight thing. It''s fine, we are used to it these days" Ele would shrug and finish her stew, brushing the crumbs into the bowl and putting it in the pile. Seeing her raring for action, Kiko would follow suit and stand, ready for the day ahead!

 Chapter 23

    Despite assumptions, Ele neither pushed the point nor tried to get in Kiko''s bed, and the night was a sound one. Though the morning was not so much, for the promised joint exercise had the Fatherborn in a flurry of excitement. Breakfast was a vigorous affair, with boasts of strength and exclamations of the men that the women thought most attractive. There were fireworks when two women announced the same man, though it was clear that they were just messing around and didn''t actually want to fight each other for him or anything like that.


    After breakfast in their shifts, and getting dressed into their uniforms, the group milled out to the practice range. The men were not here yet, but there was a guy who stood out in the crowd. A robust giant of a man, over six foot tall and with a barrel-like physique despite the height, he looked the kind of person who could pull a tree out of the ground and carry it on his shoulder. The shoulder-length red hair was well kept and neatly tied back with simple plait, and his inch-long beard was equally looked after and plaited. There was even a pair of small clasp-like things clipped at the bottom of his beard and hair. Despite the sheer size of the man and grizzled look to his face, the way he was clean and styled gave him an aura of civilized savagery. Like he could split your head open on a rock, then wash his hands and have dinner with the family.


    As Kiko approached, she saw he was engaged in conversation with the Camp''s Big Guy, who''s name she neglected to garner during his teaching of Fox-Fire. The two seemed animate and engaged despite Kiko being unable to hear the words, so she didn''t bother too much about the fact that he stood out a mile. Not only from a lack of tails, but also his fashion being radically different. Even a City Dweller would raise an eyebrow at his passing. The Fatherborn certainly were staring and raising eyebrows, though they didn''t get much chance to say anything because a loud greeting cut through the air.


    "Ymir, ya smelly bastard! Didn''t you pass the river on your way here?" It exclaimed. Kiko immediately recognized the voice, though the tone was entirely different to before. Staring stunned at Yeni strolled from the tents to the ground, the big man wasted no time in turning to her and picking her up, spinning with enthusiasm like they had been married a decade.


    "Hygiene is secondary to beautiful women! Even if they do tend to eat the men that are attracted to such beauty" he replied, putting her down after a few rotations. The two clearly knew each other from the jubilant tone they had, though Kiko could only stare in shock at this elegant, demure woman speaking like a lout...It was enough that she totally missed the second part of his claim, and just stood staring.


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    It was eventually caught by Yeni, who waved Kiko over and beamed with pride when she got here, hugging her close.


    "Ymir, this is Kiko. Kiko, this is your second cousin, Ymir Ator" Yeni introduced. It was a good explanation for how they knew each other, but...


    "I..I thought, family was a bad topic for you?" She asked with an awkward, unconfident stutter. Ymir, clearly in the know, waved a meaty hand.


    "Bah, Drax''s problems were Drax''s problems. Being a pair of fools doesn''t mean she is any less part of the family. A weird part of the family who doesn''t get paid for doing stuff, but still" Ymir exclaimed, before turning his gaze fully to Kiko, bending down a little so they were eye to eye. "So you are what all the fuss was about...I can see it" he exclaimed after a few seconds, nodding, and then looking back to Yeni, who started talking, as if he knew she was going to.


    "Speaking of being paid, why are you here? It''s quite the distance to travel just for a visit" She''d ask, letting Kiko out of the tight Mum-Hug.


    "Unfortunately. So, the Ator Clan got a small gig in a nearby school. Old friend, now Headteacher, asked us to help out there. Long way to come for a simple show, but he is a friend" Ymir explained, leaning back a little to a more comfortable stance. Though, Kiko was frowning a little. Ridas did mention contacting her father about something, and if this guy was her dad''s cousin...


    "You mean Mister Ridas, in Ashfield?" Kiko asked. It all fit together, a little too well. And Ymir confirmed that, with a nod.


    "Indeed! Fine man, truly fine man. His retirement was not a surprise though. Few power past moments such as those. And I heard Yeni was nearby, so I came to visit" He replied, grinning and showing a pair of teeth as well kept as his hair.


    "Nearby? It''s two days away, at a stern pace. How is that nearby?" Kiko asked, intensely confused at the word. It merely, however, got a laugh from the big man.


    "It''s like you don''t know how to Lightfoot or something" He exclaimed, though with a look from Yeni, seemed to freeze.


    "She doesn''t" was the casual, cool comment that Yeni gave.


    "Ohh...Dam, he was real serious about keeping her out of everything, huh?" Ymir commented, rehtorically.


    "Well, you are here now. Did you bring your Skjold?" Yeni asked him, her tone serious and business like. Completely opposed to her greeting.


    "What kind of daft question is that? Of course I brought my Skjold!" certainly not one to stand on ceremony, Ymir retained his casual, boisterous tone.


    "Excellent. Come with me, let''s talk business" Yeni told him, gesturing with her head and heading off, followed by the man. Leaving Kiko to get on with what she was here to do in the first place.

 Chapter 24

    Focused on her apparent cousin, Kiko missed the appearance of the menfolk in the field. Hurrying off to get into position, she stood next to Ele and ignored the woman''s broad grin for being chosen to stand next to. Today, she was told, would be different to usual exercises as it was intended to ensure they worked together rather than got better at individual arts. Considering they were going out tomorrow to pull off guard duty, that made sense.


    The lessons were more intense than before. More active and hands on, the instructions for combination attacks and how to work with a partner were given with more passion and vigor than the usual combat lessons. Maybe the teacher wasn''t allowed usually because they always went to hard or something? Either way, Kiko learned a lot about this type of combat. And the four rounds of 2v2 and four rounds of 4v4 didn''t hurt practical knowledge. Though, did hurt Kiko''s muscles. She was used to activity, but this kind of activity was beyond her.


    Leaning against a post to get some feeling back into her everything, she was accosted by Ele. She could smell Kiko''s distress like a shark in blood...or something like that.


    "You look battered. Want me to give you a massage and ease those strained muscles?" Ele offered. Kiko looked for a few moments, thinking. It was the lack of the coy smile and just a gentle and genuine offer of aid that won her over however, and so she nodded.


    "Sure. Show me your moves" Kiko replied, getting led back to the woman''s tent. The whole sleeping in a pack and eating together thing made Kiko wonder why people had personal tents. But, everyone needed a place to go, even if they didn''t use it. Was probably the mindset.


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    Ele got Kiko to lay take her clothes off and lay face down on the bed, which she did. Some cold oils poured on a few seconds later made Kiko jolt, but the warm and firm hands pressing her into the bed and easing her troubles. Her sweating, overheated body quickly cooled under Ele''s hands, and she dissolved into a lethalgic half-asleep mentality under the hands.


    "''s Yin?" Kiko asked in a slurred tone. Ele did have strange icy power that she wasn''t meant to use, so Kiko was curious if that was what was being used.


    "Mmhmm. I can use it in more ways than just Sunset. And ok, seeing you flushed red and aching looked like a perfect moment to try out the subtle applications while also helping you out. Plus, the Yin cools your soul and mitigates the arousal that usually comes with this" Ele explained. Her casually dropping in arousal was something Kiko just expected these days, but it did wake her up enough to raise an eyebrow.


    "Arousal? People get aroused from this? It''s very nice but...really?" Kiko asked, as if Ele was trying to mess with her or something.


    "Not everyone. But some people are sensitive or have a high libido, and contact gets them going. Intimate, professional contact in a relaxing environment can cause someone to feel very content. People like you, for example~" Ele''s serious tone petered off towards the end to get sultry and teasing, which Kiko grunted at.


    "Am not" was a grumbled retort.


    "I guess we have our challenge then. Come to me tomorrow after the excursion and I will do this again without my Yin~"


    Ele would, after throwing down that gauntlet, finish up and let Kiko stand, so they could finish the rest of the day. Big day tomorrow, so the camp was abuzz and there was plenty to do for everyone.

 Chapter 25

    Some more Zeldi training - Kiko was finding she loved this weapon, it was so cool! - stamina building and strength building exercises and an hour of what was apparently becoming enlightened to the flow of the universe through all things. It was apparently magic related, and Kiko used that to catch a quick nap because it was not going well for her at all.


    After all this activity - and a restful night that was very serious because Ele didn''t even ask to bed Kiko tonight - came the morning. The kitsunes were outfitted with proper shoes, leather jackets to go under the uniform, and weapons of choice. Kiko picked up a Zeldi to match Ele, and a brace of knives. She wasn''t super talented with throwing shit, but she had manual dexterity and depth of vision down enough to make an accurate throw if needed.


    The excursion was a lot more than just a few guys going to cut trees; carts prepared and followers bringing rods for fishing, baskets for gathering herbs, bows for hunting. Apparently people took advantage of the situation to get a bit of everything, which was understandable. Feeling nervous and not sure if she was going to be able to connect properly with the guards and Fatherborn, the caravan set out!


    Not content to just smack the closest tree and call it a day, they wandered for an hour until they got to a specific grove of trees. Darker than the trees that surrounded it, and thrice as tall, this was what the Kitsune Woodsmen were looking for, as tools were retrieved and work began. The followers had dispersed, taking a guard with them to fish and gather, or leaving alone to hunt. Splitting into four quadrants of five men to cover each direction, it was here that Kiko found why the party was so large.


    Far from the patrolled cities and policed outskirts, in the depths of the forests and mountains, stalked the Beasts. First sighting was called by one of the Watchers, a pair of Scraps approaching the noise. Scraggily looking dogs with little cohesion, they were known to attract their own kind with baying howls once they had found an point of interest. Furious and cadaverous, they were little threat to a trained warrior, but did have a habit of appearing in large number and could overwhelm small groups of two or three. Smaller clans had to set traps and clear out a parameter before gathering, but large clans like Yeni''s would just match the number of Beasts wholesale and meet them head on.


    The howls came, signalling the attraction of it''s kin, and a few seconds later the howls stopped as Kiko threw a knife at it. Not a shot that would kill instantly, but one that caused a great deal of pain. The second beast would rush into the group of Kitsunes and be impaled on the tightly packed formation of spears and Zeldi.


    This was the next hour, Watchers calling breach points for each quadrant of Kitsunes to cover, and beasts being slain. Kiko got laser focused on the incoming targets and thrusted for the skull as accurately as possible, focusing on ignoring the blood and jolt of driving the metal through flesh and bone. Just when everything seemed to be going well, a nearby tree was almost obliterated when a bulky suit of armour was smashed into it. Following, came a trio of giant bull-men, taller than the suit of armour and massive in muscles. The front bull was bleeding out of numerous wounds, and then died when the suit of armour launched a twelve inch nail through it''s eye with a resounding crack.


    Pushing out and off from the tree, the suit of armour met the charge of the second bull-creature head on, catching it''s horns and digging short spikes into the ground with it''s feet to reinforce posture. From here, the suit smashed it''s head against the bull''s skull and then activated high beam lights from the eyes, burning the bull''s retinas. While it seemed the suit was doing pretty well against this bull creature, the Kitsunes had their own problems with the fact that the second creature had decided to not bother trying to deal with the suit, and turn it''s head towards the Kitsunes gathered instead...


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    As if taking advantage of the Bull-creature, the Scraps appeared again in large numbers, throwing themselves at the formations of Kitsunes and leaving Kiko''s group to deal with this bull alone. Seeing how well it''s brother was pushing back an anchored metal robot, the Kitsunes quickly dispersed the tight formation and got into a mobile gathering. Kiko threw the rest of her knives at it, but might as well not have bothered. Big though the head was, her aim was not amazing and the thing actually dodged the one knife that was threatening to do more than graze or lodge in the horn. Though the knife was helpful in the fact that it showed this creature as not just a monster, but a monster with a brain.


    Didn''t mean it wasn''t going to have base instincts however, and so it ran straight at the Kitsunes, who scattered out of the way and then lashed stabs and slashes at the beast with their long shafts. Harrowing the beast, they could not manage to get a good enough hit, only grazing at it''s side. One Kitsune stepped in and thrust their spear with great force, but got stuck in the thick muscles of the beast, and the crunch of bone that followed the bull''s backhand made it clear they weren''t getting back up again.


    Seeing this situation seriously turn against them, Kiko pulled off her necklace and be filled with fire in her veins. Violently tossing the spear at the beast and then setting off at a sprint, she caught it''s attention with the powerful impact. It was only a few moments before she launched off the ground and up. Catching herself from overshooting on the beast''s horns, she''d drag herself in and smash her foot against it''s head. Planting her foot there, the handhold on the beasts horns would then be used to rip them out of it''s skull.


    The bull did not take kindly to that and grabbed Kiko as the horns ripped out, the grip crushingly tight as he slammed her against the ground and then threw her into a tree. Blood Moons were a resilient bunch, but even Kiko''s vision was going grey as her body screamed in pain. Needed to get up, to attack, to kill! Hands curled into fists so tightly the nails dug into her palm, she stood up shakily and let out a scream. The bull, currently crushing the chest of another with it''s hoof, looked over to Kiko with a surprised and shocked expression.


    But, this was it. She was shattered, and the beast''s hide was incredible. There was no way she''d be able to win. She had to....she needed....more. Something better. Something stronger. Her heart let out a beg, a demand, an order! If there was anything in the universe that was hers to hear the call, then do so now and come to her!


    Not waiting for a reply, the Bull rushed at her, thundering gait stumbling some as a pair of Kitsunes drove their spears into it''s thigh. A furious swipe that put the pair on the floor with a glance was all the distraction that was needed. Kiko unconsciously held out her hand and caught a sword that came screaming through the forest as if shot out of a cannon. A beautiful white blade, as if made out of the perfect, flawless diamonds. These diamonds immediately shifted into the deepest of blue as Kiko grasped it, and then she sliced clean through the fist thrown at her with it.


    There was hardly any resistance as bone and flesh parted. Sliding through the fist as if not even there, there was also nothing stopping this fist from smashing into Kiko''s face. Already having trouble staying on her feet, the blow took Kiko from consciousness immediately, shattering her nose and cracking her skull as she passed out....

 Chapter 26

    ¡°Za. Kronous¡¯ beasts are gathering on the western flank. We have no information about why, or the specific amounts that are mustering, but the forces are there. And they have a Greater Hellhound at their head, so we need some reinforcements¡±


    Kiko was, pretty sure she was meant to be out cold. Probably talking to her father. But instead she was here, in some unknown place, looking out of some unknown eyes, being told things she did not know. She opened her mouth to ask what was going on, but it was not her voice that spoke. It was a deep, powerful voice.


    "Mmm. I''ll give them a hand. Tell the Maiden to expect a Sending¡± he replied, before drawing the beautiful sword she had used to butcher that bull creature. He cut his palm with the blade, and then held it up and began to speak. While speaking she got a feeling resonating through him, something of great power and of great elegance.


    ¡°This silence offends me. I desire the vibrancy of noise. Reaching my hand across the Ether, I extend it to you, for the beautiful cacophony you offer unto me. Take my hand, and bring joy; Talai Zahai!¡± the elegant power shuddered from the very core of her ¨C or his? ¨C being, ran up the arm, and then swelled at the point that had been cut and vanished. A few seconds later, a thunderous roar erupted from the west, followed by the man smiling.


    ¡°That should handle the greater, if nothing else. How¡¯s the front, Sagi?¡± The man asked. Sagi looked back, and her eyes¡­were different. One was a gentle red colour, as if transitioning from pink to crimson, and the other was a soft blue, the same colour - if not shade - as the sword.


    ¡°Not great. We''ve lost Astor City. Last reports I got was a Balor appeared and trashed the garrison. Takanuva is mustering some Grey Maws for a repisal, but a Balor gives pause to most. We are spinning our bloody wheels here, where the hell is Sean in all this?¡± Sagi was, opposed to Za, a vulgur and brutish woman in tone.


    ¡°The Universe is a big place, Sagi. And there are creatures far beyond our ken that would be to us as we are to ants. He cannot be everywhere at once, and he can not appear in every battlefield to sweep away the ants that infest the picnic of Creation. That is our job¡± the Kitsune ¨C Za, he had been called ¨C was one of sound mind and firm convictions, to pacify Sagi as he did.


    ¡°Tsk, I get that. It¡¯s just, seeing so many people die, knowing he could take this entire planet by himself and not even notice there were forces arrayed against him¡­It¡¯s frustrating. So! I am going to take my Bloodmoons and frustrations, and head over to Astor. There is a Balor to kill, after all¡± Sagi nodded, striding off and then left him to his Kitsuning.


    Kiko watched Za take a seat and then, look to the bright blue sword.


    ¡°Though I am sad, Ka¡¯za¡¯lie. Knowing you are in fights so far beyond us does not help the despair of knowing that you could still end this inside a day¡± Za spoke to the sword, and sighed softly, before entering a meditating pose. Kiko, between astonished thoughts of what kind of being could be so powerful to end an entire war in a day, felt what he was doing instantly, as if it was her own body. Every deep breath in flushed new power into her body, and every exhale released exhausted power from her body. She could feel something, separate from her own body, flux and grow with each breath, until an extrasensory alert pinged in her mind, and her eyes flew open. She had become melded with him, his words were her words, his actions were her actions. She was Him.


    ¡°Goetia¡± Za¡¯s gentle whisper sent a shudder through his body, and from there he stood. A few gently spoken orders were given to Tvk. Black wings and black armour, the man was one of Lucy¡¯s soldiers. Not anyone of note in the galaxy, but Za respected the man¡¯s skill and discipline. and then he set off, at a great pace, releasing some half-visible light from his feet with every step and granting him exceptional speed from that. Eventually, he was in range of the oncoming horde. A Goetia would not move alone, even if they wished it. Za grasped the sword firmly, the energy he had been inhaling filtered into the blade, and it turned from a deep crystal blue to a strong yellow colour


    The horde rushing towards them was made up mostly of Hellhounds and Squawks, covering air and ground. Seeing this, Za exhaled and swung his sword. The words resonated in his soul, and Kiko heard them though they were not spoken. Solaris Paragon Artarius. The slash of the blade hissed, water boiling and air turning to plasma for a moment as the incredible heat raged through the air, and cut through anything in it¡¯s way, creatures exploding in gouts of steam until it cleared a hole through the horde to a woman standing in the middle of it.


    ¡°What¡¯s one of the Zian Goetia doing here?¡± Za asked, pointing his sword to the elegant woman with toned muscles and surprisingly prestine beauty. She was mostly humanoid, and of normal height. Surprisingly humble for a being of magic, but the Zian clan never bothered with such trivialities. It was fighting they wanted.


    ¡°I do love being recognized. It makes all the effort I put into this so worthwhile¡± the woman flicked a hand and the horde of monsters charging towards Za stopped in their tracks. Howling, baying and slavering, but stopped in their tracks. ¡°But if you know who I am then you know why I am here. It¡¯s a huge fight, of course the Zian clan are going to be represented. Besides¡± the Zian woman pulled out a wooden tablet, and on it, strange symbols were carved. ¡°I¡¯ve already been paid¡±.


    ¡°The Oracle of Delphi¡± there was surprise in Za¡¯s voice. A touch of avarice ¨C that was a hundred king¡¯s ransoms ¨C and a touch of relegation. ¡°Then I shall speak no longer¡± Za nodded, and set into a stance, the yellow colour growing deeper. The Zian woman, for her part, spawned a pair of greatswords from bursts of flame from her hands. While most supernatural warriors enjoyed the drawing-slice action of the katana, the Zian clan preferred and focused on size and crushing force to best use their overwhelming might against the enemy.


    And then it began, the Zian Woman moved with preternatural speed, the first greatsword swinging and hitting Za¡¯s parry. Though the force was too great and after an attempt to keep his footing, he was blown back, the second blade coming swinging to slice him in half. It never got there, however, as three of his tails moved in to intercept. The fur of the tails flattened against the tail and clashed against the greatsword, stopping its movement. Kitsunes were so hard to fight because the elders had many tricks for combat surrounding their tails, and so you had to fight five to nine ¡®people¡¯ for every Kitsune you went up against. She came up against the second lot of tricks as three more tails rushed in, the Fox Fire held at the tip and fur focused into a point that jabbed at her while Za regained his footing, and then slipped through the window that opened in her guard and cut a surprisingly small gash in her side. All the Ars were strong magic users, but the Zian were the best at physical enhancement, and so had skin to rival a Deimos.


    Seeing that this man was a special man, beyond the normal, horns sprouted from her head, feet morphing into hooves and her whole body swelling out. It reminded Kiko intimately of how Queenie looked. Of how the "Demons" of the South looked....was this woman their ancestor? Za was clearly a Kitsune, and they were here...


    Kiko''s ponderings did not stop the fight, however. With a new swing, The Zian Woman blew Za clean off his feet and up into the air. While he tried to roll and recover his form, the Zian was there, right in front of him. Void Step made this fight so very difficult, and the kick to the sternum that shot him back into the ground and blew away some of the smaller beasts was also not really a good thing. A luminescent flash of blue light exploded from the impact point. The Zian woman stepped down gently and smiled at the Kitsune, who was standing surprisingly upright given the blow he had just taken.


    ¡°A Magician as well as a Cultivator. How rare~¡± The Zian complimented Za, grinning to herself most enthusiastically.


    ¡°I am Za, protector of Algaza. Herald of Vannet, Lord of the Kitsunes. So having several different tricks up my sleeve does make sense, no?¡± he replied, flourishing his sword and casting a spell into its depths to be used later.


    ¡°Mmm~ Trick or two of my own left yet. Never managed the inner calm you need to be a Cultivator though¡± The Zian shrugged softly. She didn¡¯t know why, but there was a culture between warriors to have polite chat between trying to murder each other. Probably to keep the fight in polite, civilized grounds. A proper fight should be done for personal reasons, but not out of hate or anger or rage, which a proper conversation helped to ensure.


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    ¡°It takes some work, to be sure. But, if you are laying claim to titles like Herald of Vanaet, Lord of the Kitsunes and all that, you need to make sure you are the best. When you are competing with Bloodmoons-¡± he would flick his sword and bisect a Shriek that tried to dive bomb him ¡°-You gotta be good¡± he finished.


    The Zian woman then turned to look at the horde. Being a respectful man, Za waited for her, as she had a few sparks dance between her fingers and then engulfed the entire horde with a raging inferno that stripped the flesh from their bones. Clearly, she wasn''t best impressed with the interruption. Turning back to Za, she would nod. And almost in reply, eight tails blossomed and gathered into form, charging a burst of energy between them.


    Not wanting to let him get such a thing off, The Zian exploded towards Za with a speed one would not expect from a woman of her size and girth. In return, Za acted, spontaneously casting the spell stored in the blade and ripping flesh from the bone as the Fulgar Ultima exploded from it. It caused some severe damage, and then he released the Fox Fire. The Zian threw both swords at the blaze and then belched a gout of raging inferno, but both were overwhelmed by the Fox Fire.


    The cataclysm that followed was enough to take Za off his feet, were he not to cast a barrier of wind around him to spiral the explosion and direct it away from him. That kind of blow would definitely lay the woman low, and half the horde with it. Though, it was a funny thing. Young Kitsunes could fire off their full tailed fire a lot before exhaustion took them, but as a Kitsune got stronger, their tails outstripped their mana, and they could easily exhaust themselves by overusing the tails. Eight-strike along with a Paragon, an Ultima, and charging the blade...He was glad for his training. Taking heavy breaths and reaching his hand out, he¡¯d pull the sword back to his hand.


    Though it wasn¡¯t to be, as the Goetia crawled out of the crater, coughing and spluttering, glowing with a blazing crimson flame but disarmed.


    ¡°Damn, were you trying to kill me?¡± she asked, shaking her head and letting the flame fade away. Woman wasn¡¯t kidding about having a trick or two of her own left¡­


    ¡°Mmm. Let me try harder this time!¡± Za would then launch off, an explosion of semi-visible light throwing himself at the woman. But, then suddenly she was right there and smashing his skull in with a palm strike, using the momentum of Za against him and slamming him into the ground, burying him some thirty foot in the floor.


    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you tried...weaker? Is that even a word?¡± she confused herself towards the end and frowned. She didn¡¯t get a reply, and instead the ground exploded around her, Za rising up from the earth and launching the sediment at her. It didn¡¯t work, the woman just weathered the storm with fury and passion, and then moved into close range again, her greatsword flashing into her hands and smashing into Za¡¯s sword. It was a very heavy handed disarm, but a disarm all the same.


    ¡°I prefer¡± she exclaimed, the greatsword vanishing where it came after ripping the sword out of Za¡¯s hand ¡°My fists!¡±


    Rolling her body down and then stepping forward to throw her entire bodyweight into a gut punch, Za reflexive cast the ¡°Mirror Of Yami'''' Second Tier spell and reflected the blow into the woman¡¯s gut. From there, he grabbed her head as she rolled from the blow and smashed her knee into it, using localized Stutter to smash into her face a dozen times in the same moment. Then as the woman rolled up from the blow, he¡¯d step forward and thrust his fists out into her gut, punching as if to punch through the woman, and sending her off so he could have a moment¡¯s rest.


    And by the gods he needed it. This fight had dragged on longer than most. People of the relatively same level didn¡¯t fight long because their equal attack potency often outstripped their durability. But, the Goetia was just so damned durable he could barely break her hide except with the most powerful of attacks, and then she just recovered from those with a flourish. It was truly vexing. And just to prove his point, the woman returned sauntering up to him and shaking her hair to get the debris out.


    ¡°Ohh, I would love to have a hundred children with you, dear. But you look pooped already. Need a nap?¡± she teased, grinning broadly and biting her lip. The implication of the nap being located in the woman¡¯s bed to get those hundred children, did not escape him.


    ¡®Vanaet, give me an hour from tomorrow¡¯ Za spoke to his deity.


    ¡®It¡¯s not a healthy thing to do, you know¡¯ she replied, sliding into his consciousness like a perfectly fitting glove.


    ¡®It¡¯s not healthy to get my face staved in by a Goetia either¡¯ he retorted. Vanaet sniggered at that and slid her hands into Za¡¯s temporal existence, pulling tomorrow into today and revitalizing him to the brim.


    ¡°As a Cultivator, I must thank you a thousand times for showing me the power of a Goetia. It is not custom to strike with all one''s force in the opening moments, but I shall respect your overwhelming capabilities¡± Za spoke, giving her a light nod and then sliding a foot back. His shadow seemed to get up and wrap around him, covering him so that he was no longer a Kitsune but instead some vaguely humanoid blob of blackness.


    Then he moved, appearing instantly and slammed into the Zian woman, shoulder and elbow ramming into her torso at the same time, and then the blow coming again immediately from his shadow. Driving the Zian back with the force of the blow, he would sweep around her back and leave tiny cuts with his claws all across her body using the second of the nine profound techniques; Circling Nine Cranes, moving with her as she was forced back from the Void Strike. When she finally got her footing back and won against the inertia, Za threw her off balance again with the fifth of the nine profound techniques; Shrieking Mountain Wind. His palm slammed into her face, and the namesake wind would strike at her a hundred times over.


    The Zian woman threw off Za¡¯s flurry and launched a punch at him, which he countered by headbutting the punch and using Flow Control to steal it''s force, and then the sixth of the nine profound techniques; Soul-Crushing Strike. His two fingers were like a caress against the wrist that they hit, but that did nothing to stop it from cracking under the force. The Zian woman would let out a raging snarl and lash a kick at him, which was countered again when Za leaned back and threw a kick in return, cracking her shinbone with the eighth of the nine profound techniques; Splitting The Sky. Having set up well, he would dip low, touch his fingers to the ground and activate the Earth-Defying Array. Four shining lines would spread out from the point of contact, each one in a cardinal direction and each representing the profound techniques utilized against the Goetia.


    She tried to back away, the Array sealing her Void Step but not her natural movements. However, it was useless, as Za went through the motions and threw his punch anyway. Though she was on the cusp of the northern line, she took the blow to her sternum as if she was right in front of him. The wispy form of one hundred and eight Dragons crashed into her chest - probably where the name ¡°One Hundred and Eight Crashing Dragons¡± came from, martial arts could be very self-explanatory at times - and she crumpled on the spot, winded and with a broken sternum.


    Broken sternum. That she was already in the midst of recovering from. Goetia truly were creatures of the God King, indestructable by the efforts of lesser men. And he was lesser.


    Having been saving this trump card in case a Telekine came down or something ridiculous, this woman was definitely something ridiculous. So, Za drew out a lustrous golden chain and threw it at the woman, quickly wrapping her up in a harness tie and binding her arms securely behind her back.


    ¡°Gah...kinky~ Seems you took my offer of a bedroom fling seriously¡± the Zian woman coughed up some blood and then grinned and flexed her muscles. Though, it did nothing and the chains wrapped tighter around her muscular form, ripping into the clothes and extenuating her physical assets far more than she liked. ¡°W-wait...I can¡¯t¡­?¡± she was stunned at the fact that these chains wouldn¡¯t break from her strength. She took a deep breath and forced her muscles to strain, but the chain held tight and even added a crotch strap for added support, pulling tightly as she exerted herself. ¡°Hey! Get out of there you damned perverted chain!¡±


    Glaring at Za, who had recovered his sword and put it away, allowing his shadow to melt off him and return to it¡¯s natural position. She tried to point but her hands were really well tied up.


    ¡°What the hell is this, ya damned fox?¡± She demanded, baring her teeth at Za.


    ¡°No idea¡± He replied casually, to the shrieking fury of the woman. Giving a grin, at the vexation, he would continue to talk. ¡°There was a tale a long time ago of a guy tying up a giant bull so his friend and possible lover could cut the thing¡¯s head off. But old tales have a way of getting lost in time. Bits added, bits removed, bits from other bits brought in to spice stuff up, bits changed to back up your claims about what this God can do to your God if you don¡¯t follow him. This could be the chain he used to bind the bull, could be a chain made while inspired by the tale. Could just be a chain. What is known is that it has a special enchantment on it that makes the chain grow stronger and tighter the more the captive writhes and thrashes against it. So, loose up a little and it might give you a bit of slack down there¡± Zarh would flick his eyes down to the woman¡¯s crotch, and she blushed at it, knowing the damned chain had ripped through her clothes down there. The glorious fox man had deflated some, no doubt suffering the backlash of his flurry. She¡¯d have been able to counter such a rush to begin with, and leave him helpless, but he had fought her to get a grasp for her rhythm and flow, and then struck very precisely....


    ¡®Tsk, Mother mother always did say I relied too much on being a Goetia and not enough on skill and reading the opponent¡­¡¯ she thought before shaking her head.


    ¡°Fine. You have defeated me, Talia¡¯Zian. You can...who¡¯s that coming up behind you?¡± Talia asked, frowning. Za, confident in the chain, would look over there and see a Tengu flying in, probably drawn by the carnage.


    ¡°Akaka. What news do you bring?¡± Za asked, waving him down. Though the Tengu was not in a chatty mood and just stepped up to Za. His arm shifted forward, and KIko¡¯s vision ended there and then, waking up abruptly in a cold sweat.

 Chapter 27

    <div>


    Upon awaking, Kiko wanted to go back to sleep. Pain, was everywhere. In a cramping sort of ache, as well as a sharp stabbing feeling elsewhere, she decided to quickly give up on the plan of trying to move and just laid where she was with a grumbling exhale. Bloody...thing. She''d been injured before - never to this scale, but still - and the recovery was always the worst part.


    "Heh. So your father''s daughter" Yeni commented from the bedside. Kiko would roll her head over to frown, not quite sure her speaking muscles worked yet. "A long time ago, when we were both part of the Assault Team, Drax nearly got his leg bitten clean off. Dangling by a thread, that thing. So he was in the hospital recovering, but was adamant he was getting out by the next day. Loopy on pain medication, half-mad from the experience, and unable to do anything but hobble, my mad little love Borrowed a spell to keep his leg intact and stormed off to the mess hall, where a world famous Chef had been brought in to cook for the agents. I had to wrap some bandages around his leg while he was walking so nobody saw the gaping hole that was there" Yeni would finish the tale with a soft, mirthful laugh that got a smile from Kiko as well.


    Such a thing was so like him. And it was really nice to see that Yeni had good memories of Drax. Even calling him ''my mad little love''. They did love each other, once.


    "I kind of hate him" Kiko spoke, a little croaky but she was using tenacity to overcome her issues. "I don''t understand your culture or why you are so strict to it because I never lived it. But I also hate the fact that he made such a massive decision for me. That was for me to decide, either way. In SIR, I sort of just went there through a twin emotion of confusion and burning revenge. But I stayed there by my choice. They would never have stopped me if I walked out of the door and returned to my school life.


    But, Dad...he didn''t give me that. I know why, it''s kind of very self-evident right now with the whole nearly can''t move thing" Kiko would exhale in pain, and then push herself up a little. "If I could have kept you together, th-" Kiko was cut off by Yeni putting her finger on Kiko''s lips before she finished that line.


    "You were doing well, don''t ruin it. We split up of our own accord, for our own reasons. And stayed separate from our own problems. That is nothing to do with you. It was bound to happen eventually, we were too different. He''s not even a City Kitsune, but from Skivoa, of all places. And the Ator Clan basically rule Jomsburg, so he''s a member of exalted peerage. Why he fell for me and not Tai, I can''t say" Yeni seemed to sort of stagger off course and get into a despairing headspace as she tried to comfort Kiko.


    "You were doing well, don''t ruin it" Kiko replied with as much of a coy voice as she could manage, getting up and putting a hand on her mother''s shoulder.


    "Hmm. Maybe. But get back in bed. You might think you are moving through grit and tenacity, but you are actually burning Mana to stay up like this. And you don''t need to run dry of that on top of everything else" Yeni warned, turning around to give Kiko a terrifying motherly stare. It was something that she obeyed without question and got back into bed. Once there, however, she''d raise an eyebrow in askance.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "...I have Mana now?" she asked. The last time she tried to use that there was a blockage. And she hadn''t done anything to overcome that.


    "Everyone has Mana. It''s more a question of being able to connect to it. Apparently, when the mortals first came into their power, it was a tragedy. Nobody had control, and cataclysm reigned. So the benevolent Mother Goddess separated mortals from their power with three metaphysical ''Gates''. You little trick with the Sword has smashed your First Gate into splinters, so now you are a Mage"


    Kiko would listen, but then her eyes went wide and she looked around.


    "Sword. Where...where, is...my sword?" Kiko asked, her voice quickly getting panicked. Though Yeni''s hand grasped her and cooled her heart, leading her back into a calm half-sleep.


    "Don''t worry about that. You''ll be seeing it again, though you''ll not be able to activate it like you did before until you are much better at magical control. Magic is dangerous when misused, by malice or incompetence, so you are going to have to get used to an even stricter schedule than before. Until then, get some sleep" Yeni finished, kissing Kiko''s forehead and then standing to leave the tent.


    Kiko, for her part, did not get some sleep. Magic was dangerous when misused, but she got a feeling that she knew how to use it. Za...did things that she could remember doing. And so casting her mind back, she would repeat the actions. Nothing happened for a few hours, but then a gentle swelling inside her came. Her lungs expanded with the foreign power, and then diffused it into her body. A highly discomforting crackle spread across her body, her ribs giving off a popping feel every time she breathed in. A few minutes of this followed, with Kiko suffering in silence. Not wanting to alert anyone or make anyone worry.


    And then, she was sitting up. Fully fine. Not even staying on her feet with a stubborn will, but totally, actually, fine.


    ''If you were curious as to what Borrowing was, it''s basically that'' came the voice in her head. Somehow more...stable. More, there.


    "Right. Spooky, head voice. I forgot about you for a moment" Kiko exclaimed, pulling on her shoes.


    ''Vanaet. If you doubt me then you can go touch the statue in the big red tent'' she replied. It was quite a strange invitation, but not one there was a real reason to ignore.


    "It''s not going to blow me up, is it? Or like, catch fire or something?" Kiko asked, feeling a little mad to be talking to the air but otherwise shaking her head to get out the cobwebs and then releasing her tails again. She could feel a third there, which sort of made sense. Being almost killed by a Minotaur was pretty stressful and traumatic.


    ''Not going to blow you up, no. Though if it does catch fire, you''ll be breaking the rules. Blazetails, and indeed the Five Great Mikos, have not been a thing in your genetics for a long time''


    "I have no idea what you just said. Is that in a book or some weird Vanaet stuff?"


    ''Weird Vanaet stuff. It''s not no bearing on current day, so not really worth knowing''


    "Right"


    Madness set aside for a moment, Kiko would step out of the tent and into the bright sun. Today, was a new day.