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Okay, final part of this story, looooooong overdue. Contains sex between males of varying sizes. I've enjoyed writing this ^^ was a commission for amazing little web-brother, frostofthecwsw and his character Nero. Hope you like it!

Nero ©frostofthecwsw

all other characters ©SiberDrac

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The next day, Ajit was there, as commanded, at seven. He was also there, as not commanded, at six and thirty.

Dawn had just broken and shown dimly on the chilly streets, and more than that, he actually had to walk this time - as much as Ishan was glad he was alive, he clearly had no intention of getting up that early for the fox. And so the small, green-clad fur walked obediently beneath the smiling moon until he found himself at the Cabinet of Keys. His personal code led him to the key to Nero's room, and then a trek across the quiet campus grounds, shoed feet treading softly on the bare, packed earth amidst the different buildings, occasionally waving to a custodian, janitor, or grounds-keeper, took him to the main study chamber.

In front of the door, the fox was suddenly struck with a sense of subtle fear. In a quick, desperate motion, he threw his back against a wall and slid down it, breathing with his mouth open and his eyes wide. If he did what he wanted to do, the chances of him being castigated, having his mind wiped, and then being murdered were very, very high. His Biological skills started immediately to soothe his racing heart, but the sweat he felt build under his fur didn't vanish.

It took a few minutes to quell the sudden rush, but he didn't have that kind of time. Before he had fully recovered, despite what he knew were the dangers of entering a room with a feral creature while smelling of fear, he unlocked the door, opened it, and slipped inside.

Immediately, lights flicked on in the tremendous observation room. His footsteps now echoing through the chamber, Ajit chose instead to remove his shoes and walk on bare feet to his target. Nero had already awoken, and was watching the fox with a wary eye. The little Biologist flinched when he noticed and nearly dropped his satchel, from which he had been withdrawing a notepad and pencil.

"You smell weak," the beast rumbled, the sound like a slow roll of thunder, "but they sent you alone. And I owe you my voice." The last was said with a sense of honor; it was sincere.

"Compared to you," Ajit began, schooling his voice to brisk boredom, "I am weak. And you owe me nothing - you owe the High Equilibrial. Truth be told, if he hadn't given me leave to do that, we'd likely both be dead. At least further on the way to execution."

"You are on trial?" As he spoke, the fox started drawing something on his notepad, apparently from memory. At first, there was no response. A book ended up open on the floor where Ajit knelt and copied diagrams from it. He worked furiously, every now and then consulting the tome but more often than not closing his eyes and letting his mind's eye guide him. In no time, nearly a dozen pages had been filled with sketches of different patterns.

The Biologist finally looked up. "Yes. They'll pretend I'm free for now, but if I make a misstep here or there, I'm as good as dead. Then again..." Ajit rolled the thought around in his mouth, pencil pensively resting on a sheet. "I'm in pretty much danger just by being in this room with you, wouldn't you agree?"

"I am indeed judged dangerous even by own people. What are you doing?"

"I'm testing something out." Ajit tore out one piece of paper that depicted a complex diagram of symbols and archaic characters, waved his hand over it, and, with a quick advance apology, slammed it down on Nero's chest. The muscles beneath reflexively tightened, and Ajit felt another little tremor of fear run through him.

"You are frightened of my strength."

"Your physique as a specimen of my own species is astounding," Ajit returned somewhat caustically, trying to hide his nervousness in words and tone. The paper blackened. "Damn. Sorry again." He tried a second piece of paper, again slamming it down on the wolf-demon's chest. In a very short period of time, a sense of urgency had overcome him.

"Is this necessary?" The voice was moderately irritated, but by no means pained.

"The people who came before me once had proper diagnostic techniques for ascertaining the type or types of magic an individual could utilize. This is now termed black magic and if I'm seen or sensed using it - well, I've told you I'm on trial already. I'd explain further, but... oh, hey, so you're an elementalist." If I'm doing this right. "You'll definitely be executed for that," he said nonchalantly, checking it off as he tossed the now-scintillating paper to the side and grabbed another.

"You defy your own people?"

A third paper crinkled as it contacted the demon's fur. "I have to." It also flashed brightly, but stopped quickly. "Hmm... demonology?"

"I have attempted it. Would it not be easier for you to simply ask these questions?"

"Quite frankly, I don't trust you." The papers continued to be used. The wolf didn't seem to really notice each strike and so with each one, Ajit's lips dried a little further. "No arts, I see."

Nero growled, ignoring him with his next statement: "I can see how that might come about from your own people, but I assure you, mine are bound from birth to be honest."

"You had your jaws clamped around my throat. I'm not your biggest fan."

"But did I lie?"

"Granted, no, but it was difficult to be sure." Thump. "No necromancy; that's reassuring."

"It is the blackest of arts. Only our most profane sorcerors dare attempt and are executed as hastily as possible."

Ajit smirked as he made notes and continued. "Our most revered Scientists have made it their unspoken goal."

"Blasphemy."

"Progress."

"Stupidity."

"Perhaps."

Nero grunted, a tremendous sound, and the process continued in relative silence. Ajit eventually moved on to gauging different aspects of the specific magics the wolf had either learned or tried to use, noting everything he found. He worked quickly, his actions becoming smoother as time went on and his mind focused wholly on his work, rather than the murderous power of the creature before him.

In much less time than Ajit wanted, he realized it was time to perform the duties he had been assigned. They would not take the whole hour, thank the Balance, but it was no less undesirable. "You have been assigned sanitation duty?"

"For potential blasphemy."

"But you are more talented than they. They do not have your power."

Ajit sighed, going unhappily about his task. It was a little bit unnerving to be and to have been conversing so easily with this creature, but he was strangely easy to talk to. He was not threatening, especially lying prone as he was, and his voice was noncombative. "I don't think that's true. Ishan certainly has more strength, and likely more application."

"The wolf."

"Yes."

"He loves you."

Ajit thought back to the day before suddenly, and Ishan's oddly - well, not tender, but certainly both more physical and more emotional than expected - reaction. He nodded silently, carrying a bucket from the room as he went and saying over his shoulder. "We have been friends for most of our lives."

"Hm." There was silence until Ajit returned. "He has the greater power, but knows nothing of your 'Arts.' You have an advantage."

"You know as well as I do - if someone has you in a chokehold, knowing how to bomb their house is no longer useful." The fox began cleaning up his work, neatly stacking the papers before slipping them into his satchel. There was now nothing to do but wait until the other students and Treffenger arrived, so he sat down against one leg of the observation table and sighed. The casting of the magic to do the tests had taken a small toll on him, and besides, it was way too early in the morning to be awake.

"How will you maintain the reason to come here? This was merely a punishment, yes?"

Ajit smirked from behind his closed eyes. "Your waste awaits the professor in his office. I can assure you, I'll be back tonight, and tomorrow morning. And if the sentence is only that long, I'll come up with something else."

"Hm-hm-hm." Ajit's ears perked at the sound, and it took him a moment to realize that the demon was laughing. Weird... so he did have a sense of humor.

It was only a few minutes until the aged mouse arrived with the other two students. Treffenger seemed to take offense with the calm look on Ajit's face as he greeted them, and secretly, the fox wished he had set up a recording lens in the office to see what exactly would happen to that face later in the day.

As prescribed, Ajit stood by and recorded the questions and answers in as much detail as possible while the other three maintained as close to a polygraph as could be produced. The fox did not have to try very hard to look dejected at his task, because he knew how much easier this could be. From behind a cold and calculating demeanor, he listened as Treffenger took twice as long to gather half the information he had, in addition to some already-known facts, such as location and species. They also learned that he placed himself at one hundred twenty-eight years of age, and Treffenger scolded Sayan for not noticing the quickening of heartbeat that must have occurred and, presumably to Ajit, did not.

After an hour, the group dispersed and were sent to classes. As predicted, Rutajit received a notice during one of those classes that he was to arrive again at dusk to "tend to Nero's facilities," and to continue doing so for the remainder of his captivity or until told otherwise.

During that session, Ajit ran another series of tests, these to complete what he had begun earlier and to attempt to scrutinize how he had arrived in the Society. Krishma had employed powerful magic to bring him here - summoning based on singing, apparently. It was a combination of the arts and another magic: another thing that was supposed to be impossible. Muttering under his breath, Ajit continued to write, dating and signing avery page, determined not to be discredited if these were ever presented to a court. Why it would help when they would all be burned beyond recognition, he was not sure, but then, he took every precaution necessary, even to the point of copying what he had, staying later than necessary to do so.

Nero was quieter this time. It took several repetitions for Ajit to realize that the grumbling sounds that occasionally filled the chamber were not from construction outside its domed walls, but from the stomach of the beast within. He looked askance at Nero, though his disapproval was not for the wolf. "Did they not feed you?"

"My people are accustomed to having no food for days on end, but the transportation appears to have sapped my strength."

"They didn't feed you." The fox held the knuckles of the hand holding a pen to his head and sighed out slowly, frustrated by his own kind's idiocy. "They plan to enfeeble you to make sure you can never escape."

"We use a similar technique on prisoners."

"We don't. We treat prisoners with respect. They're treating you like an animal." He tapped the pen against his forehead agitatedly. "There is no way I can feed you."

"Hm-hm-hm."

"Hmm?"

"You are indeed a rather small morsel."

Ajit pondered this more seriously than the wolf had perhaps intended. "There are magics involving simulacrums I have read of..." Strange ones, but effective for providing false corpses.

Nero sobered immediately. "No; that is unacceptable."

"But it's practical," Ajit pointed out, "and relatively simple, unless I make a mistake. Easy to hide, keeps you from becoming emaciated and thus," here he glowered, "not the same subject as when you came in. Great Equilibrium, they do not follow standard practice when they are afraid."

"I will not allow-"

Ajit cut him off. "I have control enough over you to force you to consume me if need be; but I will not because it would be detected by the High Equilibrial and he would most certainly not approve. I'll find you something to eat; if you're malnourished-"

The wolf bellowed. Immediately, Ajit was on his feet, papers forgotten, and feeling for his vital signs. Ignoring the fearsome sound that was inundating his ears, he found that all his rhythms had increased, and... what? There was a second...

"Ajit!" A whisper cut through the echoes of the roar and the huffs as Nero fought to take control of himself. The fox whirled around and saw Sayan running towards him.

"Sayan? You idiot, what are you doing here? How long have you been here?" No Biology in the world could keep the fear out of the vulpine's voice.

It would take little less to hide that in the badger's. "I... I-I-I j-just heard you t-trying to f-f-figure out how to f-feed him please don't be mad at me Ajit I know you were just thinking out loud." The look on the academic badger's face was enough to melt any heart, and almost brought a smile to Ajit's face.

"Thank you so much, Sayan. Why are you here?"

"The scholar," Nero noted, his breath nearly returned to its normal rate.

Sayan swallowed once and looked quickly to and away from the beast. He had spent most of the morning session fighting his own sweat; it was a lot for him to be in here. "I wanted to t-tell you something I didn't tell Dr. Treffenger, because I knew he-he had seen it and w-wasn't saying anything about it. While adm-m-ministering the p-polygraph I noticed that N-Nero's brainwaves have t-two distinct p-patterns, but only sometimes it's like there's..."

Nero looked levelly at the badger, getting the nervous creature to drift into silence with virtually no effort. He spoke calmly, in a low, dangerous voice. "You determined such from nonvisual observation alone?"

"I- I did. T-two consciousnesses, one submissive to the other. I would need more time t-to figure out any more."

For a moment, the red, deadly eyes of the beast hardened to bloodstone, and in a tone reserved for executions, he said, "If you can cure or control my malady, I am in your service until the day I die." The two students stared, jaws agape, as Nero continued to speak. "Another has had this body since I first knew manhood. I do not understand this presence, and do not wish it to continue holding me its captive." Ajit noted a dribble of something bright and thick down the corner of the creature's nose. He was bleeding. "It will destroy me one day, and I know not how to remove it. It appears that..." He licked away the blood and cleared his throat. It was a deep, husky noise. It sounded like it pained him. "It appears it has quickened its approach. I do not tell lies." He looked deep in each of their eyes. "If you heal me, I am beholden to you."

The boys continued to stare for a while before finally, Sayan began to back away and whispered, "You can have him, Ajit. I don't w-want anything t-t-t-to do with this. I'll request he b-be g-g-given a meal. So you can study. And I swear I won't tell T-t-t-t-t-t... the p-professor." Something in Ajit's eyes was scaring him. Sayan didn't know the fox all that well, but hunger is something easy to be seen in any given human being. Granted, in someone as frightened as Ajit at the concept of what he wanted to do, it was somewhat muted by the lack of any kind of grin, but when the wolf's stomach grumbled yet again, Sayan imagined, briefly, that he had seen Ajit lick his lips. He fled the scene, leaving wolf and fox to stare in one another's eyes as the door clicked shut.

Over the next few days, Ajit grew more and more tired and more and more distant during the observation times. A change came over him when Treffinger walked in the room, each morning, and he became bitter and callous. When talking to Nero, he was focused and calm, and had begun to soften towards the humongous wolf. They spoke about many things, learning about one another's cultures and generally coming to understand one another. Given their unique situations, it was almost appropriate to call them friends.

Once, at the end of an evening session, Ajit was again sitting against one leg of the great table that held Nero, simply catching his breath after his diagnostic attempts. "I want to do this, Nero. I haven't done much worth remembering in my time here, and I want the Arts and the other magics to be recognized. If I do this - if I free you - I think I can revive an entire era. I think I can bring about a new age of understanding. I just... I can't stand this idiocy. They treat you like an animal! I feel we could... well, I don't know the rest of your people - they might be less reasoning than yourself, but there's no reason for us to be this isolated, as a race." His expression became tighter as he spoke. He had always been somewhat outspoken, and this was beyond a culmination of himself. So much had happened in just a few days... it felt like he was running on spiritual adrenaline, of a sort. This was huge, and beautiful, and expanded out beyond anything he could have perceived only a few weeks ago, and he felt he could make it real.

Suddenly, he gasped and tensed up. A paw was soothingly combing its way through the fur of his head, rubbing around the base of his ears, and scratching him tenderly. It felt awkwardly restrained, and he knew it was because Nero's arms were strapped tight against him. A quick journey to his sketchbook and return to where he was seated, and Ajit had removed one binding. There was a pause of uncertainty and nerves from both of them; the fox's breath was caught shallow in his throat. The hand began exploring his cheeks and muzzle, and once he was certain the wolf did not intend to hurt him, Ajit pushed into the paw, whining softly and appreciatively at the caresses. The two of them stayed that way for a time, with no noise but Ajit's occasional whimper as Nero touched his throat and the wolf's sigh of contentment when the fox laid a delicate paw on his own.

High above them, the High Equilibrium smiled. It was tremendously unfair of him to put this responsibility on someone so young and inexperienced, but he knew that in his old age, the lion was simply incapable of bending his magics to the necessary causes. He would let young Rutajit handle the great and terrible burden of bringing new life into their society.

In their time together, Ajit managed to decipher, with a combination of different techniques, that Nero was not himself a demon. He was possessed by one, though, that wanted to control his body; in fact, wanted to usurp his body and transform it into something else. However, Ajit could see no way of accessing this second spirit. He felt blind, by the fifth day. He was working alone, delving into secret books he knew full well he did not understand, and practicing magics whose heretic nature left him tiptoeing around corners even in his own house.

His parents were somewhat concerned, but really only rolled their eyes when they learned exactly why he repeatedly had to leave early for school. Ishan, too, was worried. The big wolf told Ajit he'd asked Treffinger to be more lenient, because he felt Nero was having a negative effect on his overall mood, but the mouse made it clear that reckless and disrespectful behavior needed to be punished, and Ishan was welcome to join the regular custodians' duties to empathize with his friend if he wished.

The professor was also going through a change. He had always been a crisp man, but now, he was becoming bitter and spiteful. He spat his demeaning remarks at the students both in their private study and in class, and he seemed to be anxious to leave, cutting sessions and class time short, as though he didn't even want to be near Ajit, and didn't want to even think about Subject N. In response, even Ishan and Sayan began to grumble about their work. Sayan especially was affected, being more sensitive, and redoubled his efforts to understand the beast, hoping he could somehow impress Treffenger.

Ajit knew exactly what needed to be done. He needed Sayan to isolate the two minds at work in Nero's body, and he needed Ishan to provide the raw power boost to the badger. He himself did not have nearly the skill to do so, but he was almost certain he could cast a binding spell over the demon within if they could but separate the two. But how was he supposed to convince them to do it?

"Thanks for coming, Ishan."

"Of course - I'm honestly surprised he let you in here at all, on your own. It's a stupid idea, and I know it's been wearing on you." A heavy, reassuring paw landed on Ajit's shoulder as the two walked into the eerie, dark chamber that held their captive. "He really is a monster, isn't he?"

"Dreadful, I'm sure," Ajit answered with a smirk. He set his bag of books down and removed his shoes and socks, then, hesitantly, he began to approach the examination table. "I've actually gotten to know him a little... he's not much more than an animal, so at least while he's restrained, it's like having a giant pet, y'know?" He smiled lightly, uncomfortably, and reached one paw out as he neared the great beast, which had awakened and growled at his words.

Ishan paused suddenly and looked strangely at the fox. "Ajit... what? What are you doing?" Fear had entered his voice and he began to step forward. His ears perked as he heard the padfalls of another creature entering.

"Ajit? I-I decided to come." Sayan's entering voice halted and was punctuated by a choking gasp. "Ajit! What are you doing?"

The fox had put his paw on Nero's breast and he was petting the beast, just as he had described it. "He's a wonderful specimen, isn't he?" the fox said. "Powerful beyond our current imagining. I mean, look at him!" Nero was becoming increasingly infuriated. He spoke.

"I thought you and I had an understanding, whelp."

Ajit backhanded him. The sound echoed in the chamber. "Don't you talk to me like that, pet!" He made a fist with his small hand and beat down as hard as he could on Nero's solar plexus. A wave of energy radiated from it and Nero's eyes opened wide as a crackling noise briefly fluttered through the aural soundscape.

"Ajit, get ahold of yourself!" Ishan whispered furiously, walking forward. "Are you trying to just piss it off?"

"Don't you get it?" Ajit said, grinning madly as he wheeled on his friend. "We can wipe his mind, and take him! Haven't you heard the rumors in the streets? This place is due for another war. That's what Krishma was trying to accomplish, and you know as well as I do that the reason we haven't heard anything about her is that she escaped. We're due for an Artists' uprising; I've heard the whispers. You heard even the Great Equilibrium tell us about them - why would he do that if he wasn't worried? Ishan! Sayan! We could tame and control this... demon!" He pounded his fist on Nero's chest as though making a point, and the beast's eyes began to glow.

"Ajit..." Sayan trailed off warningly. "S-something's happening..."

Ishan grabbed the fox's wrist, but Ajit shook it off angrily. "That's why I asked you two to come here. Treffinger would turn him into absolutely nothing, and have him executed, but we can make him a part of the Balancers! A spearhead. A machine."

"Ajit, there aren't any rumors! You're making things up - you think you can control him? You're an idiot!"

"R-r-rutajit," Sayan said angrily, but nervously, his use of his friend's full name an apt indicator of how worked up he was. "You c-can't be serious. Y-you're really g-going to t-t-t-try to b-believe his promise?"

"What promise?" Ishan said quickly, whipping his head towards the badger. Ajit kept alternately petting and prodding his 'pet.'

"I was here earlier... and Ajit was talking with Nero, and I told them what I'd seen during the examination, and Nero said if we healed him, he'd be b-b-beholden to us... and Ajit looked like he would take advantage of it if he could..."

"And I can!" the fox shouted, punching Nero once more in the same place. This time, the bindings on Nero's wrists snapped and the tremendous wolf snatched Ajit, who screamed in horror as he was hauled on top of the great beast and found his entire head stuffed in the creature's maw. A red light had begun to glow all around the beast.

A throbbing blow of Physics forced Ajit out of Nero's jaws immediately before they snapped shut - the strike would have beheaded the small fox. Ishan roared. "Don't you dare hurt him, you animal!"

"I am no animal!" Nero bellowed back at him.

"Sayan!" the fox pleaded desperately as Ishan's knowledge began struggling against Nero's brute strength. "See how he's glowing?! He's gone mad! You know how to cure madness!"

"B-b-but Ajit! That's... that's Wicked!"

Ajit shouted in agony as the wolf tugged at one of his arms, nearly dislocating his shoulder. "Sayan, please!"

"Y-y-y-yes of c-course, just cut through the mental l-l-loop and-"

"Do it, Sayan! Fast!"

"Okay!" The badger closed his eyes, focused, and pulsed his hands towards Nero's head. The beast merely let loose another ear-shattering roar and increased the grip that threatened to tear of Ajit's arm. He screamed in pain. "Ishan! He needs you!"

"But I'm keeping this demon from killing you! I can't!"

Sayan was focusing all of his energy on the task at hand, whispering to himself. "The Wicked is forgiven in service of the Good, the Wicked is forgiven in service of the Good..."

"I'll use Biology to keep my tissues intact for long enough - just do it! Ishan, please!" He looked imploringly in his best friend's eyes, tears of pain running down his cheeks. "Save me, Ishan."

The wolf stared back, uncertain. He loved his friend, more than anything. He couldn't... he couldn't ignore him. "But you don't even know it'll work!"

"Sayan is the most talented Neuroscientist in this school and you know that - he just doesn't have the strength. Give him your strength, and you can do it. I know you can. Please!" He groaned and shouted again, the wolf underneath him digging his claws in and beginning to rip furiously at his flesh.

"For... for you, Ajit. Forgive me." With that, the white wolf let go his hold on the great beast, blocking out Ajit's immediate shriek as his arms were simultaneously dislocated and his tendons and muscles began to burn with the strain. Sayan shouted as he felt Ishan's strength rush through him and into his task. Suddenly, all of the tension on Ajit was released, and he fell, limp and panting, on Nero.

Immediately, as though nothing had happened to him, he rolled over and searched Nero's eyes. "Anything? Any change?" he asked, probing with both his fingers and his mind. A crumpled sheet of burned paper fell out of his hand.

Nero sighed and turned his head away in disappointment, letting his arms fall to the side. "Nothing."

"That's... strange. I could sense what I needed to target," Sayan started, blinking, "but I never really felt anything break..." He looked up as he felt Ishan's soft, but rage-quivering hand fall on his shoulder.

"Rutajit, you are a fool," Ishan said coldly. "Never use me again!" The wolf walked in a frigid rage out of the chamber, his footpads echoing hollowly through the room.

Sayan took in the situation in confusion, until understanding dawned. "You... it was all an act. You lied to us... Ajit?"

The fox looked despondently down, still perched on top of Nero, and nodded slowly. "Yes," he whispered. "I knew you'd never agree to it normally, but..."

"And you were going to use forbidden magic to do it...?" Sayan gasped in horror, noticing the sheet of paper by the side of the table.

Another nod. "I... I'm sorry. I had to try. It's not fair what they're doing to him! Treffenger is ignoring everything! You know he is!"

The badger just shook his head in horror and backed away.

"Sayan! You're a rational being! You know this is wrong!"

"You just want the power for yourself, Ajit! I'm bringing the Balancers!" He began running away.

"Sayan! Sayan!" Ajit shouted. "Sayan, you can't tell anyone! Damn it!" Frustrated nearly to the point of tears at his failure, the fox beat his thin arms on Nero's breast and leaned his head down on them, shaking. "I'm sorry, Nero. It should have worked. And now they'll kill me, and you. Sayan will rat me out; I know he will. I... I screwed up. Maybe I overplayed it, maybe I shouldn't've..."

Ajit suddenly felt his entire upper body wrapped in soft, muscular fur, and tensed up. "Nero...?"

"Shush, little one," came the beast's resonant, rumbling voice. Ajit shivered. 'Little one.' As Nero's paws began to stroke and caress his back, the fox slowly, fearfully, relaxed. It was evening; there was no chance of anyone catching them like this. He let the great wolf creature push and pull gently at his frame to stretch him out along the mass of sable and crimson fur beneath him, laying his chest on Nero's breast and listening to the larger being's heartbeat and breathing. The latter sounded scratchy - Nero's condition had worsened considerably over the few days he had been in the Society. It was understandable.

"Nero, you know you're getting worse," he whispered, eyes open as his fingers held the beast's great shoulders

"I am strong enough to survive for- for decades longer." The hesitation was due to a cough.

"That's the first time you've lied," Ajit pointed out with a small smirk. He was still afraid of where he was, for more reasons than one. This was not only a stranger, not only a creature possessed by a demon, but also a man. Sexuality was not a huge subject in the society, but Ajit's experiences with it had been lacking save for his fantasies of Christi in her Balancer robes.

"I... don't want you to be worried. You are a powerful creature, for one so small. I respect you, little one."

Ajit shivered again. 'Little one.' For some reason, it felt good to be called that, protected by this tremendous being. He shifted atop the beast, trying to get comfortable. He couldn't seem to arrange himself properly, even though he felt like he'd avoided the leather bindings. It was a wonderful feeling, to be warm, but there was something preventing his...

A cherry-red blush showed through his features as, his chest lifted up from Nero's while he shifted. "What is...? Oh." Nero smiled and chuckled. "Do not be ashamed, little one - it is just a part of a male's anatomy."

"Y-yes... yes it is..." Ajit answered, but he suddenly looked out into the distance. Only psychological and religious practices could wipe the mind without the wickedness of cauterizing sections of the brain, but while Nero had a religious background, it did not seem like one that was heavily involved in meditation, and Ajit had no experience with psychology, but he did know one thing that had been described as a fusion of the two: sex. He couldn't believe it, and his blush deepened with each moment he thought about it. Some said that the pleasure of orgasm transported one away from this world, if only for a brief moment. If he could wipe Nero's mind, if only for a moment, then he could bring forth the demon that held him and could therefore...

The fox struggled out of Nero's embrace, who let him go after a moment's uncertainty and unwillingness, then dropped to his feet and scrambled to his pack. He began making a new drawing, this one the most complex he had ever before created. It scrawled across the length and breadth of the page, and the fox used his very claws to shade and create the minutiae. "Rutajit?" Nero queried.

"Hold on." A few harried moments passed, and the small vulpine threw down his pencil and ran back to the examination table. "It won't be long before Sayan actually grows the balls to tell someone instead of just saying he will, and then I'll get arrested and killed; but we do have a while. I can bring the demon out of you and bind it. I know this. Just trust me." Ajit removed his shirt, revealing a slender, almost femininely graceful chest and back.

"Little one..." Nero trailed off, watching as realization slowly dawned on him. "Little one, I would kill you; you are certainly not experienced in this and I am a far larger being than you-"

"Be quiet! I can use the Sciences to gird my body against this."

"You don't understand how fierce a mating among my people..."

"I don't care! I will free you; I swear it!" He cast the spells to set the beast's legs free, as well, and crawled back on top of him, setting his cool hands with grim determination on Nero's tremendous genitalia. They twitched on contact.

"Rutajit!"

The fox hopped out of reach, made a few quick motions with his sketchbook, and suddenly, Nero's arms and hands were bound again. A quick application of Biology, and Nero was painfully aroused, his tremendous, thick, blood-red erection pulsating in the dim light and leaking a clear, sticky liquid.

"Rutajit!" Nero roared, but Ajit, no longer having any qualms about the wicked, shut down the beast's vocal cords, reducing him to shallow grunts and whines. The fox stripped the rest of his clothes off and once again climbed ontop of his captive, not looking at the gleaming, gigantic shaft on which he was about to impale himself. Only his determination was keeping thoughts about the sanity and sanctity - well, lack thereof - of what he was doing, at bay. He took a few moments to position himself, using the leather strap across Nero's chest to balance, then pressed back against the tip of the member.

His eyes opened wide in pain as the now-lubricated shaft was plunged half an inch into his virgin hole. This was stupid. This was absolute madness. But he would do it. He knew no other way to pleasure a man - his experiences with sex had, indeed, been few both in spoken word and in reality. Shortly, the thick musk of Nero's arousal had driven his own, short shaft out of its confines and into open air. Sensations he had never before felt inundated his senses, but above all, he continued to force himself onto the continually broadening monster of an organ, loosening his muscles and his flesh with his Science, at every moment expecting that he would reach the hilt of this sword, but not stopping until he opened his eyes, not even realizing he had clenched them shut, and saw the slight bulge in his chest of the contained wolfhood.

"Oh, for the Balance..." he whispered, horrified, but unable to ignore that his pink, throbbing shaft was leaking its own precum onto Nero's chest. Closing his eyes again and breathing deeply, making sure everything was in place, he began to control his mood with his Science, and began raising and lowering himself along the unspeakable girth that glowed faintly as it was plunged into and out of his tight confines.

He refused to think as Nero's growls slowly grew in volume beneath him. He convinced himself he didn't have time to think. His absolute concentration even managed to force his member to retreat back into his sheath, although whenever it waned, the pink head and shaft thrust themselves back into view, leaking greedily and begging for relief. Nero stared at him furiously the whole while and refused to cooperate, but what with Ajit's judicial application of magic, the wolf could not bring himself down from his lustful high, and he soon felt his knot form and begin to be pressed against Ajit's pale blue rump with each wet, squelching plunge of the fox's lithe body.

Ishan could only watch in horror and fascination. Atop the examination table, illuminated only by the faint glow of the voluminous chamber, his friend's eyes were closed in pain and arousal, and his mouth hung slack with effort, as he knelt straddling the wolf beneath him. The bluish tint of the tips of his fur practically glowed in that light in chromatic counterpoint to the faintly glowing red shaft that continued to be eased in and out of his friend. It was bewildering, and riveting, and... and... Ajit was beautiful. A deep throe of jealousy shivered through Ishan's powerful body. What... was going on?

Feeling the knot and knowing it as an indication of the closeness of orgasm, Ajit steeled himself yet again and forced himself downward. Nero groaned throatily and this time could not restrain himself from thrusting up into the little creature, knotting him in one hit and making Ajit cry out.

"Ajit! What... what are you...!" Ishan said suddenly, stepping into the light with nothing but concern and confusion in his features and voice.

Both of the beings turned suddenly to him. Ajit stared at him coolly, as though he were not impaled, as though his belly were not currently slightly distended by the wolfflesh inside him, and said, "I'm finishing this. I'm setting him free. If you still love me, guard the door, Ishan, and don't let anyone in. Let me do this."

"Ajit... I..." The fox turned away and went back to his work, and Ishan could see when he turned his Biology to its full power, because the great wolf's eyes rolled up in his head in bliss, and his body began to pulse faintly with a red glow much like the one in his eyes and genitals. "I love you," Ishan whispered, and strode forcefully back down the hallway to intercept those called by Sayan.

Back on the table, the fox began practically bobbing himself on the knot, desperate for his captive to reach orgasm. His paper was on the floor, ready to be used as soon as it happened. He was worried; worried that he would be caught tied on this flesh when Nero was no longer himself, worried that his capturing magic would not work, worried that at any moment, Balancers would come rushing through that door, worried that Ishan would no longer be his friend... But there was no time for that. There was only time for

A roar like none other ripped out of Nero's throat as he buried himself in Ajit's tight passage. As the first blast of thick seed shot into the fox's bowels, Nero's body flashed a deep, ugly red and he began to transform, and grow. Panting and gasping, Ajit felt the shaft inside him begin to expand and grow, still pulsing its boiling gyzym into him. "No... no... what is this? What is this?!" He screamed as the bindings once holding Nero burst free and the fur was shed, revealing hard, unforgiving scales for armor. His muscles bulged as his form grew, and his head transformed into that of a dragon, triangular head and pointed horns thrashing about in ecstasy as a booming voice bellowed.

"Thank you! Oh, to all the gods, thank you, you stupid little fox!" Ajit fervently tried to loosen himself and pull off, but it seemed he had stretched as far as he could go, and the creature's orgasm was continuing - it was filling his bowels and belly with its seed, and he couldn't escape, and he couldn't seem to activate the drawing on the ground. Flailing, he fell backwards, suspended only by the dragon's cock, as it swung itself sideways and stood up, shaking its head. "I think I'll keep wearing you... to honor you, for my freedom." He laughed cruelly, then suddenly stopped and looked around. "What is that? What... oh." The dragon's expression blanked, and his gaze landed on a figure alone in the doorway. It was Sayan, and he was again saying his mantra and concentrating, eyes closed and fingers flickering through the appropriate positions.

Ajit turned and saw him, then immediately redoubled his efforts to escape, forcibly decreasing the dragon's arousal. When he finally popped off and tumbled to the ground, gyzym gushed from him, which made Sayan reel in shock, horror, and mortification, and released his grip on the dragon, who kicked Ajit across the room without a hint of effort. "Oh, you foolish little fleshbags. You can't beat me! You can't manipulate me with your paltry Science! How childish, to try to defeat a demon with that!" He summoned a sphere of flame and tossed it almost casually at Sayan, who gasped and only barely set up a strong enough Physics barrier to keep himself from being burned alive; charred, he fell in a heap.

The demon began laughing and randomly tossing fireballs around the room, charring the walls and cracking the mortar with no apparent effort. Suddenly, the table underneath the demon suddenly slid backwards, lifted up, and dropped itself on the dragon's head with far greater force than gravity. The demon tripped and bellowed in pain, holding its head in its claws. "Ajit, go now!" Ishan roared, practically throwing his friend at the paper he had clearly been seeking. The fox reached it swiftly and slammed it against the dragon's chest with a great shout. Immediately, a cacophony and conflaguration of black and orange and red light surrounded him and the creature, and an explosion sent Ajit flying backwards and into Ishan's arms, where they clung to one another for a moment, Ajit putting his trust in his friend's strength.

As Balancers rushed in the room, they were shocked to see, as their first sight, Ajit sprinting back towards the center of the room where a furred figure lay, unmoving, next to a ruby and onyx gem the size of an egg. "Nero!" Physicists within the Balancers restrained him from across the room, but after a moment of glowering, Ishan cut their forces. He immediately found himself pinned to a wall with chemical foam and logical entrapments, snarling at his sudden captors, but it had given time for Ajit to make his way all the way to Nero, who, though clearly weakened, snatched him up and held him protected in both arms.

"What is this?!" Scale Master Ravi stormed into the room, swiftly followed by Treffenger and other professors, and more slowly tailed by the High Equilibrial himself. The great wolf in the center of the room snarled at him as he tried to approach and tightened his grip on the pale fox that was shivering from fatigue in his arms. "Let that boy go!" His arms were flung out to his sides, but to the raging ocelot's alarm, Ajit only snuggled in closer, opening one eye and showing his teeth defensively. "What... boy, what are you doing?"

"I'm proving a point," he said, employing his weakened magics to mask and degrade the musk and semen around him. He knew it would be detected, but didn't want to have to explain it. "I freed this creature from possession by the demon contained in that gem without using the Divine Sciences."

"Impossible!" Treffenger barked. His countenance had been simmering since he entered the room and now it was a twisted mask of hatred and spite. "You are a lying blasphemer and a cowardly runt! There is no force greater than the Sciences!" To demonstrate, he stomped his ancient foot and began preparing a venomous spell that made even the air around it caustic.

"Professor Treffenger..." the High Equilibrial started, cutting into the base of the mouse's spell and causing it to fizzle out, then putting a hand on the old man's shoulder. "Please, control your- gah!" Eyes wide, the wizened old lion clutched at his chest and stared into the Biologist's eyes. "My... my heart!" he gasped. "How could you...?"

The mouse hissed as his wicked spell burst the old lion's heart within his body. Even the Equilibrial's skill could not mend flesh as quickly as would have been required to save his life, and he fell in a heap of silver-white fur and robes. "I understood that this new development had taken your fancy, High Equilibrial, and I was not willing to allow you to corrupt our Society! I took it into my own hands to study the depths of Biological knowledge and now? Now your heresy will never leave this room."

A leech spell quickly drained the lion's life force away, and Treffenger's form grew younger and stronger. Ravi, who had been watching in utter horror as his brother was killed, snarled visciously and hurled a series of vials at Treffenger, but the mouse had already tossed a handful of seeds in his direction and in no time, a wall of bark was blocking their way. Another Balancer, a wolf, ran directly to the old professor, trying to get in range for a wicked spell, but Treffenger grabbed his face in a paw and, as the pup screamed, the younger creature's body began to shrivel; in mere seconds, he was dead, and Treffenger looked like a young man again, his muscles bulging out of his robes and his red eyes gleaming dangerously.

"You see, Rutajit? You see the power of the Sciences! You see how we can defy Time with our knowledge?" As he spoke, he began draining the life from others in the room, soon surrounding himself with bodies. Nero's arms were loosened from Ravi's intangible grip, but he was still too weak from the transformations to do more than continue to shielf Ajit.

The ocelot came leaping over the wall of trees that had been summoned with a howl and a barrage of glass vials that exploded while Treffenger, now standing at seven feet and disrobed by his figure, was busily withering away the life of another young Balancer. Most were fleeing by this point. Sayan was cowering in a corner, mumbling to himself and peering from between his fingers. Christi, however, was quietly working her way through Ishan's bindings while he did his level best not to look at her exposed breasts.

The assault struck Treffenger, blinding him, slashing his face, and making him scream in pain as Ravi swung a battle axe with a crescent moon blade at his head. No one was quite sure where the battle axe had come from, when they thought about it later, but they put it down to the sheer bad-assery of the Scale Master and the image of him, in Balancer garb with the golden threads of a Biochemist adorning his black robe, swinging that battle axe high over his head as he leapt through the remnants of the liquid explosions.

When the smoke cleared, everyone looked and saw that there was, in fact, a blade cutting into Treffenger's overgrown head. However, other than a thin trickle of blood, the mouse seemed unperturbed. Ajit growled. He had thickened his skull to the point that even a battle axe could not split it. Ravi crumpled to the ground with a flick of the mouse's wrist.

"This is foolishness," he grumbled, then spun about quickly. Immediately, everyone in the room was put into a coma, save for Ajit and his protector. Treffenger stared breathlessly, grinning ferally, at the fox, still wrapped safely in Nero's arms.

"What, foxling? You have a little trick up your sleeve? Don't you get it? I am now he High Equilibrial and the Scale Master." His figure, once imposing merely by his manner and now daunting in its simple presence, loomed closer. "Your little idea with sex was a good one, and apparently effective. Certainly gave me this." He bent down and picked up the jewel, that pulsed with a faint, bloody glow. "I wonder if a normal biological leech spell works on this? I imagine not," he said superciliously, tossing the gem from hand to hand. "It is, of course, merely a 'demon,' at least according to you. But demons don't exist - this is an egg, of some kind, and you merely caused whatever creature was hiding behind a well-guarded Physics spell to revert back to its embryonic form. So to prove it to you - watch me."

"No, Dr. Treffenger, don't!" Ajit's eyes went wide as he realized what was about to happen. The old mouse was going to absorb the demon into himself.

"Look! It's working! Looks like experiment proves blind faith wrong yet again, Rutajit! You fool!" He laughed maniacally as the black energy flowed eagerly into him, bulging out his muscles, swelling his form, and darkening his fur to ugly black and red. His tail throbbed thicker and lashed about the place, tossing the table that had crashed onto the once-dragon into a wall. His hands curled and onyx claws grew from them, and horns twisted out of his head while he laughed, the egg losing color and light as Nero and Ajit held one another closer, Nero snarling and huffing at the abomination before them. Unbeknownst to the wild professor, he had become fully aroused during the transformation, echoing the arousal of the dragon he had just absorbed. And thus, unbeknownst to him, his mind was not his own.

"Come here, you pup!" he barked as soon as the egg lost its last glimmer of light. He tossed it to the ground, shattering it, and grasped at Nero. The wolf threw Ajit bodily at Ishan's unconscious form, causing the fox to slide against both the husky and Christi. There was nearly no time between that, and when Nero was turned on his hands and knees and impaled by the brightly scintillating organ standing proudly in front of the demon Treffenger. The dragon's mind was consumed by lust, and the mouse's by the dragon; nothing mattered but revenge upon Nero who had escaped him, and self-fulfillment. He hilted the raging Spartan in a mere two thrusts and began plowing into him, the spines on his draconic member making Nero groan and thrash, even his tremendous muscles useless against the beast atop him. Sparks flew from the strength of their mating, and both forms were set on a thin layer of flame, heating the air of the place.

"Nero!" Ajit shouted, watching in a fury. He tried to wake his friends, but the spells cast by Treffenger were too strong and he was still too weak. He didn't know the leeching spell his professor had used, so he could not merely borrow energy. He could only watch as the dragon's tremendous orbs began to draw up close to their owner, preparing the orgasm that would bring immortal shame to Nero and, more importantly, end with the dragon coming to himself and realizing there were still other living beings in the room.

And then, the air froze. The dragon didn't notice at first, but Nero and Ajit's jaws went slack as their ears perked to a sound akin only to the most talented of angels. A woman's voice echoed through the chamber, bouncing around the walls and up into its highest reaches as it vibrated into the souls of those that heard it. Jizz sputtered out of Nero's tailhole as the dragon bellowed and reached his climax, but the sound of his orgasm seemed muted... as did his entire presence.

As the wolf's belly began to distend, just slightly, from the volume that filled him, the sound increased in volume and began traveling through a haunting melody that awakened those who were not dead. They came to themselves slowly, and as Ajit's friends reached back towards consciousness, he frantically checked them over, for pulses and for breathing, stopping when he realized he was cupping Christi's breast. She didn't notice, though - the surreal calm had infected her. "It has to be Krishma," Ajit whispered to them. "I don't know how..."

Two more voices suddenly joined in, creating impromptu, beautiful harmonies that swept up the listeners into a trance and suddenly caught the demon's attention. Nero fell off him with a wet pop and the sound of flowing liquid as he turned to the newcomers.

As guessed, the leader was indeed Krishma, whose fingers were bandaged but whose eyes were black and intense as the panthress stalked forward, mouth barely open as her voice powered through the room in a gust of sound followed by the simpler breezes of two other figures. Their voices supported hers as she slowly approached the dragon, daring him to confront her. He was entranced, unable to speak, as the rest of the room watched in awed silence. Ajit gasped. His parents followed in her wake.

The sound began to crescendo, become more and more violent the closer Krishma got to her target as she moved, step by slow, graceful step, towards him. It built to a deafening, euphonic roar, and then Krishma's hand touched the dragon's nose, and he quite simply and quite quickly, vanished. In her hand appeared a gem, identical to the one that had just been shattered. Everyone else snapped drunkenly out of their trance, while she wobbled on her feet and fainted, the egg-shaped gem rolling out of her hand.

Ajit's mother came to him and put a hand on his forehead. "Sleep for now, Ruta. I will explain later." He blacked out, then, and entered a pleasant and much-needed sleep.

Hours later, he awoke to the feeling of someone gently petting through the fur of his head, fingers trailing delicately and soothingly around the bases of his ears until, groggily, he opened his eyes. They blinked open and after a few moments, he registered Ishan's figure standing over him and smiling. More than that, he felt a pair of arms around him, embracing him, and most of his vision seemed to be filled with black and red...

With a gasp and a start, he desperately began struggling to get away, but Ishan laughed and squeezed his shoulder. "Ajit! It's okay, I promise. Think for a moment." The fox stopped his squirming, and immediately, the events of the previous evening came flooding back to him. His cheeks flushed a dark red as he remembered all of it, and his nose detected the very faint smell of musk still around him. And then he blushed deeper when he remembered how he had treated his friend, and what he had said to him. "Ishan..." He looked up at the husky. "Ishan I'm so sorry..." More calmly, he tried to break free of the sable grasp around him so he could sit up and try to face his friend.

"It's okay, Ajit. I promise. I understand what you did. I still... it still hurts, but I understand."

"I used your feelings... to my gain. I didn't even know you felt that way about me until..."

"Whoa, stop there! What? Dude!" He laughed, a genuine laugh. "No way, Ajit! I love you, but it is purely platonic, I swear!"

"Don't lie to my son," a woman's voice said sharply, and Ajit heard and saw his mother, wearing her tiara as always, enter the small room he was lying in. "Ruta, Ishan is in love with you. Intensely in love with you, if the way he fought this wolf here for privelege to hold you is any indication." Ishan began blushing furiously and unseen to Ajit, Nero smiled to himself. All Ajit knew was that the huge, warm arms holding him, tightened slightly. His cheeks and ears also flushed.

"Mom..."

"Ruta, it doesn't bother me in the least right now that you are lying in a bed naked with that Spartan." He could have sworn she giggled to herself under her words. "What matters to me is that you are alive and well." She smiled kindly down at him and brushed his cheek with her delicate hand.

"You were singing, Mom; how did you and Krishma and Dad..."

"The High Equilibrial informed us that there was a conflict in progress, and that we were to follow Krishma's lead. Your father and I both have singing voices from our younger days, but we had never known they could be used to such ends." She said it with a kind of proud bearing. She deserved it - she had aided in destroying potentially the greatest threat the Society had seen in a very long time. Had the Treffenger demon come to itself, with the combined scientific, elemental, and demonic magics in had control over, it may likely have laid waste to the city.

"The Equilibrial..."

"Is dead," she finished with a sigh of deep regret. "Scale Master Ravi has recovered and is taking his place until a more suitable candidate is found. But I'm not here to talk to you about that. Ruta. You need to leave."

The little fox blinked and Nero started a low growl while Ishan spluttered in startlement. "What?"

The woman stared intensely at her son, ignoring the other two completely. "You have to leave, Ruta. The Balancers saw what was done in that chamber, and at this moment are trying to convince your father to let them in here so they can pry your mind for secrets. I have packed all your books and your clothes for you, and they are waiting on a transportation pad. I love you, Ruta." She trailed her fingers across his cheek, then bent and kissed his forehead. "But your father and I have spoken and we both know that it is best for you to leave, rather than be tormented by the Balancers."

"Mom, it's not a big deal, I just have to-"

She was not to be interrupted. "They'll imprison you. Scale Master Ravi wants to learn these techniques, after he saw how effective they are. Krishma has already left; she also suggested you leave. If these talents are spread, there will indeed be an uprising in our very streets, Ruta. I am telling you this for your good and for the good of the whole Society; you must leave and not return until this has all settled down."

"No! These people need to leave their prejudices behind! There is more to this world than cold science! There is Art, and Music, and Philosophy, and Religion! Maybe there needs to be an uprising!"

"Ruta!"

"No! I will do this! This place needs to change!" Nero growled his approval while Ishan clenched his teeth in indecision. Furious, Vajra quivered and backed away from him, water brimming in her eyes.

"Fine. If that is the way you would have it, then I will not stop you. We do not have time to argue. But the stability of the Society is now on your head, Rutajit. I hope for all our sakes that what you do is worth the cost." She swept out of the room, tears running down her cheeks.

The three watched her go in silence, and then Ishan said quietly, "I do love you, Ruta, but I won't help you do this. I... think I will go find Krishma, perhaps, and learn from her in secret, but I do not want to see what happens to the Society."

Ajit looked at him sadly, longingly. "I wish it were different." He pushed his way out of Nero's embrace and stood up from the bed they were on to press himself against his best friend's soft, welcoming fur, not caring he was nude to the world as he did so. Ishan wrapped his arms around Ajit warmly and closed his eyes as he leaned his head on the azure fox's shoulder, and they stayed there for a few moments. "Maybe... maybe I'll see you some time. I hope I do." The full weight of losing Ishan began crushing down on Ajit, but he had already said his piece; nothing would change it.

"I'll look for you," Ishan assured him, squeezing him tightly and rubbing his back. "I'll find you."

Ajit smiled and pulled away, his hands still on his friend's frame. "I hope so."

Ishan leaned forward and brushed his lips softly against the fox's, bringing a bright blush to Ait's cheeks yet again, and he could feel the husky trembling to do it. "I love you, Ruta. Don't die."

The fox laughed despite himself at the bluntness. "You don't, either then. Now go - my father won't hold them off long after my mother tells him my decision, and you don't want to be in here." They parted, then, and watching him go, Ajit stumbled back to the arms of the wolf still lying on his bed.

Burying himself in the black and red fur, nuzzling back and forth against Nero's chest, Ajit sighed. This was all happening too fast, and yet, he felt prepared for it. Especially after a deep rumble of approval sounded in the great creature's throat and he murmured, "You are brave, little one. Should I stay, to aid you?" Ajit nodded silently against him. "Then I will." He bent his great head to nuzzle the small fox in his arms, and they awaited the coming of the Balancers.

Ten years later, the Society no longer existed as it was. Rutajit, or Ruta, or Rut, or Ajit, or Jñan, or Kshetra, however he has been called or wished to be called, remembers everything he has done to cause it. It could not accept the fusion of thoughts required to articulate Science with Art, and collapsed in on itself, destroying thousands of lives in the process. Embittered, Rutajit took up residence in the forests that invaded the Society once the denizens had dispersed to smaller settlements throughout the region. He found solace in his friends - before the fall, he was able to convince Christi to come away and join Ishan and Krishma in their wanderings, and he went with them, teaching and learning as he did. Nero returned to Sparta, carrying and now in control of the demon that had once possessed him, although it is interesting to note that when he transformed later, his draconic ears were somewhat more rounded than one might expect...

Eventually, little remained of Vidyaranya but legend, and even that was forgotten. But Rutajit lived on, determined to attempt to bring reconciliation to the conflicting forces in the world, while the others moved on from this life to explore what lies beyond, and visited him only as specters. He still now lives in the forests, and attempts to enlighten those who will listen to his entreaties to embrace the whole of what the universe offers, and neither deride nor ignore any facet of its glorious whole.