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Welcome back, my lovely reader~

Being a writer is my dream job but it has full-time hours and doesn't pay the bills. I want to keep writing these stories for everyone to enjoy and your support on Ko-Fi helps make that happen. I also appreciate non-financial support like faving, voting, and following me here or on Twitter or BlueSky. Thank you so much for your continued support! Please enjoy the episode.

And with that out of the way…

Episode 6:

Turbid Currents

The v-cab ride to Moon's place was an interesting affair as always. At one point he thought the junky cab was going to have its vector thrust fail part way there; angry sputtering and popping coming from the engine most of the ride.

When he climbed out of the vehicle and slammed the door, the thing even made an audible bang as if backfiring like older road-bound vehicles would do, but the deathtrap haphazardly sputtered away, off to pick up the next victim as he sighed.

“At least it didn't stink or blare thrash metal?"

His ears perked at the voice in his mind as he thought to himself, “True, you could pick up on that stench when you were with me during that time?"

“I'm not just a dog in name, Sen. Yes, we spirits can feel all of the sensory exposure you feel if we are… joined with you," the last of the words came out in a sing-song tone as the kitsune felt his heart speed up.

“Right, uh… Well, sorry I had to subject you to all that then!"

“Such a gentlefox! I didn't mind. Basking in your spirit is quite pleasing, my fox… Ah, but we are both avoiding the approaching storm, yes?"

“Maybe…" Sen sighed as he looked up at the small shop with the half-lit neon sign. With an awkward stirring in his belly, he pushed the door open, unsure if he should expect Moon to throw herself into his arms, or throw something at him.

He received neither as when he pushed the door open, he saw Moon seated at her small table, a lithe older black cat sitting across from her, a smaller female that was almost as short as the mouse was.

The mouse cast her eyes to the kitsune and offered a nod before returning to her customer, her voice already shifted into a mystical tone as she continued, “Of course, of course, I've scried the aether and I have good news and bad news for you."

The black cat frowned deeply as Moon continued, “It would appear your ring has fallen into another's paws. The general location is the east side of the city, but it would take time and resources for me to narrow the location, not to mention if it is in possession of a nefarious sort, you would need to find a solution to procure it. Perhaps it is best to… let it go?"

“I- I can't! That was my wedding band and without it…" The cat hissed out and looked away.

“Tut! Very well, I will need time to narrow my focus, but that effort will not come cheaply. As to acquiring it once the location is found… Well, I know some professionals that might be willing, but I can't negotiate for them," Moon darted her eyes over to the fox once more, the cat turning to look upon him. Her own gaze widened to see it was a kitsune, clearly sporting a large handgun at his side, just faint showings of chrome dotting the fur of his augmented arm.

“Y-Yes… perhaps… Uh, yes, please do that, Moon. I'll happily pay whatever needs to be paid!" Her eyes lingered on the lovely fox for several moments before finally darting back to the mouse who was looking a little territorial before slipping back into her act.

“Very well, return on the morrow, I will have the location narrowed by then. Let's say… eleven a.m.?" The mouse opened her paw expectantly as the cat quickly took out a personal credstick for her to scan over her payment terminal.

“That will be fine, yes. Thank you again, Moon." The curvaceous mixed-breed cat collected her credstick before hopping up from her seat with a slight wobble of her rather sizeable chest. “I'll see you tomorrow then."

“Naturally, safe travels," Moon called out in her mystical tone of voice as the cat strode out of the shop, hesitating and looking up at the fox one more time before leveling her gaze and quickly slipping from the shop.

“Oh, I believe she found you rather handsome," Dog's voice called out in his mind as the little copper bell tinkled when the door closed.

“No shit, even I could tell," Moon spoke candidly as Sen shifted his gaze back to her, seeing the mouse had risen from her table, paws already on her hips with a look more in-line with what he expected upon arrival.

“Wait a sec, you can hear Dog even when she isn't, uh…" He trailed off, not sure what to even call what was happening in his brain right now.

“A tag-along? Yeah, if she's close enough I can hear her, especially in my home, Sen. Anything that crosses the threshold of my shop is in my astral domain, I'm fully in-tune with it," Moon explained with a shrug, then stared right at him, but seemed to be looking past him as she clicked her tongue, “You, come here, we've got a chat to have."

“Ah, he, he… I'll be right back, love!" Sen grit his teeth, a chill rolling up his spine, then an overwhelming sense of loss suddenly bared down upon him, as if he were alone in a void with no one to call upon. The sensation quickly passed a heartbeat later though.

Moon folded her arms, a snarl showing on her muzzle as she closed her eyes, lowering her head as if she had nodded off on the spot. Sen frowned as he saw he wasn't getting to eavesdrop on this conversation like he had her one-sided ones of the past.

Not thirty seconds later he felt a rush of warmth rush into him and could swear he felt hot breath on one of his ears as the words filled his mind, “All done, we're squared away, my love."

“Woah, that was fast!" he spoke out in surprise as he saw Moon open her green eyes and cock a brow.

“Oh, right… I forgot to explain that to you. When you're communing one-on-one with a spirit in the aether, time is uh…" Moon frowned as she scratched a painted claw against her jaw before shrugging as she continued, “It's weird, let's just leave it at that. An hour can pass in a minute, a minute can pass in an hour."

“So what do you mean when you say, 'squared away?'" Sen asked aloud as if Dog were standing before him.

“We'll sort all that out after our little errand," Moon pointed at him with a business-like glare.

“Errand? Is that what we're calling it now?" Sen gave her a silly grin, his twin-tails wagging behind him.

“Hardy har! You think I'm just going to assume the position right out of the gate after the little stunt you two pulled?" The mouse squeaked out with a half-glare at him, still looking to the distance over his shoulder.

He heard an exasperated sigh in his mind as Dog spoke once more, “Moon, you were exhausted and Sen was strung up for release, I was overwhelmed with your energy as well, would you prefer we both had just suffered to satisfy your ego?"

“Yes," Moon said pointedly with drooped ears, but then rolled her eyes before shrugging. “What's done is done though, let me get changed, we've got work to do."

“Work?" Sen asked, sounding slightly annoyed now.

“Well sure, that dumb cat was off turning tricks and got her wedding band swiped. She's going to ask me to get it back so I'm just saving some time. I've already scryed its location and I'd rather go retrieve it before some drek-face sells, steals, or loses it."

“Turning tricks… So that's why she was so worried about getting it back, huh?" the kitsune rubbed his jaw as he repeated the words.

“Uh-huh, you didn't think that rack she was sporting was real did you? Then again that's not the only thing that's been modified, if you know what I mean!" The mouse offered him a smug grin.

“Wait, how in the world could you even know that, Moon?" Sen followed up, perplexed by how confident the mouse was in the matter.

Moon offered him a flat look as if he were stupid. “I was literally touching her paw and within inches of her proximity. You think I wouldn't sense someone's butchering of their sacred flesh?"

“So what all was fake?" Dog barked out curiously, apparently not having been privy to the details during their discussion.

“Ever the little gossip whore, huh?" Moon grinned then rolled her eyes before continuing, “Tits were bioware enhanced, plumbing was too. Even her eye color was manipulated. I guess some just aren't happy in their own flesh and fur, eh?"

Sen snorted at that and flexed his augmented arm at the words, seeing them as the jab they were but not rising to the bait. Moon looked a little pouty that he didn't bite, then turned with a snap of her tail. “Tut… anyway, help me out with this, I'll make it worth your while, okay, sweetie?" She looked over her shoulder at him as she asked in earnest.

“So I've got to do this to sleep with you?" Sen frowned as he put a paw on his hip.

Moon scowled and glared at him. “No, drek-for-brains! I'm going to put out for you regardless, I'm asking you to fraggin' help me do this and I'll pay you, like Jane would!"

“Oh! R-right, sorry about th-"

“Yeah, yeah, I see what kind of mouse you think I am already," Moon snorted and trotted toward the backroom as Sen barked out.

“Hey, wait a sec, I didn't mean it like that! I'm sorry, okay?"

“Relax, love. She's messing with you, she doesn't think that," Dog spoke out gently to him.

Moon called out from behind a curtain of beads, “Dog, you're going to ruin me harassing him, don't make me send you to time out while the adults talk!"

—*—

The edge of the crumbling rockcrete sidewalk shifted under Sen's boot heel as he climbed from the v-cab, the small mouse already coming around from the other side in her gear she'd wear for a mission. He was actually wearing ballistics-nano-weave, but apparently, Dog was making him appear to just be in jeans and a jacket, likewise, Mantis was doing the same, Moon appearing to be in casual street gear.

“Listen up, this is as much to break in that new mutt of yours as it is to help my whore-client out, understand? You take the spirits seriously, even the sluts like Dog, or you can forget about my own tail later," Moon grumbled under her breath standing next to him adjusting her gloves.

“I thought there wasn't a stipulation on getting your tail?" Sen fired back, his tone already sounding full of bravado and clearly in his “mission-mentality" mode.

“Hmph… disrespecting the spirits is the biggest turn-off to me anyway, so take that for what it's worth, puppy." The mouse poked her nose up with a haughty little huff.

“Don't worry, love. I won't make this too complicated on you, just don't go geeking anyone and if I have anything to offer, I'll speak up. Do be safe though, even the most simple errands can turn into life-threatening ordeals to the unprepared," Dog's voice called out to him, and given the unfocused look Moon had, she wasn't hearing her now that they were out of the shop.

“Y'know Moon, sometimes you really sound like- ah, nevermind." Sen sighed at the brief resurfacing of some lessons he got as a pup, then gave a glance down at the mouse, “So, how does this work then, with you and I working in the Warren? Is something like this strictly off the books, or what?"

“Of course, this is off the books, think this small-time drek would be worthy of her time? Tch." The mouse flicked her tail at the idea, already able to picture the look on the bunny's face for even entertaining this little “mission," let alone using her shiny new tool for it.

“Alright, alright, just figured I'd ask. Training and all that." Sen rolled his eyes as he continued, “Anyway, where is this thief at, you said you already scryed it, yeah?"

Moon gave a nod toward the annoyingly-lit up walkway, leading to the area most could consider a middle-class district. That didn't mean it was free of the usual suspects they'd deal with, only that they'd be better concealed or using more endorsed wares.

“About two streets down, nice little hole-in-the-wall place. Apparently, they met a few times there before this ordeal, we shouldn't have much trouble if you don't step on too many tails," the mouse said with a grin up at the two-tails, already stepping off and toward the location.

Sen gave an appreciative glance at the walking mouse before stepping up to join and walk beside her, placing himself street-side, “C'mon, don't make it sound like I always say the wrong thing, I'm not that bad."

“You do have a tendency to bark before you think, my dear," Dog spoke gently, interjecting her observations and reminding Sen that it wasn't just another stroll.

“Alright, starting to understand the self arguments now, I think," Sen said aloud with a dry chuckle. “Going to take some getting used to, someone else in my thoughts."

“Oh, you don't get used to the spirits, you see how I am at times." The mouse offered a knowing grin as they padded along the recently rain-wet sidewalk, “but, adjustment is possible. There's far more benefits off-setting any early unease or mistrust, if, you pay them proper respect!"

“Yeah, yeah, you think I didn't hear the words 'respect' or 'duty' enough in training or back at the shrine? Throw me a damn bone, I'll treat Dog with respect," Sen growled slightly, feeling his fur rise for a moment as more past recollections tried to resurface.

The walk was short enough at a good pace, before Sen took point with a quicker stride toward the entryway of the place. It didn't matter Moon could likely sense or read any threats ahead of time, training dictated the kitsune secure the area.

“So, this was your idea, so you get to call the shots, lady." Sen looked over his shoulder at the mouse, grinning through the military stance of his face and body alike, “How do you wanna handle this?"

“For starters, if you call me 'lady' at all once I get you alone, I'm kicking you out of my bed," Moon fired her own lazy look at him before drawing forth her scythe. She nodded her head as if listening then looked back up at him. “Weasel says the drek that has the ring is squatting here with a few other lowlifes from the group he runs with. That cat must have one of those 'bad boy' fetishes."

“Understood, I'll follow your lead then, including the talking." He huffed at both the mouse and Dog for the earlier jab about his mouth running too much, “This shouldn't be anything we can't handle, so on your call."

“Guess it just took two girls to get through that thick skull of yours, huh?" Moon smirked and slung the scythe over her shoulder casually rounding the corner upon the small group of four gangers that had seemed to be in the middle of an impromptu meeting amongst themselves, perhaps to just gossip or plan something.

“Hoi, chums, I'm afraid you've got a little problem and I'm not in the mood for any overly macho bullshit today, so eyes up here, even if I'm short!" Moon shouted out, all four of the gang members drawing handguns.

“Drek…" Sen snarled under his breath, reaching for his own gun before feeling a sensation of comfort wash over him.

“Hold on, she's got it under control, or more to the point, Mantis does," Dog explained and at that very moment, there was a faint whining sound of cutting metal that only rang out for a microsecond before the barrels of each of the guns simply fell to the ground, the gangers looking panicked as they were left holding just the grips of their former weapons.

“Got your attention boys?" The mouse lifted her paw out that didn't have the scythe held, snapping her fingers a few times. “You, the pretty one, ring, now or I'll take your hand off like that!"

“Oh drek me!" the ganger yelped out as he padded paws on his outfit, the mouse rolling her eyes before pointing to his left hip.

“It's in your pants pocket you stupid fuck-face, now toss it here!" she squeaked out as a wind started swirling in the air, everyone's clothes flapping as if a storm was setting upon them inside the small enclosed space.

“Dude, give the bitch the ring already!" another ganger pleaded as the one fumbling in his pants finally retrieved it and practically threw it at Moon.

The mouse gave a snort as the little silver ring stopped in mid-air, just hanging there for several moments for the theatrics of it before she snatched it and turned her back on the four of them.

“You three can take up the cost of your guns with that drek-for-brains there. You keep your paws off a certain cat going forward, or you won't have them or a tongue if I have to come back!" Moon squeaked out as she strutted right around the corner, Sen just standing there a few moments awkwardly with a paw on his still-sheathed gun before ducking around the corner after her.

“So… That was pretty wiz, Moon, but… Why did I even come along then?" Sen asked with a grin.

“Gave me something pretty to look at while I worked," she fired back with a small grin, then huffed and leaned against him with a slump, taking a puff of breath as if having just finished sprinting.

“Oh drek, here we go again, gonna be too tired and I'll have to go home, right?" he laughed but held her by a shoulder as the mouse slumped against him a little as they walked back to the waiting v-cab.

“I'll be fine, that wasn't so bad," Moon squeaked out as she pushed off him to walk herself again.

“Tch… I wasn't saying you-"

“Just put your arm around her shoulder and hold her against you," Dog's voice called out.

Sen kept his tongue bit and just did that, his arm reaching out to grasp Moon's shoulder, drawing her back to him so he could support her. The mouse offered a small protesting grunt, but didn't squirm out of his grip as they walked.

“So my spirit girlfriend and my wingman, eh?" Sen thought to himself while grinning, but then frowned as no response came to his words. He kept looking back behind them as if worried the gang members would regroup their senses and try to come back for petty revenge, but it never came and before long, they were back at their waiting cab, the meter still going for their ride.

“Easy," Moon scoffed aloud as she slid into the seat.

“Sorry, my love. If you and Moon are touching, she would have heard my response, and I'd not make a very good 'wingman' were I to spill the beans, no?" Dog's voice filled his mind once more, sounding amused.

“Noted, and uh…thanks Dog, for softening my edges so to speak." Sen smiled to himself after closing the door, settling beside Moon as the nerves of possible combat already waned thanks to that comforting presence, grateful it hadn't escalated thanks to the impressive if dramatic display.

They rode along for several moments before he called out conversationally, “You always ham it up like that?"

“Only when I'm trying to impress the guy I'm gonna let fuck me senseless," Moon shot him a look, saying the words as cooly as if she'd been saying what she wanted to pick up from the buy-or-die.

Sen felt his heart start to pound as the mouse gave him a confident smirk then just as casual as could be, slumping against him, enjoying the contact and his scent. This time Dog didn't have to prompt him as he snaked an arm around her, drawing the mouse close for the remainder of the cab ride back to her place.

—*—

“I'm grateful for your accompaniment upon my little errand, our eager cat will be happy to get her ring back. I will be sure to lecture her upon perhaps avoiding the drek-face in the future," Moon hummed out as she opened the door to her shop, leading the kitsune back in with her.

“I was happy to tag along, even if I didn't do anything." Sen offered a small grin to her as Moon shut the door, then glanced over her shoulder as he saw her throw the deadbolts, arm the panel, and turn the neon sign off.

“You were… insurance and something pretty to look at…" She turned and padded over to him, her small paws reaching up to grip his jacket, jerking him down with a confident motion, the fox taking a knee as she met him nose to nose.

“I'll give you a cut of the fee I charge her for the ring and scrying, least I can do, troublemaker…" Moon slid a paw under his muzzle, scratching with her green-painted claws, showing her teeth in a grin as those tails wagged behind him.

“That's not necessary, Moon. I was happy to just accompany you and watch your ass in those jeans," Sen said playfully then cocked a brow. “Also, what happened to finding a more endearing pet name?"

The mouse stepped back with a grin and shifted a paw to her hip, her other lifting as flames danced on her fingertips. “I believe I said I would if we got through the night without me setting your tails on fire," she cooed the words confidently seeing his surprised look as she snapped her fingers, the flames snapping out of sight.

“Whoa… you can control fire too?" he asked, sounding impressed but still grinning like an idiot, her heady scent of heat just as strong as it was the last time.

“I cannot, for that is Hawk's domain. I simply produced an illusion to complete the visuals." She turned and started walking deeper into her shop.

“It was still pretty wiz seeing you with flames dancing off your paws like that," Sen confessed as he followed her, admiring her rear in those snug jeans yet again.

Moon lifted her ears and spun on her boot heels, her gaze growing a little fiercer as she pointed at the fox and squeaked out, “Get out!"

“Wait- What did I do?!" Sen barked out, his heart sinking as he frowned deeply.

“Not you, you." Her painted claw shifted a little to the side of his face. Through the eyes of the mouse, she could see the buxom shiba clinging to the fox, hovering there in the air with her arms wrapped lovingly around his neck like she had been the whole day.

“You would cast me out, Moon?" Dog's voice came out in a playful pout.

“Go dick around in the astral for a while, all of you!" Moon stomped her foot with a fussy snarl, her own shiver rolling down her spine as she felt Mantis and Weasle also depart. She cocked a brow as she watched Sen give a little shiver of his own even as Dog was still upon him.

“Wait… Did you feel Mantis and Weasle depart?" Moon asked with an impressed tone already in her voice.

Sen rubbed his meat arm with his augmented one and gave a shrug to the mouse. “Uh… I can't say? But it just suddenly felt… cooler in here?"

“You are impressive, my love… I chose wisely to take you as a mate and partner…" Dog cooed into his ear, her breath hot upon it. Moon twitched an eye, seeing the shiba clearly cupping the fox's jaw, her muzzle right at his ear.

“Get moving already, you had him all damn night!" Moon squeaked out again and waved her paw, as if making a 'shooing' motion.

Dog gave a little pout and gracefully slipped off the kitsune's back, hovering there in the air for a moment, her flowing gown swaying as if there was a breeze. “Do enjoy him, my friend… You can thank me later for working the virgin nerves out of him," Dog cooed in a sing-song tone as Sen bit his lower lip, feeling his cheeks burning under his fur.

“Have fun, my love. I shall long for you…" Her words filled his mind then he shuddered and snapped his teeth together from the sudden rush of loneliness slamming into his soul, feeling very cold for a moment, his tails thrashing about a few times.

“It gets worse the longer they're with you," Moon explained sympathetically, “Even worse when you've got three of them around constantly…"

“Did you have to?" Sen asked curiously.

“Did you want viewers, doggy?" Moon asked with a lazy grin as she peeled her ballistics jacket off, tossing it on her table.

“Would they have stuck around?" Sen asked while slinging his own jacket off and approaching the smaller girl who was giving him a hungry look.

“Weasel was begging me to let him leave, he's not much of a voyeur. Mantis didn't care one way or another, she's used to being around when I would scratch an itch or something." Moon shrugged and gave him a level look. “Dog would probably have started masturbating, the whore…"

“Spirits can masturbate?" Sen barked a laugh at that.

Moon gave him that look she had a few times now, the one that pretty much said “are you stupid?" before following up, “You literally had sex with her, Sen… She probably gushed all over you a few times, yeah?"

“Oh uh… Yeah, I guess that was pretty silly to ask, huh?" He chuckled then saw the mouse smile as she shook her head.

“Yeah, it was, now come on…" She gripped his paw, not touching the chrome one as she started pulling him past the small beaded curtain. He felt a small snap of power as he was pulled deeper into her personal sanctuary, a location visitors to her shop weren't allowed to tread upon.

She glanced back with an approving grin as she pulled him through the small hallway. “You felt the threshold grow in strength, didn't you?"

“Is that what that was?" He bit his lower lip, trying to focus, knowing he was finally about to get this mouse he'd been lusting for, but also feeling a little confused from all the new sensations.

“Mhm! Any chum just tries to waltz in past that curtain, they'll be in for a shock… literally… It magnifies the strength based on their intent." She led him into a small room that he assumed was her bedroom.

He looked around, seeing a small trid display for watching shows and a queen-sized bed. There was a closet full of those silky gowns she wore in various colors along with some gear she used on her runs. The scythe she sported had its own stand on a small dresser.

“Yeah? What happens if the intruder's intent is really bad?" he asked while glancing around her living space.

“Go ask that one ganger that said he was going to rape and murder me. Last I heard he was heading to the morgue," Moon offered a shrug as she explained coolly, a little smug grin showing on her muzzle.

“Damn… uh… that's kinda hot, Moon…" He laughed awkwardly, then gave a little yip as she slipped right up to him, pulling him down by his shirt once more. The mouse was clearly done talking as his blue eyes widened, feeling her muzzle push to his own.

Sen wasted no time returning the kiss, dropping to his knees, his paws on those curvy hips as their heads tilted. Her tongue met his eagerly, the small mouse huffing her approval as her paws tangled into his dark hair, rubbing his large ears, their tongues playfully flicking as if vying for dominance.

His paws eagerly explored her small curvaceous body, rubbing her hips and drifting to the front of her jeans, starting to work them open as the mouse pushed from his lips with a squeak and gripped his paws. “Hey, sweetie, I only have one request…"

“Sweetie?" he asked with an eager grin.

“Shut up, I'm working on it… Anyway… uh… just try not to over use… that arm on me okay? I know you gotta use it, but just don't like, try to give me a pawjob with it or something, deal?" She gave him a somewhat stern look, even as her heady scent of heat mingled between them.

Sen grinned and didn't say anything as his paws gripped her hips, the mouse offering a protesting squeak as he jerked her right around to face away from him and pulled her to his chest. The kitsune licked his chops and popped the button on her jeans open, jerking the zipper down and parting them, the heady scent of mouse sex seeming to double as her panties came into view.

“So you're saying… you want a pawjob but with my meat, paw, right?" he growled out as his left paw shoved right down past her panties, the mouse offering up a soft squeak at his confident touch.

“Gah! That's not what… I'm… oooh fuck…" He felt her slump slightly into him as his padded fingers started stroking right at her pearl. His touch was clumsy, but he was making up for it with confidence.

For better or worse, Dog had done her a service, he was much more determined than he would have been had he not gotten the nerves out with his spirit girlfriend. “Huff… yeah, right there, baby…" Moon panted out, one of her paws moving up above her head to tangle back into his hair, her other gripping his meat arm while he worked her pearl. She was absolutely soaked, his pads slippery as they stroked her mouse sex, feeling how wet her panties were as well for him.

“You're drenched, mousey… fuck, you been this soaked since I hit the door?" He puffed into her round ear, hearing her breath growing heavier as her curvy hips squirmed, pushing back into the obvious bulge in his own pants.

“Y-you like to dirty talk don't you?" she panted out, biting her lower lip as he started to shred those barriers she had, her body rapidly building up.

“You were doing all the teasing talk yesterday, guess tit-for-tat?" Sen licked his chops, having gotten a quick crash course in how to touch a woman properly, Dog even giving him some insider tips on how Moon would touch herself whenever she snuck views of her doing it.

The kitsune listened to the mouse panting and moaning, then offered a pinch to her pearl when he thought she was close. Moon lolled her tongue, looking shocked and seeing stars from the pinch, it was rougher than she usually got with herself, but it did the job in spades as the mouse belted out a throaty squeak of a moan, being thrown over the edge by his clumsy pawjob.

“Spirits aboooove…" Moon slurred out as her claws dug into his head and arm, so hard she almost broke the flesh under his fur as he shuddered to hear how she sounded. Her orgasm wasn't like Dog's was, he actually felt her gush on his fingers and drench her panties as she came.

“Whoa… girls can shoot like that?" he asked curiously as he kept stroking her.

“S-shut up…" Moon panted out awkwardly as she felt herself slowly coming down from the rush with a little sigh of relief.

“Heh… Sorry, babe… I wasn't making fun of you, just surprised." He felt her squirm from his paws before turning to face him, a little wobbly on her legs before she gave him a cock of her brow.

“Babe?" she asked while hopping up to the side of her bed, hastily pulling her boots and socks off, then starting to work her open jeans down her hips.

“You called me baby, figured it was fair?" Sen kicked his own boots off, peeling his socks off, then as he walked over to the mouse, he reached down and peeled his shirt right off, tossing it aside.

Moon bit her lower lip as she looked upon him, seeing the toned muscles through his fur, a defined set of abs showing above those jeans that were clearly showing a bulge. She shifted her hips a little, now just in her own t-shirt she had thrown on for the job and a pair of soaked panties.

“Spirits be blessed you've got a bod on you, don't you, baby? I just wish I could have seen it before you butchered it!" she squeaked out as she calmly hooked her painted claws into her panties, casually dragging them down before offering a grin and kicking them off right at him.

The fox caught the soaked fabric and offered a smile before tucking them into his back pocket. “Hopefully it's not too offputting to know it's there?" He flexed his augmented fist a few times as he tilted his head.

“Ha! Are you fucking stealing my panties as a trophy you little pervert?" She giggled and then shook her head, tilting it as she offered a grin up to him. “I'm not a romantic or some femme fatale, Sen… So I hope you don't expect me to do sexy things like give you stripteases?"

“I think you're sexy as fuck, Moon, and yeah I'm keeping them!" he barked out with his own grin as the mouse showed him a grin, her eyes glittering as he called her sexy.

“Maybe see if you can get your boyfriend to wear them, and if you do send me pictures!" She giggled, then with a flourish, hopped right up and peeled her top off, dragging the bra off with it as he finally got to see those ample mousey breasts spill forth in all their glory. Her peaks were hard against her soft brown fur, the dark almost brown areolas looking right at home with her fur.

“Worth the wait, baby?" She folded her arms, squeezing her large breasts together with an almost childish grin as she stood before him now fully nude.

“See, I knew you could do sexy things, Moon…" He huffed out in admiration as she offered him a surprisingly bashful grin, but then her green eyes darted down as he started to work his own pants open.

“Let me give you a hint as to if I think it was worth the wait…" he huffed out and jerked his pants open, the mouse offering an approving squeak as she saw that tapered crimson cock spring forth, jumping eagerly and even dripping with a nice thick string of precum.

“Oh my goodness…" Moon whispered as she moved right over and slid a paw down to grasp his length just like that, offering a needy huff as she started to pump him curiously, his prelove just gushing forth and dripping off her fingers. “Hgn… you are a blessing from the spirits themselves, aren't you, baby?"

Sen lolled his tongue as her soft warm paw pumped his jumping length, the first time a girl had touched him in the flesh like this. “Damn, Moon… your paw is really warm…"

“You know what else is really warm, Sen?" She chewed on her lower lip and released him offering a frustrated huff. “Okay okay… that was a really good lead in to me just dropping to my knees and giving you head, but uh… Hey I'm in heat, so…?" She offered him an apologetic grin as she backed up towards her bed.

“Fuck, don't apologize, Moon! Get on the bed and let's do this, I've been dying to be inside you!" he barked out as he quickly kicked his pants off, now both of them fully nude, his twin tails a rolling blur behind him as he followed after her.

“Hey, Sen… Remember I said I liked it natural?" Moon ask as she slid back onto her silky sheets.

“Uh-huh?" He growled while moving onto the bed with her, nose to nose, stealing a few kisses from her lips, the mouse shuddering and biting his lower lip a few times, even suckling on it as her paws roamed his chest, then she pulled from him.

She rolled right over, lifted to her knees, and rested on her elbows, letting him get a good look at her plump round rear and those dripping petals. She looked over her shoulder and lifted her wiry tail. “I'm a bitch in heat, baby… so fuck me like one? In a position, nature intended one to be fucked in?" she asked with a whimper, rocking her hips back and forth invitingly.

Sen looked dumb-struck at those words, the need in her voice, that scent overwhelming his senses, but growled hotly with a bristle from ears to tail, “Ghh…you're so damn hot, Moon!" The fox didn't waste another second, shifting up close to nestle that achingly hard spire to those dripping petals, a few slick misses from excitement and inexperience before that shaft slid inside.

“Ahh, that's it…ease it all inside, baby!" Moon panted over her shoulder, eyes gleaming with a look Sen would never forget as her hips rocked backwards, urging inch after inch of that throbbing spire further inside.

The twin-tails grasped those sloping hips in both paws for purchase, rolling forward in time with those shifts to sink fully into the snug heat of the gasping mouse, “Ngh…y-you feel so good inside, Moon…!" Sen groaned, feeling those walls clench, grasp about his arousal for her even as she gyrated to encourage more.

“Ha…show me how good, fox!" Moon huffed out, now able to almost fully take that entire length inside, only to squeak when Sen tugged on those curved hips with a buck forward, “oh! Fuck…you're so big!" Her center felt that tapered tip kiss, that wet channel shaped about his twitching cock.

Sen hunched down atop the mouse, drawing his hips back only to thrust forward and make her round backside bounce nicely, “Ngh…because of you, babe…you drive me crazy, ha…!" The fox rocked down against the smaller mouse, building into that natural pacing in that feral position.

“Oohh spirits! S-Sen, that's it…fuck…fuck me like…your bitch!" Moon squeaked out, tongue lolling out as that fox-cock plowed her depths, drooling precum profusely as she stoked the twin-tails further. She was pounding her ass back against each hard buck now, getting them connected as possible in this primal posture.

Sen lowered himself further on top of the jostling mouse, growling into an ear even as he nipped at it, “Gnnnff…fuck, Moon I'm…so c-close already, you feel so good!" His paws raked along that silky fur, leaving soft trails in an upward migration to grasp those ample mouse-tits. He clasped them, squeezing and kneading as that canine knot made itself known in ever more audibly wet impacts to her stretched petals.

“Haa…then, do it! Give it to me, ngh, my fox! Fill your…ahhh fuck, little mouse bitch!" Moon demanded in a mixed tone of commandment and pleading, shoving back hard each word until with a gush, that canine bulge plunged inside to tie the fox with her.

“Ohhhhfuuck! M-Moooonnnnghhh!" Sen snarled hotly, ears pinning back with his snout burying into her neck when they coupled like that, unable to help his peak wracking his whole body. His whole frame tensed, shuddered as that lodged spire jumped each time it fired thick rushes of seed into that hot core, giving Moon a new pleasantly full sensation.

“Oohhhyeessss…haaaa…all of it, nnnhhh good foooox…!" The mouse slurred her words in a moan as her eyes rolled up as pleasure coursed through her a breath later, clenching down hard about that erupting shaft to milk that orgasm from the fox. Her tongue lolled out with a hot panting as the fox filled her at last, giving them both release that left the mouse feeling so warm within after having gushed all over her sheets so many times.

“Huff…ohh, fuck…Moon, you're…mmmf…" Sen exhaled in bliss, nuzzling his snout to her soft neckfur before giving a growling lap of her cheek, enclosing his arms about her to shift to their sides, curling into the mouse as they came down from such a high together.

“Heh…yeah, I know…you're welcome." Moon gave a breathy giggle, smiling smugly to herself as her paws patted those large arms about her, coiling her tail over a leg and about his own in a musing exhale, “Not too bad, mm, yourself babe…"

—*—

Moon insisted he stay the night with her, but the invitation was two-fold. She was in heat after all and the two of them ended up in another frantic bout of sex after dinner. The other reason became apparent as Sen woke from his sex-induce slumber, but not in his own meat.

He sat on his knees as if he'd been back at the shrine but now with the haze of the astral all around. Next to him was Moon, dressed in one of her silky flowing gowns, even though in reality she was very naked, both of them clinging together fur to fur.

Dog was also present, wearing her white and gold toga-style robe, cherry blossom laurels in her hair. “Are you ready to thank me for breaking him in for you, Moon?" She asked in a sing-song voice.

“I wouldn't have had a problem breaking him in, thank you very much!" the mouse squeaked out and poked her nose up.

“Ladies, let's not fight about it, I really… I really adore and appreciate both of you, I hope it was uh… alright?" Sen spoke rather bashfully now that he was before both of his newest lovers.

“Love making with you is blissful, my darling, rest assured of that." Dog pushed a paw to her chest with a loving smile.

“It wasn't bad, puppy, let's do it again when we wake up, okay?" Moon leaned back on her paws, grinning over at the kitsune who showed her a grin.

“You mean we're not here to have an astral threesome?" He offered a chuckle but a little part of him was serious.

“Perhaps another time if my associate is willing," Dog cooed out in a lusty tone.

“Tch… you know I'm not really into girls, Dog… But if Sen is with us… Well, I'll think about it, I know you've wanted to jump my astral bones for a bit now, so we'll see." Moon grinned at the dog, both her and the spirit seeing the fluffed up wagging tails, the fox no doubt already imagining the whole thing.

“Sen, my love, let me cut to the heart of the matter before you get too horny to listen if I may?" Dog asked with a motherly tone.

“Oh, y-yes, sorry…" he said sheepishly and offered his focus to the shiba before him.

“Moon is already aware of my intentions and that is why she is here. I wish to… well and fully bond with you, as your totem spirit," Dog said matter-of-factly.

Sen's large ears perked at that. “Wait a sec, I thought you were already with Moon?"

Moon spoke up to field his question, “Sen, Mantis is my totem spirit. She and I have forged a bond that transcends the others. Weasel and Dog assist me but I can't fully embrace their power as I can with Mantis. It is very common for a shaman to be in communion with multiple spirits, but exceptionally rare to find one bonded with more than one."

He nodded at that and looked back to Dog who was offering him a proud motherly smile while clasping her paws together in her lap. “But… wouldn't you lose your connection with Moon if that happens?"

“I will always love Moon, Sen, she is very dear to me. I will still be able to commune with her when we are in proximity, but I was never to be her totem and we both knew this."

“It's true. I also love Dog, she has been with me since I was a teenager, but I also knew the day would come she would find the right one. Every shaman prays that the spirits will find their true chosen companion." Moon shifted her gaze back to Dog's the shiba offering a loving grin at her, tail wagging behind her.

“So what would this entail for me?" Sen asked as he looked between the two girls he called lovers now.

“Nothing will change to an extreme, you would still have my presence, but you would be able to utilize my protection fully as your own." Dog barked out lovingly as she pushed a paw to her bosom.

“You'd also be able to see her with your meat eyes," Moon said casually as Sen perked his ears at that.

“Seriously? I'd be able to just see you hanging out around me?" The tone of eagerness in his voice was evident.

“Why yes, my love… Why? Do you wish me to offer you strip teases while you are locked in important business?" Dog ran her paws down over her shapely breasts, offering him a seductive smile as she pushed her arms together, letting her breasts push out more through the top, seeing the small hard peaks in the fabric.

“You're such a slut…" Moon groaned as she rubbed her face while Sen barked out awkwardly and squirmed on his knees.

Dog giggled before settling her paws in her lap then met Sen's eyes with another smile. “What do you say, my love? There are rules to have me, but if you are willing…"

“Well, what are the rules?" Sen asked skeptically.

“Hmm… First off, you may only kill when necessary, second you will need to create a focus for our love!" Dog explained, showing him an eager grin at the 'love' part.

“A focus? Like Moon's Scythe?" He looked to Moon for confirmation as the mouse nodded.

“Correct, a focus or foci as they sometimes call them, is a way to channel your partner's powers without wearing yourself out… It's like the difference between digging a ditch with a shoe or using heavy machinery."

“Okay, all that's reasonable, anything else?" he asked while looking back to Dog who was frowning now.

“Yes… that is to say… uhm…" She frowned deeper and rubbed one paw against her arm as she looked away, as if trying to choose her words.

“You gotta let her fix your eye and keep any other bullshit out of your meat, lover boy," Moon squeaked out with a laugh.

“I have you?" Sen asked with a cock of his brow.

“You technically do not have to, my love… but if you kept replacing your flesh, your spirit would grow weaker and with it, our bond. If you did too much, you would not be able to even see or talk to me, let alone draw my protection further," Dog explained with a forlorn look on her face.

Sen felt his heart drop at the idea of never seeing her again or being able to talk to her. Dog seemed to sense his emotions and wagged her tail with a weak smile, happy to know how much it affected him.

“This isn't some stupid game, Sen. The spirits have real feelings and emotions. When you bond with one, they will feel pain when you do, if you die… They will too." Moon set him with a strong glare as she hissed the last of the words.

“Whoa! You can't just make that kind of promise with me then Dog! Getting my stupid tails geeked shouldn't be a risk for you as well!" Sen barked out in protest at the prospect of it.

“It is just as well this way, my love… Were you to fall, I would be stricken with grief and slowly fade from this plane. All the better to follow you in death so we may continue our bond in the next world," Dog spoke solemnly as she clasped her paws together at her chest, as if praying.

“This is the way of it, Sen. Likewise installing more of that shit would effectively poison Dog. She wouldn't stop talking to you because of your spirit alone, you would also be chipping away at her own essence if you did any of that while sharing a bond. She would quite literally lose the power to speak with you or anyone else as she grew weaker and withered." Moon wagged a painted claw at him as she took on a nagging tone.

Sen felt a cold chill settle against his spine before shaking his head. “Does that mean I would need to remove my augmented arm?"

“No my love, I wouldn't be able to heal you since you willingly removed your original arm. The damage is done and bonding with you in your present state would not hinder me, only dictate how hard it will be for you to… adapt."

“Adapt?" He looked to Dog then to Moon who started explaining.

“It'll be harder to fuel her power since your spirit isn't whole, Sen. You can do it, and with time you'll do it well, but you'll always have a handicap, do you understand?" Moon asked, the kitsune offering a small nod.

He liked how Dog felt with him, it was nice having the constant companion and her overwhelming love flooding into him. It wasn't a hard decision as he'd already decided he wanted her to help with his eye.

“Well, I had entertained fantasies of having lots of chrome and being a walking armory…" He saw Moon starting to glare at him, but then shook his head before continuing, “But you know what? After meeting you two and feeling what I do? I think… the arm is good enough then!"

“Ah! Does this mean you will accept me, Sen?" Dog barked out as she leaned forward, her tail already a blur.

The kitsune rubbed his head as he gave her a bashful little smile. “Yeah, I think it means I-" He yipped, unable to finish as she dove atop him, her muzzle crashing into his own, her head already tilted. Sen's eyes widened but drifted closed quickly, tilting his own head as their tongues met in a fervent kiss.

“Whore… are you forgetting something?" Moon grumbled as Dog parted from the kiss and frowned at her.

“Uh… there's more?" Sen stammered, feeling the shiba pushing close, her breasts squeezing into his chest, now practically sitting in his lap.

“Moon is my patron shaman, she has to willingly release me into your care, then we must strive to complete our focus within one month's time," Dog explained as she circled a paw against his chest.

Moon gave a shrug and smiled. “Of course, I'm going to let you do what makes you happy, Dog. Just promise to give me and Sen some alone time now and then when we're together, deal?"

“Deal!" Dog barked out and leaned close, nuzzling under the kitsune's jaw, Sen huffing and grinning like a puppy. He had been worried Moon might want this to just be a casual one and done thing, but she had just confirmed she wanted to keep seeing him.

“Geeze, that stupid look on your face… Thinking how lucky you are to have two hot magical bitches and that eye candy of a retriever?" Moon teased with a grin.

“Pretty much! I'm not complaining though!" He barked out with a laugh, then grunted as Dog huffed hotly against his throat, offering him little love nips.

“Dog! Don't go giving him astral sex while he's literally spooning me right now! He's got his paws dug into my tits and everything for fuck sake!" Moon stood up with a snarl, whipping her wiry tail about as the spirit pouted but gave a nod, rocking back from Sen a bit in his lap.

Sen took a few moments to compose himself, his heart pounding before he asked, “So what's the plan then? How do we make this happen?"

“It's already happened," Moon said with a shrug.

“Wait, there's no ceremony or something?" Sen frowned.

“No my love, I am wholly yours now." She leaned close and puffed hotly into his ear, “All of me, whenever you wish it… Once you have grown stronger, why I might even be able to use our love to temporarily form a physical body to please you…" She nibbled his ear as he huffed out excitedly.

“Yeah, yeah, slut… In the meantime, your tail needs to get to work on that focus, then you need to rip that shit out of your eye-hole so Dog can start working on a new eye for you. Good news is, with you two being bonded, she'll be able to do it much faster," Moon explained with a grumble as she slowly stood up, putting her paws on her hips.

“Must we part already?" Dog whimpered as she looked up at the mouse from Sen's lap.

“You're going to literally be moving in with him once that focus is done, you're practically getting to live with two hot guys, give me a fucking break and let me wake up to get a little more cock before you go dragging him off on your crusade for your stupid love-relic!" Moon squeaked out as she jabbed a painted claw at the two of them.

“Tut…" Dog leaned in and shoved her muzzle to his own, drinking deeply of her new bonded lover before puffing against his lips. “She likes spankings too, my love…"

“Hey! Don't just say shit like-" Moon's protests were cut off as the astral plane went dark, both of them being ejected back into their meat.

—*—

Sen had been lucky enough to get a drop-off from Wheels instead of another junkyard-bound taxi, wanting to avoid the awful odor that clinged afterward in his visit home. After he stepped out, the kitsune gave a double bang of his fist to the side of the hover-van, letting his friend speed off.

Standing before the old estate gave Sen a whirlwind of emotion, the butterflies in his stomach made him frown that even after a few years, there was still so much anxiety. With a sigh, the fox took a final long look at the exterior of his former home.

As traditional could be allowed and managed, a large Japanese-style home sat among a generous surrounding of flowers, trees, and stone statues. Columns of red-painted wood were placed along an ascending flight of stone steps toward the shrine at the top of the estate.

Sen had started up toward the shrine with both paws in his pockets, mind rolling over what he could possibly say to the parents he'd burnt a bridge with. His ears pinned back with a tight frown thinking of the looks each would have; mother, with a sad expression, and his father more disappointed than ever.

“I believe they'll be happier to see you, than you think, my love." That soft warmth caressed his mind, easing the building anxiety enough Sen exhaled with gratitude.

“Yeah? What makes you say that, when you don't know what drek I shouted before running away?" The two-tails shrugged in self-defeat as he strode up each step of stone, making decent time thanks to that military conditioning.

“Because it's in my nature, and at least for your mother, I can say she's missed you terribly…" Dog softly replied. “And a reminder, our bond allows me to glance through your memories. There was…regrettable exchanging of words from both sides, but this is a courageous step to mend that, dear."

“Mmn…I'll trust you then, it'd be nice not to get a door shut in my face, at least." Sen chuckled bitterly, then smiled with a glance up to the rarely clear, sunny day above. It made the red of the Shinto-style markers stand out even more against the greenery of the gardening.

More out of nerves than fatigue, the kitsune reached the top with a huff and hesitated a moment at the final stair to see his mother across the stone courtyard making her way back from tending her favorite flowers.

“S-Sen..?" The vixen froze in place, eyes wide in shock to see her son standing there suddenly, dropping her gardening tools before running over to embrace him in a tight hug, “Oh my son, I-I'm so happy to see you!"

“Ah…good to see you too, mother." Sen stood there awkwardly for a moment, arms unsure what to do before almost feeling them nudged to return the embrace with the now crying fox-mother.

“What a gift this is, you must come inside, I'll make you some tea and we can talk!" She sniffled up at Sen happily, before stepping back to clear her features of tears and black-silver hair, “This will make your father so happy too, our family needs to be whole again."

“Not so sure about that, mother, but I hope you both can forgive me…I was uh, well, stupid before…" Sen rubbed the back of his neck with a paw, only for his mom to grasp and tug along the other to get him toward the shrine house.

“Oh hush, that was already a couple of years ago, we will make amends! I knew you would come home, I always had faith the spirits would guide you back to us!" She already had that motherly, wise tone back in her voice despite still sniffling between a word or two.

Sliding aside the outer screening door, the fox mother called out, “Osamu! Come downstairs, you will not guess who's here!"

“Eh? You know I dislike surprises, who is it…?" A voice came down the stairwell at the end of the hallway that gave Sen a flurry of unease, making him feel like a pup all over again just standing in the doorway.

“It's alright, my dear, you've already done the hard part by making the effort," Dog said reassuringly to Sen, helping him relax his shoulders with a slight nod to himself. He blinked as he noticed his mother looking…past him, offering a brief knowing smile before looking to the stairs again.

“Sen has come to see us, come down here and give him a proper greeting!" the kitsune mother huffed impatiently, but her voice never rose above a polite tone, even as her five tails swished in a show of her own nerves.

There was a long pause before the soft creaks of the floor signaled someone crossing the study above, then the soft footfalls of paws down each wooden stair that made Sen's ears twitch each time.

“Well now, this is a surprise," the male grunted in a seasoned voice, arms folding into the black sleeves of his kimono in thought, “And what do we owe this visit, mm?"

“Well, uh…I've just had a lot to think about, show me I was an as-, I mean disrespectful before." Sen corrected his choice of words, then offered a bow at the waist to his parents, eyes closing to complete his apology, “I said hurtful things, acted foolishly, and I wanted to apologize."

His mother covered her muzzle with a paw, eyes gleaming with tears again before glancing to her husband with an almost pleading stare, but he only offered a soft grunt.

“An interesting summary of what you spat last we saw you, and I see you went and disgraced your body with those.. things." The older male growled, his keen and trained eyes able to see the diminished area of spirit of Sen's false arm and within his head, “So you walked that path after all, yet you come back?"

“Osamu, please, he-" his mother started only to jump and lower her gaze when the male of the house glared with a shout to cut her off.

“No, Kazue! You will not smooth this over for him, he can hear what I have to say, or flee like before." He narrowed his eyes at the still bowing son before him, “Well, did you fail and come back hoping we would take you in, as if you hadn't turned your back on our whole way of life?"

Sen flinched, clenching his jaws tightly with a growl being suppressed for it to come to this after all. His paws balled into fists at his sides, before that gentle caress came to him once more, easing the heat of his temper.

“Don't give him what he wants, Sen, you have come a long way. Show him you are the one who has grown, like your mother has." Dog's smile could be felt in his heart, and the kitsune slowly stood straight again.

“I did fail father, but I got back up again. I found people who care for me, got me back on my feet and head straight, and…you were right." Sen saw the flash of emotion across his father's face, not expecting such a response before it was gone again, hidden beneath that disapproving scowl.

“About what, exactly?" Osamu said shortly, six tails fanned about behind him in the complete display of control of his home.

“The spirits, our family line and the duties I disrespected…I had dreams, but that doesn't excuse how I trampled on tradition, so…I'm sorry," Sen replied calmly, even if his heart was pounding in his chest and ears.

“Tch, words now to make up for words before? The dishonor you brought to this family, the years wasted on your schooling and privilege, only to hack off part of yourself in defiance!" Osamu snarled, only to exhale slowly and shake his head, “With that, you can never commune as you did, the spirit that tried to bond with you in youth…squandered."

Sen did the only thing he could think of left to him, dropping to his knees and placing himself in a bow with head pressed to the floor, palms flat as he spoke one more time.

“Please, father. I hurt you, both of you…I want to rebuild the bridge I burned. I-" Sen hesitated to mention the whole reason he'd been able to come, the help at his shoulder even now before she seemed to understand.

“Go ahead, they more than most will know what I am and our bond," Dog encouraged without missing a beat.

“I bonded with a wonderful spirit, father, mother. She's helped me see so much, just like you taught me, more good than I deserve, and the bad I did…I want to make the most of it, heed her wishes and our connection, but…I need your help."

“Whatever you want from us, you can get from your mother. I want no part of this farce, I told you those misguided 'dreams' would only see you disfigured, and this display doesn't prove anything to me." Osamu waved a paw before turning away, ascending the staircase to his secluded study once more.

Sen shut his eyes tightly as emotion wracked him, only to jump slightly and sit up as his mother gently urged him to.

“What is it you need, my son?" Kazue said softly with a smile, eyes gleaming with forgiveness and eagerness to help alike.

“I uh…our family bonsai tree, could I take a small branch?" He felt stupid asking, as if it was just another insult to his family but his mother only nodded and rose to head out to the back screen door.

“Your mother is a kind woman, I see where you get your softer nature." Dog spoke gently, “and, where you get a temper, you had a strict upbringing…but, you've done well here, my love. I'm proud of you."

Sen fought the knot in his throat with a hard swallow, nodding to himself for what his spirit lover said, then got to his feet as his mother returned shortly after holding a small piece of their tree, offering it to him with both paws.

“I hope this will do? From the branch you always tended to growing up, it will bring you good luck…go with it, and my blessing. I love you, my son." Kazue smiled up at him, cupping his face with both paws before giving a close embrace, “Now go, I will do what I can with your father…keep in touch, and thank her for me."

Sen accepted the branch, turning it over for a moment before leaning in to embrace his mother again, feeling almost proud warmth around and inside him from two motherly figures.

“Thank you, mother. I'll talk soon." The fox grinned in a way that made her smile brightly, then stepped out of the shrine house and headed to the stairway with a mixed feeling in his gut. It wasn't the retreat he expected to be making, but it wasn't the victory hoped for.

“Keep your chin up, my fox. Many don't take the risk, but at least by extending a branch, you got one in kind, no?" Dog mused affectionately.

“Yeah, that's true. Thanks for being there for me, never would've dared come back… if I hadn't met you and Moon." Sen exhaled in relief before sending a synaptic signal in his ware to dial up Moon, “Hey Moon? Heh, yeah…it went- okay, okay, you told me so." The fox rolled his eyes as he made good time down the stone steps, “So uh, wanna get some dinner?"

Sen froze in his stride partway down the descent of stairs, feeling Dog's overwhelming will to do so grip him. “Whoa… that was weird…" he barked out aloud.

“My apologies, my love. I wished to halt you abruptly before you left the threshold… May we return to the grounds for a moment?"

“I just got halfway down these fraggin' stairs and she wants me to go back up…" Sen chuckled aloud as he trotted back up at a brisk pace since Dog seemed to have some urgency to her tone.

Once finishing his ascent, he felt a pull to move toward a collection of cherry blossom trees, but it didn't feel like it was Dog's will, more like his own, or that's what he thought as his footpaws seemed to already be in motion.

Pushing a paw up to the trunk of one of the trees, he frowned as a sense of nostalgia once again overtook him. “You should sit down, love…" Dog's words came to him, almost sounding distant as he nodded and took a seat right down at the base of the tree like he'd do as a puppy. The moment he did, the world seemed to wash away.

He was in the astral, standing in nothingness. This was not like the comfortable aura that was usually with him when he was with Dog, it was cold and… raw. His arm and eye throbbed, as if stabbed with countless needles as he winced, his other paw holding the aching one.

The void of darkness suddenly showed wisps of blue flame that danced about like fireflies before coalescing into larger spheres that spread out before him, surrounding him in a ring of blue fire.

“The pain will pass, but you will understand a fraction of my sorrow before the flames beat it back. To see my child in such a way before my flames, truly my heart and soul aches…" A stern motherly voice rang out, a foil to Dog's kindly tone.

Sen winced again but couldn't muster words forth, tears running from his one lost eye that was made whole in this reality, but unable to see from it through the pain. The blue flames grew to a white-hot before rushing towards him as if he stood upon a field of dry grass being consumed in a wildfire, throwing his good arm up to shield his eyes as they washed over him.

Just like that, the coldness of the void was gone, warmth filling him as he blinked the tears out of his eyes, standing upon perfectly pristine blades of grass, a babbling brook nearby, with cherry blossoms drifting from the massive towering trees above him.

A familiar presence filled his soul as he looked to the side, seeing Dog standing there, her paws clasped before her, dressed in her white-gold robes with the cherry blossom laurels she sported. Her hair looked nicer, in a bun with cherry wood sticks holding it up, but parts of it escaping to cover her neck.

“Dog? What's going on?" Sen called out, his voice sounding distant as he looked around at the impossibly large blossom trees, the view stretching as far as he could visually see.

“I requested to see you before you departed, my sister obliged to halt your flight," the stern voice called out once more as Sen saw a large white paw appear to step out of nothing onto the grass before a massive white fox appeared before him, blue runes scrawled over the snow-white fur as he saw a myriad of tails fan out behind the beast.

“Holy gods…" Sen whispered as he took a step back, the white fox setting its blazing blue eyes upon him squarely. He knew instantly what it was, who she was as his knees dropped to the grass in shock and reverence.

The massive spirit-fox was easily bigger than a vector-rig and her jaws looked large enough to easily devour him in a few snaps if she wished to do so. She snorted through her snout as she looked down upon him as he felt her breath bluster against his dark hair before she shifted her gaze to the stoic spirit who stood before her, still looking dignified and proper.

“I smell you heavily upon him, you have bonded with my child not only in the ways of cooperation but as his wife," the fox spoke out in a booming voice that sounded annoyed at the prospect of it.

“Wait, what do you mean, wife?!" Sen barked out, looking back at Dog.

The other spirit's lone tail wagged as she pushed a paw to her chest, offering the massive kitsune before her a loving smile as she proclaimed forthright, “I have… It is my hope that our love can heal his pain, and give him the mettle to be a strong fox worthy of your lineage."

There was real heat in the massive fox's words as she loomed over the kneeling kitsune. “I communed with you at an early age for a reason, you were to be mine, Sen. You were to be my scion when your father finished his duty, yet you turned away from me and-"

“And I have returned your straying child to a path that will not just be yours, but of his own choosing as well!" Dog barked out in her own stern motherly tone as she walked right over and grabbed Sen's arm with a growl. “Stand, you are no puppy!"

Sen blinked at the words but did as he was told, feeling Dog link her arm with his own, poking her nose up and looking proud as he felt her pull him more possessively to her as she continued, “Plans change, do not make me regret indulging you in this, sister."

“A street-bound wandering vagabond of a spirit such as yourself could never understand," the fox spirit countered, but that got Sen's ears to perk as he finally shook off the awe to speak.

“Hey, don't go talking to Dog like that! I don't know about this whole wife thing, but she is my lover and also my teammate! Did you just ask me to come here to tell me how disappointed you are in me, like my father?" Sen thrust a padded finger at the massive fox, showing his own sharp teeth as Dog just snuggled up to him with a proud growl in her throat at his demeanor for her.

“Hmph… You have the spirit of your mother, it is no wonder that Osamu had such trouble with you," the fox flopped down upon her haunch, sitting before them with an annoyed look on her muzzle, massive ears folded.

“Yeah, and father seems to have picked up your bad attitude, maybe you're the reason he's always such a pain in the tail to deal with!" Sen fired back as he barked the words.

The spirit inclined her head with a haughty huff escaping her maw before she spoke out matter-of-factly, “I have never spoken to your father, nor will I. He will tend this shrine until his dying days, but he will not hear my voice."

Sen frowned, looking like he'd been sucker punched. He always assumed his father was in constant communion with the spirits, especially the guardian spirit of their family shrine. The massive fox seemed to pick up on the shock and capitalized on it to continue her explanation.

“A fish would not climb a tree, and a bird would not swim in the briny depths. He was never a conduit to our kind, nor will he ever be. The power lies with your mother, a secret she has sworn to take with her into death as he will take his shortcomings to his own grave."

“But… that makes no sense! Father told me he could hear them, could hear you!" Sen retorted, thinking back on all the lectures of feeling the spirits and listening to their words.

“You mundane have a tendency to more easily fall victim to large lies, more so than simple easy ones. You especially delight in lying to yourselves until you've firmly rooted your own belief in the fable to the point you believe it fact," she shifted her gaze back to Dog while she left the stunned kitsune to process things.

“What will you do with my child?" she asked pointedly.

“I will support him, I will protect him, and… I will love him!" Dog stated without hesitation.

“And so you came here to mend bridges, but also wished a token of my divinity for your little symbol of power, eh?" The massive fox rolled her flaming blue eyes before looking upon the smaller kitsune once more. “My present scion has already deemed you worthy, my child, but if you wish my blessings, there will be a condition for it."

Sen shook his head to dislodge the shock of his father, then met the massive spirit's eyes as he nodded. “Alright, what is it?"

“You must promise to return and tend to my shrine when you have finished… sewing your wild oats as it were. Go live your life and burn brightly, but return before your flame gutters out, you may, of course, bring your wife with you," the spirit fox shifted to give Dog a side-eye.

“You would have a butchered imperfect guardian of your shrine?" Sen asked, sounding skeptical.

“Whom else would I ask, my child? Your parents are beyond rearing more pups. Is a scarred but dutiful guardian better than a liar whom plays the role and steals the title from his own wife more suited?" The fox flicked her tails and scoffed, “Pah! We tread upon semantics. I need you to return lest my shrine be swallowed up by the advances of the mundane's ever-unquenchable thirst for power. There, is your ego sufficiently stroked?"

Sen frowned and mulled on that before pushing a paw to his chest. “I always felt the most at peace when I was feeling you with me, I had promised you even as a puppy I would protect this place. I thought I was cast out, but now that I have spoken with you and mother, I know better."

“Do not cast your fool of a father in too negative of light, my child. How grizzled would you be over a lifetime folly? He has still been a dutiful and dedicated tender of my shrine, I look upon him as a…" She seemed to have to pluck her thoughts to think of the proper modern term before she continued, “manager… yes, I see him as a manager of this place."

Sen snorted a laugh at that, picturing his father with a name badge attached to his robes. “Ha! Fine, you've got a deal then. So long as Jane or one of those other pals I've made doesn't get me geeked, I'll see about coming back once the old man retires."

“Hmph… so it shall be. Upon waking, you will find the branch is now molded to a proper tsuka for the little foci you desire." She shifted her gaze to Dog and lifted her muzzle. “Use my power well and have the blade smithed of whatever preferred metal or stone you wish to use in your own name. Know that if innocent blood ever falls upon my sacred gift, both of you will find it inert and must return to me for it to be cleansed."

“Such a magnificent boon! You have my heartfelt gratitude and rest assured I shall protect your scion with everything I am. Protect his life and his heart!" Dog barked out with a blurring wag of her tail, giving Sen an eager if not sultry look.

“Thank you, I don't have a taste for killing anyway, so rest assured I will only use it on whatever drek-face is trying to geek me first!" Sen offered a grin as he put a paw on his hip.

“Hmph… go then, you have your road ahead of you, and though it may twist and wind in many ways, you are oathbound to see that it returns to here." The massive fox moved in, bumping her muzzle against his side as if to spur him into movement.

“Wait a sec!" Sen barked out as the scene started to fade but then halted, the haze of the astral looking like it was ready to swallow up everything.

“Our pact has been made, what more is there to say, my child?" The massive spirit lifted her muzzle.

“My father! Why can't you- I mean to say, won't you speak with him? Surely it is within your means to do so after all these years!"

The fox let out a loud boisterous laugh at that. “Truly? You prostrated yourself before him, begged for his forgiveness and he turned his back upon you. Yet here you stand, making the same plea Kazue has made to me throughout the years! Truly the acorn does not fall far from the oak, yes?"

“It is, of course, your choice to make, but he did the best he could in his training of me."

“Pah! You would have been better served frolicking in the glade with me watching you, that was all the training you needed, not sweeping the walkways and polishing the bells," the massive fox huffed out in response.

“Then perhaps you should have told father that!" Sen barked out, stabbing right to the point of the matter as Dog offered a laugh of her own. The massive fox snapped her jaws together, a loud angry growl filling her throat that sounded like distant thunder as she rose back upon her paws.

Sen saw the circle of flames spring forth around him and Dog anew as the massive spirit of his family shrine stood to all fours once more. “Impertinent child, do not think receiving my blessing grants you authority to speak so disrespectfully towards me and my wishes!"

Dog barked out as if ready to protest for him, but Sen spoke out himself through the flames around the three of them, “Do you get your tails in a knot like this when mother asked as well?! He deserves to have some sort of reward for the years of duty!"

“You are foolish, and I pray you are not so rash upon the battlefield, my child… I commend your bravery and duty unto your father though." The fox spread her tails and snapped her jaws with a loud crack of energy as the flames washed away, leaving them in nothing but the cold void of the astral, his eye and arm throbbing as he glared upon the massive spirit fox.

“I will consider your plea, now begone from my sight!" she barked out in commandment as the doors of reality seemed to be flung open and he was cast out in a flood of darkness.

Sen gasped out, his artificial eye spasming to focus like his meat one had before he winced and rubbed his head with his augmented paw. Looking down he could see he gripped the blossom branch now turned tsuka in his other paw. The wood had burned runes in it that were similar to the ones the spirit wore, the handle looking ready for a blade to be mounted into it.

“Shall we be off, my love?" Dog's voice hummed out.

“Yeah, lets go see the Doc and get this thing out of my skull, but I swear if I hear any pirate jokes over wearing an eye patch, I'll lose it," Sen claimed to his boots to head back down the steps.

“Aye aye, Captain!" Dog barked out with a giggle.

—*—

Next Episode:

Why do you look upon that reviled creature with such awe? Surely you do not wish to be like her. You are more than just a tool that follows orders, are you not? Still, the threat of losing everything again weighs heavy, and when one threatens to upend your life, what recourse do you have left?

Different paths can part lovers to make them bitter rivals, but when forced to still work together, the pain and resentment can easily boil over. That story may have concluded, but ours is just beginning. I'm not sure I'm ready for this, but the two of you won't wait for me, and so the wheel turns.

Episode seven: Ex's and Operatives

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