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Jonathan Smith, known to his closer friends as "Smitty", was the embodiment of "middle of the road". Red foxes were a dime a dozen in this part of the country, and Smitty could easily vanish in to the crowd. He was attractive, to be sure, but he wasn't the type to turn the heads of passers-by. Jacket, t-shirt, and khaki slacks. The wardrobe of a twenty-something.Smitty took his education seriously, but he knew that everyone had to let their hair down from time to time. One such time, when his group of friends had all turned 18, they celebrated by visiting a cigar lounge for the first time, on a lark. It had turned out to be a very enjoyable experience. They spent several hours around a poker table, playing Hold 'Em with several of the older patrons. All in all, it was a night to remember. Upon entering college, Smitty and his friends made it a point to kick off the semester with a visit to the lounge, and to cap off the semester in a likewise fashion.

The owner of the cigar lounge and store was a wolf about a decade Smitty's elder, Though he wouldn't admit it to his friends, Smitty had nursed a secret crush on the wolf, and would find excuses to spend time at the lounge just to be around him. The wolf, David, was aware of the crush, but chose to pay it no mind. After all, he was a respected businessman in the community. It wouldn't do well for the wolf to act on those urges with a customer almost a decade younger than him.

It was the night before the end of Smitty's first semester as a sophomore, before summer break, when everything about Smitty's life would change.

Smitty and his friends occupied the poker table, and were about seven or eight hands in to the game. Smitty dealt the cards, then placed the deck on the table. While he reached for his cigar, his phone rang. Glancing quickly at his cards, he pushed his hand away, then left the room to answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Jonathan Smith?"

"Speaking. Who's this?"

"This is Richard Brooks, with GPS Bank. Our records indicate that your account for tuition has been closed."

"Wh...what? You're joking, right?"

"I'm sorry sir, but all of the funds were taken out today, and the account closed by the trust holder."

"...but, that's my father. He's the one who maintains the trust fund. There's gotta be some mistake."

"We are investigating, sir, but for the time being, your transaction for your tuition will have to be placed on hold."

"What the..." Smitty's head felt like it was spinning. How was he going to get funding? The due date for the payment was the following Monday, just three days away.

Richard concluded the call, leaving Smitty barely holding on to his phone in one hand, and the cigar in his other.

"You alright? You look like someone just died." The voice belonged to Anji, the cigar store owner. He was a wolf of average build. Fit, but not overly muscular. He carried himself with the bearing of someone quite sure of himself. He was dressed in a leather jacket, a pair of jeans, and a pair of black motorcycle boots.

Smitty explained the situation, and Anji just watched him, listening intently. After a long moment, the wolf replied. "Listen, I have a solution, but I need to talk with some people. Why don't you come back tomorrow morning, first thing, and I'll make some arrangements. You and your friends are some of my most loyal customers, and I hate to see you in any sort of trouble."

"Thanks, Anji-er, Mr. Serras."

"No, it's alright. Call me Anji." He smiled and clapped Smitty on the shoulder.

Smitty didn't feel like rejoining the poker game, so he sat down in the lounge, finished his cigar in silence, and returned to his dorm.

Smitty had barely slept that night, but, bleary eyed, he walked the four blocks from the dorm apartment to Anji's cigar lounge, where he found the wolf already there, though the door was still locked. It wasn't due to open for another few hours.

Anji unlocked the door and let Smitty inside. "Hey, thanks for coming," he said.

"Well, you said you could help me out with my problem, right? Of course I would jump at the chance."

"Indeed..." Anji smiled and escorted him in to the lounge. Inside was another man, an otter, sitting on a couch. There was a file folder sitting on the end table next to him. Anji pulled up a chair across the coffee table in front of the couch, and patted the back of it. "Have a seat, Smitty." He then took his own seat, next to the otter on the couch.

Smitty took a seat, looking at the otter with a mild expression of confusion. He must have seen this guy before at some point.

Anji picked up on Smitty's body language, and spoke. "This is Mr. Harkin, Smitty. He's one of my regulars." The otter smiled and nodded politely.

"Hello. So...I guess he's the one who can help me, then?"

The otter nodded. "In a fashion. Anji here relayed your predicament to me, and asked for my help in facilitating your ability to continue your education."

"So you're a financial aid representative? I haven't seen you at the college."

"No. Have you heard of the Voluntary Indenture Act?"

That question gave Smitty pause.

"Isn't it that one law that lets people..."

"Nothing like that." The otter stopped Smitty. "The VIA was instituted several years ago to aid people, like yourself, in keeping from financial ruin."

Anji spoke. "Here is my proposal. I want to take you as an indenture for four years. In exchange, I'll pay for all your tuition and books and stuff."

"Four years is the standard contract, but you can choose to renew the contract once it's up."

Smitty shook his head. "Let me get this straight: you want to make me a slave for four years so I can have the money to finish my college?"

The wolf nodded simply. "That's the short of it. Of course, when you are not studying, I would have you work here at the store, as well as my home. Not challenging work, and you'd have all the time you need to complete your class work."

"I...I don't know. This is one hell of a thing you're proposing, Anji."

Anji smiled. "I know. That's why I'm not going to have you sign anything right now." Harkin picked up the file folder and set it in front of Smitty. "I want you to take this copy of the contract with you, and read over it carefully. In the folder as well is information about the VIA as well. I want you fully informed before you commit to this."

Smitty stared at the folder for a solid minute before picking it up, and started thumbing through the papers. He couldn't believe that this was something that was happening. Then the voice came in to his mind. That voice that always seemed to speak up whenever he was in the same room as Anji, whispering carnal, perverted thoughts. He adjusted the collar of his shirt and tried to block it out, with limited success. After all, if he did accept this proposal, he would be able to spend much more time with the wolf!

The meeting ended, and Anji gave Smitty a ride back to his dorm. He sat down at his desk and began reading the contract over. He was surprised at how simple the language was. It spelled out the terms cleanly and consistently. For a period of four years, he would be indentured to Anji, and all of his education experiences would be paid for by his owner. In addition, he would be required to maintain good academic standing, and his grade point average would have to be a 2.0, or his contract would be extended for another semester. Otherwise, he would be working in the wolf's store and home to help offset the expense of putting him through college. Included in the folder was some literature about the law, such as the rights and responsibilities of both the indentured and the owner.

As it stood, he would not be able to continue his education without this opportunity, so there was only one choice. He picked up his phone.

The following day, he was on his way back to the cigar store, the file folder tucked underneath his arm. Again, the wolf unlocked the door, and opened it for him. Smitty followed Anji into the lounge, where Mr. Harkin was waiting in the same place where he was the day before. This time, however, he had a briefcase sitting on the table next to him. "Have you made a decision?"

The fox nodded. "Yes. I'll go through with it."

Anji smiled approvingly. "Good."

Harkin opened the briefcase, and removed from it some medical supplies. "I need to take a DNA sample from you, so that we will have you on record." He slipped on a pair of gloves, and swabbed Smitty's cheek. After depositing the sample in a secure container, he returned the medical supplies to the briefcase.

"Next is a formality before we sign the paperwork. I am a notary public, so I have to witness this. Both of you, raise your right paw." Both Smitty and Anji raised their paws.

"I, state your name..."

"I, Jonathan Smith,..."

"...without any coercion or duress..."

"...without any coercion or duress..."

"...accept the conditions, rights, and responsibilities as an indentured servant under the Voluntary Indenture Act."

"...accept the conditions, rights, and responsibilities as an indentured servant under the Voluntary Indenture Act."

The oath was repeated for Anji, and then the otter opened the folder once again and took out several forms. First was the medical data that was to accompany the DNA sample. Then came the contract. Smitty was the first to sign, followed by Anji, and then witnessed by Harkin.

Harkin spoke. "Alright, there's just one more thing." He returned to his briefcase, and brought out a circular bit of metal. He ran an RFID device along one section of the band, and the circle parted in to two semicircles. He spoke. "This collar is registered with the Indenture Administration, to you. Do not tamper with it. It contains a GPS location tag, so your owner will be able to identify your location at all times."

A shiver went up the fox's spine as the otter stood up and brought the collar to him. He placed the two halves to encircle Smitty's neck, and brought them together. He swept the collar with the RFID device once again, and there was a soft click, followed by a beep. He then removed his paws, but the collar remained around Smitty's neck.

"That's it. From this moment forward, until the end of your contract, Jonathan Smith, you are the property of Mr. Anji Serras."

Harkin gathered everything up and departed, leaving the wolf alone with his newly indentured servant.

"So...um..." The fox trailed off, not quite sure what to say.

"I think it best that we lay down some ground rules." The wolf spoke, gesturing over to the couch. He took a seat, and the fox was about to sit next to him, when the wolf reached out quickly and took hold of his wrist.

"First rule is that these seats are for the free. You will not sit down on them unless expressly given permission."

Smitty looked almost incredulous. This was a side of Anji he had never seen before.

"So, in any case, you will either stand, giving the person you're helping your undivided attention, or kneel. For now, you can sit down next to me, but do not presume that you always have permission." The wolf gently patted the couch cushion next to him.

Smitty took a seat, then looked across at the wolf, his paw idly tracing the collar. "So...you want me to help you out here at the store, right?"

The wolf nodded. "Yes, but there are a few priorities that take precedence over those duties. First and foremost, your priority is to obey my orders without question. I tell you to do something, then the only thing I should hear out of you is 'yes, master'. Do I make myself clear?"

The fox nodded slowly. "Y-yes...master." He rolled the word over in his mind, continuing to touch the collar.

"Second, your priority should be your schoolwork. I will see to it that you get sufficient leisure time, but your studies are paramount. I'm sure you want the four year contract to be over."

The fox nodded quickly. "Yeah."

The wolf's eyebrow arched. "What was that?"

The fox dipped his muzzle. "I mean, yes, master..."

Anji nodded. "Good. Apart from those two priorities, it should be as stated in the contract. When I need you, you will assist me as a worker here in the store, as well as my home."

Smitty tilted his head. "Where do you live, master?"

Anji smiled. "Upstairs. I live in the apartment over this store. The whole building is mine."

The fox's eyes grew wide. "Oh, wow. That must be nice."

The wolf smiled. "It certainly is convenient. Now, I need to arrange for your personal effects to be brought over."

Smitty's mind turned to the computer setup and his video game console. As though he were reading the fox's mind, Anji spoke. "You need your computer to do work, so after I have cleaned it up a bit, you'll get it for your school usage. As for your video games...you'll need to earn that privilege."

Smitty's ears drooped. Then decided to change the subject. "So you said that I would be working both here and upstairs. What will that entail?"