He was used to finding things in his garden. Came with owning a huge property, with sprawling parks and alleys, old trees and a few decorative lakes. He was even used to finding living, breathing things in his garden. Fuck, he had stumbled upon people half a dozen times. But this… Corbin had no idea what he was looking at or why it was under one of the small willows, almost fully hidden from sight, but he was armed and curious. A truly horrible combination, if his friends could be trusted. Still. There was an... intruder ? In his home, or the wind had blown a huge blanket over the fence, and he had felt compelled to investigate.

  It was just...fluff. Fur ? Hair…? Whatever it was, it was pale cream going almost purple on a few spots, and it was disgusting. He clicked the torch in his hand, checking the taser in the other. Strong enough to stop anything smaller than a bear but low enough not to do permanent damage on anything bigger than a cat. Perfect. Now, it was cloudy enough that he needed the extra light so he spared a moment to mourn his lounge pants and kneeled in the mud.

  The...fur was wet, matted with dirt and leaves, and who knew what else, and there was a lot of it. He frowned, turning the torch to see better. There was a pretty high probability that if he reached to pet it, he would lose the hand since with his luck it would be some rare wooly breed of endangered bear that had escaped from a zoo or something, and then he would have to give explanations to the police. But it was too weird looking and unnaturally coloured for him to just ignore it. Almost... layered , with the fur going into different directions and absolutely filthy, whatever that was, it had spent the last few days and nights out in the thunder storms.

  Corbin propped his chin on his palm. If he took whatever it was inside and, if it was a blanket, threw it in the washing machine… Its colours were pretty enough, probably, under all the mud, that it would look gorgeous on his bed. And if it was alive, he could always drag it to the bathroom and hose it. Maybe call animal control after that, and tell them to bring the heavy duty tranq guns.

  Either way, he needed to figure out what it was first.

  There were no stray sticks on the grass around him, of course, since he paid his gardeners enough to keep the place pristine, but maybe… He looked around, carefully keeping the mess of fur in front of him that looked to rise and fall as if it was breathing within his eyesight at all times. A little more patting the grass and he finally touched his staff, extending it to its full two and a half metre length and moving back.

  Okay. He had the shiny carved piece of wood, bone, skin and metal in his hand, it was stretched to its maximum and he was ready. Since poking it would probably…wake it up, he chose to lift one end of its blanket and see if it moved.

  Down on his haunches, Corbin slid the tip of the staff on the wet grass and when he was sure he had a good twenty centimeters of it under the…thing, he slowly started raising it.

  It went up…partially. He frowned. The bit he lifted was attached to something on one end, drooped on the other and had different length fur along it. And there were more than one. He narrowed his eyes and pulled the staff away, letting the piece drop down. And counted. Or, at least he tried.

  The creature gave a twitch and before he knew it, the sharp end of his staff was a centimetre away from a face that seemed mostly occupied by huge amber eyes. Terrified amber eyes. Corbin clicked the staff and it went back to its tiny dormant size, small enough to be worn on his bracelet and also not to be noticed. But the, he tried not to sigh, kitsune in his garden didn’t appear to calm down with the disappearance of the weapon.

  - Hey. – He really hoped the kid spoke English or at least that he was willing to leave the shadow of the willow. In the painfully bright light of the torch he could make out ears poking from messy blond hair that were the same dirty cream colour at the tails and, unless he was mistaken, the boy had a earring on one. Interesting. But for now, he would focus on making progress. Any progress. After a moment of mute staring, he sighed and waved with his free hand, hoping to look as nonthreatening as possible. – It’s January and you’re soaked.

 - You are…? – Low raspy voice, smooth pronunciation. Corbin took another step back, trying not to loom. The Kitsune had accent, that was for sure, but not strong enough to have gotten lost from a tourist group. He thought. He didn’t have that much experience with Japanese English speakers.

 - Name’s Corbin. – After another moment of blinking and the kid crawled out of the shadow of the tree, frown not leaving his features. Crossing his arms, Corbin raised an eyebrow at the sheer amount of…tail happening in front of him. Also, the kid was a touch shorter than him, more than making up for the difference with the ears and the tails because seriously he’d never met a Kitsune in the past and this was… He was honest enough with himself to admit that he really, really wanted to pet. – And you are ?

   Another uncomfortable pause and he turned towards the house. The kid was probably scared, maybe traumatised. He would guess he’s slept on the streets for at least a few days and was probably frozen on top of everything else, too.

  Inside, he rummaged through the hall closet for the big pile of emergency supplies he kept for those exact occasions. A couple of big towels and slippers in his hands, he turned to where the boy was still by the door, wet trainers sitting in a pile of mud. He was barefoot. On tile.

 - Come on, here… Hold those, would you ? – With the pile of towels almost hiding his confused expression, the Kitsune stood there rooted in place while Corbin pulled out the heavy duty shampoo bottles. – Now. I got a few shifter friends and the cats swear by that stuff. Not sure how it will be on fox fur but it’s supposed to be all natural. No offense, but… - Corbin waved in the kid’s general direction. – You look like you could use some. The big bathroom’s here, don’t worry about water or anything. I’ll leave you come clothes on the counter.

  And then he ushered the boy through the door, pulled two more towels, paused to think, pulled out three more and left them folded by the door. Then, he went to hunt down some spare clothes. A moment later, he heard the shower start. Based on what little he knew and how much mud he’d been carrying, the boy would probably take a while.

  Overall, he couldn’t say he was unhappy with the result. The Kitsune had shuffled in, too-big sweatpants and t-shirt on, and had picked the spot by the counter where the A/C hit the strongest. The whole house had a fireplace and at least one air conditioner per room and here, in the bright and warm kitchen, his nameless guest was almost glowing. His fur was really cream and while his hair was still damp, the tails had dried in the warm air and based on the way the entire room smelled like lilacs, the kid had helped himself to the just as big bucket of conditioner he kept for similar occasions.

  Corbin stirred the soup and then slid a bowl of leafy salad in front of the kid along with a big glass of water.

 - So, how’d you end up in my front yard ? – Another half minute of silence. It was going to be like that, huh ?

 - I needed a place away from the rain. – He turned to glance at his guest.

 - And you didn’t think about knocking on the door ? – The Kitsune scrunched his nose. Oh, that was adorable. That was seriously adorable and the semi-rational desire to run a hand through his hair and pet those ears was only getting stronger.

 - The house smells of strange magic. – Did it, now ? Also, he had just confirmed his eyes hadn’t deceived him an hour ago. Nine. He tried not to smile. The act was more than good and probably most people would have fallen for the puppy dog eyes, whether the tails would be present or not. Corbin tried not to smile. If the demon felt safer pretending to be a helpless child, even if he looked in his early twenties, who was he to ruin his mood even more ?

 - So you were going to sleep under the tree ? I get the fur helps but it’s January, kid. – He felt the spark behind his back disappear as if it had never happened. Honestly, from what he’d heard of Kitsune, there were a lot of things but mostly proud. So, three. Two. One…

 - It’s Fujimori Ren. – Corbin turned, bowl with soup on hand.

 - Oh ?

 - My name. Not “kid”. – Second strike. He wondered what the demon was running away from. Because a child would never do what he had just witnessed, Fujimori’s words ringing true in the midnight air. His real name, or at least a part of it. Corbin refilled his guest’s glass and made a mental note to check with his details in the city. A Kyuubi being hunted down like prey was something he should have already heard of.

 - Well. Fujimori. Should I be raising the wards ? – Corbin ran a hand through his own hair, scratching through the glamour. – Just in case something is coming.

  The Kitsune stared him down, gold eyes unblinking, obviously trying to make him believe every word. It would have worked, Corbin was sure, if he was a millennium younger. The skin he was currently seeing might have even been the real one, for all he knew. He averted his gaze, deciding to choose his battles. This one didn’t matter anyway.

 - No. I simply left an uncomfortable situation. My father might ask around but I am an adult and have my documents with me. There is nothing for you to worry about. – Fujimori gave a light but formal bow. – I thank you for your hospitality and will make sure to pay you back for your expenses and your time.

  Corbin just waved and took a sip of his coffee.

 - No drama. I’m used to it. It’s a big house and I got a lot of friends who often end up on the business end of… - He clicked his tongue. – A lot of things, actually. So, house’s always stocked up, first aid kit’s the size of a closet and I always have clothes on hand.

  He didn’t mention the ones the demon was currently wearing were his own, though. His new mission was to get an opportunity to touch the at least one of the tails and getting Fujimori comfortable with him was the first step. He would be disgusted with himself but the desire was fully nonsexual. Washed, conditioned, combed and dried, the fur looked so soft he wanted to bury his arms in it up to the elbows, and then some. Fujimori probably wouldn’t allow that much familiarity but he could at least try. And even if he didn’t, he was too used to have people around to mind company.

 - I would not want to impose.

 - Nah. You’re fine. You warm enough ? Let me get you some aspirin… - Because tea and soup might not go together but he could always medicate his still very suspicious guest into not catching a cold. Also, he needed to give the demon time to snoop around his kitchen for his own peace of mind. He wasn’t worried, not really. He was too old and the place had wards in more layers than most people could count to, engraved, stitched, sang, bled and seeped into furniture, soil, rock and air. A Kyuubi, no matter how powerful, couldn’t claw deep enough on their own. And while Fujimori was obviously as old and powerful as they came, he would be able to barely scratch the surface.

  And talking about scratching, the glamour was starting to really itch. Corbin grimaced, running a hand through his hair again. It was so unnatural to feel it short. So wrong. Anyway. Aspirin. He was sure he had a big box of it in every single drawer in the house. Humans did invent useful things every few decades or so, and this was one of them. Definitely.

  After a good ten minutes of flipping through social media while sitting on a genuine 16th century chest of drawers, Corbin headed back to the kitchen, making sure to make more than enough noise to warn his guest to cease with the digging around.

  Apparently, it worked since he found the Kitsune where he’d left him, finishing his soup as if nothing had happened. Cute, honestly. He knew he wasn’t supposed to think about extremely powerful demons like that but it was. Fujimori was still keeping the youthful appearance and behaviour, nothing but a scared little fox who had been thrown out in the rain, and Corbin could really appreciate the dedication to the illusion. Behind him, though, he could see the heat prints on the shiny wood and thick carpet. His guest had ruffled through all of the drawers, under the couch cushions and behind the paintings. Pretty good for ten minutes, he approved.

 - Here. Can’t have you catching a cold with those thin clothes you had on. – Fujimori turned the box of pills in his hands with a mild frown, mask slipping for half a second. – I’ll go heat up one of the spare bedrooms and get you some pajamas.

 - There is no need. I can use the floor and I can promise I will be gone before sunrise. – The accent was really smooth. And distracting. It took Corbin a moment to react but when he did, he just shook his head.

 - Told you I like company. And the house is too empty for just me. Gimme five and I’ll be ready. And, - He turned to where his guest had gotten up and was shuffling in his too-big house slippers after him. – You’re no bother. I wouldn’t’ve invited you if you were. Come on, now.

  And he did. Corbin could feel those gold eyes on his back. The Kitsune was trying to get a read on him and he almost smiled. He was more than welcome.

 - We’re here. – He pointed to the big door across the hall. – This one’s mine. You can sleep here, sheets’re washed and all. And if there is something wrong, and I mean literally anything, feel free to knock. I sleep like a cat and have the circadian rhythm of a ghost shrimp.

  Fujimori obviously didn’t know what to make out of this but it was okay. Corbin smiled.

 - Pajamas are on the bed, extra blankets and pillows are in the closet. Feel invited to breakfast tomorrow morning and again. Anything wrong or you just need company ? Knock.

  His guest nodded slowly and then stepped backwards towards the spare bedroom.

 - Thank you…Corbin and have a good night.

 - Sleep well. – And with that the other door clicked shut. This was going to be fun.

  His phone beeped on his nightstand and he checked the text. A huge clan of Kitsune had arrived a fortnight ago and their oldest was gone. Apparently, the clan leader had been making it loud and clear that he would pay handsomely to whoever brought his precious son back to him. Even more interesting. They spoke about a kidnapping, too. Corbin smiled again. Let them come. It had been getting boring in the last few decades.

  Dropping the glamour fully, he faced the big mirror on the wall. His hair felt so much better long, heavy and straight, and he shook his head just to feel it touch his wrists. So much better, indeed. Vision clearer now that nothing was obstructing his eyes, he dropped his clothes in the hamper and then ran the shower cold. Ah. That was what life was really about. Rubbing in the body wash, he checked his tattoos. Everything was looking sharp and healthy, skin as smooth and soft as his own youthful appearance warranted for. Perfect. Now, to try and get some sleep because he had the weird feeling soon he was going to have his hands full of foreign emissaries. And politics always sharpened his appetite.

  The scream woke him up and he had the sharp end of his staff a millimentre away from the intruder’s pupil before he even managed to fully open his eyes. The body under his hand was warm, still except for the small trembling and not breathing. Not moving. Corbin blinked, trying to clear the sleep from his head.

  It was Fujimori. Corbin had him by the neck, pressed to the wall and a blade almost touching one eye. The moment the name clicked, he dropped his hands, off of the demon and took a few steps back.

 - Told you to knock, kid. – Fujimori crossed his arms, hair and tails rumpled from bed and eyes narrowed. Now that the direct danger was gone, he was gaining his confidence back. Corbin wondered if he would try to act cute and innocent again or if that train was gone.

 - What are you ?

 - Hm ? – Oh, yeah, he wasn’t wearing his glamour. Corbin looked down at the silver and black lines breathing with and pulsing in rhythm with his own body, and then back at Fujimori. – Good question. Tell me once you figure it out.

  The demon blinked in confusion. Strike three. Honestly, now that the murderous energy was going down, it was getting funny. Getting a Kyuubi to that level was definitely a pastime he could get used to.

 - You lie.

 - Nope. – Corbin pulled a t-shirt from one of the chairs, shrugging it on. – Come on, I’ll make us tea and we can pretend to bond over past trauma while still suspiciously not revealing anything. Doubt you’ll be able to sleep any more tonight. I know I won’t.

  In the end, they hadn’t bonded over past trauma. Fujimori had curled in the couch, tails spilling everywhere and then curling around him like when he’d been in the garden, and then fallen in a stare of what Corbin guessed had been “sleeping with his eyes wide open”. He was barely blinking and yet when Corbin got up to refill his own cup of tea, the demon’s gaze had followed him across the room. Picking up the book on avocado recipes he’d gotten…three months ago as a repayment, he opened it on the marked page and stretched his legs on his couch. The room was quiet and nothing but the pages moved.

  Fujimori was deep in tails, appearing at least semi comfortable, and Corbin let him think or sleep or…hibernate. He wasn’t sure what foxes did in winter. The only thing steadily moving was the morning light slowly crawling across the floor.

  The moment it touched the opposite wall, Corbin felt it. Something was testing the outer layer of his wards. The ones painted on the outer side of his fence. Whatever it was, it was almost tasting them, probably looking for cracks. He narrowed his eyes and saw a fluffy ear twitch. Only once. Feet down, he activated one of the lightest spells ingrained in his skin. Pajamas and dressing gown gone, he ran a hand through his hair but didn’t slide in glamour. Whatever was surrounding the property was not here to talk to a human. Good.

  Fujimori opened his mouth, probably to ask something, but Corbin shook his head and extended his staff.

 - That one’s for me, don’t get up. Be back in ten. – And then he pulled his coat on. Impressions were half the work, after all.

  Outside, it was pouring, heavy grey rain falling from even heavier grey clouds. Taking a shortcut, Corbin slammed the front gate open and raised his chin. The procession was of fifteen people. Ten Kitsune, five locals, all staring at him. Good. Let them stare. It was too early for this.

 - Hello, my lord. – He shifted his eyes to the leader. Ah, he could definitely see the family resemblance now. Father dearest was trying to look forlorn but his son definitely had the acting from his other side. Because Corbin had seen better acting in grammar school plays. The other Kitsune were all looking at various shades of miserable though he guessed it was more about the weather and less about the man in his house.

 - Who do I have the great honour of speaking in this fine, lovely morning ? – He didn’t try to act. Let them. What they had done, when they were still actually doing, was an act of war. He counted another seven Kitsune looking for weak spots in his wards, aside from the ten in front of him. Let them talk. He’d made his decision before he’d even left the living room.

 - My name is Fujimori, my lord. I believe you have found my missing son ? I have been worried sick…

 - Why is Yakuza at my doorstep at six in the morning on a Tuesday ? – That silenced them up. Confused Kitsune. One of the funniest sights in the entire world, confirmed. One of the locals was staring at him with an eyebrow raised and Corbin gave his friend a little shrug. Not his fault they were pretending to use the formal channels while also trying to get into his house through violence.

 - I am terribly sorry, my lord, but there has been a mistake. We are not…

 - Yeah, whatever. Fuck off before I fry everyone here, staring from the absolute morons who are trying to dig under…

  He heard the first shriek before he heard the pop and crack of fire. The demons stared somewhere above his left shoulder but Corbin didn’t turn. There was no need. He’d never encountered Kyuubi foxfire but from the sizzling and screams of pain he could guess the intruders hadn’t been prepared either. He just watched the pink and purple lights dance over the frozen expressions of the men in front of him.

 - As I was saying… - A shriek of pain right behind him ended in a pathetic gurgle and he felt wind touch his hair. – Fuck off. You got until midnight to leave my city. I’ll act as a response to a war if you don’t.

  And then he let the heavy gate slam closed.

  A few seconds of heavy labored breathing later, Corbin turned. Well. That was a lot of blood, that was for sure. And bodies. All seven Kitsune who had been trying to get in were laying on the grass, not moving. Ripped apart, their clothes were shredded and guns, knives and rifles were thrown around the lawn. And in the middle of the carnage stood Fujimori Ren, still in his borrowed t-shirt.

  Hands adorned with huge claws dripping red, blood covering him from the tips of his soft ears to his bare toes. The black and red had seeped into his hair and fur, and as Corbin met his feral haze, he felt a different kind of desire rise. One man against seven armed Kitsune, each one of them with at least seven tails. And he had used his bare hands only. Tongue running over his own fangs, Corbin approached slowly. He didn’t know exactly how present the other man was and the last thing he wanted was to be forced to defend himself.

 - Ren. – Slit pupils on gold eyes. Corbin tried to control his smile. Definitely wasn’t supposed to look threatening. – You with me ?

  More blood dripped from a claw to the ground and Corbin wondered how inappropriate it would be if he offered to lick it off. Probably a bad idea but what if he agreed ? Hmm.

 - You lied, Corbin.

 - Oh ?

 - There are no wards to raise. This place is airtight. – At least his hands had gone looser by his sides. He might not lose his eyeballs if he took a step. Not that it would be a big thing all things considered but it would be annoying for the several hours it took them to grow back.

 - I’ll take it as a compliment. You want another shower ? - Fujimori looked down at his clothes and tails, scrunching his nose at the blood, and tried to wipe his hands on his t-shirt. On his thin cotton t-shirt. Corbin didn’t sigh though it was a close one. Honestly, shifters had always been so extra. Shrugging his coat off, he tossed it over the demon’s shoulders and headed for the house. His gardeners were coming in half an hour and he needed to clean the yard.

 - You remember where the towels are, right ? Shampoo’s in the closet left of the bathroom. I’ll be back in a few.

  Going back out and taking another moment to marvel the absolute massacre in his front yard, Corbin stretched his arms up and called the Void. And the Void popped in existence like a firecracker right in front of his face, multiplied and buzzed for another fifteen heartbeats, curled like smoke around his neck and then jumped on the ground, almost-feline form walking daintily towards the mess of blood and body parts thrown around.

  Leaving her to her breakfast, he went back to the house. Maybe do some laundry ? His new guest was going through towels like tissues and while his collection was extensive, he needed the basic ones on stand by. Now, if Fujimori stayed for at least a day more, he would pull out the guest towels and sheets. But only if he stayed.

  The water was still running so Corbin pulled out his phone and ran the app for the house. Honestly, humans were so clever sometimes. So, so clever. With the washing machines rumbling in the basement and the last few crunches telling him the Void was finishing the front yard, he went to check the main fridge.

  Beef or fish, beef or fish. What to do…

  A low shuffle somewhere behind him made him turn. Try not to laugh. Fail.

  Fujimori, in another one of his own t-shirts and, Corbin almost choked, no sweatpants, was glaring at him from the door. Usually, he would be taking such seductive sight as purposeful manipulation but for some reason the Kitsune hadn’t managed to dry himself and looked like a freshly washed cat. All the way to the murderous scowl.

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  His fur was wet and almost dripping, up in messy spikes and slicked into every direction possible. Corbin cleared his throat and tried to be a good host. And failed again. He was just so…

 - You done ? - The accent got thicker with his plummering mood. Corbin snorted, shaking his head, and Fujimori muttered something which he recognised as “Bastard” in old Japanese. Delightful. Rubbing his eyes, because honestly this had been hilarious, Corbin closed the fridge door.

 - Did a cow attack you in my bathroom and just lick you all over ? Because you can start a new trend. All shifters would follow. You can make millions.

 - Weren’t you supposed to be a good host ? - Corbin leaned on the counter.

 - I am a good host. Let me get you another towel, that couch is real velvet.

   A minute later, he came back with one of his fluffy, midnight-purple monogrammed towels only to pause at the door again. He’d been doing that a lot in the last couple of days, he realised. But that made life fun, after all. Hissing foxes, angry foxes, the Void who curled around his ankles and jumped on the counter to attack his cooling tea…

  His guest was sitting on the couch, a carved wooden comb in his hand, one tail in his lap, and was carefully combing through the long fur. Corbin dropped the towel on the other side of the couch and went to throw another log in the blazing fireplace. He personally couldn’t care less about temperature but the demon seemed to like the warmth. The rest of the tails were spread around him like a drying garden of fluff and Corbin wondered how inappropriate if would be if he offered...Hmm.

 - You need help with that ? - Gold eyes met his, Fujimori pausing with his hand still deep in the fur. And then, like a paper fan being folded, the other eight tails curled back, not unlike the first time he had seen the Kitsune. Back and around him, without him even blinking. Before he knew it, they were neatly folded behind him and the only one really visible was the one still in his lap. No need for words. Corbin hadn’t been rejected with such a dramatic flair in the last few centuries and could admit, at least to himself, that he was properly impressed.

  He was about to jab at the Kitsune again, hopefully to make him pout which was always fun with shifters, when he felt a presence at his front door. Actually, make that multiple presences. Oh, well. He did have actual responsibilities, after all.

 - Please, excuse me. This one’s for me, too. - His guest frowned in confusion but that only lasted a moment, after which the doorbell rang. Corbin waved at him and went back down the hallway to check on the newcomers. He had had a few days to himself and it had been getting way too quiet.

  Finding a Kitsune wet and feral under a tree in his front yard had broken that. Finding a faded grey canine just a touch smaller than a horse on his doorstep, on the other hand, was the touch of familiar he needed to stop staring into Fujimori’s tails.

 - Daniel. -  The beast nodded in greeting. - Anyone need a doctor ? - A headshake. - Neat. Come in.

  Daniel stepped slowly, making sure to wipe his paws on the doormat, and then walked past him. In this form his head was on the same level as Corbin’s and his fangs were definitely longer. As he was passing by, Corbin saw the reason for the other four energy stamps. The downright tiny white kittens that more or less disappeared in the messy grey fur and that he just knew Daniel would fight to the death for.

  As the beast stopped in front of the visitor bathroom, Corbin pulled some more of the plain blue towels he kept on hand and put them down by him, just in case. The rain had stopped but he couldn’t know what condition they would be in human form. Daniel had refused a doctor but that didn’t mean much.

  Leaving them to their own devices, he went back to the kitchen only to find Fujimori looking significantly drier and much more human. What a waste. The tails and ears were deep under the human skin and as a bonus he was looking extremely young and innocent. Corbin raised his eyebrows. Was that what he was hiding behind all the time ? Talk about exhausting, seriously. Behind the doors he could hear chatter and Fujimori appeared to be asking a lot of questions with his eyes only.  

 - I often get visitors. Hope you don’t mind kids.

 - What…

  The demon couldn’t finish because the door opened, again, and Daniel, this time in his human form, came in, herding his siblings. Fujimori slipped into the pretence of a innocent little fox so quickly, Corbin was sure he’d been more than surprised.

  Daniel paused, eyes on Fujimori, and the three boys and one girl around him stopped as one to stare. Well.

 - Daniel, Lizzie, Archie, Oscar and Matthew, this is Fujimori Ren. He’s my guest. Fujimori, let me introduce you to Matthew, Archie, Lizzie, Daniel and Oscar.

  Daniel nodded and the kids, following their big brother to the dot, tried for the same noble nod. It was adorable, Corbin could admit it. Seeing six-year olds act so dignified was always a delight. Or maybe he was just easily entertained. Either was a possibility.

 - It is a pleasure. - The demon was back to speaking slowly and clearly, and also, Corbin noted, with a rather exaggerated accent. Now that was interesting. He knew Fujimori was playing the helpless little foreigner to get a read on the situation but this was a role that had been perfected through years and years. He didn’t like the implications.

So, mister Fu...Fuji… - Lizzie, ever the diplomat, tried his guest’s name and found a barrier.

 - It’s not “mister”. - And here was Oscar. - You got to use another word. Obviously. - And then, with the confidence only small children and ageless gods possessed, he turned to Fujimori and gave a clumsy bow. - Mister, do you watch anime ?

  Daniel, who had been typing rather furiously on his phone, moved without even looking up, reaching to catch his brother before said brother climbed into Fujimori’s lap. The Kitsune, to his credit, didn’t argue but that way probably due to surprise and maybe a little terror since apparently the magic word was “anime” and all four kids climbed on the couch beside him.

 - Guys, please, leave Corbin’s guest alone. We’re here only for a little bit, don’t bother Mr Fujimori. - The scolding didn’t seem to work as the demon was holding his hands up and trying to answer about five questions about the various nuances of the Japanese language at the same time. - Guys. Come on.

  And then the shifter turned to him.

 - Corbin, mind if I leave them with you for ten minutes ? I really need to make that phone call and, you know, sharp baby ears and all. - And then he nodded towards his little squad of siblings.

 - You know you can always count on me. Everything okay ? - Because it was early morning on a week day. The kids should have been at school. Daniel just rubbed his face and shrugged with the kind of sad acceptance that really rubbed Corbin the wrong way.

 - Oscar got pushed around in class. Archie and Matt went to help. Things escalated. Someone told Lizzie as they were taken to the principal. She decided to express her opinion to said principal. Long story short, they all got the day off and I will be going there tonight to talk to the teachers and the parents of the other kids.

  Corbin didn’t let himself react. Not at that moment. Humans were weak and time caught up to them so fast it was ridiculous they managed to get anything done. And their children specifically were worse than the average for the race. Honestly. He had no idea how he’d been raised but he doubted he’d gotten that much freedom.

 - So what’re you going to do now ? - Daniel rolled his shoulders.

 - Call someone to look after them for the day ‘cause I got to run back to work. So, ten ?

  Corbin nodded and the shifter unlocked his phone again, closing the door behind him. Babysitting had never really been his strongest side but he had always managed in the past. Especially when it would be only for a few…

  And, his presence would probably not be even needed. Fujimori had Lizzie in his lap, the three boys on the couch and floor around him, deep in a discussion about Karuta and the finer points of the rules. The children were nodding, eyes wide and Lizzie looked a minute away from declaring Fujimori to be her future husband. At least the fur was absent, otherwise Daniel would have to take the Kitsune to live with them as the kids wouldn’t let him go.

  Corbin leaned on the kitchen counter, allowing a smile to show and very carefully listening to Daniel’s argument down the hall. He sounded like he was slowly winning. Good. Kid was growing up to be a good, stable man and while he’d only recently gotten out of his teens, he was a solid asset to the city. Corbin liked him. The kids weren’t too bad, either.

  A low, careful crunch made him glance to the blazing fireplace where the Void was staring back at him, a bright red coal bigger than her head in that form held in her mouth. He wasn’t sure why she was keeping the feline skin with who the present company was but she was probably getting her cues from Fujimori just because she was curious. Or something along those lines. He had spoken to her only once, a few centuries ago, and she had left the human shape behind after that. He was probably indulging her too much but she was a constant he could count on.

  And now she was eating burning red coal. He considered that not bad enough since in the past she had gone for glass and that was been a mess and a half. He knew Fujimori had seen her because he gave him a Look and then shuffled Lizzie around so she couldn’t look. Cute. And protective. Corbin shook his head.

 - Thanks, Corbin, you're a lifesaver. - Daniel slipped his phone in his pocket, waving at his siblings from the door. The four identical sighs that followed made him try not to smile as the kids dragged themselves away from Fujimori and past him. - We'll be going, my landlady's guests just left and she's free.

 - Anytime. - Daniel nodded.

 - And thank you, Mr Fujimori. I know they can be a handful.

 - Oh, no, they…- But before the Kitsune could finish, the chatter had gotten further down the hall and Corbin could hear Daniel talk the kids into their coats. It was adorable.

  Fujimori still looked properly shell shocked so Corbin took pity on him and threw another log in the fireplace. The Void took it as a personal offence and disappeared into a pop of static, buzzing like bad TV signal for a moment before leaving only a fleshless shadow behind. Corbin wondered how insulting it would be to suggest his guest take a nap. It was still morning,true, but neither of them had really slept last night so maybe it was valid. Or maybe he could offer him a blanket and make the room warm enough to get him to sleep on the huge sofa… Yes, that was probably the better option.

 - So. You want to tell me why your cat just swallowed a whole fire poker ? – Or not. Corbin looked back at his guest.

  Fujimori had his hands buried in the long fur of about three tails currently in his lap, ears slightly back. A smooth shift if Corbin had ever felt one, and that just cemented his idea around how old and powerful the Kitsune was as opposed to what he pretended to be. At least the fur was back in sight and that was one of those things humans liked to call “small pleasures of life”. It was dry in an almost animal fashion and while he was sad to see the wet cowlicks gone, hopefully his guest’s mood would improve. As for his question, Corbin debated teasing him a little but he didn’t know the Yokai well enough to be sure how he would react so he pulled out a blanked from one of the chests and tossed it on the couch.

 - I don’t have a cat. – A tail swished in what he considered was probably agitation.

 - It swallowed it whole. Just raised its head and didn’t even chew. It also disappeared a minute ago, only, I can see its shadow on that table. – On the table ? Corbin sighed and glanced just in time to see a whole flower arrangement fuzz around the edges, blink in and out of existence a couple of times and…

 - Chikushō ! – Corbin clicked his tongue.

 - Don’t swear around her, you’ll teach her bad habits. – Wide golden eyes, pupils slit again, met his and Fujimori waved at the table where the big vase had been sitting quietly up until a moment ago that was currently covered in feathers. – Corbin picked one and turned it around. – Seagull. Seriously, where have you been ?

 - Your…thing just exploded a vase into feathers ! – Honestly, the accent was adorable and Corbin thought it would be highly inappropriate mentioning how the fur on Fujimori’s tails was standing up, though he was really tempted. Really.

 - Technically, she just relocated it. The exchange is a byproduct.

 - What…is she ? – The tails were laying down on the couch, not swishing anymore, though the fur was still up and ruffled. Corbin really wanted to pet. Fujimori looked like he had so much static running through him he could power a whole household for a week. Even the fine cream fur on his ears was up.

 - The Void. – One blond eyebrow went up. Oh, his pupils were back to human. Good, good. – She likes hanging around me and consuming things. Because she’s the Void.

 - You mean the faceless zoomorphication of an abstract concept which exists both as a philosophical argument and, apparently, a vaguely feline-shaped…physical entity ? – Corbin turned the feather once more in his hand before taking the few steps to the couch and tucking the dark maroon peony behind the Kitsune’s ear, smiling slightly at the way his guest almost shied away from the touch for a second. Going back to the counter he’d been leaning on, he turned to check his work. The dark red was stark against Fujimori’s pale skin and blond hair, and the rich bloom made him look as if he’d walked right out of a fairy tale. It suited him.

  - Yes.

 - A peony. – One long finger barely touched the petals, still not taking the flower off. – For what ?

 So suspicious. Corbin liked it.

 - Bravery. Fortune. Telling your Yakuza father to fuck off by killing seven people from your own clan who were sent by said father while he stood there and watched. – Fujimori put his hand down. – I can count a few.

   - What are you, Corbin ? – Ah, back to that, weren’t they ? He showed one trick and the questions went right back to the start.

 - Told you. You figure it out and let me know when you do. I’m just as curious as you, if not more.

  The Kitsune frowned again and opened his mouth…And thought better. Giving the huge windows and the sun outside a glare, he tugged the blanket Corbin had dropped and curled his tails around himself, turning his back to Corbin.

 - I’m right down the hall. Just knock, okay ? – Fujimori curled even tighter into himself. – Sleep tight.

  He headed for the door and just as the door was clicking closed, he saw the bright daylight filling the living room die and soft midnight darkness follow him out in the hallway. Night sleep was much healthier and he was nothing but a good host. The breath-thin trip wire he let drop on every door and window surrounding the room was nothing more than a precaution. He wasn’t sure if next time someone woke him up he would be so slow to react. Or so fast to wake up. Having the Void come and clean after another guest was not something he was interested in doing.

  It was the shouting that woke him up. Corbin stretched while still in bed, feeling the blanket slide down his naked back. Ah, winter was always so nice. He wasn’t bothered by temperatures in general but cool air just felt better on his skin. Unlike, he guessed, the Kitsune in his house, who had taken his voice down to rather impressive feral hissing while still managing to form words in proper Japanese. He almost felt bad for whoever was on the other side of the phone but the woman sounded appropriately terrified so maybe things were okay.

  Time to get up, he guessed. It was surprising that nobody had crossed his threshold in the few hours he had slept, though. Sleep was always a pleasant way to spend a few hours even if sometimes he went weeks without it because in a city as big as the one he was living in sometimes Things happened. He clicked his tongue, pulling on a pair of sweatpants and tying his hair up in a ponytail. Now.

  Padding barefoot through the hallways, he wondered what to make for dinner. Crepes with some salad, maybe turkey and some nice cheese…That sounded good. And his guest would probably appreciate the variety. Now, he knew he had almost everything in the fridges around the house, he just needed to get a carton of…

  Corbin paused in the door, taking in the picture in front of him. Legs crossed, chin in one hand and tails spread behind him, Fujimori Ren looked like a modern version of some old slightly bored trickster god, especially with his thoughtful expression. He was probably up to no good and Corbin gave him time to think it through.

  Almost there…

 - I would like to play a game. – Corbin glanced down at the slowly shifting black and forest green glyphs around his own wrist. That was an interesting development, indeed.

 - Yeah ?

 - With a wager. – Walking slowly to one of the carved shelves, Corbin pulled out the stained glass case he kept there mostly for decoration. Mostly. The glass was flawless and so was the fine silver clasp. Not that he had expected anything else, of course.

  With one low table in front of Fujimori, he dropped down in the deep chair across from his guest and clicked the box open.

 - You want something from me. – He counted the Hanafuda cards.

 - Ten days. – Corbin clicked the remaining cards together and switched the places of the two decks, letting the Yokai choose.

 - Ten days of what. – He didn’t shape it as a question. It was merely a pause for Fujimori to collect his thoughts and also slide a finger down the deck on Corbin’s left. Only to pick the right one.

 - Me staying here. And protection. – Corbin checked the hear prints. Almost perfect. Almost. He was honestly impressed. Bringing his attention back to his guest, he turned the four cards on his side face up.

 - Deal. Koi Koi, Ren. – The tails were down, calm, eyes – human, no claws. Calm.

 - Let us begin.

  Three hours later, Corbin refilled his glass with cold water and leaned back in the chair.

 - Amazing. – Fujimori’s hair was messy, one tail swishing behind him and his fingertips were resting lightly on the glass table. – Ten days, huh ? Doesn’t sound like too much.

  The Kitsune looked up, eyes almost glassy and chest slightly heaving. He’d taken off his sweater at one point, now wearing only a thin, too-big v-neck that showed off jade skin and delicate collarbones. The dark red was the colour of the peony Corbin had given him the same morning and it made his male features appear almost translucent in the darkening room. He looked ill.

 - It will be. – And then he ran his hands through his sweaty hair, scratching one fluffy ear with vigor and then dropping a heavy sigh. Corbin had the random thought he was seeing his true age for the first time. The Kitsune was at least a couple of centuries old, maybe more, and right now, despite the youthful appearance, he acted as if he was feeling every single one of those years on his shoulders.

  Fascinating.

 - Will it. – He waited. It took Fujimori almost a minute to look up and then try to focus on Corbin’s face. And frown.

 - Is there a problem ?

 - You tell me. Now, since you won, you would usually be entitled to your prize. But since you were cheating from before we even started, all bets are off. – No reaction. Not even a blink. Or a wrong breath. Oh, he was good. He had fallen back into his skin and it was showing. – Now I am entitled to…whatever I want, more or less.

 - That is a lie.

 - It’s not. Now. My compensation.

  Fujimori shook his head and his ears went flat. Only a little, but his eyes were getting clearer. And sharper.

 - You lose and first thing you do is call me a liar, Corbin ? – He clicked his tongue, crossing his legs. – I am disappointed.

 - A year and a day of your life should suffice. – The Yokai’s lips parted, probably to argue, but Corbin didn’t let him say a word. – Isn’t that what fae use in the old tales ?

 - You cannot do that. – Corbin leaned back in the chair. The frown on Fujimori’s face couldn’t even fully form, he was, apparently, that scandalised by the prospect.

 - I just did. Your year and a day start tomorrow morning. Be here at 10.

 - What if I refuse ? – Corbin felt the Void jump on the back of the chair and curl around his neck before disappearing back in a puff of smoke only to materialize back on the table. He didn’t feel the need to answer. The Kitsune was many things but definitely not stupid. He had sniffed around enough to be able to feel, to a certain level, how much power ran through the house. It was a tiny part of Corbin’s being, true, but it was a start. – If that is how it is going to be…

 - You’re the one who cheated. Now, if you don’t mind. – Fujimori cocked his head in question. – Get out.

 - Now ? – Corbin felt the marks on his skin crawl up his arms and focus on his back. Based on the way the Yokai blinked, he had noticed. And didn’t know what to make of it.

 - Now.

  Fujimori raised his chin, not dropping his lovely, lovely golden eyes, and stood up. Still in his thin borrowed shirt, he walked by Corbin, not looking back and a minute later he heard the front door click.

  One. Two. Three...Thirty seconds later, much sooner than most beings would be able to do it, he felt the wards on the gate part to let him out and then settle back together in the lock.

  For all intents and purposes, he was alone on the grounds. Almost alone, actually. Burying his fingers in the Void’s fur that felt like midnight at a new moon and smelled of dry summer nights, he tapped his chin and waited. His life was never quiet and usually took everyone around him under half an hour to…

  His phone rang.

  Ten minutes before ten on the next morning, the doorbell all the way from the gate rang. Corbin checked the time on his phone just to be sure but yes. It was ten minutes before ten. This was probably his…reward ? He shook his head and slipped a bookmark in the shiny new tome of Scandinavian myths he had found right inside the fence when he’d come back home a couple of hours ago. Oberon had been reluctant to let him go until they played for every single seagull feather spat out by the Void and the fae king had taken them all. Fea collected the strangest things.

  Finding an unlabelled gift on his front door was nothing new, either. People did that to either do what they thought was repaying a debt or as a bribe for future favours. Or simply because they thought he would like it. The city really spoiled him.

  The procession outside of his yard was more than impressive, he had to admit it. Under the extremely rare winter sun the group of, he counted, twenty three Kitsune looked only mildly cold and mostly unhappy. They were standing ramrod straight, almost to attention, and observed him as if he was something small that had tripped their plans and needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. Well.

  The fact that he was only in a thin t-shirt and barefoot might have helped but he couldn’t be sure.

  Actually, he reconsidered as he got close enough to unlock the gate, there were twenty two frowning Kitsune. Fujimori Ren was in worn jeans and a fur lined jacket, a big wooden case of something by his feet and wearing the smuggest expression Corbin had ever seen on a human face. The Yokai had his arms crossed, hair messed up by the wind and face as fitting to the old Kitsune trickster myths as Corbin had ever seen. Interesting.

  He guessed this could go in several different directions.

  But first…

 - Can I help you ? – The clan leader didn’t really react which was a point on his side. Corbin waited.

 - I believe there was a misunderstanding regarding my eldest son. We are here to clear it out.

  Oh, were they ? He glanced at the Kitsune who had slept under his roof the last couple of days but all that was there was an extremely satisfied smirk. Cat had gotten the cream, apparently.

 - Our business is our own, Mr Fujimori. Your son is an adult. – That got him a reaction. The clan leader’s hands moved on the carved handle of his cane, rolling the wood between his fingers.

 - My son is the heir. He is to be the next leader and I cannot have this on his name.

 - Now…

 - And what I also cannot have is him be away for an entire year. – Corbin raised his eyebrows. The Kitsune was a full head shorter than him and yet spoke as if Corbin had dealt his a great insult but he was generous enough to let it slide. But not without a complaint. Too bad. Maybe he had been easy to intimidate at some point in the past but as far as his actual memories went, it hadn’t been recently.

  And Fujimori Ren was still looking him straight in the eyes and smiling.  

 - Are you his owner, Mr Fujimori ? – The Yokai blinked in confusion. Probably trying to process exactly what Corbin had meant.

 - His…owner ? I am his father and he is to obey me. – Corbin allowed himself a small sigh making note of the Kitsune making note of how his breath didn’t fog.

 - But do you own him ? As a possession ? You know, an object ? A thing ?

 - How dare you insinuate that a Fujimori could ever be…

 - So you don’t. And he’s an adult. – Corbin shrugged, leaning on the post of the fence. – Which means he’s the only one responsible for his promises and debts. Now. Leave. I have a prize to collect.

  The strangest thing was his future prisoner still hadn’t lost the smile. Actually, it seemed to be getting wider and wider.

 - My son…

 - Lost. A year and a day of his life are mine now. I’d show you the door but you didn’t manage to get that far.

 - There are other ways for a debt to be repaid. – So now they were negotiating. Corbin really didn’t want to do this, especially since the garden had finally gotten back to being decent from the last time. But, desperate times and all.

 - I refuse. Now, if you excuse us, the year and a day started a couple of minutes ago. – And then the Kitsune pulled out a sword. On him. The blade made a low, silky sound and gleamed in the cold winter sun, the man’s grip calm and confident enough that Corbin was under no illusion that he couldn’t use it.

 - Father…

 - Quiet. – The tip of the blade was currently pointing down but Fujimori’s eyes were as cold as the metal and…that was becoming such a hassle.

  Corbin straightened from his slouch on the gate, rolling his shoulders back. They had brought it to themselves, after all. Coming to attack him in his own home, when he had won fair and square ?

  The ground under his feet shifted and he felt layers upon layers of black soil, steel, wood and bone move, not even a tremor warning the men in front of him to what was about to happen.

  He was in the right.

  Fujimori Ren blinked. The rest of the Kitsune stepped back, eyes wide and terrified.

  Behind him, in complete silence, the soil rose from its bed, the house’s deep, deep foundations, inlaid with silver and skin formed bones and claws and teeth. The ground didn’t move, not even a single speck of dirt dropped and yet he let his power flow through the figure he was making.

  Trees and pebbles and bricks, leaves and cable, it all came together and rose up and up and up.

  The shadow fell first over him and then darkened the Kitsune, stretching down the street and up the buildings across the street.

  Corbin didn’t turn. He didn’t have to.

  He knew exactly what shape the puppet had taken.

  With one last soundless shake, it got up on four paws, two of them coming to rest on his both sides, steel and wood claws as long as his forearm digging into the leftover soil. The puppet stretched its wings, dry skin turning almost alive with the moist earth under it, and its shadow finally covered everything.

  It was buzzing and flowing and ready to attack, and he let his energy make it look ready to pounce. A dragon shape as tall as a five storey building with claws to match usually didn’t need to actually do any attacking. But he wouldn’t take any chances.

  The group in front of him was frozen, either in terror or someone was having a heart attack. Nobody was even breathing.

  Corbin waited. He could afford a couple of minutes. After all, the golem was a work of art and he appreciated his skill being admired.

  Fujimori Ren was the first to come back to his senses. Shaking his head, he took the wooden case by the shiny handle and stepped around the rest of his clan.

  - As you can see, father, I have no other options. – He wasn’t even making an effort to sound sorry. – I will be in touch in a year and a day unless otherwise occupied. I will be going now as I do not want to push this gentleman’s patience anymore. – Golden eyes met his, slit pupils narrow and smile – sharp. – He has been more than generous with his time so far.

  And then, as if he had no care in the world, he walked between Corbin and the puppet’s giant paw and headed for the house, carefully walking around the actual crater in the garden. Corbin followed him with his eyes, appreciating the fine, fine view from behind he cut with his stonewashed tight jeans and short hoodie. Really nice.

  Well. He had his reward.

  So without even a look back, he turned fully and followed his prisoner, letting the gate fall closed with the finality of a funeral church bell. The poppet moved back a step to let him through and then slowly lowered itself in the giant hole, still not making a sound.

  This was going to take forever to grow back the way it was supposed to, honestly. He made a note to text the gardeners. Maybe they would be willing to try and salvage the wreck that was currently his front yard. Maybe. The surface was even but the grass could never go back to its original place so it was more or less a random patchwork of green, black and…there were huge feline bones poking out. He clicked his tongue, forcing them down and under.

  A bit better. A bit

  Now, about his reward.

  Inside, Fujimori was waiting awkwardly by the door, shoes off, seemingly not sure what to do or where to go. Honestly. Too cute. Also, the tails and ears were out. Nice.

 - Let me show you your bedroom. – And he headed up the stairs. – Now, you might want to discuss the extent of our deal…

 - You simply said “a year of my life”. Nothing more. So I am guessing that would cover my presence around your for that period of time.

  Corbin turned to look at him, hand on the doorknob.

 - I do not owe you my services, my body or even my time. – He didn’t sigh. He didn’t. But he smiled. Foxes were sly, weren’t they ? What a clever, clever man.

 - You think I’ll just let you live here, as a prisoner, while still keeping your full freedom ? – Fujimori shrugged, carefully placing the wooden case on the huge bed.

 - I will pay rent.

 - Will you, now. – One of Fujimori’s ears was crooked in what looked like Golden-Retriever-Puppy level of adorable confusion and Corbin was simply a man. A weak, weak man. – You know, you could’ve just asked.

 - You allow nobody to reside here for extended periods of time.

  It was cute how confident he was, especially when his statement was based on absolutely nothing. Corbin could respect that kind of bravado. It was useful.

 - You’ve known me for literally two days, though. – Another light shrug, the Yokai sliding a finger down the carvings on the wood in front of him. – Didn’t have to mess with my Hanafuda. Those were a gift, you know.

  Fujimori opened his mouth but Corbin waved the objection away.

 - Not important. The thing is, that was one hell of a complicated plot to get away from your dad.

 - It worked. – And, they were back to it.

 - What did you need the time you were bartering for ? – He was going to lie. Corbin could see him contemplate it, flip through a mental catalogue of plausible stories and choose. It was pure entertainment and he could allow himself to enjoy it now that he was under his roof.

 - I am moving my business here. It will be much easier to access those markets from this area. And I have my assistants fully supporting the current official headquarters in Tokyo. Soon, the main office will not be there but they are more than prepared to take on the work.

  Simple business. Corbin was amazed he could still be surprised but the way the Kitsune played around with his freedom, debts, promises and words as if they were a finely tuned instrument he could play in his sleep was both impressive and downright self-destructive.

  Good thing now that the Yokai’s life was his at least for a little bit, he could change that. Nobody stole or damaged what was his, after all. Even if it was temporary.

 - Get settled in and come downstairs. We have to agree on a few points.