The Fox and the Hound (AU, Prequel Thread, Mature)

Yukikaze Moriya had to stifle a yawn as she sat on the edge of a roof, kicking her feet a bit lazily. She'd been here for a good ten minutes, waiting for her target. She didn't have to worry about being spotted, her magic made sure of that, but she was so... bored. Sure, the prospect of today's activities was fun, but it wasn't really panning out. Yet, anyway. After all, it hadn't even started. As her quarry walked out of the building, her ears perked up and her tail flitted about, her eyes lighting up. 'Finally...' She stood up, and began to slowly stalk her prey... target. She meant target.

This had all started earlier that day, when she was informed that, for the time being, she was being assigned a partner within Nobus. Someone whose skill and abilities would compliment her own. Of course, that wasn't all. As she had been informed during the briefing, her new partner was an 'immigrant' from another multiverse. Those were not a common occurrence, to be sure. She knew he had family that had come along with him, and that his younger sister lived with him. She knew he had Succubus ancestry, and that his sister had become one due to some quirk of their family or... something.

She knew that he apparently had some measure of strange knowledge of people, since apparently some people were subjects of works of fiction in his home multiverse. That was a weird, but potentially hilarious tidbit that she hoped to get plenty of entertainment out of. She had also been made aware that while he had a strong sense of duty, he had trouble keeping himself from becoming too invested in cases. That last part worried her; if he didn't curb that, it could potentially destroy him some day. Many a Nobus agent had gone the same way.

Of course, as much as she'd been told, she needed more information. She needed to see what her new partner was like when not at base, surrounded by his peers and superiors at Nobus. And so, that was how she found herself stalking Arkay Schneider across the city as he left headquarters after check-in. He hadn't yet been informed of WHO his new partner was, just that he was going to be assigned one. And Yuki had every intention of learning what she could of him before he found out.... besides, she liked going all 'sneaky-sneaky' at times!

Regardless, today would hopefully prove to be an interesting one...

Arkay exited the building after his meeting with his superiors. He'd gone in expecting a performance review or... something, but it seems that they were assigning him a partner.  It had been a long time since he'd worked with anyone on a long-term basis, so to say he was looking forward to meeting them was an understatement. However, the boss-man had been a bit... sparse with any details regarding his new partner. Hell, he didn't even know whether they'd be a man or a woman. Either was fine, in his book, though if he had a choice, he'd go for a woman.

But, for now, he was off-duty. Yeah, he was still on call, but while the paperwork was being processed and finalized, but for the next... however long it was until he met his new partner, he had free reign to do whatever he wanted. Of course, he intended full well to use this time to its full advantage. For full time agents, this sort of thing was a rare treat.

...odd that they didn't give him a timeframe for how long it would take for them to call him in to meet said partner, though. A bit suspicious, but it could simply be chalked up to them being occupied at the moment and not being sure when they'd be able to get here. Guess he'd just have to keep his communicator close at hand.

'Well then, what shall I do...'

It was getting on in the day, and he hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast, so why not fix that? Normally, he'd head to the Coiled Lotus for some grub and... satiating certain other appetites, but it was too far away and he couldn't exactly teleport there. Not... easily and safely, anyway. He'd still have to go there later to pick up Nerine. Heh, she was going to flip--in a good way--once she found out he had some free time.

But that was later. Now, it was grub time.

Arkay leapt into the air, gliding into the air with the aid of his telekinesis, and landed on the roof of a nearby building. Normally, he'd take the street, but the pedestrian traffic was pretty heavy today, and he'd feel more obliged to follow those pesky crossing signals if others were watching. Up here, though? Heh, he could not only keep an eye on things down below--just in case trouble sprang up--as well as travel more efficiently. And so, he set off at a leisurely pace, hands in his pockets and and demeanor relaxed.

As he walked, he would occasionally switch things up; for example, walking the length of one building on a handstand, then acrobatically springing to the next one. Anyone watching would be able to see that his balance, agility, and flexibility were top-notch. Most psychics neglected their bodies, becoming weak and soft, but Arkay had always kept himself fit. Mind and body influenced each other, and a healthy body meant a healthier mind, and that meant his powers would be all the more potent. And, well, it was always a good idea to have something to fall back upon if he ran into something that could suppress his powers or were just outright immune.

Not that things like that were especially common in Meus compared to back home.

It didn't take long to reach his destination, and soon enough he was seated, with a menu in hand not too long after that. After a bit of deliberation, he ordered--your typical burger and fries deal, though he went for a cup of tea, rather than a soft drink--and enjoyed his meal and a newspaper he'd snagged on the way in. All in all, his lunch was uneventful and relaxing. What else was there to say?

He paid and left the establishment, making a mental note of where it was, since the food was good and the prices reasonable. Heh, and to think he had chosen it at random! Definitely a nice place to keep in mind for dates...

Checking his watch, it was getting close to the time Neri usually got off, and if he started now, he could get to the Coiled Lotus with a decent amount of time to spare, even if he took the streets. And so, Arkay leapt to the rooftops and set off again.

The tripe, at least at first, was uneventful.  Really, there were trouble areas on Earth, but here, in this city, you weren't going to find a huge amount of crime. However, not too far from the Coiled Lotus, he stopped because something on the streets caught his attention.

Now, to an outside observer, what he saw just looked like a man and child walking down the street together. Nothing unusual, on the surface, but... one of his habits was to keep track of psychic activity in the area. And there was no mistaking it... that boy's mind had been affected by some manner of psychic ability. It was... clouded, so it was probably a mental suggestion of some sort. There weren't a whole lot of legitimate reasons for something like this, so this sent off alarms in his head.

That suspicion of foul play became even stronger when the man and his little follower ducked into a construction site. And not one that was really suited for a shortcut, either. It was, however, one that was well-suited to not being seen. That nobody else around them seemed to even take notice...

Arkay focused on the man and... yeah, he was giving off some sort of psychic suggestion that, essentially, made him invisible to most normal people. Any psychic worth his or her salt would be able to brush it off without even trying, of course. As would magic users who knew what to look for. Still, it was a simple, effective trick.

Taking out his communicator, he signaled to HQ that he was on the trail of a suspicious person, near...
...Panettone street? Well, that certainly wasn't a very japanese street name at all. Regardless, the boy matched the description of the missing child so...

Leaping across the street to the construction site, he landed in the half-finished building with nary a sound. On the ground floor below, the man and child were making their way through the construction site. Perched on a girder, he contemplated how to go about this. Hm...

Focusing on the boy, Arkay reached into his mind--not to read it, but to free him from the psychic compulsion. It proved to be a simple matter, since his captor, as far as psychics went, was neither powerful or skilled. The effect was immediate.

The boy blinked once as his senses returned to him, then he immediately pulled away from the man. The ruckus he made... well, kid had some lungs on 'em, that was for sure. Still, he was just a child, and his captor a grown man, so he was unable to free himself. After a moment of trying--in vain, thanks to yours truly--to reassert his control, the man raised his hand, almost certainly to pacify the boy the, er, old-fashioned way.

Before the jackass could strike, Arkay was there, the man's wrist gripped tightly. To the man's credit, he seemed to realize that he was under attack, let go of the boy, and turned to strike Arkay. Unfortunately, the punch whiffed, as Arkay teleported just before the punch hit, appearing next to the boy, placing a hand on him, and disappearing yet again. The two re-appeared some distance away.

"You okay, kid?" asked Arkay.

The boy, after a moment, nodded. "Y-yeah... thanks, mister."

"Heh, good," said Arkay, ruffling the boy's mop of black hair. "Now just sit back and enjoy the show. This won't take long."

Turning his attention back to the kidnapper, Arkay met the man's gaze. If he were a normal human, that gaze would've been intimidating--all daggers, anger, and contempt--but the chances of this guy being a threat to him were... low.

"That is mine," said the man. "Give him back, and as an act of mercy, I will make sure your death is painless."

Arkay stared at the man for a moment... and then burst out laughing. The man's face twisted into an expression of sheer anger, exposing some... rather sizeable fangs. Ah, a vampire, perhaps?

"A mere human dares to laugh at me? Is there no limit to your kind's arrogance? Do you not realize your place?"

Arkay smiled at his adversary. "Oh, sorry, man, but when weaklings make boasts like that, it cracks me up." His words were carefully chosen to provoke this guy, who clearly thought the world of himself.

And provoke him it did. His expression twisting even further, the man shot at him at superhuman speed. If Arkay had been a normal human, he would have been caught completely flatfooted, but he was far from normal. In fact, to him, the man appeared to be moving at a glacial pace, and the NOBUS agent had to rein in his perception even more than he had been expecting.

When the kidnapped was within a few paces, Arkay focused his will on his opponent... and he froze in place, held down by telekinetic force. Gradually, Arkay increased the amount of force, and eventually, the vampire found himself forced to his hands and knees. No matter how he struggled, the man found himself unable to gain even a single inch.

"You're lucky all I'm doing is keeping you pinned," said Arkay. "Abducting a child... how low can you sink? Seriously." And with that, he took out his communicator and relayed his success to HQ, requesting pickup for the perp and for news of the boy's safety to be relayed to his parents.

"Wow, you beat that guy like he was nothing!" Any fear in the young boy's voice had been banished by Arkay's quick and easy victory.

"Heh, well, that's because he is nothing," said Arkay, turning to the boy. Kidnapping was bad enough, but in his book, going after a kid was just despicable. At least he was safe now. "Your parents'll be here in a bit, so just take it easy."

After that, Arkay just... talked to the kid until other Nobus agents (and his parents) arrived. Turned out his name was Toshinori, he loooved football (or soccer, as America called it), and he had a crush on a girl at school. Having... quite a bit of experience with that last bit, Arkay gave him a bit of advice on the matter--for the most part, girls liked confident, capable guys and don't hold it against her if she turned out to not be interested. There were more fish in the sea. Toshinori was a pretty typical kid, all in all.

His parents were, of course, overjoyed to see him safe and sound, and it brought a smile to Arkay's face. What also brought a smile to Arkay's face was that his mother was a total MILF, but, seeing as she was, ya know, married, and the husband wasn't a complete jackass, he kept his interactions 100% professional.

...okay, like... 99% professional.

After the family left and the... vampire, apparently, was hauled away, Arkay was left standing alone at the entrance to the construction site. Sighing, he locked his fingers behind his head.

"Tragedy averted, I guess," he said to himself. It had taken over an hour to get everything squared away, so he was a bit... well, not late, because Neri wasn't expecting him, really. Just... it had been a while since they'd seen each other, and he wanted to see her, ya know?

And so, he set off towards the Coiled Lotus yet again, by way of the rooftops, and at a pace that was most definitely leisurely. This time, there were no alerts or incidents, and he arrived there quickly.

Entering the establishment, he was greeted by a few of the girls. He was, uh... familiar with most of the girls working at the Coiled Lotus, except for a few--mostly the newer ones--and, at least as far as he could tell, well-liked. Probably some combination of good looks, the Big Magnum, and actually (trying) to treat them like people.

That last one was a rarity among clients in their business, unfortunately.

After a bit of searching, he found Neri, sitting at the bar chatting a bit. Judging from her mien, she seemed to be on a break. Good, good.

The co-worker she was chatting with caught sight of him, motioned, and in a split-second, Neri shot out of her seat and caught him in a jumping hug. Laughing, he returned the hug... in part because the moment she touched him, a certain... feeling swept over him. A certain feeling borne out of her succubus powers.

Or, to be less coy, instant arousal.

Now, don't get him wrong, his sister was definitely cute--petite, curvy, with pink hair, golden eyes, and a girly style--but the... feelings her nature brought out in him were a bit.. disconcerting. If only they weren't blood-related...

Thankfully, his thought were interrupted by Neri, allowing him to push them to the back of his head.

"Hehe, come to watch your little sister dance, huh?" She said, elbowing him in the ribs teasingly.

Arkay chuckled. "You wish. I just had some free time and decided to come annoy you." Really, he... wouldn't mind watching her dance, because she'd gotten really good at it. But even that made him feel... weird.

Arkay took a seat, and Neri returned to hers, though the co-worker she'd been talking to had meandered off, probably to give them a chance to speak in relative privacy.

Neri propped herself up on the counter and turned to him. "Sooo... time off, huh? Took long enough... you've been working your butt off for what seems like forever!"

Arkay gave his sister a little half-shrug. "I'm still pretty new at this, so I figure they're vetting me, seeing how I handle a heavy workload. Oh, speaking of... I actually got assigned a partner, uh, well, today, actually."

"Oooh, neat, what're they like?"

Arkay chuckled. "Uh, well, I haven't actually met them yet. The boss was pretty coy about when I'd meet my partner. Heh, is it too much to hope that my partner ends up being a cute girl?"

Nerine regarded him with a skeptical look. "Always looking for the next big score, huh?" She shook her head, partially in jest.

"I..." Arkay trailed off. He really couldn't deny that if his partner was up for it, he'd definitely take the chance fo have some fun with them... at least if they were a woman or a really pretty man. "...well, yeah, I guess, but I do tend to get along better with women these days, ya know."


"Mmmhmm."


Arkay sighed, then changed the subject to the attempted kidnapping earlier, a story that Nerine listened to with rapt attention. And then, once he had finished, he moved on to asking her about her day... well, days. It had been quite some time since they'd had a chance to speak in person, after all. Evelyn would probably come along pretty soon, but until that happened, it was Neri-time.

Up on the second floor, leaning on the railing, Yukikaze eyed Arkay carefully. She was disguised as a relatively plain woman in her forties at the moment, observing him and listening in. She'd learned a good bit already just from following him, and so far had a positive impression of him. She was also rather amused by what her sense of smell was telling her. Namely, that Arkay and his sister definitely were attracted to each other, though it seemed neither had taken such a step. Arkay, particularly, seemed uncomfortable. 'Interesting...'

Meanwhile, Evelyn did indeed make her way over eventually. The sultry woman practically glided up beside Arkay, bending over to drape an arm over his shoulders in his seat as she kissed him on the cheek, grinning. As always, this meant that her impressive assets were hanging in clear view, barely covered by the dress she was currently wearing. "I see you've finally decided to pay another visit. Nobus been keeping you busy, I hear..." She playfully nibbled on Arkay's ear, before sliding into a seat next to him and crossing her legs, hands resting on her knee.

"So, aside from chatting with your beloved younger sister, to what do I owe this visit?"


Up top, Yukikaze raised a brow. Seemed that Arkay had a close relationship with Evelyn... good to know.

Arkay shivered slightly at the nibble. Not because it was unpleasant--oh boy, no, it was quite the opposite. Intentionally or not, most every time she touch him, it was... electric. Not surprising, given that she was a succubus, like Nerine, though Evelyn's powers far exceeded his little sister's. Hell, they probably even exceeded Celia's, and she was probably the most powerful succubus around back home...

Regardless, he didn't mind the stimulation, though he had to admit being sandwiched between two succubi was... something else. He took a moment to steady himself, taking a few deep breaths to focus his mind so he could concentrate enough to form coherent words and sentences.

Arkay gave Evelyn a sidelong glance, admiring her form. He'd known Evelyn for quite a while, but he never tired of seeing her. Not just because she was an absolute bombshell, even by succubus standards, though that definitely helped, as did the mind-blowing sex, but, more importantly, he just liked her as a person. She looked out for Neri--as she did all her girls--and, on occasion, even him. He felt a lot better going out there doing... Nobus work when he knew that Neri was safe.

Arkay wrapped his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. "What else? I've been working my ass of for weeks, and I'm a bit... pent up. Wouldn't happen to know anyone who could help with that, hm?" He winked at her.

Next to him, Nerine sighed and her shoulders drooped a bit. A moment later, however, she recovered her composure and moved in close to Arkay, her modest--by succubus standards, anyway--bust squishing into his arm. "Arkay-nii was just telling me about how he saved a kid from an evil vampire just before he came here... the boy's mother was sooo thankful."

Arkay tensed as his sister--his sister, damn it!--moved in close to him. Between her and Evelyn, he was... having issues maintaining his composure. He took another deep breath. "Uh-uh, yeah... she was certainly thankful. As was Toshinori's father... y-yeah."

He was in the mood for a... well, MILF right now. He liked that type in general for whatever reason, but right now... well, hopefully Evelyn was free to take care of that. But even if she wasn't, he knew she'd take care of it, one way or another.

...

The sooner the better. If this kept up, he'd end up losing his composure completely and become a sputtering fool. Though that was mostly because of Nerine's... proximity. He loved her, but that girl knew that her powers affecting him made him uncomfortable, and yet...

Evelyn could only chuckle a bit at Arkay's obvious conflicted thoughts. She had known from day one that Nerine's love for her brother was nowhere close to being just familial, and Arkay's feelings were not that different, as much as he was in self-denial about it. Still, she didn't push the issue. She could have helped them, but Nerine had been... adamant about not pushing Arkay about it. Evelyn supposed she could understand. Still, she wanted to help them... especially considering what she knew about Succubus nature and how... detrimental Nerine's self-sacrificial stance was.

Putting that aside for now, however, Evelyn smirked. She, too, leaned in and pressed her breasts into Arkay's other arm. "Looking for the love of a mother in the naughty sense, Arkay? You know, you always come up with the strangest ways to say 'Let me pump you full of cum, Evelyn!'." She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "And you know I'm always happy to oblige..." She pulled away however, sighing dramatically. "Unfortunately, I am unable to entertain you at this time, as I have a meeting to attend. There is a girl I need to speak to. Seems she's been stalking someone I'm rather fond of, so I'll need to have a word with her. That said..."

Evelyn seemed to be contemplating something. "Hm... actually, now that I think about it, there is someone I can send your way that should scratch that 'mother' itch of yours quite nicely." She clapped her hands together suddenly, standing up. "Alright, it's perfect. Now, do you have a preference of location? I'm afraid the person I have in mind doesn't do stage shows with first-time clients, prefers to have a bit more familiarity with them first, so it'll be limited to a room. Would you like a normal room, a themed room, what?"

A stalker? For a moment, Arkay contemplated offering his help with that, but Evelyn could take care of herself. Sad to say, but sometimes customers would become obsessed with a girl and not leave her alone, even if they were clearly uninterested. Some guys just couldn't take no for an answer... feh. At least it never lasted long or went to far, as Evelyn made sure to make them stop being a nuisance... one way or another.

She could definitely be scary when she did that, but Arkay also found that... assertiveness very sexy, in a way. But that was neither here nor now.

Evelyn had someone in mind, but they didn't do public, er, shows with first-time customers. Fair enough, fair enough... he wasn't an intensely private individual--he'd, uh, put on a few such shows before--but he did prefer to get to know a woman before he did that. Now, the question was... normal room or themed room?

Each had its appeal, but, in the end, it was probably best to keep it simple. "Normal room."

Nerine stood up, stretching luxuriously. "I should get back to work, buuut we should get off at about the same time." Her wry smirk belied the fact that the double entendre was very much intentional. Before heading off, she stood on her tip-toes and planted a kiss on Arkay's other cheek. "Have fun!"

Arkay stared at his sister's retreating form out of the corner of his eye. When she had gotten into this line of work, he'd felt... apprehensive, in some ways, but, ultimately, it had been a good thing. It was safe here, paid pretty well, and gave her a solid social circle, since the girls here were pretty much one big family. Turning back to Evelyn, he scratched the back of his head. "Uh, hey, I know I say this a lot, but... thanks for looking out for Neri."

Evelyn's usual confident, sultry smile shifted, becoming softer and more... sweet. "That's not something you need to thank me for, Arkay. She's a wonderful young woman, and I'm happy to help her. And I consider her part of my bizarrely extended family, same as you." She patted his shoulder gently. "I know you don't need it, but I'll always look out for you. Both of you. Just... remember that, yeah." After letting that sink in, she swatted him on the ass. "Now go get comfortable in one of the open rooms. And don't worry... you said you're pent up, and I can assure you, the girl I have in mind can handle it. All of it." She chuckled a bit, ushering him off.

Now she had to go grab Neri, and bring her along to confront this 'stalker'. Namely, the disguised fox demon on the second floor.

"...Why did I just get a chill?"

Having been ushered off by Evelyn, Arkay meandered into one of the open room. Taking off his coat and shoes, he flopped onto the bed and just... stared at the ceiling. Managing to save that kid and Evelyn's... encouragement was just what he needed, after his last major case.

He'd had to travel to America for that one. Seemed pretty simple, at first glance... grandparents wanted to know what had happened to their son, daughter-in-law, and their grandchild. A few years back, they'd gone on vacation and just... not come back. They didn't expect them to still live, and, in the end, they were right, but...

...what he had found was terrible. Wendigo... an absolutely huge infestation of them, built up over centuries, alternating between hibernation and active periods. Using his psychic powers, he had seen the fate the parents... and when he followed the daughter's escape path, he saw her fate as well. No... not just seen, but felt her die.

Without hesitation, he had wiped out the wendigo to the last, called in backup for a last sweep, and then... tried to go back to his normal routine. Yeah, there was absolutely nothing he could've done for that family so long after the fact, but it still didn't sit right with him. And having to tell the grandparents the news...

Arkay sighed. Maybe he really wasn't really cut out for this line of work? But... he had all this power, so he felt like he had to use it.

...

Bleh, he'd figure it out later. In a few minutes, he'd be able to focus on more... enjoyable things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nerine splashed her face with water as she got ready to start working again, though her thoughts were elsewhere. It had been so long since she and Arkay had seen each other, and they'd only gotten a chance to speak a few minutes. The moment Evelyn had shown up, Arkay, like always, had been transfixed on the older succubus.

She loved Evelyn like an older sister--the woman had done a lot for her. Far more than she could repay--but she often found herself... jealous of her ability to steal the spotlight, at least where her brother was concerned. Ah, if only he would look at her like he did Evelyn...

With her powers, she could force it, probably, but... that isn't what she wanted. Nerine wanted him to take her into his arms--those... strong, comforting arms--and whisper into her ear... maybe nibble on it a bi--

Shaking her head, Nerine banished those distracting thoughts. She had a job to do, and she wouldn't let thoughts of Arkay's... glistening bare... chest distract he--

--damn it.

The succubus sighed. Focus... focus! She splashed more cold--very cold--water on fare face.  It seemed to do the trick, and she stood up straight, pumping her fists. "Yeah, go out there and show 'em what you got, girl!" she said to her reflection.

...

God, she was sooo glad she was the only one within earshot right now.

"Well, you have got a lot to show them, so I imagine they'll be happy." Evelyn's voice, tinged with amusement, came from the doorway. She was leaning there, watching Nerine with a grin. "However, before you get to work showing off that... aha, delicious body, to our hungry customers, I need you to come with me. That stalker I was talking about? She's upstairs, and she came here following Arkay. From what I can sense, she's definitely not dangerous. Seems to only want to know more about him. Regardless, wanted you to come along to talk with her, see what's going on."

~~~~~

Arkay wasn't alone for long. After a few minutes, the door opened. A woman slipped in, turning to lock the door before turning back to look at Arkay. She smiled warmly, if a bit shyly. "Hello, Arkay..." They had met before, of course. Arkay was around the brothel enough that even if he hadn't been intimate with one of the girls, he had still at least met and talked with them. On this occasion, it was Reimusan, a woman that was fairly popular at the Coiled Lotus. Motherly and loving, drop-dead gorgeous, as well as the mother AND grandmother of two young women who had clearly inherited her beauty.

She was currently dressed in a luxurious looking Kimono, only the best for Evelyn's girls, and she moved closer, still giving Arkay that demure smile. "I was told that a certain someone was looking for... 'motherly affection'. You.. wouldn't happen to know who that is, would you?"

Nerine jumped a bit at Evelyn's voice, having not at all expect the intrusion. Calming herself, she turned to face the older woman. "Ahaha, you caught that little pep talk... sooo embarrassing..." Evelyn likely knew that it was more to focus herself on things... other than Arkay, and less to psyche herself up. As a succubus, she definitely didn't have any issues strutting her stuff.

...okay, so maybe she'd been nervous the first day or two, but she'd gotten used to those lustful stares from the patrons quickly.

But she was getting distracted from more important things... like this stalker. Her expression hardened ever so slightly. "My brother has a stalker? That's..." She paused for a moment, looking off to the side. "...they may not be dangerous, but if he hasn't noticed them, then they're definitely not normal." Or he did know and didn't think they were a threat, but he definitely would have said something to her mentally if he did.

Nerine moved over to Evelyn and nodded. "kay, let's go find out what this creep wants."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When his partner for the next couple of hours entered the room, Arkay had been staring absent-mindedly at the ceiling, arms folded behind his head. Having successfully cleared his mind, he'd gone into a sort of... meditative state, for lack of a better term. The lovely woman's voice brought him back to reality.

Giving the woman a slow once-over, Arkay quickly recognized her as Reimusan, someone whom he knew and had talked to on occasion, but never gotten the chance to get to know more... intimately, in any sense. He recalled that both her daughter and grand-daughter worked a the brothel, too. Heh, Evelyn really knew how to pick 'em.

"Ohhh, if it isn't Reimusan," he said as he pushed himself into a sitting position. "You're looking as lovely as ever." Understatement of the century... all of the women at the brothel were bombshells, but Reimusan was one that had caught his eye early on. Unfortunately, circumstance had conspired to deny him a taste of this magnificent woman, as well as her descendents.

Patting the bed, he smiled at her. "How are Urako and Sakurako these days?"

When Evelyn led Nerine over to Yukikaze, the disguised Fox Demon was still leaning on the railing, staring at the door to the room Arkay had gone into with a bored look on her face. "Excuse me, ma'am?" Evelyn's voice made her blink, and she glanced over at Evelyn.

"...Was wondering how long it would take you to come over here. How long did you know?"

"From the moment you walked in the door, dear. Just had to settle some things first. Now, care to explain why you are following Arkay around?" At this, Yuki glanced over to the door again, before immediately dropping her disguise, revealing her true self. She grinned, and held out her hand.

"Agent Yukikaze Moriya. I'm with Nobus, and I'm Arkay's new partner. Just wanted to get a feel for what he's like before we work together, y'know?" She motioned to a nearby table. "Can we sit and talk? I'd like to know whatever you two can tell me. Though I don't need to know anything super private, just things that are relevant to someone that is... well, going to be working with him and watching his back, while he watches mine."

"Well... I don't see why not. I'm not really surprised you'd take this tactic though... Fox Demons and their mischievous nature, after all." Evelyn smirked, moving to take a seat, pulling out a seat for Nerine as well while Yukikaze took her own seat.

"Fox Demon, and a bona fide shinobi! Of course I go for stealth."

~~~~~

Reimusan chuckled softly, walking over to sit down on the edge of the bed with Arkay. "Thank you, Arkay. You look handsome as always... even if you do look tired. Urako and Sakurako are both doing well. Urako actually tended to a client on her own the other day. I was very proud of her for having that confidence... though I admit, her not needing me there to support her was... hm... conflicting for me." She shrugged a bit. "Sakurako is as wild and carefree as ever... she actually barged in on me with another client... a week ago I'd say. I love her energy though..."

Ah, what a relief... the stalker just happened to be Nii-Sama's new partner getting a feel for him. Not a bad idea, seeing how he acted just going about his normal business without a... probably senior agent looking over his shoulder.

That his new partner--this Yuki--was a fox demon was definitely a surprise, though. As far as she knew, Nii-Sama didn't have any experience with fox demons, unlike her. After all, a few of her co-workers and friends were fox demons. That didn't make her an expert of their culture, but she knew enough to realize that it wouldn't take long for her brother and Yuki to hit it off sexually.

Another pang of jealousy--this time towards Yuki--swelled in her chest, then abated. She should be happy for her brother... after all, hadn't he wished for a cute girl as a partner? And now he had it... yeah, this was a good thing...

Nerine took a seat and folded her hands on the table. "It's great to meet you, Yuki. When I heard Nii-sama had a stalker, I thought maybe it was an abhorrent admirer type, but... to hear that it was just his new partner was a relief. Knowing what I do about fox demons, I'm sure you and Nii-sama will get along great..."

She paused for a moment, thinking. "So, anything in particular you'd like to know?"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arkay laughed at the mentioned of Sakurako barging in. "She just barged in? Yeah, that sounds like her. Bet the customer didn't mind, if I'm right about how things went from there..." Knowing Sakurako, she likely joined in, unless it was an emergency. "I certainly wouldn't complain, in any case."

On the subject of her daughter, Urako, Arkay was glad to know that she was beginning to... branch out, so to speak. It was good to rely on family, to an extent, but one had to stand on their own, ya know? "As for Urako... well, the closest experience I have to that is when Nerine started working her and became more... independent. Heh, I got so used to having her rely on me all the time that it just felt... weird to me. But, the better she can stand on her own, the better off she'll be if..."

He trailed off, realizing that this train of thought could very well spoil things. "...well, it's always good to be self-sufficient, yeah? Now..." With but the slightest effort of will, Reimusan was gently lifted into the air, coming to rest on Arkay's lap. With a snap of his fingers, the lights dimmed.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed her neck lightly, sensually. "Let's enjoy ourselves, hm? Any requests?" One might think it odd for the client to ask such a question, but he cared just as much about giving pleasure as receiving it.

Evelyn of course sensed Nerine's jealousy, and under the table she rested a hand on the younger girl's thigh, giving a gentle squeeze. Yuki herself sensed it as well, though not as acutely, and filed it away for later. "Well... I'd like to know what kind of person he is, for one. I've read his file and I know the things about his skills and his observed personality on duty and all that... but I want to know what he's like as a person, not as a Nobus Agent. I'd also like to know any possible habits or quirks that could cause issues, or just that I should look out for."

~~~~~

Reimusan giggled a bit as she was floated into Arkay's lap, leaning into him and putting an arm around his waist as well. "Such an odd thing for a client to ask.... not that I mind." She started to undo the sash of her kimono, and as the fabric started to loosen, Reimusan's impressive cleavage coming on display, it also gave a hint of the lack of a bra underneath. "Well... since you've asked... I've heard you are quite impressively equipped, as well as pent up today... would you mind getting me ready?"

Nerine sent a glance at Evelyn at the squeeze, grateful for the emotional support. Being jealous--especially of someone she'd just met--was definitely not healthy. Especially a fox demon... maybe, later on when she'd gotten to know Yuki, she could talk to her about that... issue. But that could wait.

"Well..." she began, sighing and leaning back in her chair a bit. "...I'm a bit biased, given I'm his sister, but he's..." She paused, gathering her thought to try to form as objective a description as possible. "...he's... one of those people that's capable of putting forth an image of being in complete control, of being perfectly fine, even when he's hurting inside."

Another pause, her expression darkening. "He... I wouldn't say he has a hero complex, but... okay, when we first came her, we had three more in our family... Sumire, Joseph, and Jotaro. They... aren't around anymore, and I think he blames himself for that and has been trying to atone."

"On a more positive note, he's great with kids--really patient and protective--generous, fairly open-minded, and even though he can come across as kind of... um, lackadaisical, he'll always come through in the end." Or at least he always had for her, such as when their relatives had taken her hostage for... she didn't even know what they were trying to accomplish. Bunch of crazy, evil bastards who'd gotten what was coming to them.


"Ahh, let's see... uh, well, he's got strong succubus blood, and that makes him... he... has large appetites, and if he's been having a dry spell, he can become... distracted easily," she said. "He definitely wouldn't ignore his duty in exchange for sex, but I could see someone that knows this using it to get him into a... vulnerable position." Not that it would do much good, given how quickly he could react and how hard he was to kill, but it was relevant information nonetheless.

Then, without thinking, she added: "Oh, and he can take a while to get out of bed if there's someone nearby to cuddle or snuggle with. Not that I mind, with those strong ar--" She blinked, realizing that she had said a bit too much. Her face almost immediately turned red, and she buried her face in her hands. "Oh my god... sorry... sorry. My mind tends to wander when..."

She sighed and raised her head. "Ya know what, I... I'm just going to shut my trap before my foot comes out the other end. Was I at least helpful before I made a fool of myself?"

~~~

Impressively equipped. Heh, he didn't like to brag, but that was one way to put it. Though, with some women, his size made things... difficult. These days, he actually preferred non-human women, since they were better able to... accommodate him. Succubi, especially.

It didn't take much to get him ready to go, and Reimusan undoing her obi, revealing her assets made him want to just ravage her like a wild animal. However, he'd made an offer and had every intent of keeping it.

Planting another kiss on her neck, he slowly work his way down, loosening her kimono until her bosom burst forth entirely. All the while, he gradually lowered her into a lying down position with the aid of his telekinesis. If nothing else, he was... quite proud of his ability to integrate his powers into sex.

Without missing a beat, he took her nipple into his mouth, gently sucking on it and teasing her with his tongue. With his free hand, he traced a path down her stomach until his hand reached her womanhood. Immediately, he began teasing her clit, stimulating it with a gentle motion that gradually ramped up, as he attempted to find her 'sweet spot'. Every woman was a bit different, he'd found, but he was very good at finding that sweet spot.

Yuki smiled softly, finding Nerine's flustered behavior to be... adorable, really. She was sad to hear about the rest of their family, but they seemed to be doing alright now... mostly. "I'd say you've given me a lot of insight, Nerine. Thank you." She leaned back in her seat a bit. "As for his appetites... if we get along well, I certainly don't mind making sure he's getting fed. Though I suspect you are not surprised by that. Succubi and Fox Demons have a lot of similarities in terms of how we view sexuality, after all."

"True enough. I hope you like him then, because he's going to be showing up here for release constantly if he has to spend time with you all the time and isn't getting any." After Evelyn said this, she paused. "Well, that's not a bad thing, actually, but I'd rather he was getting his rocks off on the regular.


~~~~~

Reimusan was happy to let Arkay take charge, actually giggling a bit at the way he used his powers. "You're having fun with that, aren't you... bit that I am complaining..." It was an interesting feeling by itself, but she definitely enjoyed the attention he paid her body with his mouth. Particularly her breasts, biting her lip briefly as he teased her nipple. "I wonder if I'll find out today whether you are a 'Breast Man' or 'Ass Man'... Sakurako was curious..."

And then, of course, his fingers made their way south to explore, and she inhaled sharply. "Oh... yes, I do believe this is going to be fun..."

Nerine nodded. "Yep... heh, actually, fox demons are right up there with succubi when it comes to how well I connect with 'em. They've been nothing but supportive of me when it comes to... certain matters." She didn't elaborate on those matters, but considering her embarrassment earlier and how perceptive fox demons could be, Nerine had no doubt that Yuki would know what she was talking about. "Actually, come to think of it, we have fox demon blood from our mother's side. Different reality, but the differences are pretty minor. Explains a lot about him... and me too, actually."

Upon further thought, an... interesting tidbit about her brother and fox demons came to mind. "Huh, you know, I... I may be mistaken, but I don't think Onii-sama's ever... been with a fox demoness before. And that's despite my foxier friends here expressing... enthusiastic interest in meeting him. I wonder how... he'll..."

She trailed off, her expression blanking. After a moment, she turned to Evelyn with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Calling it now--Onii-sama's going to turn out to be a... a fluff fanatic!" Nerine chuckled. "Not that I could blame him... sometimes, after a hard day, I just can't help collapsing into a fluffy tail-pillow..."

Nerine turned back to Yuki. "Sooo, obviously, you haven't gotten a chance to talk to Onii-sama and really get to know him, but what do you think of him so far, based on... uh, what you know of him as an agent and what you've learned while following him? Your first impression, I guess."

It was funny how both Evelyn and Yuki were watching Nerine with small, knowing smiles. Her feelings were so blatant... Yuki knew that Nerine must really reign things in a lot if Arkay hadn't noticed by now. "First impressions, huh? Well... he's definitely a horn-dog, though I can't fault him for that. At all. I knew he was a competent agent, but seeing him in action certainly helped. More importantly... I can tell that he's a decent guy, with a good heart. He has an eye for trouble it seems, and that's valuable. And... he's good with kids." As soon as she said that, while smiling, Evelyn let out an undignified snort.

"Yes, Nerine, Arkay will be in good hands.... in multiple ways. Few things arouse a Fox Demon quite like someone that would make a good parent."

"Hey now, I'm not going to bed him just because. I want to get to know him first... THEN fuck him." She paused, looking at Nerine. "...Want details or anything? One girl to another, and all that."

So far, Nerine's impression of Yuki was positive. That wasn't a surprise, since fox demons were, as far as she knew, mostly good people. Nii-sama would definitely hit it off with her, and if they hit it off really well, then maybe...

...well, no, it was too soon to consider that, but it was a possibility.

And, as expected, the foxy shinobi had managed to see right through her--again, not a surprise. She, uh, restrained herself when she was with Nii-sama, but around others--especially here--she didn't make too much of an effort to disguise how she felt.

That offer, though... it was tempting. "Weeell, I've heard plenty from Evelyn, but..." Trailing off, she drummed her fingers on the table in thought. "Mm, yeah, I'll take you up on that offer. For, um... research purposes."


"Oh, and I knew fox demons liked kids and were naturally good parents, but not that it was an actual turn-on... huh," she said. "Bet he'd be popular if he ever ended up in the Grove. Maybe someday he and I can visit... or even live there!"

Yuki hummed to herself softly. "I mean, it's certainly possible, though not terribly likely. Because of how... important the safety of the Grove is. Earning enough trust to even be able to visit is a pretty big deal. The fact Arkay is in Nobus helps though." She seemed to think for a moment. "Come to think of it... I assume you know some Fox Demons personally, based on what you've said, so I admit I'm curious. Wonder if I know any of them..."

"Oh, quite possibly. However, I'll have to leave you both for now. It's time for the part of my job that I am not fond of... paperwork." Evelyn sighed a bit, then leaned over to kiss Nerine on the cheek, before standing up. "I'll see you both later." She waved a bit, pouting a little, before walking off.

Nerine blushed at the kiss, though she definitely appreciated the affection. After waving good-bye to Evelyn, she turned back to Yuki. The fox demoness gave her a good feeling, but it couldn't hurt to learn a bit about her.

"Sooo... what made you choose to become a Nobus agent?" asked Nerine. There could be a few answers, she figured. Anything from mere excitement to feeling that with great power came great responsibility. Or, most likely, some mix. "Oh, and... if you want, feel free to ask anything else that comes to mind about onii-sama... or, uh, even me, even though I'm kind of... boring, I guess."

It's not that she was lacking confidence or anything--it's just that her life was just... kind of normal. Er, as normal as a succubus waitress-dancer's life could be.

Yuki smiled a bit... oddly. "Was a mix of things, really... honestly, I didn't really want to be a fighter, originally. When I was younger, it was discovered that, apparently, I had inherited the Kekkei Genkai, a bloodline limit, of a long extinct clan of shinobi from the Elemental Nations. It wasn't terribly uncommon for a Fox Demon to inherit one of these, but for it to be from an extinct clan? That was really big news. Combine that with the fact I was born with three tails despite being born to one-tailed parents, and people expected big things of me."

She shrugged a bit. "They didn't try to force me into anything, but everyone around me had such high expectations of me that I didn't see any choice but to throw myself into becoming a fighter, so I wouldn't disappoint them all. I trained hard, even spent several years in the Elemental Nations in disguise to learn from masters, and when I returned to the Grove... I discovered that a civil war of sorts had gone down, without me even knowing. My parents, little brother, aunt... most of my family was gone."

She scratched her cheek, looking down at the table. "People that knew me were just happy I was alive... nobody blamed me for not being there, for not knowing... but I did. So, once I got my bearings, paid my respects to my family, and talked to the new Kyuubi... I left the Grove. Just too painful to stay there at the time, you know? ...Anyway, I traveled a bit for awhile, but got restless. I wanted to put all that training to good use, and I wanted to help people. I guess I wanted to atone, despite the fact I didn't need to. So... one thing led to another really, and here I am. A Nobus agent."

Her ears had pinned back a bit during her explanation, but after a moment, they suddenly perked back up, and she grinned. "So, how long have you been in love with your brother?"

Nerine listened to Yuki's explanation of how she became a Nobus agent. She was a bit vague near the end, but, ultimately, her reasons were pretty similar to her brother's... atonement and wanting to put her power to good use. "I'm... sorry for your loss. It's... tough, losing loved ones."

She'd heard a bit of that... conflict from her fox demon friends. Nothing too in-depth, but she did know it had happened about a century and a half ago, which meant that Yuki'd had plenty of time to come to terms. Though, she knew from personal experience that the hurt from losing loved ones never quite went away.

The question about how long she'd been in love with her brother was... not surprising. Pinpointing an exact moment was impossible--it was really more of a series of things. "Since before we came here, so... probably fifteen years. I suppose the seeds of those feelings were planted in my teens, when my body was changing from a human's to a succubus's. It was... unimaginably, indescribably painful, and I had to endure it for years. Since I didn't want to be a bother to my siblings, I hid it, just... endured the pain silently, and only when I was alone did I allow myself to cry and, uh, vent. However..."

She paused, a wistful look coming into her eye. "I wasn't able to hide it from my brother, and one day he came into my room and just... comforted me. Stroked my hair, gave me a shoulder to cry on, and even used his powers to take a lot of the pain I was feeling onto himself. It was very... intimate, and it wasn't long before I started crushing on him, though what really made me fall was..."

Another pause, her expression becoming... downcast. "Except for the branch my siblings and I were a part of, our family back home is... was... pretty vile. And influential. Sometime after I, ah, matured as a succubus, they captured me, with the intent to... strengthen the bloodline, to put it one way. But before they could do anything to me, Onii-sama came swooping in to save me... alone. Well, not alone, but according to Sumire, my older sister, he... just... lost it and charged in without any regard to his own safety. He fought, and bled... all to protect me."

Sighing, her gaze wandered over to one of her coworkers... attending to a customer. "It was reckless and stupid of him, but at the same time that memory makes me feel... warm, protected... loved. He's not perfect, but he's always been there for me, so... I decided to always be there for him." Her gaze returned to Yuki, a wry smile emerging. "Besides, he's a total ikeman. What girl wouldn't want a ride?"

Yuki's face had hardened a bit over the course of Nerine's story, clearly displeased with what she was hearing. This should be no surprise to Nerine, however. She'd likely already become quite aware of how seriously Fox Demons took that particular subject. By the end though, Yuki's gaze had softened, and she got up to take the seat next to Nerine, resting her elbow on the table and propping her head on her hand.

"And that, Nerine, tells me more about him than what you've already told me. Before, you were trying to 'sell' him to me, in a way. Nothing wrong with that, especially since you were being honest. But what you just told me, and the way you told me... that's worth far more. To me, at least. If I am going to have a partner... I want one who does things like that." She grinned. "Reckless and stupid is only an insult if your heart isn't in the right place, y'know? I'd rather have a partner like that, consequences and all." She pounded her other fist over her heart.

"This, this is what truly matters. Not the skills, the intelligence, the good looks, whatever. All of that is just a bonus. Without heart, you're nothing. That's my take, anyway." She leaned in closer, smirking.

"Besides that, how could I not trust a man that has earned such a pure and honest love as the one you hold for him? So I'll tell you what... I won't say I won't sleep with him, but I promise that if you ever work up the courage to tell him how you feel, I'll support you. No better wingman than a Fox Demon!"

Yuki was absolutely right. As handsome and powerful as her brother was, all that was just... an accessory, a bonus, as the fox demon said. He'd calmed down--matured, some would say--since that whole thing with their family, but even now, she knew that if she ever got into trouble, he'd definitely swoop in and save her, consequences be damned.

"Mmm, you're right... and thanks," she said, nodding. "I'm not... not ready to do that right now, and I don't think he is either, but I appreciate it. Buuut, I feel like I should return the favor somehow..."


Tapping the table, Nerine tilted her head in thought. There wasn't really much she could offer... money wasn't anywhere near sufficient, and she doubted Yuki had much of a need for the stuff... hm... ah, maybe... "I really don't have much to offer, buuut if you ever want to have some fun, just ask. I... want Onii-sama to be my first full-on experience, so there's things I won't do, but I'm sure we could have fun in other ways." Her tone was playful and a bit seductive, though she didn't turn up the lust aura... no real need, considering the person she was speaking to was a fox demon.

Yuki's soft smile slowly turned almost wicked, her pupils briefly becoming slits as Nerine would suddenly be quite aware of the pheromones Yuki was putting out, though the Fox Demoness reigned it in shortly after. "I might have to take you up on that some time. Not for a bit though, I think. I don't think my new partner would appreciate me fooling around with his little sister just yet... though once we do... y'know, I could titillate him with tales of how much fun you and I have, if you like."