I head out into the living room where I smell Dai-chan and see him playing a Gameboy ds. Not being a large fan of Nintendo games, I don't know what it is. I plop myself down next to him on the faded green plushy couch, sneaking my arm around behind him. He doesn't seem to notice as he just keeps clicking and tapping away at the silver thing.

"Your Mum says we're having beef stew tonight."

He grunts in response but does nothing else. I sigh, running a hand through my silky tresses.

"Um, do you mind if I turn the TV on?"

He briefly looks up at me, nods and looks back down, murmuring where the clicker is. I would've asked what he was playing, but he seemed too engrossed, and I didn't feel like aggravating another member of the household tonight. I flip the astonishingly large device on and tune it to an antique show. Shiny things always calm me down.

As we sit there, waiting for food, I start to think about Dai-chan, particularly his family. Since Dai-chan is a kitsune hanyou, that meant one parent was human. And since his very protective mother is a terrifying vixen, that means his father is the human. Now, there are very few interspecies relationships that work out, even less so if one is a human.

This can happen for various reasons, a common one being the hunter prey boundary, and another a familial conflict. Now that is just with youkai, humans are an entirely different matter. So it will probably be safe to assume, without openly prying into Emiko's private life, that she simply wished to protect her identity when she got pregnant with Dai-chan.

Now, onto her problem with me. I have no idea what her problem is, it can't be the hunter prey thing because I would be the prey in this situation, as she very kindly informed me, and it's usually the prey that has the problem. And I certainly don't, unless Dai-chan suddenly wanted to top, and I highly doubt he's a seme. Maybe she's just racist, because she was very eager to point out exactly what she thought of my kind.

I fight not to sigh out loud ad just opt to glare at the TV instead. This might be a problem, because if she has less than favorable view of me, then Dai-chan probably carries those same thoughts. After all, children learn from those around them. Shit, what am I supposed to do? I still want Dai-chan, but I obviously have to get approval from his family first.

This time I do let out a sight and switch off the TV and get up.

"Is something wrong?"

Dai-chan is looking up at me with large inquisitive red eyes, his ears twitching in my direction. I reach out and pat his head almost with out realizing it and smile reassuringly at him.

"Nah, There's just something I wanted to talk about with Emiko. Be back soon."

"Ok."

I go around the couch and head back to the kitchen. When I open the door, the smells hit me and my stomach makes cries of desire. Emiko looks over her shoulder at me, all the while continuing to stir the contents of the pot and smiles at me. Not so creepily this time.

"Oh dear, someone seems impatient. Usually it's Daisuke though. He must be too engrossed in one of his games to notice then."

As she says this, she turns her attention back to her task. I blush and scratch the back of my head nervously, and decide to sit down where I sat before. The sight of the new gouge in the wooden surface almost makes me lose my resolve.

"Ah, that's not the reason I came in here, though it smells fantastic. I wanted to clear some things up with you, since I think we got off on the wrong foot."

She removes the spoon and places it softly on a holding dish before turning around to face me. The look in her eyes only giving away innocent curiosity.

"Oh? Is there something wrong? I do hope I didn't offend you in anyway."

If I had Dai-chan's ears, they'd be plastered to my head. This woman is not someone to cross, and I feel that one wrong move would end up with me stewing in that pot as some future meal. But I can't back down, I have to clear this up now, and I don't like feeling weak and helpless. I'm a Karasu tengu damn it, not some dimwitted bird. I plaster on my nicest and most charming smile and begin.

"I just wanted to straighten some things out with you, since I am hoping to be with you're son in the future. I realize that I am a crow but I don't think that should hinder-"

"Oh dear, it does seem that you're misunderstanding something. I don't care one whit what form of creature you are. Otherwise I wouldn't have had relations with a human. I just simply don't care for your attitude."

I blink, my smile replaced by a flabbergasted expression. Her smile widens as she places her left hand on her cheek while resting it on her right, which is hugging her torso.

"Um, I'm not sure what you mean?"

"Oh, you know exactly what I mean. You approach others with an oh so charming attitude, which I am sure has coerced many into your bed before, but I assure you, I won't work on me. My baby boy is the only thing I have in this world since I mated a human and left my clan, and I will make sure nothing bad happens to my little kit. Especially since he's not even sexually mature yet."

I can barely contain my shock as pieces slowly click together in my mind. The first thing I realized is that Dai-chan's mother was intensely protective, and with good reason. She had to raise him, truly alone in this world, and she wouldn't let anything ruin all the effort she put into raising him. The other thing that clicked was this new information I had obtained about Dai-chan's, um, biology.

"H-he's not sexually mature? How? Isn't he sixteen?"

She blinks at me, I guess I threw her off with my question.

"Mm, we kitsune's are a bit different biologically. It is true that he is an acceptable age, but he won't reach full maturity for a few months yet. Don't get me wrong; this just indicates fertility and our heat cycle. He can still get aroused and have sex."

I sigh heavily in relief and rest my forehead on the counter. At least he isn't jailbait. I still need to clear some things up though so I quickly sit back up and look at her seriously for a change. Her arms are just crossed now and she's looking at me expectantly, if a little amused.

"I apologize for how I came off to you, I was just trying to get in your good graces so I would have a better chance with Daisuke. I truly want him in a romantic way, not just for sex. Besides, I haven't slept with countless people."

She chuckles at the last part.

"I'm serious!"

"Ho ho ho ho. Forgive me, but a boy with your looks and cocky confidence would have me believe otherwise."

I frown; normally I wouldn't be so offended. Normally guys want to be seen as experienced and proficient in such a field, but to get her to believe me, I'm going to have to admit to something I wasn't even planning on letting Dai-chan know.

"Sorry to contradict you Emiko, but I'm a virgin."

Now she just out right laughs. I deeply blush but continue looking at her while waiting for her to calm down.

"Oh, now I'm sure you're joking."

"I wish I was, but crows mate for life. The most experience I have is with porn and the occasional male assistance toy."

This time it's her turn to be flabbergasted, as she hides her mouth behind her hand, only showing her enormous eyes. Before I look away in shame she suddenly gets very excited and whirls around, turning off the stove and grabbing bowls.

"That's a whole other matter completely then! Now, take these bowls and some spoons to the table. Dinner is ready."

She quickly shoves the mentioned items and some glasses as well into my unsuspecting hands and shoos me out the door, all with this giddy and elated look on her face. did something good happen or did I just royally fuck up again? Guess I'll have to wait to find out as I stumble towards the table that Dai-chan is already sitting at, with a strange look on his face as he watches me.