FIRST DAY JITTERS

Homare sighed as he set about organizing the stack of loan applications in front of him. The office had been closed for only five days but the amount of documents accumulated in that time would take a month to sort and properly research before handing to his boss. He set the small loans, those that were only for 100,000 yen to 200,000 yen, in one pile to be researched by his brother as they were the easiest and usually took only thirty minutes of background checking. Others, such as the one from an up-and-coming clothing designer named Mizoguchi, were for 2 million yen or more and would require a day to investigate the potential customer, their assets and their business before approval.

Homare rubbed his temples, already knowing he would be missing a few hours of sleep for at least a week to sort this mess out. A soft humming interrupted the silence of the office that had previously only been broken by the soft tapping of his or his twin's fingers on their keyboards. Speaking of messes…

The elder twin's gaze drifted to the little rabbit, Ayase Yukiya, who was the cause of their delay as the blonde made four cups of tea while humming a little, unknown tune completely oblivious to the smell it was releasing.

The twins had only been working for Kanou for almost a year but never had their boss closed the doors of their business, even on holidays. Yet the day after the rabbit arrived, the Kuba twins were told to cancel Kanou's meetings for a week. But that week was in no way a vacation for Homare and Misao… instead, they found themselves running errands. From retrieving what little possessions the rabbit had from the blonde's family to buying necessities. Soon the small boy had a new wardrobe, hairbrush, toothbrush, school bag, notebooks, pencils, pens, bed (that still had yet to be assembled), sheets with little bunnies on them (Misao's idea of a joke that Kanou did not appreciate), an alarm clock, a bookshelf, a dresser, socks, shoes, and everything else that Kanou would text them to find.

The only thing left for the twins to find was a good high school for the rabbit to attend that was close to Kanou's building and/or highly secure. Of course the boss's first choice was the very expensive Ouran Academy… but the entrance exams would not be held for another six months (and based on the test scores obtained from Ayase-san's past school was likely not an option). So, Homare had examined other avenues. Thankfully, both an all-male school and a co-ed school were close by and were willing to accept transfers beginning their next semester. Homare had been ordered to research the madararui attending both schools for two days, compiling a list of names and madararui type, before his boss made a decision to send the bunny to the all-male school that had the lowest population of their kind and was walking distance from Kanou's apartment building.

Unfortunately, based on the curriculum the rabbit was unable to attend for another two weeks.

Thus, Homare was currently playing the role of babysitter to a little rabbit whose prey and fertile scent were driving him up a wall when there was so much work to be done. With another sigh, Homare cast a glance at Misao and found him still glued to his computer, completely apathetic to the tantalizing aroma and lacking any demonstration of annoyance with the blonde's presence.

Homare attempted to focus on the loan applications once more, reading details and sorting through the large stack. Homare was applying a sticky-note to one high risk loan when a warm cup was placed in his range of view from a tiny, pale hand. With surprise, Homare lifted his eyes to meet the blue of the boy he had just been raging internally about.

"I thought you needed some caffeine," the rabbit said softly with a small smile.

Cautiously, Homare took a sip with his eyes still locked on the boy's. To his astonishment, it was simply tea and wonderfully prepared with a hint of sweetener to counter the black tea's natural bite. Just as the boy lowered his eyes in shyness, Homare found himself uttering a small 'thank you.'

The eyes lifted again and became brighter before the rabbit went to fetch a mug and deliver it to his brother, who looked equally perplexed by its sudden appearance before shrugging and returning to work. Lastly, the rabbit picked up a mug and walked to Kanou's office, gently knocking and receiving a bark of "Come in!"

Curiously, Homare leaned over to watch the timid thing open the door and walk to Kanou, who was in an intense phone call with a client who was two days late on paying his bill. The Kume Coral Snake's manner went from intimidation to gentle in a split second as he took the cup and patted the rabbit on the head. There was a warmth in his boss's face as the snake took a sip of his mug that utterly bewildered Homare.

The owl had never before seen anyone, even the panther madararui, Someya-sama, who practically raised his boss be given such an affectionate look or treated so delicately. Quite frankly, the dichotomy between the Kanou Somuku then and the one who had been present for only a week was terrifying.

Just what was it about the weak madararui that inspired such a change? Could the rabbit be somehow related to his boss? The owl had noted that the bunny's relatives had been cobras, so perhaps a relative of Kanou's mother… no, even blood relatives held not much sentiment for the boss. The only one who would receive the slightest glimmer of affection was the bear cub Yamato, who the boss treated as a bratty little brother.

Oh… perhaps that was the plan.

Although the blonde was clearly at least ten years older than the bear cub it was possible that Kanou had bought the rabbit to groom for Yamato's future wife. That seemed the most plausible explanation for kind treatment his boss showed the rabbit… at least until Homare saw the lustful gleam in the snake's eyes as the rabbit bent over to pick something up.

Homare straightened and shook his head slightly as he returned to his work. He pitied the little rabbit. As the mate of the bear Yakuza heir or the mate of a snake loan shark, the boy's future was not an ideal one.

OoooooooO

Ayase watched from the car as a group of boys ran into the school's entrance, trying to push down the panic attack that was building inside of him at their appearance. Monkeys. Nearly everyone that had passed them were monkeys- swollen sausage fingers clutching school bags, hairy bodies that made the small rabbit sick to his stomach, and varying types of pointed faces and extended jaws. They would have been comical to the old him before the incident but now he was simply using every bit of willpower to keep his limbs from shaking.

'It's fine.' Ayase told himself as he gazed out the window as he carefully observed four monkeys in a circle laughing and talking. 'They are wearing different uniforms from the creatures that attacked you. These boys will not hurt you.' Ayase took a deep breath and shifted away from the comfortable leather of the backseat while double checking his messenger bag for all his supplies. He could feel the owl's curious gaze upon him in the rearview mirror and tried to pull himself together. He glances back towards the school and sees the uniformed monkeys have begun filing in.

Taking a deep breath, Ayase unclips the seatbelt and places a hand on the door handle and slides out of the car. By now, almost all of the other boys have vacated the area and only a few remain standing around off to the side, the small tell-tale wisps of smoke revealing the reason for their delay. Ayase gives one last glance back inside the car before he shuts the door and walks quickly inside the school. Once actually inside, he makes his way to where the signs point for his classroom on the second floor. Most of the students have taken their seats, others are straightening the classroom up for when the teacher finally arrives or writing things on a small board off to the side. In the back there are several seats available so Ayase quietly tries to slip in the backdoor and slide into one. He breathes a sigh of relief when his plan works when no one even turns to look in his direction.

Hands still slightly shaking, he begins to take out a notebook and a pencil. A blush settles on his face when he realizes one of the Kuba twins had chosen pencils that matched his new bed. Little cartoon bunnies trailed all over the pencil performing various tasks such as reading a book, carrying a basket, painting… Ayase dug into the bag to examine the other pencils available and was dismayed to find all of the pencils had little bunnies on them in different styles. He chose the least obvious one with the rabbit chasing the clock and placed the rest back in the bag.

How had he not noticed them before? As cute as he found them, boys his age did not use such things and it was not the best way to start off in a new school with such babyish items.

The sound of the door sliding closed startled Ayase from his thoughts and he looked up as the teacher entered the room. Instead of a monkey like the rest of his classmates, the teacher was a large bear with short black hair and a surprisingly calm face as he took in his students. "Good morning class!" the man called out as everyone standing quickly sat down in a fury of squeaking desk chairs. As he walked to his desk, a soft, strange smell began to fill the classroom. It was somewhat familiar but Ayase could not place the smell.

"Good morning Sensei," the class dutifully replied with small or large smiles just as the door opened again and a fox boy came running in with an armful of papers, a carefree smile upon his face despite his labored breathing and slightly disarrayed brown hair.

"Here are the worksheets you asked for, Kumakashi-sensei," the fox said as he passed over the stack.

The teacher gave a slight disapproving glance, likely because of the fox's tardiness before accepting the papers. "Thank you, Tokigawa; please, go find your seat." The fox gave an apologetic smile before walking down the aisle to Ayase's left and sliding into the desk two rows up before catching sight of the new face at the back of the classroom as he set his bag down.

The fox locked eyes with the blond rabbit, surprise and curiosity showing on the brunette's face as Ayase tried to make himself as small as possible. The two were too busy staring at each other to notice that Ayase failed to notice the bear had made his way to Ayase's right before the teacher had placed a hand upon the boy's shoulder.

The rabbit jumped in surprise, an action that the teacher neither acknowledged nor reacted to. "Class, we have a new student joining us for the remainder of the year: Ayase Yukiya. Ayase, please tell us a little about yourself."

Ayase bit his lip as every eye in the room turned to him and a soft murmuring of whispers began. His heart was pounding so hard he thought it was going to erupt from chest as he released his lip and attempted to speak, "I… I… I live with… Uh… I like…Uh…" He just couldn't think of what to say.

The bear's eyes seemed to soften and the large paw gently began to massage the boy's shoulder. "How about you tell us why you have chosen to switch schools?"

Ayase looked down, struggling to find the words. What was he to say? My Aunt and Uncle thought I was worthless? I helped a man who then saved me from becoming… a girl? Like a girl? Everyone no longer looks the same... Then there's Kanou who… "I was adopted," Ayase said aloud. "My new family lives here." That's what Kanou was right? He was far kinder than Ayase's family. And the twins… they were nice to him as well… when they wanted to be… kind of like brothers…

Ayase found a soft smile appearing on his face at the thought. Family. Yes, that's what they were. Family.

Ayase glanced up to see the teacher was smiling gently, the kind of smile people usually gave to children when they did something adorable. He gave the rabbit one last pat on the shoulder then turned back to the class, "Welcome, Ayase. Now, let's begin today's biology lesson. Who remembers the differences between mitosis and meiosis?"

One of the boys in the front row raised his hand and the majority of the eyes returned to the front of the room as the lesson began. The beginning of the day passed by quickly and the second teacher to come into the classroom had barely acknowledged the presence of a new face in the class. Although Ayase felt the occasional pair of eyes on him, he was left alone for the most part until lunch.

Unlike his new classmates, Ayase remained seated for lunch. He opened the simple black lunchbox and pulled out a rice-ball, happily nibbling at its contents as he looked over his history textbook. He was reading about the Mongol invasion of Japan and the establishment of Shoguns when a shadow crossed the page.

Ayase looked up to see the fox boy that had been staring at him earlier was standing in front of him. "Uh… hello," Ayase stuttered just as the boy reached down and flipped the page backwards in the textbook. Confused, Ayase was startled when the boy merely pointed to the section regarding the decision to move Japan's capital from Nara to Kyoto in 794 CE.

Ayase glanced up and saw the fox boy was smiling down at him. "We're not that far yet. We're still discussing the consequences of the move from Nara and the nobles' rise in power."

"Oh…" Ayase replied, lowing his eyes back to the page as the fox pulled a nearby chair up to the blonde's desk.

"Sorry I should probably have introduced myself first; I'm Tokigawa Takaaki," the fox stated as he sat down. "So you like history?" the fox inquired as he gestured to the textbook.

Ayase found himself smiling unexpectedly as he confirmed, "Yes. It's my favorite subject."

"Why? Some of this book is inaccurate…"

"It is?" Ayase asked tilting his head. "But why would they be teaching it if it wasn't true?"

"Most of it is, but they're leaving out some key points prior to the introduction of Buddhism by the Chinese," the brunette whispered as he pointed towards the beginning of the book. "I'm sure your parents told you of the war between reptile and mammal in 100 CE." At Ayase's blank look, the fox back tracked, "I mean your adoptive parents unless… are they monkeys?"

Ayase blinked, unsure how to answer before stuttering out his answer, "Um… no…" He wasn't sure how to answer that. Technically he didn't have any adoptive parents. Kanou was… Ayase wasn't sure wasn't sure what to describe him as other than someone who made him feel safe.

"Oh…" Tokigawa trailed off at the boy's expression. "So where are you from?"

"Here," Ayase mumbled. It was a question Ayase was used to getting since he was little due to his blond hair and blue eyes. "My father was Japanese and my mother was from Europe."

"Really? I didn't know there were any rabbit madararui families outside of Okunoshima and I was always told they don't like to travel away from their island." The fox's smile seemed sincere as he leaned in. "I think I have heard the family name Ayase before though… Was your father's family important on the island?"

Ayase tilted his head in confusion before the name finally registered. Okunoshima was an island to the south near Hiroshima known for its rabbit population. He supposed in the logic of the strange new world he had found himself in there would be rabbits like him living there. "My father wasn't a rabbit… he was actually a snake."

The fox's eyes widened. "How…"

Whatever Tokigawa was about to ask was halted by a bell chime and the return of the other students from their lunch only a few minutes before the teacher entered and the fox was forced to return to his normal seat. Ayase didn't know whether to be relieved by the forced parting or disappointed. He had never been very good at making friends, especially after he was sent to live with his cousin. He just was silent and shy by nature…

But maybe he should try to be more outgoing…

The rest of the day passed in a somewhat boring blur until finally it was the end of the day and Kumakashi-sensei returned once more to dismiss them. Desks and chairs were straightened, erasers clapped, and windows cleaned. Normally it was only students doing these chores but the bear was helping here and there before watering the little flowering plant in the corner.

Ayase wasn't tall enough for the hall window duty so he was placed at the open window clapping the eraser.

Just as the boys finished and prepared to leave for the day, the bear stopped them. "Now, before I let you go, the school's autumn festival will be held in three weeks and I need to know what our class wants to contribute," Kumakashi-sensei stated. "The theme is going to be stories from around the world. Any suggestions?"

"Tale of Genji?" Someone offered only to be hushed with a 'no way!'

"Aladdin?" There were several agreements with that one. Kumakashi-sensei wrote it on the board.

"Any other idea?"

"The Emperor's New Clothes!" That was followed by 'you just want to parade around naked.'

"Hey, how about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table?" Tokigawa offered from his spot near the front door. There was a massive 'cool' and 'awesome.'

Kumakashi-sensei erased 'Aladdin' and wrote 'King Arthur.' "I think we have our winner. Everyone research the different well known characters and we will discuss roles tomorrow. Class dismissed."

There was a cheer as the students filed out the doors and Ayase moved with the crowd to the front of the school. Once outside, Ayase stopped on the stairs and looked for the Kuba twins and the car. He saw the car parked at the end of the street and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw one the owls emerge from the car and hold open the door. Ayase slid into the car and smiled when he saw Kanou was there with his eyes glued to the paper work in his lap.

"How was school?" the snake asked as the rabbit buckled his seat.

"It was…" Ayase searched for the right word, "It was good."

"Do you have a lot of homework?"

"Yes," Ayase said as he pulled out his math textbook. Math was definitely his weakest subject. Ayase was trying to figure out the first problem when he felt the large hand ruffle his hair. He sighed happily as he leaned into the snake's cool touch before being pressed into the snake's side. He was home.

To be continued…

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