Chapter 2: The First Day

Tsukune Aono awoke half an hour before dawn, as was customary for him. He was clad in his boxers, an arm draped over his sister. She was clad in a simple t-shirt and panties.

Most would have found the scene rather disturbing. It wasn't. Tsukune was simply a brother who at a young age had slept in the same bed as his sister, and had never stopped doing so.

He stretched his muscles, and changed into his gi. The young man snatched up his bo, and stepped outside. He gave a bow to the house, and began doing his katas.

His body moved through the motions with the precision of repetition. Stances were balanced and poised, strikes fast and hard, blocks firm and unyielding. At certain points, Tsukune let out a light bellow, a way of increase the strike and maintain good breath. A light sweat broke out on the young man as he spent the next half hour going through the various forms of the bo.

Near the end of his routine, he heard someone approaching the house. When the figure stopped respectfully nearby, he decided to finish his routine. He completed the kata, faced the house, and bowed. Tsukune then turned to face the visitor.

It was a man, a few years older the Tsukune. He had long yellow hair, pointed ears, and yellow eyes. He was dressed in the uniform of the student police, but he was too old to be a student.

"Greetings Tsukune Aono. My name is Kuyo, and I would like to talk to Ahri. Is she available?" The voice was politely neutral. Despite that, Tsukune was filled with the sense that he was being sized up by a predator. This man was a dangerous as the silver haired one from orientation.

"She will be soon if she isn't. While we wait, would you like some tea?" Tsukune did not want to have the leader of the school police annoyed with him, not if he could help it.

"That sounds nice." Tsukune boiled some water, and pulled out some tea leaves. Within minutes there was some steaming green tea. Tsukune served his guest with precision born of practice. There was a rhythmic thumping as Ahri descended from the second floor.

"Brother, who is this?" She sat down at the table, clutching a mug Tsukune had left out for her. She was still in her night wear, completely uncaring of her unkempt state.

"Ahri-hime, this is Kuyo-sama, head of the Student Police. He said he wanted to talk to you." Said person smiled softly.

"Indeed." The body then shifted, revealing fox ears, whiskers, and four red-colored tails.

"You-you're a kitsune!" Ahri was almost bouncing up and down, barely keeping herself from acting like a fool.

"Yes. And I am here to make an offer to you. But in order for you understand, I will have to explain some Kitsune culture to you, particularly in family relationships." He paused, and Ahri nodded for him to continue.

"Most Kitsune live in small villages comprised of several clans. They inter-mate, and mate with other clans. A clan has a head, who is the mother of the children. These children can come from many mates, and are all equal.

The villages send out their males to mate with other females, spreading the genes around. It is rare for a female to leave her own village to find a mate, for the child belongs to the village he or she was born in. Most female Kitsunes will have around five mates, some more."

He paused, surveying the two to make sure they understood.

"I am willing to make a deal with you to become my mate. Wait-" He held out a hand forestalling the oncoming protests and exclamations, "hear me out-, let me explain my reasons.

I am going to spend the rest of my life in this school. This is my village, and until yesterday, I was the only kitsune to pass through these buildings in over fifty years.

I became head of the police because I know this school is necessary for our survival as free races. Humanity would defeat us and probably kill us-no offence Tsukune-if they knew of our existence. This school, like the others on the continents, is our greatest chance at survival. I live here now.

But for this to continue on, I need an heir. Someone to take the reins whom I have taught and can trust implicitly. And I am not asking you just let me have your child. I am making a deal.

I will teach all about Kitsunes. Our culture, history, factions, even our biology. Everything. I will extend my protection to you and your brother for your time in the school."

There was silence after the offer, broken only by the puffing of a pipe.

"Why is an heir so important? Why can't you just groom Keito or someone else for the position?" Tsukune remained silent; this was his hime's decision.

"Because no one else will stay in this school. They all have their own plans and ambitions. Only a child raised here would stay here, though I am the exception to this rule." Ahri nodded in understanding.

"I…I need time to think on this."

"Of course you do. I would be very surprised, and somewhat disappointed, if you didn't think this over. I will come by again in two weeks. That should be enough time for you to think it over. Thank you for your time." Kuyo stood up to leave.

"Kuyo, I will respect whatever decision my Hime makes. But know this; if you ever force yourself upon her, I will kill you, no matter how powerful you are." The words were like the wind bringing winter's frost.

"Of course you would." The politeness that Kuyo had throughout the entire conversation now started to grate on Tsukune's nerves. The kitsune shifted back into his human form, and left the building.

"Mates, he wants to be mates, I would have to give up my child! But to know who I am-"

"Stop. You know who you are already. You are Ahri-hime, adopted child in the Aono clan. You like to sing, to garden, and to write. You want to be a book writer when you grow up. You are kind. You know who you are. This is a chance to find out what you are."

"I-yes. Thank you, brother." A pause. "What do you think-"

"I will not say. This is for you to decide and you alone. I have no idea what you are thinking, what you are going through, so how can I weigh in. All I can recommend is that you independently verify what he said." She nodded, and began to make breakfast. The siblings needed to be ready for their first day of school.

Moka prided herself on her punctuality, one of the many things her father had taught her. She arrived precisely five minutes early. It was unsurprising to see the classroom mostly devoid of students. Her targets of interest were here though.

They were in the back corner of the classroom, the female in the farthest corner. The male was in front of her, his bo resting on the wall. His eyes met hers, not challenging but acknowledging. Good, he saw her as the threat she could be.

It was an interesting set up the siblings had. The female was next to a window, not the male. She would have a far easier time escaping than he would. There was no way anything could get between her and the window, save the male. Wait…

Moka's eyes widened slightly in surprise, though it only lasted for a second. She quickly schooled her emotions as she pondered what she had figured out. The human was protecting the kitsune.

Why? She needed far less protection than he did. He may have been able to best a monstrel, but that was due to a lack of skill on the brute's part, nothing more. He may have good technical skill, but that would not get a human far in the monster world. Compared to her, a vampire, the elite, he was nothing. However, this type of protection, it was the kind a seasoned bodyguard had. This had been going on for years. Why?

Moka took her seat at the back of the class. Normally she would take the head, to show her superiority over the plebeians that infested these buildings, but she wanted to observe these siblings more. As a result, she was able to watch the Pure Succubae make groggily eyes at the human, who reacted admirably. He was only off put for a minute, and then doubly suspicious of her. Good. Let the day be over with already. She still didn't understand what her father expected her to learn here.

Kurumu Kuruno giggled slightly to herself. This had to be the most interesting first day ever. There was actually someone she wanted to flirt with in this school, someone who interested her. It was too bad it had nothing to do with love.

The busty blue-haired beauty winked at the human, who had only narrowed his eyes. How cute, he thought he could actually resist her. He was doing a better job than most, but still…

She was succubae. And not just any succubae, but a pure blooded one. She was one born of an incubus and a succubae; one born to stand her brothers and sisters more beautiful and powerful than them all. It showed.

She stood a good head taller than tallest other girl in her class, some silver haired nobody. Her hair was a lovely sky blue, with innocent purple eyes. Her legs were shapely, her hips wide, and her bust almost too big, but not quite. Faint pheromones were released, making Kurumu ooze sex and lust.

It was too bad that the Kitsune was female. If she was male, it would be far easier to breed a clan for the village. Oh well, it was still a good prize to have. And it would be no problem to set up…

She eyed her target again, blowing a kiss. Yes, this evening would be a good one.

Keito stalked the halls, looking for troublemakers to vent her frustration on. Her purple hair, usually very tidy, was a mess, with a few strands curling upwards. Her eyes had rings and dark marks.

There was no way out. Kuyo-sama would take the female kitsune, and then…

She didn't like to think about the "and then", but the image of being eaten alive by your own children after biting the head off your mate and consuming his body had a way of coming up all on its own.

What was she going to do? "Keito."

She shrieked, jumping to the top of the ceiling, eyes darting around.

"Kuyo-sama! I didn't hear you walking behind me. I apologize for my conduct."

The spider woman quickly lowered herself down. Kuyo, as always, looked handsome. He had an air of royalty around him, one that Keito found intoxicating.

"Keito-chan, you mustn't worry yourself. I have no intention of using that kitsune for any other purpose than an offspring producer. At best she will be a concubine. You on the other hand-"

He moved forward, roughly cupping the back of her head in his hand. He thrust his face into hers, kissing with all the finesse of a bull. A bitten lower lip dropped some blood into his mouth as his tongue was shoved into hers.

"-You are mine!" She was marched backwards into an open closet, which was quickly shut closed. And as she gasped his name desperately into the air a few minutes later, she knew she was his. And it was better this way.

A small girl was trailing after her idol. She wore a witch's hat upon her black hair. Brown eyes were locked on her most perfect idol. She had a small wand with a pentagram on the edge attached at her waste. Her name was Yukari Sendo, and she desperately wanted to be more like her beloved Moka-sama.

The house for mates was occupied by two people. The sun was dipping in the sky, signaling the end of day. Tsukune poured some tea into two cups. "So how was the first day?"

Ahri picked up her cup and took a sip, enjoying the hot tea. She had always enjoyed the taste of hot food. "Rather good, if a little stifling."

"Stifling?" Tsukune raised an eyebrow. "What was stifling in the school?"

"You." Tsukune recoiled as if struck. "Tsukune, I am not a little girl who needs constant protection. You don't need to cheer me up when people tease me for "sniffing the air". You don't need to beat up bullies who want to pick on the girl who tries to "talk to foxes." I don't need the constant protection."

Tsukune looked aghast. "But Ahri-hime…I am supposed to protect you. I am your knight, your samurai, and you are my Princess. I have to protect you. Besides, this school is dangerous. You saw what happened with…that guy who's name I can't remember…yah. Anyways, this school is dangerous." Tsukune looked a little green remembering what he had done.

"Not all the time. That creature was after you, not me, and you proved your dominance.

Tell me Tsukune, what were your plans after high school, before the Headmaster made his offer?"

A blink, and then "I would go the community university."

"See, you are just following me around. Tsukune, at some point I have to stand on my own. I will one day leave you, you have to know that. If I don't learn how to do it now, I may never do it properly."

She sighed, sipping her tea. Tsukune looked shell-shocked. "Look, we will start simple. Just let me sit where I want in class, and have at least one student between me and you. You can still intervene if necessary, and I won't feel so crowded. Now, I have clearly given you something to think about, so why don't you just go do some katas outside. It will help you clear your mind."

Ahri got up smoothly, and walked out of the room. It was five minutes before Tsukune moved. Mechanically, he picked up his bo and walked out the door.

There were three individuals he could not see outside; one with blue hair, trailed by one with silver, who was followed by one with black. The sun began to dip below the surface, signaling the end of the day.