Chapter 4 : The mother

"But we never did anything except very heavy petting," Hiroki said as he breathed from his mouth.

If he did breathe from his nose, he won't be able to stop himself and they both know it. They arrived at an apartment complex, around a twenty-minute walk from the Academy and the walk home was silent but not awkward.

The two held hands the entire way. Once Hiroki unlocked the door, letting Kasane in, he peered out beyond the complex, narrowing his navy eyes.

The navy boy closed the door with a sigh, "We have a tail."

"I noticed, not exactly subtle."

"Not as subtle as this," Hiroki said as he activated the magic circle within the room and the two disappeared without a trace, much to the confusion and alarm of that certain tail.

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The pair then appeared in Kyoto, through a magic circle given to them by their Guardian. Said Guardian watched them appear, "Ara, how was your-" the Guardian sniffed the air. "It seems you've gotten busy~."

The pair turned around only to be met with the smirking face of their Guardian who was none other than Yasaka, the nine-tailed Fox Youkai, leader of the Western Youkai Faction, mother of three, and the overseer of Kyoto's ley lines. The circumstances of how she 'adopted' both Hiroki and Kasane came from hard times.

""We have not!"" they both exclaimed.

The woman's nine tails made her look extremely beautiful and seductive if both were being honest. Two tails each peppered the two blushing adolescents, "But your bodies have the imprints of each other…" she paused, her eyes going to slits. "You almost lost control."

Hiroki flinched, "It was either that or…" Kasane looked away with guilt written on her face.

Yasaka sighed, "You two honestly need to get hitched."

""Eh?!"" the two exclaimed again, looking at each other before blushing profusely.

"You two act like a couple already, you just haven't sealed the deal," the Youkai informed matter-of-factly.

The mischief in her eyes was as clear as day. The elder Youkai saw the blooming love between them.

Deny it all they want, the boy's heritage will draw her to him. It already has her in his clutches and he'll be damned if he lets go. To think she found these two wandering the streets only eight years ago.

"Okaa-sama, is that onee-san and onii-san?"

Another voice brought the three out of their own little world as a smaller version of Yasaka entered the room wearing a kimono that fit her.

Behind her was a single tail that matched her fur color. This was Kunou, Yasaka's daughter.

The two called brother and sister smiled at the young fox girl. Kasane had a small weakness to her because of how affectionate she was with her. As a small kit, Kunou would constantly seek out Kasane for comfort. Hiroki also received a similar level of affection from her.

"Imoto, how was your day?" Kasane asked, kneeling down, opening her arms slightly. Kunou, with her adorable fox ears and swishing tail, barreled full tilt at Kasane. "Onee-san!"

The girl collided with Kasane's delightful chest, something Hiroki was only slightly jealous of but let it slide as his heritage recognizes that she is his Imoto. It may not be by blood, but sometimes bonds forged are greater than bonds inherited. "My day was super cool! I got to start training my chakra!"

Hiroki brightened at this, looking to Yasaka, "You've finally started teaching her?"

The mother of the trio nodded, "She is reaching that age and I myself will need to prepare her for the day she ascends my throne but that won't be for a century or two."

Kasane picked up Kunou, resting her head into the crook of the former's neck. Her fox ears were tickling the white-haired girl and she had to refrain from laughing. "Well, you still look like a woman in her mid-twenties."

Yasaka's eyes narrowed playfully, and then took a few steps towards Hiroki, who caught the scent of a woman on a mission. That doesn't make sense. Her tails coiled around her form, accentuating certain areas. Hiroki kept his eyes directly on hers, those golden-yellow eyes. She smirked, seeing his defiance. Kasane sighed at this, taking Kunou out of the room. The white-haired girl said not to actually do anything to him.

"It seems like you're trying to resist," she purred, her tails ensnaring his arms and thighs, making sure he couldn't leave easily, the latter pair edging close to a certain area. "You always have, which is commendable. I seriously wonder why Kasane-chan has not mated with you yet."

Hiroki's voice came out much lower than he wanted but with the 'fuck me' eyes that Yasaka is giving him, he really couldn't help it. "I believe she's apprehensive as she knows what I am and I know what she is. We…just can't."

"Have you ever heard of the saying, 'Opposites attract', Hiroki-kun?" Yasaka asked as her hand stroked his chest, her lower half slowly pressing against his. Her larger-than-average breasts were just barely touching him. He nodded. "That's what you are. Both of your Sacred Gears also help out in that case."

"I see you already knew," he said, sighing in resignation.

"I have noticed your Ki and hers for a while now. It carried the feel of a Sacred Gear. Finding you how I did was part luck and part hope," she cupped his face.

Hiroki flared his nostrils, "Was that the reason you took us in? Taught us? Trained us?"

Yasaka's tails retreated from his form, "No. I wanted to make sure Kunou-chan had someone else to rely on in the event I couldn't. Also, I was not going to leave two orphans in the streets of my city." Spoken like a true leader.

Hiroki smiled at her, his previous mood gone. He grabbed her hand, kissing the back of it, "Thank you."

"Ara, what a flirt? You know, you could always help me get Kunou a sibling~? I could call you 'Da-'"

"And with that, I'm late for training, see you, Yasaka-san!"

The nine-tailed Youkai just giggled at his departing figure, "I told you I would watch out for him but you didn't tell me that he was going to grow up handsome~."