III. rescue on the way

: So we've packed and ready to go? : Iraka said as he entered the guest quarters. When he found out about the 

:Aa, except for Marika, I don't know where she's gone. Are we going to leave Schwartz here? : Luren still distrusted the lot of them and didn't like leaving them with a decent pack like Rtow. 

: Aa. They'll help keep the pack safe. My pack's been in peace for too long none of them have the skills to fight much. :

: Are you sure? :

: Aa. :

: I'm here. :

: Where have you been, Marika? : Luren said testily.

: Off to the human world. Guess who I brought with me? : It was a rather a moot question considering that there was five humans already crowding into the large corridors behind her, looking at the sculptures on the walls with genuine fascination.

: Weiß, why bring more humans into this, Marika? Kitsune should be sufficient a force. :

: Because these humans have more familiarity with fighting than any kitsune we have on hand. You know that the Void kitsune have more combat experience than any of the Thunder tribe and our tribe is too far away from these lands to make a difference since you're in such a hurry to have this over and done with. What do expect me to do? They can be trusted with Ran's safety. :

"Ummm, shouldn't we be settling in, Manx?" Hidaka asked, he was undoubtedly feeling the rising tension in the room.

: Aa, you will be staying in the quarters here in the human-sized West Wing. I already talked with the pack leader. :

: I hope you know what you're doing, Marika. They don't have any powers. : Though it wasn't that lack that bothered Luren it was a convenient enough excuse.

: Ah, but they withstood Schwartz didn't they? : The pride in Manx's voice was very much evident. In a sense, they were her "kits" after all. Born and raised in bloody communion of the assassins' trade. 

: They are killers. : Luren's distrust finally winning out.

: Aa. But they defend their own. :

: Okay, Marika, you win. : There were no alternatives unless he wanted to stay here all week arguing. Marika was always the stubborn one, and from the set of her thoughts, she was adamant about this.

"Oh, how kawaii!" Omi crowed. Luren looked up from his supply checking to see blue Crawford-kitsune carrying a resigned Ran-kit by the scruff of neck. Ran-kit stuck his tongue at the words, looking, if possibly, cuter as he did so.

***

: Ayan gets sore paws. : Crawford said as he led the rest of Weiß into the wing. He had wisely ordered Schwartz to stay in their rooms while the additional personnel were settling in. He didn't want any fights to break out now that they were technically on the same side though he did arrange for Youji to share Schuldich's living space.

"Youji, koi, I'm glad you're here." Schuldich purred, as they got in the living space. He stood up from where he was reclining on the couch.

Crawford sighed, trust Schuldich to disobey orders.

"Aa, things'll be interesting I think, this is the first time we're fighting on the same side." Youji said in the same tone, dropping his bags to give the Schwartz redhead a hug. Schuldich took advantage shamelessly and drew them both to curl up rather like a couple of kitsune on the couch to the goggling stares of Omi and Ken. 

"Can I hold Ayan for awhile?" Ken asked, dropping his own bags to earn a glare from Crawford. The blue kitsune was still carrying the resigned smaller fox in his mouth.

"Is that Ayan or have you had him replicated as a stuff toy and keep the original in a safe somewhere? He's rarely that docile."

: Youji! : That came out as a wail of indignant rage, and from what Crawford could feel from the voice, a death glare. That set everyone laughing as Crawford could well imagine the Fujimiya Death Glare on the foxy kit face. He didn't join them, he knew how exasperated Ran was as it was.

With a mighty twist, Aya got loose from Crawford and started to go for Youji.

"Just teasing, Ayan. Ouch…" Youji yelped as Aya nipped him on the leg.

"Ayan, be a good little fox and let go of Youji." Schuldich said amused by the fox's and his lover's antics.

Crawford watched the proceedings with a wary eye. 

If that blonde galoot thinks he's going to hurt my Ayan for giving him that well earned bite, he's got another thing coming… Stuff toy, indeed.

: Hmph, I am not that docile. : Ayan grumped as a delighted Ken lifted him up and cuddled him.

Everyone cracked smiles at that. Ayan always had that effect on people. He looked adorable with his small foxy head, soft furry ears and three tails twitching in indignation. Crawford frowned, his tail swishing annoyed. He didn't want anyone else cuddling his Ayan-chan and Ken was nuzzling the little fur ball, chucking the little red fox under the chin. 

I did have to learn not to snap at them every time since they're going to live with us and fight with us for a time… Who am I kidding? Even Schuldich prompts the same reaction from me when he cuddles Ayan and I know he has Kudoh… 

***

Aya cuddled up to Ken, purring a bit. He missed the ex-soccer player. Ken and Omi had been rather nice to him in his foxy form. He rubbed his head under Ken's chin and nestled his tails into comfty positions on Ken's lap.

"I never though I'd say this but Crawford-san's as kawaii as as Ayan when he's wagging his tail like that." Omi said, looking as if he'd want to pick Crawford up as Ayan looked up from where he sat on Ken's lap to give the blond a look of astonishment.

: He's not wagging his tail, chibi. He's twitching with jealous fury. Hormones…you understand…:

"What would he have to be jealous of. Ken's not a kitsune." Omi asked, eyes glowing with puzzlement.

: Being male is enough it seems. :

: Shut up, Schuldich! : Crawford was definitely stressed. He stalked over to Omi and allowed the young Weiß member a few fur rubs. He was gritting his teeth.

: Brad-chan? : Aya asked, he perked his ears up and looked at his lover with concern.

: It's nothing, Ayan-chan. : Brad said, striving to keep his voice even. It was all the blue kitsune could do not to shock Ken out of his mind literally. Ayan was proud to see that, though the need for such patience annoyed him. It wasn't as if he flirted with any other person other than his big blue fox of a lover. Cuddle yes, flirting no… It was what he liked best in this form: that people cuddled him on their own initiative rather than expecting him to do it first. It got around his fear of rejection rather handily. Besides, his fur took rather well to being rubbed. He loved it and though it looked like it was slowly turning into an explosive situation with Crawford as a walking powder keg.

Didn't Manx-baasan say something about it? Yeah, must remember hormones…But still…

: Brad-chan.:

: What, Ayan-chan? : Crawford asked, he padded close to the couch where Ken was sitting on. 

: Nothing. : Aya just didn't know what to say to defuse the situation and that changed his mind about bringing it to the surface.

I would have to give up on going along with any male whatsoever, at the least…

"Are they settled in already? Nagi Naoe, we'll be working together this time. I've left Farfie all tied up as you've instructed, Crawford." Nagi introduced himself as he came in by the door the led deeper in the wing. The assurance that Farfarello couldn't wander in at any time greatly relieved the other Weiß members and triggered a spate of re-introductions.

"I'm Schuldich, shall we get to know each other again, lover?" Schuldich said, breaking the cheerful mood. Youji blushed at that and the gathering broke up.

I hope everyone can keep it civilized around here…

***

: The den was right here. : Marika said pointing on the map with her nose. They had been travelling for four days into the wilderness borders of Ku territory. Kizie was absent, hunting meat for them since they were close enough to the Void territory to get them in trouble if they did. Five other Thunder kitsune sat around the map along with Iraka.

: So it's going to be a bare three weeks before we can get there. We really need to get going. I can't understand why we can't cut cross-country. : Luren replied, impatiently. They had been making slow progress since Marika insisted that they should stay away from Void kitsune.

: Aa. How many times do I have to tell you? We don't know who's in league with Alshe. For all we know… :

Marika's voice trailed off but Luren caught her meaning.

: Hai, I can't understand why you're so paranoid of Kizie. :

: I don't trust her. :

: Why not? Hasn't she shown enough concern over Ran-kit to convince you? :

She has but that worries me most of all. She doesn't seem to accept Crawford as easily as Ran's chosen mate. Ku blood does make a kitsune rather unstable…

: You're trust her only because she's backed your concerns over Ran being left with Crawford. Besides, you've a weakness for big dark females. : 

: Marika! :

Luren and the other blue kitsune were hard put not to laugh at that.

: It is obvious where Ran-kit's gotten that particular indignant intonation of voice. : Iraka replied, chortling as the talk turned to lighter matters.

Manx hoped that Luren's trust wouldn't betray them to the devious Alshe.

***

: Ayan, would you like to learn how to hunt? : Crawford asked, after another day of hanging around Schwartz and Weiß. They still kept Farfarello tied up so the rest of Weiß felt safe enough to mingle with Schwartz. They had also taken turns and shifts to guard the little kit from the attack that had not come. Crawford was feeling rather claustrophobic by the arrangement and wanted fresh air. 

Ayan probably feels the same judging from this mess…

Ayan leaped out of Ken's arms and into giggling Omi's yet again. The living room resembled a disaster area. The couches were in different positions. Wood and leather toys were scattered all over the room. The little red fox had been a very hyper bundle since Weiß came in to baby sit him with Schwartz. He jumped from couch to couch to arm to arm without discrimination. Snuggling, playing and leaving with equal abandon, Ayan kept them hopping to keep up with him. That energy would be better used in some sort of useful training. 

What could happen to him if we all looked out for him?

: Aa, I'd love too. : Ayan said, leaping up to land splay-legged on the floor but doing a little hopping motion to right himself in front of blue Crawford-kitsune. Crawford was struck anew by his openness. He certainly wasn't very Aya-like in this form. 

: After you drink your milk. : Manx had made Crawford promise that Ayan would suckle milk from the Rtow lactating females just as any kit his age would.

: Aw, do I have too? : Ayan pouted.

: Aa. I'll carry you there. : 

: I don't think so. : Ayan had become sensitive to being carried since Youji's 'stuff toy' crack. 

: You're still sore about being called a stuff toy, aren't you? :

: Hmph! :

: Let's make a deal then. I won't carry you once we're training and let you romp a bit if you allow me or another to carry you otherwise. :

: I guess you will carry me around while you train me if I don't agree. :

: Aa. :

: I agree then. : So Crawford carried Ayan to the nursery where the rest of the little red fox's age-mates spent their time.
 
 

***

: Hello, little kit. Nice to see that you're at last suckling. : Senra said. Her blue eyes held enough reproach to make Crawford duck his head.

: I don't want to drink milk. : Aya grumped, wrinkling his nose sulkily as blue Crawford-kitsune put him down where there was a vacant milk nipple.

: According to your Marika-baasan, you have to, if you want to grow any larger. : Crawford lectured. 

: Braaaad! : Aya wailed, knowing that his lover was playing with his desire to grow just a little bit bigger.

: Well, she's right. You'll end up small if you don't get properly fed. :

: Is the kit being stubborn? : Senra interjected.

: Aa. :

: Am not! :

: Never mind, I see the problem. Got you wrapped around his tiny tails doesn't he? :

Crawford didn't dignify it with an answer, which to Aya was answer enough. He suckled a bit and then put on his most wide-eyed kit look.

: All done. Can we go now? :

: No kitling, finish drinking your milk first. : Senra said gently but firmly. 

Aya gave the blue female kitsune a dirty look before suckling again. 

: See no problem, Crawford-san. I'll be delighted to tell everyone here to expect you around the same time? To make sure that the kitling gets his milk? : Senra added, it wasn't really a question.

: Aa. :

Life just got a little less fun… 

***

: Where did Ayan go? : Crawford asked Ken as they all peered through the bushes. After getting Ayan-kit to nurse, Crawford had taken Ayan to the nearby glade to train in hunting. Ken and Omi had gone along, ostensibly as bodyguards. 

"He was here only a few seconds ago. I looked away only for an instant. Omi?" Ken said, puzzled. 

"I saw him chase a squirrel, he must have gone a bit farther into the brush. He did promise not to wander off, did he?" Omi said, worriedly, on the other side of the clearing.

: Aa. And there are no dangerous animals this side of the woods. : Crawford said to reassure himself as well as the Weiß members. He sniffed at the last area where he had seen Ayan-kit though he couldn't make out from the complex aromas where Ayan had gone. It was like trying to pick out one instrument out of an orchestra.

: I think we should go for reinforcements. : Crawford fretted.

I hope you haven't gotten into any real trouble, Ayan…

Unnoticed, at the side of the clearing was a large partial paw print… 

~TBC~

Author's Notes:

Next Chapter: mother?

Damned black out. I was suppose to post several updates last night. :P

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