James pulled himself up another step, glad that it was late in the day and the stones were cool from shade. He’d been upset with his larger boyfriend when they’d parted and insisted on climbing the final stretch by himself. Now, over an hour later, he was regretting that decision. He raised his head and sighed with relief. 

At least the house was in view now. The miniature fox still couldn’t get over the sheer size of the manor. It stretched as far as his tiny field of vision could see. He sat back against a step to take a rest, set off to the side where he was less likely to be trodden on if anyone walked down or up. He brushed his hair out of his eyes, then leaned back to think. Yoko had told him this was coming for the longest time, but he’d convinced himself that he could talk his partner into taking him along. 

Yoko had actually shouted at him the last time, which was so rare that it shocked James into silence for the better part of two hours. He’d finally agreed, but as they reached the staircase his temper got the better of him, and he’d asked the wolf to stop, that he wanted to part ways there.

Yoko had frowned as he set the hand containing his tiny partner on the ground, and his amber eyes plainly showed concern. “Are you sure, dear?” He’d asked, leaning in close enough that the breath from his speech ruffled the fox’s fur. 

James had forced a smile, reaching up to touch the wolf’s chin with one hand, and biting his cheek to keep from tearing up. “I’m more worried about you. I know it’s necessary but,” he turned his head and cleared his throat, “Sometimes I really hate this work you do.” Whenever it gets dangerous… He added in thought.

Yoko had chuckled earnestly, nuzzling his little fox before standing up to his full height. “I’m the big, bad wolf, remember?” He replied in a teasing manner, “Anything bad comes along I’ll just have to do this!” 

As he had so often before, Yoko had lifted his leg and set his paw very gently on the tiny fox, rolling him around on his sole. Despite himself, James had laughed and fought back. When he’d lifted his paw up again, they were both smiling. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Even sooner now that I can move normally.” James winced inwardly, as he’d insisted that Yoko walk here so they’d have more time together (and more time for him to try and convince the wolf).

James hadn’t say anything, he had just nodded. Yoko bent down one more time, kissing his tiny partner on the belly. “Loves you, silly fox.” He had muttered, his lips still pressed against the cloth. James had raised up on his toes and rested his chin on the wolf’s nose. “I love you too… Travel safely.” Yoko had pulled back and nodded, and then turned away. James did the same, and as he’d raised his eyes to the steps rising above, he’d felt a gust of wind and heard a loud sort of whirr. He’d gotten used to the elemental travel the wolf used sometimes, but he would never stop being amazed by it. He didn’t need to turn around to know that Yoko was gone.  
As he’d hopped up and pulled himself up on the first of many steps, he’d grimaced, and wished he could do the same.

The fox’s eyes opened as he felt a bitter wind rising. The sun was nearly set, and he had spent far too long thinking about the past. He pulled his makeshift clothes tighter about himself, tying a string about his waist to keep them like that, and then continued his climb. Even for someone who was used to climbing things, the sheer number of steps meant that by now his arms were burning. He thought there were maybe ten or fifteen left, and he was grateful for that.

Something in the bag he carried shone a muted white, and his breath caught as a shadow passed overhead. In the past, that shadow would have had him scrambling for cover, but now he looked up at the bird and stuck his tongue out. Yoko had enchanted a stone that hid him from the eyes of such things as soon as he’d realized the danger.

Five steps more, and he was panting again, the cold air burning as it went down his throat. It had been wonderful not too long ago, and he was surprised the temperature could drop so dramatically in such a short time. Another few steps and he was actually shivering, and was glad that he saw the porch not far in the distance.

As he reached it, he felt the knot in his stomach tighten. He had never met the owner of the mansion, and now Yoko wasn’t even there to make introductions. He’d said that his host would just know. Standing on the edge of the massive porch, with the doors firmly shut, he hoped that the wolf had known what he was talking about. 

He approached slowly, noticing that while the house looked old, it was very well kept. The wood he walked over was stained dark and lacquered, and the metal of the hinges, knob and knocker shone in the dim light. He was also surprised to see a bell, off to one side, with a string that came all the way to the ground.

Seeing no other option, he went to the bell. The rope fit into his hands perfectly, and he took a moment to gather his thoughts, then hopped up and yanked on the cord. The bell rattled in it’s fitting as the fox bounced up and down, seeming impossibly loud for such a tiny thing. He rang for about a minute, then dropped to the ground. His ears perked and tilted slightly, he heard a familiar sound. Rhythmic thumps, footsteps, and getting closer.

The knot in his stomach snapped, and he found himself skittering to one side even as the door opened, hiding behind a beam near the door. Red eyes gleamed in the night, and whoever owned them must have been of a very dark color, one that James couldn’t make out in the half light. As the eyes scanned the stairs below, he found himself creeping past a pair of footpaws and inside.

“Hmph…” The dark-furred being muttered to himself, and James winced as the door snicked shut not more than a few seconds after he’d passed. In the light near the door, what appeared to be candles, James saw that he was hiding from a black fox. The red eyes gave him pause, as well as the fact that a mark on his face was blue. He wore nothing but a pair of shorts, making James blush. He was not unattractive.

After staring at the door intently for a few moments more, the fox turned and walked down a long hallway, eventually turning a corner and passing from view. James noted that his paw pads were also a shade of blue. He let out a sigh, staying tucked into the corner of the entryway for a while longer to collect himself.

It was warm in the mansion. The carpet he sat on was a bit worn, but still slightly plush. The candles were spaced well, as well as normal lights, which were somewhat dim. He saw that there were no extravagant things in the hall. In fact, the most he saw were a few pictures hung on the walls that he couldn’t make out, and a small stand in front of one of the doors. He frowned and thought that it was a bit odd that someone who could afford to live in such a place would neglect to fill it with all sorts of comforts.

As he stood and started down the hall, he found his eyes wandering into the rooms he passed. Many of them were open, and while no two were the same color, most of them were like the hall. They were all simple; plain, in a fashion, but not bare. An armchair sat next to a small bookshelf, along with a table with a lamp in one room. A long table, set with a tablecloth and several chairs, in another. 

He found a room that looked like a residence and he stopped to look. It was similar to the rest of the rooms, but something about it felt different. There was a bed, tucked into a corner. Fairly simple, a spring set, mattress, and blanket, it was neatly made. A chair sat in the corner opposite, a guitar leaned against it. James could tell by looking at it that it was used frequently, as every surface was worn smooth. 

He didn’t understand something, though: a raised, circular platform in the center of the room. The base was wood, but above that was stone. It was set with symbols he’d never seen, and after so long living with a mage, he stayed well away from it. The rest of the room was normal. There was a dresser, a shelf with small trinkets, some books. A few clothes on the ground near that.

The fur on James’ neck stood up suddenly, and he turned. A being was standing in the center of the strange platform. It was somehow… wrong. There, but not there at the same time, and the edges were fuzzy. As the feeling in the room intensified, James found himself backing up, bumping into the dresser and crouching under the edge. From there, he watched as a lion solidified and dropped onto the edge of the stone platform. 

James blinked, only then realizing that the lion had been floating. He shook his head, trying to make sense of it. “Magic,” he cursed to himself. He would never understand it, and the day he got used to it would be long in coming. 

The lion sighed and stretched. James swallowed. The feline was massive, at least two feet taller than Yoko. His mane was a rich black, with red tips. He wore nothing but a shirt, and he could see a scar on the chest, over his heart. The lion stepped down, making James grab the edge of the dresser for support. The lion was heavy, and James didn’t doubt that every pound of it was muscle.

The lion’s eyes opened and he yawned, his teeth gleaming white in the light. James shivered, and the lion seemed to perk. His tail swayed slowly, and his nostrils flared a few times. Then he rolled his shoulders and turned to the chair. James stifled a gasp, as there was a matching scar on the back of the lion. He winced, knowing that whatever had made that had gone straight through the heart. He winced again, noting the long sword strapped to the belt, which the lion took off and set on the bed.

The lion sank wearily into the chair, one hand on the neck of the guitar, one claw tapping on the wood. Then he picked it up and closed his eyes. James settled in, unwilling to risk leaving his hiding place while such a powerful being was in the room. Powerful was the right word, James thought, and it had nothing to do with the physical form. The lion’s presence simply dominated the whole room.

The claws came out on one hand, and the lion began to play. The claws allowed him to pluck the strings quickly and accurately, and didn’t get in the way of him pressing on the neck. A lot of practice had gone into smoothing the guitar in such a manner. James was nearly entranced, and as the playing went on he found himself swaying to the music, mouthing the words to any songs he knew, and to his surprise, some he knew he didn’t.

When the music suddenly stopped, James blinked and shook himself. When he came back to his senses he saw that the lion’s eyes were still closed, but he felt vulnerable in that instance. The eyes opened, fierce and yellow and focused right on his hiding place. “I know you are there.” He stated flatly, and his voice was lighter than the fox would have thought. The tone was not unkind, either.  
“Just come out, I want to get a look at you.” The lion said, setting the guitar to one side. James swallowed, but he had no doubt that the lion could reach in and get him if he wished to. He forced his legs to move, climbing shakily out into the light. The lion pursed his lips, and his eyes narrowed. He leaned forward, placing a hand on the ground, palm up. Then, unexpectedly, he gave James a genuine, reassuring smile. “Come here, hun. I won’t hurt you.”

James felt as if it were an eternity standing there, trying to decide if he would obey or not. James found himself crossing the room. He walked slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on the lion, and soon enough he was standing on the palm. He looked down to the fur around his ankles, and the pad in front of him. The lion lifted his hand, causing James to lose his balance and fall down, staring back up.

The lion lifted him to eye level, his nose flaring, taking in the scent of the fox. A corner of his lip curled upward, revealing a single fang. “So you’re the guest that Yoko promised me,” he rumbled. “I am called Sena, and you must be James.” 

The fox blinked and smiled, the mention of Yoko surprising him, but putting him more at ease. “Yes… I wanted to come up alone, just to avoid a long goodbye.” 

The lion nodded and leaned back in his chair. “I would guess he mentioned me, yes?”

James turned away and cleared his throat, “Uh, he mentioned a master, yes, but he found it hard to breach the subject.” 

Sena said nothing for a moment, and then nodded. “Yes, I see. He can be difficult at times.” He sighed, and then shook his head, “Anyway, welcome. I believe you’ll be comfortable here.”

James nodded and looked out the window; the last few rays of the sun were beginning to sink below the horizon. He nodded as he turned back, “Do you have a place for me to stay?” He asked, “Just a small place where I can have some privacy and security?” 

Sena smiled mysteriously, one fang showing. James suppressed a shiver, but it didn’t seem to be a malicious smile. “Certainly, I can arrange that.” The lion rumbled, his tone revealing nothing of his intentions, “First I would like to show you some things.” 

Sitting in the lion’s hand, James felt very vulnerable, but he had little to no power in the situation so he just nodded. Abruptly he felt himself drawn to the lion’s palm as Sena stood. Walking out the door, Sena turned left and into a hallway, lit by lamps every few feet on either side. Bare wooden floor gave way to carpet in the center, an older style that seemed to fit in with the rest of the décor.

Every door they passed was closed, and most of them had light coming from the crack beneath the door. James could smell and hear several different people, and this made him a little uneasy. He wasn’t very good around large groups, and if he ran into a lot of them then this would be uncomfortable, to say the least. His tour guide seemed to take no notice, so it probably wasn’t uncommon for people to be up and in those rooms.

He stopped just short of a staircase, frowning. “I think it would be best if you stayed on the first floor, hun.” He stated. James nodded his agreement, and Sena turned to the doorway on the right of the landing.

There was a light coming from beneath this door too. James’ nose twitched, but he couldn’t get a clear scent. There were too many other smells in the air. Sena didn’t knock, he just grabbed the doorknob and entered. Sitting in front of a computer was a familiar figure. A tall, slim black fox, wearing a headset. As the lion stood behind him, he cursed and grumbled something to whoever was on the other end of the microphone. 

Sena reached out and tapped him on the shoulder. The room was dim so James couldn’t have been certain, but he thought the lion was grinning. The black fox startled and stood, the movement yanking his headset from his ears. He cursed under his breath, but he was beaming, and he flipped rainbow colored bangs from his eyes.One half of them were long, and the other were short.

“Hello Master,” he said in a soft, deep voice, and dropped in a slight curtsy. James blinked as he noticed for the first time that the larger fox was wearing a skirt. Not only that, but his shirt wasn’t so much a shirt as it was a sort of purple net. 

“Shinori, this is James.” The lion replied with a slight nod, and he held his hand out. As Shinori leaned forward to get a better look James noticed that his eyes were a deep, crimson red, except for the ebony pupil. He felt unnerved by them, and turned his head, though he still felt that gaze on him. It made his neck fur stand on end.

“Interesting,” Shinori observed, backing up and looking past James to Sena, “A new pet, I guess?” James thought he sounded slightly disdainful, but he hadn’t heard him speak more than a few words, so he thought that maybe he always sounded like that.

Sena gave him an even look and smiled slightly, “I just thought perhaps you would want to accompany us as I give our guest a short tour.” He replied, “I think you will get along well with him.” 

Shinori shrugged and bent to retrieve his headset, setting it carefully next to his keyboard before turning the computer off. James absently noted that his paw pads were a dark blue, as well as the marking on his nose. Shinori stretched, and James’ eyes widened at how slim and muscular he was. As Sena turned and walked back out the door, he knew the black fox’s eyes were on him, and he couldn’t find the strength of will to turn to meet that gaze.

Sena travelled up the stairs to the second floor, which was much like the first. A flick of a switch illuminated the long hall, and James saw only one thing in this particular hall. It was a plain set of double doors, flanked by lamps. Sena touched the knob and something within clicked. He pushed the doors open with a flick of his wrist and turned on the lights. 

James stood up on his toes to get a better look, but it was a fairly simple room. A large bed set against one wall, opposite that there was a small bookshelf that held books with languages the small fox was unfamiliar with, along with a few assorted knick-knacks. Next to that, in the corner was a television, angled to face the bed. On the far wall was a shelf with a large stone set into it. On top of that stone was a purple stone that almost seemed to be glowing. Two pegs protruded from the wall above, spaced about three feet apart. A few feet from those was a door.

Sena walked across the room to the shelf and placed James on it, near one of the edges. While he was undoing the ties on his scabbard, James crept a bit closer to the curious stone. It gave off a smell that he couldn’t identify, but also made him very uneasy. Sena set the scabbard on the other side of the shelf and place the sword on the pegs, still in its scabbard.

Shinori stood in the center of the room, hands on his hips and seemed to be impatiently tapping his paw. James couldn’t understand why his head was nodding until he noticed a wire running to Shinori’s ear and realized that his paw was tapping in a rhythm. The small fox jumped when Sena cleared his throat. 

“This is my bedroom, and one of the places you will often find me,” He explained, “The one downstairs is more for relaxation.” He extended his hand and James took the cue to climb aboard again. “Since it is late, I will take you to your room and Shinori will show you some other places tomorrow.” The black foxes ears perked at the mention of his name, but he showed no further indication that he was paying any attention.

Sena led the way back downstairs, and James heard the doors thump closed as soon as all three of them exited. He shook his head, thinking that there would be a lot to get used to in this place. At the foot of the stairs, next to Shinori’s room, there was another door. James didn’t remember this one, and he was sure that he would have remembered it, as it was stained purple.

Sena opened the door and flicked a switch, and James’ eyes widened. Inside was a room much like the first one he’d seen. It had a bed, television, dresser, and window, but what surprised him the most was that they were all perfectly proportioned to fit someone of his size. He stepped down without prompting and walked in, running a hand along the edge of the dresser. “This is… um…” he turned back to Sena, and Shinori, who was curiously poking his nose inside too. 

Sena grinned, “You did ask for a place you could have some privacy and security, right?” he asked in a playful tone, “Well, I could not think of a better place than your own room.” James smiled shyly, and opened his mouth to thank his host, but Sena continued. “You or I can open the door, and I can arrange for anyone you wish to be able to as well, otherwise you won’t be disturbed.” He motioned to the right side of the room, where was a door. “That leads to Shinori’s desk. I believe you will come to enjoy each other’s company, and he can show and help you more tomorrow. For now, I would suggest we all go to bed.”

Shinori was staring at Sena in a stunned manner. “I’m some sort of tour guide for your pet?” He asked, and Sena gave him a hard look, which he shrank back from. “O-okay, I’ll show him around.”

James set his bag down and cleared his throat, “Thank you for taking me in, and Sh-shinori? Thanks for agreeing to help me out, this is a really big place and I’d hate to get lost.” The black fox blinked and shrugged, then turned and stalked back to his room. Sena smiled reassuringly. 

“He does not trust new people easily, but he is a kind fox and you two will get along fine.” He assured, “Just let him or I know if you need anything, alright?” James nodded, and Sena nodded back, and then closed the door. 

Standing alone in the room fitted to him, in a strange house, James didn’t know how to feel. He sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed his temples. His body was sore and his head hurt, so he took Sena’s suggestion and lay down. It was a while before he could sleep, but once he did he slept through the entire night and into the morning.

---------------

He was awakened by a loud knock, making him squeal in surprise and roll off onto the floor. He landed on his bag, which contained a few hard objects. Clutching his belly, he pulled himself to his feet. He looked at both doors, the large one leading to the hall and the one sized for him, trying to determine from where the knock had originated. It came again from the smaller door, so he turned the knob and pulled.

A red eye filled most of the frame. James yelped and darted to the side, heart hammering in his chest as he hid behind the door. “Oh, for the…” Shinori muttered, leaning back away from the door, “Will you come out of there? It’s not like I can reach in and grab you.” 

James peeked around the door and brushed his hair out of his eyes. “Oh,” he said, sounding relieved, “I’m sorry, I just… your eyes are uh…” James frowned and bit his lip before venturing: “Unusual?”

Shinori gave him a wry grin, “I hear that a lot, actually,” he replied. “Sena has tol- I mean asked me to bring breakfast for you, seeing as you don’t know where the dining room is.” He sat down in the chair, and with him out of the way James could see a plate full of fruits, cheeses, meats and bread. “I didn’t know what you like, so I brought a little of everything.” He said, helping himself to a piece of the meat.

“Thank you.” James replied, stepping out onto the desk and closing the door behind him. Shinori had the same outfit on as the previous night, but his scent suggested that he’d showered. A glance at his closet revealed that it was mostly full of the same outfit. There were a bunch of shirts that resembled nets and purple skirts, though a few were other colors. He also saw that there was a pair of purple and black stockings hanging out of a drawer. James peeked over the edge of the desk and saw that the black fox was indeed wearing a pair just like them.

Shinori tapped a finger on the desk, making James focus on him. “What are you looking at?” His voice was a bit rougher than before, and he might have been blushing.

“You have an interesting outfit,” James replied, grabbing a piece of cheese and a chunk of bread, “It suits you.” Shinori’s expression softened as James ate. The small fox also took a small piece of meat, making a makeshift sandwich out of the bread, cheese and meat. 

As James ate, Shinori seemed to study the smaller fox. James felt self-conscious about his own clothing. He wore nothing but a makeshift poncho, stitched from a few various fabrics. He’d had numerous chances to swap it for something better, but for some reason he felt attached to it. Finally he sighed and leaned back in his chair. 

“Sena seems intrigued by you.” He declared. James swallowed, then cleared his throat.

“What makes you say that?” James asked, his voice a bit higher than normal. He shifted from foot to foot while Shinori just looked at him. “I mean, I know I’m unusual, but there’s nothing really special about me.”

Shinori shrugged, “Maybe he’s thinking of what the two of you could do together.” He suggested, his tone becoming increasingly bitter, “or maybe what you could do for him…” 

James crossed his arms, “I don’t think Yoko would be too happy about that,” he responded icily, not at all happy with the implications of Shinori’s statements. Shinori frowned and looked perplexed.

“Who is Yoko?” he asked simply. 

James finished eating what he’d put together before he stood. “He’s my boyfriend, he left me here while he went out to a job.” He took a few steps toward the door and was stopped. Shinori had put a finger on his tail, and looked apologetic when James turned around.

“Look,” Shinori sighed, looking at his monitor, “I didn’t mean to be rude. Or maybe I did, but it’s just because… well I like Sena a lot, and I get a little protective.” His eyes flicked back to James’ face. James sighed and yanked his tail free, then nodded.

“Okay, I can understand where you’re coming from. Just don’t grab my tail again, please.” James sat back down, facing the larger fox. 

“Sure, my bad,” Shinori replied. After a short silence where James ate from a grape like it was a watermelon, Shinori asked, “So what’s he like?”

James shrugged, “I guess he’s alright, I only just met him.” He spat a seed onto the plate and continued eating.

“No, I mean this Yoko of yours.” Shinori replied, “I mean he didn’t bring you in, so I’m assuming…” he shrugged.

“Well, I’m a little unhappy with him leaving me here while he goes off to some exotic location and… well, let’s leave it at that.” He sighed, “Of course, I didn’t realize quite how many stairs there were to get here, or I’d have waited a little longer to part ways.” Shinori grinned and James sighed again, “Well, he’s kind most of all. He’s very sweet, but a little forgetful. When he’s focused on something it’s hard to get him to shift gears. He’d do anything for me, and I for him.” 

Shinori smiled, “So basically, you’re crazy about him.”

“Head over heels,” the little fox replied with a small smile, “Though that’s why being left here is so frustrating.”

Shinori shrugged, but his expression said he knew the feeling. There was a long pause, in which James finished eating and leaned against the plate, just watching. After all his time out in the open around larger folks, the instinct to hide or run was hard to suppress, especially around people he hadn’t known for very long. Shinori finally shook his head and stood, “Well, I guess I could show you around,” he offered, laying a hand on the table, palm up. “If you want to, I mean.”

James nodded, “Yeah, I’d like that. I don’t know that I’ll be going anywhere without someone escorting me though. I don’t want to be stepped on by another guest.”

Shinori nodded as James climbed on, and he cupped the little fox to his chest as he left the room. The familiar halls seemed endless as Shinori walked around them, pointing out rooms of other residents, then the dining room, and other rooms that James immediately forgot, as he wouldn’t be entering them. There were a few others he saw, he even thought he caught a glimpse of a dragon. 

One particular resident he remembered was a timid housecat they called Mellie, who had stayed behind her door while the introductions were made. She seemed interested in talking, but as soon as they moved on she shut the door. 

Once they got back to Shinori’s room, they sat down much the way they had before, minus the plate between them. James listened patiently as Shinori tried to describe something in a game, but as the little fox could not and had never played a computer game; he was mostly just being polite. Eventually he stood, saying, “I feel a bit tired, and I’m going to go lie down.”

He crossed the desk and opened the door, and everything was the same way he had left it. His bag was still beside the bed, the lamp switched off. He found that he actually was quite tired, and he lay down. He simply stared at the ceiling and waited, but sleep didn’t come. He found his mind wandering across the miles and wondering where his wolf was. He sat up with a sigh and started pacing the room.

About the third time around, he felt a breeze fill the room and turned to find a massive nose stuck right in his face. 

“Boo,” the lion said, startling James and making him stumble backward into the wall. Sena frowned, and raised a single eyebrow. “That does not usually work,” he admitted. He extended a hand, and then curled all but one finger. James grabbed onto the one that remained and held it as Sena gently pulled him to his feet.

“I’m afraid my mind is somewhere else tonight,” the diminutive fox admitted. “I didn’t see you around all day. Where were you?” He spread his arms, “I know this is a big house and all, but the chances of not running into you all day are pretty low.”

Sena chuckled, “You are running into me now, are you not?” he replied, causing games to give him a skeptical look. Sena paused, a frown causing his forehead to crease. He then laid a hand on the floor, palm up. James took the cue to step aboard and held onto a finger. “I shall have to show you, hun.”

It was another trip upstairs, with nothing but the sounds of the big feline’s footsteps breaking the silence. Sena, who had seemed so enigmatically catlike before, now seemed solemn and serious. His eyes focused on nothing, and James recognized the look as someone whose mind was on something somber. The doors to his master bedroom opened with a touch, and everything was as he remembered it. Even the bed was impeccably made.

They approached the shelf in the rear, where the sword hung still. Sena set James off to the side and tied on his scabbard, then placed his sword in it. “Stand back hun.” He said, turning his head to look at the fox. James nodded and backed up, but Sena’s gaze didn’t leave him until he was at the far corner of the shelf. The lion nodded, his mane rustling beneath his chin, and then he turned to face forward.

Sena took a deep, slow breath, closing his eyes. James tilted his head to one side in confusion, and as he did the fur on his neck stood on end. Sena cupped his hands upside-down and moved them toward the purple stone. Seemingly from nowhere, a power started to flow. There wasn’t any other word to describe it, it was simply raw power.

Sena’s fur seemed to glow, and when he opened his eyes, their keen yellow had turned to a shining, phosphorescent white. A strange silhouette appeared behind him. On the right side appeared to be massive feathered wings. The other side seemed to be massive bat wings. James nearly fell off the shelf as the wings flexed and became more solid as Sena’s hands came closer to the stone. He seemed larger, and the light seemed to pull from the room into him. Abruptly he took a step back and it was like a switch had flipped. 

Sena stood there with his eyes closed, seemingly back to normal, but the wings’ shape behind him took a moment to dissipate. Sena took a few deep, slow breaths, and opened his eyes. The white faded from the center to reveal the golden irises once again. “I apologize for that. I thought you would not believe me if I simply told you.” He gestured with one hand, “That stone,” he gravely explained, “is a portal to purgatory.”

James’ fur stood on end. He suddenly felt so weak that he had to sit down and cradle his head. He heard Sena move but couldn’t find the strength to look up for several moments. When he finally did, he found the lion patiently waiting, staring infinitely as only felines can. “Purgatory…” James mouthed, unable to utter it aloud. “You… you mean to say that you’re some sort of demon?” The word sent a shiver up his spine and he felt ill to his stomach.

Sena shook his head, the corner of his mouth perked up, “I am simply what I am. I work in purgatory, and my job is important.” His tone was low and smooth, and he moved nothing but his mouth. “That is all you need to know, hun.” James took a shuddering, steadying breath, and then another, and then nodded. 

“So… Any other surprises you have lined up for me?” he asked jokingly. Sena stood and strode over to the little fox. He patted James’ head with a finger and held out his hand, “I would like to talk, but that is about all.” James nodded and stepped onto his hand, and Sena took him back to the bed. 

Sena lay down in the center, lying on his side, and then set James in the center. Up close, James noted that the lion was not exactly massive. He was muscular, but not so much that it was displeasing. In fact, if he hadn’t seen what he’d just seen, he’d think he was just an average lion. Except… there was a large scar, he could see it just under his left shoulder. In fact, now that he was looking for it, he found that under the fur you could make out a scar as far as the ribs on his right side. 

Sena noticed his stare and shifted his arm to cover it. James shifted his gaze to the lion’s face. There was something about his eyes. Something that held such secrets, dreams, and hopes that a lifetime was too short to tell it all. “So how did you and the wolf meet, hun?”

James settled in, mimicking Sena’s pose, and closed his eyes, “Where to begin…” he muttered, and then a slight smile touched his lips. “Well, about two years ago he saw me sneaking about, trying to pounce on my friend’s paws.” He hesitated, looking up to see if Sena had noticed his blush, but the lion just motioned for him to continue.

“Anyway, he stops and tells me that being small, I had a big advantage over normal sized folks.” James sighed, “I was hooked the moment I saw him. I thought he was one of the most beautiful creatures I’d ever laid eyes on. I proceeded to tell him that it was also quite dangerous, as most people don’t look down, how it was a lot scarier from my perspective. Then he just gave me a playful smile, one that I’d come to know well, and raised his paw up. He’d very gently rested it on my shoulders and just said, ‘Something like this?’” 

James chuckled at the recollection and Sena smiled in return. “After that we kept bumping into one another. I don’t know whether it was fate or coincidence. I was disheartened when he told me he was in a relationship. It fell apart. From what I understand, the other party was controlling and loved to play manipulative games. We both admitted soon after that that we had loved each other as soon as we’d seen the other. From then on…” his voice trailed off, and he found that he was laying on his back, right next to Sena’s fluffy chest.

James cleared his throat and scooted a little farther away. “That’s the story…” he muttered. He had been so caught up in the recollection that he’d forgotten he was talking to pretty much a complete stranger.

Sena was smiling, “That does sound like him, I must admit.” He said as he stretched, then pushed himself into a sitting position. “Now, I shall return you to your room, and I would suggest you get some sleep.”  James blinked at that suggestion, but when he turned to look out the window the ocean was stained blood red from the sunset. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, then groaned.

Sena just laughed and picked him up gently, cupping him in his hands and heading back down the endless halls to the stairs. At the foot of the stairs, Shinori stood fruitlessly tapping on the door to James’ room, “If I said anything that offended you I didn’t mean it, I promise.” He was saying. James chuckled and Shinori turned to look at the two. Emotions flashed across his face faster than one could blink. Surprise led to anger, then to embarrassment and finally to exasperation. “Where have you been?” he asked, pointedly looking at the fox.

A rumble erupted from Sena’s chest. It wasn’t a growl, more of a deep sounding purr. “Shinori, our guest was with me explaining how he met his mate.” James blushed at that comment, and even more at Shinori’s stare that followed. 

“I, um… I’ll share the details with you later, okay?” James promised. Shinori turned his head and shrugged as if it were no consequence, and Sena cleared his throat. 

“Fine,” Shinori groaned, turning back to face them. He smiled slightly as well, “I feel foolish, is all. I’ve been knocking on your doors for a half hour now,” he explained, “I was trying to ask if you wanted to go to dinner in the dining room with me.”

James shook his head, then brushed the hair out of his eyes, “Thank you, but I don’t like crowds,” he answered, “I think I will just turn in for the night.” Shinori nodded and gracefully stepped back, twisting his body so that his skirt flowed with him. “That reminds me!” James exclaimed, turning to Sena, “Can you please make it so that Shinori can open my doors? I don’t think I need to worry about him.”

Sena nodded and bent down to lick the little fox on the top of his head. It was unexpected, and James flinched but managed not to cry out. “It will be done, hun,” he answered. Shinori smiled as well, putting his hands together near his belly and swishing his body back and forth. Sena opened the door and James stepped off into his room, flicking on the lamp. He turned back to face the opening and saw Shinori step forward. He hugged the lion tightly, standing on his toes to get up to his eye level and gave him an affectionate nuzzle. 

“Good night master,” he said, and the lion nodded.

“Good night, both of you.”

James offered him a wave and turned back as the door clicked shut, walking along the carpet to his bed where he flopped down and allowed himself to drift among his thoughts for a few moments. He realized that he wasn’t nearly as nervous or frightened as he thought he would be. He turned and flipped the lamp off, and the light pouring in from Shinori’s adjacent room was enough that he could see by. Soon sleep had overtaken him and dreams came with it. Dreams of angels and demons, wolves and blades and pure yellow eyes staring back at him, somehow comforting him.

The next day was similar to the first. He recounted the tale of how he’d met Yoko to Shinori over breakfast, as he’d promised. He allowed Shinori to show him the games, even though it still perplexed him. At around midday he allowed Shinori to take him to the kitchens and showed him what he preferred for lunch. James found it a bit much and stuck to bread and cheese.

“You eat like a mouse,” a voice from behind them observed. Both foxes turned to see the house-cat Mellie, an empty fork and plate in her hands. 

“Well, I like the sort of things I eat,” James replied, cutting a small bit of melon off Shinori’s plate with half of a sharpened needle he produced from his bag. The black fox stuck his tongue out at him, but didn’t protest otherwise. He sniffed the air as she passed and chuckled. Mellie nearly dropped the plate at that, and she turned around, ashen-faced.

“What are you laughing at?” she asked, sounding distraught, as if he had mocked her in front of everyone in the building.

James suppressed a whimper, he wasn’t sure if he should feel sorry or defensive. “Tuna fish sandwich,” he explained, “It’s just kind of funny how you said I eat like a mouse and you eat stereotypical cat stuff…”

“He didn’t mean anything by it, Kitty,” Shinori said, reaching out to pat her on the shoulder. Her face remained neutral, and she set her plate in the sink, then turned and walked back by and out the door.

James winced and shook his head, “Did I do that?” he asked, feeling ashamed.

Shinori just shook his head, “Mellie is… fragile,” He explained, “she is very sweet once you get to know her, but she’s been through some hard times.” James nodded but he didn’t eat anything more. He washed his hands of the juice in a water bowl set aside for just that purpose. 

“I’ll apologize to her next time…” he muttered, and Shinori just shrugged. After their meal, they found Sena sitting in Shinori’s chair back in his room, playing on the computer. He looked as though he was concentrating very hard on it. He didn’t look up at them until he seemed satisfied with something on the screen. James noticed a scar on his back as well, perfectly mirroring the one on his front. He shivered at the implications of that.

Sena stood and stretched with his arms over his head, then smiled beatifically at them. “I see that you two are getting along well, I am very glad for that.” He said.

Shinori smiled playfully and pulled the chair away from Sena, flopping into it. “I hope you haven’t gotten me killed a dozen times today.” He said, his smile becoming a knowing smirk.

“That only happened once, and it was not my fault,” Sena replied with a similar smile and a hint of a blush. “I am afraid I wish to borrow our little friend here again.”

He said, and both foxes nodded. 

He let James climb into his hand again and spun Shinori’s chair as he left. Once outside they heard an impact, and a string of creative curses following Sena out the door. Neither he or James could stop laughing until they reached Sena’s room. 

Once inside, Senasimply deposited James on the bed and sat down on the floor. This forced James to look him right in the eye when he spoke, and the lion’s tail twitched and swayed behind him, almost hypnotically. Sena sat for a moment and then asked, “What do you do in your spare time, James?”

James always felt awkward when asked this. He shrugged and looked to one side. Sena cleared his throat and he looked back. “I uh, I just scribble. Nothing special, you know.” Sena’s tail froze for a moment, then resumed it’s swaying. 

“What sort of scribbles?”

James shifted uncomfortably, “Just… scribbles, things I’ve noticed and things I make up.” His hand tightened on his bag. The yellow eyes narrowed and the large nostrils flared.

“May I see them?” Sena asked. His voice was soft and polite, but James felt sick to his stomach nonetheless. He hated other people seeing what he wrote; he always thought they would think the worst. It was a reasonable request though, so he reluctantly pulled his bag’s strap from his shoulder and started sorting through it. Finally he pulled out a sheaf of papers and selected one. 

Sena took it without a word and squinted at it, then reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out a strange pair of glasses. They looked like the sort of thing a jeweler would use. His eyes flitted down the page, taking several minutes, with James offering the next page when he handed one back. It went on for a very long time, and James was convinced that Sena would burst out laughing any moment. Finally, he took the glasses off and set them aside. 

“These are quite good,” he praised with a serious smile on his face, “You should be very proud.” James blushed and tucked the pages away.

“They’re nothing, really,” he stated, “It’s just something I do when my mind is restless.”

“Then I hope it gets restless more often.” The lion said, leaning back and then pulling himself up by the curtain rod over the bed.

James shrugged and allowed himself a small smile, “Thank you, that’s very kind.” He looked out the window and saw that the sun had set already, “I think I would like to go back to my room now, if you don’t mind.”

Sena seemed taken aback by this, but he held his hand out anyway. James sighed, “You didn’t do anything wrong, I just don’t know what to think when people look at my writing.”

As James walked onto his hand, Sena nodded, “It can be very hard to show others what you work hard on and care a lot about.” He said, “Thank you for showing me.”

They followed the path back to James’ room in a contemplative silence. When Sena placed James back in his room, he gave the small fox another affectionate lick, which James returned with a tap on the jaw. As the door closed and the lamp clicked on, he heard voices from the next room. The deeper tone he assumed belonged to Sena, and Shinori’s the lighter. There was a long discussion, but James couldn’t make out any individual words, and fell asleep when it was only half over.

The next day started out the same way. The black fox appeared happier than usual, and he allowed, or rather, forced James to try to play one of his games. Predictably, the little fox’s small hands weren’t fast enough to keep up with the game and he lost easily, even when Shinori manned the keys and James took the mouse. After that, Shinori finally admitted that James wasn’t cut out for computer games, and was content to let him watch until lunch again.

James tried some more meats that day, there were all sorts, and part of him wondered where they came from. One was incredibly spicy and he actually submerged his head in water to cool his mouth off. When he surfaced and parted the hair from in front of his eyes, he saw Shinori trying without much success to keep from laughing hysterically. James ate with his back to him for the rest of the meal, though it didn’t stop Shinori’s snickering. He didn’t see Mellie the whole time, and he regretted that he couldn’t apologize to her.

This is where Sena found them, and this time he invited Shinori along. He declined though, saying that he understood that they needed the time alone to build trust. James shrugged and took advantage of the situation to fling water at Shinori. The larger fox stuck his tongue out at James and James returned the expression.

Sena lifted an eyebrow and sighed. “Must I put you two in separate corners or something?” he asked. At that, both of the foxes put on their most innocent faces and said, almost simultaneously, “No.”

Sena shook his head and they headed off again, this time for the room on the lower floor where James had first met the lion. Sena took a seat in the armchair and placed the fox on his knee. He seemed to be debating with himself over something, as his fingers kept tapping the side of the chair. Finally, he stopped and sat up straighter. “I have a proposal for you, but first I must ask you something.” He paused, and James’ ears perked up expectantly. “What other skills do you have?”

James sighed, “Do I really…?” he began, and Sena cut him off with a glance, then a nod. James sat there for nearly ten minutes thinking. When he finally came up with a practical answer, he didn’t know if he should mention it or not. “There is one thing,” he answered, “but it’s a lot easier if I show you.”

Sena nodded, and he leaned forward expectantly. James carefully picked his way down the lion’s leg to the floor. He looked up at Sena, who now looked completely perplexed. “I need you to lift up your paw.” James said, “Propping them up would be preferable, but this will do.” 

Sena tilted his head to one side, “Are you sure, hun?” he asked, “That seems a little dangerous.”

James shook his head, “I’ve done it many times. I’m safe.”

Sena sighed uneasily and did as instructed. James bent on his knees and reached out, running his hands up and down the main pad of the paw, waiting for a reaction. Eventually the toes curled almost unnoticeably. James smiled and focused there, pushing down as hard as he could and rolling the heel of his hand over the spot. Sena erupted into a deep purr almost immediately.

“Oh my…” he rumbled, “You are quite good at that.”

“It’s only practice,” James replied, continuing his way up the other side of the pad, and then onto each toe, sending pleasurable tingles up each digit and to his leg. He spent a few minutes in each spot, and switched to the other paw when he finished. Sena lifted it up without even thinking about it. His eyes were closed, and he was purring like a kitten.

After James finished, he took a step back and waited. Sena was breathing deeply and purring so hard he rumbled the chair. “My goodness…” his eyes opened slowly and he stood, shaking off the sluggish feeling that came over his limbs, “That was wonderful, very useful indeed.”

James smiled and shrugged, “Small hands make it pretty easy,” he admitted. Sena bent and allowed James to climb aboard his hand, then sat back down with James on his knee again.

“Yes, now we come to the proposal,” he said, resting his arm on rest and tapping a finger. “If you would so wish it, I would like to become your master.” 

James blinked and rubbed at his ear, “I’m sorry, you said you want to be my what?” he replied, feeling a knot form in his stomach.

Sena grinned, carefully reaching down to pat the fox on the head, “It is nothing more than me claiming responsibility for you, and you claiming loyalty to me. It does not mean I own you.” His smile widened, “Yoko is my pet too, you know.”

James closed his eyes and he felt like laughing, though he didn’t know why. “Yes, but I’d never considered, I mean why would you. I mean… You really want…?” He rubbed at his temples and sighed, “I… This is something I didn’t expect to have to answer.”

Sena chuckled, “You don’t have to answer today, if you don’t want to.” He said, stroking James’ back with a thumb, “But the offer is open.”

James let out a long sigh and sat with his eyes closed for a long time. He needed to process the information, and when he finally managed to do so he looked up and smiled. “Yes. You know, I don’t see why not. I feel like I can trust you with this.”

Sena beamed and James felt his purring again, almost as strong as when his paws were being cared for. “That makes me very happy, hun.”

James held up a finger, “I do have one condition, though…”

Sena blinked, but his smile remained, “What is it?”

James pointedly stared Sena in the eye, “I am not obligated to call you master, and I would prefer to not be called ‘pet’,” he said, “If we’re going to do this, I remain James to you, and you remain Sena to me.” He held out a hand, and offered up a smile, “Deal?”

Sena chuckled and put a finger in James’ hand, “Of course, hun,” he replied, “Now there is just one thing to get out of the way.”

He carefully picked James up and set him on the arm of his chair, and drew something out of his pocket. It looked like a ring, but when James looked closer it was actually a silver collar with a symbol around the outside. It resembled the tattoo Sena had on his arm, “This is so that I will always be able to find you, and I will know if you are in danger.” Sena explained, “If you choose to take this, there is no going back.” He pointed out gently, then held the collar out.

James hesitated only a moment, then reached out to take it. He was surprised at how light it seemed, and he looked it over. It was simple, woven silver fabric with a tribal-like design. He took a deep breath, undid the clasp, and fastened it around his neck. It began to glow brightly, making James close his eyes. When he could open them again, he reached up to touch the collar, but it was no longer there. He parted his fur and saw what looked like a tattoo on his skin.

Sena cupped him in one hand and brought him to his face, nuzzling his whole body before setting him on his muzzle. “Welcome to the family.”

James chuckled, the words sent shivers down his spine, but it was a good feeling. He lay back against his new master’s muzzle and smiled, “Thank you very much, Sena.” He replied, and the emphasis on that last word felt like the seal of a bond that would last a long time to come.