A winter in Yetinburg ch.9

	It's cold where I am. The color has bled out of the world around me, though the surroundings are the same. My same old living room, furniture placed with care for the position of the fireplace in the corner. It is lit but the grey flames do not warm the room. It has a nostalgic smell to it, due to the white and black were-wolves lounging on my couch. I stand behind them, not able to see their faces. Their voices are dulled, echoing through nothing. I can't make out what they're saying, but it's my Tava and Eva. The light of the room comes from the pair, but it brings no warmth or color with it even as they retain their color.
	A different light coming from the kitchen catches my attention. I look towards it, seeing the room shedding golden light through the doorway. It's warm. Comforting. A different scent flows in with it, enticing me as the warmth draws my body towards it. Stepping over to the open doorway I look inside. It's my kitchen, as it is now. The oven is cooking something with a great smell while someone moves around to tend to the other parts of the meal they are preparing. Golden light shines off her hair and tails. The woman with the slender body turns and notices me, smiling wide when she sees who it is. She's wearing an apron with a cartoon pig on the front, apple in it's snout.
	"It's almost done Sebastian, come sit down! The biscuits are already done!" Sonia calls to me with cheery voice as clear as a bell. Looking at the table, I can see some steaming country buns sitting in a basket placed in the center.
	I hesitate. The warmth of the kitchen entices me, but something is holding me back. I look into the cold, colorless living room and at my family. Eva is on Tava's lap, her mother holding her as the small wolf stays quiet watch the television that is playing static. Tava smiles at me with a reassuring presence about her, nodding. Urging me to go ahead. A knot hits my throat, guilt fills my mind.
	"Dinners ready when you are."
	I look back at Sonia behind me. I'm still in the doorway of the kitchen. She's already gotten the table set, somehow. A small banquet of expertly cooked food is prepared, and she's already plating the dishes. I have to look between the two rooms a few more times, my resistance and guilt melting from the warmth. I take a moment to look back at the living room, giving the pair one last silent farewell before turning away.
	"I hope you made enough Sonia, I'm starved." I smile, moving into the kitchen to pat her head. She huffs, but with a smile on her face before taking her apron off to sit at her seat.
	"All you can eat Sebastian."

	I wake up in a calm daze, seeing the same roof of the therapist again. It feels much different this time, like weight has dropped off my body while I was sleeping. Sitting up, I rub my eyes to get the sleep out of them before the old Nightmare speaks up from behind her desk, smile and tone in her voice showing how pleased she is.
	"Amazing progress today. I'm astonished!" She almost seems to compliment me, "Up until december nothing seemed to be changing. And in one month you've come this far while I was on vacation."
	I check the time, seeing there isn't much time left for my visit. I'm not sad about the time missed dreaming as I might have been a while ago.
	"I'm going to require a few more visits just to be safe, but if this keeps up you won't need to see me anymore. But while I have time, let me ask... who is this 'Sonia'. She turned up before, but as a child you were protecting. But now she's become like a beacon." The nightmare asks, notebook ready. I take a moment to organize my thoughts, before explaining most of what I had been going through with Sonia, omitting the nastier details. She takes great interest, humming the whole while.
	"Alright Sebastian, my advice to you is to interact with this Sonia more. It's obvious you two have been helping each other immeasurably to recover from your respective traumas. I won't force you to do anything, just spend time together more." The therapist instructs, though I can almost see some other intention behind her smile.
	"It would be hard not to do that. But will do, I'll see if I can get us some things to do together."
	She nods with approval, staying behind the desk as the egg timer starts chirping, the novelty timer having a little harpy chick poke it's head up with the top of the shell on it's head. The therapist pushed it back down, stopping the noise as I stand up. I head for the door, pausing there to look back at the old centaur.
	"I'll see you next week."
	She waves to me, and I close the door behind. Feeling much lighter in general, I head back outside to get to my truck and head home. Sonia should be awake by now. Things have already settled down in the neighborhood in the few days it's been since new years. Charles seems to have humbled a bit, not even making a sour face at me when we caught each other checking the mail at the same time yesterday. I can thank Sonia for that. I'll need to try apologizing again in a while.
	After a relaxing drive I return back home and park in my driveway, mentally making a schedule for myself. Boss wants me at work on time tonight, and I'll need to be awake and aware for it. Didn't sound like the usual job but I can't say no to anything that group asks of me now. I forget the train of thought as I open up the front door, smile on my face as I step through it and into my humble home.
	Sonia isn't in the living room, so after I take off my things I wander into the home to look for her. I head upstairs, expecting her to still be asleep. I find the door to her room open, and assume she just went out as every other door is also ajar. I head towards the bathroom instead, it cracked open half a foot and giving me a false sense of security that it's unoccupied. When I open the door, I'm treated to the sight of Sonia stepping out of the shower with a towel in hand. Moisture still glistens on her light skin, her slim curves on display from the side even without anything showing. Her ears stand up tall as a pink blush comes to her cheeks, eyes widening before she covers herself up as best she can and turns her back to me to hide her bare form. Her tails, still slimmed down from dampness do only half a decent job covering her round rump from my view.
	"H-hey, knock first!" She complains, making me close the door after a moment to realize my mistake. It takes a deep breath to calm down after the surprise.
	"It wasn't closed, I didn't think you were there." I explain from my side of the door, realizing how little complaint she had with the accident.
	"It wasn't closed all the way? Sorry, just waking up. I haven't gotten breakfast yet, it's hard to focus before I get a pig liver lately." Sonia answers, holding off on the hair dryer. "I might need some more of that 'medicine' soon."
	It takes me a moment to think of what she means before it clicks. I'd forgotten about that, but I haven't had any work to do at work besides sitting around watching television. But if she's bringing it up it must be getting very hard for her to retain control.
	"I'll see what I can do. That specialist will be coming by one of these days, so they may be able to help with that." I respond, watching as the door opens up. She's wearing a long sweater, the end of it going down to her upper thigh before ending. She isn't wearing pants, though the presence of underwear is in a schrodinger conundrum for now. With the door open she picks up the hair dryer and starts with her hair, looking at me to talk while getting the last bit of moisture off of herself.
	"I hope so. Why isn't there a set date though?" Sonia asks over the mild noise of the dryer.
	"Depends on when planes can fly. There are lots of storms this time of year." I explain. "But the forecast was good, it may be today."
	She hums, letting me watch as she switches from her hair to her tails, lifting one up at a time to dry it. I can almost make out whether or not she is wearing something underneath from the tail lifting the sweater and end up staring to try and figure it out, Sonia getting a whole tail dry before moving onto the second one to fluff it out next.
	"What sorts of things will she be doing? I mean, I already gave you that blood to be tested."
	The question snaps my focus away from the tails, making me look up at Sonia's face. I'm a bit embarrassed about the lapse in focus, but Sonia doesn't seem to mind as her content look remains.
	"Nothing you don't want her to. She may want to study you, but she can't do anything without your permission. She has an assistant to help with the handy work, but I don't know what race she is." I explain to her. "But if I were to guess, a trip to the hospital for an MRI would be a start. Maybe X-rays, some more samples taken, some more less invasive tests to determine your eyesight and hearing levels."
	"Sounds busy... well, we're pretty good on the chores right now. I can spare a day to do all that."
	"It may take more than one day. You need to book appointments with the MRI machine and she'll want to test your blood for different things at different times. She may even bring li-... 'medicine' to see how it affects you."
	Sonia is finished all three tails by that point, happy with her clean, shiny fur now. She moves past me, the tails brushing up against me while she takes an extra second before heading for the living room on her own. I try to shake the thoughts out of my head that the contact produces. I never knew that they were so soft. Much softer than were-wolf tails, at the least. Probably because they're better taken care of.
	I head downstairs after I actually have my turn in the bathroom before wandering into the living room. Sonia has taken to sitting by the fire now that we've taken the decorations down and taken the tree out, resting with her tails facing it to take in the warmth. She smiles up at me when I come in, but I can't help noticing her bare legs again.
	"You'd be warmer with some pants, wouldn't you?"
	"I'm just getting comfortable." Sonia explains, remote in her hand as she looks for something to watch on the dvr.
	"You're at least wearing underwear, right?" I ask, the odd question slipping out. She doesn't answer, but grins a bit more as her tails twitch behind her. I can't say it isn't stoking my curiosity, making it hard to just sit down. "Please get some pants on, just in case."
	"You'll have to make me." She retorts, more out of playfulness as her tails curl around her legs a bit to keep them warm. I'm halfway through my thought when the home phone rings, snapping me out of it.
	It takes me a few rings to reach the phone to answer it, saying a simple "Hello?".
	"H-h-hello, this is Sebastian Rowwel?" A shivering, heavily accented voice from a native zippangese voice replies. I can almost hear their teeth chattering in my speaker.
	"Yes, I'm Sebastian. Who is this?"
	"Name is Yamauchi Kotori." She responds, talking with someone on the other end right after. I wait for it, and she comes back on the line "Kotori Yamauchi. Forgot english change places."
	Her english really isn't that good, but at least I can understand her. I try to keep my words simple for her.
	"Are you in Yetinburg right now? Do you need my address?" I ask, drawing it out a bit to help her understand.
	"Need help. Try to drive. Slip into ditch, can't get out. On highway." Kotori explains as best as she can. I sigh a bit, trying to think of how much time I have to help get whatever rental vehicle they have out. If it's too heavy, my truck may not be able to do it.
	"What kind of vehicle were you driving?"
	The question seems to confuse her, but after a couple moments she replies in the same rough english.
	"Truck. Big truck." She answers. It's not a lot of information but it's enough for me. I can't get a truck out of the ditch with my own, even with it's good engine.
	"I'll call the tow truck, it may take a bit. Keep warm, and call if there is an emergency." I instruct Kotori. She takes a couple moments to respond, seeming to analyze what I just said before speaking.
	"We wait here. See you later." She chirps, teeth still chattering away. I get their general location before hanging up, and call the tow company. Thankfully they're not that busy, locals don't get stuck in the ditches too often. After telling them what I know and telling them where to go, and agree to pay for the tow, I hang up on them too and sigh.
	Sonia keeps watching me with the phone, her ears standing up straight, curious as to what is going on. I put the phone back on it's charger as she asks.
	"Who was that?"
	"That physician. Crazy bird tried to drive here on the highway with a rental truck. They're going to tow her, she'll be around in about two hours. Think you can start some soup? Doesn't sound like she packed warm enough."
	"Are you going to help? I'd only be cooking from a book, if we have the right stuff." Sonia asks, standing up and stretching her arms up. I try not to look, but my eyes wander down to get another tease at whether there are panties or not. Sonia notices and grins, not saying anything as she lowers her limbs. It snaps me out of my gaze, and I look back up at her face.
	"Y-yeah. Yeah. I can help with the soup." I stammer, clearing my throat before heading into the kitchen. "We can use the bone and leftover ham to make some pea soup."
	Sonia follows me into the kitchen, heading for the fridge ahead of me. One of her tails brushes up against my arm on the way, seeming to push against it to make sure there is as much contact against me in the brief pass as possible.
	I attempt to forget about it as we get the things together and Sonia takes out her apron to wear. It covers a bit more of her legs but doesn't help me ignore the smooth, bare skin. Soon enough the soup is starting to cook, and the pair of us at left stirring the steaming green soup as needed.
	After getting an update from Kotori from her hotel room's phone, I look towards Sonia lounging on the couch with my laptop at one end. Despite my looking the presence or non-existence of undergarments on the fox eludes me as she relaxes on her belly.
	"They're coming over right now, go get some pants on." I order her. Her ears twitch before she looks back at me, innocent look on her face.
	"But they won't mind, they can't see anything."
	"That's not the point."
	"You're going to have to make me!" She teases, flipping her tails back and forth. I swear her perky bottom is bare under the sweater. I don't have any more patience for it, and move on over to her to lift her up over my shoulder. She yelps as I carry her, hand on her bottom as she squirms. She could easily get away as I keep my one hand on her waist and the other on her rump but makes no move to. I take her straight upstairs, and into her room without delay. She's either stunned or playing along as I toss her onto her bed, getting a glimpse of the thong she's wearing. So she did have something on under there after all, even if it is rather skimpy.
	Sonia stays where she is, giggling a bit as I take out a pair of her pants and approach. She struggles, making me grab her ankle and attempt to force the pants on while she squirms. Her sweater rides up past her belly as we struggle against each other. My hands take hold of that silky skin and run along it as the pants move up her legs. But I eventually get the pants all the way up onto her before sighing and trying to calm the reaction seeing the flexible curves has produced in me. Sonia stays laying there, still grinning. Her eyes are locked onto me with more mischief intended.
	"You haven't finished putting them on yet Sebastian." She teases, raising her arms above her head. I look down again, seeing she intends to make me zip the jeans up. Maybe even button it, and adjust the tail strap. I try too keep myself calm. My head is clouded with sexual frustration. I pinch the zipper, fumbling with my big fingers before pulling it up in one careful motion. It takes a moment longer for me to button the jeans. With that done I flip her over as she squeals from how sudden it is, and I adjust the tail strap to what I think is tight enough.
	"There. And keep them on."
	"No promises." She giggles with glee, getting up onto her feet and loosening the tail strap a little bit. "That was rather fun."
	"Where did you even get a thong?" I ask, grumbling on the way back down the stairs while the light-footed girl follows.
	"Well, Catherine took me to get some sexy things to apologize for new years."
	That explains a lot. Sonia probably got some tips from the kikimora too. I can't say it's making my life easier, I need to think about doctor and patient relations when it comes to Sonia. A stray thought mentions that will end once the physician arrives, just to spite me.
	There is a light knock at the door that I almost pass off as an icicle falling. Sonia's ears catch it clearer and she heads to the door first with a happy bounce in her step. I follow along when I realize who had to be there, and feel the cold air rush into my home when the door opens.
	Standing just outside on our front step is a pair of shivering, under-dressed women with in thick zipangunese robes. The one with the black feathers with a shiny purple tint has to be Kotori. Her avian legs are left nearly bare besides what the heavy robe covers, wings wrapping around her body in an attempt to keep some warmth in the freezing temperatures. She didn't even bring a snow hat, her head of black hair is uncovered, the long strands tied back into a long braid that hangs on her lower back. Her skin is tanned from being somewhere with a lot of warm sun.
	While Kotori is about Sonia's height, after taking away a few inches, the one next to her is a tad taller than the golden tailed fox. She is actually wearing a snow hat, but her robes only cover about the same amount as the crow. She doesn't have any feathers to keep warm with either, just green skin that looks a little amphibious. A large bump on her back under her clothing gives me a clue to her race, making me think kappa. The webbed fingers confirm it.
	We let the pair rush into the home without a moment to spare, Sonia closing the door behind the them. They kick off their shoes and plop themselves in front of the fire, both letting out happy sighs when they can regain some warmth. I just watch from my spot with mild interest, surprised how young Kotori seems. She's probably younger than Sonia by a couple years. Finally she realizes how quick she entered and looks over at me, Sonia looking back at the pair with a bit of confusion.
	"Sorry, rude! Forgive us!" She pleads while staying seated on her knees. She's definitely a native of Zipangu, they do share the doctor's network with us. She gives us a small bow before sitting up straight again, folding her wings into the large sleeves before acting more professional. I can see her tiny form now, it's made for flying with a form thinner than Sonia's with smaller breasts. Too bad that's crazy in this area.
	"My name is Yamauchi Kotori. This is Kazuna." The tengu gestures to the kappa, who has moved a bit away from the fire now. She takes off the snow hat to reveal the swimming cap she's wearing on top of her short green hair. "She is assistant. Cannot speak english. Does not like her family name, mean 'pond scum'."
	"It's nice to meet you." Sonia greets them, her eyes curious about the pair. "I'm Sonia."
	Kotori lights up when she hears the name, springing up to look all over the kumiho as Sonia watches with continued confusion. The tengu is nearly bouncing already, but lifts up one of the fox's hands with her wing joint to get a better look at it. Looking up at Sonia, despite the few inch difference, she examines the eyes before speaking.
	"Can you show me teeth?" Kotori requests. Sonia is already wary, but does as requested. This only excites the tengu even more, her wings coming out of her sleeves to spread straight up as she cheers.
	"Really found one! Kumiho! Just like stories say! Yellow eye, sharp claws, sharp teeth! How strong you?" The excited tengu asks, folding her wings into her sleeves again as she almost dances around in a circle. Sonia looks a bit less confused, and more concerned from the look she gives to me.
	"Doctor Yamauchi, weren't you here because of something in Sonia's blood?" I ask, making the tengu freeze in her spot before composing herself. After faking a cough she turns and acts serious.
	"Yes, no. Enzyme is reason have research fund. But really want prove Kumiho real." Kotori explains as best she can in her fractured, accented english. "Sonia look healthier than pictures. Recover fast. Have old teeth?"
	"Of course, I knew you might want them."
	"What can she find out about teeth that fell out?" Sonia asks, looking unsure about the young physician.
	"Various things. It doesn't matter. She'll only be able to do a basic checkup now, and get some soup for dinner. I'll go find them some warm clothes so they won't freeze to death moving around outside." I reassure Sonia, patting her head. She actually smiles a bit from it this time.
	"Alright, I'll get them some soup. Come on, into the kitchen if you want some." Sonia directs the pair. She manages to get them away from the warm fire and to the kitchen table where they keep shivering from lack of cold resistance. I can't imagine how warm it is where they live.
	I find the plastic sample bottle I put the teeth into for Kotori before digging out some old snow gear from the attic, going with the extra warm varieties. I can hear the group of three chatting downstairs through a vent. I only catch bits and pieces. With the old clothes in arm I head down into the kitchen, passing by the three. I tune into what they are talking about now, as Kazuna does her best to eat and feed Kotori at the same time since the tengu can't pick up a spoon.
	"So, most info on kumiho come from folklore tale. Most those are just single kumiho. But a few appear many time. They have five, sometimes more tail. Focus on them, try track down. Might still live. Only one from last two hundred years though."
	Sonia just nods and listens, somewhat invested by supposed medical professional prattling on about kumiho. I get the things set down in the living room before coming back for my own soup, sitting down in the seat next to the twitching golden tails to listen to Kotori myself.
	"Last mention having eight tail. Story mention escape to west country. Name don't know, but always have crimson red hair and tails." Kotori mentions. Sonia sits up straighter, by a bit. I can sense that that information troubles her, but she does her best not to let it show. "Not sure why Sonia here. Far from home region. Can tell about life?" Kotori asks.
	Sonia hesitates. She stares down at her soup, whatever that had bothered her not letting her speak about it. I don't want to stress her out, so I cut in for her sake.
	"She isn't comfortable talking about that. It won't help you prove anything either. The DNA test and MRI should prove it for you." I interject, putting Kotori back into her more serious side again. She seems to be overexcited about kumiho, but she has more credentials than I do. "Did you become a physician just for this?"
	"Yes, but did real work. Not need english much when in lab long time, researching. Kumiho more side project till now." Kotori responds, fine with the change of subject as the soup warms her body up. "Come from ocean city in south Zipangu. Research mermaid blood. Similar to kumiho blood, but common. Theory kumiho blood link to mana to heal, but only theory. Need test samples to prove." Kotori adds, Sonia calming down a bit when the topic changed to something nicer. One of her tails brushes against my legs in what I guess is thanks.
	"That's what I'm more interested in. Helping people with... whatever I am. If my blood can help people, maybe the other problems could be overlooked." Sonia smiles.
	"Other problem? Which one?"
	Sonia pauses before speaking. "Well... my 'hunger'. For livers. The.... human kind." She struggles to speak out, it hard for her. "It gets pretty hard to focus on anything else after a while. Maybe if kumiho help people, there won't be opposition to them getting help."
	Kotori hums, thinking with a serious face for a minute before speaking again. "If take sample before and after eat liver, can find what change. Maybe make medicine get rid of 'hunger'. But need liver of human. Does gender matter?" The tengu asks.
	"I... don't know. I never really learned anything about that stuff." Sonia frowns, ears drooping. I frown as well, patting her back before she leans into me, forcing my hand to go up to her shoulder to avoid awkward maneuvering back around her to get it down.
	Kotori stares before uttering an "Ohohoho!", bringing her wing up to cover a smile. "Not know you two like that."
	I frown a bit, able to tell without looking that makes Sonia happier.
	"Not exactly. You just get close to someone you live with. We're not dating yet." I explain, only catching the last word slip after it's far too late. The two girls that can understand me react immediately, Kotori becoming more amused while Sonia scoots her chair closer to me and wraps a tail around my lower leg. I grumble a bit at the reaction, finishing off my soup all at once.
	"Either way, you're her doctor now. I haven't really done much besides the checkup and blood test anyways. Now then, I might be able to get a liver that isn't viable for transplant soon. If you take blood now, you can take more later to find whatever halts her hunger." I say to try and distract them from the topic. Kotori nods, accepting that now that everyone is done with their soup.
	"Alright. Sample this time show hunger with food in system. When get liver, try not eat twenty four hours and let take more blood before. Must be accurate."
	"Alright, the clothes and teeth are on couch. I'm going to take a nap, I have work later and I need to be awake for it." I sigh, taking my hand off of Sonia's shoulder and gently pushing her off my side so I can stand up. "Just remember. Sonia can throw someone a head taller than me over her head if she wants." I warn, hoping to keep the tengu calm for the resident with the fluffy tails. Kotori looks at Sonia, before back at my serious face to confirm.
	"That strong?"
	"Yes, that strong. Don't stress her out by going nuts inspecting her."
	Kotori giggles, grinning some more as she covers the lower half of her face with the  joint of her wing.
	"I'll be gentle with your woman."
	I let out a sigh and move away, the tail around my lower leg unwinding as I move out of it's range. I head straight upstairs as they begin to speak serious medical talk, trying not to worry so much as I head to my bed to attempt to rest. I lay down in the soft sheets and close my eyes, leaving the door open so I can hear the louder noises. They seem to be behaving. Drifting off to sleep, I make sure the alarm is set so I'm not late to whatever job my boss has in store for me.

	I step in through the back door of the morgue, two red oni in thick winter clothing standing guard on the outside with knives on their belts and guns concealed in their jackets. There is much more security around here than I recall before, and I soon learn why as I hear a loud cry of pain from deeper into the building. They've never brought live victims here before. There is an amazoness in black fur clothing standing guard with a machete on the inside of the door, making me pause before checking her phone. After a long moment she nods and lets me through so I can get my medical garb put on in the changing room. I hear a loud cracking noise and another outcry of pain, making me shudder before I get fully garbed. I head out and into the autopsy room as quick as I can, steeling myself for the worst.
	The boss is there, clothes still prim and proper with blue horn polished. She's sipping from a tall glass of something only an oni would drink and leaning on a counter, watching the interrogation. Looking across the room I see four bodies already laid out on tables, all of them monster girls with tattoos all over their right arms. My gaze eventually shifts to where a very large looking hellhound woman is, wearing only a leather vest up top with tight leather pants buttoned onto her legs. She has a thick black collar on her neck with a tag showing the group's insignia, and one of her ears is almost completely missing. She's holding a wooden baseball bat in one of her paws as she paces in front of two people, one a man with the same tattoos on his arm as the dead thugs and a shaved head, the other a panda woman with an hourglass figure but tattoos up half the side of her face as well as her arm. They look at me desperately, but I frown and move over to the nearest table to begin with my work. I try not to look up, the hellhound setting the bat down on the counter to look through her other tools of interrogation.
	"Y'all keep spouting the same bullcrap. 'She's crazy!' 'She eats people!' 'We had to escape!'. Pah, we just want you to tell us where she is." The hellhound berates the pair, picking up something that cracks with electricity off the counter beside her. I just keep going with my work, my blue oni boss moving up next to me to speak.
	"Don't mind them. People running up from down south." She mutters, drinking some more of the burning strong alcohol in her glass. I can smell the high content through my face mask. "You don't smell like booze anymore. Disappointing, but at least you won't make any mistakes."
	I don't say anything. Then I hear a crack of electricity, the man crying out against what sounds like a cattle prod mixed with a taser. I don't dare look, but it's hard not to pay attention even as I move the venom sacks of the dead manticore I'm working on into an organ cooler.
	"P-please, we're telling the truth! She's been eating all those livers man! All the male members that fucked up even a bit were taken away! I had to clean it up after, she tears people apart!" He pleads, getting another shock that makes him cry out for the effort. I hear choking noises and the chair rattling before the noise stops, the hellhound swearing as she smacks the man's head hard.
	"Shit, killed another one. Come on panda, none of that crap. Where is this base of yours, if you spill yer guts we won't need to spill yer guts fer real." The gruff hound growls deep at the remaining thug. The panda is crying a bit, but gets a smack that snaps her out of it.
	"Alright! Alright! I'll tell you e-everything! The base is in the old building on the south-east side of Yukiten! The new boss lives there too! Please, I don't want to die! She'll kill anyone for no reason!" The panda begs and pleads, the hellhound chuckling with glee.
	"Was that so hard? Why did it need to wait till the last one of you?" The hound asks. I finish with the manticore, my sober mind working fast despite the distraction. I move onto the next body, glad that the broken bones in these victims are all in the arms and legs and not in my way. Can't say they smell nice. Nobody cleaned them before I started working.
	"She finds things out. Super easy. If you try to sneak something she'll tear your arm off! If she finds out anyone ratted the location out, she'd... none of us were lying when we said she ate people. I think it's the only thing she eats. But nobody tries to fight back against her anymore!" The panda keeps spilling, the hellhound letting out an annoyed growl.
	"And how does a kitsune do that sort of thing? Whatever, I got what I need so you can live I guess. Oi! What should we do with her?!" The hound calls to the blue oni behind me. The boss thinks for a minute.
	"...What was that fox's name?" The oni asks, just to be thorough.
	"Yuhyeol Aejong sir!" The panda answers, as if it were an order from a superior. "Red hair and fur, yellow eyes. Teeth as sharp as daggers. Claws. Nine tails."
	"Sounds like bullshit, but keep her in a cell at the estate until we can confirm. All these shits coming up north to get away from her is causing a real headache. And driving up demand for human livers is a pain. If I were insane, I'd guess that we're dealing with a kumiho or something." The oni sighs, hellhound laughing as she picks the tied up panda off of the chair and carries her under one of her arms.
	"Probably just a nutcase if it's true, with strength magic. Nothing a hail of bullets can't solve!"
	Another hearty laugh comes from the hound as she moves out of the room, but I'm sweating a bit. Being sober during this situation isn't helping, but the talk of a killer kumiho is unnerving. After leaving the panda somewhere, the hound comes back to start talking about normal things with the boss while cleaning up in the sink, getting blood out of her fur. I finish with the Ooomukade, making sure to get every venom gland with great care. Even touching one through a glove would be dangerous so I'm forced to use specially designed metal tongs.
	As I'm working on the third the hound comes up behind me. She's half a head taller, and definitely bigger. She takes in my scent carefully, something about it interesting her.
	"That's odd. Similar scent sticking to him as that man over that. Not the same though... still smells somewhat foxy." She comments. I hear the boss stepping over to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. Her grip hurts. I do my best to stay calm.
	"That's a bit suspicious. Get a woman in your life?" The boss asks. I keep working, I need to get the bodies processed as quick as possible or they'll be no good.
	"Something like that. She's a kitsune, was homeless. Doesn't know anything about this." I answer honestly, hoping it satiates her curiosity. Her grip loosens. It seems the answer satisfied her.
	"Don't fuck us Sebastian, and you'll be fine. You're only entry level in this organization, barely." Boss reminds me. "But if you fuck us, you'll end up in some pit as your home while you keep doing this sort of work. Get me?"
	"I got you. I'm smart enough to know I can't change my job now." I answer. Boss smiles, releasing my shoulder to go get a fresh drink and one for her hellhound friend. I keep working, getting through the four bodies already on tables before moving the first into the incinerator to make room. The last is the human man, still warm to the touch even after his heart had stopped not long ago. The pair behind my back are talking quiet to plan something out before the boss goes into the other room to call her own boss with the information. The hound stays at the doorway but is yawning, bored now that she has nobody to hurt.
	Unattended, I get the last of the organs into the coolers. I set the one with the human liver to the side before beginning to wash up, and the boss comes back in with a frown.
	"Bad news, she's giving the raid to that mantis bitch. Don't know why the boss made her second in command, basically just a bodyguard." The blue oni scoffs, drinking right from her bottle of hard liqueur.
	"Don't think too hard about it. That ring tail knows what she's doing most of the time, even if she plays favorites. Might just want us at home keeping her safe in case another gang of idiots try to take over again." The hound reassures her friend. I can feel the flaming eyes on my back now. "Now why did he sat one cooler to the side?"
	"I have a need for a liver for some research." I explain quickly. "Take it out of my cut."
	The boss walks over to me again, I turn to face her but her strong hand reaches in front to grip my throat. I choke a bit, but she lets me breath while glaring.
	"Last time you said the same about a liver you cut. You're not selling it to that bitch fox down south, are you?" The oni asks. I shake my head no, not able to speak back. She takes a moment to think before letting me go.
	"Doesn't matter, she'll be dead before you could sell it. We still get to save our money so whatever. You won't be getting any cash from this though, the demand has made them incredibly expensive in these parts."
	"Got it."
	I rub my throat as the pair begin packing away the many coolers, leaving the one with the liver for me. I'm thankful to be left alone, and to be a favorite of the blue oni. Even if she doesn't say it, anyone but me would have ended up with a broken rib or worse. Soon enough they have the place cleared, but the hound lags behind long enough to make sure all the bodies are burned up and the mess cleaned. It takes an hour, but she is occupied cleaning her tools in the sink during. She leaves me alone, until I've taken the medical garb off to add to the last body to cremate. It does have evidence on it. Once the door closes, she growls behind me.
	"I'd be dragging you back to the mansion if I were her. Smelling like the enemy, and wanting a liver would be enough evidence." The hound glares down, pushing me up against the burning hot metal as I turn around, pinning me between the hit surface and her burning hot body. "But I respect that drunken blueberry."
	With the mild warning passed she backs off, moving out last to leave me alone. I let out a sigh of relief when I can avoid burns on my back, though I can smell her sulfuric sweat on my clothes now. Sonia will be suspicious of that, but I can guess what the hound is thinking. If she smells Sonia on me after whoever is down south is dead, everything will be fine. Or she just wants to fuck with me.
	I get to calm down and rest my mind for a bit after that, making sure the liver is kept safe in the cooler. I keep it here for now, it's marked so nobody takes it. I faked the donation log well enough to fool anybody that may look. I clear my head by watching some late night television, avoiding the mob movie marathon on the movie channel. Some nature shows do the best job so I stick with those.
	Once I've calmed down I look the place over a second time to make sure everything is clear, and lock it up. The drive home is calm, but my mind wanders to what was mentioned down south. A fox matching the description of a kumiho. Eating people. With nine tails. Named Yuhyeong Aejong. It's a dialect a couple countries over, beside the Mist valley region. But their last names are one syllable. It's obviously fake, even if it's from there. I just worry, I know what Sonia can do. I'm almost hoping if it does exist down in Yukiten, it really does die from the raid.
	I park in my driveway amid the pitch blackness, sighing as I step out into the moonlight. The sky is clear, making the cold bite extra hard with it's icy fangs. A quick rush inside fixes that, the fire still having some hot coals fading by the time I've returned. As I add some extra logs to it to get it through till morning I hear movement, and look over my shoulder into the dark room behind me.
	Sonia's face is there. She's standing right behind me, but her eyes are like when she's sleepwalking. My heart skips a beat, but she isn't moving. She just watches me. After a minute of waiting, I stand up with careful slowness. The naked fox cares not for her lack of modesty, and steps forward to sniff at my chest. I step to the door to take my things off, the predatory side frightening me with both it's silence and the lack of attack. It's eerie and unsettling. She puts her claws into the sweater and begins trying to pull it off once my jacket is removed. I take it off myself before she can get frustrated, Sonia watching carefully as I walk with great caution towards the stairs. I throw the shirt into the hamper, and look at her in the dim moonlight. Her eyes are locked onto where it fell, before she looks back at me and takes in my scent again. A mild growl comes from her.
	I head up the stairs, the fox following me with more possessive behavior from the scent she's caught. I'm still confused why she hasn't attacked, mind trying to come up with any sort of theory. It's not until I move into my bed that things start to make sense.
	She slips under the covers and up to me as a lump in the blankets. I can feel her claws graze my chest as her nose breathes on it, inspecting the scent. Not happy with the foreign marking, the kumiho lowers her body down onto my torso. Her soft skin rubs up against me, her cheek moving across my shoulders and collarbones while her small, soft chest rubs along my body. I lay back, arousal mixing with fear as she keeps breathing in my scent to check for traces of the other one.
	After ten minutes of taking away the ashy smell, she settles in on top of me. Her arms are wrapped like a vice around my torso as she uses my chest as her pillow, the sense of danger gone even as she keeps her strong, possessive grip. I relax and let out a great sigh of relief, ready to explain what happened to Sonia once she wakes up. I hope my heart can relax tomorrow, it hasn't had much chance today.
	The danger keeps my mind wide awake far after it's passed. It's been a stressful night, and the soft body clinging to me with her belly on my erection isn't letting me relax enough to sleep even if she isn't moving much more than she breaths. It lets me start thinking about why she didn't try to eat me this time. After a while it makes sense.
	I'm not food. I'm her mate. Even to her subconscious instincts.
	"Where would she like to go for a date though?"