## Chapter 01 — The Fox at Home *Watson, Night City.* *Morning.* The first problem was Ace's hand. It had somehow found its way into Yukari's third tail again. The second problem was that Yukari did not particularly want her to move it. At the foot of the bed, the nine-tailed fox lay curled into a loose, extravagant circle of russet, cream, and gold. A little daylight slipped past the curtains. Somewhere beyond the safehouse walls, Watson had already begun its daily competition to see which malfunctioning vehicle could make the most offensive noise. Yukari ignored it. She had heard far worse things in far more beautiful places. She had also heard far more beautiful things in places considerably worse than Watson. The comparison had stopped mattering quite so much lately. Beside her, Ace slept on her side, one arm stretched toward the foot of the bed. Her fingers were buried in warm fur. Mai was tucked close behind her; Shammy lay on Ace's other side, her breathing slow and peaceful. Three women, sound asleep. No crisis. No intruders. No ancient enemy demanding satisfaction over a grievance older than the street outside. An almost suspicious absence of trouble. Yukari opened one eye and examined Ace's hand. One small movement would free the tail. Instead, she shifted it a fraction closer. Ace smiled in her sleep. Oh, you ridiculous, wonderful woman. "You know," a quiet voice murmured, "she's going to claim you encouraged her." Yukari lifted her head. Mai was awake, watching from her pillow with a smile that suggested she had been enjoying the situation for some time. "I would never," Yukari whispered. "Of course not." "I am entirely innocent." "Nine tails' worth of innocence." Yukari considered that. "Perhaps eight and a half." Mai's shoulders shook with silent laughter. Ace stirred. "Mmm. What's funny?" "Nothing," Mai replied. Ace opened one eye. Looked at Mai. Looked at Yukari. Looked at the tail still lodged comfortably in her hand. "You're both lying." "Terribly," Yukari agreed. Ace rubbed her cheek against the pillow, unwilling to commit to consciousness. "Good. Family tradition." Shammy made a soft, sleepy sound without opening her eyes. "If anyone starts an argument before coffee," she murmured, "I reserve the right to become extremely unpleasant." Ace looked delighted. "Love you too." "I know." Yukari's ears twitched. She watched as Mai leaned over Ace to kiss Shammy's forehead, then settled back with her arm around Ace's waist. The movement was effortless, familiar. Nobody needed to explain where to put a hand or whether affection was welcome. There was an ease to the three women together that Yukari had noticed almost immediately after meeting them. It did not exclude her. It did not need to change to include her, either. Their bond was theirs. What had grown between Yukari and each of them was something else, and no less real for having its own shape. Ace finally released the tail. "Right. Breakfast. Who's getting up?" Nobody moved. After a moment, Yukari said, "A splendid plan. Very efficiently executed." Mai laughed into Ace's shoulder. Marco had already claimed the kitchen by the time Yukari appeared there. She was still a fox. He glanced down from the cutting board as she padded through the doorway, nine tails following in an arrangement that would have made any architect reconsider the available floor space. "Morning, Yukari." "Good morning, Marco." "Before you ask, no." She stopped. "I haven't asked anything." "You're looking at the mushrooms." "They look particularly fine." "They're for breakfast." "So am I." Marco gave her a patient look. Yukari sat. Folded her paws neatly. Then, very slowly, she slid one tail toward the counter. "Yukari." The tail withdrew. "A misunderstanding." "You have nine of those misunderstandings." "An unfortunate design flaw." Marco laughed despite himself. Across the room, Iris was drinking coffee and examining something on her agent. She looked up over the rim of her cup. "Has she started negotiating for food again?" "I prefer to think of it as diplomacy," Yukari said. "Diplomacy usually involves offering something in return." "My excellent company?" "We already have that." Yukari blinked. That was the trouble with Iris. The woman could deliver an affectionate remark so casually that it took a moment to notice she'd done it. The fox's tails settled around her in a soft heap. "How very unfair of you," she said, pleased. Brenda entered carrying a small electronic component between finger and thumb. Iris didn't even turn her head. "Put it back." "You don't know what it is." "You took it out of the coffee machine." "I was improving it." "You were improving it yesterday. It took me fifteen minutes to make coffee this morning." "Because the machine's calibration is shit." "Because you removed a part." Brenda examined the component. "That is technically accurate." Marco pointed a knife at her without looking away from the vegetables. "No engineering projects until after breakfast." "Jesus. It's a dictatorship in here." "A well-fed dictatorship," Iris said. Yukari listened, enchanted. She had lived in houses quiet enough to hear snow fall beyond the windows. She had shared lodgings with scholars, merchants, lovers, and people who claimed to dislike company while inventing excuses to keep her another evening. Never quite like this. In this house, every conversation seemed to begin halfway through an argument that nobody really wanted to win. Brenda crouched beside her. "And how's our favorite supernatural menace this morning?" "Very well, darling. And you?" "Victimized by people who fear scientific progress." "A terrible burden." "Finally, someone understands." Brenda reached out, then paused a little short of Yukari's ear. "May I?" Yukari leaned into her hand in answer. Brenda scratched gently behind the ear. The pleasure was entirely innocent, immediate, and impossible to conceal. "Oh," Brenda said with delighted satisfaction. "That's the spot, isn't it?" "I refuse to comment." "Your tail is wagging." "It is expressing an independent opinion." Iris looked over her cup. "There are nine votes available. I suspect Brenda has a majority." "Betrayal," Yukari declared. "You'll get used to it," Iris said. Yukari was beginning to believe her. By the time Ace, Mai, and Shammy arrived, the kitchen had become crowded enough to make nine tails an impractical accessory. Yukari excused herself and went to her room. Her room. The words still pleased her. There were books on the shelves now, some old enough to make Brenda restless with unanswered technical questions, others new enough that Yukari hadn't yet broken their spines. A small bowl stood where morning light could find it. Clothes hung in the wardrobe, including things Lena had already persuaded her to try and things Yukari had owned so long that their familiarity mattered more than fashion. Nothing was packed. No travel cases waited half-closed beneath the bed. She stood for a moment, looking around. Then she chose to become human. Warm gold shimmered through the room. Paws became hands; nine tails folded out of sight; fur gave way to the familiar woman with dark hair and an amused smile. Yukari stretched, dressed comfortably, and checked the mirror. "Acceptable," she informed her reflection. The reflection smiled back. She went to breakfast. Her usual mug was waiting in her place when she returned. Not a spare mug someone had found for a guest. Not an improvised courtesy. Hers. Mai had put it there, alongside the tea Yukari liked. She was now arguing gently with Ace about an entirely different matter. "It's a shared household calendar," Mai said. "I understand calendars." "Then stop adding 'sword maintenance' to every free afternoon." "Swords don't maintain themselves." "Neither does the rest of the house." Ace glanced toward Yukari as she sat down. "Tell her." "That swords require maintenance? Certainly." Ace beamed. "See?" "But," Yukari continued, "I also believe there are far more agreeable ways to spend an afternoon than polishing sharp objects." Mai's grin widened. Ace narrowed her eyes. "You're supposed to be on my side." "Darling, I am on your side. I merely reserve the right to improve your plans." Shammy laughed and leaned across the table to kiss Mai. Ace caught her hand on the way back and kissed it too. Yukari looked away just long enough to conceal a rather foolish smile. There it was again. That easy, unashamed warmth. She had spent so long treating affection as something to enjoy carefully, with an eye always on the future moment when enjoyment might become loss. The people around this table behaved as though loving someone was not a bargain with grief. Perhaps they were wiser than she had given humanity credit for. Or perhaps they were simply braver. "Yukari?" She looked up. Iris was watching her. "Sorry. Somewhere else?" "Not at all," Yukari said. "Rather wonderfully here, in fact." Iris smiled and slid the basket of toast toward her. "Good. Then you can settle something." "Anything." "Brenda claims she's entitled to dismantle the kitchen coffee machine because she lives here." "I said improve," Brenda objected. "You used a screwdriver." "A screwdriver doesn't make something dismantling." Yukari accepted a slice of toast and studied Brenda thoughtfully. "Would you permit me a question, darling?" "Shoot." "Was the coffee better before you began improving the machine?" Brenda hesitated. Iris closed her eyes in anticipation. "That's not a fair question," Brenda said. Ace began laughing. "Oh, she's learning fast." "She's been alive longer than your entire collection of bad decisions," Brenda informed her. "That's a lot of decisions," Mai said. "Thank you, love," Ace replied dryly. Yukari laughed with the others. And the sound felt good. Not because it was unusual for her to laugh. She had always enjoyed humor; there was very little point in living through so much human absurdity if one refused to appreciate it. No, what felt unusual was the absence of calculation. She wasn't deciding how much of herself to reveal. She wasn't trying to be impressive. She didn't need to be ancient, mysterious, or useful. She could be a woman at breakfast, laughing because someone had caught Brenda attempting to improve an appliance that worked perfectly well before she touched it. It was a remarkable luxury. --- Later, while Marco negotiated with the remains of breakfast and Brenda pretended not to be searching for the coffee machine's replacement parts, Mai found Yukari in the common room. Yukari had a book open across her knees. She was not reading it. "There's something I meant to ask you," Mai said. "Of course." "You've got your own room sorted, mostly. But we've still got space on the shelves out here. If there are books you want somewhere everyone can reach them, use it." Yukari looked toward the shelves. "Are you sure?" Mai gave her a curious look. "Why wouldn't I be?" "Some of them are rather old. Others are... peculiar." "You've seen Ace's sword collection, right?" "A compelling argument." Mai sat beside her. "It's your home, Yukari. You don't have to ask whether you're allowed to leave things in it." Such a small statement. So casually offered. And yet it caught beneath Yukari's ribs with far more force than any threat made by an Oni. She closed the book. "I know," she said softly. Mai waited. Yukari looked at her. "I'm discovering that knowing something and becoming accustomed to it are rather different experiences." Mai's expression warmed. "They are." Yukari reached for her hand. "Thank you." "For shelf space?" "Among other things." Mai leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Anytime." For a moment they sat quietly together. From the kitchen came an offended cry of "I WASN'T TOUCHING IT!" followed by Iris's entirely unconvinced "Brenda." Mai sighed. Yukari smiled. "I believe your coffee machine is in danger again." "It'll survive." "You sound very certain." "I've learned to be optimistic about small things." Yukari laughed, then squeezed her hand. She would put some books on those shelves. Not because there wasn't enough space in her room. Because someone had asked her to make herself at home, and for once she intended to take the invitation quite literally. --- The afternoon found Yukari on the balcony, a cup of tea warming her hands. Below, Night City carried on being Night City. A delivery drone argued with the airspace controls. A pair of pedestrians argued with each other. Somewhere down the block, someone had apparently decided that a car horn was the appropriate accompaniment to a very long and very public breakup. Yukari smiled into her tea. She had never required the world to be quiet in order to think. She was considering an unusual problem when Shammy joined her. "Mind some company?" "Never yours, darling." Shammy stood beside her at the railing. For a while, they watched the street together. "Happy?" Shammy asked eventually. Yukari turned toward her. "Absurdly." "Good." "I believe I may be becoming rather spoiled." Shammy laughed. "Around this family? Almost certainly." Yukari sipped her tea. "I used to think I understood what it meant to be content." "And now?" "Now I wonder whether I mistook being undisturbed for being happy." Shammy did not answer immediately. She rarely felt the need to fill a thoughtful silence simply because one had appeared. "That sounds familiar," she said at last. Yukari glanced at her. Here was another being for whom time had never moved quite as it did for the people below. Older than Yukari herself, and still capable of standing in the afternoon sun looking pleased simply because someone she loved was nearby. It remained an extraordinary thing. "You've learned something I haven't," Yukari said. "More than one thing, probably." "How modest of you." Shammy's smile became mischievous. "I've learned from Ace." Yukari nearly spilled her tea laughing. Shammy slipped an arm around her. Yukari welcomed the embrace and rested her head briefly against Shammy's shoulder. There was something she wanted to say. She had been aware of it since morning, though it had changed shape several times while she considered it. Not a concern. Not a secret. A desire. That, perhaps, was why it was so difficult to name. She had spoken of protection and danger without hesitation. She had spoken of affection, finally, because these women had made it safe to do so. But wanting something simply because it would bring her joy? That required a different sort of courage. Shammy gave her a gentle squeeze. "You've gone quiet." "Have I?" "Mmm. Thinking hard enough to frighten the furniture." "I assure you, the furniture is quite safe." "Good. Brenda's already doing enough damage." Yukari laughed again. She looked into her tea, then toward the city. "Shammy?" "Yes, sweetheart?" "Would you and Ace and Mai have some time for me this evening? Just the four of us?" Shammy turned toward her fully. "Of course. Is everything all right?" "Oh, yes." Yukari's smile was quick and radiant. "Very much so." "Then what is it?" Yukari considered her answer, then shook her head with a small, delighted laugh. "I think I'd like to find the right words before I say it." Shammy studied her for a moment. Then she smiled and kissed her forehead. "Take your time. We'll be here." The words settled warmly between them. We'll be here. It was becoming Yukari's favorite sort of promise. She leaned into Shammy's embrace once more. And for the first time all day, she allowed herself to stop searching for a clever way to phrase what she wanted. Perhaps she would simply tell them. After all, she'd spent a very long time learning to leave before she needed anyone. Learning to ask might be the more interesting adventure. --- ## Chapter 02 — A Very Long Time *Watson, Night City.* *Evening.* Yukari O'Sullivan had faced monsters. She had confronted beings whose names had vanished from human memory. She had walked into places where the living were not welcome and had persuaded their inhabitants to reconsider that position. She had even survived an entire afternoon of Brenda attempting to explain the operating principles of a quantum processor. Admittedly, the last had required considerable patience. But none of those experiences had prepared her for the problem currently occupying her thoughts. She wanted to ask three women to make love to her. And she was nervous. Absolutely ridiculous. She stood in her room, regarding herself in the mirror. Her dark hair fell comfortably around her shoulders. She wore a simple, loose-fitting dress, one that felt pleasant against her skin and required absolutely no thought. There was no reason to dress for an occasion. This was her family. These were women who loved her. Women she loved. She had kissed each of them. Held them. Fallen asleep listening to their breathing. Woken to find Ace's fingers tangled in her tails often enough that she was beginning to suspect the petite swordswoman was doing it deliberately. Physical affection was hardly unfamiliar. And yet— Yukari looked at her reflection. "You're being absurd." Her reflection agreed, rather unhelpfully. She sighed. The problem wasn't that she didn't know how to ask. Oh, she knew perfectly well how to ask. She had seduced lovers with a glance, charmed companions with a sentence, and watched supposedly sophisticated people forget entire conversations because she'd smiled at them. She was a kitsune. Some things came naturally. The problem was that she cared very deeply about the answer. And that made everything different. In the common room, Ace was demonstrating something to Mai using two empty coffee mugs and a teaspoon. "No, look. If the blade comes from here—" "Ace." "—then you have to—" "Ace." "What?" Mai regarded the teaspoon. "You're demonstrating sword techniques with my good cutlery." "It's a teaspoon." "It's my teaspoon." Shammy, curled comfortably into the corner of the sofa, looked up from her book. "Should I evacuate the room?" "Not yet," Mai replied. Ace gave her an exaggerated look of injury. "You're both terrible." "Yes, sweetheart," Shammy agreed. "That's why you love us." Ace considered this. "Fair." She deposited the teaspoon on the table and leaned over to kiss Mai. "Better?" "Marginally." "Excellent." Yukari appeared in the doorway. For a moment, she simply watched them. Ace was half sitting on the edge of the table, looking enormously pleased with herself. Mai had an arm loosely around her waist. Shammy's white hair stirred faintly as she turned another page. Everything was so comfortable. So natural. And three pairs of eyes turned toward her. "Hey, beautiful," Ace said. Yukari smiled. "Hello, darling." Mai glanced at the clock. "Shammy said you wanted to talk with us tonight." "Yes." Ace straightened. "Everything okay?" "Perfectly." "Good. Because when someone says they want to talk to all three of us, I usually start wondering which part of the safehouse is on fire." Shammy looked up. "That happened once." "Twice," Mai corrected. "The second one was barely a fire." "Shammy." "Fine. Twice." Yukari laughed. "Oh, I promise nothing is on fire." Ace grinned. "Excellent. Come sit." Yukari crossed the room. She could have chosen the empty armchair. Instead, she settled beside Shammy, who immediately made room for her. Shammy closed her book and set it aside. "Comfortable?" "Very." "Good." Ace watched her for a moment. Then her expression softened. "Okay, sweetheart. What's on your mind?" Yukari folded her hands in her lap. And discovered that all the beautifully phrased introductions she had considered during the afternoon had vanished. Every single one. Oh, wonderful. "I have been thinking," she began. Mai smiled. "That sounds dangerous." "Terribly." Ace chuckled. Yukari looked at the three women. "I've been thinking about how much my life has changed since meeting you." Shammy reached for her hand. "In good ways, I hope." "Oh, darling. In the most wonderful ways." She paused. "I didn't expect any of this. Not Ace. Not Mai. Certainly not meeting someone like you, Shammy." Shammy smiled warmly. "Likewise." "And I never imagined I would find myself living in a household where a coffee machine could become the subject of a three-day domestic dispute." Ace burst out laughing. "That's Brenda's fault!" "Naturally." Mai shook her head. "Don't encourage her." Yukari smiled, then grew thoughtful. "But there's something else." The humor faded from her voice, replaced by something quieter. "I've told you that I love you. All three of you. And I meant every word." Ace's smile softened. "We know." "I think you do." Yukari glanced down at their joined hands. "But I've begun to realize that I have spent a very long time allowing certain parts of myself to... go quiet." Shammy watched her attentively. "What parts, sweetheart?" Yukari drew a breath. Then laughed softly at herself. "Oh, for heaven's sake. I'm making this sound terribly mysterious." Mai leaned forward. "Yukari, you don't have to make a speech." "I know." "Just tell us." Yukari looked at her. Then at Ace. Then Shammy. And finally said it. "I want to make love with you." Silence. Not uncomfortable silence. Just the particular stillness that follows a statement nobody was quite expecting. Ace blinked. Mai's eyebrows rose. Shammy's expression grew wonderfully tender. Yukari continued before she could lose her nerve. "All three of you. Not because I expect anything, or because I believe loving someone gives me the right to demand physical intimacy." She glanced around. "I want it because I love you. Because I find you beautiful. Because I miss that kind of closeness terribly." Her smile became almost shy. "And because I suspect it would be rather wonderful." Ace stared at her. Then slowly, a delighted grin spread across her face. "Oh." Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, Ace." "What?" "Please don't." "I haven't said anything!" "Your face has." Shammy began laughing. Yukari looked between them. "Have I said something amusing?" "No," Shammy assured her, smiling. "Not at all." Ace leaned forward. "Yukari, darling, can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Why the hell did you spend the entire day worrying about asking us that?" Yukari opened her mouth. Closed it. Then frowned. "How did you know?" Ace laughed. "Sweetheart, you've been looking at us like you're rehearsing a diplomatic declaration since breakfast." Mai nodded. "And you rearranged the same three books on the shelf four times this afternoon." Yukari stared. "You noticed?" "Of course." Shammy squeezed her hand. "And you asked me whether we'd have time for you tonight." Yukari looked down. "Oh." Ace's grin softened. "Hey." Yukari looked up. "We love you. You know that, right?" "Yes." "Then you can tell us what you want. Even if it's something you think might surprise us." Yukari smiled. "Even this?" "Especially this." Mai gave Ace a fond look. "Though I admit I'm curious about something." Yukari turned toward her. "Yes?" "You said you miss that kind of closeness." "I do." "How long has it been?" Yukari became very still. Ace looked intrigued. Shammy tilted her head. Yukari considered the question. Then looked toward the ceiling. "Oh, dear." Ace's grin widened. "Oh, this is going to be good." "Darling, please." "How long?" Yukari sighed. "A while." Mai laughed softly. "A while?" "Yes." Ace leaned closer. "Yukari." "Yes, sweetheart?" "Define 'a while.'" The kitsune regarded her. Then, with magnificent dignity, said: "I do not believe a lady should be required to perform historical research merely to discuss her romantic interests." Shammy lost the battle first. She started laughing. Mai covered her mouth. Ace stared at Yukari. Then— "OH, FUCK." She folded forward, laughing so hard that Mai had to catch her shoulder. Yukari looked deeply offended. "I hardly see what's so amusing!" "Historical research!" Ace gasped. "Jesus Christ, Yukari!" "I was being perfectly serious!" "That's what makes it funny!" Mai was laughing helplessly now. Shammy leaned against Yukari, her shoulders shaking. And Yukari— Yukari tried. She genuinely tried to maintain her dignity. She lasted approximately four seconds. Then she began laughing too. "Oh, you dreadful women!" Ace wiped at her eyes. "Okay. Okay. Sorry." She took a breath. "Really sorry." Another breath. "So... we're talking a very, very long time?" Yukari gave her a pointed look. "Ace." "Right. No historical research." "Thank you." A pause. Then Shammy, still smiling, asked gently: "Have you missed it all that time?" Yukari's laughter faded. She considered that. "No," she said eventually. The answer surprised even her. "Not all of it." The room quieted. "There were years when I simply didn't think about it. Times when the world was far more interesting than romance. Other times when solitude suited me perfectly." She smiled faintly. "I've loved people. I've been loved. And I've enjoyed physical pleasure more than once in my very long life." Ace's expression softened. "But eventually?" "Eventually, I suppose I stopped looking." Yukari gazed toward the window. "I told myself it didn't matter." She paused. "And for a long time, perhaps it truly didn't." Mai moved closer. "What changed?" Yukari turned toward her. "You did." Mai blinked. Yukari smiled. "All of you." She reached for Mai's free hand. "You kissed me because you wanted to. Not because I charmed you. Not because you expected something in return." Mai's eyes warmed. "Of course." "And Shammy..." She turned toward the elemental. "You've given me a kind of understanding I never expected to find again." Shammy touched her cheek. Yukari looked toward Ace. "And you, darling, are quite possibly the most extraordinarily disruptive creature I've ever encountered." Ace grinned. "Thank you." "That was not entirely a compliment." "Taking it anyway." Yukari laughed. "But you made me remember what it feels like to want someone close. Not for an evening. Not until the next journey." Her voice softened. "Every day." Ace grew quiet. Yukari looked at all three women. "And lately, when you kiss me, I find myself wishing the kiss would last longer." She smiled, just a little wickedly. "Considerably longer." Mai raised an eyebrow. "How much longer?" Yukari's own eyebrow rose. "Oh, darling. Must I make another historical comparison?" Ace collapsed into laughter again. It was Shammy who eventually rescued the conversation from complete chaos. "Come here, sweetheart." Yukari turned toward her. Shammy opened her arms. Yukari accepted the invitation immediately, settling into a close embrace. Shammy held her without hurry, one hand resting comfortably against her back. For a while, nobody said anything. Then Shammy spoke quietly. "You know what's especially lovely about this?" Yukari lifted her head. "What?" "That you want something simply because it would make you happy." Yukari considered the words. Shammy smiled. "You spend a remarkable amount of time thinking about everyone else. Protecting people. Looking after us. Making sure nobody gets hurt." "Well, I do have some experience with that." "You do." Shammy brushed a strand of dark hair away from Yukari's face. "But you're allowed to want things for yourself." Yukari's expression softened. "I know." "Good." Shammy kissed her forehead. "And you're allowed to ask." Yukari closed her eyes for a moment. *Oh, Shammy.* There were many forms of intimacy. She was beginning to remember that being understood could be one of the most powerful. Mai moved closer and rested a hand on Yukari's knee. "Can I tell you something?" "Always." Mai smiled. "I've been wondering when you might bring this up." Yukari stared. "You have?" "Of course." "Why didn't you say anything?" "Because I wanted you to choose when you were ready." Yukari looked genuinely astonished. Mai's smile became warmer. "You've spent a lot of time adapting to our lives. I didn't want you to feel that there was some expectation you had to fulfill." "There isn't?" "Absolutely not." Ace nodded. "Never." Shammy kissed Yukari's temple. "You belong here whether we spend our nights talking, sleeping, laughing, or making love." Yukari swallowed. Then smiled. "That is a terribly dangerous thing to tell a kitsune." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Giving her permission to follow her heart without restraint?" "Well, within reason." Yukari's eyes sparkled. "Define reason, darling." Mai laughed. "Oh, I think we're in trouble." Ace folded her arms. "Correction. We've been in trouble since the day I met her." Shammy nodded solemnly. "True." Yukari looked at all three women. Then a smile spread slowly across her face. It was not the quiet, grateful smile they had come to know. It was something altogether more mischievous. "Well." Ace narrowed her eyes. "Oh, I know that look." Yukari tilted her head. "Do you?" "You're plotting something." "Darling, I am a kitsune." "That's not a denial." "How observant." Mai began laughing. Shammy merely looked delighted. Yukari leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "Then perhaps I should confess something else." Ace grinned. "There's more?" "Oh, yes." "Jesus Christ." Yukari looked at the three women, one by one. "I haven't felt this curious about physical affection in a very long time." She paused. "And the more I think about it, the more I realize that I don't merely want to remember." Her smile grew. "I want to discover." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Discover what?" Yukari laughed softly. "Oh, darling." She reached for Mai's hand and kissed her fingers. "Everything I've forgotten." Then she turned to Ace. "Everything I've never tried." Finally, Shammy. "And everything that might be wonderful simply because it's with someone I love." For a moment, the three women regarded her. Then Ace leaned back and whistled softly. "Well, fuck." Mai laughed. "What?" Ace looked at her. "Remember when we thought having a nine-tailed fox living here was going to be the unusual part?" Shammy giggled. Yukari smiled with magnificent innocence. "Have I frightened you, darling?" Ace looked directly into her eyes. Then grinned. "Not even slightly." "Good." "Though I suspect Brenda's going to have some competition in the making-everyone-blush department." Yukari considered that. "Brenda?" Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, Ace. Don't." "What? I'm just saying—" Yukari's expression became thoughtful. Then interested. Then distinctly wicked. "Brenda is a very attractive woman." Shammy started laughing. Ace stared. Mai slowly lowered her head into her hands. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Yukari looked between them. "Have I said something inappropriate?" Ace shook her head, grinning helplessly. "No, sweetheart." "Then why are you laughing?" Ace reached for her hand. "Because I think you've just given us a very interesting glimpse of the future." Yukari's smile widened. "Have I?" "Oh, yeah." A pause. "And I think we're going to enjoy every fucking minute of it." --- Later, when the conversation finally gave way to comfortable quiet, Yukari remained between the three women. Mai had one arm around her shoulders. Shammy held her hand. Ace sat on the floor against the sofa, resting her head against Yukari's knee. Outside, the city had settled into its usual evening rhythm of distant traffic, occasional sirens, and somebody shouting at somebody else for reasons that probably made sense to at least one of them. Yukari gently ran her fingers through Ace's hair. "Darling?" Ace looked up. "Yeah?" "May I ask one more thing?" "Of course." Yukari glanced toward Mai and Shammy. "Would you mind terribly if I stayed with you tonight?" Ace's smile softened. "In your fox form?" Yukari shook her head. "Not tonight." Mai leaned closer. "Human?" "Yes." Shammy smiled knowingly. Yukari looked almost shy again. "I think I'd like to be held." Ace rose from the floor. Took Yukari's face gently between her hands. And kissed her. Warmly. Without any hurry. When they parted, Ace rested her forehead against Yukari's. "Sweetheart," she whispered, "you never have to apologize for wanting that." Yukari closed her eyes. For once, she could think of absolutely nothing clever to say. And she discovered that she didn't mind. Not at all. --- ## Chapter 03 — Three Answers *Watson, Night City.* *Evening, continuing.* Ace was still holding Yukari's face between her hands. The kiss had ended, but neither woman appeared particularly interested in increasing the distance between them. Yukari regarded the petite swordswoman with a smile that was becoming increasingly difficult to contain. "You're staring, darling." Ace grinned. "Yep." "May I ask why?" "Because you're beautiful." Yukari laughed softly. "You've told me." "Planning to keep doing it." "Oh, you terrible woman." "Guilty." Ace kissed her again. This time Yukari answered without hesitation, slipping her arms around Ace's waist and drawing her closer. It was a wonderfully uncomplicated kiss. Or at least it would have been, had Mai not chosen that precise moment to clear her throat. "Ladies?" Ace reluctantly lifted her head. "Yes, love?" "Are we going to have a conversation, or should Shammy and I find something else to do?" Yukari looked mortified. "Oh! I'm terribly sorry!" Ace turned toward Mai. "You're not helping." "Wasn't trying to." Shammy laughed from the sofa. "Actually, I was rather enjoying the conversation." "See?" Ace said triumphantly. Mai smiled. "I noticed." Yukari looked between them. Then, slowly, she began laughing herself. "Oh, heavens. Is this what I'm getting myself into?" Ace considered the question. "Pretty much." "Wonderful." That earned her another kiss. And Mai finally gave up pretending she wasn't enjoying herself. ### Ace — The First Answer They settled onto the sofa together. Ace claimed one side of Yukari, Mai the other, while Shammy made herself comfortable on the floor in front of them, leaning back against Ace's knees. It was an arrangement that had developed without discussion. Yukari was beginning to understand that very little in this household required formal negotiation when comfortable seating was involved. Ace took her hand. "Okay, sweetheart. I want to answer you properly." Yukari turned toward her. "You already have." "With a kiss?" "A very persuasive one." Ace grinned. "Good to know. But there's more." The change in her expression was small. Enough that Yukari noticed immediately. Ace was still smiling, but the playful edge had softened. "When we first met, you scared the absolute shit out of me." Yukari blinked. "I did?" "Darling, you're a fucking nine-tailed kitsune. You appeared in the middle of an Oni mess, knew things nobody else knew, and looked at me like you were deciding whether to adopt me." Mai began laughing. "That's actually a remarkably accurate description." Yukari covered her mouth. "Oh, Ace." "And then," Ace continued, "you kissed me." "I believe you kissed me back." "Enthusiastically." "Very." Ace squeezed her hand. "But here's the thing. Somewhere along the way, you stopped being this astonishing supernatural creature who'd wandered into my life." Yukari listened. "You became Yukari." The kitsune's smile grew quieter. "The woman who steals Marco's cooking. Who makes Brenda forget what she was talking about. Who sleeps at the foot of our bed and pretends she doesn't enjoy having her ears scratched." "I do not pretend." "You absolutely do." Yukari laughed. Ace leaned closer. "And the woman I love." The laughter stopped. Not abruptly. It simply gave way to something warmer. Yukari reached toward Ace, touching her cheek. "Oh, sweetheart." Ace turned her face slightly and kissed Yukari's palm. "So when you tell me you want to make love with me..." She paused. Her violet eyes held Yukari's. "I want that too. Very much." Yukari drew a slow breath. Ace smiled. "Not because you're ancient. Not because you can turn into a fox. Not because I think it'd be some extraordinary adventure." A pause. "Although, knowing us, there's a pretty good chance of that." Shammy snorted. Mai shook her head. Ace continued. "I want you because you're you." Yukari stared at her. For a moment, the kitsune who could face down an Oni without flinching seemed utterly unable to produce a sentence. Then she leaned forward and kissed Ace. Not playfully this time. She held the kiss, one hand resting against Ace's cheek, the other against her shoulder. When they finally separated, Yukari's eyes were bright. "Darling," she whispered, "you have absolutely no idea how much that means to me." Ace smiled. "Think I might." Yukari rested her forehead against hers. "Perhaps you do." A moment passed. Then Ace's grin returned. "Besides, I'm pretty fucking curious myself." Yukari laughed. "Oh?" "Well, yeah. I've never made love to a kitsune before." Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, Ace." "What?" "She was being romantic." "I was being romantic!" Shammy began laughing. Yukari leaned back, looking delighted. "Actually, darling, I rather appreciate the curiosity." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" "Very much." Yukari's smile became wicked. "Although I must confess, I've never made love to a woman quite like you before." Ace blinked. Then grinned. "Challenge accepted." "Ace," Mai warned. "What?" "She's going to eat you alive." Yukari's laughter filled the room. "Oh, darling Mai. I do believe she's hoping for precisely that." Shammy completely lost her composure. Ace stared at Yukari for one magnificent second. Then she burst out laughing. "Jesus fucking Christ. I love you." "And I you, sweetheart." ### Mai — The Second Answer Mai waited until the laughter had settled. Then she reached for Yukari's hand. "My turn?" Yukari turned toward her. "Always, darling." Mai smiled. "I think Ace has already covered the enthusiastic part." "Hey!" "Very thoroughly." Shammy nodded. "With considerable enthusiasm." Ace looked betrayed. Yukari laughed. Mai squeezed her hand. "But I want to tell you something a little different." Yukari's expression softened. "I'm listening." Mai considered her words. "You remember the afternoon we spent together? The photographs, Mrs. Sato's workshop, the memorial?" "Of course." "And the walk afterward?" Yukari smiled. "Every moment." Mai nodded. "I've thought about that day a lot." "So have I." "When I invited you, I wanted us to spend time together. Just us. No Oni. No supernatural emergencies. No questions about whether you were going to stay." Yukari's fingers tightened gently around hers. Mai continued. "I wanted to know the woman who made Ace so happy." A smile. "And I ended up falling in love with her myself." Yukari lowered her eyes. "Oh, Mai." Mai touched her chin, encouraging her to look up. "You told us something important that night. That you hadn't simply fallen in love with Ace and accepted Shammy and me because we came with her." Yukari nodded. "I meant it." "I know." Mai leaned closer. "And I want you to understand that it's the same for me." Yukari became very still. "I don't love you because Ace does. Or because Shammy does." Mai smiled warmly. "I love you because you're Yukari." She brushed a strand of dark hair away from Yukari's face. "Because you're thoughtful. Because you're funny. Because you can be wonderfully wise about matters that would terrify most people, and completely ridiculous about getting an extra mushroom out of Marco." Ace snickered. Yukari sighed. "That incident is never going to be forgotten, is it?" "Not a chance," Ace replied. Mai smiled. "Because you listen when someone speaks. Because you care. Because you can look at something ordinary and find it worth appreciating." Her voice softened. "And because when you look at me, I never feel as though you're seeing someone who merely happens to live alongside Ace." Yukari's expression changed. She knew exactly what Mai meant. "You are never merely anything to me, darling." "I know." Mai leaned forward. Their kiss was gentle at first. Familiar, almost. Then Yukari slipped a hand behind Mai's neck and drew her closer. Mai smiled against her lips before answering with another kiss, longer and more deliberate. Ace watched them with a thoroughly delighted expression. Shammy rested her head against Ace's thigh. Nobody interrupted. When Mai finally drew back, Yukari was smiling in a way that made her look positively radiant. "Well," she whispered. Mai raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "I believe you've made your position quite clear." "Good." Yukari regarded her for another moment. "May I ask something?" "Of course." "You knew I was becoming interested in more than kisses, didn't you?" Mai smiled. "I suspected." "And you said nothing." "I wanted you to tell me when you felt ready." Yukari sighed dramatically. "You are a remarkably patient woman." "Sometimes." Ace made a distinctly skeptical noise. Mai didn't even look at her. "Don't." "I didn't say anything!" "You were thinking loudly." Yukari laughed. Then Mai took her hand again. "There's one other thing." "Yes?" "I want you to enjoy discovering all of this. You don't need to impress us." Yukari looked almost offended. "Darling, I have no intention of performing an examination." "Good." "Although..." Mai narrowed her eyes. "Yukari." "Yes?" "Whatever you're about to say, think carefully." The kitsune's smile became angelic. "I was merely wondering whether a practical demonstration might be more educational than further discussion." Ace made a strangled noise. Shammy buried her face against Ace's knee. Mai stared at Yukari. Then she began laughing. "Oh, you're absolutely impossible." "Apparently I'm fitting into the family rather well." "Far too well." Mai kissed her again. And this time Yukari didn't have to ask. ### Shammy — The Third Answer Shammy had been unusually quiet. Not withdrawn. Not distant. She had simply been listening, watching the three women with an expression that was almost impossibly tender. Yukari noticed. Of course she noticed. "Shammy?" The elemental looked up. "Yes, sweetheart?" "You're smiling." "I am." "May I ask why?" Shammy considered. "Because this is beautiful." Yukari tilted her head. "What is?" "All of it." Shammy rose from the floor and settled beside Yukari, leaving Ace and Mai comfortably tangled together at the other end of the sofa. For a moment, she simply looked at the kitsune. Then she reached for her hand. "Can I tell you something about being very old?" Yukari laughed. "Oh, darling. I suspect you're one of the very few people alive who can ask me that question." Shammy smiled. "I've had a little practice." "A considerable amount." "Perhaps." They shared a knowing look. Age was a peculiar thing between them. Yukari had lived for millennia, long enough to watch kingdoms rise and vanish, long enough to see stories about people she had known become legends. And yet Shammy was older. Far older. That knowledge had surprised Yukari when they first met. Now it comforted her. Shammy continued. "When you've lived a very long time, it's easy to start believing you've already experienced everything important." Yukari nodded slowly. "Yes." "You learn how things tend to happen. You recognize patterns. You begin predicting how people will behave." "Rather accurately, sometimes." "Sometimes." Shammy smiled. "And that can become a trap." Yukari regarded her thoughtfully. "Because you stop looking for surprises." "Exactly." Shammy reached up and gently touched Yukari's cheek. "Then someone comes along and reminds you that the universe still has things worth discovering." Yukari glanced toward Ace and Mai. Shammy laughed softly. "Yes. Those two are particularly good at it." "An understatement, darling." "Terribly." The elemental's white hair stirred around her shoulders. Yukari watched it with quiet fascination. Shammy noticed. "Something interesting?" "Always." "What?" "You." Shammy's smile softened. Yukari continued. "When I first met you, I recognized that you were different. Older. Something the world no longer has sensible words for." Shammy nodded. "And yet..." Yukari reached forward, gathering a loose strand of white hair between her fingers. "You are so wonderfully alive." For a moment, Shammy said nothing. Yukari smiled. "You laugh. You tease. You fall in love. You enjoy being touched. You enjoy touching the people you love." Her voice grew quieter. "You haven't allowed time to turn you into a monument." Shammy looked at her. Then smiled. "Oh, Yukari." "I think that's one of the reasons I love you." Shammy leaned forward and embraced her. Yukari wrapped her arms around the elemental without hesitation. They remained that way for a while. No jokes. No interruptions. Just two ancient beings holding each other in the ordinary warmth of a living room. Then Shammy drew back slightly. "Would you like my answer?" Yukari smiled. "Very much." Shammy rested her forehead gently against hers. "Yes." One simple word. Yukari's breath caught. "Yes?" "Yes, sweetheart. I would love to be intimate with you." She kissed Yukari's cheek. "I'd love to discover that side of you." Another kiss, against her temple. "And I'd love to share that part of myself with you." Yukari closed her eyes. Shammy's lips found hers. The kiss was slow and unhurried. Yukari answered, drawing her close, one hand resting against Shammy's back. Something extraordinary happened then. Not magic. Not a supernatural revelation. Something much simpler. Yukari stopped thinking. For once, she wasn't considering the past, the future, the consequences, or the strange turns that had brought her to this moment. She was simply kissing a woman she loved. And it was wonderful. When they separated, Shammy smiled against her cheek. "Was that a satisfactory answer?" Yukari laughed breathlessly. "Oh, darling." She kissed Shammy again. "More than satisfactory." Behind them, Ace cleared her throat. "Well, fuck." Mai looked at her. "What?" Ace grinned. "I think Shammy wins." "Darling," Shammy replied without turning around, "this isn't a competition." "That's what someone in first place would say." Yukari began laughing. Mai shook her head. "Unbelievable." Ace spread her hands. "What? I'm appreciating talent!" Shammy finally turned toward her. Her white hair rose a little higher. "Ace?" "Yeah, love?" "Come here." Ace's grin widened. "Gladly." She leaned forward. Shammy caught her gently by the collar and kissed her. Thoroughly. When Ace finally settled back, her expression was one of complete satisfaction. "Okay," she announced. "Definitely first place." Mai groaned. Yukari laughed so hard she had to lean against Shammy for support. And Shammy looked immensely pleased with herself. ### Four Women, Three Answers It was some time before they remembered that the evening had actually begun with a serious conversation. By then, they had migrated from the sofa to the floor, where Ace had retrieved a collection of cushions and declared the resulting arrangement superior to conventional furniture. Yukari sat between Mai and Shammy. Ace lay comfortably across the cushions, her head resting in Mai's lap. The room was warm. Outside, the city's lights flickered across the windows. Nobody appeared particularly interested in moving. Yukari looked around. "May I say something?" Ace raised a hand. "Always." "I think I understand something now." Mai smiled. "Oh?" Yukari considered. "When I asked you earlier, I was terribly worried that I might be asking for too much." Shammy reached for her hand. "And now?" Yukari smiled. "Now I realize that I wasn't really afraid of the question." "What were you afraid of?" Mai asked. Yukari looked toward Ace. "Discovering that I had misunderstood what we have." Ace sat up. "Sweetheart." Yukari shook her head gently. "No, darling. Let me finish." Ace settled back. Yukari continued. "I've known families. I've known lovers. I've known people who loved one another but spent their lives trying to decide which affection was permitted and which was dangerous." She paused. "Sometimes I was one of those people." Shammy listened quietly. "But here..." Yukari smiled. "Here, you three love one another with an extraordinary certainty. And somehow that certainty doesn't make the rest of us less important." Mai nodded. "Of course not." "Iris and Brenda have their own beautiful marriage. You share so much with them, and with others. Yet nobody seems frightened that affection might run out." Ace grinned. "Darling, around here the biggest problem is finding enough hours in the fucking day." Mai laughed. "That is occasionally true." Yukari regarded the three women. "And I love that you have something which belongs to the three of you." Shammy's expression softened. "Our Triad." "Yes." Yukari smiled. "I don't need to become part of it to love each of you. Or to be loved by you." Ace reached for her hand. "You've got your own place, sweetheart." "I know." "And nobody's taking it away." Yukari looked down at their joined hands. For a moment, she was quiet. Then she laughed softly. "Oh, heavens. I really am becoming sentimental." Mai leaned over and kissed her cheek. "You're allowed." "Apparently I'm allowed an alarming number of things in this household." Ace grinned. "Wait until you discover Brenda's collection of very bad ideas." "ACE!" The indignant shout came from somewhere down the corridor. All four women froze. Then Ace slowly turned toward the door. "How the fuck did she hear that?" Brenda appeared in the doorway. "I heard my name!" Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, for heaven's sake." Brenda looked around. Four women. Far too many cushions. Several suspiciously happy expressions. Her eyes narrowed. "What are you lot up to?" "Nothing," Ace replied. Brenda stared. "That is the least convincing nothing I've ever heard." Yukari looked at her. And smiled. A slow, beautifully mischievous smile. "Good evening, Brenda." Brenda's eyes moved toward her. "Evening, sweetheart." Yukari tilted her head. "Have I told you how lovely you look tonight?" Silence. Ace's expression became positively magnificent. Mai closed her eyes. Shammy began smiling. Brenda blinked. Then a grin spread across her face. "Oh?" Yukari regarded her with perfect innocence. "Merely an observation, darling." Brenda leaned against the doorframe. "Well, aren't you sweet?" "I have been accused of worse." "Have you now?" "Frequently." Brenda laughed. Then pointed toward Ace. "And why are you grinning like a fucking idiot?" Ace shook her head. "No reason." "Uh-huh." Brenda looked back at Yukari. "Well, thank you, darling. You're looking pretty damn lovely yourself." Yukari inclined her head. "How kind." Their eyes met. Held. Brenda's smile became a little more interested. Yukari's became a little more playful. And Ace— Ace looked at Mai. Mai looked at Shammy. Shammy looked at Yukari. Then all three exchanged the same expression. Oh, this is going to be interesting. Brenda finally pushed away from the doorframe. "Anyway, Iris wants to know whether anyone's interested in a late snack." "Always!" Ace announced. "Of course you are." Brenda turned to leave. Then paused. Looked back at Yukari. "And darling?" "Yes, Brenda?" "Don't think I didn't notice." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Notice what?" Brenda grinned. "That look." Yukari's smile widened. "Which look?" "Oh, you know exactly which fucking look." And with that, Brenda disappeared down the corridor. For approximately three seconds, nobody spoke. Then Ace folded forward. "Oh, FUCK!" She burst into helpless laughter. Mai covered her face. Shammy leaned against Yukari, laughing. And Yukari— Yukari looked toward the doorway. Then back at her three companions. "What?" Ace could barely breathe. "You!" "Me?" "Jesus Christ, Yukari! You've already started!" Yukari considered that. Then a truly wicked smile appeared. "Oh, sweetheart." She leaned closer. "I haven't started anything." A pause. "Yet." Ace actually fell sideways onto the cushions. Mai dissolved into laughter. Shammy's white hair rose into a soft halo. And Yukari laughed with them. For the first time in a very long while, she was no longer wondering whether it was wise to pursue everything her heart desired. She was wondering just how delightful the pursuit might become. ### Later — The Bedroom The safehouse eventually grew quiet. Dinner had been eaten. Brenda had been persuaded to leave the coffee machine alone until morning. Iris had collected her wife with a kiss and a remark about engineers requiring adult supervision. And Yukari stood in the doorway of the Triad's bedroom. Human. Barefoot. A little uncertain. Ace noticed immediately. "Hey, sweetheart." Yukari smiled. "Hello." "Coming in?" "If I may." Mai looked up from the bed. "Yukari." "Yes?" "You live here." "I know." "And we invited you." "Yes." Mai smiled. "Then come here." Yukari laughed at herself. "Oh, I'm being ridiculous again." "Only a little," Shammy said affectionately. Yukari approached. For a moment, she stood beside the bed. The place at its foot, where she ordinarily slept beneath nine beautiful tails, was empty. Ace noticed her looking. "Fox tonight?" Yukari shook her head. "No, darling." She reached for Ace's hand. "Not tonight." Ace squeezed her fingers. "Good." Mai shifted closer and made room. Shammy opened her arms. Yukari climbed onto the bed. And found herself immediately surrounded by warmth. Ace kissed her cheek. Mai brushed her hair back. Shammy drew her into a gentle embrace. For a moment, Yukari closed her eyes. Then she laughed softly. "What?" Ace asked. "Oh, nothing." "That word again." Yukari opened her eyes. She looked at the three women. And smiled. "I was merely thinking that I may have been rather foolish." Mai raised an eyebrow. "How so?" Yukari's fingers tightened gently around Shammy's. "Waiting so long to remember how wonderful this can be." Ace kissed her forehead. "Well, sweetheart." Her smile became wicked. "We've got a pretty good evening ahead of us." Yukari looked at her. Then at Mai. Then Shammy. Three women. Three answers. And not a single reason to be afraid. She reached for Ace. "Then perhaps, darling..." Her smile brightened. "...we should stop talking." Mai laughed softly. Shammy kissed Yukari's shoulder. And Ace grinned. "Best idea you've had all night." The four women drew closer. Outside, Night City continued its endless, noisy argument with itself. Inside, Yukari discovered that being very old offered absolutely no protection against the giddy happiness of being newly in love. And for once, that was exactly what she wanted. --- ## Chapter 04 — Remembering Joy *Watson, Night City.* *Late evening.* Yukari had lived for millennia. She had watched civilizations rise, flourish, and vanish. She had known lovers whose names survived only in her memories, and others whose names had been forgotten even by the descendants who once celebrated them. She had been desired. She had desired. She had known tenderness, passion, laughter, and the peculiar happiness of waking beside someone who had become important enough to make the morning worth anticipating. Yet here she was. Sitting on a bed in Watson. Nervous. Oh, for heaven's sake. "You look like you're preparing to negotiate a peace treaty." Yukari blinked. Ace was smiling at her. "A peace treaty?" "Yep." "With whom, darling?" Ace glanced toward Mai and Shammy. "Three extremely dangerous women." Mai laughed. "Speak for yourself." Shammy's white hair stirred gently around her shoulders. "I rather like the description." Yukari looked between them. Then she laughed. "Oh, you dreadful women." Ace reached for her hand. "Hey." Yukari turned. "Yes, sweetheart?" "Still want this?" The question was simple. Direct. Entirely without pressure. Yukari looked at the woman beside her. Then at Mai. Then Shammy. Three familiar faces. Three women she loved. "More than I can adequately express." Ace smiled. "Good." She leaned closer. "Then stop worrying about whether you're doing it right." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Darling, I have a considerable amount of experience." "I know." "Rather more than you, I suspect." "Probably." "And yet you appear entirely unconcerned." Ace grinned. "Sweetheart, I'm about to spend the evening with three women I love. What the fuck have I got to worry about?" Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, Ace." Shammy started laughing. And Yukari— Yukari felt something inside her loosen. Not completely. Not yet. But enough. She leaned forward and kissed Ace. "An excellent argument, darling." Ace's smile widened. "Thought you'd appreciate it." ### The First Invitation Ace did not rush her. That surprised Yukari. Not because she expected impatience from Ace, but because the petite swordswoman had never been particularly inclined to approach life cautiously when something delighted her. Yet now she simply sat close, holding Yukari's hand. Waiting. Yukari regarded her. "May I ask something?" "Anything." "Are you deliberately letting me decide what happens next?" Ace considered. "Pretty much." "Why?" "Because you've spent all evening telling us how long it's been since you let yourself want this." She smiled. "I figured you might enjoy choosing." Yukari became quiet. Then she touched Ace's cheek. "Oh, sweetheart." Ace turned her face slightly and kissed Yukari's palm. "Besides, I've already told you what I want." "You have." "And?" Yukari smiled. "And I find your enthusiasm quite irresistible." Ace grinned. "Excellent." This time, Yukari initiated the kiss. She drew Ace closer, welcoming the answering embrace. Her hands rested against Ace's shoulders, then moved gently across her back. Ace's arms settled around her waist. The kiss lengthened. When they parted, Yukari remained close enough to feel Ace's breath against her cheek. "Darling?" "Yeah?" "Would you hold me a little closer?" Ace answered by drawing her into her arms. "Like this?" Yukari closed her eyes. "Oh, yes." For a moment, that was enough. The warmth. The reassuring weight of another person. The familiar scent of someone she had already come to associate with home. She had not forgotten how pleasant an embrace could be. But she had forgotten how deeply she could want one to continue. Ace kissed her temple. "Okay?" "Wonderfully." Another kiss. Yukari laughed softly. "What?" Ace asked. "Nothing." "That word again." Yukari opened her eyes. "I was simply thinking that you are an exceptionally affectionate woman." Ace grinned. "Guilty." "And I find that very attractive." "Good." A pause. "Because I'm not planning to stop." Yukari's smile became positively radiant. "Oh, darling." She kissed Ace again. And this time, when the kiss deepened, neither woman felt the slightest need to hurry. Ace's hand settled at the edge of Yukari's dress and stopped there. Not asking with a speech. Simply waiting. Yukari looked down at the hand, then back into Ace's violet eyes. "Yes, sweetheart." Ace smiled. "Okay." Yukari lifted her arms and helped her draw the dress away. The simple motion should not have felt momentous. It did anyway. Not because Yukari had forgotten how to undress with a lover. Because this was Ace. Ace, who looked at her without awe now. Ace, who had stopped seeing an ancient creature and learned to see the woman who stole mushrooms from Marco. Yukari reached for Ace's clothes in turn. "Fair is fair." "Absolutely." They helped each other without ceremony, interrupting the process repeatedly because one of them kept deciding another kiss was more important than efficiency. At one point Ace became tangled in her own shirt. Yukari laughed. "Fearsome swordswoman." "Shut up." "I have defeated more complicated opponents." "Yukari." Yukari freed her. Ace immediately kissed her quiet. "Cheating," Yukari murmured. "Winning." Then the humor softened. They lay close together. Skin against skin. Ace's hand moved slowly along Yukari's side, giving her every opportunity to redirect it. Yukari did the opposite. She caught Ace's wrist and guided her closer. Ace's expression changed. Still playful. More attentive now. "Here?" Yukari nodded. "Yes." Ace's fingers slid between her thighs, parting soft folds that were already slick. She stroked slowly through the wetness, finding the swollen ridge of Yukari's clit and circling it with light, deliberate pressure. Yukari's breath caught. Not dramatically. Enough. Her eyes closed for one heartbeat, and Ace immediately went still. Yukari opened them again. "Oh, don't stop now." Ace's grin returned. "That good?" Yukari pulled her closer. "Darling." Ace understood. She continued. Two fingers slipped inside easily, the heel of her hand grinding against the clit with each slow thrust. She watched how Yukari responded instead of assuming experience made her predictable. That was what undid the last of Yukari's nervousness. Not skill. Attention. When Yukari shifted toward Ace's hand, Ace noticed and adjusted the angle, curling her fingers to stroke the front wall. When a touch made her breath break, Ace stayed with it, the wet sound of her fingers filling the quiet room. And when Yukari began laughing softly from the sheer absurd happiness of enjoying this again, Ace laughed with her. "There you are," Ace whispered. Yukari opened her eyes. "Where?" "Here." The word landed somewhere deeper than the touch. Yukari kissed her. Then kissed her again. Pleasure built until conversation became impossible. Her hips rolled to meet each thrust, inner walls tightening around Ace's fingers. Her fingers tightened against Ace's shoulder. Ace felt the change and slowed just enough to let the moment arrive rather than chase it, thumb circling the clit in firm, steady strokes. Yukari's climax came with a caught breath and Ace's name, her body tightening hard around the fingers before relaxing into Ace's arms, wetness coating Ace's hand. Ace held her. No joke. Not yet. Just warmth and breath and the astonishing relief of being allowed to feel everything without guarding any of it. Then Yukari opened one eye. Ace smiled. "Hi." Yukari began laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." "Still with me?" "More than ever." Yukari rolled them gently before Ace could celebrate the answer. Ace blinked. "Oh." "Did you believe this was going to be entirely one-sided?" "No." A beat. "Was hoping not." "Excellent." Yukari kissed her, then let one hand travel with deliberate affection until Ace's grin lost some of its composure. "Still confident?" "Fuck yes." Yukari's fingers found Ace already soaked, the slick heat of her drawing a soft sound from both of them. She stroked through the folds, then pressed two fingers inside, curling them as her thumb worked the clit. Ace's answer became a sharp inhale. Yukari paused. Ace immediately caught her wrist. "Don't you dare." That delighted Yukari. "Ah. There you are." "You're evil." "I have been called worse." Yukari continued, attentive now in exactly the way Ace had been with her. She fucked her slowly, listening to the wet sounds and the way Ace's hips chased every thrust. Ace was wonderfully direct even when words began failing her. Closer. A little slower. There. Yukari listened to every one. She added a third finger when Ace's body opened for it, the stretch drawing a broken moan. When Ace finally lost the ability to give instructions, Yukari already knew. Ace's grip tightened around her. Her head tipped back. The climax broke through her with a breathless curse that turned into helpless laughter once it had passed, her cunt pulsing hard around Yukari's fingers as she came. Yukari stayed close until the laughter softened. Then Ace pulled her down into an embrace. For a while there was nothing to prove and nowhere else to be. Eventually, Yukari rested against Ace, smiling so broadly that it was almost embarrassing. Ace brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. "Well?" Yukari closed her eyes. "Oh, sweetheart." "Good?" The kitsune opened one eye. "Darling, if I answer that question honestly, your confidence may become entirely unmanageable." Ace's grin widened. "Too late." Yukari laughed. Then she leaned forward and kissed her. Not teasingly. Not to begin another game. Simply because she wanted to. "Thank you," she whispered. Ace's smile softened. "Anytime, beautiful." For a moment, Yukari studied her. Then she shook her head, still smiling. "What?" Ace asked. "I've just realized something rather wonderful." "Yeah?" "I didn't spend a single moment thinking about how long it had been." Ace kissed her forehead. "Good." Yukari rested her cheek against Ace's shoulder. "Very good." ### Mai's Turn "Are you two planning to monopolize the entire evening?" Mai's voice carried unmistakable amusement. Yukari lifted her head. Ace looked over her shoulder. "Possibly." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Should Shammy and I make other arrangements?" "Absolutely not," Yukari replied. The speed of her answer made all three women laugh. Mai smiled. "Well, that's reassuring." Yukari reached for her. "Come here, darling." Mai approached. Then she paused. "Are you sure you don't want a little time?" Yukari considered. She could have answered with another flirtatious remark. There were several available. All excellent. Instead, she smiled. "I would rather like to spend some time with you." Mai's expression softened. "Then I'd like that too." Ace shifted comfortably aside, giving them room without moving far away. Mai sat beside Yukari. For a moment, the two women simply regarded each other. Then Mai brushed Yukari's cheek. "Hello, beautiful." Yukari laughed softly. "Hello, darling." "Having a good evening?" "An extraordinary one." "Good." Mai leaned forward and kissed her. Yukari responded immediately. She loved the way Mai kissed her. The confidence. The warmth. The absence of uncertainty. Their first afternoon alone together came back to her unexpectedly. Mrs. Sato's workshop. The restored photographs. The memorial. Their walk through Night City afterward. And that first kiss, offered because Mai wanted it. Not because Yukari had persuaded her. Not because somebody else loved Yukari. Simply because Mai had found a woman she wanted to kiss. When they parted, Yukari smiled. "Do you know what I'm remembering?" Mai brushed her hair back. "What?" "Our afternoon together." Mai smiled. "I remember." "You surprised me that day." "Did I?" "Terribly." Mai laughed. "Good." Yukari considered. "I think that may have been when I began to understand how different my life was becoming." Mai's expression grew tender. "You told me something similar afterward." "I did." "And I meant what I said then." Yukari tilted her head. "What was that, darling?" Mai touched her cheek. "That I invited you because I wanted to spend time with you." Yukari's smile softened. "Oh, Mai." "And tonight..." Mai leaned closer. "...I'm here because I want to be." Their kiss was slow. Deliberate. Yukari drew Mai into her arms, and the answering embrace felt so natural that she wondered why she had spent the entire day worrying. Mai rested her forehead against hers. "You're thinking again." Yukari laughed. "Apparently I have a dreadful habit." "Terrible." "Can you forgive me?" "Possibly." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Only possibly?" Mai smiled. "Depends." "On what?" "Whether you're going to kiss me again." Yukari laughed with delight. "Oh, darling." She did. And Mai answered with equal enthusiasm. For a while, they remained close, sharing kisses and quiet affection while Ace settled comfortably beside them. There was something wonderfully familiar about Mai's touch. Not because Yukari had known her for a long time. She hadn't. Not by the standards of her own extraordinary life. But affection did not always require years to become recognizable. Sometimes it needed only trust. And Mai had earned hers. When they finally drew apart, Mai looked into Yukari's eyes. "You know something?" "Yes?" "I love seeing you happy." Yukari smiled. "And I love knowing that I contribute to your happiness." Mai kissed her cheek. "More than you know." Then she took Yukari's hand. "Come here." Yukari followed gladly. She had no desire to impress Mai with her experience or the many forms she could take. She wanted to be present with the woman who had made her feel so completely welcome. Mai did not turn the moment into a performance. She simply drew Yukari closer. One hand settled at Yukari's waist. The other touched her cheek. Then Mai kissed her again. Yukari felt the difference immediately. Ace had met desire head-on, delighted by every reaction. Mai created space inside it. No less hungry. No less certain. Just patient enough that Yukari never wondered what came next until it was already becoming something she wanted. Mai began undressing without drama. Yukari helped. A fastening. A sleeve. A pause for another kiss. Mai smiled when Yukari's fingers briefly lost interest in clothing altogether. "Distracted?" "Terribly." "Should I be offended?" "Quite the opposite." When the last unnecessary layer was gone, Mai took Yukari's hand and guided her down beside her. For a moment they simply looked at one another. Yukari brushed her thumb across Mai's cheek. "Beautiful." Mai kissed the inside of her wrist. "So are you." Then Mai shifted closer until one of Yukari's thighs rested between hers, the wet heat of Mai's cunt pressing against the muscle. The first slow grind drew a warm exhale from Mai as her clit dragged along the thigh. Yukari noticed. Stopped. Mai's eyes opened. "Why did you stop?" "I was listening." Mai smiled. "And?" Yukari moved again, rocking so the pressure stayed firm against the swollen peak. Mai's breath caught more clearly this time. "Ah." Yukari's smile widened. "I believe I heard you correctly." "Smug." "Learning from Ace." "Terrible influence." Mai kissed her before Yukari could answer. They found a rhythm without haste. Close enough that every small adjustment belonged to both of them. Yukari slipped a hand between them, fingers sliding through Mai's slick folds to circle her clit while the thigh continued its slow grind. Mai's hand at Yukari's hip guided rather than controlled. Yukari answered by drawing Mai nearer, changing the angle until Mai made a quiet sound against her mouth and her wetness coated Yukari's fingers. "There?" Mai nodded. "There." Yukari stayed, two fingers pressing inside while her thumb worked the clit in time with the rock of their hips. What began as careful discovery became familiar surprisingly quickly. Not because they had done this before. Because they already knew how to pay attention to one another. Mai's composure loosened in small increments. A broken breath. Fingers tightening at Yukari's back. A kiss interrupted because smiling had become unavoidable. Yukari loved every one of them. Then Mai shifted their bodies again. "Your turn." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "My turn?" Mai's smile held quiet confidence. "Trust me." "I do." Mai drew Yukari closer until the movement that had been pleasuring her now gave Yukari the same warm pressure in return. She slid her own thigh between Yukari's and reached down, fingers finding her just as wet, stroking the clit in firm circles while they ground together. Yukari inhaled sharply. Mai stopped immediately. Yukari stared. "Do not become polite now." Mai laughed. "Noted." They moved together. No separate giver and receiver for long. Pressure passing between them. Fingers working inside each other, the wet sounds mixing with their breathing. Hands finding shoulders and hips. Kisses turning breathless. Each woman changing pace when the other's body answered. Yukari felt pleasure gather steadily, but Mai was closer. She recognized it in the sudden stillness behind Mai's eyes. Yukari held her gaze. "Don't look away." Mai didn't. Her climax came quietly at first, a tremor through her body and a soft sound against Yukari's mouth, then a deeper release that left her clinging close, cunt pulsing around Yukari's fingers as wetness flooded her hand. Yukari held her through it. Mai breathed. Recovered just enough to smile. Then, still close: "Keep going." Yukari laughed softly. "With pleasure." Mai's hand tightened at her hip. Their rhythm returned. Mai's fingers stayed buried, curling with every thrust while her thumb kept steady pressure on the clit. This time Mai watched Yukari. Not clinically. Lovingly. When Yukari's breathing lost its pattern, Mai recognized it and stayed exactly with her. Yukari's climax followed with a surprised laugh that dissolved into a long exhale against Mai's shoulder, her body tightening hard around Mai's fingers. They stopped together. Neither moved away. For several breaths, Mai simply held her. Yukari rested her forehead against hers. "So simple," Mai whispered. Yukari smiled. "Perhaps you were right." Later, Mai lay beside Yukari, smiling. Yukari gently brushed a strand of silver hair away from Mai's face. "Darling?" "Hmm?" "May I tell you something?" "Of course." "You are an exceptionally dangerous woman." Mai laughed. "Am I?" "Absolutely." "How so?" Yukari considered. "Because you make everything seem so wonderfully simple." Mai's smile softened. "Sometimes it is simple." Yukari looked at her. "Is it?" Mai leaned closer and kissed her. "I love you." Yukari closed her eyes. "And I love you." "See?" Yukari began laughing. "Oh, Mai." She embraced her. And for a while, neither felt the need to say anything else. ### Two Ancient Souls Shammy had been watching them. Not continuously. Not as a spectator waiting for her turn. She had spent part of the evening curled comfortably against Ace, exchanging quiet kisses and whispered comments with her. But when Yukari looked toward her, Shammy was smiling. A warm, deeply affectionate smile. Yukari reached for her. "Darling?" Shammy moved closer. "Yes, sweetheart?" "Would you come here?" "Gladly." Yukari welcomed her into an embrace. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Shammy laughed softly. "What?" Yukari asked. "Nothing." "Oh, now you're doing it." Shammy's smile widened. "I was just thinking how happy you look." Yukari rested her forehead against hers. "I am." "Good." "Very happy." Shammy kissed her. Yukari answered without hesitation. There was a peculiar intimacy between them that neither could quite explain. Two ancient beings. Two lives that had extended beyond anything most humans could imagine. Yet here they were, in a bedroom in Watson, discovering that age offered absolutely no immunity against the pleasures of being in love. When they parted, Yukari smiled. "May I confess something?" "Always." "I was rather nervous about you." Shammy blinked. "Me?" "Yes." "Why?" Yukari considered. "Because you understand things about me that no one else here truly can." Shammy's expression softened. Yukari continued. "And because you are older than I am." Shammy smiled. "Well, somebody had to be." Yukari burst out laughing. "Oh, you dreadful woman!" "Sorry." "Not remotely." Shammy drew her closer. "Yukari?" "Yes, darling?" "I don't want you to feel that you have to be ancient with me." Yukari became very still. Shammy gently brushed her cheek. "You don't have to be wise." A kiss. "Or dignified." Another. "Or careful about appearing foolish." Yukari laughed softly. "That last one may be difficult." "I've noticed." Shammy smiled. "Just be yourself." Yukari looked at her. Then her expression changed. Something quiet. Something deeply affectionate. "Oh, Shammy." She kissed her. For a long moment, that was all she wanted. To hold this extraordinary woman. To feel the answering embrace. To be loved without being measured against the impossible length of her own existence. Shammy's white hair stirred around them. Yukari smiled against her cheek. "Your hair." "Hmm?" "It's doing that lovely thing again." Shammy laughed. "It does that." "I've noticed." "Does it bother you?" "Darling, I think it's beautiful." The hair lifted a little higher. Yukari began laughing. "Oh!" Shammy sighed. "That's not fair." "What?" "Complimenting me until I embarrass myself." Yukari kissed her cheek. "Oh, sweetheart." A pause. "I have only just begun." Shammy's laughter was warm and delighted. And Yukari realized something. She didn't want this evening to be a performance. She didn't want to prove that she remembered every skill acquired through a long and eventful life. She wanted to discover Shammy. Not the ancient elemental. Not the remarkable being whose existence defied ordinary categories. The woman. The woman who laughed when Ace said something outrageous. Who loved Mai with such certainty. Who could be tender, mischievous, passionate, and wonderfully foolish. And who was looking at Yukari now with unmistakable affection. Yukari cupped her cheek. "Shammy?" "Yes, sweetheart?" "I love you." Shammy smiled. "I love you too." "And I want you." The smile deepened. "Then come here, darling." The kiss lasted until both women were smiling too much to maintain it. Shammy laughed against Yukari's cheek. "What?" Yukari touched the white hair floating around them. "I believe your hair has opinions." "It usually does." "Very expressive opinions." Shammy kissed her again. Then her jaw. Then the side of her neck. The playfulness remained, but the pace changed. Yukari felt it and welcomed it. Shammy's hands moved over her with easy affection, never treating Yukari's long experience as permission to skip attention. Yukari returned every touch. She wanted Shammy to feel desired too. Not studied. Not revered. Wanted. Their remaining clothes came away between kisses. At one point Shammy caught Yukari looking at her and smiled. "What?" Yukari shook her head. "Nothing profound." "Good." "I was thinking you're extremely beautiful." Shammy's hair rose. Yukari laughed with delight. "Still unfair?" "Completely." "Excellent." Yukari kissed her and let the kiss travel lower. Shammy's laughter faded into a quieter breath when she realized what Yukari was asking without words. Yukari looked up. Shammy met her eyes. "Yes." Simple. Enough. Yukari settled between her thighs. The first intimate touch of her mouth made Shammy inhale sharply as Yukari's tongue licked slowly through her folds, tasting the slick heat and circling the clit with deliberate care. Her white hair lifted around them in a bright, weightless halo. Yukari smiled against her. Shammy laughed once, breathlessly. "Do not start." "I said nothing." "Your smile did." Yukari continued. She sealed her mouth over the clit and sucked gently while two fingers slid inside, curling in time with the movement of her tongue. The humor never disappeared completely. It simply became threaded through pleasure. Shammy's hand moved into Yukari's hair, not directing her, only staying connected. When something pleased her particularly, she did not hide it. Yukari loved that. A soft sound. A tightening hand. Her name. Each response mattered, and Yukari answered it. She lapped at the wetness that flooded her tongue, fucking her with fingers and mouth together until Shammy's hips rolled helplessly. Shammy's climax came gradually and then all at once, her body tightening as a broken laugh turned into Yukari's name, cunt pulsing around the fingers as she came against Yukari's mouth. Yukari stayed with her until the tension softened. Then she moved back up beside her. Shammy caught her immediately. Kissed her. Long. Warm. "Show-off," Shammy whispered. Yukari smiled. "Did you object?" "Not remotely." Shammy rolled them gently. Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "My turn." "Darling, you needn't—" "I know." That silenced her more effectively than any argument. Shammy kissed her. Then one hand moved slowly between them. She touched Yukari intimately, fingers sliding through the wetness and circling her clit before pressing inside with slow, deep strokes. Yukari's breath stopped. Shammy paused. Their eyes met. Yukari nodded. "Yes." Shammy continued with the same unhurried confidence she brought to everything that mattered. Yukari closed her eyes. Not because she wanted to disappear into sensation. Because she trusted the woman holding her enough not to watch the future. Shammy noticed each reaction anyway. The way Yukari moved closer. The caught breath when pressure changed. The small helpless laugh when Shammy whispered, "There?" "Yes." Shammy stayed there. Yukari's hands found her shoulders. Then her back. Then simply held on. Pleasure gathered with almost embarrassing ease. For once Yukari did not analyze it. Did not compare it to another lover, another century, another version of herself. She let it be new because Shammy was new. Her climax moved through her with a long shuddering breath. Shammy held her close while it completed, kissing her temple and saying nothing at all until Yukari relaxed. Only then did Yukari open her eyes. Shammy smiled. Yukari touched her cheek. There was nothing ancient in the gesture. Nothing supernatural. Just two women, warm and satisfied and very much alive. Afterward, Yukari remained in Shammy's arms for a long time. Neither seemed interested in moving. Shammy gently stroked her hair. "Happy?" Yukari laughed softly. "Oh, darling." "That sounds promising." "Promising?" Yukari lifted her head. "My dear Shammy, I believe I may have underestimated just how extraordinary this evening could become." Shammy smiled. "Even after all these years?" Yukari considered. Then nodded. "Especially after all these years." She kissed her again. "Thank you." Shammy's smile softened. "You're welcome, sweetheart." For a moment, Yukari simply looked at her. Then she laughed. "What?" Shammy asked. "Oh, nothing." "Yukari." The kitsune's smile became wicked. "I was just wondering whether I ought to be concerned about becoming completely addicted to this family." Shammy burst out laughing. "Too late." ### Not a Competition "Well." Ace's voice came from beside them. Yukari turned. The petite swordswoman was lying against Mai, looking enormously pleased with herself. Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Well, darling?" Ace grinned. "I'd say that's been a pretty successful evening." Mai laughed softly. "You're evaluating it now?" "Absolutely." "With what criteria?" Ace considered. "Everyone happy?" "Yes." "Nobody injured?" Mai raised an eyebrow. "That's a particularly strange criterion for this situation." "Have you met us?" Shammy began laughing. Yukari covered her mouth. Ace continued. "Plenty of kissing?" "Yes," Mai admitted. "Excellent." She looked toward Yukari. "And our beautiful fox?" Yukari smiled. "Yes, sweetheart?" "Happy?" The kitsune looked at all three women. Then she laughed softly. "Oh, Ace." "Yeah?" "More than I can possibly express." Ace's expression softened. "Good." For a moment, the four women simply enjoyed being together. Then Yukari looked at Mai. "May I ask something?" "Of course." "How do you manage?" Mai blinked. "Manage what?" Yukari gestured toward the three women. "All this affection." Ace grinned. "Practice." Mai rolled her eyes. "Ignore her." Yukari laughed. Mai considered the question. "We don't really manage it, darling." "No?" "We just love each other." Shammy nodded. "And we make room for the people we love." Yukari looked at her. Then toward Ace. "And you never worry that there's too much?" Ace smiled. "Too much love?" "Yes." Ace shook her head. "Not a fucking chance." Yukari's expression softened. For a moment, she thought about asking another question. Then she changed her mind. Instead, she reached for all three women. "Come here." They did. And Yukari found herself once again surrounded by warmth. Only now there was no nervousness. No uncertainty. No fear that she was asking for something inappropriate. Just love. And the extraordinary pleasure of knowing that it was returned. ### Something Wonderful Together It would have been easy to declare the evening complete. Yukari was happy. Ace was happy. Mai and Shammy were smiling. Everyone could have settled comfortably beneath the blankets and gone to sleep. Except that Yukari had discovered something. A rather important something. She was no longer tired of wanting. For so long, she had treated desire as an occasional visitor. Something to welcome when it appeared, but never something to seek. Tonight had changed that. She looked at the three women around her. Then smiled. "Darling?" All three answered. "Yes?" Yukari laughed. "Oh, heavens." Ace grinned. "You're going to have to be more specific." "Apparently." Yukari considered. Then she leaned toward Mai. "May I tell you something?" "Always." "I'm beginning to suspect that I haven't merely forgotten how enjoyable physical affection can be." Mai smiled. "Oh?" "No." Yukari glanced toward Ace. Then Shammy. "I think I've forgotten how much I enjoy sharing it." Shammy's expression warmed. "That's a lovely thing to rediscover." "Isn't it?" Ace tilted her head. "And?" Yukari's smile widened. "And I would rather like to continue." Mai laughed softly. "Would you?" "Very much." Ace grinned. "Well, fuck. I'm not arguing." Shammy leaned closer. "Neither am I." Mai kissed Yukari's cheek. "Then come here, beautiful." This time there was no awkwardness about who should move first. No need for a carefully arranged sequence. Ace, Mai, and Shammy already understood one another's rhythms, their closeness built through years of shared love. Yukari didn't need to become part of their Triad to be welcomed into this evening. She had her own relationships with each woman. And she was beginning to understand how beautifully those relationships could exist alongside one another. No one became the center for long. That, Yukari discovered, was part of the beauty of it. Ace reached for her and was intercepted halfway by Mai, who kissed her with the easy familiarity of a woman who knew exactly how much the interruption would amuse her. Ace laughed into the kiss. Yukari laughed too. Then Shammy drew Yukari close from behind and kissed her shoulder. "Still enjoying yourself?" Yukari leaned back against her. "Immensely." "Good." Mai looked over. "Careful. She'll complain about that word." "I heard that." Ace grinned. "Excellent." Yukari caught Ace by the wrist and pulled her close enough to kiss the grin away. From there, affection became wonderfully difficult to assign. Mai's hand slipped between Ace's thighs, fingers sliding through the wet heat to stroke her clit in slow circles. Shammy kissed Mai. Yukari reached for Shammy, and Shammy caught her hand and guided it closer. Nobody treated closeness as a queue. They knew one another too well for that. When a touch drew a sharp response, the others noticed. When somebody needed a different angle or a little more room, they made it without ceremony. When laughter interrupted a kiss, they let it. Yukari found herself between Mai and Shammy for a while, Ace curled close enough to reach all three of them. Ace kissed Yukari while Mai touched her intimately, two fingers pressing inside Ace and curling with each stroke. The change in Ace's breathing made Yukari smile against her mouth. "You all right, sweetheart?" Ace gave her an incredulous look. "Do I look unhappy?" "Decidedly not." Mai laughed. Ace's answer dissolved when Mai continued. Yukari felt Shammy's hand slide into hers. Then Shammy kissed her. Not because she was waiting her turn. Because she wanted to. That simple freedom made the entire room feel lighter. Ace's first climax came with a breathless curse against Yukari's shoulder. Mai held her through it, smiling with unmistakable satisfaction. Yukari kissed Ace's forehead. Ace opened one eye. "Don't get smug." "I wouldn't dream of it." "Liar." Shammy laughed. Mai barely had time to join before Yukari reached for her. Not alone. Shammy moved with her. Ace, recovering rapidly because Ace apparently considered recovery negotiable, reached up and caught Mai's hand. Mai looked from one woman to another. "Oh, you're all terrible." "Yes," Shammy said warmly. Yukari's hand moved between Mai's thighs, finding her soaked and open. She stroked the clit firmly before sliding two fingers inside. Mai's protest ended in a caught breath. Yukari watched her composure loosen again, but this time it happened surrounded by women who already knew every version of that expression. Ace knew when to hold her. Shammy knew when to slow. Yukari learned by paying attention. Mai's climax arrived with a soft, helpless sound and her fingers tightening around Ace's. For one quiet moment nobody moved her anywhere. They simply stayed. Let her breathe. Let the pleasure finish. Then Mai opened her eyes. "Okay." Ace smiled. "Good okay?" Mai looked at her. "Don't." Everyone laughed. The laughter rearranged them more effectively than planning could have. Shammy ended up half beneath Yukari, one arm around Mai, while Ace pressed kisses along Shammy's shoulder. Yukari's hand moved between Shammy's thighs, touching her with the confidence of someone who had already learned some of her answers tonight. She circled the clit with her thumb while two fingers slid inside, matching the rhythm Shammy had shown her earlier. Shammy noticed. "So you've been taking notes." "Darling, I have an excellent memory." "Show-off." Yukari smiled. Then Shammy's expression changed. Her white hair lifted. Ace saw it and immediately looked delighted. "There." Shammy laughed once. "Nobody asked you." Mai kissed her. That ended the argument. Shammy's pleasure rose beneath three kinds of familiarity: Mai's practiced tenderness, Ace's delighted recognition, Yukari's newer but attentive touch. Her climax came with her eyes open, looking at all of them, and for one startling second Yukari felt the age in her—not as distance, but as gratitude that someone so old could still be surprised by joy. Shammy exhaled. Her hair slowly settled. Ace kissed her cheek. "Beautiful." Shammy smiled. "Flatterer." "Accurate." Then three pairs of eyes turned toward Yukari. She blinked. "Oh, no." Ace's grin appeared. "Oh, yes." Yukari started laughing. "I find this coordinated attention deeply suspicious." "We're not coordinated," Mai said. Shammy nodded. "Not remotely." Ace looked at both of them. "Speak for yourselves." Yukari laughed harder. Then Mai kissed her. Shammy drew close at her other side. Ace settled between them all with absolutely no respect for personal space. Yukari stopped laughing when their attention became more intimate. Not because the mood had turned solemn. Because sensation stole the breath required for commentary. A hand at her hip. Another holding hers. A kiss at her throat. Shammy's intimate touch made her move instinctively closer rather than away — fingers stroking through her wetness, then pressing inside while Ace's mouth found her throat and Mai's hand held hers. Yukari could not have said afterward which woman had caused every reaction. That was not the point. She knew who was holding her. She knew all three were paying attention. And she knew, with an almost painful clarity, that none of them was asking her to become anything other than herself. Her breathing broke. Ace noticed first. "Hey." Yukari opened her eyes. Ace's expression had gone soft beneath the mischief. "Here?" Yukari smiled. "Here." Mai's hand tightened around hers. Shammy kissed her temple. The pleasure crested through Yukari in a long, shaking wave that took every clever word with it. She held on to all three of them. They held on to her. Nobody moved away when it ended. For several breaths the four women remained exactly where they were, tangled together, breathing and smiling and letting the moment become complete before anything else was asked of it. Yukari opened her eyes. Ace was already grinning. Mai looked wonderfully content. Shammy's hair still hovered softly around them. Yukari laughed. "Oh, you dreadful women." Ace kissed her. "Love you too." And the room, at last, began to settle. Eventually, the room grew quiet. Not because anybody had been disappointed. Quite the opposite. The four women lay together, comfortable and wonderfully content. Ace was the first to speak. "Well, fuck." Mai began laughing. "Ace!" "What?" "Must you?" Ace considered. "Yep." Shammy buried her face against Yukari's shoulder. Yukari started laughing too. "Oh, sweetheart." Ace grinned. "What?" "You have the most extraordinary talent for finding exactly the wrong moment to be eloquent." "Thank you." "That wasn't entirely a compliment." "Taking it anyway." Mai shook her head. "Of course you are." Yukari looked at the three women. And smiled. She had laughed often during her long life. But she couldn't remember the last time laughter had felt quite so effortless. Ace noticed. "Hey." Yukari turned. "Yes, darling?" "You okay?" Yukari brushed her cheek. "Oh, sweetheart." "Yeah?" "I'm wonderful." Ace smiled. "Good." Yukari leaned forward and kissed her. Then Mai. Then Shammy. Three kisses. Three women. Three beautiful, entirely different loves. And one extraordinary evening. ### The Things Time Cannot Take The room had settled into a gentle quiet. Outside, the city continued its endless argument with itself. Somewhere a siren sounded. Somewhere else, a vehicle alarm began protesting a theft that probably nobody intended to investigate. Inside, Yukari lay between the women she loved. Her dark hair was a magnificent disorder. She felt pleasantly tired. Comfortable. And extraordinarily happy. Mai was gently brushing her fingers through Yukari's hair. Shammy rested against her other side. Ace had somehow acquired a large portion of the blankets. Naturally. Yukari watched her. Then smiled. "Darling?" Ace opened one eye. "Yeah?" "Are you stealing the covers?" Ace considered. "Strategic acquisition." Mai sighed. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Yukari laughed. "An impressive military maneuver." "Thank you." "Although I believe it may constitute an act of aggression against the rest of the household." Ace grinned. "Come and take them." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Darling." "Yeah?" "Are you challenging a nine-tailed kitsune to a contest of blankets?" Ace blinked. Then began laughing. "Okay. Fair point." She surrendered part of the covers. Mai looked satisfied. Shammy smiled. Yukari settled more comfortably between them. For a while, nobody spoke. Then Yukari sighed. A long, peaceful sigh. Mai turned toward her. "Something on your mind?" Yukari smiled. "Yes." "Want to tell us?" The kitsune considered. Then nodded. "I was remembering someone." The room grew quiet. Not uncomfortably. Just attentively. "Someone you loved?" Shammy asked. "Yes." Yukari looked toward the ceiling. "A very long time ago." Nobody asked when. Nobody asked how long. There were things about Yukari's life that had no need of precise dates. "She had a terrible singing voice," Yukari continued. Ace smiled. "Really?" "Absolutely dreadful." Mai laughed softly. "And?" "And she insisted on singing anyway." Yukari smiled at the memory. "She said the world contained too much silence already." Shammy's expression softened. "She sounds lovely." "She was." Yukari considered. "For a very long time, I thought remembering someone meant holding tightly to every detail." She glanced toward Ace. "The sound of a voice." Then Mai. "The way someone smiled." Then Shammy. "The little things that made them themselves." Her expression grew thoughtful. "But memories change. Even mine." Ace reached for her hand. Yukari smiled. "Eventually, I realized that what mattered wasn't preserving every detail." "What was it?" Mai asked. "Remembering that I had been happy." Shammy gently squeezed her hand. Yukari looked toward the three women. "And tonight..." She laughed softly. "Tonight I remembered something else." Ace raised an eyebrow. "What?" "That happiness doesn't belong exclusively to the past." Mai's expression softened. "Oh, Yukari." The kitsune smiled. "I have loved before." She looked around. "And I love now." A pause. "One doesn't diminish the other." Shammy leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "No, darling." Yukari closed her eyes. "And for the first time in a very long while, I find myself looking forward to tomorrow with absolutely no desire to know what it will bring." Ace grinned. "That's good, because around here tomorrow could involve fucking anything." Mai laughed. "Ace!" "What? It's true!" Yukari laughed with them. And the last traces of solemnity vanished. ### A Very Personal Discovery Some time later, Ace finally fell asleep. Mai wasn't far behind. Shammy remained awake beside Yukari. The two ancient women lay quietly together, listening to the distant sounds of the city. Then Shammy spoke. "Yukari?" "Yes, darling?" "May I ask you something?" "Always." "Was tonight what you hoped for?" Yukari turned toward her. For a moment, she simply looked at Shammy. Then she smiled. "No." Shammy blinked. "Oh?" Yukari laughed softly. "It was considerably better." Shammy's smile widened. "I'm glad." Yukari reached for her hand. "Do you know why?" "Tell me." "Because I didn't expect to laugh so much." Shammy chuckled. "Really?" "Really." Yukari considered. "I remembered affection. I remembered passion. I remembered how wonderful it can be to share oneself with someone beloved." Her smile softened. "But I'd forgotten how much laughter can belong to all of that." Shammy nodded. "Especially around these two." Yukari glanced toward Ace and Mai. Then laughed. "Especially." Shammy kissed her cheek. "You know something else?" "What, darling?" "You don't have to make up for lost time." Yukari looked at her. Shammy smiled gently. "There's no deadline. Nothing to prove. No need to experience everything at once." Yukari considered the words. Then her expression became thoughtful. "Perhaps." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps?" Yukari's smile grew. "But I confess that after tonight, I'm rather looking forward to discovering what else I've been missing." Shammy laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." Yukari looked delighted. "Have I said something alarming?" "Not at all." "Good." Shammy drew her into an embrace. Yukari settled against her. And for a while, they simply held each other. Then Yukari whispered: "Shammy?" "Yes?" "I think I'm going to become a rather difficult woman." Shammy started laughing. "Oh, darling." "What?" "You're living with Ace, Mai, and me." Yukari considered. "Yes?" "We already know how to love difficult women." Yukari stared. Then she began laughing. Softly at first. Then helplessly. Shammy joined her. And beside them, Ace stirred. "What the fuck's funny?" Mai made a sleepy sound. "Nothing, love." Ace opened one eye. "You're all lying." Yukari leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Go back to sleep, sweetheart." Ace considered. Then grinned. "Okay." She closed her eyes. A moment later, she reached out and caught Yukari's hand. Held it. And went back to sleep. Yukari looked down. Her smile softened. *Oh, Ace.* She had known tenderness before. She had known extraordinary lovers. But this petite woman, who could face an Oni with a katana and then fall asleep holding someone's hand as though it were the most natural thing in the world— This little woman had changed her life. And so had Mai. And Shammy. Yukari settled back against the pillows. She looked at the three women around her. Then she smiled. There were other people in this household she had barely begun to know. People whose laughter she enjoyed. Whose company delighted her. Whose affection she was beginning to recognize as something she wanted more of. And for the first time in a very long while, that realization didn't frighten her. It excited her. Not because she needed more love to make what she already had complete. But because she had finally remembered how wonderful it could be to share. ### The Last Thought Before Morning Yukari was almost asleep when one final memory surfaced. Brenda. Standing in the kitchen. Laughing at one of Marco's increasingly inventive complaints. Brilliant. Irreverent. Beautiful. And possessed of an unmistakable confidence that Yukari had already begun to find rather attractive. Then Iris. Composed. Elegant. With that dry, wicked humor that occasionally caught Yukari completely off guard. Yukari smiled in the darkness. *Oh, my.* She had been so occupied with discovering her feelings for Ace, Mai, and Shammy that she had scarcely considered what might happen as her relationships with the rest of the family deepened. Not that there was any hurry. She was perfectly content with what she had. But contentment, she was beginning to discover, was not the same as an absence of curiosity. And Yukari had always been a terribly curious woman. She closed her eyes. A small, mischievous smile lingered on her lips. *Perhaps I should get to know Brenda a little better.* A pause. *And Iris.* Another pause. Then she laughed very softly. Oh, heavens. She settled closer to Shammy. *This really is going to be fun.* Outside, Night City carried on. Inside, four women slept peacefully. Three of them had spent the evening reminding an ancient kitsune that love could still surprise her. And the fourth had discovered that, after countless years, she was quite ready to be surprised again. --- ## Chapter 05 — The Morning After Centuries Watson, Night City. Morning. Yukari woke to the unfamiliar sensation of being thoroughly surrounded. Someone's arm lay across her waist. Someone else's leg was comfortably tangled with hers. And a small, warm body was pressed against her side with the determined possessiveness of a creature that had found an exceptionally agreeable place to sleep. Yukari opened her eyes. Ace. Naturally. The petite swordswoman was sleeping with her cheek against Yukari's shoulder, looking utterly content. Beyond her, Mai lay on her side, one hand resting against Ace's back. And behind Yukari, Shammy had wrapped an arm around her during the night. Four women. One bed. Not a single tail. Yukari smiled. Oh. She had spent countless nights sleeping in her fox form at the foot of this bed. She had enjoyed the warmth, the quiet breathing, the comforting certainty that she was welcome. But waking like this was something different. She could feel Ace breathing against her shoulder. Shammy's hand rested against her stomach. And when Mai stirred, her first instinct was to reach across Ace and gently touch Yukari's cheek. "Morning," Mai whispered. Yukari smiled. "Good morning, beautiful." Mai blinked. Then laughed softly. "Well, someone's cheerful." "Immensely." "Sleep well?" "Wonderfully." Mai regarded her for a moment. Then her smile became warmer. "I'm glad." Yukari looked down at Ace. "Does she always sleep like this?" "Like what?" "As though someone might steal her favorite pillow." Mai examined her sleeping partner. "Pretty much." "Should I be flattered?" "Very." Yukari considered this. Then she gently kissed the top of Ace's head. Ace made a contented sound. "Mine," she mumbled. Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Yukari stared. Then began laughing. "Did she just—?" "Yes." "While asleep?" "Unfortunately." Ace shifted closer. "Warm," she murmured. Shammy's voice emerged from behind Yukari. "She's been doing that for years." Yukari turned her head. The elemental was awake, smiling. "And nobody has attempted to correct her?" Shammy considered. "We like her." "Ah." Mai nodded gravely. "Occasionally." Ace opened one eye. "I can hear you." "Good morning, sweetheart," Mai replied. Ace regarded the three women. Then grinned. "Fuck. This is nice." Yukari's smile softened. "Yes, darling." She brushed Ace's cheek. "It really is." ### A Dangerous Discovery Nobody moved for another twenty minutes. Yukari would later consider those twenty minutes extraordinarily educational. She discovered that Ace was perfectly capable of holding an entire conversation without lifting her head from someone's shoulder. That Mai possessed an impressive ability to find whichever hand belonged to whichever woman without opening her eyes. And that Shammy, despite being unimaginably ancient, could become quite shamelessly affectionate when she had absolutely no reason to get out of bed. There was also a fourth discovery. A rather important one. Yukari liked being kissed first. She had known it, naturally. She had enjoyed affection before. But somewhere over the long years, she had become accustomed to being the one who initiated. The one who decided. The one who offered. It was rather wonderful to have someone reach for her simply because they wanted to. Shammy demonstrated this by kissing her shoulder. Yukari turned. "Darling?" "Hmm?" "Was that for any particular reason?" Shammy smiled. "Because I wanted to." Yukari regarded her. Then kissed her. "How delightful." Ace raised her head. "Hey." Yukari looked down. "Yes, sweetheart?" "What about me?" "You've been attached to me for most of the night." "That's different." "How?" Ace grinned. "I'm awake now." Mai burst out laughing. Yukari considered the argument. "An excellent distinction." She kissed Ace. Once. Then again, because Ace made it quite clear that one was insufficient. When Yukari finally drew back, Mai was watching with an amused expression. "Should I leave you two alone?" Yukari turned toward her. "Absolutely not." "Oh?" "That would be a dreadful waste." Mai's eyebrows rose. Ace began grinning. Shammy covered her mouth. Yukari extended her hand. "Come here, Mai." Mai accepted. And a moment later, Yukari discovered that kissing Mai while Ace was comfortably curled against her and Shammy was laughing softly behind her was an extraordinarily pleasant way to begin the day. When they separated, Mai regarded her thoughtfully. "You know something?" "What, darling?" "You seem different this morning." Yukari tilted her head. "Different?" "More relaxed." Ace snorted. "That's one way of putting it." Mai gave her a look. Ace spread her hands. "What? She is!" Yukari laughed. Then she grew thoughtful. "I suppose I am." Shammy gently stroked her hair. "Anything you want to tell us?" Yukari considered. Then a smile spread across her face. "Yes." Three women looked at her. She waited just long enough to make Ace suspicious. "I should have done this ages ago." Ace burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." Yukari turned toward her. "Although I rather suspect I may have difficulty returning to my previous sleeping arrangements." Mai smiled. "Your place at the foot of the bed isn't going anywhere." "I know." "And you're welcome to sleep beside us whenever you'd like." Yukari looked around. At Ace. At Mai. At Shammy. Then her expression became positively mischievous. "How very generous." Ace narrowed her eyes. "Why do I suddenly feel like we've just made a tactical mistake?" Shammy laughed. "Because you're beginning to understand what it's like living with another ancient troublemaker." Yukari gave her an innocent look. "Another?" Shammy's white hair rose slightly. "Oh, don't even start." And Yukari laughed so hard that Ace had to kiss her simply to interrupt the noise. It worked. Briefly. ### Breakfast Diplomacy By the time the four women reached the kitchen, Marco had already served breakfast. Brenda was sitting at the table, examining her agent. Iris stood beside the counter, pouring coffee. Neither woman looked particularly surprised when Ace entered wearing the expression of someone who had just enjoyed a spectacularly good morning. "Morning," Iris said. "Morning!" Iris regarded her. Then Mai. Then Shammy. Finally Yukari. A slow smile appeared. "Well." Brenda glanced up. "What?" Iris took a sip of coffee. "Nothing, darling." Brenda followed her gaze. Four women. Four rather satisfied expressions. Her eyebrows rose. "Oh." Ace grinned. "Good morning to you too, Brenda." Brenda leaned back. "Well, well, well." Yukari stopped beside the table. "Good morning, Brenda." The engineer looked at her. Then smiled. "Good morning, gorgeous." Yukari's expression brightened. "Oh, how sweet of you." Brenda laughed. "Just stating facts." "Then I should return the courtesy." Brenda tilted her head. "Go on." Yukari regarded her with an expression of thoughtful appreciation. "You look particularly beautiful this morning." Brenda blinked. Then grinned. "Oh, sweetheart. Keep talking." Iris lowered her cup. Ace made a small noise. Mai looked toward the ceiling. Shammy was already smiling. Yukari continued with perfect composure. "And I must say, your smile is rather irresistible." Brenda stared at her. Then laughed. "Jesus Christ. Somebody's feeling affectionate." "Very." "Had a good night?" "An exceptionally good night." Brenda glanced toward Ace. Ace raised both hands. "Don't look at me." "Oh, I'm absolutely looking at you." "I plead the Fifth." "We're in Night City, Ace." "Fine. I plead temporary insanity." Mai sat down. "Temporary?" Shammy dissolved into laughter. Brenda shook her head. "Fucking unbelievable." Yukari looked delighted. Iris, meanwhile, had been watching the exchange with increasing interest. She set down her cup. "Yukari?" The kitsune turned. "Yes, darling?" "Does Brenda know you're flirting with her?" Yukari considered. Then looked at Brenda. "Do you?" Brenda's grin widened. "Oh, honey. I was rather hoping." Ace made a strangled sound. Mai pressed her lips together. Shammy covered her face. Yukari smiled. "How fortunate." Brenda leaned forward. "Careful, sweetheart." "Why?" "Because I flirt back." Yukari's expression became positively radiant. "Oh, good." Silence. Then Iris started laughing. Not a polite chuckle. A genuine, delighted laugh that made Brenda turn toward her. "What?" Iris shook her head. "Oh, nothing." "Iris." "Darling, I think you've finally met someone who isn't going to surrender after your first outrageous remark." Brenda looked back at Yukari. Who was still smiling. Calmly. Expectantly. Brenda slowly set down her agent. "Well, fuck." Ace lost it. She bent forward, laughing helplessly. "Oh, this is going to be beautiful!" Marco appeared from the kitchen carrying another plate. He took one look at the table. At Brenda. At Yukari. At Ace nearly crying with laughter. Then he sighed. "What did I miss?" Iris accepted the plate. "Apparently, a declaration of war." Marco looked at Brenda. "Against whom?" Brenda pointed at Yukari. "Her." Yukari tilted her head. "Oh, darling. I thought we were getting acquainted." Marco considered that. Then set the remaining dishes down. "Right. I'm staying out of this." "Wise man," Mai murmured. ### The Trouble with Compliments Breakfast proceeded with an unusual amount of laughter. Not that laughter was particularly unusual in the safehouse. But Yukari seemed determined to find a reason for it in nearly every conversation. Marco received lavish praise for his cooking. Ace received a kiss after successfully retrieving a jar from a high shelf without knocking anything over. Mai was informed that her choice of tea was evidence of exceptional judgment. Shammy was told, with complete sincerity, that her hair looked beautiful in the morning light. The elemental blushed. Actually blushed. Ace stared. "Wait." Shammy looked at her. "What?" "You blush?" Mai laughed. "Ace." "No, seriously! I've known her for years!" Yukari looked fascinated. "Have you never noticed?" Ace considered. Then grinned. "Maybe I just need better compliments." Shammy gave her a very patient look. "Sweetheart, you once told me I looked like a goddess who'd just escaped from an extremely expensive hair salon." Ace spread her hands. "Accurate!" Yukari nearly choked on her tea. Brenda burst out laughing. Iris looked at Ace with affectionate resignation. "And somehow," she observed, "that woman keeps getting away with it." "Talent," Ace replied. "Audacity," Mai corrected. "Love," Shammy said. Ace smiled. "All three." Yukari watched them, her expression growing softer. She had spent so much of her long life learning how to charm people. It was a skill she had employed for all manner of purposes. Sometimes to persuade. Sometimes to distract. Sometimes simply because people were more agreeable when they were smiling. But she was beginning to recognize something rather important. There was a difference between charming someone and delighting in them. And she found the latter infinitely more satisfying. Across the table, Brenda was explaining why she absolutely deserved access to a new piece of equipment that Iris had apparently forbidden her to order. Iris listened with the composure of a woman who had already heard seventeen variations of the same argument. Yukari regarded them. A beautiful marriage. Years of shared experience. Familiar gestures. The easy confidence of two women who knew each other's habits, strengths, weaknesses, and favorite methods of getting into trouble. And both were beautiful. Very beautiful. Yukari smiled into her tea. Oh, my. She wondered whether either had noticed how often she looked at them. Then Brenda caught her eye. And winked. Yukari's smile widened. Apparently so. ### A Conversation with Iris Later that morning, Yukari found Iris in the common room. She was sitting near the window, reviewing a collection of documents on her agent. Yukari approached quietly. "May I disturb you?" Iris looked up. "Of course." "Are you busy?" "Not terribly." "Would you enjoy some company?" Iris smiled. "Always." Yukari sat beside her. For several minutes, they talked about ordinary things. The latest absurdity involving city administration. A restaurant Marco wanted everyone to try. A book Iris had been reading. Yukari found herself increasingly fascinated by the woman. Iris had a particular way of listening. She gave her attention completely, rarely interrupting, and when she did speak, her remarks were often so dry that Yukari needed a heartbeat to recognize the humor. It was delightful. Eventually, Iris set her agent aside. "All right." Yukari tilted her head. "All right?" "There's something you're not asking." Yukari laughed softly. "Am I so transparent?" "Not usually." "How reassuring." Iris smiled. "But you've been looking at me as though you're trying to decide whether I'll bite." Yukari considered. "Would you?" Iris raised an eyebrow. Then a slow smile appeared. "Depends who asks." Yukari stared. For one glorious moment, the ancient kitsune was completely silent. Iris looked immensely pleased. "Oh, there it is." Yukari blinked. "What?" "The expression Brenda usually gets when somebody surprises her." Yukari began laughing. "Oh, Iris!" Iris leaned back. "Did you honestly think Brenda was the only one in this marriage who knew how to flirt?" Yukari regarded her with renewed interest. "No, darling." A pause. "But I confess I hadn't quite appreciated the extent of your talents." "Well, there's no rush." Yukari smiled. "How fortunate." Iris reached for her coffee. Then looked at Yukari over the rim of the cup. "May I ask you something?" "Anything." "You seem particularly happy today." "I am." Iris smiled. "Good." Yukari looked toward the window. Then she considered how much to say. These people had never demanded explanations of her feelings. But they had always welcomed them. "I spent a very long time being alone," she said. Iris listened. "Not unhappily, for much of it. I enjoyed solitude. I still do." "Of course." "But somewhere along the way, I became accustomed to thinking of affection as something that belonged to other people." Iris's expression softened. Yukari smiled faintly. "And now I find myself living in a house where nobody seems capable of passing someone they love without kissing them." Iris laughed. "That's fairly accurate." "It's extraordinary." "Is it?" "For me." Iris considered. Then reached for Yukari's hand. "Well, I hope you don't feel you have to catch up all at once." Yukari looked at her. Then smiled. "Oh, darling." Iris raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I rather think I would enjoy trying." Iris stared at her. Then laughed. "Jesus Christ." Yukari's smile became wicked. "Have I shocked you?" "Not remotely." "Disappointed?" "Not in the slightest." They regarded each other for a moment. Then Iris squeezed her hand. "You're going to fit in here beautifully." Yukari leaned closer and kissed her cheek. "I do hope so." Iris turned toward her. Their faces were suddenly quite close. Neither moved away. For a brief moment, Yukari wondered whether Iris might kiss her. Instead, Iris smiled. "Careful, Yukari." The kitsune tilted her head. "Darling, everyone keeps telling me that." "Perhaps there's a reason." Yukari laughed softly. "Perhaps." Iris's smile widened. "Although, between us, I suspect you're enjoying the warnings." Yukari considered. Then grinned. "Immensely." ### An Engineer's Curiosity Brenda discovered Yukari in the kitchen an hour later. The kitsune was making tea. Brenda leaned against the doorway. "Well, hello, trouble." Yukari turned. "Good morning again, beautiful." Brenda laughed. "Christ. You don't let up, do you?" "Would you prefer me to?" "Fuck no." "Excellent." Brenda approached the counter. "Making tea?" "Yes." "Mind if I join you?" "Not at all." Brenda collected another cup. For a while, they talked about Yukari's books. Brenda was fascinated by several of the oldest volumes, particularly those containing diagrams and references to techniques that had no obvious relationship to modern science. Yukari enjoyed her curiosity. It was direct. Sometimes irreverent. But never dismissive. Brenda wanted to understand things. Even when she suspected understanding them might be impossible. Eventually, the engineer looked at her. "Can I ask you something personal?" Yukari smiled. "Of course." "Do you ever get tired of changing shapes?" Yukari considered. "Not particularly." "Does it take effort?" "Not in the way you're imagining." "How do you know what you're going to look like?" Yukari laughed softly. "How do you know where to place your hand when reaching for a cup?" Brenda blinked. "Instinct." "Precisely." "Huh." Brenda thought about that. Then grinned. "God, that's fascinating." Yukari regarded her affectionately. "You really are a remarkable woman." Brenda looked up. "Flattery won't get you out of answering technical questions." "Oh, darling. I'm not trying to." "Good." Yukari stepped closer. "Although I confess that your enthusiasm is rather attractive." Brenda slowly lowered her cup. "Is it now?" "Very." The engineer's smile became distinctly wicked. "Yukari." "Yes, beautiful?" "Are you trying to seduce me?" Yukari considered the question with exaggerated seriousness. "Would you object?" Brenda stared at her. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, you magnificent menace!" Yukari laughed with her. Brenda shook her head. "Jesus Christ. You've got absolutely no shame." "Not as much as I had yesterday, apparently." "Oh?" Yukari smiled. "I've recently been reminded that life is considerably more enjoyable when one stops apologizing for wanting things." Brenda regarded her. The teasing expression softened. "That's a pretty good lesson." "I thought so." "Wise woman." "Occasionally." Brenda reached out and affectionately touched Yukari's cheek. "Well, sweetheart, I think you're going to have a very good time around here." Yukari covered Brenda's hand with her own. "I sincerely hope so." For a moment, their eyes met. Brenda's smile returned. Then she stepped back. "Right. Tea. Before we get ourselves into trouble." Yukari tilted her head. "Darling?" "Yeah?" "Is that something you usually try to avoid?" Brenda stared. Then laughed so loudly that Marco called from the hallway. "What the hell are you two doing?" "NOTHING!" Brenda shouted. Yukari covered her mouth. Marco appeared in the doorway. Looked at Brenda. Looked at Yukari. Then sighed. "Right." He turned around. "I'm not even asking." Brenda nearly doubled over. And Yukari laughed until tears appeared in her eyes. ### An Audience of One Ace found Yukari on the balcony in the afternoon. She was leaning against the railing, watching the city with an expression of immense satisfaction. Ace approached. "Hey, gorgeous." Yukari turned. "Hello, sweetheart." Ace slipped an arm around her waist. Yukari kissed her. Warmly. Then again, simply because she could. Ace grinned. "Well, fuck. I'm having a good day." Yukari laughed. "So am I." Ace studied her. Then narrowed her eyes. "What have you been doing?" Yukari adopted an expression of perfect innocence. "Enjoying the company of our family." "Uh-huh." "Is that suspicious?" "With you? Increasingly." Yukari laughed. Ace leaned beside her against the railing. "Iris tells me you've been flirting with her." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Has she?" "Yep." "How observant of her." Ace grinned. "Brenda says you're a menace." "How kind." "And Marco says he doesn't want to know." Yukari burst out laughing. "Oh, poor Marco." Ace turned toward her. "Having fun?" Yukari smiled. "More than I can remember having in a very long time." Ace regarded her for a moment. Then her expression softened. "Good." Yukari leaned closer. "You're not troubled?" "By what?" "Me flirting with Brenda and Iris." Ace blinked. Then laughed. "Sweetheart." "Yes?" "Have you met this family?" Yukari smiled. "I believe so." "Then you know the answer." Yukari considered. Then reached for Ace's hand. "I wanted to hear it anyway." Ace squeezed her fingers. "Not troubled. Not jealous. Not even slightly." She smiled. "I love Brenda. I love Iris. I love you. If you three find something wonderful together, why the hell would I be unhappy?" Yukari looked at her. Then smiled. "Oh, Ace." "But!" Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" Ace pointed toward the safehouse. "You should know something." "How intriguing." "Brenda doesn't surrender." Yukari considered. "Doesn't she?" "Nope." "And Iris?" Ace's grin became positively wicked. "Iris is worse." Yukari laughed. "How so?" "Brenda tells you exactly what she's thinking." "An admirable quality." "Iris lets you think you've figured her out." Yukari regarded Ace thoughtfully. "And then?" Ace shook her head. "Then you're fucked." Yukari burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart!" Ace grinned. "Speaking from experience." Yukari stepped closer. "Is that so?" "Very much so." The kitsune considered. Then she slipped her arms around Ace's waist. "Well." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "I do enjoy a challenge." Ace closed her eyes. "Oh, Jesus." Yukari kissed her cheek. "Especially an agreeable one." Ace looked at her. Then began laughing. "You know what?" "What, darling?" "I think this is going to be the most entertaining thing that's happened in this house for ages." Yukari smiled. "How lovely." Ace grinned. "And I intend to watch every fucking minute." Yukari regarded her with profound amusement. "Darling, you make that sound as though you're planning to attend a theatrical performance." Ace considered. Then nodded. "Pretty much." "Should I arrange tickets?" "Front row. Best seat in the house." Yukari laughed. "Very well." She kissed Ace again. "Reserved." ### A Fox's New Philosophy That evening, Yukari returned to her room briefly. She stood before the mirror and regarded herself. Her dark hair. Her familiar face. The woman she had chosen to be in this house. She could have changed her appearance. Made herself taller. Shorter. Taken on any of the countless human forms she had worn across her long existence. She could have become a fox and curled beneath her nine tails. But tonight, she found herself perfectly content with the woman looking back at her. Because something had changed. Not her appearance. Not her powers. Not even her relationships, exactly. What had changed was the way she looked at the possibilities before her. For so long, she had lived carefully. Not fearfully. Carefully. She had loved, lost, traveled, learned, fought, and survived. She had made peace with solitude. And somewhere along the way, she had begun mistaking peace for the absence of desire. Now she knew better. She loved Ace. She loved Mai. She loved Shammy. And she was beginning to discover a wonderfully personal affection for Iris and Brenda. There were others in this extraordinary family she had barely begun to know. People whose lives, loves, and histories remained mysteries to her. People who might become dear friends. Perhaps even lovers. Yukari smiled. How delightfully unpredictable. A soft knock sounded at the door. "Come in." Mai entered. "Everything okay?" "Wonderfully." Mai smiled. "Good." Yukari turned toward her. "Darling?" "Yes?" "May I ask you something?" "Of course." Yukari considered. "Do you ever worry that there might be too much happiness?" Mai blinked. Then laughed softly. "Too much?" "Yes." Mai approached her. "Why?" Yukari looked toward the window. "Because this feels rather extraordinary." Mai slipped an arm around her waist. "Then enjoy it." "Just like that?" "Just like that." Yukari smiled. Mai kissed her cheek. "You don't owe the universe misery to balance out being happy." For a moment, Yukari was silent. Then she turned and embraced Mai. "Oh, my darling." Mai held her. And Yukari realized that perhaps this was the greatest gift her new family had given her. Not merely love. Not merely intimacy. But the freedom to enjoy both without apology. She drew back. Then smiled. A slow, mischievous smile. Mai immediately narrowed her eyes. "Oh, no." Yukari blinked. "What?" "I know that expression." "Do you?" "Unfortunately." Yukari laughed. Mai sighed affectionately. "You're planning something." "Nothing terrible." "That's not reassuring." Yukari slipped an arm around her. "Darling, I merely intend to enjoy life." Mai regarded her. Then shook her head, smiling. "Somehow, coming from you, that sounds like a threat." Yukari kissed her. "Oh, my dear Mai." She laughed softly. "Not a threat." A pause. "A promise." --- Elsewhere in the safehouse, Brenda was telling Iris about her conversation with Yukari. "She's fucking impossible," Brenda announced. Iris looked up from her book. "And?" Brenda grinned. "And I think I like her." Iris smiled. "I noticed." "Oh, did you?" "Darling, I have been married to you long enough to recognize that expression." Brenda laughed. Then leaned down and kissed her wife. "Well, what can I say? She's gorgeous." Iris considered. "She is." Brenda paused. Looked at her. Then slowly began to smile. "Oh?" Iris returned to her book. "Don't start." "Iris." "Brenda." "You think she's gorgeous?" Iris turned a page. "I have eyes, darling." Brenda stared at her. Then began laughing. "Oh, this is going to be fun." Iris finally looked up. And smiled. A particular smile. One that Ace knew extremely well. "I rather suspect it is." --- ## Chapter 06 — Brenda Takes the Bait Watson, Night City. Late afternoon. Brenda had made a tactical error. She had invited Yukari to watch her work. At the time, it had seemed entirely reasonable. Yukari was curious about technology. Brenda was curious about practically everything, including things that had been considered impossible before an actual nine-tailed kitsune had moved into their safehouse. And the little wooden music box sitting on Brenda's workbench was an interesting problem. Its mechanism was old, delicate, and clearly handmade. Someone had repaired it several times over its long existence, with varying degrees of competence. Brenda had offered to restore it. Yukari had accepted. A perfectly innocent arrangement. Unfortunately, Brenda had failed to account for one particular variable. Yukari was an incorrigible flirt. And she had apparently decided that watching Brenda work was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate this talent. "Your hands are fascinating." Brenda looked up from the workbench. "My hands?" "Yes." "Why?" Yukari leaned forward, examining the delicate mechanism between Brenda's fingers. "Such precision. Such confidence. You seem to know exactly what every movement should accomplish." Brenda grinned. "Well, sweetheart, I've had plenty of practice." "I can tell." "Flattery won't make this thing repair itself." "Oh, I'm not trying to hurry you." Yukari's smile became warmer. "I'm enjoying watching." Brenda glanced at her. The kitsune sat on the stool beside the workbench, one leg crossed over the other, her dark hair falling loosely around her shoulders. She looked completely at ease. Interested. Attentive. And rather distractingly beautiful. Brenda returned to the mechanism. "You're enjoying this far too much." "Am I?" "Yep." "How unfortunate." "Tragic." Yukari tilted her head. "Would you prefer that I stop?" Brenda looked directly at her. "Absolutely fucking not." Yukari laughed. And Brenda realized, not for the first time that day, that she was in trouble. ### The Engineer and the Fox The music box had belonged to Yukari for a very long time. It was not particularly valuable. Brenda had determined that much almost immediately. The wooden casing was attractive but unremarkable. The metal components had clearly been made by a competent craftsperson rather than a celebrated master. There were no exotic materials, hidden technologies, or supernatural surprises. At least, none Brenda had found. "So why keep it?" she asked. Yukari smiled. "Because someone gave it to me." "Someone important?" "Very." Brenda nodded and continued working. After a moment, Yukari added, "She was a dreadful musician." Brenda stopped. Looked up. "What?" "The woman who gave it to me. Absolutely dreadful." Brenda stared at her. Yukari's smile widened. "Couldn't carry a tune to save her life. She knew it, too, which never discouraged her from singing." Brenda began laughing. "Christ." "She bought this because she said it would allow me to hear at least one song without having to endure her singing." "Oh, that's fucking brilliant." "She was a very funny woman." Brenda examined the mechanism again. "You loved her?" Yukari considered. "Yes. Very much." Brenda looked toward her. There was no grief in the kitsune's expression. Only affection. A memory cherished rather than endured. "She sounds like someone I would've liked." "Oh, you would have adored her. She was almost as argumentative as you." "Almost?" "Darling, I wouldn't wish to insult you by suggesting she could match your talents." Brenda burst out laughing. "You're unbelievable." "So I've been told." The engineer returned to her work. For several minutes, the only sounds were the quiet movements of tiny tools and the distant hum of the safehouse. Then Brenda spoke. "You know something?" "Yes?" "I like that." "What?" "That you kept this." Yukari studied her. Brenda continued. "Not because it's valuable. Not because it's ancient. Just because somebody you loved gave it to you." She glanced at the music box. "That's a pretty damn good reason." Yukari's expression softened. "Thank you, Brenda." "Don't thank me yet. I haven't fixed the fucking thing." "Oh, darling." Yukari leaned a little closer. "I wasn't thanking you for the repair." Brenda looked up. Their eyes met. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Brenda smiled. A rather different smile this time. "You're something else, Yukari." The kitsune answered quietly. "So are you." ### An Interested Audience Ace had arrived some time earlier. She was sitting in a comfortable chair by the window, supposedly reading a technical manual. In reality, she had not turned a page in nearly ten minutes. The entertainment in front of her was considerably better. Brenda had always been magnificently confident. She could argue with a corporate engineering board, dismantle an expensive piece of hardware while insulting its designers, and flirt outrageously with practically anyone she found attractive. Ace loved that about her. She also knew something that most people didn't. Beneath the irreverence and formidable technical intelligence, Brenda could be remarkably tender. Especially when she wasn't trying to prove anything. Yukari seemed to have noticed that too. And Ace was enjoying the discovery enormously. Brenda finally looked toward the window. "Ace." Ace raised her eyes innocently. "Yeah?" "Are you actually reading that?" "Absolutely." "Which page?" Ace glanced down. There was a pause. "An excellent one." Brenda narrowed her eyes. "You're watching us." Ace grinned. "Yep." "Why?" "Because you're entertaining." "Fuck off." "Love you too." Yukari looked between them. Then smiled at Ace. "Would you like me to stop distracting Brenda?" Ace considered that. "God, no." Brenda put down her screwdriver. "Both of you can fuck right off." Yukari laughed. "Oh, sweetheart. You're positively adorable when you're exasperated." Ace stared at her. Then slowly lowered the manual. Brenda turned back toward Yukari. "Adorable?" "Very." "Me?" "Is there another Brenda in the room?" Ace made a strangled noise. Brenda stared. And then, very slowly, a dangerous smile appeared. "All right, sweetheart." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "You've been doing this all day." "Doing what?" "Flirting with me." Yukari considered the accusation. Then nodded. "Yes." Brenda blinked. Ace's grin widened. "And you don't even intend to deny it?" "Why would I?" Brenda leaned back against the workbench. "Most people at least pretend to be innocent." "How terribly inefficient." Ace began laughing. Brenda shook her head. "Jesus Christ." Yukari regarded her with obvious delight. "Would you prefer a more complicated approach?" "No." "Good." The kitsune smiled. "I find you attractive, Brenda. I enjoy your company. Your intelligence fascinates me, and your sense of humor is absolutely delightful." Brenda opened her mouth. Yukari lifted one finger. "And I rather like the way you look at me when you think I haven't noticed." Ace's manual slipped onto the floor. "Oh, FUCK!" Brenda turned sharply. "ACE!" Ace was laughing too hard to answer. ### A Different Kind of Challenge Brenda eventually recovered enough to continue working. Yukari, mercifully, allowed her several minutes of uninterrupted concentration. Then the music box gave a faint click. Brenda turned its small key. A melody filled the room. Soft. Delicate. A little uncertain at first. Then clear and beautiful. Yukari became perfectly still. Brenda watched her. "That right?" Yukari closed her eyes. For a moment, she listened. Then she smiled. "Oh, Brenda." The engineer's expression softened. "Good?" "Perfect." Brenda looked pleased. "Excellent." She set the box on the workbench and allowed the melody to play. Yukari listened until the final note faded. Then she reached across the bench and rested her hand over Brenda's. "Thank you." Brenda smiled. "You're welcome." Yukari looked down at their hands. Then back at her. "I think I understand something about you." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "That should be interesting." "You like solving problems." "Obviously." "But you particularly enjoy solving them for people you love." Brenda's expression changed. Only slightly. Ace noticed. So did Yukari. "Well," Brenda said, "yeah. I suppose." Yukari smiled. "That's rather beautiful." Brenda looked at her. And this time, she didn't have a clever answer ready. Yukari's smile grew warmer. "Oh, darling." "Don't." "Don't what?" "Look so fucking pleased with yourself." Yukari laughed softly. "But I am pleased." "Yeah, I've noticed." "Because I think I've found something even more attractive than your confidence." Brenda stared at her. "What's that?" "Your kindness." The engineer fell silent. Ace watched from her chair. She knew Brenda well enough to recognize the moment. Not embarrassment. Not discomfort. Something much rarer. Brenda had been caught off guard by a compliment she couldn't simply turn into a joke. For several seconds, she looked at Yukari without speaking. Then she laughed softly. "Fuck me." Yukari tilted her head. Her smile became positively wicked. "Darling, I was trying to be romantic." Ace made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a dying engine. Brenda stared. Then she threw back her head and laughed. "OH, YOU ABSOLUTE MENACE!" Yukari joined her. And Ace abandoned all pretense of reading. ### Brenda's Counterattack "All right." Brenda stood. Set down her tools. Folded her arms. Yukari watched with obvious interest. "All right?" Brenda smiled. "Let's see how you like being on the receiving end." Yukari's eyebrows rose. "Oh?" "Oh, yes." Brenda stepped closer. "You've got this extraordinarily unfair advantage, sweetheart." "Have I?" "Yep." "Do tell." "You're beautiful. You know you're beautiful. And you've apparently spent a ridiculous amount of time learning exactly how to make people notice." Yukari laughed. "I confess I may have acquired a little experience." "A little?" "One mustn't boast." Brenda shook her head. "Fucking impossible." Then she reached out and gently took Yukari's hand. "But here's what I find interesting." Yukari's smile softened. "Yes?" "You could probably walk into any room in Night City and have half the people in it falling over themselves to impress you." "An exaggeration, surely." "Not much of one." Brenda brushed her thumb lightly across Yukari's knuckles. "But here, you don't seem interested in impressing anyone." Yukari looked at her. Brenda continued. "You ask questions. You listen. You remember the answers. You laugh when something's funny, and you don't pretend not to care when someone does something kind." A pause. "And when you smile at someone, you actually mean it." Yukari's expression grew unexpectedly tender. "Oh, Brenda." The engineer grinned. "Got you." Yukari laughed softly. "Rather thoroughly." "Good." Brenda moved a little closer. "And there's something else." "Yes?" "I like that you're not afraid of me." Yukari blinked. "Should I be?" "No. But plenty of people find me a bit much." "How unfortunate for them." Brenda laughed. "That's one way to put it." Yukari regarded her for a moment. Then she smiled. "Brenda, darling, I have met creatures whose very presence could make grown warriors abandon their weapons." "Yeah?" "Yes." "And?" Yukari raised Brenda's hand and kissed her fingers. "You are considerably more interesting." Brenda closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." From the window, Ace whispered: "She's good." Brenda opened one eye. "ACE." Ace grinned. "Sorry. Just appreciating the craftsmanship." ### No Audience Required Eventually, the laughter subsided. Ace retrieved her manual and returned to pretending she understood whatever was printed on the page. Brenda sat beside Yukari on the small sofa near the workbench. The music box rested between them. Neither seemed particularly interested in it anymore. Yukari looked at Brenda thoughtfully. "May I ask something?" "Sure." "Does Iris mind?" Brenda regarded her. "Mind what?" "That I've been flirting with you." Brenda smiled. "No." "You're certain?" "Completely." Yukari nodded. "Good." Brenda leaned back. "Iris knows me. I know her. We don't make decisions for each other, but we don't hide things either." Her expression softened. "And I love that woman more than I can fucking explain." Yukari smiled. "It shows." "Yeah?" "Every time you look at her." Brenda laughed quietly. "Christ. Nothing gets past you, does it?" "Very little." "Well, Iris has her own relationships, and so do I. That's never been a problem between us." Yukari considered this. "Such confidence in each other." "Trust, sweetheart." Brenda smiled. "And a hell of a lot of practice." Yukari laughed. "An excellent combination." Then she grew thoughtful. "There's something I should tell you as well." Brenda turned toward her. "Go ahead." "I don't want to disturb anything between you and Iris." "You won't." "Or between you and anyone else." Brenda studied her. Then reached over and brushed a strand of dark hair away from Yukari's face. "Sweetheart." "Yes?" "You're allowed to be interested in me." Yukari smiled. "I certainly am." "And I'm allowed to be interested in you." "How fortunate." Brenda's smile widened. "And neither of us has to turn that into some grand fucking complication." Yukari considered. Then nodded. "That is an arrangement I could become very fond of." "Good." For a moment, they simply looked at each other. Then Brenda laughed. "What?" Yukari's smile became innocent. "Nothing." "That's bullshit." "Terribly." Brenda leaned a little closer. "You know, I haven't actually decided whether you're flirting because you enjoy the game or because you really want to kiss me." Yukari's expression changed. The playful smile remained, but something warmer appeared behind it. "Must those be mutually exclusive?" Brenda blinked. Then smiled. "No." "Good." Yukari reached for her hand. "Because I enjoy the game enormously." Brenda waited. "And?" Yukari leaned closer. "And I would very much like to kiss you." The engineer's grin softened into something almost tender. "Well, sweetheart." She gently brushed Yukari's cheek. "I think we can arrange that." ### Front Row Ace had seen the entire exchange. She had also noticed that neither woman was paying the slightest attention to her anymore. Which was rather wonderful. Brenda had started the afternoon determined to be the one doing the teasing. Yukari had apparently decided that flirting was a perfectly respectable form of conversation. And somewhere between the jokes, the music box, and the compliments, the two women had discovered they genuinely liked each other. Ace smiled. There was nothing complicated about the happiness she felt watching them. Brenda was someone she loved. Yukari was someone she loved. And seeing those two women find their own affection for each other made the world feel a little brighter. She quietly collected her manual. Considered leaving them alone. Then heard a familiar voice behind her. "Ace?" She turned. Iris stood in the doorway. "Hey, beautiful." Iris smiled. "Have you seen Brenda? Marco said she was—" She stopped. Her eyes moved past Ace. Toward the sofa. Where Brenda had just slipped an arm around Yukari's waist. Yukari's fingers rested lightly against Brenda's cheek. For one brief moment, the two women exchanged a smile. Then Brenda leaned forward. And kissed her. Yukari answered immediately, drawing her closer. It wasn't a teasing peck. Nor was it an attempt to prove who could make the other blush. It was a warm, lingering kiss between two women who had spent the afternoon discovering that their attraction was rather more than a joke. Ace watched with a delighted smile. Then she glanced toward Iris. And froze. Oh. She knew that expression. She knew it very well. The slight narrowing of Iris's eyes. The slow, unmistakably pleased smile. The way her attention shifted from Brenda and Yukari to Ace herself. Ace had seen that look at Specialist Camp. She had seen it on their recent date. And on several other occasions when Iris had decided that watching people she loved enjoying themselves was an excellent reason to seek a little enjoyment of her own. Ace's grin widened. "Oh, shit." Iris turned toward her. "Something wrong, sweetheart?" "Not a fucking thing." Iris glanced once more toward her wife and Yukari. Then back at Ace. And smiled. A very particular smile. One that promised trouble. The most delightful kind. "Good," Iris said quietly. She stepped into the room. And Ace, who had intended to spend the afternoon enjoying someone else's flirtation, suddenly realized that her front-row seat might be about to become considerably more interesting. --- ## Chapter 07 — That Look *Watson, Night City.* *Late afternoon, continuing.* Ace knew that look. She knew it very well. It was not something Iris did particularly often, which made its appearance all the more significant. The slight narrowing of her eyes. The almost imperceptible lift at one corner of her mouth. The calm, deliberate way she regarded someone she found particularly attractive, as though she had already made a decision and was merely allowing the rest of the world a moment to catch up. Ace had first learned to recognize that expression at Specialist Camp. Back then, it had generally meant that Iris had reached the limit of her patience with an especially demanding day and had decided that Ace represented a far more agreeable way of spending the evening. More recently, during their wonderful evening together, Ace had been reminded just how devastating that particular expression could be. And now— Oh, yes. There it was again. Iris stood in the doorway of Brenda's workshop, watching her wife kiss an ancient kitsune. Then she turned toward Ace. And smiled. "Something wrong, sweetheart?" Ace grinned. "Not a fucking thing." "Good." Iris stepped closer. --- Across the room, Brenda was still thoroughly occupied with Yukari. The kiss had begun playfully, but neither woman appeared particularly interested in ending it. Brenda's arm rested around Yukari's waist, and the kitsune had one hand against Brenda's cheek. Ace glanced at them. Then back at Iris. "Enjoying the show?" "Immensely." "Thought you might." Iris regarded her thoughtfully. "You know, Ace..." "Yeah?" "I've been watching those two flirt with each other for most of the day." "Same." "Brenda has been having an absolutely wonderful time." "Oh, she's having a fucking blast." "And Yukari?" Ace looked toward the sofa. Yukari had drawn back just far enough to whisper something that made Brenda laugh against her lips. Ace chuckled. "Pretty sure she's enjoying herself too." "Quite." Iris stepped closer. Then she glanced once more toward her wife. A slow smile appeared. "And I've decided something." Ace raised an eyebrow. "What's that, beautiful?" Iris stopped directly in front of her. "I see absolutely no reason why Brenda should have all the fun." Ace's grin became positively magnificent. "Oh, fuck." Iris reached for her. "Come here." Ace needed no further encouragement. Iris took her face gently between her hands. And kissed her. Not a quick kiss. Not the casual greeting they might have exchanged while passing each other in the safehouse. A long, warm, thoroughly deliberate kiss. Ace's arms settled around Iris's waist, and she drew the taller woman closer. Iris answered with unmistakable affection. And for several wonderful moments, the rest of the workshop ceased to be particularly interesting. Ace had always loved kissing Iris. There was something about the contrast between her everyday composure and the wonderfully passionate woman beneath it that still delighted her. Iris could discuss corporate administration with perfect professionalism, calmly manage Brenda's latest technological disaster, and settle a complicated disagreement with a single raised eyebrow. But when she decided she wanted to kiss someone— Well. She did not believe in half measures. Ace certainly wasn't complaining. When Iris finally drew back, she remained close enough that their foreheads almost touched. Ace looked up at her. "Jesus Christ, Iris." Iris smiled. "Yes, darling?" "Have I told you lately how much I fucking love you?" "Frequently." "Good." Ace kissed her again. A little shorter this time. But no less enthusiastic. When they separated, Iris was smiling with unmistakable satisfaction. "Much better." Ace laughed. "Better than what?" "Standing around watching Brenda enjoy herself." "Oh, I dunno. I was having a pretty good time doing that." "I noticed." Iris brushed her thumb affectionately across Ace's cheek. "But I thought you might appreciate a change of entertainment." Ace grinned. "Darling, you're my favorite kind of entertainment." "Flatterer." "Guilty." And Iris kissed her once more. ### A Very Satisfied Audience "Well, FUCK." Brenda's voice carried across the workshop. Iris did not immediately release Ace. Instead, she turned her head slightly. "Yes, darling?" Brenda was staring at them. Yukari stood beside her, one arm still comfortably around Brenda's waist. Both women looked thoroughly delighted. Brenda pointed at Iris. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Iris considered the question. "Kissing Ace." "I can fucking see that!" "Then I'm not sure what the problem is." Ace burst out laughing. Yukari covered her mouth. Brenda shook her head. "Unbelievable." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Is something troubling you, sweetheart?" Brenda stared. Then her expression changed. A broad grin spread across her face. "Oh, I see." "Do you?" "Oh, yes." Brenda looked at Ace. "Enjoying yourself, darling?" Ace nodded enthusiastically. "Fucking enormously." "Excellent." Brenda turned toward Iris. "Well, don't let me interrupt." "How considerate." "I'm known for it." Yukari finally lost the struggle to maintain her composure. She began laughing. "Oh, you wonderful women!" Brenda glanced toward her. "What?" Yukari shook her head. "Nothing, darling. Absolutely nothing." "That sounds suspicious." "Terribly." The kitsune looked toward Ace and Iris. Then her smile softened. "How beautiful." Iris regarded her. "What is?" Yukari gestured gently toward the two women. "Watching you enjoy each other's affection so openly." Ace grinned. "Sweetheart, you've been kissing Brenda for the past several minutes." "Yes." "And?" Yukari smiled. "And that has been rather wonderful too." Brenda laughed. "Rather wonderful?" Yukari turned toward her. "Would you prefer a stronger assessment?" "Absolutely." Yukari considered. Then she slipped an arm around Brenda's neck. "Darling, I believe you're an extraordinarily good kisser." Brenda's grin widened. "That's more like it." "And I would be delighted to repeat the experience." "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda leaned closer. "That can definitely be arranged." From across the room, Ace sighed theatrically. "Here we fucking go again." Iris looked down at her. "Complaining?" "God, no." "Good." Ace glanced toward Brenda and Yukari, then back at Iris. "Although I'm beginning to think this workshop needs more seating." Iris considered. "Perhaps." "And refreshments." "Naturally." "Maybe a reservation system." Brenda threw her head back. "ACE!" "What?" "You're a fucking menace!" Ace spread her hands. "Darling, I learned from the best." Brenda looked suspiciously pleased. ### An Ancient Fox Learns Something New Yukari had seen countless expressions of love during her long existence. She had known people whose devotion was quiet and private. Others who made grand declarations beneath moonlit skies. She had seen jealousy destroy relationships that might otherwise have survived every hardship life could place before them. And she had known lovers who understood that affection was not a possession to be guarded. Yet there was something particularly delightful about the scene unfolding before her. Brenda, whose confidence and irreverence had fascinated Yukari almost from their first proper conversation, was smiling at the sight of her wife holding another woman. Iris, entirely comfortable in Ace's arms, looked back at Brenda with unmistakable affection. And Ace— *Oh, Ace.* The petite swordswoman was enjoying herself so openly that Yukari could almost hear her happiness. Nothing needed to be hidden. Nobody was pretending indifference. There was no silent competition. Just four women who loved, or were beginning to love, one another in wonderfully different ways. Yukari smiled. Brenda noticed. "Something on your mind?" "Several things, darling." "Such as?" Yukari considered. Then she looked toward Iris. "I believe I owe your wife a compliment." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Indeed." Yukari stepped a little closer. "You have an extraordinarily beautiful way of looking at Ace." For a moment, Iris seemed surprised. Then she smiled. "Do I?" "Very much so." Ace looked between them. "Oh, she's good." Brenda nodded. "Fucking dangerous." Yukari continued. "I don't believe I've ever seen anyone look quite so pleased with a decision already made." Iris laughed. "Oh, that's an interesting observation." Yukari inclined her head. "Years of practice." Ace began grinning. "Careful, Yukari." The kitsune turned. "Yes, sweetheart?" "That look of hers?" "What about it?" Ace gestured toward Iris. "That's the one that gets me into trouble." Iris looked offended. "Really, Ace." "Darling, you know exactly what I'm talking about." "Do I?" "Specialist Camp?" Iris's smile widened. Ace pointed at her triumphantly. "SEE?" Brenda burst out laughing. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Yukari looked delighted. "Specialist Camp?" Ace glanced at Iris. Iris looked back at her. Both smiled. "A long story," Iris said. "A fucking excellent story," Ace corrected. Yukari's curiosity visibly intensified. "Oh, my." Brenda leaned closer to her. "Sweetheart, trust me. Those two have stories." "So I gather." "Some of them are even suitable for polite company." Ace stared at her. "Brenda." "What?" "Since when have you cared about polite company?" Brenda considered. Then laughed. "Fair point." Yukari looked from one woman to another. And slowly, a thought occurred to her. "May I ask something?" Iris nodded. "Of course." Yukari regarded her thoughtfully. "Would you have kissed Ace if Brenda and I hadn't been kissing?" Iris smiled. "Certainly." Yukari tilted her head. "Then why did you choose that particular moment?" Iris glanced toward her wife. Then toward Ace. And smiled. "Because watching two beautiful women enjoying each other's company reminded me that I had a beautiful woman standing right beside me." Ace's expression softened immediately. "Oh, Iris." Iris touched her cheek. "And I wanted to kiss her." There was nothing complicated about the answer. Nothing defensive. Nothing uncertain. Yukari considered it for a moment. Then she smiled. "How perfectly lovely." Brenda slipped an arm around her waist again. "See? Told you my wife was dangerous." Yukari looked at her. "Oh, darling." "Yeah?" "I am beginning to understand." ### Brenda Refuses to Surrender The music box had stopped playing. Brenda noticed this when the room fell briefly quiet. She glanced toward the workbench. Then toward Yukari. "Well, sweetheart." "Yes?" "Now that you've thoroughly distracted me from my work..." Yukari looked innocent. "Have I?" "Spectacularly." "How unfortunate." Brenda laughed. "You know exactly what you're doing." "Usually." "Usually?" Yukari considered. "Sometimes I surprise myself." Ace snorted. Iris smiled. Brenda crossed her arms. "All right. One question." "Anything, darling." "How many people have you flirted into complete incoherence over the years?" Yukari blinked. Then laughed. "Oh, heavens." Ace leaned forward. "Oh, this I want to hear." Yukari regarded Brenda. "Would you really like me to count?" Silence. Then Iris began laughing. Ace stared at Yukari. Brenda slowly closed her eyes. "Fuck me." Yukari tilted her head. "Darling, that expression again?" Ace nearly fell out of her chair. "OH, FUCK!" Brenda opened her eyes. Pointed at Yukari. "You!" The kitsune smiled sweetly. "Me?" "You're doing that on purpose!" "Only a little." Iris laughed so hard she had to lean against the workbench. Brenda shook her head. "Jesus Christ. I finally meet someone who can give me a run for my fucking money, and she turns out to be older than civilization." Yukari raised one finger. "Several civilizations, darling." Ace made a strangled noise. Brenda stared at her. Then the engineer burst out laughing. "Oh, I fucking adore you!" Yukari's expression changed. Just slightly. The mischievous smile remained, but something warmer appeared beneath it. "Do you?" Brenda blinked. Then smiled. "Yeah, sweetheart." A pause. "I think I do." Yukari regarded her. Then reached for her hand. "How fortunate." Brenda squeezed her fingers. "Very." For a moment, the jokes fell away. Yukari looked into Brenda's eyes. And Brenda returned the look without hesitation. The attraction between them had begun as a game. It was becoming something altogether more interesting. Iris noticed. Of course she did. So did Ace. Neither interrupted. Eventually, Yukari leaned forward and kissed Brenda's cheek. "Thank you for the music box, darling." Brenda smiled. "You're welcome." "And for the kiss." Brenda's smile widened. "That one was my pleasure." Yukari considered. Then answered softly. "Ours, I think." Brenda laughed. "Fucking hell, Yukari." "What?" "You're going to be trouble." The kitsune smiled. "Darling, I believe that has already been established." ### The Other Half of the Marriage Iris had been watching her wife with obvious affection. Yukari noticed. And because Yukari was a kitsune, and therefore constitutionally incapable of leaving a delightful possibility unexplored, she decided to investigate. "Iris?" The taller woman turned. "Yes, Yukari?" "May I ask you something personal?" Iris smiled. "Certainly." Yukari hesitated. Only briefly. "I hope my interest in Brenda doesn't make you uncomfortable." Iris regarded her thoughtfully. Then she shook her head. "No." Yukari nodded. "Good." "But may I ask you something in return?" "Of course." Iris smiled. "Why would you assume it might?" Yukari considered her answer. "Because I've known marriages where an affectionate glance toward someone else was enough to begin a terrible argument." Iris nodded. "I imagine you have." "And others where the partners were entirely comfortable loving more than one person." "Much closer to us." Yukari smiled. "So I'm discovering." Iris glanced toward Brenda. Her expression softened. "Brenda and I have never believed that loving someone else means loving each other less." Brenda approached. "Pretty much." Iris reached for her wife's hand. "And we don't need to pretend we're not interested in other people." Brenda grinned. "Fuck, no." Iris looked at her. "Darling." "What?" "Language." Brenda stared. Ace started laughing. Iris's smile widened. "Just checking whether you were paying attention." Brenda shook her head. "You're impossible." "Frequently." Yukari watched them with delight. Then Iris turned back toward her. "Yukari?" "Yes, darling?" "You've been very open about finding Brenda attractive." Yukari smiled. "I have." "And rather direct about it." "Apparently." Iris took a small step closer. "May I be equally direct?" Yukari's eyes brightened. "Oh, please." Iris regarded her. Calmly. Thoughtfully. Then she smiled. "I find you attractive too." For the first time that afternoon, Yukari appeared genuinely surprised. She blinked. Once. Then her smile softened. "Oh." Ace's eyes widened. Brenda slowly turned toward Iris. And Iris— Iris looked enormously pleased with herself. "Something wrong, Yukari?" The kitsune laughed softly. "Not remotely, darling." "Good." "I confess you surprised me." "So I've noticed." Brenda burst out laughing. "OH, FUCK!" Ace doubled over. "IRIS!" Iris raised an eyebrow. "Yes, sweetheart?" Ace shook her head, laughing. "That was fucking beautiful!" Iris smiled. "Thank you." Yukari looked at Iris with renewed fascination. Then she began laughing too. "Oh, you magnificent woman." Iris inclined her head. "You're very kind." Yukari regarded her for another moment. And then, slowly, her familiar mischievous smile returned. "Well." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "How delightful to discover that both women in this marriage possess such excellent taste." Brenda stared. Ace made a noise that sounded like a small mechanical failure. Iris closed her eyes. Then laughed. "Jesus Christ, Yukari." The kitsune looked innocent. "Have I said something inappropriate?" Brenda shook her head. "Oh, sweetheart." She slipped an arm around Yukari. "You're going to fit into this family so fucking well." ### No One Gets Left Out The workshop door opened. Mai appeared. She took in the scene. Ace was leaning against Iris. Brenda had an arm around Yukari. Everyone was smiling. And the music box was sitting on the workbench, apparently forgotten. Mai paused. "Well." Ace turned. "Hey, love!" Mai raised an eyebrow. "Should I ask?" Brenda grinned. "Probably not." Yukari smiled warmly. "Hello, darling Mai." Mai looked toward her. Then Brenda. Then Iris. Finally Ace. "Oh, I see." Ace started laughing. "Do you?" "Unfortunately." Mai approached and kissed Ace. "Having fun?" "Fucking enormously." "Good." She turned toward Iris. "Hello, beautiful." Iris returned her greeting with an affectionate kiss on the cheek. Then Mai looked at Brenda. "Music box repaired?" Brenda gestured toward the workbench. "Perfectly." "Excellent." Mai regarded the four women again. "And apparently the repair involved quite a lot of kissing." Ace grinned. "Advanced engineering." Brenda pointed at her. "Don't you fucking start." Yukari laughed. "Oh, darling, I believe the technical term is interpersonal calibration." Brenda stared. Then slowly turned toward her. "Interpersonal calibration?" "Yes." Ace collapsed into laughter. Mai covered her mouth. Iris shook her head. And Brenda— Brenda looked at Yukari with an expression of utter delight. "Oh, sweetheart." She reached for Yukari's hand. "I think I may have found my favorite research partner." Yukari smiled. "How flattering." Mai laughed. "Should we be concerned?" Ace shook her head. "Nope." Then she considered. "Actually, maybe." Iris smiled. "Why?" Ace looked around at the women. At Brenda. At Yukari. At Iris. At Mai. And grinned. "Because we haven't even gotten to the fucking interesting part yet." Yukari tilted her head. "Darling?" Ace turned. "Yeah?" "What, precisely, do you consider the interesting part?" Ace opened her mouth. Then paused. For once, she seemed to be considering her answer carefully. Finally, she smiled. "Whatever you all decide to do next." Yukari's expression softened. She looked at Ace. Then at Brenda. Then Iris. And finally Mai. "Oh, sweetheart." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" "That may be the most sensible thing you've said all afternoon." Mai began laughing. Brenda grinned. Iris kissed Ace's cheek. And Ace looked positively offended. "HEY!" ### A Private Moment Later, when everyone had finally stopped laughing long enough to return to ordinary household activities, Iris found Ace alone in the common room. The petite swordswoman was examining a message on her agent. Iris approached quietly. "Busy?" Ace looked up. "Never too busy for you, beautiful." Iris smiled and sat beside her. For a while, neither spoke. Then Iris reached for Ace's hand. "Thank you." Ace blinked. "For what?" Iris considered. "For being you." Ace grinned. "That's a pretty fucking broad category." "Indeed." Iris leaned closer. "And for never making me feel that I have to choose between loving you and loving Brenda." Ace's expression softened. "Oh, Iris." "I know we've talked about it." "Yeah." "But watching you today..." Iris smiled. "You were so genuinely happy for her." Ace nodded. "Of course." "Even when she was kissing Yukari." Ace laughed. "Especially then." Iris regarded her. "Why?" Ace considered. Then shrugged. "Because Brenda looked happy." A pause. "And Yukari looked happy." She smiled. "And you looked happy." Iris squeezed her hand. "That's all?" Ace grinned. "Pretty much." Iris studied her. Then shook her head, smiling. "You extraordinary woman." Ace laughed. "Darling, you're one to talk." Iris leaned closer. "May I tell you something else?" "Anything." Iris's expression changed. Only slightly. But Ace recognized it immediately. That look. Again. "Oh, fuck." Iris smiled. "You know, sweetheart..." "Yeah?" "I rather enjoyed kissing you earlier." Ace's grin widened. "Did you?" "Very much." "Good." "And I've been thinking." Ace raised an eyebrow. "That sounds dangerous." Iris laughed. "Possibly." Then she brushed Ace's cheek. "Would you mind terribly if I did it again?" Ace's answering smile was radiant. "Darling." She reached for Iris. "I'd be fucking disappointed if you didn't." Iris kissed her. Long. Warm. Entirely unhurried. Ace drew her close, and for a while they simply enjoyed the familiarity of each other's embrace. When they finally separated, Iris rested her forehead against Ace's. "Thank you, sweetheart." Ace smiled. "Anytime." A pause. Then the little swordswoman grinned. "Although I gotta ask." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "That look of yours." "What about it?" "Do you practice it in the mirror?" Iris stared. Then she burst out laughing. "ACE!" "What?" "You impossible woman!" Ace laughed. "Just asking!" Iris shook her head. Then kissed her again. And Ace decided that perhaps some questions were better left unanswered. ### Across the Hall Brenda found Yukari standing beside the repaired music box. The kitsune had wound it again. The delicate melody filled the small room. Brenda approached. "Hey, gorgeous." Yukari turned. "Hello, darling." "Still enjoying it?" "Very much." "Good." Brenda stood beside her. For a while, they listened. Then Yukari spoke. "Brenda?" "Yeah?" "May I tell you something?" "Always." Yukari regarded her thoughtfully. "I didn't expect today." Brenda laughed. "Neither did I." "I thought I might enjoy flirting with you." "Oh, you definitely enjoyed that." Yukari smiled. "Immensely." Brenda grinned. "And?" Yukari looked toward the music box. "Then you repaired something very precious to me." Brenda's smile softened. "Glad I could." "And I discovered that beneath your wonderfully outrageous confidence, there's a woman of remarkable kindness." Brenda looked at her. "Yukari..." The kitsune reached for her hand. "And then you kissed me." Brenda smiled. "Yeah." Yukari turned toward her. "I enjoyed that even more than I expected." Brenda's grin returned. "Well, sweetheart." She stepped closer. "That's a problem we can solve." Yukari laughed softly. "Can we?" "Absolutely." "How?" Brenda slipped an arm around her waist. "Practice." Yukari's smile became positively wicked. "Oh, darling." She leaned closer. "I do believe I'm going to enjoy studying with you." Brenda burst out laughing. Then kissed her. And the music box continued playing. ### The Fox's Conclusion Much later, Yukari stood on the balcony. The city lights were beginning to emerge beneath the evening sky. She held a cup of tea. Behind her, the safehouse was alive with familiar sounds. Ace laughing. Mai telling someone to stop interfering with something that worked perfectly well. Brenda protesting her innocence. Iris responding with a remark so dry that it took several seconds for everyone else to begin laughing. And Shammy— Shammy's warm laughter rose above the rest. Yukari smiled. She had expected to enjoy her new family. She had not expected quite so much delight. Nor had she expected that a single afternoon might leave her with so many wonderful new possibilities. Brenda. Iris. Ace. Mai. Shammy. Each relationship different. Each affection freely offered. Each new discovery entirely her own. She sipped her tea. Then laughed softly. Oh, my. For a very long time, Yukari had believed that wisdom meant learning when to leave. More recently, she had discovered that wisdom could also mean knowing when to stay. And now— Now she was beginning to suspect that wisdom sometimes meant recognizing when someone beautiful wanted to kiss you. And having the good sense to kiss her back. Behind her, the balcony door opened. Shammy stepped outside. "There you are." Yukari turned. "Hello, darling." Shammy approached. "Enjoying the evening?" "Very much." "Good." She slipped an arm around Yukari. For a while, they watched the city together. Then Shammy spoke. "You look very pleased with yourself." Yukari smiled. "Do I?" "Terribly." The kitsune laughed. "Oh, Shammy." "Something wonderful happen today?" Yukari considered. Then she looked toward the safehouse. Where Brenda had just started another argument with Ace. And Iris was laughing. And Mai was apparently attempting to restore order. Yukari's smile widened. "Several wonderful things, darling." Shammy laughed softly. "I thought so." Yukari leaned against her. Then she sighed contentedly. "Oh, heavens." Shammy looked at her. "What?" Yukari smiled. "I believe I may have a problem." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Yes." "What kind?" The kitsune considered. Then looked toward the lights of Night City. "I seem to be falling in love with far too many wonderful women." Shammy was silent for a moment. Then she began laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." Yukari turned. "Yes?" Shammy kissed her cheek. "Welcome to the family." Yukari laughed. And somewhere inside the safehouse, Ace shouted something that made Brenda swear and Iris laugh even harder. Shammy shook her head affectionately. Yukari listened. Then smiled. Oh, yes. She was definitely home. And judging by the events of the afternoon, her life was about to become considerably more interesting. --- ## Chapter 08 — Two Invitations *Watson, Night City.* *The following afternoon.* There was a particular sort of silence that Yukari had learned to appreciate. Not the silence of an abandoned temple. Not the hush of snowfall over an empty mountain. Not even the profound stillness of a place where human footsteps had not been heard for generations. No. This was the silence of the Watson safehouse when Ace, Mai, and Shammy had gone out together, Marco was occupied elsewhere, and Brenda had finally stopped arguing with the household equipment. It was a rare and precious phenomenon. And Yukari intended to enjoy it. She sat in the common room with a cup of tea and an old book resting open across her knees. The book was interesting. The tea was excellent. The afternoon sunlight was lovely. Unfortunately, none of those things had managed to hold her attention for more than a few minutes. She had been thinking about Brenda. And Iris. Again. Oh, this is becoming ridiculous. She turned a page. Realized she hadn't read the previous one. Turned it back. Then laughed at herself. "Something amusing?" Yukari looked up. Iris stood in the doorway, carrying a cup of coffee and her agent. "Oh! Hello, darling." "Hello, Yukari." Iris glanced at the book. "Good read?" "Very." "What's it about?" Yukari looked down. There was a pause. Then she began laughing. "I haven't the faintest idea." Iris raised an eyebrow. "That good?" "Apparently my concentration has abandoned me." "How unfortunate." "Terribly." Iris crossed the room and settled into the armchair opposite her. For a while, neither spoke. Yukari returned to her book. Iris reviewed something on her agent. And the silence was comfortable. It was one of the things Yukari had begun to love about Iris. The woman didn't seem to believe that sharing a room required constant conversation. She could simply enjoy another person's presence. Yukari appreciated that enormously. Eventually, Iris looked up. "You've turned that same page three times." Yukari froze. Then slowly lowered the book. "Have I?" "Yes." "Oh, dear." Iris smiled. "Want to tell me what's distracting you?" Yukari considered. She could have answered with some delightfully outrageous remark. She had several ready. But Iris was looking at her with genuine interest. And somehow, with this particular woman, Yukari found herself wanting to be a little more deliberate. "Actually," she said, "I was thinking about you." Iris paused. Then smiled. "How flattering." "Very much so, I hope." "Should I be concerned?" "Only if you dislike being admired." Iris laughed softly. "Not particularly." "Good." Yukari closed her book. Then she set it aside. "Iris, may I ask you something?" "Of course." "Would you have dinner with me?" Iris blinked. Then her expression became thoughtful. "Dinner?" "Yes." "Here?" Yukari shook her head. "No, darling. Somewhere nice." Iris regarded her. Yukari continued. "Perhaps a quiet restaurant. Somewhere we can talk without Ace attempting to turn the cutlery into weapons, Brenda dismantling something, or Marco informing everyone that the meal will be ready when he says it's ready." Iris started laughing. "An ambitious plan." "Isn't it?" "And who would be attending this dinner?" Yukari met her eyes. "Just you and me." For a moment, Iris said nothing. Then she smiled. A warm, interested smile. "Yukari." "Yes, darling?" "Are you asking me on a date?" The kitsune drew herself up with magnificent dignity. "I believe that was my intention." Iris's smile widened. "You believe?" Yukari sighed. "Oh, heavens." Iris began laughing. And Yukari discovered that, despite all her experience, the woman opposite her possessed an extraordinary ability to make her feel like a delighted young lover. "Yes," Yukari admitted. "I'm asking you on a date." Iris studied her. Then she set her agent aside. "Why?" Yukari blinked. "Why?" "Yes." The question was not suspicious. Nor challenging. Iris sounded genuinely curious. Yukari considered her answer. "Because I find you beautiful." Iris smiled. "Thank you." "And intelligent." "Also appreciated." "And wonderfully funny." "Careful. Brenda might dispute that one." Yukari laughed. "Darling, Brenda seems particularly delighted by your sense of humor." "Only because she's convinced I save all my best insults for her." "Do you?" "Naturally." Yukari burst out laughing. Then her expression softened. "But there's something else." Iris waited. "I've spent the past few days getting to know this family. And every time I speak with you, I discover something new." She glanced toward the window. "You have a remarkable way of making people comfortable without making a production of it." Iris's smile became quieter. Yukari continued. "You listen. You notice things. You give people room to decide what they want to share." A pause. "And underneath all that composure, I suspect there's a delightfully mischievous woman I would very much like to know better." Iris looked at her for several seconds. Then laughed softly. "Well." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "That's a rather persuasive invitation." "Is it?" "Very." Iris leaned forward. "And yes, Yukari. I'd love to have dinner with you." The kitsune's face brightened. "Oh!" Iris laughed. "That pleased?" "Immensely." "Good." Yukari hesitated. "May I ask one more thing?" "Of course." "Would you prefer that I speak with Brenda first?" Iris regarded her. Then smiled. "No, sweetheart." Yukari tilted her head. "No?" "I appreciate your consideration. But Brenda and I don't need one another's permission to go on dates." "Of course." "We talk about things because we love each other. Not because either of us owns the other's choices." Yukari nodded thoughtfully. "That's a lovely distinction." Iris smiled. "And I suspect Brenda would be delighted." Yukari's smile became particularly innocent. "Would she?" Iris narrowed her eyes. "Oh, dear." "What?" "You're planning something." Yukari laughed. "Nothing dreadful." "That's not reassuring." "Darling, I merely find your wife rather attractive." Iris closed her eyes. Then began laughing. "Oh, Yukari." "Have I said something inappropriate?" "Not remotely." Iris shook her head. "In fact, I suspect you'll discover that Brenda is considerably less difficult to persuade than you're imagining." Yukari looked interested. "Really?" "Oh, yes." A pause. "Although whether either of you will survive the resulting flirting contest is another matter entirely." Yukari laughed. "How exciting." Iris watched her for another moment. Then she stood. Yukari rose with her. "Iris?" "Yes?" "Thank you." "For accepting dinner?" "For being willing to let me know you." Iris's expression softened. Then she reached for Yukari's hand. "Come here, sweetheart." Yukari stepped closer. Iris kissed her. Gently. Not the quick affectionate kiss she might have offered any beloved member of the household. Nor the teasing kiss Yukari had half expected. It was a deliberate, unhurried expression of genuine interest. When Iris drew back, Yukari was smiling. "Oh." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Yukari laughed softly. "I believe I'm looking forward to dinner even more now." Iris smiled. "So am I." Then she picked up her coffee. "And Yukari?" "Yes, darling?" "One more thing." "Anything." Iris's eyes sparkled. "Don't underestimate Brenda." Yukari laughed. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it." Iris regarded her with the faintest suggestion of suspicion. Then shook her head. "God help us all." And left the room. Yukari watched her go. Then sat down. Picked up her book. Looked at the page. And laughed. Oh, this really is becoming impossible. ### The Second Invitation Brenda was not in her workshop. This surprised Yukari considerably. She was not in the kitchen, either. Nor the common room. Nor the balcony. Yukari finally found her in the small storage room beside the garage, surrounded by an assortment of old electronic components and wearing an expression of profound irritation. "Darling?" Brenda looked up. "Oh, hey, gorgeous." Yukari smiled. "Am I interrupting?" "Not unless you're responsible for the idiot who labeled these storage boxes." Yukari glanced around. "What's wrong with the labels?" "They're fucking useless." "How so?" Brenda held up a component. "This was in a box marked 'miscellaneous.'" Yukari considered. "Isn't it miscellaneous?" Brenda stared. Then lowered the component. "Yukari." "Yes, beautiful?" "Don't start." The kitsune laughed. "Oh, darling. I've only just arrived." "Exactly." Brenda shook her head, smiling despite herself. Yukari stepped inside. The storage room smelled faintly of machine oil, old packaging, and the peculiar metallic scent of electronics that had spent rather too long waiting for someone to remember why they were being kept. Yukari examined the shelves. "How fascinating." Brenda snorted. "That's one word for it." "Do you know what all these things do?" "Most of them." "And the others?" "That's why they're still here." Yukari laughed. Brenda set the component down. "Anyway. What brings you into my glamorous kingdom of badly organized spare parts?" Yukari smiled. "You." Brenda paused. Then slowly grinned. "Oh?" "Yes." "Well, that's a pretty good answer." "I thought you might appreciate it." "Immensely." Yukari approached. Then stopped beside the workbench. "Brenda?" "Yeah, sweetheart?" "Would you go out with me?" Brenda blinked. Then laughed. "Out?" "Yes." "As in outside?" "Usually an essential element of going out." "Smartass." Yukari smiled sweetly. "I've been called worse." Brenda folded her arms. "Okay. What've you got in mind?" Yukari considered. "I thought we might visit one of the night markets." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Night market?" "Yes." "Shopping?" "Perhaps." "For what?" "Anything interesting." Brenda's smile widened. "Anything?" "Well, within reason." "Darling, have you seen the shit people sell in Night City's markets?" "I have." "And you're volunteering to spend an evening wandering around one with me?" "Very much so." Brenda regarded her. Then leaned against the workbench. "Okay, sweetheart. What's the catch?" Yukari blinked. "Catch?" "There's gotta be one." "Why?" "Because you know damn well I'll spend half the evening poking around obsolete electronics and arguing with merchants who think a fifty-year-old processor is worth ten times what it actually is." Yukari's smile became positively radiant. "That sounds delightful." Brenda stared. For a moment, she appeared genuinely unable to decide whether Yukari was joking. Then she began laughing. "Oh, you magnificent lunatic." Yukari inclined her head. "Thank you." "That wasn't a compliment." "I choose to accept it as one." "Jesus Christ." Brenda shook her head. Then smiled. "Okay. Why?" Yukari tilted her head. "Why what?" "Why do you want to spend an evening watching me argue with junk dealers?" Yukari looked at her. Then answered simply. "Because I enjoy watching you become excited about things." Brenda stopped smiling. Not because she was unhappy. Because the answer had surprised her. Yukari continued. "When you repaired my music box, you were so completely absorbed in the work. You noticed things I would never have thought to examine. You understood why something mattered even when it had no particular monetary value." Brenda listened. "And when you explained what you were doing, you seemed positively delighted that someone was interested." Yukari smiled. "I was interested." "Yeah?" "Very." A pause. "And I'd like to discover more of the things that make you happy." Brenda looked at her. For once, she didn't immediately produce a joke. Yukari reached for her hand. "Besides, darling, I rather enjoy your company." Brenda smiled slowly. "Well, fuck." Yukari laughed. "Is that a yes?" Brenda considered. Then her grin returned. "Oh, absolutely." "Wonderful!" "But I've got conditions." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "How intriguing." "First, you don't get to complain if I spend twenty minutes arguing over a component worth about three hundred eddies." "Naturally." "Second, if we find something interesting, I'm buying it." "Of course." "And third..." Brenda stepped closer. Yukari watched her with obvious interest. "Yes?" Brenda's grin became positively wicked. "If this is a date, sweetheart, I'd like it to be a proper fucking date." Yukari's smile widened. "Oh?" "Oh, yes." "And what would that entail?" Brenda slipped an arm around her waist. "Well, for starters, I'd rather not spend the entire evening talking about circuit boards." Yukari laughed. "How unfortunate. I was looking forward to an extensive discussion of electronic components." "Smartass." "Terribly." Brenda drew her a little closer. "Then dinner." "Lovely." "Somewhere with decent food." "Naturally." "And maybe..." Brenda paused. Yukari tilted her head. "Yes, darling?" "...a little more of what happened yesterday." Yukari smiled. Slowly. Delightedly. "Oh, Brenda." "Yeah?" "I would be terribly disappointed if there weren't." Brenda laughed. Then kissed her. Yukari answered with equal warmth. When they drew apart, the engineer was smiling. "Fuck. I'm really starting to like you." Yukari rested her forehead against Brenda's. "How fortunate." "Yeah?" "Because I find myself rather taken with you too." Brenda regarded her for a moment. Then laughed softly. "Well, sweetheart." She kissed Yukari's cheek. "We're going to have a hell of a good time." ### An Unexpected Question They were leaving the storage room when Brenda stopped. "Wait." Yukari turned. "Yes?" Brenda regarded her thoughtfully. "Can I ask you something?" "Always." "You asked Iris out too, didn't you?" Yukari blinked. Then began laughing. "Oh, heavens." Brenda grinned. "You did!" "Yes." "Jesus Christ." Yukari looked almost worried. "Does that bother you?" Brenda stared. Then she burst out laughing. "Sweetheart, no!" "Good." "I'm just impressed." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Impressed?" "You've been living here for what, a little while now, and you've already managed to charm my wife into a date." Yukari laughed. "Iris is a remarkable woman." "You're fucking right she is." Brenda's expression softened. "And you'll have a wonderful time with her." Yukari smiled. "I hope so." "You will." Brenda considered. "Actually..." Yukari waited. "I think it's pretty damn lovely." "What is?" "That you want to spend time with us separately." Yukari tilted her head. "Why wouldn't I?" Brenda shrugged. "Some people see Iris and me as a package deal." Yukari's expression changed. She considered the statement. Then gently took Brenda's hand. "Darling." "Yeah?" "You and Iris have built something beautiful together." Brenda smiled. "Thanks." "But you are not the same person." "Nope." "Nor do I love you for the same reasons I admire her." Brenda's expression softened. Yukari continued. "Iris makes me feel as though every conversation might reveal a delightful new secret." She smiled. "And you make me want to follow you into whatever extraordinary trouble has captured your imagination." Brenda laughed. "Oh, that's dangerous." "Isn't it?" "Very." Yukari squeezed her hand. "Both are wonderful. But they're different." Brenda regarded her. Then leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You're a sweetheart, you know that?" Yukari smiled. "I've been told." "Yeah, well. Whoever told you was right." For a moment, they stood quietly together. Then Brenda's grin returned. "Although I've gotta warn you." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "If you're planning dates with both of us, you'll need stamina." Yukari stared. Then she began laughing. "Oh, Brenda!" "What?" "Darling, do remember who you're speaking to." Brenda blinked. Then slowly grinned. "Oh, right." Yukari's smile became wicked. "Nine tails, sweetheart." Brenda threw back her head and laughed. "OH, FUCK!" ### A Marriage Built on Laughter Iris was in their bedroom when Brenda returned. She looked up from her book. "Hello, darling." "Hey, beautiful." Brenda approached and kissed her. Iris smiled against her lips. "Something good happen?" Brenda laughed. "Oh, you have no fucking idea." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Guess who just asked me on a date." Iris regarded her with an expression of perfect innocence. "Marco?" Brenda stared. Then burst out laughing. "Jesus Christ, Iris!" "What?" "You know damn well who!" Iris smiled. "Do I?" Brenda shook her head. "Yukari." "Ah." Brenda narrowed her eyes. "Oh, you're enjoying this." "Immensely." "You knew?" Iris turned a page. "She asked me earlier." Brenda stared. Then began laughing all over again. "Oh, that's fucking beautiful." Iris finally put down the book. "Where are you going?" "Night market. Dinner. Possibly something involving a lot of kissing." Iris smiled. "Sounds fun." "And you?" "She suggested dinner somewhere quiet." Brenda considered. Then grinned. "Yeah. That sounds like you." "Doesn't it?" "Very." For a moment, they smiled at each other. Then Brenda settled beside her wife. "You know something?" Iris reached for her hand. "What?" "I really like her." "I noticed." "No, I mean..." Brenda hesitated. Iris waited. "She's funny. Smart as hell. And she actually listens when I explain things." Iris smiled. "That must be refreshing." "Ha fucking ha." Brenda leaned against her. "But there's more." Iris brushed her hair back. "Tell me." "She sees things." Iris nodded. "Yes." "Not just the obvious stuff." Brenda looked toward the door. "She noticed why fixing that music box mattered to me." Iris regarded her. "And why was that?" Brenda smiled faintly. "Because it mattered to her." Iris kissed her forehead. "Oh, sweetheart." Brenda laughed softly. "Yeah." For a while, neither spoke. Then Iris said: "I think she's going to become very important to this family." Brenda nodded. "Pretty sure she already has." Iris smiled. "Quite." Brenda looked at her wife. Then her grin returned. "So." Iris raised an eyebrow. "So?" "You're taking our beautiful fox out to dinner." "Apparently." "And I'm taking her to a night market." "Yes." Brenda considered. "Think Ace knows?" Iris began smiling. "Oh, darling." Brenda narrowed her eyes. "What?" "I suspect Ace knows considerably more than either of us realizes." Brenda stared. Then laughed. "Of course she fucking does." ### The Front-Row Problem Ace knew. Naturally. She had been sitting in the common room when Yukari emerged from the storage room. And she had immediately recognized the expression on the kitsune's face. It was not unlike the expression Ace herself wore after successfully negotiating something exceptionally agreeable. "Hey, beautiful." Yukari turned. "Hello, sweetheart." Ace grinned. "Having a good afternoon?" "Wonderful." "Excellent." Yukari sat beside her. For a moment, Ace simply watched her. Then she raised an eyebrow. "So." Yukari smiled. "So?" "How many?" The kitsune blinked. "How many what?" "Dates." Yukari stared. Then began laughing. "Oh, Ace!" Ace grinned. "Two?" Yukari closed her eyes. "Oh, heavens." "Two." "Yes, darling." "Fucking beautiful." Ace leaned back, looking immensely pleased. Yukari regarded her. "You're enjoying this far too much." "Absolutely." "May I ask why?" Ace considered. Then shrugged. "Because you're happy." Yukari smiled. "And?" "And Iris is happy." "Yes." "And Brenda's happy." "Very." Ace grinned. "Pretty fucking good outcome, if you ask me." Yukari studied her. Then slipped an arm around her. "You're a remarkable woman, Ace." "Been told." "Frequently, I imagine." "Mostly by me." Yukari burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart!" Ace laughed with her. Then she looked at Yukari more seriously. "Can I ask you something?" "Anything." "You're not feeling like you have to rush, right?" Yukari considered. "Rush?" "Yeah." Ace gestured vaguely toward the rest of the safehouse. "All this. Us. Iris. Brenda. Everything." Yukari became thoughtful. Then she smiled. "No, darling." "Good." "I don't feel hurried." She paused. "Quite the opposite, actually." Ace tilted her head. "How so?" Yukari looked toward the window. "For a very long time, I treated affection as something temporary." Ace listened. "Not because I believed it lacked value. But because I became accustomed to the knowledge that every relationship would eventually change." Her smile softened. "And now I find myself wanting to enjoy those changes instead of anticipating their endings." Ace reached for her hand. Yukari turned toward her. "I don't need to make up for lost time, sweetheart." "Good." "But I would very much like to enjoy the time I have." Ace smiled. "That's a fucking excellent plan." Yukari laughed. "Thank you." Ace squeezed her fingers. Then her grin returned. "Although I gotta say..." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Brenda's going to be insufferable." Yukari laughed. "Darling, Brenda is already wonderfully insufferable." Ace stared. Then burst out laughing. "OH, FUCK!" Yukari looked delighted. "What?" "You two are going to be a fucking disaster!" "How unkind." "An adorable disaster." "Much better." Ace leaned closer. "And Iris?" Yukari smiled. "Yes?" "Don't underestimate her." Yukari laughed. "You've warned me." "Several times." "Indeed." Ace considered. Then shook her head. "God, I can't wait." Yukari regarded her with amusement. "Sweetheart, you're speaking as though you've purchased tickets to a performance." Ace grinned. "Front row." Yukari laughed. "And what precisely are you hoping to see?" Ace looked toward the doorway. Then back at Yukari. Her expression softened. "Three women I love having a wonderful time." Yukari smiled. Then she leaned forward and kissed her. "You're extraordinary." Ace grinned. "Yeah, well." A pause. "Try not to tell everyone. It'll ruin my reputation." Yukari laughed. "Oh, darling. I fear that particular secret is already beyond saving." ### Mai's Assessment Mai found Yukari in the kitchen later that evening. The kitsune was preparing tea. Again. Mai had begun to suspect that Yukari's tea consumption was inversely proportional to her willingness to sit still. "Hello, darling." Yukari turned. "Mai!" Mai smiled. "Good day?" "Extraordinary." "Really?" Yukari nodded enthusiastically. Mai studied her. Then slowly raised an eyebrow. "Oh." Yukari blinked. "Oh?" "You've been spending time with Iris and Brenda." "Yes." "And?" Yukari smiled. "I've asked them both on dates." Mai considered. Then nodded. "Good." Yukari stared. "Good?" "Of course." She approached and kissed Yukari's cheek. "They're wonderful women." "Oh, darling. They truly are." Mai smiled. "I know." For a moment, she watched Yukari pour the tea. Then she asked: "Are you nervous?" Yukari looked up. "A little." Mai laughed softly. "Good." Yukari blinked. "Good?" "Means it matters." The kitsune considered that. Then smiled. "Oh." Mai accepted the cup Yukari offered her. "Besides, you've already managed to surprise Brenda." Yukari laughed. "Have I?" "Apparently." "How delightful." Mai looked at her. Then shook her head, smiling. "You're going to be trouble." Yukari's expression became angelic. "Darling, everyone keeps saying that." "Perhaps because it's true." "How unfair." Mai laughed. Then she grew thoughtful. "Yukari?" "Yes?" "There's something I wanted to tell you." "Anything, darling." Mai considered. "I like seeing you build your own relationships with everyone." Yukari smiled. "Do you?" "Very much." Mai took a sip of tea. "When you first moved in, you were still finding your place here." "I was." "And now?" Yukari considered. Then she laughed softly. "Now I seem to have found rather more places than I anticipated." Mai burst out laughing. "Oh, Yukari." The kitsune joined her. Then she reached for Mai's hand. "Darling?" "Yes?" "Thank you." "For what?" "For allowing me to discover your family without making me feel like an outsider." Mai's expression softened. Then she set down her cup. "Yukari." "Yes?" "It's your family too." The kitsune became quiet. Mai smiled. "You don't have to thank me for that." Yukari looked at her. Then leaned forward and embraced her. "Oh, my darling." Mai held her. And for a while, neither spoke. ### Nine Tails and Two Promises The safehouse had grown quiet by the time Yukari returned to her room. She stood beside the small bookcase and looked at the repaired music box. Brenda had restored its mechanism with extraordinary care. The melody played beautifully now. Yukari wound the key. Listened. Then smiled. Brenda. Brilliant. Irreverent. Beautiful. A woman who could turn a discussion about electronics into an argument with the universe, then spend hours repairing an object simply because someone she cared about had loved it. Yukari laughed softly. *Oh, darling.* Then she thought of Iris. The quiet composure. The perceptive eyes. The wonderful dry humor. And the way she'd smiled when Yukari finally managed to ask her on a proper date. Yukari's expression softened. *And you, my lovely Iris.* Two women. Both very different. Both already important to her. And both now willing to discover what might grow between them. It was a lovely thought. She turned off the music box and looked around her room. For so long, she had carried her possessions from place to place. Carefully packed. Carefully preserved. Always prepared to leave. Now the books stood openly on the shelves. Her clothes hung in the wardrobe. The music box rested where she could see it. And somewhere beyond the door were people who loved her. People she loved. Yukari smiled. Then she changed. The familiar shimmer of warm gold filled the room. Her human shape softened. Nine magnificent tails unfolded behind her. A moment later, a beautiful fox stood on the floor. She stretched luxuriously. One tail flicked toward the music box. Another brushed the edge of the bed. Then she padded toward the door. ### The Place at the Foot of the Bed Ace was already half asleep when Yukari entered. Mai looked up from her pillow. "Hello, sweetheart." The fox inclined her head. "Good evening." Shammy smiled. "Fox tonight?" "Yes, darling." Yukari climbed onto the bed. Turned once. Then settled comfortably at its foot, curling her tails around herself. Ace opened one eye. "Hey, beautiful." "Hello, sweetheart." "Good day?" Yukari considered. Then smiled. "Very." Ace grinned sleepily. "Excellent." Mai reached toward the fox and gently stroked the fur behind one ear. Yukari closed her eyes. Shammy watched with amusement. "Something on your mind?" Yukari lifted her head. "Oh, several things." Ace grinned. "Brenda?" Yukari's ears twitched. Mai laughed. "Iris?" A tail moved. Shammy began smiling. "Oh, this is wonderful." Yukari regarded the three women. Then sighed with magnificent dignity. "I am beginning to suspect that privacy is an entirely theoretical concept in this household." Ace burst out laughing. "Pretty much." Mai leaned forward and kissed her nose. Yukari blinked. Then laughed softly. "Oh, Mai." Shammy reached down and gently stroked one of her tails. "Happy, sweetheart?" Yukari looked at the three women. Then toward the darkened room. And finally, she rested her head on her paws. "More than I can possibly express." Ace smiled. "Good." The lights dimmed. Night City continued beyond the windows. And Yukari, who had lived for millennia and believed she understood most of the ways love could complicate a life, fell asleep thinking about two women. One who had invited her into a world of quiet understanding. Another who had promised her an evening of laughter, old electronics, and probably a great deal of trouble. Two invitations. Two promises. And an extraordinary number of possibilities. *Oh, my.* The fox's nine tails settled around her. What a wonderful life this is becoming. --- ## Chapter 09 — A Free Long Weekend *Night City — Thursday afternoon.* Elisa had spent the last forty minutes listening to three highly paid executives explain why a meeting that had already been postponed twice needed to be postponed again. She had eventually asked whether any of them had considered the revolutionary possibility of simply cancelling it. The silence that followed had been deeply satisfying. Unfortunately, one of the executives had mistaken her suggestion for an invitation to discuss alternative scheduling arrangements. Elisa had smiled. Politely. Professionally. And informed him that if he attempted to schedule another meeting about the scheduling of a meeting, she would personally arrange for him to attend a seminar on the productive use of silence. The meeting had ended shortly afterward. Marvelous. Now she sat in her office, looking at her calendar. Friday. Saturday. Sunday. And most of Monday. Empty. Actually empty. No appearances. No appointments. No carefully arranged dinners with people who considered themselves interesting because they possessed extraordinary amounts of money. Nobody expecting her to be charming on command. Elisa looked at the display. Then smiled. "Oh, you beautiful little thing." Her assistant had somehow secured four consecutive days without a single professional obligation. Elisa briefly considered sending flowers. Then decided flowers were inadequate. A substantial bonus, perhaps. With a note. For services rendered to humanity. She laughed. Then reached for her agent. There were several things she could do with an unexpectedly free weekend. She could travel. She could visit one of the properties she barely had time to enjoy. She could arrange an expensive spa retreat, although she suspected she'd spend half the time wondering why she was paying somebody to tell her to relax. Or— Elisa smiled. She knew exactly what she wanted. She opened a private channel. Mai answered on the third pulse. "Elisa." "Hello, trouble." Mai laughed softly. "That's an interesting greeting from you." "I'm cultivating honesty." "How brave." "Thank you." Elisa leaned back, feeling herself relax almost immediately. There it was. That familiar rhythm. She had missed it more than she cared to admit. "So," Elisa began. Mai waited. Elisa narrowed her eyes. "Don't." "Don't what?" "Do that." "I'm sitting here." "Exactly." Mai laughed. "Elisa." "You're waiting for me to explain why I called." "Would you prefer I guess?" "Absolutely not." "Then I'm listening." Elisa sighed dramatically. "You are an exceptionally difficult woman." "So I've been told." "By whom?" "Ace. Frequently." "Unreliable witness." "Completely." Elisa laughed. Then glanced at her calendar again. "I have four days off." Mai went quiet. A genuine pause this time. "Four?" "Yes." "Consecutive?" "Don't sound so astonished." "I'm considering whether somebody's died." "Several careers came close this afternoon." "Ah." Mai sounded distinctly amused. "Then congratulations." "Thank you." Elisa looked out across the city. For a moment, she considered making another joke. Instead, she said what she actually meant. "I miss you." Mai's answer came immediately. "We miss you too." Elisa smiled. "And Ace." "Obviously." "And Shammy." "Naturally." "And Marco's cooking." "I wondered when we'd get to the important part." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, fuck you." "Love you too." There it was again. That easy affection. No performance. No expectation that Elisa needed to be impressive. She could simply call someone she loved, admit that she missed them, and have the admission accepted without ceremony. It was almost suspiciously pleasant. "So," Mai said, "when are you coming?" Elisa blinked. "That easy?" "Would you prefer an application form?" "I was expecting at least a preliminary interview." "Fine. Do you intend to steal Ace's food?" "Certainly." "Approved." Elisa laughed. "That's your entire screening procedure?" "We already know you're trouble. No point pretending otherwise." "How comforting." Mai smiled. "Friday?" "Tomorrow morning, if that's convenient." "It is." "Through Monday afternoon." "That works." Elisa settled farther into her chair. Then she glanced toward the calendar once more. "Actually, there's something else." Mai said nothing. Elisa stared at the connection. "Don't you dare." "I haven't said anything." "You're doing the silence." "I have several." "That particular one is insufferably smug." Mai laughed. "Go on." Elisa considered the best way to phrase her next question. She could be direct. She was usually direct. And she had absolutely no reason to be embarrassed. Yet something about asking Mai whether she could spend part of her long weekend at Lizzie's made her feel rather like a woman admitting that she missed an exceptionally enjoyable hobby. Which, admittedly, was accurate. "Are you working this weekend?" "Possibly." "At Lizzie's?" "Yes." Elisa smiled. "Interesting." "Isn't it?" "And Ace?" "Probably." "Shammy?" "We haven't discussed her plans yet." "Right." A pause. Then Mai asked, entirely too casually: "Anything particular you wanted to do?" Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, you absolute bitch." Mai started laughing. "I asked a question." "You know exactly what I'm asking." "Then ask it." Elisa shook her head, smiling despite herself. "I miss Bea." Mai's laughter softened. "Do you?" "Very much." "Good." Elisa opened her eyes. "Good?" "Of course." She considered. "I miss the club. Suzy Q. The Mox. The atmosphere." "And?" Elisa leaned forward. "Mai." "Elisa." "I miss working." There. Simple. The admission felt good. Not because she had been hiding it. Because she had finally said it aloud. Mai's answer came without hesitation. "Then come and work." Elisa smiled. "Just like that?" "Why not?" "Because I assumed there'd be some negotiation." "You'll still have to talk to Panam. Suzy handles operations. You know how it works." "Of course." "But nobody's going to object to Bea coming back." Elisa laughed softly. "Oh, I hope not." Mai's voice warmed. "You enjoyed it." "I did." "And you were good at it." "I was." "Then I don't see the problem." Elisa smiled. "Neither do I." A brief silence followed. Comfortable. Then another voice sounded somewhere near Mai. "WHO'S COMING BACK?" Elisa sat upright. "Oh, no." Mai sighed. "Ace." Elisa pointed at the screen. "Is that little menace eavesdropping?" "I'm standing in my own fucking kitchen!" Ace's voice sounded considerably closer now. "ELISA!" Elisa burst out laughing. "Hello, beautiful!" "FUCK! We haven't seen you in ages!" "I've noticed!" "You're coming tomorrow?" "Apparently." "Excellent. Are you bringing food?" Elisa stared at the connection. Then slowly smiled. "Mai." "Yes?" "Was the screening interview actually serious?" "Unfortunately." Ace protested. "HEY!" Elisa laughed. "Oh, sweetheart. I've missed you." Ace's voice softened. "Missed you too." A moment later, Ace appeared beside Mai. She was grinning. Naturally. "So. Four days?" "Yes." "Fucking excellent." "And I understand somebody's been causing trouble." Ace looked offended. "Who told you that?" "Nobody needed to." Mai nodded. "She's getting better at this." "Thank you," Elisa replied. Ace narrowed her eyes. "You're both awful." "Yes," Mai said. "Terribly," Elisa agreed. Ace considered. Then grinned. "God, I've missed you." And Elisa felt another small piece of her accumulated exhaustion disappear. ### A Very Suspicious Silence Shammy joined the call a few minutes later. She appeared behind Ace, her white hair drifting gently around her shoulders. Elisa smiled immediately. "Oh, there you are." Shammy's expression brightened. "Elisa!" "Hello, gorgeous." "Four days, I hear?" "Apparently the universe has decided to be kind to me." Shammy looked toward Ace. "That seems suspicious." "Right?" Ace replied. Elisa sighed. "Wonderful. Now you're all suspicious." Mai smiled. "Occupational hazard." Shammy moved closer. "Seriously, sweetheart. It'll be lovely having you here." Elisa's expression softened. "I've missed you." "Likewise." "And I intend to make up for it." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Promises?" Elisa smiled. "Threats, darling." Mai laughed. Shammy's hair lifted a little higher. Ace looked delighted. "Oh, this is going to be a good weekend." "Assuming you three haven't destroyed the safehouse in my absence." Mai considered. "Define destroyed." Elisa went still. "Mai." "Structurally?" "MAI." Ace began laughing. Shammy covered her mouth. Elisa stared at the three women. Then narrowed her eyes. "All right. What have you done?" "Nothing," Ace said. "That's your first lie." "I haven't even started!" "Exactly." Mai looked toward Shammy. Shammy looked back. And both smiled. Elisa noticed. Of course she noticed. "Oh, fuck." Ace grinned. "What?" "You've got something." "What something?" "Something you're all desperately trying not to tell me." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Desperately?" "With varying degrees of competence." Shammy laughed. Ace looked deeply offended. "I'm excellent at keeping secrets." Elisa stared. "Ace." "What?" "You just smiled like someone who's hidden a live grenade in the birthday cake." "That's very specific." "Is it inaccurate?" Ace considered. Mai closed her eyes. Shammy began laughing again. Elisa sat back. "Oh, dear God." Then she looked directly at Mai. "Is everyone all right?" Mai's expression changed. The teasing softened immediately. "Yes." "Really?" "Really." "And whatever this is, it isn't something I should worry about?" "No." Elisa watched her. Then nodded. "All right." Ace blinked. "That's it?" "That's it." "You're not going to interrogate us?" "Oh, sweetheart." Elisa smiled. "If you want to surprise me, I'm perfectly capable of enjoying a surprise." Mai's expression warmed. "And if it's important, you'll tell me." "Exactly." Shammy smiled. "You're going to like this one." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "This one?" Ace looked at Shammy. Shammy looked at Ace. Mai slowly shook her head. Elisa laughed. "Oh, you people are hopeless." Ace grinned. "Love you too." Elisa shook her head. "Friday morning. Preferably before somebody decides I need to attend another fucking meeting." Mai nodded. "We'll coordinate the handoff." "Reyes?" "Most likely." "Good." Elisa smiled. "I could use a little time with that wonderfully antisocial woman too." Ace burst out laughing. "Oh, she's going to love hearing that." "Tell her. I insist." "Absolutely." "Excellent." Elisa glanced at the clock. Then sighed. "I should go before somebody discovers I'm still in the office." Mai smiled. "Get some rest." "How disgustingly sensible." "Somebody has to be." Ace leaned closer. "BRING FOOD!" Elisa laughed. "GOODBYE, ACE!" The connection ended. For several seconds, she simply sat there. Then she smiled. A real smile. The kind she hadn't needed to manufacture for anyone. "Four days." She looked toward her calendar. "Fuck." A delighted little laugh escaped her. "This is going to be wonderful." ### At the Safehouse Ace stared at the closed connection. Then turned toward Mai. "Well." Mai looked at her. "What?" "That went well." "Considering you nearly told her everything?" "I didn't!" Shammy laughed. "You were trying very hard." Ace looked wounded. "Nobody appreciates restraint." Mai kissed her cheek. "Yours is particularly rare." "Thank you." "That wasn't entirely a compliment." "Taking it anyway." From the doorway came another voice. "Darling, should I be concerned?" Yukari stood there, holding a book. Her dark hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and she regarded the three women with familiar amusement. Ace turned. "Hey, beautiful." Yukari smiled. "Hello, sweetheart." Shammy reached for her hand. "Come here." Yukari joined them. "What's happening?" "Elisa's coming tomorrow," Mai explained. Yukari's expression brightened. "Oh! Your friend?" "Yes." "How lovely." Ace grinned. "And you get to meet her." Yukari looked pleased. "I look forward to it." For a moment, she considered. Then asked, "Does she know about me?" Mai shook her head. "Not yet." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Not even a little?" "She's been busy," Shammy said. "And we haven't had a proper chance to explain everything that's happened." Yukari nodded. "Ah." Ace's grin widened. Yukari noticed immediately. "Darling." "Yeah?" "Why are you looking at me like that?" "Like what?" "As though I'm about to become the centerpiece of an elaborate practical joke." Mai laughed. "That's remarkably perceptive." "Ace!" Shammy protested. "What? I haven't done anything!" "Yet," Yukari added. Ace pointed at her. "See? She knows me." Yukari smiled affectionately. "I am beginning to." Then she grew thoughtful. "Would Elisa be comfortable discovering that her friends have acquired a nine-tailed kitsune while she was occupied elsewhere?" Mai considered. "That's difficult to predict." Ace grinned. "She's handled weirder shit." Shammy tilted her head. "Has she?" Ace paused. Then laughed. "Okay, maybe not weirder than Yukari." Yukari looked delighted. "How flattering." Mai slipped an arm around her. "We'll introduce you properly. There's no need to turn it into a spectacle." Ace's expression became suspiciously innocent. "Obviously." All three women looked at her. Ace sighed. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Yukari laughed. Then she glanced toward the window. "Tell me about her." Shammy smiled. "Elisa has an extraordinary life. A lot of responsibility. A lot of people who want her attention." "That sounds exhausting." "It can be," Mai said. "But she's clever," Ace added. "Funny. Gorgeous. And absolutely fucking impossible when she decides to tease somebody." Yukari's eyebrows rose. "Oh?" Shammy smiled. "You might recognize the technique." Yukari looked amused. "Would I?" "Very much." Mai considered. "Actually, I'm not entirely sure which of you would win." Ace began grinning. "Oh, now there's a thought." Yukari laughed. "Darling, must everything become a competition?" "Of course not." A pause. "Just the entertaining things." Shammy shook her head. Mai sighed. Yukari smiled. Oh, dear. She was beginning to understand why these women so rarely became bored. ### The Security Manager Elisa's security manager arrived in her office just as she was preparing to leave. He took one look at the overnight bag sitting beside her desk. Then at Elisa. Then at the calendar still displayed on her agent. "You're actually doing it." Elisa looked up. "Doing what?" "Taking time off." "Don't sound so disappointed." "Quite the opposite." She smiled. "How encouraging." He approached and handed her a brief summary of the proposed transport arrangements. Elisa scanned it. "Friday morning?" "Yes." "Neutral transfer point?" "Pending final confirmation from Reyes." "Good." He regarded her. "You're certain you don't want a reduced detail accompanying you?" Elisa lowered the display. "Yes." "Elisa." She raised an eyebrow. "Don't use the voice." "What voice?" "The one that makes perfectly reasonable suggestions sound like medical diagnoses." He sighed. "You're going to be difficult." "Professionally." "I've noticed." Elisa smiled. "Reyes will take responsibility once you've completed the handoff. Until then, I'm yours." "That last part isn't reassuring." "Don't flatter yourself." The corner of his mouth moved. Elisa noticed. "Ah. There it is." "What?" "A smile. I was beginning to think your facial muscles had been surgically immobilized." "They work." "Under protest." He shook his head. "You're enjoying this." "Enormously." Then Elisa's expression became more serious. "I know what I'm asking." He nodded. "I know." "And I appreciate you being careful." "That's the job." "One you're very good at." For a moment, he looked almost embarrassed. Then his usual professional expression returned. "Thank you." Elisa smiled. "You're welcome." He checked another item on his display. "Your team will retain responsibility until Reyes confirms acceptance in person. After that, no one follows her vehicle." "Exactly." "We retain the direct emergency contact route. Your destination remains private." "Good." "And Monday afternoon, we reverse the arrangement." "Same principle." He nodded. "Once Reyes confirms the times, I'll finalize it." Elisa considered. "One more thing." He looked up. "Yes?" "After Friday's handoff, you're off duty until Monday's return transfer." "That's the plan." "I mean actually off duty." He regarded her. "Elisa." "No checking in every six hours to reassure yourself that I'm still alive." "That's an unusually long interval for you." She burst out laughing. "Oh, you cheeky bastard." He looked entirely unrepentant. Then he smiled. Just a little. "Enjoy your weekend." Elisa's expression softened. "I intend to." ### A Call to Reyes Reyes answered on the second pulse. "Yeah?" "Well, that's an affectionate greeting." A pause. "Elisa." "Reyes." "Something wrong?" "Not unless you consider the prospect of spending Friday morning in my delightful company a catastrophe." "Depends how early." Elisa laughed. "Ten-thirty?" "Acceptable." "How generous." "You're welcome." Elisa settled against the edge of her desk. "Mai mentioned you might be available." "I am." "Good. My manager wants to confirm the handoff directly." "Send him my number." "He already has it." "Then why are you calling?" Elisa grinned. "Because I wanted to hear your charming voice." Silence. Then Reyes said: "You need a hobby." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, I've got several." "God help us." "One of them may even involve an evening at Lizzie's." "Good for you." Elisa waited. Reyes did not ask. Naturally. "Oh, come on." "What?" "You're not even curious?" "About what?" "Whether I'm planning to work." "If you want to tell me, you'll tell me." Elisa stared at the connection. Then laughed. "You're impossible." "Been told." "By Ace, I assume." "Among others." Elisa shook her head. Then smiled. "All right. Yes. I'm hoping to spend a couple of evenings there." "Have fun." "I intend to." There was a pause. Then Reyes asked: "How long are you staying?" "Through Monday afternoon." "Fine. Eleven Friday morning for the handoff. Monday at three for the return, unless your manager needs a different window." "Perfect." "Same rules as before." "Yes, Reyes." "Your bag stays manageable." "Yes, Reyes." "No last-minute detours." "Yes, Reyes." "And if you decide to buy half of Night City while you're there, somebody else can transport it." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, you dreadful woman." "Practical woman." "Both." Reyes allowed that to pass. Then her voice changed slightly. "Looking forward to seeing everyone?" Elisa smiled. "Very much." "Good." A pause. Then, because Reyes apparently considered the emotional part of the conversation satisfactorily completed: "Anything else?" Elisa considered. "One thing." "Go on." "Do you have plans for the weekend?" "Yes." "Oh?" "Personal ones." Elisa smiled. "Anything enjoyable?" A brief pause. "Very." Elisa's smile widened. "Well, now I'm intrigued." "Try surviving it." "Oh, sweetheart. I'm excellent at surviving curiosity." "Debatable." Elisa laughed. Then she softened. "Whatever they are, I hope you enjoy them." Reyes was quiet for a moment. Then: "Thanks." "You're welcome." "See you Friday." "Looking forward to it." The connection ended. Elisa stared at the blank display. Then smiled. "Oh, I really have missed that woman." ### Private Arrangements Reyes closed the call. For a moment, she sat quietly in her apartment. Then she checked her messages. Elisa's manager had already sent the proposed handoff details. Reyes reviewed them. Neutral site. Controlled approach. Clear transfer point. No unnecessary exposure of her subsequent route. Monday return using the same procedure. Good. She confirmed the arrangement directly. No elaborate discussion. Both professionals knew what they were doing. A few minutes later, the manager's acknowledgment arrived. Friday, eleven. Monday, fifteen hundred. Emergency communication through an agreed channel. Responsibility transferring only after both sides confirmed. Reyes saved the details. Then opened another conversation. **REYES: Friday afternoon still available?** Victor answered a moment later. **VICTOR: Depends.** **REYES: On?** **VICTOR: Whether you're planning to arrive on time.** Reyes smiled. **REYES: I'm capable of punctuality.** **VICTOR: Medical literature disagrees.** **REYES: Book the appointment.** **VICTOR: Already did.** **REYES: You're annoying.** **VICTOR: Also competent.** Reyes laughed under her breath. Then she checked the rest of her weekend. The temporary voice-sculpt. Her private preparations afterward. The engagements that required someone rather different from the woman currently sitting in the apartment. Everything fit. Barely. Which was generally how Night City preferred its schedules. Reyes closed the display. Then looked toward the window. Tomorrow she'd collect Elisa. Take her to Watson. Make certain she arrived safely. After that, Reyes would have her own weekend to enjoy. She smiled. Not broadly. Just enough. "Not bad." And returned to the report she'd been trying to finish before the interruption. ### The Woman Beneath Bea Later that evening, Elisa stood before an open wardrobe. She was surrounded by clothing. Expensive clothing. Carefully designed clothing. Several pieces that had cost more than a reasonably competent merc earned in a month. And none of it seemed particularly appropriate for spending several days doing absolutely nothing important. She considered a tailored jacket. Rejected it. A dress she'd bought for an event that had subsequently been cancelled. Possibly. Something comfortable? Definitely. She opened another section of the wardrobe. Then laughed. "Honestly." There was something ridiculous about owning so much clothing and still having difficulty packing for a weekend. But the problem wasn't really what to wear. It was that she hadn't spent enough time recently being allowed to wear whatever she pleased. Elisa selected a few things. Folded them. Then added a couple of items that made her smile. A weekend with Ace, Mai, and Shammy deserved some variety. And if she happened to spend part of that weekend working as Bea— Well. That was a different pleasure entirely. Elisa paused. She had missed Bea. Not the disguise alone. Not the delightful absurdity of walking through a room where people who knew Elisa would fail to recognize her. Though that was certainly entertaining. She missed the work. The encounters. The conversations. The freedom to decide who interested her and who didn't. The professional clarity of boundaries established openly. The strange satisfaction of doing something entirely unrelated to the life most people associated with her name. She missed Panam's uncompromising standards. Suzy Q's ability to run a crowded club without appearing remotely impressed by anyone's importance. Lisa and the Mox. And the women who worked there. Women whose confidence, humor, and professional pride had become something she genuinely admired. Elisa smiled. *Oh, Bea.* *I think you and I are going to have a wonderful weekend.* Then she remembered Ace's suspicious expression during the call. And Mai's silence. And Shammy's unmistakably amused smile. Elisa narrowed her eyes at her reflection. "What the fuck have those women been doing?" Her reflection was unhelpful. Naturally. She sighed. Then laughed. Whatever it was, she would find out soon enough. She had no intention of interrogating her friends over something they clearly wanted to reveal in person. But she reserved the right to make their lives extremely entertaining once she discovered the answer. That seemed fair. She closed the bag. Then checked the time. Tomorrow. Eleven in the morning. A familiar transfer. A short journey through Night City. And then— Ace. Mai. Shammy. Elisa's smile softened. She had missed them terribly. The realization was almost embarrassingly simple. And yet, for all the extraordinary people she knew, for all the wealth and influence surrounding her professional life, she could think of few places she'd rather spend four free days. She reached for her agent. Opened a message to Mai. **ELISA: I've packed.** The reply arrived a few seconds later. **MAI: Congratulations.** Elisa smiled. **ELISA: That sounds sarcastic.** **MAI: Accurate.** **ELISA: You are an awful woman.** **MAI: Love you too.** A moment later: **MAI: Get some sleep. We'll see you tomorrow.** Elisa regarded the message. Then typed: **ELISA: I really have missed you.** Mai answered almost immediately. **MAI: We know. We've missed you too.** Elisa sat on the edge of her bed. Smiling. Then another message appeared. **ACE: DID YOU BRING FOOD?** Elisa burst out laughing. **ELISA: GO TO BED, YOU LITTLE MENACE.** **ACE: LOVE YOU TOO.** A final message arrived. **SHAMMY: Sweet dreams, beautiful. ❤️** Elisa looked at the three messages. Then shook her head affectionately. "Oh, you wonderful idiots." She placed her agent aside. And for once, she went to bed without thinking about tomorrow's obligations. There weren't any. Only people she loved. And a weekend she intended to enjoy. ### One More Thing in Watson At the safehouse, Yukari was sitting with Shammy near the window. Ace and Mai had retired to the Triad's bedroom. The household had grown quiet. Yukari looked toward the city. Then at Shammy. "Darling?" "Yes, sweetheart?" "May I ask you something?" "Of course." "This Elisa..." Shammy smiled. "Yes?" "She sounds very important to you." "She is." Yukari nodded. "I thought so." A brief silence. Then Yukari asked: "Will she be surprised to find me here?" Shammy considered. "Oh, yes." Yukari laughed. "How reassuring." "She's capable of handling surprises." "Even rather extraordinary ones?" Shammy looked at her. Then smiled. "Especially when she discovers they're sitting beside people she trusts." Yukari considered that. She liked the answer. Very much. "And she wants to work at Lizzie's?" "Apparently." Yukari tilted her head. "She enjoys the club?" "Very." "How interesting." Shammy noticed the expression. The faint lift of Yukari's eyebrows. The thoughtful smile. The unmistakable curiosity. "Something on your mind?" Yukari laughed softly. "Oh, several things." "Such as?" The kitsune looked toward the city. "I've heard a great deal about Lizzie's." "Yes." "And rather a lot about the people who work there." "Yes." "But I don't believe anyone's actually explained what it would be like to spend an evening there." Shammy smiled. "Then perhaps we should." Yukari turned toward her. "Would you?" "Of course." The kitsune looked delighted. "How wonderful." Shammy regarded her for another moment. Then laughed softly. "What?" Yukari asked. "Nothing." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Darling." Shammy smiled. "I was just thinking that Elisa may not be the only person having an interesting weekend." Yukari considered. Then her smile became mischievous. "Oh?" "Oh, yes." Yukari laughed. "How intriguing." Shammy took her hand. "First things first. We'll welcome Elisa. Let her settle in. And then you can ask all the questions you like." Yukari smiled. "A sensible approach." "Occasionally we have those." "How reassuring." Shammy leaned forward and kissed her. Yukari answered warmly. When they separated, she rested her forehead against Shammy's. "Thank you, darling." "For what?" "For making me feel as though meeting another person you love is something wonderful rather than something I should be afraid of." Shammy's expression softened. "Oh, Yukari." She drew the kitsune into an embrace. "You'll understand when you meet her." Yukari smiled against her shoulder. "I look forward to it." For a while they remained together, enjoying the quiet. Then Yukari asked one final question. "Shammy?" "Hmm?" "Is she beautiful?" Shammy began laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." Yukari looked innocent. "What?" "Yes." "Ah." "Very." Yukari considered. Then smiled. "How lovely." Shammy shook her head affectionately. "You really are impossible." "Darling, you seem to enjoy that quality." Shammy kissed her again. "Immensely." --- Across Night City, Elisa slept. Reyes completed her final checks. Elisa's security manager confirmed that the morning transfer would proceed as planned. And the Watson safehouse settled into its familiar nighttime quiet. Tomorrow, a woman who had spent far too many days living according to other people's schedules would finally have time for herself. She would see old friends. Enjoy the sort of affection that had nothing to do with public reputation. And, if she chose, return to a part of her life that had given her unexpected happiness. She had no idea that the family she loved had welcomed someone new. Someone very old. Someone whose curiosity was becoming increasingly difficult to contain. Someone who had nine magnificent tails and a remarkable talent for making other women smile. For once, Night City's next surprise was not going to involve an explosion. Probably. --- ## Chapter 10 — Let Her In *Night City — Friday morning.* Elisa had survived the final meeting. Barely. Three executives, one legal advisor, and an exceptionally expensive consultant had spent twenty-seven minutes explaining why a minor contractual adjustment required immediate attention. Elisa had listened. Asked two questions. Received answers that contradicted each other. Then informed the assembled company that she would be delighted to reconsider the matter when they had decided which of them was telling the truth. The meeting had ended six minutes later. She considered that a personal victory. Now she stood beside her desk, examining the small weekend bag at her feet. Four days. No meetings. No appearances. No carefully scheduled opportunities to impress people she would much rather avoid. And, most importantly, no reason to be charming unless she actually felt like it. Her security manager appeared in the doorway. "Ready?" Elisa looked up. "That depends." "On?" "Whether you've found someone willing to take over my meetings." "No." "Tragic." "Your vehicle is downstairs." She smiled. "Then I suppose I'll have to settle for freedom." He glanced at the bag. "That's everything?" "Yes." "Really?" Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Do I detect skepticism?" "Experience." "How insulting." "Professionally." She laughed. Then picked up the bag. "Come along, darling. Before someone remembers I exist." ### Eleven Sharp Reyes arrived at the transfer point twelve minutes early. Not fifteen. Not ten. Twelve. It wasn't deliberate. Traffic had been unusually cooperative, which she considered suspicious. She parked where she had a clear view of both approaches, checked the surrounding vehicles, and reviewed the handoff acknowledgment already waiting on her agent. Everything matched. Good. She disliked surprises when somebody else's security was involved. Her holo chimed. **VICTOR: Still coming this afternoon?** Reyes smiled faintly. **REYES: Unless Night City decides otherwise.** **VICTOR: That's not reassuring.** **REYES: You asked.** **VICTOR: Two o'clock. Don't be late.** **REYES: You're getting demanding.** **VICTOR: Occupational hazard.** She closed the conversation. Then glanced at the clock. 10:58. A dark armored vehicle appeared at the far end of the street. Reyes watched it approach. Correct vehicle. Correct escort. Correct timing. For once, everybody involved seemed interested in doing things properly. She stepped out as the vehicle stopped. Elisa's security manager emerged first. "Reyes." She nodded. "Morning." "All clear?" "So far." He looked around. "So far?" "It's Night City." "Fair." They completed the identification checks and confirmed the agreed transfer instructions. The return handoff remained scheduled for Monday afternoon. Both parties had the emergency channel and understood exactly where responsibility began and ended. Neither discussed Elisa's private destination. Neither needed to. When the final acknowledgment was accepted, her manager turned toward the armored vehicle. The rear door opened. Elisa stepped out. She looked at Reyes. Then smiled. "Well. There's a pleasant surprise." Reyes raised an eyebrow. "Your calendar said eleven." "Don't spoil the moment." "Wouldn't dream of it." Elisa approached. Studied her. Then sighed dramatically. "I was hoping they'd send someone tall, devastatingly handsome, and hopelessly susceptible to my charm." "Want me to call them back?" Elisa laughed. "Oh, don't be difficult." "You started it." "Did I?" "Before you got out of the car." "An excellent start, then." Reyes's mouth twitched. Elisa caught it immediately. "There." "What?" "A smile." "Don't get excited." "Too late." Her manager approached with the bag. Elisa turned toward him. "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Monday?" "Three o'clock, unless you request a change through the agreed channel." "And between now and then?" "I'm off duty." Elisa smiled. "Precisely." He regarded her for a moment. "Try not to cause an international incident." "Domestic incidents are still permitted?" "Use your judgment." Elisa laughed. "That's a dangerous amount of freedom to give me." "I know." She stepped closer and gave him a brief, affectionate hug. "Enjoy your weekend." "You too." "Oh, I intend to." He handed the bag to her. Reyes waited until the final acknowledgment appeared on both displays. Responsibility transferred. Cleanly. Unambiguously. Only then did she open the passenger door of her own vehicle. "Your carriage." Elisa regarded the car. Then Reyes. "How luxurious." "Seat works. Engine works. No one's shooting at us." "Such extravagance." "Get in." Elisa laughed and climbed inside. Reyes secured the bag, took the driver's seat, and waited until Elisa's original detail had departed. Then she started the engine. "All right." Elisa settled back. "All right?" "You're mine until Monday." Elisa turned toward her. One eyebrow rose. "Oh, really?" Reyes closed her eyes for half a second. "Security responsibility." "Darling, you really must learn to phrase things more carefully." "Seat belt." Elisa burst out laughing. ### Four Blocks They made it through five blocks before Elisa began talking. Reyes considered that an improvement. "So." "No." Elisa stared at her. "I haven't asked anything." "You were about to." "That is an outrageous assumption." "Accurate one." Elisa laughed. "Honestly, Reyes. You might at least pretend to be happy to see me." "I am happy." "Your face is remarkably discreet about it." "Good security feature." "Does it cost extra?" "Depends who's asking." Elisa shook her head, smiling. She had missed this. Reyes was the sort of woman who could reduce an overcomplicated conversation to three words and a raised eyebrow. Elisa found that strangely relaxing. "So how have you been?" "Fine." "Work?" "Fine." "Life?" "Also fine." Elisa turned in her seat. "Good heavens." Reyes glanced at her. "What?" "Three positive answers." "Don't get used to it." "I was about to alert the press." "Please don't." Elisa laughed. Then her expression softened. "Seriously." Reyes checked a mirror. "Seriously what?" "How are you?" There was a small pause. Then Reyes answered. "Good." This time it wasn't a deflection. Elisa noticed. And smiled. "Well, that's lovely." Reyes nodded. "How about you?" Elisa sighed. "Professionally overbooked, socially undersupplied, and increasingly convinced that certain executives should be prohibited from speaking without written permission." "That bad?" "Worse." "Anyone die?" "Only in my imagination." "Probably cheaper." Elisa laughed. "Oh, you dreadful woman." Reyes smiled faintly. They drove in comfortable silence for another minute. Then Elisa glanced toward her. "You have plans this weekend." "Yep." "Enjoyable ones?" "Very." "Professional?" "Personal." Elisa considered pressing. Then decided against it. Reyes had a private life. Elisa rather liked that she had a private life. Besides, interrogating Reyes was an exceptionally inefficient way to acquire information. "Well, good for you." "Thanks." A pause. Then Elisa added: "I hope whoever's involved appreciates you." Reyes glanced toward her. A small smile appeared. "Think so." Elisa smiled back. "Good." And left it there. Reyes looked almost grateful. Naturally, Elisa ruined the moment. "Although if your mystery companion turns out to be a charming aristocrat with an enormous estate, I expect an introduction." Reyes sighed. "Of course you do." "I have standards." "Questionable ones." "Consistently questionable." Reyes laughed. A genuine laugh. Short. Warm. Elisa looked delighted. "There! I knew you could do it." "Do what?" "Enjoy yourself." "Don't spread it around." "Your secret is safe with me." Reyes gave her a sideways glance. "That's a terrifying sentence." Elisa laughed all the way through the next intersection. ### The Familiar Building The building in Watson looked exactly as Elisa remembered. Unremarkable. Unadvertised. The sort of place most people would pass without a second glance. Which was, of course, the point. Reyes parked. Elisa stepped out and looked up toward the upper floor. She smiled. "God, I've missed this place." "The architecture?" "Obviously. I'm a passionate admirer of anonymous commercial buildings." Reyes locked the vehicle. "Thought so." They passed through the lower security entrance. Both were authorized. The armored door secured itself behind them. Reyes checked the confirmation and led the way upstairs. Elisa carried her own bag. At the upper landing, the safehouse door remained closed. Naturally. It could only be opened from the inside. Elisa reached for the bell. Before she could press it, the camera indicator changed. Then Ace's voice emerged from the speaker. "PASSWORD." Elisa stopped. Reyes closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Elisa looked toward the camera. "Excuse me?" "PASSWORD REQUIRED." Reyes leaned toward the intercom. "Ace." "Incorrect." "Open the door." "Also incorrect." Elisa began laughing. "Oh, you impossible little creature!" "Closer!" Reyes rubbed her forehead. "I'm leaving." "No, you're not." "Watch me." "You're responsible for Elisa." "She's safer without you." Elisa doubled over. From farther inside came Mai's voice. "Ace." "WHAT?" "Open the door." "I'm conducting a security test." "You're irritating Reyes." "That's part of the test." Shammy could be heard laughing somewhere behind them. Then Mai spoke again. "Ace. Door." A pause. "Fine." The lock disengaged. A moment later, the door opened inward. Ace stood there. Grinning. "HELLO, BEAUTIFUL!" Elisa dropped her bag. "Oh, fuck you." Ace laughed. "Missed you too!" Elisa crossed the threshold and wrapped both arms around her. Hard. Ace returned the embrace immediately. For several seconds, neither woman said anything. Elisa simply held her. Ace held her back. Then Elisa drew away just far enough to see her face. Those familiar violet eyes. That infuriating smile. The petite woman who had become so much more important to her than she'd ever expected. Elisa kissed her. Properly. Warmly. Without the slightest hesitation. Ace made a pleased sound and drew her closer. When they finally separated, Ace was smiling so broadly that Elisa couldn't help laughing. "Well," Ace said. Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Well?" "That's a proper fucking hello." "I thought you might appreciate it." "Immensely." Elisa kissed her again. Because she could. Because she had missed her. And because Ace looked entirely too pleased with herself. When she finally released her, Ace grinned. "Feeling better?" Elisa considered. "Marginally." "Marginally?" "There's still another woman waiting." Mai stood just inside the doorway. Smiling. Quietly. Elisa looked at her. And something changed. Her expression softened. The laughter didn't disappear, exactly. It simply made room for something else. "Hello, beautiful." Mai stepped forward. "Hello, Elisa." Elisa reached for her. Caught her gently by the front of her shirt. And drew her into a kiss. Mai answered immediately. One hand settled against Elisa's waist, the other at the back of her neck. The kiss was slower than the one she'd shared with Ace. Less impulsive. No less affectionate. Elisa felt the last of the journey fall away. The office. The meetings. The armored vehicle. The security arrangements. All of it. She was here. With Mai. And for once, she didn't need to be anywhere else. When they parted, their foreheads remained close. Mai smiled. "Welcome back." Elisa closed her eyes for a moment. "Oh, that's unfair." Mai laughed softly. "What is?" "Being so darn good at making me forget why I was tired." "Practice." "An alarming amount." Mai kissed her again. Briefly. Tenderly. Then Elisa rested against her for another moment. "God, I've missed you." Mai held her closer. "I know." "Smug woman." "Very." Elisa laughed. Then Ace cleared her throat. "Excuse me." Elisa turned. "Yes?" "I feel neglected." Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, Ace." "What?" "You've already had two kisses," Elisa informed her. "And Mai's had two." "Then you're even." Ace considered. "That doesn't sound right." Reyes, still standing near the doorway, said: "Your mathematics is shit." Elisa burst out laughing. Ace turned. "Nobody asked you!" "Public safety issue." Mai laughed against Elisa's shoulder. And then— "Elisa?" A familiar voice came from the corridor. Elisa turned. Shammy stood there. Her white hair floating softly around her shoulders. Smiling. And for one heartbeat, Elisa forgot entirely about the other two women. "Oh, sweetheart." Shammy opened her arms. Elisa went straight into them. Their embrace was long. Warm. Entirely without hurry. Shammy kissed her cheek. Elisa drew back. Looked into her eyes. Then kissed her properly. Shammy returned it with an affection that made her white hair lift into a gentle halo. Elisa laughed softly when they separated. "Oh, look at you." Shammy smiled. "What?" "Your hair." Shammy sighed. "Don't." "It's beautiful." The halo rose a little higher. Ace started laughing. "SEE?" Mai shook her head. Elisa looked delighted. "Oh, that's wonderful." Shammy closed her eyes. "You three are impossible." Elisa kissed her again. "Yes, darling." A pause. "And you've missed us." Shammy's smile softened. "Very much." Elisa embraced her once more. And for a few moments, nobody interrupted. Not even Ace. ### Reyes Attempts to Leave "Right." Reyes's voice came from the doorway. Elisa turned. The merc had collected her abandoned bag and was standing with it beside her leg. Everything about her expression suggested she had already endured enough affectionate chaos for one morning. "I'm leaving." Ace grinned. "Already?" "Yes." "But we haven't fed you!" "I've eaten." "That was probably hours ago." "Still counts." Mai smiled. "Coffee?" Reyes hesitated. Elisa noticed. "Oh, darling. Don't fight it." Reyes looked at her. "Fight what?" "The inevitable." Ace pointed toward the kitchen. "COFFEE." Reyes sighed. Then looked at Mai. "One." Mai nodded. "One." Ace looked triumphant. "HA!" Reyes pointed at her. "Don't." Ace grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it." Reyes gave her a look that communicated profound disbelief. Then Elisa stepped closer. "Before you disappear..." Reyes raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" Elisa embraced her. Briefly. Sincerely. "Thank you." Reyes returned the hug. "You're welcome." "And enjoy your weekend." "Planning to." Elisa drew back. Then smiled. "Whatever mysterious things it contains." "Elisa." "Yes?" "Don't." Elisa laughed. "Oh, you really are no fun." Reyes's mouth twitched. "Apparently." Elisa leaned closer. "That's why I like you." Reyes shook her head. "Your judgment remains questionable." "Consistently." Mai laughed. Then she touched Elisa's shoulder. "Come on. Let me take your bag." Elisa looked at her. "Where am I staying?" "Your usual guest room." "Wonderful." "And Marco's expecting you for lunch." Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, thank God." Ace grinned. "See? Food." Elisa pointed at her. "Don't start." "Too late." ### An Unexpected Woman Yukari had deliberately remained in the common room. Not because she was anxious. Well. Perhaps a little. But mostly because she thought a long-awaited reunion should belong to the people involved. She had heard the laughter from the entrance. Ace's unmistakable voice. Mai's quieter answers. Shammy's delighted laughter. And one new voice. Warm. Confident. Possessed of a wonderfully expressive sense of humor. Yukari smiled. *Oh, she sounds lovely.* She was setting down her book when the group entered. Ace appeared first. Then Mai. Then Elisa, with Shammy beside her. Reyes followed, carrying a cup of coffee and looking as though she had already decided it had been a mistake to accept. Yukari rose. Elisa stopped. Looked at her. Then glanced toward Ace. Back to Yukari. And finally Mai. There was a pause. Not an uncomfortable one. More the pause of a woman discovering that her friends had neglected to mention a rather significant development. Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Well." Ace's grin became magnificent. "Well?" Elisa looked at Yukari again. Then slowly turned toward Mai. "You've acquired a beautiful woman." Mai laughed. "Something like that." Elisa pointed at Ace. "Is this the secret?" Ace looked innocent. "What secret?" "Oh, fuck off." Shammy burst out laughing. Yukari covered her mouth. And Elisa, hearing that laughter, turned toward her. Their eyes met. Yukari smiled. "Hello, darling." Elisa's eyebrows rose. Then she smiled back. "Hello." Mai stepped forward. "Elisa, this is Yukari O'Sullivan." Elisa blinked. "O'Sullivan?" Yukari inclined her head. "Yes." Elisa looked toward Ace. Who was practically vibrating with delight. Then toward Mai. Then Shammy. Finally back to Yukari. "Should I be asking questions?" Yukari smiled. "You're most welcome to." Elisa considered. Then laughed softly. "Oh, I think I'm going to like you." Yukari's expression brightened. "How lovely." Ace grinned. "Elisa, meet Yukari. Yukari, meet Elisa." Elisa looked toward her. "Was that really necessary?" "Formal introduction." "Very formal." "Thank you." Elisa shook her head. Then offered Yukari her hand. "It's a pleasure." Yukari accepted it. "The pleasure is mine, darling. I've heard such lovely things about you." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Indeed." "From these three?" "Yes." Elisa looked toward the Triad. Then back. "How suspicious." Yukari laughed. "Should I be concerned?" "Only if they told you I was well-behaved." Yukari's smile widened. "Oh, no." "Good." "They were quite explicit about that." Elisa stared. Then burst out laughing. "OH, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" Ace doubled over. Mai covered her mouth. Shammy's hair lifted. And Reyes, watching the exchange over her coffee, slowly shook her head. "Great." Elisa turned. "What?" Reyes looked at Yukari. Then Elisa. "Another one." Ace lost it completely. ### Familiar Faces, New Questions Elisa settled onto the sofa with the comfortable confidence of someone who knew she belonged there. Yukari sat opposite her. Ace took the armchair. Mai and Shammy settled together nearby. Reyes remained standing until Mai gave her a pointed look. Then she sat. Reluctantly. Elisa regarded Yukari with open curiosity. "So." Yukari smiled. "So?" "How long have you been staying here?" "A little while." "And you've taken the surname O'Sullivan?" "Yes." Elisa considered. "Interesting." Yukari tilted her head. "Is it?" "Very." Elisa glanced toward Ace. "Would you care to explain?" Ace smiled. "Nope." "Ace." "What?" "You're being extremely irritating." "Thank you." Mai sighed. "Yukari chose the name because this is her home now." Elisa's expression softened. "Oh." Yukari smiled. "It means a great deal to me." Elisa looked at her. Then nodded. "Well, that's lovely." She considered. "And I assume these three have been behaving appallingly?" "Magnificently," Yukari replied. Elisa began laughing. "That's not a denial." "Nor was it intended to be." "Oh, I really do like you." Yukari's smile brightened. "How fortunate." Reyes looked into her coffee. Ace noticed. "Something funny?" Reyes shook her head. "No." "You're smiling." "Medical condition." Mai laughed. Elisa leaned toward Yukari. "Tell me something." "Anything, darling." "Did they actually warn you what living with them would be like?" Yukari considered. "No." Elisa looked triumphant. "I knew it." "However..." Elisa paused. Yukari's smile became mischievous. "I suspect any warning would have been inadequate." Elisa stared. Then burst out laughing again. "Oh, you wonderful woman!" Ace grinned. "See? Told you she'd fit in." Mai raised an eyebrow. "You told us?" "Several times." "You mostly said Elisa was going to lose her mind." "Same thing." Elisa pointed at Ace. "Don't think I've forgotten about your little secret." Ace smiled innocently. "What secret?" Elisa turned toward Yukari. "Have they told you anything embarrassing about me?" Yukari considered. "Not yet." "Excellent." "But I'm a patient woman." Elisa stared. Then a wicked smile appeared. "Oh, are you?" "Very." "Well, darling." Elisa leaned back. "We may have to compare notes." Ace looked suddenly concerned. "Hang on." Mai smiled. "Oh?" Shammy began laughing. Reyes took another drink of coffee. Ace pointed between the two women. "No." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "No?" "Absolutely not." Yukari tilted her head. "May I ask why?" Ace considered. Then looked toward Mai. "Help." Mai smiled. "No." Elisa burst out laughing. ### The Mercenary and the Kitsune Eventually, Reyes checked the time. Then stood. "Right. I'm actually going." Ace looked up. "Didn't you say that twenty minutes ago?" "Optimism." Mai smiled. "Thanks for bringing her." Reyes nodded. "Anytime." Elisa rose. "Leaving us already?" "Appointment." "Oh?" "Don't." Elisa laughed. "I hadn't said anything." "Didn't need to." Yukari approached. "Reyes?" The merc turned. "Yeah?" Yukari smiled. "It's lovely to see you again." Reyes regarded her. Then nodded. "You too." For a moment, their eyes met. There was an understanding between them that had begun during the strange, dangerous events surrounding the Oni. Reyes had seen Yukari do things that should have been impossible. Yukari had seen Reyes face that reality without pretending to understand it. Neither needed to revisit the experience now. Yukari's smile softened. "Take care, darling." Reyes gave her a small, dry smile. "Planning to." She glanced toward Ace. "Try not to get killed." Ace grinned. "No promises." Reyes closed her eyes. "That's exactly the wrong answer." "Love you too!" Reyes looked toward Mai. "Good luck." Mai sighed. "Thank you." Elisa laughed. Reyes started toward the exit. Then stopped. Turned. And pointed directly at Ace. "Remember. The door." Ace looked offended. "I know how the fucking door works!" "Then use it." Ace grinned. "YES, MOM." Reyes shook her head. "Jesus Christ." Mai went with her to the upper entrance, where the door had to be opened from the inside. A moment later it closed securely behind her. --- Reyes descended the stairs. Outside, Night City was continuing its usual collection of bad decisions. She had an appointment with Victor. Then some private preparations. And, if the weekend went according to plan, the next two evenings would have absolutely nothing to do with being Elisa's security escort. Reyes smiled faintly. "Finally." She got into her vehicle. Checked the time. And headed toward Victor's clinic. ### A Very Interesting Lunch By the time Marco appeared with lunch, Elisa had learned several things. Yukari was funny. Very funny. She spoke with an elegance that somehow made her most outrageous remarks even more effective. She was clearly fond of Ace, Mai, and Shammy. And she seemed genuinely delighted by practically everything happening around her. Including Brenda's sudden arrival. "ELISA!" The engineer appeared in the doorway. Elisa turned. "Oh, look who's here!" Brenda crossed the room and embraced her. "Finally escaped?" "Temporarily." "Did anybody die?" "Not for lack of provocation." "Excellent!" They laughed. Iris followed. She greeted Elisa with a warm hug. "It's lovely to see you." "You too, beautiful." Then Elisa noticed something. Brenda had slipped an arm around Yukari's waist. Entirely naturally. And Yukari had responded with an affectionate smile. Elisa looked between them. Then toward Iris. Iris smiled serenely. Elisa slowly raised an eyebrow. "Oh." Ace noticed. And began grinning. Elisa turned toward her. "Don't." "I didn't say anything!" "You were about to." Ace laughed. Mai shook her head. Yukari looked interested. "Have I missed something?" Elisa considered. Then smiled. "No, darling." She glanced at Brenda. Then Iris. Then Yukari again. "I believe I'm beginning to understand a few things." Brenda grinned. "Are you?" "Possibly." Yukari's expression became mischievous. "How delightful." Elisa laughed. Then Marco emerged from the kitchen. "Food's ready." Elisa turned immediately. "Oh, thank God." Ace pointed triumphantly. "SEE?" Elisa stared at her. "Don't make me regret coming here." "Too late." Marco shook his head. Then smiled at Elisa. "Good to have you back." Elisa approached and embraced him. "Good to be back." He kissed her cheek. Then regarded the assembled company. "All right. Everybody sit down before the food gets cold." Ace was already moving. Naturally. Elisa looked at Yukari. Then at Mai. Then Shammy. Finally Ace. She smiled. Four days. An entire weekend. A family she loved. And one exceptionally interesting new woman. Perhaps her calendar hadn't merely given her time off. Perhaps it had given her exactly what she needed. ### A Question for Later After lunch, Elisa found herself sitting beside Yukari while the others argued about whether Ace could reasonably claim the last portion of dessert. She watched the argument for a moment. Then leaned closer to the kitsune. "May I ask you something?" Yukari smiled. "Of course, darling." Elisa glanced toward the others. "Why do I get the impression there's considerably more to your story than anyone's told me?" Yukari considered. Then laughed softly. "Because there is." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Interesting." "Very." "Would you care to elaborate?" Yukari looked at her. Then smiled. "Perhaps a little later." Elisa regarded her thoughtfully. Then nodded. "Fair enough." She turned toward the ongoing argument. Ace was now claiming that the dessert portion was technically hers because she had seen it first. Mai was informing her that this was not a recognized principle of ownership. Brenda was offering legal advice. Iris was laughing. And Shammy had quietly taken the last portion herself. Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Yukari looked delighted. "Something amusing?" Elisa pointed. "Watch." Ace finally noticed the empty plate. There was a pause. Then— "SHAMMY!" Shammy looked up. "Yes, darling?" "YOU ATE IT!" "Apparently." Mai began laughing. Brenda doubled over. Iris closed her eyes. And Elisa laughed until tears appeared. Yukari watched them all. Then looked at Elisa. Her expression softened. There it was. The thing that made this place extraordinary. Not merely affection. Not merely the freedom to love. But the complete, uncomplicated happiness of being among people who didn't require anyone to perform a role. Elisa wiped at her eyes. Then looked toward Yukari. "What?" Yukari smiled. "Nothing, darling." Elisa narrowed her eyes. "That sounded suspicious." Yukari laughed. "Did it?" "Extremely." The kitsune considered. Then reached for her hand. "I was simply thinking how fortunate we are." Elisa looked at her. Then toward the room. And smiled. "Yes." She squeezed Yukari's hand. "We really are." For a moment, they sat quietly together. Then Elisa leaned closer. "And for the record..." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "I'm absolutely going to find out what you're hiding." Yukari's smile became positively wicked. "Oh, sweetheart." Elisa blinked. Then began laughing. "OH, YOU'RE TROUBLE!" Yukari inclined her head. "So I've been told." Across the room, Ace looked toward Mai. Mai looked toward Shammy. And all three smiled. Because Elisa had absolutely no idea. Not yet. And somewhere behind Yukari's elegant human appearance waited nine magnificent tails. For now, however, the ancient kitsune was perfectly content to remain exactly as she was. A woman among friends. Enjoying lunch. Enjoying laughter. And becoming increasingly fascinated by the exceptionally beautiful newcomer beside her. --- ## Chapter 11 — Nine Tails *Watson, Night City.* *Friday afternoon.* Elisa was beginning to suspect that the people she loved had completely lost their minds. This wasn't a new suspicion. Ace alone provided compelling evidence on an almost daily basis. But there was something distinctly unusual about the way everyone was behaving this afternoon. Mai kept exchanging amused glances with Shammy. Shammy was smiling at absolutely nothing. Brenda had developed an apparently uncontrollable interest in watching Elisa's face. And Ace— Ace was being suspiciously quiet. That was the worst part. Elisa regarded the petite swordswoman across the coffee table. "Ace." "Yeah?" "What have you done?" Ace blinked. "Nothing." "Try again." "Nothing recently." "Better. Still unconvincing." Mai laughed into her coffee. Elisa pointed at her. "And you." Mai looked up. "Me?" "Yes, you." "What have I done?" "That's what I'm trying to establish." "Good luck." Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Yukari, seated beside Shammy, covered her mouth. Elisa turned toward her. "And you, darling." The kitsune lowered her hand. "Yes?" "You're enjoying this." Yukari smiled. "Rather." "Why?" "Because you're very entertaining." Elisa stared at her. Then laughed. "Oh, wonderful. Another one." Ace grinned. "Told you." Elisa narrowed her eyes. "That makes four." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Four what?" "Women in this room who are clearly conspiring against me." Shammy smiled innocently. "Only four?" Elisa looked around. Counted. Then turned toward Iris, who was reading in the adjacent armchair. Iris looked up. "Don't include me, darling. I'm merely enjoying the performance." Brenda burst out laughing. Elisa threw up her hands. "Five! Five conspirators!" Ace folded forward. "Oh, FUCK!" Yukari laughed with her. And Elisa, despite her increasingly theatrical indignation, found herself smiling. She had missed this. God, she'd missed this. But she was also determined to discover what was happening. Preferably before somebody presented her with an invoice. ### An Unusual Question "All right." Elisa set down her coffee. "Yukari." The kitsune turned toward her. "Yes, darling?" "May I ask you something?" "Of course." "How exactly did you meet this collection of lunatics?" Ace looked offended. "HEY!" Elisa pointed at her without looking away from Yukari. "Quiet, darling. The adults are talking." Mai began laughing. Ace stared. "That's fucking unfair!" "Entirely." Yukari smiled. "Well, it was a rather unusual introduction." "Somehow that doesn't surprise me." "There were difficulties involving several rather unpleasant individuals." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "That sounds suspiciously diplomatic." "Doesn't it?" "Very." Yukari considered. "Some of them had swords." Elisa paused. Looked at Ace. Then back at Yukari. "Of course they did." Ace grinned. "Good story." "I'm beginning to suspect that." Yukari continued. "And after the unpleasantness was resolved, I found myself spending time with Ace, Mai, and Shammy." "Resolved how?" Yukari glanced toward Ace. Ace looked delighted. Elisa sighed. "Never mind. I probably don't want to know." "Probably not," Mai agreed. Yukari smiled. "Eventually, they invited me to stay." "And you accepted?" "Not immediately." Elisa tilted her head. "Why not?" For the first time, Yukari's expression became thoughtful rather than amused. "Because I wasn't accustomed to staying." Something in that answer caught Elisa's attention. She leaned back. "Ah." Yukari regarded her. "You understand?" "A little." Elisa glanced around the room. At the familiar furniture. The coffee cups. The scattered books. The household that managed to feel comfortable despite an extraordinary number of people apparently possessing an extraordinary number of weapons. Then she smiled. "This place does have a habit of doing that." "Doing what?" "Making you want to stay." Yukari's expression softened. "Oh, darling." Elisa smiled back. "I know." For a moment, the conversation rested there. Then Ace ruined it. "SO." Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, no." Ace grinned. "Ready for the interesting part?" Elisa stared at her. "The interesting part?" "Yep." "Darling, if this is another demonstration involving your swords, I'm leaving." "No swords." "Explosives?" "Nope." "Brenda's inventions?" "HEY!" Brenda protested. Elisa pointed at her. "Your inventions have a reputation, sweetheart." "They're excellent inventions!" Iris looked up. "The coffee machine disagrees." Brenda stared at her wife. Yukari started laughing. Ace waved both hands. "NO! Nothing like that!" Elisa regarded her suspiciously. "Then what?" Ace turned toward Yukari. Her grin widened. Yukari looked back at her. Then sighed. "Oh, sweetheart." Ace clasped her hands. "Please?" Yukari laughed. "You've been waiting all morning, haven't you?" "Since yesterday!" Mai shook her head. "Of course she has." Elisa looked between them. Then leaned forward. "Would someone please tell me what the fuck is happening?" Yukari met her eyes. And smiled. "Elisa, darling, would you mind terribly if I showed you something rather unusual?" Elisa considered. She looked at the four women around her. Then back at Yukari. "How unusual?" Yukari's smile became positively mischievous. "Quite." Elisa sighed. "Of course." Then she smiled. "All right, sweetheart. Surprise me." ### A Moment of Preparation Yukari rose. Not dramatically. Not with the elaborate movements of a performer preparing to amaze an audience. She simply stood and placed her book on the table. Then she looked at Elisa. "Before I do, there's something I should explain." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Oh, now we get an explanation?" Ace began laughing. Yukari smiled. "I am not going to show you a hologram." "All right." "Nor a technological disguise." "Okay." "And nothing you are about to see is an illusion." Elisa paused. Then glanced toward Brenda. The engineer had stopped laughing. She was watching Yukari with an expression of affectionate interest. Elisa looked back. "That's a rather specific set of assurances." Yukari nodded. "Yes." "Should I be worried?" "No, darling." The answer was immediate. And completely sincere. Elisa studied her. Then nodded. "All right." Yukari smiled. "Thank you." She glanced toward the others. "Perhaps a little more room?" Ace practically launched herself out of the chair. "YES!" Mai caught her arm. "Ace." "What?" "Move the table carefully." "I was going to!" "Without hitting anything." "YES, LOVE!" Elisa watched as Ace and Mai shifted the coffee table aside. Shammy moved a floor cushion. Iris set down her book. Brenda collected the cups, wearing an expression that suggested she was beginning to enjoy the anticipation almost as much as Ace. Elisa looked around. Then back at Yukari. "Are you about to perform a magic trick?" Yukari considered. "Not quite." "That's not reassuring." "I promise there will be no rabbits." Ace made a strangled noise. Mai closed her eyes. And Shammy started laughing. Elisa stared. "Oh, that's a joke, isn't it?" Yukari smiled. "A little one." "Very funny." "Thank you." Then Yukari stepped into the cleared space. She looked at Elisa. And for a moment, her expression became almost tender. "Darling, whatever you see, please remember that I'm still me." Elisa regarded her. Something about that request mattered. More than the others' laughter. More than whatever surprise was waiting. Yukari wasn't merely asking permission to demonstrate something. She was asking to be recognized afterward. Elisa's expression softened. "Of course." Yukari smiled. "Good." Then she changed. ### Nine There was no machinery. No projection. No familiar shimmer of face-mesh activation. Instead, a warm golden radiance gathered around Yukari. For an instant, her familiar human outline seemed to soften inside the light. The change was deliberate. Smooth. As natural as a person rising from a chair. And when the radiance faded— A fox stood in the middle of the room. A real fox. Russet, cream, and gold fur. Four paws resting on the floor. Pointed ears. A narrow muzzle. Bright, wonderfully expressive eyes. And behind her— Elisa stopped breathing. Not literally. But for several seconds, it certainly felt that way. Because behind the fox, spreading in a magnificent arrangement of living fur, were tails. A great many tails. Elisa stared. Then blinked. Once. Twice. The fox looked at her. "Well, darling?" Elisa's mouth fell open. The voice was unmistakable. Yukari. Speaking. As a fox. Elisa looked toward Ace. Ace was grinning so broadly that she looked in danger of injuring herself. Elisa turned back. The fox tilted her head. "Are you all right?" Elisa raised one hand. "One moment." Yukari's ears twitched. "Of course." Elisa stared. Then slowly lowered her hand. "No." Ace made a delighted noise. Elisa pointed at the fox. "No." Mai began smiling. Yukari looked mildly concerned. "No?" Elisa shook her head. "No. Absolutely not." Shammy covered her mouth. Elisa looked toward Brenda. "Tell me that's a fucking hologram." Brenda shook her head. "Nope." "Face-mesh?" "No." "Some sort of full-body projection?" "No." "An extremely elaborate practical joke?" Brenda grinned. "Wish I'd thought of it." Elisa turned toward Iris. Iris smiled. "She's real, darling." Elisa stared at her. Then at the fox. And finally— "Oh, FUCK." Ace collapsed into laughter. "THERE IT IS!" Elisa pointed at her. "SHUT UP!" Ace laughed harder. Yukari sat down. Very neatly. And smiled. Or at least, Elisa would later insist that the fox had been smiling. Because there was simply no other reasonable interpretation of that expression. ### Counting Elisa rose from the sofa. Slowly. She approached Yukari. Then stopped. Looked at the tails. And frowned. "Wait." Yukari's ears turned toward her. "Yes?" Elisa pointed. "One." A tail lifted. "Two." Another moved. "Three." A third curled gently toward the floor. "Four." The fourth swayed. Elisa continued counting. "Five. Six. Seven. Eight..." She stopped. Looked more carefully. Then pointed at the last one. "Nine." The ninth tail rose. Elisa stared. Then looked toward Ace. "Nine." Ace nodded enthusiastically. "Nine." "Actual tails." "Yep." "Attached to an actual fox." "Pretty much." Elisa stared at Yukari. Then she slowly sat down on the nearest chair. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Yukari tilted her head. "Darling?" Elisa looked at her. "You have nine tails." "Yes." "Why?" Yukari considered. Then laughed softly. "That's a rather complicated question." Elisa stared. Then started laughing too. "Oh, I imagine it fucking is!" She leaned forward. "All right. I have several questions." Ace grinned. "Only several?" Elisa pointed at her. "Don't." Ace raised both hands. Elisa turned back toward the fox. "You're Yukari." "Yes." "Not someone controlling a fox." "No." "Not a projection of Yukari onto a fox." "No." "And not a fox with a communication implant pretending to be Yukari." Yukari's ears tilted outward. Then she began laughing. "Oh, darling!" Brenda was nearly crying. Elisa looked at her. "What?" Brenda shook her head. "Nothing. Keep going. This is fucking wonderful." Elisa sighed. Then looked back at Yukari. "You're actually a fox." "At present." Elisa blinked. "At present?" Yukari smiled. "Yes." Elisa glanced toward Mai. Mai merely raised an eyebrow. Elisa considered the implication. Then shook her head. "No. One impossible thing at a time." Shammy laughed. "Very sensible." "Thank you." Elisa looked at Yukari again. Then at the tails. "Do they all move?" Yukari's eyes brightened. "Oh, yes." "Independently?" "Quite." Elisa regarded her with renewed fascination. "May I see?" Yukari considered. Then nodded. "Of course." The nine tails moved. Not in unison. Not as decorative streamers following the motion of her body. Each moved with its own deliberate purpose. One lifted. Another curled around her forepaws. A third reached toward the cushion beside her. Two crossed behind her back. Another traced a lazy circle in the air. The remaining tails spread and folded with a grace that seemed almost impossible. Elisa watched. Completely silent. Then she whispered: "Bloody hell." Ace grinned. "Pretty fucking cool, right?" Elisa didn't look away. "Ace." "Yeah?" "Shut up for a moment." Ace laughed. But she obeyed. For once. ### The Important Question Elisa remained seated for several moments. Then she looked toward Yukari. "May I touch you?" The question changed something. Not dramatically. But enough that Yukari's expression softened. "Of course, darling." Elisa hesitated. "The fur?" "Yes." "Or one of the tails?" Yukari considered. Then deliberately extended one toward her. "This one, if you like." Elisa smiled. "Thank you." She reached out. Carefully. And touched the tail. Warm. Soft. Absolutely real. Elisa ran her fingers gently through the fur. Then stopped. Looked at her own hand. And laughed softly. "Oh, my God." Yukari's ears twitched. "Well?" Elisa looked at her. Then shook her head. "You're real." Yukari smiled. "Very." Elisa touched the tail again. "Warm." "Naturally." "And ridiculously soft." Ace grinned. "Told you." Elisa looked toward her. "You have been keeping this from me." "Only until today." "That is not a defense." "Pretty good one." Mai laughed. Elisa turned back toward Yukari. Then her expression became thoughtful. "Does it hurt?" Yukari tilted her head. "What, darling?" "The transformation." The room grew quieter. Yukari regarded her. Then shook her head. "No." "Not at all?" "Not in the way you're imagining." Elisa nodded. "Good." A pause. Then she laughed. "Because I was about to ask whether I needed to be worried about your bones." Brenda made an interested noise. Elisa pointed at her. "Don't." "I didn't say anything!" "You were thinking about it." "Well, of course I fucking was!" Yukari laughed. "Oh, Brenda." The engineer grinned. "One day, sweetheart, you're going to let me ask all the technical questions." "Perhaps." "That's not a no." "Nor is it a yes." Iris smiled. "Careful, she learns quickly." Brenda looked delighted. "That's what makes her fun." Elisa glanced between the two women. Then at Yukari. And slowly, a wicked smile appeared. "Oh." Ace narrowed her eyes. "What?" Elisa considered. Then looked toward Iris. Who was watching Brenda with unmistakable amusement. Elisa shook her head. "Oh, this family." Yukari laughed. "Something wrong, darling?" "Nothing whatsoever." A pause. "Just beginning to understand why Ace looked so bloody pleased with herself yesterday." Ace grinned. "Me?" "Yes, you." "Can't help being happy." "Apparently." Elisa stroked the offered tail once more. Then looked at Yukari. "Thank you." The kitsune's expression softened. "You're welcome." Elisa smiled. Then withdrew her hand. Yukari allowed the tail to fold back beside the others. And for a moment, the two women simply regarded each other. ### A Fox, Not a Pet "So." Elisa settled more comfortably. "I assume everybody here has been making completely inappropriate jokes about this." "Constantly," Mai replied. Ace looked offended. "Not constantly!" Shammy laughed. "Frequently." "Fine. Frequently." Yukari sighed. "Oh, the indignities I endure." Elisa smiled. "Poor darling." "Terrible." "I imagine they've been scratching your ears." Yukari's ears rose. Ace began grinning. Mai looked toward Shammy. Shammy covered her mouth. Elisa noticed. "Oh, no." Yukari looked suspicious. "What?" Elisa leaned forward. "Do you enjoy that?" The fox considered. Then lifted her chin. "Under appropriate circumstances." Ace burst out laughing. "APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES!" Yukari turned toward her. "Darling." "What?" "Would you prefer me to discuss your sleeping habits?" Ace stopped laughing. Mai's smile became dangerous. Shammy looked delighted. Elisa stared between them. Then slowly raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Ace pointed at Yukari. "Don't." The fox smiled. Elisa leaned closer. "Yukari." "Yes, darling?" "Please continue." Yukari regarded Ace thoughtfully. "Well, you see..." "YUKARI!" "...our beloved Ace has developed a particular fondness for sleeping with one of my tails in her arms." Silence. Then Elisa began laughing. A loud, helpless laugh. Ace closed her eyes. "Oh, fuck." Mai nodded. "Every night she gets the opportunity." "Not EVERY night!" "Most nights," Shammy corrected. Yukari's ears tilted forward. "Sometimes she takes two." Elisa nearly fell off the chair. "OH, FUCK!" Ace buried her face in her hands. Yukari looked enormously pleased. "And occasionally she talks to them." Mai lost her composure. Shammy doubled over. Brenda shouted something incoherent. And Elisa— Elisa was laughing so hard that tears appeared in her eyes. Finally she managed: "What does she SAY?" Ace looked up. "NOTHING!" Yukari considered. "Usually something about warmth." Elisa made a strangled noise. "And once..." Ace pointed at her. "NO." Yukari smiled sweetly. "...she informed my third tail that it was her favorite." The room erupted. Even Iris abandoned all attempts at composure. Ace stared at Yukari. Then slowly grinned. "All right." Yukari tilted her head. "Yes, sweetheart?" "War." Elisa wiped at her eyes. "Oh, God." Ace leaned forward. "You think being a fox gets you immunity?" Yukari's smile widened. "Doesn't it?" "Absolutely not." "How disappointing." Ace reached toward her. Then paused. "May I?" Yukari looked at her. Then nodded. "Of course, darling." Ace gently scratched behind one ear. Yukari's eyes closed. Her expression became one of unmistakable contentment. Elisa stared. Then began laughing all over again. "Oh, this is ridiculous." Yukari opened one eye. "Darling?" Elisa smiled. "Yes?" "You're welcome to laugh." "Thank you." "But do remember that I can still speak." Elisa's smile widened. "Oh, I am never going to forget that." ### Not Quite the Question Everyone Expected Eventually, the laughter faded. Marco appeared, regarded the nine-tailed fox occupying the center of the common room, and shook his head. "Ah." Elisa turned. "Marco." "Yes?" "You knew?" He regarded her. "About Yukari?" "Yes!" "Of course." Elisa stared. Then pointed at the fox. "Nine tails, Marco." He looked at Yukari. Then nodded. "Nine." Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Marco smiled. "Coffee?" Elisa stared at him. Then began laughing again. "Yes. Please." He looked toward Yukari. "Anything for you?" "Tea, if you please." "Coming." And he returned to the kitchen. Elisa watched him leave. Then turned toward the others. "Nobody in this house is normal." Ace grinned. "Correct." "Not one of you." "Also correct." Elisa shook her head. Then looked at Yukari. There was still one question she hadn't asked. Not because she was afraid. Because she wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. Yukari noticed. "Something on your mind, darling?" Elisa considered. Then nodded. "Yes." "Ask." Elisa looked at her. "Are you happier like this?" The room grew quiet. Yukari regarded her for a moment. Then tilted her head. "Than as a woman?" Elisa nodded. "Yes." The kitsune considered. "No." Elisa blinked. "No?" "Nor am I happier in my human form." Yukari looked toward Ace. Then Mai. Then Shammy. And finally back at Elisa. "They're both me." Elisa considered that. The fox continued. "I enjoy having hands when I wish to hold someone. I enjoy walking through the city without attracting unusual attention." Ace snorted. Mai smiled. "And I enjoy curling up beneath my tails when I'm tired." Elisa nodded slowly. "That makes sense." Yukari tilted her head. "Does it?" "More than you'd think." The fox regarded her. Elisa smiled. "People can spend an extraordinary amount of time deciding which version of themselves they're supposed to be." For a moment, neither spoke. Then Yukari smiled. "Oh, Elisa." The other woman laughed softly. "Don't look so impressed. I'm occasionally capable of a sensible observation." "I never doubted it, darling." "How reassuring." Yukari's expression softened. "And I'm very glad you asked." Elisa nodded. "So am I." ### No Photographs Elisa eventually reached for her agent. Then stopped. Looked at Yukari. And lowered it again. The fox noticed. "Darling?" Elisa smiled. "I was about to do something stupid." Ace looked interested. "Can I watch?" Mai sighed. "Ace." Elisa laughed. "I was going to ask for a photograph." Yukari considered. "Oh." "Then I realized that if you've managed to keep this part of yourself private for so long, there might be a reason." The fox nodded slowly. "Yes." Elisa put the agent away. "Then no photograph." Yukari's expression softened. "Thank you." Elisa shrugged. "I don't need evidence." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Elisa looked toward her. "Darling, if I told somebody I'd spent Friday afternoon having coffee with a talking nine-tailed fox, they'd assume I'd finally developed an expensive drug habit." Brenda burst out laughing. Ace grinned. "Pretty much." "And I'd rather not spend the rest of my life answering questions about it." Yukari laughed softly. "Very sensible." Elisa leaned forward. "Besides..." The fox tilted her head. "Yes?" "I'd much rather have a friend than a photograph." For a moment, Yukari was completely still. Then her expression changed. The laughter remained in her eyes. But something warmer appeared beneath it. "Oh, darling." She stepped closer. Then gently rested her head against Elisa's knee. Elisa looked down. And smiled. She didn't move immediately. Then, very carefully, she placed a hand against Yukari's shoulder. The fur was warm. Real. Soft. And the gesture required no explanation. Shammy watched from the sofa. Her expression softened. Mai reached for Ace's hand. Ace squeezed it. And for a few moments, nobody spoke. ### The Real Surprise Elisa was still gently stroking Yukari's shoulder when the fox lifted her head. "May I ask you something?" Elisa smiled. "Certainly." "Are you disappointed?" Elisa blinked. "Disappointed?" "Yes." "Why on earth would I be disappointed?" Yukari considered. "Because you came to spend time with familiar friends, and instead you've been confronted with something rather difficult to explain." Elisa stared at her. Then she began laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." Yukari's ears tilted forward. Elisa shook her head. "You really don't know, do you?" "Know what?" Elisa leaned closer. "That you're not the difficult part." Yukari blinked. Elisa gestured toward Ace. "That woman once managed to turn a perfectly ordinary evening into a discussion about whether a katana could be used to open a particularly stubborn champagne bottle." Ace looked offended. "It could!" Mai closed her eyes. Elisa pointed at her. "See?" Yukari laughed. "And Brenda," Elisa continued, "has apparently declared war on a coffee machine." Brenda raised a hand. "THE MACHINE STARTED IT." Iris smiled. "Naturally, darling." Elisa looked back at Yukari. "And Shammy's hair has been doing that lovely impossible thing for as long as I've known her." Shammy's white hair rose slightly. Elisa smiled. "Exactly." The kitsune laughed. Elisa touched her cheek gently. "So no, darling. I'm not disappointed." Yukari regarded her. "Truly?" "Truly." Elisa's smile became warmer. "In fact, I'm rather delighted." The fox's ears rose. "Oh?" "Yes." "Why?" Elisa considered. Then answered simply. "Because people I love have found someone else who makes them happy." Yukari became quiet. Elisa glanced toward the Triad. "Look at them." Yukari followed her gaze. Ace was sitting close to Mai. Shammy beside them. Three women watching with unmistakable affection. Elisa smiled. "They adore you." Yukari's expression softened. "I know." "And judging by the way you've been looking at them since I arrived, the feeling's mutual." "Very." Elisa nodded. "Then I'm happy for all of you." She paused. "And rather pleased to have met you myself." Yukari looked at her. Then laughed very softly. "Oh, Elisa." The other woman smiled. "Yes?" "I think I'm going to like you enormously." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Darling, I should hope so." Yukari laughed. Elisa leaned closer. "Besides, now that I know you're a talking fox with nine tails..." A pause. "...I'm beginning to suspect you have some truly magnificent stories." Yukari's eyes brightened. "Oh, sweetheart." Elisa smiled. "Yes?" "You have no idea." ### The Return The conversation eventually drifted toward more ordinary subjects. Or as ordinary as conversations could become when one participant had nine tails. Elisa asked about Yukari's books. Her travels. The things she enjoyed doing in Night City. And Yukari answered with genuine pleasure. She liked Elisa. Not merely because the other woman was beautiful, although that was certainly a pleasant detail. Elisa listened. She asked intelligent questions. She knew when to make a joke and when to let an answer remain serious. And beneath her polished confidence, Yukari recognized the warmth of someone who had learned the difference between being admired and being loved. It was a distinction Yukari understood rather well. Eventually, Marco announced that fresh coffee was ready. Elisa looked toward the kitchen. Then back at Yukari. "May I ask one last question?" Yukari smiled. "Of course." "Are you planning to remain a fox all afternoon?" The kitsune considered. "Not necessarily." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Yukari rose. Then looked toward the others. "Perhaps I should return to my usual appearance." Ace grinned. "Go for it." Elisa sat up straighter. "Wait." Yukari paused. "Yes, darling?" Elisa regarded her with renewed interest. "You can just... change back?" "Naturally." "Without equipment?" "Yes." "Without a technician?" "Yes." "Without a machine?" Yukari laughed. "Yes, Elisa." The other woman slowly shook her head. "Fuck me." Brenda began laughing. Yukari's ears twitched. "Darling, I haven't even begun to explain the rest." Elisa froze. "The rest?" Ace made a delighted noise. Mai closed her eyes. Shammy started laughing. And Yukari— Yukari allowed a warm golden shimmer to gather around her. The nine tails folded. Her fox form softened within the light. And a moment later, the familiar dark-haired woman stood before them, dressed as she had been before the transformation. She smiled. "Hello again." Elisa stared. Then looked toward Brenda. The engineer raised both hands. "Don't look at me. I had absolutely fuck-all to do with that." Elisa turned toward Iris. Iris smiled. "Still real, darling." Elisa looked at Yukari. Then slowly leaned back. "Oh, Jesus Christ." Ace burst out laughing. Yukari approached. "Are you all right?" Elisa looked up at her. Then began smiling. "Yukari." "Yes, darling?" "I need another coffee." Mai laughed. "Coming." Elisa held up one finger. "And possibly something considerably stronger." Brenda grinned. "Now you're talking." ### The Second Question By the time the coffee arrived, Elisa had recovered enough to resume behaving like herself. Which meant she immediately began asking questions. "So." Yukari smiled. "So?" "That was real." "Yes." "And you're actually the same person." "Entirely." Elisa considered. Then looked toward Mai. "Tell me something." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "How long did it take you to get used to that?" Mai thought for a moment. "Less time than you'd expect." Elisa blinked. "Really?" "Yes." "How?" Mai glanced toward Yukari. Then smiled. "Because she was still Yukari." Elisa considered that. Then nodded. "Fair." Ace grinned. "Also, having nine tails is fucking convenient." Elisa turned. "How?" "Extra blankets." Mai sighed. "Ace." "WHAT?" "They are not blankets." "They're warm!" Yukari laughed. "Darling, you are making a rather persuasive argument for charging rent." Ace stared. Then burst out laughing. Elisa shook her head. "Oh, God." Then she looked back at Yukari. A thought had occurred to her. A rather interesting thought. "One more thing." Yukari smiled. "Yes?" "Are those the only two appearances you have?" The room went very quiet. Not ominously. Not uncomfortably. But with the unmistakable silence of several people recognizing that an exceptionally entertaining question had just been asked. Ace slowly turned toward Mai. Mai looked back. Shammy's smile widened. Brenda set down her coffee. Iris raised an eyebrow. And Yukari— Yukari looked at Elisa for a moment. Then a truly wicked smile appeared. "Oh, darling." Elisa narrowed her eyes. "Why do I suddenly feel like I've asked the wrong question?" Ace began laughing. Mai covered her mouth. Shammy's white hair rose into a soft halo. Yukari approached Elisa. Then leaned closer. "Would you like to know?" Elisa regarded her. A beautiful, dark-haired woman. An extraordinarily warm smile. The unmistakable expression of someone who had just discovered a delightful opportunity to surprise a new friend. Elisa considered. Then she smiled back. Slowly. Wickedly. "Oh, sweetheart." She picked up her coffee. "I would love to know." Ace folded forward. "Oh, FUCK." Mai shook her head affectionately. Shammy laughed. And Yukari O'Sullivan, who had lived for millennia and still found enormous pleasure in discovering new ways to make people smile, decided that this was going to be a particularly wonderful afternoon. --- ## Chapter 12 — More Than One Face Watson, Night City. Friday afternoon, continuing. Elisa looked at Yukari. Then at Ace. Then back at Yukari. "All right." Yukari smiled. "Yes, darling?" "Before we go any further, I want one thing established." "Of course." Elisa pointed at Ace. "If she starts laughing before you've finished explaining, I reserve the right to throw something at her." Ace leaned back in her chair. "Why me?" "Experience." "That's discrimination." "Correct." Mai laughed into her coffee. Yukari looked delighted. "Oh, I think we're going to get along wonderfully." Elisa turned toward her. "Sweetheart, you're a nine-tailed fox who turns into a beautiful woman without the slightest assistance from technology." "Yes." "At this point, getting along with you is the least of my concerns." "How reassuring." "Don't get comfortable. I have questions." Yukari settled beside her. "Then ask away." Elisa regarded her thoughtfully. "That woman I'm looking at now. The dark hair, the face, the voice." "Yes?" "Is that how you always look when you're human?" Yukari smiled. "Usually." "Usually?" "These days." Elisa slowly lowered her cup. "These days." "Yes." She turned toward Mai. "Why does every answer make the situation worse?" Mai considered. "Because you're asking good questions." "Oh, thank you. That's tremendously helpful." Ace grinned. "She's being nice." "That's what worries me." Mai laughed. Then she looked at Yukari. "Perhaps you should show her." Yukari tilted her head. "Do you think so?" "I think Elisa's going to spend the rest of the afternoon wondering otherwise." "You're absolutely fucking right," Elisa replied. Shammy smiled. "Well, that's settled." Yukari regarded the assembled women. Then laughed softly. "Oh, heavens. What an extraordinarily curious family." Brenda, who had been listening from beside Iris, raised a hand. "I have a technical question." Iris closed her eyes. "Of course you do." Brenda ignored her. "Does the transformation change your entire physical structure?" Yukari smiled. "Yes, darling." "Not merely superficial features?" "No." "Bone proportions? Muscle distribution? Vocal anatomy?" "Yes." Brenda stared at her. Then slowly looked toward the ceiling. "Fuck." Iris touched her arm. "Darling?" "What?" "Remember to breathe." Brenda exhaled. "Right." Elisa regarded her with amusement. "Oh, good. The engineer's having a religious experience." "Shut up, Elisa." "Never." Yukari laughed. Then stood. "Very well. Would you all indulge me for a moment?" Ace's grin widened. "Gladly." Yukari looked at her. "Darling, please try not to turn this into a competition." Ace considered. "With what?" "Yourself, most likely." Mai burst out laughing. ### The First Stranger Yukari stepped into the cleared space beside the windows. She glanced down at her dress. Then at Brenda. "Before we begin, darling, I should mention that my clothing is quite ordinary." Brenda looked interested. "Oh?" "My body changes. The fabric doesn't." "Right." "Which can occasionally be inconvenient." Elisa laughed. "Now that I understand." Yukari smiled. She excused herself briefly and returned wearing a loose, flowing robe, tied comfortably at the waist. "Better?" Brenda nodded. "Practical." "Occasionally." Yukari looked at Elisa. "Ready?" Elisa set down her coffee. "Absolutely." "Then allow me to introduce someone who doesn't exist." The familiar golden radiance gathered around her. This time Elisa watched carefully. She had seen the fox. She understood, at least intellectually, that Yukari could change her body. But watching the transformation happen without the distraction of nine magnificent tails was different. Yukari's outline shifted. Her height increased. Her shoulders changed. Dark hair grew longer, gathering into loose curls that fell over the robe. Her face became broader, her features changing with an effortless precision that made Elisa's knowledge of facial reconstruction technology suddenly seem rather inadequate. The radiance faded. A tall woman stood before them. Her skin was a rich brown, her hair an abundance of dark curls, and her face entirely unlike the one Elisa had been studying only moments earlier. She smiled. "Good afternoon." Her voice was different. Lower. Resonant. Warm. Elisa stared. Then leaned forward. "Oh, bloody hell." The woman laughed. Still Yukari. But the laughter sounded different too. "An interesting response, darling." Elisa pointed. "Your voice." "Yes?" "That's not a vocal modulator." "No." "Or a voice-sculpt." "No." Elisa looked toward Brenda. "Tell me there's something happening that a scanner could detect." Brenda was studying Yukari with an expression of intense concentration. "Well, a scanner would detect a different body." "That's reassuring." "But not the process in any way I know how to explain." Elisa leaned back. "Wonderful." Ace grinned. "Pretty amazing, huh?" Elisa looked at the tall woman. Then at Ace. "Ace, I'm trying very hard not to throw something at you." "What did I do?" "You look too fucking pleased." "Can't help it." Yukari laughed. Then folded her hands. "Would you like me to walk around?" Elisa blinked. "Why?" "To see that I'm not merely changing my appearance while standing still." Elisa considered. Then smiled. "Actually, yes." Yukari walked across the room. Her movements had changed subtly. A longer stride. A different distribution of weight. The relaxed bearing of a woman accustomed to being taller than most people around her. She stopped beside Iris. For a moment, the two women regarded each other. Iris raised an eyebrow. Yukari smiled. "Hello, darling." Iris laughed softly. "Hello, stranger." Brenda made an appreciative noise. Iris turned toward her. "Brenda." "What?" "Use your words." "She's fucking gorgeous." Yukari laughed. "How kind." Iris looked her over. Then nodded. "She is." Elisa slowly turned toward the married couple. "Oh, I see." Brenda grinned. "See what?" "Absolutely everything." Ace started laughing. ### Another Woman Entirely "All right," Elisa said. "That's one." Yukari turned toward her. "One?" "One additional appearance." "Indeed." Elisa smiled. "How many can you manage?" Yukari considered. "That's not a question with a particularly useful numerical answer." Elisa stared. Then laughed. "Oh, of course it isn't." "Would you like another?" "Very much." Yukari glanced at Mai. "Perhaps someone a little less imposing?" Mai smiled. "Entirely your choice." The golden radiance returned. The tall woman's outline contracted. Her curls shortened. Her shoulders narrowed. Her features shifted again. And when the light faded, the woman standing before them was considerably shorter. She had closely cropped blond hair, lightly freckled cheeks, and an energetic expression that seemed almost incapable of remaining serious. She looked toward Elisa. "Better?" Her voice was bright. Quick. With a slightly rough edge. Elisa stared. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, that's unfair." Yukari tilted her head. "Why?" "Because you look like someone who would steal my drink, insult my taste in music, and convince me to thank you for it." Ace doubled over. Mai covered her mouth. Yukari considered. Then smiled. "Would that be terribly objectionable?" Elisa pointed at her. "SEE?" Brenda laughed. "Yeah, that's still Yukari." Iris nodded. "Definitely." Yukari looked toward her. "How can you tell, darling?" Iris smiled. "The expression immediately before you say something outrageous." Yukari blinked. Then began laughing. "Oh, Iris!" "It's becoming recognizable." "How dreadful." "Quite." Elisa leaned back, still smiling. Then her expression changed. She looked more carefully at the stranger in front of her. "Wait." Yukari turned. "Yes?" "You're not doing an impression of someone." "No." "You're actually comfortable moving around like that?" "Perfectly." "And speaking?" "Yes." Elisa regarded her. Then smiled. "So there's no adjustment period." "Not usually." "That's extraordinary." Yukari inclined her head. "Thank you." Elisa considered. "Although I suppose you have had a little practice." Yukari's eyes sparkled. "A little." Ace grinned. "Historical research?" Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, Ace." Yukari looked toward her. "Darling, we agreed that my age was not going to become a subject of investigation." Ace spread her hands. "I'm not investigating." "You're attempting to calculate." "Different thing." Elisa turned toward Mai. "Have they been trying to determine how old she is?" "Constantly." Elisa looked delighted. "Oh, this is marvelous." Yukari sighed. "I appear to have acquired another investigator." Elisa smiled. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I have considerably more interesting questions." Yukari's expression warmed. "How fortunate." ### A Matter of Preference They spent another few minutes discussing the practicalities. Yukari explained that she did not need a reference photograph to create a different face. She could remember appearances she'd used before, modify them, or create a new combination deliberately. There were limits. She couldn't simply become any object she pleased, and impersonating a particular real person was not something she considered a casual amusement. Elisa listened carefully. Then asked a question that made Yukari smile. "Do you actually like being different people?" Yukari considered. "I like being myself." Elisa nodded slowly. "And the appearances?" "Some more than others." "Why?" Yukari looked toward the window. "Because a form influences how the world responds to me. Sometimes I want to move through a place without attracting attention. Sometimes I wish to be noticed." Elisa laughed. "That sounds familiar." "Does it?" "Oh, very." Yukari turned back. Elisa continued. "There's a difference between how people treat someone they recognize and how they treat a stranger." "Precisely." "And sometimes it's rather nice to be the stranger." Yukari's smile softened. "Yes." They regarded each other for a moment. There was a growing understanding there. One that had very little to do with supernatural abilities. Then Elisa looked thoughtful. "But you keep returning to that first appearance." Yukari nodded. "My familiar one." "Why?" Yukari considered. Then her smile became gentle. "Because that's how the people I love know me now." Ace stopped grinning. Mai's expression softened. Shammy reached for her hand. Yukari looked toward the three women. "There's something rather lovely about having a face that makes someone smile because they recognize you." For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Elisa nodded. "Yes." Her answer was quiet. Certain. "I understand that." And Yukari knew she did. ### The Silver-Haired Lady Elisa was beginning to believe she'd exhausted her immediate questions. Then Brenda ruined that assumption. "Could you change your apparent age?" Yukari smiled. "Of course." Elisa looked toward her. "Oh, that's interesting." Brenda nodded enthusiastically. "Right?" Iris sighed. "Here we go." Yukari considered. "Would you like to see?" Elisa smiled. "Please." The golden light returned. This time the change was slower. Not because Yukari needed more effort. Because she was being deliberate. The short blond hair lengthened and turned silver. Her face changed. Not merely older. Different. Fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes. Her features settled into the face of a mature woman whose expression combined considerable dignity with the unmistakable suggestion that she had absolutely no intention of behaving herself. The radiance faded. Yukari looked at Elisa. "Well?" Her voice had become rich and smoky. Elisa stared. Then slowly smiled. "Oh, you magnificent woman." Yukari inclined her head. "How kind." Brenda let out a low whistle. Iris turned toward her. "Darling." "What?" "You're staring." "Have you seen her?" "I have eyes." Yukari laughed softly. Elisa was still examining her. "May I say something?" "Anything, darling." "You look like the most dangerous person at a very expensive dinner party." Ace burst out laughing. Mai smiled. "That's remarkably specific." Elisa nodded. "The sort who spends the entire evening listening politely, then destroys someone's reputation with a single perfectly phrased question." Yukari considered. Then smiled. "Darling, I've occasionally done precisely that." Elisa stared. Then began laughing. "Oh, I knew it!" Shammy shook her head. "Of course you did." Yukari approached Elisa. Her movements had changed again. Unhurried. Composed. She offered her hand. Elisa accepted it. For a moment, Yukari regarded her with an expression of almost regal amusement. Then she spoke in her new voice. "My dear Elisa. I do hope you're enjoying your visit." Elisa stared. Then laughed helplessly. "Oh, fuck." Ace grinned. "Good, right?" Elisa turned toward her. "Ace, if you ruin this by asking her to do an impression of a school principal, I swear—" Ace blinked. Then slowly began smiling. Elisa pointed. "No." "But—" "No." Yukari laughed. "Oh, heavens. You are all delightful." ### The Question Nobody Asked It was Ace who finally said it. Naturally. "So." Mai looked toward her. "Oh, no." Ace ignored her. "Can you do a guy?" Silence. Elisa slowly turned. Brenda stopped moving. Iris looked up. Shammy closed her eyes. And Yukari— Yukari regarded Ace for several seconds. Then sighed. "Oh, darling." Ace grinned. "What?" "Must you?" "Scientific curiosity." Brenda raised a hand. "I support this question." Iris looked at her wife. "Of course you do." Elisa leaned forward. "Wait." Yukari looked toward her. "Yes?" "You can?" The kitsune considered. Then nodded. "Yes." Elisa stared. "Convincingly?" "Entirely." "Voice?" "Naturally." "Everything?" Yukari's eyebrows rose. "Darling, I don't generally consider a transformation successful if it stops halfway through." Brenda nearly choked on her coffee. Ace burst out laughing. Elisa stared. Then slowly grinned. "Oh, I am definitely going to like you." Yukari sighed with magnificent dignity. "I was rather afraid of that." Shammy approached and touched her shoulder. "You don't have to demonstrate anything, sweetheart." Yukari smiled. "I know." Mai nodded. "Seriously. We're curious, not entitled." Elisa immediately agreed. "Absolutely." For a moment, Yukari regarded them. Then she laughed. "Oh, don't look so worried. I don't mind." Ace's expression brightened. "Really?" "Really." A pause. "Although I should warn you that I don't particularly enjoy remaining in that form." Elisa tilted her head. "Why?" Yukari considered. "Because it doesn't feel as much like me." Elisa nodded. "Fair enough." "Still curious?" "Terribly." Yukari laughed. "Very well." She looked toward Ace. "But only because you asked so sweetly." Ace grinned. "I did?" "No." Mai burst out laughing. ### The Gentleman Yukari stepped back into the center of the room. The golden radiance gathered. Her silver hair shortened and darkened. Her shoulders broadened. Her height changed. The contours of her face shifted, becoming more angular. Her body altered beneath the loose robe. And when the light faded— A man stood before them. Tall. Lean. Dark-haired. Broad-shouldered. His features were striking without being exaggerated, his bearing relaxed and assured. He looked around the room. Then smiled. "Well." The voice was a deep, resonant baritone. Elisa stared. Ace's mouth fell open. Brenda stopped breathing. Not literally. But close enough. The man looked toward Elisa. "Good afternoon, my dear." Elisa slowly lowered her coffee. "Oh." A pause. Then: "Oh, fuck." Ace folded forward. "OH, JESUS!" Mai covered her mouth. Iris began laughing. Shammy's white hair lifted. And Yukari— Still entirely herself beneath an appearance nobody in the room had ever seen before— Looked enormously amused. "Something wrong, darling?" Elisa stared. "Your voice." "Yes?" "That's completely different." "Naturally." "Your face." "Also different." "And—" Elisa stopped herself. Then laughed. "Oh, for heaven's sake." Yukari smiled. "Go on." "No. I'm trying to retain some dignity." Ace was laughing too hard to sit upright. Brenda looked at the man. Then toward Iris. Then back again. "Fuck." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Brenda." "What?" "Words." "Very fucking impressive." "Better." Yukari laughed. Then looked down at herself. "Well, I believe that answers the question." Elisa raised one hand. "Not quite." Yukari turned. "Yes?" Elisa regarded her with a wicked smile. "Can you behave like a man?" The room went silent. Then Ace made a strangled noise. Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, Elisa." Yukari considered the question. Then smiled. A very different smile. She straightened. Her posture changed. Her expression became coolly amused. And she extended one hand toward Elisa. "My dear lady," she said in that magnificent baritone, "I would be delighted to escort you somewhere far more interesting than this room." Elisa stared. Then burst out laughing. "OH, FUCK!" Yukari inclined her head. "Have I said something amusing?" "You're impossible!" "So I've been told." Ace nearly fell off the sofa. Brenda leaned against Iris for support. And Elisa— Elisa was laughing so hard she could barely speak. "Jesus Christ. You could walk into any corpo function in the city and have half the women fighting over you." Yukari considered. Then answered in that deep voice: "An exhausting prospect." Elisa laughed harder. "Why?" Yukari's smile became dry. "Because, darling, I'd much rather attend as one of the women." For a moment, there was silence. Then Iris began laughing. Mai followed. Shammy covered her mouth. And Elisa looked at the man standing before her. Then nodded. "Fair." Yukari's expression softened. "Thank you." Elisa leaned back. "Oh, sweetheart. That was fucking magnificent." Yukari inclined her head. "My pleasure." Then she glanced at Shammy. "May I return to myself now?" Shammy smiled. "Of course, darling." "Thank heavens." The golden radiance gathered once more. And a moment later, Yukari O'Sullivan stood before them in her familiar dark-haired human form. She sighed contentedly. "Much better." Elisa watched her. Then smiled. "Welcome back." Yukari laughed softly. "Thank you, darling." ### The Engineer Has Questions Brenda was the first to recover her composure. Or what passed for composure in her case. "Right." Iris glanced toward her. "Oh, dear." Brenda leaned forward. "I need to ask something." Yukari smiled. "Of course." "How do you know what to change?" Yukari considered. "Instinct." Brenda shook her head. "No, I mean, how do you calculate the physical configuration?" "I don't." Brenda stared. "You don't?" "Not consciously." "That's fucking impossible." Yukari laughed. "And yet." Brenda looked toward Iris. Iris smiled. "Don't look at me, darling." Brenda turned back. "But the voice alone—" "Brenda," Iris said. "What?" "You're about to ask her to explain something she experiences as naturally as breathing." The engineer considered. Then sighed. "Yeah." Yukari approached. She rested a hand gently against Brenda's cheek. "Darling." Brenda looked up. "Yeah?" "I enjoy your questions." "Good." "But some of the answers may simply be that I'm a kitsune." Brenda considered. Then grinned. "That's a fucking terrible scientific explanation." Yukari laughed. "I rather suspected you might say that." "Doesn't mean I'm going to stop asking." "I would be disappointed if you did." Brenda's smile softened. "Oh, sweetheart." She reached for Yukari's hand. "You're fucking fascinating." Yukari inclined her head. "And you're wonderfully curious." Iris watched them. Then shook her head. "God help us." Ace grinned. "Too late." ### Elisa's Observation The afternoon had grown quieter. Ace and Mai were discussing something near the kitchen. Brenda had finally been persuaded not to fetch a scanner. Iris had returned to her book. And Shammy was sitting beside Yukari and Elisa on the sofa. Elisa regarded the dark-haired woman. The familiar face. The warm smile. The gentle amusement. For a moment, she was quiet. Then she spoke. "You know something?" Yukari turned. "Yes?" "I think I understand why you prefer this appearance." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Elisa nodded. "It's not because it's better than the others." "No." "Or more convincing." "No." "It's because it's yours." Yukari's expression softened. "Yes." Elisa smiled. "And the others are yours too. But this is the one you want people to come home to." For a moment, Yukari didn't answer. Then she laughed softly. "Oh, Elisa." The other woman regarded her. "Did I get that right?" "Very." Shammy smiled. Elisa leaned back. "Well." Yukari tilted her head. "Well?" "I have to say, this has been an exceptionally educational afternoon." "How lovely." "Although I suspect I'm going to spend the rest of the weekend asking completely inappropriate questions." Yukari laughed. "Darling, I look forward to them." Elisa grinned. "Careful." "Why?" "I'm very good at asking questions." "So I've noticed." "And rather persistent." "An admirable quality." Elisa regarded her. Then slowly smiled. "Oh, we are going to get along beautifully." Yukari returned the smile. "I think so too." ### The Other Side of the Mirror After a while, Elisa asked whether she could speak with Yukari alone. Not urgently. Not secretly. She simply wanted a few moments without Ace providing commentary from across the room. Yukari agreed immediately. They moved to the balcony. The late-afternoon air was warm. The city below continued its usual noisy business. Elisa leaned against the railing. For a while, she simply watched the traffic. Then she turned toward Yukari. "May I ask one last question?" Yukari smiled. "Of course." Elisa considered. "Do you ever get tired of people asking you to show them things?" The question surprised Yukari. Not because it was intrusive. Because it was thoughtful. She considered. "Sometimes." Elisa nodded. "I thought so." Yukari looked toward her. "Why?" Elisa smiled faintly. "Because I've spent rather a lot of my life being asked to perform." Yukari listened. "Smile for this photograph. Attend that dinner. Say something intelligent. Say something charming. Be interesting. Be gracious." A pause. "And occasionally, it gets fucking exhausting." Yukari smiled softly. "Yes." Elisa looked at her. "And I realized we've just spent an entire afternoon treating you like the most fascinating thing in Night City." Yukari laughed gently. "Darling, I rather enjoyed it." "I know." Elisa smiled. "But I wanted you to know that you don't have to keep doing it." For a moment, Yukari was silent. Then she reached for Elisa's hand. "Thank you." Elisa squeezed her fingers. "You're welcome." They stood together for a while. Then Yukari spoke. "May I tell you something?" "Anything." Yukari looked toward the city. "I spent a very long time being something unusual." Elisa smiled. "I imagine." "People wanted to understand me. Or use me. Or ask for favors. Sometimes they simply wanted to be close to something they thought extraordinary." Elisa nodded. Yukari continued. "And occasionally, I allowed that to become the only thing they knew about me." She paused. "But these people..." She looked toward the safehouse. "They don't love me because I have nine tails." Elisa smiled. "No." "They love me because I'm Yukari." "Exactly." For a moment, the two women regarded each other. Then Yukari laughed softly. "Oh, heavens." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I'm becoming terribly sentimental." Elisa smiled. "Occupational hazard of this household." Yukari laughed. Then she leaned forward and kissed Elisa's cheek. "Thank you, darling." Elisa's expression softened. "You're welcome." For a while, they watched the city together. Then Elisa glanced sideways at Yukari. "And for the record..." Yukari turned. "Yes?" "That male appearance?" Yukari sighed. "Oh, darling." Elisa grinned. "Very convincing." "Thank you." "Exceptionally handsome." "How flattering." "Absolutely wasted on someone who doesn't particularly enjoy being him." Yukari stared at her. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, Elisa!" The other woman looked delighted. "What?" "You're incorrigible!" "Yes." A pause. "And you're beginning to appreciate it." Yukari laughed again. "Immensely." ### Back Inside When they returned to the common room, Ace looked up. "Hey!" Elisa regarded her. "What?" "Having fun?" Elisa smiled. "Enormously." "Good." A pause. Then Ace grinned. "So. What'd you think?" Elisa considered. "Of what?" "The transformations." "Oh." Elisa looked toward Yukari. Then back at Ace. "Extraordinary." Ace nodded proudly. "Right?" "Completely impossible." "Yep." "And rather beautiful." Yukari's expression softened. Elisa continued. "But I think the most interesting part is that she still feels like the same person." Mai smiled. "Exactly." Elisa regarded her. Then raised an eyebrow. "Although I do have one complaint." Ace narrowed her eyes. "Oh?" Elisa looked at Yukari. "You're going to make every technological disguise in Night City feel terribly inadequate." Brenda groaned. "Don't fucking remind me." Iris laughed. Mai shook her head. Shammy smiled. And Yukari— Yukari looked thoughtful. "Technological disguises?" Elisa turned. "Yes?" Yukari considered. "You mean the sort your friends use?" For a moment, the room became a little quieter. Not dramatically. Just enough. Elisa noticed. Then smiled. "Among others." Yukari nodded. "How interesting." She looked toward Ace. Then Mai. And finally Shammy. "Perhaps one day you'll show me." Ace's grin widened. Mai smiled. Shammy's expression became distinctly amused. Elisa looked between them. Then slowly narrowed her eyes. "Oh, no." Ace blinked. "What?" Elisa pointed at her. "That look." "What look?" "The one that means you've just had a terrible idea." Ace grinned. "Me?" "Yes, you." "I haven't said anything!" "You don't need to." Yukari laughed softly. And Elisa— Elisa was beginning to suspect that her long weekend was going to be considerably more interesting than she'd expected. Not merely because of the beautiful ancient kitsune sitting beside her. But because the woman had just asked a question that belonged very naturally to another part of Elisa's life. A part involving Lizzie's. Face-meshes. Chosen identities. And a particular woman named Bea. Elisa smiled. Slowly. Thoughtfully. Then she looked at Yukari. "Actually, sweetheart..." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "There's something I think you might find rather interesting." Ace's grin became positively magnificent. Mai looked toward her. Shammy smiled. And Yukari leaned closer. "Oh?" Elisa laughed softly. "Something about the way people choose who they want to be." Yukari considered. Then smiled. "How intriguing." Elisa nodded. "Very." And for the first time that afternoon, she found herself looking forward to explaining something extraordinary to Yukari. Something entirely human. --- ## Chapter 13 — Bea Has an Idea Watson, Night City. Friday afternoon, continuing. Elisa had a problem. Not an unpleasant problem. Quite the opposite. She was sitting beside an extraordinarily beautiful woman who had demonstrated the ability to transform herself into a nine-tailed fox, several completely different women, and one particularly handsome man. And somehow, despite everything she'd witnessed, Elisa was beginning to suspect that the most interesting part of the afternoon hadn't happened yet. Yukari was watching her. Patiently. With those dark, intelligent eyes and an expression of unmistakable curiosity. "You were going to tell me something," the kitsune reminded her. Elisa smiled. "Was I?" "Yes." "How inconvenient." "Terribly." Elisa laughed. Then she glanced toward Ace, who was sitting on the opposite sofa with Mai. "Before I begin, there's something I'd like to establish." Ace raised an eyebrow. "What's that?" "If you interrupt me to explain something I already understand, I'm going to throw a cushion at you." Ace looked offended. "Why would I do that?" Mai patted her knee. "Because you do." "HEY!" Elisa pointed at Mai. "Thank you." "You're welcome." Yukari looked delighted. "Oh, I do enjoy watching you two." Elisa turned toward her. "Sweetheart, if you spend enough time with Ace, you'll eventually discover that somebody has to keep her civilized." Mai considered. "I've given up." Ace stared. "LOVE!" "What?" "You're supposed to be on my side!" "I am. That's why I keep telling you when you're being an idiot." Elisa burst out laughing. "Exactly." Shammy, seated in the adjacent armchair, shook her head affectionately. "Elisa?" "Yes, beautiful?" "Your story?" Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, for heaven's sake. Now you've all distracted me." "Naturally," Shammy replied. Yukari laughed. Elisa looked around the room. Then she settled back, crossed her legs, and smiled at the kitsune. "All right. Let's talk about Bea." ### A Woman Named Bea "Bea?" Yukari repeated. "Yes." Elisa watched her reaction carefully. "That's a name I use at Lizzie's." Yukari tilted her head. "A professional name?" "Exactly." "How intriguing." Elisa smiled. "It gets better." She glanced toward Mai. "Would you like to explain the technological part, or shall I?" Mai shook her head. "Go ahead. It's your story." Elisa nodded. Then turned back toward Yukari. "At Lizzie's, some of us work under identities that are completely separate from our ordinary lives." Yukari listened. "Different names. Different appearances. Different voices, depending on the identity and the work involved." "Ah." "And the distinction isn't merely theatrical." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "No?" "No." Elisa leaned forward. "If someone meets Bea at Lizzie's, they're meeting Bea. They're not entitled to know anything about Elisa." Yukari nodded slowly. "That seems very sensible." "It is." "And the transformation is technological?" "Entirely." Elisa gestured toward her face. "Face-mesh technology is part of it. Other systems can alter identifying features, including hair and voice. The point is to make the separation reliable." Yukari considered. "But you're still the same woman underneath." "Precisely." Elisa smiled. "That's where you and I have something rather interesting in common." Yukari's expression brightened. "Oh?" "You change your body to become someone else." "Sometimes." "I change what people can recognize." Yukari regarded her thoughtfully. "An important distinction." "Very." "And both allow us to choose how we're encountered by strangers." Elisa's smile widened. "Now you're getting it." Across the room, Brenda raised one finger. "Technically—" Iris touched her wrist. "Darling." "What?" "Let Elisa finish." Brenda sighed. "Fine." Yukari looked between them. "Does she do that often?" Iris smiled. "Constantly." "Fucking engineers," Brenda muttered. Iris kissed her cheek. Elisa grinned. "And that, sweetheart, is why I'm explaining the social part before Brenda begins discussing hardware specifications." Yukari laughed. "An excellent decision." ### Why Bea Matters Yukari looked at Elisa for a moment. Then asked the question that mattered. "Why do you enjoy being Bea?" Elisa stopped smiling quite so broadly. Not because she disliked the question. Because it deserved a proper answer. "Several reasons." Yukari waited. Elisa considered. "Most people who meet me professionally know who I am before I enter the room." "Your reputation?" "Among other things." Elisa shrugged. "Money. Influence. Responsibilities. Connections. The sort of things that make people decide how they're going to behave toward you before you've even spoken." Yukari nodded. "I know the experience." "I thought you might." Elisa glanced toward the windows. "Sometimes it's useful. Sometimes it's amusing. And occasionally it makes me want to lock somebody in a cupboard until they've learned to have a normal conversation." Ace laughed. "Relatable." Mai glanced at her. "Don't." "What?" "No cupboards." "I didn't say anything!" Elisa smiled. "Anyway." She turned back toward Yukari. "When I'm Bea, people don't approach me because they want something from Elisa." Yukari considered. "They approach you because they're interested in Bea." "Exactly." "And what Bea can offer them." Elisa nodded. "But that's only half of it." Yukari leaned closer. "What's the other half?" Elisa smiled. "Bea gets to decide whether she's interested in them." The kitsune became thoughtful. Elisa continued. "That's important. At Lizzie's, the work is professional. There are arrangements, prices, boundaries, and expectations. But none of those things erase the fact that the person doing the work makes her own choices." Yukari nodded. "Naturally." "Not everyone considers that natural." "I know." Elisa looked at her. Yukari's expression had become serious. "I've known people who believed offering something valuable entitled them to whatever they desired in return." Elisa's smile disappeared. "Yes." "A dreadful misunderstanding." "One of the worst." They regarded each other. Then Elisa smiled again. "Fortunately, Panam has very little patience for that sort of nonsense." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Panam?" "The Madame." "Oh!" Yukari laughed. "I know Panam." Elisa blinked. Then looked toward Shammy. "Of course she does." Shammy smiled serenely. Elisa sighed. "Wonderful. Apparently I'm the last person in Night City to meet the interesting people." Ace grinned. "Pretty much." Elisa pointed at her. "You're still on thin ice." "Noted." Yukari smiled. "Please continue." Elisa nodded. "Well. Panam runs the Stable. She's very particular about how the women working under her care are treated." "Good." "Suzy Q handles the club. Lisa and the Mox look after security. And if somebody decides that money entitles them to behave like an asshole..." Elisa paused. Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" Elisa grinned. "They usually discover just how efficiently Lisa can remove someone from the premises." Ace burst out laughing. "Oh, I've seen that." Mai nodded. "Several times." Yukari looked interested. "How dramatic." "Occasionally," Elisa admitted. Then she smiled. "But most evenings are considerably more pleasant." ### Not a Different Person "So Bea is an entirely separate identity," Yukari said. "Yes." "But not an entirely separate personality." Elisa considered. "No." The kitsune waited. Elisa smiled. "She gets to express parts of me that don't have much room in my ordinary professional life." "Such as?" "Oh, sweetheart." Elisa laughed. "Where should I begin?" Yukari's eyes sparkled. "Anywhere you like." Elisa considered. "I enjoy flirting." Ace snorted. Elisa pointed without turning. "Not a word." Ace pressed her lips together. Mai looked delighted. Elisa continued. "I enjoy meeting interesting people. I enjoy discovering what makes somebody smile, what makes them nervous, what makes them suddenly forget the carefully rehearsed speech they were about to deliver." Yukari laughed softly. "That does sound enjoyable." "It is." "And intimacy?" Elisa looked at her. Then smiled. "Yes. That too." She didn't lower her voice. There was no embarrassment in the answer. "I enjoy physical affection. I enjoy desire. And I enjoy the particular pleasure of being with somebody who's chosen to be there with me." Yukari nodded. "That I understand very well." "I thought you might." Elisa's smile softened. "And sometimes the most memorable part of an evening isn't what someone expected when they arrived." Yukari tilted her head. "What do you mean?" "Sometimes a person comes in expecting an elaborate performance, and halfway through the conversation you discover that what they really need is someone who'll listen without judging them." Yukari considered. "And sometimes?" Elisa's smile became mischievous. "Sometimes they know exactly what they want, and the evening is delightful for entirely different reasons." Yukari laughed. "Oh, Elisa." "What?" "You sound very happy when you talk about this." Elisa paused. Then smiled. "Yes." A moment passed. "I am." It was such a simple admission. And Yukari appreciated that Elisa made no attempt to soften it. She wasn't apologizing for the work. Nor dressing it up as something more respectable. She enjoyed it. That was enough. ### A Rather Familiar Profession Shammy rose and joined them. "There's another aspect of it." Elisa looked up. "Oh?" Shammy smiled. "You get to discover people without the assumptions attached to your public identities." Elisa nodded. "Yes." "And the work gives you a different way to express affection." "Exactly." Yukari turned toward Shammy. "You work there too." Shammy nodded. "As Sera." Yukari smiled. "Of course." Elisa looked between them. Then laughed. "Let me guess. She already knows all about your artistic career." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Darling, I have seen her studio." Elisa blinked. Then turned toward Shammy. "You've shown her the studio?" "Yes." "Of course you have." Shammy smiled. "She's family." Yukari's expression softened. Elisa caught it. And smiled too. "Fair enough." Then she looked thoughtful. "Although Sera's arrangements at Lizzie's are rather different from mine." Yukari tilted her head. "How so?" "She's a famous artist working as herself." "Ah." "Which means people sometimes imagine that offering enough money entitles them to her attention." Shammy laughed softly. "They do." Elisa shook her head. "Poor idiots." Yukari looked curious. "What happens?" Shammy smiled. "They're told the rules." "And if they don't listen?" Ace answered from across the room. "Lisa." Elisa burst out laughing. "Precisely." Yukari considered. Then smiled. "An admirably straightforward system." "Very," Shammy agreed. Elisa looked at her. "And Nadia?" "Same principle." Yukari nodded. "Nadia enjoys challenging people." Shammy laughed. "Immensely." Elisa grinned. "Which I'm sure makes things terribly interesting." "Sometimes." There was a pause. Then Yukari looked from one woman to the other. "You're all describing a place where women can enjoy being desired without surrendering the right to decide what happens next." Elisa smiled. "That's a very good way of putting it." Yukari considered. Then laughed softly. "Oh." Shammy noticed. "Something on your mind?" The kitsune shook her head. "Several things, darling." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Interesting things?" Yukari smiled. "Very." ### The Wrong Question Brenda finally abandoned her attempt to remain uninvolved. "All right. I have to ask." Iris closed her eyes. "Oh, here we go." Brenda ignored her. "Yukari." "Yes, beautiful?" "Could you actually use your abilities to create a permanent working identity?" Elisa turned. "Brenda." "What?" "Let the poor woman enjoy one conversation without turning it into an engineering project." "I'm not!" Iris raised an eyebrow. Brenda considered. "Okay, maybe a little." Yukari laughed. Then she looked thoughtful. "Permanent?" Brenda nodded. "Not permanently in the sense that you couldn't change back. I mean a consistent appearance you could return to whenever you wanted." Yukari considered. "Yes." Brenda leaned forward. "Same face?" "Yes." "Same voice?" "Naturally." "Same physical proportions?" Yukari smiled. "Darling, I rather think we've established that." Brenda grinned. "Just checking." Elisa regarded the kitsune. Then frowned thoughtfully. "Wait." Yukari turned. "Yes?" "You could choose an appearance that nobody had ever seen before." "Of course." "And use it consistently." "Yes." "And you wouldn't need a face-mesh." "No." Elisa sat back. "Oh." Ace looked at Mai. Mai raised an eyebrow. Shammy was smiling. Brenda looked positively delighted. And Yukari— Yukari regarded Elisa with growing curiosity. "Have you thought of something, darling?" Elisa considered. Then she began to smile. Slowly. "Oh, sweetheart." Ace grinned. "Here we go." Elisa ignored her. "You have absolutely no idea how many people in Night City would pay a fortune for that ability." Yukari laughed. "Oh, I imagine quite a few." Brenda nodded enthusiastically. "Fucking understatement." Elisa looked at Brenda. Then suddenly became serious. "Which is precisely why we shouldn't be discussing it as a commercial product." Brenda blinked. Then nodded. "Fair." Elisa turned toward Yukari. "That ability is yours. Not something people get to make plans for because they find it impressive." The kitsune regarded her. Then smiled. "Thank you." Elisa shrugged. "Basic manners." Brenda sighed. "God, you're making me sound like a monster." Iris kissed her cheek. "Only a very enthusiastic one, darling." Yukari laughed. Then she looked back at Elisa. "But you weren't thinking about selling my abilities." "No." "Then what were you thinking?" Elisa hesitated. For once, she seemed genuinely unsure whether to ask. Yukari noticed. And smiled. "Darling, you may." Elisa studied her. Then laughed softly. "All right." She leaned forward. "Have you ever considered trying a life that belongs to an identity you've chosen specifically for yourself?" Yukari blinked. "Another identity?" "Yes." "Not merely a different appearance?" "No." Elisa smiled. "A different social role. Different expectations. Different possibilities." Yukari considered. Then looked toward Shammy. "Like Sera?" Shammy nodded. "Or Bea," Elisa replied. The kitsune grew quiet. For a moment, her gaze drifted toward the windows. The city beyond. The enormous, restless place she'd been learning to call home. Then she turned back. "How fascinating." ### An Old Fox and a New Idea Elisa watched her carefully. "I don't mean you should necessarily work at Lizzie's." Yukari smiled. "I know." "And if you did, it would need to be because you wanted to." "Naturally." "Not because everyone here thought the idea was entertaining." Yukari glanced toward Ace. Who was practically vibrating with anticipation. Then she laughed. "Oh, I can assure you, darling, I wouldn't make such a decision merely to amuse Ace." Ace looked offended. "HEY!" Mai kissed her cheek. "She's right, love." "I KNOW!" Elisa grinned. "Good." Yukari became thoughtful again. "You know..." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "I have used many appearances to move through human society." "I imagine." "Sometimes out of necessity. Sometimes for discretion. Occasionally because I wished to experience a particular place without being recognized." Elisa nodded. "But I haven't often chosen an appearance simply because I wanted to discover a new part of myself." Elisa smiled. "That's an interesting distinction." "Isn't it?" Yukari folded her hands. "Most of my changes have served a practical purpose." "And now?" The kitsune looked toward Shammy. Then Mai. Then Ace. Her expression softened. "Now I'm beginning to enjoy the possibility that I don't always need a practical reason." Elisa laughed softly. "Oh, that's lovely." Yukari looked at her. "Is it?" "Very." Elisa leaned closer. "One of the best things about having a life of your own is occasionally being able to do something simply because it makes you happy." Yukari smiled. "Yes." They remained quiet for a moment. Then the kitsune began laughing. "Oh, heavens." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I believe you've given me something quite interesting to think about." "Good." "Possibly dangerous." "Even better." Ace burst out laughing. Mai shook her head. And Brenda muttered: "Oh, this is going to be fucking magnificent." ### The Woman Who Chooses Later, when the others had drifted toward their own activities, Elisa found Yukari standing beside the balcony doors. The kitsune was watching the city. Elisa approached. "Mind some company?" Yukari turned. "Never yours, darling." Elisa smiled and joined her. For a while, neither spoke. Then Yukari looked toward her. "Elisa?" "Hmm?" "May I ask you something personal?" "Of course." "When you first became Bea, were you nervous?" Elisa considered. "Yes." Yukari looked interested. "Really?" "Oh, absolutely." "Why?" Elisa laughed softly. "Because I had no idea whether I'd enjoy it as much as I thought I would." Yukari nodded. "And did you?" "More." The answer came immediately. Yukari smiled. Elisa looked toward the city. "I knew I wanted to try. I understood the arrangements. I knew I could say no." She paused. "But none of that tells you what an experience is going to feel like." Yukari considered. "No." "And I discovered something important." "What was that?" Elisa looked at her. "Being Bea didn't require me to stop being Elisa." Yukari's expression softened. Elisa continued. "It simply gave me another way to enjoy being myself." For a moment, the kitsune was silent. Then she smiled. "How beautiful." Elisa laughed. "Oh, don't make me sound profound." "Darling, I'm afraid you rather are." "An unfortunate side effect of spending too much time with Mai." Yukari laughed. Then she became thoughtful. "Would you ever have tried it if you hadn't met Ace and Mai?" Elisa considered. "Possibly." "But?" "But they made it possible for me to see the work differently." Yukari listened. "They were good at it. They enjoyed it. They treated the work seriously without pretending it couldn't also be fun." Elisa smiled. "And they never made me feel foolish for wanting to experience it myself." Yukari nodded. "That's important." "Very." She looked toward the common room. Where Ace was arguing with Brenda about something. Naturally. Elisa smiled. "Those women have a remarkable talent for making unusual things feel perfectly ordinary." Yukari laughed softly. "Yes." A pause. "And for making ordinary things feel extraordinary." Elisa looked at her. Then smiled. "Oh, sweetheart." Yukari regarded her. "Yes?" "I think you're going to fit in beautifully." The kitsune laughed. "I believe I already have." "Then let me amend that." Elisa turned toward her. "I think you're going to have a wonderful time discovering what else you enjoy." Yukari's expression softened. "Thank you." Elisa smiled. "You're welcome." ### A Suggestion, Not a Decision When they returned to the common room, Ace looked up from the sofa. "Hey!" Elisa raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Having fun?" "Enormously." "Good." Ace glanced toward Yukari. Then back at Elisa. "So." Elisa sighed. "Oh, no." Ace grinned. "What?" "That expression." "What expression?" "The one that means you're about to say something outrageous." Ace considered. Then smiled. "Okay, fair." Mai laughed. Shammy looked amused. Yukari settled beside them. "What were you going to ask, sweetheart?" Ace looked at her. Then at Elisa. Then back. "Have you thought about Lizzie's?" Yukari smiled. "A little." Ace's grin widened. "A little?" "Yes." Elisa sat down. "Now, before anybody gets carried away..." Everyone looked at her. Elisa raised one finger. "This is Yukari's decision." Mai nodded. "Of course." "And there's quite a difference between being curious about the place and deciding to work there." "Naturally," Shammy agreed. Yukari looked at her. Then smiled. "Thank you, darling." Elisa nodded. "Good." Brenda leaned forward. "Although—" Iris sighed. "Brenda." "What?" "You're about to say something." "Well, of course I am." "Is it going to help?" Brenda considered. "Probably not." "Then perhaps wait." The engineer laughed. "Fuck, I love you." Iris smiled. "I know." Yukari watched them affectionately. Then turned toward Ace. "To answer your question, sweetheart, I'm interested." Ace's expression brightened. "But I haven't decided anything." "Fair." "I would like to see the club." Mai smiled. "That can be arranged." "And meet the people who work there." Shammy nodded. "Of course." "And perhaps..." Yukari hesitated. Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps?" The kitsune looked at her. Then smiled. "Perhaps I would enjoy discovering what it's like to have a professional identity of my own." Ace's grin became positively magnificent. "Oh, FUCK." Mai shook her head. Shammy began laughing. Elisa smiled. "Well, sweetheart." She leaned back. "That's certainly possible." Yukari looked thoughtful. "But I'd want to do it properly." Elisa nodded immediately. "Good." "Not merely arrive and declare myself ready to work." "Very good." "And I'd want to understand the rules." "Excellent." Yukari considered. "How people are selected. What responsibilities exist. What happens when someone behaves badly." Elisa smiled. "Now you're asking the right questions." The kitsune looked toward Shammy. "And naturally, I would wish to speak with Panam." Shammy's expression warmed. "She'd appreciate that." Yukari nodded. "Then perhaps we should begin there." ### One Last Question The conversation might have ended there. It probably should have. Unfortunately, Ace was still Ace. "So." Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, love." Ace ignored her. "One question." Yukari smiled. "Yes, sweetheart?" "If you did create a working identity..." Elisa leaned back. "Oh, here we go." "...what would you call yourself?" Yukari blinked. Then laughed softly. "Oh, heavens." Ace grinned. "What?" "I haven't the faintest idea." "Really?" "Really." Brenda leaned forward. "Something dramatic." Iris smiled. "Naturally." Elisa considered. "Something memorable." Mai nodded. "But not so memorable that it immediately attracts unwanted attention." "Good point," Elisa agreed. Shammy looked at Yukari. "Something that feels like you." The kitsune smiled. Then thought about it. For several moments, nobody spoke. Yukari looked toward the window. At the city. Then toward the people gathered around her. And finally, she laughed. "Oh, this is ridiculous." Ace grinned. "What is?" "I've spent the afternoon demonstrating that I can become almost anyone..." A pause. "...and now I'm having difficulty choosing a name." Elisa burst out laughing. "Oh, sweetheart. Welcome to the human experience." Yukari laughed with her. Then she looked down at her hands. Thoughtfully. A moment passed. And a small smile appeared. "Perhaps..." Shammy tilted her head. "Yes?" Yukari looked up. "Perhaps something simple." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Like?" The kitsune considered. Then smiled. "Fox." Silence. Elisa looked at her. Then slowly smiled. "Oh." Brenda grinned. Mai's expression warmed. Shammy reached for Yukari's hand. And Ace— Ace stared. Then burst out laughing. "OH, THAT'S FUCKING PERFECT!" Yukari laughed. "Is it?" Elisa nodded. "Actually, yes." She considered. "Simple. Memorable. A little mysterious." Brenda grinned. "And nobody would have the faintest fucking idea." Yukari smiled. "Precisely." Iris regarded her. "Would you enjoy being called Fox?" Yukari considered. Then nodded. "I think I might." Shammy smiled. "Then it's a good name." Yukari looked at her. Then at Elisa. And finally at the others. "Fox." She tried it again. Softly. As though tasting the sound. "Fox." Then she laughed. "Oh, darling." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "I believe I may have just acquired another name." Elisa smiled. "Perhaps." Yukari looked toward Ace. Then Mai. Then Shammy. Her expression softened. "Not yet, though." Ace tilted her head. "Why not?" "Because I haven't decided whether I want the life that goes with it." Elisa nodded approvingly. "Exactly." Yukari smiled. "And I think I'd like to discover that before I begin using the name." Mai reached for her hand. "Good." Shammy nodded. "Very good." Ace grinned. "Fair enough." For a moment, the conversation settled. Then Brenda leaned back. Looked around the room. And smiled. "Well." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Well?" Brenda looked at Yukari. Then Elisa. Then Ace. And finally Shammy. "Oh, this weekend is going to be fucking interesting." Elisa closed her eyes. "Brenda." "What?" "Please don't encourage them." Brenda grinned. "Too late." Yukari burst out laughing. And somewhere in the middle of that laughter, she realized something rather wonderful. She hadn't been looking for another life. Not exactly. She had been looking for the freedom to enjoy the one she'd finally chosen. But perhaps a new name could open a new door. And perhaps, behind that door, there might be something she hadn't yet imagined. For now, she was content to wonder. There was no hurry. She had a family. She had a home. She had people she loved. And for the first time in a very long time, she was curious about a future she didn't need to fear. ### After Dinner Later that evening, Elisa found Yukari standing alone beside the balcony doors. She approached quietly. "Hello, beautiful." Yukari turned. "Elisa." The other woman smiled. "Thinking?" "A little." "About Lizzie's?" "Yes." Elisa joined her. For a while, they watched the city. Then Yukari spoke. "Do you think I'd be good at it?" Elisa considered. "At what?" "The work." Elisa turned toward her. Then smiled. "That depends." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "On?" "Whether you enjoy it." The kitsune regarded her. Elisa continued. "You could be extraordinarily skilled at making people feel wanted. You could learn every rule, understand every professional expectation, and develop a flawless working identity." She paused. "But if you didn't enjoy being there, none of that would make it the right choice." Yukari nodded slowly. "Yes." "And if you did enjoy it?" Elisa smiled. "Then you might discover something wonderful." Yukari considered. Then laughed softly. "Oh, Elisa." "What?" "I think I understand why you love Bea." Elisa smiled. "Do you?" "Yes." "Good." Yukari reached for her hand. "And I think I would very much like to see her." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Bea?" "Yes." The other woman's smile widened. "Oh, sweetheart." Yukari tilted her head. "Yes?" "I think that can be arranged." The kitsune's expression brightened. "How lovely." Elisa laughed. Then she looked toward the safehouse. Where the familiar sounds of Ace, Mai, and Brenda arguing about something completely unimportant drifted through the open balcony door. "Although I should warn you." Yukari smiled. "About what?" "Bea can be considerably more troublesome than Elisa." Yukari considered. Then laughed softly. "Oh, darling." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "I was rather hoping she would be." Elisa burst out laughing. And somewhere inside the safehouse, Ace shouted: "WHAT'S SO FUNNY?" Elisa turned toward the doorway. "NOTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!" Ace answered immediately. "THAT'S SUSPICIOUS!" Yukari dissolved into laughter. Elisa shook her head affectionately. "Oh, fuck." Then she looked back at the kitsune. "Welcome to the family, sweetheart." Yukari smiled. And squeezed her hand. "Thank you, darling." --- Beyond them, Night City glittered beneath the evening sky. A city of technology. Secrets. Masks. Chosen names. And people discovering, in a thousand different ways, who they wanted to be. Some changed their faces. Some changed their voices. Some changed their lives. And one ancient nine-tailed kitsune was beginning to consider doing all three. Not because she needed to hide. But because, at last, she had something worth coming home to. --- ## Chapter 14 — A Fox of Her Own Watson Safehouse — Friday, early evening. Ace had been smiling at Yukari for almost ten minutes. Not her usual smile. That would have been perfectly ordinary. Ace smiled at Yukari frequently, and Yukari had become rather fond of the habit. No, this was the other smile. The one that meant something was about to happen. Something entertaining. Possibly embarrassing. Almost certainly involving several people telling Ace to behave herself. Yukari closed her book. "Ace." "Yeah?" "Darling, you've been staring at me." "Admiring." "How sweet." "You're welcome." Yukari laughed softly. Then she narrowed her eyes. "And what have you thought of?" Ace blinked. "Nothing." "Sweetheart." "What?" "I have lived long enough to recognize a woman contemplating mischief." Ace grinned. "Fuck. That obvious?" "Painfully." Yukari set her book aside. Then held out her hand. "Come here." Ace approached. Yukari drew her down beside her on the sofa. For a moment, neither spoke. Yukari watched her face. The familiar black hair. The bright, irreverent eyes. The smile she had come to love. Then she touched Ace's cheek. "Now tell me." Ace caught her hand and kissed her fingers. "Okay." A pause. "You've been talking about Lizzie's." "Yes." "And Elisa's been telling you why she loves working there." "Rather enthusiastically." Ace laughed. "Yeah. That's Bea." Yukari smiled. "And I've been thinking about Fox." "Exactly." Ace leaned closer. "So I've got a proposal." Yukari's eyebrows rose. "Oh?" Ace grinned. "How would you like to come to Lizzie's as my pet?" Silence. Yukari blinked. Then she slowly tilted her head. "Your... pet?" "Mandi's pet." The kitsune regarded her. Then a wonderful smile began spreading across her face. "Oh, darling." Ace laughed. "Yeah?" "Are you asking me to wear a collar?" "Well..." "And a leash?" "If you want." "And you would be holding it?" Ace grinned. "That's the general fucking idea." Yukari stared at her for another moment. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, you extraordinary little woman!" Ace laughed with her. "Good extraordinary?" "Very." The kitsune leaned closer. "Tell me more." Ace's smile softened. "Okay. So, I love being Mandi." "I know." "And I love working at Lizzie's." "That much is abundantly clear." Ace grinned. "Fuck yes." She took Yukari's hand again. "And I thought it might be fun to share that part of my life with you." Yukari listened. "Not just tell you stories afterward. Actually take you there. Show you around. Let you meet everybody as Fox." "And as your pet?" "Only if you want that part." Yukari smiled. "I rather think I might." Ace laughed. "I thought so." "But what would you expect from me?" Ace considered. "Nothing you don't agree to." "How reassuring." "Seriously. We'd talk about it beforehand. Rules, boundaries, what you want to try." "And if I change my mind?" "We stop." "Even if we're already at the club?" "Especially then." Yukari studied her. Ace continued. "And we have to talk to Panam and Suzy first. I can't just bring someone to work and declare she's part of the Stable." "Quite right." "And being my pet wouldn't mean you're automatically taking clients." "Of course." "You could just enjoy the evening." Yukari's smile widened. "That sounds lovely." Ace considered. "And if I get a booking, you'd be free to hang out with someone else. I was thinking Bea might like to show you around." "Oh!" Yukari brightened immediately. "I would enjoy that enormously." "I thought you might." Ace grinned. "And if you decide one day you'd like your own booking, that's a separate conversation." Yukari nodded. "Naturally." For a moment, the kitsune said nothing. She looked down at their joined hands. Then at Ace. There was nothing possessive in the invitation. Nothing that demanded she become somebody else's idea of a perfect pet. Ace was offering her a game. A role. A new experience. And beneath all of it, something far more important. An invitation into a cherished part of her life. "Ace?" "Yeah?" "Why did you think of this?" Ace considered. Then smiled. "Because I love you." Yukari grew quiet. Ace shrugged. "And because I think we'd have a fucking fantastic time." The kitsune began laughing. "Oh, sweetheart." She reached up and touched Ace's face. "You're quite impossible." "Frequently." "And very dear to me." Ace's grin softened. "Good." Yukari leaned forward and kissed her. Ace answered immediately, bringing an arm around her waist. It began as a gentle expression of gratitude. Then Yukari smiled against Ace's lips, moved closer, and kissed her again with unmistakable enthusiasm. Ace laughed softly. "What?" Yukari touched her forehead to Ace's. "Nothing." "That was not a nothing kiss." "No, darling." The kitsune's eyes sparkled. "It certainly wasn't." Ace drew her close again. For a little while they forgot about collars, working identities, and professional arrangements. Yukari rested one hand against Ace's neck, enjoying the familiar warmth of her skin. Ace held her comfortably, one hand moving slowly along her back. They kissed again. Then Yukari drew back just far enough to look at her. "Yes." Ace blinked. "Yes?" "I would love to be Mandi's pet." Ace stared. Then her face lit up. "OH, FUCK YES!" Yukari dissolved into laughter. Ace caught her in a delighted embrace. And for several moments, neither made the slightest attempt to behave. Eventually, Yukari rested against her shoulder. "Although..." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" "I shall require an appearance worthy of the occasion." Ace slowly grinned. "Oh, beautiful." Yukari laughed. "Yes?" "Now you're speaking my fucking language." ### Fox, Not Yukari When they returned to the common room, Elisa took one look at them. Then closed her eyes. "Oh, no." Ace grinned. "Hey, beautiful!" Elisa pointed at her. "That expression." "What expression?" "The one that usually costs somebody money." Yukari laughed. Elisa looked toward her. "Sweetheart, what has she done?" The kitsune smiled. "She's invited me to visit Lizzie's as Mandi's pet." Elisa stopped. Looked at Ace. Then Yukari. Then slowly began laughing. "Oh, you magnificent little menace." Ace looked delighted. "Thank you!" "I wasn't necessarily complimenting you." "Taking it anyway." Elisa shook her head. Then turned toward Yukari. "And you?" Yukari smiled. "I accepted." "Because you want to?" "Very much." Elisa studied her for a moment. Then nodded. "Good." A pause. "And I assume someone remembered to ask Panam and Suzy?" Ace spread her hands. "That's next." Elisa sighed. "Thank Christ." Brenda looked up from the nearby workbench. "What am I missing?" Iris, sitting beside her, smiled. "Apparently Ace has acquired a pet." Brenda stared. Then looked toward Yukari. "Oh, you have GOT to be fucking kidding." Yukari laughed. "Not at all, darling." Brenda looked at Ace. Then back. Then burst out laughing. "OF COURSE YOU FUCKING DID!" Mai entered carrying her agent. "What did Ace do?" Elisa turned toward her. "How long have you got?" Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, love." Ace pointed. "HEY!" Shammy followed Mai into the room. She listened to the explanation with a growing smile. Then looked at Yukari. "Are you excited?" "Very." Shammy's expression warmed. "Then I'm happy for you." Yukari smiled. "Thank you, darling." Mai approached. She kissed Ace's cheek, then reached for Yukari's hand. "And you know you're allowed to change your mind?" "Yes." "Good." Mai smiled. "Then I think it's a wonderful idea." Ace grinned. "SEE?" Elisa folded her arms. "Wonderful, yes. Authorized, no." "FUCK, ELISA!" "Bea, later tonight. And don't forget it." She glanced toward the clock. "Because we have work." Mai checked the time. "She's right." Ace blinked. Then laughed. "Oh, fuck." Brenda shook her head. "Here we go." Elisa looked toward Yukari. "So. You want to become Fox?" The kitsune nodded. "Yes." Elisa smiled. "Then show me what you have in mind." ### The Woman in the Mirror Yukari stood before the full-length mirror. Ace sat on the sofa behind her. Elisa stood nearby. Mai and Shammy watched with interest, while Brenda had already put down her tools. Iris remained beside her. "All right," Elisa said. "What does Fox look like?" Yukari regarded her reflection. "Beautiful, I hope." Elisa laughed. "Darling, that's rather a broad requirement." "Then perhaps something a little wild." Ace grinned. "Getting better." Yukari considered. "I want her to look like a woman nobody here has seen before." Elisa nodded. "A genuine second identity." "Yes." "But still something that feels like you." The kitsune smiled. "Precisely." She studied her familiar dark hair. Then closed her eyes. A warm golden radiance gathered around her. The change began gently. Her hair lengthened. Past her shoulders. Past her waist. Past her hips. Farther still. When the light faded, glossy near-black hair cascaded almost to the backs of her thighs. Elisa stared. "Oh, fuck." Ace grinned. "YES." Yukari turned. The long hair moved beautifully around her. Elisa approached. "May I?" "Of course." She lifted a section. Let it fall. Then smiled. "Magnificent." Yukari considered. "Not quite finished." The golden radiance returned. This time it moved through the hair. Long streaks of warm copper-russet appeared among the dark strands. Copper. Russet. Deep auburn. Not neon. Nothing artificial. The reds ran from near the roots to the ends, blending naturally with the black as the hair moved. Yukari turned toward the light. And the red streaks caught it like embers. Brenda made an appreciative noise. "Oh, that is fucking unfair." Iris smiled. "Darling." "What?" "You're staring." "HAVE YOU SEEN HER?" "Yes, sweetheart." Elisa examined the result. Then smiled slowly. "Oh, that's clever." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Too much?" "Not remotely." Ace stood. Approached. And gently gathered a little of the extraordinary hair between her fingers. "Fuck." Yukari smiled. "Sweetheart?" Ace looked at her. "You're beautiful." The kitsune's expression softened. "Thank you." Then she turned back toward the mirror. "One more thing." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "My eyes." The radiance returned. This time the transformation was subtle. Her face changed just enough to establish a different identity. The cheek structure. The line of her jaw. The shape of her mouth. And most noticeably, the eyes. They became slightly more oblique, their outer corners lifting gently into a distinctly foxlike expression. Then the irises changed. Dark brown became gold. Warm. Luminous. The color of polished amber catching firelight. Yukari opened her eyes. For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Elisa whispered: "Oh, you clever little bitch." Fox smiled. "Something wrong, darling?" Elisa shook her head. "Absolutely nothing." She stepped closer. Studied the eyes. Then the hair. Then the new face. And smiled. "You're going to be remembered." Fox regarded the reflection. A beautiful stranger looked back. Near-black hair streaked with copper-russet. Golden-amber eyes. A smile that was still unmistakably Yukari's, though the face itself belonged to someone new. She adjusted her voice. Slightly deeper. Warmer. With a gentle, teasing resonance. "Hello." Ace grinned. "Oh, FUCK." Fox laughed. "Do you approve?" "Beautiful, I'm considering proposing all over again." Mai burst out laughing. Shammy covered her mouth. And Elisa shook her head. "Jesus Christ, you two." Fox turned toward Ace. Then smiled. "Hello, Mandi." Ace went completely still. Then slowly began grinning. "Say that again." Fox leaned closer. "Hello, Mandi." Ace burst out laughing. "OH, BEAUTIFUL!" And kissed her. Fox answered happily. Elisa looked toward Mai. "She's never going to survive the evening." Mai sighed affectionately. "Probably not." ### A Name Is Not a Permission Slip The laughter eventually faded. Elisa checked her agent. Then turned toward Ace. "Right. Panam." Ace nodded. "Yep." Fox approached. "May I write the message?" Ace smiled. "Of course. It's your visit." The kitsune considered her words carefully. She explained that she wanted to visit Lizzie's as Fox, in a consensual pet role with Mandi, initially without accepting clients. She asked for a private conversation with Madame Panam and Suzy Q, and made it clear that she understood the club would have to approve the arrangement. Then she sent the message. Ace looked delighted. "Fucking perfect." Elisa nodded. "Considerably better than 'I've had an amazing idea.'" Ace stared. "How did you know that was my first draft?" Mai burst out laughing. Fox looked toward her. Then at Ace. "Oh, sweetheart." Ace grinned. "What?" "You're becoming predictable." "Fuck." A reply arrived before they finished laughing. Panam. **Yukari, I appreciate you asking. Suzy and I can see you privately before opening tonight. Come through the staff entrance with Mandi. No public appearance or pet arrangement until we've spoken and agreed on the rules. And tell Ace that if she sends me another picture of a collar before we've discussed this, I'm blocking her agent.** Fox read it. Then slowly turned toward Ace. Ace smiled innocently. "What?" Elisa leaned closer. "Another picture?" Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, love." Brenda looked delighted. "How many?" Ace considered. "Depends whether we're counting variations." Iris sighed. "Naturally." Fox began laughing. "Oh, Ace." Then she looked toward Elisa. "Well, darling." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "It seems I have an appointment." Elisa smiled. "Indeed you do." Fox's golden eyes brightened. "And so do you." Elisa glanced toward the time. Then laughed. "Victor." "Precisely." "Oh, bloody hell." She stood. "Come along, sweetheart. You can watch how a mere mortal changes her voice." Fox smiled. "With pleasure." As they headed for the door, Ace called after them. "HEY!" Elisa turned. "What?" "Don't be late!" Elisa stared. Then looked toward Fox. "Did Ace just remind me to be punctual?" Fox nodded solemnly. "Apparently." Elisa shook her head. "Well, that's it. The world's ending." ### Victor's Patience Victor examined Elisa's appointment record. Then looked at Yukari. Then back at Elisa. "You brought an audience." Elisa smiled. "An appreciative one." Victor sighed. "Of course." Yukari inclined her head. "Good evening." Victor regarded her. Then nodded. "Yukari." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "You've met?" "Yes." The kitsune smiled. "Victor is a very interesting man." Elisa looked delighted. "Oh, he is going to hate that." Victor pointed toward the chair. "Sit, Elisa." "How romantic." "Sit." She laughed and obeyed. Yukari watched the preparation with interest. Victor explained the temporary voice-sculpt's working limits, and Yukari listened closely. The procedure was not a decorative electronic filter. Elisa's voice would be produced differently by her own temporarily altered vocal anatomy. When Victor completed the adjustment, he checked the readings. "Speak." Elisa cleared her throat. "Well?" The voice was different. Lower. Warm. Slightly husky. Still carrying Elisa's unmistakable sense of timing, but no longer sounding like her ordinary voice. Yukari's eyes widened. "Oh!" Elisa turned toward her. "Well, beautiful?" The kitsune smiled. "Magnificent." Victor nodded. "Again." Elisa spoke another sentence. Then laughed. Yukari stared. "Oh, that is extraordinary." Elisa looked pleased. "Isn't it?" Victor completed the final checks. "Done." Elisa smiled. "Thank you, darling." "Don't strain it." "I know." "No unnecessary shouting." "I know." "And remember when the working window ends." Elisa raised an eyebrow. "Victor, I do occasionally listen." He looked at her. "Occasionally." Yukari burst out laughing. Elisa closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." ### Before the Doors Open The safehouse preparations were already underway when they returned. Elisa went to finish becoming Bea. Yukari accompanied her. The kitsune watched as ChromeLock v2 transformed Elisa's own hair into Bea's familiar ice-blue, chin-length style. No wig. No removable hairpiece. Her own hair. The shape-memory system maintained the deliberate cut and styling. Yukari tested it with Elisa's permission. Then watched the strands gradually settle back toward their intended arrangement. "Oh, that's wonderful." Elisa grinned. "Darling, you grew enough hair to upholster a sofa." "Yes, but I had to think about it." Elisa stared. Then laughed. "Fair." The face-mesh came next. Elisa checked the fit, the contacts, and the movement of the unfamiliar features. Her reflection changed. A second face. A second voice. Ice-blue hair. And a way of holding herself that was still Elisa, yet unmistakably belonged to someone else. Yukari watched the change in her expression. Then smiled. "Hello, Bea." Bea turned. "Hello, Fox." For a moment, they regarded one another. Then both began smiling. Two women. Two chosen identities. One created through the most sophisticated technology Night City could offer. The other through something for which technology had no explanation at all. Bea looked at Fox's extraordinary hair. Then at her golden eyes. "Oh, sweetheart." Fox laughed. "Yes?" "I think we're going to have a wonderful evening." The kitsune smiled. "I sincerely hope so." Bea raised one finger. "Assuming Suzy doesn't throw Mandi out before we start." Fox burst out laughing. "Oh, heavens." ### Mandi Ace's transformation took place in another preparation room. When Mandi emerged, Fox stopped. Neon-orange hair. Dark eyes. The fierce, striking cyber-oni face. An outfit that made no attempt to apologize for being outrageously provocative. And that grin. Mandi looked at Fox. Then slowly smiled. "Well, fuck." Fox tilted her head. "Hello, darling." Mandi approached. Looked at the hair. Then the eyes. Then the face. "Beautiful." Fox smiled. "Thank you." Mandi took her hand. "May I?" "Of course." Their kiss was warm and delighted. When they separated, Fox studied the cyber-oni's appearance again. "Oh, sweetheart." "Yeah?" "You are magnificent." Mandi grinned. "Fuck yes." Bea folded her arms. "God help us." Mai, still finishing her own preparations, appeared in the doorway. She looked at the pair. Then smiled. "Those two are going to be trouble." Bea nodded. "Absolutely." Mandi turned. "HEY!" Fox smiled sweetly. "Darling, I believe they're correct." Mandi stared. Then burst out laughing. "FUCK!" ### Friday Night They didn't all leave in one conspicuous procession. Professional covers required more care than that. Dalia and Deja would arrive together, as they always did. Nova and Vega had their own arrangements. Sera would join Panam and Nadia. Reyes had already attended her separate Friday appointment with Victor and would complete her Birgitta preparations privately, without involving Elisa or her security arrangements. And Mandi, Bea, and Fox would use Lizzie's agreed staff-access route. Fox checked her reflection one final time. The dark hair. The copper-russet streaks. The golden-amber eyes. The face she'd chosen. Then she turned toward Mandi. "Ready, darling?" Mandi grinned. "Born ready." Bea sighed. "Of course you were." Fox laughed. As they prepared to leave, Mandi took her hand. "One thing." Yukari looked at her. "Yes?" "Tonight you're not required to do anything." "I know." "And if you decide you don't like the place?" "I tell you." "And we leave, if that's what you want." Fox smiled. "Precisely." Mandi squeezed her hand. "Good." The kitsune leaned closer. "Sweetheart?" "Yeah?" "Thank you for inviting me." Mandi's grin softened. "Always, beautiful." Bea approached. "Are you two finished being adorable?" Mandi laughed. "Probably not." "Then be adorable in the car. We have a meeting." Fox accepted Bea's offered arm. "Oh, darling." "Yes?" "You're becoming terribly bossy." Bea grinned. "That's why people love me." And together they headed out into Friday evening. Toward Lizzie's. Toward Madame Panam. Toward Suzy Q. And toward Fox's first real adventure in a world she had only begun to imagine. --- ## Chapter 15 — The Madame and the Fox Lizzie's Bar — Friday, before opening. Suzy Q was having a perfectly reasonable evening. This was unusual enough to make her suspicious. The staff had arrived on time. Lisa had completed the security briefing. The bar was stocked. The private suites were ready. And, for once, nobody had reported a problem involving a client, a broken piece of equipment, or one of the joytoys deciding that the staff corridors were an appropriate place to settle an argument about who had the better ass. Then her agent chimed. Mandi and Bea at staff entrance. One guest. Panam expecting us. Suzy stared at the message. Then sighed. "Of course." Lisa, standing nearby, looked up. "Problem?" "Not yet." Lisa considered. "That usually means Mandi." Suzy nodded. "Exactly." ### Three Women at the Door Lisa met them in the private entry corridor. Mandi arrived first. Neon-orange hair. Cyber-oni face. An expression suggesting she was very pleased with herself. Bea followed, ice-blue hair sharp beneath the corridor lighting. And beside them stood a woman Lisa had never seen before. Tall enough to carry her extraordinary hair without it overwhelming her. Elegant. Near-black-haired, with long copper-russet streaks falling almost to the backs of her thighs. And eyes— Lisa looked more carefully. Gold. Not yellow contacts pretending to be gold. Or, at least, not contacts she recognized. The woman smiled. "Good evening." Lisa nodded. "Evening." Mandi grinned. "Lisa! Meet Fox." Lisa looked at Mandi. Then at Fox. "Fox." The newcomer inclined her head. "A pleasure." Lisa studied her for another moment. Then looked toward Bea. "She's the guest?" "Yes." "Not on the floor yet?" "Not until the meeting." Lisa nodded. "Good." Mandi looked offended. "We know the rules!" Lisa turned toward her. "Mandi." "What?" "Do you want me to list the occasions on which you've interpreted a rule creatively?" Bea burst out laughing. Fox covered her mouth. Mandi grinned. "Fuck, no." "Good." Lisa led them through the staff corridor. Fox walked beside Bea. She was fascinated. Not by anything particularly spectacular. There were doors. Lighting controls. Security checkpoints. A remarkably ordinary storage area. People carrying supplies. But the place had an atmosphere she'd never experienced from quite this perspective. This wasn't the glamorous public face of a nightclub. It was the machinery that kept one running. And she rather liked that. "Darling," she murmured to Bea. "Yes?" "How long has Lisa worked here?" Bea smiled. "Long enough to recognize trouble before it introduces itself." Fox glanced toward Mandi. "How useful." Mandi looked back. "HEY!" Lisa didn't turn around. "Exhibit A." Fox burst out laughing. ### The Madame Arrives They were shown into a private staff lounge. Suzy was already there. Fox immediately recognized why people spoke about her with such respect. She wasn't particularly interested in making an entrance. She didn't need to. The woman looked up from her agent, took in the three arrivals, and stood. "Mandi." "Suzy!" "Don't." Mandi grinned. "Didn't say anything!" "You're about to." Bea laughed. Suzy turned toward her. "Welcome back." Bea's expression warmed. "Thank you, darling." They exchanged a brief embrace. Then Suzy regarded Fox. "And you must be the new complication." Fox smiled. "I prefer 'guest,' darling." Suzy raised an eyebrow. Then laughed. "Oh, I like you already." A moment later, the door opened again. Panam entered with Nadia and Sera. Fox's expression brightened immediately. "Panam!" The Madame smiled. "Yukari." They embraced warmly. Suzy watched. Then glanced toward Mandi. "So you weren't exaggerating about knowing her." Mandi grinned. "Never!" Suzy stared. Bea looked toward the ceiling. Panam sighed. "Let's not test that claim." Nadia approached next. She studied Fox. The extraordinary hair. The golden eyes. Then she smiled. "Oh, you beautiful creature." Fox laughed. "Nadia, darling." They embraced. Sera followed. Fox looked into the familiar white-haired woman's eyes. Then smiled with quiet affection. "Hello, beautiful." Sera returned the smile. "Hello, Fox." She kissed her cheek. Then stepped back. For a moment, the two women shared a look that belonged to their private life. A wordless promise that the new identity would be respected. Then Sera turned toward Suzy. "Shall we?" Suzy nodded. "Let's." ### What Does Fox Want? Suzy sat opposite Fox. Panam took the chair beside her. Mandi and Bea remained nearby. Nadia and Sera settled together at the far end of the lounge. Suzy looked at Fox. "All right." Fox smiled. "Yes?" "Tell me what you want." The kitsune considered. "I'd like to spend an evening at Lizzie's as Fox." "Doing what?" "Initially? Learning." Suzy nodded. "Go on." "Mandi has invited me to try a pet role with her." Suzy glanced toward the cyber-oni. Mandi grinned. "I did." "I gathered." Fox continued. "I would like to wear a collar and accompany her on a leash, if that is permitted." Panam raised an eyebrow. "And whose idea was that?" "Mandi's invitation was." Fox smiled. "My acceptance was entirely mine." Panam nodded. "Good answer." Suzy continued. "Are you asking to join the Stable?" "Not as a regular working member tonight." "Any intention of taking bookings?" "Not tonight." Mandi looked toward Fox. The kitsune met her eyes briefly. Then smiled. "Perhaps another evening, if I decide the work appeals to me." Suzy nodded. "Good." She studied Fox for a moment. "Do you understand what wearing a collar in this club might suggest to a customer?" Fox considered. "That I'm participating in an agreed pet role." "Correct. But some customers will assume you're available." "I understand." "And what do you do if they ask?" "If I don't wish to speak with them, I say no." "And if they offer money?" Fox smiled. "My answer remains no." Suzy nodded. "And if they won't accept it?" "I contact security." Lisa, standing near the door, inclined her head. "Exactly." Fox turned toward her. "And I should be quite happy to do so." Suzy smiled. "Excellent." Panam leaned forward. "One distinction." Fox looked at her. "Yes?" "Nadia and Sera are my pets. Our arrangements are established and personal." Fox nodded. "I know." "You wouldn't be entering that relationship." "Of course not." "This would be an agreed role between you and Mandi, within club rules." Fox smiled. "Precisely." Panam regarded her for a moment. Then nodded. "Good." Suzy tapped her agent. "Now, privacy." Fox's expression grew attentive. "Yes?" "I understand you don't use a face-mesh." "No." "Or ChromeLock." "No." "Then how is your identity protected?" Fox considered. "May I explain something in confidence?" Suzy looked toward the others. Panam nodded. "She can." Suzy's expression sharpened. "All right." Fox folded her hands. "The appearance you're seeing is entirely natural." Suzy raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?" "My body has changed." Suzy looked at her. Then at Panam. Panam smiled faintly. "She's telling you the truth." Suzy stared. Then slowly turned back. "How?" Fox smiled. "Perhaps a small demonstration would be more useful than an explanation." Suzy considered. Then nodded. "Go ahead." Fox lifted one hand. A soft golden radiance moved across it. For a moment, the fingers appeared slightly longer, more delicate. Then they returned to their previous proportions. Suzy went very still. Fox lowered her hand. "That was not technology." Silence. Then Suzy slowly exhaled. "Well." Mandi grinned. "Pretty fucking cool, right?" Suzy didn't look at her. "Mandi." "Yeah?" "Shut up for thirty seconds." Bea burst out laughing. Fox smiled. Suzy regarded her. Then looked toward Panam. "You knew?" Panam nodded. "Yes." "And you were going to mention this when?" "Now." Suzy closed her eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake." Nadia began laughing. Sera covered her mouth. Suzy looked at Fox again. "All right. Is this something customers will see?" "No." "Is anyone going to discover it during routine work?" "Not unless I deliberately reveal it." "And you're not going to change appearances in the middle of the club?" Fox shook her head. "No. Fox will be a consistent identity." Suzy nodded slowly. "Good." She regarded the newcomer for another moment. Then laughed. "Jesus Christ." Fox tilted her head. "Darling?" Suzy shook her head. "I've been running this place long enough to believe I've seen everything." Mandi grinned. "Apparently not." Suzy pointed at her. "Thirty seconds starts over." The room erupted. ### Approval The remaining conversation was practical. Suzy explained the distinction between being a guest and being an available professional. Panam discussed the pet role. Lisa explained how Fox could contact security and where she could go without entering client-only areas. Bea offered to act as her guide when Mandi was occupied. Mandi nodded. "Works for me." Suzy looked at Fox. "And for you?" Fox smiled. "Very much." "Any objections to those arrangements?" "None." Suzy considered. Then nodded. "All right." Mandi sat up straighter. Suzy raised one finger. "Under the following conditions." Mandi stopped moving. Fox looked attentive. "Fox may enter the public areas tonight as Mandi's guest and pet. She's not accepting bookings, she's not being listed as available, and she's not entering private client suites unless there's a separately approved reason." Fox nodded. "Understood." "If Mandi takes a booking, Fox can spend time with Bea, provided Bea is free." "Of course." "If Bea isn't free, Fox chooses whether to remain with another approved member of staff or leave." "Agreed." "And if she wants to stop?" Mandi answered immediately. "She stops." Suzy looked at Fox. The kitsune nodded. "Exactly." Suzy smiled. "Then welcome to Lizzie's, Fox." For a moment, Yukari simply looked at her. Then her golden eyes brightened. "Oh, thank you." Panam smiled. "Welcome, sweetheart." Mandi threw both hands in the air. "FUCK YES!" Suzy closed her eyes. "Mandi." "What?" "You're going to make me regret this." "Probably!" Bea burst out laughing. ### The Collar Panam led them into a private preparation room. There was a secure cabinet containing several collars intended for professional pet-play arrangements. Different sizes. Different materials. Different designs. Fox examined them with interest. Mandi stood beside her. Bea watched from the doorway. Panam selected a simple black leather collar with a polished gold fastening. She held it out. "Try this." Fox accepted it. The leather was soft. Carefully finished. Comfortable against her fingers. She looked toward the mirror. Then smiled. "Oh." Mandi leaned closer. "Like it?" "Very." Panam nodded. "Good. We'll check the fit." Fox looked at her. "May Mandi put it on?" Panam smiled. "Of course. It's your arrangement." Mandi took the collar. Then looked at Fox. "Ready?" The kitsune turned toward her. Her golden eyes sparkled. "Yes, sweetheart." Mandi stepped closer. She lifted the extraordinary hair away from Fox's neck. For a moment, the two women were very quiet. Mandi rested the open collar gently against her skin. Checked its position. Then brought the fastening together. Click. Fox closed her eyes briefly. Not because the collar was uncomfortable. Quite the opposite. She liked the moment. The deliberate choice. The familiar hands. The fact that Ace, standing before her as Mandi, had asked and waited for her answer. Mandi checked the fit carefully. "Comfortable?" Fox nodded. "Very." "Too tight?" "No." "Good." Mandi lowered her hands. Fox turned toward the mirror. The black collar sat beautifully against her neck. The gold fastening echoed her eyes. The near-black hair and copper-russet streaks framed the entire effect. Bea stared. Then slowly smiled. "Oh, you clever women." Panam looked pleased. "That works." Fox touched the collar lightly. Then laughed. "Oh, darling." Mandi grinned. "Yeah?" "I believe I rather like being your pet." Mandi's smile softened. "Good." Fox turned toward her. Then leaned closer. "May I kiss my handler?" Mandi burst out laughing. "Fuck, yes." The kiss was unhurried and affectionate. Mandi's hands settled at Fox's waist. Fox touched her cheek. They remained close for a moment afterward. Then Mandi kissed her forehead. "Beautiful." Fox smiled. "Thank you, sweetheart." Panam cleared her throat. Both women turned. The Madame regarded them. "Would you like the leash now, or should I give you another five minutes?" Bea burst out laughing. Mandi grinned. "Leash, please!" Fox covered her mouth. "Oh, heavens." ### A Little Gold, a Little Black The leash was black leather with discreet gold fittings. Mandi examined the clasp before attaching it to the collar. She looked at Fox. "Still okay?" Fox smiled. "Entirely." The clasp fastened. A small, distinct click. Fox glanced down at the leash. Then followed its line to Mandi's hand. Her smile widened. "Oh, this is rather delightful." Mandi grinned. "Right?" Bea folded her arms. "You two are enjoying yourselves far too much." Fox looked at her. "Is that possible, darling?" Bea considered. Then laughed. "At Lizzie's? Probably not." Panam approached. She looked Fox over once more. Then nodded. "Good." She turned to Mandi. "Remember, she's your guest first." Mandi's expression became serious. "Absolutely." "No dragging her into situations she hasn't chosen." "Wouldn't dream of it." "And no improvising a booking because somebody waves money around." Mandi shook her head. "No." Panam looked toward Fox. "And if my little cyber-oni becomes too enthusiastic?" Fox considered. Then smiled. "I shall remind her that I have nine very persuasive reasons to behave." Mandi burst out laughing. Suzy, appearing at the doorway, looked between them. "Do I want to know?" Panam sighed. "No." Bea grinned. "Probably not." Suzy shook her head. "Fine. Doors in ten minutes." She looked at Fox. "Enjoy yourself." The kitsune smiled. "Thank you, darling." Suzy looked toward Mandi. "And keep the leash out of the bar equipment." Mandi stared. "WHY WOULD I—" Suzy walked away. Bea began laughing so hard she had to lean against the doorframe. Fox looked at Mandi. Then smiled. "Darling?" "Yeah?" "Should I ask?" Mandi considered. "Probably not." ### First Steps When they entered the public area, Lizzie's was beginning to fill. Music rolled through the room. Colored lights moved across the bar. Conversations rose and fell beneath the beat. The Moxes moved through the floor with the easy confidence of people who knew exactly where every exit was and precisely how to persuade somebody to use it. Fox stopped beside Mandi. For a moment, she simply watched. The club was extraordinary. Not because it was unfamiliar. Yukari had visited all manner of establishments during her long existence. Some elegant. Some scandalous. Some magnificent. Some best forgotten. But Lizzie's felt different. Alive. Unapologetically so. People laughed openly. Flirted. Danced. Worked. Talked. And behind the freedom was a sense of structure. The doors. The staff. The procedures. The security. Fox could feel the difference. Mandi looked at her. "Well?" The kitsune turned. Then smiled. "Oh, sweetheart." "Yeah?" "I think I'm going to love it." Mandi's grin widened. "FUCK YES!" Bea laughed. "Darling, try not to announce it to the entire bar." Mandi considered. "Too late." Fox laughed. Then gently touched her collar. The leather felt warm against her skin now. Real. Chosen. Hers. She looked toward Mandi. "Shall we?" Mandi grinned. "Let's fucking go." And together they stepped into Lizzie's. ### Familiar Faces, Different Names Dalia and Deja arrived together. Fox saw them from across the lounge. Dalia's neon-pink dreadlocks were unmistakable. Deja walked beside her, confident and relaxed beneath her carefully maintained cover. The two women stopped when they noticed Fox. Dalia looked at the dark hair. The red streaks. The golden eyes. Then smiled. "Well." Deja grinned. "Hello, beautiful." Fox inclined her head. "Good evening, darlings." Dalia looked toward Mandi. "Yours?" Mandi grinned. "Mine for the evening." Fox smiled sweetly. "By mutual agreement." Deja burst out laughing. "Definitely yours." Dalia laughed. Then stepped closer. "May I?" Fox nodded. "Of course." Dalia kissed her cheek. "Welcome." Fox's expression softened. "Thank you." Deja did the same. Then glanced at the collar. "Comfortable?" "Very." "Good." Fox smiled. "I've been assured that comfort is taken quite seriously here." Dalia nodded. "It is." Mandi grinned. "Except when Bea steals all the good seats." Bea looked offended. "I beg your pardon." Deja laughed. Dalia shook her head. "Some things never change." A little later, Nova and Vega found them. Vega stopped. Looked Fox over. Then slowly smiled. "Oh, fuck." Nova raised an eyebrow. "Darling." "What?" "Use your words." Vega considered. "Absolutely fucking gorgeous." Nova smiled. "Better." Fox laughed. "How kind." Vega leaned closer. "Those eyes." Fox smiled. "Do you like them?" "Very much." Nova studied her with a warm, appreciative expression. Then she offered her hand. "Welcome to Lizzie's, Fox." The kitsune accepted it. "Thank you, darling." For a moment, their eyes met. Fox remembered an invitation made in the safehouse. A quiet dinner. Time alone. A promise that remained deliciously unfinished. Nova's smile deepened just a fraction. Nothing more. Nothing that would tell a stranger about Iris Rourke. Then Vega laughed. "Jesus, Mandi. You really don't do anything halfway." Mandi grinned. "Never." Fox turned toward her. Then smiled. "Oh, sweetheart." Mandi looked delighted. "Yeah?" "I'm beginning to think this may be the most interesting evening I've had in quite some time." Bea raised her glass. "Darling, the doors have barely opened." Fox's golden eyes sparkled. "How promising." ### The First Lesson They found a comfortable place near the lounge. Mandi sat beside Fox. The leash rested loosely between them. Bea settled opposite. Fox watched the room. A customer approached one of the other joytoys. They spoke. The woman smiled. Then shook her head. The customer nodded politely and returned to the bar. Fox raised an eyebrow. "That's all?" Bea followed her gaze. "All what?" "The customer asked something, she declined, and he simply left." Bea smiled. "That's how it's supposed to work." Fox considered. "How wonderfully uncomplicated." Mandi nodded. "Usually." Bea looked at her. "Don't." Mandi grinned. "What?" "Don't tempt fate." Fox laughed softly. Then watched another customer approach a different joytoy. This conversation lasted longer. Both seemed interested. A staff member joined them briefly to confirm arrangements. Then the pair left together toward the private suites. Fox followed them with her eyes. "Another booking?" Bea nodded. "Yes." "And the difference?" "Mutual interest." Fox smiled. "How lovely." Bea regarded her. Then leaned closer. "Remember that, sweetheart." "What?" "The interesting part isn't how much somebody offers." Fox nodded. "It's whether you want to say yes." "Exactly." Mandi looked toward her. Then smiled. "Pretty good teacher, right?" Fox grinned. "Excellent." Bea raised an eyebrow. "Flattery will get you everywhere, darling." Fox laughed. "Oh, I sincerely hope so." ### An Invitation, Not a Notification Mandi noticed the man before he approached. He was standing near the bar, watching her with an expression that was interested without being intrusive. Good start. She recognized him. Darren. They had met twice before, and both encounters had been thoroughly enjoyable. He was a little older than Ace, comfortably confident, and possessed the rare ability to make a joke without immediately explaining it afterward. Mandi appreciated that. Darren approached their table. "Good evening, Mandi." The cyber-oni grinned. "Well, fuck me. Look what wandered in." Darren laughed. "Good to see you too." Mandi rose and embraced him. "How've you been?" "Busy. You?" "Fucking fantastic." "I can see that." His gaze moved briefly toward Fox. Not lingering. Not presuming. Mandi smiled. "Meet Fox." The kitsune inclined her head. "Good evening." Darren smiled. "A pleasure." "And this is Bea," Mandi added. Darren nodded. "Good evening." Bea smiled. "Hello, darling." He returned his attention to Mandi. "Have a minute?" Mandi considered. Then looked toward Fox. "Mind if I talk to an old friend?" Fox smiled. "Of course not, sweetheart." Mandi turned back. "Come on." They moved to a quieter section of the lounge, still comfortably within sight of the others. Darren settled opposite her. For several minutes, they talked. About his recent work. About a disastrous business dinner involving a guest who'd apparently confused expensive wine with good manners. And about the last time they'd met. Mandi laughed. "Jesus Christ, I'd almost forgotten that." Darren grinned. "I haven't." "Clearly." He regarded her for a moment. Then smiled. "Would you be interested in spending some time together tonight?" Mandi leaned back. "Depends." "On?" "Whether you're planning to tell me any more stories about your fucking shareholders." Darren laughed. "Absolutely not." "Good." She studied him. "And what did you have in mind?" He told her. Not in great detail. Enough for them to establish what each wanted and what neither wanted. Mandi listened. Asked a couple of questions. Then smiled. "Yeah." Darren raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" "I'd like that." His answering smile was immediate. Mandi rose. "Then let's go see Madame." Darren stood with her. "Lead the way." "Gladly." They found Panam near the lounge, speaking with Nadia and Sera. The Madame turned as they approached. "Mandi." Mandi grinned. "Hey, Madame." Panam looked at Darren. Then back at Mandi. "An interested gentleman?" "Very." Darren smiled. "Good evening, Madame." "Good evening." Panam regarded Mandi. "And you?" Mandi grinned. "Fucking interested." Panam smiled. "Good." She turned toward Darren. "Then let's discuss the arrangements." Darren nodded. "Of course." Panam confirmed the booking length. One hour. Mandi's usual rate. Twenty-five thousand eddies. Darren accepted without hesitation. Panam checked that Mandi was satisfied with the proposed arrangement and that both understood the agreed boundaries. Mandi nodded. "All good." Panam smiled. "Then we have an agreement." She completed the payment arrangements and reserved a private suite. Darren thanked her. Panam reached for Mandi's own Stable leash, already clipped to her collar, and released it with the familiar small click. She placed the detached leash in Mandi's hand. "Enjoy yourself, sweetheart." Mandi grinned. "Planning on it." Then she turned toward Darren. "Give me a minute?" "Of course." Mandi returned to Fox and Bea. The kitsune looked up. "Darling?" Mandi smiled. "Got myself a date." Bea raised an eyebrow. "A good one?" "Fucking excellent." Fox laughed softly. "How lovely." Mandi sat beside her. "Hey, beautiful." "Yes?" "Would you like to hang out with Bea while I'm working?" Fox's golden eyes brightened. "Very much." Mandi turned toward Bea. "You free?" "For the moment, yes." "Perfect." She looked back at Fox. "Want the leash off?" "Please." Mandi unclipped it. The small fastening opened with a quiet metallic sound. She placed the leash in Fox's hand. "Here." The kitsune looked at it. Then at Mandi. And smiled. "Thank you, sweetheart." Mandi kissed her cheek. "Have fun." "I intend to." Bea rose and offered her arm. "Come along, beautiful." Fox accepted it. "Where are we going?" Bea smiled. "To see whether this place can survive two curious women without adult supervision." Mandi burst out laughing. "NOT A FUCKING CHANCE!" Fox looked delighted. "How promising." They exchanged one last affectionate smile before Mandi returned to Darren. He stood when she approached. "Everything arranged?" "Yep." Mandi offered her hand. "Ready?" Darren took it. "Very." Together they headed toward the private suites, their booking already arranged and approved by Madame Panam. ## Behind the Private Door The suite door closed quietly behind them. Mandi turned toward Darren. For a moment, she simply smiled. "Well?" He laughed. "Well what?" "Still happy with your decision?" "Absolutely." "Good." She approached. "May I?" Darren nodded. "Please." Mandi kissed him. He answered warmly, bringing his hands to her waist. She drew back just enough to look at him. "Missed me?" He smiled. "Rather." "Good answer." They kissed again. This time without the polite distance of the lounge. Mandi enjoyed the familiar ease between them. Darren knew how to ask, how to listen, and when to stop making jokes long enough to let a moment become something more. They moved together toward the sofa. He sat. Mandi settled beside him, close enough that their knees touched. She brushed her fingers along his cheek. "Comfortable?" "Very." "Good." She kissed him again. Darren's answering sigh made her smile. For a while, their conversation gave way to affectionate touches, laughter, and the pleasure of being together without interruption. Their agreed private time continued beyond that first embrace. Mandi broke the next kiss just long enough to stand. Darren looked up at her. She caught both of his hands. "Come on." He rose. The suite had a bed for a reason, and Mandi had no intention of pretending the sofa represented a moral principle. They crossed the short distance together. Mandi began undoing her professional outfit, then stopped when Darren reached toward one fastening. He immediately stopped too. She smiled. "You can help." "Thank you." "Don't make it ceremonial." He laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it." Clothing came away between kisses. His more slowly. Hers with the practical ease Lena had designed into it. Mandi left the boots on. Darren noticed. "Those staying?" "Fuck yes." "Good." She grinned. "Correct answer." When they settled onto the bed, Mandi drew him close again. There was nothing hesitant in the desire between them, but Darren still waited when the next step became obvious. Mandi appreciated that more than she said. She guided him between her thighs. "Still good?" His expression softened. "Very." "Me too." Then she reached down, guided the head of his cock through her wet folds, and drew him into her. The first stretch pulled a sharp breath from Mandi as he sank in deep, her cunt already slick around him. Darren went still immediately. She opened her eyes. Saw the question. And laughed softly. "Oh, don't look worried." "Checking." "I know." She pulled him closer, heels of the boots digging lightly into the backs of his thighs. "Good. Keep going." He did. Slowly first. Deep, measured thrusts that let the pleasure settle, the wet sound of each stroke filling the quiet suite. Mandi's hands moved along his back as they found a shared rhythm. The familiarity helped. So did the fact that neither was trying to make the hour impressive. When Darren changed pace, grinding on the downstroke so the base of his cock pressed against her clit, Mandi reacted with a low pleased sound. He noticed. "That?" "Yeah." He stayed with it, one hand sliding between them to circle her clit while he fucked her. Mandi smiled. "See? Trainable." Darren laughed. "You're impossible." "Expensive, too." "Apparently worth it." "Oh, now you're learning." The joke broke into another kiss. Their rhythm strengthened. He thrust harder now, the boots still on, Mandi meeting every stroke with a roll of her hips. Mandi's playfulness never vanished, but eventually even she ran short of comments. Her breathing sharpened. One hand tightened at Darren's shoulder. He felt it and slowed just enough to stay with her rather than outrun the moment, fingers working her clit in firm circles. Mandi's climax hit with a sudden shudder and a broken curse, her cunt clenching hard around his cock as she came. Darren held her close while it moved through her. No teasing. No immediate question. Only attention. When she opened her eyes again, she was smiling. "Hi." He smiled back. "Hi." Mandi kissed him. Then shifted beneath him. "You're not done." It was not really a question. Darren laughed once. "No." "Good." They began moving again. Less urgency now. More warmth. Mandi stayed engaged, meeting him rather than lying still while he finished, one hand stroking his back as she clenched around him on purpose. When his control finally gave way, she felt it coming and pulled him closer, boots locked behind him. Darren's climax followed with a deep exhale against her shoulder, hips stuttering as he came inside her. They stopped together. Mandi kept her arms around him while both of them caught their breath. Only when the last tension had left his body did she kiss his cheek and let the silence become comfortable. Later, Darren rested comfortably beside her. Mandi traced a lazy pattern across his shoulder. "Well?" He laughed. "You really like that question." "Fuck yes." He turned toward her. Then smiled. "That was wonderful." Mandi's grin softened. "Yeah." She kissed his cheek. "Had a pretty fucking good time myself." They remained together a little longer. No hurry. No awkward scramble toward the door. When their time finally ended, Darren dressed and turned toward her. "Will I see you again?" Mandi smiled. "Come find me and ask." He laughed. "Fair enough." She kissed him goodbye. Then accompanied him back toward the public area. Before returning to Fox, Mandi found Panam. She held out her detached Stable leash. Panam took it and clipped it back to Mandi's collar. _Click._ Then she pulled Mandi into a warm embrace. Mandi went willingly, still smiling. "Comfortable?" Panam asked. "Very." "Anything hurt?" "Nope." "Water?" "Fuck yes." Panam handed her a bottle from the side table and waited while she drank. "Food?" Mandi considered. "In a minute." Panam kissed her forehead. "Take the minute." Mandi's grin softened. "Yes, Owner." Only after the water was half gone and Panam was satisfied that she was genuinely fine did Mandi head back toward Fox and Bea. ### Meanwhile, with Bea Fox had discovered that Bea was an excellent guide. Not because she knew every corridor. Although she did. Not because she understood every procedure. Although that was equally apparent. But because Bea could explain the most ordinary detail with an expression suggesting that she was sharing a delicious secret. "And that," Bea concluded, "is why you never assume somebody standing near the private suites is waiting for a booking." Fox smiled. "Because they may be waiting for someone else?" "Exactly." "Or merely lost?" Bea laughed. "Frequently." They approached the bar. Fox watched a woman politely decline an invitation from a customer. The customer nodded, thanked her, and returned to his drink. The kitsune smiled. "How lovely." Bea followed her gaze. "That?" "Yes." "Why?" "Because he accepted her answer." Bea nodded. "That's how it should work." Fox considered. "How wonderfully uncomplicated." Bea regarded her. Then smiled. "Darling, don't tempt fate." Fox laughed. "Oh?" "There's always somebody determined to make things unnecessarily difficult." The kitsune's golden eyes sparkled. "Then I suppose we'll have to hope he stays home tonight." Bea raised her glass. "From your lips to the universe's ears." They laughed together. And continued exploring Lizzie's. ## Chapter 16 — No Means No Lizzie's Bar — Friday night. Fox was beginning to understand why her friends loved the place. It wasn't merely the music. Or the lighting. Or the beautifully dressed people moving through the lounges. It was the freedom. The sense that desire could be expressed openly without becoming a demand. That someone could offer affection, attention, conversation, or intimacy—and another person could accept or refuse without needing to justify the decision. She found that rather wonderful. Bea watched her expression. "Having fun?" "Immensely, darling." "Good." Fox looked toward the main lounge. "Do people always behave so well?" Bea considered. Then smiled. "Most of them." "Most?" "Oh, sweetheart." The ice-blue-haired woman laughed. "There's always one." ### A Man with More Money Than Sense He arrived in an expensive suit. Of course he did. Fox noticed him first because he was staring. Not glancing. Not admiring discreetly. Staring. He approached without introducing himself. "You." Fox turned. "Good evening." "Name?" "Fox." "Good. How much?" Bea raised an eyebrow. "For what, exactly?" The man ignored her. "Private room. Twenty minutes." Fox smiled politely. "I'm not accepting bookings tonight." He frowned. "Five hundred thousand." "No, thank you." "A million." Fox tilted her head. "Darling, the answer is still no." "Two million." Bea's expression cooled. "She's declined." The man glanced at her. "I wasn't talking to you." "Then perhaps you should listen to the woman you were talking to." Fox smiled. "Quite." The man stepped closer. "Five million." Fox regarded him. Then sighed softly. "Darling." "What?" "Have you considered buying a dictionary?" He blinked. "What?" "You seem to be having considerable difficulty understanding a very short word." Bea burst out laughing. The man stared. Then his expression darkened. "Listen, you little—" "That's enough." Lisa had arrived. She looked at Fox. "Everything all right?" "Perfectly, thank you. I've simply declined this gentleman's invitation." Lisa turned toward him. "Then we're finished here." He stared. "Who the fuck are you?" "Security." "Good. Tell her to stop wasting my time." Lisa considered. Then nodded. "All right." The man looked pleased. For approximately one second. Then Lisa continued. "Your evening here is over." "What?" "You're leaving." "Do you know who I am?" "No." "I spend a fortune here!" "Congratulations." Bea covered her mouth. Fox looked delighted. The man pointed toward her. "I want five fucking minutes with that woman!" Lisa turned. "Fox, do you want to speak with him?" "No, thank you." Lisa nodded. "There's your answer." The man stared. Then stepped toward Fox. "You're coming with me." He reached for her arm. He never got close. One Mox intercepted the movement. Another stepped behind him. Lisa sighed. "Out." The man's expensive jacket became an unfortunate casualty of the next few seconds. One Mox caught him firmly by the collar. The other secured his arm and the back of his trousers. Together they turned him toward the exit. "HEY! WHAT THE FUCK—" He tried to plant his feet. His shoes briefly lost contact with the floor. And the two Moxes carried him forward with the practiced efficiency of women who had absolutely no intention of negotiating. "DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THIS SUIT COSTS?" One Mox answered without slowing down. "Not enough." Bea bent forward laughing. Fox covered her mouth. And Lisa waited until the doors closed before turning back. ### The Important Question "Are you two all right?" Fox nodded. "Perfectly." Bea smiled. "Although I may have injured myself laughing." Lisa looked unimpressed. "Try not to." "No promises." Lisa turned toward Fox. "Did he touch you?" "No." "Good." She nodded. "You did exactly what you were supposed to do." Fox smiled. "I said no." "Several times." "Indeed." Lisa glanced toward the exit. "Some people are determined to make themselves somebody else's paperwork." Bea burst out laughing. "Oh, Lisa." "What?" "That was beautiful." Lisa sighed. "Suzy will want a report." Fox considered. "Should I apologize?" Lisa raised an eyebrow. "For what?" "The inconvenience." "You didn't cause it." Fox smiled. "No. I suppose I didn't." "Exactly." Lisa inclined her head. "Enjoy your evening." Then she returned to work. Fox watched her go. For a moment, she was quiet. Then she turned toward Bea. "Darling?" "Yes?" "Does that happen often?" "Not quite so spectacularly." Fox nodded. "How fascinating." Bea stared. Then laughed. "Oh, sweetheart." "What?" "You're enjoying yourself." "Very much." Bea shook her head affectionately. "Come along. I think you've earned a drink." ### The Madame's Opinion Panam found them a few minutes later. Nadia and Sera were beside her. The Madame looked at Fox. "Sweetheart." Fox smiled. "Madame." "Everything all right?" "Entirely." "Lisa says somebody wouldn't accept your answer." Fox nodded. "Apparently." "And?" "Lisa provided a remarkably persuasive alternative." Nadia burst out laughing. Sera covered her mouth. Panam sighed. "Of course she did." Bea leaned forward. "To be fair, the idiot practically asked to be carried out." Panam looked at her. "Did he?" "Oh, absolutely." Nadia smiled. "Owner, perhaps Lisa should offer a premium exit service." Panam closed her eyes. "Nadia." "What?" "Don't." Sera began laughing. Fox looked delighted. Panam shook her head. Then her expression softened. "Seriously, Fox. You don't have to tolerate that." "I know." "Good." She touched Fox's shoulder. "Have you eaten?" Fox blinked. Then laughed. "Oh, Panam." "What?" "You're remarkably consistent." "About what?" "Looking after people." Panam smiled. "Somebody has to." Sera's expression warmed. Nadia reached for Panam's hand. "Owner, we were going to eat anyway." Panam nodded. "Good. Then let's eat." Bea looked toward Fox. "See?" The kitsune smiled. "What?" "This is what I was telling you about." Fox looked around. At the concern. The affection. The practical certainty that nobody's refusal required an apology. Then she nodded. "Oh, darling." A pause. "I think I understand." ### A Face Beneath the Face Later, Fox noticed a woman passing near the bar. Copper-grey hair. A carefully constructed face. A different voice. The woman was speaking with a customer, smiling with the relaxed confidence of someone entirely at ease in her professional identity. Fox watched her. Then became very still. Bea noticed. "Something interesting?" Fox smiled. "Perhaps." Bea followed her gaze. "Oh. Birgitta." Fox raised an eyebrow. "Birgitta?" "Yes. One of Panam's." "How lovely." Bea smiled. "Very capable woman." "I can imagine." Fox said nothing more. Later, when she found Sera alone in a quiet staff passage, she approached. "Darling?" Sera turned. "Yes?" "May I ask you something privately?" "Of course." Fox lowered her voice. "The woman called Birgitta." Sera watched her. "Yes?" "Is she Reyes?" For a moment, neither spoke. Then Sera smiled. "Yes." Fox nodded slowly. "Ah." Sera regarded her. "How did you know?" The kitsune considered. "Because a face isn't always everything a person is." Sera's expression softened. Fox continued. "I won't tell anyone." "I know." The kitsune smiled. "She has a very convincing disguise." "She does." "And she's rather good at being someone else." Sera laughed softly. "Very." Fox considered. Then smiled. "Oh, what a wonderful world you've all created." Sera touched her cheek. "And now you're exploring it too." Fox's golden eyes brightened. "Yes." Neither mentioned Birgitta again. The secret remained where it belonged. ### Mandi's Return Mandi returned to the lounge looking thoroughly pleased with herself. Bea spotted her first. "Well, well." Mandi grinned. "Hey, beautiful." "Enjoy yourself?" "Fucking yes." Bea smiled. "Wonderful." Fox turned. "Hello, sweetheart." Mandi's expression softened. "Hey, gorgeous." She approached and kissed her cheek. Then looked toward Bea. "Everything okay?" Bea considered. "Well." Mandi narrowed her eyes. "What?" Fox smiled. "Apparently I caused a little excitement." Mandi looked at her. "What kind?" Bea counted on her fingers. "One customer. Several refusals. Lisa. Two Moxes. A very expensive jacket." Mandi went still. Then turned toward Fox. "WHAT?" The kitsune smiled. "Darling, I merely said no." "Several times," Bea added. Mandi stared. Then burst out laughing. "Oh, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" Fox laughed with her. Mandi looked toward Bea. "How bad?" "Let's say the gentleman left with considerably less dignity than he arrived with." Mandi doubled over. "OH, FUCK!" Eventually she straightened. Then looked at Fox. "Seriously. You okay?" "Entirely." "Nobody touched you?" "No." "Good." Mandi kissed her cheek. "Fucking idiots." Fox laughed softly. "Occasionally educational ones." Bea shook her head. "Oh, she's definitely yours." Mandi grinned. "Best pet in Night City." Fox raised an eyebrow. "Darling, have we established a competition?" Mandi burst out laughing. "NOT YET!" Bea closed her eyes. "Oh, God." ### Claire Bea saw Claire near the lounge entrance. And stopped. For a moment, she simply looked. Claire was standing beside the bar, speaking with Suzy. She wore a dark green dress, understated jewelry, and an expression of unmistakable anticipation. When she turned and saw Bea, her face brightened. Bea smiled. "Oh." Mandi followed her gaze. "Friend?" Bea nodded. "An old one." Fox watched with interest. Bea approached. Claire turned fully toward her. "Bea." "Hello, beautiful." They embraced. Warmly. For longer than a casual greeting required. When they separated, Claire smiled. "God, I've missed you." Bea touched her arm. "That's lovely to hear." Claire regarded the ice-blue hair. "Still gorgeous." "Naturally." Claire laughed. "And still impossible." "Frequently." They found a quieter place to sit. Claire asked about Bea's absence. Bea answered without discussing the private details of Elisa's life. They talked about music. About Claire's latest travels. About a truly dreadful restaurant experience that Bea declared an offense against civilization. And about their first meeting. Claire smiled. "Do you remember what you said to me?" Bea considered. "Probably something outrageous." "You told me I looked like someone who'd forgotten how to have fun." Bea laughed. "Oh, darling." "And then you asked whether I wanted to remember." "Did I?" "You did." Bea smiled. "How terribly forward of me." Claire laughed. "Very." They regarded each other. Then Claire's expression softened. "I've missed spending time with you." Bea reached for her hand. "I've missed you too." Claire looked down at their joined hands. Then back at her. "Would you like to spend some time together tonight?" Bea smiled. "Privately?" "If you'd like." "I would." Claire's smile widened. They discussed what they wanted from the evening. What they remembered enjoying. What they preferred not to repeat. There was no awkwardness in the conversation. They knew each other well enough to be candid, and respected each other enough not to assume that yesterday's preferences automatically applied tonight. When they were satisfied, Bea smiled. "Then yes, darling." Claire laughed softly. "Wonderful." They confirmed the booking through the club's procedures. Only then did Bea rise and offer her hand. Claire accepted it. And together they headed toward the private suites. ### A Welcome Return The door closed behind them. Claire turned toward Bea. For a moment, neither moved. Then Claire smiled. "May I kiss you?" Bea approached. "Please." Claire kissed her. Bea answered warmly, bringing her arms around her. The embrace deepened. Then Bea drew back just enough to look at her. "Well?" Claire laughed softly. "You haven't changed." "Oh, darling." Bea smiled. "I've changed quite a lot." Claire touched the ice-blue hair. "Not the important parts." Bea's expression softened. Then she kissed her again. They moved together toward the sofa. Claire sat. Bea settled beside her. For a while, they talked quietly. Remembered things. Laughed. And enjoyed the particular ease of two women who had already discovered that they liked each other enormously. When Claire leaned closer, Bea met her halfway. The kiss was affectionate and unhurried. Claire's hand rested at Bea's waist. Bea touched her cheek. And when Claire whispered that she'd been looking forward to seeing her again, Bea answered with a smile that was entirely genuine. "So have I." They continued their private evening at the pace they'd chosen together. Claire kissed her once more. Then her hand moved from Bea's waist to the fastening of her outfit. She stopped there. Bea noticed. "Still asking?" "Always." Bea smiled. "Then yes." They undressed without hurry. Claire was careful without becoming timid. Bea appreciated the difference. A layer removed. A kiss. Bea helping Claire out of her own clothes. Another laugh when something caught where neither expected it to. By the time they settled together, the easy familiarity between them had warmed into something unmistakably intimate. Claire touched Bea's face. "I really did miss you." Bea kissed her palm. "Then come closer." Claire did. Her hand moved slowly over Bea's body. When the touch became intimate, Bea's breath caught. Claire paused immediately. Bea opened her eyes. "Don't stop." Claire smiled. "Wasn't planning to." "Good." Claire continued. The first pleasure was gentle enough that Bea could still tease her. For perhaps thirty seconds. Then Claire found a rhythm that made Bea's smile disappear into a long exhale. Claire noticed. Stayed with it. Bea's hand closed around her shoulder. "There." Claire's expression softened. "I remember." Bea looked at her. That sentence carried more tenderness than technique. "Apparently." She pulled Claire down for a kiss. Claire kept touching her. Bea's control loosened gradually, each reaction a little less polished than the last. A caught breath. A quiet sound. Then Claire's name. Her climax came with her eyes closed and her forehead pressed against Claire's, pleasure moving through her in a long warm wave. Claire stayed close until Bea's breathing eased. Then Bea opened her eyes. "Well." Claire laughed softly. "You're stealing my line." "Professional privilege." Bea kissed her. Then gently changed their positions. Claire raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Darling." Bea smiled. "You didn't think I was going to let you do all the work." "I was hoping you wouldn't." "Excellent." Bea kissed her way lower slowly enough that Claire understood exactly what she was offering before the first intimate contact. Claire reached for her hand. Bea laced their fingers together. Then her mouth touched Claire. Claire's answer was immediate: a sharp breath, followed by a helpless little laugh. Bea paused. Claire looked down. "Please don't look that pleased with yourself." "I can't help being talented." "Bea." Bea smiled and continued. Claire's free hand moved into the ice-blue hair. Not controlling. Holding. Bea listened to every shift in her breathing and adjusted without turning tenderness into a performance. When Claire began losing words, Bea stayed with what was working. The climax built visibly through her: body tightening, fingers closing around Bea's hand, breath catching before releasing in one long sound. Bea remained close until Claire relaxed. Then she returned to her side. Claire pulled her immediately into an embrace. For a while they simply held each other. No rush toward clothes. No need to evaluate anything. Just familiar warmth made new again. Later, Claire rested beside Bea. For a while, neither spoke. Then Claire smiled. "Well." Bea laughed. "Well what?" "That was worth waiting for." Bea's expression softened. "Yes." She kissed Claire's forehead. "It was." Claire moved a little closer. "I'm glad you're back." Bea smiled. "So am I." They remained together until their agreed time was nearly finished. Then they dressed. At the door, Claire turned. "Will I see you again?" Bea smiled. "Come find me." Claire laughed. "That's not a promise." "No." Bea kissed her cheek. "It's an invitation." Claire smiled. "I'll remember that." ### Back to the Fox When Bea returned to the lounge, Mandi and Fox were sitting together. The leash rested loosely between them. Fox was laughing. Mandi was looking enormously pleased with herself. Bea approached. "Well, aren't you two adorable?" Mandi grinned. "HEY, BEA!" Fox smiled. "Welcome back, darling." Bea settled beside them. "Thank you." Mandi raised an eyebrow. "Good evening?" Bea considered. Then smiled. "Wonderful." Fox's expression warmed. "I'm so glad." Bea regarded her for a moment. Then looked around the club. The music. The people. The conversations. The staff moving through the floor. Lisa watching the room with quiet authority. Panam speaking with Nadia and Sera. Suzy managing a hundred details without appearing particularly concerned by any of them. And beside her— Mandi. Fox. Two women who had spent the evening discovering that a collar and a leash could be part of something playful, affectionate, and freely chosen. Bea smiled. "Well, darling." Fox turned. "Yes?" "How was your first night at Lizzie's?" The kitsune considered. Then her golden eyes sparkled. "Oh, Bea." A pause. "I think I'm going to have a great deal of fun here." Mandi burst out laughing. "FUCK YES!" Bea shook her head. "Oh, God." Then she raised her glass. "To Fox." Mandi lifted hers. "TO FOX!" The kitsune smiled. Then raised her own glass. "To Lizzie's." They drank. And somewhere near the entrance, Lisa was finishing the paperwork for a customer who had discovered, at considerable cost to his dignity, that the word no was not the opening bid in a negotiation. --- ## Chapter 17 — The Marlows Lizzie’s Bar — Friday night. Fox was beginning to suspect that Lizzie’s had been designed specifically to overwhelm curious people. Not unpleasantly. Quite the opposite. Every time she thought she had begun to understand the place, something new caught her attention. A beautiful woman laughing with a customer. Two joytoys comparing appointments over drinks. A Mox calmly explaining to an increasingly embarrassed man that the establishment's furniture was not intended for climbing. And, naturally, Mandi. Who had spent the last five minutes explaining why the man in question was probably lucky Lisa hadn't noticed him yet. “Because,” Mandi concluded, “if Lisa has to explain basic fucking furniture etiquette, you're already having a bad night.” Bea laughed. Fox smiled. “Is there an advanced course?” Mandi stared at her. Then burst out laughing. “Oh, fuck me. You're getting worse.” “Better, surely.” “Depends who you ask.” Fox leaned against her. “Then I shall ask someone suitably biased.” Mandi kissed her cheek. “Smart girl.” Bea was about to contribute something when she glanced toward the entrance to the lounge. Her expression brightened. “Oh, now this should interest you.” Fox followed her gaze. Madame Panam was approaching. And accompanying her were two women unlike anyone Fox had seen that evening. They were extraordinary. Not merely beautiful. Designed. Coordinated with such precision that they looked unmistakably like a professional duo, yet so individually distinctive that nobody could possibly confuse them. One wore gold and white. The other brass and black. Both had elaborately styled hair divided into two striking colors, their arrangements mirroring one another without becoming identical. And their eyes— Fox sat a little straighter. “Oh.” Mandi grinned. “Yeah.” The woman in gold and white had eyes of complete, uninterrupted white. Not pale irises. Not ordinary cosmetic lenses. White voids, extending across the entire visible eyes. Her hair combined brilliant chrome with rich gold, the style held in its intricate silhouette by ChromeLock V2. Her outfit was elegant, luxurious, and daringly asymmetric. The other woman's eyes were absolute black. Her chrome-and-brass-yellow hair complemented her companion's, while black and warm metallic tones gave her clothing a sharper, more provocative edge. Both wore collars. The first woman's was deep blue-grey with silver hardware. The second wore warm brown leather with darker fittings. Each collar had its own leash. And both leashes were presently in Madame Panam's hands. Fox's golden eyes widened. “Oh, my.” Mandi leaned close. “Meet the Marlows, gorgeous.” ### Gold, Brass, and Absolutely No Restraint Panam stopped beside their table. “Ladies.” “Owner,” Mandi greeted cheerfully. “Having fun?” “Fuck yes.” Panam smiled. “I thought so.” Her attention moved toward Fox. “And you, sweetheart?” “Immensely.” “Good.” Panam indicated her companions. “Fox, I'd like you to meet Nova Marlow and Vega Marlow.” The woman with the white eyes smiled. “Good evening, Fox.” Her voice was smooth and clear, beautifully controlled. Fox recognized the person beneath it immediately. But the voice itself was different. Perfectly different. “And I'm Vega,” said the woman with the black eyes. Her voice was warmer, with a smoky, slightly rough edge. She looked Fox over appreciatively. “Oh, fuck. You're gorgeous.” Nova turned toward her. “Vega, darling. We've been here four seconds.” “And I've wasted at least three of them.” Mandi roared with laughter. Fox smiled. “A pleasure to meet you both.” Nova examined her with unabashed interest. “The pleasure appears to be mutual.” Fox inclined her head. “Very much so.” Vega looked toward Mandi. “Where the hell have you been hiding this one?” Mandi's grin widened. “Wouldn't you like to know?” “Obviously.” “Too fucking bad.” Vega laughed. Nova looked at Fox's collar. “That's lovely.” “Thank you.” “And Mandi's pet, I understand?” “By my own enthusiastic request.” Nova smiled. “Excellent. I do appreciate a woman who knows exactly what she wants.” Mandi pointed at her. “See? That's what I keep saying!” Nova regarded her calmly. “Mandi, you also say that about tequila, motorcycles, and extremely questionable ideas.” “Because I'm fucking right.” “Frequently. Not invariably.” Bea laughed. Fox was delighted. There she was. Iris's precision. Her dry wit. Her ability to deliver a devastating observation without raising her voice. But something had changed. Or, rather, something had been given permission to emerge. Nova wasn't the careful, measured Iris who occasionally had to rescue the safehouse from its inhabitants. She was Iris enjoying the freedom to be every bit as provocative as Brenda. Just with better punctuation. Fox found that irresistibly funny. Panam glanced toward an empty seating area beside their table. “Would you ladies like a little time together?” Both Marlows smiled. “Yes, Owner,” Nova replied. “Very much, Owner,” Vega added. Panam nodded. “Then enjoy yourselves. I'm right over there.” She settled into the adjacent seating area, keeping both leashes comfortably in hand as Nova and Vega took seats near Mandi, Bea, and Fox. Nadia and Sera joined Panam a moment later. Vega stretched luxuriously. “Right. Now we can talk.” Mandi raised an eyebrow. “God help us.” “Precisely.” ### Not Sisters Fox studied the pair with undisguised appreciation. “You make a remarkable picture together.” Nova smiled. “Thank you. Lena put considerable thought into the styling.” “She has impeccable taste.” “Usually,” Vega agreed. “Occasionally she uses me to test whether the human eye can survive an excessive amount of brass.” Mandi laughed. “And?” “Still gathering data.” Fox glanced between them. “Your appearances complement each other beautifully.” Nova nodded. “That's the intention. The Marlows are something of a recognizable partnership.” “People sometimes assume we're related,” Vega added. Nova sighed. “Despite the rather significant difference in our faces.” “And everything else.” “Quite.” Vega grinned. “We've given up explaining it to anyone who can't understand that two women can share a professional name without sharing grandparents.” Fox laughed. “How peculiar.” “Night City,” Mandi offered. “Indeed.” Nova leaned forward. “Tell me, Fox. What brought you to Lizzie's?” Fox glanced affectionately toward Mandi. “Curiosity. And this terrible woman's invitation.” Mandi looked offended. “Terrible?” “Terribly irresistible.” “Better.” Nova smiled. “And how have you found it?” “Wonderful.” “Even after tonight's little incident?” Fox raised an eyebrow. “News travels quickly.” “Lisa's expression was unusually memorable.” Bea laughed. “Oh, she was magnificent.” Vega turned. “What happened?” Mandi's grin widened. “Some corpo tried buying a woman who wasn't for sale.” Vega's black eyes fixed on Fox. “He bothered you?” “A little.” “And?” “I declined.” “Good.” “Repeatedly.” Nova's smile became rather dangerous. “And he accepted that graciously, I assume.” “Not especially.” Mandi laughed. “Lisa and two Moxes helped him fucking reconsider.” Vega stared. Then threw back her head and laughed. “Oh, I wish I'd seen that!” “You would have enjoyed it,” Bea assured her. Nova looked at Fox. “You're all right?” “Entirely.” “Excellent.” Then Nova smiled with sudden wickedness. “Because I was about to offer to help Lisa demonstrate the correct use of a door.” Mandi nearly fell out of her chair. “OH, FUCK!” Vega applauded. “That's my girl!” Nova raised one elegant eyebrow. “What? I can be civic-minded.” Fox laughed so hard that Mandi had to steady her glass. ### Two Very Different Women After the laughter subsided, Fox turned toward Nova. “May I ask you something?” “Certainly.” “Do you find this work as enjoyable as your companion clearly does?” Nova glanced at Vega. “Darling, why would you assume she enjoys it more than I do?” Fox smiled. “I didn't. I asked whether you enjoyed it as much.” “Ah.” Nova leaned back. “Then yes. Very much.” Vega grinned. “And she's fucking good at it.” Nova turned. “So are you.” “Obviously.” “An observation that would carry more weight if you didn't make it yourself every eleven minutes.” Vega laughed. Fox watched them. Their affection was obvious. As was their experience. But neither acted as though the other needed permission to speak or make choices. They were equals. Partners in their profession. Distinct personalities. And both completely comfortable with their place in Panam's Stable. Nova looked toward Fox's collar. “Have you considered working here yourself?” “Perhaps.” “An intriguing answer.” “I'm still exploring.” “Good. Take your time.” Vega nodded. “And don't let anyone convince you curiosity means you owe them a damn thing.” Fox smiled. “Madame has been very clear about that.” “Excellent,” Nova replied. “Then you're receiving sensible advice.” Mandi leaned toward Fox. “Holy shit. Did Nova just agree with Owner?” Nova looked at her. “Don't sound so astonished.” “I'm not. I'm fucking documenting it.” Nova laughed. “You really are an idiot.” “Love you too, sweetheart.” The exchange was so wonderfully familiar that Fox nearly answered with Iris's real name. Nearly. But she caught the impulse before it reached her lips. A small reminder. No matter how intimately she knew the people beneath these faces, their chosen identities deserved the same care as their real ones. ### A Gentleman with Good Manners The man who approached Madame Panam did so carefully. He wore a well-tailored dark jacket and carried himself with an ease that suggested confidence without entitlement. “Madame?” Panam looked up. “Good evening.” “I was hoping to inquire about Nova Marlow.” Fox noticed Nova's expression change. Not dramatically. Her attention simply sharpened. Panam regarded the man. “Have you met Nova before?” “Once. About a month ago.” Nova nodded. “I remember.” The man smiled. “I hoped you might.” Panam looked toward Nova. “Would you like to speak with him, sweetheart?” Nova considered. Then smiled. “Yes, Owner.” Panam nodded. “Come and sit with us.” Nova moved beside her. The man introduced himself as Julian. Nova greeted him warmly. They spoke for several minutes while Fox remained with Mandi, Bea, and Vega. The conversation was courteous, occasionally funny, and clearly enjoyable for both participants. At one point Nova laughed. Not politely. Genuinely. Vega glanced toward her. A little smile appeared on her face. Fox noticed. Of course she noticed. “How lovely,” she murmured. Vega turned. “What?” “You enjoy seeing her happy.” Vega smiled. “Fuck yes.” Then she glanced toward Nova again. “Especially when she gets that particular look.” Fox raised an eyebrow. “What look?” Vega's smile became positively wicked. “The one that means she's found somebody interesting.” Fox laughed softly. “I see.” “Do you?” “I suspect I'm beginning to.” They watched without intruding. Eventually Panam called Vega over. “Sweetheart?” “Yes, Owner?” “Nova has an arrangement she'd like to discuss with you.” Vega's eyebrows rose. “Oh?” Nova was smiling. Quite deliberately. Julian looked slightly nervous. Which Fox found intriguing. ### A Particular Kind of Arrangement Vega took a seat beside Nova. Panam addressed her calmly. “Nova would like you present during her booking as an observer.” Vega's black eyes turned toward Nova. “Would you now?” Nova smiled. “Very much.” Vega regarded her for a moment. Then laughed softly. “Oh, sweetheart.” Panam continued. “Julian is comfortable with that possibility, but I haven't agreed to anything yet.” She looked toward Vega. “Would you enjoy observing?” Vega considered. “Yes.” “Are you certain?” “Absolutely.” Panam nodded. Then turned toward Julian. “An observer is exactly that. Vega will be present, but she is not included as a participant. If anyone wishes to change the arrangement, the session stops and we discuss new terms first. Understood?” Julian nodded. “Perfectly.” Panam looked toward Nova. “And you're comfortable?” Nova smiled. “Delighted, Owner.” “Good.” Panam then negotiated the precise terms, including the session length, a numerical price for Nova's booking, the additional observer arrangement, and the privacy requirements. Only after Julian accepted the stated price, Nova confirmed her own willingness, and Vega separately agreed to observe did Madame approve the booking and payment. Fox watched with interest. There it was again. An arrangement that might seem extravagant to an outsider, yet was handled with entirely practical care. Nobody assumed. Nobody was added simply because they happened to be present. And neither woman surrendered her choice merely because she wore a collar. Panam rose. “Very well.” Nova stepped closer. Panam touched her cheek affectionately, then unclipped her blue-grey and silver leash. Click. “Enjoy yourself, sweetheart.” Nova smiled. “Thank you, Owner.” Panam then turned toward Vega. “And you.” Vega grinned. “Yes, Owner?” “Remember what we agreed.” “Of course.” Panam unclipped Vega's dark leash. Click. She placed it in Vega's hand. “Have fun.” Vega kissed Panam's cheek. “Planning on it.” Nova took Julian's offered hand. Vega walked alongside them. And the three disappeared toward the private suites. Fox watched them go. Then turned toward Mandi. “Oh.” Mandi grinned. “Yeah.” Bea smiled. “Interesting?” Fox's golden eyes gleamed. “Very.” ### Something to Look Forward To Mandi watched Fox's expression. Then laughed. “Don't even fucking think about it.” Fox turned. “Think about what?” “Pretending you're not curious.” Fox smiled serenely. “Darling, I've made no attempt to hide my curiosity.” “Fair point.” Bea laughed. Fox looked toward the corridor. “They're very different from the women I first met.” “Different faces,” Bea agreed. “Different voices.” “Yes.” “And yet they're still entirely themselves.” Mandi nodded. “That's the whole fucking point.” Fox considered that. She had known Iris as a thoughtful, capable woman whose quiet confidence often concealed a wicked sense of humor. She had known Brenda as a delightfully shameless provocateur who possessed an astonishing gift for making Iris laugh. But Nova and Vega showed her other sides of both women. Not artificial ones. Not performances imposed on unwilling people. Choices. Expressions of themselves that their ordinary lives didn't always invite. And the thought made her smile. She had two dates to look forward to. One with Iris. One with Brenda. Separate evenings. Separate experiences. And after tonight, she was even more curious about both. ### Welcome Back Some time later, Madame Panam glanced toward the private corridor. Fox followed her gaze. Nova and Vega had returned. Julian accompanied them as far as the lounge, exchanged a few affectionate words with Nova, thanked Vega, and departed with a smile. Both women approached Panam. Nova offered her detached leash first. “Owner.” Panam took it. She brought Nova close, kissed her cheek, and clipped the leash back onto her collar. Click. “Welcome back, sweetheart.” Nova smiled. “Thank you.” Panam looked at her carefully. “How are you feeling?” “Very well. Comfortable, happy, and rather pleased with myself.” “Any difficulties?” “None.” “Good.” Panam brushed a stray strand of chrome-and-gold hair from Nova's cheek. ChromeLock V2 quietly restored the carefully defined styling. “Something to drink?” “Yes, please.” “Food?” “In a little while.” Panam nodded. “Then take a moment and relax.” Nova kissed her affectionately. “Thank you, Owner.” Next came Vega. She presented her own leash with an enormous grin. “Miss me?” Panam laughed. “Terribly.” “Liar.” “Frequently.” Panam accepted the leash, drew Vega into a warm embrace, and kissed her. Then she reattached it. Click. “And how are you, my troublemaker?” “Fucking wonderful.” “I gathered.” “Nova has excellent taste.” Nova laughed. Panam smiled. “Anything uncomfortable? Anything you want to discuss?” Vega shook her head. “No. Everything was exactly as agreed.” “Good.” She kissed Vega's forehead. “Water first. Then you can tell me how brilliant you both are.” Vega grinned. “Oh, Owner, that could take hours.” “I'll clear my calendar.” Fox laughed. Panam looked toward Nadia and Sera. “Would you bring them something to drink, sweethearts?” “Of course, Owner,” Nadia replied. Sera rose with her. The Marlows settled beside Panam, their leashes comfortably in her hands. Nobody hurried them toward another appointment. Nobody treated the end of the booking as the end of their need for attention. And Fox, watching, understood why the friends she loved had chosen this woman as their Madame. ### A Private Moment in a Public Place Nova noticed Fox watching. “Enjoying your education?” Fox smiled. “Very much.” Nova laughed. “Excellent.” Vega leaned forward. “And what have you learned?” “That neither of you possesses the slightest intention of behaving respectably.” Mandi burst out laughing. “NAILED IT!” Nova raised an eyebrow. “Respectability is terribly overrated.” “Especially when it interferes with having a fucking good time,” Vega added. Fox smiled. “And that the two of you are quite capable of astonishing me.” Vega grinned. “Darling, we've barely started.” Nova turned toward Fox. “Then perhaps we should save a few surprises for another evening.” The words were light. Entirely suitable for the public lounge. But the look accompanying them made Fox's smile soften. “I would like that.” Vega caught the exchange. Her grin widened. “And I expect my own opportunities.” Fox laughed. “Naturally.” Panam watched the three women for a moment. Then shook her head affectionately. “Oh, you're all going to be trouble.” Mandi looked offended. “Going to be?” Bea nearly spilled her drink. Nova laughed. Vega leaned back, thoroughly satisfied. And Fox simply smiled. What a magnificent collection of people. An ancient kitsune could spend centuries studying human nature and still be surprised by what people chose to become when they were loved, trusted, and free. She looked at Nova's white eyes. At Vega's black ones. At the two contrasting collars. At Panam's quiet, unmistakable care. And then at Mandi, whose arm had found its familiar place around her waist. Fox leaned closer and kissed her. Mandi smiled against her lips. “Having fun, gorgeous?” Fox's golden eyes glittered. “Oh, sweetheart.” She glanced toward the Marlows. “I'm only beginning.” --- ## Chapter 18 — A Thousand Different Styles Lizzie’s Bar — Friday, late evening. Fox had decided that Madame Panam's Stable was a remarkably poor place to study human predictability. Every time she thought she understood one of its members, another demonstrated an entirely different approach to the same profession. Mandi was currently demonstrating hers by arguing with a cocktail. “I'm telling you, this thing tastes like somebody fucked up a chemistry experiment.” Bea took a cautious sip. Then another. “I rather like it.” Mandi stared. “You would.” “Darling, some of us have sophisticated tastes.” “Some of us have functioning survival instincts.” Fox accepted the glass when Mandi offered it. She tasted the drink. Considered. Then smiled. “How extraordinary.” Mandi raised an eyebrow. “Good extraordinary or bad extraordinary?” “I'm not entirely certain the ingredients have agreed.” Bea laughed. Mandi pointed at her triumphantly. “SEE?” Fox took another sip. “Nevertheless, I rather enjoy it.” “OH, FOR FUCK'S SAKE!” The kitsune laughed. And then she noticed two familiar figures on the other side of the lounge. One was impossible to overlook. Screaming neon-pink dreadlocks. Reflective green eyes that caught the lighting with sharp emerald brilliance. Thigh-high boots. A menthol lollipop. And an expression that suggested the woman wearing all of those things had never once apologized for being noticeable. The other presented an almost perfect contrast. Ivory. Cream. A softer face. Warm brown-amber eyes. And hair so dark it appeared nearly black until a passing light revealed the deep venom-green beneath. A pale collar rested against her throat. Its leash was in the pink-haired woman's hand. Fox smiled. “Oh, there they are.” Mandi followed her gaze. “Dalia and Deja?” “Indeed.” Mandi grinned. “Come on, then.” She rose and offered Fox her hand. “Want to meet another excellent example of why none of us should be allowed near respectable society?” Fox accepted. “Darling, I thought we established that hours ago.” “Yeah, but this one's educational.” ### Venom and Ivory Dalia spotted them approaching. Her grin widened around the lollipop. “Well, fuck me.” Mandi laughed. “Maybe later.” “Promises, promises.” Dalia removed the lollipop and greeted Mandi with a thoroughly affectionate kiss. There was nothing furtive about it. To anyone watching, they were exactly what Lizzie's knew them to be: two women who enjoyed each other's company enormously and had no interest in pretending otherwise. Dalia then looked toward Fox. “Hey, gorgeous.” “Hello, darling.” “How's Mandi treating you?” “Beautifully.” Dalia raised an eyebrow. “Really? She's behaving?” Fox considered. “Within a rather generous definition.” Deja laughed. It was a lovely sound, Fox thought. Warm and unguarded. Then Deja spoke. “That's a diplomatic way of saying she's a fucking menace.” Mandi threw up her hands. “OH, COME ON!” Dalia nearly choked on her lollipop. Fox stared at Deja. Then laughed. “Oh, you're delightful.” Deja smiled sweetly. “I get that a lot.” “Before or after you speak?” Fox asked. “Depends how disappointed they are.” Mandi burst out laughing. “THERE SHE IS!” Bea joined them, smiling. “Hello, you two.” “Hey, Bea,” Dalia replied. Deja gave her a little wave. Fox was still studying Deja. There was something delicious about the contradiction. Her appearance suggested gentleness and easy warmth. Her words arrived with the precision of a knife. Not cruelly. Not carelessly. Simply without wasting time on unnecessary decoration. Fox found herself quite enchanted. “You have a wonderful sense of humor.” Deja inclined her head. “Thank you.” “And an unusually sharp tongue.” Dalia grinned. “Don't fucking encourage her.” Deja looked at her. “You brought me here.” “Starting to regret it.” “Liar.” Dalia kissed her cheek. “Absolutely.” Fox watched the exchange. There was affection in it. And familiarity. But also something else. A kind of comfortable structure. Dalia held Deja's leash, yet Deja moved and spoke with complete confidence. The kitsune glanced toward the ivory collar. Deja noticed. “Curious?” “Very.” Deja smiled. “Ask.” “Do you enjoy wearing it?” “Yes.” “And having Dalia hold the leash?” “Very much.” Dalia's expression softened. Deja continued. “It's something we chose together.” Fox nodded. “Does it change how you make decisions?” Deja considered. “Not the ones that matter.” Then she smiled. “She gets to hold the leash. She doesn't get to hold my brain.” Dalia laughed. “Thank fuck. I have enough trouble managing my own.” Fox's smile became affectionate. “How lovely.” Deja tilted her head. “You have a collar too.” “I do.” “Enjoying it?” “Immensely.” “Then you understand.” Fox glanced toward Mandi. “Yes.” She squeezed Mandi's hand. “I believe I do.” ### The Couple Who Knew What They Wanted A woman approached Dalia and Deja a few minutes later. She was accompanied by a man, both well dressed and visibly comfortable together. “Excuse me,” the woman said. Dalia turned. “Hey.” “We were hoping to talk with you two.” Deja looked toward Dalia. Dalia smiled. “Sure. What about?” The woman explained that they had seen Dalia and Deja together on a previous visit. They were interested in spending time with both women, if the interest was mutual. Dalia glanced at Deja. A question passed between them without words. Deja smiled. “Conversation first?” “Absolutely,” Dalia replied. She turned back to the couple. “Come on. Let's sit.” Mandi leaned toward Fox. “Want to watch how they handle it?” Fox nodded eagerly. But Bea touched her arm. “From here, darling.” Fox looked at her. Bea smiled. “Their conversation belongs to them.” Fox immediately nodded. “Of course.” They remained where they were. The couple settled opposite Dalia and Deja at a nearby table. There was laughter. A few questions. A moment when Deja said something that made both visitors look surprised. Dalia nearly fell out of her chair laughing. Fox grinned. “I wish I could hear that.” Mandi shook her head. “Trust me. Whatever it was, it was fucking filthy.” Bea smiled. “Or devastatingly practical.” “Knowing Deja? Both.” Fox watched them for another moment. Then turned away. It was surprisingly easy to respect someone else's privacy when nobody treated that privacy as an inconvenience. A little later, Dalia and Deja returned. Alone. Mandi raised an eyebrow. “Well?” Dalia popped the lollipop back into her mouth. “Nice people.” Deja nodded. “Very nice.” “And?” “Not tonight,” Dalia said. Fox looked curious. Deja smiled. “We liked them. They liked us. But what they were hoping for wasn't quite what we wanted.” “So you declined?” “Yep.” Dalia shrugged. “No drama. They were perfectly nice about it.” “And now,” Deja added, “I'm getting something to eat.” Dalia looked at her. “Already?” “Yes.” “We ate before coming here.” “Hours ago.” “Jesus Christ.” Deja smiled beatifically. “I'm a growing concern.” Mandi dissolved into laughter. Dalia shook her head. “Come on, you venomous little shit.” Deja kissed her cheek. “Love you too.” And together they headed toward the staff dining area, Dalia carrying Deja's leash comfortably in her hand. Fox watched them depart. Then smiled. “They didn't seem disappointed.” Bea shook her head. “Why should they?” “They had an opportunity to work.” “And decided it wasn't the right opportunity.” Fox nodded slowly. “How refreshing.” Mandi squeezed her hand. “That's how it works, gorgeous. A booking isn't a fucking obligation just because somebody asks nicely.” Fox smiled. “I rather like that.” ### The Woman in Copper-Grey The next woman to catch Fox's attention was Birgitta. She stood beside the bar, speaking with a man whose laughter carried across the music. Her smoked copper-grey hair was perfectly styled. Her very light brown eyes sparkled. And her elegant outfit, relatively restrained by Lizzie's standards, gave little warning of the outrageous personality beneath. Birgitta said something. The man laughed again. She answered with a brilliant smile and an animated gesture that seemed to involve the price of a small spacecraft. Fox watched with growing amusement. Bea noticed. “Oh, Birgitta's found an audience.” Mandi glanced over. “Looks like it.” Bea smiled. “She's rather good at that.” Fox nodded. “She certainly is.” Birgitta eventually left the man at the bar and approached them. “Hello, beautiful people!” Her voice was bright and lively. A remarkable contrast to the woman Fox knew beneath the disguise. Mandi grinned. “Hey, Birgitta.” “Having a good night?” “Fuck yes.” “Excellent.” Birgitta turned toward Fox. “And you must be Fox.” Fox inclined her head. “A pleasure.” Birgitta smiled broadly. “Likewise.” She glanced toward the collar. “Oh, very nice.” “Thank you.” “Mandi's?” “By choice.” Birgitta laughed. “Well, you've certainly found an entertaining woman.” “She's a fucking menace,” Bea offered. Birgitta nodded solemnly. “I'd noticed.” Mandi pointed at her. “YOU TOO?” “Darling, everybody.” Fox laughed. Birgitta joined them briefly. She asked about Fox's first evening, listened to the story of Lisa's spectacular customer removal, and laughed so hard that she had to put her drink down. Then her expression turned thoughtful. “Can I tell you something?” Fox smiled. “Please.” “It's tempting, when you first start coming here, to think you have to make every encounter unforgettable.” Fox considered. “Isn't that rather the point?” “Sometimes.” Birgitta smiled. “But occasionally the most wonderful thing you can give someone is the chance to stop performing for a while.” Fox's expression softened. “Ah.” Birgitta leaned back. “People come here carrying all sorts of nonsense. Responsibilities, expectations, reputations. Sometimes they just want an hour in which somebody sees the person underneath.” Bea nodded. “Very true.” Mandi smiled. “Even if that person's a complete fucking idiot.” Birgitta laughed. “Even then. Provided they're a considerate idiot.” Fox studied her. Beneath the bright voice and generous smile, there was Reyes's familiar intelligence. Always observing. Always noticing what other people missed. But where Reyes tended to keep her assessments private, Birgitta transformed them into conversation. Fox smiled. “What a lovely way of looking at people.” Birgitta inclined her head. “Thank you.” Then she grinned. “Mind you, I also enjoy getting paid outrageously well.” Mandi burst out laughing. “THERE IT IS!” Birgitta laughed with her. And Fox decided, not for the first time, that human beings were spectacularly complicated. Even when they weren't entirely human. ### The Question Fox Hadn't Asked Eventually Birgitta excused herself. She had spotted Madame Panam and wanted a word with her. Fox watched her go. Then looked toward Bea. “May I ask you something?” “Of course, darling.” “Have you ever had a client you liked very much but chose not to see again?” Bea considered. “Yes.” “Why?” “Sometimes because what they wanted changed. Sometimes because what I wanted changed.” She smiled. “And once because a man spent an entire evening explaining why his former partners were all unreasonable.” Mandi groaned. “Oh, fuck.” Bea nodded. “Exactly.” Fox laughed. “Did you tell him?” “That his former partners might have had a point?” “Yes.” Bea's smile became positively angelic. “Darling, I was magnificent.” Mandi nearly fell over laughing. Fox smiled at her. “And Claire?” Bea's expression changed. Warmth replaced the mischief. “Claire's different.” “How?” “We enjoyed each other's company from the beginning. And when we met again tonight, we still did.” She considered. “That sounds rather simple, doesn't it?” Fox shook her head. “No.” Bea looked at her. Fox smiled. “It sounds lovely.” Bea reached over and squeezed her hand. “It was.” ### Watching Without Taking Fox fell quiet for a little while. Not because she was tired. She was thinking. About Nova's precision. Vega's outrageous confidence. Deja's delightful contradiction. Dalia's effortless boldness. Birgitta's warmth. Bea's gift for making another person feel genuinely seen. And Mandi. Mandi, whose black-and-orange cyber-oni face had become so familiar to Fox that she scarcely thought of it as unusual anymore. The artificial face responded to every smile, every raised eyebrow, every wicked thought. It was expressive. Alive. Entirely hers. Mandi noticed the kitsune studying her. “What?” Fox smiled. “Nothing, sweetheart.” “Bullshit.” “I was thinking.” “Dangerous.” “Very.” Mandi grinned. “Want to share?” Fox looked around. At the club. At the women who worked there because they wanted to. At the guests who came seeking things they sometimes struggled to name. And at the elaborate arrangements of trust, privacy, freedom, and responsibility that made the whole improbable enterprise possible. “I think I've been looking at this profession the wrong way.” Bea raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” Fox nodded. “I thought I was coming here to learn about pleasure.” Mandi smiled. “And?” “I am.” She considered. “But I hadn't realized how much of it involves understanding another person.” Bea's smile softened. “Yes.” “And understanding oneself.” “Also yes.” Fox glanced toward Dalia and Deja, who had returned with food and were now arguing cheerfully over the last piece of something fried. “And sometimes it involves knowing when to say no, even when the offer is perfectly pleasant.” Mandi nodded. “Exactly.” Fox looked toward Madame Panam. “And making certain everyone has someone looking after them.” Bea smiled. “That too.” Fox settled back. For once, she didn't immediately have a joke. Mandi regarded her with affectionate amusement. “You're thinking too hard.” “Perhaps.” “Want a distraction?” Fox turned. “What kind?” Mandi's fanged smile widened. “The good kind.” She kissed Fox. Not hurriedly. Not for an audience. Just because she wanted to. Fox answered with equal affection. When they separated, the kitsune smiled. “Oh.” Mandi raised an eyebrow. “Better?” “Much.” “Good.” Fox leaned against her. Then laughed softly. “What a remarkable education.” ### An Unexpected Conversation The woman who approached them next was not looking for a booking. At least, that was what she said. She had been sitting near the bar for some time, watching the room with quiet amusement. She was elegantly dressed, somewhere in middle adulthood, with short dark hair and a calm, thoughtful expression. She stopped a respectful distance from their table. “Excuse me.” Mandi turned. “Hey.” The woman smiled. “I'm sorry to interrupt.” “No problem.” She looked toward Fox. “I wanted to apologize for something.” Fox blinked. “How curious.” The woman laughed. “I've been staring.” Fox considered. “Have you?” “A little.” “Why?” “Your hair, for one thing. And the collar.” Fox smiled. “Do you like them?” “Very much.” “Then I see no reason to apologize for admiring them.” The woman smiled. “That’s kind of you.” Mandi watched the exchange, interested. The woman glanced toward her. “I'm not trying to book anyone. I just wanted to say hello.” Mandi nodded. “Then hello.” The woman laughed. “Hello.” Fox tilted her head. “And your name?” “Soraya.” “What a lovely name.” “Thank you.” Fox smiled. “Would you care to sit for a moment?” Soraya hesitated. “Would that be all right?” Fox glanced at Mandi. Mandi smiled. “Your call, gorgeous.” Fox turned back. “Of course.” Soraya joined them. And for the next several minutes, the three talked. Not about bookings. Not about prices. Not about anything particularly dramatic. Soraya was an architectural historian. She had spent years studying old buildings that Night City had mostly demolished, repurposed, or simply forgotten. Fox found the subject fascinating. She asked questions. Soraya answered. Mandi occasionally contributed observations about the city's most spectacularly ugly buildings. At one point, Soraya laughed so hard she had to wipe her eyes. Fox watched her with growing fondness. The woman was intelligent. Curious. Comfortable with silence. And possessed of a dry sense of humor that Fox appreciated enormously. Eventually Soraya glanced at the time. “Oh, goodness.” Fox smiled. “Must you go?” “I'm afraid so.” “How unfortunate.” Soraya rose. Then hesitated. “May I ask something?” “Certainly.” “Will you be here again?” Fox considered. “I expect so.” “Good.” Soraya smiled. “I'd enjoy talking with you again.” Fox's answering smile was immediate. “So would I.” They exchanged a warm farewell. Soraya departed. And Mandi watched her go with a remarkably thoughtful expression. Fox turned toward her. “What?” Mandi grinned. “Oh, nothing.” “Darling.” “Just wondering something.” “Which is?” Mandi's smile widened. “Whether my beautiful little fox just found somebody interesting.” Fox considered. Then looked toward the door through which Soraya had disappeared. “Yes,” she said. “I believe I did.” Mandi kissed her cheek. “Good.” Fox turned toward her. “You don't mind?” Mandi laughed. “Mind what?” “That I enjoyed speaking with her.” “Sweetheart, I'd be fucking disappointed if you didn't.” Fox smiled. Then leaned against her. For a while, they watched the club together. The music continued. The lights shifted. And somewhere beyond the lounge, Lizzie's carried on being the most fascinating place Fox had visited in a very long time. She was not taking bookings tonight. She had promised herself—and Suzy and Madame—that this first evening would be for exploring. And it had been. But now she was beginning to understand something else. The thought of choosing a client no longer felt like an abstract experiment. It felt like a genuine possibility. Not an obligation. Not a performance she had to prove she could manage. A choice she might someday make. Fox smiled to herself. How very interesting. Mandi squeezed her hand. “Penny for your thoughts?” Fox turned toward her. “Darling, I believe I shall tell you over breakfast.” Mandi groaned. “Oh, you're fucking evil.” Fox laughed. “Learning from the best.” Mandi kissed her again. And this time, Fox was laughing too hard to kiss her properly. --- ## Chapter 19 — Last Call _Lizzie’s Bar — Friday, very late._ Fox discovered another side of Lizzie’s shortly after midnight. The place did not become quieter exactly. It became softer. The music still rolled through the club. People still laughed. Drinks still appeared across the bars, and occasionally someone still made a decision they would probably regard as questionable after breakfast. But the frantic edge had begun to fade. Some customers had already left. Others were finishing conversations. Joytoys returned from private suites, joined friends, drank water, ate something, or simply sat for a while and let themselves come back down. Fox liked this version of the club almost as much as the earlier one. Perhaps more. It felt less like a performance. More like seeing the machinery after the stage lights dimmed. Mandi sat beside her. The black-and-orange cyber-oni face was still perfectly expressive despite the long evening. Neon-orange hair remained exactly where ChromeLock V2 had decided it belonged. Fox leaned against her shoulder. Mandi looked down. “Tired?” “A little.” “Want to go home?” Fox considered. “Not yet.” Mandi smiled. “Good answer.” “You were hoping I'd say that.” “Fuck yes.” Fox laughed. “Terrible woman.” “Your terrible woman.” “Indeed.” Mandi kissed her forehead. For a while, they simply watched the room. --- ### The Other Side of the Job Madame Panam was seated nearby. She had become, Fox realized, the natural center of a small orbit. Not because she demanded attention. Because people returned to her. Nova came first. Her white-void eyes still made her striking even after hours under Lizzie’s lights. She carried her own detached leash in one hand. She offered it to Panam. “Owner.” Panam took it. The familiar fastening closed. _Click._ Then Panam pulled Nova into a warm embrace. Not hurried. Not performative. “How are you doing, sweetheart?” Nova smiled. “Very well.” “Anything bothering you?” “No.” “Hungry?” “Absolutely.” Panam nodded toward food already waiting nearby. “Then eat.” Nova laughed. “Yes, Owner.” A few minutes later Vega returned as well. She approached with that unmistakable black-eyed grin. Panam looked at her. “Oh, dear.” Vega stopped. “What?” “That face.” “What face?” “The one that usually precedes a story.” Vega handed over her leash. “You know me too well.” “Unfortunately.” _Click._ Panam kissed her cheek. “Comfortable?” “Very.” “Need anything?” “Food.” Nova looked up from her plate. “I warned you.” Vega pointed at her. “You ate without me.” “I was instructed to.” “You obeyed?” Nova smiled serenely. “I contain multitudes.” Mandi snorted. Fox laughed. Then Vega sat beside her professional partner and immediately stole something from Nova’s plate. Nova stared. “Really?” “Owner said I should eat.” “She did not specify mine.” “Technicality.” Panam closed her eyes. Fox leaned toward Mandi. “Are they always like this?” Mandi whispered back. “Worse.” “I heard that,” Nova said. “GOOD.” Fox laughed again. --- ### A Different Kind of Return Birgitta returned later. Fox noticed immediately. Of course she did. Bright smile. Smoked copper-grey hair. Very light brown eyes. An almost demure-looking outfit that had long since failed to convince Fox that the woman wearing it was remotely demure. Birgitta approached Panam. The change was subtle. Her public brightness remained. But beneath it was the small loosening Fox now recognized in people returning from private time. She offered her leash. Panam accepted it. _Click._ “Welcome back, sweetheart.” Birgitta smiled. “Thank you, Owner.” Panam touched her cheek. “How are you?” “Excellent.” “Actually excellent?” Birgitta's smile softened. “Yes.” “Good.” Panam studied her for another moment. “Water?” “Yes, please.” “Food?” Birgitta considered. “Definitely.” Panam nodded. “Sit.” Birgitta did. No report demanded. No public questions about what had happened behind the private door. No expectation that she entertain anyone immediately. Just care. Fox watched. And understood a little more. --- ### The Chain Mandi shifted beside her. Fox felt the movement of the leash connecting them. She looked down. Black leather. Gold fittings. Then her gaze moved outward. Mandi wore her own collar. And when Mandi was working under Madame Panam, there was another relationship above that one. Fox smiled. “How wonderfully complicated.” Mandi looked at her. “What?” Fox touched her own collar. “You.” “Me?” “You belong to Madame’s Stable.” Mandi grinned. “Yep.” “And I am your pet tonight.” “Very enthusiastically.” “Very.” Fox's eyes sparkled. “So, in a peculiar way…” Mandi groaned immediately. “Oh, fuck.” Fox continued. “…Madame has a pet who has a pet.” Bea nearly sprayed her drink across the table. Mandi stared at Fox. Then toward Panam. Then back. “Do NOT tell her that.” Panam's voice arrived from behind them. “Tell me what?” Mandi froze. Fox smiled innocently. “Nothing, Madame.” Panam narrowed her eyes. “Mandi.” “Nothing.” “Mandi.” “Fox is being a fucking menace.” “That I believe.” Fox placed one hand over her heart. “Madame.” Panam looked at her. “Yes?” “I merely observed that tonight's hierarchy is rather charming.” Mandi buried her face in her hands. Panam's eyebrows rose. Fox touched her collar. Then indicated Mandi's. Understanding arrived. Panam stared for one second. Two. Then laughed. “Oh, Jesus.” Bea folded over. Mandi groaned. “I fucking hate all of you.” Fox kissed her cheek. “No, darling.” “No?” “You adore us.” Mandi sighed. “Unfortunately.” Panam smiled. “Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm not adopting your fox.” Fox laughed. “Excellent. I am quite happy where I am.” Mandi immediately wrapped both arms around her. “Damn right.” --- ### Suzy’s Question Suzy Q appeared sometime later. She had the expression of a woman who had spent an entire evening solving other people's problems and was mildly disappointed that none of them had exploded. Yet. She stopped beside Fox. “So.” Fox looked up. “Hello, darling.” Suzy raised an eyebrow. “You survived.” “Was there doubt?” “With this crowd?” She gestured around them. “Always.” Mandi objected. “HEY.” Suzy ignored her. “How was the first night?” Fox considered the question seriously. “Much more interesting than I expected.” “Good interesting?” “Very.” “Any regrets?” Fox glanced toward the front entrance. “I could perhaps have lived without the gentleman who misunderstood the word no.” Suzy nodded. “Lisa mentioned him.” “I imagine she did.” “She used several adjectives.” Fox smiled. “How colorful?” “Lisa colorful.” Mandi whistled. “Damn.” Suzy looked back at Fox. “Other than that?” Fox thought about it. Bea. Claire. Dalia and Deja. Nova and Vega. Birgitta. Panam. The hundreds of tiny interactions she'd watched. The strange intimacy of strangers deciding whether they wanted to know each other better. The equally important intimacy of someone saying no and having that answer respected. “I would like to come back.” Suzy smiled slightly. “Good.” Fox hesitated. Then continued. “And perhaps…” Mandi turned toward her. Fox noticed. She smiled. “Perhaps I would like to explore a little further.” Suzy did not pounce on the statement. Did not interpret it for her. “What does that mean to you?” Fox considered. “A booking.” Mandi remained quiet. So did Bea. Fox appreciated that. Suzy nodded. “Not tonight.” “No.” “Tomorrow?” Fox tilted her head. “Perhaps.” Suzy smiled. “That's an acceptable answer.” Fox laughed softly. “How generous.” “Don't push it.” --- ### The Conversation That Matters Panam joined them. Suzy glanced toward her. “Fox is considering trying a booking.” Panam looked at Fox. “Are you?” “Yes.” “Tonight?” “No.” “Good.” Mandi laughed. Fox looked at her. “What?” “You've been awake for approximately forever.” “I have excellent stamina.” “You've still been awake for approximately forever.” “Technicality.” Panam smiled. “Tomorrow, then?” Fox shrugged lightly. “Perhaps.” Panam nodded. “Then we don't need to decide anything now.” Fox regarded her. “You aren't going to ask what sort of client I want?” “Not unless you know.” “I don't.” “Then there's nothing to ask yet.” Fox smiled. That answer pleased her. Panam continued. “If you come back tomorrow, you can talk to people.” “Yes.” “If someone interests you, we talk again.” “Yes.” “And if nobody interests you?” “Then I don't take a booking.” “Exactly.” Fox nodded. Suzy added, “And tonight's approval was for you to be here as Mandi's guest. Tomorrow is a new conversation. No assumptions.” “I understand.” Panam looked at her carefully. “And one more thing.” “Yes, Madame?” “You don't have to do it just because you're curious.” Fox's expression softened. “I know.” “Curiosity can end with curiosity.” “I know.” “And if you decide you want the experience, then it happens because you want that particular person. Not because you decided beforehand that Saturday requires a client.” Fox smiled. “Now that…” She paused. “…is excellent advice.” Mandi leaned back. “Told you Owner's smart.” Panam looked at her. “Thank you, Mandi.” “I'm occasionally supportive.” “It's unnerving.” --- ### Fox Makes One Decision Fox sat quietly for a moment. Then looked at Suzy. “I do know one thing.” Suzy waited. “I don't want someone selected for me.” “Good.” “I want to speak with people.” “Good.” “And if I find someone I genuinely want…” She looked toward Panam. “…then we discuss the booking.” Panam nodded. “Yes.” “And you may still refuse the client?” “Yes.” Fox smiled. “But you won't choose for me.” “No.” Mandi rested her hand on Fox's thigh. Fox glanced at her. Mandi's black eyes were warm. No pressure. Just pride. Fox covered Mandi's hand with her own. “Then I think I would like to come tomorrow.” Suzy smiled. “Then come tomorrow.” Fox laughed. “That simple?” “That simple.” Mandi grinned. “Welcome to the terrifying world of making your own fucking decisions.” Fox kissed her. “Darling, I've had plenty of practice.” “Yeah, but now you have paperwork.” Fox recoiled theatrically. “Oh, gods.” Bea laughed. “There it is. The true horror of Night City.” --- ### Last Drinks The official last-call announcement came not long afterward. Fox had expected disappointment. Instead, the room seemed almost relieved. Customers finished drinks. Goodbyes began. Staff shifted from entertainment to closing routines with practiced ease. Some joytoys left with friends. Others remained for a while. Panam's pets stayed close enough for her to keep track of everyone without making it look like a military exercise. Nadia settled against Panam's side. “Owner?” “Yes, sweetheart?” “Are we getting breakfast after this?” Panam looked at her. “It is nearly breakfast.” Nadia considered. “Then are we getting first breakfast or second breakfast?” Sera laughed. Panam stared. “Nadia.” “What?” “You've spent too much time with Mandi.” Mandi looked outraged. “Why is everything my fault tonight?” Several people answered at once. “Because it usually is.” Mandi stared around the table. Fox kissed her cheek. “I still love you.” “THANK YOU.” Dalia appeared with Deja beside her. “You leaving soon?” Mandi nodded. “Yeah.” Dalia looked toward Fox. “First night verdict?” Fox smiled. “Astonishing.” Deja raised an eyebrow. “Good astonishing?” “Mostly.” “Acceptable.” Dalia popped the last of her lollipop into her mouth. “You coming tomorrow?” Fox looked toward Mandi. Then Panam. Then Bea. “Yes.” Dalia grinned. “Excellent.” Deja smiled sweetly. “Oh, good.” Fox narrowed her eyes. “That sounded ominous.” “It wasn't.” Dalia looked at her. “Bullshit.” Deja smiled wider. --- ### Removing One Role at a Time When it was finally time to leave, Mandi turned toward Fox. “Ready?” Fox nodded. “Yes.” Mandi touched the leash clip. “Want me to take it off?” Fox considered. Then smiled. “Not yet.” Mandi's expression softened. “Okay.” Fox leaned closer. “I chose this for tonight.” “Yep.” “And tonight isn't quite finished.” Mandi kissed her gently. “Nope.” So Fox remained collared and leashed as they said their goodbyes. Not because anyone had forgotten to remove it. Because she hadn't asked them to. Bea joined them. Dalia and Deja were leaving together, naturally. Nova and Vega remained near Panam for a little longer. Birgitta was still finishing food. Nadia and Sera had become engaged in an increasingly ridiculous discussion about what qualified as breakfast. Suzy was already buried in closing logistics. Lisa passed nearby. Fox smiled at her. “Good night, darling.” Lisa stopped. “Good night.” Then, after half a second: “No more corpos?” Fox laughed. “I shall try.” “Please do.” Mandi grinned. “Can't promise shit.” Lisa looked at her. “I wasn't asking you.” “Fair.” Fox laughed all the way toward the exit. --- ### Outside Night City met them in neon and damp pavement. The air was cooler than Fox expected. She stopped for a moment. Mandi beside her. Bea on the other side. The club behind them. For hours she had been Fox. A new face. A new voice. A collar around her throat. Mandi's leash. And somehow none of it had made her feel less like Yukari. Quite the opposite. She had discovered another piece of herself. Mandi squeezed her hand. “You okay?” Fox smiled. “Very.” “Tired?” “Yes.” “Hungry?” “Also yes.” Bea laughed. “Madame would approve.” Fox looked back toward Lizzie's entrance. Tomorrow. Perhaps a client. Perhaps not. Perhaps merely another evening of watching, laughing, learning, and wanting. For once, an ancient woman felt absolutely no need to know the answer in advance. She turned toward Mandi. “Sweetheart?” “Yeah?” “I believe I understand why you keep coming back here.” Mandi's fanged smile softened. “Yeah?” “Yes.” Fox kissed her cheek. “It's not the sex.” Mandi considered. “Well…” Fox laughed. “Not _only_ the sex.” “Better.” Bea shook her head. “Hopeless.” Fox slipped her arm around Bea's. Then leaned against Mandi. Three women headed into the Night City night. And behind them, Lizzie's closed its doors on Fox's first evening. Tomorrow those doors would open again. And this time— Fox might choose to walk through them looking for something more. --- ## Chapter 20 — Saturday, by Choice _Watson safehouse — Saturday, late morning._ Yukari woke as a fox. That alone was not unusual. The nine tails spread across the foot of the Triad’s bed like an explosion of warm fur were not unusual either. What was unusual was the thought already waiting for her when she opened her eyes. _I want to go back._ She remained still for several seconds. Ace was asleep on her back. Mai had somehow claimed considerably more blanket than physics should have allowed. Shammy lay on her side, one hand hanging over the edge of the mattress close enough that Yukari could have nudged it with her nose. Home. Safe. Familiar. And somewhere several districts away— Lizzie’s. Fox stretched. Nine tails rose. Ace opened one eye. “Jesus fucking Christ.” Yukari froze. Ace stared at the wall of tails. “Every morning.” The fox made a soft questioning sound. “Every fucking morning I wake up convinced we've been invaded by luxury furniture.” One tail flicked across Ace's face. “HEY.” Mai laughed without opening her eyes. Shammy murmured sleepily: “You started it.” Ace caught the offending tail. “I was assaulted.” The fox transformed. One moment there was fur. The next Yukari was sitting at the foot of the bed, naked, laughing, her long dark hair falling around her shoulders. Ace stared. “That is cheating.” “Darling, I am a supernatural creature.” “You're a supernatural asshole.” Yukari leaned forward and kissed her. “Good morning.” Ace tried to maintain outrage for approximately half a second. Then kissed her back. “Morning.” Mai reached blindly toward Yukari. “Come here.” Yukari moved closer. Mai caught her around the waist and pulled her down between them. Shammy smiled. “There.” Yukari settled into the warm chaos of three women she loved. For a while, Lizzie’s could wait. --- ### The Morning After Breakfast took considerably longer than necessary. This was partly because Elisa had arrived in the kitchen first and attempted to make coffee for everyone. Mostly, however, it was because Ace kept interrupting the debrief. “So.” Elisa looked over her cup. “So what?” Ace grinned. “Claire.” Elisa sighed. “Oh, here we go.” Mai looked delighted. Brenda was already smiling. Iris tried to look innocent and failed. Yukari sat at the table in her ordinary form, watching the entire performance with great interest. Ace leaned forward. “How was she?” Elisa smiled despite herself. “Wonderful.” Ace pointed. “HA.” “What?” “That face.” “What face?” “The face.” Elisa rolled her eyes. Brenda joined in. “She does have a face.” “Thank you, Brenda.” “You're welcome.” Iris looked toward Elisa. “Did you enjoy seeing her again?” Elisa's expression softened. “Yes.” That quiet answer changed the room. The teasing remained. But gentler. Mai smiled. “Good.” Elisa nodded. “It was good.” Yukari watched her. There was something lovely about how easily these people allowed happiness to belong to whoever was experiencing it. No ownership. No accounting. No implication that pleasure given elsewhere diminished anything at home. Yukari understood why she had fallen into this family so quickly. Ace turned toward her. “And you.” Yukari lifted her cup. “Me?” “First night.” “Oh.” “Full report.” Yukari considered. “No.” Ace stared. “Excuse me?” “I said no.” “You can't use Lizzie's rules against me in my own kitchen.” Yukari smiled serenely. “Apparently I can.” Brenda nearly choked. Mai laughed. Shammy kissed Yukari's temple. “I'm proud of you.” Ace pointed at her. “TRAITOR.” --- ### What Fox Learned Eventually the conversation became marginally more serious. Marginally. Elisa looked toward Yukari. “So?” Yukari leaned back. “I liked it.” “Lizzie's?” “Yes.” “Being Fox?” “Very much.” Ace grinned. “Being my pet?” Yukari looked at her. The grin softened immediately. “Yes.” Ace reached across the table and took her hand. No joke. Just warmth. Yukari squeezed back. “And,” she continued, “I liked seeing all of you there.” Iris raised an eyebrow. “All of us?” “In your other faces.” Brenda smirked. “Oh?” Yukari looked at her. “Darling, don't fish.” “I wasn't fishing.” “You brought a net.” Brenda laughed. Iris hid a smile behind her coffee. Yukari continued. “It was fascinating.” “How so?” Elisa asked. “You're all recognizably yourselves.” She looked from Iris to Brenda. “And yet not quite the versions of yourselves I know here.” Iris nodded. “That’s rather the point.” “I know.” Yukari smiled. “But knowing a thing intellectually and seeing it are different experiences.” Her gaze lingered on Iris for a moment. Then Brenda. Both noticed. Neither pressed. Good. Those promises were still waiting. Yukari liked that. --- ### Saturday Elisa set down her cup. “Going back tonight?” Yukari didn't hesitate. “Yes.” Ace's grin appeared instantly. “YES.” Mai laughed. “You were waiting for that.” “Obviously.” Yukari raised one finger. “But.” Ace stopped. “Uh-oh.” “I want the same arrangement when we arrive.” Ace nodded. “Mandi's pet.” “Yes.” “Collar?” “Yes.” “Leash?” Yukari smiled. “Definitely.” Ace looked unbearably pleased. “Fuck, I love you.” “I know.” Yukari continued. “And if I decide I want to speak with someone with the possibility of a booking…” Elisa nodded. “Then you speak with Suzy first.” “And Panam,” Ace added. Yukari nodded. “Yes.” She had no intention of improvising her way around the rules simply because she was ancient, magical, or sleeping with half the people explaining them. Perhaps especially because of that. “I want one thing very clear,” Yukari said. Ace raised an eyebrow. “I don't want anyone finding me a client.” Elisa nodded immediately. “They won't.” “I choose.” “Yes.” “And if nobody interests me…” “Then you have a fun night and come home,” Mai said. Yukari smiled. “Exactly.” Brenda lifted her coffee. “Very sensible.” Yukari looked at her. “Don't sound so disappointed.” Brenda's grin widened. “Oh, I am absolutely not disappointed.” Iris sighed. “Brenda.” “What?” Yukari laughed. Saturday suddenly seemed very promising. --- _Lizzie’s Bar — Saturday evening._ Fox returned. This time she knew where she was going. That changed everything. Friday had been discovery. Every corridor new. Every procedure unfamiliar. Every collar, face, voice, and professional ritual something to understand. Saturday felt different from the moment Lisa let them through. “Back again?” Fox smiled. “Were you hoping I'd stay away?” Lisa's expression remained admirably neutral. “No.” “Then how fortunate.” Mandi laughed. Lisa looked at her. “You.” “What?” “Try not to create paperwork.” “That's not even fair.” “Life rarely is.” Bea laughed as they passed. --- ### The Collar Again They met Panam and Suzy before entering the public floor. Not because Fox had become a professional overnight. Because Friday's permission had been Friday's permission. Saturday required Saturday's answer. Suzy looked her over. “Still Fox?” “Very much.” “Still Mandi's guest?” Fox glanced toward Mandi. “Enthusiastically.” Mandi grinned. Suzy nodded. “And you're considering one booking.” “If I meet someone I want.” “Good.” Panam folded her arms. “No target.” “No quota.” “No obligation,” Fox finished. Panam smiled. “You listened.” “Darling, occasionally.” Mandi coughed. Fox looked at her. “Something wrong?” “Nothing.” Suzy continued. “If you decide you'd like to explore a booking, you come back to us before anything is agreed.” Fox nodded. “Of course.” “Lisa knows you're still a guest unless and until that changes.” “Good.” Panam looked toward the collar. “Ready?” Fox turned toward Mandi. Mandi held it. The same soft black leather. The same polished gold fastening. Yet tonight Fox knew exactly what the sensation meant. She lifted her hair. Mandi stepped close. “You sure?” Fox smiled. “Put it on me, sweetheart.” Mandi fastened it. _Click._ Fox closed her eyes for a moment. Pleasure. Not from leather. Not even from the symbolism alone. From choice. From trust. From the woman standing in front of her. Mandi kissed her. Fox returned it warmly. Then Mandi attached the leash. _Click._ Fox smiled. “Perfect.” Mandi's cyber-oni face softened into something impossibly tender. “Yeah.” She kissed Fox once more. “It really fucking is.” --- ### Birgitta Comes Home Fox saw Birgitta almost immediately. Not with a customer. Not working a room. With Panam. The bright copper-grey-haired woman was standing close enough that the distinction between professional distance and personal affection had ceased to matter. Panam had one arm around her waist. Birgitta's hands rested lightly against Panam's chest. They were speaking quietly. Fox could not hear the words. She didn't need to. Birgitta smiled. Not the dazzling public smile she'd seen Friday. Something smaller. Softer. Panam brushed her thumb along Birgitta's cheek. Birgitta leaned into the touch. And then Panam kissed her. It was not a dramatic kiss. No performance. No audience sought. Just the easy, unhurried intimacy of two women who had kissed each other countless times and still wanted another. Fox stopped walking. Mandi felt the leash go still and turned. “What?” Fox nodded discreetly toward them. Mandi followed her gaze. Her expression softened. “Oh.” Fox whispered: “They're beautiful.” “Yeah.” Birgitta said something. Panam laughed. Birgitta's face brightened at the sound. Then she tucked herself against Panam and rested her head briefly on her shoulder. Panam kissed her hair. Fox smiled. That was not aftercare. Nobody had just returned from a booking. Nobody had asked whether Birgitta needed food or water. This was simply affection looking for somewhere to land. And finding home. --- ### More Than the Collar Later, Fox found Birgitta seated beside Panam. Her leash was attached. Panam held it loosely. But Birgitta had turned sideways in her chair so that one leg rested against Panam's. Their hands were intertwined. Nadia was telling some ridiculous story. Sera was trying and failing not to laugh. Birgitta listened. Then casually lifted Panam's hand and kissed her knuckles. Panam looked at her. The entire room seemed to disappear from her face for a second. Just Birgitta. Just love. She leaned closer. “You all right, sweetheart?” Birgitta smiled. “Perfectly.” “You seem quiet.” “I'm comfortable.” Panam's expression warmed. “Good.” Birgitta touched her cheek. “I missed you.” Panam laughed softly. “You've been sitting next to me for twenty minutes.” “Terrible twenty minutes.” “You poor thing.” “Cruel Owner.” Panam kissed her. Birgitta laughed into the kiss. Fox watched from nearby. Mandi glanced at her. “You're doing it again.” “What?” “Watching people in love.” Fox smiled. “Is that a problem?” “No.” Mandi squeezed her hand. “It's kinda your thing.” Fox considered. “Perhaps.” Then she looked back. Birgitta now had her forehead resting against Panam's. No words. No need. Fox's heart gave a ridiculous little ache. Not sadness. Something warmer. Recognition. She knew that feeling. The quiet certainty that another person had become somewhere you rested. --- ### A Fox in the Crowd Saturday was busier than Friday. Fox had expected that. What she had not expected was how differently she experienced it now that she understood the rules. A glance did not mean interest. Interest did not mean invitation. Conversation did not mean booking. Money did not mean yes. And no did not require defense. The structure gave everything else room to breathe. Fox spoke with several people. Some merely complimented her hair. One asked about the collar. Another wanted to know whether the golden eyes were implants. Fox smiled mysteriously. “Darling, wouldn't you like to know?” The woman laughed. And moved on. No one died of unanswered curiosity. Marvelous. --- ### Dalia and Deja Dalia and Deja arrived together. Naturally. Dalia's neon-pink dreadlocks were impossible to miss. Deja's venom-dark hair caught green in the lights. Dalia held Deja's leash. Deja carried two drinks. Mandi stared at them. “You started without us.” Deja looked at her. “You were late.” “We weren't late.” Dalia removed her lollipop. “You were emotionally late.” Mandi stared. “What the fuck does that mean?” “No idea.” Dalia kissed her. Mandi immediately stopped complaining. Fox laughed. Deja handed her one of the drinks. “For you.” Fox accepted it. “How thoughtful.” “I was told I'm capable of kindness.” “By whom?” “Unreliable sources.” Dalia laughed. Fox tasted the drink. “Much better than yesterday's.” Mandi looked offended. “HEY.” Deja smiled sweetly. “Your taste is bad.” “I hate you.” “No, you don't.” “True.” --- ### No Hurry As the evening progressed, Fox noticed something else. She wasn't looking for a client. Not exactly. She was looking at people. That distinction mattered. She spoke with a man for ten minutes and liked him perfectly well. Not enough. A woman made her laugh. Fox enjoyed the conversation. Still no. Another customer was charming, beautifully dressed, and clearly interested. Fox felt nothing beyond polite affection. Also no. And each no— Even the ones she never spoke aloud because no offer had been made— felt useful. She was learning the shape of yes by discovering everything that wasn't it. Bea found her near the bar. “Any luck?” Fox smiled. “I don't think luck is the correct word.” Bea laughed. “Fair.” “I've met lovely people.” “But?” “But nothing.” “Good.” Fox looked at her. “Good?” “Yes.” Bea leaned against the bar. “You don't need a story to happen every ten minutes.” Fox considered. “That sounds suspiciously like wisdom.” “Don't spread it around.” --- ### The Woman Beside Madame Birgitta had moved again. She had spoken with customers. Flirted shamelessly. Laughed. Worked the room with the bright, open confidence that belonged uniquely to her cover. But she kept returning to Panam. Sometimes only for a kiss. Sometimes to whisper something. Once merely to stand behind Panam's chair and wrap her arms around her shoulders. Panam reached up without looking. Caught one of Birgitta's hands. Kissed it. Birgitta's smile became luminous. Fox noticed Nadia watching them. Nadia smiled too. No jealousy. No tension. Only affection. Sera reached over and squeezed Panam's thigh. Panam looked at her. Sera's white hair caught the club lights. The look they exchanged carried another love entirely. Different. Not lesser. Fox understood that too. How many shapes could love take before humans stopped insisting it had only one? Apparently quite a few. --- ### A Conversation with Birgitta Birgitta eventually drifted toward Fox. “Enjoying yourself?” “Immensely.” “No booking yet?” “No.” Birgitta smiled. “Good.” Fox raised an eyebrow. “You too?” “Me too what?” “Everyone keeps congratulating me for not finding someone.” Birgitta laughed. “I'm not congratulating you.” “No?” “No.” She leaned closer. “I'm congratulating you for not pretending.” Fox smiled. “Ah.” Birgitta glanced toward Panam. Then back. “It's easy to decide in advance that tonight is going to be _the night_.” “And then force the evening to fit.” “Exactly.” Fox nodded. “I don't want that.” “Then don't.” Birgitta smiled. “You'll know when someone makes you want to stay in the conversation.” Fox considered. “And after that?” “Then you decide whether you want another conversation.” “And after that?” Birgitta's smile became wicked. “Darling, you're an intelligent woman. Surely you've encountered sequential decision-making.” Fox burst out laughing. “There you are.” “What?” “The woman underneath all that elegant restraint.” Birgitta put a hand to her chest. “I have no idea what you mean.” Fox laughed harder. --- ### Where Birgitta Belongs Panam appeared behind her. “There you are.” Birgitta turned. The change was instant. Not dramatic. Just unmistakable. “Owner.” Panam slid an arm around her waist. “I've been looking for you.” Birgitta smiled. “For how long?” “Almost thirty seconds.” “Oh, unbearable.” “Terrible.” Birgitta leaned into her. Panam kissed her temple. Then her cheek. Then, because apparently two kisses were insufficient, her mouth. Fox smiled. Panam noticed. “What?” “Nothing.” “That expression says otherwise.” Fox looked at Birgitta. Then Panam. “You love her terribly.” Silence. Not uncomfortable. Birgitta's bright expression softened. Panam looked at her. Then back at Fox. “Yes.” No joke. No deflection. Just yes. Birgitta touched Panam's face. “And I love her terribly.” Panam's arm tightened around her. Birgitta kissed her. This time longer. Still gentle. Still entirely natural. When they separated, Panam rested her forehead against Birgitta's. “You're going to ruin my reputation.” Birgitta smiled. “As what?” “Terrifying Madame.” Birgitta considered. “I think you're safe.” “Good.” “You're terrifying.” Panam laughed. Birgitta kissed her again. “And mine.” Something about those two words hit Fox harder than she expected. Not ownership. Belonging. Mutual. Chosen. Panam's expression said she understood exactly the same thing. --- ### The First Spark It happened later. Not dramatically. No grand entrance. No immediate certainty. Fox was speaking with Bea near the edge of the lounge when she noticed someone laughing. A woman. Alone for the moment. She had been speaking with one of the bartenders, apparently arguing cheerfully about music. Fox couldn't hear the discussion. But she liked the woman's laugh. That was all. A laugh. Fox watched for another moment. Bea followed her gaze. Then looked back at Fox. “Oh?” Fox smiled faintly. “Perhaps.” Bea did not turn it into a celebration. Did not call Mandi. Did not summon Suzy. She merely asked: “Want to say hello?” Fox considered. The woman's conversation ended. She collected her drink. Turned. Their eyes met. No magic. No kitsune influence. Just two women noticing one another. The stranger smiled. Fox felt something small and unmistakable answer inside her. Not yes. Not yet. But interest. Real interest. Fox handed her glass to Bea. “I think I do.” Bea smiled. “Then go say hello.” Fox glanced down. The leash. Still held by Mandi across the lounge. Fox laughed softly. “Perhaps I should collect my terrible woman first.” Bea looked over. Mandi was currently losing an argument with Deja. “Probably wise.” Fox crossed the room. Mandi noticed her coming. “What?” Fox smiled. “Sweetheart.” That tone got her attention. Mandi straightened. “Yes?” “I've seen someone I'd like to speak with.” Mandi's cyber-oni smile changed. Not possessive. Not worried. Proud. “Yeah?” “Yes.” Mandi looked toward the woman Fox had noticed. Then back. “You want the leash off?” Fox looked down at it. Then up. “Yes, please.” Mandi stepped closer. Her fingers found the clip. But she paused. “You sure?” Fox kissed her. “Absolutely.” Mandi smiled. _Click._ The leash came free. She placed it in Fox's hand. “There.” Fox curled her fingers around it. Mandi kissed her forehead. “Go have fun.” Fox smiled. “I intend to.” Then she turned. Across the room, the woman had noticed her approach. She smiled again. Fox smiled back. No booking. No promises. No expectations. Just the beginning of a conversation. And this time— Fox wanted to see where it went. --- ## Chapter 21 — Someone Worth Saying Yes To _Lizzie’s Bar — Saturday night._ The woman smiled when Fox approached. That helped. Not because the smile was beautiful—although it was. Because she didn't immediately turn it into an assumption. She stayed where she was. Waited. Allowed Fox to close the distance herself. Fox liked that very much. “Good evening,” she said. “Good evening.” The woman's eyes moved briefly to the detached leash in Fox's hand. Then back to her face. No staring. No joke. Just curiosity. “I was beginning to wonder whether you'd come over.” Fox smiled. “Were you?” “You looked at me twice.” “Only twice?” “Three times might have made me arrogant.” Fox laughed. “Oh, darling. We cannot possibly have that.” The woman's smile widened. “I'm Anja.” “Fox.” “I know.” Fox raised an eyebrow. Anja immediately added: “I asked the bartender.” “Ah.” “Was that terribly improper?” “Not remotely.” Fox sat on the neighboring stool. “Although I appreciate you worrying about it.” Anja lifted her drink. “I've had enough experiences with people treating curiosity as permission.” Fox's golden eyes brightened. “What an excellent sentence.” “Unfortunately earned.” “Most excellent sentences are.” That made Anja laugh again. There. That laugh. The one Fox had noticed across the room. It sounded even better nearby. --- ### No Rush For several minutes, neither woman mentioned Lizzie’s work at all. Anja was arguing with the bartender because he insisted that pre-Collapse synth-rock had improved after the third revival movement. Anja considered this an insult to music. Fox had absolutely no useful opinion on the matter. This did not prevent her from joining the argument. “So,” Fox said thoughtfully, “your position is that the second revival was magnificent and civilization should simply have stopped there.” “Precisely.” The bartender shook his head. “You haven't heard enough third-wave bands.” “I have heard too many.” Fox nodded gravely. “A devastating rebuttal.” “Thank you.” The bartender pointed at Fox. “Do not encourage her.” “Oh, darling.” Fox smiled. “I've been told that's one of my worst habits.” Anja glanced at the collar around Fox's throat. “By the woman holding the other end of that leash?” Fox looked down at the leather coiled in her hand. “Usually.” “She seems fond of you.” Fox looked toward Mandi. Across the lounge, the cyber-oni was sitting with Dalia and Deja. Mandi noticed Fox looking. She smiled. Not broadly. Not theatrically. Just for her. Fox's expression softened. “Yes.” Then she looked back at Anja. “She is.” Anja nodded. “Good.” No questions about ownership. No attempt to turn the collar into an invitation. Fox liked that too. Quite a lot, actually. --- ### The Difference Between Looking and Seeing Anja asked about Fox's eyes eventually. “Contacts?” Fox smiled. “Would you be disappointed if I said yes?” “No.” “And if I said no?” “Still no.” “How refreshingly difficult you are to impress.” Anja laughed. “I didn't say I'm not impressed.” “Ah.” Fox leaned a little closer. “That's better.” Anja held her gaze. “Your eyes are extraordinary.” “Thank you.” “And your hair.” “Also mine.” “Really?” “In every meaningful sense.” Anja considered that answer. Then smiled. “I suspect you're enjoying being mysterious.” “Immensely.” “I suspected that too.” Fox laughed. Something had changed. Very slightly. They were no longer merely exchanging pleasant remarks. They were studying each other. Not clinically. Curiously. Anja's attention no longer wandered toward the room between sentences. Fox noticed. And realized hers didn't either. _Ah._ Birgitta had been right. Someone worth staying in the conversation. --- ### Across the Room Panam was listening to Vega explain something with excessive hand gestures when Birgitta returned to her side. No booking. No logistical reason. She simply came back. Panam noticed before Birgitta reached her. Her expression changed. Fox had begun recognizing that change. The tiny softness. Birgitta slipped close beside her. Panam's hand found her waist automatically. “Hey.” Birgitta smiled. “Hello.” “You disappear on me?” “For almost six minutes.” “Unacceptable.” “I suffered terribly.” Panam pulled her closer. Birgitta laughed softly and rested one hand against Panam's chest. “Owner.” There was affection in the word. And mischief. And something much deeper than either. Panam smiled. “What?” “I love you.” Simple. No performance. Panam's eyes softened. “Yeah?” “Terribly.” “That's unfortunate.” “Devastating.” Panam kissed her. Birgitta answered at once. A gentle kiss. Then another. Their foreheads touched afterward. Panam's thumb traced Birgitta's cheek. “I love you too, sweetheart.” Birgitta smiled. “I know.” “Cocky.” “Accurate.” Panam kissed her once more. Nearby, Nadia smiled into her drink. Sera leaned against Panam's other side. Nothing in the moment asked anyone else to become smaller. Fox watched for only a second. Then returned her attention to Anja. Because that mattered too. --- ### The Question Anja glanced down at the leash again. This time Fox noticed. “You may ask.” Anja looked back up. “May I?” “Certainly.” “Are you working tonight?” Fox smiled. “Interesting question.” “Too direct?” “No.” Fox turned the leash slowly through her fingers. “I'm here primarily as Mandi's guest.” Anja nodded. “And the collar?” “Also mine.” “I assumed.” Fox laughed. “Did you?” “You don't look like someone who accidentally ended up wearing one.” Fox stared at her. Then laughed much harder. “Oh, I like you.” Anja smiled. “Good.” Fox let the laughter settle. Then answered properly. “I am considering trying one booking.” Anja's expression changed. Not hungry. Not triumphant. Attentive. “First time?” “As Fox, yes.” Anja caught the distinction. She didn't ask about it. Another point in her favor. Instead: “Are you hoping to find someone tonight?” Fox considered. “I was advised not to think of it that way.” “That sounds sensible.” “It was.” “So what are you doing?” “Talking.” Anja smiled. “How's that going?” Fox met her eyes. “Rather well.” There was a pause. Not awkward. The kind of pause both people noticed. Anja's smile became smaller. “Good.” --- ### Mandi Does Not Hover Mandi had noticed. Of course she had. Dalia followed her gaze. “Oh.” Mandi looked at her. “What?” Dalia's menthol lollipop shifted to the other side of her mouth. “Nothing.” “You said oh.” “No, I didn't.” “You literally fucking said oh.” Deja looked across the room. Saw Fox. Saw Anja. Then looked at Mandi. “She's interested.” Mandi grinned. “Yep.” Dalia watched her. “No panic?” Mandi stared. “Why the fuck would I panic?” Dalia shrugged. “First possible booking.” Mandi's expression softened. “She'll decide.” Deja nodded. “And if she wants you?” “I’m right here.” “And if she doesn't?” Mandi looked back toward Fox. Then smiled. “Then I'm still right here.” Dalia removed the lollipop. “Fuck.” “What?” “That was almost disgustingly healthy.” Mandi looked offended. “Fuck you.” “There she is.” --- ### Not Yet a Booking Anja asked: “Can I tell you what I was thinking?” Fox nodded. “Please.” “I noticed you yesterday.” Fox blinked. “You were here?” “For about an hour.” “How disappointing. I failed to notice you.” “You were busy being escorted around.” “Ah.” “And then somebody got carried out.” Fox closed her eyes. “Oh, gods.” Anja laughed. “That was you, wasn't it?” “Indirectly.” “I thought so.” “You witnessed my glorious first evening.” “I witnessed a man discovering gravity.” Fox burst out laughing. “Yes. That.” Anja smiled. “I wanted to say hello then.” “Why didn't you?” “You looked like you already had enough happening.” Fox studied her. That answer mattered. Not because it was flattering. Because it showed restraint. Anja continued: “And tonight you looked more settled.” “I am.” “So I hoped we'd talk.” Fox smiled. “And now we have.” “Yes.” Another pause. Then Anja said: “I'd like to ask you something, but I don't want you to feel obliged to answer.” Fox tilted her head. “Ask.” “If you decide you want that booking tonight…” She paused. Fox waited. “…would you consider spending it with me?” There. No outrageous offer. No attempt to buy the decision. No assumption. Just a question. Fox felt something warm settle inside her. Not obligation. Not uncertainty. Want. Quiet but real. She looked at Anja for a long moment. Anja did not fill the silence. Excellent. Fox smiled. “Yes.” Anja's eyes widened slightly. Fox raised one finger. “I said yes to considering it.” Anja laughed softly. “Understood.” “I need to speak with Suzy and Madame before anything is agreed.” “Of course.” “And we haven't discussed what either of us actually wants.” “Also true.” Fox's smile turned playful. “You are taking this remarkably well.” “Would you prefer I start celebrating?” “Absolutely not.” “Then I'll remain dignified.” “That seems terribly ambitious.” Anja laughed again. Fox felt that little spark strengthen. --- ### A More Important Conversation They moved to a quieter seating area. Still public. Still visible. Fox placed the detached leash beside her. Not discarded. Simply resting within reach. Anja sat opposite her. Fox asked first. “What are you actually looking for?” Anja considered rather than answering quickly. “Company.” Fox smiled. “Dangerously vague.” “Yes.” “Try again.” Anja laughed. “All right.” She leaned back. “I like women.” “Promising.” “I like conversation.” “Also promising.” “And I like intimacy when both people genuinely want it.” Fox's expression softened. “Very promising.” “But I don't need tonight to become anything specific.” Fox nodded. “That matters.” “I thought it might.” “And if I decide I want nothing more than another drink with you?” “Then I get another drink with a beautiful woman.” Fox smiled. “Excellent answer.” Anja looked toward her collar. “And you?” Fox considered. This was more difficult. Not because she was embarrassed. Because she had centuries of experience and almost none of it mapped neatly onto what she was doing now. “I want curiosity.” Anja waited. “I want someone I genuinely want to touch.” Anja's eyes remained on hers. “I want someone who wants me rather than the story of me.” That made Anja pause. “The story of you?” Fox smiled. “Everyone has one.” “Fair.” “And I want the ability to change my mind at any point without disappointing someone into becoming unpleasant.” Anja nodded. “That seems fundamental.” “It should be.” Fox leaned closer. “And if I choose you…” Anja met her gaze. “…I don't want to spend the entire time wondering whether you said yes because you paid for it.” Anja's expression became very still. Then: “You won't.” Fox studied her. “Good.” --- ### The First Touch Anja's hand rested on the table between them. Fox looked at it. Then at her. “May I?” Anja smiled. “Yes.” Fox placed her fingers over Anja's. That was all. A hand. Warm skin. No seduction technique. No supernatural influence. No centuries-old kitsune magic. Just contact. Anja's fingers curled gently around hers. Fox felt the answer in the gesture. She smiled. “Oh.” Anja raised an eyebrow. “Good oh?” “Very.” Fox turned Anja's hand slightly and traced her thumb across the knuckles. Anja's smile softened. Fox enjoyed that. The simplicity. No performance. She had touched countless people during a life too long to measure comfortably. Yet this felt new because of the context around it. Choice layered upon choice. Nothing presumed. Nothing owed. Anja squeezed her fingers. Fox squeezed back. Then released her hand. Not because she wanted distance. Because she had learned something. Enough to make the next decision. --- ### Mandi Fox returned to Mandi first. Anja remained where she was. Again— No following without invitation. Mandi's black eyes met Fox's. “Well?” Fox smiled. “I like her.” Mandi's cyber-oni grin widened. “Yeah?” “Yes.” “Want to keep talking?” “Yes.” Mandi nodded. Fox held out the leash. Mandi looked at it. Then at her. “You want it back on?” Fox thought. Then shook her head. “Not yet.” Mandi smiled. “Okay.” Fox tucked the leash over her own wrist. Then stepped closer. “Mandi.” The joking expression disappeared. “Yeah?” “If this becomes a booking…” Mandi waited. Fox touched her cheek. “Are you truly comfortable?” Mandi stared at her. Then caught Fox by the waist and drew her close. “Sweetheart.” Fox smiled faintly. “I'm serious.” “So am I.” Mandi kissed her. Warm. Affectionate. Possessive only in the emotional sense that lovers sometimes were, never in the sense of controlling a decision. When they separated, Mandi rested her forehead against Fox's. “I want you to have whatever experience _you_ want.” Fox's throat tightened unexpectedly. Mandi continued. “If that's her, fucking excellent.” “And if it isn't?” “Then also fucking excellent.” Fox laughed softly. Mandi kissed her nose. “And afterward?” Fox asked. Mandi's smile became tender. “I'll be here.” There. Exactly the answer Fox needed. She kissed Mandi again. “Thank you, sweetheart.” “Go talk to the grown-ups.” Fox laughed. “You are older than several governments.” “Still not the grown-up.” “Fair.” --- ### Madame, Suzy, and the Fox Suzy was with Panam. Fox approached. Her detached leash still looped around one hand. Panam noticed it immediately. Then noticed Fox's expression. “Well?” Fox smiled. “I've met someone.” Suzy set down her drink. “Someone you like?” “Yes.” “Someone you'd like to keep talking to?” “Yes.” Panam asked: “And the booking?” Fox paused. Then answered carefully. “I think I want it.” Neither woman congratulated her. Neither treated the decision as complete. Suzy simply nodded. “Bring her over.” Fox smiled. “I thought you might say that.” Panam looked toward Mandi. “She knows?” “Yes.” “Good.” Suzy added: “And Fox?” “Yes?” “You're still allowed to walk away during this conversation.” “I know.” “After we discuss terms?” “Yes.” “After money changes hands?” “Yes.” “In the room?” Fox nodded. “Yes.” “Good.” Panam smiled. “Then bring her here.” --- ### Before Fox Could Move Birgitta slipped back to Panam's side. She looked from Fox to Suzy. Then at Panam. “Something happening?” Panam smiled. “Fox may have found her first client.” Birgitta's face lit up. “Oh.” Fox pointed at her. “Do not make a fuss.” Birgitta immediately clasped both hands over her mouth. Panam laughed. Fox stared. Birgitta nodded solemnly. Then stepped close to Panam and whispered something into her ear. Panam tried not to smile. Failed. “What did you say?” Fox demanded. Birgitta looked innocent. “Nothing.” “Liar.” “Terribly.” Panam wrapped an arm around her waist. Birgitta relaxed into her instantly. “Behave, pet.” Birgitta looked up at her. “Yes, Owner.” The words were soft. Private despite the room around them. Panam kissed her forehead. Birgitta smiled. Fox watched the exchange. There. The difference made perfect sense now. _Madame_ was the woman Fox had come to for the professional decision. _Owner_ was the woman Birgitta melted against because she had chosen that relationship with her. Same Panam. Different relationship. Different word. Fox smiled. Then turned back toward Anja. --- ### The Next Yes Anja saw Fox looking. She did not stand until Fox gestured for her. Then she crossed the lounge. Suzy offered her a seat. Panam remained beside Birgitta, one hand resting comfortably around her pet's waist. Fox sat opposite Anja. No one hurried. Suzy began simply. “Fox tells us she'd like to explore a booking with you.” Anja nodded. “I'd like that too.” “Good.” Suzy looked toward Fox. “Still yes?” Fox met Anja's eyes. “Yes.” Panam asked: “Comfortable?” “Very.” Then Panam looked toward Anja. “Before we discuss anything else, you understand Fox is new to professional bookings.” “Yes.” “And that doesn't make her boundaries negotiable.” “Of course.” Fox smiled slightly. Anja noticed. Suzy leaned forward. “Then we can talk about what the two of you actually want, what isn't on the table, how long you want, and what this particular booking costs.” Fox looked at Anja. Anja looked back. And for the first time since Friday night, the possibility no longer felt theoretical. Fox wanted this woman. Not because she needed a first client. Not because she wanted to prove something to Suzy. Not because Mandi, Bea, or Madame expected anything. They didn't. She wanted Anja because Anja had made her laugh. Because she'd waited. Because she'd listened. Because when Fox touched her hand, something inside her had answered. Fox smiled. Anja returned it. And the conversation began. --- ## Chapter 22 — Fox’s First Booking _Lizzie’s Bar — Saturday night._ The conversation took longer than Fox expected. She liked that. Suzy asked practical questions. Panam asked different ones. Anja answered both without impatience. Fox answered for herself. Nobody spoke over her. Nobody interpreted curiosity as consent or nervousness as refusal. They simply made the shape of the evening clear. One hour. One private suite. Fox's first professional booking. No assumed acts. No surprises introduced halfway through. Either woman could stop. Either could redirect. Either could decide that conversation and kissing were enough. Anja accepted every condition without negotiation. Suzy looked toward Fox. “Still interested?” “Yes.” Then to Anja. “And you?” “Yes.” Suzy nodded. “Fox's rate is twenty-five thousand eddies for the hour.” There. A real number. A real professional arrangement. Anja didn't hesitate. “Twenty-five thousand is fine.” Fox watched her. Money hadn't changed the woman's expression. No sudden possessiveness. No suggestion that twenty-five thousand had purchased anything beyond one agreed hour in which every further choice still belonged to the women making it. Suzy continued. “Payment is for the booking. It doesn't override anything the two of you just agreed.” “I understand,” Anja said. Fox smiled. “Good.” Suzy authorized the payment. The transfer cleared. Twenty-five thousand eddies. Fox felt something unexpectedly satisfying at the sight of it. Not because she needed the money. She absolutely did not. But because this was no longer an experiment being simulated for her benefit. She had chosen to work. Someone had chosen her. And Lizzie's treated that choice as professionally as everyone else's. Panam looked toward Fox. “One more time.” Fox knew exactly what she meant. “Yes, Madame.” “You want this?” “Yes.” “With her?” Fox turned toward Anja. Anja remained quietly attentive. Waiting. Fox smiled. “With her.” Panam nodded. “Then enjoy yourself.” No leash to unclip. Fox was not Panam's pet. The black leather leash remained looped around Fox's own wrist, exactly where Mandi had left it when Fox went to speak with Anja. Fox looked toward Mandi. The cyber-oni stood several meters away. Watching. Fox held up the leash. Mandi came over. “Well?” Fox smiled. “We're going.” Mandi's black eyes brightened. “Yeah?” “Yes.” Fox offered her the leash. Mandi looked at it. Then at Fox. “What do you want me to do with it?” Fox considered. “Keep it for me.” Mandi took it. “Okay.” Fox stepped close. Mandi wrapped both arms around her. She kissed Fox softly. “Have fun, gorgeous.” Fox touched the expressive black-and-orange cyber-oni cheek. “I intend to.” “And if you want me?” “I'll come find you.” “Good.” Fox kissed her again. Then turned toward Anja. Anja had politely looked elsewhere during the kiss. Fox liked that. “Ready, darling?” Anja smiled. “Yes.” Fox offered her hand. Anja took it. And together they walked toward the private suites. --- ### Behind the Door The room was quieter than Fox expected. Lizzie’s remained somewhere beyond the walls, its music reduced to a distant pulse. Warm lighting. A sofa. A broad bed. Water waiting nearby. Nothing about the room told them what they were supposed to do. The door closed. Fox turned. Anja was watching her. And suddenly— Fox was nervous. The realization almost made her laugh. Centuries. Wars. Yokai. Human civilizations rising, rearranging themselves, and occasionally deciding that what the world desperately needed was yet another committee. And one attractive woman in a Lizzie's suite had managed to make her nervous. Anja noticed. “You all right?” Fox smiled faintly. “Darling, I have done considerably more dangerous things than enter a bedroom.” “I didn't ask whether you were in danger.” Fox stopped. Then laughed softly. “No.” Anja waited. “I am a little nervous.” “Good.” Fox raised an eyebrow. “Good?” “So am I.” That surprised her. “Really?” “Of course.” “Why?” Anja smiled. “Because I like you.” Fox's expression softened. “That is an annoyingly good answer.” “I practiced.” “Liar.” “Completely.” They laughed. And the nerves stopped being something Fox had to overcome. They became something the two women shared. --- ### The First Kiss Fox approached first. Not because twenty-five thousand eddies required her to. Because she wanted to. She stopped close enough to feel Anja's breath. “May I kiss you?” Anja smiled. “Yes.” Fox kissed her. Slowly. The first contact was exploratory rather than timid. Anja answered immediately, one hand settling lightly at Fox's waist. Fox felt the warmth of it. The absence of pressure. She smiled into the kiss. Anja noticed. “What?” Fox kept her forehead close to hers. “I like the way you touch me.” Anja's thumb moved gently against her side. “Here?” “Yes.” “Good.” Fox kissed her again. Longer. Anja's other hand rose to her cheek. Fox leaned into the touch. There was something unexpectedly powerful about being touched while wearing a face she'd created herself. Anja did not know Yukari. She knew Fox. Yet nothing about Fox felt false. The realization sent a shiver through her. Anja stopped immediately. “Too much?” “No.” Fox smiled. “Quite the opposite.” --- ### Clothes Fox reached for the fastening of Anja's jacket. Then paused. “May I?” “Yes.” Fox opened it. Anja shrugged it from her shoulders. Fox laid it across the chair. Anja laughed. Fox looked at her. “What?” “You're very tidy.” “Darling, I have lived through several eras of clothing that required servants. One learns.” Anja stared. Then laughed harder. “That may be the strangest answer I've heard this month.” Fox smiled. “You have no idea.” Anja touched the edge of Fox's top. “May I?” “Yes.” This time Fox felt the nervousness again. Good nervousness. Anticipation. Anja moved carefully. Fox helped. They stopped midway to kiss. Then continued. Anja's dress loosened next beneath Fox's hands. She helped it from her shoulders. Anja stepped free of it. The club vanished a little further. No crowd. No professional roles watching. Just two women who had chosen each other for the next hour. Fox looked at her. Anja smiled. “You're staring.” “Admiring.” “Better.” Fox moved closer. Their next kiss carried more heat. Still patient. But no longer cautious. --- ### Choice After Choice They moved toward the bed. Anja sat first. Fox remained standing between her knees. For a few seconds neither woman spoke. Anja touched the edge of Fox's collar. Stopped. “May I?” Fox nodded. “Yes.” Anja traced one finger along the black leather. “Does this belong to Mandi?” Fox smiled. “It belongs to me.” Anja looked up. “Mandi put it on me.” “Difference noted.” “Good.” Anja let her hand fall away. No tugging. No interpretation. Fox liked that more than she expected. She touched Anja's hair. Then kissed her. Anja's hands moved across Fox's back. Fox shivered. The kiss deepened. Anja drew her closer. Fox settled beside her on the bed. She laughed softly. “What?” Anja asked. “You're still asking without words.” “Is that annoying?” Fox kissed her. “No.” A softer kiss followed. “It's wonderful.” --- ### First Contact Anja's hand moved slowly along Fox's thigh. Fox watched her. Anja watched Fox. “Still good?” “Yes.” Her hand moved higher. Fox's breathing changed. The first clearly intimate touch made her close her eyes for one brief second. She wanted to feel it. Not escape it. Anja paused. Fox opened her eyes. Their gazes met. “Yes.” One word. Clear. Anja continued. Fox's composure lasted longer than she expected. Then considerably less long than she would later claim. She laughed quietly when she realized it. Anja smiled. “What?” “Apparently experience doesn't make this less distracting.” “Good.” Fox narrowed her eyes. “You're becoming very pleased with yourself.” “A little.” “Dangerous woman.” Anja kissed her. Fox answered eagerly. Pleasure built slowly rather than arriving all at once. Fox's hand tightened on Anja's shoulder. Relaxed. Tightened again. Anja remained attentive. Fox's breathing became uneven. A soft sound escaped her. Anja paused just enough to check her face. Fox smiled. “Don't stop.” Anja didn't. --- ### Fox Chooses Too Later, Fox shifted. Not because Anja requested reciprocity. Because Fox wanted her. She kissed Anja's mouth. Then her cheek. Then lower. Anja's breathing caught. Fox stopped. “Still yes?” Anja laughed softly. “Yes.” “Good.” Fox continued slowly. Anja understood where the progression was leading. Fox looked up once more. Anja nodded. Fox began the intimate contact they'd chosen. Anja inhaled sharply. Her hand found Fox's hair. Not pulling. Simply holding on. Fox paused long enough to register the reaction. Then smiled. Anja gave a breathless laugh. “Don't look so pleased with yourself.” Fox's golden eyes glittered. “Impossible.” She continued. Anja's breathing filled the quiet room. Nothing exaggerated. Nothing performed for an audience that wasn't there. Fox paid attention to every reaction. Adapted. Waited when Anja needed a moment. Continued when Anja asked. Eventually Anja's composure broke entirely. The tension gathered and finally released in a long, shaking breath as pleasure overtook her. Fox remained close until Anja relaxed again. Only then did she move back up beside her. Anja stared at her. Speechless. Fox smiled. “Well?” Anja covered her face. Fox laughed. “That good?” “Shut up.” “Oh, darling.” Anja pulled her down into another kiss. Fox went willingly. --- ### Because She Wanted To Afterward they lay beside one another. Fox traced her fingers lightly over Anja's arm. Anja turned toward her. “Can I return the favor?” Fox smiled. “You don't owe me anything.” “I know.” Fox studied her. Anja continued. “I want to.” There. That mattered. Fox kissed her. “Then yes.” Anja moved closer. She began with kisses. Fox's mouth. Her throat. The edge of the collar. Then lower. Fox's hand settled on Anja's shoulder. Anja stopped before the decisive contact. Fox nodded. “Yes.” The first touch drew an immediate gasp from Fox. Anja paused. Fox laughed breathlessly. “Darling, if you stop every time I make a sound, we're going to need another twenty-five thousand.” Anja burst out laughing. Fox joined her. “Oh, gods.” “That was terrible.” “It was excellent.” “It was terrible.” “And yet you're still here.” Anja kissed her. “Unfortunately.” Fox grinned. Then Anja continued. The humor did not destroy the intimacy. It made it theirs. Fox gradually stopped trying to remain composed. Anja learned quickly. Fox's fingers tightened around the sheet. Her breathing shortened. Then pleasure finally crested through her. She pulled Anja closer and let herself experience it without restraint. For several seconds there was nothing else. Then breath. Then laughter. Anja returned beside her. Fox wrapped both arms around her immediately. “Oh, you dreadful woman.” “Good?” Fox stared. Then laughed. “Now who's asking ridiculous questions?” “Fair.” They kissed. --- ### Afterglow They did not immediately move. The booking had a clock. Their bodies did not need to behave like one. Fox lay facing Anja beneath the sheet. Their legs rested comfortably together. Anja touched the collar again. “Still comfortable?” “Very.” “You've checked on me approximately eighteen times.” “Nineteen.” Fox smiled. “Ah. Very professional.” Anja laughed. Fox kissed her forehead. Then her expression softened. “Thank you.” “For what?” “For making this feel like something we chose together.” Anja regarded her. “We did.” Fox smiled. “Yes.” Twenty-five thousand eddies existed somewhere in Lizzie's accounts. Fox did not regret taking them. The money made the encounter professional. It did not make the desire artificial. That distinction suddenly felt very simple. Anja brushed a strand of Fox's dark hair away from her face. “So.” “So?” “First booking.” Fox smiled. “First booking.” “Verdict?” Fox considered pretending to think about it. She managed perhaps two seconds. “I'd like to see you again.” Anja's expression brightened. “That seems promising.” “Don't become arrogant.” “Too late.” Fox laughed. --- ### One Hour Eventually the suite gave them a discreet warning. Their hour was nearly finished. Fox looked toward the ceiling. “I object.” “To time?” “Vehemently.” “You've had the entire evening to make peace with it.” Fox froze. Anja frowned. “What?” Fox recovered quickly. “Darling, I remain unconvinced.” Anja laughed. “Convenient.” “Very.” They dressed without hurry. Fox helped Anja with her dress. Anja adjusted Fox's top. Then looked at the collar. “Still beautiful.” Fox touched it. “Yes.” “It suits you.” Fox smiled. “I think so too.” At the door, Fox stopped. “Would you like to see me again?” “Yes.” Immediate. Fox laughed softly. “Good.” “Do I get to ask when?” “You may.” “When?” Fox considered. “Not tonight.” “Fair.” “But come back.” “I will.” Fox kissed her. Not merely professional. Not yet anything requiring a new name. Something allowed to remain unfinished. Then they left the suite together. --- ### Mandi Mandi saw Fox first. The cyber-oni crossed the lounge quickly without making a spectacle of it. Fox's smile appeared immediately. “Sweetheart.” Mandi stopped in front of her. “How are you?” Not _How was it?_ Fox noticed. Loved her for it. “Very happy.” Mandi relaxed. “Yeah?” “Yes.” Fox held out the leash. Mandi took it. “Want it back?” “Yes, please.” _Click._ The leash returned to the collar. Fox closed her eyes for half a second. The booking had been wonderful. So was this. Mandi drew her into a hug. Fox melted against her. Mandi kissed her temple. Her cheek. Then her mouth. No attempt to overwrite Anja. Only welcome. “You okay physically?” “Yes.” “Tired?” “A little.” “Water?” “Yes.” “Food?” Fox smiled. “Yes.” Mandi grinned. “Good.” Fox touched her cheek. “You really are very good at this.” “I'm fucking amazing.” “There she is.” --- ### Back to Madame Panam saw them approach. Fox remained at the end of Mandi's leash. Exactly where she wanted to be. Panam smiled. “Well?” Fox sat. “Well indeed.” “Comfortable?” “Yes, Madame.” “Anything you need?” “Mandi is already arranging water and food.” Panam glanced toward Mandi. “Good.” Mandi looked smug. “I'm trainable.” Suzy passed them. “No evidence.” Mandi stared after her. “RUDE.” Fox laughed. Panam looked back at her. No invasive questions. No demand for private details. “You happy you tried it?” “Yes.” Immediate. “Good.” Panam squeezed Fox's shoulder. “One booking is enough.” Fox nodded. “Yes.” Exactly enough. No sudden second client. No sense that earning twenty-five thousand eddies meant she should immediately earn another twenty-five. Fox was done because Fox had decided she was done. Simple. --- ### Birgitta Birgitta appeared with water. Fox accepted it. “Thank you, darling.” “You're welcome.” Birgitta looked at her. Not examining. Seeing. “You look happy.” “I am.” Birgitta smiled. “Good.” Panam reached toward her. Birgitta went immediately, settling beside her. Panam slipped an arm around her waist. Birgitta leaned into the familiar hold. No booking involved. No aftercare procedure. Only love looking for its accustomed place. Birgitta tilted her face upward. Panam kissed her. Softly. Then again. Birgitta smiled. “Owner.” “Yeah, sweetheart?” “I love you.” Panam's expression softened. “Love you too.” Birgitta rested her head against Panam's shoulder. Fox drank her water. Across from her sat two women very much in love. Beside her sat another. Different relationship. Different language. No competition. Fox smiled. Mandi squeezed her hand. --- ### Twenty-Five Thousand Eddies Later, with food in front of her, Fox looked at the completed booking entry one last time. **1 hour.** **25,000 eddies.** She laughed softly. Mandi looked at her. “What?” “My first professional income.” Mandi grinned. “Congratulations.” “I don't need it.” “Neither do half the people in this fucking room.” Fox laughed. “That isn't why it feels interesting.” Mandi leaned closer. “Why does it?” Fox thought. “Because it makes what happened real in a different way.” “Professional.” “Yes.” She looked across the lounge. Anja was gone. But Fox could still feel the warmth of the evening. “The money didn't buy my yes.” “Nope.” “It bought an hour after I had already chosen to offer one.” “Exactly.” Fox smiled. “I like that distinction.” Mandi kissed her cheek. “Good.” Fox rested against her. Then her smile returned. “I would like to see Anja again.” Mandi didn't hesitate. “Then see her again.” “So simple?” “Yep.” Fox regarded her. “You wonderful woman.” “Yeah, yeah.” Mandi nudged the food toward her. “Eat.” Fox stared. “That sounded remarkably like Madame.” Mandi groaned. “Oh, fuck.” Panam heard. “So there's hope for you yet.” Mandi pointed at her. “Don't start.” Birgitta laughed against Panam's shoulder. Nadia nearly spilled her drink. Sera smiled. And Fox— twenty-five thousand eddies richer, collared, tired, thoroughly satisfied with her first booking and surrounded by entirely too much love— decided Saturday night was going exceptionally well. --- ## Chapter 23 — Still Smiling _Lizzie’s Bar — Saturday night._ Fox had stopped pretending she wasn't pleased with herself. There seemed little point. She was sitting beside Mandi with a glass of water in one hand, food within reach, the black-and-gold leash resting comfortably across Mandi's lap— and smiling. Not politely. Not elegantly. Smiling like a woman who had just discovered something she very much intended to explore again. Bea noticed first. Naturally. She approached the table, took one look at Fox, and laughed. “Oh, darling.” Fox lifted an eyebrow. “What?” “That face.” “What face?” Mandi nearly choked. “OH, FUCK OFF.” Fox turned toward her. “You too?” Mandi pointed. “You've been wearing that grin for twenty fucking minutes.” “I am happy.” “No shit.” Bea sat opposite them. “How happy?” Fox considered. Then smiled even wider. “Quite extraordinarily.” Bea laughed. Mandi threw one arm around Fox's shoulders. “THERE SHE IS.” Fox leaned into her. “I liked her.” “We gathered.” “I liked the work.” That quieted them for half a second. Bea's expression warmed. “The work itself?” “Yes.” Fox thought about it. The conversation. The negotiation. Being chosen. Choosing back. The strange pleasure of knowing the hour had a professional structure without feeling emotionally hollow. “Yes,” she repeated. “Very much.” Mandi kissed her temple. “Good.” --- ### Not Just Anja Bea looked curious. “What part surprised you?” Fox considered. “I expected to enjoy Anja.” “That much was obvious.” Mandi grinned. Fox ignored her. “I did not expect to enjoy the professional structure quite so much.” Bea nodded. “The booking itself.” “Yes.” Fox ran one finger lightly over the edge of her collar. “Knowing exactly what had been agreed. Knowing nothing beyond that was owed. Knowing the money was real, but didn't make the desire less real.” Bea smiled. “That distinction matters.” “Very much.” Fox looked toward the booking record displayed briefly on her holo. **25,000 eddies.** One hour. Completed. She laughed softly. Mandi glanced over. “What now?” “I've earned money as Fox.” “You keep saying that like you're about to frame the receipt.” Fox turned toward her. “Perhaps I should.” Mandi stared. Then burst out laughing. “Oh my fucking God.” Fox smiled serenely. “My first professional booking deserves commemoration.” Bea raised her glass. “I support this terrible idea.” “TRAITOR.” --- ### Suzy’s Verdict Suzy appeared with the timing of someone who had heard her name mentioned despite nobody actually saying it. She stopped beside them. “Everything all right?” Fox smiled. “Extremely.” Suzy looked at Mandi. Mandi shrugged. “She won't stop smiling.” “That sounds survivable.” Fox pointed at both of them. “You are being very rude to your newest successful professional.” Suzy's eyebrow rose. “Newest?” Fox paused. Then smiled. “Perhaps.” There. That word interested everyone. Bea noticed. Mandi definitely noticed. Suzy merely asked: “Want another booking tonight?” Fox thought about it. She didn't answer immediately. Good question. She could. The idea was not unpleasant. Quite the opposite. But— “No.” Mandi's expression remained perfectly neutral. Bea nodded. Suzy smiled. “Good.” Fox narrowed her eyes. “Everyone keeps saying that when I decline work.” “Because you're making the decision instead of letting momentum make it for you.” Fox considered. “That is irritatingly sensible.” “It's one of my worst traits.” Mandi snorted. Suzy ignored her. “Tomorrow's another day. Next week is another week. Or never.” Fox looked toward the room. She could imagine doing it again. Very easily. That realization pleased her enormously. But tonight— Anja was enough. More than enough. Fox nodded. “One was exactly right.” Suzy smiled. “Then one is what you did.” And walked away. Fox watched her leave. “I like her.” Mandi stared. “You just figured that out?” --- ### Birgitta Returns Again Across the room, Birgitta returned to Panam. Fox saw it happen almost without meaning to. Birgitta had spent perhaps fifteen minutes speaking with a customer. Nothing had come of it. No booking. No disappointment. She simply crossed the room afterward and went directly back to Panam. Panam looked up. Smiled. Birgitta slipped close. “Owner.” “Hey, sweetheart.” Panam caught her hand and drew her nearer. Birgitta settled beside her. No explanation required. Panam kissed her cheek. Birgitta turned. Their lips met. Briefly. Then again. Fox smiled. Mandi followed her gaze. “You really like watching those two.” “They're beautiful.” “Yeah.” Birgitta said something Fox couldn't hear. Panam laughed. Birgitta looked absurdly pleased with herself. Then Panam caught her gently by the chin and kissed her again. Longer this time. Nadia, sitting nearby, looked toward Sera. Sera looked back. Both smiled. Nobody looked threatened. Nobody looked excluded. The love simply existed in the room alongside all the other kinds of love. Fox found that deeply comforting. --- ### Dalia Has Questions Dalia appeared with Deja beside her. The menthol lollipop was back. Of course it was. Dalia looked at Fox. Then at Mandi. Then back at Fox. “So.” Fox raised an eyebrow. “So?” Dalia removed the lollipop. “How was your first booking?” Mandi groaned. “Subtle.” “What? I asked.” Deja looked at Fox. “You don't have to answer.” Fox smiled. “I know.” Then she looked at Dalia. “It was wonderful.” Dalia grinned. “Excellent.” Deja smiled too. “Client good?” “Yes.” “Professional side good?” Fox brightened. “Yes.” That got Deja's attention. “Ah.” Fox looked at her. “You understand.” Deja nodded. “The first time I realized I enjoyed the work itself surprised me too.” Dalia smiled around the lollipop. “She was insufferable afterward.” Deja looked at her. “You were worse.” “I was supportive.” “You told three people I was a natural.” “You were.” “I had done one booking.” “And?” Deja stared. Dalia smiled sweetly. Fox laughed. Mandi leaned toward her. “See? This is what you have to look forward to.” Fox looked delighted. “Excellent.” --- ### A Professional Question Deja sat down. “What did you like?” Fox thought. Not the private details. Those belonged elsewhere. “The choosing.” Deja nodded. “The negotiation.” Another nod. “The moment when it stopped feeling hypothetical.” Deja's expression softened. “Yes.” “And…” Fox hesitated. Mandi looked at her. “What?” Fox smiled. “Being good at it.” Dalia immediately grinned. “THERE IT IS.” Fox laughed. Deja smiled. “Also yes.” Mandi stared at Fox. “You're proud of yourself.” “A little.” “Fuck, that's adorable.” Fox turned. “Do not call me adorable.” Mandi kissed her cheek. “Adorable.” Fox narrowed her eyes. “Terrible woman.” “Still yours.” Fox smiled. “Very much.” --- ### Twenty-Five Thousand Brenda— No. Vega. Fox corrected herself before the name could even form. Vega approached with Nova beside her. Both were still collared and leashed to Panam's Stable arrangement. Vega looked at Fox. “Well?” Fox groaned. “Does everyone know?” Nova smiled. “Lizzie's is not particularly good at containing happiness.” Mandi nodded. “She's been radiating.” Fox looked betrayed. Nova sat. Vega leaned closer. “Did you at least charge properly?” Fox's eyes brightened. “Twenty-five thousand.” Vega slapped one hand against the table. “YES.” Nova closed her eyes. “Do you have to celebrate every financial transaction?” “Yes.” Fox laughed. Vega pointed at her. “First professional booking. Twenty-five thousand. Don't let anyone tell you that doesn't deserve a drink.” Fox raised her water. Vega stared. “That is not a drink.” Mandi immediately intervened. “She just finished a booking.” Vega looked at the water. Then at Fox. Then nodded. “Fine. Responsible drink.” Nova smiled. “Miracles do happen.” “Fuck off.” --- ### Fox, Not Yukari Nova looked toward Fox. “Something else?” Fox blinked. “What?” “You're thinking.” Mandi pointed immediately. “SEE?” Fox sighed. “You people are intolerable.” “Accurate,” Nova said. Fox took another drink. “I was wondering whether I felt different.” Deja tilted her head. “Do you?” Fox considered. “No.” That answer pleased her. She was still Fox. Still Yukari beneath the cover. Still the woman who had laughed with Mandi before the booking. Nothing had been lost. She had simply added something. Experience. Confidence. A memory she liked. “I think,” Fox said slowly, “I simply know myself slightly better.” Nova smiled. “That sounds useful.” Vega leaned toward her. “Boring, but useful.” Nova looked at her. “Not everything requires fireworks.” “Disagree.” --- ### Mandi’s Turn to Be Serious Later, when the others drifted away again, Mandi and Fox were left mostly alone. Fox had finished eating. Mandi had not asked for details. Not once. Fox noticed that too. “Sweetheart?” “Yeah?” “You truly don't want to know?” Mandi looked at her. “Know what?” “What we did.” Mandi shrugged. “If you want to tell me, tell me.” “And if I don't?” “Then don't.” Fox studied her. “You're not curious?” “Oh, I'm fucking curious.” Fox laughed. “There you are.” “But curious isn't entitled.” The sentence landed harder than Mandi probably intended. Fox reached over. Touched her cyber-oni cheek. Mandi leaned into it. “Besides,” Mandi added, “I know the important part.” “Which is?” “You came back happy.” Fox smiled. “Yes.” Mandi kissed her palm. “Then I'm happy.” For a moment Fox simply looked at her. Then she moved closer. Mandi opened her arms. Fox settled against her. No urgency. No need to reclaim anything. Just affection. Fox kissed her. Mandi answered. When they separated, Fox whispered: “I love you.” Mandi smiled. “Love you too, gorgeous.” --- ### The Stable at Rest The night gradually slowed again. Panam had several pets close by now. Nova. Vega. Birgitta. Nadia. Sera. Mandi moved between Fox and Panam's orbit without either relationship becoming confused. Fox understood the distinctions better now. Panam was Madame to Fox. The woman who had helped establish the rules and approved the professional experiment. But to Nadia— “Owner?” Panam turned immediately. “Yeah, sweetheart?” Nadia offered her empty glass. Panam stared. “You have hands.” “I do.” “You're unbelievable.” “Also true.” Panam took the glass anyway. Sera laughed. Birgitta leaned against Panam's shoulder. “She's trained you.” Panam turned. “You are in no position to talk.” Birgitta smiled. “Owner.” The word was pure mischief. Panam narrowed her eyes. Birgitta kissed her cheek. The irritation vanished instantly. Fox laughed. Panam looked over. “Don't encourage them.” Fox smiled. “Madame, I'm afraid that battle was lost long before I arrived.” Panam sighed. “Probably.” --- ### One Question from Bea Bea returned near the end of the evening. She sat beside Fox. Quietly this time. “How are you feeling now?” Fox knew this was not the same question everyone else had asked. She thought about it. “Proud.” Bea smiled. “Good.” “Surprised.” “Also good.” “Curious.” Bea laughed softly. “That one may be permanent.” Fox leaned closer. “And very, very pleased.” “I had noticed.” Fox smiled. “Anja was lovely.” “Would you see her again?” “Yes.” Immediate. Bea nodded. “And would you take another professional booking with someone else?” Fox paused. Interesting. “Yes.” Another immediate answer. Then she laughed. “Oh.” Bea's smile widened. “There it is.” Fox stared at her. “I really did enjoy it.” “You did.” “Not merely Anja.” “No.” Fox sat back. The realization felt almost absurdly joyful. She liked being Fox. She liked Lizzie's. She liked choosing. She liked the professional clarity. She liked the feeling of giving someone pleasure because she wanted to—and being paid very well for the privilege. Fox began laughing. Mandi looked over. “What?” Fox turned toward her. “Sweetheart.” Mandi immediately looked suspicious. “Yes?” “I may have found a hobby.” Mandi stared. Bea covered her face. Then Mandi started laughing. Loudly. “OH, FUCK.” Fox laughed with her. “Is that a problem?” “NO.” Mandi pulled her close. “Absolutely fucking not.” --- ### Not Tonight A customer glanced toward Fox later. Interested. Clearly. Fox noticed. For the first time she understood exactly what that look could mean professionally. And— She smiled politely. Then turned back toward Mandi. No regret. No temptation to squeeze one more experience into the evening simply because she now knew she could. Tomorrow existed. Other nights existed. She had already discovered something important. There was no scarcity here. Not of possibility. Not of pleasure. Not of choice. Fox leaned against Mandi. “Tired now?” Mandi asked. “Yes.” “Home soon?” Fox looked around. At Bea. Dalia and Deja. Nova and Vega. Sera. Nadia. Birgitta tucked warmly against Panam, one of Panam's hands resting over hers. Then Suzy. Lisa. Lizzie's. Fox smiled. “Yes.” Mandi kissed her hair. “Good.” Fox looked down at her collar. Then at the leash in Mandi's hand. She had arrived curious. She would leave with twenty-five thousand eddies, one wonderful booking, a woman she wanted to see again— and the certainty that she wanted to do this again. Fox laughed softly. Mandi looked down. “What?” Fox smiled up at her. “Nothing, sweetheart.” “Bullshit.” “Perhaps.” Mandi narrowed her eyes. Fox kissed her. And refused to explain. --- ## Chapter 24 — Sunday, No Masks _Watson safehouse — Sunday morning._ Yukari woke as a fox. Nine tails lay folded around her at the foot of Ace, Mai and Shammy's bed, russet and cream and gold in a comfortable disorder she had stopped pretending was accidental. The room was quiet. Not silent. The safehouse breathed around them. Ventilation. Distant traffic. Somebody moving in another room. One of Ace's hands was resting against Yukari's fourth tail. Again. Yukari opened one eye. Ace was awake. Natural face. Violet eyes. And neon-orange Mandi hair that looked as immaculate as if sleep had merely been an inconvenient rumor. Ace spoke. Mandi's voice. “Don't.” Yukari's ears lifted. “I have said nothing.” “You were about to.” “I was not.” Ace looked at her nine tails. Several had begun moving. “You are literally wagging sarcasm at me.” Yukari's fox mouth opened in a smile. Mai stirred. “What?” Dalia's lower whiskey-and-smoke voice emerged from Mai's entirely natural sleepy face. Yukari froze. Ace started laughing. Mai opened one eye. Saw Yukari. Then Ace. Then understood. “Oh, fuck both of you.” That finished Yukari. Her tails fanned. Shammy opened her eyes to find one ancient kitsune shaking with fox laughter and two women who sounded like joytoys while looking like themselves. “Sunday?” “Yes,” Ace said. Shammy closed her eyes again. “Too early.” --- ### Nobody Gets Up Yet For once, nobody argued. The morning remained in bed. Ace eventually gave Yukari's tail back. Mostly. Mai found coffee sufficiently theoretical that she refused to move. Shammy stretched. Yukari transformed in a shimmer of warm gold and settled cross-legged at the foot of the bed. Ace looked at her. “Still happy?” No joke this time. Yukari smiled. “Yes.” “Anja?” “Yes.” Mai opened her eyes. “The booking?” “Yes.” Shammy looked toward her. “And the work itself?” Yukari's smile widened. “Yes.” Ace nodded. That was all. No interrogation. No analysis. No concern disguised as curiosity. Yukari had chosen something. Enjoyed it. Returned happy. Apparently that was enough. She rather loved these people. Ace ruined the dignity of the moment thirty seconds later. “So twenty-five thousand.” Yukari smiled. “Yes.” Mai groaned. “Do not encourage her.” “I earned it.” Shammy laughed. Ace pointed. “See? Professional pride.” Yukari leaned closer. “Darling, I have done many things in a very long life.” Ace waited. Yukari smiled. “Being paid twenty-five thousand eddies for an hour I thoroughly enjoyed is objectively funny.” Ace held up one hand. “THANK YOU.” --- ### Breakfast in the Wrong Voices Elisa had beaten them to the kitchen. Natural face. Natural eyes. Bare feet. Comfortable clothes. Ice-blue ChromeLock V2 hair locked neatly into Bea chin-length silhouette. She looked up. Bea voice: “Morning.” Yukari stopped. Elisa pointed. “No.” “I have done nothing.” “You're about to.” Brenda entered behind them. Natural Brenda face. Vega's chrome-and-brass-yellow ChromeLock. Vega's cover voice. “She did this to us yesterday.” Iris followed. Natural Iris beneath Nova's chrome-and-gold hair. Nova's voice. “You encouraged her.” “I provided context.” “You swore at her.” “Educational context.” Ace entered. Natural face. Neon-orange hair. Mandi voice. “Coffee?” Elisa stared. Then started laughing. Ace looked offended. “HEY.” “You deserve this.” Mai walked in last. Natural face. Neon-pink dreadlocks. Dalia voice. Elisa nearly folded over the table. Mai looked around. “I hate mornings.” Yukari sat down. “I adore them.” --- Breakfast stretched. That was the first real gift Sunday gave them. Nobody had anywhere they needed to be before evening. There was food. Second coffee. Third coffee. Marco wandered through, looked at the accumulated half-cover nightmare around the table, and quietly decided not to become involved. Wise man. Yukari eventually reached toward Elisa's blue hair. “May I?” “Yes.” She touched it. Real hair. Elisa's own. Locked by Lena's technology into something that ordinary sleep, washing or handling could not undo. Yukari pushed a section deliberately out of place. It stayed wrong briefly. Then began returning toward its programmed shape. Yukari watched. Delighted. “Still extraordinary.” “ChromeLock V2.” “Sleep changes nothing.” “No.” “Washing?” “Not without releasing it first.” “Sweat?” “No.” “Violent sex?” Elisa stared. Brenda choked on coffee. Ace slapped the table. Mai closed her eyes. Yukari looked innocent. Elisa finally said: “Within reason.” “Excellent.” --- ### Late Morning The household broke apart slowly after breakfast. Ace and Mai disappeared into one of the work areas. Shammy found tea. Iris opened something administrative. Brenda opened something that looked mechanical enough to threaten a table. Yukari and Elisa ended up near the windows. No plan. No announcement. Yukari changed into fox form simply because she felt like it. Elisa sat beside her. One golden tail eventually settled across Elisa's lap. Elisa looked down. Then toward the fox. “May I?” “Yes.” Her fingers moved into the fur. Yukari's eyes half closed. Friday had been full of questions. What are you? Can you really change like that? Are all nine real? Sunday contained none of those. Elisa simply petted her friend's tail. After a while she said: “You were good yesterday.” Yukari opened one eye. “At sex?” Elisa laughed. “At choosing.” Yukari lifted her head. “That sounds disappointingly responsible.” “Deal with it.” Elisa continued stroking the fur. “You wanted Anja.” “Yes.” “You wanted the booking.” “Yes.” “And you kept those as separate decisions.” Yukari thought. “Yes.” “That matters.” “You told me.” “I know.” Yukari rested her head again. “But now I understand.” Elisa smiled. “Better.” A pause. Then Yukari said: “I liked being paid.” Elisa laughed. “I know.” “I liked the negotiation.” “I know.” “I liked knowing the hour was mine because I had agreed to it.” “Yes.” “And I liked Anja.” “Yes.” Yukari's ears moved. “I might be alarmingly well suited to this.” Elisa grinned. “That is increasingly my professional assessment.” --- ### Noon Becomes Lunch Nobody noticed noon until food appeared. Lunch was noisy in the way safehouse meals became noisy when nothing was actually wrong. Brenda argued with Ace. Ace argued with everyone. Mai stole food from Ace while criticizing Ace for stealing food from her. Shammy watched the entire thing with the serene expression of someone observing predictable weather. Yukari sat beside Elisa. Again. Not intentionally. Apparently friendship had begun making seating decisions for them. Elisa leaned closer. “You know what I like about this place?” “Me?” “Modest.” “Thank you.” Elisa smiled. “People can spend an entire night doing things Night City would consider scandalous and still argue over toast the next morning.” Yukari considered. “That is rather lovely.” “Don't tell Ace I said lovely.” Ace looked up from three seats away. “I HEARD THAT.” Mai sighed. “Of course you did.” --- ### Iris The afternoon began quietly. Yukari showered. Changed. Spent some time in her own room doing absolutely nothing useful. She still enjoyed that. A room. Her things. Books left unfinished because she expected to return. Clothes not packed for departure. Tiny evidence that tomorrow was no longer something she always approached with an exit route. When she returned to the common area, Iris was alone near the windows. Mostly alone. Enough. Yukari stopped. Iris looked up. Natural face. Nova hair. Nova voice. Yukari's gaze lingered. Iris noticed. “You're looking.” “Yes.” “Should I worry?” “Not remotely.” Iris smiled. Yukari came closer. “Our date.” There. No euphemism. No implication. Iris's expression softened. “You remember.” “Darling.” Yukari took her hand. “I have been thinking about it.” “How much?” Yukari smiled. “Enough.” That landed. Iris's fingers tightened slightly around hers. Yukari continued: “Not today.” “No.” “Elisa still has one day of her weekend.” “I know.” “And when we go out, I want the evening to belong to us.” Iris held her gaze. “Yes.” “Soon.” “Very soon.” They did not kiss. Not because either was afraid to. Because anticipation could be allowed to remain anticipation. Yukari liked that too. --- ### Brenda Learns Everything Eventually It took Brenda almost an hour. A personal record. Yukari was back near the kitchen when Brenda appeared. “Mine too.” Yukari looked up. Vega's voice. Brenda's face. Yukari smiled. “Were you listening?” “No.” Iris, behind her: “Yes.” Brenda looked over one shoulder. “Marriage should come with loyalty.” “It does. Not perjury.” Yukari laughed. Brenda looked back at her. “Separate date?” “Yes.” “Still promised?” “Yes.” “Not somehow merged with Iris for logistical efficiency?” Yukari stared. “Do you really believe I would optimize romance?” Brenda thought. “You willingly live with engineers.” Iris covered her face. Yukari stepped closer. “Your evening will be yours.” That changed Brenda's expression. Only briefly. Enough. “And Iris's will be hers.” Brenda smiled. “Good.” Then: “I still think mine should be longer.” “Brenda.” “What?” --- ### A Long Sunday Afternoon Nothing happened for a while. This was important. Elisa answered messages. Shammy read. Ace and Mai returned from whatever they had been doing with the irritating glow of two women who refused to explain themselves. Brenda fell asleep on a couch and later insisted she had only been resting her eyes. Iris did not betray her. Yukari spent some time as a fox beside Elisa. Then human beside Shammy. Then alone. The hours passed. No rush. No countdown toward Lizzie's. Sunday was still Sunday before it became work. By late afternoon the city outside changed. Light thinned. Neon became more visible. Traffic grew brighter. The safehouse began its own gradual transition. Cases opened. Wardrobes appeared. Contacts came out. Face meshes. Boots. Nothing dramatic. Just people preparing for work. --- ### Bea Returns Elisa did not need Lena to rebuild Bea hair. It had never gone anywhere. Victor's voice remained. Only the removable pieces needed to return. Yukari watched as Elisa placed the face mesh. Cool material. Contact. Adjustment. Settling. The facial architecture changed. Not mechanically enough to become eerie. Just convincingly enough that Elisa disappeared from a stranger's first reading. Contacts next. Wardrobe. Boots. Then Bea stood there. Complete. She looked toward Yukari. “Your turn.” Warm gold moved. Fox emerged. Near-black almost thigh-length hair. Copper-russet streaks. Golden-amber eyes. Changed face. Warm, slightly deeper voice. No mesh. No ChromeLock. No contacts. Bea smiled. “Cheater.” Fox smiled. “Evolution.” “That is not how evolution works.” “I am older than your biology textbook.” “Show-off.” --- ### Mandi's Fox Mandi waited nearby. Full cover. Cyber-oni face. Black eyes. Neon-orange hair. Mandi's distinct voice. She held the black leather collar with its gold clasp. Fox lifted her hair. “Yes.” Mandi stepped behind her. Leather settled around Fox's throat. _Click._ Then the leash. Mandi looked at her first. Fox smiled. “Yes.” _Click._ Mandi took the line. Fox relaxed immediately. Not Madame's pet. Not Stable property. Mandi's chosen pet for the evening. Their thing. Mandi kissed her. Fox kissed back. Bea walked past. “Disgusting.” Mandi looked over. “You wish.” “I really don't.” Fox smiled. “She is jealous.” “Of which one of you?” “Yes,” Mandi said. Bea groaned. --- ### Lizzie's — Early Evening Sunday opened more gently than Saturday. Fox liked that. Friday had been discovery. Saturday had been momentum. Sunday had texture. She knew where the bar was without looking. She knew where Suzy tended to stand when she was actually busy. She knew Lisa's normal watchfulness from the particular stillness that meant Lisa had noticed a real problem. She knew enough to stop feeling like every movement required translation. Suzy found her after the club had settled into rhythm. “Working?” Fox nodded. “Yes.” “Available?” “If I meet someone I want.” “Good.” “Twenty-five thousand.” Suzy stared. Mandi groaned. Fox smiled. “I enjoy saying it.” “I noticed.” “No quota?” “No quota.” “No requirement to justify declining someone?” Suzy looked almost offended. “Fox.” “Yes?” “You already know the answer.” Fox smiled. “Good.” --- ### Bea Works Too Bea spent the first part of the evening simply working. Talking. Watching. Letting conversations be conversations. One man tried too hard. No. A woman was charming but did not create any spark. No booking. Another customer asked respectfully and received a respectful decline. Fox watched. There was value in this. Not every interaction needed narrative importance. Professional work contained waiting. Conversation. Assessment. Sometimes attraction. Sometimes nothing. Then Suzy looked past Bea. Something changed in Bea face immediately. A smile. Recognition. Warm. Real. Fox followed her gaze. A man was approaching. Controlled posture. Eyes that checked a room once before deciding it was safe enough to stop checking consciously. Fox knew him. Yukari knew him. Mandi knew him too. Others in the room knew him. But that knowledge belonged to another identity. Here, he knew Bea. Only Bea. And Bea clearly knew him. --- ### The Man Who Would Get Elisa Back Tomorrow He stopped in front of her. “Hi.” Bea smiled. “Hi.” His smile answered. Small. Enough. “You're working.” “Yes.” “Available?” Bea looked at him. Not performing hesitation. Actually choosing. “For you?” “Yes.” He relaxed slightly. “Yes.” Fox watched from a respectful distance. The irony was magnificent. Tomorrow afternoon this man would resume responsibility for Elisa's safety. Tonight he had no idea Elisa was standing in front of him. He saw Bea. Ice-blue hair. Different face. Different eyes. Different voice. Different social context. Different woman. The cover did not merely hide Elisa. It created enough separation that his own familiarity with Elisa worked against recognition. Fox found that fascinating. Also hilarious. She wisely did not say so. --- ### Familiar Still Requires Agreement Bea and her returning client sat together first. Talked. No rush. No automatic assumptions because he'd been here before. Eventually Bea said: “One hour?” He considered. “Yes.” “Twenty-five.” “Accepted.” Payment cleared. No negotiation theater. No discount because he returned. No surcharge because he liked her. Then boundaries. Updated. Not remembered as permanent. No rough handling. No recording. No drugs. No surprise additions. Stop meant stop. Change meant discuss. Both directions. Only when they were done did Bea stand. “Come on.” He followed. Fox watched them disappear toward the private corridor. Mandi leaned closer. “You're smiling.” Fox looked at her. “Tomorrow.” Mandi's grin appeared. Fox lifted one finger. “Not here.” Mandi laughed. “Fair.” --- ### Sunday Continues Without Them Bea's booking did not stop the club. Fox talked to a woman who liked her eyes. No booking. Then a man who spent too much time talking about rumors. That ended quickly. No. Mandi drifted through her evening. Sometimes beside Fox. Sometimes working. Sometimes simply visible across the room. The leash did not become a tether. It was a chosen connection. Fox liked that distinction. Dalia and Deja arrived together. Dalia's neon-pink dreadlocks impossible to miss. Deja's dark venom-green ChromeLock catching green only when the light found it. Dalia held the leash. Deja followed because she wanted to. Nova and Vega were working too. Their mirrored ChromeLock hair and void contacts turned them again into the Marlows. No wives. No sisters. No accidental private truth leaking into public presentation. Nadia crossed the floor later and found Panam. “Owner.” Panam turned immediately. “What, pet?” “I need food.” “You ate.” “I have developed new requirements.” Sera laughed. Panam stared at Nadia. Nadia smiled beautifully. “Please?” Panam sighed. “Fine.” Nadia kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Owner.” Fox smiled. Secure affection. Easy. Warm. No jealousy required to make anything meaningful. --- ### Private Behind a closed door, Bea's repeat booking had settled into something equally easy. They talked first. He was less guarded here. Bea still enjoyed that. Around Elisa, this man carried responsibility. Professional distance. Readiness. Around Bea, he let some of it down. He told jokes Elisa did not hear. Admitted frustrations he would never burden a principal with. Smiled differently. Two relationships with one woman. Only Bea knew they were one. Eventually Bea touched his hand. He turned his palm beneath hers. Waited. She moved closer. The kiss was familiar. Warm. Not routine. His hand found her waist. Bea's settled against his shoulder. They already knew they wanted each other. That did not eliminate choice. The kiss deepened. Bea made a quiet pleased sound when his touch shifted. He paused. She smiled. “Yes.” Clothing became inconvenient gradually. His jacket. Bea outer layer. Another kiss. A hand at a fastening. Pause. Nod. Continue. Her boots stayed on. He noticed. “Those?” “Staying.” “Good.” “Correct.” He laughed. The warmth between them built without needing novelty. That was part of what Bea liked about him. Familiarity did not make him careless. When touch became more intimate, he still watched her response. When she drew him closer, he followed rather than assuming. And when Bea guided them into intercourse, the first sensation pulled a sharp, pleased breath from her. He stopped. She opened her eyes. Saw the question. Pulled him closer. “Good.” They began slowly. Found rhythm. Lost it briefly. Laughed. Found it again. No perfect choreography. No need for one. Bea hand tightened against his shoulder when he found what worked. “There.” He stayed with it. Pleasure built. Her breathing broke first. The release came through her in a warm wave that left her holding him close, eyes shut, an unguarded sound escaping before she could turn it into anything composed. He stayed with her. Did not rush. When her eyes opened again, his own control was starting to go. Bea smiled. “Don't stop.” He didn't. A little later he followed her. Held her through it. Then movement shortened. Slowed. Stopped. For a while neither moved away. Breathing together. Easy. --- ### After Bea boots were still on. She noticed. Started laughing. He looked down. Then laughed too. “Professional choice?” “Personal excellence.” “Of course.” They stayed side by side until the hour began becoming relevant again. Not immediately dressing. Not filling the quiet. Eventually he asked: “Next time?” Bea turned her head. No automatic commitment. “If I want you.” He nodded. “Fair.” “And you still want me.” “I think the evidence is strong.” Bea laughed. “Cocky bastard.” “Professional assessment.” She kissed him once. Warm. Then: “Go.” He left smiling. --- ### Water First Fox saw Bea return. Did not ask for details. Handed her water. Bea accepted it. “Thank you.” Fox waited until she'd drunk. Then: “Good?” Bea smiled. “Very.” “You genuinely like him.” Safe statement. Bea considered. “Yes.” “Professionally?” “Very professionally.” Fox laughed. Bea leaned beside her. “Repeat clients teach you something new.” “What?” “Familiar isn't automatic.” Fox listened. “You can know what someone liked before.” “Yes.” “And still ask.” “Yes.” “You can know they want you.” “Yes.” “And still decide whether you want them today.” Bea smiled. “Exactly.” Fox nodded. “I like that.” “You should.” Fox looked toward the private corridor. Then she leaned closer, lowering her voice until the words were for Bea alone. “And tomorrow he receives Elisa.” Bea's eyes snapped toward her. Fox smiled. “Privately.” Bea's expression relaxed. “Yes.” “He truly has no idea.” “No.” Fox smiled. “Your species is delightful.” “Your species turns into foxes.” “A detail.” --- ### Fox's Sunday No Later, Fox met someone she genuinely liked. A woman. Funny. Attractive. Comfortable. They talked for nearly half an hour. Fox could imagine saying yes. That was the interesting part. She could imagine the suite. Touch. Pleasure. Another twenty-five thousand eddies. And there it was. The money made her smile. The woman noticed. “What?” Fox shook her head. “I just caught myself doing something.” “Good thing?” “Useful thing.” She checked her own desire again. The woman was attractive. Fox liked her. But the booking impulse was partly the joy of being paid again. Not enough. Fox smiled. “No booking tonight.” The woman nodded. No disappointment weaponized into pressure. “Still want the drink?” “Yes.” “Good.” They finished it. Fox returned to Mandi later. “No booking.” Mandi took the leash loosely. “Happy?” “Very.” “Then successful shift.” Fox kissed her cheek. “Precisely.” --- ### Near Closing Sunday grew late. Nadia ate again. Panam stopped pretending to be surprised. Sera laughed at both of them. Dalia and Deja remained an orbit of pink and dark green. Nova and Vega disappeared into separate work and returned separately, their private marriage safely irrelevant to anyone watching the Marlows. Bea returned to Fox more than once. Not mentoring constantly. Simply being nearby. Friend. Coworker. Guide when needed. At last Suzy found Fox. “Done?” Fox thought. “Yes.” “One booking all weekend.” “One.” “You disappointed?” Fox smiled. “Not remotely.” “Good.” Suzy nodded. That was the review. Fox liked Suzy very much. --- ### Last Call Mandi sat beside Fox. The leash lay loose across her thigh. Bea had water. Fox leaned back. “Three nights.” Bea nodded. “Regrets?” “No.” “Still want to come back?” Fox did not answer immediately. Not because she doubted. Because she wanted the answer to remain hers. “Yes.” Mandi smiled. “No schedule,” Fox added. Bea nodded. “No quota.” “Yes.” “No assumption that I accept anyone.” “Obviously.” Fox smiled. “Then yes.” Bea raised her glass. “To Fox.” Fox raised hers. “To twenty-five thousand eddies.” Mandi groaned. --- ### Home The upper safehouse door opened from inside. Always. They entered tired. Happy. Work came apart gradually. Boots. Clothes. Contacts. Meshes. Fox became Yukari in warm gold. Bea became Elisa visually except for the parts that did not disappear merely because she was home. Ice-blue ChromeLock hair remained. Bea voice remained. Ace removed Mandi's mesh and contacts. Natural Ace face. Neon-orange hair. Mandi voice. Mai's natural face returned beneath Dalia's neon-pink dreadlocks. Dalia's voice remained. Iris and Brenda looked equally absurd beneath Nova and Vega hair while their cover voices still persisted. Yukari surveyed them. Smiled. Ace pointed. “No.” “I said nothing.” “Your face did.” Elisa dropped onto the couch. “Tomorrow I need to stop looking like the woman my security manager fucked tonight.” Silence. Then Brenda made a choking noise. Iris covered her eyes. Ace stared. Yukari started laughing. Elisa looked around. “What?” Mai said: “That sentence.” “It is factually accurate.” “That is the problem.” Elisa smiled. “Monday problem.” Yukari sat beside her. “Not yet.” Elisa leaned against her shoulder. “No.” Not yet. --- ### One More Night Much later, Yukari returned to fox form. Nine tails curled around her at the foot of the Triad's bed. Ace looked down. “Good Sunday?” “Yes.” “No booking.” “No.” “Still happy?” “Entirely.” Mai smiled. Shammy reached down and stroked behind one ear. Yukari relaxed. Saturday had taught her she could say yes. Sunday had taught her that no did not make the work incomplete. Elisa had shown her something else. Clients could return. Affection could grow. Professional intimacy could become familiar without becoming entitlement. And tomorrow— Tomorrow Elisa would leave. Not forever. That distinction had become increasingly important in Yukari's life. She lowered her head onto her paws. Upstairs, Elisa was still Elisa beneath blue hair and Bea borrowed voice. Morning would deal with the rest. Tonight was still theirs. Yukari closed her eyes. Sunday finally ended. --- ## Chapter 25 — Countless Tomorrows _Watson safehouse — Monday morning._ Monday began quietly. Yukari distrusted it immediately. She opened one fox eye at the foot of the Triad's bed. Nothing exploded. Nobody shouted. No ancient creature arrived with a grievance. Ace still slept. Mai still slept. Shammy's fingers rested against one of Yukari's tails. Perfectly ordinary. Suspicious. Then Yukari remembered. Three o'clock. Her ears lowered. Ace opened one eye. Mandi's voice: “Don't.” Yukari raised her head. “Again, darling, I have said nothing.” “Your ears did.” Mai stirred. Dalia's voice: “What are her ears saying?” “Elisa.” Mai opened her eyes. Looked toward Yukari. “Oh.” Shammy woke more slowly. Nobody joked for a moment. Then Yukari transformed. Warm gold. Woman. She sat at the foot of the bed. “Three o'clock is not morning.” Ace smiled. “Correct.” “So I refuse to begin saying goodbye now.” Mai nodded. “Excellent policy.” Shammy smiled. “Breakfast first.” Yukari stood. “Civilization survives.” --- ### Still Here Elisa was already making coffee. Still blue-haired. Still speaking with Bea voice. Nothing about the cover had politely expired overnight. ChromeLock did not own a calendar. Neither did Victor's work. Elisa looked over. “Morning.” Yukari smiled. “Still Bea.” “Technically.” “Visually?” “Partly.” “Vocally?” “Yes.” “Emotionally?” Elisa stared. “Coffee.” Yukari laughed. Ace arrived behind her. Own face. Own violet eyes. Neon-orange Mandi ChromeLock. Mandi voice. Elisa pointed. “And you're no better.” “Never claimed to be.” Mai entered with Dalia's dreadlocks and voice. Brenda and Iris followed later with Nova and Vega's persistent hair and voices. Monday breakfast looked almost exactly as ridiculous as Sunday breakfast. Good. It meant the weekend had not disappeared while they slept. --- ### Nobody Counts Down Breakfast lasted. On purpose. Elisa's bag remained in her room. On purpose. Three o'clock remained a piece of information rather than the center of the day. Yukari sat beside Elisa. Again. Apparently permanently, if furniture had opinions. Elisa stole from her plate. Yukari watched. “You have made this a habit.” “Yes.” “Do you intend to stop?” “No.” “Good.” Elisa looked at her. Then smiled. “Fox?” “Yes.” “You're going back.” “Yes.” “No schedule?” “Correct.” “No trying to prove anything?” “Correct.” “Anja?” Yukari's smile changed. “Yes.” Elisa noticed. “Very yes.” “Possibly.” “Liar.” Yukari laughed. “I would like to see her again.” “As Fox.” “For now.” Elisa nodded. “Good.” Yukari looked at her. “And I would like to work again even if Anja is not there.” That earned a different smile. Professional pride. “Better.” --- ### Breaking Bea's Hair Late morning brought the practical problem. Elisa stood in front of the mirror. Ice-blue hair. Perfect chin-length Bea silhouette. Her own uncovered face underneath. She sighed. “My security manager absolutely cannot see this.” Yukari stood behind her. “Considering last night?” “Especially considering last night.” The humor was real. So was the operational requirement. The man receiving Elisa at three believed Bea and Elisa were two different women. That separation would remain intact. Elisa picked up Lena's matching ChromeLock release product. Yukari watched closely. “Now?” “Now.” The product went into the hair carefully. Thoroughly. Nothing changed. Blue remained blue. The locked style remained locked. Yukari leaned closer. “It still looks exactly like Bea.” “Because release isn't washing.” “It unlocks the bond.” “Yes.” “And then?” “Activation time.” Yukari smiled. “Then the next normal wash.” “Exactly.” They waited. No dramatic melting color. No gradual fade. No half-blue intermediate state. Just chemistry doing something invisible. When the activation time had passed, Elisa showered. Normal wash. This time ChromeLock released its claim. The artificial pigment cleared completely. The programmed Bea styling ceased being enforced. No bleach. No correction stage. No damaged transitional mess. When Elisa returned, towel around her shoulders, her natural hair was back. Fully. Yukari looked delighted. Elisa looked at her reflection. Then smiled. “Better.” “Less exciting.” “That's the point.” --- ### Voice The voice took its own path. Different technology. Different timing. Elisa spoke. Still not entirely herself. But the weekend sculpt had reached the end of the window Victor had planned for it. The Bea register had begun giving ground. No button. No cartridge. No instant reset. Yukari listened. “You are changing.” “Yes.” “Uncomfortable?” “No.” “Tightness?” “No.” “Pain?” “No.” “Then we wait.” Elisa looked over. “You've been spending too much time around Victor.” “I have never met a good reason not to respect competent medicine.” Elisa smiled. “Fair.” More water. No drama. Plenty of time before three. --- ### The Others Do Nothing Ace did not release Mandi's hair. Mai did not release Dalia's. Iris and Brenda left Nova and Vega untouched. There was no reason to. Their own multi-day cover cycles were not dictated by Elisa's security handoff. Yukari looked around. Four women in ordinary safehouse clothes. Own faces. Own eyes. Impossible cover hair. Cover voices still present. Then Elisa, whose natural hair had returned while her voice was still on its way home. “I adore this house.” Ace looked at her. Mandi's voice: “Because we're hot?” “Among other reasons.” Mai sighed. --- ### One More Quiet Stretch Near noon, Elisa finally packed. Yukari stayed with her. No need to turn it into a ceremony. Shirts. Personal items. Charger. Something Elisa found in Yukari's room and accused Yukari of stealing despite having left it there herself. Yukari transformed into fox form halfway through. Elisa sat on the bed. One tail landed beside her. She looked at Yukari. “May I?” “Yes.” Elisa touched the fur. Slowly. Familiar now. Yukari closed her eyes. After several minutes Elisa said: “I didn't expect you.” Yukari opened one eye. “That sounds unflattering.” “You know what I mean.” “I do.” Elisa continued stroking the tail. “I expected a weekend.” “Yes.” “Safehouse.” “Yes.” “Lizzie's.” “Yes.” “Bea.” “Yes.” “I didn't expect to leave with a new friend.” Yukari lifted her head. Then changed. Gold shimmered. Human Yukari sat beside her. She took Elisa's hand. “You are not leaving with one.” Elisa blinked. Yukari smiled. “You already have her.” Elisa's expression softened. “Show-off.” “Yes.” --- ### Elisa Again It happened without announcement. A little after one. Elisa was in the common room arguing with Ace about something completely irrelevant. She said: “That is absolutely not what happened.” Then stopped. Ace stopped too. Mai looked up. Yukari turned. Elisa said: “Oh.” Her own voice. Not Bea. Not halfway enough to create doubt. Elisa. Slightly tired. Slightly rough. But hers. Ace smiled. Mandi's voice: “There you are.” Elisa pointed. “Your turn eventually.” Ace looked offended. Mai listened more carefully. “Again.” Elisa sighed. “My name is Elisa.” Natural. Mai nodded. “Any pain?” “No.” “Strain?” “No.” “No swallowing trouble?” “No.” “Good.” Elisa took another drink of water anyway. Yukari smiled. Now the separation was complete. Bea hair gone. Bea face absent. Contacts absent. Bea voice gone. No ambiguity waiting for the wrong observer. --- ### Somewhere Else — Reyes Reyes had not worked Sunday. That decision had been boring. Which meant it had been correct. Birgitta's short voice-sculpt window had been built around Friday and Saturday. Enough margin for the work. Enough clearance afterward for Reyes to return fully before Monday's responsibility. Sunday belonged to privacy while the last of Victor's work resolved. By Monday morning— Reyes was Reyes. Natural red hair. Own face. Own voice. No copper-grey. No light-brown eyes. No Scandinavian mesh. No bright Birgitta register. Nothing halfway. That mattered. Because Reyes had accepted responsibility for Elisa on Friday. Reyes would finish it Monday. Personally. Exactly as promised. --- ### Iris With the technical problems solved, Yukari's attention wandered toward a considerably more enjoyable one. Iris. Yukari found her near the common room. Still under Nova's ChromeLock. Still carrying Nova's voice because Iris had no reason to dismantle the cover just because Elisa was going home. Iris looked up. Saw Yukari. Immediately knew. “Our date,” Yukari said. Iris smiled. “Yes.” “Tonight.” A small pause. Not reluctance. Impact. “Tonight?” “If you want.” Iris stood. “I do.” Yukari's smile softened. “Then tonight.” Brenda's voice came from the other side of the room. Vega's, technically. “FINALLY.” Iris closed her eyes. “Brenda.” “I support romance.” “You support commentary.” “Both can be true.” Yukari laughed. --- ### Brenda's Reminder Brenda appeared. Own face. Vega hair. Vega voice. She pointed at Yukari. “And mine remains separate.” “Yes.” “And promised.” “Yes.” “And not subject to an administrative merger.” “No.” Brenda smiled. “Excellent.” Iris looked at her. “You realize you are behaving like someone waiting for a service appointment.” Brenda considered. “My service appointment is with an ancient nine-tailed seductress.” Yukari raised an eyebrow. “Darling.” Brenda grinned. “You object?” “Not particularly.” Iris sighed. --- ### Reyes Arrives At two, the upper door buzzer sounded. Iris checked the camera. “Reyes.” Mai went to the upper door and opened it from inside. A moment later Reyes entered. Red hair. Own face. Own clothes. Own voice. “Morning.” Elisa looked over. “Afternoon.” Reyes checked the time. “Barely.” Ace called from the kitchen. Mandi's voice: “Coffee?” Reyes stopped. Slowly turned. Saw Ace. Natural face. Violet eyes. Neon-orange hair. Then heard Mandi again. “No.” Ace smiled. “What?” “No.” Mai returned. Dalia voice: “Something wrong?” Reyes stared at her too. “Oh, fuck me.” Elisa laughed. Her own voice. Reyes looked at her. Then stopped. Natural hair. Natural face. Natural voice. Elisa. Good. Operationally clean. “Ready?” Elisa looked toward her bag. “Absolutely not.” Reyes nodded. “Excellent.” Elisa stared. “Excellent?” “Means you had a good weekend.” That quieted the room for half a second. Elisa smiled. “Yes.” --- ### Still Not Leaving Yet Reyes did not pick up the bag. Not immediately. There was still time. She drank coffee. Sat. Listened to Ace and Brenda argue. Asked Elisa exactly one practical question about her belongings. Then left her alone. Two fifteen passed. Two twenty. Yukari refused to look at the clock. Reyes noticed. Said nothing. At two thirty, Shammy hugged Elisa. Then Mai. Then somehow the room began understanding that now was actually close enough to count. The bag moved nearer the door. Yukari disliked that. Only a little. Which was already more than she would once have admitted. --- ### Goodbyes Ace hugged Elisa. Mandi's voice made Elisa laugh against her shoulder. “This is deeply wrong.” Ace pulled back. “You love me.” “Unfortunately.” Mai hugged her next. Then Shammy. Iris. Brenda. No grand speeches. Nobody behaved as though Elisa was disappearing into the unknown. She had a holo. Transport. Money. Armed security. And several people who would undoubtedly harass her into returning. Then Elisa looked toward Yukari. Yukari opened her arms. Elisa went to her. Immediately. The hug lasted longer. Not because it meant more than all the others. Because it was newer. New bonds sometimes needed a second to settle. Elisa said quietly: “I'll come back.” Yukari smiled. “I know.” “You're very sure.” “Yes.” “Why?” Yukari drew back enough to see her face. “Because you want to.” Elisa looked at her. Then smiled. “Yeah.” Simple. True. --- ### Out Reyes checked the corridor. Then the route. Only when satisfied did she signal. Elisa picked up her bag. The upper door opened from inside. No security vehicle waited below. No external team knew the safehouse address. No one learned a route they did not need. Reyes went first. Elisa followed. Then stopped. Looked back. Ace. Mai. Shammy. Iris. Brenda. Yukari. “Later.” Ace waved. Mai smiled. Shammy raised one hand. Brenda blew a kiss. Iris laughed. Yukari smiled. “Soon.” Elisa nodded. “Soon.” The door closed. --- ### Four Blocks They made it perhaps four blocks before Elisa started. “So.” Reyes sighed. “No.” Elisa stared. “I haven't asked anything.” “You were going to.” “That is insulting.” “It is experience.” Elisa laughed. There. Normal rhythm. Normal Reyes. Nothing bright or Birgitta-shaped in her voice. No secrecy threatened by something as stupid as a syllable. Elisa looked out the window. Then back. “How've you been?” “Fine.” “Work?” “Fine.” “Life?” “Fine.” “You are a conversational wasteland.” “Yes.” Elisa smiled. “I missed you.” Reyes glanced over. Something softened. “Yeah.” Then: “Missed you too.” --- ### The Transfer Point They arrived early. Of course they did. The agreed location had nothing to do with the safehouse. Wrong district. Wrong route. Nothing useful to follow backward. Reyes parked. Waited. Elisa looked at her. “Thank you.” “For?” “Friday.” Reyes nodded. “And today.” “You're not back yet.” “Emotionally prepare.” Reyes laughed. Then the armored security vehicle appeared. Work returned. --- ### Monday Meets Sunday Elisa's security manager stepped out. Same man. Sunday night: off duty. Bea. Private room. Warm skin. Laughter. Monday afternoon: armor. Elisa. Transfer protocol. Responsibility. He saw Elisa. Nothing changed in his face beyond normal professional recognition. Good. No second look. No confusion. No hint that her voice reminded him of someone. No ice-blue hair. No Bea face. No contacts. Nothing. “Good afternoon.” Elisa smiled. “Good afternoon.” Yukari was not there to appreciate the absurdity. A pity. Reyes stepped forward. “Everything clean.” The security manager nodded. “Any incidents?” “No.” “Medical?” “No.” “Threat posture?” “Unchanged.” Professional. Familiar. Boring. Exactly what a handoff should be. Verification followed. Responsibility remained with Reyes until the final acknowledgment. Then— Transferred. Clean. --- ### Two Relationships, One Man The formal part ended. Elisa's security manager looked toward her. “Good weekend?” Elisa held his eyes. Sunday night flashed through her mind. Bea smiling at him. His jacket on the floor. Those annoyingly competent hands. His quieter laugh afterward. Elisa smiled. “Excellent.” Nothing in her voice betrayed anything. He nodded. “Glad to hear it.” Of course he was. Professionally. Entirely separately. As far as he knew. “Anything I need to know?” “No.” True. No security incident. No operational concern. Nothing relevant to his job. The fact that he'd slept with Bea last night was none of Elisa's security manager's business. Elisa almost laughed. Didn't. Professional discipline. --- ### Finished Properly Elisa turned back toward Reyes. “Thank you.” “Yeah.” “For taking responsibility.” Reyes nodded. “And finishing it.” That earned a look. Reyes understood. Friday: Elisa transferred to her. Monday: Reyes returned her. No substitute driver. No anonymous last ten meters. Reyes had taken the responsibility. Reyes completed it. Elisa smiled. “You're very fucking reliable.” “Don't ruin my reputation.” “I'll tell everyone.” “I'll deny it.” Elisa hugged her. Reyes had half a second of surprise. Then returned it. Firm. Easy. When they separated, Elisa said: “Tell Ace she's tiny.” “She knows.” “Tell her anyway.” “Yes.” “Tell Mai she's a bitch.” “Yes.” “Tell Shammy I love her.” “You own a holo.” “I know.” “Then why am I doing this?” “Because it's funny.” Reyes considered. “Fair.” Elisa smiled. Then: “And tell Yukari I'll message.” Reyes looked at her. “You own a holo.” “I know.” “Elisa.” “Still funny.” Reyes sighed. --- ### Returned The security vehicle door opened. Elisa stepped toward it. Then looked back once. Reyes raised a hand. Elisa did the same. The door closed. The vehicle left. Reyes waited until it disappeared. Then sent one message. > **REYES → ACE:** Delivered. A second. > **REYES → YUKARI:** She says she'll message you, despite possessing the technology necessary to do that herself. --- ### The Message Arrives First Yukari's holo pinged before she finished reading Reyes's message. Elisa. > **ELISA:** Ignore Reyes. She lacks romance. Yukari laughed. Ace looked over. Yukari smiled at the screen. > **YUKARI:** I suspected as much. Another message. > **ELISA:** Tell Fox her mentor expects updates. Yukari typed: > **YUKARI:** Fox intends to become increasingly irresponsible. Three dots. > **ELISA:** Training complete. Yukari smiled. Then another message arrived. Suzy. > **SUZY Q:** Fox is welcome back whenever Fox wants to work. A moment later: > **SUZY Q:** Her choice. No schedule unless she asks for one. Then Panam. > **PANAM:** Madame's door stays open. Another line: > **PANAM:** Fox decides when she walks through it. Yukari read both. No contract. No expectation. No pressure created by success. Exactly what she wanted. She replied: > **YUKARI:** Fox will return. Paused. Then: > **YUKARI:** When she wants to. Suzy: > **SUZY Q:** Correct. Panam: > **PANAM:** Exactly. --- ### Tonight Yukari put the holo away. Iris was across the room. Still Nova-haired. Still carrying the cover voice. Still entirely Iris underneath. She looked up. Their eyes met. Yukari crossed the room. Stopped close. “Tonight.” Iris smiled. “Yes.” Brenda looked over. “Finally.” Iris closed her eyes. Yukari laughed. Brenda stood. Walked over. Kissed Iris. Warm. Unhurried. Then she looked at Yukari. “My wife deserves an excellent date.” Yukari smiled. “I know.” “And afterward—” “Your date remains promised.” Brenda's grin appeared. “Good.” No jealousy. No territorial joke masking fear. Only love confident enough to enjoy what came next. Brenda kissed Yukari's cheek. “Have fun.” Iris looked at her. “We have not left yet.” “I'm being efficient.” “There it is.” Yukari laughed. The weekend was over. Fox still existed. Anja still existed. Elisa was already messaging her. Brenda had a promised evening. And tonight belonged to Iris. For most of Yukari's life, tomorrow had been something she knew how to leave before it could ask too much. Now tomorrow seemed crowded. Messy. Affectionate. Promising. Yukari found herself wanting all of it. --- ## Chapter 26 — An Evening with Iris The first thing Iris did after Elisa left was release Nova's hair. Properly. Not the face mesh. That had already been gone. Not the white-void contacts. Those too. The part that still remained was impossible to ignore. Chrome and gold. Lena's ChromeLock V2 still holding Nova's hair in its deliberate professional shape as if Sunday night had never ended. Iris looked at herself in the mirror. Then at Brenda. “No.” Brenda smiled. “Agreed.” Yukari stood in the doorway. Watching. Interested. Not laughing. Yet. Iris picked up the matching release product. “Before you say anything—” “I wasn't going to.” Brenda snorted. Iris looked at Yukari. “You absolutely were.” Yukari smiled. “Eventually.” --- ### Iris First The release product went through Iris's hair carefully. Root to tip. No shortcuts. No theatrical change. Nova remained in the mirror. Chrome. Gold. Locked styling. Exactly as before. Yukari leaned against the doorway. “Still fascinating.” Iris checked the time. “It hasn't activated yet.” “I know.” “You sound disappointed.” “I enjoy visible magic.” “This isn't magic.” “Yes.” “That was not agreement.” “No.” Brenda laughed. They waited. Then Iris showered. A normal wash. Nothing exotic. But this time the unlocked ChromeLock bond let go. The artificial color cleared completely. The programmed Nova styling stopped holding the hair in place. When Iris returned, towel around her shoulders, her own natural hair had returned. No chrome. No gold. No Nova silhouette. Iris. Yukari looked at her. Really looked. Then smiled. “There.” Iris's expression softened. “Better?” “Much.” --- ### Brenda Too Brenda picked up her own release product. Iris raised an eyebrow. “Tonight isn't your date.” “No.” “Then why now?” Brenda stared. “Because I'm not spending another day looking like half of a nightclub logo.” Yukari laughed. Brenda pointed. “Exactly.” She worked the release through Vega's chrome-and-brass-yellow hair. Waited. Washed. Returned later with her own natural hair restored. Yukari looked from one wife to the other. Iris. Brenda. No Marlow hair. Their temporary cover voices remained on Victor's timetable, a separate physiological process neither woman could simply switch off. The visible identities, however, were gone. Brenda spread her arms. “Ta-da.” Iris looked toward her. “You're impossible.” “You married me.” “Yes.” “Poor judgment.” “Apparently.” Brenda kissed her. Easy. Domestic. Then stepped back. “Now you can go on your date looking like yourself.” Yukari smiled. “That was exactly my intention.” Brenda looked at her. “Good.” --- ### The Bag Iris disappeared into their room. Returned with a small overnight bag. Brenda noticed first. Of course. Her grin became dangerous. Iris saw. “No.” Brenda lifted both hands. “I haven't said anything.” “You don't need to.” Yukari examined the bag. “Are we traveling?” “No.” “That seems like substantial preparation.” Iris gave her a composed look. “Preparedness.” Brenda made a strangled noise. Iris turned. “Brenda.” “What?” “Behave.” “I am behaving.” “You have never behaved.” “Harsh.” Brenda stepped closer. The teasing softened. She put both hands around Iris's waist. Then kissed her. Slow. Warm. No performance. No implied permission. Just wife kissing wife because she wanted to. “Have a wonderful evening,” Brenda said. Iris smiled. “I intend to.” Brenda looked at Yukari. “My wife deserves an excellent date.” Yukari smiled. “I believe your wife is responsible for her own happiness.” Brenda stared. Then grinned. “Correct answer.” Iris kissed Brenda again. “I love you.” “Love you too.” Then Brenda whispered something into Iris's ear. Iris's expression changed. “Absolutely not.” Brenda laughed. Yukari raised an eyebrow. “What?” “Nothing,” Iris said. Brenda looked innocent. Yukari believed neither of them. --- ### Just Iris They left in private transport. No visible Nova. No Fox. Yukari wore her usual human form. Dark hair. Her own face. Her own manner. Iris wore herself. That mattered more than Yukari expected. No chrome-and-gold professional silhouette following them into the evening. No stage identity. No visual remnant of the previous three nights. Just Iris sitting beside her. Yukari kept looking. Eventually Iris noticed. “You've been staring at me for five minutes.” “Yes.” “Why?” Yukari smiled. “You released Nova's hair.” “Yes.” “And now I have you.” Iris went quiet. Yukari immediately saw the tiny shift. Not discomfort. Impact. “That's unfair.” “What is?” “Saying things like that without warning.” “I was unaware compliments required operational notice.” “With you, they apparently should.” Yukari laughed. --- ### Private Enough The place Yukari had chosen was not quite a restaurant. A private dining suite high above Watson. Separate entrance. Private lift. Food delivered through a service vestibule. No staff entering once the evening began. Night City had developed extraordinary privacy infrastructure for people with extraordinary amounts of money and extraordinary reasons not to be seen. Yukari approved. Iris approved differently. The moment the door closed, she checked the suite. Windows. Emergency exit. Security console. Secondary access. Yukari watched. “You are inspecting the evacuation routes.” “Yes.” “We have been here thirty seconds.” “Yes.” “You truly cannot help yourself.” “No.” Yukari smiled. “I find that attractive.” Iris stopped. Looked at her. “That may be the strangest compliment I've received this month.” “Only this month?” “I live with Brenda.” “Fair.” --- ### Dinner The table was already set. Good food. Good wine. Nothing absurd. Nothing that required a server to explain which direction a sauce was intended to represent emotionally. Iris looked at the plates. Then at Yukari. “You planned this today?” “Yes.” “You didn't know what I liked.” “I asked someone.” Iris's eyes narrowed. “Oh no.” Yukari sat. “Brenda was extremely helpful.” “Those words should not coexist.” “She said you dislike restaurants where presentation matters more than food.” “Correct.” “You like wine but hate performative ordering.” “Also correct.” “You prefer quiet.” “Yes.” “And if anyone serves you foam as an entire course, you may commit violence.” Iris stared. Then closed her eyes. “She added that.” “She was emphatic.” “She hates foam.” “I gathered.” --- Dinner became conversation. Slowly. Naturally. Iris talked about Aureate II. Not as a résumé. Not as tragedy. As home remembered. Passengers. Crew. Schedules. Maintenance issues. The endless absurdity of people assuming money could negotiate orbital mechanics. Yukari countered with people from entirely different eras who had believed wealth could negotiate weather. Iris looked interested. “Did it work?” “No.” “What happened?” “They became wet.” Iris laughed hard enough to put down her glass. Yukari smiled. That was the first moment she knew the evening had settled properly. Not when they arrived. Not when the door locked. There. Iris laughing over good food. --- ### Small Things Later, Iris asked: “What survives longest?” Yukari looked at her. “What do you mean?” “In memory.” A dangerous question. But Iris did not ask it greedily. No demand for history. No expectation that age made Yukari public property. Yukari turned her wineglass between her fingers. “Small things.” Iris nodded. “Such as?” “A breakfast.” “With someone?” “Yes.” “Someone important?” Yukari smiled faintly. “She was.” Iris waited. No request for a name. Good. “The tea was terrible,” Yukari said. Iris's mouth twitched. “That's the memory?” “Yes.” “Why?” “She insisted it was good.” “Maybe she liked it.” “She was lying.” “How do you know?” Yukari smiled. “Darling. I knew her.” Iris laughed softly. Then silence. Comfortable. After a while Iris said: “People assume losing the large things would hurt most.” Yukari looked toward her. Iris continued: “Maybe it's realizing the small ones mattered more.” Yukari stopped turning the glass. There it was. That quiet precision. Brenda arrived in rooms like weather. Iris sometimes said one sentence and moved the foundations beneath you. Yukari reached across the table. Iris took her hand. “Yes,” Yukari said softly. “That is exactly it.” --- ### After Dinner They moved to the sitting area. No decision announced. Dinner simply ended. Shoes came off. Wine remained behind. Iris tucked one leg beneath herself. Yukari sat beside her. Close. Not touching. Yet. The city filled the windows. Eventually Iris said: “You're being very polite.” Yukari smiled. “I am capable.” “I've seen contrary evidence.” “Fox does not count.” “I wasn't referring to Fox.” Yukari looked at her. Iris held the look. A small smile. Sharp. Ah. Yukari leaned closer. “You are flirting with me.” “Yes.” “I appreciate directness.” “I know.” “And what would you like me to do about it?” Iris answered by reaching for her. One hand behind Yukari's neck. The other at her waist. Then Iris pulled her close and kissed her. --- ### Iris Yukari had kissed Iris before. This was different. The earlier kiss had belonged to possibility. This one belonged to time deliberately set aside. Iris kissed exactly the way Yukari might have predicted after getting to know her. Controlled. Attentive. Deliberate. Until she chose not to be. Yukari answered more deeply. Iris made a soft sound against her mouth. That pleased Yukari. She smiled. Iris pulled back slightly. “What?” “You.” “Unhelpfully broad.” “I like your control.” Iris's expression shifted. “Even here?” “Especially here.” Iris looked at her for another second. Then kissed her again. Harder. Yukari laughed softly against her mouth. Apparently Iris had taken that personally. Good. --- ### Watch Me Eventually they separated enough to breathe. Iris's forehead remained against Yukari's. Her hand still rested at Yukari's waist. Then: “Can I ask something?” “Yes.” “You haven't heard it.” “I trust you to finish.” Iris smiled. Then sat back. “Watch me.” Yukari understood. Immediately. And did exactly that. Nothing else. Iris stood. She removed her jacket first. Folded it over the chair. Yukari's smile escaped. Iris noticed. “What?” “You folded it.” “I like that jacket.” “During seduction.” “Especially during seduction.” Yukari laughed. Then fell quiet again. Iris continued. Not a performance for an imaginary audience. Not Nova stripping for a client. Iris undressing because she wanted Yukari to watch her. That distinction made every movement more intimate. Each layer removed deliberately. Each pause chosen. Yukari remained seated. Her eyes exactly where Iris wanted them. This was not simply being looked at. Iris had spent too much of her life being looked at. Officer. Captain's daughter. Professional. Nova. This was choosing whose gaze mattered. When Iris stood before her without clothing or public role left between them, her composure remained. Mostly. Yukari could see the faster breathing. The little tension. The awareness. “You are extraordinary,” Yukari said. Iris swallowed. That tiny reaction nearly undid Yukari. --- ### Your Turn Iris looked at her. “Now you.” Yukari stood. No foxfire. No transformation. No theatrical trick. She simply undressed. Slowly. Allowing Iris the same thing Iris had asked for. A chosen gaze. Iris did not pretend not to look. Yukari noticed. “Darling.” “Yes?” “You are staring.” “Yes.” Yukari smiled. “Good.” Iris laughed. Then Yukari stepped close. Skin met skin. Hands found waists. Their next kiss had nothing restrained about it. --- ### Preparedness The bedroom was nearby. They reached it gradually. Kissing. Stopping. Touching. At one point Yukari walked backward into the doorframe. Iris caught her. Then stared. Yukari looked offended. “One word and I leave.” “Elegant.” “That was one word.” Iris laughed. “Technically.” “Cruel.” “Apparently.” They reached the bed. Iris opened her overnight bag. Yukari raised an eyebrow. “Preparedness?” “Yes.” “That bag is becoming suspicious.” “It contains clothing.” “And?” Iris looked at her. Yukari waited. Finally Iris opened a small case. Inside was a simple intimate toy. Nothing extravagant. No spectacle. Yukari looked at it. Then at Iris. Iris did something rare. She looked slightly uncertain. Not about wanting. About asking. “What would you like?” Yukari said. Iris's answer was precise. “You.” A pause. “And this.” Another pause. “With me.” Yukari smiled. “That was admirably clear.” “You said you liked clarity.” “I adore it.” Iris held her eyes. “Still interested?” Yukari kissed her. “Yes.” --- ### Iris's Choice They did not hurry. Iris showed Yukari what she wanted. Yukari listened. Experience did not make anyone interchangeable. The toy was simply part of what they chose. Nothing more. Yukari kissed her. Touched her, fingers sliding through the wet heat of Iris's cunt, stroking the clit until she was open and slick. Waited until Iris relaxed fully beneath her. When the next step came, Yukari paused with the head of the toy against her entrance. Iris opened her eyes. “Yes.” Yukari continued. Slowly. The first penetration drew a sharp breath from Iris as the toy slid inside, stretching her. Yukari stopped. Iris looked at her. Then smiled. “I am fine.” “I know.” “You stopped.” “I was listening.” That changed something in Iris's face. She reached up. Touched Yukari's cheek. “Kiss me.” Yukari did. Then they began again. Slow. Shared. The toy moved in deep, measured thrusts while Yukari's thumb circled the clit. Iris directed without apologizing for knowing what she liked. “Slower.” Yukari slowed. “There.” She stayed, angling so each thrust pressed against the front wall. Iris's breathing changed. Hands tightened. The control did not vanish. It became selective. Trust made visible. Yukari watched because Iris wanted her watching. Watched the moment precision failed. The tiny break in breath. The tension. Eyes closing— Then opening again. Looking directly at Yukari. That mattered most. Iris climaxed with Yukari's name on a broken breath, cunt clenching hard around the toy as she came. Yukari held her through it. Stayed close. Waited. No rush toward anything else. When Iris finally relaxed, she smiled. Lazy. Rare. Beautiful. Then: “Your turn.” Yukari laughed. “You are very organized.” “I warned you.” --- ### Different Iris did not repeat what Yukari had done. She set the toy aside. Then drew Yukari close differently. Face to face. One thigh between Yukari's. Hands at her hips. Yukari understood. “Oh.” Iris smiled. “That sounded promising.” “Smug.” “Accurate.” Yukari kissed her. Then let Iris lead. They moved against one another. Heat. Pressure. Rhythm discovered together. Yukari's hand tightened at Iris's hip. Iris held her closer. They shifted once at the same time and nearly ruined everything. Yukari laughed into Iris's shoulder. Iris laughed too. Then said: “Stay.” One word. Simple. It struck far deeper than Iris intended. Yukari went still. Iris noticed immediately. “Hey.” Yukari looked at her. “You okay?” “Yes.” “Sure?” Yukari smiled. But Iris deserved more. “I want to stay.” Iris's expression softened completely. No joke. No analysis. She kissed Yukari. Then held her there. The rhythm returned. Warmer. Closer. Yukari stopped thinking about exits. She moved with Iris. Let pleasure build. Let herself be known inside the moment instead of measuring how long it could last. Iris noticed what worked and kept it. No pointless changes. No need to display expertise. Yukari's breath caught. Then broke. Pleasure overtook her quickly at the end. She climaxed against Iris with a startled sound that became laughter halfway through. Iris laughed too. Held her. Their movement slowed. Stopped. And for a long while neither went anywhere. --- ### After Yukari lay partly across Iris. Iris traced slow lines along her back. Night City glowed below them. Eventually Yukari said: “That was very organized.” Iris groaned. “No.” “You planned equipment.” “I brought one thing.” “You folded your jacket.” “I like that jacket.” “You issued instructions.” “You followed them.” “Gladly.” Iris turned her head. Yukari smiled. Iris lost the argument and started laughing. Good. Afterward the quiet returned. Yukari touched Iris's cheek. “Thank you.” “For what?” “Letting me see you.” Iris understood. Not nudity. Not sex. The chosen gaze. The deliberate lowering of control. The trust beneath it. Iris kissed Yukari's palm. “You make that easier than I expected.” That landed hard. Yukari looked away. Iris noticed. Of course. “No.” Yukari looked back. “No what?” “No disappearing into your own head.” Yukari smiled faintly. “That sounded remarkably like an order.” “Suggestion.” “Former officer.” “Ancient fox.” “Fair.” Iris touched her face. “Stay.” Yukari smiled. “Tonight?” Iris considered. Then: “Start there.” Yukari laughed softly. “That is an extremely Iris answer.” --- ### Brenda Checks In Eventually Iris picked up her holo. Yukari raised an eyebrow. “Reporting?” “To my wife.” “Should I hide?” “Yes.” Iris typed. The response arrived almost immediately. She read it. Closed her eyes. Yukari smiled. “What?” “No.” “Iris.” “No.” “Darling.” Iris turned the screen. **BRENDA:** alive? **IRIS:** yes **BRENDA:** happy? Iris looked toward Yukari. Then typed: **IRIS:** very Three dots. **BRENDA:** excellent. i'm not waiting up ❤️ Yukari smiled. “That is sweet.” Another message arrived. Iris read it. Her expression changed. Yukari's smile widened. “What?” “No.” Iris showed her. **BRENDA:** also tell yukari she still owes me my own night and i expect ZERO recycled material Yukari laughed. Loudly. Iris shook her head. “She is impossible.” Yukari looked at the message again. Then smiled. “I like her.” “I know.” “And she will receive no recycled material.” Iris turned. Looked at Yukari. Then began laughing. “Oh, God.” --- ### Fox Later, with most lights off, Iris looked toward Yukari. “Can I ask one more thing?” “Yes.” “Fox.” Yukari blinked. “My work cover?” “No.” Iris smiled. “Fox.” Understanding arrived. “Oh.” “Would you?” Yukari's expression softened. “You want me to sleep beside you that way?” “Yes.” Warm gold moved. Human became fox. A real russet-and-cream fox with nine living tails stood on the carpet. Iris smiled immediately. “Come here.” Yukari jumped onto the bed. Not the foot. Beside Iris. Nine tails followed. Then kept following. And following. Iris vanished beneath several. A muffled voice emerged: “Yukari.” “Yes?” “I cannot breathe.” “That seems medically undesirable.” “Move.” Yukari rearranged herself. Mostly. Iris freed one arm and wrapped it around her. Yukari rested her head against Iris's shoulder. Different from sleeping at the foot of the Triad's bed. Not better. Not replacing it. Theirs. Iris stroked one tail. Then another. “Good date?” Yukari closed her eyes. “Extremely.” “Excellent.” Yukari opened one eye. “That word again.” Iris laughed. “Sleep.” Yukari tucked closer. And did. --- ### Morning Yukari woke first. One tail lay across Iris's waist. Two covered her legs. Another had somehow migrated beneath a pillow. The remaining five occupied territory without recognizable strategic value. Yukari studied the arrangement. Iris opened one eye. “Don't.” Yukari froze. “How did you know?” “I live with Brenda.” Yukari's ears lifted. Iris smiled. Then pulled the fox closer. No hurry. No morning agenda. Just warmth. Eventually Yukari transformed beside her. Human again. She leaned over. Kissed Iris slowly. When they separated, Iris looked at her. “So.” “Dangerous opening.” “Would you do this again?” Yukari smiled. “Yes.” Immediate. Iris's smile answered. Then Yukari touched her cheek. “And your wife remains next.” Iris laughed. “She does.” “Concerned?” “No.” That answer pleased Yukari. “Curious?” “Extremely.” “About?” Iris smiled. “How different you're going to make it.” Yukari's expression became wicked. “Darling.” Iris laughed. Then kissed her again. Outside, Night City began another day. And Yukari discovered another reason staying was superior to leaving. You got second dates. And first dates with someone else. And mornings in which nobody expected last night's happiness to reduce today's. --- ## Chapter 27 — Brenda's Kind of Trouble Yukari returned to the safehouse wearing yesterday's clothes. Brenda noticed immediately. Of course she did. Iris entered behind her looking considerably too pleased with life to conceal anything useful. Brenda looked at Iris. Then Yukari. Then Iris again. “Good morning.” Iris narrowed her eyes. “Don't.” “I haven't done anything.” “You're vibrating.” “I am standing perfectly still.” Yukari smiled. “That is technically true.” Brenda pointed at her. “No helping.” Iris put down her bag. Brenda lasted another four seconds. Then she crossed the room and kissed her wife. No teasing. Not first. Her hands went around Iris's waist and Iris immediately relaxed into her. Brenda pulled back. Looked at her. “Good?” Iris smiled. “Extremely.” Brenda's entire face brightened. “Excellent.” Yukari watched. There was no careful performance of being unbothered. Brenda was not suppressing jealousy. There simply wasn't any. Her wife's happiness delighted her. Then Brenda looked at Yukari. “Thank you.” Yukari raised an eyebrow. “For?” “Not making her date generic.” Iris stared. “Brenda.” “What?” “You are conducting a post-event review.” “No. A post-event review would have forms.” Yukari smiled. “Do you have forms?” Brenda hesitated. Iris closed her eyes. “Oh my God.” --- ### Not Tonight Brenda turned toward Yukari. “So.” Yukari smiled. “So.” “My turn.” “Yes.” Brenda's grin appeared. Iris put one hand on her shoulder. “Not tonight.” Brenda stared at her wife. “Traitor.” “You still have Vega's voice.” That stopped her. Brenda spoke. The warm, rough-edged Vega register answered. She grimaced. “Fuck.” Yukari laughed. Brenda pointed. “This is discrimination.” “No,” Iris said. “This is you specifically demanding your own date and then showing up sounding like your joytoy cover.” Brenda considered. “Could be funny.” Yukari stepped closer. Touched her cheek. “No.” That single answer surprised Brenda. Not because it was refusal. Because of the reason in Yukari's expression. “When I take you out,” Yukari said, “I want Brenda.” The grin disappeared. Something warmer replaced it. “Oh.” Iris smiled. Yukari continued: “Your own hair is already back.” Brenda touched it automatically. “Your own face.” “Yes.” “And when Victor's work finishes, your own voice.” Brenda looked at her. Then smiled. “Okay.” A beat. “Still unfair.” “Terribly.” --- ### A Little Later They did not schedule the date for the first possible minute. That mattered. Victor's work resolved naturally. Brenda's voice came home. The household stopped sounding like a collection of mismatched people assembled by an intoxicated casting director. Life became ordinary again. Or as ordinary as life could become in a Watson safehouse containing an ancient kitsune, an elemental, several mercenaries, engineers, joytoy identities and far too much coffee. Then, one evening, Yukari walked into the common room. Brenda looked up from a half-disassembled device. Her own hair. Her own face. Her own voice. Entirely Brenda. Yukari smiled. “Now.” Brenda froze. “What?” “Our date.” Brenda looked down at the device. Then at Yukari. Then toward Iris. Iris did not even look up from her holo. “Go.” Brenda stared. “I wasn't asking permission.” “I know.” “Good.” Iris finally looked at her. “You were asking whether I'd save your workbench from whatever you were about to do to it.” Brenda considered. “Also yes.” “I will.” Brenda stood immediately. Yukari laughed. “Remarkably romantic.” “You don't know the half of it.” --- ### Brenda's Requirements Brenda disappeared into her room. Returned seven minutes later. No overnight bag. No elaborate dress. Boots. Dark trousers. A fitted top. Light jacket. Practical enough to crawl under something mechanical if necessary. Yukari looked at her. “Interesting.” Brenda stopped. “You don't like it?” “Oh, I like it very much.” “Then what's that face?” “I planned dinner.” Brenda stared. “Restaurant?” “Perhaps.” “No.” Yukari blinked. Brenda stepped closer. “Absolutely not.” “You dislike restaurants?” “I like restaurants.” “Then?” Brenda grinned. “Iris got elegant privacy, wine, emotional excavation and apparently spectacular sex.” From across the room: “BRENDA.” Brenda looked toward her wife. “What?” Iris stared. Brenda turned back. “I do not want Iris's date with the names changed.” Yukari's smile slowly widened. “Neither do I.” “Good.” Yukari took her hand. “Then dinner can wait.” Brenda looked suspicious. “You're adapting.” “Yes.” “That quickly?” “Yes.” “Dangerous.” “You have no idea.” --- ### The First Wrong Turn They left the safehouse. Private transport. No Fox. No Vega. No covers. Just Yukari and Brenda. Brenda waited three minutes. Then: “Where are we going?” “You rejected my plan.” “Yes.” “So now I am improvising.” Brenda stared. “You don't know?” “I have several ideas.” “That is not the same thing.” “No.” Brenda smiled slowly. “Oh, this is much better.” Yukari looked at her. “I suspected you might say that.” The transport changed direction. Brenda noticed. “Where now?” “A market.” “What kind?” “Old things.” That was enough. Brenda sat forward. --- ### Night Market The market occupied two floors beneath an old transit interchange. Not tourist antiques. Not polished collectibles. Real obsolete hardware. Salvaged industrial components. Mechanical clocks. Broken optical systems. Old switches. Analog meters. Vehicle parts whose manufacturers had disappeared decades ago. Tools. Circuit boards. Objects nobody had yet decided were trash or treasure. Brenda stopped at the entrance. Looked around. Then slowly turned toward Yukari. “You brought me here.” “Yes.” “On a date.” “Yes.” “You magnificent woman.” Yukari laughed. There. Immediate victory. Brenda took her hand and dragged her toward the first stall. --- ### Brenda in Her Natural Habitat Yukari had seen Brenda work. This was different. No contract. No client. No mission. No requirement to be useful. Brenda simply liked things. She picked up a mechanical regulator. Turned it over. “No.” Put it down. Yukari raised an eyebrow. “What was wrong with it?” “Rebuilt badly.” “You determined this in three seconds.” “Two.” “Of course.” Another stall. Old instrumentation. Brenda found a compact brass-and-steel mechanism with three concentric rings and no obvious function. She stopped. Yukari saw it happen. Curiosity seized her. Completely. “What is it?” Yukari asked. “I don't know.” Brenda sounded delighted. The seller looked over. “Old maritime stabilizer component.” Brenda stared at him. “No, it isn't.” The seller blinked. Yukari covered her smile. Brenda turned the object over. “Maybe somebody told you that. They lied.” The seller looked offended. “You know what it is?” “No.” Brenda grinned. “But I know what it isn't.” Yukari started laughing. The seller eventually laughed too. “Hundred fifty.” Brenda looked at Yukari. Yukari looked back. “No.” Brenda blinked. “No?” “You are not negotiating.” “Excuse me?” “This is my date.” Brenda's eyebrows rose. Yukari turned to the seller. “Seventy-five.” Brenda stared. The seller laughed. “One-twenty.” “Ninety.” “One-ten.” “Ninety-five.” “Hundred.” Yukari smiled. “Done.” Payment transferred. She handed the mechanism to Brenda. Brenda looked at it. Then at Yukari. “You just bought me unidentified machinery.” “Yes.” Brenda kissed her. Right there. Hard enough that Yukari nearly dropped the bag. When they separated, Brenda said: “This relationship has potential.” --- ### Street Food Dinner became food from a stall beside the market. Brenda approved. They sat at a narrow counter with their mysterious purchase between them. Brenda ate with one hand. Inspected the mechanism with the other. Yukari watched. “You are supposed to eat.” “I am.” “You have examined that thing continuously for eleven minutes.” “You're counting?” “Yes.” “Hot.” Yukari laughed. Brenda turned one of the rings. Something clicked. Both women froze. Brenda looked at Yukari. Yukari looked back. “Do it again.” Brenda did. Click. Then another. Three positions. A hidden plate shifted half a millimeter. Brenda's eyes lit. Yukari knew that look. Not sexual. Yet somehow intimate anyway. The joy of understanding beginning. “You are beautiful when you discover something,” Yukari said. Brenda stopped. That landed harder than expected. “What?” Yukari smiled. “You heard me.” Brenda looked down at the mechanism. For once: No immediate joke. Yukari liked that too. --- ### The Workshop The next decision belonged to Brenda. “I need tools.” Yukari raised an eyebrow. “Now?” “Yes.” “This is still our date.” “Exactly.” Yukari laughed. “Safehouse?” “No.” “Why?” Brenda looked at her. “Because if I take this home, Ace will touch it.” Yukari considered. “Fair.” So they rented a private maker room. Night City provided those too. Benches. Hand tools. Magnification. Basic diagnostic equipment. A clean work surface. No corporate network access. Nothing spectacular. Brenda walked inside and immediately looked happier than some people did entering luxury hotels. Yukari closed the door behind them. “This is your idea of romance.” Brenda turned. “Right now?” “Yes.” “Very much.” Yukari smiled. “Wonderful.” --- ### No Magic Brenda put the mechanism on the bench. Then pointed at Yukari. “One rule.” “Yes?” “No magic.” Yukari's eyebrows rose. “That seems discriminatory.” “You can apparently violate several assumptions about matter by changing species.” “I do not violate them.” “You bully them.” Yukari laughed. Brenda continued: “We solve this like normal people.” “You and I may have very different definitions of normal.” “Tools only.” Yukari considered. Then held out her hand. “Agreed.” Brenda shook it. “Good.” Yukari did not release her immediately. Brenda looked down at their joined hands. Then up. “You cheating already?” “No.” “Then?” Yukari drew her closer. Kissed her once. Brief. Then released her. “Morale.” Brenda stared. “That's absolutely cheating.” --- ### Two Hours Later They had not solved it. This delighted Brenda beyond reason. Three partial mechanisms made sense. One did not. The concentric rings interacted with a hidden cam. The cam moved something they could not see without dismantling the core. Brenda refused to dismantle the core until she understood why it had been built to resist dismantling. Yukari sat on the bench beside her. “Darling.” “No.” “You have said that to the device six times.” “It deserves it.” “Perhaps it doesn't speak English.” “It understands tone.” Yukari laughed. Brenda looked through magnification again. Then stopped. “Wait.” Yukari leaned closer. Brenda rotated the outer ring. Pressed a plate. Turned the inner ring backward. Nothing. “Fuck.” Yukari studied it. “Again.” Brenda repeated the sequence. Yukari saw something. A tiny shift. “There.” “Where?” “Do it slower.” Brenda did. Yukari pointed. The smallest tooth in the mechanism moved sideways before engaging. Brenda froze. “Oh.” Then: “Oh, you clever bastard.” Another adjustment. A turn. A soft mechanical release. The core opened. Inside— Nothing dramatic. No weapon. No treasure. A tiny fold-out calibration scale and a precision weight system. Brenda stared. Then started laughing. “What?” Yukari smiled. “What is it?” “A portable balancing instrument.” “For?” “I don't know yet.” She looked delighted. “It's fucking brilliant.” Yukari laughed with her. They had spent two hours discovering almost nothing. It felt wonderful. --- ### Brenda Notices Eventually Brenda sat back against the bench. Looked at Yukari. “You haven't been bored once.” “No.” “Not even pretending?” “No.” “Most people stop enjoying this after fifteen minutes.” “I enjoyed watching you think.” Brenda went still again. Yukari was beginning to understand where Brenda's armor actually had gaps. Not in sex. Not in outrageous jokes. Compliments about beauty bounced beautifully off her. Praise for brilliance she could turn into banter. But being told someone enjoyed the process— That reached somewhere quieter. Brenda looked down at her hands. Then said: “People like the explosion.” Yukari listened. “The Analog Bomber.” “Yes.” “The insane thing.” “Yes.” “The result.” Brenda nodded. “They don't always like the forty hours of me staring at some stupid piece of hardware before the insane thing works.” Yukari smiled. “I do.” Brenda looked up. “Why?” “Because that is the part where you are most yourself.” Silence. Brenda stared at her. Yukari continued: “You are not chaos.” Brenda raised an eyebrow. “No?” “You occasionally deploy chaos.” That earned a laugh. “But underneath it, you are extraordinarily precise.” Brenda's smile changed. Yukari leaned closer. “And very generous.” That surprised her. “With what?” “Attention.” Brenda frowned. Yukari touched her wrist. “When you care about something, you give it all of yourself.” The mechanism. Iris. Friends. Work. Problems. Joy. Brenda did nothing halfway once she had chosen to care. Yukari understood that now. Brenda stared at her for several seconds. Then: “Fuck.” Yukari smiled. “Eloquent.” “I was going to say something clever.” “What happened?” “You ruined it.” “My apologies.” “No, you're not.” “No.” Brenda kissed her. --- ### Fast There was nothing Iris-like about the kiss. Good. Brenda arrived all at once. Hands at Yukari's waist. Mouth warm and demanding. A laugh trapped between them when Yukari nearly backed into the workbench. Yukari caught herself. Brenda smiled against her mouth. “Careful.” “You arranged this.” “I absolutely did not.” “You kissed me toward furniture.” “That's fair.” Yukari caught the front of Brenda's jacket. Turned them. Now Brenda met the edge of the bench. Her eyebrows rose. Yukari smiled. “Better.” “Much.” Brenda kissed her again. No slow observation. No chosen distance. No ceremony. They had spent hours keeping their hands on tools instead of each other. Apparently both had reached the same limit. --- ### Clear Enough Brenda pulled back first. Breathing harder. “I want you.” Yukari smiled. “Yes.” “Now.” Yukari's smile widened. “Yes.” “No elaborate ancient seduction speech?” “Would you like one?” “No.” “Excellent.” Brenda laughed. Then kissed her again. Clothing did not disappear elegantly. Brenda's jacket hit a chair. Yukari's followed and missed. Brenda looked toward the floor. “Terrible aim.” “Busy.” “Excuses.” Yukari kissed her quiet. Buttons. Fastenings. Hands. Enough patience to avoid destroying anything expensive. Not enough patience to preserve dignity. When Brenda's skin finally met hers without fabric between them, both women stopped for half a second. Not uncertainty. Recognition. There you are. Brenda touched her face. Then smiled. “Hi.” Yukari laughed softly. “Hello.” Then Brenda pulled her down onto the wide workshop sofa. --- ### Brenda's Rhythm Brenda did not want to be watched. She wanted participation. Immediate. Mutual. She pulled Yukari close until almost no space remained between them. Kissed her. Hands moving with the same curiosity she brought to machines, except softer where softness mattered. When Yukari reacted, Brenda noticed. Of course. “Oh.” Yukari narrowed her eyes. “Do not turn me into a diagnostic problem.” Brenda grinned. “Too late.” Yukari reversed them. Brenda landed beneath her laughing. “Cheater.” “No magic.” “Still cheating.” “Explain the rule I violated.” “I haven't invented it yet.” Yukari kissed her. “Engineer.” “Fox.” “Not tonight.” That stopped Brenda. Only briefly. Then her expression softened. “Right.” She touched Yukari's cheek. “Yukari.” “Yes.” Then the joke ended. For a while. --- ### Heat They found pleasure less by sequence than collision. Kisses. Hands. Thighs tangling. Bodies pressed close. Brenda laughed when Yukari discovered how sensitive one particular place at her side was. “That does not count.” “It very much counts.” “No.” Yukari did it again. Brenda jerked and swore. Yukari looked delighted. “You are evil.” “Ancient.” “Not the same thing.” “Frequently adjacent.” Brenda caught her and rolled them again. This time Yukari ended beneath her. “Got you.” “Apparently.” Brenda kissed her throat. Then lower. Not rushing toward a familiar script. Exploring. Yukari's breath caught when Brenda changed angle. Brenda paused. Looked up. “That?” Yukari smiled. “Yes.” “Useful.” “Do not say useful.” “Extremely useful.” Yukari laughed. Then stopped laughing when Brenda repeated it. “Oh.” Brenda smiled. “Thought so.” --- ### Together Eventually Brenda came back up. Yukari caught her. Pulled her into another kiss. Their thighs slid together. Both noticed at the same moment. Brenda's eyebrows rose. Yukari smiled. “Yes?” “Definitely.” They adjusted. Closer. Body against body. Nothing between them except heat and pressure. Yukari's wet cunt ground against Brenda's, clit to clit with each shift. The first movement was awkward. The second less so. Then rhythm appeared. Not symmetrical perfection. Something they discovered. Brenda's hand tightened at Yukari's hip. Yukari held her waist. They moved together, the slick friction building between them. Brenda's forehead dropped against Yukari's. “Fuck.” “Another eloquent review.” “Shut up.” Yukari kissed her. They kept moving. Pressure built between them. Brenda stopped joking first. That was how Yukari knew. The change in breath. The way Brenda's fingers tightened. The small involuntary sound she clearly had not intended to make. Yukari smiled against her mouth. Brenda felt it. “Don't you fucking—” Her sentence broke. Yukari held her closer. Stayed exactly where Brenda needed her. The climax overtook Brenda with a sharp breath and then a low, helpless laugh as her whole body tightened against Yukari. For several seconds she simply held on. Yukari did too. Then Brenda opened her eyes. Still catching breath. “Okay.” Yukari smiled. “Okay?” “That was—” “Useful?” Brenda stared. Yukari started laughing. “You absolute bitch.” --- ### Not Finished Brenda kissed her again. Different now. Slower for perhaps ten seconds. Then: “You.” Yukari raised an eyebrow. “Me?” “Don't be cute.” “I am naturally charming.” “Lie down.” Yukari blinked. Then laughed. “Oh.” “You had your fun.” “Indeed.” “My turn.” Yukari settled back. Gladly. Brenda did not try to recreate what had worked for herself. She had been paying attention. Different body. Different responses. Different pleasure. She touched Yukari first. Not tentative. Careful. Listening through reaction. Her fingers slid through the wetness, stroking the folds before circling the clit with firm pressure. Yukari's breath caught. Brenda smiled. “Useful.” “Brenda.” “Sorry.” She was not. Yukari laughed. Then Brenda's hand shifted and laughter became something else. Two fingers pressed inside, curling as her thumb kept working the clit. A soft sound. Then another. “Better?” “Yes.” Brenda stayed there. No unnecessary change. The teasing faded naturally as Yukari's responses grew less controlled. Brenda watched her face. Not with Iris's chosen-gaze intensity. With fascination. Delight. The pleasure of solving nothing. Simply giving. Yukari reached for her. Brenda took the hand and kissed the palm. Then continued. Yukari's hips shifted toward her. Brenda followed. The sensation built steadily. No rush. No need for spectacle despite Brenda being Brenda. At the end, Yukari's fingers tightened around hers. Her breath broke. Then pleasure moved through her strongly enough that she closed her eyes and lost every clever sentence she'd been preparing. Brenda laughed softly. Not at her. With joy. Yukari opened her eyes. Brenda was smiling. Wide. Beautiful. Yukari pulled her down and kissed her. --- ### Naked Engineering They remained on the sofa. Mostly naked. Warm. Brenda's head against Yukari's shoulder. The mysterious mechanism remained open on the workbench. After several minutes Brenda looked toward it. Yukari noticed. “No.” “I didn't say anything.” “You want to get up.” “No.” “You are thinking about the mechanism.” Brenda hesitated. “Maybe.” Yukari stared. Brenda smiled. “Little.” Yukari started laughing. “Darling, if you leave this sofa to measure a gear immediately after sex, I may be forced to reconsider our relationship.” “Relationship?” The word came out too quickly. Yukari noticed. Brenda noticed Yukari noticing. For once neither made a joke. Yukari touched her cheek. “Yes.” Brenda looked at her. Something vulnerable flickered through the brightness. Not fear. Hope, perhaps. Yukari kissed her forehead. “Relationship.” Brenda smiled. Small. Then: “Can I measure the gear in ten minutes?” Yukari groaned. Brenda collapsed into laughter. --- ### Iris They eventually dressed enough to avoid being arrested by the workshop's automated cleaning system. Brenda picked up her holo. Yukari smiled. “Your wife?” “Yes.” One message waited. **IRIS:** Alive? Brenda immediately laughed. “She stole my line.” She typed: **BRENDA:** yes Another message. **IRIS:** Happy? Brenda looked toward Yukari. Then typed: **BRENDA:** obscenely Reply: **IRIS:** Good. Brenda smiled. No interrogation. No details demanded. Then another message arrived. **IRIS:** Did you make her repair something? Brenda stared. Yukari leaned over. Read it. Started laughing. Brenda typed: **BRENDA:** WE FOUND A MYSTERY MECHANISM Three dots. **IRIS:** Of course you did. Yukari laughed harder. --- ### The Mechanism They stayed another hour. Yes. They measured the gear. Yukari allowed it. Barely. Brenda eventually identified enough of the mechanism to formulate three plausible uses and rejected all three five minutes later. She packed it carefully. Yukari watched. “Happy?” Brenda looked at her. “With the machine?” “With the evening.” Brenda put the mechanism down. Walked over. Wrapped both arms around Yukari. “Yes.” No joke. Yukari hugged her back. Brenda rested her cheek against her. Then said: “Iris was right.” “About?” “You.” Yukari smiled. “That remains broad.” “She said you make people feel like you're interested in the part nobody else notices.” Yukari went still. Brenda pulled back. Looked at her. “That is what you did.” Yukari did not know what clever answer to give. So she gave none. Brenda kissed her. Softly this time. --- ### Home The upper safehouse door opened from inside. Iris was waiting. Not dramatically. She was sitting with coffee. Brenda entered carrying the mysterious mechanism like treasure. Iris looked at it. Then at Brenda. Then at Yukari. “No.” Brenda smiled. “You don't even know what it is.” “Neither do you.” “That is the best part.” Iris looked toward Yukari. “Good date?” Yukari smiled. “Very.” Brenda put the mechanism down. Crossed to her wife. Iris stood. Brenda kissed her. Long. Warm. Iris smiled against her mouth. When they separated: “Obscenely happy?” Brenda grinned. “Yes.” “Good.” Then Iris looked at Yukari. Yukari saw nothing territorial there. Only warmth. And perhaps a little curiosity. Yukari smiled. “Different enough?” Iris laughed. “Completely.” Brenda turned. “What does that mean?” “Nothing.” “You discussed us.” “No.” “You absolutely discussed us.” Yukari walked past them. “Darling, your wife is an excellent conversationalist.” “TRAITORS.” --- ### Nine Tails and One Engineer Later, Yukari went to her own room. Not the Triad's bed. Not Iris and Brenda's. Her room. She changed into fox form and climbed onto her bed. Nine tails spread around her. A few minutes later there was a knock. “Come in.” Brenda opened the door. Stopped. “You can talk like that and it still gets me every time.” Yukari's ears lifted. “What do you want?” Brenda leaned against the doorframe. “Nothing.” Yukari waited. Brenda smiled. “Okay. One thing.” “Of course.” “Second date?” Yukari's tails moved. Brenda noticed. “Oh, that's a yes.” “You are becoming alarmingly good at reading them.” “I am an engineer.” “They are not instrumentation.” “Everything is instrumentation if you lack ethics.” Yukari laughed. Then transformed. Human. Sitting cross-legged on the bed. “Yes.” Brenda's grin appeared. “Good.” Yukari pointed. “That word.” “Oh, come on.” Yukari smiled. “Second date.” Brenda nodded. Then began to leave. Stopped. Looked back. “And Yukari?” “Yes?” “Thank you for liking the boring part.” Yukari's expression softened. “It was not boring.” “I know.” That was the point. Brenda smiled. Closed the door. Yukari sat alone for a moment. Then returned to fox form. Nine tails curled around her. Iris had wanted to be seen when she chose to let go. Brenda had wanted someone who stayed interested before anything exploded. Different women. Different desires. Different kinds of closeness. Exactly as they should be. Yukari lowered her head. This family continued teaching her something she had once believed impossible. Love did not become less meaningful when it multiplied. It became more specific. And specificity, Yukari was discovering, was rather addictive. --- ## Chapter 28 — Countless Tomorrows Morning arrived without urgency. That felt appropriate. Yukari woke in fox form. Not in her own room. At the foot of Ace, Mai and Shammy's bed. Nine tails curled around her in familiar disarray. Home. Above her, the Triad slept exactly as it always had. Ace nearest one side. Mai turned partly toward her. Shammy between warmth and stillness. Nothing had been displaced. Nothing had been diluted. Yukari understood that more clearly now than she had when she first came here. Love could grow without rearranging every foundation beneath it. She lifted her head. Ace's eyes were already open. “Morning.” Yukari's ears moved. Ace smiled. “Good Brenda date?” The fox's mouth opened slightly. “Yes.” Mai stirred. “She's smiling.” Shammy's eyes remained closed. “She smiles as a fox.” “Yes.” “She absolutely does.” Yukari transformed. Warm gold passed through fur and bone. A moment later she sat at the foot of the bed in human form. “You are all very observant.” Ace grinned. “We've had practice.” --- ### Kitchen Brenda was already there. So was Iris. That alone told Yukari something. Brenda usually approached mornings like a hostile engineering problem. Today she had coffee. Food. And the expression of a woman who had been awake long enough to disassemble something mentally without yet touching a screwdriver. Iris sat beside her. Their knees touching beneath the table. Domestic. Easy. Brenda looked up when Yukari entered. Their eyes met. A grin. Not the theatrical one. Smaller. Private. Yukari smiled back. Iris noticed both. Of course. “Good morning.” “Good morning.” Brenda pointed toward the coffee. “I saved you some.” Yukari raised an eyebrow. “You?” “Yes.” “Voluntarily?” Brenda looked offended. “I can be considerate.” Iris drank coffee. “No comment.” Yukari laughed. --- ### No Debrief Nobody asked for details. That was another thing Yukari had learned to love about them. They teased. Certainly. Brenda was incapable of existing without creating opportunities for teasing. But nobody treated intimacy as communal property. Iris knew Brenda was happy. Brenda knew Iris had been happy. That was enough. Mai entered next. Then Ace. Then Shammy. Breakfast assembled itself. Marco's food arrived. Coffee multiplied. Somewhere during the second round, Brenda pulled the mysterious mechanism from the previous evening out of her bag and placed it on the table. Ace stared. “No.” Brenda looked delighted. “You haven't even seen it.” “I know that face.” “What face?” “The face you make right before the rest of us lose six hours.” Yukari smiled. “I bought it for her.” Ace looked at Yukari. Then at Brenda. Then back. “Oh no.” Brenda's grin widened. “You understand.” “I understand entirely too much.” --- ### Elisa Yukari's holo pinged. Elisa. She opened the message. > **ELISA:** Morning, Fox. Yukari smiled. > **YUKARI:** Morning, mentor. Immediate reply: > **ELISA:** Don't call me that. > **YUKARI:** Teacher? > **ELISA:** Worse. > **YUKARI:** Darling? Pause. Then: > **ELISA:** Unfortunately acceptable. Yukari laughed. Ace looked over. “Elisa?” “Yes.” “Already regretting leaving?” “Apparently regretting mentoring me.” Mai smiled. “She'll recover.” Another message arrived. > **ELISA:** Also Bea wants to know whether Fox intends to work again. Yukari considered. Then typed: > **YUKARI:** Yes. A pause. Then: > **YUKARI:** When she wants to. The answer came quickly. > **ELISA:** Correct. Yukari smiled. --- ### Anja There was one more message waiting. Not from Elisa. Not Suzy. Not Panam. Anja. Fox's agent. Short. Simple. > **ANJA:** I enjoyed Saturday. Yukari looked at it for several seconds. No demand. No assumption. No booking request disguised as nostalgia. Just truth. She typed: > **FOX:** So did I. The reply came later. > **ANJA:** Maybe again sometime. Yukari smiled. > **FOX:** Maybe. And left it there. Possibility. Wonderful thing. --- ### The Door Stays Open Suzy had not scheduled Fox. Panam had not assigned Fox a shift. Nobody had decided that one successful booking meant career. Nobody had decided that enjoying the work meant responsibility to repeat it. Fox existed. Lizzie's existed. The door remained open. That was enough. Yukari looked around the table. Ace and Mai arguing over coffee. Shammy watching them. Iris reading something. Brenda trying to get Ace interested in an unidentified piece of machinery. It did not work. Then worked. Of course it did. Yukari smiled. This too was enough. --- ### A Terrible Idea The conversation wandered. As safehouse conversations tended to. From Brenda's mystery mechanism— to Fox— to Iris's date— to absolutely nothing related— and somehow back again. Ace leaned back in her chair. Looked around the table. Then smiled. Yukari recognized that smile. Danger. “Okay.” Mai immediately said: “No.” Ace looked offended. “I haven't said anything.” “Exactly.” Brenda looked interested. “What?” Ace's grin widened. “I was thinking.” Shammy sighed. “Always a warning.” Ace ignored them. Looked toward Yukari. Then Iris. Then Brenda. Then Mai and Shammy. “What if we all went on a date?” Silence. Not long. But complete. Ace's smile faltered slightly. Then: “I mean, not like—” “No,” Mai said. Ace stopped. Mai smiled. “I know what you mean.” That made the silence stranger. Not rejection. Not discomfort. Thought. --- ### Mai Mai reacted first. Of course. Not with an answer. With logistics. Her eyes moved around the table. Six people. Different relationships. Different energies. Different expectations. Different appetites. She smiled slowly. “That would be absolute chaos.” Ace grinned. “So yes?” “I didn't say yes.” “You didn't say no.” Mai looked at Yukari. Then Brenda. Then Iris. Then Shammy. Her smile became warmer. “No.” A beat. “I didn't.” And that was all. But the thought stayed. Yukari saw it. --- ### Shammy Shammy's reaction was quieter. She looked at Ace. Then Mai. Then Yukari. Not possessive. Never that. Something older. Amused. Curious. Perhaps touched. She had spent longer than any of them learning that love could take shapes people had not invented names for yet. Finally: “That would require a very large table.” Ace laughed. Yukari did too. Shammy smiled. But she did not dismiss the idea. Not remotely. --- ### Iris Iris looked suspiciously thoughtful. Brenda noticed. “Oh.” Iris turned. “What?” “That face.” “What face?” “The one where you're already planning.” “I am not planning.” “You absolutely are.” Iris looked toward Ace. Then Yukari. Then everyone else. “A single evening?” Ace shrugged. “Sure.” “Dinner?” “Probably.” “Private?” “Probably smarter.” Brenda stared. “You are planning.” Iris ignored her. Yukari smiled. Interesting. Very interesting. --- ### Brenda Brenda had already moved past whether the idea was ridiculous. That part took approximately three seconds. Now she was evaluating whether ridiculous could become excellent. “Wait.” Everyone looked at her. “No restaurant.” Ace blinked. “We don't even have a plan.” “I know.” “Then what are you vetoing?” “Future stupidity.” Mai smiled. Brenda continued: “If six of us go anywhere together, a normal restaurant becomes logistics.” Iris nodded reluctantly. “She isn't wrong.” “Private venue.” Brenda pointed. “Exactly.” Ace stared. “You've all turned my joke into procurement.” Yukari laughed. --- ### Ace Ace looked around the table. Then slowly smiled again. “Okay.” Mai raised an eyebrow. “Okay what?” “I genuinely wasn't serious.” Brenda pointed at her. “Coward.” “I AM NOT A COWARD.” “You dropped an idea and panicked when it survived contact with reality.” Ace opened her mouth. Closed it. Shammy laughed. Mai leaned over and kissed Ace's cheek. “You did.” Ace stared at all of them. Then Yukari. “You too?” Yukari smiled. “Oh, darling.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “That sounds dangerous.” “Perhaps.” --- ### Yukari Everyone eventually moved on. At least outwardly. Coffee. Mechanism. Messages. Plans for the day. But Yukari did not. Not entirely. _A date._ All of them. Ace. Mai. Shammy. Iris. Brenda. Yukari. Not a group encounter disguised as romance. Not a party. Not Lizzie's. Not an obligation to make every relationship identical. A date. The idea settled somewhere inside her. Unexpectedly warm. She imagined dinner. Too many conversations at once. Ace and Brenda arguing. Mai trying unsuccessfully to keep order. Iris pretending she was not keeping order. Shammy watching everyone with ancient amusement. Hands touching beneath a table. Different kisses. Different laughter. No requirement for the evening to end in any particular configuration. Just— all of them choosing to spend time together because they wanted to. Yukari had lived long enough to know dangerous ideas. This was not one. That might have been why it frightened her more. It sounded possible. Worse. It sounded lovely. --- ### Later Yukari found Ace alone near the workshop. Ace was pretending to read something. Yukari leaned against the doorway. “You know.” Ace looked up. “Oh no.” “You started this.” “I made a joke.” “Did you?” “Yes.” Yukari smiled. Ace stared. Then slowly: “Mostly.” There. Yukari laughed. Ace pointed. “Don't make it weird.” “I wasn't going to.” “Good.” “I was merely going to say that I liked the idea.” Ace went still. Not shocked. Surprised. Then her expression softened. “Yeah?” “Yes.” Yukari looked away for a moment. Then back. “Rather more than I expected.” Ace smiled. No teasing. Not this time. “Okay.” Yukari waited. Ace continued: “Then maybe someday.” Not a promise. Not a plan. No calendar. Perfect. Yukari smiled. “Maybe.” --- ### Evening By evening, the idea had apparently infected everyone. Not openly. Nobody scheduled anything. Nobody created a group chat. Nobody booked a venue. But Yukari noticed. Mai looked at a restaurant recommendation and paused half a second too long. Brenda sent Iris a listing for a private rooftop space with no explanation. Iris replied: > **Too small.** Brenda looked delighted. Shammy caught Yukari seeing that. They smiled at each other. Ace pretended none of this was happening. Poorly. --- ### Nine Tails Late that night, Yukari returned to fox form. The Triad's bedroom was dark. Ace lifted the blanket slightly as Yukari entered. “Hey.” Yukari jumped onto the bed. Moved to her usual place. The foot. Nine tails arranging themselves with familiar incompetence. Mai looked down. “Comfortable?” “Yes.” Shammy reached out. Touched one tail. Yukari relaxed. Her world had become absurdly full in a very short time. Ace. Mai. Shammy. Iris. Brenda. Elisa. Anja. Fox. Lizzie's. A room of her own. A collar she wore because she wanted to. A job she might do when she felt like it. Dates. Second dates. Promises. Possibilities. And now— one spectacularly foolish suggestion from Ace. Yukari opened one eye. “Ace?” “Yeah?” “The group date.” Ace groaned. “Goddammit.” Mai started laughing. Shammy's hand paused against Yukari's tail. Yukari continued: “When it happens—” Ace lifted her head. “When?” Yukari's fox mouth opened into a smile. “I would like somewhere with good food.” Silence. Then Mai laughed harder. Ace stared. Shammy smiled. From somewhere down the hall, Brenda shouted: “PRIVATE VENUE!” Iris: “BRENDA!” Ace collapsed backward into the pillows. “Oh, for fuck's sake.” Yukari curled tighter at the foot of the bed. Warm. Safe. Home. And smiling. --- For most of her life, Yukari had survived by leaving before tomorrow could become a promise. Now tomorrow was crowded. With people. With desire. With laughter. With work she could choose. With lovers who wanted different things from her and gave different things back. With friends she had not expected. With a home she no longer treated as temporary. And somewhere ahead— perhaps— one very complicated date involving entirely too many people and absolutely no reasonable chance of staying on schedule. Yukari closed her eyes. She could hardly wait.