When Carl got back to Archyon, he sat at the edge of one of the shallow lakes, gazing up at the flawless moons. The peace that cane with being on an uninhabited planet was terrifyingly seductive.

He had almost made it impossible for anyone else to come to the world by the time Kyubi gasped behind him after the tell-tale crackle of the portal opening echoed out and alerted him to her imminent arrival.

"Carl, this is beautiful..." He heard her move toward him, then her arms draped around him and he felt her press against him. "...Whatever you say, thank you for this at least."

"You're welcome, I've made it future proof as well so there are self maintaining buildings all over, including nurseries, bath houses etc. When the various fox spirits make their come back, they will be well equipped."

Her arms tightened around him. "Truly, I can't thank you enough Carl."

"Well, maybe see how you feel after we speak..." Kyubi squeezed him briefly, before releasing and kneeling beside him. "...I want to accept your feelings, but can't honestly say I feel the same. I want to start with a kind of trial between us, if that's okay?"

"It's more than I hoped for in all honesty. I expected outright rejection and only asked because I would have regretted it if I never did."

Carl went on to tell her everything he spoke to Klaire about...

"I agree with all your preliminary terms as well. I'll try to give you a nudge in the mean time too, but can I ask for one small concession?"

"Sure, what do you want? I want the right to sleep beside you, on our dedicated day. You slept with Klaire long before you "slept" with Klaire and those moments of the other person being the first and last thing you see in a day are precious and powerful agents of bonding. I also want to be able to kiss y-"

"Kyubi, yes I will do all of the usual couple stuff, I just mean I can't sleep with you until I can tell you that I love you. Oh, I didn't really tell Klaire this before, but I don't mind you two talking about me or bathing together or anything like that either. You two can move as fast or slow as you want and you don't need to hide your relationship from anyone else, just ask them not to talk to me about it."

"Of course, can I ask why you're accepting me? I have to admit, I'm surprised you even gave it a second thought."

"Oh, well, to tell you the truth... Gaia, kinda came and spoke to me."

"Really? Am I still free to kiss others if it isn't sexual or at all romantic? I need to give that beautiful hunk of earth a big one."

Carl chuckled before telling her that was fine, a little surprised when she actually left suddenly and the distorted sound of surprised vocalisations could be heard, before Kyubi returned with a big smile on her face.

He wasn't sure if it was his change of perspective, but with that smile on her face, he couldn't deny how beautiful she was. He compared her to the broken, half-mad, guilt-ridden and indescribably lonely woman he met back at Kon's homeland.

"Carl!.. I mean, Carl. Can I kiss you please? I know this isn't my day, but I want to kiss you while you're accepting me, before I wake up or something ruins it." Carl pulled a face then stood awkwardly and walked over to kiss her.

The moment their lips touched, Kyubi flushed red and showed an immature and more bashful version of herself, which contrasted her usual mature grace in a way that could only be described as adorable.

"For what it's worth Carl, I love you, deeply. You are a singularly brilliant individual and I hope regardless of anything, I can at least make you happy in some way." Kyubi pulled him close, holding him in her arms and tails, secretly terrified she'd wake up and find it was all a dream.

"You already make me happy, Kyubi. Every day you're a mother to Ki-ko, and are there for the faction."

"Thank you for saying that. I know you don't want to hear about Klaire and I, but I'm not as squeamish about you and Klaire and I know she needs some attention only you can give. I'm going to get Ki-ko and show her this place, I know she'll love it."

"Okay then, I'll message you later, we can have a late night meal and then you and Klaire can have some time tomorrow whilst I go to the variants..."

Kyubi smiled, kissing him on the cheek and giggling with such genuine joy, Carl couldn't help but feel happy too as he snapped a picture on his slate.

"Carl!"

"Sorry, but Grandma would never forgive me if I didn't show her this and neither would Klaire."

"But... Fine, I suppose it is nice you can see me even when I'm not there. She became blushed again and waved for Carl to leave after that, wanting to compose herself before picking up Ki-ko from Alisha and Leanna.

Carl got home and told Tiamutael to keep watching kid-vids until he is done talking with Klaire, then walked up the stairs and into the bedroom.

As he opened the door, Klaire was sat cross legged on the floor, running through the unneeded maintenance of her gun. "Sorry, I got antsy, I'll be-"

Carl knelt behind her and began kissing her neck as he wrapped an arm around her and placed his hand to make his intent clear.

---Meanwhile at Gillian's---

"Gillian, this is awkward."

"What do you mean Blanc?"

Blanc didn't reply immediately, taking a second to look at Sophie, who was sat next to him and Scylla, who was sat next to Gillian and who he had scarcely heard a word about.

"I don't know, maybe it's the fact you haven't spoken about Scylla at all, then you invite me and Sophie over to chat and she's just here... No offence, Scylla. I'm shit with stuff like this and Sophie and I are barely together and not even really sure what we are."

"Don't worry... He asked me if I wanted to come over and meet "one of the guys", didn't mention the whole double date thing to me either..." Scylla's thick white hair was kept at shoulder length, her physique compact and powerful.

Her piercing pale blue eyes were averted from them, as though she wasn't interested in looking at those opposite her.

Sophie just sat with lips pursed against the uncomfortable tension.

Gillian had sat down and was about to something, when Blanc spoke his mind without filter in the same way he always did.

"You know Scylla, you don't have to avert your eyes, we're used to Lillim's gaze so yours is nothing." Scylla side-eyed him and then turned her head to face him.

"How did you know why I was looking away?"

"I'm a householder, that deals with systems, I know everything documented about pretty much everyone in the faction. You got Lycaon's eyes, they passively intimidate people who look into them, I'll take that over seeing the millions of souls that scream behind Lillim's anyday."

"Yeah, when she stares at you..." Gillian shuddered. "...I thought I'd die the first time I looked into her eyes."

"Personally, I think your eyes are pretty. They're like twin moons and how often do you get to see twin moons together?"

Suddenly everyone's slates beeped to notify them about a message, though it said Carl on their screens, they were all aware that meant Ki-ko these days.

"Check out the home Dad, made for Mum on Archyon."

The message was followed immediately by an image of Kyubi smiling back at the camera flanked by a cherry blossom on either side, presided over by two large silver moons that were reflected in water behind her.

"...Anytime we want apparently." Gillian said in response to Sophie's earlier question. "...Is that a consolation prize you think, or a "sorry for making you wait"?"

"Come on, you don't think that Carl would ever be with somebody other than Klaire do you?" Sophie asked sarcastically. "Even I heard about them back on SATS."

"Usually I'd agree, but with Klaire taking an interest in her, I think he might."

"I think he'll agree to the polycule, but with strict boundaries where he's concerned. What I want to know, is how Alysse is taking it."

"She was... let's just say "disgustingly happy", I really regret going to check on her on the way." Sophie answered with a shudder.

"Ew." The other two said in unison.

"Ugh, why are you all so obsessed with Carl and Klaire, is this some sort of cult?"

Sophie laughed, explaining she asked the same thing, then they took turns telling their own stories of why they follow him.

"Well, as a proper lycan, I won't bow to someone who doesn't best me."

"You did hear us tell you that he toyed with Dracula, like the Dracula. I mean not to mention he has the most dangerous weapon in the universe." Sophie answered, remembering at the end about the stories the others told her.

The comment piqued Scylla's interest. "What weapon? Is it something Alysse made him?"

"No, she meant Klaire." Blanc and Gillian said together with a chuckle.

"Scy' I told you what she done on Lunelia, she could properly rip your soul out from wherever she is."

"Well, we'll see about that..."

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