Taimanin Xander Ch. 3 (unedited)

Taimanin Xander

By: Bubbajack

Co-Authors/Editors: Icysnowsage, First Hassan/Darklord331, Antagonist, and Loamy Coffee.

Special Consultant: Heliosion

Special thanks go out to my Super Donors: Alexander Murry, Bobby Glass, JackHanmer, Jareth Norris, Martin T. Aranda, NeroSolas, Selmephren, and Lucas White, my sole Supreme Tier Donor.

Arc 1-3: Last Son of Fuuma.

‘This place is in dire need of repairs,’ That was the first thing Xander thought as he beheld the Yukikaze Estate. It was a borderline dilapidated Mansion in the Japanese style. The usually white washed walls were covered in mold, the black shingles on the roof were either broken or missing, the lawn was in serious need of mowing, and unless his singular remaining eyes were deceiving him the foundation of the home was beginning to sag. Putting a hand on Yukikaze’s shoulder he said, “You live here? Is this place even habitable?”

“Hey!” the kunoichi complained, right before some black tiles fell off her roof as if to accentuate Xander’s point. “Okay, so the place could use a bit of work. I haven’t exactly had time to keep the place up to code between school and active mission duty.”

Xander ran a hand through his hair, “Well, I know what I’ll be doing while I’m here at least,” He proceeded to walk around the property through the knee high grass, making a mental list of everything that would need to be checked and repaired. ‘First thing’s first, this yard needs to be mowed.’ He thought to himself in annoyance. Looking at his hostess, he asked, “Do you have a lawnmower?”

“It's in the shed, but I don’t even know if it works.” Yukikaze replied sheepishly as she pointed to a building off to the side that looked in worse shape than the house itself.

“Seriously, Yuki? How did you let this place get this bad?!” Xander called over his shoulder and he waded through the weeds and grass towards the derelict shed.

“Well, I kept telling myself I’d do it, but then something would come up or I’d tell myself… that I should leave it be because mom would want the place to look exactly like she left it when she comes back,” The last part was said mostly to herself, but Xander heard her anyway.

Running a hand down his face and sighing, Xander did his best to empathize with the girl, but he, unlike her, never had a parental figure who actually gave a damn about him. Joyce and Giles both came close but at the end of the day, Buffy was their main priority being her actual mother and Watcher respectively. He wouldn’t begrudge his friend that. But it made situations like this difficult because he had no frame of reference to work from. Still he tried his best. “Look, I know it's hard, but doing nothing while you wait for news one way or the other on your mom isn’t the same as preserving the place. That requires maintenance and care. Something this place is in dire need of,” Xander said as he pulled the shed door open and was nearly buried under a small mountain of boxes.

“Xander-san!” Yukikaze said, heedless of her new condition as she moved to get him out from under the plie, doing her best to ignore the intense flares of pain and pleasure that flashed through her system everytime she hurriedly moved a box aside in her haste to see to her savior’s wellbeing.

As she uncovered his head from beneath a soggy box he asked, “What exactly is all this crap, Yuki?”

“This crap as you call it, are my parent’s old things… It was hard growing up here alone surrounded by stuff that constantly reminded me of them, so one day I packed it all up and moved it out to the shed.”

Pulling himself to his feet, Xander poked his head inside the shed and his nose was immediately assaulted by the wet sickly scent of mold and mildew, “Well I hate to continue to be the bearer of bad news but due to the state of the shed, I’m not sure how much of this stuff is salvageable. It all depends on what’s in them of course.”

“Nooo!” Yukikaze cried with tears in her eyes as she began going through boxes to salvage what she could of her childhood memories. Deciding the yard could wait, Xander rolled up his sleeves and helped the distraught girl as best he could. Knowing that every little bit he helped prevented her own suffering.

(...)

The sun had started sinking under the horizon by the time the two had managed to save all that they could from the mess of mold infested boxes. Much to Yukikaze’s relief, they’d managed to salvage all of the important things, like her parent’s wedding photos, her mother’s wedding kimono, and various other things. Some things however couldn’t be salvaged. Like her baby pictures.

“Well, I guess I won’t be able to coo over your baby pics while you get all embarrassed now, huh?” Xander joked while trying to lighten the mood.

Despite the loss, Yukikaze found herself smiling just a bit. “No, I guess not. But I can always start a new scrapbook full of new memories I suppose…” She suddenly jumped up as if stung. “Actually, that gives me an idea! Wait here, okay?!”

“Sure?” He said as she raced off to what he could only presume was her room. There was a loud crash followed quickly by a muffled cry of “I’m okay!” Seconds later, Yukikaze came out of her room holding a digital camera up in the air as if it were a piece of Hyrule’s own Triforce.

“Da da da daa.” Xander couldn’t help but intone as she neared.

Yukikaze rolled her eyes, “Dork,” she teased before she said, “No, we’ll make our own memories with this!”

“So you're gonna start a scrapbook of our time together?” Xander was somewhat touched by the idea since no one else had ever really cared enough to take pictures of him except for his failed wedding to Anya… but that was just capturing his shame and failure for all time which did nothing for his ego in the long run.

The tanned kunoichi suddenly became self conscious of the idea, “Yeah, is… is that okay?”

“It’s fine, it’s just no one’s ever bothered to do anything like this before. Certainly not my folks. I don’t think I even have baby pictures,” He said, finishing with a hollow laugh. “Knowing my folks, they spent the money on alcohol.”

Yukikaze offered him a tender smile, “I’m sorry, it sounds like you’ve had it harder than me. Like you would’ve been better off if your parents hadn’t been there at all.”

“Maybe…” Xander sighed morosely, before brightening and saying, “But it’s taught me one important thing, family is more than blood. It’s about the bonds you have with others and who you choose to call your family that really matters… that’s why finding out this Fuuma guy is my sperm donor doesn’t really affect me all that much. Trading one dad who was hardly there and was abusive when he was for one who was never there at all hardly matters.” He said as he sat down on a plush leather sofa after coming into the mansion proper after surveying the scene outside.

‘Abusive?’ She thought her grip on the digital camera tightened to the point it groaned in protest, before she tentatively sitting down next to him she asked, in a concerned yet soft tone, “When you say abusive, how bad was it?”

Xander rubbed the back of his head seeming sheepish, “I don’t want to bore you with the details. Hell, I shouldn’t have even said anything, but I guess all these revelations today have left my head a bit jumbled.”

“Xander!” Yukikaze said, putting her hand on his arm and looking into his eye with seriousness, “You aren’t… you don’t have to…” She let out a grunt of frustration, it was so hard to even think much less string together coherent sentences with her body being so sensitive! Just sitting down on her couch made her cum a little. But she soldiered on, “You can talk to me, I know we’ve just met, but… you saved me from a fate worse than death, and then had several bombshells dropped on your head, after which you helped me save most of my parents' mementos. I know it's abrupt and sudden, and feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but I already feel like you and I have… something of a connection even though we’ve just met.”

Xander for his part shook his head, “No, I feel the same way, but that’s why I don’t wanna rush things. Everytime I do it always blows up in my face, rather spectacularly, I might add. Plus, the girl in question dies,” seeing the incredulous look the kunoichi was giving him he said, “I’m dead serious.”

Giving his arm a comforting squeeze, she told him, “Xander, you know you're not cursed or something like that right?”

Staring up at the ceiling and noting the water damage stain, he replied, “I dunno Yuki, I lived on a Hellmouth, lots of crazy shit happened to me. I tangled with plenty of evil witches in my time and any one of them could’ve cursed me. Or I’ve just got good ole fashioned bad luck.” He shrugged, “Either way, it doesn’t really matter because who would want to date a carpenter who can’t even do his job anymore? I mean it’s not like I get paid for the demon hunting.”

“Wait, you don’t get paid for demon hunting?!... Hold up! No, you're trying to distract me!?!” Yukikaze declared, squeezing his arm even harder. “I’ll have you know I think you're very sexy, and think your eyepatch makes you look positively yummy!”

He smirked at her, “Oh you do, do you?”

She flushed, “I… stupid fucking hormones! stupid fucking condition!” she said before she buried her face in his shoulder to hide her shame. “Can we just forget I said that?”

Gently stroking her hair, Xander replied, “Of course we can, though my ego appreciates the boost all the same, Yuki.”

“Thanks,” Peeking up at him through her bangs, Yukikaze said, “I mean what I said though Xander… I at least think you look fine just the way you are.”

“I believe you specifically used the word yummy.” He teased.

The Tanned Taimanin beat his shoulder weakly as she said. “Shut up, shut up, shut up!”

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist… so you wanna put that camera to use?” He asked, offering an olive branch

“Sure,” She agreed before she looped an arm over his shoulder, a gesture he reciprocated before she held the camera up facing them and said, “Smile!”

That would be the first picture that would go into Yukikaze’s scrapbook and the title would be changed numerous times before eventually settling on, “My Savior, my Hero, my Husband.”

“To new beginnings,” Xander said after the picture was taken.

“To new friends,” Yukikaze agreed, “And maybe if you stick around long enough to get to know me better… Can we possibly be more than just friends?” She added hopefully at the end.

“We’ll see.” Xander said after a moment, “I’m missing an eye but I’m not completely blind. I’d have to be to not notice how beautiful you are.”

Yukikaze flushed from her head to her toes upon hearing that, and she was glad she had such a deep tan as it probably prevented Xander from noticing. “Thanks… but you like girls who are better endowed like Rinko or Asagi, right? Even I saw how you were looking at Mikami Chizu.”

“Look, I dunno what they feed you Taimanin but thus far, you're the only girl I’ve met that has a normal bust size. That Chizu girl…” Xander paused thinking of a way to say this tactfully before just deciding to be blunt. “I’m sure she’s a sweet girl but she has tits twice the size of her head! That’s gonna make any red blooded man stop and stare. To be honest, I’m glad you're normal compared to everyone else, though that Serika girl didn’t seem to have a pair of bunker busters for boobs like that Rinko friend of yours… or that teacher?! My God, how does she even stand up straight without back pain?”

Yukikaze couldn’t help herself, she burst out into laughter! Xander had in one brief rant voiced every insecurity she’d had growing up, but made her feel better about herself by having it come from a man’s point of view and saying that she was the normal one rather than the creepy flat chested outlier for not looking like everyone else. “Oh… you’d better hope I never tell Rinko or Kousaka-sensei what you just said.”

“Please don’t, I like living.” the man said in deadpan seriousness.

Suddenly getting a devilish idea, the kunoichi smirked, “Well, I might be… persuaded to keep my silence…”

‘Ah, blackmail how I haven’t missed you old friend,’ Xander thought before he asked, “What do you want?”

“Nothing serious, just a kiss,” Yukikaze said a bit demurely as she glanced away, ‘Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. I mean, if just sitting down can make me cum, what would a kiss do?’ Before she could call it off, citing it as a harmless prank. She felt Xander’s fingers on her chin, raising her face to meet his own. Her reddish-purple eyes were absorbed into his chocolate one and all thought of calling it off melted away as she met the intensity in his gaze. A single moment hung like an eternity before their lips met. It was like her own Lightning Art was going off inside of her body as fireworks exploded behind her eyes and her heartbeat thundered in her ears even as it seemingly threatened to burst out of her very chest! She didn’t know if this was the effect of the body modification or Xander himself but either way, Yukikaze had never known that  kissing someone could feel so good! ‘I could get addicted to this feeling!’ She thought deliriously as she felt his tongue probe her lip and she eagerly, even greedily allowed him entrance and sucked on his spongy appendage. ‘I love this! I. Want. More.’ She thought to herself. As she pressed herself into him, deepening the kiss even further, she purred in contentment when he wrapped his strong arms around her, his hands roaming along her back. 

Then quite abruptly, he pulled her back. “Yuki…Yuki, we need to stop.” He said, his tone breathless and filled with regret.

“Why?” She asked, short of breath herself.

“You're making a mess for one,” He nodded down at the couch which was half flooded by the juices coming from her legs, her panties utterly drenched, and that was just from one kiss. “Secondly, you’ve been through a traumatic experience and I wouldn’t want you to do anything you’d regret,” seeing the surprised look on her face, he smirked a bit, “I may not look or act like it most of the time, but I am twenty-four, and I’ve seen some shit. I know how people usually deal with trauma and it’s through either drinking, fighting, or fucking. In your case though, fucking could trigger a relapse so…”

Yukikaze honestly didn’t know how to feel. ‘On the one hand, he’s looking out for me and taking my mental wellbeing into account over getting laid, which is totally sweet! On the other hand, he’s clamjamming me, the bastard!’ In the end however, her appreciation over Xander’s chivalric nature won out over his cunt blocking of her. “I…I should go get changed.” She tried to stand, but her legs only wobbled before giving out on her. ‘Damn it!’ She cursed only for Xander to pick her up in a princess carry and in three powerful steps, make his way into her room.

For his part, Xander felt like he should’ve said no to her demands. He knew of her condition after all, and now his self-hatred was on overdrive. ‘Stupid Xander! You can’t do anything right! Just like Tony always said.’ He didn’t know what to expect when he entered Yukikaze’s room, but he sure as hell didn’t expect a recording studio! All manner of recording equipment was arranged around a very high tech looking computer, including a microphone, top of the line video camera, and rolled up in a corner was a futon. Giving it a kick to unroll it, he laid her down on it before asking, “You gonna be alright? Do you need me to get you anything?”

Yukikaze shook her head, “No, I just need a minute to calm down and some time to change my clothes.”

He nodded, "Right, well I’m gonna go clean up the couch.”

Before he could go, Yukikaze reached out and grabbed his hand, causing him to turn around as she said, “Xander? I’m sorry I pressed for the kiss, I won’t deny that I loved it, that I want more of it especially with how it… how you made me feel… but you're probably right, I’m rushing into things like I always do and… just don’t blame yourself for what happened, ok?”

Xander felt a sense of catharsis as she spoke, so she didn’t blame or hate him. That was good, ‘But blaming herself is no better,’ He thought so he said, “Let’s just both agree we got caught up in the moment, yeah?” Seeing her nod timidly he added, “I like you too, Yuki but I don’t wanna rush into something and ruin things either so let’s just… take it slow and see how it goes?”

“Yeah, slow.” She agreed albeit reluctantly. She was the Lightning Taimanin, she didn’t know how to do slow. By her very nature, Minazuki Yukikaze was hot-headed, brash, and fierce. Just like her Ninja Art, fast was all she really knew. Passion and anger burned equally as hot and fast within her chest. Yet all that had really gotten her in life was trouble. So maybe it was time to try going slower if only just, and if not for her sake, then at least for the sake of the man she currently found herself enamored with. “I’ll be out in a little bit,” She told him, gracing him with an impish smile.

“While you're changing, I’ll try and clean the couch. Do you keep cleaning supplies under the sink?” he asked as he made his way towards the bathroom.

“You don’t have to do that, you know?” She called as she stripped out of her fourth pair of panties today, before switching into something more comfortable, specifically a long yellow and black lace nightie that reached down to just below her knees.

“I’m used to it… well not this but cleaning up my super powered lady friends messes? Yeah more or less. That’s me, Xander the glorified janitor.” He said with a self-derisive laugh. She came out of her room to find Xander just finishing up wiping down the couch with a cloth and some kind of aerosol spray. “There, that should do it,” He said.

“Thanks, you didn’t need to do that,” She said, embarrassed that he cleaned up her mess.

“It’s no problem," he replied, glancing over his shoulder, stopping in surprise before turning fully and saying, “You look nice.”

“Y-You think so?” Yukikaze said butterflies were taking flight in her stomach in her embarrassment. “This is just something I throw on almost every night.”

He gave her two thumbs up, “It suits you, yellow is definitely your color.”

Thanks,” she promptly sat down next to him once again on the now clean and disinfected couch. Wrapping her arms around one of his she rested her head on his shoulder and said, “Hey, Xander?”

“Hmm?”

“Could we stay like this for a bit?”

“We can stay like this for as long as you like, Yuki.”

“Thanks,” She replied, for the first time in a long time, Mizuki Yukikaze didn’t drift off to sleep feeling lonely. Instead she felt warm, safe, and accepted. For the first time in years, her house felt like a home again.

(...)

Xander was awoken from his snoozing on the couch by loud screams. He grabbed a dagger strapped to his leg and jumped up, throwing the blanket on him to the floor. He looked to the couch and saw Yukikaze was missing. He realized she must have left him on the couch to sleep and went to her own room. He ran as fast as his feet could take him as the screams rose and dulled as Yuki grew a little hoarse.  Xander ran even faster till he was close enough to understand what she was screaming.

“Mom, no! Don’t….. Don’t leave me too! Mom Noooooooooooooooooooooo! I don’t want to be alone……. Please don’t leave me.”

Then the screams of pain changed into soft whimpers as Xander arrived at her bedroom. Pillows were thrown about and her throw covers were a mess. Yukikaze was a mess of tears and mucus. She was holding a pillow to her face and squeezing it with all her might that the pillow was breaking in some points. Xander moved to her and tried to release her arms but they held the pillow in an iron vice-like grip. 

Xander held Yukikaze’s arm and tried to shake her awake, “Yuki, Yuki! You are having a nightmare. Come on girl, wake up.” He shook her and the response he got was unexpected.

She started to groan almost and her tears and cries turned to moans of ecstasy. Xander realized that even the slightest touch caused her immense pleasure due to her condition. She started to shiver and gasp and Xander noticed a growing dampness on the sheets.  Xander wasn’t sure what to do to wake the kunoichi. Shaking her caused immense pleasure, as if her entire body was one big erogenous zone… and who knows what would happen if he tried to wake her up through other means. Was she just as sensitive to pain as she was to pleasure? Xander didn’t know but decided to bite the bullet in the end and pinch Yukikaze.

The erotic screams that came from her would be emblazoned in Xander’s mind for a long time. It hurt him to do this but the girl was stuck between the agony of mental torture and the throes of physical pleasure. The punch she threw knocked the wind out of Xander and he crashed into the wall. Slightly denting it as he fell to the floor. His groans of pain are what finally awoke Yukikaze.

“Xan…. Xander? What … What happened? Are you okay?” She ran to him and held him in such a tender way it almost gave him whiplash at her mood.  Even as he could see her grunt as she held back the pleasure that was blasting her as she held him.

“You hit like an angry mule.” He grunted out through the pain before he tried to get up only for her to force him back down. 

“Did I punch you in my sleep? God, I’m so sorry!” the tanned girl couldn’t sound anymore remorseful if she tried, “Why’d you even come in here, anyway?”

“You were having a nightmare, I was just trying to wake you up.” He replied only to receive a hug in response.

“Mom was walking away again, and no matter how fast I ran, I couldn’t catch up to her… it's not the first time I’ve had that dream. Hell, it's not even the fiftieth. But thanks for worrying about me… and all it got you was a sore back.” She sniffed self-deprecatingly.

He scoffed, “I’ve had worse, been backhanded into dumpsters more than once by blood demons. This is nothing,” Glancing at her with his good eye he asked, “Can I get up now?”

“I’d prefer it if you rolled over and let me look at your back. I’d need to check and make sure nothing’s broken.”

Xander sighed tiredly, “Yuki, if my back was broken, the worst thing we could do is roll me over on my stomach.” He was something of a novice when it came to field medicine due to having to patch himself up after patrols, so even he knew that much.

“Still,” she huffed as she put her hands on her shapely hips, “Wait, here a sec,” She left and came back moments later with a first aid kit. “I’m no Himehagi-sensei, but I can at least wrap your chest in gause to prevent any broken ribs, just in case.”

“I don’t think anything is broken.” Xander replied shifting around experimentally. “That’s happened more than once, so I would be able to tell by now.”

Hearing this caused her to frown at him. “You're going to let me wrap you up and then… because my bed is soaked, we are going to share a futon, understand?”

“You know, If you wanted to cuddle, you could’ve just asked? Ow, watch it. Injured person here.” he said when she slapped him on the shoulder.

Giving him a deadpan look she grumbled, “Shut up… stupid hot Xander and his stupid hot sexiness. You're probably the reason my nightmare got all smexy near the end.”

That earned her a raised eyebrow and accompanying smirk, “Smexy, you say? Do tell. Ugh!” he grunted when she pulled the gauze tightly around his chest.

“Too hard?” she asked.

“No, I’m good.” He assured her.

“Good… since you asked… I went from running after my mom and never being able to catch up to her, to finding myself in the bath with you, offering to um… wash your back…” She was finding the floor very interesting by the time she finished.

Xander took it in stride, “Sounds nice. You actually have no idea how hard it is to bathe when your depth perception is shit. And, I bet your hair is a bitch and a half to wash all by yourself.”

His simple plan worked and he broke the tension, and Yukikaze laughed, “Yeah, it is actually,” Looking shyly away, she offered, “While you're here, if you need help, I’d be more than happy to help you in the bath… only if you want help, that is.”

He accepted her humble offer of help by making one of his own, “Likewise. Like I said, washing your hair by yourself must be a pain in the ass.”

As she finished wrapping up any potential wounds Yukikaze said, “Thanks, Xander. I may take you up on that soon. C’mon, let’s both go back to bed. The two retired to the guest room and Xander being the gentleman, turned fully away from her as she laid down, not wanting her to think he had any ulterior motives.

He heard her sigh from behind him before she said, “Xander, what are you doing?”

“Sleeping?” He replied looking over his shoulder to see Yukikaze propped up on one arm looking at him with a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

“Xander, you know I don’t bite right?” she cajoled.

“No, you only punch people into walls in your sleep.” he joked back. Seeing her wince he said, “Sorry, too soon?”

She shook her head, causing her dark brown locks to flail about, “No, I deserved that… I’m not going to hit you again if you hold me…” Looking away nervously she admitted, “Actually, I’d prefer it! I-I feel like I slept better with you on the couch than in my own futon if I’m being honest.”

Pulling her into a gentle embrace, he asked lowly, “Why didn’t you say so? Hell, why didn’t you just stay on the couch with me?” He asked as he pulled her down beside him, looking into her eyes.

She glanced away and fiddled with a strand of her hair for a moment before she answered, “I dunno… I guess I didn’t wanna come off as needy, weak, or desperate. I’m a Taimanin, damn it! We’re supposed to be strong demon hunting badasses, and now here I am, turning into a gushing mess at the slightest touch… It's a bit pathetic and very humiliating! Not only did it happen to me, but Rinko too, all because I went rogue on the off chance I could find my mom!” Yukikaze was tearing up by the end once again and Xander oh so gently with a single finger brushed those tears away.

“Look, I can’t say I know what it's like to have loving parents, but your mom must be one helluva woman and mother for you to basically go rogue for even the off chance of finding her.”

Yuki nodded, “Yeah, she was the best.”

Xander nodded, “That said, I know what it's like to have friends who would follow you to hell if you asked, cause I’d do the same for Buffy and Willow… I'll bet you yen to taiyaki that Rinko would do the same for you.”

“Yen to taiyaki?” she giggled.

He gave a rueful smile, “Sorry, I was trying to make a certain Americanism make sense. For us, it would be dollars to doughnuts.” Gently running his fingers through her hair he said softly, “Get some sleep, by the time you wake up tomorrow, I’ll have breakfast ready for you.” He promised.

“No, you're the guest. I should be cooking for you,” Yukikaze protested lightly even as she felt her eyelids getting heavy. The last thing she saw before she drifted off was Xander’s smiling face.

(...)

The dream of pleasure oddly enough didn’t come to Yukikaze as she slept. She expected a lot from her dreams or as of recent nightmares. Instead she felt like she was in a calm meadow and that the world just felt … right. No senses of extreme pleasure. No fear inducing nightmares of losing her mother or seeing her father’s coffin and her mother in mourning kimono as she cried her eyes out. 

None of that was her current dream. She looked around her dream world and it felt nice. Homey, even. There was a comforting fire in the fireplace. She felt the warmth, the heat, the comfort it gave off reminded her of better times. Snuggling in her mother’s lap, her father reading her a story before bed, playing tag with Rinko and her brother Tatsuro. These memories flashed before her mind’s eye. Then she looked around the small cabin-like place and saw her savior, Xander, sitting in a comfy chair next to the fire. He was dressed in a nice evening kimono where Yuki could see his well muscled chest. He looked up at her and he smiled at her in a way that made her face flush and her stomach churn with butterflies. He waved her over to his seat where she happily obliged and sat in his lap. She felt his arms tighten around her and the expected burst of pleasure never came. She just felt relaxed in his embrace and hoped this dream would last forever.

Then she smelled something.

It flowed into her nose and made her sniff and sniff before finally jolting awake. She looked around the futon and found that Xander was missing. Before she could mope about him leaving her in bed, she smelled the divine scent again and got out of bed. She was happy for once that she didn’t have soiled sheets or underwear in her way. She got up, putting on a t-shirt and panties as she wanted to at least look presentable and walked down the hallway from the guest room towards her kitchen. It was not that far but the fact the smell of cooking reached her was still a surprise.

She came across a sight that made her pinch herself, and all the pain that included, to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. 

Xander was cooking and making breakfast while wearing a bright pink apron that said kiss the cook in japanese. She almost giggled at how well her mother’s apron fit on Xander especially with how ahem…. ‘Gifted’ her mother was in the chest department.

She was looking at what he cooked and was surprised it was a mix of american and japanese breakfast. She saw scrambled eggs, toast with butter, bacon, but also miso soup, pickled radish, grilled pumpkin, rice and grilled fish. She honestly didn’t realize how ravenous she was until she smelled such good food in front of her.

She sat down and was happy when Xander turned fully and already had a full plate for her. He placed the breakfast platter in front of Yukikaze along with a separate plate of fish and a bowl of miso.  Yukikaze felt her stomach growl and she realized how little she had truly eaten since she had gotten back to Gosha. Those…… heathens fed her and Rinko the bare minimum and what they were given tasted of sand and dirt.

She scarfed down the eggs and almost cummed from the delicious flavors that bombarded her taste buds. Creamy, cheesy, and a little salty. It all came together and helped flood her mind and sensitive taste buds. She squeezed her legs tight and made sure not a single drop fell. She was not going to lose herself to the sensations right now. She wanted to at least enjoy breakfast first. She ate the bacon and was surprised that it was slightly sweet along with salty. She tried the toast and thanked the stars above that it was just normal toast.

“I made the eggs and bacon special. I am an old hand at those. Toast I can’t really make too much more special than what you had in the fridge. I hope you like the miso, rice, and fish. I am new to those but I think I tried my best.”

Yukikaze thought about it and tried the fish with a little bit of rice. She felt the fish was perfect but the rice was missing something. A lightbulb went off on her head and she spoke up to Xander, “There is some furikake in the cupboard. I think that would help flavor the rice better.”

Xander smiled and opened the cupboard and saw the seasoning she mentioned. He sprinkled it on the rice he made and was about to serve himself a plate when a loud dong reverberated throughout the home. Yuki perked up and was about to go get it when Xander waved her back down, “Enjoy breakfast. I will take care of it alright?” with that Xander turned and went to go get the door.

(...)

RInko hoped her friend was okay. She came to check up on Yukikaze but was followed by Asagi-sama and her sister Sakura Igawa who also wanted to check up on their fellow Taimanin and wayward guest. Much to Rinko’s surprise, it was Xander, not Yukikaze, who answered the door. “Ladies, good morning. Would you like to come in? We were just sitting down to breakfast.”

“Xander, it's good to see you're doing well,” Asagi said as she entered the house. “I was worried you might’ve taken yesterday’s news a little hard.”

Xander just scoffed. “Please, finding out my sperm donor is even more of a deadbeat dad than the actual man whose last name I have is hardly a shock. Believe me when I say Tony set a low bar for parenting. Am I sad he couldn’t even reach that far? Not really, just… resigned more than anything.”

‘This poor young man, he's never been able to depend on anyone and now he’s a paranoid mess,’ Asagi thought to herself. ‘He doesn’t trust anyone, expects to be betrayed at the slightest moment, and has next to no faith in people. We really need to do all we can to help him. Not just for the Village’s sake but for his own sake.’ She thought to herself.

“Something smells good!” Sakura commented as a bit of drool ran down her chin. “Did Yukikaze cook… Can Yukikaze cook?” 

“Hey sensei, I’ll have you know I can cook just fine!” Yukikaze retorted hotly, before adding, “But no, Xander cooked this…”

“Really, Yuki? Making the guest do the cooking? Did you stay up all night playing video games again?” Rinko asked half resigned but also worried about her best friend’s health. If she was handling the body modification as well as she herself was, she was probably a mess right about now.

“I wasn’t up all night playing video games, Rinko. Truth be told, Xander and I talked for a bit before we turned in for the night. It felt good to sleep in my own bed again.” She didn’t need to know about the accident she’d had or the fact that the only reason she’d gotten any sleep at all was because she’d spent the night wrapped in Xander’s arms.

“Yeah, yesterday was… a lot…” Xander said, backing the tanned kunoichi’s story up before slapping Sakura with a bamboo serving spoon. “You could at least ask, you know?”

She proceeded to use her feminine wiles and gave the roguish looking man the infamous puppy dog pout which never fails to work on a man. “Ah c’mon, Xander-san! Just a little bit?”

“No, and that’s not going to work on me, both of my best friends are women, I’m inoculated to the PDP,” he deadpanned while giving her a flat look.

Eh?!” Sakura was shocked that the PDP had actually failed. “Really?!”

“Yes. Now. Are you gonna ask for a plate or not?”

“Can I have some food please?” she asked while smiling at him sweetly.

Xander wasted no time in fixing her a plate, glancing at Rinko and Asagi who nodded, he made two extra and handed them off, “There, now was that so hard? Also don’t tell me you just came over to check on me when you have a whole village to run, commander,” Xander said as he sat back down and locked his eye with Asagi’s.

“You really don’t understand your worth,” She replied, humming in appreciation as she tried his food. “You are the leader of the Fuuma Clan, that could change everything in the village.”

As picking at his own food for a minute as he thought of a response, Xander eventually said, “Look, I’m not here to cause trouble. I just came to be debriefed on an op I helped with. Then this… kinda fell into all of our laps,” Huffing, he said, “What’s to stop me from just not taking the position? Like why can’t… What's his name again? My half-brother I suppose, just keep the job? I leave, and no one's the wiser. You said it yourself yesterday, no one outside of that classroom and the doc know anything, right?”

Asagi bit the inside of her cheek, but nodded. “Yes, it's true. Nothing is stopping you from leaving… but I’m hoping we can convince you to stay.”

Xander decided to shoot rather than address the elephant in the room, “Why? For political reasons, due to my connection to the Slayer Organization? I know it's not because of my charming good looks and winning personality.”

‘I wouldn’t say it's not for either of those last two reasons,’ all the women at the table all thought at the same time. Yet Asagi spoke again, “As I’ve already said, despite his best intentions, Fuuma Kotaro is… less than ideal as the leader of the Fuuma.”

“Because he’s incapable of unlocking his Ninja Art,” Xander summed up for her, “Yet there’s no guarantee that, if you train me, that I’ll unlock one either. This could end up being a giant waste of time and resources on your part if I too can’t unlock my supposed Ninja Art either.”

“Regardless, you are the eldest son of Fuuma Danjo, and that, by default, makes you the rightful heir.” Asagi said. “If it for any reason does come out that I knowingly allowed another candidate to just walk away, well… 

“Big sis would be committing career suicide… and that might not just be symbolic, she might have to actually commit seppuku if they find out she just let you go,” Sakura told him completely serious even with eggs and butter on her face as she licked herself.

“Thank you Sakura, that will be enough,” Asagi told her younger sister sharply, complete with a warning glare.

“Sorry,” she said before she buried her face in her food and continued to silently eat.

“Well… shit,” Xander said after a moment before he rubbed his singular eye. “Guess I’m staying for a while then.”

“You don’t need to stay for my sake,” Asagi said immediately, feeling guilt ridden.

“I’m not staying just for you, but that’s a damn good motivator. No, I promised Yuki I’d fix her damn house while I was here anyway. And this place is one bad rainstorm from falling apart.”

“Hey… it's not that bad is it?” She asked worriedly.

“Yuki… the foundation is sagging,” He told her seriously.

“I dunno what that means,” she replied cluelessly. 

Asagi was quick to inform her, “It means the foundation of your home is sinking into the ground and is liable to make the entire house collapse at any second. It’s a good thing Xander spotted it when he did. It would be very ironic that we lost one of our best Taimanin not to a mission gone wrong, but to failure to upkeep their home.”

“Oh… Can you fix it Xander?” Yukikaze asked suddenly, very worried now that things had been explained to her in layman's terms.

“Umm, well… you’ve got Taimanin who can manipulate elements like earth and stuff right?” He asked Asagi.

She nodded, a slight smile on her face, “I assume you have a plan?” 

Xander shrugged, “Only if I can borrow them for a few hours and Yuki can pay them, construction work ain’t cheap and I’m not in the habit of ripping people off. Honest pay for honest work, and all that jazz.”

In response, Asagi reached into a side pouch and brought out a cellphone, logging into it with a fingerprint she said after a moment, “Yukikaze is quite well off, she’s been living off of the interest off both of her father and mothers accounts, and hasn’t even touched the money she has made during her own missions.”

“EHH?! I have?!” This was clearly news to the tanned girl.

Asagi took a moment to look amused, as the girl's reaction, “Well yes, your mother was one of the greatest Taimanin of my generation, did you think she got known as such by doing nothing? No, she was incredible… in a lot of ways, and your father… well he left you quite a sizable inheritance after he passed.”

“Who was my dad anyway? No one ever talks about him.”

Asagi blinked, “You mean your mother never told you?”

“No, she never really talked about him before he disappeared. Who was he, some bigshot?” She asked curiously.

Asagi sighed, “Your father was a rogue Onmyoji who went by the name of Ashiya Douman.”

“That name… sounds familiar…” Yukikaze said as her brows furrowed together in confusion.

“Ashiya Douman… the enemy of Abe no Seimei, former buddhist, turned dark sorcerer who’s said to have died numerous times but kept coming back due to mastering something called the arts of Hakudo Jounin? That real evil prick?” Everyone at the table looked at Xander in surprise. Out of everyone there, they expected him to know the least about the man in question yet he seemed to be quite knowledgeable on the subject. Seeing everyone’s surprised stares, he shrugged, “What? In this fight when you don’t have super strength and the ability to outrun cars, knowledge is a power all its own, and being prepared is half the battle.”

“That’s true, Xander and you're exactly right,” Asagi confirmed, before she looked at Yukikaze wondering how she would take this latest development. She had assumed her mother would’ve told her long before she left and was surprised to find that wasn’t the case.

Yet before the tanned Kunoichi could so much as voice anything, Xander spoke again, “Yuki, before you get any dumb thoughts in your head like if this makes you a bad person or some shit like that, remember both of my fathers were fucking assholes and useless. Yet here I am choosing to be a better person than both of them combined and fighting the good fight. So just remember, it's not who your parents are that matters, but what you choose to do with the life they gave you that defines you.”

Yuki looked down at her lap, sniffling for a moment before she looked up and smiled at Xander, “You’re right, Xander. Thanks… but maybe you should take your own advice?”

“My situation and yours are totally different,” He declared, “I’m being asked to take on a role I have not been trained for, have any experience in, nor desire for in the first place. Kotaro may not be anyone’s first choice, but at least he grew up knowing what was expected of him. Me?” pointing at himself. “I’d have no clue what I’d be doing, it’d be like a blind pig trying to find the feeding trough.”

“You’d have help, you know?” Asagi said through her chuckles at his analogy. “Your half-sister Tokiko has been the family steward for many years and has been Kotaro’s adviser. I see no reason why she wouldn’t do the same for you. I too would be more than happy to help you.”

“You really wanna hurry this along, don’cha?” Xander said, half amused, half exasperated.

“I’m not going to lie, you, an unknown element, completely unconnected to the Fuuma Revolt? Someone like you would be a godsend to help repair the damage and loss of trust in this village,” ‘It also helps greatly that you're a man,’ That part went unsaid but it was very much so true that most of the male Taimanin were dead. Lost in the various civil wars that had engulfed Gosha in such a short timeframe, not to mention those lost in the line of duty. It was getting to the point that harems were becoming a necessity just to keep certain clans alive, rather than an odd but accepted exception. Even better still, he was a male of the Fuuma Clan who were known for their powerful Ninja Arts. “It would mean a lot to me if you would at least meet with your siblings.” Asagi asked.

“Well, I did say I could use some help in fixing this place up like I said,” Xander said at last after a moment’s silent contemplation. “As long as they don’t mind getting their hands dirty then, I guess it's fine.”

Asagi expected a lot of things but she didn’t expect him to turn his half-siblings into a makeshift construction crew to help fix up the house of someone he’d known for all of a day. Then, it hit her and she understood why he was doing it like this instead of in a formal setting, like at the Fuuma Estate, ‘He’s killing two birds with one stone, getting to know them, in a neutral location, and seeing what kind of work ethic they have, if any, at the same time.’ Asagi realized. ‘He’s much more clever than he acts.’ She smiled, “I’ll let them know, I have a feeling they’ll show up.”

“Thanks, but don’t make it an order, make sure it comes off as a request.” Xander asked, emphasizing the last word. “Last thing I need is for them to think some new guy from outta nowhere is showing up and gonna start running roughshod over everyone. Not gonna make any friends that way.”

‘He already understands how to lead properly even if he doesn’t realize it.’ Asagi noted with approval, “I’ll let them know,” She told him before she continued, “Getting Xander to meet his siblings wasn’t the only reason I came over here today,” reaching into the same pouch she pulled her cell phone from she came back out with a pair of tan prescription bottles. She tossed one to Yukikaze, and the other to Rinko. “This medication should at the very least take the edge off your condition. Take it three times a day. The rest will need to be handled with training.”

“Thank you, Asagi-sama.” Rinko sighed in relief. She didn’t know how much longer she could take being hypersensitive to everything. Even the wind blowing across her skin turned her on.

“Of course, Xander, would you be willing to meet your siblings as early as this afternoon?” Asagi questioned as she stood up.

Xander was surprised but he shrugged, “I guess, if you think they’ll show up that soon anyway.”

“I’ll send them a missive,” She told him as she silently motioned for Sakura to follow her, “Does 4:30 work for you?”

“Yeah, that’s fine…” He said after a moment. ‘Why do I feel like I almost got played?’ He wondered to himself before he shrugged. ‘Whatever, I just need to talk to them.’ He thought as he got up, “I’ll see you out,” 

“So Xander, I know you’ve only been her like, a day, but what do you think of our Gosha so far?” Sakura asked.

“It’s… nice… and quiet… almost too quiet. I keep expecting a blood demon to be right around the next corner ready to turn me into a juicebox.”

“Yeah, I suppose growing up in a place like Sunnydale, and then moving to a place that is actually peaceful the atmosphere would be rather odd,” Sakura mused. “Butm don’t worry! It’s been about seven years, we’re due for another revolt, rebellion or upheaval of some kind! Then I’m sure you’ll feel right at home once all hell breaks loose.”

“Sakura!” Asagi snapped at her sister, actually turning and glaring at her this time. “That was too far.”

“You're right, I’m sorry,” She said looking down, shamefaced.

“So… shit hits the fan every seven years or thereabouts, huh?” Xander spoke into the awkward silence.

“It’s been a little more than a decade since the Fuuma Revolt,” Asagi replied tersely. “We lost a lot of good people then.”

“Sounds like I’d be painting a target on my back.”

“No, not at all,” Asagi replied, “While some do hold grudges, they aren’t so hateful as to blame a complete outsider, Fuuma Danjo’s son or no. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, if you choose to stay, you’d do this village a world of good, Xander.”

“No pressure or anything right?” He joked.

‘I suppose I’m coming off as desperate now. Well, I am, but I shouldn’t be so pathetic. I’m not going to make him want to stay out of pity. I want him to stay out of desire… perhaps it's time to put those bojutsu lessons to use,’ Asagi thought as she sighed to herself. “Right, sorry.”

“Don’t worry… I’ll at least think about it, alright?” He told her as he opened the door for the Igawa sisters. “Have a nice day, you two.”

“Thanks for breakfast Xander, seeya later cutie!” Sakura said waving goodbye to him.

“Yes, thanks for breakfast it was good,” Asagi replied, she smiled, “I was impressed, maybe we can do this again sometime?”

“Sure, just let me borrow someone else's kitchen next time,” He said. “Yuki’s was half bare and I worked with what I had.”

Asagi chuckled again, “I think we can manage that, I might do you one better and cook for you next time.”

“Sounds good, just let me know when and where, boss lady.” He replied, giving her a playful wink.

Sakura who was looking between her sister and this roguishly handsome newcomer was suddenly grinning like a Cheshire cat.

“I’ll be sure to do that. Come on, Sakura, time to get to the Academy,” She said after Xander shut the door.

“You like him!” Sakura sing-songed, before she hugged her sister, “Oh sis, I’m so happy for you! I thought, well after Kyousuke you’d never open your heart up again.”

“Sakura, what are you talking about?”

“Sis… you were totally just flirting with Xander just now, did you seriously not realize?” Sakura was surprised.

“I was…?” ‘Was I?’ She wondered, as she thought back on their conversation, ‘I… suppose it might’ve come off that way… and he is a handsome man but I’m almost twice his age!’ She thought to herself “Aren’t I a little… old for him?”

“Sis… you’ve got a body supermodels would kill for,” Sakura deadpanned. “I’d be more shocked if he wasn’t attracted… and you heard what he said over the bugs last night… wondering why all the Taimanin had giant tits while apparently Yukikaze is the normal one. I was so intending to hit him for that… then I smelled food and forgot.”

“That’s probably for the best. Yukikaze doesn’t need to know we bugged her house to keep an eye on her and Xander.”

Sakura gave her chest a squeeze. “Are they really that big though?”

Asagi was quick to answer, though by her tone it was obvious her mind was focused on something else, “Compared to normal women? Yes, very. But most Taimanin can trace their demonic lineage back to either vampires or succubi, both of whom are known for being physically alluring to lure in prey so… It's not as odd as one may think. Not that Xander knows that.”

“Ah, that explains it… still thinking about him huh?” Sakura teased.

“If you don’t drop this by the time we get to the school, you're going to be on janitorial duty on top of teaching for a month,” Asagi threatened.

“Shutting up now,” Sakura said promptly.

(...)

Xander came back into the house just in to see both Yukikaze and Riko downing the last dregs of their tea like shots presumably as they took the first dose of their medication. “I hope that stuff manages to help you two.” He said honestly.

Yukikaze shot Xander an adoring smile, “Thanks, I hope it works too, and soon.” 

“Knowing Makigami-sensei like we do, I'm sure this stuff will work fast.” Rinko said with a bit more faith and hope in her tone.

“Same here,” Xander said as he rubbed his remaining eye, before squaring his shoulders as if he was about to fight some gigantic monster in saying, “Well I guess I'm going to meet my half-sibling in a few hours, so I should probably take a bath and get ready. I need to look presentable after all and smelling like a fart that just got ripped out of Satan's asshole isn't anyone’s idea of presentable.”

Both of the female Taimanin burst into laughter at his description of his current odor, “Where the hell did that come from?” Yukikaze asked between guffaws.  “Is that an Americanism I haven't heard before?”

“No,” Xander said, giving himself a sniff before almost recoiling and saying, “I just made that up on the spot, but it doesn't make it any less true. I smell like the back end of an elephant, who just had a serious injection of fiber into its diet.”

“Stop, stop. You're gonna make me pee myself with laughter!” 

“If I knew he had this kind of sense of humor, I'd have stayed over last night.We never would have gone to sleep, we'd have been laughing so hard,” Rinko said as she held her side. She was shaking so much from the humor he was putting off.

Xander took a foppish bow and said, “Thank you. Thank you. I'll be here all week. But seriously, Is there anything I need to know before I head into the bathroom? I-I really should get cleaned up?” 

“Just head on in there, Xander, and I'll be in to help you out in a minute.” Yukikaze promised him as she wiped a tear from her eye.

Once the hunter was gone, Rinko asked her childhood friend. “To the point of helping him take a bath? My my, you two sure moved quickly, didn’t you?”

Giving her friend a glare, which was mostly aimed at her boobs that she wished she had, the slender kunoichi said, “It's not like that Rinko, ever since Xander lost his eye, he's had trouble in the bath. So I'm going to help him. I promised him last night I'd do so. And I keep my promises.”

“Oh, and did he promise to help you if you ever needed it in the bath?” She asked teasingly. Expecting to see her friend sputter and deny any such assistance.

“Yeah, he promised to help me wash my hair.”

“And you're genuinely ok with that?” Rinko was genuinely surprised at how… forward her friend was being with someone she'd known less than a day. He had saved both of their lives, she would freely admit that, but she didn't expect Yukikaze to fall quite this hard, this quickly. ‘Then again, even I owe him my life. And he is quite the ruggedly handsome man.’ Rinko Akiyama would admit that much to herself. ‘Still, I wonder if I should head in there too. With Yuki. Just to supervise, of course. Nothing more, just making sure nothing untoward happens,’  Rinko nodded to herself, convinced this was the best course of action. Whether or not she was trying to convince herself that she needed to be there to supervise or she thought something fun might happen. Well, that was anyone's guess. Either way, she found herself. Heading to the bathroom. Where the last son of Fuuma was trying to bathe.

(...)

Xander had some concept of how to use a Japanese bath. Mostly from all the manga he'd read in his youth. He changed out of his clothes outside and put his dirty laundry in a hamper basket before  heading into the bathroom, towel and washcloth in hand. The bathroom was just how he pictured it would look in his mind. He had gone in there last night, half asleep at the time, to relieve himself, but he wasn't exactly awake and looking around. He just needed the toilet. Now fully awake and cognizant, he was looking around the bathroom for the first time. The whole floor was covered in teal tile with white gout, reminding of the time he tried out for Sunnydale's swim team. There was a drain in the middle of the floor, a shower and a full bathtub with a sink on one side. ‘Well, at least Yukikaze keeps this room clean.’ Xander thought to himself happily, for the room was spotless. Seeing a small stool off to his left, he shoved it with his foot and to the middle of the room. Before he started filling up the tub. ‘Wait, am I supposed to take a shower first?’ Xander wondered to himself. Despite all the manga he'd read, they didn't exactly go into details of how bath time worked. None of the manga he'd ever managed to get his hands on were ever quite that explicit. If there ever was a bath or shower scene, the character in question was usually already in one or the other. Just as he was about to stick his head out the door and ask Yukikaze what he was supposed to do, he heard the door open and shut, causing him to spin around.

There, in front of him, with a towel barely covering her, was Yukikaze herself. He could see the tan lines, separating her limbs from the rest of her pale torso. Proving that yes, she was in fact Japanese with a deep, near permanent tan and not something else. Her hair was a cascade of shadow trailing down her back and her reddish-purple eyes were looking at Xander drinking in his naked form just as he was currently doing to her. Taking a minute to collect his thoughts, Xander finally managed to get out. “Uh Yuki, what are you doing in here?”

The petite Taimanin rolled her eyes and said, “I promised I'd help you if you were going to take a bath, didn't I? Well, here I am.”

“I didn't think you were actually serious about that, to be honest,” Xander replied, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

Folding her arms in front of her towel, the kunoichi replied with a bit of heat in her tone, “Well, I was. I hope you are serious about helping me wash my hair,” with a teasing lilt letting him know she was just kidding with him.

The hunter was quick to answer, “I mean, if you're fine with me seeing you naked, sure?”

“I really don't mind if you see me naked.You've already seen me basically naked. Those ‘outfits’ they gave us at Under Eden didn't exactly leave much to the imagination,” The way Yukikaze used the term outfits and spoke the word with venom showed just what she felt of the place. Even now knowing she was home and safe while Under Eden burned.

“Yeah, you're not lying… And I guess if you don't mind, well then I have no reason to mind if you see me in the buff…” he then mentally sighed, ‘This is stupid,’ Xander thought. ‘I've been with women, seen them naked plenty of times. There's no reason for me to be shy. If she's fine with it, I should be fine with it.’ So thinking he moved his towel away and asked, “Do I need to get into the shower first before getting into the bath or how does this work?”

Yukikaze's eyes immediately moved toward Xander's crotch. She couldn't help herself. The medicine hadn't quite kicked in yet. Of course, there was really no medication that could cure a dirty mind, ‘That is an elephant trunk,’ The kunoichi thought to herself. ‘Why does Xander have an elephant trunk where a normal man would have a penis?’ 

“This is going to sound cliche, but… Could you please stop staring? You're making me feel awkward. And I know in manga it's usually the women who say that, but still,” Xander said as he coughed into his hand and looked away.

“Whose staring at what?” Rinko said as she randomly entered the bath, much like her best friend, she was clad in nothing but a towel. Unlike her best friend, she could and was hanging her towel off of her chest showing the curvature and voluptuousness of her breasts.

Rinko looked at Yukikaze, and then looked at where her friend was looking, and then even her cheeks heated up. “Oh my. It seems Xander-san is quite well endowed indeed.” 

“It's a damn elephant trunk and it's not even erect,” The shorter of the duo muttered to herself as if in some kind of trance. 

“Now, now, Yuki, it's not good to make your guests feel subconscious about his size,” Rinko said. “I believe you were going to help Xander-san bathe, yes. First thing we need to do is take a shower. Then we rinse off and get into the bath.” 

“Right, shower.” Yukikaze nodded, seemingly still in a bit of a daze. 

Coughing into his hands, Xander said, “Uh ‘we’?”

Rinko just giggled a little, “Well, yes, Yukikaze said she was going to help you, and right now, it looks like ‘she’ might need some help. So it's a good thing I decided to come in here and keep an eye on things. So come on, let's get into the shower,” She said that she ushered the two towards the shower stall.

The shower was spacious. A square box covered in tile, ceramic and with a sliding glass door. It was certainly big enough to fit three people, but Xander didn't know if this was a good idea. ‘I got the feeling that I just entered a cheap porno. But as a man, I am not going to complain.’ He thought to himself as he entered the shower. Turning the dials to the hot water before letting the jets fire. 

The sudden burst of cold water woke Yukikaze from her daze. “ Huh. Oh, where am I? Oh right, Bathroom, Xander… Big…” 

“I'm flattered. Thanks.” Xander said as the water ran into his empty eye socket.

“Fufufu, We're here to help him get ready, remember?”

“Rinko, when did you get here?!” Yukikaze squawked indignantly. “I don't need your help right now, you can leave.”

“No, no, no, no. I am definitely going to stay, I think.” The taller of the two commented as she soaked her hair under the spray. ‘I'd hate to miss out on all the fun.’ She thought to herself idly. As she scanned Xander's back, noticing how muscled he truly was under his clothing. The scars stood out well.

‘I finally get him all to myself and somehow Rinko manages to muscle her way in on it,’ Yukikaze sighed. And yet she couldn't find it in herself to be too angry. The two of them had been through so much together at Under Eden that she felt if anyone was going to share in this experience with her, it should be Rinko. Xander had saved them ‘both’, after all. She looked up at the older kunoichi, catching her eye. Then glanced in askance at Xander. Silently asking the unasked question. Rinko looked at Xander and then looked at her and nodded. ‘Well, at least we're on the same page.’ Yukikaze thought before she decided to put her plan into action knowing full well that Rinko would follow her lead now, just like she did in the field. Yukikaze made the first move in the attack on Xander by lathering up her body with soap before spontaneously hugging her prey from behind before she began to rub herself up and down on his bare back. Just the feeling of having her chest rubbing against his back was enough to make her overly sensitive body cum.

“Yuki?” Xander asked, sounding neither angry nor alarmed, just curious as he glanced behind himself with his good eye and found her vigorously rubbing her chest against him with an impish smile on her face as she looked up into his eyes.

“What’s wrong, Xander?” She playfully teased, “I’m just washing your back, just like I promised I would.”

“Right well, don’t stop on my account.” He said, urging her to continue.

“Of course! Rinko-chan help me out, would you?” She asked, her coy smile never leaving her face as she glanced at her friend who had just finished lathering up her massive mammaries. 

“I did come here to help after all.” She said before she took one of Xander’s arms and slid them in and out of her bosom, giving a light pleasurable moan and cumming as she did so. “‘Hmmm yes’, does that feel as good for you as it does for me, Xander-san?”

“I’m enjoying this service quite a bit, yes,” He replied as a certain part of his anatomy began to rise.

“Whose doing a better job, me or Rinko?” Yukikaze asked competitively.

“You're both so amazing, there is no gold or silver medal to be handed out right now,” spoke Xander wisely.

“Good answer!” Both Taimanin said at once. Before Rinko switched to his other arm while Yukikaze had sudsed up her own arms to wash his legs. Once he was as clean as they could make him Yukikaze stood and spun him around, before pushing him down on the small alcove she kept her haircare products on. He sat, scattering the shampoos and conditioners to the floor and leaving his now fully erect manhood on display.

‘It’s got to be as big as my forearm!’ Yukikaze thought to herself, resisting the urge to measure it right then and there. Instead, she dropped to her knees and gave a playful coy smile, said, “Well, we have to make sure we clean everything now, don’t we? Especially this bit right here…” As she finished speaking, she opened her mouth as wide as it would go, before swallowing his engorged prick.

“Shit…” Xander hissed out. She may be new at this, but Yukikaze was making up for her lack of skill with enthusiasm. Rinko wasn’t being idle either, as she roughly pulled Xander’s mouth to hers and placed his hands on her tits, his touch and the intensity of his kiss making her cum a second time even as she lathered up some shampoo in both hands and roughly ran it through Xander’s hair.“Mmm, I’m so fucking  jealous right now,” Rinko said as she pulled away for some air even as she raked her shampoo-covered nails through Xander’s scalp. “Yuki got first dibs on that monster.” Yet even as she spoke, Rinko pressed her foot on Yukikaze’s back, forcing her down deeper and deeper on Xander’s thick shaft. Showing she might have something of a sadistic side to her when it came to sex.

Yukikaze didn’t seem alarmed, in fact she had become quite submissive to Rinko’s slightly more dominant nature in contrast to her aggressive playfulness earlier. 

‘Is Yuki a switch?’ Xander wondered knowing a little something of BDSM due to Anya’s curiosity on the subject. 

Xander was tongue wrestling with Rinko when he felt it, that telltale jolt going down his spine meaning he was about to cum. Pulling his lips away from Rinko’s which were now slightly swollen from all the rough kissing they'd been doing, he said, “I’m… close…”

This just urged Rinko to push her foot down on Yukikaze faster saying as if she were the gas pedal to a sports car while she cheered her friend on saying, “Did you hear that, Yuki? Xander’s gonna cum! You're so close to getting a nice creamy treat ! Try extra hard now!”

“Morr, pwese Xander! Gime!” Yukikaze got out as she went down so far her nose was pressed into his pubic hairs,  when she started to choke Xander pulled her up. There were certain things that required practice, and deepthroating was one of them. Anya for example, had centuries of practice by the time they’d met.

Xander was in some kind of sinful paradise as he continued to kiss Rinko, but deciding it wasn’t fair that only Yukikaze got off, so he cheated a little. He moved one hand to Rinko’s clit and began pressing her button with his thumb while twisting  and pulling at her nipple with his free hand and gently nibbling on the other. Just one of those actions would’ve been enough to make someone as sensitive as Rinko now was cum, but all three at once had her screaming like a banshee in seconds, with her lower lips gushing like Niagara falls.

“OOOOHHH GOD! YES, YES, YES YES! IT HURTS SO DAMN GOOD! DON’T STOP! FUCK!” Rinko screamed to the heavens.

She was practically stepping on Yukikaze’s back at this point and all but forcing her to deep throat Xander, and that finally sent him over the edge which made him jerk, biting down hard on Rinko’s nipple in his mouth while he simultaneous gave her clit and other nipple an extra hard twist. The pain and pleasure was enough to make all three of them cum simultaneously.

Yukikaze pulled back with Xander’s member falling out of her mouth. “Shoo good.” She said through panting breaths as she tasted his essence.

“I’ve never… cum that hard… when I did it… by myself.” Rinko said between gasps.

“You two sure are spirited. Wanna get in the bath now?” Xander asked, not sounding not even slightly winded. The insatiable Anyanka they were not.

“Sure, just give us a second, and rinse your hair first.” Yukikaze said amazed at his stamina.

“Yes ma’am.” Xander said as he proceeded to wipe the shampoo out of his hair. Before taking some shampoo and lathering up Yukikaze and Rinko’s own long tresses. “What? I promised to wash your hair, didn't I?” 

Yukikaze beamed at her new… ‘Does this make him my lover or is this a one off?’ She wondered before shaking her head, “You really are too sweet, Xan-kun.”

“I aim to please.” as he took his time making sure to thoroughly lather and rinse each girl’s hair even taking the time to massage their scalps. He’d been told often enough by Wills and Buffy that that was important, and besides, girls loved it.

(...)

Once everyone’s hair was properly washed, the trio got out of the shower and as the tub filled up with hot water, Yuki asked, “Would you like him first this time or?”

“Please, go right ahead, he left me more than satisfied.” Rinko purred before suddenly moving in and kissing her childhood friend,  using her tongue to find any possible trace of Xander’s essence she might not have swallowed yet. “Mmm, you're right Yuki, he is yummy,” she finally said when she pulled away licking her lips and savoring the flavor.

“I didn’t know you… swung that way,” Yuki said after a moment.

“Neither did I, hehe, I guess I’m learning all kinds of things about myself today. Do you find this… odd?” Rinko asked with worry flecked in her tone as she assessed the situation and the possible minefield she may have set off.

Yukikaze just shrugged, “Not really. I mean we do everything together anyway but since we’re being honest with each other… your boobs. I hate them. I wish I had your figure. It's just not fair.”

“I’ve always admired yours. I’ve always thought you were small and cute, the way a girl should be.” Rinko admitted while looking down at her giant milk jugs, “I look like a cow.”

“You look like an adult woman! I, on the other hand, look like a child… I’ll probably always look like a child…” Yukikaze pouted. “Someone only perverts and pedos would want.”

Xander then cleared his throat, “Umm, I’d like to think I’m not a pedophile, thank you very much.”

“I’m sorry, Xander. I didn’t mean… grr, you wanna fuck?!” Yukikaze suddenly asked.

Xander shrugged, “Umm, we were already doing that, but yeah I’m up for round two if you are?”

“Good…” The brash girl suddenly became demure, as she said unusually shyly, "Um, just so you know, this is actually my first time so, please be gentle.”

The immediate admittance to being a virgin and everything both girls went through made Xander pause. He held up his hand and was calm but firm, “How about we stick to foreplay for now? Losing your virginity is a big thing. I am all for kissing, heavy petting, and other stuff but with everything both you and Rinko went through I feel like I am taking advantage of a bad situation.”

Rinko paused and really looked at Yukikaze. She felt they worked well together and shared things well but she also saw the fear, and anxiety in Yukikaze’s eyes. She immediately felt bad like she was pushing her friend into something she wasn’t ready for. 

Hearing him say this, Yukikaze felt herself fall even deeper in love with Xander than she already was. She paused when she realized what she just thought,  ‘Wait did I just… Yeah I do love him.’ She realized. ‘And Rinko loves him, and me… and I’m okay with that.’ She decided. When she giggled and Xander asked what was so funny, she replied, “Oh nothing I just realized, I fell for you faster than lightning hits the ground.” As she stood on her tiptoes wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him as she joined him in the bath. Xander sat down in the bath holding her close to him as he continued the kiss. His hands roamed her body until he got to her ass which he gave a hard squeeze.

Abruptly pulling away from the kiss, Yukikaze came again from the sudden stimulation crying out, “Xander! You naughty, naughty boy you!”

“Heheheh, you like that?” He asked with a grin on his face.

Grinning at him lasciviously, the Lightning Taimanin replied, “As much as I’m sure you're going to like this,” she wrapped her hips around his stiff member before she began moving her thighs up and down. “You like that?” She said upon seeing him hold back a groan.

“Yes…” Xander hissed out.

“I hope those bastards in Under Eden burn in hell, but I’ll give them this, they taught me a lot about sex, and how to please your lover,” Yukikaze said while giving a childish giggle, loving the look of agony that was on Xander’s face at the moment. Knowing that she caused that face, that she had that kind of power over him because he desired her... well, it was nothing short of exhilarating for her.

“Mou~u!… don’t just forget about me, you two!” Rinko said as she joined them in the bathtub. Standing with her pussy on full display in front of Xander, she grabbed both sides of his head, forcing his face into her folds. Getting the none too subtle hint, he began eating her out.

“MMM! YES! GOOD BOY, THAT’S A ‘VERY’ GOOD BOY! YOU’RE EATING MOMMY OUT SO GOOD!” Rinko praised as she tried to force his face and tongue deeper into her folds even as she came. 

‘Someone has a mommy fetish,’ Xander thought to himself.

Rinko meanwhile, was forced herself to look over her shoulder when she felt someone spreading her ass cheeks. “YUKIKAZE?! WHAT’RE YOU?!”

“Consider this payback for what you did to me in the shower!” She replied smirking impishly once again before she proceeded to eat out her friends ass much like how Xander was doing to her pussy even as she continued to give Xander a thigh job. The training done to her at Under Eden had made her even more flexible than before.

A stream of cum shot out from Xander’s shaft, splashing on Rinko’s back and Yukikaze’s thighs as Rinko cried, “IT'S TOO MUCH! TOO MUCH I CAN'T! I CAN’T! I CAAAN’TTT!” Rinko came once again, even stronger than before as her back was covered in Xander’s hot seed, her legs finally giving out on her, only for Yukikaze to restrain her from behind.

“C’mon Xander, why don’t you give Rinko-chan a protein shake just like you did me?” Yukikaze said as she forced her friend’s mouth open.

‘Yeah, Yuki’s definitely a switch,’ Xander thought to himself as he stood up, his manhood still on full display, getting hard again almost immediately. “Rinko?” He asked, waiting for her permission to go quite this far.

“Mommy’s thirsty, give mommy a drink baby !” Rinko replied all but lost to her lust as she opened her mouth wide.

‘I guess that’s a go ahead,’ He thought to himself as he moved forward, grabbing fistfulls of her hair and pulling her head forward as he forced his dick down her throat.

‘It hurts, it hurts so fucking good! I love it!’ Rinko thought to herself as pain laced through her scalp and the back of her throat as Xander’s member forced its way past the uvula in her throat. Releasing a moan of pleasure as Yukikazi’s slender fingers found and started playing with her vagina, going in and out, bending as they went up to the knuckle and hit her deepest spot. “MMM!” Rinko cried in ecstasy from all the tender love and care she was being shown by her two lovers. Not wanting to be too greedy, she dove her hand down into the water, and found Yukikaze’s folds which she quickly and rapidly began massaging.

“Rinko-chan!” Yukikaze cried out. “So good!”

“You two are both… fiendish… sex… kittens!” Xander said, pulling Rinko’s head in by her hair with a hard thrust between the last four words, climaxing as he did so and pulling back just enough so Rinko could taste his seed.

“Mmm, Shoow good!” Rinko declared as he pulled his now limp cock out of her mouth giving it a few extra sucks to make sure she got all of his essence. Turning to Yukikaze, she pulled her friend into a deep kiss, sharing Xander’s pilfered cum with her as they battled with their tongues.

“Seriously you two, the spirit is willing but at this point, the flesh, the flesh is weak.” Xander complained at the incredibly sexy scene they were showing him. His member twitched. It wanted to rise to the occasion but he was spent for the moment.

The two pulled away a string of saliva and Xander clinging to their lips. “Sorry!” They said at the same time. Yukikaze smiled warmly. “Thanks Xander, I know it feels like we rushed into this even after we said we wouldn’t but it felt so…right, doing this with someone I felt a connection with rather than being… forced to at Under Eden.”

“Yeah, like I said I didn’t feel comfortable taking either your first time because of that, besides, I’m the type to wine and dine a girl first… usually.” He amended, considering their current situation.

“So… are we dating now?” Yukikaze asked, deciding to broach the elephant in the room.

Xander shrugged, saying, “If you're fine with someone like me, yeah.” 

“I was about to say the same thing!” Both Rinko and Yukikaze said at the same time only to share a look and then both gave an awkward laugh.

“Well then, I guess we’re kinda sorta dating now.” Xander agreed. “Now, I dunno about you two but I’m starting to prune and I think we should get dressed before my siblings arrive. My mission attire will have to do ‘cause it's all I’ve got.”

“I threw your clothes in the wash before we got in the bath,” Rinko said, “They should be done by now,” Looking at Yukikaze, she said, “If worse comes to worse, there are some old things of your dad’s he can wear, right? They're about the same size so his old clothes should fit.”

“Papa was a lot taller than Xander,” Yukikaze retorted, recalling just how tall her father was, even in her youth he seemed as tall as a pinetree, “I’d need to hem up some of his clothes, but there’s no reason Xander couldn’t fit into some of his old things.”

Xander felt the need to point out, “Umm, what if your dad Ashiya Douman, if you recall, cursed his clothes?”

Yukikaze scoffed, “Xander, don’t be silly. Papa wouldn’t do that… I hope? Now come on, let’s get out! The bath water is getting cold, and you need to look sharp to make a good first impression on the rest of the Fuuma.”

‘Didn’t I just say that? I just can’t win an argument with a woman, it seems.’ Xander thought to himself, shaking his head as he got out of the bath, only to squawk as Yukikaze pinched his ass, sending herself and Rinko giggling as she did so.

“You two are insatiable.” Xander laughed as he toweled off.

(...)

Fuuma Tokiko was unsure what was going on. She, Kotaro, their Aunt Fuuma Saika, and their half sister Ginrei had received a missive by Asagi-sama to meet at the Mizuki Estate by 4:30 in the afternoon. ‘What is going on?’ Tokiko wondered. ‘Why were we told to meet at the Mizuki Estate?’

“Stop worrying so much, you’ll get frown lines,” Saika teased her successor to the title of Clan Steward.

“I’m not going to get frown lines, Auntie!” Tokiko yelled at her aunt. “At least I’m not old with crows feet!”

“I am not old, and I don’t have crows feet!” Saika yelled back.

“Enough already, you two,” Kotaro sighed, “I’m also curious what game Asagi-sama is playing at, but bickering with each other won’t help. So stay calm and we’ll see what happens when we get there.” Kotaro said in his usual lazy easy-going tone.

Ginrei just looked ahead and wondered why they were all being brought out here. She honestly expected the others if it was mission related. She on the other hand….. Well she wasn’t talented or special like her clan mates. “I mean if it was Fuuma clan related, they would call us to headquarters, right? What does the Mizuki clan have to do with any of this?”

As they rounded the corner that led to the Mizuki Estate, they suddenly heard a gunshot. This caused all of them to move doubletime. Having cybernetic limbs, Saika got there first, with Ginrei being right behind her with her body being eighty percent cybernetic, while Tokiko and Kotaro brought up the rear. What they saw made them stop and stare.

Yukikaze had somehow gotten a hold of a mare's leg and was taking practice shots using broken dishes as practice targets. “Pull!”

Rinko Akiyama, her ever faithful companion, threw a chipped plate into the air, only for the pettanko Taimanin to take a shot, and miss by a wide margin.

“Oi! Who said you could touch my gun?!” A male voice hollered from across the yard, causing the group to stare.

The person in question was shirtless covered in a sheen of sweat, wearing an eyepatch over his left eye and had slicked back dark brown hair. He was currently using an old fashioned push mower to try and tame the estate’s out of control lawn.

“Sorry Xan-kun, I found some useless dining ware in the shed and figured I should do something with it other than throwing it away.”

Marching over to the girl who had the decency to look sheepish, Xander glanced at the box before he said, “Yuki, that box says Wedding set and utensils on it. You're shooting the dining set your parents used at their wedding.”

“What?! Really?! Ah shit!” She cursed as she glanced at the box whose kanji she hadn’t bothered to read since it was waterlogged.

Sighing, he took his gun back from the over eager girl and said, “What have we learned?”

“To read the labels before we start using things for target practice?”

“And?” He continued.

“To ask before I use your gun?” Yukikaze continued making circles in the grass with her foot.

Xander patted her on the head, “Good girl.”

“Stop it!” She said, flushing under the praise and her own increased sensitivity. 

Xander then racked the chamber of his gun, turned in one swift motion, and fired a round, landing it right next to Ginrei’s head. Ginrei was too shocked to respond to the shot. Lowering his rifle, he said, “You must be the people Asagi said were going to come by. Well, get in here. We have a lot to cover and I don’t have all day to do it…” When none of them moved, he bellowed out in a drill sergeant-like voice, “Atenshin! Haul ass, you useless maggots! Double time, front and center now! Go, go, go go go!”

That got everyone moving, even Kotaro ran as fast as he could, which wasn’t much better than a trained athlete but still fast. Once they were all lined up in front of him, he said, “I said, head inside. Do I need to handhold the lot of you? MOVE!”

They marched.

“Aren’t you being a little too harsh?” Yuki asked him.

“If I’m gonna be in charge of this group, I need to establish dominance right away. Failure to do so now will lead to complications down the line. I still don’t really want the job but I might as well see what I have to work with first,” Xander replied, falling out of his drill sergeant nasty persona in seconds. Thankful for the soldier that possessed him on Halloween all those years ago that some of it stuck.

He entered the living room with his hands held behind his back, finding the others still standing at attention. “At ease.” They relaxed and he continued, “I’m sure you're wondering who I am and why you were all called here?”

Seeing a young raven-haired blue-eyed  beauty of a woman who wanted to speak he said, “You have permission to speak freely. But first, your name?”

“Fuuma Tokiko, current Steward of the Fuuma Clan sir, and yes we would all like to know what this is about?”

“Well Fuuma-chan, to put it bluntly, the Fuuma clan may be under new management soon.”

“I’m being replaced?” Kotaro asked, feeling a sense of unease. He’d never taken his duties seriously unless he had to but he never thought he’d actually be replaced. “Who will take over my position? Nishi Gaiza?”

“No, in fact, I don’t know who that is,” Xander said in all honesty. ‘Someone I’ll need to ask Asagi about later,’’ He thought before pulling his DNA results out of his pants pocket and handing them to Kotaro, he replied, “The one who may be taking over your position is me, little brother.”

“Holy shit… Danjo, you asshole! It's bad enough you couldn’t keep it in your pants but then you up and abandoned one of your kids?!” Kotaro swore.

The others who were reading over his shoulder looked at the paper, then looked at Xander. Tokiko was the first one to say… “So you're our Onii-chan, then?”

“I guess? I was kinda shocked.”

“Hn, so what’s with the drill sergeant routine?” Ginrei asked.

Stretching his arms over his head with his fingers interlaced, Xander replied, “I wanted to know what kind of people I was working with. Were you the kind that could follow orders? Or a bunch of renegade glory seeking louts who think you're invincible just because you’ve got some magic mojo? I’ve worked with both and prefer the former over the latter.”

Saika then asked, “You say you might be taking over the position. Is there any reason why you wouldn’t?”

“Besides general lack of interest and already having my own life that has nothing to do with this village or its people… for the most part?” he amended when he saw Yukikaze and Rinko looking upset at his words. “I just see no reason why I should stay besides preventing a political clusterfuck for Asagi. Don’t get me wrong, she's a nice lady and easy on the eye, but that isn’t enough to make me stick around.” Glancing at Yukikaze and Rinko, he continued, “I have made a couple of good friends in the short time I’ve been here and I value them highly, but asking me to stay and govern an entire ninja clan whose village and politics that I know nothing about is a big ask.”

‘Wait, was he worried we were being used as pawns to make him stay?’ Yukikaze decided to stomp that train of thought dead right now. She moved forward and placed her hand in his saying, “We understand that Xander, and even if you don’t want to stay in Gosha and become the Fuuma clan head, Rinko and I will accept your decision,”

“That’s right, you’ll find Yuki and I have our ways of getting around when we want to right,Yuki? Fufufufu”

Xander sighed, he was slightly worried he’d fallen for a honey trap when it came to Yuki and Rinko as unlikely as it was. But hearing them actually say otherwise relieved him of any lingering doubts on the matter. “Alright, good to know… So yeah, Kotaro you haven’t lost your job just yet… but if I do take it… is that going to be a problem? Is there going to be bad blood between us?” Xander asked, locking his sole eye with his little brother’s.

Kotaro looked at Xander and the two most dangerous women he went to school with who were backing him up on either side. He was a lot of things, lazy, unmotivated a lot of the time, but stupid was not one of them. While he was unsure about Xander as a person, he knew better than to be outright hostile. He’d seen where that path led, with Nisha being a prime example. ‘Besides he already seems to have two of my senpais and even Asagi-sama on his side.’ Kotaro thought. Smiling, he said, “I have no problem with it.”

Xander let out a sigh of relief, “Good, I’m not even sure if I’m staying yet but I don’t wanna step on anyone’s toes if I do. That said, I have… something of a family bonding exercise for us to do to get to know each other better,” Xander said as an oven timer went off in the kitchen.

“What kind of bonding exercise?” Saika asked.

“Before my… current career path, I worked in construction. Yuki’s place… is in dire need of repair. You're gonna help me fix it, using ninja arts or whatever you're capable of doing, and she’s going to pay you for your time,” Xander said as he pulled a roast out of the oven along with vegetables.

“That’s… an odd form of bonding but I’ve heard of worse,” Saika commented as she noted her new nephew could cook.

Glancing at her with his remaining eye, Xander asked, “Do I wanna know what’s worse?”

“Danzo used to have killing sprees as a way of bonding with people he liked,” Saika informed him.

“Ya know, the more I hear about the guy, the happier I am that he abandoned me in a town on top of a hellmouth with a pair of abusive drunks. He actually sounds worse than Tony and Jessica,” Xander said as he moved to set the roast on the table, failing to see the horrified looks on any of his siblings or his aunt's faces.

“Oi, is that true, what he just said?” Kotaro whispered into Yukikaze’s ear.

“As far as I know, yes. He’s been very upfront and honest about his background… it's not pretty.” 

“I can hear you!” Xander called. “I’m half blind, not half deaf! Now come sit down and eat before this gets cold.”

(...)

The meal was good, the food was plentiful, but the atmosphere was tense and the conversation was lacking. Finally, Xander sighed and said, “Is learning where I grew up really such a big deal?”

“That depends,” the light brown-haired Ginrei began, “Are onii-chan's parents still alive?”

“Yeah as far as I know,” He replied, “Once good ole Sunnyhell got sucked into a sinkhole, they moved out to Vancouver or something, why?”

“Hmm, I will need to pay them a visit…” She said to herself.

“Gin-chan, are you plotting to kill my parents?”

“No… yes,” She admitted after he gave her a stern one-eyed glare.

“While I appreciate the sentiment, don’t bother, they aren’t worth your time… even if they did make me pay to live in their basement after I turned eighteen.”

“You're making it very hard not to jump on the bandwagon with Ginrei, Xan-kun,” Yukikaze said, a few sparks of lightning arcing off of her body as she spoke, such was her barely contained fury on her new lover's behalf.

“Down girl… no actually,” He reached inside his pants pocket and pulled out a stainless steel cigar carrier. Pulling one out he said, “Do you mind if I smoke first of all and secondly, if so, can you light me up? Interpol took my lighter at the airport.”

“You're lucky you're so cute, Xander,” She said in faux-anger as she lit the end of his cigar by arcing some lighting between her index and thumb as he cut the other end and took a dry draw before lighting his smoke.

“Love you too, Yuki.” He joked back.

She slapped him on the arm as her cheeks turned pink as she crossed her arms and looked away, “Idiot! Don’t go saying things like that so casually or people are going to get the wrong idea! We’re just roommates right now is all! Roommates!” she emphasized, yet as she turned away, she hid a secret happy smile.

‘Yeah, just roommates who just an hour or so ago had a threesome in the bath with your best friend.’ Xander thought wryly. But he knew she was putting on this act for his benefit so others wouldn’t catch on and he couldn’t be pressured more than he already was to stay in the village.

“Tokiko, you said earlier, you were the Steward, what does that mean? Is that an important position in the Clan?” Xander asked. If, if he decided to stay he’d better at least know how the clan was structured at least.

“Oh!” Tokiko was a little startled upon being addressed but was quick to answer. “Umm, yes Oniichan, the steward is the second most important position in the clan, next to the clan head themselves. It’s my job, and the job of those in my position to report directly to the clan head and make sure to handle trivial matters and that only the most important matters reach the clan head's ears.”

“So you would be my second in command should I take the position, then?” Xande asked, while steepling his fingers and giving her an appraising look.

She nodded, “Yes, I have been serving in that role for Kotaro for many years already,” she paused before adding worriedly, “And would continue to do so for you if you would have me.”

“I see no reason to replace you if that’s what you're worried about. I haven’t been told the clan has collapsed or gone into debt, so you must be doing a damn good job so far.” Xander replied as he took a puff off his cigar.

“I trained her myself and can vouch for her skill in any questions you may have about the clan,” Saika piped up.

“Why’d you hand the reins over to her? You look a little young to retire and she must’ve been even younger when she got the job, no offense meant,” Xander said with a nod of respect towards Tokiko.

“None taken,” She said smiling at Xander and pleased he acknowledged her skill.

“Well that was around the time the Fuuma Revolt started. I wanted nothing to do with it. I agreed with Danjo’s grievances but not his methods. So I left the village for a time.”

“Understandable,” Xander replied with a nod, not even a hint of judgment in his tone. “There were so many times I wanted to leave Sunnydale in my rearview mirror, I even did for one summer…” He chuckled remembering his roadtrip, “But I always came back… I guess it was the same for you too, huh?”

Saika knew had it been anyone else, they would’ve judged her one way or the other. To the Fuuma she was a traitor for not fighting, and to other clans, she was a traitor for leaving the village in the first place. It felt good for someone to just accept her decision and not judge her for it for once. “Yes, I suppose it is. Anyway, after Asagi became the village head, I returned to the village.”

“I see… so when did you get involved with theatre?”

“Theatre?”

“Sorry, I was trying to politely bring up the fact that you have two cybernetic legs, cause you know… Theatre, break a leg? Only in your case, it was a bit more literal.”

Yukikaze ran a hand down her face as she deadpanned, “That’s… not how you go about asking something like that Xander!”

“Sorry, I try to keep things light-hearted you know? And I realized a while ago that if you can’t make fun of injuries like this well… they just eat at you,” He said while pointing at his missing eye.

Xander’s siblings thought Saika might just punch him for his flippant comment, but, much to their shock, she ended up laughing a little instead, something she wasn’t known for doing. “You're not wrong, Alexander. That’s what Xander is short for, isn’t it? 

Xander nodded, thankful he’d dodged a bullet, “Yeah, it is,” 

“It’s a strong name, you should use that instead. But since we’re on the subject, how did you lose your eye?”

“A demonically possessed catholic priest gouged it out with his thumb…” Seeing everyone sans Yukikaze and Rinko giving him stunned looks, he said, “Yeah, I’m being serious.” Under the table Yuki and Rinko each found one of his hands and gave them an encouraging squeeze.

“First asshole parents, then a demon priest takes your eye, what next?” Ginrei grunted even though she was nearly emotionally dead the more she heard about Xander’s past the more a spark of… anger welled up in her breast.

“Well there’s all the shit that happened in between those two things.” Xander thought aloud.

Rubbing his good eye, Kotaro asked, “Dare I ask what happened?”

“Umm, cliff notes version? I had to dust my best friend who was more like a brother to me after he got turned into a vampire, almost lost my virginity to a praying mantis demon, who tried to bite off both my heads, I was possessed by the spirit of a Hyena and then a couple weeks later a sorcerer cast a spell that turned me into my halloween costume, a soldier, then there was the time I got injected with steroids that almost turned me into a fishman when I joined the swim team, and I almost married Anyanka the Vengeance Demon of Scorned Women after I turned her to the side of good through the power of sex, only for another demon to ruin it by giving me cold feet and leaving her at the altar… I came up with a plan to kill my town’s Mayor, who ascended into a Greater Demon, and blew up my high school in the process… that was pretty fuckin’ cool,” Xander paused trying to think of anything else before he finally added, “Oh, and I’ve been carrying a torch for a girl who would rather sleep with demonically possessed corpses than give me the time of day.”

Everyone, even Asagi and Sakura who were listening via wire tap, blinked upon hearing this they were all basically all thinking the same thing, ‘What the actual hell kind of life has he led?!’

Asagi for her part couldn’t help but think, ‘No wonder he’s so paranoid, it’s been beat into him,’

“You know what, after surviving all that, you can have the clan head position, you deserve it more than I do.” Kotaro said earnestly ‘He survived all that with no training and no Ninja Art? He’s inhuman in terms of resolve, willpower, and cunning. I’ve already lost.’ He thought to himself.

“Hang on a sec, I still haven’t decided if I even want the job yet!” Xander complained. He then just so happened to glance at the clock and noticed the time, “Shit, is it that time already?! I need to get ready to go!”

“Go where, Xander? You're in the middle of Gosha and don’t even know your way around.” Yukikaze said as she latched onto his arm as he made to get up.

“Sorry Yuki, but it's poker night and on top of that, it's my night to host… I don’t suppose you know of a nice quiet place where I can play poker with a few friends of mine, do ya?”

Everyone blinked at him in confusion. “Xander,” Yuki began again, “This is Gosha, people just don’t show up in Gosha.”

“Yuki, my friends showed up in a heavily fortified castle filled with superpowered and hormonal girls for poker night once. Being in a ninja village full of superpowered hotties in form fitting spandex outfits isn’t gonna stop them one iota. If anything they’ll get a kick outta the eye candy just like I did.”

“Ass,” she said, slapping his arm but feeling complimented all the same. “So who are these poker buddies of yours that you claim are so strong they just waltz into Gosha Village?”

“Sorry but that’s confidential…” Seeing the sour look he was being given, Xander said, “No seriously, I swore an oath not to talk about them…” He paused thinking for a moment, before saying, “Well there is one way I can tell you, but there are a couple of conditions.”

Frowning Yukikaze asked, “What are they?” 

“Firstly, we’ll have to hold poker night here, and secondly, you’ll all have to stay until it's over… and sometimes we stay up until the wee hours of the morning playing,” He warned them. Xander didn’t tell them the real reason he’d need them to stay, he didn’t want them freaking out on him too much quite yet.

Yukikaze shrugged, “Okay, that doesn’t sound so bad, I mean none of us have class tomorrow and you’ve certainly hyped these people up enough that I want to meet them at least.”

Seeing the others nod, the hunter sighed, “Well okay, but if we’re going to do this we need to do it right. Saika, I need you to head down to a liquor store and buy as much topshelf sake and whiskey as you can on this card,” Xander said, handing her a Visa black card.

“Wow, you’ve got connections I see?”

“Yeah I guess. Kotaro, go with her and get me a bucket of pig's blood and a wide paintbrush.”

“Why?” He asked, confused.

“It’d be easier if I just draw the a beacon for them to teleport to rather than them coming the old fashioned way,” Xander shivered, “The last time Al came to poker night and took a walk getting here, he murdered an entire town and burned it down… they’d been turned into vampires, but still.”

Half glaring at him, Yukikaze with her hands on her hips deadpanned, “Xan-kun, just who are you trying to invite into my home?”

“I need you to trust me, okay Yuki?” Xander knew he was asking a lot but poker night was serious business. One didn’t shirk hosting night when it was their turn without serious repercussions.

After a moment the pettanko Taimanin sighed, “These… people, they won’t cause harm to the village, will they?”

Xander shook his head, “No, or at least, I don’t think so? They cause enough chaos and destruction during their day jobs. They go to poker night to unwind from all that, Yuki.”

“Okay,” She said finally, before pointing a finger at him and saying, “But I’m putting a lot of faith in you Xan-kun, so you’d better not let me down!”

Grabbing her hands and kissing them, Xander swore, “I won't, I swear!” giving the others a look he shouted, “What’re you all still doing here?! Get going! We’ve got like an hour to get everything ready! Go, go, go, go!”

The Fuuma Taimanin rushed off, wondering just who in all the hells Xander’s poker buddies could possibly be… they would all soon find out.

(...)

Word Count: 17,835   Number of Pages: 36   Date Completed: 10/11/2024

(...)

AN: BWHAHAHAHAHAHA! 17k+ Chapter in the bag! BOOYA! And a near 5k lemon to boot! I sure as hell hope you all enjoyed this cause I worked my fingers to the bone for this one. Just ask Snowy and the rest.

Snowy:

Antagonist:

Loamy Coffee: Fabulous! Spicy sudsy time and he meets the family! Time to get ready for poker night!

First Hassan:

Thanks again for reading! Till next time, this has been an Inkblot Bros production! Peace!