Yuriko stretched as the sun now shone through her bedroom window. The elderly wizard had heard voices the night before but had simply rolled over. After so many years in this small town, she had grown accustomed to children investigating the "witches house".
Making her way downstairs, Yuriko had a small smile on her face as she gazed at her companions. "Good morning everyone."
Akira, Ayami, and Rexie all waved with Ajira going so far as to stand bow. "Ugh I swear," Ayami huffed as she poured herself a cup of coffee. "If you weren't so damn hot I would have gotten real tired of you sucking up decades ago."
"We have pledged ourselves to the protection of Yuriko," Akira stated. "It is only proper that I show her the respect she is due."
Yuriko gave the succubus and kitsune a warm smile as she eased herself into her chair. These conversations were commonplace, the kitsune feeling honor bound to watch over Yuriko, while his succubus wife trying to do what all wives do, point out her husbands flaws.
"So," Yuriko asked, trying to save Akira from any further nitpicking. "It sounded as if we had visitors last night."
"That's one way if putting it," Rexie grumbled as she shoveled several sausage links in her mouth. "Some idiot kid broke into the basement. Then his damn girlfriend kicked me in the face."
"If you weren't so fat Rexie you probably could of dodged," Ayami teased causing the imps skin to grow even redder with anger.
"Leave poor Rexie alone," Yuriko stated, hiding her smirk as best she could. "Poor imp, those evil children hurting you for protecting your home. Let me make it up to you, how does fried chicken for lunch sound?"
Rexie appeared to perk up as Ayami simpky rolled her eyes. "So did these children take anything," Yuriko asked.
"I was about to check," Akira stated as he stood from the table.
"Hard to see when you have your head stuck up the bosses ass honey," Ayami teased causing Yuriko to chuckle.
Yuriko could only smile as she gazed at her companions. It struck her as odd that throughout her life, she would come to see demons and kitsune as not only mundane but family. She couldn't help but be thankful, not everyone was as lucky as he was.
"Yuriko!"
Yuriko now looked up at the six tail, noticing the look of concern on his face. "What is it Akira?"
"The rings," he said gravely. "They are missing."
***********************************
Rexie sighed as the familiar now studied the middle school. It had not been the best weekend. The loss of the Rings of Age and Transformation had drawn much more attention than they wished to deal with. It seemed like everyone representative from the magical world had come to see Yuriko. Kitsune, demons, wizards, dragons, practically everyone they knew had been over to express their concern.
Rexie, Ayami, and Akira felt guilty for putting Yuriko through all this. Mia and Zack had entrusted the three if them to keep their goddaughter safe. As the imp now assumed the form of a fat tabby cat, she crept towards the school. "Man I hope this pays off," Rexie moaned.
As Rexie now clamored up onto a window still, she cursed quietly at herself. Maybe she had put on a bit too much weight. Gazing inside the classroom the imp gulped.
"Yuriko I found the rings."
"That's great," Yuriko said, communicating with the imp telepathically.
"Not really," Rexie said sheepishly as she gazed a young teen that was now teaching Algebra. "Looks like the kid figured out how to use it."