In Japan's famed Takarazuka Music School, a young woman (or so shi seemed to the humans) twirled through an empty classroom, a song in hir head when shi should have been cleaning. Once shi was sure shi was alone, the "girl" willed a transformation to begin. Black fur sprouted all over hir body, and hir feet stretched out into vulpine paws. The girl's nails sharpened into claws, while hir breasts expanded as a second pair grew beneath them. As the girl's face pushed out into a vulpine muzzle, two magnificent fox tails burst forth from her lower back, billowing behind hir as if in a breeze. To complete the change, the girl's clit pushed out into a penis, and a ballsack popped out below it.
The girl was Maiko Hiko, an otokoyaku (male-role) trainee at Takarazuka Music School, and (secretly) a kitsune and a shiyūdōtai. Kitsune were vulpine yokai that had evolved from prehistoric werefox populations. Over the millennia, these proto-kitsune had evolved numerous mystical powers the baseline of werefoxes could only dream of. The more tails they grew, the more magic they had. Furthermore, most strains of kitsune, known as zenko, had also evolved past the irresponsibility and hedonism of their ancestors and cousins. They still had a gently mischievous heart, but they were wise enough to know to restrain themselves when their fox nature was becoming troublesome.
But then there was the other subspecies of kitsune: the yako. The yako kitsune (also known as a nogitsune) had all the selfish impulsiveness of the werefoxes combined with the magic power of the zenko kitsune. Most yako weren't evil (though some definitely were), but all had littered human myth with cautionary tales of the chaos they could sow almost unthinkingly. Unfortunately for Takarazuka Music School, Maiko Hiko was a yako kitsune.
Maiko fumbled with the buttons of hir grey-and-white uniform, pulling it off and freeing hir furry body. Shi continued prancing around to the imaginary music, hir breasts bouncing as shi did. Suddenly, the classroom door opened.
Yuna Hayashida stepped into the classroom, her uniform flawlessly wrinkle-free. Yuna was an upperclasswoman and a promising young musumeyaku (female-role) in training. She was also a zenko kitsune. Yuna sighed as she watched her classmate goofing off.
"Maiko-san!" Yuna groaned. "You were supposed to be cleaning this room. Instead I find you messing around and dancing. In the buff, no less! Do you care at all for this school's code of conduct?!"
Maiko shrugged. "Not really."
Yuna sniffed. "Well, you should. So few girls pass the entrance exams. You'd be wasting an amazing opportunity by getting expelled! And you're making it hard for the rest of us when you mess up and bring shame on the whole class. Surely you see every time the entire class is made to apologize by the instructor when you show up late for lessons!"
Maiko giggled. "What can I say? A kitsune needs to be free."
Yuna shook her head. "Not THAT free. And could you please shift out of your kitsune form. What if a human came along and saw you with your tails out?"
"I'm fiiiiiiiine," Maiko sighed theatrically. "I need a few moments to just be my real self. You really ought to shed that human face yourself, Yuna. Come on, let's see that snow-white fur of yours! It compliments my black coat so nicely."
Yuna shot her friend a dry, critical look. "Not a chance. I've studied for over a year to live my dream to sing and dance in the Takarazuka Review, for my beauty to bring joy to countless humans."
Maiko chuckled. "It's fascinating how you zenko can even be vain selflessly. Seriously how do you do that?"
"By understanding why Inari gave us beauty in the first place," Yuna answered. "You yako could stand to be more religious, you know that? Beauty exists to inspire and lift spirits. That's what I want to do on the stage. Ever since I was a little cub, all I ever wanted was to sing as the title role in Elisabeth."
"That's the show where a German empress falls in love with Death or something, right?" asked Maiko.
Yuna rolled her eyes. "Austrian, Maiko. Empress Elisabeth was Austrian. Well, I guess she was technically born in Bavaria (which IS part of Germany), but she lived most of her life in Austria after marrying Emperor Franz Joseph."
Maiko's eyes glowed mischievously. "Oh, there's an emperor, is there? So there's adultery in this story. Spicy!"
Yuna cringed. "Ugh, don't make it sound naughty! Honestly, Maiko Hiko! How on earth you've gone this long in Takarazuka Music School knowing this little about the most iconic piece in the Takarazuka Revue's repertoire after The Rose of Versailles is beyond me! After all, if you achieve YOUR dreams and become a famous otokoyaku, you'll probably get the part of Death, or at least Emperor Franz Joseph or Luigi Lucheni."
"Remind me who Luigi Lucheni is," said Maiko.
"The man who assassinated Empress Elisabeth," Yuna answered. "He also serves as the narrator of the musical, like Che in Evita."
"Ooh, edgy!" Maiko giggled. "I think I'm liking the sound of this Austrian musical. But, as fun as playing Luigi Lucheni sounds, I'd rather play Death. That way I get to romance you." Maiko suddenly leaned in and gave Yuna a long, sensuous lick with hir vulpine tongue.
Yuna jumped backwards. "Maiko! You know perfectly well that Takarasiennes have to remain chaste and single until they retire from the company!"
Maiko just laughed. "That's a silly rule made by an old human man over a hundred years ago. I know how much you want me; I've seen the way you stare at my cock, and I don't think that's you wishing you had one of your own."
"Not at all," Yuna agreed. "I'm quite happy being a true female."
"Then I think we both know what that's really about," Maiko grinned triumphantly, winking. "But if you're not ready to talk about that, let's change the subject. Which Takarazuka troupe do you hope accepts you when you graduate?"
"Flower Troupe," Yuna answered without hesitation. "They're the most traditional and the most lavish. Truly the A-list troupe."
"I'm hoping Star Troupe wants me," said Maiko. "They put the most focus on dance and athleticism, and that's what I enjoy the most about performing."
"They won't want you if you get expelled," Yuna warned. "We're both dangerously close to being late for our next classes."
The two girls turned to dash out, only to find a plump, cheerful-looking kappa girl standing in the doorway. The somewhat tubby turtle girl appeared to be around age eleven or twelve. Maiko, ever the sumo wrestling fan, immediately recognized her as Nariko, the granddaughter of Kyūri Sensei.
"Hi!" Nariko began. "Grandpa sent me here with this message!" The little kappa proffered a piece of paper from a stack she was carrying at the Takarasiennes. "Something about going to America."
"Oh?" Yuna wondered as she accepted the letter from the preteen kappa. Yuna read the contents of the letter aloud:
Dear Madam,
If you are reading this, it means my poor, ever-curious granddaughter managed to focus on finding you rather than on sneaking into the Takarazuka Grand Theater to watch a show. As endearing as little Nariko's bubbly, fun-loving ways can be, I would rather that she this time focus on the task at hand and bring you this letter. I think she will; I've offered her three of my choicest cucumbers (and maybe even a tiny taste of my chankonabe) if every letter is delivered.
I am delighted to be in contact with someone so talented. I sincerely hope you and your classmates are well and that you are enjoying the first flowers of spring. I am writing to inform you of a student exchange program between Japan and the northwestern United States that my sumo heya is spearheading. Focusing (unbeknownst to out human governments) on our two countries' magicals, it shall initially allow six American magicals to come study in Japan while six of our nation's yokai go abroad to America to study.
There are six slots: a Kyodainayokai-beya slot (naturally), a Toyoda High School slot, an Inamura slot, two Takarazuka Music School slots (one for otokoyaku and one for musumeyaku), and a free slot that can go to a yokai from any school in Japan. Who fills these slots shall be determined by lottery. Soon, all eligible yokai who wish to participate should journey to my heya in the Kyoto countryside. You will each be given a card with a number, and I will draw six cards that match the numbers of six audience cards from a bowl. Those who match shall be on their way to America. I wish you good luck.
Yours sincerely,
Kyūri Sensei, sumo master and head instructor of the Kyodainayokai-beya
Yuna reread the letter with interest. She glanced at Maiko, who had been handed a similar letter. "Thank you, Nariko. You did an excellent job." She glanced over at Maiko again. "Who knows? Maybe some time in a foreign land would teach you maturity."
Maiko laughed. "I make no promises."
"Now," Yuna said, "it'll be hard to find time in a our school schedule to... wait, what about the field trip the Music School's having soon? I bet that's the day Kyūri Sensei has the lottery!"
"I guess I'll be going now," said Nariko. "Grandpa gave me a looooong list of people to hand out these letters to. I'd better make sure they get them before The Rose of Versailles ends."
"Make sure they get to the right people," said Yuna. "It'd be a disaster if you handed a letter to one of the human students. How are the not freaking out over the sight of a kappa, anyway?"
"It's a glamour" Nariko answered. "Well, bye!" With that, the kappa girl darted off to inform the remaining yokai of Takarazuka Music School of Kyūri Sensei's lottery plans)