---

---

---

---

I take a sip of my water and grin at Nero. ”Luckily for you, I never work out with a shirt on. As long as you remain undistracted, then we can form some sort of routine.” I take another sip of my water before I grab a different resistance band and hand it to Nero. ”Time to work on legs.”

---

---

---

---

I look back at Kimiko and watch her make her first successful hit. I was glad she was starting to get it. It just seemed she needed the right motivation.

I focused back on Nic, watching him go through the third round. I watch him step back and jump for the front kick, and I nod. ”Mind your foot position. Don’t want to fall off the bag. Remember to focus on power or speed, keep the heart rate up,” I encourage before I answer his questions.

”Kimiko. We were playing a game in an attempt to get information on the creature we were looking for. Kimiko arrived at the club separately, and Caden had me interject in the conversation she was having with the wolves to get more information. It served to piss them off more than anything. They don’t like having a rival wolf in their territory, not that I would do anything, but werewolves are all territorial.”

---

---

---

---

“Then I’m sold.” I say gleefully as I look Caden up and down before I take the end of the band from him. “Plus the jump rope thing was pretty fun once Avery showed me how to do it.” I brace myself for Caden to start, squaring my shoulders and putting on a ‘tough’ expression.

---

---

---

---

I nod, taking Avery’s advice and implementing it into the routine. When Avery tells me Kimiko is the prize, I can’t help but look at her briefly. I guess I could see where someone might feel territorial over her - she had that sort of ‘girl-next-door’ vibe going for her after all.

“And what woman wouldn’t swoon over some stinky, sleazy man treating her like an inanimate object?” Kimiko adds, frustration seeping into her punches now.

Nodding, I start to understand what might have happened. “Wait, so Kimiko wouldn’t have been able to fight them on her own then? I guess it’s good you were there then, Avery.” I say, still a little confused at the weird tension between the two of them.

“Hey! Don’t inflate his ego! I would’ve been just fine.” Kimiko interjects.

---

---

---

---

---

---

I laugh and shake my head at Nero, enjoying all of their personalities. I start working one leg at a time before doing both. As much as Nero is helping me, I’m also helping their human body build strength, not that they needed it.

---

---

---

---

I grin at Kimiko. ”Now now, I can make your work out harder if you need,” I say. I look back at Nic. ”I’m sure she would have managed, but it was better that I was there. Terrance is not known for fighting fair. At least with me there, Kimiko and I had the upper hand,” I said.

---

---

---

---

It’s fascinating to watch Caden’s muscles at work and I can’t help but admire the free show I’m getting. I mean, of course I got a good show of them in the bedroom, but I’m usually distracted by other things in the moment. “Do you usually have trouble finding a challenge in your workouts?” I ask with a tilt of my head.

---

---

---

---

I try to flip Avery the bird, but once again find the gloves to be hindering an action. “Oh of course he doesn’t fight fair. That completely tracks.” I say, getting more hits in a row before I finally break to get water for myself.

“So, I’m guessing a mere human like me would definitely not stand a chance against a werewolf?” Nic asks before he also takes his short break.

“If you’re about to fight a werewolf, call one of us, but also try not to get in a fight with a werewolf.” I say almost immediately.

---

---

---

---

---

---

I glance at Nero and nod before I focus back on my movements. ”Avery usually has me pushing the SUVS around while they are neutral,” I tell them. ”Or lifting them.”

---

---

---

---

”Not necessarily. That’s why we’re training. I’m going to teach you how to use other means to overpower a supernatural creature who otherwise has invulnerability and or enhanced strength. If you truly want to be a part of this world, Nic, you’re going to need to know how to defend yourself. There are often times when we may all be together for a battle but otherwise locked in our own fights. You should learn how to hold your own both with fists, but also agility, wits, and weapons,” I tell Nic.

---

---

---

---

The thought of Caden benching a whole SUV makes me laugh a little. “So it’s a good thing I’ve come along.” I say with a little bit of pride in myself.

---

---

---

---

Kimiko declines to comment on this part of the conversation, something flashing in her expression before she looks away from me. “Well, I’m once again grateful to you for agreeing to help me.” I say with sincerity before taking another sip of my water and making my way back to my bag.

“Is the silver thing true for werewolves?” I ask, thinking of movies like Van Helsing, where silver bullets had to be made.

---

---

---

---

---

---

I grin breathlessly and nod. ”You add a bit more resistance. It’s much appreciated,” I say before falling silent, conserving my breath in order to complete my workout.

---

---

---

---

I smile and nod at Nic, giving him yet another different routine to do. Once I’ve gone through it and watched Nic go through it, I answer his question.

”Yes. Although it requires a lot of silver. If we are shot with anything other than silver, it can hurt, but we regenerate quickly. Silver slows the process down, but beheading works just as well,” I say, smirking with zero amusement.

I turn away from Nic and approach Kimiko. ”Do you want a new routine or move on to weights?” I asked Kimiko, giving her the option today.

---

---

---

---

I beam at Caden, figuring out that he might need to leave the talking until later. Instead, I let my eyes wander to where the human, werewolf, and fox are. At least for now, it seems all three are getting along well enough.

---

---

---

---

Wiping off my forehead, I look at Avery as he approaches me. “I think I’d like to move on to weights, if that’s okay.” As much as I’d like to keep hitting the shit out of the Terrance punching bag, I didn’t want to exert all my energy on just that. Plus, I can at least let Avery help Nic a little more. Hearing the two of them talking about helping Nic become a better fighter made me feel all the more guilty, like it’s my fault he was introduced to the world this way.

---

---

---

---

---

---

I nod and gesture over to the weights. ”Do you remember the routine from yesterday? You can start with that if you do,” I tell Kimiko.

---

---

---

---

I watch as everyone breathlessly finish the last of their cooldowns, glad that I don’t really have to work that hard for my strength… For now. We still don’t know what’s in store for us once I regain my humanity, but for now, being a demon has its perks. “Wow, you all did wonderfully. I’m so proud of you all, even Kiki.” I say with a polite clap of my hands. I manage to dodge a weight Kiki lodges at me with a laugh, glad the human isn’t anywhere near me to get hit in the crossfire.

---

---

---

---

I find myself laughing over the antics on display. Other than the inhumanely way Kimiko threw the weight and the equally as supernatural way that Nero dodges, it all felt so normal training with everyone. Then I process what Nero said. ”Kiki?” I ask, glancing at Kimiko.

It’s not that unusual of a name, especially with the Studio. Ghibli movie, but I still feel like the air is knocked out of me. Kimiko gives me a confused look for a moment. ”It’s a nickname of mine.” She tells me.

“My sister shared the same nickname.” I say with a soft smile. Between the fox spirits and the nickname, it almost feels like the universe is trying to tell me something.

---

---

---

---

---

---

”Yes, a very good first day. Make sure to drink plenty of water and electrolytes Nic. Stretch today and tomorrow, then I'll see you again the following day.”

I set to work cleaning and wiping everything down. I only pause when Nic comments that Kiki used to be the nickname he used for his sister. I look from Nic to Kimiko, weighing her reaction.

---

---

---

---

I wipe a towel over my face and neck, and look between Kimiko and Nic like Avery did. ”Looks like the two of you will have plenty to talk about once you return from your outing with Cass, Nic.”

---

---

---

---

I eventually remove myself from my bed and get ready for the day. I have a better idea of how to properly restore the fountain despite not being Hindu. I just needed to stop at my shop and gather some supplies. I debated going on ahead, but I decided that I could just wait for Nic.

Once that job was completed, I decided to clean up my house since it had been a few days. With all the cats home, the hair and other matters had started to build up and needed to be properly addressed.

---

---

---

---

Caden’s observation pulls me from my brief state of shock. “Right, Cass. Yes, we can talk more later, Kimiko. I need to shower.” I say the last part more to myself before I make my way back to the changing room.

---

---

---

---

I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut, my mouth suddenly very dry as I watch Nic leave the gym. “What happened to his sister?” I ask, almost afraid to know.

“She died back in 2015. Cancer.” Nero says matter of factly as they watch me. “Her name was Katherine though.” The demon adds, but I don’t know if that makes me feel any better.

I sigh and run a hand down my face, frustration building up inside me. “Well, fuck me. I’m just going to make everything worse for this human, aren’t I?” Even though it’s nowhere near time for me to hunt again, I want to run into the woods. I want to just be a fox for a bit and not the girl who’s mother failed to protect a human or shared the same nickname as his sister.

---

---

---

---

---

---

”I just hope I have some answers for him.” Kiki says.

I leave Caden’s side to prance over to Kiki. “If he’s coming back with Cassi later, that should help smooth things over.” I assure her with a pat on the arm. “You’ll be fine, I’m sure.”

---

---

---

---

---

---

I smiled, watching Nero trying to comfort Kimiko. ”You’ll figure out the answers that you both want eventually,” I tell Kimiko.

”Avery, I'm going to head up and shower. Would you mind staying here until Nic is ready to leave, and see him out?”

”Of course boss,” he says and goes back to cleaning up the equipment.

---

---

---

---

Kiki nods along to what Caden says. “I’m going to take a shower as well. Thanks for the workout, Avery.” She says, her voice actually genuine as she says it. I wait for her to leave the gym before I prance over to Avery.

“This is for you.” I say holding the straw from Kiki’s smoothie out to him with a wide grin and a wink. “Make sure to ask if the human likes me better now.” I prance away to throw myself onto Caden’s sweaty back. “Giddy up!” I say gleefully.

---

---

---

---

---

---

I look at Nero and take the straw from them before I start laughing. ”Amazing, thank you. Where did you put the other ones? I rinsed the straw off and packed it away.

---

---

---

---

I laugh when Nero jumps onto my back. I wrap my arms around their legs, amazed by them. I look questioningly at the straw Nero hands Avery, but don't say anything until Nero and Avery are done talking.

I leave the training room with Nero and piggy back them through the house. ”What do you want to do today, little imp? The day is ours.”

---

---

---

---

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll find them without my help.” I tell Avery cheekily before Caden and I are off.

I rest my chin on his shoulder as we make our way through the house. “Is this how you see the world? I feel like I’m getting to see the world completely different.” I plant a small kiss on his neck before I muse over his question. “Well, should we start with ideas for my room?”

---

---

---

---

---

---

I frown, not sure I like the idea of that. I have a feeling Nero pranked me as well as Kimiko at the same time. After they leave, I sit down on the mat and do some Muay Thai moves on the mat while I wait for Nic to finish up.

---

---

---

---

I chuckle at Nero's comment and shake my head. We enter our bedroom and I toss Nero on the bed.

”That would be a good idea. We can definitely go over some design ideas,” I said, nodding in agreement.

---

---

---

---

I walk out of the changing room, freshly showered and dressed. I decided I would wear something a little nicer than my usual to help with our task today. I walk back into the gym and see Avery still there. “Oh, I’m sorry, were you waiting for me?” I ask as I watch him.

---

---

---

---

I let out a squeal as I fall into our bed before grinning up at Caden. “I think we should connect the rooms with a door. Would that be too much?” I sit up, crossing my legs and tilting my head.

---

---