The lessons were fasating, both physical and educational. She learned a lot about her capabilities she didn't get from her boxing csses, and learned a lot about the creatures she was fighting. The day was exhausting though, and she colpsed as soon as she got into bed, only managing to get undressed before crashing out. She got a different parthis night, apparently beds were not assigo individuals but just chosen as you will. It was f and invigorating to be so close to her Kitsunes, and she with fire, ready to take on the m.

  The first thing this m however, was Asha tellio go with one of the Kitsuo Queenie's office. Kiko didn't know she even had an office, but went anyway and saw it was quite nice, actually. Far han she ever expected Queeo be capable of.

  "Thank you, Erin" Queenie would nod to the Kitsune guide, and then look to Kiko. "So. It's been a few days, we o get your life in order. SIR is a full time itment, as you have no doubt guessed by now. So we o go to your school and l and talk to the head teacher about why you are not going to be going there anymore, spreading that to the general popution that knows you. Would you prefer to tell them the truth, or do you wao make something up for you?” Queenie offered, sitting in the seat and looking surprisingly official.

  “Why, would I lie about joining SIR?” She asked, a little fused at the idea.

  “You are still a teee teens though they may be. And a recruit with no immediate family. It's an invite for seedy elements tet you, should you joining SIR e to light. There are a few people that are less than happy that we exist. Some think that the Beasts are oppressed animals we just o try and uand. Symptoms of society reag a state where people dick about and make crackpot theories.

  There are also those who actively worship the Beasts as the true masters of the p and see humans as cattle. And outside of the dark parts, there are obsessives, fans, and journalists who will mob you when it bees known. SIR Agents are ly celebrities, but are still well known individuals. The subterfuge is only until you finish your training, and eve's just cautionary more than needed. But it will make your free days harder if it is well known” Queenie expined. Kiko never khere was such depth to being a SIR Agent, though could imagily how Queenie dealt with her belligerents.

  “Hmm, I guess I should then. You make something up for me. Just, make it believable, I'm ly a nun you know?” Kiko replied, finally looking to Queenie, and feeling a tad unfortable at the way her eyes lit up at the permission.

  * * * * * *

  Never again, Kiko mentally stated, as she was standing in the Head Teacher’s office, wearing an - albiet beautiful and very finely made - Maid’s uniform. The usual bck dress and white apron was only deviated from with some ice-blue trimming around the apron's frills. And of course, she'd obeyed like a good little girl when Queenie had suggested to get into it and then follow her to the car. The woman was a true nightmare, and Kiko really o find out why SIR was keeping her around.

  Never oo pass up a ce to dress up, Queenie’s outfit was magnifit. The fi red silk, a full length skirt and gloves, studded with fire drops, rubies and emeralds. The look topped off by a red-gold neckce with a rge ruby set. It all gave the impression that she was some sort of rioblewoman or something, and having a Maid just fihe touches.

  Dragged inside, Queenie had made some touches to be hard to identify for people who knew her, hair growing out radically and bright red as opposed to the soft gi usually was. Kiko, oher hand, was still very much identifiable, and several of her friends - and many of those she had cshed with - ented on it as they made their way to the Head Teacher's office.

  "You miss a few days and now get dragged here again? I'd have loved your tenacity, if nothing else" Head excimed, having smelled Kiko ing. But then he looked up and saw Queenie, befng to the clock. "Or not. I certainly wasn't expeg to see her wander in with a dy of the Igara Household" the giant wolf man eo Queenie's delight.

  "Ohh, you are well travelled, aren't you? I 't imagine a man like you maxes out at teacher, head or not" Queenie spoke. Eveone in her voice was different. Like she was born into mohe likes of which few could ever prehend.

  "I had an adventurous youth, My Lady. Eventually, too adventurous, and I decided on a job that would not have such, surprises" he replied.

  "Please, Ara. Or miss Igara if you must, but My Lady is far too formal" Queenie excimed, holding out her hand.

  "Very well, Miss Igara. You may call me Endran, it is a pleasure to meet you" he would then take her hand and kiss it gently.

  "Endran?!" Queeone slipped in the fusion, and her eyes bulged some at the shock. "Endran Ridas of the Steats?!" Queenie's voice was somewhere between a demand and a shocked question, though the Lupian simply nodded.

  "Ahh, those were the days. Out with my boys, and Ranana, but she was one of the boys. Still, I assume Kiko is here dressed in a uniform more expehan a modest car for more than just hearing about my youth, no?" he would prompt, gesturing to the maid.

  Kiko was blown away by the idea that her Head Teacher that she had argued with and butted heads against was some kind of hero figure that made Queenie break character and give an admiring look. Gods, she felt so bad now at every word she had said against the man. There was silence for a few moments, as Queenie righted herself, but eventually she spoke again.

  "Ahh, yes. The Ator family has ied half a Wergild for the just murder of my cousin here in Herenia. Since Kiko is the only remaining member of that family in Herenia, it falls to her. Though I am not heartless and I kly the weight of such debt, so I offered Kiko a position as one of my Maids until she pay off such a debt. Adding in the cost of training, board and suchlike, and it es about eight years in total. So I came to speak with her prior obligations to ensure a smooth passage" Queenie expined, making a lie with such fidend pahat Kiko was just stunned.

  “Hmmm. I am not well disposed to such a thing, but I will not oppose it. I appreciate you ing to tell me rather than just whisking her away, Miss Igara. I hope you will take care of Kiko. She be a handful at times but don’t let that dissuade you. She’s a good girl. That is, indeed, often why she is a handful at times” The head teacher expined, fshing his fangs in a smile.

  “Thank you for your advice, mister Ridas” Queenie replied, giving a gentle curtsey. Kiko, for her part, was busy internally scowling at Queenie. Maybe if she thought really hard, a rge pan would e out of nowhere and hit her on the head or something. As, the world did not work like that, and they left Ridas’ offid got to the car with no flying pans. Bundling into the very nice car and having the chauffer start the car and drive off, Queenie seemed highly amused. But Kiko was livid.

  “Maid!? Could you really have thought of nothing else, at all, that might have worked?!” Kiko exploded, nails digging into her palms, even though the gloves Kiko was wearing.

  “Maybe. But this was the most fun. Besides, you amazing in that outfit, Kiko. It was a suspi of mihat I wao firm. You strip naked if you’d prefer. I certainly wouldn’t mind” Queenie was, with her glorious clothes and her id back superiority and her beautiful car, the perfect picture of royalty right now. Kiko's cheeks flushed at the idea and just sat back down hard, gl at the whole thing. "And I do hope you'll wear it again for me some time" Quee in, further flushing Kiko's body.

  "Shut up. And what was all that back there? You made up such crap with out a blink" Kiko excimed, wanting to get off the topic.

  "It's not crap. At least, irely. It's the culture of the northern states of Skivoa. They are pretty violent by our standards and have a more loose moral code. People are kept polite and civil by the fact that a man throw down the gau and demand you fight him for any insult you give him. And there is no legal or social obligation to keep you alive in this, though her is there to kill you. Weregild is basically a payment to the family of a man killed, half if it is deemed to be just. You get in trouble if you are a psychopath with it, but the fact that you get your shit kicked in for being a dick keeps people civil and closely knit" Queenie expined, seemingly well read on the whole subject.

  "That's...more than I expected you to know. You've got a lot of personalities, huh?" Kiko would ask, which elected a ugh from Queenie.

  "Mmm. I have fun when I want to have fun, and am serious when I o be serious. But still. Life sorted, you are now free to be a full and proper SIR Agent" Queenie excimed. Which, despite everything, was nibsp;