Fox Life

Luckily for everyone, Kyro didn't bring home any mice that evening nor the one after that. He simply came home and ate dinner, then brought everyone outside. Lucifer went willingly enough the second time, but on the third day he refused to come along.     

Iris thought to do the same, but she was kind of looking forward to having a swim in the lake. The days were hot, and now that she couldn't take a bath as she wished, taking a swim was the next best thing. Thus, she went without a fight and actually had fun.     

When Friday came and he said that they weren't going to go out since guests were going to arrive soon, she even felt some regret. What were the other people even coming here for? She was fine with just the two of them; there was no need for others.     

It wasn't her choice, however. No long after, the doorbell rang and two women walked in. One of them just waved and smiled sheepishly, so she was clearly someone uncomfortable with this situation, but the other showed no such reserve. She hugged Kyro straight away, then squeezed his arm and complained that he was losing form.     

Before Iris could shout in outrage, Kyro removed the woman's hand from his arm and told her to better care for her own man so he wouldn't come begging to be saved.     

"Jim did what? Full story, now!" she demanded, her face shifting from a teasing smile into a chilling frown. This was only amplified by her height, which had to be something close to a meter ninety, and a thick stature which was pure muscle. Her features weren't exactly beautiful, but she had the charm of a wild amazon.     

Kyro wasn't intimidated by her, though. He picked the bags they had brought and carried them into the kitchen. "He said you were the most amazing cook in the universe, so I instantly knew something was wrong. Before you married, he never missed a chance to complain about your kitchen skills."     

"You little!" The woman's face relaxed, and a smile took to bloom once more. "You know I couldn't even toast a bread piece without burning it."     

"That's why I'm worried about you coming early to cook," he told her from behind the kitchen counter. After placing the bags, he came out and scooped Iris up. "I wonder if I should evacuate already or if I have the time to get a few things first."     

"I'll— Wait, is this the lucky orphan we're celebrating today? It's so small!" she exclaimed, coming over for a closer inspection.     

Her friend stepped in as well, and Iris could take a better look at her. She looked like a midget compared to the tall woman, but in reality she should be of average height. Her looks were simple—of a girl-next-door—and she was dressed in a plain white summer dress. It fit her well, and she had added a pendant with a sapphire which matched her light blue eyes and blonde hair.     

At that moment, a finger poked Iris in the nose, and she screamed out, then tried to bite the offending object off. Her attack was harmless, but the tall woman retrieved her hand, which was all that was needed.     

"What a vicious little thing," she commented, and Iris felt like she should have really went for that finger. If she was going to be insulted anyway, it was better to have at least done something to deserve it.     

Kyro patted her head, then released her to the ground. "She's just not fond of strangers. It'll take a while for her to warm up to you."     

"What's its name?" the other woman asked in a soft voice. Unlike her companion, she didn't seem to want all the neighborhood to hear her words.     

"Iris, and I'm Kyro. You are?" he asked, extending his arm in a greeting.     

The woman blushed a little, then extended her hand as well. "I'm Emily, but most call me just Em."     

"She's Ted's soon-to-be fiance. Once he earns enough to buy the ring," the tall woman said with a snort, while both Kyro and Iris barely held back a laugh. The young woman, Em, blushed even more, but before she could say anything more, the tall one spoke up again. "I always told her to go for lawyers since they earn a lot, but she actually didn't think to check the guy's salary before agreeing to date him. Poor girl, I'm still trying to put some sense into her, but I fear it might be too late."     

Kyro smiled a bit awkwardly, clearly not certain how to react to such declarations before the other men were even here, but seeing that Em wasn't insulted, he decided to ignore it. "You can find everything you need in the kitchen. Work your magic there."     

"And you're just going to sit here and do nothing?" the boisterous woman instantly asked.     

"Of course not. I'll be packing so I can escape posthaste when you set my apartment on fire. Iris, come, let them have this place." She looked between him and the two women, then shrugged and followed him into the bedroom. If those two wanted to have the floor, who was she to fight it.     

The tall woman glared over at them as they left. "I'll know next time not to volunteer to help someone hopeless in the kitchen," she muttered under her breath, which was normal volume for any other person.     

"Says someone with the record of two burnt kitchens," Kyro threw over his shoulder before closing the door.