It turned out to be more than just a day. The past week had become a whirlwind of activity for Michael and Benjamin. As planned Benjamin's father had talked with the Minister of Education in Galawan and Ben was released from school permanently. That was the easy part. It was a lot harder to convince Ricardo to let Ben take on an assignment away from his family. Ben's parents were eager for his help on the road and didn't really want to let him go. But Benjamin was firm and finally Ricardo had relented. There had been a long debate over where Ben could be sent but finally the administrative offices of Division Eight as its new head was settled on. This particular Division was a manufacturing hub in the province of Ves, north of Galawan. No major problems, but with enough to do to provide a good training ground for the young man. After that phone conversation they'd jumped into planning for the move. Having cashed the bonus check he'd gotten from Ricardo and setting up his own bank account Benjamin was determined to do as much as he could on his own. He'd studied the city, finding a modest house that he could afford in a working class neighborhood not too far from the administrative offices. It was purchased. Furniture was bought as well, forwarded to be set up in the new quarters he would share with Michael. Then they had begun packing and studying the executives that Ben would be working with, trying to get an idea of what they would face when they arrived. In just a couple more days they had emptied what little they owned into a moving truck and left. 

Even now Benjamin's computer was in his lap with several screenfuls of information and employee profiles open on it. The husky though was slumped over against the otterfox driving, sound asleep, with head resting comfortably on Michael's shoulder. Dressed in a light yellow summer shirt, denim shorts, and Gatsby cap the steady hum of the car's tires on the asphalt and deep rumble of the engine had lulled the twelve year old off. Actually Michael had thought it would have happened much sooner with how hard Benjamin was pushing himself these past few days. The paw he was resting on Ben's knee gave it a squeeze, rubbing his palm along the warm fur of Ben's thigh. The movement made the boy stir.

"Five more...more minutes." The husky mumbled.

Michael smiled and turned his attention back to the road. Traffic was picking up as a passing sign reported that Endra was just a few miles ahead. They'd left Galawan nine hours before, going northwest on one of the major highways in the region, then through one of only six passes that cut through the sprawling Galawan Mountains. Imposing granite barriers, the snow capped ranges sealed that province off from the rest of the mainland. The drive had been quite scenic and in the sports car also proved rather exciting along the twisting road. Coming out onto the plains again they had then headed slightly east where they passed into the province of Ves. Three hundred miles of farm land and rolling hills had slowly given way into forests, then more farm land, and now passing over a large heavily wooded river Michael could see the outskirts of their destination. Off and on throughout ancient times the city had experienced several booms and declines. During the wars previous to the establishment of the Imperium it had been fairly deserted, but now, with the re-discovery of Galawan's rich mineral wealth it was once more booming. Galawan's metal and half finished products were brought by truck and train to Endra to be finished or shipped along to more distant destinations. Endra itself had a substantial industrial base too. A spur of mountains pushed its way up from the Galawan ranges in the south up against the city's east side. There he could see a great many factories set in the foothills and some climbing up into the rock of the mountains, steam and a few pillars of smoke rising from vast workshops. These factories were served by a large rail yard to the north of the city. Rail lines following old trade routes from many provinces converged into a great sprawling hub and he could see the yard busy with trains dropping off materials or picking up finished goods for shipment. Right now coming from the south they were driving through the suburbs where Endra's fifty thousand residents lived. Further north and west was the city center, modest commercial districts with a few office buildings housing mostly offices for the manufacturing plants. Beyond was even more residential housing. Interspersed everywhere in the fabric of the city's well kept were many equally well groomed parks and trees. Along the freeway neatly restored old Gothic stone houses of the original settlements mingled with more modern structures of brick and wood. It was late afternoon so there were many families out together in their yards enjoying the cooling day. The furs he did glimpse as he drove seemed to be happy, a pleasant change from the harried existence that the people in Galawan often lived. Since Endra had only recently been resettled as a trade hub it was said that Endra's population was more diverse, that people were more friendly and open minded. That seemed true enough from a distance. Which gave him some hope that maybe it was a safer place for he and Ben. At least the charter of the province wasn't as rabidly homophobic as Galawan's.

Just ahead the first freeway exit for Endra proper appeared and Michael moved over into the right hand lane, putting his turn signal on. The ramp split and he followed it, smoothly downshifting. The car's race-tuned transmission responded instantly and the engine howled slightly as it took up the strain of slowing the vehicle. Following the curve to the right and down the Midea's midnight blue paint flashed in the sunlight, hugging the pavement the force of the curve pulled on Ben, waking him.

"Huh? What's going on?" The husky sat up, rubbing his eyes. His laptop nearly fell off his knees but still sleepy paws clumsily caught it. Looking at it with weary eyes he shook his head, ears flopping, then closed its lid. "How long was I out?"

"A couple hours."

"And you just let me sleep?"

"Why not? You've been studying for what, three? Four days? You needed a break."

Benjamin flopped backwards in his seat. "I guess."

Michael took a small map from the door pocket and unfolded it, setting it on his knee. "Found what you're looking for yet?"

The husky made a face at his laptop. "No, not yet. I'm beginning to think that either there aren't any problems in the Division Eight offices or that the numbers being submitted to R.I. Central Records aren't exactly truthful."

"Is there any reason to expect there's a problem?" Michael pulled the Midea smoothly into traffic at the end of the off ramp. It was a bustling avenue and he consulted the small section of map briefly.

"Just a feeling." Ben looked pensively out the windshield. "I can see that this division is having a bit of an attendance problem, but that's nothing new anywhere else I suppose. What bothers me is that we've missed four or five on time ship dates for various products. It hasn't been getting better either, steadily worse. Not by much, but enough."

"That doesn't mean there's anything wrong. Every division suffers setbacks from time to time."

"I don't know Michael. Why else would I get sent here?"

A cocked eyebrow was shot the husky's way. "Don't read so much into things. Ricardo wouldn't have given you a division in the first place if there was anything major taking place. Relax, you've been going over that file packet with a fine tooth comb for days."

"That's just it! This is the real thing. I don't want anything to go wrong." Ben fished up Michael's tail from behind the otterfox's seat, petting it to calm down.

Michael purred otterishly from the touches. He wiggled his bulky sleek tail in Ben's paws. Traffic was moving along at a brisk clip and it didn't take long to go a couple miles. "Hon, sometimes there's a limit to what can be anticipated."

"I know that Michael, but I still don't plan to fail in any respect. That means being prepared." He sat a bit straighter. "And I just had an idea that will help. You know how we were going to do that meeting to introduce ourselves right?"

Michael nodded, turning a corner into a more residential neighborhood.

"What if we hold off a couple days. That would give us a little time to hit the local records rooms and get a look at the factory floors without too many people noticing us. What do you think."

"If it will make you happy." The otterfox let out a rumbling chuckle.

"It would." He said very seriously.

"Alright, alright." Michael threw up his paws as the car crept along, looking at passing street signs. "We'll investigate whatever you want. Only a couple days though."

The husky sounded very relieved. "Thank you."

"Hmm, did you see if we passed by Verdant Sky Drive yet? I saw Azure Sky and Vermillion Sky awhile back."

Benjamin shook his head. "Sorry, I didn't."

"Too worried about things that may or may not be." He smiled, laying a paw on his husky's head and giving it playful scalp scrunches. "Relax hon."

"There, Verdant Sky Drive." Benjamin pointed off to the left.

Michael spun the wheel, turning and going west. Verdant Sky Drive was in an older part of town and large, old, poplar trees lined it at regular intervals for as far down as he could see. The tops of each nearly spanned the broad asphalt drive, shading the sidewalks completely and out into the road. Both the trees and the passing homes and yards were immaculate, the people here obviously taking pride in their neighborhood. "We're looking for 2200, where are we now?"

"There's just a big park to the south, annnd, odd numbered houses on the north." Benjamin peered out the windows intently, watching for a house number. He pointed. "3305 there."

"Alright, probably another block." He regarded the wooded land rolling by to the left. The park was a square block, trees and flower beds along walks that divided wide open spaces. There were a few groups of people out playing in the grass, a couple joggers on the well-kept paths.  "Pretty nice park huh?"

A few people had caught sight of the sports car cruising slowly down the street and pointed. It made Ben's ears perked up, wondering why they would do that, until he remembered Michael's car. "Yeah, figured it would be a nice place to unwind now and then." He kept watching the gawkers as the car slid past them, then at the edge of the park a large hedge loomed up with a eight foot high privacy fence in the middle of it. He sat up straighter as Michael spoke.

"There, that's it."

"On the left? Looks like what the pictures showed at least."

Michael nodded. "See, 2200 on the mailbox."

The lot was just wide enough to accommodate at the corners two of the large poplar trees that lined the street. They were old, but straight and tall, their leafy green tops shading nearly the entire property. Surrounding those and behind was a small, lush, lawn. To the left a driveway led up to a single garage. The house itself was a single level three bedroom home, taking up the bulk of the land. It was a simple white clap-board ranch house, a covered porch coming over from the front door to the driveway and the front containing two large, white curtained, windows. The privacy fence continued all the way around the back of the lot and on the far side it was again surrounded by a hedge, a small gate set between the house and fence leading into the back yard.

Michael cramped the wheel, pulling the car up into the drive past the mailbox. "Not exactly what you're used to, is it?"

Benjamin stretched out in his seat, splaying his bare wolfish toes. The stretch covered a movement of his hand to Michael's backside where he playfully pinched the otterfox's butt through the seat's tail cut-out. "That's not the point. It's somewhere we can have some privacy. I hope the movers got everything setup inside like I wanted."

The otterfox's tail thumped on the car floor from the squeeze. "I'm sure they did. The company you picked out is very good." Michael braked to a smooth stop and shut off the engine. As the soft rumble died all that could be heard was a bit of breeze rustling in the tree tops and a few shouts from the park next door. Pulling on the door handle he unbuckled and got out, standing up, feeling a certain husky's paw slide all the way down his tail as he did. The touch made shivers shoot up his spine. He blushed a little under his fur as he looked back into the car. "Well, coming to see?"

"Yeah, I am." Benjamin slid his computer into its case, zipping it up.

Michael stood there, stretched, during the long drive they'd only stopped twice. Rising up on his tiptoes he took his time, working out the kinks in his arms and legs. Finally the passenger door popped open and closed as he stood looking over the house. He took a few steps closer, next to the porch.

"The key should be inside a combination box on the doorknob." Ben said, backpack over his shoulder. He pushed past Michael much closer than he needed to just so he could bump hips.

"Do you EVER stop?" Michael said with a rumbling chuckle. He returned the bump with one of his own.

Benjamin looked over his shoulder with a wink and hiked up tail. "Nope. I gotta keep my otterfox wanting to pounce me all the time."

"Hon! I can't exactly do that just this second you know."

The husky just grinned, wagging his fluffy tail as he walked up to the door. There, around the doorknob as he'd been told, was the box with the house key in it. Fishing in a pocket he pulled out a scrap of paper and punched in the code the realtor had given him. It was then with some surprise that a shadow loomed over him and he felt a strong squeeze on his ass. He nearly jumped, but turning his muzzle upwards it was met with a big furry foxish one. Semi hidden in the corner of the porch and the front of the house Michael kissed him long. Ben opened his muzzle, letting a cascade of waiting otterfox tongue into his mouth, enjoying the sensation of his boyfriend's long canine tongue lapping at him. It seemed forever, just standing there on the porch, sharing an intimate moment in the sun and shadow of a perfect summer day. The thumb he had hovering over the last button on the box finally drooped, finishing the combination. The lock box clicked, its bottom dropping open and the brass key nearly clattering to the porch. Benjamin drew back as the key fell into his paw, panting softly. He blushed and looked around to see if anyone had seen.

"No one around right now. And what do you think? Was that pouncing you enough?" Michael smiled, licking his lips and glowing inside from the young man's taste.

"Let's go in huh? Before you get us into trouble." He gave the otterfox a long, playful sideways look, then grinned as he took the key and unlocked the door, pushing inside.

Michael stared, then started laughing. "You, you are really...grrrf!" He followed the waving white and gray fluff into the room beyond. Catching up he reached out and coming up behind the boy wrapped arms around Benjamin and squeezed tight. Nuzzling down he kissed again on the waiting husky muzzle, receiving licks back too this time. "You're a handful you know that?"

Ben pressed his rump back against Michael's slacks and smiled. "You're welcome hon."

They were standing in the living room, eggshell white plaster walls that went up into a high, vaulted, ceiling where a brass and crystal chandelier hung. It sparkled and shone brightly even with just the half light coming through the door and large curtained windows. The recently installed carpet beneath was deep burgundy with a thick cushiony pile. Just inside the door was a generous tiled area to take off boots and shoes, to keep the carpet as clean as possible for Ben's bare paws. To the left a large view screen and sound system had been set up on the wall, dark for now, faced by a couch. The sofa was ornately carved wood, the linen colored cushions thick and comfortable. At either end of the couch were matching recliners. On the right wall was a thin table where keys or other things could be set. Benjamin lowered his backpack onto this table. Beyond the living room was the kitchen and a small dining area, separated from the living room by a bar with stools. The kitchen had been fully stocked by the movers with dishes behind closed cupboards and appliances already set up. Between the kitchen and living room to the left was a door that led out to the garage. From the living room a hall lead off to the right where there were two empty bedrooms in the back corner of the house. At the end of the hall was a largish bathroom, and up front around the corner from the living room was the master bedroom of the home. 

Michael stood there, basking in the warmth of the husky in his arms and didn't plan on going anywhere soon. The moving company had set up everything here in the front just fine so he was confident that everything else in the house was too. For once in his life he felt like he'd come home. He'd lived a great many places, rich and poor, and he'd never been comfortable in any of them. This place was different though. He couldn't quite place his paw on what it was, but he knew it probably had something to do with Ben. The boy's head was laid back against his chest, eyes closed, a relaxed smile on his upturned muzzle. 

"You feel it too?" Benjamin whispered, leaning heavily back against his otterfox, curled fluffy tail laying still for once.

"Maybe this really is home." His voice went down to a whisper. "It's been a long time since I've had one." 

"I picked a good one then?"

"Yeah, you did. I like it Ben." 

"Then I'm happy." Benjamin leaned more heavily back against Michael's smartly pressed shirt and slacks, relaxing, a little excited shiver echoing through his body as he felt Michael's paws rubbing his side fur beneath his shirt.

"No one to stop us or turn us in..." Michael's voice was soft as a cool breeze puffed outside, rustling the trees.

"Exactly. Just what I wanted." Ben woofed quietly, encouraging his lover.

Slowly ruffling his paws up and down Benjamin's sides he was about to slip them into the husky's shorts front when a loud banging came from the doorway.

Shocked by the sudden intrusion the two nearly tripped over one another pulling away. Michael got separated first and whipped around, seeing who was there. He flushed, remembering that they'd left the front door wide open. He couldn't see anyone but the knocks had come from there. He straightened his tie as Benjamin caught his balance and came up beside him.

"Hello?" Michael's deep voice called out. He saw a bit of movement and a brown furry head poked in through the open doorway.

"Hi! I'm very sorry if I startled you, but I saw a car in the driveway and the door open and I wanted to stop by." The head revealed itself belonging to a cheerful male river otter. He'd been just out of sight and hesitantly stepped into the doorway. Seeing smiles he stood up straighter and extended a paw. He looked about Michael's age, about six feet tall, and covered with the rich earthy brown and cream coat common to otters. He was of average size, the same lanky athletic build of most otters from the tip of his rounded ears to the tip of his thick tail. The one thing that stood out was his powder blue eyes. They shone with an inquisitive and friendly nature. Dressed in a tight green t-shirt, jeans, and running shoes on his plantigrade feet he smiled. Michael came forward, taking the fully webbed paw into his paw and shaking it.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr?"

"Voden. Jacob Voden." The otter's smile lit up like a Christmas tree as he took Michael's caramel colored paw and gave it a pump. He seemed to puff up in joy. "It's a pleasure to meet you too! I saw a bunch of stuff brought in here a couple days ago but no one stayed. Forgive me for being curious; I like to get to know my neighbors and it's been so long since we've had any new faces around here. I live over there just on the other side of your fence." He pointed to the east as his tail tapped on the ground lightly. "So you're the new owner then?"

Benjamin, who'd been leaning against the arm of the recliner near the door, came forward. He'd been annoyed at the interruption but the otter at the door seemed friendly enough so annoyance had slid into bemusement. Now though he wanted to make sure Mr. Voden knew who stood where. "No, actually I am."

The otter's round ears went upright stiffly, a look of shock coming over his face. "Huh?"

Benjamin grinned, extending his own paw now, which a stunned Mr. Voden took. He shook firmly. "You know, I signed the papers and gave someone a lot of money."

Jacob took a step backwards, looking to Michael.

"I'm afraid he's right. I had no part of it." He raised his paws, amused at the otter's discomfiture. "It was all paws off for me, wouldn't let me help one bit. Which, I wish he would have."

"Aw, you know had to do this myself." Benjamin noticed how very confused the otter was and he motioned to a chair on the porch next to the door. "Have a seat." 

"You're joking, right?" The otter sat heavily. "How old are you really? No kid could have a house."

"Almost thirteen." Benjamin said, settling into a seat beside Michael facing the otter. The day was waning, and he yawned, still tired from the journey. He spread his legs though to torment Michael and happily noted the otterfox's paw twitching in restrained need.

Michael chuckled. His tail curled around the under-seat tail rest. "You wanted to know your new neighbor, didn't you?"

"And you're not his father?"

He grinned again. "No, I'm just his secretary."

Shaking his head in disbelief Jacob muttered. "I'm afraid to ask, but I'm going to. How does just a boy get to have his own house, no parents, and no job?"

"Oh, I do have a job, Jacob." Ben looked studiously at the otter who started to grin.

Jacob guffawed. "It would take more than a paper route to pay for all this."

Benjamin looked a bit miffed at that. "I'm the new division head of Division Eight Manufacturing for Roth International."

"Now," Mr. Voden shook his finger at the two. "now, I know you're pulling my leg. You had me going there for a bit, but there's no way you could be a division head. I don't work for a big company like Roth International, but I know that no one would have a kid that high up. No one."

The husky fixed the otter with a steely gaze, his voice low. "A Roth never pulls anyone's leg."

The sudden shift in the boy's mood caught Jacob off guard. The intensity of the stare directed his way actually made him shiver involuntarily. He looked deeply into the gray eyes and any sense of mirth died. Deep down he could see into the young husky's mettle that this boy was different from any other. He wasn't lying. All he got from Michael was a cocked I-told-you-so eyebrow. "You really aren't pulling my leg, are you."

"I'm Benjamin Bartholomew Roth, the third. I requested to transfer here to finish my business training." His features softened a little, seeing the otter nodding timidly.

"I, ah, stand corrected." He swallowed hard. "A, a Roth? One of THE Roth's?"

Seeing his point made Benjamin's tail wiggled a little, the mood lightening noticeably. "The one and the same."

The otter's muzzle gaped. "Wow." He took a fresh look at the gray and white husky sitting beside the large otterfox. Sure he was young, but it was possible, wasn't it? He'd heard somewhere that there was an heir. "Wow! You ARE one of them aren't you. I've seen lots of pictures of your parents, who hasn't. You do look a lot like..." He shook his head, seeing now the resemblances. "You have your father's markings and your mother's paws. I apologize, I've been a fool."

"That's alright, sorry for being kinda annoyed, it's been a long drive." Benjamin relaxed, being gracious he nodded. "I'm glad to meet you."

"Let me make it up to you? Maybe you'd like to come over for dinner sometime? Irene and the kids would love to meet you and I grill a great steak." Jacob's spirits lifted seeing nods.

"That would be great." Michael accepted for the both of them.

"Outstanding!" Jacob's cheerfulness began bubbling again. "Just give me a day's heads up, okay?"

"That won't be a problem." Ben smiled. "You don't really have to though."

"I insist! We have a pool too, you both look like swimmers, so don't forget to bring your swimming trunks." The otter leaned forward. "Wait until I tell Irene who I met. She'll freak."

"Don't think she'll believe you?" Ben's eyebrows went up.

"Not in a million years." Jacob laughed, tail becoming animated with twitches.

"Why not?" He chuckled, relaxed again.

"Someone with your name, here, in this city? Get real. It's still almost too much for me to believe! Any celebrity who's anybody probably couldn't point Endra out on a map."

"I'm not exactly celebrity, and even if I was, I'm very different." The husky's tone of voice conveyed his low opinion of popularity.

Jacob nodded a little. "Maybe you are, you did talk to me after all."

Michael had been sitting, listening to the two, when his ears perked up. A car coming down the street approaching the Voden house slowed. It was a sensible four door sedan, a slim very athletic female otter at the wheel and a flurry of other movement in the car, attached to what appeared to be three rapidly moving smaller otters. Jacob stood as the car turned into the Voden's driveway and disappeared behind the privacy fence.

"That's Irene getting home. I better get over there and help her, the kids can be a handful and she's had them all day. Have you ever been around otter kids?" He looked over at the two inquisitively.

"A few, in school." Ben remained civil and didn't mention how much of a hard time they and everyone else had given him. 

Michael shook his head. "Not really."

The otter rubbed his head fur back and sighed. "Well, to put it simply, anytime they get to bothering you, just send them on home."

Michael laughed. "We'll keep that in mind."

Jacob held up a paw as he hopped off the porch. "Alright, don't forget now, dinner sometime soon." He smiled and jogged to the edge of the lot, thick tail swaying, and disappeared behind the fence.

"What do you think Ben?" Michael looked over.

"Our neighbor is friendly enough. I wonder what the others are like." He surveyed the houses across the street. He laughed when a paw went to his head and Michael peered closely at him. "What?"

"You okay there? Thought you didn't like people."

"Well, this might be different. So much different than the kids at school. I already like Jacob." He got up, stepping into the house again.

Michael followed, letting out a soft gasp. This time he shut the door securely, throwing the deadbolt too. "It's the tail isn't it. You want that heavy otter tail huh?" 

"You silly, incorrigible, daft, otterfox you!" The husky giggled and was about to turn around. "You should know by now there's only one otter tail I want." Standing right by the couch a dark shadow loomed over him once more.

Ben looked up and a grinning, leaping, otterfox sailed through the air and flumped down on him, driving him to the deep soft cushions of the sofa. A blush spread over Ben's muzzle as a kiss was pressed to him and a hot bulge in Michael's pants rubbed against his crotch. The husky closed his eyes, moaning under his breath as his beloved otterfox lapped out his muzzle. He squirmed beneath the heavy adult, sucking on the long, soft-as-velvet, tongue pushing into his mouth over and over. When Michael parted he was left panting, his own shorts tented upwards.

Michael's paws slid around to Benjamin's rump, unbuttoning the flap over his husky fluff with a playful smile. "Tell me more about my tail."