Falling Stars

bear hugs

"I want to say it's good to see you, but it doesn't seem appropriate under the circumstances. It's been far too long, Kal."

Kallias grumbled in irritation at being pulled into a tight hug, face in the crook of the man's neck and breathing in a familiar maple scent. "Get off me you big dumb bear."

He managed to pull free from the other's clingy grasp, but was immediately pulled into another hug by an equally tall woman who pressed kisses into his hair.

"Seriously, Momo? I swear you two are worse than my own parents." Kallias only let her, purely because she was sort of like his sister.

"Is this your mate? He's cute for a vampire," she peered over his head to stare at the vampire, "I'm Ohta Momo, but I guess you're family now so call me Momo."

"Jasper Hale, ma'am."

"He has manners," Momo sounded amused by him, and honestly a bit flustered too. Kallias knew that Jasper was more attractive than even most supernatural creatures.

"He stinks too. Your mate smells quite repulsive. Maybe I'll have him sleep outside with the chickens."

"That's enough, Kōji." Momo said, and finally let the hybrid out of her hold.

Kallias found his way back to Jasper, intertwining their fingers, "This is Hara Kōji. Momo's mate."

"It's probably simpler if you just call me Kōji. As unfortunate it is that my best friend is mated to a vampire, I am happy to meet someone who has Kal's back," Kōji reached a hand out for Jasper to shake, "This is how you Americans do it, yes?"

Jasper took the bear shifters hand and shook it firmly, "Thank you for letting us stay here."

"We'd never reject Kal," Momo laughed like she'd just thought of something hilarious, "Dai is already mourning that Kal is taken. He's always had the biggest crush."

Jasper tensed beside Kallias, so he just squeezed the vampire's hand. Kōji eyed the movement with amusement, "You don't have to worry. We respect imprints here. Daishin is our youngest shifter in human and immortal years. He's yet to mature."

Kallias smiled fondly at the thought of the young shifter. Daishin always had the most adorable crush on him, but was still respectful of the hybrid waiting for his mate. Kallias leaned up to place a soft kiss on Jasper's cheek, "It's nothing to worry about."

"Please, come into the house. We've prepared a meal, and drained a few animals for your mate," Momo smiled warmly at them and motioned for the couple to come into the large home.

The shifter clan had always lived in a spacious home deep in the forest and mountains of Hokkaido. What was originally a temple had become a private property for at least a century, and while the threat of vampires had lessened, the clan had never stopped shifting just to protect their lands.

"Is everyone home?" Kallias asked, letting Jasper take his suitcase like the gentleman the vampire was. He walked into the home behind the shifters and immediately calmed by the smell of old wood and tea.

"The boys are, but Sora is with Toshiro. It seems our little family has a knack for imprinting on vampires," Momo laughed, while Kōji just grumbled in irritation about their home always smelling like bleach.

"One of your own is also mated to a vampire?" Jasper asked in interest, as the four went up the stairs towards the bedrooms.

"Yes, Sora came across Toshiro around fifty years ago. She's been the third of us to imprint in all our hundreds of years," Momo sounded almost relieved, when it had always been so rare to come across imprints. Kallias and his mother had been incredibly lucky, as had the three bears.