Andrew and Kelcie were enjoying lunch at a sushi bar across the
street from their company's research center. She had known Andrew for
years, and suspected he had feelings for her. Although he was a man of
depth, he was not exciting to her, so she was careful to never flirt with
him in any form. He was a brilliant man, however, and an excellent co-
worker. Kelcie was lost in thought, chewing on the large piece of sushi she
had crammed into her mouth. Brushing away a strawberry red forelock, she
stared at the ceiling fan ahead of her, receiving an odd feeling.
"Andrew, take my keycard, I've got to go home," she said, referring to the blue and yellow striped device used to enter her company.
He regarded her with skepticism. "It's not like you to do this, so I'm sure the computer won't be upset with you, but... Why? We're really making headway, and I could use your help."
She shook her head. I haven't the faintest idea, she thought. "Honestly, I need to go. I'm sorry, we'll continue the project tomorrow."
She stepped outside. It was raining in spurts. She drove an off-road vehicle with an open top, so the plastic seat was wet when she climbed in. She let the uncomfortable wetness soak into her jeans.
Kelcie felt sick, but not of the sushi. She felt a longing instinct, almost maternal. She realized she had taken a wrong turn, but did not care. The rain had stopped, but an electricity, perhaps ozone, lingered. She continued down the road and stopped at a residence. It was an ancient house, with several shrines about the property. An even older tree kept watch over the serene dwelling. Her eyes fell to a small building to the right, A being crept into the courtyard. An odd-looking fellow wearing a dark cloak. He certainly wasn't from here. She could see it about him, the way he moved, and his... aura? He tripped and his cloak revealed his face, with blood on his chin. Kelcie was stunned. He was a cat-creature, one that was in obvious distress, it's eye's closed in pain as a dark stain crept into the fabric of it's rudimentary clothing. She opened the door of her vehicle hurriedly. The being became aware of her presence, perked his ears up, and opened an eye. It's movement was painful to watch. Suddenly he jerked; his eyes flashed, dull orange irises, and collapsed on the hood of her car. What had been done to this to the poor creature, she was uncertain. She kneeled to the human-like form and stroked his hair, attempting to ignore the blood, but was surprised by the amazing healing process that had begun. On a whim, she laid her body over him, attempting to lend her strength. His eyes still open, they regained their flame. He was willing his body to heal, not to die, as if he had one thing left to fight for, even if that strength was just some compassionate human he did not know. Compassion was something new to this youkai, and it refreshed him. Years of enduring hardships and suffering under the will of others has taken their toll on his mind. This was like adding powerful detergent to a pool of black oil that had been collected as he lived his life in the other world. It changed him, and the youkai recovered from his wounds. "Who are you?" "I am Hokkaido, son of Honshu, the ministrate of my land. Please, I am weak, and I believe I have been poisoned. It will not be long until it reaches my heart, and I will be unable to live." She stared in amazement. How did this person get here? How did he heal himself of those gaping wounds in such short time?
"What... what species? I'm certain there is nothing on this earth like you." "I am a hanyou of a great neko youkai and the daughter of a general who wished peace upon my land," he said, sniffing her. "You are an observer of life, are you not?" Hokkaido added. "You mean, I'm a biologist? Yes, I—" "There is something different about youkai. I ask you to find out what it is. When I die, I want you to use me to find this difference." His eyes filled with pleading, a knowing look swept over his face. He knew he was dying. This was the first time in seven centuries a youkai had ceased life in this world.
She was stunned. She would never dream of treating such beauty as a specimen. But, it was his dying wish. His recovery from his wounds certainly did not make things easier for her. She had been careful not to desecrate his body, using the least invasive methods available to her through any means. She had gotten the specialist at a local hospital drunk to be able to pass the strange body through an imager. Kelcie later needed a special analyzer available to her only through the black market. Through several weeks of perserverence, she had figured out what his secret was.
"Andrew, take my keycard, I've got to go home," she said, referring to the blue and yellow striped device used to enter her company.
He regarded her with skepticism. "It's not like you to do this, so I'm sure the computer won't be upset with you, but... Why? We're really making headway, and I could use your help."
She shook her head. I haven't the faintest idea, she thought. "Honestly, I need to go. I'm sorry, we'll continue the project tomorrow."
She stepped outside. It was raining in spurts. She drove an off-road vehicle with an open top, so the plastic seat was wet when she climbed in. She let the uncomfortable wetness soak into her jeans.
Kelcie felt sick, but not of the sushi. She felt a longing instinct, almost maternal. She realized she had taken a wrong turn, but did not care. The rain had stopped, but an electricity, perhaps ozone, lingered. She continued down the road and stopped at a residence. It was an ancient house, with several shrines about the property. An even older tree kept watch over the serene dwelling. Her eyes fell to a small building to the right, A being crept into the courtyard. An odd-looking fellow wearing a dark cloak. He certainly wasn't from here. She could see it about him, the way he moved, and his... aura? He tripped and his cloak revealed his face, with blood on his chin. Kelcie was stunned. He was a cat-creature, one that was in obvious distress, it's eye's closed in pain as a dark stain crept into the fabric of it's rudimentary clothing. She opened the door of her vehicle hurriedly. The being became aware of her presence, perked his ears up, and opened an eye. It's movement was painful to watch. Suddenly he jerked; his eyes flashed, dull orange irises, and collapsed on the hood of her car. What had been done to this to the poor creature, she was uncertain. She kneeled to the human-like form and stroked his hair, attempting to ignore the blood, but was surprised by the amazing healing process that had begun. On a whim, she laid her body over him, attempting to lend her strength. His eyes still open, they regained their flame. He was willing his body to heal, not to die, as if he had one thing left to fight for, even if that strength was just some compassionate human he did not know. Compassion was something new to this youkai, and it refreshed him. Years of enduring hardships and suffering under the will of others has taken their toll on his mind. This was like adding powerful detergent to a pool of black oil that had been collected as he lived his life in the other world. It changed him, and the youkai recovered from his wounds. "Who are you?" "I am Hokkaido, son of Honshu, the ministrate of my land. Please, I am weak, and I believe I have been poisoned. It will not be long until it reaches my heart, and I will be unable to live." She stared in amazement. How did this person get here? How did he heal himself of those gaping wounds in such short time?
"What... what species? I'm certain there is nothing on this earth like you." "I am a hanyou of a great neko youkai and the daughter of a general who wished peace upon my land," he said, sniffing her. "You are an observer of life, are you not?" Hokkaido added. "You mean, I'm a biologist? Yes, I—" "There is something different about youkai. I ask you to find out what it is. When I die, I want you to use me to find this difference." His eyes filled with pleading, a knowing look swept over his face. He knew he was dying. This was the first time in seven centuries a youkai had ceased life in this world.
She was stunned. She would never dream of treating such beauty as a specimen. But, it was his dying wish. His recovery from his wounds certainly did not make things easier for her. She had been careful not to desecrate his body, using the least invasive methods available to her through any means. She had gotten the specialist at a local hospital drunk to be able to pass the strange body through an imager. Kelcie later needed a special analyzer available to her only through the black market. Through several weeks of perserverence, she had figured out what his secret was.