Nekoyashi
A Feudal Fanfiction
Chapter 1
Hojo had been hospitalized for months after a horrible truck accident. The police had investigated, and found that the man who hit him had been drunk. But that wasn't what was worrying him right now. What was worrying him right now was Kagome. When he had finally realized to ask why Kagome had never been hospitalized and treated for her almost constant sickliness, her grandfather told him that her parents' divorce had left the family only able to afford food and shelter. Yet when he asked how he could help, Kagome's mother and grandfather were unwilling to tell him. That hurt the most. When he finally recieved his answer, it had taken the doctor's advice. "This kind of stress is not good for the patient's recovery." Such cold logic, yet there seemed a profound kindness behind it. It was then that Kagome's grandfather had whispered to him words that provoked all manner of terrifying ideas in his mind. "If you want to know the truth, go down the well at our house." What answer could he possibly find there? He tried his best not to think about it, but being stuck in that hospital bed, feeling so helpless...it tortured him.
His thoughts were interrupted, as they usually were, by a visit from his nurse, but this day, she had something more satisfying to say. "You're being released today." Hojo's face glowed with happiness. He would finally be able to help his beloved overcome whatever it was that had been afflicting her so much. He burst with joy, and ran towards the exit of the hospital. Yet his departure was interrupted when a doctor caught him and relayed to him some words of wisdom. "We know you have been cooped up in here for a long time, but before you go rushing out the door like a once-caged dog, I suggest you change out of your hospital gown and into your clothes." Hojo blushed and covered his hindquarters, then returned to his room and changed into his clothes.
Now that he was properly clothed, he exited the hospital and walked to Kagome's house. Hojo then opened the doors of the well's shed and descended into the well. Disappointed and crushed, he found nothing. Yet he did not give up. He examined all the bricks, determined to find a secret door. Suddenly, a voice from above rang out in his ears. "What are you doing?" He looked above, expected for a moment to find Kagome. Instead, he found a girl with whiskers and cat ears looking down at him. She did look sort of like Kagome; she had a similar face and hair, but her whiskers, cat ears, and sky blue feudal kimono set her apart as a stranger. Befuddled, he asked, "Do you know where Kagome is?" She replied, "No. Whoever or whatever that is, why do you think you'll find him, her, or it in a well?" "Kagome is a girl, and her grandfather told me to come down here find out what's been afflicting her, so I can help her.", Hojo replied. The catgirl asked, "Are you in love with her?" "Yes," Hojo replied, "I'd do anything for her." The catgirl sat down on the edge of the well and stared at him with him. "Anything?" "Yes, anything.", he replied. For a moment the cat girl hummed in thought, almost trilling. "Maybe I could help you look for her. But first we need to be properly introduced. My name's Nekoyashi. What's your name?" "My name is Hojo.", he replied.