Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the computer with which I write this story.

Gekkou no nai sora ni sakura

月光のない空に桜

"Cherry Blossoms on a Moonless Night"

Chapter Three:

A Cat's Wrath

If her mother knew, she'd surely scold her. It was bad luck to associate with a two-tail; they often brought a great deal of misfortune. But she couldn't just toss Kirara aside. Midoriko loved that cat more than anything.

She had befriended Kirara while at training. At the time, she was just an ordinary cat who hung around the shrine. Kazuo-sama would often chase her away, justifying his actions by telling his tiny apprentice that cats were evil creatures that would cut your nose off to spite you. Midoriko never saw logic behind his words. Kirara was sweet, even-tempered, and loved to be cuddled. On her days away from the castle grounds, during her days spent with Kazuo-sama, Kirara was Midoriko's only friend, the only one she could confide in. Besides, Midoriko could usually sense evil; Kirara possessed none.

Then one day, a fire broke out in the storehouse. No one was hurt, but Kirara was unable to escape. The storehouse was where Midoriko kept the cat; her heart clenched in her chest the moment she realized her friend was still inside, trapped within the flames.

"Please, let me go!" Midoriko cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Kazuo-sama, please!"

Kazuo-sama was a cold, hardened man. The High Priest held the young Midoriko by the arm, refusing to let her go near, while the other shrine keepers grabbed buckets of water from the nearby stream. He wasn't stupid; he knew she was harboring the cat in the storehouse, had lied to him about it for months. Maybe this would teach the foolish girl a lesson in life.

Midoriko's sobs were unending. The fire raged for a long time, until sunset, and when it was completely out, Midoriko searched relentlessly through the ash and rubble, hoping that she wouldn't find her poor, beloved kitten.

Fate was not kind that day.

Kazuo-sama had Kirara buried in the woods, tossed into a shallow grave as if she were a criminal. No prayers were offered.

When an animal's spirit is enraged enough, it can come back as a demon. Kirara did reappear on the next full moon, born anew as a large youkai—a two-tail saber-tooth engulfed in hellfire. She attacked the shrine, angered over her death and the lack of respect shown soon after. She set the shrine aflame; Kazuo-sama perished. The others managed to escape, but Midoriko insisted on staying. She promised she'd calm the nekomata, even if it killed her.

"I'm sorry," Midoriko said, holding up her rosary. "I never wanted... Please, forgive me." Midoriko let a blast of energy escape right as Kirara jumped in front of her, sending the nekomata into oblivion.

Midoriko was sure she'd killed Kirara, her dear friend.

But whatever it was Midoriko managed to do had calmed the youkai. Kirara's spirit had been subdued, her anger cleansed. Purified. And she did eventually reappear before Midoriko again, several days later.

"Just stay here," Midoriko softly ordered. "I'll come back with a saucer of milk soon."

Kirara meowed happily.