Mata POT Ryosaku!! Yoroshiku ne!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own no nothing, really!

Chapter 9

Sakuno was questioning her aunt on the nature of the Change when Ryuuzaki Sumire's voice rang out, "Tadaima!"

"Obaa-chan! Okaerinasai!" Sakuno quickly left the kitchen to greet her grandmother. She was still confused by everything she had heard from Mayu, so her grandmother was a welcome and comforting sight.

Mayu trailed after her, since she had to greet the elder Ryuuzaki as well. "Oba-sama, long time no see. I hope I find you in good health."

"Ah. Sakuno, Mayu, have you had your talk yet? Mayu, how is the situation?" Sumire's foremost concern was her sweet little granddaughter.

"We should look into preparing her for the Change as soon as possible." Mayu replied, looking very pleased.

"I observed her last evening. She was deathly cold, and didn't respond for a long time when I tried to wake her up. I plan to put her in a tub of warm water next time it happens. Exactly when will her Change take place?" Sumire was already planning her course of action.

She was also feeling rather bad that she didn't notice the situation earlier. If Sakuno had been having the dreams for a while, and waking up cold and alone, Sumire was sorely lacking in her duties as grandmother and guardian.

"I have my cards with me, let me do a charting for Sakuno-chan, see if I can find out anything," Mayu answered then called out to her familiar, "Kurokuro, go fetch my cards from the bedroom."

Eh? Sakuno thought only dogs helped to fetch things for their owners. Kurokuro must be a very clever cat.

Sure enough, Sakuno saw the black cat leave the kitchen, and slowly sashay to the guest bedroom, all the while mewing softly.

"Aah, stop your complaints, I am hardly asking you to run a marathon. …… Remember that we are guests here, so you must behave. …… I taught you better manners than that! …… Sumire oba-sama is your ELDER! You better watch your words," Mayu paused between lines, seemingly holding a conversation with her pet, which continued its soft mewls.

Sakuno was looking on oddly, and glanced to her grandmother for confirmation.

"Ah. Just ignore that spoilt brat of a cat. As for you, Sakuno, if you are having problems, you must let us help. Mayu has gone through the Change before, and she is here to act as your mentor. I will also do what I can," Sumire put her arm around Sakuno's shoulders, seeking to give her assurance that she wasn't standing alone in this.

"Hai, Obaa-chan" Sakuno mumbled, her mind still deeply mired in thoughts, foremost of which was: was her aunt REALLY talking with, no, make that CONVERSING with, a CAT?

Kurokuro did bring the cards into the living room, dropping the package on the tea table unceremoniously before skulking off to do whatever it was cats do.

"That's a good kitty," Mayu complimented it off-handedly. Sakuno distinctly heard the cat give a snort on its way out.