Update July 2020: Typos. Title. Grammer

Roses are red

Violets are blue.

Dis story is mine

If you copy I cry.

Everyday Life with Supernatural Girls

Chapter II

||Wintry Warmth||

The wind howled, peppering the night with ice-white dust. With no signs of an improvement, once again the weather prediction was just that; a mere prediction. Yasaka could feel the tingly cold creeping underneath her turtleneck sweater, and that's telling a lot for a Kyuubi resistant to cold.

Presently seated at the living room, fended off from the looming hail but not from uneasiness, Yasaka's golden-tinted eyes lingered at the snows rattling the windows.

She watched the white powder piling up at the stiles of the windows, frosting the glasses in white as her mind wandered elsewhere. The front door had been left unopened since he left, and it's been thirty minutes past his usual time, and there hadn't been any signs of him ever since.

Yasaka's worried. It didn't help that Issei didn't pick up her call.

She wished she had learned how to use that tiny gadget. At least then she could text him a message, ask him where he was or what he was doing. If he was staying warm in a place. At least then she could do something other than sitting around, doing nothing.

Going out to search for him was starting to become a need rather than a want, but that would mean she had to leave Kunou behind. She was able to hide her fox-like features for days, but Kunou wasn't. On top of it all, she would hate herself for causing trouble for her Caretaker more than she had to.

Clutching her chest, she could only hope and pray for his safety.

Fortunately, her daughter was there to take her mind off things. In front of the running TV, she saw Kunou in the middle of her daily ritual; dancing to her action cartoon's catchy outro song. Her luminous tail flaying here and there, following her every motions and twirls as she ended it with a glitzy victory pose.

Hands on hips, Kunou posed with a smile so smug she'd make an excellent magical girl; the cheery yet haughty one.

Catching her mother's giggles, the little vulpine swiveled and trotted towards her, and stole a glance at the front door. "Mooom, Is Niitan home yet?" Did her worry infected to her happy-go-lucky daughter— "Kunou wants her cheesbuggah." —Nope.

Yasaka smiled. Some things might never change. She didn't appreciate Azazel's influence on her pronunciation of certain things, but she'll overlook it this time. "He'll be home soon dearie. Be patient."

"But Kunou's not a patient." With a dull tone, Kunou puffed her cheeks, leaping to the sofa and plopping her head on her mother's lap. In tune with her emotions, her ears and tail slouched indolently. "...What if Niitan ate Kunou's burger?"

"It's not nice to doubt other people, dearie. And it's Niitan's food - he bought it." Humming softly, Yasaka gently stroked her daughter's tresses. Smooth, never-tangling, soft, and feathery like the finest golden silk.

Though enjoying the treatment, Kunou stubbornly whined. "It's not nice to eat other's food too. Especially Kunou's food..."

"We don't know that." Yasaka patted her forehead lightly as a warning of an imminent cheeks-pulling if she persisted. As always, it bred a pouty Kitsune. "Aren't you worried about Niitan?"

Kunou glanced up, holding her mother's golden eyes that she shared, and then placed her face on Yasaka's skirt with a disinterested; "Nah. Niitan will be fine."

"..." On second thought, maybe her carefreeness could use a change. A toning down would be appreciated. "Well... while we wait, why don't we heat the bath for Niitan?"

A pair of fluffy ears perked up as Kunou let out an enthusiastic gasp. "Okay!" The excitement was short-lived, sadly. "Mom, you said you'd call Niitan with 'Ise'."

Yasaka blinked. "Ah? You're right. Mommy forgot."

"Can Kunou take a bath with Niitan?"

Her mother's smile was gone in half of a second. "No."

And her ears drooped once again. "Ehhhh... why?"

Ah. Here they come. A child's inquisitive questions are often difficult to answer. It didn't help that they had been living in recluse for so long as the general's common sense might have changed since then, but she's fairly certain boys still don't bath with girls.

"Because then Ise-dono will be troubled." She opted for the easiest choice. She didn't feel like explaining why boys are boys and girls are girls right now.

Kunou tilted her head innocently. "So it's okay if Kunou ask Niitan first?"

She rued she should've chosen a better reason. "Mmn... that's still a no-no." she said, and explained before she was asked the same question. "Because Kunou is not a grown-up yet." On second thought, that wasn't any better. Yet the realization came too late. At the least, that would stop the questions from becoming a barrage as Kunou's spirit dimmed in an instant.

Or so she thought.

"But Kunou's pretty grown-up... She's ten, you know Mom. Soon she'll be twenty and be tall like Mom." the Kitsune bemoaned while her mother had a mini heart attack.

"Please don't grow too fast dear." Yasaka muttered with genuine concern.

Kunou's expressive ears took a jump as she sat up, her look of confusion apparent. Even her tail curled into a question mark shape. The very fluffy kind. "Why doesn't Mommy take a bath with Niitan?"

She realized she's stepping into a dangerous territory. "...Because mommy doesn't want to trouble Ise-dono."

"But Mommy takes bath with Kunou, and she likes it."

"That's because mommy loves Kunou and Kunou loves mommy." Yasaka replied, getting up to bring a timely end to this topic.

Leaping off the couch to trail along her mother, Kunou continued her series of queries. "Huh? So Mommy doesn't take a bath with Niitan because Mommy doesn't love Niitan?"

All of her nine tails fluffed up as Yasaka hurriedly turned around. "N-no! Of course Mommy loves Niitan." she couldn't believe she said that aloud. It's a given he wasn't here.

"...So... Niitan doesn't love Mommy?"

She gave up. "I-it's a complicated matter, dear." she leaned to her daughter, who was all the more confused than before.

It was then Kunou revealed her satisfied grin. "It's because Niitan's a boy and Mommy is a girl, isn't it?"

"..." Yasaka took a moment to register the sly fox her daughter had become. "Goodness." With a deadpan look, Yasaka then proceeded to stretch both of Kunou's cheek until the girl stopped laughing and started whining in lamentation.

Break

"ACHOO!" Issei achoo-ed brilliantly, rubbing his gloved hands and then rubbing his jumper-less arms. "Man, winter sure is cold."

It's a useless fact, similar to saying people die when they are killed, but he'd say any nonsense to keep the thought of being frozen solid away. If this night in particular could speak, it would be laughing at him for underestimating its power. He felt like walking in a giant refrigerator.

"...Are... are you okay...?"

Hearing that quiet voice lined with worry, he gave the girl walking next to him the most reassuring smile he could manage — as silly as it might look.

"Hm? This? Oh this is nothing. Idiots can't get cold." His brain processed what he had just said. "Did I say idiots? I mean geniuses." His brain processed what he just said. "Wait, I don't mean you're stupid if you catch a cold, but... you know what I'm trying to say..."

If that was an attempt at comedy, he failed, because the girl refused to take her eyes off him. "...You should wear this... I'll take it off—"

"Wh— no no! It's totally a-okay." Issei assured, patting his arms and puffing out his chest. "It looks better on you anyway." this time he wasn't joking, because she's the very definition of adorable.

She looked as if his red jumper was about to swallow her neck while the sleeves had gobbled up her entire arms. Her tail was hidden in the jumper, but he could see her two feline ears prodding on his black beanie, and somehow, the frosty white powder on top granted her a certain cute charm he couldn't quite put. Issei would have given her his gloves too if they didn't fall each time she moved her hands — or more correctly, the jumper's sleeves.

He's a man, but that didn't mean he disliked cuteness. He'd give her a hug if he didn't have the concern of being seen as a creep or if police were nearby to mistake him as a criminal.

And good job wondering all of that. He had just missed the luminescent red on her cheeks underneath all the white.

Nonetheless, after getting over that unforeseen compliment, the worry latched onto her small face didn't fade. "...Will you be alright...?"

"Yep." he said promisingly, trudging through the sheets of snow, finding amusement watching his breath turning into white mist. But the guilt in her eyes told him she didn't believe him, and Issei thought of what he would say if she was Kunou instead...

"Well, if you still feel bad, then why don't you help me by talking?"

She looked up at him, sincerely puzzled. "Talking?" Her voice was so quiet he was surprised he heard all of her words so far.

"Mhmm. Make me not think about the cold. You know, the power of suggestion thingy." she dipped her chin a little. "Right... so..." he thought of a topic that wouldn't make her feel awful or accidentally brought up her pasts. The simple things, like, "How was the burger? Was it any good?"

With just the ghost of a smile, the girl nodded again. "...Yes... I thought I wouldn't have anything to eat today... It was delicious. Thank you very much."

"...Don't mention it..." he laughed sheepishly. 'Wow great job me. Well done.' He should punch himself, he figured. He wanted to punch himself. Maybe slap. Punching himself didn't seem to be a pleasant idea, but it's the fitting punishment for his recklessness. "I'll get you more next time."

While he was busy mentally chastising himself, Shirone was busy with the thought of 'next time'.

Not wanting to get the second strike, he thought hard and carefully on his next question. "So, you're like... part cat, huh? If you don't mind, what's your species called?"

Maybe she was still distrustful of him, because she veered her eyes away from his. "I'm a Nekoshou..."

That explained her feline traits. "Is that a variety of a Nekomata?" she nodded. "Ah, so you're a Yōkai too then? That's cool."

"'Too'?" She tilted her head in an angle, looking at him for a while before giving the snowy path her attention.

"Well, the two Supernaturals staying with me are Kitsune." He waited for a reaction. So far; there was none. Issei supposed she's not much of a talker. "Do your people have a uh... 'relationship' with them?" He supposed using cat-fox as a comparative term would be rude.

She shook her head, shaking off some of the snow on her oversized beanie. "Yōkais used to live together a long time ago, but not anymore... I don't know why, I wasn't born back then."

"You weren't huh." He snickered. Her voice might be as quiet as the streets and he might not have a supernatural hearing ability, but Issei had a pair of ears keen for sarcasm. "Back at the house, there's a Kyuubi about your age. How old are you anyway, Shirone-chan?"

"Fifteen."

Issei laughed. "Well, Kunou's ten, but she likes to claim she's older too."

"I don't. And I didn't." She said with the slightest narrowing of her hazel eyes, but she delivered the graveness and slight peeve binding her voice alright.

Yet Issei didn't believe her. She seemed serious, but was she playing a prank on him? She didn't look malnourished, and she didn't look like she's lying.

"I'm not playing a prank on you."

"Right. My bad." Issei duly noted, suddenly finding it hard to look at her in the eyes. He learned her stare could pierce. And here he thought he had seen everything to be seen... what a world full of surprises.

Break

They exhausted their topics not long after. He couldn't think of any, and Shirone appeared to be too tired to talk. Silence reigned like the cold, accentuated by the wail of the winds and the cruel drop of the temperature.

Issei couldn't wait to jump into a bathtub or into Yasaka's motherly warmth. The latter option would be a super effective method to thaw and perhaps melt him completely, but he could only hope. The house wasn't far off now, and Issei could see its light in the distance – along with the lights of other houses. Some more minutes of walking and he'll be welcomed by the familial warmth, and the prior thought alone was enough fuel to fight off the brewing hail.

"We're just about there." He said, breaking the silence as Issei glanced to his right. "How're you doing, Shirone-cha—" she wasn't there. "Shirone-chan?"

Confuzzled by her disappearing act, Issei glanced around, at a loss. He scratched his snow-piled hair and jumped in place to stay warm while looking for her. The sky was grey and night was bound to fall, but the streetlights remained unlit. The snow-paved road wasn't any help either. They're not as bright as they were in the day, and everything seemed to be a picture of black and white scenery. It was haunting, but beautiful.

What was he doing again?

Not wanting to risk it, Issei decided to retrace his steps. It could be that she suddenly felt shy and hid away, which in that case, he'd walk home and hope to meet her tomorrow or later. He's lending her his jumper and beanie, not giving them away. Though, she did seem to need them more.

Nonetheless, Issei froze as he saw a red dot in the distance, in the right side of the street, at the pavement he walked not long ago.

He felt a punch in the gut.

The wind rushed against his face as he ran through the sleet.

Her ashen face dragged his heart to a bottomless pit.

"S-shit— h-hey!" he shook her shoulders frantically, his coldness melted by anxiety and panic. "Hey! Shirone-chan! Ah shit shit shit—" a wave of relief swept away some of his unpleasant feelings as her eyes twitched, but remained closed.

His worry worsened as he noticed her body feverishly shivering and how flushed her cheeks were — and it wasn't a reflection of his sweater.

He calmed himself. He had to deal with this. Freaking out could wait for later when he had dealt with this.

"Hang in there." Carefully lifting her to his hands, forgoing her fretting lightweight, Issei dashed as fast as his feet could carry while still paying attention not to slip and trip. During his run, Shirone curled into a ball, making herself smaller as she was drawn in by the warmth of his thumping chest.

They arrived at the front door in no time, but having no free hands to pull the handle or knock, Issei resorted to using his head.

Door was hard and it hurt.

It swung open not long after Issei realized he could've used his foot to kick the goddamn wood, revealing a Kunou in a brown bear onesie.

"Niitan!" Kunou's overjoyed expression waned away as she realized he wasn't alone. "Huh?"

"Goodness! Issei-dono?!" Seeing his snow-ridden state, Yasaka gasped, before noticing the small girl in his hand. She pulled Kunou inside to make way for the two. "Hurry, come inside!"

And that is what he did.

Immediately heading to the living room, leaving puddles of his snowy adventure behind, Issei gently laid the Nekoshou on the sofa as the girls followed suit. At times like this, he had to be calm. He had told himself to be calm. He didn't know what to do, but he'd try.

"A-are you alright?" The older Kyuubi asked, anxious of his well being.

But he was more concerned about hers. "Yasaka-san... what... did you do..." running is tiring, he noted. "...when you helped me... back then?"

"I-I-I, I—"

"It's okay— I'm just... ran— out... of breath—! Help the—" another breath, "—girl."

Calming her nerves with a shake of her head, Yasaka sat by the unknown girl. Gently, she pulled her into her lap and held her close as how she would to her daughter.

"Issei-dono, how long has she been like this?"

"Not that long, hopefully..." Issei paused to catch some air. "It was down the road in this neighborhood... I ran back here as fast as I could... Will she be alright?"

"If so, she'll be fine. Good job Issei-dono. Oh—! I mean, Ise dear." She offered an assuring smile as the Nekoshou's painful look started to fade.

"It was nothing..." Issei replied with the same smile. It's nice to be appreciated. It's nice to be called a dear too. Yasaka's nice.

Albeit relieved and all fuzzy on the inside, Issei felt a tinge of jealousy. He wondered if that's really what she did to him too and he really was unconscious when he was that close to her chest. If that was the case, then he'll regret that day forever, for it might as well have been his only chance.

Meanwhile, Kunou was waiting on the other sofa. She knew when to butt in and now's not the time. So with her palms on cheeks and body lied flat, the vulpine in a bear garment curiously spectated, wondering how things would ensue rather than being worked up. It's a bit frustrating how carefree she looked.

"Hah... well, that was one hell of a day..." Issei sighed as his breathing steadied and the fright subsided. He didn't even feel cold anymore, just drenched. "...Snows melt, apparently. I better change before I make more of a mess."

"Y-yes, don't get cold Ise-dono. I've warmed up your bath for you—" she noted her daughter's frown, "—Kunou and I did." Kunou smiled, satisfied.

"Thanks Yasaka-san." Issei beamed a smile as he ruffled Kunou's golden hair. "You too Kunou. You look cute in that."

"Mfuhehe~ Uncle Z bought it for Kunou." The girl muttered happily with tail swishing around — it must be a chore to stick her bushy tail through the suit's little hole. "And she always looks cute, Niitan."

Snickering at her smug smirk, Issei succumbed to the urge of rolling his eyes. "Yeah, yeah..."

As he disappeared upstairs, Kunou stared at her mother and the stranger, watching her move ever so slightly, groaning quietly in her sleep, and then nuzzled her mother's belly like her mother was her mother.

Hm? What's this odd feeling in her chest...? It's nothing pleasant, that's for sure. "...Mom, how long is Mommy going to hold her?" she asked, barely concealing her annoyance.

Two could play the game, and with a sly smile, Yasaka replied, "Until she's warm enough dearie." she said, "Why... didn't mommy do the same to Ise-dono?"

"...It's a complicated matter." Kunou groaned. Her Niitan was too big to be considered as a rival. On the other hand, she's too proud to show she felt threatened.

Yasaka giggled, but her smile disappeared as Issei reappeared with a pair of fresh clothes and a towel to wipe his face. "Ise-san? You didn't take a bath?"

"Eh... I'll do it later..." he said apologetically as he scratched his head, taking a seat beside Yasaka to have a look.

On another note, it should be noted Yasaka was stunning in a purple turtleneck knitted sweater and a long skirt. It heightened her mature charms for one, and it emphasized her ample breasts for two. Issei was having trouble where to look. He knew where, and the temptation was killing him, but he knew it's inappropriate as his father's words echoed deep in his conscience, 'There's a time and place for everything...' No wait. That's Oak's voice.

Punting away the thought, Issei took a look at the white-haired girl. She's fast asleep. He wouldn't blame her. Yasaka's lap must be insanely comfortable, he thought. Oh, and she must be tired.

"She was scraping something to eat at the back of a restaurant." he began, and already Yasaka was moved.

"She was?" She let off a tiny gasp. "You poor thing..."

Issei resisted poking her wilting ears. "Yeah... I didn't think she'd come along with me, but...she did anyway." and he's happy she did. "Is it... is it alright if we let her stay for a while?" No use dillydallying.

"Her? Oh I have no qualms against it. The decision isn't mine to make, but I think you should ask Azazel-sama, Ise-dono." she said politely, and quietly as to not wake up the Nekoshou. "Th-that is, if you intend to let her stay here for a longer while... do you know if she has a family of her own?"

Issei rubbed his neck; his habit whenever he's unsure of things. "I don't know... I didn't ask. I mean... she didn't smell, but she was rummaging through garbage. It'd be awkward if she doesn't."

"I see... you were considering her feelings. You're a kind person, Ise."

"Heh... thanks." He was pressing his lips hard to not break to a wide victorious grin. He couldn't suppress it well, though.

"You're very much welcome." Yasaka smiled gently and serenely. "She's so small..." and her sympathetic tone returned. "Do you know how old she is?"

"Fifteen."

"F-fifteen?"

"Yep. I was surprised too." Surprised that she's a legal loli, that is — as this country's age of consent was frighteningly low. But considering its population's steady decline... As his thoughts went deeper, Issei took it up upon himself to increase the birth rate. 'Vive le sexe.'

There's a moment of silence passing by until Yasaka spoke, "I'll bring her to my room to wash her. I've prepared dinner, please feel free to go ahead without me, Ise dear."

'But I want to eat together with you.' Like he could say that. "Alright, thanks again Yasaka-san."

The word 'dear' lingered in his mind for a little while longer as he looked at her with a dreamy look, until Yasaka levitated Shirone to the air without muttering a spell and walked away, vanishing into her room with the girl floating behind. He still had to get used to the Supernaturals' supernatural power. It'd be lame if he screamed because a cup was floating around all of a sudden.

"Well then! I'm taking a bath now." He proclaimed, glancing at Kunou. "Have you eaten yet, Kunou?"

"No~pe." Kunou smiled, then erased it with terrifying ease. "Where's Kunou's sustenance?"

His eyebrows scrunched. "How and where did you learn that word."

"Kunou knows more than Niitan thinks she knows." Issei paused at her answer, until her look turned grim and suspecting. "Niitannn— where's Kunou's chīzubāgā?"

'Ah.' Issei lifted a finger. "About that."

.

.

.

After an arduous negotiation, the two parties reached an agreement at last. Kunou will forgive him with one term; a trip around the living room on his shoulders. After he finished cleaning the snow off him, of course.

As she tended to say, "Kunou's a lenient Kyuubi."

Break

The air was like frozen lace on her skin, delicate and icy, and she started to bend her body to get all the heat she could.

She peered up. He was getting further and further away.

He's leaving her.

'No...' She tried to walk faster, but the sheer coldness had chained her feet. Her eyelids were heavy, and black blurred the edge of her acute vision.

The world slowly began to spin, and the cold was starting to bite into her consciousness.

Her lips quivered. "...W...wait...!" She was too weak. Her throat ached and there was snow in her shoes.

He was getting smaller and smaller while her vision blurrier and blurrier. Her breath was a haze. It's snowing yet she feels as if she is burning. She's getting scared. If she fell asleep, she's sleeping forever, but she felt she was already living in a nightmare.

She didn't want him to leave.

Shirone cried out his name, hoping the wailing wind could carry her voice to him.

Again, they didn't.

The world swirled, and the distant black dot perished in the whites.

With one final step forward, the white sheets caught her in their cold embrace, the image of her lost sister gradually fading away into the darkness.

"—!"

She woke up from her nightmare with a gasp. Heart pounding, mind empty, eyes hurting and cheeks runny. Every sense urged her to claw her way to sit up and get herself reoriented, but she remained bound on the soft material wrapping her in warmth and a coziness she had become unfamiliar with.

How long had it been since she last slept on a mattress? More importantly, how long was she gone? Why was she in a bedroom and not out in the freezing cold?

"...How are you feeling, dear?" Never had she thought the soft caring tune of a beautiful young woman would petrify her, but it did.

Seeing the girl move away in panic, Yasaka panicked. "Oh goodness! It's okay, don't be scared! I'm Yasaka, Ise-dono's friend." she said softly, leaning forward slightly on her chair.

'Ise-dono...?' As her memory returned piece by piece and the image of the man grew vivid, she felt... safe. She noted the pair of golden-furred ears and nine luxurious tails of a fox, seemingly catching all the glow from the nightstand beside her. She's a Kyuubi, she concluded.

She blinked once, and sat up groggily. She realized she was now wearing a white sweater with the appropriate size for her body.

Yasaka patiently waited.

"Did... how did I get here...?" Her coarseness caught her by surprise. Every word felt like it ground the walls of her throat.

"Please have a drink first, dear..." Yasaka implored, handing her the glass of water she had settled at the bedside table. The girl gladly accepted, muttering a quiet 'thank you' afterwards. "Do you not remember anything? Ise-dono told me you two were heading here when you fainted. He carried you here, um... Shirone-chan, isn't it?"

She nodded, staring into the empty glass with a sullen look, before looking at the Kyuubi's eyes. "...H-how long was I...?"

"Oh, you were one hour away from making it into a whole day. I hope you don't mind that I changed your clothes..."

"I-it's okay... Thank you..." Shirone muttered. Then she was slightly ticked off by the notion that this sweater belonged to the aforementioned 'ten years old Kyuubi'. But only just. Her gratefulness outweighed her annoyance.

"I've only wiped your sweat since yesterday, I hope you won't mind..." Yasaka's ears drooped. "I think you might want to take a bath, or you can have dinner. You must be horribly hungry..."

On cue, her stomach expressed its lack of food.

A fervent blush splayed her pale face.

Yasaka giggled in a kindhearted manner. "I think it's best if you eat first. In the meantime, I'll heat up the bath for you." Leaving her seat, the adult Kyuubi then excused herself to leave the room, taking the empty glass along.

Before she left, Shirone shifted on the queen-sized bed, and saw the Kyuubi's nine golden tails bouncing as she walked. "U-um... Thank you very much."

She received a warm smile in return. "You're very much welcome. Please take your time and make yourself at home during your stay, Shirone-chan."

Then the kind Kyuubi left the room, using one of her tails to coil around the door knob and shut it close.

Crumpling the blanket, the word chimed several more times in her head, as it then resonated down to her lips.

"...Home..."

What a beautiful word.

At the moment savoring Yasaka's marvelously cooked dishes, Issei took note of the chef's arrival upon the dining table. Before speaking, he chewed down the fried fish. He didn't want to get reminded of his manners. "How's she, Yasaka-san? Is she up yet?"

"Mhmm. She woke up not long ago." Issei nodded affirmatively as Yasaka took a seat beside her daughter, who was in the middle of plucking the broccoli off her fried rice. "Dear, please eat your vegetables."

Kunou flopped her ears. "...Meh."

"Kunou." and came the mother's inarguable tone of finality, and with that, Kunou's petulant whine followed. Happy that her daughter's listening, albeit reluctantly, Yasaka returned to the topic. "Ise, did Shirone-chan mention having a sister?"

Her soft voice was just enough to snap him out from his daze of being witness to the mother-daughter interaction. "H-huh? Oh. No. I don't think she did."

"Oh..."

"Did something happen?"

Yasaka's eyes peered down at her bowl of rice. Issei could notice the sadness lingering in them. He also noticed the white tips of her fox-like ears slumping down slightly. He also noticed how badly he wanted to poke them.

"Before she woke up, she called for her 'Onee-sama'... several times." she muttered, and Issei snapped out of it. "She was crying as well... The poor girl... Maybe they were separated? Kunou dear, don't make mommy repeat what she said."

Kunou gave up.

"Well... That's a relief..." Issei glanced at the unopened bedroom door. "That means she's not always by herself, right? It can be pretty harsh out there."

That was based on experience. Yasaka frowned, for both the man and the girl on her bed. "It must be difficult living by yourself... You're amazing, Ise."

"H-huh? W-well... I mean, it has its ups too." Issei laughed nervously. He didn't have to worry if someone barged in his room when he's in the middle of all boys' and men's sacred routine. Except the government. Damn that Azazel for making him paranoid. "But I did it all because that's what I wanted. While Shirone-chan is... well... Maybe she didn't have any choice."

The mood took a heavy turn. Even Kunou was aware of the change of air.

"A-anyway, it's not right to pity her." Issei concluded, continuing his dinner. "I've told Azazel and he said he'll look to it right away — hopefully, at least..."

"Niitan, it's not nice to doubt someone."

Yasaka paused, and let off a giggle. 'This girl...'

"...I can't believe I'm getting reminded by Kunou." He thought aloud, much to Kunou's peeve. She was about to have a say, but he continued, "For the time being, can we look after her? She can sleep in my bedroom." Good thing he had gone past his puberty phase and knew when to clean up and where to do his business.

"Then where will you sleep, Ise?" Yasaka's ears perked up, as did Kunou's.

"Why can't I sleep with Niitan?!"

"I can sleep on the sofa, I'm not too bothered by the cold." he nudged at the living room. "And it's because you're an adult, Kunou."

"Wh— then Kunou's not an adult. She's a juvenile — a juvenile!"

"And juveniles should sleep with their mothers." Yasaka ended the argument, though she was amazed by Issei's smoothness in dealing with her kid's niggling. "Still, we can't have that, Ise dear. My bed has enough room for the three of us."

"...I know, but... that's not the reason. She might not be comfortable yet... Sleeping together, I mean."

"Oh." Yasaka 'oh'-ed. "Oh..." this time, more mellow. "You're right..."

"Then why don't Niitan sleep with us?"

'Please.' "That won't work either, Kunou..."

"Why not?!" fumed Kunou. Getting shot down constantly could be quite vexing.

Before Yasaka could think of an answer, Issei beat her to it. "Because you should only sleep with someone you've spent a long time with, like your mother."

"Hee...but... but..." She realized there's no debating that reason. "Tch."

"Manners, young lady."

"Yes Mom..." Kunou sighed. It was then her ears picked up a 'click' coming from her bedroom. Glancing over, she announced the girl's arrival with jubilant glee. "Oh! It's Nekonee!" and with that, she darted over to the girl, utilizing the meet and greet as an excuse to abandon the dreaded little trees.

"Hiya~! I'm Kunou, nice to meet you."

"H-hi... Shirone..." Startled, the Nekoshou flinched as the little vixen stuck her nose into her feline features as if she's an object of interest.

"Why is your tail smaller than Kunou's?"

Issei couldn't deny the Nekoshou's drowsy look and bedhair hairstyle was adorable. Her height and small frame that was similar to Kunou's made them look like elementary friends, but "...'Nekonee'...?"

"Ah... she made that up herself..." Yasaka whirred, "Kunou, please don't trouble Onee-chan and finish your meal. Shirone-chan, please take a seat."

"Mhmm, Mommy's food is delish." Kunou said as she dragged the unsettled girl along with her, "You can have Kunou's greens too!"

"You finish your own meal, young lady."

"Tsk."

As the two took their seats, Kunou bemoaning her inescapable fate and Shirone in a state of shock of how quick that developed, Yasaka recalled one thing.

"Oh goodness! I forgot to heat the bath. Don't mind me and enjoy dinner, please. Ise, please make sure Kunou eats her vegetables." settling her eating utensils, she pacewalked to the bathroom.

Nodding, Issei stole a moment to enjoy and appreciate her bouncing gorgeous tails, wondering how soft they would feel in his hands. How frustratingly close and yet so far they were at the same time, it's unfair.

He glanced at the girl next to him afterwards. She had passed her shell-shocked state, and was visibly craving the ordinary set of meals in front of her.

Issei couldn't help but smile. "Go on ahead, Shirone-chan." Issei said, offering her the bowl of rice he made and a set of chopsticks. "Help yourself."

Gingerly, she grabbed the bowl, then the plastic chopsticks. She looked at them for a while with a certain look Issei could only decipher as sorrow, and maybe disbelief. It made him wonder how long she had been out there.

She took up a piece of food; a small portion of the fried salmon. Shirone took one bite of it along with a lump of rice.

As she ate, Issei beamed a little smile. "How was it?"

"...It's..." she gulped, "it's delicious..."

"It's alright. Eat whatever you want." He whispered softly, stroking her white hair as he would to Kunou; slow and gentle, hoping by doing he could ease her, somewhat, even for a tiny bit. And little by little, her snivels grew into sobs, and her sobs wracked her small frame, and then nothing seemed to be able to stop her tears or Kunou's.

He found out that happiness and misery could be felt at the same time.

It was the hardest dinner he ever had by far. Issei wished he wouldn't have to sit through that ever again.

To be continued...

Canon-wise, Kunou would be... 12 years old, I'm guessing? Well, she's 10 here. Koneko too. She should be an age lower than Issei which makes her 17, but no. This is fanfic. The only one who's gotten older is Issei and his schoolmates unless it's stated otherwise

Man, this chapter was difficult to write. I didn't want to make Koneko too pitiable or make you all sympathize with her straightaway, and I hope it wasn't too dramatic, but you'll be the judge. Things will get lighter eventually. I initially wanted to keep it straight fluff, but I don't think I can after all. Bitter things sweeten the sweet things, right?