About damn time.
Many thanks for the support. I'd give you all a cookie, but you see, I like cookies too. So one of us is gonna have to be the big guy and sacrifice, and it ain't gonna be me.
Everyday Life with Supernatural Girls
Chapter VIII
||The Fox and the Cat||
"What's wrong with Nekonee's Nekonee? Is she sick because her tail is thin? Kunou's tail is profuse and cold can't catch her."
"It's common cold; Japan's mortal enemy..." Issei spoke with a yawn. "And where did you learn of that word?" The young vixen seemed to never fail surprising him even when the mood was... well. Issei himself wasn't sure how to put it.
"Ehh... dunno..."
A drowsy Kunou was flopped on the living room couch while her mother was taking care of the ill Nekoshou. Next to her would be the Nekoshou's little sister who was blanketed with a thick blanket. Drowsy but also worried. The poor girl had been battling her urge to sleep since she was woken up. He had lost count how many times she nearly nodded off.
Rethinking of his choice, maybe he shouldn't had woken her up. But the girl is her sister, however, and he felt she would want to know.
The Overseer had dropped Shirone's older sister not long ago in the middle of the night—when he was swimming in his dream world. Yasaka mentioned he had two other Fallen Angels accompanying him, one of which "volunteered" to stay to keep watch. Smooth black hair, striking figure, pretty and young face.
If his mind was fully awake, Issei would had been swooned by the young Fallen Angel's appearance. He'd fix his bed hair and put on his nonexistent charm. But his mind was half-sober at the moment, and all he could notice was her discomfort shown by her fidgety hands.
Assuming talking could help him rid of his sleepiness, Issei looked to the girl sitting on the opposite couch. "So... uh... Raynare-san?"
She jolted, fixing her sitting stature. "Just Raynare is fine."
Good. He didn't have to be overtly formal. "Okay... Raynare then. If you don't mind... why did Azazel left you here again...? He just came here for a coffee and left."
There was a pause before her answer.
"...Ah..."
"...Ah?"
She twiddled with her index fingers a bit more. "Um... M-maybe it's for... the experience? This is my first time meeting with a Caretaker."
"Really? That's... strangely considerate of him." Weird. Issei had guessed he left her here to report back to him when this was over, but Issei could have done it himself by a simple text.
...Come to think of it, that possibly was that man's intention.
"You're not an Overseer like him then?"
She shook her head. Her bangs swayed lightly. "No. Not yet, at least. Soon I hope."
"Are you a trainee or... something like that?"
"Something like that, yes. I'm his aide. Being an Overseer, Mr. Azazel leads a team to help him control this city, in... supernatural sense, I mean." Raynare said. "I graduated from training two months ago."
An actual job with an actual training procedure. Issei briefly wondered how much their payroll was. "Is it exclusive to Fallen Angels only?"
Raynare hummed ponderingly for a moment. "Mmm... I don't really know... I've only met my own kin in training, and the team I'm in consists entirely of Fallen Angels. Maybe because our kind is the least endangered?"
Issei could feel his need to sleep wading away. He also could feel he was starting to see her prettiness. He wished he hadn't, because now he was beginning to be conscious of himself and his choice of words.
'Stay calm... don't be stupid. Kunou's sleeping.' That didn't make sense, but it helped. And glancing at Shirone, he was reminded why they weren't sleeping on their bed. "...About... the girl you helped... where did you find her?"
"It wasn't me who found her. My colleague did. I think he said she was about to sleep in an alley somewhere." Raynare frowned. Issei had the thought to peer at Shirone. He could see her face crumpling again. Her thinly pressed lips, quivering as she refused to cry.
"It must've been rough for her." That took his attention away from the young Nekomata. "I've heard several cases of Supernaturals resorting to criminal acts. Things would get... pretty ugly after that. It's difficult to find a Caretaker who's willing to house them."
Issei paused. "Do you know why she's... on the run?"
"Nothing, really. Aside from fleeing her previous house." The Fallen Angel looked at him, and then at the anxious white-haired girl. "I uh... I'm not sure if it's alright for me to say more."
"It's fine. But she-" Issei veered at Shirone, "you had a Caretaker before, Shirone-chan?"
She nodded apologetically, as did her ears, making Issei felt bad. Her 'I'm sorry' look was too strong that it could make an innocent man plead guilty.
"Don't feel bad... please."
Shirone bobbed her head, and then returned to her door-watching.
He wondered what she had did to keep her and her sister stay alive. They weren't much different than his own kind after all. Refusing to bring that heavy topic, Issei let his creaky gears in his brain worked for a while. It bred a way to continue the talk and comfort the sullen girl.
"Well at least she won't have to run around anymore." Issei huffed, scratching his messy brown hair. It was as if a cow had licked his mane. "Is the uh... what was it again...? Registration? Is that the right term?"
"The registration? What about it?"
"How long will it take so she can stay here legally?"
Two pair of eyes widened at his seemingly oblivious question. "Y-you mean... you're willing to take her in?"
Issei shrugged. "Her sister's already here. I'm sure you have questions for her," he said to Shirone, "but ultimately, you'd want her to stay, right?" Unless she's Matsuda. So many times that baldy had attempted to rid his sister off him.
Shirone nodded tearfully, happily. "Thank you Ise-san..."
"Aaahhh... don't mention it. Just let me p-"-et your ears from time to time. Issei paused. That was close. Both Shirone and Raynare were staring at him now, with Kunou softly snoring. "Nevermind. Don't worry about it. You might want to go back to sleep first, Shirone-chan. Your sister's probably sleeping until morning."
Shirone rubbed her eyes, red due to her recent tears and from being torn away from her dreamland. "But..."
"I'll wake you up when she does." He promised. Hopefully one he could keep. "It's the common cold of Japan; your sister won't be running off anytime soon. Don't worry."
"...Okay..." Sluggishly, Shirone dropped off the couch, leaving the blanket on to the sleeping vixen. "Goodnight Ise-san..." She then timidly dipped her head at the female Fallen Angel.
The two young adults bid their goodnights, and watched as the small girl climbed the stairs.
"...So cute." Raynare pulled her knitted cardigan, fiddling with one of its buttons. Without realizing it, she wasn't as nervy as she was the first moment she stepped in the homely home. "I want to squeeze her ears."
Issei stared at Raynare worriedly.
"What about you erm... Mr. Issei?"
"Come on I'm not that old..." He sighed, "Just Issei is fine. Please."
"Oh right, I'm sorry." She giggled lightly. Sweetly. "I've heard of you from sir Azazel. He doesn't talk of you often, though... he mostly mentioned the food here is nice."
Suspicion narrowed his eyes. "Nothing too bad, is it...?" If Azazel spread nasty rumors about him owning a certain collection of certain magazines, Issei could consider his appeal shot down and destroyed into smithereens.
"Well... he mentioned you have a... peculiar interest..." Issei did not like that. He did not like how she phrased it to sound so vague. He felt his blood ran cold. As cold as the air. "But I think it's fine... Most people would do the same."
'Crap. She knows.' "Ahaha—I... guess?" Issei laughed nervously. He knew his father had a collection... so did his two idiot friends... and a few "contacts" in his classroom. It was a rather boyish thing to do, but the Fallen Angel took his hobby rather well.
"If I was in your shoes... I'd ask her if I can do it every day. But miss Yasaka's seemed more... lustrous. I couldn't take my eyes off her when I met her."
Oh.
Oh...
She meant their fluffs.
"Right?" Issei smiled, suddenly motivated as the misunderstanding was avoided. "She allowed me touched her tails yesterday. They were so soft and... rich... I'm bad with words. You'll have to try it to know."
"Ehh? I'm jealous..." Raynare groaned, for she was jealous. "You have your own problems and all, but living among these—these fluffs? I'll trade places with you right now." Very jealous indeed.
"Hey, it's not as smooth as you think. Well, their tails are, but there's the holding back part I'm still getting used to."
She sighed. "True. It's not like you can pet them like pets."
Ponderously, Raynare shifted her gaze upon the snoozing Kitsune using her tail as a hug-pillow. She was curled into a ball, cuddly and adorable, and Raynare almost exploded from adorability overload. "Hngg—can I borrow her for a day?"
"Hell no."
"An hour?"
"No."
"What about the Nekomata?"
"Still no."
"Wow, you're dead serious."
"Of course." Issei nodded manlily.
Kunou stirred in her sleep, muttering a gibberish complaint that reminded the two young adults to mind their bickering.
"...We should be quiet." Issei muttered, slowly getting off his seat to grab some midnight snacks for them.
"Yeah." Raynare wholly agreed as she inconspicuously grabbed her cellphone from her slacks' pocket and took a picture of the sleeping fox. "Definitely."
"That's not nice you know."
"Urk-" He's good. "...I still get to keep it right?"
"Only if you send it to me."
"Deal. Do you use Line?"
And thus, Issei unconsciously gained a beautiful girl's ID. He didn't realize this until he finished his snack scavenging. Getting a girl's Line contact and being her 'friend' was considered an accomplishment in his high school, bonus points if the girl was from another school. Extra bonus point if she's pretty.
He did that to a pretty girl he just met. How the hell did that happen.
Was this an early Christmas miracle?
Putting that thought aside, Issei sat down on his spot as he rustled with the plastic container separating him and the strips of seaweeds inside. He tore the bag open, unaware that a pair of orange ears had flicked his way.
"Want some?" Issei offered as the green snack crunched in his mouth. The saltiness was much appreciated.
"No thanks. I don't really like seaweeds."
"Kunou does."
"Go back to sleep Kunou."
"She's hungry!" Kunou retorted, now awake and peeved as she leapt off her couch onto her Caretaker's, intent on those crispy strips. "Don't sleep on an empty stomach!"
Issei used a hand to block her by the face. It was super effective. "You've had dinner!"
Kunou emitted angry Kunou noises. "She had it yesterday!"
Watching in the sideline, grinning and smirking to herself, Raynare took the opportunity to snap some shots of the Kitsune stubbornly reaching for the snack and the surprisingly teaseful Caretaker fending it.
They seemingly entered a freeze frame when Yasaka emerged from the door of her bedroom. A plaid house dress hugging her willowy figure. Both Issei and Raynare questioned how she could wear that dress with those nine bushy tails. In that moment, Kunou snatched away the seaweeds and scampered to another couch.
"Thief!"
"Nafufufu~"
"Remember to brush your teeth again Kunou." Yasaka reminded, "And don't eat too much."
"..." The green strip stopped inches away from her mouth as she had a second thought. Was it worth it?
Meanwhile, as Kunou had an inner turmoil, her mother joined the others. She seated herself at Issei's couch, only not next to him. Unfortunately, the golden brushes remained beyond his reach.
It should be noted that Yasaka practically hummed mellowly when she sighed. "Her temperature has lowered a little. She's asleep, but she will be fine." Issei sensed a 'but' coming in. "But... to think I met both sisters when they're ill and unconscious... I never thought winter would be harsher than summer."
"Mmm... yes, it's unfortunate." Raynare nodded sympathetically, but Issei could tell her focus was at Yasaka's limp vulpine ears. "Oh, erm... 'harsher than summer'? Is it because it's hot?"
"Yes. We shed when it gets too warm. Kunou isn't as bad because she's young. I have to brush my tails at least once every three-four days."
Issei couldn't imagine how much of a blessing it would be to brush them. If only he had the courage to say; "A Caretaker can help you with that." like Raynare did just now.
Hold up.
"I-Ise-san?" Her amber eyes lit up, seemingly catching all the lights. "No... I can't trouble him with a mundane task..."
Issei held back his disappointed frown. 'Yes. Yes you can.'
"Ah, but isn't a Caretaker's duty is to keep Yasaka-san comfy?" Raynare grinned, "I'm sure he will be happy to help you, Yasaka-san. Summer is still many months away, though. Plenty of time for him to practice, no?"
As Yasaka considered the suggestion, Issei mentally sent the Fallen Angel his uttermost gratitude and a thumbs up. One which she replied with an OK hand sign. Despite having just met, the bond of fellow fluff-worshipper was strong.
A soft blush kissed her cheeks. "I... I'll consider it."
"Niitan can brush Kunou's tails!" So declared the Kyuubi's daughter. In her hand was an emptied sachet of his midnight snack. Issei didn't mind for he was happy to be alive.
"If there's nothing else, I'll excuse myself now." Raynare rose from her seat as did the other two. She then straightened her cardigan and her trousers. "I'm sorry for disturbing you this late at night."
"Oh, no. Not at all." Yasaka smiled kindly. "Thank you for your hard work Raynare-san. Are you going to be alright?"
Raynare smiled. It was sweet of the Kyuubi. If only her coworkers treated her the same way. "I'll be fine. I have my coat. The snow's stopped too!"
They accompanied her outside. He felt the chill creeping into his bones, although the Kitsunes appeared unbothered. Issei watched in awe when her black feathered wings spread out, taking her into the night skies in several beats.
He'd like to meet her again.
"...Let's hope nobody sees her."
After the silent agreement, the three retreated back inside. Under her mother's decree, Kunou had went in her bathroom located in the bedroom to brush her teeth. Issei nearly freaked out when she walked into and inside a wall.
"Oh right... Ayakashi..." Issei breathed out, and yawned as he settled himself on his couch. "...I better get back to sleep too."
Yasaka pieced the blanket and the pillow together as the young man fixed the pillow. It took her a moment to realize what he had in mind. "You're sleeping here again?"
"Well... where else?" Issei sniggered. "The sofa's not that bad. I think I was starting to get used to it. I'll also be here if she wakes up."
They both understood she and her daughter wouldn't be able to sleep next to Shirone's sister. Yasaka didn't know her, and Kuroka wasn't as young as Shirone, and more to that, Issei's bed wasn't big enough for four people to sleep together despite two were small statured.
Even then... It didn't feel any less wrong for her. "You've forgone many times, Ise-san. I'll sleep here instead... please rest in your room."
"What—no, no, I can't do that. It's really fine, Yasaka-san. If you sleep on the couch, I won't be able to forgive myself."
Still she frowned. "Even so..."
"It's fine, really, Yasaka-san." Issei insisted, laughing jokily. "I don't get many chances to be uh..." he wanted to say 'manly', but he got embarrassed. "W-well uh... thoughtful?"
She didn't seem convinced, or approving at the least. It was kind of her to worry him. He was simply doing his job as her Caretaker, and as a man, the day he let a girl or a woman sleep on the couch when there's still space would be the day when he gives up on his hopes and dreams; boobs.
Sighing, Yasaka offered a gentle smile. "Thank you, Ise-dono, for being so considerate to us."
That late night, in the last days of December, Issei resumed his sleep with an idiotic grin.
Break
Waking up. She had hated it since the pleasure was lost. Waking up meant she would be torn away from her sweet dreams and dragged back to life to face reality and the constant torrent of problems. Made worse when she had to face the pounding headache and winter's morning coldness.
Her lids were drooping and leaden with sleep, and as she roused, she judged by the dimness of the room that dawn hadn't come yet, and that she was not in an alley.
'...Where?' Instead of snow, she was surrounded by comfort. Amiable comfort she thought she had stopped yearning for but was proven wrong as Kuroka delved within its plumpness. The supple cloth bag stuffed with feathers hugging her head was unmistakably a pillow, and the soft sheet wrapping her was a blanket.
For a moment, she thought she was dead, but only until she regained her memories.
She must had fainted last night. And the burly guy had probably brought her somewhere. She only remembered seeing the pair of black wings behind his trench coat, and the rest of his features were pretty much bleary. Fallen Angel, she deducted. An agent from the Grigori Institute.
Collecting her thoughts, one intention entered her mind. She must leave.
Her first steps were woozy. Her legs felt weak, and the demon in her stomach nagged, reminding her that she needed something to eat. She realized she wasn't wearing her kimono, but instead a fleece nightgown that provided more heat. The kimono was her mother's, but that would be easily regained once she dealt with this.
The door handle was cold, and Kuroka flinched lightly at the sting. She pulled it open slowly, cautious to not make any noise and alert whoever was here. Glancing around, taking a peek at what appeared to be the living room, she noted that the lights were still off and it had to be early as the moon was still there. Around four or five in the morning. The still silence assured her that nobody was around.
'Ugh. Stupid cold.' Cursing at the frosty air, Kuroka treaded her steps lightly, skimming in the shadows of the relaxed living room that she was strangely familiar with. She felt like a thief. But she was no thief. She only took what was meant to be hers.
Kuroka froze, however, as she saw another figure was moving in the dark corridor ahead of her. Her sight was still hazy at best, however, and she blamed it all on the stupid cold. As the shadow-like figure turned, Kuroka saw a pair of golden eyes glowing like candles in the dark.
"Oh my, you've awaken? How are you feeling?"
The Kyuubi. Kuroka realized as the things floating behind her wasn't a flame, but nine tails. That meant she was in the same house as her sister. All the more reason to leave.
"...I was..." She was surprised at how coarse her voice had sounded, and cleared her throat. "I was just leaving."
Her voice held a certain edge despite the slight rasp. Ironically, Yasaka's voice was as soft as a kitten. Melancholic and easy for her ears, and it had soothed her pounding headache even.
"Leaving? Why?" There was a shimmer in those golden eyes. They were lighter than hers and a bit more... softer.
The innocence only raised her distrust. Kuroka narrowed her eyes out of suspicion. "...I can't stay here."
"But you're unwell. A few hours of rest are hardly a cure for a cold, Kuroka-san." The lady said. "Oh, my name is Yasaka. Pleased to meet you."
"Well isn't that kind of you." Kuroka scoffed. The edge of her tail flicking once knowing that Fallen must had leaked her name. "I just—can't, okay? Stop asking questions. I'll return your clothes. You return mine."
Yasaka didn't appear to show any sign of resentment. Just confusion. "I'm afraid your clothes aren't dry yet, Kuroka-san. You can keep wearing mine while it dries?"
Did everyone lose their common sense for skepticism when she was asleep? Or maybe she was still dreaming.
Regardless, "You're being awfully trusting."
"You are Shirone-chan's sister."
"Doesn't make you know me."
Yasaka smiled kindly. "I don't. I don't know what happened between you and Shirone-chan. All I know is that she misses you, Kuroka-san. I'm hoping that before you leave, you would let her see you."
Kuroka flinched, taking a step back. That was a low blow, deliberate or not. "Now you're guilt-tripping me."
"Oh my, am I? I'm sorry... I've no intent to. Please forgive me if I pried too much."
Her tone sounded too sincere for it to be an act or a lie. Shivering as the morning chill began to gnaw on her like the guilt, her mind started to wander to a fork in the road; would she stay and see her sister? Or would she leave to spare her the family awkwardness?
In the moment of silence Kuroka found uncomfortable, Yasaka glanced to a place behind her, specifically at the couch where her Caretaker was sound asleep, worried if their chatting had stirred him. She sighed in relief as he didn't.
"I have to leave." She couldn't face her sister like this. Weak and fragile and... hungry.
"I see..." Yasaka muttered sadly as Kuroka walked past her down the small hall. "Azazel-san did ask me to, but it isn't my place to stop you. Although..."
As the Kyuubi side-glanced to a wall, Kuroka stopped. She brooded that there had to be a catch. There's always a catch.
"What should I say to Shirone-chan?"
There was a stillness in the silence. As if they were waiting for a countdown of something unpleasant.
"Funny. That's what I've been wondering myself."
"If you talk to her, perhaps she can understand." Yasaka offered. "Ise-san trusts that you didn't leave your sister without reason. I-I apologize if this is nearing your private matters... but I did sense your presence days ago. Were you watching Shirone-chan perhaps?"
'This is my private matter.' Her eyes narrowed again. The black slit in her amber eyes thinning. "Hee~ your babysitter eh? Well, Kyuubi-chan, it's not like he knows everything. We've just met once."
"Was he wrong then?" Yasaka asked genuinely. It only made it the more annoying for the Nekoshou.
'Yes.' The word was there. It just refused to come out of her throat. Of course it was done with reason. What kind of sister wanted to see her own sister shivering in the cold each time the sun sets or rises? Clutching their stomach as if it could stop her stomach from groaning in hunger? Every single day and night spent hiding because of her older sister's crime. Kuroka might be far from the world's greatest sibling, but even then, what did she want more than the best for her sister?
"Look- nyan, say anything you want to her. I'll leave everything in your hands, okay? Ciao~"
With a light tune but with a heavy heart, Kuroka proceeded to the door lying ahead as Yasaka could only stare and watch, pursing her lips. She unlocked and opened the door leading to the cold, bitter world she had faced for far too long perhaps.
How her heart almost stopped and her tails froze as she was hailed with a mantled chest instead.
"And where do you think you're going, missy?"
"What the-" Kuroka raised her head to meet the Fallen Angel's gaze, whose black and blonde hair and goatee had been plummeted with white powders as if he had been here waiting for her to exit the house. "How long did you stand here?!"
"...Enough." Replied Azazel with a brooding tone, hands shaking. "Can I come in now? My hands are numbing."
There was a gasp behind her. "Oh dear! A-Azazel-san! My deepest apology- I meant to open the door for you!"
To be continued...
Yay for another month of waiting for new updates. yay.
About Raynare, she'll take on her appearance as Yuuma Amano. I also gave her a set of personalities I think would be fitting for a Yuuma. A bit shy at first but energetic. Her 'evul' version is too uncouth for my christian fic. Get that shit outta here.
Anyhow, thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed it, and see you next time. Or month.