Yoji looked after the bat that had left the room through the open window. "I don't like that."
"Me neither," Aya answered and jumped from the bed. "But I think we have to follow him. They seem to have some kind of idea, what's going on."
"Accepted. Let's move then."
When the came to the back yard there were a badger and a fox sitting next to each other and watched them leave the building. Catching their sight, the fox broke into laughter and had visible trouble containing its amusement despite the warning look the badger gave him.
"Who let the dogs out?" the fox snorted and started laughing again. It seemed that the orange haired bastard had not only kept his hair color but also his ill sense of humor.
Yoji looked around for the forth member of their opponents and spotted a small white-furred animal next to a trash bin. What was it? A weasel?
"It's a ferret, goofy," the fox informed him. "Unlike you we did not turn into fat, lazy pets."
Yoji let out a growl. "Who do you call fat, you flee infested neckpiece?"
"Easy now," Aya intervened. He sat down and watched the ferret do the same. "You wanted to talk. Shoot."
The badger cleared its throat. "It seems that anyone in Tokyo turned into animalistic form. We might have a clue how to end this. But we need your help."
"Help?" Ken barked. "What kind of help? We do not trust you. Ever since we met you tried to kill us."
"That was different then," the badger replied in a smooth tone. "This time we have to work together. Nagi has done some research and it seems that the source of the transformation was disseminated by air. The effect will get stronger based on the duration of exposition. If we stay like this too long, it might be permanent."
Crawford, as the badger's name seemed to be, gave them time to let his words sink in. Yoji was terrified by the thought of staying a dog. Not seeing his own features ever again really was too much to bear. He would do almost anything to get back to his human form. If he had to work with the devil for that, so be it.
The fox' grin widened. "You flatter me. What about your friends?"
Yoji looked at Aya. The cat's face did not give away anything just as usual. Being a cat really fit Aya like a glove. Omi on the other hand...
"We'll do it," the rabbit announced. "I don't want to spent my life being fluffy."
"You look tasty to me as well", the fox added licking its lips. "Race me, rabbit?"
"Schuldig!" The badger's voice was still smooth but with a warning tad to it. The fox smirked and looked at the ferret. "We should get hunting and..."
He froze, cocked his ears and snarled at something behind them. "Who's that?"
Yoji turned around and spotted a calico cat sitting on the door sill.
"Relax it's just a cat. A normal cat", he added after giving his assertion a second thought.
"You have a cat?," the fox asked. "And a pet turtle, too?"
"What? A turtle?" Yoji watched closer and saw a wrinkled head appear in the door.
"You boys are out there?" an old women's voice asked. Oh no, it's Momoe-san. We have to keep them from noticing her.
"I'll take care of that", he assured and went to get Momoe-san back in. Maybe if he acted as if nothing suspicious happened they would not notice.
"Yoji, is that you?", the turtle asked.
"Yes, Momoe-san. Please go inside. We will handle this."
"Oh, this might take a while. I have a slow day today." The turtle made a little chuckling noise. "And I am kind of hungry. Would you mind getting me some salad? And perhaps some cucumber, too. I really feel like it."
"Of course." Yoji smiled or at least he hoped he did. It was still hard to get used to this nuzzle.
"Make that two," Omi said and hopped next to him. "I'm afraid the negotiation with Schwarz will take a while. And Aya said we should take a look at the shop. Ken heard something suspicious there."
"So Ken can go and see for himself," Yoji huffed. "He's the watch dog after all. I have a woman to take care of."
Omi rolled his eyes, but called out to Ken as well. The shepherd dog jumped up. "Ok, I'll check. Be right back."
Schuldig watched the dog leave and shared a look with Farfarello. They both took of without any words spoken between them.
The badger glanced around. "I suggest we take this conversation somewhere more private. Do you happen to have a room we could use?"
Aya looked at Omi. The rabbit nodded.
"Briefing room, then,"Aya said and turned around. He did not have to look and see if the badger followed him. He somehow could feel the animal move behind him. His new improved senses seemed to be quite useful, when it came to observation. He heard something flutter above his head and knew that the bat would be there, too. Maybe splitting up Schwarz was not such a bad idea.
Ken heard the jostling crowd, before he saw them. There were high-pitched voiced mixed with quacking and clucking and cackling. When he came to the door and looked through the glass, he could not help a whine.
"You gotta be kidding me. The fan girls? Really?"
He eyed the bevy of hens and geese and ducks piling up in front of the shop. The all tried to get a view of the inside and when one of them spotted Ken, there was a squeal followed by even more chattering.
"Who is it?"
"Is it Omi?"
"Let me see?"
"It's a dog. We confirm a dog here."
"It must be Ken. Just look at the colors!"
Inch by inch Ken crept backwards towards the back of the shop. He just could not believe it. These girls had been transformed into animals and all they cared about was what animals the four florists turned into? They seriously had to do something about this stupidity. But what?
"Maybe I can help."
Ken jumped up and yelped. The fox watched him with sleek look on his face.
"Oh, little doggy got scared?"
Ken felt someone creep up to him and snarled at the ferret that looked down on him from the sales counter ready to jump. "Keep those paws where I can see them."
The ferret grinned and slid down from the counter. His one eye wandered to the poultry crowd on the outside.
"Look's like dinner is ready," it said to the fox, who nodded in return.
"Just as I was thinking."
Both wild animals circuited Ken and headed for the door. He watch in horror, that the fox lowered his head and made small steps as if to sneak up to the birds. The ferret was not far behind clicking its teeth in anticipation. Ken pulled himself together and rushed to the door. He positioned himself between the fox, the ferret and the door.
"You will not leave the shop," he said with determination. "I will not allow you to harm any of the girls."
"Ah, a knight in shining armor," the fox chuckled. "And how will you get rid of them? When they come in here there will be chaos all over. They will look for the others and I recommend this not to happen."
"He's right," the ferret joined in. "Let me take out or or two of them. Three or four maybe. The others will run off, when the see the dead bodies. You get you share of the feast if you want to?"
"Yuck, this is disgusting." Ken shook his head. "You are talking about cannibalism here."
The fox rolled his eyes. "We are hunters, they are prey. Besides, they are a different species. You can hardly call this cannibalism."
"But they are human beings. You can't just kill them."
The fox gave him a derogative look. "We're the bad guys, remember? We kill whoever we like and whenever we like. Just like that."
"NO!" Ken bared his teeth and growled at the fox. "You will not kill any of the fan girls. You hear me?"
"Fan girls?" the fox marveled. "You mean, they come here just to see you and get an autograph? This is ridiculous. Let's end this farce, Farfarello. I'm starving."
"Your wish is my command."
The ferret hopped along with the fox both of them ignoring Ken completely. He realized that he could not fight both of them at once. Thus, he did the only thing that came to his mind. He jumped up, opened the door and went berserk amount the poultry.
"Get off!" he barked and fake-snapped at a very pushy goose that wanted to squeeze past him to get inside the shop. "We're closed. Go back home. Leave!"
The were cries and shrieks and a lot more feathers flying around than he had expected. He felt the urge to really bite someone, but kept careful control to always miss the wings and necks he aimed for with his teeth. His feet worked on their own, went left and right and effectively drove the crowd away from the shop.
When he finally same back to the shop's door his tongue hanging out at the side of his muzzle, the fox gave him a sour look. "
"You owe me diner, dog."
"Don't provoke me, fox," Ken growled.
"My name's Schuldig," the fox answered. "And I am still hungry. So, if you don't want me to take a bite of your furry friend in the basement, I suggest we get some meat here, soon. I guess, Farfarello will appreciate that as well."
The ferret nodded and licked its teeth.
Ken heard a deep grumble that originated from his own belly. Maybe food should be the next point on their list.
"Alright," he grunted. "I know somewhere. But if you harm anyone until we get there, you will be in deep trouble."
"Just take the lead. We will follow you wherever you go," Schuldig said, but Ken was not sure, if he liked the smirk that accompanied that declaration. The only thing he could do was hope
Music: "Who let the dogs out" - Baha Men