**Revision v.1 Completed 03 Jul 17**
Disclaimer:
The characters and setting of Omamori Himari are properties of Fujimi Shobo and Milan Matra. Please support the author and publisher by buying the volumes in your country or region. I'm a fan of the series and all, but hey, it's not mine. And never will be. I only write for fun, not for profits. That's what a fanfic should be all about.
Also, all other characters referenced in the story, including OCs, belong to their respective owners.
Legend:
"Normal (Japanese) speech"
{"English speech"}
"Thoughts (Assume character's native language)"
Quotes from other characters are centered, regardless of perspective
Fourth Round – The Cat Princess' New Threads
Chapter pic: Himari dressed in a white Run DMC-style tee with the phrase "RUN CAT" printed on, jeans and a violet cat's eye necklace around her neck taking a cell phone selfie in front of a mirror. Her cat ears and tail are also exposed.
Gordon's POV
DING-DONG!
I was up in my bedroom getting changed when the doorbell rang the moment I put on my blue Shelby Cobra t-shirt. No doubt it was Yuuto and Rinko waiting at the door.
Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention this weekend we're going to the beach.
######
It happened last week at school during lunch break over at my classroom. I was busy listening to some Disturbed on my smartphone while Himari was eating her homemade bento (box lunch). Of course, I was eating lunch as well, treating myself to a smoking roast beef sandwich on a huge kaiser roll with a protein shake and a few bananas on the side. And let's not forget the cinnamon buns that were wrapped in aluminum foil.
Taking a bite out of my sandwich, I looked over to where Yuuto was sitting. Of course, Rinko and Taizou were there, along with Shimamura, the class rep. Looks like they're talking about something, from what I'm seeing.
Then I watched Taizou slam his hands onto Yuuto's desk, nearly startling the brown-haired kid and making him sweatdrop. Whatever got the redhead excited, it has to be good news for him. In my couple of weeks knowing him, I knew it just has to be something that concerns women, being the hopeless pervert he is. I can imagine him getting along with Brandon and Dante just fine if it weren't for the language barrier.
The quartet then approached us, forcing me to remove my headphones while swallowing a bite of my sandwich. "'Sup, guys?" I greeted them.
"Hey Evans-san. Noihara-san," Shimamura greeted back before pointing her thumb at herself. "Amakawa-kun, Rinko, Masaki-kun and I are all heading out to go swimming next week. Would you two like to come?"
Then Taizou jumped in front of Shimamura and slammed his hands on my desk, nearly spilling my drink as I caught it reflexively. "Yeah, and it's gonna be real friggin' awesome," he added, shouting. "You two are coming, too, right? Right!?"
I shot a glance at Himari gulping down a sardine before looking back at the quartet. "What's the occasion," I ask them.
"Well, since you and the Cat Princess are new to our school," Rinko began explaining, grabbing Taizou by the collar and pulling him away from my desk with a grunt. "We were hoping to throw some sort of homecoming event if you two came along with us."
Yuuto nodded along with Rinko's statement. "Yeah," he interjected. "We'd really like for you two to come along, if that's all right with you guys."
{"Hmm..."}
I turn to Himari, who was just about to take a bite of her rice with her chopsticks when she saw me.
"I do not mind going as long as you are there, Young Lord," she said, flashing her trademark smile.
I gave a nod in reply before turning my attention back to the quartet. "Sure, why not? Got nothing else to do but schoolwork, anyways."
"Hell yeah!" Taizou shouted ecstatically. "Just picture it! Noihara! At the beach! In a freakin' swimsuit! Aw man, this has to be the most exciting day in my... Oof!"
The redhead's rant was promptly stopped by Shimamura elbowing him in the gut, causing him to hold it in pain. "Don't you ever get off with those perverted thoughts of yours, Masaki?" she asked sternly.
"Dammit, Prez," he said with a noticeable grumble. "What's wrong with a guy who just wants to enjoy life, huh?"
"If you mean 'life,' you mean always ogling at girls 24/7. I swear, men like you should just be hurled out of Earth's atmosphere and die in space from lack of air."
Shimamura emphasized her point by crossing her arms. Jeez, talk about harsh.
"And Evans?"
"Yeah?"
"I keep telling you time and again to put your music and headphones away. You know the rules. No use of electronics during school hours."
I guess that settles it. Bye-bye, my beloved SOL headphones. I'll miss you yet again.
Oh, school. Even halfway across the globe, thou art a cruel and heartless bitch sometimes when it comes to technological comforts.
Well, at least I still have my cinnamon buns.
#######
So I accepted Shimamura and that perverted redhead's offer to go to the beach. But there is just one problem: Himari didn't have a swimsuit.
To be honest, I don't know really know much about women's swimwear. Now don't get me wrong, I've seen Rika and Ishani in them tons of times when we go to Coney, but if there's one major difference between them and Himari that's worth noting, it's breast size. While Rika's are a bit bigger than normal and Ishani's are on the modest side, Himari's are gigantic, almost the size of her head, even. Heck, I don't even know if there're any swimsuits that do fit her chest.
And I really can't tell you how many times my face has been smothered in them whenever Himari decides to use me as a hugging pillow when I'm sleeping, I really can't. And every time I try to break free she just hugs me tighter like a freakin' boa constrictor, bringing my head further inside her cleavage. Yep, nothing beats sleeping with my head stuffed between a pair of boobies, nearly holding on for dear life. Perfectly normal considering Himari has the holding strength of a two-ton press! Seriously, I feel like she's trying to frickin' kill me in my sleep with that grip of hers instead of protecting me.
Fortunately, I can get myself out by tickling Himari's stomach a bit, giving me just enough time to turn myself around before she squeezes me again. Better the back than the face. Not in a perverted sense, I mean.
After putting on a pair of tan cargo shorts, I ran downstairs to meet with the others. Then it wasn't long before we were walking along the streets of Takamiya City. Rinko insisted that she would help Himari out with picking her swimsuit before leaving the house, but Himari outright refused, saying it's none of her concern. Fortunately, it took some convincing from me (and Yuuto and me restraining) for Himari to let Rinko pick out her swimsuit. Personally, I was relieved. If I went shopping alone with her, no doubt she'll try to tease me with one of them.
Or worse, ask me to put one of them on for her.
"Say, Himari?"
"Yes?"
"Are you really going to carry that sword around everywhere?" Rinko asks, pointing to the cloth-covered Yasutsuna Himari was holding.
"But of course," Miss Samurai answers in a firm tone. "I am the sword that protects the Young Lord. It is my duty to be prepared to defend him at all times."
"Huh..."
Even though Rinko and Yuuto are new to this "Demon slayers and Ayakashi" business, Rinko was still a bit of a skeptic given her tone. I can't blame her, though. After all, she and Yuuto got a front-row seat to that experience when that spider-freak took over Masaki the first day I started school here.
"In fact, just yesterday an ayakashi confronted the Young Lord the brief time he was out of my sight," Himari further explained.
"Hey, at least I made it out in one piece, Himari," I tell her, resting my hands behind my head.
"This is not a laughing matter, Young Lord. If something were to happen to you, I would not be able to forgive myself. The next time an ayakashi dare tries to lay a finger on you, mark my words, I will slay them without mercy."
Himari punctuated her point by looking ahead, her hands bearing a tighter grip on her sword. Guess she's dead serious about it. Then again, it does come with the bodyguard territory.
If you choose to stay on this path...you will die.
I still haven't forgotten the intense hatred that came from the drowned girl's red eyes. It's nothing I've ever felt before. So cold and vengeful...it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.
"Though I will admit that while ayakashi are not fond of cities built by humans, there are still demons that feed on the emotions of humans, which is all the more reason why I must have Yasutsuna on my person."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Rinko said, waving her hand casually at Himari's rabble. "Just don't go crazy with that wall-hanger of yours, okay?"
"I'm a bit concerned, too," Yuuto added.
"By the way, Rinko, Yuuto-dono..."
"Eh?"
All three of us halted out steps the instant Himari turned her head to us.
"One of the monsters you two do not believe in just happens to be right in front of you."
Both Yuuto and Rinko stood with surprised and awkward looks on their faces. I'll admit even I was a bit shocked when Himari said that.
A couple minutes and we were at the swimsuit section of a local department store. I'm not surprised by the fact there were many girls and young ladies down at this section, considering that for most high schoolers summer break is just around the corner. Naturally, given that Yuuto and I are the only guys it came off as awkward being surrounded by women's swimwear, ranging from the most modest to the outright risque.
I'm also getting attention from a handful of female shoppers by my appearance alone. I even heard a few girls say a few whispers that're along the lines of "He's kinda cute." Come on now, I'm not a frickin' chick magnet. I'm not cute, pretty, or...what's that term they use to describe pretty boys in manga and anime here in Japan? Bishounen? Yeah, that's it. The truth is, I'm...just slightly above average-looking is all. Nothing more than that. If you want a pretty boy/chick magnet, go for Justin Bieber. After all, he's got a whole legion of them. Who else doesn't hate him (and his music) other than them?
And don't even get me started with Aunt Angelique.
I shift my attention over to Rinko, who was holding a few swimsuits in front of her with an excited look on her face. Himari, on the other hand, was carefully eyeing the swimsuits the brunette held, wondering which one will suit her.
"Seems like your friend's enjoying herself, Amakawa," I say to him, noting Rinko's enthusiasm.
"Well, she does enjoy shopping. Can't really blame her," Yuuto shrugged.
"Thank god I'm not the one picking them," I sighed. "I don't know what I'll do."
"Young Lord! Which kind of swimsuit do you prefer? One with much cloth or little cloth? Or perhaps one with strings?"
Looks like I spoke too soon for that one. Himari really doesn't hold back on the "Young Lord" gimmick, doesn't she? Especially in public places like this. Emphasis on "public"!
The situation grew worse when I heard gossip from some of the girls, forcing me to hide the embarrassed look on my face with my hands. Seriously, why the hell did she have to say it here, of all places? And at a swimsuit section, no less? I really should teach her when not to call me "Young Lord" when I get the chance.
"By the way, Cat Princess," I hear Rinko say. "What's your bust size?"
"I have not a clue," was Himari's reply.
"Hmm... Let's see, then..."
Yeah, right. What's Ribbons gonna do? Have a grab at Himari's breasts to find out?
"Ah!"
Nuts, I spoke too soon. Again.
I quickly remove my hand from my eyes, which widen after seeing Rinko grab a handful of Himari's breasts.
"Wh-What are you doing?" she demanded, startled and confused by Ribbon's sudden action.
"Eighty-seven... No, eighty-eight!?"
Oh yeah. I forget Japan uses the metric system here instead of inches and feet in America. Almost lost it there.
H-Hold up, that doesn't matter right now! What the hell is Rinko even thinking, groping and measuring Himari's boobs in public!? I get that she has...*ahem* issues about her chest, but this is beyond ridiculous!
"W-Wait a minute," I hear Rinko stutter. "You're not wearing a bra!?"
"A-As if such a thing were needed when dressing in Japanese garb!" Himari retorted, her voice wavering.
Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. How can you not know that if you lived in this country for so damn long?
"Aahh... Nnn... St-Stop..."
Sh...Shit. That's two sounds I do not want to hear this time of day.
I shoot a glance at Yuuto, who also had a wide-eyed look on his face and was stiff as a statue. No doubt he was stunned by his friend's curiosity towards Himari's breasts, not to mention the sounds Himari was making 'cause of it.
I gave Amakawa a quick nudge to make snap him out of it, which worked perfectly the moment he looked up at me.
"We need to stop her. Fast."
Yuuto nodded as we headed over to put an end to Rinko's groping. Since we just happen to be behind Rinko and Ribbons herself was too focused on figuring out how a cat like Himari managed to grow breasts that are almost the size of her head, it gave us the perfect opportunity to do this.
CHOP!
"Guh!"
A karate-style chop on the back of her head.
"Would you cut it out already?" we say in our respective languages, with Yuuto adding a "That's obscene" at the end.
Rinko turned to us, obviously unimpressed at our antic as she was rubbing the back of her pained head. "Seriously, guys? Was that hit really necessary?" she asked rudely.
"Gee, I don't know, Ribbons. Given you wouldn't let go of Himari's chest and all, I guess it sorta was necessary," I say in a dry tone.
"Coming from the guy who sleeps in the same bed as the Cat Princess," Rinko counters with her hands on her hips. "You'd be interested in her huge melons too, you know."
"As if! Besides, Himari's only doing her job protecting me so it's only natural she would hold me tight in case ayakashi attack us in our sleep." And nearly suffocating me while doing so, I add at the back of my head. "What would you do if it was Yuuto sleeping with her instead of me, huh?" I ask the brunette, hoping to stray from the subject at hand.
"E-Evans-san!"
"I'd have Ranmaru scratch his face."
"R-Rinko..."
"Then I would hit him with a nail bat 'til his head bleeds out."
Yuuto's face paled from Rinko's blunt response and the kind of punishment she would mete out on him. And I can see him trembling, too. Poor guy.
"Whoa, you'd really do that to him, Ribbons?" I ask her, raising an eyebrow. "Jeez, that's cruel and unusual punishment if I ever hear it."
"I agree with the Young Lord's sentiment. 'Tis a bit over-the-top for a proper punishment," Himari chimes in.
"Hey, I'm only doing this for his own good, you know," Rinko began to testify. "If there were more girls like the Cat Princess fawning for Yuuto, I would go crazy!"
"Hmm? Sounds like you may have a slight crush on Yuuto-dono, Rinko," Himari assumed, tapping her finger on her chin with a cat-like smirk.
Rinko's face instantly reddened like a ripened tomato. "Wh-Wha...!? The hell'd you get that idea from, you pompous kitty! I don't have a crush on him!"
She blurts it out while flailing arms but Miss Samurai keeps her catty grin.
"But you have known Yuuto-dono for a long time, have you not?"
"Th-That's..."
Himari lets out a harmless giggle, her mouth hidden by her hand. "It is all right. I understand. In the meantime, why not let me have a try at one of the swimsuits you picked out for me, okay?"
She says it with a charming smile that made Rinko's blush fade a little.
"Uh...s-sure, be my guest, Cat Princess. Here, try this one."
While Rinko was leading Himari to one of the nearby changing rooms, I shoot a quick glance at Yuuto who also turned out to be blushing up a storm. Does he have a crush on Rinko, too?
Well, given he was already embarrassed (and a bit terrified), I decided not to bring that up, for the sake of his sanity.
"Yo, Amakawa. You feeling okay, man?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah, I'm all right," he answered, rubbing the back of his head. "Thanks."
"No problem."
The two of us remained silent for a few moments.
"So have you really...you know..."
"Yeah," I answer Yuuto with a sigh. "I have, unfortunately. And I nearly suffocated from them one time. I know Himari's the affectionate type for me and all, but there are times where she takes it to a whole 'nother level, you know?"
"I...sorta get what you mean, Evans-san," Yuuto said, scratching his cheek.
"But seriously, why did Rinko have to accuse me of being perverted?" I asked, stuffing my hands in my pockets. "Yeah, I may be sixteen and all, but I at least try to keep my hormones in check. Unlike your redheaded friend back at school. He sorta reminds me of Brandon if he was his age right now."
Yuuto had an eyebrow raised. "Brandon?"
"One of the barbers from Pops' shop back in Brooklyn," I explain to him. "He came in almost two years ago when Pops had to let one of his barbers go for giving too many bad haircuts. He's a good barber. One of the best, in fact. But the problem with him is that he's also a major flirt. On the plus side, he did hold a job as a bouncer so that's an added bonus for Pops in terms of security. Even now, I'm still surprised Pops still hasn't fired him yet."
Though the real reason why Pops didn't fire that playboy yet is because RJ and Damon are the ones keeping him under a tight leash. Not to mention Rika when she visits the shop.
"So are there any other people who work at your father's shop?" Yuuto asked.
"Well, there's Damon and RJ," I began mentioning, counting off with my fingers. "There are also two other barbers who work while I'm away at school, so almost I never get to see them, but Pops said they're good people along with Damon and RJ. Simply put, they're kinda like family to me."
"Family, huh? Must be nice."
"Heh. Yeah, you said it."
Though I did notice a slight change in Yuuto's tone after he said, "family". It almost sounded forlorn, in a way.
Well, Rinko did tell me how he lost his parents in a car crash seven years ago. And she even told me about how she cried along with him after the news broke out and that she's been taking care of him ever since.
Guess Yuuto's still got some mental scars from that. Hell, I feel like I was even rubbing it in his face a little when I mentioned that to him. And this coming from the guy who lost his mother and grandmother in his childhood.
Oh, the cold-blooded irony.
There was a brief rustle coming from the curtain Himari and Rinko were in.
"I guess they must be finished," Yuuto said to me.
"'Bout time. Let's go."
"Mhm."
We arrived at the changing rooms a moment later, where the first swimsuit Rinko had Himari try on was a blue halter bikini with yellow sunflower patterns. It sorta reminded me of Rika's swimsuit a little, to be honest.
Well, Himari did tell me before we left that I only need to pick out the swimsuit. And since she still has money left from Gramps' inheritance, I didn't have to worry about digging into my wallet (despite having a nearly loaded bank account back home from all my time working at Pops' shop).
After the first swimsuit, the next one Rinko had Himari try on was a tankini with diagonal stripes alternating in light and dark shades of green. Sure, it was slightly less revealing than the halter bikini she wore earlier, and much easier for her to swing a sword around with (according to Rinko), but...I dunno. If you ask me, I think that type of swimsuit is something Ishani would wanna wear, since she's always full of energy.
The third swimsuit Himari tried on was a navy blue, one-piece swimsuit. It does outline her body well, but...I think it's the frills that sort of ruin the overall look of it. I don't know, it just didn't work well for her (I did see a white variant that lacked them, but I didn't want to suffer from embarrassment picking it out).
Rinko was busy stroking her chin in thought. "Hmm... Gee, I hate to say it, but you seem to be more of the sexy type than cute, Himari." She then turns to Yuuto and me. "What do you guys think?"
"Hey, you're the one picking out the swimsuits," I say with a shrug. "But now that you think about it, I guess Himari can go for something with a little more 'oomph.' How about it, Amakawa?"
The moment I turn my head to him, he was already blushing a bit and his head was turned away, probably from seeing Himari's buxom figure too much. Guess he's kinda used to seeing normal-looking girls, then. Either that or he just doesn't know how to deal with girls in general other than Rinko (and Shimamura to a minor extent).
He does know Himari's an ayakashi, right? Guess it makes no difference, then. Ayakashi or not, when it comes to seeing girls like her, guys like him are prone to this.
"Heh. Looks like your friend here's suffering from hormonal overload," I joke around, jabbing my thumb at Yuuto.
Rinko ruffled her hair like she knew something like this would happen. "Guess it can't be helped, then. You three wait here, okay? I'll go look for another swimsuit."
Soon after Rinko left, it was just me, Himari (who was back in her kimono), and Yuuto. Himari wasted no time making her move when she hugged my right arm, nearly burying it in her cleavage. I'm just glad they're not stuffed in my face this time.
"So, Young Lord," she began in her usual seductive tone, "What did you think of the swimsuits Rinko had me try on? Did you find one to your liking?"
I try to come up with the best answer my sixteen-year-old mind can muster. "Uh... I...really don't know, Himari. You kinda fit them all well, from what I've seen. For now, let's just see what swimsuit Kuzaki has in store for ya and see what I think of it."
Himari flashed a broad smile as she clutched my arm tighter. "Maybe I should take all three if you like them so much," she suggested, her hand brushing my cheek.
"Hey now. We're here to pick a swimsuit for ya, not buy a whole inventory," I chided jokingly with a smirk.
"I know," Himari replied before she shifted her attention towards Yuuto. "What did you think, Yuuto-dono? Did I look good in them?"
"Eh? I, uh... Well..."
I put Yuuto in a headlock before he can finish, where I then gave him a noogie. "Hey, don't make him blow another gasket, Himari," I warn jokingly. "He already blew one of them out just from looking at ya in those swimsuits."
Himari let out an amused giggle. "I guess it is only natural for Yuuto-dono to be nervous when it comes to such things," she said.
"E-Evans-san, can you let go of me?" Yuuto asked, struggling a bit.
"Haha. Sorry, man," I apologized as I let go of him. "Got a bit caught up in the moment. Couldn't help myself."
"It's all right. And I'm not nervous. I was a bit..."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. It's cool. And I was only messing with ya when I said you blew a gasket."
Hmm. Guess it wasn't both after all. Now I pretty much understand how Yuuto deals with Masaki on a daily basis. It's just like how I deal with Brandon and Dante back home: Ignore (or at least try to ignore) the pervert within and just be honest with yourself. In other words, Yuuto did like the swimsuits Himari was wearing; he just couldn't find the right words to describe them much as I have.
I'll admit he can be a bit of a shy fellow sometimes.
"Okay, I'm back!"
I turn my head to see Rinko, who held a pink-and-red bikini with a halterneck design for the top and the bottoms featuring red ribbons tied at the sides.
"I figured a bikini will fit her best. And I think the ribbons are a pretty good touch to it, too. What do you think?"
"Hmm... Why don't we let Himari have a go at it?" I suggested, scratching my chin a bit.
"Good idea," Rinko agreed as she pulled Himari into one of the changing rooms. "Be right back," was all she had said before she pulled the curtain closed.
A few minutes later, the curtain opened to reveal Himari in her new bikini. Rinko was standing right behind her, and Miss Samurai herself busy was fixing her swimsuit a little bit, her hand resting on one of the thin straps and her other hand on the bottoms. "There is not much cloth on this one," I hear her mutter softly.
I have to admit even I was a bit taken away at how well that swimsuit looks on her. Even though it was slightly more revealing than the others, it suited her just fine. Heck, more than just fine; it's perfect.
Just like any reasonable man, I decided to give Himari my honest opinion.
"I think the red color suits ya well, Himari. Red does count for part of your name, after all, and it goes really well with your ribbon, too."
Himari's cheeks became a bright shade of pink, her lips breaking out into a heartwarming smile. She was even fidgeting with the locks of her hair a bit, which is something I've never seen her do before.
I guess despite being a samurai - a cat samurai, no less - she's still a girl at heart. And I think it's kinda cute seeing her like this, all innocent and whatnot.
"Fu... Fufufufufu..."
A delighted giggle came out of Himari's lips. "All right, then I shall gladly take this one!"
She happily obliged with a playful wink before closing the curtain behind her. You know, that was the happiest I've ever seen from Miss Samurai, bar none.
"Wow. Didn't expect you to be a smooth operator, Skate Punk," she said flatly, half-lidding her eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean? I was only giving my honest opinion."
"Sure you were."
Ugh. Man, I hate when Rinko trolls me like this. It doesn't really help that she still calls me Skate Punk from time to time. I may be a skater, but I'm not a punk. I have Dante for that role back home.
General POV
In the bedroom of his apartment, a sleeping Dante let out a loud sneeze, causing him to wake up. The spiky-haired Sicilian blinked, then shook his head before going back to sleep.
"The hell was that all about?" he thought.
######
Back at the department store, Gordon was heading back to meet with Himari after getting his new swim trunks. However the New Yorker stopped short when he saw Himari, still sitting silently with the bag containing her swimsuit in her arms (and a rather expensive one at that, given the cat samurai's minor complaint earlier when she went with Rinko to buy it) and Yasutsuna placed right next to her seat. Gordon was quick to notice Himari staring at something, given she hadn't moved her head for a while.
"Wonder what she's staring at?" he thought before glancing at Himari's direction, taking notice of the people shopping. But what on earth would cause Himari to observe such a scene?
Finally, it hit him. Their clothes. It was their clothes the cat samurai was staring at. Every girl that passed by her was wearing modern-day street clothes, compared to Himari with her decorative pink kimono, yellow obi sash, and the zōri (straw sandals) she wore on her feet. While Gordon was forced to admit Himari sticks out like a sore thumb, it was Miss Samurai's preferred style. Not to mention he's seen Rika and her parents wear kimonos during special occasions back home, his aunt's wedding three years ago being one of them.
Gordon returned his focus to Himari, who was looking at her kimono sleeve with a concerned look on her face.
"Can't help it, I guess. It's Himari's first time at a department store so of course she'd be worried about her appearance."
Feeling the need to help her, the New Yorker went and approached Himari, putting on a smile.
{"Yo! Himari!"}
The cat samurai perked up and turned her head in time to see him walking up to her.
"Hey, sorry for keeping you out like this. Amakawa and Kuzaki still aren't finished with their shopping yet, so it's just us for now."
Himari responded with a silent nod, drawing Gordon's concern.
"Something wrong? You seem a bit out of it since I left ya here."
Himari shook her head. "No, nothing is wrong."
"Yeah, I seriously doubt that," Gordon remarked in his head. "You sure? I'm just about ready to go since I..."
"A-Actually, Young Lord, there is something I need to ask of you."
Himari promptly stood up and dusted off her kimono, all while averting her Gordon's gaze. "Do you...happen to admire traditional garb?" she asked.
Gordon raised an eyebrow as Himari continued speaking.
"I-I know this is a bit much to ask of you, but I believe this look is rather appealing. Because I think it creates a certain atmosphere...or image, I suppose you might say, for some people. But... You see, I..."
The cat samurai's growing nervousness was interrupted when she felt a pair of hands rest on her shoulders, causing the blackette to look back up to see Gordon giving off a friendly smile.
"Let's get you some new threads, alright?" he suggested.
"Eh?"
"C'mon, it'll be fun. No need to be shy or anything like that. Let's go."
"Huh? W-Wait, Young Lord, do not push me! A-Are you even listening?"
Himari's pleas fell on deaf ears for a while until Gordon brought her to the girls' clothing section of the store. It was a section he found a bit more comfortable to be in, probably because it didn't feature swimsuits.
Or lingerie, for that matter.
"I perfectly get what you were telling me before, Himari," the New Yorker told her. "And to be honest with ya, I really don't mind you wearing traditional clothing. They do give you that refined look, after all. But it wouldn't hurt to try some modern clothes every once in a while, right?" He went over to one of the clothing racks and began looking through the tops that were on it. "You can hang there for the time being while I take a look at these. I won't be long."
Himari nodded silently as she watched Gordon go through the clothes rack. A smile crept up the cat's lips at her master's kindness.
"The Young Lord...he truly does understand me after all," she thought happily, clutching her chest with a sigh.
Meanwhile, Gordon was busy looking for a top that would suit Himari, having looked through a few clothes racks. So far he found nothing. Heck, he doesn't even know what kind of fashion Himari would be into. Punk? Nope. Hip-hop? Debatable. Hipster? Ugh, over his dead body. He's seen enough of those glasses-wearing bougie assholes back home.
Unable to find a single article of clothing on the racks, Gordon moved over to one of the tables, where numerous tops of various designs lay in front of him. The young New Yorker sifted and combed through the tops until he found one that reminded him of one of the shirts Rika wore.
It was a white, off-shoulder tee with the phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On" written in glittery pink letters.
"I guess this could work out for her," he considered, taking the shirt and laying it on his forearm. Now he needs to find her some jeans. Or capris. But a pair of shorts would be the best option since summer was right around the corner. That and some fresh new sneakers to go along with the shirt.
A pair of jean shorts and a pair of white Nike Dunks later (along with a few other trinkets that he had hidden in his bag), Gordon returned to Himari, who was smiling upon seeing her Young Lord's return.
"All right," he began. "Here, try these on. See if they fit."
"Certainly. Ah!"
"Hm? Whoa!"
Without warning, Gordon was forcefully pulled into one of the changing rooms by Himari, where he winced after hitting his forehead on one of the walls.
"Oww... Shit... Damn, Himari, why'd you drag me in here for!?" he demanded, grunting.
"Quiet," she ordered.
######
Outside the changing room, Yuuto and Rinko were looking for Gordon and Himari.
"Geez!" the ribbon-wearing brunette started complaining. "Where did those two run off to, anyway?"
"I tried calling Evans-san's cell phone," Yuuto explained, "but he wouldn't answer it. I hope they're all right."
"Don't you think it's strange they would run off and disappear like that for no apparent reason?" Rinko asked with a hint of suspicion.
Yuuto scratched his head. "Now that you think about it..."
Rinko gave a sharp exhale. "Well, they could have gone home, anyways," she said, dismissing the topic. "In the meantime, let's get something for Himari. All she ever wears are kimonos, anyway, so it wouldn't hurt for her to try on something different for a change. What do you think will look good on her?"
"I was thinking something in a crisp, clean white for her," Yuuto described, "With a hint of red to go along with it."
"Sounds like a good choice of colors. C'mon, let's go find one."
"Mhm."
Gordon was fortunate enough to hear Yuuto and Rinko's conversation in the changing room as he heard them walk off. "Damn, I must've left my cell on silent when I left the house," he muttered.
"Young Lord?"
"Yeah, what Hima... Oof!"
Gordon's words were cut short the moment Himari pushed him to the wall with her body, her hand on his chest and her breasts pressing against his torso. The young skater was quick to notice the top of Himari's kimono coming loose, exposing her delicate white shoulders.
"I know not how to don Western clothing," the cat samurai cooed, her cheeks flushed pink as she slowly began undressing. "So could you please put them on for me~?"
Gordon immediately grabbed Himari's wrists, preventing her from taking off any more of her kimono.
"Are you out of your damn mind!?" he whispered loudly, but not too loud as to not draw any outside attention before calming down with a quick sigh. "Look Himari, I get you're trying to tease me, but there's no way I'm gonna dress ya up. Out of the question."
"But you saw me naked just yesterday, did you not?" Himari smirked, looping her arms around Gordon's neck while tipping her toes up.
The New Yorker's cheeks turned bright red with a gulp. "Th-That was an accident and you know that! And could you please not bring that up?"
Himari's face quickly turned into a pout, as if dissatisfied with the outcome. "If you do not dress me, then I shall bring my ears and tail out and meow," she threatened.
"I'd rather you not, for both our sakes," Gordon said flatly.
"Then dress me."
"Forget it."
A tick mark appeared on Himari's forehead as her cat ears and tail popped out. She was prepared to let out a meow before Gordon beat her to the punch by covering her mouth.
"Do you want to get us kicked outta here!?" he cried out, only to get a sly grin from Himari in return upon uncovering her mouth. The Brooklyn boy also felt something poking the back of his neck, which he assumed must be her fingernails. And boy are they sharp!
"Aw man. She's almost as bad as Kuroka when she's like this."
Not wanting to risk the possibility of getting mauled, Gordon decided to play along with Himari...for the time being.
"All right, all right, fine! You win. I'll dress ya up," he conceded, causing Himari's feline appendages to slowly disappear. Not wasting any time, Gordon then seized the opportunity and leaned close to the blackette's ear.
"But don't expect your precious Yasutsuna to be in one piece tomorrow if I dress you up now."
Himari's eyes jumped wide at her master's words before they narrowed the moment Gordon removed himself from her ear.
"You wouldn't dare go after my Yasutsuna, Young Lord," she frowned with a harsh edge to her voice. "That sword is an important heirloom bestowed to me by your grandfather. I swear I will not forgive you if you dare try and break it."
"Heh. Give it your best shot, Miss Samurai," Gordon smirked. "I dare you."
A long and silent staredown ensued between the Brooklyn teen and the cat ayakashi. Gordon's eyes were focused on his guardian's like a falcon eyeing its prey before coming in for the kill, while Himari's eyes were focused on Gordon's like a mother grizzly bear whose cub had just been abducted by poachers and wanted revenge. Limb-ripping, bone-smashing, flesh-tearing revenge.
Gordon smiled inwardly, knowing he had Himari eating at the palm of his hands. Of course he wouldn't even consider breaking her katana, given it was the trademark weapon of the samurai (and as he learned just recently, a prized heirloom from his grandfather). To actually do that would be the equivalent of flipping the bird on the peak of Mt. Fuji and shouting "Fuck you, Japan!" at the top of his lungs. Add the fact that Himari is an ayakashi with superhuman abilities and he was looking at a world of hurt. One that could get him killed in an instant.
But he hardly has a chance of that happening since Himari was his servant to begin with.
Then again there was that old phrase: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."
Feeling the cat samurai has had enough, Gordon decided to put a stop to his ruse. And he knows just the word to use in situations like this.
{"Bazinga."}
"Eh? Nya-!?"
"Come on, I'm not that dumb to know a school uniform is considered Western wear," Gordon told a surprised Himari, tousling her hair roughly with a mischievous grin. "Oh right, and consider that a little bit of payback for when you joked about me killing you as my first ayakashi the other day." His grin slowly changed into a wry smile. "Now get yourself changed, okay? I wanna see what you look like in those."
Once he felt the coast was clear, Gordon exited the changing room and leaned his back on the outside edge.
"Haha! Shit, that was fun. I almost feel sorry for making Himari mad like that, but hey. What goes around now...comes back to bite ya in the ass later."
#######
A few minutes have passed since Gordon left the changing room. He understood well that Himari might not be familiar with the clothes he gave her, particularly the shirt since it was meant to go on one shoulder instead of both at the same time.
"Young Lord?" Himari asked from the changing room.
"What?"
"I am having a bit of trouble with the shirt you had me try on," the cat samurai explained. "The neck is a tad bit too wide."
"It's an off-shoulder design, Himari," he explained. "Just leave one shoulder off and the other on. The rest won't fall down on ya if you put it that way. Promise."
There was a brief silence in the changing before Himari spoke up.
"Okay, I have it on now, Young Lord," she declared.
"All right, let's see it."
Gordon let himself off the edge and took a few steps before turning to face the curtain. When it opened, it revealed Himari wearing the Keep Calm tee, the denim shorts, and the hi-top Nike Dunks the New Yorker supplied her. The shirt fitted the cat samurai quite well, showing a decent amount of skin on her left shoulder and revealing a bit of her buxom figure, while the hip-hugging shorts helped reveal much of Himari's healthy white legs. The Dunks were a nice touch to the ensemble, matching the color of the top perfectly.
"How do I look?" she asked.
Gordon gave a satisfied nod. "Fits ya perfectly, Himari," he commented. "But there are a few things I want to add to that."
He rummaged through his shopping bag and took out a pink Yankees cap and a pair of pink fingerless gloves. He slid the gloves in Himari's hands, then while the cat samurai was taking a look at them removed the ribbon holding her ponytail, letting it flow down as he placed the cap on her head. Still holding on to the ribbon, Gordon decided to make an improvised belt out of it, wrapping it around Himari's waist and tying it in a bow at the back before bringing it to the side.
"There," he finished. "Now you're all set."
It was now Himari's turn to smile. She was really grateful of her master getting all these new clothes for her to wear. Sure it was different from the kimonos and school uniform she usually wears, but this outfit was...unique to her, in a way. From the Yankees cap on her head to the white Nike Dunks that adorned her feet, every piece was one of a kind. She even found the "fashion belt" made of her hair ribbon to be quite unique, too. And also cute if she might add.
Though she did find the shorts to be a bit tight around her thighs and butt. But she didn't mind so long as they didn't impede her movement when wielding Yasutsuna.
Then again, there was the skirt from her school uniform. It did give her a wider range of motion, and it was more comfortable for her, personally speaking.
Oh, what the heck? Her outfit wouldn't be as unique if she had it on than with the shorts.
Or would it?
"Hmm, guess I should find you another outfit to try on," Gordon suggested to Himari, interrupting her train of thought. "Wait here; I'm pretty sure I can find you some..."
"There is no need, Young Lord," Himari objected, smiling with her hands tied behind her back. "I like this one."
Gordon stopped mid-step and turned back to his guardian. "Hold on. You...can't be serious about this, right?" he asked with uncertainty. "I mean, girls don't wear just one outfit as far as I see it. You should at least try one more..."
Himari cut him off by shaking her head. "I have already said there is no need for that, Young Lord," she repeated, removing her cap to take a look at it. "This is the first outfit you have chosen for me. Therefore I shall not find any other outfit other than this one today."
Gordon was at a loss for words when Himari said that to him.
"Damn," he cursed. "She really got me there. Well, if she likes it that much, who am I to judge?"
A shrug went through the New Yorker's shoulders. "All right. Guess you win this round. But you have to let me check them out first, so why don't you change back to..."
"No need," Himari interrupted, walking past him casually. "I shall wear these home."
{"Say what now?"}
"Yeesh, I really can't believe that cashier actually let Himari wear her new clothes home."
Gordon was carrying a cloth garment bag that contained Himari's kimono while the cat samurai was walking home in her new outfit. He was quite surprised the store even had garment bags for kimonos, but at least now he didn't have to worry about it getting dirty.
On the other hand, he was glad he made Himari happy by picking out those clothes. She blends in so easily with the crowd now than with her kimono. And that outfit alone reminded Gordon of what Rika would usually wear this time of season, minus the Yasutsuna she was holding.
However, there was one problem that persisted: Himari didn't have a bra on, and if Taizou or the other boys in his class ever found out about it, chaos would ensue. Mass chaos.
Putting that aside, if Himari was happy with the new clothes, so was he.
Gordon and Himari later arrived at their house, where they saw a shopping bag much like the one Gordon was carrying lying on the doorstep. On the handle was a small note. "From Rinko and Yuuto," it addressed.
"Must've stopped by a while ago," he stated as he took the bag and unlocked the door. "I did hand them one of my keys, after all."
Himari nodded before the pair stepped inside and removed their shoes before entering the living room. Once seated on the couch, Gordon took the note that was tied onto the handle and began reading it, Himari hovering over his shoulder.
We figured the Cat Princess didn't have any modern clothes to wear other than her school uniform, so Yuuto and I went and picked an outfit that'll be sure to help her blend in more. Actually, Yuuto picked the outfit, but anyways, we hope you'll find it to your liking, Himari. Think of it as a welcoming gift.
From the both of us,
Rinko and Yuuto.
Gordon let out a lighthearted chuckle. "Well, well. Looks like they got something for ya, Himari," he said, glancing up at her. "Go on, open it."
"Certainly." Himari opened the bag and took out what was inside.
It was a beautiful white summer dress with thin spaghetti straps and a small red ribbon in the middle of the bust area, which had frills at the top.
It was enough to make Himari break out into a warm smile.
"Wow," Gordon chuckled after looking at the dress. "Yuuto and Rinko really went the extra mile for ya."
"Indeed, they have," Himari agreed. "I must thank them sometime."
"So are you at least gonna try it on?" Gordon suggested. "You might as well to see if it fits."
"I suppose I should, but I shall reserve this for the time being," Himari stated, placing the dress back in the bag. "Besides..."
GLOMP!
{"Whoa! Oof!"}
The cat samurai tackle-hugged Gordon, knocking him down on the couch with his head hitting the armrest. The black teen winced from the pain until he saw the pink Yankees cap drop on his chest. He then looked up and saw Himari with her cat ears exposed.
"I like this outfit more since you were the one who picked it out, Young Lord," she chirped. "And I especially like what you have done with my hair ribbon."
"J-Jeez, there's nothing special about it, Himari. I had to figure out what to do with that ribbon since I had to make room for the hat."
Gordon's body froze when Himari's face was a few centimeters from him, a flirty smirk coming from her lips. The New Yorker then felt the tip of her tail tapping his hand, causing him to sigh at what she wanted him to do.
"Alright, alright, keep your shirt on," he said as he began stroking Himari's head. The catgirl then laid herself down, her ample breasts pressing against the young Benigawa's chest as she giggled at her master's treatment.
"Thank you, Young Lord," she said merrily, her voice no doubt showing appreciation.
"Yeah, yeah," Gordon deadpanned as he worked his fingers on one of Himari's ears. His index and middle fingers alternated between strokes at the back while his thumb rubbed the inside. Himari giggled and purred merrily, wrapping her arms around Gordon's neck and nuzzling her head against Gordon's cheek, causing the dark-skinned teen to blush.
"Aw man. Looks like I might develop a fetish, after all," he thought, a sweatdrop forming on his forehead.
On a rooftop near Gordon's house, a girl with fair skin and dark amber eyes was sitting on its edge. Her clothes consisted of a black Jack Daniels tank top and matching, low-rise yoga pants with a lavender waistband. The tank top stretched across the girl's ample bust and revealed a fair amount of cleavage while the yoga pants hugged her hips and parts of her thighs while flaring out slightly at the bottom. As for footwear...well, she didn't have any; she was barefoot.
But what made the young woman stand out in the moonlit setting was her bright, scarlet red hair that gave the illusion of fire when shined upon. It was long and straight with side bangs framing her face and bangs partially covering her right eye, going past her shoulders before stopping at her waist in a slight V shape.
A pair of fox ears then appeared atop the girl's head, along with four furry fox tails swishing out from behind, all matching her hair color with white frosted tips at the ends. The freshly-revealed kitsune then stretched her arms out, raising them above her head with a grunt before looking down at Gordon's house, her amber orbs focusing on Gordon and Himari sleeping peacefully in their room.
Especially Gordon. When she caught first glimpse of the Benigawa descendant at the department store, it was love at first sight for the fox ayakashi. Sure, she may have flirted with a couple other young men in her lifetime, but that was mostly for shits and giggles. However after seeing Gordon for the first time, she knew she just had to have him as her mate.
After getting to know him, of course. With a bit of teasing sprinkled in.
The biggest hurdle for the foxgirl, however, was the Noihara Crimson Blade. She heard stories from other ayakashi about the cat swordswoman, and the last thing the scarlette needed was to have her decapitated head lying on the ground. In fact, the thought alone was enough to make her tails bristle. She really needs to be careful not to get on that cat's bad side, lest she live to tell the tale.
The four-tailed kitsune shook her head before laying a hand to her cheek, after which a sly and provocative smirk emanating from her lips. "Oh, how I'm so looking forward to making you squirm, sweetheart," she purred. "Just. You. Wait. Fuhuhu~"
In his bedroom, Gordon felt a sudden chill run up his spine, causing the New Yorker's body to shiver under Himari's tight embrace.
And there goes chapter four, folks! So this chapter was pretty much self-explanatory. Gordon picks out a swimsuit for Himari and gets some new clothes for her, just like canon. With a few twists, of course, such as Yuuto picking out the sundress with Rinko's help and making it a gift for Himari, which I think is sweet of them to do.
And at the end, we get introduced to a redheaded kitsune who has the hots for Gordon. How will our Brooklyn fighter deal with this flirty vixen when he comes in contact with her? Well, given that he felt a chill, it's not gonna be good for him.
As a side note here, this chapter (along with the last one) took place on the first week of summer break, which in Japan is usually in late July (the 21st for most). Gordon moved to Japan a week before starting school in the middle of the first trimester (May 30th, Gordon and Yuuto's birthdays). So between the first chapter and this chapter, Gordon has lived in Japan for at least two months.
Another side note concerns Himari's name when Gordon complimented on her bikini. The first kanji of her name (緋, Hi) translates to crimson or scarlet, and the full kanji translates to "Crimson Ball" (緋鞠). 'Cause you know, cats like to play with balls of yarn.
Anyways, be sure to leave a comment with this chapter. As always, constructive criticism is acceptable.
Next time on The Brooklyn Demon Slayer: "Fifth Round – Sun, Sand and Synyster Snakes!"
This is KID2NR, signing off. See ya!