Damn you, Ichinomiya, Hasumi thought as he watched Rosalie play with the bakeneko possessed kitten. Why did you send your demon over with that thing? He pressed his hand to his forehead. It's not just to annoy me, is it? You secretly know in your heart of hearts that I can see then, too, don't you? You've known since we first met.

"Ryōkan," Rosalie called.

"Yes, Rosalie-chan?" He replied as he walked over to her.

"Are we having supper?" She asked.

"Of course, what would you like?" He smiled.

"Dumplings," she said, stroking the cat's fur.

"Dumplings it is then," Hasumi laughed.

--

Later that night, Hasumi stood outside, the bakeneko cradled in his arms. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I know that Rosalie loves you but I cannot have you wondering around my house like this. I promise that I will send you back painlessly."

Hasumi continued to stroke the cat's fur until it was enveloped in a golden light and disappeared.

"You aren't as bad as your colleague," Sugino said from beside him. "That fool Ichinomiya had that thing at his house for days before Demon eater finally got fed up and brought it here. Ichinomiya didn't want to get rid of it. Foolish man."

"Ichinomiya likes to see how far he can push a person. He is not bad, just annoying," Hasumi sighed. "He is still more powerful than me, though. If he wasn't such a slacker, he would me the most successful exorcist in Nihon."

"I though you didn't like him," Sugino muttered, hugging Mū-chan closer.

"It is not that I do not like him, he just annoys me most of the time with his flighty attitude. He was the best student when he worked at it and didn't sneak around exorcising youkai on exam days." Hasumi chuckled. "Ichinomiya isn't that bad."

"Even though your whole goal in life was also to find the oni-eating tengu and unseal him?" Sugino glared at Hasumi. You give up on your dreams too easily. You are such a human."

"The last time I looked, you were born a human as well, Sugino-sama," Hasumi sighed. "May I borrow Mū-chan for Rosalie, at least until I get a new cat?"

"Hup," Sugino stuck his nose up in the air but he slowly handed over Mū-chan.

"Thank you," Hasumi smiled.

--

"Ichinomiya, the fires of Hell won't be enough to relieve my wrath!" Sugino yelled as he burst into the house.

"I'm sure they aren't," Kantaro sighed. "What did I do this time?"

"Mū-chan!"

"Great," Yoko sighed. "What happened this time?"

"That girl with the blond hair has her!"

"Rosalie?" Kantaro asked as he poured himself tea.

"Yes, all because of that bekeneko! My wife has had to sacrifice herself because of you!" Sugino fumed.

"I'm sure," Kantaro sighed as he stared longingly at the window, hoping that Sugino would leave already. "You know what?" He said as he stood. "I'm going out right now to buy a new cat for Rosalie-chan so you can have Mū-chan back."

"Really?" Sugino looked at Kantaro in surprise. "You are okay, aren't you?"

"Of course I am," Kantaro shook his head. "What took you so long to figure it out?"

--

Kantaro cuddled the golden kitten in his arms as he walked up the path to Hasumi's house, hoping that he could get in and out without talking to the man.

"Rosalie-chan," he called.

"Where is Lucifer?" She asked from behind him.

"Ah!" He exclaimed, spinning around to look at her. "Haruka is at home," he chuckled. "I just wanted to bring this over to you," he said as he held out the kitten.

"Why?" She frowned up at him. "Ryōkan exorcised the other cat last night and then gave me this," she looked down at Mū-chan.

"I see," Kantaro chuckled evilly. That Hasumi had been calling him crazy for years and it turned out that he could exorcise spirits, too? "Here you go, Rosalie-chan," he said as he placed the kitten in her arms. "I have to go home and plot your father's demise, I mean go home and ask Yoko when you can come over to our house." He waved his hand as he dashed down the path, a smile playing on his lips.