Tsukumo awoke the next day, feeling a bit better but still deeply saddened by the loss of her cat. She missed Kuon dearly but knew she had to stay strong. As she looked around, her eyes fell on the collar she had bought for Kuon. It was a shame Kuon had always refused to wear it, as Tsukumo thought it looked adorable on her. With a sigh, Tsukumo got ready for the day, unaware that Kuon was watching her from a nearby tree.
"Tsukumo..." Kuon whispered, her heart aching with the longing to be near her owner once more.
She continues to watch, ensuring nothing else happens to her owner.
Meanwhile, Tsurimu and Alice walk through the town, with Tsurimu still in shock over what she learned. Many people thought Alice was wearing a suit, and Alice was polite to them, knowing they were not the ones her mistress wanted to teach a lesson to.
'Fur... She has real fur! How is that possible? That story can't be true, can it?' She wondered.
Alice smiled and said, "The people here are so nice, Mistress, unlike that rude girl! And I think this is the first time you've ever taken me out on a walk too."
"Yes, I think so," Tsurimu replied, still feeling lost.
The thought of teaching Tsukumo a lesson resurfaced in her mind. She was determined to put that nobody in their place. To her, animals were merely tools and had always been. Why should she care about what a pet meant to someone? Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw the very person she had been thinking about walking down the street.
"There! Should I teach her your love, Mistress?" Alice asked, glancing at her.
"Not here. Let's wait until we're alone," Tsurimu replied, following Tsukumo.
Tsukumo continued her walk, attempting to savor the day. She was trying to stop letting Kuon's death affect her so deeply, but it was challenging. Each happy memory she had made her miss Kuon even more. Tsukumo took a deep breath. She needed to focus on the joyful moments, ensuring that Kuon would always remain alive in her heart.
However, her movements were halted when Tsurimu seized the opportunity and shoved her into an empty alley.
"Hello, Tsu," She said with a smirk.
"Tsurimu," Tsukumo said, glaring.
"Enjoying your day?" Tsurimu asked, her smirk unwavering.
"What do you want?" Tsukumo asked, suspicious of her intentions.
"I was hoping to run into you today. I've been thinking about what you said, and I've come to realize you're right," Tsurimu said, surprising her.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"Animals are people, and we should treat them as such. But there's just one problem with that," Tsurimu said, still smirking.
She then pushed Tsukumo back, causing a pair of huge mittens to wrap around her. Tsukumo looked behind her and was shocked to see a rabbit-like person holding her and starting to squeeze her.
"You're an animal too, Tsukumo," Tsurimu finished.
Tuskumo struggled to break free, but the huge mittens squeezed her tighter, as if the person was trying to crush her with a hug. Tusrimu smirked again and moved closer.
"Oh, forgive me, I never introduced you, did I?" She said with a hint of mock surprise.
"This is Alice. Alice, meet Tsukumo," Tsurimu said, smiling.
"Greetings," Alice said, still holding her.
"You see, I despise the fact that you dared to stand up to me. ME! I'm far superior to you in every way. I possess knowledge far beyond your grasp. You're just a weak little girl, crying over her dead cat!" Tsurimu spat, glaring at her.
Tsukumo glares back and retorts, "My superior?! You're the one who treats animals like tools! I stood up to you because I can't stand how you view them, even Kuon! I won't let you treat someone as a tool, especially when you don't even know them!"
Alice blinks, puzzled by the meaning behind the words. Tusrimu, on the other hand, scoffs at Tsukumo's statement.
"Well, no matter. Once we're done, you will never stand up to be again. Alice..."
"Yes, Misstress?"
"Show her our love."
Alice nodded before grabbing Tsukumo's right leg. She began to pull on it, making Tsukumo scream. Alice could feel the bones cracking as she made sure to do it as slowly as possible. This was the love her mistress had shown her. Just before she could break Tsukumo's leg, a claw swiped at her back, causing Alice to drop Tsukumo, shocking Tsurimu.
"What the...?" She exclaimed, noticing someone else standing behind them.
Tsukumo grabbed her leg and turned around. To her surprise, the cat-like figure was there again, stepping in front of her and hissing.
"You!" Alice said, jumping up.
"You're that nasty fiend who tried to tell me my love for my owner was wrong!" She said angrily.
Kuon stood before her owner, disbelief etched on her face at the thought they could harm her. She hissed louder, preparing herself for a fight. Tsurimu had no idea where this thing came from, but she wasn't about to let it stop her.
"Stop standing there and get rid of that thing!" She ordered Alice.
"Yes, Mistress!" Alice said, jumping into the air.
Alice's legs spun like a drill, aiming at Kuon. However, Kuon grabbed Tsukumo and leaped over Alice's attack. She then set Tsukumo down before seeing Alice hopping towards her. Kuon took a deep breath and roared when Alice was close enough. Alice screamed, clutching her head as the loud sound hurt her ears. While Alice was recovering, Kuon slashed her claw at Alice, knocking her back. Alice quickly jumped back up and spun like a top, trying to hit Kuon, who kept jumping over her.
Tsukumo blinked, surprised to realize this was the second time she had been saved by the cat person. Who was this mysterious figure, and why were they helping her? Meanwhile, Tsuirmu growled in frustration, growing more upset that Alice was taking so long to deal with the cat person.
"Will just get rid of that person already?!" She screams.
Alice glared at Kuon, determined not to disappoint her mistress. With a swift motion, she summoned a massive pair of scissors, startling the two girls. Spinning around, she hurled the scissors toward Kuon. Realizing that dodging would endanger the girls, Kuon grabbed them both and leaped over the incoming blades.
"Unhand my Misstress!" Alice shouted, jumping up.
Alice kicked her leg out, striking Kuon in the chest and causing her to drop both girls as she was knocked into the streets. Alice rushed out, ready to attack again, but Kuon's roar made her pause. Kuon then slashed at Alice, knocking her back. The onlookers, shocked by the fight, watched in disbelief. Alice attempted to use her leg drill again, but Kuon used her crow wings to double-jump over her. Turning around, Kuon slashed Alice once more before grabbing her.
"You hurt my owner. I won't let you do that again!" she hissed.
She then threw Alice to the ground and leaped on top of her. She raised her claw, but Alice pushed her off and kicked out with both legs to create space between them.
Both Tsukumo and Tsurimu stepped out of the alley. Tsukumo was limping, her leg still injured. When she finally saw the cat person's face, she was shocked to realize she knew who it was.
"Kuon?" She asked in disbelief.
The two soulbeasts continued their fierce battle, but Kuon was clearly holding her ground. Despite fighting Alice in her feline form, it was evident that Alice hadn't learned from their previous encounter. The last time Kuon saw her, Alice had transformed into a small patch of flowers. How was she still alive?
"Will you hurry up, you stupid rabbit!" Tsurimu shouted, becoming increasingly impatient.
"Tsurimu, stop it!" Tsukumo yelled, realizing what was happening.
"You shut up!" Tsurimu shouted, slapping her.
The slap echoed in Kuon's ears, prompting her to turn and see Tsukumo on the ground. Hissing, Kuon prepared to rush over, but Alice attempted another attack. Using her anteater power, Kuon froze time and dashed to Tsukumo. She picked up her owner and scratched Tsurimu's face with her smaller claws before leaping to the rooftops as time resumed.
Tsuirmu screams as she grabs her face, prompting Alice to rush over in concern. Kuon glares at the two before turning to her owner. Tsukumo gazes at her, noticing the green eyes on her face. Despite the changes since the last time she saw her, there was no doubt in her mind that this was her pet cat.
"Kuon? Is that you?" she asked, gazing at her face.
Kuon looked at her and then rubbed her face against her, much like a cat. Tsukumo even heard her purr as she did so.
The sudden shouting caught their attention, and they noticed people pointing at them. Alice glanced up, preparing to leap. However, Kuon realized it wasn't the time to continue fighting. Ensuring she had a firm hold on Tsukumo, she turned and used her cheetah speed to flee the area. Alice panted as they escaped, but then she remembered her owner's injury and swiftly jumped back down.
Tsukumo's home,
Kuon gently placed her owner down and examined Tsukumo's leg. It appeared unbroken, indicating she had arrived just in time. Tsukumo gazed at her pet cat, bewildered and uncertain about the events that had unfolded. Kuon then rose and made her way to the kitchen, returning shortly with an ice pack, which she carefully positioned on Tsukumo's leg. Tsukumo then turned her attention to her feline companion, softly patting her head. Kuon, in response, lifted her gaze, locking eyes with her.
"Koun, is that really you?" she asked.
"Yes," Kuon answered.
"What happened to you?" Tsukumo asked.
Kuon stood before she sat beside her owner. Drawing a deep breath, she began to recount her experiences. Following her death, she found herself in a realm known as the soulplane. Driven by the desire to return, Kuon embarked on a long and arduous journey. She battled numerous fiends and sacrificed several of her lives along the way. After her fifth demise, she underwent a transformation into her current form, which enhanced her combat abilities. It was a lengthy process, but she eventually made her way back to Earth. Yet, she sensed that her memories were incomplete and knew that beings like her rarely had the opportunity to reunite with their loved ones. Nevertheless, she was astonished to find Alice alive after their last encounter.
Tsukumo listened intently, taken aback by the tale. Contrary to Tsurimu, who was skeptical of the story, Tsukumo sensed that Kuon was sincere. The appearance strongly resembled Kuon's feline form. The clothes she wore were similar to Kuon's, albeit in different colors. She then observed Kuon yawning before settling down in her spot.
Kuon lay down and closed her eyes. Tsukumo watched her for a moment before reaching out to pet her.
"Um, welcome home, Kuon... I guess?" She said.
"Meow," Kuon responded, reveling in the sensation.
Tsukumo attempted to move forward until she encountered Tsurimu and Alice. It's important to remember that Alice's perspective on love mirrors the way Tsurimu has shown it to her. Consequently, she intended to break Tsukumo's leg, just as hers had been broken. Fortuitously, Tsukumo was rescued by Kuon, who was astonished to discover Alice was still alive. A skirmish ensued, during which Kuon even inflicted a scratch on Tsurimu for striking her owner. I made certain to note the presence of onlookers, as I often inquire about the reactions of others during their confrontations. Ultimately, Kuon managed to whisk Tsukumo away after learning who had saved her on two occasions. It appears they are getting along well. I also included the Good Ending from the game.
When I revisit this story, I plan to have more characters interact with each other and explore how Moenna strives to protect her home. I'd also like to share a few updates with everyone. Regarding Kuon's Novem form, it will indeed appear, but as for the others, it's uncertain. I don't believe Locke transforms into a Novem form during the second battle. Kuon's transformation is more than just a color shift. For Moenna, I envision her transitioning from grey to deep black, with her spikes becoming sharper and her claws elongating and turning red. However, I'm still contemplating the transformations for the first four bosses in the game. I am receptive to any potential ideas you might suggest.
