THE following day, Shinozaki shared news of the passing miko’s attack during the morning assembly. Later, after a typical day of work, I went home at the regular time, showered, and readied myself once more.
My mother came home from shopping as I was leaving. “Sorry, Mom, but I’m heading out again,” I told her. “I won’t need dinner.”
“Oh? Are you going out to eat?”
“No, I’m going back to work. Something big happened, and I might not be back until tomorrow morning.”
The blood drained from her face. She was obviously remembering how hard I’d pushed myself at my previous job. “Oh no,” she said. “Is everything okay?”
Suddenly, we heard voices from outside. We opened the front door to find my father, who’d just arrived home from work, having a friendly conversation with Shinozaki.
Mom’s expression brightened. “Goodness gracious, Mr. Shinozaki, did you come to pick up Kaede yourself? In that case, I don’t need to worry.”
Dad smiled as well. “Thank you for taking care of our daughter. Work her to the bone if you need to!”
I cocked my head. Did my parents like Shinozaki a little too much?
“Let’s be on our way,” he urged. “If you’ll excuse us, Mr. and Mrs. Kikui.”
“Take care, Kaede!” called Mom.
“And don’t cause Shinozaki any trouble!” Dad added.
“Um… See you later, I guess?” I replied.
“Bewitched by a fox” was a common Japanese idiom meaning “baffled.” As I climbed into the familiar company car, I felt the phrase literally.
Shinozaki started the engine and pulled onto the road.
“I didn’t expect you to pick me up personally,” I said.
“I promised to protect your normal life, remember?” he said. “I wouldn’t want your parents getting suspicious because I’m dragging you around during the dead of night.”
“Thank you. Still, don’t my parents like you a little too much? You haven’t cast some sort of shady spell on them, right?”
He didn’t respond.
“Not denying it, huh?”
Since Shinozaki refused to comment, I gave up and stared out the window. We were driving down the highway toward Nakasu, the bright, purplish-red sunset foretelling the approach of the summer solstice. Neon lights illuminated the shopping district and shimmered on the river’s surface like an overturned jewelry box, and the full moon resembled a distant ornament pinned to the night sky.
As we neared Nakasu, the number of taxis on the road increased. The general vibe of people strolling the sidewalks changed as well. Lightly dressed women in dazzling outfits caught my eye. Likewise, the men wore casual clothes befitting the city’s nightlife.
Of course, Shinozaki and I weren’t going out for drinks. Rather, we were pursuing the passing miko. Something needed to be done about her. An ayakashi’s retaliation against a human, however, even in defense, could prove problematic. The ayakashi council had therefore decided to let me—a human employee of Shinozaki’s company—confront her.
“I didn’t want to bring you to this sort of place,” Shinozaki admitted grimly.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “In case you forgot, I’m a legal adult.”
“That’s not the issue. I don’t want to thrust a human leaking spiritual energy into the middle of this, even if I’ve absorbed most of it.”
“Oh, that’s what you meant?”
“Besides…” Shinozaki looked at me and sighed. “This isn’t the sort of place that a defenseless young lady should be visiting.”
“You sound like my dad. We’re here for work, and I’m wearing my job-hunting suit. I’ll be fine.”
“That’s not the point.” He glanced at me, then ruffled my hair. “Look out for yourself, okay?”
I looked away, my heart racing from his gentle touch and concerned gaze. At first, Shinozaki’s intensity and otherworldly beauty frightened me. Lately though, I’d begun to consider him a wonderful and reliable man.
Could I be more blessed, getting to work with my fave? I can pet his ears and tail as much as I want. And he even k-kissed…
Wait. Does the average fangirl feel this way?
“B-B-By the way,” I ventured.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Why do so many female nekomata work as hostesses?”
“They’ve always excelled in the hospitality industry,” he answered, navigating the car through a narrow alley. “There are legends of manors inhabited solely by female nekomata scattered throughout Kyushu. I told you about this, didn’t I?”
“You did.” I recalled my training. “Female nekomata create and live in mansions all over Japan. And these mansions lead to different realms, right? In Kyushu, male nekomata climb Mount Neko in Kumamoto Prefecture to practice sadhana, while female nekomata live in an estate at the foot of the mountain. There are also legends about nekomata surrounding the Okinawan cat islands.”
Male nekomata from Oita and Fukuoka Prefectures, and even from across the sea from Yamaguchi Prefecture, gathered in isolation. On the other hand, female nekomata built communities near human villages. Perhaps that was related to their rearing of kittens.
“But the nekomata from Saga are different, right?” I asked.
“If you’re talking about the Nabeshima Bakeneko Disturbance, that’s the category of nekomata our Yoru falls under,” Shinozaki replied. “His kind are a remnant of Chinese sorcery that used spirit cats as familiars. In other words, Yoru comes from a line of nekomata that require a master-servant relationship.”
“So that’s why…?”
Since starting my new job, I’d learned that very few ayakashi rely upon such a bond. Human society had abandoned ayakashi familiars, Shinozaki had explained, and few of them remained on the Near Shore.
I glanced at him. The sigil on his chest signified a contract with a specific human. Was he one of the rare familiars who had chosen to stay? And who was his beloved master?
“Kaede? You’re spacing out on me.”
“Wha—?!” I blurted. “S-Sorry about that.”
He shrugged. “So, as I was saying, several clubs in Nakasu are actually nekomata houses. All the employees, from the madam to the hostesses, are female nekomata. A lot of the investors are human though.”
“Interesting.”
“Working at night suits nekomata better. Cats are often active at night, after all.”
“Oh,” I realized, “that’s why nekomata have night care centers.”
“Exactly. Frolicking around a nursery helps the kittens get their energy out. Given how fast they grow, they rarely attend school.”
We’d stopped in a parking lot. On foot, we waded through a sea of bargoers.
Nakasu had some of the most electrifying nightlife in Kyushu. Bouncers, hosts and hostesses, and men and women of all ages crowded the brilliantly illuminated red-light district.
“Let’s go,” Shinozaki said.
“O-Okay!”
He strode through the swarm of people with a practiced gait. Although I could usually handle the bustle of Tenjin, I couldn’t predict the movements of the drunks and solicitors at all.
“Hey, miss!” a man called to me. “Wanna work for us?”
“Huh?!” I squeaked, my eyes widening. I clutched my bag.
Before I could say another word, Shinozaki placed an arm around my shoulder and started to lead me through the throng.
“Th-Thank you…” I mumbled.
“Sorry, but let’s walk like this for a while.”
“S-Sure.”
My heart fluttered as he escorted me down the street, our bodies touching. No one else catcalled me, likely assuming I was taken, and we were able to weave through the masses much more smoothly.
I glanced up at Shinozaki.
What do we look like to everyone else? A boss and his dimwitted employee? Though he wouldn’t have his arm around me in that case, right? A couple, then?
Not a chance. He’s way out of my league.
“A popular host strolling with a customer, maybe…?”
“What are you muttering about?” asked Shinozaki.
“Nothing really. I was just wondering how we appear to others.”
“I’d rather not be mistaken for a host scamming a naïve office worker.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “That would be a pretty bad look, huh?”
We eventually reached the club, a row of men in black suits standing guard outside the building. Beyond the entrance, I glimpsed a shimmering marble floor. “W-Wow…”
Upon seeing Shinozaki, one of the bouncers wordlessly led us to the back elevator. The man pressed the button, then bowed his head in solemn farewell.
I trembled like a leaf beside Shinozaki, who seemed perfectly at ease. “Mind if I hold your tail to calm my nerves?”
“Don’t be an idiot,” he retorted.
As the elevator doors slid open, the sight of an extravagant chandelier encrusted with gold, teardrop-shaped jewels greeted me. Everything from the floor to the walls sparkled with a beauty I’d never before witnessed.
I spotted bouncers conferring with the madam, as well as employees in the process of cleaning. Are they still setting up?
The madam wore a kimono, and calico ears peeked from her magnificent, black updo. Her tail, curled at the tip, swayed back and forth as one of the bouncers leaned in to whisper in her ear. She turned to face us, her lips curving into a smile.
“Why, if it isn’t Shino,” she said. “Thank you for always taking care of my girls.”
Shino? Is that a nickname? They didn’t seem close enough to use nicknames. And his given name was Rai, I recalled.
“It’s Shinozaki,” the fox said. “I go by a different name now.”
“Oh, that’s right,” the madam purred. “Sorry for the slipup.”
Shinozaki noticed my confusion. “I’ve had several different names, considering how long I’ve lived. A long time ago, I went by Shino.”
“That makes sense.”
“Akino,” Shinozaki said, turning to her once more. “Are they doing all right today?”
“Yes indeed. That tom, the one who served a line of samurai, is keeping a close watch over them.”
That’s Yoru, I realized.
I bowed my head to the madam. “Nice to meet you,” I said. “My name is Kaede Kikui. The neighborhood council asked me to pose as a hostess in order to prevent another incident. I look forward to working with you.”
Akino pressed a hand against her lush lips. “My, my…” she murmured, her expression thoughtful.
Shinozaki stepped between us. “I won’t let you actually hire her as a hostess,” he warned. “We discussed this earlier, remember?”
Akino pouted. “But why not? She’d be as cute as a button with a little makeover.”
“No means no.”
She tittered. “Well, if you insist.” In spite of her easy surrender, she gave me a suggestive smile. “Hmm… You really are his favorite, aren’t you?”
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