The nekomata’s eyes widened, confirming my suspicion.
“I talked to you about wanting to live a normal life,” I continued. “You listened to me with such an earnest demeanor that I truly believed you understood my feelings. But as soon as you started pitching the bracelet, your advice stopped hitting the mark. You must have seen other fortune tellers pushing similar bracelets on their clients. You thought that was the only way to secure my spiritual energy. In other words, you were just imitating someone else’s behavior. Am I wrong?”
His tails drooped. While his expression remained stiff, his body betrayed his emotions.
Just like I thought, he’s not evil. He’s a decent person at heart.
“I was so glad you listened to me yesterday,” I said. “This time, I’d like to hear about your circumstances. We don’t have to fight to the death. Is that okay?”
Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching from behind.
The newcomer’s ears formed sharp points, his golden hair shimmering beneath the streetlight. Shinozaki.
How did he know I was here? Did he plant something else in my bag?
“In the past, humans used ayakashi as familiars,” he said, staring at the nekomata and ignoring me. “These days, we ayakashi work in human society. Their need for us is what allows us to stay on the Near Shore.”
“Exactly,” the nekomata replied. “That’s why I set up a booth in Tenjin…”
“I know. So why did you run away that afternoon when I came to scout you?”
The nekomata didn’t answer.
“Ayakashi can travel to the Far Shore,” said Shinozaki. “We don’t have to force ourselves to live in human society. You must have a reason to stay here at the risk of death. Let me guess: you’re still attached to the humans who cared for you, no?”
After a short pause, the nekomata said, “That’s right.”
Then he vomited blood and collapsed to the ground.
“Mr. Cat!” I cried, racing over to him.
He had shrunk into a small, black cat.
“He’s reached his limit,” murmured Shinozaki.
The cat’s chest, illuminated by the streetlights of Ōhori Park, rose and fell laboriously. Shinozaki picked up the tiny creature and handed him to me. The cat curled into a ball in my arms, his ragged breathing relaxing somewhat.
“Being in contact with your overflowing spiritual energy should comfort him,” Shinozaki explained. “It would comfort any ayakashi.”
“Really?” I asked. “Thank goodness I can help.”
“I…” A human voice issued from my arms. “I wanted to protect his house forever.”
Falteringly, the nekomata related his story. For generations, he’d watched over a single family. The practice of keeping shapeshifting cats as familiars was once common, but an age had arrived when people no longer relied on ayakashi. Over time, even those he served forgot that their cat was anything but. Nevertheless, he’d continued to protect the household from a reasonable distance, never forgetting his master.
The house had endured famine, the Meiji Restoration, and two world wars. Yet in the end, it fell to depopulation. The line vanished along with the local village. The nekomata stayed with his final master until the man’s dying hour. Only when he started to starve had he descended to the human settlement of Fukuoka.
Tears spilled from the nekomata’s eyes. “So long as I’m alive… So long as I stay in this world, I can keep watching over their home. The house itself might have rotted away, but so long as I can remain on the land… in the mountains where they sleep…”
I could feel him growing lighter in my arms. “Mr. Cat!” I cried. “Please don’t die, Mr. Cat! Take my spiritual energy! I can do that much for you!”
“No,” interrupted Shinozaki, his voice cold enough to send a shiver down my spine. “Don’t give him your spiritual energy without forming a contract. Humans and ayakashi are fundamentally different beings. Would you offer one of your fingers to a starving beast? Do you think it could resist devouring your entire hand?”
His words froze me to the core. Terror seized me once more, its grasp far tighter than when the nekomata attacked me.
“Then what should I do?” I asked helplessly.
“There is a way to save him,” Shinozaki replied. “Form a temporary master-servant contract with him.”
“Can I even do something like that?”
“The contract need only last until he establishes a place in human society and becomes capable of sustaining his own spiritual energy.” Shinozaki placed his large hand on my shoulder. It was warm, gentle. “You can do this, Kikui. You can use your innate abilities to save this cat.”
The nekomata looked up at me, his body drained of strength.
“I’ll do it,” I said.
“Excellent,” said Shinozaki. “Strengthen your core and repeat after me.”
He whispered in my ear, and I recited, “I command thee in the name and blood of Kaede Kikui. Thou shalt serve as my familiar for as long as I live.”
Warm light shone in my arms as I cradled the nekomata. Golden sparkles rippled through his fur, and his black coat regained its luster. He meowed softly as vitality returned to his weakened form. He actually felt somewhat heavier in my arms, and witnessing his revival in real time sent another chill down my spine.
“Give him a name,” Shinozaki whispered. “Use it to grant him a new life.”
“Um…” I studied the nekomata. “How about Yoru?” His black fur reminded me of the evening sky. What name could’ve suited him better than the Japanese word for night? “Yes, your new name is Yoru!”
He let out another quiet mew before transforming into a human man once more. Then the nekomata—no, Yoru—fell to his knees and bowed deeply. “Thank you so much.”
“No, uh, there’s no need to kowtow like that,” I protested.
“I promise to serve you now and for all eternity.”
“Um… Why not just until you recover? Don’t overdo it on my account, okay?”
Late night shadowed Ōhori Park. I wore a wrinkled business suit. Shinozaki’s blond hair and intense aura made him look like a member of the yakuza. And a young man was pressing his forehead to the ground in front of us.
This is starting to look like an insane crime scene. We need to get out of here.
“Well then,” Shinozaki said smoothly, “we’ll discuss your future living arrangements and job at my office tomorrow.”
I proffered my hand to Yoru.
Clasping it, he stood. “I can’t even begin to thank you.”
“You really don’t have to keep saying that,” I replied.
“How else can I express my gratitude when you’re going to be taking care of me from now on?”
“Wait, what?” I asked, recoiling instinctively. “Are you planning to live with me?”
Yoru cocked his head, puzzled. “What else would I do?”
“Um, I’m not sure how my parents will react to me bringing home a shapeshifting cat.”
“Yoru can stay in my office for the time being,” Shinozaki said, offering me a lifeline. “We can figure it out one step at a time.”
Nodding, Yoru took my hand again and smiled faintly. His face, illuminated by streetlight, had a model-like beauty. Between Shinozaki and Yoru, I was beginning to wonder if all male ayakashi were gorgeous.
“Um… Are you not going to let go of my hand?”
Abruptly, Yoru’s eyes gleamed in ecstasy, and he licked his lips. “Delectable,” he murmured, his fingers intertwining with mine.
“Huh?!” I squawked. “What?!”
“Stop stealing bites of her spiritual energy, no matter how much it’s leaking!” roared Shinozaki, ripping us apart. “We’re done here for tonight! I’ll drive you home, so let’s get a move on!”
I didn’t even consider refusing.
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