Since Taichi would be traveling on Luke’s back to Arzelun, they decided to depart at night. During the day, someone might spot them, potentially raising a fuss. He knew it would be chilly at night, but with Luke’s warm fur, Taichi was sure he’d be fine.
“All right, I guess it’s time to go. I’m counting on all of you to behave while I’m gone. Hymeria will come by in the morning, so be good for her.”
“You got it!”
“We won’t let you down!”
“We’ll be good.”
While the Cerberus heads each had their own unique response, the Berry Bunnies responded with a collective: “Kree!”
“And if any customers come, we have to entertain them, right?” asked one of the Cerberus heads.
“Uh, yeah. I guess that’s close enough.” From his perspective as a human, the animals were the ones being entertained. However, if the Cerberus enjoyed seeing it the other way around, then that was fine too.
Makes me realize that the cats I played with at the cat café probably thought they were the ones entertaining me. On the other hand, more often than not, they ignored him completely. Compared to them, the Cerberus’s attitude was far more compassionate.
I should buy a bunch of stuff in Arzelun to bring back for them. He was sure they’d love whatever he brought.
Taichi ruffled the Cerberus’s fur, enjoying the feel of its softness on his skin as he told the heads, “Such good boys.”
Luke glowered at him, jealousy plain as day on his face. “We are leaving, aren’t we?” he snapped. “Hurry it up!”
“I know, I know!”
At Luke’s prompting, Taichi snatched up his bag and hooked it over his shoulder, pulling on his jacket over it. He was fully ready. Thanks to his Bottomless Bag, he didn’t have to carry all that much himself, making traveling much easier. He’d basically never traveled when he lived in Japan, but he had to bring a suitcase whenever he had a business trip.
“Kree.” The Berry Bunnies crowded around him as if they were worried. His feet were soon covered in tiny, furry bodies.
Is this heaven? He smiled goofily, imagining how wonderful it would be to add a Forest Cat to his already adorable collection of furry companions.
Luke was glaring daggers again.
“Wh-what?” Taichi said.
“You’re exasperating, smiling to yourself like an idiot!” Luke huffed at him, turning away.
Was I really? I mean, maybe I was. Taichi pressed his fingers to his cheeks and tried to fix his face manually, but it was pointless. He couldn’t help how goofy he got when he was surrounded by furry critters. He was too far gone.
Luke gave him a judgmental look, smacking Taichi in the leg with his tail. “You’re beyond salvation.”
“Aha ha... It’s not my fault. I love all of you.”
“Hmph.” Luke turned the other cheek, even though his tail was spinning. He was probably embarrassed by Taichi’s open show of affection.
“Okay,” said Taichi, “let’s go.”
“Let’s,” agreed Luke.
“Have a safe trip!” the Cerberus heads called after them in unison.
“Kree!”
“We’ll be back before you know it!” Taichi called over his shoulder, his voice overlapping with Luke’s as the wolf similarly said, “We shall return soon.”
Although Fluffy Café sat on the outskirts of the city, it wasn’t as if the area around it was completely deserted. Taichi and Luke had to walk a little ways before Luke could return to his full height, doubling in size. But twice the size meant twice the fluff, which was why Taichi absolutely loved Luke’s original size.
“Come on,” prompted Luke. “Get on. You want to reach the city before the sun starts to rise, don’t you?”
“I think that’d be for the best. You stand out, and I’d prefer to avoid unwanted attention.”
They already drew notice when Luke was compact. If they saw him at full size, there was no telling how people might react. I’m sure there’d be people who would want him for their own ends. Taichi would never allow that.
“I’ll protect you, Luke!” Taichi said, clinging tightly to Luke’s neck.
The wolf sighed at him. “What are you talking about? You are far weaker than I am.”
Taichi pursed his lips and reluctantly mumbled, “You’re right.”
Luke sighed again and grabbed Taichi by the collar, lifting Taichi onto his back. “Let me be the one to protect you.” With that, he kicked off the ground and shot forward, moving at such speed it was as if he was flying, a bright full moon hanging overhead.
To Taichi he looked... So majestic. And he was, despite how prickly he was most of the time.
“This is exactly why you’re my partner. I know I can rely on you,” Taichi said with a smile.
Luke smiled too.
And with that, they were off, traveling to a foreign land to find a Forest Cat.