Chen's Strange Encounter

Leaping from branch to branch in the Forest of Magic, Chen was feeling something unfamiliar to most felines as she followed the trail of destruction her cats had left behind. It was something humans and weaker beings felt… Started with an S. Shame?

Strangely enough, Yakumo Chen, Shikigami of the Shikigami of the Yokai of Boundaries, was feeling shame. Stumbling onto the wrecked campsite, Chen winced as she saw the limp body of the human. While it was to be expected for a human to die so far from the Human Village and especially in the Forest of Magic, this one could… probably, charitably, may be Chen’s fault. In a sort of slide-y way.

Since… You know, it was Chen’s rampaging cats that had attacked him.

...Maybe he wasn’t dead. Poking the immobile body with a stick, Chen asked, “Are you okay, mister?”

The tails trailing off the knot of the tied tenugui around the man’s head twitched as the not-quite-dead body mumble surprisingly clearly, “Everything feels like painfully mild annoyance and it smells like cat piss everywhere”--The man lifted his head and stopped mumbling to rest his chin on the earth before continuing in the same deadpan--“...It could also be mildly painful annoyance. Either/or really. The cat piss is pervasive though.”

...Chen did not know how to respond to such… How’d Miss Ran say about that one tanuki that said a lot of a bad words that Chen couldn’t repeat? ‘Blunt and honest onslaught of verbosity’. That was it. Chen didn’t know what those words meant, but it made Miss Yukari laugh when Miss Ran ranted about the incident later.

...Well, at least he wasn’t dead. That would’ve been awkward to explain to Miss Ran later.

For lack of a better response, Chen held out the bag the nice lady had given her earlier, “...Sweet potato?”

Looking up balefully, Mister nodded, “Yes, please.”

After Mister had gotten up from his corpselike laydown and sat down, Chen and the Mister had split a sweet potato and were sitting on logs that encircled the smolders of a campfire. Nomming lightly on her sweet snack, Chen mumbled through her mouthful, “So what happened, Mister?”

Hefting a large sigh, the Mister shook his head ruefully, “There was a huge wave of cats.”--point at the clearing, he took an angry chomp at his sweet potato--“Took down my tent, scratched me up, basically made a mess of things.”--He chewed silently for a moment-- “...Ugh, I’m going to have to go to MahoTech again, see if they have another tent or something.”

“...Cats?” Chen asked, a slightly guilty chill running down her spine.

“Mhm, just an absolute tsunami of them. Came from that direction, swarming and yowling. Took down my tent. It was a good tent. Bit musty, but still good! Kept the rain and wind out,” The Mister clasped his hands together in prayer, “...Came-tent, you shall be missed.” Then he took a bite out of the sweet potato.

THere was a bit of silence that went on a bit too long. As casual as possible, Chen commented idly, “Oooooh, that’s saaaaaad.”

The Mister raised an eyebrow as he munched, “They wouldn’t happen to be yours, eh?”

“...Noooooo?” Chen stared slightly to the left of the Mister’s accusing stare.

The eyebrow lowered as the other one went up. Reaching over to flick Chen’s head, the Mister sighed, “Pro tip from a veteran ass kisser, looking away shiftily is practically confessing. Doubly so if you drawl it out like sooooooooo.”

“Sorry,” Chen shifted guiltily.

“It’s fine. I’m sure you can call them off, right?”

Chen’s twin tails flicked to and fro. Maybe if she didn’t say anything...

“...Hm, that might be a problem then,” Mister commented idly. He was… annoyingly perceptive.

Lowering her head, Chen pulled her green mob cap down and moaned, “Oh, Miss Ran is going to be so angry at me.”

“Indeed,” the Mister agreed bluntly, not even attempting to comfort. “You wouldn’t happen to be Chen, right? Chen Yakumo.”

Tilting her head to one side, Chen wondered, “How’d you know, Mister?”

“I’m a hermit. It’s part of my hermit powers,” Mister answered blandly.

Chewing her lip, Chen tried to remember Miss Ran’s lectures on hermit-sages. Hermits-sages were weird humans who went and hid from the officials of hell, training their mystical powers so that they could fight off… Chen couldn’t remember if it was the Yama, Kishin, or Oni they fought. Wait, weren’t kishin just special types of Oni? Chen felt that she should know this since a lot of her spellcards were based around the Kishin.

...Whatever, Chen figured she could ask Miss Ran later. Important thing was that hermit-sages were humans who did hide and seek so that they could get magical powers. Also immortal. They were powerful and should be respected.

In Chen’s opinion though, A forest didn’t seem like a good place to hide from the

“I thought you guys lived in caves?” Chen wondered aloud.

“...Oh you are too cute,” Mister cackled, the first sound that didn’t sound mildly sarcastic or intensely dead, “Nah, I’m not a real hermit. I just find people weird and awkward, so I stay out here in the forest. Just… chilling and vibing with the trees.”

“Then how’d you know?” Chen asked, eyes wide in surprise. Mister was a weird human if he dared to live in the Forest of Magic.

““I just heard rumors and stories about your family,” Mister answered, working on peeling the skin off of his sweet potato, “One thing constant for all sapient beings is the love for gossip.”

“That makes--” Chen cut off the thought as something caught her attention, “Family?”

“Yeah?” Mister nodded, munching on the newly revealed flesh of his snack, “You’re part of the Yakumo family, right?”

Scowling, Chen stood up and placed her hands on her hips. She wasn’t just some kid to be coddled. She was Chen Yakumo! She was a strong bakaneko. Stomping her foot twice to get Mister’s full attention, Chen declared, “I am Miss Ran’s Shikigami! And she is Miss Yukari’s Shikigami! So I am the Shikigami of the Shikigami of Miss Yukari!”

“And you’re a family right?” Mister nodded, irritatingly unmoved by Chen’s clarification, “Like, they take care of you and teach you stuff, right?”

Chen crossed her arms and huffed, “Yeah, but that’s only so I can be a good shikigami! Not a family! Families are for weak humans like you!” Chen didn’t know why she was so angry at this insinuation, but… she wasn’t weak. She was strong and she was going to help Miss Ran find the FOol with a Voice, and this stupid human wasn’t going to baby her.

“If you say so,” Mister placated, patting her head. Ooh, that was a good spot. He should--

Back off! Batting the hand away, Chen hissed, “I’m not some pet cat!I am a youkai!”

Irritatingly, the Mister was unphased, “And I am a human. Your point?” Then he had the audacity to reach out and flick Chen’s nose.

All right, that was it. Summoning her magic to her claws, Chen blinked forward to hold her claws, Chen smiled darkly, “Humans fear youkai!”--letting her claws draw blood from the humans throat, Chen hissed--“Do you fear me now?”

Chen waited for a response. She waited a while before she noticed that she was suddenly a good distance away from the human, crouched down and bristling. Why were her tails lashing as if she was scared? Chen licked her dry lips as she finally noticed the pressure in the clearing. Or the lack of pressure?

They were going to fight, right? Why did it feel as if the tension was draining away now? Why did it feel like he was giving up? Why did she...

...Why did it feel as if the world was dying? She felt… so alone now. Chen blinked as her vision wavered. Then she felt the ground against her cheek as her body wavered. Chen felt her desire to fight fade, her desire to be something disappear, she felt something important inside her become silent. She felt as if she was drowning, her heart palpitating in despair as she tried to scream for help, scream for Miss Ran to find her, scream for anyone to find her.

...but she couldn’t hear herself, she couldn’t hear anything. There was nothing in this world now. Nothing at all.

Chen tried to get up, but… What was the point? She was alone. So alone. There was nothing but Ash and Dust now, and she had been wandering so long, searching for someone, something, anyone, anything. Why was she still wandering on this ruined earth? Why was she the only one left?

Why? Why? WHY!? WHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHY!?

...why….

Then the ennui disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. Chen blinked as a hand rested on her cheek, helping guide her back to reality. Licking her lips, Chen wondered why she could taste wet salt. Why was she crying?

...What just happened?

“Sorry about that, Chen. Didn’t filter that transmission as well as I’d like. You’ll be fine hopefully,” the Mister smiled sadly, two mirrors orbiting behind him as if they were the two points of the yin and yang. Both mirrors shone on Chen, but seemed to be doing different things. THe white mirror seemed to be absorbing something from Chen while the black mirror seemed to be sending something to her.

As Chen sat up and tried to get her breathing back to normal, the Mister took a few cautious steps back, giving her space but still hovering just in case. He whispered a few commands to what were apparently his familiars.

Chen shivered as the mirrors stopped shining down on her. She couldn’t remember anything from just now. Normally, she’d be angry and worried, but… she didn’t want those memories and so she was thankful for the mirrors for dampening the memories.

The young bakaneko was glad that Mister was here. She wasn’t alone. There were trees bristling in the wind, there was the sound of insects and birds. Mister was there and she was here and Chen wasn’t alone. That was important to know and remember. That Chen wasn’t alone and the world wasn’t empty.

Eventually, Chen looked at Mister with cautious curiosity in her eyes. That had to have been a spellcard, right? But… there was no declaration and… Chen didn’t know what to think, but… Mister was definitely strong. Also, definitely a hermit-sage.

The weird hermit-sage looked up at the sky as he admitted blandly, “...There’s more than one reason why I live out here by myself.”

“I want a Danmaku, Mister!” Chen snapped. So what if he was strong, Chen just had to be stronger, face her fears or something. The Mister didn’t get to be sad about hurting her. It was a Danmaku battle. He didn’t get to be sad because… Chen didn’t know what the words were, but Chen was angry.

Mister raised an eyebrow. That just made Chen angrier.

“I don’t know what kind of thing you did, but I’m Chen Yakumo! Shikigami of the Shikigami of Miss Yukari!” Chen swallowed thickly, “I don’t run from nothing! And you already started it with your weird spellcard.”

“...Well, I suppose I do owe you something after accidentally traumatizing you. Again, I’m really sorry about that.” Mister nodded. Taking the last bite of his sweet potato and tossing the remnants to the side, Mister stood up and settled into a stance,“For stakes… how about if I win, you admit you’re a family?”

Chen nodded, biting her cheek to focus past the weird sadness that kept on tickling the back of her mind, “You lose, you help me with the cats! And keep it a secret!”

“I won’t talk about it if I’m asked about it nor will I willing disclose it, but you ask the impossible for keeping the cats a secret. It’s already out of the bag, so to speak.”

Mister was probably right about that, but Chen didn’t care. She wasn’t going to let this weird sadness settle in her heart, so she was going to fight.

[KISHIN: SOARING IDATEN]

Coating herself in the story of Idaten, the swift-footed guardian deity of Buddhism, Chen dashed forward with her claws out.

Win or lose, Chen refused to let despair defeat her.

---

It was a short Danmaku which was… really annoying. It was barely an exchange. Trying to end it quickly had been a mistake on Chen’s part. Dashing in, Chen thought it was a speed that no human could see, and she was right since Mister had taken the attack headon.

Unfortunately for her, it was on purpose. Chen’s claws had bit into flesh, but it was on the forearms that Mister had held up as a block. No real damage, and it put her in a bad position. Before Chen could withdraw and retreat, Mister had twirled his forearms, twisting her wrist painfully. When Chen had jerked her arms back to try and escape, Mister had pivoted in, moving behind her already and grabbed her stomach. Then with a might heave, Mister arched backwards into a painful slam.

Chen didn’t know why he had shouted suplex as he did so, but she was pretty sure that wasn’t a spellcard. Unfortunately for her, it didn't’ matter since it had dazed her long enough for Mister to put her into an armlock, twisting her right arm painfully so that any movement to escape put pressure into her right shoulder.

“Please surrender,” Mister sighed, annoyingly poised and not even a bit winded. Chen was wheezing from having the air slammed out of her lungs, and Mister was just leaning on her arm painfully, talking as if he was a disappointed Miss Ran. The asshole.

Chen scowled, and forced her right palm into a claw shape. If she angled her palm just right, she could bla--

She yelped as Mister placed just a bit more weight onto her arm, causing it to twinge painfully. “You’re pinned, and the Ungaikyo have their sights trained on you. You could fire something pointblank, I can sense you gathering energy to your palm right now, but… I’d rather not break your arm. I’m not strong enough for mercy, sadly.”

If she could twist her head to glare, Chen would have. Not strong enough for mercy her second tail. Chen had barely gotten to fire off one spellcard after that unnamed spellcard had her down.Chen thought about setting off the blast anyways, just to annoy him, but… she sighed and let the energy disperse. No sense in getting hurt. She still had to fix the cat problem.

Slumping in relief, Mister let Chen’s arm go, murmuring, “Thank you. That was a good spellcard you used, sorry that I didn’t let you do more after that.”

Rolling away, Chen burst up into a ready position, just in case Mister decided to change his mind and attack again.

...He didn’t. Annoyingly, Mister had set his attention to tidying up the remnants of his campsite, even leaving his back open for Chen to attack. It made an annoying amount of sense to Chen though. He was strong enough to not care about her attacks, and while Chen didn’t know if he was doing it on purpose to mock her or just didn’t care, showing his back was definitely a… What’d Miss Yukari call it? A power move. Yeah, this was a power move, showing off his seemingly defenceless back.

Chen really wanted to kick him, but no doubt Mister would do some weird hermit-sage thing and Chen would be down again.

Finding a rock to sit on, Chen glared as she tried to figure out Mister.

She didn’t like losing, but… Mister was strong, strong enough to have gone easy on her. In a way, it felt like sparring with Miss Ran where Chen was allowed to get a few hits in to try and learn how to fight. Weirdly enough, that made Chen felt better despite losing. Mister was just strong. Not as strong as Miss Ran, of course, but close enough. Chen was never going to win, so she was still strong, still good. The weird sadness was mostly gone now anyways, and Chen felt good that she was strong enough to give Mister a decent workout.

Ignore the fact that Mister took her down in one move and technically no sepllcards, the cheater.

She didn’t feel bad about losing to him at all. Mister obviously wasn’t human. Chen didn’t know why he was pretending to not be a hermit-sage, but… maybe he didn’t want to be. Aside from the first super-sad and super-strong spellcard that he never announced, the cheater, Mister had strove to end the fight as fast as possible. So Chen wasn’t sad about losing, just annoyed. She was still the Shikigami of the Shikigami of Miss Yukari, and Chen deserved to be with them, especially after she fixed the cat thing.

...Mister sure was mysterious though, and Chen wanted to know more.

Laying out the largest piece of fabric he could find, the remnants of his tent, Mister commented idly as he began packing his items, “So your family…”

Chen crossed her arms and huffed, “Not a family.”

“I won, remember?”

Chen pouted. Okay, nope. It was irritating to have lost to Mister. He wasn’t even the right sort of smug. He should be ‘hahaha! I won’ so Chen could hate him. Not this ‘sorry about winning, are you okay?’ kind of sad. Chen didn’t want the pity.

“Well, if that’s the hill you want to fight over, fine, you’re not a family,” Mister shrugged, accepting Chen’s wishes. It irritated her. That was exactly what she found annoying, “I will, instead, take another sweet potato for winning the danmaku.”

Chen held out the bag of sweet potato obligingly. Surprisingly, it hadn’t been touched at all in the whole… well, it couldn’t really be called a battle with how short it was, but Chen was going to call it a battle anyways.

“...Is it really okay?” Mister asked, hesitantly reached out.

“You won! Just take them already,” Chen snapped. A winner should act like a winner, damn it.

Reaching into the bag, Mister smiled softly as he peeled the potato. Taking a bit and munching on it, he moaned in delight, “Thanks!  I’m really hungry, and these are really good. Where’d you get them?”

“The red and orange sisters on the road,” Chen scowled. Why did Mister have to be so weirdly nice?

“Oh, the Aki sisters! Huh, I’ll have to get more from them then. Thanks for letting me know” the Mister sighed, patting Chen’s head. It felt annoyingly good.

Then she realized what was happening, and grew angry, nipping at the hand. Was it smart? No. Did it make the bakaneko feel better? Yes.

“Ow,” the Mister stated blandly, taking the hand back slowly and shaking it, “...Are you having a rough day? It feels like you’re having a rough day.”

Chen growled, not deigning to respond. Let him figure it out.

“You’re having a rough day.,” the Mister nodded, answering his own question, “Anyways, your family--”

“Not a family!”

“Yeah, yeah, you little munchkin,” Mister tousled Chen’s head, withdrawing her hand to fast for her to nip at it again, “Anyways, why can’t you just ask them for help? I mean, Yukari-sama should be able to help in a snap, unless she’s on her winter nap earlier than usual. More like a fall nap considering the season. A fap if you will. Wait nope, ruined it.”--Mister rubbed the back of his head self-consciously, grinning blandly-- “But even then, Ran is a kitsune, a nine-tailed one. She absolutely would be able to help. Is there a reason why you’re not asking them?”

“Why should I tell you!?”

“You don’t,” Mister said easily, “But I want to help. Makes me feel good about myself, you know, you know.”

“So it’s a pride thing?” Chen asked. Mister was so confusing. He did this, but acted like that; said this, but felt like that. Chen just wanted him to make sense.

“Kinda sorta. Just feels nice to help. Altruism is a lovely lie that’s starved many. Being nice makes me feel good and powerful, so I’m going to help.”

Chen frowned. That phrase just now… that way of speaking felt familiar.  Why did it feel familiar? Before she could tease the thought out any further, CHen found herself lying on her stomach on the ground. Then before she could try and get up, something heavy sat on her back.

“Oof!” Chen wriggled, “Get off of me!”

SPeaking with his mouth full, Mister chuckled, “If you don’t tell me, I’m just going to keep on sitting on you while I do my thing. Technically, it’s your fault the whole cat stampede happened, and I’d be doing a public service for preventing you from making things worse.”

Mister was… She really shouldn’t swear. Miss Ran didn’t like swearing. BUt Mister was a butthead. WHy did he act so sage-like, but then go kiddie!?

Wriggling some more, Chen realized that Mister was being serious about his threat. She idly debated trying to attack him again, but… Mister was strong and… Chen had to listen.

“...They’re strong. Miss Yukari controls Boundaries, Miss Ran’s a nine-tailed kitsune, and I’m just… I’m just me,” Chen scowled, grinding her hands into fists, “But I’m a shikigami of the shikigami of the strongest youkai. I’m strong! I have to be! And I can help! I have to show that I can help!”

“But you’re not helping right now?” “My campsite is really destroyed, and I just beat you. I don’t think you did anything useful so far.”

Chen remained silent as she felt wetness well up in her eyes. The weird sadness was back. Stupid Mister, using that weird spellcard again. ...It didn’t feel like the same sadness though. She didn’t feel alone; Chen just felt scared? Sad? Chen thought of Miss Ran’s disappointed face, and…

“...I can’t let Miss Ran know that I messed up this bad.” Chen wriggled some more, frantically struggling to escape and do something, “...I got to find them! I’m sure if I find them, I can get them to stop!” It was getting hard to see right now, but Chen had to leave. She had to fix this.

She shouldn’t have tried to fight Mister. She shouldn’t have tried to let the cats out. She shouldn’t have tried to help. Chen… Chen wasn’t strong at all. She just… She just messed up and was a stupid bakaneko.

“Are you… oh shit, you’re crying.”

“No, I’m not!” Chen hissed, wiping at her eyes furiously.

“...Geez, now you’re making me feel bad…”

She continued to wriggle, struggling to escape, until she felt a hand gently place itself on her head. Rubbing softly, Mister admitted, “I don’t think there’s stopping any of this.”

….Chen should have swatted the hand away. It wasn’t right for a Shikigami to like headpats, especially from her captor. Mister was her enemy, and she shouldn’t be leaning into the nice, soft, comforting headpats.

...Chen buried her face in her arms and cried. The headpats felt nice, really nice, and helped with the sadness. Miss Ran always said to take care of yourself, and Chen was having a horrible, no good, very bad day right now. So she would take a few headpats before Miss Ran found her and kicked her out for being a stupid cat and messing up and--

Chen just cried.

“...Eeyup, definitely went too far here.” Chen heard Mister murmur before she felt the weight lift off her back, setting her free. Chen remained on the ground limply though. What was the point of trying if she just kept on messing up?

Even as she was picked up by her armpits to face Mister, Chen stayed limp.

“Uh… I am going to hug you now?” Mister asked.

Chen didn’t bother to respond. Mister was stronger than her… What even was the point now?

Mister sighed, and enveloped her. There was the faint scent of cat pee, but… underneath that was ash, smoldering ash that was bitter and grieving, but… somehow soft too with the smell that comes after rain, petrichor. Mister smelled like grief turning into something hopeful.

...Mister gave nice hugs. Firm and solid, but not too tight, just enough to let her feel hidden and safe. Chen buried her face into his chest and cried some more, sniffling.

After a while, the hug loosened. “Feel better?”

Wiping her face, Chen nodded as she wriggled away and sat on her rock again. She didn’t want to look at Mister’s face nor did she want him to see her face.

When he took a seat behind her though, Chen didn’t try and chase him away and they sat in companionable silence.

“We can try and fix this, I guess,” Mister offered, “I’ll go and warn people about the cats, so they can prepare.”

“Can you not tell Miss Ran though?” Chen pleaded. It was weird to ask someone whom she tried to beat up, who had pinned her twice, and then helped her through… three cries, but… Mister seemed trustworthy for some reason.

“I think trying to hide this will only make things worse, munchkin. Lies are temporary. What you can do is try and fix it and show that you’re learning, trying your best, you know you know.” “Show truth with actions. Or sincerity. Something cheesy like that.”

“...But what if it’s not enough?” Chen asked, whirling around to talk to Mister’s back, “What if she doesn’t forgive me? It’s a mess, a real big mess!” I broke the barrier for no reason then!”

“...Chen, there are some things that are unforgivable, but this? Messing up? I’m sure it will be forgotten as soon as it’s done and be forgiven just as easily. Just… be honest. I’m sure Miss Ran will forgive you,” Keeping his back to her, Mister tossed a piece of paper towards her, “Here. A letter. Go find the San-Yousei T in the living tree that billows smoke. Tell them Boss-man sent you. They’ll help you find those cats, ‘kay?”

Che sniffled. Wiping her nose quickly, she scowled. Why was she so weep-y today? And why was Mister still so nice? ”But… I lost the Danmaku.”

“And I won. And as victor, I’ve decided to help. Also, I feel really bad about the whole broadcasting-my-trauma to you thing. Really sorry about using you as a guinea pig. Do you remember it?”

Wait, was that why she was so weep-y? Because of Mister’s spellcard? SHe knew Mister was cheating! Spellcards were supposed to be temporary! ...Or maybe not? Chen regretted not studying when Miss Ran told her to.

Putting that thought off to the side, Chen shook her head, “No?” She remembered being sad and scared about being alone which didn’t make sense since Chen wasn’t alone at all.

“Hm… I think you already forgot most of the memories I transmitted, but the emotions are definitely staying. Full disclosure, you may have minor depression and have short bursts of melancholy every now and then. You are definitely going to be more emotional than usual for a while. Again, I’m really sorry about that,” still not facing her, Mister tossed something else at her, “Here, wipe your face with the handkerchief. You can do this, all right? You’re Chen Yakumo! Shikigami of the Shikigami of the Youkai of Boundaries!”

“...Yeah!” Chen cheered, “Thanks, mister!” SO what if she messed up!? She could still fix this.

“Why’d you send those cats out anyways?”

“Miss Yukari told Miss Ran to look for the Fool with a Voice, but Miss Ran can’t seem to find him, so I told my cats to go do that! To help! ....They don’t listen very well though.”

“...Eh, they’re cats, just like you,” MIster shrugged, “Irascible, chaotic, but ultimately, they’re trying their best, just like you are. Why do you listen to Miss Ran and MIss Yakumo?”

“Because they’re strong!”

“And why do you stay?”

“...Huh?” Chen tilted her head to the side.

“Just now, we had a fight, right?” Renku said, holding his hands out as if they were scales, “You win, I don’t call the Yakumos a family. You didn’t, so I get to call them a family.”

“We’re--” Chen trails off at Renku’s raised eyebrow. “...I guess, technically, we’re a family.”

“I’ll take it.” MIster nodded after pursing his lips in annoyance,“Anyways, “Miss Ran and Miss Yukari are powerful. People listen to them, yokai and human alike because of their strength. What’s the difference between me and them in relation to you though?”

Chen cocked her head.

“We’re both stronger than you, but you won’t listen to me even after that Danmaku we just had.”--Not true! Chen had good ears! She could hear Mister just fine--”You respect them, but not me.  You lov-- You’re loyal to them and not me. Why?”

Chen was quiet as she thought hard about Mister’s question. Why was she loyal to them? Actually, why wouldn’t she be loyal to them? Miss Ran and Miss Yukari were… Miss Ran and Miss Yukari! They were just strong and there and Chen knew she could trust them. But… why?

“Think about why you follow them, why you want to make them proud and happy,” Mister snapped his fingers, “And then you’ll start figuring out how to get cats to listen.”

Rubbing her chin for a bit, Chen’s eyes flashed open with realization. “I have to give them food and water! And toys! Like Miss Ran does for me!”

“...Close enough. You sure about this? Trying to fix it yourself? It’s probably going to get worse before it gets better, and it might be safer to just wait it out.”

“Of course I am, Mister!” Chen nodded. She was going to fix this and prove once and for all that she deserved to stand beside Miss Ran and Miss Yukari. It was just… going to be hard.

“...Do you really think I can get the cats to listen to me?”

“Of course not. They’re cats,” Mister pointed out.

Chen sighed. That seemed about right.

She flinched when Mister snapped his fingers under her nose. He ignored Chen’s scowl as he smiled gently, “But I think you can get them to follow and help you. Just like you follow and help Miss Ran, right?”

“Right!” Chen nodded. Then deflated, “...But what if Miss Ran doesn’t… care about me anymore!? I messed up real bad and all the cats are just everywhere!”

“Messing up because you’re trying to help feels hella bad, but you’re young, you can learn from your mistakes. You can always learn from your mistakes.”

“I’m a yokai, Mister!” Chen scowled. She was old enough to have her tail split in two, “I’m not young at all!”

“And I’m a hermit. Hermit trumps yokai in weird wisdom and mental age. Now go find the San-Yousei Actually, Luna’s working right now, so go find the Ni-Yousei. Star Sapphire should be able to help you find those cats. Keep the handkerchief,” Mister chuckled as he tossed her a piece of paper. Catching it, Chen found that it was a map. “Remember, green tree with smoke coming out. Can’t miss it. Hopefully.”

“Okay! Thanks Mister!” Chen smiled brightly, quickly remembering the path. She then hopped up onto the tree branches, jumping quickly in search for her helpers.

Chen Yakumo, Shikigami of the Shikigami of the Yokai of Boundaries, was off to fix her mistake! And nothing was going to stop her!

...Aw shucks, she forgot to ask for Mister’s name. That was okay though, Chen would just remember later to tell Mister had a redeemable favor from the second strongest shikigami of the Yakumo Family!