Eitsu's Nine Lives (永津の九生) [yuri/GL yokai reincarnation story]

14 - Shika

After Chapter 15, I will be taking a two week break to build up the back catalogue and do some edits. Thank you everyone who is reading along and enjoying so far. :3

NSFW

***

Her hand hovered.

She peeked out at Tsubaki again. The dancer hadn't moved, other than the regular in and out of her breath.

One more life. Just one more. She had to find out why...

She transformed back into her cat form. Her senses, already sharp as a human, increased more than tenfold. She could hear people walking along the unseen road, could faintly smell the camellia oil that Tsubaki combed through her hair.

Crickets chirruping in the grass, the cry of some bird in the distance. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Still a little wary, she turned to the fawn-coloured pelt and pressed her nose to it.

*

"Ueki-dono, you have such a cute little daughter. And who is this?"

"This is Shika!"

"Shika-san, nice to meet you."

The man sitting opposite them was dark and handsome. His long fringe was a strange reddish-brown, and he wore black clothes that covered his neck and his hands.

He's the same as me, Eitsu thought. His light brown eye met her gold ones. She could see the fox beneath the human mask. It hid behind nine luxurious white tails, with only his ears and a single eye peeping out.

Why are you hiding, handsome fox?

"How lovely. Would I be able to hold her?"

The little girl who held Eitsu suddenly looked doubtful. "She's mine, oniisan."

"Ino! Rei-sama, I apologise for my daughter-"

"Not at all, not at all. If I had such a lovely kitten, I would be reluctant to give her to anyone myself." He smiled at Eitsu with a strange familiarity.

Ino held her tightly. "She's mine," she repeated stubbornly. Her lower lip began to quiver.

"Ino, go outside and play. I'll convince her later, Rei-sama. I apologise again."

"No, I truly understand. Bye, Ino-chan. Bye, Shika-san."

Ino hurried outside, although Eitsu twisted in her arms and stared at Rei for as long as she could see him. The door slid shut.

"Shika is mine," the little girl sniffed and rubbed her eyes, just about managing to hold on to Eitsu with one arm. "That man wanted to take Shika away."

Eitsu licked the child's face with her rough tongue and purred loudly. Ino clung tighter.

"He can't have you. I don't care how important Tou-san says he is. Let's hide until he goes away."

Ino crept under the house, half a mind on her steadily dirtying clothes, but a stubborn grimace on her face that indicated she was prepared to wear the consequences. It was dark under the house, but they could hear Ino's father and Rei through the floorboards.

"That's a kind offer, Rei-sama. You'll excuse me... what exactly will you be getting out of this?"

"All I ask is to be able to visit every now and then. The air here is soothing. And your daughter's little cat is very precious. I love cats, but due to my circumstances I have not been able to own one."