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“Cats sure are lucky,” Lumine sighed enviously, watching a pair of sunbathing felines curl up in the courtyard. “Don’t you think, Paimon?”
Her companion disagreed. “Paimon is a much better travel buddy.” The tiny being peered suspiciously at Lumine. “You’re not thinking of replacing Paimon, are you?”
“No,” giggled Lumine. “I’m jealous of the cats because sometimes I want to be one too. It’d be nice to laze about all day, doing whatever I like whenever I like.”
“And people would feed you yummy treats just because you’re cute!” Paimon added, wiggling happily. Suddenly, Paimon stopped and grumbled, “But no one gives Paimon food for being adorable.”
Lumine playfully poked Paimon in the tummy. “It’s just as well, or you’d be too heavy to float anymore.”
“Nuh-uh,” said Paimon, shaking her head. “Floating takes a lot of energy. Paimon has a very high metabolism.”
Stretching, Lumine yawned slightly. “I’d just like a nice lap to curl onto and have my head petted, you know?”
“Not really,” Paimon said, shrugging.
“It sounds like you’re in need of some pampering,” chuckled a sultry voice. Lumine stiffened, immediately unsettled. Yae Miko gracefully turned the corner, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Is our dear Traveler wearied from the day’s labors?”
“I have had some taxing commissions lately,” Lumine admitted.
“Perhaps you need to unwind,” the kitsune suggested. “You could be my pet for the day. I’d treat you well.”
Trying not to cringe at the thought, Lumine politely refused. “Surely Guuji Yae has more pressing business to attend to.”
The sly shrine maiden laughed. “Oh, I always have time for entertainment.”
Lumine suppressed a shudder. “No thank you. I’ll have to content myself with imagining what a day as a cat would be like instead.”
Disappointed at Lumine’s rebuff, Yae Miko pouted. “Very well. I’ll seek fun elsewhere.”
“Can I help you with anything else, Guuji Yae?” Lumine asked, wanting to soothe the vixen’s ruffled fur.
“No, no,” she replied, waving her hand. “Run along, dear. I’m sure you can find some other poor soul in dire straits to assist.”
Lumine bowed respectfully. “All right. Have a good day, Guuji.”
A cunning smile stretched across Yae Miko’s face. “I shall.”
With trepidation at those parting words, Lumine walked down the steps leading away from the shrine. She felt the hairs on her neck prickle. “Yae Miko was really weird, huh?” Paimon observed.
“She’s up to something,” Lumine agreed. Looking back up at the shrine, Lumine fearfully wondered, “But what?”
*
Yawning widely, Lumine stretched luxuriously on the bed. “What a lovely nap,” she thought. “I must have been more tired than I realized.” She rolled onto her back, curling her toes. “I don’t feel as stiff today. I must have rested well.” When she attempted to sit up, Lumine noticed a problem.
“W-what happened to me?” she tried to yell. What escaped her mouth was a loud yowl.
The door opened and Thoma stuck his head in. “Hey, there, kitty,” he greeted. “You must have snuck in when the Traveler left this morning.” He frowned. “Funny, though. I didn’t hear her leave.”
“It’s me, Thoma!” Lumine tried to say. The cat meowed plaintively.
He went over to the bed and let her sniff his fingers. “There, there,” he soothed, scratching her chin. “Come with me to the kitchen and I’ll feed you.” Against her will, Lumine found herself purring at his touch. “Friendly, aren’t you?” he said, smiling. “I see why Lumine let you in. You resemble her a bit, I think.” He gently touched the white star on her forehead, smiling.
Lumine meowed again, annoyed.
“All right, all right,” Thoma said, laughing. “Let’s get you breakfast, little lady.”
Inwardly, Lumine growled. “When I get ahold of that tricky fox, I’m going to claw her eyes out until she turns me back!”
*
It took longer than she anticipated to escape Thoma’s kind custody. She seized her opportunity when he was elected to run an errand to Tenshukaku. Lumine slipped out the door behind him and headed to the mountain. Stubbornly, Lumine climbed her way up to Narukami shrine, finding herself exhausted about halfway up.
Resting on a stone step, Lumine heard snickering in the trees. She hissed at the sound.
Yae Miko emerged from the woods, hiding her Cheshire grin with her intricate fan. “My, my, what do we have here? A poor stray has wandered far from home and gotten lost on the mountain.”
Lumine growled at the kitsune.
“Temper, temper,” she tsked, laughing. “I don’t know why you’re so angry. Weren’t you saying yesterday how you’d like to be a cat?”
Despite the distance between them, Lumine swiped at Yae Miko with her new claws.
“There’s no need to be testy,” the vixen soothed, chuckling. “It’s only temporary. The spell should fade within a day or two. In the meantime, enjoy your enlightened state. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.”
“What about Paimon?” Lumine tried to ask, her fur bristling with fury. A low warning yowl escaped her mouth instead.
“By now you’ve discovered that you’re completely a cat and therefore incapable of communicating your situation to others.” Yae Miko paused, tapping her mouth with her fan. “Well, there is one who could help you, but unfortunately she’s very busy today with a slew of sudden deliveries to Sumeru.” The trickster tsked again. “A pity. She could have resolved this difficulty for you.”
Lumine hissed again.
“Fret not, your loud companion is currently occupied with a challenge of her own. She’s perfectly safe, but she cannot help you until she’s overcome her own difficulty.” Yae Miko bent over and attempted to pick Lumine up.
The cream-colored cat bit at her, refusing to allow the vixen near.
“Have it your way. I was going to be nice and bring you back to the Kamisato Estate, but since you’re being stubborn, I’ll let you make it back on your own. Please stop by the shrine when you’ve returned to yourself. I do require feedback to improve my skills.” She sauntered off, quickly disappearing into the thick brush of the trees.
Dejected and exhausted, Lumine curled into a miserable ball on the step and covered her face with her paws. She began purring to soothe herself, but it only served to worsen her mood. “Now what?” she wondered sourly. A clap of thunder broke above. Lumine shivered. “Great,” she thought sarcastically. “Just what I need; a storm.”
*
Soggy from the downpour, Lumine slowly padded through the forest. Her paws ached. She sneezed. A pathetic mew squeaked past her lips. “If only I could find a familiar face to help me.” Lumine berated herself for foolishly leaving the Kamisato grounds. “I should have stayed put and found another way to communicate my predicament.” Another tiny mew called out through the hush of fir trees.
Her ears flicked back, picking up the sound of footsteps. She crouched, trying to make herself smaller. The last thing she wanted was for a stray hilichurl or rogue nobushi stumbling across her. “Strange,” said a male voice. “I could have sworn I heard a cat.”
Peeking out from the underbrush, Lumine sniffed the air. The tang of ozone and blood mingled with the salt of the ocean. “I know this smell.” Carefully, she crept forward more, hoping to glimpse the man she’d heard. Her whiskers warned her of movement to her left.
Lumine darted forward to the next hiding spot, only to be snatched from the ground by a pair of gloved hands. She squirmed, trying to break free. The hands held her firmly to a warm body.
“Hold still, will you?” said the exasperated voice. “I’m trying to dry you off.”
Water swirled in the palm of one hand, siphoning all moisture off Lumine’s drenched fur. Understanding the owner’s intention, she settled down.
“That’s better.” A finger stroked alongside her cheek. “I wasn’t expecting to find a cat, of all things, out here. Did the storm scare you away from home?”
Lumine sneezed. “Cold, huh? Let me help.” The jacket underneath was unbuttoned and refastened around her so that she could absorb the man’s body heat. “Let’s take you back to town. Maybe someone there can identify you.”
Softly, Lumine mewed. “You know, you’re lucky I found you. I only came to Chinju to find a bake-danuki to photograph. I wanted to show them to my family.” Had she been less tired and confused, she would have been able to identify the person holding her. As it was, she could only snuggle against her savior, thankful that he was kind. His steady gait lulled her to sleep and she did not wake until the morning.
*
The scent of baking fish tickled her nose. Lumine cracked one eye open, studying her surroundings. Sunlight filtered through a window, lighting up a small but clean room. “Awake now, are we?” said the voice from last night.
Lumine lifted her head, flexing her front claws. “Aww.” A finger slipped under her claws, allowing her to rest the hooks against his flesh. “What a good apex predator you are,” he cooed. “Such a dainty, beautiful killer.”
For the first time, Lumine properly looked at her rescuer. She immediately jumped back, her fur bristling.
“Did I startle you?” he asked, apologetic. “I’m sorry. I simply couldn’t resist your deadly charms.”
“Childe!” Lumine exclaimed, startled. “Meowww,” she said instead.
“Come here,” he beckoned. “I went fishing. I think you’ll like your selections today.”
Warily, Lumine approached a plate of fish, sniffing the fillet. She poked at the meat with her paw, examining it.
“It’s fresh,” Childe said, trying to entice the cat into eating. “And you need to regain your strength after yesterday.”
Despite her unease, Lumine couldn’t deny that she needed sustenance. Gingerly, she bit into the offering. A light purr vibrated in her throat.
“Good girl,” he said, reaching to stroke her back.
She shrank away from his hand, forgetting how only last night she had rested in his arms.
“Hey,” Childe soothed. “You have nothing to fear from me.”
Reluctantly, Lumine permitted him to pet her while she ate. When she finished filling her belly, Lumine darted under the table.
“You’re awfully skittish. I’m beginning to think you aren’t someone’s pet.” Childe crouched to her level, trying to see her better. “You have such a lovely cream-colored coat, though, and it looks well cared for.” He smiled. “You remind me of someone I know; a fighter like you.”
Unblinkingly, Lumine stared at him. “He couldn’t be talking about me, right?”
Groaning faintly as he stood, Childe mumbled, “Well, it wouldn’t hurt to keep you while I’m still visiting.”
“Yes, it would!” Lumine protested silently. “I have to leave before I change back!” She began to creep along the edge of the room towards the door.
“I think I’ll call you Lumi,” said Childe, scooping her up from the ground and holding her close.
“No, you won’t!” Writhing, Lumine attempted to escape his grip. She opened her mouth to bite his hand, only to find that he had gently closed her jaws shut with his thumb and finger.
“Calm down, feisty one!” He chuckled. “You really are like her.”
Taken aback, Lumine paused to consider, “Was that a twinge of longing in his voice?” She shook her head fiercely, attempting to knock his hand off. “It couldn’t be. He can’t possibly…miss me, right?”
“Listen, Lumi,” Childe said, still firmly keeping her in place. “I’m only here for a few days. I’ll feed you and care for you during that time. After that, you can go back to how you usually live. Sound good?”
Lumine’s tail lashed back and forth.
He laughed. “No deal, huh? What if I told you that even I get lonely and want some form of company? Would that change your mind?”
Again, Lumine stopped struggling. She considered the alternative, which was to wander through town as a stray for another day or two. “Even if I was lucky enough to find one of my friends, there’s no guarantee they’d help a random cat,” she mused. “And even though I don’t necessarily trust Childe, I’m not exactly myself. I don’t think I need to fear him in this state.”
Noticing her calm, Childe asked, “Do we have a deal?”
Somewhat reluctantly, Lumine relaxed against him. He removed his hand from her mouth slowly. Childe praised her again, scratching around her ears. Lumine leaned into his touch, enjoying the sensation. She purred, louder than before.
“You like that, huh?”
Lumine nudged her head against his fingertips, trying to encourage him to continue.
Chuckling, he said, “All right, all right. I can take a hint.”
Sitting her down on the bed, he settled beside her. As he scratched her head, Childe rambled about his time in Inazuma. “I hoped to see Lumine while I was here. I’d heard she had stopped in town, but no one has seen her since yesterday.” He sighed. “Maybe it was a quick trip? I would have liked to see her before I go home. I’m to be permanently stationed elsewhere now that my assignment has changed.” His fingers stilled, settling tenderly on her head. “I know we have an unusual situation, but I hope she has grown to see me as a friend since we last met in that strange place. I like her. I shouldn’t, because of my position and my loyalties. And yet…”
Lumine looked up at him, confused. “You like me? The last time we saw each other, we fought and then you said something cryptic before leaving to find the Balladeer. How can you like me? We’ve only communicated through weapons.” A small chirp trilled through her lips.
Childe smiled. “You’re a good listener, Lumi.” He patted her head. “I’m going out to buy a few things. Behave while I’m gone.”
To her surprise, he bent to kiss the white star on her forehead. Lumine backed away, glaring at him. Laughing, he said, “I suppose it is too soon in our acquaintance for that kind of familiarity.” He went to the door, saying, “I’ll be back!”
Kneading the blanket on the bed, Lumine ignored him. She made herself a comfortable spot and curled up to sleep. It never occurred to her to try the cracked window.
*
“Mm-ph,” grumbled Lumine, shifting on top of Childe’s chest. “You move too much in your sleep,” she complained.
“Ugh, Lumi,” he groaned. “You’re heavier than I remember.”
That particular statement shot adrenaline through her body and Lumine scrambled out of the bed and fell to the floor with a thud. Immediately, Childe shot off the mattress, his hydro shashkas at the ready. He pointed the weapons at the figure on the ground.
Lumine held her hands up, still groggy from sleep. “Stop! It’s me!”
“Lumine?” he asked, bewildered. “Why are you in my room?” He kept the short swords out.
“It’s…a long story…” she explained sheepishly. “And I was hoping to be gone before I changed back.”
“Did you let the cat out when you came in here?” he demanded. He scanned the room for the cream-colored cat and couldn’t find her.
“Childe,” Lumine called, drawing his attention back to her.
“What?”
“I was the cat.”
“Tell me another joke,” he sneered. “Admit it; you were sent to assassinate me by the Yashiro Commission, weren’t you?”
“No,” Lumine scoffed. “They have ninjas for that sort of work.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I told you. I was the cat.”
“Prove it,” he challenged, stepping closer.
“You named the cat Lumi because she reminded you of me. You rescued the cat from Chinju Forest after the storm.”
Swearing in Snezhnayan, he dispersed his blades and sat heavily onto the bed. “How did that happen?”
“A bored yokai used me for amusement,” she replied flatly. “And I will have words with her when I see her next.”
His gaze flickered to her face and he flushed. “How much of…everything…do you remember?”
“All of it,” she admitted quietly.
“…Then you heard—”
“Did you mean it? What you said about me?”
“…Yes.” Childe buried his face in his hands, groaning loudly.
“Okay,” Lumine said, standing. “I can live with that.” She brushed off her dress. “I’d love to stick around, but it’s probably better for both of us if I go. That, and I think I need to rescue Paimon from wherever she’s been this whole time.”
“Wait,” Childe said loudly, grabbing her hand. “Are you mad at me?” He rose up, not wanting to let go.
“Why would I be? You took care of me when I was vulnerable, despite not knowing who I was.”
“I meant, about the other thing.”
“You’re going to have to be more specific, Childe,” Lumine sighed.
“Does it offend you that I think of you…positively?”
“No?”
He sighed, stepping back and releasing her hand. “Good. I’m glad.”
“I’m surprised you’re not angrier about the whole situation, actually,” she replied. “After all, I was the one deceiving you.”
“It’s not like you did it on purpose. Besides, it’s only fair.” He grinned at her.
Tentatively, Lumine smiled back. “I guess so.”
“Can I see you later today? As a person, I mean?”
“Sure. Let me rescue Paimon first.”
“Would you like me to come along?”
Giggling, Lumine shook her head. “That would be a TERRIBLE idea. She turned me into a cat for fun—and she likes me. I’d hate to see what she would do to someone she dislikes.”
“Why would she dislike me?”
Shaking her head, Lumine pointed to the mask on his head. “Guilty by association, Childe.”
“Oh. Right.”
“I’ll meet you back here?”
“Sure.”
“All right. See you later,” Lumine said, slipping out the door.
“See you.” He waited for her to leave before sinking back into the mattress. Childe sighed loudly. “Why did she have to be such an adorable cat?”