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It all started, as usual, at the hand of the Gedoushu.
It had been pretty usual stuff: hear the alarm, head to the location where the Gedoushu was, defeat the Ayakashi's two lives, and return to the Mansion. The usual. The only thing abnormal was that, before the Gedoushu went to its second life, it hit Takeru with a beam. It was too sudden as rarely did an Ayakashi throw a choke punch, and since it was too sudden, Ryuunosuke couldn't throw himself in front of his Tono to take the hit for him.
(They should stop this thing of throwing themselves in front of Takeru to take the blows, it's a suicidal move and Takeru doesn't like it, but Tono's life comes first).
Takeru was thrown off by the force of the beam, but when the other samurai went to check his condition, he didn't seem to be hurt at all: there was no blood staining his suit and his body wasn’t contorted in strange ways. There was no time for further analysis when Takeru pulled himself together and reminded them that they had to finish off the Ayakashi.
And here they are, returning to the mansion at a quiet pace. As quiet as it can be. Were it not for...
"Ryuunosuke, drop it. I'm fine,"
Takeru and Ryuunosuke's usual exchanges.
After defeating the Ayakashi and returning to his normal form, the others inspected their Lord for injuries, the suit protects to a certain extent, so he was able to hide the wound that supposedly caused that beam. But no. Everything was fine. The only explanation Takeru gave them was that it caused a bit of dizziness and disorientation, but other than that, he was feeling pretty good.
They all accepted the explanation...
"Tono, we really can't be completely sure, that beam that hit you..."
except Ryuunosuke.
So, there they stood, watching as Ryuunosuke tried to subtly — subtly there was nothing subtle about it — convince his Lord and Takeru dismissing his concerns. It was quite an amusing exchange in Mako's completely honest opinion.
Ryuunosuke is nothing if not persistent about things concerning his Tono, but Takeru is equally if not more stubborn in hiding things that affect him from his friends.
"Ryuunosuke," Takeru's voice was firm, leaving no room for denials, and apparently Ryuunosuke also noticed that he paused, wilting like a flower that hasn't been watered in days, its petals drooping.
"...But if you're so worried about it, I'll let the kuroko check me out," Takeru says after a moment, and Mako watches with amusement as, at that comment, Ryuunosuke immediately perks up. Suddenly he's the one in the lead telling them to hurry to the mansion.
Mako smiles.
Another normal day for the samurai.
The next day came without further ado, with the only difference being that Takeru didn’t show up for the morning training. It was a strange thing since Takeru was one of those who valued training the most, being second only to Ryuunosuke with his samurai lifestyle.
The day wore on and neither could get a glimpse of Takeru, as if he had vanished into thin air. The last time they saw him was at dinner after being checked by the kuroko, and at that time he looked fine, serene and still like the moon reflected in the water.
Ryuunosuke looked quite relieved, if somewhat incredulous, when Takeru informed them that the kuroko found nothing strange or abnormal about him, and since they didn’t see an external injury, they too were confident. Most of the effects of the Gedoushu's attacks occurred immediately afterwards, surely, whatever that beam was, enough time had already passed that it wasn't a risk to Takeru.
(Unnoticed by any of them, Ryuunosuke put away the Kajiki Disk.)
Most went about their routine normally: Mako spent his time learning how to improve his cooking, Chiaki continued training to outdo Takeru, Kotoha was supporting Chiaki and Genta was in the city with his sushi cart. The only one who was troubled was Ryuunosuke, if you approached and asked him he would answer that it was just a feeling and there was no need to worry, but when you didn't look, he would cast a glance at the fusuma that separated the living room from Takeru's room, as if wanting to enter, but not managing to gather the courage to do so.
So here they are, waiting for Takeru to arrive so they can start eating. The kuroko served the food just a few minutes ago and it's still warm, but Chiaki's patience isn't infinite.
"Seriously, how long can Takeru be?" Chiaki asks leaning back against the ground.
Kotoha says in a soft and placid tone, "Tono-sama will be here very soon."
Mako nods, "Just wait a little longer, Chiaki."
"Humm.," is Chiaki's reply.
Another moment of strict silence passes. Chiaki lets out another sigh.
Suddenly, Ryuunosuke rises from his place and approaches the fusuma as he says in a loud, apologetic tone, "Tono, excuse me, but I'm coming in—!"
"No need," is the quiet reply heard from the other side.
The sliding door slides open to reveal Takeru, who looks fine. Very well in fact. His skin isn't cut or stained with blood and dirt, he's wearing his usual outfit, his hair is in the same style as always, and his ember-like eyes look as red as they always have.
"Finally! What took you so long..." Chiaki's voice becomes quieter as he speaks, and they don't understand why until they see it.
Takeru's appearance is completely normal with the only difference being that, on his head, two black triangles of the same color as his hair sit. The triangles are of a medium size compared to his head, quite hairy and wriggling at the sound.
"Huh!?" is the exclamation Kotoha lets out, "Tono-sama?"
Ryuunosuke has gone completely silent. As if he had been electrocuted with a power of two thousand watts. His eyes were completely fixed on Takeru, not looking away.
Takeru, unaware of what he has caused in Ryuunosuke, sits in his place. He thanks for the food, grabs the chopsticks and begins to eat.
What they see in Tono's mouth, are... tiny fangs?!
"Takeru," Mako calls, "how...?" And with her finger she made use of a gesture towards the cat ears —because they are obviously cat ears— that were on Takeru's head.
Takeru chews the food before answering in a perfectly flat and neutral voice, as if he was saying something unimportant, "when I woke up, they had already appeared," with the chopsticks he grabs a portion of rice and puts it in his mouth, "my suspicion is that it was a consequence of the Ayakashi's beam that hit me."
Mako nods but looks at Takeru's food carefully (there's something odd about Takeru's portions and it has to do with which portion of fish each of them got, but she can't figure out what—)
Ryuunosuke is still standing. Takeru sighs and asks him to sit down. Ryuunosuke obeys, but there's something about the way he's acting that feels strange, like he's not quite there. Takeru makes the smart move of not asking what's wrong with him.
The meal ends and Takeru gets up to leave.
Ryuunosuke's eyes are still fixed on him.
The samurai don't know how to take this turn of events.
On the one hand, Tono was cursed by the Gedoushu, which is very bad on its own and like the good vassals they are they should seek a cure for this curse. But on the other hand, Tono doesn't mind having kitty ears at all, it doesn't hinder his movements, and it doesn't affect him negatively by causing him physical discomfort. So, they assume he is fine, for now. Jii has informed them that he has been looking for a cure for this curse in the archives, but there are no records of anything like it before.
Apparently, Ryuunosuke has regained control of his body and, pulling out the Kajiki disk, tried to cure his Tono, but absolutely nothing happened. Thus, they find themselves training in the courtyard.
It’s Ryuunosuke and Takeru's turn. They are facing each other separated at a distance that allows them to attack each other without hindering their movements, but, for some unnamable reason, Ryuunosuke doesn’t advance to attack first. Perhaps it’s respect for his Tono, but, since Takeru's transformation, he has been behaving oddly, strangely. Since he doesn’t attack, Takeru advances. His blows are firm and strong, and it seems that Ryuunosuke has trouble keeping up judging how he recoils from each blow of the staff; his natural ability saves him from being hit several times, but in the end, he is defeated by his Tono.
Ryuunosuke kneels acknowledging his defeat and keeps his eyes lowered, as if embarrassed. He doesn’t look at his Tono at any time.
After that confrontation, it’s Kotoha and Chiaki's turn. Takeru and Ryuunosuke give way to them by sitting near the shoji. Ryuunosuke is completely silent and doesn't try to start a conversation and would have stayed that way if it wasn't for Takeru's voice cutting off whatever thoughts are going through his head.
"...Do these cat ears make you uncomfortable?" It's Takeru's crude attempt to start a conversation, his voice coming out somewhat low, like one who is embarrassed to talk about this particular topic.
Ryuunosuke coughs into his hand, he looks like he's choking, "No, Tono!" He exclaims a little too loudly, judging by the look Mako gives them.
"Then," Takeru persists, "why have you been behaving so strangely?"
Ryuunosuke doesn't know what to answer that, how can he describe his thoughts to Takeru? A vassal shouldn't have that kind of thought towards his Lord, how can he explain that his appearance is so... so... cute to him!!!? Before meeting him, he was taught that his Tono was the most important figure in his life, that he should always hold him in high regard and should be respected above all things and seeing Takeru that first day... it was easy to follow the teachings his father taught him. Tono was as distant as the moon high in the sky, unreachable and unmatched—
But... as the weeks passed and they came to know a side of Tono they had not seen, coming to know not the eighteenth leader of the Shiba Clan, but Takeru—they found themselves considering Takeru not just their Tono, but a friend. But a friend who was to be respected at all costs.
Takeru's transformation made that very difficult, because it turns out that his Tono is totally and utterly—cute! From his burnt-black ears to his...tail?!
His Tono also had a cat tail!!!! He hadn't noticed it because it found itself clenching his Tono's waist like a belt, but now the tail is wagging freely, swaying slightly, rhythmically tapping the floor.
Takeru clears his throat, "Well?"
Ah, right, how could he forget the question his Tono asked him? The answer comes out much easier than expected.
"It's just... it's kind of odd to see Tono like this," realizing how what he just said can be interpreted, he adds, "but Tono looks good either way!"
Suddenly, Takeru lowers his gaze and turns his face away. If he still had human ears these would turn a red color at the tips.
But Takeru's acquired tail is more expressive than he is and, determined to embarrass Takeru, it wraps like a bracelet around Ryuunosuke's wrist.
Ryuunosuke's breath catches in his throat.
!!!
Tono!!!
"Eh..."
Takeru sees a dog's tail wagging behind his friend. Ryuunosuke seems to be more the one with animal traits than him.
...Shameless.
"Take-chan!" Genta's shout echoes in the air.
After Genta finished restocking his supplies and promoting his cart, he headed to the Shiba Mansion. Upon arrival everything seemed normal, humming a meaningless tune he went to warn the others to come over to his sushi cart. The shinkengers nodded and smiled as if they knew something he didn't, and when he went to look for Take-chan he found him with... cat ears!
He didn't know Take-chan had this hobby, but he guesses Take-chan has changed a lot since they went their separate ways.
Takeru's fake ears look very realistic, they're the same color as his hair, and if he squints his eyes, they look like they're moving. Maybe it was a product of Mojikara?
Genta shrugs and goes to greet Take-chan, there was no point in going into that train of thought. Take-chan turns and smiles softly, his mouth forming a soft crescent moon. Take-chan has come a long way from pretending to be serious and heartless, consumed by his duty of having to kill Doukoku; now everyone can see how Take-chan really is: soft, charming and very cute in Genta's completely unbiased opinion.
"Genta," Take-chan greets.
"Take-chan!" Genta is like a parrot, only knowing how to repeat his friend's childhood nickname, "Why do you have cat ears? They look so real." He reaches out his hand to touch them, but what he doesn't expect is for the ears to flatten over Take-chan's head, with Take-chan letting out what seems to be a low purr.
Suddenly, a burnt black tail (tail!) darts out to curl around his hand. Genta is confused, his brain threatens to combust. A black tail has wrapped itself around his hand. Take-chan doesn't have black cats. Take-chan has cat ears. The black tail seems to come from Take-chan's back. Take-chan...is...a...cat...hybrid...!
"...Since when?" are the only words his brain can form. He moves his hand away from Take-chan's ears and, if he hasn't gone crazy, he could see for a moment how Take-chan chased after his hand before retracting.
Take-chan's tail has stopped curling around his wrist —he misses the sensation already— and he looks up at him from under his eyelashes, "from this morning," his voice comes out a little low and husky, the kind of voice he acquires when he gets shy.
"What happened?"
Takeru seems to have regained his composure, because he answers in his normal voice, "an Ayakashi hit me with a beam, when I woke up already," the ears and tail, "had appeared." He starts walking and Genta promptly follows.
Not knowing what to say, Genta exclaims, not wanting Take-chan to think the wrong thing, "You look good anyway, Take-chan!"
"...Mn." The curve of the delicate moon mouth is soft, but no less beautiful.
Arriving at the sushi stand they find that the others have already taken seats, but Chiaki is nowhere to be found. Genta asks, "And Chiaki?"
"He said he had an idea that couldn't be postponed. He will come later," is Mako's reply, "he also said you will await his portion."
Genta nods, "Understood!"
What follows is easy enough, pressing the rice and ingredients into sushi. He hears Daigoyou quietly telling him that he's pressing the rice too hard, as if it knows better! He feels Take-chan's eyes watching the firm movement of his hands, something he didn't do before, could it be a cat thing?
He serves the sushi portions on wooden trays and hands them to each of his friends. Chiaki's portion will be prepared when he is here, it's better to eat freshly prepared sushi!
Everyone thanks for the food and hurries to eat. The first to try a bite is Take-chan, Genta leans in to listen to his opinion.
Take-chan chews for one, two, three seconds, swallows and mumbles in a confused voice, as if he can't believe it, "...It's delicious."
"Huh!?" Is the exclamation Ryuunosuke lets out. He quickly grabs a piece of sushi and puts it in his mouth and chews, swallows and says, "It tastes just as bland."
"Hey!" Genta exclaims, offended. But he looks back at Take-chan and smiles, "At least someone recognizes good cooking."
"What do you mean by that—!"
Takeru pops another sushi into his mouth, confused but hungry. The taste is out of this world: Genta's sushi has never been delicious as it is now, always tasting average and bland, but now he finds it a delicacy. "It's tasty," he mutters again, uncomprehending.
Mako finishes her portion of sushi and puts a finger under her chin, thinking, "Maybe it's because of Takeru's new traits: cats really like fish."
Ryuunosuke keeps tasting sushi, but it all comes out the same to him: mushy and maybe a little bland, "that must be why," he finally says, "the food is still the same."
Without anyone looking, Kotoha puts two pieces of her sushi on Takeru's wooden tray.
"Hey!" Chiaki's voice breaks the silence.
After they finished eating and Genta put away his sushi cart, the shinkengers entered the mansion and went all and nothing, and by all and nothing it meant playing cards. They were halfway through the game when Chiaki arrived.
"Chiaki!" Kotoha greets and Chiaki greets back, sitting down next to Takeru pushing Ryuunosuke away, who shouts in offense. On his arm was a white bag that seemed to be carrying various things.
Chiaki takes out a pouch box and opens it, inside is a red leather collar that has a small bell attached to the center, Chiaki says turn around to Takeru, who after a moment of confusion obeys. Chiaki adjusts what the leather collar is to Takeru's neck, he gives the bell a little tap causing it to jingle. Takeru settles back to how he was before. His hands dart to touch the collar around his neck: it fits him perfectly, as if it was made for him.
"Takenyan, say Nya," he says mockingly, pulling out his Shodophone and putting it into photography mode.
Ryuunosuke is livid. "You! How dare you—!"
But, without any of them expecting it, without even Takeru expecting it, is that Takeru finds himself obeying, "Nya," he quickly covers his mouth with both hands as he feels himself blushing, a red adorning his cheeks.
Everyone falls silent, even Ryuunosuke, who sees Takeru with a strange expression on his face.
Chiaki looks at him, a serious and accusatory expression, "You, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
The cards are scattered on the ground as Ryuunosuke lets out a war cry and lungs at Chiaki. Genta mutters something in Takeru's ear that causes him to look at him accusingly.
Kotoha and Mako laugh as they watch this whole scene, carrying on a conversation with their eyes.
(Now Ryuunosuke may be looking like a vassal worried about his Tono's honor, but later, once he's away from prying eyes, he'll ask Chiaki for a copy of the photo.
He can already see in which part of the shrine dedicated to his wonderful Tono will be. Such a photo is worthy of being next to the portrait of his Tono. Or maybe next to the teacup? Hmm. Thoughts.)
Night has come and everyone is getting ready for bed. But there is an anomaly, two shinkengers are outside watching the full moon. The first to arrive was Takeru, who only came to the courtyard because he was feeling nostalgic; the second to arrive was Kotoha, who came to play the flute to relax. Seeing Takeru, Kotoha wanted to leave so as not to inconvenience her Tono-sama, but Takeru told her that for him it was okay for her to stay.
So, Kotoha did so. With the presence of Takeru and the moon she intoned a melody with the flute that was carried by the wind. Unconsciously Takeru's tail swayed to the rhythm of the music.
It was a peaceful moment, something they both enjoyed. When the Gedoushu was defeated, Kotoha wondered, would there be more moments like this, where she just has to play the flute under the moonlight?
She hopes so.
Finishing with the melody, Kotoha bowed to her Lord and took steps to enter the mansion, but stops as if she has remembered something important, turns to Takeru and exclaims with a radiant and cheerful smile, "I think you look good, Tono-sama!"
Takeru opens his mouth slightly in surprise, but nods and says softly, the moonlight bathing his lone figure, "...thank you." Kotoha nods and turns back towards the mansion.
It is when he is completely alone that he reaches out his hands to touch his ears, they flatten against his head, "really, am I so different this way?" Ryuunosuke's attitude puzzles him, but he decides that's not his problem. He shrugs and walks into the mansion.
Tomorrow will be another day.