𝐼𝑁 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑁𝐸𝐼𝐺𝐻𝐵𝑂𝑅𝐻𝑂𝑂𝐷 ꨄ︎ 𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐎 𝐓.

3 ¤ Tetsu's Encounter With An Obake Yokai

Y/N's POV

I'm so glad that Kuroo came to the forest of his own free will.  Whatever his intentions may have been, I have no clue about, but thank goodness.  Although, I did use a little bit of magic just to make sure that he actually came in.  He's walking really slowly on the path, almost as if he's searching for something. 

And I still haven't decided how I want to approach him though.  I contemplate what idea would be best.  "Aha!" I say to myself.  I've got the perfect idea.

Kuroo's POV

I don't even know exactly what about the forest seems so alluring.  Maybe it's just the time of day?  I don't really understand it, but there isn't anything to understand.  So I forget about it and start jogging again.  It feels nice to run under the cover of the trees.  As I'm running along the path, I notice that it doesn't seem to be giving any sign of turning back towards town.

I stop and reevaluate how much time I actually have before I need to go back.  I was only planning a light jog and I don't know how much farther this path goes.  So, I decide to start heading back.  I turn around to start making my journey back and see an oddly colored shape in the distance.  I jog towards it until I can get a clear view of it.

It's a red-colored cat!  Did somebody dye it's fur red?  I stop jogging just in front of the creature.  Catching my breath, I go to pick it up, but it disappears with a wisp of a red flame!  "Hello?  Is there somebody else out here?" I ask to make sure I'm not going crazy.  Cats don't just disappear into thin air.  I look around to see if it was some sort of 3D projection, but find nothing.

I look up at one of the trees to see the same cat.  "Are you real?  Or just an illusion?" I question the cat like it can talk.  I stare it in the eyes, scrunching my face a little, hoping that it's some kind of computerized model.  "Oh, I'm quite real alright."

Th-the cat spoke.  I must be going crazy.  It has to be some sort of electronic or something.  "But you're not a real cat are you?  You don't know my name or anything right?" I ask as if it can give me the response I so desire.  "I am a real cat Kuroo Tetsurou, and I know only a little bit about you," it says in a feminine voice.

This isn't possible.  Our technological advances aren't this far yet!?  Unless it's some sort of government spy that no one has been told about.  "Wh-what does the government want with me?" I ask with a frown.  The cat looks at me as if I'm crazy.  "I don't know, I'm no part of the government at all.  Look Tetsurou, I'm here to help you and nothing more.  So will you please hear me out and stop drawing reasonable conclusions?" she demands.

I gulp, wide-eyed.  I have no idea what this talking cat is capable of and I sure don't want to find out.  So I take a seat and look at her expectantly.  "Thank you," she appreciates.  She then wisps her way to a tree closer to me, and on a lower branch.  "I'm not going to hurt you, and I have no ulterior motive to start things off," she states.

It, in all its oddity, sounds reassuring.  "Just take a deep breath and let me explain our situation," she coaxes.  I just then realized that I had been holding my breath.  It's almost as if she knows me better than I know myself.  Like she's spent time observing me.  Let's just calm down and listen to her.

Y/N's POV

"So to start, my name is Y/N.  I'm a spirit from the hidden realm; a cat-obake yokai to be exact.  I'm here to help you," I say slowly so that I don't freak him out too much.  "And you said that you have no motive?  So what are you going to be helping me with exactly?" he questions, still skeptical. 

I take a moment to realize that I'm still in my cat form, and cats don't do much for humans in the apparent realm.  "Here, gimme a second," I say enveloping myself in my own mist.  I transform to my human state, making sure that I'm appropriately clothed before revealing myself.  I clear the mist and look down at Tetsurou and he seems extremely surprised.  I jump down from my position in the tree.

He doesn't seem to want to take his eyes off of me so I wave my hand in front of his face.  "Hey?  You good Tetsurou-kun?" I ask.  He startles a little bit, "Oh, yeah, I'm just really overwhelmed and surprised is all," he says resting his head in his hands.

I move my hand forward to comfort him, resting it over his right hand.  He lifts his head, "So what are you going to help me with exactly?" he quizzes again.  "Anything you need I guess.  It's whatever I can possibly do to make your life better," I inform him.  Help him become stronger, move on, and leave.  That's all there is to it.  "Then can I ask for a hug?" he tests me with a small smirk.

"...  Yes," I say rolling my eyes.  I move forward and he pulls me down and into his embrace.  He wraps his hands around my torso and buries his head into the crook of my neck.  It surprises me for sure; everybody else I've ever helped has taken a lot longer to warm up to me.  I'm glad that he realizes that he needs help though.