Chapter 9: Family
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The old woman, now known as 'Ohana- basan', let you inside the clinic after confirming Inugami's identity. Shiki carried his mother inside. Ohana led you to one of the empty patient's room where Shiki placed his mother down on the bed.
Ohana hummed as she checked up on Kumi. "How about it, Granny?"
"It's probably something psychological. She's had a terrible hard time of it, right? I've seen many patients like this."
"She's gonna wake up, though, right?" Shiki asks, concerned.
"Don't worry. I'll brew up a nice analeptic herbal treatment for her, " Ohana reassured.
"Okay."
"E-Excuse me, but are you a Kemono?" Akira inquired.
"I'm obviously human! What a rude kid you are!"
"Ohana-basan started out as a veterinarian, you see. In the course of treating wounded stray dogs and such, though, she ended up treating Kemono, as well, " Inugami explained.
"All life is life, no matter what it is. You must have been through a lot. You all look exhausted. I'll let you use some patient beds so stay the night here, " Ohana suggested. Akira jumped on the opportunity and even asked for a bath.
With Shiki watching over Kumi, the rest of you went to bed. Tired from the previous fight you fell asleep fast.
In the middle of the night, you were awoken by Aya's crying. You rush into their room to see Kumi had awoken and stood by as you watched the small family hug each other, laughing and crying.
When morning came, you were planning on leaving but that's when Shiki decided to inform you of his decision. "I'm going to stay here for a bit."
"Huh?"
"Mom still isn't back at 100 per cent yet, and I have a family now. I have to rethink what I'm going to do now. I mean, there's no way we can get by on what I make now."
"H-Huh?! You mean, Shiki, you're going to quit being a Kemonoist? No!" You were all as shocked as Akira was. "We should all live together at the office!"
"Hey, come on, it's not a communal house."
After some reasoning, you had to leave Shiki behind. It wasn't clear if he was going to leave the office or not. But...it didn't seem very likely he'd return either...and with that a week passed by.
"Hey, soup's on!" Inugami called.
"Thank you for this food." You begin eating the noodles with eggs Inugami prepared. "As it happens, I had a job come in. I have some business to take care of, so I'd like you three to handle it."
"The three of us?"
"All right."
"Sure."
On cue, you all looked towards Shiki's seat, sort of reminiscing. "It's kind of dull around here without Shiki, " Akira spoke up. "Is Shiki ever coming back again?" Kabane questioned.
"Who can say? But this is good for him, isn't it? He has something more important to him than work now?" Well, that was a nice way to look at it but at the same time, you didn't want to say goodbye to Shiki forever. "Do you miss him?"
"No. I think it is very gratifying, " Kabane answered with a smile.
"You smile when you lie, you know that?"
"It's a little creepy."
"Very weird."
"Don't go giving me the boot so fast!" A familiar voice shouted. You turn your heads to see Shiki standing by the door. "Shiki!" You quickly run over to him.
"Then you aren't quitting?"
"I never said a word about that. I'm back because things have settled down."
"Is that right?" That's great."
"Like I said, I have to pay you back. Until you find your parents, I'll die before I quit this place." Shiki raised his fist.
"Yeah." This time, Kabane was able to do a proper fist bump with him. "We're back to normal!" Akira cheered. "I mean as normal as we can be, " You interject.
"Are you finished yet?" Another voice interrupted. A figure walked into the room.
"Huh?! Aya-chan?!"
"I changed out of those clothes. Tademaru is the one who gave them to me, and they didn't really fit my style." Unlike her previous outfit, her current one took a total 180° turn, giving her a sort of punk look. Her hair was also tied up instead of loose hair. "Very cool."
"Mom said she's going out today, so she asked me to look after Aya."
"This is where you work, Big Brother?"
"'Big Brother'" You and Akira tease.
"Oh, shut up."
"It's not too bad. It reeks of cigarettes and boys, but it's surprisingly tidy, " She said while looking around. "Why, thank you. But that's all thanks to (Y/N) and Kabane." Inugami gestured towards you two.
"I'm here to report in and take care of some business today. I've decided to work with Granny at her clinic."
"Business?"
"Yep. I've decided to start my own Kemonopathy clinic, using the power of my silk."
"Oh..."
"Hey, would you talk her out of it, Inugami-san? She's only right!" Shiki protested about the idea.
"Eight?"
"She acts older than her age, " You comment.
"That doesn't matter, does it? And I wouldn't have to if your income wasn't so low, Big Brother, " Aya argued.
"'Big Brother' just got scolded, " You tease.
"Shut up!"
"Then let's put together a contract." Before you knew it, Inugami and Aya had already settled down on the couch, writing down a contract agreement. "I'm glad we can settle this quickly."
"For real?! Are you sure?! You're going for this?! Kabane, help me stop them!"
"Why?"
"Because common sense says it's dangerous!"
"If she has a power, shouldn't she use it?"
"I was an idiot for even asking you, " Shiki grumbled.
"On the bright side, now we have a healer on the team, " You say.
"You really are terrific, and your values are spot on!" Aya complimented Kabane. "I watched you that whole time. How you fought for my brother, and ran Tademaru down!" She rushed towards his side. "Kabane, do you have a girlfriend? Go out with me!"
"Huh?!"
"Fine with me, " Kabane casually replied. By that time, Shiki had di– fainted. He fainted. "Hold on a second, Kabane-kun! Do you know what it means to go out with someone?!" Akira questions.
"It means to do things together, right?"
"Yesn't."
"Yes it does, but it also means something else!"
Suddenly the door slams open. "Kabane, I've gotten stronger. Come and fight me, " Kon declared. "And now someone else has shown up!"
"The day just keeps getting more 'exciting'."
For some reason, Kon and Aya glared at each other the moment their eyes met. You were sure they were gonna fight but thankfully Inugami interrupted. "Um...I hate to throw a wet blanket over all this fun, but can we get down to business?"
Inugami then turned on the TV and showed you a news report of strange incidents happening to women on Takeshita Street in Harajuku.
"Huh? I go to Harajuku a lot. This is awful."
"Is this the work of a Kemono?"
"Yeah. It's been kept out of the press, but this goes beyond just 'facial injuries'. The truth is...parts of their faces are being peeled right off of them. Eyelids, noses, lips, and so forth." Akira faints. You tend to him while Aya discusses the plan with Inugami.
"Okay, let's go, Kabane-san, (Y/N)-san."
"You too?"
"The other two don't seem to be feeling well. And I want to be with you!" She hugs Kabane's arm. "I'm coming, too!" Kon claims.
"Are you sure, kitsune girl? You'd be involved in tanuki business, " Inugami told. "I-I wouldn't be involved, just observing. I'll keep my eye on them, to make sure they don't take any liberties."
With that you all head to Harajuku. Aya held on to Kabane the whole way while You and Kon walked behind the two. You could see Kon glaring at them. 'I feel like I'm in a situation I'm not supposed to be in.'
A few minutes down the lane, a policeman stops you. "Hey, it's dangerous around here right now. Haven't you seen the news?" Kon took the opportunity to try and show off her relationship with Inari and the police. But when she did, she just got pushed away instead.
You were starting to feel bad for her. "We're with the Inugami Strangeness Counselling office, " You say. "Huh? That's who you are? Then yes, we were informed. Please, this way." The policeman finally let you through.
"The Kemono is nearby. I can smell it, " You inform. Kon ignored you and walked in front. "Wait, Kon." Kabane tried to stop her. "All the victims were said to be female, so I should take the lead."
"Quiet! Don't tell me what to do! I don't take orders from tanuki, " She retorted. "Okay, sure. I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
"You're mean. Kabane-san's just concerned about you, " Aya said. "Kon's strong, so she'll be fine, " Kabane defended. "Well, whatever, we can split ways then." The rest of you went a different way from Kon.
A minute later, something pulled Aya on her hair, making her float mid-air. You recollect yourself from the shock and sniff out the Kemono. "Kabane, punch in front, " You instruct.
"All right." Kabane does as you told him and hits something as it screams, letting Aya go. Kabane rushes to catch her in his arms. Kon also rejoins your group.
Out of nowhere, a dark mist appears, materializing into hair and parts of torn off faces. Just like the reports said. "Th-That hurt. You're so mean, " The Kemono cried. "I'm a Kemono named Katanashi."
"Why are you attacking people?" Kabane confronts.
"I wanted to be more human. I wanted to approach the boy who works at the shop across the way."
"So that's it. Love, " Aya concludes.
"Yes! It's love! But the boy at the shop is so handsome, so he always has girls around him. It's so agonizing...That's why I ripped off women's faces and made them my own. I want to be that boy's number one. Aren't I smart?"
"Well, love makes one do crazy things."
"Hm, Something's off, " Kabane spoke up. "That's not the love that I understand. Love means giving something, not taking them away. Does that mean my idea is mistaken?"
"D-Dont dress it up like that! A couple in love could never understand how we feel!"
"'We'"?
"Yes! That girl looks like she's in pain, too," She gestures towards Kon. "so I was going to drag you by your hair!"
"Hair? Did you put her up to that, Kon?" All of your attention goes towards Kon who looked away from you, refusing to make eye contact. "No, I didn't. I didn't, but..."
"What is going on with you? If you have something to say, then say it!" Aya yells.
"I think you should calm down..." You try to hold Aya back while keeping a close eye on Kon. Kemono can maintain their human form well but when overwhelmed, they lose control at times. And Kon being unpredictable, you wouldn't know when she would decide to attack.
"Shut up..."
"Huh?"
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Kon starts violently punching the air. "Be quiet! Be quiet! Be quiet! I don't know what's happening to me! My chest feels all mushy, and my head is spinning! It's always so much fun being with Kabane, but today, it's no fun at all!"
"Kon..."
"I-Its all your fault."
"Huh?!"
"I–I'll devour you!" Kon charges at Aya. You shield Aya away and Kabane blocked Kon's attack with his arm. "Aya, are you okay?"
"Kabane-san, your arm...!"
"I'll be fine. Kon, you can't eat Aya. If you have to eat someone, then eat me." Kon let go of her grip on Kabane's arm. Then ran off. "How mean! You made her cry!" Katanashi said.
"Who's the mean one? I nearly got eaten!"
In the end, you were able to find a way to help Katanashi. Aya made a human-like suit for her using her webs. This way her dream was fulfilled and she promised not to attack anyone anymore. So it was mission accomplished.
Back at the office, Akira and Shiki, who had now both awoken, bombarded you with questions. You told them about the mission with simple details and told then that the job was finished.
"Well, I have to get going now. Kabane-san, don't go two-timing me." Aya gave Kabane a small peck on his cheek.
"Listen, you...!"
"What? If Kabane-san and I get married, would you disapprove?
"Wha–?Marr–?" Shiki looked about ready to faint again. With that, Aya left and Shiki followed behind her. Kabane also left a short while after them saying he had business to attend to.
"I wonder where Kabane-kun is going?"
"Koi business."
The next morning, Aya returned and so did Kon and just like yesterday, the two bickered back and front, fighting over Kabane. "Incredible. Kabane-kun is a ladies man."
"The feeling of being single has intensified."
"You can't leave things like this, Kabane-kun. Which one do you choose?" Akira asked. "Which what?"
"You can only have one lover. I know it's hard, but as a boy, you have to make the tough choice!"
"Lover? Oh, you mean a boyfriend or girlfriend is someone you love? In that case, I know who it is."
"Who? Who?!" You all patiently waited for his answer.
"Inugami-san."
"Huh?! Kabane- san, you go for older men?! Are you kidding me?!"
"D-Dont drag me into this."
"Kabane-kun is still confused from that time with that cat man."
"Let's not even correct him; it'd be too much trouble."
"Feels like Deja Vu from chapter 2.5..."
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