Kevin put on a smile that he didn’t quite feel. “They’re with Kotohime, so I’m sure they’re fine.”
“Right.” Lilian’s smile was about as unconvincing as his.
“Are you two done eating yet?!” came the shout from outside.
“Don’t be so impatient!” Kevin and Lilian shouted at the same time.
Kevin and Lilian finished eating quickly. Then they stood up, laced their hands together, and left the room.
Kyle was waiting for them outside. “You two ready? Good. Then follow me.”
It didn’t take long to realize that they were in some kind of resort. The room they’d just left held the appearance of a small hospital wing, and the hall they walked through reminded them a little of the Sobre el Natural, only less extravagant. Where the Sobre el Natural seemed like a place fit for kings, this building's interior appeared humbler. One thing that Kevin and Lilian noticed was the lack of guests.
They were led into an enclosed and somewhat small room with a knee-high table. Kevin recognized it as one of those tables often used in Japan. Just seeing such a thing being used in America made sweat trickle down his scalp.
Sitting at one end of the table was an old man… kappa… turtle… thing. His greenish skin had long since turned gray. Wrinkles covered much of the skin that could be seen, especially around his eyes and mouth. He wore a plain mauve kimono. Looking at this kappa, Kevin couldn’t help but think of the Godfather for some reason. Well, a Japanese mutant turtle version of the Godfather.
“Ah, so both of our guests have finally woken up, aru.”
“He’s Chinese!” Lilian exclaimed in surprise.
“I am not Chinese, aru!”
“I don’t know.” Kevin looked at the man dubiously. “You certainly sound Chinese to me. Only Chinese people say ‘aru’ at the end of their sentences.”
Lilian nodded in agreement. “That’s right. Every Chinese person in anime and manga says ‘aru’ at the end of their sentences.”
“They do not, aru!”
“You’re not really convincing us you know.”
“Just sit down and be quiet, aru!” Realizing that he was getting angry, the old kappa coughed into his hand. “There are very important things that we must discuss, aru.”
“Really not helping your case.”
“Just sit down already, aru!”
Lilian and Kevin sat at the table on the opposite side of the kappa. They sat side by side. Reaching out underneath the table, Kevin slid his hand into Lilian’s, lacing their fingers together. She squeezed his hand reassuringly in return.
“Before we begin our discussion, I suppose I should introduce myself, aru.”
Kevin leaned into Lilian, his mouth resting against her ear. “And he says he isn’t Chinese,” he said, not bothering to whisper despite leaning in.
“Stop that, aru!” the kappa grumbled about “young whipper-snappers” before speaking again. “My name is Shuǐ, aru.”
“Isn’t that a Chinese name?”
“Enough with the Chinese already, aru!” Shuǐ calmed down, but it was clear that he was still agitated. “I am the leader of this small yōkai clan, and I would like to apologize on behalf of my clan, aru.” He performed a deep bow to the pair. “You were caught up in a technique that went out of control and almost ended up getting killed as a result. For that, you have my sincere apologies, daughter of the Pnév̱ma Clan, aru.”
Out of his peripheral vision, Kevin saw Lilian tense. Using his thumb, he tenderly stroked the back of her hand. She relaxed under his ministrations.
“I suppose I can forgive you,” Lilian said in a voice that was too formal to be real. It reminded Kevin of the time she’d been prepared to banish herself from the Pnév̱ma clan. “However, that’s only on the condition that you tell us what’s going on.”
“Of course, however, before we get to that…” Kevin and Lilian tensed when Shuǐ reached underneath the table and pulled out… a game board? “Would you like to play a game of shogi while we talk, aru?”
The sound of Kevin’s and Lilian’s faces smacking against the table echoed down the hall.
***
Because Kotohime clearly had no clue where they needed to go in order to find the information they sought, Kiara ended up taking the lead. Having traveled to this city many times in the past—unlike her four-tailed friend—she knew of several areas within Los Angeles where yōkai gathered.
The Yōkai Café was located within a well-established part of the city. It looked just like any other café on the outside: a brick building with stained glass windows and a large sign over the door welcoming customers in. Nothing seemed out of place.
Upon stepping inside, the two were met with an atmosphere that nobody would have expected from a café established by yōkai. Warm lighting projected a friendly and inviting atmosphere. The wooden tiled floor, painted with a glossy finish, shone and sparkled under the lamps hanging overhead. Everywhere Kotohime looked, people sat at small round tables and booths with soft red cushions. Smiling faces greeted her vision. The friendly mien of the place stood in stark contrast to her own heartache.
Perhaps the most unusual part about this café was its maids. They were not human. Not only were they not human, but they didn’t bother hiding their inhuman features. She could see several neko dressed in maid uniforms waiting tables, their tails swaying behind them and their cat ears twitching. A yuki-onna, obvious from the pale tone of her skin and dark hair, sat in one of the booths, putting the moves on a man who seemed inordinately pleased to have such a beauty showering him with attention. There were several other yōkai as well: kappa, tanuki, and tengu. She even saw a kijo—a female oni—moving past the window separating the café from the kitchen.
“Nya! Welcome home, Mistresses. Nya!” They were greeted by a young neko, a cute girl with blond hair and amethyst eyes. Kotohime believed she was a bakeneko, seeing how she only had one tail. “Please, allow me to serve you.”
They were directed to a seat and placed their orders. Kotohime simply asked for green tea, but Kiara asked for onigiri as well. Before the girl could leave, Kiara also asked if they could speak with “Kuroneko” and to tell the “old cat” that Kiara needed a word. The young neko seemed to know who she was talking about, because her eyes widened, and she promised to let the woman in question know that they wished to speak with her right away.
“You look surprised,” Kiara observed. Kotohime looked at her partner.
“I am,” she admitted. “I know that we yōkai hide amongst humanity, and that many of us do what we can to make a living, however…” she trailed off, eyes straying to all the humans who lounged in the café, unbothered by the fact that they were surrounded by yōkai. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“That’s because you’ve spent too much time with the Pnév̱ma Clan and not enough time around humans.” Kiara also observed the people around them. “Everyone knows that humanity is fascinated by creatures beyond their ability to understand. That’s why stories about vampires and werewolves and elves are so popular. They like to imagine what it would be like if such otherworldly creatures existed.”
“Very true,” Kotohime conceded her point. “I suppose it was inevitable that something like this would happen. Still, I am surprised by this atmosphere. It reminds me of the maid cafés back in Japan.”
Kiara leaned back in her seat and placed her only remaining hand on the table. “That’s because it is. Everyone knows that Japan was the first country to discover the existence of yōkai. Almost all legends about us were first derived from there. You could almost say they have a monopoly on our mythos.”
“And with the recent rise in the popularity of Japanese pop culture, it was only natural that someone would take advantage of America’s new fascination for all things Japanese,” Kotohime concluded.
Kiara nodded once. “Right.”
“And this ‘Kuroneko’ is the one who did it?” she asked.
“You would be h
alf-right,” said a woman who walked up to them.
Unlike the other women around them, this one wore a loose-fitting kimono that revealed hints of her cleavage. She was also much older than the other yōkai. While still appearing young and beautiful, with long black hair and dark green eyes and a body to die for, anyone observant enough could see the wisdom behind her gaze. Only someone who’d lived for a long time could have eyes like that. She also had two tails, which occasionally popped out of her kimono.
A nekomata.
Nekomata was liberally translated as “Split-Tailed Cat,” due to how their tail split into two. They were the most powerful of all cat-type yōkai. Bakeneko were the weakest, and while kasha were powerful, they could only use hellfire and minor illusions. Nekomata were capable of wielding more than just fire. While there were no nekomata that could match a Kyūbi in terms of sheer power, they were more than capable of fighting on par with an eight-tails.
Kotohime’s body stiffened when something pushed down on her, a strange pressure, as if Earth’s gravity had suddenly increased. It wasn’t killing intent. It felt more like someone’s soul was bearing down on hers, judging her, weighing her, determining her worth. This presence… it was almost like standing in front of the Pnév̱ma clan’s matriarch!
Her hands gripped her kimono tightly. It was all she could do not to react to this incredible presence.
Kiara, apparently unbothered by this force of presence, grinned. “Kuroneko, you old cat. How’ve you been?
Kuroneko glanced at Kiara in mild disapproval. “I believe I told you to stop calling me old.”
“And I believe I told you that the next time we met, I wouldn’t be so easily cowed.”
The pressure suddenly increased. Kotohime’s teeth rattled. However, just as quickly as it had come, the pressure left.
“So you did,” Kuroneko admitted. Then she smiled.
Kotohime watched, stunned, as Kiara and this nekomata, whose presence reminded her of the matriarch, shared a hug. How did her acquaintance know this woman?
Kiara sat down again. Kuroneko joined them.
“It’s been quite a while since the last time we saw each other,” Kuroneko said, her smile lazy and delighted, very much like a cat’s. “How many years has it been. Ten? Twenty?”
“Try one hundred and fifty.”
“That’s right. One hundred and fifty years. My mind must be slipping. I remember, the last time we met, you were looking for a teacher to help you get stronger.” Ancient eyes wise beyond compare studied the inu, analyzing her with a single glance. Kuroneko nodded. “It seems you found someone.”
“That’s right.” Kiara smirked. “I did find someone who helped me get stronger. She might even be more powerful than you.”
“Oh ho?” Kuroneko seemed more amused than anything. “I may have to meet this woman if she’s as powerful as you claim. Although, I am not much of a fighter these days.” She leaned back in her seat, her posture lazy. Kotohime felt a strong urge to correct it, but she resisted the impulse.
Her body went stiff when dark green eyes fell on her.
“And who is this? A young four-tails.” Those eyes observed her in the same way they had done to Kiara. Kotohime felt naked in front of that gaze. “She’s quite beautiful, and a yamato nadeshiko to boot.” Kuroneko turned back to Kiara. “Where did you find this girl?”
Kotohime bristled at being called “girl.” She was far from young. However, this woman, clearly ancient and powerful, was much older, so she refrained from responding inappropriately.
“My name is Kotohime.” Since she was sitting she couldn’t bow. Instead, she nodded her head respectfully. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“And so respectful too!” Kuroneko’s amused, lazy smile widened. She glanced at Kiara. “I’m surprised you managed to find such a delicious catch. Who knew you had it in you.”
“I’m not a dyke,” Kiara said, rolling her eyes, “and Kotohime is straight. Get your mind out of the gutter. We’re on serious business today.”
“Really?”
Leaning forward, her elbows resting on the table, fingers laced in front of her face, Kuroneko gave Kiara a curious look.
“What kind of business?” she asked with a fanged grin.
***
“So, you’re telling me that a clan of Ocean Kitsune have invaded your territory and are trying to take over Los Angeles?” Kevin asked for clarification.
They were playing shogi, Lilian and Shuǐ. Kevin, unknowledgeable about the game, sat on the sidelines and watched as the two moved their pieces across the board.
“That is indeed correct, aru,” Shuǐ said, studying the board. After analyzing the board, he grabbed one of his two gold general pieces and moved it, taking Lilian’s rook. “They came to Los Angeles several months ago and slowly integrated themselves into the city. At first, we thought nothing of it. They came in slowly enough that we simply suspected they were a small clan seeking a place to live, and we don’t really care if another group of yōkai wishes to share this land, aru.”
Much of North America was free from the influence of yōkai clans. There were a few states that one clan or another had claimed as their territory, but only six of the 50 states had been claimed by a clan. Even then, those clans paid tribute to the Four Saints, who ruled over this land, for permission to make those states their territory.
California was not one of those six states.
Shuǐ observed as Lilian moved one of her pieces, claiming a knight and trapping his king. The girl was surprisingly good at shogi. It was too bad he didn’t know that Kotohime had taught her to play when she was just a young vixen barely twenty years into her second tail. If he had, then she was sure he wouldn’t have been so quick to play her.
“It wasn’t until two months ago that we realized they intended to claim Los Angeles, if not the entire state, for themselves, aru. Several of our family members went missing. Our first thoughts were that they’d run into The Sons and Daughters of Humanity, a group of humans with anti-yōkai sentiments who’ve been getting more active recently—” Kevin and Lilian shared a startled look. Shuǐ made his move. “—we only realized a few days later, after one of our more powerful members came back near death, that this was not the case, aru.”
Lilian studied the board, trying to determine her next move. Shuǐ had moved his king out of her bishop’s path. After several seconds, she clicked her tongue, and moved her knight into a position in front of Shuǐ’s remaining lance. Now if he took her knight, she would be in a position to take his king.
“Hold on a second,” Kevin said. “I’m confused. I thought kitsune disliked fighting?”
“They have not been fighting us!” Kyle spat. The younger kappa stood at the entrance, guarding the room, though Kevin could not determine from what. “They’ve been assassinating us, killing us from the shadows like cowards.”
“Calm yourself, aru.” Shuǐ admonished the boy lightly, even as he moved his lance away from Lilian’s knight. “It does not do to get angry in a situation like this, aru.”
“Easy for you to say.” Kyle glared at nothing. “Your brother wasn’t killed by those damn foxes.”
Shuǐ sighed but didn’t say anything.
“That is how most kitsune do things,” Lilian said. She moved her lance again, closer to Shuǐ’s king, though she didn’t put it in check. “We don’t much care for fighting. When we do, we normally use illusions to mask our attacks and keep the enemy from fighting back.”
“Jiāoào didn’t do that,” Kevin pointed out. “Sure, he had that one illusion that made him invisible, but that was about it.”
“Jiāoào was also an idiot, and a two-tails to boot.” Lilian dismissed the other kitsune with a wave of her hand, her eyes never leaving the board. Shuǐ moved a pawn towards one of her silver generals. “Most two-tails lack the repertoire of older kitsune. It’s not unusual for a kitsune with two tails to only have two, maybe three techniques total.” She moved her gold general,
hemming in Shuǐ’s king. “You also have to remember that Jiāoào is young—even younger than me. He was only one hundred and thirty years old.”
“Which explains why he looked like a kid.” Kevin grimaced. “To think that I got my butt kicked by someone who was the physical equivalent of a fourteen-year-old brat.”
“Jiāoào is still a kitsune.” Lilian shrugged. “It’s only natural that you would have a tough time fighting him. That you beat him at all is a feat worthy of praise.” She sent him a glowing smile that made Kevin feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Kyle looked shocked. “You defeated a kitsune?”
“Yep,” Kevin said in his best, “I know I’m awesome, but I don’t want to sound arrogant,” voice.
“But you’re just a human!”
Kevin glared. “Just who the hell do you think I am? Don’t underestimate me just because I’m a human. I might lack the supernatural powers that you yōkai have, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak.” He pointed an accusing finger at Kyle. “Listen up! I’ve trained hard to be able to match yōkai in combat! I’ve worked my butt off with my sadistic teacher every day for the past seven months! I may be human, but I’m not a pushover!”
While Kyle looked flabbergasted, Shuǐ chortled. “A most interesting human you’ve decided to mate with, Ms. Lilian, aru.”
“Of course.” Lilian puffed her chest out in pride. “My mate’s the best.”
Kyle stared at Kevin for a little while longer, then snorted dismissively. “Whatever. You might be okay in a fistfight, but you’re still human. I would crush you in seconds. I wouldn’t even have to lift a finger.”
“Oh, yeah!” Kevin got up in Kyle’s personal space. “That sounds like a challenge to me. Why don’t you back up those words with some action?”
Kyle butted his head against Kevin’s, glaring at the blond teen. “I would be more than happy to, except fighting against a powerless human isn’t really my style.”
“Sounds to me like someone’s afraid of getting his butt handed to him by this lowly human.”
“What was that?!”
“You heard me. If you want to prove your strength, then do so with your actions instead of your mouth, because all I see right now is a Ninja Turtle wannabe whose only talent is jabbering!”
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