Chapter 1 completed (not finalized)
Nya 1.0
All he could see was white, just an ever expanding field of white. He couldn't feel anything from the white, not warmth or cold. There was no noise, not even what a normal person would think of silence, there was absolutly nothing. Despite all that he didn't feel threatened by the great expanse contrarily he only felt comfort and relaxation.
Kirie Arkano was just a normal everyday twenty-four year old guy, he was 6'3 mainly European in background, dark brown hair, just a slightly taller than average American. Everything else about him was just normal, other than his obsessive fanboy side for all things Japanese, granted he could not speak it very well, or even read it. He always got any localized content he could, and he didn't need to understand it when it came to music all he had to do was enjoy it.
Back to him at present.
"How did I get here, what was I doing?" He wracked his brain in search of what he was doing before everything became blank. Everything seemed so vague, his mind was in a haze. The only thing he could remember was an impact and then nothing.
"Nyahahahaha..." suddenly a catlike laugh was heard
Nya 0
"hyaaaah" With a loud yawn Kirie stretched out his arms, classes are always so long, and sitting for the entire time had brought lethargy to his limbs, not to mention how tired he was even before classes had begun. He had spent most the night reading a Light Novel from one of his favorite series that had just been released, and because of that he had to wake up earlier than usual to try and cram the last minute homework. He was in such a hurry he had forgotten to lay food down at the shrine he kept in his tiny fenced in back area, not gonna call it a yard cause of how small and bare it was, the shrine itself took more space then could be afforded to anything else. He couldn't remember the last time he had broken routine.
The shrine was something he had built back when he was 10, it had grown quite a bit since back then, he liked adding to it. Even since childhood he had been bit by the bug and had became a japanophile, and with tech upgrading every year it just got stronger and stronger as time went on. The shrine had started with Popsicle stick tori leading to it, his dad had helped him with the main shrine, it had a large shelf for offerings two bowls on either side for incense and a little roof over it. Kirie loved cats, absolutely and dearly but his parents wouldn't let him raise one until they could be certain he would be able to properly care of one. So Kirie built a shrine to the cat god. After the building project was done every morning and night he would go to it and pray to become responsible enough to care for another living being, the following weeks he started to do odd jobs for parents and friends to earn a little pocket change. He surprised his parents when he took the money he earned to buy offerings for the shrine, just little things cats might like, a little plush mouse and the like. He then bought two small clay pots and put in catnip, finaly when the shrine looked well put to him, he started to put cans of fish or cat food on it every other day, the cans were always emptied before he put a new one on. After his parents saw his dedication to his project they thought maybe he could take care of a cat, but before that Kirie had met a cat he dubbed Two-Face on the account it was a calico with a split colored face right down the middle. That cat became his companion for 13 years, but even after getting a cat he never failed to pray and put offerings on the shrine, even after Two-Face passed on half a year ago. On the shrine is a picture of him with her, to always remind him how thankful he is to have had such a great cat.
He was pretty sure the fish and canned food is just being eaten by the local strays, but wouldn't that make the cat god happy?
"Hey Kurie what's the matter, you look so tired and your eyes are red, did you spend all night wanking it again?" His thoughts were interupted by the voice of Barrey, one of the few people he talked to on the community college campus he was on. Barrey had a similar taste in music and recreation, but no filter, he tended to say what was exactly on his mind, other than some rude comments, he was okay. "Wasn't that why you missed class a couple of weeks ago, when imoasis 3 came out. I mean I understand, but you should read VN's on your spare time like me, not binge it like you tend to do." He said with a smirk on his face.
"I know but I hate ending part way through, there never seems to be a good place to walk away." At that time the new imouto moege had came out and Kirie had finished all routes in one sitting, his words per minute was like 400 but it still takes time to read. Afterwords he had visited the extras menu to revisit certain scenes, only to take so long he couldn't get up in time for classes.Ever since he was a child he would pick up a book and not be able to set it down until it was finished, even if that was into the wee hours of the morning. "You know when it's good, it's good. I just can't stop when I'm that into it. Remember that wizard novel, it was over a thousand pages, I finished that in one sitting in twelve hours."
"I know, I know, but you should try to get out of your comfort zone. You always read the happier stories and only a little bit of horror. You should read something with a little more tragedy, like this." Barrey says, while stuffing a book in Kirie's face, Kirie recognizes it and it is not his cup o tea "Come on the MC has to relive death and maiming of the people he cares about again, and again untill he can figure a way to bypass it to go a little bit forward in the timeline and into the next novel. It would be perfect for you to move away from all the slice o lifes you read, Mister from the day you were born never had anyone but family care for him. If you want your real life slice o life story you have to go through hardships, that means doing stuff your not comfortable with. Like reading this series, Come on. please I really want to talk to someone about it." he said with a pleading look
'haha his true motive showed up, and I completely understand, both of us are pretty close to shut-ins. there is just so little people with common interest's, I tend to talk with others online. I gave up on trying to convince people IRL, it's much easier to find a forum dedicated to people of similar interest's.'
"Maybe is you offer a prayer to the cat god I might consider it" Kirie replied
"Cat god? That's what the shrine you have is for right? It sure is small but it does look legit. In that case I just might." Barrey says as he clasps his hands together with an audible smack, he then closed his eyes and stayed silent for about a minute. When his eyes snapped open his gaze went to Kirie, "So did it work, will you start this series so we can discuss it."
"I think the cat god would be pleased hearing your voice plead for me again, alright give me the first two volumes and give me a couple of days."
"Couple of days, whats with that Mr. Speed Reader?" Barrey said sounding all kinds of impatient
"You know that my WPM drop if I'm not fully interested in the topic you saw it before when I tried to play Sdays."
"Oh, that's right didn't it take you like a month to finish it, I know it has thirty endings but what was the hold up on it, I enjoyed it." Barrey says smiling
"I didn't like the fact that it showed anyone you didn't chooses misery, everyone except the MC and your choice for the route." 'I really hated seeing misery for a heroine who you didn't choose, but if you did she was happy. I prefer ones when you choose there might be conflict at first but eventually everyone congratulates you then it's just happy times for the couple with maybe a little conflict, but it ends happily.'
"Alright I'll hold you to that, well I gotta go to afternoon classes. I'll call you after I'm done, I got the new season of 'Golden-Haired Ninja' we can watch a bit tonight"
"Alright I'll look forward to it, I'm heading back, gotta go to the store on the way home." with that they said there goodbyes and went their separate ways. The ride on the bus from the satellite campus wasn't bad, about fifteen minutes away from Kirie's apartment complex, BTW Barrey lives two doors down from him. When he got off the bus it was a quick 5 min walk to the nearest grocery store.
"Hmmmmm...." Kirie was staring at the fresh fish on ice, living closer to the ocean has it's benefits. Though he couldn't decide on what to get. This wasn't for just for him, it was to put an upgraded offering on the shrine because he missed this morning. He didn't want to cheap out and he felt obligated after having a selfish prayer sent to the cat god, his own prayers had tended to be about the safety and health of his cat, and lately it's been about the happiness of Two-Face where ever she may be. He hadn't been selfish in his prayers since he first built the shrine, thoughts did cross his mind as he got older like wondering if he was dedicated enough maybe a cat-girl would show up, but that was always just a fantasy. He grabbed the cod and proceeded to the checkout aisle. 'looks good, I'll fillet it, use one for dinner and use the rest of the fish as an offering' he paid for the fish and walked out to the parking lot, just as he left the entryway he heard a noise and felt something on his left side, then nothing.
Nya 1.1
"Nyahahahaha....." a cat like laugh rang out in the great white expanse around Kurie
He finally heard some thing, and with that sound he started to feel something too. A soft texture under his feet like silky soft fur with a warmth that was radiating upwards. He felt a pleasant warm breeze softly coming and going around him, the air was just a tinge humid. He looked at his hands but saw nothing even down at his feet he say nothing but white above and all around, then his eyes started to adjust and he realize the white of the sky was slightly different then the white at the ground, he could see the texture of fur just like he felt under his feet. Wait though he saw no feet or hands how did he have a sense of touch, these thoughts went through his mind as he wiggled his toes in the soft fur. Surprisingly even in his mind he wasn't panicking, It all just felt so comfortable he was contemplating a nap.
"Nyahahahaha...." The voice boomed again "I never would have expected a foreigner like you to become so dedicated when I sent her to you." The voice sounded like a young boy though it reverberated all through the air and ground, it sounded large and booming. " You even kept it up after she was gone, you always brought the best offerings you could, and even expanded the shrine all through your life. You got others to recognize me, and always kept your thoughts pure when praying. Kirie thank you for your life"
'Wait just a moment are you...?'
"Yes"
'Does that mean I'm...?"
"Deceased, yes, I'm sorry, you died while bringing me an offering. You didn't even have the chance to mate in your short life, so sad." the voice responded remoresly. "Once again I'm sorry again."
'Why are you so sorry you had nothing to do with my death.'
"Well if I had sent another it may have been a different story..."
'Another...?'
"Anyway since your life was cut so short, I snagged you before you were swept into the afterlife." He said sounding a bit smug "I was only able to because of your devotion."
'Wait what does the afterlife consist of, is it really okay for me not to go?"
"Ah, it's boring, you return to the well of life to be later reborn as some form of life, could be anything. That's why I snagged you I think the you as you are now is the best. I want you to be reincarnated into a world of fantasy and continue your dedication to me, I'm a cat, I'm selfish in a way. I don't want to lose someone so interesting"
'Fantasy....' The thought excited him quite a bit, he wondered if there might be fantastical cats in this world, or maybe magic or skills like in all the novels and anime he watched. Would it be safe for him, or fraught with peril. 'What would me being reincarnated entail?'
"Well, first I'll need to make you a new body, if you haven't noticed you don't have one. Of course it will be imbued with my blessing, all in all it's a pretty sweet deal. I'm positive you'll like it, you'll be able to understand anybody and be able to properly converse." as he said this, a ginormous white cat head crested the horizon. He was pure white with large golden eyes that are peering right at Kirie's position. The face looks like it has a large broad grin on it. "It's much better than an unpredictable rebirth into a new existence. Wouldn't that be annoying having to relearn basic motor skills, reading and writing. Plus you may no longer be a guy, hell you might not even have a gender. Maybe you'd comeback as a tree, to be able to stand noble for a hundred years just to be cut down for the paper of gossip magazines. If you take this deal you'll still be facing trails and tribulations just as any living being must, but you will have me at your side"
'Alright I'll take your deal, you've watching over me almost my whole life. I just wish I could apologize to my parents for being such a worthless son. I'm pretty sure the only thing I left them with was embarrassment when they go through my possessions and a sadness that I'm gone.'
When the final word left his mouth, heat radiated from the top his head and moved slowly toward his feet. At the time it reached the last digit on his right foot, a pressure started to gently push down on him, then his vision darkened.
"Good L.... not t..... need..."
Nya 1.2
Kirie's conciseness came to as his head hit the floor. His vision was still white, but to the feel it was cold and hard like stone. Next his hearing started to fade in, with that he heard the crashing and breaking of something.
"Kyaaaaaaa!!!" A woman's scream tore it's way through his eardrums.
"An attack!! The demi's must be plotting something" Sounded off a male voice.
"But he appeared out of thin air, and then crashed into the floor."
"No matter, a demi has invaded the holy castle, seize it or kill it" Came an angry shout.
As Kirie tried to process all that he's hearing, he tries to prop himself up on his hands and knees. His eyesight no longer white but blurry, he took a look around.
First glance told him he was in a dinning hall, which meant what had broken earlier must have been a plate or some other sort of eatery. As his eyes became clearer he could make out the details of peoples faces around him, looking directly at him with looks of fear and disgust.
One thin tall man in particular was looking at him while shouting at the others. He must have been important because the quality of his outfit far outshone the others. He was in a long crimson and gold robe emblazoned with a fist crushing what looked like a shadowy boar with red eyes and long sharp teeth. His face red with anger, and not a single hair on his head.
"Soldiers restrain him" Every time his mouth opened spittle flew, and his teeth brown from age and decay would be exposed. Equally brown were his eyes narrow and looking at Kirie.
Following the man in the robes commands, soldiers started to fill Kirie's vision. They were in what looked like a shiny medieval plate mail, all emblazoned with the same symbol as the aforementioned man right over their hearts. With the visors open on their helmets all he could see was hatred on their faces. They quickly quickly grabbed him by the arms and pushed him tighter down on his knees.
"What are you doing here?" An important looking soldier yells at Kirie
"What are you doing commander!!" The old man in the robe said throwing even more spit everywhere. "You know what to do with it. There is no discussion"
"But I was hoping to glean some kind of information from this thing" The commander replied brandishing his sword at Kirie. "If it's not alone we should try to root out.." Before he could finish the old man rushed forward and shoved him aside. Slowly pulling a dagger from his robes as he drew closer to Kirie.
"Wait what do you mean by it, and thi..." Kirie whose voice had just returned to him lost it just as quick as the dagger moved along his throat. Heat spread from his neck down his chest as warmth left the rest of his extremities. The soldiers holding him dropped him, and yet again his head clashed to the floor. His vision dimming and hearing cutting in and out.
"This is holy groun... is not allowe... no exept..." Kirie could see the old man walking away as his depth perception started to draw closer.
"Clean... mess up." And with that Kirie blew one more blood bubble, and everything went white, again...
nya 1.3
"Nyahahahahaha....." The booming laugh was heard once again "It looks like luck was too much on your side. Nyahahahahaha..."
"Luck what luck would that be, to die instantly like that." Kirie said as he stomped his foot on the ground. He found himself back in the great white expanse, wait stomp? He looked down at himself and saw he did have a body this time around. He seemed to be dressed in a furry robe.
"Just means you were too lucky?"
"Again what luck."
"You weren't perhaps hoping to go someplace that would be good for humans in this new world, would you? Nyahahahah.." The cat face crested the horizon with a huge smile and slitted eyes.
"Yeah so what, how would that change anything? That place obviously wasn't that safe." Kirie said with a grimace.
"Well that is were you are wrong, that was the purfect place for humans, though extreme as their views may be."
"But then why...." Kirie started to think back.
"Well I guess I should clear up a misunderstanding, nyahahaha. You see I'm a cat god, I'm not a god who can create humans, if you can see what I'm getting at."
"Hmmm..." Kirie put his hand on his chin and thought. Pyon Pyon "Pyon?" He reached to the side of his head and... "My ears are gone!! How can I hear, where are they?!"
A gaint cat paw slid along the ground and stopped in front of him, it extended a single claw upwards. Kirie slowly moved his hands towards the top of his head, stopping partway to the top. He felt something on either side, pinching them gently with his hands he recognized that feeling. The soft short hair on one side and cool smooth skin on the other, these were large cat ears. His face lit with confusion, and he slowly turned to look at his back. There! There it is like his fondest dream a pure white, medium fur, fluffy tail was slowly swaying behind him. He reached out for it, but it slowly moved the other way. Next thing he knew he was spinning himself trying to catch it, like a dog erm, cat chasing it's tail.
"Nyahahahaha... You can play later, now's the time to talk." Kirie finally realized what he was doing in the presence of a god, and stopped. He started looking all around his face flushed with embarrassment. "As you noticed I can only create a form like this, so going to the extremist human capital castle was very much a wrong turn. If I had been able to create you a human vessel things probably would have gone quite a bit differently, they probably would have treated you as a hero sent from their god. Though the god of those wicked hearted humans is just as twisted, he'd never be able to snag a human with so much devotion. So I doubt they'd ever get a champion. Though them calling you a demi isn't quite right, you are a little more than that, but you'll see that later. For now I'd like to have a discussion with you about your old guardian."
"Guardian?.." Kirie tilts his head to the side, when he thinks about it the cat god had said something earlier, or well before his reincarnation/death sequence.
"Nyahahaha..Yes guardian, when I felt the presence of a new shrine and prayers toward me, I sent a guardian spirit to watch over it. Though she quickly became curious about you and ditched her spiritual form for a mortal one, to interact with you. I believed you called her Two-Face, as a spirit she was known as Tomoe."
"Two-Face was the guardian spirit of the shrine I built?"
"Yes, you always prayed so earnestly and not for yourself but for others, even your most selfish wish for responsibility, was just so you had it for others. This drove Tomoe into curiosity, and as they say 'curiousity killed the cat, and satisfaction brought it back', well almost. More like curiosity brought the cat to life and after she was satisfied, she died. Nyahahahaha..."
Kirie tried to digest that, he had only made the shrine because he was influenced by games and manga. He loved cats more than anything, ever since a certain cat/bus was shone to him, and wanted to care for one. He had continued the offertory after finding Tomoe because in his mind that wish had come true.
"So what was it you wanted to speak to me about two... Tomoe?" To him Tomoe was a much cuter name. He had only named her Two-Face because as a kid he didn't know she was female, and her perfectly split features.
"Ahem, yes I digress. What I wanted to talk to you about was that after hearing about you being reincarnated, she wanted to go too as your guardian again. Your gonna be in a world where she can follow you longer than she was as a normal housecat. She started using me as a scratching post after seeing you die without her. Though she is ignorant to that world she wants to follow you still. Nyahahahah.... What a rambunctious child." The cat paw in front of him turns over to show a bare spot of flesh where the fur was ripped out and clawed.
"I do think any help can be used in a land unfamiliar to me. She was the answer to my prayers as a child, so please allow her to help me again." Kirie bowed his head to the cat god. "Please allow me to use Tomoe as a guardian again." He lowered his head even more.
"Raise your head, nyhahaha.. and look in front of you." When Kirie raised his gaze he was met with the brightness of a brown ball of light in front of him. "I don't even think there was a need to even ask. This child probably would have clawed her way into that world anyway. Not much you can do about the foolishness of children, I'll create a Mortal vessel for her to join you in your endeavors, but this time I'll choose where you'll be appearing."
"Thank you, Neko-sama...." As before his vision started to fade, though he didn't feel the warmth this time.
After Kirie and Tomoe faded away the cat gods smile broadened. "Seriously what are those foolish humans' thinking, the world is so much bigger than they could have ever even imagined."
Nya 1.4
"Oh my god. It's Our lord...!" This time his hearing seemed to kick in quicker than any of his other senses and he heard a woman's voice. He seemed to be sitting on a stone slab of sorts, he feet didn't seem to touch the ground. As his vision cleared he could see he was in a cathedral, the stained glass windows depicted a white cat with gold eyes and a broad smile, holding a gold coin, and bringing fortune to other cats. He was sitting on an alter towards the back of the building, with a giant cat statue hovering over him. In front of him where several people on their knees, behind them in what looked like a nun's habit was a woman with her hand over her face, all had tails flickering excitedly behind them.
'Oh my god oh my god cat girls' went a thought through Kirie's mind 'Cat girls, cat girls, cat girls!!!' This chant in his head repeated over and over again as the nun drew nearer. Details in the candle-lit area were only focused on close proximity, and as she got closer Kirie started spotting them. 'Cat girls, cat girls.....'
"Cat....girl?" As she strode through the final distance, Kirie let this small whisper escape his lips. He was finally able to see, now that his eyes had adjusted to the low light, that not just the ears and tail but their whole bodies were covered with fur. The nun who had approached him had a gray and white coat with blue eyes.
"You're our lord aren't you,.." She said while reaching for his face. "You have the noblest of coats.." as she touched his cheek."and golden pupils are not a natural occurrence." pointing at him. Those that were already on their knees prostrated themselves further at her words.
"Wha. Wait why are you doing that. I'm not someone you grovel to" Kirie's voice tore through the throng of the anthropomorphic cats. The tone of his voice sounded different to him, younger more jubilant, like he was on the verge of laughing. He looked down at his hands and saw they are covered with white fur, pure white like the expanse he had just came from.
At that moment gasps were heard around him as a flash of white light blinded everyone looking in his direction. He felt warmth on his lap after the light faded, and looked down to see a small calico kitten was rolled in a ball asleep. He pet it gently and looked at it's face split so perfectly down the middle. "Tomoe.." he whispered as he softly picked her up, she wasn't waking so he put her in the pocket of his shirt.
"That can't be right, you are the spitting image of our lord and your strange garment has the holy symbol of the cat god." Kirie looked down to see he was wearing shorts and a pocketed T-shirt, the shirt had a gold coin printed on it. The coin had "fortune" stamped on it."And whats more you have an original beast in your possession, though it's origins look muddeled." she said pointing at Tomoe in his front pocket.
"Original beast..?" He said as he looked down at the sleeping kitten
"How can a god be so ignorant, is your avatar so freshly born that you weren't able to retain knowledge of this world? Original beasts are the origin of all the beastmen races, and in turn the demi's as well. Do you know who you are? What you are? or your purpose?" She turned her head to the side, she seemed shocked at his lack of knowledge about this world. "Maybe you aren't our lord, but you must surely be chosen by him. Why else would you look the way you do, and appeared the way you have. I've heard of gods gifting champions to the people, but aren't those supposed to be in more turbulent times. We aren't at war, other than the occasional monster or group of bandits, it's fairly peaceful in our country. We have better ties to the demi's and humans then the other beastmen. Trade is good and both work and food are aplenty. We are surrounded by water and border only one country. We may not get along as well as we'd like with the other beastmen, but are alliance is still strong"
"Beastmen..? Demi's...? What do you mean by these terms, I really don't quite follow you. I'm only here to live a new life of devotion..." 'I wish I could start over with a more normal beginning.' Kirie got to his feet and started to walk towards them, but with his first step tumbled down the stairs and hit his head, all was dark thereafter.
Nya 1.5
"mew, meow, nya." The soft noises made by the kitten and the feel of a rough tongue on Kirie's nose brought him to. As his eyes opened he saw a purple canopy over the moderate sized bed he was on. The sheets felt courser than the ones he remembers, and the bed seemed stiff like it was filled with a coarse material. It seemed to be topped with something soft at least. He turned to the side and saw the small cat looking directly at his face.
"Oh my god, your too cut. owww...." As kirie went to sit up he abruptly put his hands to the back of his head. The smarting pain was a quick reminder that for the nth time in what seemed such a short while he had hit his head once again. Where was the luck that the cat god described, every turn seemed to be messed up. Looking down his whole body was covered in white fur, he didn't seem to be wearing anything under the bed covers. Wondering where he might be, he turned to the side of the bed to get up and look around the room. It was a decent sized room, with a couple of windows on one side, and a couple of chairs and a table opposite the bed. All the decor in the room were cat-like, from the etchings on the outside of the earthenware on the table to the tapestry on the wall. Even the floors had what seemed to be a broadly smiling cat on it, and as Kirie's vision wandered downwards he let out a stifled shriek...
"IT'S GONE..." Kirie looked down to something he couldn't see, yelling wildly all the while. "Where did it go, MY MANHOOD, OH GOD it was a good quarter of my reason for living, and it's gone. It's life was cut to short, it had so much reason to keep living. Why oh why did you take him, he was so young. I think I should give the departed a moment of silence." In his hysteria he failed to notice the door behind him opening. " Wait, actually I think I see it, but what the hell, it's so tiny." His spine seemed more flexible than it ever had, as he was able to bend himself nearly in half to look at his nether region.
"Ehem... this is kind of embarrassing... with you in that position.... he" a woman's voice sounded off with a cough behind Kirie. Realizing What he was doing was being observed, for how long he didn't know, he quickly turned around and bowed his head in apology.
"I'm so sorry, I was just curious.." Looking up he saw it was the same Cat sister that he saw in the church. He may as well have been a pink cat as his coat flushed in embarrassment at being seen in such a compromising position, and by an opposite gendered person of faith no less.
"Actually... it isn't... all that small...Er.. By cat beatmen standards.." she lowered her head embarrassed by what she had said.
"NOOOOOOO! Please don't continue this topic." Kirie's head lowered as he crumpled to the ground, ashamed of the continuing subject. A look of despair on his face he pleaded to the cat in a habit. "Please where are clothes I can where, wasn't I wearing clothes when I first appeared."
"Well... We needed to make sure you were alright. Here's the clothing you were wearing, we just washed them since you were on the floor." The nun held out a neatly folded stack of clothes.
Kirie hurried to put them on, he had to sit back down on the bed though. His balance was slightly off. After changing in a flash he turned back to address the waiting sister, then stumbled. On closer look of the sister Kirie came to a realization.'I'm so short'
"Whe.. Where am I" Kirie stammered out still flustered from the recent event.
"You are in the capital city of Norgoth, Deserece. More locally your still in the church of Shironyan. After you suddenly appeared seeming to have no common knowledge, and then abruptly knocked yourself out, the officials of the Shirnyan sect wanted to make sure you were of sound mind before sending you to the white palace. By the way my name is Norako, I'm a junior sister of the congregation. Today was my first official day of duty at the church."
"Oh, sorry. My name is Kirie Arkano it's a pleasure to meet you, the kitten over there tearing the fluff from the pillow is called Two-Face." The kitten was occupying itself by pulling the stuffing from the corner of the pillow, then turning to look at Kirie with a meow. "I'm sorry she's destroying your pillow, she's still so young." The kitten turned again and meowed once more in his direction.
"It's quite alright, you don't see original beasts all to often nowadays. It's suppose to be good luck if you do. It's said that they use to have a huge population, that they bred prolifically and had a short lifespan. Now they aren't around much and not very many only have one tail, you see they have a long lifespan and every fifty years or so they get a new tail, once they hit nine tails they turn into a magical beast. Once there it's intelligence skyrockets, and they tend to find secluded spots to guard and call home." Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she fervently explained, It looked to be a subject of interest of hers. As quickly as it came it dropped as a look of realization dawned on her face. "Sorry, I was prattling, I tend to carry on when that subject is brought up, I've done extensive reading on the origin stories. It's hard to find new material, books are quite limited, and don't seem to travel much. So I only have the capital library to find reading material, and for the grand part all of it is speculation." As her blur of words came to an end, she started slowing down. "Again I'm sorry there isn't many to talk about it with."
"That's okay, I can completely understand going off on a subject your interested in." The kitten strode over to the end of the bed and started meowing at Kirie, so he went over an picked her up, scratching her head behind the ears as he did so. Two-Face's eyes narrowed as she purred, vibrating Kirie stuck her in his shirt pocket. "You said something about checking my mental health before sending me somewhere." Kirie said looking at Norako, still scratching the kitten's head.
"Yes, I just need to make sure you know where you are and that you at least the bare minimum about the area. Judging by the conversation we've had I'd say your mind is at least stable. After I inform you, you need to be taken to the palace to introduce yourself to the queen-in-waiting."
"So you said this is Norgoth, what kind of country is it?"
"Norgoth is a small country sepperated from the rest of the beastmen alliance, we're surrounded by water except our only bordering country Re Unn north of us. We aren't as much of supremacists as the other beastmen which makes trading with the Demi-states easy, because of that we have a thriving mercantile community. We are a monarchy with Shirouka as are queen-in-waiting, but right now a governing board runs things until the queen comes of age. The main religion of the country is the following of the fortunate cat, said to bring luck and fortune to his followers." She rattled this off matter-of-factly. She seemed proud of her call to sisterhood.
"You said your god is Shironyan, correct?"
"Oh, yes."
"When I first showed up you said I was your lord, or champion, what did you mean by that?"
"Well you are a spitting image of how our doctrine describes Shironyan." Norako said with a smile. "With fur the color of freshly fallen snow, eyes as gold as an ingot, and short in stature."
"Sh..Short" Kirie stammered looking away sadly.
"So it was easy for me to mistake you for him. Tales do tell of champions though, they're beings who have been given the gods' blessings and sent to bring glory to their people." At this Kirie knew who the cat god was. "But those kind of tales usually involve war or famine among the people, so the champion has to do something to stabilize the world, so I'm confused at why we would need a champion. We are at peace, and the economy is going strong with trade."
"Though it is true that the cat god sent me here, I didn't catch his name. He said that my reason for being here besides the ability of continued living was to spread his name and my continued devotion, weird he didn't give me a name to spread." Kirie tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"A cat god? Surely it must have been Shironyan, oh glory be, Shironyan has sent a champion. Today is a momentous occasion for our people. You must be a herald for a glorious future for the cat beastmen. I believe I have shared enough knowledge about Norgoth for the time being, who knows what the future brings, you'll learn more day by day, but first we need to go to the palace for formal greetings, do try and be respectful of the queen-in-waiting."
"Okay, should we head out." Kirie was looking foward to meeting the monarch, you don't get opportunities like this in modern America. It was the perfect start for a fantasy setting.
Two-Face had long since fallen asleep in Kirie's pocket, her head sticking out the top breathing softly. Kirie smiled at her as they headed out the door and down the stairs, back to the main room of the church.
"Norako, I see the guest has woken up." A short wrinkled beastman walked up questioning the girl. He was wearing a white and gold robe with a miter on his head. The same gold coin stamped on Kirie's shirt was stitched above his heart. He had dark tipped ears and an angular face, overall his markings looked Siamese.
"Minister Barboroas I thought you were at a council meeting." Norako replied tilting her head gently in a sign of respect.
"I was but someone dashed in, and told us in panted breath that someone resembling our lord appeared out of nowhere in our morning congregation. So we quickly concluded our business, and I headed here. I've been waiting to see for myself." Barboroas looked over Kirie with a gleam in his tired looking eyes.
"Oh yes, Kirie here has said that he was brought here by a feline deity, I believe Shironyan has sent us a champion."
"Really now, he says that does he." Once again he starts to look Kirie up an down, as his eyes wander over Kirie's front pocket, or more significantly Two-Face in it, a scowl crosses over his face. "Why would our lord send a champion with such a mixed bred beast..." he mutter in audible.
"What did you say?" Kirie was curious what this old guy was muttering under his breath, with such a displeased look.
"Oh, nothing..."
"After talking with him, I believe he is of sound mind, so I was going to escort him to the palace." Noraka says with a beaming smile.
"Very well you should go he royal highness probably has already heard the news of his arrival. Her curiosity must be peaking as she awaits proper introduction." Barboroas said with a smirk. "you better get going, you don't want to cause her to get impatient."
With that Kirie and Norako headed out of the church.
Once they were out of sight Barbaroas's scowl deepened.
"There is no way our lord sent us a champion accompanied by that mutt, something else must be going on here, something bad..."
Nya 1.6
The streets were bustling with noise and activities, as they left the church district. The majority of the people he saw were cat beastmen, but here and there were others. He saw the pointed ears of what must have been an elf moving among the crowds. The market seemed lively and business seemed good with the masses of people buying and selling. As kirie walked the streets he also felt eyes on him, and even in hushed tones he could still hear them.
"Is that him?" said one
"Look at his eyes and coat, who else could it be."
"I heard his fur is so lustrous that dirt dare not try and stain it, that even if you try to purposefully blacken it, that it just shines brighter."
"Sir, sir would you mind trying my food." One beastman in particular approached Kirie and Norako. He looked well off, rotund and broad smile, his fur was gray with piercing steel gray eyes. Kirie approached the stall he was working, the enticing smell of roasted meat wafted over him. "I am named Carloff, and all the food you see here is fresh slaughtered, and seasoned with local herbs."
Kirie's hunger gnawed at him as he got closer, the smell and sight of the skewers were enough to almost drive him mad. As he stood in front of them his pocket started squirming, and the kitten's voice cried out. Her head popped out as Two-Face stared at the meat intently.
"Carloff my name is Kirie." Kirie extended his hand with the thought of a proper introduction.
"Oh, it's nice to meet you, I'm a little surprised though, I thought you'd say your name is Shironyan. That is what the words flying about say." He said with a smile. "I don't put much stock in gossip though. You just have such a regal air about you."
"No he isn't the fortunate cat, it sounds as if he might have been sent by him though." Norako chimed in, with her hand she pointed at his breast pocket."Look he has an original beast with him."
"So he does!" Carloff exclaims looking excited, "Isn't seeing one good luck, I have a feeling business is going to be good for a while. It is a little thing ain't it"
"I don't know about bringing luck, but she is precious to me. Ow..." As Kirie was talking he started stroking her head, but then was stuck in the chest with a claw, as Twoface meowed, once again look at the meat with lustful eyes. "I'm new o this land, and I'm sorry but I don't have any currency to buy your wares." Kirie said looking yearningly at the meat himself
"Gyahahaha... Look at you with such a sober face, here it's my treat. Lets say it was enough for you to come over here and sate my curiosity about the rumors since this morning." The round Beastman laughed, seeming more jovial than before. He handed Kirie three skewers, Kirie's and the kitten's eyes followed his hands inch by inch. A look of utmost joy crossed Kirie's face as Carloff passed the skewers to his hand.
"Thank you so much, I'm starving. Ah.." Once again needle like claws darted in and out of him. Twoface protested as she pulled half her body out of Kirie's pocket. Kirie pulled her the rest of the way out and set her on the paved stone allyway next to the stall. He then ripped the meat from one of the skewers and shredded it, retractable claws were very convenient. He put the food in front of the cat then off handily held one out for Norako.
"For me?" Norako asked looking at him with a tilted head.
"Of course, Carloff handed us three probably knowing you wanted one too." He then took a bite of the remanding skewer a look of pure bliss on his face.
"Exactly, your showing this guy around aren't you? Besides why wouldn't I want to give a treat to a cutie like you."
Norako turned away looking bashful, then reached out and took the offered skewer.
"Thank you" She muttered quietly, and started munching the meat with a smile. After all parties had consumed their allotment, Kirie picked up Twoface, belly bulging from her recent engorgement, and put her back in his pocket. She closed her eyes, content with the full stomach, and went to sleep.
"Thank you again." Kirie smiles at Carloff bowing his head slightly. "It was delicious, not bad for the first food I've had in this world."
"Thank you for such high praise. Hopefully you'll become a regular here once you start making a wage." Carloff smiles waving back.
"We need to go, Kirie." Norako whispers in Kirie's ear. "We can't keep her majesty waiting."
"I'd like to come back as a customer as well. Well we've got to go, I'll see you then."
With those parting words the two started heading towards the royal grounds.
.....
"Wooooow." That was the first word uttered by Kirie as he stood in front of the White Palace, and white it was, a dazzlingly bright white topped with gold. Kirie couldn't see any wear or discoloring anywhere within the white. "Wow, I probably could strip off all my clothes and all you'd see was irisis's floating about."
"Please don't seeing you in the buff once today was enough, have you no shame." Norako said in a serious voice. "Also it would be very disrespectful to Shironyan. It is said that he blessed the stone to build the palace so it would never require upkeep, and always shine brightly." Her voice took on an excited tone in the explanation.
"Yes, yes. I know better than to streak on palace grounds, and please forget about before." The pathetic tone leaked from Kirie's mouth. " I was just starting to forget it, and now I have to go through that embarrassment all over again."
"You reap what you sow. Please try to be civil in front of Shirouka, you don't want to lose your head by acting a fool in front of royalty."
Kirie paled, remembering that not long ago he had died a dog's death, with his heart expelling his blood out his neck. Wasn't that also in a capital city. He remembered the screaming old human saying something like that.
"Whoa. What's wrong, you look ghastly." Norako looked at his face. It had lost all the emotion from before, and the whole demeanor seemed to drop like a rock. He looked as if he would fall if a breeze blew through. " I was just trying to reign in some of your excitement, not obliterate your heart." With a tone of concern she patted him on the head. "It's okay, I doubt Shirouka would do something so rash to someone of your circumstance." said soothingly while rubbing his head.
Kirie realized he was being soothed by someone younger than him, and it helped clear his mind. He knew the reaction he had gotten from the humans had been an extreme case, and that a race full of cat love wouldn't react in a similar way. The thought cheered him as he went to assure Norako that he was fine.
"Sorry, I'm fine, I was just reminded of something I wish I hadn't been. It's good, I'll cheer up." Kirie plastered a smile on his face trying to shore up his mood. He looked around to take in the sight of the palace again. The floors didn't seem to hold up as well as the walls, he could see scuffs, and wear hear and there, there was most obviously dirt and dust on the ground. Within the sight the stark contrast seemed odd, did the floors seem all the dirtier because of how clean the walls looked, or vise versa. Maybe today was just an off day for whomever cleans here. The palace was laid out with flower gardens in the corners of the lot, with three large round multi-leveled white buildings with gold caps, though building is a bit ambiguous term size relative, Kirie's entire two floor apartment complex would fit in one 8x over. They were smaller at the top and bottom than in the middle. It seemed the building to the right is the living quarters for everyone who is at the palace daily as required, like the royal line, and the servants. The middle one is the presiding grounds of judgment for the country's ruler, also the ceremonial grounds for anything important, and banquet hall. The one on the right is there for diplomatic reasons, room's for foreign dignitaries, discussion halls for political meetings, and it is were the interim council That rules this country meet.
At the moment the two of them were headed for the center building. The doorway was ornate with a monochromatic depiction of a cat on a cloud smiling at cats tilling the soil of the ground below him. The door was not the same material that the walls were made of, so you could see wear but compared to the floors it must have a routine cleaning. As they approached the door swung open silently.
"Norako where have you been!!?" Roared a giant pure black cat beastman. Wearing a suit that barely contained his bulging muscles, his voice started changing to a panicked tone. " Her majesty has been waiting for hours, she's started to grow restless. She was going to start the game of chex, if you didn't arrive soon." His face wrinkled at the thought.
"I'm terribly sorry Gabe, as you probably already heard Kirie was unconscious til not long ago, and we stopped to got something to eat real quick." Korako started explaining as fast as she could.
"So you're Kirie, hmm?" The giant extended his hand, which engulfed half of Kirie's arm with a heart shake. " My name is Gaberiel, my mission is to serve the royal family. I'm sorry the my introduction must be short, we need to take you to Shirouka before things get out of hand." With his massive grip still on Kirie, he started dragging Kirie through the doors.
They went through the banquet hall and towards the throne room. It was a large hall with a red carpet down the center leading to the throne. The wide space on either side of the carpet looked as though it was large enough for a decent crowd to gather, empty as it was at that moment. On the walls hung white banners with a familiar coin on it, high windows flooded the room with natural light. The throne itself looked... uncomfortable was the only way to describe it. It was some kind of wood wrapped in metal, seat flat, back straight, no hint of cushioning. Kirie grimaced looking at it, the idea of sitting in that seat for any amount of time would be torture. As he was thinking this, a figure stepped out behind the throne.
"My father use to say that the position on the throne was not a luxury, but a duty. As such the throne should not be one that could lull you into a sense of comfort and security. The pain of the Seat of authority is there to remind those seated upon it, that they should stay alert and be attentive of those they rule over." Was quietly heard as the feline walked up to Kiries group.
As she drew closer the people around Kirie assumed the position of fealty. She was taller than Korako, with a white coat and dark blue eyes. She was wearing a white and gold dress and sporting a golden tiara on her head. When he went to kneel, she held out a hand to stop him.
" You need not kneel, I am here for a casual introduction, as you are not my subject, this formal air does not fit the situation." She smiled at Kirie. " All evidence supports the fact that you are a special existence. Blessed as was this palace by Shironyan, and sent to support his people. I am Shirouka, the person to be crowned ruler of Norgoth in half a year's time." She introduced herself with a light nod of the head.
"I am Kirie, your majesty. It is a pleasure to meet you." Kirie lightly bowed." About what you first said, how'd you know.."
"What you were thinking." She finished his sentence with a toothy grin. " I can read your mind..." Kirie's face twitched, a ruler with that kind of power would be terrifying."...really. It wasn't very hard, it was etched into your face, with your eyes firmly on the throne." She started chuckling softly, looking at his reaction. "Any leader worthy of their position should be adept at reading expressions and body language."
"Oh.." Kirie was taken by surprise, this world was still so new to him. He had no idea what the limits of magic use was, or any inkling of what magic was in the first place. "Sorry, I took your words serious. This world is new to me, I'm ignorant of all but the basics."
"Well that is to be expected, you did appear here first, didn't you?" Her majesty peered at kirie with curiosity.
"Um... Well.." Kirie started rubbing his arms, and shifting his feet. His gaze wandered all over the throne room, to end on Shirouka gazing at him earnestly. "You see I actually appeared somewhere else and was killed on the spot."
""Whaat...."" Shirouka's and Norako's overlapping voices resounded throughout the empty hall.
"Yeah.. It seemed to be a human capital, or at least that was what I remember the guy who killed me saying. My body was still new at the time, so I think it took awhile for my senses to kick in. It was over quickly."
"So that was why you looked so in the dumps at my joke earlier." Korako said with concern.
"I thank you for coming here at my request, I would love to chat with you longer, but my schedule is long, and you should experience the city then rest. I will definitely be calling on you again to talk, but during the time you have you should familiarize yourself with this world, and learn about that ways of the people here. You are all dismissed."
As Kirie's group left the throne room, Shirouka's eyes never left him.
.......
A few hours later Kirie lay exhausted upon the same church provided bed as before, Twoface on the pillow next to his head. He looked out the window at the blue moon rising, not tinted blue, but a full rich blue color. Apparently the moon's color, form, and path in the sky changed each month. Each month had thirty-eight days and there were ten months. Every month brought with it a different moon and season. The month and moon shared a name this one's name was Seviin.
"Oh, who's such a pretty kitty." Kirie rolled over an put his hand on the kitten, rubbing her behind the ears and lightly scratching her back."I've got so much to learn before I can do anything in this world. I need to take studies seriously."
"Nya." The kitten seemed to reply softly, and moved to lay down in the space between him and his arm.
"Norako volunteered to help me study, she seems nice, I can't let every one's expectations of me fall short. Good night pretty girl." Kirie falls asleep lightly stroking the kitten.
........
In a dark room a twisted smile appears, eyes filled with a madness, or obsession open above it.
"Heh, Huu...." Heavy breathing is all that is heard in this room, no lights in the room, and the moon is blocked by curtains. The breathing continues for a while then stops. "He'll be mine.." The voice sounds strained like it was barely forced out. The voice was quiet, soft, a person would have to be standing right next to overhear. "No one else can have him, only me. Those eyes..." The sound of a strangled moan escapes the smile. "Those eyes would be perfect for our lineage. I will have them." The eyes carry no emotion, besides longing. The smiles ends curl further, as the eyes narrowed. "only mine..."
end chapter 1
All he could see was white, just an ever expanding field of white. He couldn't feel anything from the white, not warmth or cold. There was no noise, not even what a normal person would think of silence, there was absolutly nothing. Despite all that he didn't feel threatened by the great expanse contrarily he only felt comfort and relaxation.
Kirie Arkano was just a normal everyday twenty-four year old guy, he was 6'3 mainly European in background, dark brown hair, just a slightly taller than average American. Everything else about him was just normal, other than his obsessive fanboy side for all things Japanese, granted he could not speak it very well, or even read it. He always got any localized content he could, and he didn't need to understand it when it came to music all he had to do was enjoy it.
Back to him at present.
"How did I get here, what was I doing?" He wracked his brain in search of what he was doing before everything became blank. Everything seemed so vague, his mind was in a haze. The only thing he could remember was an impact and then nothing.
"Nyahahahaha..." suddenly a catlike laugh was heard
Nya 0
"hyaaaah" With a loud yawn Kirie stretched out his arms, classes are always so long, and sitting for the entire time had brought lethargy to his limbs, not to mention how tired he was even before classes had begun. He had spent most the night reading a Light Novel from one of his favorite series that had just been released, and because of that he had to wake up earlier than usual to try and cram the last minute homework. He was in such a hurry he had forgotten to lay food down at the shrine he kept in his tiny fenced in back area, not gonna call it a yard cause of how small and bare it was, the shrine itself took more space then could be afforded to anything else. He couldn't remember the last time he had broken routine.
The shrine was something he had built back when he was 10, it had grown quite a bit since back then, he liked adding to it. Even since childhood he had been bit by the bug and had became a japanophile, and with tech upgrading every year it just got stronger and stronger as time went on. The shrine had started with Popsicle stick tori leading to it, his dad had helped him with the main shrine, it had a large shelf for offerings two bowls on either side for incense and a little roof over it. Kirie loved cats, absolutely and dearly but his parents wouldn't let him raise one until they could be certain he would be able to properly care of one. So Kirie built a shrine to the cat god. After the building project was done every morning and night he would go to it and pray to become responsible enough to care for another living being, the following weeks he started to do odd jobs for parents and friends to earn a little pocket change. He surprised his parents when he took the money he earned to buy offerings for the shrine, just little things cats might like, a little plush mouse and the like. He then bought two small clay pots and put in catnip, finaly when the shrine looked well put to him, he started to put cans of fish or cat food on it every other day, the cans were always emptied before he put a new one on. After his parents saw his dedication to his project they thought maybe he could take care of a cat, but before that Kirie had met a cat he dubbed Two-Face on the account it was a calico with a split colored face right down the middle. That cat became his companion for 13 years, but even after getting a cat he never failed to pray and put offerings on the shrine, even after Two-Face passed on half a year ago. On the shrine is a picture of him with her, to always remind him how thankful he is to have had such a great cat.
He was pretty sure the fish and canned food is just being eaten by the local strays, but wouldn't that make the cat god happy?
"Hey Kurie what's the matter, you look so tired and your eyes are red, did you spend all night wanking it again?" His thoughts were interupted by the voice of Barrey, one of the few people he talked to on the community college campus he was on. Barrey had a similar taste in music and recreation, but no filter, he tended to say what was exactly on his mind, other than some rude comments, he was okay. "Wasn't that why you missed class a couple of weeks ago, when imoasis 3 came out. I mean I understand, but you should read VN's on your spare time like me, not binge it like you tend to do." He said with a smirk on his face.
"I know but I hate ending part way through, there never seems to be a good place to walk away." At that time the new imouto moege had came out and Kirie had finished all routes in one sitting, his words per minute was like 400 but it still takes time to read. Afterwords he had visited the extras menu to revisit certain scenes, only to take so long he couldn't get up in time for classes.Ever since he was a child he would pick up a book and not be able to set it down until it was finished, even if that was into the wee hours of the morning. "You know when it's good, it's good. I just can't stop when I'm that into it. Remember that wizard novel, it was over a thousand pages, I finished that in one sitting in twelve hours."
"I know, I know, but you should try to get out of your comfort zone. You always read the happier stories and only a little bit of horror. You should read something with a little more tragedy, like this." Barrey says, while stuffing a book in Kirie's face, Kirie recognizes it and it is not his cup o tea "Come on the MC has to relive death and maiming of the people he cares about again, and again untill he can figure a way to bypass it to go a little bit forward in the timeline and into the next novel. It would be perfect for you to move away from all the slice o lifes you read, Mister from the day you were born never had anyone but family care for him. If you want your real life slice o life story you have to go through hardships, that means doing stuff your not comfortable with. Like reading this series, Come on. please I really want to talk to someone about it." he said with a pleading look
'haha his true motive showed up, and I completely understand, both of us are pretty close to shut-ins. there is just so little people with common interest's, I tend to talk with others online. I gave up on trying to convince people IRL, it's much easier to find a forum dedicated to people of similar interest's.'
"Maybe is you offer a prayer to the cat god I might consider it" Kirie replied
"Cat god? That's what the shrine you have is for right? It sure is small but it does look legit. In that case I just might." Barrey says as he clasps his hands together with an audible smack, he then closed his eyes and stayed silent for about a minute. When his eyes snapped open his gaze went to Kirie, "So did it work, will you start this series so we can discuss it."
"I think the cat god would be pleased hearing your voice plead for me again, alright give me the first two volumes and give me a couple of days."
"Couple of days, whats with that Mr. Speed Reader?" Barrey said sounding all kinds of impatient
"You know that my WPM drop if I'm not fully interested in the topic you saw it before when I tried to play Sdays."
"Oh, that's right didn't it take you like a month to finish it, I know it has thirty endings but what was the hold up on it, I enjoyed it." Barrey says smiling
"I didn't like the fact that it showed anyone you didn't chooses misery, everyone except the MC and your choice for the route." 'I really hated seeing misery for a heroine who you didn't choose, but if you did she was happy. I prefer ones when you choose there might be conflict at first but eventually everyone congratulates you then it's just happy times for the couple with maybe a little conflict, but it ends happily.'
"Alright I'll hold you to that, well I gotta go to afternoon classes. I'll call you after I'm done, I got the new season of 'Golden-Haired Ninja' we can watch a bit tonight"
"Alright I'll look forward to it, I'm heading back, gotta go to the store on the way home." with that they said there goodbyes and went their separate ways. The ride on the bus from the satellite campus wasn't bad, about fifteen minutes away from Kirie's apartment complex, BTW Barrey lives two doors down from him. When he got off the bus it was a quick 5 min walk to the nearest grocery store.
"Hmmmmm...." Kirie was staring at the fresh fish on ice, living closer to the ocean has it's benefits. Though he couldn't decide on what to get. This wasn't for just for him, it was to put an upgraded offering on the shrine because he missed this morning. He didn't want to cheap out and he felt obligated after having a selfish prayer sent to the cat god, his own prayers had tended to be about the safety and health of his cat, and lately it's been about the happiness of Two-Face where ever she may be. He hadn't been selfish in his prayers since he first built the shrine, thoughts did cross his mind as he got older like wondering if he was dedicated enough maybe a cat-girl would show up, but that was always just a fantasy. He grabbed the cod and proceeded to the checkout aisle. 'looks good, I'll fillet it, use one for dinner and use the rest of the fish as an offering' he paid for the fish and walked out to the parking lot, just as he left the entryway he heard a noise and felt something on his left side, then nothing.
Nya 1.1
"Nyahahahaha....." a cat like laugh rang out in the great white expanse around Kurie
He finally heard some thing, and with that sound he started to feel something too. A soft texture under his feet like silky soft fur with a warmth that was radiating upwards. He felt a pleasant warm breeze softly coming and going around him, the air was just a tinge humid. He looked at his hands but saw nothing even down at his feet he say nothing but white above and all around, then his eyes started to adjust and he realize the white of the sky was slightly different then the white at the ground, he could see the texture of fur just like he felt under his feet. Wait though he saw no feet or hands how did he have a sense of touch, these thoughts went through his mind as he wiggled his toes in the soft fur. Surprisingly even in his mind he wasn't panicking, It all just felt so comfortable he was contemplating a nap.
"Nyahahahaha...." The voice boomed again "I never would have expected a foreigner like you to become so dedicated when I sent her to you." The voice sounded like a young boy though it reverberated all through the air and ground, it sounded large and booming. " You even kept it up after she was gone, you always brought the best offerings you could, and even expanded the shrine all through your life. You got others to recognize me, and always kept your thoughts pure when praying. Kirie thank you for your life"
'Wait just a moment are you...?'
"Yes"
'Does that mean I'm...?"
"Deceased, yes, I'm sorry, you died while bringing me an offering. You didn't even have the chance to mate in your short life, so sad." the voice responded remoresly. "Once again I'm sorry again."
'Why are you so sorry you had nothing to do with my death.'
"Well if I had sent another it may have been a different story..."
'Another...?'
"Anyway since your life was cut so short, I snagged you before you were swept into the afterlife." He said sounding a bit smug "I was only able to because of your devotion."
'Wait what does the afterlife consist of, is it really okay for me not to go?"
"Ah, it's boring, you return to the well of life to be later reborn as some form of life, could be anything. That's why I snagged you I think the you as you are now is the best. I want you to be reincarnated into a world of fantasy and continue your dedication to me, I'm a cat, I'm selfish in a way. I don't want to lose someone so interesting"
'Fantasy....' The thought excited him quite a bit, he wondered if there might be fantastical cats in this world, or maybe magic or skills like in all the novels and anime he watched. Would it be safe for him, or fraught with peril. 'What would me being reincarnated entail?'
"Well, first I'll need to make you a new body, if you haven't noticed you don't have one. Of course it will be imbued with my blessing, all in all it's a pretty sweet deal. I'm positive you'll like it, you'll be able to understand anybody and be able to properly converse." as he said this, a ginormous white cat head crested the horizon. He was pure white with large golden eyes that are peering right at Kirie's position. The face looks like it has a large broad grin on it. "It's much better than an unpredictable rebirth into a new existence. Wouldn't that be annoying having to relearn basic motor skills, reading and writing. Plus you may no longer be a guy, hell you might not even have a gender. Maybe you'd comeback as a tree, to be able to stand noble for a hundred years just to be cut down for the paper of gossip magazines. If you take this deal you'll still be facing trails and tribulations just as any living being must, but you will have me at your side"
'Alright I'll take your deal, you've watching over me almost my whole life. I just wish I could apologize to my parents for being such a worthless son. I'm pretty sure the only thing I left them with was embarrassment when they go through my possessions and a sadness that I'm gone.'
When the final word left his mouth, heat radiated from the top his head and moved slowly toward his feet. At the time it reached the last digit on his right foot, a pressure started to gently push down on him, then his vision darkened.
"Good L.... not t..... need..."
Nya 1.2
Kirie's conciseness came to as his head hit the floor. His vision was still white, but to the feel it was cold and hard like stone. Next his hearing started to fade in, with that he heard the crashing and breaking of something.
"Kyaaaaaaa!!!" A woman's scream tore it's way through his eardrums.
"An attack!! The demi's must be plotting something" Sounded off a male voice.
"But he appeared out of thin air, and then crashed into the floor."
"No matter, a demi has invaded the holy castle, seize it or kill it" Came an angry shout.
As Kirie tried to process all that he's hearing, he tries to prop himself up on his hands and knees. His eyesight no longer white but blurry, he took a look around.
First glance told him he was in a dinning hall, which meant what had broken earlier must have been a plate or some other sort of eatery. As his eyes became clearer he could make out the details of peoples faces around him, looking directly at him with looks of fear and disgust.
One thin tall man in particular was looking at him while shouting at the others. He must have been important because the quality of his outfit far outshone the others. He was in a long crimson and gold robe emblazoned with a fist crushing what looked like a shadowy boar with red eyes and long sharp teeth. His face red with anger, and not a single hair on his head.
"Soldiers restrain him" Every time his mouth opened spittle flew, and his teeth brown from age and decay would be exposed. Equally brown were his eyes narrow and looking at Kirie.
Following the man in the robes commands, soldiers started to fill Kirie's vision. They were in what looked like a shiny medieval plate mail, all emblazoned with the same symbol as the aforementioned man right over their hearts. With the visors open on their helmets all he could see was hatred on their faces. They quickly quickly grabbed him by the arms and pushed him tighter down on his knees.
"What are you doing here?" An important looking soldier yells at Kirie
"What are you doing commander!!" The old man in the robe said throwing even more spit everywhere. "You know what to do with it. There is no discussion"
"But I was hoping to glean some kind of information from this thing" The commander replied brandishing his sword at Kirie. "If it's not alone we should try to root out.." Before he could finish the old man rushed forward and shoved him aside. Slowly pulling a dagger from his robes as he drew closer to Kirie.
"Wait what do you mean by it, and thi..." Kirie whose voice had just returned to him lost it just as quick as the dagger moved along his throat. Heat spread from his neck down his chest as warmth left the rest of his extremities. The soldiers holding him dropped him, and yet again his head clashed to the floor. His vision dimming and hearing cutting in and out.
"This is holy groun... is not allowe... no exept..." Kirie could see the old man walking away as his depth perception started to draw closer.
"Clean... mess up." And with that Kirie blew one more blood bubble, and everything went white, again...
nya 1.3
"Nyahahahahaha....." The booming laugh was heard once again "It looks like luck was too much on your side. Nyahahahahaha..."
"Luck what luck would that be, to die instantly like that." Kirie said as he stomped his foot on the ground. He found himself back in the great white expanse, wait stomp? He looked down at himself and saw he did have a body this time around. He seemed to be dressed in a furry robe.
"Just means you were too lucky?"
"Again what luck."
"You weren't perhaps hoping to go someplace that would be good for humans in this new world, would you? Nyahahahah.." The cat face crested the horizon with a huge smile and slitted eyes.
"Yeah so what, how would that change anything? That place obviously wasn't that safe." Kirie said with a grimace.
"Well that is were you are wrong, that was the purfect place for humans, though extreme as their views may be."
"But then why...." Kirie started to think back.
"Well I guess I should clear up a misunderstanding, nyahahaha. You see I'm a cat god, I'm not a god who can create humans, if you can see what I'm getting at."
"Hmmm..." Kirie put his hand on his chin and thought. Pyon Pyon "Pyon?" He reached to the side of his head and... "My ears are gone!! How can I hear, where are they?!"
A gaint cat paw slid along the ground and stopped in front of him, it extended a single claw upwards. Kirie slowly moved his hands towards the top of his head, stopping partway to the top. He felt something on either side, pinching them gently with his hands he recognized that feeling. The soft short hair on one side and cool smooth skin on the other, these were large cat ears. His face lit with confusion, and he slowly turned to look at his back. There! There it is like his fondest dream a pure white, medium fur, fluffy tail was slowly swaying behind him. He reached out for it, but it slowly moved the other way. Next thing he knew he was spinning himself trying to catch it, like a dog erm, cat chasing it's tail.
"Nyahahahaha... You can play later, now's the time to talk." Kirie finally realized what he was doing in the presence of a god, and stopped. He started looking all around his face flushed with embarrassment. "As you noticed I can only create a form like this, so going to the extremist human capital castle was very much a wrong turn. If I had been able to create you a human vessel things probably would have gone quite a bit differently, they probably would have treated you as a hero sent from their god. Though the god of those wicked hearted humans is just as twisted, he'd never be able to snag a human with so much devotion. So I doubt they'd ever get a champion. Though them calling you a demi isn't quite right, you are a little more than that, but you'll see that later. For now I'd like to have a discussion with you about your old guardian."
"Guardian?.." Kirie tilts his head to the side, when he thinks about it the cat god had said something earlier, or well before his reincarnation/death sequence.
"Nyahahaha..Yes guardian, when I felt the presence of a new shrine and prayers toward me, I sent a guardian spirit to watch over it. Though she quickly became curious about you and ditched her spiritual form for a mortal one, to interact with you. I believed you called her Two-Face, as a spirit she was known as Tomoe."
"Two-Face was the guardian spirit of the shrine I built?"
"Yes, you always prayed so earnestly and not for yourself but for others, even your most selfish wish for responsibility, was just so you had it for others. This drove Tomoe into curiosity, and as they say 'curiousity killed the cat, and satisfaction brought it back', well almost. More like curiosity brought the cat to life and after she was satisfied, she died. Nyahahahaha..."
Kirie tried to digest that, he had only made the shrine because he was influenced by games and manga. He loved cats more than anything, ever since a certain cat/bus was shone to him, and wanted to care for one. He had continued the offertory after finding Tomoe because in his mind that wish had come true.
"So what was it you wanted to speak to me about two... Tomoe?" To him Tomoe was a much cuter name. He had only named her Two-Face because as a kid he didn't know she was female, and her perfectly split features.
"Ahem, yes I digress. What I wanted to talk to you about was that after hearing about you being reincarnated, she wanted to go too as your guardian again. Your gonna be in a world where she can follow you longer than she was as a normal housecat. She started using me as a scratching post after seeing you die without her. Though she is ignorant to that world she wants to follow you still. Nyahahahah.... What a rambunctious child." The cat paw in front of him turns over to show a bare spot of flesh where the fur was ripped out and clawed.
"I do think any help can be used in a land unfamiliar to me. She was the answer to my prayers as a child, so please allow her to help me again." Kirie bowed his head to the cat god. "Please allow me to use Tomoe as a guardian again." He lowered his head even more.
"Raise your head, nyhahaha.. and look in front of you." When Kirie raised his gaze he was met with the brightness of a brown ball of light in front of him. "I don't even think there was a need to even ask. This child probably would have clawed her way into that world anyway. Not much you can do about the foolishness of children, I'll create a Mortal vessel for her to join you in your endeavors, but this time I'll choose where you'll be appearing."
"Thank you, Neko-sama...." As before his vision started to fade, though he didn't feel the warmth this time.
After Kirie and Tomoe faded away the cat gods smile broadened. "Seriously what are those foolish humans' thinking, the world is so much bigger than they could have ever even imagined."
Nya 1.4
"Oh my god. It's Our lord...!" This time his hearing seemed to kick in quicker than any of his other senses and he heard a woman's voice. He seemed to be sitting on a stone slab of sorts, he feet didn't seem to touch the ground. As his vision cleared he could see he was in a cathedral, the stained glass windows depicted a white cat with gold eyes and a broad smile, holding a gold coin, and bringing fortune to other cats. He was sitting on an alter towards the back of the building, with a giant cat statue hovering over him. In front of him where several people on their knees, behind them in what looked like a nun's habit was a woman with her hand over her face, all had tails flickering excitedly behind them.
'Oh my god oh my god cat girls' went a thought through Kirie's mind 'Cat girls, cat girls, cat girls!!!' This chant in his head repeated over and over again as the nun drew nearer. Details in the candle-lit area were only focused on close proximity, and as she got closer Kirie started spotting them. 'Cat girls, cat girls.....'
"Cat....girl?" As she strode through the final distance, Kirie let this small whisper escape his lips. He was finally able to see, now that his eyes had adjusted to the low light, that not just the ears and tail but their whole bodies were covered with fur. The nun who had approached him had a gray and white coat with blue eyes.
"You're our lord aren't you,.." She said while reaching for his face. "You have the noblest of coats.." as she touched his cheek."and golden pupils are not a natural occurrence." pointing at him. Those that were already on their knees prostrated themselves further at her words.
"Wha. Wait why are you doing that. I'm not someone you grovel to" Kirie's voice tore through the throng of the anthropomorphic cats. The tone of his voice sounded different to him, younger more jubilant, like he was on the verge of laughing. He looked down at his hands and saw they are covered with white fur, pure white like the expanse he had just came from.
At that moment gasps were heard around him as a flash of white light blinded everyone looking in his direction. He felt warmth on his lap after the light faded, and looked down to see a small calico kitten was rolled in a ball asleep. He pet it gently and looked at it's face split so perfectly down the middle. "Tomoe.." he whispered as he softly picked her up, she wasn't waking so he put her in the pocket of his shirt.
"That can't be right, you are the spitting image of our lord and your strange garment has the holy symbol of the cat god." Kirie looked down to see he was wearing shorts and a pocketed T-shirt, the shirt had a gold coin printed on it. The coin had "fortune" stamped on it."And whats more you have an original beast in your possession, though it's origins look muddeled." she said pointing at Tomoe in his front pocket.
"Original beast..?" He said as he looked down at the sleeping kitten
"How can a god be so ignorant, is your avatar so freshly born that you weren't able to retain knowledge of this world? Original beasts are the origin of all the beastmen races, and in turn the demi's as well. Do you know who you are? What you are? or your purpose?" She turned her head to the side, she seemed shocked at his lack of knowledge about this world. "Maybe you aren't our lord, but you must surely be chosen by him. Why else would you look the way you do, and appeared the way you have. I've heard of gods gifting champions to the people, but aren't those supposed to be in more turbulent times. We aren't at war, other than the occasional monster or group of bandits, it's fairly peaceful in our country. We have better ties to the demi's and humans then the other beastmen. Trade is good and both work and food are aplenty. We are surrounded by water and border only one country. We may not get along as well as we'd like with the other beastmen, but are alliance is still strong"
"Beastmen..? Demi's...? What do you mean by these terms, I really don't quite follow you. I'm only here to live a new life of devotion..." 'I wish I could start over with a more normal beginning.' Kirie got to his feet and started to walk towards them, but with his first step tumbled down the stairs and hit his head, all was dark thereafter.
Nya 1.5
"mew, meow, nya." The soft noises made by the kitten and the feel of a rough tongue on Kirie's nose brought him to. As his eyes opened he saw a purple canopy over the moderate sized bed he was on. The sheets felt courser than the ones he remembers, and the bed seemed stiff like it was filled with a coarse material. It seemed to be topped with something soft at least. He turned to the side and saw the small cat looking directly at his face.
"Oh my god, your too cut. owww...." As kirie went to sit up he abruptly put his hands to the back of his head. The smarting pain was a quick reminder that for the nth time in what seemed such a short while he had hit his head once again. Where was the luck that the cat god described, every turn seemed to be messed up. Looking down his whole body was covered in white fur, he didn't seem to be wearing anything under the bed covers. Wondering where he might be, he turned to the side of the bed to get up and look around the room. It was a decent sized room, with a couple of windows on one side, and a couple of chairs and a table opposite the bed. All the decor in the room were cat-like, from the etchings on the outside of the earthenware on the table to the tapestry on the wall. Even the floors had what seemed to be a broadly smiling cat on it, and as Kirie's vision wandered downwards he let out a stifled shriek...
"IT'S GONE..." Kirie looked down to something he couldn't see, yelling wildly all the while. "Where did it go, MY MANHOOD, OH GOD it was a good quarter of my reason for living, and it's gone. It's life was cut to short, it had so much reason to keep living. Why oh why did you take him, he was so young. I think I should give the departed a moment of silence." In his hysteria he failed to notice the door behind him opening. " Wait, actually I think I see it, but what the hell, it's so tiny." His spine seemed more flexible than it ever had, as he was able to bend himself nearly in half to look at his nether region.
"Ehem... this is kind of embarrassing... with you in that position.... he" a woman's voice sounded off with a cough behind Kirie. Realizing What he was doing was being observed, for how long he didn't know, he quickly turned around and bowed his head in apology.
"I'm so sorry, I was just curious.." Looking up he saw it was the same Cat sister that he saw in the church. He may as well have been a pink cat as his coat flushed in embarrassment at being seen in such a compromising position, and by an opposite gendered person of faith no less.
"Actually... it isn't... all that small...Er.. By cat beatmen standards.." she lowered her head embarrassed by what she had said.
"NOOOOOOO! Please don't continue this topic." Kirie's head lowered as he crumpled to the ground, ashamed of the continuing subject. A look of despair on his face he pleaded to the cat in a habit. "Please where are clothes I can where, wasn't I wearing clothes when I first appeared."
"Well... We needed to make sure you were alright. Here's the clothing you were wearing, we just washed them since you were on the floor." The nun held out a neatly folded stack of clothes.
Kirie hurried to put them on, he had to sit back down on the bed though. His balance was slightly off. After changing in a flash he turned back to address the waiting sister, then stumbled. On closer look of the sister Kirie came to a realization.'I'm so short'
"Whe.. Where am I" Kirie stammered out still flustered from the recent event.
"You are in the capital city of Norgoth, Deserece. More locally your still in the church of Shironyan. After you suddenly appeared seeming to have no common knowledge, and then abruptly knocked yourself out, the officials of the Shirnyan sect wanted to make sure you were of sound mind before sending you to the white palace. By the way my name is Norako, I'm a junior sister of the congregation. Today was my first official day of duty at the church."
"Oh, sorry. My name is Kirie Arkano it's a pleasure to meet you, the kitten over there tearing the fluff from the pillow is called Two-Face." The kitten was occupying itself by pulling the stuffing from the corner of the pillow, then turning to look at Kirie with a meow. "I'm sorry she's destroying your pillow, she's still so young." The kitten turned again and meowed once more in his direction.
"It's quite alright, you don't see original beasts all to often nowadays. It's suppose to be good luck if you do. It's said that they use to have a huge population, that they bred prolifically and had a short lifespan. Now they aren't around much and not very many only have one tail, you see they have a long lifespan and every fifty years or so they get a new tail, once they hit nine tails they turn into a magical beast. Once there it's intelligence skyrockets, and they tend to find secluded spots to guard and call home." Her eyes seemed to sparkle as she fervently explained, It looked to be a subject of interest of hers. As quickly as it came it dropped as a look of realization dawned on her face. "Sorry, I was prattling, I tend to carry on when that subject is brought up, I've done extensive reading on the origin stories. It's hard to find new material, books are quite limited, and don't seem to travel much. So I only have the capital library to find reading material, and for the grand part all of it is speculation." As her blur of words came to an end, she started slowing down. "Again I'm sorry there isn't many to talk about it with."
"That's okay, I can completely understand going off on a subject your interested in." The kitten strode over to the end of the bed and started meowing at Kirie, so he went over an picked her up, scratching her head behind the ears as he did so. Two-Face's eyes narrowed as she purred, vibrating Kirie stuck her in his shirt pocket. "You said something about checking my mental health before sending me somewhere." Kirie said looking at Norako, still scratching the kitten's head.
"Yes, I just need to make sure you know where you are and that you at least the bare minimum about the area. Judging by the conversation we've had I'd say your mind is at least stable. After I inform you, you need to be taken to the palace to introduce yourself to the queen-in-waiting."
"So you said this is Norgoth, what kind of country is it?"
"Norgoth is a small country sepperated from the rest of the beastmen alliance, we're surrounded by water except our only bordering country Re Unn north of us. We aren't as much of supremacists as the other beastmen which makes trading with the Demi-states easy, because of that we have a thriving mercantile community. We are a monarchy with Shirouka as are queen-in-waiting, but right now a governing board runs things until the queen comes of age. The main religion of the country is the following of the fortunate cat, said to bring luck and fortune to his followers." She rattled this off matter-of-factly. She seemed proud of her call to sisterhood.
"You said your god is Shironyan, correct?"
"Oh, yes."
"When I first showed up you said I was your lord, or champion, what did you mean by that?"
"Well you are a spitting image of how our doctrine describes Shironyan." Norako said with a smile. "With fur the color of freshly fallen snow, eyes as gold as an ingot, and short in stature."
"Sh..Short" Kirie stammered looking away sadly.
"So it was easy for me to mistake you for him. Tales do tell of champions though, they're beings who have been given the gods' blessings and sent to bring glory to their people." At this Kirie knew who the cat god was. "But those kind of tales usually involve war or famine among the people, so the champion has to do something to stabilize the world, so I'm confused at why we would need a champion. We are at peace, and the economy is going strong with trade."
"Though it is true that the cat god sent me here, I didn't catch his name. He said that my reason for being here besides the ability of continued living was to spread his name and my continued devotion, weird he didn't give me a name to spread." Kirie tilted his head to the side in confusion.
"A cat god? Surely it must have been Shironyan, oh glory be, Shironyan has sent a champion. Today is a momentous occasion for our people. You must be a herald for a glorious future for the cat beastmen. I believe I have shared enough knowledge about Norgoth for the time being, who knows what the future brings, you'll learn more day by day, but first we need to go to the palace for formal greetings, do try and be respectful of the queen-in-waiting."
"Okay, should we head out." Kirie was looking foward to meeting the monarch, you don't get opportunities like this in modern America. It was the perfect start for a fantasy setting.
Two-Face had long since fallen asleep in Kirie's pocket, her head sticking out the top breathing softly. Kirie smiled at her as they headed out the door and down the stairs, back to the main room of the church.
"Norako, I see the guest has woken up." A short wrinkled beastman walked up questioning the girl. He was wearing a white and gold robe with a miter on his head. The same gold coin stamped on Kirie's shirt was stitched above his heart. He had dark tipped ears and an angular face, overall his markings looked Siamese.
"Minister Barboroas I thought you were at a council meeting." Norako replied tilting her head gently in a sign of respect.
"I was but someone dashed in, and told us in panted breath that someone resembling our lord appeared out of nowhere in our morning congregation. So we quickly concluded our business, and I headed here. I've been waiting to see for myself." Barboroas looked over Kirie with a gleam in his tired looking eyes.
"Oh yes, Kirie here has said that he was brought here by a feline deity, I believe Shironyan has sent us a champion."
"Really now, he says that does he." Once again he starts to look Kirie up an down, as his eyes wander over Kirie's front pocket, or more significantly Two-Face in it, a scowl crosses over his face. "Why would our lord send a champion with such a mixed bred beast..." he mutter in audible.
"What did you say?" Kirie was curious what this old guy was muttering under his breath, with such a displeased look.
"Oh, nothing..."
"After talking with him, I believe he is of sound mind, so I was going to escort him to the palace." Noraka says with a beaming smile.
"Very well you should go he royal highness probably has already heard the news of his arrival. Her curiosity must be peaking as she awaits proper introduction." Barboroas said with a smirk. "you better get going, you don't want to cause her to get impatient."
With that Kirie and Norako headed out of the church.
Once they were out of sight Barbaroas's scowl deepened.
"There is no way our lord sent us a champion accompanied by that mutt, something else must be going on here, something bad..."
Nya 1.6
The streets were bustling with noise and activities, as they left the church district. The majority of the people he saw were cat beastmen, but here and there were others. He saw the pointed ears of what must have been an elf moving among the crowds. The market seemed lively and business seemed good with the masses of people buying and selling. As kirie walked the streets he also felt eyes on him, and even in hushed tones he could still hear them.
"Is that him?" said one
"Look at his eyes and coat, who else could it be."
"I heard his fur is so lustrous that dirt dare not try and stain it, that even if you try to purposefully blacken it, that it just shines brighter."
"Sir, sir would you mind trying my food." One beastman in particular approached Kirie and Norako. He looked well off, rotund and broad smile, his fur was gray with piercing steel gray eyes. Kirie approached the stall he was working, the enticing smell of roasted meat wafted over him. "I am named Carloff, and all the food you see here is fresh slaughtered, and seasoned with local herbs."
Kirie's hunger gnawed at him as he got closer, the smell and sight of the skewers were enough to almost drive him mad. As he stood in front of them his pocket started squirming, and the kitten's voice cried out. Her head popped out as Two-Face stared at the meat intently.
"Carloff my name is Kirie." Kirie extended his hand with the thought of a proper introduction.
"Oh, it's nice to meet you, I'm a little surprised though, I thought you'd say your name is Shironyan. That is what the words flying about say." He said with a smile. "I don't put much stock in gossip though. You just have such a regal air about you."
"No he isn't the fortunate cat, it sounds as if he might have been sent by him though." Norako chimed in, with her hand she pointed at his breast pocket."Look he has an original beast with him."
"So he does!" Carloff exclaims looking excited, "Isn't seeing one good luck, I have a feeling business is going to be good for a while. It is a little thing ain't it"
"I don't know about bringing luck, but she is precious to me. Ow..." As Kirie was talking he started stroking her head, but then was stuck in the chest with a claw, as Twoface meowed, once again look at the meat with lustful eyes. "I'm new o this land, and I'm sorry but I don't have any currency to buy your wares." Kirie said looking yearningly at the meat himself
"Gyahahaha... Look at you with such a sober face, here it's my treat. Lets say it was enough for you to come over here and sate my curiosity about the rumors since this morning." The round Beastman laughed, seeming more jovial than before. He handed Kirie three skewers, Kirie's and the kitten's eyes followed his hands inch by inch. A look of utmost joy crossed Kirie's face as Carloff passed the skewers to his hand.
"Thank you so much, I'm starving. Ah.." Once again needle like claws darted in and out of him. Twoface protested as she pulled half her body out of Kirie's pocket. Kirie pulled her the rest of the way out and set her on the paved stone allyway next to the stall. He then ripped the meat from one of the skewers and shredded it, retractable claws were very convenient. He put the food in front of the cat then off handily held one out for Norako.
"For me?" Norako asked looking at him with a tilted head.
"Of course, Carloff handed us three probably knowing you wanted one too." He then took a bite of the remanding skewer a look of pure bliss on his face.
"Exactly, your showing this guy around aren't you? Besides why wouldn't I want to give a treat to a cutie like you."
Norako turned away looking bashful, then reached out and took the offered skewer.
"Thank you" She muttered quietly, and started munching the meat with a smile. After all parties had consumed their allotment, Kirie picked up Twoface, belly bulging from her recent engorgement, and put her back in his pocket. She closed her eyes, content with the full stomach, and went to sleep.
"Thank you again." Kirie smiles at Carloff bowing his head slightly. "It was delicious, not bad for the first food I've had in this world."
"Thank you for such high praise. Hopefully you'll become a regular here once you start making a wage." Carloff smiles waving back.
"We need to go, Kirie." Norako whispers in Kirie's ear. "We can't keep her majesty waiting."
"I'd like to come back as a customer as well. Well we've got to go, I'll see you then."
With those parting words the two started heading towards the royal grounds.
.....
"Wooooow." That was the first word uttered by Kirie as he stood in front of the White Palace, and white it was, a dazzlingly bright white topped with gold. Kirie couldn't see any wear or discoloring anywhere within the white. "Wow, I probably could strip off all my clothes and all you'd see was irisis's floating about."
"Please don't seeing you in the buff once today was enough, have you no shame." Norako said in a serious voice. "Also it would be very disrespectful to Shironyan. It is said that he blessed the stone to build the palace so it would never require upkeep, and always shine brightly." Her voice took on an excited tone in the explanation.
"Yes, yes. I know better than to streak on palace grounds, and please forget about before." The pathetic tone leaked from Kirie's mouth. " I was just starting to forget it, and now I have to go through that embarrassment all over again."
"You reap what you sow. Please try to be civil in front of Shirouka, you don't want to lose your head by acting a fool in front of royalty."
Kirie paled, remembering that not long ago he had died a dog's death, with his heart expelling his blood out his neck. Wasn't that also in a capital city. He remembered the screaming old human saying something like that.
"Whoa. What's wrong, you look ghastly." Norako looked at his face. It had lost all the emotion from before, and the whole demeanor seemed to drop like a rock. He looked as if he would fall if a breeze blew through. " I was just trying to reign in some of your excitement, not obliterate your heart." With a tone of concern she patted him on the head. "It's okay, I doubt Shirouka would do something so rash to someone of your circumstance." said soothingly while rubbing his head.
Kirie realized he was being soothed by someone younger than him, and it helped clear his mind. He knew the reaction he had gotten from the humans had been an extreme case, and that a race full of cat love wouldn't react in a similar way. The thought cheered him as he went to assure Norako that he was fine.
"Sorry, I'm fine, I was just reminded of something I wish I hadn't been. It's good, I'll cheer up." Kirie plastered a smile on his face trying to shore up his mood. He looked around to take in the sight of the palace again. The floors didn't seem to hold up as well as the walls, he could see scuffs, and wear hear and there, there was most obviously dirt and dust on the ground. Within the sight the stark contrast seemed odd, did the floors seem all the dirtier because of how clean the walls looked, or vise versa. Maybe today was just an off day for whomever cleans here. The palace was laid out with flower gardens in the corners of the lot, with three large round multi-leveled white buildings with gold caps, though building is a bit ambiguous term size relative, Kirie's entire two floor apartment complex would fit in one 8x over. They were smaller at the top and bottom than in the middle. It seemed the building to the right is the living quarters for everyone who is at the palace daily as required, like the royal line, and the servants. The middle one is the presiding grounds of judgment for the country's ruler, also the ceremonial grounds for anything important, and banquet hall. The one on the right is there for diplomatic reasons, room's for foreign dignitaries, discussion halls for political meetings, and it is were the interim council That rules this country meet.
At the moment the two of them were headed for the center building. The doorway was ornate with a monochromatic depiction of a cat on a cloud smiling at cats tilling the soil of the ground below him. The door was not the same material that the walls were made of, so you could see wear but compared to the floors it must have a routine cleaning. As they approached the door swung open silently.
"Norako where have you been!!?" Roared a giant pure black cat beastman. Wearing a suit that barely contained his bulging muscles, his voice started changing to a panicked tone. " Her majesty has been waiting for hours, she's started to grow restless. She was going to start the game of chex, if you didn't arrive soon." His face wrinkled at the thought.
"I'm terribly sorry Gabe, as you probably already heard Kirie was unconscious til not long ago, and we stopped to got something to eat real quick." Korako started explaining as fast as she could.
"So you're Kirie, hmm?" The giant extended his hand, which engulfed half of Kirie's arm with a heart shake. " My name is Gaberiel, my mission is to serve the royal family. I'm sorry the my introduction must be short, we need to take you to Shirouka before things get out of hand." With his massive grip still on Kirie, he started dragging Kirie through the doors.
They went through the banquet hall and towards the throne room. It was a large hall with a red carpet down the center leading to the throne. The wide space on either side of the carpet looked as though it was large enough for a decent crowd to gather, empty as it was at that moment. On the walls hung white banners with a familiar coin on it, high windows flooded the room with natural light. The throne itself looked... uncomfortable was the only way to describe it. It was some kind of wood wrapped in metal, seat flat, back straight, no hint of cushioning. Kirie grimaced looking at it, the idea of sitting in that seat for any amount of time would be torture. As he was thinking this, a figure stepped out behind the throne.
"My father use to say that the position on the throne was not a luxury, but a duty. As such the throne should not be one that could lull you into a sense of comfort and security. The pain of the Seat of authority is there to remind those seated upon it, that they should stay alert and be attentive of those they rule over." Was quietly heard as the feline walked up to Kiries group.
As she drew closer the people around Kirie assumed the position of fealty. She was taller than Korako, with a white coat and dark blue eyes. She was wearing a white and gold dress and sporting a golden tiara on her head. When he went to kneel, she held out a hand to stop him.
" You need not kneel, I am here for a casual introduction, as you are not my subject, this formal air does not fit the situation." She smiled at Kirie. " All evidence supports the fact that you are a special existence. Blessed as was this palace by Shironyan, and sent to support his people. I am Shirouka, the person to be crowned ruler of Norgoth in half a year's time." She introduced herself with a light nod of the head.
"I am Kirie, your majesty. It is a pleasure to meet you." Kirie lightly bowed." About what you first said, how'd you know.."
"What you were thinking." She finished his sentence with a toothy grin. " I can read your mind..." Kirie's face twitched, a ruler with that kind of power would be terrifying."...really. It wasn't very hard, it was etched into your face, with your eyes firmly on the throne." She started chuckling softly, looking at his reaction. "Any leader worthy of their position should be adept at reading expressions and body language."
"Oh.." Kirie was taken by surprise, this world was still so new to him. He had no idea what the limits of magic use was, or any inkling of what magic was in the first place. "Sorry, I took your words serious. This world is new to me, I'm ignorant of all but the basics."
"Well that is to be expected, you did appear here first, didn't you?" Her majesty peered at kirie with curiosity.
"Um... Well.." Kirie started rubbing his arms, and shifting his feet. His gaze wandered all over the throne room, to end on Shirouka gazing at him earnestly. "You see I actually appeared somewhere else and was killed on the spot."
""Whaat...."" Shirouka's and Norako's overlapping voices resounded throughout the empty hall.
"Yeah.. It seemed to be a human capital, or at least that was what I remember the guy who killed me saying. My body was still new at the time, so I think it took awhile for my senses to kick in. It was over quickly."
"So that was why you looked so in the dumps at my joke earlier." Korako said with concern.
"I thank you for coming here at my request, I would love to chat with you longer, but my schedule is long, and you should experience the city then rest. I will definitely be calling on you again to talk, but during the time you have you should familiarize yourself with this world, and learn about that ways of the people here. You are all dismissed."
As Kirie's group left the throne room, Shirouka's eyes never left him.
.......
A few hours later Kirie lay exhausted upon the same church provided bed as before, Twoface on the pillow next to his head. He looked out the window at the blue moon rising, not tinted blue, but a full rich blue color. Apparently the moon's color, form, and path in the sky changed each month. Each month had thirty-eight days and there were ten months. Every month brought with it a different moon and season. The month and moon shared a name this one's name was Seviin.
"Oh, who's such a pretty kitty." Kirie rolled over an put his hand on the kitten, rubbing her behind the ears and lightly scratching her back."I've got so much to learn before I can do anything in this world. I need to take studies seriously."
"Nya." The kitten seemed to reply softly, and moved to lay down in the space between him and his arm.
"Norako volunteered to help me study, she seems nice, I can't let every one's expectations of me fall short. Good night pretty girl." Kirie falls asleep lightly stroking the kitten.
........
In a dark room a twisted smile appears, eyes filled with a madness, or obsession open above it.
"Heh, Huu...." Heavy breathing is all that is heard in this room, no lights in the room, and the moon is blocked by curtains. The breathing continues for a while then stops. "He'll be mine.." The voice sounds strained like it was barely forced out. The voice was quiet, soft, a person would have to be standing right next to overhear. "No one else can have him, only me. Those eyes..." The sound of a strangled moan escapes the smile. "Those eyes would be perfect for our lineage. I will have them." The eyes carry no emotion, besides longing. The smiles ends curl further, as the eyes narrowed. "only mine..."
end chapter 1
Comments
Post a Comment