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Tanuki Tales

Written by Leo_Todrius

Supported by my Patrons

It was a common saying that print was dead. Newspapers were on the brink of extinction, magazines had declined to the point of obscurity and there were fewer and fewer sightings of books being read out in the wild - but it was a misnomer. Humans were digesting more information on a daily basis than their ancestors had in a lifetime. It took countless shapes and forms. While the method of obtaining the information had changed for the digital age, human tastes... hadn't. The pursuit of the wild and whimsical still existed, from tabloids to clickbait to niche corners of the internet and one of the most remote corners of that domain belonged to Yaksha publishing.

It was a small freelance gig sitting on the bottom floor of a multi-level apartment building. The front windows didn't even have a complete view, partially obscured by the stairwell that led down to its front door. A wall mounted hvac tried its best to dehumidify the interior, though with the steady drizzle of rain outside saturating everything it had its work cut out for it. The puddles rippled as more drops fell, turning the paving stones from a monotonous grey to a subtle rainbow of periwinkles, blues and purples. The rain seemed to draw the color out of the buildings all around them, making the vending machines gleam brightly despite the dreary day.

The weather was enough to keep most people from venturing outside unless they had to, but for Kaito it was another day as an administrative assistant. In this case, it was making sure his employer made it back to Yaksha safely. The nineteen year old trudged along the road, using his right arm to keep his boss upright, his employer's arm lackadaisical draped across his shoulder. Kaito's black hair was soaked, his skin looking even paler than usual. He was as skinny as a rail, though he'd started to put on another inch or two in height in the last year. His t-shirt clung to his torso like a wet sheet to a ghost and each step ushered water to seep out of the soles of his shoes. His face was young and youthful, a mix of determination, loyalty, and a bit of frustration. This wasn't the first time he had to bring Maeda Kaji back drunk.

Kaji was in his mid to late thirties, equal parts business man and someone trying to hang on to his youth. His hair had remained wavy despite the rain and three earrings hung from his left ear. Stubble framed his jaw and a sparse mustache crowned his upper lip. He looked down at his shoes, trying not to get even dizzier, though the idea that the only pair of nice shoes he had were so wet made him chuckle a little. Even that was almost enough to pull Kaito off course. Kaito grunted, pulling him back to center.

"We're almost there..." Kaito said, huffing a little bit. Kaji let out a woeful laugh.

"That's what I kept telling myself, but every time... Every time I go there, the interview just seems to get off course..." Kaji murmured.

"I think that's the sake." Kaito said. Kaji smirked even more, stretching upright, giving Kaito more variables to try and compensate for.

"Everything he tells me is a lie... Each story contradicts the last... He really is a trickster spirit, leading me astray, taking me off the path of the righteous..." Kaji slurred.

"I don't think you were ever on the path of the righteous. You can barely stay on the path." Kaito said, getting his boss to the short stairwell. It was only four steps down, but it was one of the most treacherous parts of their journey. With great effort, the two made their way down. Kaito fished the keys out of his wet pants, unlocked the door and got Kaji inside.

The hum of the hvac was a steady white noise and the drop in humidity, however slight, was appreciated. One of the benefits of Yaksha being so small was that Kaji could make it the rest of the way to the couch on his own, promptly flopping down onto the cushions. Kaito panted a little more, stretching a bit before he shut the door behind them. The nineteen year old peeled off his soaked white t-shirt, the early morning light glistening off the droplets that clung to his flat chest and smooth abdomen. He shook his head to try and get a bit of water out of it before discarding the shirt in the hamper.

As Kaji swam around his drunken stupor, he could hear Kaito working in the modest nook of a kitchen. Before long coffee was percolating and eggs were cooking. Kaji gave a soft, meek smile, rolling over onto his back. He draped his legs over the far end of the couch, staring up at the ceiling and all the little spots of light reflecting off of the water outside. Kaji reached up to scratch his chin, trying to remember what had been said the previous night before his eyes widened. The journalist's hand shot to his chest, checking his shirt pocket. Then he reached down to his pant pocket, then the other before he finally melted into a long groan, going limp on the couch.

"He even got my voice recorder..." Kaji sighed. Keito appeared in the doorway, his eyebrow arched.

"Are you sure you didn't just forget it?" he asked. Kaji turned his head and looked over at his assistant, standing there in the doorway without a shirt, his jeans soaked with rain and hanging so low on his hips from the weight of it... the perfect cleft beneath his navel, the strange mix of innocence and budding maturity in his shoulders. Kaji exhaled slowly.

"A true reporter never forgets their evidence, regardless of their state of mind. It's in their blood, their bones!" Kaji said before wincing. His bravado had exacerbated the start of his hangover. Kaito sighed a bit at that, running his fingers through his hair, slicking it back out of his face as he returned to the kitchen.

"Maybe you should give up on this one. Three interviews is a lot for one story... At least one of our stories." Kaito said, returning to the kitchen. The eggs were nearly done, giving him just enough time to chop up some green onions and sprinkle them across some rice before sliding an egg on top of it all. With a few more moments of preparation, Kaito emerged from the kitchen, bringing Kaji his breakfast. With great reluctance, Kaji eased himself upright, sitting on the couch, leaning on the arm for support. He inhaled the aroma of breakfast slowly, appreciating the rich roast of the coffee and the savory scent of the eggs.

"Maybe you're right, but Yaksha has never dropped a story. We've always had what it takes to get to the bottom of the truth!" Kaji said. Kaito shrugged, picking up his own bowl of breakfast, breaking through the egg and the rice and mixing them together.

"Truth is a bit of a stretch...." Kaito said. Kaji looked up to protest, but once again nearly blushed. Kaito was a phenomenal assistant. He transcribed well, he kept appointments, he balanced their finances, but Kaji would have been lying if his attraction to the young man hadn't played a part as well. There was a subtle thrill to being a part of his journey, of guiding and shaping him, of seeing him grow and mature. Still, Kaji's honor had been questioned.

"It may not be scientific, but the stories we report on have a truth of their own. They are true to the readers. More than that, they are the secret truth! It is our job to present them with the hidden reality all around us... and I know that Hayashi Reo is a Tanuki!" Kaji said before wincing again. He leaned back on the couch, cradling his coffee in his hands. He brought the cup to his lips and sipped at it softly.

"Even if that's true, that would mean that he is a shapeshifting, magical trickster spirit. You've gone up against a lot of things, but what makes you think you can outwit a tanuki?" Kaito asked. Kaji looked at his assistant for a long moment before a strange smile crossed his lips.

"Maybe that's it, maybe it isn't me that's supposed to crack this case. Maybe it's you..." Kaji said, reaching into his pocket. He rushed around before he pulled out a ziplock bag containing a piece of paper.

"What is that?" Kaito asked, setting down his food.

"It's a promissory note, from Reo... I covered his bar tab a while back and he wrote me an I.O.U. But I said I'd cash it in for an interview.... He owes it to us, but every time I try to cash it in..." Kaji trailed off.

"You get too drunk." Kaito said, taking the ziplock, looking at the note inside. Kaji leaned forward, grinning.

"But you, Kaito... You don't even like sake! The most you drink is beer!" Kaji grinned. Kaito hesitated a little.

"I'm no reporter." he hesitated.

"Not yet, but I'm going to make one out of you yet. Besides, you've got a sharp mind. You won't fall for his tricks!" Kaji grinned. Kaito shook his head.

"I wouldn't know what to ask... You've got to get them comfortable before they spill the beans, and I don't think Reo wants to share anything other than sake." Kaito said. Kaji reached out, resting his hand on his assistant's shoulder, looking into his eyes.

"I know you can do this, I know you'll be amazing... Better than I ever was." Kaji whispered. Kaito took a shallow breath, looking into the eyes of his boss and mentor before he nodded.

"I'll do it." Kaito said. Kaji grinned wide at that, although his grin started to soften and turn green as he realized that his body might not have been ready for breakfast yet after all, at least not until after he got rid of some of the previous night's frivolity first. Kaji sprung to his feet and lunged for the bathroom, leaving Kaito as the one wincing.

****

Bright light came down, passing through an array of varied and exotic glass bottles arranged like a rolling mountainscape. The biggest bottle had square corners and had been fashioned out of a rich cobalt blue. The smaller ones on either side were forged out of a coppery orange glass and a yellow citrus gold. It was a rainbow of hues, carefully laid out to catch the eye and enchant the senses. Unlike the bottles on the lower shelves, these had no labels or contents anymore. To an outsider the bottles would have been garbage or recycling, but to others they were far more; reminders of pleasure made tangible, companionship, and of patrons with deep, deep pockets.

Kaito was tangentially aware of the borderline nature of the host and hostess clubs in Japan, although he hadn't heard of the one named Petrichor until he reviewed his employer's notes. Realizing that Reo now worked in such an establishment explained why Kaji had come home drunk on his last few attempts. If Reo was a host, then his attention, time and conversation could only be purchased with a bottle of liquor. Kaito sincerely hoped he would have better luck, especially talking his way into the club before opening. Kaito moved in, dressed in a button up shirt with a vest and black slacks, his hair feathered and layered artfully. It was more style than he normally brandished, but Kaji had insisted it would help. It certainly seemed to catch the eye of the man behind the bar, the one Kaito could only assume to be Hayashi Reo.

If they had been on the street, he certainly would have stood out against the sea of salary-men in business suits and lean teenagers moving about their day. He was broad shouldered, his arms thick, what some might have termed a muscle chub in some circles. He had on a sleeveless black and white plaid shirt that complimented the rich tan of his skin and the darkness of his beard - thickest along the chin and mustache, but coming along quite nicely on the cheeks. He had on a black and grey baseball cap to complete the look.

For a moment Kaito watched the man cleaning the bar, arranging the glasses, getting everything ready. His strong arms were so beefy, glistening in the artificial lights of the bar. His hands looked well used and the shirt buttons looked ready to pop. Kaito flushed a little, finding himself trying to imagine just what might be revealed beneath if they did. Reo looked like he could have been a sumo wrestler in training, except his muscle outweighed his bulk. After a moment the man's eyes lifted up, surveying Kaito.

"Are you the new talent?" he asked. Kaito was confused for a moment, but the confusion turned into shock as he realized what the man meant.

"Uh, no, no sir..." Kaito swallowed. Reo gave him a second glance.

"It's too early for any customers to be in here, then." he commented. Kaito shook his head and approached the bar.

"I'm not a customer either, sir. I am Maeda Kaji's assistant." Kaito said, coming up to the bar. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the promissory note, "He's had difficulty collecting on his debt and he was hoping that I could give it a try." Reo's eyes looked down at the note, then up at the young man proffering it.

"I'm more than happy to pay Kaji back what he paid for my bar tab, with interest even. He's been hanging on to this since before I ever found this job." Reo said. Kaito shook his head.

"The note isn't for money, it's for an interview... one telling the truth." Kaito said. Reo smirked a little.

"I wasn't sure if that was the kind of work you two were in, can't you just make up stuff?" Reo asked. Kaito tried to look offended, although he'd asked Kaji the same question on an occasion or two.

"I talked with your boss on the way in, he doesn't like his hosts having debts. All you have to do to clear this one is to talk with me." Kaito said. Reo looked back in the vague direction of the manager's office before nodding a little.

"We don't open for a while, maybe it would be good to get this off my chest." Reo said. Kaito felt his heart flutter a bit at that. Kaji was going to be so proud of him.

****

Kaito slipped down into the booth, sliding along the leather cushion, looking around. He wondered what it was like at night with the music blaring and the patrons mixing with the hosts. He could imagine Kaji talking away as he sampled a variety of alcoholic beverages, trying to pry information out of Reo. Reo moved over, maneuvering himself into the booth with a practiced ease, sliding in until they were hip to hip.

The booth was roomy enough for two, but not much more than that. Kaito looked up into Reo's eyes, finding them somewhat exotic. They were dreamy, contemplative, distant... and there was a faint darkness around them, as if he'd stayed up too late but turned the dark circles into a fashion statement. More than that, Kaito found himself inhaling a certain musk. Reo had the scent of a real man on him; sweat, salt, effort... but also a smell like rain on a forest floor - much like the name of the club, Petrichor. It all seemed to make sense.

"So, uh, are you a Tanuki?" Kaito asked. Reo paused for a moment before he started chuckling, swinging a big arm around Kaito's shoulders, pulling him closer. Kaito suddenly felt so warm and safe, tucked up against that big body.

"You really are green, aren't you?" Reo asked, "You're supposed to warm me up, make me comfortable if I'm going to open up to you." Reo said. Kaito gave a meek smile.

"Well, I've had to help Kaji home more than once after getting comfortable. I think he'll be sleeping this last one off for a week. He couldn't even find his voice recorder." Kaito said. Reo nodded at that, reaching into his pocket.

"You're lucky, I found it last night while I was cleaning up." Reo said, offering it over. Kaito bowed his head, accepting the device. He looked at the digital display, noting that it was empty. With that, he turned the recorder on and clipped it to his vest pocket before looking back at his host.

"So how did you find yourself in this job?" Kaito asked. Reo smiled a bit more at that.

"A much better first question." he said, leaning back against the booth. As he leaned back, the buttons on his plaid shirt strained all the more and Kaito became aware of the rather gratuitous bulge in the man's pants, almost as if he'd had to have them custom tailored to give himself a pouch. Reo considered, "I'd always been a bit of a night owl. Sleeping in until noon makes it hard to keep a regular job, but it makes the water trade a perfect fit. I've always had a bit of charisma, and people seemed to like what I was offering. At first it was just a job, but when you love what you do, you can hardly call it work."

"And you found it after Kaji and you met?" Kaito asked. Reo nodded, using his arm to pull Kaito closer, enveloping him in the embrace and his natural musk.

"Oh yes. We used to play around a bit when we were younger. I looked up to him like an older brother, but eventually he got a job and I had to find my own way." Reo said, "Now it's my job to show other young men how to enjoy themselves. Speaking of which, would you care for anything to drink? It's on me for once, since we're not open."

"I'm fine." Kaito replied. Reo pouted.

"You're turning down my hospitality?" he asked. Kaito considered for a long moment.

"I had a big breakfast so I'm not sure how much I'm up for, but since we're friends here, I could go for a beer." Kaito said. Reo smiled much more warmly at that and leaned over, kissing Kaito's cheek before he turned to one of the other hosts that was working on setting up chairs.

"Daisuke." Reo signalled one of the other employees, giving him a nod. The other host nodded, moving off to prepare the drinks.

"When was the first time you heard tales of the Tanuki?" Kaito asked. Reo gave a lop-sided grin at that, studying his guest.

"Don't we all hear stories of them growing up? Or study them in school... Ancient Yokai relegated to being tricksters and fools, trying to get their jollies without attracting too much attention." Reo said.

"Do you think they have to learn legends about themselves?" Kaito asked, looking up as Daisuke set down a bottle, a glass and an energy drink. He was tall and lean, his hair bleached to a platinum white, his eyes an intense green color framed with the same guy-liner. Kaito was nearly thrown for a moment, watching him walk away with a bit of sway in his hips. Reo smirked at that.

"Well, those born Tanuki probably learned at a young age, but those that were turned... had some catching up to do." Reo said. Kaito turned, looking at Reo in surprise.

"Someone can be turned into a Tanuki?" he asked. Reo took his time before responding, choosing instead to perform his duties as a host. He opened the bottle of beer, this particular one forged out of glass that was the color of fall leaves, pouring it with an expert hand into the empty glass. The rich amber liquid built and bubbled, a slight head forming on the top. Kaito nearly got a chill down his spine, watching the bearded man serve him. When the glass was full, Reo put the bottle down in the center of the table, proffered the glass to Kaito and then opened his own energy drink with a pop and a hiss.

"Given how often they appear in our legends, one might assume. On top of that, you hear all those stories about sweeping away those that take shelter under their umbrellas or follow them into the forest. Something has to happen to those wayward souls. But after all, it's just a legend." Reo said. Kaito contemplated the answer as he lifted his glass and took a sip, pausing as the unique flavor blossomed across his tongue. It was a lot better than the canned beer he usually went for. It was robust, full bodied and with notes he'd never expected. He had to resist the urge to take a much bigger drink, setting the glass down to pace himself.

"Did you always dream of becoming a Tanuki, or was it a surprise?" he asked.

"Actually, I dreamt of becoming a sumo wrestler when I was kid." Reo said before thumping his belly with his hand, eliciting an echoing sound from the mix of fat and muscle beneath. The sound jolted through Kaito, lighting up his synapses and making goose bumps rise on his skin. Kaito looked at Reo, gazing into his eyes, finding that strange playfulness enticing, mesmerizing, even charming. Reo hit his belly again, making it wobble, issuing forth another thump, then another. It was such an exotic mix of fat and muscle, not too much of one or the other, looking almost mesmerizingly comfortable to cuddle up against. Kaito was lost in thought for a moment before he looked up, realizing it seemed a lot more crowded than before.

Kaito inhaled sharply, trying to steel himself. He looked back at his glass and realized it was nearly empty. The hosts were hard at work and the patrons were starting to filter in for the night as the music picked up. He felt warm, cozy, then he realized it was because Reo had pulled him so close they were practically cheek to cheek. Kaito looked up at Reo and blushed hard, unable to hold the almost painfully erect tent in his pants. It seemed Reo didn't intend to hide it either, reaching over to gently roll the palm of his hand over the bulge.

"And that's really when I decided this was the life for me." Reo said. Kaito blinked slowly, feeling as if he had missed something. He was about to open his mouth to ask a question when he caught a blinking red light out of the corner of his eye. He looked down, realizing the voice recorder was warning that its memory was full.

"What time is it?" Kaito asked softly. Reo glanced across the club.

"Seven. We're about to open, I should probably get ready." Reo considered. Kaito's eyes widened in shock.

"SEVEN?! We were here all this time?" he asked. Reo grinned.

"I hope you didn't mind sharing my company." he said softly. Kaito blushed again.

"No, not at all, I loved that part..." he whispered. Reo smiled warmly at that and leaned over, kissing Kaito on the lips. Kaito felt as if he was butter melting over freshly baked bread. He felt the tickle of the other man's beard, the pliant eagerness of his lips, the teasing touch of his tongue. All too soon the kiss ended.

"Why don't you come back tomorrow for your interview, say Six?" Reo asked. Kaito blinked a little at that.

"Didn't we just do our interview?" Kaito asked. Reo reached over and pet Kaito's feathered hair.

"You asked questions for Kaji's magazine, but I'm talking about your interview to be a host. You never said which kind of interview you wanted to do, and I think you'd be a great addition to the club here. We'd be able to spend a lot more time together." Reo said. Kaito's jaw hung open a little at that, his brain nearly overheating.

"I-I-I-" he stammered. Reo grinned and kissed Kaito's chin.

"I'll see you at Six, big guy." Reo whispered before he slipped out of the booth and moved over to start performing his mixology duties. Kaito sat there, an obscene erection in his pants, mildly drunk and with no idea what they had shared in the hours that had disappeared on him. The only thing that was certain was that he had to come back to Petrichor one more time to find out.

****

The glow of the computer monitor washed over Kaito's face, casting shadows where the muscles had tightened in a mix of confusion and frustration. The cursor blinked on the white background of the document before him, one filled with a few inane scrawlings and then an empty void as hollow as his memories of his evening. The city shimmered outside with a rainbow of lights against the backdrop dark clouds. Normally Kaito felt that the constant glow was like a warm, comforting blanket, but now he wondered just what was out there lurking in the darkness... Just what had he been missing in his life.

The voice recorder chirped suddenly as it hit the end of its file, eliciting an even worse grimace from Kaito. How could he have been so unprofessional? How could he have lost track of everything? He didn't even have the excuse Kaji had - after all, he'd only had one beer. After all that time and effort, the recording was virtually useless. It kept rustling against his shirt pocket, sounding almost like forest leaves caught in a fall wind. Kaito exhaled slowly and leaned back, glancing up when he realized he wasn't alone.

"No luck?" Kaji asked from where he sat in the doorway, backlit by the lighting from under the kitchen cupboards.

"Not really. Nothing detailed or juicy enough for the article. We might get more use interviewing you about the time you met someone that turned out to be a Tanuki." Kaito said. Kaji gave a small smile.

"Nothing juicy... enough?" he asked, moving over to sit down on the couch, "Sometimes the best stories are buried around insignificant seeds." Kaito considered.

"Reo tried to spin it. He said that he agreed to an interview, but he said it'd be my interview to work at Petrichor." Kaito said. Kaji's jaw hung open a little, a strange mirthful grin broadening on his face.

"He really said that? He wants you to interview to be a host..." Kaji exhaled slowly, "This is an amazing opportunity. I mean, just think about it... He'll have to reveal himself to you if that has any aspect about his job, and even if he doesn't, you could write about the experience about being courted by a host club. It'd be scandalous, salacious, an inside look at one of our country's most depraved past times." Kaji grinned wide. Kaito blushed.

"And you want me to tell the whole country about it?" Kaito asked sheepishly. Kaji laughed out loud at that.

"If it was the whole country, we'd have better accommodations. But, it's still an opportunity. You agreed to this interview." Kaji said. Kaito glared.

"Reo agreed to an interview for you, and now it's me interviewing for him. How do I know you didn't put him up to this?" Kaito asked. Kaji faked looking offended.

"I never said you had to do this... I just said it was an opportunity. I know it's a bit out there. Forgive an old journalist for getting excited at the chance to peer into two secret worlds at the same time." Kaji said. Kaito exhaled slowly, feeling his anger deflating a bit.

"Maybe he was just putting me on. I'm just a skinny twig. Who would even want me to pay attention to them in a club?" Kaito asked. Kaji looked a bit softer at that comment.

"Anyone would be lucky to share your attention... You have a sharp mind and a deep heart when you aren't protecting it with armor. But, if you're worried about making a good first impression, I think I can help out. How long do we have?" Kaji asked.

"He wants me back at Petrichor at six tomorrow." Kaito replied. Kaji's eyes narrowed as he started to nod.

"It'll be a tight fit, but I think we can do it. We better get started." Kaji said, feeling the excitement building in his heart.

****

Low steady base pulsed through the club, accompanied by melodic electronic notes that came in gentle flows like audio precipitation in some sort of a cyberpunk rainforest. The lights in the club added to the mystique, casting a vague bluish green glow. The glasses glowed like beacons on the bar and the brightest point in the entire club was the white backlighting behind the collection of alcohol bottles. The night was young and the guests had started to arrive. Some patrons sat at the bar, some danced, but many sat in the booths and tables. Buying a bottle bought time, and time was the most precious commodity of all when it came to the hosts.

Coming in from outside, Kaito felt the change in temperature immediately as he left the cold behind and was embraced with warm, faintly musky smelling air. He took a second to collect himself, looking around. Many of the guests were salarymen, many still wearing their suits, but it seemed Petrichor catered to a broadening audience. There were some of the Shinjuku elite with their cutting edge fashion and even some that had embraced a bit more of a hip hop look with designer shoes, chains and piercings. For the first time in his life, Kaito felt like he had a foot in each of those worlds.

Kaji had helped him style his hair again, even going so far as to bleach the tips a little to give it a little contrast. He'd borrowed one of his boss's nice suit jackets and button ups but left the collar open to show off his chest and the chain there, and his slacks were old ones that were just a bit too tight, showing off his assets. The part that he had to get used to the most, though, were his freshly pierced and still tender ears. Kaito looked around a little anxiously, knowing he was a bit early.

If the guests were fishes in the sea, one of the hosts seemed to emerge from the waters like poseidon. He was tall, lean, very well tanned and his hair had been bleached and dyed until it was a rich rusty reddish orange. His wardrobe seemed to be a tribute to Peter Pan, forged out of leaves that covered his waist and slung up over one of his shoulders. The leaves seemed to be real, some had even started to take on fall colors. One of the most real, truest, richest, warmest smiles crossed his lips and his eyes almost seemed to glitter.

"You must be Kaito." the host greeted. Kaito nodded a little numbly, unable to stop himself from smiling as well.

"Yes, I have... um, I'm here to see Reo?" Kaito said. The elfin host only smiled more.

"I know." he said with a smirk, "Follow me." he replied before turning and moving back through the crowd. Kaito took a short breath, running everything through his mind one more time. Was he really doing this? Was this where his life had led him? It had been his own choice to pursue employment in the big city rather than finishing his education. Sometimes it hadn't seemed worth it, but perhaps things were going to be different.

As the two moved across the club, they earned the gaze from some guests that had not yet 'picked from the menu' as well as a few that had, forcing their companions to up their game and keep their attention focused. The two crossed the club before coming up to the rear portion, a rounded wall divided off into several different sections. The pan pulled back one of the curtains and ushered Kaito through to an area that looked a bit like a grotto. The walls were made up to look like rock formations, there was an artificial tree near the center covered with white christmas lights and a small pond with lights beneath the water. A large, comfortable couch sat to one side overlooking the scene.

Kaito was left standing there in wonder for a moment before the curtain opened again. He turned, eyes widening a bit as Reo moved in. His lumberjack wardrobe had been set aside, revealing his meaty pecs, his rounded stomach, and his thick legs. His beard contrasted even sharper without a shirt on. His baseball cap was orange with a green maple leaf on it and his shorts hung low, showing off the upper fringe of his bush. Kaito was stunned yet again.

In that moment he felt sorrowful for judging Kaji so harshly at not being able to complete his interview and coming home drunk every time he had tried. Everything suddenly made sense... All of those lonely, repressed people being faced with the opportunity to be themselves, to open up if they just bought enough alcohol to curry the attention of someone that might have been a living siren. It wasn't just lucrative, it was probably downright addictive. Kaito blushed and looked down at his clothing.

"I think I overdressed for the interview." he admitted. Reo smiled at that and moved up to him, reaching to play with the buttons on his shirt.

"The good thing about that is that it's always easier to get undressed than it is dressed." Reo smiled, opening up Kaito's shirt the rest of the way, looking down at his stomach for a moment before he gestured to the couch. Kaito's heart fluttered rapidly in his chest but he moved over and sat down.

"So what sort of interview is this going to be?" Kaito asked. Reo smiled and moved to open a portion of the wall that revealed itself to be a hidden refrigerator. Reo set down two glasses. He produced two spheres of ice, one for each glass, and then began to pour the alcohol over the ice.

"What kind do you want it to be?" Reo asked. Kaito's brow furrowed a little.

"I didn't think I got to be the one that made that decision, at least based on what you said yesterday." Kaito replied. Reo came over and sat down next to him. With his larger mass, it sloped the couch cushion, all but pulling Kaito in to him.

"I know what I said, but I know what you said too. You came to Tokyo against the wishes of your parents to make a career for yourself, but you became an assistant. Then you came here to take charge and get answers from me, but you agreed to interview to be a host for the club." Reo said, handing over one of the drinks. Kaito accepted it, looking at Reo.

"Like a pattern of taking charge but then settling for less?" he asked. Reo smiled a bit more at that.

"Is that the pattern you see?" he asked, taking a sip of his drink. Kaito almost seemed a bit defensive at that.

"I may not have figured out exactly what I will be doing with my life, but that doesn't change the fact that I want to make it happen, to forge my own path." Kaito said.

"And you want to keep your options open?" Reo asked.

"Exactly." Kaito replied.

"Like Kaji and me." Reo said.

"Exactly." Kaito repeated before he hesitated, "You mean as... employers?"

"Is that what you meant?" Reo asked. Kaito's eyes widened even more at that.

"That's not fair, I'm sure he told you all sorts of things when you got him drunk." Kaito said. Reo nodded.

"And that is in the strictest of confidences... It's not my place to kiss and tell. All I know is how he feels, not you." Reo said, "The question remains, what kind of interview do you want this to be?"

The question hung in the air for a long moment. Kaito looked at Reo, though he also thought of Kaji... and of Daisuke... and the host dressed as Peter Pan... and the guests who had looked at him with that hungering need in their eyes. He thought for a long moment before he looked back at Reo, his face hardening into a bit of focus and determination.

"Why can't it be everything?" he asked finally, "I'm interested in this lifestyle, this job... But I have a duty to Kaji as well. There are questions to be answered."

"And to satisfy the promissory note, you want to have me answer the questions and interview for a job here?" Reo asked. Kaito nodded.

"Yes, that's exactly what I want." Kaito said. Reo considered for a long moment before he nodded in agreement. He tipped back his drink and drained it until only the ball of ice was left and set it down on the table before looking at Kaito expectantly. Kaito felt one last flash of nervousness before he did the same, taking a few gulps of what appeared to be whisky. The burning built up quickly but he stomached it the best he could, fighting back his eyes from watering and trying not to make a scene.

"Then I'll answer your first question... I am a Tanuki. And I'll show you what it'll take to work here." Reo said, standing up and moving closer to the fake tree.

Every bit of information about the host clubs had said the same thing; it wasn't about sex. It was about companionship, about talking, about sharing one's attention and focus and time... but there had been indications of drama as well. Even in just a little bit of investigation, Kaito had found stories of hosts developing drinking problems, getting in fights with one another and all sorts of shady activity with their patrons. It was the dangerous side of the water trade, but it was also something that seemed strange and alien and attractive... just like Reo.

Reo slowly took off his hat, looking at it for a long moment before he set it down. His hair was shaved short on the sides and worked into a bit of a faux hawk down the middle, adding to his mystique. His hands slipped down, working on the button of the shorts. It nearly flew off as it came undone, the zipper whining as it was peeled apart, producing a rather huge bulge. Kaito's mouth was almost watering. The bulge was enormous, but Kaito blanched as he realized that it wasn't Reo's whole package. The huge sausage packed so tightly in the underwear was just his manhood and a much larger, much fuller mountain waited beneath.

The shorts went next, falling to the ground, leaving Reo in nothing but his underwear. They were an athletic brand known for their support and their craftsmanship but even then it seemed they were holding on to every stitch for dear life. The material extended outward a good four inches before beginning its curve, sloping down, then out, then down again. His package was immense, nearly to the point of being obscene, but it was mesmerizing at the same time. It had to be at least the size of a crown melon and it looked like it was getting bigger... and bigger... and bigger.

Kaito felt blood rushing to his own groin, feeding his growing erection as it stretched out to full mast. His slacks tented terribly, but he hadn't even laid a finger on himself. He stared at the growing mass shamelessly, trying to figure out just what was going on. It was like some sort of magic rick, but when Kaito finally forced his eyes off of Reo's prize, he realized there was a lot more magic at foot. It wasn't just his cock that was growing, it was his entire body. Reo had been the epitome of more to love to begin with, showing off a muscle belly and his thick pecs... but his aspirations to be a sumo wrestler were seeming more likely by the second. His belly was pushing forward, his pecs were getting thicker, his arms and legs were expanding.

Every change was so shocking that Kaito was starting to get dizzy after forgetting to breathe. He looked up and met eyes with Reo, noticing just how dark the rings around his eyes were getting. The host's beard was getting darker and thicker too. New strands were creeping up his cheeks even as the existing hair began to push out longer and longer, growing doward, getting bushier and thicker. He shot right past lumberjack, reaching new heights entirely. Reo let out a soft moan, shifting his position a bit as his center of gravity changed.

"It's true, all of it..." Kaito whispered finally. Reo grinned broadly at that, though his smile now contained some rather sharp incisors.

"It is, but this is no time to play coy. It's time to live up to your part. If you're going to be a part of Petrichor, you're going to have to join the team." Reo said, reaching up to massage one of his swelling, fattening, thickening nippples. As Kaito watched, Reo's fingernails darkened slowly, stretching out into points. Kaito's breaths were rapid, short and shallow. He was frozen there, but not in fear or doubt or wonder. He could feel the same burning and tingling he'd felt from his whisky, from the first drink, from the moment he found out he was gay. He felt it in his whole body - especially his cock. It wasn't a lack of direction, it was almost too many options. Did he want to suck those fat, juicy nipples? Did he want to ride that monster of a bulge? Did he want to get lost in his arms, his mouth, in an embrace timeless and enveloping? He wanted it all... just like the interview.

At last Kaito stepped forward. The first step was awkward, the second less so. After a few it was as if he was being drawn forward by a magnet, pulled into Reo's gravity well, coming up to him until they were stomach to swelling stomach. Kaito looked up at Reo, realizing his face was further away than it had been moments before. Kaito nearly shivered in awe and excitement, watching as Reo packed on the pounds and the inches, pushing past six foot three, then four, then five. His beard had grown almost four inches in a matter of moments, but the most surprising factor had to be the ears... Those amazing, pierced ears were not only pointed, but they were starting to develop a light coating of fur.

"I've never seen a Tanuki before." Kaito whispered, reaching up to rest a hand on Reo's stomach. He gasped softly, feeling not only how warm it was, but that a fine coating of fur was starting to sprout beneath his hand. He pulled it back, watching the fur starting to spread and radiate outwards. It had a lot of ground to cover, but it was trying its best. Thousands and thousands of new follicles sprouted, emerging from his belly. It engulfed his belly button, growing down to where his bush was and up to the thicket of hair between his pecs.

"Sure you have... There are lots of us around Japan.... We try to blend in, but it takes a lot of energy and a lot of calories to stay transformed. I think Tanuki provide half of the business to the energy drink industry." Reo said with his animalistic grin, wrapping a thick arm around Kaito's shoulders, pulling him in tightly. Kaito melted against the larger man, smelling his unique musk. It was like heaven with just a pinch of hell. His erection ached, but even more than that, his thirst was growing. Kaito kissed Reo's stomach, then he kissed it again, then he began to suck gently.

Reo cooed at that with delight, realizing just how close Kaji's apprentice was to being turned... but it wasn't quite right, at least not yet. Reo took a step back, eliciting a moan of loss from Kaito. Reo shushed him with a thumb on the forehead before he got to work. Kaito's jacket slipped off along with his button up shirt in a tangled mess. Reo tossed it, only realizing after he heard a splash that he'd accidentally tossed them into the pond. As Reo reached for Kaito's belt, the assistant kicked off his shoes and stepped on the toes of his socks to tug them off without bending over. The fabric fell away until all that was left was his underwear, just like Reo... but Reo had decided that Kaito did need a little bit of adornment.

With a clawed hand, Reo reached over and grabbed his hat. He lifted it up and brought it down onto Kaito's head, turning it around backwards. With a bit of his bleached bangs sticking through the hole and his newly pierced ears, the hat made Kaito look like a bit of a street punk. Reo growled with delight, finding it a rather handsome look. He leaned down and brought his lips to Kaito's, kissing him with a growing hunger. Kaito felt a jolt of energy rip through his body - not just from the kiss, but something else. It was an unsteady energy at first, but it began to take root deep down, past his stomach and below his throbbing cock. It took root in his sack and soon Kaito began to feel a very new, very unique, very distinct pulsing in his sack... and then his balls began to grow.

Any male of a certain age came to know the familiar feeling of their manhood growing erect. There was a certain anticipation, a certain magic. It was as if the body itself was pouring and pooling its focus into one spot. For Kaito, that one spot had become three. His underwear was tightening as his balls kept growing, expanding past the point of kiwis, then tangerines. With each heartbeat, his balls were stretching larger in every direction. They rode lower in his sack, but they took up more room as well. Kaito shivered, gasping for breath, pulling back from Reo's bearded kiss.

"It's been too long since I made a kit..." Reo murmured, leaning his head back as he stretched his shoulders. Bones popped and ligaments stretched. The fur that had conquered his belly wrapped around his ribs and stretched up his spine. It contoured around his shoulders before spiraling down his arms. It grew out in waves, soft fur hiding every square inch of skin beneath. The fur on his stomach stayed close to skin tone, perhaps even taking on a more cream inspired hue, but the hair along his groin and back and arms was darker, ranging from grey to black in places.

Kaito was all but drooling, looking at Reo with wonder. He was like a living, breathing teddy bear, but he wasn't a bear... at least this new side of him wasn't. Reo's feet were stretching and growing and thickening by the second, leaving the realm of human shoe sizes behind. His toenails darkened and stretched, honing to points before curving down to the points of claws. His leg hair thickened until it was fur, and soon his feet were covered as well. Reo kept shifting and moving every so often, although a little shiver spread up his spine as his huge, thick ass began to pry itself apart. The meaty cheeks were making room just as his tailbone started to stretch and quiver. The long since vestigial extension began to find new life and new use as muscles wrapped and coiled around it.

What started with a faint tickle, then a little wriggle began to grow into something far more. Centimeter by centimeter, then inch by inch, his tail began to stretch out behind him. To Reo this was perfectly natural, but to Kaito it was opening his eyes to a brand new world. He looked up at Reo's face with awe as his beard transitioned to fur, creeping up around his eyes. The dark rings turned from discoloration to a black bandit mask of fur, plunging into the hair he had kept so immaculate. His ears pushed out further, migrating up the sides of his head until they framed his fauxhawk. Reo's piercings still glinted in the dim light of the grotto, anchored in his raccoon ears.

To say that the host's underwear had stood up to pressure was an understatement. It had accommodated the largest package any man could ever dream of and had tried its hardest to contain the ample ass that was still growing by the second. It was starting to become unclear who the real loser would be; the waistband or the wearer. The elastic was cutting into Reo's skin, the fly looking dimpled and distended over the mass contained inside. It looked so tight it would have been painful, and the last thing Kaito wanted was for Reo to be in pain. He reached to help him, but froze, catching sight of his own fingernails. They had darkened from ivory to black, pushing out longer and longer until they came to sharp points.

"Use them... They're yours Kaito, your claws are a part of you." Reo whispered. Kaito looked up at Reo's shifting, changing face. It still was handsome, but it blended elements of humanity with hints of the racoon-dog species that Kaito had always assumed inspired the legends. Reo was large and in charge like a big brother, a mentor, or someone that cared even more. Kaito's heart was beating as rapidly as a hummingbird as he looked at his clawed hand before he swiped by instinct.

The moment the claws struck the cloth, the underwear gave up. With a gratuitous snap, the waistband exploded. The fabric tore down the hip, splitting enough of the inseam to come loose. No longer restrained, Reo's massive furry Tanuki balls were unveiled, crowned by the massive, throbbing, aching member that unfurled and slammed against Kaito's chest. It splattered precum across his shoulder, neck and cheek. The smell of the forest swirled around them both and the grotto no longer seemed to be quite so artificial. The wires wrapped around the tree faded away until the lights glimmered on their own power like tiny sprites. Grass sprouted beneath their feet, blowing in the wind that came from somewhere far away, and a very full, very yellow harvest moon hung in the sky.

"I can't believe this..." Kaito whispered, looking up at Reo's handsome face. It seemed, at last, the Tanuki had stopped growing at nearly seven feet tall and many hundreds of pounds of flesh, fur and muscle. A long striped tail swayed behind his ample ass, his huge paws braced in the soil beneath him. Very little flesh was left visible from beneath the coating of fur, leaving just his cock, his nipples and his dark black nose. Reo smiled again, his mouth having pushed into a bit of a muzzle.

"You don't have to believe. Tanuki are tricksters. Reality doesn't mean anything when you can feel or experience anything you want." Reo said. Kaito looked up with deep eyes, his clawed hands reaching to try in vain to wrap around Reo's huge cock, starting to slide his hands up and down the immense length. Reo purred at that, moaning happily.

"What do I do?" Kaito asked softly, "How do I get the job?" he asked. Reo chuckled at that, licking his lips.

"Oh you already have the job. We just have to give you your orientation." Reo said before he reached down and grabbed Kaito by the hips. Kaito gasped as he was lifted up nearly above Reo's head. The Tanuki nudged one of his legs and got him to spread it, then the other before he lowered him back down. Kaito naturally felt his legs drape over the Tanuki's shoulders. At first he wasn't sure what was going on, but then he felt the hot, gushing, slick geyser of fluid leaking from the head of Reo's immense cock. Once more Kaito blushed.

"I... I don't think I can fit..." Kaito whispered. Reo smirked at that and leaned forward, kissing Kaito's forehead.

"Reality doesn't mean anything..." Reo whispered. Kaito's nervousness faded as confidence took its place.

"When you can feel or experience anything you want..." Kaito repeated. Reo grinned at that and began to lower Kaito down. Kaito moaned, feeling Reo's huge tool pressing against his tight ring... although it was a ring that seemed quite eager to be stretched. Kaito gasped, then moaned, then groaned as he felt his body impaled by his very large friend. Kaito sunk down inch after inch, but it felt so good to have it slide in that he wanted more. He tensed his legs, used his upper body strength and pulled himself up so he could slink down all over again.

Reo moaned happily at that, gazing at his changing kit, watching his powers flood into his new recruit. As Kaito's newly pierced ears reshaped and took on points, he thrust in. As dark rings began to form beneath Kaito's eyes, Reo thrust out. As sandy brown fur began to poke out from between his nipples, he thrust in. As he felt Kaito's ass cheeks start to reshape and pull apart naturally, he thrust out. Each movement ushered moans from both of them, but the speed was picking up and Reo was striking deeper with each blow.

Kaito's toes curled as his toenails took on claws, the base of his feet becoming leathery and calloused, even forming paw pads as fur began to push out across the top. His smooth, flawless skin was dimpled with countless goosebumps as fur began emerging, filling in, and evening out. His hearing grew muffled and muted as his pointed ears climbed a bit higher on his head even as his nose darkened, his nostrils shifting and changing. Despite the awkward position, Reo hoisted him up, bringing them together for a kiss.

Just as his body had been penetrated, Kaito felt Reo's tongue plunge into his mouth. It slid deep, wriggled around, exploring this new orifice. Kaito returned the favor, his tongue slipping back and forth, wrestling the Tanuki's for dominance. As they kissed, Kaito's teeth began to change. His incisors sharpened, the rest changing to be something more fitting of a true wild omnivore.

Each thrust pushed more of Reo's powers into Kaito, and in all reality more of Reo. Kaito's stomach began to distend and stretch around the intruding manhood, but Kaito felt fine. In fact, he felt more than fine. It was as if a deep seeded hunger he had never known was finally being filled. He clenched his ass, using every muscle in his body to massage Reo's rod. He grunted and howled, even as his growing tail began to descend inch by inch behind him. It wasn't as thick or wide as Reo's, but as the stripes grew in and the fur filled out, it began to spread like wildfire.

Kaito's back became soft, the fur wrapping around his ribs and shoulders to meet up with what had already covered his chest. His dark hair graduated into lighter and lighter tones as the fur spread across his face and down his neck. Every inch filled in, sweeping down to the one last spot they had not conquered. The assistant felt the soft touch of silky fur on his thigh, brushing against his swollen sack. His balls had to be the size of oranges already, maybe even bigger. His sack grew dark as fur spread across it, but then a strange tingling began to build around his lap.

Even with all the immense pleasure sweeping over him, Kaito managed to look down between himself and Reo, uncertain as to just what that feeling was. As he watched, new flesh began to form, climbing up around the outside of his hard cock. The flesh grew its own fur, although the inside felt far more like silk. The skin formed into a sheathe and the sheath engulfed his cock, sliding up all the way to the tip until his cock disappeared inside. Kaito was left with a fur coated package that would have made any normal man envious for its size, but it seemed that things weren't quite over yet.

Kaito's sheathe gurgled, then pulsed... and then it began to grow. His balls swelled bigger, his sack stretched larger, his sheathe stretched taller and wider and fatter. Kaito threw his head back, he moaned, he groaned, he screamed out in lust. His sheathe split open and a newly minted Tanuki cock emerged. It was fat, thick, and dark with blood. Everything came to a head as Kaito screamed out, his cock exploding with jets of rich Tanuki sperm.

The rich seed sprayed across Reo's face, webbing in his beard and catching on his fur. The smell, the feel, even the feeling of how Kaito's body rippled and shifted around him as he came was exquisite. Reo tried to hold on, but he'd never been that good at pacing himself. He let out the most delightful mix of an exhale and a groan as he came, his huge balls opening a literal flood gate. Kaito's back arched as he felt it began to flood into him, pumping in quart after quart of rich fluid. In that moment they had both left their humanity behind in the club, embracing their full destinies as an experienced Tanuki and his newly born kit. The veil had been lifted and Kaito, if he hadn't been so wrapped up in the afterglow, would have realized how much more he finally understood.

****

Thunder rumbled loudly over the island like the echoes of some ancient sea creature hiding just out of sight behind the massive wall of clouds. The rain was unrelenting, but so too was the spirit of the people. The gutters channeled the water and it seemed everything that had been built up over the centuries had been built to last. The lights glowed through the rain, the vending machines hummed and the cars still navigated the streets. People always complained about the rain, Kaji included, but there was something about it that was cleansing at the same time.

It had been a long night for Kaji, longer than he liked to admit. He'd sent Kaito in to Petrichor to get the interview of a lifetime and then he hadn't heard anything after. The night had stretched out and the morning had crept along until finally Kaji had been forced to admit that it was a new day. The salarymen had gone to work, the students were in school... but finally he'd gotten a text from Kaito. That was all it took for him to set out into the rain.

Kaji seemed a little out of place. His suit clothes were an attempt to look professional, but they were always just a bit askew. His earrings were a little wild and he fancied himself a bit of a catch with what little bit of beard he could cultivate. Sometimes he played it to his advantage, either seeming too disreputable for people to mind him overhearing little bits of news or using his charm to coerce just a bit more out of his contacts, but that had all been a mask. When he'd gotten that text, he put it all aside.

The reporter came around the corner, eyes scanning the street ahead. A courrier sped past on a motorcycle, a delivery truck was parked with its hazard lights blinking. Kaji looked up the street until he paused, seeing one figure standing outside of Petrichor. Kaito held a clear umbrella, the plastic dome sheltering him from the rain. His carefully styled hair was hidden beneath the battered, well worn orange baseball cap, although now the maple leaf on it had turned from green to a harvest gold. His suit was gone, replaced with a rain soaked t-shirt with a few holes in it and black jeans with the knees blown out.

Kaji slowed to a stop, standing in the rain for a moment, feeling his heart ache with relief, confusion, envy and yearning all at the same time. It was a sweeping wave of conflict and for a moment the reporter felt very foolish... not so much for anything he had said or done, but more what he hadn't. Then again, he had taken Kaito in off the streets and now he looked completely different. He looked like the man of Kaji's dreams, the sort of man he would have died to have as a boyfriend if things had been just a bit different when he had been younger, if the country had just been a bit more accepting of those that were different back when he'd been able to pursue his dreams. Kaji felt just a bit too old and a bit too late, but for Kaito there was still time.

The negative feelings drained away and Kaji was left with nothing but relief that his protege was alright. He started moving again, picking up the pace. As Kaji splashed through the gully of water along the curb, Kaito spotted the movement and turned, his eyes brightening with delight. He grinned ear to ear, and Kaji spotted a bit of dark stubble on Kaito's chin. Kaji moved up the sidewalk before he ducked down, coming under the brim of the umbrella Kaito was holding. As he stood back up, they were just a few inches apart. Kaji looked into Kaito's eyes and Kaito looked back, though he looked quite tired with the dark circles around his eyes. Kaji forced his usual facsimile of a smile.

"It must have gone pretty well, you didn't have to get walked back like I did." Kaji said. Kaito smirked at that.

"I still think I'm going to have a killer hangover when this all wears off, but I think it went well." Kaito replied. Kaji smiled a bit nervously.

"Do you think it'll make a good story?" Kaji asked. Kaito smiled softly at that.

"I think you were right. There are a lot of good potential stories here... The secret life of a gay host club here in Tokyo, of what it takes to make the grade... and the secret tales of the life of a Tanuki." Kaito whispered. Kaji's eyes nearly gleamed with hope.

"That's amazing... Kaito, you are so amazing, you always have been, I-" Kaji hesitated, not sure quite what to say. He blushed a little. Kaito looked into his mentor's eyes, seeing depths he'd never let himself see before. He saw the hope, the need, the drive, the desire. He also saw the pain, the failure, the loss. In that moment he saw all that Kaji was, what he had been and what he still could be.

Kaji looked around as Kaito lowered the umbrella, the rain starting to come down over them both again. As Kaji turned to ask a question, his words were halted as Kaito's lips pressed against his. In that cold, damp space he felt the heat of another against him - but it wasn't just any other. It was Kaito, his friend and compatriot, his apprentice, his ally, his assistant. It was the young man that had proven himself over and over and over again to be loyal and dedicated and convicted... and it was someone who had never looked bad doing it. Kaji's jaw dropped a little as Kaito pulled back from the kiss, giving his boss a smug smile.

"Reo fulfilled his promissory note, but if you're wanting to write a Tanuki Tale, you're going to have to interview me." Kaito whispered. Kaji's eyes widened in dumb shock, standing there as the rain soaked his wavy hair. Kaito brought the umbrella back up over them both. The droplets pelted the plastic, adding to the percussion of the distant thunder as it roared over the city. Kaji stood there, looking at Kaito and all the subtle changes that made him look just a bit different. Was he taller? Were his muscles thicker? He had stubble, he'd never had stubble before, and his shirt looked a bit tight over his stomach.

"Would you agree to an interview with me?" Kaji asked, "I think I have a lot of questions."

"How about I answer them over a good meal. I am STARVING." Kaito said. Kaji let out a satisfied purr.

"Do you feel like ramen or donburi?" he asked. Kaito nearly melted.

"I could really go for donburi... but I think I'll whip up something back home. I just want to be with you right now, and answer all your questions." Kaito said. Kaji felt that electric shock of excitement and anticipation, feeling like it was all too good to be true.

"I'll make you anything you want." he whispered. Kaito gave a mischievous smile at that.

"Then make me your boyfriend." he said before he turned and started walking back toward the shop. Kaji lingered for a moment before he grinned ear to ear and broke into a sprint to catch back up, ducking under the umbrella and reaching up to help Kaito hold it, hand over hand. Despite all their differences, despite all their disagreements, the two had come to understand each other on a deeper level. Their masks had come off and the inner truth was showing through. Kaji started to wonder if he'd ever release a story about Tanuki. He'd write one, sure... but sometimes the privacy of one's sources was the most important thing - and if anything was certain, he wanted some privacy with Kaito.