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_ Duties of a Handler _

"Aw... god damn it... did I have a weird dream...", Yasei mumbled to himself, as his alarm woke him the next morning. Now, as he finally was rid of any and all alcohol left in his system, finally as clear as he would have liked to be last evening.

Grumbling sleepily he sat up on the edge of his bed, blinking tiredly at Asami, a broad, happy smile on her face.

"Hm... so... no dream, huh?", He corrected himself drowsily, absentmindedly rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Nope... but I can be a dream come true!", The bitch responded happily, Yasei cutting her short, with a big yawn.

"Hey... hey... pipe down girl... how can one be up and going at...", He looked at his alarm, blinking sleepy-eyed, "... at 6 a.m.! Gee... did you even sleep at all?"

"Nope...!", Asami responded excitedly, "Spiritual being... no need to sleep at all!"

"Fan-freaking-tastic... good thing we are no polar opposites at all...", Yasei responded sarcastically, stumbling up to his feet, with a quiet sigh, petting the bitch's head absentmindedly, before disappearing in his bathroom.

A few minutes later, after brushing his teeth, shaving, washing his face and getting his hair straight again, he seemed to have Asami really surprised... even though he was still moving more or less like a sleepwalker.

"Wow... you almost look like a totally different person!", The canine declared fascinated, yet Yasei just responded with a dismissive motion.

"Nothing special... it's what you call a morning grouch, Einstein..."

"Hey...! Not nice...", Asami responded saddened, having her master turning around to her once again

"Hey... hey... I'M SORRY... I'm sorry, okay...?", He explained, in still craggy voice, raising his hands in a pacifying gesture, "I'm no morning person... so... I'm really sorry... but you can't really expect anything out of me before breakfast... and-or 7 a.m.!"

"Oh, really... that's sad...", The canine responded, her head lowered sadly, before suddenly jumping on her feet, following Yasei in the kitchen excitedly, "... but you know what? I can help you to not be a morning couch!"

"It's morning grouch... and... PLEASE DON'T...", The young man responded invoking while preparing his breakfast.

"Why not...? It will be great...!", Asami objected excitedly, with her typical, toothy, canine grin, "We'll stand up really early... and... and we can go play in the park... have a long morning walk... cuddle while having breakfast on the couch... -"

"- ... no food on my couch!"

"Please... Yasei... it will be great! We can do all the things other dog people do... and you don't even have to worry about me pooping in the apartment, or destroying your stuff!", She continued praising her idea, tail wagging excitedly, "Oh please Yasei... can we... CAN WE? Pretty please, with a cherry on top...!"

"OKAY... fine...!", Yasei agreed grumpily, placing his bowl on the table, with a quiet bang, "... but not until Monday! Don't want to start a fight with new sleep patterns on the last day of the week!"

"JAY... morning fun...!", Asami exclaimed excitedly, before trotting to Yasei's side once more.

Curiously she examined the kitchen table, even shoved her head under his arm, checking under the table, before finally asking sadly: "You have no breakfast for me...?"

"What... ehr... no...?", The young man responded, slightly startled... hastily considering what to do, as he was sure Asami would be all gloomy again if she thought he would not care about her... or worse, not like her! Reminded yesterday being no mere dream, he was not only assuming so... he was sure she would!

Putting his spoon in his bowl, he so put a hand in Asami's neck, promising hastily: "Sorry I had no breakfast for you today... but I promise... I'll get a nice treat for you after work, for dinner... that sound alright for you?"

Still pouting Asami lay his head in his lap... before suddenly raising her head excitedly, asking in a begging tone: "Can we have grilled chicken?"

"Again...?"

"P L E A S E . . . ?", She pleaded elongated... Yasei, in the end, agreeing with a heavy sigh.

"Can you get us two off those, too?", She asked, tail wagging happily.

"Okay... but I'll count it as an early reward for letting me sleep in on the weekend!", He agreed sternly... not quite excepting he had set a trap for himself right there.

"Fine... but then I want two chicken on Sunday, too!"

"Wait what?"

"Uh-huh! Two chickens today is one extra chicken for Saturday... so you have to get an extra chicken for Sunday, too!"

"Urgh... fine...! Can I finish my meal now?"

"Sure...!", Asami responded delighted, leafing Yasei a bit more room, to finish his meal.

Finally able to finish his breakfast in peace, even though this morning's victory clearly went to Asami, which sat at his side all the while, tail wagging happily.

Finishing his meal, cleaning his dishes and finally putting on his suit for work, he was greeted with an astonished Asami.

"Wow... why haven't you worn that yesterday... you look so pretty...!"

"Pretty... am I a woman?"

"Ehr... handsome?"

"More like it."

"But still... why didn't you wear this yesterday... you're looking so good...!", The canine insisted, Yasei responding with a quiet sigh.

"This is my attire for work...", He explained, slightly annoyed, "What I have worn yesterday, where my everyday clothes... or do you think I'll go out in a suit when just wanting to mingle with the people casually? Only thing I'd do with that, would be asking to get mugged!"

"But... why would they mug you?", Asami asked startled, "Are there so many envious people?"

"What?"

"Yes... why are there so many envious people?"

"Envious? People?"

"Uh-huh... I mean they can't all be envious because you look better than them!"

"What...? First... would you please stop saying envious? And secondly... that's not what I meant! Most people assume, when you wear a suit in public, that you are some rich hot shot or something alike, thus thugs not rarely are tempted to flat out rob you, for a quick penny.", Yasei, finally having deciphered what she was going on about, explained with a heavy sigh, "So... one preferably wears casual cloth, when going out, just to be sure."

"Oh... so there are that many evil people? No wonder somebody called forth the reckoning."

"THE RECKONING?"

"Don't worry... not that reckoning... but I can't say it will be less awful, but as you said..."

"Don't you dare say, what I think you want to say...!"

"Ehr... as you said: later!", Asami instead ended, with a winning smile.

"Hm... so you are not as dense as you pretend to be?"

"Yes... I am not as... HEY!"

"Sorry... just kidding.", Yasei apologized, with a silent chuckle, petting her head affectionately, "BUT... I fear I gotta go now... work calls and Mister Takahashi is waiting for his monthly report...!"

Having said that, the young man turned on his heels... just to immediately find Asami having circled around him, looking at him with a distinct glare.

"What?"

"You said something about a report?", Asami asked, Yasei nodding baffled, "And that report is where...?"

"Well, in my bag of course... OW...!", Her master finally responded realizing, "Thanks... you're a lifesaver!"

Hastily getting his suitcase, he left his house... only to realize Asami following him! Stopping dead still, the bitch bumped right into him, giving a confused whimper.

"So... what exactly do you think you're doing?", Yasei asked, turning around to the canine.

"Well you're going to work... so I'm following you.", She responded excitedly, the young human giving a heavy sigh, yet again.

"Listen, sweetie... I'd love to take you along, even if only to irritate my boss... but dogs are not allowed where I work."

"I can wait in front of the house...?", Asami suggested hopefully.

"Sorry to say... but I fear you have to stay here, guarding my apartment."

"But... but... I don't want to be alone... not AGAIN...", The canine pleaded sorrowful, looking up at her master with big puppy eyes.

"Oh... God damn it. You're gonna give me diabetes one of these days, you know that?"

"Diabetes? Why would I do something as terrible as that?", Asami asked confused, earning another sigh.

"Never mind... just a figure of speech... but more importantly...", He knelt down to the canine, gently taking her head between his hands, "I promise you... I'll return to you as soon as possible, but just as anybody else, I have to finish my work first, okay?"

Asami nodded slowly, still a sad look on her face.

"Come on Asami... I'll be home as soon as possible, but until then, you have to hold down the fort... you can even go on my bed if you like, but only as long as you promise to be good, okay?"

With a sad snort she agreed, backing down a few steps, so she stood in their apartment again.

"Good girl...", Yasei responded, petting her head once more, before closing the door and locking it, as usual.

After commuting to work, Yasei gave his very best not to think too much about Asami... sure, it was inevitable, but he still felt guilty for just leaving her at home like that. Not having to worry about her destroying his apartment out of boredom, like other dogs were prone to do, while their masters were out of the house, gave him some sense of peace of mind... yet he still could not forget her completely.

While checking cut-scenes... motion sequences in in-game battle scenes, all the while noting down necessary changes, falling in other department's authority, he had to ascertain: YES... his hands did indeed not take too kindly to yesterdays 'stress'. Furthermore, it was the first time he was glad his coworker did not pay to much attention to one another... as he would have had no clue how he should explain the imprints around his hand.

In the end, he had to live with the dull stings of pain, whenever he moved a finger, after all, he couldn't easily say, he met a lion-dog on his way home, freed it from some magical chains and in doing so cracked his metacarpal bones. The best reaction he could hope for on this story when presenting Asami as proof of his claim, would probably be: 'AW... you got yourself a doggie? Why didn't you say so in the first place?' and 'Oh... so why don't you just take a few days off, you're slightly ahead with your work anyway. not to mention all that over time you have amassed!'

Yes, that would work really fine, but as it was Thursday anyways, he would deal with the pain those last two days, get his hands checked on Saturday and be done with it. Whereas... he yet again wondered what Asami would have to tell him, but... it couldn't get much weirder as a more or less shape-shifting, speaking dog, so... what was there to worry about?

How much of a lot of worse, the whole deal with Asami would be in the end... the poor guy surely wouldn't even want to imagine!

A little short of nine hours later, leaving his boss clearly dumbfounded, about Yasei not working overtime again, working all ten hours he had at his disposal, the young man finished his work for the day, hastily leaving the office building. Like that he sight in relief, before making his way to the barbecue stand, after all, he wouldn't want to break his promise to Asami... this time not only because his mother would lecture him if she ever found out.

What he had not expected, however, was the sudden chill down his spine, as soon as he stepped among all the other commuters, on the way home or to work. Irritated he checked his surroundings... nearly feeling like somebody was out to murder him, but giving the thought up after all. All the more reason for him to get a move on, he hurried along his way, almost at a hurried pace... until he actually found something strange in the crowd of people.

There was a guy... wearing a black eye-patch, over his left eye, a black cat laying around his neck, her head on his left shoulder. Not recognizing he had stopped dead in his track, Yasei eyed the guy suspiciously. The man had shoulder length black hair, wore a black leather jacket and black jeans, completed with a pair of black leather boots... the necklace with a silver cross on it, doing little to temper his appearance.

The strange man came straight at him, eye locked with Yasei's. Fighting down the urge to flee, the young man effectively just stood there, watching the man, clad in black. It felt like hours later, that the stranger suddenly bumped into him, excusing himself politely, before going his ways again.

In disbelieve, Yasei looked down his body, before throwing a glance back at the strange man in black... until he noticed a neatly folded piece of paper in his hand! Sure about the stranger having slipped this in his hand - who else would have - he hastily unfolded the letter, in the end just staring at it irritated.

'Watch your back - or else it won't be as fun!'

That was all the letter said... what did this guy want from him?

Turning around again, he found the guy leaning on a wall, not too far away, the black cat on his shoulders watching Yasei intently. As he gulped heavily, the black cat gave him a sadistic smile, it's partner just saluting him casually... before they both suddenly vanished!

In utter disbelief, Yasei ran a few steps towards were the strange pair just stood... but they were gone... gone without a trace!

"Oh... I so can't wait for your explanation on this handler thing!", Yasei mumbled to himself, going on what he knew so far, only to sure about that person having been another handler of a Yokai... just like him!

Giving it a quick thought... it could not have been this Katsuo, Asami had talked about, as she had described him having turned in some kind of big cat, while the partner of this guy was a lean, pitch-black cat, with light violet eyes... and considering the smile it had given him, it probably had a really mean demeanor, too.

"Oh... peachy... can't wait for that weekend to come...!", The young man finally declared to himself sarcastically, not too sure anymore, if he wanted to know about what Asami had to tell.

Trying to get as much distance as possible between that guy, with his demon cat and him, Yasei went to the barbecue stand, to get the promised chicken, while also buying some premium, dry dog food along the way... not necessarily to keen on learning how Asami thought about being fed dog food, like an ordinary dog.

"Puh... finally...!", He uttered, with a silent growl, as he reached the door to his apartment, his bag with grilled chicken in one and larger, heavy bag of dog food in his other hand.

"I'm back Asami...!", Yasei announced, having barely enough time to close the door behind him and put his keys in their designated bowl, before he was knocked over by a literally hysteric Asami.

"Oh... Yasei... you're finally back... I thought you'd never return...!", She proclaimed, lying on his stomach, smothering him in affection.

"Hey... easy girl, easy!", Yasei tried to comfort the red-furred bitch, slightly fighting for breath, under the sudden 'attack' of his canine partner.

After a while deciding, he may need to be a bit more insistent, he wrapped his arms around her, turning to his right, so the eventually both lay on the ground and he thus no longer had to fear, Asami accidentally suffocating him. Pulling the canine close to his chest, he stroked her back reassuringly, unable to quell a silent laugh.

"You silly puppy... I was gone for like... a bit over nine hours, no reason to panic like that. Plus... I promised I'd return as soon as possible, didn't I?", He asked the now silently sobbing bitch, "Come on... I even brought those two grilled chickens you wanted and a little something for your breakfast."

Slyly opening one eye she asked, still cuddled on his chest: "Really? Just for me?"

"Yeah... it's just dog food, but it's better than nothing isn't it? Even launched out and got you some of the really expensive stuff!"

"Just for me...!", She asked, raising her head slightly, tail wagging excitedly... before suddenly getting all glum again, "But you shouldn't have... now you have no money left for yourself..."

With a short laugh, he explained, fondling her long, mane-like neck-fur: "No... don't worry... I have enough money here to last for the end of the month, plus... even that is only a part of my money. Sure... I'm no rich man... but I have enough cash saved at the bank, to be able to buy one or two more of those, without going broke."

"Oh... okay?", She replied shyly, before sitting up again, asking, slightly excited, "So... can we have dinner then?"

"Of course... was just waiting for you to stop crying, after all.", Yasei answered teasingly, the bitch immediately responding, not much different as he expected.

"WHAT...? I did not cry... you cried!", She responded sulkily, earning a hearty laugh from her young master.

"Yeah... I thought you would be trouble... but I'd say I have a fairly good grasp on what has you ticking now!", He responded, still in a teasing tone.

"PAH! I'm still full of mysteries you couldn't even imagine...!"

"Yeah... maybe, but the rest I have pretty much figured out... like an open book.", He responded cockily, emphasizing his point, with a gesture of both hands, miming as if he was opening a book.

Asami gave an outraged huff, just silently commenting: "Doofus...!"

"Hey... what did you say?", Yasei asked jumped, "Don't you dare mock me with names, I probably taught you myself in the first place!"

"Yeah... yeah... come now morning couch: I'M STARVING."

"MORNING G... wait a second...?", The young man interrupted himself startled, only now noticing her using the wrong word yet again.

With a quiet sigh, he picked up both bags, following Asami to the kitchen, declaring with a shake of his head: "Yeah... you, young lady, absolutely are a silly goose!"

"Do silly gooses still get barbecued chicken?"

Uttering a snorting laugh - while already preparing plates anyways - Yasei confirmed: "Yes... as long as they have been good and kept a tight watch on my fortress of solitude, they do."

"OH... I've been good... very good! I didn't even go on your bed!", The bitch explained proudly, only too happy about her achievement.

"Well... it has only been about nine hours... but considering some other dogs would need years of careful nurturing until achieving that... here you go!", Yasei explained, before casually offering the first strip of meat.

Excited she immediately gulped down, eagerly waiting for the next piece of meat seconds later. Like that, they finished the first grilled chicken within a few minutes, like they did yesterday... but when Yasei pulled the second plate towards him, Asami suddenly jumped on the table!

"HEY... what that supposed to mean?", He asked upset, the red bitch carefully keeping him in sight.

Hind-legs on the floor, front-paws on the table, she bit down on some of the chicken, carefully pulling a string of meat off of it, before now placing her front-paws on her master's legs, offering him the piece of meat she just scavenged.

"For me?", Yasei responded, once again entirely jumped by the canine.

Asami nodded briefly, as to not drop her offering, looking at Yasei expectantly.

Conflicted the young man looked at the canine... he got to know her a little better now and contemplating briefly, he might even trust her with his life... to some extent, but that? It was not that he was outright grossed out, but... she was an animal! Probably to a degree more

knowledgeable as some humans... but still an animal.

Asami's ears slowly dropping, her excitement diminishing, Yasei finally took a heart, encouraging her: "No... come here, gimme!"

Her mood brightening again, she stretched her head to her young master, who carefully grabbed the piece of meat himself. Yet, all of a sudden, Asami closed in on Yasei, pressing her chaps against his lips, in what he could only imagine, being an attempt on mimicking a human's kiss. Withdrawing herself a few seconds later, hastily getting all four of her legs back on the ground, she looked at the human with wide eyes, a concerned look on her face. Grabbing the part of the meat Asami hat in her snout, Yasei bit of the piece already in his mouth, before on a quick thought eating the other part as well.

"Was... was it good?", The canine finally asked cautiously, slightly afraid of how her master might reply.

"Well... it was good...", He replied, meaning the meat, but adding in regard to her try of a kiss, "But... a bit weird too."

Dropping her gaze Asami took a pause to think, before declaring reserved, in a silent voice: "You... you can have it... I'm not hungry anymore."

Taking her leave, just like that, Asami trotted out of the kitchen, probably disappearing in the bedroom.

"Bravo Yasei... nicely done!", The young man scolded himself quietly, before turning towards the remaining chicken, "SO... what to do with you?"

Checking the clock in his kitchen, he gave a quiet sigh. His Iaido lesson would not start until 6... and now it was about 4:15 p.m., after all, he had tried to return home as soon as possible, to make Asami's day.

"Well... I did really great didn't I...?", Yasei scolded himself, with an annoyed groan.

A while later he finally had an almost adequate idea. Dismembering the chicken, he threw away all bones and gristle, before putting the remaining meat in his small refrigerator.

"Bet she won't see that coming.", He finally stated to himself, with a satisfied nod, "But what to do now...?"

Checking his clock again he gave a low sigh. Still only 4:20 p.m.! Checking his little living room, his eyes fell to his practice Tai Chi sword, he had mounted on the wall, right above his sofa. Deciding he did not want to grab this off of the wall, he went to his bedroom, where he indeed found Asami, lying in front of the footboard of his bed, on the floor. The canine did not react at him entering... but couldn't quite keep her curiosity in check, as she couldn't resist asking, as he changed in his tracksuit: "What you up to?"

"Just some training... some Tai Chi on the roof and at 6'o clock I'll go for my Iaido lessons."

"Oh... okay...", She replied, his answer apparently not quite interesting enough to break her trance.

With a quiet sigh going for his planned training, Yasei left Asami to her thoughts, after all, not wanting to disturb her any further.

Using his phone as a timer, he repeated all Tai Chi figures he had been thought, whereas he had finished his lessons about half a year ago, just like his Kendo lessons, he graduated like two months ago. His newest 'thing' thus was Iaido... a variation of swordplay, of the ways of budo, closely relating to the old ways of the samurai.

To arrive on time for his lessons, Yasei so headed out at about 5:40 p.m., after saying goodbye to Asami for the evening... even though he intended to return as soon as possible, this time around to, as not to worry his canine partner yet again.

Heading for the dojo ASAP, he arrived in time - as usual - engulfing himself in his training, not letting himself be distracted even for a second, this time around without fail.

Finishing his training in earnest he left the training room exhausted, but happy... kinda... as his hands still hurt, especially after this kind of work-out. As he did not feel any permanent or even agonizing pain, he however dismissed the problem yet again, more intent on returning to Asami, as he was kinda worried about her. However, missing his train back, by literally a second, he was forced to take a different route, passing by his workplace, taking a different train, to then yet again transfer to another train. It was a hassle... but he thought it still better, as waiting half an hour for the next train of this line to arrive.

Disliking the route anyway, as seeing his workplace in the daylight, was more than enough for him, he passed the building without looking at it... at least he had planned to.

Again feeling this cold feeling, of somebody watching him, with murderous intent, he looked up at the wall, surrounding the building. The wall was about 8 feet high... yet there he sat... closed in, what looked like the attire of a ninja, calmly sitting on top of the wall, black cat on his shoulder, feet swinging back and forth lazily.

"Nice evening isn't it?", The stranger asked nonchalant, turning his head up, too look at the full moon.

"Well... can't argue with that...", Yasei answered before he uttered, "But more importantly: Who are you and what do you want with me!?"

"OW... how officious!", The man answered overly indignant, "Didn't your mummy teach you to always introduce yourself first?"

"Yes... she did, but-"

"- But... oh well... I guess I'll condone your discourtesy, just this once!", The stranger continued, utterly ignoring Yasei.

With a short leap he jumped back up on the wall, declaring with an exaggerated bow: "You, dear friend, may call me Yoru... and this...", He pointed at the cat on his shoulder, "... is Naomi, my loyal partner, and companion."

"A pleasure...", The cat stated, liking her lips ostentatious, as if looking at some tasty prey.

Looking over his shoulder, Yoru took a look at the facilities of Yasei's workplace, giving an unimpressed click of his tongue, before announcing judgmentally: "Seriously... you're working there? Looks more like a prison than an adequate place of employment to me."

"I don't know Yoru... to me, it looks more like a LION'S CAGE!", Naomi pointed out, emphasizing her words with a low hiss.

"Yes, indeed... it really does.", Her handler agreed in recognition, Yasei meanwhile, only continuing to follow their little performance, cause he feared the risk of a dagger to the back, should he decide to leave.

Finally returning his attention to Yasei, declaring in an alerting tone: "So... better stay clear of there... you don't want to be torn to pieces after all, do you?"

"OH! So I'm allowed to talk again, yes?", The young man inquired, Yoru agreeing with an inviting gesture, "I see... so, in case you want to scare me: a lion's cage? Seriously? More like an enclosure of sloths! So if you'd excuse me, I'd like to go home now. Some people do have a life after all."

"Oh, how nice... we don't want to stop you in that case... but still: you should really consider taking friendly warnings more seriously...!", Yoru explained, with a sinister smile, Naomi cackling dubiously... before they suddenly disappeared again... like a dissolving mirage.

"What the heck is wrong with this guy...?", Yasei asked himself, with a faint shake of his head.

Seeing this 'ninja gear' of that Yoru character, he had some kind of respect for him, as he seemed to have some top of the line body armor - probably light as a feather, yet as durable as steel - and presumably enough daggers and other hidden weapons, to eradicate a small village!

A while later, after making sure the duo in black was gone, Yasei finally felt safe enough to return home.

Musing on his way home, he thought to himself, he might be able to give that Yoru guy, a run for his money, if it was only fighting skills... but as he did know near to nothing about what this handler thing was all about and he did not trust this black cat, Naomi either... he decided he rather preferred him and them as far apart as humanly possible!

Almost missing his next train too, due to his little distraction, Yasei arrived at his apartment about half an hour later, as he had originally planned. Entering his apartment, bag with his training gear in hand, he nearly expected Asami to knock him over yet again... but she seemed to stay true to her walkout. Tucking away his stuff, like usual, he found Asami still laying in front of his bed, unchanged to about two hours ago.

Kneeling down in front of her he softly caressed the sleeping canine's head - or at least she was pretending to sleep, following her 'no sleep for ghosts' explanation - with a low sigh, quietly asking to not be mad at him, as he did not want to hurt her... never would want to, before finally, after still receiving no more answer but a long puff of her, dropping his under ware to, disappearing in his bathroom.

Quickly grabbing his shampoo and body wash, for a second he thought to hear the clattering of claws on the floor, followed by a few faster clatters, as he checked his bedroom curiously. Asami, however, was still lying on her new sleeping spot, fast asleep... or pretending too, but whatever was 'the correct answer' here now... he did not care too much, as he found himself indeed trusting the lion-dog's promise the other day, considering her never intending to harm him.

With a quashing shrug of his shoulders, he so went into his bathroom again, readying a towel in front of his shower, before stepping into the shower, finally getting to cleaning himself up again. Little later, deafened by the running water, his sight blurred by steam, he did neither hear the return of the silent clatter of claws nor notice the red, dog-shaped silhouette right behind him, watching intently as he showered. As he was about to finish his shower a while later, he noticed just as little, how said 'dog-shaped silhouette' hastily fled out of the bathroom.

Why Asami suddenly enumerated watching her master while showering, to her hobbies, Yasei would probably never know... but as she managed to flee the scene of her crime just in time, he was oblivious

to that fact anyways, so this presumably wouldn't matter for him anyways.

Brushing his teeth and essentially getting ready for bed altogether, it only briefly passed Yasei's mind: 9:20 p.m. wasn't exactly his bedtime... but for today he did not care, as he wasn't really in the mood to do much else today. Only now remembering he maybe should have told Asami about the stranger - he now knew by the name of Yoru - he met on his way home, but... well, would he continue on like this he would definitely become a master of timing... bad or non-existent timing that is.

Thinking back on his 'plan' for tomorrow morning, he reset his timer, his alarm now at least one hour earlier as usual. Asami did apparently want him to wake up even earlier so he could entertain her at least for a while before having to leave for work... but that was a tale for another day... Monday to be precise.

"Well... not quite sure if I'm too eager to learn what else you want to put forward to me... but I guess that is one more thing for future Yasei, huh?", The young man mumbled to himself, with a silent sigh, before finally making himself comfortable on his bed.

Consequential to his rather early bedtime - he usually could keep going till around midnight, on his workdays, without having to much trouble the other day - it took Yasei quite a while till he effectively fell asleep. Long enough in fact, for him to noticed, how Asami carefully, in almost cat-like stealth, climbed on his bed, carefully checking if he indeed was asleep - she could feign sleep, so could he - before quickly licking his cheek, carefully laying down next to him, as not to wake him, nestling up to him after all, with a content sigh.

Like that sharing his bed with his canine companion, after all, Yasei slept soundly, until finally, his timer went off, at five in the morning. Asami jumping at the sudden alarm, presumably more because it surprised her, as opposed to really startling her out of sleep, the young men sat up in bed, laughing quietly, still as battered as usual, yet... not feeling much worse, as usual, opposing to his worries last night.

"Well... good morning to you too.", He said amused, looking over to the surprised bitch, "You wanted me to get up earlier - way earlier - so... for a little mean of amends, here I am... even if I still can't promise you to be useful all soon."

"What? Only because of me? NO... don't...!", Asami replied irritate at first, then nearly shocked... before adding quietly, head lowered, "It was all my fault anyway."

"Nah... it's all good...", Yasei responded unblinking, accompanied by a distinct yawn, stopping her with a sleepy wave of his hands, "I'm up now anyway, so... plus: If you really want to blame someone so badly, at least blame us both, but... no harm was done, so..."

"Whoa there...", He mumbled to himself, stumbling a few steps to the side, as he stood up hastily, nearly colliding with his wardrobe.

"Careful...!", Asami promptly shouted alarmed, her master just raising a hand, in an appeasing gesture.

"All fine... no prob!", He responded, almost drunkenly, the canine tilting her head surprised.

"Huh... so that's why it's called 'sleep-drugged'?"

"Seems like it.", The young man responded, giving his wardrobe a short, wary look, "WELL... you know the drill, see you in a few."

Quickly brushing his teeth, shaving and roughly fixing his hair, as usual, just like yesterday too, Yasei returned to a still, slightly suspicious looking Asami. Looking at her he left his eyes to wander musingly, for a few seconds, before suggesting: "So... what about that morning walk you proposed? Or would you prefer having breakfast first?"

Apparently, still not quite at odds with the whole situation, Asami finally shook her head, before replying slightly uncertain: "Well... breakfast first... I guess? Can't have you falling asleep mid walking, after all, right?"

"PHEW...! Thank goodness!", The young man responded relieved, this time the canine looking at him, with a raised brow.

"Who's the silly goose now?"

"Not me!", Yasei immediately responded, trained by a lot of 'not it' - decisions.

"Yeah, sure...", Asami responded sarcastically, following him into the kitchen.

"You were right... you still have quite a few mysteries left, up your sleeve...", He gave the canine a contemplative look, correcting himself musingly, "... or more like mane? You know what I mean!"

Her head tilted, looking at him questioningly, the red-furred bitch eventually stated, finally more sounding like herself again: "SEE? Told you, great guardian-dog Asami has countless..."

Yet her speech was cut short, as the young man got the plate with left-over chicken, out the fridge, putting it at the table with a smug smile.

Her eyes going wide Asami stated excitedly: "You saved it? You did not finish it all alone? ... but... is it really okay to have grilled chicken for breakfast, even if it is cold?"

"Oh... if you don't want it, I have no problem to keep it all to myself...!"

"NO... I do! I want - I want - I WANT...!"

"If you say so... here!", Yasei consented, with a silent laugh, throwing her one of the pieces of flesh.

The canine managed to catch the meat... but only a tip of it, the remaining flick of flesh landed right on her nose, having her young master burst in laughter! Sure... it was nothing especially amusing, yet... as Asami looked at the meat on her nose cross-eyed in surprise, no... it was eminently amusing.

Giving a low growl, Asami brought the piece of meat in her maw, with a swing of her head, before she - without further ado - grabbed the plate of left-overs off of the table top, carrying it to the opposite side of the table. Putting the plate on the floor, she then started to devour the remaining meat, without further ado... all on her own. Still not quite over his laughing fit, Yasei realized the plate being gone, only as the canine was already nearly done with his prey.

"HEY... I wanted some of that too!", He complained offended, the red-furred bitch just turning around with an unimpressed huff, taking the plate with her, so that she now sat right between Yasei and her captured meal.

"FINE... I go and get some cereals... AGAIN.", The young man had to give in, being honest having been looking forward to that treat for breakfast himself, too.

Having to contend with his usual bowl of cereals, he finished his meal quickly, before standing in wait at his sink... arms crossed, tapping his foot impatiently.

"What...?", Asami noticed Yasei's tapping foot, stopping mid licking the plate clean, she already was at for like a minute or two.

"Really? You even need to ask?", He replied, pointing at the plate to her feet, arms still crossed.

"OW... of course... sorry!", The canine responded hastily, picking up the empty plate, finally bringing it over to her master.

Giving the plate a quick look, he responded, with a quiet sigh: "Well... at least I don't have to wash it that thoroughly anymore.", He looked at Asami, giving him an irritated look, "Well... same thing as with the floor: takes a bit less effort to get clean, if it already is almost clean."

"Seriously?!"

"Well... to be honest: sure, it is not that much more effort, but still... time is money, isn't it?"

Ignoring the - again - slightly confused look on his partner's face, he quickly cleaned the plate, with a bit of detergent, before drying the plate and his bowl and finally tucking all there used dishes away.

Being done with that, Yasei gave a short sigh, before stating: "WELL... as that's done and you finally have me up and going...", He quickly looked at his kitchen clock, "... you can have about 50 minutes off alone time with me, before I have to leave for work."

The red-furred bitch seamed saddened for a second, to not even have a whole hour with her master, before he had to leave for work again... but seemed to come to terms with those conditions quickly, after all, it was... well, 50 more extra minutes with Yasei, compared to zero minutes of Yasei, before he had to leave for work after breakfast, yesterday. Practically pushing him in his bedroom to get dressed, she told him in a slightly teasing tone: "Tracking suit and go-go-go."

Just rolling his eyes at her use of the wrong wording once more - morning couch... sure, he'd show her a morning couch - the young man quickly put on his tracksuit and shoes, before guiding Asami out of his apartment. Asking where she wanted to go, the canine replied... she wanted to visit the Shinto shrine, he originally met her.

"What... seriously?", He asked surprised, leading the way ahead anyway, "You literally lay in chains there for what? Years... decades... a quarter of a year... even longer?!"

"Well... no... it was only a little more than ten years, but... I'm impressed. Somebody else may have started his guess with like...a thousand years... or at least like a century."

"Nah... just listened to what you were telling me and as you said: you could only meet your handlers, as soon as they have finished the next quarter of the century of there lifetime since you all have been summoned, right?", Asami looked at him astonished, utterly speechless for the moment, "WHAT? Firstly, I am not stupid and secondly, as long as you listen to people, you'll be surprised how much you learn."

Walking by his side, now looking at him thoughtfully, with a cocked head, she finally announced: "Nerd...!"

"HEY... what does me listening to people has to do with... ARGH... forget it!", Yasei stated with a roll of his eyes, instead asking, "SO... to shorten tomorrows workload a bit: what's that reckoning thing of you's all about?"

"Well... about eleven years ago, somebody - probably somebody who found some old summoners archive - called out the reckoning. It allows summoning any Yokai, no matter how powerful, as long as one knows its name and bind it to his will! The only throwback of the spell is, it tearing apart the walls between the realm of all spiritual beings and the human's realm. The real bad side effects of this will probably hit a few years from now, as soon as the intersection between both realms is strong enough. The other side effect is, it's call is so powerful, countless other powerful Yokai are being randomly summoned and bound all around the world, forced to remain wherever they have been bound forever!"

"Until there 'handler' frees him, that is?", Yasei guessed, the canine nodding enthusiastically.

"Uh-huh... and in case there chosen handler refuses them, they really are bond forever... until there chosen handler dies, whereas the spell chooses a different handler and the waiting starts all over again!"

"Well... guess you can be glad I did not refuse then, huh?"

"NOPE...!", The canine responded happily, a wide trusting smile on her chaps once more, "I always trusted in you releasing me! Magic may be inconceivable... but it is the only thing near to flawless in the world! I'd never do anything bad to anybody, as far as they don't deserve it... so I was sure you had to be a good guy too!"

Yasei for a moment was sure if he should be flattered, moved... or maybe even something completely different? Just based on her knowing how the spell worked - maybe a side effect of the spell itself too - and the picture she had of herself, the canine had blindly trusted in him freeing her? Considering humanities latest achievements - considering the history of only the last century - he wasn't even sure if humanity deserved any kind of ordinary trust, not to mention blind trust like Asami showed right here! Sure... he maybe should really stop mistrusting people, just because there have been a few real a...

"WOW... it's beautiful!", Asami suddenly broke his thoughts, seeing the park, which practically held her, for years... well, 'from the other side'.

Excitedly the canine looked over the small park. Sure, it was the size of about two blocks of houses, yet... it still was only some ordinary park. As the canine surveyed every nook and cranny of the park, Yasei followed close by, in the end concluding: he seemed to not only picked 'a cuddly one', but just as much a 'nature loving one'. After a while, he just discarded all his thoughts in that direction with a dismissive shrug, after all, he could have met it worse.

Following close by the red-furred bitch, the young man was proven utterly right in a... kind of different way. As he had deduced after all that Asami had told him, including what he was seeing here now: she completely behaved like a dog. Even though she had proven she could be just as complicated as any other woman in the world too... if she wanted to.

After a while, he found a bench nearby, watching Asami from there... until she suddenly disappeared in the little forest, growing on the side of the little hill, up to the shrine. He jumped up, worried she might be up to something stupid, only to find her returning... with a stick! She actually had gone and brought the biggest stick, she could have found. Yasei was glad it at least had a reasonable length, as he was all too sure what the canine planned... and was proven right just seconds later!

"ey... ook at I ound...!", She declared excitedly, opaque through her still holding the stick, about the length of Yasei's lower arm, in her mouth, "e an ay ith at!"

Shaking his head, in a silent laugh, he took the stick, Asami had brought.

"So... just like an ordinary game of fetch?", The young man asked unsurely... after all she had complained about being called old... maybe she would complain about being treated like a dog too?

Yet... the bitch just nodded enthusiastically, hunting after her price like it owed her money. Yasei even tried tricking her once in a while... pretending to throw the stick away, while not doing so... whereas Asami pretty much always seen right through his trick... at least after dashing after the stick for a few steps, before suddenly realizing: 'wait a minute...!' In reverse, the canine more than once, let him chase her, unwilling to return the stick, until she thought, he had run after her long enough.

Playing fetch, having him hunt her, or just plainly fighting him over the stick, they wasted the time he had allotted for her 'morning fun' - how Asami had called it - pretty fast... just as much as the bitch had wasted him and that way before he even set out to go to work! Checking his watch, he only noticed this very fact at... 6:30 p.m.! He wanted to be dressed and ready at 6:30... not exhausted and dirty, still in the park, a walk of ten minutes away from his apartment!

"GOD DAMN IT!", The young man cursed, hurriedly calling Asami back.

"And get rid of that stick... we're kind of in a hurry now...!", He ordered, evidently on edge.

"Bu ou tick...!", She replied sadly, seemingly unwilling to let go of the piece of wood.

"Naw... we can get another one next time...!", Her young master declared, only to earn an even more saddened look.

"Just hied it away then!"

"Bu asa ogs ay ind an ake ou tick!"

"Than just... ARGH... god damn it. WHATEVER! Just take it along, but hurry...!", Yasei gave in annoyed, Asami following hastily, tail wagging happily.

Almost running home, Yasei almost feeling like being on the run, they at least could cut the time they needed to return back home in half. hastily washing his arms and face in the bathroom sink. he hastily put on his suit, took three tries, until he managed tying his shoes... looking surprised at Asami, as he was all done, his back in her mouth.

"ont et u oget i is ime!", She announced, tail wagging happily, the young man hastily thanking her, grabbing his back, quickly ruffling her fur, before hurriedly storming off.

"My, oh my... you have to do everything yourself...", The red-furred bitch finally said, to the still open apartment door, before she laboriously pulling the door shut, nodding approvingly as she heard it click shut.

Yasei meanwhile decided he'd rather walk to word... or more like run as if chased by a pack of hellhounds, as he would be late anyway. For commuting he would have to wait for a train, which only arrived in about 20 minutes, thus deciding he'd rather be ten minutes late, before being 20 minutes late.

Being able to catch a late train, on another station, on the alternative route he chose, he could cut at least five minutes... yet he did not defy his calculations that much, as he still was about eight minutes late as he arrived at his workplace, now utterly drained.

Having to accept to be late for the first... no, third time, to be honest, whereas he never has been more than two minutes late... Yasei probably would realize really soon, that being late was his very least concern! As he arrived he surely was being surprised, as almost all personal was leaving the building! His first thought thereby was blown to bits in seconds. Yasei's first thought was, maybe the CEO's son had set his office on fire again, while smoking, as it would not have been the first time... but there was neither a fire alarm nor firefighters... instead there was the police!

Whereas hearing what had occurred here, would surely make the young man wish he would never have left bed today... if not even making him wish he would never have met Asami.

Finally arriving at the building it did not take long until one of his colleagues - Haru - took notice of his arrival.

"Wow... hey Yasei, rare for you to be late...", He stated, a worried look on his face, glancing over his shoulders anxiously, "... but you'll be glad to be... at least today that is."

"Wait-wait-wait-wait... WHAT? Why would I be glad to be late? I almost have a perfect record!"

"Well... the thing is that...", Haru again looked over his shoulder anxiously, before continuing with a deep gulp, "The CEO... and the complete board of directors..."

"Yeah... they had a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. yesterday... so what?"

"Well... they're all dead!"

"WHAT?"

"The CEO was found head first, tied to a part of the railing in the inner stairwell... gutted and skinned, like some animal... the few having seen him before police arrived, saying he looked like a tiger or something had mauled him! The members of the board of directors supposedly were found all sitting in their respective chair - in the meeting room - hands folded neatly on the table, her throats sliced open, in a single, clean cut!"

"What the hell? You shitting me?", Yasei responded after quickly sifting through all the information Haru just had given him, "Who the hell would murder the top brass of a video-game company?"

"Nobody knows... but it sure as hell is not some bullshit, some freak just came up with on a whim!", Haru answered, suddenly... kinda stern, as he still had that panicked look in his eyes, "The police has the place completely shut down. We're practically on forced sick leave until the man in blue are done!"

"Ow... Hey... HEY YAS!", Yasei suddenly heard a familiar voice out of the crowd, spotting his spiky brown hair, way before he emerged from the crowd. Yuma was about 2 inches bigger as even the largest of all other employees... and Yasei was one of those very few, the few who had not to tilt there head back, only to look the muscle head in the eyes.

"You heard the stories already? They say the CEO was mauled by a tiger or something!", Yu stated in disbelief.

"Well... whatever the case... one is for sure: our working week is over... they made sure of it!", Yasei explained, with a quick nod, in the direction of some of the policeman.

"YEAH... that's for sure! Listen Yas...", Yuma started, looking back over his shoulder, to the cops at work, "I have to stay a while longer, answering some questions for the blues... but if you can bear waiting on me, we can go bowling or something?"

"Nah... I met a young lady yesterday, which I'm afraid I have to get used to her new living situation first...

but, more importantly: why do they want to question you? Aren't you always late?", Yasei asked in surprise.

"Hey... I'm never late... just arriving a few minutes late, but... more importantly, you say? You found a woman, which practically decided on first sight to move in with you? How could anything be more important than that?"

"I think you're mixing up more important and more interesting again. Moreover, is my 'lady' a bitch and NO... I mean a literal bitch, fur and all!"

"So..."

"A DOG, god damn it! She's a female dog!", Yasei finally explained, rolling his eyes undue.

"OH... that, of course, makes way more sense, than what I imagined."

"So... Haru... as I don't seem to get any useful information out of him... you got any clue why the cops would want to question him?", The young man so asked Haru, instead of his muscle-bound friend, who once again was more interested in womanizing, than giving proper information.

"Well... my guess would be he stepped into the building seconds before police arrived, so... he's done for, but you... should better get a move an ASAP, or else they will keep you in for questioning too!"

"Yeah... sounds fair enough...", Yasei answered consensual, seeing Haru of with a quick nod, before saying goodbye to Yu with a quick handshake.

"Sorry pal would love to spend some time with you... but I really want my new, furry companion to feel at ease with me. Can't afford to get new furniture every other day... you know what I mean?"

"Yeah... yeah, sure. Go home to your girl... but you have to introduce here sometime, okay?", Yuma responded calmly, waving him a quick goodbye, before returning to the policeman again, with a heavy sigh.

Contemplating over what Haru had told him and what had happened to himself the past few days, Yasei had a really bad feeling as he finally returned home quite a while later.

"Oh... your home...!", Asami exclaimed happily, but hastily stepped a few steps away from her master, as she saw the look on his face.

In a mixture of worry and curiosity, the canine followed every little movement of the young man... followed on his heels as he got rid of his shoes and jacket... followed him closely, as he put away his keys, till he finally went in his living room. As Yasei flopped himself on his couch, Asami, however, paused right in the door frame. She feared Yasei would scold her, if she entered a room he did not invite her in previously, whereby she was glad, as a few other types of Yokai had the strange limitation, of having to get permission to enter, before being able to enter any room.

Considering Yasei just sat there brooding, Asami warily stepped into the room, keeping her eyes on her master all the time. As he did not complain the canine slowly stepped closer to her handler, gently planting a paw in his lap, asking worriedly: "Hey... Yasei, is everything okay? You're looking all glum... did something happen at your job?"

"... yeah... something did happen at work!", The young man responded, more roughly as intended, "The CEO and the whole board of directors were killed and it may be... that it was all my fault!"

"WHAT... your fault! NO... you did nothing wrong!", Asami responded outraged, "You did not order them to be killed... or kill them yourself... did you?"

"No... I did not! ... but I just as well might have.", Yasei responded gloomily.

"What...? Whatever gave you that idea?"

"I... met this guy... I should have told you yesterday already, right after returning home!", He explained in the same gloomy expression, "He was clad all in black... wore an eye patch... and had a black cat on his shoulder... -"

"- I knew I smelled a Bakeneko on you yesterday!", Asami cut in, but fell silent again, as her master didn't even look at her, in response to her words.

"After my Iaido lesson, I met him again... I had missed my train and decided to take a different route, going past my workplace... and there I met him again! They told me how my workplace looked like a lion's cage to them... and I'd better stay away of it if I don't want to be torn to pieces.", The young man paused again, still doing little more but staring at his bare hands, "Maybe... if I had told you about them... maybe we could have come up with a plan to stop them..."

"NO!", The bitch finally interrupted him energetically.

"What...?", Yasei responded aghast, looking at Asami surprised.

"You can't ponder something until you found every tiniest possibility about how it all could be your fault! What's more... it's like you said earlier: should you desperately need to blame someone, blame us both...!", The canine responded firmly, not for a second doubting her master's hints on the strange 'man in black' being a handler, who murdered all those people, just for the fun of it.

"Yes... I said that, but we're talking about murder here, not some day old quarrel. Asami... I don't know if you realize it... but 23 people are DEAD! Just like that...-"

"- ... yes... but it still wasn't your fault. Even if you had told me, we don't even have a catalyst yet, not to mention a proper bond!"

"Wait-wait-wait-wait-wait... a WHAT?"

"Neither a catalyst nor a proper bond.", Asami repeated, explaining solemnly, "We don't need a catalyst right away... but if what you say is true and you indeed met another handler already...-"

"- ... I never said... -", Yasei tossed in, his canine partner just responding with a knowing smile.

"-... but you hinted it!", She only explained quickly, before continuing, "As I said... we don't need to hurry with the catalyst, but if you've met another handler already, we need to make a proper bond... it would make many things, much easier too."

Her master looked out of his windows worriedly for a second, before turning his eyes back to Asami. At the very least for now, over the murder story, he exclaimed seriously: "I said we should wait until tomorrow... but tell me now! What do I need to do... to form a proper bond with you?"

"Well for starters we need to exchange blood..."

"Like blood brotherhood?"

"YEAH... like that! After that, we just need... something to corroborate our bond."

"Don't think I like where this is going...!", Yasei stated doubtfully, knowing more than enough demon stories, to have pictures of him, offering Asami his bloody heart, pop up in his mind.

"OH... no-no-no-no-no!", The bitch immediately stopped her master's thoughts, "What you do is entirely up to you! Whatever your offering, the only thing affected by the kind of offering is how strong the bond will be!"

"Like...?"

"Well... sacrificing a finger would form a stable bond between handler and Yokai... but the power you could draw from it would be restricted. The more you sacrifice, the stronger the bond. Offering an arm would result in a way stronger bond as just sacrificing a finger, whereas sacrificing like... an eye or one's tongue would bring an even stronger bond than that."

"But... what if I don't feel like offering my limbs or... my speech or eyesight?"

"Well... there... there is a way... a way to make an even stronger bond... stronger as one resulting from sacrificing one's sight...", Asami responded more than hesitantly, suddenly just as sheepishly as yesterday, when she vaguely mentioned what a handler was about.

In a joke he had said 'he was almost like her mummy', as he was her handler... and she suddenly turned all timid and shy, barely able to say more as 'no it's not'... so what was it about this handler thing, having her all ashamed and anxious?

"What is it... spit it out, girl!"

"Well... the strongest bond... you can achieve the strongest possible bond... b-by mating!", Asami revealed, pulling back from Yasei more and more, hiding her head under her paws, until she literally shouted the last words out from under the fort of her paws.

"Huh... so that's all...?", Yasei answered musingly... until the gears began to turn and he only seconds later, utterly thrown off track, realized what she just had told him, "SAY WHAT? I need to fuck you???"

Whimpering scarred, the canine hid further behind the 'protective walls' of her paws, explaining shyly and nearly inaudibly: "No... no... you don't have too. It's just... mating... making love... is the only way of bonding not requiring a sacrifice."

Finding his composure once again, nearly a minute later, Yasei finally answered with a quiet sigh, yet - surprisingly - sounding a bit abash himself, the young man finally explained: "Well... if... if it's the only way, to forge a real bond between us, not requiring crippling myself...."

He stopped in the middle of his words, Asami slowly lowering her head, an obvious look of disbelief in her eyes.

"Well... you said it would make things easier, plus... if this madman plans on coming after us, we sure need this extra power.", The canine looked at him in surprise, never having told him anything, about any powers. Catching this questioning look, the young man explained, a sheepish smile on his face: "Well... I saw that Yoru guy disappear into thin air... and he seems to miss an eye... so I presumed it is some kind of power, he gained from bonding with his partner, Naomi?"

A shudder ran down Asami's spine as he mentioned that name. Sure... she had explained the reckoning spell, would summon other powerful Yokai at random... but HER?! In their realm, Naomi - the demon-cat - was known for being a very noxious mix between a bloodthirsty psychopath and a notorious temptress. If somebody like her had been summoned by the spell, she wouldn't want to imagine what other wicked beasts the spell had called upon.

"... so... in the end... I'm not quite sure about the 'love' part yet... but... if it will help us keep each other safe and... you know... you really want to... do it...", Yasei ended shyly, who had continued speaking, while the canine was deep in thoughts. She did not miss much, just a bit of more musing about Yoru and Naomi's connection and

powers, followed by some more struggling about them mating, yet the bitch did seem deeply startled, by her loss of attention.

"AH... sorry Yasei... I've been in thoughts!", She apologized hastily, having learned only this morning, how her master seemed to place quite some importance on people listening to one another.

"What... no... it's quite alright... at least... if you got that last part...?", The young man responded timidly, looking at the red-furred bitch expectantly, out of the corner of his eyes.

Feeling herself turning bright red, even though it obviously wasn't really evident, through her red-ish fur, Asami swallowed heavily, before explaining shyly, with shaking voice: "I... I did hear the part after 'not being sure about the love part'... if you mean that... and... and... if you like to... if you want me... I'll... I'LL..."

Grabbing her snout out of nowhere, closing it shut, Yasei earned an obviously irritated look of Asami. Letting go of her muzzle again, he said with a soft smile, tapping on the place next to him: "Come here, girl...!"

Following the instruction hesitantly, the canine carefully climbed on the couch, taking place on the spot her master had offered here. Pulling the bitch closer to him, he pulled her in a close hug, explaining softly: "You know... we don't have to do this if you don't want to and... you know... if you really need a sacrifice that badly... I guess I could do with a toe or two less."

Following his words, he lifted his foot up in the air, wiggling his toes, making the fabric of his sock dance in a little wavelike motion.

"No... no... I'm okay... it's just... well... I'm a dog... and you're a human... and... when... I kissed you...", Asami answered hastily, her voice breaking to the end of her sentence.

"OH...! So that's what this was all about?",Yasei responded in realization, still hugging the bitch close, with his arm around her body. The young man did avert his eyes, for a pause of reflection, before finally looking back at Asami, explaining: "Well... it was... weird, but... if it's you... I think I can live with myself doing a dog... as long as nobody else has to know...!"

The last part he had added in a real quick manner, as to try to make it as inaudible as possible... whereas, he had to admit to himself: Yes, he liked women - human women - he had a few girlfriends too, but those relations never worked for too long. PLUS, if he was really honest with himself, he always thought animals, as way more beautiful than human! Sure... it may be weird, but... the strong bodies, smooth movement, not to mention he had never to fear being backstabbed by an animal! If they wanted your demise, disliked you or something alike, they would let you know oh so clearly.

Surprisingly, apparently having been stuck in a state of shock, while Yasei's entire internal monologue, Asami only returned to the living, as her master nudged her nose, asking: "Hello? Earth to Asami... anybody home?"

Shacking her head in surprise, finally realizing her literally freezing, due to her own inner monologue, she finally answered: "O-Okay...! If you're okay with it... let us do it!"

A shiver running down his spine, it took Yasei all his focus he could muster, to keep rational and say: "Okay... so, you said we need a blood pact first? Just gimme a second... and stay just like that!"

Having declared that, he jumped on his feet, disappearing in his bedroom... not knowing his partner would take his instructions literal. Returning a few seconds later with a tanto - a Japanese dagger - which had neither guard nor a butt, looking more like a short, black, lacquered stick... he gave Asami a confused glare.

"What are you doing...?", He asked confusedly, as Asami sat there, exactly like he left her, apparently without even breathing.

"PUH...!", The canine shouted out, with a heavy gasp, explaining wheezily, "I.. just... followed... your order...!"

"... you know, that you don't have to stay perfectly still, without neither moving nor breathing, when somebody tells you to 'stay just like that?'"; The young man asked, a questioning look in his eyes.

"No... you do, if somebody wants to...-"

"- ... I did not want to paint you.", Yasei guessed the end of her sentence, leaving the canine slightly dumbfound.

"Sorry...!", The bitch finally ended the topic, with a sheepish smile, instead focusing on the dagger in her master's hands.

"WOW... that looks like a real expensive stick... way better than our other stick...!", She proclaimed amazed, looking the weapon over wide-eyed.

Unable to contain a silent laugh the young man pulled the weapon out of his sheet, before sitting himself next to Asami again, explaining: "It sure as hell is no stick...! It's called a tanto, a dagger Samurai carried as kind of a secondary weapon. Plus... it was not that expensive... I found it online, liked it and bought it... was only priced at 10'000 yen*, so I thought to myself: why not? It's nothing too special, but still not too bad a piece of craftsmanship."

Seconds later Yasei finally changed a quick look with Asami, now sitting eye to eye with her, before looking down at the polished blade again.

"Well... you said that this is how it has to be done... so..."

Closing his eyes, he closed his hand around the blade, pulling it out of his hand in a quick motion, clearly feeling the sharp blade cutting the palm of his hand.

"OUW... god damn it... still gonna feel that tomorrow.", The young man cursed, before looking at Asami, beckoning her over, with a wave of the hand, holding the knife, "Now you... gimme your paw!"

Lifting her paw, pausing for a second, with a worried look to the blade and Yasei's bleeding hand, the canine lifted her paw as instructed. No more but a quick motion of his hand later, her master opened the hand he cut, ordering to put her paw into his. Having to resist, to lick the shallow wound in her tender paw pad, Asami gently put her paw in Yasei's hand obediently.

Carefully closing his hand around the bitch's paw, the young man looked from her hands... paws... her paw in his hand, to Asami, before looking at his hand again... finally looking up at the canine again wondering: "So... now what... did we do it right? Should we... well... you know... continue?"

`Sure... but we might want to clean those cuts first! Don't want to sully your apartment with blood, or risk an infection, right?´, Asami explained grinning widely. Yasei looked at her openly dumbfounded, what the canine was smiling about that wide, as he did not feel any different... before suddenly realizing, he had heard her voice right inside of his head!

"WHAT THE HECK?", He proclaimed in a mix of confusion and surprise.

"Why? Never heard of telepathy?", The bitch asked teasingly, speaking out loud again, "And here I thought you had read so many horror, fantasy and whatnot stories, as to know everything about a ghost's partialities?"

"You're a Yokai... a Hakka... Aka... Komainu! How should I know what happens when having a blood pact with a lion-dog?!"

"You know I were just teasing you?"

"Yes... but I still wanted to scold you...", Yasei replied with an offended huff, before agreeing with a quiet sigh, "Yes... I guess we really should tend to these war injuries of ours."

Asami following her master on his heels, her tail wagging happily, an idea came to his mind.

`So... can I, if I just thinking to myself like that, talk to you too?´, He... well, thought to himself, Asami answering with a quiet giggle.

`Sure can... SEE... I told you it would make things easier. Now the people won't think you a weirdo anymore, for talking to your dog.´

"THEY DID WHAT?", Yasei burst out in terror... before saying, accompanied with a mixture of a low sigh, a shake of his head and a clear roll of his eyes, "Oh whatever... as far as I'm concerned they can think me whatever they like, as long as they leave me alone."

The red-furred bitch, cocked her head questioningly, as her master, just like that, more er less stated to hate humanity... one way or the other. On the other paw, she had learned to know him as a really nice guy... so she assumed he could not be that bad a person, no matter how much he ranted about wanting to be left alone by other humans, or whatnot.

Leading his canine companion, to his bathroom, he quickly got some bandages, compresses and some stuff to clean the cuts, stating puzzled: "Huh... almost all gone... despite me not having to use those that often? Well... probably hoarded to few from the very beginning."

Leaving that be, as tomorrow they had to get a collar and leash for Asami anyways, he sat down on the toilet. Having washed most of the blood off at the sink already, he cleaned the wound with a sanitizer, before applying one of the compresses he got at his wounded hand. Using there new shortcut of communication, Yasei quickly showed Asami what to do, before beginning to fixate the compress with the bandage.

Asami keeping her good paw, on the compress, so she would stay in place, only removing it, when Yasei had to wrap over it, they started wrapping Yasei's hand. Working like that, the young man wrapped the bandage around his hand a few time, affixing the compress below properly. Securing it all with some surgical tape, he ruffled the fur on Asami's head, before asking her to now give him her paw.

Holding her paw in hand, he warned her sternly: "Don't move... as the sanitizer may sting quite a bit, so be a good girl and keep your paw where it is!"

Quickly nodding her approval obliviously, she nearly jumped back to the other side of the room, as Yasei carefully cleaned the wound, not even using the sanitizer yet, but just a dry piece of cotton.

"What did I say...?"

"Sorry... it was just... unexpected!"

"Good...", The young man replied, in slight disbelief, with a quiet sigh.

As he did indeed clean the wound with some sanitizer on the cotton ball next, Asami almost jumped at his throat! The same discussion as not a second ago later, they tried the whole thing again, Asami this time unceremoniously biting his arm right away. Realizing her unconscious attack, the canine barely managed not to bite down on her master's arm with force, like that only leaving about ten small dots like imprints on his arm... on each side of his arm!

"Okay... that's it... STAY! ... and this time I mean just like I would be about to paint you!"

Following this declaration with a stifled whimper, Asami remained nearly perfectly still, until Yasei returned out of his bedroom, a thick leather belt in hand.

"Sorry, sweetie... but I don't want to play chew toy and try to treat your wound at the same time!", The young man explained sternly, tying the bitch's mouth shut with the belt, without further hesitation, "... and don't you dare suddenly go all lion-dog on me! ... especially as I'm pretty sure that belt won't budge and thus hurt you when suddenly going full size and I don't want to hurt you, even though this solution may be rather drastic. Oh... and by the way..."

Sitting on the floor this time, Yasei caught the canine's paw between his legs, fixing it in a vice-like grip, between his thighs. Having Asami more or less fixated like that, they were done with the whole procedure, mere seconds later.

"See. Was it really that difficult now?", The young man finally asked, while fixating the compress on her red-furred paw.

`YES...´, he heard Asami's sulky voice in his mind.

"YEAH... because you missy, made it difficult!"

Finally done with both there injuries, Yasei gave a little sigh, before finally freeing Asami of her gag.

Not even able to put away the tape properly, the canine suddenly jumped at him not a second later. The young man feared for the worst... but the canine more or less jumped right at his face, kissing him in an eager canine way. Not quite sure what to do, Yasei first hastily fought down the urge to push her away, before engulfing her in her arms, with a low grumble. Sinking down to the floor he on a whim decided, he might just as well return her kiss, after this was more or less what he promised her and they both required, to even be able to protect themselves against people like Yoru and his partner.

In a quiet moan, he opened his mouth, inviting Asami to explore him more intimately, while he could do little more, but gently caress the big dog tongue exploring his mouth, while tenderly nibbling on the soft flesh of her chaps. Giving a quiet moan, the bitch in his arms, having her eyes closed dreamily, enjoying the intimate moment, Yasei finally closed his eyes, in a content smile, hugging Asami closer, caressing her fur tenderly.

Lapping around the soft canine tongue in his mouth, the young man let his attention wander, lovingly petting her fur, while exploring Asami's mouth himself, softly licking over her teeth and jaw, all too well feeling the massive, soft dog tongue caressing the top of his mouth... his jaws, all the way to his throat. Just barely able to draw breath like that, Yasei finally had to break away from Asami, panting heavily.

"So... you want to do this... just like that... on the bathroom floor?", The young man finally asked panting, as he had caught his breath again, asking just to make sure the canine did not force herself to do anything she did not want, only for his sake.

Asami however only gave him a quiet chuckle and an almost intoxicated smile, a sultry look on her face, just repeating what she had asked him yesterday evening too: "Was it good?"

Yasei looked away musingly, in an obviously exaggerated manner, before finally answering, as his furry partner seemed to get impatient, with a quite laugh: "Yes... very much so!"

Receiving only a feral growl, he finally declared with an excited grin, before finally getting rid of his shirt: "Oh whatever...!"

"Whatever is fine by me...", Asami stated with a wolfish grin.

"Come here then... my sweet, little puppy!"

With a feral moan, the canine obliged her master, engulfing him in another, this time around a bit more practiced, canine kiss. In a lustful groan of his own, Yasei once again pulled his bitch closer, holding her close with one hand in her neck, while fondly caressing her chest. Feeling the soft fur under his hand... Asami's eager tongue, exploring his mouth... the sheer passion the canine showed, the young man finally couldn't hold back any longer... did not want to resist the feral urge driving him. The female atop of him, not even being his own species, did matter little to nothing to him now, all he cared about, the sheer feral bliss they were sharing.

Eagerly kissing Asami back, slowly getting the hang about how to breathe, as not to suffocate, Yasei let his caressing hand slowly wander down further her body. Feeling the warm fur against his skin, the soft skin of the canine under his fingertips, he realized how much warmer her body was still, in comparison to any other human or animal. Continually exploring the body of his needy female, he soon reached her belly, oh too soon feeling the nubs of her teats under his hands.

Gasping willingly, Asami pressed against her masters caressing touch, giving a low moan as he started to massage the rows of her nipple, gently squeezing them between his fingers. All too soon, Yasei's back did give in, leaving him sinking completely on the floor, yet his canine lover followed the motion eagerly, finally burying his body under her thick, warm fur. His hand now caught between his and her body, he released the hand on her back, to let it wander between the bitch's furry tights, without any further ado.

Gasping aloud, as the young man's finger, started to teasingly massage her puffy pussy, Asami eagerly spread her legs, raising her rump and tail willingly, as to give her master better access to her already damp genitals. Giving an approving grumble, he freed his hand from under his belly, spreading her canine lips with one hand, while exploring and stroking the soft flesh of her pussy with the other.

Breaking her kiss with a lewd gasp, Asami pressed her body against his own, pulling her paws under her body, pushing them hard against Yasei's strong chest. Panting heavily, the canine nestling her head up to Yasei's broad shoulders, eagerly pushed against her master's hands, caressing her tender inner flesh.

It took him a while... yet he finally found the fleshy nub of her clitoris. Sure, he had no expertise in canine anatomies... yet, considering how Asami practically jumped under his probing fingers, he was pretty sure, considering the identity of the small 'button' he discovered just inside her vulva.

"Huh...? Does puppy like that?", Yasei asked teasingly, softly fondling the sensitive nub of flesh.

Receiving only a needy gasp in response, the young man asked again, this time caressing her sensitive flesh with more pressure, making her gasp, in a lewd moan: "YES... please... please make puppy feel good!"

Giving a short giggle at Asami's try at dirty-talk, he started caressing Asami's clitoris with more intend now, carefully sliding two fingers in the hot folds of her wet pussy. As the Yokai gasped out aloud in pleasure, Yasei suddenly could clearly feel the bitch's body temperature rise, her tight walls contracting greedily around his intruding fingers, the needy canine slightly humping back, against his caressing hands.

Cumming hard around his fingers, her inner walls tightened around his massaging finger, the bitch sinking on his chest exhausted, panting hard, as her master kept stimulating her most intimate flesh. It was not much longer, Asami now panting exhausted, that the female finally broke away from Yasei's teasing fingers, his hard erection pushing against his pants evidently.

Tumbling away from the young man, she literally fell to the ground, panting exhaustedly... til she turned on her bag, spreading her legs weakly, demanding heavily breathing: "Stop... Stop teasing... and take me... show puppy how strong a male you are...!"

Finally coming down a bit of his high, he mustered the canine baffled. In the back of his head, he kinda had hoped to get her to cum like that... kissing her as they did, would be enough... but on the other hand, looking at the glistening wet pussy she offered him, his consideration soon went straight out the window.

"OH... I'll show how much of a male I am, puppy dog...!", Yasei declared in a hungry growl, kicking his pants off and away, before finally stepping over Asami in a feral manner.

Making short work of his under ware, he finally proposed, a lewd moan in his voice: "Come on puppy dog, show master you're true self... I know you want it too... having me do you in your real form?"

Giving a willing grumble, soon the form of the canine was engulfed in red flames... flames which definitely gave of a seething heat, yet weirdly enough did not burn anything... neither Yasei nor the floor or anything else that could be found in his bathroom. As the flames subsided, they once again revealed the giant form of the lion-hound bitch. In an appreciative moan, the young man uttered: "Yes... so beautiful... my sweet puppy-dog."

Placing himself carefully over the lion-dog, while aligning his throbbing cock, with Asami's wet pussy, Yasei placed gentle kisses, on Asami's yaw, her snout... before finally pulling her closer, in a tender kiss, as he penetrated her drenched folds. Given the anatomy of the canines innermost sanctuary, it took him a while, until understanding the trick behind her curved entrance.

In sudden realization, aligning her vulva and his body properly to her own, he buried his cock deep in her eagerly twitching folds. Breaking his kiss with Asami as she took a gasping breath, at the sudden penetration, he mussed, panting heavily himself, dead-certain he would cum the second he would move even an inch: "By all gods... I would have never thought..."

Liking his cheek tenderly, Asami interrupted him in a low giggle: "No gods there... only what you humans created, inside of those twisted minds of yours."

"Twisted...?"

"Why so surprised... you yourself just proved to me how twisted your mind really is... didn't you?"

"No... that...-"

"- ... never mind that! I'm fine... you can't break me. Just take me like the naughty girl I am...!", The lion-dog bitch interrupted her master, daring him to do his worst, with a challenging, sultry smile.

"Oh... improving on your dirty talk?", Yasei responded in a sinister smile, "But don't you worry... I'm not worried to break you... just worried I might spoil you for all canines, felines, and whatnot to come!"

"Who said I'd want any canine, feline or whatnot to come?"

Just responding with another, low growl, Yasei finally buried himself to the hilt, in Asami's hot pussy. Finally having a prove the canine's body temperature of the lion-dog indeed was way higher, than anything he had ever felt before, the young man gave a labored moan, before finally starting to take the big canine in earnest, pulling her close in a sensual kiss.

Pulling himself out of the lion-dog bitches hot body until but the tip of his cock remained inside of her, he soon after buried himself deep inside her hot, damp pussy, just to pull out and spearing her body yet again. Feeling the soft fur of the canine below him, he slowly let himself sink deeper on her body until he came to lay atop of Asami's soft belly, feeling the immense warmth of the bitch's body, seeping right into his own. Following her masters movement without a problem, the Komainu did not let her kiss brake even for a second, her body shivering in lust, every time her master buried himself deep inside of her body.

Enjoying the warmth of Asami's big body, her hot canine pussy, contracting greedily around his cock in a sporadic manner and the long, soft canine tongue playfully wrestling with his own, more as he would ever have imagined, the young man buried his hands deep in the big canine's fur. Snuggling closely to Asami, taking in the soft smell of the female, he came to know over the past few nights already, Yasei started to take her in long, savory thrusts, just enjoying the closeness to his big, furry lover. The lion-dog bitch finally placing her paws around her master's back, he soon found himself almost completely covered in the warm and soft fur of the Yokai, sinking his throbbing cock deep into her warm body again and again.

Feeling his orgasm coming ever closer after all, he broke her intimate kiss, burrowing his head on Asami's shoulder, just like she had done to him, a while ago, Yasei now completely engulfed in the soft, smoky scent of his partner, started humping the eager bitch in earnest, earning a surprised gasp... before he could feel the nearly blunt claws of the canine bury in his back. He gave a low hiss, at the dull pain in his back... yet he was not willing to stop what he was doing until Asami was nothing more but a content ball of fur below him.

Rutting her as much in a canine manner, as he could muster, Yasei clenched his teeth, continuing to hump the bitch below him, even as he felt himself coming, feeling the greedy contractions of Asami's hot flesh, just oh too well as she came a few seconds later. Even after her orgasm, the young man still kept thrusting deep in the hot depth of his canine partner, before he finally found himself truly and utterly spent, sinking down on the canine's belly, panting heavily.

"Can't... feel... body...!" The young man finally uttered exaggeratedly, buried deep in the canine's fur, his softening cock still buried in Asami's sex.

Her chest rising slowly, with every deep breath she took, the lion-dog agreed with a quiet giggle: "Yeah... we'll get over it... we have the whole weekend to recover, after all."

Pulling his arms closer to himself, absentmindedly caressing the Yokai's mane, Yasei finally asked, questioningly: "So... speaking recovery... we just gonna sleep out here, naked on the bathroom floor?"

After giving it a quick thought Asami wanted to give an answer, yet her master just interrupted her, with a gesture of his unoccupied hand: "No... your right... why would I need a bed, when I have the best planked in the world?"

Giving a content hum, the lion-dog bitch, pulled her master closer too her, cuddling up against his body even closer... whereas - smelling the scent of his partner that strongly again - a last thought came to the young man's mind: "Whereas: why the smell of smoke?"

"Fire elemental...", Asami just answered, as if it would answer everything.

Yasei wanted to ask at first... yet scrapped the thought instead, like that only answering, petting the big canine's chest affectionately: "Whatever, I guess... got all day tomorrow to talk elementals, catalysts and what not!"

The lion-dog bitch gave a content huff before they both slowly drifted off into sleep... or probably more like 'something alike to sleep' in Asami's case. The fact that it wasn't even midday, went completely unnoticed by both of them... whereas they both could just blame it on the fact, of Yasei bathroom being devoid of any windows... thus, as far as they were concerned, it might just as well have been midnight.

Plus... a bit of an afternoon nap, had never harmed anyone after all.

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* [nearly was tempted to add a cliffhanger there, but... firstly, I promised 'some action' on the end of the prologue, on which I had not delivered yet... and secondly... who likes cliffhangers anyways?]

** 10 000 yen ~ 92 $ ~ 80 €

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and thus, dear readers, part I (2nd release) of Rise of the Yokai concludes ;3

hope y'all enjoyed the story and please, feel free to share any thought's or even critique, as I'd really appreciate any kind of comment, as there can be no improvement or such alike, without any head-ups or information on what one may need to improve on et cetera ;3

plus I'd really love to know if people liked my stories and what people think about my writing over all, as I practically put my lifeblood in all my stories and am as such really eager to know what other people think about it all ^^'