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lovesickeros · 6 months

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can.. can I ask for an affectionate reader with characters who aren’t normally like… used to the love? like, not just through words but physical affection like hand-holding, kisses, hugs, all that shebang. probably with a few people like yelan, ei, basically any character that is either cut-off from society or seems socially distant or isolated. 😞

�� affectionate reader with yelan, ei, & furina

[ 4.2 Archon Quest spoilers ]

× yelan

Varies between how you display your affection, to be honest. Just like being affectionate with people? She's cool with it as long as you don't pop by while she's working (mostly because she'll end up dragging you into it for a bit of fun). I don't think she's all that touchy feely herself, but she'll absolutely get you gifts instead– like pretty knick nacks? She'll make sure to snag any she thinks you might like. Like a good meal? Sure, she'll take you out to one of the restaurants in the city, doesn't matter how expensive. Her treat. If you do prefer physical gifts rather then being taken out, you'll eventually get used to the random unmarked letters and packages showing up where your staying pretty often. It's obvious to know who it came from even if she never signs anything.

Flirty reader, though? Whole nother can of worms and now it's a challenge. The more confident you are the more interested she is. The other acolytes would absolutely seethe at the idea but she has no hesitation at just straight up flirting back– she's as charismatic as they come and she's got a poker face that's basically impenetrable. She'll probably also make a bet to see who cracks first (she always wins, unsurprisingly). Probably won't get dragged into any of her schemes this way but if you ask politely maybe she'll consider it, anyway.

The smell of freshly brewed tea and the clatter of dice across wood was a common sight at the Yanshang Teahouse– less common was the woman secluded in the far corner, her lips pulled into a grin that flashed fangs and a look that would scare off the most confident of men.

She'd normally try to scope out any new blood that'd made the mistake of stepping into her teahouse and was equally stupid enough to accept a gamble against her just for the thrill of it, but she was far too absorbed in the warm body at her side, one of her die clasped tightly in their hand as she guided them through the motions– they had a knack for it, she had to admit. The thought made her preen, the clatter of the die as it rolled across the table giving her that subtle, familiar rush.

Even if she knew exactly where it'd land.

"Six. Hm, maybe you're just lucky," She muses, plucking the die from the table and holding it up to her eye like a prized jewel, "Or maybe you're not as innocent as you'd have us believe." There's a sharp glint in her eyes at the prospect, but everyone else has the sense to keep their heads down and their words to themselves as she tosses the die herself.

"So why don't we find out and make a bet, just between you and me?"

× ei

Varies between Ei and the Shogun, because you'll probably be seeing either as much as the other. Sometimes you gotta really squint to tell who it is sometimes, but you get used to it. Both are fairly similar, though, in that their first instinct (especially in public) is to tense up like you're about to attack them or something. Difference is Ei eventually relaxes after a solid minute of trying to process your sudden affection and, if no one else is around, she might even reciprocate. Just don't tease her for being a little stiff and awkward about it, she's trying. That's what happens when your only company is a robot and uh. Nothing. For like 500 years. She's trying. Raiden, on the other hand, is just about as awkward as you can imagine. She's polite (blunt) about it because Ei is fond of you and also you are. The Creator. But she's not really built to deal with personal relationships and so she doesn't know how to deal with affection.

..Depending on what you do you may or may not blue screen Ei hard enough that she retreats back to PoE

Ei usually isn't fond of sitting still, unless it's to meditate. At least then she goes in with a purpose, something to achieve– but now, she's just focused on trying not to make a fool of herself. Her muscles are starting to ache from how hard she's tensing, though, in an effort to sit as straight and still as possible as their hands glide through her hair, weaving it into a single braid.

She can just barely hear the subtle lilt of their voice as they hum– and though it is soothing, it is also..very distracting. She can't focus long enough to try and meditate, too lost in the gentle rise and fall of their voice and the care they take to braid her hair. If she'd had a heart, she'd sure it'd be beating so wildly against her ribcage they could hear it.

But then it stops– their hands fall back to their sides and their humming falters. She freezes, too, racking her brain for any slights she must have committed. Instead, she is met with a calm, tender touch on the back of her neck, making her inhale sharply.

"Am I making you uncomfortable, Ei? You're so tense.." She has to grit her teeth to stop herself from bowing so low her head presses against the ground, her hands folded in her lap, clenching instinctively. "..No, Divine One." She answers simply, trying to contain the adoration swelling in her chest.

Yet as much as she tries to relax, to ease their worries, she finds that she cannot.

"Hm." That small murmur, a simple sound that nearly made her jump, was the only warning she got before they scooted closer, wrapping their arms around her stomach and resting their chin on her shoulder with a grin she would liken to Miko's, if she dared to make such a comparison. "Really?"

She swears she must've been feverish at the affection, lightheaded and dazed until she thought she might simply perish at the brush of their hands against her own.

Much to her embarrassment, however, she doesn't realize she's instinctively pulled back into Plane of Euthymia until she sees the familiar dull purples engulf her vision once again.

Though only a small solace, it seemed a little..brighter, this time.

× furina

Varies between pre 4.2 and post 4.2 archon quests to be honest.

Pre 4.2 she comes off as very vain– of course the most Divine would see fit to spoil her with affection! She deserves it, and is obviously their favorite! Just don't look too hard because she's terrible at hiding how flustered she actually is. Absolutely goes home right after and screams into her pillow for at least thirty minutes minimum.

Post 4.2 she's a lot more openly bashful and flustered. She's really not used to affection and even the smallest show of it has her folding immediately. Now that she doesn't need to worry about being found out she's a lot more receptive to affection. Cup her cheeks and compliment her and her knees are buckling. Like. Especially weak for compliments and praise (she deserves it. please spoil her).

She swears she must be hallucinating– she had been having trouble sleeping recently. But..no. The visage of the Creator was as real as the sweat beading on her brow as she stared at them for a long, awkward moment. Should..she let them in? But then they'd see the pathetic state she was in, and the last thing she wanted to do was make a fool of herself in front of them-!

Her choice was quickly made for her, anyway, as she let out an undignified squeak of surprise when they suddenly tugged her forward into their chest, enclosing her in a hug.

Her first reaction was to freeze– her second was becoming absolutely flustered, her cheeks flushing a soft pink and her mouth closing and opening as she tried to find her words.

"I– ah..um." She stumbled over her words instead, floundering like a fish out of water. Yet she felt a distinct sense of emptiness wash over her when they finally pulled back, looking a touch sheepish. "Sorry, sorry– you just looked like you needed a hug."

The silence spoke for itself, her shoulders tensing slightly. But the way the concern and affection bled through their voice made her waver, her hands trembling as she let out a shaky breath that almost sounded like a sigh.

"It's..It's fine! Fine, I'm fine." She repeated, trying desperately to ignored the way her voice cracked and how hot her face felt– though it was more an attempt to affirm herself that she was not thinking about how warm they felt, how much she..actually enjoyed the hug. She wasn't thinking about it all! Absolutely not!

..Maybe a little.

"Just warn me next time, please?"

#asks #sagau #genshin sagau #self aware genshin #genshin impact sagau #self aware genshin impact #fic tag #genshin cult au #genshin impact cult au #yelan #furina #ei #THIS DIDNT SHOW UP IN MY INBOX UNTIL LIKE #NOVEMBERBIM SORRY IM ANSERRING IT SO LATE??????#tumblr working right is a miracle that will never happen #anyway can u tell i have. biases. there r so many characters I wanted to write for this (shenhe.........) but I forced myself to limit it #to 4 for my own sanity and everyones elses #also didnt know if u wanted just yan or sagau so I went for my specialty 🧍‍♂️#was gonna include my beloved cryo archon but decided against it #ei the pathetic lesbian that u r....mwah #I'm sorry this took so long it took me 50 yrs to figure out yelan.. 😭#i am still not confident abt my characterization of her but shes so good at her job even im confused abt her #reading her lore crying and sobbing in the corner. shaking her like a can of soda #checks note idk uhh cocky doesnt let herself form personal relationships charismatic uhhhhhhhh #idk dont ask me i just started praying and hoping for the best here #i think she'd get a kick out of getting reader into like. fudging rolls and shit. create an absolute menace out of reader #set them loose and see what chaos happens #just kicks back and watches it all unfold internally laughing her ass off #i didnt know whether to just do headcanons in uh. bulleted list or like #full on drabbles

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throwaway-yandere · 2 years

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"Careful, He Bites." (Yandere!Kamisato Ayato/Reader)

A/n: Here ya go @busy-dadzawa-fish! I mean, this fic is technically a cat!ayato but, e h e. I hesitated on posting this tbh. Soldier, Poet, King seemed so light-hearted and nearly wholesome (especially Childe's POV), so I wanted to write a yandere story that had more of the Yan elements and not the Dere. (I also added a few details to make everyone miserable cause I need the s p i c e.) If you want a fluffy cat story please send another request! I'd be happy to do it! I promised I won't write some messed-up stuff lmao (I swear I'm not sadistic).

Unreliable synopsis: Cat ayato. But heavily based on nekomata myths and I've taken some major liberties after reading yokai.com over and over again--.

Cw: Yandere! Ayato. Signs of abuse. (Technically) Cannibalism. Japanese folklore in a modern setting. I doubt my writing is graphic and disturbing enough but if you find these topics sensitive please don't read the fic. Your mental health matters more, you matter more than some fic, kay? Please reach out if you are a victim of abuse.

Extra:

Itto's Side Story (happens before this fic)

---------

It's raining, and it's cold tonight.

The white cat's ears drooped. It wasn't fond of the rain. The rain often smeared the paws of its feet like spilled cyan ink. It didn't like how the mud sticks to its fur. The sound of raindrops wasn't all that pleasant for its ears either, especially when the place made it sound too loud for comfort.

Traveler...

The cat spoke in purrs. Not long ago, it broke free of its cage to pursue its beloved human. The human traveled a lot, but she was unable to take the cat with her. Unlike her, the cat cannot escape from its stifling responsibilities. It may provide the best services a domesticated cat could offer, but its heart ached for more. "A day in the life of a traveler" interested the cat, who wanted to know what it meant. The cat wished to know what "a day in the life of a traveler" meant. Her spirit was as free as the petals that travel into the wind, and the cat wanted to be blown away towards the path she threaded.

However, as expected, it only led the cat to an uncomfortable position. There is no shelter to be had in these half-abandoned urban streets. Barely any establishments considered adding covers above their sidewalks, instead, the only shade it could crawl under would be underneath the air conditioners.

It whined quietly.

The only place which had a roof was the flower shop.

And it's the one place where it was told not to go to.

The "Sakura Bloom Flower Shop" stands out in its vibrant green and pink paint in contrast to the shallow and dilapidated stores around it. Not only does it outperform the competition in terms of appeal, but the floral scent also drowned out the smell of damp cement and trampled dirt. These two sensory factors were more persuasive than a sign or an advertisement, and the cat longed to enter. Depending on one's mood, this proud store amongst the rundown town could either bring hope or annoyance.

It heard a chime and looked up to see someone smiling.

... The cat seems to know you.

"Pssst, pssst. Come inside, little one." You called out with the door open. Raindrops began to move in splotches towards the store's entrance. You continued speaking under the assumption that it could understand you. "It's cold outside, is it not? Come, take shelter from the rain for the time being. Inside is warm, and I would not offer this if it were otherwise colder."

The feline arched its head. Your accent was quite a surprise to hear, especially in this area, and you pronounce words distinctly familiar to the Kansai dialect. Perhaps you were a village human who moved into the city-- judging how you managed the flower shop, it's easy to assume you worked the land as well.

... It wouldn't hurt to enter, right?

The cat reluctantly stepped inside.

You were an honest human. Your store was as warm as you made it out to be. It looked around and noticed a red beckoning cat figurine sitting on your counter instead of the usual gold one. Why would you bring a red maneki-neko to a store when gold figurines are typically considered charms for prosperous business?

"H-Here."

You gently placed a towel beside the cat. It stared, wondering why you wouldn't help the animal dry off and only observed it from afar.

Even so, it appreciates your generosity. When it was smaller, humans refused to offer assistance to the cat since they believed white-furred cats harnessed the moon's spiritual energy for malicious intent. Humans are foolish most times, and perhaps it's biased to say you're not as bad--

The cat sneezed.

It was ashamed. Just right after you let it inside your cozy place, its body immediately did something involuntarily humiliating. It hoped that you wouldn't mind.

Instead, you covered your nose, mildly petrified.

The cat shrank back.

Oh no. Please don't kick it out.

Did it just mess everything up?

It closed its eyes before you pulled something out of your bag.

The store bell rang once more.

"There you are, Himegimi."

A light-haired man entered the establishment. He shook and cast his soaked umbrella aside. You immediately recognized him upon first glance and gave him a shy wave, which he vaguely reciprocated. His eyes preyed on the cat that eased itself into the corner.

His smile did not reach his eyes.

"I've been looking everywhere for you, and this is where you chose to stay? After I told you to stay put?"

"G-Good evening, Ayato." You sniffed.

Like a mother dragging her kittens along, Kamisato Ayato scooped up the cat by the nape of its neck. You raised an eyebrow. You may be allergic, but you spent enough of your free time watching cat videos to know that that probably isn't the safest way to pick up a feline.

The cat went limp.

There is an array of things you didn't know about the "man" and his "pet" before you, and Ayato would most prefer for that to remain unchanged. He adores your naivety, and he will use it to his full advantage.

Nothing good will occur if you noticed the two anomalies behind his back. What you don't know can't hurt you.

"Allow me to extend my sincerest apologies, (Y/n)." His hand was elevated higher, and his eyes peered deeply into the cat's conscience. The cat dodged Ayato's cold glare as its small paws quivered a little.

The cat observed that you were carrying some tablets and tissue sheets after being raised higher. The cat was a little relieved because it had assumed you were bringing out a spray to scare it away before. Its anxieties didn't make sense. No kind human would shun a cat for sneezing.

"I didn't know my cat entered your establishment."

"T-This is your cat? A-Ah don't worry about it, Ayato." You laughed while dabbing a tissue on your runny nose. "The c-cah-cat isn't shedding, a-anyways. Your cat is well behaved, it's most definitely alright."

"Oh no, I'll be sure she'll be on her best behavior from now on."

The small cat's eyes widened as it peered up at what was above your counter. A kagura bell wand was neatly tucked inside a wooden box. Based on how it was carelessly positioned on a table, you probably did not know about the catalyst's importance. You weren't aware it was a catalyst in the first place.

Ayato hadn't noticed the bell yet and cooed. "This is no good. You're already having an allergic reaction."

You smiled softly back at the cat as if its presence was no danger to your wellbeing.

You're allergic to cats? And you still let it inside?

Ayato pinched his nose and sighed. Someday, your indiscriminate kindness might kill you. "Seriously, (Y/N), I appreciate what you've done for this Himegimi but you ought to stop taking care of whatever poor animal you see. You didn't exactly win the genetic, err, bingo."

The cat, 'Himegimi', opened her mouth. Oh. That must be the reason why you had a red beckoning cat figurine instead. Prayers for good health matter more than gold.

"I took some antihistamines before I let it in, worry not." You folded the napkin nicely and threw it in the nearby trash can. Nobody commented on the large number of tissues hidden beneath the empty potato chip bag.

"In fact, I... feel rather drowsy at the moment because of it. Her name is Himegimi, right? Sorry, I must've mistaken that your cat was a boy. You spoke of it like it was handsome and elegant. I've forgotten that those words can complement a little princess."

Ayato smiled and his cheeks flared up.

Handsome and Elegant.

"I have two cats... 'Yashiro' is my other cat. Is he not handsome?"

You chuckled and joked. "I cannot say. I've never met him."

Well, he's standing right in front of you.

"–I was not remotely aware you own two pets. You only ever talk about Yashi so quite the favoritism you have here. No wonder she ran away from home. Had my clan not been burdened with this illness I would've taken her in." You continued half-jokingly while averting your eyes. For someone who owns not one but two cats, you questioned how great of an owner Ayato is when he grabbed Himegimi by the nape moments ago.

Especially when Himegimi entered the store, limping.

He brought the cat closer to his face. Ayato nearly forgot "Himegimi" is hanging by his fingers.

Ayato deadpanned. "I'm actually a dog person."

"Sure. Cause you definitely smell like a dog person." You laughed again. Ayato grinned. He could never get enough of hearing that.

Ayato suddenly frowned.

"But truly, (Y/n), I'm worried at how easily you animals and people things in. You know what happened to Kokomi."

"I'll be fine."

"You don't know that--"

"As I said," you rubbed the back of his unoccupied palm. "I'll be fine. You worry too much, Ayato."

It's a shame that these affectionate gestures are an expensive luxury. Every time you and Ayato shared a room you are required to take an allergy shot to ease some rashes since he's a self-proclaimed cat lover and he can't remove fur from his clothes no matter how hard he washes them. It's almost like he produces cat allergens himself. You teased about it before but he only gazed at you with glossy eyes.

Ayato's breath hitched. Your hands. He never would've imagined it would be this warm. His face was heavy and overwhelmed, it was on the verge of melting away at any second. Your touch was incredibly delicate.

He wants to scratch and rip it to pieces–

Your gentle voice snapped him out of his trance. "If anything, I'm a bit embarrassed I cannot offer you anything for dinner. What I cooked tonight isn't the most palatable..."

Ayato hurriedly gulped and hoped that you haven't noticed that his human palms were sweating. He wished you wouldn't see past his platonic concern and notice his attraction towards you.

He looked up, tense. "Your signature too-salty ramen?"

You nodded bitterly.

Ayato slightly shrugged while he abruptly pulled his hand away. "I hate to brag but I'm a worse cook than you are."

The cat tilted her chin up and stared blankly at him. If he knew about his skills then he should stop forcing her and Thoma to play hotpot.

"You sounded just like Itto." You shook your head.

The cat blinked.

Itto?

You sighed. "I suppose I'll act like Sara and insist that we should strive to be better at cooking instead."

"I doubt Ei and Miko were pleased to hear her lectures. Act like her and I'll be the same as them. You're better off being yourself. I like you for who you are." Ayato answered the last part earnestly, making you flustered over his shift in tone.

The cat's interest peaked. You naturally encountered a hinnagami, a kitsune, a tengu, and an oni? At this rate, you're most likely an onmyouji or at least someone who has the potential to become one. Onmyoujis can conjure divinations, therefore their fates are intertwined with the supernatural. No ordinary human would encounter yokai as though it's an everyday occurrence. Do you own a kagura bell wand for that reason?

Ayato noticed the cat staring at the table and their train of thought became one and the same. He grimaced.

"Why do you have that?"

Given that it is allegedly unusual for a florist to obtain a wand, the more reasonable queries would have been "where" or "how" did you get that, but Ayato panicked. Fortunately, you didn't seem to mind his somewhat insensitive question.

"Ah, this?" You unceremoniously picked up the bell. The bells chimed a melancholic tone as you shook them lightly.

The two flinched at the sound. The cat squeaked in pain before Ayato covered its mouth.

"Yae gave it to me. She said it would help me dispel wraiths and unwanted yokai. I don't know where she gets such unfounded ideas, but I suppose her eccentric nature is part of her charm."

His elegant demeanor shattered. Ayato's hand slammed down the table while his knees bent back.

"T-That damn fox...!" Ayato's husky and frail voice spat at the bell in your hand.

Whoever gave that to you knows what they were doing. No ordinary human can use the bell as a catalyst. What on earth is that shrine maiden trying to accomplish?! He had suspicions that you're an onmyouji diviner and this confirmed it.

The best and worst part is that you still haven't noticed it yet.

You hummed. "Sorry, did you say something?"

"P-Put that down first."

You flinched and did as commanded. "A-are you alright, Ayato? You sound ill."

Ayato whimpered and bit down his lip. Just hearing the bell drained him a month's worth of energy. Ayato needs to be fed. He paused and pondered over how he should react until he felt the cat yanking his shoulder.

Right, the "cats".

He grabbed the cat once more and gently patted her head.

"I-I'm sorry, (Y/n). I have to go. I forgot the cats haven't eaten dinner yet."

You pouted. "You look under the weather, my friend. Why don't you stay here a little wh--"

"I'm hungry."

He gritted his teeth and offered another cheap smile. It hurts for him to say it, but he needs to decline your offer.

"I'm very hungry."

Your will to look after him deterred. Your too-salty ramen isn't the best way to sate his and his cats' hunger, albeit it would probably give them health complications. Unbeknownst to you, that isn't what Ayato was worried about. You chuckled nervously.

"Understood." You opened the door and helped him carry his umbrella.

"Enjoy your dinner!"

Ayato grinned. "Y-You too!"

You're so sweet. You didn't need to say it. He will. And he's growing impatient.

Especially when the cat dragged in quite a generously sizeable meal.

--------------

It's raining outside.

Shikanoin Heizou hated the rain.

Everything that happened in his life that was incredibly unlucky did so while it rained. When he said goodbye to his business partner Sango, it started to rain. When his companion admitted to being a phony, it started to rain.

And as his main suspect bashed him in the head from behind, it started to rain.

But it didn't rain when he first woke up inside a cramped cage. Perhaps the blow was harder than he thought because Heizou mistook the sounds he heard for drizzles. Reality was far crueler, however.

What woke him up was the echoing blood that dropped from hanged dissevered limbs.

Uncharacteristically, aspiring Detective Heizou did not jump for clues, instead, his attention was locked on the petrified girl beside him. He nearly failed to identify her.

So much had been deprived. Her commercial mermaid appearance aged to reflect a traditional deep sea siren, with gills and scales ripped apart. There was no vitality left in Sangonomiya Kokomi. His mind was plagued by the sight of her emaciated cheeks and fish-like eyes. Now, she looked like the shell of her former self.

Kokomi was trapped in this eerie basement before Heizou arrived. She was exceedingly popular, especially among varsity men who applaud her sports tactics. Her connections don't matter anymore. Nobody will come. The sharp, burning sensation where her leg used to be is a painful reminder of that. Only false hope and confidence held her bones together.

At least when Heizou gazed away, the strong fragrance of wisteria drowned her amputated leg's foul odor. Your flowers smelled better than oxygenated blood. Heizou is unsure of whether he should consider that luck. He won't focus his senses with more forebodings of death. When Heizou saw a blue eyeball roll to the other side of the room after the corpse failed to keep it intact, he knew Kokomi didn't come without a friend.

It doesn't take a genius to piece out that the half-eaten limbs dripping down the table were Gorou's. He simply didn't dare to ask about the victim and culprit. And even if he did, he doubt Kokomi would give him an answer the great detective didn't already know.

They both sat motionless. They had no idea that their final moments would be spent together confined in a small dog cage. Gingerly, his stick fingers ran through her scalp while she rested on his shoulder. Kokomi's blood trickled down his pants, but he pretended not to feel it. The dying girl felt relief under his tender touch. They had no sense of time, yet they still awaited this hard day's end. And Kokomi, hoarse and frail as her voice already is, spoke of the future brightly.

"This is not so bad..." Kokomi leaned her weight more on Heizou's arm. Her breathing is slow and far from deep, and her forceful grip on Heizou's arm grazed like a feather's. "Take heart... With (Y/n)'s flowers... We'll have a peaceful..." It pained for her to speak, so Heizou didn't let her finish.

Even in such a moment of despair, Kokomi still thought of her best friend with great endearment.

You have great friends.

You had great friends.

Bile rose to his throat. He lacked the courage to counter that his intuition screamed otherwise. Heizou, a criminal justice student, hoped he could strangle her to give her the sweet release of death. But to his anguish and relief, there was no need to taint his hands, and blood loss caught up to her like a broken hourglass.

Miss Sangonomiya Kokomi was gone. The future she predicted never came. And surely, her family would grieve for their daughter and her varsity team will miss their manager.

".... Man alive." He uttered his catchphrase. It was painfully ironic.

Heizou cradled her corpse for hours, denying the facts for his sanity. She was cold and damp. The stains in his pants reached oxidation until she also stopped bleeding out. The cage had never felt smaller and claustrophobic.

He waited for something to kill him. He waited for his turn.

And then he heard screaming from upstairs.

"I don't have to explain every little thing, Ayaka! You're old enough to know that you should just listen-- If you would JUST listen!"

Heizou chuckled lifelessly. The voice belonged to Kamisato Ayato. Who else would it be?

It's regrettable that Heizou stepped right into his trap rather than catching his suspect. Heizou had suspicions about the individual because he had no presence in public records or social media, yet Kamisato Ayato appeared right at home within the campus' crowd. Heizou's intuition never lied.

But he didn't expect that his target was a yokai.

Heizou had a gut feeling, yet he willfully ignored it. The urge to devour human meat does not come naturally from sane people, but the same cannot be said for the supernatural. He initially thought you were responsible for the disappearances. The majority of the victims, including Gorou and Kokomi, who went missing were from your friend circle. But you were allergic to cats, Heizou saw your reactions first hand, and the pieces of evidence were usually embedded with--

The door to the basement opened.

Ayato emerged from the shadows and dropped a white-haired cat without consideration. His volume was lower as he spoke. "Fine. If I must spell everything out for you, I will."

Cat hair.

Heizou curiously watched the cat-- the bakeneko-- shudder in fear as her brother untactfully dragged something heavy across the floor. Ayato didn't seem to notice that Heizou was awake or that Kokomi had died. He didn't even care about the half-eaten Gorou sloppily decaying on his table. His human fingers were far more occupied wrapping around another deceased woman's high ponytail.

The victim had blue-gray eyes underneath her light blue bangs. Heizou had never seen that woman on campus or in the basement before. The woman appeared to be younger than them-- likely a senior high school girl. Her girlish red ribbons gave it away. Her appearance is uncannily similar to Ayato's. One thing to note was that nekomatas can take the appearance of their former masters. And Heizou had a bad feeling that Ayato stole her brother's identity.

"Right after you eat."

He threw the corpse in front of the cat.

The cat, Himegimi or more truthfully "Kamisato Ayaka", breathed in sharply.

This was the second time her brother offered a woman's corpse. It wasn't as if bakenekos and nekomatas are unable to digest what regular cats eat. Her brother invites her to partake in human flesh, if only so that she will be able to shape-shift into one more easily. Ayaka is not particularly talented in transfiguration, it would take years to master without the proper diet. And this was the solution her brother offered.

Human corpses.

"Don't worry, she was already dead when I found her."

Heizou and Ayaka didn't question him. The corpse was littered with month-old scars, and in the dark, their skin appeared discolored. Heizou assumed the woman had drowned, and Ayato had gone to retrieve her shortly after she died.

That was a scene Ayato liked. He grinned broadly when he observed the woman fumbling about in the hope that the boy on the bridge would reach for her hand. But honestly, was he ever obliged to set free what is essentially a great opportunity?

Based on her body's bruises, the deceased must've handled her brother's disappearance poorly. It must've been incredibly painful for her to see her missing brother in her final moments.

If Ayaka could just master taking this woman's form, then they could abandon their yokai lives. They could live their lives as human siblings, and no one would bat an eye. If she could just do what she was been told, then Ayato would've had you in his arms.

The two yokai jolted as they heard Heizou banging inside his small cage.

"YOU BASTARD!!!"

Heizou screamed, raspy and full of hatred. It was all he can do. However, his emotions were foreign to them, and they did not reach yokai. The nekomata laughed.

"Ah, so you're finally awake. How marvelous. A pleasant evening to you, Detective Heizou." He replied sardonically. "Hah. From detective... to victim."

Heizou bit his tongue and let his anger simmer. There is nothing he can rebut with when the truth hurts more. Shikanoin Heizou ceased speaking for the remainder of the evening, for now.

Ayato caught a glimpse at the body beside him. "Hmm. It appears that she's already spoiled. Pity. I would've saved this woman from drowning if you just ate Miss Sangonomiya, my dearest sister. Wasting food... I'm almost sure that human mothers give punishment for that."

Ayaka gulped as she relives the pain of kneeling on salt in her most excruciating memories.

A bakeneko living with her nekomata sibling is torture.

He is doing this out of love. He would not be infuriated if that wasn't the case. This was the norm of their family's culture. Kamisato Ayato would not let two innocent women die if he didn't love his stupid, weak, little bakeneko sister.

He hissed. He did not like the pathetic look on her face.

Kamisato Ayato was normally not akin to a savage beast. He believes that he and his sister must carry themselves with elegance at all times, even when their actions are deemed immoral. When partaking in human flesh, he cuts and boils them into a nice pot with his handpicked eccentric seasonings. He refuses to eat until his friend Thoma had tenderized their meat and had their bones discarded. But he had grown hungry and impatient.

After you carelessly chimed the kagura bells, Kamisato Ayato had grown more restless.

Everything that went down tonight is your fault.

"Did you not wish to walk at her pace? Did you not long to run and bury your head on top of that dandelion human's shoulder? Did you not wish to travel alongside her?"

She is aware that her brother is distorting events to make it appear as though she was the one who yearned to be a human. Because the love of his life, you, cannot survive around animals like her, Ayato took the whole truth and poured some out. She is a liability as a bakeneko, after all, and yet...

Ayaka sobbed. She sobbed because she knew the answers to these questions. She sobbed because she knew the lengths she would go through for her favorite human as well.

And she was repulsed by the whole truth.

Ayato violently grabbed his sister's face. Her snot ran down his palm whilst he pinched her mouth open.

Ayaka resigned to her fate.

"You want to see Lumine again, don't you?"

... Yes.

"Then eat."

And she took a bite.

It's a major shame, truly, that Kamisato Ayaka never found out that the dandelion human was her brother's first meal.