Extra Story: The Curious Dog and the Dishonest Cat

Extra Story:
The Curious Dog and the Dishonest Cat

 

THE PARTY WAS GOING STRONG in the bookstore.

Out in the corridor, a black cat slept. She opened a lone eye and let out a grand sigh. “They’re so noisy. How am I supposed to sleep like this?” The success of the bookstore proprietor meant nothing at all to the Kasha spirit.

Few things were worthy of her attention: the daughter of the bookstore owner, canned cat food, sunny spots for a midday nap, the smell of human corpses, and a particular dog spirit—the one that so happened to be pinned underneath her right this very moment.

“Ngh… You’re heavy, cat. Mind moving?”

“Huh? Did you just call me heavy? Have you never heard of tact, you mutt?”

“Ow, ow! Don’t bite my ear!”

The black cat finally hopped off the Inugami and met his teary gaze with a glare before unapologetically turning away with a huff.

The Inugami—a dog spirit partnered with the former exorcist Suimei—was called “mutt” by the black cat, as the very sight of him irritated her. Every time she saw him happily walking alongside his owner, so blithe and carefree, she felt disheartened, as it was like she was looking at her past self.

With a flick of her tail, the black cat looked over at Kaori, currently noisily partying away together with Shinonome. The girl had looked so troubled up until just recently, yet she now wore such a worry-free smile. The black cat narrowed her eyes in contentment, genuinely happy for the girl.

“You really like her, huh?”

Her mood was soon dashed by the half-wit beside her, however. She spun around to look at the one who had made the inane comment, only for the Inugami’s head to suddenly plop down atop her body.

“You’re heavy. Move,” she demanded.

“You’re kidding! There’s no way my head alone is that heavy! Besides, you were on me with your whole body earlier. It’s only fair that I get back at you some.” The Inugami’s ears twitched as he laughed like a human might.

“Don’t get cocky, mutt.”

“I’m not. C’mon, we’re both partnered to humans. Let’s get along.”

The Inugami was more assertive with the black cat after they’d worked together in the fight against Yao Bikuni. He hadn’t cowered from her since.

This is no fun. I prefer having him run away from me with his tail between his legs… The black cat was dissatisfied, in part due to having lost a vital source of entertainment, but also because… “Partnered, huh…” she muttered.

She had no intent to partner with anyone.

“I’m Kaori’s best friend and housemate,” she said. “I don’t butter up to her like a dog, so don’t lump me together with you.”

For some reason beyond her, the Inugami snickered.

“What’s so funny?” she challenged him with a fierce glare.

After having his fill of laughter, the Inugami said, “They’re the same thing! Partner, best friend… Either way, you’re there to support each other when either of you are feeling down. No difference at all.” He licked his own nose before continuing. “Cats are pretty funny. I don’t care what I am as long as I get to be with Suimei, but I guess cats do.”

The black cat soured at this. In a low voice, she muttered, “What the hell do you know? You don’t know the first thing about me.”

The Inugami’s face instantly brightened, and without hesitation, he drew close to the black cat’s face. Nearly touching noses, he said, “Then tell me. What things you like, how you became friends with Kaori—everything.”

“Unbelievable. What brought this on?”

“Well, I’ve only seen you as this super scary monster up until recently, but Suimei said that not knowing about other people is what leads to baseless fear, so I want to get to know you better. Besides, there’s also…that. Look.” The Inugami pointed with his nose at two smiling humans, who had at some point moved closer to each other. “We’ll definitely be involved with one another for a good long while, so we might as well get to know each other.”

The black cat glared at the dog for a few moments before letting out a deep, weary sigh. She looked out the window and saw the white snow just beginning to fall. “…Fine. I’ll tell you once it gets colder. Not like there’s much to do in winter, anyway.”

The Inugami’s expression lit up, and he licked the black cat’s nose. “He he he! Oh boy, I can’t wait!”

“Meow?! What’re you doing?!”

“I can’t wait to be friends with a cat!”

“Meow?!” The black cat grimaced and popped the sharp claws out of her small feet. “Didn’t I tell you not to get cocky?!”

Holding nothing back, she clawed at the Inugami.