Chapter 1 – The Shrine Of Beginning

Dull and relentless rain, it had been nonstop all day. Just as I was about to give up, slowly it subsided. Clouds began to dissipate as the sun slowly poked through. Long golden rays of light scattered across the forest trail.

Finally able to enjoy my daily walk in the countryside, I decided to go a little deeper into the forest than usual. The large mountain side behind my house was filled with giant trees and hidden paths. I regularly spent time exploring, trying to take a different route each time. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary today except for: a strange silence like the forest was waiting for me to find what I came for.

 As I continued my hike, gravel roughly scrapped beneath my shoes; the only sound reminding me I was alone in this strange place.

Further into the forest, the air smelt of fresh pine and old moss. Oddly enough, something sweet also drifted. Sparking my memories, it had to be incense that was freshly lit.

Strange... I didn’t know anyone else ever came to this place...

Zipping up my black hooded jacket, I continued my journey down the rough path. Overgrown branches reached out like sharp claws trying to prevent me from moving. Struggling to push aside thick brush that kept getting caught in my long hair; eventually I fought my way into the woods.

Rumours of a small abandoned shrine with a giant out of place torii gate, beckoned me to keep moving. Rare hidden places such as these piqued my interest. If it wasn't for a senile old lady at the market, I would have never learnt of this location.

“Do not disturb the spirits at that shrine, as they are still restless!”

I often laughed at people’s beliefs in these old myth’s. Despite being raised around shrines my entire life, Kami and spirits were never anything that I believed in.

After fighting through more plant life, I reached a mysterious clearing. Standing before me, there it was: A giant crumbling torii gate overlooking a small shrine. Covered in ivy and thorns, something like this had to be a relic of the past. Barely able to stand, it made no sense to be so far out here, and felt completely out of place. I had been to similar shrines before, but something about this was different... I could feel it in the air.

Taking a closer look, I could make out faint carvings running along it’s faded red arch. Symbols were barely legible from being worn away by rain. Large stone lanterns lay cracked at the base of the gate, an off coloured blue light gently pulsated inside. As I took a deep breath of cool air, I tried not to be skeptical.

There must be an explanation...

Within seconds, the air became heavy. My breath began to fog as the temperature dropped. Looking up, I thought I could make out a faint glow between the pillars.

Craaackkk

A sound like breaking glass shattered through the air disturbing the silence. Empty space beneath the tori gate began rippling. Hard to see at first, but I saw something circular starting to take form.

Violet and indigo flashes lit up the sky as a large portal opened up between the pillars. Unnatural sounds came from within as electricity shrieked from it’s center.

This was unlike any storm I had ever seen.

Wind aggressively blew sending leaves and branches flying from the trees. The colourful light in the sky kept intensifying until it was no longer hard to see. Lightning cracked splitting through the center of the gate causing sparks to ignite. It felt like reality broke as an energy needed to be released.

Fearfully jumping back, I was confused about what was happening. Grabbing onto a nearby bush to steady myself, air ripped through the trees aggressively and caught me off guard. All the commotion drowned the thoughts from my mind.

Just as I began to steady myself...

Thummp

Something large fell through the portal and landed on the ground in front of me. Appearing to be a normal girl at first glance, something about her was very different. Gasping for air like she had just been underwater, she struggled to catch her breath while she was kneeling on the soft ground.

Long blonde hair messily fell around her body. She wore old traditional clothing similar to a shrine maidens outfit. But what stood out the most: a pair of soft cat ears poked through her hair. Covered in soft golden fur, gently they twitched on top her head.

Looking up at me, her golden eyes glowed with intense emotions. Behind her, a fluffy yellow tail erratically swished around, mirroring her frightened state.

The second we locked eyes, immediately she panicked and started backing away on all fours at a surprising speed. Pressing her body into the base of the stone lanterns, she dug her fingers deep into the wet mossy ground.

“Wh— what is this place...?”

Voice out of breath and full of confusion, there was a strange accent to how she spoke. Something I was not familiar with. Trying to answer as quick as I could, I was at a loss of words from what I was witnessing in front of me.

“Wait, who are you?”

Once again she demanded answers, but before she could ask another question she abruptly fell to the ground. Collapsing into the wet mossy ground, slowly she fell unconscious.

After a moment of staring too long, I snapped out of it and realized what was happening. Lying on the ground unconscious, a cat girl dressed like a  traditional shrine maiden had fallen out of the torii gate. Her clothes now torn and dirty from the fall, they appeared to be a style from someplace else. Trimmed with gold and red patterns, one sleeve was torn exposing her injured shoulder.

She must have gotten hurt when she came through.

Kneeling down next to her, I checked if she was still alive. I noticed her ears gently quiver as she exhaled a short breathe. The way she laid twitching on the ground, reminded me of a cat having a bad dream. Her large tail curled next to her— dirty from the mud— lifeless as she slept.

Winds that were violent and gusting moments ago had finally stopped. The portal that was in the sky moments ago had disappeared leaving almost no trace. Faint burnt marks were left scorched around the torri gate where it touched. But most of all, a girl unlike anything I had ever seen was left lying beneath the gate. She appeared half human half cat.

Could she be a Yokai, from the legends?

Fighting with my beliefs, I tried to come to any other conclusion. Unable to explain the evidence in front of me, I was forced to accept that this was not a normal situation. It was obvious that she was not from anywhere close to here.

“This can’t be real...”

My instincts told me to run. To leave her and pretend none of this happened. Hiking back down the path would be easy, and telling myself it was a dream would be simple, but I looked at her again. She was terrified and hurt. Whatever sent her, it was not her own choice.

I can’t just leave her alone.

Rain started falling again, and soon it would be getting dark out. Unsure if I was making the right decision, I leaned down and reached under her body. Gently lifting her up, she was much lighter than I expected. I could feel heat radiating from her body as I held her close.

Hopefully she isn’t developing a fever.

Resting her head over my shoulder, I stood up and turned back down the path. I was careful as to not trip while holding her. Stopping to look back, the shrine stood silent as I had found it. No one would suspect anything ever happened.

By the time I reached home the sky started down pouring like a flood. Rain crashed against the roof in waves. Thunder echoed off in the distance, but it was still close enough to feel unsettling.

Kicking my shoes off, I shut the door behind with my shoulder. She remained asleep the whole way back, but I could feel her steady breathing on the back of my neck; reassuring me she was still alive. Struggling up the stairs, eventually I reached my room and gently placed her on my bed.

Her ears started to twitch again, reacting to the constant noise of the rain. Hesitantly, I reached out and brushed her damp hair away from her forehead. Her temperature was still quite warm.

Hmm... maybe that’s just how Yokai are?

But who was she, and what did I bring into my house? Could she really be a Yokai, from another realm or a spirit girl that fell out of a hole in the sky?

Dragging a spare tatami mat from the closet, I laid it on the floor beside my bed. The wooden floor was cold through the thin padding, and I could feel the whole house sway from the storm outside.

Sleeping at all tonight will be difficult...

Closing my eyes, I did my best to block out the thoughts racing through my mind. After tossing and turning for hours, somewhere around 3 AM the thunder faded and the rain subsided. Barely able to keep my eyes open from exhaustion, I struggled to stay awake. Eventually the long night blended into the early morning and just as I was about to pass out.

Her eyes slowly opened.

Part 2

Sunlight filtered through the wooden window shutters, just bright enough for me to see the movement from the covers above.

Quickly sitting up, I winced as my neck and shoulders felt stiff from the floor. The storm was long past, leaving behind a fresh scent of rain. If not for the figure next to me, I’d almost believe yesterdays events were all a dream.

The girl with cat ears had already awakened. Her hair was a wild mess of golden strands, while the blanket bunched around her waist. Large amber eyes were wide with curiosity taking in every detail of my room.

“You’re awake”

Changing her gaze to meet mine, both our eyes full of questions, we stared at each other for a moment. Fearfully, her hand shot to her chest holding the fabric tightly. Behind her the large tail nervously batted around.

“W–what... Where...?”

Her voice was raspy, still trying to recover from the night.

“Where am I!?”

“My house. I brought you here last night after finding you collapsed at a shrine in the forest.”

“...”

“Shrine in the forest...?”

“You fell through a portal that opened up right under the torii gate. The way you suddenly dropped from the sky scared me.”

Looking at her tattered clothing, realizing her sleeves that were now ripped and covered in mud. An empty expression covered her face. Touching the back of her head, she felt something missing.

“I don’t... remember.”

“Maybe you hit your head, or something happened when you fell?”

“I don’t remember... anything...”

“How about your name?”

Slowly shaking her head, she closed her eyes and tried to concentrate.

Staring at me with emptiness behind her eyes, I could see the confusion on her face.

I didn’t know what to say, or if there was anything I could do. All I could offer was my help.

“Let’s figure it out together.”

Hesitating, she looked unsure if she could trust my words. After she thought about it for a second, she gently nodded her head.

“Okay...”

“I think I know something that might help!”

Leaving her alone with her thoughts, I headed downstairs to prepare breakfast. Not only had I not eaten anything since the day before, it occurred to me that she might also be starving.

After a few minutes, I heard quiet footsteps coming down the stairs. Stepping in a soft patter, the way she walked sounded like a house cat.

Standing in the middle of the staircase, she peaked over the railing. Watching me with curiosity while I prepared the kitchen, her fluffy tail started to dance around.

“You can come down here if you want— are you hungry?”

“Nyaa~ Hungry?”

That was the first time I heard her cute cat speech come out, a small ~Nyaa. It was if she spoke in her own dialect.

“Yes... I am hungry.”

“Okay, lets see what I can make.”

Shyly continuing down the stairs, she tiptoed into the room and politely sat at the table. Curiously observing my actions as I rummaged through the fridge, her expression brightened when I grabbed fresh tuna and eggs. Smelling the ingredients on the counter caused her ears to twitch with excitement.

At least living alone had taught me how to cook. It’s a good thing mom isn’t here or this whole event would be difficult to explain...

Throwing together a simple breakfast: negitoro don: minced tuna over rice topped of with fresh green onion and egg. A light drizzle of sweet soy sauce finished off the dish.

You really are lucky, I’m the one who found you.

“Here, try this. I think you will like it”

Placing the bowl down on the table in front, her eyes widened. Bringing her face closer to inspect the meal, she stared at it like a curious kitten. Sniffing it a few times before deciding it met her standards, her ears perked as she poked at the food.

“Are you sure this... is for me?”

“You’re the only cat-girl in the room.”

Letting out a tiny relaxed smile as she looked up at me, her expression full of gratitude.

“I don’t think I have ever ate anything like this before...”

Completely ignoring the chopsticks set next to her, she started eating directly from the bowl. All I could see was the top of her head and ears bouncing with each bite. Finishing the food in a hurry, she sat back in the chair and breathed with content.

I guess she remembers that she likes food...

“Thank you...”

“I guess you never used chopsticks before?”

Her ears drooped as if she was suddenly embarrassed from her actions.

“Sorry... I wasn’t sure what those were, and I was very hungry...”

“Haha, its okay I will let it pass this time. But next time, you will have to learn.”

“...okay.”

We both sat in silence for a moment like a couple on an awkward first date.

“So, do you remember anything at all?”

Shaking her head as she looked straight at me. Her expression dimmed a little, causing me to regret asking.

“No... I can’t remember anything, except maybe... feelings, and emotions from somewhere else. But, no matter how hard I try it’s all so blurry...”

“Sorry, that sounds upsetting.”

“It is...”

Another long pause followed. I figured it was the right time to change subjects and lighten the mood.

“Well— we need to call you something.”

Thinking about that for brief moment, her ears perked up as she grinned.

“~Nyaa! I guess that makes sense, you can’t just call me ‘cat-girl’ all the time.”

Trying hard not to laugh at her sarcasm, I smiled while thinking for a second. Abruptly getting up from the table I walked over to the TV. A name popped into my head from a show I had seen recently. Recalling the heroine with long blonde hair, the name suited her.

“I know! How about... Rena.”

Her long tail started to swish energetically. Narrowing her eyes while she carefully thought about it—

“Rena... I think I like that!”

A tiny smile crept unto her face as she looked at me like she had received a gift. I just didn’t want her to feel so lost, giving her a name was an important first step.

“I don’t think it’s my real name... but it sounds nice.”

“Then Rena it is.”

“Thank you human, for giving me a name~”

Slyly looking at me while the tone of her voice teased. It reminded me that I forgot to introduce myself.

“My name is Haruki.”

“Nyaa~ Okay human, I shall call you, Haruki.”

After finishing breakfast, Rena followed me to the sliding door that led to the back yard. Her cute bare-feet elegantly moved across the floor. I realized she didn’t have any shoes, or change of clothes for that matter.

This is a problem we will have to solve.

Sunlight poured in as I opened the door, warming my face as it hit my skin. Rena stepped out behind me and looked around with squinting eyes.

“It’s sooo bright!”

She brought her tail up to cover her eyes and cautiously peeked through. Kneeling down to touch a puddle, she carefully examined the strange world around her.

“Everything looks so different... at least, that’s what it feels like.”

—Out of nowhere a flock of birds dove down to fight over a worm in the grass.

Rena sprang across the yard in less than a second. Leaping onto the fence with gracefulness, she landed in a perfect crouch. Balanced perfectly a top the fence, she stared at the birds like they were play things.

I was in awe of what just happened.

“Rena!”

Aware of what she’d done, she looked down at me while feeling self-concious. The startled birds took off in a hurry.

“S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to, I kinda just reacted...”

Leaping back down, she softly landed in the grass. Slowly walking over with her tail full of life, it was hard for me not to look surprised.

“You just jumped, about 2 meters high!”

“Yeah.... I didn’t know that would happen.”

I smiled at her and let out a small laugh. It was amusing to see the side of her that acted more like a feline. It made me wonder more about what she was like before she came.

“So, you have powers—”

Smiling proudly as she looked up at me, her gaze lingered for a brief moment.

“...What is it?”

“Well, you’re much taller than I am...”

“And you can jump much higher than I can?”

She let out a slight giggle while trying to hide her face.

“You are going to have to not jump like that in public.”

“Nyaa~ But why...?”

“Because in the human world, people are not used to seeing Yokai. A girl with cute fluffy ears and a tail might be a bit odd. Jumping super high in the air would be suspicious.”

Slightly blushing, Rena looked to the side while her ears quivered. While looking away, she quietly spoke to herself.

“Okay... As long as you think I’m cute.”

“Speaking of suspicious, we need to address your clothing. It’s kinda... peculiar...”

Rena looked down at her outfit— it was already revealing before, but now it was torn and dirty. It would be awkward for her to go out with what she was wearing.

“But... what else can I wear?!”

“Lets get you one of my hoodies, at least then you won’t look like a lost shrine maiden.”

Leading her back inside and up the stairs to my room, I opened my closet. Excited to find something, she grabbed the first black zip up hoodie she saw.

“Nyaa~ I want this one!”

Luckily, the oversized hoodie covered most of her body. Not sure what to give her for pants, I thought about it for a moment.

“Wait a second, I will be right back.”

Leaving Rena behind while she examined her outfit in the mirror, I went across the hall to my younger sisters room. I didn’t like entering her room often because it reminded me of how much I missed her.

Looking around the bright coloured room, I quickly grabbed a pair of black gym shorts from her top drawer. Since they were stretchy they might be the only thing that Rena could fit into. I turned the light off and left the room to remain in it’s regular silence.

Returning back to my own room, Rena was busy doing different poses in the mirror while checking how the clothing fit. Her face was full of curiosity as she played with the baggy sleeves and the large hood. Pulling it up over her head, she lifted one knee behind her and posed.

“I think I like this!”

“Good, now go change out of your dirty clothes and put these on as well.”

Handing her the shorts, she took a close look at them before nodding her head like she understood. I left the room to let her change, and in a few moments she came out.

“Okay, I’m ready...”

“Time to take you into town before it gets dark out. We need to find you more human clothes, as well as other necessities.”

We spent the next hour slowly walking the edges of town. Normally it would’ve been a lot faster but Rena was distracted by everything she saw.

“Nyaa~! Whats that?!”

“Someone riding a bicycle, it’s kind of like a vehicle.”

“Looks difficult...”

“It’s actually kind of—”

“Why are those buildings moving on their own!?”

“They’re automatic doors, so you can walk in.”

“Oh... I thought they were alive.”

Rena walked beside me while holding on closely. Every time she got scared —which was often— she jump and hide behind my shoulder.

Her ears were tucked under her hair with a red hair tie I found. Awkwardly pressing against her skull, they caused a few strands of hair to puff up in odd directions. I could tell she hated how it felt. Every few seconds she kept frustratingly adjusting her hair.

“Nyaa~! It itches, do I really have to hide them? It feels like someones trying to tie my brain in a knot.”

“Just while we are out— we can’t let anyone see your ears or tail.”

Thankfully her tail was easy to hide. Tucked up underneath the oversized black hoodie she was wearing. It was barely noticeable unless you knew what to look for. From behind it appeared she was just wearing a super large jacket that went down to her thighs. Her outfit ended up looking quite stylish for something she quickly put together.

“Why do humans wear such heavy clothing? It’s like being wrapped in a hot towel...”

I looked at her while smirking teasingly.

“Because, not everyone has built-in fluff like you!”

“I’m not that fluffy...”

Her face turned a bit red as she carefully grabbed her tail hidden behind her. I noticed movement under her skirt, her tail trying to express herself.

As we moved closer into the center of town, she clung even closer. Every time a car drove by or a bus roared past, she gripped my arm tighter. Her eyes were full of wonder as she scanned everything with precision. Vending machines seemed to be of particular interest as she locked on her sights.

“Why are those boxes glowing, with bottles inside?”

“They’re called Vending Machines. Each bottle contains a different drink.”

“Sounds like human sorcery...”

Running her fingers along a metal railing next to a building, she stared through the window of a game center. Stopping to inspect things closer, she gasped in awe at a row of claw machines with toys inside. Every time the claw came down, she would jump with excitement. I had to pull her away in order to get her to leave.

Continuing down the sidewalk, we passed a group of cats that were lounging in the sun. Strangely they all sat up at once when they saw her. All eyes locked as she walked by, one even began to follow her closely behind. Leaning in she whispered into my ear, as if they might hear what she was saying.

“Nyaa~ why do they keep watching me?”

“Maybe, they think you’re a princess.”

“Well, I can be very elegant.”

Lifting her chin gracefully and walking forward proudly. She tripped over the curb almost crashing into a mailbox.

“Very elegant indeed, for a cat princess.”

Catching her arm before she fell to the ground, she pouted her lips while regaining her composure.

“I was distracted by those other cat creatures!”

Finally reaching the local market area, lanterns swayed under old rooftops. We found a bunch of cozy shops with wooden floors that creaked as soft music played overhead. This area of town still clung to the old traditional feeling.

Walking into a quiet clothing shop, there were a variety of fashionable items and accessories on display. Rena’s eyes lit up with both anticipation and slight hesitation. She felt overwhelmed from the many different things she had not seen before.

Still clinging to me tightly, she whispered into my ear.

“What is all this stuff... Is this where we acquire clothing?”

Looking a bit intimated, she carefully looked around at the strange objects and hesitated to grab anything.

“Nyaa!~ Amazing...”

“This is how stores work, you pick out something you like, and try it on.”

“What should I pick...?”

“It’s up to you, choose something you like. As long as it doesn’t scream, magical cat girl...”

“But... that’s not as fun!”

Feeling a bit more relaxed, she started to look through the clothing on display. Holding up a beige sweater, she stuck her tongue out mockingly.

“See, isn’t this is boring...? I still need to look like a cute girl from this world.”

Looking around some more and almost giving up on finding the perfect outfit—that’s when she saw it. A small black tank top with slim shoulder straps and a daring neck line. Holding it up to her chest, she turned to me with raised eyebrows.

“What about this?”

“It’s... simple, but if you like it, you should get it.”

“It looks bold, and a bit daring Nyaa~!”

Letting out a mischievous grin, she hugged it close. Before I could say anything, she gasped with excitement. She grabbed short black pleated skirt off the rack. It had a schoolgirl vibe, but it was just a bit too short. Paired with the tank top it was casual with an edge of cuteness.

“Would you like to try them on?” Pointing over at the change rooms, I noticed her posture stiffened and she looked bothered.

“...You mean in there?”

“Yeah, so you know it fits. I will wait for you outside.”

“...No!” Her voice quiet as she looked down at the floor. “I don’t want to go in there by myself...”

“I understand, but I can’t go with you. It’s okay, if you like these we can just get them.” 

“Okay...” Reaching out my hand to her, I wanted to make the rest of the day more fun. I felt bad for putting her in an uncomfortable situation. It never occurred to me there were a lot of things she never experienced. 

“Come on, lets go get some more things for you.” Hesitating for a few seconds, she lifted her gaze until our eyes met. Gently, she placed her small hand in mine.

Rena held the shopping bag proudly like she just completed a quest. Sipping on a melon soda with one hand, with the other she played with a small cat keychain. The lady at the counter gave it to her for free. Naming it Mr Whiskers, Rena felt like it was her new favourite toy.

“We need to head back before it gets too late.”

A more relaxed composure compared to earlier, she softly smiled. It seemed my plan of making her feel better had worked.

Leading her out of the market and back the way we came, Rena followed quietly behind me as she looked around at the less busy surroundings.

“Your world is strange... but I think I like it.”

“I think you will get used to it.”

She was quiet for a few moments as we walked towards the outskirts of town. As we reached the rough path heading back home, the light was starting to dim.

“Thank you...”

“Hmm... for what?”

“For not treating me like I am something weird... or out of place.”

I stopped and turned to face her.

“You’re not either of those things.”

Underneath her golden hair, I could see her ears slowly twitch. Looking up, she let out a shy smile.