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Demon Hunters of Kitty Cat Café
by Davina Lee (a.k.a WaxPhilosophic)
Author’s Note
Demon Hunters of Kitty Cat Café is twenty-two chapters of fantasy adventure tale featuring a group of women warriors fighting demons from Japanese folklore. They’re also undeniably cute, wearing their cat ear headbands and furry tails as they serve an exclusively female clientele in the café.
I am releasing the story in serial fashion. Think of it like episodes of your favorite series on streaming.
This means…
You’ll have to wait a week or so between episodes (chapters.)
Some chapters will have unresolved endings. You’ll have to wait for the next chapter to find out what happens.
A few weeks after the final chapter, the story will disappear from this site. So if you’re going to binge it, check my profile page every so often for new chapters.
Japanese Folklore in Five Minutes
Demon Hunters of Kitty Cat Café centers around a group of women warriors with supernatural abilities fighting against mythical creatures from Japanese folklore come to life in the near future.
While warriors kicking butt isn’t hard to imagine, unless you’re familiar with Japanese folklore, you might be left wondering about some of the demons they encounter.
Here’s a quick rundown, in alphabetical order, of the supernatural creatures in the story.
Kitsune — Born as foxes, kitsune have supernatural abilities. Some kitsune are tricksters while others are benevolent. Kitsune grow another tail with each hundred years of age. After their hundredth birthday, kitsune gain the ability to shape-shift into human form and will often use this to their advantage. In folktales, some kitsune will pursue romantic relationships with humans.
Tanuki — Like the fox, a tauki is an actual animal. Tanuki are members of the canid family and are also known as raccoon dogs. In folklore, a particular type of tanuki known as bake-danuki are said to be able to shape-shift into humans and even sing songs. Some tanuki bring good fortune while others are tricksters.
Tsuchigumo — The literal translation of tsuchigumo is earth spider. It is also a derogatory name given to renegade clans. In folklore, tsuchigumo are burrowing spiders that grow to tremendous size. Essentially, a giant tarantula on steroids, tsuchigumo can make an incredibly formidable enemy.
Yuki-Onna — Folklore says that a yuki-onna is a spirit whose body has perished in a storm. In tales, a yuki-onna in human form will visit a house, showing up on the doorstep during a blizzard. Upon touching the yuki-onna, a person will either see the spirit disappear into a whirl of snow, or if they are unlucky, the person will become bogged down in snow and perish by freezing.
Yamauba — A spirit of the mountains who can be portrayed in a couple of ways, depending on the translation of the folklore legend. In one version, yamauba is simply territorial and chases away anyone on their mountain trails. The more gruesome version is cannibalistic, offering food to lure victims and then eating them. No matter their temperament, yamauba are often portrayed as white-haired older women.
Chapter 4: Closed for Remodeling
‘Sorry, Closed for Emergency Repairs.’ That’s what the sign in Kyoka’s hand reads.
“And you’ve updated the website as well?” asks Miss Nakamura.
“Yes, ma’am.” Kyoka scurries off toward the front entrance with her sign and a roll of painter’s tape.
Miss Nakamura clapping her hands together once gets everyone’s attention. “Alright,” she says, surveying the assembled faces, “You all know your duties. We’ll gather in the main room in thirty minutes to discuss the next steps. Come Kaiya, you and I would do best to stay out of their way.”
“Yes, Miss Nakamura.”
Miss Nakamura leads me to her office. “I wanted to dole this Cevizli Escort all out more slowly,” she says, “after you’ve had some time to acclimate. But I’m afraid we’re on an accelerated timetable now.”
“Accelerated?”
“Everything that’s going on, Kaiya. The demons. They’re becoming bolder. Reports come in now and then, mostly from the rural areas, but your tanuki photos are by far the most credible and concrete evidence of activity in the city. Up to now, we’ve been watching, collecting information. Soon, we may be called upon to act. And we must be ready.”
“Watching?” I say. “You and Ayumi? The Soga clan?”
“All of us, Kaiya. Every hostess in the café is part of the effort. And each has a special ability to aid us when the time comes to fight.”
“Miss Nakamura,” I say and pause, unsure of how to phrase my question without seeming out of place. And then I think about the situation and the topic at hand. How can anything be more out of place than this? Demons in Neo Tokyo. Café hostesses fighting them.
“Miss Nakamura, the hostesses…” I chew my lip. “They serve tea… and pretend to be kittens.”
“This café is popular with tourists and locals alike. It is not an inexpensive distraction, so besides the tourists who are loose with their cash, the locals tend to be wealthy and in positions of power. You would be amazed at how many secrets are let slip when the client views the young woman on her lap as a playful kitten and nothing more.”
“The hostesses…?”
“Yes,” says Miss Nakamura.
“They’re spies?”
“Not exactly. We don’t trade government secrets or engage in industrial espionage. We simply listen for things that seem out of place. Imbalances. Clues to the larger puzzle. Bits and pieces that fit together and foretell events such as the one we’re on the cusp of now.”
“Yes, Miss Nakamura. I understand.” I’m not even trying to argue anymore. I’m as crazy as the lot of them.
“In addition,” she continues, “each of the girls has a special ability. You’ll see this as your training begins.”
“My…? Excuse me Miss Nakamura. Did you say my training?”
“Yes, Kaiya. You have abilities too, I’m sure of it, just as I’m sure of your blood stems from the Soga line. You’re simply getting a late start, so we don’t know what those abilities are just yet.”
“So maybe I can leap tall buildings in a single bound?” I cover my mouth and snicker behind my hand as this random though escapes my lips.
“Sorry,” I say.
“Probably nothing quite so… superhero,” says Miss Nakamura with a wave of her hand, “More subtle, I imagine, which is why you haven’t seen it manifest yet. But extraordinary all the same.”
“I… Miss Nakamura, I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything, Kaiya.” Miss Nakamura reaches out for my hand. “Come with me and witness it firsthand.”
* * *
I step into the light of the café still holding Miss Nakamura’s hand. The light is brighter and whiter than the usual subdued effect. All of the potted plants and any other movable furnishings have been pushed to one side leaving a large open space. Padded mats cover the floors, and the hostesses standing before me are all clad in much simpler robes than the formal kimonos I’ve become accustomed to seeing them in.
Each one of them bows as we pass. I assume it is in reverence to Miss Nakamura at my side and not to me.
“Excellent work,” says Miss Nakamura.
Ayumi comes rushing to my side with a bundle in her arms. As she stands before me, I see it’s an informal buff colored summer weight cotton yukata, like the others are wearing. She thrusts it toward me.
“Right here?” I hiss. “I’m not… changing. Not in front of everyone.”
Ayumi shrugs and turns to Miss Nakamura.
“Kaiya,” says Miss Nakamura. “Will you assist me in a little demonstration?”
“Yes, Miss Nakamura.”
“Emi Satō,” Miss Escort Cevizli Nakamura gestures to Emi who approaches, smiling.
Emi says nothing. Neither does Miss Nakamura. Emi is still smiling as she reaches for the robe Ayumi holds in her arms. I can’t seem to take my eyes off Emi’s gentle smile.
“Please?” says Emi.
That’s it. One word and I’m untying my formal kimono. It’s hanging loose on me as I begin to wonder what I’m doing. I focus on Emi’s smile. But it seems like such a good idea.
I’m down to my undergarment before Emi hands me the training robe and turns her face away. That’s when the reality hits me that I’m standing half undressed in front of everyone. I quickly push my arms into the sleeves and tie the thin sash around my waist.
Miss Nakamura holds my chin in her hand as she stands in front of me. “I’m sorry for any embarrassment,” she says, “but we are pressed for time and it was an effective demonstration.”
“Miss Nakamura,” I stammer, “What just happened.”
“Emi, would you please explain?”
“Yes, Miss Nakamura.” Emi steps over to stand in front of me. “My power is my smile. With it, I can be very persuasive and often convince people to do things they would not consider otherwise.”
“So… So, you could smile me into jumping off a bridge if you wanted?” I say.
Emi giggles. “Nothing so dramatic. More like a waking hypnotic suggestion. You won’t do anything you don’t want to do, but if you were an opponent, I could slow you down while you wrestle with the conflicting thoughts in your mind.”
Won’t do anything I don’t want to do? So I wanted to undress in front of everyone? I switch my gaze to Ayumi. She’s grinning.
“Mai Itō,” says Miss Nakamura.
I look around to see where Mai is standing. But before I can fix my gaze, she twirls once and is suddenly standing before me.
“How…? You were…?”
“Over there, yes,” says Mai.
“Mai is our graceful dancer,” says Miss Nakamura.
And before the entirety of her words leave Miss Nakamura’s mouth, Mai is twirling on the other side of the room. She stops long enough to give me a wave and just as quickly she’s back at my side.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t quick enough to stop your fall the other day.” Mai takes my hand in hers. She frowns as she glances at the bump on my head.
“But you tried,” I say. I am about to tell Mai that because of her efforts, she probably saved me from a more serious injury, but I’m distracted by the rustle of water.
“Chihiro Watanabe,” says Miss Nakamura, as the artificially created stream that borders three sides of the main room suddenly rises from the trough in the floor, sails over our heads, and collects as a shimmering ball hovering waist high above the floor in the center of the room. “Chihiro can control water.”
Slack-jawed, I watch Chihiro step forward, molding the ball of water into various shapes using just the motion of her hands. And then she sends the sphere of liquid up over our heads before scattering it to the four walls. It’s coalesced back in the shape of a long narrow river, but still floating above the floor. Chihiro grins and the water goes crashing back into the trough.
I manage to close my gaping mouth just as Miss Nakamura motions to another hostess. “Tatsuo Yoshida,” says Miss Nakamura. “Our little dragon.”
Tatsuo steps forward with her hands outstretched and a flame dancing on each upturned palm. She is not holding a candle or anything else. The look on her face is one of serene concentration.
“Tatsuo can create and control fire,” says Miss Nakamura. “Her indoor demonstration will be necessarily brief, for reasons I’m sure you will understand.”
I focus my eyes on the fire in Tatsuo’s hands as she makes it grow to twice its size and the shrink to the size of a match flame before winking out entirely. Tatsuo ends her demonstration with a quick curtsy and Cevizli Escort Bayan a wry smile.
Before I can begin to comprehend what I just just witnessed, Tatsuo steps back and Miss Nakamura calls for the next hostess. “Kuma?” she says.
The first thing I notice about Kuma is that she’s nearly the same size and shape as me, which is mostly straight, slim in the hips and the chest. She’s not on fire. She’s not flinging giant balls of water. She’s just plain and straight.
But somewhere during those two steps forward, Kuma manages to grow to twice her original size. She loosens the obi securing her yukata to accommodate the swell of muscle confined underneath and unleashes a roar to match.
“Kuma Suzuki,” says Miss Nakamura. “Our mighty bear.”
Bear-size Kuma struts around in a circle, gnashing her teeth while clawing at the air. And then, just as suddenly, she shrinks back to regular size Kuma and gives me a little wave before stepping back in line with the others.
I blink twice and rub my eyes. Kuma is still regular Kuma.
“Ne Takahashi,” says Miss Nakamura, introducing the next hostess. “Ne can control sound. But again, our current setting does not lend itself to a proper demonstration of her gift.”
“Gift… Gift… Gift…” Miss Nakamura’s final word echoes around the room as Ne stands proud, smiling.
“Clever, Ne,” says Miss Nakamura.
“Ne… Ne… Ne…” Ne holds her right arm high in the air with her index and pinky fingers extended. She pushes her right leg back and bends her left, looking like a rock star taking the stage. And then, to complete the look, she does a hair flip that would make any wannabe metal band green with envy. It’s almost enough to make me forget I just watched Kuma grow and shrink at will.
Ne straightens up, turning to me to offer a wink before stepping back. I can’t help but grin.
“Kyoka Tanaka.” Miss Nakamura motions to Kyoka, who comes forward. “Kyoka’s ability is to mirror anyone else’s power. Kuma, your assistance again please.”
I watch as Kuma once again grows to the size of a mighty bear and Kyoka, with once glance in Kuma’s direction, does the same. They’re circling each other, baring their teeth and clawing at the air, all in perfect symmetry.
Miss Nakamura turns to the circling bears. “Thank you Kyoka, Kuma.”
Kyoka and Kuma shrink back to normal size, raise their hands to connect in a high-five, and take their place with the others. I slowly shake my head.
“And Kaiya Yamamoto,” says Miss Nakamura, gesturing to me. “She’s been keeping the kitchen in smooth working order since she started here two weeks ago.
“I had hoped to introduce her gently into all of this, but this tanuki’s interest in her has necessitated a change in plans.
“Please do your best to welcome her.”
Mai is at my side in a flash. Of course she is. Mai wraps me in a hug. “Welcome, Kaiya.”
Kuma is next. Regular size Kuma gives me a bear size hug. “Welcome. It’s good to have you with us.”
Kuma is followed by Tatsuo, Chihiro, and Emi. Somehow I manage to receive them without lighting on fire, getting soaked to the bone, or being smiled into taking my clothes off.
Ne and Kyoka come to me as a pair and wrap me up in their perfectly symmetrical affections. I let myself get swallowed up in two pairs of arms while I enjoy two friendly pecks, one on each cheek.
Ayumi is last to welcome me, taking me in her arms and squeezing me tight to her chest. “Try to save some of your energy,” she whispers in my ear. “I don’t want you falling asleep on me.”
Save my…? Falling asleep…? What’s that supposed to mean? Sex? Is Ayumi still planning for us to… to have sex? Or is that just more wishful thinking on my part?
But I don’t have time to dwell on it. Miss Nakamura claps her hands together once, startling me out of my reverie.
The group falls silent and all eyes focus on her. “We have closed the café for the day,” she says. “Let us not squander this time of no distraction. Training will commence immediately.”
Afterword
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