High School DxD: Fox of Ill Omen

Koneko

I led Yuki-senpai into a private room in the estate.

The room looked fairly plain.

It had a central coffee table with couches and arm chairs around it.

There were a few bookshelves and some tapestries on the walls.

I had been in a few similar rooms in Buchou’s home before, this one wasn’t anything special.

Yuki-senpai closed the door behind her as she entered, leaving the two of us kind inside.

After I had agreed to talk with her Yuki-senpai had followed me quietly.

She hadn’t really said anything on the short walk over.

It had given me some time to think about what I would say and how much I would tell her.

I didn’t really know why I had agreed to talk to her exactly.

It was true that she was a Youkai like me, but my past and Nee-sama weren’t things I wanted to talk about or people to know about. 

Only Buchou, Akeno-senpai, and Yuuto-senpai knew about it at the moment, and I didn't think I would tell someone unless I had to.

But now I was alone with Yuki-senpai, and I was going to tell her.

I had liked Yuki-senpai since she joined the peerage.

She was calm, quiet, and didn’t try to make me talk more than I wanted to. 

That’s why I liked to be around her and stayed close to her.

But recently things have been different.

I would sometimes catch myself looking at her when I wasn’t paying attention.

I also found myself wanting more of her attention and was annoyed when others took it from me.

Especially Issei-senpai or Akeno-senpai.

Issei-senpai was a good person, but he could be loud, perverted, and annoying sometimes.

He got plenty of attention from the other girls of the peerage and Buchou and Akeno-senpai said that Yuki-senpai liked him too.

With Akeno-senpai, she liked to tease Yuki-senpai and try to get her to tease her back.

It typically ended with Yuki-senpai looking annoyed with her and pushing Akeno-senpai’s attention onto someone else.

But sometimes, like in the bath yesterday, Yuki-senpai would turn Akeno-senpai’s teasing around on her.

And when it happened in the bath yesterday it annoyed me.

When I made a comment about it, Akeno-senpai had asked me why she couldn’t spend time with Yuki-senpai.

I hadn’t known what to say to her.

I only knew that I was mad at both of them and that Yuki-senpai was acting lewd like Akeno-senpai sometimes would, and like Issei-senpai always did.

I didn’t know what to think about all of that right now.

I had to focus on the conversation I was about to have with Senpai.

I would think about it later, once I didn’t have to focus on training or being in the Underworld again.

I sat on one of the couches by the table.

Yuki-senpai sat on the one across from me.

I looked at her for a moment.

Her purple eyes were calm and patient as she looked at me.

Her ears twitched slightly and her tails shifted on the couch next to her.

I would sometimes forget how tall Yuki-senpai was until we were alone like this.

It was especially noticeable since I was the shortest in the peerage next to Gya-kun and Yuki-senpai was the tallest, just after Buchou. 

You couldn’t tell when she was seated across from me, besides her long legs, but she was a full head taller than me.

….And now I’ve annoyed myself thinking about how short I am compared to everyone else.

…Which also makes me think of how much less developed my chest is as well.

I glared at Yuki-senpai’s breasts when that thought hit me.

“Koneko-chan?” She asked, with a slight tilt of her head.

I blinked and schooled my expression.

“What did you want to talk about first?” I asked.

It would be easier if I knew what she wanted to know.

“I think that the best place to start would be about what Azazel-sensei said about you sealing a part of yourself. We can go from there.”

I nodded.

That was fair and easy enough for me to tell her enough without having to say everything.

I think Yuki-senpai might have known that, but still suggested it anyway.

I took a breath.

“Azazel-sensei wasn’t wrong that I have been sealing a part of myself, like Akeno-senpai has refused to use her Fallen Angel side.”

Yuki-senpai was quiet as she waited for me to continue.

“You see….. I’m like you, Yuki-senpai, I’m a Youkai, a type of Nekomata called a Nekoshou.”

Yuki-senpai nodded.

“I know.”

I froze.

I thought she would be surprised or ask questions.

That wasn’t what I expected at all.

“…You knew?” I asked quietly.

Her tails shifted next to her.

“Yes. I didn’t know the exact kind, but I knew that you were some kind of cat Youkai. I have since we met.” She answered.

“How could you tell?”

“Well, because of my eye ability, and the fact that I’m a Kitsune. I hide my tails and ears in the same way you hide your features, and Kitsune are known for their shapeshifting and illusions. I was able to tell that you were hiding your Youkai traits.”

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“Then why didn’t you say anything about it? Why even ask me to have this talk if you knew?” I asked.

“I asked to have this talk, because I didn't know much. Like I said, I only knew you were a cat Youkai. I didn’t know you were of such a rare species, and more importantly I didn’t know why you were hiding it. As for why I never brought it up, it was because you hadn’t told me yourself.”

I frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“Koneko-chan, you were hiding it from everyone in the peerage as far as I could tell. I didn’t want to bring attention to it or make you uncomfortable with the knowledge that I knew about it. It may not make a lot of sense, but I didn’t want to bring it up until you were ready to tell me.”

“You could have gone to Buchou, she’s our [King], so she would have known. She does know.”

Yuki-senpai sighed.

“Like I said. I wanted you to be comfortable enough to tell me. It’s the same as this conversation we are having now. I’m sure Rias-Buchou knows exactly why you’ve been acting off, but I wasn’t going to ask her. I want to find out about it from you.”

That made me look at the table between us.

“….Thank you, Yuki-senpai. I.. I’m glad that you would act that way for me.” I said as I looked up at her.

She nodded.

“Of course. Now, can you tell me why you’ve been hiding the fact that you’re a Youkai and why you want to seal that part of yourself away?”

I hesitated.

I could stop here or give her some half hearted excuse.

But Yuki-senpai had already shared a lot of her past with us.

I don’t think she’s told us everything, but what she did say was painful enough that it had made her break down when she spoke about her parents.

It was the first time I had seen her that vulnerable.

I knew that just because she had told me that it didn’t mean I had to tell her, but it helped me make up my mind.

“Yes, I’ll tell you. I can tell you everything.” I said, breaking the silence.

“You don’t have to do that, Koneko-chan,” Yuki-senpai said, frowning slightly.

“I know, but I want to.”

I looked down at my lap as I started to talk.

“I have an older sister, Kuroka-neesama…. She and I were taken in after our parents died. I don’t really remember them very well, but my mother was a Nekomata like me and my sister, and my father was a human. After they passed, we were taken in by a Devil from house Naberius and became reincarnated Devils. Things were fine for a while after that, but… but Kuroka-neesama changed.”

I paused for a moment before forcing myself to continue.

“...If you don’t know, Nekoshou can learn to use Youjutsu and Senjutsu, and are much stronger than normal Nekomata. Kuroka-neesama learned both Youjutsu and Senjutsu. She was talented in both and they made her strong…. Far too strong…. She became more powerful than our master. She lost herself in her power and went berserk. She killed our master, the man who had taken us in when we were left alone. Then… then she ran and left me behind.”

I stopped to take a calming breath.

“There was a manhunt for her as she was given a rank of SS-class Stray Devil and became one of the most wanted Devils in the underworld. And I was taken into custody by the Underworld government as my master was dead and my sister was still on the run. When they failed to capture her, it was decided that I would be executed. They said that it was to prevent another incident from happening if I became like my sister. She had left a path of bloodshed and destruction in her wake as she fled. The Devils were scared enough that killing me was an easy decision for them. I… I fell apart when Kuroka-neesama left me. I-I begged her not to leave me... We only had each other and she threw me away after becoming drunk on her own power. So, I didn’t protest or care when they took me in front of a council and told me that I would die. I didn't feel anything then. But Sirzechs-sama stepped in and saved me. He stopped the execution and brought me to Buchou and I was added to her peerage as part of Sirzech-sama’s agreement for the removal of my punishment. When I first met Buchou, I didn't feel anything anymore. I didn't care what was going to happen to me. My world had been crushed and now I was stuck with a stranger who had dragged me away from an exsection for no real gain. But she didn't give up on me. She didn't throw me away, and she kept trying to reach me and eventually it worked… I was able to feel something again thanks to her. That’s when she gave me my name. I was born as Shirone, but Buchou gave me the name Toujou Koneko.”

I looked up from the table once I had finished.

Yuki-senpai was still watching me.

Her purple eyes looked into mine.

“I see,” She said after a moment. “So, the reason that you don't want to use your Nekushou side is because you don’t want to become like your sister. You’re afraid of becoming corrupted by the power you would get just like she was.”

I gave a small nod.

“...Yes. I don't want to be like that. I don’t want to become a monster.” I said, my voice sounding small in my own ears.

Yuki-senpai rose from her seat and moved to sit next to me.

She took one of my hands into hers.

I looked down at my hand and then up at her.

My chest felt tighter.

“You will never be a monster Koneko-chan,” she said, her voice full of certainty. “I know you and I know that isn't who you are. If you decide to embrace your Nekoshou powers, you won't be overwhelmed by them. You are stronger than that, and you have all of us to help you. I understand what it's like to be looked at as a monster and to have powers that people are afraid of, but that power is only a tool. You are the one who decides what to do with it.”

I felt my eyes begin to tear up.

“...But what if you’re wrong? What if I end up just like Kuroka-neesama?”

“I won’t let you. I’ll be right here with you the whole time, and I am not going anywhere.”

I looked at my lap as I felt my cheeks heat up.

I forced back the tears that were threatening to spill.

I looked back up at her.

“What should I do, Yuki-senpai? I want to get stronger. I want to help everyone. I dont want to be dead weight, but I am so scared.”

Yuki-senpai gave me a small smile.

“Trust yourself, and try. Stop holding yourself back and learn to control your powers so that they won't control you. You can take it as slow as you need, and if you want one of us there with you we can be.”

“I… I don’t know if I can. But both you and Azazel-sensei are right. If I don’t use my Nekoshou powers I won’t become stronger.”

I let out a long sigh.

“...I’ll try. Slowly, but I will try.”

“Good. And thank you Koneko-chan, for telling me. If you had told me that you wouldn't. I would have understood.”

“You told me about your past too, senpai. And I trust you.”

Yuki-senpai smiled at me again.

“That means a lot to me, Koneko-chan.”

I stared at her smile. 

She was normally stoic and calm, so I didn't really get to see her smile like this much.

I wanted her to smile like that more often.

Hopefully she would be able to, the longer she was with us.

“So, Shirone-chan.”

I nodded.

“Yeah, Buchou gave me my name so that I could distance myself from my past. I like being Koneko.”

“Then that's what I’ll call you. It’s easier than when I asked everyone to stop calling me Kusari.”

I frowned at the memory of what that name meant.

“...Yuki fits you much better, senpai.”

She let out a small chuckle.

“I think you're right, Koneko-chan.”

I stood as we both had spent too much time here when we should be starting our training.

“I have one question for you though, Koneko-chan. It’s more of a request really.” Yuki-senpai said as she stood.

“What is it, senpai?”

“Could you show it to me?”

I blinked.

“What?”

Yuki-senpai gestured to her ears.

“Your Nekomata traits. You don't need to if you aren't ready yet. I’m just curious since I’ve been wondering what they were for a while.”

I paused for a moment.

It had been a long time since I showed them to anyone.

But after telling everything to Yuki-senpai I found that I didn't hate the idea of showing her.

“...Sure.”

I focused for a second and then felt my cat ears and my tail appearing on my body.

My tail shifted behind me and my ears twitched as I shifted my head.

It felt more comfortable with them out, like I was able to stretch a muscle that hadn't been used in a while.

Yuki-senpai was looking at my ears.

“They’re quite cute. They fit you Koneko-chan.”

I kept my face calm, but I could feel my tail moving.

That was probably going to be an issue when I started keeping my traits out around the others.

She moved one of her tails closer to me.

“Our colors are quite close too. We practically match as the two Youkai in the peerage.”

Hearing her say that made me happy for some reason.

“...You’re right, we do.”

Then I had a thought as I looked at her tails and ears.

“Can I touch your tails?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Yuki-senpai paused.

I felt myself flush immediately as I looked to the side after asking.

I don't know why I asked that.

I shouldn't have asked.

Yuki-senpai would be uncomfortable now that I asked.

Before I could take it back Yuki-senpau spoke.

“If you want to, I wouldn’t mind, and you can touch my ears too if you'd like.”

I blinked, not expecting her to agree to my impulsive request.

I quickly centered myself.

“…Thank you Yuki-senpai. You can touch my ears and tail too, if you’d like. It would only be fair.”

Yuki-senpai gestured to the couch next to us.

“We should sit back down so it's more comfortable."

Yuki-senpai sat and shifted her tails so that they were laying on her lap.

I sat next to her and hesitantly moved my hand to one of them.

Her fur was smooth, soft, and surprisingly slightly cold.

I began to absentmindedly stroke her tails as we sat together quietly. 

Yuki-senpai relaxed and let me enjoy playing with her fur.

We sat like that for some time.

Then I felt a hand touch one of my ears.

I froze.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” She said in a soft voice.

I let the tension in my body fade as I went back to stroking her tails. 

“…wasn’t paying attention. It’s fine.” I said as I angled my head towards her.

She chuckled softly and I felt her hand on one of my ears again.

I didn’t react this time as she began to softly touch it and move her fingers along the tip of my ear.

I felt her move her hand to the base of my ear and she slowly began to rub it. 

It felt soothing.

I had to stop myself from making a noise at the feeling of her touch. 

We stayed like that for a few minutes.

Eventually we had to go to our training session though.

I had to suppress a whine when Yuki-senpai stopped rubbing my ears.

She reminded me that both she and Buchou would be there if she wanted to talk about it more or needed someone to be there if I practiced with my Nekoshou form.

I thanked her and we parted ways.

I don’t think that I’m fully ready to face my powers, but this was a start.

I’ll try, like Yuki-senpai asked.

When I tell myself that, it seems a little less daunting. 

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