Spring, the second year of Keichō

The monthly conference for yōkai had taken place this morning, and as usual, it had consisted of little more than Lord Tengu reaffirming three rules that dictated how one should conduct themselves when in the realm of mortals.

First - it was forbidden to kill a human for reasons other than self-defense or the need to eat. Second - one could flirt or make casual conversation, but befriending or falling in love with a human were both signs of a weak will, something that Lord Tengu did not tolerate in the least. Third, and most important of all - harboring a human in one's home was an act of betrayal punishable by permanent exile.

As Kumiko frolicked beneath a cherry blossom tree that was still bare and bounced a ball of foxfire between her five tails, she took pride in the ease with which she continued to adhere to those rules and smiled disdainfully at the thought of those who had failed.

Recently, the dim-witted inugami next door had been cast out after allowing itself to become someone's pet, thus leaving the house available for her new neighbor, a cat-demon by the name of Tsuneko. It was a most welcome change since she no longer needed to worry about being woken up at night by cacophonic barking.

With a creak of pleasure, she allowed her fiery toy to dissipate before rolling over on her side and nuzzling against the soft blades of grass. Ah, this is the life. The only thing missing is...

A distant rustling disrupted her thoughts, and she rose to confront the newcomer. The faint smell of fish and lamp oil became apparent, making it clear who was approaching.

Sure enough, a piebald black and white cat eventually came into view, tails raised and eyes straight ahead as if it were stalking some prey.

Kumiko shook her head in dismay, knowing that there weren't any smaller animals to be found here. She called out to put an end to Tsuneko's fruitless attempt at being a hunter.

"Sorry to interrupt, but you and I are the only furry creatures here. You won't find anything else."

Tsuneko's ears twitched as both of her tails sank. "Well, you're no fun. I was hoping to give you a surprise," she moaned in an elegant Kyoto accent that seemed at odds with her girlish voice.

"By pouncing on me?"

"Yes. That is how I show affection."

"Oh, I didn't know that," Kumiko said sheepishly. "Wouldn't it be hard to tell the difference, though?

"Not really," Tsuneko replied. "I wouldn't be able to eat you even if I tried."

"That... that's a relief. So, why are you here?"

"Ah, I was just about to get to that. I was hoping to get your opinion on a new dance I've been practicing. You see, Lord Tengu has requested that I perform a different one each month as payment for his charity."

"I see. That must be challenging."

"Exactly. It's why I need your help."

At that, Tsuneko turned and led the way with a commanding meow. Kumiko reluctantly followed, figuring that a free performance by a courtesan's former pet was bound to provide her with some entertainment.

******

After what seemed like ages hitting a tsuzumi so that Tsuneko could stay in rhythm, Kumiko felt a great deal of relief when the young woman finished with a dramatic flourish, and she was finally able to put the drum down so her hands could relax.

"So, how was I? Good or not?"

Kumiko was no expert on what constituted a decent dance performance, so she simply offered the highest praise she could think of. "I've never seen anything so wonderful. Lord Tengu will be moved to tears for sure."

Tsuneko slumped onto the woven floor with a smile of relief. "Do you really think so? That means a lot..." she said breathlessly.

The two of them sat facing each other in comfortable silence as Tsuneko allowed herself to rest from the demanding routine. Then, after some time, Kumiko worked up the courage to ask about something that had been feeding her curiosity for the past month.

"Tsuneko," she began, making sure that she had the nekomata's attention. "You have had the privilege of living with humans. Do you know about how they copulate?"

"Kumiko!" Tsuneko exclaimed in alarm, her already round eyes widening even more. "Have you no shame?"

"Am... am I prying too much?" Kumiko asked, tugging at the sleeve of her red furisode while having second thoughts.

"Well, humans see it as something private, not to be witnessed by others."

Kumiko stared down at her knees in embarrassment. "I understand. I'm sorry for asking..."

"No, don't be. But, if you simply must know, then I shall enlighten you."

"Really?"

"Of course. This knowledge is just too scandalous to keep to myself..."

Kumiko raised her head and nodded to indicate that she wished to hear more. Tsuneko obliged.

"All right. After several years of listening to and spying on my mistress as she entertained countless men, I have come to learn plenty. Most of them are, dare I say it, loud and clumsy."

"That is hardly news to me," Kumiko remarked while thinking of all the people she had thus far captured for Lord Tengu. "How does that affect the act itself?"

Tsuneko let out a restrained giggle. "Very much. Half the time, the men struggled simply to remove their clothing and stand upright. I don't know why my mistress put up with them..."

"That's amusing. They must have been drunk..."

"Drunk? What's that?"

"Never mind. Tell me the rest," Kumiko responded in a hurry.

"Let's see... ah, yes. For some reason, humans like to copulate face to face. Sometimes, they even waste their energy talking and pressing their mouths together as if they are hungry."

Kumiko couldn't help but imagine a man leaning forward to give her a fervent kiss, and the thought alone was enough to send a wave of pleasure through her body. She felt the urge to sigh but managed to stifle it by biting her lip.

"Also, they seem to enjoy touching and rubbing against each other. So much so that they end up making all sorts of happy-"

"Tsuneko, you've told me enough," Kumiko interrupted, realizing that she could only handle so much arousal before it became obvious. "I thank you for your wisdom."

"Oh, but I've only just started-"

"No, I mean it. I've overstayed my welcome, and I believe I must go now..."

Tsuneko's expression became glum. "Are you sure? We could have tea if you-"

"Good day, Tsuneko." Kumiko shot her neighbor a threatening glare as she went to the door and slid it open. "Urgent business awaits me, and I'm sure you could say the same about yourself."

At that, she stepped out into the cool spring air, allowing it to refresh her after the mounting tension. She breathed in deeply, then opted to go on a stroll, hoping that doing so would help her focus on something else.

Yet, she knew that her carnal desire was bound to grow stronger the more she tried to suppress it, and perhaps the only real solution would be to sleep with a man of her choosing until she was satisfied.

******

Notes:

- An inugami is a spirit that resembles a dog. Their true form is nothing more than a severed head, and while they can cause misfortune by possessing people, they are also very loyal to anyone lucky enough to be their master.

- Nekomata are a type of cat yōkai with two tails. They often appear as human women and are also associated with geisha.

- A tsuzumi is a hand drum shaped like an hourglass. It plays a sizable role in Japanese folk music and Noh and Kabuki theater.

- A furisode is a style of kimono with long sleeves, traditionally worn by unmarried young women and often to formal events.