Chapter Seventeen

"Aye, bee, see, dee, eee, eff," Rose was repeating the alphabet again. She didn't have much trouble with learning simple words, which made sense given her age. Both real and appearance wise.

Isha continued to teach her, Mr. Ilan keeping their cups full. At about nine May came out with her dinner, watching as Isha taught Rose.

"Does she really not know?" May asked, tilting her head. Isha nodded to her, letting Rose take a break from learning as she munched on some snacks May had brought out with her.

"She never had a chance. At least that's what she says." Isha replied, to which May nodded, nibbling her tuna sandwich.

"So the new clothes?" At May's question, Rose butted in, looking at her over Isha.

"Isha got these! We went shopping today." She exclaimed, looking proud as she showed off her outfit. "I look cute right? This reminds me of the clothes I'd see mother wear. Her's were black though." She huffed happily and resumed eating.

May nodded at her and took another bite of her food. She seemed to think for a moment as she ate.

"Okay Isha. That was the last person, we've hit the slow period." Mr. Ilan informed Isha, coming back to the counter after seeing a customer out.

"I'd like to discuss working here. Also training." Isha stated, looking from May to Mr. Ilan, who twiddled his mustache happily.

"Why of course you can work here. You can start tomorrow, whenever you're free. We don't have much of a set schedule as you've seen. I'll even prepare a uniform for you!" Them old man exclaimed, brewing another pot of coffee.

"Isha is goyng to work for us?!" May exclaimed, her ears popping out as her tail flicked. Isha nodded his head at her.

"Mhm! I even quit my job today." He replied to her. May's eyes sparkled and she gave Isha a hug, purring as Isha spoiled her with a head pat. "That excited about it?"

"Nn. Of cyourse! I dyon't get to interyact myu-"

"You choose not to interact." Mr. Ilan cut her off with a teasing tone of voice. May stuck her tongue out at him.

"Beycause everyone is myean. But nyot Isha! He even tyeases me back!" She replied, her tail flicking as she nuzzled him.

"You really are a cat huh. Rose will be able to work as well, so long as you allow her and she would like to." Isha added, glancing at Rose who nodded.

"Yeah, I'd be here anyway. I don't mind helping." She replied, looking up from the cake she was eating, or rather stole from Isha.

"Of course. The more help the merrier!" Mr. Ilan exclaimed happily. "And as for training… I assume you meant your powers correct?" Isha nodded as he twiddled his mustache. "One person comes to mind. I have a feeling you two will get along. He's a younger ex exorcist."

"Wait. There are more of you here?" Isha furrowed his brow, tilting his head.

"Oh but of course. Exorcist that retire, whether officially or unofficially, come to this city. That's why there's less demonic beings than in other places. Or at least harmful ones. And the Catholic church would rather not make useless trouble. We all help each other out after all."

"Wait… this town is… how many are there?" Isha asked, his face a bit pale.

"Quite a few. Ah but don't worry Isha! They most likely won't harm you. Without proper reason of course. In fact a decent amount of customers that come in are ex exorcists." Isha nodded at his words, thinking to himself. "The gentlemen I have in mind should be more than willing. I'll contact him tomorrow morning for you."

"Thanks Mr. Ilan." Isha smiled softly at him, petting the purring May as she seated herself in his lap yet again.

"Oh but of course. I don't think May would stand to see you hurt. However, you've really surprised me Isha."

Isha froze a bit at Mr. Ilan's words, his hand stopping on May's head as she looked up at him in confusion. Rose silently watched the old man.

"how do you… mean?" Isha inquired him, looking from the old man and then to May. He felt a little guilty.

"Oh, nothing bad of course." The old man twiddled his mustache. "I'm just surprised at how well you're handling this. You were attacked two days ago, and not only accept it, but have gotten along with the being who attacked you, and another demon on top of that. Then there's the fact you've already resolved to fight." Mr. Ilan smiled at Isha, stroking his mustache.

"Well…" Isha started, his gaze trailing up to the ceiling. "Being attacked definitely sucked, and I was terrified at the thought of losing myself. I still am. But there's no point in me just stopping you know? As long as there is a way forward, I have to continue. It doesn't matter if the life for me is rough, what's the point in giving it up halfway through?"

May tilted her head as Mr. Ilan listened.

"How do you myean Isha?" She asked him, adjusting herself.

"Well… Let's look at it like a novel. Or a game, or even a show that you bought. It was something you just randomly chanced upon buying, right? You can't give it away or resell it. It's not broke, it works, whether it may be rough at times." May nodded, Rose even starting to listen.

"You may as well see it through, for its ups and downs. And all in all, its whatever you make of it. It's not just any game, show, or novel. It's one where you choose how the main character goes about their life. Good stuff will happen, as well as bad. But it's your choice on what to do with it." Isha looked down, his gaze going past May and at the floor.

"So let's say however, something really bad happens to you. Or you even start out in a bad place. What's the point in just sitting around and wasting time." Isha smiled a bitterly to himself. "Bad things might happen, as I've said earlier. They may be the same as someone else. They may be better. They may be worse. It all depends on how you deal with it that decides the outcome of the rest of the story." Isha looked from rose, to Mr. Ilan, and then finally on May.

"So, what's the point in me closing the book halfway through? I bought it with my life and my actions. If I just through it all away, well is it worth it to throw it away anyway?" Isha ended it there, feeling like he spoke a bit to much. Mr. Ilan smiled softly at him.

"That makes me relieved to hear Isha. A decent amount of people give up when they end up in a situation like yours. May herself almost…" He trailed off a bit. "Anyways. I'm glad to know you won't disappear on me anytime soon." He patted Isha's shoulder and poured more coffee.

May hugged him a bit tightly while Rose stared at him for a bit, seeming to be dwelling on something.

"I'll try and think lyke that too!" May exclaimed, rubbing her face against his shirt.

"You don't have to May. It's just how I believe; I'm not going to make you think the same." Isha pat her head gently, looking at her nervously.

"I kyow thyat! I jyust think it's a gyood way of living!" She exclaimed, purring again. Isha smiled a bit, glancing at Rose, who was staring into space.

"Are you okay?" He asked her, putting his other hand on her shoulder. Her eyes went to him as a soft smile appeared on her thin lips.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was only thinking to myself." She replied, looking down a bit.

"And that's what worried me." Isha replied to her, ruffling her hair. She smiled and giggled a bit,

"Boo! I demyand myore attentyion!" May exclaimed, her tail flicking more as she kneaded Isha's stomach a bit. The old man just laughed from behind the counter.

"Geez, you really are a cat." Isha said again, rubbing under her chin.

"But of course, I'm a kitty!" She replied, purring.

"You selfish cat. You ruined my mood." Rose huffed, crossing her arms.

"Nyot my fault I'm high maintnyence. I'm jyust a kitty!" She exclaimed back ,accepting more pets from Isha.

"Oh hoh. I am almost positive it's you're fault your high maintenance." And with that she appeared on Isha's shoulders. "I'm the one who possessed him, so be a good girl."

"Syo! He possessed you anyway, syo don't fyool yourself!" May replied with her eyes narrowed, rolling onto her back as she tried to get Isha to rub her tummy.

"Uh… Mr. Ilan…?" He turned his head, requesting help from the old man. Mr. Ilan grabbed his shoulder, twiddling his mustache.

"This is a problem in which you're going to need to fix." He replied, giving a thumbs up and then turning around, heartily laughing. Isha smiled to himself before it disappeared.

"Hey! Wait a sec that's not fair!" he exclaimed at the old man, giving into May, rubbing her belly.

"No, now that's no fair!" Rose exclaimed, huffing. "Oh well. I got to bathe with you either way."

It was at that moment time seemed to froze for May as she stared up from Isha to Rose, giving even the old man, who seemed to be hiding his laughter behind his hand, a glance.

"Is thyat true?" She asked, eyes narrowed at Isha as her tail flicked.

"Not entirely. It was more of done as a child and guardian than whatever you're probably thinking." Isha replied nervously, scratching his cheek.

"A bath's a bath! I win, you lose!" Rose exclaimed, looking at May. In response, May bit

Isha's hand. Well, not really a bite. More like a nibble. If anything, her fangs even made it tickle, causing Isha to laugh a bit as she kicked at him a bit.

"Nyo fair!" She mewled, still kicking as Rose stuck her tongue out, puffing her chest proudly. "Fyne thyen. You have to bathe with mye too." She demanded, keeping his hand hostage.

"Woah, woah. Hold on a moment! Old man?" Isha looked at Mr. Ilan , who shrugged while snickering behind his hand.

"You're all adults. I say you figure this out." He replied, turning around to take a sip of coffee. Isha let out a nervous sigh as the two began to bicker. This means they're getting along right? Please let this just be them teasing each other. Maybe Isha was just the only thing they had in common. Yeah that was it. They both knew him, so he became an initial point of discussion!

Isha laughed nervously to himself as he continued to think these thoughts, staring out of the café window across the street. It was then he saw a mysterious figure seeming to hurry out of sight. It was probably his imagination though. Or a drunk. Then he felt a tug on his ear.

"Heeeyy. Are you even listening? We've come to the agreement of bathing together." Rose tugged a bit on his ear, informing him of this newfound resolution they apparently made.

"Wait. What? Hold on, hold on, what?!" Isha exclaimed, the figure disappearing out of his mind as he went from Rose to May.