Mischief

Kira woke up the next day once again curled up in her own tail, what happened to sleeping normally she thought until she realized she had actually fallen asleep wearing her clothes much to her surprise though her shoulders wasn't sore with red marks from the bra, how lucky.

"Good morning master"

Jumping out of bed looking for the voice that sounded like it belonged to a young boy, she didn't find any more stray servants from the castles.

I swear those two are already compensating for an army she thought to herself.

"Thank you so much for providing me the souls to become stronger, I feel much better!"

Soul... the candy, wait mischief?

turning around she now met the eyes of her feline friend who was starring at her with an intensity she hadn't imagined.

"You are welcome?" Kira said with a certain amount of uncertainty.

Kira felt very conflicted, she was surrounded by demons, her mom was a literal fox lady, and she herself was spouting a fine pair of fox ears and a fluffy tail, to put it simply Kira had somehow managed to just write all of it off in her checklist of Nope.

Now her own cat was speaking to her, this was quite honestly the final pebble that broke the dam

still uncertain if she was being pranked she decided to check.

"Mischief, you're capable of speech now huh?"

Kira said looking straight at her lovely feline.

"Yes Master, I apologise it took me so long to gain the resources to develop far enough"

normally had it been anyone else calling her master it would have upset her deeply, but mischief was her pet and as such it was effectively her role towards him.

"What is the earliest memory you have of me?"

mischief tilted his head to its side as if it was thinking before it said.

Your power opened a small path to our realm and I remember seeing a lonely sad expression, and I felt an instinctive pull to go to you, you held the vessel I've been using which former inhabitant had just died in your hands while holding it wrapped in a blanket, I took over the vessel and fought against the illnesses it held and won, once I opened my eyes and meowed at you, you seemed extremely happy, after that you brought me to weird places and finally took me home where you provided me toys and nourishment the vessel would need."

Kiras mouth fell open.

Admittedly there was a few details there she hadn't quite realised, she thought the warmth from the blanket had helped the tiny kitten pull through, but seems she was mistaken, she didn't feel overly upset that mischief wasn't the cat she thought she saved, as mischief was the cat she had raised and cared for not the dead kitty she had attempted to save.

however the recount of the event was accurate enough that it was no denying it indeed was mischief who was speaking, not even Jane knew her cat wasn't from the rescue center, but she instead had found it sickly near her home and tried to save it, she had afterward gotten all the shots and paid everything out her own pocket.

Oh god, Kira fell the floor, "it's all real isn't it."

Mischief jumped down to the floor and prodded her tail while looking at her.

"Master have always been real, I'm not quite sure what you're talking about, I am however extremely happy to see Master is no longer starving herself, I felt incredibly guiltily accepting the souls yesterday knowing you've been starving for as long as I've been in your care, ofcourse you provided sustenance for your vessel but it was hard seeing you pass out every single night and struggle to force yourself up every single day, leaving your territory just to be even more exhausted upon arriving home and pass out again"

Kira gave mischief an odd stare.

"True I'm not much of a morning person, but I don't think sleeping at night is unusual"

tilting his head to the site Mischiefs voice didn't hide his feelings.

"Master, humans sleep, you might have been living amongst them but that doesn't mean you need to emulate all of their behaviour, wait was that why master was starving herself?"

the disapproval was extremely clear in her own pets voice, to think the day would come where she got lectured and judged by her own cat.

trying to avoid the question Kira threw the ball straight back at mischief.

"It's not like I was the only one who starved"

and if she thought mischief was disapprovingly judging her before, it effectively just doubled.

"While true I didn't find pray at high enough quality to grow, I consumed more than enough to keep myself healthy, birds, animals, even got a good chunk of the Darek human who disrespected you in my presence trying to treat you as if you were less than him"

Kira immediately remembered the episode it was a guy she was dating briefly who held a rather bad temper he would verbally demean her and physically hit her, during disagreements, and they had a rather nasty fight while he was visiting her at her apartment at one time she found him the next day completely different with a meak fragile personality and he actively fled from the mere sight of her, she figured her neighbour had likely heard what happened and threatened with reporting him, he was a lovely guy who as a former marine, might seem old and burly bit he had the heart at the right place, she decided Dereks company hadn't been healthy for her and had thanked old Jack in her heart.

To think the one that had scared Darek away wasn't Jack but Mischief was quite a revelation to her.

Sighing Kira sat down and decided she might as well confess in her companion, he had been with her for a long time and was likely the one with the best chance of understanding her.

So Kira confessed everything to Mischief how she hadn't even known she was a demon, and the fact she hadn't starved herself on purpose, she also gave the explanation of how she had supposedly been abducted as a small child, and sealed in the human vessel.

She watched as Mischief seemed more and more agitated as she was explaining, until how she had been stolen Mischief exclaimed.

"Master is the lost princess!

How could I not notice, I knew master was powerful, very few demons could do what you did considering how starved you were, but I always just thought master was an exceptionally strong but lonely demon who had her own reasons for living a life emulating humans"

It finally struck Kira that she never asked a rather obvious question.

"Mischief, how is it everyone knows I'm starved?"

Mischief got up and went around in a circle a few times seeming agitated.

"What master explained it stands to reason master doesn't know, but I don't know how to explain this to master to make her understand because I'm unfortunately far too weak.

Master is essentially leaking her hunger, anyone can instinctually sense your hunger and knows to not get near, humans are dim-witted enough to ignore their instincts, but there was a reason all super natural beings for a big circle around your territory fled and nobody moved within a certain distance of your territory either, as you practically scream danger.

however it was only during the times you were angry you ever truly opened up for casting out your presence, otherwise it was very hard to sense your demonic nature, I now understand that was due to the seal effectively masking your presence, but no matter how effectively you mask your demonic nature would other beings still be able to instinctively feel you as dangerous.

Now for those who aren't threatened by your hunger, the other way to tell would be your eyes, they become duller the weaker you get due to starvation, right now they are only barely better than humans eyes, did you never notice that the two demons from yesterday's eyes almost shine?"

Kira had to admit she hadn't, as she had been way too busy trying to ignore that frustrating smile of theirs.

Kira got up and moved to the mirror, and once again saw the absolutely stunning fox girl staring straight back at her, looking at her eyes Kira thought they looked pretty normal if not a bit brighter, Kira tried to take in her appearance and mentally accept that was herself but once again failed, she had approximately just as much luck imagining that criminally cute girl in the mirror was her as she had imagining herself as remotely popular during her high-school days, aka highly unrealistic.

frowning, she sat down on the bed, and mischief elegantly jumped up beside her looking at her expectantly.

"Master can I be allowed to follow you today, while I know that I am not strong enough to be able to help from any danger do I feel that master could use something familiar to rely on, also you can use our familiar bond to communicate with me and ask me questions if you desire sharing or getting knowledge without the others being aware"

Kira couldn't help but just throw her hands in the air at this point, she had definitely fallen down the rabbit hole, her cat just told her she could communicate to it through telepathy because that's ofcourse what else.

"Actually I don't remember forming a familiar bond with you, when did that happen?"

This time mischief just looked at her like she was dense.

"Master summoned me, gave me a vessel and used some of her precious power while starving to name me and I accepted the name"

jumping back down onto the floor it headed towards the door, with leisurely pace.

"Your servant will be here any moment, do I have permission to stick by your side?"

Nodding her head

"Sure, go ahead"

getting up she decided she wouldn't be caught off guard this time so she actively went to the door and opened it, herself, while silly opening the door herself for once felt like a victory, and it was made all the sweeter catching the slight disapproval from Ash.

If you can't have the big victories, revel in the small ones you can get Kira thought to herself, she knew she was acting childish, but she really didn't care.

"Thank you for helping with guiding me to the dining hall Ash, If you could just lead me to the main hallway I will be fine from there, sorry it is taking so long for me to learn the layout"

Kira made sure to emphasise the word learning, hinting to Ash that soon her guidance would no longer be needed, was it a silly gesture, ofcourse.

Unfortunately for Kira beside the slight disapproving frown upon her stepping out of her room, Ash provided her no further reactions and had fully returned to that eerie smile she shared with her brother.

Giving into fate she let her guide her all the way including opening the door to the dining hall for her, she hadn't even acknowledged her request to just guide her to the main hall way.

Her mom smiled upon seeing her, which was still something, Kira still felt weird about Inari, one part fully acknowledged her as her mom, but it didn't change the fact she was effectively a stranger, there was a massive invisible wall between them and while she knew Inari cared about her in a way none of her Foster families ever had, she still felt like she barely knew the lady.

Inari quickly spotted mischief and her smile grew wider.

"So this is the Elusive familiar my daughter contracted while still playing human"

something in the sentence irked Kira but before she had a chance to respond, mischief had beaten her to it.

"With all due respect my queen, I don't think anyone would starve themselves to the degree master have while :Playing:"

Strongly emphasising the last word.

"While you might consider the life she lead up to now an act, to my master it was very real and all she knew, maybe if the queen had taken better care so that master never ended up in the situation she did, playing could have been discussed, but masters life up till now have been anything but play from my observations"

Inari stood up, and suddenly electrical currents was rolling down her body like a current while balls of blue fire exploded in the air.

"YOU DARE TO ACCUSE MY DAUGHTERS SUFFERING AND DISILLUSION ON ME?"

Mischief sat at the spot he had addressed Inari at initially with a complete calm.

"My queen, you're aware as well as I, that my masters life isn't her own doing, so with all due respect will I call you out any time you try to belittle the life master lead up to now and remind you that motherhood includes the responsibility of protecting her kin, regardless of circumstances, master is not to be blamed or shamed for using the cards her life dealt her, but if blame should be placed anywhere where would that be?"

Inari stood clearly having an internal struggle in her attempt of answering mischief.

"I... I..."

Inari sighed.

"You're right, I have no right to judge my daughter for using the cards she was dealt, and should instead be grateful she have forgiven me for failing her.

But you have to understand even now I see her looking at me like I'm a stranger, she still considers herself human, and I am afraid what she is rejecting is the fact I'm not the species in which she grew up amongst"

Kira was deeply surprised hearing her mom admitting what she just said while she was still in the room listening.

"Mom, I don't care for your species, but I don't know you, I know you likely care for me more than all of the Foster families I cycled through during my life, but while I acknowledge you're my mom and you care for me, I don't know much about you, I am sorry to put it bluntly I was effectively kidnapped to your mansion ... castle?

with no way to leave, and told my entire life was a lie and everything about my former life is being belittled, I'm sorry I didn't lead the life of a superstar with a gold spoon up my arse and servants tending to my every whim.

actually, you shared your search for me with me, is there a way I can share the memories of my life with you?"

Inaris mouth fell open.

"Your entire life, as in everything without holding back any information, why would you do that?"

Kira simply shrugged

"While my life haven't been nice, I'm not ashamed of it, and it might help you better understand me"

Inari looked very humbled and got up.

"I will consider this a very precious gift, but I will apologise ahead and say I can't repay you with the same gesture"

Kira simply smiled

"I've seen what I need to know, a child is not supposed to know all their parents secrets"

Inari put her hand on Kiras head and voiced out loud.

"Do I have permission to see the memories of your life in entirety"

Kira remembered the part about words being binding she figured she couldn't do it without her permission.

"Yes"

After that Kira Started reliving her entire life from the earliest time she could remember, she had to admit that while she didn't mind Inari knowing was a lot of it something Kira would rather forget and didn't have any strong desires re experiencing.

After they finally got through the entire thing which felt like an eternity Inari stood up with a completely horrified expression.

"I'll kill them all! Humanity does not deserve to exist" Lightning crackled over Inaris skin in waves.

Kira gently put her hand on her moms.

"It's OK, the past is in the past"

watching her slowly calming down she looked at Kira with a different expression than she had held up until now.

"I am deeply sorry for demeaning your prior achievements and acting like you were simply playing a disillusion, I truly understand now

But my Dearest daughter, I saw all, up until this very moment, you're unable to even accept the truth of your own reflection in the mirror"

this time mischief was the one to react.

"Master is it true?"

Kira had no way of denying it so she simply nodded her head.

"I'm deeply sorry everyone but just a few days ago I was doing my daily routine as simple librarian, now I'm supposedly in another realm with talking cats, while needing to consume souls, enduring 2 very persistent siblings insisting on injecting themselves into my life like I'm one of those prissy snobs who can't tie her own shoelaces.

part of me simply expect to wake up tomorrow with a massive hangover finding this was all a horrible dream, and then starting to look for a job so I won't starve."

Her mom slowly nodded a long with her words, she was likely shifting through the memories she just experienced.

"Dear, what should I do to help, I'm providing you the highest quality souls we have, I've removed your magic temporarily so you cannot hide your appearance due to unconsciously weaving illusions on yourself to fit your current self image, you have a mirror, your familiar is here with you capable of confirming your situation yet you still believe yourself to be human due to your past experiences"

Mischief was the one to speak up.

"My queen beside pampering her, you're very much locking her away and treating her like other humans would treat each other, as much i dont want to say this i believe it would be the healthiest if she herself got to experience the power structure of how other demons interact with each other and especially how they will react to her, for added effect, allow her to take her former appearance, so she knows it's not about how she currently resembles you"

Sighing.

"I think that is a very wise suggestion, however atleast let me have this dinner capable of seeing my daughter as she is, before I will re weave her human disguise and allow you out.

Ash and Desmond will ofcourse be there in case anything happens but they will be far enough away they wont interfere with matters"

her mom once again sat down and beckoned to Kira to sit down, heading towards her place she already caught herself eyeing the chalice, at the spot next to her was a animal foodbowl filled to the brim with tiny crushed crystals.

Mischief jumped up and eyed the crystals with desire but also surprise.

"My it seems the queen spares no expenses trying to get on masters good side, it must have been my lucky star to be chosen as her familiar"

Kira looked towards her mom, "is this stuff really expensive?"

Her mom simply shook her head.

"Not the way humans perceive expensive, the short answer is that any weaker demon would quite willingly kill to get their hands on it, but it quite literally because they are unable to kill they cannot.

This isn't precious or lacking, but the demons that these are harvested from are extremely powerful, we call them void beasts, its essentially very strong demons who grew strong by devorering each other but never gained intelligence or sentience, the stronger the being the more life energy they have and the more it will benefit those who consume it.

in short, it's too powerful for others than myself and a very few individuals serving me to beat, a single of these crystals can change a demons entire life as the life force provided would be enough for them to become stronger by leaps they can't even imagine.

Imagine one of your human video games where you start in level 1, and you had to slowly beat monsters you could handle to obtain level 2, that was hard enough getting to level 10 might take demons 200 years, while a single soul orb here, would be the same as they had somehow slain a lvl 200 mob and they could raise from 1 to maybe 50 in an instant.

then you ask why it is i don't just freely provide these to everyone, the answer is simple then they would try to fight me for my position, and I would need to become even stronger, in short in this realm there is only one thing that truly matters and that is strength, this is not the human realm you're not born into the position of queen, you earn it by being the most powerful in the realm, and many demons would desire to attempt to take the throne, my initial failure when I lost you was to let someone get close enough to my power he genuinely believed he had a chance and had started his own faction, needless to say he is dead and the faction is gone and I made very sure to express in no certain terms that ever trying again would be a foolish endeavour."

what her mom said while unfortunate made sense, although the speech pretty much established her as a dictator who doesn't want to share power with her people, did Kira also acknowledge that she shouldn't be trying to apply her human sensibilities on a race she effectively knew nothing about.

finally running out of willpower she threw herself over her chalice, which again got actively refilled every single time she emptied it, much to her surprise she went through 7 chalices today before she felt the tug letting her know drinking more would he pointless, she also felt more satiated than she had felt since waking up the other day, the hunger was definitely weakening, much to her joy.