Chapter 21: That Shapeshifter, Stalking ❦ From the vantage point of a golden eagle, the two assassins appeared to be inching along the ground like small worms, fleeing through the city in slow motion. Yoka could see the shapes of similar shadowy figures waiting for the injured mercenaries at the edge of the city. It … Read more
Chapter 20: That Shapeshifter, Faraway ❦ That night, Rin slept in the side room on the maid’s futon. She had scowled when she first put her head on the inn’s unfamiliar pillow, muttering that the assassins wouldn’t notice even if they swapped her matching silk pillow for this one. ‘I won’t be able to sleep … Read more
Chapter 19: That Shapeshifter, Catching Cats (2) ❦ The shopkeeper died with his eyes wide open. The whites of his eyes were blood red with fury and his hands were curled around the hilt of a weapon he might have swung at his attacker—only there was nothing within his grasp anymore. The ornate pedestals inside … Read more
Chapter 18: That Shapeshifter, Catching Cats (1) ❦ At dawn, Yoka left Yuzuru behind to guard the sleeping young mistress and went hunting for cats in the city with the other two servants. The two of them were in charge of investigating every building in the surrounding district while Yoka searched the rest of the … Read more
Chapter 17: That Shapeshifter, Investigating ❦ Once they had the names of the places the three merchants had seen the bakeneko, they left to investigate. Well, to be exact, Yoka went to investigate. Alone. Rin and the others settled into the best room of the largest inn in Saga. Yuzuru stood guard by the door, … Read more
Chapter 16: That Shapeshifter, Gossiping ❦ One month ago, Nabeshima Katsushige’s adult son, Mitsushige, woke up screaming from a nightmare. In this dream, he encountered a black cat with a long, snake-like tail that followed him as he went about his day. No matter where he went, the cat would follow along as well. Frustrated, … Read more
Chapter 15: That Shapeshifter, Summoned ❦ The letter was short and simple, written by Tokugawa Iemitsu’s own hand. It did not resemble an official decree from the shogunate at all. ‘Dear Rin-chan, I heard that an interesting rumour is spreading around in Saga Domain. Have you heard of this? A bakeneko is wandering the streets, … Read more
Chapter 14: That Shapeshifter, Speculating ❦ One week after Rin returned to the castle, Tsuguru came to visit. He came the conventional way this time, by knocking on the castle gates and reporting his presence to Yuzuru at the guardhouse, instead of scaling the walls and attacking the maid. Rin had only just woken up … Read more
Chapter 13: That Shapeshifter, Speechless ❦ Rin and Yoka stole out of the underground caves just as the sun was beginning to paint the twilight sky red. When they arrived at the inn from before, the young mistress made a beeline for the futon and fell asleep almost immediately, leaving Yoka to settle their unfinished … Read more
Chapter 12: That Shapeshifter, Benevolent? ❦ Rin’s first reaction was to curl her lip in derision. ‘Avenge my father? Why would you avenge my father after all the effort you put into getting him killed?’ She wanted to applaud his “honesty”. Did he really think she was like all the other kidnapped children, easily believing … Read more
