The Nexus

The slight crunching of leaves, and the shifting of fallen branches broke through the serene sound of the Forsaken forest, as Riiko made her way through the trees. Jinx bounded out in front of her, looking around to help find where Rin's Den had once been.

"Hmm, I thought it had been... around here somewhere," Riiko would say quietly to herself, as she started to look under fallen logs and behind bushes. It had been a while since she had last seen the kitsune, so it wasn't at all impossible that he had left.

That would really just make everything a little bit more difficult. She had already failed in finding any information on finding out how to turn Isuke and her brother back into the neko-humes they had been before. But she wasn't about to give up.

She just wanted to check on Isuke, make sure that he was doing well, and check on Rin, to make sure he wasn't too burdened by the task she had asked him to do. She supposed it wasn't too much fun to play 'babysitter' to a person that had just been turned into a cat.

Riiko stopped, putting her hand on her hip as she looked around. Jinx had disappeared, hopefully still looking for the den.";

Amani was sitting on the ground, with squirrels all over her. They were chittering to her and bouncing all over from tree to her. Apparently there were some squirrels that did not belong to their family that were stealing what they had put away for winter. They wanted her to fix it. Amani listened and said she would do what she could. She cooing at the babies and petting them, that's why she loved squirrels. They are fun and have babies two times a year. One in spring and one in fall. She was going to have to find these other squirrels and fix the problem so they would have enough to eat for winter.

Being to wander again, Riiko pushed through the undergrowth, and glances around. Maybe if she hadn't been gone so long... This would have been easier to find. She gave a small sigh, before a noise caught her attention. She stopped, looking around, trying to find the source. It was close by, but she couldn't see them yet.

Stalking quietly through the trees, she caught sight of pink, and looked on curiously. A female was talking... to squirrels? This was different.

She watched, trying to understand what was going on. Yes, this person really seemed to be having a conversation with these tiny animals.

She may have continued on, ignoring the woman, if she hadn't had an idea. She thought for a moment, before she stepped forward.

"Excuse me! Are you talking to those animals?"

When Riiko spoke to her she jumped, she had been so focused on the squirrels, which were now scrambling up the tree. She looked up at Riiko, "Yes I was, it seems someone is stealing food." She gave her a huge smile. "Why?" Amani got up and dusted her butt off.

Riiko's eyes seemed to brighten up. "Do you know a lot about animals? Maybe even what is ailing them?" She moved forward quickly, just a few feet from the girl now. She hands were clasped in front of her, as she seemed almost eager to her answer.

If this woman could do so, then maybe she would be able to tell her what she could do about Isuke and her brother.

"Well, yeah sort of. If they tell me what's wrong I try and fix them." She smiled at the girl. "Sometimes it's hard to understand what they mean." She could see this woman was asking for a reason, "Why are one of your animals hurt?"

That was good! Maybe Isuke knew more about what was going on, but since he didn't have time to tell her, he couldn't give her all the information. Riiko, reached out, taking a hold of the girl's arm and would attempt to pull her off, though she still wasn't exactly sure where Rin's den was.

"I have a friend, who was like me, but he was turned into a full cat. I've been trying to find a way to change him back, but I don't have any ideas of where to look or what to do. Maybe you can help!"

Just up ahead, Jinx was sitting, giving a meow to her, before he would disappear down into the ground.

"Ah! You found it!" she said happily, as she strode over to the den entrance. She would turn to the pink haired girl, and hold up her hand. "Wait just one moment, I have to make sure we don't give Rin a surprise by me just waltzing in with you."

She'd duck down, disappearing into the entrance.

Inside, Jinx would let out a loud meow, and Riiko would call out, "Rin! Are you home?!"

Amani let herself be tugged along as she listened to the girl's story. She didn't know if she would be able to help. She had never had to help someone who was stuck like that.

When she saw the outside of the den she thought it looked familiar. The girl was saying something about Rin and Amani's ears perked up. Rin? As in Rin, Rin?

She waited in case it wasn't the Rin she was thinking of.

As ever, Rin had been trying to sleep. The noise in his head always got particularly loud when he was home alone for a long time. The animals didn't give him very good conversation as none of them could talk back, but he had been alert to talking to Isuke as he was sure the cat understood.

Riiko was yelling and Rin instantly knew the voice. He rolled off the couch and Lerna fell off him. The hydra tunneled under the couch as he stood and fixed his hair. He opened the wooden door at the end of the tunnel to find Riiko.

"Hello?" His long hair was a mess over his shoulders and he was only wearing shorts.

"Rin!" Riiko shouted, glad to see that he was actually still here. "Sorry, I've been gone for such a long time, but I might have a lead on how to fix Isuke! How is he, by the way?" She grinned at him, baring her fangs.

"Do you want to come up and meet her?" She couldn't really introduce her before hand... because she hadn't asked for the girl's name.

She'd make her way back though, finding the pinked haired female where she had left her. "Ah! He's here, so that's good. This should be even quicker!"

When Amani saw Rin she launched herself at him, grinning. "RIIIIIIIIIIN!" She squealed, giving him hugs. "I have missed you."

She completely forgot why she was here and was asking Rin, "What have you been up to? Have you missed me?!"

Rin's brows came together and he tried to pay attention through the fog of sleep. "Why would I have left.. He's fine... What.."

"Meet her? Riiko don't just bring people to my house!" But before he could stop her, the cat girl ran up the tunnel and brought back a pink haired girl who was suddenly all over him. She wasn't a cat person so it couldn't be Koneko... But she was squealing something.

"A-Amani?!" He blinked as if his eyes were playing tricks on him like they did sometimes. "What are you doing here?"

Riiko was a little surprised. She looked between the two of them, tilting her head a bit. "Amani," she said to herself, guessing that was the girl's name. That was good to know. She probably should have asked from the get-go.

"So you two know each other?" That was great! That would make things even easier! She pushed past Rin, and looked around his home. "Isuke!" she called out, looking for her friend. "I'm back! And I hope I found someone who can help!"

"Your friend asked me to help!" She her smile never faltering. "What have you been up to? I haven't seen you in forever!" She held his hand in both of hers. She really did miss her tall foxy friend.

"Uhm," Riiko brushed past him without his being able to stop her. The house was kind of a mess right now, full of tossed clothing and open books and random drink containers. But never food.

Isuke was lounging on the kitchen counter, if Riiko thought to look for him there.


"I..." He turned back to Amani, a look of pure confusion on his face. "I haven't been up to much... I.. Sorry. What the hell is going on here?" He moved to shut the door.

Riiko grinned as she saw the cat, and made her way over to him. Giving him a good scratch behind the ears, she'd turn back to Rin. "Amani said she might be able to tell what we can do for Isuke. Maybe he knows a bit more, and can tell us!"

Jinx jumped up onto the counter, looking at Isuke with interest. Isuke, himself, sat up, stretching, and gave a loud meow. Apparently, he had become quite comfortable with being a cat. How much time had passed? Nearly a year?

Amani was looking at Rin, and then she REALLY looked at RIN, "Holy hell you're grey. What happened to you," She started fussing over him. When Riiko brought Isuke in she stopped. "I said I would try, I don't know what I can do." She smiled at Rin. "Spill. What happened?"

Rin frowned at Amani. "Nothing happened... I just.. Well you know. He is a permanent part of me now. So he decorated some of the living space, I guess." He looked uncomfortable talking about it.

Riiko's tail swished quickly behind her. She wanted to interrupt the two, but she supposed that meeting a friend after a long while was something she shouldn't stop. Instead, she found Isuke up on her shoulder, giving her cheek some love.

"I missed you too," she said, closing her eyes and loving him back. She glanced up at Rin, and spoke to him as well. "I missed you, as well, Rin!" She couldn't leave him out.

She found Rin's comment interesting. When Riiko came in with Isuke Amani grinned. She held her hands out for the kitty. She liked fluffy things.