Chapter Text
Karou first diary entry: My name is Karou Yuuho. Age, 20 years old. I was once a human girl who lived in Kobe, Japan with my mother. With the acceptation that I visit my father on weekends, I was a workaholic trying to earn money to remove a part of me that I feel shame of, till one day a carriage ran over me in the middle of the night. Of course this cat like creature named Grim crashed the ceramony, and well it's a long story. But of course at the Dwarfs' Mines I picked my finger on a mage stone that was called Empathy, in which I called it, Temple of Soul. The ears and tail of a cat were gained from this headband thingy I found at the Mystery Shop, though I do wonder why the tail has a hook like The Singing Cat's. My hero..The Singing Cat. I admired him for so long, to be like him, to sing like him, to fight like him. But I think I got my wish. Or, partially. Apparently its "borrowed magic" according to Crowley because of the headband, but I highly doubt it. Now I'm a student at Night Raven College.
-RAMSHACKLE MORNING-
Karou and Grim woke up together. Thanks to her cat instinct, Karou licked her hand and groomed her ears much to Grim's tired annoyance, "Y'know you don't have too do all that to clean yourself right?"
"Oh come on Grim, I'm only playing the part."
"Of being a weirdo..."
Karou got up and asked Grim to step out so she can get dressed, well do important matters. Like taping IT down. After she threw on her uniform, Karou made sure she was ready to go. Grim hopped on her shoulder, they waved good bye to the three ghosts who resided in Ramshackle and headed off to potionology.
-ON CAMPUS-
Karou,, Grim, Ace and Deuce hung out by the school's well, "Looks like you're sleeping again!" Deuce noticed, "Are also doing alright since...you know?"
"Oh! Yes I'm okay." That earned her a pat on the back from Ace, "Of course grandma, at least you got over the whole overblot mishap."
"GRANDMA?! I told you before and I won't repeat myself, I'm in my twenties!"
"Yea, 1920s!!"
This ended up with Karou and Ace yelling at each other, Grim tagged in but Deuce did everything to break it up. Unknowingly, dorm leader Leona caught a glance from the distance. He scoffed and walked off, he had plans after all. After a minute of fighting the trio just glared before Deuce knocked them all upside the head, "CUT IT OUT!!!!" Of course his one side had to come out during those times. Later in the hallway Ace, Deuce, Grim and Karou made it to the library to study. Of course Deuce had to get lessons from Riddle, only cause he offered. As Ace looked over from their table, "Geez, he's getting all the attention."
"Myah? Is someone jealous?" Grim snickered with Karou, "Seems like it Grim."
"Huh?! Jealous?! No way! Deuce just relies on our warden more than me! That's all!"
"Seriously Ace, where did this come from? One minute you're all like, 'OH YOUR A BABY FACED TYRANT' the next you're watching him study with your best friend."
"Yea! Cause someone's gotta make sure Deuce is getting a brain some where.."
"No need to lie, if you wanna speak to him, speak too him."
"No way in hell!" Ace shouted, "No way in hell, what?" Ace froze, crap. Riddle. Deuce came up to them as well but Riddle looked at Ace, "I know I've changed but sometimes rules still need to be followed." Ace sighed, "Sorry housewarden...."
"Riddle. Just call me Riddle outside the dormitory."
"Huh?"
No other words to him were exchanged, he looked over at Karou. Grim was worried he was going to mistreat her again, but Riddle instead adjusted her tie, "You do need to get better at that..."
"I know, thank you hou....Riddle. Oh that reminds me, Ace wondered if you could study with you next?" She grinned with Grim only for Ace to freeze up. Deuce knew her game, he played along, "Yes, Ace sure needs more help than me." After a second, Riddle's heart skipped a beat again, "Really? That's unusual."
"SHE MADE THAT UP!"
Whether or not she did, Riddle was still willing too help. "Ace, regardless, you still need your studies done." Of course that was enough for Ace to go pale, "And back to the rules huh?"
-Later-
Animalistics ended, Karou had gotten better at the cat language. She really enjoyed this class most. She even befriended Lucius much to Grim's jealousy now. At lunch she still got whatever Grim desired. Ace and Deuce thought she spoiled him too much on food, the rest of the day went on as normal. Of course Deuce kept nudging Ace to have a study session with Riddle outside on campus today. Deuce had track and Grim went back to Ramshackle to nap cause he was just so tired. Karou decided to go to main street to look at the great seven. She decided to look at the lion, The King of Beasts. She took interest thinking he'd make a great Ribikia. If she recalled, he worked hard to be king right? And if she did have a dorm, would she fit with Savanahclaw? A familiar voice approached her, a more deeper one, "If i had a dorm...where would me and Grim reside?"
"Y'know you would never survive right?" She turned, oh. It was Leona. "And how would you know? If you haven't heard-"
"Yea yea, a magical voice I get it. But that doesn't mean shit, Missy. Headmage says its all borrowed anyway... Hm?" It only just hit Leona now that she was now a beastman herself. Her looked up and down at her features, "Funny...last I checked you were a herbivore. I thought I was hallucinating from my last nap when I saw you.."
"And the last time I saw you, I almost had the fate of The Singing Cat's home town. I would of been your sacrifice!"
"Sacrifice? The hell you blabbering about with that?"
"Well..in my hero's story...a cat was selected as the village's next meal. A flame was it by their home, and by morning you were eaten. The singing cat was chosen after he was cursed, he learned he was next. So he ran away before it was too late..."
"So he ran away from his problems? Tch. Coward."
That sent Karou fuming, "Hey! Don't you dare talk about him like that! He just didn't want to be eaten!" Leona rolled his eyes, "Maybe he should of killed the guy who had the idea to eat him then."
"It was a village rule! He had to leave! But regardless that village was still his home. He missed it dearly and left something important behind. The poet had to remind him in time." But then he looked at her tail. He grabbed it and looked at the hook much to her flustered face, "HEY!" She pulled it back, "Don't just go grabbing tails like that!"
"Just checkin if it was real." He used his tail to smack her leg lightly making her pout. But her scent, "You may look like a stupid cat now, but deep down you're still the same herbivore who stepped on my tail."
"And you won't let that go huh?" Karou pouted at him, "If I could I could sing command you as I please. Also for someone who respects women, you sure know how to try and talk down on me." Leona only laughed, "Please." He ruffled her hair, "I may respect women like you, but I sure as hell know you think like a stupid cat. Plus, you're still physically weak." Reminds her of something her ex Shina would say,she only got angry with him, "OH YEA?! PROVE IT! PROVE YOU RESPECT ME WITH OUT THE STUPID CAT THING!" Leona raised his pinky, "Then I shall practice my curtsy~"
"Oh how manly..."
"Tell you what, cat. I'll make an offer for you. If you ever want to get stronger, meet me at my dorm. I'm willing to train you, I'm currently teaching this freshman in my dorm the same thing. But if you wanna show to be strong-"
"No thanks! I can train myself!"
"Right, like the head mage would let you? A stupid cat who gets herself into the most stupidest situations as the rumors go."
Let's hope he would. Karou wants to get stronger, Leona yawned, "A'right, I'm done here." He was walking away, she called out, "And where are you going?!"
"Taking a nap."
"Wait a minute you just said you took one before!!"
"Now I'm taking another one, oh and if you change your mind, you know where too find me. Oh, I have another one in the same position as you. He's a freshman so make sure you go easy on him."
'Yea right...' She thought. Maybe she should return to Ramshackle. The sun is setting anyways. On her way, A familiar voice called out to her, "Miss Karou-chan!" Great. It was Lilia. He floated straight towards her, "Ever heard of walking?" She asked annoyed.
"Then what's the point of surprising everyone?" He floated down, "Anyways, I'll walk with you." He offered his hand, but she brushed it off, "Still not trusting?"
"No. It's just...the last time I held someone's hand..it was with an ex. But, I hurt her.."
"Oh. I'm terribly sorry. If it makes you better I too once had a partner of the same sex! But we broke up 200 years ago for well...personal reasons. Or was it 300? Gah my age is getting to me.." Karou froze in place. 200? 200?! "Wait did you just say 200 years ago?! Aren't you 18?"
"18? I'm only 700 years old." He told her without care of what could happen. Karou's face grew in shock, "SEVEN HUNDREEEEED?!" Her voice gave that echo along with her glow, "YOU'RE 700 YEARS OLD?!" Lilia shushed her, "Not so loud, I'm not ready to tell everyone yet."
"But...But you look like you could pass for 18! How did...why are you....huh?!"
"Didn't I tell you before?"
-FLASHBACK AT CAFETERIA-
""Though it is true that I do look like a sprightly young man~. I am not at an age to be treated as a child."
-PRESENT DAY-
"...So you weren't kidding? You really are me and my friends' senior..."
"Indeed~!"
"SENIOR CITIZEN! And Ace calls me the hag?!"
"Hag, oh heavens no. Why, you're beautiful." Karou's heart skipped a beat. Beautiful? Her? No. She had the body of a deformed monster, her cheeks dusted pink as she crossed her arms with a pout. "Liar." Lilia tilted his head at her, "But I'm not lying."
"You don't know all of me..."
"True, regardless you're beautiful either way."
"Am not."
"Are too~!"
As she growled, she remembered something, "Oh right. Remember how you said I remind you of this her lady? And this him you keep talking about...who are they?" Lilia knew who she meant, "I told you I'd say in do time dear girl. And as for him, I think he needs to give you his formalities."
"You're not answering my question.." What was he hiding? 'Now Ramshackle.."
"LILIA!" A shout had called, as Karou turned, oh great. Those two. That silver haired kid and the green haired one. "JUST WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING WITH THIS FAKE BEAST MAN?!" Guess word got out huh? Lilia only smiled, "Walking her home~!" The silver haired one gave her the most death defying stare, he didn't need words to be angry with her. 'And he said diasomnia was friendly?' she thought. "Do forgive me but I'm afraid my boys don't want me to take you back."
"Very well I guess.." she sighed, "Well, good night I guess. Lilia took her hand, before he could kiss it again, she took it back. "No need..."
"I see, well, Nights Blessings~."
"Uh...night."
"Also, please keep my compliment in mind, never doubt yourself like that ever again." He told her, but with that, Karou left the group, seems the green one was scolding him about her. Sebek was it? And the silver haired one was Silver? Yea thats it. When Karou made it back to Ramshackle, the ghosts greeted her, "We made a food for you."
"The cat almost ate it all but we stopped him so you could have some!"
"We hope you enjoy it!"
Karou softly smiled, "Thanks guys. She made her way over to the dining room, and sat in a chair next to where Grim was sitting, stuffing his face. "I thought you were gonna nap?"
"ME TWEW! bWUAT...I SMEWLLED FOWD!" Grim said with a full mouth. Karou remembered Ramshackle was nearly falling apart, but she didn't mind. She ate her dinner and enjoyed the night with Grim.
-Library-
Ace was trying to keep his focus, man was Karou and Deuce in for it tomorrow. Riddle was helping him with his homework but one thing lingered on his mind, "Y'know you dont have to be so nice guy on me. Especially after the whole inncident."
"Well yes, you taught me manners, now I must teach you." If Riddle was saying it right, but Ace corrected him, "You mean repay the favor?" Riddle nodded, "Oh yes! My bad." He looked over at the clock, no! He can't get mad. "No need to rush....stay as long as you want..." Riddle muttered. Seems he was still trying to break some rules, he truly was showing he was sorry. "If this is proof you're changing, you might wanna practice more."
"Practice? But isn't acting enough?"
"No no, I mean...geez how do I say this." Was he turning into his housewarden? "So..we almost done or what?"
"Almost. Just cause a few rules are broken doesn't mean we can stop with our studies."
Ace groaned but when he looked up, he noticed something in Riddle's hair. A flamingo feather. Ace picked it off which alarmed his housewarden, "AND WHAT ARE...oh..."
"I was gonna say you had a feather on you, probably blended in earlier. Uh, mind if I fix your hair up a bit?"
"huh? Why?"
"What? I'm a rule breaker remember, still gotta make sure his majesty looks alright."
"Well, if its just that, then do as you must." Ace brushed some of Riddle's hair to the side, the housewarden's heart beat skipped. This sort of touch was soft. It wasn't rough at all. After a few fixes, his hand touched Riddle's cheek, much to trigger the day he came out, Riddle fliinched. "Relax I'm not gonna smack you down aga-"
"IM SORRY! I-I WON'T THINK OF SUCH...things...again..."
"Huh?"
Silence. Did Riddle have ptsd attack? That was new, Ace could pick up after all he learned from Trey. "Housewarden..did your mom strike you or something?"
"What? Goodness no! She was only making sure I...never mind! We're done for the night." Riddle scrambled to collect a few books, "Tomorrow morning wear pink to tend the flamingos with Deuce. Thats your duty."
"Aaaaand back to the rules..wait what about the rest of this?" Riddle couldn't, "Good night!" Before he could leave, Ace reached out, "Riddle wait!" he grabbed his hand. Another moment of silence. Riddle turned his head towards him. His cheeks dusted pink, but it didn't last, for those words his mother told him came back. No! He can't keep listening to her! But then again..No! "I-i must go!! Return to the dorm when you're ready! Good Night!" He slipped from the light grip and ran out. Ace was so confused, what the hell made him act up like that?
-Back at Ramshackle later-
Karou and Grim were asleep, she finally had some piece after some time. But of course the mirror shined, and of course, Karou woke up in the same black and white world. But this time it was different, "I can hear the wind ..." she told herself long before the sun rose nearly blinding her. "FUCK MY EYES!" But of course she saw a heard of animals making their way north. "Where are they going?" She followed, but the image changed. She was below, but from what she made out, were on top of a pointed rock, two lions, looking proud. Oh, a bird of some sort was there too. But in front, was a mandrill lifting a baby cub, who stood out with a yellow color. How all the animals squawked, neighed, or whatever sound they made to celebrate. The sunlight shined down on the cub, and how all the animals knelled. She never thought that she would be dreaming of animals like this, but the scene changed. It became two lions confronting each other, both male. Though the other one was a dark brown with a black main, green eyes and a scar on his right eye. But really surprised Karou was that they could talk, without having to be ribikia, "Why, if it isn't my big brother descending from on high to mingle with the commoners." Brother? So they were brother lions, they don't even look alike. But his brother had spoken, "Sarabi and I didn't see you at the presentation of Simba."
"That was today?" The brown one mocked, "Oh, I feel simply awful!" Standing on his hind legs, he clawed at the side of the cave wall, like nails on a chalk board. Karou covered her ears at the sound, she couldn't even blame the bird on that too. "Must've slipped my mind." Again with that sass in his tone. The bird said under his breath, "Yes. Well, as slippery as your mind is, as the king's brother, you should've been first in line!" The brown lion opened his claws at the bird, making him shutter in fear, hiding behind the front legs of what must of been the king. Or well, his big brother. But the other lion went on, "Well, I was first in line..until the little hairball was born!!" His brother corrected him, "That "hairball" is my son and your future king."
"Oh, I shall practice my curtsy~." Now where has she heard that before? He turned away from his brother as if ready to leave but his brother stopped him, "Don't turn your back on me, Scar." Scar? His name was Scar? Then why does he look so familiar? But Scar turned to his brother, "Oh, no, Mufasa. Perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me." The brother named Mufasa roared almost startling Karou, as he went in front of him, "Is that a challenge?"
"Well, as far as brains go, I got the lion's share, but when it comes to...brute strength....I'm afraid I am at the shallow end of the gene pool." With that, he left and headed straight to the near by savanna.
Of course the dream ended there, as Karou woke up in the morning, head groggy. "What was up his mane?" Karou asked herself. More importantly, why was that brown lion so upset about not being king? Another thing, why were there talking animals in her dream? Shouldn't they be ribikia too talk or at least what this place called beastmen? "Myaaah!" Grim roared in his sleep as he flip flopped around, "Meeeooow! Myah myaaah..."
"Someone's having a nightmare."
" Myaaah... Thass whatchu get......fer crossin' Grim da Miiightyyy..."
"Even in his sleep he's a meanie." Karou shook him up, "Grim, wakey wakey!"
"That's right! Cower before me, teapot tyrant! BWUH-MYAH?!" Grim woke up after one last shake. "...Huh? Where am I?" He looked around and saw Karou raise a growing brow at him. Her brows may be short right now, but she can still give the glare. Grim frowned, "Aw, man! I was dreaming that I was trouncing Riddle with my magic. You shoulda seen his face..."
"I know, but come on Grim, he got better." Right, Riddle's overblot. She still had nightmares from his past to the battle. But she knows Riddle is changing for the better, "I mean, if we didn't beat him, we would of set Ace up on that study date." She tried to think positive, days ago she was fighting a house warden, the next she was attending classes like nothing ever happened. "You won't be a strong mage just from sleeping, lets go to breakfast."
"All right, lemme just fix my bedhead.Then it's off to class! I've got magic to master!"
"Me too...but fix yourself outside.."
"Huh? Uh...okay..' Grim always wondered why she kicked him out to get dressed. Was she not happy with herself? Oh well, once outside, Karou got ready. Her body. God. And THAT between her legs. WHy did she have to have both? None the less, she tapped it down with some tape she bought down town, and got herself dress. But Lilia's voice echoed, "You're beautiful." No, he doesn't know the truth. She's not beautiful. "never doubt yourself like that ever again." She couldn't, no promises can be kept. *KNOCK KNOCK* "KAROU! YA DONE IN THERE? I'M STARVING!"
Right, no time for insecurities, it's time to start a brand new day.