"It went perfectly!" Nezumi cheered, nearly falling out of her swiveling computer chair in the process. Shika reached out to steady the smaller woman, but she righted herself on her own.

"That's great to hear," Akari said with a smile. She was sitting on a small folding chair that the spirit couple had brought out for her, and Shika was sitting cross-legged on their bed. Akari was secretly hoping that they'd spend some of the money from Nezumi's business plan to get a better apartment; this one room bunker was hardly ideal for entertaining guests.

Then Akari added, "I'm looking forward to better street lights throughout Shinjō."

Nezumi leaned forward. "That's not all you have to look forward to. I also secured a contract to modernize the storage lockers at every municipal facility in town: the bus depot, the swimming pool, and even the train station. They'll be on NFC smart-cards and an uncrackable WPA3 shifting-encryption wi-fi mesh by the new year."

"Oh, cool," Akari replied, sharing a brief glance with Shika. They were kindred spirits, both completely baffled by Nezumi's technical knowhow.

Suddenly Nezumi tipped herself out of her chair and fell on Shika with a wide-armed hug. "And I owe it all to you and Shika!"

Shika giggled and returned the hug, saying, "Please, you did the real work, I just picked out your clothes for the meeting."

Nezumi peered up from Shika's arms. "Akari, back me up on this. Look at this photo and tell me that Shika isn't some sort of fashion genius." The mouse spirit quickly pulled up an image on her phone, then tossed the device at Akari.

Akari caught the phone, looked at the screen, and felt the wind leave her lungs. Where she had expected a nicely dressed but still very youthful girl who was hard to take seriously, there was someone else entirely.

Nezumi's blue-white hair was pinned back above her human-mode ears, showing off her immaculate makeup and confident expression. A sliver of dark eyeliner had countered her childlike softness and made her appear surprisingly serious. And her outfit was just as impressive: a perfectly-fitted suit jacket and pencil skirt, both deep, dark blue, which gave her an air of severe formality. Black hose and polished flats finished the look without breaking theme. It honestly reminded Akari of a female military uniform more than business clothes, but on Nezumi it all just… worked.

"Wow," Akari eventually managed. "I can see why you landed the contract. You must have been the best-dressed person in the room."

"I was. And before that, the receptionist about had a heart attack thinking I was some big-time CEO or government auditor." She scowled and added, "There was still some skepticism from the committee, likely since I'm a woman, but only until I dropped a knowledge bomb on their heads. You shoulda seen their faces fall when I answered every question with an answer they understood and ten technical details they didn't!"

Nezumi was giggling infectiously now, clearly having the time of her life. Shika squeezed her tightly and smiled too, sharing in Nezumi's happiness. It was adorable, right up until Shika got a strange look in her eyes and addressed Akari.

"That said, none of that would have been possible without your help, Akari. We want to repay you in any way we can. What can we do for you?"

"Hmm," Akari pondered the question, choosing to ignore the intense gleam in the deer spirit's eyes. "The shrine is fine on money, thanks to Hebi, but I'd love your help again at our next big event, which is Toshigoi in mid-February. You were both great at Hatsumode."

Nezumi shook her head, sending her big ears swinging. "Of course we'll be there, but we want to do something for you, personally. If the rest of your shopping trip can wait…"

Shika finished the sentence, leaving no room for ambiguity, "…we'd like you to join us for a few hours. There's a bathhouse nearby with private baths, and we just bought some new silk sheets for this bed." She ran the fingers of one hand smoothly, alluringly, across the top of the bed, her other arm still around Nezumi's shoulders.

Akari was stone-still for a long moment, then she felt her cheeks ignite and her lips tried to sputter out a response. That invitation had been brazen even by living-with-Seshi standards, and completely unexpected.

I already knew about their open relationship, but to be invited into a— Akari's thoughts struggled to arrive at the word 'threesome', but that's clearly what it was.

Finally, she got past the initial shock and found her answer sitting in plain sight, and she knew her reason to refuse. "No thank you. I'm committed to Inara, for the long haul." Then she smiled and said, "I truly appreciate the offer, but if you're looking for, uh, what you're looking for, maybe ask Seshi instead?"

Nezumi opened her mouth, planning to argue her case, but Shika silenced her with a finger to her lips.

"Of course. Sorry if we made you uncomfortable at all. Consider the matter dropped," Shika said. Then she gave a wide smile and added, "Would you like any help with your shopping for the day?"

"Ah, no. I'm good." Akari stood up and started for the door, then said, "Please keep in touch about your projects. I find it very exciting, but I suppose that makes sense considering it's all so tied into progress, and that's Inara's whole thing now."

"Of course," Nezumi said. "Talk to you soon, Akari."

The next day, Seshi made one of her regular visits to the little bunker she had nicknamed the Fieldhouse, since a mouse and deer lived there. She was halfway through reciting her checklist of ways Shika and Nezumi might be breaking parole when she sensed something was off.

"What's up with you two? It's like you're having a psychic conversation while I'm trying to do my job here." She narrowed her eyes at them. "Is that a thing you two can do? If so, tell me how. It'd be super useful for when my mouth is… occupied."

Shika gave a small bow. "No, sorry. We aren't psychic, but we've both been thinking the same thing, and deciding whether to bring it up to you."

Seshi set her creased-paper checklist aside, honestly happy for a distraction from that formal stuff. "Go for it. Whatcha got for me?"

Nezumi answered, "Akari did us a massive favor, and we wanted to repay her with some intimate fun. She turned us down since she's only got eyes for Inara."

Shika continued seamlessly, as if they truly had been discussing this telepathically. "We were thinking of inviting Inara too, in case that changes Akari's answer, and to avoid Inara getting jealous, and to help Nezumi get over her slight fear of the fox goddess."

"Nah, that's no good," Seshi said flatly. "First of all, Akari isn't a multiple-partner kinda girl. I've tested her boundaries, and even now that we're close friends, she ain't open to me or anyone else."

"Second, Inara isn't the one you need to be worried about jealousy with. If you hook up with Inara, you'll be in stormy waters with Usagi for who knows how long." The nekomata clasped her tails in one hand and admitted, "I'm ridin' that tempest right now. I've started bringing home my own food, since everything she makes me is served too hot and too spicy for my sensitive kitty tongue."

"Ah," Shika frowned and slumped, like her strings had been cut.

Nezumi rubbed her partner's back in comforting circles. "It's okay, Shika. Akari can still be our dear friend."

Seshi fidgeted nervously, very far from her normal cocksure self. "Um, and maybe, if you just want someone to, uh, sleep with… I didn't want to suggest it since I'm in charge of your parole, but…"

"Akari suggested it too," Nezumi admitted. "Hooking up with you, that is."

Seshi's ears perked up and her eyes went wide and catlike. "Oh?"

Nezumi turned to Shika. "How about it, love? I'm sure Seshi's a very experienced lover."

With a Cheshire grin, Seshi said, "You can say that again."

The conversation started with an email, a simple request to reserve Kasumi's next sculpture commission opening. Kasumi played it cool, saying she was happy to hear from the Mori-jinsha shrine again, but she was secretly completely thrilled.

"You can have my next open slot, in April," she told Akari when they moved the discussion to a phone call. "Though I can cancel on someone if you need it sooner."

"Oh no, April is great. We don't have a deadline in mind for this sculpture. Whenever it's ready is good enough for Ina— for the shrine."

"So, what kind of sculpture do you want? More wildlife?" Kasumi asked.

"A small statue of our goddess, actually," Akari answered. "In a similar style to her depiction in our ranma carving. I can send you some sketches if you want."

"Sure, I won't turn them down. So, clothed in a kimono, with nine tails?" she guessed, already picturing the impossibly beautiful woman she'd met on her visit to the shrine. Even if Akari wouldn't admit it, Kasumi knew that 'Inara' woman was more than she appeared.

"I'll send scans of those sketches now," Akari said.

"Actually… I'll be passing through your area in a couple days. Mind if I swing by and take a look at the originals in person? And that ranma carving too."

"Oh, yeah, that'd be fine. Just let me know when you're planning to arrive, so that I'm there to meet you."

"Huh, I texted Akari, but she hasn't replied. Is she busy? Do they not get a good signal up here?" Kasumi mumbled to herself as she crossed under the final torii gate and entered the shrine grounds. She was wearing a winter coat that was a bit too warm after the strenuous uphill climb from town, and of course her hair and eyes were hidden beneath a cap and dark sunglasses. She just didn't like being identified by strangers.

She approached the main building, thinking, It's a public shrine, so I'm sure she won't mind if I wait for her on the front steps.

But she was just halfway across the clearing when she sensed something strange, like a blur in the corner of her eye, the faint rumble of a purring cat, or a face glimpsed for an instant and just as quickly forgotten.

"Is there someone here?" she asked quietly.

There was no answer, but there was a feeling Kasumi just couldn't shake. The feeling of being watched, of being examined by something so close that she should be able to reach out and—

BUMP!

Even though there was nothing there, her hand collided with something, she was sure of it. It was soft and smooth, like cloth over a padded bra. There was a faint sound like retreating footsteps, then a voice called out from near the shrine building.

"Hey there. Need somethin'?"

Kasumi blinked in confusion as the memories of those earlier sensations faded like a dream. Within seconds, she completely forgot. She looked up at the black-haired shrine maiden who was approaching with one hand raised.

She was astoundingly pretty, in a rough-around-the-edges way, like a punk rock princess. Not that Kasumi would ever use such a silly description aloud.

"Uh, my name is Kasumi. I'm the artist of those fox sculptures, and I'm just coming by to pick up some sketches from Akari. I texted her to say when I'd get here, but…"

The approaching woman grinned and waved a hand dismissively. "Ah, she couldn't sleep at all last night, so she took the day off. I can go wake her if it's really urgent."

Kasumi shook her head. "Oh, I wouldn't want to do that, not when I just wanted to look at the ranma and some sketches. "

"Go ahead and look all you want at the ranma," the shrine maiden said. "I'll try to find those sketches for you."

As the mysterious woman turned to leave, Kasumi said, "Wait, I didn't get your name."

"Seshi," she replied with a wide smile, as if just saying the name made her happy. "I live and work here as a shrine maiden," she explained, then she jogged off into the shrine's depths.

Kasumi was still studying the wooden carving, holding her sunglasses out of the way and peering up at it from every angle, when Seshi returned with a small stack of thick art paper.

"These the sketches you expected? Akari had 'em all laid out and ready to go."

The image on top was a profile view of the same woman depicted in the ranma, instantly recognizable. Kasumi nodded. "Yeah, that's them. Thank you, Seshi." She took the papers and sat down on the shrine steps for a closer look.

Seshi sat down next to her. "You could probably see them better if you nixed those sunglasses."

"Oh, right." Kasumi took off her glasses and tucked them in a coat pocket. Beneath, her eyes were almost as green as Seshi's. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to be rude."

"So, Kasumi, why are you dressin' like a celebrity in disguise? Are you really that famous?"

"No, I'm not that special. But have had a bad experience or two with a stalker, so I prefer to go unnoticed."

"I get that. But this is a safe place, so you can relax here."

Kasumi blinked at the beautiful shrine maiden, pondering her youthful appearance and mannerisms. How old is she? Eighteen, maybe?

Seshi continued unprompted, "I was in a bad place mentally when this shrine took me in last year. I owe Inara a lot."

Kasumi nodded. "I can empathize. I had rough teenage years too, but things get easier."

"Oh, I'm older than I look," Seshi quickly corrected. "I just got stuck in a teenage mindset longer than I shoulda."

Kasumi blinked. "Oh, sorry for assuming. You just look so youthful."

"So do you," Seshi said, then she looked away. "Sorry for making this awkward."

"Don't worry about it!" Kasumi said. "Now I've got to get to a house showing, but I'm sure I'll see you again."

"House showing?" Seshi asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Kasumi is thinkin' of moving to Shinjō, so she can visit the shrine regularly. And she said it'd be better for business to be local to the people who are seein' her handiwork." Seshi said as she reclined against a large silk cushion. "Seems like you made a big impression on her, Inara."

Inara nodded, but eyed Seshi suspiciously. "That's great news, but why'd you want to tell me in private?" They were alone in Inara's room, and for once it wasn't for a bit of passionate release.

Seshi's forked tail flicked erratically at her side, betraying her inner turmoil. "Well, uh, maybe it's nothing, but I feel kinda curious about Kasumi. I watched her all morning, but I want to know more about her."

Inara smiled. "Got a crush?"

"No," Seshi blurted. "Or yes, but not in a love way. I don't do love. This is just a lust thing, or maybe I want a friend, I dunno."

"Of course."

"And maybe she doesn't want this, but if it happens to come up naturally…" Seshi trailed off.

"Yes?" Inara prodded.

"I know I'm still on probation, and that she's a human, but can I hook up with her? I won't drain anything from her."

"So you sensed her spiritual talent too?" Then Inara met Seshi's eyes. "You must promise to be very careful. Her spiritual energy will be a tempting meal."

Seshi grinned. "I had a very different kind of meal in mind."