The adventure in the cat realm

Chapter 6

I look around.

- Shouldn't we wait for Tama. He's the second-in-command, right, I ask.

- It's fine. He wanders off on his own all the time. Hopefully he'll come back with something useful, Tatsuki says. Rei rolls his eyes skeptically.

- It's been awhile since he's brought us anything. He doesn't have anything at stake, Rei says. He folds his arms in frustration.

- He's used to being pampered. You'd think he'd hand learnt his lesson about being so carefree after being left here, Rei says. I glance away awkwardly, and Tatsuki remains quiet.

- If it weren't for his pure cat abilities, there's no way he'd make it as a Stray, Rei says. I clench my fists.

- I know he wanders off from time to time, but he's really caring and would do anything for any of us, I say.

- After all, he said he's staying in the cat realm to pay back Rei and help me, I say in my head.

- Then where is he now. Yama has been terrorizing these innocent townspeople. Her patience is wearing thin. And now that she knows there's a traitor in her ranks, there's no telling what she'll do. We need to act now, with or without him, Rei says.

- I, I say.

- Do I make myself clear, Rei asks. I purse my lips and look away.

- Sorry, boss, Tatsuki says. Rei clears his throat and continues.

- So, what I'm thinking is, the three of us, and Tama if he bothers to come back, will sneak into the castle. If we keep our numbers small, we'll be less likely to attract suspicion. Tatsuki, I'll need your knowledge of the guard schedules to help map out our route. Combined with Tama's natural stealth, we should be able to move around unnoticed, Rei says.

- Oh, there's something else that I think might help, Tatsuki says.

- What, Rei asks.

- Yama has an aversion to black steel. She forbids anything made from it within the palace grounds, Tatsuki says.

- Is it dangerous to her, I ask.

- That's what I think, Tatsuki says. Rei nods, thoughtful.

- Black steel, huh, Rei says. He stands up, disappearing from the room without another word.

- Is he always, I say.

- Like that, Tatsuki asks. He gives a half-hearted laugh.

- You'll get used to it. Rei does what he thinks is best for The Strays. He always puts us before himself. And he gets frustrated when he thinks other members aren't putting their full effort into it too, Tatsuki says.

- I get his frustration, but I can't help but wonder what Rei's true motivation is, I say in my head. Reis returns with a sword in his hand. He lays it across the table, pulling it partly out of the scabbard so we can see the blade. The light glints off of the deep, inky black of the metal.

- Wow, I say in awe.

- This should be perfect, Tatsuki says. I reach toward the blade, curious, but Rei quickly closes it and pulls it away.

- Hands off. It's too dangerous, Rei says. Mildly wounded, I pull my hand away.

- I'd just like to see it, I mutter.

- Well, you're not going to be using it, so don't worry about it. You're not going to be fighting at all. You're just coming in case anyone gets hurt, Rei says.