Demise Game

30. Lucid Dreaming

You barely registered Hanami's shriek as you dropped the pizza, cheese sauce exploding on your feet and the ground upon impact.

        "THE PIZZA!"

        Hanami went ignored by you, although Shiki looked amused by it all.

        "Heya, Hanami."

        Hanami peered around you with narrowed eyes, a bit confused at first.  Shiki rolled his eyes when she didn't recognize him upon first sight and introduced himself again.

        "There's no way," Hanami breathed.

        Shiki started to usher you both inside, and you grimaced at the mess you had unintentionally made.  "Let's talk 'bout this all inside, yeah?" he suggested, a teasing lilt in his voice.  "I'll even order us another pizza."

        "Wait — can I get my money back?"

        You didn't get your money back, but that wasn't the biggest concern.  Needless to say, you and Hanami were shocked.  Or, as Hanami said, shook.

        "So how the hell did you manage this?  Did you break your curse?"  You gestured vaguely at Shiki after you had cleaned yourself free of cheese sauce and pizza toppings.

        The man — Shiki — shrugged.  "Yes.... 'nd no," he vaguely responded.  "I... sought help from another demon.  Shouldn't be a problem though...  Prob'ly."

        . . .

        "You what?" You kept your voice level.  The same could not be said for Hanami, who gasped and stared at Shiki with wide eyes.

        Shiki rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.  "'S nothin'," he further pressed.  "'Sides, I can't just stay in this form.  It's only for a lil' bit at a time.  'Nd sometimes I... partially transform back."

        "Like..."  You suppressed a smile.  "Like, you grow cat ears or a tail or something?"

        Shiki grimaced but didn't deny the statement, and Hanami leaned forward.  "Can you do the cat ears now?!"

        "No."

        If you looked close enough, you could see a tinge on his cheeks, the skin slightly darker from his embarrassment as he scoffed and looked away.  His lips thinned in clear displeasure at the topic; and yet, despite his irritated expression, you couldn't help but think of how human he looked.  It'd be hard to think him to be a demon.

        You cleared your throat, opting to spare Shiki from any further teasing.  "Alright.  So was this the 'idea' you thought would help me?"  You asked him.  "And if it is...  how are you anymore useful as a human than a cat?  At least I could sneak you into school as a cat."

        Another roll of his eyes.  "No.  Well, sort of.  And isn't school closed for y'all?"

        "Yep," Hanami responded, opening a bag of chips and beginning to munch on them.  The pizza that Shiki (allegedly) ordered had yet to arrive.

        "That's not the point."  You curled into the couch, making yourself comfy as you pulled a blanket over your legs.  "If it's not the idea, am I allowed to ask what was?"

        Shiki regarded you with an emotion you couldn't quite place.  It wasn't irritation or annoyance, but whatever it was, his gaze was intense.  After a few moments you looked away, your chest fluttering.

        ". . . Doesn't matter.  Didn't work out anyways."

        "That's helpful."

        Now the look on Shiki's face was one of irritation.  "Show some gratefulness.  I don't have t' help y'all," he snapped.  You didn't rise to the bait, instead just blinking tiredly at him in response.  It was Hanami who immediately started to apologize for your behavior, trying to placate the former-cat.