Interlude (1)

Yasushi had encountered the saying often, in this life and the one before: cats heal the soul. Yet, he remained skeptical. The sentiment became clearer each time he wandered through the gates of Shirayuki Neko Hiroba. The place exuded a quiet charm, an unspoken promise of tranquility.

"Glad you could make it," Laura called out, standing by the cat park's entrance, her voice carrying a warmth that matched the morning sun.

"Yo~!" Xinyi's voice rang out, her hand raised high in a cheerful wave. She flashed a grin at Yasushi and Jingliu, catching them both off guard.

"Xinyi? What brings you here?" Jingliu's brow furrowed, surprise evident in her tone.

"Why wouldn't I be here?" Xinyi's eyebrow arched, a playful challenge in her eyes. "I come here sometimes, too. Cats, you know?"

"That's not what I meant..." Jingliu trailed off, her curiosity giving way to mild irritation. She pulled at Yasushi's sleeve, signaling for him to follow her inside.

"Well, enjoy yourselves, you two. We'll join you soon enough," Laura remarked, a hint of amusement in her voice as she waved them off.

"Thanks again for this," Yasushi replied, his gratitude lingering in the air as they ventured deeper into the park.

Their walk was unhurried, a brief passage through the park's pathways that soon led them to the indoor play area for the cats. The space was alive with feline activity. Cats of all ages and sizes moved about, their meows and purrs blending into a symphony of contentment. The moment they noticed Jingliu and Yasushi, a chorus of eager meows greeted them, and a small crowd of cats bounded over.

"Mellow to you too," Yasushi murmured, lowering himself to the ground beside Jingliu.

She scooped up a tiny kitten, bringing it close to her face. The kitten responded with a playful nip at her nose, followed by a gentle lick, its purrs vibrating softly against her skin. Jingliu, drawn by an invisible thread, wandered to another part of the room, a parade of curious cats trailing behind her. Yasushi remained where he was, a few cats circling his legs, their soft fur brushing against him like whispers of calm.

Yasushi gathered a few of the smaller kittens in his arms, their tiny claws gripping his shirt as he made his way towards Jingliu. On his way, he picked up a handful of treats, and the moment he began to distribute them, a playful skirmish erupted among the kittens, their meows escalating into a chaotic chorus as they vied for the treats.

He glanced over at Jingliu, her face softened by an innocent smile. She sat amidst a cluster of cats, her movements gentle and affectionate as she kissed and cuddled them. Her quiet meows back at the cats painted a rare picture of openness. Jingliu, typically reserved, was letting her guard down in a way Yasushi seldom witnessed.

Moments like these were scarce. Jingliu rarely let her emotions spill out so freely, especially in public. It was usually in the quiet aftermath of exhaustion or in fleeting moments of her choosing that she allowed herself to be vulnerable with him.

Yasushi understood this about her, recognized the careful balance she maintained. Her affection was always there, but this level of openness was still unfolding, slowly but surely. He accepted the pace, knowing that in time, her barriers would continue to soften. Patience, he reminded himself, was the key to unlocking these deeper layers of her heart.

"We got some food!" Xinyi announced, her voice cutting through the ambient noise of the cats as she power-walked toward Yasushi, Laura trailing behind her with a relaxed stride.

The cats, sensing potential treats, intensified their meowing. Some abandoned Yasushi and Jingliu, scampering over to the newcomers. Laura settled beside Yasushi, handing him a small container of food and a fresh supply of treats for the cats. Xinyi did the same with Jingliu, who accepted them with a nod.

"You went out to get food?" Yasushi asked, taking the offered container and expressing his gratitude with a quiet "Thanks."

"Mhm," Laura nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "We thought it would be good timing. It's almost lunchtime, so we figured we might as well eat. And it's Xinyi's treat," she added, glancing at Xinyi, who puffed out her chest in a mock display of pride.

"Thanks," Yasushi repeated, opening his container to reveal a simple meal of fish and chips, accompanied by a few cookies. It wasn't extravagant, but it was enough. He began eating, savoring the uncomplicated flavors. Jingliu followed suit, and soon they were all quietly engaged in their meal.

The cats, having secured their treats, milled about, some contentedly munching on the scattered bits of food, others resuming their playful antics. The room was filled with a peaceful hum of contentment, a shared moment of quiet companionship among friends and felines.

"So, why are you two here?" Xinyi asked, her eyes narrowing at Jingliu, who responded with a sharp glare. "Period?"

Laura and Yasushi choked on their food, coughing in surprise at Xinyi's bluntness. Jingliu's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger as she lunged at Xinyi, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her vigorously.

"I'm sorry, please stop shaking me!" Xinyi cried out, her voice strained. She attempted to push Jingliu away but with little success. "Please... I might puke," she added, her face turning a shade paler as her stomach churned.

Jingliu halted, releasing her grip and retreating to a corner, her face still flushed. The kittens, sensing the shift in mood, followed her, nestling close as if to offer comfort. Xinyi watched them go, a pout forming on her lips, eyes glistening with mock despair.

"Why?!" she wailed, her voice tinged with playful exasperation.

Yasushi observed the scene with a quiet smile. This interplay between Jingliu and Xinyi, though tinged with irritation, seemed to him a necessary catharsis. He saw the undercurrent of Xinyi's intentions, her playful jabs a deliberate effort to lift Jingliu's spirits.

Xinyi, undeterred, sauntered over to Jingliu with a mischievous glint in her eye and playfully lunged at her. But before anyone could react, the cats surrounding Jingliu sprang into action, pouncing on Xinyi in a protective frenzy. It was unexpected, almost surreal, how the cats moved with such synchronized precision.

Xinyi toppled backwards, landing on the floor, laughter bubbling up as the cats swarmed her. They didn't harm her, instead, they encased her in a flurry of gentle paws, love bites, and incessant meows. She petted them through her laughter, each breath punctuated by the relentless attention of the furry guardians, who refused to let her catch a moment's respite.

"I've never seen anything like that before," Laura commented, her eyes wide with fascination as she took in the bizarre yet endearing spectacle.

"What do you mean?" Yasushi asked between bites of his meal. His focus shifted between the scene before him and his lunch. Across the room, Jingliu resumed eating her food, her hand absently petting the new cats that had gathered around her, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she watched Xinyi's predicament.

Laura leaned in slightly, her gaze still fixed on Xinyi. "The cats, how they all reacted like that. It's almost like they're...protecting Jingliu."

Yasushi nodded thoughtfully, swallowing a mouthful of fish and chips. "Cats are intuitive creatures," he said, his voice calm and reflective. "They sense more than we give them credit for."

The room was filled with a unique blend of chaotic laughter and serene contentment, as Xinyi continued to be lovingly overwhelmed by the cats, and Jingliu, now seemingly more at ease, savored the quiet moments with her own feline companions.

+-+

A few hours later, with the day drawing to a close, Jingliu and Yasushi decided it was time to leave Shirayuki Neko Hiroba. They had fully immersed themselves in the tranquil, feline-filled sanctuary, and now the encroaching evening pulled them back to reality.

"Thanks for letting us come, Laura," Yasushi said as they stood outside. Snowflakes drifted down around them, transforming the world into a quiet, white landscape. "We'll see you guys on Monday."

"We're a business, so you guys helped us out," Laura replied, a cheerful tone in her voice. "We don't get many visitors during the winter. People assume we're closed, but we've got these indoor areas for the cats. It's good for them, and it's good for people who want a warm place to enjoy their company." She laughed softly, her breath visible in the cold air.

Xinyi, ever the exuberant spirit, wrapped her arms around both Jingliu and Yasushi, pulling them into a warm embrace. She grinned widely before exclaiming, "Well, thank you too! It wouldn't have been nearly as fun without you guys. If we were with strangers, we couldn't have been that open, ya know?"

Jingliu nodded, a rare, genuine smile playing on her lips. The friendship they shared was something she cherished, even if she didn't always express it openly.

"See you guys on Monday then," Laura said, her voice carrying a note of fondness. She high-fived Xinyi before heading back into the warmth of the store, where new customers were just arriving. The bell above the door jingled, blending with the soft crunch of snow underfoot as Jingliu and Yasushi turned to leave.

"I'll see you guys!" Xinyi shouted, sprinting toward a sleek black car where her maid waited, holding the door open.

Yasushi and Jingliu stood hand in hand, waving as Xinyi got into the car. They then turned, beginning their walk home through the lightly falling snow. Jingliu felt a warm sense of contentment, her spirits lifted by the day's events at Shirayuki Neko Hiroba.

"Thank you," she whispered, leaning into Yasushi's arm, her breath visible in the cold air. Yasushi didn't reply with words, but squeezed her hand gently, conveying his understanding. They continued walking, their footsteps crunching softly in the snow, the world around them serene and quiet.