The Cat Shrine is Dying?!

MmmmMmm! Sure feels good out today. And on top of that, no new ema to do, and no ones come to pray! So I'll just sit around and chill all day.

I.e. the same thing you did yesterday.

And the day before yesterday, and the day before the day before yesterday, and the day before...

...Come to think of it, how long has it been since we've had anything to do?

Long enough that you don't even remember?!

Eh, whatever. Life's more fun when you just spend your days basking in the sun! Purrr....

Problem! BIIIIIG PROBLEM!!!

Hey, Otoha. What's up?

Otonya!

Where have you been?! You've been "out for a walk" for like, how many days now?!

Nya hah! My bad! I just got so wrapped up in the leaves down at Vermilion Road, I completely lost track of time!

Oh right, I forgot the two of you know each other.

Oh right. Both of you work here, of course you know each other.

More than just "know" each other, Nyaldo! She's like a big sister to me!

Yeah, something like that!

Do you even realize how lonely I was?!

Sorry 'bout that...

And to make it up to me, you're gonna have to share some of your bonito of iso!

Nya hah! Never miss an opportunity for more food, do you Necoco?

Purrrr...

Hah! You two really are close!

Anywho, sorry to ruin the moment, but what was the big problem you were shouting about just now?

Ack! I almost forgot!

Nyanji sent me this message to pass along. To summarize, it's not good.

What did he say?!

Here, read it yourself.

Meow what do we have here...

"Save the Cat Shrine from total destruction."...

Destruction?! From what?

No idea. All I got was this message. But it's definitely from Nyanjiro.

How? It's been so peaceful lately?

We didn't do anything yesterday, or the day before yesterday, or the day before...

Or...the day before...

WAIT!

What? Did you figure it out?

Evil has been stirring...

...It has?

Under our very noses, Nyaldo! Something even more evil than evil itself has been stirring!

Okay, well what is it, then?!

Take a look...at this.

...I don't follow.

That is...

ALL THE DONATIONS FOR THIS MONTH!

This is IT?!

That must have been what Nyanji was warning us about...

Not total destruction, total BANKRUPTCY!

Bankruptcy?

I'm more impressed you know that word, if we're being honest.

We're in trouble Nyaldo save the compliments for later!

We're gonna need, way, waaay more money if we're gonna keep the shrine afloat!

At this rate we may not even be able to feed the cats...

And if we can't feed the cats... ...No! I don't even wanna think about it!

Meeoooooh no! We're as good as done! What a world! What a world!

All right, I get it. Calm down. How did this even happen?

The Cat Shrine has never been this dead. Where did everyone go?

This is a holy place for the believers of the Cat Deity. It makes no sense for them to just stop coming all of a sudden.

We were granting all the wishes on the ema, so it's not like the people would be mad at us, either...

Hmm... Maybe we should go to town and see if we can find some clues?

Great idea, Nyaldo! Let's head to Izana and see if we can find anything!

Let's get to investigating!

All we have to do is grab someone and "take" them back to the shrine, right?

No, we cannot go around kidnapping random townspeople. Why don't we just, you know, try talking to a few folks?

Sounds easy enough! Okay cat-girls, talk to everyone you see!

Let's go Otonya!

You there! I command you to pray at the very profitable, and not at all in financial trouble Cat Shrine!

Cat...shrine?

Never heard of it. Sorry, I've got somewhere to be.

...A total bust...

I don't get it. I've seen her at the shrine before! What does she mean "Never heard of it"?

Could just be someone that looks like the person you know?

But I KNOW that was her!

Hey, now we're talkin'! That old lady is always giving me treats.

What's up Grammysnacks! Haven't seen you at the Cat Shrine in a while. We all miss you, you know!

......

Something wrong?

Cat Shrine... It sounds familiar, but I don't think I've ever heard of such a place...

Huh?

Now if we're talking gods, how about Akuraou. Now THAT's a god.

Akuraou... hmmm...

He's a good god, a kind god. Grants any wish you could possibly think of.

Hey, wait! I wasn't done talking!

Something's off. Everyone we talk to seems to have this dead look in their eyes.

Who and what is Akuraou anyway?

Akuraou, eh...

You've heard of 'em?!

Nope!

Oh! Cause it kinda sounded like...okay.

Anyway, completely ignoring the reincarnation of the cat deity will not be tolerated! We need to find out who this Akuraou is and get to the bottom of this!

That's exactly what I was gonna say!

But...with everyone acting all weird how are we supposed to find out anything?

Good point... Hm?

That's...strange. Everyone's leaving town.

Strange indeed! It's as if they are being mind controlled or something.

Well it looks like they're headed for the Inanari Plateau, so why don't we follow them?

They walked here all the way straight from Izana...

Who is that?!

Yes... Those who give their all will be the ones who receive eternal blessing!

Money keeps coming out of my pocket!

Oh, Haruki, my son! You've returned from the war!

Are they seeing something we don't?

That hooded weirdo is making them see things, I bet!

Look closer, Aldo!

He's stealing their energy!

Not on my watch!

You must be Akuraou! What are you doing to these people?!

You...

Interrupting my plans again are we? Well I won't let you.

Again? Wait.

But I will save the fighting for later. I must regain my power first.

You might not, but we're not letting you leave without giving back what you've stolen!

Stolen? These people offered their life force to me willingly.

It's just, humans are quick to drown in their own desires. Give them a sample of what they want, and they give you everything for another taste.

More and more money...

Honey, you're back! And you brought Touma back with you...

This is bad, they're getting weaker and weaker!

Stop this! You're killing them!

Five against one? Now that's not fair at all is it? Looks like I need to even the play field a bit...

Mo...ney...

Who stole my MONEY?!

Huh?

Where do you think you're taking my wife, eh?!

Hey! Wait! We're not here to fight you!

I was expecting more power from a group this size, but alas. I'll find some other way.

I knew it! The pretentious way you talk, and that funky aura you have...

You're that specter from the other day!

What?!

......

There's something I wanted to ask you, you know! If I ever saw you again.

How did you know how to find me?! Did my parents tell you?!

What difference does it make? I have no further use for you.

HEY!

......

What...am I doing here?

I feel like I just woke up from a crazy dream...

Urgh...

Are you okay?!

It's weird. It's like I try to move but I can't...

A specter has been sucking out your energy, best to just sit still till you regain your strength.

What?!

Urgh...

These people are gonna need our help. Each of you take someone.

Yessir!

Myon it!

No, Necoco, we need you to go out and look for that specter.

I don't know all the details, but we can't just leave him be.

Thanks, Otonya!

I'll tag along, Necoco, but where do we even start?

Oh! Necoco! What brings you here?

Grammysnacks! You remember me?!

Yes...it seems as if I was in a dream...

We're looking for that Akuraou guy, any idea where he might be?

I believe he said something about the Specter Palace at some point...

Of course! The Specter Palace! Thanks, Grammysnacks!

......

...You okay?

So...it was just a dream... Of course it was. There's no way he could come back...

What a silly thing to dream...

Grammysnacks...

If...you're ever feeling lonely, you know you can always come to see me.

Huh?

You can pat my head! I'll even let you grab my tail! Anything you want! A Grammysnacks exclusive offer!

...Is the least I can do. I know it's not the same...

But I'm here for you! So keep that chin up!

Thank you Necoco, such a sweet child.

I'll be sure to stop by the shrine, snacks in tow, of course.

Can't wait!

That specter...

He has no idea the pain he's caused these people! Showing them these impossible dreams... He has NO IDEA!

You okay, Necoco?

To have this all be just a dream... It's cruel, Nyaldo! It's unbelievably cruel...

We've gotta find him.

Yeah, let's get to the Specter Palace. Quickly!

He should be here somewhere...

Yeah, but with a palace this big, how do we even find him?

I should be able to sense his energy.

And I'm getting something from the end of this hall.

......

Necoco?

I won't let him get away this time. But...something about him... I'm kind of scared to fight him.

Why would you be scared?

Because no one knows how to find me, and yet he did.

The only people that knew were my parents.

......

Which means...they were probably the ones that told him. They gave me up.

Huh?

Why would they do something like that?

Because I'm a disappointment.

Huh?

You know the story about how I was left at the Cat Shrine, right?

Yeah, and then Nyanjiro raised you.

They did that to protect me.

If that's the case, why would they tell that guy where you were?

My parents are on the run. My family, you see, we have special powers...

Special powers, eh?

The powers he mentioned before, right?

Yeah. This power gets passed down in my family from generation to generation.

......

And in the hands of a bad specter, they could control an army. Which is why the power is kept in our family, as we are taught to use it for good.

That's...a lot to shoulder.

And so to keep that power from falling into the wrong hands, your parents gave you to the shrine.

Nyup.

And ever since then they've been on the run to keep the scent off of me. All...to protect me...

They risked everything for you.

And what did I do with the time they gave me? Nothing.

Huh?

After all they went through... I never got the power.

What do you mean?

Ah wait, I do remember you saying something about getting someone elses power or something like that.

What power is it, exactly? Who are you supposed to get it from?

......

You probably know better than I do.

...Me?

Anyway, the fact of the matter is, my parents told him where I was.

They were probably so upset about how I wasted all this time, they gave up trying to protect me... I'm just a stray, and who protects a stray?

Now, Necoco...

I'm in no place to say, but I know that can't be true.

You're not a stray.

But...

I don't know your parents. But to hear you talk about yourself like that... Well, it makes me sad to hear it. It makes Otoha sad, too.

You two....

Finding out what really happened is totally up to you. But regardless what happens, there will be people at home waiting for you to come back.

Nyaldo...

You're right. Can't let this stop me. The great Necoco must press forward.

Nyaldo! Let's find that Akuraou and make him tell us everything he knyows!

The jig is up, Akuraou!

Persistent little brats... To think, I would have let you live if you could have just left well enough alone.

And leave you to your evil devices? No way. Now, tell us what you're planning to do with the power you stole from the people of Izana!

It could have been anybody's power, honestly. I just needed power. So that I could make this palace my own.

...What do you mean?

When Mizuchi disappeared, our power was greatly reduced. It caused a great panic in my people. Which, made it the perfect opportunity to seize control.

What?!

But I do not have enough power just yet. As it stands, I only have enough power to cast illusions.

I need something bigger, stronger, or I'll never compare to the great specters in our clan.

And that's why you wanted my power and the power of all those people?

Yes, not like it worked or anything, though.

And it's all your fault. Everything. All because the power of the Sacred Beast lies not within you.

Sacred beast?

Huh?!

You mean you don't know? They really told you nothing, huh? Your family has passed the power of the Sacred Beast down from generation to generation. You should at least know that.

Okay, but why do YOU know that?!

I have my ways.

Now, surely by now you've noticed?

You've fallen right into a trap.

Huh?

Where did they come from?!

Be careful, Necoco!

An illusion of this size is... hard to keep up. Let's make this quick, shall we?

Huh?!

Nyaldo!

Oops... I mustn't use too much of my power here. It's important to take humans alive.

...What do you mean?

You honestly think I'd let you walk in here without some kind of plan to stop you? I built this all just so I could trap you!

Hm!

And now that you're here, I can use you as bait for as long as I want. I can then steal the power from other specters to finally get what I deserve.

Why would anyone come to find me if I don't have the power?!

That's just the thing! Only I know you are powerless.

You...

That's quite enough, I think!

I wasn't born just to be come some stupid specter's bait!

Gwarf...

Necoco!

Damn!

You silly thing. Let your anger get the best of you, and look at what hpapened? But I musn't let you pull any more stunts...

......

I...can't move... But...I...

Huh?

That voice... I know it from somewhere...

Of course you have... You remember us, then?

You were just a baby...

Huh?

Mom? Dad?

We've come to get you, Necoco.

You've done well to come this far. All on your own...

How? What?!

What happened to Akuraou? Nyaldo?!

Your father got rid of that bad man for you, Necoco.

Aldo is some place nice and safe.

Oh...that's good to hear...

My poor Necoco. Look at what they've done to you...

It's okay. Daddy is here for you.

Mom! Dad! Thank you for protecting me all those years!

But...there's something I need to tell you...

If it's about the Sacred Beast, we know. The power was given to someone else.

What?!

To be honest, I'm glad it wasn't. It's such a huge burden...

Huh?

It has been the cause of great pain for our family. We're happy to be finally free of it...

......

What's wrong, Necoco?

Who the hell are you?

Your mother, of course, what ever do you mean?

You just don't remember what we look like.

......

Mmmhmmm... A dream too good to be true. Perfectly tailored for me...

You make no sense!

The power of the Sacred Beast is a burden?!

My parents would NEVER say that!

......

I read that letter you left a million times over.

I know the pain you felt when you left me at the shrine that day!

But...

But you had pride! The power our family holds, and the responsibility it brings... My father was proud to have it!

You're a fake!

A fake born from my guilt of not having the power, and hoping for your forgiveness!

I just...didn't want to admit it.

Necoco!

To break free of my spell all on your own....I'm impressed.

Guess I have to do this the hard way.

......

But...you are too valuable... Perhaps...

You haven't even seen a tenth of a percent of what I can do! But, you're definitely about to find out!

AKURAOU! Get ready cause here comes the beating of your life!

Urgh...

I...underestimated you for sure...

......

It's not too late, if you join me now, I'll forgive you. If you lend me your power I...

No way! And you sure have a big mouth for someone with so little power left.

You got me there...

What is it? Why do you want power this much? Can't you live a happy life without all this?

Why can't you all just leave me alone?!

You're a specter, you should know. It's in our blood.

......

Only the strong survive. That is how we live. And for a weakling like me... I have to fight even harder to survive.

It sounds like a terrible way to live...

It is tough, but aspiration is what drives us. And it allowed me to see something truly great....

Huh?

Your power, Necoco. I thought you were weak, like me. But I was wrong. Your power is great, but nothing compared to the Sacred Beast. Not even a fraction of it. Whether it was your blood, or your will that brought the power you DO have, I do not know...

You think I want your compliments?

Heh... Allow me to leave you with something. ...How I was able to find you.

You'll tell me?!

I found your parents. It was a long time ago. In a place quite far from here.

They were under attack from other specters, and I suppose they were weakened, but they fell for my illusions.

......

I showed them their greatest fears, and they screamed your name.

"Necoco."

They did?!

Like parents trying to save their child from imminent danger they called out to you. That's how I knew they had given the power to someone else.

And so you searched for her.

It took quite a long time...

So they didn't give me up after all... ......

Thanks for the tip, Akuraou. I don't like you even a little bit, but I'll let you live.

You sure? I might come for you again.

Don't make me laugh.

Even if you did, you think I'd lose? No way!

Well, I'm glad we found out about your parents.

Yeah! I am happy to have the peace of mind...

Not without it's price though. You and your parents have been through a lot.

Yeah... They swore to never see me again when they left me at that shrine.

It was in the letter they wrote. ...Spending the rest of their lives on the run...just to protect me...

That's...

All so I could live my life in peace...

......

I've got some growing up to do. To think I wanted them to forgive me...

......

Hey, Necoco. Akuraou said you were supposed to inherit the power of the Sacred Beast, right?

But as far as I know, the power of the Sacred Beast was inherited by...

CRAP!

Huh?

We need to go check on the people he was sucking the power out of! We just left Otonya there all alone! Oh, wow, I hope she's okay.

Nyaldo! No time to waste, we need to go. NYAOW!

......

You're right... Let's head back to Izana.

Otonyaaa!

There you are!

All those people are here, and doing fine.

They just need a little rest and they'll be good as new.

That's a relief.

What happened to Akuraou or whoever?

Oh, that guy? He was no problem at all. All thanks to the great Necoco, of course.

Nyahaha! Good to hear!

I bet Nyanji's message was about him!

Now that you mention it... If the followers are in trouble, then the shrine is in trouble. Good thing we took care of that!

And I bet we'll start raking in the cash, too. Now that our followers are back!

Good job, Necoco! That's my girl...

Purrrrrr.... Boy, am I pooped! I think I'm gonna need a piggy back ride back to the shrine.

Hmmm? What's that, Necoco? You're acting like a little kitten again?

N-No I'm not!

Not like you don't always act like one anyway.

Nyo I DYON'T!

Umm...

Yeah?

Did something happen with Necoco?

Necoco sometimes gets like this with Otoha, and it's always when she's feeling lonely.

Oh.

I mean! It could be nothing! Sorry I even brought it up.

It was rude of me to ask.

I'm gonna head back! Everyone's tired so I'm gonna get a head start on dinner!

Lonely, huh. Something about Necoco changed during our fight, that's for sure.

But if what Necoco said was true...

Nyaldo?! Hello? Are you coming or what?

On my way!

The power of the Sacred Beast went to Altena, not Necoco... So then why is all this happening?