The market woman

It was the market woman, lifting up the blanket and chuckling at the two of them. Phew.

"H-Hey haha, thanks for the uhh-"

"Yea yea, I closed the shop under the pretense of getting a break so get out from there."

"Oh, thanks. You didn't have to." He said, crawling out and helping KuliKuli to her feet. KuliKuli stared at the new woman, cautiously observing her. Felix thought it was amusing inside, she looked like an actual cat watching a stranger.

"Well, I kind of did have to. It was that or risk someone else catching you two, and that wouldn't do my store any favors." Felix chuckled nervously, rubbing his head while his pet hugged his side. She couldn't help but watch in awe ate her two tails wagging back and forth, proof of her being a Nekomata.

"So, I didn't catch your names."

"Oh, I'm Felix and this is KuliKuli."

Felix stretched out his hand and they shook, while Kuli watched from behind him. "Well then, I'm Janette. Mind explaining me about what a guy and his pet cat are doing here?"

He laughed and proceeded to explain to her, giving a sort of summarized (and censored) version of how they met and how they came here. Janette leaned back and calmly listened, with KuliKuli playing around with an apple on a table pawing at it like if it were a ball.

"Okay so, you found her then right?"

"Yup."

"Then you took her in?"

"Yup."

"And this is like several days after meeting her and now you're keeping her?"

"I guess that's one word to use, but yea. More or less."

Both of them glanced over to watch KuliKuli as she pounced on an orange that rolled away, preventing it from falling off the table. Smiling, she then proceeded to nom on it with little success of penetrating the skin of the fruit. Felix smiled while Janette placed her hands on her hips, blowing some of her brunette hair off of her eyes.

"Well, I sort of see what you're doing and I need to tell you, it won't be easy."

He nodded. "I know. I know I might get in deep trouble if we're caught, but I can't just let her go. She has memory problems, and I'm worried that she won't be able to handle herself."

"Is that really what worries you?"

"Yea, why?" She shook her head, keeping her thoughts to herself and leaving him confused.

"Nothing, forget about it. You know, I could just report you two about this and get a decent reward. Would help me a lot come to think of it."

Felix held his breath, had he been caught trusting the wrong person? Ah crap.

"Lucky for you, I got a soft spot for these sort of things. Alright then Felix, I guess I can let you go."

"Oh thank the gods! Thanks haha, I was really worried there."

"You should be, lot of other folk aren't as empathetic. Just to let you know, be more careful next time and maybe don't take her out when she's in heat."

"Oh she wasn't, it was catnip."

"Catnip?" She gave him a puzzled look, to which he shrugged in return.

"I'm still learning too, so don't ask."

"Fair enough. Well, best you two move along then. I can't keep the shop closed forever or I'll start losing money."

"Uh right! Thanks again for helping us out, I uh... we appreciate that a lot. KuliKuli, let's go."

"Meow?" She looked up, munching on an apple halfway eaten. Swallowing, she leaped out from the table and continued taking another bite.

"Sorry, I can pay for that."

"Don't bother, it's on the house." Janette waved at them to start going as she walked back to the curtains of her shop. "Now this is where you two leave."

"Well, thanks for everything Janette." Felix helped KuliKuli put her cloak back on before they both walked out. He waved goodbye while Kuli merely stared before shying away and covering her face. Janette smiled catching that before opening the shop once more.

"Oh, Janette. What days do you work if you don't mind me asking?"

Janette scoffed and pointed upwards, with Felix following up to catch the sign atop the shop.

Janette's Fruits of Labor

Oh.

Well that was embarrassing.

"Master?" KuliKuli asked, "Where to now?"