Life didn't't change much after that dinner.
It kept its usual rhythm: same daily drags to school with entry bell ringing at 8:45 sharp, the same burnt-coffee smell wafting from the staff room into the cafeteria during lunch.
For 13-year-olds in Ontario public school, life was a mix of boring routines and small thrills—gym class where you prayed not to get picked last for dodgeball (or worse, hit in the face), science labs where someone always spilled something (last week it was baking soda and vinegar exploding like a mini volcano during an experiment on reactions) and discussions on latest K-pop stars or anime.
Ethan spent most days surviving algebra by peeking at Xuan's notes (the guy solved equations like he was reading a menu), dodging Ryan's endless hockey rants in the halls ("Dude, the Leafs are cursed this year!"), and trying not to stare too obviously at Cat whenever she walked by with Ji-eun.
The two girls had bonded fast—Ji-eun, with her perfect ponytail and endless supply of kimbap from her mom's shop, had pulled Cat into what they called their "geek squad." They'd even started a mini-campaign to get the school to adopt a class pet.
Ethan watched from the bike racks with his friends, half-jealous, half-impressed.
Xuan remained... Xuan.
Nobody disliked him—he was too polite for that. He'd help with homework without making you feel dumb. Once, he carried a girl's massive backpack after she sprained her ankle in the gym, bowing when she thanked him.
But people were wary- like they instinctively knew he wasn't the same as anyone else. The bow thing on day one. The perfect posture during assemblies, like he was meditating through the principal's speeches on "school spirit."
Kids talked to him—Ryan grilled him on kung fu movies ("Ever seen Ip Man? That wing chun stuff is sick!"), Aisha shared memes ("This one's about zen—fits you, right? Like, you're always so chill"), Kevin asked about Chinese food ("Dude, is real dim sum better than the mall stuff?")—but always with that slight hesitation, even respect, like he might suddenly quote ancient wisdom or vanish in a puff of smoke.
Evenings, though, became the real routine—and the real comedy show at their homes for at least the first few days.
Every day for the first week and a half, Cat walked over to the Wang house with a different brother as chaperone. The Valenti boys rotated like they were testing Xuan for some secret initiation rite.
Day 1: Zuane, the eldest, showed up with a sketchpad, insisting on the full two hours.
He sat cross-legged on the floor of Xuan's room, arms folded, glaring like a bouncer at a club. Xuan drew his chalk circle (Mom fussed but let it slide after he demonstrated it washed off with water), placed the pendant in the center, and sat in the lotus position.
Eyes closed.
Breathing slow.
Total silence.
Before starting, Xuan looked at Cat.
"For best effect, the owner—you—should remain in the room. Ideally opposite me. Your presence will anchor the qi."
Zuane raised an eyebrow. "Anchors? Like a boat?"
Xuan nodded seriously. "Precisely. The pendant is bound to her. Her energy stabilizes the array."
Cat shrugged. "Okay. I'll stay."
Twenty minutes in, Zuane whispered to Cat, "So, this is it? He just... sits? I thought there'd be glowing lights or chanting. Or at least some incense smoke for drama."
Cat whispered back, "He's focused. Give it time. It's kinda peaceful, actually."
Ethan, sitting on the bed, leaned in. "Yeah, like watching paint dry. But magic paint."
Zuane chuckled softly. "Magic paint that might explode?"
Xuan's eyes opened. "Silence please. The array requires stillness."
Zuane held up his hands. "Whoa, okay, Zen master. Zipping it."
Another half-hour passed.
Zuane fidgeted, sketching the circle quietly. "This chalk work is actually pretty precise. You an artist or something?"
Xuan nodded, eyes still closed. "Art is an essential part of learning and growth"
Zuane nodded. "Fair. But dude, how do you sit like that without your legs falling asleep?"
Xuan: "Practise and circulation techniques."
Cat smiled. "See? Peaceful."
Zuane lasted the full time but grumbled on the way out, "Cat, text if he starts floating. Otherwise, I'm tapping out tomorrow. This is like watching grass grow—in slow motion."
Day 2: Cillian's turn.
The 15-year-old slouched in the corner with his phone, earbuds dangling. "I'm just here to make sure this isn't some weird scam"
Xuan resumed position. Silence for forty minutes.
Ethan tried chatting with Cat: "So, uh, that animal shelter thing—sounds cool. You and Ji-eun need volunteers? I could... help?"
Cat whispered. "Maybe. We're planning a bake sale for supplies. You bake?"
Ethan: "Uh, no. But I can eat the rejects."
Cillian snickered softly. "Smooth, Ethan."
Xuan: "Silence, please."
Cillian rolled his eyes and whispered, "This guy's a human mute button. Kinda respect it, kinda wanna poke him to see if he reacts."
Cat shushed him. "Don't."
Cillian stayed quiet, scrolling his phone, but by hour one: "Alright, this is zen or whatever, but I'm bored. Cat, you're good? No mind control vibes?"
Cat: "None. It's actually... relaxing."
Cillian left the room and went downstairs to watch TV with Ethan, muttering, "Weird, but not serial-killer weird. I think I can tell Mom it's nothing to freak out about."
Day 3: Ishaan's turn.
Ishaan, the 11-year-old, bounced in with Legos. "Can I build while we wait? Quietly? Promise!"
Xuan: "Sure. Quietly."
Ishaan managed fifteen minutes before whispering to Cat, "He's like a statue. Does he blink? Or breathe? Can I check?"
Cat: "Ishaan, no poking. He's concentrating."
Ishaan: "But it's so quiet! Like library quiet, but worse. Can I at least make a Lego version of the circle?"
Ethan: "Sure, kid. Make it glow or something."
Ishaan dropped a Lego—clatter.
Xuan's eyes opened and he just stared hard. Somehow this was even more effective than a scolding.
Ishaan sheepishly said: "Sorry! It slipped. This is harder than I thought. How do you do this every day, Xuan?"
Xuan: "Practice."
He closed his eyes again.
Ishaan groaned. "This is worse than timeout, Cat. I'm telling Mom and dad I can't do it anymore. Bye!"
Day 4: Zuane again, half-hearted.
"Back for round two. Brought snacks."
He munched the chips quietly.
By hour one: "Cat, you're on your own. I am not a Zen guy I realize now. Peace out."
Day 5: Cillian returned, phone ready.
"Do you mind if I record? For evidence? Want to show parents proof that this ain't anything cult-like, just boring...uh umm I meant very relaxing"
Xuan didn't mind, just smiling, "Sure, boring-relaxing this is"
The session went smoothly—no noise.
Cillian filmed: Xuan meditating, Cat watching quietly, Ethan on the bed looking bored.
"Okay, zoom in on the chalk—looks like a crop circle. And Cat, wave for the camera."
Cat: "No way. This is serious."
Cillian: "Serious? He's sitting. Staring at jewelry. Have you caught his disease? "
Ethan: "Shhh, Cil, it's... spiritual."
Cillian rolling his eyes: "Right. Sending this to Mom and Dad. Proof it's boring as hell."
That video sealed it.
By evening, Nina texted Mei: "Watched the vid. Looks like something fun and quiet for kids. I have always wanted to send kids to Yoga but they didn't. Looks like Cat is going that way, good for her, good of Xuan to set this meditation space. Thanks for hosting dear!"
Mei replied: " Oh no problem! They're quiet kids. And now Xiao Cat feels like a part of our family"
Day 6: No brothers. Just Cat and Xuan.
Ethan hovered in the doorway once in a while.
Auntie Mei checked in every half-hour with tea or cookies. "Everything okay? Need water?"
Xuan: "Nothing, thanks Auntie Mei."
Neither Ethan nor Auntie Mei, familiar with the concepts of meditation but not a practitioner, understood how Cat, a normally energetic vivacious girl could sit for like 2 hours silent and not complain.
After the session, Xuan usually went for a walk ("Probably getting Qi refill from Moon, don't worry Ma") while Cat stayed back for a quick tea and chat with everyone.
This 15mins was the highlight of the day for Ethan, he enjoyed chatting with Cat. He just wished Cat would may be leave a bit early from this whole meditation or take a break once she gets really bored. His only relief was - Cat wasn't talking with Xuan, just staring.. Staring at what- Ethan didn't really understand.
Contrary to everyone's expectations that she would be done by this boring event of watching a guy meditate for 2 hours, Cat didn't stop at all. She wouldn't explain why she kept going- just that she found it relaxing.
And she wasn't just bluffing to avoid leaving Xuan alone with her precious pendant - she really didn't find it boring.
From day one, she'd started seeing... colors.
Waves of color rippling from the jade like heat off pavement—colors without names.
Deep violets shimmering into molten gold.
Soft greens bleeding into impossible blues.
Colors she couldn't even name but fascinating beyond belief, like a video of Aurora she'd once watched.
Actually even more brilliant than Aurora.
They danced around Xuan, making him look... different. Older. Sharper features, longer hair unbound, robes instead of tunic.
Like a version of him from another time. It was like she was seeing Xuan but seeing someone else too.
It somehow didn't feel scary or strange to her.
And with the colors came a feeling—warm, trusting, safe.
Like she'd known him forever.
She didn't mention it.
Not yet.
It wasn't like she was crushing on the guy.
Nope. Not even a lil bit. Nope nope never.
Never never ever never.
Cat, darling if you're saying too many nopes, it kinda becomes a yep don't it?
Nope nope. Crushing on guys isn't her thing.
At all.
And who would crush on a guy who sits like a statue and doesn't even look at you?
Even if he is handsome in a serious kinda way?
Nope nope..okay that's it.
Anyways if she wanted to play the crush game, there was another nice guy who was actually nice to her.
Cat was well aware of Ethan's crush on her. She was very realistic about her looks - she knew she looked good, beautiful if she dresses up - all thanks to her genes. It wasn't anything she was proud of - after all, she didn't earn it did she? Just happened that way. Mature beyond her years, Cat had a definite plan for her future that didn't include any dating till she finished college- something her Mom with her Asian heritage and dad with traditional Italian views totally appreciated.
Still no teen girl would find anything bad or wrong with a cute boy showing interest in her. So Cat tried her best to maintain the balance in her relationship with Ethan - friendly, cheerful, appreciative of his admiration but no interest in anything else.
Ethan tried to chat after their meditation sessions.
"So... uh... weekend plans? Ji-eun mentioned the shelter—sounds fun. You guys need help carrying stuff or something?"
Cat: "Maybe. We're doing a dog-walk fundraiser. You good with big pups?"
Ethan: "Totally. I love dogs. Once walked my neighbor's lab—huge guy, dragged me half a block."
Cat laughed. "Sounds like an adventure. Feel free to drop by, I'll get you the details." Turning to Auntie Wang,
"Thank you for the tea and spring rolls Auntie, see you tomorrow "
Auntie Wang happily said bye to her and came back to scold her son,
"Don't think I don't know why you're hanging around the living room this time waiting to chat up with that sweet girl. I am telling you- if you mess it up and ruin a nice neighborly relationship I've got going here, you won't be walking around for a month at least Son."
Ethan just glumly okayed and walked up to his room.
What's there to mess up? Not like she ever shows any kinda real interest, she is nice. Sweet. Beautiful. Her smile is like.. Arrghh! Should I try to be cool like Xuan?
But she hasn't shown any interest in Xuan either.
By the end of two weeks, everything fell into a comfortable routine.
Then came the incident that changed everything.
Lunchtime, behind the school near the bike racks. Cat and Ji-eun were sharing kimbap (Ji-eun's mom's specialty) when they heard the tiniest meow.
A kitten—small, black with white paws, barely six weeks—huddled under a bush, shivering.
Ji-eun gasped. "Poor baby! Look at it—so tiny and alone."
Cat froze.
Because she didn't just see a kitten.
Above it hovered a faint aura—deep crimson fading to shadowy purple, with flickering tails of illusionary fire. Nothing like the normal animals she'd started noticing subtle colors around since the pendant sessions.
This felt... old.
Vengeful.
Powerful.
Wrong for a tiny kitten in a Markham schoolyard.
Why am I seeing this? What's wrong with me?
Ji-eun scooped it up. "We can't leave it here. My mom might let me keep it—we have space. Or we take it to the shelter after school?"
Cat nodded, still staring.
"Yeah. Let's keep it safe till end of day. Box from the art room?"
Ji-eun:
"Good call. I'll grab paper towels for bedding. And milk from the caf—wait, is milk okay for kittens? I think it's bad for their stomachs."
Cat: "Water for now. We'll Google later."
They tucked the kitten in a cardboard box with paper towels and a water cap from the caf. It mewed softly. Cat couldn't stop glancing at that crimson-purple shimmer.
"You think it's okay? Looks... scared."
Ji-eun: "Yeah, but we'll fix it. Geek squad to the rescue!"
When the bell rang, she didn't head home. She texted Ethan:
"Need Xuan, don't have his phone number. Please tell him it's urgent. Ask him to come behind school."
When Cat came to the back of the school after bells rang, she found both Ethan and Xuan standing around.
Cat felt a little irritated, "Oh sorry Ethan.. This is just a Xuan thing. I need his help with something, so see ya later, 'k?"
Ethan stared. "Just Xuan? Oh. Cool. I'll... wait? Is it like some ninja stuff or something?"
Cat shook her head. "Umm... no. Don't wait. It's not ninja, it's just something I gotta ask him. Sorry... I'll catch you at home later. You good, right?"
Ethan looked a bit hurt but nodded. "Yeah. Okay. Whatever. Go ahead."
Xuan glanced at him, sighing inwardly. *Human feelings. So tangled.*
He said a bye to Ethan and followed Cat to the box. She opened it. The kitten mewed.
Xuan looked—and froze.
The kitten's aura flared in his vision.
Not cat.
A bakeneko—young, barely manifested.
Bakaneko, a type of Yokai, spirits of nature were cats transformed due to many reasons.
This one bore the marks— eyes holding unnatural cunning, aura pulsing with necromantic qi.
Bakeneko were trickster spirits usually tied to a shrine nearby who had links to Underworld and even had powers of shapeshifting. Cultivators treated them with wariness but some were protectors, loyal to those who showed kindness.
But here?
Far from Japan, in a Canadian suburb, without a shrine nearby?
Xuan knelt. "This...How are you here, Bakaneko-dono?"