(This is a fan story and not my original work. I have never been to Taipei or anywhere else in Taiwan. I am just a fan of Nekojishi and thought this would be a nice story.)

Chapter 1: The Evening Surprise

My name is Lin Tian-Liao. I am a Taiwanese male in my late twenties. I live in a small apartment in Taipei and I live with my three boyfriends. I should mention the complications of our relationship. You see, I have the Yin-Yang Eye, which means that I can see gods and yaoguai, which so happen to be what they are. First there’s Lin Hu, a Guardian Tiger serving under Mazu who lives in the statue my family gave me when I left. I come from a family of Jitong. He’s a bit overprotective and can often hurt others’ feelings unintentionally. But he is deeply caring, although he will torment me from time to time. Then there’s Likulau, an aboriginal clouded leopard spirit from Wutai, sent here by a god called Aidridringane to find someone to help his tribe. He’s actually the reason I can see him and I eventually helped him with his troubles. He has some trouble with speaking Mandrin is often fairly quiet, he’s a bit thick-headed and will often act on impulse but he has a strong sense of morality. Last is my Senpai Yan Shu-Chi, although he’s not really my senpai now. He’s a leopard cat yaoguai/god and possesses the body of the real Shu-Chi, but that’s because of a long and difficult story. He’s an overall goofball, he’s flirtatious and optimistic, childish, easily excited, easily offended, easily jealous, lazy, and secretly manipulative. But honestly, that’s what makes him so adorable. He’s also recently been made the patron god of his household, which is a story unto itself. Since he is the only one with a physical body and the others only need to consume the Chi of food, I have to order extra for Lin Hu and Kulau. My life is a bit chaotic, when you simultaneously live with and date three beast-men gods, nothing is boring. But I enjoy it and wouldn’t have it any other way. I honestly thought nothing else could surprise me. Turns out, that was the furthest thing from the truth.

It had been three years since I left college. I moved to an apartment in the city and got a job at a convenience store while I tried to start my dancing career. I joined a dance studio and made some good friends there while staying in touch with a couple old ones. Sometimes I would have to work extra shifts or temp-jobs if I was low on rent, and so far, I’m not homeless yet. The others had websites about them and made some money off of it from merchandise and stuff, Shu-Chi even got a job in a clothing store. It isn’t perfect, but it’s a decent life. It all changed on one average night.

After working an extra shift at the store, I came home at around seven and immediately collapsed on the couch. Lin Hu was with me today, Kulau stayed home and Shu-Chi was asleep at the table halfway through his dinner. Liao: “We’re home guys.” Likulau: “Liao, welcome back.” Shu-Chi: “Whaa...Oh Yay, Liao’s home.” He then proceeded to tackle-hug me. Liao: “It’s nice to be home. How was work today?” Shu-Chi: “Terrible, my boss was constantly on my back about slacking-off!” Lin Hu: “He probably wouldn’t do it so much if you didn’t slack-off so much.” Shu-Chi: “I can’t help it! Not only do I have to be away from Liao, it's so boring!” He then started to pout, I couldn’t help but laugh. Liao: “Well, you can tell me all about it while I make dinner.” Lin Hu and Kulau’s eyes immediately widened upon mention of dinner. I reheated some fried chicken and hamburgers that I bought yesterday. I knew they would be a bit disappointed with leftovers, but with us trying to save money at the moment, it couldn’t be helped. We sat down for dinner, Shu-Chi complained about his day much to the shagrin of Lin Hu, Likulau only cared about his dinner. I looked around at my hot beastmen boyfriends and felt content with my life. Then there was a knock at the door. I was confused. Liao: “Shu-Chi, you didn’t invite anyone did you?” Shu-Chi: “No.” Lin Hu: “I don’t like this.” Likulau: “Bad feeling. Not like.” Liao: “Calm down guys, it's probably just a wrong door or something.” I could tell they were on edge. I went to open the door, and I came face to face with a man I had never met before. He looked like a foreigner, probably European. He had dark hair and deep green eyes, he wore a dark jacket and tattered jeans. He spoke with an accent and seemed to have trouble with Mandrin. Stranger: “Hello there, is this the residence of Lin Tian-Liao?” I was a little shocked, not only did he know my name but he gave off this bad feeling to him. Lin Hu: “Liao, this man is not what he seems.” Likulau: “Strange scent. Not nice.” Stranger: “Oh don’t worry, I don’t mean any harm. Mind if I come in.” Now everyone was startled, he could see Lin Hu and the others! I let him in and gave him a seat and some tea. 

Liao: “So, not to be rude, but who you and how can you see the others?” Stranger: “Ah yes, I must explain why I am here. My name is Crom Cruach. I am a god, but not in the same sense as those of Taiwan. I am more close to the idea of a demon. I come from Ireland and recently, I have been traveling to solve a problem of mine.” So he’s a foreign god? What I find strange is that I see him as human. Since gods don’t have any set form or gender, they often match the views of the worshipper. In my case, a lot of them look like hot male beastmen. Liao: “So you’re from Ireland. Why are you in Taipei and why do you think I can help?” Lin Hu: “Yes, it is selfish to ask Liao to help you, foreign god. Why can’t your worshipers help you instead.”  Crom: “It would be best to start from the beginning. I used to be a famous god of fertility, I had many cults and sacrifices. Until some self-righteous priest decided to disrupt my “pagan” ways and destroyed my following just because they sacrificed humans to me. I still have some respect, a cult or two who remain, but my power is not what it was. Over the last century or so, most worship that western god over me. And so, with little following, I have most of my time to myself. I travel for the most part, meeting other gods and spirits. When I returned home, I realized a human did a terrible deed upon one of my old shrines.” Liao: “And that was?” Crom: “She and died.”

All: “What!” Crom: “I know, the nerve of it. I haven’t eaten a human in so many decades I lost the liking to it. I still couldn’t because she wasn’t even sacrificed. When I contacted the villagers, I learned she had an argument with her family about a relationship and ran from home. They cleaned up my shrine and gave her a proper burial. But when she died, she left behind an irksome thing.” Liao: “What was it and why was it so irksome.” Crom: “I’ll get to that. As I was saying, She died leaving it behind and the villagers thought it was cursed because with it being dropped in my shrine. I tried to convince them otherwise but in the end, I was left with it. I couldn’t care for it and since it came from humans, only another human could take it off my hands. I’ve spent half a year searching for someone to take it, but they usually returned it after a week or two. For some reason, it has a knack for attracting spirits and other entities. Eventually, I made my way here and that’s when I heard about you and thought you would be the best candidate.” Liao: “Why me?” Crom: “Not many humans maintain relationships with gods. To win the heart of one is a rare occasion, to both win the hearts of three and maintain a working relationship with all three is absolutely unheard of. A guardian tiger who fell in love with their worshipper. A Rukai spirit sent on a sacred quest, only to be won over by the human they chose. And you.” He looked at Shu-Chi. Crom: “A yaoguai turned half god, possessing the body of the soul they consumed, given their hosts name and on top of that made the patron god of their host’s house. You have to wonder if you are some strange middle ground for human, yaoguai, and god. Or perhaps you are something beyond that?” I didn’t like the way he was talking about Shu-Chi. Shu-Chi: “Sorry mister. I appreciate the compliments, but I belong to Liao.” What! He took that as flirting? Honestly, he can be dense sometimes. Crom: “Shame, but that does bring up another question.” Wait, was he serious? Liao: “What?” Crom: “When you fuck, is it individual or together?” WHAT! I could feel my cheeks blush. How could he ask a question like that? Lin-Hu: “It depends.” Likulau: “Both.” Shu-Chi: “We’re experimenting to see what works.” Liao: “GUYS! Please don’t tell a stranger about our sex life!” Crom: “Interesting. Regardless, will you accept? I need to rest a bit so if you could at least keep it for a month or two, then I would be willing to take it back if you can’t manage.” How could he change topics so easily? I had to think. Liao: “Guys, what do you think about this?” Lin-Hu: “Liao. I don’t trust this foreigner for a minute. But if you are willing, I will help you however you need me to.” Likulau: “Uncertain. But curious.” Shu-Chi: “I think it sounds fair. Even if the old man doesn’t trust him, you could always return it.” So a bit mixed, this would be up to me then. I really don’t think he’s a bad person, just a bit eerie. And we can return it if it becomes too much trouble. Liao: “Okay. If you are willing to take it back if we don’t want it, then I think we can care for it.” Crom: “Splendid! I’ll go get it. I left it on your doorstep. Hopefully no one else decided to take it. It would be incredibly awkward if that happened; you wouldn’t be able to get it back without sounding bloody mad.” Liao: “Wait. What is it that you are leaving us with?” He didn’t see to hear me, as he went out the door to pick up a cardboard box. “Here it is. I left a few supplies with it but you should probably get more soon. Farewell, if you wish to return it, just leave this stone out on a full moon.” He then disappeared without answering my question. The box was rather heavy so I opened it to look inside. What I saw was the biggest surprise of the evening. Made by humans, could only be cared for by humans, find a home for it, it all made sense. Lin-Hu’s jaw actually dropped, Kulau’s eyes widened like never before, and Shu-Chi just froze. Lin-Hu: “Is that really?” Likulau: “So small.” Shu-Chi: “It. Is. So. CUUUUUUUUUTTE!!!!!” In the box was a small, probably under a year-old, baby. What the hell did I get myself into?