"You should be excited," Shinobu remarked, tucking the papers back into her skirt. "Another researcher on this project plans to evaluate wound-healing after surgery in emergency cases. Combined with my study, we hope to make surgical care recommendations for mixed-species people."

She looked at Yoshi, who could only respond with a polite, somewhat puzzled, "Oh?"

"...Which ought to result in you being able to get the, er, 'bottom surgery' as you've said you wanted," Shinobu explained patiently. "Surgeons are more likely to perform procedures if they have care guidelines backed by data, after all."

"Oh!" Yoshi reflected for a moment, as Shinobu turned and walked to the other side of the small room, where a cabinet stood against the wall. Realization dawned across Yoshi's face. "Oh."

Shinobu opened the cabinet doors. Inside, several objects were arranged on the lit shelves: vases of foliage, folded cloth, a framed photo, a small pot. The centerpiece was a weathered stone fox, which sat on a cushion; a cloth bib was tied around its neck, and tucked into the tail wrapped around itself were little trinkets and envelopes. Shinobu tucked her paws under her chin and gave the altar a little bow, calling over her shoulder, "So what do you think?"

Yoshi had leaned herself up against the doorway and was sagging there in a sort of hopeful, thoughtful silence, her hand pressed over her mouth. She lowered her hand to speak, and said slowly, "I-I did think, that even if I DO learn to shapeshift properly, I might still not be able to find a surgeon who would agree to operate on me. Th...this could be--" she stopped dead, seeming to realize something. "Wait."