By this time, Andalun had the makings of a tanuki-burger. When Kuroni's delightfully rounded rear and tail had been squeezed through the rollers, so had her crotch, and one of the spikes had speared her in a place that had made her mentally squeak loud enough to almost give him the headache that she'd been complaining about.<br/><br/>Sensing her legs and feet being drawn in was actually something of an anti-climax, possibly a literal one on Kuroni's behalf, but he noted with amusement that her toes were still moving as they dissapeared inside him. A moment later the last of the resulting meat was pressed out of the output nozzla as a plunger pushed forward to clear the chamber.<br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  That was a rush! I've gotta do that again sometime!  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>Kuroni exclaimed from somewhere inside the hundred and forty pounds of ground meat that remained of her body.<br/><br/>Andalun made sure she was clear, then triggered the reversal of his mincer form. Kuroni had effectively built in an off switch he could manipulate. He reverted to his draconic self, standing in front of the table full of mince.<br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  It was certainly different. I've never felt you go through me like that before.  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>He responded mentally, since while her ears must be in there somewhere, they were not in any condition to be used.<br/><br/>THe dragon blew a bubble which drifted off towards the stream. Then he reached down and brought up a box full of spices. He hauled out a string of garlic and a crusher, and squeezed half a dozen onto the meat. Then he added half a can of all-spice and most of a bottle of soy sauce.<br/><br/>The bubble returned almost full of water, and he stuck his hands in, laving them thoroughly. The selectively permeable surface had drawn in water while filtering any impurities, and now allowed his hands to reach in without disrupting the rest of the bubble. The bubble drifted off and finally popped, as Andalun drove his taloned hand claws deep into the mince.<br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Oooooh! Garlic, and soy sauce? Am I a bit bland for you?  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>Kuroni asked, in a warning tone.<br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Uh uh, it's just enough to bring out your full flavour... Hey, how could you tell?  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>Andalun responded.<br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  My tastebuds are still in here somewhere... oh yes, keep doing that... Good save by the way.  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>Was the tanuki's reply.<br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Tis truth, forsooth! Ask Ti Li Fei. Just because she specialises in sweets, doesn't mean she doesn't know a bunch about savouries... Garlic heightens the existing flavours.  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>Stated Andalun, flipping the mass of meat over as he drove his claws in deep, kneeding and compressing it into a solid mass.<br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Someone's been moonlighting... Ohhh, that felt good!  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>Kuroni thought back.<br/><br/>The dragon grinned.<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  I'm sharing a kitchen with a world class chef, of course I'll get all the tips and hints I can!  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Just so long as that's all your getting.  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>Kuroni thought, but not seriously.<br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Hey, you're quite enough to handle, all by yourself! And nibble, and swallow, and cuddle and... everything else! Seriously, the only way you'll ever get rid of me is if you tell me you don't want me anymore. I've got a 500 year lifespan, and I want to spend as much of it as possible with you.  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>He thought back at her.<br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  That might be longer than you think! I'm a shapeshifter remember? I may not be able to alter my weight, but resetting my age is trivial. I'm here as long as you are, TRS-chan!  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>She returned.<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  And... if you really have to nibble off someone else's plate once in a while, I guess it's okay. After the way you let me take a licking from that green dragon..."  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><br/>Andalun stopped her.<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Havn't felt the need yet. You're the nbest thing that ever happened to me, like that song said. 'A... Time can not wither her, nor age stale her infinite variety, Where others sate with their vices, she makes most hungry.' That's you to a tee!  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Oh! That's so sweet! Ahhhh! Keep working those claws, Andy-chan! You're a poet as well?  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><br/>Andalun frowned as he thought.<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Nope, that was guy called William Shakespere. He wrote plays... Now what was that quote from?  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><br/>Kuroni asked.<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Friend of yours?  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><br/>Andalun chuckled, and then turned thoughtful.<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  He lived hundreds of years ago. I'm not an ancient dragon, not yet! But... wow, we might be together that long... That leaves only one question...  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  What?  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0;"><div style=" background-color: #FFEBD5;color: #000000; -moz-border-radius: 16px; -webkit-border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid #FFFFFF; padding: 4px;font-size: 1em;">  Five hundred years... threee hundred and sixty five days a year... Where are we going to find a cook book with over one and  a half million different recipies for tanuki?  </div><img src="./images/think.gif"/></td></tr></tbody></table>