Chapter 2

Bugs (蟲, Mushi) is the 2nd chapter of the Kemono Jihen manga series.

Summary
Kabane and Inugami arrive in Tokyo. Kabane then asks Inugami if it would be better for him if he died in the Deer Village. Inugami responds to not sweat the small stuff and proceeds to ask Kabane if he is hungry. He then gives him onigiri.

A flashback is seen in which Inugami talks to Kusaka about raising Kabane. She then reveals that she brought Kabane under her roof in her sister's favor but raising him is too much for her. Inugami asks about Kabane's father to which Kusaka replies that she doesn't know what he looks like. Inugami then clarifies if she really wants Kabane to be killed and tells that she might end up getting a curse since he is a half-ghoul. Kusaka replies that she is better off than if Kabane is still alive and tells Inugami to do whatever he wants.

Inugami and Kabane then arrive at a cafe and introduces The Inugami Detective Office and give Kabane a change of clothes and a perfume to get rid of the kemono's spell. They then head out for a job. After arriving at the scene, they went inside to see the situation. Inugami was asked to look through the door and asks the investigators how long it's been like that. The investigator responds that it's been twenty or thirty minutes. Inugami then orders Kabane to also take a look at the scene. Kabane looks through the door and sees the room infected with sanshi bugs feeding on the people inside. Inugami describes that the bugs are harmless insects that just take a bit of your skin while sleeping but also have a favorite thing to eat and sees anyone who tries to take their food as their enemy. The investigator then panicking asks Inugami if there is anything they can do. Inugami responds that there is a way to get rid of the bugs but the people inside have a fifty percent chance of saving and tells the investigators to wait for a while transforming his body into metal in secret. The investigator then insists to exterminate the bugs to prevent casualties inside. A child then appears saying they are not dead and to help them.

While everyone is panicking and Inugami buying time, Kabane says that he can go inside since they need someone to go in and take it out and tells them that he can do it. Inugami then asks if he needs a uniform to which Kabane replies that he does not need one. Kabane then goes inside the room and was immediately attacked by the bugs. However, he doesn't feel pain since he is a ghoul. While bugs are attacking him, he finds that one of the people is holding it. Inugami then orders Kabane to lift it and successfully removes the bugs from the people.

After the job, Kabane says that those are strange bugs and asks their favorite food. Inugami replies that sanshi bugs feed on the feeling of guilt and tells Kabane that the shoes retrieved are probably stolen. The young boy from earlier came running to them and gave thanks to Kabane for saving his family. The boy then asks the reason the bugs appeared in their house and Inugami advises him that as long as they don't do anything bad, it will be fine and instructs the boy to return the shoes. The young boy is shocked and tells them that their mother always put them above herself and one day his younger brother brought shoes to their home and he knew it was stolen. The younger brother's face went white and bugs appeared on his body. Their mother covered his younger brother even though she was afraid of bugs.

Kabane then wonders about "family" and asks Inugami if he works for him, would he be able to meet his parents. Inugami then asks Kabane for the third time if he wants to meet his parents since he lied the last time. Kabane responds "yes". Inugami then tells Kabane that he can live at the office.

After arriving back at the office, Inugami introduces Kabane to his room which is a shared room, and tells Kabane to take a shower. Kabane then takes a shower and sees a hammock and tells that it's soft. Inugami is in the kitchen and talking to a certain "Inari" and tells about Kabane. While lying in the hammock, Kabane wakes up and proceeds to sleep on the floor since it's too soft.