And Then Came Japoro
 
Tae, Tasuki, Tamahome, and Kenshin are standing around in the living room having a... discussion about Tae's new LIAC.
Tasuki: I don't get it!  Why do you need another LIAC, anyway?  Aren't the three of us good enough for you?
Tae:  Of course you are! That's not why Japoro is coming to live with us.
Tamahome:  Why is he coming to live with us?

Tae:  'Cause he's cute.  (Tasuki and Tamahome roll their eyes)  And he's smarter than some of my other LIAC.

Tasuki:  Hey!

Tae (sweetly):  Did I say he was smarter than you?

Tasuki (grumbling):  No, but I know that's what ya were thinkin'.

Tae:  Anyway, I like him, and I think it'll be fun to have him around.

A moment later the doorbell rings, and Kenshin gets up to answer it.
Kenshin:  Konnichiwa... Oro?
 
He looks left, he looks right... but no one's there.  He's about to shut the door, when a voice comes from somewhere in the vicinity of his knee.
Voice:  Konnichiwa!  Japoro desu!
Kenshin looks down to find a ferret-like creature standing on the porch.
Kenshin (with no small amount of surprise):  Japoro...dono?

Japoro:  Hai!  (He preens his whiskers proudly)  I'm Tae-dono's new LIAC.  Is she here?

Kenshin (still surprised):  H-hai.  Please come in de gozaru.

Japoro scampers inside, and up onto the sofa arm next to Tae.

Tae:  Japoro!  I'm so glad you're here!

Japoro (bowing grandly):  Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Tae:  Kawaii!!

She snatches him up in a hug.  Over her shoulder, his eyes bug out a little from the strength of her grip.  He gestures frantically at Kenshin.

Kenshin:  Ano... Tae-dono, I don't think he can breathe.

Tae (releasing him quickly):  Ack!  Gomen, Japoro-kun!  You're just so cute!

Tasuki:  It's a weasel!

Japoro & Tae:  I am/He is NOT a weasel!

Tasuki (ignoring them, continuing to grumble):  If you were gonna get a weasel, you shoulda got the Weasel Girl.  Now SHE is cu---aaaaaarrrggg!

Tasuki swipes frantically at Japoro, who has attached himself -- via his teeth -- to Tasuki's wrist.
Tasuki:  Get it off me!  Get it oooooffffff!!!

Tae:  Hmmph.  Serves you right, I say.  I told you he wasn't a weasel!  Japoro, let him go.

Japoro does so, making a show of wiping his mouth off while he's at it.  He then hops onto Tae's shoulder, propping himself casually against her ear.
Tamahome (trying hard not to laugh as he watches Tasuki nurse his injured wrist):  Tae-chan?  If Japoro-kun isn't a weasel, then, um... what is he?

Tae:  He's an imaginary species from the Guardian World of the Shamanic Princess anime.  He most closely resembles a ferret.  WHICH (she continues as Tasuki opens his mouth) is NOT the same as a weasel.

Kenshin:  Tae-dono, when you said Japoro was cute, we thought you were getting another... um, adult human male LIAC.

Tae:  Well, you thought wrong.  And Japoro is cute.

Japoro:  Arigatou, Tae-chan!

Tae:  Just telling the truth, Japoro.

Tamahome:  No offense to you, Japoro, but... Tae-chan, you already have a pet!

Tae:  This is different.  But... truth be told, I've always wanted a ferret as a pet -- they seem so bright and inquisitive!  But I'm allergic to them.  And Nikki is part terrier, and is likely to think a ferret is a really large mouse.  With Japoro, I don't have to worry about either of those things:  He's ink, so I don't have any allergy problems, and he's too bright to let Nikki hurt him!

Kenshin:  I... see...  Well, Japoro-dono, welcome to Tae-dono's family!

Japoro:  Arigatou, Kenshin-dono!  I'm sure we'll get along fine.  (He looks pointedly at Tasuki)  I'm not so sure about him, though.

Kenshin:  Oh, he's all right.  He just takes some getting used to.

Tasuki (mumbling):  I still say that if she wanted a weasel, she shoulda gotten the Weasel Girl.

Tae (Bonking him on the head with a well-thrown pillow):  I heard that! He's not a weasel!!