"I used to hide it to appear more human. Before I came to Gensokyo I was lord Bishamonten's caretaker at his temple. I suppressed my bestial traits so I could function properly as his avatar without scaring humans. Now that I am spreading his faith in Gensokyo with the message of yokai human coexistence it is beneficial to let my yokai nature show through."
[[ I have a head canon that Shou, as many beast yokai do, shape shifts between beast and human. However the more she lets her beast side show the more her instincts surface. She must meditate daily to keep her inner savage side in check and maintain the balance of beast and man. If she is startled, looses focus (IE drunk), or gets extremely emotional (IE anger and rage ) she shifts from more to less human. Woe to those who make her angry enough to shift completely to tiger form. Thankfully she is disciplined enough that it would take something like... Nazrin being seriously hurt for that to show. ]]