Dark Edge Village

(Expecting)

After his frustration at the lancing event, Takeo thought to clear his head and took Asahi for a romp at the animal pens.

As the fox inspected the new sights and overhwelming sounds, Takeo played a light tune on his flute to ease his worries. It didn't do much to help.

(Flute: 14)

What's that odd sound. It's weird, like a cry. Which kind of animal doe-, Kitakuhime ears guide her eyes to Takeo, Oh. It's the Fox with a flute.

She smiles, leading Gekko by the reins. "Kitsune-san, good afternoon. I hope the Fortunes blessed you today." Once she stops, she bows to him –– the steed copies her with his neck.

As Kitakuhime greeted him, Takeo smiled.

"They have now, Otaku-sama," he replied, bowing deeply. Asahi, who had been eyeing a group of sheep suspiciously, turned at the new voice and perked his ears up, meandering over to look at Kitakuhime inquisitively from behind Takeo's leg.

"I hope you are similarly blessed."

"Blessed, indeed!" She looks down, and finds something poking out of Takeo's legs. There are a few blinks and the girl kneels down to look at it closer. Some pink dot her cheeks while she opens an enormous grin, trying to hold it with her hands -– not to be totally improper. "Very much blessed."

Kawaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii... iiiii



Love at first sight.

Asahi sniffed the air tentatively then edged closer to the Unicorn, offering a tiny yip of approval.

"I believe Asahi-kun likes you, Otaku-sama," he said, "He is young, but he has impeccable taste it would seem."

Like his master, I wonder.

She looks up, controlling her grin not to engulf her whole face. "Asahi-kun is so cute. May I pet him?" The girl asks Takeo with big, round, charming eyes.

Without waiting for Takeo's reply, Asahi strutted forward, placing and nuzzled Kitakuhime's hand.

A smirk appeared on Takeo's face.

"If he had given me time to reply, he would have disregarded me in any event," he said, "He is as tempestuous as the red of his name would imply. My little fire that cannot be tamed."

Kami. So fluffy and cute... look at these lil' paws... weeee...

The girl ignores Takeo for some time, playing with Asahi. "Little morning sun, meet my moonlight." She waves Gekko to lower himself a bit, so Asahi could sniff him as well –– taking care not to scare the little one.

Kitakuhime adjusts a wild bang of hair behind her ear, looking up again to meet Takeo. "Shitsurei, ne! I did not pay attention to Kitsune-san. What does Asahi-kun likes to eat?"

"Most anything, though he has a fondness for fish," he said, not vocalizing how this made sense because fish was hard to come by in the Kitsune Mori and Asahi would obviously prefer something that was hard for Takeo to acquire, "Small game, rabbits and birds, the like, but also fruits and berries when meat cannot be come by. He enjoys lychee when it is in season."

He reached into a tiny pouch at his obi and withdrew a handful of blackberries, offering them to Kitakuhime to feed Asahi.

"I have more, if Gekko cares for berries?"

His own mind did cartwheels - certainly it was good that she got along with Asahi - was it possible the tiny creature could help to win her heart, or at least her hand?

"Wait! Gekk-" She tried to get the berries from his hand, but Gekko is an Otaku Warhorse, as fast a lightning. Being nearby, the huge beasts glomps whatever was being offered by Takeo, leaving some dribbles of satisfaction over the Fox's hand.

She squints her eyes at him and pokes the chewing smile off his face. "Bad, bad boy. Asahi-kun is small, you brute." Gekko neighs, as if asking for forgiveness and back down a bit –– still chewing, and perhaps snickering.

Kitakuhime nods to Asahi with a apology and to Takeo as well, "I'll compensate for this, Kitsune-san. Perhaps I can prepare fish for you and Asahi-kun. Is that accepatable?"

Takeo, caught off-guard by the high rings of the warhorse, lets out a loud laugh as he listens to the shiotome chastise her steed. It was not unlike his own relationship with Asahi...minus the fact that Asahi was unlikely to save him in battle.

"Compensation is unnecessary, but if you would like to have our company regardless, we would be happy to attend you," he said, still chuckling slightly.

He reached down to his obi and removed the small pouch, offering the sack to Kitakuhime.

"Hopefully Gekko-san does not have a taste for silk - there are more blackberries inside if you should like to try this again."

Throughout the exchange, Asahi's own face had gone from excitement to horror to revulsion. He eyed the warhorse with the disdain that one might best compare to the centuries old enmity that existed between the Kakita and the Matsu. There would be no forgiveness for such an insult.

She offers both hands to take the silken bag with berries, then gently –– and extremely protective of opportunists –– takes a few berries in hand, offering it to the little fox.

Looking up again to meet Takeo's, she says before closing her eyes in agreement. "I would like your company."

Meanwhile, the beast wiggles its tail and licks its purple lips. Gekko dismisses Asahi's glare and dares to approach Takeo, sniffing him in thanks... or just to search for more berries. Who would know?

"We would be honored to share your company again," Takeo replied as the horse approached.

He held his hand out flat, exposing the juice stained hand as Gekko's tongue flicked out, greedily lapping up what little juice remained.

Takeo suppressed laughter as the tongue tickled his hand.

"should I treat this as an invitation to pet Gekko-san? "he asked, somewhat mindful of his fingers.

She squints an eye at Gekko. "As long you feed him again, I guess so. Just don't try to ride him by now."

The girl continues to play with the fox, now hiding the berry and making it reappear to challenge Asahi. "I know what Asahi-kun likes, and Kitsune-san?"

"Asahi and I enjoy many of the same things - I particularly enjoy sushi, perhaps because it is harder to come by in Kitsune Mori..." he said, musing over his own affectation that he had internally chastised Asahi for.

"Beyond that...well, I must say I was rather impressed with the cheese that your people introduced me too a few days back."