First Impressions

Picking a path through moss, ferns and brush that grew under the cover of tall, slender trees, Naito could faintly hear the small, cascading water that formed into pools as the mountain stream progressed down towards one of the rivers that left the mountain range. It was around here that he had chosen to shift into his fox form to pounce on the rabbits that he would scare up from the underbrush.

Taking a sharp turn, he raced after a flash of brown fur that ducked under a fallen tree trunk. Fleet of foot, he gave chase to the fleeing rabbit and abandoned distracting thoughts as instinct guided him in the hunt.

Once he was close enough, he sprung and launched himself into the air in a bounce. Using gravity's assistance, he came down accurately, with all of his weight behind his forepaws, to snap the rabbit's neck on impact.

Checking over his kill, he then raised that small black nose to sample the air cautiously. For he wasn't the only type of predator that liked to frequent this stream.

Once he was satisfied that there wasn't any threats nearby, he changed back into the familiar human form to gather the rabbit's corpse by the ears. "This should do," he spoke to no one in particular.

He then approached one of the pools forming under the small waterfall. Setting the rabbit down on the bank beside him, he dipped his hands into the cold, clear water to form a cup to bring it to his lips.

It was too far up the mountain for fish to be here, which is why he wasn't concerned about bears making appearance. However, the amount of deer that frequented this part of the mountain was no small number. With them, they attracted other predators, and most notably amongst the predators, were the human hunters.

That is why he had to be careful. For he had been shot at by hunters in the past and didn't particularly like the idea of losing his life. Not when he had a duty to fulfill and even less so when he had his own mysteries to solve.

After having a drink, he collected his kill off the moss-covered stones and started his way back towards the town and shrine.

Instead of sticking to the cover of the trees, he chose to cut towards the path that climbed the mountain to the valley the village sat in. What little travelers that would visit would use that trail and he hadn't walked it in a while to see if it needed to be cleared.

He didn't encounter any hunters in the woods, but he did spook some deer as he got closer to the trail. They would dart off into the trees to maintain their distance and their numbers would drop as he found the footpath.

Walking along it, he would pause to pick up fallen wood or stones that made footing unsteady to discard them to the sides. It was while he was clearing the path that he caught the sound of jingling behind him and watched the deer scatter out of sight.

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The rings attached to the pewter head of Hansuke's khakkhara clanked against each other as loud as a janitor's keys on a keyring as he ran up the path.

He drew to a stop as soon as he saw the pale, silver-haired young man on the trail ahead of him that was looking at him with a bit of surprise in his blue eyes. Yet, it was the rabbit in the man's hands that caught the monk's attention as his stomach rumbled at the thought of tender, roasted meat which he had been without since he was sent to the monastery in the first place.

His eyes never leaving it, he slowly approached the curious young hunter while his mouth salivated. Swallowing so he wouldn't drool on himself in the loss of control, he put on his best smile as he closed the distance.

The monk's grip on the staff tightened and as soon as he was close enough, he looked at the ghostly pale man then swung with his staff. He attacked without warning!

Caught off guard by the appearance of the monk, Naito stumbled as he avoided the blow as he yelled, "What the hell, monk!"

Without stopping, Hansuke swung again as he shouted, "BEGONE EVIL DEMON!"

The shock Naito suffered was massive enough that he dropped the rabbit and scrambled back out of range, but the ridiculousness of the situation also served to piss him off.

He roared back, "Where is there a demon! I think YOU are the demon here!"

"FOUL THING! I WILL NOT GIVE IN TO YOUR TRICKERY!" Hansuke likewise roared back in reply as he chased Naito with his staff.

Naito nearly coughed up blood at this. Was the monk crazy?

"Have you lost your mind, monk!?" he called out, then remembered the old priest and added, "I'm a zenko! A zenko! There is an Inari shrine ahead!"

A flash of recognition and hesitation appeared on the monk's face as he paused in his next strike. This gave Naito enough time to get to his feet and get out of immediate striking range as he continued, "What kind of monk are you to attack a messenger of the gods!"

Hansuke grimaced as embarrassment flushed his cheeks. The guy's unnatural and flawless pale skin as well as the hair and eyes that didn't belong to a normal human is what had fueled his belief that Naito was a ghost or demon. That and his hunger is what made him attack without warning.

Still though, even if this guy is a zenko...

"How can I believe this is not just another trick of yours, demon!" he shouted.

Naito was stunned and couldn't stop from voicing his thoughts out loud, "How can you be so stupid?!"

Hansuke's face turned various shades of red and purple as he tried to cope. Didn't he just claim to be a zenko, but then insult him?

No matter what, Hansuke was an ordained priest and wasn't ignorant of the stories of Japan. Fox spirits could be broken into different types, but no one said that there were clear differences in their personalities.

Trying to salvage his already ruined first impression, he struggled a bit to ask, "How can I believe a fox?"

Naito stayed wary, but he had calmed enough to take in the situation and carefully answered, "You can't.... at least not without time for observation. Actions speak louder than words, do they not?"

Still gripping his staff and keeping it at the ready, Hansuke took a moment to think while Naito say this as a chance to continue.

"Have I attacked back?" he questioned the monk.

Hansuke was forced to admit, "No. You have not."

Without dropping his guard, Naito tried to appear a little more relaxed as he steered the conversation. "Is it not normal for introductions to be exchanged when greeting for the first time? The miko at the shrine has given me the name Naito.... and you are?"

Trying to main his cool and look composed, Hansuke answered with a forced smile, "Surnamed Nagao, given name Hansuke, though I was given the name Fushin while I was on Mt. Hiei."

Naito's brows jumped slightly as he realized that this guy had most likely completed his training and was ordained to be given a religious name, rather than assuming one of his own volition. He gave the monk a wipe berth as he went around to pick up the rabbit that he had dropped in the scuffle.

Hansuke's eyes didn't leave him, but Naito noticed the pained expression the monk made when he grabbed the rabbit. He grinned as his crafty mind seized on this tidbit of information that was conveniently confirmed by the audible growl of Hansuke's stomach.

The monk's face blanched and then turned a funny sort of rose color with embarrassment. He knew that he wasn't allowed to eat meat, but he was just so hungry!

Naito's ever-increasing grin gave Hansuke a bad feeling as he knew the fox had caught his weakness in his palm.

"The village is not far away, but..." he purposely drew out the pause while Hansuke's stomach spoke up in protest of the delay, "I think you are a bit late to partake in lunch."

The monk looked pitiful at hearing this but eyed the rabbit in Naito's hand. He shouldn't, but he really wanted to eat meat.

The fox dangled the rabbit from his hand as Naito used that same hand to point off into the woods, "I'm sure you can find some wild herbs and roots here in the forest."

It was a cruel blow, and Hansuke's face fell. He was hoping for a break and be offered food.

Naito watched the ever-changing expressions on the monk's face and felt pleased with himself. That's what you get for randomly attacking strangers without a proper greeting!

Satisfied, he kept his distance as he turned for the village, "Anyways, I need to get back so I can give this game to Ryuka," he muttered.

"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Hansuke called out.

Shock then annoyance fluttered through Naito's head. How shameless was this monk? Was he going to follow him all the way back and ask for meat to be shared with him too?

Naito just grunted with assent and picked up his pace in going back, halfway hoping to lose this monk.