Haley whistled as she strolled through the castle. Although the Civil War was over, there was much left to do.
Tatsu and Shizen were meeting with various leaders throughout the kitsune realm. Peace negotiations were in progress, diplomatic talks, and concessions made as various ceremonies and banquets held. Haley, never one for the doldrums of regal formality, quickly grew bored. Kari may enjoy these ceremonies, yet not her. Excusing herself, the Amazonian kintaro set off to explore, making her way towards the militia training grounds. As she pushed open the heavy wooden doors, she paused.
Standing on the platform was a three tail kitsune named Ikurō. A week ago Fukushu returned from the Shimizu Clan with two kitsune in tow. Haley was surprised at first, these two kitsune were quite young in appearance. The first was Lady Odayakana, a two tail vixen who was now the de facto leader of the Shimizu Clan. Odayakana by human standards was around 19 years old, her body and face quite youthful making her resemble a serious minded college student. Haley had talked briefly with the vixen, finding her energetic yet serious. The vixen quickly connected with Kari on a personal level. Since then, the pair would often talk. Haley was happy her sister was able to find someone so similar to herself.
The second kitsune though intrigued Haley greatly. A young three tail kitsune named Ikurō. By kitsune standards, the kitsune was around 20 years of age yet he carried himself like a seasoned warrior. The steel grey kitsune, as Haley put it, acted as if the stick up his butt had a stock up its butt. Kari, of course was mortified by Haley's observation despite the northern kitsune not understanding the phrase. With Kari and Odayakana busy, it appeared Ikurō was taking the time to practice.
"What cha doing?" Haley asked, the tigress twin tails swaying slightly.
"Kata," Ikurō replied, so focused on his movements that he never broke stride. Haley nodded, watching the kitsune move in a fluid, meditative pose. The kitsune methodically positioning his sword, his footwork slow and meaningful. From Haley's perspective she could see the young kitsune's brow furrowed in a serious expression.
"Huh neat," she replied. "So is it a kitsune magic to summon a cat? I really like cats."
A flummoxed look now crossed Ikurō's face as he continued his kata. "What n..no,' he replied in confusion. "Kata is a meditative practice. It balances one's chi, helps to focus one's mind."
"Oh oh, like Ritalin," Haley exclaimed happily. "I've been taking Ritalin since I was four. It kinda mellows me out...well sometimes. My brother Aaron jokes that all the Ritalin in the world couldn't mellow me out."
"I am unsure what this...Ritalin is," Ikurō replied, confused by this odd tigress yet remaining focused on his kata.
"It's a kind of medicine that's supposed to help you focus in school," Haley said. "Didn't work so well with me, I did graduate from high school though, and whenever the medicine wore off I'd get super hungry. Are you hungry? I'm kinda hungry. What's your favorite food?"
The barrage of odd questions caused Ikurō to fidget slightly, his fluid movements faltering. Who was this odd girl?
"I'm sorry but who are you?"
"Oh sorry," Haley blushed, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Haley Harris! Nice to meet you."
"Ikurō."
Haley raised an eyebrow, watching the steel grey kitsune bow before returning to practice. "So you came from the north right," Haley asked. "With Odayakana. What are you, her bodyguard?"
"I am captain of the city guard," Ikurō stated, a sad expression forming upon his face. "Although with the death of my father, I suppose I will become the general of the Shimizu Army or at least what is left of it."
"Oh you're General Ryomo’s son," Haley exclaimed. "I'm sorry about your dad. I'm Fukushu's niece but he tells me your dad was a brave and honorable warrior. He had a lot of respect for him."
"And yet he still took his life," Ikurō replied bitterly. The kitsune now pausing, sighing sadly as he wiped his eyes.
"Sorry," Haley said softly. "War sucks. I remember when I was a kid, a warrior killed my grandma. A super powerful kitsune named Hinata broke into my house. My grandma stood up to her and it cost her her life. I miss my grandma. I was only three but I remember her always smiling and making the best cookies."
Ikurō paused, glancing at the odd jade tigress. He was unaware of Lady Hinata’s past. When he met the celestial kitsune, he was under the assumption she had come to usher in a golden age for his people. He never knew of Hinata’s dark past.
"I'm sorry about your grandmother."
"It's okay," Haley shrugged. The tigress pausing before anxiously glancing around. "Can I tell you a secret?"
"I..suppose," Ikurō replied slowly.
"Sometimes my grandma visits me in my dreams," Haley whispered. "And I don't mean like a dream version of grandma but like the real real version of her. My parents and siblings think it's a silly dream, but it's not! She talks to me when I dream sometimes, asks me questions grandma wouldn't know about. You believe me right?"
Ikurō paused, unsure of how to answer. Judging by Haley's expression and body language, she wholeheartedly believed this. To dismiss this belief would crush her and seeing how large the kintaro was, could lead to Ikurō having to fight off a very angry tigress.
"I believe you," he said softly.
Haley squealed with joy, picking the serious young kitsune up in a massive bear hug. "Thank you," she said happily. "I had a feeling a cute kitsune like you would."
"Cute?"
"Yeah," Haley smiled. "I mean sure you act like super serious but a guy as cute as you would believe me."
"I am still trying to wrap my mind around this term cute." Ikurō said in confusion.
"Should I have said handsome?" Haley asked. "I mean yeah, you're handsome too. You should smile more but you are handsome, kinda buff, you have like this cool warrior vibe and that butt...WOW! Like I could bounce a quarter off of it, you got buns of steel Ikurō."
Ikurō raised an eyebrow, utterly perplexed by the energetic kintaro. "Why would you bounce a quarter off my butt," he asked. "And my buns are not made of steel."
"It's a compliment silly," Haley giggled. The tigress sporting a goofy smile. "You know I know we just met, but I'm really starting to like you. Would you like to get a bite to eat? Maybe talk? I'd like to get to know you better."
"Um sure," Ikurō replied uncertainly.
"Yay," Haley cheered, looping her arm inside Iduro's. "By the way, you don't have a girlfriend do you? Like, you're not arranged to be married or something?"
"No," Ikurō replied. "I don't have a vixen who I am sworn to."
"Awesome even better," Haley grinned. "I always wanted to date a hot, young kitsune."
With a giggle, Haley now led the confused young kitsune towards the palace. As they went, Ikurō cast the tigress a confused look before a small smile spread across his face. Despite being the family of his enemy, Ikurō had a feeling Haley would be a energetic spark in his usually regimented life. Unbeknownst to either of them and unseen by all there, the ghostly spirit of Marjorie Harris smiled as she watched her granddaughter walk off with the nice young man, as grandmothers do, she was watching out for her, and all her grandchildren.