It was dark outside, not too cold, and the city was quiet. It was just the perfect night to go to the hot springs and take a relaxing dip in that warm water on the mountain, so there you were. Just walking up the steps, your shoes gently making noise against the bricks, and your breathing was normal as the trees danced and you took in the scenery before you. The lanterns lighting the steps, the strips of bamboo, and different little areas to honor people.

It was a little quiet, maybe just a little too quiet. Had you taken a wrong turn? No. You swore you knew his place like the back of your hand, which was true. But it seemed off a little bit. The trees were different, and the silence was ever growing. 'Shhh….' you thought, glancing around when just then, a sudden noise caught your attention. Something touched your shoulder. It wasn’t cold, it was actually a tad bit warm. And the air smelled like soft lavender, definitely different from normal. You whipped your head around with only your eyes to be met with a pair of soft, hazel, almost brown eyes staring back at you.

This man. No, this thing had.. Soft ears and a tail? No, nine tails all swaying in motion, and his brows were knitted slightly in concern as he stared at you. He looked, pretty. Gorgeous even, and still, he looked a bit sad. With a soft and caring voice he asked,

“Are you alright? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

He looked like he had something on his mind, but he was definitely focusing his attention on you as his soft ears flicked at noises and his tails shifted in the wind.