“So what are you doing later today?” Kurt inquired while the two exchange Students made their way through the maze formed by the streets of Tokyo. He futilely tried to brush the last few crumbs out of his braided beard while waiting for a response.

“I have some work to do this afternoon, and probably going to just relax and read a book afterwards.” Eva replied as the traffic light they waited at had finally switched to green.

“Ah right. Still not quite sure why you also took a job, didn’t you have a scholarship for your stay here or something like that?” He inquired , having given up on getting his facial hair presentable again for the moment. Instead his hands were shoved into the pockets of his jeans.

“Well I felt like it.” Eva said with an exaggerated shrug. “And besides, I didn’t see you complain about my extra spending money when I payed for your takoyaki.”

“Fair fair.” Kurt replied giving a shrug of his own. Pulling his phone out, he flicked through his Calendar app. “So when do you want to meet up again for food and talks?”

“Hm.” Looking up her own availabilities, the young Kitsune replied. “How about over the weekend, maybe do Karaoke as well?”

Before he replied, Kurt gave a barely noticeable flinch as he looked at the notes on his calendar. “This weekend is not going to work out. Any other suggestions?”

“Well only other time that would work would be the same time as today, next week. I got roped into helping out at a festival near my flat, and that’s going to keep me busy next week I fear.” Eva offered, following with an exasperated sigh.

“Ah, well if you are helping out, maybe I should just make time to visit that instead.” Kurt suggested. “Where is it going to happen?”

“Mumeikitsune, a small Inari shrine in my neighbourhood. It’s going to happen next weekend.”

“Sounds interesting, I’ll see if I can find time to swing by.” Kurt said before he waved goodbye. Their routes home were about to split, Kurt's leading him down to the subway station they were passing, while Eva would have to walk on a few blocks more to keep up appearances with him. Then she could finally deliver the package she had carried around all day. And then she could finally head home to relax.

Ducking into a small side alley, Eva pulled out the package she had still to deliver. She carefully placed it on the ground. Then the Kitsune looked around to make sure the alley was free of any curious onlookers, before she dropped down to all four paws.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Picking up the small cargo by a small ribbon tied around it, she raced away, tails held firmly together to draw less attention from the few people that did spare the canine racing past them a second glance. Running around in the shape of a snow white fox was when she felt most at ease ever since her metamorphosis.

Not to mention her much smaller stature made it a breeze to navigate the packed streets of Tokyo at a rapid pace. Slipping through between people’s legs, and occasionally running on the facade of a building if no one looked, Eva made fast progress. As always she followed the invisible red thread connecting the package to its destination through her mind’s eye.

As she ran through the urban jungle, Eva tried to keep an eye on her surroundings. But after running next to a railway for twenty minutes, all the little shops on the other side of the road began to blur into each other.

A few more minutes of ever same and still ever changing cityscape later, the Kitsune finally arrived at her destination.Which turned out to be a generic grey apartment building surrounded by a few trees contrasting sharply with it. Which was quite a surprise seeing as most other deliveries she had had to make had led her to shrines both old and new.

Giving a shrug with her small foxy shoulders, she made her way around to the back and began slowly walking up the walls between the apartments balconies. Stepping carefully to keep out of view, the white fox made slow progress until she reached the balcony attached to the flat she was looking for.

Moving over to the glass door leading into the apartment itself, her nose was assaulted by a canine stench. Taking one last step forward, she shifted into a more humanoid form.She kept the ears and tails and was now wearing the white Kimono and red Hakam of a Miko as she knocked against the glass.

When a moment later someone stepped before the door, Eva actually dropped the package in surprise. Luckily nothing in it seemed to break.

“Kurt?”

“Eva?”

Standing inside the apartment was her fellow exchange student, looking just as confused as her own reflection on the glass.