Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nothing? This old lady sure knew how to rub fur the wrong way. Maybe that was why she was alone. But those were unworthy thoughts. Toshi sighed impatiently. "Whatever you want to do. Lay down. I will bring you some cough medicine while the soup heats up." Toshi left the room. Maybe she would fall asleep while Toshi was away. Was that what they wanted though?

Somehow Toshi didn't think the shrine's teachings applied to Viv. She was strange, but not a bad person. They should try harder to get along with her during her stay. These thoughts were ruminated upon, until Toshi was able to bring back the cough medicine. They scratched softly at the door before opening it. "I have brought the cough medicine. The soup is almost ready."

"No, you need more rest." Toshi knew instinctively that Viv would press the issue about helping around the shrine. But it was not as if they were short handed. "I don't need to run the shrine, just upkeep it. It's easy enough to do alone." Perhaps Toshi was stretching the truth just a little bit. And wouldn't it be nice to clean with a friend? "I will go get the soup now." Toshi also removed the cough medicine, too when they made their way to the door and down the hallway towards the kitchen. A short time later Toshi brought Viv's food to her.

Toshi sat down and waited for her to finish eating. "Questions? Like, 'Why do you refuse to rest?' Does that count?" Toshi stuck their tongue out at Viv.

Toshi was not sure why this fox was obsessed with finding a partner and about talking about it. "Resting will ensure that you are well enough to look for this partner of yours. I don't really feel alone. There is no time but 'now,' and right now I am here with you. I'm not lonely."

Puzzled and perhaps a bit frightened, Toshi was pulled into a hug unwittingly. But she had finally fallen asleep. They wriggled out of her grasp and backpedaled a couple of steps backward. Then they sat down and watched her for several moments. She was a weird one, that was for sure. One thing she was right about was that Toshi, as a child, could not really understand what she meant. More like, Toshi didn't want to think about it. They were alone for sure, there were no other foxes around, but they were not lonely. Right?

Toshi turned around and stopped at the door, glancing back at her. Weird. But... nice. Then they slipped out of the room in search of more chores. They were completely absorbed in their conversation. Their words swirled around in Toshi's head.

Toshi worked hard in those five hours! They could be found passed out on the deck. They had been looking out at the garden, which was designed to give a feeling of wild remoteness. Toshi was alone; most other shrines must have several foxes at any given time. Where were the other foxes?

Toshi did not hear her words. Toshi began to stir, the only thing their perceived was a hug, and responded with one of his own, a reflex of sorts. When she curled up around him he settled down again with a deep sigh. Still asleep.