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"The cherry orchard is so pretty! You will like it. Hmm, things related to the Zodiac Fable......"

Bijin put on his cute thinking face and tried to remember any places that would be relavent to that fable.

"Well we can go to one of the shrines for each zodiac animal. Each shrine should have something there that can answer questions about the tale. Told from each animal's point of view. It will then lead to the next animal, and eventually, we will reach the cat. And I'm sure there is a shrine for the cat as he came in just after the pig. How does that sound?"

Bijin wasn't too sure about it but it was an idea. But that would mean Kinnara would have to go to the Temple of the Rat first. He hoped his friend wouldn't get too upset on the trip if they did so.

"Hai. I will tell okaa-san to make arrangements for us to enjoy some things together, without her there. She will understand."

Bijin nibbled on his pizza, something crossing his mind. Ever since he had come to this place, he had always been picked on and insulted by a great deal of the others boys. Only a few, other fables like himself, seemed to be kind to him.

"Ne, Kin-semapi. I am glad you don't make fun of me like the other boys. There are actually a lot of boys in Japan that dress like me. So I am confused why boys make fun of me."

"I hope so, Kin-sempai."

Bjin finished his meal and cleaned up for them both.

"Ne, come to my home Kin-sempai. So my okaa-san may meet you. She will not take a stranger with us, even though I have spoken highly of you to her."

Bijin smiled happily, he wanted his mother to meet the nice neko-kun that had befriended him. And he wanted to show Kinnara a Japanese style home so he would be more prepared when they came to Japan.

"Hai, okaa-san loves pizza. She says it is the best thing ever in this country."

Once they were ready Bijin lead to way to his home. It was not too far from the mall and just a bit past Kinnara's home. It looked like a regular home from the outside but when they came in, it was very different. There was none of the regular furniture like in Kinnara's house. The paintings that hung from the wall were very japanese and depicted many tales of their mytholog. Small statues were also on the walls to offer protection and other blessings. Bijin removed his shoes and gave Kinnara some slippers to wear. After putting on his own he ran off into the house calling for his mother.

The woman who returned with Bijin was a very lovely Japanese woman. She wore a brown and white yukata and her long deep purple hair was tied back onto of her head. She smiled brightly at Kinnara and bowed to him.

"Welcome to my home, all of Bijin's friends are welcome here. Please come in."

She lead him to the main room where a table was low to the ground and pillows were on the floor to sit on. She took the pizza to put away while Bijin taught Kinnara how to sit properly at a Japanese table. Bijin's mother returned with some tea and pocky.

"So Kinnara-san, you wish to go to Japan with us?"

"Well I would be honored to take you. You have given Bijin such happiness with your friendship. You will just need to make sure your passport is in good order before we leave, I will take care of the rest. Oh, and pack for hiking. We will be doing quite a bit of walking through the wilderness while we are there."

Bijin nibbled on his pocky and smiled.

"Okaa-san, Kin-sempai wants to study more about the zodiac. He is the cat from the story of the race. So he wants to learn more about his tale so he can become human."

The gentlefaced woman listened to her son and nodded sagely.

"Very well, I know of a few temples that carry scrolls about the ancient race in the heavens. And we will go visit the shrines of all the sacred animals. Perhaps they can give us some clues. How does that sound Kinnara-san?"

"It is pocky, Kin-sempai. It is a Japanese dessert from my country. A bread stick dipped in chocolate. Would you like some?"

Bijin held out his hand with a few sticks in it. Meanwhile his mother went to get Kinnara some milk. She sat it down with a smile and also gave him a pillow to kneel on.

"I know it is difficult for non-Japanese to sit in this mannor, so feel free to sit however is comfortable."

"I am very happy you are so kind to my son. He has had a difficult time here. Though he has made friends with one other boy, his name is Todd. He defended Bijin's way of dressing."

Bijin's mother was about to go on when she saw what looked like a bruise forming on Kinnara's arm.

"Kinnara-san, where did you get that?"

She looked to her son who tried his best to look innocent but failed in the presence of his mother's glare.

"Did you two get into a fight again?"

"But okaa-san! Those boys were theives! They took Kin-sempai's wallet!"

Bijin's mother didn't look all convinced. Her son was known to get revenge when no one was looking. But she would leave it alone for now. At least Bijin had someone near by to physically protect him during the fight.

"Well I am glad you are not hurt more than that. Bijin's come home with a fair number of brusies and cuts from his own scuffles with....deliquent boys."

Bijin sighed and tried not to think about it. Physically he wasn't very strong, metally he could compete with the best, but when it came to fighting, he just couldn't do it. But anyone who had hurt him had been hurt later in a worse way than physical pain. Innocent he may be, he was not above sabatoge and trickery.