Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Well, it seems the ox was none too thrilled to lose the race. He claimed it was a measure of speed not of trickery. Apparently you weren't the only creature disatisfied with the race results. Hmm..."

She ran her finger down the page and she read the anicent japanese writing.

"It says the Ox complained the wisest creature that had won the race, the dragon. He had learned a secret about the rat since the had been talking while the race was going on. He shared it with the dragon who promised not to reveal it. But it doesn't say what he shared. Perhaps its in the temple of the dragon."

"Gosh okaa-san, you are really smart."

"Comes with age my love. Alright boys, I think we've learned as much as we can here. We'll rest the rest of the night and tomorrow then head off to the dragon temple."

She smiled and lead the boys back to the small inn. Dinner was being served so they sat down to eat.

Bijin ate happily, enjoying the home cooked food. He noticed Kinnara seemed to be rather tense so he whispered to his mother. She nodded and he grinned. He leaned over and whispered to Kinnara.

"Ne ne, Kin-sempai, after we eat, why don't you and I go into the hot springs? I bet you will feel really good after a soak in their healing waters."

"Well first we have to take a shower, you aren't suppose to use it like a bath tub. Then we just wrap a towel around our waist and take a dip. No bathing suits either, in case they are dirty."

He smiled, as nudity didn't bother him in the least.

"The private one for men. Women have their own."

They finished eating and Bijin walked with Kinnara back to the room. He showered and put a towel on before leading the way to the hot spring. You could definately tell he was a younger boy with his thin frame and androgenous look. His skin was quite pale though, he never went outside without his sunblock. He was very happy and couldn't wait to feel the water. When they got into the room he placed his towel on a near by rock and waded into the pool. He sighed in sheer bliss as he sank into the steaming hot water and sat on a rock underneth.

"Come on in Kin-sempai! It is very nice!"

Bijin was completely oblivious to Kinnara's discomfert as he was pretending to be a tea bag and steep in the hot waters.

"neeeeee, I'm so happy Kin-sempai. I have a good friend, a nice hot spring, and no worries. I think I'll sing!"

And............he starts singing the Momiji song from Fruits Basket.

"Ne, this is really nice Kin-sempai. I hope you are having a good time."

The boy smiled at his friend and went back to relaxing. About 15 minutes later he had all he could stand of the hot water and got out. After a quick shower he returned to their room and got into his long t-shirt pajamas. He helped his friend make up the beds, then went to get something out of his suitcase. It was the Maneki Neko he had bought Kinnara in Toyko. He placed it by his friend's pillow and smiled. He wanted his friend to sleep well. After he curled up in his bed with his fox he quickly fell asleep from the warm of the water still in him.

Bijin was sleeping peacefully, not having his usual dream. Noise from his mother's room soon quieted down as she settled into slumber. Soon, the whole inn was quiet, only the sound of the running hot baths and the night time insects could be heard.....

was that a moo? Something soft, like a sigh, drifted across the cat's ears in the direction of the Ox Temple.