(D1, LA) Meeting New Friends

[Asahina Hinata]

"I like foxes and cats, but especially bunnies. Not that many zoos have bunnies."

He sighs at the missed opportunity. Surely all zoos should have bunnies?

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"Some zoos are sanctuaries like this one, meant to preserve animals native to an area. So, everything here is likely from this planet." He had been to several zoos and sanctuaries during his travels. "Others bring creatures from far away, so that people can see and learn about them. I'm not sure we'll see bunnies here. Not unless I summoned one."

[Asahina Hinata]

Zoo and Sanctuary just meant the same thing to Hinata, animals! Sadly he resigned himself to no bunnies . . . and then the Fox mentioned summons . . .

"Really?? You can summon bunnies?????"

The Fox had already been added as friend in the Hinata Index. Now he was upgraded to Possible Bestie.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"I can, yes. It's part of my training and my connection to the realm of animals." he answered. "I don't do that very often though."

[Asahina Hinata]

"Oh . . . I wish we had something that cool in our training. It's always been winds this and funeral arrangements that. I mean I learnt the prayers for talking to animals and making sparkly birds for messages, but not actual animal summoning!!!!"

The poor rainbow pangolin could have been doing cartwheels on a skateboard in the background and Hinata would not have noticed right now.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"Have you had many pets Asahina-sama?"

Kiyoshi new where this conversation might lead.

[Asahina Hinata]

Strangely that triggered an immediate 'sad' for the idol.

"I used to when I was little, but being in Usagi Drop! just makes it impossible. We're always travelling or performing. I can't keep a bunny on a shuttle."

And there had also been 'The Canary Incident'. No one needed to know about 'The Canary Incident'.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

Kiyoshi was actually relived by the reaction.

He nodded. "I've only been able to tend to the Detective's needs because he was part of the show and most fans enjoy seeing him when I tour."

[Asahina Hinata]

Hinata looked down at the Detective. All thoughts of them being an animal broken out of the Zoo for nefarious purposes long gone, Hinata had pretty much been counting them as another samurai, just silent like a yojimbo.

"He looks a lot more capable than a fluffy bunny or a canary."

A brief flash of panic zipped across his face as he relived "The Canary Incident" just by saying the word.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

The Fox smiled. "He's very capable and clever. He knows not to be too mischievous around other animals or people. But, I imagine bunnies and canaries can be capable in their own ways too.

[Asahina Hinata]

"I dunno. I've seen some pretty dumb bunnies that just do the first thing that comes into their head without thinking of any consequences or problems it might cause . . . "

Did he . . . . . nopes, he carried straight on.

"Where is this pangolongy thing then????"

[Thimacek]

With the Pangolin another burrower, It might have been just a trick of the light. But for the shortest moment, it seems like something multi-coloured shines through the ground in the enclosure, some twenty or thirty feet away from where Hinata and Kiyoshi are speaking.

[Asahina Hinata]

"Ohh is that it?"

He pointed very vaguely into the enclosure.

"That flashy, sparkly thing there!"

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"It must be." the Fox nodded. "Maybe it was sleeping. Hopefully it will come out into the open like the monitor did."

[Asahina Hinata]

Hinata stared at the spot he thought he'd seen the movement at, but was probably off by some distance in his excitement.

"It was really sparkly! Not brown at all!!!"

[Thimacek]

... for now, no more sparkles.

There were some sounds coming from belowground now and then, though.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"I hear him. He is a burrower." he frowned. "But, he's active. He should resurface."

[Asahina Hinata]

Hinata looked around.

"Does this one have an underground view then?"

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

He looked around. "It might. Let's see if the path leads us into one of the tunnels."

[Asahina Hinata]

Hinata was now torn between keeping an eye on where he'd seen the sparkly colours and finding an underground viewing window . . . but constant movement would always win over standing still for the little Asahina. So off down the path he traipsed.

"I hope it's better lit than the last one. It was far too dark down there."