Hopebound

Chapter V - Later is Better than Never

~Suketchi Snow~

Ahh, the sweet scents of the sakura and nearby stream life blending to make my favourite scent on this entire wakusei.  I walk through the forest along the Namiuchi stream and inhale that sweet, sweet scent.  

"Oi, watch where you're going!" I exclaim as I take a hoof to the muzzle.

"Omigod, I'm so sorry!  I didn't mean to!" A female katori lands next to me and bows, apologising repeatedly.

"Hey," I reply, worried about this random katori that just kicked me dangerously close to my eye.

"Ack!  I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Is all I receive.

"Oi, it's okay, it was an accident.  You're fine, I'm fine, let's move on.  Okay?"

The light coloured katori stands up and looks me right in the eyes, though she is a wee bit taller than me.

"I really am sorry..." She says, obvious grief in her voice, as her eyes scan my face then move up to my ears, then down to the ground.  "Sorry," she whispers again.

"Hey, I said it's alright.  I'm sorry I snapped at you like that.   I shouldn't have.   Anyways, I'm looking for my sister.   Wanna help me find her?" I say, planning to get to introduce her to Hāmonī, as I think this might be the one she's looking for.

"Uh, sure!  What does she look like?" 'Shit!' I think, needing to introduce her, not make her find my sister.

"Well, I was hoping you might... come with me?" I say, hoping I didn't sound like I was flirting.

"I-I'm quite flattered, but..." She starts.  'Shit, shit, shit! No!   I'm not flirting!   Ugh, I need to think of something!  Agh, how do I say this?!'

"No. That's not how I meant it.  I want to introduce you to Hāmonī, not for you to have to find her yourself.   Besides, I- I'm... gay..." I whisper the last word quietly, unsure if she would react negatively or not.

"Oh! Okay, that's fine," she says sort of happily.  Wonder why...

"Anyways, her coat is dark and she looks like a fawn from her spotting.   Her nose is a light colour, and her ears are strange colours.   Is that enough?"

"Yep!  Alright, I'm off then!" She shouts out, flying off.

"Wait, I haven't told you where she might be!" I yell back at her, but she's too far away to hear me. "Alrighty, then..." I finish, then start off to our meeting place.