The bovine and the Kitsune (Stella/Ikari)

Ahh, Japan~! Ikari will never tire of the familiar woods that dot the Japanese landscape. Not to mention, the area held her native tongue, effectively. But, aside from that, Japan was well and truly her home. Ikari purred as she smelled the roses, figuratively at least, and casually strolled up to the forest. As per usual, it stank of blood, death, and, you guessed it, Hollow! Stinky stinky things anyways... Ikari certainly does not appreciate their stench. However, as the little fox, well not so little in her human form, approached the bountiful, and stinky, forest, she noticed a figure attempting to navigate her way.

Truly, she seemed lost. Well, maybe not lost wasn't the right word... Then agaaaiin, people who didn't know where they were going were typically characterized as "lost"; but she seemed confident enough upon her path! Ikari shrugged and made her way to the woman lickity split. Within an acceptable amount of time, Ikari gently tapped the woman upon the shoulder; hoping not to surprise her too badly. But it likely didn't help that Ikari's approach was nearly completely silent. She was ready, at least, to dodge blows if someone reacted violently to random fox girls tapping your shoulder. Ikari was clothed rather normally, pants, hoodie, and converse-like high-tops, albeit the attire did appear oddly clean, and a bit expensive; but her pink hair, five pink tails, and her semi-poorly concealed ears certainly gave away her abnormality.

"Hellooo~ Name's Ikari. Might you be searching for something specific in yon city, or do you just want to have a bit of fun dressed up in a track suit? Not sure if a refugee city really has the training facilities for such things!"

Ikari smiled a tiny bit when she heard that this woman before her wasn't going to enter the forest. Unless you were a truly strong individual, that really wasn't the best place to go! However, Ikari did detect that hint of sadness within the woman's voice. It was slight, truth be told, but poignant enough for Ikari to notice it. She tilted her head at the woman, the ears that Stella had believed to be 'cat' ears perking a bit to reveal their full length. She was a fox thank you very much! However, Ikari soon gave her attention to the woman's statements, and to the question she had.

"Well, Stella, it doesn't hurt to do things the way you are doing them; but finding the right person to train with is also a good thing to do~!"

Ikari purred as she moved along with the woman for a few moments longer, her ears once more being somewhat concealed by her hair. Eventually, however, she remembered the woman's question! Ikari grinned, waving her five tails in concert and also perking up her ears to their full extent; at which she made a slightly silly motion to go with it.

"Why, I'm a Kitsune~! Surely you've heard the myths and legends~"

Ikari gave the woman a truthful answer, but it wasn't entirely true. In reality, Ikari was the Danava of Kitsune, buuut simply calling herself a Kitsune was still accurate enough. Besides, better to tell the woman part of the truth rather than confuse her with the whole truth.

"So, tell me; what else are you trying to do for training aside from moving a long distance?"

Ikari was a bit disappointed that Stella hadn't heard about Kitsune, didn't the internet exist? But, Ikari decided to let the matter slide. It wasn't exactly important, especially because it was only half of Ikari's identity. Regardless, the woman hummed as she accompanied Stella down the road, her tails flicking gently as she took up a measured pace so she wouldn't accelerate ahead of Stella on accident. Ikari soon turned her attention to the woman's statement about hunting for hollows, or sparring partners, and tilted her head somewhat in response.

"Well I'm not sure if I would be the most amazing sparring partner, but we can always give it a shot! I'm not sure if you'll find any hollow on their own out here; but we can try if you're fixated on hollow! Albeeit, perhaps it's best we refrain from killing hollows... Maintaining the balance and such."

Ikari shrugged a small bit, letting Stella decide which she wished to do instead of Ikari making the woman do as she desired. Regardless, Ikari kept pace with Stella and held her silence until after the woman responded. Ikari didn't want to disturb this woman's walk more than she already had, after all!

Ikari purred as she continued to follow Stella down the road, contemplating the woman's words after she had uttered them. Ikari was glad she didn't wish to upset the cycle anymore than Ikari did, she only did such things in situations of desperation. Regardless, the fox did contemplate the woman's words for a few moments longer. After those moments of contemplation Ikari gave Stella a smile.

"Well maybe we can spar a bit after we get to know each other a little bit better~! A friend of mine says a fight is the best way to get to know someone, buuut that's not always conducive to complete strangers~"

Ikari rubbed the back of her head sheepishly before she passively began to toy with one of her ears, along with a small charm that appeared to be attached to her ear. Whatever its nature, by the ware upon the charm it was nothing new.

"Aside from training, were you trying to find anything in the refugee city along this road?"

Despite Stella's desires to hide her own reasons from Ikari, Ikari did sense some measure of the woman's objectives. However, she was no empath nor mind reader. Instead, Ikari had that simple instinctual feeling that something wasn't quite right with what Stella had said. The Kitsune simply let the matter go. After all, it wasn't really her business to pry into. Whatever the woman's reasons were, even if they may be relatively suicidal, were her own. Ikari instead simply shrugged at what Stella said, deciding not to point out just how terrible the woman was at lying.

"Well, as far as the Japanese country side goes, this isn't the best place. Not bad though! There's a few areas that are much better for sightseeing."

Ikari looked at the women for a bit longer, noticing how she seemed to be quite fidgety, maybe even a little anxious. But... Ikari left it alone and continued to walk with the woman. It's not like Ikari was all that powerful, but it's likely that her presence would dissuade the majority of random hollow attacks. Regardless, Ikari continued to walk with the woman, uncertain of her true intentions but aware she was hiding something.