According to the rumors deep in the vast forest of nymphs and other creatures that walked around the land .There was a lonely kitsune who had everything life had to offer. He had everything he could ever want, everything that was but a lover. Across the years he had found men who wanted to appease him by offering their bodies and souls laid bare to him . But even that was not enough for him , humans all died so young and so much faster than he would have liked.
The Kitsune ran his fingers through his black silky locks, sighing at the gifts left at his shrine once more . He had told humans time and time again that he did not require gifts or even food. His pointy ears twitched hearing the jingle of the totem around his shrine he had to alert him of anyone snooping around.
Izou arched a thin black eyebrow as he stepped out of his shrine, his long black and golden robes dragging behind him on the ground . His shoes clacked as he turned the corner. He had to suppress a gasp seeing what looked to be a Nymph . He had heard rumors of a garden Nymph getting into everyone's offerings.
" And who might you be?" He asked, his voice lacking any amusement despite the curl of his red painted lips .
The Nymph in question let out a loud yelp tripping over his own feet and landing right into the koi pond. He sat up with a fish in his hair , he blew a strandout of his eyes . As he sat there soaked his white tunic sticking to his chest .
He let out a loud laugh rubbing the back of his head"Ah I'm not making a very good first impression am I?, the name is Thatch , what's your name?"
Izou pinched the bridge of his nose " Izou is my name , so Thatch thisdoes not explain what you are doing around my shrine. "
Thatch's face tinted pink " Ah I wanted to meet you but I heard you liked lava lilies so I was trying to place them with your offerings in hope you would come out."
" If that was the case you could have just knocked on my shrine door, instead of looking like an utter fool"
" I do look pretty dumb huh? But I think it was worth it, you're much more extraordinary in person if I say so myself" . He said flashing a cheesy smile in the Kiatune's direction .
Izou blinked before he felt his face turn red, damn him it was like he was trying to get him worked up on purpose . He could withstand human men; they were nothing but a means to an end but this man was different . Maybe it was due to the fact he was a creature like himself.
" Flattery will get you nowhere you know , you have to fix my flowers and pay for scaring my poor koi fish,"
"O-oh sorry about that , I can replant the flowers but uh how can I make it up to you?"
Izou sighed, pushing his hair out of his eyes " Well since you gave me such a headache . You may come to my shrine for a cup of tea and tell me why you wanted to see me so badly."
Thatch winced before his whole face lit up like the sun jumping out of the koi pond right over to him " Really?!"
" Hold it, you may come once you are wearing something not so wet and flimsy , ring the bell when you come back." Izou said as he turned on his heel walking back into his shrine the doors locking in place.
Izou put his hand over his face. What was he even doing at this point? It's not like he could back off this now . He just hoped he would not regret this decision. He was only going to have a cup of tea with Thatch, that was all, so why was his heart racing. Like it once did when he had a new kitsune .
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Izou jolted hearing the bell ring of his shrine . He stood up opening the door to see that same garden Nymph from before . Thank the heavens he was wearing something that would not make Izou feel like he would explode .
"It's nice to see you can dress up,"
"I always dress to impress! " Thatch countered with a arched eyebrow
Izou shook his head "Just get in, I made the tea already, " he said before pausing "what's that in your hands?"
Thatch let out a laugh "I like to cook so i asked your worshippers what foods you like so i made some onigiri, "
Izou could not help but to look surprised at that. A red tint matching his lipstick spread over his cheeks ."Is that so then it would be a waste to not give them at least a try," He mused out loud with a sliver of a smile.
"You won't find anyone who can cook better than me, just so you know, " Thatch said wiggling his brown brows at him getting in his face.
Izou moved his hand pushing his face from his "Don't get ahead of yourself there dumpling,"
"Eh? Are you saying i'm chubby or something?" Thatch asked.
"Mhm if the shoe fits."
Thatch gasped pushing him over before he paled ah shit this day really was not going the way he would like. But it felt so natural to be around the Kistune like this it almost felt as if he knew him in another lifetime.
Izou chuckled as he poured two cups of his finest green tea handing it to Thatch "Here drink before you say something stupid,"
He raised an eyebrow but took it, sipping it, his lips puckering. Oh that was bitter he forced a smile "It's delicious thank you," Thatch forced himself to get out just barely able to.
Izou's lips curled up "You don't have to lie to appease me, green tea is not for everyone,"
Thatch relaxed "I was not trying to be insulting the taste is good but it's not my thing:"
Izou leaned back "So tell me why did you want to meet me was it because of the rumors of my beauty or something more"
"Truthfully I wanted a friend, I have none here, sure there is the giant man, but he sees me more as a son, rather than a friend," Thatch remarked with a fond expression on his face.
"Ah whitebeard tends to be that way, you want to be friends? My answer is no," Izou said as he took a sip out of his teacup.
Thatch's chocolate brown eyes went wide "Huh?! Why not?!" He exclaimed in complete and utter shock.
Izou snorted "As ifI would be friends with someone who fell into my pond and scared my poor koi fish, you lack elegance, "
Instead of being turned away Thach grinned wider " I will make you be my friend, you'll have to admit it."
"Fine then will give you one year to make me admit to being your friend,"
"Challenge accepted! And just know I plan to win."