The small town just a little ways from the shrine was humming with activity when the deity and demon arrived. Breathing in Ashi couldn't stop the series of coughs that followed. Leaning over to let the spell pass she smiled up at the fox when he placed a hand on her back. "I'm fine Tomoe. But why are you wearing a scarf it's nearly 80 degrees out?" Looking down at herself than back at him she laughed. "You have a better fashion sense than I do." Sadly that was true with his formal dress and her street clothes they did make an odd pair. Seeing all the weird looks he was getting she snagged his hand pulling him into the neatest shop, which just happened to be a McDonalds. Leading him to a booth she ushered the fox in before placing her hands on her hips. "I forgot about your ears and tail. I'm a dumbass. Can you make them disappear while we're in town?" Pulling a leaf from the folds in his Kataginu he placed it on his head and with a small pop his demonic features were gone. Tapping her chin Ashi cocked her head. "You look weird now. I prefer you with the ears and tail. Do you want anything I'm going to get a drink?"

Raising an eyebrow Tomoe snorted. "Demons do not eat." Rolling her eyes she folded her arms.

"They don't need to drink either, but that didn't stop you from finishing off my cocoa this morning did it? Besides it's polite to ask I mean this is your first time in town right I want you to get the full experience." Seeing she wasn't going to win this the goddess walked away, returning shortly with a drink and large fry. Sliding into the seat across from him she pulled out her I-pod which she had thankfully remembered to snatch from her house before being thrown out. 'Thank Kami-sama for Wifi.' Quickly pulling up a map of the area she pulled out a note pad from her bag writing down anywhere a teen might hang out. Reaching for her drink she frowned when she felt nothing but air, glancing up she smiled watching Tomoe nibble on a fry before trying her fountain drink. "I'm spoiling you aren't I?" Eyes locking with hers the fox blushed pushing her food across the table to her. Leaning his head on his hand the familiar pointedly looked away. Scooting out of the booth Ashi rubbed her back. 'I'm really sore, but I can't complain with all the work I've been doing around the shrine.' Handing the demon the rest of her fries she started towards the door sipping her drink. "Come on I still need to do some shopping, so the faster we find this guy the fast we can go home. And the faster I get to stare at those adorable ears of yours." Grumbling about demons not being cute he followed before something caught his eye.

"Hey Ashi those boys are wearing something similar to what you were when you arrived at the shrine would they know?" Following his pointing finger the goddess groaned, sure enough several freshmen wearing white shirts and tan pants walked by talking to one another.

"Probably not, Himemiko said that Kotarou would be 18 now so I'd be more likely to know him since we are the same age." Spotting the first destination on her list she headed towards it nearly smacking her forehead when a loud voice called out as soon as she entered the ice cream shop. Tomoe noted with interest that her whole demeanor changed almost instantly.

"Hey Ashi what are you doing not coming to school? And the first time anyone's seen you in a week you're with a guy. I get it you got knocked up by this guy, huh?" A loud laugh echoed around the nearly empty store. Growling a rather impressive sound for the girl not being a demon, her teal eyes narrowed.

"What do you want, Isobe? Don't you have someone else to bother?" All cheer vanished in a instant from the boy's face, leaning in he smirked.

"Is it true that your mother ran away and you got evicted from your house?" A sadistic smile spread across the deity's face and Tomoe had to admit she looked like a vixen grinning up at her prey.

"I have no idea what you're talking about but would you like to see what really happened to my mother?" Grabbing his shirt she pulled him closer hissing in his ear. "I'm sure the body bag has enough room for you too." Gulping the boy stumbled back knocking over a table in his haste to get out of the shop. Gritting his teeth the fox grabbed her shoulder spinning her towards him completely ignoring the timid employee inching towards them.

"Just what the hell was that?" Blinking innocent eyes up at him Ashi smiled seemingly back to her old self.

"What was what? Isobe has been tormenting me since grade school; I finally learned that he'll leave me alone if I scare him. If I wasn't looking for Kotarou Urashima I would have been nicer but we really don't have time for his crap right now." Wincing lightly at the pain in her chest she leaned heavily on a chair. Fixing his glasses the employee cleared his throat.

"Did you say you were looking for Kotarou?" Helping Ashi sit because she seemed frozen at the moment Tomoe nodded. "I'm Urashima Kotarou what do you need from me?" Seeming to fold in on herself the god smiled at the teenage boy.

"Right now I need a chocolate ice cream with two spoons and after that I need to talk to you about a friend of mine." Frowning at the weird request he took her offered money disappearing behind the counter. Waiting until the boy was gone the kitsune kneeled beside the god gently turning her pale face towards him.

"What's wrong?" Waving him off she hissed gripping her chest. "Tell me, I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong to begin with." Looking at him through her bangs she shook her head.

"It's nothing Tomoe. Really I just have very bad heart burn the ice cream should make it go away. What are you worried for you're not my familiar, your duty is to the shrine not me." Baring his fangs the demon snarled silently seeing the human boy returning with her order along with a weird cube.

"Here you are Miss." Setting the cup down in front of the strange girl Kotarou took the seat across from her staring at the Rubix Cube in his hands. "So um what did you want to talk to me about?" Plopping a spoon full of ice cream in her mouth she swallowed letting the cold substance ease the burning feeling in her chest and throat. Shifting so the fox could get into the seat next to her Ashi sighed around another spoon full, moving the little cup of icy goodness towards the shaggy silver haired male. Glaring at her he took the other spoon trying the concoction.

"My friend met you 10 years ago at Tatara swamp, its fine if you don't remember. Heck I don't remember what I ate for breakfast yesterday." Ignoring Tomoe mutter of 'you didn't eat breakfast yesterday' she continued. "Anyway she's had a crush on you for some time now, and wants to meet you. I'm here on her behalf because she's very shy, I was wondering if you would want to get together with her tomorrow night. Her name's Numano Himemiko." The speed on the puzzle box seemed to double as he stuttered.

"S-sure I'll meet her." Smiling, more from the pain subsiding than him agreeing to the date the goddess stood up scaring the spectacled boy.

"Great she'll meet you tomorrow night at 6 in the park by the lake there." Picking up her McDonald's cup she stuck her tongue out at Tomoe realizing he had drank all of it along with having eaten the ice cream and fries. "See you later Kotarou-kun." Dragging the pouting fox demon with her she entered a nearby convenient store planning on shopping there for everything she needed.

Chapter 3 yay me! I probably should get started on my college work instead of writing this. Oh well this is more fun.