But
what
he
saw
rendered
him
so
awestruck
that
his
nose
hidden
by
the
kistune
-
bitos
facial
fur
would
have
been
fried
off
and
he
wouldnt
notice:
He
found
her
bathing
in
a
lagoon
.
If
the
water
droplets
rising
into
the
air
and
descending
on
top
of
her
by
an
unseen
force
didnt
take
his
breath
away,
the
fact
that
she
was
clad
in
only
sky
and
water
certainly
did
.
She
was
beautiful
.
She
looked
like
Princess
Michiko
in
a
way
.
And
she
looked
right
in
his
direction
and
saw
a
white
furred
fox
-
like
being
gawking
at
him
like
some
school
-
boy
who
saw
his
first
girl
in
an
compromised
position
.
Oh
hello
there
.
Dont
mind
me
.
It
took
him
a
while
to
notice
that
she
was
talking
to
him
.
Telepathically
like
the
rabbit
-
eared
soratami,
but
a
lot
warmer
and
tender
in
comparison
.
And
although
she
spake
in
her
own
language,
he
recognized
everything
she
said
.
He
didnt
know
what
to
think
about
her,
or
what
to
do
.
And
then
his
mind
shut
down
completely,
as
she
began
to
rise
up
from
where
she
was
washing
herself
off,
not
by
walking
to
shore
or
standing
up,
but
by
rising
up
from
the
water
until
she
was
standing
on
the
water
.
Only
the
fact
that
the
sun
was
at
her
back
kept
the
young
fox
from
seeing
her
uncovered
figure
.
Before
his
eyes
could
adjust,
she
flicked
her
wrist,
and
two
strips
of
fabric
flew
out
from
where
they
hung
from
a
nearby
tree
and
wrapped
around
her
for
modestys
sake
.
Even
if
he
wanted
to,
the
fox
man
couldnt
move
.
He
was
awestruck
at
this
woman
before
him
.
He
was
beautiful
and
powerful,
a
goddess
.
Someone
who
could
take
on
all
the
Kami
in
Kamigawa
by
herself
and
then
make
the
Great
Daimyo
feel
insignificant
with
one
glance
.
He
certainly
felt
as
such
as
those
glowing
eyes
held
his
eyes
fast
and
refused
to
let
go
.