Karu lay on his back, his head resting on his hands while he leaned forward slightly to watch the sunset. He brushes his long black hair out of his eyes and spreads his legs comfortably. Some people think it’s obscene, but it’s getting dark, no one will see. He grabs a fist full of sand and opens his fingers slowly, letting it all drift out while he watches the rings of violet and gold disappear on the horizon. It seemed so peaceful, so serene, so quiet… It gave him quite a start when she spoke.
     “You shouldn’t look at the sun like that… you might hurt your eyes.” Karu didn’t see, but she blushed as soon as she said that. She looked down shyly, her long black locks nearly overing her beautiful face. She was wearing a kimono, unusual for beachgoers. She must just be passing through. She looked distinguished, like she belonged on a seat of power rather than talking to a peasant on the beach. She had hair down to her waist that glistened and shined in the fading sunlight, and compared to Karu’s dark tanned skin, she looked ghostly white. Karu slowly turned around to address her.
     “Oh… it’s you,” he whispered, his tone soft and sweet. He wore no shirt, only a loosely fitting bathing suit that threatened to slip off at the slightest provocation. He wasn’t what most would call muscular, though he had a lean attractive figure that was often overlooked. He stood a few inches over Kitsune, and had to look down into her dazzling green eyes. “I-I haven’t seen you in a while…” He mumbled, shy and nervous. His cheeks turned a light pink as he shifted from foot to foot and examined the sand carefully. He could recall the memory of the last time they had met off the top of his head, as though it was only yesterday.

     It had been a night just like this. Calm, no wind, the sunset blazing on the horizon. Yells were heard coming from his house, followed by the slamming of doors. He ran out of his house, tears streaming down his face. He had no destination in mind, only that he wanted to get as far away from his father as possible. He ran for what seemed like an eternity and came to rest at a dark alley in a rundown area. He sat down hard against the ground, blinking back tears. But they came. The tears poured over his eyelids, and he huddled against his knees and openly wept. Through the sounds of his gasping sobs, he heard a door close nearby. His first thought was that his father had come to punish him for running away. But no, that didn’t make any sense. There’s no way his father could have found him. He wiped his tears away and stood up, looking for the source of the noise. And then he saw her standing just a few feet away, looking down at the ground and blushing.
     “… I…I’m Kitsune….Are you alright, Karu?” He bristled at the mention of his name. How could this stranger know him? He was about to become angry when he remembered they went to school together. She was one year older than him, but she never hung out with any of the older kids. It always seemed to be little ones, chatty ones, or no one at all. You could tell by the way she stood that she was shy. Her head bowed, her hair always perfect, her hands clasped loosely in front of her.
     He didn’t answer her question, at first. Only stared. After a time, he eventually responded, “Yeah… I’m okay… But I’m not sure I know the way back to my village. I’ve run a long way.” He scratched the back of his head, embarrassed that he had not managed to keep a mental map of where he was going.
     “Here, I’ll take you. You just live by the beach, right?” He gave a grunt in response and nodded. She extended her hand, which he grabbed tentatively. It was warm, and soft. They held hands on the long walk to Karu’s hometown, occasionally trying to pick a conversation, each attempt being more futile and awkward than the last. So they just focused on each other. The warmth of their hands together. The closeness of their bodies. The way Kitsune’s hair bounced with each step she took.
     They pulled up to Karu’s house, their pace slowing as they neared it, neither one of them wanting to end the moment. Karu’s eyes grew slightly more moist, as he knew he was returning to a household of punishment. He looked longingly at Kitsune, trying to be secretive. To his shock, she was staring back. Her eyes watered with his, and the grip around his hand tightened noticeably. She stepped in close, wrapping one arm around Karu’s waist. Her other hand rested on his chest, while she gazed into his emerald eyes. She didn’t say a word. They let emotion carry the moment. They moved slowly closer to each other, their bodies tingling, each one fully aware of the other. The pattern of their breathing, the pumping of their heartbeat, and the reflections of themselves in each other’s eyes. Their lips barely brushed at first, both so cautious and innocent. They stood there, lips embracing, the most pure relationship possible. Free from lust, outside influences, only they existed for the duration of the kiss. Without warning, she broke the contact. She looked as though she wasn’t supposed to have done that, and recoiled from Karu’s touch. He reached after her and tried to question her, but she was already moving away. She turned, and broke into a full sprint. And Karu, helpless to do anything, reluctantly returned to his home. And that was the last he saw of Kitsune.
Until today.