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Behind a quaint bathhouse the sloshing of rough water in wooden buckets was only marked more distinctly by youthful laughter and chatter.

"Hahaha!" A silky, young female voice laughed. The owner was a youthful canine beauty of twenty one years. The husky's voluptuously nude body was soaking wet, fur clumped and spiked erratically as she wrung a washcloth full of water over her head. A red panda of the same age grabbed ahold of the bucket placed nearby, seeking to dunk her washcloth in before there was no water left.

"Careful with that bucket!" She snickered, but her friend chose to fight. The female red panda and husky battled for the hot water.

"You're both already soaked..." A slightly more measured voice spoke. The calico female, two years their senior, folded her arms loosely. Her triangular ears flickers as droplets scattered through the air like medieval arrows. Her stern stature was interrupted by a grinning tigress who splashed a half full bucket of her own warm water on her back.

"Yua!" She jumped and turned around at the now laughing tigress. The small group of naked females were outside of a bathhouse, around back where it was undisturbed with a protective fence, and private from unwanted prying eyes.

The back door to the bathhouse quietly opened. A female Shiba Inu with a less youthful appearance appeared from inside. Clothes folded neatly over an arm, she emerged from the steamy doorway. Her snowy white fur appeared unblemished, albeit damp. Unlike the others, her breasts had a sag accentuated by most of her subtle movements.

"I see you're back, Shiba." A young odd eyed bobtail cat remarked. The feline had a strong pair of legs leading up to a fertile set of hips and small breasts. Her blushing pink nipples seemed to beckon at onlookers, had there been any. The older canine walked calmly over and sat down on the lengthy wooden bench beside the bobtail cat and tigress.

"I can hear all of your playful squeals from inside." She half grinned.

"We're just having a little fun." One answered.

"How have you been Shiba? I have not seen you behind the bathhouse in a while." The tigress spoke as she cleaned her foot paws.

"I've been alright I suppose. My ever respectable sister doesn't like what I do at the tea house."

"I can think of plenty of people who do." The lynx knowingly grinned. A shadows came into view as a figure approached the seated three. A dripping wet husky stood before Shiba, completely unapologetic of the fact that she was starkly nude like her.

"What has Madame done to let you out of the tea house so soon?" The husky smoothed over her nape arduously.

"She wanted me to take a bath and then return as quickly as my feet could carry me. Those were her exact words." Shiba explained.

"Sounds like something she always says." Yua, the tigress giggled.

"If you already bathed inside then why are you back here with us?" The red panda asked. The others appeared equally curious.

"The air will help my fur to dry faster."

"You just enjoy being relaxing at the bathhouse in your bare fur." One teased.

"All of us are naked right now." Shiba leaned back contently and opened her legs a little. "And however many more times throughout the day..." She slyly added. A few laughed as they resumed washing and grooming themselves.

"Ow..."The bobtail cat frowned and grunted while attempting to close her legs.

"What's wrong?" The tigress beside her asked.

"I am so sore from Gato..." She frowned. "He's so rough. I thought I would suffocate under him."

"Try to avoid him." Another warned. "You don't walk right for a day after him."

"I noticed." The bobtail cat exhaled.

"Hey!" A sharp squeal erupted as the red panda and husky began fighting for their nearly empty bucket of water. The others joined in or happily cheered for someone to win and claim the bucket. Rather than cheer on with her younger counterparts, the more mature Shiba merely closed her eyes and patiently air dried her fur.

'They're so childish sometimes.' She thought to herself and lifted her chin. But the Shiba Inu enjoyed spending time by the back of the bathhouse. The peaceful backdrop of nature laid out before her made up for the rowdy group she was with. She could forget about her worries and feel her bare fur dry out with modest privacy. The canine had fallen asleep a few times when she was alone, and would often dream of the forest. The loud whistle of a stopped train faintly echoed by the bathhouse. Shiba's ears flickered at the sound.

'New arrivals in town... maybe.' She thought to herself. That meant new opportunities for her. The canine ruffled and smoothed her fur. Deciding she was dry enough, the Shiba Inu stood up and retrieved her clothes.

"Getting dressed so soon, Shiba?" The tigress called out.

"Yes." She slipped on her robe and tied her sash tightly.

"You never stay at the bathhouse too long..."

"I'm going back to the teahouse!" She called out above the cackling females.

"Have fun!" One half joked.

"Don't let the Madame bark your ears off!" Another laughed. Shiba didn't pay them any light hearted goodbyes and went her way. Outside the bathhouse's entrance, the canine hurried along the wide dirt path to town a short distance away. She navigated around a few short trees and homes under construction before reaching one of the town's main streets.

"Another busy day..." She remarked at the flowing street of people. The experienced canine weaved around lingering people who were new to the town. 'Ever since that railway was built from the south, this place has grown.' She briefly observed the dispersed crowd of people between the rows of buildings, old and new. Her legs didn't cease walking as she reached her destination. An old wooden building didn't catch any eyes from the rapidly industrializing country, especially those from large southern cities. What it lacked in modern appeal, it definitely made up for with hospitality, tradition, and coziness. Through a sliding door, Shiba stepped inside. The pungent odors of freshly brewed tea leaves filled a large room. Low tables were spaced out with cushions to sit on, if desired. It was legally a tea house, but the extra private rooms towards the side and very back were for more intimate uses. Sliding doors and silk curtains aided to the cozy atmosphere of the private rooms.

"Shiba!" An aged female voice barked. The canine's head snapped to the left where a middle aged female calico cat was standing. The sharp glare of her golden stare had been felt many times. Dressed in immaculate silk, the calico was the owner of the tea house and operated it with an iron fist. Although, she made sure everyone was safe and taken care of too.

"Yes, Madame." Shiba quickly answered and shortly bowed.

"There is someone here from Niigata, and he is wealthy. I need your experience to make him comfortable." She directed the canine over to a specific table. Shiba grinned seeing a youthful male fox sitting by himself with a cup of tea in hand...

Earlier...

The harsh steely squeal of a train coming to a final halt pierced the late summer air. The hiss of steam was very brief as doors were opened.

"The town of Ne, Mutsu!" A voice yelled before most of the passengers disembarked. Dozens of quick paws quickly filed out. Most were miners and a couple of loggers dressed in plain, often ragged clothes. A few others were an eclectic mix of government workers, military members, and even an official briefing the latter two. The laborers were quick to leave and headed down a dirt road while the rest approached the townhouses in stride. A male red fox dressed in presentable clothes was last to step off the new train. HIs style was more western in attire than the commonplace traditional robes and sashes of rural areas. His orange, black, and white facial fur was impeccably combed. Even his bushy tail didn't have a hair out of place. Hokusai, like several of the officials, was from a distant city. Had the railroad not been built through Ne, none of them would know where to place it on a map. Meandering out of the station and through the few lingering passengers ready to board, he reached a street close to the heart of the bustling town.

"Ah. What a beautiful place." The fox paused in the middle of a dirt road and looked around. The sleepy rural town, isolated by the rugged terrain of the north, was recently opened to the rest of the country over the past year and a half. All it took was a quickly built railway from the south and the opening of a large mine in a nearby mountain. Now it was bustling with activity, and growing.

'The new urban people mix neatly with the traditional elements here.' He took in the sights of a town emerging from rapid transition. An Akita farmer carrying a large basket of grain over his back marched along the dirt road to an open market. Plenty of other locals like him were going along a daily routine carried out by their ancestors for generations. Monks dressed in simple robes were stoically seated, meditating, with their begging bowls before them for charity.

"Move fox!" An approaching voice barked. Looking over, the fox spotted a stern tiger riding a horse drawn cart.

"Sorry, sir!" He quickly stepped aside and walked to the edge of the street. Too busy gazing at the town around him, the fox stepped off the road. He felt a cool lushness underneath his paws. "Wow!" Gazing down, he had stumbled upon a thick carpet of moss. The rich greens extended from the nearby shade of a little tree.

"What are you doing here, in my yard?" A female voice caught the city fox's ears. A long white furred domestic cat was looking at him from a small porch. Her arms were folded tightly below her bosom. Dressed in plain attire with several stains from inside and out, she was likely a regular mother tending to the house.

"Oh. Sorry!" Hokusai jumped to his paws. "I just noticed your garden here, and it captivated me!"

"Garden?" The feline looked at him with a puzzled expression. "It's only moss."

"There aren't many small private gardens like yours in larger cities... And the bush compliments everything so well." His fascination seemed to flatter the feline as well as confuse her.

"Well, my mother is the one who planted that tree and the bush. She always cared for it even when the weather was very dry." A sudden crying and rustling of activity inside her house drew the feline's attention away. "It was nice meeting you." She waved before hurrying back inside.

"Bye." Hokusai resumed his stroll through town. A few other buildings had gardens in his eyes. The gardens and houses of Ne, Mutsu were old and beautiful to his eyes like ancient pagodas and tranquil lakes.

'I hope this wave of industrialization doesn't part us far from tradition.' He breathed in the fresh summer air. To him, it was the perfect time to see both interacting together. Large buildings and machines of steel with traditional wooden styles and a strong presence of nature. Little birds were hopping under a group of small shrubs outside a busy metal smith's workshop. Sweaty shouts were nearly muffled to silence despite open windows.

"Like frozen in time..." Hokusai hummed a line of self made poetry to himself. 'I'll remember that to write down for later.' He told himself and took a deep breath. Invigorated to the core, he came across a very interesting place.

'A tea house!' He grinned at the sight and promptly approached the building. 'I wonder if they will have blends like my home at Niigata.' Sliding the door open, pleasant aromas from inside reached his nose like a beckoning call. 'Mmm.' He took a moment to savor the fine scents. Seated at low tables, plenty of other people were inside the quaintly decorated building. It was a quiet, calm, and peaceful scene.

"Hello." An older calico feline dressed in plain silk approached him. "Would you like to take a seat and have some tea?"

"Yes, please." He nodded. "Thank you." She directed him to a table. 'I like this place.' Hokusai sat down and looked around the quaint building. The calico quickly brought him a cup and poured a piping hot liquid.

"One of our ladies will take care of you." She smiled before leaving. Hokusai sipped the tea.

'Mmm...' He blinked and found a very pretty Shiba Inu was standing before him. She had a dainty muzzle, well groomed white fur, trimmed claws, and wore a sleek kimono.

"May I join you?" Her voice was akin to a sweet golden honey.

"You certainly may!" He quickly nodded and snapped his jaws shut. The Shiba Inu sat down across from him. Hokusai instantly found himself staring at her. "You're very beautiful." The fox shyly spoke.

"Thank you." She smiled.

"What is your name?" He asked.

"Shiba." She answered daintily. "And yours?"

"Mine is Hokusai."

"Would you like to spend the afternoon with me?" She smiled daintily.

"Sure." He agreed and set his cup down.

"Ah, ah. Pay up first." She held out a hand. "No paper money please." The fox looked a little befuddled but produced a shiny coin for her.

"Ok..." He laid it out. The canine politely pocketed it with glee.

"So..." She fluttered her eyes at him. "Which room would you like to take?"

"Let's go outside." He quickly offered with a grin.

"Um. Outside?" Her ears were unsure if she had heard correctly.

"Yes. The weather outside is perfect." His voice contained almost childish excitement. She blinked before nodding and standing up. Shiba walked alongside him to the entrance, but she was pulled aside by a strong arm. Shiba found herself face to face with the Madame.

"Where are you going?" The calico whispered.

"He wants to go outside with me." She quickly explained before quickly following the red fox outside. Shiba half expected him to start swooning over her, but nothing of the sort happened. 'Maybe he is a little shy to get things started.' She thought. Her ears perked up as her turned to her.

"Would you want to go for a walk?" He stumped her.

"A walk... Ok." Shiba strolled along the road with him. The scenery had scarcely changed since she returned from the bathhouse. 'If he takes me somewhere shady, I'll have to leave or run.' She told herself, and kept an eye out.

"So..." He slowly began. "What do you do for work?" The Shiba Inu's ears flickered curiously at his question.

'Has has no idea...' She quickly figured. 'This should be interesting...'

"Do you work at the teahouse and brew tea?" He guessed with a noticeably nice grin.

"I'm a prostitute." She spoke as if it were a highly admirable job.

"A w-what?!" He nearly choked on his own words. The fox stepped aside as if she had a nasty cough.

"You didn't notice?" She gave him a perplexed look.

"No! I had no idea." He felt uncomfortable about the idea. "So you actually... Huh. Well, you're not the only person who does that sort of thing."

"No, there are plenty of other young ladies I work with. They're young and pretty, but I have experience. Just to be safe I tell everyone that I'm twenty seven every year." She flashed her teeth in a proud smile.

"How old are you?" He asked.

"That's a secret for only me to know." She winked.

"Oh. You don't look old."

"Flatterer." Shiba grinned. "Tell me, what do you do?" She asked in turn.

"Well..." He started as they rounded a corner of busy shops. "I am the son of an affluent-"

"Just say you're wealthy." Shiba couldn't help herself from interrupting.

"Well, I guess I am." He admitted. "My dad is a member in the House of Peers, and I don't entirely understand his role in the government."

"Do you work within the government?"

"No, I would be very inexperienced. I'm only twenty four."

"Oh. You are young." She hummed.

"I don't exactly have a profession though. I've attended meetings with my dad and other officials. I've seen people from foreign countries like China, Germany, Russia, and Britain. They're really interesting, it's like a story of another world coming to life. My dad wanted me to visit cities in the country for a few months before returning to Niigata to see how the country is modernizing."

"What brought someone like you to humble Ne in Mutsu?" She wondered aloud.

"I enjoy visiting cities, but I wanted to visit somewhere in the north where things aren't so fast paced or made of steel. It's nice and humble here, but you can sense a growing rush to keep up with the rest of the country... I hope that modernization doesn't take us too far away from our past."

"What exactly do you mean?"

"Like... this building." He gestured to a traditionally built wooden home. "I like how old it looks."

"You like the way an old building looks?" Shiba tilted her head. 'Do you like how old I think I look?' She joked to herself.

"Yeah. It's hard to explain, but I like it. It's nice and artistic."

"It's a house." She reminded him.

"I know, but the person who lives there might understand me."

"That's where Lady Yao lives." Shiba explained. "She's old and strange, but plenty of people say she can tell if your future is good or bad."

"Is she a diviner?"

"She's a fortune teller." The canine shrugged.

"So does she read from The Book of Changes to determine one's future?" Hokusai was excited to hear about the mysterious old woman.

"I don't know..." Shiba looked at the home uncertainly.

"Do you want to visit her? She could read our futures." Hokusai grabbed ahold of her hand. Shiba's ears swiveled at their held hands.

"If you want to." The second she agreed, the red fox was marching up to the door with her.

"Hello? Is Lady Yao home?" Hokusai called out. A moment passed before their ears detected the soft pattering of approaching paws. The door slid open.

"Hello." An old raccoon of short stature greeted the two at the door. Her black masked face was finely ticked with silver, definitively marking her age.

'I am glad my fur is only white.' Shiba silently breathed a sigh of relief that her fur wouldn't show such visible signs of aging.

"Are you Lady Yao?" Hokusai asked.

"Yes I am." She nodded.

"We'd like for you to perform a divination for us." He gestured to Shiba. Her masked eyes squinted. The old lady glared at Shiba.

"You work at that brothel-in-disguise." Her tone was anything but friendly. Shiba kept her hackles flat and her head level.

"Can we come in?" Hokusai asked.

"No. She is a biting dog." Lady Yao spoke tersely.

"But-"

"Goodbye." She shut the door.

'So much for that.' Shiba folded her arms.

"Darn." Hokusai muttered and walked back with her to the road.

"Don't worry about what she said." Shiba comforted him. "We can go back to the teahouse if you'd like." The fox paused in the road.

"Hmm..." He hummed in thought and reached into his coat pocket.

"What's that?" She peered curiously at his hands.

"Oh. This is my book." He showed her a small leather bound object.

"You carry this around with you?" Shiba found it funny.

"Of course. I use it to write down things."

"What would you want to write down?"

"What I see or say... Anything." His answer made the canine's eyes roll. Being illiterate, the Shiba Inu had no use for a book. Hokusai jotted down something before tucking the book away.

"What did you write down?"

"The phrase 'a biting dog'."

"Humph! Is that about me?"

"No! I just liked the phrase, that's all." He professed his innocence.

"Okay. I believe you." She daintily smiled as they continued walking down the street.

"Since we couldn't talk to her, would you like to go on a train ride instead?" Hokusai offered.

"A train ride?" She blinked.

"Yeah. The tickets aren't very expensive." He dug into a pocket and retrieved a small amount of money. Shiba's eyes widened seeing the entire amount leftover.

'If I could swipe that...' Her heart quickened at the sudden idea of robbing him blind.

"So you'll go?" He asked with a small grin.

"Oh... Well, sure!" She confidently nodded. 'What could one train ride do to me?'

"Great! The next train will leave soon." He eagerly led her along the road to the station. Shiba didn't know what to expect, and she felt nervous stepping onto the platform. The canine had always heard the train, but never liked the sight of it. It was very large and metallic without an expression like a creature haunting one's dreams.

"Phhssshhheew!" A sudden eerie metallic hiss startled Shiba, causing the fur on her nape to rise. Standing beside her, Hokusai wasn't worried in the slightest.

'Don't be scared of this thing in front of him!' Shiba told herself and tried to relax.

"Did you know that some people call this an iron rooster?" Hokusai nudged her.

"Huh?" She looked at him with a confused expression. "No, I didn't know." Hokusai quickly purchased their tickets and they waited with a few others to board. 'Look at all these people.' There were no more than a dozen or so, but their style of dress was modern for the most part like what Hokusai. Modern suits that were a deep black reminded her of nighttime. Only a few miners or loggers were dressed in old types of trousers or clothes. A loud whistle pierced the air. Shiba jumped as her hackles raised at the grating sound.

"All aboard!" A voice called. The whole crowd immediately marched into the passenger car.

"Come on. It's time to board." Hokusai nudged her. Shiba stayed close to Hokusai and shuffled behind his steps. Stepping inside there were rows of seats to each side of the car along just as many windows. Hokusai led her to an empty pair of seats. She tucked her curly tail and looked around suspiciously. There weren't many leaving Ne, but the passenger car still felt cramped to the Shiba Inu. She watched a few others cut in a few random seats.

"So you sit here and the train takes you to another town?" Shiba looked around.

"Yep." Hokusai cheerfully answered. The train started to move and pretty soon the wheels beneath them were clacking with a loud whooshing sound. Shiba could feel her curly tail bristle at the odd bombardment of sounds.

"Well, this is different." Shiba whispered. Even a whisper felt loud despite the constant rattling beneath them.

"Look outside the window." Hokusai pointed with a black claw. She turned her head and felt her mouth slightly part.

"Wow..." She watched the world pass by like a fleeting dream. Fields, forests, and mountains were a scenic backdrop for her. A view that could take hours to see on foot was mere minutes inside the train car. "Woah." A close tree was barely a blur of green and brown as they thundered past. She pressed her hands and face onto the window as they passed over a short bridge. "Hokusai! This is..." She was at a loss for words.

"You can look outside the window if you want." He offered and shuffled in front of her. He opened their window and a loud whoosh of air came in. A quick glance around revealed that a few other passengers were just as excited about their speedy travel.

"It's like a windstorm out there!" She yowled above the whipping wind to him. Standing up, Shiba poked her head outside. The rush of air filled her lungs and soul.

"Wow! We're going so fast!" She yelled above the wind. The whipping gusts blew her fur like a field of grass and her clothing like a wild flag. Hokusai's eyes widened at the sight before him. He could clearly see that she wasn't wearing much else! Shiba didn't notice or care if anyone saw. With the wind at her face, speeding so fast, she felt like a soaring eagle.

***

Paws stepped off the passenger car's steps and back onto the stationary ground of the platform. A white furred canine stood idly as other walked around her. White fur was ruffled like ocean waves from the fierce winds while riding the train. Shiba's eyes were wide like a child's.

"Did you like riding the train?" A black socked hand touched her shoulder. The Shiba Inu's shoulders slumped forward. The sound of the wheels clacking against the tracks were still beating in her ears. It was an exhilarating experience that covered more distance than she had in a lifetime!

"That was a lot of fun Hokusai." She felt tired from all of the excitement, but kept herself composed in front of him.

"I'm glad that you enjoyed it." He smiled. They slowly walked to the station's entrance facing the town. The area quickly emptied to their surprise. People quickly disappeared from the streets. Shiba looked up at the dark sky.

"It's raining." She noticed the soft pattering sound above the hissing steam of the train. Hokusai watched it fondly.

"I love the rain, don't you?" He asked.

"Why?" Her brow arched in confusion. "You'll get soaking wet." She watched the ground gradually darken from saturation. From experience, wet fur was difficult to dry in a hurry. All she could imagine was trying to get home without becoming a wet pile of fur.

"Rain gives life to the land letting crops grow which feed the people, and allows the rivers to flow." He stretched out a hand to mimic the water's course. "Plus, it creates a soothing sound that you can fall asleep to."

"Hmm..." The canine thought about what he had said. It seemed much nicer and poetic than what she considered bothersome. Shiba found herself leaning on him, and resting her cheek on his shoulder. Glancing up, he didn't seem to mind. Their afternoon together had been pleasant, and she looked forward to his future visits.

'I shouldn't be this slow! He's waiting for me.' Shiba scolded herself as she tied her obi around her waist with a firm yank. A quick look over herself yielded a positive nod. The curly tailed dog marched from the secluded dressing room of the teahouse to the front where she found a few familiar figures from the bathhouse standing together.

"Shiba!" A youthful whisper erupted causing the heads to turn.

"What's going on?" She mingled towards the front. Around the corner the canine could see that the teahouse was fairly empty, save for a few patrons. The tigress was first to speak.

"Is that the one you have told us about?" She whispered and pointed with a finger to a seated red fox. "The fox who keeps visiting to see you?"

"Yes, his name is Hokusai." Shiba nodded. "He's an odd visitor, but I like him."

"He seems like one who has a dragon's head." The red panda murmured.

"Hmm?" Shiba tilted her head questioningly.

"His head is always in the clouds." She finished.

"Is he very wealthy, Shiba?" The odd eyed feline asked.

"The fox pays for train tickets like they are rice cakes... If he keeps paying as well as he dresses, then I could get used to him coming here for me." Shiba grinned. The others were impressed.

"Is he ferocious in bed?" One whispered.

"He has no interest from what I can tell." Shiba shrugged. "Although, I'm fine either way." The others looked at each other suspiciously.

"Is he married?" Another asked.

"No." Her answer left the ladies completely puzzled.

"Then is like to care for him." One of the ladies stepped forward.

"Ooh no you don't. Stop." Shiba grabbed ahold of the eager husky.

"He's all mine." The white furred canine stepped ahead and approached the lonely table. The fox's face brightened into a warm smile seeing her approach.

"Hello Shiba." He was all too happy for her to join him.

"Sorry that I was late." Shiba sat down. "I was having trouble with my sash."

"That's fine. I understand." He didn't mind. The canine half grinned.

"Are you always nice like this, or just to me?" She asked.

"Can I say yes to both?" He smiled.

"Yes, you can." Shiba giggled. "Only you would say something like that." Hokusai merely shrugged and gazed at the pretty canine in front of him. "Would you care for some Nigori style sake instead of your tea?" She offered. "It's an unfiltered blend that's sweet."

"No thank you." He declined. "I'm not one to drink alcohol."

"Bad experiences?" She assumed.

"Maybe..." He shyly admitted.

"How about we go walking for some good experiences?" Shiba kindly offered.

"I like that idea." He promptly paid for the tea and hospitality. The Madame nodded to Shiba as she left with the wealthy fox.

Bright and sunny, it was a beautiful summer day in the town of Ne. People were outside without a hurry to go somewhere. Hokusai could feel the relaxed mood, something all too rare in his hometown of Niigata.

"Where would you like to go?" He glanced around.

"This way." She led him up the street.

"I went to the bathhouse the other day." Hokusai mentioned.

"Did you not want to go with me?" Shiba feigned a little innocence.

"I didn't know if you were... busy at the teahouse or not." He avoided her adulterous job. "But I was surprised that men and women are allowed inside at the same time. In every city and town I have been to, that is never allowed."

"It's not a big deal to bathe." Shiba found it funny.

"If everyone bathed together, they think it will lead to... What you do at the teahouse."

"Heh. It could, but only if there are no places like where I work." She smiled.

"Most cities have brothels banned." Hokusai said. "Wait. That could actually be a bad thing." He thought it over.

"Bad?" Shiba cocked her head in confusion. "For me of course, but most people would like that to happen."

"It would be bad for you and everyone else." He nodded. "Because if they forced the teahouse to close then no one would have a place to go for your services. The natural place to go would be the bathhouse, but that would lead to it being closed or at least separated by gender. They would have a tougher time staying open, so they would eventually close. Then no one would have a place to bathe... That might be why Europeans don't bathe!" He snapped his fingers at the realization.

"What are you talking about?"

"There are some countries in Europe where people rarely ever bathe." He added. "I've heard that they smell so foul that diplomats have to hide their noses in their sleeves!"

"Yuck." Shiba wrinkled her snout. 'That can't be true.' She thought to herself.

"So because of you, everyone else in Ne is clean." He concluded.

"That's... I have never heard someone say that to me before." Shiba admitted. It sounded crazy, but oddly enough made sense to her. Continuing along the road Hokusai enjoyed the everyday sights that the town of Ne had to offer. The little gardens of small wooden homes, busy sounds of small shops, the faint smells of cooking food, and the chatter of people along the streets all drew in the fox's attention.

"Hey, it's a group of soldiers." He paused. A line of uniformed men were carrying equipment as well as modern rifles. Shiba watched alongside him with mild interest, but for different reasons.

'I don't recognize any of them...' She thought about the teahouse. 'They're not from Ne.' The short line of soldiers marched ahead of them and down a lone dirt road. "Come on, they're going outta town." Shiba led him by the arm.

"Where are we going?" He looked around the unknown area of Ne. They had strayed away from the center of town to the quieter edges where trees were never too far away.

"My sister's house." Shiba told him.

"I didn't know you had a sister." He was surprised as they approached a lone house bordering a little field along the road.

"I do..." Her voice trailed off a little. "But we've had a strained relationship for some time." She meshed her fingers together. Hokusai wondered what she could've meant by that.

"What's down that road?" He looked to his right where the dirt path disappeared into the grass and trees.

"Where the soldiers went? I think there's a logging camp down there." Shiba shrugged and opened the door to the house.

"Hello!" Shiba called out and stepped inside. She wiped her paws on a mat before walking up a step. "It's me! Shiba!" She called out. A figure appeared from a side room.

"Shiba?" A little taller than Shiba stood a curly tailed canine of the same species. Her fur was white and grey and she wore plain traditional clothing that was common for the area. "This is unexpected. How have you been-?" Her eyes settled on Hokusai and narrowed. "I told you to never bring one of your 'clients' to my house!" She stamped her foot.

"He's not my client!" Shiba barked back. Hackles raised as the sisters growled at each other.

"When did you last say that to me? Not very long ago!"

"That was different!" She retorted. Hokusai looked between the two and feared they would be at each other's throats. Thankfully both feisty canines backed off and cooled down.

"I really wish you would commit to a more respectable work than selling out your body." Her sister was first to speak.

"I am using my body just like you use yours to cook and clean." She answered.

"But no one is using my body at the same time." Her sister replied. Shiba bit back a growl.

"I need to go outside..." Shiba mumbled and walked back outside.

"Don't use the bathroom at the side of the house!" Her sister barked.

"I am just getting some fresh air!" Shiba barked back. The grey Shiba Inu growled in frustration. "She's always like that..." She mumbled to herself. The sibling's head turned and her gaze rested on Hokusai. Her sharp eyes softened seeing his black tipped ears folded back.

"H-Hi." He meekly spoke.

"Oh. Sorry." The grey and white canine stepped forward. "I apologize for the improper introduction... My name is Masako." She gave a short bow.

"It's fine! Shiba can be... herself." He sheepishly grinned.

"Sorry, but my older sister is rather blunt and rough when you first encounter her, like a brick."

"That's a fair comparison." The fox smiled. "Wait... Did you say older sister?"

"Yes. Although she acts much younger than being in her thirties." Masako nodded.

'Shiba is in her thirties!?' Hokusai's jaw nearly dropped. "I thought that Shiba was close to my age."

"Hah! Not unless you can't remember when you were born." She briefly chuckled.

"I'm twenty six."

"Oh, you are young. Hmm... You're not really one of those people Shiba meets at the teahouse." She quickly assumed.

"Well, we did meet there." He began. "But I had no idea what she actually did there."

"You really aren't from around this region, at you?"

"No." The fox shook his head. "You don't work at the teahouse with her, do you?"

"No! I don't!" Masako crossly answered.

"Sorry." He quickly apologized.

"What is your name?"

"It is Hokusai." He curtly nodded. "I am from Niigata."

"That's far away. What are you doing out in Ne?"

"It's an odd story." He shrugged.

"I'm all ears before Shiba returns." She half grinned. The physical similarity to Shiba grinning was more than noticeable.

"To keep everything short, my dad wants me to start exploring around and seeing different town and cities to see how the country is changing. He fully supports modernization, but told me to use the railroad to visit more quiet towns nestled away from all the activity. He's far too busy to come along and show me."

"You are dressed very modern." Masako mentioned. "My husband's officer came by recently wearing a newly designed uniform."

"Thank you. This is how international people dress, especially diplomats and businessmen. Is your husband one?"

"No. My husband is in the army." She explained.

"Oh! Was he in the company of soldiers that Shiba and I saw earlier?"

"No." She chuckled. "That could not have been him. He had to leave two weeks ago to help survey land with a naval group."

"How did you two meet?" Hokusai curiously asked.

"He was part of the engineering group to plan out and build the railroad through Ne. I helped a construction crew by bringing them water and detailing what I knew about the land. We met, talked, and decided to get married." She fondly smiled at the memories.

"That's very romantic." He smiled.

"Thanks, but there's something I'd like to ask of you." The canine's ears focused on him. "Why are you still meeting my sister at the teahouse if you know what she does?" Masako questioned.

"I really like her." The fox felt his cheeks warm at the admission and rubbed his neck.

"Well, I hope you don't like her too much." She half joked. "Shiba will never leave that brothel. She loves the money that traveling men like you can carry."

"Is that true?" Hokusai hoped that it wasn't. "She seems to like being with me." His words only drew a sigh from the grey furred canine.

"She needs a good man like you... Someone to love and trust." Her words brought a glimmer of hope into the red fox's heart. Their ears shifted as soft paw steps entered the house again.

"No need to stop talking. It's just me." Shiba wiped her paws clean.

"So... What do you two plan on doing while you're here?" Masako didn't wonder what her sister had in mind too much.

"Your home is very beautiful." Hokusai spoke up. "I like it."

"Thank you. You can stay for the night if you'd like, Hokusai." Masako offered.

"Thank you. I appreciate it!" The fox's tail swished excitedly.

"You can stay too." She lightly teased her sister.

"Thanks..." Shiba wiggled her nose with less appreciation.

"I'm glad that you're with someone decent for a change." Masako whispered to her. "So," her voice promptly rose as she turned to Hokusai, "would you like me to cook something for both of you? It's almost evening, and I'm sure the teahouse doesn't offer much to eat."

"Yes please!" Hokusai gave a resounding reply.

***

"Your sister is a wonderful cook." Hokusai smiled as he retired to the spare bedroom with Shiba.

"I know. You told us that a few times." Shiba scuffed her paws over the wooden floor.

"But it's true!" He spoke happily. "Can you cook as well as her?"

"Hardly." She shook her head and closed the bedroom door. Shiba stood beside the bed and stretched out a leg just enough to part her clothes some. She half expected Hokusai to join her, but the fox was as oblivious to her signs as ever. He rubbed his white chin in thought before pausing. To her surprise, he started balancing on a paw with his arms out for balance.

"I saw a red bird..." He thought aloud. "A red bird. Hmm..."

"What are you babbling at?" Shiba cocked her head in confusion.

"I am thinking of a poem. The feeling just came to me." Hokusai explained. Shiba watched the fox hop around a little before walking towards the open back door. "How the night looks when the moon is out. Silvery, like a white sheet of reflecting glass... I like that line!" He quickly pulled out his notebook and wrote it down.

"It's not even nighttime." Shiba giggled. "What would make you think of all that?"

"I like poetry. My dad is a noble and serves on the House of Peers, but doesn't share that interest with me."

"Ah. I see." She slowly nodded. Hokusai proceeded to pick up a decorative fan resting on the floor.

"I am not drunk, only stumbling. It is not an offense..." He hopped on one foot wielding the fan like a weapon of his words. Shiba laughed, causing him to unexpectedly misstep.

"You don't laugh when someone is performing a dance." Hokusai tucked the fan away.

"Even when it's silly?" Se held back a humored smile.

"Well... You shouldn't." He rubbed his neck.

"Would spectators be punished for laughing at a funny performance?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe." He guessed. "The host of the play could make you do something funny, like perform a trick even though you cannot."

"So I would have to do whatever they wanted?"

"Sure." He shrugged, not seeing the point she was trying to get across.

"How would you punish me?" Her muzzle curled into a mischievous grin. The fox's black tipped ears swiveled at the thoughts in his head.

"I uh... I don't know. Something." He stated.

"Okay..." She couldn't wipe the grin from her muzzle and rubbed her chin in thought. A little playful idea crept into her mind. "Alright." Shiba decided. "I'll do whatever you want if you can... guess my age." The canine declared.

"Your... age?" He blinked.

"Yep." She nodded.

"What if I am wrong?"

"Then you do whatever I want." She challenged. Hokusai thought the odd bet over. It seemed innocent enough, but what would she make him do if he was wrong?

"Well?" She placed her hands on her hips, sensing imminent victory. Hokusai took a breath before giving his final answer.

"Thirty seven." He stated. Shiba didn't move for a split second, and then her face turned into a neutral expression.

"Am I right?" He grinned. "Wow! And no one else knows your age!"

"Alright!" She frowned. "You won our bet. What do you want?" Hokusai looked away nervously, almost giddy at the idea in his head. Shiba impatiently tapped her paw.

"Hmm... Well, you-uh."

"Just tell me!" She folded her arms.

"Would you mind... taking your clothes off?" He nearly choked at the request. With a few graceful moves she disrobed completely and faced him expectedly. A slight frown adorned her muzzle at the request even though she didn't seem to mind being naked in front of him. He gulped at the sight of her. A lovely set of breasts in snowy white fur were restfully hanging before him. Pink skin and soft skinned nipples weren't hidden in her soft white fur. Below the curve of her bosom led him to a flat tummy. A fertile set of hips bordered softer downy white fur of her feminine mound. She widened her stance when his sights settled on her inner thighs, and partially hidden sex. A swaying tail made his eyes jump back to hers.

"Don't feel so bashful. I'm used to being naked in front of men." She grinned. "Now, did you just want to see me naked?" Her hips swished side to side.

"Well..." He hesitated only for his gaze to linger on her chest. "Could you lay down on your back?"

"Sure." She waved a hand without care. With a shrug, Shiba laid down as he requested, propping herself up with an elbow while keeping her legs open for him. "There... Happy to see where babies come from?" She tersely spoke, but the fox's gaze appeared hypnotized. "Hokusai?"

"Sorry! It's just... you look really beautiful." He bashfully spoke to her surprise.

"Huh?" She gave him a peculiar look.

"I mean the way you're laying here for me, your fur coat is well groomed, the typical nonchalant look on your face, and especially how your breasts rests so simply. You're a beautiful canine lady." He poetically spoke. The canine's ears briefly fell back bashfully at his compliments. Never used to anything more than harsh lusty words, Shiba didn't know what to say. Hokusai knelt down before her, keeping his hands on his lap.

"Can I touch you?" He quietly asked.

"Heh. That's an easy one." She answered. "I've been in a position like this plenty of times..." Shiba expected the fox to hastily disrobe and become more intimate, not that she would've minded, but nothing of the sort happened. Hokusai scooted forward and placed a furry white leg in his lap. His hands cradled her digitigrade paw like a porcelain teapot. Shiba blinked feeling two thumbs press her main paw pad in a light caress. 'That feels nice.' She secretly liked his hands touching her there. But the tender touch under her paw was brief. The fox scooted forward as his hand rubbed along her leg. White fur ruffled under his fingers like ocean waves. He rested her leg over his lap as he went past her knee and rubbed her thigh.

"Is this ok?" He asked.

"Yes. Yes." Shiba curiously watched him lovingly tend to her like royalty, but she was equally perplexed at his behavior. Her ears turned as his hands paused beside her womanhood, but the Shiba Inu didn't say anything for him to stop. His touch along her sex was curious and more like a caress rather than a grope. It caught her completely off guard. It didn't feel bad, so she simply allowed him to continue. Shiba half expected him to start folding her breasts next, but to her surprise, he shuffled around before laying down between her legs.

'What is he...?' Shiba didn't know what to say, but her legs parted slightly more for him. She even let a paw rest on his back. It clearly became obvious what he was doing. His nose pointed directly at her most intimate region. A waft of warm breath made her body tingle. Eyes darted up to hers, seeking permission. He was definitely nervous. Shiba gave a quick nod. Her legs tensed instinctively, but her sex didn't receive a typical hard thrust. Instead, his tongue traced from the bottom of her sex to her mound, leaving a little fur sticking up wetly. The gentle warmth of his smooth tongue lapped at her womanhood unhurried. He wasn't rough or fast, but gentle and persistent. Shiba settled back onto her elbows and watched him lick her.

"Mmm..." She relaxed let herself hum as a tingle of pleasure gradually grow. It surprisingly felt nice, and his gentleness was soothingly erotic. Shiba sighed and let her toes curl. "This feels nice." She murmured. Feeling encouraged, he dipped between her folds for a deeper taste. "Oohhh." A soft moan escaped her lips. Fists formed and balled up the sheet underneath her. The seconds sweetly ticked on with every gentle swipe.

'This feels so good.' She thought to herself as her body tensed some. "Ahhh... Mm!" Her toes curled as he delivered a light nibble beside her sensitive flesh. His tongue quickly returned to gliding over her sex, exploring her entirety with his mouth. Her lips cracked open and she started quietly breathing. The pleasure steadily grew and her legs began to quiver. His persistent gentleness struck every nerve perfectly like an expert.

"Oooh!" Her moan reached a higher pitch. But right when she needed him to send her over the edge, he stopped. The sudden cool sensation of empty air shook her mind. Shiba's eyes fixated on the fox looking up at her questioningly. A burning desire took ahold of her.

"Ar-"

"I'm red hot down there!" She barked. "Now finish what you started, please." Without another word he returned to lapping gently at her aroused sex. Her breaths became labored as the pleasure grew with every passing swipe.

"Higher... High-right there!" She gasped and lifted her hips. "Ohh!" Her next breath came quickly as her heart throbbed. The sheet ruffled as her hand clenched it shakily. Shiba wanted to twist and turn onto her front, but needed him to have full access. Each gentle swipe came more heatedly, striking her nerves just so. And then she came.

"Aahhhh! Hhhaahaah!" Her body shuddered. She arched her back, twisted and writhed in pure bliss before suddenly going limp. Everything else blurred away, fading into the background. The euphoric sensations coursing throughout her body numbed her, as if she was in a coastal town's fog. Through the cozy fog of head buzzing pleasure she could feel movement. A pair of gentle hands were rubbing her legs and paws soothingly while she settled back down. Shiba covered her eyes with a hand, as if blinded by the pleasure he had given her. "Oh my... Gods..." She mumbled and blew a content sigh. Through the hazy afterglow, an ear detected movement as her legs were lowered. She peeked an eye open, and noticed that he was seated beside her like an assistant.

"What is it?" She blew a fast sigh.

"Eh... Do you need any privacy?" He nervously rubbed his neck. Shiba thought for a moment.

"Yes, please." She exhaled audibly. The fox stood up and walked away. 'Damn...' Shiba thought to herself. After all her years of working at the tea house, never before had she been the one to receive special treatment. The brief afterglow shudders quickly faded leaving her in a cozy embrace. Shiba peeked through her fingers and let her hand slump to the floor. For some odd reason she wanted him to be right there with her, snuggled up in each other's arms like a pair of intertwining vines. She placed a hand over her wet sex and immediately felt a dull tingle.

'That guy...' Shiba looked over at the open door where Hokusai was staring outside into the cool night. She rose from the bed with a delighted sigh, still completely naked. Without bothering to fetch her clothes, Shiba approached the fox standing outside. "See something more interesting than me?" She joked with a grin. He looked over and his eyes widened seeing that she was still naked. The fox attempted to usher her back inside.

"Shiba! Someone might see-!" A rough elbow cut him off.

"No one can see us." She stood proudly in the open and looked at the late evening scenery. A little field separated them from any immediate houses. The soft chirping of crickets in the grass were not so distant to their ears.

"I guess you're right." He breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" Shiba asked. "Licking your chops?" She chuckled.

"No!" He couldn't help but laugh and returned his gaze to the field. "I was enjoying the view. The sun is setting, and all is peaceful. The closeness of nature and so many people reminds me of my home in Niigata. There are a few wildflowers as well, and the smell is subtle but tantalizing too."

"It really is a beautiful sight when you describe it like that." Shiba looked out into the the field with a smile. "Hokusai."

"Yes?"

"Why did you do that to me?" She fully turned to face the red fox. His black tipped ears fell back nervously.

"Um... I-Uh..." He nervously stared at the ground. "I just wanted to I guess! You're never shy about it, so-"

"I loved it." Shiba pressed her naked front to his side and curled up a leg. Her muzzle curled into a wide grin.

"You did?!" He looked at her, feeling excited and relieved at once. She answered with a little lick on his neck. "Your moans started to scare me." The fox admitted. Shiba laughed with a chattering bark.

"It was surprisingly nice." She reassured him. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed that." His gaze settled on her eyes, shining back at his like full moons. Gong... Gong... Gong... A distant, deep ringing permeated through the fading light.

"Sounds like the monks at the temple are ringing the bell for the night." Shiba trailed her hands up his arm and back. "And you're coming to bed with me." She brought an arm around his waist.

"Wait. Bed?" He blinked.

"Mmhm. But we won't be going to sleep for a while." Shiba led him back inside and closed the sliding door behind him. Hokusai nervously stared at the bed but a firm push made him stumble to its awaiting softness. Turning over, he was greeted by a naked canine beauty standing before him. The wide gleam of her white teeth matched her playful eyes. "It's my profession to make people satisfied." She gave him a sultry grin. "Don't think that I'll let you get away now without doing something to you." Shiba knelt down.

"But Shiba-" He started to sit up only for the canine to straddle his legs.

"All you need is to lay down and let me do everything." She untied his sash, but didn't open up his clothes just yet. Savoring the moment she crawled over him on all fours. Her breasts jiggled with each subtle movement. Shiba happily watched his eyes ogle her naked body like she was a goddess. 'That's right...' She thought to herself. 'I want your full attention while we howl.' For an unknown reason she wanted to give all the pleasure that he could handle with the greatest care. It was more than just returning a favor. Her nose lowered to his ear, letting his delicate hairs feel her heated breath.

"I don't bite." Shiba whispered. "But I love to nibble." Her seductive voice promised him so much more.

The morning sunlight reached a closed pair of eyes, coaxing them to blink awake. The sleeping figure clung to sleep until the noisy chatter of birds reached her ears.

"Hmm..." Her cheek was firmly planted on a furry body. Letting her eyes adjust to the sunlight, Shiba found herself snuggled up to Hokusai. The red fox was still sleeping peacefully from their lengthy night together. Usually a hand was still grabbing her when she woke up from a night's session, but her nighttime lover had an arm around her dutifully instead. Whereas her arm and leg were draped over his front like a blanket. "Mmm." She smiled at the coziness of their combined body heat, wishing she hadn't woken up so soon. She nudged him arms aside and propped herself up on an elbow. Her breasts rested on his front, but Shiba found herself happy that they did. It was like giving him another kind of hug. Shiba looked him over lovingly.

'You are handsome.' She noted his naked white furred front. 'And it took me days to get you out of your clothes!' There was no other client she had like him. His black lips lined with fuzzy white fur were barely parted as he breathed. Maybe he was giving her another kiss in his dreams? 'I am sure he will have a poem to describe this.' She glanced up at the golden light that filled the bedroom. The sunshine perfectly matched her mood. Everything felt so wonderful. She had never been with anyone so attentive to her needs, or even slightly considerate about her. Her hand lightly trailed over his white chest fur, careful not to stir him. Last night was like a pleasant dream, one where she didn't want to wake up. She felt like they were a married couple in love. She was a person to him rather than just a prostitute tailing him. That made her smile most of all.

'Touch me again...' Shiba half wished the previous day would turn into an endless experience. She didn't want to leave his arms, but the canine mustered herself to extricate herself from the intimate position. Shiba rose to her hands and knees and located his clothes by the wall. The canine crept over to his belongings and quietly rummaged rough them. Her eyes widened hearing the slight noise of metal. Lifting a fold she found the object of her desires; the hefty pouch of money. Her hand froze. She hesitated.

'I can't steal from him, he's treated me like... like a person!' Her chest tightened uncomfortably. 'But how much longer will he stay in this town?' She feared he would leave her. It's what all the men from out of town did after they visited the teahouse.

'I like spending time with him... It's more than just pleasure.' Shiba looked at her breasts hanging from being on her hand and knees. Her gaze hardened at the visible pouch of money.

'He's naive.' She told herself, but her hand couldn't make the grab. Her knees started to hurt from resting in the wooden floor, and her paws itched to move.

'You're older than him! Someone else will catch his eye!' Caught in an internal dilemma, Shiba didn't know what she should do. Rustling behind the canine made her heart race anxiously.

"Are you coming back to bed?" A sleepy voice mumbled. For a moment Shiba could only hear her heart thumping as she held her breath.

"Don't move. I'll be back." She couldn't manage a smile through her own terrible lie. The fox settled back down and waited for her.

'Good things do not last forever...' Shiba decided.

The smells of tea and sounds of soft chatter permeated through the closed sliding door of a small private room within Ne's teahouse. Shiba's morning routine had been busy into the afternoon, but her thoughts were entirely elsewhere. All she could think about was the red fox, and the hefty pouch of money tucked away behind her. The money was tempting, like a hot meal to a starving soul.

'Military members speak of honor, but have they been poor as me?' Losing both parents at a young age with only their own strength to rely on? 'No.' She told herself 'No one had been through exactly what I have endured.' The Shiba Inu reminded herself, but a gut wrenching void hurt her heart. Her hand gripped a heavy sack of fine silk. It's contents were worth more than what she could make in two or three good months.

'How could I say no?' She frowned feeling sadness well up inside her. "But I fell in love with him..." Her voice whimpered the painful truth. Too distracted internally, she didn't even hear the sliding door open to her little private room.

"Shiba!" A stern voice caught the canine's attention.

"Y-yes ma'am."

"Someone is asking for your services, and he will be right here in a moment. Be ready!" She hissed before sliding the door shut. The canine took a deep breath.

'Get your mind together.' Shiba told herself and opened up her already loosened robe. 'Okay.' She prepared herself and thought over a plan. Her arms crossed beneath her breasts to help hold them up. 'They barely sag.' She faintly grinned at her slight extension of the truth. It kept her hopeful about an uncertain future for an older woman working as a prostitute. The door slid open causing her ears to swivel.

"Hello." She turned to greet her next visitor only to feel her jaw drop. Standing before her was a familiar red fox dressed pristinely. "Hokusai!" She jumped to her feet with her sash barely holding the bottom half of her robe together. He shut the door and glared at her.

"You left me."

"Wait. I-"

"I love you." He boldly stated. "But you... You used me! For my money!" His words made Shiba speechless. "I don't mind the money being stolen as much as you leaving me there. Do you know how long I sat there and waited?" He growled. "I waited for you. Then your sister returned and told me... Maybe she was right after all about you." His voice deteriorated from the pain. "When a train derails, there is the briefest moment when everything still feels the same, as if it was still following the tracks. That moment lasted an hour for me before everything came crashing down." He angrily spoke. Shiba mustered the courage to defend herself.

"Listen! I-!" A loud smack snapped the still air. Shiba fell to the floor but caught herself with a hand. Her eyes were gaping widely like her jaw. The nastiness of a sharp sting radiated across and throughout her face, as if there was a sour rock inside the left pocket of her gums. She managed to look up at the figure towering over her. A striking sense of fear and gut wrenching guilt pierced her stomach. The normally happy and carefree fox resembled a demon. The glaring eyes of an angry faced looked over her like a storming cloud, raining down sadness. In a blur, he turned and swiftly opened the door. Shiba's eyes finally blinked when he disappeared from sight. She touched her stinging cheek. Her jaw was quivering like a shivering infant. She scooted away from the open door rather than close it.

The white furred canine tucked her legs close to her body while she still absorbed the shock. Her entire body felt hollow as if a great emptiness engulfed her from within.

'But why do I feel so sad?' She had lived a life of promiscuity, never once becoming attached to a client or patron no matter their wealth, charm, or standing. She was even richer than she had ever been. The Shiba Inu had even been struck a few times over disagreements, but those all seemed pale and numbly distant in comparison. The feeling was much deeper than that. Hokusai was more than a wealthy client to her. She loved him...

The swift opening of a door startled Masako. The grey and white Inu's head snapped over and spotted an all too familiar figure entering her household.

"Masako!" Shiba panted with noticeable fatigue.

"I'm surprised that you're showing your face here again." Her sister didn't even glance over a shoulder to see her. Old tensions flared inside the white Shiba Inu.

"You never liked the fact that I work at a brothel." She bit back a growl, trying to deflect the issue. A sudden clatter nearly made the Shiba Inu jump.

"That was your choice to make." Her sister boldly declared and turned to face her. "I wish you had done something more respectable, but this time you robbed a man of his wealth and his heart!" Shiba's eyes watered as her ears fell back shamefully. "Have you no shame?" Masako's words stung her heart like a fierce hornet. "One day you will understand."

"Did he say where he was going?" Shiba barked over her sister's voice.

"No. He didn't." Masako answered.

'The guest room!' Shiba ran to where they had slept together. This time the room was empty and tidied neatly. The bed was made and there was no trace of the night before. The sunshine silently filled the room with a warm glow, but without any clear answers. Her paws patterned over the floor as she frantically searched the guest room hoping for a clue or anything left behind. A little piece of paper peeking from under the bed's cover caught her eye.

'What's this?' She picked up the piece of paper and realized that it was a torn page from the book he carried around.

The love I carry,

Such a delicate flower.

When it blossoms,

Pure happiness shall emerge.

The poem fell from her hand and floated to the floor, but it was soon followed by a pair of teardrops.

'Why did I do this?' She scrunched her eyes shut and held back a sob. Angry and distraught, Shiba felt utterly lost until one final idea popped into her head. "The train station!" Her eyes shot open. Masako jumped as she heard the loud thudding of running paws from the guest room. A blur of white fur running toward the door caught her eye.

"Where are you going?" She called out but her sister didn't bother to stop and explain. Shiba held her kimono and ran as fast as her legs could carry her down the dirt road. The train station was the last place she would be able to find him. it was her last chance! The loud thundering sound of distant metal rails caught her ears. She froze in the street.

'Oh no!' Her eyes lit up. 'The train!' The canine continued along the dirt road towards the station, but her kimono made it difficult to run in full strides. Dodging the regular townsfolk, she gradually made her way up the dirt road. 'There it is!' She finally caught sight of the train station ahead. But as she reached the entryway, a flood of passengers leaving the station overwhelmed her. Canine, feline, and vulpine travelers mulled by her like a flood.

"Get out of my way!" She frantically pushed past the exiting crowd. When Shiba finally reached the platform, she was breathless and in shock. The train had embarked and barely a soul was left in the empty station.

'Did he leave already?' Her eyes watered as they darted around every corner to check. Two military figures were standing close together, whispering in low voices; a feline worker was sweeping the dusty floor. She almost missed a stationary figure, seated alone on a bench. Dressed impeccably, there was no doubt who the red fox was.

"Hokusai!" Shiba ran towards the red fox. His head barely turned and lifted before the lady collided with him.

"Shiba-?"

"I'm sorry!" She bawled, crying her eyes out. A few onlookers heard the commotion but turns away. "I'm sorry Hokusai..." The Shiba Inu wept on him. "I'm a stupid fool." She reached into the folds of her kimono. "You can count them. I couldn't spend a single one." Shiba revealed the hefty pouch of money from her robe, and returned it to its rightful owner.

"Why?" The fox couldn't understand.

"I don't know... You actually like me, but I took advantage of you for that." She clung to him like an infant. "I will understand if you don't forgive me." Her eyes buried into his shoulder. She felt his arms encircle her. To Shiba's surprise, the fox hugged her in return. He didn't say anything at first while his hand petted down her back.

"You're holding me really tight." He barely managed to free his other arm from her grasp. But the canine still tightly held onto him, refusing to let go. The pair simply sat on the bench together without a word. If the train had roared back into the station neither would have taken notice. When Shiba gathered herself she released him and sat up straight, finally able to look him in the eyes once more. Plenty of fears and questions raced through her mind at what he would say or do.

"I'll understand if you never wish to see me again." She soberly spoke. To her surprise he grinned.

"That's not it at all." He told her.

"Then how can you trust me?"

"I don't want you to lie to me anymore..."

"Oh." Her ears fell.

"You didn't lie to me about who, or what kind of person you were."

"That's right." She remembered.

"You're not really thirty seven, are you?" He correctly guessed.

"No." She shook her head. "I just wanted to see what you wanted me to do, but you were very close..."

"I'm glad you let me." He nervously grinned. A smile returned to Shiba's muzzle as well. "You're the first and only woman I have been intimate with."

"I don't believe that." She was surprised to hear him say that. "There's no way someone of your standing doesn't choose to be with several women at some point."

"It's true." He promised. "There's no other person who captivated me like you do."

"So... You do like me?" She quietly asked.

"Yes. Of course I do." Shiba's smile only grew as her curled tail started to wag.

"Are you still leaving?" The canine feared the worst.

"Well..." He hesitated. "I originally wanted to but I just couldn't board. It was the last train until tomorrow afternoon, so I don't have anywhere to stay."

"If you want to... I have a small house we can stay at for the night." Shiba quietly offered. "But it's not like my sister's house."

The back streets of Ne were worn paths of dirt caused by numerous bare paws and rugged footwear. The ground would've been covered in grass had they not received their daily foot traffic. Dips and grooves in the street could easily fill with rainwater too, causing a breeding ground for infectious insects. It was the less scenic side of town where many of the poor lived. Shiba was among the mix of miners, laborers, and extra field hands living in the crowded shanty houses.

'Everything is dilapidated.' The red fox observed the living conditions. Kids wearing dirty clothes were kicking an old tin can for fun. Somewhere nearby the prolonged sharp cry of an infant went on unceasingly before being hushed. Hokusai glanced to the right. Through an open doorway he could see a female vixen on her hands and knees, diligently scrubbing the floor of a small home. Her clothing was fairly loose, allowing passers an intimate peek down her front. But what Hokusai saw was the soul of a hard working lady making ends meet. Continuing onward, Shiba showed him to a particular house at the edge of the packed slums and close to the hilly forests.

"Here." Shiba showed him to the door of a small house. It's appearance was shoddy and aged. Hokusai prepared himself as she slid the door open. Stepping inside, the wealthy fox found himself inside a dim box dwelling. The floor was barren, but luckily made of wood and not dirt. Dust was visible in some places even without direct sunlight. The walls were plain and barren save for minor spider webs in the ceiling corners. The only items he could see were two empty bowls, a larger basin for water, an old teapot, and a pot to cook with. The silence was broken by the sound of the door being slid shut.

"Welcome to my home." Shiba's face remained emotionless as she quietly introduced him to where she lived. He looked around without a word as the Shiba Inu stood behind him observantly. "I bet you have never seen a poor slum like this." Shiba folded her arms. The fox peered around the dusty floor for a moment longer.

"Well... I have." Hokusai stated. Her brows raised unexpectedly.

"How?"

"When I was little I kept asking my dad where my mother came from and why we never saw anyone from her family." He began. "I never knew that she was born to a modest farmer who had his shares of good and bad fortune. So one day he took me to a field and we walked in a wide circle. I practically bounced the entire way." He fondly remembered. "I kept asking where my mom came from and he eventually stopped and pointed to the center of the field where an abandoned shack stood. At first, when my father told me that my mother came from the abandoned field house, I believed that she was a spirit. He had to explain several times that she was the daughter of a tenant farmer who caught his eye one day."

"I never would've guessed that one of your parents was just as poor as me."

"No one does." He nodded and looked around the room again. "But I thought you earned more money... than this."

"Most of the people who visit the tea house knowing that we are also a brothel aren't very wealthy." Shiba lightly scuffed the floor with a paw. "Whatever I earn in the spring and summer has to last through the fall and winter. We have very little business when it is cold, and I'm older so Madame wants the young ladies to attract more men to the tea house whenever possible."

"Aren't more people visiting because of the railroad?"

"The railroad and train station were only built here barely two years ago. We're still very much a rural town with plenty of men farming, crafting, or logging who want some release..." She stared at her claws.

"The others at the tea house don't stay here, do they?"

"No." Shiba shook her head. "Normally they are able to sleep there or somewhere else like at a client's house. I prefer not to." Hokusai just shook his head only to feel a chill run up his back.

"It must be freezing in here during wintertime." He folded his arms. "Do you normally stay here every night?"

"No. For most of the winter I stay at my sister's house, but I have to live here a little bit or someone else might evict me." Hokusai could not even imagine where she would have a fire without risking the whole house catching aflame. A few claw marks on the floor and even on the door caught his eyes. Hokusai looked very worried.

"Is it safe here?"

"No, not really." She shrugged. "Sometimes you hear fighting. Drunk men may show up to harass me, but that's all." Her words only seemed to worry Hokusai even more. A keen eye noticed how the room was darkening.

"The sun is already setting." He could tell by how dim the dwelling was becoming.

"Do you want to sleep somewhere else?" Her gaze fell to the floor. Deep inside, she feared that he would leave her one final time.

"No." He hesitated. "Uh, where do we sleep? The floor here?" He assumed.

"We can sleep in the back room." She pointed at an open entrance to a back room he hadn't even noticed. Smaller than the front room, the space was narrow and empty, save for a spare pile of plain clothes, worn sandals, and a thick comforter blanket laid out on the floor. Hokusai rubbed his arms, clearly able to feel a draft.

'More than what I expected.' He half joked in his thoughts.

"Are you sure about this?" Shiba almost regretted asking, but the fox didn't bolt by her to the exit.

"It's ok." He approached the blanket. "I've slept outside before." He grinned. Shiba watched him smooth out the makeshift bed before settling down. She sat down on the end of the blanket and untied her sash. It felt automatic for her hands to do so. She loosened the top half of her robe and tucked her shoulders, allowing the garment to slide to her waist. She quietly folded her arms around her midsection without making another move. Shiba sat there topless, but didn't want to disrobe any further. Hokusai looked up and saw her eyes water.

"Shiba?" He softly spoke. The Shiba Inu swallowed and took a moment before speaking.

"Sometimes I'm not proud of what I do." The canine admitted. "But it's all I know, and I made sure my sister and I stayed alive after our parents died. When Masako was able to, she married and did what she wanted to. I continued doing what I had to do for myself. I've run and hid myself from people who tried abusing me... I have never had anyone else to care for me." She wiped her eyes. "I'm so sorry..." Shiba cleared her throat and gathered herself. When the tears dissipated, she found herself in his arms.

"It's okay." He whispered and soothingly rubbed her back. Shiba tightly held him and sighed deeply. For once in a very long time, she felt someone sharing her burden. Only when the canine was ready did she undo the embrace and sit up straight.

"Why can't you quit working at the tea house?" Hokusai asked.

"Because I am unmarried and older, Hokusai." She plainly answered. "I'm not thirty. I'm not even thirty five anymore. When I am too old for this... I will have nothing left. Who wants an older person like me working for them?" Shiba briefly imagined working for a farmer, ragged, straining to carry heavy loads of grain to the market. Or even more depressing and frightening, watching after someone's children; children that she could've born with a loving husband. "I'm aging, and it's scary." It felt like a dagger was driven through her at the sound of her own admission. Telling the truth was difficult without having someone to trust, even impossible, but a black socked hand reached out and lifted her chin.

"You're a very beautiful older woman." He smiled. "Who caught my eye with her wits, not just her body."

"That sounds like one of your poems..." She admitted.

"I wish I could write it down." His words only made Shiba roll her eyes in light amusement. "But I think I'm starting to understand why you've been hiding your age and fret over your appearance so much."

"You're always naive." She wiped her nose. The fox happily grinned in reply, but noticed the room becoming very dim from the waning sunlight.

"It's getting dark... Let's go to bed." He rubbed her shoulder. "It has been a long day."

"Okay." She quietly nodded as he laid back down. "I want to lay my head on you." Shiba nestled beside him, but ended up laying down perpendicular to the fox so she could still face him. It didn't feel right sleeping beside the fox properly after what she had done to him. Hokusai didn't say anything, but placed a hand over hers. It was calm and quiet outside as darkness gradually dimmed the room. Neither sought sleep yet, their thoughts still processing everything that had happened.

'I'm right here with him.' The Shiba Inu didn't want to be anywhere else for the night, not even a castle or palace. She only wanted to be in his arms, and by his side. Taking a deep breath, Shiba could easily feel a part of her body touching the blanket below. It was a stark reminder to the canine of her age. She softly sighed.

"My breasts aren't so firm anymore. They hang more than when I was younger." She remembered.

"Here. I'll hold them up." Hokusai politely offered. Shiba blinked as he supported one and partially held the other with a hand. His thumb lightly traced over her fur and part of her soft bud of flesh. No grabbing or groping. It was a gentle caring touch to a sensitive place, something she craved from him. It only lasted a moment before the fox shifted.

"What's wrong?"

"You can lay beside me if you want." He retracted his hand. "It's chilly." Shiba merely nodded and crawled up to him before laying along his side. Her arm rested across his torso and lightly held him. She still secretly feared that he would slip away, but he held her close in return.

"Do you think I am a bad person, Hokusai?" She whispered.

"No." He firmly spoke with a caring touch. "You've done all that you needed to do for your sister and yourself." Shiba silently agreed. The pair simply laid on the blanket together, finding their bodies much warmer despite the drafty room. The sounds of soft breathing brought them closer together. "Do you want to ride the train again tomorrow?" He asked.

"Yes." She nodded and remembered how much fun they had. "With you."

"Alright. Let's go to sleep so we can catch the train early." He whispered.

"I love you." She closed her eyes and listened to his soft breathing beside her.

"I love you too." He kissed her head goodnight.

'If this is a dream, then don't let me wake up...' For the first time in Shiba's life, she fell asleep in the arms of a real lover.

The loud whistle of a train echoed through the bustling town of Ne. Passengers leaving the train shuffled through the little station. Two regional officials chatted eagerly about international news while others talked of more personal stories. Among the awaiting crowd was a white furred Shiba Inu. Dressed in her kimono, she felt out of place among so many sharply dressed people, but that was only in the back of her mind. Shiba never thought that she would be boarding a train again, but this time it was for a real journey. No longer tied to the teahouse as a means of income, she felt freed. Just as importantly, she felt loved. She took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. Normally, she would be spending a morning like this bathing at the bathhouse in preparation for a lengthy day of work at the teahouse. Anxiousness and excitement filled her for the awaiting adventure. Beside her was the only faithful man in her difficult promiscuous life. The tall red fox in modern clothes navigated the crowd expertly, like she could in a teahouse.

"We should board soon." He told her.

"Mmhm." She nodded. A hand caught the Shiba Inu's shoulder. Looking over, Masako was standing behind her.

"I never thought this would happen. Please write to me... once you learn how to." She grinned.

"Yeah... Writing." Shiba rolled her eyes and blew a sigh. The morning had already been a tearful goodbye. Masako's gaze settled on the red fox.

"You take good care of her."

"You don't have to worry, I will." Hokusai promised.

"And you take good care of him." She told her sister. The pair smiled and began stepping towards a passenger car when others started boarding. Shiba clung onto the red fox. A strong sense of nervousness was lodged in her gut about leaving, even though it was clearly for the better.

"Are you okay?" Hokusai picked up on her unusual silence. The canine looked up at him with worried eyes.

"What will I do?" She asked him. "I'm old..."

"You're only older than me." He smiled. Shiba found herself smiling at his kindness, and devoted love to her.

"Well, if you don't care then I won't care." She held his hand. "So long as I'm with you." They both smiled. "But if I'm going to be with you." She told him. "We will need to work on your social skills."

"What are you talking about?" He didn't understand.

"If you didn't know my profession by looking at me, then I have a lot to teach you."

"Well I had no idea..."

"You're naive!" She insisted. "But you're a good person, and I like spending time with you."

"That makes two of us." He leaned forward and kissed her. Shiba melted into his arms and pushed her nose against his.

"All aboard!" A voice cracked the air as a stiff breeze whipped by. Their lips broke apart before they went hand in hand onto the passenger car. Finding a seat by the window, they sat down.

"Are you still nervous?" Hokusai guessed.

"Clearly!" Shiba growled. "But it's exciting too." She had to admit and looked out the window. Pulling the window up Shiba poked her head outside. "Bye!" She barked at her sister standing on the edge of the platform. The grey and white canine waved back as the train started to pull away. The strong wind began to blow against her as the train picked up speed and the town became smaller in her sights. Where she was headed was entirely something new, but there were many promises in store for her.

End