“And that’s why you should never go on a totally blind date.” Finished Aya. “Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a semi-blind date. I’ve had lots of those, and they’re plenty of fun!”
“Exactly how ‘blind’ is a ‘semi blind date’?” asked Maiko.
“It’s when you go on a date with a friend of a friend that you’ve seen around, talked about but never actually talked with. It would be like you going out with Daichi.”
“Except that I’d never go out with him! He’s far too….cut up….for my tastes. I prefer my guys without scars, thank you.”
“It’s not like he’d have the time to go out with anyone.” Commented Inuko dryly. “He’s far too busy cutting up other people in the name of the Glorious Shogun Isamu Honma. That’s the problem in my family: everyone is always too busy serving the Shogun or the Emperor to have any sort of love life. That’s why the last 10 marriages in my family were arranged.”
“I think….he’s…nice….” Jun unexpectantly piped up.
“Save your personal chatter for later. There are dangerous things living here, and they have a very good sense of hearing.” snapped Hoshi.
“Hey, cut them some slack captain. We’re not in any immediate danger.” Said Naoki, wiping the blade of her naginata as she talked.
“Immediate danger? If anything hears us coming, it will attack without warning. We can’t let ourselves be heard.”
“You know, most predators have a sense of smell much better than their hearing. It won’t make a real difference.”
“Oh, right, we should we be more concerned about getting rid of that dog smell.”
“HEY!” shouted Inuko. She and Hoshi shot each other dirty looks, and then turned away. And that’s when she felt it.
She suddenly knew she was being watched. Watched by something with hungry eyes. Multiple somethings. She looked around, but saw nothing. Nothing but those countless statues off in the distance.
