I awoke to the sound of a doorbell. I immediately knew who it was. I ran down stairs, stood at the door, and fixed my hair. I took a deep breath and opened it. There stood Houkou, grinning at me.
"Hi! Are you ready to go?" he greeted.
"Yeah!" I said excitedly. I walked out the door and started walking next to him. I was thinking why he wouldn't put his arm around me, then it dawned on me.
'I'm not going on a date duh! I'm meeting his friends!' I thought.
I must of had a weird expression on my face because Houkou asked me this,
"Are you ok?"
I blushed. "Uh, yeah! Never better! Um...where are we meeting them?" I asked.
"In a clearing in the Woods. Kyuubi and Shukaku stumbled upon it a long time ago when they just started out as friends." he explained.
"I met Shukaku today." I told him.
"Really, good. I guess you met his sis too, right?" he asked.
"Yeah." I sighed.
He laughed. "Yeah, she's a real demon!"
I laughed too. It was nice just walking with him. He didn't seem to have a worry in the world. But I bet there was something that bothered him inside, that he kept a secret from the world. Just as I do, about my father.
He helped me over branches and to find the right paths. He said it's not that hard, but it is pretty far away from the town and neighborhoods. We arrived in a clearing that had a huge stump in the middle. Two people were already here.
"Neka, this is Hachi and Raijuu. They are always the first here." Houkou explained.
"Hi! Nice to meet cha!" greeted Raijuu.
Hachi just stared at me.
"Hi." I said back.
We sat on the stump, Houkou and I, until another showed up.
"Who this?" he asked.
"Thissss issss Neka. Houkou brought her." explained Hachi.
"Neka, this is Kaku." Houkou explained to me.
"Hi, Kaku." I greeted.
"Well, it's nice to have a girl who's not afraid to wear all black." Kaku complimented.
While Hachi and Raijuu stood, Kaku just went ahead and flopped himself on the ground.
"So...How did you all become friends?" I asked.
I felt the air tense. Even Houkou got nervous.
"Um...We all just like the same things that's all." explained Kaku.
I was about to speak, when Shukaku and another boy showed up. Everyone loosened up.
"Ah, Kyuubi! Good you're here! I brought a friend." Houkou smiled.
I gave a shy smile and a small wave. "Hi."
"I was just telling Kyuubi about her." Shukaku told the group.
Kyuubi scanned me for a moment or two before putting out his hand.
"Do you know the secret handshake?" Kyuubi asked.
"Kyuubi, I didn't teach her--" Houkou cut off.
I stood up and reached out a shaky hand. I clasped his and moved it up, down, right, left, raised it up high, then threw it down letting go.
Everyone awed.
"How did you know?" he asked.
"It was a handshake me and my brothers' did with me..." I explained trailing off.
"Well...I guess..." he began glancing at the group, "Welcome."