The Fox and the Hound (Ikari/Ryou)

Apparently, someone was having a whole load of fun without Ikari; and in the forest too! However, this fun certainly didn't sound all that very "fun". It sounded more death defying and murderous, and the scent of iron that lingered in the air all but confirmed it; blood. Whose blood it was, or what kind of blood it was, wasn't all that obvious. However it was quite obvious that one of the two who had been tussling in the forest was dead, and the other was alive. It seemed to be the alive one was the woman who was chasing the beast down, and not the beast itself. After all, a beat has no business trumping a lady who could easily kick its ass!

All those reasons, including Ikari's own, were why the fox set out at a measured, but swift, pace, her soft paws padding silently as she dashed through the forest with ease. Arriving into the area where the class had concluded, a shattered and fallen tree strewn on the forest floor, Ikari bore witness to the dead beast; and an attractive red-head. Ikari's ears twitched and her head tilted to the side as she observed the woman before her, cleverly concealing herself to the best of her ability. Eying the woman, it soon became obvious she may be wounded; perhaps terribly, perhaps not. Regardless, Ikari slipped from her hiding spot and, with a burst of speed, moved towards the woman and shifted into her human form with a stealthy ease. Eventually, she moved up to the woman, carefully placed a hand on her shoulder, and did her best to heal the woman; knowing that the woman, caught unawares, would likely lash out. However, Ikari was prepared for that eventuality. After all, all she had to do was zoom away from whatever danger may approach her; or parry it. Either way, right now her concern was to heal the woman before her. No matter how small the wound, it was bound to become infected or worse if left alone... Ikari just hoped she wouldn't have to deal with almost getting killed for helping someone.

All things considered, Ikari was quite pleased that Ryo had healed so well. Albeit, the woman's reaction to her healing was less so. Jerking away, flopping onto the ground, and pretty much leaving her weapon behind as she panicked at Ikari's presence. Half healed as she was, and the nasty gash upon her arm had barely stopped bleeding, Ikari frowned a tiny bit. Not to mention, the Kitsune too felt the sensation of deja vu and familiarity; but right now? She wanted to help the woman who had obviously done a service to those around; even if she had destroyed a tree in the process.

"I'm not sure~! Your beautiful red hair certainly seems familiar, and you have a scent that seems just as familiar; but let's worry about that after I heal you? Even if you're not that badly hurt, your arm could get infected or worse. I'd rather bypass that and just heal it, okay?"

After a few moments of Ikari showing her hands, and her tails on accident to be honest, to try and assure Ryo of her intentions, Ikari waited for a sign that she could approach and finish her work. Whenever Ryo allowed her to, Ikari carefully moved closer, making slow movements as to not alarm Ryo. Once Ikari was close enough, she knelt down and carefully took Ryo's injured arm in her hands. After a gentle reassurance, Ikari closed her eyes and seemingly focused. A pink glow permeated the space gently, as if cherry blossom petals had permeated the very air. Slowly, that energy encompassed Ryo's injured arm, and that energy soon focused upon the arm, glowing brilliantly. Ryo would feel an itching sensation as sinew, muscles, and skin were repaired, stitched back together, and healed as if there had never been a gash there in the first place. Letting out a gentle sigh, the Kitsune's eyes opened to appraise Ryo's arm, poking upon the surface of her once injured arm before Ikari gently released it with a whispered blessing in Japanese.

"There... Should be all better now. Including any other scratches and bruises from before. I'm Ikari, by the way; maybe we've met before, maybe we haven't. What do you think?"

The longer Ikari looked upon the red-haired woman, the more her memory began to prickle and trigger, as if she knew the woman before her; even if their meeting was only brief. It was like her name was upon the tip of Ikari's tongue, yet it escaped her. After a brief check over her body, Ikari nodded that everything seemed alright. Soon, however, when Ryo seemed to obviously recognize her, the Kitsune heard her name and couldn't help but smile as she too felt that same realization. Ryo... Ah, the pieces of the puzzle finally fit together. The woman she had gone to a restaurant with, had dinner with, and pleasant conversation. Frankly speaking, Ikari was a bit surprised she could forget such a woman, especially one with such vibrant red hair and eyes.

"Ryo... Ryo~ Yes, I remember you now as well. It seems fate has allowed us to meet once more~"

Ikari purred pleasantly as she more carefully reviewed Ryo's wounds, or lack thereof, before she finally leaned forward and gave the woman a very gentle hug; careful to use a single arm for the hug. Clearly, it was meant as a bit more casual, even if Ikari would love to give her a much bigger and warm hug.

"It's been a while then, hasn't it? We nearly forgot each other, didn't we~? I'm glad we met again. What've you been up to lately aside from hunting wild beasties~?"

No, a hug definitely wasn't part of the checkup. Ikari was simply an over-physical being who truly enjoyed hugging people she liked, and especially if she was in a good mood. Ikari gave Ryo a gentle pat on the shoulder and a small grin, her five tails flicking gently in evident jubilation. After a few moments, the woman tilted her head somewhat, revealing one of her normally flat ears a smidge as it leaned out of her hair.

"Oh, it's okay Ryo~! I honestly didn't wholly recognize you at first. But your smell, face, and red hair was so familiar, it was on the very tip of my tongue~ Why's your mind a jumbled mess~?"

The fox woman soon seated herself in front of Ryo, hopefully causing a bit less distraction with her tails. Over all, however, she certainly couldn't help but be distracting with the shade of her hair and her ever-present tails.

"At first, I was just kinda roaming around the forest for fun. Then I heard quite a racket, felt your energy and that beastie over there, and wanted to check it out~! I'm glad I did, got to have another chance meeting with the same woman as before~"

Ikari smiled pleasantly as she once more gave Ryo a careful lookover, with just her eyes this time, but otherwise Ikari simply gave Ryo a warm look before she peered at the beast nearby.

"Should you, no, we do anything about the corpse? I'm sure it'll attract a lots of predators. And, maybe after... lunch~?"

"Well, hold on... I may be able to do something that should help... Just, catch me if I fall."

Ikari contemplated the issue as she looked at the Hollow's corpse and, without much warning, the Kitsune muttered something under her breath and Kitsunebi sparked into life above her hand; which Ikari channeled a bit of energy into until the fire in her palm crackled and roared. She grinned at Ryo before suddenly throwing the fire onto the hollow's corpse. With a bit more effort, the entire body caught fire and was whipped into an inferno of massive proportions! If Ryo didn't panic about the fire, she may notice how the flame didn't seem to burn the ground below it, nor the plants around. Frankly speaking, the fire was oddly smokeless as it raged and burned the hollow until it was but more than a pile of slowly dissolving ash; a tiny blue flame burning gently at the peak of the pile.

Ikari let out a tired sigh, and felt her own stomach growl with sudden hunger. The fox let out a soft groan at her sudden exhaustion before she went over to Ryo and carefully took the woman's arm; obviously stumbling from her overuse of energy. She would recover in time but, for now, she held onto Ryo with an unembarrassed desperation. After all, as Ikari was, she couldn't walk straight very well until her spell of exhaustion passed. It wouldn't take long, but running into a tree wouldn't be prudent.

"Should still warn the local police... Being burnt into ash should hopefully decrease its scent and, if I'm right, should help it dissolve a bit quicker."

Ikari seemed to gain her footing a bit better after a few moments of respite, but she carefully tugged on Ryo's arm in the direction of the nearest town. This fox was starving and needed some food, she just hoped Ryo was willing to pay this time. And yes, Ryo would certainly still feel a bit sore even after Ikari's healing. She couldn't wholly tend to every ache and pain, that would leave her unconscious if she tried; or far too exhausted to move for a while.

"Your treat this time~? I'm famished~"