While she walked through the crowd, Eva made polite small talk with the people around her, keeping an eye out for the ones her age the old inari had mentioned. After talking to one of the Kami garbed in a very elaborate Kimono painted with scenes of their shrine in the various seasons, the young Kitsune was pondering if she should use the what little magic came instinctively to her to change her rather mundane looking outfit to resemble the Kimono Yukiko had worn during the procession and the rest of the festival.

Before she could reach a decision either way, a young, surprised sounding voice shouting “Gaijin!” distracted her. Looking where the shout had come from, Eva noticed a young girl, maybe 6 or 7 years old, running towards her. The girl was wearing a frilly pink blouse and a knee length red red skirt. Some locks of her long black hair brushed against the tiny fox kit she was carrying in her arms. “Ah, please forgive me, I was just surprised to see a foreigner here.” The girl apologized as she stopped before Eva. “Dad said this would be a gathering of Japanese deities so I was not expecting someone like you here.”

“That’s alright.” The German replied with a smile on her lips. “I’d be quite surprised as well I think.”

“So how did you come to be here?” Came the young girl’s inquiry. “No wait, let me guess. You got your own servant.” She waved at Gon standing behind and slightly to the side of Eva. “So you’re probably not a european fox that came here as a servant. I know, your parent had a shrine built by some expatriates then had you with a local and now you finally got them to let you come here to their home after a couple of centuries. Did I get it right? Did I?”

With a short amused chuckle, Eva replied. “Not really. For one I am still in my twenties. And neither of my parents were Kami.” Seeing the confused expression on the young girl’s face, the kitsune continued,”Mumei decided I was worthy to take over her position after I helped her in her time of need.”

“Ooooh, you’re the one the lady on stage mentioned then? Come let me introduce you to my dad then.” The young girl declared, letting go of her little pet with one hand to grab onto the older woman’s and dragged her through the crowd. Eva for her part let herself be dragged along, the girl’s excitement slowly spread to her as she realized that the girl might just have been the one the old Kami had referred to. A decade or two younger than her was definitely closer to her age than everyone around her who seemed to be at least a century older. Gon just silently followed the two females, a small smile spreading across his lips.

A few moments later they approached an older man leaning against the flank of one of the giant foxes Eva noticed earlier. His business suit seemed well tailored as far as Eva could tell, and his black hair was trimmed short. When he noticed the young girl dragging a Kitsune behind her, a frown spread across his face.

“Dad, Dad look who I m-”

“Hikari, what did I tell you to do if I let you come?” He cut his excited daughter off as he walked up to them, his voice sounding stern but not truly angry.

While Eva couldn’t see the girl’s face from where she stood, but seeing her look down made it seem like she felt quite chastised.

“Be polite and don’t bother people.” She replied meekly.

“Well at least you remember now.” He said before stepping a bit to the side to approach Eva more directly. “Please excuse Young Hikari’s behaviour, she is still quite young and gets excited easily. My name is Yamanaka Jiro, I am one of the incarnations of Daikiniten in attendance today.”

“I am Eva Mayer, I recently inherited Mumei’s position as Inari.” Eva introduced herself in turn, her ears flicking around nervously. “And I didn’t mind Hikari’s behaviour. While I was surprised, it was a nice break from talking with people I know little of or about.”

As the Kitsune finished, the young girl turned around to look at her, her mouth forming a small ‘o’ as she realized she hadn't introduced herself. “I am Yamanaka Hikari, and this here is my little Tom.” She said, holding up the fox Kit towards Eva.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am looking forward to seeing what Mumei saw in you to choose you as her successor.” Jiro continued before spotting one of the waitresses that had started walking through the crowd and waving her over.

“Well for now I am quite busy with just learning all the things she didn’t tell me.” Eva said as the older deity handed her one of the cups the waitress had been carrying.

“Oh is that so? I would have expected her to make sure her successor knows all she needs before passing on.” He wondered as he filled her and then his own cup from the flask of sake he had been brought.

“I don’t know why she did what she did.” Eva said, her tails dangling limply behind her before taking a sip of the, surprisingly good, sake.

“Well the next few years might be quite hard for you then. Your shrine is in Tokyo right?” He inquired before taking a sip from his own cup. Seeing Eva nod in response he continued. “While my temple is near Kyoto, one of my sons, Yamanaka Taro, is currently working as a professor of modern history in Tokyo. While he is only a couple of centuries old, he is running a support group for supernatural students and has dated a few sons and daughters of Kami in his time. I am sure he wouldn’t mind helping you.”

“Thank you, I will keep him in mind if I do need help in the future.” She replied with a short bow.

“I’ll tell him to visit you at your shrine soon.” He said before his frown from earlier returned to his face, this time filled with sadness though. “I still owe Mumei for helping me with something rather embarrassing at last year’s get-together. So the least I can do to help her successor settle in is to introduce her to someone that can hopefully answer some questions from time to time. Or at least knows who could.”

“Thank you.” Eva repeated as she finished her drink.