"Domo arigato," Kura replied with a bow of his head.
While Shirigume and Kura were preparing tea, Charlie, now filled with growing curiosity, stepped out of his tub, put on a robe, and walked around to meet his "neighbors." His eyes widened when they fell upon the kirin and the kitsune. "All my time in coming here, I never really met anyone like you two before."
"Well, it's our first time in meeting a guardian angel like you," Shirigume replied without missing a beat. "Tea?"
Charlie's head shook out the surprise. "Uh...no thanks. I have my saki."