by Dani Hoots
I let out a sigh when a twig snapped behind me. I raised my hand and created another ball of fire, ready to attack.
“Whoa! It’s just me!” Yamato held up his hands, as if that would stop the pain of the kitsunebi.
I extinguished the blue flame and let out a sigh. “Don’t scare me like that. Why weren’t you still running?”
“And leave a damsel in distress behind? As if.”
I shot him a look. “I am not a damsel in distress. I’m a lot more powerful than any of you humans could even dream.”
Yamato tightened his hoodie around his waist and adjusted his backpack. “So you keep saying. Anyway, do you expect that creature will come back?”
I shrugged. “Probably not. Those flames hurt a lot. He will stay away if he knows what’s good for him.”
I looked down at my hands to find my nails long and clawlike. Right, I still appeared in my kitsune form. I realized, in that instant, Yamato didn’t fear how I looked. No human had ever accepted me like this. Glancing back at him, he didn’t seem fazed one bit. It was quite peculiar. However, I needed to transform back into a human. Letting my ears and tail disappear, I fixed my yukata.
Yamato gave me a surprised look. “Why don’t you stay in your kitsune form in case the creature comes back?”
Finishing up with my kimono and checking to make sure my magatama hadn’t fallen, I explained, “We are still likely to run into humans here. I can’t get spotted in that form, or someone might cause trouble.”
He raised his eyebrow. “You do it all the time at the shrine.”
I let out a little laugh. “That’s different. They are teens and it’s at night. No one believes them anyway. Out here, people are looking for creatures like me, and if I give them proof, then I might not find Akikumo with all the chaos that would ensue. So I’ll stay in human form.”
“I guess that makes sense.” He put his hands in his jean pockets, moving part of his hoodie that he tied around his waist out of the way. “Thanks. For saving me.”
I studied him for a moment, surprised he would thank me like that. “Don’t mention it. Besides, we will probably come across more problems, so don’t get too comfortable. We aren’t in the clear yet.”
He laughed, but we both realized I was right—more creatures were waiting in this forest, and it was only a matter of time before they noticed we had entered their domain. And not only that, a human could see them.
Chapter Twelve
Summer 1587 (Azuchi-Momoyama Period)—Hida Mountains
“SOMEONE HELP ME!” I screamed as I dashed through the forest, weaving between trees, trying to lose the yokai that followed me. From what I remembered, Akikumo called the enormous head a tsurube-otoshi. Whatever he was, he possessed the ugliest features I had ever laid eyes on. Bulged eyes, tangled hair, a stench that assaulted my nose. I wanted to get away from him, as I did not understand what he wanted from me.
The creature didn’t seem to speak Japanese or at least any Japanese that I understood. He spoke with strange sounds and bounced after me in these dense woods.
Where was Akikumo? And why hadn’t he come to my rescue?
“Help me! Aki-chan!” I yelled out into the woods, my mouth and throat dry as I had been running for a long while. Sweat was dripping down my hair and into my eyes, but I kept on going. Akikumo had told me to stay put while he checked on something ahead. After he disappeared for a few minutes, this thing came barreling down from a tree branch and started chasing me.
Tears flew off my face as I galloped faster and faster. Somehow this giant head kept up with me. I didn’t understand how it was possible, but every time I looked back, he still trailed behind.
“Aki-chan!”
Suddenly a figure jumped out from behind a group of trees. I looked up to find Akikumo staring at the yokai. I hid behind him as he pulled out his katana and attacked the yokai, slashing his face. The creature yelped and tried to bounce away. Akikumo didn’t let him, though, and ran after, attacking again and again. Blood poured onto the ground, splattering red over the tree foliage. Soon the tsurube-otoshi lay motionless on the ground, a pool of blood forming around him and soaking the grass and leaves.
Akikumo wiped away the blood that dripped down his face with his tenugi. His kimono was now stained with blood, the red almost appearing like it was a pattern contrasting the yellow cloth. “Come, Ketsue-chan. Help me dig a proper grave for this yokai.”
“But he attacked us. He doesn’t deserve a proper burial.”
He shook his head. “No, everything deserves a proper burial, even our enemies. That way their spirit may rest.”
I tried to understand but didn’t quite get it. Why would one care so much about our enemies? Would they do the same for me if they had killed me? I doubted it, and yet Akikumo always seemed to put others first. I doubted any other yokai or human did the same. Was it because he was so old, or was this simply his nature?
As I helped dig a hole for the wretched creature that tried to attack me, I asked Akikumo a question that had occupied my mind for quite some time now. “Aki-chan, what were you like when you were young?”
He laughed as he tossed some dirt to the side. “What made you want to ask that question?”
“You are always so kind. Were you always like this, or did you learn it over time?”
He seemed to ponder this question for a bit before answering. “My purpose has always been to lead others, protect them, and send messages to and from the gods. If I did not do everything out of kindness and did not respect every living thing, then what would have been the point of it all?”
I frowned. That wasn’t the answer I assumed he would give. I expected him to be like me and be a bit of a troublemaker, or at least a little freer. “What about as a child? Did you still possess all these responsibilities as a kid?”
Akikumo shook his head. “I was never a kid like you. I just have always been.”
“You were never a kid? How is that possible?”
“During the beginning of time, many of the kami came into existence by fate. Some were born, but some were created. I was created.”
I pursed my lips. “But you aren’t like the other kami since you don’t have a shrine or worshippers.”
“I suppose not, but I am thanked by many humans and kami, and that is its own praise.”
He was too kind for his own good. If I possessed the power he did and worked nonstop through my entire life, I would want a little more praise. I doubt I could do it for the sake of life.
But I wasn’t a kami like him.
Akikumo was on the border of kami and yokai. As he was still a wolf yokai, an okami, but he was much more powerful than that. He seemed similar to the kitsune who possessed nine tails and had lived for over a thousand years, becoming a kami themselves. I had met none of those kitsune, so I had no idea how strong they were or what they were like, but if they were anything like Akikumo, they must have been kind, benevolent creatures as well. How else would they achieve the status of kami without kindness?
We finished up creating a grave for the yokai and buried him. Akikumo clapped his hands together and bowed, as if thanking the kami for defeating the creature that attacked me. I mimicked him but didn’t quite understand what I was supposed to pray about. After Akikumo finished up, he turned to me.
“Now, Ketsue-chan, I want to teach you a few tricks in case you get attacked again.”
I tilted my head to the side, my red and black hair falling down to the side. “Like fighting with my teeth? I’m not as large as you, and I fear that I won’t be able to bite hard enough before they hurt me.”
“We will get to fighting techniques soon, but no, that isn’t what I wanted to teach you. What I wanted to teach you is how to use your kitsunebi.”
My eyes widened. “My kitsunebi? You think I am finally old enough?”
He nodded. “Yes. You are about the right age to harness that power. Although I am not a kitsune, I believe I can help you learn it.”
The walk took another two hours, but we had reached where the trees were sparse. Even though we had traveled a considerable distance, I still possessed all my energy and jumped up and down, ready to train. Akikumo sat on a large rock, taking in a few deep breaths.
“Are you going to teach me now?” My tails wagged back and forth as I punched my hands forward like I was fighting.
“Patience, Ketsue-chan. Remember, I am quite old and need to take a break.”
I rolled my eyes. “Since when? You always are up and about. Being old has never stopped you before.”
He ruffled the top of my head. “Oh, Ketsue-chan. Never change.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that but didn’t give it much thought as he stood up and clapped his hands together. “Well then, shall I teach you the art of kitsunebi?”
“Yes please!”
“Then first we shall meditate.”
I lowered my head in defeat. I wasn’t getting anywhere with him. “Ugh...”
“I know you hate meditating, but you need to focus your mind before controlling the flame.”
He sat back down but this time on the ground cross-legged. I followed suit as I learned I wouldn’t be able to talk him out of it. If I do this, then I would have my kitsunebi.
“Close your eyes and search around within yourself. See what you feel.”
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on myself. I felt... hungry. And tired now that I had to do this instead of getting to play with flames straightaway.
“Try to understand the energy that comes within. Do you sense your ki?”
I focused on the ki inside me. Akikumo had me do this a few times before and I was beginning to understand what he meant by it.
“I do.”
“Now I want you to focus on that ki and will it into being. Your kitsunebi is part of you. It is part of your ki. If you can control your ki, you can control your flame.”
I focused on my ki. If my kitsunebi was connected to the ki, I had to focus and understand myself. It was a hard concept, as there was much that one did not see but must feel to understand. Most who didn’t see something with their eyes did not trust it or didn’t believe it was real. As I had spent most of my life dealing with things that most did not see or comprehend, I kept an open mind. And I trusted Akikumo wouldn’t lie to me. If he said ki was real, then it was.
We meditated for what seemed like hours, focusing on our ki and defining it and understanding how ki felt, how it moved, and how to call upon it when one needed. The only problem was, I still hadn’t gotten to play with the fire yet.
I sighed. “Aki-chan, when will I get to make the kitsunebi?”
“I suppose you have worked hard today and deserve to make at least one flame. Fine, I shall tell you.”
My tails wagged back and forth as I waited for him to explain.
“Now, what you need to do is will your ki to your hand and force it to become the fire. This takes a lot of concentration, so don’t be frustrated if you don’t get it on your first try.”
I would get it on my first try—I had to. Such a feat would impress Akikumo and he would pat me on the head like he does when I do something outstanding. I loved it when he did that and tried my best at everything so I would get that reward.
Closing my eyes, I focused my best on trying to will my ki to my hand. The ki moved from my stomach to my chest and up my arm to my hand. I peeked open an eye and found no kitsunebi.
“It didn’t work!”
Akikumo chuckled. “You are so fun to watch. As I said, it takes some time before you can master kitsunebi. Don’t worry though, as we will keep working on it until you are the best of all the kitsune.”
He patted my head, making me blush a little. I had failed, yet he still rewarded me. I was thankful for such a great mentor.
Chapter Thirteen
Present day—Hida Mountains
YAMATO KEPT LOOKING at his phone. I presumed he was figuring out where we were on the map as he held the paper open, leading us to where Inari pinpointed.
I would admit, I felt pathetic not being able to figure out where we needed to go. What if Inari hadn’t made me take Yamato with me? What if they had let me go on my own? Would I have been able to find my way through this forest? Or would I haven’t even been able to get to here as I didn’t know how to use the trains and felt sick from all the miasma?
Inari knew I wouldn’t have been able to do this by myself. They not only wanted me to help Yamato learn more of our world but also knew he would be better at directions. I was thankful for that, as they were smart in how they paired us together. I would need to thank them when this came to an end, one way or another.
I didn’t want to go back even though Inari was nice enough to put this together for me. I didn’t fit in with the rest of the kitsune and was always fighting with Ichika. I was a free spirit that was meant to roam like Akikumo—I wasn’t meant to serve a shrine.
Yamato stopped and I ran straight into him, falling back on my butt. I blushed as he turned and held out his hand.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stop so abruptly.”
I grabbed his hand and he helped me up. He held my hand a little longer than I wanted, and I pulled it back. His skin was warm, and I realized it had been a while since I touched anyone’s skin. Akikumo and I used to be close and hug and snuggle on frigid nights, but after being at the shrine, no one wanted anything to do with me.
How did I never realize that?
“Why did you stop?” I asked, pushing back the thoughts of my own loneliness.
“Oh, I was going to say we are coming up to a fork in the path. One way is shorter, but according to the map, Inari-sama wants us to take the longer path.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “Did they say why?”
He shook his head. “No.”
Looking over the strange markings, I shrugged. “Maybe they didn’t see the other path. Going the shorter route makes sense, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, I suppose so. Other than it being a little steeper, it doesn’t appear to be any different.”
“Well then, lead the way.”
“Since you can’t read the map?”
I gave him a look and shoved him forward. “Baka! Just go.”
His shirt was soft and warm. I looked down at my hand after I removed it. How long had it been? Why was this so strange to me?
We trekked up the hill. Yamato wasn’t kidding when he said it was steeper. I needed to walk around more as I noticed my body felt sore. When I was with Akikumo, I was the fittest I had ever been. Even though the Inari shrine was on a hill, I hadn’t been moving around enough.
We came upon a small clearing with large rocks that I could rest on. I hoped Yamato came to the same conclusion as I didn’t want to appear weak.
“I think we should rest.” Yamato folded up the map and put it in his pocket. “We should get to our destination before the sun sets.”
I nodded. “Yeah, it is probably a good idea for a human like you to rest. You don’t want to overdo it on the first day.”
He rolled his eyes as he drank some water. I jumped up on a rock and sat down. I smiled as I looked up at the sky. A long time had passed since I got to enjoy the wilderness like this.
“I’m still surprised Inari-sama didn’t indicate to use this path. The route saves us over an hour.”
I shrugged. “Again, they probably overlooked it.”
“A kami overlook something? Aren’t they supposed to be all knowing?”
I bit my lip. He made a valid point. Why didn’t Inari mark the path that was shortest? Perhaps they knew something that we didn’t.
Well, it was too late to worry about it now. I would simply stay alert.
“I wouldn’t think about it too much. It’s too late to go back now.”
Yamato nodded. “Yeah, I suppose you are right. Well, do any of the woods we have been in seem familiar to you?”
I glanced around. “Kind of? But trees grow, trees fall, fires come... The forest is always changing even without humans. Even in the different seasons, the forest can appear different.”
Yamato took in the scenery. “I suppose you are right.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. I watched him closely, curious what a human like him was doing. He acted like Akikumo when he was in the wilderness and taking in everything. A human couldn’t sit still long enough to appreciate life and everything in it, could they? I hadn’t seen it often, yet this kid who the priest believed brought shame on their family name seemed a lot calmer in nature than he ever had at the shrine.
Maybe Inari was wrong—maybe Yamato didn’t belong at the shrine but belonged out in the wild like this. Just like I did.
I shook my head. No, that was impossible. Humans hated the wild. They wanted to control nature and destroy it. They didn’t understand the beauty and power that came with the wilderness.
He opened his eyes, and I turned but knew he noticed that I was staring. “What is it?”
I shrugged. “Nothing. You are a lot different from what I assumed.”
“And you are exactly how I imagined you would be.”
I frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“You are a troublemaker and don’t budge for anything. You have your own way you look at life, and nothing will change that.”
I stood up on my rock and folded my arms. “I will have you know that the reason I don’t budge is because I have trained a long time to achieve this greatness.”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Sure.”
“Hey! A lowly human like you would never—”