by Dani Hoots
I stopped and noticed a thick miasma rolled into the area. This was not good.
“Kuso...,” I whispered.
“What is that?” Yamato asked as he stood up on the rock to get away from the black substance.
“Miasma. And a very thick kind.”
“What sort of yokai creates that?”
“The bad kind. Or a fallen god.”
“Great.”
I smirked at his sarcasm. I wonder if Akikumo felt similar to how I did when he’d first started training me. But it was not the time to ponder such things. I would need to act fast if I wanted to stop whatever yokai was going to attack.
Transforming into my kitsune form, I created a kitsunebi to have at the ready. I listened closely, my ears noting anything that seemed out of the ordinary. It appeared as if there were things slithering under the thick miasma.
“Do you see that?” Yamato pointed down at the black substance.
I nodded. “Yup. Stay away from it—it can’t be good.”
“That was the plan.”
I scanned for any way out but found none. We would either have to wait for this to pass and hope it didn’t notice us up on the rocks or wait for the yokai to attack so I could locate it and destroy it once and for all.
There was one thing I could do, although I knew such an action would weaken me, and if we came across more evil yokai, I might not be strong enough to defeat them. Then again, we needed to survive this either way. I formed dozens of flames and scattered them straight into the miasma, hoping that I could locate the source.
Whatever it was seemed to slither around but didn’t make a sound. Finally, after throwing another kitsunebi, it let out a wrenching scream.
A direct hit, but this fight was far from over.
The creature stood up and I gasped. She was a harionago. Hundreds of strands of hair slithered off the head of the harionago, ready to strike and hook whatever stood in her way. All those things we saw were her hair. I didn’t even want to think about what would happen if one of those pierced Yamato.
Cackling, she painted a distorted finger at me. “Little kitsune, do you think you can survive my thorn hair?”
I shrugged. “I suppose I will have to in order to get away, now won’t I?”
She cackled again. “Well, perhaps you might get away, but your human friend will not!”
She disappeared in the miasma again, and I looked all around, trying to figure out where she would attack first. I took a deep breath and listened attentively.
The harionago was going straight for Yamato.
I leaped over to the rock he stood on, and as I landed, I saw one of her thornlike hair strands strike at him. I pulled him out of the way so it wouldn’t go through his heart like it intended, but it still caught him in the arm.
Yamato screamed in pain, but at least the pain was a lot less than if it went through his chest. I formed another kitsunebi and threw it down at the miasma.
“You won’t be able to find me!” The yokai cackled. “You won’t stop me!”
At that point, I knew she was right. I couldn’t tell where she was. A thornlike strand wrapped around Yamato’s ankle and pulled him down. I grabbed his arm and tugged him back on the rock.
But the creature was too strong. I had to do something.
There was another attack I could do with my flames but always preferred not to as I had once almost burned down an entire forest out of fear of it going out of control. She left me with no choice, however, and I had to use it.
Calling upon all my ki, I created a flame that would ignite the entire area that was full of miasma. I took a deep breath and let the fire burn everything it touched.
The creature wailed, crying to make the burning stop. I watched as she ran back and forth, her hair lashing out each way, but it could not hit us with the flames engulfing everything in its path. I pulled Yamato back up and kept him away from the fire.
The harionago’s wailing stopped, and all I could hear was the crackling of the fire as it burned up the leaves and bushes that surrounded us. Soon the miasma disappeared, and all that was left was the blue flame.
Now for the hard part.
Taking in a deep breath, I willed the fire to come back to me. It was a part of me—an extension. I couldn’t let the flames get out of control or else they would destroy this entire forest. I was strong enough to do it—I was strong enough to will the fire back into me.
One more breath in and out, smelling the stench of burnt flesh and hair, I was able to slowly bring the fire back into myself. Soon all the flame was gone, and I collapsed down on the rock.
I did it—I maintained complete control over my kitsunebi.
Chapter Fourteen
October 1590 (Azuchi-Momoyama Period)—Odawara
THE GENTLE LEAVES BEGAN to fall, painting the forest a beautiful hue of orange and red. The air was crisp and smelled of fallen leaves and soaked earth. The color of nature matched my fur, and I turned into a full animal to disappear in a pile of leaves. Akikumo laughed as I stuck my head out.
“I bet you can’t see me!”
“Even if I might not see you, I most definitely can hear you.”
I jumped out of the leaves and frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He bent down and rubbed the top of my head. “That you are a typhoon in a kitsune’s body.”
I ran back into the pile of leaves. “Yeah, well, you won’t be able to find me if I stay quiet!”
“Is that a challenge?” Akikumo asked as he transformed into his wolf form.
I didn’t answer but kept running into the woods. I would need to be quiet if I wanted to lose him and prove that I too could be an exceptional hunter.
So far I hadn’t won, but today would definitely be my day.
I was smaller than Akikumo, so I had that going for me. I darted through the bushes, hoping Akikumo couldn’t follow.
Knowing him, though, he would find a way.
I heard rabbits and birds running in opposite directions, hoping I wasn’t after them. Although I was peckish, I didn’t feel like hunting. No, I wanted to prove once and for all that I could win a game against Akikumo. If I could beat a kami, then I was unstoppable.
I zigzagged around, keeping an ear out for Akikumo. Thus far I hadn’t heard any sound coming from him, but unlike him, I didn’t possess acute hearing. I would have to increase the distance between the two of us in order to really hide.
A few minutes passed, and I felt that I had run enough. I jumped into a pile of leaves under a tree and made sure all my fur was covered. I waited a bit, listening to see if Akikumo at least figured out the area I had hidden. If I was lucky, it would take him a while.
But I was never that lucky.
It wasn’t long before Akikumo came walking into the area, his yellow eyes scanning all around. I stayed quiet and tried to control my breathing even though I was out of breath from running so long.
“I wonder where Ketsue-chan could be... I guess she isn’t in this area. I should probably head back.”
I snickered a little and watched as the white wolf before me turned back around and leaped at the pile of leaves I was hiding in.
“Gotcha!”
We laughed as we tumbled around the forest floor, leaves messing up both our fur. I couldn’t stop giggling as Akikumo flung leaves on top of me.
“Fine! You win!” I tried to knock the leaves off of me, but Akikumo kept grabbing a bite with his mouth and flinging them in my direction.
“I have no idea what you mean. I don’t see you—you blend in too much with the surrounding. It’s as if you are invisible!”
“Stop it! You are messing up my fur!”
A snap of a twig made both of us stop and turn to find a giant black wolf watching us intently with its blue eyes. I hid behind Akikumo, yipping.
Akikumo transformed into his okami form. “Otouto?”
Otouto? Was Akikumo saying this was his younger brother? I didn’t know that Aki
kumo had a brother, unless he was just saying this wolf was his brother because they were of the same species.
The black wolf transformed into a large okami. He had much broader shoulders than Akikumo and looked like a warrior. His hair was as black as the night sky and his eyes almost appeared like stars. He wore a red hitatare with a black sheathed katana wrapped with red leather at his side, indicating he was a samurai. I wondered if he had battled in any wars or if he was like Akikumo and had it for his work.
“Ani!” The man approached Akikumo and wrapped his arms around Akikumo.
Akikumo grinned from ear to ear. “It has been a long time!”
“You are telling me! And here I find you in the middle of the forest, playing with some kitsune. I thought you were a strict, no-fun okami.”
Akikumo gestured for me to come forward. “This is Tsuki Ketsueki. Ketsue-chan, this is my otouto Yamiyo. I don’t think I’ve seen him in, what, a few centuries now?”
Yamiyo slapped Akikumo’s back, causing Akikumo to jump a little. “And then some! You are too work-oriented, ani. But I see that you adopted a daughter. This is an enormous surprise.”
“She isn’t my daughter. She is more like a mentee.”
“But you gave her a kanji of your name, did you not? You are closer to her than a mentor.”
I transformed into my kitsune form and bowed. “It is an honor to meet you, Yamiyo-sama.”
He let out a roar of a laugh. “Please, call me Yami-chan. I don’t care for formalities. At least not with yokai.”
I bowed again. “Thank you very much, Yami-chan.”
Yamiyo turned back to Akikumo. “I am very surprised you are taking care of this kitsune though. I thought you swore to always wander alone, as you must keep your mind on work and work only.”
Akikumo blushed. “Perhaps I got lonely.”
“Well if you were so lonely, why didn’t you come find me so we could have a drink? You know I will always keep you company.”
“You have been busy with countless wars. I figured you didn’t have time for little ol’ me.”
“Nonsense! Now, I am heading to Odawara to help finish taking over the town and strengthening the stronghold. Will you join me there for at least one round of sake?”
Akikumo rolled his eyes. “One you say? More like a dozen.”
Yamiyo let out a roar of a laugh. “You know me too well, ani!”
I followed the two men as Yamiyo led us to the town. This was not something I ever expected, but seeing Akikumo relax a bit with another okami made me smile. He deserved to relax after all the work he had done over the centuries. Maybe this could be that day.
THE area still smelled of war.
I smelled blood and smoke as we entered the town. I wrinkled my nose as I glanced at Akikumo. He patted my back, letting me know he understood my dislike of the area, but said nothing. I supposed we couldn’t turn back now that we were with his brother. I simply hated entering cities that still smelled of human battles as it reminded me of the horrors of my home.
We all had transformed into our human forms before entering the city. Apparently the humans that Yamiyo battled with had no idea of his true identity. He had battled in many, many wars, which I did not understand. Why would a yokai similar to Akikumo want to battle with humans?
Yamiyo led us to a small shop, and we sat on our knees at the table.
“Sake! And bring at least three bottles to start!” he ordered the hostess, who wore a simple pink kimono and apron. She nodded and went into the back to retrieve the sake. Moments later she came back with three narrow clay pitchers and three cups. She set them down before us and left us to enjoy the sake alone.
I glanced at Akikumo, who had never let me partake in sake before. I wanted to try it though, so I gave him the widest, saddest eyes I could.
He let out a breath. “Fine. But just this once and no more than two glasses.”
I smiled at Yamiyo, who laughed. “You are wrapped around this girl’s finger, aren’t you?”
Akikumo poured sake into each of our cups. “Oh, you have no idea what I put up with. You know how much aburaage I have had to buy for her? It is ridiculous.”
I pouted. “But it’s the best.”
“Yes, and the most expensive.”
“What do I care? I don’t pay for it.”
Yamiyo let out a roar of a laugh. “I can see why you keep her around, ani. She is quite a rascal.”
Akikumo held up his glass. “To fate and order!”
Yamiyo held up his glass as well. “To family and friends!”
“Kanpai!” they both said and downed their drinks. I took a sip of my own and my eyes widened. It was sour but sweet at the same time. It had almost a bite on the aftertaste. Never had I tasted anything like it.
“What do you think, Ketsue-chan?” Yamiyo asked. “Is it everything you had ever dreamed of?”
I nodded. “It is wonderful! This shouldn’t be served to humans but to the gods instead.”
Yamiyo shook his head. “I can’t believe you haven’t let her drink the sake of the gods and yokai. It is much better, and you know it.”
Akikumo shrugged. “I didn’t want to be a terrible influence. She still only has just received her third tail.”
I smiled, proud of gaining my third tail. I was already three hundred years old now. I was about a third of the way to becoming as powerful as Akikumo. The time had flown by and I assumed so would the rest of the centuries, especially with Akikumo at my side. Between the two of us, we were unstoppable.
“So tell me, otouto, what have you been up to?”
Yamiyo downed another cup of sake. “Well, under the command of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, we will finally unify Japan once more. I believe under his rule we will bring peace to Japan for quite some time. And if that is the case, then perhaps I will join you on your ventures, ani.”
Akikumo sipped his sake. “You say that every time, and yet you are still fighting in battles. I don’t believe these humans will ever stop fighting with each other. Besides, if they do, then you will be out of a job. Along with Hachiman, that is.”
“Well, between you and me, that kami needs a break. He does not know when to quit.”
“And neither do these humans. But yes, if humans quit fighting, you are welcome to join us in traveling for the kami.”
Yamiyo slapped my back, almost causing me to spill my drink. “Isn’t that marvelous news? You will have your ojisan with you!”
“I told you, she’s not my daughter.”
“But either way, I can still be her ojisan. I have already taught her the ways of sake. I’m practically there already.”
Akikumo rolled his eyes as I kept sipping on my sake. I listened as they talked further on topics I didn’t understand. The more I drank, the more tired I became, and suddenly their voices felt as if they were off in the distance.
Chapter Fifteen
Present day
SO THAT WAS WHY INARI didn’t want us to come this way. Now it all made sense.
I examined Yamato’s wound, the stench of human blood filling my nostrils. There was no way he would be able to walk on it—at least not until we got to the hot spring. Once we arrived, I could buy something that could heal it in no time. Yokai medicine was the best; nothing the humans made could ever compare.
I sat back and looked up at Yamato. “I will need to carry you the rest of the way.”
He shook his head. “There is no way I’ll let some girl carry me. I will look ridiculous.”
I raised an eyebrow and gestured for him to stand up. “Fine, try to walk and see.”
He stepped up on the foot and grimaced before falling back down.
“Baka. Let me carry you. Then you can focus on the map and your phone and tell me where to go.”
“But aren’t you weak from that attack? It looked like it took a lot out of you.”
He had a point. That last attack had left me exhausted, and I didn’t know how much longer I would last. I wanted to
pass out at that moment, but I had to keep going.
Just think about the sake, hot spring, and aburaage, Ketsueki. It will be there, waiting for you.
Giving him my backpack, I knelt down with my back facing Yamato and held out my hands. “Go ahead and climb on me. I will be fine.”
He put on both the backpacks and pulled himself up on my back as I wrapped my arms around his legs.
“As long as we don’t run into any more yokai, right?”
I nodded. “Pretty much. But I think we will be okay. The bathhouse isn’t much farther, correct?”
“According to the map, it’s only two more hours.”
I could do that. At least I hoped so. Two hours was nothing compared to all the hours I spent traveling.
“Point which way I need to go.”
“You really are clueless, aren’t you? We had been heading up the hill on our way, so which way do you think we need to head?”
I sighed. “I will drop you here and go by myself.”
“Of which you wouldn’t know where to go because you are completely incompetent when it comes to directions.”
“Which way?”
He pointed up the hill. I took a deep breath, regretting taking the shortcut. Why was I always this unlucky? I guess it all started when Akikumo left me at the Inari shrine and everything went downhill from there. It had been torture living there, as none of the kitsune liked me from the start. He expected them to befriend me and teach me everything I needed to know.
Instead, they taught me how to fight for survival and not trust anyone.
“How long have you been at the shrine?” Yamato asked, as if he knew what I was thinking about.
“Oh, just under two hundred years.”
He paused. “That’s a long time.”
“Not for us. You humans have brief lives and don’t experience time like we do.”
“I suppose not.”
We were quiet for a bit, and I climbed up the steep hill. Everything around me felt fuzzy, as if it was darkening, except the sun was still in the sky. I wavered a little, almost losing my footing under some gravel. I was so out of it all I could smell was Yamato’s blood, which wasn’t a good thing.
