Himari

Himari had thought that Sakura was a rather dashing fox, of course. But to see a full, nine-tailed fox standing before her in all its glory was another thing entirely. Pure white fur was accented by beautiful red highlights, all seeming to draw attention towards piercing brown eyes. Each tail was tipped by that crimson hue, as if each was dipped in a large vial of ink. Even as she reflected on the beauty of the creature sitting in front of her, though, she steeled herself. This creature was between her and her friend, and she’d no intention of backing down.

Her first obstacle, however, was figuring out what form of address wouldn’t immediately offend the creature. “O-Kitsune-Sama,” she spoke, bowing politely. “Forgive my earlier temerity. I am here with my companion,” she looked back briefly at Misao. What a time to be sleeping on the job. “And I am here to entreat you for a favor.”

The creature didn’t move. Didn’t speak. For a moment, Himari had the distinct feeling that trying to talk to a fox was obviously a waste of time.

But then a voice rang softly in her ears. No, not in her ears. In her head, and simultaneously all throughout the glade. “A favor? Ah, little human. I am heartened to see that you learn enough not to make demands upon a Kami twice. But now you have the temerity to request a favor after being so rude as to demand? Etiquette lessons seem to have fallen by the wayside in the centuries since the last time I met a human.”

Himari felt heat rise to her cheeks. “Forgive me, O-Kitusne-sama. I do not intend to be rude.” Her initial demand aside, Himari knew that insulting a Kami was unwise. Especially a kitsune who had lived to earn nine tails. Legends of Nishibi suggested that a nine tailed fox was a fearsomely powerful creature. And she had more important things to do than become a frozen block in a forest.

“Hmm…” She could feel the laugh in the creature’s voice as the Kitsune intoned again. “Very well. I shall hear you out. On one condition. I have a name, silly Human, and I would prefer you used it. My name is Inari, and I am what your people call the Guardian of the Forest. I am very pleased to meet you.”

“And I you, Inari-Kami,” she said. A short breath escaped. “There is a Kitsune that resides in this forest. Her name is Sakura.”

“Yes, you named her rather clearly as I remember,” the creature’s eyes danced with amusement.

“Ah, yes. Quite.” She flushed in embarrassment. Inwardly, she prayed that she had not offended the Kami to the point of having put herself and Misao in actual danger. “Inari-Kami, Sakura-chan had become a friend to me. But in protecting me, it seems that you have levied some form of punishment against her, as best I understood her words. I have come to beg clemency for her. I would see her allowed to roam as she pleases again. I would like her to accompany us as we travel again.”

Inari’s head tilted left, almost unnaturally so. “Punishment? Is that what you think I did? I recalled her, but Sakura-chan returned to me willingly.” Another barking laugh escaped the Fox’s mouth.

“Willingly? I don’t understand-”

“Of course you don’t, child,” Inari’s head shook vigorously. “You are but a drop in the Ocean of life, barely able to perceive the world beyond the small comprehension of your eyes. Think for me, Himari-chan. Close your eyes.” As Himari did, the fox continued. “You were able to find me with your Aura before. Reach out, feel just the little bit that you can detect just beyond this glade. Tell me what you feel.”

Himari did as she was bidden. Just as Sakura had taught her, she summoned the little ball of water into her hand. This time, instead of trying to focus toward a single source like Misao taught her, she pushed it out in a wide arc. There was a moment of panic as the little sphere expanded and covered her entirely. Until she realized she could breathe within it. Her eyes opened briefly at that realization. The kitsune’s eyes seemed to dance with amusement at that apparent surprise. She pushed her Aura past them both, and she began to examine all around them within that bubble.

The first thing she noticed was the ants that had taken up hunting around Misao’s pouches for food. She couldn’t help but giggle as they tried to navigate through the leather before ultimately finding a small hole to enter. She wondered at that moment if Misao had wrapped their fish correctly, or if she was going to have to share a meal soon.

As her Aura pushed beyond the glade, she noticed a pair of swallows nesting atop one of the nearby oaks. And inside… a grouping of four eggs. She could sense one starting to crack, and the two birds chirped with obvious excitement. She couldn’t help but smile as the male bird flew off, eager to find food for its coming young.

The farther she reached, the more she noticed. Foxes waking for the evening hunt. A serpent stalking a hare for its dinner. A wildflower reaching out to try to catch the Sun in its rays. So much life and beauty all around her. Her breath caught briefly, and she couldn’t stop a laugh from escaping.

“What you are seeing,” the fox explained, “is just a taste of the world that makes up my forest. A taste of the world that, in your sadness simply for losing a new friend, you thought you might burn to the ground just for the chance to see her again.”

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She froze, and in that moment her Aura slammed fully back into her body. Her eyes shot open. She stared at Inari in horror. “Ah. How did you - I only-”

But Inari simply laughed again, apparently amused at Himari’s sudden concern. “You never stated it aloud, no. But I watch all my Children who leave the forest. Sakura is as precious to me as your family is to you. Of course I would keep an eye on her, and be wary of any who cross her path. The fact that she risked herself to save your life scared me.”

“She mentioned it was forbidden,” Himari contemplated, remembering the dream. “Is that because it is dangerous for her to mix her Aura with others?”

“Exactly,” Inari didn’t exactly smile, but there was a feeling of approval mixed into the fox’s words. “Mixing auras in such a manner carries risk to all involved, Himari-chan. If one of you had malicious intent towards the other, or even if you just made a mistake, you could have stolen a vital part of her life essence. As it was, she gave you enough that she had to return home so she could recover. Humans can survive without Aura. Kami cannot.”

“Wait, she’s a-”

“Oh, please, Himari-chan. She is a Kitsune. Her parent is a Kitsune, and has told you that she is a Kami. I beg you to tell me that you are not so dense.”

Himari flushed in deep embarrassment. Admittedly, thinking of Sakura as more than a very intelligent fox was still a lot to take in. Himari knew that she was special, but had previously refused to even consider the scale of it.

She finally looked back at Inari, nodding. “I would understand, with all this information, if you would not wish her to travel with me again. But would you please still let me see her one more time? I would like to apologize for all the trouble that I put her through.”

“That,” Inari’s head shook, “I cannot promise you, Child.”

“Oh. I see.” Crestfallen, her eyes returned to the ground. “Then if you could release whatever hold you have on Misao-sama, we will bother you no longer.”

“Let me finish,” the fox hissed. “I cannot promise you that, because it is not for me to promise. Sakura-chan has to make the decision that she wants to see you. I have kept your Aura from her perception for the time being. I wanted to meet you, you see, and see if you are indeed the woman she claims you to be. I am satisfied, so I leave the decision to her now.” Inari’s eyes briefly glowed a soft violet color, and for a moment Himari was fully distracted by how truly majestic Inari was.

She didn’t immediately notice the sound of footsteps. As she did, she marveled that they were heavier than she might have expected from anything in this forest. A rustling came out of the nearby bushes. And what was, by all accounts, a beautiful young woman charged into the clearing and tackled Himari to the ground.

A pair of piercing red eyes captured Himari’s vision, and her eyebrows pushed upwards in sudden recognition. “S-Sakura?!” Was she dreaming again? Had Inari put her to sleep too while she wasn’t looking?

“Himari-chan!” In contrast to the elegance and wisdom of Inari, Sakura seemed impossibly young “Oh, I had hoped you would be ok, and you’re here now, and- wait. Why ARE you here? Didn’t you have that important duty in Yamura? Where’s Maiko-chan?” She sat up then, still straddling Himari. Her blazing red hair, Himari realized, disguised a set of fox ears. And something fluffy certainly was brushing against her leg.

“Ah, right,” she flushed. “You’ve missed a bit, haven’t you? Why don’t we sit up and I will explain everything.”

Once Sakura moved off of her, Himari sat up and explained everything. The plans that were discovered in Nagata. The race to try and warn the capital, and the failures therein. Maiko’s perceived betrayal.

Sakura listened with interest, but tilted her head. “There’s one thing I don’t understand though,” she said innocently. “You said that Maiko-chan betrayed you, but it sounds like she saved your life.”

“A difference in perception, little Sakura,” the booming voice of Inari chuckled as the fox approached and sat next to the humanoid Kitsune. “Samurai are often the sort to see things only by their limited perceptions, you must understand. This one is only just now starting to see the Forest for the trees in these small woods. You cannot expect her to behold the intricacies of others’ understandings and desires so clearly yet.”

Sakura nodded in an understanding that Himari didn’t share. The fox-girl giggled. “Then she’ll need some help understanding the world, don’t you think?”

Himari had started to become distracted by the hue of her hair, and almost didn’t process Inari’s response. “If that is what you wish, it is not my responsibility as your Guardian to stop you, my child.”

Himari came immediately back to reality, her eyes catching on Sakura. “Wait. Sakura-chan, no, you can’t come with me. Last time we traveled together, you could have died. What we are doing is extremely dangerous, surely you don’t-” Her lips were silenced by a single finger from Sakura touching them.

“Himari-chan,” she shook her head. “I saw the danger you were under. And I know the danger you are in now, I think better than you do yourself. I will be coming with you, whether as your willing companion or a hidden fox behind you. So you may as well get used to the idea.”

Himari looked into Sakura’s eyes. The piercing red orbs brokered no argument. She pulled away from the finger and sighed. “Very well. I don’t know that I have the capability to stop you if I wanted to.”

“You certainly do not,” Inari chuckled. “But, I do have a condition that you must follow for this to be allowed.”

“A condition?” Himari tilted her head. Before she could speak further, however, she felt a tug on the watery Aura she had only just recently become accustomed to. A warmth filled her body, and she realized that Sakura was glowing a lovely soft blue. She closed her eyes and reached for Sakura with her Aura. Her heart quickened once she realized that she could feel Sakura as distinctly as she could feel herself. “What… what did you do?”

“I have connected her Aura to yours,” Inari explained calmly. “This will assist her in teaching you how to control your own Aura. It also tethers her life force to yours. If something happens,” the Fox’s black orbs stared into Himari’s and she felt the warning well in Inari’s voice. “If she dies. You will pass alongside her.”