The summer fox stands, 夏 キツネ

In fields of wizened rice, 立つ 乾燥水田

Once more grows rice sprouts. 新米 成長

I phase to the mortal realm, slowly appearing hidden in a rice field near the centre of my domain. I dash to the forest and begin to walk closer to the town where I am supposed to deliver my message. I see swaying grass on moderately flat land. Forests of bamboo and trees are scattered in all directions with the mountains to the far west covered in the thickest visible foliage. It is a whole hour before I get close to the town. The walk brought me into the forests. Travel is so much slower as a mortal. I play-hunt some rabbits in the woods until evening as I wait for a drunk to wander into the woods.

The sun has fully set and there is no-one. Usually there is someone who wanders off in search of drunken adventure as the sky turns gold. I should investigate. I move closer to the village only to see the shattered doors and smell the scent of death.

I am no stranger to the concept of war and have witnessed two wars between gods but this is a massacre not a battle. In the heavens wars are cleaner. Soldiers that die disperse into the spiritual energy that comprises them and those too wounded to fight or recover self-destruct as a final blow to their enemy. I have talked to the god of murder and that of war but seeing messy death in front of me makes me go cold. I feel scared.

I hear whimpering. I still have a small duty to deliver the message even if there is no reason to. I enter the battered house that the noise is coming from and see a dog sniffing at a bloody mess on the floor. The man weakly rubs the dogs paw with tears softly running, flowing across his cheeks. The dog growls at me before running away at the sharp click made by the man. He looks at me and smiles "Please kill me..." The man whispers. I walk over to him and crouch down avoiding the blood as well as I could. "...I have suffered enough." I nod and decide to help. I grab a knife from the table nearby and provide a clean cut across his throat. The man had no legs. He should not suffer any more. "There will be a good crop to the east" I whisper as the light leaves his eyes. I wander further into the house after the dog, tears moistening my own cheeks.

I had been watching over these people for almost as long as I have been a messenger. I played with that man and his brothers when they were children. I annoyed his grandfather to no end and made friends with his aunt. I may only visit for short times and been shown more scorn than favour but I had good memories and have grown attached to this place. I had seen death but it was not the same. In those cases the village lived on and the deaths were all properly mourned and justified.

This was a senseless massacre.

The rest of the small house consists of two other rooms, both ransacked to some degree. One room holds a low table covered with a blanket and a smashed tea set; the other contains a broken bed and a tipped desk with spilled ink and scattered brushes. Among the remains of the table is a white sheet of rice paper covered in writing. It is a letter. I smile. I will be sure to deliver it someday, I am a messenger after all.

I walk to a nearby field of rice with a heavy heart and try to phase into the realm of the gods. I wait for the familiar sensations of becoming weightless and tingling as the world changes around me but nothing happens.

I mentally kick myself as I break down into full sobs in the grass. The elders had warned us that causing too large of an injury or using too much divine power would leave us fixed in our state of being. I had killed a man. I was not thinking.

Eventually my tears dry and I get up feeling emotionally drained. I feel my stomach churn for the first time in many years. It is too dark to search for food though. I enter one of the houses without a scent of blood and sleep. I wake to the caws of the crows and high-pitched calls of the koels. Sleeping near the dead is one thing that would attract scavengers. I should have dealt with the bodies sooner.

After searching a few houses I find the tools I need. I search for rocks of the correct size and shape. I build many pyres from broken houses and forest wood I burned many bodies with a poem and song. None had written a death poem of their own so I used one I had heard long ago "A small night storm blows - Saying 'falling is the essence of a flower' - Preceding those who hesitate". I had heard it from an elder as he wept over a brave mortal warrior. In these times it seems fitting. I bring those who I know to be shunto into homes that would act as funeral houses and say more words with offerings of food, calling to Inari to guide their souls. I bury all those who have a family grave and mark stones carved with names where I know them, or more often words from my memory of them over those I don't. One exception is given to an old man who I leave on a hill with a stack of carved stones for an open burial.

The act of burial had been long and hard. I had eaten from the remains of the village stores and forest and drank from the village well. l knew the rights did nothing for the dead but they gave me peace. Peace from days of blistered hands, aching muscles and in knowing the wishes of the dead had been fulfilled to the best of my ability. I walk to the centre of the village, built one last fire and gather as much of the village's remaining food and sake. Two travellers wander upon me in my lonely celebration of death. Both join me. We sing and dance deep into the night stopping to tell tales of myth and our lives.

It was a skirmish between two large factions that had destroyed the village. It seems two local lords have been preparing for war and marching on each other's boarders to test their strength and anger their foe. Suddenly I have no direction, my previous life under Inari has ended. I now know what I want to do. I wish to stop a war. At least, I wish to try.

I wake to song birds at dawn. None of the harsh calls of the crows break the cheery tune. I take some money, walk out of the house, stretch with a series of slow motions and walk away from the village down its largest road. I don't look back. First I check on other nearby villages, at each bartering some meat and a night of song for a room, a meal and some coin If I can get it. All the villages are fine. The force that destroyed the first village was probably just there to probe resistance rather than cause any damage; just like the travellers said.

As I wander I ask about the state of affairs, descriptions of the waring lords and things that might delay or stop the war. The most common answer was that the war would probably only stop if Buddha and the gods descended to tell them to stop. I don't think I can do that. I don't think anyone can get that to happen. An illusion maybe possible but that is far beyond me. I don't like the next most common idea to kill both lords and their families because it is likely those that take succession will be even more adamant for the war to honour the dead line or get misguided revenge.

Finally satisfied, I walk towards the centre of the state; towards one of the only places I am likely to be able to end the war before it truly begins. I am beginning to find my feet blistering into callouses from all the walking. It is ironic that only after I am no longer a messenger I get the feet of one.

The closer I get to the capital the less forest I see and the more the land is covered with farms and fields of rice. As I approach the town I am greeted by a yipping fox. I smile and stroke it. I respond with a yip of my own. A guard rushes round the corner with his hand on his club. He has a large scar on his left hand and striking eyes. He instantly relaxes into a smile and a nod before turning back the way he came. "Why was he so tense?" I ask the fox.

"We agreed to warn them of danger in return for never being hunted." The fox replies puffing his little chest out as though he had personally negotiated the deal. It is very cute. "Why are you here big sis?"

"I am stuck here." I say as the little fox's eyes grow wide. I notice that I am getting odd looks talking to the fox from a merchant as he approaches in his carriage. "Go now, I have things to do." The fox scampers off. I finish my walk to town as the merchant passes me. At the city gate, I am greeted by the guard I saw earlier. He waves at me and I wander into the city. The city is vast with a large castle standing proudly in the centre. The houses are made more of wood and less of rice paper screens like the houses in the countryside. It is clear that to affect the war I will have to go to the castle, but I have lived long enough to know that I must have a purpose to enter such a grand abode. I can only think of one such purpose available to me at the moment but telling them of the attack on the village will likely do more to provoke war than anything I can do in the few minutes I am in the castle to prevent it.

Stomach growling from the journey and deep in thought, I wander into a shop and order a bowl of tofu noodle soup with tea. There is a group of men playing majhong and passing round a bottle of sake. Another, older man sits in the corner with a shogi board in front of him. I need something to clear my head and a game seems perfect. I wander over and sit down opposite the man. The food is going to be a while. "shall we play a game?" I ask. The old man smiles and nods, making his first move. "Sure, but expect to lose youngster." The man answers with a voice that could grind oats.

Now that I think about it I am probably older than this man I have probably been playing shogi for longer. The gods of wisdom and games tend to ask us to play games like shogi. I have lost many times because of that. Those gods get annoyed when they are beaten at such games. It is better to avoid winning. Not that I am thinking I could beat a god of wisdom if I tried. You never know what they can hear. It is better to not risk that they can hear my thoughts.

As the game continues I see the man's expression becoming more and more grave. He is certainly good at the game, almost as good as me. A kitsune elder might have to take off their blindfold to win. It is because he is skilled that he knows he is losing even if it is quite close. My noodles come through midgame and I start to eat as I play. "So, what brings you to the capital young lady." Asks the man, eventually.

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I don't know how to respond to that. I can't tell the truth; the kitsune are often hated and many people want war, but I must say something. "I am looking for work and influence if I can get it." I say finally. The old man raises an eyebrow and moves his lance before shaking his head. "It seems like there is something you are not telling me and it is not my place to ask but I can only think of a few jobs that a strange village girl like yourself could get any sort of real influence. Fewer still that don't take a might lot of time and elbow grease for nought but a chance at the spot." I perk up at those words "can you give me an example?"

"I can do a bit better than that, young lady, but not till you beat me and I ain't that far lost yet."

A few moves later I have won the match. "To think this is the first time I've lost in 20 years. I must have gotten rusty but I said I would help you so I will, regardless of my excuse for losing. With a brain like yours you could probably become a matron or head maid given a few years. You could probably get the matron job faster if the war breaks out. I would say becoming a nurse now would be a mighty fine idea. They are not hiring maids near here yet maybe they will when the new war heroes are announced."

I frown a little. "Is there any job that could get me into the castle before the war?" I ask.

"If that is what you're looking for, I hear the lord is looking for a concubine. With a body like yours you can make the job. The lady doesn't like it but they have to hire you if they offer a job. If ya go for the nurse job head to the medicine house up this same street. If you want the other go to the Daemon inn and tell the barkeep that Gyoku sent you." I get up and walk away paying the shop owner for the food before I leave. I turn around as soon as I leave the shop and notice that Gyoku's severe expression is gone. He is grinning like a maniac.

I wander around the city as I consider my options I am no stranger to the healing arts but I am not that good at it either. I am significantly better at charming men, my human form is incredibly beautiful and I have definitely got experience. I have charmed men, cyclopes, nymphs and angels for fun with a few genuine lovers dotted around the multiverse. I do however have more pride than a concubine usually has. I remember what the old man said and grin. I need to get a bit more information on those in charge before I make my choice. Shame about the maid job, that would have been perfect.

I ask a beggar for directions to the Daemon inn and pay him two coins. He tells me the location is in the slums. I grimace and wander till I find a shop selling clothing and buy an old cloak with a deep hood. I can take care of myself but it is best not to tempt fate. I walk quickly through the slums. The buildings are no more than broken shacks and the smell of human waste hangs heavy in the air.

As one of the few perfect structures the inn is easy to find. I take a step into the inn to a flood of heat and scents - from the smell of urine and sweat that it shares with the outside to the remarkably pleasant smell of the drink and food. The interior of the establishment looks to have once been impressive but worn down over time from the series of ripped paintings on the walls to the sturdy, drink stained tables and repeatedly patched chairs. I sit down and wait in the least filthy corner of the inn.

I listen carefully to the conversations as the evening drags on and the remarkably sober barkeep is dancing around to keep the drink flowing one way and money flowing the other. Most of the chat is useless drunken rambling but there were a few useful bits of information I gained. First, the wife of the city lord is from a higher ranked family and so servants and aides other than samurai, which swear loyalty to him specifically, have to follow her instructions over his. This includes concubines. The lord is trying to keep his otherwise acceptable affairs a secret. I also hear some matters of the lady's habits and an upcoming ceremony and grin. If I play my cards right I can get that maid job I wanted.

I walk out of the inn and rush towards a more reputable part of town to stay for the night. I need to wait a few days to put my plan into action if I don't decide to take the nurse job. Unfortunately, I, like most kitsune, like to live dangerously and take calculated risk. It is probably why we are so good at shogi. On my way I am intercepted by two hoodlums with shoddy knives and one with a huge wart on one cheek that is the only impressive aspect of the two of them combined. They ask for me to hand over everything but then start to look excited when they see my face. It disgusts me. I show very little mercy as I beat them unconscious. They will probably be telling stories of a blue flaming demon in the form of a girl after they wake up using their minor burns to prove it. They would not bother me again, at least.

I find an inn with the sign of a tea cup, pay the inn keeper for the night and another meal and eat before finally falling asleep. The next morning I wake up, well rested and with a plan in mind. I go to the nearby laundrette and ask for a job. They always need more people to work there. The god of cleanliness always complains about it. The woman running the establishment has a formidable figure and a permanent no-nonsense expression in her face. The work is hard and the crude soaps, water and constant rubbing play havoc with my perfect hands in such a way that they will not gain callouses like my feet. I channel Qi into my hands to heal them and keep them from deteriorating. After getting my pay I go to the inn and with my reed flute I play the cost of my stay. Alone in my bed I mull over the gossip from the washer women and consider my plan for the future. I repeat this routine for four days. Finally it is the day before the festival and time to set my plan into action.

I throw on my cloak and rush down to the Daemon inn. Unlike last time I walk straight up to the barkeeper. "Gyoku sent me to get a job with our lord,” I say quietly across the bar. The bartender does not even look up from the cup he is cleaning as his significant muscles flex and his thumb indicates to the door beside the bar. I move through as the bartender greets a customer he is clearly familiar with.

The back room is much cleaner than the main bar with a bench to one side and simple but elegant decorations on the wall both showing none of the wear from the outside. There is a stairway leading up to a second floor. I sit on the bench and begin to notice a scent of flowers and sweat from the upper floor. The usual smells of the slum are mostly absent though. I take off my cloak. It is not long before the bar tender walked back through. "I am glad you are beautiful." He says. "I feel like this is the last time our lord will try to get some variety. His wife is beautiful enough for him and he already has just enough girls to fulfil official functions even if he can't touch them."

"Do I have the job?" I ask.

"If the lord will accept you. I would have agreed to help even If I could refuse the old man." The Bartender walks upstairs and comes down with a dress and some makeup. "You will need these for the position. Can't have a beggar seen by the lord’s side."

I smile. "when should I start."

The bartender pauses for a moment. "I can get you a meeting with the lord tomorrow after his speech. If you need lessons on formalities we can begin tomorrow also. Meet me here at midday." I nod and walk away. The moment I am out of sight and covered with my cloak my smile becomes a grin. It is always good when things go to plan. I spend a short time in the bath house and walk buying a few objects that might be useful to ensure the plan goes smoothly. Finally satisfied that I can do nothing more, I have dinner at the inn and sleep.

The next morning I wake up to the sounds of the festival. I spend a few hours ensuring I look my best before donning my cloak and walking to the Daemon inn. The bartender gives no delay this time as he switches places with another man and guides me through to the stairs. I drop my cloak and he grins "I thought I was going to have to teach you how to put that on properly. Instead lets go now. Time is a precious thing." I nod and put my cloak on. He guides me into the heart of the festival near the castle.

We sit at a ramen shop and eat in a formal way. The barkeep nods and smiles. He is quite impressed. As we sit he asks me many questions about my capabilities. I say I can do most of the things he asks about but lie on a few things. A 20 year old mortal would not have enough time to learn all the things I have and in some cases I am not sure. I have not played a Hocchiku flute in almost a hundred years; even if I can still play Ryūteki and Hichiriki flutes as of recently, and was very good at playing it all those years ago I am still not sure.

Finally the city lord makes his speech. He rambles on for about an hour on his plans to go to war, how much he thanks Inari for a good harvest, he hands out a few awards and notes the achievements of certain warriors. He leaves and is replaced by a performer playing a Kyoto. The bartender gets up and indicates for me to follow him. We walk round the stage and the barkeep waves to a member of the lord's entourage who responds with a bow, before bowing with me as the lord himself passes.

We continue into the lord's castle via a side door and go towards a tea room. I grin but hide it with a quick illusion. This is better than I had hoped. "I hope you know how to hold yourself in a tea room. It would probably be over otherwise." I nod, pass him my cloak and kneel before the entrance to the tea room before pushing aside the curtain and moving inside to sit beside the door leaving empty spaces, as I would not consider myself a guest of honour, but notice a slightly disapproving look I move opposite him. Assuming I gain the position of a concubine I would be positioned beside the lord, mostly out of sight, if at all.

He presents a bowl of sweets and I accept them and put them to one side. We continue to go through formalities and it is a long while before we finally get round to the matter at hand. "You clearly know how to act in high society." He smiles. "I assume you are aware of all your duties here." I nod. "Yes lord." He asks me a number of things to check I am suitable including whether or not I was coerced before revealing a contract of my exact position and responsibilities. This contract is rare but necessary for a paranoid lord on the brink of war. I sign and we discuss many matters including my remarkable ability to play strategy games before we begin formally closing the ceremony. We hear footsteps in the hall. The curtains part as the lady enters the room holding the implements she was clearly planning to use for her own tea party. I am ushered out and ordered to only fulfil public official duties in my new position. I rely on another illusion to hide my smile as I walk away towards my quarters.

The days pass slowly and I whisper Words of Peace in the ears of those with power, pulling pranks to make those most vocal in demanding conflict seem stupid. I also stopped assassins aiming for the lord. I don't want a revenge war. My efforts are in vain as one of the savants tell me of the plan to send declarations of war and mobilise the army. I walk to the forest and ask the kitsune to intercept the messages and leave. I have begun to attract suspicion. The guard that saw me talking to a fox has not helped. He seems to have embellished it a lot and added magic for reasons unknown to me.

The messenger returns with a report from the captain on kitsune interrupting communications regarding initiating a war. A message comes from the other lord declaring war and our lord decides to march himself as he declares the kitsune be hunted once more. For the first time I declare my opposition openly. I am declared a dissenter and a few men try to kill me. Those men lose the capability to fight and I run from the war. I am hunted by the soldiers and all who heard the tales spun by them as a seductress and deceiver. I am both when it is required but I am not malicious in the act.