Kuro

The Sept of Inari’s Palm

This story is true.

In youth, his name could have been the nip of his mother’s teeth, or the mouthfeel of death made on his behalf, or the press of so many small bodies buried beneath a surface of strife. His name could have been written in so many screams—laughing, laughing, always laughing. But what is an unchanged kitsune if not unspoken fox fire waiting for the world to give it a reason to spark? The reason was written in his mother’s screams as the Man of Many Tails cut her again and again and again. So many bodies that would never laugh again.

What a wonderful story that two orphaned foxes would find one another and help hide each other’s limps. What a terrible story that two young kitsune would change for the first time under the same moonbeam.

The elders told him he would build a temple out of fire and fate and be the black ash that kept it all burning. They called him Kuro. His fellow orphan called him Kouga.

Seiji,

Hate. Want to leave. Writing stupid. Why build when can kill? Find Man of Many Tails. Kill him. Kill Wyrm-spawn. Too many words. Not enough. Not enough. Resting bad. Hear death. Burn everything.

Seiji,

Umbra is beautiful. Beauty not help. Burned Banes. Elders say too much fire bad. Am lava. Hurts not to burn. Meet you on hill again. Bring snacks.

Seiji,

Trying to write more like you. Learning faster. Beat you soon. Elders say Man of Many Tails already died. I say we kill him again. Then I think, death is still. Still is easy. Too easy for him. He trick death. We trick him. Trap him. Keep him burning so he not escape. Lava much harder than dying. Elders say temple used to be big. More foxes. Blessed by big spirit. Must be remade. Must find big spirit. Keep calling me Kuro. I like Kouga more. Learning dance. Dance together—lava and lightning? Ask Yutaka-sensei for more training. Said no. Will ask again. Dance tomorrow night?

Dear Seiji,

I know I said we don’t need to keep writing each other like this, but if it’s the only tradition you won’t scoff at, maybe we should keep going. The caern-building rite is tonight. I know you and Sakura-sama will be doing most of the work. Thank you for that. The two of you spend so much time in the Umbra taming Banes, building your repertoire. You’re starting to smell different. I don’t know whether or not I mind it yet. Do you? Yutaka-sensei said he’s teach me his Silver Bite if I proved myself to him during the rite. I know by now that doesn’t mean killing more Banes than him. I don’t quite know what it does mean, though. We should spar again soon. Surely, at some point, we’ll end in something other than a tie. Speaking of our last spar, after that match, Yutaka-sensei asked me if we were involved. It took me a while to figure out what he meant. I wish the Kojin-born were more direct sometimes, but I suppose as Kitsune being indirect is our way. He meant whether we were sleeping together. I laughed. I’ve wondered about that sometimes, though. I already know you as I know my own bite. I wonder if sleeping together is necessary at this point. Anyway, I hope you’ll stay and rest when we’re done tonight.

Dear Seiji,

I didn’t think I needed to have you that way. Now that I have, I think I do.

Dear Seiji,

Thank you for staying, even if it was only for a few days. Your mastery of the Doshi Path may soon rival Sakura-sama’s. Yukata-sensei has agreed to teach me the Silver Bite. I think I understand what he wanted me to prove now: that I could be a leader rather than just a killer. He wanted me to step closer to the name Kuro. I don’t know if I’ll ever prefer that name over Kouga. Truly rebuilding the temple may take years, but with the Great Flame Kagerou as our caern spirit, it feels less like we’re just standing in soot. Don’t stay away too long, Seiji. Don’t make me beg you unless you’re willing to follow through.

Dear Seiji,

Has it already been a year since the rite? It’s strange how time can pass so quickly and yet every minute can feel like its own eternity. I’ve missed you, though I certainly haven’t let that distract me. We have more kitsune now. Some Eji and some Gukutsushi. Yukata-sensei has tasked me with leading a great deal of training. I meet with Great Flame Kagerou almost everyday to discuss the health of our territory. Minori-sama says we must steel ourselves, though she doesn’t quite know why yet. I don’t think I’ve had a chance to shed my steel since the day we both changed. I try not to miss how simple life was before I had to spend so much time on two legs. I’ll light incense for our birth families tonight. May Gaia keep their spirits close.

Dear Seiji,

The Man of Many Tails has been returned.

Dear Seiji,

I’m grateful that you’re coming back to me soon. Back to the temple, I should say. It’s funny how the elders expect me to lead but will not trust me to lead the battle against the Man of Many Tails. He is coming to tear down this temple again. Minori-sama says he will build something terrible in its place. Come back quickly, Seiji. Please.

Seiji,

I don’t understand you anymore. How could you do something so against yourself? Against everyone we lost? Against me? I know you’re far too strong for some Bane to have manipulated or possessed you. I know it was you. Why? Why would you walk through the field of our dead elders and shake that thing’s hand?

Seiji,

Have you become a coward now, too? Too ashamed of your own evil to respond to me? I should have killed you that night. I will if you ever come back.

Seiji,

Ten years. Have you been counting the days since your exile? You won’t answer. You won’t read this. The ones who have gathered to the Palm of Inari Temple call me Kuro-sama now. I think Kouga died ten years ago when Seiji killed himself. The young ones look to me like I have nine tails. I only have six and they’re heavy enough. I rise earlier than ever. I act as though it’s my duty, but I just use the early hours to play shamisen. Do you still have yours? I hear you call yourself Shade now.

Seiji,

I know you gifted me a new shamisen. You know you’re not allowed on these grounds anymore. Thank you.

Seiji,

We may need you again soon. Maybe we never stopped needing you.