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.