Chapter Text
The pitter-patter of rain, the howling of the wind, and the swaying of a willow tree are the first welcomings of nature as the fox truly sees.
He remembers the day he was born, the loving mother who cared for him, and the first sweet bite he’s ever had from the fruit fallen off a tree.
Though the little fox is still so young, that seemed like a lifetime ago.
It’s bittersweet, he thinks. Just yesterday, he was drinking by the riverside without a care in the world.
Yet today, nature allowed him to experience, explore and think… differently.
The fox didn’t know at the time that he could possibly live up to many, many centuries.
The ability to process thought at this capacity is exhausting, the little fox concludes.
Constantly looking, constantly thinking, constantly living.
He’s still too small, too weak, but he keeps moving.
He’s tired, he’s hungry, his paw almost got torn off by a wild wolf.
He’s bleeding, and he’s aware he’s dying.
“ Oh goodness, what happened to you dear? “ The little fox hears just as he was about to fall asleep out in the open field.
He opens his eyes, and sees a man with a white blindfold and silver hair, followed by a younger one with strange eyes.
The fox doesn’t have the energy to run, to fight. He doesn’t complain when the younger one picks him up gently in his arms.
He prays for a good outcome, letting destiny take the wheel for a bit, as he closes his eyes and falls asleep.
He wakes up warm and comfortable in a nest made of blankets.
“ You’re awake. “ The fox hears. A different voice to the one he heard before.
The fox looks up, and sees the man with strange eyes staring at him, unblinkingly.
Snake eyes, he realizes.
“ You’re ju s t like me. I can tell. Although a little young. Don’t worry. Ma s ter will take care of you. “ The stranger says with a lisp.
The fox understands, but he can’t communicate back.
As if reading his thoughts, the snake man says, “ You’ll learn language s oon. It shouldn’t take long. My name i s Hira, young one. Ma s ter isn’t home right now, but he will come back s oon.“
Hours pass as the snake man, Hira, tells the little fox stories and rambles about various different things.
The door to the room opens, and the seemingly (yet obviously not) blind man walks in.
“ Ma ster , welcome home. He’s like me!“ Hira says while bowing to the old man.
The master doesn’t say anything, giving a nod towards the snake man, and a smile to the small ball of black fur currently curled up beside Hira.
“ Your name shall be Togawa. If you want it, of course. “
He leaves the room for the first time. The house is relatively small, cozy.
No neighbors, no other signs of civilization. Just fields and forests surrounding the house for all Togawa can see.
“ Ma s ter! We brought home berrie s ! “
Hira hands over a basket filled with wild berries while Togawa happily drops the mint he was carefully carrying in his mouth into master’s hand.
Hira then teaches him about fire, as Master makes delicious sweets.
Within a year, the fox learns to speak.
Within five, he gains a second tail.
He’s still small, still weak, but he’s very, very happy.
The flowers this year are more beautiful than ever, the vast fields surrounding the house in full bloom and filled with all shades of colour.
It’s a calm afternoon, the ideal afternoon, in Togawa’s opinion.
He takes a nap on Master’s lap on the balcony.
Satisfied and energized, Togawa wakes with a small yawn, and drags Hira away from whatever daydream he was having to play in the flower fields with him.
“ Master! Master! “ Togawa yells as he hops around the man for his attention.
“ What do you want, dear? “ His Master answers with a smile fondly.
“ Hira said there’s a lantern festival soon. Can we go? “
Togawa spends that exact same night carried by Master as the trio stroll calmly under the floating lights.
He’s growing bigger, no longer small enough to rest on Master’s lap comfortably.
Hira doesn’t look any different from when they first met, Togawa realizes.
Master, on the other hand, is not as untouched by time as his other servant.
He sees Master without his blindfold for the first time. The completely white irises are certainly a surprise, but what stands out to Togawa are the creases that form right beside the eyes when Master smiles.
Master dies thirty two years later.
That night, Togawa gains his third tail.
That night, Togawa gains a human form.
That night, Togawa cries and cries and cries until he falls asleep.
“ Oi Hira, how do I get rid of these? “ Togawa asks as he points to his ears and tails protruding from his human form.
“ More time, more effort, more cultivation. I wasn’t able to hide most of my scales until my fiftieth summer. “ Hira answers, having lost his lisp a while ago.
Even though they still live there, the house feels empty without Master.
He trains with Hira, day in and day out.
Twenty six years after Master’s death, Togawa gains a fourth tail.
Twenty six years after Master’s death, Togawa gains a true human form.
Twenty six years after Master’s death, Togawa bids Hira goodbye and leaves.
The world outside of the small home is ruthless, frightening, but undeniably breathtaking.
He spends the next century walking aimlessly, different sights and wonders to see. Different people and creatures of all paths of life to meet.
Togawa is bloody and beaten. Back against the wall of an old building in an alleyway, arms around his knees, curled up in a ball whilst hiding himself in the shadows.
“ We know what you are.”
“Dirty, unnatural creature.”
“Your presence is not welcomed here in the town of the saint.”
He killed his attackers, leaving a trail of bodies waiting to be found, but he doesn’t have the energy left to run. The showing of his ears and many (not enough) tails a clear taunt of the weakness he desperately tries to outgrow.
He closes his eyes, ready for destiny to take the wheel once again.
“ Oh goodness, what happened to you dear? “ A soft voice asks.
Togawa looks up, hoping, praying for-
A man, not young, not old, with soft brown hair wearing simple white garments.
The man smiles, and Togawa knows .
The smile lines, the same ones his Master had the night he died.
The man, Nozue, brings him back home, lifting Togawa’s bloody body off the ground easily. Togawa doing his best to make sure his tails aren’t in the way.
That night, the rain falls in the dry, desert town. The sounds of wind chimes echo across the street. The songs of all creatures of the night align to create a symphony.
That night, a fifth tail grows on a tired creature in deep sleep.
He soon learns that Nozue, Master, doesn’t age in this lifetime.
Well, he does, for immortality is not actually reachable, but time slows down for him, like it does for Togawa.
Togawa gets to bask in the presence of his Master for longer.
He gets to spend time with his Master, for longer.
He gets more of his Master, for longer.
More.
More.
More.
It doesn’t take long for the bodies to lead back to him.
This is a small town, after all, and new people don’t walk by everyday.
They know. The whole entirety of the small population in town knows, yet nobody dares approach to cause trouble.
Nozue is a lovable man, a foundation of this village, a savior, a saint.
Togawa being under the light’s protection says it all.
It isn’t worth risking the anger of nature’s chosen son and his new pet simply for a few dozen wretched men.
In the blink of an eye, three generations worth of time passed already. The once small, dry town is now a central bustling city.
There’s a large tea shop that can be found on main street, and all those with malice avoid it while for everyone else, it’s a sacred place, a sanctuary.
Even in such a populated area, there isn’t a single soul who doesn’t know the owner, or the many strays that the saint has collected over the years.
Spirits, ghosts, ordinary humans and more are seen running around the tea house, whether serving customers or chatting about.
Amongst them though, one person in particular stands out.
Long gone are the times where the non-humans had to hide their features, and the tall, intimidating fox takes full advantage of the current era as he proudly stands next to his master, obsidian black tails on full display.
At the end of the day, the saint is but an ordinary, naive looking man who happens to have a longer lifespan. If not for the fact that he’s older than someone’s great-great-great-great-great-grandparents, his build for someone in their thirties is otherwise rather frail and lanky, his stature seemingly meek. Newcomers who hunger for power always target the tea house under those exact presumptions.
Those who’ve been around for long enough know not to fear Nozue himself, but to fear his power over those who’ve dedicated their lives to him.
For the tengu kills all lies.
For yuki-onna has no mercy.
For the fervent kitsune will gladly bathe in blood if it makes the kind man happy.
“ How much for your hound, Nozue-san? “ the head of one of the city’s most prominent families asks.
Nozue sighs, not even bothering to answer because he knows what comes next.
Seconds later, a head rolls on the ground as the body thuds loudly on the floor where it’s fallen in a pool of blood.
The tea house falls silent, the only exception being the manic ramblings of the fox over a dead body, katana gripped tightly in hand, outraged at the idea of his master leaving his side.
Outwardly, Nozue sighs again as the customers calmly leave while the servants clean up the mess.
Inwardly, Nozue is hit by a wave of sadness, wondering since when did such a bloodthirsty yet dedicated creature replace his beloved, loyal, hamster-cheeked fox.
In the back of his mind, Togawa knows that something is wrong.
Yet he ignores the constant warnings of his subconscious, too busy focusing on the other voices screaming in his head.
What if Nozue doesn’t like me?
What if Nozue gets hurt?
What if Nozue leaves me?
Mine
“ Togawa. “
Mine
“ Togawa. “
Mi-
“ Togawa! “
He comes to his senses, noticing his own katana pointing towards one of the other servants of the tea house. A servant that got a little too close with Master than Togawa’s mind apparently likes.
He quickly puts the sword away, gets down in seiza position, eyes closed and awaits death or someone, anyone to hit him in the face.
…
Nothing comes his way. Instead, Togawa feels Nozue gently tilting his head up.
He opens his eyes reluctantly, expecting the worst, but what he sees instead of contempt and hate is a small, albeit sad smile on his Master’s face.
Togawa breaks.
“ Master- I- I’m sorry. I’m so- “
“ I’m not gonna leave you, Togawa. “
A part of him wants to lash out, wants to scream at Nozue for being able to say such uncertain things with full confidence.
The other part, the one in control, just wants to be wrapped in blankets and fall asleep next to Master like in that other life that Nozue doesn’t even remember.
“ Let’s go on an adventure together, Togawa. Just the two of us. “
“ Where?” Togawa asks, confused and a bit apprehensively.
“ Anywhere. Some new experiences and fresh air will be good for our health and mind. “
Two months later, Togawa brings Nozue to a cozy looking house, built in the middle of nowhere.
The last traces of anyone living here were from around a decade ago.
For some reason, Nozue feels nostalgic, but he puts it aside, for his eyes are currently focused on the hamster-cheeked fox eating dinner by his side.
“ Do you regret saving me, Nozue? “ Togawa asks, breaking the dead silence of the night as the pair stare at the stars.
“ Regret is not necessarily a bad thing. Lots of growth and development can come from the feeling of regret. “ Nozue turns to face Togawa before continuing, “ But even then, meeting you is one of the only things in my life I know I’ll never regret. “
The next morning, Togawa finds himself with a sixth tail, and feels the storm in his mind finally begin to settle.