{"id":767,"date":"2014-08-06T06:28:30","date_gmt":"2014-08-05T21:28:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=767"},"modified":"2016-06-17T15:48:57","modified_gmt":"2016-06-17T06:48:57","slug":"b2part08","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/b2part08\/","title":{"rendered":"Book II \u516b Part 08 (Miko)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"commissionjisuk1
\n<\/a>Illustration by K. Ryan<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d said the village elder, holding up both hands as she watched her students. \u201cTry one more time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her pupils, a half-dozen kitsune, took deep breaths before making another attempt at shapeshifting. The group was quite young; not one of them had grown a second tail and several were still children. With ardent focus, they visualized the shape they intended to take \u2014 one with two legs instead of four.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook!\u201d cried the youngest, gaping at an older boy. \u201cHe did it. Taiki did it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Every eye turned to the boy, who was indeed standing upright. His face was still decidedly fox-like and his arms ended in paws rather than hands. Even so, he had successfully shifted to a two-legged creature. The boy smirked to himself, folding his newly formed arms across his chest.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cWell done, Taiki,\u201d their instructor said, nodding her head. The other children marveled at him, impressed with his ability. It was only a scuffling from down the hill that could draw their attention away from the boy. Twigs snapped as a final student arrived \u2014 one that had missed the majority of the lesson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here!\u201d the young fox cried, shaking leaves from her tail as she joined the line. \u201cI\u2019m here. You can start now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their teacher sighed, covering her face with one hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re late, Chiyo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s always late,\u201d a smaller girl whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026 I was busy. I didn\u2019t miss much, right?\u201d she asked with an unapologetic grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaiki got up on two legs,\u201d the girl said, nodding towards the boy. Chiyo made no effort to look, only snorting to herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, now that everyone\u2019s here, let\u2019s continue,\u201d their teacher said, holding in another sigh. From the styling of her hair to the wrinkles on her hands, the old woman\u2019s human form was flawless. It was a skill that her students yearned for, longing to someday be as convincing as she. Chiyo cleared her throat, placing a leaf on her forehead before joining the others in concentration.<\/p>\n

Her chest filled with a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she attempted to focus. She could imagine it clearly \u2014 a human form, one with hands and feet, that could wear clothing and style her hair. Her teacher had advised her to start small, perhaps just a change in her size or fur length. Chiyo, however, was not one to listen. More than anything, she wanted to be human.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaiki has hands!\u201d came a voice from her side, snapping her out of concentration. Sure enough, the kitsune had gotten one step closer to his goal. He stretched his fingers, unable to help but look pleased with himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cBig deal,\u201d Chiyo muttered. She lowered her head in annoyance, allowing the leaf to flutter to the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter than you can do,\u201d Taiki said, still smiling. \u201cYou\u2019re the oldest one here and you can\u2019t even change your fur color.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSh-shut up, Taiki!\u201d Chiyo snapped, finally turning to the boy. The fur on her shoulders was rising in agitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been trying for years,\u201d he continued. \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re not just a regular fox?\u201d<\/p>\n

The girl\u2019s pupils shrunk, struck by his words. Her paws scraped the ground as she launched herself at him, knocking him from his two-legged stance. Startled, he lost his form, returning to the shape of a simple fox. The two tumbled over the ground, kicking up dust as she bit at his ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said shut up<\/i>!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo, that\u2019s enough!\u201d yelled their instructor. Within seconds she had split the two, holding each kit by the scuff of their necks.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me go!\u201d Chiyo shouted, kicking and struggling against the hold of the older woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stop it right now<\/i>,\u201d she replied, her voice firm. \u201cYou are<\/i> older. You should know better than to act this way!\u201d<\/p>\n

Once both kitsune had calmed, she set them onto the ground. Taiki shook his head, still dazed from the scuffle. Chiyo\u2019s ears were flat against her head as she glared at her rival. Though her body was still, her fur had remained sharply bristled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough for today,\u201d their elder said, shaking her head. \u201cWe\u2019ll try again tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murmuring in disappointment, the other kitsune began to disperse. Taiki returned her glare before trotting briskly towards the village. Just as Chiyo began to walk, she was stopped by the woman\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo.\u201d<\/p>\n

The young kitsune paused, cringing before glancing backwards.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you should take a break from these lessons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2014 but I\u2019m trying so hard!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you are. Everyone is,\u201d she replied. \u201cShifting, however, requires a clear mind. Perhaps you need some time to gather your thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy thoughts are fine!\u201d Chiyo insisted. \u201cIt\u2019s Taiki\u2019s fault. He\u2014 he keeps distracting me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChiyo, you know that\u2019s not true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on home. I\u2019ll speak to your mother later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the fox could say another word, her mentor had turned to leave. The young girl stood motionless in the clearing, stunned. Before she could blink, fat tears had formed in her eyes. Her gaze dropped to the leaf that had fallen by her feet. For a moment, she stared at it. The stupid leaf \u2014 it hadn\u2019t helped at all. Nothing had ever helped.<\/p>\n

With bared claws, she crushed it beneath her paw, grinding the green into the dark soil. She took a sharp breath, shaking her head before turning to dart into the forest.<\/p>\n

The ground was a blur beneath her legs. There was only one place she could think of going \u2014 the same place she always went when she was upset. It was a spot not far from the village and, quite obviously, one she was forbidden from visiting. Rules meant very little to the young kitsune \u2014 especially when food was involved.<\/p>\n

The shrine was nestled along the foot of the mountain, a gateway to the land of spirits at its peak. Rows of tori lined the mountain path, the red gates seemingly endless as they wound through the forest. Chiyo hurried past them, paying no attention to the dozens of mossy altars. The altar she wanted was only a bit further, tucked beside an old cedar at the top of a stone staircase. It was a common spot for offerings to the goddess Inari \u2014 and, of course, her kitsune. Where there were offerings, there was food, and where there was food, there was Chiyo.<\/p>\n

She slowed her pace to a crawl, moving around the side of the sacred tree. Her tail sagged as thoughts of failure flashed through her mind \u2014 of the other students, so much younger, yet already able to shift \u2014 of her mentor giving up on her \u2014 of Taiki. What did he know, anyway? She could shift if she wanted to. It was only a matter of bad timing. There wasn\u2019t anything wrong with her.<\/p>\n

Or was there?<\/p>\n

Ears low, Chiyo crept past the roots beside the altar to see if the humans had left anything good to eat. Though they often left tempting sweets of azuki or fried tofu, there was the occasional villager who thought leaving a bowl of bland rice was a good idea. Hopefully there would be something to lift her mood.<\/p>\n

Upon reaching the altar, however, Chiyo froze. Her ears straightened to sharp points as she stared stupidly at the sight before her.<\/p>\n

It was a human.<\/p>\n

It was then that she remembered why she wasn\u2019t allowed to come near the shrine \u2014 humans. There were villagers, laborers, and priests, all coming and going through the sacred grounds. This one, however, was none of these \u2014 it was a woman. She was dressed in the clothing of a miko \u2014 a shrine maiden, with her long white sleeves draping on the ground where she lay crouched. Her hakama was a brilliant crimson, matching the tori that ran up the mountainside.<\/p>\n

Chiyo\u2019s fur stood on end, bristling as she attempted to backpedal behind the tree. Unfortunately, she had moved too late.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, don\u2019t be scared,\u201d the woman said, her voice gentle. \u201cI won\u2019t hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fox shuddered behind the trunk, peeking out with a single eye at the human.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d she continued, reaching out a hand. Apparently, this wasn\u2019t convincing enough for the kitsune and she slowly began to shrink back behind the old cedar.<\/p>\n

\u201cHm, maybe you\u2019re hungry. Here, I have a snack,\u201d she said, rustling through a basket before removing a dorayaki. In an instant, the kitsune was at her side. Before the human could say another word, Chiyo snatched the pancake from the her hand. She wasted no time in devouring it, holding it between her paws as she gnawed and swallowed the red bean filling.<\/p>\n

The moment it was finished, she looked up expectantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you want another one?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo nearly opened her mouth to answer when she remembered she wasn\u2019t supposed to be interacting with a human in the first place. Perhaps, if she kept silent, she might be able to pass as a regular fox. In lieu of a reply, Chiyo simply tilted her head, hoping that a cute look would earn her another snack.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, these are supposed to be offerings, but you are<\/i> a fox. I suppose it wouldn\u2019t hurt anyone if I let you have another.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo swallowed the second treat even faster than she had the first. The shrine maiden laughed, somehow amused and not revolted.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou like azuki, don\u2019t you? You\u2019re such a cute thing, it\u2019s quite difficult to say \u2018no\u2019 to you,\u201d the miko said, pushing her hair over her shoulder. It was long and straight, the black strands easily reaching her lower back. Chiyo found she liked being complimented, almost as much as she liked being fed. It probably couldn\u2019t hurt to stay just a bit longer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour fur looks so soft. You\u2019re like a little peach,\u201d she continued. \u201cAh, that\u2019s it. I\u2019ll call you \u2018Momo.\u2019 Do you like that name?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo did not like that name, but remembered she was supposed to be a normal forest fox \u2014 the kind that didn\u2019t respond to questions. Instead, she only snorted.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t? Well, that\u2019s too bad. I think it suits you,\u201d she said, smiling brightly. \u201cWell, Momo \u2014 my name is Shinju. It\u2019s nice to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rather than pay any mind to the human\u2019s introduction, Chiyo instead began to sniff around the basket in search of more food. Her nose led her to the woman\u2019s hands and sleeves, showing that she had very little sense of personal space.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill hungry, after two dorayaki? You poor thing, you must be starving. Or greedy, I\u2019m not quite sure,\u201d Shinju said, giggling as the fox\u2019s nose tickled her palm. \u201cAll right, just one more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo found herself liking this human more and more. Her voice was soft, like wind chimes, and she smelled of azuki and candles. She had a nice face, for a human, and was giving her plenty of food.<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you lonely out here by yourself?\u201d she said. \u201cWell, I don\u2019t mind it either. I was supposed to be practicing the kagura, but I\u2019m not very good at dancing. I practically tripped over myself in front of everyone and, well \u2014 you can imagine the rest. I suppose I just need more practice.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman placed her hands on her knees as she spoke, her voice growing slower with each word.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Momo. You can\u2019t understand a word I\u2019m saying, can you? I probably look like a crazy person, talking to a fox.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo sat upright, watching the human intently. She was, for one of the first times in her life, actually paying attention to what another person was saying.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s all right. It\u2019s nice being with someone who won\u2019t judge me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo lay her head on the miko\u2019s knee, wishing she could respond. It was a curious thing, really, that she was thinking the exact same thing.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

Without her regular shapeshifting lessons, the kitsune found herself with a great deal of free time. It only took a few more visits to the altar to figure out the miko\u2019s approximate schedule. The human would often come by in the mornings, carrying a basket of food to arrange as offerings. She was always happy to feed the visiting fox and Chiyo was in turn happy to listen.<\/p>\n

There were often times that she longed to speak up, to tell the woman her thoughts \u2014 that she enjoyed being near her, that she should keep trying, and that she wasn\u2019t alone. Even with words, however, Chiyo had little experience expressing such things. Perhaps it was for the best that she remain silent.<\/p>\n

\u201cMomo, I think you\u2019re getting fat,\u201d Shinju said, resting her chin in her hand as she watched the fox eat.<\/p>\n

Chiyo sputtered, shaking her head to remove the crumbs that had gathered on her muzzle.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be offended. I think fat things are rather cute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo could only glare at her, oblivious to the bit of azuki paste that had remained on the tip of her nose. Shinju, upon noticing the smudge, began to giggle once more. The sound quickly grew into a laugh, until the shrine maiden was barely able to control herself. She sighed as the fit wound down, using the back of her hand to wipe a tear from her eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Momo. Sometimes I think you really can understand me. I wish it were true. Where do you run off to in the mountains? Are the other foxes as cute as you are?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018No<\/i>,\u2019 Chiyo thought to herself. \u2018They are not<\/i>.\u2019<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

It was a crisp autumn morning when Chiyo found the miko crying. Shinju lay crouched in the usual spot by the altar, her face stained with tears and her eyes terribly swollen. The kitsune crawled into her lap, unable to do anything more to console the grieving woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou came,\u201d Shinju said, sniffling as she ran a hand over the fox\u2019s head. \u201cYou always come. I think you might be my only friend, Momo. A fox \u2014 my only friend is a fox.\u201d<\/p>\n

The miko smiled through her tears, her shoulders shaking with hiccups.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow pitiable am I?\u201d she said, forcing a laugh. The human took a deep breath, wrapping the fox in her arms as she continued to weep beneath the cedar tree.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

Chiyo was staring at a leaf. It had been a long time since she had thought of shifting. In the time that she had spent with Shinju, she had realized one thing \u2014 the shrine maiden was always giving, yet Chiyo had never returned the favor. Not once had she offered a gift, nor even so much as a comforting word. There was one thing Shinju needed now \u2014 a friend. Chiyo had decided that, no matter what it took, she would at least give her that. She would be that friend.<\/p>\n

The leaf was mocking her, or at least, it seemed to be. She had failed so often in the past. Not once had she managed to change so much as the color of her fur. Regardless of her mood or how hard she tried, success had continuously evaded her grasp. She wondered if, maybe, it wasn\u2019t a matter of mood. Perhaps it was purpose.<\/p>\n

Placing the leaf on her head, she began to concentrate. She visualized the proper form, a human one. She imagined her paws stretching into hands, her spine straightening until she could stand on two legs. She focused and fretted and, as usual, nothing happened.<\/p>\n

Chiyo knit her brow, shifting her thoughts elsewhere. She thought of the human, of her voice like wind chimes and the sweetness of her smile. She thought of what their first conversation might be like, of what it might feel like to hold her hand. Her chest filled with air and her eyelids fluttered. She barely noticed as her shoulders lifted, subtly shifting her posture. When she finally opened her eyes, she realized exactly what she was doing.<\/p>\n

She was standing upright.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa!\u201d she cried, then immediately lost focus and toppled back down to all fours. Chiyo was too gleeful to care about the leaves crinkling against her fur. She had done it \u2014 the first step, anyhow. Her form had still been that of a fox, but she had at least managed to stand on two legs. It was further than she had ever gotten before. Now, there was the simple matter of all that fur.<\/p>\n

Repositioning herself, she began to focus once more.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

Autumn had nearly ended by the time Chiyo reached her goal. She had spent every evening in a clearing outside the village, attempting and failing over and over again. No longer did she allow her failures to set her back. Each mistake taught her a lesson and each lesson was one she made sure to remember. It had returned, once in a while \u2014 the creeping feeling of ineptitude, the thought that she should simply give up. It was at those times she remembered the miko and the way her sleeves had looked when stained with tears. Chiyo never wanted her to be unhappy again.<\/p>\n

The sun had nearly set when she opened her eyes to a set of hands \u2014 slim, beautiful hands with proper fingernails and not a trace of fur. She used them to feel her face, touching over her new nose and nearly poking herself in the eye. Long white hair hung down to her back, its tresses in desperate need of styling. She let out a delighted laugh, quite pleased with herself until she looked down once more. She was naked.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t a problem, as a fox. It seemed, however, that humans weren\u2019t often found without clothes. Chiyo wondered what Shinju might think if approached by a nude woman in the woods. Not wanting to find out, she set through the trees to find some clothing.<\/p>\n

The obvious source was the shrine. Many humans lived there, including Shinju and the other shrine maidens. Surely there would be something she could \u2018borrow.\u2019<\/p>\n

Sure enough, the familiar scent of candles reached Chiyo\u2019s nose as she approached the grounds. She had never actually visited the shrine itself, content to take food from the altars on the outskirts. An enormous stone tori rose over the entrance, its pillars towering over the other buildings. Though the sun had set, there seemed to be a ritual of some kind transpiring in the main hall. Light glowed between the building\u2019s slatted windows and not a soul was left outside. Perfect.<\/p>\n

Her nose was much weaker in her human form, but it was still enough to lead her to the women\u2019s quarters. The hall was dark and vacant, her barefooted steps making the only sound as she snuck over the wooden floors. She passed an open door, quickly noticing the possessions inside the room. An instinct rose in her gut, one telling her that perhaps she could take more than just a set of clothes. As she eyed a silk fan, something else caught her attention. It was a scent, one so familiar that it had imprinted itself in her memory \u2014 it was Shinju\u2019s scent.<\/p>\n

Chiyo peered into the neighboring room. It must have belonged to Shinju. From the familiar aroma that drifted in the air to the way that the clothes had been crookedly arranged \u2014 it had to have been hers.<\/p>\n

Clothes \u2014 that was why she was here. If there was anyone that could forgive her for stealing, it would certainly be Shinju. Chiyo crouched beside a shelf, removing a set of haori and hakama. She fumbled with the trousers, realizing that she had no idea how the long strips of cloth could possibly keep it on, nor how to tie a knot in the first place. It was a strange thing, having hands, but she would have to get used to them sooner or later. After a bit of cursing and even more fussing, she finally managed to fasten a bow.<\/p>\n

The kitsune placed her hands on her hips, surveying the room with a swell of pride. Not only had she managed to take on a human form, but she had also solved the mystery of knots. It was only the sight of a mirror that distracted her from her own ego.<\/p>\n

The mirror was round and made of solid bronze, giving Chiyo a rather clear reflection of herself. She stared for a moment, touching over her lips and cheeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh,\u201d she said, her voice low. \u201cI\u2019m pretty good looking.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a mere tilt of her head that sent her long, white hair tumbling over her eyes. She pushed it aside in frustration, wishing that she could remove it completely. Human hair was quite the hassle. It only took a moment for her to find a knife, and a few moments more to strip the locks into something more manageable. Handfuls of ivory strands fluttered to the floor, littering the tatami around her feet. Just as she lowered the knife to admire her work, a voice cut through the air of the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cW-what are you doing in my room?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chiyo glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widened at the sight of the shrine maiden whose room she had overtaken.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you?\u201d Shinju continued, trying to keep her voice steady.<\/p>\n

The kitsune took in a slow breath through her nose, allowing the human to read her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know who I am,\u201d Chiyo said, trying to ignore the terrible redness in her cheeks.<\/p>\n

For a long while, Shinju stared. She knew those eyes \u2014 she knew them better than any other. She was having trouble, however, admitting it to herself. Hesitantly, she lifted her hand to her mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cMomo?\u201d Shinju whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, I\u2019ve been meaning to tell you,\u201d she said, her lips lifting into a soft smile. \u201cMy name is Chiyo.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Illustration by K. Ryan \u201cAll right,\u201d said the village elder, holding up both hands as she watched her students. \u201cTry one more time.\u201d Her pupils, a half-dozen kitsune, took deep breaths before making another attempt at shapeshifting. The group was…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-two"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=767"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1038,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/767\/revisions\/1038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}