Prologue
563 Words
A story. A lesson. Aid from the past.
There once was a young kitsune who lived in the Awa Province during the Sengoku period of Japan. She went by the name of Chiyo and spent her days either spending time with the priestesses of nearby shrines or resting on the bank of the Edo River. After a time, she met the young heir to the Satomi clan, Satomi Yoshihiro, and they fell in love. Chiyo, in her joy, used her magic to keep the people of the local villages safe and healthy. She told them stories of yokai and kami, she taught them how to win favor with benevolent spirits and how to protect themselves from the evil and cruel. She was adored by all.
One day, in a matter of moments, everything changed. Chiyo didn’t want to hide her true form from the people she so loved any longer and she chose to tell Yoshihiro the truth. She brought her prince to the river bank where they met and showed him her magic. He smiled and she believed he accepted her truth. She shifted into her true form, that of a two- tailed red fox, and approached his side. When she looked up into the eyes of the man she loved, she saw horror dawning and disgust. Quickly, she regained her human form and begged him to understand. That was the day she was banished from her village. Soon after, she was pursued by the clan’s warriors. Hunted mercilessly and driven for the province. She ran to the Izu province and lived in isolation and fear for several years before being discovered by Hojo Ujimasa.
When the Hojo army marched upon the Konodai castle in 1564 and Yoshihiro stood on the ramparts with his father watching their approach, she ran to her prince. Falling at his feet she begged him to listen to her, for she still loved him and wanted him to live. Chiyo told Yoshihiro of the Hojo clan’s plan and when Hojo sent two of his generals to begin the attack the Satomi clan marched to meet them. Not long after the armies met, the Hojo clan retreated across the river and the battle was over. Chiyo, praised Yoshihiro and his father for their clever strategy and fine battle skills. She encouraged the clan to celebrate their victory before she was once again banished from the land.
That night, Chiyo returned. Using her talents for illusion and trickery, she led the Hojo army and helped 20,000 warriors surround the castle. At dawn, the unprepared and intoxicated Satomi, were awaken by the sounds of battle. The Satomi were defeated, the Hojo seized the castle, and Yoshihiro was killed in his retreat. It is unwise to betray a kitsune, for they are vengeful and patient beings.
Many, many years later a scroll was found in a shrine near the Satomi castle. Words believed to have been given to the priestesses by the young kitsune, Chiyo, to help them identify and confuse unfriendly kitsune.
Clever kitsune,
what have you done?
Your starball is shining
bright as the moon.
Clever kitsune,
cunning and sly,
you spread your mischief
far and wide.
Clever kitsune,
do you bring news from Inari?
You’ve gained a new tail.
Your power is growing.
Clever kitsune,
what tricks do you play?
Do you travel the void
or celestial domain?
- Writer
