A Fox's Whisper

29: Ҝ卂乙ㄩ卄卂

The words on the scroll started to blur and swim before my eyes. I'd re-read the last sentence at least a dozen times, and I barely even remembered what it was I read about.

"Cheer up, Kazuha," Thoma said. "I'm sure she'll be here soon." He set another scroll beside me on the desk I sat at.

Currently, I was inside the Kamisato residence, the room where all of Inazuma's history was recorded, to be exact. For the most part, the house was plain and simple with shoji for walls--light framed wooden panels with translucent paper to allow light through--and tatami mats for floors. The only things hinting at any sort of wealth was the occasional lacquered piece of furniture here and there or a priceless vase on a table in some hallway's corner.

The records room was lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stuffed with scrolls. The only other piece of furniture in the room to allow enough space for all the shelves was the desk I sat behind.

The light outside was beginning to fade as storm clouds blotted out the sun. It seemed that the Raiden Shogun had had her fill of pleasant weather and at any moment, her power would break over Narukami Island.
Still Inari did not come.

"I know she will," I replied to Thoma. Together, we had skimmed through scores of scrolls, some so yellowed with age that they looked as if they might turn to dust should anyone touch them. Others were so new that the paper didn't appear touched at all. Yet nothing I looked over seemed to allude to Yamabiko Dorobo, and not only that, but the Hinansho Village scroll was nowhere to be found.

"I know it's here," Thoma had told me. "I remember reading it...I don't think anyone borrowed it. Hardly anyone has heard of Hinansho Village in the first place."

So for several hours, I looked over every scroll Thoma set before me as he scoured for Hinansho Village. Most of what I read contained stories, anecdotes, and vague histories of the kitsune. What I truly wanted to find was a scroll detailing the death of the kitsune. Thoma said he hadn't seen any scroll like that, but he'd look for it anyway.

I rolled up the scroll in front of me, pushing it to the side. It was getting difficult to focus, especially when the wind called to me outside, beckoning me. I closed my eyes and listened...though I didn't know for what.
Then I heard very familiar footsteps padding across the hall just outside and my eyes flew open.

Inari poked her head through the door hesitantly, as if not sure anyone would be inside or if she should be there at all.

Thoma spun around and his jaw dropped, though it wasn't because Inari's hair was rather tangled or the fact that her kimono was worse for wear. "You're a... kitsune??" Thoma exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with such surprise and delight it may as well have been his birthday. The scrolls he'd been holding slipped from his hands, clattering to the floor.

Inari squinched her face up a little, looking between me and Thoma. "This is...?" She started questioningly.

"Thoma," I said.

"Oh." She looked him up and down, unimpressed.

Thoma didn't seem to care as he gaped at Inari's ears and tail. "Woah, I thought...I didn't know kitsune still existed!!" He said. Realizing his behavior was a little too exuberant to be normal, he said, "Yokai just fascinate me. Kitsune are by far my favorites."

Inari smiled so tightly at him it looked painful.

"Right. Uh...well, I'll let you two talk. I have some...stuff to do." Thoma cleared his throat and hurried out of the room.

Inari spun to face me, the polite restraint she'd maintained long gone. "Why did you leave like that?!" She demanded in an angry whisper. "I had no idea what I was supposed to do or if I could even get here. I was worried sick, you idiot!"