The Fox and the Samurai

The Fox and the Samurai

                        Rain plummeted from the looming clouds above in a staccato rhythm. Atsuo had always loved the rain, even though it did sometimes get in the way with his samurai duties. He loved the way it sounded when it hit the roof of his house; he loved the way the dark clouds glared down at his village; but most of all, he loved the way it sounded in synch with his horse’s hooves as they trotted along down the serene path of Arashimaya, also called the Path of Bamboo.

            The stalks erected from the ground in neat formation, as if to salute him as he passed through. He smiled to himself brashly as his mind wandered off into a cloudy space of thought. It was always hard to be humble when you were the strongest of samurai in Kyoto. Being a samurai wasn’t high in ranking, but it was most definitely brutal.

            Atsuo’s horse suddenly reared to a stop, and it was all he could do to keep himself mounted on his horse. He scolded himself mentally for not being focused and blinked back to reality. When his horse had finally settled down and he had recovered from his near accident, he peered into the distance for some kind of enemy or distraction.

            He found it lying on the side of the path and steered his horse towards the lump. When he was close enough to make out what it was, he gasped as realization dawned on him. Its glossy amber coat shone in the rain; its furred tail curled around the body for some sort of protection.

            “Is that a…?” Atsuo examined it more closely as its ears perked up. It lifted its head slowly to look up at the young samurai gazing down at it. Its tawny eyes searched his and Atsuo found himself having to look away.

            “…A fox…” he finished lamely.

            Foxes were conniving creatures that liked to play tricks on humans. It was said that they could even transform into them, too, but foxes were very close to humans in Shinto belief. They were loyal friends with humans and were especially wise. The more tails, the wiser.

            This fox had only one tail, so it seemed; but Atsuo had never believed that foxes could have more than one tail. Only in religious folktales.

            He kneeled down beside the creature and pressed a shaky hand to its fur. Of course everyone feared being bewitched by a fox; it was like being friends with a prankster who showed no mercy, not even to their friends. It was their duty and they loved every bit of it.

            The fox stirred, trying helplessly to lift himself from the ground. Atsuo hushed him and gently took him in his arms, carrying him to the horse and hopping on. They sped away towards his house in the dreary weather, the injured fox resting idly in his arms.

XXX

            The rain had stopped and the sun was peeking through the gray clouds. Atsuo watched the outside world as rabbits hopped from bush to bush, searching for plants to nibble on. Birds crooned from the tops of trees at the sun’s appearance.

            “They must feel like they are on the top of the world.” Atsuo murmured to himself. He heard something shift from behind him and turned to find the fox watching him skeptically. He gave him his kindest smile and took a seat on the wooden floor, crossing his legs Lotus style.

            “How are you feeling?” he asked absentmindedly.

            The fox lifted his paw to the back of his ear and scratched. It was silent for a moment before Atsuo found how pointless sitting and taking to an animal was and rose from the floor. He crossed the room to the kitchen and poured some water for the fox.