Kitsune Matsuri: The Open Gateway

  KITSUNE MATSURI

  The Open Gateway

  William H. Johnston

  Smashwords Edition

  KITSUNE MATSURI: The Open Gateway

  Copyright © 2012 by William H. Johnston

  ISBN: 978-1-312-06692

  ISBN-13: 978-1499359688

  PUBLISHED ON SMASHWORDS BY:

  William H. Johnston

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owners and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Smashwords Edition License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal use only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  eab:20140907

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgements

  Foreword

  1: The Fox Tale

  2: Departure

  3: Sunrise in Japan

  4: Michiko

  5: Introductions

  6: Kitsune and Karaoke

  7: The Golden-Eyed Girl

  8: A Strange Gift

  9: The World of Yokai

  10: The Fox in Stone

  11: Kitsune Udon

  12: The Demon

  13: Sanji the Tanuki

  14: A Leap in the Dark

  15: The Arrow’s Mark

  16: Bone Setter and Apprentice

  17: A Gift of Rain

  18: Karaoke Swan Song

  19: The Jewel

  20: Offering and a Prayer

  21: The Warning

  22: A Heartbeat in Time

  23: The Open Gateway

  Endnotes

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I’ve had a lifelong interest in the history, culture and mythology of Japan. It is my hope this book contains the spirit of that distant land across the sea, and that I honor it in my interpretation.

  Special thanks to:

  Meg Sadler, who created the marvelous cover of this book, and worked so patiently with me on the design to capture the living essence of a kitsune on paper.

  Rebecca Potter for the kitsune illustration for the inside of the book.

  My parents who encouraged my intellectual and creative curiosity over the many years.

  I could not have done it without you all.

  Arigato Gozaimasu

  FOREWORD

  KITSUNE : Mythological foxes found in Japanese tales and associated as messengers of Inari, god of rice and prosperity. Taking human form they often use their magic to both create mischief and help those in need.

  “Vast is the literature of the subject of foxes—ghostly foxes. Some of it is old as the eleventh century. In the ancient romances and the modern cheap novel, in historical traditions and in popular fairy-tales, foxes perform wonderful parts.

  “There are very beautiful, very sad, and very terrible stories about foxes. There are legends of foxes discussed by great scholars, and legends of foxes known to every child in Japan.”

  —Lafcadio Hearn,

  Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan

  I can’t believe it. I’m in Kyoto, Japan!

  It was the perfect evening. Bamboo creaked around me, swaying in a cool breeze. The sounds of passing cars faded to obscurity. I felt as far from the civilized world as I could be though I was only a few blocks from the middle of a busy city.

  Up ahead I saw a simple orange gate, nothing more than two poles joined at the top by two cross bars.

  A torii gate!

  I stood beneath it and stared into the space beyond. The gravel path ahead was a shadowed mystery weaving in and out of sight. I paused and glanced back behind me. It was already getting late and the light was fading. I should return to the house, but there was something drawing me closer down this unknown path.

  There were weird things in all the books I’d read at home; stories of shape-shifting monsters, gods and demons. Walking alone, it was not hard to imagine that strange eyes might be watching me in the dark.

  Heck, I’ve come this far! Why not see what’s up there?

  Smiling, I breathed in deep. “I sure have traveled far.” Only a breath of wind answered me. “All those years of dreaming, and I’m finally here.”

  As I stepped through the gate, a sudden movement like a flash of fire caught my eye. It was so quick I couldn’t see what it was, but as I turned to look, my foot caught an upturned root. I reached out to catch my fall, but it was too late. I hit the ground hard, sprawling in dirt within the shadow of the gate.

  Gah! Stupid. That was stupid, Tobias Blackwood.

  I gritted my teeth. The first thing I noticed was the sharp pain in my hands. My palms were stained with blood mixed with wet, sandy soil. I got to my feet and flexed my fingers.

  Nothing broken.

  I combed bruised fingers through the brown curls on my head.

  Nothing broken there either.

  I blinked as I tried to focus, but everything around me was a murky image.

  Crud! I lost my glasses! They must have fallen off when I tripped. They’re probably somewhere on the ground nearby. Hopefully, they aren’t broken. Mom would kill me if I call and tell her that I’ve broken another pair.

  “That was a spectacular tumble, Gaijin, one of the better ones I’ve seen.” It was a woman’s voice with a distinctive Japanese accent. I turned, startled by the suddenness of it.

  Where’d she come from? I didn’t see or hear her come up behind me. I thought I was alone here!

  She laughed softly and paused beside the gate. “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah, I guess I should have been watching where I walked.” I squinted, just able to make out the shape of dark almond-shaped eyes, slim nose and cherry-pink lips. The rest was indistinct like something out of an impressionist painting of white clothes, peach skin and long flowing black hair.

  “Could you lend a hand finding my glasses, please?”

  “Oh, of course.” Light footsteps danced over the sandy path toward me. “What’s your name?”

  “Tobias, Tobias Blackwood.”

  “Welcome to Japan then, Tobias Blackwood.” She knelt down and joined in the search for my glasses. I noticed a distinct scent in the air, not of perfume but jasmine incense. “Westerners are common enough in Kyoto, but we don’t usually see them up here.”

  “Well, I’m not a tourist if that’s what you mean.”

  “Oh? Not a tourist?” She sounded genuinely surprised. “What are you doing so far from home?”

  “I’m here teaching English. I came over here with a group called the Society of English Learners. I just arrived today.” I sighed. “This certainly isn’t a very good start to the trip.”

  “I suppose not, but why were you all the way up here on the mountain, Gaijin?”

  “I was looking
for an adventure, I guess. It was a long fifteen hour flight, and I wanted to get out and into Kyoto. I’ve never been here before, so I decided to go exploring. The gate looked inviting, and I was curious to see what was up here.” I rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment. “Things were going smoothly on this adventure until now.”

  “You look more like a librarian than an adventurer, Tobias Blackwood.” She chuckled again. “I hope your adventures don’t always start this inauspiciously.”

  I flushed feeling awkward enough in front of this girl with my bulky orange coat. My jeans were too long with the cuffs practically covering my lucky red converse sneakers.

  Are all Japanese girls this much of a tease?

  I decided to try to change the subject. “You speak very good English, um, Miss …”

  “Matsuri-san.” She stated. “Thank you. It’s not too often I get the chance to practice English. Do you speak any Japanese?”

  “Not much, if anything.”

  She mumbled to herself, “Orokana shōnen o, kokode wa subete no hōhōde wa arimasen nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekite imasu ka?”[1]

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Nothing, I’m just talking to myself. Ah, silly me. Here they are. I was sitting next to your glasses this whole time.”

  She handed them over to me, and I heard something land by my feet.

  “Thanks.” As my eyes came back into focus, I glanced down to see what had fallen and noticed three coins on the ground.

  “Hey, did you drop these?” I looked up just in time to catch sight of her darting away.

  Crud, was she trying to pickpocket me? Instinctively, I felt for my wallet. It was still there.

  Wait a minute. I didn’t have any coins! Then these are hers after all!

  “Hey, you dropped your money!” I shouted, picking them up. I tried to think of a few Japanese words I knew, but the word “stop” wasn’t among them. “Wait, please!”

  I stumbled after her, but she was already halfway up the path. She wove in and out of bamboo, past stone statues huddled beneath moss and lichen.

  She finally stopped, pausing at a large boulder before ducking behind it.

  Finally!

  I stumbled over small, broken branches, rounded the huge boulder and stopped dead still. The girl was gone. A fox stood a few yards away, soot black paws frozen in mid-step. Her rusty orange coat flickered against the dark backdrop of the forest. She did not flee when she saw me, just stood and stared with bright inquisitive eyes.

  I stared at the animal. “What? Where’d she go?” I glanced around, heart still hammering in my chest. “Don’t suppose you saw a girl pass by this way?”

  Her head tilted with as close to a puzzled expression as could be imagined in an animal. Pointed ears flicked at the sound of my voice, but she did not shy away. I glanced up the path. There was no sign of the girl. Sighing, I put the coins away in my back pocket.

  Bah, I really must be crazy asking directions from an animal! That girl’s long gone by now.

  The fox didn’t move, just stood staring with those uncanny bright eyes. Something about them fascinated me. There was an almost human intelligence, a living fire beneath the dark golden surfaces.

  After a moment, she padded a wide, slow circle around me. The sleekness of her muscles rippled like water beneath her coat, accentuating even the subtlest movements of her nimble predatory body.

  “You certainly don’t seem too afraid of me.”

  She yawned, revealing dagger-sharp teeth and licked her lips. The full breadth of her bushy tail curled close to the ground. With a flick of the white tip, she brushed aside a few leaves and sat regally upon her haunches.

  This is weird even for an animal. Maybe she smells food on me?

  “Sorry, I haven’t eaten since I was on the plane.” I turned my front pockets inside out. “I don’t have anything to give you, see?”

  I swore I saw the slightest smile trace along her black lips. Then her ears suddenly came alert. She tensed, hunkering down close to the ground. Those golden eyes stared straight through me as every hair on her body bristled.

  Is something behind me?

  I felt a creeping chill down my spine and spun around.

  Nothing.

  “Say, what?” I turned back around, and the fox was gone. I stared a moment where she’d been, and then I started to laugh.

  Outfoxed by a fox! Here I am in Kyoto, Japan, and I’m chasing Japanese girls and getting fooled by foxes.

  “Well, I guess I got some money out of the deal.” I reached for the coins in my back pocket. But they weren’t there. Instead of the cool metal I had anticipated, I felt something dry and prickly.

  What the heck?

  I pulled my hand out and found nothing but a few dried yellow leaves in my palm. They crinkled and split before drifting slowly to the forest floor.

  I could have sworn …

  Shaking my head, I sat on the ground with my back against the stone. The forest was silent around me with only a murmur of the wind in the trees. I was left alone to my thoughts.

  Looks like you were right, Mom. This really is the start of a strange new adventure.

  I closed my eyes. It felt like another lifetime, but only fifteen hours ago I’d been back home with my parents in the United States.

  My mother was worried. She’d been worried ever since I’d shown her and Dad the confirmation letter six months ago.

  “You’re sure you packed everything? What about an extra toothbrush and your razor?”

  “Yes, I got everything.”

  “You’re sure you won’t be cold?”

  “I packed some warm clothes, and my parka is in the bag if I need it.” Actually, I’d left the ugly orange coat in the car on purpose. “Spring is just a week away. I won’t need it.”

  “Are you sure that there will be someone there to meet you? What if there isn’t?”

  “Yes, I am sure, Mom. The company said that someone will meet me here at the airport, and there will also be someone to meet me at Kansai Airport. It will be OK!”

  “Well, you’d better call as soon as you arrive, Tobias Blackwood!” She always called me by my first and last name whenever I was in trouble. “There’s good money paid for that phone card. You’d better use it!”

  “I will, I promise!” I pulled it out of my pocket. “I’ve got it right here, see?”

  Dad placed worn hands on her thin shoulders. “Francine, he’s not five. He can take care of these things.”

  “I know, but it’s just such a different culture, so strange and so far away. You would pick Japan of all places to work, Tobias! What about the language? You don’t speak any Japanese.”

  “I am supposed to have a translator, and the host families speak English. It should be fine.” I turned and hugged her. “I can take the opportunity to learn some Japanese!”

  Looking at the two of them, I felt hesitation for the first time in weeks. Mom was in a black skirt and sweater, and Dad was in a well-loved cardinal and gold USC sweatshirt and jeans.

  They look like a pair of neglected puppies.

  “Will you two be okay?”

  “We’ll be just fine,” Dad said.

  “Look, I need to go so I don’t miss my flight.”

  “We won’t charge too much rent for your room while you’re gone,” Dad grinned. “A year is a long time, you know.”

  Dad said that same thing twice in the car on the way to the airport.

  “I know, I know.” I threw my arms around both of them. “You two be good!”

  As I stepped onto an escalator, the jerking rumble beneath my feet felt like a clarion call. I tried to resist looking back as the escalator carried me upstairs, but halfway up I glanced back at my parents. They looked even smaller standing there outside the security check. Dad raised his hand, and then they both vanished into the crowd.

  For the first time in these long months, I was completely on my own. My heart leapt in my throat as I stepped into the airport con
course. The scent of stale pastry and burned coffee wafted through the recycled terminal air.

  I can’t believe it! This is it! I’m going to Japan!

  There were people everywhere arriving, departing and surrounding me with a buzz of frenetic energy. Reaching into my pocket, I felt the smooth edges of the Society of English Learners’ pamphlet. I brought it out. The glossy cover featured a golden pavilion set against the serene background of a forest.

  Ok, time to double check everything.

  I looked through my travel documents.

  I have my tickets, my passport and my wallet. There’s a map of the city … hey, wait! Here’s the letter I got!

  I looked at the crest with an ornate ink letterhead. “Society for English Learners, Japan.” I could hardly contain my excitement looking at the return address.

  Kyoto, Japan.

  Inside was the formal letter I’d read half-a-dozen times in the past six months.

  Dear Mr. Blackwood,

  It is my pleasure to inform you that we have accepted you into our cultural and educational exchange program after your successful completion of our training seminar.

  You will live with a local family in Kyoto and teach our youth through immersive programs, gaining unique cultural experiences through personal interactions and other work-related activities both at your school and with your host family.

  Enclosed you will find a pamphlet containing a map and useful information about Kyoto. Please call our United States office in San Francisco to confirm your travel arrangements. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns as well.

  Sincerely,

  Toshi Sato, Director

  Society for English Learners, Japan

  I closed the note with a smile.

  Soon I’ll be there myself!

  I put the letter away and started down the concourse, pamphlet in hand, but I was so lost in thoughts of the streets of Kyoto that I stumbled against a protruding leg. My pamphlet dropped onto the tile floor.

  “Eh! Watch it! A ruddy, red-haired young man with an Australian sounding accent waved his half-eaten cinnamon roll at me. He’d been sitting on a bench when I’d stumbled into him.