For weeks, Kogitsune steadfastly watches as Kokaji completes the shrine carvings he’d stopped making ten years before. Years pass and Kogitsune pulls away from humanity. His powers grow enough that he senses the presence of Kokaji on his mountain one day. Kogitsune gains a second tail reflecting his new knowledge, but it is cold comfort. Hearing Kokaji promise to stay away from the mountain breaks Kogitsune’s tender heart, his grief erupting as flames that burn the mountainside. The shrine is nearly complete when Kokaji is forbidden to visit the sacred mountain by his mother-she fears (rightfully) that the masked boy Kokaji speaks of is a yokai, and could curse their whole family. But Kogitsune is determined to do so, noting that learning about heartbreak is still gaining knowledge. Inari warns Kogitsune that humans are fickle, and that he will have great heartbreak if he continues to spend time with the boy. He convinces Kokaji to build a shrine to Inari, and the boy agrees.Īll summer long, Kogitsune and Kokaji spend days swimming together, sharing meals and stories, and building the shrine to Inari. Kogitsune knows that his father will never bless a human with such a gift-it is beyond Inari’s power at the least-yet still wants to spend time with this intriguing human boy.
Kokaji had climbed the sacred mountain to find Inari and request a blessing to become an excellent swordsmith. Kogitsune shifts into the shape of a mask-wearing boy and rescues the trapped boy. One day, Kogitsune finds a boy trapped in the snare of a spider ayakashi-or vengeful spirit-who plans to eat him. As Kogitsune grows, he shows his knowledge and naiveté in equal measure.
Their journey and power are reflected by increasing the number of foxtails from one to nine. A kitsune has shapeshifting abilities and powers that grow as one gains knowledge.
Kogitsune grows and learns about the world through Inari’s lessons. Kogitsune (Little Fox) is a newly-born kitsune, a fox god sired by Inari, the ancient god of rice and prosperity, who is also a kitsune.
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