Hey, everyone! Ta-Ni here, bringing you a brand-new story from the Persona Series. After watching a playthrough of Persona 4, I completely fell in love with the fox at the shrine, so I decided to write a story revolving around her and her relationship with the main character. I will note that for this story, I am making the fox female for a reason, as you will see later. Anyway, on to the first chapter!
I sit atop the shrine, like always. None of the people who visit even know I'm there; they rarely look up. However, I'm waiting for a particular person today. One time, many seasons ago, a young man with silver hair, like that of an aging reynard, came to my shrine. Something about him drew my attention, so I decided to show myself to him. It became a powerful relationship for the both of us, and I used my large stash of magic leaves to help him and his friends in the 'other world'. However, his adventures were far from over; he and his friends had a few more trials to face.
Unfortunately, he lives far from here, so I rarely see him nowadays. Today, however, I had a feeling that he would be coming, so I wait patiently. Sure enough, as the sun begins to set over the horizon, I see him walking up the steps. He waits until the last of the well-wishers leave, so we are alone, then softly calls out, "Ms. Fox? Are you there?"
I smile as I jump down from the roof, landing gracefully at his feet. Most of his friends still call me 'Mr. Fox', unaware that I'm actually a female. He, however, figured it out through our bond. I turn to grab one of the emas hanging in my shrine, hoping he has enough time to fulfill it like before, but he holds up his hand to stop me. "I-I don't really have time; I'm only here to visit," he says. Then, he pauses and asks, "Actually, do you have any blank ones? I'd like to make my own request, and see if someone else will fulfill it for once."
I look at him, slight surprise in my eyes. Then, I notice his usual stature seems strained, almost forced even. Hiding beneath that façade, he looks very tired, and worn down. Not surprising, given all the trials he and his friends faced. Through it all, he never gave up, but no one can keep going forever. Giving him a quiet yip of support, I grab a blank ema from the shrine, as well as a fallen quill that one of the other patrons had lost. He writes something really quick on it, and then gives it back to me to hang up. I catch a quick look at his wish in the process, and pause. Written in neat letters are the words, "I wish for a new life."
Confused, I look back at him, and he explains. "Being the leader of the Investigation Team is starting to grind on my nerves. I sometimes wonder what my life could have been like if I hadn't been given this power. So, if I could, I wish I had a chance for a new life; one without all this obligation or power. However, I would also lose my friends and bonds, because I would have no reason to have formed them in the first place. Know what I mean?"
I nod to show I understand, but something about his explanation doesn't quite ring true for me. I know despite his complaints, he truly cherishes the bonds of friendship he has created and nurtured during his first 'case', and that includes the one he forged with me. Everyone will be saddened if he leaves for a new life, and yet I feel it my duty to do this for him. But how?
Then, I remember something my Mama taught me long ago, when I was a little kit. She taught me everything I knew about our kind of magic and the herbs and leaves that we use, and she told me about of one particular one. "Of all the various leaves and herbs we use in our magic, there is one you should only use in dire circumstances. The magic inside is very powerful, but unpredictable. However, if used properly, it could make miracles occur."
I wake from my musings to see him walking away, so I bark aloud to get his attention, and then place my paw on his ema. He looks confused as he asks, "Are you saying you can grant my wish?" I bark once in affirmation, then swing my tail in a circle one time. He knows that means 'tomorrow', so he says, "If you're sure…then I'll come back tomorrow. Should I tell anyone where I'm going?" I start to speak, but he answers his own question. "No, probably not. They would want to come with me if they knew, so its best if I break it off clean."
I frown for a moment at his decision, but since it IS his choice, I merely nod. Then, without waiting for an answer, I run back behind the shrine and into my den underneath; I have a lot of work to do in preparation for tomorrow. Walking carefully around my piles of leaves and herbs, I find a small pile set apart from all the others. Shaped vaguely like stars, these leaves shimmer with latent power, at least in my eyes.
In the half-light of my den, they look very old and crinkled, but placing a paw on them confirms they are still full of life and power. Taking a few in my mouth, I step back around the piles toward the den entrance. I peek outside to see no one in the area; dusk had fallen, and the lanterns were already lit. I bounded up to the ema wall and set the leaves down for a moment. I know my breath had activated their magic, so I have to act fast.
Taking down the gray-furred young man's ema from the wall, I place a single leaf on the back, and then place a paw on top. Closing my eyes, I infuse a touch of my own magic, as well as my desire to help, into the leaf. A brief burst of light seep out from under my paw, signaling that it took, so I remove my paw and hang it back up on the wall. Then, I pick up the rest of the leaves in my mouth and run back to my den for the night.
What has the fox got planned for the main character? How will this turn out? Find out next time, on An Ema to Remember!
Please read and review, and may your Ember never fade!
