Everyone knew that foxes had existed, once.
They might not know what they looked like, and they might only talk about them as vague mythical creatures, but they knew that they had once roamed the land. Been powerful, even.
But everyone also knew that foxes had never meant anything but trouble.
Iruka looked blankly at the creature in the middle of the road. It was staring at him. With a silver hue of a coat, it was not quite feline, not quite lupine.
Its long, sharp muzzle pointed at him, expectantly. Iruka blinked at it dumbly.
What to do? It didn't look particularly happy, or particularly angry. Its lush, thick tail laid quietly still against its hind side.
What would it do if he ran? If he approached?
The closed eye held a long, angry scar. The other continued to gaze at him in anticipation.
Iruka's decision was made for him. A strong gust of wind blew him in a staggered step forward. The animal stretched out a paw lazily, matching his step.
Maybe it was a mutant. Maybe it was a hallucination. Maybe it was friendly.
Iruka took a hesitant step forward. The creature followed suit.
Kakashi, the animal told him. That was his name. And he was a fox.
Vulpine. Not feline. Not lupine. Definitely not canine.
Iruka didn't find it strange that Kakashi could talk. After all, he was a fox. Foxes didn't even exist. Or at least, not anymore.
Kakashi told him he was wrong. Foxes were just smarter than humans. Kept hidden.
Iruka asked what trouble he was bringing. For everyone knew foxes brought nothing but trouble.
Kakshi gazed at him soulfully with his one good eye, and told him Iruka was the one who brought trouble.
Iruka thought the name sounded familiar. He'd heard it before. Couldn't quite place it, though.
Kakashi looked at him with such a deep sorrow that it was close to joy.
Kakashi frightened the other villagers. They avoided him. Threw rocks at him. Sprayed him with water.
Kakashi said it was alright, they just didn't understand.
Iruka hurt in a place he didn't know was there. Told him to leave. Foxes weren't supposed to exist here.
A twitch of silver ears. A low, mournful whine, filled with a heart-crushing emotion Iruka couldn't even begin to name.
Kakashi was not there the next day. Iruka shared the story of the ex-existing creature with an ex-student.
Naruto didn't understand what a fox was. Strange, because Iruka could see vulpine shadows cast in his face.
Naruto did recognize the name though. Kakashi. Naruto's secondary instructor. The man who had died protecting Iruka from a mud slide.
Iruka hadn't remembered. His head wouldn't let him remember.
He thought about a silver color and a crushing earthy darkness. About furtive, desperate kisses.
His eyes stabbed with tears.
Had he always been a fox?
