Hurry and anxious to return to my apartment and wonder – if I could – that nothing happened with me right now. Nobody should ask or doubt I had a problem with a big creature that tried to eat me because, as he said, I have kitsune bloodline. Even if they ask they won’t believe in this story such crazy and childish. I think they would just believe – if they would – when Tanuki shows how he defeated the wild monster with his magic powers. And talking about him, he was with me at alley. Good he has the idea to shrink and lie into my pocket because I already have nothing to explain how I got dirty like this, how would I explain who is this fat Japanese dog wearing a robe around the waist and this big and ridiculous green collar? Even the mark on his forehead someone would be able to ask if it was a tattoo.

The people looked at me with a weird expression on their faces. I could imagine they thinking I am homeless, user or I had a horrible fight. At least, this would be the smallest of problems. I was hurrying my steps to arrive at my safe home, but I am so scared and pale that I forgot the way I came from. Tanuki guided me speaking inside of pocket and this was useful.

I don’t remember how much minutes I had walked until the alley I stopped, but gladly I was back at street I live and at my precious apartment. Going up the stairs until my apartment, I go in and immediately lock, trying to breathe and sweating. Tanuki went out and grew up for his natural size, looking at me worried with his hands making a signal to calm down. I was needing an anesthesia or some punch on my head to faint, not calm down. Not only my life was put in risk, now my dreams too. The such I fought to arrive here, to study at best university, meet new people, meet again Mika and Kona and now all can collapse with one touch of time.

– Nothing to worry, Master. We are at home – who dare all would be best just staying at home!

– Did anyone suspect? Did anyone see me? – I have no idea what was passing in my mind. I was with a huge mess that my words are flowing in stutter. – I am very scared.

I don’t feel my body move in nothing. Tanuki was looking so worried that he was walking around to check what I don’t know.

– There is nobody here – he returned with a smile, typical of him.

– They saw me walking strange and dirty, stupid! My body is frozen and I don’t know what will happen.

Losing good part of my emotions and speaking what comes to my mind, even offending him. And did he care? He just holds my arms strong and warm, looking at my eyes with his big pulled green eyes and tried to comfort me.

– Let me prepare a tea. Please, sit on your mobile.

I think incredible how he can act calm and serene after a fight he had with a creature that I forgot his name. He was pulling me slow until my couch and inviting me to sit and rest a little while he prepares a tea for me. Not matter what would happens to him, I was his Master and he has all the pleasure to serve me. Well, he is immortal too. It weights a lot.

My legs still shaking a lot after sitting at couch, my body dirty. I check if I have some injured on arms, legs and on my chest lifting the shirt. I think uncomfortable to undress with someone, but Tanuki doesn’t use shirt; it wouldn’t be problem if I undress too. Also, I need to buy some clothes for him. If he has a cabinet in his vase it would be best to save. To wash I already don’t know. I just see him preparing the tea while I feel my body sore.

Now one doubt hit in my mind. If Tanuki is feeling strange all these technologies and equipment he is living, the modernity being new for him, how does he prepare my tea without knowing what is a stove? I didn’t think on it before.

After some minutes he returned with a cup of green tea, giving to me and sitting by my side, observing me carefully. I presume two feelings: he is very worried or very happy to serve me. Neither of the two helps me. I could smell the good fragrance the tea is providing for me, flowing into my nostrils and arriving at my brain with a relaxing feeling and comfort that I was needing right now.

– Don’t delay to drink your tea if not it gets cold, Master.

Oh, thank you, Tanuki! You had the pleasure to break my concentration and reflection with the precious tea you prepared for me with love!

Forget it for a while! Let me drink a little relax. The temperature of water, the little quantity of sugar and the green herbs in sachet dissolving in the water was letting my soul comfortable and my body soft. After a sip, I pant of relief, enjoying a lot. Tanuki was looking at me with a smile on the face… also, he never takes out this smile from the face. It’s super natural for him.

– Are you enjoying the tea, Master?

– Yes, it’s good for me – I look at him grateful (for this time). – The temperature is good enough. You know how to prepare tea at point.

– My old Master taught me – he blinked to me with a silly smile, the tongue out and bitten by his teeth.

– Yes, yes… –  my face of boring is the answer. – This tea will make me forget the problems I had right now.

It’s craziness. It happened minutes ago and it looks like it is happening now at my front. The pain of my body, dirty and tiredness were huge on my back. I would need an orthopedist urgent.

– I know, Master – Tanuki added. – Onis are wild and rude creatures.

– Onis? – he arrived at question I had forgotten. – What is this?

– Onis are Yokais.

These Japanese creatures or spirits that I have no idea what are. I was confused yet, my body trying to relax, but my soul still fragile with the pain and curiosity and I ask to him about these Yokais.

– Yokais are demons and monsters that live in our world or in another spiritual one and Onis are one of them. They live in the Hell to guide and make whatever they want with the condemned; some of them try to escape to go at Earth and search for fresh flesh to eat and it looked like you were the first one that appeared on his way. They are huge, rude, always use clef as weapon and have a horrible breath. Even strong, patience isn’t their strong point.

This I can prove very well. If only his skin was smelling like a dead wet dog, his mouth should be a sea dead wet dog. I would vomit without problem. I still have some doubts in my mind.

– Tanuki. I don’t know – he looked at me curious. – You said they search flesh to eat, mainly us. But he looked at me and hunted me saying I have… kitsune bloodline. Don’t you think it strange enough?

Tanuki didn’t say one word. He just traded the look, one time at me, others at down.

– You said something curious – he was confused and scratching the bag. – He didn’t hunt any kind of flesh; he hunted you.

– Yes. Do you think more of them can appears too?

– Relax, Master. No other Oni will appear for you – he said with a relief that let my soul feel a good breath of hope. – But other Yokais yes.

– Other Yokais?

I received a wonderful notice that not only Onis will hunt my flesh, but every kind of demons can search for me and appreciate the blood I have to offer. I had to drink a little more of my tea to recover my consciousness while Tanuki wasn’t feeling boring to explain his myths and histories.

– But this is the thing I am curious. Not all of them would hunt someone to eat, even not hungry. Some come to punish, others to play a trick. But if all of them come to you and wish to eat you it means that you possess the kitsune bloodline and you should know that kitsunes are mystic and stronger creatures from the Yokais.

– Are you serious? – this tea won’t help me anymore. His arguments are letting me scared. – Are you saying I am a Yokai?

– I didn’t say it, but it would be funny – he left a laugh. It didn’t help me in nothing. – But it’s something we should know. If you have kitsune bloodline it explains why he hunted you.

– But I don’t have kitsune bloodline – I replied back.

– I think you have – he blinked to me with a simple laugh. I want to punch his face if other joke is made. – This we should know yet, Master. Maybe we should find help and knowledge with Amaterasu. She can answer you.

– Amaterasu? Is another Yokai?

– Yokai? – he looked frowning and a little offended. – She is a God.

This is all I wanted to know – sarcasm feeling. I already have to tolerate Onis and others Yokais that can appears to desire my flesh and eat like if I was some candy to give flavor and pleasure; now do I hear that exist a God too? From all my ancestors, where am I? Brazil where Christianity is predominant and has Jesus as only one God? Catholicism? Or am I at disguised land where there is occult Japanese culture with demons, spirits and gods, if there is more than one? No! I am literally in Brazil studying at university, meeting people and new mores.

What is happening at this city? Am I at city that hides cults, a sacred religion that worships these Yokais, a people dead in love and spirit, chained in pleasures?

I will get confused and crazy making such random questions without answers. I am understanding nothing. All is suspicious, a mix of folk tales. If they exist, how are they here? Can they travel at time or by created portals by them? If Tanuki knows all of them very well, does it mean that they are spread at the world?

I was drowned in questions and doubts, letting me disturbed until Tanuki calls my attention to drink the tea he prepared with such caress; the water still warm to burn and awaken my senses, the flavor still tasty and bringing with him the tranquility that only herbs can provide. From all the storm that was making in my mind, there is only one name saved: Amaterasu. I never heard about her, even in tales. What kind of God is she? I see I have a lot to learn with Tanuki before some other demon hunts me.

Also, kitsune is a fox race, but maybe is more than a race.

There is no time to think about it anymore. I am fully tired with this topic. I need to clean my mind after a good shower. The tea is at end, enjoying the peace that it brought for me. Tanuki was looking at me with a smile of gratitude for saving me from the Oni – now discovering that Oni is a kind of Yokai, not his name. I never thought I would transmit this feeling, but I was smiling by his bravery to save me. I just need to hold myself to not blush at his front.

– Won’t you wash yourself, Master?

Ah yes! The bash! I need urgent. I jumped from the couch, giving at Tanuki the cup empty and I walk with hurried steps until the bathroom, thanking him to remember I had to clean my body. At least I don’t have class at afternoon. How would I explain the dirty I am? That a monster appeared to eat me? I think rape is easier for they accept.

God, Vanz! Rape? Are you serious?