After the bath and wearing clean clothes, I intended to visit the park at my front to meet a little, relieve my mind, find the points I can sit and watch the Sun travelling slow while the clouds blow on their velocity. If I take my clothes at laundry it’s sure they would ask where I passed to give clothes so dirty. Of course, Tanuki wanted to follow me to pass the time with me. At first moment I would like to deny and ask him to take care of my apartment, but after what happened with me and with the Oni I am afraid. After a quick talk I had to Tanuki about Yokais and my suspect kitsune bloodline, does my life will be in danger in every place I go, aim of every monster? Such is my fear that I accept Tanuki ask, but he couldn’t go with this clothes even cleaned better than me. The only way we can be together is he shrinking like he did at back. I am still curious how he can do it incredibly; one more question going in my folder.

Leaving the apartment to take a necessary breath, I was with one doubt if would be a good opportunity if someone appears to talk to me because even I meeting Mika and Amerix – Kona I don’t want to know – I don’t have their contacts. I know with Amerix is very early to get contact to talk, even he wanting a lot to be my friend, but Mika? How long time don’t I see her? Who dare if she appears here to talk to me, remember our childhood, our school, the times we were returning to our houses, the days I called her to visit my house and meet the variety of plants and trees that there are…

Ah… Good time that can’t come back anymore. I really miss the time I was a kid. Not saying I am a naughty or rude person today, but I remember to dream a lot with Mika and with what I would become or work. This is when we grow and notice that life is more than our thoughts.

The park is in good peace today. I would prefer to sit on the grass, but having no sure if I could I decided to sit on the bench where I can see the light rays passing through by the leaves, giving a wonderful air and scene around. Few people sat too, others passing by the park to cross the street, some birds to fly and sing and the only thing that I miss is a company. I sigh, but I am not sad; I am hugely happy and grateful with my choices. I just feel alone. No father and house close to me I feel myself like a pilgrim in a desert travelling and seeing no signal of next village, looking for your dreams and achievements.

– This grove looks beautiful, Master.

I again was lost in my mind, forgetting Tanuki that was in my pocket with the half body out from there, looking at the place like a stranger. If there is someone who deserve to be called pilgrim is Tanuki.

– We are at park, Tanuki – I commented looking down to my pants. – It’s a little place with trees or lake where we rest and pass time with someone.

– Similar to grooves I met at my old time – he was speaking while he tried to go out from my pocket. It was strange he says “my old time” because old he has a lot. – The women loved to rest their mind at grooves where the nature strength remains.

– They aren’t wrong with it. And did they do anything?

– Some of them sing, others harvest plants and others observe if there was a beautiful man around – he steps on the bench, feeling a solid wood.

– Samurais?

– It’s more common to find wanderers playing their shakuhachi. They are as mysterious as Yureis.

I don’t doubt of any story that Tanuki tells. It looks like that he had a great life when young. I already thought how these people, both Chinese both Japanese, our ancestors lived. The peace with nature, the no necessity to pay bills, the wedge bath how we call, the lamp to light the place, hear the insects “singing” in the darkness of night and such positive and negative things that happened there.

– I believe the village you lived is beautiful – I commented while he looks around stepping at the end of bench.

– Of course it was. A beautiful painting.

This I can’t doubt. The paintings illustrating the villages, landscapes and mores are fascinating. How we are talking about old times and grooves, I was curious about kitsunes again.

– Tanuki. I am in doubt about other thing. Some of these men are kitsunes?

Tanuki’s ear moved quick and he turned to me. It was being strange for me to talk looking at bench. Someone would call me crazy – with good reasons.

– I already heard about these stories, Master. Usually kitsunes do it only to joke or provoke the women that fall in love easy. They are reserved.

– So are they common?

– Not so much – he looked at right while scratches his bag. – Some kitsunes prefer the isolation, others the familiarity. There are many kinds of kitsunes with many tails from others lands.

– Lands of region?

– My old Master told me yes – he nodded; – there are kitsunes out from Japan too, having differences.

So would it explain some reasons that I have kitsune bloodline? It isn’t enough yet.

– He told me that the Chinese kitsunes are more cultural and prefer to plant knowledge and study; Korean the same, but Japanese are fascinated with power and witchcraft, always learning several technical of transformation, manipulation, control the element and bargain.

– And why do they prefer to acquire power?

– In my time, Master, it was very common they preserve the peace on the blades, but either was common attacks on other villages and a duel to proof who was the strongest. Kitsunes, Kamaitachis, Onis… – Tanuki took a time to look around while he was staging like these old theaters with his leaves flying like a dance for themselves – even samurais do it usually, proof to protect their own lives and village. We always had the tradition and one way to proof our own values and test ourselves always.

– Don’t you think it useless? – because for me there was any reason to fight against the other just to proof who was the best. – Does it cost the life?

– It’s our life of Japanese. Or they mock or they dominate.

“Or they mock or they dominate” is like thinking that they had the power of village on their hands. I don’t know exactly what Yokai means yet, but I presume there are many, many, many creatures on feudal Japan, each one with incredible powers, magics stories, legends and origins like folk animals from Brazil. Sucupira, Saci, Cuca, Boitatá, Iara and such others give me the impression that someone is copying other. Or did they decide to forget the indifferences and live between us? That’s a curious and ridiculous thing to think.

I have my mind occupied with thoughts about these creatures. I have a lot to learn, mainly kitsunes, the so bloodline that Tanuki and the Oni told. This little fat dog jumped between my thighs, giving me a scare. The goat was having a walk passing by me and greeting. I replied politely. I thought funny to hide Tanuki between my thighs, funny enough for him to put his body on my part like it was a wall. I understand the reason of Tanuki to hide. I just wish that nobody would like to meet Tanuki and know the crazy things he is able to do. I had to poke him and advise of it. I would accept a crazy being swallowed, but doing strange things with other man is forbidden. How would I explain it for Mika if I date with her?

– You look a little shy with the world around you – I grab him, lifting until my muzzle while I look around and see nobody.

– It’s a little strange for me – “a little?”, I thought.

– How was your world before? A peace and nobody weird?

– Not so much – he smiled shyly being hold by my fingers. – Legends say that there was an occult world where Yokais and Yureis live there. Monsters, incredible creatures, dead spirits that wander at world looking for revenge or peace, wonderful landscapes, exotic plants and such things that is impossible to describe all, Master.

– You say it like it is an incredible world, like in RPG game – I was really impressed with such culture and long horizon these crowd lived.

– What is RPG?

– Eh… I explain at my home – I forgot this world is “strange” for him.

– Alright. Well, do you know what is torii?

– Is another monster or god?

Because every Japanese word for me or is food or is someone. Tanuki shook until he gets free from my fingers, landing on my thigh and making a drawing with the hands, like a tunnel or door, I don’t know.

– Torii is a wooden portal that divides and connect us at actual to spiritual world if you are brave enough to risk your life.

– Why do you say risk?

– Because you are propitious to temptations and Yokais love to prank. Not all of them are evil – Tanuki landed his hand under his chin and scratched soft. – At least there are wanderers, inhabitants and until gods to guide and protect you if you be prosperous with them.

– All looks difficult for me – at least I wouldn’t have to put my life in it, if was enough with the Oni.

– Even don’t you desiring to have a meeting with Amaterasu?

– Why?

– She can help you to discover your bloodline and guide you – Tanuki jumped on my thigh and sat with a smile while I was in doubt.

– I thought you was who guide me.

– I am just a servant, not a god.

“It doesn’t answer everything”, I thought with my rude mind. It’s difficult to arrive at defined point talking to Tanuki. Why should I have a meeting with a god that I have no idea who is she and her culture? On true, I know nothing about Japanese culture, folks, likes, behaviors and even martial arts. I still don’t know clearly who is Tanuki and his origins, about his old master, his species and his powers. Any normal person would have such abilities and powers to manipulate wind like him.

And talking about wind, the good breeze was present on my body and I had to stop the talk just to feel the peace that the world and the nature are providing for me. The sweet, the soft, the calm, the lightness gratifying my spirit and body, inviting me to meditate and practice my yoga. I had closed my eyes to feel this little of peace and when I opened to see Tanuki he was looking away for one direction, feeling the breeze blows his long fur.

– What’s up, Tanuki? – I asked. He kept in silence for some seconds and after looked at me answering.

– The wind is sweet – he smiled. – I missed it when I was at landscape and see the horizon of the world

That looks a wonderful moment to remember at past and I couldn’t hide a smile that I sketched. I slipped my finger on his head to caress, what was a surprise coming from my mood. It’s like I had the necessity to give him my gratitude for his heroic appearance. Tanuki replied just with a big smile and letting his head being comfortable by my finger passing on his head, like to caress a hamster. I was liking it, remembering the childhood when I caressed my grandfather’s hamsters and rabbits that he created very carefully.

Even though I have my life in danger by creatures that hunt me like animal, I feel a comfort that I have someone to hear me and give a smile on my face. Maybe my life won’t be a disaster. Maybe I accept the risk I chose and the destiny proposed to me.