Summary

Shirasu is the current incarnation of a Nine-Tailed Fox(Kyuubi no Kitsune). Such incarnations are only born every few hundred years when the previous incarnation dies and finishes its cycle of rebirth as many other powerful Youkai do. However, not all Youkai are revered or seen as blessings. Alternatively, many like the Nine-tails are seen as cursed omens that will one day bring misfortune. In his current life, he has been born into a village of skillful Tomoe shinobi. Unfortunatley, this hidden village does not view the Youkai as a blessing. The moment he was identified as a Youkai incarnation he was sealed away, far from the rest of the village. He was raised with strict instructions and minimal contact. While he was born with many natural talents, he was never given an ounce of trust or leniency. Not once was he shown an ounce of affection or given the respite of company or companionship other than his training. He was to be kept away and used as a weapon should the shinobi find they were not capable, they claim his isolation is to keep his heart unclouded.

It was only when a cunning Inugami found its way to his sealed shrine that he discovered the truth of his existence and the reason the others treat him as they do. "A monster...? A freak...? But I...I've done nothing wrong! Why is this my fate? Why am I only seen as a cursed tool..." He lamented. He existed only for their benefit when they deemed him appropraite, but what happens once he's fulfilled their wishes? Will he perish? An instinctive fear bloomed in his heart. A seed of doubt carefully planted by this dispicable Inugami. Playing off as his ally, he continued to plague Shirasu with these could-be-truths. They spent quite some time feeding him stories they hear as they are able to freely roam the outside world. When that seed bloomed into resentment the Inugami returned again to offer Shirasu the freedom he now craved. With ease, the devious Youkai removed the seals on Shirasu's shrine. With all his power in his true form Shirasu broke free from his confines in a flury of amethyst-obsidian flames. Miasma eminated from his being, the seething resentment in his heart as he gives in to these powerful negative emotions. With a tremendous howl he decends the mountain straight for the village spreading flames and miasma in his wake, much to the Inugami's satisfaction as they vanish into the winds.

With all the brutality of a feral beast he raises the village to ashes with not a soul left alive. Some attempted to fight while others pleaded for forgiveness, everything falling on deaf ears as they were torn apart and burned in his wake of vengance. The power coarsing through him running rampant as he swept away nearly all traces of the Tomoe clan. For his sins, the gods cursed him to never die until he was beheaded like all his predecessors before him. His fury acting as his will Shirasu remained in his beastial form for centuries claiming the mountain and ajoining land as his territory, killing any who trespassed. Miasma polluted the lands which whispered of his grief to those sensitive enough to hear.

It wasn't until humanity began to expand that Shirasu's territory was beginning to be encircled with civilization. Gradually the land around him diminished until only his mountain remained, the pinical of his territory which evoked terror to any who approached. All but one, a one-eyed samurai. Shirasu had faced many varying types of humans, beast, and Youkai alike in his reign over his mountain. However, none quite like the samurai who approached him so brazinly. He strode with such confidence and the miasma polluting the very air itself didn't seem to afflict him even minutely. He stood strong and calm even in Shirasu's looming presence and power.

"So, you're the beast who reigns over this place, eh?" the samurai spoke so informally. Such insolence, such casualty, as if Shirasu were but easy prey. "Insolent cur!" he growled,"You will perish for your ignorance like all the rest." Though the man was unphased, even as Shirasu made himself as large as possible in an attempt to evoke fear. The samurai simply chuckled,"A challenge then!" he boldly proclaims as he draws his sword pointing is at the large beast before him,"If I defeat you, then you have to come with me and become my familiar. But if you win, you getta eat me up and the villages takin your territory are all yours." The very thought of Shirasu being bound and captive to another's will again ignites the fury burning in his heart tenfold as he lets out an aggressively loud roar. "Teh! Just like the rest, all you mortals seek is my power for your own! You will rue those words in the afterlife as I raise your civilizations to the ground!"

For three days the beast and man played cat and mouse facing off with one another endlessly, ravaging the mountain forests as they fought. Never before had Shirasu faced a mortal with such endurance, such tenacity, the man seemed to relish in their fight. No matter his attmepts to fell this man, each attempt ended in failure and was countered. Despite his best efforts and all his power, Shirasu, ultimately lost the fight against this unusual man. Exhausted he collapses and the Samurai approached him, though he looked as if his guard was down Shirasu could tell he was as ever ready as the first day they began this battle. "...Impossible..." he wearily exclaims, the samurai gives him a bright smile and triumphant chuckle as he crouches before Shirasu. "What a fight, been a long time since someone's actually given me a challenge. Looks like I've won though." to which Shirasu gives a low growl. "You...you are not mortal...no man could ever go so long against a youkai such as myself." Shirasu questions too exhausted to lift his head. As he watched the man, the samurai chuckles and runs two fingers over the patch covering his right eye. "Somethin like that, however, you still lost. So, you comin with me or not?" He stares into Shirasu's eyes. "What kind of trickery is this? Why is this now a question when it was your purposal from the start?" Shirasu growls. The samurai's expression turns somber,"I have no intention of treating you like a tool or beast. In my lands, no man gets left behind, and that goes for everyone youkai, human, and beast alike. I won't force you."

The sincerity in the man's voice and expression leaves Shirasu stunned as they bore into each other's eyes the flaming fury in his heart smolders into an ember. Never before had he heard a human speak in such a way. Equality, fairness, and...a chance of companionship? His words seemed honest, yet too good to be true. But the temptation, the agonizing hope which had secretly lingered in his heart tugged at him painfully. Apparently, the silence had extended for too long and the samurai extended his hand before him. "Listen, you can't remain here forever, not with how the world is changin. Let it go, all that pain. I can feel it, in the air and everywhere else on this mountain. Whatever you've been through, I'm offerin you a fresh start." The final threads of doubt snap, and Shirasu closes his eyes,"...Very well." he repsonds simply.

In agreement the two decend the mountain and Shirasu is put through the process of becoming a familiar to whom he discovers is a Samurai Warlord. Once bound to his new master Shirasu's beastial form diminishes into a more sizable form as well as an even smaller "sealed" form. With his powers also contained by his contract the miasma which lingered through his power on the mountain slowly dissipated. True to his words, his new master treated Shirasu with the same amount of respect and uninhibited attitude as everyone else. For a man so informal he had nothing but respect from his peoples. Shirasu found it difficult to adjust to such a social life and remained in the forest's edge for some time after his arrival. During his time in the forest, his master would frequently visit as a form of "reprieve" from his lordly duties. It was during these times that Shirasu was told that his master had a similar upbringing, kept contained because a powerful Youkai decided to make his body their vessel and consumed his right eye to make its home there. The Youkai Seiryuu, a dragon-like creature with immense powers. Because of this, his own mother often made attempts on his life, calling him cursed, and a demonic omen. Words which struck Shirasu personally as he recalls the cries of his people which called him the same. His master reveals that due to his circumstance being a vessel he will one day be taken over by the dragon youkai, and it's for this reason he makes a request to Shirasu. "I am obligated to do as you wish, master. You simply have to say the words." Shirasu begrudingly admits, to which the samurai chuckles. "No, I won't order you to do anything. I'm simply asking as a favor, and to protect these lands as its guardian. I'm asking as your equal, not as your master, when it seems like I will be lost to this beast...I want you to end my life, I give it willingly." Hanging his head with his ears low as he takes in the grim truth he speaks,"As you wish..." Whether it be in the distant or near future, Shirasu would fulfill the request, even with a heavy heart.

Its during this time with his master that for the first time in all his years he's found a stillness that is like no other. Fond, warm, and full of life. After some time, Shirasu, finally reveals his humanoid form though feeling rather awkward. He was never forced to do anything he wasn't comfortable doing except on rare occassions but his master was always there. Despite his loyalty to his master, Shirasu, found it difficult still to interact with many people, often opting to wear his mask and remain a silent observer. He often heard the whispers and gossip from those who held distrust in Shirasu's loyalty as they knew the stories of his life as a feral beast on the moutain. He can never atone for what he's done, and even when his master questions his well being on the matter, Shirasu, simply accepts it. He understands their doubts and knows his nature as a Nine-tails will always cause strife even if he truly does no wrong. While this frustrates his master, he knows there's no changing his mind or the minds of others who live in a world of fear when it comes to youkai.

Unlike Shirasu, who is a pure incarnation of a Youkai, his master is simply a vessel and continues to age like a mortal through their long years together. It's when his master has entered the later half of his years that the youkai taking refuge in his master begins to stur. His master began showing signs of the beast from scaling outbreaks on his body to feverish fits. The grim reality that his master was nearing the end of his mortal life as the dragon youkai was attempting to claim his fleshly form. While his vasals who served him panicked over the aling condition of their lord, Shirasu remained at his master's side, ready when he was asked to complete his master's wish. Rumors had begun to spread that their lord's sickness had been caused by Shirasu, because he tamed a cursed, feral youkai and kept him by his side this was the gods judgement punishing him. For this Shirasu was often confronted by those who beleived the rumors and often assaulted even if he were to deny their claims, so he resolved to letting them believe what they wished. His loyalty would ever be with his master, the one who showed him true kindness and equality, and opened his eyes to the vivid world he had been shut so far away from.

On a clear, full moon night in spring when the blossoms were in bloom, his master requested Shirasu escort him to the forest. With a heavy heart, Shirasu, obeyed carefully assisting his pained master into the moonlit forest to their special getaway spot which had long become a shaped landscape from the amount of times they had come to that place. Decorated by the petals which had blown from the blooming trees, he set his master down carefully. Even with such delicate treatment his master was in pain, but still he smiled. Shirasu illuminated the space with small flames as they both basked in the moonlight. "Shirasu..." his master begins, however, there's no need for him to continue as Shirasu meets his suffering gaze knowlingly. His master nods to him with a smile,"Please..." Shirasu closes his eyes as his body is enveloped in amethyst flames as his beastial form appears. Padding over to his master he lowers his head before him, earning a weak, but affectionate pat on his head. He raises his head meeting his master's gaze again, just like long ago, for the last time. Shirasu tilts his head and positions his teeth over his master's neck. The samurai smiles, closing his eyes before sharp canines pierce his scaled skin and he grimaces. Shirasu firmly closes his teary eyes as he closes his jaws around his savior's neck and metalic floods his taste buds. He want's to vomit as he chokes on the lump in his throat that turns into a sob. When he releases his master's throat his life is all but gone. A smile of gratitude on his face as his eyes are closed, the seaping power of Seiryuu ebbing away from his lifeless form. Shirasu sits and bows his head, and for the first time in all his life, he cries, sobs wracking his body as he grieves for his fallen lord, his equal, his friend. He feels as if his heart has turned to stone and shattered as this foreign pain wracks his body, this sorrow unlike any other.

Through his laments his keen ears pick up the sounds of people, vassals looking for their missing lord. Shirasu stands and with one last look to his master's face he flees. Not moments later do the sounds of shouting and crying reach his ears, and soon word spreads through the entire providence of the lord's death. With Shirasu's absence it became quite clear to all who the culprit was for the teeth marks in their leader's neck. He accepted this would happen and that despite their hatred he would have fulfilled his promise no matter what. Over the course of a week Shirasu was aggressively hunted by the entire providence, hunted, shot, cut, beaten, and still he fled never daring to retaliate against those his master loved so dearly. It was to be written that Shirasu, the Nine-tails, was a wretched, feral beast who had been shown the kindness of their revered lord and betrayed that kindness. Manipulating his way close to their lord's heart so he could catch him in a time of weakness and slay him to reclaim his lost territory. A tale that could not be further from the truth, but if that is the price he must pay for his sin, then so be it.

They were never able to capture or kill Shirasu in the end, as he fled past their borders until he collapsed from his wounds. Only roused when feminine footsteps perked his ears, he transformed himself into his humanoid form with only one tail showing in an attempt to fool whoever was approaching that he was an ordinary kitsune who had been attacked. The footsteps stop before him, "Oh dear, a fox has made its way into my domain. Dear child, can you hear my voice?" she spoke gently, so serene. Shirasu opens his eyes ever slight to see long, pooling hair the color of the sea, sky and plants. Ever gently she reaches down and lightly strokes his alabaster curls, "Fear not, you can rest with me. You will not come to harm." Her soothing ministrations seemingly numbing the physical pains in his body, and at last he gives in to the sweet embrace of unconsciousness. Giving in to his exhausted heart which aches of sorrow. The gentle woman who would become known as "Oujo-sama" smiles softly and lifts the boy to cradle his upper body. "Such pain I sense, yes, rest well dear child. As long as you need."

TBC