17
Masanori
The statue in the centre of the Seika Shrine’s village was a lifelike rendition of a fox woman in jade, four tails curled behind her. A spot at her throat was hollow, a part of the figure missing. Masanori couldn’t imagine how Ryoka earned a stone likeness in her honour.
Three children, no older than seven or eight, chased each other around the statue. The girl pounced at one of the boys, a glimmer of a translucent, bushy tail reflecting in the light. Masanori flinched when the yōkai-kin neared, expecting them to turn on him. The girl landed on the boy, and he writhed beneath her.
“You’re the oni now, and I’m Ryoka!” She climbed off, teetering about and running toward the shrine, the boys chasing.
The village seemed so normal it made Masanori speechless. He didn’t leave th
