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When Chouko stepped off the last stair, her grandfather came rushing to her side. “My, what happened Chouko-chan? Where did you find this fox?” Grandfather said while munching on a pink colored rice cake. “I found him in bag that someone threw in the well!” Chouko replied. “Well hurry inside! The sun is almost down and you need to treat the wounds on that unfortunate fox,” her grandfather said as he pushed her into the house.


Chouko made a bed for the fox and put it next to her futon. She placed the sleeping fox onto its fresh bed and ran out to grab medicine and bandages. After she reentered the room she saw the fox sitting up with its nose in the air looking right at her. “Aww, did you wait for me?” Chouko asked cutely. First she bandaged on the sprained limb then she applied cream and ointments on the rest of the injuries. Chouko pat its head and said, “There all better!” Then she started undressing getting ready to sleep. The fox turned around and Chouko giggled. “Thank you.” She said.


The mist was gathering and Chouko felt more lost than ever. Her eyes swelling with tears. “Run Chouko-chan! You must run!” said a man’s voice. The hand of the man intertwined his hand and hers and they began to run. “Such a warm hand…So familiar, and yet I can’t remember.” The 2 continued to run in this endless mist. “Who are you?...Why are we running?” Chouko looked at the man’s broad back and suddenly, her vision became dim. Then it eventually turned black.


Chouko shot up from bed panting with sweat rolling down her chin. “Hmm..It must have been another vision from future.” She told herself. Chouko looked at her hand and remembered the warmth that she felt from the man’s hand. She became lost in her thoughts wondering, who could have been that man in her vision. But then she felt something licking her hand. She looked and saw that the fox was licking her hand affectionately. Chouko smiled and said, “Don’t worry, it was just a vision. I have those all the time… It’s hard to be an oracle sometimes you know? These visions of mine become so vivid that I get sleepless nights, or headaches that last for days. But they help the survival of the village.” She patted its head and lay down once more. When she closed her eyes, the last thing she felt was a warm presence next to her holding her hand before she went to dream again.


It was now morning and Chouko awakened. She sat up and yawned feeling fresh from her sleep. She rubbed her eyes and saw that the sun has not come out from the mountains. She smiled but realized something was holding her hand. She looked where the fox was sleeping, but saw a long black haired man in its place. Surprised she gently removed her now sweaty hand from the mysterious man and poked her head out of her room. No one was awake yet. Chouko closed the door quietly and turned around. She gasped at what she saw. The man disappeared and the fox was there once again. “M-maybe I’m hallucinating.” She said trying to calm her self. She washed her face and quickly looked back. The fox was still there sleeping soundly. She sighed relieved, started to dress herself for the new day.


After Chouko dressed in a clean kimono, she tip toed out of the sleeping house and decided to go out side to pick some berries. She was going to make wine for the festival tonight. Chouko took her basket and knife and headed down the hill to where the shrine’s berries flourish. She smiled happily, excited to see the faces of her family and friends when they sip her precious wine. When she reached the foot of the hill she noticed the fog piling up around her. Her body became cold, as she kept on walking to the bushes. But her conscious became louder with each step she took. She kept wondering, ‘was it this far to the bushes?’ Frightened, she ran making the cold air chill her lungs. She kept running until she tripped and fell dropping the knife and basket. Chouko got up and dusted her self off looking at what made her fall. But her eyes came wide with fear when she saw a bloody severed leg. She backed up from and ran again with tears swelling in her eyes. “I didn’t see it! I didn’t see it!” Chouko kept lying to herself. She moved on trying to get away while fear was eating her away. But once more she fell from running too fast and she stayed there sobbing on the ground reliving the horrible memories from her bloodstained past. “Mom...dad…everyone…why did you all have to leave me and go to heaven without me? How could you.” Chouko said in between sobs. She felt she was on the edge to losing her consciousness. Before her consciousness went away, she heard the man’s voice again and warmth on her palm. “It’s ok Chouko-chan, there’s nothing to be afraid about.”