Kitsune and Elements

*strokes his chin, scritching at his muzzle, then looks up, musing at the sky.*

It's amazing, is it not? The wonder of the elements found in nature. Many wonder if they truly are, or are not, bound to an element.

In the past, according to the history of kitsune, it was said that there were those whom were able to call upon elements at will. They were considered an 'original breed'. So said, they were made by the sacred hands of the gods themselves. Yet, for what purpose? ...and where are they now? Well, it certainly is a matter of speculation, as most of the records for that time, especially for the Jomon, Tombs and Yaoi Periods of Japan's illustrious history are gone now, due to the influx of Chinese Buddhism during the 600-800 AD era.

However, not all of the information is completely gone. It just had to be... pieced together. This is a difficult task, one for which I'd taken... years to understand. Some things even kitsune need to research and understand. We do live for a long time... but that doesn't mean we always know all.

I want to make this clear, that the tale that i have pieced together may seem... reminiscent of other tales from games such as White Wolf's 'Werewolf the Apocalypse'. However, let me make this doubly clear.

They may have this kind of story, but where do you think they got it from? Modern games are often based on what stories were pieced together from tales of the past. Much research goes into these games, but in the beginning, it was only a story. As such, many may balk at the validity of the story, but in the end, it is just that... a story. - Which is also why 'Werewolf The Apocalypse' has 'Story-Tellers'. Just a grain of truth for all to think on before this story gets under way.

It was said that in the beginning, the 'Creative Forces', the Demi-Urges, a trio of 'original Kami', had created on the firmament side, the physical side. When they did this, they needed physical bodies with which to do so. Thus, they created physical bodies from what was destroyed by the Oni, who were in the process of attacking the boundaries of firmament and the celestial to help their dark father destroy all. These 'original breeds' were powerful, because they could harness all elements, yet were bound to none. They were perfectly empty. They, to us, contained 'Yugen Garandou', or 'Mysterious Emptiness'. As kitsune were able to 'possess' others, so were the Creative Forces able to possess the Kemono Youkai. They did this to further creation. At least, this is my idea behind their original purpose. This part is not technically fact, as there is no proof, but would be a logical assumption, based on what can be proposed as a 'mythological truth'. It may also be accurate, due to what comes next.

Because such a thing as the 'Yugen Garandou' cannot be duplicated, and cannot be understood, we modern Kemono Youkai can't truly profess to knowing exactly how such a thing works. All we can do, is have faith.

The Original Kemono Youkai wanted to be like to the Kami, and tried to create. When they did so, they created Kemono Youkai that were more bound to the firmament/physical side. Each was 'filled' with the nature of an element, and bound to it so that they were able to protect from the Oni more of the earth, and so that the original breed had children. Perhaps this is arrogance, but it's already been said that the Kemono Youkai are vain. However, the Kami knew that a mistake was made. Though the Original Breed was told that the Creative Forces were proud that the Original Breed had taken steps to become like the Creative Forces and given much praise for that, the act was without divine intervention, and ultimately would be the original breeds undoing.

Time would prove them wise.

What made the Elemental Kemono Youkai so dangerous is that they didn't have the 'Yugen Garandou' in them, and thus, could not be 'possessed' by the Creative Forces. Technically, they were 'without guidance', but not without direction or purpose. The Elemental Kemono Youkai were charged as Stuarts and custodians of the land.

In time, the 'Second Generation 'Elemental Kemono Youkai' wanted to create like their forefathers did, and did try to do so. After many failed attempts, the finally did manage to create a 'Third Generation' by crossing the elemental breeds. Thus, 'Ainoko', or 'CrossBreeds' were born. However, as before, something went wrong. The Crossbreeds were having a difficult time with themselves, and could not be understood by the singularly element-bound parents of what the Ainoko's internal plight was. In seeking council from the original breed, the wisdom of the gods proved true.

The Original Breed did the same thing for the Elemental Breed that the Creative Forces once did for them: They gave the Elemental Breeds great praise for the creation of the 'Ainoko', but were told that they would not be able to raise these children, as they had many elements inside. This was something only the Original Breed could relate to. Thus, the Elemental Breeds were told that any Ainoko born should have surrogate parents found from the Original breeds to care for, and train the young Ainoko.

This made the Elemental breeds grow dim and dark with jealousy and outrage, as it seemed that the Original breeds did not see the Elemental Kemono Youkai as 'fit parents', and so they hid their Ainoko children, and did their best to raise them on their own. Many Ainoko went mad, and fled into the darkness of the night.

To be clear, no other 'Breed' of kitsune can singularly teach or help any Ainnoko because of the dual elemental base inside them. On the plus side for the Ainoko, it seems they are so far removed from Divinity, that they themselves are 'Touched' by divinity, in that they have the ability to harness 'creative aspects'. They are able to combine those elemental bases, to create elements that are 'not supposed to be by original law'. Not to say that these 'elements' -cannot- be in existence, but that by 'divine knowledge' -should not- be in existence. Still, these 'Ainoko' are able to do exactly that. Not the Original breeds nor the Elemental Kemono Youkai can copy that.

In time, as the elemental and Original Breeds argued over who was right and who was wrong, the Ainoko finally returned... with a vengeance. And so, the whole story of what happened to both the Ainoko and the Original breed opens up...

In the darkness, the Ainoko were lost, left to madness to overtake them. It was there that the Mikabochi found them, and taught them to be something more. Though the madness was still in effect, they were now honed, taught something new. If nothing else, the Mikabochi knows how to corrupt.

And so, a new war erupted, a battle for supremacy between the Original Breeds and the Elemental Breeds and the Ainoko on the other side, having been 'tricked' into joining the ranks of the Oni. Even the Oni had to bow away from the power that the Ainoko contained, as the 'creative forces' inside them, honed and corrupted by the Mikabochi, made the Ainoko just as dangerous, equal to any Oni. Fortunately, the Ainoko were currently on the side of destruction, and were used as the Mikabochi's own personal 'super-soldiers' against the first two 'generations'.

And so, the 'Crossbreed Wars' began. The battles were furious, but as shown, there were not so many Crossbreeds, and more of the 'Elemental Breeds'. In the end... The Elemental and Original Breeds won, but just barely. Heavy tolls were taken as the first of the Ainoko were completely wiped out... even the newborn children... with so very many tears.

Before those tears could dry, the Elemental Kemono Youkai cried out in fury at their supposed 'failure' to create, and blamed this on the Original Breed. And without the bat of an eye, tears and fury erupted in the cry from the elemental breeds... To exterminate the 'Originals'... out of their own shame, and denial to want to accept any responsibilities for what had transpired.

And so...The Original breeds were said to be wiped out, and with a madening fury. However, vengeance was for the gods, and we all know the price of that...

So was it that the Last of the Yugen Garandou was being protected from the ravages of the war on the doorstep of her 'Emerald Tower', the 'Last of the Yugen Garandou' fell into a 'state of ecstasy' and started to spiel out a 'Prophecy', one given directly by the gods, that it the Last of the Yougen Garandou falls, this Prophecy shall take effect.

In that final hour, as the 'Child spoke from the gods', the Prophecy of Thirteen was created, and just as the last words were written, and then hidden, the terror of the war herself arrived. No one knows her name, but it is well assumed that the terrible kitsune whom stood there was none other than the ancestor of Pau Su herself. She was about to kill the child, as the Jade Empress was too weak to protect the young child. Barely born as a fledgling kitsune herself, the young Jade Empress stood over the Last of the Yugen Garandou, her weapon drawn.

It was then as the two looked on at the horrible sight of such a dark kitsune that the Last of the Yugen Garandou had an epiphany, and asked for the most impossible thing. When this thing was asked, this stopped the dark vixen and the Jade Empress herself. What was asked made the dark vixen laugh and watch, as it signaled the fear and ends of the Jade Empress's rule, in the mind of the Dark Vixen.

However, the Last of the Yugen Garandou, spoke softly, saying there was reason for this, and it was because of what the new name for the Jade Empress was going to be. This confused the Dark Vixen, and so she listened. As the Jade Empress raised her blade, the Last of the Yugen Garandou gave the Jade Empress her new name, and the Dark Vixen knew she was completely betrayed.

The Last Yougen Garandou named the Jade Empress a name which means 'Carrier of Hope', and then let herself be killed by the Jade Empress herself, before the Dark Vixen could react.

Ultimately betrayed, the Legend of the Curse from the Prophecy of Thirteen began, starting with the curse of the Jade Empress, and the curse of the Dark Vixen.

I can't exactly say what they dark curses are, but I can tell you that 'this is how the curse works'. I can't name a name to something I don't know... and I'll be damned if I try seeking that knowledge. This legend alone makes me quake and quail in dark fear and worry, as it does all other kitsune that I know.

Hope, the Jade Empress, was cursed to live until the end of the prophecy. She is indeed one of the few kitsune, or Youkai, for that matter, that is cursed strongly enough to be called 'Sennen', or 'Immortal'. She's too powerful now to challenge, but too depressed to mettle in the affairs of the many 'Elemental Nations'. She -IS- their leader... but she does not choose to lead. Instead, from her Emerald Tower, she chooses to watch the rest of the world, waiting, rebuilding the old knowledge that came before, trying desperately to remember, and daring achingly to hope, as the signs of the end nearing are starting to come. Her heart is stone by now, but melts at the sensations of the prophecy coming true, because she dares to do what no other Youkai in thousands of years, those like her who know, and despair, chooses to do. She chooses to hope.

Only one other chooses to hope, and he is the Sennen 'Emperor' of ALL of the Youkai, the true leader of the Youkai. Yet... even he doesn't lead. To him, it's not time.

The Dark Vixen was cursed to live the deaths of the many Youkai she killed, and was changed from a simple kitsune into a 'Sentient Mantle', which I believe is not passed down from Mother to daughter. Such is the darkness of her lineage. Mother passes on the Mantle of the original, which is why we have dark and evil ones like Pau Su, Mei Ling and Tamamao no Mae. How this is done is beyond my knowledge, as it is considered 'old magick', and is a thing I'd do well to leave alone. Such things are... of Oni.

Other than that, the Prophecy itself seems to be waiting for two more to come.

One is the Child of Hope, 'the Keeper of Hope' fated to live until the prophecy be unwritten'. One is the Child of Fate, 'the Key-Holder whom is the only one left that can officially open the Doors to Yomi'. One Child to come is the Child of Destiny, who is said to be 'shrouded in Mystery, the Gate-Keeper who knows the path to Yomi'. One is the Child of Chance, 'the messanger who dares to stand against the Prophecy, and challenges the will of the Gods'.

Of this this all, it's merely story compiled from speculation and the lore I've looked up, but the tale is legendary, epic, and powerfully human. Who could say that such a thing could not be true, mythically speaking? In the end, it IS a story... but what a story it is. Does this story have an end?

THAT... I'm still waiting to see.

To the point, though. For many, many years, I've known about the Yugan Garandou, and this tale. It sorrows me to think that the last of them are gone, and I hope to see them again.

In the end, there are now kitsune born attached to no elements at all, but still don't have the touch of divinity. No matter how powerful in illusions they become, they won't feel the draw of elements. They can only speculate at what it means to have an attachment to any element at all.

This, to me, is one of the very signs of the prophecy itself coming to pass, that 'the story is becoming unwritten'. To be honest...

Even as powerful of a kitsune as I am, I'm honestly scared.

And to that, I believe I've honestly provided reason.

*then strokes his muzzle once more, looking back to the stars, musing both hopefully and darkly.*