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This is the story of Atsumu. You might know it by a different name or in a different place, but this is the truth. It all starts with Inari.
Deep in the forest is a shrine surrounded by wisteria trees, centuries old. Beneath those trees lays a flower said to belong to the Goddess Inari herself. It’s said that the golden flower holds the same powers as those blessed by the Goddess. Anyone who possesses the flower can remain eternally youthful, healthy, and celestial powers beyond your dreams.
Centuries pass and the Inarizaki Empire rises in the surrounding lands. Nearby, the capital prospered under the rule of Emperor Yoshirou. Both he and the empress were beloved by the people, and they were celebrating her impending due date. However, the empress fell ill. Knowing of the tales of the Inari flower, search parties were sent to look for it.
They were successful in their endeavor, and the empress gave birth to twin boys. The first had black hair and hazel eyes, matching that of his parents. However, the second twin came into the world and gave a shock to the witnesses. A full head of golden blonde hair with eyes to match wasn’t the most shocking part; it was the fox tail and ears that twitched and wiggled. Then in a burst of light, a tiny golden ball manifested next to the child.
Osamu and Atsumu, they were named. It was clear that they had been blessed by the Goddess Inari, Atsumu wearing her gift for all to see. However, they chose to not share Atsumu’s gift with the public just yet. Both children were precious and to be kept safe. But it wasn’t long before tragedy struck.
Someone broke into the palace and stole one of the twins away. Atsumu was gone, and no matter how far they searched, he was never found. Fear held the emperor and empress in its grasp, and they hid Osamu away, declaring that he would remain away from the public eye until he became of age.
Though every year on the fifth of October, the entire capital released paper lanterns to honor the twins’ birthday, hoping that the lights would one day lead their lost prince home.
The sun peeks through the window, first morning rays bathing the floor in soft yellows. Inside, a young man is already awake and preparing to start the day. It’s the same as always: morning chores before breakfast. Even though the space is small, Atsumu cleans meticulously. Everything has to be perfect. Tomorrow is his birthday, and he’s going to ask Mother if he can go see the floating lights. They always appear on his birthday, and it’s like they call out to him. Where do they lead? What’s it like where they are? Someone might think they’re stars, but Atsumu has mapped the stars, and these are different. They only appear on the fifth of October.
He’ll be twenty years old tomorrow, finally of age. Surely, Mother will let him go see just for a little bit. He’ll come right back afterward! His ears twitch, excitement barely contained. However, until she arrives, Atsumu keeps himself busy.
He brushes his fluffy tail, making sure the fur is shiny and clean. Then he moves on to painting. There’s not much room anymore, and he has resorted to covering up some of his older paintings. Through the years, improvement is evident. The figures and landscapes now closely resemble the pictures in his books. However, the very center of his back wall is reserved for one thing, and one thing only.
Every year, he repaints the floating lights. They gleam in the distant sky in oranges and yellows like some kind of guiding path. His paintbrush swishes over the wood, depicting a new scene each time. Atsumu’s imagination conjures up where the lights come from and what they mean. One time, it was a dragon, breathing out the lights instead of a fiery flame. Another time, they simply manifested out of the ground. However, this latest rendition is that of a man.
Atsumu doesn’t have many images of what other people look like. The only other person he’s ever actually seen in real life is Mother. The rest are just pages in a book, and those are few and far between. Atsumu meant to make this man a self-portrait, but it slowly morphed into someone else with an uncanny likeness. Instead of golden-blonde hair, his is black, and his eyes are a cool hazel. The biggest difference, perhaps, is the absence of a fox tail and ears. Between his two hands, he holds one of the glowing lights, looking like he’s about to release it into the sky.
Atsumu likes this version best. He clutches the small, golden ball he wears as a pendant around his neck.
“Do ya think Kaasan will let me go, Kei?” Atsumu asks his only companion. The frog croaks in response, lounging in his watery abode. His eyes peek above the surface, and Atsumu has always thought that the black markings on his face make it look like he’s wearing little frames.
Kei has been with Atsumu for the past five years. He expressed being lonely, and Mother took pity on him, gifting him the creature to keep him company when she isn’t around. He has quite the personality, being rather moody when they first met. He’s mellowed out now though. Atsumu swears that Kei is smarter than other animals, but he doesn’t have any other ones to compare to. But Kei wrote his name in kanji with his little frog fingers. He’s pretty sure animals aren’t supposed to do that.
“Atsumu!”
Ah, she’s here! Atsumu rushes to clean up any stray paints. His tail wiggles as he shifts back and forth, waiting. He’s already holding the brush for his tail, so when she appears, he thrusts it into her hands with a toothy grin.
“Kaasan, how lovely to see ya! Ya look great, fantastic! Have ya done somethin’ different with yer hair?”
She laughs and reaches up to pat his cheek. “Calm down, dear, you know I can’t understand you when you talk so fast.”
Directing him to sit in front of her usual cushion, Atsumu wastes no time kneeling down and fluffing out his tail. He takes a breath and tries to talk slower.
“Well, tomorrow is a very special day.” She hums in response, so Atsumu continues. “It’s my birthday—”
“Is it, really? I had no idea,” she teases.
“—and I’ll be turnin’ 20, so I was wonderin’... I wanna go see the floatin’ lights.”
Mother momentarily freezes, brush paused mind stroke. “No.”
Atsumu shoots up, turning around with indignance clear in his voice. “But Kaasan, they only appear on my birthday, and I can’t help but feel like they’re for me. I’ve even been workin’ on my magic! Look!” With his illusion magic, he makes his tail and ears seemingly disappear.
“I said no, Atsumu!”
Popping back into existence, his ears press flat against his head. He doesn’t understand. It’s not like anyone would know who he is, and he wouldn’t tell them about his powers. So what if he’s a little naive about the real world? Whose fault is that?
Mother sighs and tucks a strand of her long, black hair behind an ear. “Now I feel like the bad guy. I’m only doing this to protect you, Atsumu.”
Yeah, yeah. He knows the spiel. How there are bad people in the world who would want to use his powers for their own selfish desires. Those blessed by the Goddess Inari are special and must be protected. But does he really need to be kept locked up here his entire life?
“I know.”
“Don’t look so glum, dear! You have everything you could ever want here. How about I go out and bring you back some new paints, hm?” She scratches behind his ear, and Atsumu’s shoulders sag. “The world is dangerous, Atsumu. But you’re safe here. With me.”
Atsumu nods and bids her farewell. He looks back to his mural of the man with the lights. It’s probably best he listens to her. Mother knows best, after all.
Rin knew it would be risky, but that’s what he lives for. Stealing the Imperial treasure? Easy. Could have done it with his eyes closed. He didn’t even break a sweat—stealing it that is. Now, though… well, he might be sweating a little as he runs away from the palace guards chasing him. Rin doesn’t particularly like to run. He’s a thief who relies on stealth, but those idiots who were “helping” him apparently don’t know the meaning of the word.
He can hear them in the distance, hooves beating on the ground. They’ll catch up to him any minute now, and that horse has it out for him. Today wasn’t his first run-in with the black stallion, and oh boy, did it recognize him. So he may have ended up hiding in the stables at one point and scared the poor fellow. It was an accident though, really. The horse never forgot. Rin knows it’s the same one too because of the two white spots above its right eye.
As he’s running, he notices a strange rock formation with several vines hanging down. Figuring it might be a good place to hide, he pushes them aside and presses himself against the rock. Not even a minute later, several guards come rushing past him and his hiding spot.
Like he said, easy.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he turns around to look at the little cave that he found. His eyes widen at the scene before him; it’s not a cave at all. It opens up into a small enclosed valley. It’s cove-like in a way, yet something about it seems entirely unnatural. The grass is too green, and where is that little waterfall coming from? However, what mainly catches his attention is the pagoda nestled in the back. All five tiers stand tall beside a sakura tree fully in bloom. Those definitely aren’t in season.
His curiosity often gets him into trouble, but this is something he just can’t pass up. Plus, if he can hang out here for a while to avoid those guards, then it’s a win-win. It’s the same thing that always draws him in though: adventure. What new things can he discover? And how much can he sell it for? What kind of stories will they tell about him? Will they say how courageous he was for taking on such perilous journeys?
As for the pagoda, it’s a mystery itself. Rin slinks around the bottom tier, not finding an entrance. The smooth wood has no give or holes to weasel inside. In fact, the only window he saw was on the highest tier. He stands back to take another look. How strange. There has to be something worth keeping inside though, right? Why else would a tower be hidden away like this other than to keep valuables away from people like Rin?
Without another thought, he slings his kinchaku bag over his shoulder and starts to climb. The first tier has a railing around the floor, so he climbs up on it before jumping for the roof edge and hoisting himself up. Now, Rin is pretty experienced when it comes to climbing buildings; it’s a thief thing (and maybe he wanted to be a ninja when he was a kid, but who’s asking). However, this pagoda is a lot taller than it looked initially. Even though each tier is easier than the last to traverse, he’s breathing heavily by the time he reaches the top.
He’s tired, and it’s not like he actually expects anyone to be there, which is why when he hops through the window he’s taken by surprise. Something metallic collides with the back of his head, and the world goes dark.
Rin wakes with a throbbing head and a surprisingly aching body. He’s not quite sure what happened. One moment he’s climbing the pagoda, and the next, he’s waking up in pain. He attempts to move his arm and finds that he can’t, bound to a chair. This… isn’t going as planned. Groaning, he opens his eyes to take stock of his surroundings and who has captured him.
Gold is the first thing he sees. Irises like that of molten gold stare at him with curiosity guarded by fear. Pretty. No one can fault him for thinking so. Rin isn’t shy about his love for the precious metal, and the notion doesn’t leave his mind as his eyes roam over the rest of the person. Light-blonde hair sits atop a youthful face with just the slightest roundness around the jawline. A lavender kimono with fuchsia flowers drapes over strong shoulders. His captor is a pretty boy with a mean right hook, Rin concludes. Wait, is that a wok?
“I know why yer here, and ya’ve made a terrible mistake if ya thought this would be easy. Who are ya, and how didja find me?”
Rin blinks. “Uh…”
“Who are ya, and how didja find me?” he repeats.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Maybe he can charm his way out of this. It’s worked a few times before. Putting on his most charming smile, he says, “Hey.”
Blondie’s brows furrow, so Rin continues, “How you doing? The name’s Rin.”
The man’s face twists, and did he just exchange glances with a frog? Then he points that damn wok at him, and Rin’s head throbs all over again. “Who else knows where I am?”
The accent is cute, but he really doesn’t want to be smacked in the head again. He seems pretty harmless overall, despite getting a lucky shot, so Rin isn’t too worried about being turned in.
“Alright, Blondie—”
“Atsumu.”
“Whatever. It was just by chance, really. Saw the pagoda and— Shit!” He looks around as much as the ropes allow. “Where is my bag?”
“I’ve hidden it,” he says beginning to circle him like a damn shark. And he’s still wielding the wok. “Now, what do ya want with me? Are ya tryin’ to capture me and lock me in a cage?”
What the actual— “No? What the hell? Why would I want to do that? Look, I was being chased, saw the pagoda, and climbed it.” He shrugs as best he can.
Atsumu narrows his eyes before turning around and starts… talking to himself. Rin cranes his neck to try and listen, but it’s just inaudible mumbles.
“Alright, Rin, I’ll offer ya a deal.” Oh, joy. He watches Atsumu cross the room and stand in front of a large mural. “Do ya know what these are?”
“The lantern thing they do for the princes?” The depiction is quite impressive, honestly. He’s not sure who the man in the painting is supposed to be though. Himself? He looks Atsumu up and down. It’s all just strange.
“Then ya know that tomorrow night these lanterns are gonna fly in the sky. Yer gonna act as my guide to take me to see these lanterns, and then return me home safely. Then I’ll give ya yer bag back. That’s the deal.”
Rin listens, a bored expression playing on his face. Is he serious right now? That sounds like so much extra work, and he already literally had the treasure in his hands. Now, this guy wants to mess it all up? “No way.”
Atsumu scowls and stalks over to him, getting close to his face. “Now, listen here, Rin. Somethin’ brought ya here, and so I’m gonna trust ya.”
“Which is a terrible decision.”
“But if ya don’t agree, I can promise that you’ll never find yer precious bag.”
Rin just stares at him, unblinking. He almost finds Atsumu’s pinched expression cute. “So just to be clear, if I take you to see the lanterns and bring you back here, you’ll give me back my bag.”
“Yes,” Atsumu says.
Rin tilts his head back and sighs. It seems there’s no other way. “Fine.”
Atsumu backs up and beams at him. His smile is far too bright. “Yes!”
He has to say, climbing down is much easier than going up. Landing on the ground, he looks up at Atsumu who is still on the roof of the first tier. He’s looking down at the grass with wide eyes like it’s going to bite him.
“What, you never touched grass before?”
If looks could kill, Rin would be dead where he stands. Then he realizes that, oh, he probably hasn’t. Has he really been up there for almost twenty years?
Atsumu finally lands in front of him on his bare feet and freezes. He lifts one foot up slowly, pulling up his kimono to hike his knee before planting it again. It’s like he’s trying to touch as little of it as possible. Rin watches with amusement with each careful step Atsumu takes.
“Stop lookin’ at me like that!”
“Like what?” Rin’s smirk grows.
“I dunno! Just— that! Whatever yer doin’!” Atsumu points an accusing finger, that frog perched on his shoulder. Rin raises an eyebrow and simply stares at him, unable to take him seriously. He looks ridiculous.
“Well, we’d better get a move on if we want to make it to Inarizaki by tomorrow night.”
Rin heads toward the entrance, assuming Atsumu will follow him. It’s not like he knows how to get there alone. This is an easy job, but he wouldn’t have to do it if he never went up into that damn pagoda. He’d still have the Imperial treasure in his hands. How annoying.
They aren’t on the road for long before he learns that Atsumu talks—a lot—about everything and nothing. He seems to have a running commentary. And for someone who has never left a small-ass tower for their entire life, he knows a surprising amount. How many books did he have up there?
Rin wants to call it annoying. He wants to say that it’s grating his nerves like a mosquito that just won’t go away. But it’s not. Atsumu is just so damn excited about it all that he can’t bring himself to be put off by it. Rin can imagine a tail wagging behind him like a puppy.
Listening isn’t anything new though. Rin is good at listening; it comes with the craft. It’s how he finds people in need of someone who sneaks around in the night. It’s how he learns the ins and outs of the world and where he can find the best loot. Because people talk, and they love to gossip. Rumors travel fast, so Rin has to be faster.
Atsumu is currently explaining how he sewed his own kimono after Rin made the mistake of asking him if he knew anything about men’s fashion. His eyes follow the flowing sleeves as Atsumu waves his arms around. Really, though, he should have known better than to ask a man without shoes about his clothing choices.
Just around the bend, they come upon an izakaya Rin is familiar with: The Foxhole. Outside is a notice board that Atsumu approaches to inspect.
“Is this s’pposed to be you?” he asks, pointing at a Wanted poster. Rin sighs, ripping the poster off the board. They can never get his eyes right.
He holds the poster next to his face and asks with a deadpan expression, “Does this look like me?”
Atsumu cocks his head, bringing a hand to his chin in a thinking pose. “Well, kinda, but yer eyes don’t bulge out like that. And it does say ‘Rin’ at the top.”
Rin thinks they always mess it up on purpose just to spite him.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“I wanna go inside!” Atsumu throws over his shoulder.
That wasn’t part of the deal. Rin sighs, dragging his feet as he follows behind him. However, upon entering, he wants to back right out. This place is crawling with samurai, specifically, a group of ronin called the Black Jackals.
His eyes scan for Atsumu, who has somehow managed to disappear. He wants to get out of here as soon as possible. For a moment, he thinks about just leaving to save his own skin, but then he inadvertently makes eye contact with one of the ronin. His owlish eyes flash dangerously, and Rin’s back meets the wall before he knows what hit him.
Today just really isn’t his day.
“You’re that thief on the posters!” the one with dark blonde hair says, threatening to pull out his katana.
“He’s got quite the bounty,” Owl eyes says. “Let’s turn him in! Joffe, go find some guards!” He grabs onto Rin’s arm. Man, this guy has a tight grip.
“Wait, wait! What’re ya doin’?! I need him!”
All eyes turn to Atsumu, who has stood up from his seat next to a large man with dark hair. Said large man stands as an imposing figure and lays a hand on Atsumu’s shoulder. Shit, that’s Meian Shuugo, leader of the Black Jackals.
“Ya know this guy, Atsumu?” He gestures with his drink. And what the hell? How does Atsumu know him?
“Yeah, he’s my guide! He’s takin’ me to see the lanterns for my birthday tomorrow. Please, remember yer code! Don’tcha still have that?”
“I did before my lord died,” one with orange hair says. “But now what am I?!”
Rin loses track of who’s speaking as the entire izakaya devolves into the men talking about their glory days or whatever. All he can tell is that Atsumu is listening to each passionate story. This can’t actually be happening. However, the buzzing in his ears and the smell of alcohol tell him otherwise.
“And what about ya?” Rin looks up at Meian, who now stands right in front of him. “Will you honor your word to Atsumu, here?”
“Yeah. Yeah, of course.” He’d say anything to get out of here.
Suddenly, the door flies open with a bang, Joffe announcing that he brought the guards, and they begin to pour inside. The Jackal with the orange hair pulls him and Atsumu by the arms and directs them to a secret passage underneath the izakaya. Without a moment to lose, the two of them make their escape.
The tunnel is big enough to stand, and Rin grabs a lit torch from the wall. Convenient. He glances at Atsumu as he pads along beside him. How is it that he seems to not have a single care while also bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders?
“So… how do you know Meian Shuugo?”
“What do ya mean? I just met him,” Atsumu says with that damn head cock.
“You’re telling me that’s the first time you’ve ever talked to him? He treated you like an old friend.” Again, this is ridiculous. This entire day is like a fever-writtled dream. Maybe he’ll wake up in his shitty bed come morning.
“What, ya don’t believe me? I just sat down next to him, and we started talkin’. It’s not any less believable than ya findin’ my tower by accident.”
He has a point. They walk in silence for a moment, only the croak of the frog making a sound before Atsumu speaks again. “So are ya ever gonna tell me anythin’ about yerself?”
“What’s there to tell?” He’s a thief with no real prospects in life. Say he does get that treasure back, then what? He sells it and buys some land to spend the rest of his lonely life? And he doesn’t even want to think about his childhood.
“Well, there’s— Wait, do ya hear that?” There’s what sounds like several footfalls echoing in the tunnel. Rin looks behind them, and his eyes widen when he catches the glint of metal in the firelight. Shit, the guards are after them.
“Come on!” He grabs Atsumu’s arm, rushing through the tunnel.
It lets out at the top of a water reservoir where a rope ladder lets down into a large ravine. Frankly, nothing about this seems safe at all, but as the guards reach the exit, they don’t have much of a choice. Atsumu starts down the ladder with Rin following right after him.
Maybe there’s something to be said about near-death experiences. They do something to your brain and alter your state of mind. It’s not necessarily fear that he feels when he sees one of the guards slice through the rope. It’s more like his entire soul jumps out of his body to watch it all unfold, taking sound and sight with it. There’s just a falling sensation, and he’s sure he’s going to die. However, instead of the hard ground, he is caught rather gently by something firm and strong. His sight returns enough to make out Atsumu’s face. Then he’s tossed over his shoulder and they’re running.
If he was in any right sort of mind, and this was any other situation, this would be humiliating.
What they’re running from soon becomes apparent in a huge wave of water rushing through the ravine. Did the dam break?! How?!
They make it into a small cave before a huge boulder blocks them in. Atsumu sets him down, and he can feel water rising around his feet rather rapidly. It’s dim, and he can barely make out Atsumu where he’s plastered himself against the wall and covering his face.
“What the hell just happened?” He has lots of questions, but that pretty much sums it up.
“I— I tried to save us, but I just made it worse. This is all my fault!”
“What are you talking about? It’s not like you broke the dam.”
“But I did!”
What? The water is up to their hips now. He’s going to die in this cave with a crazy person. Fantastic.
“I think the shock is getting to you.”
“No, really! I struck a boulder at the top of the ravine with my fox-fire, thinkin’ it would stop the guards, but it caused a rockslide and they crashed into the side of the dam, and then—“
“Wait, hold on there. Fox-fire?”
“I have kitsune powers.” Huh? Atsumu grabs his shoulders, and he suddenly has fox ears on his head. “I have kitsune powers!”
Okay, Rin definitely hit his head during that fall.
A golden, flame-like light emits from Atsumu’s body, and Rin stares, mouth agape. Oh, there’s a fox tail too. The cave lights up, even under the water now at their shoulders. Regaining himself, he dives under with Atsumu to look for a way out.
The frog swims down further, having noticed the slightest movement of gravel, and alerts Atsumu. Rin starts to pull the smaller rocks away, trying not to question the level of logic exhibited by a frog. The rush of water soon creates a larger hole, pushing them through.
Tumbling through the dark water, he can’t see anything without Atsumu’s fox-fire. His limbs scrape and bang against sharp rocks, and he can only keep holding his breath. It finally spits them out into a river, and fresh air has never felt so good.
Atsumu breaches the surface next to him, and they swim to the riverbank. Rin drags himself up and flops onto his back. Today is really not his day.
He turns his head to look as Atsumu coughs out some water, and sure enough, he’s still sporting fox appendages. The color is similar to his hair, though it’s a different shade of blonde. Maybe honey. So is Atsumu even human? Are kitsune real?
“You okay?”
Golden eyes lock onto him, and he laughs. It sounds like the soft summer breeze in Rin’s ears. “Yeah. I can’t believe we’re actually alive! Good job, Kei.” The frog croaks, hopping up the bank. Atsumu’s eyes dart back to Rin and his eyes widen. “Yer bleedin’!”
Red oozes from the gash on his arm. Oh, and there’s the pain.
“C’mon, let me heal ya,” Atsumu says, standing and offering him a hand.
Rin goes without complaint, still a bit mystified. He can’t stop looking at the ears. And tail. He’s directed to sit on a fallen log, not questioning what Atsumu means by heal. He carefully takes Rin’s arm in his warm hands.
“Alright, ya’ve been pretty cool about this whole thing, so just… keep bein’ cool about it,” he says before fixing his gaze intently on the wound. Then he starts what sounds like a prayer.
“Inari-Ōkamisama, with awe and reverence, I humbly speak these words:
Morning and night, I will diligently work at my tasks.
I will not lessen my focus, nor will I neglect anything undone.
I pray that the kami bestow on me support to meet this challenge.”
As he speaks, that golden fox-fire surrounds him once again. Atsumu’s kimono has become loose, falling away to reveal a pendant around his neck. It glows just as brightly as the magic. He can see it in the air, swirling around them like if the wind had color. It doesn’t burn like a real fire, and his arm tingles, warming as the gold light creeps up to the gash. The frog sits on the ground, looking smug. Can frogs look smug?
“Bestow on him healing of what has been hurt,
Save what has been lost,
With awe and reverence, I humbly speak these words.”
As his last word floats in the air between them, the light begins to dissipate. It all happened so fast—just a fleeting moment in time. No matter how small it was, it has to be the most amazing thing he’s ever seen. Nothing in his travels comes even close. Rin looks at his arm, and it’s like nothing ever happened. No scar, no redness, nothing.
“So, uh, the kitsune thing… How long has that been going on?” He’s trying to stay cool, but his mind is still trying to process what exactly he just saw. “Are you like… a celestial being?”
“I was born like this, but I’m not an actual kitsune, so I can’t turn into a fox or anythin’. I’m human. And I’ve been concealin’ my ears and tail with illusion magic. I’m blessed by Ōkami Inari, and this,” he holds the golden pendent between to fingers, “is where my powers manifest from. I think I’m a conduit for it, so it don’t work without me. It’s kinda like a kitsune’s star ball from legend but not quite.”
“And that’s why you’ve never left the tower.” Atsumu nods, though Rin says it more to just verify it to himself. “Why couldn’t you just separate yourself from it so no one can use you?”
Atsumu smiles sadly. “It always comes back.”
Rintarou can only guess what that means. It’s a magical item gifted by a goddess. Who is he to question it? Though he did question why a man was kept locked in a pagoda. He gets it, sort of, but why hide the world from him? Rin has seen that he’s more than capable of traversing it while hiding his fox features. Something about it all doesn’t sit well with him, and his chest aches at the thought of never being able to run into Atsumu at the Foxhole if he hasn’t climbed up that pagoda. Rin wouldn’t have ever met him. Atsumu wouldn’t—
“Suna Rintarou,” he says, breaking the silence that lay between them.
“Huh?”
“My name. It’s Suna Rintarou.”
“Suna Rintarou,” Atsumu says with a contemplative look on his face. The way he says his full name like that has a shiver running down Rin’s back. “Why go by just Rin?”
“It’s stupid.” Atsumu scoots closer and rests his elbows on his legs, chin in hands, looking attentive. Rin sighs in defeat, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Alright, I’ll spare you the details, but I was an orphan, and we would always listen to the folktales anyone would spare for us. There was this one about the hero Momotarou. He was also an orphan, but he was taken in by a childless couple. He grew up to be kind-hearted, brave, and powerful. He goes on to defeat the oni bandits and brought the treasure back to his parents and they lived happily ever after, you know?”
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Well, no nice couple ever came for little Rintarou, and he grew to be independent. The kanji that make up ‘tarou’ mean great son. I was neither great nor a son, so I dropped it along with my family name. I don’t know. I guess it made me feel more in control and better about myself.”
Rin looks back at Atsumu to watch his expression. His lips turn down slightly, and his eyes are sharp with intent.
“Yer right, it is stupid.” Rin lets out a sharp laugh. “Wait, wait that came out wrong! What I mean is: if I’m not mistaken, the second kanji in ‘tarou’ can also mean man. And despite yer… thievery… I think ya can be a ‘great man,’ Rintarou.”
The way Atsumu looks at him right now makes his stomach churn, and he needs a moment.
“Thanks… Hey, I’m going to go get some firewood to last us the night.” Without looking back, he makes his way into the trees.
No one has ever given much thought about Suna Rintarou, much less thought of him as having great potential. He’s had to struggle for everything he has, and that’s nothing to boast about. Stealing is easy; he can take whatever he wants without having to work for it. It’s not what he would call fulfilling though. Sure, he gets a rush after a successful job, but once it wears off, he’s right back to where he started. It’s fleeting—nothing permanent.
Rin’s goal has always been to be rich so he could buy whatever he wants, but deep down, he knows that goal isn’t realistic. He’s never tried to aim for a realistic goal for a steady future. Maybe he’s just been looking in the wrong places.
After gathering an armful of firewood, he returns to their little makeshift campsite. Atsumu is standing, facing away from him toward the other trees. Something about it strikes him as odd, and there’s a strange feeling in the air.
“Hey, everything alright?” he calls out to him. Atsumu whips around with a nervous smile on his face.
“Yep! Everythin’s fine!”
Rintarou sends him a disbelieving look, but he doesn’t push it. Today has been a long day for both of them, and they unloaded some emotional baggage on top of it all. Maybe they both just need to sleep it off.
The next day, they reach Inarizaki before the sun has reached its peak. It’s bustling with people already, preparing for festivities. Rintarou’s eyes keep flitting back to Atsumu. His face has been lit up since they entered. He’s never seen someone so full of life and pure joy. And even though his fox tail and ears are concealed right now, Rintarou can still imagine how they would wiggle and wag.
He lets Atsumu pull him wherever he wants to go, an uncharacteristic smile threatening to stay plastered on his face. They’ve still got a lot of time before the lanterns are released, so he finds no reason not to. Let Atsumu have this day. Because tomorrow… tomorrow Rintarou has to take him back. It’s as he watches Atsumu start to dance in the town square that he realizes that he doesn’t want Atsumu to go back. There has to be a way to convince him not to.
People gather to watch Atsumu dance to the music, and then he starts pulling others to join them. Soon enough, people trickle in without any pulling, though perhaps, they’re caught in the pull of Atsumu’s orbit. He’s a blur of golds and pinks as he twirls among the crowd. Rintarou is happy to watch from the sidelines, but someone pushes him forward into the fray. His head swivels, searching for Atsumu. When he finds him, golden eyes are already looking his way.
Rintarou doesn’t typically mingle in large crowds. He usually has more of a get in and get out mindset. He doesn’t linger. Yet something about watching these people come to life under Atsumu’s influence makes him want to. This kind of rush stays with him for longer than just a moment. Even when he and Atsumu come together just as the music ends, he doesn’t let go of it.
Throughout the day, Rintarou hears whispers in the streets. Apparently, Prince Osamu will present himself to the public for the first time by being the one to release the first lantern. He’d take Atsumu to see if he didn’t have other plans.
“A boat?” Atsumu asks as he’s led down the dock.
“I figured that you’d want the best view.”
Atsumu scrambles into the boat, rocking it side-to-side as he does. Rintarou follows much more slowly, smirking at Atsumu’s impatient jitters. He rows them out further on the water. The sky is dark now, and it won’t be long before the lanterns are released. Atsumu picks at his kimono and bites his lip.
“Ya know, I’ve been dreamin’ about this my entire life. What if it’s not everythin’ I hoped it would be?”
“And what if it is?”
“Well, I…” Atsumu stares down at his hands before meeting his eyes again. “I dunno…”
“I guess you’ll just have to find something new to dream about then.”
They look toward the palace just in time to see the very first lantern breach the horizon. Atsumu pushes himself up, racing to the front of the boat, and grabs ahold of the bow. The boat rocks violently, throwing Rintarou completely off-balance, but Atsumu doesn’t even notice. Stabilizing himself, he sees that Atsumu’s fox tail and ears have popped out in the excitement. A small huff escapes him at the sight.
Following the first lantern, hundreds more rise into the sky. They chase after one another, each blaze of light full of their own hopes and dreams. Rintarou has seen the lanterns before—multiple times—but never like this. Here, he has a view like no other. Atsumu rests his hands over the bow, leaning against it as he gazes into the sky. And Rintarou knows that this moment is everything he dreamed of and more.
Reluctantly, he tears his eyes away to pull out the two lanterns he bought and stashed here earlier. Atsumu’s fox ears swivel, hearing the noise, and he turns around to look. Rintarou has a lantern in each hand, and Atsumu’s smile grows wider.
“So I have somethin’ for ya,” Atsumu says, twisting to produce Rintaou’s bag. “I shoulda given it to ya earlier, but I was scared. But ya see, I’m not scared anymore. Ya know what I mean?”
Gently pushing the bag down he says, “I’m starting to.”
Handing one of the lanterns over, Rintarou’s eyes don’t stray from Atsumu’s face as they both release them into the sky. Firelight dances in Atsumu’s golden eyes, twin flames tangled together.
The lanterns overtake the sky, igniting the night in a way stars never can. Their golden hues flow like the reflected water below them. They continue to rise, like Rintarou’s heart, in a golden heat. It’s a warmth felt from Atsumu’s soul, as he is a flame that brings light and warmth to the heart and soul. He’s a beacon in the night—one that Rintarou yearns to reach out to. He finally knows where to look and where to go.
He takes Atsumu’s hand in his own. It’s quickly reciprocated, hands slotting together like two halves of the same whole. He doesn’t need the Imperial treasure. If this is how he can feel with Atsumu by his side, then this is all the treasure he needs.
Leaning closer, he brushes golden hair away from Atsumu’s face. Eyes flick down to pink lips, and Rintarou cups his cheek. Just as he’s about to close the gap, he sees something over Atsumu’s shoulder on the land. Is that…?
“Rintarou?”
He glances to Atsumu’s questioning face, and Rintarou knows if he kisses him now, he won’t want to do anything else. Unfortunately, this is something he needs to take care of now. His thumb caresses Atsumu’s cheek, and god, he wants to stay in this boat.
“I have to do something first. Do you trust me?” Atsumu nods.
Rowing over to shore has a daunting feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. He doesn’t want those guys anywhere near Atsumu. Rintarou pulls the boat up the shore and takes his bag. However, before he leaves, he cups Atsumu’s cheek again.
“I’ll be right back.”
Not too far off, he finds the two hulking men. Neither look all too happy to see him, and Rintarou curses his past self for his inherent greed.
“Hey, guys. Look, I’m sorry about yesterday. That was real shitty of me. But I’ve learned from my mistakes, so I’ll let you guys have the treasure and we’ll call it even, yeah?” He tosses the bag in front of them, but no one moves to pick it up.
“You’re holding out on us, Rin. We hear you’ve found something better than treasure.”
Rintarou’s stomach lurches and a cold sweat trickles down his neck. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“We want the kitsune.”
No chance in hell. Rintarou whips around to hightail it back to the boat. He can’t take these guys. It seems they were expecting that and are on him before he can take two steps. He has to get away. He has to get back to Atsumu. He can’t let them—
“I know he said he’d be right back, but I’m kinda gettin’ worried,” Atsumu tells Kei, who croaks in response. “Maybe I should go look for him.”
He knows that Rintarou is kind of a sketchy guy, but he trusts him. He wouldn’t leave Atsumu out here by himself, right? He has no idea where he’s at, let alone how to get back home from here. Finally, he sees a figure approaching.
“Finally! Ya were takin’ forever.” However, when another appears, fear catches him in its cold hands. “Wait, who are ya? Where’s Rintarou?”
“He left. Traded the kitsune for the Imperial treasure.” Atsumu reaches up with a gasp, realizing he didn’t conceal his ears and tail.
“No! Yer lyin’!”
“Look for yourself.” The man gestures out toward the water, and there in the distance is a boat heading inland. No. He wouldn’t! That can’t be—
“Rintarou…”
Atsumu wants to scream. He wants to set that boat ablaze. He wants Rintarou to come back. However, as the two men approach, Atsumu’s fight or flight response chooses flight. He grabs Kei and makes a break for it. It’s dark, and he has no idea where to go. Maybe he should just fight. He could probably win.
His thinking is halted as he’s wretched back by his kimono caught on a limb. He tugs frantically, knowing he can’t run or fight like this. Then he hears a thud and a call of his name. It sounds like—
“Kaasan?!” Mother stands, holding a large branch, while the two men lay at her feet. Did she—? But how? Right now, he doesn’t care; he just wants to go home.
“I’m sorry!” he says, running into his mother’s arms. Tears already begin to flow, and his heart aches.
“It’s okay, dear. Let’s get you home.”
Atsumu sits on his bed, staring blankly at the ground. Why did he ever think this was a good idea? He’s a fool—too naive for the world, just like Mother said. Had Rintarou really been tricking him the whole time? But they were about to kiss…
Kei croaks sadly beside him. “Yeah, me too.”
His painting of the lanterns stares back at him, and it all feels like a distance memory. Had it just been last night that it all happened? He’s never had so much fun before. He’s never wanted so much. It all seemed so impossible before. There’s something about the man in the painting though.
Crossing the room, Atsumu brushes his fingers over his face. It’s like they could be twins.
A sudden pain in Atsumu’s head causes him to stumble backward into his dresser. His mind flashes with images that he somehow knows. A man and woman look down at him and to his side is another baby. They look just like the mosaic of the emperor and empress. They were holding two baby boys, one with black hair and the other blonde. He glances back at his own painting. Is that? Could it mean…
“Atsumu?” Mother calls. “What’s going on up there?”
Looking at himself in the mirror, Atsumu huffs before marching out of his room. Mother is halfway up the stairs when he appears at the top.
“Am I the lost prince?”
She pauses, a look of fear crossing her face before she laughs. “Atsumu, please. I know you had an eventful day yesterday, but there are limits to your imagination.”
Atsumu narrows his eyes. That wasn’t an answer. And somewhere inside, he knows that he is. He just wants to hear her say it.
“I’m the lost prince, aren’t I Mother. Actually, I ain’t even gonna call ya that.” His words spit venom, years of being kept away from his real family quickly making him resentful. “Ya kidnapped me, and locked me away for 20 years!”
“I have protected you from people like that Rin boy!”
Atsumu gasps, understanding dawning on him. “What did ya do to him?”
“That criminal will be hung for his crimes today.”
“No…” He falls to his knees, hands shaking. Rintarou was innocent. He really did care about Atsumu, and now—
Cold metal snaps around his wrists. He jerks back, only to find that he can’t.
“Now, thanks to your little stunt, we have to relocate.”
Like hell they are! He attempts to manifest his fox-fire, but it barely simmers before it dies out. “What— Why won’t it work?!”
“Silly, boy. Did you really think you could have kitsune powers without also having their weaknesses? This is made out of pure iron.” She shakes the chain she holds.
Atsumu feels the strength in his body slowly being sapped out of him. The more he struggles, the more tired he gets, but he doesn’t stop. In his attempt to escape, he knocks over a mirror and it shatters across the floor. She keeps pulling him though, trying to get him to go through a secret hole in the floor that probably leads outside.
Then the chain suddenly stops tugging on him, and Atsumu lays on the ground, exhausted. His eyes dart around. Where did she go? He freezes when he hears it: footsteps. Outside. On the roof.
“Atsumu!” The window bursts open and Rintarou swings through, and Atsumu tries to warn him.
“Rintarou!” But it’s too late. He holds his side where he’s just been stabbed with a dagger, collapsing when he’s pushed aside by the witch.
“Now, look what you’ve done, Atsumu,” she says, stepping over him like he means nothing. The rage burning through him gives him newfound strength to keep fighting as she takes hold of the chain again. “This time, no one will ever find you. Now, stop fighting me!”
“No!” He pulls the chain through her grip, falling forward. His feet scramble against the ground, scooting further away from her. “I’ll never stop! And I’ll never use my magic for ya ever again!” His clenched jaw bares his teeth, chest heaving from effort.
“But…” Atsumu swallows thickly, knowing the choice he’s about to make. “If you let me save him, I’ll go with you.”
“No. No, Atsumu.” Rintarou’s weak voice rings in his ears. He’s dying. Atsumu has to save him.
“I won’t ever try to leave. Everythin’ will be just like it was before, just like ya want. Please, just let me heal him.”
She agrees, but not before using Atsumu's previous shackles to chain him to a beam so he can’t try to follow them. As soon as he’s allowed, he slides to Rintarou’s side, cupping his face and brushing away hair from his forehead.
“Rintarou!” He groans, a wet cough rattling his body. Atsumu reaches to where his hand covers the wound and moves it away. It’s bad. God, it’s so bad. “I’m so sorry. Lemme just—”
“No.” Rintarou weakly tries to push him away. “I can’t let you do this.”
“And I can’t let ya die.”
“But if you do this,” his face contorts in pain, and Atsumu cups his cheek, “then you will die.”
Atsumu can’t deny that, but he would never be able to live with himself if he let Rintarou die. He’s read about love and all the crazy things people do for it. He never thought that it’d apply to him though.
“It’s gonna be alright.”
“Atsumu…” he whispers, reaching up for him.
Atsumu leans down, wanting to claim that kiss. But instead of soft lips pressing against his own, a harsh tug on his necklace has his eyes springing open. The chain breaks, star ball in his hand. In an act of desperation, Rintarou smashes it against the floor. It cracks.
“Rintarou!”
He does it again, and this time, it shatters.
“No! What have you done?!” The high-pitched shout captures Atsumu’s attention.
The woman Atsumu thought was his mother for his entire life begins aging rapidly, her black hair turning white and skin a sickly grey. Her screams echo in the room, and Atsumu can only watch, horrified. Her decrepit body begins to disintegrate as it should have long ago. Dust takes hold of her, molded from her flesh as she writhes about. Atsumu can still hear her, even as she drops to the floor as a pile of black dust.
Atsumu only stares for a moment longer before returning all his attention to Rintarou. He kneels and pulls Rintarou onto his lap. His body is limp and his face pale.
“Rintarou, look at me. Look at me! I’m right here! No, no, don’t go! Please, Rintarou!” Atsumu grabs onto his hand, still trying to conjure his powers, chanting his prayer.
“Atsumu,” Rintarou’s eyes crack open, “you made me a great man.”
Atsumu grits his teeth, trying to keep his tears at bay. “And ya were my new dream.”
He holds Rintarou as his eyes close and his body goes lax. Atsumu presses his forehead against Rintarou’s his ears flat against his head. The pain is indescribable—like his chest is being ripped open and letting the cold seep inside. Frozen and numb.
Death is quiet, unlike life. It’s devoid of sound and pain, leaving it behind for others to bear. Yet, no matter how much Atsumu holds, it won’t bring Rintarou back to him.
As tears trail down his face, he says his prayer one last time. Full-body sobs wrack his body through it, having to force the words out.
Atsumu leans back when a bright, golden light spontaneously manifests. The light ignites into golden fire, spreading over Rintarou’s body. At the epicenter, Atsumu finally sees it. He continues to be blessed by Inari.
“Ya always come back.” His little star ball is whole again, coming back to him when he needed it most.
When the magic dissipates, Atsumu checks for the wound, and it’s completely healed. Does that mean…? He watches Rintarou’s face, biting his lip and hope filling his heart. Slowly, his eyes blink open.
“Atsumu?” He nods, trying to keep from crying again. “I can’t believe that actually worked.”
Laughing, Atsumu tackles him in a hug. His heart soars, leaping higher and higher. Atsumu can’t contain himself any longer and pulls Rintarou into a kiss. He freezes momentarily before easing into it. His lips melt against Atsumu’s, love and joy unspoken between them. There’s a lot they still need to say, but that can come later.
Atsumu waits with Rintarou on the balcony of the Imperial Palace. He’s going to meet his family. His real family. Nerves and excitement swim in his stomach. The sound of the doors bursting open makes Atsumu turn around.
Standing with his arms out, a hand on each door, is a man breathing heavily like he just ran up a hill. Atsumu stares, recognizing him. His own face with black hair and hazel eyes stares back at him, and this time, it’s not a painting. They walk toward each other silently until they’re just an arms-length apart.
Atsumu doesn’t know who reaches out first, but they’re hugging. And crying.
The emperor and empress are seen running toward the open door, pausing to see their two sons together again at last. Only for a moment though before they’re joining the embrace of their long-lost son. Rintarou gets roped into it too. He’s part of the family now.
There’s a huge celebration to welcome him home, and Rintarou stays by his side, his crimes having been pardoned. The Black Jackals are there too. After helping Rintarou escape to come save him, the emperor had their noble titles restored. They now work directly with the Imperial guards. And Kei? Well, that’s an entirely different story.
As for Atsumu and Rintarou… On the twins’ birthday next year, they continue with the lantern tradition. This time, Atsumu is the one to release the first one alongside Osamu. It’s right after that moment that Rintarou gets down on one knee. And all through Inarizaki, the answer is heard—a resounding, “Yes!”