Shadow of The Fox (Shadow of the Fox #1) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,66

skipping around the ground.

“They want to know if you are the bearer of Kamigoroshi,” I said. “And, if you were the one who slew Kiba-sama today.”

Tatsumi blinked, then glanced at the now dozens of kodama, watching us from the trees.

“I had no choice.” His voice was calm, neither boastful nor repentant. “I would have avoided that fight if I could. But Kiba-sama would have killed us both.”

The kodama broke into chatter again, like thousands of leaves being rustled by the wind. Which was strange, as there was no wind. Finally, the noise died down, and a trio of kodama approached the fire. The kami in the center carried a single leaf like a flag, the stem held upright, the edges bobbing as it walked. Though their faces were tiny and indistinct, I felt this was a very solemn affair. The tree spirits marched up to Tatsumi and bowed, and then the kodama in the center stepped forward, raising the leaf over its head, toward the demonslayer.

“What is this?” he asked warily.

“A gift,” I said in amazement, listening as the kodama chatter went on. “It seems that, long ago, Kiba-sama lost himself to his hunger and greed,” I translated, as their voices flowed over me, a faint tickle in my ears. “And it corrupted him until he was no longer a bear, but something unnatural and tainted. Even while he slept, the miasma of dread he produced could be felt by all living things. The birds never sang in Kiba-sama’s wood, the animals were constantly afraid and in hiding, and the humans rarely ventured into the forest. Fear was suffocating the land, but now that you’ve put him to rest, it can flourish again.

“That leaf signifies that you are a friend of the forest,” I continued, as Tatsumi reached down, carefully took the leaf by the stem and held it up to his face. It glowed faintly in the darkness, pulsing with a soft green light. “If you are ever in need of the kamis’ help, whisper your request out loud and release it into the wind. It will carry your message to any nearby kodama, who will aid you in whatever way they can.”

His eyes darkened, and he shook his head. “I can’t accept this,” he murmured, lowering his arm. The kodama voices rustled overhead, echoing my own question.

“Why?”

“I kill demons. It’s what I do. I didn’t slay the bear out of mercy, or kindness, or anything but survival. If Kiba-sama hadn’t attacked us, I would have been content to leave him there.”

“Nonetheless,” I said after a moment of listening to the voices of the kodama. “They want you to have it. You did the forest a service today, and the kami always repay their debts.” When he still hesitated, I added, even though the kodama didn’t say it, “You really shouldn’t refuse a gift from the kami, Tatsumi-san. They might always repay a debt, but they never forget an insult.”

He nodded gravely; that at least made sense to him. “Arigatou gozimasu,” he told the nearest kodama, lowering his head in a bow. “I’m not worthy of such a gift, but I will accept it.”

The tiny kami returned the bow, straightened and then floated away, like a leaf picked up and carried by the wind. The rest of the kodama vanished, fading into trees, until it was just me and Tatsumi once more.

He stared at the glowing leaf, watching it flicker in the darkness, before it vanished into the pouch beneath his obi. But his brows were drawn into a slight frown, and I cocked my head at him. “Is something wrong, Tatsumi-san?”

He shook his head. “No. But...the leaf should have gone to you,” he said, finally meeting my gaze. “You were the one who spoke to the kamaitachi. You figured out how to free them so they would turn on the witch. If you hadn’t done that, we would’ve both died.”

“The reward wasn’t for slaying the witch,” I returned gently. “It was for putting Kiba-sama out of his misery and returning the forest to its natural state. The kodama don’t care about individual human lives as much as they want the forest to be healthy. You were the one who killed the demon, thus their favor goes to you.”

Tatsumi frowned. “I’ve killed dozens of demons and yokai,” he murmured. “Perhaps a few kami, as well. Until today...I didn’t know that yokai could be talked to or reasoned with.”

“Not all yokai are evil,” I said quietly, surprised to feel a