Beyond the Werefox Whistle
Written by Uehashi Nahoko
Illustrated by Yumiko Shirai
Epilogue: Wakasa Fields
White cherry blossoms in full bloom carpeted the mountainside.
Koharumaru had come of age last year and now had his adult name of Harunobu. He sat atop his favorite horse and gazed out at the mountain, smiling a little. “How beautiful,” he said.
Dairou rode beside him on his own steed. He nodded.
The melting snow dripped into rivers and fields. The sound of water flowing carried on the wind. Harunobu glanced down at the river far below, which had formerly flowed only onto Yuuji lands. Last year, a construction project to split the stream into two so that one part could flow onto Yuki lands had been completed. The stone dam that had prevented Yuki from accessing the river had been completely removed.
Wakasa Fields belonged to the High King now, not the Yuki family or the Yuuji family. Harunobu’s father had given back Wakasa Fields to the High King two years before. He was newly seventeen this year.
Nothing had changed about Harunobu’s past. He couldn’t take back blood that was shed or undo any of his own suffering.
But the future was bright.
“Sayo should be here soon,” Dairou said.
Harunobu raised an eyebrow. “How do you know?”
“Suzu told me,” Dairou said. “She gave birth to her first child over the winter. She’s been coming out here to see the cherry blossoms almost every afternoon since they bloomed.”
“Child?” Harunobu asked. “So she still takes human form, then?”
“When it suits her,” Dairou said. “Though it suits her less and less lately. I’ve seen her with her son a few times.”
Sayo had traveled back to Umegae Estate after her experiences in the world between worlds. She’d been in her human form then. She’d taught Suzu the dance that her mother had taught her—the dance that could close doors to the dark world. Then they’d all shared a feast together.
It had been two years since then, and Sayo moved around in human form less and less these days.
“She must have been through a lot,” Harunobu said softly.
“Yes, I suppose so,” Dairou said. Suddenly, his expression brightened. “There she is.” He pointed.
Harunobu squinted in the direction Dairou was pointing. He had to ride a little closer before he could see Sayo and Nobi sitting under a large cherry tree. Sayo was nursing a baby.
Sayo raised her head and looked Harunobu’s way. She smiled as bright as the spring sunshine. Lifting one hand, she waved. Cherry blossoms swirled around her arm.
Harunobu—no, Koharumaru—waved enthusiastically to his first friend. He was overjoyed to see her.
A gentle breeze stirred the cherry blossoms in the trees.
The baby in Sayo’s lap gurgled unhappily. A moment later, he rolled away from her as a baby spirit fox. Free from her arms, the tiny fox bounded off into the field at top speed, laughing in delight.
Sayo and Nobi exchanged glances, then burst out laughing. Nobi turned into a fox, his red fur shining bright. A moment later, Sayo transformed into a white spirit fox. They rubbed noses, then chased after their son.
The three foxes’ tails vanished into the field of tall grass as cherry blossoms fell all around them.
THE END
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