Natsume Yuujinchou Vol 2 Chapter 1

1

Gingko nut, matsutake, akebia[1].

Red mushrooms cannot be eaten. If the frogs in the swamp clamour, it is a sign of rain.

There’s nothing I don’t know about this forest.

When the tree leaves are dyed with red, the location for fishing char moves just a bit downstream – ah, I’ve found chestnuts.

Mother, I’m living strongly. The little fox that cried all the time is no longer here. I’ve got a lot more power now, you know? Even with big branches like this that block the beast’s road after being broken by the wind, I can easily… Oomph… See? I can easily move them out of the way. I can definitely be useful to Natsume now…

Natsume is a human who saved me when I was still a crying little fox. I met him when he came near this forest for something called a ‘class-friend-ship-stu-dy-camp’[2]. Ah, even though Natsume’s a human, he’s a bit different.

At that time, Natsume had many human friends around him. Natsume smiled a lot with them… but it seems fake somehow…

– Maybe Natsume isn’t a human… And is actually a fox like me… If that was true, he could just live with me. And I could teach him anything about the forest.

Then, when it was raining, he gave me a leaf umbrella. He had been smiling.

He said 'Thank you’ to me.

Mother, I was useful. I’m not useless any more. So… when the ayakashi of the forest called me 'useless’, I fought back properly.

I found this out from hearing to the ayakashi talk then, but Natsume was the owner of the Book of Friends! The Book of Friends. Those whose names are bound within it must treat the owner as their master. I’d never heard of it before.

I wrote my name on a fallen leaf and gave it to Natsume. To tell him to make me his servant. Ah, I definitely didn’t forget my pride as a fox though. I just wished in my heart to be useful to Natsume. But Natsume just put his hand on my head and smiled kindly.

'I don’t want us to be bound by something like this. We’re not master and servant, right? I think we have a different relationship.’

That’s what he said.

– What could that different relationship be?

I still think about it now. What is that different relationship that Natsume talked about? I still don’t understand, but if I become stronger, I’ll definitely…

Natsume and Natsume’s friends returned to a faraway town on the opposite side of the mountain. Many humans live there. Actually, I went there once on my own, you know? It was when I found a hat at the edge of the forest… Ah, the one-eye youkai and the cow-face ayakashithat always bully me. I’ll talk about that story later. For now, I’ll hide in this thicket.

Shuffle shuffle…

'Oi, did you hear about that wandering ayakashi?’

'Ah, I heard, I heard.’

'I hear he left the forest to go down to the village where the humans live.’

'Ah, he left for the human village.’

'He was an interesting guy, but there’s no helping it. He probably lives his life going from journey to journey without staying too long in one place.’

– What are they talking about?

'Anyway, he was a good storyteller. He told me a lot of stories about different lands. His story about being beaten by Natsume was the best.’

– Eh? Natsume?

'But that Natsume with the Book of Friends is a really frightening guy. He can see us even though he’s a human, and on top of that, he’s really strong.’

– They really are talking about Natsume!

'He’s scary because he hits ayakashi at random when he spots them. What an ill-natured guy.’

– Natsume isn’t ill-natured!

'He isn’t just violent. He gives youkai impossible challenges to defeat them – he’s a real scoundrel.’

– I can’t forgive them for calling Natsume a scoundrel!

'Now that you mention it, when we were playing with the shorty fox, that Natsume with the Book of Friends suddenly punched us. He’s as violent as the rumours say. Even though he looks so frail – what a frightening guy…’

– I can’t let them badmouth Natsume any longer. Hey!

'You! Natsume won’t forgive you!’

'Hm? If it isn’t the useless shorty fox. What’s with that frightening face?’

'I-I’m not useless!’

'Does he want us to hit him again? Hm? … No, wait. Is that ill-natured scoundrel Natsume nearby again?’

'Natsume isn’t ill-natured or a scoundrel! Take it back.’

I know best of all that Natsume is a kind-hearted human.

'Like I care. Complain to that wanderer. That’s what he told us.’

'If he corrects himself, we’ll take it back too.’

Urgh… Now that I thought about it, it’s true. If that wan-der-er person is badmouthing Natsume everywhere, I need to stop him first.

'Where is that wanderer?’

'He isn’t in this forest any longer. Well, he just left the mountain recently though, so he might still be at that village.’

'That village?’

'Come on, you can see the human village through the branches of those oak trees, right? That’s the one.’

Ah… such a faraway village.

'Hahaha, we’d be able to get there and back before the sun sets, but it’s probably impossible for a shorty fox like you.’

’T-that’s not true! I can do it too!’

I said it without thinking.

'First of all, you don’t know anything about the human village, right? You can go, but you’ll just get lost and start crying.’

Urgh.

But I know quite a lot about humans.

In the past, Mother took me to a human town, right? At that time, Mother taught me about places where money is dropped, how to buy tickets, how to ride trains, how to walk on roads – you taught me a lot about the human world.

It’s fine. I can do it too.

OK, I’ve decided!

'I’m going.’

'Eh? Is he serious?’

'Just stop it.’

'A fox that goes to a human village looking like itself would be caught right away – you don’t know what awful things will happen to you.’

When I went by myself to meet Natsume before, I took a medicine that let me look like a human for only one day and went to the town. With how I look now, regular humans, unlike Natsume, should see me as a fox. I don’t know what would happen if I went like this… But – but, Mother… I have to become used to the village where humans live, so that I can be useful to Natsume someday.

'Tell me in detail about that wanderer. Like how he looks and where he likes to stay.’

'He really plans on going…’

That wanderer is a kamaitachi[3] named Sakurou. He wears an old, casual kimono with a weasel mask on his head, so I think I’ll be able to tell it’s him right away.

Now, I’ve left the forest and am heading to the human village. I’ll meet Sakurou, ask him about Natsume and make him correct himself no matter what.

That village is much closer than Natsume’s town, so I should arrive if I walk for half a day… Ah, the river’s water is beautiful. I bet I could catch a lot of fish at the bottom of that rock on the opposite back. Oh – no, no, I don’t have the time to drop by… Ah, this is the station for the train I took when I went to see Natsume. I want to go see him again.

But right now, I’m still a kid that can’t even turn into a human by myself. Patience, patience.

I wonder what Natsume’s doing now. Is he still taking care of that ugly cat…

Mother, this was when I picked up the hat at the edge of the forest.

A large ayakashi with a dog’s face gave me medicine so that even normal humans could see me like this for a day, and I went to the town where Natsume lives.

When I arrived at the town with my hat on, the town was filled with many different smells.

With the help of the smell carried by the wind, I found Natsume at last. Natsume was at 'school’, smiling with his human friends.

His smile then looked a bit different to me than the smile he had when I first met him in the forest.

It looked like he trusted the humans he was with more, since his smile seemed just a little less fake.

Ah, thank goodness…

So Natsume had friends he could smile with like that, even without me. When I thought that, I felt a bit sad, so I left silently.

And then –

'So it is the little fox from then.’

I heard a voice from behind me.

When I took a look, I saw Natsume holding out a hand towards me.

Mother, Natsume remembered me.

I burst into tears. As I cried, I told Natsume why I had come.

'I see, so you came to see me? Thank you.’

Natsume smiled at me kindly.

'You’re great. When I was small, I never thought about doing anything, even when I was lonely or afraid. that might be why I didn’t notice a lot.’

Then, he said this at the end.

'I’ll see you off. I have to remember the way. I’ll come find you next time.’

Ah, I have tears in my eyes just from remembering it. When I think about Natsume, I become a crybaby again…

OK. I’m just going to think about finding the kamaitachi named Sakurou.

Now, here’s the human village. I need to be careful.

The poles there connected by ropes are called te-le-phone-pole. Dogs often pee there to mark their areas. I need to be careful so that nobody finds me. Since terrifying cars run along the roads made by humans, I need to walk on the side. I’ll be fine if I’m careful and remember what you taught me, Mother.

I wonder where Sakurou is. I found out what he looks like, but I don’t know his smell. What should I do… If he’s a kamaichi, maybe he smells like a weasel.

Anyway, maybe I’ll ask the ayakashi in this village about Sakurou.

'Excuse me, do you know the kamaitachi named Sakurou?’

'Sakurou? Never heard of him.’

'Do you know the kamaitachi named…’

'I’m busy! Go away, shorty fox.’

Ah, it’s pretty hard to find him.

'Miss with the three eyes, do you know an ayakashi named Sakurou?’

'Ah, the ayakashi that was talking about being beaten to a pulp by that Natsume?’

'Yes! That’s definitely the Sakurou I’m talking about.’

'That was an interesting story. That Natsume really is a scary human.’

– Sakurou’s badmouthing Natsume here too!

'Where is that ayakashi!?’

'That guy’s not in this village any longer.’

– Eh? It can’t be.

'He left for the next town.’

The next town…

The next town that the lady with three eyes told me about was just a bit farther away from here. It was a larger town that had more people in it.

'I hear Sakurou’s spent more time living in the city, so it probably agrees with him,’ said the lady with three eyes.

'That town has a big Inari shrine[4], so if you’re a fox too, you might be able to get help.’

Mother taught me something before. 'I-na-ri-shrine’ is a god that had a deep relationship with foxes.

What should I do?

If I go back now, the one-eye ayakashi and the cow-face ayakashi will make fun of me again. It’ll probably take me until nighttime to get to the next town, no matter how I hurry. Foxes have good vision at night though. And it’s safer at night, since there are fewer humans. OK, I’ve decided. I’m a man - once I’ve decided something, I’ll see it through.

I’ll go straight to the next town.

The sun’s already very low in the sky, dyeing it in beautiful colours… Ah, this isn’t the time for that. I have to hurry.

Why are human roads so black and hard? The smell’s strange too. There are white lines drawn in the middle.

Walking along this road with nothing around it by myself makes me feel lonely for some reason. I wonder if Natsume also walks on roads alone like this. I wish I could always walk beside him at times like that.

Ah, the sun’s finally set… Ah, I see beautiful lights. The human town. I’ve reached the next town. Ah, there are people even at night. There are many cars. Human towns are bright even at night. Ah – a dog barked at me! I have to run!

The human town has a lot of square, boxy buildings, so I can’t tell them apart I didn’t think it’d be this big either. I wonder where in town I’ve walked up to. I wonder where the kamaitachi Sakurou is.

Ah, there are two fox statues there. They’re sitting like they’re protecting the shrine behind them, but I wonder why.

There’s a sign that says INARI JINJA[5]. I wonder what it says? Maybe Sakurou is here. I’ll climb the stairs and talk a look around the shrine.

'Oi, little fox. What are you doing here?’

Ah, that was surprising.

Eh? Who is it. He’s wearing a fox mask.

'What, is it your first time seeing the Inari shrine?’

'I-na-ri-shrine? Is this the Inari shrine? Are you the god Inari?’

'Ahaha, I’m not the god Inari. I’m a fox that lives here as the god Inari’s familiar.’

'Are you a fox too? Ah, that’s right. Do you know about a kamaitachi named Sakurou in this town?’

'A kamaitachi named Sakurou? The wanderer that just came to this town? He’s near the town hall’s parking lot.’

'Thank you very much!’

Town hall, town hall.

Ah, I wonder where the town hall is. I ran out without thinking, but I don’t know anything about this time.

I’m tired. I want to drink water.

I’m worn out from walking all day. Ah, my feet hurt.

Oh, perfect. There’s a box. I’ll take a break inside.

What’s with this place? It’s really comfy.

I’m sleepy…

I’ll sleep…

For just a bit…

'Hey, big brother! Look, look! How cute!’

'Where’d he get in from?’

'What is it, Kenichi, Hana?’

'Dad, a little fox is inside Shiro’s doghouse.’

'A fox? Where’d it get in from?’

'He must’ve come from the mountain.’

'From that far? I wonder.’

'Maybe it’s somebody’s pet?’

'Right, let’s ask around. Hana, Shiro’s collar should be here, right? Bring that.’

Mm… Mmm… Why’s it so noisy… Ah, it’s bright… Is it morning already… Eh?

'Here, Dad. The collar.’

'Ah, it’s awake, Dad.’

'Hana, don’t touch it! It’ll bite.’

'It’s fine. It’s still so small.’

… Human children? … What? This ring around my neck… Ehh!? Have I… been caught by humans!?

* * * 
The chuukyuu from Yatsuhara were the ones who told me that there was an ayakashi that knew Reiko-san.

'Lord Natsume, Lord Natsume – it’s terrible. There’s a youkai saying bad things about you.’

'A traveller has been going around talking about your evil deeds, Natsume-dono.’

'Evil deeds…’

'I don’t know the details, but he’s saying how Natsume with the Book of Friends is arrogant and violent.’

'Isn’t that exactly right?’

'Nyanko-sensei, please keep quiet.’

He was probably talking about Reiko-san. If that was the case, that youkai probably had some sort of connection to Reiko-san. I wanted to hear that youkai’s story.

'Where is that youkai now?’

'Natsume, you’re not planning on meeting that impolite youkai, are you?’

'Oh, are you going to punish that impolite youkai? We of Team Natsume, Society of Dogs won’t let him get away. Please let us accompany you.’

'I’m not going to fight! I just thought that I’d like to meet this ayakashi if he knows about Reiko-san.’

'I won’t pay any attention if you hurt yourself by sticking your nose into something unnecessary again.’

Nyanko-sensei’s reprimand made sense. I’ve hurt my heart countless times by carelessly involving myself with youkai, but I know now that it isn’t all bad.

'So where is that youkai?’

'The youkai passing through Yatsuhara should know where that youkai is. We were asking them about him. Ah, we also heard the name of the insolent character who is badmouthing you, Lord Natsume – if I remember correctly, he is a kamaitachi named Sakurou.’

NOTES:

[1] In Japanese literature, the akebia is often mentioned to evoke the image of a pastoral setting.

[2] In Japanese, the little fox speaks only in hiragana for these characters, rather than kanji. Hiragana and katakana are syllabic, whereas kanji are logographic, so kanji is more difficult. The little fox often uses hiragana and katakana instead of kanji in his dialogue, just like a child who still does not know that many kanji. For example, while the cow ayakashi says 'scoundrel’, 'ill-natured’ and 'wanderer’ in kanji, the little fox repeats it in hiragana and katakana. I’ve spaced out the words with hyphens where it works, but sometimes I’ve just translated it into regular English.

[3] A kamaitachi is a type of Japanese youkai that comes on a dust devil, cutting people using their nails. The word can also refer to the wound inflicted by the kamaitachi itself or a whirlwind. WIKIPEDIA has drawings of the youkai which show the sharp sickle-like nails.

[4] An Inari shrine is a shrine for the god Inari, who is the god of foxes among other things. They are common in Japan. The head shrine is Fushimi Inari Taisha, which is the shrine famous for its many torii, as you can see on the shrine’s HOMEPAGE.

[5] This is originally written in kanji, which the little fox can’t read.

Chapter end