In the far distant past there lived a Kitsune Girl named Autumn who was loved by her fox companions but had no parents so she had been on her own for a long time. Even though she had her little fox companions she wished to be among the humans but in that time humans were scared of her kind so she started to play tricks and other harmless stuff on a village in hopes to get some friendly attention and gain some friends to play with. But unfortunately it was the wrong kind of attention she was getting from the human village and they called among a monk to help save their village by ridding them of the so called 'evil' Kitsune. A monk agreed to do so and started to hunt her down and when Autumn got wind of that she ran far away as she could but the monk stayed on her trail.

Soon Autumn found a spot to rest at a shrine that was not used or even looked like it had been used for years so she hoped the monk would not find her there as she took a rest. But while Autumn slept the monk found her and placed an enchantment on her causing her to wake then sealed into the shrine. After she was sealed her placed an enchantment on the area where the shrine was so no one would find it, for a sign appeared saying 'Leave and offering to gain help from the fox spirit' he knew that it was her way of escape to freedom after helping who ever left an offering. Once his job was done he returned to the village to let them know that the Kitsune was taken care of.

500 years soon passed, 500 long year of loneliness that Autumn had to endure for she could see her fox companions but they could not see her or feel her touch. But as that many years have passed the enchantment the monk left had finally weaken enough for one random person to walk into her area so she could some how guide them to her shrine and hope they would leave her an offering. But in the mean time Autumn sat on the shrine knowing no one could see or touch her until the offering was place and she really hoped someone would come soon and set her free from her eternal loneliness. SO the enchantment is gone and all that is left is for that one person to take that one step in the forest.

It has been a year since I've fled America and at the very least I can say Japan has been treating me well. The Japanese people are kind and full of character, I couldn't have wished for a better place to start over. But like all Ronin, I long for something more. It's become a daily habit of mine, to visit this forest. I feel almost drawn to it but it's probably just my loneliness getting to me. I pull my Classic Mustang into the same parking spot just next to the path leading into the forest like always. Turn my car off and let a few seconds pass, sighing before I get out of the car. I grab my hunting gear and head up the path.
I spend a few minutes walking on the path before I detour off into the forest. I have been tracking a group of fox around this area of the forest. I am going deeper then I have before but it doesn't take me long to find a place to set up my rifle and then the waiting begins. I found fox dropping about 100 meters in front of me with tracks heading west. I assume they are out hunting and will pass by this same area to return home. A couple hours pass by and the sun starts to slowly droop out of the sky. I am about to give up and pack away my things when I finally see him. A male fox with a rabbit hanging from his mouth.
I look down the scope and slow my breathing. I think about taking the shot but my kindness and mercy get the better off me and I let him pass. I couldn't imagine how his family would feel if he never came back. As the fox disappears from view I notice a structure of some kind, hidden behind a set of trees. I pack up my things and rise to head back out of the forest but my curiosity compels me to investigate. The structure appears to be a shrine of some kind with a sign. "Leave an offering to gain help from the fox spirit." I read it out loud. I decide to clean up the area the small shrine resides in and pay my respects.
I pull a coin out of my pocket and flick it into the money box, kneel putting my hands together and pray. "I do not particularly regret anything in my life and while I have shed the blood of my fellow man for country and honour, I have lived my life as best I could. I am missing something, war has stolen a piece of me and I just want to know to what end. Why? Am I so terrible?" I prey quietly as the sunset paints the sky with vibrant pinks and oranges. But I have never had any real faith in God.

The foxes were near the by watching the guy clean the shrine up of Autumn for they were decedents of the foxes that have been by Autumns side since day one, Except one small one who had lived for 500years for Autumn linked her lifespan with him so she would always have a friend. When they say him place a coin in the money box and watch him pry the wind started to pick up and the leave changed to autumn colors and the foxes knew it was time and they ran out of their hiding spots surrounding the shrine as the little one climbed up onto the little offering table and wagged his tail happily.
The wind was blowing and he leaves swirled around the shrine as a figure started to appear in the middle of the small leaf storm. Soon a woman with golden blond hair and eyes appeared with a orange and yellow dressed draped from the waist down and she had leaves for the bodice area. But what made her very interesting was her fox ears and tail she had on her. The wind had finally died down and the leaves were no longer blowing around. She looked around after it was all done taking in her surroundings and the little fox yelped at her and she smiled at him. "There you are of my dear friend I missed holding you." She said as she picked up the little fox and hugged him then looked at the human. "And as for you who left me an offering you do not look like a terrible person in life there are things that can cause use to lose a piece of ourselves and it is hard to gain it back especially if you do not know what piece is missing." She said with a small smile at him.

I open my eyes and raise to a standing position as the wind picks up the leaves around me. Forming a small twister of leaves. As my mind attempted to comprehend what is happening my eyes make out a figure in the center of the spinning leaves. The wind settles down, revealing a woman or what I could have only perceived as a woman at that moment. I pull my eyes from her for a moment to notice the circle of foxes surrounding us. She reaches for one and receives the little Fox kindly in her arms and then speaks to me.
Of my prayer and I then realise what had actually happened. I most have broken a seal or barrier of some kind with my offering. But now I might have the means to understand it all. Surely she would have answered to question no mortal could answer. But these are quite selfish thoughts and I most pull myself from them. "It's Faith that I have lost. Faith in humanity, this society, God and; myself. I could have been more, should have been more? It could have been different, it should have been different? I try to pull myself from these thoughts to save me from the madness but tell me Goddess, why are you here now?"

Autumn looked at the human as he looked at her then talked to her as if she was a goddess even called her one. She only smiled at him for she could understand why he would wonder how she got there or why she was even there. "It is quit simple dear human you have broken the seal that kept be in the shrine by placing an offering in the money box here." She said as she pointed at the box he had tossed the coin in. "And I am Autumn and sorry to say i am no goddess I am a simple Kitsune girl." Autumn said to him as she held the little fox in her arms still just happy to hold them again. "So sorry to burst your bubble on that a little but it would not feel right to have you think I am one when I just have a very long life span then a normal human's life span." She finished explaining that part to him and just smiled at him
"And also every human thinks the way you do they think of certain things when they go through troubling times and start doubt ourselves and our abilities but also our faith in others." Autumn said as she petted the little fox's head and smiled. "But when you think should I have done thing or I could have it only creates unnecessary doubt and hardship on oneself sometimes for yes we make mistakes but those mistakes only help us grow and become more stronger then one shall ever be." She said to him. "So one must keep faith in themselves to keep them moving forwards and know that the past is in the past all there is out there is the future and moving forward making an even better future then one originally had in mind."