The Ghost King and the White Fox

Kurogane, Ghost King of Tsukimori, brooded on his electric violet throne. The neon shuddered overhead, gleaming on the curve of his horns.

Damn that Kitsune.

Hikari had slipped from his grasp, and even had the audacity to mock him. She was a white fox, but only five-tailed. She should be no match for an oni sovereign.

Clever. Too damn clever.

He ached to claim her. To break that smug smirk.

And of course she belonged to Inari.

Best not to tamper with a god’s possessions.

Which only made the game sweeter.

He never had been terribly good at following the rules.

An agonized scream from a young man across the table drew him from his daydreams.

The dice had spoken.

The boy’s soul was forfeit.

Foolish mortals.

Kurogane ignored the man as he was dragged away.

Perhaps he could entice the fox to play.

He pulled a pair of dice from thin air. Vibrant pale blue glowed like swirling fog within them.

Foxfire.

A remnant of another fox he had bested.

That one fought him to the end.

But he kept their fire.

His lucky dice.

He rolled them between his fingers.

Pen and paper appeared in his other hand.

Hikari,

I have something that might interest you.

Meet me in the gambling district at midnight tonight.

Kurogane

He debated using their respective titles. But he preferred the intimacy of first names.

Hikari would hate it.

He smirked.

Good.

Hikari stared down at the letter, scrawled in violet ink.

Kurogane.

Of course.

She lit it with foxfire.

The paper curled, then dissolved into lavender smoke.

How predictable.

She padded softly through the lobby. The Jade Moon Inn for Wandering Spirits was under her care. A young man with a grayish pallor and a large hole in his chest sipped tea at a table.

She noticed some new spirits playing Mahjong at another table nearby. A few looked like they had drowned—dripping water onto the floor.

She was a bit annoyed by the mess, but it couldn’t be helped.

She motioned to a bellhop to grab a mop, then headed out into the night.

The sky glowed a rich magenta and the jade moon glowed pale green overhead.

She was hungry.

She made her way to the Night Market of a Thousand Spirits, and sidled up to her favorite ramen stand.

KAPPA RAMEN—BEST IN THREE REALMS.

The same pink kappa sold ramen there every night in shades of bioluminescent blue and green. But tonight there were specials—lavender and pink.

“Ahh, Kitsune-san. The usual?” he croaked.

“Yes, please. How is your evening, Kappa-san?”

“Oh, you know. The air is electric. The noodles are fresh. This old turtle is happy enough. Though… there is something you should know about.”

“Oh?”

Her curiosity was piqued.

“There are… rumors. Of a wandering horror. Mortals are being found cut in half at the waist, dead. The stranger thing… spirits are as well. So warn your patrons, Hikari-san.”

“Spirits? Dead? They’re already dead.”

“Aye, Hikari-san. That is the strangest bit.”

Hikari thanked the kappa for the ramen and the news, and headed towards the gambling district.

She had not intended to see Kurogane.

Now, however, she realized that she needed to speak to him.

Kurogane was delighted to see the flash of white fur and blue foxfire in his humble gambling establishment.

He almost couldn’t believe his luck.

He excused himself from his throne, leaving the souls to wait in his absence.

She looked… solemn.

Odd.

He expected annoyed.

Or maybe playful… playful would be fun.

He’d have liked that.

“Hikari-chan. You came.”

He grinned, flashing white fangs in the neon glow.

Hikari’s lips thinned at the diminutive familiarity, but she held her tongue.

“I’m not here about the note.”

He frowned.

“What are you here for then?”

“We need to talk. Alone, preferably.”

He raised an eyebrow, but gestured for her to follow him into his private chambers.

They were far darker than the colorful neon club outside. Plum-colored velvet drapes, black walls, and candlelight. They sat at a small table.

“Now tell me, fox. What is so important that we need to speak privately? Or did you simply wish to… be alone with me?”

His eyes glittered suggestively.

Hikari rolled her eyes.

“There’s a problem.”

A pause.

“Go on.”

“There is a disturbance. Some sort of new spirit. Mortals are being found bisected…”

Kurogane yawned.

“What else is new? More ghosts for the gambling pit.”

“Don’t interrupt. That wasn’t the troubling part. You see… spirits are being found that way as well.”

Kurogane immediately sat up.

She had his full attention.

“What?”

“They’re found… in two pieces. Unresponsive. Dead.”

“But they’re already dead.”

“Yes, you can see why this is the troubling part.”

His eyes narrowed and his expression turned stern.

“Where?”

“Mostly the eastern quarter. Three near the Night Market. Two more beyond the shrine district.”

“How many?”

“Spirits? Seven that I know of.”

His expression darkened.

“There are twelve spirits currently unaccounted for. I had thought perhaps they had wandered over to your quaint little Inn for homeless ghosts. But now, I wonder…”

“So do I.”

Just then, a tanuki entered.

The raccoon dog stood on its hind legs and wore a conical straw hat.

It shifted, then, into human form but for its bushy tail.

“Master.”

He bowed to Kurogane.

“I bring strange tidings.”

The tanuki looked at Hikari, unsure.

“You may speak in her presence, Ponta.”

An oni with a tanuki on retainer. Unusual, Hikari thought. They didn’t typically align themselves with sovereign power—too independent, too slippery.

This one seemed to be a sentinel.

“Your Grace, a train station has appeared on the eastern border of Tsukimori.”

Kurogane stared at him.

“There are no trains in Tsukimori.”

“Yes, Master. I am aware…”

“Then why is there a train station?”

Ponta shifted uncomfortably.

“That is why I thought you might wish to know.”

Hikari covered her mouth with one hand.

Kurogane’s eyes snapped toward her.

“Are you laughing?”

“No.”

“You are.”

“A little.”

“There are twelve missing spirits and an impossible train station has appeared in my kingdom.”

“I know. It’s terrible.”

Her tails twitched.

“But Ponta-san has a point.”

Ponta swallowed.

“There is one other matter, Master.”

Kurogane glanced back at him.

“Speak.”

“There are tracks.”

Hikari frowned.

“Where do they lead?”

“Nowhere.”

“Nowhere?”

“They end perhaps fifty paces beyond the station in either direction.”

Silence.

“And yet,” Ponta continued, “we can hear a train.”

Silence.

Then Kurogane spoke.

“Thank you, Ponta. We will look into this mysterious train station. You may go.”

Ponta bowed and disappeared through plum velvet curtains.

Hikari turned to Kurogane, placing her hands on her hips.

“We?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t recall volunteering.”

“You brought the matter of strange new spirits to my attention.”

“That was a courtesy.”

“And now I am returning the courtesy by allowing you to accompany me.”

Hikari stared at him.

“Allowing me?”

Kurogane smiled.

“You’re welcome.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I could.”

“But you don’t.”

She narrowed her golden eyes and gave an irritated chuff.

His smile widened.

This was much more like it.

The train station stood strangely against the pink sky. Jade Moon City had neon, yes, but it had no cars. No televisions.

It was an ancient place wearing a modern mask.

The train station was jarringly new. White fluorescent lights buzzed beneath a metal awning. A row of machines lined one wall, their screens glowing expectantly. Yellow tiles ran along the edge of a platform that served no conceivable purpose.

Hikari stared.

“It is ugly.”

Kurogane glanced at her.

“That is your assessment?”

“It is dreary and gray. And I hate that buzzing sound.”

He considered the building.

“It is.”

They stood together beneath the glowing green moon, staring at the distasteful intrusion. The tracks stretched perhaps fifty paces in either direction. Then stopped.

They caught sight of a couple of spirits in masks wandering and talking nearby. They, too, stopped and stared at the strange station.

They looked to the Ghost King and bowed respectfully.

“Your Grace, is this yours?”

“Absolutely not. This is an intrusion. The White Fox and I are investigating. Please be cautious. I recommend you leave the area.”

The spirits bowed and began to retreat.

Just then, Hikari’s ears pricked.

In the distance, she heard the roar of a train engine.

The clattering of the wheels.

The blare of the horn.

A bright light shone from the nothingness at the end of the tracks.

Her ears flattened.

“I don’t like this.”

Kurogane smiled.

“Finally, something we agree upon.”

Then a woman’s voice crackled from somewhere overhead. Neither of them understood the announcement.

The horn blared and the train burst onto the tracks, clearly with no intention to stop. Hikari and Kurogane leapt backwards away from the rails.

“What the…”

Just as suddenly, the train reached the opposite end of the tracks.

And it was gone.

No fading lights.

No distant rumble.

Nothing.

As though it had never been there at all.

Hikari’s tails swished in agitation for a time, before slowly settling.

For several moments, neither spoke.

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead.

“Did you know trains could do that?” Hikari asked.

Kurogane stared at the empty tracks.

“There are no trains in Tsukimori.”

“Yes. You mentioned that.”

“I felt it bore repeating.”

Hikari’s ear twitched.

Something lay near the far end of the platform.

“Kurogane.”

He followed her gaze.

A tattered school bag rested beside the yellow line.

It had not been there before.

Then, a sound.

From beneath the tracks, Hikari thought.

Teke.

Hikari froze.

Teke.

Kurogane’s hand moved toward his sword.

Teke. Teke.

A clicking.

A scraping.

The sound was getting faster.

Nearer.

Kurogane turned and saw that the masked spirits were still there, staring at the tracks as though mesmerized.

Then something burst from the tracks.

It was low to the ground, crawling, and unnaturally fast.

Not just crawling.

Dragging.

Teke. Teke. Teke. Teke.

But at unfathomable speed.

It headed towards the masked spirits who appeared frozen in place.

“Run, you fools!” Kurogane shouted, drawing his blade.

But the words had barely escaped his lips as there was a ferocious flash of steel and the creature reared up and sliced the ghosts in half with an enormous scythe.

They lay there on the ground, motionless.

Hikari turned to Kurogane, placing a hand on his blade arm.

“Don’t be stupid. We need to go. Now.”

Kurogane hesitated, then seemed to think better of it.

“Run,” Hikari said, as blue-white foxfire burned behind her eyes and then burst from her hands towards the creature.

Shadowed duplicates of Hikari and Kurogane scattered in all directions.

Blinded, the creature rose up, shrieking.

Kurogane watched, impressed despite himself.

Oh. Five tails. Right.

Leaving a trail of foxfire behind her, Hikari grabbed Kurogane’s arm and they fled.

When they had gone far enough away that they could no longer hear the fluorescent buzzing, Hikari let go of his arm.

He stood and looked at her.

Really looked at her. For a long time.

“What?” She bristled.

“Nothing. Just, reconsidering.”

“Reconsidering what?”

“You.”

“Oh.”

A pause.

Her ears twitched.

“What have you decided?”

“That I underestimated you.”

“You did.”

Kurogane snickered.

“You’re insufferable.”

“I know. So are you.”

“Now. About that scythe-wielding train ghost…”

Hikari brightened.

“I know just the guy to ask.”

Hiroshi was mortal.

He did his best to blend into the background.

He wore an oversized black sweatshirt and headphones.

He always had his laptop with him.

He kept a tent right near the rip in the fence that separated Tsukimori from the Waking World beyond.

When Hikari and Kurogane arrived he didn’t notice them. He was so absorbed in his laptop that he didn’t even look up.

“Ahem.” Hikari coughed. “Greetings, Hiroshi.”

“Hikari-sama!”

He leapt up with delight and bowed deeply.

Then his eyes wandered over to the massive purple oni she had with her.

“Umm…”

He looked to her anxiously.

“He’s the Ghost King of Tsukimori.”

Hiroshi blanched.

“Don’t worry. He’ll behave.”

Kurogane shot her a look.

Her lips curved ever so slightly.

“How can I help you, Hikari-sama?”

“There is something strange happening in Jade Moon City. A spirit… a creature of some sort.”

“Describe it to me.”

Kurogane interrupted.

“Do you know of anything that makes train stations appear out of nowhere, with ghost trains? Or killer creatures with scythes?”

Hiroshi considered a moment, and began typing furiously.

“Did it make a noise? The creature?”

“Yes… like a scraping. Or clicking,” Hikari responded.

“More like a teke… teke…” Kurogane added.

More frantic typing.

“Anything else?”

“There was a child’s backpack next to the tracks.”

Hiroshi looked up.

“I think I wrote about this on my blog.”

Kurogane’s forehead creased.

“Your what?”

“My blog. Haunted Japan: Fact or Fiction. It’s like an online journal.”

Kurogane continued to look confused. Hikari nodded.

Hiroshi continued.

“Yes, here she is. Teke Teke.”

“I said that already,” Kurogane grumbled.

“No, that’s what they call her. She’s an urban legend. A schoolgirl fell—or maybe was pushed—onto the tracks. A train cut her in half. And now she crawls around on her hands searching for her missing legs.”

He paused, then smiled excitedly.

“Creepy, right?”

Kurogane snorted.

“Quite.”

“And you actually saw her? That’s wild! And a train station? Was it solid, or transparent? Did she kill anyone?”

Hikari nodded.

“She killed two spirits in front of us. Sliced them in half.”

“Wait… what? Spirits?”

“Yes.”

“I never heard she could do that before.”

“She’s never been in Tsukimori before either.”

“Okay. That’s bad.”

Kurogane folded his arms.

“Your powers of observation astound me.”

Hiroshi ignored him.

“Urban legends change. People tell them differently, details get added, details disappear. But they usually stay tied to the Waking World.”

Hikari’s ears tilted forward.

“Usually?”

“Usually.”

Kurogane’s expression darkened.

“And this one brought a train station with her.”

Hiroshi nodded slowly.

“That’s what worries me.”

Hiroshi turned towards the rip in the fence. Beyond, the Waking World lay filled with city lights and the sounds of traffic.

Hiroshi turned to Hikari.

“Does it look larger to you?”

“What?”

“The rip. The tear in reality.”

She considered.

“Maybe.”

“I mean, you spirits can go in and out, if you’re powerful enough. I can go in and out, and I’m just a human. What if…”

A pause.

“What if urban legends are able to get in?”

Kurogane stared at the tear.

“How long has that been widening?”

Hiroshi swallowed.

“I don’t know.”

“Find out.”

“How?”

“You’re the one with the blog. Figure it out.”

Hikari spoke then.

“So, what do we do about this… legend?”

Hiroshi considered.

“Urban legends are stories. Built from fear. Anxiety. Strong human emotions. Perhaps it’s enough… enough to manifest a new kind of spirit. One that can harm…”

He trailed off.

“If Teke Teke crossed over…”

Hiroshi looked grim.

“She might not be the only story trying.”

Kurogane scowled.

“We should shut the cursed thing.”

Hikari put a hand on his arm.

“It doesn’t work that way, Kurogane.”

He grunted.

“Thank you for your assistance, Hiroshi. For your trouble.”

She handed him currency he could use within Tsukimori.

“Ahh heck yeah, I’m gonna get some of that Kappa Ramen!”

“He has specials right now. Lavender and pink.”

“Ooooh.”

Kurogane interrupted.

“If you two are finished going on about noodles, we have a ghost-killing schoolgirl to deal with.”

Hikari nodded, and she and Kurogane walked back towards the Night Market.

They were quiet for a time, walking slowly.

Then Kurogane spoke.

“What do we do?”

“I’m thinking.”

“Think faster.”

“Okay… look. She’s a vengeful spirit, right? She has a grudge. Sure her origins are… different. I’m not even certain she was ever a real girl. But the emotions are real. The grudge is real. And I know how to deal with grudges. It isn’t safe to take her to the Inn though.”

“You want to offer her room and board?”

“No, I want to bring her peace.”

“Some spirits never find peace. I’m not sure this one can.”

Hikari looked at him, considering.

“Then what?”

“This is why I exist. Why there is a Ghost King. I give them order. Purpose. A place in the world. Even if it isn’t always pleasant.”

“Teke Teke already has a place. She has a whole train station.”

“But perhaps… perhaps she needs a purpose.”

They found themselves back at the train station. Kurogane kept his hand on his sword. Hikari looked composed, but he could tell she was anxious underneath.

Again, the buzzing fluorescence.

Again, the train.

The backpack.

Hikari stepped forward and picked it up.

Like lightning, the spirit arose from beneath the tracks.

She was gruesome.

Half of a young girl in a school uniform trailing entrails behind her.

Teke Teke hesitated, looking at the kitsune.

Foxfire crackled beneath Hikari’s white fur, but she did not attack.

Instead, she reached out and placed the bag before her.

“I believe this is yours.”

Silence.

“What is your name?”

A long pause.

When she spoke her voice rasped as if from years of disuse.

“I don’t know.”

“What happened to you?”

“I don’t know.”

Hikari considered.

“Then… what do you want?”

“Legs.”

Kurogane stepped forward.

Teke Teke appeared to recognize the oni’s power and cringed backwards, slightly.

“There are no legs for you here. You are not even in the world where you lost them.”

Teke Teke wailed, a horrible, gut-wrenching scream.

“You are in my realm. You may stay, if you wish. There are things that cross these borders that do not belong. Let those be your prey. Protect Tsukimori. Protect your new home.”

“Kurogane, are you insane?” Hikari cried.

“She needs direction. She needs purpose. You want to change her nature… but this is her nature. Let her be useful.”

“No,” Hikari said sharply. “Not anyone who crosses.”

Kurogane looked at her, exasperated.

“Only those who mean harm.”

“Fox—”

“No. You said purpose, not slaughter.”

Teke Teke watched them both.

Kurogane exhaled through his nose.

“Fine.”

He turned back to the spirit.

“You will guard the boundary. You will hunt only those who cross with violent intent, or those who threaten the people of Tsukimori.”

Hikari folded her arms.

“And no residents.”

“Obviously.”

“You were about to forget that part.”

“I was not.”

“You absolutely were.”

Kurogane turned to Teke Teke.

“If you accept my terms, you will be one of my subjects. You may come to me when you are in need. Do you accept?”

The child nodded, then darted away from them at incredible speed.

Teke teke teke teke…

She vanished.

They were alone.

Hikari looked at him.

“What?”

“I… I think I understand now.”

“Understand what?”

“You.”

She smiled.

He rolled his eyes.

“Don’t start thinking I’m a soft goody-goody like you and Inari.”

“Perish the thought.”

The following evening, the train station was still there.

Kurogane was displeased.

Hikari was delighted.

A map and timetable had appeared above the platform.

The tracks had expanded impossibly, connecting the different areas of Jade Moon City.

Spirits had already begun lining up curiously beneath the fluorescent lights.

“Absolutely not,” Kurogane said.

Hikari glanced at him.

“You wanted her to have a purpose.”

“Guarding the border.”

“Perhaps the train wanted a purpose too.”

A bell chimed.

Somewhere beyond the impossible tracks, a horn sounded.

Kurogane stared at the station.

“Tsukimori does not need public transportation.”

Hikari’s tails swished happily behind her.

“Apparently Tsukimori disagrees.”

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