Art Cover by Josh Howlett Copyright Art by Josh Howlett © 2016 Pink Crane Press
Fox: The Tale and Revisions of Masako Gozen By Asela Lee Kemper
Table Of Contents The Fox, the Forest, and the Katana (Original Ver.)
1
Nine-Tailed Fox’s Sword (Korean Ver.)
4
The Cat Saved The Child with Her Katana (Re-Imagined)
6
The Fox and her Sword
9
the Forest
10
About The Author
To Mom
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1 The Fox, the Forest, and the Katana (Original Ver.)
Long ago, there lived a woman who wielded a katana and led the military to victory in Japan. The village celebrated her as the Great Samurai, Masako Gozen. Frightening her enemies with a single swing, Masako Gozen had been deadly to many but protective to her village outside of Osaka. One night, Masako heard noises outside of her small home. She grabbed her katana then rushed into the Forest. Next morning, she had not come out of the Forest. Villagers cried out her name, until a child of a farmer tripped and cut his toe. He gasped at the sight of her broken blade covered with his blood. Since then, no one dared to visit her home as it slowly fell apart and was left to rot. There were words spreading around about Masako after her death. Rumor has it that she may have lived in a new body and lurked within the Forest. As for her katana, it was such a special sword that it recreated a new blade. She and her sword guarded their new home from anyone who walked naively through the Forest. Who would be willing to find Masako and her katana? No one knows… ~ A lone fox wandered around the Forest every morning before the other foxes wake up. Pacing on clear path, Fox knew her way in the Forest. One morning, Fox overheard her neighbors chattering. “A sword?” “Yes! A soldier once wandered through Forest with a sword of soft red cloth in her hand.” “You mean? To its heart?” “Poor thing. She must have run to the Forest’s heart years ago. I heard the way she runs past leaves was like seeing a flash of red. You could barely see her blade. So sharp, it gleamed beneath the stars. She was a great warrior, I heard. She might have lost herself in our home. I wonder if they found her sword.” “I heard her sword might be stuck in the Forest’s heart! Maybe she is living there.” “You mean she might still be alive?” Fox did not know what to think of this soldier. She couldn’t believe a soldier would be allowed through her home, let alone with a weapon! The wind whistled in a dark path and trees curved away from Fox. She glanced to where the wind blew, an entrance brightened for her to come. She was determined to prove her neighbors that that stranger was not real! Fox brushed her paws against the ground then marched to the Forest’s heart. Voices of her neighbor faded as she got deeper and deeper into her sweet Forest. Branches caved in closer to the sky Fox was so used to seeing as she kept walking on the straight path. A cackling sound emerged through the trees. Red eyes glowed as it drew closer to
2 Fox, blocking the heart. Spirit of the Forest, White Fox of nine tails fixed on Fox with its beady red eyes. “Where are you going?” “I am looking for a sword. I heard a soldier lives there and is protecting my home with it.” White Fox laughed. “No one is allowed to go there.” “Why not?” “Because only I can wield the sword’s power.” “I don’t care about the power though. I want to see the soldier.” Spirit of the Forest growled. “Why? I am the soldier!” “I must know if she is there.” Fox dashed past the Forest’s spirit. To the light! To the light! White Fox trailed behind her. It snarled then clawed Fox’s right leg. She let out a yelp. Blood dripped from the scratch white fox made. As she could barely make out what was headed, the end of the path lit up. I’m almost there. Fox dragged herself towards to her destination. White Fox snarled then called upon its brothers and sisters, “After that Fox! She must not obtain the sword!” Fox finally set her paws on the Forest’s heart. She stared at a tainted roof with tiles tumbled down one by one. The wooden walls had holes, no windows left. A glimmer of silver peeked through the doorway. She hurried to what was shining in there, but it was too late. White Fox’s herd had surrounded her as their leader jumped over, landed in front of Fox. White Fox snickered before grabbing the glimmering light. A silk fabric wrapped around the handle with a golden plated on top of it, slipped out of the house. A glossed, wooden sheath covered what seemed to be a blade. The soldier’s sword. Fox could not believe the soldier did, indeed, live in her home. White Fox took the sheath off, revealing its missing blade. “You see, Fox. This sword hasn’t been used since Gozen came through this Forest. I am the only one who will make its blade reappear.” Fox ground her teeth. “Why must you use it?” White Fox let out a booming laugh. “Its powers with just a grip will be enough to rule Forest. This land will be my brothers and sisters’ kingdom. Then I will be able to transform into the Gozen I was meant to be! But first, we shall take care of you.” Using all her strength, Fox pounced and then snatched Gozen’s sword away from white fox’s mouth. She tightened her jaws, clutching onto the sword until she felt a wave of warmth through her body. Fox’s fur grew long, smooth black hair. Her body morphed into blood red armor padded firmly on her breasts to arms to legs. Her eyes glowed with amber, steadied on white fox and its army. Her hands grasped the sword, reforming its sharp and gleaming blade, calligraphy engraved on the side of her sliver weapon: Masako Gozen. White Fox growled. “No! It’s my sword! Mine!” It charged at Gozen, ready to rip her neck. Gozen bent her knees. She drew her sword then slashed white fox’s neck. White fox cried, curled its body into a ball to hide its sudden mistake. Its brothers and sisters ran after their fallen leader. Gozen stormed towards them, punctured everyone with her sword as she moved faster than their leader. White fox’s army fell on their backs, as Gozen stood tall amongst them. White Fox slowly got up. “We must leave. Now!” White Fox and its herd fled, faded into the Forest’s shadows. Gozen placed her blade back into its cover and let out a sigh. She laid her head to rest, sighed from her battle
3 with greedy spirits. Hours after hours, Fox woke up from her slumber. Her leg didn’t hurt anymore. White Fox and its herd disappeared into fog. What happened? She remembered the sword was in the house before white fox took it. She checked for Gozen’s sword inside of the house but no sign of the blade. Fox blinked. Must have been a dream then. Fox jumped off then walked back to her home. Her neighbors kept whispering about the sword and when will the soldier return. I was right! There was no sword! But she didn’t say that. Since then she started having dreams about meeting the soldier, and giving her the sword. Fox didn’t know why.
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2 Nine-Tailed Fox’s Sword (Korean Ver.) One day, man strolled past a little boy and his farmer father, talking about a special sword. “Father, are you sure there is a sword?” “Indeed. It is kept within the Forest. A dark warrior once owned the sword. She wielded a bright crimson sword, threatened villages for collection of heads. When she successfully claimed her prizes, she retreated back to her home in the Forest, not too far from here. No one dare want to know what lurks in there.” The boy was in awe. “You mean she might be alive?” Father patted his son’s head. “Who knows? If someone were to find that sword and bring it back, they will receive a great fortune.” The man was known to be the greediest in his village because of his luxurious taste in his home, antiques, and women. As long as he saw a golden value, he cared less about his appetite or anyone else. Greedy Man wiggled his ears. He must find that sword! He gushed on the possibility of the sword will bring him a ton of fortune! Greedy man rushed back to his house, packed food and clothes then ran out to find the special sword. Man walked for hours until he was in front of a shallow path to the Forest, far away from his village. A grin crept on his face, Greedy Man marched in search of his prize. The gray trees covered the sky with its branches. Sticks snapped every step he took. He could only hear his thoughts, and footsteps to his treasure. From a distance, a lone nine tailed fox noticed the man. She dashed to greet this new stranger into her home. “Hello, mister. Where are you going?” Greedy man flinched. “Oh, I’m searching for a sword.” “A sword?” “Yes! I heard a soldier came through this Forest. She was merciless. She collected heads after beheading thousands of men from different villages with a sword that hasn’t been found for years. But I heard she might’ve left it here.” Fox crept a smirk. “Oh?” Greedy Man looked at the fox: uncombed tail but vibrant red fur. “Do you know where the soldier’s sword is, Fox?” “What are you going to do with it once you find this sword if I told you?” “When I bring that sword back to my village, I will be honored with wealth and fortune. I will become a legend.” Fox kicked a stick. “Well your precious sword is hiding in a house, not too far from where you are. But be careful young traveler. I have lived in this Forest for centuries. A demon might come and take your precious sword.” He huffed. “We’ll see.” Fox smirked before making her way back to the shadows. Greedy Man was on his own again. He sprinted straight to where Fox told the sword was held. As soon as he reached to the place, it was abandoned. Couple of tiles was missing from the roof. Holes
5 spotted in windows and walls. Through the doorway, a spark of silver shined at the corner of man’s eye. “That has to be it!” His mouth watered as Greedy Man grabbed the sword and held its silk red ribbons and black wooden sheath. He opened to see its blade but the sharp metal wasn’t there. Confused, man threw the sword on the ground. “This has to be a mistake! This sword is not the soldier’s sword!” Slowly, fox came through the doorway and snickered. “You found it.” “You lied to me! This sword does not have a blade.” Fox grabbed the sword. Her fur suddenly turned into a blood red armor with silk kimono tucked beneath her body. Her back grew smooth black hair and her eyes glowed with red as her armor. The sword reshaped its missing blade, gleamed underneath Fox’s dark grin. Greedy Man jumped from what he saw. “You…that sword…” She slashed his head before he could finish those words. The soldier kneeled down then skinned the greedy man’s head until exposing his pure white skull. She tossed the skull into the house with the rest of her collection. The soldier placed her sword back then returned to a fox. “What a fool.” Greedy Man hasn’t been heard of since he left his village. When you hear a story of a sword with great fortune, be careful where you travel or else your greed will be left as a skull for fox’s new treasure.
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3 The Cat Saved The Child with Her Katana (Re-Imagined)
One day a child named Jun peeked through the Forest. No one had traveled through this abandoned place except for a soldier named Masako Gozen. Jun heard about this soldier from his mother. Every night, Jun’s mother told the story of Masako Gozen. Masako was a great samurai before she fled into the Forest after she heard “noises,” crying for her help. No one could find her because of the Forest’s evil spirits, all in a form of foxes. She believed Masako might live there to protect the Forest with her katana, which she lost its blade during her disappearance. Her sword, however, was so powerful, that it can only reform itself when the sword was reunited with its master. He wanted to believe what his mother said. But he needed to see that sword in case his mother was lying again. He glanced back to his house: a small home with his mother and father working endlessly on their field of cabbages. He shook his head then headed inside of the Forest’s belly. The trees’ bright green leaves covered the sky with its long branches. Grass brushed against his ankles, Jun pressed his hands on every tree trunk to mark his path. A white cat, awoke from her sleep, blinked and watched the boy walking past her. She stretched her legs then dashed to greet this new stranger. Jun flinched as white cat emerged then bowed her head. “Hello, child.” He sighed. “Oh hello.” “May I ask why you are here, wandering in the Forest?” “Ms. White Cat, I’m looking for a sword.” “A sword?” “Yes! My mother once told me about a soldier. She came through here and lost her sword. Do you know where is it, Ms. White Cat?” She fell silent. White cat rubbed her paw against the ground. “I do. But you must turn away. For it is too dangerous to search for what you are looking for.” Jun raised his eyebrows. “Why?” “Spirits. They guard the sword, and want to obtain its power of Gozen. If they find you looking for the katana, they will have your head.” “But you will be by my side, right? You can protect me if the spirits come after us.” “What about you?” “I will protect you. I won’t let anything happen to you if the spirits hurt you. Please guide me to the sword, Ms. White Cat.” White Cat looked at the leaves. She digested the boy’s words before meeting Jun’s eyes again. “Alright. I will take you there.” White Cat led Jun through Forest, tip-toing to the archway of Forest’s house. It stood in the middle of plain dirt, circled by a ray of foxes with beady red eyes. She motioned Jun as they drew closer to the house. A tiny spark shined through the dark
7 doorway of the broken home. Awed by the light Jun walked towards to the foxes. White Cat panicked behind the bushes. “Stop!” Its leader, long lush white tails flowed behind its army, turned then growled. “Who are you?” Jun yelped. “I-I-I come here to see a sword.” “A sword?” “Y-yes. My mother said a soldier left her sword here. May I please see it?” Fox’s crimson eyes stared at the boy. He slowly walked towards him, a cold breeze flew past Jun’s cheeks. “You want to see the sword, child?” One of his soldiers grabbed the sword out of the house, its handle wrapped with bright red silk and covered its sharp knife with a wooden case. He handed it to his great leader as he opened the case to reveal its bladeless weapon. “No creature has made the sword’s blade appear. But I will be the one to do so. I won’t let any child come and take away my chances to be the Gozen I was supposed to be!” He drew his claws then scratched Jun’s arm. With such impact, Jun flew in mid air before landing on his back. Blood gushed through his shirt while the rest of the foxes laughed and encouraged their leader to strike again. White Cat leaped out and ran towards her fallen friend. “Leave him alone! He has nothing to do with your ridiculous imagination!” White fox gaged. His army laughed at White Cat’s small protection. “Oh White Cat, you don’t understand. I am teaching this boy what’s mine is mine.” Jun cried. “Please! I want to see if what my mother said is true! Please don’t hurt my friend.” White Cat wished the boy had listen to her back in the trees. She had no choice but to do the unthinkable. “Child, please go.” Horrified, Jun protested. “But I don’t want to leave you! You’ll get hurt!” White Cat puffed her chest. “I will be alright.” Fox cackled. “You think you can defeat me? I am the spirit that will be awakened as the Great Gozen! You are too small and not worthy enough for this fine treasure.” Without a second thought, White Cat pounced at Fox’s mouth. She snatched the sword away from his grotesque teeth then her body glowed as she flew above the army. Her body turned into steel red armor padded from her breasts to arms to legs. A gray kimono was tucked between the armor and skin as cushion. Her snow fur grew into long black hair tied tight in a ponytail. White Cat’s eyes have turned golden amber, staring back at White Fox with anything but fear. She stood tall with her sword shimmering into a sharp silver blade with carved lettering of her name: Masako Gozen. Jun whispered. “It can’t be.” Fox enraged by Masako’s transformation. “No! I am the true Gozen!” He charged at Masako with his mouth opened for her head. Masako bent down then ran beneath the Forest spirit, slashing his stomach open in one swing. With a huge hole scrapped on his torso, Fox screamed. His body thrown on ground, nearly hit the house. His army went after him. Masako gripped her sword then cut them in half with one swing and left them all in a pile on top of White fox. Jun’s eyes widened. “Mother, you were right! The Gozen is alive!” Masako slid her sword back to its case then transform back as white cat. Jun ran to his friend. “You saved me, Gozen! Thank you.”
8 White cat gave him a sad smile, rubbed her head on his hand. “You must go, child. It is not safe to stay any longer.” “But I only met you for a short time. What is going to happen to you?” She looked at him. “I will be fine. You must go now. Your family is waiting for you.” Jun cried then embraced Gozen in his arms. “I will never forget you.” White cat licked his cheek. She pulled herself away from her friend, shooed him to go quickly. Jun waved good-bye then rushed to the path back to his home. As he got older, Jun stayed in his family’s house and grew more vegetables for the village. His mother continued to tell stories of the soldier to him before tucking him to bed. His wound healed over time but left a scar on his arm as a reminder of the day a white cat known as Gozen saved his life.
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4 The Fox and her Sword Here lies the sword that was once Held by masterful Masako Gozen She cut her enemies with a swing And protected her small village (Until a distant voice called her) Through the Forest, where Trees’ leaves were bright enough to Cover the sky. Masako fled but never returned. (Her blade is gone too, but some say it will reappear only to its Master Gozen) A fox of red fur walked past a house That once owned by Masako Gozen. (Spirits lived there as well but they too Looked for Gozen’s power) Walls torn side-by-side, Pieces of windows flew with the breeze. A twinkle of sliver shined on Fox’s eyes (a silk crimson ribbon wrapped around
its handle. Bulked silver guard plated between a mahogany wooden sheath)
Fox touched the sword as her body shaped into a dark red armor— covering her breasts, arms, and legs. (a soft kimono wrapped her bare skin, beneath her great armor) Her fur flowed long black hair down to the tips of her knee. She clutched her sword, opened to discover a gleaming blade that reflected her face and engraved name. Gozen was rumored to protect the Forest in that form. Has anyone seen her wondering through her home?
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5 the Forest Ma-sa-ko, Ma-sa-ko Where did you go? You haven’t come home. Fox oh fox, fox oh fox Do you know Where Masako has gone? Do you know, do you know About the sword Of Masako? Go-o-zen, Go-o-zen Who is hiding as Masako? Do you know, do you know What lurks in the Forest? Is Masako there? If you go, if you go Into the Forest You might see her. Fox oh fox, fox oh fox Be careful of white fox With long nine tails Ma-sa-ko, Ma-sa-ko Welcome back Your sword is back. Ma-sa-ko, Ma-sa-ko We’ll meet again Now go little Fox.
About The Author Asela Lee Kemper is a writer who has previously written for World Of Dance and The Odyssey. She has previously worked as art editor for SOU Student Press’ Main Squeeze. She is currently finishing her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and a minor in Emerging Media & Digital Art at Southern Oregon University.