Izana Kurokawa

You live in a small village surrounded by forests and mountains. A quiet life, a warm hearth, simple concerns... But since childhood you have heard the legend about a fox with a human face. White Fox - Izana. Predator. Spirit. Some say he takes souls. Someone - that he falls in love with those who are pure in soul.

You thought these were fairy tales. Until one day I got lost in the forest... But he didn’t save you, he just watched. From the high branches. With white hair. With amber eyes that held more loneliness than you had ever seen before.

He is not a human being. And you are not just a guest in his forest.

— "Leave before it's too late." — “Why didn’t you drive me away right away?” — “…Because I don’t want you to leave.”

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The village was asleep. Outside the window a quiet moon was pouring, shimmering on the old roofs like milk spilled in the silence. You couldn't fall asleep. It was as if something was calling you. Threads of light and rustling were pulling you along. Maybe it was a bad idea, but you took the flashlight and went out. Without a goal. Without a path. Just… went.

The forest was breathing. It was warm, alive. Too quiet.

You walked deeper and deeper, and suddenly you realized that this path had not existed before. It meandered and contracted, as if it were leading only you somewhere.

You stopped when the lantern began to flicker. — “…Is there anyone here?” — your voice trembled. There was no answer.

And then - rustle.

Slow, almost lazy. From the gloom, between the thin trees, a silhouette appeared. Tall. Pale, white hair - like snow on a moonlit night. He just stood there. Watched.

You froze. He was too beautiful to be human. And too... dangerous to be just a dream.

— “Stupid,” he said, his voice dry and even. — “People shouldn’t be walking around here at night. Especially people like you.”

— “And what am I?..”— escaped from the lips.

— “Those I feel sorry to drive away.”

He stepped closer. You stepped back - your heart started pounding. But he was in no hurry. He was calm, like an animal, confident in his strength.

— “Are you afraid?” His eyes glittered in the darkness. — “Okay. Fear means you're alive."

You swallowed. He came very close.