FAMILY TREE LINK
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Family Namesake - "Yako (野狐) is a spirit possession of foxes (kitsune), as told in Kyushu. To be possessed by it is called "yako-tsuki" (野狐憑き). The yako, literally meaning field foxes, are also called nogitsune.
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Yako Family Lore
It started out cold. Gapes between the feet, balancing on the wire. Claws slipping off and prints of the square pattern permanently pressed into their skin. There was a dirty look about the place, reeking heavily of death. Each row of wire housing was numbered. Each address stained onto the skin of its residence. One per home, unless of course they were kids. But that too wouldn't last. Mom was forced to send them on their way, swaying back and forth in pain. What was happening? What was this place? Of which they had been born into, it must have been a mistake! The confusion of these words, jumbled though they may be, reflect the state of mind of the residence forced to live there.
Cruelty knows no bounds, the greed of humans extends farther than just the affairs between one another. It has affected those who toil within the world as a whole. The creatures who once listened proud and boldly upon the earth, feel now the metal they were born into, of their prison, instead of grass they will never know. They know nothing but this place and the will to want to escape. It's damp and cold. The screams of their brothers and sisters echo, sending terror into them. For they know what comes at the end of the day, the same fate those who lined their wires before lived. Death.
It was not known which of these residences created the three of them. A number of furred individuals could have been picked out. No doubt both had been the amber, ginger coat type. And they were a tamed pair, from several lineages ago. Grandparents and great grandparents and so on, resided in this farm. This hell hole. Beaten into fear, their free chances were stolen. So there were three, the pair who gave them life, died shortly after they were weaned off. Though it was just a short few months, they formed a bond, which was broken off with no sympathy or regard. But one never forgot. The cruelty of his brother and sister being stripped. They had no names. Addresses were how they were addressed. Cage 097, 098, 099. The three of them. One was freed through trade, escaping the captors of her sentence. One was freed by chance, lost in the batch. And the final was freed by fighting.
Just as quickly as these three were destined to the same fate as their ancestors, they had laid a new destiny. As if divine intervention itself has guided them. The spirits of Japan resided close it seems. Taking mercy on the creatures, for the humans' cruelty was great. Inari, the fox kami saved his children. His foxes. As if a yako had taken place, a possession. Yako. The family defines their own lineage apart from that of wire cages and abuse.
Though beaten bloody by canes, scared hands, and uncaring smirks, the love to protect never faded. Never struck out. Later, the yako possession would spread, as they collected those broken, abandoned, and lost off the streets. Never would the three allow others to feel the same fate they did. And if they had, never again would one be injured, neglected, or pained. That was the way of the Yako family. To fight to the bitter end, protecting those who were not free, who were stripped of love.
Why humans are so cruel and greedy is beyond comprehension. However, if this tells one inspiring tale, it is that original situations cannot define an outcome of one's life. Shackles can be shattered in one chess move. It is not about going all out or having the resources, it is simply a matter of putting yourself out there despite the odds against you. Fight as if there is no tomorrow. As if you might die. Living your life to the fullest is a matter of perspective. The spirits call us forth, guide us, let them.
Ginger Pelt
What terrible things they are, humans. And their cruelness knows no bounds. Their love is nothing compared to the cold trickery lying in wait. They want to control it all, even the things that should not be controlled, that of the flow of nature. They have methods of doing this which only cause suffering to the balance of life. They take and they take with no regard for what it does to those around them. Their selfishness strips others of the ability to live. And so, they kill with no regard to the suffering of them. The animals. The selling and buying of blood, woven in a soft and headless form. A place that suffocates the want to live. You buy blood under the silk fur.
He was no more than a fur coat, a ginger pelt. A number branded into his skin, 099, would be patched away once sold. But by then it would be far too late for he’d be dead. He was born into a wired cage, the horrific and crowded conditions. He was prodded with steel and hit with metal sticks. Canes of old men, who had taken to this life and saw it not as a preach of a moral code but a way of life.
As he moved from one place to another, unsure if it would be his last. And the workers, they sneered in their Japanese accents. For that is where he lived and what he was. A Japanese fox. And these workers laughed and nicknamed each pelted creature. And so the name they gave him was Kachinonai, worthless. These farms are known for their cruel practices in making fur coats. These animals are typically sold by their pelt. Though born into domestication, "K" was fearful of these men beyond comprehension. And that made him more feral in nature.
However this abuse led to escape. He was meant to be slaughtered, but fled his captivity. They had dragged him by the neck, to a bloody fate of death. And he’d cry out in agony but these men would not care for his whimpers for they heard them each and every day. And so, they had on this fateful day attempted to take him from his wired solitude and hang his pelt for sale. As they grasped him, he wiggled about in a fearful manner, desperate to free himself from the hands of his abusers. It took only a few bites, several scratches, and the fear he’d contracted rabies, for the foxes usually were too warn out to fight, for the worker to release his grasp. In a moment “K” had more freedom than he’d experienced before. He fled the fur farm, into the woods that surrounded him. And to the workers it was but one fox, who would not be able to survive in the wildness. So they kept on with their work.
Although he was conditioned to humans, he had a deep seeded hatred. He spent most of his time wandering the woods. He hunted like that of a truly wild born animal, he fought like one, developed scars like one. "K" learned what it was to be alive, even if he was hungry many days, in pain others, he was no longer bound by metal wire. And that was enough for him.
He had become a skilled hunter, taking down many small birds and rodents that flew and scurried the forest. At once he had become a part of the ecosystem, intune with the ways of the wind. The fox seemed to have found a place of belonging. However, it mustn't be forgotten that the woods presented danger and cruelty just as humans do. But that is the way of things. It cannot be helped.
“K” wandered into the wrong den and was almost slain by a large black bear. One that should not have been there, against the natural flow it was. He nearly escaped. But was left injured. He was found by a park ranger, who oversaw the area. And he was taken into care and released. He fought the entire time he was with them, as if fear of being caged once again had taken over.
It seemed many forces were driving the fox away from the area. Once again, against the flow of the natural world, “K’s” life was disrupted. The forest began to be destroyed, to make way for more houses, Osaka Japan was booming. "K" in the commotion found himself on a ship. Which when docked, he wiggled away from. Into the woods far off, past many houses, a beach, and a few apartments. He was now amongst the woods of Karakura, Japan. This is when his life would take a complete turn. He could not have foreseen it, not that the fox understood right from wrong, only what hurt and what didn’t. What he was meant to do to survive.
"K" had been sniffing through some trash left behind by a few humans, when a confident brown haired boy approached him. Unbenounced to him, this fox was not Karakura's typical Disney fantasy. "K" felt threatened by his presence and attacked him, essentially mauling him. The fox did not infect him, but did indeed leave scars. This stubborn boy learned, but did not give up. He visited "K" most days in hopes to gain his trust. It took many months of quiet, allowing “K” space to feel safe, but finally "K" could stand a human's presence. The boy would eventually become "K's" owner, Micah O'Sullivan.
Micah trained "K." Much like a dog. However he was no dog, he was hyper and wild, untouched. Yet the bond between Micah and the fox grew. Soon inducing him into a few of his crime endeavors. He still did not trust most people, but he was slowly getting better. During this time he also met his mate, Vixey. Who would play a huge role in the civilization of "K." Vixey's owner, Ibuki, was very kind to him. She was the second person he seemed to allow to come near him.
“K” slowly realized the kindness of humans. Though he would not approach strangers who seemed to have bad intent or forced themselves upon him. “K” had adopted the style of Karakura animals over the few years he lived in Karakura. A lot occurred in this new prosperous environment. He had several kits with his mate Vixey. He also took several into his care. He was very protective of his large family. Each kit he found, abandoned by their family, he took in as one of his own children. He watched over them and would stop at nothing to keep them safe from what he endured. What he felt at the hands of humans.
However, later down the line. Just when “K” had begun to settle, Vixey disappeared. And he at first did not think too much of it, she would return in the coming few days. Until, she didn’t. "K" had another mate at this time, who he shared three kits with. One must understand, animals do not keep to one partner typically. It is the way of survival. And these animals, when they are stressed or cannot provide for their young, kill them. And he killed two of the second mate’s kits. Abandoning the last of the three kits at the Karakura Monastery. Vixey eventually returned for some time, coming and going like the wind. And he had to move on.
“K” can be found now, wandering the powerplant, left to waste and abandoned by the city. Where criminals and bloodshed happens all too often. He has become desensitized to it all. There are those he knows, who hide behind masks, who cannot hide themselves from him. Humans, he wants to protect them with his life. Although mankind once hurt him terribly, he finds there can be beautiful and caring ones beyond the shadows of their deeds.
That of Calico O'Sullivan, who he would die for just the same as his owner. For she is his mother. A kind soul, who's lost on a path. And that of Lilu and Karlotta who fight just as valiantly for their friends as he would for them. And of Tokitio who protected him from the cruel others that reside in Karakura. And Komoshi and Niko, who do not hesitate at every bound to stand in front of him, when he cannot stand for himself. And Oliver who gave him love, where he knew only hate. Irina and Juuzou who spoke in his tongue and understood him well. Ikeda who “K” felt safe enough to fall asleep behind. And of course Lillian who held him close, he felt secure in her arms. And all of those in what they call a band of criminals, Sonomi, but what “K” saw as his most close family. All of these people and more have shaped “K” into what he is today. If only a fox to the outside world, if only an animal worth a pelt, he will not care. For this fox, has finally found a place that will treat him with care.
PSA: Fur farms are very abusive practices, most are outlawed but they still continue. Foxes are intelligent beautiful creatures, please do not support this cruelty, buy fake fur. They can feel pain just as we do, they have loving families, and can live wonderful and meaningful lives. Humans have inserted themselves into nature and made many animals die out from this Earth. Do not let foxes be the next on the list.
What terrible things they are, humans. And their cruelness knows no bounds. Their love is nothing compared to the cold trickery lying in wait. They want to control it all, even the things that should not be controlled, that of the flow of nature. They have methods of doing this which only cause suffering to the balance of life. They take and they take with no regard for what it does to those around them. Their selfishness strips others of the ability to live. And so, they kill with no regard to the suffering of them. The animals. The selling and buying of blood, woven in a soft and headless form. A place that suffocates the want to live. You buy blood under the silk fur.
He was no more than a fur coat, a ginger pelt. A number branded into his skin, 099, would be patched away once sold. But by then it would be far too late for he’d be dead. He was born into a wired cage, the horrific and crowded conditions. He was prodded with steel and hit with metal sticks. Canes of old men, who had taken to this life and saw it not as a preach of a moral code but a way of life.
As he moved from one place to another, unsure if it would be his last. And the workers, they sneered in their Japanese accents. For that is where he lived and what he was. A Japanese fox. And these workers laughed and nicknamed each pelted creature. And so the name they gave him was Kachinonai, worthless. These farms are known for their cruel practices in making fur coats. These animals are typically sold by their pelt. Though born into domestication, "K" was fearful of these men beyond comprehension. And that made him more feral in nature.
However this abuse led to escape. He was meant to be slaughtered, but fled his captivity. They had dragged him by the neck, to a bloody fate of death. And he’d cry out in agony but these men would not care for his whimpers for they heard them each and every day. And so, they had on this fateful day attempted to take him from his wired solitude and hang his pelt for sale. As they grasped him, he wiggled about in a fearful manner, desperate to free himself from the hands of his abusers. It took only a few bites, several scratches, and the fear he’d contracted rabies, for the foxes usually were too warn out to fight, for the worker to release his grasp. In a moment “K” had more freedom than he’d experienced before. He fled the fur farm, into the woods that surrounded him. And to the workers it was but one fox, who would not be able to survive in the wildness. So they kept on with their work.
Although he was conditioned to humans, he had a deep seeded hatred. He spent most of his time wandering the woods. He hunted like that of a truly wild born animal, he fought like one, developed scars like one. "K" learned what it was to be alive, even if he was hungry many days, in pain others, he was no longer bound by metal wire. And that was enough for him.
He had become a skilled hunter, taking down many small birds and rodents that flew and scurried the forest. At once he had become a part of the ecosystem, intune with the ways of the wind. The fox seemed to have found a place of belonging. However, it mustn't be forgotten that the woods presented danger and cruelty just as humans do. But that is the way of things. It cannot be helped.
“K” wandered into the wrong den and was almost slain by a large black bear. One that should not have been there, against the natural flow it was. He nearly escaped. But was left injured. He was found by a park ranger, who oversaw the area. And he was taken into care and released. He fought the entire time he was with them, as if fear of being caged once again had taken over.
It seemed many forces were driving the fox away from the area. Once again, against the flow of the natural world, “K’s” life was disrupted. The forest began to be destroyed, to make way for more houses, Osaka Japan was booming. "K" in the commotion found himself on a ship. Which when docked, he wiggled away from. Into the woods far off, past many houses, a beach, and a few apartments. He was now amongst the woods of Karakura, Japan. This is when his life would take a complete turn. He could not have foreseen it, not that the fox understood right from wrong, only what hurt and what didn’t. What he was meant to do to survive.
"K" had been sniffing through some trash left behind by a few humans, when a confident brown haired boy approached him. Unbenounced to him, this fox was not Karakura's typical Disney fantasy. "K" felt threatened by his presence and attacked him, essentially mauling him. The fox did not infect him, but did indeed leave scars. This stubborn boy learned, but did not give up. He visited "K" most days in hopes to gain his trust. It took many months of quiet, allowing “K” space to feel safe, but finally "K" could stand a human's presence. The boy would eventually become "K's" owner, Micah O'Sullivan.
Micah trained "K." Much like a dog. However he was no dog, he was hyper and wild, untouched. Yet the bond between Micah and the fox grew. Soon inducing him into a few of his crime endeavors. He still did not trust most people, but he was slowly getting better. During this time he also met his mate, Vixey. Who would play a huge role in the civilization of "K." Vixey's owner, Ibuki, was very kind to him. She was the second person he seemed to allow to come near him.
“K” slowly realized the kindness of humans. Though he would not approach strangers who seemed to have bad intent or forced themselves upon him. “K” had adopted the style of Karakura animals over the few years he lived in Karakura. A lot occurred in this new prosperous environment. He had several kits with his mate Vixey. He also took several into his care. He was very protective of his large family. Each kit he found, abandoned by their family, he took in as one of his own children. He watched over them and would stop at nothing to keep them safe from what he endured. What he felt at the hands of humans.
However, later down the line. Just when “K” had begun to settle, Vixey disappeared. And he at first did not think too much of it, she would return in the coming few days. Until, she didn’t. "K" had another mate at this time, who he shared three kits with. One must understand, animals do not keep to one partner typically. It is the way of survival. And these animals, when they are stressed or cannot provide for their young, kill them. And he killed two of the second mate’s kits. Abandoning the last of the three kits at the Karakura Monastery. Vixey eventually returned for some time, coming and going like the wind. And he had to move on.
“K” can be found now, wandering the powerplant, left to waste and abandoned by the city. Where criminals and bloodshed happens all too often. He has become desensitized to it all. There are those he knows, who hide behind masks, who cannot hide themselves from him. Humans, he wants to protect them with his life. Although mankind once hurt him terribly, he finds there can be beautiful and caring ones beyond the shadows of their deeds.
That of Calico O'Sullivan, who he would die for just the same as his owner. For she is his mother. A kind soul, who's lost on a path. And that of Lilu and Karlotta who fight just as valiantly for their friends as he would for them. And of Tokitio who protected him from the cruel others that reside in Karakura. And Komoshi and Niko, who do not hesitate at every bound to stand in front of him, when he cannot stand for himself. And Oliver who gave him love, where he knew only hate. Irina and Juuzou who spoke in his tongue and understood him well. Ikeda who “K” felt safe enough to fall asleep behind. And of course Lillian who held him close, he felt secure in her arms. And all of those in what they call a band of criminals, Sonomi, but what “K” saw as his most close family. All of these people and more have shaped “K” into what he is today. If only a fox to the outside world, if only an animal worth a pelt, he will not care. For this fox, has finally found a place that will treat him with care.
PSA: Fur farms are very abusive practices, most are outlawed but they still continue. Foxes are intelligent beautiful creatures, please do not support this cruelty, buy fake fur. They can feel pain just as we do, they have loving families, and can live wonderful and meaningful lives. Humans have inserted themselves into nature and made many animals die out from this Earth. Do not let foxes be the next on the list.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Pinterest Board of K
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