True Desires

Twilight in Heian-kyo, Choyo-machi of the demon realm.

At twilight, the Oma-ga-toki, the yokai of all Heian-kyo stirred to life. Various incidents of meeting ghosts and encountering demons clustered during this time when the boundaries grew blurred. Choyo-machi at this moment was like a creature just waking up; yokai throughout the district began to bustle about, preparing for another boisterous night.

A tanuki, transformed into a fair-faced young man, sat on a patch of grass by the riverbank in Choyo-machi. He drank wine with a troubled expression, deep in thought. Beside him sat Nura Rihyon, looking equally perplexed.

"Gulp, gulp... Burp... A yokai that can transform into the appearance others imagine, yet cannot take the form of its own heart's desire... Does such a yokai even exist in this world?" the tanuki spoke slowly in a distressed tone. He shifted his gaze toward Nura Rihyon beside him, hoping for some assistance, but Nura Rihyon responded with a helpless shrug.

"Don't look at me... If you, a transformation yokai, don't know of such a creature's existence, then I certainly won't," Nura Rihyon stated his position. This time, he truly had no way to help the tanuki.

Seeing this, the tanuki couldn't help but let out a long sigh. As a tanuki from the Shikoku tanuki clan, he indeed knew many transformation yokai, but he had never seen one like the one Princess Kaguya described.

"Being able to transform into what others imagine proves it can read minds, but being unable to transform into what it desires in its own heart is hard to understand. Normally, shouldn't one only be able to transform once they have a corresponding image in their own mind?" Sitting in place, the tanuki drank gloomily, his spirit dampened. He was making no progress on the riddle posed by Princess Kaguya, which directly wounded his confidence.

"Alright, alright. If you really can't figure it out, just forget it. Losing a bet is no big deal. Don't just mope here; let's go find some fun elsewhere," Nura Rihyon suddenly stood up and spoke comfortingly. The tanuki paid him little mind, continuing to sit and brood over the problem.

"Sigh... Fine. Since you're unwilling to give up, stay here then. I'm off!" Nura Rihyon said as he shouldered his blade and strolled unsteadily toward the street, leaving the tanuki alone by the river.

With a troubled face, the tanuki continued to ponder, but he couldn't find a single lead. Just as he was considering whether to post a bounty throughout Choyo-machi, a familiar and ethereal voice rang out behind him.

"Is that not Young Lord Yu? To be sitting alone by the river in such distress... What is it? Have you been stumped by the riddle posed by Princess Kaguya?"

Hearing this voice, the tanuki whipped his head around. What he saw was a beautiful woman in a light kimono. Her white hair cascaded down to her waist, and her pale hands held a paper umbrella. Her crimson eyes were fixed upon him. The newcomer was none other than the famous songstress of Choyo-machi, Shiranui.

"Shiranui... You, why are you here?" Seeing Shiranui's sudden appearance, the tanuki stood up in a bit of a panic, his expression filled with confusion.

"It is nothing. I was merely passing by. I heard earlier that Young Lord Yu participated in Princess Kaguya's Marriage Selection, and now seeing you here brooding alone, I assumed you were troubled by the princess's riddle... Would you like to tell me this riddle? Perhaps my humble opinion might offer you some inspiration..." Shiranui spoke slowly in a calm tone. Upon hearing this, the tanuki immediately brightened up.

"Of course! But... Shiranui, why would you suddenly want to help me? Did I not offend you last time?" Looking at Shiranui, a hint of doubt resurfaced in the tanuki's eyes.

"Perhaps because I, too, find the riddle posed by Princess Kaguya somewhat interesting... Furthermore, I was indeed a bit impolite when I drove you away last time. Helping you now is also because I do not wish for you to harbor resentment toward me," Shiranui said slowly. Hearing this, the tanuki paused for a moment before laughing.

"Hahaha... How could I ever harbor resentment toward you, Shiranui? You worry too much. But since you are willing to help, I shall tell you the riddle."

The tanuki then recounted the riddle Princess Kaguya had given him. After listening, Shiranui pondered for a moment, and a glimmer of realization appeared in her eyes.

"A yokai that takes the form of what is in others' hearts but cannot reflect its own? Hehe, this Princess Kaguya seems to be an extraordinarily perceptive person. If I have the chance, I truly wish to meet her..." Shiranui spoke with a faint smile. Seeing her like this, the tanuki asked excitedly.

"What? Shiranui, do you know the answer? What kind of yokai is it?"

"Perhaps. Before I tell you the answer, allow me to ask one thing. Do you still remember what I said to you when I rejected you last time?" Shiranui looked at the tanuki with a playful expression.

"What you said to me... Let me think... Was it, 'Someone who does not even understand themselves cannot speak of understanding others'?" the tanuki recalled. Of all his past conversations with Shiranui, that sentence had confused him the most.

"Exactly. Do you know why I said that? Although Young Lord Yu brought many gifts and expressed your affection... I did not see a single shred of desire for me in your eyes," Shiranui said, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her crimson gaze seemed capable of piercing through to one's soul, leaving the tanuki stunned where he stood.

"No... desire..."

"Yes. I have been a famous songstress since I was young. Whether human or yokai, I have seen countless suitors in my life. I can clearly feel the desire people have for me from the bottom of their hearts. But you lacked that desire. The gifts you sent and the affection you expressed seemed like you were merely going through the motions... So... what exactly is in your heart? What is your true craving, Young Lord Yu?" Shiranui locked eyes with the tanuki. Her words pierced into his heart, awakening something hidden deep within.

"What do I truly crave?" the tanuki murmured. Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, he clapped his hands and shouted in realization.

"I have it! I know what Princess Kaguya's riddle is looking for! Lady Shiranui, thank you for your guidance!" As he spoke, the tanuki bowed to Shiranui and then sprinted toward Heian-kyo.

Watching the tanuki's departing figure, Shiranui, holding her paper umbrella, smiled faintly.

...

Heian-kyo, Asakura Residence.

In the twilight courtyard, the tanuki stood alone. Behind the open sliding doors before him was Princess Kaguya, looking at him with a smile. She did not seem surprised by Young Lord Yu's visit.

"Young Lord Yu, you are the first to return. Have you found what I require?" Princess Kaguya asked in a gentle tone.

"Yes. I have found the yokai that can only manifest what others imagine and cannot reflect its own heart. That yokai... is myself..." Lifting his head, the tanuki plucked the hidden leaf from his head. In a puff of smoke, he transformed into his short, stout tanuki form. Princess Kaguya was not surprised; she simply watched with a smile.

"To be honest, Princess Kaguya, I am a tanuki yokai from Shikoku. I came to Heian-kyo to make a name for myself and strike it rich! In the ten-plus years I've spent here, I have gained many things from the capital, but in return... I have been influenced by Heian-kyo... and slowly changed...

"All this time, I liked to transform into a human and flirt around, but I realize now that the reason I liked those beautiful human women and female yokai was entirely due to the influence of Heian-kyo! To fit into so-called mainstream society, to be a so-called capital yokai, I distorted my original nature! I don't actually like those human beauties or transformed yokai! I actually... I actually..."

At this point, the tanuki hesitated for a long time before finally shouting it out.

"I actually like female tanukis! Pure, untransformed, authentic female tanukis! Plump, stout female tanukis with glossy fur! I want to marry a female tanuki! A whole bunch of female tanukis!"