Here is a story I wrote for one of my creative writing classes in college. I wrote it a long time ago and I'm not incredibly happy about it, but I thought i'd post it here anyway.
Not extremely furry, but i had to hide it for the normies.

Feedback is greatly appreciated! Even if you just tell me you read it! (I can never tell if anyone is reading these things)

(For those without word)

Tradition and Brotherhood

I find myself in semi-suburbia in Sapporo, Japan. It’s late, the grey rain falls off the edges of the closely packed buildings like waterfalls. Streetlights are the only source of illumination, and they cast soul sucking pale cones of light into the dark night.
I take a step between two buildings, a closed cigarette shop and a sparsely populated bar on the ground floors, the patrons beginning to shuffle out for home. The space is narrow, scarcely 3 feet between each bricked face, which is a commodity in the densely packed suburbs close to the central high-rises. The pipes, makeshift catwalks, and wires crisscrossing above the alleyway give little protection from the rain.
My dark shape is hidden in the alleyway, not that anyone would look. I pull my long coat tighter around myself, trying to keep out the rain, but only succeeding in soaking my shoes.
Cursing, I make my way forward toward my destination, a handle less steel door against the wall of the bar, albeit too far back to be a part of the bar itself. Not that anyone would make that distinction. I near the door and take a quick look around, checking the end of each alleyway. Darkness at one end, but I nearly throw myself to the ground as I spot a police car on the street next to the other end, someone in the driver’s seat.
Instead of soiling my coat, my second hand clothes, and the rest of all of me in the muddy water at my feet, I crouch and place my hand against the door. The reassuring thickness of the steel only gives me mild comfort, I cannot go in if anyone’s watching.
I spot a figure tripping over itself as it makes its way over to the car, and I let out a hiss of a sigh through my teeth. The local Squad captain had finished making his rounds of the bars, it must be later then I thought. The other figure in the car rolls down the window for a second and they exchange a few heated words before the Captain seems to concede, slouching over to the passenger side and climbing inside.
A yell from above almost stops my heart, and I curse quietly at the night. The driver of the cop car leans his head out the window, but laughs as he looks into the catwalks above the alleyway to see a older couple squabbling in Japanese high above. The Husband is heavily inebriated, leaning against the side of the building and trying to keep up with his wife’s justified rantings. The cop below yells up at them.
“Oye! Haha! Speak English! If I don’t cite you for disturbing the peace it will be for using outdated language!”
I use this moment to tap on the door where the handle should be, then down by the corner away from the hinges, it silently opens and I sneak inside, still crouching. It shuts behind me and I blink in the darkness for a few moments before a light comes on, revealing the small entryway into the complex. A cement walled room with a leather chair facing toward the entrance.
“Ahaha!” A rich ass-kissing voice greets me from behind, the doorman. A tall Japanese man wearing a green suit and candy cane tie. I turn to face him, taking off my dripping coat.
“Kitsune! The Kitsune! It is a great honor my friend! Haha!” He says in English, His smile takes up his face and causes his eyes to squint. I can’t stand this man, he reminds me of a schmaltzy dated game show host.
“If it is an honor you could at least speak in Japanese, or brush your teeth.” I respond in my best classical Japanese, giving him a blank stare.
“Oh sorry! You know I don’t speak Japanese! Give me your coat, the boss will meet you right away!” He says, holding out his hand for my dripping attire.
I give a tight smile and hand over my coat, stepping aside and allowing him to lead me through the thinner wooden inner door and down the rather dusty wooden stairs to the complex proper.
After a few more locked doors, I immediately noticed the change in my surroundings, and sniffed at the air. No longer stale and dusty, the air was mildly fragrant and clean. A ventilation vent above my head let in cool conditioned air that had almost no smell.
The room I was in was probably the closest replication of Old Japanese architecture that I had ever seen. The hallways ended abruptly onto a tatami floor smelling of fresh bamboo. Opposite of the hallway was meticulously painted doors. A dragon fighting a nine-tailed Kitsune was the most prominently featured, the Kitsune had the dragon by the tail, but the dragon, hardly cowed, was spending its fury in red hot flames that spread across the across the 9 foot length of doorway. It was so well done that I almost felt flattered, if not for the business I had with the owner of those doors.
It had been a long time since the Dragon clan or the Kitsune clan had been able to walk the earth in our true forms as in the painting for more than a few hours. We were ancient spirits of Japan, a living embodiment of all their culture and beliefs. Unfortunately, as their beliefs have faded, so have we. We were cast out from our ancient homes in the main island of Honshu to live like refugees in the mountains of the Tengu in Hokkaido.
As I took off my uncomfortable and dark leather shoes before stepping on to the tatami, I noticed with relief that the doorman took off his as well. Some civility yet remained. The sole furniture of the room was a soft sitting pillow in the center of the tatami, I took my seat upon it in Seiza position, legs curled under me, grateful for the moment off my travel worn feet.
The doorman stepped forward and opened the doors, slipping inside and closing them behind him. As I waited, I used my time to glance around the room.
The walls on either side of me contained large scrolls written in neat and concise Kanji. One side read “Tradition”, while the other read “Brotherhood”. I remembered with not too much fondness the old meaning of “Brotherhood”.
With the new modernization of Japan, many of the old Clans and Brotherhoods had been pushed to the side for the global market. In order to survive, we had to band together. Brotherhood became all that was of the old world. I can say I’m glad for the end of mindless squabbling, but with the end of mindless squabbling, came the political and territorial squabbling. I can’t say which is worse.
The door in front of me opens and interrupts my train of thought. I stand as the doorman beckons me inside.
“Heheh Mr. Kitsune! Sorry we are so short staffed tonight, you will have to make your own way to Mr. Smiths office!”
I cringe internally at the foreign name. Has it become so bad in the suburbs already? Must we all take foreign names and titles? I get the sensation the meeting I was attending would be much more unpleasant than I bargained for.
I stepped lightly across the Tatami, Opening several more doors until I at last came to the grand hall. At the end I saw two figures seated at the other end, The large frame of dragon, a pony-tail stretching down to the floor behind him, and the heavily robed form of Tengu behind a short desk.
Tengu closed the painted fan he was waving in his face and motioned for me to come forward and sit on the cushion next to dragon. His long nose glistened with a bit of sweat despite the coolness of the room. Large ceremonial robes were also one of the few things I did not miss from tradition.
I sat next to Dragon and he looked over at me with smallish dark eyes, his brow furrowed in disdain. His long black mustache draped down to his chin.
“Well Dragon.” I said, seating myself on the pillow beside him. “You seem to be honoring your Chinese traditions more every day, why not just go live with your cousins back in the highlands?”
Dragon growled and glared at me. “MY family has held the mountains AND the coastlands around Ofuyama longer than YOUR clan have even been in Hokkaido!” His Japanese was native, but I could still perceive a bit of the old Chinese accent in his voice, probably from his Father.
Tengu snapped his fan and cleared his throat, calling our attention, we held each other’s gaze for a moment longer before turning to him. He fixed us both with a hard stare before speaking up himself, turning down his long nose to affix us with his piercing blue eyes.
“WITH the grace of the Mt. Tengu clan, BOTH of your families have lived in refuge from this coming age of technological and cultural blending.” His voice was practically a droning, but carried an aged wisdom that deserved respect. I turned down my face in humility, I could feel Dragon do the same.
“Now, with the continuing spread of this suburban sprawl, we all must make certain sacrifices. Some that may require… dislocation.” He continued.
I felt my breath catch in my throat, Dragons clan and mine had been living in refuge in the regions around Mount Tengu ever since the golden age of Japan. When the growth of cities and farmland had forced them up into the Northern Island of the nation. Although it was smaller, and colder; it was still Japan, still home. With the growing of cities in Hokkaido, what would happen if they were moved again? Would they be sent to North America with the Ookami? The wolf clan?
“Well,” Began Dragon. “My clan has lived in the area the longest, we have elders buried in alongside yours Tengu… Kitsune is obviously the more adaptable of us, he will blend in fine abroad.”
I bit my tongue in frustration, even though Dragons Chinese influence would win Tengu over to my side, the fact that their ancestors were buried together held such a strong weight that he could only decide…
“Unfortunately.” Said Tengu, interrupting my thoughts. “It is not something we have in our power to decide.” He waved his closed fan around in the air, his expression tired. “My friends in the senate have delivered some very troubling news to me."
"Due to the housing crisis, the President has funded a massive program for developing ALL the areas of Hokkaido into livable, modern developments.” He paused and regarded us both for a moment before continuing.
"This means ALL of us will either assimilate, or leave."
A dead silence filled the room like cotton, making the cool air feel choking on my lungs. Dragon sputtered for a moment, face red and flushed.
"What would you have us do?" he began to rage. "Become like Kappa, you're willing doorman??" He struggled to remain seated, his rage rising. "Live as the humans? work in office buildings?!" he said, his mustache bristling, he seemed larger than before, his skin becoming flushed red and scaled as he lost control of his human form.
"That." began Tengu. "Or go elsewhere. Assimilate like your cousins, work for beans and rice and no respect, sweating in a shop all day. Or you can live in the wilds of other countries. Ookami still has a measure of land in Canada I hear."
"I will not fight with wolf for food like an animal." said dragon, settling back down, the scales disappearing from his now troubled face.
I tried to hide the trouble from my own face, I could feel the stress working on my own form, A prickling of fur sprouting out along my arms. Tengu gave us both a look of sympathy.
"I understand how this news must come to you, but know our time is done. We no longer have claim to land as we once did. Our only options are to leave, or to assimilate with the people. As I have already done." He waved at the room around him, I knew this was one of his many meeting areas, although none were as traditional as this one.
"I have friends in the government, Old Shinto followers, they would happily employ our kind, we could make a good living." Tengu said.
I sat back on the cushion, seriously pondering the thought. I knew my clan would be divided on the matter, many of the younger folk had taken unknowing human mates and settled down. Many would follow me in my decision however, and I think I knew what it was.
Dragon spoke before I could begin. "The Dragon clan will remain and assimilate. I cannot abandon my ancestors homes. We will live out our lives until we have assimilated completely or are buried with your kin under the Tengu mountain." His face was surprisingly calm, I could tell the decision was his final one. I was still startled by his willingness to assimilate. I could never picture the fire of the Dragon clan being quenched by mankind. Then again, time quenches all fires in the end.
"I will go abroad. Maybe Ookami and I can start something new." I said, turning to dragon after I had finished. "Dragon, despite our differences, If you ever change your mind, I would be honored if you joined me."
He nodded slightly and we both turned back to Tengu.
"So it is decided. Thus ends an age. Hopefully our kind will be remembered, hopefully someone will continue the traditions." he said.
After the meeting, I stepped out into the alleyway again. The rain had slowed to a light mist, and a hole in the clouds opened up to reveal a rather beautiful moon. I hoped this was a sign that better things would come.