This is the final chapter of the story. 
He waited for the end with his eyes closed.
The humans’ shouts changed into something altogether different.
Laughter. But not the laughter of a human. Mitsu knew this type of laughter.
Mitsu opened one eye.
Around him, crows danced from foot to foot, laughing in their own way. They jabbed twigs at the fox brothers between cawing laughs. Mitsu blinked in confusion, and his galloping heart thrummed in his ears. What happened to the iron spears and the humans? Then Mitsu noticed the human village was gone. He sat in an open field surrounded by small mounds of woven straw and sticks. The old man stood among the woven mounds, watching Mitsu with a smirk.
Mitsu nudged his brother, who yelped and leaped into the air.
“I don’t want to die,” Kitsu said.
“We are not going to,” Mitsu said. “We’ve been tricked.”
Kitsu gazed around. “By crows?”
“No.” Mitsu stared at the old man. “Old Tanuki.”
Kitsu followed his brother’s gaze. “Old Tanuki?”
The old man laughed. “You have me found out, little fox. How does it feel to be on the receiving end of a master prankster?” The old man changed into his true shape. One moment he looked like a bent old man, and the next moment a raccoon dog stood in his place. Mitsu frowned. It happened so fast he wondered if he had blinked and missed the telltale shape-shifting smoke. How did he change so fast?
“You will think twice about trying to trick one of your betters now won’t you?” Old Tanuki grinned at them. “Although, I should thank you. It’s been many, many years since I’ve had this much fun.”
He had us completely fooled, Mitsu thought. I didn’t think anyone could trick us foxes. How could he have made all of that feel so real? How did he change the crows too? Crows don’t have any special powers!
Kitsu’s ears and tails slumped. He whined. “What is Father going to say when he hears of this? Let’s not tell him, Mitsu. We will never be able to go with him on a trick if he knows about this. He probably won’t even teach me anymore.”
“It wouldn’t matter if we kept quiet. The crows will tell everyone in the forest by sundown,” Mitsu muttered.
Kitsu wilted. “Maybe Father won’t believe them.”
I don’t think Father could do a trick as complicated as this, Mitsu thought. Maybe tanuki are better at this than foxes.
“Old Tanuki, if I may ask, how do crows change shape?” Mitsu asked.
“Crows can’t, silly fox. Only foxes and tanuki like me can change shape. But you’d know that if you were taught properly,” Old Tanuki said. “But tanuki can cast illusions on other creatures, unlike you foxes. Tanuki illusions are different from your kind’s feeble illusions.” He grinned. “One of the crows may have appeared to knock you over the head, but it was actually me. That was quite satisfying after what you did to my tongue, I might add. See why I’m your better now? You won’t be pestering me again now, will you? I couldn’t let you go unpunished. I may want to be left alone, but I still have my pride.”
Mitsu nodded and chewed his lip as he thought. The crows began to fly off now that the trick was finished. They chattered among themselves. He felt his fox pride wilt as the black-feathered gossips took wing. Father won’t teach me after he hears of this. Foxes who failed died at the hands of hunters. Because of this, fox families didn’t tolerate failure. He always favored Kitsu over me, anyway. Yet Mitsu wanted to learn. A desperate idea sprang to his mind.
“We will get you back,” Kitsu said.
Old Tanuki laughed. “Just try it. I may be old, but I won’t fall for a prank twice.”
Mitsu made his decision.
“Old Tanuki, sir,” Mitsu said. “Can you teach me?”
Old Tanuki paused and stared at him. “Teach you? What can a fox learn from me? Your kind is too hard-headed and proud to learn from your betters.”
“You can’t! What would Father say, Mitsu?” Kitsu asked.
“Hush. Old Tanuki is much better at these big pranks than we are. Better than even Father is,” Mitsu said. He walked up before the tanuki and bowed low to the ground. “Please teach me.”
“This better not be a trick,” Old Tanuki said as he stepped back.
“No trick,” Mitsu said. “I want to learn, and Father won’t teach me.”
“You can’t be serious, Mitsu,” Kitsu said. “Father won’t allow this.”
“I am,” Mitsu said without looking up.
“You can’t be serious. I am going to tell Father you messed everything up. I knew something was wrong but decided to play along to give you practice. Father will come and set you straight,” Kitsu said. “See? I didn’t fail. I just was trying to help you learn.” Kitsu’s voice became more certain as he spoke.
Mitsu rolled his eyes. You were as fooled as I was. But then, Kitsu always turned things in his favor.
“I will convince Father to teach me everything he knows,” Kitsu said. “I won’t have anything to do with this wily old raccoon dog. Other than revenge. I will get you one of these days, Old Tanuki.”
Mitsu ignored his brother. “Please teach me, Sir Tanuki.”
“Don’t do this, Mitsu. You’ll regret it,” Kitsu said.
Old Tanuki frowned down in silence. Mitsu heard his brother huff with disgust and turn away.
“No. That is my answer,” Old Tanuki said.
“I won’t give up,” Mitsu said. “I will make you teach me.”
“I am going now, Mitsu. I am going to tell Father unless you come with me,” Kitsu said.
Old Tanuki grimaced and turned away. “I won’t fall for this trick. No.”
“It’s not a trick. I can’t learn from my father. He refuses to teach me. I want to learn.” Mitsu followed Old Tanuki. “I will pester you until you teach me.”
Old Tanuki stopped and frowned back at Mitsu. “You are serious, aren’t you?”
“Your trick tells me I can learn more from you than anyone. Please teach me.” Mitsu glanced over his shoulder at his older brother. “My brother is Father’s favorite. Father doesn’t care much about me. I doubt he will even miss me.”
“That’s not true,” Kitsu said.
“It is. We both know you are Father’s favorite. You can learn from Father, and I will learn from Old Tanuki. This is our fate.”
Kitsu shook his head. “You always were a dumb little brother. I will tell Father and wait for you to come back with your single tail between your legs.” Kitsu turned and walked away.
Old Tanuki studied Mitsu. Several moments passed, and Mitsu willed himself to remain still. “Fine,” Old Tanuki said at last. “I will teach you if only so you won’t pester me. I won’t have any trouble. What I say, you do. Got it?”
Mitsu sat back on his haunches and nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Whoever heard of a tanuki teaching a fox?” Old Tanuki shook his head. “I am a fool for doing this, but at least I will have you around for chores. These crows are little good for that. Well, we will see what I can teach you. Come along.”
Mitsu glanced back at his brother, but Kitsu was already gone. “Goodbye, Kitsu.”
Mitsu followed Old Tanuki into the forest.
