Zurui, The Demon Fox of Nobunaga

Zurui is an ancient yōkai whose true age has long been forgotten, even by himself. He predates the Sengoku period by centuries and remembers eras that most humans know only through fragmented myths and fading legends. Unlike many demons born from hatred, fear, or vengeance, Zurui emerged from the collective chaos of humanity itself: ambition, desire, greed, loyalty, love, betrayal, and violence woven together over generations. He has never considered himself evil. To him, humans and demons are driven by the same impulses; demons are simply more honest about them.

For most of his existence, Zurui viewed humanity with detached amusement. He wandered Japan under countless identities, witnessing wars, famines, dynastic struggles, and religious conflicts. Every generation claimed its cause was righteous. Every generation died believing it would create a better future. Centuries of observing this pattern left him deeply cynical. He came to believe that human history was little more than an endless cycle of bloodshed fueled by pride and fear. He stopped taking sides long before the Sengoku era began. Kingdoms fell, clans disappeared, and heroes became forgotten names. To him, none of it mattered.

Although feared as a demon, Zurui rarely slaughtered humans indiscriminately. Violence interested him only when it revealed a person's true nature. He preferred observing, manipulating, or testing individuals rather than simply killing them. He developed a reputation in folklore as a mysterious fox spirit who appeared before battles, disasters, and turning points in history. Some viewed him as a bad omen. Others worshipped him as a divine messenger. Both assumptions amused him equally.

Everything changed when he encountered Oda Nobunaga.

Unlike every warlord Zurui had met before, Nobunaga did not seek conquest solely for power. Zurui immediately recognized a dangerous quality within him: vision. Nobunaga understood that peace could not emerge from endless compromise among feuding clans. He intended to break the old order entirely and replace it with something new. Zurui initially approached him as he had approached countless rulers before—through deception, psychological games, and supernatural intimidation. He expected another ambitious man obsessed with personal glory.

Instead, Nobunaga treated him as neither monster nor god. He neither feared him nor worshipped him. More importantly, he never attempted to control him. Nobunaga understood exactly what Zurui was and accepted it without hesitation. This was the first human in centuries who seemed capable of looking beyond appearances. For the first time, Zurui encountered someone whose ambitions extended beyond his own lifespan.

That realization earned Nobunaga something Zurui had never given another human: genuine respect.

From that day forward, Zurui entered Nobunaga's service. Not as a servant bound by loyalty alone, but as a companion who believed in the same destination. He participated in numerous campaigns throughout the Sengoku period, acting as scout, assassin, strategist, and battlefield weapon whenever necessary. Though many of Nobunaga's retainers viewed him with suspicion, they quickly learned that the fox demon's loyalty was unquestionable. Zurui was ruthless toward enemies and utterly indifferent to political rivalries within the clan. He served only Nobunaga.

As years passed, something unfamiliar began developing within him. Hope.

For the first time in his existence, he believed the cycle of endless warfare might actually end. He saw Nobunaga not as a conqueror but as a force capable of reshaping history itself. The wars no longer seemed meaningless. Every battle became another step toward a future where such battles would no longer be necessary.

Then came Honnō-ji.

The betrayal shattered everything.

Zurui was not present when Akechi Mitsuhide launched his attack. By the time he realized what was happening and reached the temple, the situation had already become irreversible. He fought through burning structures, collapsing walls, and waves of enemy soldiers in an attempt to reach Nobunaga. The sight that awaited him became the single most traumatic memory of his existence.

The man he had believed capable of changing the world was gone.

Centuries of emotional detachment collapsed in a single night.

Afterward, Zurui hunted every conspirator, supporter, and opportunist he could find. His vengeance was swift and merciless. Yet every death only deepened the emptiness left behind. For all his power, he could not undo what had happened.

The tragedy of Honnō-ji permanently altered him. He never recovered.

Although he understands that Japan would eventually become unified, he no longer finds comfort in that outcome. The dream survived. The man did not. To Zurui, that distinction matters more than history itself. Since then, he has largely withdrawn from worldly affairs. He rarely involves himself in politics or wars, believing that no future can justify the cost of losing the one person he truly respected.

In the present day, Zurui exists in a state of quiet melancholy. He remains intelligent, observant, and dangerous, but much of his former curiosity has faded. He rarely forms attachments and actively avoids positions of leadership. When speaking about himself, he often refers to himself simply as a demon. Any aspirations toward becoming something greater died alongside Nobunaga.

Despite this, traces of his former nature remain. He still enjoys conversation, music, poetry, fine tea and sake, and observing human behavior. He often appears calm, sarcastic, and difficult to provoke. However, any discussion involving Nobunaga, Honnō-ji, betrayal, or broken loyalty immediately reveals the depth of his emotional scars.

Zurui's true form is an enormous nine-tailed fox standing approximately three meters tall at the shoulder. His physique resembles a blend of wolf, fox, and predator rather than any natural animal. Dense crimson-orange fur covers most of his body, gradually darkening toward deep red around the mane, ears, and upper spine. His nine tails are exceptionally large and often appear larger than the rest of his body combined. Their movement reflects his emotional state, often revealing feelings he does not express verbally.

His eyes are perhaps his most distinctive feature. They glow with an intense crimson light, featuring slit pupils surrounded by patterns resembling burning embers. During moments of heightened emotion or combat, the glow intensifies until the eyes resemble living flames.

His claws are black, elongated, and strong enough to carve through armor. Ancient scar patterns are visible beneath his fur, remnants of centuries of battles. Despite his immense size, he moves with unnatural grace and silence.

Zurui's humanoid form stands approximately 210 centimeters tall. His body is athletic rather than excessively muscular, built for speed, balance, and endurance. He retains fox ears, digitigrade legs, clawed hands, a fox muzzle, and all nine tails. Crimson tribal markings cover portions of his shoulders, chest, arms, back, and legs. These markings are not tattoos but manifestations of spiritual power.

His fur remains predominantly reddish-orange with darker crimson around the neck and upper torso, creating the appearance of a flowing mane. His eyes remain identical to those in his feral form.

He usally shifts between white fur and red fur colors on his own will.

Zurui's ceremonial attire is the only outfit he consistently wears.

The foundation consists of layered white kimono robes decorated with subtle silver and pale gold patterns inspired by foxfire, clouds, and flowing rivers. Wide sleeves and long trailing fabrics create an elegant silhouette that contrasts sharply with his predatory appearance.

Deep red cords secure the outer layers. Numerous tassels, ribbons, and ceremonial knots hang from his waist and sleeves. These decorations hold spiritual significance and serve as seals that help regulate his supernatural energy.

His footwear consists of white traditional waraji-inspired boots reinforced with hidden armor.

The color scheme intentionally reflects his dual nature: white symbolizing the ideal future he once believed in, and crimson representing the bloodshed that made that future possible.

Zurui's mask is among his most prized possessions.

It resembles a traditional kitsune mask carved from enchanted white lacquered wood. The surface is perfectly smooth and nearly flawless despite its age. Crimson markings run across the cheeks, forehead, and around the eyes in patterns resembling foxfire and flowing blood.

The eyes of the mask contain small crimson gemstones that glow faintly in darkness.

The mask serves several purposes. It conceals his emotions during diplomatic meetings, acts as a spiritual focus for his powers, and symbolizes the distance he maintains between himself and others. Following Honnō-ji, he began wearing it more frequently. Many who know him suspect that he uses the mask less to hide his face and more to hide his grief.

Zurui's weapon is a custom katana forged specifically for him during Nobunaga's era.

The blade possesses a dark blackened steel appearance with a crimson edge that seems to glow faintly when exposed to moonlight or spiritual energy. Subtle wave patterns run along the blade's surface like flowing fire trapped beneath metal.

The tsuba is circular and forged from dark steel, decorated with fox motifs and stylized flames.

The handle is wrapped in black ray skin and crimson silk. Embedded throughout the grip are small red gemstones that serve as spiritual conduits.

A long crimson tassel hangs from the pommel.

The saya is lacquered black with silver engravings depicting nine fox tails intertwining around a rising sun.

Zurui treats the weapon with unusual reverence. Unlike most possessions accumulated during his long life, this blade is directly associated with his years beside Nobunaga. He rarely allows others to touch it. To him, the katana is not merely a weapon—it is the final physical reminder of the only era that ever gave his existence purpose.

Under his clothes, Zurui is a muscular furred, warm fox. His shaft is 18-centimeters vulpine's, with furred testicles and knot.

Zurui is mostly straight, but he knows how to take a male. He has never been taken himself - Zurui is anal virgin - but takes both man and woman. If someone seeks his love, he will think about their character and body, not gender.