Mr. Sato looked at the piece of paper he had just been given by the old man. It was a simple business card depicting a traditional house next to a pond. The lawyer's name was written in kanji and in western letters.
" But sir...", he muttered, but as he looked up he saw the man had already left the lobby.
Perhaps it wasn't such a bad proposal. Mr. Sato had never met environmentalists, let alone talked to one. So if mr. Tanaka was as good a negotiator as he claimed to be, it might be worth the chance.
He went to his hotel-room and took a warm bath, shaved himself and then took the new shirt and the silk tie from his suitcase. If he was to meet this sentimental forest-dweller, he would blow him away with a display of power and superiority. He smiled at the thought of the fool's face when he would arrive at the lawyer's house.

Mr. Sato called a taxi and told the driver the address.
" Please excuse me sir. Are you sure?"
" I am. What's wrong?"
" It is in the middle of nowhere. Not a place to go to at this hour. Especially not for a gentleman like you."
" A rough neighbourhood?"
" Worse. It is a wild, mountainous area. There is no lighting, no paved roads and, as far as I know there are no houses there either."
" I'm aware of that. Please  take me there."
" As you whish, sir."

They left the busy streets, the bars and the nightclubs behind, and soon they passed the sign which told them they had left the city.
Mr. Sato looked back and saw the skyscrapers shrink. They were now driving to a quiet suburb with small houses and narrow streets. The landscape got wilder, with rocky slopes rising on both sides of the road. He saw the last houses disappear and after they past a small shrine, the forest enveloped them.

Except for the beams cast by the car's headlights there was only darkness, though mr. Sato imagined that every now and then he could see the eyes of animals as yellow dots, reflecting the light from the car.
There was no sound except for the buzzing of the engine. The driver had not said anything since they left. His gaze was focussed on the road and his face was like a mask. Suddenly he opened his mouth though.

" Where should I drop you off?"
" It says number seven."
" But there are no houses here."
" Please drive on until you see a house. We can check its number."
" As you whish."

They moved on and the road got bumpy. The forest was now so dense that Mr. Sato could not even see the stars anymore. He pondered over the strange proposal. Why would a man like Tanaka, a succesful lawyer, live in such a deserted place?

" Sir? There is a house over there."
Mr. Sato looked up and he saw the lights ahead of them. As they approached he saw it was an old fashioned building with a pond next to it. The building from the picture. So this was where mr. Tanaka lived

" I think that's it. Please wait here while I check the number."
He went up the stairs, which appeared to have been carved out of the rock. Then he saw the shiny seven next to the front door. He walked back to the taxi and paid the driver.

While the car disappeared into the darkness, mr. Sato climbed up the stairs a second time. He noticed there was no bell and therefore knocked the door. In the corner of his eye he saw something and as he turned to see what it was, he saw a hairy tail disappear in the bushes next to the pond. Then he heard the shrieking sound of the door.

It was opened by a woman in traditional dress who bowed deeply before him. She looked a bit like a geisha, but as he looked at her he saw that she wasn't wearing any make-up. Mr. Sato had never seen a girl like her before. Her skin was nearly white and her eyes were dark and sparkling like the night's sky.
She didn't speak to him, but just gestured that he could take off his shoes and follow her.

Mr. Tanaka was sitting at a low table and an old man sat opposite to him. Both were wearing tradional dress and they nodded at mr. Sato as he entered. Mr. Tanaka introduced the other as Sho-san.
" Sit down, Sato-san", Sho-san said," You can call me impolite, but I would like to know what brings you here. There is no need to waste time."
Mr. Sato was indeed surprised by the way he was addressed, but he sat down and tried to stay calm.
" Didn't Tanaka-san tell you?"
" He told me you want to destroy my house and my forest."
" Not in such words", mr. Tanaka said quickly.
" I do not want to destroy your forest, Sho-san. I want to improve it so that more people can enjoy it."
" It is my forest. Mine! And Riko's. She is going to be my successor."
" Riko is your daughter? Do you have many children?"
" That's none of your business. You must leave my forest alone. Build your resort somewhere else. Somewhere in your own region perhaps."

Mr. Sato felt the blood rush to his face. He knew that environmentalists were different from businessmen, but this old man had to know who he was dealing with.
" Sho-san, I bought your forest. It is mine now, and I politely ask you to leave. I don't want to make this worse for you than it already is, but you leave me little choice. If you don't move voluntarily, I will have to force you."
" You and what army?"
" The police."

He looked at Mr. Tanaka for he whished to appologize to him for the failed negotiations, but the lawyer seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
" Where is Tanaka-san?", he asked.
" There is no Tanaka-san."
" I beg your pardon?"
" Never existed. Riko, you can come now."

The girl entered and mr. Sato saw that she was accompanied by two foxes. In her right hand she held a halberd and in her left hand a small dagger. Mr. Sato saw how the lamp's light reflected in her eyes and gave them the same yellow glow as that of the little dots he had seen on his way here.

" You don't frighten me with illusions Sho-san. Tomorrow I will tear your house down to the ground till not a single brick is left, and if your daughter is here to treathen me, I'll sue her."
" Affraid of foxes, Sato-san? You do know the forest is full of them, aren't you? Do you realy whish to invite your guests there? Go ahead dear, he's all yours."

The foxes growled and Riko pointed her weapon at the businessman.

The next morning, a truck driver took a shortcut through the mountains. He drove through the forest, past the little shrine for the fox-spirits who were said to inhabit these mountains. Further up the track he had to break for a fox who suddenly crossed the road.
As he came to a halt, he saw a man lying in the grass next to the foundations of a house that had been destroyed by a hurricane a long time ago.
The driver got out of his truck and ran to the site. The man was well dressed, wearing a fine suit, a clean shirt and a silk tie. In his hand he was holding a small piece of paper. He was still breathing, and as the driver patted his face, he opened his eyes.
" Where am I? Who are you?"
" Are you alright?"
" I... I don't know. There was this lady and foxes. What's this?"
He looked at the business card in his hand. It was the same card that mr. Tanaka had given him the other day, but on the backside was written " You didn't dream. Don't anger the foxes. Go home."