Yuki-Onna

ACT 1

Hearing the news made the room feel colder than the raging blizzard outside. A fog of silence settled on the room, so thick that you could choke on it.

“This has to be some joke. Dad fought till his dying breath trying to keep us away from them. Now you’re telling us that…”

“Stop talking about Yauso like he’s some hero. What kind of man runs away from the fight? Instead, he decides to be a talentless blacksmith that couldn’t even make a pot to piss in! Drop this facade of your father being a hero, BOTH OF YOU!”

Rojin lunged up from the tattered tatami living room floor. “WOULD YOU PREFER HE ABANDONED HIS CHILDREN LIKE HOW YOU’RE ABANDONING US NOW!”

Yet again, that suffocating silence. Its presence so clear, it’s as if I could see its silhouette in the corner. Watching us with a grin on its face.

But he was right. How could you sell your children off to the very war your husband fought so desperately to avoid?

*thud* … *thud* … *thud*

“Miyuki Ito! We are here for Danjin Ito and Rojin Ito on behalf of…”

A sudden gust of wind broke through the window to the side of the door. The air was so cold and dry that it took out the fireplace behind me. Darkness covered the room as my mother walked over to close it back, but she came off differently from a moment ago. Is she shaking?

“Good, those are the soldiers. A mother’s love goes deeper than you could ever imagine. You won’t understand today, but one day, you’ll see what kind of resolve that takes. Now, go upstairs and grab your bags. ”

*scratch* *scratch*

Rojin can’t be the only one of us speaking up. If I don’t say something now, I may never get the chance! Just say it… SAY IT!

“Mom… we aren’t going with them; we’re staying with you!”

*scratch*…..*scratch*……..*scratch*

She stopped with her hand on the doorknob. I could see her body was shaking; was it out of anger from what I said?

“Danjin, after everything I’ve sacrificed for you, this is how you repay me? This is not the time for your disrespect. Go upstairs NOW!”

My mind went into a haze. Maybe she’s right; I shouldn’t make this harder on everyone. I always cause problems. Before the pain could take over, I darted upstairs. Tears enveloped my eyes so deeply, I could barely see where I was going. My body felt denser than lead as I fell to the ground and cried.

“Don’t worry, Danjin, I’m here for you.” Rojin’s words pierced through the darkness as I suddenly felt a warm embrace. I wiped my eyes to see Rojin kneeling beside me as we sat in our mother’s room.

“Come on, let’s go; we need to put the plan into action. The next town over should…”

“She’s right, Rojin, we should just listen. Mom has always known what was best for us. If we listen, maybe we’ll even make her proud.”

I could see frustration settle on Rojin’s face.

“Danjin, what happened to you, man?”

“What do you mean?”Remember when we were eight and those bullies constantly teased us? It got so bad they followed us home saying, ‘If they look like this, I wonder how their house looks. I bet their mom and dad look and smell even worse.’ That’s when you told me to run ahead and get Dad.” “I remember this story now. I told you I was scared out of my mind.”Rojin gave me an inspired look. “I know, but that didn’t stop you from protecting us. I looked everywhere for Dad, but all I could find was his genno, so I grabbed it. By the time I got back, last scream, the jerks were standing over you as you were curled up. “Look! The scrony one is back, let’s…”

“Before they could even finish, you grabbed the dad’s hammer and started swinging it. As you took at least 3 of them off their feet, you let off one final scream and…I felt my face flaring up, “Oh gosh, I told you I was sorry, man! When are you gonna let that go?”Hold on! You were so off your rocker with adrenaline that your last scream and swing hit me on the side of my forehead, giving me this scar.”

Rojin pulled back his oily black hair to show the bruise mark I gave him all those years ago.

“Back then, you were so outspoken and brave. It feels like I lost you, man.” Rojin stood up and started pacing the floor slowly and methodically.

“Eleven, twelve, thirteen… There it is!”

He knelt and yanked one of the shaky planks from the floor and pulled out Dad’s old genno and crucifix.

“With His help, I’ll save my big brother; the same way he saved me all those years ago. Whether that be running or fighting, I’ll knock anyone off their feet the same way you did.”

At these words, he swung the genno and accidentally hit the wall beside him, causing a frame to fall and break. Inside, it was Mom’s prized haramaki. The thing she told us never to touch. The thing she talked to more than she talked to us was now on the floor, covered in glass.

‘Now we really need to run away. Thank you for that, Rojin, but we should get go…”

As I was looking up from the ground, I saw a strange reflection in the piece of glass. As my eyes began to drift up, I saw bare, untrimmed feet placed just behind Rojin’s feet. White torn cloth and long rope-like black hair hung down. Then I finally looked up.

“What is it, Danjin?”

Suddenly, the womanly figure let out a smile.

ACT 2

As I walked over to close the window, my heart sank to my stomach. I know the feeling of that wind from anywhere; she’s here. But why? Does that mean the soldiers are dead too? We should stay safe as long as the haramaki stays contained…

*squeeaakkk*

The doorknob started to turn slightly. I grabbed it to make sure the deadbolt didn’t unlock fully. Immediately, I felt a burning cold sensation so strong, I couldn’t contain my body from shaking. They have to leave…now!

“Good. The soldiers are here. A mother’s love goes deeper than you could ever imagine. You won’t understand today, but one day you’ll see what kind of resolve that takes. Now, go upstairs and grab your hokobukuro. ”

I’ve trained those boys enough to listen to me on first command, well, one of them at least. When they leave, all I have to do is walk out, and she should follow me. Yasuo’s imbued genno is still at his forge, last I remember. If I give it to her…

“Mom… we aren’t going with them; we’re staying with you!”

I turned my head to see Danjin on the verge of tears, but this time with a fire in his eyes. I’ve never seen him like this before, let alone going against my orders. Crap, he’s the one who talks sense into Rojin. This isn’t the time!

“Danjin, after everything I’ve sacrificed for you, this is how you repay me? This is not the time for your disrespect. Go upstairs NOW!”

Immediately, I could see the spark in his eyes leave. The stinging pain from what I said could be seen as we turned to run upstairs.

“Don’t worry, Mom, I won’t let you destroy this family,” Rojin said as he ran upstairs too.

The pain became too unbearable. I let go of the doorknob, where I could see the blisters and swelling already starting to form. The knob began to turn again as a powerful gust made the door fly open.

There she stood, that same ugly pale face and tattered white loincloth. I knew if I didn’t cover my face, the sheer cold air she gave off would start to burn my lungs. I covered my face and stepped outside. What is it, huh? Do you want more warmth? Then, I suggest you get out of my way!”

Slowly she began to smirk and stepped to the side. The scene outside the door where the soldiers used to stand was awful. I dared not look down at the things I was stepping on. After closing the door behind me, I walked forward. So far so good, she’s following me. His forge should be up ahead.

*crunch* *crunch* *crunch*

I looked back at her dancing and skipping through the snow as she followed me. With a sickening stare, she said to me,

“Remember how we used to dance together all those years ago, Miki?”

As much as I try to forget her, I still have nightmares from that day.

I was going through the trails of Yamagata Prefecture looking for more work with my parents. They constantly would push me to work harder, longing for our family to have more. I hated them so deeply for this that it felt like searing coals sat on my heart whenever I thought of them. A blizzard separated us, and as I looked for them, there she stood; except this time a man was there too. “Take this box and my friend here will help you. Just think of something that bothers you, and before you know it, your problems are gone!”

I held the box in my arms and pondered deeply about the things I wanted most in my life: my parents. I followed her to them and observed them as she took their life force. Finally, their faces could reflect the anguish they inflicted on my heart. In an instant she was gone, along with my burning hatred; all that was left was me and the box. I opened it to find a worn-down haramaki. From that day forward, all I had to do was tell her, ‘Do you want more warmth?’ and she would make all my pain disappear.

When Yauso asked me to marry him, I couldn’t believe it—a wealthy, kind man with a strong military bloodline. Every day was joy beyond comparison to the point I didn’t see the Yuki-onna for years. Funds weren’t the best after he split from his family, but he promised me a peaceful life. Then he quit his job to be a blacksmith, and soon after, our land got raided, and we lost everything. He never used his family’s fortune to help us, even after giving birth to twins. Day in and day out, he would focus more on teaching his sons or making weapons at the forge and less on me; the woman who was here first and through it all. What about my needs? What about the promises you made to me? I was here first! How could he be so selfish? The thought of him made my heart boil.

Without thinking, the words accidentally slipped from my lips, “Do you want more warmth?”

The pain of the memory snapped me back. “ Just cast that anger into the genno, and she’ll be gone for good. There will be no anger in me left for her to take.”

Finally, we arrived at the forge. I looked through the tiny forge, but Yauso’s hammer was gone!

“Where is it?”

Suddenly, she stopped dancing and stood still. She snapped her head back towards the house and let out a loud shriek and disappeared into the snow.

“No, it’s here. Don’t you want more warmth? HERE IT’S HERE.”

ACT 3

They say the best spot to hide something is right under their noses. Eight planks from the left wall… thirteen planks forward… There it is! I knelt to pull up the shaky plank that protected the hope of my dreams. Before, I used this spot for my bad tsūchi-hyōs so my parents wouldn’t know I was failing a class. One time I even stashed one of my dad’s old war weapons until he found out and gave me a stern talk before taking it back. But this time the contents of this spot held far more value.

As I pulled out my dad’s old genno and crucifix, I felt an otherworldly power come over me. I couldn’t contain my excitement.

“But don’t worry. With His help, I’ll save my big brother, the same way he saved me all those years ago. Whether that be running or fighting, I’ll knock anyone off their feet the same way you did.”

As I swung Dad’s genno, I felt its heavyweight stop abruptly.

*thud* *crash*

I looked down at a horrific sight: Mom’s haramaki being covered in glass and the wood framing that used to hold it. I closed my eyes, and all I could think of was, “I’m so dead.”

“Now we really need to run away. Thank you for that, Rojin, but we should get go…”

In an instant, I felt the realization of my actions send a cold chill up my body. When I looked up and opened my eyes, Danjin was frozen. I knew I made a mistake, but it wasn’t that serious, right?

“What is it, Danjin?”

The icy feeling kept growing stronger, like I were rubbing my back against spikes of ice. Then something started to drip on my shoulder. As I looked behind me, Danjin hissed,

“DON’T MOVE! Right now she’s staring right down at you! Just give me a second, let me think!”

“Can you put that on for me, pretty please? I won’t kill you if you do!”

The sound of her voice was like nothing I’ve ever heard. Instantly, I felt an intense nauseous sensation in my stomach, and my vision got blurry. What was she talking about?

“Okay, put on what?” I exclaimed.

“Right there, that haramaki, then you’ll be able to keep me warm.”

I leaned to the side to pick up the haramaki, where I could finally get a glimpse of her. A 7” 3’ tall, almost zombie-like woman with blood splattered all over her face and clothes. As she traced my hand, there was a giddy expression on her face; almost how a child would look at the thought of candy. I grabbed the haramaki and began to bring it toward my shoulder. But if I don’t, I know she’ll kill me in an instant! What should I do?

“Rojin, I can’t understand what she is saying to you! Whatever it is, DON’T DO IT!”

?? Her smile slowly began to drop as she turned her head toward Danjin.

“STOP TALKING!!”

The woman rushed Danjin and grabbed him by his side. She gripped his shoulder, and some orange mist started to be sucked from his eyes and mouth. I threw the haramaki across the room and grabbed my genno off the floor.

“GET OFF OF HIM!”

With an upward swing, I hit her on the side of her face, causing it to burn, and she ran and fell to the floor, letting out a wail like a child. I dropped the genno from its blistering heat as it began to glow with a yellowish hue. I look over towards Danjin. My stomach drops as I see him passed out, pale and lifeless.

“I don’t want you to wear it anymore!” Before I could turn, I felt cold, burning knives cutting into my arm as somebody lifted me high off the ground.

“STOP! I’ll put it on!”

Through the cold haze in the room, I could barely make out the figure of a woman, panting as she held a cloth in her hand.

“Mom, is that you?”

“I’ll try to fight her off as long as I can, but you have to hurry! Take Danjin and get help; he won’t survive much longer. There is an inn called the ‘Kasumi-rō’ in the town over. There will be some hunters there that can help him.

Her body began to tense up as she slipped her arm into the haramaki. I felt the woman’s sharp fingertips cut their way back out of my arm before I dropped from what felt like a 6-foot drop directly on my hipbone. I fought through the pain to say my last words to her.

“Mom, don’t do it! I can fight with you.”

“Rojin, my little soldier, I’m sorry. I wish I could have seen sooner what your father fought for.”

She put on the haramaki, and a sudden snowstorm enveloped the room. Someone could hear a shriek from my mom as the womanly figure laughed and disappeared into the snow. At once, all the snow stopped in mid-air and went into my mother’s mouth. She stood there, still as her neck drooped down.

“Mom, are you okay?”

I limped to my feet, but suddenly she ran at me with her mouth hinged open. At the last moment before biting me, she pushed me back to the ground. She began to hit her body against the wall and floor as if she were fighting against a hurricane. Finally, she threw herself out the window.

“MOM!”

I fought the pain surging from my arm as I crawled to the window. I fought with everything I had to pull myself to my feet, where she was standing still in front of a hooded figure. He grabbed her arm and started to walk away.

“STOP! DON’T TOUCH HER!”

I fell to the ground. The loss of blood was getting to me. I used all I had to get to the steps, then pushed myself down to get down faster. Suddenly, spears were pointed at my face. Before I fainted, I could hear.

“You are under arrest for the death of seven soldiers by the names…”

I woke up in a panic. I found myself on a hard wooden bed, a chain to my ankle, alone in a room. Where am I?