Sarah sat in the cozy confines of her lodge, holding a steaming cup of coffee. The warmth seeped into her hands, but her thoughts drifted back to a moment etched in time.
Dr. Nakamura's shock echoed in her memory—the disbelief when the supposedly lifeless baby showed signs of vitality.
A faculty mistake had left everyone bewildered, labeling it a one-in-a-million chance. The baby, once declared dead, now promised new life in a matter of weeks.
A decade later, Sarah found herself anticipating the arrival of her unborn child. The joy, long-awaited, finally knocked on her door.
Matthew's voice broke through her reverie. "Lets go out, it's Japan after all, as long as we are here, let's make the most of it."
To which, Sarah replied, "sure, as long as you're not flipping this car at some ridiculous place."
"I've no idea what you're talking about," he shouted from the garage while taking out the car.
They both smiled and then went on a journey to visit every single place in Tokushima.
As they traversed the vibrant streets, Sarah couldn't help but enjoying the revelation of
Dr. Nakamura— "it's a girl... you're having a baby girl!" as she was reliving those few minutes of joy again and again.
They visited Mt. bizan, Awodori Kaikan, and the Otsuka Museum. It seemed like they were having the time of their lives as the happiness finally is knocking on their doors now.
Their journey led them to a street vendor. Amidst the tantalizing flavors.
"Ummmmh....so i can't get enough of it!!...Thishi so good, whaw issit?" Sarah asks with her mouth full .
"Its called Takoyaki, and it is famous all over Japan", vendor replies.
"Famous? ...all over Japan?" Mathew remember his conversation with his new next door neighbour, an elderly man with little wrinkly eyes and a baseball cap, Satoshi.
"You heard me!", as the elderly man spoke,
"A famous folklore in Japan about two fearless warriors of their time, perhaps, ever existed, seduced by the throne of The Eight Nations, in Oda era."
"So what is this story about and... how is related to the forbidden mountain, Kuroyama?" Matt asked.
Satoshi's eyes gleamed with intrigue as he began weaving a tale that seemed to transcend time.
He hesitates at first, but then continues in his shrieking voice, "You see Matt-san, they realised that no matter how stong they can be, it is impossible to take down The Eight Nations just by the brute force of two warriors, so they, made a futile pact with the devil, but the Might of emperor Oshinokōji Yori, united the other Seven nations and brought those two down to their knees. As a result, those two had no option but to run and hide into the Kuroyama Valley".
"And if they were so dangerous to be kept alive, then why didn't he just kill both of them right on the spot?" Matt asked.
To which old man replied,
"As per the legends, the one who makes a deal with the devil can be reincarnated with better strength and intelligence, its like giving another chance for destruction."
"So you see Matt-san, emperor Oshinokōji did not want to delay the destruction by killing those two, so he found a better way and sealed them in their mortal bodies... vessels that are incapable of healing and also resist death."
"Which is why they ran away and hid in the vallies of the forbidden mountains."
He continues, "And if I'm not wrong, it's been prophesied that a man in long-white hair and teal green eyes, feared by the spirits reside in mortal realm and beyond, will attempt to claim all the darkness... and rule the underworld."
"People also say that emperor Oshinokōji still lives among us, to keep an eye on those two and prevent the prophecy from becoming reality."
'He surely talks a lot!', Matthew thinks of Satoshi as he was blacking out in middle of the conversation when he suddenly heard him saying,
"Oh how far love can take you... making a pact with devil, betraying your Own Kind, and most importantly, driving you further from humanity".
"Wait, Were they both in love?" Matt asks.
"Oh yeah, did i forget to mention? My bad" Satoshi apologizes as he bows his head down which Matthew resisted.
As the old man explained the sacred yet ominous nature of Kuroyama, the words hung in the air like a foreboding symphony.
The spirits dwelling there, portrayed as both guardians and warnings, added an eerie dimension to the unfolding secrets, leaving an indelible mark on the minds of those who dared to listen.
Sarah snaps him out and ask if they can visit a Shikokusangaku Garden.
* * * * *
In the dim glow of a solitary lamp, Matthew observed an unusual sparkle in Sarah's eyes—a happiness that had eluded her for too long.
Gently, he brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, a tender gesture love under the sunset.
"I don't know what i did to deserve you, Sarah" he murmurs, the weight of his own insecurities settling heavily upon his shoulders.
"Everything, more than I expected from this world, love" she replies.
A shadow passed over Matthew's face as he admitted,"Seeing you this happy after so long has made me realise that, I've failed as a husband, as the man you needed."
In that vulnerable moment, Sarah's hands cradled his face, their eyes locking in a shared history of trials and triumphs.
"Who is in this world for me except you, dear? My parents left me to die when we found out that I was suffering from the last stage of cancer and had only a few months to live."
"You left your studies that you were working so hard for, and started as daily job worker, you were so close from graduating and living a happy life, yet you chose to give it to a dying girl."
The world felt hushed as her tears started falling out. "After working on late shifts and 2 other jobs, it was too far from those numbers on that hospital bill. Not to mention, there was no certainty of my survival.Yet you never gave up on me, always kept me smiling, even though you were crying your heart out yourself."
Sarah smiled and continued, "They say, when all doors seemed closed, God opens a new one. It was a miracle I survived, and you found a corporate job that recognized your determination."
"You made me feel so special, when you had no reason to stay. I lost everything that day, but i also found my everything, and i dont regret giving my life to you, love."
They shared a tender kiss, wiping away tears.
"Oh, pretty girl",
"I would do this a million times more for you,"
Matthew promised, their love shining bright in the midst of challenges.
Sarah couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that they were being watched. She glanced around, half-expecting to find someone, or something, lurking in the shadows.
Matthew, oblivious to Sarah's unease, marveled at the vibrant tapestry of colors and sounds that surrounded them.
Yet, deep down, a seed of doubt had been planted, and the folklore of Kuroyama resonated in the back of his mind. They decided to visit Idoji shrine for the well being of their child.
* * * * *
While entering the Idoji shrine, huge gust of wind blew that felt like it pushed Sarah out, conveying the message to stay away.
Yet, ignoring the tremendous signal, she pressed forward into the shrine's embrace.
The atmosphere, tinged with an otherworldly silence, cast shadows that danced with foreboding black clouds gathering above.
Undeterred, the couple offered their heartfelt prayers, unaware that destiny had other plans.
SARAH STARTLED!!, when suddenly a priest gripped her hand tightly and said, "You're Not Supposed To BE Here!".
Lost in confusion, Sarah explained their purpose, but the priest, with an air of urgency, pulled them away, dragging them out of the shrine.
"Your child is DEAD!!" the priest forewarned,
"what's inside is far more dangerous than the fate of death."
Sarah had many questions in her mind when she hears Matthew saying, "let's go sarah, we've been through enough trouble already."
While going back to their car, the priest's shout lingered, "You have Awaken the spirit of the Mountains, he will not stop now, he will come for you... both of you."
Feeling every step heavier and heavier, Matthew decides to ignore his encounter with the strange figure by calling it hallucinations.
On their way back, Sarah, still clutching the memory of the priest's warning, hesitated. She turned towards Matthew, her eyes reflecting a mix of apprehension and curiosity.
"Do you ever feel like there's more to this place than meets the eye?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
As they approached the crossroads, a signpost indicated the way back to their lodge and another path leading towards the forbidden mountain.
The rusty signpost seemed to mock them, and Matthew couldn't resist a shiver running down his spine.
Matthew, torn between skepticism and an unspoken fear, took a deep breath.
"I can't explain it, but something doesn't feel right. It's like we've stepped into a story we were never meant to be a part of..."