A Winter Dream

Ever since we arrived at Shiga Kogen, I’ve been having this strangely vivid dream. The location it took place in changed every time. Sometimes I’d be in a barren field of grass, other times I’d find myself in the middle of the scorching desert. The only thing consistent about this dream was that yokai would surround me no matter where I was. And when they surrounded me, I had to fight and fight and fight until I killed all of them or they killed me.

Now, I found myself in the middle of a winter forest. The freezing winds may have blown my hair in my face, but that didn’t stop my eyes from darting around. I tightened the grip on my sword as I awaited their arrival. However, after what felt like hours, not a single yokai appeared.

Where are they? They’re always here trying to kill— My thoughts ceased once I felt a pulse of mana. It came from my left. That must be where they are.

To end this dream, I walked toward the woods on my left. Once I passed by the first tree, I felt the pulse of mana again, but this time it was behind me. I snapped around to see who or what was emanating such energy, but I didn’t see a yokai. I didn’t even see the trees I passed by seconds prior. All I could see was snow as far as the eye could see.

When… no, why did the dream change? It was never like this before. I slowly walked toward the snow, and that was when I saw a blur. It moved with such haste that I couldn’t tell what it was, but I did know where it went. My right!

When I looked to my right, I saw a Yukinko waving at me. That bowl cut looks familiar… That’s Kin. Once I realized it was him, he started to run away. “Come back here!” But he didn’t even glance back at my words; the Yukinko only continued to run, so I chased after him.

With every step I took toward Kin, I could see ice statues. Some looked strong, others monstrous, and a few even human-like. Wait… I recognize them. These yokai, I killed them. Every one of these statues was a yokai I murdered.

As I ran forward, I wanted to close my eyes, but if I did, I might have lost sight of Kin. I had to run past the hundreds of yokai I had slain over the last ten years of my life until Kin stopped.

My breathing was getting heavier. “Finally…” I could feel my body numbing from the cold. “I… caught…” But that didn’t stop me from placing my hand on his shoulder. “You.” Although even with my hand on him, Kin didn’t react at all. What’s wrong with him?

I walked in front of Kin to see his face, but he was now looking down. I crouched down to begin to see his face, but once I did, I felt something solid underneath me. I looked down just like Kin had been, and I was now sitting in a wooden chair.

“What… is happening?” This was the first time I asked a question since having these dreams, and I unexpectedly heard a response.

“What do you mean, Yukimura?” The voice sounded soft and comforting, like how my mother used to sound as she read me books to sleep. However, when I looked up, I didn’t see my mom; I saw the Yuki-onna sitting at a table with me. Her long black hair concealed part of her face, but I could still see a smile that had formed through it.

“Why are you here in this dream? That’s what I mean.” Her eyes widened when I spoke, and she looked at me with eyes full of pity.

“Yukimura, you aren’t in a dream.”

“If I’m not, then where am I?”

“You are within your sword.”

“My body is in my sword?” To this question, the Yuki-onna shook her head.

“No, only your consciousness. And I asked Kin to bring you to the part of the sword where the other Yukinko live.”

“Why?” I asked in a quieter tone as I awaited her answer.

“First, to thank you.” Huh? “You allowed me and my children to live in your blade. So thank you, Yukimura.”

“Y-You’re welcome.” I wasn’t expecting that. I thought she was going to ask for a—

“Second. I want to make a pact.”

I knew it. My eyes narrowed as she said the word pact. Forming a pact with a yokai is dangerous. If it's considered a pact by both parties and broken in any way, the person who broke the pact has their soul sent to the Underworld.

“Do you know what that is?”

“Yes, I do. Why do you want to make one?”

“To secure the best living environment for my children and myself, of course.”

“What are the terms you had in mind?” The Yuki-onna’s smile grew as I asked. She was expecting me not to decline, wasn’t she? I have to be careful, I don’t know what loopholes she might try to create.

“In exchange for lending my power to you, you must not send any more yokai here.”

“What do you mean? You and the Yukinkos are the first yokai that I’ve sealed in here.”

“I was referring to the ice statues.” The Yuki-onna pointed to something behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see all of the ice statues I passed earlier crowding around me. I couldn’t begin to count them all, let alone remember them. “I made them myself.”

“Elaborate. How did you make them yourself?” I could feel my gut churn as I asked. Not out of fear of the answer, but because I felt like I already knew what the answer was.

“I froze them. When my children arrived here, they were moving and about to attack us. So, I turned them into statues of ice shortly before you arrived. However, I can’t do that every day, especially if you are planning to use my mana as well.”

“I don’t need to use your mana.”

“Are you sure?” I felt her eyes piercing through me after she asked that question.

“Yes. Why would I need your mana?”

“You have to transfer your mana through your sword to cut through yokai, right?” I nodded as she continued. “Since we live in your sword now, we can stop that process or aid it. But whichever we choose is up to you.”

I could feel my teeth grinding as she spoke. I knew trusting them was a mistake. I can’t be an Onmyoji if I can’t properly use my mana. “Stop giving me an ultimatum and tell me what you want already.”

As her eyes met my glare, the Yuki-onna sighed. “Yukimura, I am not your enemy. I’m only trying to get rid of anything that may harm my children. That is why I need you to stop sending yokai here. That is why I am offering this pact, but I won’t force it upon you.”

“Good.” I rose from my seat before I said, “Then we don’t need to talk anymore, do we?”

The Yuki-onna shook her head. “No, we don’t. Your actions will speak louder than your words anyway.”

“Wait. What do you—” However, it was too late to ask questions. I felt cold air blow past me, and before I knew it, I had already woken up.