In the twilight of the village, Uminohashi. Stories whispered of a time when despair cast its shadow over the humble homes. The settlement nestled near the otherside, a realm where yokai roamed. One ominous night, a group of menacing yokai, led by a fearsome oni, descended upon the unsuspecting village, causing chaos and devastation.Amidst the impending doom, a lone priest, Hoshimitsu emerged as a beacon of hope. With unwavering determination, he faced the yokai horde, banishing them and sealing the village off from the otherside. His sacrificial act spared the villagers from destruction, but it came at a haunting cost.The oni, standing amidst the remnants of the village, spoke words of sealing that echoed with solemn weight, "Remember this, human. I leave behind a piece of my being in your lineage. They shall appear in twin, and when they do, they will unseal the otherside, bringing plunder and chaos to this village. Be it decades or centuries to come, I shall return."In the days that followed, the village held a somber yet grateful celebration, hailing the priest as their savior. His courage placed him at the helm, becoming the revered head of the village.The ominous words of the oni, however, faded into the background, sinking into the depths of the past, only remembered by the descendants of the priest's lineage.As years turned into decades and centuries, the tale of the cursed priest and the oni's warning became a distant memory, retold in hushed tones by those who carried the bloodline. The village thrived in relative peace, unaware of the dormant curse that lingered in the shadows, patiently awaiting the fateful emergence of the otherside, awakening the long-buried chaos.
In the heart of the main house of the Hoshimitsu, the cries of a new-born filled the air, sparking a mixture of excitement and concern among the family members who gathered eagerly. As the voices of the family echoed in deliberation, one person impatiently asked, "How long has it been? It's been hours. What's keeping the mother?"Amidst the conversations, a disgruntled voice expressed dissatisfaction, "If we had known she would marry into a lesser family, we might not have agreed to it. What could she bring us? And now, this delay in childbirth."The discussion naturally drifted towards the family's longstanding curse caused by a demon. "Without that curse, we could have welcomed a male heir by now. The curse ensures only a female could be born". "And only a male heir could revert the curse". Another family member added, "Even the branch family members had to step away, fearing they might never have children free from the curse."Curiosity about the family's lineage surfaced, "Which generation are we now? The 10th, isn't it?"
The room fell into a heavy silence as the weight of the words "10th generation" settled upon the gathered family members. The curse that haunted them loomed large, casting a shadow over their diminishing numbers.——News of the new-born brought an air of foreboding, a single message hanging in the room. "The baby has been born..." The pause left an uneasy tension, eventually broken by the revelation, "...it was a twin. A collective gasp swept through the room, the ominous harbinger of the curse they so dreaded.Reacting swiftly, the eldest among them recognized the gravity of the situation. "This can only be the curse. Quickly, we have to seal the babies before it—" Her urgency spurred the family into action, gathering before an altar with a sense of desperation.As they fervently chanted and prayed, hoping to stave off the impending doom, an unsettling atmosphere clung to the room. "Elder!!!"In the midst of their plea, the elder’s strength waned, and she collapsed. A gasp of concern swept through the room as they faced the realization that the elder's guidance was now absent."It seems my time has come," the elder calmly stated, accepting the inevitable. The family, torn and reliant on her leadership, grappled with the weight of the incomplete ritual.One member voiced the collective concern, "Without the elder, the prayer won't be complete." The elder, with a calm resolve, explained the intricacies of their family's power drawing from five stars. The incomplete prayer left them with a difficult decision—sealing one of the babies' half-yokai side to the other, creating one yokai and one human. But this solution would still fulfil the prophecy.To avert this, the elder declared, "The human child has to be placed as the miko and end the prophecy." Faced with an agonizing choice, the family had to act swiftly, transforming the once hopeful altar into the center of a decision that would shape the fate of the new-born twins and their cursed lineage.
From the moment I took my first breath, I found myself surrounded by everything one could wish for—luxury, riches, and a life seemingly perfect. Yet, beneath this facade of opulence, there's an emptiness, a longing for the simple joys that make life truly fulfilling.Growing up, every desire was met, every material whim catered to, but it's not the extravagant things that I miss. What I yearn for is a taste of the ordinary, the kind of life that most people take for granted.In the midst of abundance, I feel a sense of suffocation, gasping for the fresh air of authenticity. The laughter I share seems shallow, overshadowed by the solitude masked by wealth.Beyond the fancy trappings lies a heart silently screaming for the simplicity of an unpretentious existence.It's not the glittering distractions I crave but the genuine experiences that shape a truly meaningful life. I long for sincere friendships, the taste of success earned through hard work, and the comfort of love that isn't tainted by pretense.So, here I am, surrounded by opulence but yearning for the modest pleasures that seem out of reach. ——The sounds of the foot works gliding through the wooden floor steeps in, drowning my slumber.
In a traditional dojo, steeped in the legacy of generations, a diligent girl refined her skills under the watchful eye of the esteemed sword master. Onlookers, including a guest, were captivated by the precision and grace exhibited in each movement, tracing a heritage of techniques dating back to the era of yokai.Sitting in quiet admiration, guests marveled at the mastery embedded in every swing of the blade, recognizing the rich lineage woven into the fabric of the dojo's history. The girl, attired in a dojo wear that seamlessly blended traditional and modern elements, stood with a firm grip of her wooden sword. As the training unfolded, the female guest couldn't help but appreciate the cool demeanor with which the girl wielded the sword. The dojo wear, a harmonious fusion of authenticity and contemporary style, added aesthetic appeal to her formidable presence.The pinnacle moment arrived when the master and the girl faced off, swords drawn. Tension filled the air as they synchronized their movements, culminating in a clash of steel that echoed through the dojo. The girl's unwavering stance reflected her unwavering dedication to the craft.In a swift exchange, swords crossed, and a momentary stillness settled over the dojo. The outcome became evident—the girl had lost. Onlookers absorbed the nuances of the single bout, recognizing that it marked not only a result but also a crucial step in the eternal journey of mastering the yokai-inspired sword techniques.
As Sakura and her sister strolled along the pathway near the serene lake, the lush rice fields swaying gently on the other side. "Looks like you've lost again, Sakura. How many times does this count?"Her sister couldn't help but tease. Sakura sighed, a smile playing on her lips. "Fifty official matches and a hundred unofficial matches, all lost."Her sister raised an eyebrow. "I wonder why you still continue this?" she questioned, genuinely curious about Sakura's relentless pursuit.In response, Sakura's gaze turned determined. "If I don't do it, who will protect her in the face of danger? I have to become strong enough so I won't be considered weak. Besides, the main family doesn't recognize me; they keep saying I'm a demon, though I don't know what that means."A sudden thud on Sakura's head interrupted their conversation. Anger flashed in her eyes, a vein bulging on her forehead as she bellowed, "Who did that? You could have injured someone!" She scanned the area, spotting a group of boys who, upon seeing her wrath, started yelling, "The demon's angry! Run!"Sakura, not one to let them escape, took off after them, shouting, "Hey!" Her sister, sensing the situation, subtly cleared her throat, signaling Sakura to calm down. Understanding the unspoken cue, Sakura halted after a few feet, returning to her sister with a sheepish apology."It's okay," her sister reassured her, "as long as you understand. Besides, you don't have to worry about them." She shot Sakura a suspicious look, as if holding back something, then nodded, saying, "Okay, sister."
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