Japanese Folk Tales

Yuki Onna

I am so sorry I haven't updated in a while. I was too busy preparing for an anime exhibition, but I'm all free now! Thank you for the reads, everyone! Now, let's go to the story.

A long time ago, there lived two men. Their names were Mosaku and Minokichi.

Minokichi was the son of Mosaku, and they were both woodsmen.

One day in the woods, there was a snow storm.

Since the snow was too thick, they couldn't get some wood that day. They decided to rest in a nearby small mountain cottage.

"Let's stay here at the meantime," Mosaku said as he put on a bonfire to keep them warm. "It's better than to freeze out in the cold."

They talked for a while, until they landed on a particularly embarassing topic for Minokichi.

"Why aren't you married yet, Minokichi?" The old man said as he looked over to his son's direction. "I'm getting old, and I want to see my grandchildren."

While Mosaku was suggesting things to Minokichi, Minokichi just covered his ears. This was a very embarassing topic after all, for he was a gentle-hearted and kind person who had never been in love.

A few moments later, they fell asleep.

Later on that night, Minokichi was awakened by the sudden coldness in the temperature. It seemed like the bonfire Mosaku made went out.

He found a figure near the doorstep, and it appeared to be a woman.

This figure went in, and Minokichi saw its face. It had icy white skin, and dressed in a robe as white as snow.

The woman went and sat down beside Mosaku, wrapping her arms around him and breathed out.

As she breathed out, her breath was as cold as a winterstorm, killing Mosaku quietly.

"Please don't hurt me!" Minokichi cried out. He attempted to get away, but he couldn't.

As the woman looked at him, her expression softened.

"I will spare you, because you are still young, and your eyes are pretty. Now, do not tell anyone about what happened tonight." She left without another word.

Months passed, and Minokichi didn't tell a soul.

Then, Minokichi met a beautiful woman named Oyuki. Soon, they fell in love and got married, and had children.

"You are beautiful." Minokichi said to his wife.

"You remind me of someone I met in the past." He began.

It was a snowy night, making Minokichi remember of the mysterious snow woman, or yuki onna.

"You know, this night reminds me of what happened long ago." Minokichi stated to his wife.

"What happened there?" Oyuki asked.

"There was a yuki onna, a snow woman.." He started.

"You promised to never tell that night to anyone!" She replied as she stood up swiftly.

"Huh?" Minokichi was shocked. "Who are you...?"

When Oyuki turned around, she looked exactly like the yuki onna from before.

"Since you broke your promise, I cannot see you again now..." Oyuki said sadly. "Goodbye.."

And with that, Oyuki vanished into the snowy landscape.

Even though Minokichi tried finding her, she disappeared completely.

So, when the wind howls in the snowy mountains, that resembles the yuki onna crying, longing for her beloved's warmth.

Thank you for being so patient for a new chapter!

Lizbeth-HimeChan
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