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' I'm not the jealous type. '
' But what's mine is only mine '
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CHAPTER 11
The soft light of dawn filtered through the trees, casting a gentle glow over the shrine as I stirred awake. The night had passed uneasily, my dreams haunted by shadowy figures and half-formed whispers that seemed to cling to the edges of my consciousness. I blinked against the brightness, stretching stiff muscles. That was a goodnight's sleep. Before I wondered, where is Haru? Where did that bastard go?
I glanced towards the place where Haru is supposed to be, but he was nowhere in sight. I
should have known! That snake!
I stood slowly, careful not to wake Keiko, and stepped outside the shrine. The forest, bathed in the warm hues of morning light, looked entirely different from the oppressive darkness of the previous night. The trees seemed more welcoming now, their leaves glistening with dew, while birds flitted from branch to branch, filling the air with their cheerful songs. I hate it
I walked a few steps away from the shrine, I took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, grounding myself in the moment. The scent of damp earth and moss clung to the cool breeze, and for a fleeting moment, it almost felt peaceful. However, the memory of Haru's words echoed in my mind—there were worse things in this forest than the Yamauba.
"Where are you, Haru?" I muttered under my breath, scanning the trees. Just as I turned back toward the shrine, I spotted him sitting on a fallen log a few paces away, his posture relaxed and seemingly unfazed by the world around him. The morning light caught the edges of his blindfold, giving him an almost ethereal appearance, as if he belonged more to the realm of spirits than to this world. His head tilted slightly as if he sensed my gaze, and he turned toward me, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Good morning, Mitsami," he called out.
"Sleep well?"
"Not really," I replied, crossing my arms defensively.
"What about you? Did you spend the night figuring out what is the most tender part of our body to stab?"
