The moon was as high and full as I remembered last year, exactly like the night when Michiko was murdered by Kiri no Tsujigiri.

The shrine was packed with mostly adults. I've seen no children or elderly in sight, as they were celebrating on the town's streets, where it's much safer.

Standing close to the shrine were priests and shrine maidens holding shamisen and bells for the performance. 

I had formally asked them to keep guard in case a problem arises, but they didn't appear guarded-rather, they're eager for blood.

Ayumi stood behind the closed doors of the honden, hidden in sight until the prayers.

Everyone seemed strangely calm as they casually conversed and gossiped with acquaintances, as though this was a simple festival instead of a traditional event.

Tonight, Ayumi will gracefully dance in the cold, barefoot and surrounded by blazing torches. The thought of her dancing her life away until she passes out made me want to vomit.

The moment she trips in exhaustion rings the signal for me to plunge her heart with the Heiwa Motarasu-a katana forged by Kenichi's family solely for this ceremony.

It was said to be blessed with a charm to ensure the target rests peacefully.

However, a katana is still a katana.

"A blessed evening to the loyal people of Matsuryoku." My greeting silenced the bustling noises bouncing around the circular space of the shrine's grounds, where I observed the audience from the center of the lit torches.

"Let this evening conclude in peace and silence as we perform the escorting of this year's Shinigami Bride to her descent to the ghost realm by the head shrine maiden's hand that would serve as the executioner, none other than I, Mirai no Shizuka, adopted daughter of the Shizuka Clan."

I tightened my grip around the hilt of the Heiwa Motarasu when something unsettling struck my nerves.

While I continued with my opening prayers, my eyes darted around for something or-someone-from among the audience.

. . . Forget it, Mirai.

"May the cold-hearted Kiri no Tsujigiri retreat in cowardice, as he served no purpose other than to spread terror in our peace. For the Shinigami King! One of our finest and purest of women . . . "

I declared, trying not to drift too much of my focus to the sound of the shrine's doors creaking open while the melodic strumming of the shamisen played as the bells chimed faintly.

Ayumi slowly walked out of the honden with an empty expression to display a face of neutral thoughts on this so-called 'wedding' to the Shinigami King.

She was dressed in a beautiful black uchikake, her head draped with a katsuki decorated with fake sakura petals that she loved.

She could have worn those beautiful robes for a different, more special occasion. Nothing would make me want to kill myself more than to be a part of this.

"That's not the Shinigami King's bride."

Gasps filled the silence, and the music and bells stopped playing. Ayumi froze before her feet could touch the snowy ground, and the people turned their heads to a person at the last row of the crowd.

A slender man in a black kimono and a straw hat covering his face. I could tell he's grinning with that arrogant and loud tone of his.

I've heard that speaking so loudly during the bride's entrance would bring bad luck! Does that really happen, though?

Turning to Ayumi, I found her exhaling in relief. If it wasn't for this stranger, I wouldn't have realized that she was a lot more scared about this than I was for her.

Of course, she was.

"Fool! Do you know that interrupting the ceremony would bring more ghosts?! Now we have no choice but to start again!"

One of the priests scolded.

"Oh, you don't have to." The stranger strode towards the center of the gravel grounds with confidence.

The audience couldn't help but pave a way for him, and I sense, out of fear, since he's armed with a sheathed katana hanging on his left hip.

I inhaled sharply and glared at the stranger, "Sir, for the sake of the event, if you may-"

"What on earth are you doing?! Stay back!" One of the priests cut me off as they stepped out of their position, but the stranger only grinned and continued walking, refusing to listen.

Ayumi gulped hard, standing still in her place when the stranger was facing her. It seemed like he was scanning her.

"Hmm . . . Pretty. Cute. But not really the right bride for the Shinigami King to last with."

This stranger must be a jerk! A really brave and confident one!

"Get out, you fool!" The priest confronted the stranger with an angered look on his wrinkly face, but the stranger shrugged.

"Okay, okay. I'll get out, old man."

Unfazed, the stranger chuckled with a painfully familiar tone. "Not until I retrieve the real Shinigami Bride herself . . . "

He pulled two Higanbanas from the sleeve of his robe, gripping them tight on his long fingers.

One is blue, and the other red.

"None other than the leading priestess. . . Shi no Hanayome!"

Kiri no Tsujigiri declared as he lifted the flowers into the air in my direction. The flowers withered to crisp and dispersed into ashes the moment they touched the ground.

"I shall kill you right here and right now!"

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait . . .

"ME??!!!" I yelled.

Shoot! The executioner shouldn't speak out of respect until the bride has been slain!

Then again, this ceremony was already doomed the moment Kiri no Tsujigiri arrived.

At that moment, the audience dispersed into screams of terror and chaos.

This was the first time an urban legend appeared in a physical form, disturbingly armed. Never had a thing had ever happened in decades!

"KIRI NO TSUJIGIRI!" The group of priests gathered, surrounding Kiri no Tsujigiri with katanas in their hands.

I was blocked from their view while the shrine maidens separated to hide and ease the scattered people, until-

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!" One of the priests dropped dead, spilling blood over the white grounds.

Then another. Another . . . And another . . . They all died the same way as the victims of Kiri no Tsujigiri's blade. I need to go to Ayumi and get out of here! Fast!

Even so, I can't be anywhere near her!

"AYUMI!" I screamed with all my might, trying to sound much louder than the horrifying screams of the priests as they got slain.

"RUN! GET OUT OF HERE!"

Ayumi jumped off the honden's stairs before sprinting into the panicking crowd to blend in, relieving me more than anything. The air felt heavier around me. I looked at my hands, still shaking-this is real.

If I'm truly the Shinigami's bride, then staying near anyone would only get them killed!

"Saita Sakura!" I began to chant in a rushed manner while pulling the Heiwa Motarasu from its scabbard.

Kiri no Tsujigiri's attention turned to me after he had just finished slaying a priest. The remaining priests, their bodies and limbs on the huge red carpet on the snow.

The odor of flesh filled the air, that I could pass out any second if I kept on inhaling it. The words won't hold power if I'm falling apart. A trembling soul can't command a ghost.

"Noyama mo sato mo-" One blink and Kiri no Tsujigiri was already in front of me! He knocked the Heiwa Motarasu from my hand with the hilt of his katana, his blade flashed my eyes.

"GAH!"

I managed to block the strike of his blade with my bare palms, though it was only a few inches from the tip of my nose. The cold blade in my palms stung, and warm blood gushed out and dripped.

At this point, I won't be able to wield the Heiwa Motarasu even if I retrieve it! He's quite fast, strong, and insanely aggressive for a ghost!

At this distance, underneath his straw hat was a face . . .

Deathly pale skin, long black hair tied in a tail, dangling long black earrings, and bloodshot eyes with a deranged grin. 

What was more peculiar about him was the bandages around his wrists and neck.

He looked-just like any other human!

"Mi-watasu-" My body trembled. At this point, his blade would cut me in half if I let go. Am I going to die like this?! I've barely sung!

"GO BACK TO HELL!"

Something struck Kiri no Tsujigiri's head, causing him to lose balance. I managed to move his katana away before it could slice me.

Kiri no Tsujigiri's weight fell on me, and our heads bumped into each other. His weight dropped on my body. Blood dripped on my palm when I tried to shove him away.

That voice!

Kenichi huffed as he dropped a log he used to hit the Tsujigiri over his side and reached out his hand to me.

"Mirai! There's no time-" He cried. I reached out my hand until...

"AGH!'' Kenichi's grunt rang in my ears, his abdomen kicked by Kiri no Tsujigiri, fiercely throwing him against the hard pillar of the honden.

Blood spilled over the tsujigiri's face, but his broad grin never ceased. He turned his attention to Kenichi this time. I opened my mouth to continue-

Ahh, it hurts!

My voice caught, like thorns blooming in my throat. I couldn't even scream. Each breath I took, each time I inhaled, it's like there are sharp thorns inside my throat! 

Kenichi drops to the ground, his mouth bleeding from the impact.

"Run, Mirai!" Kenichi screamed as he spat out blood, his body staggering. "Forget the song! You'll only be killed!"

Without a thought, I lifted myself, and my legs have never run faster in my life. 

As I descended the stairs from the shrine to . . . somewhere, I breathed in harsh, blistering gasps. My throat was so sore that it hurt, and I felt like I would never speak or sing again.

Blood and sweat weighed me down. My palms were numb, my throat raw. Kenichi's cries still echoed.

The screams still echoed in my ears. My eyes felt dry, hands were trembling.

I wanted to stop it!

I just couldn't do it. I'm so sorry, I gasped, but the words felt empty. All I could feel was this heavy, empty ache.

Running into the woods was my only choice.