Like the Sun and the Moon
Yukami stood frozen in the forrest clearing. Thick trees encircled her, leaving no escape. Snow whirled around the feet of Yukami's white kimono. The wind howled.
“I know you're there,” Yukami's breath puffed forward. Yukami remained still, her eyes piercing the thin air.
“Okasa is dead, I have done my part.” The cloud of air pushed forth again. Yukami waited.
The frozen words drifted out; three inches, four inches, five- and parted in all directions, like a stream of smoke hitting a wall.
A voice whispered, “Aye, he is.”
Yukami remained still, undeterred, “I want what was promised to me.”
The voice returned, “Aye, you do.”
Yukami shifted from foot to foot.
“You still have much to learn, little girl.”
The words echoed in the wilderness. Yukami composed herself.
“Aye, you think killing a man as he sleeps makes you a woman?”
Yukami shifted feet again.
“I-...I'm not proud of what I did. It was the only way. He would have killed me.”
“Aye, I doubt that very much.”
“He would have! I swear!”
The birds stirred from the trees, sailed to the sky. Yukami, startled, turned and watched them go.
“I would not prick the tiniest of hairs from your head.”
She returned around- “Okasa?”
“Aye.” A gust of wind sent a whirlwind of snow up in front of Yukami. When it cleared, Okasa appeared- in his finest robes, smiling gently. His eyes glimmered with the slight ray of sunlight that suddenly broke through the clouds. “Yukami.”
Yukami fell to her knees in front of the ghost. “Why? Why Okasa?”
Okasa reached out and lightly grasped Yukami's shoulders. He raised her back to her feet, wiped a tear from her eye. “Don't cry my love.”
“Don't.” Yukami took Okasa's outstretched hand, another tear of hers slowly freezing on the tip of his finger. She moved his hand away. “Don't say that.”
“I never stopped loving you.” Okasa rest his arm at his side.
Yukami shook her head. The trees rustled.
“You did. A five-year old boy is proof of that.” Yukami turned away again.
Okasa nodded, “Aye. Hitaro is growing fast. How is he?”
Yukami stayed with her back turned. Okasa took a step forward, raised his arms to embrace her.
“Don't-” Okasa retreated back to his spot. He straightened himself up. Yukami continued, “He's well. Growing fast.” Yukami looked over her shoulder, “He's started asking questions about his mother.”
Okasa nodded again, “Aye.” Yukami sighed and took a step forward, “Yukami-” Okasa spoke. Yukami walked towards the dark trees. “My love-” the whispers followed her. Yukami's kimono disappeared into the dark, leaving Okasa alone in the middle of the clearing.
Snow sprinkled his bald head. He watched after Yukami, the spot where she disappeared into the wilderness. The wind whistled through branches and towering trunks; through the bushels of needles. Okasa peered up at the sky. The clouds had closed, the ray of sunlight no longer struck his eyes. They were darkening. Everything was darkening. With a tear of his own forming, he spoke to the wind, “My love, you will get what you desire.” And with another whirlwind spiral of snow, Okasa was lost to the cold empty air.
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