The boy's name was Kozue, a name that meant "tree branches". Indeed the young boy had grown into his name with a tall, spindly figure that deceived his strength. As the third child of his mother and father, Kozue was their first and only son, destined to take over their family business, the largest shop in a town called Gosokuengaiku- the town of five corners though its was often shortened to Gogaiku. The name of the town had come from the fact that it was bordered on all sides by five different entities; three other towns, a river and a forest. The river carved like a knife through many settlements, aptly named the Shihoucho river, or "town carver". On the other side of the river lay Kankei village, a small mining settlement that claimed the nearby mountain as theirs. Indeed, the families of Kankei were generations old and knew the area well, even well enough to navigate through the expansive Hoshiko forest that crept up the mountain.
Named for the large clearing from which the stars that sparkled and danced like children were beautifully visible from, Hoshiko forest was one full of magic and healing vegetation. The forest the Kankei people knew so well was known for the bounty of herbs and other flora that healers used in their arts and those brave enough to venture into the dense forest to gather these ingredients were rewarded well- if they ever returned, that is.
Hoshiko forest, while famous for its natural goods, was equally as infamous for the creatures that inhabited it. As long as people had called the base of the nearby mountain home those same people who took the chance to venture into the forest often never came back. Home to countless smaller creatures that posed little threat to anyone, this area was also inhabited by a metamorph clan of forest cats called the Yamamaya.
The Yamamaya, though formidable adversaries for anyone, human or demon, kept to the forest, preferring the tranquility of nature to bustling noise of people. Few incidents were heard of aside from those who just seemed to go missing altogether. Those who ventured into the forest came back without so much as a scratch or didn't come back at all.
It was an unusually foggy morning when Kozue opened shop for his father and mother. Most days the young man would protest waking at such an early hour, arguing that the shop was not his responsibility quite yet. On that particular day of the week though he knew the young lady Rin would be shopping in the village. It was a few years before in the spring when the girl appeared with a shy beauty that blossomed over time and was only outdone by the mystery that surrounded her. No one in the village knew much about her, the only piece of information that seemed truthful being that she lived in the small community of purely females outside of Gogaiku. The village commonly referred to the group simply as the Joseimura- village of women, or Jo-mu for short. No men were ever allowed inside the gates of the small village and residents of the group only left for necessities they could not gather themselves. Even when outside of their village the women would stay in groups of two or more for safety.
With the news of young Rin belonging to the Jo-mu Kozue was disheartened as he knew it would be difficult to get close to the young woman but he would not be deterred. Young Rin was a sight and the days they were apart only succeeded in reaffirming his resolve to make her his. He would envision himself running his spindly fingers through her tresses that were such a dark brown that they were often mistaken for the color of soot and only in the sunlight would they relinquish their true hue. The small glimpses he won of her eyes revealed a deep brown like roasted chestnuts and equally as warm and inviting. He wanted those eyes, framed by long, dark lashes, to look upon him with love and pure adoration, wanted them to cry for him and smile for him. Kozue wanted Rin but that task proved to be a challenge for a long time as he'd barely even gotten to speak to the girl. She often chose to remain mute in the village, letting her companions do the talking and trading, and only held a moment of eye contact out of respect. The man's efforts went unnoticed for a while until one day he was approached just as he was closing up shop by a figure in a robe and a hat similar to a Buddhist's kasa.
"My apologies, sir, but we are closing up for the night. Would you mind coming back in the morning?" Kozue told the man.
In the vanishing light Kozue could see the figure smile beneath his hat and then heard laughter that unnerved the young man slightly.
"I am not here to trade for your goods, young one. I am here to make you an offer to help you win the heart of the young lass you seem to fancy so much."
The young man knitted his brows together and ruffled his dark hair with his hand, shaking his head; he was not so naïve as to fall for such blatant trickery.
"Sorry, sir, but I'm not interested. Have a good evening," he responded, turning to leave and only stopping once he felt a strong grasp on his shoulder and an eerie feeling that shook him.
"Just hear me out, young lad. It is the heart of young Lady Rin you seek, is it not?"
Kozue pulled the man's hand off of himself and turned to face him, feeling that if he humored the man he might then see Kozue was truly not interested and leave.
"And if it is? What then? Are you some kind of match maker?" Kozue inquired, the chilling laughter echoing in the night air in response.
"Not at all. I am merely a traveling salesman of fine and unusual wares. I possess a set of items that will surely capture the young lady's heart and make her yours. All yours."
"All… Mine?" The young man's brows furrowed once more only in contemplation that time as he thought of the things he could do to Rin if she were his and his alone. "All right, I'll bite. What are these items and what do you want in return for them?"
The smile returned on the mysterious man's mouth as he opened a large wooden case he carried with him. The top slid off smoothly and revealed a glowing light from inside that was pale green. From the container the man carefully pulled out a vase with a bouquet of what appeared to be simple, white carnations if it weren't for the glow they emanated.
"These flowers were taken from the Hoshiko Forest, deep in Yamamaya territory. Ordinary flowers by day though as you see they emit a glow when the moon shines upon the earth. If you give one of these to young Rin each time you see her she will slowly fall in love with you until she is yours completely. All I ask in return is something of hers." the wares man explained.
Kozue looked upon the man with skepticism but the yearning in his heart for Rin was so overwhelming he would do anything for her love. Yet this man was not asking for anything from Kozue, but for something from Rin. What would a man want with something from the girl Kozue desperately sought after? What could a man like him do with something of hers?
"Why do you want something of Rin's? Certainly a man like yourself could do without useless baubles." Kozue said.
The man laughed, "I see, you are weary. Good boy. But I am simply a collector of fine and beautiful things from fine and beautiful ladies. No trickery here just adding to a collection. In fact if you can get a few things of hers it could strengthen the magic and make it happen quickly. Place something of hers in a vase with water from the Shihoucho and keep the flowers there. The water will drink up her essence and feed it to the flowers making them much more potent. She could be yours in a moon's time."
A month... A month would be all it would take for Rin to love him? He had waited so long and in month she could be his?
"And all I have to do... Is give you something of hers?" Kozue clarified.
"Precisely. A trinket, a comb, anything that belongs to her."
"Fine. When do you want it?"
A devilish smirk spread across the man's lips. "Oh, no need to worry about it until she is helplessly in love with you. I will come back then and I expect payment, otherwise I can't help what may happen."
"What may happen? Like what?"
"I can't say for sure," the man said, wiping his brow, "But I take you for a man of your word so we shouldn't have to worry about it, right?"
"Of course," Kozue said, trying the shake the foreboding feeling.
The man handed the vase of carnations over and tipped his hat.
"Good luck, young one, may all your wishes come true."
Kozue nodded, "Thank you for your business, sir. I will make Rin mine."