Sixth: Demon land
The beginning of the summer wood looks fresh and green with the dews and the spray after rains. The group walked into the mountain and say hello to the tourists along the way to the deep part of Tanigawa Dake. The weather is colder than the foothill but they still keep their walk after the map of the mountain to find the ancient monument in the center of the forest.
"Susumu, are you confirm that it is real?"
"I'm sure Fumiko and I had been asked my cousin who is a historical professor before I set the trip."
"Oh" She used a staff to support her while walked up the hill while a sweet couple held their hand together behind her.
"Hey! That lovers"
"Hn?"
"We'll rest for a while at that rock." She pointed at the rock at a near creek.
They reached the creek and took off their packs and shoes to sink their sore legs and feet into the aqua water. Ten minutes later, the hunt group started walk again and Susumu lead them to the hiding monument in the deep forest that the national park office does not allow anyone to get through.
"Kagome"
"What?" She glanced at the man beside her.
"We are in love for long time and I…I…"
"Hn?"
He still shy but gathered his brave to whisper something in her ear made the girl's cheek blushed slightly before give him the answer.
"Yes but after this trip"
"Hey! Guys, we arrived."
"Eh?"
The group saw a medium size and old red Torii gate at the stone stairs case at the foothill is covering in the high think shrubs and large trees.
"This is the ancient monument that we walked for hours to find it." Fumiko walked around the gate.
"This is Shimenawa, right." The university girl pointed at a new straw rope at the gate then Fumiko stared back at the two men.
"The ancient monument has a new Shimenawa on it."
"Mmm"
"Someone might come here to seal the gate before we made the trip."
"Alright" The girl turned back. "We will take a photo before we leave."
"Yeah" Naoki put a camera on the stand and hurry back to the group.
"Say cheese"
Everyone held their pack up to go back after took many photos.
Ring! Ring!
"Meow"
"Hn"
"Meow"
"Kitty" Kagome stared at the black cat sat at Torii gate then it got up and turned around to the gate.
"Hey! Kitty"
"What, Kagome?"
"A black cat" She pointed at the cat and followed it into the gate with her boyfriend.
"Kagome! Naoki, we will go back." A man turned around to call his friends but they are disappear.
"Kagome! Naoki, where are you?" He tried to look around but they didnot here.
"What the matter, Susumu?"
"They are missing."
The girl and the man followed the black cat into the old gate but there is too long like Torii tunnel at Fushimi Inari shrine at Kyoto but it is dark and cool like a cave.
"Stop, Naoki"
"What"
"Where are they?"
The man turned around to see his friends but he did not see anything but the darkness is sprinkling around them.
"Kagome" He caught her hand and pulled her close.
"What happened?"
"I don't know."
"Meow"
"Kitty! Come to this way, Naoki." She pulled his hand to follow the cat's direction.
The couple walked after the black cat in the darkness for hours until she collapsed on the hard cold ground.
"Kagome"
"I'm tired." She got up but her hand is holding in his large warm hand. "I need a rest."
He let go of her and sent her a bottle of water.
"Thanks"
Ring!
"Hey! Kitty. I'm tired and I cannot follow you now."
Ring! Ring! Ring! Roooooooar!
"Kagome"
"Hn" Her sweat dropped on the ground and got up. "Run!"
They ran through the darkness to escape the mystery creature that follows their back.
"The light"
They ran into the light but fell immediately from the cliff to the deep abyss. The two sank into the blue river and floated along the way of the current. Finally the survivors reached a land at the river mouth. The couple lay on their back on the sand to see the clear blue sky and breathed for the fresh air.
"Are you alright, Naoki?"
"yeah" He turned around to bends over her and kissed the rosy lips.
The lovers got up and look around but they didnot see anything only the wood and the river.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know." The girl look at the blue sky to saw a bird flies to their way.
"Naoki"
"What"
"I think we must run again."
"Hn"
"That bird will attack us." She pulled his hand and run to the wood to hide them from the giant bird but they found a lower demon in the forest who waits for the preys.
"Demon"
"What, Kagome?"
"Don't you see it?" She pointed at the lizard that had a spider head. They want to step back but the giant bird waits for her at the forest edge while the lizard demon stepped toward them.
Quack! Quack!
'What can I do?' The girl picked up a stick to protect her and her boyfriend but the man pulled her hand and run to the bird made the lizard followed immediately. Suddenly the bird saw its preys but there is a challenger followed them from the wood. It must fight for its food. Then the demon war is starting at the wood edge in the noon.
The two human saw the horror fight between the giant bird and the lizard for a second. They decide to run away from the battle field and ran among the bushes and the trees to find asave place as her sense told them.
"How do you know they are the demons?" He lifted a bottle of water up to drink.
"I don't know but I trust my sense."
The man moved close to her and held her thin shoulders. "I believed you, Kagome There are many mystery things in the world and why don't it has the demons in the world as many unknown creatures."
"Hn" She leaned her dark brown head on his shoulder while the man kissed her soft lips gentry.