"Spring Surprises"

By. Dream-Maiden7

Inspired by the story "Magic Spring"

Above the valley named Aoni, a little blue bird flew high in the blue sky.

It circled and landed itself on a tree branch.

The bird turned its head side to side glancing around to see if anyone was around.

It deemed the coast was clear.

A thick smoke blocked it from view.

When the smoke gave way, a young woman appeared.

She was beautiful with milk-white skin.

Her short straight midnight black hair moved with the wind.

She wore skin-tight clothes consisting of a baby blue yukata, black obi, and a blue ribbon tied to her ankle.

Her name was Sora.

She was a woman on a mission.

She gazed down with her chocolate brown eyes at a rugged hut.

A smile grew on her pink lips as she waited for the elderly gentleman to exit from within.

Her excitement grew when the front door opened.

A hunched over man took slow careful steps forward.

Thin pepper grey hair fell around a sad tan face.

He wore loose-fitting clothes consisting of a brown yukata, cream-colored obi, and geta sandals.

His name was Isamu.

He moved through the trees onto a worn path heading to the rice fields.

Sora followed him hopping from tree limp to tree limp.

A giggle escaped her mouth as her hair flew around her.

She stopped on a limp and watched Isamu glance around him.

"I know you are out there. Come out, I say," Isamu commanded.

He heard a chuckle and footsteps come from his left.

Isamu turned just in time to see his grinning neighbor Junichiro step from between the trees.

"What do you want?" Isamu asked curiously.

Junichiro came closer leaving but a space between them.

He tilted his head to the side and placed his chin between his thumb and forefinger.

He scanned Isamu from head to toe.

"I wonder what Maeko sees in you. She should want me since I was her first love. I would of gave her everything she desired. You cannot even give her what she wants. A child! How pathetic," Junichiro said coldly.

His charcoal locks slicked back away from his ivory face.

Hate filled dark grey eyes tore Isamu in half.

He wore tight-fitted clothes consisting of a blue yukata designed with white diamonds, dark blue obi, and bamboo sandals.

Isamu stumbled back from his harsh words.

He gazed down at the forest floor and let the tears flow.

They hit the dirt ground in heavy splashes.

He grinds his teeth and balls up his fists ready to act.

He stopped himself at the last minute.

'He is not worth it,' Isamu thought peacefully.

He unclenched his fists and relaxed himself.

Junichiro laughed as he walked past his rival.

Once the footsteps grew distant, Isamu raised his head and reached up to wipe away the tears.

He turned around to continue walking but stopped as the wind carried a sigh from high up within the treetops.

It sounded like twinkling bells.

A sudden flash of blue fell before Isamu.

He jumped back with his eyes huge with fright.

He watched as the strange woman straightened herself.

Sora smiled kindly at him.

"What do you want with me, youkai? Are you going to eat me?" Isamu asked shakingly.

Sora tilted her head to the side.

Her innocent eyes gazed at him with wonder.

'Why did master choose this ningen?' she thought curiously.

Flashback

Sora meditated in a clearing deep within the forest.

She felt around the area with her sixth sense.

She felt like someone watching her.

She opened her eyes and gazed upon its solidifying form.

The air around them chilled her to the bone.

It was a lonely young man.

His long onyx hair fell around a porcelain face.

His red eyes held a secret.

His dark grey yukata hung from his lanky frame.

She posed her hands a centimeter apart in front of her.

She analyzes her opponent while slowly moving around him.

The yūrei reacts by throwing a fist at her face.

She blocked it with her left hand.

She tightened her grip on his fist.

He winced in pain from the pressure.

She thrust an open palm out hitting her rival in the chest.

The strong wind encircling it shoved the man away from her.

The yūrei dug its heels into the ground.

He visualized a deadly sharp knife in his hand.

He ran his wicked tongue across its blade.

He smirked at her teasingly.

Sora felt a shiver race through her body.

A flash of his past deed flickered through her mind.

A woman with a slit throat.

Blood gushed and slid down her chest.

Sora gagged at the smell of strong cooper.

She saw the woman's lips spell out the name 'Reiji' emotionally.

He slowly stalked towards Sora.

A wide crazy smile graced his lips.

He loved the hunt and the terrified screams of his prey.

He wanted this one to out-shine the rest, but he underestimated this one.

Sora narrowed her eyes.

She performed a quick tornado kick.

Reiji stumbled backwards from the blow.

Outrage boiled beneath his skin.

He charged forwards slashing and lunging at her from different angles.

She dodged his attack by keeping at a distance.

Sora swiftly changed her fighting stance.

Her hands formed into the shape of claws.

She balanced on one leg.

She tilted her head to the side mocking him.

He studied her trying to figure out her next move.

His hatred slowly melted away.

He started chuckling.

A new plan formed within his twisted mind.

He wanted to pluck her feathers and make her his new plaything.

He grew hard imaging his slave on her hands and knees.

He gazed at her and licked his lips.

She looked at him with disgust.

She searched for an opening.

She soon found one.

She jumped high and grabbed onto a tree branch.

She flipped herself into the air.

Her yukata sleeves floated around her.

She spun fast encompassing herself inside a tornado.

Her eyes glowed with a warm blue light.

She grinded her teeth in pain.

Her cheek bones became more pronounced.

Her hair grew spiky.

Crystal spikes appeared around her.

Bright light shown from them.

She screamed loudly.

The spikes flew towards the yūrei.

Reiji realized there was no time to get out of the way.

His eyes widened in fear.

The spikes ripped through his body and embedded themselves into a tree trunk.

He screamed and faded away into a cloud of black smoke.

She landed softly on her feet.

Sora opened her eyes and sighed in relaxation.

A smile grew on her pink lips as she heard trickles of water from a distance.

She followed it to a set of bushes.

Sora spread them apart and stepped through.

A clear spring with raised boulders stood before her.

She gazed down at herself.

She frowned at the dirt covering her beautiful yukata.

'I need a bath' Sora thought with disgust.

She walked over to a boulder and began to loosen her obi.

She heard something move swiftly through the air.

Sora realized it was coming from behind her.

She jumped out of the way and heard it hit the place where she was standing.

She turned around to see a wooden cane in the hand of an irritated old man.

He lifted it up and swung it in a wide arch again.

She dunked and sent him a glare.

"Young lady, that water is for drinking only," the old man's gravel voice said.

She raised an eyebrow with interest.

She noticed he was protecting the spring with all his might.

She heard a shrub shake behind him.

Her muscles tightened up ready for an attack.

A black deer stepped out.

The sun gleamed on his massive antlers.

Sora relaxed as she scanned the old man head to toe.

His bald head gleamed under the afternoon sun.

Thin gray brows stood above wise almond brown eyes.

A long grey beard grew from his aging ivory face.

He wore loose clothes consisting of a light tan yukata designed with red suns, white hakama, red toe socks, and bamboo sandals.

A fan hung from his brown obi.

Sora realized who stood before her.

She felt foolish and begged for forgiveness.

He was relieved and relaxed his stance.

"Child, you are forgiven. Please rise" Jurōjin said kindly.

She rose from her hands and knees.

She gazed at him with curiosity.

She wondered why the spring was so special.

She was about to ask him, but his chuckle stopped her.

She glanced at him.

His eyes sparkled with mischief.

She realized he read her mind.

She blushed and glanced away.

"Your curiosity amuses me. This spring is one of a kind. I should know because I made it. A single sip of water can bring back one's youth, but in the wrong hands can bring nasty surprises. I come before you now to ask you to be a protector of this secret" Jurōjin said boastfully.

She was amazed to get this kind of honor.

She nodded her head in agreement.

"What must I do?" Sora asked seriously.

He smiled at her tenderly.

He thought of her as his own child.

He reached out and patted her on the head gently.

She gazed at him shyly.

"There is an elderly couple on the edge of the village I wish to help. You must go there and guide the husband to this spring. It is time that I returned to my fellow kami. Make sure no other touches this spring," Jurōjin said seriously.

She watched him turn away from her.

He walked alongside the deer back towards the forest slowly fading from sight.

She wondered if he was a ghost the whole time.

She closed her eyes and focused on her animal form.

She opened her eyes and spread her wings.

She took to the skies gliding towards her destination.

End Flashback

Sora rose her hand to her mouth and giggled into it.

She calmed herself down.

"No. I am here to guide you to a miracle that could change your outlook on life," she said smartly.

Isamu did not know if he should trust her.

He cleared his throat and narrowed his eyes.

"There has got to be a catch to this deal. I am not falling for it that easily," Isamu said seriously.

He turned away from her and began to walk off.

She stepped into his path with a pompous attitude.

He frowned at her.

'Why is she doing this to me?' Isamu thought pitifully.

Sora formed a tornado around him.

He was amazed as his feet left the ground.

The colors of the landscape blend together.

He felt the winds carry him forward at massive speed.

The tornado moved over hills and valleys.

It soon arrived within the secret clearing.

The winds dissolved before him.

His feet slowly met solid ground once again.

Isamu glanced around at the dazzling beauty.

He was in disbelief that the place existed.

He felt speechless and turned to Sora.

She motioned him to step closer to the spring.

He moved to the edge and gazed down at his rippling reflection.

He reached up to touch his wrinkled face.

He wished there were something he could do to change back time.

He sighed as his hand fell away from his cheek.

He glanced away from the crystal waters.

"I was told to pass this message along. Take one sip from the spring. You will become youthful once again. Beware of taking two sips. Nasty surprises will await you in the end" Sora said mysteriously.

He thought long and hard.

He finally came to a decision.

He turned back to the water.

He reached out and cupped a small amount within his palm.

He brought his hand close to his lips and tilted it slightly.

The water glided into his mouth.

He swallowed the fresh tasting droplet.

He felt his skin changing and glanced down.

He saw the wrinkles slowly disappearing.

He closed his startled eyes in disbelief.

"This is not real! I will wake up in the next minute and realize this is a dream," Isamu said in shock.

He noticed that his rasp disappeared and replaced by a deep strong masculine voice.

His eyes flashed open.

He gazed down at his reflection.

His younger self glanced back.

He realized it was all true.

A smile appeared on his lips.

He could not wait to tell his wife.

He rose to his feet.

"Will you please take me back to my wife?" Isamu asked excited.

Sora nodded her head.

She formed a tornado around him and off they went.

Still within the clearing, a dark energy removed itself from the shadows.

It moves up to the edge of the spring.

It glanced down at its reflection.

Its red eyes glowed with mischief.

A wicked smile appeared on its face.

It chuckled at its evil thoughts.

"Let the games begin" it said faintly.

Its form slowly faded from the clearing.

It reappeared outside Junichiro's hut.

Its smoky form passed through the door.

It moved throughout the rooms until it found Junichiro smoking a pipe on the back porch.

The evil entity grinned widely as it moved up to him.

It leaned down next to his ear.

'Think how nice it would be if Isamu didn't exist' Reiji hissed.

Junichiro thought it sounded nice.

He would not have to put up with the cry baby.

He would have Maeko all to himself.

A tempting image of her laid out before him came to his mind.

He felt himself harden from the thought of her seducing voice calling his name.

The sound of footsteps broke his train of thought.

He picked himself up and went inside the hut.

He arrived in his living room just in time to see a young Isamu pass by his window.

'How can this be?' Junichiro thought.

An intense anger came over him.

He bites down harder on the tip of the pipe.

The evil shadow touched Junichiro's forehead.

An image of a spring came to his thoughts.

He watched as Isamu drank from its waters.

Junichiro gazed at him and wished for the same youthful transformation.

'I will show you how to get there' Reiji said amused.

He took possession of Junichiro's body.

He walked from the hut and began heading in the direction of the spring.

A wicked smile blossomed upon his lips.

Meanwhile with Sora, she followed Isamu as a bluebird to his hut.

She perched herself on their windowsill.

Maeko was surprisingly youthful and yet age was catching up with her.

Her deep brown hair streaked with silver strands.

She had it tied into a bun.

A strand of hair framed both sides of her ivory face.

Her warm toffee brown eyes reflected her kind soul.

She wore a tight fit peach yukata with colorful flowers and light grey edging, gold obi, and geta sandals.

Sora watched as he went inside to find a worried Maeko.

His wife screamed and backed away from him.

Isamu tried to calm her down.

He reached out to take her into his arms.

Maeko felt around her person and found a fan sticking out from her obi.

She pulled it out and batted his hands away from her.

He blocked his face and felt little slaps on his biceps.

Sora doubled over and tweeted with laughter.

She felt herself tilt forwards.

She flapped her wings to rebalance herself.

She glanced back at the loving couple just in time to see Isamu lower his arms.

A teasing grin graced his luscious lips.

Maeko was huffing and puffing from using so much energy.

Her eyes narrowed into slits.

Isamu loved the way she was challenging him.

He waited for her next bold move.

She rose her arm again ready to strike.

He caught her wrist and ripped the fan from her hand.

He yanked her to his chest.

He tightened his arms around her.

She struggled to release herself.

His embrace was unbreakable.

He felt her surrender.

He leaned down and kissed her deeply.

Maeko moaned and reached up to grab a fist full of hair.

She thought back on the night of their wedding.

He was very attentive to her every need.

He made her feel so protected.

Throughout the years, he became an animal.

Even now, her intense emotions renewed.

She needed him now.

They pulled away breathing heavily.

She sighed and released his hair to stroke the side of his cheek with her fingertips.

She scanned him from head to toe.

"How can this be?" Maeko asked curiously.

He sighed in relief and told her about his adventure.

He also mentioned his new friend Sora.

She was amazed by the tale and wished to see this magic spring herself.

Maeko hears a flutter of wings.

She turns around to see Sora standing by the window.

She cowers deeper into her husband's arms.

He kisses the side of her neck to comfort her.

Sora smiles and holds out her hand.

"It's okay. I will not harm you," Sora said with kindness.

Maeko glances up at her husband and sees him smirking.

She gets a little jealous and elbows him in the ribs.

He laughs heartly.

He releases her from his embrace.

She walks over to Sora and grabs her hand.

She hears her husband walk over.

She watched as her husband grabbed Sora's other hand.

A huge gust of wind picked them up.

She squealed in surprise.

It was magical to see something so dangerous and yet so beautiful forming before her very eyes.

The tornado started moving on its own carrying them.

It was like Sora was controlling it with her mind.

They moved past the well lived-in hut and came upon Junichiro's spacious dwells.

Sora's intuition told her to glance through the window.

There was an old picture hanging on the wall.

Two men and a boy stood side by side.

They all looked like each other.

Sora realized that they were brothers, and the boy was Junichiro.

Sora felt a chill go up her spine.

The oldest of the brothers was Reiji.

She felt they needed to hurry.

Something bad was about to happen.

Maeko tried to see past the veil of the tornado that blocked her view.

She was disappointed to find that all she could see was a rainbow of colors.

Meanwhile with Junichiro and Reiji, they wondered through the peaceful clearing.

A look of disgust graced their features.

They came upon the spring and gazed down at its waters.

Junichiro's eyes filled with blood lust.

He felt a dark sense of humor come over him.

He chuckled as he dipped his fingers into the pure water.

He brought his cupped hands up to his mouth.

He drank all the water in greedy gulps.

He felt he won a battle of wits.

Then, a twisting pain started in his gut.

He felt something was wrong as beads of sweat appeared upon his brow.

His body started shrinking in size.

He grabbed at his face as his vision and hearing blurred.

He removed his hands and noticed his vision once again was clear.

His surroundings were impossibly bigger than him.

He cried out in surprise with a tiny yelp.

He brought his thumb to his mouth and started sucking on it.

Reiji was beyond furious as he came to realize he was stuck inside a newborn child.

He felt embarrassed and tricked.

The ground beneath him felt so uncomfortable.

He wished it were a pair of plump breasts his head laid upon.

The treetops danced to the gentle breeze above him.

He felt a calming peace sweep through him.

It irritated him enough that he could feel it in his bones.

Then he realized the ground was shaking.

The wind grew furious and strong.

He saw lighting strikes and heard deep rumbles of thunder.

He gulped in terror as he crawled to the bushes.

He peeked out to see a tornado coming closer.

It soon died down to reveal two women and a man.

Reiji glared at Maeko as they head to the spring.

She walked tenderly beside her husband.

She grabbed onto his hand for encouragement.

She gasped at the heavenly view before her.

A black deer stood on the far side drinking from the spring.

Its mouth pulled away from the water's surface.

Once their presence was known, it backed away into the forest.

She wandered up to the water's edge and kneeled.

She hesitated as she looked at her reflection.

She touched the side of her face.

'If I drink this water, will I be immortal?' she wondered.

She slowly dipped her hands into the lukewarm water.

She brought her palms up to her bottom lip.

She tipped the water into her mouth and swallowed it.

A crawling sensation started in her stomach.

She felt her hair thicken and come lose from her hair tie.

It fell down her back in waves.

She watched the wrinkles disappear from the top of her hands.

She turned to her excited husband.

He reached out a hand to her.

She grabbed it and straightened herself.

Sora wondered 'why do I feel uneasy?' as she gazed around at the surrounding forest.

She felt like someone was watching them.

She slowly moved away from Maeko and Isamu.

She followed her instincts and stopped in front of a thick bush.

She pushed its limbs apart and found a baby boy looking up at her.

She thought 'how cute, but where did you come from?' as she bent down and picked him up.

She frowned as he started crying.

She tried to calm him down, but nothing seemed to work.

Sora walked over to the couple.

Maeko heard the baby and grew excited.

She rushed over to the little boy.

She took him from Sora's arms.

She hummed a calming tune.

The boy stopped crying and was looking at them with interest.

Maeko thought 'how adorable' seeing him puff his cheeks out.

She turned to her husband.

She saw him shake his head 'no' in denial of what was happening.

"Please, Isamu!" Maeko begged.

Her tearful eyes gazed at her undecided husband.

He groaned as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"What about his parents? They could be looking for him right now." Isamu logically said.

He glanced around their surrounds hoping for a sign of a worried couple searching for their child but found nothing.

He soon gave in to his wife's demands of keeping the little boy as their own.

"Okay! Let us take the child home." Isamu wearily said.

Maeko smiled widely and leaned in to kiss her husband on the lips.

She felt Isamu kiss her back and led her out of the clearing.

Sora went to follow but a hand placed itself on her shoulder.

She looked to her side and found Jurōjin watching the couple.

A huge grin graced his lips.

She could tell something was up.

She heard the frustrated cry of the child.

Jurōjin found it quite amusing.

The black deer lay at his feet calmly relaxing.

It nuzzled its head against Jurōjin's leg.

The kami glanced at Sora with all-knowing eyes.

He noticed she was worried about the couple.

"There is nothing to worry about, dear child. It was all a part of my plan. You see I am giving Reiji a second chance. He must learn to fight against the darkness and return to the light." Jurōjin calmly said.

Sora understood him; her heart filled with hope for the child.

She sighed and changed into the bluebird.

She flew up and perched herself on Jurōjin's shoulder.

The black deer stood on its feet and followed them into the forest.

They disappeared within the darkness where more miracles were waiting to happen.

The End