The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale, eerie glow over the deserted streets. My adventure on the mountain with Ryoji was still fresh in my mind, and I was replaying the day's events over and over as I made my way back to the shrine. The trees whispered with the wind, and the occasional rustle of leaves broke the stillness of the night.

I wasn't in a rush to get back. Hiyori would probably be asleep, or pretending to be, since she loved to play the 'I don't care about you' card. The foxes would be curled up, and the shrine would be quiet, peaceful... maybe even too peaceful for someone like me who thrived on chaos.

I was lost in my thoughts when I rounded a corner and nearly walked right into her—a woman standing alone under a flickering streetlamp. She was wearing a beige trench coat, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face was partially obscured by a white surgical mask, like something straight out of a horror movie.

"Whoa, sorry about that," I said, sidestepping to avoid bumping into her. "Didn't see you there."

She didn't move. Her eyes were wide and dark, staring directly at me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. Then, in a soft, almost melodic voice, she asked, "Am I beautiful?"

I blinked, taken aback. "Uh, sure. I guess," I said, not really paying attention. "Why not?"

She tilted her head slightly and reached up to remove her mask. I didn't really think anything of it until I saw what was beneath. Her mouth stretched from ear to ear, a deep, gruesome slit lined with sharp, jagged teeth, grinning at me in a way that was anything but friendly.

"Holy shit!" I exclaimed, stumbling back a step. "This gives 'grinning ear to ear' a new meaning now..."

Her blood-coloured eyes never left mine, and a chill ran down my spine. She took a step closer, her hand reaching, taking off her surgical mask. "Am I still beautiful?" she asked again, her voice strangely calm, almost soothing.

I glanced at her hand, seeing the glint of metal—a pair of medical scissors. I let out a nervous laugh. "But that just means you can take a bigger—"

Before I could finish, she lunged forward with the scissors. Pain exploded in my side as the blade plunged deep into my flesh. I gasped, stumbling back as blood began to seep through my clothes.

I tried to say something, but my vision was already fading. The world tilted, and I felt myself hitting the cold pavement. Darkness swallowed me whole.

I woke up to the blinding glare of fluorescent lights overhead. My entire body ached, and my side burned like fire. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, and I realized I was lying in a hospital bed. Tubes ran from my arms to IV bags hanging beside me, and I felt strangely groggy, like I'd been drugged.

"Ugh, what the hell happened...?" I muttered, blinking to clear my vision. I tried to sit up, but something held me back. I looked down and saw thick leather straps binding my wrists and ankles to the bed.

"Seriously?" I groaned, my head still spinning. "What kind of hospital is this?"

Then I heard a soft humming, the same melodic tune I remembered from before. I turned my head, and there she was—the woman with the slit mouth, standing over me, wearing a surgical gown and gloves. Her eyes met mine, and she smiled with that grotesque, ear-to-ear mouth.

"Good morning," she said sweetly, holding a scalpel in her hand. "Time for your check-up."

My heart pounded in my chest, and I glanced around frantically. Inochi was placed on the nightstand beside me, but there was no way I could reach her, not with my arms strapped down. I pulled against the restraints, but they didn't budge.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, let's not do anything crazy," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady. "What's going on here?"

She tilted her head, still smiling. "I'm just making sure you're okay. You had quite a fall."

"Yeah, you think?" I snapped. "You stabbed me!"

Her smile widened. "Oh, that was just a little love tap."

I struggled against the straps again, panic beginning to creep in. "Look, lady, whatever you're planning, you really don't want to do it."

She ignored me, her eyes gleaming with a strange, twisted delight. "Let's see what's inside, shall we?" she murmured, leaning closer with the scalpel.

I braced myself, but before she could do anything, the door swung open, and a nurse poked her head in. "Dr. Kuchisake, you're needed in Room 302."

The woman—Kuchisake-onna, apparently—straightened up, still grinning. "I'll be right there," she said, slipping the scalpel into her pocket. She glanced back at me, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Don't go anywhere, now."

She walked out of the room, and I let out a shaky breath. "This is so messed up," I muttered. "I need to get the hell out of here."

I turned my head toward Inochi, reaching out with my mind. "Inochi, you there?" I thought desperately.

"I am here," she replied, her voice steady. "And I see that you are in quite the predicament."

"No shit," I hissed. "Can you get over here?"

"I cannot move on my own, but if you can reach me, I can cut through those restraints."

I gritted my teeth and strained against the straps, trying to inch closer to the nightstand. The pain in my side flared up again, but I pushed through it. I stretched my fingers as far as I could, just barely brushing against Inochi's hilt.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Come on... just a little more..." I muttered through gritted teeth.

But before I could grab her, I heard footsteps approaching again. I quickly pulled my hand back, lying still as Kuchisake-onna reentered the room, her smile still plastered on her face.

"Miss me?" she asked, her tone cheerful. "Now, where were we?"

The next morning, I stumbled back to the shrine, every step a reminder of what had happened. My body ached all over, and I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. I didn't even remember how I'd gotten out of that hellhole; everything after a certain point was a blur.

I pushed open the shrine gate, feeling like I was going to collapse at any moment. My legs felt weak, and my mind was clouded with a strange mix of fear, confusion, and exhaustion.

Hiyori was sweeping the courtyard, but she stopped when she saw me. Her eyes widened with concern. "Y/N, what happened to you?"

I flinched at her voice, a sudden wave of panic washing over me.

She frowned, dropping the broom and rushing over to steady me. "Y/N, you're shaking. Just let me—"

"Don't touch me!" I exclaimed, recoiling from her hand like it was on fire. My heart was racing, and I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead.

Hiyori stepped back, her expression a mix of shock and concern. "Y/N... what happened to you last night?"

I could feel my breathing growing rapid, my mind flashing back to that room, to her twisted smile, her hands on me... I shook my head violently, trying to push the memories away. "I... I don't want to talk about it," I said, my voice trembling. "I just... need some time."

Hiyori watched me carefully, her eyes softening. "Alright," she said quietly. "But if you need anything... just let me know."

I nodded, but I couldn't meet her eyes. I just wanted to crawl into bed and forget everything, to erase the feeling of her hands from my mind. I'd faced Gods, Monsters, Entities and horrors beyond comprehension... but nothing like this ever happened...

I made my way to the back of the shrine, each step feeling heavier than the last. The familiar surroundings of the shrine—the old wooden beams, the soft rustling of the trees, the occasional chirp of a bird—usually brought me comfort. Today, though, they felt distant, like I was watching the world through a fogged-up window.

I needed to lie down. I needed to close my eyes and block everything out. As I reached my small room, I stumbled inside and slid the door shut behind me, leaning against it for support. I could still feel my heart racing, my breath shallow and uneven. My hands were shaking, and a cold sweat covered my forehead.

I looked around the room, searching for something to anchor me—anything to pull me out of this spiraling mess of fear and confusion. My eyes landed on Inochi. Her blade was still gleaming faintly in the dim light.

"At least I have you," I thought, forcing myself to take a few deep breaths. I took a step forward and reached out, gripping her hilt. She seemed to hum with a gentle, comforting energy in response.

"Inochi," I whispered, my voice barely audible, "I don't know what to do."

"I am here," she replied softly, her voice steady. "And I will remain by your side."

I sat down on the floor, holding Inochi close to me like a lifeline. I wanted to forget everything—the encounter with Kuchisake-onna, the pain, the fear. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the images from my mind. Her grin, her touch, the cold metal of the scalpel pressing against my skin.

I clenched my eyes shut, trying to force the memories away, but they kept coming back. I felt sick, my stomach churning with a mix of rage and helplessness.

*Why am I feeling like this?* I thought angrily. I've faced down Gods, fought Monsters, survived battles that would kill most beings... why does this bother me so much?

But deep down, I knew why. It was the feeling of being powerless, of being violated in a way that was beyond anything I'd experienced before. She had taken something from me—something I couldn't name but felt like a deep, festering wound.

I sat there for what felt like hours, holding onto Inochi as if she was the only thing keeping me tethered to reality. The room was quiet, except for the occasional sound of wind brushing against the walls. The soft glow of the afternoon sun filtered through the shoji screen, casting long shadows on the floor.

Finally, I heard a soft knock on the door. "Y/N?" Hiyori's voice came through, cautious but gentle. "Are you alright?"

I didn't answer right away. I didn't even know how to begin to answer that question. I wanted to say I was fine, that everything was okay. But it wasn't. And pretending otherwise wasn't going to help.

"Come in," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

The door slid open, and Hiyori stepped inside. She looked at me with concern, her usual fiery demeanor softened by worry. "Y'know, you look like you've been through Hell," she said softly, kneeling down beside me.

"Feels like it," I muttered, staring at the floor.

She hesitated for a moment, then reached out a hand as if to touch my shoulder. I flinched instinctively, pulling away, and her hand froze in mid-air.

"Sorry," she said quickly, retracting her hand. "I didn't mean to—"

"No," I interrupted, shaking my head. "It's not you, it's just... I don't know. Everything feels wrong."

Hiyori watched me for a moment, her eyes searching mine. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked gently.

I swallowed, my throat dry. "I don't know if I can."

She nodded, not pushing any further. "That's okay," she said. "Just know that... I'm here. If you need anything."

I felt a lump form in my throat. "Thanks," I managed to say, my voice cracking slightly. "I... appreciate it."

We sat in silence for a while, the weight of everything hanging heavy in the air. Hiyori didn't push me to say anything more, and for that, I was grateful. Just having her nearby, without any expectations or demands, was a small comfort.

After a while, she spoke again, her voice soft. "Y/N, you've always been the strongest person I know," she said. "But it's okay to not be strong all the time. It's okay to let yourself feel... whatever you're feeling."

I looked up at her, meeting her gaze. There was a sincerity there, a warmth that I hadn't expected. "I don't know what I'm feeling," I admitted, my voice shaky. "I'm angry, I'm scared, I'm... I don't know. I feel like I'm falling apart."

Hiyori's eyes softened even more. "It's okay to feel that way," she said. "You don't have to have it all figured out. Just... take it one step at a time."

I nodded slowly, her words sinking in. "Yeah," I said quietly. "Maybe you're right."

She gave me a small smile. "Of course I am. I'm always right."

Despite everything, I found myself smiling back, just a little. "Don't let it go to your head."

"Too late," she replied, her smile growing. "And for what it's worth, I'm glad you're back. I was worried."

I took a deep breath, feeling a bit of the weight lift off my shoulders. "Thanks, Hiyori," I said. "I mean it."

She nodded, standing up. "You're welcome. Now, get some rest. And if you need anything, just call for me, alright?"

"Alright," I said, watching her leave the room. The door slid shut behind her, and I was alone again.

I looked down at Inochi, still resting in my lap. "Thanks for sticking with me," I murmured.

"I will always be here, Y/N," she replied, her voice gentle. "No matter what."

I nodded, letting out a long breath. I didn't know what the next step was or how I'd start to heal from this. But for now, I had people—friends—who were here for me. And maybe that was enough to get through this one step at a time.

I lay back, closing my eyes, trying to focus on the steady rhythm of my breathing. The memories were still there, lurking at the edges of my mind, but for the first time since last night, I felt a small sense of calm. I didn't know what would happen tomorrow, but for now, I was still here. I was still fighting. And that had to count for something.

As the room grew dim with the setting sun, I let the exhaustion take over, pulling me into a restless sleep.

Nothing ever made me feel so... powerless.