The woman that fell in love with a God

“Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one”

(惚れて通えば千里も一里)

It was another chilly day of the wet autumn that had visited this little town situated far from the big city. It was late and the crescent moon was high in the sky hiding shyly behind the gray fluffy clouds that decorated the night. The stars were shining brightly as they have never done it before and the essence of the wet earth filled the whole mountains and town. A young woman was returning from her last day of job. She had quitted four days before, but she just had finished all her last tasks she was given that day. She was really excited that a big smile was written on her face. She had been waiting for this day after the week He had left, so she could not contain her enthusiasm. She turned left where the path divided in two without stopping like she had been doing since his departure.  She was carrying a rather heavy looking bag full of groceries, but it did not seem to bother, because she took it all the way to her home without making any pauses on her way to it. She passed by the rice fields and saluted the old man that was passing by. It was her landlord. He was stupefied by her behavior, because the last months she had been gloomy and with her head in the clouds that he had to reminded her about six times about her rent. She crossed the bridge and passed through the little town humming a song she had been listening non-stop. She passed by the plum tree and looked at it for a moment. She put her right hand on her heart and closed her eyes.

“I’m almost there, so just wait for me a little more” She said to the tree and opened her eyes having a pumped looked.

 She was so happy that she even helped her neighbor, with whom she had had a quarrel the last week and had not talked since then with him, with moving a new computer inside his house.  When she asked if he wanted help, he was suspicious, but since she seemed to be asking honestly he accepted her offer. Moreover he was mesmerized by her radiance she emitted that night that his face turned red for just having her at home for a while.

She left his house and directly ran to hers. She took off her coat and shoes and left them on the entry. She put some relaxing music and headed straight to her small kitchen, where she started boiling the rice and cutting some vegetables she wanted to add to it and had bought before. She prepared a full dinner for two persons and even the table had two sets of cutlery and glasses. She put some jasmines  on the vase that was in the middle of the table. When the pot with the dinner gave off a delicious aroma, she turned down the fire and went to take a shower. She came out and wore a beautiful kimono made of red silk boarded with jasmines, her favorite flower. She added some light make up, because she did not like it, and painted her lips with a scarlet red. Her hair was picked up with an adornment made of jasmines, because since the last time she had seen him, her hair had grown to her shoulders. She admired her reflection on the mirror and after deciding that she looked beautiful she went to the dinner room. She brought with her a bottle of sake and sat on the cushion. She served herself and the guest’s cup some sake. She held her cup of sake on her left hand and on the right a napkin with a white powder. She added this to her sake and before drinking it she raised her cup and said:

“Cheers!” and drank it  giving the beginning of the dinner.                   

She was happily enjoying her meal, when her hands started shaking and she was not able to move them. She was feeling dizzy and then she threw up some blood.  Somehow she managed to stand up by helping herself with the wall. She clumsily head to the window that faced the plum tree and opened it. A strong cold wind came through it and threw her on the floor. Her head bounced and when she tried to stand up she realized she was too weak to do that much. She turned her head to the window where the plum tree seemed to glow stronger than ever and gave a faint smile before closing her eyes forever.

By the time that her neighbor broke up her door to get inside, after hearing some dishes falling down, and tried to wake her up for her eternal sleep, the last leaf on the plum tree felt on the river. 

The leaf was pushed by the wind and by the watercourses of the river far away from the little town. It past a little waterfall, some bays and mountains until it finally met with the others leaves of the plum tree that were at the side of a lake, which was covered in a thick cloud of fog. There the leaves were surrounding the body of the young lady that had just died. She woke up when the last leaf touch her finger and wiping her eyes she took a look at her location. She did not seem to know what had happened to her and stood there for a while feeling lost until a little white fox caressed her left leg. She was perplexed at the beginning, but immediately her eyes sparkled and started following the little fox that had entered the dark forest that was in front of her. The little fox had led her to a maze made of violet, pink and white azalea bushes. She went inside and searched for a way out, but after a long while she started feeling frustrated. Suddenly a wind blew bringing a sweet scent she recognized very well and followed it. She managed to pass through it thanks to it and when she came out from it she saw him. He was wearing a white kimono and a deep blue and white hakama shita. He was waiting for her with his hand extended. He smiled at her warmly as He had always done.

“Come here” He said to her and She ran to where He was and jumped at him. He held her and after they stared at each other for a brief moment they kissed.

“I really missed your kisses. They really taste like honey” She said with a smile and they kissed once again on that forest full of beautiful azaleas and many more wonders.

The God who fell in love with a woman

This story happened in a clear night of spring.  The big moon was low and so bright that it made visible all the camps of rice and roads.  He was standing in front of the road’s sings that divide the path in two. He was wearing a black silk kimono and had his long silver hair picked up with a pigtail. The moonlight enveloped his presence making him look more unlikely to a human. His profile was so gorgeous and mesmerizing that the young lady that happened to pass by after a long day at work stood there looking at him fascinated. She admired him for long time and surely would have done that a little bit longer if a warm wind that brought the sweet essence of the cherry blossoms had not blown. She took a deep breath to try to do not forget this magical moment. She sighed what made him realize about her being there, because when she did that, he jumped and turned his way to her looking astounded.  His face was far more beautiful than she had thought. His face was skinny, his cheekbone was highlighted and his lips were thin and delicate. His eyes were almond shaped and like the honey. Although his glance was smart, his eyes gave her a warm she knew… She got the feeling that she had seen them somewhere before, yet she could not seem to remember where from. She felt as if she had been under a spell, because she could not take her eyes from his, so when He smiled at her she felt all her face turning red of embarrassment.  He chuckled, what made her more frustrated. She did not like to be the reason to laugh at, but this feeling disappeared as soon as He opened his mouth.

“I am sorry if I made you feel uneasy. It is just that I had not seen for a long time someone being so abashed and looking charming at the same time that I could not help but to trouble you. I sincerely apologized” He said bowing his head.

“It’s alright. It didn’t really bother me. Well, maybe a little, but…” She was at a loss for words, what was uncommon for her, someone who was a really talkative person. Once again He chuckled.

“You do not have to be formal and lie to me. I will not get mad” He tried to assured her, what truly did help her.

“Sorry, I don’t usually lie, while trying to be polite” She justified herself. “What’s more important, are you lost? You’ve been standing in front of these sings since I came out from the train at that stop” She said and pointed the train station she came from. “I live here and I know this entire little town by heart. I can help you if you wish.” She offered him help and gave him a small smile. This time He seemed to fluster, but quickly regained his composure.

“That will be really lovely and helpful! I came to see someone, but it has been a long time since the last time I was here, that I completely do not know, where is what it was supposed to be.  Furthermore I really do not have a great sense of orientation, so that just complicates more my situation.” He shyly smiled at his incompetence.

“Were you here before?” She asked shocked, but with more interested, because that meant that she had met him before. However she still did not know where from she had seen him.

“Oh well, it was a long time ago. I even think that the person I came to see has already forgotten about me” He said with painful eyes looking at the clear starry sky, as if he was remembering something from the past.
“I´m pretty sure, that the person hasn’t done that” She tried to console him, but sincerely she could not manage to imagine someone forgetting someone so gorgeous and elegant as He was, so her words were honest.

“Maybe you are right.” He said as if trying to convince himself about that.

“So, where do you want to go? To which place or to whose house? I mean it’s really small here, so we just have a small inn and most of the people that come are visitors of some locals…” She said.

“I am looking for the plum tree…If it still is alive and somewhere there” He answered a little bit worried about hearing that it could have been chopped down.

“A plum tree?” She answered with her big dark eyes looking at him intensively. He blushed seeing her so close to him. He turned his face signalizing at the mountains to hide his self-consciousness.

“There it used to be a big plum tree that used to bloom around this season. The people use to believe it was a God and so they built a shrine there. Is it still alive?” He answered her.

“Oh! That plum tree! Yes, it’s still there showing its beauty and greatness. It’s this way. I can take you there, because it’s just a little before my house” She exclaimed and turned to the left indicating him to follow her.

“I should say that there is no shrine like it used to be. About five years ago it was taken down, since no one visited it. I think just a few people went there. I always went there once per month, so I was really sad when it was destroyed. However the plum tree was kept and that at least makes me happy. I really like going to that tree. It’s really calming and I feel as if it was protecting me with its crown. Oh, sorry. I kind of started talking without your concern… I kind of talk a lot, so…yeah…” She felt flustered and she started explaining herself once again.

He chuckled.

“Hey! I’m serious. There are a lot of people that say that I could talk for hours and I would always find a topic to talk about. Some people don’t like it, so if you feel uncomfortable say so please” She scolded him.

“It is fine. I do not mind hearing you talking. I am far a better listener than a smooth talker like you. I enjoy looking at all the mimics and gestures people do as they talk. It fascinates me, so do not worry. You can talk a lot and I would not get bored from it” He comforted.

“I don’t know if that makes me feel better, but thanks.” She said unsure. “One more thing, who did come to see? I might tell you where that person lives and give you a map to find your way out from this town” She asked.

By that time they were passing by the rice fields that were dancing at the rhythm of the wind.

“How do you know I am not a bad person with dark intentions?” He asked her giving her a mischievous smile.

“I don’t know why, but I think I’ve met you before and your eyes tell me that you are someone of trust. So that’s why I’m showing you the way to that plum tree.” She answered a little bit shyly at hearing how cozy it sounded. He smiled.

“Oh I see… “It was all He managed to say.

They crossed the bridge and started walking the road, which was next to the river and had cherry blossoms on its side, in silence. On the river the glamorous and huge moon was reflected. The fireflies were at the river banks making all this view more beautiful than it was. Another wind blew inside the road bringing with it the sweet fragrance of the cherry trees. She stopped, closed her eyes and once again took a deep breath to burn this moment on her mind.

“Do you like spring?” She heard him asking her.

She opened her eyes and just realized that He was far from her. She went to where He was.

“I do. However my favorite season is autumn. When the leaves are yellow, red and orange and they make a fluffy lay on the floor it’s the best. And the weather also it’s great, because it isn’t neither really cold like in winter neither hot like in summer, but it’s more chilly than spring, therefore I like it more. And you? Do you like spring or do you prefer other season?”

“No. My favorite season is spring, because it brings me the happiest memories I have” He answered and looked at the sky once again as if He were longing to return to that time.

She watched his profile, what reminded her that She felt that she had met him before, but could not remember.

“Have we met before?” She asked looking at him intensively and expecting an answer.

He was startled, but quickly returned to his warm and reassuring smile.

“Have we?” He answered her with a question.

“I’m pretty sure, that I haven’t seen you before, but your eyes… I have seen your eyes somewhere before, but right now I can’t remember where and it is killing me.” She said honestly and exasperatedly.

He chuckled, what made her angry, since She expected a real answer.

“Now, now… Please do not be mad. You are far prettier with a smile on your face than with a frown, so smile.” He tried to sooth her.

She looked at him and She understood that He did not want to tell her about that. So She did not push him.

The town was sleeping. There were no lights on and the only small inn had its lamps on to welcome any new guest. They crossed through the town in silence. The only sounds were the sound of the leaves moving at the rate that the wind put and the crickets singing to court the females.  Although She could not remember where She had met him before, She wished time stopped to spend more time with him.  At his side she felt secure and because of his carefree way of talking and behaving she felt refresh and calm. Moreover his smile and eyes were so familiar that they filled her with warmth and love that She had felt before in her childhood. However by each step they took, the closest they got to the plum tree and their time together was counted by each centimeter that was between them and the plum tree.

“Those almond-shaped and honey eyes… I’ve seen them before, but where? I know I’ve seen them, but He won’t tell me. Have I offended him? But how could I forget about someone so refined and beautiful?” She kept thinking and thinking trying to remember about those eyes, that She did not realize that they had arrived to where the plum tree was.

“Here” He said interrupting her thoughts.  She then saw that He was standing under the plum tree, looking firmly but at the same time dearly at her. She felt herself being hypnotized by those warm eyes and docile smile and listened carefully at what He started saying.

“…is where I met my very first love and the only one” He said and She felt a little wave of jealousy, what made her feel silly, since He did not belonged to her.

“I met her eighteen years ago” He continued “I was lying under this tree dying. A lot of people passed me and looked at me, but none of them took the time to help me. Some even ignored me. I thought that was my end and I just waited to my time to arrive.  But then she appeared and fed me and took me to her home.  I can clearly remember her big dark eyes looking at me worried and her short black hair swinging when she ran with me to her home. I think that I felt in love with her after looking at her eyes… It might sound silly, but I think that is how love works” He simpered and looked away from her eyes to hide his embarrassment.  “She took care of me until I was healthy and strong enough to survive on my own. But meanwhile all the days she would feed me, clean me and give me some medications to help me get better. She would wake up, dress up, prepare to go to school and then say good bye to me before leaving. The first thing she would do after coming back from school would be telling me about her day at the school and about her friends, teachers and exams she passed. She would tell me about her crushes, about her problems and I would just look at her crying and cuddle her to cheer her up. She would smile at me with her eyes full of tears and my heart would just crush at seeing her so vulnerable and being so helpless. But there were also really good moments, when we would lay next to each other and listen to the cicadas singing or at the rain embracing the entire town. It all happened on spring. That is why it is my favorite season. I can say that this time has been the happiest one of my entire life” He said and for a moment closed his eyes to remember about that time. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She was stunned and paralyzed. She was speechless and for a moment He seemed to smile sadly at her loss for words.

“As the time passed I recovered and grew. We both understood that I could not be longer at her side, that I had to leave and continue my life as I had done before. So she took me to the mountains to let me go, but I did not want to live her side so I did not move when she put me on the ground. She told me to go away to where I used to live, but I did not want to. I already loved her and all I wanted to do was to stay by her side, whenever it was a good or bad day. I wanted to be there when she needed me and to share the happy moments together, but it was no longer possible. She started running away from the place and I followed her. She saw me and then started throwing at me rocks and everything she found on the floor to scare me. However I kept following her until I saw her crying. She told me to leave her alone, to do not make our farewell so difficult, because I knew that we could not be together anymore. I then stopped following her and saw her running away from where I was.” He said and when He looked at her, He saw that She had tears on her eyes. “Nevertheless” He continued “that was not the last time I saw her. The first month I tried to forget about that time, but it only made me feel depressed and unable to keep my chores as a God. The only thing I kept thinking was about her. Whether she ate correctly, whether she felt good, whether she had someone to listen to her problems, whether she was happy or not. I decided to pay her a visit and that is how I started checking on her every day and knowing about her life. And it lasted for a long while until I had to leave, because my superiors asked me to meet them. I spend the most tiring and frustrating years of my life, because they asked me to do some little chores as my practice and I was not able to see her. And just a year ago they chose a wife for me. I tried to refuse, but they say that otherwise I will be expel from Heaven. I would leave everything for her, but I have subordinates that believe in me and that are waiting for me so I decided to come back to tell her about my feelings. I want to thank her for let me savour what life is, what love is and to thank her for all those moments we made together and that will fill my heart till my end. I want to tell her my feelings and how much I love her, before anything, so that I could keep going and fulfill all my duties as I should do and to be able to look at her proudly as a worthy God.” He paused once again and looked at her more intensively. That made her flushed “Thank you very much and… I love you” He said to her with the sweetest smile He could give her and retaining his sadness of this last moment they will share ever again.

She was mesmerized and by the time She realized about it, she was crying. She had remembered at last where She had met him.

“Are you….Are you that little fox I saved when I was six? The one I took care and saved? Are you?” That was all she managed to say. How could she had not recognize him? He was her life for two long years and never forgot about him, but now that She saw him She was not able to tell who He were. “I thought I won’t ever see you again, but here you are…I came back to search for you on this plum tree each year. I never forget about you and…” She started crying so He took her on her arms and hugged her.

“I’m always crying most of the time I’m with you… Sorry, but I can’t hold my tears…” She said with a weak voice.

“It is alright. Right now I can comfort you so you can cry all you want here. But I did not wish to make you cry.  I just wanted you to know how I feel before I go back to my weeding and to become a God worthy your attention and someone you can be proud of” He assured her.

“I don’t want you to go. When I saw you there standing on the signs I knew you weren’t human and when I saw you I knew I had met you before. Although the time we had spent was so short you always fill me with warmth and peace. Right now I felt really refresh and happy. I even wished time to stop. I really don’t want you to go. I once let you go, because I wasn’t allowed to keep you. But now I can have you… “ She said while looking at his eyes. She perfectly knew that He had come to say good bye, but she did not want to leave him go. Not again.

He smiled sadly at her and kissed her on her forehead “I am sorry indeed. However I have already promised my superiors that I will come back and do as they asked me, so that you could be proud of me. I cannot break my promise” He said painfully holding her close. “I am really sorry… Really, really sorry”

They hold each other for a long while. She kept crying and He just embraced her with all his might. When She finally calmed down they separate each other faces so that they could look at their eyes.

“When do you have to come back?” She asked with a hoarse voice from crying.

“I said I will be here until spring finishes” He answered cleaning her pink wet face as if He was touching something fragile.

“So that gives us just this one night?” She asked with a rather optimistic voice after a short moment of hesitation.

“I guess so” He answered vaguely.

“So what are we waiting for?” She said with the biggest smile she could give him and separate from him walking a little father from him holding his hand.  He was shocked at her change of mood, but then He realized about what She was doing.

“Yes, what are we waiting for?” He repeated her question smiling to himself.

“Right now we have to enjoy all the time left we have! So come on, I’ll show you around and tell you all about myself and vice versa” She said intertwining her hand with his.

Both of them kept walking and talking about their selves. They laughed, smiled and enjoyed themselves under that spring moonlight and the sweet essence of the cherry blossom until dawn came and they had to separate from each other forever.