The Snow Bride

The snow was pouring down so heavily that it seemed to Minokichi to be blinding. He found it amazing that his master, Mosaku, could even find his way around without crashing into the many trees that were around. "There," said Mosaku, pointing. The sea was wide and very far. They had planned to cross it to get to another city were their affairs were taking place. "Let's find the ferryman."

After a while of looking, they found out that the ferryman had retired for the night. At the hut, the ferryman invited them in. "Please," he said, "stay the night." Minokichi and Mosaku came in, hung their coats, and drank tea by the open fire, welcome warmth compared to the ominous snow outside. Finally, faint with fatigue from a day of traveling, they went to their sleeping huts.

Mosaku fell asleep almost instantly, but it took Minokichi longer. He was finally dozing off when he heard the door slowly creaking open.

He opened his eyes to see a young maiden. She was clothed in a white dress, and her hair seemed to be the exact opposite of her dress. She looked at him for an instant with wide ice black eyes, like the dark of night, and then looked at his master.

She sat in a gracefully and leaned over Mosaku. Her deep breaths streamed out, a small cloud appearing after each breath. Minokichi watched in terror, but found he could not move. The woman turned to him, and he felt his heart paralyze with fear. She leaned over him, so close he could see her delicate nose and soft cheeks, and she gave a smile that frightened him more. “I will spare you,â€