Prelude: Lost in Paradise

The coming dawn lit up the dim of night as eight good men arrived at a forest trail. The mountains were blessed with the visit of the clouds during this time. The clashing of Heaven and Earth gave both isolation and beauty. However, even such beauty had its own share of unease.

An empty village trapped in the mist, not a human or animal in sight, lost in the boundaries between the ordinary and fantastical world. Mayoiga was its name, a place lost to mundane perception.

What truths does this tale hold?

***

The group walked in tandem, excitement obvious in their sparkling eyes. The firsthand accounts from the other residents of the countryside town made them most curious. Yet even until the coming of dusk, they found no sign of this phenomenon, much to their disappointment.

The most intelligent one proposed they camp for the night, as the town is too far from their sight.

Tired from hours of exploring the forest, the eight embraced their sheets and fell asleep almost instantly, the trickling fog that was creeping closer remaining unnoticed.

Seven of the good men were woken up by the oldest of the group, eyes groggy and full of sand. They hastily get up and look around, only to be met with the clouds of the earth.

Lost and nervous, they decide to find a way out. Together.

Hours upon hours have passed, yet the morning sun has yet to appear, let alone a path out of this foggy grove. Just as they decided to rest, one of the good men pointed something out.

The most observant of the group remained stoic as he walked with steady steps, his eyes caught the vague silhouette of a home shrouded by the fog.

And so they ran towards it, perhaps hoping whoever resided there could point them to the right path.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

Hearing no reply after many knocks, the oldest attempted to open the door, and to his surprise, it was left unlocked. Inviting themselves in, they began to look around, together, only to find nobody inside. Yet not even a speck of dust could be found, as everything was placed neatly.

"How clean, fufufu." The most beautiful smiled in glee, her calm and slow steps prompting the rest to follow along and explore.

Having agreed to stay here until the fog cleared away, at least one person was to keep watch until they felt tired.

Marking their beginnings in this mysterious paradise...

***

On the next morning, the group had decided to forage for food, their supplies only lasting for so long.

One of the members saw a graceful Lady twirling with her parasol in hand, her true face covered by the fog, yet none could mistake that most elegant form. After some time, the Fair Lady looked his way, beckoning him to come closer. So he had strayed off, away from the good mens prying eyes.

Having arrived at Misty Lake, the Fair Lady was nowhere in sight. He then decided to explore even further.

***

As I chased after the Fair Lady and went deeper towards the lake

I came upon a woman wearing blue and white in this most foggy day

Her feet were on the water, leaving behind traces of ice as she danced on the lakes surface, a miracle caused by the divine

As the most artistic of the group, her most beautiful of dances left me entranced. It was inspiring, a scene that has to be immortalized for all to see.

She was becoming one with the mist, droplets of snow obscuring my sight, an illusion that flickers its corporeality

Eventually, it began to snow nonstop as the clouds turned a dark gray

By the time my senses had returned, the maiden in blue-white was gone, leaving no sign of having been there

As I prepared to turn and leave, the maiden appeared before me.

"Where are you going, my dear?"

WIth lavender eyes and curly lavender hair, she was a tall and pale lady. Noble in demeanor and poised, like a most perfect muse for one of the beautiful arts.

She held me in her arms and said softly: "Since you enjoyed my performance, come, enjoy the cold of the freezing snow as well."

Then, I disappeared into the blizzard, unable to return to where the others were.

After that, only seven honest men were left.

***

The snow kept falling nonstop, becoming more intense as time passed. I, the most beautiful one, basked in the cold as the pale dust touched my delicate skin. Perhaps the others would also enjoy this peaceful scene…

***

The artistic one had disappeared from what some time, causing a most depressing scene.

The cowardly one paced himself around the others, his eyes frantic and nervous as it moved at an excessive rate.

With one member missing, the group secluded themselves inside, shaken with fear some decided to drink and drown their sorrows.

As the youngest of the group, he decided to sneak away despite the warnings of the oldest and the intelligent one, uninterested and too young to partake in alcohol.

"Tch, we'll be fine if we're careful."

He met a little girl playing in the night. It was hard to miss her red eyes and glistening short blond hair illuminated by the moonlight. They played games as the moon rose to greater heights.

"Hey, do something for me." The girl asked

"Okay."

While he had become engrossed in their game, the girl wearing black-white prompted him to try and remove the paper charm on her head. Thinking it was a start to another game, he complied, and so he was taken by the darkness, unable to feel boredom ever again.

The Dull truly are prone to trouble, aren't they?

Now, there were only six good men left.

***

As the most curious of the group, he had decided to investigate the mysterious disappearances. This mysterious paradise had awakened a most primal drive inside of him.

Rushing straight into the forest depths, he encountered the Fair Lady. Chasing after her, he had found a nameless hill. On the top, there were lily-of-the-valley's as far as the eye could see. The place permeated a most pleasant scent, calming his mind.

A girl with silver-blue eyes and short blonde hair was seen crying in the middle of the field, giving her a Doll-like appearance. Curious, he went towards her without hesitation and asked what was wrong.

Not noticing that the closer he was to the center, the stronger the scent became.

"Mr., Su-san, she- she's gone!!!"

The girl wearing a dark red-purple shirt and skirt had lost her doll, insisting on giving help. They searched the valley and found the doll when dusk came. Oddly enough, the little doll looked exactly like the girl. The little doll then began to float towards the girl's head, flaring his curiosity even further.

"Are you doing that?" He asked.

"Su-san has a hard time moving without my help." Nodded the girl. "As thanks for helping me, I'll give you a pleasant and painless death. Farewell, foolish human!"

With a wave of her hands, a cloud of purple gas appeared from the ground, invading his nostrils with a more intense scent that the flowers disperse. He tried to run away, but the moment a whiff entered through the nose, his body would not listen. The pleasant scent had disrupted his mind, lulling him towards the World of Dreams.

A soft thud came to be as his body no longer listened, the embrace of the flowers cushioning the fall. He then released a final, blissful sigh. Falling into the most pleasant dream.

After that, only five of the good men were left.

***

Breathless, he kept running deeper into the forest. As the most cowardly of the group, the loss of three members made him even more scared of this mysterious paradise. But no matter how far he ran, home was nowhere to be found.

"Why bother running from me, little mouse, I only want to give you a gift."

Overwhelmed with despair, he let himself get caught by the Fair Lady, yet he was not murdered. She had instead given him a rope to tie on a branch. So, in despondence, he willingly threw himself over the noose, a most fitting death for a coward.

And so, only four good men were left.

***

When we awoke, the four of us were in a dark room. According to one of them, we were captured by an elegant woman. They all tried to come up with an escape plan, but as the wisest of the group, I felt it most foolish, yet I did not dissuade them to do so. They then carried out their escape plan and got out, much to my surprise. Only I could not escape.

"Are you all alone too, big brother?"

A fanged little blonde girl suddenly came and helped me kill time. On her back were a pair of wings devoid of skin or feathers. It was instead replaced with dangling 8 crystals, each a different color.

As time passed, I soon came to a realization that the culprit was among us this entire time.

"But what does a dead man have to do with any of that?"

"I guess I have to find a new toy then!" Oh, that cheerful voice, so pleasant and full of joy.

Suddenly, I felt someone hug my neck from behind, but I didn't resist. Then, something sharp bit deep into my neck.

I, the most intelligent one, became lost in my own thoughts.

After that, there were two honest men left

***

The escape was a great success. We thought we were amazingly clever and decided to head back to our new abode in this paradise.

It never occurred to us to distrust any of the others in our group.

We were all honest men. We all got along so well.

This paradise had made a building to be a perfect home, an old-looking, western style mansion in the middle of the woods. But there's always food for us to eat, always leaving us with half left.

Our group of honest men was cut to less than half at some point...

***

In the afternoon we always had our teatime. Taking a sip of coffee, he tasted a most sweet flavor, different from the usual bitterness. Unbeknownst to him, it was sprinkled with a love potion.

As the oldest and most mature of the group, I fell in love. She was a beauty with maroon eyes and short wavy pink hair. Small, formless phantoms surrounded her as she danced, waving her oriental fans. Her light blue and white kimono gave her the aura of a noble and elegant princess, so pure, untainted, and untouched.

Her hands had reached out to me, the only audience of this dance.

So this is the feeling of peace?

This was who I fell in love with. This was Death herself.

After that, only one honest man would be left.

***

Seeing my friend poisoned right in front of my very eyes was the final straw. As the most apathetic and observant of the group, I was left alive. The Fair Lady had made me witness every murder firsthand, like a most vivid dream where one stood in place. For the first time, I knew the feeling of despair.

Why did I not recognize her when she was with us? What did she do to be so inconspicuous?

"WHY? WHY DID YOU KILL THEM, YET LET ME LIVE?! ANSWER ME!"

The trickling rain came upon my face as it all unfolded. Slowly dripping to the moist ground.

The fog dispelled, and she had appeared before me. Smooth and wavy blond hair with a pink mob cap, a purple western dress that hugged her size, carrying a pink lace parasol.

Her golden eyes screamed to me that she was inhuman, a monster toying with her prey as she looked down on my kneeling figure with a smug grin.

"Fufufufu, it does no good to get so heated up. Outsiders are free meals in this land."

She quated in front of me and took hold of my jaw, forcing me to gaze at her enchanting face and spoke to me in a joyous tone.

"As for leaving you alive, I just felt like it, that's all. Your dark emotions were most delicious of the bunch, I simply can't have enough."

Letting go, she stood straight and watched as my expressions contorted, much to her amusement.

The rain still kept on as my face was overwhelmed with the trickle of water.

"If you truly wish to know the nature of a youkai, a monster born from humanities fears, then let me offer you a deal. All you have to do is take my hand."

With nothing to lose, I grab her outstretched hand, hoping to understand this so-called "youkai."

"Fufufufu, I wasn't wrong in letting you live." And to my surprise, she leaned closer and embraced me tight, taking first kiss.

Then I felt her soft hand sharply pierce through my chest, the unbearable pain almost making me faint, but not before she whispered softly into my ear.

"Don't disappoint me now, Masashi-kun, my unfortunate lucky seventh."

At that point, the rain had stopped, for my eyes had no more tears to give out.

And it all faded to black…