Watashi wa Kirei ???

In the depths of rural Japan, nestled between towering mountains and dense, ancient forests, there existed a village so remote that it was never marked on any map. The villagers led simple lives, their days filled with the rhythmic sounds of nature—the rustling leaves, the distant calls of birds, and the gentle babble of streams. They relied on the forest for their livelihood, gathering wild herbs, hunting small game, and fishing in the clear waters. Yet, beneath the serene facade of their existence, they shared a dark and chilling secret: they often heard the whispers of the "Kuchisake-onna" – the Slit-Mouthed Woman.

Legend had it that Kuchisake-onna was once a breathtakingly beautiful woman who lived in the village, her laughter echoing like a sweet melody through the trees. However, her life took a tragic turn when her husband, a proud samurai, discovered her infidelity. In a fit of rage and betrayal, he slit her mouth from ear to ear, a brutal act that transformed her into a vengeful spirit. Driven mad by her disfigurement, she roamed the shadowy depths of the forest, her heart consumed by sorrow and rage, searching for victims to ask a haunting question: "Konnichiwa, watashi, kirei?" – "Hello, do you think I'm beautiful?"

The villagers spoke in hushed tones about her, their eyes wide with fear. If you answered "no," she would kill you on the spot, her wrath swift and merciless. If you answered "yes," she would remove her mask, revealing her grotesque, slit mouth, and ask again. If you still said "yes," she would spare your life, but if you said "no" the second time, she would claim you as her next victim, leaving behind only echoes of your screams in the night.

One stormy night, as dark clouds rolled over the mountains and the wind howled like a beast, a young traveler named Taro stumbled upon the village, seeking refuge from the tempest. The villagers, their faces pale and drawn, warned Taro to stay indoors, their voices trembling as they recounted the tales of Kuchisake-onna. But curiosity gnawed at him, a relentless itch that urged him to venture into the forest, determined to confront the legend that haunted their lives.

As Taro stepped into the forest, the winds howled, whipping through the trees and sending shivers down his spine. The air was thick with an unsettling energy, and soon, he began to hear the whispers—the soft, seductive sounds that slithered through the branches like a serpent. His heart raced as he pushed deeper into the darkness, the shadows closing in around him. Suddenly, he came face-to-face with Kuchisake-onna, her figure draped in a flowing white kimono, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall of ink.

She asked him the question, her voice a haunting melody that echoed in the stillness of the night. Taro, desperate to stall for time, replied, "You're... interesting." Kuchisake-onna, taken aback by his unusual response, hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. For a fleeting moment, Taro thought he had escaped her grasp.

But then, she removed her mask, revealing her horrific, slit mouth, gaping open like a dark chasm. Taro felt a wave of terror wash over him, freezing him in place. He wanted to scream, to run, but the words caught in his throat. Kuchisake-onna, enraged by his silence, began to chase him, her movements swift and unnatural, gliding over the forest floor like a wraith.

Taro ran as fast as he could, the trees blurring past him, but the forest seemed to twist and shift, leading him back to the village. The air grew thick with dread as he stumbled into the village square, the storm raging around him. The villagers, who had been watching from their windows, saw Kuchisake-onna emerge from the darkness, her eyes fixed on Taro, filled with a haunting hunger. Paralyzed with fear, they could neither move nor speak, their hearts pounding in their chests.

Realizing his fate was sealed, Taro turned to face Kuchisake-onna once more. She asked him the question again, her voice a chilling whisper that echoed in the silence. This time, Taro, with a mix of fear and pity flooding his heart, replied, "Yes, you're beautiful." Kuchisake-onna's expression shifted, taken aback by the genuine response, and a slow, unsettling smile crept across her face.

As the villagers watched in horror, Kuchisake-onna's slit mouth began to heal, the flesh knitting together, and her face transformed into its former beauty—a visage that was both enchanting and terrifying. But in that moment, Taro realized he had made a terrible mistake. Kuchisake-onna's beauty was not just skin-deep; it was a curse that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

From that day on, Taro was never seen again. The villagers would often hear his screams echoing through the forest, mingling with Kuchisake-onna's whispers, which seemed to grow louder, searching for her next victim. The once serene village became a place of dread, forever marked by the tragic fate of a curious traveler who dared to confront the darkness lurking in the heart of the forest.