Jukai

Don’t go in there.

She's heard it a thousand times, and yet no one has ever produced actual proof of them existing. Sure, the rumours had to have started somewhere, but it would be a disgrace to the art of professional journalism if she actually allowed such baseless hearsay to steer the direction of her career.

"Yokai?" Rei scoffed, eyes wide, "In Aokigahara? Give me a break!"

But, publicity of any kind is still publicity. And she needed a break out of this downward spiral of life. The walk up to the Aokigahara tourist trails didn't scare her. Dozens of warning signages littered along the path, and Rei pulled a jacket over her shoulders as the crisp morning air blew through the base of Mount Fuji. She made sure to ignore the disapproving looks thrown at her from the group of volunteers nearby. She was there to do her own bit of searching, albeit a little different from theirs. The volunteers were there for the bodies, but Rei was there for whatever superstitious thing that had left those bodies.

"Always stay on the path," reminded the ranger, eyes low and warning.

"Yeah, yeah," Rei waved a hand, stepping over the shallow rope at the entrance of the hiking trail. She didn't bother looking back to see the ranger's reaction. Her career was on the line, and as much as it disgusted her to admit it, this was the only shot she had at regaining even an ounce of the glory from her former golden days. She needed to do this. A few steps off of the trail won't hurt anybody. Right?

Right?

At the sight of the last streaks of daylight seeping through dark clouds, the ranger sighed, his eyes raking across the parking lot to the entrance of the hiking trail. From deep within the forest, several birds shot up into the sky, screeching at the top of their lungs. The ranger thought it was for the best if he ignored it. The very next week, a volunteer asked the ranger something quite peculiar.

"Have you read that article, Don't Go In There? The one about Aokigahara that everyone is raving about."

"Oh?" The ranger raised his brow, eyes low and gleaming, "No, I believe I haven't."