Chương 5: Shrine Maiden

The dining room was illuminated by the soft glow of a chandelier, casting a warm light over the elegantly prepared table. The rich aroma of a carefully prepared meal filled the air as the chef presented the evening's dinner—a selection of Western dishes that spoke of wealth and luxury.

Ryo, Akemi, and Anzu sat around the table, each lost in their own thoughts as they began to eat.

Ryo, seated at the head of the table, couldn't keep his eyes off Anzu. The young girl, with her sullen expression and tense posture, was clearly uncomfortable in his presence.

Anzu was by no means a kid, but she was a teenager. She wore glasses because of her bad eyesight, and she had dark black hair which was common for most of the Japanese people including Ryo and Akemi.

She picked at her food with little interest, avoiding his gaze. Ryo's heart ached at the sight, but he wasn't sure how to reach out to her, especially when she seemed so determined to shut him out.

Akemi, on the other hand, was in high spirits. She ate with evident satisfaction, a smug smile playing on her lips. She had gotten what she wanted—wealth, comfort, and control. Her demeanour was carefree as if the troubles of the past were nothing more than a distant memory.

The chef had outdone himself, serving up dishes that were both luxurious and exquisite. There was a perfectly cooked wagyu A5 steak, drizzled with a rich red wine reduction, alongside Sautéed Mushrooms. and for the touch of home, there was a small portion of fried rice with a runny omelette on top. The table was laden with more delicacies—pan-seared scallops, a fresh salad with homemade dressing, and a basket of freshly baked artisan bread. Everything about the meal screamed luxury, a stark reminder that current Ryo was no longer living an ordinary life.

Ryo hesitantly picked up his fork and knife, taking careful bites of the food in front of him. As he ate, he couldn't help but notice the way he was holding his utensils, the way he cut his steak—everything felt eerily familiar. The motions were automatic as if his body remembered a routine he had never consciously learned.

"This is...I feel like this is my own body!" He murmured to himself, so others won't hear him surprised by his bodily reactions.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the sound of Anzu slamming her fist on the table. The sudden noise startled Ryo, causing him to pause mid-bite. He looked up to find Anzu glaring at him with a mixture of anger and confusion.

"Stop it," Anzu demanded, her voice trembling with emotion.

Ryo blinked, unsure of what she meant. "Stop... stop what?"

"Stop acting like him!" Anzu shouted, her eyes welling up with tears. "Stop pretending to be my father!"

The words hit Ryo like a punch to the gut. He froze, unable to respond, his mind racing. What had given him away? How could she tell? How could she tell he was Kamiya inside? Ryo was genuinely confused, but deep inside his heart, he started to feel happy.

Anzu, seething with anger, continued, "You eat just like him. The way you hold your fork, the way you chew your food, they way you choose your food—it's exactly like my father used to do. But you're not him! You're not my father! So stop trying to pretend like him!"

Akemi's expression darkened as she shot a warning look at Anzu. "Anzu, that's enough, stop saying foolish things." she said sharply. "Don't talk to him like that."

But Anzu wasn't backing down. She turned her glare on Akemi, her voice filled with bitterness. "You're the reason he's gone! You got my father killed, and one day, you'll have to answer for it."

But for some reason, Anzu didn't stop there as if she wanted to let out everything that was bottled up inside her. "Aren't you ashamed? You're old hag that date a 13 year younger man. You should be ashamed! He is only 8 years older than me."

Akemi's face twisted in anger, but before she could say anything, Anzu pushed her chair back and stormed out of the dining room. The echo of her footsteps lingered in the air long after she had disappeared from sight.

Akemi started to rise from her seat, intent on going after her, but Ryo stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. "Let her go," he said quietly, a strange grin spreading across his face.

Akemi looked at him, surprised by his reaction. "But she—"

"Just let her be, she need some space to think about what she said just now." Ryo repeated, his grin widening. For the first time since he had taken over this life, he felt a flicker of something like hope.

Anzu had recognized him—not the face he wore, but the man he was inside. Despite the impossible circumstances, she had seen through the facade. It was a small victory, but it was enough to give him a reason to keep going. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was still something worth living for in this borrowed body.

"What was I thinking? I still have a reason to live. I have her, my daughter." Ryo thought to himself, as he kept holding Akemi completely forgetting about his hatred toward her.

***

The next morning, Ryo found himself standing before an ancient temple, tucked away in the serene countryside of Japan. The air was cool and crisp, the morning mist lingering over the beautiful landscape. The shrine was old, its wooden structure weathered by time, yet it stood tall and proud, exuding an aura of mystery and reverence.

Ryo followed the path leading up to the shrine, pausing only briefly to perform the cleansing ritual at the temizuya—a small pavilion with flowing water where visitors purified their hands and mouth before approaching the shrine proper. He cupped his hands under the cool water, letting it wash away the lingering doubts and fears clouding his mind.

As he continued toward the shrine, he noticed a few women tending to a garden nearby. They moved with grace and purpose, their traditional Japanese attire blending harmoniously with the peaceful surroundings. Ryo approached them, feeling a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.

"Excuse me," Ryo called out softly, drawing the attention of one of the women. "I'm looking for the shrine maiden. Can you tell me where I might find her?"

The woman gave him a polite bow before pointing toward a building slightly removed from the main shrine. It was an old, yet beautiful structure, its wooden beams darkened with age but still strong. "She's in there," the woman said, her voice quiet and respectful.

Ryo bowed in thanks and made his way to the building. The air around him felt charged, as if the very ground he walked on was alive with unseen energy. As he reached the entrance, he took a deep breath, steadying himself before pushing open the door.

Inside, the room was dimly lit by the soft glow of paper lanterns. The scent of incense hung in the air, creating an atmosphere of calm and solemnity. In the center of the room, sitting on a cushion in a graceful position, was the head shrine maiden. She couldn't have been older than thirty, yet there was a timeless quality to her presence, as if she had witnessed far more than her years should allow.

She looked up as Ryo entered, her eyes meeting his with a knowing gaze. "I've been expecting you," she said, her voice as gentle as the wind rustling through the trees.

Ryo hesitated for a moment before taking a seat across from her. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word, the shrine maiden raised a hand, stopping him.

"There's no need for introductions, Host of Yamato Curse." she said calmly. "I know who you are, and I know why you've come."

Ryo stared at her, stunned. "You do?"

The shrine maiden nodded, her expression serene. "You are a man caught in unexpected circumstances, trapped in a body that is not your own. You seek answers, and you fear the curse that has fallen on you."

Ryo's heart skipped a beat. "Curse? What do you mean and why did you call me Host of Yamato Curse?"

She sighed softly, as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. "The man whose body you now inhabit was not like others. He was a man driven by desire, consumed by the need to conquer and control. His actions led to his downfall, and in his final moments, he was cursed. That curse, in turn, has passed on to you."

"It is a long story I wish to share with you. You need to know about yourself, before knowing about the origin of the curse, but not worry, I will tell you everything you need to know." She said with a straight face without many changes in her expression.

Ryo's mind raced as he tried to process her words. "But… how? Why me?"

The shrine maiden's gaze softened with pity. "You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Fate has a cruel sense of humor, and it has placed you in a situation that is not of your making. But now, you must bear the burden of this curse."

Ryo swallowed hard, his mouth dry. "What… what do I need to do to break it? How can I free myself from this?"

The shrine maiden's expression grew somber. "The curse is tied to the very essence of the man whose body you now possess. To break it, you must do as he did—seduce as many women as you can. Only by fulfilling the desires that drove him will the curse be lifted."

Ryo felt a cold chill run down his spine. "Seduce women? That's… that's the only way? How many what's the limit?"

The shrine maiden nodded, her eyes filled with sorrow. "It is not a path I would wish on anyone, but it is the only way to sever the ties that bind you to this cursed existence and it is a path you must travel."

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