June 6, 2006, Aokigahara Forest, Japan





A tall man walked among the emerald-green leaves of Aokigahara Forest. He had long since strayed off the path intended for tourists. Not that the path reached so deep into the heart of the forest anyway. The man was now so deep that the horizon was dominated by the massive peak of the great Mount Fuji, which Aokigahara was at the base of. He walked as though he were troubled, uneasily moving deeper into the forest. He seemed to be trying to struggle with his own demons. Of course, if the legends were to be believed, there was no shortage of demons in Aokigahara.



His name was Vladimir, and he was a tall Russian man, of around 30 years of age. His normally handsome face was ravaged by the presence of the despondent, powerful shadow within him, which he had unwittingly nurtured ever since his last visit to the forest. When had it been, anyways? For Vladimir, all time had stopped then.



He had to go deeper.



He wasn't anywhere near close enough. Andrei was deeper in. Andrei was waiting for him.



Vladimir stared ahead intently as he marched, his eyes burning holes through the leafy green of the forest. He was so focused on what was ahead of him that he neglected to pay attention to anything else, and as a result of that, he tripped on a branch, and fell to the ground. Almost immediately he tried to lift himself up, but was unable to. He cursed furiously at the branch. He knew what the problem was, but refused to admit it to himself. He had been walking desperately for three days, and was tired enough to drop dead.



Fuming to himself, Vlad pulled himself on to his back and lay down. He was disturbed by this delay he was making to rest. He had to see Andrei. As he lay there, his mind wandered off into the oblivion of dreams, and he saw again the chain of events which had led him here.











June 4, 2003, Outskirts of Aokigahara Forest



Vladimir looked at his twin brother Andrei with concern. He still could not quite understand why Andrei had wanted to come here. Truth be told, however, none of Andrei's actions in the past year had been much the same as they had used to be. Ever since their mother's murder, Andrei had changed. For the whole year, Vlad had not been able to shake off the feeling that Andrei was only an empty husk, a shell, with his real brother gone, departed, far away with his mother.



Andrei had had a hard year. First his mother, whom he had been extremely close to, had been killed by a psychotic maniac. Then, the financial troubles had begun. Vlad and Andrei simply were not able to raise enough money to care for themselves and their aged father. Andrei had seemed to take this as some sort of personal failure, and had blamed himself greatly for it, despite all the times Vlad tried to convince him otherwise.





But suddenly, about a month ago, Andrei had changed. He had seemed to become the man he used to be once more. Or at the very least, he was similar to what he used to be. He had the vitality of life in him once again. And then he had invited Vladimir to come on a camping trip with him. Vlad had gladly accepted, happy that his brother was taking an interest in life again.







And here they were now, just inside Aokigahara forest. Why here, of all places? It was not a very friendly forest. The locals claimed that it was haunted by demons which preyed on one's mind and led them to suicide. Of course, this wasn't true. This was just a place where many people felt it fit to end their miserable existences. Vlad couldn't quite see why. After all, it was just a forest, albeit a very calm and pristine one. Why would someone want to be picky about where they killed themselves? It was a concept Vladimir simply couldn't wrap his mind around.





Over the next two days, Vladimir and Andrei trekked deeper and deeper, until they reached a clearing in the heart of the forest. Vlad was about to begin setting up camp, when his brother stopped him.





Andrei spoke, "Wait, Vladimir."





Vlad turned around, and asked, "What?"





"I don't suppose you know where we are, nor why we're here, do you?"



Vlad looked curiously at his brother, and spoke, "We're in the Aokigahara Forest on a camping trip, aren't we?"





Andrei looked coolly at Vlad, "You know very well that's not why we're here. You've been casting aside glances at me throughout this expedition, wondering what I'm up to. Well, I'll tell you." He paced in the clearing for a moment, before looking up and clearing his throat. "Vladimir, we're in a very special place right now. This- this clearing we're in. Over four hundred people have taken their lives on this spot."



"Andrei…no. Please don't tell me that-"



"-Sorry, Vlad. But I've had enough. I hope you won't think badly of me. Maybe, one day, you'll understand. But I hope to God that day never comes." Andrei looked at his brother one last time, and then pulled out the hunting knife from his pack. Vlad just stood there, watching, horrified, and frozen to the spot.



Andrei put the knife to his own throat, and with a slightly tremulous voice, he spoke his last "Don't try to understand."











The Present, June 6, 2006, Aokigahara Forest, Japan



Vlad ran furiously forward. He was almost there. He could see him, see him! beckoning to him. His brother was waiting, just beyond the veil. The thin veil of life. Vlad burst through a bush and emerged into the clearing which he had not set foot in for three years.



I'm here, Andrei! Just wait for me!



Vladimir understood now. He could feel; empathize, with the people who chose to end their lives here. Who wouldn't want to? To die surrounded by the most pristine surroundings on earth, knowing that you would pass away in the midst of silent life. It was the greatest death imaginable, wasn't it? And Vladimir was ready. He finally knew why his brother had chosen to do what he had done.



We're closer than we've ever been before, aren't we?



Vlad moved forward, to the centre of the clearing. His foot scraped on something, a piece of bone sticking out from under the ground. He got to his knees, and furiously began to dig with his hands, until gradually; he unearthed the remains of his brother.



Not much longer now!



Vladimir reached forward, and took the knife from the skeleton's hands. He stood up, and cast one last look around him. A panoramic scene of trees and bushes surrounded him, and he felt at peace.



He put the knife to his throat, and shut his eyes. It was time. Deftly, he drew it across his bulging vein, eager to be free of his physical bonds, eager to be with his brother once more.



I'm coming!





As the red nectar seeped out of his neck, he could almost see his brother in his mind's eye. He spoke to him.



Andrei, I'm here!





Andrei looked at him, and screamed;



NO! VLADIMIR, DON'T! GO BACK!



Vlad's eyes began to lose focus, and he began to fall, his last thoughts being those of confusion and sorrow. Perhaps it was never meant to be. As he fell, he was suddenly aware.



Omniscient.



He felt all the people who had passed here before him, and he empathized with one and all.



At last, Vlad landed, right into the arms of his waiting brother.



Aokigahara was far from sated though, and like a hungry god demanding sacrifice, it lay in wait for its next meal.