Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Running From You ❯ Shirayama Curse ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8: Shirayama Curse

 

The sign outside the Temple stopped the tante in their tracks.

 

Cursed

 

Yusuke scratched his head and laughed while Kuwabara held on to Yukina tighter, saying that is was for her protection. Hiei and Kurama looked at each other and nodded.

 

“Why did everyone stop?” Kioko asked the group, who had let the little girl go on ahead of them.

 

“Oh yeah, she doesn't know how to read.” Keiko mumbled. She pulled Kioko to her side and the group walked up the temple steps together, cautious of the surroundings. The talismans above the steps did not sound or glow any colors, and Kurama felt annoyed at the lack of understanding of demons.

 

“STOP! You are not going any further!” A voice yelled from the top of the stairs. Hiei looked up quickly, remembering the words of the black haired woman. He found a brown haired girl with dark brown eyes glaring at them in a priestess outfit.

 

“Yuki?” Kioko spoke out loud. The girl shot a glance at Kioko and glared. Keiko pulled Kioko back protectively.

 

“Who are you and why are you at this temple?” The girl demanded. Hiei growled and then shot his head in the direction of the harsh-breathing Kioko. Slowly, Kioko slumped to the ground, clutching her chest. Keiko and Yusuke dropped to their knees to help her.

 

“She needs your help. Are you going to invite us in or watch a girl die?” Kurama yelled at the priestess. Quickly the priestess had to make a decision.

 

“Bring her up. But you, the boy in the black, and the girl in the kimono must stay outside. I cannot allow demons inside the temple.” The girl added, snappy. Kurama growled, but allowed the terms if it would help Kioko. Yusuke looked at the kitsune and noticed the determination in his eyes. Hiei kept his hand on his katana the entire time.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ INSIDE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

The priestess covered the girl with a thick blanket, and prayed for her. Slowly, she walked out of the room, and shut the door behind her, walking back to the group of people in the living area.

 

“She will be okay. She needs rest.” The priestess said softly, trying not to be cold.

 

“What is with this place, and that sign?!” Yusuke asked, speaking indirectly about how the priestess knew about the demons. She looked back at the detective and smirked.

 

“I didn't put those talismans up there for nothing. And although they don't turn colors or make funny noises, they ARE connected to my spirit. I just know when un-welcomed guests are here.” The priestess chuckled and went to pouring tea for her guests.

 

“What makes you think demons are always bad?” Keiko asked the priestess. The priestess turned around and looked at the girl.

 

“Because one stalked and killed the head priestess here, leaving the Shrine haunted.” The priestess spat out, angry at the question.

 

“She didn't know.” Yusuke defended Keiko, knowing she only had good intentions.

 

“I know that. But what makes you think those demons aren't capable of killing?” The priestess asked as she sat down.

 

“They have killed many. That is what tells us that they aren't going to hurt us. Why would they spare us? Obviously it is because they have no reason to kill us.” Yusuke spoke quietly. “And we never got your name.” He prodded.

 

“Yuki. Yuki Watanabe.” The girl said uncomfortable.

 

“So she was right?” Kuwabara asked out loud. Yuki nodded, confused as to how the girl knew.

 

“But the thing is, I've never met that girl in my entire life.” Yuki responded.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ OUTSIDE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Kurama watched as Kioko snuck out the back door and ran towards the Shrine. He sighed and followed after her, Hiei quickly behind him after telling Yukina to alert the others. Kioko ran faster and faster until she stopped before the Shrine's doors. Kurama stopped behind her, and Hiei stopped next to one of the trees.

 

“Kioko, where are you going?” Kurama asked the girl. She turned back to him and he saw incredibly sad grey eyes with tears flowing out of them. He went to reach for her, but she began to glow.

 

“KIOKO!” Yusuke called out to her as the rest of the gang arrived with Priestess Yuki behind them. She tried to seal off what ever was happening to Kioko, but it was too much. Then the light stopped, and a black haired woman with grey eyes stood before the gang with a priestess uniform on, and blood splatters all over it.

 

“Yuki?” The non-Kioko asked. Yuki started to cry and ran over to the priestess and hugged her.

 

“Mitsuko! Oh my god! I can't believe it!” Yuki cried and held on tightly. The woman looked at the younger girl and held her tightly, feeling the fresh weight of someone's tears.

 

“Who…?” Yusuke asked. The elder priestess looked at the detective and smiled.

 

“My name is Mitsuko Sato, and I was the head priestess who was murdered at this shrine. I am the spirit inside Kioko-san, but we cannot fight each other for space anymore.” Mitsuko spoke softly and looked around.

 

“Yuki, why don't you bring me a fresh change of clothes? I assume you haven't moved anything of mine… you never were the type to give up that easily.” Mitsuko spoke to the priestess, who ran off and looked for a fresh pair of clothes. Kurama looked at the blood all over the priestess's clothes. It was dried and it was of large amounts.

 

“How?” Kurama asked the woman.

 

“Oh, I had run into a lovely gentleman while at the market, getting food. I invited him back for a meal because he looked ragged and hungry. That eventually turned into a one sided love, and from there, I became a victim of stalking. Little did I know, but this man was a demon from the Makai. Seems he was angry that my life was devoted to my temple, not to a man. So he killed me.” Mitsuko spoke seriously.

 

“But, what about Kioko?” Keiko asked worriedly. Mitsuko smiled.

 

“She's great, but her real name is Akemi Oshiro. And she is really 18, not 12. Yes, she is supposed to be 18 years old instead of a child. Once I am finally gone, she will become Akemi again. But please, do not send her back to her parents… they are the ones who sold her into slavery.” Mitsuko added quickly.

 

“What happens then?” Hiei spoke from behind everyone. Mitsuko looked at the Jaganshi and smirked.

 

“So you are the one who tried to pry… She will be Akemi, not Kioko. She will know what happened, and she will not have her powers. What ever results have come from her being abandoned and abused will finally show through when her powers have been removed. I have always been protecting her from within, but now, it is her time to live the life she was supposed to.” Mitsuko replied. Yusuke and Keiko nodded, worried about the girl.

 

“What about you!?” Kurama asked quickly. Mitsuko smiled at the kitsune and motioned for the returning Yuki to give her the clothes.

 

“I will finally move on, and all her memories of my existence will be erased. But that is how it should have been a long time ago.” Mitsuko sighed and walked towards the shrine, holding on to the clothes tightly. She stopped, and then there was light.

 

“Mitsuko-san! I'll never forget you! Promise!” Priestess Yuki yelled to the disappearing light. When the light faded, there was a figure on the ground, dressed in the clothes Priestess Mitsuko had been holding. She had long ivory hair, silky skin, and fiery lilac eyes that were just as playful as ever.

 

“Akemi, wake up.”

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Bunny: that is sooooo amazing! *cries*

 

Hiei: don't cry stupid! *rolls eyes*

 

Bunny: *beats Hiei within an inch of life* you are so lucky there is a fangirl restriction on me killing you! *glares*

 

Hiei: *thanks fangirls secretly* Hnnn

 

Kurama: we all know you are thankful. *hides behind bunny*

 

Bunny: *sticks tongue out* NAAAAAHH *^_^*

 

Hiei: *grabs katana*

 

Bunny: *sticks tongue back in mouth* Never mind. =]