While we are too absorbed listening to Yukio, we didn't notice that an hour and a half had already passed. As we were about to say goodbye to each other, heavy rain began to fall and we do not know where we are going to stay at the meantime or tonight if this won't stop, making me a lot worried.
"You can stay in my house, Kagome... if you want to." Yukio invited.
"Really? Thanks so much!" I replied.
"No," Inuyasha protested. "We're leaving whether this rain stops or not."
"I can tell you more about the scroll if you want to. I was actually thinking if it could help you with your quest." Yukio added.
Inuyasha is jealous again after Yukio offered his hospitality. I guess I was wrong- his attitude hasn't changed a bit since I'm gone here. Besides, even though my immediate quest is delayed, Yukio has something to offer- something significant and relevant to my purpose besides, I cannot allow Inuyasha to have authority over me just because he is jealous.
"Inuyasha, that's fine. Yukio's invitation was meant for the three of us, right?" I said glancing at Yukio, waiting for approval.
"Yeah! That invitation was actually meant for the three of you, after you've given me too much generosity." Yukio replied with gratitude.
A moment later, Shippo cracked a jest. "I can't imagine that he's afraid that Yukio might steal Kagome away from him."
Before their argument becomes a mayhem in the middle of a strong rain, I grabbed Inuyasha by the hand and followed Yukio as he led the way. It only took a few minutes for us to arrive in a house surrounded by tress with few neighboring houses. It is a small house indeed, as what Yukio have mentioned earlier but judging on the interior, it is spacious enough for the four of us. As the night falls, the rain even grew stronger and the wind blew harder and colder, sending shiver and chill to my spine. I sat in front of the fireplace as I entwined my fists together but that wasn't enough to combat the freezing-cold feeling that's making me shake. Seeing my current situation, Yukio offered me one of his blankets, wrapping it around my shoulder.
"I hope that would help you." he grinned sweetly.
"Thank you. You've been very kind." I retorted and directly switched my gaze to Inuyasha, telling him not to start a drama.
"Oh! I almost forgot," Yukio chirped in. "About the scroll, maybe you guys can decipher its message."
"Can I see it?" I asked.
"Right away." Yukio replied.
Handing the ancient scroll to me with his two hands, I felt a sudden surge of some sacred energy that is trying to envelope all over my body. I can't really find the exact words on how to describe its tremendous power but I am not yet certain that this will be the key to my triumph. Summoning a dead priestess may not sound normal but I believe that once someone made a promise, it will be fulfilled even though someone who made it is in the afterlife. But I doubt if it would answer my prayer because if we're going to base on the story of Yukio, it sounded like the priestess just wanted to return a favor.
"I'm sorry guys if I didn't tell you something important about the scroll earlier."
"Can you elaborate that one?" Shippo interrogated.
Fuming, Inuyasha shouted, "I knew it! Everything that you've told us earlier was a joke."
I tried to calm Inuyasha but I just can't help it. Looking at Yukio's countenance, something bothers him so much. As if he would be chastised if he spill a single information about the thing that he's referring earlier.
"The shrine of the priestess that you are searching for was actually the one who gave us the scroll and her name is, Mizuki. She-"
"Wait what?" Shippo questioned.
"Let me finish first," Yukio explained a little bit hesitant. "She told my ancestor not to spread the word about their accord but due to the jealousy of his wife that mistook her husband's hunting on faraway mountains, saying that it was seeing the priestess, became full of rage that she tried to tarnish the priestess' reputation and revealed the secret to the entire village saying that her husband has a friend who can make someone as powerful as they imagine or rich enough to buy hundreds and thousands of slaves. All they needed to do was to read the scroll that her husband possess and their desire will come true in a second. At first, the woman thought that her actions about breaking the good bond of Mizuki and her husband was effective but the fate is telling her otherwise. The words spread faster in a short span of days and her husband is now being hunted like a criminal by warlords and even demons who are quenching for power and wealth. Regarding the priestess, grandfather once told me that she remain hidden in the mountains but she always see to it the she fake her identity when going to villages to help people. She was doing this kind of tactic in order to prevent herself from being pursued by evil creatures."
Wondering why, I asked, "The priestess could easily refuse them except your ancestor, right?"
Yukio took a deep breath and sigh. "That's what I've thought at first but she cannot as she had written the accord using her own hand and blood besides, there's no specification on the scroll about the name of the person who is legible to make a wish, as well as the desire making it applicable for a random individual to utter its wish. The privilege was supposed to be granted to one family alone. To make it short, before my ancestor was held captive and decapitated by the warlord Karasu, for refusing to give up the scroll, he had already passed and entrusted the scroll to his younger brother and during that time, the priestess was already dead, sacrificing her own life in sealing the demons who came after my ancestor just to get the scroll. Regarding the rumors that you have heard about wishing on her shrine... It was actually a hoax. Grandpa told me that our family made that up in order to put an end to the suffering that we had experienced."
"That's quite sad. After all this years, your family had went through a lot of hurdles." Shippo sympathized.
"The scroll must be cursed." Inuyasha uttered, crossing his arms.
"Its not the scroll, Inuyasha. It's just the human depravity." Yukio retorted.
A little bit confused, I asked, "Why didn't you tell us earlier about this while eating?
Contemplating on what to say, he whispered, "Everything should be kept hidden from the ears and eyes of evil."
I slowly unscrolled the artifact meticulously and Yukio reminded me that reading through eyes, can also
summon the priestess. I took a deep breath but was thinking at the same time that I won't be answered since I'm yet to know what's written there. I stopped unscrolling midway when I noticed that Inuyasha moved farther in the corner, making Shippo interrogate my actions. "Why did you stop?" Instead of answering, I just finished what I've started and was taken aback with what I've read.
It took a moment for me to utter until Yukio articulated the words, "So, what does it say?"
Seeing the excitement on his face, I don't have the courage to tell him about what's written, especially when his ancestors offered their life to protect the scroll but I realized that I have to. "Yukio, the scroll says, "Thank you for helping me. In order for me to return the favor, bring this scroll on full moon and you'll see me."
"Is that all?" Yukio asked confused.
"Ye-yes."
"This can't be. We spent most of our lives keeping that scroll yet, the message is just that? I was thinking before that it might be some kind of riddle or poem but I was wrong. My grandpa didn't even tell me about it nor his father or grandfather to him. No wonder why it remained unused for centuries."
Seeing the sadness and disappointment in Yukio's eyes, I can't help but comfort him. "Yukio, to tell you honestly, I'm also a priestess like Mizuki and the moment you gave me the scroll, I could feel her power surging through my body. Let's just try to find out everything on full moon, okay? Besides, they wouldn't keep that scroll for too long if it has no value."
"But it will delay the recovery of your brother." he protested.
He got a point but I got no time to think negatively about his recovery. "Just trust me. Everything will be fine." I assured.
Few minutes of silence have passed and sensing that the rain is starting to falter, Yukio stood up to get the tea leaves that he had forgotten from his workplace. He scurried and wore his slippers and went outside running as fast as lightning without even heeding to our goodbyes. Left in the house with Inuyasha and Shippo, the little fox demon decided to fall asleep due to the tiring journey that we had earlier. Inuyasha, on the other hand, decided to keep me company and started talking about things that makes me comfortable, that led me to ask him about his predicament that's been bothering him since we met. I assured him that whatever it is, I will help him no matter what.
"No matter what?" he repeated.
"Yes, Inuyasha. I replied, kissing him passionately after.
"Thank you, Kagome. But I feel like this is not yet the right time to tell you. Don't worry, you'll know everything on full moon. " he retorted, surfacing a frown on his mug.
"Shouldn't you be happy that I am here to help you and besides, why on full moon?"
"Kagome, it's just... I mean, it's not like an ordinary problem." he explained making me more curios. "Don't worry, I'll show you everything when it's time."
"Show me? how?"
"Kagome, you'll figure it out in time."
After saying his reply, he kissed me on the cheek then on my lips and held my hands tightly. His hands were bleak and shaking and I can't help but to hug him tight as I place his head on my chest as he slowly falls into slumber. An hour has passed and I'm still wondering why Yukio hasn't arrive yet, when it only takes few minutes to walk from his house to workplace. A little worried, I lay Inuyasha on the floor beside Shippo and sneaked outside courageously despite the weather, looking for any signs of Yukio's presence.
Sensing no single being that lingers on the shadow of darkness, I decided to get inside. Shaking again due to the cold wind, I added fuel to the fire and rubbed my hands together and just decided to wait for Yukio to arrive. Another hour has passed and I just spent most of the time thinking about how the scroll would function, since its message is ambiguous I'm also worried because of his absence. Noticing that Inuyasha and Shippo are still in a deep sleep, I decided to get outside, bringing my bow and arrows with me. "I could no longer bear this'" I thought to myself, "It's been hours already and he hasn't came back yet. I hope nothing is wrong."
I began walking to the restaurant where Yukio works and I was surprised by the number of people who are gathering there. Horses filled the sidewalks and I can hear sounds of laughter and music that filled the air. I trotted few steps closer to the entrance hoping to see Yukio but a hand suddenly grab me from behind and hug me. I could feel the sudden burst of his excitement judging by the sound of his voice and also the bulge that hits my butt is making me uncomfortable, since the eyes are on us. I turned around and saw the guy who resembled the student who adores me so much from the other world- Akitoki Hojo.