As I walked alongside Saber, alert for any sign of an evil presence as the gentle wind swayed the trees around me, I stopped suddenly, frowning.
"There's something around here..." I said as I looked through the forest. "Another curse, but I can't locate it. It's moving fast, or... it's hiding its presence."
Saber nodded, her senses heightened as she kept her hand close to the invisible hilt of her sword. "It could be a trap. We need to advance carefully."
We continued exploring the winding terrain, alert for any sign of danger. It was then that I noticed a figure ahead. I narrowed my eyes, recognizing someone familiar.
"Wait... Sakura?" I murmured, quickening my pace.
As we got closer, we saw Sakura accompanied by a little girl who seemed extraordinarily out of the ordinary. Her features were delicate, but what caught my attention the most were the translucent wings that rose from her back, shining with a faint, angelic light.
"Yuji-Sensei! Arturia-Sama!" Sakura exclaimed, visibly relieved to see us.
"Sakura, what's going on? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school? And who is this girl?" I asked a bunch of questions while cautiously looking at the small figure next to her.
Before Sakura could answer, the little girl looked up and spoke in a soft, but strangely imposing voice:
"My name is Hana, Kurusu Hana..."
It was then that I remembered someone. That was the name of one of her companions/allies during the Slaughter Game. - "H-Hana?!" - I said without thinking.
Since I had returned to the past, I would obviously see my younger companions here in this reality. But what caught my attention were the two angel wings on her back, which meant that The Angel was one of the reincarnated ones.
Saber narrowed her eyes, feeling a different presence emanating from the child. "Okay, but what are you doing so far away, Sakura?" - Saber asked worriedly.
Sakura looked down a little embarrassed. - "W-well... I was kidnapped by a curse..."
Saber and I screamed. - "Kidnapped?!"
Sakura, still visibly tired, began to explain: "But then I defeated her with the help of this little girl!... She helped me when I was trapped there. Something protects her, something she calls 'Angel'. This Angel... saved her from a curse that attacked us."
I was in disbelief and observed Hana more carefully. - "Anyway, I'm glad you're okay, Sakura..."
Saber put a hand on my shoulder, interrupting the conversation. - "Yuji, whatever her origins are, she doesn't seem to be our enemy. For now, it's best to keep them with us."
A few minutes later...
As we walked through the forest, Sakura finally broke the silence, her voice carrying genuine curiosity.
"Arturia, why are you wearing armor? It looks so... medieval. Are you a Jujutsu sorceress too?"
I tensed, realizing that I hadn't told Sakura anything about who Saber really was. I glanced at Saber, who remained quiet, leaving the responsibility of the answer to me.
"Ah... Yes!" - I said trying to sound confident, although I was visibly nervous. - "She's a Jujutsu sorceress. Only... you know, from another country. That's why her clothes are different. In other places, sorcerers have their own styles, and... well, the armor is part of her style. England and such..."
Sakura raised an eyebrow, clearly finding the explanation suspicious. - "Sorceress from another country? Why didn't you mention that before? Since when are there foreign sorcerers?"
I scratched the back of my neck, laughing nervously. - "Oh, you know... there's a lot going on lately, right? It's hard to keep up with everything. But she's amazing, seriously! Her fighting style is... a little unique."
Saber glanced at me quickly, I was trying to silently beg her not to contradict the story. She sighed and nodded, adopting a confident posture. - "Hmpf... What an excuse... Sorceress." - She seemed sullen.
"Please..." - I spoke softly to her.
"Yes..." - Saber said calmly. - "Since I'm from a faraway place, and my armor reflects the legacy I carry. I fight with different methods, but my goal is the same: to protect and fight."
Hana, who had been silent until then, looked at Saber with admiration. - "You look like a real knight... like in the stories." - Which made Saber smile secretly.
Sakura still seemed suspicious, but ended up accepting the explanation. "Okay... I just found it curious. I've never seen anyone fight in armor before. But if Yuji-Sensei trusts you, then I trust you too."
I sighed in relief, internally thanking Sakura for not pressing the subject further. Saber, in turn, remained silent, somewhat irritated by my lies, preferring to observe the interaction as they continued advancing through the forest.
A few minutes later...
As the group settled into a relatively safe clearing in the forest, I decided it would be wise to rest for a while. I glanced at Arturia, Sakura, and Hana, making sure they were okay before sitting down on a fallen log.
"The curse is still here..." I stated, looking around with alert eyes. "But it's quiet for now. Let's use that to our advantage. We rest now and be ready for when it appears."
The afternoon began to fall, the orange hues of the sky painting the surrounding trees with a soft light. Still tired from the journey, I ended up allowing myself a moment of rest. I closed my eyes, promising myself it would only be for a moment, but I was soon pulled into an involuntary sleep.
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the clearing. Instead, I found myself in an empty, endless space, the shadows rippling around me as if they had a life of their own. I felt a strangely familiar shiver down my spine, a presence I hadn't felt in years.
"Ah, we finally meet again, brat."
The sharp, contemptuous voice echoed in the void, and I quickly turned to face the owner of the voice. There he was: Sukuna. The King of Curses, sitting on his demonic throne as if he had never left.
"You..." - I choked, the shock evident on my face. - "You shouldn't be here. I thought... This doesn't make sense."
Sukuna laughed, a low, sarcastic laugh that seemed to reverberate throughout the space.
"Oh, do you really think it's that easy to get rid of me, you little shit?... You've grown up, but you're still the same as always." - Sukuna stood up from his throne, walking slowly towards me. - "I may not be inside you anymore, but I left something behind. A remnant. A part of me that will never be erased."
I prepared to attack, trying to process what I was hearing. - "So... you're just a memory? A fragment?"
Sukuna smiled, his sharp teeth shining in the darkness. - "Call it whatever you want. Fragment, echo, memory... It doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here."
"Why?" - I demanded answers. - "What do you want from me now?"
Sukuna stopped, his red eyes fixing on me with intensity. - "I want you to remember, brat. You may not remember what happened in Shinjuku, but I'm still a part of who you are. I'm the reason you can fight high-level curses, the reason you're special. Do you think you can just erase that?"
I clenched my fists, fighting the feeling of panic that was rising in my chest. - "I don't need you. I never did. Everything I've achieved was for myself, for the people who trust me."
Sukuna laughed again, this time softer, but just as sinister. - "Keep telling yourself that. But remember, brat, one day... you'll have to face the reality of becoming a curse, not in this reality... But you will."
In the dreamlike void, Sukuna stopped laughing and began to observe me more closely, like a predator studying its prey.
"You know, brat..." - Sukuna began, his voice filled with a strange satisfaction. - "Even here, in this different reality, you still carry something of mine."
I narrowed my eyes, confused. "What do you mean? There shouldn't be anything of yours in me."
Sukuna laughed, shaking his head slowly. - "Fool. Do you think getting rid of me would be that simple? I'm talking about the Sanctuary... You still have my domain... No matter what reality you're in, my power left a mark on you. It's no wonder my marks are on you... You are who you are now because of me, even if you hate to admit it."
I took a step forward, facing Sukuna. - "You're wrong. Everything I've done, everything I've achieved, was because of the people around me. The lessons I've learned. You have nothing to do with this."
Sukuna raised an eyebrow, amused. - "Oh, really? So how do you explain the curses that still inhabit you? How do you explain the way you manipulate your strength, your cursed energy, as if they were natural parts of you? Make no mistake, you brat, part of me lives in you, whether you like it or not."
I felt a chill run down my spine. I knew something was different since I'd returned from that distorted reality, but I'd never wanted to admit it. Sukuna tilted his head, a sly smile on his lips.
"And it's not just that..." - Sukuna continued, his voice growing deeper, more charged with intent. - "You also carry another curse. Something much older, darker. Angra Mainyu. Such bad luck, indeed." "How do you know about Angra Mainyu?" I asked angrily, but with caution.
Sukuna shrugged, as if the answer was obvious. - "Who doesn't know the personification of all evil in the world. An entity that transcends reality, just like me. Who was thrown to the moths simply by being born..." - Sukuna spoke angrily, even with a bit of pain in his speech. - "You had the 'privilege' of carrying this along with my mark. Isn't it ironic? The hero cursed by two demons."
I felt my stomach churn. I always believed I could fight against any adversity, but hearing Sukuna talk so casually about something disgusting and terrifying left me disarmed.
"Why are you telling me this?" - I asked, trying to remain calm.
Sukuna laughed again, this time with a glint of something close to genuine amusement. - "Because I want to see how you're going to deal with this. I want to see how far you can go before you break. You're a fascinating experiment, Yuji. A vessel of chaos, hope, and despair."
In the distorted void of the dream, Sukuna leaned closer to me, his scarlet eyes glowing with a baleful intensity.
"Before you wake up, brat…" Sukuna said in a calm but weighty voice. "There is something you should know. A task, if you will…"
I frowned in confusion and distrust. "What do you want from me now? I am no longer your vessel."
Sukuna let out a low laugh. "There is someone you will meet soon… A person who was once by my side in other eras. A loyal servant, Uraume. He is in this world, but something is wrong. He cannot, under any circumstances, be involved with Kenjaku."
The name "Uraume" reverberated in my mind. She was one of the reincarnated, but something about the seriousness in Sukuna's voice made me uneasy.
"Kenjaku…" I murmured. - "Do you think she's working with him?"
Sukuna narrowed his eyes in irritation. - "That doesn't matter right now. What matters is that you find him and make sure he's not in Kenjaku's hands. Uraume is my liaison. If Kenjaku is using her for his own ends, it will be disastrous. If I could kill him, I would do it right now..."
I took a step back, shaking my head. - "Why would I help someone who served you? It doesn't make sense. You just want me to do your dirty work!"
Sukuna leaned in even closer, the space between us almost disappearing. - "Don't think of it as helping me. Think of it as saving the world or whatever! That you try so hard to protect. Because if Kenjaku manages to manipulate him, his plans will go far beyond what you can imagine."
I felt a lump in my throat. I wanted to refuse, I wanted to ignore Sukuna's words, but something in his tone was different. There was no sarcasm, no malice evident. It was almost as if Sukuna was... worried?
"I'm not your tool, Sukuna!" he finally said, his voice firm. "I promise nothing."
Sukuna smiled, but this time there was something dark in his expression. "We'll see, brat. You can say that now, but when the time comes, remember my words. And remember... Uraume must be protected. Not by me, but by what she will mean to you!"
Before I could respond, the void began to crumble, Sukuna disappearing into a haze as his words echoed in my mind.
"Choose wisely, child. The consequences are greater than you can imagine."
I woke with a start, my body covered in cold sweat. Saber was beside me, alarmed.
"Yuji, what happened? You seemed... distraught."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. - "Nothing. Just... a strange dream."
But as I said this, the name "Uraume" echoed in my mind. I knew that Sukuna did not say such things lightly. Even though he was reluctant, perhaps Sukuna was right, the Angel is already on our side, if Uraume is too... We can win this easily!
The night was silent, except for the subtle sound of the wind moving the leaves in the forest. The sky was a dark blanket, dotted with stars that seemed to watch over what was to come. Arturia and I stood next to Sakura and Hana, who had fallen into a deep sleep after what they had experienced earlier. I decided it would be best to let them rest there for a while.
As we moved a little away to stand guard, Arturia stopped abruptly.
"Yuji..." - she said, her hand already reaching for the hilt of her invisible sword. - "We have company."
I frowned, feeling a familiar but uneasy presence. I turned to the north, my eyes narrowing as a figure revealed itself from the shadows. It was Uraume, her expression strangely calm and impenetrable, her silhouette bathed in the pale glow of the moon. The atmosphere grew heavy, as if the forest itself had held its breath.
Saber immediately got into an attack stance, her warrior-like presence radiating strength.
"So the 'curse' was the ice girl." Saber asked, without taking her eyes off Uraume. "What should we do, Yuji?"
I raised my hand to stop any hasty movement. - "Get Sakura and Hana out of here!... If you remember the way home, take them both." - I said with a tone that surprised Saber by its seriousness. -
Saber raised an eyebrow, suspicious. - "Are you using your Command Seal? She doesn't seem weak, Yuji."
I nodded firmly. - "I'm not ordering you, because I don't spend on it... Take this as a request. She came for me, not for you. Besides..." - I paused for a moment, taking off my kimono and revealing the simple outfit underneath. - "...I have my reasons for fighting her alone."
I pulled out a pair of reinforced gauntlets, their ends sharp as claws. The metallic sound of nails scratching against each other echoed softly. I said firmly, clenching my fists as I turned to Uraume.
"You came all the way here, didn't you? Let's settle this between us."
Uraume tilted her head slightly, her gaze assessing me. She seemed indifferent, but her presence emanated a constant threat.
"Come on, scum..." Uraume said, her voice low and icy. "I want to end you once and for all!"
I didn't answer, but I was determined to end her. I took a few steps forward.
Saber ran away, going after Sakura and Hana to get them out of there. Without further warning, Uraume moved with impressive speed, the snow she conjured swirling around her like a miniature storm. I jumped back, adjusting my defensive stance as she threw ice spikes in my direction.
I dodged them nimbly, and with a well-aimed blow, he destroyed some of the spikes before advancing directly towards Uraume.
"You're quite fast..." Uraume admitted, dodging the blow. - "But that won't be enough."
I responded with a flurry of blows, my sharp claws gleaming as they cut through the ice barrier Uraume had erected. The loud sound against the ice echoed through the forest as the two of us fought, Uraume's every move calculated and cold, while my strikes were powered by pure strength and agility for years.
"Why are you here, Uraume?" I asked breathlessly, as I delivered another blow that cracked the icy ground above us.
Uraume paused for a moment, looking at me with his icy eyes. - "Because I will use your body to bring the King of Curses back to life!"
I froze for an instant, and that moment of hesitation was enough for Uraume to hit me with a wave of ice, throwing me against a tree.
But I didn't stay on the ground for long. I stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth.
Uraume, with a cold and calculating gaze, finally stopped for a moment, watching me with an expression that was almost curious.
"Do you really think you can fight me on equal terms?" she asked, her icy tone echoing in the night. "Well, since you want to fight so much, let's do it somewhere more private."
She raised her hands, and the temperature around her instantly plummeted. Ice formed on the ground, rising in spirals as a blue aura enveloped Uraume. Her voice reverberated throughout the room.
"Domain Expansion: Frost Specter."
The forest instantly disappeared, replaced by a vast field covered in ice and snow. The sky was a mix of white and gray, with snowflakes falling continuously. Pillars of ice dotted the area, glistening like crystals in the cold light that seemed to emanate from the ground. It was an inhospitable place, a perfect reflection of Uraume's power.
I paused for a moment, sensing the difference in the environment. I knew I was at a disadvantage. Within a domain expansion, absolute control belonged to the user. Every inch of that place was designed to amplify Uraume's abilities.
She wasted no time. With a quick movement of her hand, ice spikes appeared around me, shooting toward me like murderous spears. I jumped to the side, dodging the first ones, but the frozen ground made it difficult for me to move.
Even so, I remained silent, focused. For the first time in a long time, I began to consider something I had avoided until now: using Sukuna's abilities. Wiping the sweat that was already starting to freeze on my forehead - "I have no choice..."
As Uraume prepared another attack, I finally raised a hand, and with a single movement, launched a slash that tore through the air in Uraume's direction.
Uraume's eyes widened for a brief moment, surprised by the technique I was using.
"So you still bear his marks..." she muttered, dodging the attack elegantly. "Interesting. This will be more fun than I thought."
She immediately counterattacked, conjuring a dense blizzard that nearly blinded me. Within the storm, sharp blades of ice spun at high speed, trying to strike me from all sides.
However, I was prepared. Using my speed and slashes, I destroyed the ice blades before they could reach me. My movements were precise, and each strike created waves of energy that rumbled through the domain.
Uraume smiled enigmatically, her posture as calm as before. "Your face resembles him..." she replied. "And that irritates me!"
To demonstrate, she raised her hands once more, and the ice floor split, revealing an abyss of darkness below. Chains of ice emerged from the abyss, snaking toward me to trap me.
I jumped to avoid the chains, but one of them managed to grab my leg. I was pulled toward the ground, where more ice began to envelop me.
Uraume walked slowly toward me. - "Let's end this once and for all, you fraud."
I closed my eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath. Then I broke the ice chains with a powerful movement.
I concentrated the cursed energy in my hands, forming two gigantic slashes that I launched in a crisscrossing motion. The attack hit the frozen ground, creating an explosion that cracked the domain, sending waves of ice and snow in all directions.
Uraume was forced to retreat, surprised by the force of the blow.
The battle was far from over, but I knew that, even at a disadvantage, I prepared for the next move. I reached each step echoing across the frozen surface of Uraume's domain.
I felt the cursed energy pulsing intensely through her body, each movement filled with lethal intent. Uraume prepared another wave of ice.
"Dismantle!"
A precise slash of energy cut through the air, tearing apart one of the ice pillars that Uraume had conjured as protection. Even though she was surprised by the strength and precision, she maintained her stance, preparing another attack.
I didn't hesitate. I shot forward like lightning, closing the distance between them in an instant. My right hand glowed with concentrated cursed energy, and before Uraume could react, I landed the first blow straight at her chest.
"KOKUSEN!"
The blast of energy reverberated throughout the domain, cracking the surrounding ice and sending Uraume staggering backwards. She tried to counterattack, launching ice spikes at high speed, but I deftly dodged them, using brute strength and agility to avoid each projectile.
I spun quickly, using the momentum to launch another punch straight at Uraume's left side.
"KOKUSEN!"
Once again, the amplified cursed energy reverberated through the air. The impact was so powerful that Uraume was thrown backwards, skidding across the icy ground. The ice around us began to crack due to the intensity of the battle, but I didn't stop.
Without giving Uraume time to recover, I leapt into the air, my right fist already prepared for the final blow. Uraume raised a barrier of ice in a desperate attempt to block, but I broke it with ease, my punch piercing through the defense.
"KOKUSEN!"
The third blow hit Uraume directly, throwing her against one of the walls of the domain. The force of the impact caused cracks to spread throughout the space.
Uraume fell to the ground, clearly injured, but still conscious. She was breathing heavily, watching me with a mixture of respect and frustration.
I wiped the blood from a small cut on my forehead, my eyes fixed on Uraume. I knew the battle wasn't over yet, but I felt like I had gained a crucial advantage.
As I let my guard down, believing the battle to be over, a wave of cursed energy swept across the field. The air turned frigid, each breath forming steam, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I looked at Uraume and saw something that shocked me.
"Did you think it would be that easy, Itadori Yuji?" Uraume said with a cold smile, his voice filled with defiance.
Uraume's body began to change, the ice around her melting into her. Her cursed energy grew exponentially as armor formed, covering her as if it were part of her body. Horns of ice sprouted from her head, her hands transformed into sharp claws, and her eyes glowed with an icy blue light. Uraume had transformed into a beastly creature made of pure ice, a manifestation of her accumulated energy and strength.
I was already tired from the previous fight, but I tried to prepare, but it wasn't fast enough. Uraume advanced in a blur, her speed surprising for such a massive form.
The first blow came with devastating force, a giant claw of ice that hit my chest and threw me against a tree. The tree exploded into splinters, and I felt the impact reverberate in my bones.
"Argh!" I grunted, trying to get up.
Before I could react, Uraume struck again, a powerful kick that sent him flying into the air, shattering the ice below. I spun in the air, but before I could regain my balance, the third strike came: Uraume grabbed me and threw me like a rag doll against an ice formation, which crumbled upon impact.
"Is that all you have, heir to Sukuna's strength?" Uraume taunted, his voice echoing across the field.
I spat blood, my arms shaking as I tried to get up. But Uraume gave me no respite. She appeared before me in an instant, delivering a crushing blow with her claws that opened a crater in the ground and sent me flying once more.
The fifth strike came with an explosion of ice: sharp spikes emerged from the ground, tearing through the rest of my kimono and creating deep cuts on my arms and legs. I was visibly weakened, but I still refused to fall.
"Still standing?" - Uraume murmured, impressed by my resilience. - "Then I'll make sure the next one is the last."
She raised her right hand, concentrating a massive energy, forming a blade of ice that seemed to cut the air itself. With a quick movement, she delivered the sixth blow, a devastating cut that opened a deep groove in the earth and threw me away, leaving me lying on the ground.
"Argh!..." - I could barely move. My vision was blurred, and pain throbbed throughout my body. I knew I was in a desperate situation.
"You fought well, but this is the end!" - Uraume declared, walking towards him slowly, the icy aura around her making the environment almost impossible to bear.
As I struggled to get up, I remembered my companions, my old world, and the reason I was here. Even if my body was torn apart, I wouldn't give up.
"It's not... over... yet!" - I muttered to myself, beginning to gather what was left of my cursed energy, while thinking of a plan to turn the tables.
I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand. I was panting heavily, my body begging for rest, I knew that continuing to exchange blows with Uraume would be useless. She had the advantage with her monstrous armor and active dominance. If she wanted to win, she would have to bet everything on one decisive attack.
Slowly, I stood up, my shaky posture firming up. I looked at Uraume, who remained imposing in her icy armor, her eyes shining with contempt.
"So, are you finally going to give up?" - Uraume asked, his icy tone full of provocation. - "You are strong, but your strength is not enough to defeat me here, in my own domain."
I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. When I opened them, my gaze was cold and focused. I raised my right arm and molded my fingers into a pose that Uraume instantly recognized. It was the same stance Sukuna used.
"I'm not here to play around..." - I said in a low but intense voice.
A flame began to form at my fingertips. Small at first, it quickly grew in intensity, spinning and transforming into an arrow of pure fire. The heat it emanated was so intense that it began to melt the ice around it, even within Uraume's domain.
Uraume was momentarily frozen. Her expression changed, a flash of memory invaded her. That pose, that attack...
"Sukuna-sama..." - She murmured involuntarily.
"Fūga!"
With a quick movement, I launched the fire arrow directly at Uraume. The energy from the attack tore through the air, illuminating the forest with a scorching glow. The arrow flew through space in the blink of an eye, striking not only Uraume, but also the core of her domain.
The explosion that followed was deafening. Flames and cursed energy collided, creating a shockwave that destroyed the surrounding trees and completely dispelled the mist that enveloped the forest. Uraume's domain was dismantled in an instant.
When the dust settled, Uraume was on her knees. Her ice armor was completely destroyed, pieces shattered and melted all around. She was injured, her breathing ragged, but still alive. She looked up at me, who was slowly approaching.
"So that's it..." Uraume said bitterly. "Are you going to kill me now? Just do it already!..."
I stopped a few steps away from her, staring at her. I raised my hand, and for a moment, Uraume prepared for the final blow. But to her surprise, I reached out to her.
"I don't want to kill you..." - I said firmly. - "Actually, I need your help."
Uraume's mouth fell open, completely confused.
"My help? Is this some kind of joke? I'm a servant of Sukuna. What makes you think I'm going to help someone like you?"
I kept my hand extended, not backing away.
"You served him in the past, but that doesn't matter now..." - I said, looking into his eyes. - "Kenjaku is manipulating you. He's messing with forces that not even Sukuna would accept. And you know it."
For a moment, Uraume was silent. The mention of Kenjaku seemed to awaken something inside her. She looked away, clearly conflicted.
"Sukuna asked me to find you..." - I continued speaking more calmly now. - "He said that you can't be involved with Kenjaku. I don't know what that means, but he trusted you. And if you trusted him... Please, if you help me, I will bring Sukuna, the King of Curses, back."
Uraume looked at me again, doubt written all over her face. She knew she could take advantage of the moment to attack me, but reluctantly, she took my hand and stood up.
"If you're telling the truth, I will consider it. But know this, Itadori Yuji..." - She said, looking me in the eyes. - "If you betray me, there will be no place in the world where you can hide from me."
I just nodded with a smile, feeling the weight of her decision.
"Welcome to the team, then!" - I said, trying to ease the tension.
After standing up with my help, Uraume brushed the dust off her kimono and, with a slow movement, pulled something from inside her robe. It was a small object wrapped in dark fabric. She held the package for a moment, as if considering something, before finally holding it out to me.
"Here..." - she said. - "One of Sukuna's fingers. I thought it would be safe to keep it with me, but it seems that now it belongs to you."
I stared at the package in silence, my expression changing. I accepted the finger without hesitation, holding it tightly.
"Thank you..." - I said, the sincerity evident in her voice.
As our hands touched during the exchange, Uraume closed her eyes and muttered something under her breath. I felt a sudden surge of energy rush through me, as if a cold current had passed through my body. I took a step back in surprise.
"What was that?" I asked, looking at Uraume suspiciously.
She opened her eyes, a small smile of satisfaction appearing on her lips.
"A binding vow," she explained. "If you're going to trust me, then I need to trust you too. This vow ensures that neither of us can betray the other. If you try to deceive me or vice versa, there will be… deadly consequences."
I was quiet for a moment, considering her words. I didn't like the idea of being bound by a pact, but deep down, I knew that Uraume was probably being more cautious with me, which was quite understandable on her part. After all, we weren't natural allies.
Then, to Uraume's surprise, I smiled.
"Okay..." - I said, adjusting the wrapped finger in her hand. - "If it means we can work together, I'll accept. Besides, you don't seem like the type to break promises."
Uraume arched an eyebrow, clearly not expecting such a carefree answer. - "HUH?!... You're either a fool or too trusting... I haven't decided which yet..." - she replied, but there was a slight softness in her voice.
"I heard that." - I joked, already starting to walk towards the exit of the forest. - "Let's go. I'm sure the people back home will love to meet you."
Uraume let out a sigh and followed me, although she remained silent as we walked.
A few minutes later...
When we arrived home, it was already dawn. The house was silent, except for some soft sounds coming from inside. I opened the door carefully, trying not to make any noise.
"Welcome to my humble abode..." - I said, making an exaggerated gesture with my hands. - "It's not a cursed temple, but it's comfortable."
Uraume took a quick look around the simple but cozy interior. - "You live here with other people, right? They'll be happy to know that you brought... company?"
I shrugged. "They're kind of used to me bringing all sorts of people here."
As we entered, the sound of hurried footsteps approached the hallway.
When I opened the door to my house, the scene I found was almost comical. In the middle of the living room, Shirou, Sakura, Hana, and Arturia were kneeling, with embarrassed expressions, while Choso, Taiga, and Tachie remained with their arms crossed, looking at them with disapproving expressions.
"I can't believe this!" Choso exclaimed angrily, the tone of his voice echoing through the house. - "This has become a hotel? A shelter for the lost?!"
Sakura, with her hands clasped together in a gesture of supplication, tried to justify herself. - "I'm so sorry, Brother Choso! But the situation was complicated... I couldn't just leave her in that abandoned place!"
Hana, with her innocent expression, was kneeling next to Saber, who seemed to be there only because she thought it was what she was supposed to do. Hana watched everything attentively, imitating Saber's gestures in an adorable way, which seemed to ease the tension a little. Shirou, on the other hand, just sighed.
"Sorry for being late... I was helping a friend..." Shirou mumbled, but before he could continue, Tachie interrupted.
"Being late? You disappeared for hours, Shirou! Like my Mast... Friend, you could have at least warned me."
Saber raised her hand, as if she were a student in school, and declared with a confident smile: - "I take full responsibility for being here! After all, I am Yuji's guardian."
Hana looked at Saber, imitated and repeated quietly: "I take full responsibility too!"
At that moment, I cleared my throat to get attention, visibly uncomfortable with the atmosphere. All eyes turned to me, and I knew there was no way to avoid what was coming next. I stepped aside, revealing Uraume behind me.
"Ah... so... I brought someone else to stay here for a while..." I announced, laughing nervously.
The entire room was silent for a moment before Choso exploded in anger. - "ARE YOU KIDDING ME, YUJI! This isn't a community shelter!"
Taiga, who usually tried to lighten the situation, just shook her head in disbelief. - "This is going too far, Yuji..."
Tachie looked at Uraume suspiciously, but didn't say anything. Uraume, on the other hand, seemed completely indifferent to the commotion around her. She looked around the room and, in a dry tone, said: "What a warm welcome."
"I know, I know..." I began, raising my hands in a placating gesture. - "Yeah... Long story short, she's a friend of Arturia's, so she'll be here for a while too..."
Choso already figured it was a lie, but decided not to explain my plan. He pointed to the ground in front of him. - "If you two want to stay, kneel down now and apologize like everyone else!"
I sighed in defeat, clearly embarrassed, but I knelt down next to the others without hesitation. - "Sorry, guys. I swear I'll fix this..."
Uraume, however, showed no intention of following my example. She crossed her arms and stared at Choso with a bored look. - "Why should I apologize for something I didn't even do?"
"Uraume..." - I murmured. - "You better kneel down too. It's kind of a tradition here... I guess."
She arched an eyebrow, the corner of her lips curving into a wry smile. - "Do you really think I'm going to do something ridiculous like that?!?"
Taiga and Choso's deadly glares made her reconsider. With an exaggerated sigh, she slowly lowered herself, kneeling beside me, but with an air of total disdain.
"There. I'm kneeling. Satisfied?" - Uraume asked, her voice full of sarcasm.
"You may be kneeling, but that attitude needs to change, young lady!" - Taiga stepped forward, pointing at Uraume with authority. - "Here, everyone follows the rules! Kneel and apologize!"
The scene was so ridiculous that Tachie had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. Hana, still imitating Saber, whispered to Sakura: "Is she apologizing too?"
"I don't think so..." - Saber said.
Sakura shook her head, fighting the urge to laugh. Even with all the chaos, there was something comforting in seeing how that house, with all its differences, still managed to function as a family, even if it was a somewhat chaotic family.
While the "disciplinary session" continued, Uraume just looked around, clearly wondering how she had ended up there.
A few minutes later...
After the commotion in the living room, Choso took advantage of a moment of calm to pull me out, leading him to a more private corner of the house. Choso's serious expression indicated that the matter was important, and still a little shaken by the recent events, I followed him without hesitation.
"What is it, Choso?" - I asked with a slight tone of concern.
Chosto crossed his arms, looking directly at me. - "Something happened while Taiga and I were returning home. We found a girl passed out among the rubble near the city center."
I widened my eyes in surprise. - "A girl? What happened to her? Is she okay?"
Choso nodded slightly, but there was a tension in his voice. - "She's alive, but... it didn't seem normal. She was wearing a school uniform, the same one from the school where Shirou and Sakura study. Her condition was worrying... it seemed like she had been poisoned, but fortunately the poison wasn't enough to kill her. That's strange, Yuji. No conventional poison would do that."
I frowned, processing the information. - "And did you take her somewhere safe?"
"Yes, we called an ambulance..." Choso replied. "But while I was analyzing the situation, I felt something unusual around her... as if there were traces of cursed energy mixed with something else I couldn't identify. I'm almost certain that it's related to the Holy Grail War."
Hearing this, I felt a chill run down my spine. - "The Holy Grail War... So someone is directly attacking people from Shirou and Sakura's school? That's no coincidence."
Choso nodded. - "Exactly. That's why you need to be careful. The girl was still alive, which could mean that whoever did it didn't want to kill her right away... It seemed like a warning. But either way, this confirms that the Holy Grail War is starting to spread to your circles."
I clenched my fists, a determined look forming on my face. "Then we better get ready... In fact, thanks to Uraume, I managed to get another cursed finger. If this is related to the Chalice, we can't expect the attacks to stop here. I'll talk to Shirou and Rin about it. They should know what to do."
Choso placed a hand on my shoulder, his look of concern mixed with determination. - "Just don't do anything impulsive, Yuji."
I nodded, feeling the weight of Choso's words. - "Thank you... I'll stay alert and keep everyone safe, Choso. No matter what comes, I won't let it get out of our control."
As the two of us walked back inside, I couldn't help but wonder what could be behind the attack.
End of Chapter 7