Chapter 6
Yuko Ozawa was startled. Yuuji just jumped over the ledge into the unknown. "Yuuji!" she called, but there was no answer.
The world around her was also looking a little scarier.
Creatures began to appear beside her, some gathered around the mountains and others perched themselves on the temple nearby. They were anticipating something, but she didn't understand what!
Not to mention, some of these creatures did look like the others she has seen without wearing the mask, but they glowed oddly bright in her eyes.
"Oh, young master's friend?" came a gentle voice.
She turned and saw a lavishing woman in a red and white kimono and wore a white fox mask with red marks. She merely nodded her head to the odd stranger. "Do… you know Yuuji?" she asked.
The woman smiled and nodded to her. "He is my young master."
Ozawa was taken aback by her words. "Young master?" she asked.
"I can explain after, but for now, it's best we watch. This hasn't happened in over a thousand years…" she said with great anticipation in her voice. In fact, all the creatures were looking on with excitement as she saw Yuuji reappear.
But… he was glowing!
The markings on his body were ablaze with white fire, his hair burning and yet he appeared very calm about it. She wanted to ask what was going on until he began to move about oddly.
His hands became aflame as he was gently brushing and sending waves of fire to the earth.
His steps were careful as he moved across the rocks that led up to the waterfall. Yet with each step, the rocks under his feet began to glow. When the fire went over the stones, she saw movement. Then, balls of light started to float up into the air.
She heard a collective gasp come from those around her, many covered their mouths with excitement as more and more of these balls of light began to float up into the air. Yuuji's steps were strange and yet beautiful almost as if he were doing an elegant dance across the stones, the balls of light began to float around him and spin around and around, gaining momentum as he continued to move about with grace and ease, then, with a toss of his hands. The balls of light spun up into the sky!
He took a deep breath.
White fire erupted out of his mouth, consuming the orbs within them! She gasped to it all, as everyone else appeared amazed.
When the fire went out, the balls of light were gone, but white fairies had emurge! They fluttered about a little clumsy at first, but then gained their bearings. They flew overhead until they paused and took notice of her.
The fairies flew down and circled Ozawa! She was lifted up off her feet for but a moment until she was gently placed by down, then they flew off into the night sky and vanished among the stars.
The creatures around her applauded with great passion, the woman next to her shed a tear of joy as she saw the whole thing, but then, she smiled to her. "You've been blessed," she said gently.
"Huh? I don't know what I just saw…"
"Moon fairies," the woman explained. "They are very rare and can only become such a thing on a full moon and with divine fire." She explained. "So rare that if they take notice of you, you are blessed,"
She tried to understand the significance, but didn't know how. "Oh, thank you?" she said awkwardly. "But… how did Yuuji…" she was about to say, until he appeared on the ledge!
His body still aflame, his main eyes closed, but the smaller ones and a larger one in the middle of his forehead were open to her. "Yuuji?" she whispered.
He stalked her oddly, crawling across the railings as he continued to peer at her. When he was done staring, he eased himself off the side and stood before her rather proudly. "No," he said gently, but bowed respectfully towards her. "I am the dragon that dwells within him, for he has become my vessel,"
'So… he wasn't lying about that…' she thought. The voice that came out of Itadori was powerful and yet gentle to the ears.
The dragon peered at her oddly, but then smile. "I see you have been blessed by the moon fairies, just as I thought…" he said offhandedly. "Young female… what do you think of Itadori here? Does this scare you?" he asked. "Do I scare you?"
She paused to the question, but shook her head no. "No, I know it's still Itadori. After all, I know what it's like to be judged by appearances. I wouldn't dare do that to him. He still feels like the same person I went to school with… but…" her voice trailed off. With what he has become, she couldn't quite wrap her head around the troubles he has had and endured.
The dragon smirked to her. "You understand then, very good, I wanted to be certain of that." he turned his attention to the creatures. "The ceremony has ended!"
With that, they took their leave.
He peered back at her and smiled. "Let him show you," he whispered. "Don't be afraid of what he can do, just enjoy the moment, for he hasn't had anyone to share joy within a long time…"
The flames went out, all the eyes closed as he appeared out on his feet. The black marks slowly returned as his main eyes and demon eyes opened once more. "Huh?" he said and paused. "Oh, I thought I was needed down there…" he muttered offhandedly.
"Young master,"
"Oh, hi Kitsune!" he said and smiled. "Ozawa, this is Kitsune, she has been helping me a lot through all of this… uh… what happened?" he asked.
"Wait, he doesn't know?" Ozawa asked.
Kitsune shook her head. "When it comes to delicate ceremonies, my master takes over. When he does, Yuuji goes to sleep in a sense until it is over. But it was a magnificent display, I have never seen so many moon fairies before…"
"Huh?" his confused look didn't vanish the least bit.
"It really was amazing…" Ozawa said with great admiration. "To think I got to see something so pretty…" she blushed at the notion until she rushed up to Yuuji and embraced him. "This was wonderful, thank you!"
He returned the hug, but as she pulled away, he was still confused. "So… He had to come here to do that?" he asked Kitsune.
She giggled and nodded. "It takes a lot of divine fire to wake the fairies, only a dragon could do such a thing," but her smile turned to Ozawa. "And they have blessed your friend there,"
"Oh?" Yuuji said with great curiosity. "That's good to hear, good luck right?" he said with a grin.
Kitsune merely smiled back. "Yes, good luck on many things."
It became awkwardly silent. "Well, I suppose we better get you back home…" he paused as he peered about. "So… anything you want to do before we go?"
Ozawa blushed. "I would like to fly with you again… just not so fast." She said in a gentle tone. "Also… show me what else you can do,"
He was surprised to her words, but nodded. "Excuse us please, Kitsune…" he said, she merely bowed her head.
"Have fun you two."
With that, he began to float up off the ground, Ozawa was lifted up into his arms as they took in the night sky together. "I've never been this close to the stars before…" she whispered.
"This is nothing," Yuuji snickered. "Ooo, perfect, over there!" he pointed out to a large lake, he flew down and stood on the water's surface, and then he eased her down.
"Wait!" she protested, but was stunned as she too walked on the surface of the water! "HUH!?"
He snickered. "I had the same reaction!"
She began to step again and again over the calm lake, from there, Yuuji took her by the hand and began to run across the surface only to throw her! She slid across the water as if she was slipping on ice! When she came to a stop, she sighed with relief until he snatched her up again! In his arms, he spun around playfully until he put her back on her feet once more, they glided across the water until he stopped. "What do you think? Pretty weird huh?"
"It's amazing!" she whispered. "What else?"
He paused for a second, but then an idea came to mind. "Oh!" his arms moved about elegantly, then the tips of his right hands became inflamed. Two massive fire arrows formed on the back of his hands. He took aim for the sky and unleashed them. At a distance, it didn't appear like much, but when the collided. The sky lit up!
She was awestricken.
"I can blow stuff up, but I got to be really careful," he laughed.
"But it was beautiful…" she whispered.
For the rest of the night as they tried to fly back home… Yuuji kept getting lost since he didn't fly them there and it was really fast! He showed her little by little what he could. He was without a doubt powerful, yet, at the same time, he never flaunted it. Yuuji was careful and considerate when he showed her his abilities; she was grossed out when he ate a curse though. But understood why he did and he needed to.
They eventually made their way back to Tokyo. After he asked for more directions! Fairies were amazingly good navigators!
He altered his clothing back to hide his appearance, but as he did, she couldn't help but feel sad for him.
They stood on the rooftop, he was nervous and tried to speak. "So… if you are okay with this… I was wondering if maybe you would like to go out again…"
He couldn't finish his question as her lips came over his. When she pulled away, Ozawa said nothing more as she took the stairs back down to her apartment.
It was the best date she had ever been on!