AN: Hello! Chapter 4 is here! Thank you for patiently waiting! Enjoy~ :)
Sincerely,
UniversalGoddess
One Month Later
Tsuki and Keiko found themselves studying very hard for their upcoming winter exams. The days seem to have flown by so fast since that night Yusuke relayed his last message. It hardly felt real that Yusuke had visited them in someone else's body, asking them to wait. And they had done their waiting, staying occupied at the same time with school studies.
When Atsuko was busy doing her 'errands', Tsuki would often help Keiko clean up her apartment, buy groceries, and take care of Yusuke's body.
However, those days were limited since Grandfather Saito was also training Tsuki for her ceremony.
"Tsuki from now on, carry your bracelet with you at all times."
"Why?" Tsuki asked as she wiped the dirt and sweat off her face.
After an hour of sparring, Tsuki and her grandfather were now by the lake near their shrine. They were sitting in lotus position, enjoying the scenery before them. Grandfather Saito was teaching her how to balance and preserve their spiritual energy.
"Our spiritual powers is a blessing and a curse. Allies find us useful, foes find us threatening. Either way, someone or something will come for your power. Tsuki, your spiritual powers are growing. Demons, spirits and even humans will sense it. From now on, prepare for anything."
Even though her grandfather's training was making her strained and tired, Tsuki was grateful that he had finally stopped his ranting. The silence gave room for Tsuki to think about her future without the overbearing presence of her grandfather hovering about reminding her of 'family tradition'.
If you can not perform the ritual, you can no longer be a priestess.
Tsuki thought long and hard over her grandfather's words. What would she do when she no longer had any obligated duties to her 'family tradition'? Would she finally have the life that she truly desired? Would her grandfather accept that?
Every day, Tsuki dreamed about her life after middle school. She definitely wanted to attend and graduate from high school. For college, she wanted to study music.
When she was a little girl, Tsuki remembered hearing her mother playing the koto. As her mother strummed the strings, Tsuki would hear beautiful and elegant sounds coming from the wooden instrument.
She instantly fell in love when her tiny fingers brush the musical strings. Ever since then, Tsuki knew that she was going play the koto for the rest of her life.
She didn't know how far a music career was going to take her. Maybe she could become a teacher and teach children how to play or join a popular choir. Only time would tell.
For now, however, she just needed to get out of her priestess duties.
"Hey Tsuki, are you free after school?" Keiko asked.
It was now lunch time. The girls were outside, sitting down on the bench near their gym.
Keiko rubbed the sweat off her forehead as the sun relentlessly shined down upon her fair skin. Today was unbearably hot.
"Do you want to visit Yusuke today? I haven't gotten the chance to check up on him. I've been studying hard for the exams for the past three days. I'm getting a bit worried."
Tsuki dipped her silver spoon into her lunch bowl. She was having chicken curry and white rice for lunch.
"Sure, Keiko. Luckily for me, my crazy grandfather decided to give me the day off today."
She winced in pain as she took a bite of her food. Her muscles were still sore from yesterday's training.
"Is miko training really that extreme?" Keiko questioned as she observed Tsuki's body. She noticed her friend had a band-aid on her right cheek. Plus, some scars and scratches on her leg that Keiko had never seen before.
Tsuki scoffed at her comment. This pain was nothing. She had had worse.
"You can say that. So after school, we will head over to Yusuke's place?"
"Yes, we will walk there after class."
The rest of the evening came by fast as their classes were finally ending for the day.
Tsuki quickly gathered her books and put them inside her backpack. She was about to head over to Keiko's desk, but Takenaka-sensei had already beaten her to it.
"Yukimura, please come see me at my office. I would like to have a word with you."
Keiko nodded enthusiastically.
"Sure, sensei."
Tsuki waited outside as Keiko and Takenaka-sensei conversed. After about 15 minutes, Keiko finally opened the door.
"Thank you, sensei. I will!" Keiko said as she gave him a bow.
She closed the office door behind her and turned to Tsuki.
"Let's go."
Tsuki waited until they were outside the school building to finally speak.
"What did sensei say to you?"
Keiko sighed.
"He told me that our classmates talked to him. They have been worried about me. They think I'm going crazy over Yusuke's death."
Tsuki nodded. Who could blame them? Only a few people knew that Yusuke was still alive.
"I told him everything is fine. I'm just helping his mother out until she gets better. It has been a month since we have last spoken to Yusuke. I wonder when will he be back?"
"I don't even know," Tsuki replied. Yusuke's case was different. She didn't even know how long a soul can stay bonded to their body. "Right now, all we can do is make sure his body is safe when he returns."
Keiko smiled. "Yusuke must be working hard to get his soul back to his body."
Tsuki rubbed Keiko's shoulder.
"I am sure he's doing his best."
As they continued to stroll to Atsuko's apartment, a police car rode past them.
"Attention everyone in the 11th district! This is the Osaka police! We had two fires break out today in this hot weather. We believe it is arson. Please be cautious of any suspicious activities."
Keiko rolled her eyes. "There's always something going on in this neighborhood."
"Right," Tsuki muttered.
Once they made it to the apartment, Keiko knocked on the door.
"Atsuko!"
After patiently waiting for a bit, Keiko used a spare key to open the door.
Tsuki and Keiko quickly covered their nose and mouths. There was a strong odor coming from inside the apartment.
"Ugh, what is that smell?" Keiko said as she entered the building.
Tsuki pinched her nose. The odor smelled like strong alcohol and old garbage.
There was sake bottles, newspapers, and garbage scattered everywhere in the apartment.
"What happened here? I was only gone for three days!" Keiko groaned as she tossed the newspapers aside. She barely had room to stand in the living room.
Something doesn't feel right, Tsuki thought as she walked slowly and cautiously inside. She shivered as a light breeze made contact with her skin. It was cold. Too cold for a hot day.
Keiko picked up Atsuko's letter from the kitchen counter.
"Hey Keiko, I'm going to be gone for a while, please take care of Yusuke for me."
Tsuki rolled her eyes. She knew Atsuko wasn't the best mother. Yet leaving Yusuke alone while he was in a coma was ridiculous.
"Atsuko is so infuriating sometimes," Keiko screeched as she balled the paper up. "What kind of mother would leave their child like this?!"
Why didn't I sense it before? Tsuki thought as she continued to search for the evil aura.
Keiko stomped over to Yusuke's room. After a few failed attempts, Keiko was finally able to slide the door open. She gasped when she entered his room.
"This is terrible. Even Yusuke is buried in trash!"
Keiko quickly moved the trash away from Yusuke.
"This is ridiculous! I would nev-"
Bam! A bottle of spilled sake moved in front of Yusuke's room.
"Keiko, are you okay?" Tsuki yelled from the living room.
"Ow," Keiko groaned. "I'm okay, I just fell on top of Yusuke. I swear Atsuko is going to get it when she comes back."
After tuning out Keiko's ranting, Tsuki closed her eyes and concentrated. Where was the evil aura coming from? What could the aura want in-
Yusuke!
Tsuki quickly opened her eyes and headed towards the room.
"Keiko, don't-" Tsuki paused herself and blushed. She didn't expect to see this awkward scene.
Keiko was very close to Yusuke's face, her lips almost touching his. She quickly got up, startled.
"Y-yes, Tsuki?" Keiko asked, her face reddening from embarrassment.
Think Tsuki! What can you say to make her leave?
"Atsuko ran out of cleaning supplies. I didn't see any in the cabinets."
Keiko got up from her awkward position.
"Okay, we can go to the corner store and get some."
Tsuki raised her hands in the air.
"No!"
Keiko took a step back, surprised of her friend's sudden change of tone.
Tsuki rubbed the back of her head nervously as she laughed.
"I mean. No, I'll watch Yusuke and get started on cleaning his room. That way, it will be faster and proficient."
"Okay, I can do that," Keiko said as she exited out of the room. She didn't mind getting the cleaning supplies alone. However, Tsuki was acting strangely.
Keiko eyed her friend suspiciously. "Okay, I'll be right back."
Tsuki patiently waited for Keiko to grab her school bag and exited out the apartment. She knew her friend didn't believe her. Nevertheless, Tsuki was relieved to see her leave.
Once she heard the door close, Tsuki turned her attention back to the room.
"I know you are in here. Show yourself," She commanded as her bracelet transformed into her divine bells.
In the corner of Yusuke's room, a demon slowly became visible. He was crouching near the corner next to Yusuke's body.
He was a medium size goblin with black lizard skin. His ruby red eyes gave Tsuki a surprised look.
"How did you see me?" The demon asked in a raspy deep voice.
"It's not hard to sense a demon that's dying of hunger," Tsuki said, glaring at the creature. "Were you going to wait until the barrier was down? Or kill the priest that created it?"
The demon stared hungrily at Yusuke's body. He tried to touch the body with his crooked claws, but the barrier easily deflected his movement. He clutched his stomach as his belly began to rumble.
"His body...I must have it. That way, I can feed on whatever soul I want," the demon said as his mouth began to water.
Tsuki went into her fighting stance, pointing her divine bells at the creature.
"Sorry demon, but you came into the wrong house. You have two choices: leave or die."
The demon growled, snapping his razor sharp claws out, ready to attack her at any given moment.
"And if I don't obey your orders human, what are you going to do about it?"
A ball white energy formed around Tsuki's divine bell, traveling and swirling around Tsuki's body as she stood firm and ready for the demon. "Then you will die."
"Then you will die."
The demon laughed as if she told him a very funny joke.
"Well then I-"
He leaped forward, aiming his claws towards Tsuki's head.
"Choose to feed!"
The demon gasped when his claws touched her clear barrier.
"Vanish!" Tsuki yelled. A shock of white spiritual energy shot out of her divine bells, hitting the demon in his belly.
The demon screamed as the spiritual electricity continued to fry him. He instantly fell down on the wooden floor, his body was shaking uncontrollably.
"Argh, you bitch. I had a plan, but you ruined it!" The demon screamed as he coughed out black blood. He glared at Tsuki with hatred and disgust.
His skin began to change color. Instead of midnight black, he was now fiery red. He gave Tsuki a wicked smile.
"If I can't have his body, then no one can!"
Before Tsuki could react, the demon's body exploded. Balls of fire rapidly spread throughout the room, two of them hitting Tsuki's right arm and side rib. She fell down instantly.
After a few seconds of catching her breath, Tsuki slowly got up from the impact. Fortunately for her, the barrier help deflect most of the demon's attack. There were some burn marks on her hand and wrist, but she would live.
She turned to Yusuke. There were a few spots of fire spreading through Yusuke's cover.
Tsuki quickly took the covers off. She sighed in relief that Yusuke's body was saved. Thankfully, the barrier helped protect his body.
As the fire continued to spread, black smoke began to fill the room.
Tsuki took a deep breath. One thing she remembered in fire safety, she had to avoid breathing in too much smoke. Smoke kills more people than the actual fire.
To prevent smoke inhalation, Tsuki ripped out her shoulder sleeve and covered the cloth with her mouth and nose. She used the bed sheets to cover Yusuke's body.
Yusuke's room didn't have any windows. The only option for Tsuki to do was to find an escape route into the living room.
Without too much effort, Tsuki was able to pick Yusuke up and put his upper body on top of her right shoulder.
Tsuki was 5'2. Even though Yusuke was taller than Tsuki, her height gave them an advantage to stay clear from the smoke for a while.
"Tsuki!" said a familiar scared voice.
Yusuke flew into the room. Botan right behind him.
"Yusuke!" Tsuki muffled. If she wasn't stuck in a fire, she would definitely be happier to see him.
"What happened?!"
"Some fire demon tried to take over your body. I stopped him, but he exploded and put the apartment on fire. I'm taking your body and getting out of here."
Tsuki began to walk.
The black smoke continued to pour into the living room, collecting the trash that was on the floor.
As she stepped forward, the bottle of spilled sake exploded in front of Tsuki. She gasped as felt the sudden heat, backing away from the new fire.
"Argh, damn it."
Yusuke turned to Botan.
"Botan, can't I get inside my body now?!"
Botan frantically shook her head. "It's not the right time to be in your body Yusuke. We have to call for help! How about Kuwabara?"
"By the time we find him, Tsuki and my body will be burnt to crisp!"
Yusuke turned to his friend.
"Tsuki, just leave my body. I can't have you die for my sake."
Tsuki smiled at Yusuke. It was too late to stop now.
"No, I can't do that Yusuke. I've made a promise that I would protect your body. I'll get you out of here."
Botan tugged Yusuke's sleeve. "Yusuke, we have to find help. Let's hurry."
Yusuke was torn. Either he left to look for help or wait for help to come. After contemplating, he decided to act on his own.
"I'm going to get some help!" Yusuke yelled as he and Botan flew up the ceiling. "Tsuki, don't die on me!"
I will try, Yusuke, Tsuki thought. The fire was getting worse.
The fire was getting worse. As long as Yusuke and her stayed in this tight, they would be stuck in this fire with no way out.
Tsuki walked into the living room, sidestepping the fire from the sake bottle.
She heard a cracking sound before a wooden plank collapsed behind her. She didn't have the choice but to go forward now.
"Tsuki!"
Tsuki gasped. The familiar voice was coming from the front door.
"Keiko, stay back!"
"Tsuki! I have Kuwabara with me. We are coming in!"
"Keiko, don't it's…" Tsuki coughed hard. Her lungs felt like they were on fire.
As she closed her mouth, her head became dizzy. Tsuki wobbled as she knelt down on the ground. The temperature continued to rise as sweat began to pour down her face and body.
Tsuki almost jolted when a hand touched her shoulder.
Keiko knelt right in front of Tsuki. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," Tsuki said, looking at Keiko's worried eyes.
"I can't believe that arsonist came into this apartment! This is unbelievable!"
Tsuki didn't say anything. It was better for them to believe that.
Kuwabara picked Yusuke up, carrying him on his back.
"Urameshi, you are actually alive? How can this be?"
Keiko gave Tsuki some support as they both stood up.
"Now is not the time Kuwabara. We should get out of here now."
The fire was spreading faster. The blaze began to circle around them as they scurried to the exit door. As they made their way through the hot living room, they gasped. The exit was blocked.
Kuwabara growled. "Oh no. Now what?"
Tsuki closed her eyes she couldn't die like this. She wouldn't. Tsuki and her friends were going to survive.
Her bracelet began to glow.
Before she can even use her power, she felt a strong and powerful breeze.
A gush of wind went past them and push the fire away, creating an opening to the front door.
Kuwabara stared in amazement.
"It's a miracle!"
Tsuki smiled. "No, it's Yusuke."
She didn't know how Yusuke did it, but she was grateful for his help.
The fire barely touched them as they hurried through the path.
Kuwabara kicked the front door open.
A crowd of scared and worried adults, anxiously waiting for them.
"Oh my goodness, are you okay?"
"They are just kids. Somebody, please call the ambulance!"
Just in time, a fire truck parked in front of the apartment. The crowd began to focus their attention on the truck.
"Finally, the fire truck is here!"
"Hey, there's kids that need help!"
As the crowd was occupied, Kuwabara, Keiko, and Tsuki scurried away.
"We should go. We don't need too much attention right now."
Keiko nodded in agreement.
"Where are we taking Yusuke's body?"
"He can come over to my house." Kuwabara offered. "I'm sure my parents won't mind. It's only a few blocks down from here."
Seeing that they didn't have any other options, the girls agreed.
"Let's go, Kuwabara."
"Follow me."
Kuwabara ran in front, while Tsuki and Keiko followed right behind him.
"We are here!" Kuwabara huffed as he took a breather. All that fast running while carrying an unconscious body made him tired. "Keiko, can you please get the keys out of my pants pocket?"
"Sure."
Surprisingly, Kuwabara's house was clean and tidy. The house had an inviting, friendly, and cozy atmosphere.
"My parents are still at work. They should be home by tonight."
As they made it to the living room, Kuwabara laid Yusuke's body on the couch.
"Thanks, Kuwabara."
"No worries. I owe Urameshi one anyway."
Tsuki smiled. She didn't know Kuwabara personally. However, he seemed like a cool guy. She was also thankful for him helping Keiko get away from those street punks two weeks ago.
"Sister, I'm home! I brought company!"
A tall and slender woman in her early twenties entered the living room.
She was wearing a white long sleeve button up shirt with blue jeans. Her brown hair was long and straight.
The young woman's brown eyes stared at her brother, giving him a bored and curious expression.
Tsuki blinked twice. Kuwabara's sister was pretty.
"You brought an unconscious body of a young boy and two girls that look like they have been through the hell of fire. Kazuma, what did you do?"
"I didn't do nothing!"
Kuwabara's sister turned to the girls.
"Hello, girls. My name is Shizuru Kuwabara. If my idiot brother did any harm to you, please let me know so I can pulverize him."
"Ah! Stop that! Let me explain!"
After Kuwabara's explanation, his sister calmed down.
"I see," Shizuru said as she lit up her cigarette. "I understand now."
"Gah, mom and dad said no smoking in the house!"
"Calm your nerves, you idiot. I was heading outside. Girls, after I'm done, we can head to my room. I'm sure you ladies will like to have a nice hot shower. Kazu, take care of Yusuke. Make sure he's comfortable."
"Why do I have to do everything?!"
"One second. You are almost done," Shizuru said as she held Tsuki's hair in a tight bun. "I just need to add one more thing."
After Keiko and Tsuki took a relaxing hot shower, Shizuru offered to do their hair.
She grabbed the two red chopsticks from her vanity dresser, wrapping them around Tsuki's black hair.
Shizuru smiled. "Why, you look so cute."
Tsuki looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was in a low swirl bun. The chopsticks were wrapped and horizontally placed in the bun.
"Oh Tsuki, you look so cute!" Keiko complimented as she exited out the bathroom. Thanks to Shizuru, Keiko's hair was now in a lovely pixie cut. She was wearing a long sleeve brown dress and a street jacket.
"Thanks, Keiko. I'm really digging that outfit."
"I like yours too. It definitely gives you a classy and sensual look."
Tsuki was wearing a long sleeve white sweater with high waisted jeans.
Shizuru smiled at the girls as she put another cigarette in her mouth. "That's my present to you guys."
"Thank you so much, Shizuru."
"Anytime, you girls been through enough already."
Kuwabara knocked and entered the room. He was now dressed in a plain white shirt and sweatpants. He had a phone in his hand.
"Hey sis, mom said to start prepping for dinner."
"Kazu, how do they look?"
Kuwabara dropped the phone. His mouth was wide open at the girls' new makeover.
"Heh, heh, heh, you ladies look so pretty!" He gushed.
"Hey, quit drooling you pervert!" Shizuru yelled. She smiled at the girls. "Do you want to stay for dinner?"
"No thank you. I've told my parents I would be home before they closed the restaurant."
"Yeah, my grandfather is waiting for me back at the shrine."
"Okay, we will walk you out."
Once they had made it outside, Tsuki and Keiko bowed.
"Thank you for allowing Yusuke to spend the night at your house,"
"No worries. We'll take good care of him," Kuwabara said with a grin. "Just let me know when his mother gets back from her trip."
Shizuru stepped forward as she stared at the night sky. "Huh, interesting."
"Is something wrong Shizuru?" Keiko asked.
"This is the second time I have seen this boy near our house," Shizuru said as she pointed straight up. "I noticed him earlier today when I was smoking a cigarette. Looks like he's just making sure you girls are okay."
Kuwabara stepped in front of his sister.
"You see Urameshi? No fair sis! Tell him I want a rematch when he comes back to his body!"
Tsuki turned around. Yusuke was floating right above them. He smiled and gave Tsuki a thumbs up.
Shizuru smiled at the ghost boy.
"He seems like a cool guy. I know he's going to protect you girls from any harm. Goodnight girls. Be safe."
"Thank you!"
"Tsuki, I just want to say thank you for protecting Yusuke's body from the fire," Keiko said as they walked the dark streets. "If you weren't there, who knows what would have happened to Yusuke."
Tsuki blushed while she gave Keiko a sincere look.
"Thank you, Keiko, for coming to get me."
Keiko leaned to her friend's shoulder.
"Of course. No matter what happens Tsuki, I will always be there for you."
Tsuki heart skipped a beat. She felt a very warm and lovely sensation that flowed throughout her body. Keiko words meant a lot to her.
"Me too, Keiko," Tsuki said. She meant it.
"How's your hand?"
Tsuki looked at her wrist that was covered tightly in white bandages.
"It stings a little but I should be fine by tomorrow."
"Good! Shizuru is so cool. She's like the older sister I never had," Keiko said as they continued to walk the silent night.
"Right? She really did a great job on your hairstyle, Keiko. You look so womanly," Tsuki complimented.
She was even digging her own look. No wonder Shizuru was a beautician.
Keiko blushed as she lightly touched a strand of her brown hair.
"You think so?"
Tsuki grinned.
"I am sure Yusuke will love it when he sees you."
Keiko blushed.
"T-tsuki!"
"Don't hide from me. I saw what you were doing in his room," Tsuki teased. "What would have happened if I didn't stop you?"
"Ss-stop girl!"
They both laughed, hugging each other as they continued to walk to their destination.