“I’ve yet to determine if this demon is either clever for choosing the only hut around as a base to conduct her treachery, or brazen for desecrating a place of rest for the pious.”
“Jiro-sama, what are you doing here?” Tried as he might, Akira failed to hide the growing fear in his chest.
“Making certain that you don’t do anything foolish.” With a few long strides, Priest Jiro caught up with Akira, placed his free hand on his shoulder with a solid grip, and commanded, “Step aside.”
“Jiro-sama?” Truthfully, Akira didn’t need to ask the dedicated old man what he was up to. He just didn’t want to believe that it was happening.
Without returning his gaze, Priest Jiro confirmed Akira’s fears by proclaiming, “It’s time to rid these mountains of this fiend.”
Akira was stuck in what he felt was the biggest bind of his life. Should he beg the priest to spare this innocent woman and end up losing her forever? Should he simply allow the old man to do his wont and become the cause of her demise? Either option was not a good one in his mind, especially the latter of the two. Just as Priest Jiro put his hand on the front door, a final, desperate and even more unsavory option came to mind, but with any luck the least it would accomplish was spare the life of the woman he loved.
Grabbing Priest Jiro’s hand before he could slide the door back, Akira said, “Wait Jiro-sama, you haven’t asked me a very important question yet.”
Slightly annoyed and interested at the same time, Priest Jiro asked, “Alright, what is it?”
Wearing a false smile, Akira answered, “You haven’t asked me if I’ve decided on whom to ask to marry yet.”
Now it was Priest Jiro’s turn to halt in his tracks. “Oh? Well, don’t keep me in suspense Akira-san. Who is it?”
Swallowing hard, Akira said, “The morning after I get back home, I’m going to ask Yuri-chan to become my bride.”
Grinning wide, Priest Jiro exclaimed, “Ah, I knew there was something between you two! I can’t wait to see the look on your parent’s faces when they hear the news. And I’m sure Yuri-chan will be immensely pleased too,” he added with a wink.
“Yes, I’m sure they will.” Akira felt sick to his stomach. Every word this Priest said felt like knives digging into his heart, and sooner or later he knew that it was going to be ripped to shreds from the assault.
“Well young man, I suggest you get going home then. There’s plenty of daylight still, so you should be able to get home just before dark.”
“But what about you?”
Becoming grave once more, Priest Jiro said, “I still have a yuki-onna to deal with. With any luck, I should be right behind you soon enough.”
Without hesitation, Akira stated, “That won’t be necessary Jiro-sama.”
“And why is that?”
“Because a yuki-onna doesn’t live here.” Cutting off Priest Jiro before he could question him, Akira confessed, “Truthfully Jiro-sama, this hut is occasionally used by a kind, traveling woman. This same woman aided me three years ago, and I was hoping to come and see her again today.”
