1. Strange Behaviour

It was already dark outside. Only a few humans were still on the streets, mostly people who didn't have a reason to go home and get some sleep. But unknown to them, there were other creatures there at that time of day. Creatures, one only heard of in tales in their childhood. Yokai. Normaly there won't be any incidents between humans and yokai here in Ukiyoe town, because there was one special family which was in control of the life in the shadow, the Nura Gumi. But today wasn't normal, there where more strange activities from yokai which doesn't belong to one family of the Nura Gumi Alliance. That was the reason why he was there tonight together with his 'teacher'.

"Hey come on Itaku. If we don't hurry the fun will be gone and you will be stuck with me in that sticky room back in the main house.", shouted a young boy or should I say a young yokai with long hair, white on top and black at the bottom, and crimson eyes. He wore a traditional black kimono covered by a dark blue cloak, his sword Nenekirimaru by his waist.

"I still don't get it. Why am I supposed to follow you around when you do your duty as the Sandaime? I was only supposed to teach you how to fully get control over your fear.", his 'teacher', a boy with dark and lighter brown hair and brown eyes said. He wore a red headband, black trousers, white shirt and a blue cloak, his weapons, sickles, at his back.

"Oh come on. I know you like some action, don't you? And we still got time before Seimei returns from hell so don't worry about my training.", the other teen said.

The boy who's named Itaku sighed in defeat. After all he had to follow what the Shodaime said that were his orders from Akagappa, the leader of Tono village. As he followed his 'student' towards the district they were informed about he could feel that something unexpected will happen.


As both of them arrived at the location, they were supposed to help the yokai of Nura Gumi against some other yokai who attacked humans without knowing that they were in Nura Gumi's territory. But all they saw were crumbled parts of nearby buildings, fallen garbage cans and beaten up yokai from both sides, yokai who belonged to Nura Gumi and those who doesn't. But the most strange thing was the only person who was still standing, was a human, moreover a girl at least fifteen years old.

As she realized that the two of them had arrived she let go of the yokai that she still held onto. Said yokai was the leader of the foreign yokai who attacked humans. Rikuo and Itaku stared in disbelieve at the scene that was shown in front of them.

"What happened here?", Rikuo asked no one in particular.

The girl who only looked at the newcomers grinned and said something ridiculous to their ears.

"I beat them up."

Rikuo stared at her and saw some splashes of blood on her cheek. Itaku who wasn't used to see humans among yokai was even more surprised when he realized that what she said was true.

"Why did you do this?", he asked sternly.

Her dark gaze wandered from Rikuo to Itaku who shivered a bit when he saw that a human can be so frightful.

"They started it. I didn't want to beat them up but they just didn't stop to attack me and when even more of them came I had enough.", she explained in a monotonous voice. She then turned around and started to walk away.

"Hey!...", Itaku started to shout in her direction but was cut off by Rikuo who gestured to let it drop.

"She's a human. Even if she had done this, we're not going to start a fight with her.", he explained. After the decision the Sandaime has declared, they both helped the yokai from Nura Gumi and tied up the others. Soon they were finished and returned to the main house after treating the wounded and checked that they would be fine on their own.


"Welcome back, Sandaime." Rikuo was greeted at the entrance by the guards standing there. "Yo. How's it been here?", he asked them.

"Nothing suspicious.", they replied.

Rikuo and Itaku entered the house and walked towards the dojo beneath the living area.

"Back to training, Rikuo.", Itaku exclaimed as they both entered said dojo.


Soon the sun rised and Rikuo turned to his human form and Itaku to his weasel form.

"Let's take a break about 5 minutes.", the weasel yokai said before stepping out of the room. Rikuo was left there alone and thought about what had happened the night before.

'It's strange. I always thought that human were weaker than yokai. How did that girl last night beat up all those yokai on her own?'

While thinking about this, he didn't realize that his grandfather, Nurarihyon, had entered through the shoji door.

"What are you thinking about Rikuo?", he asked his grandson who appeared to be deep in thoughts.

At the sudden voice appearing behind him Rikuo turned around to look at the small figure of his grandfather.

"Nothing in particular. Itaku and I just strumbeled across a human who beat up a bunch of yokai and I was thinking if that would even be possible for a normal human.", he explained. His grandfather seemed to think about what he just said because his left hand where resting under his chin in a thinking position.

"I don't think that it is not possible but not usual of course. If there really was such a human, he must be really skilled in combat.", he said with his hand still attached to his chin.

"But it really is strange. During my life I never have met a human like that. Maybe you should look for that human and tell him not to do such reckless things. Even if he could beat up a few smaller yokais if it comes to yokai like our family's generals he wouldn't stand a chance.", he said again before turning to the door.

Rikuo was again left alone in the dojo and thought about his grandfathers words when Tsurara entered the dojo and exclaimed that if he didn't hurry up he would be late for school. After hearing that he stood up, ran to his room, changed into his school uniform and left for school forgetting to tell Itaku about his leave.

Meanwhile Itaku was standing at the door of an empty dojo with a vein popped out on his forehead. 'Rikuo~ Where the hell did you run off to?', he thought angrily.