Author's note : Okay, here is my first fanfic for Nurarihyon no Mago. Beware of the warnings.

Summary : Curse was cast on Nurarihyon's descendants. When the border between blood and soul was crushed, will it bring happiness? Or... will it end up with another tragedy?

Pairing : Night!Rikuo x Day!Rikuo, onesided!Rihan x OC, Rihan x Yamabuki, Nurarihyon x Youhime.

Warning : incest, BL (boy's love), violence, blood, OC (two of them), AR (alternate reality : Rihan's not dead, Nurarihyon doesn't age - just like Gyuuki, Yamabuki isn't used as Hagoromo Gitsune's host, Rikuo and Rikuou is a different person, etc )

Disclaimer : Nurarihyon no Mago belongs to their respectful owners, I'm just borrowing them and added up a few of my own character to make this fanfic.


It's not that I want to return to those days

I'm searching for the sky I have lost


Fire. It felt so hot against his skin…

Screams of anguish pained his ears…

Helpless shouts calling his name…

A little hand was outstretched towards him, struggling to reach him. Dark chocolate eyes filled with unshed tears stared at him in fear and hope…

"Rikuou onii-sama!" A scream, a plea, which calls his name…

He shouts back with the same desperation as the little boy, with sort dual colored hair of brown and black, is engulfed in flames. Forever disappearing from his life and forever haunting him in his dreams with unbearable sadness and regret…


Curse of Love

Nurarihyon no Mago

- = - Prologue - = -

"Haunting Dreams of Regret"

by Heartless Lotus


"RIKUO!"

Blood-red crimson eyes shoot open in panic, a hand outstretched to catch the lingering shadow of a dream–he will never call it a nightmare. A dream about his brother will never become a nightmare, no matter how much it tears his heart into pieces. His breathing is labored, as if he had just seriously battled with his father or grandfather. It took him a while to recognize everything around him; the same roof, the same tatami floor, everything was in order and nothing had changed…except two things.

One, he's been unable to feel anything heartily. And two, he lost his stepmother and… his little brother.

Nura Rikuou, at the age of eighteen, is the sole candidate as the Sandaime of the Nura Gumi. As the grandson of the legendary Nurarihyon and the son of the famous Nura Rihan, he lives up to the expectations of the many youkai who serve under him. He's handsome, strong, charismatic, smart, and anything else you can think of. Women and men, old and young, strong and weak…everyone respects and fears him. Not once would anyone even dare to defy him after he has made a decision, and there is no one that has ever defeated him, except, for both his father and grandfather.

Although, he had everything that others would kill to have, he has never truly been happy; not since he lost his little brother ten years ago in the fire that burned down the Nura Gumi's household. Since then, his sleep hasn't been haunted by dreams.

No matter how fast he ran, no matter how hard he tried to catch that hand…in the end, he would never be able to catch it. Even after he yelled that name, countlessly, until his throat was parched; even after his body became so exhausted that all he wanted to do was stop running. But he couldn't. He couldn't forsake that hand that desperately needed his help. He wanted to kiss the tears away from those pretty colored eyes. He wanted to protect that person. Oh, how he so desperately wanted to protect that one person. The one person, whom he considers his most treasured and precious being.

He covered his eyes with the back of his hand. He knew that his little brother was still alive, somewhere, waiting for him to find him and bring him back home, where he belongs.

'Or,' he chuckled ironically to himself, 'maybe that's just my wishful thinking. I just refuse to accept the fact that he has truly left me…'

But, even after knowing that, he still couldn't stop clinging to that one single thread of hope. Hope, that someday, he will be reunited with his little brother, the one who understands him better than anyone else. Even if by clinging to that hope, he has slowly closed his heart off and shattered it into pieces. His heart, piece by piece, has been devoured by an endless black abyss, until he, himself became nothing more than a heartless youkai.

"Rikuou-sama? Are you awake?" The feminine voice of his attendant shook him out of his melancholic thoughts.

Rikuou picked himself up, off the floor and his bedding and answered his attendant's question, "I am…Yuki-Onna. Come in."

Yuki-Onna, one of his most trusted attendants–who has been taking care of him since he was a mere child–could not help but blush at the sight of her master's appearance. Still clad in a white sleeping yukata, the man with long dual colored hair of silver and black, looked as gorgeous as ever. Honestly, all of the Nura men are lady-killers. It should be a sin for them to be so deliciously handsome and charismatic.

"Tsurara? How long do you intend to keep staring at my face?" Rikuou asked with a teasing smirk gracing his lips. This made the snow girl's pale face to turn a crimson color, and he swore he could see steam coming from her head.

Tsurara began to babble, obviously having a difficult time speaking normally, after being caught ogling her master. "Ni-ni-nidaime wants to have a wo-word with you! He-he-he is waiting in the meeting room with Shodaime…!"

"Oyaji? What does he want from me this time?" Rikuou stood up, and Tsurara handed him his usual black kimono, blue haori, and his zōri. She then immediately excused herself from Rikuou's presence, so that he would be unable to tease her anymore if she were to stay and watch him change.


- = - . . . - = -


Karasu-Tengu announced his arrival; although, Rikuou preferred to slide the door open and rudely sit down, like he normally does. He is sure that both his father and grandfather wouldn't mind, since they are not that different.

"Rikuou-sama has arrived." The little black tengu slid the shoji door open for him. He walked in and sat down, not too far from where his father and grandfather were seated. He took out his sake cup and allowed Kubinashi to pour him some sake. Kubinashi and some other attendants excused themselves, leaving only the three Nura and Karasu Tengu in that room.

"So," Rikuou sipped his sake, "what is it this time Oyaji, Jiji?"

Nura Rihan, the famous second leader of the Nura Gumi and Rikuou's father, only smirked as if hiding something good. "I think you'll be happy to hear this son."

"This will make you the youngest to take over as well." Nurarihyon, the legendary youkai who defeated the immortal Hagoromo Gitsune alone spoke up as he drank his sake. A similar smirk, as the one his son wore, graced his features.

Tsurara–who has just come in to serve more sake–felt as if she were about to faint at any given moment; in all honesty, a room filled with three Nura men was very dangerous for any woman.

There was Nurarihyon, who had long dual-colored hair of pale gold and black and bright yellow eyes, black markings that surrounded the lower half of his eyes. He was wearing a black kimono with a red haori draped around his shoulders, and his zōri. Three was two-tailed, three eyed wolf draped on his shoulders over his read haori.

Then there was Nura Rihan, with his long black hair protruding from the back, like his father and son. Unlike his father, Rihan had his semi-wavy hair in a ponytail. His kept his right eye closed, but his other amber eye gave off a warm feeling and a mischievous look. He was wearing a green and black stripped kimono and zōri, a white cloth was draped over his shoulders in a similar fashion as his father, except for the wolf.

"Tsurara." The three Nura men teasingly speak the Yuki-Onna's name. "You're staring at us as if we were delicacies you wish to devour."

Blushing redder than a tomato, the Yuki-Onna ran away from the room in complete embarrassment; leaving behind ice blocks that emerged from her tears. The three Nura men shivered as the cold air breezed around the room after she left.

"Teasing Tsurara aside," Rikuou spoke, hiding his arms inside his sleeves, waiting for the cold air to warm up, "what is it already? You're making me curious."

"It's about your succession to the Nura's leadership." Rihan explained, sighing at the cold air. "Man, she's just like Setsura."

"Setsura was far worse than this." The eldest Nura chuckled, seemingly not affected at all by the cold air.

"Wait, what?" Rikuou asked surprised, completely ignoring Nurarihyon's comment. "You mean…you're going to officially make me the Sandaime?"

Rihan smiled as he drank his cold sake. "Well, I'm going to retire early. I'm going to spend the rest of my life with my beloved wife peacefully."

"We haven't told anyone yet, but we'll make a formal declaration soon—" Nurarihyon was cut off when Rikuou suddenly stood up from his seat.

"I refuse."

Both of the Nura me were surprised, although deep down they knew that the third heir would not accept their decision. In indignation, Rikuou walked outside of the room, at Karasu-Tengu's shocked question he turned around.

"Bu-but…Rikuou-sama! Why?"

"You know why." Rikuou closed the sliding door and made his way to the garden where his favorite Sakura tree–in full bloom–was located.

"Ri-Rikuou-sama…!" Karasu-Tengu was about to demand an explanation as the door shut but Rihan stopped him.

"Let him be, Karasu-Tengu."

Nurarihyon poured more sake for himself; drinking it all immediately. "No one here dealt with the loss of the war, ten years ago, more than him."

"…I want to believe that they're still alive." Rihan added with overwhelming sadness in his eye, "But it seems that everyone has already given up hope…secretly in their hearts…everyone, but him."

Karasu-Tengu flew back to them, pouring more sake into their empty sake cups. "We've been searching as hard as we can… but we couldn't find the two of them. After we found that pool of blood and Wakana-sama's hairpin, we couldn't help but think that—"

"Enough, Karasu-Tengu." Rihan stood up, "I have a promise with Otome. I will see the both of you later."

After Rihan left, Nurarihyon sighed. "The situation was never truly the same after the war ten years ago. Everyone has their own regrets."


- = - . . . - = -


Rikuou sat on the tree branch, watching the sleeping town below him quietly. He ground his teeth in annoyance and called to one of the youkai that roamed the house. At his call, a large serpent youkai with a human face – whom Rikuou always uses for transportation – appeared before him.

Rikuou jumped on top of the youkai and sat on its head, as they flew off into the night sky towards the town. As they traveled, they hid themselves amongst the dark clouds so that no humans would be able to see them.

Rikuou was searching for something that had been lost for ten years. He searched for it endlessly, never giving up a sliver of hope. He knew; deep down in his heart and soul that what he was searching for–his brother–was alive. His heart and soul longed for his little brother's warmth…nothing could ever replace them.

"I'll wait, no matter how many years pass by…" Rikuou whispered so faintly that the harsh wind made it unable for anyone to hear his sentence, except for himself.

"Rikuo…"


- = - . . . - = -


Far, far away from Ukiyoe town… a thirteen year old boy ran into his home, a bright smile stretching his lips. "Tadaima, okaa-sama!"

"Okaeri, my son." A gentle, feminine voice greeted him from inside, "how was your school day?"

"It was fine, nothing unordinary happened." The boy placed his shoes in the small rack near the entrance. "What are we having for dinner today?"

"A steak," his mother answered in a slightly embarrassed tone.

The boy perked up a bit. "Okaa-sama's steak is the best! Oh, I'll make some pudding; my friend taught me how to make it earlier today! I've even bought the ingredients, please wait a bit!"

"Alright."

The woman watched as the boy with dual colored hair of brown and black entered the kitchen. However, something captured her attention outside, and she looked out her window. She stared at nothing in particular for a while, seemly not noticing the youkai that looked like a bird's skeleton, hovering just around the corner. Her attention was soon brought back to the kitchen when she heard her son had starting to cook.

"Rikuo, do you need my assistance?" She walked into the kitchen, as the youkai watched her and her son's every move.

.

.

.

To be Continued...


Dictionary :

1) Rikuou: in Kanji, it is written 'Riku' and 'Ou' from kanji Ōsama, meaning 'King'.

2) Rikuo: in Kanji, it is written 'Riku' and 'O' from kanji Ōki, meaning 'Big'. Both of this nickname are created by Lunaryu for her fanfic 'My Brother is Oyabun'. I've gained her permission to use them on this fanfic.

3) tatami : a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. Traditionally made of rice straw to form the core (though nowadays sometimes the core is composed of compressed wood chip boards or polystyrene foam), with a covering of woven soft rush (igusa) straw, tatami are made in standard sizes, with the length exactly twice the width. Usually, on the long sides, they have edging (heri) of brocade or plain cloth, although some tatami have no edging.

4) Gumi : a group, alliances, clan, etc.

5) youkai : Japanese devil, monster, being that crawled out in night to scare human. There are those which are harmful, and there are those which are actually helpful.

6) Yuki-Onna : a type of youkai which looks like a pretty woman with hair as black as midnight and skin as pale as snow. They freeze many human that come to the mountains at night, or if they take a liking in them, they will kiss them. A kiss from a Yuki-Onna will turn that human into a ice statue, forever taken captive by the Yuki-Onna.

7) yukata : a casual kimono made of kotton.

8) kimono : a traditional clothes in Japanese made from silk.

9) zōri : flat and thonged Japanese sandals made of rice straw or other plant fibers, cloth, lacquered wood, leather, rubber, or—increasingly—synthetic materials.

10) haori : a hip- or thigh-length kimono-like jacket, which adds formality to an outfit.

11) Shodaime, Nidaime, Sandaime : the First, the Second, the Third. Usually refers to which generation of leadership.

12) Nurarihyon : a youkai which comes to people's house when it's empty to drink their tea or eat their food. Nurarihyon looks like an elderly man and act as if they owned the house, which makes it hard to exorcise them out. He's said to be the Supreme Commander of Hundreds Demons of Night Parade.

13) Karasu Tengu : the tengu were originally thought to take the forms of birds of prey, and they are traditionally depicted with both human and avian characteristics. The earliest tengu were pictured with beaks, but this feature has often been humanized as an unnaturally long nose, which today is practically the tengu's defining characteristic in the popular imagination.

14) Tadaima, Okaeri : "I'm home" and "Welcome back"

15) Oyaji : a somehow rude way to call a father; 'old man'.

16) Jiji : a somehow rude way to call a grandfather; 'old gramps'.

17) Okaa-sama : one of the most formal way to call a mother.