Author's Note: This is the second attempt at writing a story, and therefore, it will still be horrible like the first, as it takes time for improvement. Apologies are given in advance for the quality of the work and the change in the characters, if any occurs. Apologies are also given for the long time spent of the cake making in the story, and for the fact that several phrases and ideas are repeated by the characters.
Warning: Characters might be–or will be–out of character, and apologies are given for this in advance.
Disclaimer: Nurarihyon no Mago and the characters in this story belong to their respectful owner as does the song, "Sparky Start." The recipe for Strawberry Cream Cake also belongs to its respective owner, whoever that may be.
A Promise to the Moon
….
….
Sparky Start
The Nura household was full of activity in the early hours of the morning, the youkai running around the house, brooms, clothing, dishes, and other things in their hands. The young Yuki-Onna was among the youkai, her hands full with laundry that needed to be hung outside to dry. She did not understand why the youkai were in such a rush today of all days, there were no meetings with the clans, nor were the other lords arriving today to visit Master Nurarihyon or the third heir. The young blue haired woman stopped in her tracks and starred up at the sky, admiring the beautiful Sakura tree that reminded her so dearly of her young master. She smiled at it and watched as the wind rustled its branches. Closing her eyes she took in a deep breath and continued walking, a cheerful smile plastered on her charming face. She began humming a sweet tune avoiding the racing youkai that ran out of rooms here and there, as well as the random youkai that seemed to pop up, out of nowhere in front of her. She continued walking, laughing at their antics, smiling the entire time.
"Ohayou gozaimasu, Yuki-Onna." The small youkai chorused as she passed them by, she stopped, carefully balancing the basket in her hands in one arm, she waved and smiled kindly, responding sweetly to their greeting.
"Ohayou gozaimasu minna-san." The other youkai smiled at her and watched her walk away carrying the heavy basket in her arms.
"She is unlike any Yuki-Onna I have seen in my life, she smiles and laughs with us. Her disposition is so unlike Setsura-san's, and she is always happy to help out in anything, whether it is in battle or cleaning and cooking." One of the small youkai commented as they watched her happily walk away to continue her task.
"Dokan desu, she would make any man a wonderful wife, she is charming, and in time she will grow in beauty, far surpassing her mother's." Another youkai commented and looked at its companion who only nodded at what he said, they remained in silence watching her until she vanished around a corner, and then, remembering what they were doing, quickly rushed off in the opposite direction.
…..
Mukaikaze muku fuku issun saki yosou mo dekinai
The way the headwind blows cannot predict anything.
…..
While they ran off to complete their assignment, Yuki-Onna continued with hers, reaching her destination quickly she then set out in hanging the clothing on the ropes that were tied to the various poles in the area. She continued hanging the clothing on the ropes, smiling the entire time, and when she finished she looked up at the sky, clasped her hands behind her back, and smiled happily. "Today will be a wonderful and peaceful day, the wind is calm, and the sunlight is warm, all in all a beautiful day." She closed her eyes as the wind blew in her direction and played with her hair, caressing it with a lover's touch, and once it passed she opened her eyes and her hair fell back covering the back of her beautiful white kimono. She picked up the empty basket by her side and made her way back to the laundry room where she deposited the basket in its usual location and then went to the kitchen, to see if she could help in any way.
When she reached the kitchen and slid the fusuma open, she was greeted with a warm breeze, and the delicious smell of food cooking. She watched the small youkai scurry around the kitchen and she walked over to the beautiful woman that was cutting several vegetables and begging a brown haired woman to leave the dishes and the cooking to her. Yuki-Onna laughed and when her presence and laugh registered in the minds of the kitchen's inhabitants, she was greeted by a cheerful and boisterous "Ohayou gozaimasu" and two exclamations of "Yuki-Onna" as she entered and slid the screen shut.
"Ohayou gozaimasu minna-san, Wakana-sama, Kejorou-san." She waved to emphasize her cheerful greeting; she then turned to the two prominent figures in the kitchen. "Ano…Wakana-sama, Kejorou-san, I was wondering if you would like my assistance in anything. I have finished the laundry and have set it out to dry, and therefore have nothing to do as of the moment. I was hoping there was a task either of you could give me to keep me busy."
Wakana Nura, the third heir's mother and the wife of the deceased Rihan Nura, smiled at the adorable and helpful Yuki-Onna, and brought her hand to her mouth to disguise her giggles. "Well, Yuki-Onna, there is nothing here in the kitchen that needs any immediate attention or that I cannot deal with, but I am sure that Wakana-san could use your help in cleaning the washitsu. Is that not so Wakana-san?" Kejorou glanced at the aforementioned woman and smiled at her.
Wakana removed her hand from her mouth and looked from Kejorou to Yuki-Onna clueless, until she realized what she had said. She clapped her hands together and smiled, laughing as she responded. "Ah, hai, I will be needing some assistance with that matter. The washitsu is far too large for me to clean by myself. I hope you do not mind Yuki-Onna, I need that part of the house to be cleaned before our guests arrive."
Yuki-Onna smiled at Wakana's antics, and became instantly curious at the mention of guests. She knew, that there were no meetings with the clans today, none of the lords were arriving today, not even Zen, who arrived at the most unexpected of times. She knew he would have announced his arrival the moment he arrived, as he preferred to make an entrance when he came, the youkai rushing about trying to get his accommodations ready. Therefore, if none of the lords were visiting today and there were no meetings, who would these guests be that the youkai were in such a hurry to get the house cleaned and organized? Were the guests important members of other clans that wished to join forces with the Nura clan? On the other hand, was there going to be a celebration in the household because of some event that has happened in the past few months? Alternatively, could it be that it was someone's birthday today? However, whose birthday would it be that she was not informed? Was it Rikuo-sama's? Or Wakana-sama's? Maybe Nurarihyon-sama's?
"Is there a reason why the washitsu needs to be cleaned today of all days? Are there guests coming over for the evening?" The confused Yuki-Onna voiced one of her questions as she looked from both women, awaiting an answer. She received an answer, but it was far too vague for her liking.
"Hai, you could say that Yuki-chan." Wakana smiled and walked over to her; grabbing her wrist, she opened the fusuma and led her outside. "Come now Yuki-chan, let us equip ourselves for our job at hand, and clean the washitsu for today's special event." She wanted to ask more questions and get an actual answer out of Wakana that would satisfy her curiosity but she knew better. Despite her deeply rooted curiosity she decided not to question Wakana any further, and she knew that Kejorou or the others would not tell her either. If Waka's Haha-ue refused to tell her directly, the others would follow her example and avoid her questions as best they could. She sighed in defeat and left with Wakana, walking along the rouka until they reached a small room where they kept all the cleaning supplies. Wakana released her wrist and began looking through the cleaning materials, handing her several buckets, which would be filled with clean water, some towels that they could use to clean the floors of the washitsu and some bottles filled with strong smelling liquids, which surprisingly did not smell as bad as she thought they would.
"Now where in the world is that bottle…Last time I used it, I put it somewhere around here…" The Yuki-Onna looked at Wakana, as she placed the materials inside the buckets and then placed those down on the rouka. "Is it this bottle? Iie, it is not…Where could it be, it is not like it sprouted legs and ran away…Ah, I found it." Wakana exclaimed and then pulled out of the room, closing the door to it, and turning around to face the still confused Yuki-Onna, holding a bottle in her hands full of a strange transparent and colorless liquid, that looked much like water in color. "Well, now that we have everything we need to clean, why do we not make our way to the washitsu and start cleaning it. The faster we get there the quicker we will be able to finish our cleaning duties and then help out with the cooking." Wakana smiled at the young female youkai in front of her, the Yuki-Onna looked at her for a fraction of a second and then smiled a bright smile, nodding her head in agreement. Wakana's smile grew in length and she then turned around and started walking to the washitsu practically beaming, with a bucket in each hand, the young Yuki-Onna following her with another two buckets in her possession.
They reached the washitsu fairly quick, with no distractions and slid open the fusuma placing their buckets on the floor and observing the large area they would have to clean. "Yuki-chan you take the left and I will take the right."
"Hai Wakana-sama." The Yuki-Onna chimed as she picked up her two buckets and entered the room; she quickly took her place and began to empty out the contents in the buckets. Once they were empty, she stepped out and filled them with water, quickly returning with two buckets full of water, which she preceded to place by her supplies. She then tied the sleeves of her kimono behind her back and clipped her hair and bangs, to keep them from getting wet while she cleaned. She grabbed a towel and dipped it into the bucket that contained the water and soap, and began her cleaning process. Wakana did the same, the two silently working on the washitsu, a peaceful air surrounding them, as they diligently cleaned the place. It took them an hour to finish the washitsu; they had managed to make the floor spotless, and the beams and flooring shined brightly under the light streaming through the opened windows, allowing the smell of the liquids they used to escape the room.
"Wakana-sama, shall we return the supplies to their respectful place, and then make our way to the kitchen and help Kejorou-san with the cooking for our guests?" The Yuki-Onna asked as she picked up the materials they had used and looked in the other woman's direction, awaiting her reply.
"Hai that would be best. If Kejorou-chan gets more help she will get the cooking done in time, before our honored guest and the other guests arrive." With that, both women turned away from the cleaned room and put their materials away, walking briskly to the kitchen where they were once more greeted by Kejorou and the other youkai.
"Kejorou-san, is there anything we could help you with here in the kitchen?" The Yuki-Onna asked as she observed the little youkai running around the place carrying ingredients and bowls from place to place. She quickly stooped down and caught a small youkai who happened to trip in his rush to get some ingredients to the other side of the room. "Daijoubu desu ka?" She asked as she helped him regain his balance, the small youkai looked up at her and smiled nodding his head in the positive, "That is good to hear." She smiled once more and then stood up, looking at Kejorou expectantly, who had yet to answer her previous question.
"Ah, hai, I need someone to bake the cake and cut the fruits that will be placed on top of the cake, and someone who can make the frosting as the cake bakes." She responded as she stopped cutting the vegetables that she placed in the soup.
"Well, Yuki-chan and I can help with that." Wakana responded as she smiled and clapped her hands happily, Kejorou stopped, dropped her knife on the table, and the other youkai stopped in their tracks. Kejorou laughed nervously at Wakana's words, she knew that with her assisting her, they would not get much done, except maybe the complete destruction of the plates in the kitchen.
"Arigatou Wakana-san, but I think Rikuo-sama wanted to see you, and talk to you about today's event. He seemed frustrated and a little nervous; from the way he was acting when he came in here."
"Oh my," she slapped her cheek lightly, "well then, I must go and find Rikuo and help him with his problems. Thank you for telling me Kejorou-chan." She smiled and then turned around, opening the door; however, before stepping out of the kitchen, she turned around, smiled at the people, and left with parting words. "Take care of yourself Yuki-chan, and do not freeze the food, today is a very special day and Rikuo wants everything to be perfect, without a hitch in his plans. Ja ne minna-san."
Tsurara looked at the closed door and Wakana's words kept repeating in her head, Don't freeze the food….a very special day….Rikuo wants everything to be perfect. She turned to Kejorou with a questioning look, hoping that the courtesan could answer her question; however, all she received was a weak smile and a shake of the head. She sighed and walked up to the small table in the corner, near the newly acquired oven and stove, and tied her kimono sleeves behind her back, sweeping her hair to the side before producing a snow clip from her kimono sleeves and clipping her hair to her head, to avoid it getting caught in the mixture. Time to get to work. With a determined look on her features she gathered the strawberries into a large clear bowl and went to rinse them, picking out the several bruised and rotten ones. Once she accomplished this, she walked back to her small table, and but the bowl aside, grabbing a mixing bowl and a mixing spoon to stir her mixture with once all the ingredients were gathered.
She began drawing all the other necessary ingredients checking off the materials she needed in her head. Let me see, I have butter for greasing the pans, and I have two bags of flour, one for flouring the pan. Do I have the box of strawberry mix and a can of strawberry nectar? She placed the butter next to the pan as well as the flour, and she then walked over to the small cupboards to the side of where she stood, searching for said ingredients. Ah, there they are. So, now that I have those two items, what else do I need to make Strawberry Cream Cake? I already have all the eggs I will need, although I only need three of them, but it never hurts to have extras around, in case I need to make another cake. What else do I need for the cake….Oh, I know, I almost forgot about the vegetable oil. Okay, so that is all I need for the cake, but now for the frosting. I already have the strawberries needed for this cake, and there are more where they came from, and Wakana-sama has already provided the strawberry jam….that still needs to be divided, and the container of strawberry frosting, so I have everything that is needed, now all I have to do is to prepare it.
"Okay, now to make the cake." She began to butter the pan, when she was suddenly hit with the realization that she still needed to preheat the oven. She was glad that Wakana-sama had taught her how to work those terrible new devices in the kitchen a few weeks after they had acquired them from the shop. She walked over to the oven and placed the dial at 350° Fahrenheit, having completed that task, she walked back to her station. Once she finished buttering and flouring two of the rounded cake pans, she had taken out from the cupboards, she then proceeded to mix the three eggs (which she almost dropped), the oil, and the nectar into a large bowl that she was handed, by one of the small youkai running around the kitchen.
Still terrified of using the hand mixer, she mixed the contents in the bowl herself, wishing she was as powerful as Aotabou so that she could have finished the job at a much faster pace. She continued to mix the ingredients in the bowl, her hand aching from all the force she used, she continued with her task, despite the pain, until everything in bowl was well blended. She made sure there were no air bubbles or lumps in the mixture, attacking them at once when she spotted them. She then took the bowl and brought it over to the already prepared pans, dividing the batter into the two pans evenly and with a grace that was rarely seen in her while in the kitchen. She then asked two of the small youkai watching her bake if they could assist her. When they nodded their heads enthusiastically, she gave them one of the pans and took the other in her hand, walking over to the small oven. Opening the door, she placed her pan inside and then turned to the small youkai and took the second pan off their hands, thanking them as she placed it alongside its brethren. She then closed the door and stood up, checking the time on the clock and determining when she would have to take it out in the next twenty-five or so minutes, depending on how well it cooked.
While she waited for the cake to bake she returned to her table and grabbed the bowl containing the strawberries and picked up one of the knives that was handed to her by Kejorou as she passed by her table to check on her progress. "You sure do work fast Tsurara-chan." Said girl looked at her and smiled while she received the knife.
"Arigatou Kejorou-san, but it is only because Waka wants his plans–whatever they may be for–to be accomplished with success, and not failure, that I am working so diligently and quickly."
"Such a dedicated woman you are Tsurara-chan, you would make a great wife to our Master. I can imagine it now, the two of you happy and smiling as the days pass you by, and then you holding your first-born son in your arms as you surprise Master. And the child will be so adorable, he will have your hair color, but his father's looks, and then t–" Kejorou's speech was interrupted by the blushing snow woman, as she screamed her name out in embarrassment.
"KEJOROU-SAN!" She blushed a dark crimson red that contrasted greatly with her hair color and her personality as an ice woman. She then proceeded to pout, her blush lessening slightly as she calmed down. "Mou, you should not teases me so, Waka does not see me in that light." She turned her gaze to her hands that held the knife, "I am only a servant who must protect her master, and besides, he has someone else who holds a position in his heart," she looked out the window that was positioned above the sink, "and it is not I who holds that position." She turned to Kejorou, a small smile on her lips, "I am fine with only serving to protect Waka and his friends, it does not matter if he does not see me as a woman romantically, as long as I can protect him and serve him, I am content with my place in his Hyakki."
"Tsurara." Kejorou looked at the young snow woman; she knew how much the small Yuki-Onna loved her master. Her love went beyond the love a servant feels for their master, she loved him with all her heart, as a woman does a man. She knew that the young Yuki-Onna tried her hardest to express her love, while also hiding it. She was a sweet girl, easily giving her heart out to others whom her master adored, although Kana was an exception. She easily wore her heart on her sleeve and she feared that her heart would be broken if the young woman continued on the road she chose for herself. She sighed solemnly and patted the young girls head affectionately, "If you say so," with a smile directed at the young girl, she turned back to her duties and left the girl's side.
The young snow woman clutched the knife to her chest, willing her thoughts on the conversation to go away. Once they left she turned back to her work, glancing at the clock, there were still twenty-two minutes before she had to check on the cake. She grabbed the cutting board that was on the drying wrack near the sink and grabbed two cups as she returned to her table. Placing her newly acquired items on the table, she placed the cutting board in front of her and grabbed several strawberries placing them in two neat rows along the board. She picked one up and began to thinly slice them, she did this to every strawberry until she had enough to fill one and one-fourth cups, the extra strawberries she had on the board she returned to the bowl.
Looking at the time, she noticed that she had left the cake in the oven five minutes longer than necessary, quickly running to the oven, she opened it up, and tried to grab the pans, only to retract her hand away when her skin encountered the hot surface. She hissed in pain as her skin burned and then grabbed a small towel on the side of the counter and drew out one of the pans. Grabbing a small knife, she stuck it into the cake, and then withdrew it, checking to see if it came out clean. When she saw it was clean she did the same to the other one; seeing the same results, she took them out and walked them over to her table, one by one, placing them on the rack Kejorou had left on the table when she had first entered the kitchen. She left the cakes on the cooling rack and walked over to the sink where she grabbed another knife and brought it back to the table. Knowing she had to wait another twenty or so minutes for the cake to cool, she began to take her used bowls and pans to the sink, planning to wash them to keep her busy. When she finished washing them, she walked back to her table and inverted the cakes to allow them to cool completely. She then returned to the sink and dried the dishes while also putting them away. She then turned back to her table where she once more grabbed the knife and serrated it. Once it was serrated, she cut each of the cakes in half, horizontally, forming four layers for the cake.
She then proceeded to place one of cake layers on the serving platter she had prepared, with the side that was cut facing down; she then spread a third of the cup of jam over the top part of the layer. She spread a fourth of the sliced strawberries on the jam layer and then placed the second layer on top of the first. She repeated this with the third layer and fourth layer. When she placed the fourth layer on top of the third layer, she then grabbed the container of frosting and spread it evenly over the sides and the top of the cake, coating the sides completely. She then arranged the remaining strawberries in the cup on the top of the cake, making it into a flower pattern with two whole strawberries at the top, and two small leaves on either side of the strawberries. Having completed her cake, she placed it on a glass container and put it in the refrigerator, allowing it to refrigerate until the time came to serve it to the guests. The placed the remaining strawberries in the clear bowl they came from originally, and then placed a plastic wrap over it, to keep the strawberries clean.
"Kejorou-san, the cake is complete. Is there anything else that I can assist you with?" The Yuki-Onna turned to face the beautiful courtesan who stopped cooking, and turned to her with a look of concentration as she looked around the kitchen.
"Not that I know of…I think we have everything done for the occasion, you can go rest or do whatever you want to do. Thanks for all of your assistance Tsurara, you were a big help to us all." She smiled at the young girl, who gave her a bright smile in return.
"Arigatou Kejorou-san. Well, then I shall be off." With that, she turned around and opened the fusuma before waving farewell to the other occupants of the room. Once the door was closed she set off to go and visit Kappa, or play with the smaller children like youkai that were always seeking a companion to play with. She happily walked out of the manor house and stepped outside into the gardens where she was greeted with a bright sunlight and the gentle rustling of the leaves as the wind blew through the leaves, gently creating a soothing atmosphere in the area.
...
~Two Hours Later~
….
Isshin nu sunaru kimi ni tsuitete
I wholeheartedly follow you
…
She had tried visiting Kappa, but he had been nowhere in sight and her only other option was to seek out the children like youkai. However, even after finding them they refused to play, running around in a flurry of movements as they too assisted in the preparations of the celebration to take place in the manor. So, having no one to occupy her time, she returned to her room, where she locked herself up and sat on the wooden floor, starring out of the room, up at the sky, observing the way the clouds lazily moved across it. This was what she had done the past two hours, and had continued to do as time slowly trickled by.
So, when she heard her Master's voice calling out her name, she was shocked out of her musings, and in a fit of clumsiness she ended up colliding with the floor when she tried to get up off of the floor. "Yuki-Onna? Where are you?" The young woman tried to move from her embarrassing position as she heard her master's footsteps nearing her vicinity. "Yuki-Onna!"
Finally untangling her legs from her kimono, she stood up and ran to her room's entrance and yanked the screen open, completely taking her master by surprise, as he jumped in the air when he heard the resounding slam of wood meeting wood. "Gomennasai Waka, do you need my assistance in anything?" She smiled gently at her master, as she observed the light tint to his cheeks.
"Hai, I need you to….well….I was hoping….that you could…help me entertain Kana-chan when she arrives here. The preparations for her birthday are still not finished, and I was told that you had nothing to do." He paused and gave her a nervous smile before continuing with his request, "And so, I was hoping that you would be willing to take on this task. Would you be willing to do so?" He gave her one of his charming smiles, and while the young woman remained still and her face set in her sweet smile, she felt her heart sink at the mention of the human girl.
Waka, all of this was for her? All of this hard work was for Ienaga? Looking at the young man in front of her she knew that she could not deny him his wish, for she existed to serve him, and if she refused this task, what kind of servant would she be. "Of course Master, I would be….delighted to assist you with….Ienaga-san." Her words became lighter at the end of her statement, she felt that her heart was filled with lead, but nonetheless she smiled at her master and accepted her task like a proper servant.
"Arigatou Yuki-Onna." He smiled again. "She will be arriving in a few minutes, so if you could perhaps meet her at the entrance and bring her here to your room, I would be indebted to you. Please keep her company and I will come get her when everything is done." She nodded at his statement and waited for him to continue, before she left to complete her….punishment, because that was what it seemed like. "Once again Yuki-Onna, arigatou from the bottom of my heart. Ja ne." He turned around and disappeared around a corner, leaving the poor ice maiden to her bitter thoughts.
"Waka…" She whispered his title so lovingly, her tone filled with a deep longing. She sighed and then took off, heading to the entrance gates, to her ultimate demise. She quickly arrived and took her post by one of the entrance doors, her hair blowing slightly with the wind, her kimono sleeves whispering with the breeze. She remained in her post, lost in thought, while still looking out for the girl she was supposed to entertain. She did not have to wait much longer as the girl who filled her master's thoughts came into view. Ienaga, Kana slowly walked to the entrance doors, looking timid and pretty in her puffy pink dress that reached her knees, a small flower clipped to her hair.
"Ienaga….-san." At the frosty voice, Kana came to a stop before the entrance and looked around until she spotted, a young girl, in a beautiful white kimono, dark blue hair, and the most guarded amber eyes she had ever seen.
"Konnichiwa." She nervously responded to the woman, who only nodded in her direction and then turned around, her kimono and hair moving along with her quick movements.
"Follow me, Ienaga-san, the young master wishes for you to wait for him, as he has still not completed his task."
"O-of co-ourse." She watched as the woman began to walk away, and she too followed after her when she noticed that she had already passed the gates. They continued to walk in silence as they moved through the house; the silence was uncomfortable for the human girl. "Ano, would you be a youkai by any chance….?"
Tsurara stopped for a split second and tensed up, before forcing herself to relax and nod in the positive to the girl's question. "A-ah, I see….Would you….happen to know where Rikuo-kun is by any chance?" Kana nervously inquired, trying to break the awkward silence between the two.
"The young master did not inform me of where he would be at the time of your arrival. But once he has completed his task, you will be able to see him."
"A-ah, okay then…."
They soon arrived at a set of shoji doors and the blue haired woman slid the screen open, revealing an average sized room, bare of objects, except for a futon that was tucked in the corner of the room, and a small vanity to the side. "If you would, sit for the moment and we shall wait for the young master to come and retrieve you." The woman inclined her head to a pillow in front of a small coffee table she had failed to notice when she walked in filled with warm tea and her favourite treats. It was probably the work of Rikuo; he always knew how to please her, even back then when they were children.
"Sure." She walked to the small table and sat down, observing the treats spread out before her. She smiled when she noticed a small slip of paper addressed to her from Rikuo. She giggled when she looked at it and smiled
...
Kana-chan,
I hope you forgive me for not greeting you when you came to my home. I had to attend to other matters, so I hope you can overlook my absence. But I will soon return and we can hang out. For the mean time I hope you can get along with Yuki-Onna and spend time with her. I knew you would want company while you wait for me, and she is the first person that came to mind when I thought of how lonely you would be. I also left these sweets for you knowing how you love sweets, I hope this can make up for my absence and I hope that you and Yuki-Onna get along while I'm gone. She's a really sweet girl, and I'm sure you'll become great friends.
Rikuo Nura
"Rikuo-kun is such a sweet person. He is always thinking of others." She smiled and looked at the young woman whom Rikuo referred to as Yuki-Onna. Tsurara glanced at the human girl from the corner of her eye, as she heard her giggle and press the small note to her chest as she spoke of Rikuo. Seeing as the other girl in the room did not respond to her statement, Kana looked at the sweets and grabbed a snack, munching on the sweet dessert while rereading the letter Rikuo wrote to her, a dreamy look on her countenance. The Yuki-Onna looked away from her–remaining standing, keeping her distance from the girl and the table–and to the opened door that allowed her to view the sky, and once more her thoughts were consumed by Rikuo.
…
Ichigo no ichinen no ta kara wo mezashite
Aiming for the treasures of my once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
….
Rikuo-sama, you truly care for her don't you? Every act you have made has been for her hasn't it? You unlocked your youkai abilities when she was in danger those many years ago. You accepted the position of the Sandaime of the Nura Gumi because you wanted to protect her out of all of your friends. You fight to protect her most, out of all the humans in Ukiyoe. I can never hope to hold a candle to her when it comes to you or your heart. Am I pathetic for thinking that I hold some chance with you? To think that at any moment you could look at me the way you look at her? Am I that pathetic that I hope this to be true, that I dream of this when I sleep, and I imagine you looking at me with the same affection every time I look at you and you smile at her? Rikuo-sama…Why is it that I fell in love with you? Why is it that I am such a failure, that I am so weak, that even a human can best me? She can protect you better than I can, and she has no powers whatsoever. She controls you and she is only human, I am a youkai….and yet…I have no power over anyone, or you, the man I would give my life for in order to make his dreams come true.
Tsurara was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard footsteps thudding on the floor and her screen flew open, revealing a slightly panting Rikuo to both female occupants of the room. Kana jumped at the sight of her beloved friend and ran to him to embrace him. "Rikuo-kun. I am so glad to see you."
"Kana-chan." The young man whispered her name as he held her closer to his body, hoping to make the moment last longer, before he pushed away to look at his friend, whom he observed looked absolutely stunning in her pink dress. "You look….beautiful Kana-chan."
The girl blushed and thanked him before they both walked out of the room together, completely forgetting about the other presence in the room that held such sorrow in her heart as she observed them. She sighed and closed her eyes as she held her chest and sunk to the ground, her legs unable to hold her up. She couldn't help but laugh at herself as the scene replayed in her mind. How many times had she dreamt of him holding her as he did the human? How many times had she dreamt of him gazing at her the same way he did the human, with such a loving and tender look in his eyes?
…..
Ashita kuruette mo tomaranai yume no dato nari
Even if tomorrow turns amiss, or if this really were just a dream.
Zenshin mikkou tabi wa itsudemo
Even if we put our hearts into a secretive journey…
…..
Her tears silently fell as she gazed at nothing in particular and delved deeper in her mind, her dreams playing out in her mind's eye. Scenes of Rikuo holding her hand when he was a child, as he pouted at her. The scene then changed to one of where he had held her to him, when she had become injured in one of their battles. She remembered feeling completely protected in his embrace despite the danger they were both in. Her heart had beat so loudly that she had feared he could hear it, and she had held onto his haori as he had tightened his hold on her. The scene then switched to one of where she stood in front of the Sakura tree her master loved so dearly, the moon at its peak, and then she released a gasp when she felt strong arms wrap around her waist loosely. She felt a masculine chest against her back, and could feel the warm breath on her neck and the arms tightened around her. She heard the male that held her chuckle before she felt him lay a kiss to the side of her neck, eliciting a soft gasp from her.
Tsurara shook her head, dispelling her visions and she looked down at her hands, her tears continuing to flow down her cheeks. "Will you ever love me as you do her? Will I ever hold a special place in your heart, like she does? Will you ever see me and not her?" She released a shaky sigh before hissing in anger, "Kami-sama I am a pathetic being. Weak. Pitiful. No wonder he will never look at me." A sob racked her frame, "Kami, how I want him to see only me."
She stood from her seated position and quickly wiped her tears, before once more taking a sigh to calm her frazzled nerves. "There is no point in me crying over spilt milk. I must be strong and assist the others in the celebration. It will make Waka happy, and that is all that matters."
She left her room and made her way the washitsu where she heard loud noises coming from, and observed from the opened doors as her master's friends all gathered together and sang happy birthday to Kana. Her master remained by her side, holding her hand as he watched her blow out her candles and smile at the others thanking them for coming. The Yuki-Onna decided she would rather not intrude on their celebrations and instead settled for observing them as they continued with their celebrations, from afar. She observed how Kana remained glued to her master's side, clinging to him and pouting every time he tried to remove her from him, when the others asked him for assistance to move things from one place to another. The girl was so clingy and her master still adored her. Had she been in her master's place she would have frozen the girl and been rid of her, but she was not her master and he was different. He was too kind to hurt anyone, especially his beloved Kana-chan.
The Yuki-Onna continued observing the events well into the night, a statue hidden in the darkness. All of the other humans had left and the only people remaining were her master and the Ienaga girl. She watched them step out of the washitsu and walk around the gardens near the Sakura tree. They laughed as they continued talking, and when they came to the tree, they both stopped before it and Rikuo caught a Sakura in his hands and glanced at the girl by his side. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her radiant smile that was directed at him, and only him. He observed her lips as they twisted into a smile, before parting to speak.
"Ano….Rikuo-kun, I hope you don't mind….but could I see your other half." She blushed as she looked at their entwined hands. "I wish to speak with him…and spend some time together. I hope you don't take it as an offense, but I would like to see him. Could you please do this for me, for my birthday?"
….
Zenshin zenrei ENGINE zenkai
With all my heart and soul, and my engine at full throttle,
Zettai kimi wo mamoru
I will definitely protect you,
…
Rikuo looked at her, his heart felt a pang when she mentioned wanting to see his other half. He wanted to tell her that he could not go through with her wish, but he could not deny her this, especially not today of all days. He smiled at her, and closed his eyes, concentrating on the youki of his other half. Once he felt it respond to him, he felt a heat course through his body and felt as his other subconscious took over his body as it changed. When he opened his eyes, he was looming over Kana, in his traditional clothing, and he watched as Kana smiled happily, a dark blush spreading across her cheeks. He observed as his night-self smirked at her and brought their hands up to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
"Konbanwa, Kana-chan." He purred as he continued to look at the dazed female his human-self seemed to adore so much. "To what do I owe this pleasure?" He gave her a winsome smile and watched as her blush darkened to a bright red.
"I….I….w-wan-anted to se-see you-u….Rikuo-kun." Kana looked at him and then avoided his eyes, thinking that if she looked at him any longer she would be lost in his red eyes that seemed to swallow her every time she looked into their depths. "S-Since it's my birthd-day and a-all-l."
Night Rikuo's smirk only grew in length at her last sentence. "I see. Then I must give you a gift for such a special occasion, ne?" With that said he placed the Sakura in his hand on her hair, and caressed her cheek lovingly, causing her to close her eyes at his tender attentions. He leaned down as he saw her close her eyes and he smirked as he heard the panicked voice of his other half.
W-what are you doing?
Relax Rikuo. Just sit back and observe. He quickly cut their mental connection and looked at the girl before him. He released a low chuckle and gave her a quick peck on the lips. Kana gasped as she felt soft lips on hers and opened her eyes when the sensation vanished as quickly as it had come. She glanced, dazed, at the Rikuo before her. He still had his confident smirk on his lips and his eyes held amusement as he looked at her. Kana couldn't help but blush even more at his attentions to her.
…..
Donna ni sukuwaru doushite mo
No matter how many times I have to save you.
Zettai nani ka nai sa
You won't have to worry about a thing.
Chikara wo gyutto sou wo
Cling tightly onto my strength.
….
Meanwhile, unknown to both, a Yuki-Onna looked on with hidden sorrow, her heart shattering as she observed her master kiss the human female. She had hoped that his other half did not hold any feelings for Ienaga. But it seemed that she was harshly mistaken, both halves of her master loved the girl and there was nothing she could do to change this fact. Her eyes filled with crystalline tears, but she refused to let them fall, she would no longer pine after her master, no, this night, this nightmare, proved to her that she had no hope with her master. And so, she would no longer hope in vain that her master would direct his feelings for the human towards her, no, no longer will she remain her weak hearted self. She will change; she will make sure that she can protect her master, and not become a burden to him. He will have enough on his plate protecting the human girl; he did not need another being to protect, another burden to add to his conscience. I will become strong for you Waka so that you may be able to protect the Nura Gumi, your precious loved ones…and Ienaga. I will assist you in this matter, even if it tears me apart.
"I promise Waka, that from this day on I will protect you and your precious people…..even if it means protecting Ienaga….I will make sure you never have to protect me. From this day forth I will protect everything you cherish with all of my power, even if it means death. I will make you proud to call me your servant, even if you never care for me the way I want you to care for me. You will be able to rely on me for strength and not the other way around." She slowly rose from her position and walked away leaving the two together, her heart still weeping from her wound. As she walked away from the heartbreaking scene, a tear fell from her cheek. I will hold these feelings forever in my heart. Never will I let them show through again. I will become a true Yuki-Onna and throw away all emotions that I have held in my heart for so long. I will become the embodiment of ice. I will no longer follow you Waka as a love sick puppy, no; I will follow you as a dedicated servant who only wants her master's safety and not his affection.
As the young Yuki-Onna made her resolve in the darkness of the night, the other two occupants of the garden remained in a blissful happiness. Kana was ecstatic. Rikuo-kun….Rikuo-kun kissed me. He kissed me. Does this mean that he loves me? Or was he teasing me? She looked up at the night form's face, and saw his smile. No, Rikuo-kun would never tease me like this, no matter which half of him is in control. He would never toy with another's emotions, he is not like other youkai, and he is kind and gentle. And he will always be that way. He will always be my Rikuo-kun. She smiled at him and tightened her hold on their entwined hands, and stepped closer to him, leaning against his frame. My Rikuo-kun…how I love you so dearly.
Rikuo, meanwhile, as Kana had been lost in thought had felt a youki in the vicinity that seemed familiar to him; it glided against his skin with a smooth silky texture, and left behind a chilling sensation on his skin, as if ice were forming on his body. It reminded him so much of Tsurara when she was upset or nervous, but he had not seen the beautiful Yuki-Onna for hours now. The last time he had seen Tsurara had been when his other half had requested that she keep Kana company while he completed his task. And now that he thought about it, when he had retrieved Kana he had not even bothered to see if she had kept Kana entertained, but he had no need to check. Tsurara was a devoted young girl and she would have completed her task without any complaints or complications. Nevertheless, it bothered him how he could brush her aside like a toy that had lost its value for a brand new toy. He had ignored her very presence when he had retrieved the human girl, and he felt horrible about his actions. She was loyal to him and did whatever he asked of her without question and then he goes and ignores her whenever Kana is around him. He understands that his human self loves the girl, but the boy's affections for the human cause him so much trouble. He suffers the impulses of going to her rescue or checking up on her whenever he takes over for his other half and the boy thinks of Kana. How much will this girl affect his life, his actions?
He tried to identify the youki but when he felt it brush against his youki, he felt an electric shock. The youki had attacked him! He had tried to identify the aura and it attacked him! Moreover, the attack was not one due to surprise or a reaction to his foreign youki. No, it was a response that was induced by the owner of said youki. Whoever the being was, they were furious and despairing from what he felt. The shock had felt like he was being consumed by fire on the outside and being frozen from the inside…and he could not shake off the feeling that this youki, this familiar youki, belonged to his dear Yuki-Onna, whom he had brushed aside not long ago. Could this truly be you Tsurara? Could you really react this way to my youki? Past experience tells me that you would not. So, why are you reacting to my youki this way? Could you be injured? Angry at someone? At me? Just as the thought of searching for her entered his mind, he felt a warm and feminine body pressed against his and arms encircling his waist, as Kana stepped closer to him. He looked at her, thoughts of Tsurara leaving as quickly as they had appeared, Tsurara's figure replaced by Kana's as she stood before him under the moon and the swirling Sakura petals. "Kana…" He whispered her name as she gazed so lovingly up at him, her eyes sparkling with a childish innocence that only she could ever hold (aside from Tsurara, who acted the part).
"Rikuo-kun…..arigatou gozaimasu for everything you have done for me. I am glad that you remembered my birthday and were willing to comply with my wishes to see your other half. I'm glad I was able to spend time with you, together, by ourselves. I am glad to know you Rikuo-kun. Arigatou gozaimasu Rikuo-kun, from the bottom of my heart." With that she leaned closer to him and tiptoed, placing her lips against his in a chaste and innocent kiss. "Osaki ni Rikuo-kun. I am glad to have spent today with you and everyone else." She turned and walked away from him, and then turned and whispered a cheerful goodbye as she ran out of the Nura household. He remained frozen in his spot as he watched her run off, and once his mind could function he ran after her. He could not possibly allow her to walk to her home alone at such a late hour and at such a dark time. By the time he had caught up to her he saw as she entered a car and, before closing the door, she waved at him and the car drove off, with her in it. She was heading back home to celebrate the rest of her birthday with her family.
"Ja ne, Kana-chan." He remained outside until the car drove beyond his range of sight, and with a quick glance at the stars that decorated the cobalt night; he turned around and returned to his favourite spot in his family's garden. His thoughts preoccupied by Kana, the problem of Tsurara's hostile youki forgotten, erased by the image of his beautiful brown haired angel.
~ ... ~ ... ~
She had felt as her master's youki washed over her own. She felt calmed when she felt it brush against hers so gently, with a lover's caress. However, remembering her resolve, she flared her own youki. Her anger and grief manifesting itself in her youki, and she felt as his retreated quickly from hers. She sighed in relief when she felt it vanish, but her heart pulsed with her pain, even now, without trying he was hurting her. She felt betrayed. She was furious and wanted nothing to do with him, but she was not stupid. She knew this was her fault, and that her anger was not directed at him, but at herself because of her moronic naïveté. She allowed herself to fall irrevocably in love with her master, her affections for him evolving from a sisterly love to those of a woman. She went from his caretaker to one of his pursuers. If she had not entertained romantic ideas of the two of them together, she knew this would not be happening but she was too naïve, too innocent in her ways. She never once thought that her master would never love her beyond a friend; she thought she had a chance of being with him, of besting the retched human girl who consumed his every thought and claimed his very heart.
Tears fell from her eyes as she ran to her room; she no longer cared if anyone saw her in her current state. All that she wanted at the moment was to be swallowed up and whisked away from this nightmare she lived constantly, day in and day out. Her tears blurred her vision and her very soul shook from the pain of her heartbreak, all she wanted was to run to her master and cry out her pain to him, but how could she do this if he was the cause of her pain. She could go to Kejorou but she did not want to see any of her friends in fear that they would relate her troubles and insecurities to her master. At a time like this she wished her mother were still alive, maybe Setsura would have been able to console her and help her with her heartbreak. However, her mother was not present in the world of the living, she died trying to protect her masters, and her heartbreak did not help her resolve in her last battle.
A pained laugh escaped her lips as she thought of her mother. "I'm so pathetic. Haha-ue went through the same experience, and I learned nothing from it. I lost her because of her grief, because of her heartache. Will I suffer the same fate as she did? Will I sacrifice my happiness for the happiness of my master?" A soft sob escaped her lips and she covered her mouth with her hands, as her tears continued to fall. Haha-ue, how I wish you could be here with me. I need your presence…I am too weak to deal with this on my own. I will never be able to suffer this in silence as you did. Why did we, and why do we, continue to suffer for our unrequited love? I miss the days where my only love for master was that of a devoted sister. Those days were carefree and I….I was able to protect master and watch over him without these retched emotions coming to the surface and controlling my every action. However….however, now he no longer needs me, I am another nuisance to him in battle. I am worthless as a being and as a servant.
By the time she reached her room, she was about ready to collapse. She quickly entered her room and leaned against the wall, sliding down its length as more tears fell and her body shook from the strength of her sobs. "Rikuo-sama…." She whispered his name with such longing and such grief that anyone listening to her cry would have shed tears. She curled into herself, bringing her knees up to her chest, clasping her hands together above her knees, and then laying her head on top of her clasped hands. "Someone, anyone, please…make it stop, end it. Take this unbearable pain away, remove my heart from my body, destroy my humanity," the word was hissed out in loathing, "and turn me into a true youkai. Just make it all disappear."
….
Omoikkiri suittan da
The world that has absorbed,
Hateshinai sekai
Resolution and taken no risks.
…..
The young female remained in her position, tears continuously flowing from her amber eyes, her body shaking with the pain. As her tears continued to flow, her emotions raw only thought continued to prevail in her consciousness: Alone. I have lost….I cannot hold a place in his heart, I can only have a position in his Hyakki, but one being alone dominates his heart. He loves her and will follow her no matter where she might be…whereas I…I will follow him to the ends of the earth; however, he will not follow me. Alone. That is all that I am. Just like Haha-ue, I will never receive the love of the one I desire most, but I will be strong and will remain by him until I meet my end.
In her mind, she can imagine him chasing after the human female, a smile adorning his aristocratic features, and in the meantime, she is left behind. She will run after him, her hands attempting to grasp at the small ribbons of sentiment that were once present when he was younger, and she was his attendant. He would smile at her, play mischievous deeds on others, and he would always reach out for her hand. Those were happier moments in her life, when she was truly needed, and not just a hindrance to him. As he continues to chase after the human female, she will be left behind, to pick up the pieces of a shattered illusion, to bury the memories of a child, and face the reality that the world is not built upon childish dreams and sentiments.
…..
STARS AND SPACE TIME TRIP!
Dounen kyou wo nozoku CHARISMA ikura agari
By peeking through the telescope, you will gain an insurmountable amount of charisma!
Furueru namida nami ni
As tears, continue to rain down as waves,
…..
However….that was back then right Waka? Before you met your human friends, you were never far from me, I would always be a step behind you, always running after you, but I would always catch you in the end. Yet, now….now, you no longer need me. You can protect yourself. You kept your promise to me. You did become a strong and charismatic leader who is able to protect those most precious to his heart. I cannot count the many times you have had to save me, but then again it was not just me whom you had to save, but others as well. You have always gone out of your way to protect your Hyakki, but it was not we who changed your mind and convinced you to become the leader of the Nura Gumi. Iie, it was neither the Ichidaime nor I; rather it was Ienaga, Kana. Your desire to protect her is what has led to the power you have attained today, she is your inspiration, your reason to fight, the catalyst to your rise in the world of youkai.
An involuntary gasp escaped her lips as her sobs continued to wrack through her body. Slowly, with what appeared much difficulty, she moved her head to the side, her cheek now resting on her clasped hands, and looked at the moon beyond the walls of the Nura mansion. The moon stood alone in the backdrop of the sky, a pale monolith that stood as the witness to her resolve. As she gazed at it, she could not help but give a bitter smile as she remembered her Haha-ue's words, back when she was still a child, as she gazed in wonder at the moon. Her tears grew in number, cascading down her pale cheeks in waves, as a childhood memory played out before her very eyes.
~ Flashback ~
"Haha-ue, why is the moon alone?" A small feminine voice speaks up in the darkness of the room, as she turns her curious eyes to her resting mother. The woman in question, slightly lifted her head to glance at her daughter, a small and pained smile gracing her lips as she beckoned her daughter to her side. The young girl, dressed in a pale white kimono brighter than the pale light of the moon, crawled forward towards the resting woman.
"Well, my dear musume, the reason why the moon is lonesome has to do with the story of Amaterasu-omikami and the Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto. You see, Amaterasu-omikami had sent Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto to represent her at a feast held by Uke Mochi, who was the goddess of food. Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto gladly accepted to represent his sister and attended the feast; however, Uke Mochi made the feast in the most vulgar of ways that repulsed Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto. Due to his disgust, Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto took the life of Uke Mochi and returned to Takamagahara, the Plain of Heaven, where he was greeted by the furious Amaterasu-omikami. She was enraged by his actions towards Uke Mochi that she refused to lay eyes on Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto and moved to another place in the skies; she no longer wanted to be near Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto and thus the moon and sun are never in one place at the same time."
Setsura looked at her daughter who was gazing at the moon in sadness. "Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto-sama must have felt so much pain Haha-ue." She turned to look at her mother, tears gracefully trailing down her cheeks, as she brought her hands to her eyes and rubbed at them. Setsura smiled at her daughter and brought her closer to her, slowly sitting up, wincing from the pain of her wounds, and clasped her daughter's hands, lowering them to her lap as she rubbed her tears away.
"Don't cry my little icicle." She leaned forward and placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead.
"Doushite desu ka? Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto-sama can never be with his sister. It is not fair. He can no longer see her because she was so angry with him and still does not want to look at him."
"That may be true, my sweet child, but I have yet to finish my tale." At her words, her daughter glanced at her, a pleading look in her eyes. She smiled and cupped her cheek as her voice rang out in the darkness of the room. "Tell me Tsurara, when you look at the sky in the morning light, do you not always see a white figure facing towards the sun?" She paused and watched as her daughter thought about the question and then slowly nodded her head. "You see that silent white figure, faded in its outline and color, is Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto. The sun faces away from the moon, but the moon watches after the sun, always accompanying it in the daylight hours. When night falls, the sun flees the skies to escape the domain claimed by the moon. The sun will never know that the moon is by its side during the day, protecting it as it turns its back to it. In addition, the moon will never be alone, as you see the stars are always present in the night sky even when they are hidden, they are a connection to the sun. They shine so brightly and keep the moon company. So in reality the moon is never alone, it will always have a companion to keep the loneliness at bay." She smiled gently at her daughter whose eyes were beginning to close, as her breathing began to slow.
…
NEVER STOP!
…
"So….Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto-sama….is never…..alone? He will…..always have…..company." She gave her mother a sleepy smile as she once more looked at the moon. "I….am glad…..Haha-ue?"
"Hai my dear."
"I want to make….a promise to you and…..Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto-sama."
"Of course my dear what is that promise?"
"Haha-ue….I promise that I will make you proud to have me as a daughter. I will protect those I love with all my power and….." A yawn broke her speech as she struggled to fight against the darkness that invaded her vision, as her body surrendered itself to sleep. "I promise that I will….keep Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto-sama company forever….I will never abandon him." Setsura watched as her daughter's breathing slowed down and she fell asleep, a smile painting her features in radiant light that was accompanied by the rays of the moon.
…
YOUR PACE sareta hoshi wa toki hanatsu tame
You were given your pace to release those stars!
Kimi to tabi ni deau
I will meet you amidst this journey
Tsuki ga asu e michibiku
Where the guidance of the moon takes you towards tomorrow!
…..
"You can never disappoint me Tsurara." She brushed away her bangs and placed another kiss on her daughter's forehead, as she placed her beside her on her futon. "I am glad you will keep him company. He has kept me company all these years, and has witnessed all of my heartbreak as Nurarihyon-sama took a lover. He has heard all of my pleas, seen all of the tears I have shed for a man who cannot love me as I love him." She glanced away from her daughter's slumbering face to the moon that stood, as a witness to her daughter's childish promise. "Just as my daughter has made a promise to you, I will make a request of her, under your light." She looked at her daughter once more, "If you fall in love with a man, my dear musume, and he does not return your feelings, surrender him. If he has another in his heart, lock away your sentiments for him. I do not want you to suffer the same pain as I, due to my unrequited love for Nurarihyon-sama. Please, do not allow your heart to be ripped away from you and trampled upon, as if it were nothing but dirt. Be strong, as I was not, and remember, even when I am gone, I will always be looking after you. I will be the essence of your power and I will ensure that your heart remains in tack despite everything that happens to you."
She stood up from her futon and covered her daughter in her blankets. Still kneeling beside her daughter's side, she reached into her sode and took out a gold dragon shaped bira-bira kanzashi, dusted in small particles of ice. She brought it to her lips and placed a kiss on it, before placing it in her daughter's small hands that tenderly held onto the delicate hair ornament. In her sleep, she remained oblivious to her Haha-ue's parting tears, as she walked out of her room, to join the Ichidaime's Hyakki Yako, as they set out to war.
...
~ End Flashback ~
...
"Haha-ue…that day….that very same day I lost you. You left me in the night, with a parting gift, and a heart-breaking tale. In my sleep-fogged mind, I heard your parting words, but I was so far gone in my sleep that I was unable to grasp the meaning of your words. If I had been awake I might have been able to stop you from leaving me, from going to the war that ripped you away from me." Her hands that had once been clasped above her knees, reached into her sode in a semblance of Setsura's actions those many years before, and pulled out the hair ornament left behind by Setsura as an heirloom.
In her trembling hands, the kanzashi tinkled, and shone under the light of the moon, that illuminated the ice particles on it, making them shine as if they were millions of stars on the dragon's body. She held it up to the moonlight and watched it continue to sparkle in an innocent fashion, and she could do nothing but smile as she held it towards the light.
"You were the heirloom left to me by my Haha-ue. You were an object that as a child I desired to hold in my hands so much, but that Haha-ue said that I was too young to understand your value. However, that day when you were left clasped in my hands, your value lost all of its meaning. You had no true value before, not in the way of which I thought. Iie, your value was beyond that of money. You held the memories of all those Haha-ue held dear to her. You were the constant companion to her as she fought in battles, you were witness to every pledge she made. You were a symbol that gave her light when she lost all hope." She gently caressed the dangling crystals that hung from it, as memories of her mother played in her mind.
"Now, you are a symbol for me. You represent the aspirations and despairs of my Haha-ue. You are the last connection that I have to her, and you are the gift that she left to me to ensure that I never lost faith in my life. She and I suffered and suffer from the same fate, but I will make sure that I make her proud and fight for my heart. I may not be able to hold the love I desire from the man I love, but I can ensure that my Haha-ue's wish to keep my heart intact will be accomplished. I will make sure that the journey I have embarked on will not end in tragedy as that of Haha-ue's. I know she would not desire the fate she received onto me. I will go at my own pace and make her proud. I will protect that which I cherish with all of my strength. Under the light of the moon and the protection of Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto-sama, I promise that from this day forth I will become stronger."
Yes, everyone's life is a journey, and each one of us has a certain pace in which we must take to reach our destination. Rikuo-sama has taken a different path than I and he has gotten so much further than I have on his journey. However, no matter how far ahead you are of me, I will meet you on your journey, and ensure that you reach your destination without fail. I will protect everything you cherish, because what you cherish is what I cherish, even if I have to learn how to cherish some of the things you love. With the moon as my witness I promise that I will never have you come to my rescue ever again, instead you will be able to rely on me wholeheartedly to protect those whom you wish to protect.
Even if you cannot love me Rikuo-sama, I will not pine after you as I have all these years. Even if you leave me behind, I will never be alone. Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto-sama and Haha-ue will always be with me. If I cannot become your sun, your light in the darkness, then I can become like the moon and watch over you silently, just like Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto-sama watches over Amaterasu-omikami.
….
YOUR PACE sareta hoshi wa toki hanatsu tame
You were given your pace to release those stars!
Kimi to tabi ni deau
I will meet you amidst this journey
Tsuki ga asu e michibiku
Where the guidance of the moon takes you towards tomorrow!
After having left Kana, Rikuo had made his way to his favourite Sakura no ki, and perched himself on its branches, gazing at the moon as it shone down on the world. He leaned back, rested his head on the bark of the tree, and fingered the silken petals, enjoying the texture and the smell that surrounded him. The entire night he remained in the tree, awake and alert for any danger in the town. While he remained tensed and ready for battle, the tree swayed with the caress of the wind as it passed through the branches and removed some of the blossoms from the branches. Airborne the blossoms floated on the wind, before landing on the smooth waters of the pond in the house, causing gentle ripples to break the surface, creating concentric circles.
The moon. Powerful and a symbol of light to all youkai, a symbol of power to me. During the day, I am sealed away, but at night, I reign supreme, I can do as I please and grow in power. Moreover, with the power I attained I am able to protect my Hyakki and those precious to me from harm. The moon is my source of power and the reason why I can protect everyone with all of my strength. I can protect Kana-chan from danger. A tender smile curved his lips as his thoughts drifted from power to his most precious person, Ienaga, Kana.
...
End Note: Apologies are made if Tsurara was out of character, but to serve the purpose of the story it was needed of her to be different from the Tsurara that is portrayed in the manga and anime. I am unsure of whether to leave this as a one-shot or make it into a multi-chaptered story. I would be happy to hear what others think of the story and whether I should end it here or continue it. Feedback would be helpful, and so would criticisms, as long as they are helpful and not just flames because those are annoying, as I am sure many authors agree. If any mistakes were made on my part, I would appreciated it if someone could point them out, we are all human and are prone to overlook our mistakes, especially when it comes to writing as we know what we want to say and tend to overlook the smallest of mistakes, while others notice it right away. Thank you for taking your time in reading this and I apologize for its length and constant repetitions.
Side Note: I still hate "Insert Horizontal Line" button. I loathe you with a passion.
Tsukuyomu
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Glossary of Japanese Terms:
Youkai – Demon
Yuki-Onna – Snow Woman
Ohayou gozaimasu – Good morning; another form of greeting
Minna-san – Everyone
Dokan desu – I agree
Ano – Typically used as a way to say excuse me (from what I have read).
Hai – Yes; a sign of confirmation
Waka – Master (a title always used by Tsurara to refer to Rikuo)
Haha-ue – Mother (one's own); unlike Okaa-san, this is a much formal way of addressing one's mother.
Iie – No; a negative affirmation
"Daijoubu desu ka?" – Are all right?
Fusuma – Vertical, rectangular panels that can slide from side to side to redefine spaces within a room or act as doors
Shōji – is a door, window, or room divider consisting of translucent paper over a frame of wood, which holds together a lattice of wood or bamboo.
Washitsu – Usually have fusuma rather than hinged doors between rooms. They may have shōji and, if the particular room is meant to serve as a reception room for guests, it may have a tokonoma (alcove for decorative items). For my story, I altered several aspects of the washitsu to fit the needs of the events in the story.
Rouka – Wooden floored passages that are similar to hallways and are partitioned by shōji, sliding and portable doors that are also made from paper and wood.
Genkan – Traditional Japanese entryway areas, the primary function of genkan is for the removal of shoes before entering the main part of the house or building.
Ja ne – Farwell/Good bye; used when bidding farewell to someone you will not see afterwards and is used between friends; if you wish to bid goodbye to a person but plan on seeing them later, the proper term used should be "Ja, mata," which means "See you later/Until later." You may also use "Dewa mata" but is an informal way of saying goodbye, unlike the formal way, "Sayonara."
Arigatou – Thank you.
Mou – Not too sure, what this means, but I just assign it to a certain sound a character makes when they are frustrated or pouting.
Hyakki (Yako) – Night Parade of One Hundred Demons
Ichidaime – First Head
Sandaime – Third Head
Gomennasai– I apologize; Excuse me; (I am) Sorry
Konnichiwa – Greetings; Hello; Hi
Nura Gumi – Nura Clan
Haori – is a hip or thigh-length kimono-like jacket that adds formality to an outfit.
Kami (sama) – God – Japanese term used to refer to deities in general
Konbanwa – Good evening
Ne – A suffix added at the end of a sentence, usually to make it appear to be a question.
Youki – The aura or energy that a demon possesses.
Osaki ni – Farewell/Good night – it is used when one is leaving the presence of another and is another means of saying good night, however if one is going to bed and wishes to say goodnight, the proper term would be "Oyasuminasai."
Musume – Daughter (one's own)
Amaterasu-omikami – Is the Goddess of the Sun in Shinto and Japanese Mythology.
Tsukuyomi-no-mikoto (-sama) – Is the God of the Moon in Shinto and Japanese Mythology.
Takamagahara – Is the Plain of High Heaven and is a place in Japanese mythology. In Shinto, Takama-ga-hara(orTakama no Hara) is the dwelling place of the kami. It is believed to be connected to the Earth by the bridge Ama-no uki-hashi (the "Floating Bridge of Heaven").
Uke Mochi – Is the Goddess of Food in Japanese Mythology.
"Doushite desu ka?" – Why?
Sode– Kimono sleeve
Bira-bira – Are kanzashi composed of metal strips attached by rings to the body of the ornament so that they move independently, pleasantly tinkling (which is sometimes accentuated by additional bells) or long chains of silk flowers called shidare.
Kanzashi – are hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles
Sakura no ki – Sakura tree
-chan – is a diminutive suffix; it expresses that the speaker finds a person endearing. In general, chan is used, but is not limited to, babies, young children, grandparents, and teenage girls. It may also be used towards cute animals, lovers, close friends, any youthful woman, or even between friends. It can be used for males in some circumstances, but in general, this use is rather condescending or intimate. Using chan with a superior's name is considered condescending and rude.
-san – is the most commonplace honorific, and is a title of respect typically used between equals of any age. Although the closest analog in English are the honorifics "Mr.", "Miss", "Mrs.", or "Ms.", san is almost universally added to a person's name, in both formal and informal contexts. However, in addition to being used with people's names, it is also employed in a variety of other ways. San can also be attached to the names of animals or even inanimate objects.
-kun – is used by persons of senior status in addressing or referring to those of junior status, or by anyone when addressing or referring to male children or male teenagers. Females when addressing a male that they are emotionally attached to or have known for a long period can also use it. Although kun is generally used for boys, that is not a hard rule.
-sama – is a markedly more respectful version of san. It is used mainly to refer to people much higher in rank than oneself, toward one's customers, and sometimes toward people one greatly admires. When used to refer to oneself, sama expresses extreme arrogance (or self-effacing irony), as with ore-sama ("my esteemed self").