Summary:
Hagorome placed a curse on the Nura clan—not enabling them to have any full-blooded MALE heirs. But what if the Third Heir is a FEMALE? Enter Nura Yuri, Third Heiress to the Nura Clan—possessing the worst curse that Hagorome had placed on the clan. Itaku/FemRikuo
My rewrite of my original Nurarihyon story that I've started some years ago but later scrapped due to story plot and painful language. I wasn't planning on starting the rewrite so soon, but I had some requests, and I then thought 'why the hell not?'
This version is going to be different from the previous for the readers that have read the previous version. For one, female Rikuo or Yuri in this story is going to be different from both canon and my previous version. Additionally, regarding the choice of names, I simply could not find a single name that starts with R that suits FemRikuo's personality in this story. And as Yamabuki is a flower ayakashi, I thought why not pick a female name connected with flowers? Thus, 'Yuri'. Also, Wakana might or might not appear in this story, depending on how I take it, but she will not be Yuri's mother! Yamabuki and Rihan are Yuri's parents in this story, thus making her a half-youkai like Rihan.
There will be some borrowed elements from other anime as I have plans to have Yuri 'recruiting' for her own group. One thing about canon that I never liked is that after Jimmy (is that how it's spelled?), Rikuo never recruited any others. Also, Yuri's (FemRikuo) powers are going to be different from canon due to a slight difference in Hagorome's curse in this story.
Pairings: Itaku/Yuri
Warnings: Gender switch. Half-youkai Yuri. Alive Rihan. Some character bashing. Non canon. Slight anime crossovers.
Disclaimer: I do not own Nurarihyon no Mago and any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me
Chapter One: The Third Heir
"I curse you, Nurarihyon! I curse you and your descendants for all time! Your grandchild—the third generation will have power that will be more of a curse than a blessing! And if she does not learn to control it, it will consume her and all that she holds dear by the summer of her thirteenth year!"
Nurarihyon placed down the brush on his desk, letting the ink dry as he lifted his eyes, smiling warmly at the painting of his beloved Yohime who had already been long gone even before Rihan had reached his pre-teen years—being taken by a terrible illness. The painting had to have been around for hundreds of years since, but it still looked fresh and new—looking as if it had just been painted yesterday.
After all, during the early days of his marriage with Yohime, cameras weren't invented yet. And thus, families chose to preserve memories of their loved ones by paintings instead.
Nurarihyon sighed, puffing on his pipe, looking at his desk once more where an ornate oak photo frame was resting on it—his last gift by his son before he was taken from him as well.
A colour photo of Nurarihyon, a grinning Rihan and a gentle smiling Yamabuki Otome smiled back at Nurarihyon. A small toddler of about two years was cradled in Rihan's arms, with raven black hair that reaches to her earlobes like her father, but with unusual amber eyes with flecks of blue, green and gray within.
"…Where did you go, child?" Nurarihyon whispered, gazing at the gentle smiling visage of Yamabuki.
It had surprised him and his advisors initially some three hundred years ago when Rihan had came home one day with Yamabuki in tow, and had proclaimed to his confused father that he wished to wed her.
The entire clan was celebrating for days after their clan head's wedding, as their new mistress was so gentle and graceful, even for a flower ayakashi. The entire clan had loved her from day one, particularly the children.
The only thing that had gnawed at Yamabuki had been her inability to bear the Nura clan an heir for nearly three hundred years. No one had realised it back then, but due to Hagorome's curse, the main family of the Nura clan could only bear children if they have mated with humans. Nurarihyon himself didn't realise it as well, as he had married Yohime—a human. Even so, a miracle had occurred some years back when Yamabuki had suddenly found herself pregnant.
The entire clan had partied for days after Kejoro—the clan's official healer had announced that what Yamabuki had assumed had to be something related to food poisoning had been the early days of pregnancy. Rihan was overjoyed as well, and Yamabuki had made sure to take care of herself and her unborn child—her 'miracle child' as what the flower ayakashi had called it.
Nurarihyon was however concerned, as he had never forgotten the words of Hagorome's curse on his bloodline all those years ago.
"Your grandchild—the third generation will have power that will be more of a curse than a blessing! And if she does not learn to control it, it will consume her and all that she holds dear by the summer of her thirteenth year!"
Being part of the Nurarihyon bloodline, their demon blood is already extremely potent. Rihan is a living example of it, also having inherited his mother's healing power. And after having married Yamabuki, he had led the clan into their golden age, even triumphing in battle over the Hundred Tales Clan. Just what would his grandchild be capable of—especially one that had borne the full burnt of Hagorome's curse?
Hihi and Gyuuki—as Nurarihyon's closest advisors and friends have known of his thoughts and inner turmoil, but they were quick to reassure him that they'll find a way to lift the curse. After all, Rihan had managed to beat Hagorome's curse by managing to give Nurarihyon a grandchild.
September the twenty-third is a day of great joy for the entire Nura clan, as that is the day when their heiress—their princess was born.
And when Rihan had placed the white swaddled bundle into his father's arms carefully, Nurarihyon had merely taken one look into his grandchild's eyes, and all worries had fled out of his head at the moment when her innocent amber eyes had looked into his and she had squealed happily upon seeing her grandfather.
Nurarihyon had doted on his grandchild every chance he got, spoiling the child silly. And if Rihan and Yamabuki hadn't taught Yuri any better, she would have let the attention get to her head. In fact, apart from a few of the clan heads like Hitotsume and Gagoze, the rest of the clan had adored her.
Until Yamabuki had disappeared out of the blue one day when Yuri was about three, leaving behind only a letter and a stalk of kerria flowers. Yuri had actually cried her eyes out after that, and Rihan had disappeared for over a month to find his wife, but to no avail. The man was guilt-stricken when he had returned after a month to find his daughter undeniably upset—that if it hadn't been for Setsura's daughter and Hihi's son—Tsurara and Shoei, Yuri would have been blaming herself for her mother's disappearance.
And obviously, Kubinashi is of the same opinion as well. The neck-less youkai was literally spitting sparks out of his eyes when the seething youkai had lectured a chastised Rihan for over an hour as he held onto his daughter as she cried herself to sleep.
Then, nearly an entire year later, Nurarihyon lost his son as well.
According to what Yuri could tell them when Kubinashi and Karasu-Tengu's three sons have found Yuri and an unconscious Rihan in the park that the Nidaime always brought his daughter to play, a strange black haired girl had attacked her father with a sword. And if Yuri's sleeping healing power didn't decide to wake itself up at that moment, the Nura clan would be mourning the loss of their Nidaime.
As it is, Rihan hadn't woken from his coma to this day, but laid sleeping in his room, with Kejoro, Kubinashi, Kurotabo, Yuri, Nurarihyon as well as Yuri's two clan vassals slash attendants—Tsurara the Yuki-Onna as well as Shoei making the occasional visit.
Kubinashi had however taken Nurarihyon aside after all the fuss, and had told him quietly that a sudden thunderstorm had appeared after Yuri was sent into a panic upon seeing her father get stabbed, and the flecks of green, blue and gray in her eyes when in her demon form was more pronounced ever since.
And Nurarihyon knew what it means. He had been uneasy from the start when Yuri was first born, and he had seen her eyes. Those flecks of green, blue and gray in her eyes were the signs of his grandchild being a Stormcaller.
A demon that could summon storms and controls Mother Nature as easily as breathing. Until today, no one knew just how a stormcaller demon had came about, as they appeared pretty randomly—with the last one appearing some three hundred years ago, but was destroyed by his own power.
And that is what Nurarihyon feared the most. Stormcallers have a lengthy history of going insane due to their tremendous power and destroying themselves. Thus, when Yuri had solemnly woken Nurarihyon up one night after a bad nightmare after Rihan's accident, Nurarihyon knew that he couldn't ignore it any longer.
Hagorome's curse notwithstanding, the entire clan—or more particularly, Rihan's bodyguards and the clan heads were concerned for their heiress' sanity and her control over her tremendous power. After all, much like Rihan, Yuri could connect with wandering spirits—probably an imprint of Yohime's power as his late wife could do the same thing.
Thus, Nurarihyon had packed Yuri off to Tonoo Village at the mere age of five, with Shoei with her, as even the baboon youkai needs to learn to control his strength as he had been accidentally destroying quite a few pieces of furniture lately, much to the clan's amusement and exasperation, and Hihi's pride.
They have spent two years there, and according to Kubinashi who had gone to take them home after their training, a certain youkai group led by a kamaitachi youkai have gotten very attached to them, particularly a certain weasel to their clan heiress, much to Kubinashi's annoyance who had taken on the role of a father figure to Yuri with Rihan's current state.
But it is an undeniable fact that Yuri and Shoei have both returned from their little training trip more confident in themselves than before, and with much control over their own powers.
"The fox's curse…" Nurarihyon whispered to himself, staring at the last happy family photo that had been taken before the fox's curse had ripped them all apart. "Please… Don't take Yuri from me too… I had been the one to kill you. Take it out on me, not my son and grandchild. Please…"
XXXXXX
Eight-year-old Nura Yuri sighed even as she patted her comatose father on the hand who is lying in his futon—looking for all in the world like he is merely sleeping.
For obvious reasons, the Nura clan had never sent Rihan to the human hospital, producing fake papers to tell the officials that Kejoro is a qualified doctor, and she could care for Rihan quite well.
"Dad, how long are you going to sleep?" Yuri sighed. "You're not Sleeping Beauty."
"Yuri-sama? I'm coming in." A voice from outside the room called out just then, and the shoji door then slid opened only to reveal one of Yuri's faithful attendants since early childhood—the Yuki-Onna, Tsurara, resting on her knees. Much like how Kurotabo and Kubinashi have been to Rihan, Tsurara and Shoei were both assigned to Yuri as her personal attendants and bodyguards by Nurarihyon. Though not so much 'assigned' as they volunteered. Tsurara smiled at Yuri. "Good morning, Yuri-sama." The Yuki Onna chirped. "We have to get ready for school soon. Shoei-kun had just woken up as well."
Yuri nodded absently, only half-listening to Tsurara's words. After returning from her small training trip from Tonoo with Shoei and then that incident from a year ago, Yuri had practically shut herself off from all humans.
To be able to keep up their cover as the Nura clan had been residing in Ukiyoe Town since the Edo era, Nurarihyon had decided to send Yuri to attend a human school. Of course, Nurarihyon didn't send Yuri alone. Zen and Kubinashi will kick up a fuss if he did so. Shoei and Tsurara, as Yuri's attendants and childhood friends have gone as well.
"I'll leave your uniform here. Please excuse me." Tsurara bowed to Yuri, leaving a clean set of her elementary school uniform on the ground before excusing herself.
Yuri stared at her comatose father for several moments before getting up from the ground, wincing, as her legs have basically gone to sleep on her with just how long that she had stayed in the same position. The dark haired girl then slipped out of her pyjamas and changed into her uniform before concentrating on her youki and transforming into her human form. Much like Tsurara and Shoei, she didn't really look that much different from her youkai form to the eyes of other youkai—only instead of the amber eyes with blue-green-gray flecks within it that she possesses in her demon form, Yuri had dark blue eyes in her human form instead.
Though much like nearly every youkai out there, creating misconceptions in humans are part of their youkai powers. Because of this power, whenever she appears in her youkai form, the humans wouldn't be able to place a connection between Nura Yuri the human to Nurarihyon's heir, the Third Heiress, Nura Yuri.
Yuri then knelt down next to the futon that she had been kneeling next to for the entire night, like how she did every single time when she's free, or just feeling down. The eight-year-old then sighed and took the unresponsive hand in her own, the hand seeming so big compared to her own small hands. A small rare smile lit up her face.
"Dad, I really wish that you would wake up soon. Stop sleeping, please." Yuri's voice shook. "You can't… You can't leave me too." Her voice cracked at the end. "Not like how Mom did… Not like how Yusuke did…"
Nurarihyon had actually taken Yuri aside after the attack on Rihan, with Nurarihyon telling her that if she hadn't tried healing Rihan (with the same healing power that Rihan had inherited from her grandmother), he would most probably be dead instead of being in a coma. All that it takes is a matter of time before Rihan wakes up, though who knows when that is. And in the meantime, Nurarihyon had resumed his position as the Supreme Commander.
Yuri fingered the pale blue crystal on the black cord around her neck.
"This is made from my youki—hardened energy." Itaku told Yuri seriously, with a pale blue crystal in the shape of a diamond prism resting on his gloved hand, handing it to the younger and smaller girl—determinedly ignoring his 'comrades' who were all snickering in the corner as they've all came to see both Yuri and Shoei off from Tonoo. That neck-less youkai who had come to pick up the two kids seem to be trying to glare a hole through Itaku's head. "Similar to what you made for me last week."
He pulled at the black cord around his neck, pulling out a similar looking diamond prism from under his shirt. The only difference is that unlike the pure blue colour of the prism that Itaku had made for Yuri out of his youki, the one that Yuri had made for Itaku had several colours running through it like a rainbow.
"I'll know how you're doing with this. And someday when you're all grown up and strong, let's meet again…"
Someday…
"I'm going now, Dad." Yuri said at last, getting up and crossing the room, reaching the shoji door. She slid it opened, hesitating and turning over her shoulder to look at the comatose Rihan. 'Itaku… Have I grown stronger?' She wondered, leaving the room and closing the shoji door behind her.
Shoei was waiting outside Rihan's room for her like he always did—already dressed in his school uniform with his ever eternal red mantle over it. When Nurarihyon and Hihi have first registered the two of them for school at Ukiyoe Elementary School, due to Shoei's height, his uniform had to be custom made and ordered.
It often made quite the contrast—to have tall Shoei next to tiny and petite Yuri. The two were pretty well known in their school for various reasons after all.
The baboon youkai was currently seated on the porch that separates the building from the garden that surrounds the Nura mansion, currently skipping pebbles across Kappa's pond.
For some reason, Shoei had pretty much attached himself to her after their first week upon knowing each other after her mother's disappearance when Hihi, her grandfather's close confidante had introduced his son to her. In fact, after her father had gone into a coma, Shoei never leaves her alone for even a single moment unless it is to the bathroom or when she is sleeping.
He was there when Nurarihyon had packed her off to Tonoo to teach her how to control her powers—as much like her, Shoei had to learn how to control his strength and powers too. Shoei was also there when the entire fiasco a year ago had went down.
When Shoei had volunteered to follow Yuri to school along with Tsurara to keep up their 'cover', it had taken a hell lot of convincing to convince Shoei to leave off his red mantle when he goes to school. Like how his father had never taken off his mask, thus making the younger youkais in the clan curious about how he actually looks like beneath the mask, Shoei never took off his red mantle.
"Shoei?" Shoei turned around at the sound of his name before nodding to Yuri, and picking up his school bag by the strap, slinging it over one shoulder. "Let's go."
"…It's not your fault." Shoei said quietly, and Yuri stopped dead in her tracks. The taller boy gazed at the back of his childhood friend and princess. "None of it is. You did what you could. It's not your fault."
It's not your fault that Yusuke died.
Yuri closed her eyes briefly. "…Tsurara is waiting for us," was all that she said before walking down the hallway again.
Shoei sighed before nodding to Kurotabo and Aotabo who were both passing by. The two nodded back politely.
"Ojou has changed, didn't she?" Aotabo frowned, arms crossed over his chest as he watched the two eight-year-olds disappear around the corner. "I know that I hadn't spent as much time around her like Tsurara, Shoei-kun and even Kejoro or Kubinashi, but she's changed. She used to smile a lot more back when Rihan-sama was still around, and when Yamabuki-sama is still here."
Kurotabo sighed. "Yeah. She hasn't really been the same since returning from Daisen with Shoei-kun a year ago," he answered.
No one really knew what had happened when Nurarihyon and Hihi have taken Yuri and Shoei with them when they've gone to visit one of their allies in the rural province. But suffice to say that something did happen, as Yuri hasn't been the same since. Same goes for Shoei too. He used to be more mischievous—always smiling. But ever since a year ago, he had become more serious in his role as Yuri's attendant slash best friend, and his smiles were few.
Kubinashi who is balancing a tray with three cups of steaming hot tea on it paused as he overheard the conversation before continuing on his way and stopping outside the Supreme Commander's office. Before the neck-less youkai could knock and announce his presence however, he paused in his tracks when he heard the conversation between Nurarihyon, Hihi and Gyuuki inside.
"…The incident from a year ago when we went to Mt. Daisen to visit one of our allies." Hihi was saying. "Shoei and the Miss wandered off to the nearby village then. They were kids after all, so they are bound to get bored. As they were in their human forms at that time, and thanks to their training in Tonoo, they have their powers under control, so we weren't too concerned."
"They ended up at Katorimura, from what I know." Nurarihyon added. "And we still don't know everything that had happened, as those two brats refused to tell us. It took much persuasion for Yuri to even tell me half of what she'd told me."
Kubinashi paused in his tracks. Katorimura? That had been one of Japan's rural provinces, from what he knew. And even in this day and age, rural provinces like Katorimura is one of those that still believed in the old stringent beliefs like sacrificing virgin children to appease the gods, the sacrificial rites, and even the tales of youkais.
But from what Kubinashi knew, Katorimura that is once renowned for their lawn views is now nothing more than a ghost town—burned down by fire and lightning during a particularly bad thunderstorm a year ago. So much so that it just isn't possible for anything to be grown there anymore.
"According to the Miss and Shoei, they said that it is a youkai who had orchestrated the hunt on the human friend that they had made in Katorimura." Hihi said solemnly. "He had a strange power, according to what my son told me. He said that the human can wield fire, and a youkai wanted that power. Thus, he orchestrated the hunt that the village had done on their human friend. Truthfully, I doubt that it's very difficult, as places like Katorimura sees people with strange abilities as demons or the children of the devil. The youkai that had orchestrated this to begin with had wanted that human's power. Clearly, it backfired."
"Could it be Hagorome's people?" Gyuuki asked.
"No. This isn't their style. It isn't subtle enough." Nurarihyon said, and he sounded as if he is almost frowning. "But clearly, it's not just that human friend that the youkai had been targeting. It sounds as if their target is also Yuri. Or more specifically, her power over lightning."
There was a slight pause.
"…Lightning, the most destructive power." Gyuuki murmured, concerned. "But since going to Tonoo, seems like she had it well under control. So you don't have to concern yourself about it, Supreme Commander. Ojou is strong. She is your grandchild. Have faith in her."
Nurarihyon sighed. "Regardless, Yuri hasn't been the same since. It is almost a wonder that she doesn't hate humans after that."
XXXXXX
The final school bell of the day had rung, and Yuri packed her things up slowly and carefully before nodding to Tsurara and Shoei who have both waited for her as always.
Ienaga Kana who is talking with her friends Maki Saori and Torii Natsumi paused as the trio made their way towards the classroom door. "Nura, are you leaving already?" Maki called out to the trio who were leaving.
Yuri turned towards the three girls. "…Yeah. See you tomorrow."
"I'm amazed that you could even talk to her, Maki-chan." Natsumi said. "It's just… I don't know. There's this regal air about Nura, you know? Almost like she's royalty, and as such, unapproachable."
"Actually, she is from a noble family." Kana injected. Her family had been living in Ukiyoe Town since her grandfather's era, so she knows at least this much about the town's history as compared to Natsumi and Maki who have only moved to Ukiyoe a few years ago. "From what my father told me, the Nura family could trace their roots back all the way to a princess of the time of Toyotomi Hideyori. Yuri just didn't mention it much, that's all."
"That's right. Kana-chan, you attended kindergarten with her, didn't you?" Natsumi asked curiously. "What was she like back then?"
"She wasn't in kindergarten for very long." Kana admitted even as the three girls left the classroom. "I think it's only about a year or so. Shoei-kun was already with her then. I heard that something happened to her father—that's why her grandfather pulled her out of kindergarten and home-schooled her instead. I hadn't seen her or Shoei-kun since until they enrolled in Ukiyoe Elementary last year."
XXXXXX
"I've been here for several hundred years, watching as I'm used and discarded over and over." A voice from the sword echoed out even as Yuri stood in front of the sword, unafraid, with both Tsurara and Shoei a certain distance behind her—watching as Yuri communicate with the tsukumogami. How and where Yuri could sense spirits that originates from an artefact that had gained sentience after a period of existence, neither of them has any idea, but Yuri hasn't been wrong thus far. This is just the first time that the Nura heiress had approached one of her own accord. "The person who created me said once that a katana is just a weapon. And all weapons are for killing. No matter what pretty words you used to dress it up, this is still the cold hard truth. I am just a tool for killing. That's all."
"I think you can be something more though." Yuri said calmly, a serene air about her. "What about you? You're searching for something, aren't you?"
"I am. But will I find it if I go with you?"
"Who knows? But it's better than staying here, right?" Yuri questioned.
"…Fine. It might be pretty interesting. By following the Nura heiress."
"Do you have a name?"
"…No. My true form is that of a katana after all. No one had ever named me. But my creator created me during a thunderstorm, from what I remember."
"Lightning, huh?" A small smile graced Yuri's face at that. "We might have more affinity than you think, then." She took a step closer to the sword. "You have a human form, don't you? I'll give you a new name then."
She rested her hand over the pommel of the katana and pulled. A slender dark haired handsome young man with equally dark eyes that looks to be in his early twenties appeared on the ground, nude, his hand held by Yuri.
"I am Nura Yuri. I welcome you, Kiryuu."
"It's getting late." Tsurara murmured, glancing upwards only to see that the skies have long darkened, with an addition to their usual group of three—only with the newly named Kiryuu wearing Shoei's red mantle that is thankfully enough to cover his nudity so that they don't get arrested for outrage of public modesty. "Karasu-Tengu is going to get worried again."
Shoei and Yuri exchanged bemused looks with each other.
The overseer of the Nura clan tends to be a pretty big worrywart, especially when Yuri was involved. It actually took Nurarihyon to convince Karasu-Tengu to allow Yuri to go to school, and even then, he was only assured enough to allow her to do so when Tsurara and Shoei both volunteered to follow her to school as bodyguard detail.
"He's just worried." Shoei said sensibly. He sighed inwardly, preparing himself for the verbal assault by the mother hen of a crow youkai. "I mean, there are quite a few factions that had been speaking out against you of late, and you know how youkais can get when they're extremely high-strung. Especially that Gagoze." He had a dark look on his face at the mere mention of that cloaked youkai.
Yuri was silent. She knew that her father had never liked Gagoze when she was little as well, because of all his comments about little children and stuff like that. That youkai had also been one of the most outspoken members on the matter about having her as the Nura heiress.
"Ojou!"
The four of them blinked owlishly as three out of the four recognised the voice, and turned only to see Kubinashi and Aotabo running up to them, with Kubinashi's head bobbing along on his missing neck. Yuri immediately looked left and right, hoping that no one had seen Kubinashi. Thankfully, it is nightfall by then, and no one was around.
"Who's this?" Aotabo blinked at the sight of Kiryuu who is currently clothed in Shoei's red mantle.
"We'll explain later." Yuri said quickly. "What is going on?"
After all, there is a panicked expression on Kubinashi's face.
"There is a news report on the television about an hour ago that the bus you usually take had been half-buried in an accident in the underpass!" Kubinashi said hurriedly. "All of us have been out searching ever since! Karasu-Tengu is nearly frothing at the mouth!"
Tsurara and Shoei exchanged startled looks. "Well…" Shoei drew out the word. "Looks like it's lucky that we've chosen to take the scenic route today then."
Yuri however is looking towards the direction of the underpass that she knew the bus that she usually took always passes through. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she could sense some faint malice in the air. With a sigh, she concentrated, and was soon standing there in her youkai form.
"Yuri-sama?" Kubinashi questioned, surprised.
"I'm going to the underpass. Something is bothering me," said Yuri, turning towards her attendants and guards. She then turned her attention back towards Kiryuu who had been pretty silent. "Kiryuu." Kiryuu looked at her, startled, with his hair concealing his left eye. "I know that it's been some time, but you remember how to fight, right? Will you be able to transform?" Kiryuu nodded mutely. "Very well. I will not use you to kill unless necessary. Be my defender. You can do it, right?"
Yuri then walked towards the direction of the underpass, with Shoei and Tsurara following a split second later.
Kiryuu smiled to himself before tugging on the hood over his head. "…I understand, ojou."
"Sending little children to hell is my style!" Gagoze exclaimed, reaching for a frightened Kana, before a loud explosion rocked the entire underpass amidst the children's screams, and the temperature of the surroundings fell several degrees at once.
"So killing kids makes you think that you're a big shot?" said a familiar voice, as slow footsteps echoed throughout the entire underpass. "Looks like my intuition about you is spot on, and that keeping an eye on you is the correct decision."
The mist cleared away, revealing Aotabo, Tsurara (as Yuki Onna), Kubinashi and Shoei (in youkai form), with Yuri standing at the fore in youkai form, the taller forms of the others practically dwarfing the eight-year-old. Even Kejoro, Kappa and Kurotabo were present. A strange figure dressed in Shoei's red mantle was next to her.
The Nura heiress rested the blade of her Nenekirimaru against her shoulder as she narrowed her amber eyes.
Nenekirimaru had been the blade that had been passed down from father to child in the Nura clan, and which was said to be the weapon of the Lord of Pandemonium. It had originally belonged to Nurarihyon who had never told her how he had gotten it. Then when her father had became the head, Nurarihyon had passed the sword down to him. After Rihan went into a coma, Nurarihyon had given her this sword, telling her to use it to protect herself.
"Targeting children, huh?" Aotabo grunted, brandishing his powerful fists. "And here I thought that you could sink no lower, Gagoze."
Yuri narrowed her eyes at the youkai in mention who suddenly seemed very nervous. "If you're hoping to take over as the Third Heir in the Nura clan by killing me, then I have to say that it makes you look even more pathetic, and here I thought that that isn't even possible." Yuri sighed. "You're so pathetic that it's not even funny."
Gagoze twitched in pure rage as he eyed all the newcomers, but in particular, the smallest of their lot who seemed to be leading them, wondering who the hell is she. He didn't recognise Yuri in her youkai form, as only a few in the clan had seen her youkai form. And even then, Gagoze only recognised her because of her amber eyes – the same eyes that her grandfather and father before her possessed, with the only differences being the different flecks of blue, green and gray visible in her eyes.
"You…" Gagoze trembled. "You couldn't be…!" Yuri smirked. "It couldn't be…! Kill her!" Gagoze ordered his underlings. "Kill the princess now!" His underlings immediately lurched forward. "And kill those gutless fools from the main family too! Annihilate them all!"
One of the underlings reached towards Yuri, but before he could even touch her, he was immediately wrapped in Kubinashi's strings, a cold furious look in the eyes of the neckless demon.
"I won't let you take one step closer to the princess." Kubinashi stated coldly, tightening his strings even as the youkai struggled. "It's no use. Struggling only makes it tighter." Kubinashi tightened his string, hereby ending the life of the youkai.
Aotabo dodged a strike from another one, punching the same youkai in the face with his full strength. "It'll take more than that to take down Aotabo, the Strike Team leader!" he roared.
"You're as much a show off as always." Kurotabo stated, swinging his staff around. "And you're not the only Strike Team leader around here."
"Yare yare, the grown ups are all really something, aren't they?" Shoei shook his head, swinging his sword around, and with every swing, he took down one of Gagoze's underlings. "It simply astounds me how they could still remain part of the Nura clan if they're this weak."
Not too far away from Shoei, Tsurara blew out a breath of cold air that simply froze about five of Gagoze's underlings at once. And in another corner, Kejoro and Kappa were coordinating their attacks by taking out the others.
"I-It couldn't be…" Gagoze was in shock. "My clan… My invincible army who killed more than anyone!" He immediately turned towards the stunned children still in the bus who were all looking on with a mixture of awe and fear. And with a loud cackle, he leapt towards them. "I'll kill them! If you don't want me to kill them, then make me—"
"To me, Kiryuu!"
Gagoze let out a gurgle of pain, as there were sudden flashes of light in the bleak darkness even as Yuri appeared in front of him in an instant, blood flowing down her blades…
Wait a moment…
Blades?
Gagoze looked down only to see the famous Nenekirimaru blocking his claws from even touching the Nura heiress, with an unfamiliar silver sword currently clutched in the heiress' left hand buried in his gut, blood flowing down the steel.
"W-What…?"
"OJOU-SAMA!" Karasu-Tengu turned up from out of nowhere just then, froth nearly bursting from his mouth, with Daruma, one of Nurarihyon and Rihan's advisors close behind him, both looking extremely bewildered at the current scene. "What is going on here?"
Gagoze coughed out blood, a bleeding hand tugging at the steel buried in his body, but it wouldn't budge. A cold sense of fear is starting to overtake him. He knew that he is going to die today. And if not by the heiress' hand, then the rest of the Nura clan will lynch him alive. He is no fool. He knew that the heiress is much loved and adored by the rest of the clan, save for a few like Hitotsume—and even they knew better than to insult her in front of her grandfather. Furthermore, the Nura heiress is no damsel in distress. She can handle herself easily.
Tonoo had made sure of that.
"Why?" Gagoze choked. "Why a brat like you? And not to mention a female to boot?" Yuri's eye twitched dangerously at this comment. What is it with all these…sexists? "What's wrong about me? I'm the most feared!" He let out a louder scream as more blood spurt out.
"Ojou, should I fry him?" A voice spoke from the sword, causing the eyes of all those who weren't there when Yuri had named Kiryuu to widen. "I suddenly had the urge to taste barbequed youkai. Besides, he dared to threaten you, and for that, his life is forfeited."
"A tsukumogami?" Karasu-Tengu spluttered. "And that of a katana form?"
"Not now." Yuri told Kiryuu without taking her eyes off of Gagoze. "A youkai that devours children?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don't make me laugh. It is youkais like you that my father tried to stop. Sure, a youkai that devours children is terrifying. But a youkai that targets the weak and helpless taking the reins of the clan, and attaining the title of the Lord of Pandemonium? I won't let you do that."
"Ojou—" Karasu-Tengu was about to head towards Yuri, but Daruma stopped him. "Daruma?"
"Just watch."
"Like what I'd sworn three years ago, I'll swear this again. I'll lead you all." Yuri stated. "I'll become the Third Heir! I finally understand why my father wanted to protect humans so much, and what my grandfather wanted me to understand. And just like them both, I will not allow anyone to harm humans! Let it be known to every youkai in the world; I will become the Lord of Pandemonium, and I will not allow anything to stand in my way!" Yuri glanced down at Kiryuu in her hand. "Kiryuu, do it."
"Okay, Ojou."
Everyone shielded their eyes as bright light poured from the sword and into Gagoze, causing him to scream in pain as volts of lightning poured into him before his body then disintegrated—being fried by lightning as a result.
The watching children in the bus stared on with awe.
"Wow…" Shima whispered in awe.
"Cool…" Kiyotsugu whispered, with stars almost shining in his eyes.
"Did you see that, Karasu-Tengu?" Daruma questioned the overseer of the main family of the Nura clan. "The princess isn't some weak and fragile girl that everyone in the clan thought her as. I, Daruma, knew this right from the start. The Lord of Pandemonium is one that has the ability to evoke awe, even among humans. One who wears the true mantle of 'Fear'. Female or male, it doesn't matter. As long as they possess that, they have the right to lead us."
Kubinashi smiled a small rare smile as he exchanged looks with Kurotabo. 'Are you seeing this, Nidaime? When I see Yuri-sama, I see you. It is going to be a long tough road ahead of her. But if it's Yuri-sama, I believe that she can do it. And as promised, I will aid her. I will protect her. This, I swear.'
A/N: How is this for a rewritten chapter? This story is going to be vastly different from canon—as one; Rikuo is a girl in this story. And two, her father is still alive, and she had influences from Itaku early on in her life. Additionally, she had Shoei as a best friend, and he is less over protective as compared to Tsurara.
Anyway, I hope that you like this story and chapter, and please read and review!