Kiyotsugu's Nightmare.
"AHHHHH!"
Kiyotsugu woke up screaming, again. He had tried to tell himself over and over again that it was just a nightmare, but his subconscious didn't seem to agree, he was a yokai after all, their friendship could have been a trick. Most yokai (1) with human-like forms were even known for using that as a way of getting closer before turning on the unsuspecting human, usually with fatal results for the poor human.
"You're so weak Kiyotsugu", He sneered, the distaste in his voice almost tangible, as he looked at Kiyotsugu with those inhuman eyes, "but then again I can't expect much more from a mere human, can I? Your species are so weak, I'm so glad that I'm not one of you. I lost that desire long ago." He laughed then, He always laughed then. A mirthless laugh that filled Kiyotsugu with dread. He drew his sword, a merciless blade that could pierce both human and ayakashi (2). Kiyotsugu never could figure out how he knew that, he just knew it wasn't the relatively friendly blade of Nenekirimaru (3). He then placed this blade uncomfortably close to Kiyotsugu's throat, the cold touch of the enchanted steel sending shivers down his spine.
"Are you ready Kiyotsugu? I want to test you? You didn't believe me when I told you that I was the grandson of Nurarihyon. I admired him, he was family and all I knew of family involved yokai, yet you told me that my grandfather, my father, and by extension me, along with my entire family were evil. The only member of my family you didn't slander was my mother. After that I tried to deny my heritage, I tried to be human. Why did I try to be human? For you, Kiyotsugu, for our friendship. I denied who I am for the sake of friendship. I rejected the title of Sandaime (4), I weakened the Nura clan. I caused long-standing members, such as Gagoze and Gyuuki to question my eligibility, and try to kill me and my subordinates. You remember those times don't you? The first was the time when you realised you admired me, well my yokai form anyway, when Gagoze and his clan attacked the bus I was supposed to be on, I wasn't on it, I walked home alone in shame. I came to rescue you though, didn't I? I endangered my life for the sake of yours."
Here He always paused. He would always glance at his blade, as if to check if any of Kiyotsugu's blood or tears had marred its flawless surface and, seemingly satisfied, repositioned it on Kiyotsugu's throat before turning to the crowd of Nura clan members who had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, behind Him. He motioned with one finger to the member at the head of the group. As the figure moved out of the shadows, Kiyotsugu recognised it to be Tsurara, a snow yokai who had also posed as a member of the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol on His orders.
"You remember Tsurara don't you Kiyotsugu?" He began as He turned back to me, those inhuman eyes glowing as brightly as ever in the darkness, "You knew her as Oikawa-chan, since she was sent to school to keep an eye on me after my awakening, along with Aotabo who posed as Kurata-kun," at this he motioned to another larger shadow behind him before continuing, "But something you never knew was that your desire to meet my night form led to her being put in danger. You decided to take us all to Umerakuen (5) on an overnight trip. This 'trip' brought us to a yokai-infested mountain also known as Mt. Nejireme (6), the home of Gyuuki, and to add insult to injury you also brought an Onmyoji (7) along. You went out at night, the time that yokai adore, and allowed us to be attacked by Gyuuki's subordinates. Gozumaru attacked us while Mezumaru headed for Torii, Maki, Kana and Yura. Gozu almost killed Tsurara until I stepped in to save her, before putting my life in danger and confronting Gyuuki himself to prove my worth. I won, but I wouldn't have had to confront him, or gain status as a yokai, if it wasn't for you."
Here He paused, as if contemplating what to say next. The smirk that twisted His face when he seemed to have come to a conclusion was like ice water trickling down Kiyotsugu's back. The knowing glint of steel in the eyes of the pure yokai beside Him didn't help calm his nerves any either. "But that was never enough for you was it, Kiyotsugu? You still insisted on continuing with your little 'game' of trying to see a yokai with your own eyes. Do you know how stupid that was Kiyotsugu? You went to Kyoto of all places during the rising of Hagoromo Gitsune, right into the line of fire, and expected Yura to defend you. I was offended by that too, you lost faith in me, the Supreme Commander of all yokai, and instead trusted a weak Onmyoji like Yura instead. It was me who slew that wretched fox and confronted her son, Seimei, almost sacrificing my life and the lives of my Hyakki Yakou (8) in the process. Well no longer will I place the lives of mere humans before my own and that of my subordinates. So I plan on making this change of heart clear by making an example of those humans who I once considered friends. Oh, don't be too flattered, my dear Kiyotsugu-kun, you're not the first but you're certainly not the last either. You want to know who's already been killed don't you Kiyotsugu. Well rather than tell you, I feel like showing you."
"May I have the head now please Kurotabou?"
A tall shadow which seemed to be dressed in the attire of a monk nodded before bending down to pick something that had been laying on the ground beside him, before tossing it unceremoniously at Kiyotsugu. It bounced a little, giving off little squelching sounds, before coming to rest at Kiyotsugu's feet. Kiyotsugu was almost afraid to look down, he didn't want to see which of his friends had been murdered in cold-blood by the madly grinning man –no not man, yokai- standing on front of him, but realising that it was His desire and that he was already completely at His mercy, or lack of it, he knew he had to. He closed his eyes, before moving his head slowly; not wanting to see more than he had to, until he knew he was facing the head, which was slowly oozing wetness onto his trouser-leg. He opened them slowly, prolonging the moment.
It was Yura.
"The sad little Onmyoji girl got a little ahead of herself, thought she could stop me, but I soon put a stop to her. This is all that's left; some of the smaller yokai of the Nura mansion seem to enjoy the taste of human flesh, Onmyoji flesh apparently tastes even better. Your fate, when I'm finished with you, will be much the same, I will save your head, along with hers, to be an example to everyone else."
He turned to his clan once more, leaving Kiyotsugu to stare at the mutilated flesh of the one human whom he hoped would have had a chance.
"So minna (9), what should I do with him? Should I kill him slowly and painfully, or quickly so that we can move on to the next one?"
The other ayakashi seemed to consider this for a moment, before a loud chorus of voices calling for his immediate death echoed in the dark windowless room.
"Quickly!"
"I'm hungry!"
"He looks tasty!"
"I prefer girls, can we kill one of them next?"
He nodded, before turning back to Kiyotsugu's terrified form.
"I trust you heard them, calling for your blood? I feel like indulging them, there's nothing like a kind Commander to inspire their troops."
He moved his sword once more, drawing it back for the final blow. Kiyotsugu only saw the glint of the soft ethereal yokai lights glinting off the side of the blade before he knew nothing more.
Then he always woke up, but there was always a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that it was only this time, if it happened again, outside his dreamworld, he wouldn't be alive, and he wouldn't wake up.
This time though, this time he decided he should confront Nura. He wanted to ask him if he truly blamed him for his weakness.
Yokai- Demon/Spirit
Ayakashi- Another name for a demon/spirit. Interchangeable with yokai.
Nenekirimaru- Literally: Ancestral Shrine Round Cut Off. A spirit blade that can only cut yokai.
Sandaime- Third heir
Umerakuen- Literally: Paradise of Plum Blossoms. Another name for Mt. Nejireme.
Mt. Nejireme- A Mountain in the Shiga Prefecture.
Onmyoji- Humans who use spiritual power to combat yokai.
Hyakki Yakou- Night parade of 100 demons
Minna- Everyone
My first attempt at a fanfic for Nurarihyon no Mago, I usually just hang around in the Danny Phantom second of this site, but I've recently fallen in love with this anime and manga and had to write something for it!
I love all of the characters except Kana, I'm a TsuRikuo fan, and, despite what this story my suggest, I really don't mind Kiyotsugu, he's a little annoying but not that bad, everyone needs a hobby...
Okay that's it from me, please review!
