Chapter 2. The Plan

"Second! What were you thinking? A real Keikan… you brought a Keikan into the Nura's home." Gyuuki said as he stood before his god son who was seated on a pillow. Rihan gave out a sigh.

"First Rikuo, then Yura-chan, now you…cant you try to get along with the way things are right now?" the younger man sighed. "Its been getting dangerous lately. The rival families are starting to act again… Rikuo is in grave danger as well…"

"But, we haven't we already placed a tight security around him, with the best of the families serving under you? (even when he didn't want to…), why in the world would you hire that child to be a guard?" Gyuuki reasoned out.

"That's not the only reason my old man and I took her in." Rihan said as he looked at his godfather and teacher seriously. Gyuuki waited for him to continue.

"Keikan Yura is also the next head of their group. Although she isn't the first born and has an older brother, she was chosen to be the top candidate. Think… as much as Rikuo's life is in danger, hers is as well…" he said seriously.

Gyuuki froze as he realized the truth.

"Even when the Keikan Clan is known to have the best security and their children are able to fend for themselves, Yura-chan is almost like Rikuo. A bit reckless, proud and a dignified heiress, but still unable to accept that she needs protection as well… she is not aware that her own life is at stake…" Rihan said as he got up and looked at the scenery outside.

"Then the reason you actually brought her here…" Gyuuki wanted to confirm.

"Right, aside from building up the relation of the two groups, which is a top priority, we are also doing this to ensure the safety of the two heirs. Gyuuki-oji-san… I hope you will cooperate with this…" Rihan said as he turned to look back at the older man.

Gyuuki gave a curt nod. "If the First agreed to it, then I will do everything in my power to protect those two…"

"Good… Thanks… But… just don't let those two find out about it… I don't know it their relationship with each other will worsen or not…" Rihan said as he sighed.


"You jerk!" Yura yelled at the top of her lungs as she glared hard at the young man barely listening to her.

He looked at her with a sharp glare and a vein popping out of his head. "That's right! You! How dare you ignore me when I'm speaking to you!" Yura said.

"Yura-san… please calm down…" Kubinashi said as he tried to appease the two young heirs who had gotten into their third fight this week. They fought over senseless things, Yura did most of the yelling while his master looked at her with an expression that was definitely scary, and he would be always the one ending up victorious in their arguments. Kubinashi held Yura back as she tried to attack Rikuo. "Darn it! Listen to what I say! How dare you ignore me!" she yelled as she struggled to get out of Kubinashi's grasp.

Rikuo just looked bored. "Why should I? Its not like you were saying anything important anyway…" he said and finished with his trademark smirk.

"You monster! You little-! I'm going to kill you!" Yura bellowed.

Rikuo gave his evil and victorious grin. "Really? I thought you were supposed to protect me? Not that I need someone like you anyway…" he said and Yura muffled her own scream.

"Young master!" Tsurara bounced towards them. "Oh, Tsurara, what is it?" Rikuo asked. Yura calmed down for a bit to listen to what the other girl would say. Kubinashi gave out a relieved sigh.

"Ienaga-san is here!" Tsurara exclaimed as he pulled him to follow her.

"Ienaga? Ah, Ieanaga Kana?" Yura muttered but Rikuo apparently heard her since he froze and looked at her. "Really, you even investigated who my friends were?" he said annoyed. Yura glared at him. "I only did it to check if they were suspicious or not!" she said back. "Hn. Your such a pain. What are you? My nanny?" He icily said as he let Tsurara lead him away.

Yura felt even more angry than awhile back.

"How dare that kid! Nanny! Me!"

Kubinashi started to panick. "Yura-san~ please calm down…" he said pleadingly.

"Rikuo-kun!" Rikuo smiled as he saw his childhood friend inside the large room. Kejoro brought in some drinks and Tsurara had disappeared to who knows where. "Kanna-chan, what brings you here?" he said. Kanna frowned. "Sheesh, Rikuo-kun, really… you've been gone from school for almost two weeks… of course I'd be worried… did anything happen to you? I would have come sooner if it wasn't for the club activities…" she said and gave him a worried glance. "Nothing, I just got the flu…that's all…" he said as an excuse. "Really?" she looked at him, doubtful. "Yeah, don't worry. I'm fine. I'll be able to come back tomorrow anyway…" Rikuo gave her a confident grin. She blushed. But he didn't seem to notice. "Well… I'm glad your alright… I'll see you tomorrow then?" she gave him a sweet smile. Rikuo nodded and winked at her which made her go even redder. "Well then, I'll be going first. See you tomorrow Rikuo-kun!" she beamed as she left the room with Kejoro who had come to escort her out.


Yura was watching through a small opening on the other shoji door that let outside the garden. After the girl left she leaned on the door. 'Sugoi… she's really cute… so that's his childhood friend… from what I've heard from Kubinashi-san, she's not someone of a great status… a commoner?' Yura closed her eyes and put her thumb and forefinger on her chin in a thinking position. "I guess that counts her as a safe person." She decided and turned too look back at the opening only to be met by Rikuo's icy stare. Her eyes widened and she stepped back surprised. "Gyah!" she exclaimed as she slipped backwards and her back landed on the hard wooden floor. "What in the world are you doing?" Rikuo asked in a bored tune. Yura shook her head as she sat up. "N-nothing!" she said in in defense. Rikuo looked at her doubtfully. "Yeah right…" he muttered and a vein popped on Yura's head. She was about to yell back at him but he placed a hand in front of him to stop her.

"Father told me to give this message to you. He says that your going to start school tomorrow as well." He started.

"Huh? Alright…" Yura said as she waited for the second instruction.

"While we are at school don't act like a body guard. And don't come near me unless it really is important. Got it?" he said with an authorative voice. Yura felt more veins pop out of her head. "Yeah. I understand." She forced out.

"Good. Get some sleep, you'll be needing it." He said as he turned around to head towards his own room.