Author's notes : I was browsing through some RikuouxRikuo doujinshi when I remembered that I haven't updated this yet XD;; my bad, I got so busy lately, but here's the update! Oh, I have seen the newest chapter and... my adoration towards Wakana has increased, so I'm gonna change the pairing a bit... OtomexRihanxWakana.

With the gentle voices sleeping

in the forgotten past

As I change my despair to a smile

I sink to the bottom of tears

The sky had darkened, and the moon shone mystically like always. The humans had quieted down, most of them had gone to their safe shelter - their homes - and the time for the youkai to conquer the night had come. It was an everyday activity in the town of Ukiyoe, the town where the Nura Gumi stronghold lies. Humans went around, continuing their daily life in the daytime; while the youkai lurk around in the darkness of the night… watching and hiding from human eyes…

But tonight, something will change. And that little change will be like a ripple in a large lake, it will affect everything.

Curse of Love

Nurarihyon no Mago

- = - Chapter 1 - = -

"Home"

by Heartless Lotus

In the darkest hour of the night, the last train of Ukiyoe Station had finally arrived. The screeching sound of the brakes that signaled its arrival, broke the eerie silence of the station. The doors opened with a loud hiss, letting a few people come out from the almost empty train.

One of the ordinary humans that came out from the train was a boy with dual colored hair of brown and black. He carried a big blue backpack on his back and was wearing casual clothes, appearing to left in hurry. Adjusting his glasses, the boy took out a piece of paper from his pants' pocket. Written in small neat writing with black ink was his only guidance he had of his hometown.

Go to the Nura Gumi's main house. You will find your grandfather, father, or brother there. Ask them to protect you from now on. Don't worry, when they see you, they will recognize you immediately.

He flipped the paper over, finding a hand-drawn and simple map of his destination. Clutching the paper hard until he crumpled it, the boy's emotions were clearly spoken through his brown eyes: sadness, confusion, hurt, and guilt.

Sighing loudly, the boy took a step forward and walked toward the place he had once called home…

In the Nura Gumi's main house, Rikuou was annoyed. One, he was bored. Two, he couldn't leave the house since neither his father nor grandfather were there to protect the house. Three, because of reason number two; he couldn't find anyone that was strong enough to fight him.

It's not like he was arrogant or over-confident with his skills…alright, he will admit that he is a bit over-confident, but it's not the source of his annoyance now. Damn it let him leave already! He would rather use this free time to search for Rikuo or drink sake with Zen! Where is Gyuuki when you need him? That old man proves to be almost an equal as his sparring partner.

He had already defeated Kubinashi and Kurotabou combined, and Aotabou along with Yuki-Onna were too busy with their house chores to keep him company, and his unease had already attracted the attention of everyone around him.

Kurotabou, already recovered from the wounds of their sparring earlier, spoke up, "What's wrong, Rikuou-sama?"

"I'm bored." That cleared up the confusion of everyone present. They sighed and tried to find a solution for their soon-to-be leader.

"Sparring?" One of them suggested.

"Already did that." Rikuou put his cheek on his hand, every motion of his body screamed of boredom.

"Do you want us to call Zen-sama or Gyuuki-sama?" Kurotabou suggested, having no one else in mind that could keep Rikuou company.

"It will take forever for them to come here." Rikuou childishly whined, "Let me go out already!"

"But Rikuou-sama! Nidaime has ordered to keep at least the Shodaime or you here when he's away. Shodaime is out to meet Hihi and some of the others. So you're the only one left." Kubinashi reasoned, patiently trying to convince the youngest Nura.

"That old gramps probably went to have another three-day-three-night party." Rikuou sulked, it's not fair that his grandfather was having all the fun while he was trapped in the household, bored out of his mind.

"It can't be helped, Sandaime. After that war ten years ago, everybody is more alert and precocious. Not to mention that it's because of the lack of men here that we have made it easy for the enemies to burn and destroy our ho—" Natto Kozo's words were interrupted by Kejoro's hair that was choking him.

The female youkai hissed angrily, "You idiot! Don't bring that topic up in front of the Sandaime!" However, she was too late, Rikuou had already heard it. Everyone glanced worriedly at the young man who had become silent for a while.

Rikuou stood up leaving the room without another word as to where he was going. Natto Kozo gulped in fear as Kejoro coldly glared at him, "No dinner for you!"

Yamabuki Otome was helping Tsurara in the kitchen, when she saw her son pass by the garden. The expression on his face was so grim, that the flower youkai excused herself and left the chores to the Yuki-Onna and followed Rikuou to the place where her son would always go when he was upset: the Sakura tree.

Just as she predicted, Rikuou was there, solemnly gazing at the night scene of the sleeping town. She walked closer to him, smiling softly as she called out, "What happened, Rikuou?"

Not at all surprised to see his mother coming, Rikuou just glanced at her to in acknowledgement, "…the usual stuff."

"Rikuo-kun and Wakana-san?"

Seeing her son's expression darken, she carefully chose her words. She did not fear that her son would be mad at her, she feared for her son's fragile heart. "If you want to go outside that much, you can go. I'll talk with your father later. Don't worry; with everyone here, I'm sure that we'll be alright."

"Nah." Rikuou shook his head, "Thanks, but…I'll stay." He forced a small smile to reassure his mother, "I'll be fine."

Otome was saddened at the appearance of her son's forced smile, but she kept on smiling. "Come down here, my son."

Confused at his mother sudden request, Rikuou came down from the tree without any sound except for the fluttering of his kimono. "What is it?"

Otome coaxed the youngest Nura into her arms, embracing him gently, "My, you've become so tall lately. I miss the days when you were still so little."

"Okaa-san?" Rikuou was surprised and slightly embarrassed, "I'm already an adult, you know?"

"Even an adult needs to be comforted once in a while." Otome giggled, patting her son's back, since she couldn't reach his head.

Rikuou smiled a sincere smile, "Arigatou."

Otome was about to reply, but a sudden crash and loud cry from the gate of the main house startled the both of them, "What ha—" Rikuou sprinted towards the source of the commotion while Otome shouted his name. "Rikuou?"

"Go inside the house, okaa-san!" Rikuou placed his hand on the hilt of Nenekirimaru, readying himself for the worst thing that could happen.

He wasn't prepared though when he saw a young boy being held down by Aotabou and some other youkai. 'No way…'

A while before…

Rikuo's legs stopped in front of the enormous traditional house. His heart told him this place was familiar. Longing and happiness filled his heart along with sadness. There was something here that pulled him, comforting him much more than his home for the past ten years. He could feel it with every fiber of his being, this was his home. This was the place where he belonged.

But…what is it that prevented him from entering his home?

Gathering his courage, Rikuo determinedly took a step forward. One step, two steps, three steps…until he entered the opened gates of the main house.

While Rikuo was amazed by the enormity of the house, something roughly collided with his back and made him fell on his stomach. When he was about to get up, something heavy held him down. Rikuo coughed, feeling very uncomfortable and breathless. He couldn't breathe…!

"Human! What are you doing here?" A harsh voice asked him, demanding an answer.

"This is the Nura Gumi's main house! How could a human find his way here? We already covered the house with our Fear so that no humans could enter this place!"

"Are you an onmyouji? If so, you have come to the wrong place…arrogant human, you will regret ever coming here!"

He couldn't reply to all of the questions at once, not to mention that the thing holding him down was so heavy that he could barely speak, "I want…to see the Shodaisho…"

"Hah! As if a mere human like you could deserve to see the Chimimoryo!"

"Just kick him out of the house already. Sandaime will be mad at us if we harm a human."

"But the boy already knows the way to our house; it will be dangerous to just let him go back!"

"Maybe it's an accident?"

'Ah geez…stop talking and lift this heavy thing off me!' Rikuo sighed and looked around, fortunately, he could still move his head a little. There were many youkai surrounding them. This was the first time he had seen so many youkai in one place.

Noticing the boy's lack of fear, the one that was holding him down looked at him carefully, "It feels like I have seen you before…who are you, human boy?" Seeing the boy's accusing stare at his hand Aotabou lifted his hand enough to allow him to speak and breathe normally but not enough to escape.

"My name is—"

"Get away from him!" A shout quickly startled everyone, causing the youkai to look at the one that was shouting the order, "NOW!" That person added, seeing as no one made a move to obey the previous command.

Frightened and confused, everyone moved away from the boy; even Aotabou. Free at last, Rikuo sighed as he sat up. When he was about to thank whoever had helped him, he found himself in the arms of someone.

It was so sudden and shocking, that no one could say or do anything. Rikuo was speechless, his hands moved to get the one hugging him off, but his body froze when he saw the silver and black hair of this person. Surprisingly, he relaxed, finding the embrace more than comfortable; he felt warmth and…affection?

Noticing the boy was not struggling anymore, Rikuou embraced him tighter. His hands were clutching at the back of the boy's clothes tightly, afraid to let him go. 'Is this a dream?' But it feels so real, the warmth, the scent, even the soft hair of the boy in his arms that was touching his cheek. If this is just another dream, let him dream a bit longer…long enough to memorize every detail of his brother in his arms, so he wouldn't forget, the moment he woke up.

"Uh…" Rikuo patted the older boy's back, trying to make him release his hold on him, "Release me, please?"

"Don't want to." Rikuou stubbornly kept his arms around the boy, his chin resting on Rikuo's shoulder.

"But you're choking me…!" Rikuo whined, successfully forcing Rikuou to release him, albeit unwilling. He still kept his hands on Rikuo's waist though, he did not want to let the boy go anymore.

Rikuou gazed at the brown eyes of his brother, noticing how Rikuo had grown up, "Rikuo…" If in his memories Rikuo was cute, now that he was grown up, Rikuo had become cuter. It's a wonder how he can stay a cute, feminine looking boy.

"Umm…maybe this is weird, but I have a question." Rikuo asked confusedly. "Who are you?"

As much as he felt comfortable around this person, he couldn't remember him at all. But unknown to him, that question turned Rikuou's dream into a nightmare.

.

.

.

To be Continued...

Dictionary :

1) Zen : Originally from China. Recorded on ancient texts like Shiji. A bird with deadly poison. It's as big as a hawk, have green feather and copper-colored beak. Have poisonous snake as it's diet. The poison made by dipping Zen's feather into a bowl of sake. The only thing that can neutralize Zen's poison is a rhinoceros' horn. Yun-ri and Yin-xie is the male and female version.

2) Gyuuki : A youkai with horned, bovine head and crab/spider-like body.

3) Kubinashi : Nukekubi, a youkai with head detached from it's body. These heads attack by screaming (to increase their victims' fright), then closing in and biting. While the head is detached, the body of a nukekubi becomes inanimate. In some legends, this serves as one of the creature's few weaknesses; if a nukekubi's head cannot locate and reattach to its body by sunrise, the creature dies.

4) Kurotabou : A depraved monk turn into youkai. Wears black robe, a conical hat and use hidden weapons. In manga, it's said that he protect the orphaned children from danger of adults.

5) Aotabou : A depraved monk turn into youkai because of killing too much. Use brute strength to fight.

6) Natto Kozo : A small youkai with nattou as head.

7) Kejoro : A female youkai with long hair. Dress like a courtesan and appears in brothel.

8) Yamabuki Otome : Kerria maiden. In poetry, it was said that Yamabuki laments over it's inability to bear fruit.

9) Okaa-san : an usual way to call a mother. Okaa-sama being it's second of the most formal way to call a mother.

10) Nenekirimaru : an exorcist sword made by Hidemoto to exorcise Hagoromo Gitsune with the help of Nurarihyon, in manga that's it.

11) Arigatou : I think everyone already knew this, but oh well... 'thank you'

12) Onmyouji : Japanese exorcist. They're exorcising youkai with the help of shikigami ( spirits summoned by an onmyouji to do their bidding ) and ofuda ( talisman with sacred power ).

13) Shodaisho : Supreme Commander.

14) Chimimoryo : Lord of Pandemonium.