A/N. It's the summer holidays for me and even though I've got tons of work to do I'd rather write than even think about education right now ahh! (but stay in school kids!) Would you all be worried if I said that I have no idea where I'm going with this story but rather I'm spontaneously making up the whole plot along the wayyy hehe. I've got a rough idea but the details are lacking, but I hope you still enjoy
Also, big mention to BerryBiru - imagine my surprise when I suddenly get a notification telling me that someone had left a review, it got me giddy for sure! I won't lie, I've also bit feeling a bit demotivated when it comes to writing lately so your comment really pushed me to go and write some more, please look forward to this story! :)
This is kinda a long chapter ish? – I just couldn't stop woops.
I woke up with a soft groan, my body moving closer to the source of warmth next to me, my entire body curling into a hard softness and in my sleepy stupor I unconsciously noted that I really must look like a leech. But I didn't care, as much as I had disliked the blood sucking things and the thought of being associated with them the warmth that radiated towards me was much too nice to pass up, but it wasn't until that said 'warmth' gave a groan of their own that my senses became fully awake, pale porcelain skin turning an undeniable shade of dark red as blood rushed to my face.
I blinked my eyelids open, wincing slightly due to not being used to the sudden bright rays that seeped into the room. Though my sudden blindness only seemed to concrete my running thoughts that I most definitely was not in the comfort of my own room since there was never any bright sunshine to greet me in the morning seeing as the sun faced away from Kejoro and I's room.
Sighing I looked around, my eyes taking in the room and I immediately knew where I was, only one person would ever even dare hold me for so long and risk getting frozen after all, I thought.
Tearing my gaze away from the ceiling I looked behind me only to be greeted with the young master's sleeping face. I watched as Rikuo stayed unbothered, his soft breathing implying that he was still deep in sleep. Staring at Rikuo's face only caused a darned blush to erupt in my cheeks, all the while my fingers were itching to brush away the stray brown locks that had fallen over the younger master's closed eyelids but I held my hand back, reminding myself that this situation was already highly inappropriate.
Remembering that I had morning chores to do, I slowly moved away from my master but luck was not in my side when said master suddenly reached out, his arms circling around my waist as I was pulled to a rather hard chest. I only became more embarrassed, the level of intimacy I was receiving from master causing me to become lightheaded. Rikuo only snuggled closer towards me, my struggles in his arms seemingly encouraging him to tighten his grip on me even more.
I groaned, giving out an annoyed huff. As much as I loved the feeling of master's arms around me, I really needed to get a move on with the morning chores. Master really was quite clingy, I thought as I processed his attached limbs to mine. Though no longer caring and determined to go on ahead and do some chores I gave my legs a kick in an attempt to untangle my limbs from master's own but the guy just wouldn't budge, but still I persevered to struggle further until Rikuo popped one eye open, a clear frown marring his face as he gave a hiss, my kicking legs having accidentally hitting him.
"Would you stop?" Rikuo growled out, gripping my body to his in an attempt to control my violent fits.
"M-master!" I gasped out, surprise evident on my face as I turned my focus to a now fully awake Rikuo with a scowl on his lips. With Rikuo-sama being awake it only heightened my embarrassment, and my need to escape from his hold became even more absolute as I disregarded what Rikuo-sama had said and shifted in his arms.
Rikuo-sama groaned and I could tell that his own temperament was becoming tested by yours truly. Sighing he grabbed my arms and clipped my legs in between his, trapping me and stopping my movements.
"Stop Tsurara, that's an order" He said, his command hard but his tone soft betraying the sense of authority he was trying to establish over me. I stopped immediately at the word 'order', gulping at the fact that master was clearly unhappy, and he was unhappy with me. I couldn't help it as my lips pulled into a pout before shock ran through me as I was once again pulled into hard flesh.
"It's too early Tsurara, let's go back to sleep." Rikuo muttered, his face nuzzled into the crook of my neck. I let out a whine, my thoughts back to my unattended chores once again as I explained to him that I still had work to do, to which master gave a disapproving grunt in reply, "Let Kejoro or someone else do it. You work too hard, besides, am I not your first priority?"
I couldn't really reply to that seeing as Master had pulled out the priority card on me, I silently cursed him in my head, my eyes rolling at him as a triumphant grin etched it way on his face. Giving up I sighed, my hands gripping Master's clothes as I let myself snuggle closer to him whilst his hands wrapped around me in a protective embrace. Maybe a day off from my morning chores wouldn't hurt so much, especially if it was spent like this. A small grin found its way to my face and inhaled Master's scent, his natural scent of wood and cherry blossoms all too strong.
"I spoil you too much," I muttered, earning a soft chuckle from him, "you're taking blame for all my unfinished chores though." The young master hummed in reply, nodding his head.
The sun's bright rays glowed even brighter and although daylight was out, both Rikuo and I couldn't help the sleepiness that threatened to take over our bodies. I felt my eyes becoming drowsy, my breathing become synched with masters as he held me. Though as if someone had decided that we had enough sleep as it is, the sudden rush of footsteps woke us, followed by shouting as the doors to Rikuo's room was yanked open.
"Young Master! Young Master! It's Tsurara! We can't find her! She wasn't there when…" Kejoro's words died out, her brown eyes wide with shock. Next to her was Kubinashi who like the well-endowed brunette also sported a surprised expression. I gulped at the sight of them, of all the people that could have seen master & I in this promising situation it had to be the 2 loudmouths that unconsciously spilled everyone's secrets when arguing– they were like a bickering old couple, even worst when sake was added in the equation.
"Be quiet." Master growled out, holding the blushing me to his chest as he sat both of us up. Kejoro and Kubinashi both zipped their lips shut, both probably way too speechless at the sight of us, much less speak.
"Kejoro-san! Kubinashi-san!" I squeaked out. Kejoro merely gave me a knowing smirk, her smirk followed with a promise that she would definitely sit me down and get me to spill my guts to her whilst Kubinashi simply raised his brow at me, not quite believing, something that I couldn't fault him in because I myself was still struggling to believe how I had ended up in this predicament. I felt heat travel all the way up to my face and I unconsciously buried my face into Rikuo-sama's chest, unaware that my action had caused him to stiffen as a faint blush dusted his own cheeks.
"Sorry to disturb you both Rikuo-sama. I was just worried after not being able to find Tsurara, but now I see that my worries were for nothing. Breakfast will be served soon Waka please do get ready." Kejoro says, albeit rather quickly as she ushered the still shocked Kubinashi out of the room, the headless man's late reaction coming in the form of shouts of disbelief as they disappeared.
Once the other two were out of sight Waka finally turned to me, a tired smile on his face before pulling me back to bed despite my protests.
"Rikuo-sama! No!" I exclaimed after finally being able to escape from his grasp. I stared at the man before me with a hard look, trying to convey my displeasure in his behaviour whilst Rikuo rolled his eyes, turning to face the ceiling, his lips turning into a pout, not liking the feeling of being reprimanded. Watching him, I felt resolve waver as master pouted because if that wasn't the most adorable thing I have ever seen. But I shook my head, not falling for his cuteness as I probably would have when he was just a small child.
"Waka, please get up. I have my morning chores around the household to do and I still have to make sure that you are all ready for school, or did you forget that you had promised Kiyotsugi-kun and the others that you would all spend your morning free periods together?" I told him. He groaned again and I sighed, noting that he really was starting to groan a lot lately.
I stood up, the covers falling off my body as I smoothened out my clothing and finger combed my dishevelled hair before placing my blue scarf around my neck. As I sorted myself out I could feel the heat of Master's stare, his eyes roaming my body and I tried hard to act nonchalant, pushing down my blush whilst I pulled out Master's school clothes from his closet and placed them on a chair.
I heard a sigh escape from Waka's lip and I turned to him, his body was sprawled on the futon as he stared at the ceiling and I briefly followed his gaze, staring and wondering what in the world was so interesting about the ceiling.
"Do I have to go?" He asks me, almost pleading me to say no. I rolled my eyes at him and nodded my head.
"Of course you have to go Rikuo-sama. You have school today, besides they're your friends, you should spend some time with them when you can. They haven't said anything but I know they've been missing you lately, you're always out and about doing things for the clan that your subordinates can take care of… they seldom see you anymore…," I bit my tongue before I could add 'I barely see you anymore', though my unsaid words definitely hung in the I had said was no lie, the others really did miss Rikuo-sama (especially Kana, the girl would non-stop bombard Tsurara with questions of her young master's whereabouts, as if Tsurara knew, she wasn't attached to Rikuo's hip after all).
Silence ensued between us as master gave no response. I busied myself with preparing his bag for school, placing in the necessary books and all that stuff that he might need. After a while I gave a sneaky glance towards his direction, my nerves doubling as his eyes locked into mine, his brown orbs staring deep into as if trying to decipher all the things that I wanted to say but didn't.
"Is that how you feel too… Tsurara?" He says. My gut churned at his question and I frowned. I bit the inside of my cheek, going through inside my head the best possible ways to approach this. Sure I barely saw the young master anymore seeing as he was busy almost all the time and I myself was buried in things to do and sort out between my own clan and the main house, but I couldn't be selfish and I should understand better than anyone seeing as I was the young master's personal attendant. I should know more than anyone how hard and how crucial his job as third supreme commander was. Therefore my feelings of 'loneliness' was a fickle thing in comparison to the seriousness of the issues that the clan sometimes faced. I shook my head of these thoughts before turning to master with what I hoped was an authentic enough smile.
"Silly Master Rikuo, of course not! I understand the importance of being the third heir, the young master doesn't need to concern himself of how I feel because I will never be disheartened over such things. Master Rikuo is very precious person to me but he is also very important to the rest of the Nura Clan, just as how the clan is important to you." I tell him, smile never leaving my face. His stare on me only intensified, his eyes not quite believing me but he shrugged it off, nodding his head.
I sighed in relief, the tension that the previous conversation had brought seeming to have come to an end as Master Rikuo finally stood up, his already loose yukata falling to the floor as he stretched, his muscles flexing. I held in a groan as I raked my eyes over every curve over his defined chest, lingering a little longer at his contracting and relaxing biceps before glancing away, afraid that I'd be caught 'checking him out'.
Feeling a little more than fidgety I quickly finished whatever I was doing before quickly bowing to Master, not daring to look at him in the eye.
"U-um, I've set out your school clothes and prepared your bag Waka, please get dressed and come to the main dining area for breakfast as soon as you're finished. I will go now…" I quickly say, rushing to get out of his room but not before I heard a loud chuckle.
And as I escaped his room I heaved out a deep sigh, "What a tease." I muttered under my breathe, walking off to go do my chores.
-#-
(Somewhere in the Shikoku Clan's lands.)
"Father!"
"Lord Danuki!"
Screams filled the air as Lord Danuki's figure laid helpless in the ground, his large body covered in blood, so much blood. Around him were other yokai's that littered the floor, many sustaining heavy and severe injuries, some unconscious and a very unfortunate few dead.
A young man ran to Lord Danuki, his short black hair stained with blood as well as his clothes. He knelt down besides Danuki's large body, fisted hands punching the ground in utter defeat as tears flowed down his face.
"Father!" The young man cried out to which Danuki responded with a small smile, grabbing his son by the back and pulling him into his body for some sort of comfort.
"We cannot face this enemy alone Tamazuki. We need help… we need the Nura clan's help…" Lord Danuki wheezed out.
Tamazuki's eyes widened as he watched his father cough up blood, his eyes scanning the rest of his surroundings seeing that their whole clan was left defeated and holding onto the ground.
His eyes burned with hatred as he stared at the man that gave a maniacal laugh and the others he brought with him, fire surrounding the said man as his flames spread and burnt the forest of the Shikoku clan, the souls and spirits residing there crying out in agony.
Tamazuki gritted his teeth. They were in total and utter defeat. His father was right, they couldn't defend themselves from such a threat alone, hell they were already on the ground kneeling before these monsters in defeat. They needed the Nura Clan… and someone had to warn them. Tamazuki had an uneasy gut feeling that this enemy would not stop here, he had seen that look in the man's eyes before, the look of pure hatred, evil and hunger for immeasurable power – after all… had he not worn a look similar to that in the past? Had it not been for Nura Rikuo he would have probably still have been that wretched man to this day, but he'd changed, found serenity and most of all peace with himself. He knew the destruction such a look could bestow and he was terrified, this man was, whoever he was, was no joke, he hadn't come out to play and Tamazuki worried, he had to get the word out, he had to let know everyone know that the devil had escaped hell.
Giving out a soft whistle, he called out for Yosuzume, his trusty attendant. He frowned as Yosuzume appeared, clearly struggling. He took in her appearance, his mouth turning into a grim line as he looked over the bleeding cuts all over her body. But as he stared into her face he felt his heart break. Yosuzume was never one for emotions, choosing to hide behind that bandana of hers, but as he stared at her face now, the look of horror and complete distraught was projected from her face to him and he clenched his fists.
"Can you fly?" Tamazuki asked, steadying his wobbling attendant.
She nodded, her wings spreading out and flapping.
"I need you to go to the Nura Clan. Warn them and ask for their assistance. This is not an enemy we can take on our own," Yosuzume nodded in understanding, gathering what little strength she had to fly away, "Hurry, I'll distract them so they don't notice you. Now go!"
Yosuzume flew away but not before giving her master one last look as he battled it out with the enemies that had invaded and brought havoc to their land.
She flew faster, her muscles aching but her mind set to get to the Nura Clan. Right now she was the Shikoku clan's hope, and she wouldn't and couldn't let that hope burn out.