EDIT: 9/3/2015
The day for humans rises.
Author's Corner!
Welcome back to another chapter! Let's hang out with the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol and its three new members~
R&R
Legend: ' ' are thoughts, " " are characters speaking, *bold* are actions done by characters and sfx, italics represent past events, memories, emphasis and abilities/yokai, and bold italics time skips.
WARNING: May contain OOC, various point-of-view, and possible lemons!
III : A Day with the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol
"And now...a yokai quiz! Which one of the following flying fire yokai is accompanied by birds?" he asks.
A) Tsurubebi
B) Furaribi
C) Ubagabi
Shima-kun raises his hand and answers C. "Wrong! The correct answer is B) Furaribi. You've still got a long way to go, Shima-kun. Incidentally, among the known yokai, about one-third are said to be fire demons. Their goal is surely-" "...to induce fear in people."
"Huh?" we all turned to Keikaiin-san.
"You're very knowledgeable, aren't you, transfer student? Uh..." he trails off.
"I'm Yura Keikaiin. By the way, the ones that are dangerous even to their fellow demons...are the ones who changed from beasts to yokai. They possess intellect, but they are irrational. It is said that they are extremely dangerous."
Shima-kun, Maki-san, Torii-san and Kiyotsugu-kun applaud her.
"Ohhh~"
"Wow."
"You really are knowledgeable, huh? Keikaiin-san?" Torii-san said. "Just Yura...is fine."
I looked at the group from my seat, as I was just reading a book. 'Is that girl a yokai maniac, too?' I felt someone staring at me, so I looked forward to see Shiho-chan with her arms propped on my desk, her head resting on both of her palms, and staring at me. "W-What is it, Shiho-chan?"
"You were thinking if that girl was a yokai maniac like Kiyotsugu-kun, weren't you?" she deadpanned.
"Ahaha, I don't know what you're talking about, Shiho-chan..." She smiled and said, "Whatever you say, Ri~ku~o." I felt my face heat up as she said each syllable of my name.
"You seem to know a lot about yokai, Yura-chan," I hear Kana-chan say as she walks up to her. "Well, yeah. They say that when the moon grows large, beasts that have become demons take on human form and sever, slash, and devour to their heart's content. Please make sure to never irritate them," she warns. "Y-Yes..."
"Amazing! I've been seeking a child like you!" Kiyotsugu-kun exclaims while holding onto Yura-chan. "By all means, you must join our Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol!"
Shiho-chan and I walk towards the group and stand next to Kana-chan. "Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol?" Shiho-chan and I ask at the same time. "It's a group that I formed. The principle activity is searching for yokai. Nura-kun, you are also one of the members," he declares while pointing at me. "Eh?!"
"Of course, you are as well, Ienaga-kun!" he points at Kana-chan. "Eh!"
"By the way, transfer students- No, Yura-kun and Shiho-kun! Tonight, we will be having an induction ceremony. Both of you will participate, won't you? I was thinking of having the ceremony at Nura-kun's home."
"Eh?! At my house?!" "Eh?! At Rikuo's house?!" Shiho-chan and I question. Kana-chan glanced at us, but we didn't notice.
"I hear it's a fairly creepy house, you know. According to rumors, the neighbors seem to call it a yokai mansion." Shiho-chan and I stiffen at this, sweat dropping profusedly as they talk about coming to my house.
"A yokai mansion?"
"N-No! I've never heard rumors like that!" I denied the thought."T-That's right!" Shiho-chan said.
"No! My information has no gaps!" Kiyotsugu-kun boasts. "There aren't!" Shima-kun agrees. "Which means that tonight, we will have the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol induction ceremony at Nura-kun's house." I stiffen once more, shocked at the turn of events. Shiho-chan was shocked and gripping my right arm a little too tightly, but I didn't care about that. What I cared about was that they were coming to my house! What'll happen if they see any yokai?! What if they find out that Shiho-chan is living with me?! What if they find out that I'm not really human?!
Coming out of shock, I say, "Hey, wait!"
"Shall I impose on you as well?" Kana-chan suggests. "Eh?!"
"Well, Rikuo-kun's home is really like a haunted mansion, so it seems like it'll be fun!"
"If that's true, I'd definitely like to come as well," Yura-chan says.
"It seems the Young Master and Lady are caught up in something troublesome..." Aota- Kurata says.
"Mmm..." Tsurara mumbles.
After School
"Hah..." Rikuo sighs heavily. I glance at him from the corner of my eye as we walk together along with Tsurara and Kurata. "What should I do...? I can't believe they're coming to my house..." he trails off.
"It's okay, Young Master. We'll be sure to tell all our guys to behave tonight," Kurata reassures him.
"But, Yura-chan seemed unusually knowledgeable about yokai... It's disconcerting..." I put a hand on his shoulder and walk closer to him. "Come on, Rikuo. Don't be so depressed. I'm sure everything will work out just fine," I tell him. He looks at me, still looking depressed. My smile falters a bit. 'Ah...'
"It's true that...that girl concerns me a bit... She seems to have a strange aura about her," Tsurara states. Rikuo jumps up, surprising me, and says, "You think so, too?!" But was interrupted by loud noises from inside the house.
"What the..."
"It's coming from our guys, isn't it..."
"Those guys...partying so wildly this early..."
"Ahaha...what should we do?"
"Ah, jeez!" "Eh?" the three of us blurt out. "Even though today is the only day where it'll be a problem if they aren't quiet!" Rikuo shouts while running into the house. Tsurara, Kurata and I run after him.
Rikuo slid the screen doors open to reveal...
all the Nura Clan yokai partying like no tomorrow. The four of us stood there in disbelief.
"Ahaha! Yeah, yeah! Chug, chug!"
"Drink up, Nattou!"
"Could you bring the sake over here, too?" Kurotabou called out. "Right, right! I'm on the way!"
"My, my. There's not enough sake, is there?" Kubinashi asks. I look to my left to see Rikuo about to blow his top. 'Oh dear...'
"Hey, what's with all the commotion?!" he yells.
"Huh?" was everyone's reply. They all gathered in front of us, sitting on the tatami mats, and greeted their young master.
"Well, if it isn't the Young Master," Nattou greeted.
"Welcome home, Young Master. Shiho-sama." Kurotabou greeted.
"We've been waiting for you! In any case, tonight is the night we celebrate with sake for the Young Master!" Karasu says. "Sake celebration?" Rikuo asks. "We heard about it, Young Master! Last night, you had a tremendous transformation, didn't you?" Kubinashi asked. I flinched a bit. "It really is something to be celebrated, isn it!" Kurotabou said happily. "Well, no..." I trail off quietly. "Look! It's almost night time! Now, please, hurry up and transform just like you did yesterday!"
"I don't care about something like transformation! Anyways, hurry up and hide in the back! My friends from school are coming over soon!" he tells them.
"Eh?!"
"Your friends from school will be visiting?" Kubinashi asks. "That's right...I'm begging you, please act in a way that won't expose us."
"Well, that's that. I ask that you cooperate," Kurata says. "This is also for the Young Master's sake!" Tsurara adds.
"Right..."
They cleaned the trays and started cleaning the room. "Just when everyone was finally in festive spirits..." Nattou trailed off. "Now, now. We'll have a celebratory banquet again some other time..."
"I'm sorry, everyone..." Rikuo apologized. "But, I really don't want my friends to know."
Everyone of them became more depressed. "Nura-kun~! Let's play!" was what Kiyotsugu-kun said from outside the gates.
We headed towards the gates while the rest of them cleaned the house, Kurata and Tsurara helping them.
"Hey, hey! Nura-kun, thanks for the invitation tonight!" Kiyotsugu-kun greets. "No, I didn't invite you..." I mutter. "Now, now..." I hear Shiho-chan say.
"My, welcome! Thank you for coming! It's rare that human guests come, I'm so happy!" mom greets them.
"Human guests?" Yura-chan asks. "Ah, well, come in everyone! Come in!" I say.
"Thank you for your hospitality!"
"Ah, Rikuo?" "Hm? What is it, Shiho-chan?" I ask her. Now facing me, she says, "I'm gonna go change. How about you?" she asks. "Ah, no, you go ahead. I'm gonna take everyone in," I tell her. "Alright," she turns to everyone else. "I'll join you in a bit." Bowing, she turns to my mom. Bowing again, she to her room.
After that, the rest of them walk in. As Yura-chan passes by me, she says, "I think I'll like this... Old mansions like this often have yokai living in them."
"Ah..."
We walked down the hall. "It's really spacious, isn't it?" Kana-chan says. "It's like a set from a historical drama!" Shima-kun comments. "Just like the rumors said, it looks just like a yokai's mansion, doesn't it?"
"It certainly seems like there's a vague demonic presence hovering over there," Yura-chan says. "Ah, isn't it just your imagination? Haha..."
"Hm? Over there!" "Eh?!"
We turn to the upper floors but there was nothing there. "I wonder if it was my imagination..." she trails off.
"It really feels like they might appear, doesn't it?" Shima-kun asks nervously.
"This is a good atmosphere," Kiyotsugu-kun states. "This is perfect for the induction ceremony of the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol, isn't it? Now then, before we start the induction ceremony-" he started, but was interrupted by the screen door suddenly sliding open.
"Kyaaa!""Ahhhh!"
"Hm? What's wrong, everyone? Did I scare you?"
"Sh-Shiho-chan...don't do that," I tell her. "My, I'm terribly sorry. I was just talking with Wakana-sama. She said that tea will be brought to us shortly," she informs us as she grabs a pillow to sit on.
"Ahem! Now then, before we begin, let's discuss the results of our research on the yokai we should look for."
"Research on yokai?" Shiho-chan and I ask, receiving another unnoticed glance from Kana-chan.
"Yes. Yokai are divided into various categories... Ones that take on human form, ogres and goblins, Kappa, and other supernatural beings. There are aso various ones that have suffered paranormal phenomenon, but-" he was cut off by the screen doors opening once more. "I've brought you some tea." She walks in to hand us the tea. "Here you are. It's herbal tea." I notice Shiho-chan looking at me while I physically panic. "Ah! I'll do the rest!" I tell her, pushing her out. "Oh...Take your time!" she hollers.
I look over my shoulder and laugh awkwardly after closing the door. I glance a bit at Shiho-chan who just drank her tea silently, a sweatdrop appearing on her head.
"That's amazing, Nura! You had that awesome of a sister?!" Shima-kun asks me. "You don't, do you?" Kana-chan asks.
"No, I don't...That lady is just someone who helps out around the house..." I explain.
"Eh?! You have a housekeeper?! Are you super rich or something?" he asks again. "No, not really..."
"Still. This house is indeed strange, isn't it...?" Yura-chan asks.
"Ah! Jeez~ That's not true! Right, Shiho-chan?" I ask her. She looked at me as if saying 'Don't drag me into this' but said, "Mhm. Absolutely nothing out of the ordinary here." And drank her tea again. I sweatdrop at the sarcasm then said, "Ah, I'm going to the bathroom for a sec!"
I ran to the kitchen. Opening the door, they look at me.
"Oi! Kejoro!"
"Young Master! What's the matter?" she asks me. "Don't give me that! Even after I begged you guys not to appear in front of my friends!" I yell. "Ah, I'm very sorry about that... That news didn't make it to the kitchen." "Anyhow! Make sure not to come out again, okay?" I say then walk back to the room.
"Jeez!"
Calming myself down, I put on a smile and open the screen doors. "Sorry to keep you waiting- Eh?"
No one was waiting.
With the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol
"Yura-kun, where are you going?" Kiyotsugu-kun asks the strange girl.
'This is bad, this is really bad! I would've gone to tell Rikuo, but I can't just leave them...'
"I wonder if it's all right for us to just wander around like this on our own..." Kana-chan says. "A-Ahaha, don't worry, Kana-chan," I tell her as she looks at me. "As long as I'm with you guys, you won't get into trouble." Yura-chan stopped and looked to the courtyard.
'Ah! That's where Tsurara and some others are hiding...'
"Guys! This is where you were!" Rikuo calls out from behind. I turn to him and move closer to whisper to him. "I'm sorry, Rikuo. But I couldn't let them wander on their own..." "Ah, it's okay, Shiho-chan. Thank you for staying with them," he whispers back.
"I do sense it after all, a powerful demonic presence..." Yura-chan says. "Eh?"
"There's no mistake about it. This is the feeling that yokai give off." I notice Rikuo looking more worried than ever. 'This girl...just what is she?' I thought. She's way too perceptive and knowledgeable about yokai...and she can "feel" their presence. Could she be... no, she couldn't, could she? Well, if she is...then we've got a serious problem on our hands.
We continue to walk down the halls of the house.
"This really is a big house, huh?" Shima-kun comments. "Not as large as mine, though." Kiyotsugu-kun bluffs.
'I highly doubt someone like you could have such a big house.'
"It seems like you'd get lost on your own..." Kana-chan says. "H-Hey...isn't it about time we return to the room and drink some tea?" Rikuo suggests. "No. Let us inspect your house a little more." She really is a persistent one.
We made our way to the bathroom.
"This is a bathroom, right?" Yura-chan says, walking towards the door of the bathroom. 'I can tell they're in there...'
"Excuse me!" she says as she slides the door open. 'That's a lot of steam,' I thought, peering into the bathroom. "They're not here, huh?" she says hesitantly. "See? There's no such thing as yokai. Come on, let's go. All right?" Rikuo says. I mentally sigh.
'This is quite troublesome...'
We made our way through various parts of the house, Yura-chan inspecting every single spot.
As we got to the kitchen, we saw Nattou Kozo trying to blend in with the food... "...Nattou?" I heard him say "Kozo" as quietly as he could, but paid no mind to it as it would ruin everything.
Walking back into the hallway, Kiyotsugu-kun decided that now would be the time to be enthusiastic. "All right! Now that it's come to this, I'll search every nook and cranny of this house, too!"
"Wha- stop it!" Opening screen doors to a random room, we come across...an furious-looking Zen-san.
"Ahahaha..." I laugh awkwardly. I bet he's thinking "Having a person who will become the third commander of the Nura Clan and the third heir of the Gistune Clan be accompanied by humans in pathetic!" Slowly and quietly, Kiyotsugu-kun closed the doors.
Walking back into the hallway once more, Rikuo asks, "H-Hey...are we still gonna look around?"
Yura-chan stopped in front of a room and said, "This place has the most suspicious smell so far." "Huh?" 'Smell?' I thought to myself while smiling. 'How strange.'
Walking into said room, there was a statue of Buddha. "Wow~ An impressive Buddhist statue, isn't it?" Kiyotsugu-kun commented.
"Amazing!"
"A world heritage item, perhaps?"
"So you are rich after all..." Shima-kun says. "Th-That's not really the case..." Rikuo denies. The four of them walk off in separate directions. "Ah, Yura-chan? Wait!"
"This statue..." she says while looking at...a statue? 'Is that really even a statue?' I thought. Rikuo, who was standing to my left, looked very panicked while he continued to look at the statue.
'Ah...so it is them.' I facepalmed.
"I really do feel a demonic presence here though..." she said while looking at its sides. She then tried to touch it. "Ah, Yura-chan! "That statue is one you absolutely most not touch!" is what my Grandpa said," he tells her. I let out the breath I held in. 'Nice save, Rikuo.' "Your Grandpa?" she asks.
As if on cue, Nurarihyon-sama walked in. "Oh, Rikuo? Shiho? These your friends?"
Rikuo balled while I just stared in disbelief.
"Thank you for your hospitality!" Kiyotsugu-kun greeted. "Would you like some candy?" he asked as if he were a normal grandfather. "Th-Thank you very much." "Thank you."
After giving them the candy, his attention turns to Yura-chan. "Eh?" Rikuo and I blurted out. They stared at each other before he said, "Ah, thank you for always taking care of my grandson."
"Ah..."
"Nah, don't worry about it!" Kiyotsugu-kun tells him. "However, this candy is kinda disgusting, isn't it!" I take a quick glance at Rikuo, who had a look on his face that said "They haven't noticed?"
"Well, make yourselves at home!" he tells them. Before he leaves, he turns to me. "Shiho, there's something I want to tell you. Come with me."
Confused, I complied to his request and followed him out. Before we left, I looked over my shoulder and said, "Don't wait for me. This is probably going to take a while, so I might not be able to see you guys off... But, I do hope you guys find what you're looking for!" I say that, but my mind says 'I hope you don't find anything at all!'
Nurarihyon-sama and I walk down the hallway to the meeting room. I glance at him from the corner of my eye.
'I bet he just wanted to bother me...I doubt he has anything important to talk about. Old fart...'
"But really, Nura's Grandpa seemed like a real yokai, didn't he?" Shima-kun says.
"No way! He's a human, I tell you. Human," I deny.
"Suspicious."
We all turn to Yura-chan. "It's said that high ranking yokai can conceal their own demonic presence."
"Well, let's leave the search for yokai at this and return to the room!" I suggest. 'Can't have them finding out!'
"Hmmmm..." she hums. "Is there still something...?"
"I feel like I'm seeing something..." she trails off.
A rat appears from behind the Buddhist statue. "Kyaaa!""Nooo!"
"Ah, K-Kana-chan!"
"Scary!" "Ienaga-san, you're heavy..."
I run off after Yura-chan. "H-Hey, wait up!" I call out after her. We run onto the courtyard. "Wait there. You're a yokai tool, aren't 'ya?" she asks the right. "Huh?" Suddenly, the rat changed its appearance into a more demonic one. Paper like things flew onto the rat, electrocuting it. "Ah!"
"Onmyouji, using the name of the Keikaiin household, I exterminate you, yokai, from this world," she declares. I look at her in awe. The rat jumps at her, but she dodges easily. "Exterminate!" she shouts and the rat yokai disappears.
"O-Onmyouji? Surely you don't mean... The onmyouji who exterminate yokai?!"
"Onmyouji! Yura-kun! Is that what you said?" Kiyotsugu-kun calls out, running towards us with Shima-kun and Kana-chan. "Yes."
"It was true after all! They do exist! Onmyouji and yokai!" "Amazing!"
"I'm a descendant of the Keikaiin family onmyouji whose livelihood is yokai extermination in Kyoto," Yura-chan explains. "Now that you mention it, I think I've heard of the Keikaiin on TV before..."
"That's probably my grandfather, Hidemoto Keikaiin," she tells him. "Why did someone as famous as you suddenly transfer here?" Kiyotsugu-kun asks.
"This town, Ukiyoe, is an infamous place where our members are often attacked. According to rumors, it is said that the master of yokai lives in this very town," she explains. "Eh?!" I blurt out quietly. "I was sent here by my family, as a test to seal lots of yokai. And then to stand at the top of the onmyouji and take over as the head of the Keikaiin family."
"No way..." "This is amazing! A pro has come to this town!"
'I'm not sure what, but it seems like something terrible is happening!'
"From tonight on, you and Shiho-kun are officially members of the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol!" Kiyotsugu-kun says.
"We've made quite a racket today," Yura-chan says.
"Well, today was a truly meaningful day!" Kiyotsugu-kun states.
"Come over to play again!" mom calls out to them as they walk away. "Okay!" Kana-chan calls back. "Yes, I will impose on your hospitality again," Yura-chan says.
"Err..."
"Rikuo, hurry up and come inside, okay?"
*sigh* "Young Master, I apologize for not noticing the shady rat," Aotabou says. I shake my head, "It's okay."
"But, that rat..." Yuki-onna trails off.
"Yeah, what was that?" I ask. "It's something I've never seen up 'til now, but... It could be..."
"Rikuo," a voice called out to me from behind.
"Ah, Shiho-chan. What did Grandpa want to talk about?" I ask her. "Nothing really, he just wanted to bug me," she deadpanned. "O-Oh..."
"Did something happen while I was away?"
"Get this, Shiho-sama! That strange girl was actually an onmyouji!" Yuki-onna tells her. Shiho-chan steps back a bit. "O-Onmyouji?! No way!"
"Yes, way! She even beat a rat yokai with her shikigami!"
"Rikuo...I don't think it's best for us to hang around her as much," Shiho-chan tells me worriedly. "I know, but..." I trail off, looking to where our friends walked away. 'Nothing bad will come from being her friend, right?' I thought.
"Yuki-onna, come with me," I heard Aotabou tell her. They began to walk back into the house. Shiho-chan stood beside me, taking my hand in hers.
"E-Eh? Shiho-chan?" I looked at her, embarrassed by her bold actions.
She squeezed my hand and said, "Don't worry, Rikuo. If you want to be friends with her, you can. I'm just advising you to be more careful..." She looked me dead in the eye. Concern showed in her eyes as they met with mine. Understanding, I smile at her.
"Thanks, Shiho-chan."
Beware of the night.
I'm sleepy. Time for bed~
Tell me what you think! Contribute your ideas! I'll take 'em all~ Well?
The night for yokai falls.
ffxshilayt aka Shila -
