Hey all! This stumbled out while I was attempting to avoid working on a presentation. It was a result of one too many glasses of wine and watching Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam on Netflix... don't ask, I don't know why either.

But anyway, have you seen the manga? Love the way it's going.

Un-betaed, forgive my errors.

This time: And understanding is reached. Does that sound like a Yoda-ism? (-_-)

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Rikuo stumbled away towards the woods, his mind racing.

His sensitive hearing had picked out the startled breaths of his long time friend Kiyotsugu standing just on the other side of the temple doors. Surely his friend had overheard the entire confrontation between himself and that obstinate old priest.

His secret was out.

What was he going to do?

What would Kiyotsugu say?

Visions of the entire school cringing away from him in terror flashed across his mind's eye. He was a monster. Now they would know. Now… They would be afraid. Demons fed on fear, after all. Without it he would lose his power. But it wasn't right.

Rikuo shook his head in frustration and punched the trunk of the nearest tree. A crater formed where his fist impacted in the bark. A moment later the sensation registered in his brain and he withdrew his hand, howling in pain. Damn spirit energy! He thought ruefully. He was still strong, but not invincible with his night form so close to the surface.

His family, and the ayakashi known as Nurarihyon, had always fed on the fear of others - like any other demon. But his fear was fascination, awe of the unknown. He preyed upon their admiration of the darkness, and the beauty and strength that could exist within it. He had always been flash and flame, an overwhelming presence with the night parade looming so large in the mist that followed him.

Absolute terror did not suit him. He had no use for it. He did not wish to harm humans, and so he did not use the type of fear that could destroy them. But it existed. And now he could imagine it reflected back at him in Kiyotsugu's eyes. That sort of fear made a human cower away, crippled like a deer in the road, unable to move from encroaching death. It was the sort of reaction demons counted upon, and the sort of reaction Rikuo detested most in his heart.

Suddenly a voice reached his ears, floating on the wind.

"You couldn't be farther from the truth. Nura-kun is one of the most kind and gentle people that I have ever met."

It was Kiyotsugu. Rikuo was astonished.

His friend didn't hate him, and he wasn't afraid. Abject relief flooded his mind so strongly he sank to his knees in the middle of the path. He sat there for a long moment, staring absently at the rounded pebbles that made up the walking path, barely registering the sensations.

Well, alright then. He could still fix things. He scratched the side of his head in confusion. But how was he going to do that? He fell back to his old standbys of basic human interaction. Be polite. Be kind. Be helpful. The things a demon would never be. Rikuo shook himself mentally and stood up.

What was that on his face? This dampness was… tears? He had been crying. Rikuo huffed out a sob of relief and looked up into the twilight. Overhead crows circled in the sky. One swooped down to perch on his shoulder, eying him speculatively. Rikuo sighed and reached out with a finger to stroke the soft plumage on its head.

"I'm having a bit of a rough night. But I'll survive." He murmured affectionately to the bird. "Tell the Tengu siblings that everything is fine. I'll return home as planned." The crow nodded at him and took off into the forest. Rikuo wiped at his eyes and moved slowly for the stairs to wait for his friends.

Yes, they are my friends.

Rikuo grinned at the thought.

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Kiyotsugu glanced around the temple, soaking in the ancient artifacts and unique architecture of the building. There was a lot to see, and at any other time he would have been in ecstasy, surrounded by the history of his favorite past-time, ayakashi lore. But his thoughts were still humming away on the events of earlier this evening.

His friend was a youkai.

He just could not get past the shock. He had been searching so long for proof of their existence. And here it had been hiding right under his nose this whole time! What were the chances?

He was so lucky. Now he'd finally get to find out all about the secret world that hovered just beyond his fingertips. All that mystery and intrigue, danger and excitement, just waiting for him to reach out and grab! His life would be forever changed.

"Rikuo… why did you hide?" He murmured to himself. What knowledge did his smaller, quieter friend possess? Why hadn't he ever said anything? He was an actual, living, breathing, youkai for god's sake! A youkai that attended classes like a human, had a home and a family, and joined… his paranormal investigation squad? What use could his friend have had for such a thing? Surely he must already know everything they had sought to discover.

A jolt of anger scorched through him. All this time… and Rikuo had lied to him! He knew how important youkai were to him. Just on the ride over he had told him how amazed and awed he had felt at the sight of that great ayakashi, Nurarihyon. And Rikuo had never said anything! Why hadn't he wanted Kiyo to know the truth? Something nagged at the back of his mind.

"But what I don't understand is, why do you want to meet him again? Aren't you afraid he'd sneak into your house and steal all your food? They say that's what he does."

Rikuo didn't seem to share his opinion of Nurarihyon. But then again, neither did the legends. Some painted him at the head of the night parade of a hundred demons, leading that procession of chaos and destruction all through the city. Others painted him as a trickster and a thief, making off with what was not his. Always causing trouble and grief upon those he visited. And most of all, they painted him as the Supreme Commander of the Youkai… the Lord of Pandemonium.

He was hated and feared, loved and revered. And…Kiyotsugu could not blame him for hiding this. It was a terrifying thing to know.

He considered the others in his squad. How would they react to the news? He could see their faces. Maki and Torii wouldn't take it well. Not at first, anyway. Neither would Shima. The three of them would totally freak out. Or, possibly try to kill Rikuo out of self preservation. He winced at that thought.

So, he would keep it to himself. Maybe Oikawa and Kurata would be able to handle it. Kana was another matter. Kiyo frowned to himself. She had met Nurarihyon before. At the time Kiyo had been rather jealous that it had been her, and not him, who had seen the mysterious ayakashi of the night. But he was more relieved that she was safe, following an attack by a crazed youkai. His breath caught in his throat.

Was that it?

Had Rikuo been protecting them all this time? Kiyotsugu shook his head and laughed in amazement. It was what he had been doing that first time he had met him, after all. That day on the bus, the little Nurarihyon had saved all of their lives. It seemed that things were still just as they had been back then, only now they were growing up.

Suddenly it all made sense. The many sightings his squad had claimed to have had with various youkai. Kana said Nurarihyon had shown up to save her at the last second. Had shown up to save them. Had he really been so oblivious?

He had been taking them into danger all this time. In his idiotic efforts to prove to the world that youkai were real, he had strode like a fool into lands where angels feared to tread. And each and every time, he had strode right back out again like the fool that he was.

Because of Rikuo.

Because the Lord of Pandemonium had followed him into the darkness.

Kiyo felt his own determination solidify. Now was his chance to return the favor. Now it was his turn to repay all those years of hidden strength, silence and solitude. Rikuo would have nothing to fear from him.

Kiyotsugu turned back to the wall scroll he was studying with a shake of his head. It had supposedly been painted back in the time of the priestess that had sealed away the demon in the shrine. The work was titled Miko Souretsu Vanquishes Evil. The scroll depicted the famed priestess kneeling in prayer beside a fallen demon. Next to her stood an odd man with bushy hair and a lantern in his hand. The three figures were surrounded by a ring of monsters.

The old priest Ishikawa came up behind him with a nod at the painting.

"Legend says that the young priestess had some help defeating the terrible demon in battle." Kiyotsugu nodded his head in agreement.

"From the night parade of a hundred demons."

"Yes," The priest sighed reluctantly. "That is him, in the scroll." He pointed at the demon standing next to Souretsu-sama with a lantern lit by spirit flame.

"Nurarihyon, the Lord of Pandemonium."

Kiyotsugu turned back to the priest, swallowing nervously.

"You know, it was my idea to come here. I wanted to know more about the history of this place. And see the remains of the demon that was sealed away here. He never knew what I was planning until we got here. It really wasn't his fault."

The priest shot him a penetrating look at his words. He seemed to weigh something in his mind for a moment before his sighed regretfully and spoke in his old and weathered tone.

"You overheard our little tiff in the courtyard."

Kiyo raised his eyebrows at the priest's description of events, but after a moment nodded his head in affirmation. At his response the priest seemed to stoop over even more, as if the weight of the world was slowly dragging him down.

"Then I am sorry. I was only trying to protect you from the darkness. But it seems as if I have made a terrible mistake." Kiyotsugu gave him a confused look at that statement. He couldn't understand what the old man was trying to say. The other nodded at his expression with a look of sorrow.

"It is better to live in ignorance, my friend. For once you have seen the horrors of the darkness, they can never be unseen. And those who do not join the darkness have no defense against their fear. That is the true power of demons."

Kiyotsugu stared at him for a moment, then smiled down at the old man with all the kindness he could muster.

"But he is my friend. He has always looked out for me. So now that I know the truth, there is nothing left to fear, is there?"

Ishikawa-san blinked at him in astonishment. Then he shook his head and chuckled.

"Son," he rumbled in between his laughter, "you are either a fool or a dead man. Possibly both."

Kiyotsugu laughed with him, because if he didn't he was afraid he might just break into hysterics.

"I think you're right about that!"

He grinned at the priest and turned to look around at the others in the shrine. Shima was standing near the door, looking absentmindedly out into the courtyard in the general direction of the food carts, trying not to look like he was about to fall asleep. Kana was studying another one of the wall scrolls that had a depiction of Nurarihyon in it, trying not to appear too fascinated by the image. Torii and Maki had seated themselves on one of the benches within the shrine, and were quietly people-watching while whispering and giggling with each other. He grinned at his friends, and took a breath to gather his scattered thoughts.

"Hey guys! Why don't we call it a night? Let's head back to the train station." The others slowly gathered themselves up and headed over to meet him and Ishikawa-san by the entrance. He turned back to the priest and bowed formally to the old man in gratitude.

"Thank you, Priest Ishikawa, for the wonderful tour of your shrine. We enjoyed listening to your stories about the history of this place. It was very educational." The old man regarded him fondly for a moment before he bowed his head in acknowledgement.

"Thank you for visiting, I hope you return someday. The Tomoe Shrine is always open."

He turned and led them out of the building. Slowly they approached the stairs, and sure enough, there was Nura-kun waiting nervously to meet up with them. Kiyotsugu couldn't help but marvel at his friend. He just seemed so little - standing there, with his drooping shoulders and downcast expression, nudging his toe against the rocks lining the path. And yet…

So much was hidden, but not to Kiyotsugu's eyes any longer. He couldn't help but grin at his friend in delight. Rikuo looked up hesitantly and met his eyes. His own gentle brown orbs widened in astonishment. Kiyo graced him with the most kind and gentle smile he could manage, before speaking softly.

"Hey, Rikuo-kun! We got to see lots of interesting things inside the shrine! I'll tell you all about it on the way home. Are you ready to head out?"

Rikuo tilted his head to regard him with curiosity for a long moment. Then he nodded his head decisively and returned his delighted grin.

"Yeah, just about." His smile fell a little as he turned to the priest and bowed deeply.

"I am so sorry Ishikawa-san, for all the trouble I have caused you. I never meant you any harm." The old priest bowed just as deeply to him in return. Then straightened up and grinned at his friend.

"I know, son. I may have overreacted a bit. You just startled me. The Keikain house has formally named you as an ally, and that is good enough for me." The three of them had moved ahead a little ways, and the old priest leaned forward a bit to whisper so only they could hear him. He looked at Kiyotsugu, then to Rikuo and whispered mischievously.

"Go in peace, Master of all Spirits."

Rikuo gasped and jerked away while Kiyo's jaw dropped at the old man's audacity. His friend recovered fast and let his eyes fly to Kiyotsugu's face, trying to gauge his reaction to the slip. But Kiyotsugu just couldn't stop smiling. He grinned happily at his friend and laughed quietly at the old man. Rikuo, not quite sure what to make of his reaction, shot a venomous glare at the priest before managing a somewhat shaky and mildly sheepish grin himself.

Kiyo patted Rikuo fondly on the shoulder for a moment before leading the Paranormal Investigation squad down the stairs. As they made the quiet walk back to the train station through the growing darkness of the subdued autumn night, Kiyo turned suddenly to whisper in his friend's ear.

"Thank You."

Rikuo turned to look at him, raising a brow in question.

He grinned back and murmured quietly.

"I have decided what I would say, if I ever met him again. I would thank him for saving my life." He met Rikuo's gaze through the growing darkness.

His friend's eyes almost glowed, the twilight tinting his hazel iris with a bloody reddish tinge. It was demonic, but not in the least bit frightening. That thought brought another laugh to his lips. He met Rikuo's eyes again and managed to add with more solemnity.

"It is something I will never forget."

Rikuo tilted his head once more, studying him in amazement. His eyes seemed to look right through him for a moment, his sight lying in some wild and unfathomable world that Kiyotsugu would never be able to see. But then they refocused and pinned Kiyo down with a ferocity so sharp, he feared he'd be speared by their intensity. Finally he smiled and his whole face was transformed in to the soft-spoken, shy yet determined Rikuo-kun that he had always known.

"You're welcome!"

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Next time: Kiyo stumbles upon the obituary of one Nura Rihan, and some questions are raised...

Also, a note on translation as one of my reviewers kindly raised with me. I am calling Rikuo youkai, or yokai. Have seen this translated as 'demon' in the anime and scanned manga I read. As in hyakki yako, night parade of a hundred demons. But perhaps a better translation would be 'ayakashi' or 'bad spirit' as I have seen it translated. Either way will be used.