Pika318: And here is Chapter 4! I actually wanted to end Wakana's story this chapter but the scene kept getting longer and longer that I thought "Forget it". Well, more chapters means happier readers! I hope.

Disclaimer: Nurarihyon no Mago belongs to Shiibashi-sensei.

Chapter 4: Marriage

"This should last us for a few weeks. Since you came along, I could afford to buy more." Wakana commented cheerfully as she and Rikuo exited the market, carrying about four to five bags each.

The bags did not contain fruit, vegetables or meat, as those were delivered by straight to the Main House by other youkai. They contained items which would be more easily obtained in a human market, seasonings like sugar, salt and pepper, amongst other things.

Rikuo was glad he had developed muscles through training as well as helping out at school. He was carrying the heavier bags, and was quite surprised when he realized he didn't have to strain that much carrying them.

"Is it heavy?" Wakana asked, in concern. "I could help you carry one or two bags, since mine are lighter."

"It's fine, mom. I can handle it. More importantly, I really want to know if dad started dating you after that." Rikuo said, wanting to take his mom's attention off the amount of weight he was carrying. If not, she'll just insist on helping him, which would be really awkward, in his opinion.

"Hmm, you really want to know that much? I guess I should continue where I left off then." Wakana complied with Rikuo's request.

"Well, another week passed after that, and things just went on as usual, with your dad visiting me and me going out at night with him. Then one day…"

"Say Wakana…" Rihan said as he put down the empty cup.

"What is it?" Wakana asked as she took the empty cup from Rihan.

"Tomorrow, let's go to my house."

"Okay."

There was a long pause, then Rihan asked.

"Aren't you going to ask why?"

"Well, it's been 3 months since you started coming to my house, Rihan-san. I figured that you probably are sick and tired of coming to this small apartment all the time. And well…after hearing so much about your family, I guess I'm curious about your house too, since it would have to be a really huge one to fit all of you." Wakana explained.

"Oh okay. Then I'll come and get you tomorrow."

Wakana nodded. "I guess you're leaving now then?" she asked. Rihan always left after he finished his tea after all.

"Yeah, you sure you don't want to take a walk today as well?"

"I would love too, but I have so many assignments to finish." Wakana said, smiling in an apologetic manner before continuing, "I'll see you out, just let me put away these cups first."

Rihan had to stifle his laughter as Wakana entered the kitchen. At first, he found it strange that Wakana insisted on seeing him to the door when it was only a few steps away. But now, he just found that polite trait of Wakana really cute and endearing.

Looking towards the altar where her parents rested, he simply said,

"Wish me luck."

"Hmm, Rihan-san, did you say something?"

"No, nothing."

The next day

Nurarihyon paced around restlessly. His idiotic son had disappeared somewhere again, and even though Kubinashi told him not to worry, it wasn't as if he was worried about his son's safety.

Nurarihyon knew he had told his son to take his time to recover before finding someone that would make him happy, but that didn't stop him from getting anxious. Decades had already passed since Yamabuki's disappearance, and yet, his son showed no sign of wanting another mate. It was frustrating. Nurarihyon wasn't getting any younger.

Maybe I should just kidnap a random girl from somewhere and introduce her to Rihan.

As if on cue, he heard several voices from outside, his idiotic son probably came home. Feeling that he needed to have a good talk with his son, he left his room and walked towards the front yard. That was when he saw it.

Amongst the group of youkai which had gathered at the front door, he saw Rihan with his arm over the shoulder of a young girl who couldn't be older than 18. The girl was currently greeting the youkai while looking very amazed by her surroundings.

He really kidnapped a random girl!

Nurarihyon walked up to Rihan quickly, with the other youkai getting out of his way as he approached. Rihan noticed him approaching.

"Hey…" Without even a chance to finish his greeting, Rihan found himself pulled away by his dad, with Nurarihyon's arm around his neck. Given their current height difference, it was rather suffocating.

"Cough…what the heck is your problem, old man?" Rihan hissed as Nurarihyon finally let go.

"Who is she?" Nurarihyon asked, pointing at Wakana.

"Oh right, you don't know yet, that's Wakana."

"I don't mean that! You didn't kidnap her off the street right?"

"Huh? Why would I do something like that? I saved her once before and we became friends."

"Friends?" Nurarihyon asked, looking for a confirmation.

"Yeah, friends. That was in the past though. Hey Wakana, come here for a bit."

Wakana turned, hearing Rihan call her name. Excusing herself from the other youkai, she went up to Rihan.

"Wakana, this is my dad." Rihan said, introducing Nurarihyon to her.

"Ah, my name's Wakana. Nice to meet you." Wakana said bowing. Staring at Nurarihyon for a while longer, she commented to Rihan, "Rihan-san, your dad is really small. With you like that, I expected him to be taller, you know."

"Pfft!" Rihan tried to suppress his laughter at Wakana's comment but failed miserably as Nurarihyon struggled to continue being civil despite the innocent insult thrown in his direction. Wakana simply looked confused as Rihan's reaction.

Finally Rihan said, "Wakana, my dad might look like this, but he used to be the Supreme Commander of Youkai, you should be more respectful."

"He's a youkai?" Wakana asked, turning to the wizened old man in front of her.

"Yeah." Rihan replied.

"…Eat?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, you didn't bring me here to get eaten right?" Wakana asked as she turned to Rihan stiffly, like she had frozen in fright.

"What? Of course not."

"Then…what did you bring me here for?"

Rihan smirked as Wakana asked the question. He had been waiting for an opportunity and it had just arrived.

"Dad." Rihan said, turning to Nurarihyon. His serious tone of voice caused everyone in the vicinity to pay attention.

"I'm planning to marry her."

There was a long pause before…

"WHATT?" Everyone exclaimed once again. How many times did their leader plan to surprise them?

However, they were not the only ones who were in shock. Wakana froze after hearing what Rihan said. After ten seconds…

"Huh? Did you say…marry?" Wakana asked.

"Yes."

"To me?"

"Yes."

"Eh? You and me…get married?"

"Yes."

Wakana finally seemed to snap out of her shock, and close to shouted, "What happened to dating?"

"We can always deal with that after marriage." Rihan replied casually.

"People normally date BEFORE marriage, Rihan-san!" Wakana insisted.

"Well, if you're so concerned about that, the past few months did count as dating."

"No it doesn't!"

"It doesn't? But I already asked your parents, and I'm pretty sure they said it was okay."

"You asked my parents, when?" Wakana asked, confused.

"Yesterday, when you were in the kitchen."

"That…" Wakana was about to continue protesting when Rihan spoke again.

"Ehhh…don't tell me you don't like me…" Rihan asked in a half whiny, half teasing tone.

"No! That's not it…I…actually…like Rihan-san…a lot." Wakana replied, stuttering as her brain tried to keep up with the rapid developments.

"Then it's fine, we can get married." Rihan answered, smiling.

My idiotic son is too capable…just like me.

Nurarihyon thought, smirking, as watched a blushing Wakana try to hit Rihan in frustration.

"Well, I agreed in the end, but it was still a big shock when your dad proposed." Wakana concluded.

Rikuo nodded. Even when his dad proposed, it was really sudden, just like his grandfather. Silently, he resolved, if he ever had a girl he liked, he was going to date that girl normally before proposing to her. He was definitely not going to follow in the footsteps of his father, or grandfather, for that matter.

"We ended up having a simple wedding…well, a simple wedding, by youkai standards. By human standards, it'll just be a really big party. Luckily, your mom didn't have any close relatives or friends, because if I invited them to the wedding, they'll think I married into a Yakuza family or something. It was that grand and lively." Wakana continued, smiling at the memory.

"I see." Rikuo commented, smiling. He could imagine all the youkai celebrating, happy that his dad finally remarried after a long period of depression. "Thank you for telling me this, mom."

"You're welcome. But I think you're misunderstanding something, dear. I'm not done with the story yet."

"You're not?" Rikuo asked, confused.

"Of course, there's still so much to talk about. Like when I was pregnant with you."

"Ah okay." Rikuo said, feeling awkward. His mother is really enthusiastic about this.

Pika318: And in the end, I only managed to write one very long flashback scene where Rihan "proposed". Hope it's not too short for you.