I was debating on whether to split this into several chapters or one long one, but I decided to just upload one huge chapter because that's what I like when other people upload stuff.
Also, I probably made you guys wait too long. So heres an 11k word chapter to make up for that. ^^;
So this chapter basically kind of wraps up the main points of the Kyoto arc, but don't worry! I've planned for this to extend all the way until the end of the manga, so the Hyakumonogatari arc and the Gokadoin arc will still be here :) Its just a matter of when I type it out
(can you believe i typed out this entire chapter + the previous chapter in like 3 days? motivation is a powerful thing my friends)
As usual if you couldn't tell, this is unbeta'd so please forgive me if there are any mistakes!
Nurarihyon in the meantime, was quietly slipping his way inside the castle. He slipped into the deepest areas of the castle, where he was immediately attacked by snakes. He easily dispatched the slimy pests and made his way downstairs, not even bothering to hide himself. He'd already been noticed after all.
"Yo, Abe no Seimei, wasn't it?" he greeted. Seimei's eyes widened.
"You…!"
"Yes, me. And here I thought after killing your mother 400 years ago you wouldn't be able to come back." Nurarihyon tilted his head to the side. He had defeated Hagoromo Kitsune 400 years ago to save his lover, Youhime. The old fox had taken one look at the hyakki behind him, threw Youhime to her subordinates, and went off somewhere to "give birth." Apparently she had just enough power to do so without eating Youhime's heart and was unwilling to risk everything she had worked for up until now to fight against an entire hyakki. She'd almost succeeded, had Hidemoto not arrived in time. Hagoromo Kitsune had died that day. Hidemoto confirmed it, and everyone thought that that was the end of the old fox's reign and her son's. But somehow, Seimei was still around after that.
"How did you come back anyway? Last I checked, your mother died before being able to give birth to you." Seimei smirked.
"Hmph. When you defeated Mother 400 years ago, it was true she wasn't able to fully complete the ritual. In her haste, she gave birth to me prematurely. Unfortunately, the small feeble body that was mine quickly died." Nurarihyon stared at Seimei. None of this was new to him. Noticing this, Seimei grinned and continued.
"However, since I had technically been 'born,' my spirit was in this world and I was able to let it linger on in the world of the living by possessing these hosts of mine." He pointed at himself. "Unfortunately, with how weak human bodies are, I have need to change hosts often. It took a while, but it seems that I have finally found the perfect hos-"
Nurarihyon shot forward with blinding speed knocking Seimei back into the dark waters of the Nuega-Ike.
"Onii-sama!" A young girl -Kyokotsu was it?- cried out in alarm. Nurarihyon pressed the blade against Seimei's neck. Up close Nurarihyon's golden eyes burned into Seimei. Seimei's host was that of a young man in his twenties. He dressed in traditional onmyouji clothing, but Nurarihyon was more focused on his face. Seimei's eyes were a dark brown, which might have looked pretty had Seimei not been glaring daggers at his assaulter. His long hair was tied into a low ponytail and split into two colors; the top half of his hair was a light brown, and the bottom black. Nurarihyon narrowed his eyes at Seimei.
"You were the one who tried to murder my son, weren't you." It wasn't even a question.
"...So what if I did?" Nurarihyon jumped away as a burst of light exploded where he just stood. Seimei stood back up. "Your bloodline has caused me enough trouble, I'd prefer it if you'd all just die a horrible death. It'd save me the trouble of killing you guys myself." If looks could kill, Nurarihyon would've died ten times over with the intensity and hatred burning in Seimei's eyes. Nurarihyon stared at Seimei, his threat seemingly unaffecting him. He brought his sword up and rested it on his shoulder.
"Well, I don't really care about fighting you, to be honest." Nurarihyon turned around and made to walk away.
"...Hm?" Seimei made a small noise of confusion. Nurarihyon smirked and threw a glance over his shoulder.
"Oh, but you should be careful of my grandson. He'll be coming in here soon and you can kiss goodbye to your ambitions."
"Hmph. I'd fain to see him try-Hngh!" Seimei doubled over, going down on one knee as his other hand went up to his head. A malevolent fear quickly enveloped the area, a fear so dense that even Nurarihyon tensed up.
"Yes...It's so close...I can feel my body almost completing. Soon, I can cast away this weak shell of mine. Ahahaha…. Ahahahahahah….!" Seimei laughed as one of his eyes changed colors. His left sclera turned completely black, as his iris turned a glowing orange. A shining pentagram covered his iris. Seimei dragged his hand down his face. "But first, I should get rid of that pest, shouldn't I?" He looked around. Nurarihyon was nowhere to be seen.
Damn! What was that? Nurarihyon thought as he hid behind one of the pillars in the lake. I was gonna let Rikun take care of this but...that Fear...it'd probably be best if I got rid of it now. Too distracted and frazzled from the earlier Fear outburst, Nurarihyon didn't notice the other Kyoto youkai approaching.
"Guh-!" Nurarihyon stumbled forward as a sword slashed into his back. Too late, he realized that he was surrounded.
"You won't get away~" That creepy skull snake girl sing-songed. A huge skeleton burst through the entrance.
"Seimei-sama~! Where are the pests?" It called out. Nurarihyon swore under his breath. Great. Just great.
And then Nurarihyon was flying.
"Karasu Tengu! Nice timing!" Nurarihyon cheered as he was dragged out by the scruff of his kimono.
"Shodaime, please stop engaging in such dangerous activities. I don't think my heart can take it."
"I only meant to give a little greeting!" Nurarihyon protested. "Although other things came up and well, I may have gotten over protective of Rikun again." He admitted sheepishly. Suddenly, Nurarihyon's entire composure turned serious. "Although that host body of Seimei's...I need a word with Rihan after this." Something flew into Nurarihyon's eyes.
"Geez, Karasu Tengu. I know you're getting old, but can you not shed feathers right in my face?" His vision turned black. Karasu Tengu cried out in surprise as his eyes, too, failed him. Both youkai screamed as they crashed into the wall instead of flew out the window like they planned.
Nurarihyon muffled a scream as a sword pierced through his chest. It wasn't a good blade, that's for sure. He could feel the broken edges of the sword, the rust as it slid awkwardly into his flesh. This sword was…
"Hehehehehe! Now this sword has soaked up the blood of the three generations of Nuras! A perfect sword befitting of Seimei-sama, hehehe.." Minagoroshi Jizo laughed as he pulled the sword out of Nurarihyon harshly.
Nurarihyon grabbed onto the sword.
"Hiii!" The red eyeball youkai screeched in fear.
"This is...The Mao's Hammer." Nurarihyon said, still blind as his fingers ran across the texture of the sword. "Where did you get this?" Minagoroshi Jizo was on the verge of a panic attack. Nurarihyon disappeared from sight. Minagoroshi Jizo pulled frantically at the sword.
"Where. Did. You. Get. This." Nurarihyon's Fear struck Minagoroshi.
"Yo-Yosuzume!" The eyeball called out. Said servant swung her naginata in the area Nurarihyon was last seen standing and hit...nothing. A huff of breath sounded from the window.
"Looks like my eyesight is starting to return already." Nurarihyon said as he stood on the window sill, Karasu Tengu in one of his arms. "I'll remember this...Eyeball." He said as he jumped out, right before Yosuzume swung her naginata at them.
Three generations...Then that means that's the sword that almost killed Rihan nine years ago…
Rikun was fighting Kidomaru. They'd been forcibly transported into another dimension, created by Kidomaru and his underlings. Rajoumon, they called it. As Rikun attempted to Matoi with Tsurara, Kidomaru did what Rikuo thought would be impossible. He cut through the Matoi.
"That technique," Kidomaru acknowledged. "It seems that you are, without a doubt, Nura Rihan's son." Rikun's eyes widened just a bit.
"Oh? Then that means you've fought him before I assume. You're lucky you're still alive. The old man isn't one to mess with on a bad day." Though his tone was light and condescending, Rikun knew just how powerful Kidomaru was. Not many youkai faced his father and lived to tell the tale.
"We have crossed blades many times in the past," Kidomaru admitted. "I do not understand. Seimei-sama would create a perfect world for us youkai, and yet you and those behind you still defy us." He tightened his grip on his swords. "In that case, then I will use every ounce of my power to stop you." He rushed forward, his blades moving in speeds too fast to see.
Kurotabou intercepted the strike. Rikun and Tsurara watched in awe as Kurotabou defended and drove back the fast moving demon with his hundred weapons.
"Rikuo-sama, I see you have learned Matoi. However, the method you just tried to use, Izutsu, is ill-fitted for this type of close ranged youkai." Kurotabou positioned himself in front of Rikun.
"Please, allow me to be your mentor this one time."
Kidomaru was defeated swiftly after Kurotabou and Rikun successfully did Matoi. Rikun was starting to really appreciate Matoi. After learning the Kasane method, Kidomaru was almost a joke. The white space around them dissolved, and they were once again standing in the halls of Nijo Castle. Kidomaru fell to one knee, supporting himself with his sword.
"Hah...Hah...I am sorry, Seimei-sama, for being unable to get rid of these intruders. However, at long last… the time you have been awaiting has come…" The ground beneath them shook violently as something large burst through the floors of the castle. Youkai scrambled to stand on solid ground. Once the quaking had settled, everyone turned their heads upwards, where the entirety of the once-lake floated in a giant orb above them. And the person nearest to it was…
"Seimei!" Rikun shouted. Seimei turned around and looked down at them. Both his eyes sported glowing pentagrams this time.
"Ah, you're right in time for the entertainment," Seimei looked directly at Rikun. "Soon, my body will fully reform, and I will once again be known as the Master of All Spirits." He spread his arms out in a wide gesture. "Until then, entertain me." He smiled.
The fight was not going well. Ryuuji's plan of tricking Seimei into diverting his attention elsewhere while he prepared to seal Seimei's body was ruined by Tsuchigumo, and they lost the perfect moment to end all of this fighting. Seimei's Mao's Hammer clashed with Rikun's sword. Seimei cut through Rikun's illusion like paper.
"Such futile fighting. Whatever do you hope to accomplish?"
Rikun answered by pursing his lips into a straight line. This was definitely not an ideal situation. His comrades were all busy fighting the Kyoto youkai in the lower levels of the castle, not being able to ascend. Rikun knew he couldn't defeat Seimei on his own and yet…
"Rikun!" A familiar voice called out. Both Rikun and Seimei snapped their heads in the direction of the sound. Rihan stood near the gaping hole in the roof, an entourage of familiar youkai behind him. Rihan smirked, the upper members of the Nura Gumi in tow. "Looks like you need some help, hmm?"
"Old man…" Rikun's vein pulsed. He hated being in his father's debt. Rihan had a bad habit of asking the worst favors in the history of favors. Still… "Thanks, old man!" Rihan smiled and waved his subordinates forward.
Rihan's support was greatly welcomed. The addition of the Second Head boosted morale amongst the Nura Gumi youkai, and they finally started making headway in the battle. Rihan and Rikun focused on Seimei.
"So that's Seimei?" Rihan asked for confirmation. Rikun nodded. He didn't miss the way something flashed in his father's eyes. Rihan suppressed it before Rikun could figure out what is was though.
"I see." Was all Rihan said. He leaned closer to Rikun. "We'll need a distraction. Seimei can't be defeated with regular swords like yours."
"What?! Then what's the whole point of this fight?" Rikun nearly exploded right then and there before Rihan shoved his own sword into Rikun's and took Rikun's into his own. "Old man, this is..!"
"Nenekirimaru, I know. From what I know, that's the only blade we know of so far that can force Seimei out of his host."
"So why are you giving this to me?" Nenekirimaru was a symbolic sword for the Nura Gumi; it was a sword passed down only to the heirs to the clan.
"I...can't defeat Seimei." Rihan admitted slowly. "Not like this."
"What does 'not like this' mean?! Are you chickening out in a fight this importa-"
"Of course not!" Rihan exploded. Rikun shut his mouth. He watched as his father took in a deep breath and exhaled shakily. "I just...can't. Right now. I'll explain once-once this is all over, okay?" Rikun had never heard his father like this, but nodded his head in agreement. They had bigger problems right now. They both turned towards the Nue.
Seimei was slow clapping, an amused expression on his face. "A touching reunion, I'm sure. Passing on your title as you die? Certainly noble, if nothing else." He tilted his head a bit to look at Rikun. "So you're the grandson that Nurarihyon was so sure would be able to kill me. You've certainly inherited his irritating looks." Seimei's expression turned murderous. "400 long years….Do you have any idea how much faster I could have been revived had you lot not existed?" Seimei's voice dripped with hatred. He brandished his Mao's Hammer. "Thankfully, fate has seen fit to give me a chance to end two of you of that loathsome bloodline." He smiled a sweet smile, completely opposite of what he was saying. Beside him, Rikun heard his father let out the tiniest gasp. Yeah...Rikun was definitely getting some answers out of his old man after this. Rikun readied his own sword, alongside his father.
"Let's go, old man."
"Hmph. That's my line, you brat." They jumped into action.
Seimei was definitely no slouch. He could fight on par with both Nurarihyons with seemingly little effort. No matter how many times they activated Kyouka Suigetsu, Seimei would tear it down almost immediately.
Rihan pulled out a huge sake cup from the folds of his robes and blew on it. Flames emerged from the smoke, burning everything within a five-foot range of Seimei.
"Ougi Meikyo Shisui: Sakura!" There was a brilliant flash as Rihan's flames exploded where Seimei stood.
"Onii-sama!" Kyokotsu cried out from where she was fighting Awashima as she saw her master burst into flames.
With a single wave of his hand, a barrier appeared around Seimei, dispelling the blue flames that threatened to burn him. He looked around him. His face scrunched up in confusion and anger.
"I'll be the distraction." Rihan whispered to Rikun from where they were hiding. "I'll Matoi with Kurotabou and use Izutsu from above. That should be enough time for you to get close from below and strike him with Nenekirimaru."
"But those pentagrams!" Rikun protested. Since they started fighting, Seimei had created a ring of small pentagrams that swirled around him and protected him from nearly every attack. It was annoying to say the least.
"I counted while we were fighting. It seems like the maximum amount he can have out at a time is seven." Rikun blinked. He didn't know his father was doing that throughout the fight. Suddenly, Rikun was reminded of why Rihan was the Second Commander.
"I'll keep them busy, you find the opportune moment to strike." Rihan turned his head to the side. "Kurotabou." He ordered. The special attack squad captain arrived in mere moments.
"Yes, Rihan-sama." The black monk dissolved into Fear, and went to cover Rihan.
"Let's go, Kuro." Rihan ordered, one of his eyes completely black with a glowing amber iris. He jumped up, catching Seimei's attention.
Rihan raised his sword upwards towards the sky. Fear covered the area, and everyone turned their heads to its source. Dark clouds swirled above them and points of fire emerged from the dark mist.
Izutsu: Ryuusei Tenge! Rihan swung his sword down. Hundreds of blades rained down on the battlefield. The flames on the blades exploded on contact, causing even more damage.
Seimei narrowed his eyes as he waved his hands. The pentagrams surrounding him combined to create one large shield above his head. None of Rihan's swords hit him.
Before the dust even settled, Rikun suddenly appeared at Seimei's unprotected flank. Seimei's eyes widened.
"Haaahh!" Rikun gave a mighty battle cry as he thrust Nenekirimaru forward with all his might.
"This was...the technique your grandfather used to defeat Mother, was it not?" Seimei's voice floated in Rikun's ears. Rikun couldn't believe his eyes. He had thrust Nenekirimaru straight at Seimei's heart, and yet…
Seimei pulled the tessen towards him, pulling Rikun along with it as Nenekirimaru was stuck in it. "Such foolish tricks won't work on me, unlike with Mother." Rikun pulled on Nenekirimaru, but it was no use; the blade was stuck between the pieces of the fan. Too late, he looked up to Seimei raising the Mao's Hammer.
Seimei slashed downwards, cutting Rikun in half. Blood spurted everywhere.
"Rikun!" Rihan yelled from where he had collapsed with Kurotabou. Damnit, I still can't move… He watched as Seimei thrust his sword into Rikun's chest, piercing out his heart.
"I'll be taking your heart as a prize then." Seimei smirked. Youkai of the Nura Gumi screamed.
"Rikun-sama!"
Seimei laughed as he pushed his blade even further into Rikun's body, enjoying the gurgling sound that came out of his mouth as he did.
"That's one Nurarihyon down," Seimei smiled. He looked in the direction from where he could hear Rihan's outraged and heart-broken screaming. "...And one more to go."
And then the world shifted around them.
Or rather, reality shifted around them.
Everything seemed to stop and move at the same time; the wind stilled and yet the air still flowed and blew their hair in an unnatural pattern. The ground they stood on was solid and yet also shifting like the unpredictable currents of the ocean. The world seemed to turn upside down and flip itself inside out and yet everything was also still the same as it was. Or was it? Rikun had never felt anything like this before; where time was frozen but everything was still happening to and around them - it was as if time and reality had broken itself for a split second and rearranged itself haphazardly at Nijo Castle. Seimei's eyes widened.
The tip of Mao's Hammer was grasped in Rikun's hand, from where he had grabbed it midair and changed its trajectory. Rikun swung Nenekirimaru to gain some space between him and Seimei. He landed on a broken beam, his heart thumping in a weird rhythm from the near-hit. One part of Rikun's brain was screaming at him, telling him that something definitely just happened there but he didn't know what it was. The other half of his brain was internally cheering and thanking whatever deity caused it, as he distinctly remembers his face getting split down the middle and having his heart pierced out. Rikun's free hand came up to his chest. No wound.
The battlefield turned quiet, no one daring to move after what had just happened. Everything came to a standstill.
And then the spell was broken by Seimei's growling. Rikun brought his sword up instinctively, but Seimei's murderous Fear wasn't directed at him. Instead it was directed at...himself?
Seimei glared down at his own hand. When he spoke, his voice carried absolute hatred and loathing and why was Seimei directing that at himself-
"...So this was your doing, was it? To think you still had the power to do such a thing...And to me of all people.." Seimei muttered under his breath, turning his hand over. In the quietness of the battlefield, his voice reached more than far enough for everyone to hear. Rikun's eyes widened.
"S-Seimei-sama?" Kidomaru asked hesitantly. That seemed to break Seimei out of his stupor. Seimei ran his finger across his broken blade. A sour expression settled on his face.
"Well, no matter I suppose. It won't happen again." He swung his sword down, flicking the blood off his cursed blade. "And to think, I was that close to finally killing one of your bloodline…" He bit into one of his fingers. "Nurarihyon. Always slipping and sliding away from everything, away from my grasp. How much longer do you intend to torment me?" Seimei ripped off the skin of his finger as he bit down on it.
Rikun paused, looking at Seimei with an unreadable expression. He opened his mouth and, "...Who are you?"
Seimei paused for a second and then laughed. "Are you daft? Or perhaps 'insane' would be a better word. How in the world did you lot ever defeat Moth-"
"Not you." Rikun interrupted. Seimei stopped his laughing to look at Rikun in the eyes. "I'm not talking to you, Nue." Rikun finished bandaging his hand with a scrap of his torn kimono. He stared directly into Seimei's unnatural eyes and pointed Nenekirimaru in his direction.
"I'm asking your host." Rikun clarified. "The human you're possessing."
"...What does this temporary vessel have anything to do with this?" Rikun tightened the cloth wrapped around his hand. His eyes pierced through Seimei.
"Do you really not remember? That day, under the blossoms…" Seimei's face remained impassive. "The day you tried to murder my father?"
Seimei's face scrunched up before his expression cleared. "Ah, you're referring to the time before I took over this host." Rikun's eyebrows raised.
"What?"
"You see, I take over a vessel when the darkness in its heart spikes. That attempted murder nine years ago you lot refer to was before I took over. Naturally, I erase all of my host's memories when I take over though...Loathe as I admit it, but I was not the one who wielded the sword in your father's attempted assassination. A shame. It would have been much more enjoyable if he had died that day." Seimei spread his arms in a wide gesture.
"As for why this body of mine decided to kill your loathsome father...who can say for sure? Although I'm pretty sure your father knows. Since this is a body he knew before." Rikun narrowed his eyes in anger.
"...Then why...why did you call him 'Father' that day?! I know what I heard, answer me!" Seimei smirked.
"The person who occupied this body before is long gone. You'll not get any answers from it soon." He cocked his head to the side, still smiling at Rikun. "I pity you. Truly. To not even know the history of your own clan…" Seimei stepped to the side, avoiding Rihan's strike from behind.
"Ho? You want to hide the truth from your son? Of how you drove this body of mine to his own dea-"
"Shut up!" Rihan bellowed, eyes blazing with fury. Rikun staggered. His father never, never ever lost his temper before. And then he saw the other multitude of emotions burning behind his father's eyes. Sadness. Guilt. Self-loathing.
Seimei hmphed, turning his nose up. "Fine. Be that way. You'll have plenty of time to explain in Hell." Rihan all but growled at Seimei before charging at him head on.
"Wha-Old man!" Rikun yelled as he raced after his father. Rihan's strikes sent shockwaves of Fear across the castle as he hit Seimei's pesky shields over and over again. With a wave of his hand Seimei sent Rihan flying into the wall as he attacked his unprotected flank.
"How foolish." Seimei turned around to intercept Rikun's strike. He swung his Mao's Hammer in large, powerful swings, driving Rikun back.
"What's this? You look like you're tiring already. Do entertain me some more, I had hoped better of you." Seimei mocked as he drove Rikun back more and more. He knocked Rikun's sword upwards.
Tora Taiji! Seimei summoned a yari from one of his ever-present pentagrams, and pierced Rikun directly through the abdomen. He pushed and pushed and pushed until Rikun's back hit the wall, the blade pinning him down.
"If you can't move," Seimei started as he tilted his spear, causing the blade to dig into Rikun's flesh even more. Rikun made a garbled sound as he coughed up blood. "You won't be able to activate your Fear." Seimei smiled. "This is the end, grandson of Nurarihyon." Rikun lifted his head just enough to look at Seimei right in the eyes.
And Seimei...hesitated? A flicker of something like recognition flashed across his features. Seimei brought his free hand up to his face. "What…?"
The egg cracked. Everyone had forgotten about the giant floating orb above Nijo Castle. Cracks appeared along the surface of it, cracking as if something was hatching from it. Seimei turned and looked at it.
"Finally….Finally! The vessel has been completed. Now, I can finally be truly reborn!" Seimei laughed as he threw his arms out. The shards of the giant egg floated around them. Images flashed on the shards...almost like…
"1000 years worth of memories...Yes, it's all coming back to me...How long I've waited for this moment…" Seimei muttered to himself. He threw a murderous glance back at Rikun. "If only you lot didn't exist, I could have been reborn much sooner!" He swung his sword at Rikun, slashing him across the chest. Rikun coughed up even more blood.
Seimei raised his sword up high. "This is truly the end, grandson of Nurarihyon."
Shadows flickered behind him, and Seimei spun around to catch Rihan's blade with a pentagram in his hand. He smirked and shattered Rihan's blade.
"Ah..I can feel my power returning to me…" Seimei said thoughtfully as he waved to fingers and a pentagram appeared around Rihan's neck, suspending him in midair. Rihan gasped as he choked for air. His form shifted.
"Changing into your human form to lessen the pain caused by an onmyoudou attack? Smart, but not enough against me." Seimei made a closing motion with his hand, and the pentagram shrunk, choking Rihan even further. He stopped right before the pentagram could chop off Rihan's head. He flashed Rihan one of those sweet smiles again.
"Since I'm a merciful person, I'll even give you the honor of watching me kill your son." Seimei once again raised his sword and he turned around. Rihan choked as he struggled to get out of the pentagram.
"N..No…" He managed to choke out. Seimei brought his sword down.
Rikun had heard stories from some of the older members of the clan about seeing their life flash before their eyes as they almost died on the battlefield. Most of the stories ended the same way; it was a weird, exhilarating experience that no one in their right mind would want to experience again. It was like someone recorded every moment of your life and played it in infinite speed right as you die said one. Another said it felt like forever as you saw the happiest and most important events in your life, like fate's cruel way of telling you you would never get to experience this again.
Rikun expected to see his accomplishments in his last moments. He expected to see how he had only accomplished so little before dying in this manner. Except his brain decided not to do that and instead focused on some of the more mundane aspects of his life.
Going to school with his friends. Stealing food from the kitchen and being scolded by his mom. Mother… That's right...Rikun would never get to see his mom again. Playing shogi with his grandfather and flipping the entire board when Nurarihyon cheated and won. Nurarihyon laughed heartily as he swiftly dodged the shogi pieces Rikun threw at him in anger. Receiving piggy-back rides on Aotabou as a kid. Playing cat's cradle with Kubinashi. Pranking various youkai around the house. Tsurara cried out as she suddenly wound up upside down, hung from a tree by the ankles. Rikun laughed as he ran, tears forming in his eyes from laughing. Having a rare moment of quiet and peace and nothing with his father. "Ah. The plum blossoms have bloomed already, huh?" Rihan looked out at the plum trees in the backyard as he sipped his tea. Rikun snorted. "You really are an old man. Next thing I know you're gonna be spouting out poems about flowers." Rikun took a sip at his tea before pulling away and hissing at the new burn on his tongue. His father chuckled and took another sip as he looked back at the plum trees. "Perhaps…" He said, his voice wistful and somehow...sorrowful.
And then memories of that day hit Rikun with full force.
Finding an older kid in his backyard. Someone who called himself his older brother and smiled and played with him until his stupid father finally got out of that stupid meeting. Playing with him and feeling so natural that Rikun almost thought he did have an older brother. Running off at the sight of something interesting. Hearing a heart-wrenching scream shortly after he got separated from his dad. Seeing…
Seimei swung his sword down, fully intending to cleave Rikun in half.
But…
A piece of the egg's shell fell next to them. A large piece in fact. And the image on it was…
"Ri-Rihan-sama?!" Tsurara cried out as she saw the image behind Rihan, Rikun, and Seimei. It was an image of Seimei-no, Seimei's host- stabbing Rihan through the chest. Everyone from the Nura Gumi inhaled sharply as they saw exactly how the Second almost died that day.
That angle… Tsurara thought. Are these... Rikun-sama's memories?
Seimei stared at the memory, transfixed. What is this? A feeling Seimei was unfamiliar with bubbled up inside him. What is this feeling? He could vaguely feel something at the back of his mind, like he knew this memory from somewhere-
His head exploded in pain. Seimei screamed as he brought both hands up to his head, dropping his sword.
"Wh-wHy? I sHoULd HaVE-ThIS bOdY-tHesE...meMoRiEs.." Seimei struggled as his eyes flashed from a regular brown to his pentagrams. He waved his hand and threw Rihan away, who was luckily caught by Kubinashi's string.
Water exploded at Seimei's feet.
"Run, Gengen!" Ryuuji's shikigami swirled around Seimei, splashing him with poisonous water. Behind Seimei, another figure appeared.
"I will...destroy Seimei." Mamiru said in his monotone voice as he brought his hand down, crackling with electricity.
Seimei pressed a pentagram into Mamiru's abdomen and let it explode. Mamiru flew through the air. Another swing of his hand and Ryuuji too went flying.
"Yura! Now!" Ryuuji yelled in mid air. He landed none-too-softly in the debris, disappearing from sight.
Yura did just that. She stood on one of the few remaining platforms and called her shikigami.
Shikigami: Hagun! The ancient spell hit Seimei head on. The verses tangled around his form, preventing him from moving. Seimei's face contorted into something akin to fear.
"Now, Nura-kun!" Yura screamed.
Rikun panted as he stood up, Nenekirimaru in hand. The wound in his stomach ached and burned but still he stood up and tensed himself. Rikun leapt into the air, Nenekirimaru raised high.
With a fierce battle cry, Rikun brought down Nenekirimaru, finally, finally piercing Seimei. The blade cut cleanly through his shoulder and through Seimei's upper body.
For a moment, time stood still. The egg shards continued to fall around them; a painful reminder to Rikun about that day. Images of Rikun's younger self and Seimei's younger host playing with each other in the blossoms rained all around them. The expressions of pure happiness on their faces as Rihan watched from afar. Rikun didn't want to see these memories again. They were too painful a reminder of what could have been.
The images shifted. And suddenly Rikun didn't understand anything, because the images shown in the shards were that of Seimei's host body and Rikun's own father.
Rihan protecting him from a centipede youkai. Rihan ruffling his hair affectionately. Rihan carrying a much younger version of Seimei's host with an unfamiliar woman. Rikun wasn't the owner of these memories. What in the world..?
Seimei's eyes faded to a dull brown. As he watched the memories play out in the shards, he saw in the distance a figure being supported by another. A very familiar figure…
"Dad…" Seimei choked out at the sight of Rihan. Rikun's eyes widened.
"Dad...I'm so sorry...for everything…" He continued, tears flowing from his eyes and Rikun could only listen with growing horror. "I never wanted to..." Seimei slumped against Rikun, unconscious. Rikun shook Seimei violently.
"What's the meaning of this?! Answer me!" Seimei's body remained motionless against Rikun. "I said answer me! Seimei!" Rikun yelled.
A burst of Fear exploded out of the wound Nenekirimaru made.
"Why..? I should have already gained full control of the host…" Seimei's spirit wondered out loud. Rikun stared up at him. So Seimei really was living inside this host. He wore traditional onmyouji clothing, complete with the hat and goatee and everything. He looked nothing like his vessel.
"Ah well, it seems that my own body is ready in any case. I have no use for that broken toy anymore." Rikun's Fear flared up. How dare he refer to this person as a toy? As something that could be replaced?
Seimei's spirit flew up and into the shell, where his body presumably was. The egg cracked further, revealing Seimei's new form.
Unlike what most people would think of when they think "newborn," Seimei's newborn body was that of a full grown man. His body was that of a muscular man in his prime. His blond hair reached all the way to his ankles. Seimei opened his eyes, pentagrams spinning lazily in them.
A familiar eyeball youkai stepped up to Seimei, offering the broken sword that Seimei had dropped earlier.
"Seimei-sama," the eyeball spoke. "Now, it is finally time for us to create our world of darkness ehehehehee!" Minagorshi Jizo threw his arms out wide. "Ehehehehe! Long live Seimei-sama! Burn it all! Ahahahaha!"
Seimei took the blade and looked out to the city of Kyoto. His face scrunched up in disgust. "What a filthy place this world has truly become. I suppose I'll need to do some housekeeping." Seimei swung the Mao's Hammer.
The city exploded. Flames burst from the streets as the earth shook violently in the distance. Buildings collapsed in seconds and burned in the unnatural red flames Seimei had summoned. All youkai present watched in a mix of awe and fear.
"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," Awashima muttered. For once, Itaku didn't retort back.
To think guys like him actually exist. Itaku tightened his grip on his sickles.
Minagoroshi Jizo laughed maniacally from his perch on the roof. "The era of a new darkness has arrived! Rejoice! Long live Seimei-sama! Long live Seimei-sama!" He cackled.
A sword point stuck out of his chest.
"Hu-huh? My youki..it's disappearing?!" Minagoroshi Jizo screamed as the spirit blade ate into his Fear and he dissolved into nothing, finally dead at last.
Rikun panted from where he pierced Minagoroshi Jizo. In his other hand he was supporting Seimei's unconscious host.
Rikun was tired. He was done. He was done being led around in circles by everyone. Nothing made sense anymore. His father was hiding something crucial from him. The upper echelons of the clan never told him anything. His grandpa was way too overprotective for his own good. Rikun might not be the official Third heir yet but damnit he has a right to know what he's dealing with. He had always hated how the clan always seemed to baby him, as if he were too fragile to handle anything by himself.
Seimei had implied something about the clan's past, something so important that no one bothered to mention to him, and those memories from Seimei's host that he was carrying right now...
...Damnit. Rikun was so done with the world right now.
Rikun gently laid down Seimei's host on the roof. He turned around to face Seimei, brandishing his sword.
Rikun didn't care anymore. Nothing made sense. Fine then. If the world was going to be that way to him, then he'll just have to find his own answers.
With a yell of fury, Rikun charged at Seimei.
A tiny tiny part of Rikun's brain was screaming at him. You absolute fucking idiot! Why can't you ever think things through? Stupid, stupid, stupid! Probably the quarter human in him Rikun absentmindedly thought.
The majority of his brain was screaming in frustration. Frustration at Seimei. Frustration at the world. Frustration at this whole entire mess that Rikun definitely did not expect when he came to Kyoto. Frustration at Seimei's host and the confusing memories he presented Rikun with. Frustration with his dad.
Rikun seriously hoped his theory about the history behind Seimei's host and his dad were wrong. If he wasn't, then…
Rikun swung Nenekirimaru with all his might. He channeled all his frustration, anger, and resentment into his strike. Damn it all! He barely heard the various cries of horror from his comrades around him.
Rikun's blade didn't even touch Seimei.
Seimei stopped Nenekirimaru in mid air with a single finger and another one of his goddamn pentagrams.
"Nenekirimaru is a good blade," Seimei acknowledged. "But it's not enough to defeat me. Not in my full state." Nenekirimaru shattered.
"Rikun-sama!" Cried out every Nura Gumi youkai. Rikun watched as Seimei's blade came closer and closer.
Ah, shit. No one was close enough to them to help. Even if they were, none of them would be fast enough to stop the incoming blade. In that split second, Rikun prepared himself to die.
Something brown and white and red stepped in front of Rikun.
"You-!" Rikun started. Seimei's host grabbed onto the sword that was digging into his side. His hands shook and bled as he grasped harder onto the blade.
"I won't...let you…" Seimei's host spoke for the first time. His voice was quiet and shaky, but held determination. He struggled to lift his head up to face Seimei.
Seimei merely sneered and slashed his host across his chest, breaking his hold on the blade. Seimei's host coughed and gasped as blood spurted out of his new wound.
"O-oi!" Rikun stepped forward to catch his savior. Seimei's host staggered but remained standing. He pushed Rikun back with his right arm, his left arm limp and useless from when Rikun nearly severed it at the shoulder.
Rikun stumbled backwards from the push. "Hey!" He looked at the figure in front of him. Seimei's host spread his right arm out and faced Seimei directly. His pants became louder and harsher as time went by, his wounds becoming worse. Rikun stared at his back. That position was almost as if...as if he were protecting Rikun. Like an older brother.
"Why..?" Seimei spoke. He looked at the sight before him -his host body protecting his sworn enemy- and something flickered across his face. He looked hurt.
"Why would you go so far for a family who cast you away?" He asked his previous body. The host didn't answer - couldn't answer- not with his wounds. But he held his gaze, staring directly into Seimei's pentagrams. Seimei's host's pants came in short, harsh breaths. It took Rikun a moment to realize that he was on the verge of crying.
"Why would you risk so much for a family that forgot your existence? A family who willingly erased you from their history?" Seimei pressed on further. Tears flowed freely down the host's face, but still he held Rikun back when Rikun tried to break free and engage Seimei. "Were we not the same?"
"...Do you see him as your brother?" Seimei finally asked. Rikun widened his eyes. The host was shaking. He was struggling to stand as blood continued to drip down from his wounds.
"Were we not like brothers back there?" Seimei held out a hand to his host. What? Rikun couldn't make sense of the situation.
And then the host spoke, his voice soft and wet but also full of steel.
"Like hell...we were…"
Seimei's face contorted into a dark sneer. He raised his blade. The host pushed Rikun back even more, fully intending to take the hit by himself.
"O-oi! Wait!" Rikun protested to his savior.
But the strike never came. Right before Seimei could strike them his arm swerved to the side. Rikun gasped along with everyone else as they saw Seimei's entire forearm rot and drip onto the roof of the castle.
Even Seimei looked surprised. He touched his exposed bone gingerly.
"...It would seem that my body is not completely used to this world yet." Seimei looked complentative. "I will need some time to recuperate. Come, my subordinates." Seimei swung his sword down. The air rippled and opened, reminding Rikun of the time he cut through the Fear of Toono village. Except this time, flames emerged from the cut. Malice and evil quickly filled the air, stifling even to youkai.
"So that's...Hell…" whispered Tsurara, her eyes transfixed on the gate. Seimei turned his head slightly.
"I will be returning to Hell to recover. Those of you loyal to me, come." He ordered. There was a second of silence before half of the Kyoto youkai cried out and flew into the gate.
"What's wrong Kidomaru? Not coming? Because I'm certainly going," Ibaraki Douji looked down at Kidomaru.
"O-of course I'm going! I was just-crying tears of joy!" Kidomaru yelled as he too, flew after Ibaraki Douji and into the gate.
"I-I'm not going...because Onii-sama is my master…" Kyokotsu whimpered from her perch on Gashadokuro. Many others around her expressed similar sentiments, refusing to follow.
When the last of Seimei's following had entered through the gate, Seimei too stepped in. He threw a glance back at Rikun and his previous body.
"I'll remember this, grandson of Nurarihyon." He stepped fully into the gate. Once again the air rippled as the gate closed, sucking in everything near it. Rikun felt his foot slip as the gate threatened to pull him and Seimei's host in.
Rikun grabbed onto the host, who was too weak to resist the pull of the gates. Damnit, I can't pull the both of us out. Rikun cursed under his breath. Two strong arms wrapped around him and the body Rikun was supporting and pulled them out of the gates' reach as it closed.
"Old geezer!" Rikun called out in surprise. His grandfather wrapped the three of them in his Fear until the gates disappeared from sight. All that was left was silence at Nijo Castle as the sun slowly rose.
"You-" Seimei's host started when he saw Nurarihyon. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell backwards, unconscious. His pure white clothing was dyed red from his wounds.
"Shit!" Nurarihyon swore out loud when he saw the host's condition. He scooped the host up and carried him with a gentleness Rikun had never seen before. Nurarihyon threw a quick glance at Rikun.
"Gyuki!" He called out. One of Nurarihyon's most trusted advisors appeared at Rikun's side within seconds.
"Come, Young Master. I will support you." Gyuki said as he slung Rikun's arm around his neck and stood the both of them up.
Rikun however, was looking at his grandfather. His grandfather tore his way down the castle at an impossible speed.
"Wh-what do you plan on doing with Onii-sama?! Unhand him, you bastard!" Kyokotsu cried out, her snakes charging at Nurarihyon. He dodged the snakes with ease. A giant skeletal hand raised up a Gashadokuro prepared to slap Nurarihyon. Nurarihyon's eyes turned dark as his irises started glowing.
"Out of the way!" He roared as he aimed a fierce flying kick at the huge skeleton. He kicked with so much force that Gashadokuro staggered backwards. Nurarihyon ran past the Kyoto youkai.
"Zen!" He yelled as he rushed towards where the bird youkai was tending to some other patients. Nurarihyon stopped next to him and laid down Seimei's host as gently as he could.
"Zen, I need you to heal him as quickly as possible." The bird youkai gaped at the Shodaisho.
"You want me to what?!"
"Just do it!" Nurarihyon yelled, his tone urgent. Zen nodded quickly.
"Y-yes! Get his clothes off first, I need to see his wounds," Zen ordered. Nurarihyon complied and brought out his sword and cut away the bloodied layers of clothing. Zen inhaled sharply as he saw the true extent of the host's wounds.
"I-I can't-these wounds are-"
"Zen!" Nurarihyon yelled. The bird youkai shook himself out of his stupor. He quickly grabbed a clean cloth from one of his subordinates and pushed it into Nurarihyon's hands.
"Here-press that on his wounds. Try to stem the blood flow; he's already lost too much blood." Zen ordered as he fished around his medical supplies for disinfectant. Nurarihyon did as he was told, the cloth quickly turning red. The host coughed.
"Turn him on his side! He'll choke on his own blood!" The two of them hurriedly turned Seimei's host on his side as he coughed up more blood. His face was much too pale and his skin much too cold. He shivered and his breaths became even shorter, even harsher. Zen swore out loud.
"We're losing him!" Zen and Nurarihyon hurriedly and pressed their pieces of cloth down on the host's wounds hoping to stop at least some of the blood. Kyokotsu slipped past the Nura youkai and grasped onto her master's hand.
"Onii-sama! You can't die, Onii-sama! Please, please, please!" She cried, tears streaming down her face. "Onii-sama!"
Two more figures pushed their way through the crowd. Kubinashi supported Rihan as they stumbled their way quickly to where Zen and Nurarihyon were.
Rihan quickly dropped down by his father. He took one quick look at the host's wounds and reached both of his hands out. Rihan hovered his hands above his wounds. His hands started to glow, a warm, comforting feeling emitting from them.
Rihan's hands glowed brilliantly, the light covering the entire upper half of Seimei's unwanted host. Slowly, the host's breathing slowed and evened out. His face relaxed minutely. The glow from Rihan's hands wavered.
Rihan groaned as he pushed more energy into his hands. He shifted back to his human form again, to which Nurarihyon raised an eyebrow at.
"It's easier like this," Rihan replied. He went back to concentrating on healing. "Zen, what should I heal first?"
The bird youkai snapped out of his daze. "Um-uh," he stammered. He pointed at the large wound that Rikun had caused when he cut through his body with Nenekirimaru. "This one. He's bleeding from both sides, if we don't at least seal one side he's going to die of blood loss first." Rihan nodded and moved his hands to where Zen pointed at. His hands didn't glow as brightly before, but Rihan held it consistent.
"Why won't it heal?" Rihan muttered, frustrated. There was a thin layer of sweat gleaming on his forehead. Nurarihyon put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Don't push yourself too hard, Rihan. I'm sure-"
"Don't interrupt me, old man! This is something I need to do!" Rihan snapped back at his father. Nurarihyon backed away.
"...So this is yours and Yohime's son?" A new voice entered the conversation. Nurarihyon looked up at his old friend. Hidemoto floated up closer.
"Forgive me if I'm intruding, but is there a reason you're so adamant on saving this vessel? If I'm understanding correctly, he tried to kill you before, did he not?" Rihan didn't answer, choosing to concentrate on his healing. The wounds stubbornly refused to heal.
"Ah, it's probably from the blades." Hidemoto said thoughtfully. "Nenekirimaru and that blade Seimei wielded -the Mao's Hammer was it?- those two are pretty powerful blades. No wonder the wounds aren't healing." Rihan's shoulders seem to sag at Hidemoto's words. Nurarihyon cleared his throat.
"Hidemoto, mind coming with me for a moment? Rihan, I'll explain everything to them, ok?" Rihan nodded slightly, and Nurarihyon stood up, motioning Hidemoto and his summoner, Yura, to follow him.
Rikun's eyes narrowed at his father from where he was being bandaged by one of Zen's subordinates. He stood up when he saw his grandfather walk towards him.
"Old geezer. What's going on." Rikun's tone demanded an answer. "Dad doesn't just heal anyone and certainly never this much." Not even everyone from the main house knew about Rihan's healing ability, since he so rarely used it. Rihan was a fighter; he only ever healed if it was absolutely necessary, like that one time Rikun accidentally drank from a cup that had one of Zen's poisonous feathers in it. Rihan's ability also wasn't as developed as his mother's; he tired quickly from using it. And yet here he was, pouring everything he had into saving the vessel that once held Seimei.
Nurarihyon sighed, pulling out his pipe and twirling it. "I know, I know. I'll explain everything." Rikun and Hidemoto waited. Nurarihyon continued to twirl his pipe.
"Geezer…" Rikun growled, fuming. He couldn't believe that his grandfather had the nerve to even try to hide something at this point.
"I know! I'm trying to think of how to start to explain everything!" Nurarihyon snapped. Hidemoto cleared his throat.
"Hmm~ Perhaps you could start with something like his name? You guys seem to know him, after all." Hidemoto suggested. Nurarihyon sighed, his shoulders drooping, defeated. He twirled his pipe one more time.
"...Nura Rikuo." He finally said. "Son of Nura Rihan and his human wife, Wakana. First born son of Nura Rihan, and…" Nurarihyon glanced back to where his son was still healing Seimei's temporary vessel.
"...And previous Third heir to the Nura Gumi."
Rikun could only stare at his grandfather in shock, wondering whether or not he damaged his ears during the battle. Hidemoto leaned forward with interest.
"It was around 400 years ago," Nurarihyon continued, dragging a hand down his face. "Your father brought home a human girl, Wakana." Nurarihyon smiled at the memory.
"Yo, old man. I'm planning on marrying this woman."
Nurarihyon's chopsticks fell from his mouth. He slapped Rihan upside the head and dragged him a short distance away.
"Rihan, where the fuck did you pick up that girl?" Nurarihyon whispered angrily. Rihan rubbed his head, a smirk forming on his face.
"Heeeh? You can't seriously be asking me to share my love life with my old man are you?" Rihan answered cheekily.
"Why you- I'm your father, you brat!" Nurarihyon huffed. He looked back at the woman his son had brought back. While he and Rihan were arguing, the woman had started to laugh, her voice ringing merrily across the yard. Several of the youkai turned to look at what was happening and started laughing along with the woman.
"You...sure you wanna be this guy's wife? He'll be quite a hassle." Nurarihyon told the woman. She snapped her head up.
"Yes! And don't worry, I know how Rihan-san can be like," She smiled, earning a cry of protest from Rihan. "My name is Wakana. Please take care of me from now on!" She announced cheerfully, bowing deeply. Even Nurarihyon smiled at her cheerful nature.
"Even though she was a normal human in every sense of the word, Wakana had a way of bringing sunshine to the Nura Gumi like no one else could," Nurarihyon continued, a small smile on his face. It was evident how much the woman was able to make everyone smile.
"She would smile though everything, even through the hard times. Pretty much everyone came to accept her, and in turn, she would bring smiles to everyone in the family.
"Two years later, they had a son, who they named Rikuo." Nurarihyon continued. "Much like his mother, Rikuo was a cheerful child, always smiling and making others smile. Especially Rihan." Nurarihyon huffed a laugh.
"And he was one hell of a prankster when he was younger. Actually got to me and your father." Rikun's eyebrows raised. He'd never been able to prank his father and grandfather successfully.
"So then, what happened? If you guys were so happy, what happened?" Rikun asked. Nurarihyon fidgeted.
"When Rikuo was eight years old, Wakana came down with an illness. No one knew how to cure it, not even the Yakushi clan. Your father was out of the area for business then. By the time he received word of Wakana's illness and rushed back, well…" Nurarihyon trailed off, but Rikun could guess what happened. Rikun flinched. He couldn't imagine what it would feel like to lose his mom at such a young age. Nurarihyon cleared his throat.
"Well, anyway. Shortly after that we decided to officially name Rikuo the Third heir." Nurarihyon looked down at his feet, his gaze suddenly distant. "That was...probably one of the worst mistakes we ever made." He admitted slowly. Rikun blinked.
"Why?"
"Yes, why? Everyone seemed to love Rikuo-chan didn't they?" Hidemoto butted in all-too cheerfully. Nurarihyon pursed his lips. He flicked his eyes to the side.
"As only a quarter youkai, Rikuo had...difficulties. Controlling his Fear." Nurarihyon stated slowly. "Although we started training him from a young age, he was unable to grasp onto how to utilize Fear. Even through years of training he could barely use Hatsu, let alone learn how to use Hyoui." Rikun winced. Hatsu and Hyoui were fundamental abilities for all youkai. To not be able to use them…
"As you might have guessed by now, that didn't sit too well with some of the members of the clan. Some were more...vocal about their dissent than others." Nurarihyon took a quick at the upper echelons, some of which were staring at their feet. Rikun nodded. There were still quite a few members who weren't happy how he was basically the current honorary Third heir.
"Rumors spread then, about Rikuo and his inability to control Fear. There were some pretty nasty ones spread around even within the clan itself." Nurarihyon suddenly found the ground very interesting to look at. "Rikuo knew it too, about the rumors. It would be inevitable that he would grow up hearing rumors about the talentless Third heir.
"Perhaps that's why Rikuo always seemed to prefer to stick to his human side. Unlike you or Rihan, Rikuo enjoyed going to human school. He had friends there and I suppose it made him feel more normal, where he wasn't expected to be anyone else. But even then he was always known as the weird kid that came from a youkai household, and because he preferred his human blood over his youkai blood that spread even more rumors around." Rikun's grandfather paused and took a moment to light his pipe and smoke on it.
"Things got pretty bad as the years went on. As enemy clans tried to take a hold of Edo, or even just a part of it, Rikuo would almost certainly be targeted in some way." Everyone listened with growing horror.
"Rikuo's had several attempts made on his life before, and several others on his friends'. Each failed attempt on his life only spread more rumors about Rikuo's weakness.
"But Rikuo smiled through all of it." Nurarihyon laughed bitterly. "After the boy's mother died, he probably saw it as his personal mission to replace what his mother was able to do. He would smile through everything, even when he would almost lose his life or that of his friends'. When he was compared to his father, the prodigy, when he got hurt, even with all the rumors about him, he still smiled and laughed and made everyone else around him smile. We thought that Rikuo...would turn out fine, seeing him smile like that." Nurarihyon's voice became softer.
"But we youkai are not familiar with the emotions of humans. Rihan, though he is half human, embraced the youkai world rather quickly, and he was often busy at the time, with the Nura Gumi in its peak and what not." Nurarihyon bit the bottom of his lips. "That's why we were never able to see how much Rikuo was suffering. We couldn't see the darkness the grew in his heart until it was too late." Nurarihyon rubbed a tired hand down his face, breathing out more smoke.
"He fled." Nurarihyon finally said. "On the day of his thirteenth birthday, the day he was going to officially become the Third head, he disappeared, leaving behind a letter apologizing for his uselessness and resigning his position as Third heir." Rikun remained silent. He looked in the direction of his father, where he was still desperately trying to heal Rikuo.
"The boy must have had some Nurarihyon blood in him because we never found him after that day. No one knows what happened to him; there weren't even any concrete rumors about him or his whereabouts." Rikun knew his father; although Rihan put up an aloof exterior, he was fiercely loyal and protective of his family. Rikuo's disappearance must have destroyed him internally. Rikun felt his anger rising at Rikuo. He knew that Rikuo left for his own reasons, but was it really worth it to hurt his own father like that?
"He died." A soft voice rang out. It took Rikun a moment to realize that it was his father that was speaking.
"He died." Rihan repeated. Nurarihyon whipped his head around to face his son.
"...What?" He asked softly. It seems that Rihan had never bothered to tell his father about Rikuo's death.
"I heard it from Setsura." Rihan's bangs covered his eyes as he spoke quietly. "She found him outside of our territory, close to the border 80 years after he left." Rihan recounted the story he heard from one of his father's most trusted comrades.
Setsura walked down the snow filled road. She had been returning to the Nura Gumi after a visit to her old home when she smelled something metallic in the air.
Blood. She thought. It happened sometimes, where the remains of unfortunate humans would be left on the side of the road without a care. The more she concentrated though, the more familiar this scent seemed to be…
It can't be.
"Rikuo-chan?" She called out into the open air. She remembered this scent now. She thought she'd never be able to find it again.
"Rikuo-chan?" She called out again, more desperately. "Rikuo-chan! I know you're there, please answer me!" There was no way Setsura was going to let Rikuo just leave them again. She saw how his disappearance had deeply wounded the hanyou she had helped raise. "Rikuo-chan!" She yelled.
There was a flicker of Fear from her left. Setsura tore through the forest in the direction of the Fear.
In the distance she saw a mop of brown hair sitting behind a small boulder.
"Rikuo-chan, thank the gods I found you-" Setsura rounded the corner and stilled.
"Ah...Setsura-san. It's been awhile hasn't it?" Rikuo smiled as panted. In his right hand he held a broken sword, and his left hand pressed down on his wounds. Five large gash wounds ran down his entire chest, staining the snow around him red. Claw marks. That could only mean that Rikuo had been attacked by youkai. Setsura noticed how the rock Rikuo was leaning against was also red. He'd also been struck from behind.
"Rikuo-chan, what happened?! Oh my gosh, your wounds-" Setsura hurriedly tried to freeze them over gently to stop the blood flow. Rikuo grasped onto her hand with his bloodied one.
"Setsura," Rikuo gasped. "In my right sleeve...I have something I need to give to Dad. Mom...entrusted me with it before-before she died." Rikuo coughed out. Setsura's ringed eyes widened.
"From Wakana-san? Then why didn't you-"
"Mom told me...to give it to Dad -hngh- when he was ready," Rikuo coughed up more blood. He leaned back against the boulder, gaze distant.
"I know...that Dad's probably still blaming himself for Mom's death...and for me leaving." Understatement of the century, thought Setsura.
"They why did you leave?! Do you know how much Rihan's suffered since you left? Everyone's been looking all over for you!" If possible, Rikuo's gaze became even more distant.
"Because... I couldn't stand to see everything Dad worked his whole life for crumble under my own weakness," Rikuo managed to choke out, closing his eyes as tears fell from them. Setsura's eyes softened. Everyone had heard of the rumors one way or another. Setsura herself had heard some pretty scathing ones within the clan walls, ones so scathing that she wondered how Rikuo could endure them with a smile on his face.
"Setsura-san," Rikuo gasped out again. Setsura leaned forward with concern. "Mom's letter...I need you to give it to Dad for me. I wanted to give it to him myself but," Rikuo huffed a small laugh. He went back to clutching at his wounds. "Doesn't look like I'll make it." As soon as he finished talking, a new wave of coughs erupted from his mouth, spewing even more blood all over the place.
"Rikuo-chan!" Rikuo looked at Setsura. And then he smiled.
"Oh, and tell Dad one more thing for me will you?" He smiled, though his eyebrows were still scrunched in pain.
"Tell Dad that I'm sorry for everything… and tell him that no matter what...Mom and I will watch over him. And that we would want him to smile. Because happiness only comes to those who smile, right?" Rikuo said as he smiled through the pain. He coughed, his shoulders shaking violently before he slumped forward.
"Rikuo-chan? Wait, Rikuo-chan! You can't die now, get a hold of yourself! Rikuo!" Setsura shook his body, but Rikuo's Fear was already fading fast. He murmured something too low for Setsura to hear. A blue bird landed nearby, which Setsura waved away with her frost. The bird squawked and landed on Rikuo's shoulder.
"Go away, you!" Setsura yelled at the bird, but she was too busy crying to do anything about it. Rikuo kept mumbling, eyes far too distant. Eventually he stopped mumbling as his Fear disappeared completely, leaving Setsura alone holding his cold body in the snow.
"Rihan…" Nurarihyon said softly. His son shifted in place.
"I only found out around 150 years ago." Rihan whispered. "If only I'd been there, if I had known about it-"
"Oyaji." Rikun called out. Rihan snapped his head up. "It's not your fault, what happened to Rikuo." Rikun said. He came forward and knelt by his father's side. "You didn't know. There's nothing you could have done back then." Rihan dipped his head, his bangs covering his eyes.
"...But Rikuo's back isn't he? He wouldn't want you to blame yourself." Rikun continued. He certainly hoped so. From what little he heard of Rikuo so far, he doesn't seem like one to hold a grudge.
"That's right, Rihan. I'm sure he'll forgive you after he wakes up." Nurarihyon came up and rested his hand on Rihan's shoulder. Rihan relaxed. The glow in his hands wavered again.
"Ugh-!" Rihan groaned as the drain of power took its toll on him.
"Second! It's alright, you can rest now. I've got him stabilized." Zen suddenly announced, Kyokotsu breathing out a sigh of relief. "You should rest, Second. You won't be able to heal him any further if you keep pushing yourself like that." Rihan nodded tiredly, moving his hands away. He fell backwards.
"Oi!" Rikun caught and supported his father. Rihan blinked rapidly and shook his head to clear the stars in his vision.
"'m fine," Rihan slurred, too tired. Rikun stared at him
"No, you're not. You need to rest old man, and don't make me call Mom just to get you to listen." Rihan sighed.
"Fine, but we'll need to first find a place to stay and recover for a bit before we can head back to Tokyo."
"Wait! What about Onii-sama? He should come with us. He's still my master!" Kyokotsu protested. The other Kyoto youkai nodded in agreement, some already drawing their weapons. In just a split second, the tension in the air became thick enough to cut through. Neither side backed down.
A clap resounded through the area.
"All right everyone! I know we're all tired from battling each other and from the influx of information I suppose, but why don't we just let Rikuo-chan decide when he wakes up?" A cheerful voice suggested. Nurarihyon turned to look at his old friend with exasperation.
"What? It makes sense, doesn't it? If what you said is true, then there is a chance that Rikuo-chan might not want to return to the Nura Gumi, with all the rumors and all. No doubt his being Seimei's unfortunate host would also make the members who already hated him hate him even more…" Rikun narrowed his eyes. That...made some sense actually. He knew that there were several members who were stubborn as hell. Gagoze, Hitotsume, and Kyuso to name a few. The thought made his blood boil.
Nurarihyon made a Face at Hidemoto, clearly unhappy with they way Hidemoto just up and announced it.
"Relax! During the time where Rikuo is recovering, you guys can stay at the Keikain main house! I'm pretty sure it hasn't been completely destroyed yet; Seimei didn't aim his attack there fortunately." Hidemoto proposed. "Some of the Kyoto youkai can visit too, but only certain ones that we approve of. Can't have you guys eat up all my descendants after all." He smiled all too cheerfully as his current descendants stared at him, mouths agape.
"We're going to what?!" Yura shrieked. Ryuuji's permanent scowl deepened.
"Come on, don't be like that~ we'd have never been able to defeat Seimei if it weren't for the Nura Gumi. Consider it a thank you." The onmyouji siblings groaned in unison. Hidemoto clapped his hands together.
"Great! Now that that's all settled, let's get going back to the main house, shall we?" Everyone groaned.