Everyone in the room turned to stare at the ancient yokai. Chihiro was stunned. He knew her? She had never met him, not that she could remember. She'd only heard about him in Papa's stories. The only way that she knew where to find him was because of her little secret. So how did he know her name?

"Ah, so you don't remember." He grinned wryly. "It has been years, so it makes sense. You were so young then. Why, your mother was still…" He trailed off, but everyone knew what he meant. So they had met, only long ago, before her mother had died. It still surprised her that he could recognize her after so many years, but she guessed that her combination of orange streaks and strange honey coloured skin were fairly distinctive. She stared at him, willing the old man to say more.

"I met your father many hundreds of years ago, on Mt. Fuji of all places. We were kindred spirits, if you will, neither of us harbouring ill will against humans. He, however, had no desire to join a clan, so we parted ways. We kept in touch, but I never visited him until a few years back, when he told me of his new wife and daughter. I went to visit shortly after- two years, which is exceptionally short in my timespan- bearing news of my grandson Rikuo's birth. We celebrated together, like men do, drinking ourselves stupid with sake. But once the festivities ended, he told me his fears for his child. 'She is small, her hair is streaked, she changes forms when she becomes emotional. How can she live in either world?' I told him about raising my son, tried to qualm his fears, but he decided to seal himself and his clan off from everyone else- including me. I haven't heard from him in years. Judging by Chihiro's presence here, I must assume that he has passed away, and I will grieve for him once these precedings are over. I trust that there is more to this story?"

After being filled in on the rest of Chihiro's story, Nurarihyon sighed deeply, his arms crossed over his chest.

"I must say, this is quite troubling. Hironori was a dear friend, and to hear that he was murdered- well, it was not the kind of end that I would have seen for him, or preferred. However, I believe that you misunderstood his last words. Seeing as I am obviously not the murderer, he was not trying to identify his killer so that you could exact revenge. He was hardly the kind to endanger you like that, now wasn't he? I believe that he was instructing you to find me in order to join Nura Clan, to be protected by us in his absence. He wanted you to be safe- that was his parting wish. I doubt that he ever foresaw this happening, but he must have planned ahead, just in case. He loved you, dear. More than many people would ever believe."

Chihiro could barely hear him through her sobs. Of course, it all made sense now. Papa would never send her on the path of vengeance- he was trying to provide for her, keep her safe and warm when he no longer could.

"Papa-a…" she sobbed, "Papa-a-a…"

She sobbed for her father, but also for herself. What would become of her now? Nura Clan would surely throw her out, and with no home to return to, where could she possibly go?

What now?