[Leader's POV]
In every 4 years, I go wildly in the human world to hunt the woman I want to curse.
I, as the 5th leader of Kage-Kaze yokai, need to do this in order to maintain my leadership.
I have the ability to curse the woman I am fond of. In order to obtain such power is to against the clan leader. It's the tradition of Kage-Kaze yokai. The strong shall rise to lead and the weakling perish.
This Yuki-Onna is my 6th woman. The last five women I married were all humans. This is the first time I fell in love with a fellow yokai and IT is a 'Yuki-Onna'. It is said that they are beautiful in every way. An ephemeral beauty as stated in the myths humans wrote.
"You'll be mine soon, Yuki-Onna." I said as I laughed. "That yokai won't be able to save you. This place is covered by the fear of Kage-Kaze Yokai Clan."
She will be mine and I'll be able to make my clan stronger! This will be a huge success to my clan! That Nura-guy will definitely come and save this precious woman. She's very special to him. I sense it.
But I won't let him have his way. He won't be able to find this place. He'll take time, or should I say, DAYS…to search for this place. Thanks to my clan, they cover the whole place.
All of them are hiding in the shadows to cover the place. It is much strong right now for this is a very special event.
[Narrator's POV]
The night was incredibly cold and Rikuo was sitting at the branch of the Sakura Tree.
He was thinking of something.
He was thinking about Tsurara.
'How will I save her?' He thought.
He couldn't think of anything, anyone but Tsurara that time. He was blaming himself for everything.
"Rikuo." Nurarihyon called.
"Old man? What is it?"
"Empty yourself. A person driven by anger shall never win, remember that." Nurarihyon looked at him in the eyes.
Rikuo went down from the tree and starts walking.
"Yes…Old man." He paused and replied.
He headed to his room and laid down in his futon. He couldn't sleep. He was just staring at the ceiling, still, thinking about Tsurara.
To what seem an endless night came and ended by the day. He transformed back into his human form.
"Rikuo! Wake up. You'll be late for school." Wakana said as she opened his door slightly.
"Okaa-san…where's Tsurara? Isn't she supposed to be the one who's going to wake me up?" Rikuo said, half-asleep.
"Tsurara-chan isn't here, Rikuo." Wakana said.
"Ah….y-yeah…Tsurara got kidnapped…by the Kage-Kaze…" Rikuo sadly said.
"You'll be able to save her, right?" Wakana said, trying to cheer her son.
"Yes, I will." He said as he stood up and started walking towards the dining room to eat breakfast.
While eating, he called, "Mezumaru. Gozumaru."
"Yes, Rikuo-sama?" They both said.
"I want you to investigate about the Kage-Kaze yokai." Rikuo ordered them.
"Understood, Rikuo-sama."
"Thank you, Mezu, Gozu."
Minutes later, he prepared and went to his school with Aotabou. It was pretty normal to everyone but not to Rikuo. He was worried about Tsurara. He wanted to know more about the yokai in order to save Tsurara.
When the lunch came, The Kiyojuuji Paranormal Investigation Squad, as usual, is having their lunch at the rooftop, having a meeting.
Rikuo was spacing out when Kana called, "uo-kun…" Rikuo didn't heard. So, she shouted, "RIKUO-KUN!"
Rikuo got startled and asked, "w-wha-what?"
"You were spacing out, are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine…"
"Doesn't look like it to me though. Oh, by the way, where's Oikawa-san?"
"Tsurara….ah…sh-she has a fever….so she needs to rest she…said…" Rikuo lied.
"Eh? Hope she get well soon." Kana said.
Rikuo remembered about the Kage-Kaze yokai and thought, 'Now is the time to ask about that…'
"Kiyotsugu-kun…"
"Yes, Nura-kun?"
"Do you know anything about Kage-Kaze Yokai's?"
"Woah, Nura-kun! That's an excellent question!" Kiyotsugu placed both his hands in Rikuo's shoulder. "Kage-Kaze yokai also known as Shadow-Wind Yokai, can transform themselves into shadow or wind form. It is said here that they curse the woman they want to marry but not all of them can do that…only the leader can. If one of them can curse the woman they have took a loking, then of course, it's the leader." He explained. "They are very dangerous, Nura-kun." He added.
"Uh…thanks."
"What do you want to know about them, Nura-kun?" Kiyotsugu asked.
"Ah…no-nothing! Someone told me about them…and I just got curious…" Rikuo answered.
"Ohh.."
After all that, it was dismissal. He went home.
Then, waited for the night.
Soon, the sun sets and disappeared in the horizon. Darkness came and he transformed into his yokai form, the night Rikuo.
"Old man…" He called.
"Rikuo. What is ti?" Nurarihyon asked.
"About the fear of Kage-Kaze yokai…"
"What about it?"
"I just noticed…that when me and Tsurara were talking out the garbage, we felt the yokai's fear. While he was hiding in the shadow, we felt it…but when the leader kidnapped Tsurara, we didn't know that he got here, we didn't felt his fear. Also, when he disappeared into air, his fear disappeared…." Rikuo confessed.
"So, you've noticed. When they're in shadow form, they can't hide their fear…but when they're in the wind form, they can. That's why they rarely fight alone. They mostly likely to fight in two's. one will lure the enemy in his shadow form while the other one will attack in wind form." Nurarihyon explained.
"I see…" Rikuo reacted.
"I forgot to mention this, Rikuo." Nurarihyon said.
"What is it, Old man?" Rikuo asked.
"Once the woman who got cursed opened her eyes and saw the first guy she'll marry, she needs to kiss him." Nurarihyon said.
Rikuo's eyes widen. "K-KISS?!" He exclaimed.
"Yes. Not just a normal kiss, but an intense kiss." He said like it was nothing to him.
Rikuo's face started to become red. "S-so…I…I have to do that with…Tsurara…?" Rikuo nervously asked.
"If it's the only way, Good luck, Rikuo." Nurarihyon said with a teasing look.
Mezumaru and Gozumaru arrived to report about their investigation. "Rikuo-sama, we found their hideout." Gozumaru said.
"Say it."
"It is covered by their fear…it is located somewhere here in Tokyo..." Mezumaru said.
"I understand."
Rikuo stood up and went to the Sakura Tree again. Gathering all the information he got in his head. He is bothered by what Nurariyhon said a while ago about the kiss…
The night ended soon and morning came. As usual, Rikuo needs to go to school. It was normal. Nothing extraordinary happened. He ordered his Hyakki Yakou to prepare for battle once the night comes. He knows how he will defeat the Kage-Kaze Yokai and save Tsurara.
As soon as he has arrived home, he told all the information he knows to his clan. After that, he laid down on his futon and waited for his counterpart to rule.
When the night came, he transformed. Fog engulfed the streets and the Nura Clan ruled the place once again. "Let's go, guys." Rikuo commanded.