Disclaimer: I do not own Nurahyon no mago
Thanks for everyone's support so far!
I feel like an absolute fail, spelling Rikuo's name wrong in the last chapter! Thanks for telling me!
Hope you have enjoyed reading the story so far!
I will keep on updating it! At least 1 time a week in the summer. Woot! :3 (Probably, if I'm not too busy being a total gamer) :/
Italics are thoughts!
After school in the Paranormal Patrol
Rikuo slowly walked into the room greeting everyone with a wave of his hand, and a cheery expression.
"Hey! Rikuo... um.. do you know when Oikawa-san will be coming back?" asked Shima, giving his intention away way too easily.
"Shima... You should know better, there are probably hundreds of people out there that she knows that look better than you." sighed Maki, lying across her desk with a bored expression.
"Actually Shima, she's coming today." replied Rikuo, "She told me yesterday." scratching his head. He then went to a seat next to Kana and sat down.
"Soo... she's coming back today?" asked Kana, with a unhappy expression. "Speaking of coming back... I wish Yura-chan would come back... I haven't seen her in ages."
"Coming back today? H-how? I thought she was badly wounded!" exclaimed Maki, sitting up straight immediately.
"Oikawa-san was hurt? By who? I'll definitely avenger her, by beating up the bully who did it to her!" yelled Shima with a determined face.
"Ummm... Shima, you seemed to have forgot that she's a yokai, meaning she should be fully capable defending herself from humans. So it was most likely a Yokai who harmed her." reasoned Kiyotsugu.
Shima shied back at the comment, looking less certain, but still able to say "I-It doesn't matter! I'll definitely avenger her!" Balling his fist, he sat down in a desk near the entrance to the room to await for Tsurara's arrival.
Tsurara entered the room, without a glance towards anyone and took a seat in a desk by the corner of the room. She put her head down on the desk, and lay there with a blank expression. " Hi." With a sigh, she buried her face in her arms, lying there as if she was asleep.
Everyone, including Kana, was taken aback by the extremely unTsurara-like entrance.
"R-Rikuo... what happened to her? She seems... so depressed." whispered Kana with a worried expression. "Tell me every detail about it please..."
"Ahhh? A volunteer for a story? Rikuo! I'm sure that we would all like to hear the story of what happened to Oikawa-san her!" encouraged Kiyotsugu, pointing a ruler a Rikuo.
"Shut up." said Tsurara, lifting her head an inch so that Kiyotsugu could have a taste of her glare. "If you really want to find out... then ask Rikuo to tell you outside."
Kiyotsugu flinched at her deathly cold stare. "Oh... I'm sorry Oikawa-san! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings! Well then, Rikuo lets go outside! To the roof team!"
Everyone went to the roof to hear about the news,(including Maki and Torii who already knew.) leaving Tsurara alone in the room.
Tsurara smiled at the peace, feeling suspiciously happy at their departure. She formed a small icicle and used it to slit her thumb. With the blood she had released, she instinctively froze it into the shape of a heart. The heart was small, thin, and fragile looking with a crimson tint to it, making it translucent. Satisfied with the outcome she grabbed the icicle and violently smashed it against the heart, managing only a scratch on it. "Why me..." She asked herself, picking up the heart and slowly started morphing it into a razor-sharp dagger. Not knowing what to do with the finished product, she slipped it up her sleeve, bounding it there with some pure ice. After concealing the weapon, she got up and headed up to the roof to where the others were.
Meanwhile...
" Wait! So... Oikawa-san was attacked by a shape-shifting Yokai? I never knew that there were such things as exact replica yokai!" commented Shima after Rikuo finished explaining the story.
"According to my research," said Kiyotsugu, lifting up his laptop, allowing everyone to see." There is only one clan of Yokai who can turn into an exact replica of another thing. The Katchi clan! It's located in a forest near Kyoto!It's a long weekend too! Guy... do you know what this stands for?" dancing in happiness of a great idea.
"What is it?" inquired Shima, looking interested in Kiyotsugu's idea.
"Please... not another yokai investigation..." complained Maki. " I really don't want any more of this yokai hunting business."
"Ha! You guessed wrong! We're going on a field trip to Kyoto! Hmmm... I also heard that there's a annual night market held there in three more days... It would be a shame to miss out." said Kiyotsugu, attempting to make them want to go.
"A night market? I haven't been to one in ages!" exclaimed Kana, "I'm sure Rikuo will go to!" hugging onto his arm.
"Uhhh... I-I don't think its a good idea to go... I think I'll skip it this time..." laughed Rikuo, uncertainly scratching his head. "I honestly don't think it's a good idea."
Maki and Torii stood there for a while, considering the idea and nodded. "Yes, we both want to go." answered Maki. "We'll only go to the night market, nowhere else though."
Soon enough, they were greeted by a dark-looking Tsurara. "What were you guy talking about?" sighed Tsurara, taking a seat on the ground, staring mindlessly at a shouting pair of kids fighting on the school grounds beneath them.
"Oh! Oikawa-san! We were just talking about another field trip! Everyone one has agreed to go, so will you go with me? I-I mean with us!" replied Shima, cowering in embarrassment.
"Shima... haven't we told you already?... Your cause for her is never going to be successful. Shima... you can really be an idiot sometimes." retorted Torii, defying her usually quite personality. "You really ought to stop..."
"Wait... a field trip? To where?" asked Tsurara nonchalantly, her gaze leaving the fighting pair. She fixated her stare onto Kiyotsugu, and asked again louder. "I asked... where are we going."
"Ha! That's the spirit Oikawa! We're going on a yokai expedition to Kyoto! Even better? We will be visiting an annual night market festival!" replied Kiyotsugu, in an excited tone. "We'll also be visiting the area where those horrible yokai that attacked you lurk! The Katchi clan lair! Its called... the Akuma's Sentō(Devil's spire). Doesn't it sound intriguing?" exclaimed Kiyotsugu.
Tsurara, stood there, not knowing what to say. She couldn't say no to going, because it would put them in danger, but she didn't want to say yes to it either. She continued to stand there and stared back at everyone, and finally answered. "I...I...I think...I'll go... Fine... I'll go." Unable to think of anything else to say, she turned and stalked off without returning a single glance at them.
"What was that all about?" asked Kana, "I bet she's scared." giggling to herself.(Sorry for this evil Kana moment, just had to add it)
"Umm... yeah, you guys can hang around here, I better go ask Tsurara what's wrong." stammered Rikuo, knowing exactly why Tsurara had reacted that way.
"They really can be quite thoughtless sometimes." thought Rikuo, hurriedly rushing down the stairs in attempt to catch up to Tsurara. "Maybe... I shouldn't have had told them about it."
Tsurara stopped at the sound of Rikuo's voice. "Wait up!" cried Rikuo, panting beside her. "You know that you don't have to go if you don't want to."
"I-It doesn't matter... If I don't go with you, I won't be able to pro-"
"Tsurara! How many times have I told you? You don't have to protect me anymore, you only need to lend me your strength." interrupted Rikuo.
Tsurara shuddered at the thought of having herself become useless to him once again.(Well at least that's what she thinks) "I... I don't know anymore! Please just leave me be." sighed Tsurara, continuing her walk towards her part-time job.
Rikuo stood there and watched, as his closest aide drifted away from him. He felt guilty.
Later
Tsurara waved her last good-byes to her friends at the market and walked off , back towards the household. She tried to enjoy the walk back with warm feelings, but was only met with unwanted memories of the day where she was ambushed on. Her awareness was at its peak, looking out for any signs of another ambush. A sudden hand gently grasped her shoulder, she turned around and saw Rikuo standing beside her with an umbrella in his hand. Her memories flooded her mind and she panicked, revealing the dagger from her sleeve, and slashing it at him.
"Oi! Tsurara! What are you doing? I only came here to escort you back today." said the handsome yokai, catching Tsurara's wrist before she could manage to cut him.
"I-I won't fall for that trick again!" cried Tsurara, attempting to loosen herself from Rikuo's grasp.
"Tsurara... I'm not one of those Katchi clan guys... It's actually me." sighed Rikuo, attempting to reassure Tsurara.
"Prove it..." she said, as she finally managed to escape Rikuo's grip.
"How am I supposed to prove it?... Showing you my fear perhaps? " asked Rikuo, slowly disappearing from sight in wisps of black smoke. "See? I'm not a fake. Honestly Tsurara... Its good to keep your guard up, but to be suspicious of every thing is just not necessary."
Tsurara sighed in relief, and looked upwards towards the star-filled sky. "I-It's beautiful..." murmured Tsurara, attempting to calm herself. "I wish this world was filled with beauty and peace."
"Hmmm? What did you say?" asked Rikuo, looking at her for the sudden comment. Tsurara repeated herself, looking at Rikuo. Rikuo smiled. "I already have found my beauty and peace."
Tsurara blushed furiously at the comment, looking away from him. She giggled at the though, squeezing his hand tighter at the comment. "R-Rikuo-sama..." she stuttered. " I... Well..."
"Hmm? If you want to say something then spit it out."
"Well... Do you... Have I been acting strange lately?" Tsurara blurted, surprising Rikuo with the sudden question. Rikuo stood there, not knowing what to say. He didn't wan't to hurt her feelings, yet he didn't want to lie to her.
"Ye... No... I admit, you've been acting strange lately." said Rikuo, sighing. "Tsurara... you should really put that though aside for now."
Tsurara and Rikuo walked hand in hand, with an umbrella in between them. After what seemed to be forever, Tsurara soon came to realize that they weren't headed in the direction of the household. "Rikuo-sama? Where are we headed?" she asked in an quiet and tired tone, squeezing Rikuo's hand even tighter.
"You'll see when we get there." smirked Rikuo, pulling Tsurara closer. They soon came to a stop in front of a small temple-like building. The building was relatively small, it was about the size of a hut. The stone walls were entirely covered with moss, the moonlight glittered off of the wet stone, and the place had a icy aura to it. The area was largely isolated by a dense population of trees that surrounded it, with a path that led towards it.
"This is... my temple? I-I mean Fuyu's. Right? The Shrine of cold?" yawned Tsurara, sitting down on the steps of the temple. Rikuo joined her side and noded. They sat there together is silence, gazing towards the stars. Slowly, tsurara allowed her tiredness to overwhelm her. Leaning towards Rikuo, she finally fell, resting her head on Rikuo's shoulder.
"Oi! Tsurara..." exclaimed Rikuo in surprise, looking towards her, only to find a sleeping snow maiden.
Tsurara awoke, to find herself lying on the steps of the Shrine. Once again, her actions were taken over and she was helpless towards controlling her own body. The temple looked a lot more refined, thick mist surrounded area revealing only the temple, and the floor glittered with frost. She stood up and walked towards a small pond that lay beside the shrine. Peering within the reflection she saw herself. No, not herself. Within the reflection she saw the goddess. It seemed as if every part of her that was black was replaced with white. Her hair was wavy, pure white with a very faint blue at the top, her eyes were alternating faint blue and pure white orbs, her skin was pale white, and she had soft facial features. Although a deathly beautiful sight, she also gave off a penetrating feeling of deadliness which belied her looks.
She stood there for several moments gazing into the pool of water and mindlessly fiddling with the sleeve of her kimono, but was soon interrupted by a raspy voice."Mmmm... Fuyu..." The sight of a mad smile gleaming from within the mist greeted her as she turned around. She stared in disgust at her brother, but she was soon interrupted by another voice.
"Once again... it will soon turn to winter. The wind howls at the approaching cold of your glacial wrath. The sakura will soon wither and die alongside me... The signs of the ending life cycles reveal themselves. Your season is truly one to fear, yet I still can find beauty in it." A pair of lazy pools of a violent red slowly came closer to Tsurara. The speaker soon revealed herself as a young looking girl with silky, long, pink hair, and a innocent looking face. She wore a death-black dress and held a small vail in her left hand. She gave off a slight grin and slowly padded towards Tsurara, latching onto her in a hug. "Fuyu... I've missed you... why have you been so passive the last few years?" asked the girl, letting of of Tsurara.
Her eyes went wide at the comment. "I..." stuttered Fuyu, not knowing what to say. A faint drip was released from her eyes, remembering when Aki tore his blade through the one she loved. Aki laughed hysterically at the goddess's reaction, falling to the ground in laughter. The girl looked quizzically at her, attempting to read her expression of what pained her. Unable to take it anymore, Tsurara fell to her knees, and let the tears rain from her eyes.
"Wah! Fuyu! What's wrong?" asked the girl, kneeling beside her and wrapping her hands around Tsurara. "What did you do to her?" she demanded, looking at Aki with a serious expression.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah! She had a clandestine relationship with someone perhaps? And perhaps we had to kill him?" laughed Aki, getting up and sitting down on a rock nearby. "Hey! You stop looking at me... I'm not a mirror." The girl flinched at the rejoinder, and quickly returned her gaze to Tsurara.
"Fuyu... Tears are nothing but the shape of our weakness, and they won't bring any solutions. I wish you'd stop with that look of despair your giving me..." said the girl, giving Tsurara a stern look. "You know I don't pity those who show weakness. As for you..." pointing at Aki," Learn your place within this world, or perish."
Aki laughed, forming a cane within his hands. "To make me perish would be to crush a dead leaf. Pointless, useless, and boring. You know that I wouldn't stand a match against either you or Fuyu." He stood up, gave his cane a twirl, and deformed into decaying leaves. She sighed at his departure, pulling Tsurara up by her hand. A sudden hand grasped her shoulder, "Oh and why don't you become my wife? You always seem to reject me." Aki laughed, running his slender fingers through her hair.
"When will you learn? I won't stand up for your continuous attempts to flirt with me." sighed the girl, pushing the god off her back. "Sometimes, I find you really creepy."
"Oh? Why? You know that I will always love you... Why don't you become my flower? It won't be that bad..." whispered Aki, smiling and attempting to put his hand on her shoulder again, only to have her slap him.
Tsurara, got up without having the arguing gods notice and walked off walked towards the pond and forming a icy loctus within her hand. She delicately placed it onto the surface of the pond, allowing it to float. Sighing, she lay down and stared at the starry sky, wishing that he would return to her side someday. Her moments of peace were interupted by a yell. Tsurara, sat up instantly and ran towards the area of where she heard it from. Rounding around the corner, she was met with the sight of a mess of decayed sakura leaves with Aki standing in the middle, holding his cane against the girl's neck.
"Dammit you! You've gone too far this time! Slapping me like that... you bitch!" shouted Aki, covering a red splotch with his right hand. "I... I swear! I will get my revenge!... Somehow."
"Impudent as ever I see... decaying my sakura every time you touch me. I find you extremely annoying." commented the girl, pulling out a pitch-black bladed katana. "Next time you put your lay your head on my shoulder... I will show you my sakura petals. I find no interest in you. Only the dead can decay, it can not kill, you don't bring me souls." Testing her sword on a falling leaf of Aki's. She gave one last lazy smile towards Tsurara and a glare towards Aki before departing.
"You really had to ruin the visit didn't you?... Aki." sighed Tsurara, sitting on the frosty grass beneath her.
"Hahahaha! Indeed sister... I sure do know how to ruin one." whipping his cane towards Tsurara. She moved back right in time to dodge it. " I was sent here to capture you by myself, but unfortunately she had to interrupt! So a great way to get rid of her indeed!" laughed Aki, whipping his cane at her once again faster.
"Oh? Why now? Perhaps you don't know that your peak of power just passed... two hours ago?" asked Tsurara with a smile. "Oh... and I have to ask! Capture me for what? I wonder..." Tsurara walked towards Aki holding a hand out. With a sudden motion she grabbed Aki's face and formed a small sharp shard using the moisture in the air. "Have you not heard the tales of me... and how I kill my prey?" asked Tsurara, giving Aki a smile.
"Ohhh? The fake tales of where you murdered a man with a tiny shard?" asked Aki, laughing nervously. "Sooo... perhaps I'm helplessly caught within your hands, like your lover was when I killed him? Oh... I waited for this day... because this is the day I tried something out!"Suddenly, a large blade fell out of the sky, forcing Tsurara to jump back. Fuyu's memories flooded into Tsurara remembering the sword that killed him. "Surprised?! I spent the entire fall harnessing my power into this blade once more! Perhaps it ill be powerful enough to decay your ice now? Or... perhaps melt it? I should really rename it to Lover's bane!" Aki laughed hysterically, giving it a swing at the ground. The ground grass and frost was instantly turned into moist dirt. Aki swung the blade once more, but aimed for Tsurara.
She attempted to block the blade with a wall of ice, but the blade melted through the ice instantly, as if it were cutting through butter. The blade ripped through Tsurara's shoulder, making her stumble in pain. A sudden flash of pain hit her as the blade hit its mark once again, but this time tearing at the flesh of her stomach. The wounds reeked of rotting flesh. Tsurara knelt on the ground, knowing that she was rotting alive. Clutching her wounds, a sudden though hit her. She looked at her wounds, and held her hand out. Everything within the wound was rotting exept for the... blood. Instinctively, she froze the blood of hers. Sudden arcs of frozen blood sped towards Aki, peircing his chest. Aki attempted to cut off the still advancing arcs of blood, but found that the blade would not cut through the blood.
"Wha-how! This is... Impossible!" exclaimed Aki in disbelief. "I can't cut through your ice anymore!... Please! Sister! mercy!" cried Aki in pain.
"I don't give mercy to those who dare bring pain within my world... I have forgot how to give mercy. Walking towards the cowering Aki, she placed her hand on where her blood peirced him. "I will... show you pain." Tsurara, jabbed her fingers within Aki's wound, freezing his blood from within him. Slowly, his blood froze, forming crystals within every artery and vein. Aki screamed and writhed at the head splitting pain, until he was immobile for all his blood was frozen. A burning hand grabbed Tsurara, pulling her back.
"Oi! That's enough sister. We can't afford to lose him yet... for he is our brother. Give him punishment some other way Fuyu." commanded Natsu, tossing a small ball of fire to melt the blood within him. "Don't be reckless sister. Save you strength for some other time."
Tsurara glared at Aki and Natsu one last time, before walking away.
The first snow flake drifted peacefully onto Fuyu's palm. The first sign of winter.
Tsurara slowly opened one eye to find herself in the hands of her worriedly-looking master.
"R-Rikuo-sama?"
"Don't worry... get some rest. You passed out from tiredness." sighed Rikuo with a relieved expression. "You were writhing and shouting again..."
Tsurara gently leaned her head towards Rikuo's chest, and listened to Rikuo's continuous heartbeat.
"If only I could truly capture Rikuo's heart..."
Oh mah god peeps! Why don't you review?! I don't care if the reviews are bad I only want honest ones. Don't be afraid to review.
Thanks once again to everyone especially: Dennou Writer, uzumakixhinata, FlamesOfDeath017, and KurosuChitose for their endless support.
Don't mind my OOC BTW
Hope you enjoyed.