"We're back!" Tsurara called, giving the all clear signal that every youkai knew. The gates swung shut behind the ragtag group. It was amazing for the two outsiders to watch the garden fill so quickly with youkai. Ao had caught up to them, Kana safely left at home. Rikuo wasn't sure how he did it, but he didn't want to ask, considering how flustered the youkai looked. The group stopped by the flood of youkai, questions shot faster than Rikuo could understand. Even Kunai looked like he was ready to fight his way through, allowing the injured human some rest. Tsurara was more than happy to tell what happened, while Aotabou and the monk looked rather calm. Rikuo just now remembered the monk's name was Kurotabou, the same one who rescued them in the restaurant.
Zen was called to bandage Rikuo, but even Kunai managed to escape relatively unscathed.
They were relying on youkai abilities, so Rikuo didn't feel all that bad that he was the only who who suffered any damage. He didn't want to think what would have happened if the Nura youkai hadn't shown up...
He hated to admit it, but even he could see the fact that the youkai were winning. He could at least...thank Nurarihyon. But that was all. Nothing changed...
Aw, what was he saying? Of course things changed. Kunai knew it, he knew it, heck, everyone probably knew it! He wasn't threatening to kill youkai who trespassed into his room, he was eating breakfast with the youkai, he was starting not to...hate youkai.
It was a nice thought, but he'd be leaving here in a few days. Just like everything else in his life.
He sighed, as his phone rang persistently next to him, with the Demon ring, which was never good news. The house had finally quieted down, a few hours after the last drunk had fallen asleep. The youkai had thrown a mean party, and Rikuo had barely managed to escape without getting sucked in. Kunai had been pulled in as well, and all Rikuo asked was for Kunai not to get too drunk, as you never knew what would happen.
"Moshi moshi." He yawned, blinking his eyes open, trying to clear the fog from his head. If the building was under attack again, and everyone was drunk and hungover...
"Rikuo-sama. A police squad was just set out to your house, with orders and warrants to arrest you for suspected gang activity."
"Kuso." He flailed to a sitting position. Thankfully, he kept nothing of real importance there, but that meant a huge security breach. Not many knew his address, as that was a huge safety issue. Knowing his full name was alright, as even if they got his name, it didn't match his foster parent Beni's name.
That also meant returning to the Hiroshi area was impossible. They had his name, address, and probably evidence against him. He'd be sentenced and jailed before he knew it, even with his age.
"Rikuo-sama? What should we do?" Fujimoto asked, worry in her voice. They both knew the repercussions. His house was no longer safe. Hiroshi was no longer safe. Tracking him down in Ukiyoe would be more difficult, and he could change his name, further delaying them.
Either another snitch was in the gang, or the raids were finally catching up to him.
The white haired youkai's words rang in his head. Staying with the Demons is going to end in disaster. The gang is falling apart. Cops are on your trail, and it will only be a matter of time before you'll be sharing a cell with Haraguchi. Just cut them loose now.
...How had he known the name of the previous leader? Had he been following Rikuo around? Was he the snitch?
He paused, before chuckling at the thought of a proud youkai like he was working with humans. Why had he even thought of it?
Rikuo could easily take over the Ukiyoe district, but he needed to put someone in charge. 1st in command of the Hiroshi area, but 2nd overall. Someone he could trust. And they had to come and be officiated, with someone to notarize it.
And that meant they had to come here.
It was a new day.
"Where are the other youkai today?" Rikuo spat at the healer youkai, a little stressed from all the trouble he was dealing with. They were standing outside the gates, waiting for today's escort. Kunai managed not to get drunk last night (how was another mystery), and such earned a sushi lunch as a reward.
Zen was the only one who showed, in his purple kimono with his tattoos showing.
"I'm...the only one today." Zen tried to say this proudly, but something else was there. Was it...embarrassment? A sly grin appeared on Rikuo's face, knowing it was true.
"The Sōdaishō believes that you won't run away so easily, knowing you would be leaving a defenseless youkai alone." Zen looked absolutely furious at having to admit it, gritting his teeth. Rikuo briefly wondered how hard Nurarihyon had to push his position to get Zen to do this today, before laughing.
Damn youkai saw right through him. As much as Rikuo wanted to ditch Zen, he couldn't. They would only be doing paperwork today, so it would be an easy job. He would stay out of trouble today, for Zen's sake.
"Just stay close to me and don't kill anyone while we're there. And you can't tell anyone where this building is located. I'm trusting you on that. Kunai could easily...remove you, if you do tell."
Zen looked surprised (and glad) that Rikuo wasn't going to vanish and leave him, before nodding, and the two youkai followed after the Demon Leader
Needless to say, Rikuo took so many shortcuts and turnarounds that Zen wasn't sure if they were still in Ukiyoe by the time Rikuo finally stopped at a building.
They finally arrived at the building, a rather normal looking building.
Inside, was another story.
"Rikuo-sama!"
"Konnichiwa Rikuo-sama!"
"Is it really him?"
"Wow, he's so cute!"
"Is he really 15?"
"What about his bodyguard?"
"I hear he showed up with two girls last time. School girls!"
Rikuo sighed, the rumor mill at full force today. Kunai was glaring at the loudest gossipers, and quickly silencing them. Rikuo, wearing a jacket to hide last night's injuries, continued on, towards the current leader of this division, farther inside the building. He had taken over when the previous leader retired a few months ago. Rikuo never had a chance to meet the man, but he trusted the previous leader's decision.
"Kokatsu." He plainly spoke, the said person turning with a grin to greet the only person high enough to call him without honorifics.
"Rikuo-sama, and his two...friends? Oh, I won't question the great Demon himself! I see you're doing well. I hope that last night wasn't too dangerous." Kokatsu winked. For some reason, Rikuo immediately hated the man, not just for last night. His gut was telling him to avoid this man, and he trusted it. He would have to keep his guard up.
He felt Kunai tense up, sensing the distrust and unease from Rikuo. A quick glance said even Zen seemed a little put back by the man.
Rikuo glared before asking through gritted teeth. "What I want to know is why you weren't on duty last night." Venom dripping from his voice, Kokatsu backed up a step, waving his hands.
"Well, you see, I was, uh, on a date!" Rikuo blinked. Demons had the right to come in whenever they could, but higher ranked Demons usually didn't take days off without having someone beneath them fill in. If the 1st was gone, the 2nd was here, etc. So the fact that a lowly 5th seat was the highest ranked last night was highly suspicious. Someone inside planned it that way.
"Where's Akiyama?" The lowly 5th seat resigned to burning everything. Rikuo was going to have a few questions for him.
"He's not coming in today. Something about stress and hair loss? He's always a flake."
Rikuo stepped closer, lowering Kokatsu down to his level with a firm grip on the man's collar. "He was less of a flake than you were last night." Fear emanated from Rikuo, turning the sassy and uneasy 2nd in command turned into a limp noodle.
"Although he'll receive a word from me about his paperwork decision. Tell him I'll see him when he comes in." He finished, the anger almost gone from his voice, instead commanding.
Kunai caught Zen's gaping mouth at the blatant use of Fear, but said nothing.
"Yes, Rikuo-sama." Rikuo released the 2nd in command, wishing for Fujimoto. He needed someone he could trust here. Someone he fought in battles with, back to back. You could learn a lot about a person from battles, and if this was going to be his 2nd, he was going to be in a world of trouble.
"Fujimoto and Yasuo from Hiroshi will be arriving here tomorrow." He stated, looking at the onlookers at the little display.
"Why? Has something happened?" Kokatsu quickly regretted saying that, as it was out of line. You didn't question orders without good reason. And that was not a good reason.
"I'm taking over command today until further notice." Kokastu remained silent. Rikuo caught the hidden anger in the man's eyes, as well as something else.
"Uh, yes! What brought this on?" His perkiness was gone, replaced with fake cheer, making Rikuo's gut even more suspicious.
"A change of scenery." No one was to know the true reason, other than Yasuo and Fujimoto on why he was transferring.
"Ok then...Well, I'll let everyone know." Kokatsu saluted. Rikuo sighed, before rubbing the back of his neck, a frustrated look on his face.
"Come on Kunai. Let's go sort paperwork." He was most likely going to regret this.
Kunai and Zen followed Rikuo to his new office, where the paperwork was returned from the Nura clan. He had a Demon come pick it up before he could really see it, so he wasn't sure how much of it survived.
"HOLY CRAP." He yelled in surprise upon seeing the paperwork that survived, littered around the room, some with scorch marks. He seriously regretted not letting Akiyama burn the rest of it.
"Is this what a human gang leader does all day?" Zen asked, seeing life on the other side.
"Most of the time, no." He replied, before surveying the rest of it. The stacks littered the room, leaving almost nowhere to sit.
"Rikuo-dono. Glaring at it won't make it go away."
"BURN IT KUNAI!" He said, 100% seriously and slightly hysterical.
"No." Kunai stated, before setting to work on the first pile.
"Fine." Seeing he lost, he took a seat behind the desk, sighing at the fact the stacks were taller than him. "We'll get started. Was I the only one who got bad feelings from Kokatsu?"
"No. I sensed youkai on him." Kunai said, as the papers in his hand, which were badly damaged, fell apart, earning a sigh out of him.
"I did as well." Zen confirmed.
"We'll be extra careful around him. I'll see if I can find someone to replace him soon. I'm not running the Demons with someone like him running the show while I'm not here."
"Rikuo-sama! Kokatsu-san is asking for you outside." A girl relayed the message, before vanishing from sight from the door. A mound of stapled papers sat on the desk, almost completely blocking the leader from view, but smaller than earlier.
The two had made quite a dent in the paperwork, but they still had some time to spend to finish it. A pile of old, outdated, and highly risky papers sat with BURN marked on all of them. Kunai was going to deal with them later, considering his Fear was fire based.
"Thank god! I don't think I can sort any more papers." Rikuo leaned back in the chair before groaning. They had been at it for the past few hours, and Zen had since fallen asleep, the half eaten plate of food next to him. Kunai and Rikuo absorbed their lunch, sushi and an american cheeseburger.
"We'll leave the good-for-nothing sleeping." He said, referring to the fact that Zen had refused to help with paperwork. Kunai placed his last stack of papers onto Rikuo's desk, before going out the door. Rikuo grabbed Tora-Oni's sheath as he went.
"Kokatsu? What's going on?" Ever calm, Kunai sensed doubt, but not a single bit of fear.
It was night, and the youkai aura was strong. They were outside, near the docks in a wide open and dark space. It was very quiet, especially considering they were supposed to be meeting Kokatsu. Why had Kokatsu asked for him outside? Was there some information he didn't want the other Demons to know? But his office was safe from prying eyes, so why out here?
Was the thick youkai aura something else? Was this a trap? Was Kokatsu not even coming? Or was he part of this?
"The great leader of the Deathside Demons. Human, but managed to become leader at the tender age of 15. His sword skills are top notch, but he's still only a child." A voice spoke from the darkness, and Rikuo reached for Tora-oni and calmly drew it.
"And here he comes and shows up with a Nura member, acting so big and mighty. How did a human gain the protection of the Nura clan, I wonder?" The voice shifted directions, coming from behind them. Both of them turned, looking for the voice's origin.
"I lost a bet. Is that all you are going to do, hide in the shadows? Or are you going to do something interesting?"
"A human who hates youkai, getting the protection of the Nura clan. Such hypocrisy."
"Show yourself! Only cowards hide in the darkness!"
"But isn't that what you think of youkai? One of the few humans who could see youkai, cursed forever alone."
The voice shifted locations again, and a can clattered across the ground, startling both of them.
"I'm getting tired of these games! Where is Kokatsu?"
After a moment of silence, he continued. "Or is he part of this? I bet he's been the snitch all along. Only someone as high as he could get the information."
"You're smart, at least. I want the Demons. I'm going to kill you, and become the new leader. I'll get rid of your stupid human rules that's holding the Demons back from becoming the top gang of Japan." The voice stepped out of the darkness and into the moonlight. It was a pitch black leopard, with razor sharp claws and teeth that almost glowed in the moonlight.
"Idiot! The human rules are the reason why the Demons has grown so much. Everyone there, has someone to protect. They joined to become stronger, and prevent unnecessary deaths! Removing those rules and becoming more ruthless would be the downfall of the Demons."
"Such big words from a measly human."
"Don't underestimate me! I've done more than you could ever do, youkai. If you think you're going to kill me, and take over the Demons, you're out of your mind."
"I am Kokatsu Kurohyo." The leopard grinned, having enough of the small talk. "And I'm going to kill you. Yami ni tokeru." The leopard leaped, before vanishing into the darkness, his Fear activating. Both of them glanced around, but he was gone from sight and sound. Rikuo and Kunai stood back to back, looking for any sign of the leopard. The black mass blended in with the shadows form the moonlight. Only when it stepped into the moonlight was it visible. Kunai slashed downwards, sending flames towards the last seen area, but the shape only slunk away into the darkness.
"Rikuo-dono. We need to cut through his Fear, before he cuts through us."
"Good plan. How, exactly?" Instincts taking over, Rikuo blocked a paw, using his hand to keep the sword from being pushed back. He skidded backwards against Kunai, before pushing the youkai off and trying to do some damage before he was gone again. Blood dripped off his sword, not his thankfully.
"Anytime you want to put that plan into action, Kunai." Clouds blocked the full moon's glow, creating more darkness.
"Mugen kunai!" Kunai yelled, sending out a wave of flaming knives towards the black mass as it was moving back into the darkness. Kunai's Fear was fire based, and his knives created interesting weapons when lit on fire. His fire didn't affect Kunai, but it did everyone else, so you had to be sure which knives were on fire a minute ago.
"We have to corner him or he'll keep slipping away from our attacks. His Fear isn't invincible. We can still touch him, and he can still touch us."
The youkai appeared again, and Rikuo ducked. The youkai was met with a face full of fire. It hissed in pain, before Rikuo slashed upward with his sword, sending the youkai back.
Rikuo and Kunai had spent many battles together, and being master and follower, they could work together with great ease.
Rikuo and Kunai had fought in more battles together than Rikuo and Fujimoto had, and it showed. They moved fluidly together, one defending and one attacking.
A black mass jumped towards Rikuo, and both of them aimed towards it. The mass vanished, and the real leopard revealed himself, claws aimed to kill Rikuo.
Kunai acted without a moment's hesitation, and pushed Rikuo out of the way, sending him crashing to the ground.
The leopard found it's mark, sinking it's claws into Kunai's chest.
Kunai coughed, blood spilling onto the concrete from his wounds. The leopard released his fear, looking quite smug with himself, before digging the claws deeper and then releasing Kunai, who collapsed to the ground.
"You son of a bitch! " Rikuo readied Tora-oni, as the leopard jumped to attack him. He used to sword to hold back the leopard and his claws, before pushing him off.
It was an eloquent dance between the two of them, circling and attacking.
Damn it. Damn it all. I can't keep up with his youkai tricks! He keeps vanishing before I can do any damage. I've managed to dodge most of his attacks, but I'm getting slower.
"It seems I've underestimated you. I'll have to work harder than." The leopard grinned, before speaking again.
"Yami ga subetedesu."
The world vanished, everything turning into pure darkness. Not black, pure darkness. No shadows, or grey areas.
Everything had vanished. Sight, smell, sound.
Silence and darkness.
Hand in hand.
Something snarled, drawing him back to the fight. This was obviously another part of the youkai's Fear. He whirled around, ready to meet the attacker.
Something furry brushed up next to him, before vanishing again into the darkness.
"Rikuo-dono." Kunai's labored voice reached him, even through the leopard's Fear. "You must live. The Demons depend on you. You are the glue, which holds everything, together. I'm sorry, that we couldn't be together for longer."
"No! We promised! We would stay by each other side's until we take our final breathes!"
"You're..the most interesting human I've met." Kunai chuckled, his voice raspy and heavy.
"The lowly human. Weak, spineless, defenseless. Unable to protect the ones he promise to protect. A sad, but everyday occurrence."
I'm. Not. All human! I am part youkai.
"You are really pathetic right now. Can't even defeat a youkai by yourself. Tch.
The answer is right in front of your face, and you can't even see it. I guess you'll have a chance to figure it out next time. I can't let you die now. We've got too much to do."
Rikuo saw the white haired youkai, smirking. Why was he here? Shouldn't his brain be off limits?
Rikuo's world went dark, as he lost consciousness.
"Just hold on, Kunai. The wounds are deep, but if you relax, and stay awake, you should be fine." Zen, ripped bandages in hand to stop the bleeding and his medical kit open. He wasn't sure what happened. He had been wakened up by a flood of youkai aura, and rushed out here to find Kunai bleeding to death and Rikuo nowhere in sight.
"Where's...where's Rikuo-dono?" Kunai spoke, managing to even with his injured lungs.
"I...don't know." Zen admitted, mixing up some herbal remedy to try and stop the bleeding. If it didn't stop, Kunai's lungs would fill with blood and...
Well, it wasn't a pretty end.
"The youkai, is trying, to kill him and take over the Demons."
"Stay quiet. You need to rest. You're lungs are in horrible shape. If you keep talking, you'll only make it worse."
Zen admired the loyalty Kunai had, knowing the feeling himself. The whole Nura Gumi felt the same way, but it was odd to see a youkai caring about a human.
Part human, he reminded himself.
Zen found himself being pushed down by Fear, before the Fear was reined back in. It was a familiar Fear, one that Zen thought he'd never feel again.
Clouds that once blocked the moonlight moved away, coating the whole area in a white glow.
A black leopard appeared, and a ball of black stood in the middle.
Sounds of metal came from the sphere, before exploding, covering the area in blue smoke.
"There's one thing you didn't know, Kokatsu. One thing you forgot to count. The one thing that will lead to your death." A single deep voice echoed from the smoke, which covered the entire area.
"Impossible! How did a human cut through my Fear?!" The leopard youkai bounced back a few steps, unsure of what happened.
"I'm not all human." The smoke cleared away, revealing a tall figure. Long, gravity defying hair that was half white and half black stood out the most. Red eyes, well defined chin, blue robes. A familiar sword rested in his hand, raised defensively.
"What have you done with the human? Where is Rikuo? Where is my prey!" The youkai demanded, as it shifted back and forth, unsure of what just happened.
Zen gasped in surprise and shock. The youkai...looked like the Supreme Commander! But how was that possible? Who was this youkai?
...That Fear...It couldn't be. It was impossible.
"If you stand in my way, I'll kill you!" The leopard pounced, easily jumping 8 feet towards his prey, who remained unworried.
"Kyōka Suigetsu." The white haired youkai spoke two words, looking absolutely calm, an air of leadership surrounding him. He almost sounded...amused.
The youkai flew through the stranger, whose body becoming black tendrils of smoke before vanishing completely, as though the stranger was only smoke.
That...was a Nura family technique! Zen had only seen it a few times, but the name was the same, there was no doubting that.
The leopard stood no chance. The stranger appeared a foot behind the leopard youkai, smoke drifting from his body. With the ease of a practiced swordsmen, the leopard stood no chance.
Leaving him alone with Zen and Kunai.
The stranger was ruthless, calm, and powerful. He moved with the grace of a trained swordsmen, and fought like one too. He turned, before walking towards Zen and Kunai.
Zen panicked. He had never seen the youkai before, he would not be able to stand a chance against the youkai, and he had no idea where Rikuo was. "We're Nura Clan members!" He exclaimed.
Where was Rikuo, anyway?
The youkai leaned down next to Kunai, ignoring Zen's plea, before sheathing his sword.
Kunai grinned at the sight of the stranger, before speaking. "You make a very good youkai."
"Stay down, Kunai. I need you to live. You did promise, remember?" A hint of amusement in his voice, as the youkai seemed to find the whole situation funny.
"Yes, Rikuo-dono."
"Rikuo?" Zen finally asked, knowing that the chances of Kunai being wrong were slim. But that Nura Fear...
"When did you wake up, you good-for-nothing?" The youkai scolded, causing Zen to choke in surprise.
"Rikuo?" He asked again, still in shock.
"What?" Rikuo raised an eyebrow, the other eye closed, while looking bored and curious at the same time. That was a feat in itself.
"But...that Fear...was a Nura family technique! That means..."
"Spit it out Zen." Rikuo demanded, annoyance in his voice.
"Have you heard the story of Rihan Nura?"
