Disclaimer: NOT MINE.
Warning: AU, shounen ai-ncest, oOC, language, etc…
A/N: A little bit early, since I can't sleep… and because you guys' reviews have reached more than ten, so… early update! XD Love your reviews as always… here, chapter 9 just for you! *love*
Chapter 9: About Rihan (1)
I wonder what you're doing right now...
The memories I collect are precious treasures
Making my heart wrench…*
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuo was completely flabbergasted as he felt the hug from Rihan around his still wet and half bare body. His big arm circled his waist to his bare back, the other circling his shoulder with the big palm on the back of his head. And Rikuo's face was pinned on Rihan's wide chest.
What the hell just happened?—Rikuo's mind couldn't help screaming in alert at this sudden turn of event. He didn't know why Rihan suddenly barged in and then just… held him like this.
Wait, wasn't this really dangerous? He meant… Rihan had shown that he was interested in that way to Rikuo. Was this a red light situation where Rihan finally made his move to get his hand on him?
Rikuo's head was spinning. So were his eyes. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't let this happen because it was so-so-so very WRONG in so many levels and they just met yesterday, damn it. No matter what the circumstance was, it was hell too fast! But suddenly pushing Rihan away in total rejection didn't seem right either. What on earth should Rikuo do?
Rikuo was almost panicked as he tried to speak to Rihan again while holding onto his yukata, which he hadn't put on and just became the one and only material saving Rikuo from indecency of being fully naked, with Rihan's fully clothed body pressed around him, tighter. This felt very-very strange.
"U-um… um, Ri-Rihan-san?" he called the older man's name frantically, and nervously. He bet he was probably even pale… or blushing furiously (depend on which perspective) as well if he could see his own face right now, trying to talk to Rihan. But Rihan hadn't responded to him and Rikuo could hear the quiet whisper of 'thank God' from him. Then, he also felt the embrace tighten around him.
Crap—!
Rikuo had to do something, but he was also curious of why Rihan would say something like 'thank God' to no one in particular. Moreover, Rikuo could feel the sigh of… relief (?) coming from Rihan's breath and there was the erratic heartbeat too… it was slowing down considerably, but still… Rikuo didn't understand what had worked Rihan up in the first place.
Rikuo stayed silent in Rihan's embrace for a few minutes until he thought Rihan had calmed enough to begin to think again. Rikuo gulped slightly before he started. "Ri… Rihan-san… what's wrong?" he asked then, slowly, trying to act casual despite the urge to run away from this potentially embarrassing situation. He was half naked for God's sake.
Rihan had just seemed realizing what he was doing and hurriedly opened his eyes and there was a startled gasp from outside the room as well that shocked Rikuo and Rihan (it seemed) because Rihan instantly released Rikuo's body like he was on fire and stepped back several times.
"Ah…!" Rihan's eyes were widened in disbelief and Rikuo could see that Kubinashi was behind the Nidaime, dropping his jaw in total shocked look.
"Ri—, RIHAN!" Kubinashi shouted at the long-dark haired man loudly in horror and Rihan still couldn't turn his widened eyes away from Rikuo's (and his body, maybe) and Rikuo's face had to heat several degrees higher as he realized that he was totally exposed. Well, not totally, but still….
Rihan snapped and then "S-sorry!" he shouted in panicky, frantically turned away and stepped out of the changing room while slamming the sliding door shut very hard until it rattled.
Rikuo was stunned, totally speechless at that bizarre display before he remembered that he was just experiencing the weirdest most embarrassing event in the fourteen years of his life.
HIEEEEE!—Rikuo flushed very hard as he collapsed on his butt and hid his still heating face behind his dislodged Yukata. That… that's too embarrassing~! W-what actually happened? Why did dad suddenly do that?—he couldn't help thinking in panicky as well, trying to figure out this very odd mixed feelings of embarrassment, excitement and, as strange as it sounded, happiness that was resurfacing from his heart.
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
Outside the bathroom….
"Rihan! For GOD's sake, what the FUCK were you doing in there?" Kubinashi yelled, yeah, he actually yelled at Rihan, still in mortification apparently because his foul language was flying around, making his master cringe hearing it.
"Y-you don't have to yell that loud…" Rihan said as he staggered and then proceeded to slam his forehead on the nearest wall for feeling so weak suddenly and needing a place to lean on, while hiding his still flushing deep-red face behind his palm which covered his mouth. "I'd like the ground to open up and swallow me too, you know…." He mumbled slowly, very embarrassed and confused himself.
What the hell am I doing? Get a grip of yourself, Nura Rihan!—Rihan even scolded himself for acting so immature like this.
Aah, he must have scared Rikuo with this display of oddity. The boy probably thought Rihan was about to attack him. Heck, Kubinashi must have felt the same after he saw all of that. His fuming look was proof enough of that thought.
"If you're embarrassed, why did you do it in the first place?" Kubinashi hissed, still looking very annoyed and irritated and probably a little bit mad because Rihan's opponent was still just a kid. A KID, damn it! He probably didn't understand what Rihan had been going through just now.
"I don't know," Rihan said while turning to his attendant, totally bewildered himself. "When I saw the folded yukata on top of the folded futon… and there were those papers… I just assumed…." He didn't continue his explanation and fell silent as he looked down at the floor.
Rihan knew that he was afraid, though. He was afraid that the boy would just leave without saying goodbye and the image was too close to the image he didn't want to remember.
Strange how this little thing showed how much Rihan was still affected by Yamabuki's disappearance. No matter how many times he convinced himself that he was alright, it seemed his heart wasn't ready to let her go just yet.
"Rihan…." Kubinashi seemed understanding now, his expression softening, probably because he heard the rather shaky explanation.
Rihan didn't know he could be this shaken just because of this. This wasn't good. At. All.
Kubinashi then huffed at him. "That's why you should hear people's explanation first before jumping into conclusion," he said, already back to his annoyed look.
Rihan was grateful that Kubinashi didn't pity him. The neck-less youkai never did. When anyone else started to act too carefully around him to keep his feelings, Kubinashi was the only one scolding him that if Yamabuki left it was her own mistake and it wasn't about Rihan, so Rihan should juts man it up and accept it.
Rihan knew that Kubinashi also cried the night Yamabuki disappeared. Rihan didn't know why, but he cried and then he shouted at Rihan that he cried because of him who refused to cry even at that heartbreaking moment. His tears were Rihan's, he said… and it wasn't because he was sad or anything. Rihan didn't really understand, but after that, slowly, Rihan could feel something else again aside that numb and hollow feeling left by Yamabuki in his heart.
It was painful at first, but he felt it. It was Rihan's lost love and he was grateful that he was able to feel it. That made him human… okay, human and youkai.
"Sorry…" Rihan said that sincerely. He had to pull himself up more. He couldn't appear so weak like this in front of his family. He was thankful that Kubinashi always watched out for his back and Rihan actually could convey what he felt directly to the golden-amber eyed youkai without too many words involved.
Rihan could see Kubinashi sigh slightly, looking relieved. Ha, he didn't show it, but Kubinashi was actually the one who was worried about Rihan most. Now he felt like the luckiest Hanyo in the world, if not the only one. Despite what happened… Rihan still had his family around him. They always made his heart feel stronger.
However, his nostalgic and relieved feeling was short-lived when Rihan heard the door of the oofuro open slightly, revealing a worried, nervous looking Rikuo behind the door. He was peeking outside as if making sure that there was no strange person around to stalk him.
Rihan felt his face heating again as Rikuo's gaze fell upon his and the boy immediately looked away, looking totally embarrassed. "I-it's okay, Rikuo," Rihan began awkwardly, trying to reassure the boy while he himself was still feeling like running away. He was still so embarrassed as well about this. "I won't attack you. I promise…."
Maybe Rikuo wouldn't believe Rihan after that kind of stunt, but he could always hope.
Surprisingly, Rikuo opened the door fully and stepped outside. He looked really uncomfortable and awkward, but at least he had already been fully dressed again with the more fitting yukata, unlike the one last night and this morning. Rihan noticed that it was one of his old yukatas, one of his favorites when he was considerably younger. It looked good on Rikuo.
"Um…," Rikuo started hesitantly while looking up shyly at Rihan and Rihan snapped from his train of thought.
"Y-yes?" Damn. Rihan himself was still feeling totally self-conscious.
"Is… is Rihan-san alright?" Rikuo asked, looking concerned now and Rihan had to hold himself not to hug the boy again. He looked absolutely cute like that and he was worried about Rihan despite what he had done earlier. Ah, how kind-hearted this kid could be?
Maybe that was the sole reason why Rikuo was made into sacrifice. His pure heart alone was worth a thousand coins of gold!
"Yes… Rikuo, I'm fine now," Rihan smiled at the boy affectionately and Rikuo smiled small hearing that.
"Thank god…." Rikuo sighed in relieved look now and Rihan could feel that the boy was seriously worried about him and not for himself.
Kubinashi was silent seeing the exchange between the two, but Rihan could feel his fond gaze at them and Rihan knew this was perfect.
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
Don't you make me happy?
Always special to you
Something fun…**
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
"Rikuo-kun, are you tired?" Kubinashi asked as the three of them walked down the hall to go back to the front part of the house.
"Not really, I was asleep a long time today," Rikuo chuckled sheepishly while scratching his cheek.
"Then do you want to continue our tour of this house this morning?" Kubinashi offered again.
"Don't need to," Rihan was the one answering for that.
Rikuo and Kubinashi's big bead of sweats dropped from the back of their heads. "Rihan/Rihan-san…." Both also mumbled his name ineptly.
"I will take Rikuo around, so you can go back to your duty, Kubinashi," the Nidaime said with a sweet smile, a kind that showed when he wanted something.
Kubinashi narrowed his eyes at Rihan suspiciously. "My work can wait. I still don't trust you to be alone with this boy," he said in finality, deadpanned.
"What? Hey, that's a rude way to talk to me!" Rihan protested in annoyance.
"I never care about the social status in our relationship," Kubinashi said coolly and Rihan fumed at him. Rikuo who saw their interaction chuckled in amusement.
"Ah," Rihan turned to the slightly snickering Rikuo and he blushed. Kubinashi tried hard not to blush. They still looked so funny though, so the snickering morphed into laughter in Rikuo's part.
"Rikuo!" Rihan protested, looking totally embarrassed.
"Sorry… I just didn't expect that Rihan-san and Kubinashi could act this way to each other," Rikuo said, still smiling happily. "Rihan-san looks so cool, see? And Kubinashi always looks aloof. Seeing both of you arguing childishly is funny," he said, explaining.
"I-it's childish?" Rihan looked shocked at that and Kubinashi looked considerably embarrassed.
"Ah, it isn't necessarily a bad thing," Rikuo said again quickly. "I'm glad I can see you like normal people despite being youkai," he continued sincerely and honestly.
"Rikuo-kun/Rikuo…." Kubinashi and Rihan were staring gently at Rikuo and then they also chuckled amusedly.
"Hey, Rikuo, maybe you want to accompany me for awhile?" Rihan asked then.
"Eh, accompany… to where?" Rikuo looked up at Rihan wonderingly.
"I have a good story to tell you," Rihan winked at him and Rikuo blushed slightly at that.
"O-… okay," he said in agreement, slightly dazed as well seeing the mind-numbing face of the Nidaime.
"Then I'll excuse myself," Kubinashi said slowly.
"Eh? Kubinashi doesn't come along?" Rikuo turned at Kubinashi in wonder.
"Rihan said he had a story for you. Then this story is exclusive for you," Kubinashi grinned.
"As expected from my attendant. Such a wise thinking," Rihan looked proud at that.
"If he tries anything funny, just kick him in the shin," Kubinashi added for a good measure in a positive smile.
"Hey!" Rihan protested and Rikuo's sweat dropped again hearing that.
"Rihan," now Kubinashi turned at Rihan with narrowed eyes. "Don't attack Rikuo-kun," he warned.
"You are indeed incredibly rude!" Rihan fumed more with flushing cheeks, extra embarrassed than annoyed as Kubinashi just waved him off and left. "Jeez… that Kubinashi and his paranoid tendency…!" the leader of the Nura Clan then grumbled and sulked for some minutes.
"Ahahaha," Rikuo couldn't help laughing awkwardly the entire time.
A short time later, Rihan and Rikuo were sitting on the patio of Rihan's chamber where the Sakura tree stood elegantly in full bloom just in front of them.
"Ah… it's so beautiful…." No matter how many times Rikuo enjoyed the view in his own timeline… or inside his dream, the beauty of that eternally blooming Sakura never ceased to amaze him.
"It is, right? Do you know this? This tree… has stood here since a long-long time ago. And guess what, it was barren for sometimes until a certain someone was born in this world," Rihan said with an excited look.
"Really?" Rikuo was curious now. He had never heard the story about this tree.
Rihan nodded. "This Sakura bloomed for the first time… when my mother was born," Rihan grinned. Rikuo widened his eyes at that.
"Rihan-san's… mother?" Rikuo couldn't help mumbling. Then it was about Youhime, Rikuo's grandmother?
"Yeah, and it kept blooming every spring, until my mom passed away fifty years later…." Now Rihan's face turned nostalgic and Rikuo was sad for a moment before he saw Rihan's smiling face. "And guess what, since the day my mother passed, this tree… has always in full bloom no matter what the season is," he continued and Rikuo exhaled in awe as the tree glowed in soft pinkish color.
"Does that mean…?"
Rihan grinned widely while winking confidently. "Yes, Rikuo, my mother's spirit… She's become a deity and lived in this tree since hundreds years ago."
Oh…! So that's what's so special about this tree! Grandma is there!—Rikuo didn't know why he just believed what Rihan had said, but… it was just so romantic and awesome that he wanted to believe it.
Even though Rikuo's grandma had passed away, she never left him, them. She would always be there, watching them grow and protect them as much as she could.
Is that why Yoru likes to sit on its branch so much…?—when he looked at it more closely, Rikuo remembered how he and his night form met for the first time and dozens and hundreds times afterwards. Their grandma… made them meet, huh?
Yoru….
Rikuo's gaze couldn't help landing on the branch where Night Rikuo always sat, watching the night view of the town and Tokyo. Maybe Night Rikuo could see her there, sitting beside him or acting as a pillow whenever he fell asleep there. Rikuo felt a little empty that he couldn't see his youkai there now and Rihan seemed noticing that Rikuo had turned mellow somehow, so he stood and walked to the tree.
"Rihan-san?" Rikuo called his dad in surprise at the sudden movement.
Rihan turned to him. "Come here," he said, offering his hand to him. Rikuo stood as well and walked following Rihan's footsteps until he was standing in front of the taller man. He hesitated for awhile before he nodded and accepted the hand and suddenly, he was lifted up bridal style.
"E-eeh! W-wait! Ri-Rihan-san!" Rikuo was shocked as Rihan, with Rikuo secured in his arms, just jumped up high, as if their weight combined meant nothing at all, and then landed gracefully on that branch.
"Look," Rihan said slowly while jerking his head upward, signing Rikuo to follow his line of sight.
Rikuo was confused for a moment, but then decided to follow his instruction and turned to the direction of the town and city. Rikuo instantly gasped at the glimmering lights that were sparkling and gleaming, scattering around in the dark ground. It was like… watching the stars on the night sky, but with so much more various colors. The view was breathtakingly beautiful and Rikuo was very moved by them.
"It's gorgeous, right?" Rihan spoke slowly and quietly, almost whispering and Rikuo couldn't help nodding in total agreement. "Those are… the lights of human's hopes," he said and Rikuo had to tear his gaze from the view to look at Rihan's soft and gentle expression. "Humans are beautiful. I often sit in this place, watching the lights grow bigger or weaker. It gives me the peace that I will never be alone. No matter how lost I am… Just by seeing and remembering that I have those lights to protect give me strength to hold on."
Rihan looked so cool when he said that and Rikuo's heart skipped a beat. Oh damn. His dad looked totally….
Eh… wait. No, no. Hold on, Rikuo! This can't go on…! If this goes on I will truly—!
Rikuo shook his head slightly to clear his mind, but it gained Rihan's attention too, apparently, because he then looked down at Rikuo with raised eyebrows. "What's wrong?" he asked then.
Crap—!
Rikuo looked at Rihan's golden eyes in silence for awhile, trying his best to maintain his expression not to look too awe-struck (or love-struck?) before he smiled small, totally knowing what to say next. "They're not just… humans'…." he said slowly before he turned his gaze to the sea of those luminous lights again. "Even if some are weaker… those are youkai's hopes too…."
Rihan widened his eyes slightly and then softened his expression and smiled again tenderly. "You're absolutely right," he responded fondly and Rikuo smiled happily at him before leaning his head on to Rihan's chest, feeling absolutely at peace.
Well, that was just part of an excuse. Rikuo just couldn't stand seeing Rihan's eyes more without blushing madly, so he had to hide himself there.
"I'm glad… that I meet you, Rihan-san…." Rikuo said closing his eyes, completely comfortable this way. "I hope… I can stay here like this… always…."
Truthfully, Rikuo didn't know what he was saying because he was slightly sleepy. Even though he had slept practically the entire day, being in Rihan's embrace was comforting his weary soul caused by his impossible situation.
"Of course you can stay here… as much as you want…."
Vaguely, Rikuo heard Rihan's gentle voice lulling him to sleep and felt a soft caress on his hair, his cheek, and a tender kiss on his forehead. He didn't think much at all when he felt a warm light brush on his lips as well….
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
Rihan stared at the sleeping boy in his arm affectionately. Rikuo was so cute that Rihan couldn't help brushing a light kiss to the boy's lips just so he could taste him for a bit.
Rihan smiled in amusement as he jumped down from the tree, being extra careful and soft when he landed to the ground so as not to wake up the adorable boy.
"I saw it."
Rihan was surprised when he heard a voice from behind the shadow. He turned around and found an annoyed Kurotabo there. "Hey, Kuro," he just smiled at the assassin monk.
"Don't hey me, you… pervert," Kurotabo said, still looking pissed off. "I heard from Kubinashi what happened in the oofuro and now you just went and kissed him? Rihan… he's still a kid!" he scolded the head of the Nura Clan with disbelieving expression.
"Aah, all of you are so noisy," Rihan huffed in irritation. "I won't do anything to the kid against his will," he tried to reassure the black eyed youkai.
"Willing or not, he's still just a kid, Rihan. A KID," Kurotabo even went as far to say the word 'kid' in big bold italic letter.
Rihan sighed in defeat. "Fine, I'm sorry. I won't do that again." Arguing with Kurotabo was a hassle and he just wanted to put Rikuo to sleep in his room again quickly.
"You don't look sorry enough," Kurotabo was still fretting and Rihan was tired of this.
"What do you want me to do?" Rihan asked then and Kurotabo went silent. "I just… seek comfort from this boy. He reminds me why I'm alive at all."
Kurotabo was still silent for a moment longer before he spoke again. "I understand…, but Rihan, he's still just a boy. A human… and a minor…. Just… don't hurt him and yourself," he said and Rihan looked up at Kurotabo in a surprise.
"Kurotabo…." Rihan couldn't help mumbling his name softly.
"You do understand what you're doing, right?" Kurotabo looked at Rihan's golden eyes with concerned look now. "Rihan… I just don't want to see you hurt yourself more."
Rihan smiled solemnly at the assassin monk. "Don't worry…. I know what I'm doing. I want to protect this boy. What happened to him was awful, and I want to help him get better…. Because, this might sound crazy, but whenever I see this boy smile happily, I'm happy as well. I expect you and Kubinashi also feel the same way, right?" he asked then and Kurotabo nodded.
"Rikuo-kun said… he wanted to be our friend. A human… that wants to be our friend, that likes us just the way we are, isn't scared of us in any way and is happy to be with us. To be the strength of someone who is so similar to you… is our pleasure," Kurotabo said with a sure smile.
Rihan smiled as well, closed his eyes slowly and said, "Then it's proof enough, that this boy… this boy deserves to get my feelings…."
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
Don't you have a good time?
I can be so full of life
…just because you're with me…**
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
The next morning was a tricky one, because it was almost like the repeat of the previous day, where Rikuo woke up with the sight of Rihan's face so close in front of his own. However, unlike yesterday, Rikuo could react more naturally and actually yelp loudly.
"Hieee! R-Ri-Ri—Rihan-san!" Rikuo shouted while waking up and backing away from Rihan's body in utter shock and surprise.
Rihan stirred slightly before he opened his eyes and then blinked several times to focus his gaze before he met Rikuo's perplexed eyes. "Ah, good morning, Rikuo," he even greeted the boy with his bed voice, making the chocolate haired boy flush in embarrassment.
"Jeez, Rihan-san! Why are you sleeping here?" Rikuo protested then, not understanding why Rihan was so keen to sleep beside Rikuo.
"Oi, oi, this is my room, you know," Rihan's sweat dropped visibly at the protest.
"Then put me in another room!" Rikuo demanded. Yep, he had decided to throw away the formality between them because he felt he could be closer to Rihan this way after seeing Rihan and Kubinashi's interaction last night; and not closer as in… a different kind of way, but more in a family way.
The more informal they acted around each other, the more familiar they became and it wouldn't be awkward anymore with the embarrassing moments like yesterday in the oofuro… or on that Sakura tree.
Rikuo couldn't help flushing as he remembered how Rihan looked when talked about humans' dreams and how Rikuo's heart skipped a beat seeing his cool expression. He shook his head again to clear his mind then.
"Ah… you don't like staying in my room?" Rihan looked disappointed and Rikuo covered his forehead, suddenly feeling dizzy. He shouldn't lead Rihan more than this.
"And you don't find it strange bringing a stranger into your own room?" Rikuo asked back with more beads of sweat prickling out his face.
"Eh? But Rikuo is not a stranger to me," Rihan said while winking seductively and Rikuo had to hold down his expression not to blush again seeing it. "I already know who Rikuo is, after all."
What?—Rikuo dropped his jaw at the last sentence. What is he talking about?
Rihan looked apologetic now. "The old man told me yesterday."
Ojii-chan! He told Da-… Rihan-san everything?—Rikuo was pale. He said he wouldn't tell!
"It must be hard for you…. I'm sorry for prying, but I need to know who you are, Rikuo. I promise I won't you directly, so you don't have to be worried to have to explain. I'm capable enough on finding information on my own. I will help you with whatever you need without asking too many questions," Rihan explained with a soft tender look.
Rikuo sighed in relief when he heard that. So… he didn't have to tell Rihan with his own mouth. But he had to talk to Nurarihyon for breaking his promise so easily like that! Rikuo was totally mad at him right now.
"Okay…." Rikuo nodded, slightly solemn while looking down.
"Cheer up!" Rihan said while cupping Rikuo's cheeks to look up at him. "I like your smiling face best, Rikuo," he said with a gentle smile and Rikuo flushed again.
"R-Rihan-san… too close…!" Rikuo shut his eyes, really embarrassed and Rihan grinned teasingly.
"Today, you will accompany me to go to the humans' market. You must want to walk around, right?" Rihan asked as he released Rikuo's cheeks and sat up to begin his day.
"Eh, I can go outside?" Rikuo was surprised at that.
"Of course! Children should play outside a lot!" Rihan grinned.
"Hey! I'm not a child!" Rikuo protested.
"No, you're still a brat," Rihan teased some more and Rikuo fumed.
"I'm not!"
"Are too."
Then Rikuo pouted because this was endless. He didn't think Rihan would back off from this. However, he then found a nice witty retort to throw back at him. "Then Rihan-san is also a child for persistently arguing with one," Rikuo smirked and Rihan almost fell over as he stood up.
"You brat—!" Rihan looked annoyed and reached for Rikuo to give him a lesson. Rikuo just dodged and stood to run away while laughing madly. "Wait a second! Rikuo! Come back here!"
Ah, this was bliss. Rikuo was so happy he could joke around with Rihan, his dad, this way. It felt awesome! He could get used to this…!
But then Rikuo remembered that this was just temporary situation. The moment he found a way to go home… to save his family and friends in the future… he would have to leave.
Rikuo suddenly felt afraid. What if he got too attached to this time… and didn't want to go home? It was worse when last night he didn't dream about his inner world and that Sakura tree, his grandma. He knew now why that Sakura tree was warm and throbbing in his inner world, like it had a heart after Rihan's story last night.
Youhime was trying to tell Rikuo that everything would be okay. That Night Rikuo would come out again and he just had to wait for him to contact him. Though, now he felt fine even without his other half. This wasn't normal. What if… what if his connection to youkai Rikuo had already been severed completely?
Yoru…!—Rikuo couldn't forget. I must not forget…!—his responsibility… he had to find a way to go home while creating memories in this time with his dad. Yes, he could do that.
But then… because Rikuo was too focused on his own thought, he didn't realize that his speed had been slowing down considerably, until Rihan could catch up to him. And then, he was totally surprised when he was tackled down to the grassy ground by the older man.
"Got you!"
"Hyaaah!" Rikuo couldn't help yelping as his body connected to the hard ground, but his face was cushioned by Rihan's palm, so it wasn't painful. "Wha—, Rihan-san! You are so childish!" Rikuo had to yell at him in annoyance.
"Says the brat who can only protest," Rihan countered and then proceeded to tickle Rikuo.
"Gyahahahaha! Stop! Rihan-san, that tickles!" Rikuo was laughing like mad and struggling to free himself from Rihan's clutch, but it was futile as the older man mercilessly attacked his ticklish spots that made Rikuo go weak. How Rihan knew that was beyond Rikuo, but it just damned tickled so much he had to laugh until his tears came out.
"What are you two doing?" Kubinashi and Kurotabo showed up a short time later, apparently hearing the commotion by their leader and their guest, and proceeded to stare at the two while beads of sweat were dropping from behind their head.
"Ahahah…ah, Kubinashi, Kurotabo! Heeelp!" Rikuo cried for their help and both instantly pulled Rihan and Rikuo apart in alert.
"Rihan! I told you not to attack that boy!" Kubinashi scolded the Nidaime while Kurotabo was fussing over Rikuo.
"You okay, Rikuo-kun?" the dark haired youkai asked, looking concerned. Rikuo was panting and still laughing slightly that he couldn't really process his question.
"No…!" Rikuo chuckled, "Rihan-san is…" gasped, "-he-he… tickles me so much…!" he laughed again and Kurotabo's sweat dropped again.
"Ah," Kubinashi blinked at that.
"What… you were just playing…." Kurotabo said in a relieved sigh.
"Exactly what do you think we were doing?" Rihan asked while laughing himself. Both of his attendants blushed slightly at that.
"R-Rikuo-kun looks so much better, huh?" Kurotabo said then, changing the topic.
"Yes!" Rikuo then stood up with his help and he dusted his yukata off the dirt. "I'm completely healthy now! Thanks to the bath and the dinner last night and a goodnight sleep," he continued in spirit.
"Ooh, you do look really healthy now," Kubinashi commented a second later.
"Because of my excellent care-taking method of course," Rihan grinned proudly.
"Yes, yes, now what do you want to do Rikuo-kun?" Kurotabo totally ignored the Nidaime and asked Rikuo again, making the Nura Gumi's leader fume at him for purposely ignoring him.
"Rihan-san said he wanted to ask me out to the market. But, I'm completely free to help you guys with the house work if you need me," Rikuo offered.
"Eeh, no can do. Rikuo-kun is a guest," Kubinashi said.
"But… I'll be in your care from now on until I find a way back home, so… please let me help you as well. I want to be useful in this family!" Rikuo said cheerily and both Kubinashi and Kurotabo were stunned.
They were silent for awhile and Rikuo noticed they look at Rihan slightly, as if they were asking for permission and Rihan nodded in a smile.
"Of course, Rikuo-kun," Kurotabo said with a smile as well.
"We totally can use your help!" Kubinashi winked at him as well and Rikuo smiled happily at the positive response.
Though…, Rikuo was still wondering why they had to ask for Rihan's permission first before accepting Rikuo's offer…
End of Chapter 9
Tbc…
Additional Notes:
*Taken from the translation of a Japanese song called 'Honey' (don't know who sings it), it's the second ending of anime Card Captor Sakura.
**Also taken from the translation of a Japanese song, titled 'Anata to Ireba' sung by Sakura and Tomoyo's seiyuus from anime Card Captor Sakura, special song.
A/N: This is not exactly cliffhanger, but why hasn't this fic progressed at all? T_T It's 9 chapters already. Why is it so darn hard to make the progress when what's in my head is this endless conversation between Rihan and Rikuo? I want them to go out and make some troubles, damn it! Then… next chapter should be where I can create trouble for them and more clues for Rikuo to find what he's coming to the past for!
Sorry for rambling. What do you think of this chapter?
