Disclaimer: Not mine and never will be T_T
Warning: AU, shounen ai-ncest, language, oOC-ness, maybe some mistypes and grammar errors… etc
A/N: Okay! You guys are AWESOME! I'm sorry for not replying the previous reviews (I will after this XP) because I'm busy with work so… yeah, you get the idea. Now, another reward for you because your reviews has reached more than ten again! XD *happy seeing the new readers reviewing as well* so, here's chapter 10! Go ENJOY! XDDD
Chapter 10: About Rihan (2)
Isn't it wonderfully strange…?
…How even insignificant pebbles can change into gems?
When we're together, just looking... makes everything shine.**
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
"Ah, Kejorou!" Rikuo called the long-wavy-haired brunet as she was doing some laundry. The youkai turned to his direction and smiled.
"Good morning, Rikuo-kun," Kejorou greeted him cheerily and Rikuo smiled widely at her as he ran approaching her.
"Do you need help with the laundry?" Rikuo offered helping and the green eyed youkai blinked at that.
"You don't have to help me, you know, since Rikuo-kun is a guest," she said.
"That's okay. I want to help," Rikuo grinned.
"Then… how about you put these clean ones under the sun to dry?" Kejorou pointed at the basket and then to the dryer; Rikuo nodded, understood.
"I'll do my best!" he said. "Just leave these to me," Rikuo smiled cheerily and took the basket to dry the contents on the dryer. It seemed what he had learned in Toono was useful now. Thank God he accepted the term of working with house work when he was training in that hidden village.
Though, it was Yoru who was doing all the works since the sun didn't come up often… or didn't come up at all. He was grumbling, whining and sulking the entire time they had that conversation in their inner world.
Rikuo laughed nervously as he remembered that. But then he smiled in spirit as he began with his work and… successfully ruined two or three… or five clothes, in process. "Oops." It wasn't as easy as he thought it would be after all. He just grinned and scratched his cheek sheepishly as Kejorou laughed at his predicament.
Meanwhile, Rihan was watching the view with amusement from his spot. Kubinashi and Kurotabo hurriedly went to Rikuo's rescue as he was dealing with one sheet that was too big to handle alone, and the three were proven effective by ruining more laundries.
That, Kejorou couldn't let it be, so she kicked them out of the job… literally.
"Weird… I'm sure it wasn't supposed to be that hard…" Rikuo whined as his looked at his slightly wet yukata because of those wet sheets and clothes.
"Housework is originally designed for women," Kubinashi said while trying to get rid of the some droplets from his hair and clothes as well.
"You should add 'which are more competent than men,' or she will kick your ass for saying something so discriminating like that," Kurotabo took off his bamboo hat to dry off.
Rikuo laughed at the two youkai merrily. "You guys are so funny," he said before his attention was distracted by the water youkai inside the pond. "Ah, Kappa!" his face brightened and he ran to the pond direction to have a little chit-chat with the youkai that appeared as a cute boy in green clothes.
"Such an energetic boy, isn't he?" Nurarihyon commented, suddenly already standing beside Rihan who jumped a little hearing his words.
"Old man!" Rihan looked down at the grandpa who was a lot shorter than he was. "Don't scare me like that, jeez… how did you do that, anyway? I didn't notice at all when you were approaching…." It still made Rihan wonder how his father's Nurari Kurari technique was so flawless like that.
"Idiot. You're talking about the first generation of Nurarihyon, son. Of course my technique is perfect," the old man said the matter of fact, deadpanned and Rihan's sweat dropped hearing the arrogance in his voice. "You have your own technique to make up with your flaw," he said, winking amusedly.
"Well, that's true…," Rihan had to agree with the last comment. He smiled small and went back to watch Rikuo who was pouring some water on top of the Kappa who looked totally content and happy flowing on the water. Rihan chuckled. His Kappa got a friend in his age… or not exactly, but their appearances were in the same age, so….
"He's adjusting very well, isn't he?" Nurarihyon spoke again and Rihan nodded slightly. "You talked about knowing who he was?" he asked more and Rihan nodded again, but with a visible bead of sweat on his cheek.
"He was mortified at first, that I knew," Rihan said, explaining.
"Of course he would. I trust you didn't give any detail of what I told you," Nurarihyon said, glancing up at his idiotic son and Rihan shook his head. "Good," he closed his eyes. Then Rikuo would come to Nurarihyon to complain later. He could brief the time-traveler kid with the cover story he had prepared for him to use.
"Hey, old man, I was wondering since yesterday… but because what happened to Rikuo distracted me, I forgot to ask. Where's Setsura? I haven't seen her face since yesterday," Rihan asked wonderingly.
"Ah, Setsura, huh…? Wait, you didn't know?" Nurarihyon raised his eyebrows at the questioning look on Rihan's face. "She went to Hokkaido, to the mountain where she was born," he said.
"Huh? What would she do there?" Rihan scrunched his face more in confusion.
"It's already that time of the year, you know." Nurarihyon said cryptically that made Rihan impatient.
"What time?" Rihan asked again, slightly annoyed that his old man wouldn't just answer it directly.
"Time to breed, Rihan. Haven't I told you she would once in fifty years go home to breed? The mountain and this world need Yuki no ko (1), so she has to bid to the nature's demand." Nurarihyon explained.
"Pfft—, breeding?" Rihan was about to laugh out loud at that when he felt a kick on his butt.
"Laugh and die!" A very bad moody Yuki Onna with red gleaming eyes glared at him, very annoyed.
"Setsura!" Rihan looked at behind him and was very surprised seeing his other attendant. "What did you do that for?" he protested, while nursing his aching bottom. She never held back when she decided to go violent on someone as always.
"Jeez… you brat…! Shouldn't you know that I'm doing my best work here, giving birth and raising kids for future generation?" the long-dark-bluish haired snow youkai huffed at Rihan in total annoyance while her hands were holding a bundle of something suspiciously like… a baby?
"What is that?" Rihan hurriedly came closer to look at the bundle more closely.
"What this?" Setsura offered the bundle so Rihan could look at it better. "My baby girl, of course," she said with a proud smile.
"Whoa! The first time I see a baby Yuki Onna!" Rihan was excited. The little thing was so cute, yawning and opening her big round golden eyes at him and smiled.
"Very cute, right? Because its mine, ohohoho!" Setsura laughed regally, very proud of her creation, but Rihan didn't really give it too much mind because he was excited enough with the little baby girl on her arms. "Hah… you don't even have enough manners to mind me a little, do you, Rihan? As always…," she sighed in defeat. Both Rihan and his old man were the same. They never paid enough attention to her.
"So… who is the guy?" Rihan asked then, with sparkling eyes, grinning teasingly at her.
"Ah? Are you an idiot? This child is mine, Rihan. Mine." Setsura huffed at him.
"Yuki Onna doesn't need man to breed," Nurarihyon explained helpfully. "Her power comes with the fear spared by the Mountain God, so she's capable to give birth by accumulating her spirit power alone until a certain degree."
"Ooh, I see…," Rihan nodded in understanding. He just knew that. Well, that might be because he was always on his little journey whenever Setsura had this period, so he never noticed.
"Oh my, Supreme Commander Nurarihyon! You're here? I'm sorry… you're so small now that I hardly notice you," Setsura said apologetically.
"Enough with the sarcasm, Setsura. You're as rude as always," Nurarihyon deadpanned at his Yuki Onna, sweat dropping.
"Huh, that's what you got for choosing a human over a beauty like me," she said arrogantly and Rihan had to laugh nervously at their exchange. Yuki Onna was still holding her old grudge towards Nurarihyon apparently, for choosing Youhime over her.
"You're still on that?" Nurarihyon shook his head at Setsura's antics.
"Huh? What is this smell?" Setsura then sniffed the air. "I smell… human?" Her eyes turned a little wild at that realization as she began to look around and found the short boy with chocolate hair.
"Ah, it's my guest, Setsura. Don't harm the human," Rihan quickly intervened before she could attack Rikuo who was cutting the bushes while chatting with some small youkais now.
"A human child?" Setsura then focused her eyes on Rikuo's back. She sniffed the air once again. "He reeks of Ryuujin-sama's power," she noticed.
"You noticed? As always, your nose is awesome." Rihan said with awe-struck look on his face.
"Of course. I spend my time in 'no scent island', surrounded by the pure snow for almost two weeks. My sense of smell is stronger now," Setsura bragged.
"Nice," Nurarihyon commented unenthusiastically. "So… why are you here, now? I thought you'd be gone at least two weeks longer," he asked then, looking at the baby in Setsura's arms as well by jumping and holding Rihan's shoulder as grounding.
"Ah? Well… it was this child's fault," Setsura said, sighing. "I've given birth of numerous Yuki no ko, but this child is the first to be quite… different from my previous and previous children."
"Different how?" Rihan asked more, slightly curious. Even though he had known Setsura since he was born in Nura family, truthfully he was never interested in knowing the general life of Yuki Onna. But since it was the topic right now, he'd like to learn one or two more about this youkai.
"This child hates the mountain," Setsura huffed in annoyance. "Even though she's supposed to be the next Yuki Onna, I have no idea how come she hates mountain so much. Every night was a damn battle to make her stop crying, and in the end…."
"You got kicked out by the Mountain God?" Nurarihyon finished, or more like teasing while setting his amused face.
"That's right! He's a mean ass! He said the other children wouldn't grow up if they didn't get enough sleep, so He told me to go raise this kid outside! That ungrateful deity—!" Setsura growled and looked really pissed off now and she stomped her foot on the ground in tantrum, though she still looked majestic when she did that.
"So that's why you're so moody right now…" Rihan fully understood now. She just needed to vent off her stress and Rihan was an easy target since he was there, unprepared by her sudden arrival and just mocked her for the breeding comment.
"Shut it. Anyway, why is there a human kid in this house?" Setsura then turned her face to Rikuo's direction again. "You said he's a guest… does that mean you're going to eat that kid later?" she turned her face at Rihan now, her gaze sharp and face smirking.
"No way… that would make me a half cannibal, right? Gross," Rihan set his disgusted expression. "He's just an unfortunate kid that I picked up two days ago. And now I just want to raise him," he grinned.
"As your kid?" Setsura looked baffled. "A human kid as yours?"
"Stupid, of course not. I just want to take care of him," Rihan chuckled at that.
"Who are you calling 'stupid', ah?" Setsura narrowed her eyes at Rihan and the Nidaime had to look away from the dagger glare. She went as far as stomped on one of Rihan's feet, making him yelp in surprise and pain at the same time.
That seemed alerted Kubinashi and Kurotabo because they turned their faces at their direction and then. "Setsura-neesan!" both quickly ran to her and Rihan's direction with bright faces, probably to welcome her back.
"Yo, Kubinashi, Kurotabo," Setsura waved at them with one hand, greeting.
Upon hearing the commotion in Rihan's group direction, Rikuo looked up and turned to see what happened and then widened his eyes as he saw the tall, slender long haired woman with reddish amber eyes, presumably Yuki Onna… from Rihan's time.
"That's… Setsura. Tsurara's mother," Rikuo mumbled quietly, taking the sight of the dark-bluish haired youkai who was talking to Kubinashi and Kurotabo with authoritative manner. Well, she was from Nurarihyon's time as well, so she was like… the 'big sister' in the family.
Rikuo was staring at her some more until she turned to face him and smirked. Rikuo's sweat dropped. It seemed this Yuki Onna was… bolder and scarier than his Yuki Onna. Well, he had heard the rumor that Setsura had… difficult personality. She didn't really like human. Rikuo gulped at that fact. He had to be careful acting around Setsura.
Ah, but, Rikuo had to greet her first. He had to mind his manner as well. Rikuo hurriedly back to cutting some bushes to finish quickly before he would approach her later.
"Ah, that's right. Setsura, do you know Rikuo?" Rihan then asked the Yuki Onna as she rocked her kid to sleep again.
"Ah? Rikuo? Who is that?" Setsura looked at Rihan with frowning face. "Never heard of that name in my life," she said, answering.
"Eh? Weird… I'm sure Rikuo knows you," Rihan said while putting his hand on his chin, wondering.
"That's why; who's this Rikuo?" Setsura asked again, slightly impatient; the morning almost noon summer sun started to get to her apparently because she used one of her arm to create a shade for her face.
"It's that kid," Rihan pointed to Rikuo who had just finished with the cutting and put the scissors down. He then turned to Rihan's direction and started to walk approaching Rihan's group. "Good timing, he's coming here." Rihan added.
"Ah, nice to see you, Yuki Onna-san," Rikuo bowed slightly in front of Setsura who blinked in surprise after he just arrived to their circle. "I'm Rikuo. Starting now, I'll be living in this house. Thank you for your hospitality," he said with a nice friendly smile.
Setsura was dumbstruck. A human had just casually and politely greeted her. She didn't know how to react at that since she was used to deal with assholes and bastards in Yakuza-youkai world the entire time. "Weird kid," she commented, Rikuo's sweat dropping at that response.
"Hey, Setsura, he's just greeting! Where's your manner?" Rihan protested at her embarrassing reply.
"I have no idea why you want to take care of human's child. He's gonna die earlier than you are, you know," Setsura said blatantly and Rikuo looked up in surprise while Rihan visibly winced.
"Setsura," Nurarihyon's deep voice startled Yuki Onna and the others and she looked at the first Supreme Commander who was still on Rihan's shoulder nervously.
"Stop calling my first name with that kind of voice," she said, blushing slightly, probably still embarrassed being called that way by Nurarihyon.
"Aren't you tired after staying in the mountain for two weeks? Go rest and bring your child under the shade. She'll melt if you put her too long under the sun," Nurarihyon suggested, though his face and manner of speaking leaning more into ordering.
"Fine," Setsura huffed as she turned around and started walking away to the house direction.
"Ah? A baby?" Rikuo widened his eyes in surprise at that piece of information.
"Yeah, she went to breed and now she came with a baby girl," Rihan snickered.
Rikuo looked at her back in awe. She was holding the future Yuki Onna then… Rikuo's Yuki Onna. Rikuo wanted to see the baby Tsurara! "Yuki Onna is awesome!" he exclaimed with full spirit and they all laughed.
"Ah, Rikuo-kun," Kubinashi then called and Rikuo turned to the blond youkai. "It's almost the time for the market to open. Do you want to refresh up before going with Rihan?" he asked.
"Eh? Is that okay? But…, I don't have any clothes to change…." Rikuo was hesitating.
"Don't worry, Rikuo-kun. Rihan has a lot of yukata from when he's still smaller. Kejorou keeps them all nicely and they're no longer used by Rihan anyway, right, Rihan?" Kurotabo then glanced at Rihan for approval.
"Ah, that's right. You can have all of them since it suits you very nicely," Rihan said while giving Rikuo a look over.
Rikuo's eyes and expression brightened at that while purposely ignoring 'the look' Rihan gave him. "Then… I'll accept them if it's not too much trouble," he said with a smile joyfully.
"Then, let's come with us, Rikuo," Sanno-Kuchi and Ko-Oni the led Rikuo to the room where he would get the yukata to change since Kejorou was still doing housework.
"Ah, thank you, guys," Rikuo grinned happily as he followed the small youkais.
"He's so cute…." Rihan couldn't help saying while chuckling while Nurarihyon snickered at his son's totally smitten look.
Never would everyone have guessed that a human kid would be capable to work Rihan out this much, huh?
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuo passed the room where Setsura was nursing her baby after he refreshed up and he couldn't help greeting her again since he wanted to see the baby. "Setsura-san," he called and Setsura looked up to him.
"What is it, human?" she sighed slightly, looking annoyed seeing him.
"It's Rikuo, Setsura-san," Rikuo didn't really mind her unfriendly manner, but it didn't faze him as well from wanting to know her better. She was from the previous generation Rikuo hadn't ever met after all and he'd like to know her so he could tell Tsurara later if he could come back to the future.
Setsura was gone before Tsurara could 'know' her as her mother, so… Rikuo wanted to give her this precious memory then.
"Ah? It's up to me how I call you, human. What do you want anyway?" she asked, getting more irritated by the second.
Rikuo looked at her apologetically. "Nothing, I just want to be more familiar with you," he said, smiling tenderly.
"Well, I don't. Just… go away. Rihan seems liking you, so I won't freeze you up and eat you as long as you don't bother me too much," Setsura said indifferently and Rikuo could read the atmosphere. He would back off now, but he would try again later.
"Okay," Rikuo smiled and then bowed slightly again. "Then, until next time," he said before he moved to walk away again. After all, Rihan was waiting for him outside. He had to hurry.
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
"Oh?" Rihan noticed as Rikuo approached him. "Well, it suits you really nicely, indeed," he praised with a smile as he saw Rikuo wearing a dark red yukata with orange fire pattern on the front and the side.
"Really? I'm not comfortable wearing a very nice yukata like this just to go to the market…," Rikuo said while pulling some part of the clothes to smooth the wrinkle. "Aren't there any casual clothes you have, Rihan-san?" Rikuo asked as he also noticed that Rihan wore a dark blue yukata with green-white stripes patterned kinagashi on top of it.
"Eeh, but I'm much sexier wearing yukata and kinagashi," Rihan said. "Women dig sexy man," he continued while winking seductively and Rikuo's sweat dropped seeing him. He couldn't help wondering if Rihan was trying to woo him or brag to him or both.
"Ah, I-I see…." Rikuo laughed nervously at that.
"Then, let's go," Kubinashi and Kurotabo appeared from behind Rihan.
"Eeh? You're going to tag along?" Rihan looked annoyed at both of his attendants.
"Of course we are. What kind of attendants we are if we let our Boss loiter around in a dangerous town without his body guard?" Kubinashi said proudly of his job.
"Actually, Kejorou asked us to bring some ingredients from the market for dinner today," Kurotabo said with a smile.
"Hey!" Kubinashi protested, sweat dropping.
Rikuo laughed. "That's fine! More people, merrier it gets!" he said with a wide grin.
"Okay then, let's go!" Rihan said as he lead the way, Rikuo behind him and Kubinashi and Kurotabo following closely on Rikuo's right and left side.
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
I'm sure something; something is out there somewhere…
…just waiting for us to find it.
So dream… and then the door will open...**
0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0
Along the way to the market, Rikuo couldn't help looking around the town. Compared to the year he lived in, the town was considerably more traditional in this year. Some buildings were still in traditional Japanese style (small wooden house and all) and some big ones were still in mix with Victorian style.
You can't see something like this anymore in 2011…—Rikuo was fascinated. This was like seeing the museum coming alive.
Rikuo then turned to the direction where the tallest tower of Tokyo which was usually visible from Ukiyoe, but for some unfathomable reasons, it wasn't there.
"He?" Rikuo widened his eyes. "The Tokyo Tower is GONE!" he was shocked.
"What?" Rihan turned to him in questioning look.
"Tokyo… To-what?" Kubinashi also scrunched his face in confusion while Kurotabo were raising his eyebrows at him quizzically as well.
"Eh? Ah, no… I'm talking to myself, ahaha…." Rikuo shook his head as he calmed himself down while the other three were looking at him funnily.
T-that was close… I'm being careless again …—Rikuo thought silently, berating himself.
But, Tokyo Tower hadn't yet built in 1950. Rikuo forgot that the construction of that tower started in 1958. Now he could really feel the difference in his year and this year. This was another proof that he was really blown back to the past after all.
"Oh, the dango (2) from Nanatsu ya! It's very delicious. Do you want to try some, Rikuo?" Rihan then asked while pointing at a certain shop and Rikuo looked up.
"Nanatsu ya?" Rikuo asked. There was a department store called Nanatsu ya in Ukiyoe. Rikuo expected to see the big white building, but he widened his eyes again as he saw a small shop like a traditional teashop in front of him. "This… this is Nanatsu ya?" he couldn't be more surprised.
Another difference from the future and the past, Rikuo thought. So it wouldn't be strange if the market wasn't like what he was expected later on. But, it should be okay since Rikuo already had the picture from the history lesson. He should just try to get used to seeing in real life now.
"What's wrong, Rikuo? You look serious all of sudden," Rihan asked again while offering the dango in front of Rikuo's face.
"Ah, it's nothing… thank you," Rikuo accepted it in surprise. Since when had Rihan moved to buy it?
"Try it. It's delicious," Rihan grinned while he himself took a bite of the dango.
Rikuo looked at the dango for a moment before he shrugged and took a bite as well. The taste was sweet and delicious, but unlike the taste from his timeline which was flavored with fruits and some more additives. This was pure honey and sugary sweet and… Rikuo wasn't the master of cuisine, but even he knew that this time dango tasted better than the dango in his time.
"It's delicious~!" Rikuo smiled happily as he ate the snack more enthusiastically.
"Right?" Rihan winked at him confidently.
"There are a lot more snacks in the market later on, Rikuo-kun. Do you want to taste them as well? We have the budget if you want to buy a lot of snacks," Kubinashi said with a smile as well while eating his share of dango when they walked down the not yet asphalted road.
See, another difference from Rikuo's timeline. Ukyoe main road was still in soil and there were a lot o trees on each side. Rather than called a town, this could still be called rural area of Tokyo. He had no idea that fifty… sixty years would change the town so much. Only Nura's main house would still remain like that. Even the road to Nura's main house was different in this time.
After tasting the awesome dango and sightseeing for awhile because Rikuo was curious of everything around him, finally they arrived to the market.
"And… this is the center of Ukiyoe Market place," Rihan said while extending his hand to the very crowded place with stands and small shops on each side of the road.
"Whoah! Cool! It looks like a festival!" Rikuo's eyes sparkled as he saw the shopkeepers and the buyers fighting over the price and some buyers hurriedly loaded what they had purchased in a bag on top of their bicycles. Yeah, not motorcycles, but bicycles. Some stores ahead were stands which sold ornaments and garments, like a stand especially built for women.
"A festival? If this looks like a festival for you, you'll be shocked seeing the real deal," Rihan laughed at Rikuo's excited face.
"Is the festival more crowded than this?" Rikuo's eyes widened even more at that thought.
"Of course! This is nothing compared to the Ukiyoe festival which will be held a week from now. Do you want to see that too, Rikuo?" Rihan asked then with a smile.
"Yes! I'd like to!" Rikuo answered instantly. Though at this time, he kind of forgot his situation a little because of the excitement.
"Then, we will buy the things we need to buy. Rikuo-kun, you stay with Rihan, okay? Don't leave his side no matter what," Kubinashi warned.
"Oh, okay… why?" Rikuo had to ask then, wondering.
"If you don't keep an eye on him, he tends to disappear in a crowd and it will be hell to track him down," Kurotabo said, deadpanned. Kubinashi nodded in agreement seriously.
Rikuo laughed at that, shaking his head. "Okay then," he said, grinning.
"Then, we'll go first. If you need to buy something, just tell Rihan. He will buy it for you," Kubinashi said again.
"We assemble here again in two hours," Kuro added as both of he and Kubinashi walked to the other direction in the market.
"Okay!" Rikuo waved at them cheerily. After he couldn't see both Kurotabo and Kubinashi, Rikuo turned to Rihan. "Rihan-sa—?"
But, Rihan wasn't there. "Eh?" Rikuo looked around and then found a crowd of girls and women up ahead where Rihan was in the center, laughing and teasing while those girls and women made simultaneous 'Kyaaa~' voices or 'Aww~' sounds.
Rikuo's sweat dropped. "As expected from the lady killer Nura Rihan, he's like a fish put inside a pond…." He couldn't help mumbling as he saw how his dad was a natural seduction for those women. Well, he was hot yes, so no one could complain when those girls surrounded him like moths attracted to flame.
"Jeez… and even with all of that he still makes a pass at me?" Rikuo couldn't understand why. Rihan could have anyone he wanted, but for some reasons, he was just playing around… huh?
Rikuo then remembered something. Just after the battle in Kyoto… Hagoromo Gitsune… no, the reincarnated Yamabuki Otome… said something to him, right? And then there were the stories from Nurarihyon as well after that….
"She left because she couldn't bear a child…."
…Or something on that line, right? When did that happen again?—Rikuo couldn't help wondering* and then he also remembered what happened last night as well, where Rihan had barged in to the changing room with panicked expression, and then the relieved look he showed when he saw Rikuo there….
It can't be… like that, right?—Rikuo couldn't help feeling that it had something to do with it.
Well, Rikuo hadn't had a chance to ask why Rihan acted that way last night. He felt bad if he had to pry after all. He had wanted to ask Kubinashi about it, but the he didn't find the right time. He should have left with Kubinashi or Kurotabo earlier…. And he forgot to complain at Nurarihyon as well this morning. Well, it was because Rikuo was distracted by Setsura's presence…
While Rikuo was still musing and mulling over his thought, something unexpected happened.
"Ryuujin's facial hair, Ryuujin's facial hair! Who wants to purchase these rare items?"
Rikuo's ear caught a shopkeeper's shouts about one of his goods and he couldn't help widening his eyes at that.
Ryuujin's… facial hair?—Instantly, Rikuo stored all of earlier musing to the back of his head in order to turn around and to look for the shopkeeper who had shouted just now. After a quick scan, Rikuo found a wooden stand in red color. The shopkeeper was from that stand as he offered a red box of something with golden letters on top of it.
Rikuo then, feeling really intrigued, left Rihan's crowd and approached the stand to see what it was about.
"Excuse me," Rikuo then greeted the shopkeeper and the man looked at him.
"Oh, Okyakusan (3)! Do you want to buy Ryuujin's facial hair?" he asked then excitedly.
"Ah… what is Ryuujin's facial hair?" Rikuo asked then looking at the box curiously.
"Ah, no wonder you don't know. It's a very rare kind of plant that only grows in the forest near the top of Fujiyama," the shopkeeper said. "It is said that the plant is a sacred plant used for ritual ceremony to worship and let your voice be heard by the Great Dragon of Fujiyama, Ryuujin," he said in convincing manner of a salesman. Well, in a way, he tried to sell, so it wasn't that far off the fact.
"Heeh… then, why is it called facial hair of Ryuujin?" Rikuo asked again.
"Because of its form," he replied quickly. "The plant is thin and long just like facial hair. And guess what, it won't wither even though you have plucked it from the ground. Just like Ryuujin-sama who is eternal, so is this plant (his moustache)."
Rikuo looked at the seller with skeptical look. "It sounds dubious," he said, deadpanned.
"What? Of course not, Okyakusan! It's a true story! This plant won't wither, I swear!" the shopkeeper sounded offended and he looked nervous as well.
Well, in fifties, people still believed in something like that, so Rikuo could understand the appeal of selling with that kind of story. If it weren't Rikuo, the customer probably believed him. Still, Rikuo had to give credit for the name alone. Ryuujin's facial hair….
"If you find Ryuujin's facial hair, bring it back to me."
Nurarihyon had said something like that before Rikuo went that fateful day, just the day when he was blown to the past. Coincidence?
"I've ever met a time-traveler before you."
Rikuo looked up. No, it couldn't be coincidence. It was a clue! Nurarihyon… Rikuo's grandpa had already known that Rikuo would be blasted to the past, in this year! If he thought it properly, the Nurarihyon in 2011 was the same as the Nurarihyon in 1950, only older. His grandpa had already met Rikuo in 1950; that of course his grandpa in 2011 also knew that this disaster would happen!
What… what did grandpa say again? He must have left some clues in his speech about Ryuujin that day. I have to remember it! Think! Think Rikuo!—Rikuo then looked at the red box in front of him seriously while trying to work his brain to remember what had been said by his grandpa that day.
However, before Rikuo could retrieve the important information from his memory, his concentration was broken by the sudden shout and commotion came from the direction of where he had left Rihan's crowd.
"What was that?" Rikuo snapped as he put the box down and turned to the source of the commotion.
"Be prepared, Nura Rihan! This time I'll get your head roll on the ground!" An ugly looking guy who dressed like pomade (4) drew a knife to Rihan's direction and the women were screaming in scared look.
"Eh?" Rikuo dropped his jaw as he saw what it was. "Rihan-san!" he was totally shocked.
"Oi, oi, stop it, you bastard…. You frightened the ladies," Rihan responded to the ugly looking guy with an annoyed look.
"Guuh! You're so annoying, Head of Nura Clan! This day will be the last day of your life!" the pomade man yelled while glaring daggers at Rihan behind his sunglasses.
Rihan just smirked before he turned to the ladies again. "Stand behind me, my ladies, I'll deal with that ungrateful scumbag over there first so you can shop peacefully," he said in a tender smile.
"Kyaaa! Rihan-sama is sooo cool!" the ladies swooned and squealed again with blushing face at that.
"Saa, bring it on, trash," Rihan the smirked confidently at the pomade man and the fight began!
"Aah… he actually fought human's gangster?" Rikuo couldn't help cocking his head aside, confused. He thought Nura Clan was supposed to only deal with youkai clan… why was Rihan fighting human as well?
End of Chapter 10
Tbc…
Additional Notes:
*Let's say that Rikuo hasn't known yet when Yamabuki had left. He only knew that she did, but didn't know the exact time (unlike in the manga, Rikuo knew that Yamabuki left 20 years after she became Rihan's wife, but in this universe, it's 200 years after she became Rihan's wife).
**More translation of Card Captor Sakura song (second opening) titled 'Tobira wo Akete' (I love their song XD) but I don't know who sings it T_T
1)Yuki no ko: snow child. A seed of Yuki Onna. A small youkai kid who will become the next Yuki Onna after she's come of age (if it's a girl) and a mountain spirit (if it's a boy)
2)Dango: kind of Japanese snack, made from flour, egg, and sugar and shaped in small balls ordered in a stick.
3)Okyakusan: customer, Mr., Mrs. Miss customer.
4)Pomade: if I'm not wrong, it's kind of gangster in classic style with the hair and the clothes, quite popular in fifties, but it seems it's also a brand of hair gel that's used by fifties gangster (but I'm not really sure, correct me if I'm wrong! XO)
A/N: Yey, I bring out Setsura XD. Ahaha, I picture she will be a lot wilder than Tsurara after seeing her interaction with Nurarihyon in the anime XD She's such a tsundere XDDD. And then here's more clue for Rikuo to find a way to go home (though it hasn't finished yet because Rihan gets in the way with his stunt *LOL*).
So, what do you think? Ah, you probably noticed that I used general third person POV in the beginning of the story and then changed it back to Rikuo's POV. That's because a lot of parties are involved in the beginning and it's impossible to keep track with everyone using only one POV, hence the general POV. Now, 'About Rihan' still has a chapter left before I put new chapter title after that. Hope you enjoy reading this as well.
P.S. Like I said in chapter 6 (or so, don't remember), after this chapter 10, I will go back updating My Brother is Oyabun (Girl's Speculation! Will have to wait until at the end of August since I'm not allowed to write M-rated fic this month, sacred month ad all for my religion *sweats*), so chapter 11 of this story will come out rather late… sorry for that. Since My Brother is Oyabun has word-count over 9000 words, I need more time writing that than this. Anyway, don't worry, I'll update as soon as possible after I update My brother is Oyabun! XD Count on it!