Wah-chay! Sorry for the wait! This chapter is EXTREMELY important to the story! Enjoy!

Chapter 11: Ai Muzukashii

"EEEEEEEEEEEeee!" Rikuo screeched.

"RRRRAAAAHHHHRRRRRR!" Setsura roared.

She lunged at Rikuo, her icy aura swirling about her.

Suddenly, before Setsura could hit Rikuo, Awashima appeared out of nowhere and rammed her out of the way; though parts of her froze.

"A-Awashima?!" Rikuo exclaimed.

Awashima shook off the ice and tossed Rikuo and the women into another room. She stood by the entrance of the room with her weapon in hand.

"Are ya blind with rage or something? You're attacking Rikuo, Nurarihyon's grandson!" Awashima enquired.

"Obviously! He betrayed my daughter!"

"No you betrayed Yuki Onna! Forcing your lesbian daughter to marry Nurarihyon's grandson! A mother is supposed to support her child!" Awashima exclaimed.

"She was going to make a mistake marrying some woman! And it'd be a true honour for her to marry Nurarihyon's grandson! How'd you know she was lesbian?"Setsura asked.

"She's dating Reira, one of my closest friends," Awashima responded.

"Get out of the way!" Setsura ordered waving her hands.

"No way!"

"Then I'll make you!" Setsura lunged at Awashima and attempted to push her out of the way. Awashima blocked her and resisted, making an effort to hold her off.

"How 'bout an arm wrestling competition? Settle this like women! Or a woman and a half-woman!" Awashima proposed.

"Sure thing. Five matches. Whoever wins three matches wins!"

"Ya got a deal, swamp hag!"

"Bitch, it's on!"

They set up a table and two chairs in the hallway. Awashima plunked herself down on the seat and stretched her arms. Setsura merely sat down and set her arm on the table, ready to wrestle. The two prepared themselves for the first match.

"We need a referee," Setsura pointed out.

"Good idea! Reira!" Awashima called as she spotted Reira down the hall.

"Yes?"

"Could you play referee for our arm wrestling matches?" Awashima asked.

"Sure!" Reira came down and was ready with a whistle.

I'll surely win against a crusty old woman! Awashima thought.

Reira blew the whistle. Setsura started off strongly. She pushed against Awashima's arm with a powerful force and it slammed hard against the table.

"Winner: Setsura!" Reira called.

"Damn it!" Awashima grunted. "This time I'll win for sure!"

"You sure about that?" Setsura asked arrogantly.

"You bastard!"

The two set their arms up again.

"Begin! *tweet*" Reira yelled.

Awashima put up more of a fight this time. Setsura thought of Rikuo and the women. She then became filled with rage.

"GRAAAAAAHHHHH!" Setsura yelled as she smashed Awashima's arm against the table.

"Winner: Setsura! Geez, that crusty old lady's got more power than I thought! Then again, she did give me a black eye once."

"Oww… Shit! I keep losing!" Awashima stared at Setsura who was swirling with rage. She winced at her hurt arm. "This woman's scary…"

"You wanna give up?" Setsura asked.

Awashima thought of Rikuo. "No way in hell!"

They set themselves up again to wrestle.

"Begin! *tweet*"

Setsura pushed hard and Awashima struggled. She began to tremble.

"Ha! You're not so strong, are ya?!" Setsura laughed.

Awashima thought of Rikuo. "Do it…for…HIM!" She overpowered Setsura and rammed her arm against the table.

"Winner…Awashima?!"

"Yeah, that's right," Awashima reassured.

"I'll beat you this time and win!" Setsura claimed.

"Begin! *tweet*"

This time Setsura was twice as strong. She was surrounded by an arctic aura and her eyes blazed with determination. Awashima held on though. She wanted to protect Rikuo AND the peace at the Nura Clan Main House. Who knows what types of problems and ruckuses Setsura attacking Rikuo would cause; including Setsura being injured by Rikuo.

"HYYYYAAAAAHHHH!" she screamed as Awashima slammed her raw power against Setsura's arm.

"Winner: Awashima, again!"

Setsura was hyperventilating. "You think you're so tough?" she growled.

"Yes!"

"Why you little-"

"Hey! Hey! Time for the last match! Two food-sucking hogs go head-to-head!" Reira declared.

"Food-sucking hogs?!" Awashima and Setsura yelled in unison.

"I've seen you two go at the breakfast and dinner tables. There's always a blur and then everything's gone," Reira said.

"Fine! Let's get this over with!" Setsura said.

"The last and final battle! One that will determine the fate of our poor little Rikuo! Will he be torn to shreds…or smothered in a bosom? This match will determi-"

"Just get it on with!" Awashima and Setsura ordered.

"Fine," Reira responded, "Begin! *tweet*"

"RRrrrrr!" they growled.

Setsura pushed hard against Awashima. She winced at her injuries from before but still held on. Setsura began to push even harder and Awashima trembled violently.

"You're history!" Setsura proclaimed as she released a huge and powerful thrust into Awashima's arm.

No! Do it for Rikuo! Rikuo! Awashima thought.

Feelings of love and determination boiled inside of her. She wouldn't let herself lose!

"DON'T MESS WITH MEEEEEEEEE!" she yelled as Awashima smashed Setsura's arm into the table shattering it.

"Winner: Awa-Whoa, the table's broken!" Reira exclaimed. However, that was only one thing on her mind. She was also worried about how Yuki Onna was doing or where she was.

Setsura gripped her wounded arm. "Damn it! How could I lose?!"

"Your arm broken?" Awashima asked smugly.

"No actually," Setsura responded looking at her arm.

"Wow! Guess the spiteful ones really are the ones strongly built," Reira commented.

"Awashima!" Rikuo called endearingly, "You saved me from the swamp hag!"

"Oh come on, you coulda done it too. But this just keeps the peace at-"

Rikuo embraced Awashima and placed his lips onto hers.

"R-Rikuo?"

Meanwhile, Yuki Onna and Yura were wheezing and gripping injured limbs. Minamoto, the leader, approached them.

"Guess me and Honda'll finish you off," she said.

"cough You mean Honda and I," Yuki Onna corrected.

Minamoto's eye twitched with irritation.

"Oh yeah, real smart. Correct the fearsome leader of a girl gang on her grammar while she's coming to beat us up!" Yura whispered to her sarcastically.

"She has to learn proper grammar some time!" Yuki Onna quietly responded.

In the meantime, a street or two away from where this was happening, Maki was finished dragging Kiyotsugu home from yet another hunt for yokai.

"Geez, he sure is persistent, that Kiyotsugu," Torii commented.

"Yeah, I always end up bringing him home," Maki said.

"I hope we didn't miss too much. Maybe they already went home since it'll soon be dawn," Torii noted.

"Heh, thank Amaterasu it's the weekend."

They approached the scene and found Yura and Yuki Onna hanging on by a thread.

"What the hell is going on?!" Maki exclaimed.

"There you are, Maki! We were wondering where you were!" Honda said.

"I was dropping off one of my crazy friends with Torii, Yoko! Only to find that you're beating up my friends!"

"Who the hell's Yoko?" Yuki Onna whispered to Yura.

"I believe it's Honda's first name. She and Maki are most likely friends," Yura responded.

"C'mon, Minamoto-san! I've helped you out a lot and it'll soon be dawn! Just let 'em off the hook this time!" Torii reasoned.

Minamoto glanced off angrily. "Fine! But just this once! And ONLY because it's almost dawn!"

"Thanks Torii and Maki!" Yuki Onna thanked.

"It's nuthin'!" Maki responded.

"Should Maki and I help you and Tsurara get home?" Torii offered.

"It's fine!" Yura answered.

They waved good-bye to Maki and Torii and wandered through the streets. Yura leaned on Yuki Onna as they stumbled about.

"Wait, could we rest on a bench?" Yura asked.

"Sure."

Yuki Onna eased Yura onto one of the benches.

"Yura, I'm so sorry! This was all my fault," Yuki Onna cried.

"Don't worry," Yura placed her hand on Yuki Onna's shoulder, "We got through it…together!"

"Yeah, I like being with you…" Yuki Onna said.

"You do?" Yura asked smiling.

"We should get going!" Yuki Onna declared.

"Okay."

Yuki Onna escorted Yura all the way through the neighbourhood…

"No! That way! No not that way!" yelled Yura.

"Which way is it?!" cried Yuki Onna.

"That way! Where I'm pointing my finger! See!"

"You're so naggy! I'm doing this for you!"

"Yeah, thanks a lot for almost getting us lost…again!"

"I make mistakes!"

"One too many!"

…However with many troubles.

But, they pulled through and reached Yura's apartment which was in the sleazy part of town. Yuki Onna plunked Yura down on her bed.

"Good-night or morning," Yuki Onna said.

"I'd say it would be good-morning," Yura responded.

"Ha ha! Yeah! Should I call an ambulance for your broken arm?" Yuki Onna asked.

"Yeah…"

Yuki Onna picked up the phone and called the ambulance.

"They'll be here soon."

"Okay…"

During the half hour it'd take for the ambulance to come, Yuki Onna and Yura talked with each other.

"How're you and Kejōrō doing?" Yuki Onna asked.

"Me an- Kejōrō and I? We're becoming good friends." Yura blushed as she thought of Kejōrō. Yuki Onna frowned. Lucky Kejōrō…

Yura cupped Yuki Onna's hand. "Are we going to do some stupid plan of yours soon?" she asked eagerly.

"After you get better…"

"I hope I recover soon so we can do some more stupid plans together. But nothing that insults the power of onmyouji anymore!"

"You're no fun!"

The paramedics finally arrived and hauled Yura to the hospital. Yuki Onna waved to the ambulance and couldn't get the aura of guilt to stop hovering over her. She wondered how long it'd take for Yura to recover.

Yuki Onna ran home as fast as she could and when she returned, patched herself up, collapsed onto her futon and slept for a few hours.

After Yuki Onna had awoken, she knew what she had to do.

"I wonder if this is the right thing to do. Suppose these types o' things are natural," Yuki Onna pondered aloud.

Yuki Onna knocked on Reira's door and entered.

"Where the hell were you, Tsu-chan?!" Reira asked worriedly.

"I was caught in a fight with a girl gang, but I'm okay now. Listen, I have to tell you something," Yuki Onna said.

"What is it? But first of all, are you okay?" Reira asked.

"I'm fine."

"You sure?" Reira checked her arms and legs. "Check complete. What'd you want to tell me?"

Yuki Onna took a deep breath. "Um, I want to be just friends."

"What?! Why?! I've been so good to you!" Reira exclaimed.

"That's one of the reasons why. You're an amazing girlfriend, but I've been treating you like shit! Reira, you deserve to be with someone who'll treat you right. There was the time when you got a black eye from my Mom, I accepted the marriage thing, and I just now when I went out at night worrying you. All I do is inconvenience you and make you worry!" Yuki Onna exclaimed.

"I see…" Reira said. Tears built up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Reira. But I don't want to hurt you anymore!" Yuki Onna cried.

"Just leave…" Reira ordered.

"Okay, but you deserve a woman who'll actually treat you right."

"Leave!"

Yuki Onna left the room and heard Reira cry from inside. She shed some tears herself. "I'm sorry, Reira."

Meanwhile, on happier topics, day-Rikuo talked to Awashima in the garden.

"Hey Awashima, I'm going to quit the "unfit womanizer" plan, okay? All it did was get you hurt. That and it's daytime, so I have a brain."

"Okay, Rik-chan!" Awashima said to Rikuo endearingly.

"I got you this," Rikuo said as he handed him a necklace with beautiful red stones with different patterns on it.

"Wow! It's gorgeous! Should I put it on when it's night time?" Awashima asked.

"Just try it on now!"

Awashima clipped the necklace on, however he had trouble and stumbled around. There right behind him was Kappa's pond.

"EEEeeek!"

SPLASH! There in the water was Awashima afloat with the lilies.

"Ack! Awashima-kun! I'll rescue you now!" Rikuo yelled as he leaped into the water and fished him out.

Kappa woke up from the commotion confused and secretly laughed at Awashima's idiocy.

"Oh sure! Go and laugh at me, you swamp thing!"

"Eh?" Kappa and Amezo both looked at him.

"I was talking to Kappa! Not you, Amezo!" Awashima yelled.

"I enjoyed laughing at you. Time well wasted." Kappa responded.

Rikuo took the necklace and clipped it on Awashima seeing as he was too much of a klutz to do it himself.

"Wow! It looks perfect on you!" Rikuo exclaimed.

"Thanks Rikuo!"

While she was walking through the hallways, Yuki Onna gazed at the peaceful sakura blowing blissfully in the wind.

Until she recovers…

"Hey! Give me back my skull!" Mezu yelled from the background.

Behind her dramatic thoughts, Mezu chased Gozu and they both ended up falling on top of Yuki Onna.

"You idiots! I had a really dramatic moment there!" Yuki Onna yelled from beneath the two dumb boys.

"Yeah well, moment destroyed! Ha ha ha!" Gozu cackled.

"Why you little!" Yuki Onna began strangling Gozu and the two fought while little Mezu sat there innocently eating watermelon.

So that was chapter 11! About Reira and Yuki Onna's break up, there's more reason to it than you think. ;D

Please review! Your opinion is cherished! Not too late!