Chapter 10
Yura walked along the brick path at a nearby park. She had immediately left after listening to Wakana's story.
Flashback
"W-wait! What! Rihan-sama's first wife!" Yura's jaw dropped open. Wakana solemnly nodded her head.
"That's right… Rihan's first wife…" she repeated softly, almost tearily. Yura shook herself out of her own shock.
"S-so… Rihan-sama had a wife before you… ah…. Who would have thought… ah…" Yura felt her head ache with the sudden information.
"That's correct… Rihan's first wife was even very beautiful… and I don't think I could ever compare to her… everyone in this household was fond of her…" Wakana smiled wearily. She looked up at the clear blue sky.
"Rihan and I met a year after that incident due to business. I found him interesting… his attitude was very positive, that I didn't suspect that he had experienced such pain of losing his beloved… he was strong, charismatic, cocky, funny… a good leader… he always made sure that his family came first…" Wakana looked back at the pond.
"I then fell for him… hard actually… he himself declared his love for me and… we got married immediately… I was very happy… I didn't know that he still kept something very important from me…" Wakana then frowned. Yura raised a brow at her.
"During the years I lived here, I knew something was wrong whenever this day came… everyone became silent and Rihan would disappear somewhere without telling me… when I asked what was wrong, they just gave me a look and excused themselves." Wakana closed her eyes.
"I was really curious… but I thought that Rihan would tell me himself soon enough… so I never pressed any further…" Wakana's voice wavered.
"I found out about it only when Rikuo-kun turned ten… that's when Rikuo-kun found out as well… and it hurt… it hurt to find out… I was upset that he didn't tell something so important before we got married… I felt so betrayed…" Wakana took in a deep breath.
"I cried for days and avoided Rihan and everyone else…Rikuo-kun became upset seeing me cry… that's when he started to change… but he still stayed with me… somehow… I was able to recover from that incident… with everyone trying to help me… and with Rihan and Rikuo-kun's help." Wakana smiled triumphantly.
Yura gave a smile as well. She then awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
"Wakana-sama… uh… I… I know I'm in no position to ask… but… how did Rihan-sama's wife die?" Yura asked slowly. She soon regretted asking as Wakana's face fell.
"S-sorry Wakana-sama! You don't have to answer if you don't want to… I'm sorry to have brought that up!" Yura bowed low.
Wakana looked at her with wide eyes and giggled. "Yura-chan… don't be so formal… its okay… I don't mind actually…" she replied, her giggles soon died away as she turned serious. Yura slowly composed her self and looked at Wakana with expectant eyes.
"The truth is… no one really knows if she had actually died. Yamabuki Otome… she actually disappeared without any trace a year before I met Rihan." Yura's eyes widened at Wakana's words.
"Yamabuki Otome… couldn't give birth to a child… and she was greatly upset about it… according to the letter she had left behind, she didn't want to be a barrier stopping Rihan to have a child… that's why she left… they all tried to find her, hired the best detectives and officers, but they never found her… she was then assumed dead… that's why… I'm not sure what to do, when she would suddenly appear again" Wakana's voice was very serious as she said those words.
Yura's jaw dropped open.
End of Flashback.
Yura sat on one of the benches on the park. She let out a long sigh as she place her forearms over her eyes.
'That was clearly a surprise… Rihan-sama having a first wife, then that wife of his disappearing without a word and assumed dead… these are giving me a terrible headache.' She thought to herself.
She removed her forearms from her closed eyes. Her lips turned into a small frown.
'I've never seen Wakana-sama so upset before… or much less say something in such a serious tone… Argh! This is all so nerve wracking!' Yura opened her eyes and shook her head.
'I never imagined that things were this complicated with Rikuo's family. The Nura Clan seemed so lively, and very care free… without any care in the world… Ojii-chan seems normal to me… Rihan-sama as well… though he can be a handful at times… and Rikuo… he must have gone through a lot as well when he found out about Yamabuki Otome-sama… ' Yura then smiled.
'Its really quite obvious that Rikuo's just like Rihan-sama and Ojii-chan… He loves his family very much… and willing to do everything to protect each and everyone of them… and everyone in turn are very supportive and they've all put their trust in him… I'm sure Rikuo will be one of the greatest leaders there ever will be…' Yura's smile simply widened as she thought of all the times Rikuo demonstrated his leadership skills. She then froze.
'Wait… when did Nura-kun just become 'Rikuo'! What the heck is wrong with me! ' her cheeks turned to a deep pink hue.
Meanswhile…
"Yura! Yura! Where are you!" a very pissed off Rikuo marched along the estate's grounds.
"Young master! What's the matter!" Tsurara worriedly exclaimed as she and Aotabo rushed to him. Rikuo gave them a stern look.
"Where's Yura." He demanded in a deep voice.
"Huh? Yura-sama? Weren't you with her today young master?" Aotabo asked.
Tsurara nodded. "We thought she was with you since we haven't seen her around as well…" she added.
Rikuo's brow twitched. "No. I went with Ojii-chan to take care of some matters at the office. I wasn't able to talk to her today. I wasn't able to tell her what today is…" he muttered.
"Rikuko-sama! What's the matter?" Kurotabo asked as he appeared together with the other members who had heard Rikuo.
"Have you seen Yura-sama?" Aotabo asked. All the members shook their heads. No.
"Darn it… I leave for a while and she's disappeared to who knows where! Everyone, go and search for her. Inform me immediately if you do find her." Rikuo commanded.
'That woman is going to be in so much trouble when I get my hands on her….' he thought to himself. He failed to notice Tsurara and the rest shiver as a dark aura built up around him.
'The young master really does care about the Keikain…' some members murmured to each other.
Wakana then appeared behind them. "Rikuo-kun… everyone… what's wrong? You all look really worried… " she started.
Rikuo turned around to face her. "Mother… Yura… Have you seen her?" he asked.
"Yura-chan? Hm. I was with her a few hours ago actually. We had a chat, and I told her what important event there was today… She left in a hurry… saying something about going out to clear her mind. Maybe at a park somewhere…"
"Go out!" Rikuo raised his voice. He looked at the other gathered members who had panicked looks.
"Kurotabo, Aotabo. Hold out a search party. We have to find Yura before anything happens… Tsurara, you come with me… we're going to the closest park!" Rikuo barked as he marched out, still clad in his blue yukata. Everyone followed suite.
Back with Yura…
Yura shook her head vigorously as images of Rikuo filled her head. She was alone in the park.
'Argh! Why am I thinking of that guy at a time like this!' she mentally asked herself. 'Speaking of time…gah! Its already past five!' she looked at her watch and slapped her forehead. 'I've got to hurry back… I didn't ask permission to leave formally… they might get angry at me…' her brows creased together.
Yura was unaware of the presence of someone behind her since she was busy thinking of an excuse why she left the estate.
"Are you Keikain Yura?" Yura turned around to see a tall woman with beautiful black hair wearing a black summer dress. She raised a brow at the woman.
"Uh, yes… that would be me…" Yura replied cautiously. The woman slyly smiled.
"Keikain Yura. Your coming with me." The woman said in a cold voice.
"What? Why should I? Who are you anyway…" Yura asked in a distrustful tone.
"Hagoromo Gitsune… I'm the greatest enemy of your clan… along with the Nura clan." The woman declared. Yura's eyes widened. She failed to notice a tall man walk behind her back.
"Then there's no way I'm coming with you." Yura hissed.
"Oh, too bad… I didn't want to use any force but… do it." The woman looked at the man behind Yura. Yura took a step back only to have the man suddenly put a moist handkerchief over her nose and mouth.
Yura's eyes widened as she realized that there was a chemical mixed with it. She tried to struggle but soon the chemical took its effect on her body and she lost consciousness. The man steadied her limp body and carried it over his shoulder.
"Lets go before anybody sees us. Seimei must be getting impatient." The woman ordered as they left. They failed to notice a cowering girl behind a tree.
That girl was Ienaga Kana. She was shivering in fear and had a hand over her mouth. She was able to witness Yura's abduction. She waited as they left.
Once she made sure they were gone, she emerged from her hiding place.
"Rikuo-kun… Rikuo-kun! I have to go see him!" she muttered and ran.
She then noticed a large group entering the park. She recognized who was leading the group and ran towards him.
"Rikuo-kun!" she yelled. Rikuo turned to face her as she landed on his chest, hugging him tightly.
"Kana-chan… what's the matter?" he asked in a worried voice as he saw the tears in the corner of her eyes.
"Rikuo-kun…Yura-chan!" she started. Rikuo held her shoulders.
"What about Yura! You saw her!" he asked fervently.
Kana was close to breaking down. She winced slightly at Rikuo's firm grasp.
"She…she was kidnapped! I… I saw a woman approach her and talk to her! Then a man came behind her and covered her mouth with a handkerchief! Yura's body became limp! Then the man carried her over his shoulders and they left! Rikuo-kun, she's in danger!" Kana yelled.
Rikuo's eyes widened in surprise. He staggered backward.
'No... I was too late...' he closed his eyes tightly.
"Young master!" his attendants yelled.
Rikuo felt a pain in his chest.
He gritted his teeth in anger as his hands balled into fists. He then raised his head to the clouds.
"YURA!" he yelled in anger.
~to be continued~