A/N : Heeeelllooooo guys! Long time you don't see update, eh? So sorry about that, but my beta was facing exams until now, so I let her took as much time as she needed. Well...that was long, but I'm so happy when she gave me the beta-ed version today! XD Like, it's my birthday present (I've became older a few days ago, sobs). And here is the long awaited update! You will see my OC mentioned here, and some back story of the tragedy thirteen years ago. Happy reading!

"Love can be a terrible curse, Eragon. It can make you overlook even the largest flaws in a person's behavior."
― Christopher Paolini, Brisingr

It was hot that day. The heat coming from the fire that was burning the house he had lived in since he was born. The shrieks and screams of pain were coming from that burning house, all belonging to the unfortunate youkai who couldn't get out in time.

It seemed as if the fire was cackling; blanketing everyone he loved in a deadly embrace of flames. But he couldn't move; he couldn't do anything except look at the abnormal fire blankly as he knelt on the ground a few blocks from his house.

Blood tainted his tiny hands and was splattered on his face and clothes. He looked at the blood on his hands, and thought, 'Whose blood is this?'

As his gaze fell on the ground, he could see a pool of blood streaming slowly from somewhere to his right. He tilted his head in that direction, and remembrance dawned on him.

'Oh, that's right…

I just killed someone.'

Rikuo woke with a start as the remnants of the dream shocked him. He lay still on the cold wooden floor trying to calm his breathing and his panicked mind. His heartbeat echoed loudly in his ears, and that was the only thing he could hear in the silent room.

'What…was that? I never had that dream before. The fire and the screams…they were just the way they are in every dream I have had, but that…that thought and the blood on myself…'

Rikuo felt bile rising from his stomach, but he held it in as he closed his eyes tightly to prevent the image of his younger self; eyes blank and bloody all over, and the corpse lying beside him.

'Had I really killed someone? Or was it just a meaningless dream?'

Before his mind could torture him more with the possibility, a voice startled him, "…You're awake."

In reflex, Rikuo quickly jumped to his feet, ignoring the slight dizziness he felt from the sudden move. His eyes found the speaker, who was sitting calmly in front of a Buddha statue, with his back facing him. Rikuo wasn't surprised to see Gyuuki there, but he couldn't help but feel sadness from the man's betrayal.

Since he was had been a child, Otome had said that Gyuuki was one of the few that never showed any hostility towards him.

Seeing a sword lying beside the older youkai, Rikuo did not dare to do anything rash–and more importantly, stupid–that would make the older youkai use it on him. He knew from experience that a youkai of Gyuuki's caliber could grab that sword, stand, and rush to where he was standing in a split second.

Rikuo gathered his courage and spoke, grateful that his voice didn't waver, "If you really betrayed the Nura Gumi and intend to kill me…why didn't you do it when I was unconscious?"

If he knew the reason as to why a loyal youkai like Gyuuki would become a traitor, maybe he could find a way to make the older youkai stop this.

Gyuuki didn't bother to turn around to face him as he spoke, "Because you have to know your sin. That way, you will know why you have to die…for the sake of the clan."

Rikuo frowned, "Is it because I am weak? That I'm the only weakness that the Nura Gumi has?"

Gyuuki answered him without missing a beat, "You're weak, but you're not the only weakness that the Nura Gumi has. If one bothered to search without being overwhelmed by the shadow of the Nura Gumi's strength, they would find some other." Rikuo flinched when Gyuuki stood up slowly, sword in hand, "No, your sin isn't because you're weak. It's your existence itself that is a sin."

"What do you mean?" Rikuo kept himself from taking a step back as the cold gaze from the older youkai intimidated him.

Gyuuki crossed his arms, "…I'm sure Rikuou-sama has already told you about your aunt. Don't you wonder why Nidaime has made it clear that mentioning anything related to that woman is a taboo?"

Rikuo remembered how upset his brother was from his father's erasing their aunt's existence from their family, "Is this related to her?"

The older youkai was silent, but he finally answered, "It's because the both of you…are cursed to become the traitors of your own family."

Rikuou ran as fast as he could, ripping apart every youkai that tried to stop him without mercy. He saw the state of his most trusted subordinate, lying in her own pool of blood. That kind of injury…he knew that was Gozumaru's hidden trick.

"Ri…kuou…sama…" Tsurara whispered weakly as he cradled her bloody body in his arms.

"It's going to be okay, Tsurara. Aotabou will carry you down the mountain. I already called Zen, he will come soon." Rikuou let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in relief as he saw that all of her wounds had already frozen to stop any more blood loss.

"My…apologies…Rikuo-sama…" she gripped his haori weakly, tears forming in her yellow eyes.

Rikuou smiled to calm the youkai, "It's alright, Tsurara. Just focus on hanging on until Zen comes."

Rikuou cut another weak youkai in two as he advanced toward the long stone stairway.

"I'll bring Rikuo back!"

Rikuou quickly sidestepped the claw of Gozumaru as the youkai suddenly attacked him. He didn't even bother to spare the youkai a glance as he climbed the stairs.

"You arrogant bastard…look at your opponent!" Gozumaru's second claw rushed ahead to stab Rikuou's back, but Rikuou was far quicker than Gozumaru. Using his right foot he kicked the stair he was on, jumping ten stairs above. Gozumaru growled in anger, and using his claw as a propeller, he went ahead of Rikuou and blocked his way.

"Be gone, weakling." Rikuou threatened as he saw another disturbance in his way.

Gozumaru smirked, "You will have to kill me first if you want to disturb Gyuuki-sama!"

Rikuou frowned, "…are you the one who hurt Tsurara?"

"If I am?" Gozumaru chuckled, "Your subordinate is just so weak. It's not even fun to kill her."

"She's my subordinate." Rikuou's crimson eyes glared at him, "You will pay for what you did. After I kill you, I'll save Rikuo and we will go back together."

Gozumaru scoffed, "Why do you care so much for a human like him?" Gozumaru yelled at him, "You should be grateful that Gyuuki-sama will kill that trash, just like how he saved the Nura Gumi from that traitor thirteen years ago!"

Gozumaru didn't realize that he had just stepped over the line. The moment he did, all of his claws were cut off into many pieces, and blood splattered out from the deep gash on his chest. He couldn't even speak as he fell slowly, his body hitting the hard stone and sliding down the stairs.

Rikuou stood a few stairs above Gozumaru; a split second was all he needed to defeat the spider youkai easily. Other youkai that had before tried to slow him down now backed away; afraid of the murderous aura coming off of him.

Rikuou swung his sword downward to get rid of the blood, "Thirteen years ago, the only reason why I didn't kill Gyuuki was because I was weak." A cruel smirk graced his lips, "But now, if he ever touches Rikuo… I will pay him back for all that he did. Revenge is better served cold, after all."

The young Rikuou ran as fast as he could, ignoring how his wound on his chest hurt like hell every time he moved. But he couldn't stop, not when he heard what was happening.

"Oyaji!" Rikuou slid open the shoji door loudly, ignoring Otome's and Tsurara's coaxing him back to bed, "That's a lie, right? Oba-chan is alright, right!?"

It's just a lie. It has to be a lie! His aunt isn't a weakling that could be killed that easily, even by Gyuuki!

He's sure that's just a lie that his father told everyone to protect her, so no one would blame her and call her a traitor, right?

The way his mother hugged him tightly and sobbed quietly was just because she was so glad that everything was going to be okay, right?

But, that hope was crushed as Gyuuki presented a box to him. The moment Gyuuki opened that box; something fell out and bounced a little on the tatami floor before rolling a little towards him.

Rikuou's eyes widened in terror as his gaze fell upon the head of the person he had respected and loved so much, his mouth opened as screams of horror echoed throughout the house that day. He broke away from his mother's embrace to crawl to where his aunt's head was, with blank jade eyes looking up to him lifelessly.

With trembling hands, he picked up the dismembered head, wondering how it could be so light to him. Tears dropped down on the corpse's cheek, and Rikuou wailed as he hugged that head tightly.

Wordlessly, his father snatched the head away from his hands. He screamed at his father to give it back, to give his aunt back. But his father just cruelly burned the remaining part of the body with his blue fire, until not even ash remained. He could faintly heard Otome's and Tsurara's gasp of shock, but he could only stare at his father in disbelief.

"Forget her, Rikuou. She's nothing more than a traitor. From now on, I will erase her existence from our family." Rihan only frowned in disapproval when Rikuou shrieked in rage and attacked him. His fist was ready to punch the young Nura to snap him out of it, but a strong hand stopped both him and his son.

Suddenly, a bucketful of cold water was splashed on both of them. Nurarihyon stood between them, stern voice ordering, "Calm down, you two. A pointless brawl is the last thing we need right now." He picked up Rikuou by his shoulder, ignoring how the boy struggled and looked at Otome, "Take care of that idiotic son of mine."

After he walked a few rooms away, Rikuou stopped struggling and openly sobbed on his back, "Why…why did Oyaji do that?" he whimpered pitifully.

"Only he knows why, Rikuou." Nurarihyon put the young boy on the futon in his room, "Rest for now, this is too much for your mind and heart to take." And the eldest Nura went away without another word, leaving the youngest Nura sobbing on his pillow until Otome came to sooth him.

Rikuou gritted his teeth at the memory and ran again, "I won't let anything happen to you, Rikuo." He vowed as he could see the manor where Gyuuki lives.

"My aunt…was a traitor?" Rikuo parroted. He couldn't believe it. How? How could someone that his brother cherished so much be a traitor? Surely there was a mistake.

Gyuuki's eyes never left him, inspecting…searching, "Your aunt's name was Nura, Rio." Gyuuki explained, "She was the eldest daughter the Shodaime had had before he legally married Youhime-sama. She was born from one of the Shodaime's old subordinates. An illegal child."

Rikuo had heard that before his grandfather had met with his grandmother, he had a few lovers; one of them was Tsurara's mother. But an illegal child…

"Four hundred years ago, your grandfather battled Hagoromo Gitsune and won." Gyuuki frowned, "That is what everyone knows, but there is a secret that no one but Rio-sama knew that day."

"A secret?" Rikuo was surprised, not even his grandfather and father knew about this?

Gyuuki nodded a little, "Shodaime knew that Hagoromo Gitsune had cursed the Nura Gumi's family before she died, but no one knows what that curse is, as nothing happened. But that curse was already a seed…that was planted inside of Rio-sama…and bloomed on the day Rihan-sama was born."

Rikuo fearfully asked, "What kind of a curse…is that?"

"Hagoromo Gitsune cursed the bond that allowed the Shodaime and the others to defeat her four hundred years ago." Gyuuki explained carefully, "Every time there was more than one offspring from Nurarihyon…they would have to kill each other, until only one is left."

Rikuo paled, "D-do you mean…"

Gyuuki stared at Rikuo coldly, "Yes, you're cursed to kill your brother, just as he is cursed to kill you."

Yura keep glaring at the three children of Karasu Tengu, not lowering her guard even for a split second. Kiyotsugu and the others, mostly Kana, seemed enthralled when they found out that jerk was there to save them. If only they knew that that stupid jerk was coming here only to save Rikuo.

The moment she thought that, Yura's aura turned dark with a killing intent. If only she did not have to protect her friends from those youkai, she would have already summoned Tanrou and gone to where Rikuo was waiting for her. To think that youkai defeated her and saved Rikuo first only fueled her desire to scrub that smug smirk she knew he would give her with a mop enchanted with a really strong ofuda.

But, Yura smiled to herself, even if that youkai did save Rikuo first, he still won't have Rikuo. She had already prepared something to prevent that.

'Rikuo-kun is a human, and he will stay a human! I won't let those tainted youkai corrupt him!'

Rikuo couldn't help but to step backwards in denial, "No…you're lying!"

"If I'm lying…" Gyuuki didn't show any sign he was going to stop the boy, "why do you think Rio-sama nearly killed you and Rikuou-sama thirteen years ago?"

Suddenly, Rikuo remembered the scar on his brother's chest and the pain in his brother's eyes when he asked about that scar, "No! Maybe she did betray us, but why would you think that I would do the same?"

"Don't you have it?" Gyuuki calmly accused him, "Those dreams, dreams that show you what you will do; dreams of you killing your brethren. That's just the beginning…you will then lose yourself to your power. Your instinct will try to consume another power similar to yours; which is your brother's."

Rikuo stared at his hands. He could still remember it, the way the blood was slowly cooling on his hands. How the body next to him became pale and cold, devoid of any warmth.

He could feel his feet lose their strength and he knelt on the wooden floor. His eyes wide as he tried to refuse the thought of killing his brother, but that dream felt so real…

Why?

Is this the truth?

Is he really…?

The brown haired boy stared at the old wooden floor, where he was kneeling, blankly. His lips parted, but not a single word could be heard as he felt his own throat constrict painfully from the wild emotions raging in his heart. He couldn't pick head or tail from the raw emotions.

Why? Why must it be him?

Why must it be them…?

Faint footsteps fell on deaf ears as Rikuo did not acknowledge the other person in the cold room. He couldn't bring himself to care. He didn't even respond as the cold steel of a sword was pressed against his neck lightly, threateningly.

A deep voice said sympathetically, "Let me end that cursed existence of yours. Just like how I did your aunt."

Maybe, this is better. Better that he die instead of his brother. His brother was needed by everyone in the Nura Gumi. If he died, then…maybe they will be sad, but they didn't need him. This way, one of the weaknesses of the Nura Gumi would be gone too. His brother…

His brother…will be sad…

His brother's sorrowful face, like when he couldn't remember him…

He didn't want it. He didn't want to make that beautiful face become so sad anymore. He had promised to not leave his side anymore!

The blade left his neck slowly; only to be lifted high in the air, and descend down, towards him in a flash of white.

In record time, Rikuo managed to pull out one of the ofuda hidden in the sleeve of his jacket, "On handomadara abokijyaya nisorosoro sowaka!" he spelt out the spell he knew by heart. The barrier almost didn't erect in time as Gyuuki's sword was repelled by the golden barrier around the boy. Gyuuki looked at Rikuo in surprise; he didn't think that the boy would have anything left in him to fight back.

Rikuo stood up as the barrier dispersed, "I don't know what kind of a curse could force someone to kill someone that's dear to them…maybe it's really strong and I won't be able to break it…" In Rikuo's hands, slips of ofuda appeared, "But I have promised myself not to make my brother sad anymore! I will be by his side until the end! Curse or whatever…I won't let it split us apart!"

Gyuuki looked at him in amusement, but his amusement soon came to an end when he had to block a katana that appeared out of nowhere and attacked him.

"Well said, brother!" Rikuou smirked as he appeared from the shadows. Rikuo's glare quickly turned into a smile as he saw his brother kick Gyuuki sending him flying to the other side of the room. Unfortunately, Gyuuki used his sword as a brake; he stabbed the floor with his sword and stood up again, facing them as Rikuo quickly went to his brother's side.

"Since when were you here?" Gyuuki asked. It seemed that he was too absorbed in the boy that he hadn't realized the young Nura had used the Nura family's skill to blend in with the shadows and sneak inside the building.

Rikuou glared at Gyuuki, "Since you started explaining about our aunt. I almost cut you in two if it hadn't been for Rikuo surprising me with his onmyou skills."

Well, his experience with an onmyouji is almost none, the sight of a golden barrier like that amazed him.

Gyuuki frowned, "Then you know the danger of letting the two of you live. One must die before you two try to kill each other. I have killed your aunt, now it's Rikuo's turn."

"Like hell I will let you kill another person precious to me!" Rikuou growled angrily, "I won't let a petty curse like that separate me from Rikuo!"

Rikuo nodded his head, ofuda drawn as the two third generation Nuras prepared to battle Gyuuki if he decided to attack.

Gyuuki watched them, before a smile formed on his lips, "Seems like your determination to be a Sandaime together wasn't a lie, but—" in a flash, Gyuuki had drawn his sword and attacked the both of them. Rikuo pulled back while Rikuou blocked the attack, "can you really break a curse that even your aunt could not?"

The deadlock of their swords broke as Rikuou pushed Gyuuki back, "We will show you!"

A/N : I don't think there are any need for dictionary this time, right? Or is it? Just ask me if there is anything you don't understand.

Nura Rio name is written with kanji "Ri" as in 'village' and "ou" as in 'cheery blossoms/sakura' which roughly translated to 'village of cheery blossoms'. I just thought that since all of Nura's family name start with 'Ri' I should make this girl start with one too, so I went to google and use the first name on the search page, LOL. (Yes, I'm that lazy). Eh, I seriously need to draw her soon, but I don't have it in mind of how she looks~ XD;; just red hair and green eyes, but no more than that.

Is the curse that Gyuuki told to Rikuo is real? Or is there more to it? What is the connection between Hagoromo Gitsune and Nura Rio? Is Rio's mother and Nurarihyon truly were lovers or not? Read more to find out~ I already have the next chapter, but I will post it next week, just to see you guys' reaction~ (that means, review, ok?) 8D *troll face* *runs away from angry readers* Bye-bye, until next time!