Disclaimer: Nuramago belongs to Shiibashi-sensei

Warning: yaoi-ncest, AU, oOC-ness, language, etc…

Beta: mittens_220 (LJ), as always, thank you very much for your generosity in beta-ing this piece! XD Love you for it! You are the epitome of 'AWESOME' hehe XD


Chapter 29: Don't Forget


I pray for the strength to forgive myself who can only live for my own sake.

I pray for the days through which I can live without regretting our lost love.

My prayer, cleaving the clouds, sends my hope into the sky…*


0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0


Rihan was sitting on the branch of the largest Sakura tree in Nura Gumi's yard, looking at the view of Tokyo with a slightly lonely expression.

Some youkai who saw their master moping on the tree looked at each other in concern. Kubinashi had given up trying to cheer Rihan up, who was still very sad about Setsura leaving Nura Gumi. Kurotabo had been trying to distract the Nidaime by reporting his nightly patrol with Aotabo in the morning, but he didn't seem to listen at all.

"What should we do? Nidaime can mope for weeks after this," some of the smaller youkai whispered in the darkness of Nura's mansion.

Rikuo who passed below the roof heard their concerned mumbling and sighed deeply as well. He hadn't been able to get a time to talk to Rihan alone lately. Everyone didn't seem to want to leave Rihan alone, especially after Setsura left. In retaliation, Rihan would always go somewhere whenever Rikuo tried to look for him.

"Rihan-san… is down again…" Rikuo frowned in depression as well. As he thought, letting Setsura go was a mistake. Rikuo wanted to cheer Rihan up, but how could he when he'd never even seen the Nidaime around?

Maybe Rihan didn't want Rikuo to see his miserable state. Rihan was really bad at coping with partings after all. He could mourn for weeks, even months whenever he lost one member of his family, especially the members he was close to. It showed how he treasured everyone even though he never said anything. That's why everyone always tried their hardest to stay alive whenever they waged war with other youkai families. They didn't want to sadden their beloved master by dying and leaving him.

However, Rihan was always prone to keep his sadness to himself. He never expressed his feelings verbally. Still, everyone could tell he was sad because he stopped smiling. He became expressionless and it killed everyone on the inside whenever they saw him like that.

"Rihan-san… doesn't want me to see him like that, huh?" Rikuo closed his eyes and clenched his fists painfully. Rihan was aware of his own feelings, and he didn't want to affect Rikuo, so he decided to avoid him, apparently.

Even though Rikuo had promised Setsura that he would take care of Rihan… accompany him always so he wouldn't get lonely… he couldn't keep that promise?

"Where are you, Rihan-san…?" Rikuo whispered dejectedly, feeling useless at a time like this.

Suddenly, he heard Yoru whisper inside his head and Rikuo looked up in surprise.

On the Sakura tree…—was the first information that entered Rikuo's mind. He smiled slightly, thanking Yoru inwardly before he ran to the yard where the afternoon sunlight swept the entire ground, coloring the yard with soft orange glow.

Rikuo walked slowly to the Sakura tree and found that Yoru was right. Rihan was on top of the branch, looking at someplace far away. Rikuo's heart hurt as he saw his expression. He looked really lonely. He didn't want to see Rihan like this.

After a few seconds of consideration, finally Rikuo decided to call him. "Rihan-san," the chocolate haired boy looked upward at Rihan, who tensed slightly hearing his voice.

"Oh… is that Rikuo?" Rihan asked, sounding slightly nervous. He didn't even turn to face Rikuo.

"Hey, Rihan-san… if you don't come down here, I'll climb up there by myself," Rikuo threatened, while pouting slightly. As much as it hurt to see Rihan depressed, it hurt even more when Rihan tried to run away from him.

Rihan's shoulders sank in defeat as he slowly turned to Rikuo who only smiled solemnly at him.

"Rihan-san… I'm lonely," Rikuo said suddenly, trying to make it sound that it was about himself instead of Rihan because Rihan would still refuse to convey his feelings. "I had grown close to Setsura-san lately… we talked a lot when we had free time together. But, after she left, I don't know what to do with my free time anymore…" he spoke slowly with sad tone, looking at Rihan with a heartbreakingly emotional expression. "What should I do… if Rihan-san also leaves me alone…?"

Rihan widened his eyes at the last line and he immediately jumped down to the ground and scooped Rikuo to hug the smaller boy who started to cry. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… Rikuo…" Nidaime closed his eyes as he tightened his hug on Rikuo's slightly shivering body while the boy was sobbing on his chest.

"I-I'm sorry… f-for crying… like this, but… but it's very sad… that I won't see Setsura-san again, Rihan-san…! It hurts…!" Rikuo was still hic-cupping as he spoke, tears falling down freely on his cheeks.

"Yes… yes it hurts… don't cry, Rikuo… it will hurt me if you cry…" Rihan spoke softly, trying to comfort the boy by stroking his hair tenderly.

"Then… then don't make that face as if the world would end soon, Rihan-san… because it kills me too seeing you suffering by yourself…" Rikuo's breath hitched slightly as he tried to control his tears. "Don't… don't hide your feelings from me… because it will make me even sadder that you don't even trust me with your feelings…" he continued, looking up slightly with tearful eyes and Rihan could only look at the boy sadly as well.

Rihan hugged the boy again while gritting his teeth, as if he tried his best to hold down his own sadness and tears. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…!" Rihan's words of apology were uttered again softly, but his voice was shaking and Rikuo could feel the warm liquid wetting his shoulder.

Rikuo sighed slightly in relief as he knew he had succeeded on making Rihan cry again. Just like when he was conveying his feelings about Yamabuki a month ago, this time it was about Rihan's feelings about Setsura.

Rikuo curved his arms around Rihan's side, his hands holding onto Rihan's back as he returned the embrace. He closed his eyes and sobbed once more. "I'm still here… Rihan-san…" he whispered quietly and Rihan's hold on his body tightened slightly.

Rihan widened his eyes again as he heard that before he softened his expression and said "Yes…" softly, tears still falling from his golden eyes. "Yes…" he whispered once more before he closed his eyes as well, succumbing into the warmth of Rikuo's body, seeking comfort from it and how surprised he was to feel the pain slowly flowing away together with his tears.

Rikuo was telling Rihan that it was okay to cry when you were sad. It was okay, because after he cried, he would feel relieved, the sadness and pain would go away together with the tears… and then, he could smile and find happiness once again.

That night, Rikuo didn't turn into Yoru and stayed with Rihan in Nidaime's room, lying beside him while holding Rihan like he was the child, whispering sweet nothing to Rihan's ear, comforting him and making Rihan tell him about everything that bothered him until Rihan fell asleep in his embrace…


0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0


In the morning, Rihan woke up, feeling refreshed. Surely, there was still that dull ache inside his heart, but everything else was mostly replaced by warm buzzing comfortable feeling of being held by someone he loved and someone who loved him in return. He smiled softly at the young boy sleeping soundly beside him.

Rikuo was such a kind soul. He made it sound like he had a hard time coping with Setsura's absence so that Rihan wouldn't feel uncomfortable talking about his own feelings. Of course Rihan noticed it. Rikuo was usually shy after all. But yesterday he just went ahead and told Rihan how lonely he was. How… mirrored his feelings with Rihan's were.

Rihan felt kind of bad that he had pushed Rikuo to resort to such a method to make him open up. He knew he had to learn to do that by himself now since he didn't know when Rikuo would 'go home' as well.

Suddenly, Rihan felt a slight fear grip his chest at that thought.

Rikuo would go home… he would leave Rihan as well… Could Rihan really survive this time if Rikuo wasn't around anymore?

Rihan shook his head slightly to drive that thought away. He was worried about the same things as Rikuo back then when they hadn't been together. At that time, the boy was reluctant to develop feelings for Rihan because he was afraid of hurting Rihan when the time came where he had to leave first and Rihan was the one who had decided that he would be fine getting hurt over and over again if only he could have Rikuo's heart and love.

What would Rihan do if he got cold feet now, especially after bedding Rikuo (Yoru)? That would be very irresponsible of him. Rihan had decided that he wanted to be together with Rikuo. The boy also took a big risk for loving him the way Rihan loved Rikuo. Rikuo would also get hurt the same way he would when it was the time to part.

However, that's why… their time together would be so much-much more precious.

Rihan gazed softly once again at Rikuo and he leaned down to kiss Rikuo's small kissable pink lips tenderly.

"Nnh…" the boy moaned slightly in his sleep. "Rihan…san…" he mumbled Rihan's name cutely and Rihan chuckled seeing how adorable his beloved Rikuo was. He kissed Rikuo's cheek as well before moving to his jaw and his neck and the boy moaned again as he reached out to hold onto Rihan's yukata.

Suddenly Rihan wanted to devour this child. Oh no, this was bad. He couldn't stop after he caught a whiff of Rikuo's alluring scent. Rihan loomed over Rikuo who was still sleeping, but the boy's body was visibly excited by Rihan's ministration.

Rihan shook his head to clear his mind which was clouded with desire to mark Rikuo all over again as his and his only, the desire to possess this boy completely. Moreover, he didn't want to do it without Rikuo's consent (he was still asleep that's why) and Rikuo was still a minor, damn it!

#

While Rihan was battling his own desire to back off before his self control was trampled and thrown outside the window, Rikuo opened his eyes slightly, finding Rihan on top of him, straddling him and was struggling hard to will down his 'need' which had come in contact with Rikuo's upper thigh.

Rikuo instantly blushed at the feeling of it and was tempted to run away by pretending to sleep again, but after the night Yoru had intercourse with Rihan, Rikuo grew a little curious of how it would feel to experience it firsthand and not through Yoru.

Rikuo bit his lower lip slightly and hesitantly before he looked up to find Rihan's darkened golden orbs staring straightly into his chocolate ones. His heavy breath caressed Rikuo's sensitive neck and Rikuo's own breath hitched slightly as his heartbeat began to quicken and beat harder as he got a sudden urge to bolt again. Rikuo gulped slightly as his own feelings were battling inside his small petit body.

Finally, Rikuo's curiosity won over his fear. He reached up slightly to caress Rihan's cheek and slowly surging up to meet Rihan's lips with his own.

Rihan looked surprised. He was sure that Rikuo would push him away. But Rihan needed to know too that both he and Yoru, even though they were different in personalities, were still Rikuo. Their fundamental feelings were the same and Rikuo was very much in love with Rihan and he wouldn't let his virtue get in the way to express his love to him.

"Rikuo…?" Rihan pulled back slightly, still looking surprised and slightly awed.

"Rihan-san…" Rikuo whispered softly before he parted his lips and brought out his tongue to shyly lick Rihan's lower lip.

Rihan widened his eyes at the bold invitation and he didn't needed to be seduced twice as he closed their distance again with a soft kiss before he went further and flushed their body together. Rikuo moaned wantonly at their body contact while holding Rihan to stay close.

Rihan deepened their kiss and held Rikuo even closer before he went further to show how much he loved Rikuo, how greatly he treasured him and how he would pleasure the boy to taste the heaven itself with his love this time.


0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0


Rikuo woke up the second time that day to find Rihan already up and dressed.

"Rihan-san?" Rikuo called the Nidaime while rubbing his eyelids with the back of his hand, slightly yawning before stretching his body which was still naked under the blanket. And boy did he feel sore at a certain place on his lower part despite how gentle Rihan was with him this morning.

"Oh, you've woken up?" Rihan smiled as he turned to Rikuo from his document.

A document?

Rikuo's face exploded in dark crimson color at the thought that someone probably had come by to deliver the document and there was a high probability that that someone had seen him there… sleeping on Rihan's futon… naked.

Rihan seemed to know what was on Rikuo's mind seeing the apparently very funny expression on Rikuo's face because he chuckled slightly, looking amused. "Don't worry. I hid you with my fear, Rikuo. No one saw you here," he said, still sniggering.

Rikuo blushed even deeper seeing Rihan laughing at him. "Eh… erm…" and he slightly stuttered quietly too, surprised that his voice did not change after screaming and moaning shamelessly under Rihan's ministration a few hours before.

Rihan put down his document and moved to sit beside Rikuo. He smiled at the boy and pulled him into a gentle hug. "Thank you," he said softly, kissing Rikuo's hair tenderly.

Rikuo was slightly embarrassed, but he felt extremely happy too after seeing Rihan's smile. He held onto Rihan's warm big arms and closed his eyes slowly, smiling gently as well. "You're welcome, Rihan-san…" he whispered back.

They stayed like that for a few moments before Rihan loosened his hug and pulled back, looking happy as he went back to his work. Rikuo was grinning like an idiot when he went back to curl up on Rihan's futon, not wanting to get up and move away from Rihan's side.

However, Rikuo's happiness was short-lived as his sight began to blur and fragments of the shadow from the time when he was still in the future started to come up into his sight.

Eh…?

Rikuo widened his eyes in shock before he blinked once and then sat up abruptly looking around in alert while sweating profoundly.

What was that?—Rikuo's mind couldn't help screaming attentively at that.

"Rikuo?" Rihan who apparently was surprised because Rikuo sat up so abruptly asked, looking at the boy with concerned look. "What's wrong?"

Rikuo sighed slightly in relief after he didn't find anything strange around him. "N-nothing… it's just a sudden realization about something unimportant," he smiled sheepishly at Nidaime who looked at him with questioning look before going back to his work.

Rikuo sighed again after Rihan turned away. He then brought his hand to comb his slightly messy hair back, but he stopped dead in his tracks as he saw his hand. It had started to become slightly transparent.

WHAT!—Rikuo almost screamed in horror at that. He quickly brought down his hand and shook it to get his color back in a slight panic.

Rikuo was disappearing….

Dear God, Deity, Ryuujin-sama…! Rikuo was DISAPPEARING!

Rikuo couldn't yell out, heck he certainly couldn't even make any noise because it would alert Rihan and it was the last thing Rikuo wanted Rihan to know. No… he couldn't let Rihan see that.

Slowly, Rikuo took his yukata and dressed as well before he said "Rihan-san, I'm going to go take a bath," with perfectly composed tone despite his anxiety and distress.

"Oh, sure… want me to come too?" Rihan asked, smirking teasingly.

Rikuo blushed hearing that. "Pervert," he mocked with embarrassment, purposely bringing both of his hands in front of his chest to hide his current state from Rihan before he hurriedly got out of the room and ran to the bathroom.

Oh my god… Oh my god…! Oh My Dear GOD!—Rikuo then went into a full-blown panic attack as he started to hyperventilating even before he arrived to the Oofuro. He even ran into some youkai on the way who called him upon seeing his very pale face, but he ignored them to panic some more on his own.

Rikuo arrived in the bathroom and went inside before he slammed the door close and breathed hard as his body was sliding down on the floor weakly.

"This is bad…!" Rikuo was still panting as he looked at his both hands which started to lose color again. "My time is up…!" he gritted his teeth disappointedly with a frustrated expression.

Ryuujin, You bastard—!

Rikuo couldn't help cursing the deity responsible for this because he had to be ready to open the time portal with Yoru. He had to let go of Rihan for real now, or… he would really disappear from this reality….


0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0


No matter how much I wish

There are many unchangeable things in this world, right?

That's right, and simply the reality which says that I love you

…is the truth because it can't be changed by anybody…**


0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0


Rikuo was grateful when his color was back to normal after the bath. He didn't know what he would do if the transparent skin stayed permanently. He still needed some extra time to talk to Nurarihyon, and then to talk to Ryuujin again.

As much as Rikuo despised the deity, he was the one who knew how this would work. If Rikuo was about to be sent back to the future, in what time would he end up in? Was it the time when he was about to be blasted away by Ryuujin or when he was about to go to school or even when he was about to go home? He needed to know all of that so he could prepare himself.

Rikuo walked slowly to Nurarihyon's chamber. The old man seemed still slightly depressed as well after Setsura left. Well, almost everybody felt depressed after Setsura left. Gyuuki, Yakushi, and the other Twelve General had come by to talk to Nurarihyon and Rihan once about it as well. Still, there was nothing they could do about it. After all, it was already decided and had already happened.

But now, Rikuo didn't have time to worry about how depressed everyone was. His situation was in red zone after all. He knocked on the wooden part of the sliding door.

"Come in" was the reply he got from inside the room.

"Jiichan," Rikuo opened the door and entered before he slid the door close again. "I need to talk to you… it's urgent," he said, looking at Nurarihyon who was reading beside his table seriously.

Nurarihyon closed the book and put it on the table. "What's wrong, Rikuo?" he turned to Rikuo and raised his eyebrows at the chocolate haired boy.

Rikuo approached his grandpa before he sat in front of the old man. "Jiichan… I'm disappearing," he confessed and Nurarihyon widened his eyes in surprise at that.

"What…?" Nurarihyon couldn't help dropping the pipe he was about to lit.

"I'm disappearing… Jiichan… My time in 'this time' is almost over…" Rikuo looked at his hands which had started to lose color again. "Look," he even showed them to Nurarihyon who paled slightly as he saw the almost transparent hands before they came back to the normal color.

"Ah… what bad timing…" Nurarihyon reached to hold the hands and then he closed his eyes, looking slightly pained. "It just has to happen so soon after Setsura left…!"

Rikuo couldn't tell Nurarihyon that Setsura leaving was his actual mission. He felt bad about it. It seemed he came there just to steal everyone else's happiness. "I'm sorry…" he said sadly, very regretful for the thing he had done, but it seemed that Nurarihyon thought he apologized because he was sorry for the fact he had to leave Rihan after this.

"It isn't exactly your fault. If you had any choice, you'd stay beside Rihan, right?" Nurarihyon asked.

"I'd die before leaving Rihan-san…" Rikuo closed his eyes. "I guess… maybe I'd die for real now…" he continued softly while smiling bitterly.

"No, you must go home to your own time," Nurarihyon tightened his grip on Rikuo's hand. "You have a life there in the future… don't sacrifice it for the short time you have here," he scolded. "Go back to the future and meet Rihan once again there."

Rikuo opened his eyes widely and looked at Nurarihyon perplexedly. "Jiichan…?"

"Rihan will be okay as long as there's a hope for you to meet again. Tell him that before you leave," Nurarihyon said surely, looking into Rikuo's eyes confidently.

Rikuo then began to smile and nodded. "Um!" he said, a tear fell down his cheek slowly. "But, before that… I need to speak to Ryuujin-sama first," he said again. "I need to ask a few things before I go back to the future."

Nurarihyon nodded and then he led the boy once again to the gate of Spirit Realm. It was just a few days after he opened the gate. Nurarihyon told the boy that he might be unable to control the growing of the gate, so he would seal it again as soon as Rikuo went inside.

"I trust that you'll be able to get out and come back here by yourself," Nurarihyon said.

"Okay," Rikuo nodded surely. Then, once again, he was sent to the Spirit Realm to talk to Ryuujin.


0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0


The next day, Rihan walked to Rikuo's room soon after he woke up from his sort sleep. Yesterday, the chocolate haired kid didn't come back to Rihan's room after he took a bath. The kid didn't even join him for dinner.

Rihan thought the boy was freaking out after what Rihan had done to him in the morning and maybe he resorted back to avoiding Rihan again just like after the night of the new moon, but Nurarihyon said Rikuo had to go to the Spirit Realm to meet Ryuujin for the progress of his mission, so Rihan shouldn't look for him until Rikuo was done.

Rihan had pouted slightly after that, but for once he listened to his old man and had been patient to wait for Rikuo's return.

He never did.

It was already morning, and Rihan figured he could wake Rikuo up to ask the boy to have breakfast together. He kind of missed him even though it was only just one night.

Rihan stood in front of the boy's room now and he felt slightly hesitant. Maybe he should wait for a little bit. He would hate if he disturbed Rikuo's sleep. The boy must have come home very late last night after all.

Well, if Rihan entered the room quietly, he wouldn't disturb Rikuo, right? Rihan shrugged at his own thought and reached the open the sliding door. "Excuse me," he whispered quietly as he slid open the door and had to refrain from getting a nosebleed at the view of Rikuo loosening his clothes to change his sleeping yukata with a new clean one.

Rikuo apparently heard the sound as the door slid and turned around slightly to meet Rihan's eyes which surprised and embarrassed Rikuo as his face turned pink. "Ri-Rihan-san?" He immediately covered his body with the clean yukata in his hands and looked at Rihan perplexedly.

"Ah, s-sorry… I thought you were still asleep…" Rihan then saw the small purplish marks all over Rikuo's exposed skin and blushed himself. He had made those marks.

"Ah, anyway, please… if you don't mind, I'd like to be decent first before meeting you," Rikuo said, flushing deeper as he tried to act polite despite his indecent appearance in front of Rihan.

Rihan chuckled slightly at that. "I've seen you without anything on at all, Rikuo," he smirked slightly at that and Rikuo's face turned a shed darker.

"Rihan-san, you pervert!" Rikuo shouted in annoyance and embarrassment and then threw his pillow at Rihan who immediately ran away from the room, not forgetting to close the door while laughing slightly; totally amused that he could still tease the boy even after what they had done.

Really, the boy was just too shy and cute for his own good! Rihan couldn't get tired of teasing and making the boy blush some more.

Rihan was waiting just beside Rikuo's room until the boy composed himself and was decent enough to come out of his room.

"Good morning, Rikuo," and Rihan had to sneak up and hugged the boy from behind to surprise and embarrass Rikuo more.

"Hyaah! R-Rihan-san!" Rikuo yelped in surprise, blushing cutely again because Rihan was holding his waist and chest and the older man was kissing his neck too. "W-wait, what are you doing so suddenly?" the boy protested now.

"Well, I miss you because you didn't come back to me last night," Rihan whispered near Rikuo's ear, making the boy's breath hitch because he was ticklish and Rihan knew that, so he did that on purpose.

"Eh, um… but, last night…" Rikuo tried to explain while stuttering, looking nervous for some reasons.

"I know… you went to Ryuujin's place," Rihan huffed, beginning to dislike Ryuujin for taking Rikuo's time from Rihan, but he couldn't be picky about that. After all, a deal was a deal.

"Um... yeah," Rikuo looked down slightly, looking like he wanted to say something.

"What's wrong?" Rihan asked, looking at Rikuo's tilted face.

"Ah… Rihan-san, there's something I have to tell you, so… would you mind taking a walk with me?" Rikuo asked shyly, big chocolate eyes stared at his golden ones hopefully and Rihan's heart was shot point blank by a Cupid's Arrow once again seeing the cuteness.

"Of course… let's go on a date!" Rihan hugged the boy happily. Really, this boy could activate every happy fiber in his body.

"A-, a date?" Rikuo's cheeks burned crimson at that. "W-well… a date can't hurt…" he mumbled softly and Rihan immediately swept Rikuo's feet and lifted him bridal style as he brought the boy to have a walk together.

Rikuo was protesting the entire time and everyone who saw the two on the way snickered slightly in amusement and or shook their heads seeing Nidaime and Rikuo's antics.


0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0


The wings of my tears, yearning for a spring where happiness flutters about

Become scattering flower petals, headed for you

Whenever you hear the wind, I will be by your side

Protecting you as you live here and now…

…is more important than an inconsolable sadness or loneliness…***


0oo—Rihan x Rikuo—oo0


Rikuo had requested Rihan to bring him to the place where they met for the first time. Rihan just smiled and complied because there was a quiet beautiful spot in the Ura Shinjuku Forest. Moreover, he could show Rikuo the garden of kerria which were in full bloom in spring.

"Wow… it's very beautiful…" Rikuo looked amazed as he stared at the full bloomed kerias around him. His eyes seemed sparkled in happiness as he admired the beauty of the secret garden. "This is awesome, Rihan-san!" he then turned to Rihan and smiled cheerily.

Rihan smiled gently seeing the happiness in Rikuo's expression. "I'm glad you love this place…" he said while looking around him and sighed, feeling nostalgic. It was almost two months ago that he found Rikuo… no, that Rikuo found him by falling from the sky.

"Rihan-san?" Rikuo noticed the sudden quietness of his companion and called the long dark haired golden eyed man with questioning tone.

"It… feels a little bit strange…" Rihan mumbled slightly as he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath of the comforting scent of the flowers around him, feeling warm before he opened his eyes again and turned to Rikuo. "This place was… the place where my wife was born. That day… the day I found you… I was actually looking for Yamabuki," he continued with s sheepish smile. There was still the trace of pain, but it was healing and it was because Rikuo was there. He didn't feel odd or uncomfortable talking about Yamabuki anymore.

"Rihan-san…" Rikuo also smiled softly as Rihan told him some more.

"I was looking for her… but you suddenly fell from the sky," Rihan pointed at the blue sky above them. Rikuo looked up as if he was curious if he really came from there. "It was like a sign… that I should just let go of her and then think about what was more urgent at that time, which would be saving Rikuo's ass and bring him home," Rihan then grinned teasingly at the last line and Rikuo blushed hearing that.

"Ah, jeez… Rihan-san! Stop teasing me!" the chocolate haired boy protested while pouting in annoyance.

Rihan laughed slightly. "At that time… I was attracted by your scent… never knew that there were other halfs and quarter youkai… never met one before, so I didn't suspect that you'd be one. I should have though… especially after I brought you home and found out that you weren't scared at all by the youkai roaming around the house. Because you're quarter youkai… and had ever lived with youkai… it would be strange if you were afraid of youkai," he chuckled at how funny it was then. Rihan was supposed to be the badass sharp gutted Nidaime of Nura Gumi, and yet he wasn't sharp enough to at least suspect Rikuo's true form.

"I'm sorry for not being able to inform you anything at that time…" Rikuo scratched his cheek sheepishly now.

"It's fine. You lost your memory at first," Rihan said, completely understanding. Rikuo winced slightly at that, but Rihan didn't know why he did.

"Yeah, well… it was bad at first… but I quickly found comfort in Rihan-san's embrace, right?" Now Rikuo grinned again. "At that time, even though I was full of doubt and mighty scared of what actually happened… my gut feeling told me that I could trust Rihan-san… It led me to believe that Rihan-san would help me and I was glad to trust my instinct because it turned out Rihan-san really became my beloved one…" the boy then walked closer to Rihan and then smiled up at him happily.

"Thank god… I can spend time with Rihan-san…" Rikuo said, reaching out to hug Rihan.

"Rikuo…?" Rihan was slightly surprised at the sudden gesture of affection. Of course he felt very-very happy, but then he saw something that almost made his heart leap out of his throat.

Rikuo's shoulders were… getting transparent. "Eh…?" Rihan reached to hold onto Rikuo's shoulders. He could still feel there was something there, but it was slowly dispersing.

Rikuo looked up from Rihan's chest and set a slightly sad smile. He pulled back slightly and fished something from his sleeve. "Rihan-san, I want you to have this," he said while offering something to Rihan.

"W-what?" Rihan was distracted. He was still eyeing the slightly transparent shoulders and then shifted his gaze to Rikuo's hand as the boy brought Rihan's hand to accept whatever it was Rikuo was giving him.

Rihan blinked slightly as he touched a hard almost five inches long metallic stick. It was actually a key in bronze color. "A key?" Rihan looked at the key wonderingly.

"It's a key to my house," Rikuo said suddenly, surprising Rihan who immediately turned to look at Rikuo's face again.

"Your…?" Rihan was astonished.

"Yes, so then you can see me in the near future after I go home," Rikuo smiled gently again at the older man.

"After you… go home…?" Rihan seemed only able to parrot Rikuo's words.

What was this? What was going on? Why did Rikuo suddenly give him a key to his house? Moreover… what was with this heavy puzzling atmosphere? Why did Rikuo become slightly transparent? Rihan absolutely had no idea what was happening.

"Rihan-san… I have completed my mission," Rikuo said suddenly. "It's the time for me to go home," he continued, looking down slightly in disappointed expression.

"What?" Rihan widened his eyes in shock at that. "W-wait… what's with the sudden…!" He widened his eyes even more when he witnessed part of Rikuo's body slowly disappearing. He moved forward to capture the boy's body in his hug.

"Rihan…san…?" Rikuo looked very surprised as he was suddenly enveloped by Rihan's body.

"Don't… don't disappear…!" Rihan begged and Rikuo's tears suddenly gathered on his eyes before droplet by droplet fell down to the boy's cheek. "Don't go…! Don't leave me…!" Nidaime said more and Rikuo reached to clutch at Rihan's back.

"I don't want to go…!" Rikuo sobbed. "I don't want to…! But, Rihan-san… I can't stay here… Not right now…!" Rikuo cried again, harder now.

"Why…?" Rihan tightened his hug as the pain started to tear apart his heart. "Why…?" He didn't understand it. Why did Rikuo have to leave now?

"Rihan-san… even though we can't be together now, we will meet again… someday… for sure… That's why… please… don't forget me…!" Rikuo didn't answer Rihan's question, instead he made a request. A final request.

Rikuo pulled back slightly and the gazed up at Rihan with tearful eyes. "I love you…! I have, I do, and I'll always love you…Rihan-san…!" He whispered while sobbing, standing on his toes while pulling Rihan down, and then gave Nidaime a soft passionate memorable last kiss on Rihan's lips before his body disappeared completely from Rihan's embrace.

"Ri…kuo…?" Rihan was in the state of shock as he looked at his empty hands, and then at the key on his palm. Rihan still couldn't process what just happened… that Rikuo… disappeared in front of him….

A gentle warm spring wind breezed softly, making the kerrias around Nura Rihan sway and the petals dance around him, as if they tried to tell the leader of Nura Clan to hurry and wake up from his short happy dream and come back to his reality….

End of Chapter 29

Tbc…


Additional Notes:

*Taken from the English translation of Japanese song 'Re:pray' (Bleach 29th Ed) sung by Aimer

**Taken from the English translation of Japanese song 'Sen no Yoru wo Koete' (Bleach 1st Movie Ending) sung by I have no idea. Tell me if you know.

***Taken from English Translation of Japanese song 'Sakurabito' (Bleach 21st Ed) sung by Sunset Wish

A/N: Yes, I know all of you want to kill me for the end of this chapter, but no worries, my readers! I still have once chapter left! *sweats profoundly under the murderous gazes of the readers* I promise it won't end as a tragedy or anything! I SWEAR! *sweats even more at the skeptical and threatening looks* Aaaaah! Please! I'm anti violence! If you kill me now, I can't create the good ending! GYAAAAAAAAH! *being chased by Rihan and Rikuo's fans for trying to separate them*

*currently in hiding* I'm going to make the final chapter as soon as possible! *shouts*