Chapter 105 - Different Perspectives

"Haah… I can't believe this." A woman clad in a white kimono and a large white scarf shook her head. Though human in form, her hair was a strange mix of purple and black, and her eyes were red. She held a large tray of food in her hands. "I go all the way to get you some proper food, and there you are eating candy again." She said to someone short, sitting on a bench in this park they were in.

"Well, you took a long time to come." The short person was no child though, but an old man. Like her, he was not human, as proved by that very noticeable gourd-shaped head of his. He was the former Supreme Commander of a Hyakki Yakou, a youkai who could enter any house uninvited… and an old man who liked stealing candies and sweets. "Put it here, I'll eat it."

"Sure, with a spoiled appetite." The woman, Setsura, continued complaining. She sat down, putting the tray filled with food in the space between them. "It's true I took a while to return. Without your Fear to cover me, some youkai from the clan were bothering me with many useless questions. And a few youkai from the west even hit on me." Even now she could see some youkai flying or running through the city, and could feel the Fear of many, many more, other youkai. "I never thought I'd see the day when Edo is filled with so many outsiders."

"Oh really?" Nurarihyon smirked. "You never thought I'd live up to my promise? Or that one of my heirs would?"

"Well, you caught me there." She shrugged.

"Well, whatever. I know how you feel." Nurarihyon looked up at some youkai from Shikoku flying. "It does feel a bit otherworldly to see all this. Even if we don't always agree, I am mighty proud of my grandson's accomplishments." He sighed and shook his head. "I just wish I was the one to do it."

"That's what happens when a nasty fox crone destroys your heart." Setsura shook her head. "If you're so proud of Rikuo and hungry for your own glory, shouldn't you do something about the fight? The Kyushu twerps are done with."

"Come on now, I accepted the fact that I'm retired."

"As if that ever stopped you from meddling left and right."

"Alright then." His voice became less relaxed. "What am I supposed to do? This isn't a fight between our clan and some enemies no more, but between my grandson and my great-grandson."

"Wouldn't that be all the more reason to jump in?"

"Hmmp, you're one to talk. You owe the Nura Clan your loyalty, and Rihan is your grandson. Yet I don't see you doing anything. You're just like me."

"That's kind of why I'm asking, I guess." She looked up. "I want to do something, but can't. I can't betray my clan, but I also can't betray my grandson."

"Is it really that hard a choice though?" A third voice, belonging to a girl, spoke from behind the bench they sat on. "My brother's dooming himself, and for his own good, he oughtta be stopped."

"Oh, Ritsura-chan." Nurarihyon smiled and looked backwards to the girl who was kin to both Nurarihyon and Setsura. "How are you?"

"Not the best. Things are hard right now, y'know."

Setsura wished she were able to be as laid-back as Nurarihyon. She knew her granddaughter well, so she knew how quick she was able to jump between being a teenager enjoying her life, to being a strict yakuza gang member. Or she thought she did, as this was the first time she felt this cold and commanding presence around this girl. She then remembered what orders this girl gave concerning her brother. I wonder, how much of this demeanor is forced… and how much of it is her true character?

"But back on topic." The girl walked, so as to be in front of them, and sat on the ground. Which was a gesture in a way, as she probably did not want to look down on Nurarihyon. "Is it really alright for the founder of the clan and the patriarch of our family to do nothing in this situation?" Her expression softened, and now once again seemed more like a young girl. She's holding herself back. Although, I wonder at whom, or at what, she's actually angry…

In response, Nurarihon's expression returned to being serious. "What's there for me to do, girl? You, Rikuo and Rihan, you are all my offspring. I don't want to stand against either one of you, ever."

"Even if that might be-"

"For the boy's 'own good'? You guys are telling yourselves that and maybe you're right. And maybe, you're horribly wrong. In the end, I think you're just using it as ressurance, to feel better about what you have to do."

Setsura thought that her granddaughter would have some kind of reaction to this to give, but she continued to listen in silence.

"Rikuo's gotta act, 'cause he's the Commander and Father. You've gotta act as well I guess, 'cause you're the expected heiress. But I sure don't need to, and instead, I'll just keep by the side and make sure that the Kuyshu, the Oniedas, or any other fools don't get to meddle. I don't envy you, and I know that you'd prefer to sit this one out too."

Ritsura sighed. "The same goes for Mom. She too decided to stay away from all this. But even so… doing nothing in this situation feels wrong."

Nurarihyon lighted up his smoking pipe and took a smoke before answering. "I feel the same way. But ah well, what's there to do?"

"Defeating the enemy, and then bringing down the curtain on this family drama." Ritsura gave the answer. "But… do you see them as that?"

Setsura felt like the air turned cold. This was some actual anger, and actual anger aimed at Nurarihyon.

"Gramps… you knew about Araya being Shiori, didn't you?"

A short silence and two puffs of smoke later, Nurarihyon answered. "Yeah, your grandmother here told me about her. And you were onto her too, from what I hear, that's how you captured the girl."

"Yeah, that's why I was able to capture her." There was contained emotion in Ritsura's eyes, but she did her best not to let much of it show on her face. "But you sure didn't let us in on it. As a matter of fact, it seems you used her against our own clan." She stated it as though her great-grandfather had been merely hiding a personal secret that would have been nice to know. "You sent her again out clans in Chubu, right?"

Three more smokes. "Hm, what makes ye think I had something to do with this?"

"I know what their leaders are suspected of, what factions inside the Nura Clan they're aligned with. I know they're suspected, but not confirmed, to be behind Gagoze's attack in Nakano back then. Not just anyone would feel the need to attack them like this. Or use a tactic like this."

"Hmph, ye got me there. I admit, I made use of Shiori and her group to dole out some punishment to the traitors."

"Alongside them, many of our innocent comrades died."

Nurarihyon released another smoke. "I've no excuse for that. I warned the girl and thought I intimidated her enough to have her keep the victims low, but I horribly underestimated her. I shoulda threatened her more, or let go of that plan. It was a screw-up on my part."

"Both you and Dad are… with all due respect, I think both of you are acting rashly, lately. You, signing a deal with a devil, and he, for all this. The traitors should've been dealt with by us, when the time was right, not by enemies who don't really have the most harmless interests for us."

"Maybe… but at the time you come up with the idea, you think it's good and calculated. You don't start second-guessing until after things are put into motion. Still, I don't think it was too bad of an idea. Some of the traitors are dead, others are robbed of their power and forced to make their moves, and none of it can be traced back to us. I don't regret using her, what I regret is not making sure she kept her attacks to the names I gave her."

"All the same, you don't intend to make her pay for it, do you?"

"What for? She knew I couldn't do much, and Rikuo already gave her a bit of what was coming to her last night."

"Which brings me back to my original question: do you actually view Shiori as our enemy?"

Once again, Nurarihyon took his sweet time to reply. "The Nura Clan's had three heads by now, each one with their own beliefs of what the clan is supposed to be like. To Rikuo, the clan's purpose is to protect both humans and youkai, and change the youkai world to be able to coexist with the human one. To my son, the purpose was to unite all the youkai clans into one… at least until Yamabuki Otome died." He took another smoke before continuing. "As for me, I didn't even intend to form the clan. My sole goal was to protect the weak from the strong, no matter how good or evil, and to create a good life for them and, later, for my and Youhime's family. We all dreamt of uniting the youkai into one clan, but a whole lotta stuff differed."

He finally took some of the food that Setsura brought to him, and which had grown cold. It was a piece of meat, and he offered some to Ritsura, who rejected it with a shake of her head.

"The point is that I disagree with Rikuo in terms of good and evil. As far as I'm concerned, the Nura Clan should unite all youkai, both the good and evil, as humans like to paint it. I tried to remind Rikuo of this many times, as well as before his fight against the Nue, but Rikuo decided to walk the path of a champion of justice anyway. So when Rikuo decided to punish Shiori's youkai for being evil, I couldn't sympathize." Setsura could hear traces of frustration in his voice. "A foolish decision, in my opinion. If he'd heeded my words, Shiori could've been an ally against the actual enemies, our young Rihan wouldn't have needed to become a pariah, and my own blood wouldn't be fighting amongst themselves."

"With all due respect again, Gramps, I don't believe an ideal like this is possible, especially if we're hoping to coexist with humans."

"Maybe, and maybe not. You and Rikuo are born in different times than I was. In my time, the human world and youkai world were equally bloody, and as such the human and youkai world weren't as different as they are today. Either way, it's an ideal I won't be giving up, just like how Rikuo ain't gonna be giving up on his." Yet another inhale of smoke followed, and then a smile. "Besides, I sympathize with the thought of fighting the entire world for the woman you love."

"So… it isn't only that you don't want to fight him… but you're actually rooting for him, aren't you?" Ritsura asked with a sharp glare.

Nurarihyon took another puff of smoke. "Yeah, I guess I actually am. Though I'm also cheering for Rikuo who's finally grasped our family's long dream. It's a shame they're gonna be going at each other, but… well, fighting's in our youkai nature, heh."

"I see." Ritsura sighed and rose onto her feet. "I can't say that I agree with everything you said, but it's good to know what you think of all this." She said as she dusted off her kimono.

"And what about you, girl?" Nurarihyon inquired. "What kind of beliefs do you hold, as the Fourth Commander to-be?"

The girl did not reply immediately, instead preferring to look at her great-grandfather exhale a few puffs of smoke. "Who knows. I don't think it's gonna matter for a long, long time. Dad still has centuries of reigning in front of him after all."

"Well, you never know. I too thought I'd rule for centuries."

"Let's not jinx ourselves, Gramps. I've got some things to take care of, so I'll leave now." Ritsura said and waved her hand. "Bye Gramps. Bye Granny."

"Don't call me 'granny'." Setsura pouted at the girl who was quickly taking her leave. After she was gone, the elder Yuki-Onna spoke again. "She was pretty chill about all this."

"Hmph, she's getting a lot to think about with the current events, and the future herself." Nurarihyon said and threw some of the food into his mouth. "Oi, Setsura, this food is cold."

"You don't say..."

~)(~

"We found the corpses of some of our clansmen from the countryside, but have no idea who was responsible for it." The voice said over the phone. "But we destroyed a nearby lair of Urban Legends. So maybe we did manage to avenge them. Will confirm later."

How much longer am I gonna have to listen to these reports? He was inside the hospital, and not too far from the room of the one he was visiting. But due to the countless reports, which he received as one of the commanders of the attack, he had no time to actually enter the said room. It was fortunate though that the hospital was affiliated with the Nura Clan, so none of the staff bothered him. Hospitals in Japan tended to not have fourth floor due to the fact that the number four symbolizes death, and the youkai used that fact to make sure that some hospitals had a floor that did not exist for humans. "Was there any more trouble?"

"No no, everything went smoothly." The voice over the phone assured him. "We took down a few more lairs, though we doubt those had the strength to fight anyone strong."

"Alright then. I'm in a hurry, but please send me the data about these lairs over mail."

"Will do. Good luck tonight, Kubinashi-dono!"

"You too." He said, though those words were left unheard as the other party ended the call. He decided to wait for the mail before he went to do his visit. As impatient as he was, Kubinashi always took his responsibilities seriously.

Yet, I failed at my most important duty. The Supreme Commander's son managed to escape his strings, and with the help of Kashima Reiko no less. And they even performed Matoi… Kubinashi did not want to believe that young Rihan could form such bonds of trust with this sort of enemy, but that was hopeful thinking which ended up being proven false. So it's not only Shiori that he is close to, but others as well. Just how long has he been hanging with them behind our backs?

And just what will he do tonight? Kubinashi strongly believed that they had already won, just as he told the boy. But now that worried him, for when someone felt fully cornered, that was when they truly became dangerous.

A beeping sound alerted him that the mail had arrived. He looked at it, and recognized all the locations. One place was pretty familiar to him. I see, so they actually put those ghosts to rest… and the note say they didn't even put up a fight for some reason? Strange, but alright. It's one loose end taken care of.

He put the phone into his pocket and went to finish this visit. He hoped that nobody would call him while he was there.

The woman he was visiting was not sleeping. "Oh, hi, Kubinashi." Nura Wakana greeted him with a big smile. "I actually thought I'd see you earlier."

"Sorry, I wasn't able to come sooner." Of all the youkai of the Nura Clan, Kubinashi was the one who was closest to Wakana. Or more precisely, the one who took it upon himself to keep the Second's wife safe. "Are you alright?"

"I am." She nodded. "The doctors panicking was really the worst part."

"Is that so?" Kubinashi scowled as he looked at her missing arm. I am so sorry Second… I am so sorry… not only was I unable to find and save her, but she… "Does it hurt?"

Wakana looked away, still smiling but at the moment it felt fake. "Not anymore. Even when I lost it… I was so afraid of that youkai that I probably did not feel the pain as much as I could." She looked at the window. "Kubinashi, what's going on outside?"

It was an unusual question coming from her. "You should rest. Right now-"

"Kubinashi, do you mind if I talk to myself a little?"

"Ah… no, I don't." He said as he sat down on a stool near her bed.

"You see, even now, I still strongly remember my and Rihan's first flight. You know, just after he saved me."

"Yeah, I remember." He was there. "Even back then, I knew it was an important moment, though I could not fathom why I felt so."

"Right… he was so strong and mysterious. So dangerous, yet so kind and loving. And so much in pain. I fell in love with him immediately. I wanted to make that somber face smile, and to be there for him for as long as…" Her smile suddenly grew. "Well, until death tore us apart."

"And that you did, just as you and Rihan-sama predicted." He still remembered that eerie moment when Rihan said that he would definitely die before her. "You understood him perfectly, better than any of us did even after knowing him for centuries."

"Yeah, I think I understood him well… at least the human part of him." Her smile weakened as she looked down. "But I never could understand his world. The youkai and yakuza… even after all this time, it all feels so alien to me… so violent… and so sad. Always living on the brink of death, always fighting for your life, and always killing. I just could not understand it."

They both sat there in silence for a short while. "Do you…"

"No, I don't regret it. Not one bit. I love Rihan, and I remain by his side even after his death." She looked at him. "I also accepted the fact that my child, and his children, would be part of that world that I could never understand. They were Rihan's children after all. But I would be there with them in whichever way I could, even if it is not much." She put her remaining hand over her chest. "My son and my grandchildren… even as an alien in this world, I could only greet them with a smile whenever they come home, be happy they come home safe, always believe in them, and always love them."

Kubinashi was glad to learn more about how she felt all this time, but he wondered where she was going with this.

"But I can feel that something is wrong. You took so long to come, my son barely had time to be with me, what little time he was there I could see his rage, and even my grandchildren are busy with something. Not to mention that all youkai seem to be tense." She looked at him, without a smile. "For today, I'll break my vow to not meddle into your world… and ask you what's going on?"

Kubinashi looked down. After some contemplation, he decided to answer her question. "Alright, but then you tell me what you went through." He told her how Rikuo decided that her kidnapping was the last straw. How Araya was actually Shiori and how Ritsura captured her. How the Nura Clan decided to take care of the Hyaku Monogatari's presence in Tokyo once and for all. How the entirety of Tokyo was engulfed in the war. And how youkai from all across Japan arrived to confirm their alliance with the Nura Clan.

But he did not tell her about her grandson's treachery. This was hard for anyone, she did not need to worry about it while she was still hospitalized and, no doubt, traumatized by Gagoze's actions.

"I see." She looked at the window once again. "It's worse than I thought."

"It's grim business. I do think it's for the best that you don't think too much about it. We, and Rikuo-sama, will deal with this soon."

"I can't say that I like the fact that he is holding that girl hostage… or killing her friends."

"She deceived you, and the rest of us, Wakana-sama. And those who follow her are the darkest that the youkai world can offer."

"I can't say that I understand how dark that is… or care to understand. She's a sweet girl."

A sweet girl that seduced your grandson into becoming our enemy. "It has to be done."

"I don't think so. But my words won't stop you." She put her hands together. "And now, my own family is fighting itself."

"...what?" How does she know? Kubinashi thought back on the words he spoke, wondering if he said something that revealed that which he tried to hide.

She meekly smiled at him. "You tried to hide it from me. That my grandson is now an enemy to you. But it's obvious this is the case."

"I… I am sorry. It's just that…" Damn… I forgot how perceptive she could be.

"Don't beat yourself up about it." She looked at the window again. "You were worried that you would hurt me if you told me about it."

"Yes… and I apologize… but how did you know?"

She shrugged. "I know that Araya-chan loves my grandson, and I know that he loves her. That's all I needed to know." She looked down. "I wonder how Rikuo is feeling. My capture must have been hard on him, and now he is probably confused at my grandson's defiance."

"She was given the chance to cooperate."

"Cooperate in what way? In killing her friends, followers and family?" She shook her head. "Even I can see why she would say no."

"Her side is the one that… did this to you."

"No… Rihan and her friends are the ones who came to my rescue. Gagoze worked with a rebel from her side, and continued repeating of how all he did was for the good of the Nura Clan. Or that's how I understood it all, but I know it's at least close enough." She looked him into the eyes. "Rihan, Hikari-chan, Reiko-chan… the ones who saved me… what are you supposed to do if you see them?" For a change, she addressed her grandson by his name.

"I…" This confirmed that these three truly saved her. "I'm supposed to apprehend them if I can." The ugly irony of this all started to sink in. The ones who saved Wakana in his stead were now people whom he had to treat as enemies. "So these three are the ones who saved you?"

"Yes. Though from what I understand, Araya-chan helped as well… and the nice ghosts of the Nakano Middle School too."

Until her last few words, Kubinashi had many questions. But after that, he had none. He only wanted to leave. Immediately.

"But I guess I may as well tell you the whole story as promised." She referred to their earlier promise that she will tell him everything if he told her what was going on outside.

"I did not mean now. You see, I'm very busy." Kubinashi rose onto his feet. "You'll tell me when everything calms down, alright?"

She looked at him inquisitively. "Alright… but is something wrong Kubinashi?"

"Well…" He had to lie. "You gave me food for thought." That was not fully a lie.

"Alright… but please, don't go hurting anyone. Their world it to you what yours is to me: alien."

"I… yes, I promise I will do my best to not leave behind as many regrets."

"Thank you Kubinashi."

"Alright… rest well, Wakana-sama." He said and when he put his hand on the doorknob, he decided to ask something. "Wakana-sama… what do you think will happen if Rihan meets with Rikuo-sama or Ritsura-sama?"

"I think they'll be alright. We are family. I'm more worried about others…"

"Right, I see…" He said and left.

He continued walking, and then almost gave to a sprint, just to escape from her. After a while, he stopped, took out his phone, and once again checked the mail, hoping that his memory failed him.

But it did not. The ghosts that saved Wakana have been obliterated by the clan. And by the looks of it, without them putting up a fight.

"Second… this is all getting so messed up."

~)(~

Was that Kubinashi? Ritsura wondered after seeing someone run through the other hallway. What is going on? He seemed to be coming from Wakana's room, and for a moment wondered if someone attacked her, but she could sense no Fear or any other kind of wrongness.

Did someone call him with urgent news? The responsible part of her told her that she should go after him and ask what was putting him into such a rush. But she decided against it. She promised herself that, for a short while, she would indulge in being a normal girl worried about her friends, rather than the cold captain in the youkai yakuza. She came to visit Ryuzan and her grandmother and see how they were faring, all the urgent business be damned in the meantime. Besides, if something bad happens, Gozumaru will call for me.

She knew that Kubinashi would be visiting her grandmother at the same time, so she had already chosen to check up on Ryuzan first. She decided to not change the order.

Ritsura walked through the hospital, checking room numbers. But it was the presence of a nurse which told her where Ryuzan was. This floor of the hospital was owned by youkai of the Nura Clan, or more precisely by the Zen Group, to give medical aid to humans who presence in normal hospitals may endanger the youkai secrets. They also employed a few human nurses and doctors, lent to them by the Keikain House. These nurses and doctors knew about the youkai world, and as such could be trusted not only to be discreet, but also knew how to best treat Onmyouji. Of course, to them Ryuzan was a very important person, even more so than the mother of the Nura Clan's Supreme Commander.

Now that I think about it, Araya also sometimes lent us her own doctors, who also were discreet and knew about the youkai world. Guess I'm the fool for not realizing this was a clue to her true nature.

"How is he?" Ritsura asked the nurse. "Is he awake?"

"Ryuzan-sama you mean?" The nurse looked at her. "He is awake and can talk. But try not to excite him, alright?" The nurse bowed and started leaving. "His mind is not adapting as fast as his body."

Ritsura did not like how foreboding those words sounded. "I'm coming in." She said to nobody in particular and entered the room. "Hello~" She called awkwardly as she came in.

She immediately saw the familiar boy, dressed in hospital's white gown instead of his usual black colors. The bandage over one of his eyes picked her attention… though not as much as the moment of terror on his face. It hurt.

"Ah, Ritsura!" Ryuzan called to her with a joyous face, making her wonder if she was not imagining what she saw a few seconds ago. "Nice of you to come!"

It still hurt though. "I should have come earlier." She rubbed her palms. I should have… I should have… "They told me I wasn't supposed to visit." Both the Doctors, and Ryoko told her so.

"I just woke myself, so it would have been useless if you did come earlier." He waved to her. "Come on, you can come closer."

There was something off in that wording, but she did as he said. "That bandage…" She started, but stopped when she saw him shudder suddenly.

"Heh… you mean where my eye used to be." He said and looked away. "I'm going to be cooler now. Everyone likes men with eyepatches."

It still hurt. "You…" She started but bit her lip. You lost your eye? It was another person dear to her that has lost a limb thanks to Otone. She wanted to ask him what happened in the asylum, but the fact that shuddered by just her mentioning the bandage made it clear that this was a question best left unasked.

Ritsura had killed quite a few youkai, and felt many things at Araya's and Rihan's betrayals… but this has been the first time that she felt such an urge to find someone and give them a slow, freezing death. For better or worse, her own brother beat her to it.

"Don't worry about it." He told her, possibly knowing what she was thinking. He did not meet her eyes with his eye though.

And it hurt. "I should've went with you guys."

"No you shouldn't. You'd just have been another toy to her." He said. "But I hear she… Otone that is… is dead now."

"Yeah… Rihan dealt with her. And the clan confirmed she's dead." Though her body had turned into wood, and her younger self looked just like Hikari. But she was afraid of how Ryuzan would react if he heard that.

"Good… good… I have earned a lot of respect for your brother. I wouldn't have wished meeting with such a monster upon my worst enemy."

It hurt. "I really should've been there. If I did…"

"Not worth the risk. And please let's not talk about it anymore. Let that monster rot and be forgotten."

"Okay…" She looked down, wondering what else she could say. What comfort could she offer.

Last time they hang around was an ugly memory. She was in distress, and she did not take well to the fact that Ryuzan kept silent about Ryoko. She felt betrayed and said some horrible things, but now understood that he knew they were sisters, and that it was not his place to break the secret.

It hurt. "I'm sorry… for what I said before." She said.

"You're forgiven." He said, but it did not feel right. He was not looking at her, and his words were hollow. Yet, it was very much his right. Just an apology would not cut it. She would have to make proper amends. "In any case, I can feel a lot of Fears… a lot of youkai."

"They are Father's allies. We are beating up the last remains of the Sanmoto House."

He smiled meekly. "I do like this influx of good news." He finally looked at her with his remaining eye. "Speaking of which, are you sure you shouldn't be there?"

"Yes, I should… but I've to visit Grandma first. She'd been kidnapped by Otone, you know."

His only eye widened. "Oh goodness, no… How is she?"

"She lost an arm, but she's taking it well. She may be no warrior, but she's stronger than any of us."

"I see… may Otone suffer in each one of the hells." Her shook his head. "Now, I think I'll rest a bit." He let his head fall onto the pillow. "If the nurse asks about how I'm doing, please tell her to leave me alone. I'm tired of her pestering."

"Will do… bye, and… bye." She said and left the room.

It hurt.

She actually wished that he told her to leave because of what she told him before. That all this was solely because he was angry at her.

But it was not. That look of terror on his face would stay engraved in her mind forever. She was not sure why, but it hurt her so much to be seen that way by him. He tried to play it cool, but she was a youkai. She was a beast that preyed on human fear. So as much as he tried, he could not fool her predatory instincts. No matter how fond he was of her before, now he was afraid of her. She could not offer him any comfort because she could feel just how much he was afraid of her.

To know that he felt about her that way now… hurt a lot.

~)(~

The night had fallen, the blizzard outside the tower gotten stronger, and the Supreme Commander was still just walking around in silence, occasionally answering calls or emails. There were more youkai here, she could feel, but not on this floor.

But more than that, she could feel the atrocious amounts of Fear outside. No doubts, the fights have started. She would pray that as many of her youkai survive as possible, but what was the point of that when their goddess was she herself? And as long as she was hostage here, there was not much this goddess could do.

He said that he intended to talk, but he sure was taking his sweet time to start any meaningful conversations. Though, for the last few minutes, he was focused on looking her over. "What are ye thinking about?" She suddenly asked.

"I'm trying to discern what you are." He stopped walking and looked at her. "You're no youkai, no Onmyouji, but you hold a more dangerous and darker power than most of these. And still, while looking at you, all I can see is a human. All I ever could see when looking at you was a normal, human girl." He looked like Youkai Rikuo, but Shiori could hear his human side speaking.

"If you removed these chains…" She shook her body, which was still heavily chained. "And let me use my powers, maybe your perspective will change?"

"I saw you unchained and free this morning. Wasn't too impressed." He shrugged. "You Sanmotos are not the kind that can explode in fabulous techniques. You slither in the shadows, craft your stories, and let reality get warped somewhere far away. And even when you could do more, like Sanmoto Gorozaemon did when I fought him…" Rikuo shook his head. "Yeah, even that's nothing to be impressed at."

"Well, this is new! Torture by looking down on me!" She raised her chained hands. "Yet, poor, little, weak me is still in chains."

"That's kinda true." He said and look down on her. She could barely register that he was moving his hands when the chains broke. "I don't advise trying to escape."

She was surprised that she was freed from those pesky chains, though by no means did she mind it. She was occasionally unbound by female youkai when she had to do her business, but nevertheless her muscles hurt. "Don't worry, I won't run away. Not that I could do anything by myself." She could summon Midori, but this man would defeat her with one single strike. Or with just a single glance.

If he even needed to glance. Right now he was looking through the window, but she felt like all of his attention was on her. A random observer might think that she was free, but she knew enough about youkai and Fear to understand that he had basically clenched his hand around her.

"Even taking all your powers into consideration, you are still a human." He continued. "A high school girl, able to live a normal life." He finally returned his gaze at her. "Just what has made you walk this other, darker path?"

"A lot of things." She shrugged. "My heritage, the fact that I'm the heiress, the fact that thousands depend on me, the wish to make the world a better place… but why do I have to tell you that? Were your reasons different?" She breathed warm air into her hands. Either the tower's heating was bad, or Ritsura's Fear had started haunting the interior as well. "We both could have lived comfy lives, yet we both decided to accept our fate and blooden our hands."

"Make the world a better place? What a strange claim coming from you." Rikuo snorted. "Many of your youkai killed innocent lives, both human and youkai. You make people afraid to walk in the dark, and then turn their tragedies into entertainment for others. And Otone… were you aware of the horrors she'd committed?"

"Of course I was. Did tell her to tune it down a bit, but… too bad, she was not someone who'd care."

"And you're not the type to punish her."

"I punished her, although, I admit, only because she dared to turn against me. We create horror stories, so the horrors she committed are not against the rules of our group. Quite the opposite, actually."

"And how the hell does any of that achieve a better world?"

"I never said a brighter or happier world, or even a better world in your eyes." She smiled, and something in that smile made Rikuo scowl. "I won't say that I'm not evil. I am."

"And then what is it that you want to achieve, girl? What's your purpose?"

She thought for a while about what to say and how to say it. "You know what the powers of my clan are. We create, spread, and manage tales, all with the sole purpose of managing a piece of the youkai world." She spread her arms wide. "We create life, we give that life a purpose, and we control the fates of those lives."

"I see… so you're no different than Gorozaemon." He shook his head as he said that. "You see yourself as a goddess."

"To some youkai, that's exactly what I am."

"And pitiful they are for it."

"In this too, your friends are no different. Their reverence for you is much higher than what anyone holds towards me." She shrugged. "Fear is nothing more than a manifestation of people's beliefs into your own Tale. It's the power they give you to capture others into the story of yours, and to either rip apart other one's tales or to consume them into yours." She tilted her head "And you're an author yourself. You intend to use your Fear to rewrite the world… to create tales with happy endings, to spread positive tales, and to manage tales of others. The Master of All Youkai is, for all purposes, the Master of everyone's Tale."

"I don't like the fact that you try to paint me that way, but whatever. It doesn't answer what I first asked: what is it that you want to do with the world?"

"I gave my answer But if you mean in more immediate terms… I guess you could say there are two." She raised one finger. "To make sure that my venerable ancestor, Mizuchi, the Oniedas, and you don't accomplish your goals of changing the world." She expected a reply, but none came. So she raised the other finger. "And to remind humanity of the good ol' days when they feared and venerated the darkness, rather than saw it as a mere entertainment."

She should not have been surprised that he did not like the sound of the last one. "What do you mean by that?"

"I want to remind humanity that the youkai world very much exists." She knew the following would irk him. "Which I intend to accomplish by making sure that an average human in Japan doesn't just whisper about youkai like they are a simple story, but go to bed knowing that the youkai world is there, and that youkai are at their throats. That parents don't tell children that youkai don't exist, but remind them that they do. That when next time humans think about cutting down a piece of forest, that they remember that it is a home to powerful and dangerous spirits." She made one of her uglier smiles, to capitalize on the fact that he will especially hate what he would hear next. "And I intend to do that by releasing a series of horrifying, destructive tales that nobody will be able to pretend were imaginary. They shall view all the horror stories as the absolute truth."

The glance he gave her would have struck her to her very bones, had she not mentally prepared herself for it. It did strike her though, but she tried not to let it show itself on her face or demeanor. "And for what purpose do you want to do that?"

She turned to the window, putting her hand on it. "What do you Nuras think about the Urban Legends? Don't give me your opinion, but the general opinion of you old youkai."

He took a while to answer. "Alright, I'll bite." He walked to the nearby window pane himself. "They're pitied at best, looked down on at worst."

"Yes, and for good reason. They are weak, they have little personality, their lives are short, and their deaths, painful and stretched." She grazed the windows with her finger, making lines on the cold window pane. "All unlike you, who's Tales have been born in times when the world was a harsher place, when humans saw youkai not as superstitious and a form of entertainment, but an honest source of fear and beings worthy of respect. You folklores too have been part of the entertainment industry of those times, but people saw you as much more than that… and they remembered each one of you for longer, and with more respect. So if I want to save the newborn youkai, then I have to return the world to the shape it used to be." She destroyed all the lines she made with a swing of her hand. "No matter the costs."

"I said it not too long ago but… you sAnmotos sure adore the sound of your own voice. But thank you." Rikuo said. "What little regret and doubt I had for going this far to stop you is now gone. The human world is crawling on the youkai world, true, but that problem should not be solved by throwing the world back into bloody darkness. Human and youkai world need to change, but not in the naive and bloody way that you imagine."

"There's no need to hold any remorse for me, Rikuo-sama. Our goals are fully incompatible." She shook her head.

"They're not. As a kid, I myself thought that the youkai world and human world were completely different, that humanity was bright light while the youkai were savage darkness." He shook his head. "I was a foolish kid. The human and youkai world are alike, and many of what humans would consider the greatest, best and nicest people I know are youkai. Rather than making them shiver in terror, humans can be awed. If you'd give it a chance, you'd understand that it's achievable." It somewhat sounded like an offer.

An offer that did not faze her much. "Oh, I trust you. I very much trust that you can achieve a beautiful, bright world where humans fear no youkai, and where youkai live by living human-like lives instead of waging endless wars. Where youkai openly go to school with humans, and large lizards crawl through business offices. I honestly believe… no, I know that you're a man capable of bringing that bright future. And that's exactly the problem."

He scowled, but did not seem very surprised by her rejection. "A problem you say?"

"All that you're saying may be right, but we both know that the youkai world also includes the worst, evilest and cruelest people you know. Be they youkai themselves or humans who live in this world. Most youkai who are born in this world are born from fear, sadness, wrath, and other negative emotions. Humans who live in this world are led here by those. And even if youkai could change to co-exist with humans, it would be more under terms acceptable to the human world than the youkai world. But everyone who disagrees with you is an enemy, be it me, Gagoze, Seimei… or even your own son."

He now looked borderline furious. "Don't bring my son into this." His voice had gotten cold.

"Oh, but I have to! I didn't know it before, but I know it now: he's not someone who could ever be satisfied with the world you want to make. Even if Gagoze never struck all those years ago, even if he never met me, even if he continued to try to live by your ideals… he would still, at some point, break. His heart desires chaos, so his Tale can feed off it. And I very much intend to give him that."

"I know my son. He's not the sort that would run around and commit evil deeds."

"Well, he could become someone like that." She said, and the atmosphere started to get dangerous. "Wait, wait… I'm not saying that I want to turn him into a crazy serial killer. He wouldn't be my handsome Riha-chan if he became like that." She was relieved that the atmosphere cooled down a little bit. "He's the kind of guy who likes helping others, and beating down people he hates. But unlike you, he doesn't dream about a changed world, nor does he get as worked up when he sees atrocities done as you would. But he loves this bloody world, he loves being part of it, and he loves slashing his way through it. I know that now."

"There's a lot I want to say here, but I admit I might've missed a lot about my son."

"Even so, you refuse to accept what I'm saying and believe that he's just misguided."

He looked down. "I admit I might have failed to see a part of him…" and then up again. "But no father should give up hope. For as long as I live, I'll do everything to guide him to the right path."

For a short while, nothing more was told between the two.

Rikuo was the one who finally broke the silence. "One of your friends said something that I found to be disgusting… and impossible to understand back then."

"What did she say?"

"That Otone adored me. And that what she did was to take you down."

"Hmmm… well, she certainly did. She was utterly evil, and she hated it. She adored people like you, who are the complete opposite. And unlike me, she actually wanted you to achieve your dream."

"And she knew what you wanted, didn't she?"

"She was like a big sister to me. I don't think she knew me better."

"So she knew the twisted and misguided world view you have. You look at everything with a dark, cynical eye, as if rejecting that world could or should, be a better place."

"The world needs Yin and Yang to be equal." Her eyebrows furrowed. "Everything else is wrong."

"Just as I said… you even remind me of an old enemy of mine." He sighed. "I, the Oniedas, Mizuchi, and even Gorozaemon and Seimei… all of us dream of a changed world… a Shin Sekai (New World), formed by our ideals." He confronted her. "But you don't want any of that. You romanticize the Kyu Sekai (Old World), and want to bring it back."

"You're not fully wrong."

"It's ironic that as the youngest player in this conflict, you sure are the most old-fashioned one." He turned away from her and walked away a few steps. "I always had a bad feeling about you, even when I was sure that you were just a normal human girl." He returned a glance to her. "What was it like to befriend my children and gain the trust of my clan, all while scheming against us?"

"You should ask Ritsu-chan. She did the same to me, and dug many more daggers into my back over a month than I did into yours over the years."

"Unless we count my son."

"I don't know if you'll trust me, but I didn't try to get him to my side. He got there all by himself, and much to my surprise."

For a short moment there was rage on his face, but then it was followed by acceptance. "Seeing as you didn't hold back with words earlier, I guess you're not lying. That boy, what is he…" He shook his head. "No, I won't ask you about it, you spoke enough of it. One day, I'll get answers from him."

He should not have said it that way. "That's a rude way to talk to your potential daughter-in-law~"

Nura Rikuo's looks no doubt could kill, but this one, thankfully, did not. After a short while, he averted his gaze. "But I admit, all things considered, the fact that you were so close to us for three full years should've been more catastrophic than it is. You could have brought a lotta pain to us and we'd take ages to connect it all to you."

"Well, I-"

"And not only that, but you were clearly enjoying your life here in Ukiyoe. You're the one who put that Koko no Kira youkai into that school, aren't you? All to keep its students safe. And over the years there have been quite a few events concerning my children, their friends, and your school… which could've been very bad, but luckily were not. Looking back, I wonder if it was your doing."

"Who knows… Ukiyoe is filled with many strange people." For some strange reason, she found this conversation to be turning uncomfortable. More so than even those chains that bound her earlier.

"And your Tales… I made sure to check stories that were created by Shiori." As he said that, her forced smile started to falter. "They do not have the edge, or pure cruelty, that many other stories made by your fellows have." For a moment, it looked like he had a demeaning smirk. "Not something one would expect from a girl who made certain bold and dark claims earlier."

"Where are you going with this?"

"For all your goals, for all your threats, and all that bravado… you're still just a foolish little girl, with more bark than bite." He spoke his mind. "A foolish girl who wants to do big things, but doesn't have the stomach to actually pull it off. I don't know what went through your head whenever you thought about it, but I know that you should have used the situation to strike at us. To fill the world with terror… like all Sanmotos, you sure do like overestimating yourself. Even these attempts of yours to irritate me are nothing more than a child's desire to feel stronger and smarter than she actually is."

"I-" This should not have affected her in any way as far as she was concerned. But for some reason it did.

"You talk all high and mighty, try to sound smarter. But why? Is it a show of strength?" He walked towards her, and by that, reminded her of how much taller he was than her. "Is it overconfidence?" He stopped just in front of her. "Or do you have the need to tell yourself that you're some hot shit?"

She wanted to retort, but could not form a sentence in her mind that did not sound petty to her. All she knew was that, right now, she really hated this man, and herself for feeling like that for such a pitiful reason.

"What a flushed face. You truly are just a pup." He smiled at her again, just for a moment. "But any wolf's pup may someday become a wolf. Someday you will probably find it in you to become the monster you clearly think you need to be. You'll destroy yourself, everyone you love, all the youkai that follow you. So, I'll stop you before that day comes. No matter what you think, as far as I am concerned, I'm doing you a favor by stopping you before you truly go too far… before you become a pathetic, pitiful beast, just like Sanmoto Gorozaemon had become."

She bit her lip. "Well, just so you know-" She started, but then she felt a Fear striking her. It was strong and cold… but it did not want her harm. "...a certain someone seems determined to make sure you fail."

"What are you talking about?"

"Can't feel it yet? I guess he assaulted me before you."

Rikuo looked at her with a raised eyebrow, when suddenly it seemed like it struck him. He, and then Shiori, turned toward the window.

There was a fight in the distance, and then something started falling from the sky. Soon, it became clear that this was a flying youkai carriage.

Then someone, no doubt a youkai who could not enter the blizzard, struck it from the far distance. The carriage burst into pieces, and a certain someone dropped from the carriage and gracefully landed on his feet.

She knew he was coming, and she felt his nudge earlier. But still, she was happy to see him. "Rihan!" She found herself yelling.

"Rihan…" Nura Rikuo's tone was now lower and softer, with the fire in his eyes gone. The Fear that was basically clenching Shiori had let go of her, and hostility was gone.

Hostility may have been gone, but Shiori could feel it growing stronger. Nura Rikuo's wrath may have been subdued, but not his determination, which resulted in a feeling that an unstoppable force stood there.

~)(~

Rihan looked up, not minding the pleasant cold of his sister's raging blizzard. He was brought to the tower by one of the Nura Clan's carriages, just as promised. The youkai outside, the ones probably stationed by Ritsura, were not fooled, but it did not matter.

He could see his damsel even from here… as well as his father. "Good, I almost thought I'd be running around the city."

The phone in his pocket rang, and he quickly answered it.

"Young Master…"The voice that angered him started.

"Don't call me that, you bastard."

"Rude. But I imagine you should have arrived by now. Is everything alright?"

"You couldn't have called at a better time. I just landed."

"Perfect… I wish you all the luck, young master. But my old offer still stands."

"I don't give half a shit about your offer, Housei. Next time we meet-"

"Now now, don't make any promises like that. It would be embarrassing if the last hope of our clan needed my help again, and thus embarrassed himself by breaking the promise."

"Fuck off." He ended the call, powered off the phone, and threw it into his pocket.

"Well, here we are." Another voice said, this time feminine and coming from the small device in his ear. "Are you ready for this?"

"Dad's strong and will prolly wipe the floor with me if I make just one mistake." He said while looking up at him. He could see him scowling at him. "But I have to defeat me."

"You know that I don't care about your physical prowess. Is your mind prepared? Are you truly ready to fight your father… and bring him down?"

"No. But that's why I have your voice now, isn't it?" He also looked at Shiori. It was so utterly strange to see her of all people smile happily like that. "And that girl's smile too."

"That's an annoyingly cheesy line."

I-I-I-I-I

Author Notes

And here we are (finally) with a new chapter! The chapter did not have many scenes and all of them were conversations, whose theme was one last philosophical look at the on-going events before the battles resumed.

To think that a few weeks ago (on December 13th) the fic celebrates another Birthday… though I was not in a very festive mood seeing as way too few chapters have been released this year… though still more than my original fic got. I seriously have to do something about my writing habits…

But let's leave the emoing behind and turn to the scenes themselves!

- Nurarihyon finally gives a full explanation of his stance. Nurarihyon may not be cruel or evil, but he is still far from a youkai who fights for the greater good. He is a youkai of old times, a youkai who made friends with all sorts of youkai (including the likes of Gagoze), and a youkai who reminded Rikuo that the Lord of Pandemonium should rule over both good and evil youkai. Also, of all his ancestors, Rihan Jr. is supposed to be most similar to him. So his stance on this war would be pretty different from much of the rest of the clan, who either fight for Rikuo's goals or our of pure loyalty

- after the opinion of a youkai from times of old, we get the opinion of a human of modern times. Wakana cares little about politics, and views everyone through the lens of what they are like when they act like normal people. Summed with the fact that she was saved by the ones who are now ironically hunted by the Nuras, she serves as a challenge to how right this war is on the personal level. And yes, the ghosts of those children who saved her in the last arc have now fully passed on

- I enjoyed making the lore on the hospitals. It makes sense that a youkai yakuza would make sure they have their own hospitals for cases where humans have to be treated without arousing suspicion. It also makes sense that the Onmyouji would have the same facilities. And the Sanmotos have their own doctors as well. Medicine is serious business you see!

- Ritsura and Ryuzan finally hang together after the ugly breakup during the Ryoko arc. Unfortunately, Ryuzan's physical scars from meeting Otone are nothing compared to his mental and spiritual ones. I originally planned to have the scene from his POV once Ritsura left, but decided to leave that for later as to not encumber this current arc. Suffice to say, Ryuzan will have quite a road in front of him if he is to recover to his old self

- a kind reminder that Shiori is a villain. Both by reminding us that Otone was part of her group, and now by her conversation with Rikuo where she reveals some of her motivations. Rikuo however is not fond of her dark ideas, nor impressed by her lack of resolve. I do agree with him though, that this particular Damsel should probably not be saved. Be it as it may, their conversation is cut short as his son decided to ignore everyone else and went for the Final Boss

- last we saw Rihan, he met with Housei. If you expected a bloody battle, you may have been surprised to see that Housei was the one who helped Rihan reach the Tower of Winter early. The scene between Rihan and Housei was not skipped, just delayed. It will come soon. Adn yes, Housei did call the kid, who murder he plotted in years past, "Young Master" and "Last hope of our clan"