I should really say something witty and clever about yesterday's eclipse, but my brain is jello. Not sure if it's from editing, or writing, or the godforsaken summer weather. Don't know about y'all, but I'm so ready for fall/autumn and winter.

Thank you all for your patience, and a quick thank you to those reviewers I can't reply to—Tolazytologin, Guest, and animefan—I appreciate it!

I hope y'all enjoy chapter eight—despite its resistance to being written, it was actually fun to write.
A note about the timeline, for those of you keeping track: this chapter takes place on the Monday following their initial meeting at the library.

No quotes this chapter; the muse said no, and who am I to argue with her excellency?

"Shit! I'm going to be late!" Kagome yelped when she rolled over and glanced at her alarm clock.

Leaping out of bed, nearly falling flat on her face in the process when her legs tangled in the sheets, she dashed around her apartment like the quintessential frantic headless chicken.

Thank kami I showered last night!

Throwing on clean clothes and pulling her hair into a ponytail, she grabbed her purse and backpack and locked the door behind her. Then she hopped on her bike and hurried toward campus.

I'll grab breakfast and something caffeinated—assuming I have time—once I get there.

In her frenzied attempt to arrive on time, Kagome completely forgot that she still needed to come up with a solution for what to tell Ryūji.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why did I agree to tell him?

Trudging reluctantly from the humanities building toward the café, Kagome mentally beat her head against a wall. A peek at her watch told her that she had eight minutes to come up with something to say.

Maybe he won't show up? Hah. Yeah, right. If her brief meeting with him at the shrine was any indication, he'd be there, on time, and would derive immense pleasure from her discomfort. The odds of her stalling for time with idle chitchat were slim as well.

No, she had to tell him something…but what?

Kagome gnawed on her lip as she pondered the best way to handle it, occasionally nearly colliding with other pedestrians so lost in thought was she.

Be vague. Vague and noncommittal while remaining as close to the truth as possible without revealing too much was her best bet.

She just hoped that would be satisfactory enough.

After texting Rikuo to meet him across the street from the campus coffee shop at 12:30, Ryūji met Kagome at the agreed-upon location.

He had gotten precious little sleep the night before and then unsettling news that morning, and as a result, he was working his way into a foul mood. So once they were seated and had their beverages, he wasted no time getting to the point.

"Well? Spit it out."

"It's a curse. Some…old friends and I destroyed a cursed object, and as it was dying, if you can call it that, it cursed me. Supposedly I'll now live as long as a yokai and outlive all my friends and family." She fiddled with her napkin briefly and then thrummed her fingers on the table, staring at him and clearly waiting for his response.

The story wasn't too farfetched. In his cursory research about her prior to arriving in Tokyo, Ryūji had read that her family's shrine was known for handling curses.(1) "But your friends aren't cursed? Where are they now?" he asked.

Her gaze shifted away from his. "We…kind of drifted apart and no longer keep in touch."

He considered the woman sitting in front of him. Even to a man like Ryūji, with the emotional sensitivity of a rock, obvious anguish had fleetingly shown on her face when he'd asked about her friends, before her expression had returned to carefully neutral. Something about her story, and the way she was avoiding making eye contact, didn't sit well with him.

"You're lying. Or intentionally leaving out important details," he said bluntly.

He'd expected her to react with anger or denial. Instead, she gave a halfhearted shrug and rolled her eyes.

"Told you that you wouldn't believe me." Her lips twisted in a mocking smile. "Shall I spice it up for you? Add in time travel or epic romance?"

Ryūji snorted. "Baka. As if that would make it more believable."

The corners of her mouth angled down slightly before she took a deep breath and exhaled audibly.

"So do I get my research materials now or what?" she asked, irritation creeping into her tone. "I upheld my end of the bargain."

A tough nut to crack, this one. He was positive she was hiding something, and it was starting to annoy him.

"Hah, not like you had much to tell. Plus, why haven't you tried to break the curse?"

"Baka," she mimicked and frowned. "Have you noticed how tightly linked it is with my aura? How deeply imbedded it is, as though it's actually in my heart? Would you run the risk of killing yourself?"

Ryūji shook his head slightly. Despite being an onmyoji, he did have a rather healthy sense of self-preservation.

That being said…

"I still think you're lying about something or leaving things out. See, there's proof!" He gestured to a cat sitting outside, who was rubbing its face with its paws. "A cat washing its face is a sign that someone is lying."(2)

She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms. "Please. As if I haven't heard nearly every superstition and old wives' tale from my grandfather. That is not what that supposedly means, and I'm not lying, though you certainly are."

Now, there was the anger he'd anticipated earlier, which amused him. Looked like little miss miko didn't appreciate people bending the truth. Not that he believed there was any truth to the old wives' tales.

She tapped her finger on the tabletop impatiently. "My research materials?"

Ryūji reached into his bag and tossed a manila package across the table.

"You'll find copies of the materials you requested, or at least what we had information about, plus log-in info for our digital archives. But I gotta ask, aside from the whole shrine-maiden-priestess thing, why yokai?"

He watched as she hugged the packet to her chest, a defensive gesture if he'd ever seen one.

Yep, definitely hiding something. But what?

Kagome gave him a bright smile, one that looked a little too practiced for his liking. "Aside from that? Isn't that enough? I mean, Keikain-san, not everyone inherits unusual miko powers, grows up hearing stories about yokai, and then gets cursed, you know," she said breezily before looking down to examine her tea.

Ryūji arched an eyebrow at her, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "Uh-huh… I'm not fucking stupid, onna—I know you're hiding something. About that curse and those friends—"

The weight of a hand on his shoulder set his chair back on all four legs with a clatter, breaking into his impending interrogation.

"Keikain-san! Long time no see! What brings you to Tokyo?"

Ryūji whipped around, and Nura Rikuo smiled cheerfully at him, though the grip on his shoulder tightened to just this side of painful. Then, his brown eyes flicked to Ryūji's tablemate, and he shook his head almost imperceptibly.

Ryūji jerked his shoulder away. "Tch. Business."

"Sure, sure, what else? Oi, who's this?" Rikuo said, pulling out a chair and plopping down at their table.

"Nura Rikuo, meet Higurashi Kagome," he said flatly, annoyed at the interruption.

Trust Nurarihyon's grandson to intrude at the most inopportune time. Pain in my ass like always.

Kagome's head popped up, and she stared at Rikuo.

"Ah, Kagome-chan. I didn't recognize you at first." Rikuo grinned. "Maybe it's because you're not falling at my feet?"

What the hell?

Ryūji was surprised to see Kagome flush bright scarlet to the tips of her ears.

"Th-that's not what happened at all! I tripped!"

Ryūji massaged the bridge of his nose and between his eyes, feeling a headache coming on.

For fuck's sake. Stupid girl claims she can't find any yokai, yet she's met this guy? And they're flirting?

He shoved back from the table and stood. "Well, looks like we're done here, for now, and I've got more important things to do."

Then Ryūji leaned towards Kagome, voice pitched low. "I'll be in touch, and you can finish telling me that oh-so-interesting story of yours."

Grumbling under his breath to himself about annoying demons and clueless mikos, he left.

Kagome heaved a sigh of relief as Ryūji left.

Looks like he—Rikuo?—saved me yet again.

She must've smiled because the man tilted his head at her quizzically and asked, "Something funny?"

"Oh! Not really, well, maybe… I'm just, um, finding it a bit amusing you've helped me out twice now, and I've only now learned your name. Apologies for my rudeness at the library, Nura-san."

He nodded, and one side of his mouth lifted in a half smile that sent nervous flutters to her stomach. "Just Rikuo, please." He angled his head in the direction Ryūji had gone. "So how do you two know each other?"

Kagome gestured with the large manila envelope in her hands. "We don't, really. He was just helping me with some research—I only met him recently."

Thankfully today he wasn't attacking me…

Her brows furrowed in irritation, and she wrinkled her nose in distaste. As neither was a conscious, voluntary action, it came as a surprise when Rikuo burst out laughing.

"I see you're less than fond of him. He certainly has that effect on people."

Kagome couldn't resist asking, "So how do you know him?"

He shrugged. "We ran around in some of the same circles in junior high and high school. I wouldn't say we were ever really close." Then he pointed at the envelope she held. "You mentioned research?"

"For an independent study I'm working on." She paused, not sure that she wanted to disclose the exact nature of what she was working on.

If he finds out you're obsessed with yokai, you'll scare him off.

Wait a minute. Since when was she worried about scaring him off?

Since he made your stomach do those jittery flip-flops. And the fact that he's got that sexy little smirk-smile thing going.

She ignored that wretchedly disloyal little voice and finished her response to Rikuo. "It's on folklore and mythology and whatnot. I'm majoring in history and comparative lit, so I love this kind of thing." She waved her hand dismissively, hoping he wouldn't press the subject.

"Oh? What's—"

He stopped speaking suddenly and pulled out his cell phone. He swiped the screen and frowned at it slightly before looking up at Kagome.

"Ah, I'm sorry about this—I forgot I've got a meeting at 12:30. But maybe we could do this again sometime? Except intentionally, and without ill-tempered onmyojis." His lips curved in that lopsided half smirk again, his deep brown gaze holding her captive momentarily.

"Oh! Yes, I'd like that." Kagome felt her cheeks heat and wondered if her entire body and mind had decided to conspire against her around this man.

"Pen?" He grabbed a napkin and, taking the pen she offered, jotted down a number. Standing, he handed it to her and grinned alluringly. "Text me, 'kay?"

Since apparently her tongue had joined the mutiny and was currently glued to the roof of her mouth, she just nodded and returned the wave he offered as he departed.

Kagome – 0, Rikuo – 2 in the game of "can he render her speechless?" Fan-fucking-tastic, she thought wryly.

Now all she had to do was figure out how long was socially appropriate to wait before texting him.

When Rikuo had seen her meeting with Ryūji, he'd grown suspicious. He and Yura's older brother had reached an understanding, but Rikuo wasn't so foolish as to completely let his guard down around the forked-tongued onmyoji.

Kagome had seemed both genuinely irritated with Ryūji and surprised by Rikuo's appearance, which was somewhat of a relief. Assuming, of course, that it wasn't all an act.

He wanted to learn more about her—for the well-being of the Nura clan, that is—and had initially planned to only observe her from a distance. However, after doing so following the Oitekebori incident and then watching her with Ryūji today, the clandestine approach had left a bad taste in Rikuo's mouth.

It felt wrong…

Perhaps because it's stalkerish?

After today's encounter, he found himself actively enjoying her presence and figured as long as he kept his guard up, there was no reason he couldn't do his investigating in person.

Far more pleasant—for the both of them, he hoped—and less, well, creepy stalker.

Scanning the pedestrians, he spotted the man he was seeking walking along the road not too far from the coffee shop, and Rikuo fell in step behind Ryūji.

"Yo."

Ryūji slowed to a stop. "I wondered how long it would take you to show up."

"Unlike you, I actually strive to be polite, and it would hardly have been good manners to ignore Kagome."

Ryūji slanted his gaze at Rikuo. "Uh-huh. Looked less like proper etiquette and more like flirting from where I was sitting."

He didn't rise to the bait, opting instead to change the topic. "So last week two mangled bodies were found near Ukiyoe Town. And then we got a notice that one of the Keikain would be in town assisting in a police investigation. I'm assuming the two are connected."

The onmyoji smirked. "Aren't you a smart yokai?" Then, he thrust some papers at Rikuo. "Here, take a look at these."

Rikuo took them, realizing as he started to read that they were police reports—murder/homicide and missing persons.

He flipped through them quickly, absorbing information about the locations of the bodies, victim information—when available—evidence, autopsy results, forensic analysis, and other miscellaneous details that all added up to the local law enforcement being totally stumped.

He, on the other hand, had a sinking suspicion he knew exactly what was going on.

Particularly since a minor detail in the reports hadn't been disclosed to the media.

Ryūji was watching him and spoke once he'd finished reading. "Word on the street is they're vampires."

Rikuo scoffed. "Surely you don't believe that nonsense."

The man rolled his eyes, but Rikuo sensed a hint of uncertainty from him.

"Ho? The master cynic of Keikain House believes in Dracula?"

His face a mask of disgust, Ryūji spat, "Tch. You of all people should know not to discount rumors entirely. But no, I don't buy into the shitty horror movie blood-sucking fiends from beyond the grave bullshit. However, last year a group of vampiric yokai from the Philippines wound up on Yaeyama Islands, and those bastards were a real bitch to get rid of because the idiot local onmyojis ignored it for too long. Which is why we Keikain decided—"

"To see if this was legit, and if so, deal with it before it got out of hand," Rikuo finished, resuming their slow meander toward the subway to return to Ukiyoe Town. "Am I right?"

Ryūji nodded.

"It goes without saying that their missing livers is concerning," Rikuo said. The thought of yokai in his territory using ikigimo to garner power disgusted him, for more than one reason.(3)

Ryūji said nothing, but Rikuo could almost hear what he was thinking. If it goes without saying, why are you saying it?

Without breaking his stride, he gestured to the files Ryūji had given him. "This all they've—we've—got to go on?"

Ryūji's brows furrowed, and Rikuo got the distinct impression he was debating on whether to disclose further information. Ryūji was always contentious, but today he was more irritable than normal, if that was even possible.

As a result, Rikuo too was quickly growing irritated. He has that effect on people…he thought, recalling his short conversation with Kagome. Thinking of her subdued his rising annoyance somewhat.

"Look, Ryūji. I get that you don't really like me—"

"As a general rule, onmyoji don't like yokai," Ryūji interrupted, lips twisting in a sneer. Then he sighed deeply and ran a hand through his already messy hair, some of the tension leaving him. "Tokyo PD found another body a little ways outside Ukiyoe Town this morning," he said quietly, though there were few other pedestrians on the street with them.

"Same as the others?"

"No. This victim had no missing organs, but… She'd been drained of every last drop of blood."

Rikuo glanced at the edgy man walking alongside him. "Hmm…but the vampire rumors started prior to this morning?" Ryūji nodded. "So I can only assume that the reason you're in such a piss-poor mood is because you don't have any leads, particularly with today's new evidence," Rikuo said.

When the only response he got from the onmyoji was "Tch," Rikuo knew he'd hit the nail on the head.

"One of our contacts in Kyoto says as far as they can tell, none of Hagoromo Gitsune's yokai are involved," Rikuo said, knowing Ruyji had little, if any, friendly contact with the Kyoto yokai.

Whatever temporary alliance had been formed during the fight against Nue and the Gokadoin dissolved after the battle ended, and though it was not out-and-out war, there was no lost love between the two groups.

"I've got the Sanba Garasu investigating whether this is yokai related or not; however, that was before I knew about the missing livers. While that doesn't completely rule out a human culprit, it seems less likely now."

Ryūji nodded. They both fell silent as they entered the metro, each man remaining quiet and contemplative till they'd reached the station for Ukiyoe Town.

Once outside, Ryūji resumed their discussion. "So you've had nothing else unusual occur otherwise?"

"Nope. Well…" Rikuo hesitated. "Not unless you count the sudden appearance of a miko."

Ryūji tilted his head to regard Rikuo before returning his gaze to the street in front of him. "So, speaking of little miss miko, what's your interest in her?"

"Simply keeping an eye on things to ensure she isn't a threat to the Nuragumi yokai," Rikuo answered evenly.

"Right…purely professional… Whatever the case, she's a bit of a conundrum, isn't she?" Ryūji asked.

Rikuo quirked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, she clearly hasn't identified you as a yokai, though neither did my idiot sister initially. And surely you've noticed that—" Ryūji broke off and snorted, a calculating, smug smile appearing.

"Noticed what?"

"Hmmm… Never mind. Evidently your Tōnō teacher has neglected some aspects of your training though…"

"Itaku would take exception to that. Although, knowing him, he'd probably tell you it had more to do with the caliber of his student than his instruction."

Ryūji barked a laugh. "I knew I liked him." A pause. "For a yokai…"

Rikuo rolled his eyes at Ryūji's qualification. Then, "About Kagome… Are you referring to something being, I don't know, off about her energy?"

His companion merely shrugged, obnoxiously smug expression remaining.

Damn him. Now it's going to bother me… I'll have to take a closer look next time.

They came to an intersection, and Ryūji stopped.

"My hotel's that way," he said, jerking his head in the direction opposite to where Rikuo was going. It was obvious the onmyoji had secured lodgings as close as possible to Ukiyoe Town, without actually being in Ukiyoe Town.

Typical.

"For now, the best course of action is perhaps for both of us to continue to investigate independently and share any new evidence, should it arise, with one another. Not only does it keep our assistance off the books for you, but also it may prevent the perpetrator from figuring out that we're working together."

Ryūji gave a curt nod. "I'll get a copy of the coroner's report for this newest victim and see if I can get anything more out of those idiot cops. Though the two in charge share a brain cell between them, so I'm not optimistic."

Rikuo snickered. While Ryūji was unquestionably biased against yokai, you couldn't deny the guy was pretty fair in his overall treatment of people. To Ryūji, we're all morons. Human or yokai.

"So for now, you'll take the humans, I'll handle the yokai?" When Ryūji gave another nod of agreement, Rikuo added, "Leave the Nura clan yokai alone, got it?"

The onmyoji rolled his eyes and then waved his hand in a "yeah, yeah" gesture as he strode off in the direction of his hotel.

Rikuo grinned. He wasn't worried. Yura wouldn't have sent Ryūji here if she couldn't trust him to behave; besides, although it wouldn't necessarily be easy, he and his Night Parade could handle one temperamental onmyoji.

"My dear, sweet, stupid pet," Moira said, patting the cheek of the young man whose name she'd never bothered to learn. Truth be told, she hadn't learned most of their names.

And why would I? Does one name their chess pieces?

Refocusing on the trembling youth in front of her, she said in a deceptively sweet voice, "I do believe you were educated on the correct way to dispose of bodies? Yes?"

His head bobbed up and down, lower lip quivering as he started to speak. Before he could open his mouth, her hand shot out and gripped his chin, long talons digging into the flesh and drawing blood.

"Then why, pray tell, after a second warning from Akiko, did you recklessly dump a corpse just outside Ukiyoe Town, you useless, brain-dead maggot?" As her claws dug deeper into his jawline, he whimpered, and she pushed him away in disgust.

"I don't suffer fools, particularly those who're too stupid to follow instructions." She motioned to her other subordinates. "Exsanguinate him."

Akiko's eyes widened slightly before she nodded. "Shall we bring you his liver, Moira-sama?"

"Consuming the liver of such an incompetent weakling is unlikely to benefit me in any way whatsoever. However, I am a bit parched. Bring me a glass of his blood when you're finished." She gave them a bloodthirsty grin. "The rest…is all yours. Enjoy your treat."

The young man's face went white as a sheet, and then she could no longer see his expression, for his ex-comrades fell on him like a pack of hungry wolves. His screams echoed through the house, and Moira chuckled darkly.

How like children to play with their food.

Then a thought occurred to her; she still needed more information about the Nura clan.

Heading for the door, she called out to her assistant, "On second thought, don't bother bringing me any of his blood—I'm going out."

Not waiting for a response, knowing her request would be followed, Moira shifted into a form better suited for reconnaissance and slipped out the door.

Footnotes:

1. Technically, the fan translation of the novelization says "dispelling bad omens" not handling curses, but close enough for my 'verse.

2. Kagome was correct—the superstition about cats washing their faces is not a sign of someone lying. Instead, it supposedly is either 1) a sign of rain or 2) a sign that a visitor is coming.

3. Ikigimo: per Nuramago manga chapter 59, it refers to the practice of consuming "liver taken while the person is still alive," stemming from a story about Chinese yokai doing it, and yokai believed that "more sacred life forces, such as those of infants, priestesses, and imperial princesses would increase their strength." All they needed to add were some fava beans and a nice Chianti.

Author's notes:

1. I know that our hero and heroine did not get much time together. It won't always be like that.
2. I know that our hero and heroine are being a little frustratingly obtuse. It won't always be like that.
3. I know that… just kidding. I couldn't bring myself to be that repetitive. Thank you for reading! Coming soon to a chapter near you: what's in the packet!?