Title: Fast Forward to the Stars
Author: modern warfare king
Fandom: Nurarihyon no Mago
Pairing: Yoru (Night!Rikuo) and Rikuo Nura (Day!Rikuo)
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Nurarihyon no Mago. I only own the plot! I hope you guys enjoy the ride anyway!
NOTE (PLEASE READ): This fanfic is AU. No incest or anything. They totally live on separate worlds. And yes, this is SHOUNEN-AI.No flames or anything of the sort. I've already warned you.


CHAPTER 2 – THEIR LIVES INTERTWINED


From Ukiyoe Middle School, Rikuo and his friends moved up and transferred to Ukiyoe High School. Nothing pretty much changed except for their looks. They've matured but other than that, everything was the same old, same old.

"Well, would you look at that?" Kiyotsugu said with a huge grin across his face. It caught everyone's attention so they turned their heads to the self-proclaimed yokai genius. He had his trusty sidekick, his laptop. And it seemed he created a website for their group. That's what you call dedication. "Someone posted a photo up in our bulletin board and... whoa! It's the girl I was supposed to meet up with two years ago. We've just hit the jackpot, guys!"

"Two years ago?" Saori blinked. "You still remember events from two years ago?"

"Well, what did you expect from Kiyotsugu-kun?" Natsumi chuckled.

"Don't keep us waiting. Come on, let me see, let me see," Shima said, his head peering over Kiyotsugu's shoulder. He was eager and excited to finally see an actual photo of a real yokai. He hoped he'd finally see a yokai anyway.

On the other hand, Rikuo silently sat in his desk, his hand resting on the palm of his hand. Lately, he had been having the same dream over and over again. He remembered it vividly, as if the dream actually happened in reality.

He woke up under a Sakura tree, the breeze was colder than usual. Sakura petals fell gracefully before him. He didn't know where he exactly was but he felt awfully nostalgic about the place. He looked around and saw no one around. He was alone. He felt something was missing in the picture. It was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't point it out.

And after that, he just woke up to reality. The dream may be a sign of some sort but he wasn't so sure. Call it coincidence, call it destiny. Either way, it was creeping the hell out of him. He needed to know why he kept having the same dream or consider him certifiably insane. He was frustrated because he was all messed up over that dream. Was his subconscious playing its tricks on him? If it did, it sure made him a masochist.

"Rikuo-kun?"

Rikuo was interrupted of his reverie when he heard Kana's voice over his own thoughts. He realized that he had just spaced out again.

"What is it, Kana-chan?" he asked.

"I didn't want to disturb you because you looked deep in thought but Kiyotsugu-kun says it's urgent," she replied.

Rikuo shook his head. "No, it's nothing. I'm glad you called my attention. Sometimes I don't realize that I just space out."

Kana chuckled. "If you say so."

Both of them then approached Kiyotsugu and the gang. They all stared at Kiyotsugu's laptop with wide eyes. Kana and Rikuo looked at each other and nodded as they looked with the others at the laptop. Rikuo's eyes widened in shock. His heart pounded like a bass drum.

Its back was turned from the camera but it had a striking resemblance. No there was doubt. It was the yokai that attacked him two years ago.

And all of a sudden, Rikuo was flooded with memories. The inter-school games at Unmei Middle School, the bad feeling he had in his heart that he assumed was a warning of the incident between him and that yokai and…

Yoru.

The last piece of the puzzle. He finally understood what lacked in the dream. He first saw Yoru sitting on the Sakura tree. The way Yoru stared deeply literally stopped time for Rikuo. He felt like the world was theirs and theirs alone.

He mentally sighed of relief. Finally, a mystery solved thanks to a very coincidental photo courtesy of Kiyotsugu's laptop. And maybe, his dream would change for once. He pretty much looked forward to nightfall.

"It looks so convincing," Shima commented.

"Now I'm getting goosebumps," Natsumi said, frowning. She didn't like the fact that maybe, just maybe, yokai did exist. But unfortunately, they did. Ask Rikuo.

Rikuo bit his lip. That yokai was evil and he knew there were yokai far worse that it. What if he encountered with one again? Yoru wouldn't be there so save him.

Not anymore.

Kiyotsugu, on the other hand, waved his arms in joy. "Yokai does exist!"

"Maybe there was a costume party or a movie shoot?" Saori suggested, smiling nervously.

"That couldn't be!" Kiyotsugu defended dramatically. "This is it! The best evidence we have yet! How the stars have fallen down the sky for us."

Rikuo looked at everyone worriedly. He didn't want to tell them he was involved with that yokai. He learned how dangerous yokai were from that incident. He wanted to make sure his precious friends were safe. He vowed to listen to hunches more this time, for the sake of his friends.

He looked out the window and to the blue sky. "If he protected me, then it's my turn to protect them," he thought to himself.


AFTER CLASS


So far, no bad feeling, so good. They all walked together up until the intersection where they'd always split up. After saying their goodbyes for the day, they went on their way.

Rikuo was alone, walking his way home. It was the perfect time to have one of his self-reflections for the day again. It was almost like a mental diary. He didn't have to write it all down. He could always just think about it.

For a couple of nights in a row, Rikuo kept having the very same dream. He felt that the dream was a message. A vague message. But it finally made sense when he remembered Yoru, his crimson eyed savior. He was the something missing from the dream. The question was, now that he knew Yoru was the missing piece, would it all come together in his dream tonight?

He didn't know why but he felt so excited. Then he mentally slapped himself. What if Yoru wasn't the answer all along?

"You need to stop jumping to conclusions, Rikuo," he thought.

And there you have it, his opposing side.


AT HOME


When he entered his room, he put down his bag and stared at the bed. He wasn't tired or sleepy. But why did his mind want him to sleep so early? It must be the excitement. He shook his head and sighed.

He then sat down on the bed and stared at the window which had a view of the garden. It had a Sakura tree, which reminded him of Yoru.

Yoru, Yoru, Yoru. Always Yoru. The guy was the only thing running in Rikuo's mind ever since.

Did Yoru still remember Rikuo? No, he didn't. Two years had already passed and tons of things already in the guy's life that surely he forgot about Rikuo. Maybe he had saved someone else. Maybe he moved somewhere, since the traditional clothes made him look like a classy guy.

And again with the Yoru thoughts. Rikuo's mind was ninety-nine percent Yoru and… Scratch that. Make that one-hundred percent.

He scratched his head, annoyed. How could he think of someone so much like that? It wasn't normal teenage behavior at all.

He looked around and noticed his shelf full of books. He was an avid reader but for some reason, it didn't affect his vision that much. His mother urged him to wear glasses but he could see just fine. But he read so many books that it was impossible for his eyes not to get blurry. He stood firm on his decision and didn't wear glasses. Besides, he'd look more like a nerd if he actually wore glasses.

He walked to the shelf and pulled out a book. Coincidentally, the book was about the adventures of the Lord of Pandemonium and his Hyakki Yako. He couldn't remember the last time he read the book. It must be way back.

The Lord of Pandemonium was a charismatic, strong and powerful leader. He and his Hyakki Yako were the most feared across the land. They've eliminated foes and made allies. They were unstoppable and a force to be reckoned with. Anyone challenging them was asking for a death wish.

Then one day, the Lord of Pandemonium crossed paths with the fairest and most beautiful lady in Kyoto, YoHime. He immediately fell head over heels for her. However, she was a human and he was a yokai. Two distinctly different worlds. But that didn't stop him…

Rikuo chuckled as he read the book. Another forbidden love story. Classic. He yawned and flopped down his bed, the book still in his hands. He looked out the window and realized it was already night.

"Well, that was effective," he thought, smiling to himself. "That definitely made me forget about Yoru for once."

His muscles relaxed as he closed his eyes. He immediately felt asleep afterwards.

Rikuo woke up under the very same Sakura tree again. He slumped and sighed.

"Not again," he muttered. He frowned and leaned his back on the tree and closed his eyes. Yoru wasn't the answer after all.

"Yo."

Huh? Where did that voice come from? Was it all in his head? Was he that desperate to hear Yoru's voice again? Why did it sound so real though?

"Rikuo."

Rikuo thought his whole world stopped. Or maybe his heart did. Or both. He slowly opened his eyes and saw his crimson eyed savior, Yoru, kneeling before him. He thought he was just seeing things; a mere illusion. He blinked and rubbed his eyes then stared hard at Yoru.

Was this too much of a coincidence? He just assumed Yoru was the key to stop the very same dream he kept having each and every night. Other than that, why did all of this feel so real? It was as if he was actually awake.

The chocolate hair snapped out his reverie when he felt something extremely cold touch his hand. Turned out it was Yoru's hand holding his hand. He remembered the freezing temperature of Yoru's hand like it was yesterday.

"Y-Yoru," was the only thing he managed to say out of all the mixed feelings he was having at that moment.

Yoru smiled. "About time."

Rikuo's hollow muscle deep inside his chest that is believed to be called the heart jumped up and down like crazy. It was begging to get out. The realism… This wasn't just any other dream he had.

"Dreams are short so let me cut to the chase," Yoru said. He knew this was a dream? More questions flooded Rikuo's mind while his heart, with so much welled-up emotions, was at its limit. His crimson eyed savior stared for one good lifetime deeply into Rikuo's brown eyes. What's with Yoru and his irresistible stares? It made Rikuo uncomfortable and at the same time, happy and giddy to the max. He then unexpectedly yanked Rikuo close, so close in fact that their faces were inches apart. "You said you wanted to us to meet again…" Why did Yoru speak so much? It was driving poor Rikuo crazy. "So wait for me. I will come back for you… Rikuo."

Yoru smirked while Rikuo's whole being had apparently shut down due to countless malfunctions, specifically in his mind and heart. Looked he had reached his limit.

Yoru caressed Rikuo's hair, to the other's surprise. Why was he like this? Why was he expressing so much affection? They acted as if they were… lovers.

More surprisingly, Yoru leaned closer to Rikuo. Rikuo could actually feel Yoru's breath against his skin. He couldn't react, he couldn't shove Yoru away. He was under the crimson eyed teen's spell. Was Yoru plain flirty or perverted in real life… or what if he actually liked

Rikuo mentally shook his head violently. No, no, no. Just no. Never. He then realized that just unconsciously closed his eyes, giving in.

"Waaiiiit!" he screamed.

Rikuo panted as if he just finished a marathon race. His heart pounded like there was no tomorrow and he sweated like crazy. It took one whole second for him to realize he was back to his home sweet reality again. But that dream felt as real as this reality. The weirdest experience hands down.

"Rikuo, are you okay?" Wakana asked as she opened the door, her eyes showing worry. "What happened?"

Rikuo shook his head and smiled. "Ah, don't worry. It was just a… a dream."

"Only a dream? Are you sure it's not a nightmare?" she asked.

"Nope," he replied. "But I'd consider it one," he thought, sighing. He hadn't forgotten one single thing about the dream. And he knew he wasn't going to forget it anyway.

"It sure woke you up in time," Wakana chuckled. "Sadly, it's already the weekend. You should have more dreams like that, no?"

Rikuo's eye twitched. "You'd think I'd want another dream like that again?" he thought.

Then he heard his cellphone ring. Rikuo took the gadget from the table beside him and saw a message from Kiyotsugu. Just when he thought he would finally be able to relax in the weekend..

Rikuo read Kiyotsugu's text message. As usual, it was about recent yokai activity. But that wasn't the shocking part. The chocolate hair's eyes widened when he read the part about the occurrences happening in Ukiyoe Town.

"No way," he thought. His hands trembled from nervousness. How he wished he was back in the old days. No worries, no existing yokai in his life, no Yoru… And again with the Yoru thoughts for the umpteenth time.

"Are you sure you're okay, Rikuo? You're shaking," Wakana said, checking her son's temperature by placing her hand over Rikuo's forehead. Rikuo chuckled and gently pushed his mother's hand away.

"I'm not a kid anymore, you know," he chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm fine and I can take care of myself."

Wakana chuckled. "Look at you, becoming Mr. Independent all of a sudden. It's so sad that children grow up so fast." Then there was an odd glint in her eyes which made Rikuo blink. "So… who is it, huh?"

Rikuo tilted his head. "What are you talking about?"

His mother snickered. "Now, now. You don't need to hide it from me." This made the son become even more confused.

"Hide what?" he asked.

Wakana rolled her eyes. "Never mind. You'll figure it out soon."

"Eeeeeh?" Rikuo frowned.

"If you ever figure it out, that is," she muttered, smiling to herself.


MEETING


The Kiyojuji Paranormal Investigation Squad decided to meet up at the Town Park late in the afternoon. Kiyotsugu, of course, already had a plan up his sleeve.

"Why did we meet up this late again?" Natsumi asked.

"Do you have to ask the obvious?" Saori said, rolling her eyes.

"That's right," Kiyotsugu said. "We're going yokai hunting tonight! I've already the materials we need."

"So that's why you have that large backpack with you," Shima said, nodding.

"Are there really yokai here in Ukiyoe Town?" Kana asked worriedly. "I sure hope not."

"We'll find out shortly," Kiyotsugu replied, excited. He then marched off. "Off we go to one of the town old and large shrines!"

Rikuo smiled and was about to say something when his heart tightened. His eyes widened and adrenaline rushed within him. It was his so-called yokai sense back from the dead. The last time it was triggered was back in middle school, with that encounter with Yoru and yokai.

"Are you sure about this?" Rikuo asked Kiyotsugu. He needed to stop this search as soon as possible. If they ever get hurt, he would never be able to forgive himself. "I mean, does it make sense that yokai play around in shrines?"

Saori blinked. "Now that you mention it…"

"Nura-kun! Don't be a killjoy. This might be it. The needle in the haystack, the very proof that yokai does exist!" Kiyotsugu said.

"But it's obviously dangerous at night—"

"You need to chill, Nura-kun. Don't worry. Leave everything to me," Kiyotsugu reassured with utmost confidence.

Rikuo mentally sighed. How he would have loved to explain Kiyotsugu his own yokai experience but for everyone's protection, no.

"I agree with you, Rikuo-kun," Kana said. "But you know we can't say no Kiyotsugu-kun. He's just that stubborn and persistent."

Rikuo chuckled nervously. "Guess you're right."

The nearer they were to the shrine, the worse Rikuo felt. He felt like fainting on the spot but ignored it for the sake of his friends.

And when they actually reached the shrine, Rikuo felt like his lungs were being crushed by some invisible force.

Kiyotsugu and the others looked around for evidence while Rikuo looked for yokai itself, if it was actually there.

After minutes of search, nothing relevant to yokai activity was found. Kiyotsugu turned his back from the shrine, facing his squad.

"We just haven't looked around enough—"

While Kiyotsugu was busy with his speech, Rikuo shot glances back and forth. He felt that it was so near. He looked up to one of the trees and saw a figure standing on one of the branches. It looked like it had wings, judging from its silhouette.

"Uh, we can look for more yokai tomorrow since it's really late," Rikuo blurted after Kiyotsugu's speech.

"What're you talking about? The night's still young," Kiyotsugu said.

"Hey guys, did it just get cold here or what?" Shima said, hugging himself for warmth.

And surprisingly, everyone felt as chilly as he was.

Rikuo glanced around more and spotted another figure. A woman's figure. A bird-man and a human-like figure together? Weird. His guard was up by a hundred percent.

"Kiyotsugu-kun, c-can we please get out of here? I'm chilled to the bone," Saori begged, shivering.

"T-This is," Kiyotsugu stammered, "n-no doubt… yokai a-activity!"

"N-No way!" Natsumi shrieked. "To hell with this, I'm going home!"

"I'm with you, girl," Natsumi agreed. "I'm scared out of my wits here."

First, the cold, and now, there was this awful smell from the chilly breeze. Rikuo immediately covered his nose with arm. Unfortunately for the others, they panicked and breathed in whatever was mixed with the air. A second later, all of them fell unconscious, except Rikuo.

"Oh no," he thought. He touched each of their pulses and thank goodness, they were still okay. He ran to the shrine and pushed opened its doors. He thanked the heavens for dedicated weapons. This was going to be first time that he'd actually use a blade but he would never forgive them for intending to harm his friends.

"You're quite the brave one, are you?" a girl's voice asked.

Rikuo turned around, his sword tightly held at his grasp. The two figures were already at the door.

"How did you know we were here, human?" a man's voice asked this time.

Rikuo glared at the pair. "The question, why are you here? Can't you leave us humans alone? We haven't done anything to deserve this!"

"But I'm sure one of your friends wanted yokai activity," she said. "He should have been careful for what he wished for."

Rikuo bit his lip. Should face them head on? There was no other choice, was there? He launched himself at the enemy and prayed for a miracle.

"I'll never forgive you for hurting my friends!" Rikuo yelled. He was steps away from the pair and from his death bed. He took a good close look on the woman. She had large amber eyes, long wavy hair with mixed colors of black, white and blue. Her companion had scruffy hair and red eyes. They looked so human but they were definitely yokai.

"Stop!" thundered a voice.

Everyone followed the command, including Rikuo. Then Rikuo heard footsteps coming from outside. The chocolate hair looked up at the silhouette. His eyes widened. He thought he was just seeing things. When the silhouette revealed itself to Rikuo, it was confirmed.

It was none other than Yoru.

Yoru's eyes widened when he met eyes with Rikuo.

"Rikuo?"

Rikuo's jaw dropped in utter shock.

The amber eyed yokai turned to Rikuo's crimson eyed savior. "Huh? You know him, Yoru-sama?"

Yoru-sama?

Yoru walked past the amber eyed yokai and up to Rikuo, his face guilt-ridden. Rikuo, on the other hand, felt happy, angry, confused, helpless, betrayed, shocked, etc. This was what he least expected to happen.

"Rikuo, I can explain…"

"You're one of them?!" Rikuo shouted, his face purple with fury.

"Please listen…"

"You ordered them to hurt me and my friends!" Rikuo was already shouting at the top of his lungs.

The yokai pair looked confused and nervous at the same time. They've never seen Yoru so worried.

"I didn't," Yoru said as calmly as possible. "Will you just let me talk, Rikuo? Please…"

Rikuo averted his eyes from the other. He didn't know if he wanted to either stab himself or Yoru. Stab Yoru for being a filthy traitor or himself because he was too stupid to trust the other.

"Take my friends back to their homes first," Rikuo muttered bitterly.

Yoru sighed and turned to his comrades. "You heard what he said."

The pair gulped and nodded. "Y-Yes, Yoru-sama. Right away!"

When they left, Rikuo turned his back from Yoru, still in disbelief.

"You're their leader, aren't you?" he asked, bitterness obviously heard in his voice.

Yoru nodded. "But they didn't have any murderous intentions whatsoever. My Hyakki Yako's fond of pranks… You know, scaring people."

"But they looked like they were about to kill me."

"They went too far."

"Did you know their targets were me and my friends?!" Rikuo's feeling were uncontrollable at the moment. He just couldn't take it.

Yoru shook his head. "I didn't know. It was on the spot."

"Tch. You yokai are despicable," Rikuo muttered. He regretted saying it but he felt so excruciatingly angry.

Yoru's eye twitched. He grabbed Rikuo's arm and yanked him close. His crimson eyes flared. Rikuo's eyes widened.

"Y-Yoru?"

"If I hadn't met you, my Hyakki Yako would have been on a human killing spree."

"Huh?" Rikuo blinked. Then his heart panicked at the thought of the human killing spree. But what did he have to do with it?

"Can't you see that I'm in love with you, Rikuo?!"

Rikuo would have joked about him being the new YoHime but he would never be able to joke about it. Not now, not ever.

And Yoru's in love with him? Seriously?

But he looked serious, all right. Damn serious.


A/N: Second chapter up! Thanks for the first three reviewers! They really made my day! And of course, a big thank you to the ones who favorite-d and alerted the story! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And I like how this chapter ended actually. Wooh! I've written the second chapter about 3 times already! But this one is the best yet! So what do you guys think, eh? I know there are questions left for you readers to ponder about but rest assured they will be answered in the next chapter! -dances-