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 5 – ONE DAY, SOMEDAY SOON
"I swear if you're taking me to an amusement park—" Rikuo growled, walking together hand in hand with Yoru. An amusement park was one of the usual places to have fun. Rikuo saw the place as a cliché. He especially didn't want to get sucked in to the "ferris wheel syndrome".
Yoru pulled his hand away from Rikuo and smiled. "We're here."
Rikuo blinked in surprise. Lamplights illuminated the whole area and there were just so much lively stalls. "Ah." He didn't expect Yoru bringing him to such a place.
"Just so you know, it's this year's Hanabi Festival," Yoru informed.
"No wonder it looks so festive," Rikuo said, smiling brightly. Yoru was glad Rikuo liked his idea. That very smile of the chocolate hair never ceased to melt that heart of his. Rikuo then grabbed Yoru's hand excitedly and dragged him inside. His childish side kicked in. Yoru blinked then his eyes softened as he squeezed Rikuo's hand happily.
The two passed through so many food stalls. The aroma was savory and tempting. But Rikuo looked like there weren't any food stalls in the first place.
"Aren't you hungry yet?" Yoru asked.
Rikuo shook his head. "We'll eat after we have fun."
Yoru chuckled and nodded. Here he was, holding hands with none other than his beloved Rikuo. He was already having the time of his life. He couldn't possibly ask for anything more.
They first played the classic fish-catching me. Rikuo tried his best to catch a fish with an incredibly small and weak net but failed. The chocolate hair then handed Yoru a small net.
"You try," Rikuo said, smiling.
That smile pumped Yoru and made him more than excited. "Don't mind if I do." He smirked as he swiftly caught a goldfish with no problem. Rikuo's face brightened but then he remembered Yoru was a yokai. These things were a piece of cake for him.
"Here you go," the crimson eyed teen said as he handed the fish in the plastic bag to Rikuo. Rikuo smiled in excitement.
"Really? But you're the one who caught it," Rikuo said as he bashfully accepted it.
"Oh, but what I really want to catch is that heart of yours," Yoru admitted, smirking.
"Really?" Rikuo said with wide and curious eyes. He then turned around. "Then you need to try harder than that." He gulped as his heart jumped up and down like crazy. The real reason he said it was because he didn't want Yoru always getting away with everything. His pride to stubbornness ratio was ten to three.
Yoru folded his arms. "Are you challenging me?"
Rikuo shrugged. "Depends on whatever you see fit." He started walking away from the yokai. Actually, he wanted to run. He didn't know what he got himself into. The crimson eyed teen followed Rikuo from behind, amused.
"Challenge accepted then… Rikuo Nura," he whispered.
Rikuo's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat. He didn't dare look at Yoru or he might as well suffer the dire consequences.
Rikuo and Yoru played games non-stop. Yoru was the undisputed champion between the two of them. But he always gave the small prizes to Rikuo, which the chocolate hair couldn't refuse. It killed two birds with one stone.
They didn't notice time flew fast, hours passing by like a breeze. Which just goes to show, time really does fly when having fun.
The two of them walked side by side together, looking around for more interesting stalls. That was when a stomach suddenly grumbled.
Yoru blinked and smiled at Rikuo who looked embarrassed.
"Guess there's no denying I'm hungry," Rikuo chuckled. "My stomach's the verdict."
Yoru chuckled as well. "Let's grab something to bite then."
"Yeah, I'd like that very much," Rikuo agreed, grinning.
They stopped by an okonomiyaki stand. Its aroma stood out the most for Rikuo. He licked his lips, which caught Yoru's attention.
"It looks so good," Rikuo swooned, almost salivating over the food. Yoru gulped and fixed his vest nervously. The more Rikuo became blissfully oblivious of his actions, the more Yoru was losing his self-control. And he thought he had everything in control.
"It sure does," Yoru agreed. "You look so good right now, Rikuo," he thought, biting his lip.
Rikuo noticed Yoru's odd facial expression and tilted his head. "You're that hungry too, huh?" he asked, unaware of Yoru's hidden desires.
Yoru nodded and hurriedly bought them some okonomiyaki. "Definitely." Inside, he was begging for someone to save him from himself.
Rikuo chuckled. "That's coz we've played a whole lot of games tonight."
After a few deep breaths, Yoru managed to calm himself down. He disguised it by blowing the heat off the okonomiyaki. Rikuo, on the other hand, just ate his food happily as they walked down the busy district.
"You look like you're enjoying yourself," Yoru commented.
"Of course. I'm having a blast here," Rikuo said after swallowing a mouthful of okonomiyaki. "Oh yeah. There are fireworks later, right?"
Yoru gazed up at the sky then at Rikuo. "I know a good place to watch the fireworks."
"Great! Let's go! My feet are beat," Rikuo said, smiling up at Yoru. Yoru smiled back and nodded, leading the way for both of them.
Meanwhile, a group of friends enjoyed the festival as well. They weren't complete though. Kiyotsugu and the others dropped by the Nura residence to only find out Rikuo had gone off with an "old friend".
Kana and the other girls followed tradition and wore yukatas. Saori and Natsumi happily chatted while Kana remained silent with a lollipop in her mouth.
"So Rikuo-kun was alright all along?" she thought. She sighed to herself as she glanced around. Her eyes blinked as she saw a familiar chocolate haired boy from a distance. "Rikuo-kun!" Her eyes widened to see Rikuo with a taller and good-looking boy with short white and black hair. So he was Rikuo's old friend? Rikuo looked like he was having the time of his life. She had never seen him that happy with someone before. She looked away and sighed again. She decided to let the two be. The two looked like they were in their own world, after all.
"Kana-chan?" Natsumi said. "You keep sighing. What's wrong?"
"Oh, uh, it's nothing," Kana said, waving her hands. "It's just a pity Rikuo-kun isn't with us tonight."
"I know," Saori agreed. "But maybe it's just a very important reunion."
Kana nodded and looked down, frowning a bit. She imagined Rikuo and that friend of his enjoying themselves. "Yeah…"
While most people are down below, Yoru and Rikuo walked up a grassy slope with a good view of the busy district and night sky. Rikuo sat under a tree and leaned his back on it, sighing heavily of relief.
"Phew! Finally!" Rikuo exclaimed , smiling as if he was in bliss already. Yoru sat beside him.
Yoru blinked as he saw Rikuo give him a thumbs-up. "Great job, Yoru. This place rocks. It's perfect!"
"Thanks," Yoru said, smiling in gratitude.
"Well, isn't this cute?" a voice suddenly said from nowhere. Yoru's smile faltered while Rikuo felt it again. His so-called "yokai sense". Why not?
Every time Rikuo felt it, it always involved Yoru. Could Yoru have some sort of connection to it? He became alert and guarded as he stood up behind Yoru.
"I was hoping you'd just stay in the shadows," Yoru said as he rolled his eyes.
Rikuo blinked. "You knew someone followed us?!"
"I planned on finishing him off after this," Yoru said. "I wanted this to be a perfect night for us."
Rikuo flushed bright red. "You do know safety is always number priority, right?"
"Rikuo… you are my number one priority," Yoru blurted. Rikuo sighed, his cheeks redder than ever.
The voice laughed and echoed in the area.
"Ah, so cherish that human? Then—" a figure suddenly jumped out of a tree and launched itself towards Rikuo from behind. "—killing him would kill you more!"
The yokai was dressed up like a samurai, his face that of the devil's. He raised his arms, about to slice the human into half with his katana when Rikuo turned his head around and dodged the attack just in time.
"Huh?" the enemy yokai looked dumfounded. "How did you—"
Rikuo smirked and folded his arms proudly. "I'm trained for these kinds of stuff."
"Why you little—" the yokai was about to kill the human for good when his blade was deflected by another blade. The enemy yokai's eyes met with crimson ones. Yoru transformed back to his original self.
"Write in the cage of torment," Yoru said as he drew back his blade. Not missing a heartbeat, he suddenly disappeared. The enemy yokai and even Rikuo looked for him but was nowhere to be found. Then Yoru showed up behind the other yokai, smirking. He swung his blade in succession so fast Rikuo could only see the light reflecting from it. An unbelievable and graceful sight, really.
Yoru dashed past the enemy yokai then stood erect as he put the blade carelessly over his shoulder.
The enemy yokai moaned his pain and fell down on his knees. He looked up at Yoru and actually chuckled before he bit the dust. "You really are… Nurarihyon's grandson…" He then lied on the ground and turned into ash, blown away by the wind.
Yoru put back his sword and gazed thoughtfully at Rikuo. "I'm glad you're okay. I'm sorry if I became too selfish and all…"
Rikuo shook his head and smiled back. "Nah. I know you're only doing what's best for me." He took Yoru's hands. It brought back so many memories for both of them. "So… thank you for everything, Yoru."
Yoru squeezed Rikuo's hands back. "I should be the one thanking you."
"What for?"
"Even after everything that's happened, you're still here with me… you accepted me for who I really am."
Rikuo chuckled. "Well, of course. Back then, you saved me and you didn't even know me. And now, I owe you my life twice as much."
"And you're practically my life," Yoru said, staring deeply and intently into Rikuo's eyes. Rikuo couldn't help but stare back. Yoru's crimson eyes sucked him in. "Rikuo… I love you. I really truly love you."
"Yoru…" Rikuo was deeply moved and embarrassed at the same time. Yoru caressed Rikuo's cheek, smiling.
"I hope you fall for me too one day."
Rikuo smiled and held the hand caressing his cheek. Yoru's eyes softened as he unconsciously leaned closer to Rikuo. But now, he didn't have the intention of kissing the other. Their foreheads touch as the fireworks blew up in the sky.
AFTER THAT
The two called it a night and were walking back to the Nura residence.
"A lot sure has happened tonight, huh?" Yoru said, walking beside Rikuo.
"Yeah," Rikuo nodded. "But that's because I'm with you."
Yoru blinked then smirked. "Welcome to my boring life." Then a sudden realization struck him. He grabbed Rikuo's hand, his face hesitant. Rikuo turned his head around and raised an eyebrow.
"Yoru?"
"Rikuo… Do you still want to be with me? I mean… what if they found out my feelings for you? They'd put a price in your head…" the more he talked about it, the more pain inflicted in his heart.
Rikuo chuckled, which surprised Yoru. "I'm aware of that. And don't worry, I'll stick with you through thick and thin. We'll have each other's backs. Like I said, I owe you my life and I'm… er…" the chocolate hair scratched his cheek bashfully. "your… you get my drift. Besides… I don't want to be a 'damsel in distress', always depending on you and all. I want to return the favor. I want us to be even!"
Yoru snorted. That sure was a long way around to say "yes" but at least he understood more of Rikuo's feelings. However, he didn't want Rikuo to feel indebted to him. He wanted Rikuo to fall in love with him instead. He still had a long way to go but moments like these were called progress.
"I'm glad to hear that," Yoru said, smirking. Rikuo pulled his hand away from the yokai, his face flustered. He looked away and started walking ahead. Yoru chuckled to himself as he followed the chocolate hair.
NURA RESIDENCE
"Thanks again, Yoru," Rikuo said, smiling warmly. "I'll never forget this night."
"Me either," Yoru said. "I'll be seeing you tomorrow."
Rikuo sighed nervously. "You still want to do that?"
"I'll never grow tired of it."
"Fine, do whatever you want." Rikuo looked away as he rolled his eyes.
"I will."
Rikuo's eye twitched. Sometimes he wished Yoru knew when to shut up. When he turned back to look at the yokai, Yoru was nowhere in sight.
"Good timing," he thought to himself as he entered the house.
MEANWHILE…
Yoru walked back to the mansion with cat-like steps. He felt a strong presence waiting for him inside. He knew whose presence that was any day.
Crimson eyes met gold ones.
"Old man," Yoru said.
"Yoru."
Nurarihyon, Yoru's grandfather, waited for him in the foyer, smirking deviously.
A/N: Here is Chapter 5. Again and again and again, thanks for the lovely support everybody. I really appreciate it. Special mention to Millenia360 Alz, HikariNoTenshi-San and MegumiHana for their support and all that jazz. I love you guys!
Ohohohoho- I already have a good plan for the next chapter. I'll leave you guys with a question: What does Nurarihyon look like in this chapter? -eyebrow wiggle-
