Title: Fast Forward to the Stars
Author: Kasamatsu-senpai
Fandom: Nurarihyon no Mago
Pairing: Yoru (Night!Rikuo) and Rikuo Nura (Day!Rikuo)
Rating: T (SHONEN-AI and uhhh implied themes, but the rating will never change… I think?)
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 14 - ADVENTURE (AND DANGER) UNFOLDS...?


After eating dinner and what seemed like endless chit-chat, Yoru unfortunately (but fortunately for Rikuo), had to take his leave. He walked to the door, the brunette accompanying him, of course. As much as he wanted to stay longer, his duties as the leader of the Hyakki Yako were one of his urgencies aside from Rikuo. These two priorities of his were irreplaceable and incomparable. He loved his yokai life, since his grandfather entrusted him with the task of leading a whole yokai yakuza. He felt the pride and power and the feeling was utterly incredible. And thanks to it, he met the person of his dreams; this stubborn, careless yet kind-hearted and adorable human being…

"I'll be seeing you tomorrow night again then," Yoru told the brunette, his hand holding the knob, smiling like some Prince Charming, even though he definitely wasn't in the first place. "Thank you for a most wonderful night, Rikuo." He would be most likely compared to someone's worst nightmare, but then again, Rikuo was still somehow attracted to this peculiar yokai, whether he liked it or not. Like the famous saying went, "love works in mysterious ways". Well, a love between a yokai and human was one of the most enigmatic yet. How did this work out again?

Rikuo had his eyebrow raised at the crimson eyed yokai, disguised yet again as a human, because his mother wouldn't take the news his boyfriend was actually a yokai lightly… "Cut out the formal act," he said as he rolled his eyes. He knew Yoru all too well. He lowered his voice as he continued, his eyebrows furrowed this time. "I know you're still going to my room after this."

Yoru chortled as he ruffled Rikuo's hair. "It just goes to show how much we've connected," he said as he pecked the other's forehead. The brunette's cheeks flushed quite a bit as he turned his head away from the other. He would persist he was used to the yokai's gestures of affection, but really, he would never get used to it as long as these feelings for him continue to linger.

"I know, I know," Rikuo said as he waved his hand. The more he spent time with Yoru like this, the more he felt his cheeks burn from embarrassment. He wanted a scenario where he wouldn't be at least a blushing mess for once. "Go already."

Yoru rolled his eyes and opened the door, chuckling. "Yes, Rikuo-samaaaa."

"Don't call me that if you don't want me to kick you out!" he chided as he pushed the yokai out the residence. You remind me of Tsurara, he thought to himself, sighing. You're not formal or courteous at all, you even call your own grandfather 'old man'. He felt like he was dealing a mischievous little kid… oh the woes of falling in love with a yokai. He then closed the door as he let out a huff, scratching the back of his head.

"I'm going upstairs," Rikuo told Wakana as he headed upstairs to his own bedroom. When he stepped inside, as expected, Yoru, in his original form, infiltrated his room, with his arms folded against his chest and all. Rikuo closed the door and lied down his bed and had his back towards Yoru, indifferent even with the yokai sitting at bedside. He just felt tired, is all. He shut his eyes and tried to make himself fall asleep, to no avail.

Surprisingly, they had been like this as time passed, and not a single word had been exchanged between them. Rikuo felt restless; he felt so tired yet wide awake. How many minutes… hours had passed since he attempted to sleep? He then rolled over to the side and faced Yoru this time, looking up at the other.

"Aren't you leaving yet, Yoru?" he asked, eyes getting a little bit droopy now for some reason. "It's late."

"I'll remain by your side until you fall asleep," Yoru replied, smiling mildly. Rikuo already tried sleeping a million times but he still wouldn't fall asleep. He wouldn't be able to leave the brunette's side by then.

"Do you have to be this overprotective?" Rikuo groaned, downright flustered in the middle of the night. "I appreciate it, but…" It's too much.

Yoru stared deeply into Rikuo's eyes as he spoke in a monotonous voice, "I can't afford to lose you again, Rikuo."

"…" Rikuo stared back, his cheeks getting warmer by the second. How was someone like him so… dedicated? So… loving, to be precise? He thanked the darkness since Yoru wouldn't be able to see his face as beet red as a tomato, but then again, Yoru knew the brunette all too well also. He then moved closer and eventually leaned his head on Yoru's knee, to the yokai's surprise.

This feels weird… Rikuo thought, weirdly comfortable. Ever since he laid his head on Yoru, he was feeling a lot more relaxed and drowsy; emotionally safe and secured… It is Yoru, after all. His eyes then fluttered to a close, drifting to sleep.

Yoru chuckled as he caressed Rikuo's face. He bent his back and wanted to simply peck Rikuo good night on the cheeks, but he followed his heart's desire and instead brushed his lips against the brunette's. As his night with his lover ended on a fine note, he rose from his seat on the bedside and stepped on the windowsill, turning his head for one last look at his precious Rikuo, smiling. "Good night, Rikuo." He jumped off the ledge and vanished into darkness, as usual.

Truth be told, Rikuo wasn't fully asleep. He felt Yoru's lips against his… and he was wide awake yet again, cheeks flushed.


TWO DAYS LATER


Tick tock tick tock… Everyone eagerly anticipated each ticking of the wall clock… because this wasn't going to be the usual class dismissal… Because when the school bell rang, everyone threw their arms in the air and cheered in chorus.

"Yeeeah! It's finally summer vacation!" Kiyotsugu exclaimed, flailing in sheer excitement, followed by a gleeful "Yay!" and "Woohoo!" from fellow classmates. People were high-fiving and talking in a rather loud voice even though there were inches away from one another, which just goes to show everyone was this excited. The calm and composed Rikuo didn't look like it, but he was just as excited as everyone else.

Wow, it's been quite a while since I've been this excited for summer vacation, he thought as he propped his elbow at his desk, placing his head on his hand. Who else is to blame but Yoru? For the past two days, these two lovebirds had done nothing but plan their trips and activities for their summer Kyoto trip. Everything was prepared and organized, and nothing was going to stop them from having the time of their lives together.

"Hey, Nura-kun, guess what?" Saori said with a light chuckle. "We've already planned for our trip. Too bad you still won't tag along with us though." It seemed like when Yoru and Rikuo were planning, the Kiyojuji Patrol was in the process of planning themselves.

Rikuo smiled, cold sweat dropping from his forehead. "I'm sorry. I swear I'll make it up to you guys next time." He blinked and tilted his head as he asked, "Where are you guys headed to anyway?"

"To Kyoto!" replied Kiyotsugu with a gleam on his eye.

Rikuo blinked… and blinked again. "Oh, uh, good for you guys," he said as he thought very articulately, Eeeehhhhh? He mentally sighed in frustration. Lady Luck sure wasn't by his side this time… Of all places it had to be Kyoto! He was having a crisis while Kiyotsugu and the others were conversing on their own.

"I've heard of many ancient legends regarding yokai in Kyoto!"

"Ugh, that again?" Shima groaned as he rubbed the back of his neck. Whenever there was going to be an interesting trip, it always involved yokai. Couldn't they have even a single trip just for once?

"Can't we have fun for once?" Natsumi whined with Shima, demanding a change in pace in the Kiyojuji Patrol trips. They had enough of yokai stuff… even though they had a peculiar experience back in the day, though it turned out it was just a dream (which was not in the first place).

Kyoto is a huge place, surely we won't be seeing each other, Rikuo thought to himself slightly in panic as he gulped. What a simple little thing to turn tables around for him. How troublesome.

"Now that I think about it, where will you spend your summer, Rikuo-kun?" Kana asked with curious and anticipating eyes. She was excited about her trip with the guys, but she felt happy that Rikuo would have his own unique summer vacation with his long-time best friend.

Rikuo scratched his cheek lightly. "Uh… Planning in progress," he replied. As if he could admit he was heading towards the very same destination as his group of friends.

Kana let out a soft giggle. "Maybe you could join us?" she suggested with hopeful and sparkling eyes.

"Uh, n-no… he doesn't really like socializing," Rikuo turned down the offer quite smoothly. Knowing Yoru, he was selfish and possessive, not to mention clingy. Really, he doesn't, he thought. As far as he knew, Yoru was quite a charmer, but he didn't like interacting with other humans (he only liked scaring them) aside from Rikuo. But then again, Rikuo hadn't really seen Yoru actually socializing yet, so he was stuck with that assumption; it could get modified anytime.

"Oh, that's such a shame. He'd be great company too," Kana sighed whereas Rikuo rubbed the back of his neck and bowed his head.

"Sorry really," said Rikuo. As Kana walked over to Saori and the others, Rikuo was left with his own inner conflicts yet again. Maybe we could possibly roam around how Nurarihyon-sama wandered off with Yo Hime? he thought, apparently kidding with himself. No way was he going to let Yoru do such a thing… Oh, what am I thinking? I'm too paranoid! He balled his fists and shuddered just from imagining their nights like that… They weren't going to let history actually repeat itself, right?


LATER THAT NIGHT IN THE NURA RESIDENCE


Yoru and Rikuo were inside the brunette's bedroom, currently discussing about Rikuo's worries regarding the trip…

The crimson eyed yokai looked nonchalant despite how worried and weary the brunette was. "They're going to Kyoto too?" he pointed out, raising a brow. "What's the big deal? I think they already know me anyway." As a human, not yokai for clarification.

"That's not the point!" Rikuo exclaimed, his eyebrows furrowed as his arms were folded against his chest. He mentally cursed himself for being vague tonight, to Yoru nevertheless. Knowing the yokai, he might get the wrong idea… and he actually did just now as he stared at the brunette and smirked conceitedly.

"I don't know if you are either embarrassed of them seeing us together or… you just want me for yourself?" he chuckled, raising a brow. "You're cute when you're selfish." He leaned closer and buried his head in Rikuo's chest, letting out a small chortle. "I like it."

Rikuo grunted with a grumpy face. "In your dreams, Yoru." Don't even bet on it, he forgot to add. Yoru was being cocky again… but then again, he had always been cocky. It was inerasable from his personality. He obviously inherited it from Nurarihyon… or from his own old man? Wait… now that he thought about it, where was Yoru's father? Who was his father? Why hadn't he talked about it ever since they were together? Did he have daddy issues? Nurarihyon wasn't talking about him either… Weird. He definitely had to ask Yoru about it sometime, just not now; it would ruin the so-called "moment".

Yoru then slipped his arms and wrapped them around Rikuo's waist, the brunette immediately squirming out of protest, to zero success. "But it's one of the two, right?" he said. "Don't deny it."

"What—? No, I told you—"

Yoru's nose brushed against Rikuo's as he slanted his head, sneering. "Don't worry. I want you all to myself too, Rikuo…" Too bad he wasn't in a listening and considerate mood tonight; he ought to satisfy his hidden urges.

"No! You don't understand I—" It was too late for reason when Yoru connected his lips with the brunette's. Unfortunately, the kiss was too irresistible even for Rikuo. In the end, he gave in as well, loosely wrapping his arms around the yokai's neck, deepening the kiss as they moved closer to each other. Rikuo's body was usually tense because his heart would always kick into overdrive, but tonight, he was oddly relaxed, letting Yoru's lips glide over his smoothly. The crimson eyed yokai eventually pushed him down the bed again, his tongue begging for entrance…

Rikuo's eyes snapped open as he bolted upright, his face screaming his utter astonishment. "You're sick!" he shouted as he wiped the drool from his lips, blood quickly rushing up to his head.

And once again, Yoru was unaffected, since he actually loved the side of Rikuo. He flipped his hair to the back of his shoulders and chuckled. "Says the one who always kisses me first without consent," he snickered.

"At least I had a reason," Rikuo defended, averting his gaze from the other, his cheeks just as flushed as before.

"Hey, I've a reason too, you know?"

"And what reason could that possibly be?" He doubted it was convincing…

With the sweetest smile, Yoru replied, "I love you too, Rikuo." He caressed the brunette's hair. "Very much so."

And once more, Rikuo was struck with Cupid's arrow right through his heart and was rendered speechless. This simple answer of Yoru was the very sole reason why their destinies were intertwined in the first place. He then turned his back from the yokai; it was his night tonight most definitely. "I-I should sleep now…" he muttered. "We have a long day tomorrow…" When he thought the night would finally end, Yoru slipped his arms around Rikuo's neck and pulled him closer, smirking.

"What're you talking about?" the yokai chuckled. "The night's still young. Besides, I'm still not satisfied." There were many interpretations for that last statement…

Rikuo grabbed Yoru's arms and began struggling, but like the usual, Yoru had a vice grip on him. "Don't say it like that!" he snapped. "It's weird." And when finally broke free of the yokai's grasp, he narrowed his eyes accusingly. "Besides, when will a yokai like you be ever satisfied anyway?"

Yoru cupped Rikuo's chin, staring deeply into the brunette's eyes. "Until you hurry up and become fully mine." Rikuo was already his officially. Dibs on him. Great. But they weren't wholly connected, not yet.

"Well, you have to wait until I graduate college and get myself a job!" Rikuo asserted with seriousness across his features despite his typical flushed cheeks.

This was one of the rare occasions Yoru was taken aback, his eyes widened in surprise. He couldn't even think of a snappy comeback. Rikuo, on the other hand, was ashamed and deeply regretful. He should have slept when he had the chance.

Crap, what did I just say? he thought, his eyes averted from Yoru's. And when he thought the night was in a complete awkward silence now, Yoru quickly broke the ice.

"So we're engaged now?!" Smooth Yoru. Very smooth.

"No!" Rikuo shrieked, a vein pulsing in his temple. Really, the things Yoru would say without thinking. He didn't know yokai lacked this much common sense and decency. "Don't get so full of yourself just because I said it!" He rolled his hand as he buried his head on his hand, groaning. "You're despicable. Why do you always have to twist things around like that, huh?"

Retorts were of no use against Yoru, since his immunity barrier was impossible to take down. "We yokai have our ways," he chuckled haughtily. "And thanks for the compliment; I get that all the time."

The brunette sighed heavily and rubbed his temple. After a sweet and tender moment, comes a make-out session, and then comes the teasing. This was always the usual transition between the two during their nights together, but still, Rikuo couldn't get used to it. It was Yoru he was dealing with, after all. "Ugh, how did we end up this way again?" he sighed again. "I'm having second thoughts now."

Out of the blue, Yoru held and squeezed Rikuo's hand, smiling fondly this time. "I've been in love with you ever since the day we met," he began clarifying for the brunette, even though Rikuo knew too well how they ended up as they were. "And your obligatory feelings of 'debt' for me eventually turned into the very same feeling."

"I shouldn't have asked," Rikuo said, sweating bullets. This solemn state of Yoru never ceased to make the brunette's heart skip a beat. Always. "I'm just surprised how we get along so well in spite of our huge differences."

"Think about it this way," Yoru said with a wink, "if I loved someone like me. It'd be too difficult and boring, right? Because we are too similar and we know each other too well." Persons who share too many common interests and traits should just remain friends, was what he was trying to explain. "I'm glad I fell in love with you, Rikuo. You're completely different from me. You're unique, even for a human being." Rikuo simply watched him, his mouth slightly agape. "The more I spend time with you; I just keep liking you more and more."

Th-thump! Rikuo awkwardly looked down at his lap, his balled fist slightly trembling from nervousness and embarrassment. I… feel the same way, he thought, mentally screaming to himself to just tell it to the yokai straight up, but he felt too mute at the moment.

Yoru held the back of Rikuo's head and yanked him close. "Now get some shut eye," he told the brunette. "We'll leave first thing in the morning."

"Yeah, you're right…" he uttered, his heart pounding like a bass drum. He needed to tell it... He then snapped his head and gulped. "Uh, Yoru?" No regrets, just love.

"Yes?" Yoru blinked. "I'm still not going until you fall asleep, just so you know."

"I, uh…" he stammered, fidgeting. Why couldn't he just be blunt and direct? He was in love with Yoru, right? "I feel the same way!"

Yoru blinked again. Rikuo was the epitome of a person who was full of endless surprises. It was one of the countless reasons why he loved this human being in the first place.

"Yeah, so…" Rikuo awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "I'll go to sleep now…" I must be out of my mind for doing that, he thought to himself.

Yoru chortled. "Wow, instead of just kissing me, you actually said it out loud," he affirmed. Usually, when Rikuo was a nervous wreck like this, he would just kiss Yoru from out of nowhere. This was a surprising turn of events.

"Shut up!" Rikuo hissed. He made a mental note to himself to gather more guts to show Yoru that he shouldn't be underestimated next time. "I can do it too, you know?"

"Of course," Yoru agreed with a small chuckle.

Now I regret opening my mouth, Rikuo thought as he said, "Well, good night, Yoru." And that was when he was struck with a last minute idea.

"Good night, Riku—"

Rikuo unexpectedly crashed his lips against Yoru's for what felt like an eternity before pulling away and covering himself with his sheets. And now he made a point not to totally be underestimated with. Yoru was left lovestruck, as usual. He smirked nefariously with impure intentions as shuffled closer towards Rikuo, vulnerable and defenseless—

"Don't even think about it!"

"Geez," Yoru huffed as he folded his arms against his chest. "No fair."


BACK IN THE YOKAI MANSION


When Rikuo fell asleep, Yoru went back towards his own residence. Meeting the crimson eyed yokai at the foyer was his grandfather, the golden eyed yokai, the Supreme Commander; the sodaisho; the renowned Lord of Pandemonium, none other than Nurarihyon. He wasn't there to interrogate about his grandson's whereabouts (because he knew in the first place) like he did always.

"Finally heading to Kyoto tomorrow, eh?" he asked Yoru, his windpipe in between his lips.

"…" Yoru paused before saying, "You aren't saying this for nothing. Spit it out, old man."

"Remember what I told you," Nurarihyon said, his face deadpan. He was worried; he knew his grandson inherited his recklessness as well. Even his own son… "Don't forget it."

"I know, I know," Yoru said, eyebrows furrowed. "I'm not that stupid."

"Then what is it again?"

Yoru clicked his tongue in annoyance. He wasn't a kid anymore. He was already leading a Hyakki Yako. He didn't need to be reminded like this. "Tch. Never go near Osaka Castle," he replied. "Got it." He walked past Nurarihyon to drink sake. It had been a while since he drank anyway…

You better make sure of it, boy, Nurarihyon thought. You know very well you aren't readyIf Riku-chan gets involved, I don't even what to think about it… Rikuo was just as precious to the sodaisho, because of the sole reason he constantly reminded him of his beloved Yo Hime.


A/N: Due to popular demand (yeah right OTL), I've finally updated. I'm so proud! I finally got to do something productive during summer vacation HAHA. I'm really gomen for not updating for so long. My muse here happened to be revived because I bought a NuraMago manga AWWW YEAH! So, I dedicate this to the anonymous reviewer who always wanted an update… HERE, THIS IS FOR YOU. HAHAHA. Thanks for being uhhh patient readers?