Title: Fast Forward to the Stars
Author: jankenguu
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 17 – ROYALLY AND UTTERLY SCREWED


Yoru's speech rendered Rikuo speechless. Pretty ironic.

They've been through countless encounters together, from fighting yokai at the same time blending into modern society, where everyone believed yokai were creatures of creation from legends and mythologies. Oh, how Rikuo wanted to prove everyone wrong, but his annoyingly protective side disagreed. He didn't want to wreak havoc and chaos in the already moderately peaceful society he lived in. And from the looks of it, the yokai world was still as violent and chaotic as ever.

There must be a reason why the world of yokai was separated from humans. And for some reason, Yoru wanted to rule over both worlds.

Was Nurarihyon's bloodline this hungry for power? Nurarihyon looked somehow content with the way things were at the moment. So, why wasn't it the same for his grandson? Did Nurarihyon even know anything about this? Did they even have a conversation about this, and in the end it was just alright for his only grandchild to try and take over the world?

Everything was so, so screwed up.

Rikuo rubbed his hand across his face and groaned. He tried his best not to succumb into panic and dread. And it wasn't because Yoru wanted to rule over the world. He was already the leader of a night parade of a thousand yokai. It wouldn't be surprising or even shocking if he suddenly realized being the yokai world's strongest wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger for power so he decided he also wanted to rule the human world for the sake of being truly referred to as the most powerful.

Rikuo was terrified because he might be the root cause of what would be one of the biggest wars in history between two worlds that should never clash, or even meet.

Everyone could come up with countless reasons why he could be the biggest traitor of all time even though he hardly did anything, except… make a yokai fall in love with him and realize how much power that the yokai had in him because of the encounters they went through together? It was somewhat logical, betraying his own kind all because he fell in love with a yokai. He knew he should have known better than to let his emotions dictate his life.

So therefore, everything was still so, so screwed up.

"If you want to take over a world, rule over your own world. Leave my world out of it." Rikuo bit his bottom lip. He had minutes… or maybe even seconds, to try and not screw everything up more than it already did. He was even trying to hold back tears. The peace and order of not one, but two worlds were literally in his hands. No pressure or anything.

"Uhhh… no. Wasn't planning on it." Yoru looked like he could roll his eyes at any moment. The sarcasm faded and soon the corner of his mouth turned upward into a smirk. "Why should I leave your world out of the party? It's going to be fun."

Rikuo clenched his fists. This egotistical bastard was barely the yokai he fell in love with. And he was pissing him off big time. "The hell's wrong with you?! You think a war between two worlds is just some fun big party to you?! Have you even considered the consequences of what you're going to do? Innocent people and yokai will die!"

"Uhhh… look, listen here, Rikuo…"

"No, you listen!" Rikuo interjected. "Aren't you getting a little too cocky?" He held up his hands, showing his index finger and thumb were close together to emphasize his point. He really couldn't control his temper now, not after Yoru's show of all his egotistical glory. "So, you suddenly want to fight your own mother possessed by the strongest yokai in the world because after a couple of battles you realized you had that much potential in you." He sucked in a breath. He wasn't stopping there. He was just getting started. "Are you kidding me?! Is this just your reckless and stupid way to prove you're actually the strongest?! Honestly, I think you're just trying to make the biggest fool out of yourself. You're asking yourself for a death wish… and death wishes of millions. I swear, leave them the heck out of it. If you want to just kill yourself out there without considering how it might affect everyone, then please, be my guest."

In the midst of Rikuo's boiling anger, Yoru just stared at him blankly all this time.

The brunet pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed with uttermost exasperation. He was just so done with everything right now. Worse, Yoru hasn't reacted at all, only a slight crease of the eyebrow.

"Are you done?" Yoru simply asked.

Rikuo glared and mentally pictured strangling Yoru until he came back to his senses. That made him feel slightly better.

Yoru took a deep breath. "I have a reason for wanting to rule over both worlds." Aside from the one fact Rikuo pointed out so matter-of-factly about wanting to be known as the strongest. That was a low blow.

Rikuo glared even more. If glares could actually throw daggers, Yoru could have been stabbed by a million of those from Rikuo already.

"A perfectly valid reason. Look, just hear me out."

"I'm already listening." Rikuo gritted his teeth. He looked like he could throw another tantrum with a wrong choice of words or movement.

"But maybe you aren't…"

"Just tell me your oh so perfectly valid reason already!" Rikuo wasn't taking any more of his crap again. He wasn't going to let the other male woo him again either, since it had been Yoru's arsenal against him all this time when things weren't going his way. Of course! Why fight when you could just win his heart over and over again? Bull.

The yokai sighed. "I don't want anyone to die either, okay? I have to do this. I don't want you to keep being in danger." There was a pause. He bobbed his head to the side, with uncertainty in his voice. "Okay, maybe even those precious to you."

Rikuo's eye twitched. It was a signal for Yoru to go straight to the point. Rikuo couldn't take a joke, could he?

"I want to give you a peaceful world, Rikuo." Yoru's lips parted into a grin.

Well, that actually made sense.

But Rikuo wasn't fully convinced. He badly wanted to believe Yoru… that his intentions were good, and if he supported him, everything would be okay. But no, he was looking at this in a pessimistic point of view. What if he messed things up? What if he lost? What would become of both worlds?

Yes, it would be back to everything being so, so screwed up.

Rikuo scrambled to find the words. He opened and closed his mouth just as quickly. He raised his arm to reach out to Yoru but dropped it.

"I know you mean well, but isn't everything fine the way it is? If you know your possessed mother is the strongest yokai, then why do you want to even try going against her? We're not even sure if you're ready yet. Besides, I think the world's peaceful enough. I don't… This isn't a good idea."

And just like that, their roles switched as Yoru was the one flaring with anger this time.

"You think the world's peaceful enough? That's a joke, right?" He snorted as he tapped his foot and glanced around the area restlessly. He was losing his cool the more Rikuo's words played in repeat in his mind. "Do you even remember those yokai that wanted to get their hands on us? There are more of those out there, because no one puts them in their place. I've led my own night parade for more than half a century, so I'm more than capable of leading my own kind. You were the one who made realize that I could handle things on a bigger scale, but now you're holding me back. I thought… you'd at least believe in me. You've believed in me all this time. Why can't you do the same for me now?"

"Yoru, I…"

"You think I'm not good enough for this?" His eyes were strained and full of pain. It stung. Not only was his pride torn to pieces, the high expectation that Rikuo, his one and true love, would be by his side through and through wasn't going to happen.

For once, things didn't go as planned. He never realized being looked down upon could hurt this much.

"I'm… I'm going to prove it to you, to all those yokai and humans that I can do it. Just you wait…" Rikuo opened his mouth, but Yoru cut in with, "And I won't change my mind."

Yoru walked away without another word and didn't even bother stopping in his tracks to listen to whatever Rikuo would have to say to make up for his little speech that broke everything Yoru believed in just now.

Rikuo either wanted to just throw himself off a cliff or cry until he could cry no more. He went for the more practical and cried instead.

In a surprising turn of events, everything had been actually going smoothly until he screwed everything up big time.


Who knew a yokai could be so sensitive?

But then, Yoru grew up meeting expectations of his night parade and grandfather. He was used to being praised, admired and respected. He was a strong and truly a worthy heir. Nurarihyon was proud to call him his own grandson.

So not being believed by the person he loved the most was something new to him. And it hurt. A lot.

It was already nightfall when Yoru headed back to the mansion where his night parade of yokai resided at. His eyes were burning with determination, but at the same time, they were glassy.

Nurarihyon noticed it almost immediately. He wasn't used seeing his grandson's eyes so lackluster. He knew it had something to do with Rikuo again. No one affected Yoru more than Rikuo, after all. Yoru was a strong one, for sure. But his heart was too soft and fragile. It was his biggest weakness.

"Comrades… it's time," he declared, surprising everyone in the mansion. He smirked as he placed his hand on his hip with the Nenekimaru resting on his shoulder. "It's about time we take them down. They've been resting on their laurels long enough."

Yoru could see the excitement in each and everyone's faces. He couldn't help but be just as excited.

"So, what do you say guys? Are you with me or are you with me?"

Everyone cheered. This was what he loved the most about being a leader.

And sitting inside a room was someone who drank tea and heard the cheering and everything Yoru had said loud and clear. Nurarihyon was right about his grandson making this kind of decision. It was in the blood. It was a good choice that his descendants resurrected him so he could see this grand event relived once again. It was just like the good old days.


On the other hand, Rikuo went back to the inn looking like he had his soul taken away from him. He didn't know how long he stayed in that place and shed his tears. It was pretty pathetic; especially knowing Yoru wouldn't come back just because he cried his heart out.

Wakana noticed it right away and approach her son with genuine concern across her visage. "What happened?" Because she knew something happened.

Telling her that Yoru was going to fight the strongest yokai in the world to maintain peace and order, as well as balance between two worlds, and that he made a bad move by being pessimistic (and maybe a little realistic too) wasn't a good idea. Yoru was the reckless guy who could do anything he put his heart and mind into. He wouldn't have been able to win Rikuo's heart without all that determination and effort.

And of all times, in this very desperate time, he didn't believe in Yoru.

"Just another fight again, no big deal," Rikuo replied. He wasn't lying, but wasn't telling the exact truth either. He didn't know when the dreaded war would begin, so he decided it was best to leave battleground while it was early. Involving his family was the last thing he wanted to happen, and that when something else hit him hard. Crap. Crap, crap, crap. He almost forgot his classmates were spending their summer in Kyoto too. "We should head back to Ukiyoe Town tomorrow. Yoru and I can just talk some other time. I've got something really important to do there. Please." He was pleading with eyes too.

How could Wakana say no? She had never seen Rikuo this anxious. Perhaps it really was something important.

She nodded. "Alright. We'll head back tomorrow morning."

Rikuo smiled. At least he knew he was doing something right this time. "Thanks." He gave her a hug before heading to his room. He reached for the door knob, but that… feeling again appeared from out of nowhere, his so-called yokai sense. And he hated it with a burning passion.

Someone was in there. He could only cross his fingers that it was Yoru.

But did Yoru have that much malevolent aura that it was giving Rikuo a hard time to breathe?

He swallowed and stepped away from the door. Maybe he should ask to take a walk with Wakana and casually head over to the mansion where Yoru's clan stayed. It was a lot safer there. It could also be time to tell her the truth… well, the truth about yokai existing in the world anyway. He didn't want to take any chances. This was what his gut was telling him.

And before he could make another move, the stranger from inside the room called out to him, "Don't even try and think about running away." It was a female voice. Female? But how? Why? Most importantly, who was she? "If you know what's good for you, Rikuo-kun, come inside."

How did this stranger know him? Was Rikuo that famous in the yokai world now? He didn't find it flattering one bit.

He licked his lips in nervousness. He just put himself and his own mother in danger, just when Yoru wasn't going to be there to protect them. How convenient.

"Hey, Mom."

"Hmmm?" Wakana was watching a flick from television, a good earshot distance away from the voice that spoke just now.

"Can you buy me, uhhhh… lots of snacks and…. noodles? Yeah, noodles… for the… trip back to Ukiyoe tomorrow? Please?"

The "please" always got to Wakana. Whenever he said it like that, it sounded something he absolutely needed. She couldn't tell what he looked like since he had his back turned from her. He was oddly standing in front of his room with his head bowed. Oh, Rikuo… she thought. "Of course, dear." She rose from her seat and got her things as she walked towards the door.

"Thanks..." He snapped his head up and turned around. He realized there was something he needed to say, for he didn't know if this would be the last time he would see her again. "Uh, and Mom?"

"What is it, Rikuo?"

"I love you… a lot. Take care, okay?"

Wakana smiled and replied with an "I love you too," before finally exiting the room.

Rikuo choked back the tears. It was no use crying when he was going to confront someone he didn't even know… but he knew that was someone that had malicious intentions. He stood upright as he reached out to the doorknob for the second time. He finally turned it, pushing the door open slowly.

His eyes widened in surprise to see… a girl who wore a gakuran, so he assumed she was high school student. She had long black hair and black eyes that contrasted her pale white skin. She looked… normal? But her aura ruined her average high school girl image.

He closed the door slowly and straightened his posture. "And what's your business with me? If you're looking for Yoru, he's not here. And he's not coming back tonight." He poured salt onto the wound. He didn't know when Yoru would ever come back. And if he never came back, he had himself to blame.

"I know he's not here. I just… well… there's this little rumor about a lover of his that everyone keeps talking about," she replied as she tapped her finger on his chin, looking genuinely curious.

Rikuo leaned on the door and looked away, face flushed. "What about it?"

Despite everything that happened, it was embarrassing for him to hear that everyone knew him as a clan leader's "lover". Even being referred to as a "boyfriend" was embarrassing.

She walked up to him with a polite smile across her face. She looked… nice enough. She caressed his cheek, sending shivers down his spine.

"Hmmm… I wonder what Yoru-kun sees in you. But you look interesting enough. And you're really nice and kind, I can tell," she remarked. Was there a yokai so evil and yet could also possibly shower a brokenhearted seventeen-year-old with compliments?

But he immediately took back his first impression of her as she lifted him from the floor with her hand around his neck. Her fingers were digging into his skin; she almost wasn't letting him breathe either. The brunet struggled and tried to break free from her grasp, but she had a vice grip on him.

"I still think he can do better than this, though. He's still young." She was still smiling widely, but eventually, more of her true colors were being revealed. Her polite visage was merely a disguise—like a wolf in sheep's clothing; a devil in disguise… or rather, a yokai in disguise. "I'll never understand why this bloodline chooses humans over yokai. What's so good about you puny humans anyway? You creatures are weak, fragile and easy to kill. You do know you're just holding back Yoru-kun's full potential, right? He's a threat as far as I know."

She didn't have to remind how much of a jerk he was to Yoru. He knew that more than anybody. He didn't need to whole world to tell him the obvious.

She bobbed her head to the side and pursed her lips, her expression similar to someone wondering what would be good to eat for dinner. "What will I gain for killing you, I wonder? I don't mind taking you hostage, but I've seen that act so many times. Villain takes damsel… I mean, hero-in-distress, sorry- and the hero rises to the occasion and saves his beloved and the villain is killed. Been there, done that." She waved her hand dismissively.

He clawed at her hand, cutting her skin. She loosened her grip until Rikuo could finally breathe normally again but she still wasn't letting go of him entirely. She then gazed at her wound… and smiled. "Oh, Rikuo-kun. Now I see why Yoru-kun loves you very much." She pressed her hands together in delight. "I have always wanted to try something. If it works, you live. If it doesn't, you die. And you have no choice in the matter because you're coming with me."

What is she talking about? Rikuo thought while taking in big gulps of air. I just know she isn't up to something good. "W-Who are you anyway?" he asked. If he was going to be taken as a hostage for the millionth time, he should at least know who was taking him away.

"Oh, my." She pressed her hand over her mouth, her expression surprised; or rather, she pretended to look surprised when she was apparently having fun playing the part of the villain. "I completely forgot. How rude of me. I just got… a little excited, is all." A giggle escaped from her lips. "I'm not sure if Yoru-kun told you about me… but I'm Hagoromo Gitsune. I'm the soul possessing his weak mother's body. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Rikuo's eyes widened. Great, just great. He happened to cross paths with the yokai Yoru was planning to kill. How much worse were things going to get from here on out? Probably a lot, lot worse.

And when Yoru decided to pay Rikuo a visit one last time before he went off to battle with his clan to make amends, Rikuo was nowhere to be found. He felt someone else's presence aside from Rikuo's in the room. He immediately knew something had happened.

If his past experiences taught him something, it was that if something happened to Rikuo, it was never the least bit good. And if he never got Rikuo back, he had himself to blame.

In short, everything was so, so screwed up.


A/N: A year! A fucking year! But I finally got the time to update this fic. College life has been hectic, so I am really, really, REALLY sorry for not updating for so long and keeping you guys waiting for the longest time. But here it is, more plot twists after another.

This chapter should have ended in a fluffier note, since I have doodles and even ideas written for it in the past. But now I'm like "naaahh screw it let's make it more angstier and throw in more plot twists!"

But the main plot twist I've been wanting to do for the longest time is still there after I changed a lot of things heehee and I liked this chapter very, very much. I've been reading fanfiction that is just so good it just inspired me to write tonight (took me like, hours to write this chapter go figure). And wish me all the luck that I can write up another chapter and not take another year for it. Thanks for being the best guys! Love you all xoxo