A/N: Hey, everyone! It's been 5 years. 5 heccing years! Holy moly! I can't believe people are still reading this. It's bad. It's very bad. I know how it's bad the most since I wrote it. I'm embarrassed of the first chapters, but I won't modify anything because it's now a treasure trove of memories for me.
But still, I'm not exactly back. I did this in one go after reading the last few chapters 'coz maybe I blew my own mind with these developments. I'm reading from an outsider's perspective. I don't even know what's going on here per se (I'm going to check my old-ass notebook to see what I had in store but I remember bits and pieces the more I read the last chapters), but I just wanted everyone in this story to take a goddamn break. No twists, no whatevers. And I modified the date of Rikuo's special day because I can, haha. Please enjoy and see you in a few years again, probably pffffft.
CHAPTER 24 - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
The next morning at the Nura residence was peaceful and mundane. It was a good change of pace unlike the roller coaster of events for the past few days that felt like a horrendous nightmare. Except, it wasn't a story from scrolls of the old- everything was real. And the truth, needless to say, still hurts.
And as the light of day shone upon them, the two intertwined souls gazed into each other's eyes. For the first time in a long while, there was only calm with no storm in sight.
"I didn't get to sleep last night," Rikuo muttered. He let out a yawn. He was tired, but he wasn't sleepy at all. Did that even make sense?
"I know. We just stayed up late and talked the whole night. It's like we were catching up, even if we were together almost all the time?" Yoru added with a chuckle. "But you won't get sleepy at night anymore. That's when, uh, us yokai are most active."
"That makes sense..." Rikuo nodded. "Ah!" His yell came out of nowhere which startled Yoru. "That means I can stay up late for assignments and exams without a cinch. Guess this yokai thing can be pretty convenient, if you ask me."
Yoru raised an eyebrow and let out a soft chortle. "That's one good way of looking at it. Just like your culture, work in my clan can also be mundane. Negotiations, meetings, treaties, patrols… Back in the day, clans just duke it out and the one who leads is the one left standing." He blinked at the unamused expression on Rikuo's face. "Well, okay. It still happens now. But it isn't as bad. Modern times have been better than the past few centuries. That's saying something."
"There's a long-time evil that we need to take care of, though. She lived through who knows how many centuries," Rikuo stated, his tone serious.
Yoru's expression became pensive. Deep inside, there was still that guilt gnawing at his inside, like a parasite eating him alive-
"Hey, just because I mentioned her name doesn't mean you're going to wallow in self-pity and shame again, right?"
Yoru blinked a few times, flabbergasted. He must be really at peace if his guard was down around Rikuo. As the clan leader, he knew how to lead, how to keep it together, and how to fight. But ever since he crossed paths with his beloved, those qualities didn't matter. It was no wonder that his grandfather enjoyed watching the spectacle that these two youths displayed.
"No. Rather, I'll try not to. The wound is still pretty fresh, y'know? But it shouldn't matter. We're going to take her down soon enough. And we need all the help we can get."
As Yoru started to wear his heart on his sleeve more, he wondered if this expression of emotions could be considered weakness. It was this very weakness that earned Hagoromo Gitsune her victory, after all.
"Yoru."
"Huh?"
"You're spacing out again. Are you sure you're okay?" Rikuo sat up, his arms supporting his leaning posture.
"I'm sure. I was just thinking how amazing you are for handling things well." It wasn't a lie, but Yoru still left out crucial details that didn't need to be out in the open.
"Are you kidding? Everything's still surreal for me. And I have no idea how I can bring it up to my friends. Not to mention that there's an onmyoji who'd be on my trail if I'm around them at school from now on." Rikuo rolled his eyes and sighed. "It's a lot to take in, but I'm doing my best."
There it was again. That optimism, it was like a blinding light for Yoru, even if it was what he himself needed the most. There was also the theory that Rikuo started to read Yoru's feelings better. And whether that was a good or bad thing was up for debate. Perhaps he should consult Zen about this matter sometime…
"Mm, let's do our best together, then." Yoru sat up now too, his hands on his crossed legs. "To be honest, I don't want to do anything else today. I kind of like just sitting like this with you. I haven't felt this relaxed in a while."
"That's the ideal life." Rikuo smiled, and Yoru swore he saw a flash of what seemed to be a wistful expression from the other male. "But the rest of the day is going to call out to us whether we like it or not. Now, come on. I'm sure mom has made a spectacular breakfast for us."
Yoru nodded as he got out of bed, his arms folded. "Her meals... as I can best describe it, feel like home."
"And you're part of our home, as much as I'm home to your clan too. That's the way things are now, right?"
Yoru and Rikuo just ended up exchanging smiles as their words had been overheard outside the door. Wakana smiled to herself as she went downstairs without saying a single word. It seemed the two were already on their way down.
"Say, aren't you forgetting something?" Wakana brought up mid-conversation without warning. Her question was only met with pairs of blinking eyes.
"Uh…" Rikuo's eyes wandered side to side, his confusion apparent on his visage. "I don't know. Are you talking about summer homework? Did Kiyotsugu-kun and the others say some meet-up that I forgot about? Did I forget something back in Kyoto?" The way he talked faster the more he spoke was an indicator that there was part of him that remained antsy after the incident that occurred.
Wakana snorted and shook her head, placing a hand on Rikuo's shoulder. "No, you silly boy. Isn't today your birthday?"
Rikuo and Yoru's eyes widened in unison. Two peas in a pod. Yoru's "it's your birthday today?" overlapped with Rikuo's "it's my birthday today?" Saying they were surprised about this new fact didn't even cut it.
The mother rolled her eyes. "You guys have been so attached at the hip that you're forgetting the basics of getting to know each other. You!" She pointed at Rikuo. "I can't believe you'd forget the day I gave birth to you!" And Yoru wasn't spared from her chiding as her finger pointed at him next. "And you! Why don't you know about a significant date like that about your boyfriend?"
Yoru and Rikuo looked sheepish as they couldn't make up a good excuse. Yoru kept his head down as he thought how it had been so long since he got scolded like this, while Rikuo just rubbed the back of his head.
She let out a sigh. "Things… happened, but that doesn't mean we won't celebrate such an important day. We're having a gathering here. And don't even say 'no' or that you have other plans. You two can always go on a date later."
Pointing that out without hesitation caused the couple to get flustered. It showed how much they got accustomed to spending time with one another.
"So Yoru-kun, I know you have your friends who are also in close contact with Rikuo, so they're invited for a small gathering here tonight. And Rikuo, do invite Kiyotsugu-kun, Kana-chan, Saori-chan, Natsumi-chan and Shima-kun for this morning. That's small yet a good balance for the two of you, right?"
Yoru and Rikuo had no words, only nods of their heads. It was different when Wakana was in charge. Yoru rather admired this new side of hers that he was now witnessing that even managed to put a clan leader like him in his place. Then again, this was her house and her territory. He had no say about wanting Rikuo all to himself in her established territory.
"I got to check my phone. Now that I think about it, maybe I'm being blasted with messages…" Rikuo chuckled as he let out a sigh afterwards. In a way, his transformation was more of a birthday than his own human birth. But, he did declare that he could live out both sides.
And he had to live up to his word no matter what. No matter what it takes.
"Nura-kun, you idiot! You only call us when it's convenient for you!" Kiyotsugu chided as soon as Rikuo answered the door. "But I'm only letting it slide because it's your birthday today."
Rikuo scratched his cheek. "A-ha, thanks, Kiyotsugu-kun." Was Kiyotsugu even wrong with that? Rikuo wasn't going to deny that claim, that was for sure.
"You owe me and the rest of the squad a lot of demon hunting sessions," he added with an exaggerated harrumph. The two of them wrapped their arms around each other after the squabble due to their years as friends together.
"Rikuo-kun, happy birthday!" greeted the girls after the self-proclaimed squad leader as they brought small gifts like keychains and tasteful decorations for his room.
"Oh, wow. Thank you!" His eyes lit up as he looked at the gifts then at the girls whom he had a pleasant time chatting with for a bit.
It was as if the conversation about their qualms towards Rikuo's time with Yoru only hurting him before didn't even happen. He wouldn't say they were wrong. It was just… complicated, to say the least. In fact, it could be considered an understatement.
"Rikuo-kun," started Kana's voice that caught Rikuo's attention. In her hands was a birthday cake that matched the sweet expression on her face. "Happy birthday! This is for you. I hope you like it!"
The chocolate cake looked simple and delicious. It brought nothing but warm feelings inside his chest. Even if things had been bizarre nowadays, this feeling of happiness because of his friends… It reminded him of how great it was to be human.
(But a part of him couldn't help but wonder how this day would go if they knew of his... current state.)
"Ah, thank you so much, Kana-chan. Did you make this yourself?" Rikuo's smile was bright and cheerful. This was one of the moments that he knew that looking back on would keep him smiling despite the recent circumstances.
"Mm! I hope you enjoy it. Your mother particularly requested for me to make it for you."
"No wonder. Even in Home EC, you make the best baked treats!" His compliment made Kana shy for a second before Shima chimed in with, "So, where's that Yoru guy? It's your day today, right? Any chance we'll finally be meeting him?"
Rikuo blinked. "Huh? Uh… He's busy. Maybe he'll send a gift or something. Who knows?" For some reason, he couldn't look anyone in the eyes with his bluff just now. Perhaps with all the lying, he didn't have it in him to look at them if he said any more.
Kiyotsugu sipped from his glass of water with a raised brow. "Oh?" He shrugged. "I thought he'd visit today of all days."
An unsettling feeling stirred inside of Rikuo's chest. Why did that unimpressed tone make him worried all of a sudden? He then shook the thoughts away. He already had too much on his plate. They were unnecessary for a day that he was supposed to enjoy.
They were here, and they were happy together. And for once, nothing was going wrong. That was what mattered.
"The day's still not over, Rikuo," Wakana reminded Rikuo sitting on the sofa. Rikuo nodded as he took a sip of his hot tea.
"Yeah. But so far, today's just been a good break. I can't believe I'm saying that during my own birthday." He reclined against the cushion of his seat. "But I'm getting there. Once what's done is done, maybe by that time, I'd have already adjusted to my new ways of life."
Wakana tilted her head. He said a curious choice of words. It was his birthday, but he was growing up way too quickly now. "Ways of life?"
He nodded. "I don't want to rush things. I'll accept things as they are in my own time. Like, as much as I want to bombard you with questions about Dad, I just want the recent event to… sink in, you know? Yoru thinks I'm dealing with everything well, but, uh..." The fake smile he wore was clear as day. "I'm barely keeping it together as it is."
A worried expression overtook Wakana's features and thoughts. "Oh, Rikuo…"
If only there wasn't the knock on the door, Wakana would have wanted to listen to her son more. Who knows what else he had been keeping to himself this entire time?
"Rikuo-sama, happy birthday!"
Unexpectedly, Yoru's closest subordinates brought food and drinks for the occasion. But to their shock, Rikuo wasn't of drinking age yet. And to their further surprise, Wakana volunteered to drink on her son's behalf. She even pulled up her sleeves as she looked confident in her alcohol tolerance.
"She beat the local guys in the community," Rikuo informed Yoru while everyone else laughed and drank in the background. "She's known as a beast. I guess she'll make herself right at home at the constant drinking parties at the clan manor, hm?"
"She'll be everyone's favorite drinking companion," Yoru chuckled. "They actually wondered why we didn't celebrate at the manor instead, but I told them that Mother is the head of this house and I do not want to go against her wishes. I'm just keeping my word."
Rikuo blinked as he took a sip of his juice. "Oh, wow. I'm impressed, Yoru. Back then, you'd just do what you want and find some way to get me out here." It was a joke, but it was funny to look back on how silly and careless they were in the first days of their courtship.
"Ah-" Yoru looked away with a sheepish expression. "I'm a yokai. What did you expect me to do? The old man did it in his day, and I'm just keeping tradition." His words sounded more like an excuse the more he thought about it.
"Well, you still managed to sweep me off my feet, and there are things in life I wouldn't have ever experienced if not for you. So I'm thankful."
Yoru shook his head, to Rikuo's confusion. He then held both of Rikuo's hands, his expression gentle and warm. "No, I should be the one who's thankful to you. I'm glad that you were born on this day. Like you said, I'm brash, wild and careless. But it's through you that I became more than that. You're not just someone I fell in love with, you helped me grow and become better. I… still have a lot of things I want to apologize for, but actions speak louder than words, right?"
Rikuo could feel his heart swell twice its size as his happiness was apparent on his face, as well as the redness on his cheeks. Yoru couldn't have said it better. "Yoru, I…"
"Shh, it's getting good!"
Rikuo and Yoru stopped their tender conversation as they sensed they were being watched by the hushed companions from a distance, even Wakana was in on it instead of scolding the group. Yoru groaned and rolled his eyes at his subordinates while Rikuo let out a laugh. It was a good laugh after so long.
"Yoru-sama isn't really kidding when he said that whenever he's with Rikuo-sama, it's like they're in their own world," Kubinashi pointed out in a fascinated tone. Tsurara and Aotabo nodded in agreement.
"You know I can hear all of you, right?" Yoru said sharply. His voice sent shivers down the rest of everyone's spine- Even Rikuo's. That was new.
"Ah, sorry sorry, Yoru-sama. We were just getting back to drinking with Wakana-sama. Right, right?" Kejoro nervously spoke as she pushed everyone back to the veranda to continue.
Rikuo just chuckled as everyone got back to their positions, including the two of them. "Uh, well, what I was supposed to say is that I feel exactly the same. Even after everything, we're still together, and I still want to stay with you no matter what. So who knows? Maybe... we really are meant to be together."
"Not just maybe," Yoru asserted with a determined look in his eyes, squeezing Rikuo's hands. "We really are."
Rikuo was taken aback by the look in his eyes at first before he smiled and nodded in agreement. "You're right. We are. We really are."
He didn't know if he fully believed in destiny, but perhaps it had worked with them from the start. In spite of everything, Rikuo knew a few things, and that included protecting everyone and staying with Yoru. He didn't know what else life was going to bring from now on; the future seemed terrifying, but he wasn't alone.
As long as he had them by his side, maybe balancing the two worlds wouldn't be so difficult.
...That was, until he did have to face and protect both at the same time.
