Side story on Rihan's thoughts on that day. More author's notes at the bottom.
To AReadernFan: Thanks so much for the review! Glad to see you're happy with my writing now (and also sorry for the 4 year wait ehehehe...) and I'll try to update soon and regularly :)
Rihan felt like he was underwater.
He could barely breathe, barely see. He could hear voices, his father's, Yakushi's, and Yamabuki's...was it? They sound panicked.
He heard a childish voice call out to him.
Rikun… Rihan thought. His thoughts were sluggish. He couldn't tell up from down, left from right, reality from illusion anymore. He opened his eyes just a crack.
The faces were blurred as they hovered over him. They kept yelling at him, sounding incredibly worried. For what though? Something small grasped Rihan's hand. It felt warm against his own cold palm.
"Dad!" Rihan heard. Ah. That must be Rikun then. Rihan thought. He coughed, his breathing becoming even more strained. The figures around him gasped and starting grabbing at him, shaking him, yelling in his ear.
Rihan didn't really hear them though. His mind was occupied at the moment, when the image of his first son floated into his mind.
Rikuo…
Rihan closed his eyes and let the darkness swallow him.
Rihan dreamt. He floated in a black space, his body half submerged in water.
He should get up. He should get up and find a way out of this place, he knows. But his limbs didn't want to move. Rihan didn't want to move.
He remembered now. How he had let his guard down around the boy-Rikuo. How Rikuo had played with Rikun like an older brother. How Rikuo had stabbed him through the chest, angry at Rihan for forgetting about him. No... that wasn't Rikuo. Rihan saw the unnatural expression on the boy's face.
And yet…
Could he really say Rikuo didn't hate him? Why else would he feel Rihan would be disappointed in him? Why else would he run away?
The plum blossoms' promise, huh? Rihan supposed...he did forget. He forgot about it after Wakana had died, too busy in his own sorrow to remember that his own son was only eight and suffering even more than he was. He forgot when expanding the clan in preparation for Rikuo, who tried calling out to him the first few years. He forgot in the face of his own successes how his son must have felt having no mother and barely a father around. He forgot about the promise when Rikuo needed him most.
And Rikuo ran. Ran away from the Nura Gumi. Away from Rihan.
Rikuo died with no one remembering him, no one to honor him after death, aside from a number of trusted youkai that could be counted on one hand.
Rihan twitched his fingers.
He never had a problem joining his two halves. He had great friends growing up, his human friends accepting his youkai side (although still slightly afraid of him), and the youkai of the main house accepting him as Nurarihyon's son, as the son of the Master of All Spirits and the gifted Yohime who could heal almost anything. Rihan accepted who he was wholeheartedly, in part because everyone else did too.
Rikuo on the other hand…
Wakana was a normal human. She didn't possess any gifted abilities like Yohime did. Perhaps that's why the youkai didn't want to accept her human blood in Rikuo's.
And times changed. Rikuo didn't have many understanding friends like Rihan did. Rikuo kept his identity as a quarter youkai a secret from his human friends. And at the same time, no one acknowledged, could acknowledge his youkai heritage because he had nothing to show for it.
Only after Rikuo ran away did Rihan see this. Rihan couldn't see how Rikuo couldn't accept himself because he never had this problem. He couldn't understand the struggle Rikuo had to go through, trying to join two identities into one person. How had he felt back then? Struggling to join his two halves when no one else could see or acknowledge both at the same time.
Rihan stared into the blackness.
He thought about Rikun, his second son. Even from here he could just faintly hear his family calling out to him, begging him to stay. That's right...he still had a family to take care of. His second wife, Yamabuki...And his second son, Rikun.
A pang of sadness hit him.
Could he really go back? Did he deserve to go back? After Rikuo?
Rikuo was here, wasn't he? In Yomi, along with Wakana. Would they forgive him? Would Rikuo want him to stay here, in Yomi?
But he couldn't just leave Rikun on his own. He needed to be there for Rikun. He needed to, after he failed to be there for Rikuo.
...Would Rikuo hate him even more? For caring so much for Rikun and forgetting about him. That's why he stabbed Rihan in the first place, right?
But the boy wasn't Rikuo. Rihan convinced himself. Rikuo would never wish harm on the Nura Gumi, or his own father. Would he?
And the boy's reaction after Rihan called out Rikuo's name...Was he actually Rikuo? The horror on the boy's face as Rihan fell to the ground...That was Rikuo, wasn't it? Then why did he stab Rihan?
Rihan's eyes shot open. The unfamiliar voice he heard in the yard. The one that cackled. Hearing the boy scream at it in fury before the boy seemed to become a different person entirely, threatening to kill Rikun.
Was that youkai controlling Rikuo? Was Rikuo being controlled?
That...made a lot of sense actually. Rihan knew it was a trap from the start. But seeing his deceased son's face again almost made him forget that. They used that one moment of weakness to try and kill him. Rihan was sure of it now.
His arm twitched. There was no way Rihan was going to let them get away with it, using the face of his first son-of Rikuo-for their plans.
But the person they were controlling was still Rikuo, wasn't it? Could Rihan really do it? Cut him down?
And if Rikuo wasn't the one they were using, but just a shell, a double created to look and act like Rikuo…
Rihan let his arm fall into the dark waters again.
So in the end, he still couldn't make a decision. Rihan wanted to laugh at himself. The rational decision would be to return and protect his second family, his second chance. Cut down whoever planned this assassination and be done with it.
But he couldn't. He couldn't do it, not to Rikuo, or even just Rikuo's face.
What would Rikun think? Rihan suddenly wondered. If Rikun knew about the truth, would he approve of Rihan cutting down his brother? Or even just someone masquerading as his brother? Should Rihan even tell Rikun the truth? Or hide it from him and have Rikun cut down his own brother, unbeknownst to him?
That would be too cruel. This was Rihan's fault, after all. He should fix this himself.
But Rihan was tired. He lacked the strength. Rihan cursed himself. Here he was, the Second Head of the Nura Gumi, dying and being indecisive about whether or not he should live.
Wakana's face flashed in his mind.
Wakana… Rihan thought. She would forgive him, surely. Wakana was always like that, forgiving him and everyone else with a smile. Forgiving Rihan for every stupid decision he made that almost cost him his own life. Smiling and making Rihan smile. She would forgive him.
Rihan felt the darkness wrap around his legs and pull him into the water. He struggled half heartedly at first before giving up.
Perhaps death... isn't so bad… He thought as his consciousness slipped away from him.
He couldn't hear anything or anyone anymore. The darkness stretched endlessly around him. He was alone. Rihan closed his eyes, letting the darkness wrap around him, pulling him deeper.
A hand grasped his, pulling at him. Rihan's eyes shot open. He looked up at whoever was pulling at him, trying to save him.
Rihan didn't recognize this person. Only the person's head and part of his upper body was submerged in the water, his right hand grabbing onto Rihan's. Black hair, a dark blue kimono, and an elaborate crow mask Rihan had never seen before. Beads and feathers floated around the person's face along with his bangs underwater.
"Looks like I got here just in time." The youkai spoke. Rihan stared at the mask.
"Who are you?" Rihan asked. "Why are you trying to save me?" The youkai didn't answer. "I don't know you, do I?" The youkai shook his head, his hair and feather accessories floating around his head.
"No, we've never met in person before." He said. "However, 'he' begged me to save you."
"Who?" Rihan asked. The youkai didn't answer.
"'He' was screaming at me, you know? 'He' was screaming, begging, pleading to me with all his might." The youkai said again.
Who? Thought Rihan. One of the people at the main house? His father? Yamabuki? Rikun? But then who was this youkai? Rihan was pretty sure none of them knew this person.
Rihan's eyes widened.
"...Rikuo..?" He whispered. Was Rikuo the one who begged this youkai to save him? Was he the one who screamed desperately for someone to save him? Screamed so loud that a random powerful youkai who could actually pull Rihan from death came? It wouldn't be out of character for him.
Once again, the youkai didn't answer, simply staring at Rihan through his mask.
"Make your decision, Nura Rihan. I can't hold you here forever." The youkai suddenly spoke. Rihan looked down, where the tendrils of darkness slowly wrapped more around his legs. He looked back up at the youkai.
"I can save you, just this once, but are you willing to save yourself? I can't save someone who doesn't want to save himself." The youkai told Rihan. Rihan dipped his head in thought. Here was his second chance. It seemed life was constantly giving him second chances, a second chance at love, a second chance at being a father, and now, a second chance at life.
Should he take it though? Is this what Rikuo wanted? But if Rikuo was in Yomi with Wakana…
Rihan's eyes softened. It's been more than three centuries since he last saw them. With no advanced technology in the Edo period, Rihan didn't even have a picture of them to remember them by. Only inaccurate paintings that were stuffed away when their existence became an forgotten history of the clan. If Rihan could see them again…
"I…" Rihan couldn't answer the youkai. He felt the darkness reach his thighs. The youkai stared down at Rihan. "Rikuo…" Rihan whispered.
The youkai spoke.
"What of everyone else who cares about you?" He asked Rihan. Rihan averted his gaze. The youkai huffed, annoyed.
"Oh, for fuck's sake! Get your head outta your goddamn ass, would you?" He yelled at Rihan. Rihan snapped his head up, slightly offended. The youkai's attitude did a 180, and he started lecturing Rihan.
"You've never been able to think from the viewpoints of others, haven't you? What of everyone else who you're leaving behind? Are you gonna fail your second chance again?" Rihan felt his anger rising.
"Of course not!" He yelled back. "It's just…"
"What? 'Just' what? Your feelings? Your own guilt? The sadness you brought upon yourself?" The youkai pressed. Rihan snapped his mouth shut. The youkai sighed.
"...And what would she think, huh? Do you really think she would approve of you giving up your second chance? Failing the second family that brought you happiness? Is that what your first wife would want of you?" Rihan kept his mouth shut. That's right...What would Wakana think of this? What would Rikuo think of this? What would they want for Rihan?
They... They would want him to be happy. Wouldn't they? Those were their last words to him.
We would want him to smile. Because happiness only comes to those who smile, right?
Rihan huffed. He really hadn't been thinking about anyone else but himself, hadn't he? Once again, he was too busy in his own sorrow to think about anyone else. His second family, Yamabuki, Rikun... Hell, he didn't even think about what Wakana and Rikuo would want for him.
"I really am...an idiot." Rihan whispered to himself. He took a deep breath. The tendrils had reached his waist, and were slowly making their way up to his chest. Rihan looked up at the youkai, determination burning in his eyes.
"Pull me up." Rihan demanded. The youkai stared at him for a second, and then smirked.
"Looks like you've finally come to your senses. A word of advice though," Rihan blinked.
"I suggest you get your shit together Nura Rihan, if you ever want to see 'him' again…" Rihan didn't have time to think about what the youkai meant. The youkai reached for something on his belt with his left hand. He swung his sword, creating a shockwave that cut through the black tendrils that were pulling at Rihan. The youkai grunted as he pulled Rihan up and out of the black waters in one swift motion.
Wakana...I'm sorry, but I can't go over just yet. You'll wait for me, right?
Rihan thought he heard a soft chuckle. A faint laughter like sunshine.
Rihan surfaced and saw light.
He coughed.
"He's back! Oh my gods- quick! Someone get me the-"
"Rihan! Can you hear me-"
"Darling! Oh, gods-"
"Oyaji!"
A multitude of voices bombarded Rihan. He still couldn't hear very well, but it was better than before. His eyesight was too blurry to make out any faces. His mind was still sluggish,not comprehending anything the people around him said, only being able to understand that they were very panicked for some reason.
His chest hurt. He still couldn't breathe quite enough air. Black spots appeared in his vision.
Rihan fell unconscious, the voices still echoing in his mind.
Rihan blinked slowly as he woke. He was lying down in a futon. Rihan turned his head, trying to look around the room. His room. He still couldn't move his body, and a small part of him registered that he was in his human form.
So he lost that much Fear, huh? Rihan didn't usually show his human form out; he never really needed to. The few times he did were when he lost so much Fear that his body instinctively reverted back to being a human to recover.
"Rihan!" A familiar voice called out. Rihan turned his head to the source as the person scooted next to his futon.
"Oyaji?" Rihan asked weakly, seeing Nurarihyon looking over him. Rihan coughed. Nurarihyon motioned for a servant.
"Hey, someone get Yakushi here. He's awake. And get Yamabuki and Rikun too." A small youkai bowed and ran off to relay Nurarihyon's message.
Nurarihyon huffed and folded his arms into his sleeves.
"You've been out of it for two weeks, Rihan. Your wife has been crying for days." Nurarihyon told his son. Rihan winced. He hadn't meant to make Yamabuki cry and worry about him so much. He thought back to his time in that dark space. He was so occupied in his own sorrow that he was ready to just give up on them. He was ready to throw away this family he had now. If that youkai hadn't been there to set him straight…
Rihan's eyes snapped open. Nurarihyon blinked at him.
"Is something wrong, Rihan?" Rihan stared up at the ceiling as he recalled his encounter.
"I...I died, didn't I?" Rihan asked his father. Nurarihyon looked at him with an unreadable gaze.
"...Your heart did stop when we were trying to save you." Nurarihyon admitted slowly. "But you came back to us. And right when we thought you were gone for good, too. Why?"
Rihan continued staring at the ceiling.
"I...I was saved. By someone. They pulled me out of that place. I think-I think Ri-" Rihan was cut off when the shoji doors slammed open with a cry of "Oyaji!" A small figure rushed at Rihan.
Nurarihyon spun around and caught Rikun before he could throw himself on top of Rihan.
"Woah there, easy, Rikun. Are you trying to make your dad open his wounds again?" Nurarihyon told his grandson, who was trying to squirm out of his grasp.
"Lemme go, old geezer!" Rikun yelled. Nurarihyon gave him a stern gaze.
"I'll let go once you stop squirming. Your father is hurt. You crashing on top of his wounds would only make it worse. Now control yourself, Rikun." Nurarihyon said sternly. Rikun stopped squirming immediately, intimidated by his grandfather. Nurarihyon set Rikun down next to him. Rikun immediately scooted up closer to Rihan, but was very careful not to touch him.
Rihan blinked. His eyesight wasn't exactly the best right now, but he was sure Rikun didn't look like that before he was...stabbed. Rikun's hair was longer than before, and its color had changed. The top half of his hair was white while the bottom half was black. His hair flowed backwards, protruding out of his head, and his eyes were red, wide with worry.
"Rikun?" Rihan asked, looking at the kid. The kid's eyes widened as he leaned forward.
"Oyaji! You're ok!" He cried out, tears in the corners of his eyes. He hurriedly wiped them away when he realized he was crying.
"Oyaji-! You bastard, you owe Mom a huge apology! Making us worry and making her c-cry like that-!" Rikun half yelled, half cried at his father. He was trying to wipe away his own tears even faster, his eyes becoming puffy and red.
"Rikun!" A soft voice called from the door. Yamabuki gasped when she saw Rihan.
"Rihan-sama!" She gasped as she dropped down next to Rihan's futon. Her eyes and nose were red, and her voice was just a tiny bit more nasal than usual. She'd been crying recently.
"Yamabuki." Rihan said slowly as he saw his wife. Yamabuki broke down in tears hearing her husband call out to her. She grasped his hand in hers. It felt warm.
"Thank the gods you're ok, Rihan-sama! I-I was so worried-!" Yamabuki choked and started crying again. She sniffled. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be crying anymore but-" Rihan squeezed her hand gently.
"No, I should apologize." Rihan said softly. "For making you worry this much, and making you cry. I'm sorry, Yamabuki." Yamabuki shook her head and gave her husband a watery smile. Rihan gave a weak smile in return. Rihan nodded his head towards Rikun.
"Uh, does anyone want to explain what happened while I was unconscious?" He asked, motioning to Rikun's new appearance. Nurarihyon huffed a laugh.
"He came rushing to us looking like that that day. It would seem the event caused his youkai blood to awaken." Nurarihyon explained, patting Rikun on the head, comforting him. Rikun sniffled and tried to glare at his grandfather for the childish motion. As Rikun sniffled and wiped the tears from his eyes though, his form seemed to change, his hair becoming shorter and black, and his eyes less red.
"The kid hasn't slept well ever since you've been out of it. He hasn't changed back to human form yet, either. Looks like he's finally relaxing after seeing that you're alright." Nurarihyon continued, looking at his grandson and his transformation.
"Shut up, old geezer! I'm right here, you know?" Rikun yelled at Nurarihyon, embarrassed. Yamabuki shushed him.
"Rikun, don't yell so loud, ok? Maybe you should get some rest." Yamabuki suggested softly. Rikun shook his head vigorously.
"No! I wanna stay with Dad!" He protested. He had almost completely changed back to his human form, and it seemed that the fatigue finally caught up to him. Rikun's eyes fluttered as he struggled to stay awake. Nurarihyon huffed.
"The boy's as stubborn as you were back then." Nurarihyon commented, Rihan giving a small snort.
"Well, he is my son." Rihan replied, Nurarihyon giving a small laugh along with Yamabuki. Rikun was leaning against his mother, his eyes half lidded as he struggled to stay awake. Rihan looked at his son.
"Why don't you go rest, Rikun? Dad's tired too." Rihan suggested. Rikun nodded sleepily.
"You better... be ok now... stupid Oyaji…" Rikun mumbled as he closed his eyes, falling asleep against Yamabuki. The adults in the room chuckled at the cuteness of the child.
"Like I said, he's as stubborn as you were back then. And he's determined too. The boy's already sworn vengeance against whoever tried to kill you." Nurarihyon chuckled. Rihan couldn't quite suppress the flinch he gave when he heard that. Nurarihyon blinked at his son, noticing his flinch.
The shoji door slid open again. Yakushi stood in the doorway, his son, Zen, in tow. The bird youkai gave the occupants of the room a quick bow.
"Sorry I'm so late, Nurarihyon-sama. I had some other things to take care of." Yakushi said, stepping into the room. Zen went to kneel by his friend, Rikun. Nurarihyon gave a small wave.
"Why don't you take Rikun to his room, Yamabuki? Zen can go, too. There's some things I would like to discuss with Yakushi." Nurarihyon suggested. Yamabuki nodded and picked up Rikun in her arms. She gave a quick bow and left the room, Zen following her. The shoji doors slid closed.
"What happened?" Nurarihyon asked as soon as the doors closed. Rihan sighed. He knew that tone.
"...Rikun said there was another boy with you guys that day. He called him onii-san." Nurarihyon continued when Rihan didn't answer immediately. Rihan flinched again. Yakushi watched silently from the side.
"Rihan. What happened?" Nurarihyon pressed again. Rihan sighed and stared at the ceiling, his eyes blank.
"...They used him." Rihan said quietly. He turned his head to the side. "They used Rikuo." Nurarihyon stayed silent. Yakushi frowned. He didn't know who this Rikuo was, but he seemed to be very important considering Rihan's and Nurarihyon's reactions.
"When I first saw him, I knew it was a trap of some sort. But he talked and acted so much like him that I…" Nurarihyon placed a hand on Rihan's shoulder. He understood. Yakushi stared at the two Supreme Commanders. What was going on? Nurarihyon glanced at Yakushi.
"You see, Yakushi, the truth is…"
Yakushi couldn't believe his ears. To think the Second Head had another son that no one remembered. A son that no one mentioned, a son that was considered a taboo to talk about.
And it seemed that their enemy used this first son to try and kill the Second…
Yakushi swallowed, his mouth dry.
"Was it-was it really him, though?" He managed to ask. Rihan exhaled loudly, Nurarihyon looking at his son with an unreadable expression. Of course they had to ask this question.
"...I don't know." Rihan admitted. "When he stabbed me, that look of hatred on his face wasn't Rikuo's; that I know for sure. But when I called out his name, he seemed to wake up. He seemed to recognize me, calling me Otou-san." Rihan's eyes seemed to become a bit larger as he remembered more of what happened.
"There was someone else. An enemy. He seemed to-to be controlling Rikuo. I heard Rikuo scream at it in fury and then…" Rihan swallowed. "He seemed to become someone else entirely. His manner of speech, his attitude, it all changed. And then he threatened to kill Rikun, and you guys know the rest."
The other two remained silent, hearing Rihan's story. So was the boy Rikuo or not?
"I think- I think Rikuo saved me." Rihan suddenly said into the silence. Nurarihyon and Yakushi both turned towards Rihan.
Rihan described the dark place he was in before, and the mysterious person who saved him, and the "he" that youkai talked about. He also mentioned how the youkai said that there was the possibility of Rihan meeting "him" again, whoever "he" was.
"And you think the 'he' this youkai mentioned is Rikuo?" Nurarihyon asked his son. Rihan fidgeted. Well, when put like that it sounded pretty stupid, even to Rihan.
"Who else would it be then?" Rihan asked after a few moments. Nurarihyon frowned, but didn't give any other suggestions. Yakushi had absolutely no idea either.
Nurarihyon sighed.
"At any rate, we need to tread carefully. Whether or not the boy really is Rikuo being controlled, it would probably be best not to tell the rest of the clan." Nurarihyon said. Yakushi blinked.
"Why not?" Yakushi asked. "Why shouldn't we let the others know? You're just going to let the clan kill your first son?" Yakushi couldn't believe what he was hearing. Nurarihyon and Rihan said nothing. Yakushi stared at them incredulously.
"Seriously, you two?!"
"It's not like we have much choice. Even if they knew, we would still need to cut him down by the looks of things. Telling them now would only make it harder for them to fight against this unknown enemy." Nurarihyon stated without emotion. Rihan kept his gaze blank, but Yakushi could see the conflict that was swirling behind the Second's eyes. Yakushi winced, remembering Rikun's vow of vengeance.
"...And Rikun?" Yakushi finally asked. Silence answered him, and that was all the answer he needed. Yakushi sat back on his heels.
"...This is too cruel." He whispered. The other two said nothing.
"What choice do we have?" Nurarihyon answered after a long moment of silence. Yakushi didn't answer. Instead, he went and started working of Rihan's bandages.
"...You'll need quite a bit time to recover from the looks of things. The sword you were hit with was no ordinary sword. I can't say for sure how long you'll need to rest for until you can recover completely." Yakushi said monotonously after a few minutes.
"... Thanks, Yakushi." Rihan replied. Yakushi gave the two Supreme Commanders a small bow. He stood up and went to the door.
"... Rihan." He called out before he left. Both Nurarihyon and Rihan turned their heads towards him.
"I know I don't have much time left before my own poison takes me but…" Yakushi started. He sighed. "Just...promise me you won't make any decisions you'll regret later on." Yakushi said as he looked back at his friend. Rihan let his hair cover his eyes.
"...Yeah." He finally said, softly. Yakushi nodded and left the room. The two Nurarihyons stayed silent, neither saying a thing until night.
It took around two months for Rihan to fully recover physically.
In that time, rumors of an old enemy had appeared near Kyoto.
Hagoromo Gitsune. Or more accurately, her son, the Nue. Word has it that the Nue had reappeared, and was steadily garnering support and reviving the old Kyoto youkai clan.
There were also rumors on how the Nue came back. Rumors say that the Nue survived by possessing human hosts. The rumors say that this was how the Nue could gather power over the years, to try and fully revive itself. But since the hosts were human, the Nue had need to change hosts once the human vessel dies.
This certainly sounded like the enemy that almost killed the Second. The Nue would have motive for getting rid of the Second too, considering the Nura Clan and the Kyoto youkai have always been at odds with each other.
Of course, they were all just rumors, but they were still alarming nonetheless.
As the Second Head of the Nura Gumi, Rihan knew that when the time came they would need to cut down the Nue. They had a few records of what happened during its reign over Japan near a thousand years ago, and it was disturbing to say the least. A youkai that was powerful enough to make the history of youkai cease for nearly a century…
And yet.
If the current host was Rikuo, Rihan wasn't sure if he could cut him down.
But then that would mean Rikuo had been revived somehow, and Rihan was pretty sure no one had ever perfected necromancy up to the point where a person could fully revive another from the dead. But then again, that was the whole point of what the Nue was trying to do.
Ahhh… Rihan really didn't want to deal with this whole mess. But it was his duty, as the Second Head of the Nura Gumi. It was his duty as a hanyou, as someone who exists between humans and youkai to protect both.
And as much as Rihan didn't want to deal with this on his own, he would hate it even more if he pushed Rikun to deal with this.
Rikun was still young, only four. He was much more youkai than Rihan was, being that Yamabuki was a full youkai, but Rihan wanted his son to grow up with the humans too. He wanted his son to enjoy his childhood, to take things slowly. There will come a time where Rikun would need to take up the seat of the Third, but not yet.
Rihan wasn't about to make the same mistake he had with Rikuo. He even ordered his subordinates to talk less about the dark, yakuza side of the youkai world. Rihan wanted Rikun to make the choice himself, whether or not he wanted to walk the path of a human, or the path of a youkai.
Although, Rikun was definitely more in touch with his youkai side than Rikuo ever was. Rihan pulled the brakes at every corner with Rikun and still the boy would find some way to stick his foot into the world of darkness. Rikun was drawn to the yakuza aspect of the youkai world like a moth drawn to a flame. Perhaps Rihan was being too overprotective, but the boy is still young, still a child even for youkai standards. Rihan wanted to wait until Rikun was at least 13 to let him decide which path he will tread.
Rikun seemed to have other ideas throughout the years, exchanging sakazuki with some of his trusted youkai, a few new ones like Jami, leading a small part of the clan who listened to him to fight against the Shikoku youkai without permission (not to say Rihan wasn't proud of him, but still), etc. That boy really wanted the title of Third.
Everyone else treated him like the honorary Third Heir Rikun made himself to be. A part of Rihan felt pride at how well his son was handling the duties of the Third Heir despite not formally being one. That didn't mean he was going to change his stance on letting Rikun be at least 13 before he could become the Third Heir.
Rihan hoped the boy wouldn't get himself into too much trouble before that time came.
When Rikun said he wanted to go to Kyoto to fight the Nue, Rihan was conflicted to say the least.
Rikun didn't know about Rikuo, or much about that day, really. Rikun was still very young when it happened, and his memories of that day were still kind of blurred for him. All he remembered was an older brother almost killing his father. He was still too young to understand much of what was going on at the time, only that he learned what it felt like to lose something precious.
Rihan didn't want Rikun to go. Nurarihyon seemed to think that if Rikun felt he had to, he should be allowed to go, provided that he train himself at Toono first.
And that's what Rikun did. He trained with the Toono group, came back with a couple (no small feat, considering Toono and their no sakazuki tradition), and set out for Kyoto on the Takarabune ships the Nura Clan has had since ages ago but never really used.
Perhaps this was for the best. Rihan tried to convince himself. After all, Rikun had the best chance out of all of them to cut down the Nue. He didn't know the person's face the Nue was wearing; he wouldn't hesitate like Rihan or Nurarihyon would.
Rikun still needed back up though, and Rihan would be there to support him in any way he can. He needed to support him. (Because he failed to support Rikuo when he needed it)
When Rihan saw Seimei's face when he met up with Rikun at Nijo Castle, his heart did a small, nervous flutter.
The face was older than he ever remembered (because he had lost Rikuo at age 13 and Seimei was 18 at the very least), but it was undeniably Rikuo's.
Rihan traded swords with Rikun. There was no way Rihan would be able to pierce Nenekirimaru through Rikuo by himself. Rikun however…
Seimei smiled at them and Rihan felt his gut clench.
This fight was going to be a lot harder than he thought.
Rihan provided Rikun with support with everything he could. He used Matoi with Kurotabou to try and create an opening. Unfortunately, Seimei was a lot smarter than he thought.
The plan ended up with Rikun getting his heart pierced out.
Rihan had felt pain and anguish before: when Wakana had died when he was out of the area, when Rikuo ran away from him, when he learned that Rikuo had died decades ago without him knowing. But nothing could top the pain he felt when he saw the face of his first son pierce the heart of his second son, and the way the face of his first son laughed at it.
Rihan screamed.
And then somehow Rikun was still alive with only minor hand injuries when he caught Seimei's blade in his hand.
What was that? Rihan thought. Was the first Rikun just an illusion that Seimei had cut through? No, everyone else felt what he did, if the lack of fighting said anything else. So then what was it?
Rihan snapped out of his thoughts when Seimei started talking, cursing the Nurarihyons. And then Rikun asked him about that day. Asked the host.
Seimei replied that he hadn't tried to assassinate Rihan that day, but rather his host. A host that Rihan had knew previously.
Rihan felt his blood burn. He charged at Seimei.
"Ho? You want to hide the truth from your son? Of how you drove this body of mine to his own dea-"
"Shut up!" Rihan roared. The emotions he had been holding back for decades boiled in him and burst out. He didn't care if he cut down this person anymore. He wasn't Rikuo.
Rihan fought and struck and hit Seimei's shields relentlessly. He channeled all his confusing, complicated muddle of emotions into his strikes. Rihan didn't care anymore.
He should have known better. He knew this wasn't Rikuo and still showed his weakness out to the enemy. Rihan had hoped too much.
Rihan would cut him down. Cut down this imposter because there was no way Rikuo would ever say something like that to hurt him. He needed to. He would let Rikuo's memory rest in peace. He had to.
Rihan flew into the wall when Seimei struck his opening. It was painful, but the pain seemed to clear his head somewhat. His rage hadn't cleared completely but he could at least think clearer than before.
He came to support Rikun after Rikun was pinned to the wall. But Seimei seemed to be regaining power. Rihan struggled to get out of the pentagram that was choking him.
Seimei smiled at him. Rikuo's smile. And turned around to kill Rikun.
"N...No…" Rihan managed to choke out.
A shard containing memories of that moment fell next to them. Rihan stared at the image of Rikuo stabbing him from behind.
Rihan's memories of the boy from that day were kind of blurred to be honest. He didn't want to remember, didn't want to acknowledge that it was Rikuo's face who stabbed him.
The image was like a stab to his heart again.
But Seimei screamed when he saw the image. What?
Seimei threw Rihan away, where his trusted right-hand man, Kubinashi, caught him. Rihan hacked and coughed, trying to get enough air into his lungs after being choked. He changed back to his youkai form. Youkai blood could handle more pain and healed faster than human blood after all. Kubinashi supported him as he walked.
Rihan looked up at the scene before him. Rikun gave a fierce battle yell and finally, finally, pierced Seimei with Nenekirimaru. Rihan watched Rikun's memories of that day play out in the shards. He watched as his second son cut into the face of his first son.
Rihan looked away. He couldn't watch on any longer. He couldn't watch his sons killing each other anymore. He couldn't watch the memories of his sons playing together, like actual siblings.
Kubinashi gasped beside him. His right-hand man shook him by the shoulders.
"Ri-Rihan-sama. Those are-!" Rihan looked up at Kubinashi's urgent voice. Rihan's eyes widened as his breath hitched.
Those were... Rihan's memories?
No. Wait.
Those were Rikuo's memories.
Weren't they?
Rihan saw himself with Rikuo in the shards. The time he saved Rikuo from that centipede youkai. When he ruffled Rikuo's hair when Rikuo was younger. When Wakana was still alive and the three of them went to the market.
Then that means…
The pentagrams in Seimei's eyes faded away, their color returning to a very familiar brown. Seimei caught sight of Rihan. One of his hands seemed to be reaching out to him, to Rihan. His mouth moved, but he was too far away for Rihan to hear what he was saying.
"Otou...san…" Rihan thought he saw Seimei mouth. His eyes widened.
Seimei's spirit burst out of the wound Rikun made. Rikuo slumped against Rikun.
"Rihan-sama, is that…?" Rihan had almost forgotten about Kubinashi, who was standing right next to him. Kubinashi looked at him with fearful eyes. Was the enemy they had been fighting really…?
Rihan shook his head. The memories should have served as the final piece of evidence. But then why would he want to kill Rihan nine years ago?
Rihan snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Rikun yell. He watched as Rikun charged towards Seimei alone. He shouted along with every other Nura Gumi youkai. Goddamnit! Rikun was too impulsive for his own good!
Rihan swore colorfully along with Kubinashi when Nenekirimaru shattered, and Seimei started towards Rikun. Damnit, they won't make it in time!
Rikuo took the hit for Rikun. Rihan watched as Rikuo grabbed onto the blade, trying to stop it. He flinched when Seimei slashed his sword across Rikuo's chest, breaking Rikuo's hold on his blade.
He watched as Rikuo stepped in front of Rikun, holding his good arm out. He watched as Rikuo tried to protect Rikun.
That was the Rikuo he knew. That was the Rikuo he lost all those years ago.
"Why would you do so much for a family who cast you away?" Rihan heard Seimei ask Rikuo. His heart clenched. Is this how Rikuo thinks of us? Of me?
"Why would you risk so much for a family that forgot your existence? A family who willingly erased you from their history?" Rihan felt Kubinashi stiffen next to him. Kubinashi's fingers dug into Rihan arm where he was supporting him by.
Kubinashi was one of the few who vowed to never forget about Rikuo, along with Kurotabou and Rihan and a few more others. And yet, despite their vow, they haven't really done anything to honor Rikuo and his memory, haven't they? Is this what Rikuo thought? Was he angry at them for forgetting him?
"...Do you see him as your brother?" Rihan finally heard Seimei ask. Rihan snapped his head up. That sounded a lot more like the Rikuo he remembered. Did Rikuo see Rikun as his younger brother? That's why he was protecting Rikun, right?
"Were we not like brothers back there?" Seimei asked as he held out his hand to Rikuo.
...What.
And then Rikuo finally spoke. Rihan noticed the tears on his face as Seimei pressed on with his questions. He noticed the steel in Rikuo's eyes as he faced Seimei directly. (Rihan's heart fluttered a bit with pride at the way Rikuo stared Seimei down)
"Like hell... we were…" Rikuo finally answered, his eyes burning into Seimei's, and his voice soft, like how Rihan remembered it, but still full of steel and determination.
Seimei sneered and made to kill both Rikuo and Rikun. Rikuo pushed Rikun backwards, and Rihan wanted to yell. He wasn't going to lose Rikuo again.
But he wasn't close enough. No one else was close enough. Rihan cursed.
Seimei's arm rotted and dripped onto the castle roof. Rihan watched in silent shock along with everyone else. Seimei said something about recuperating and opened the gates to Hell.
Rihan cursed again when the gates closed, threatening to suck both his sons in. He gasped in relief when his father, Nurarihyon, suddenly appeared to pull the both of them out. Thank the gods.
But Rihan wasn't finished yet. He urged Kubinashi to get him to Zen as quickly as possible, where he knew his father would be taking Rikuo to next. Kubinashi obeyed, and the two hobbled as quickly as they could to Rikuo's side.
Rihan took one look at Rikuo's wounds and put his hands over them. Kubinashi hovered over his shoulder as Rihan used his mother's gift to try and save Rikuo's life.
Why weren't the wounds closing? Rihan switched back to his human form. His own wounds ached a bit more in this form, but it was nothing if it meant he could save Rikuo.
Hidemoto commented that the wounds probably weren't closing because of the swords. Rihan's shoulders drooped at the news. He barely heard his father telling him that he would tell the rest of who Rikuo was. Rihan nodded and went back to healing Rikuo's wounds, working with Zen.
Rihan stared at Rikuo's face. Rikuo's face was contorted in excruciating pain. His breaths were short and quick; his chest was in pretty bad shape. Rihan redoubled his efforts to heal him. Rihan could feel the strain on his own body as he continually pushed himself to heal. He couldn't let Rikuo die again. Not when he's finally here.
Nurarihyon reached the end of his story. He told Rikun and the others of how no one had been able to find Rikuo after he left, how none of them knew what happened to Rikuo.
Except that wasn't entirely true.
Rihan knew what had happened, along with Setsura. But Rihan had lacked the courage to tell his father what had happened. Nurarihyon knew of it, no doubt, but not how. Nurarihyon knew Rihan after all; he knew his son was too loyal to go out and find someone to heal him unless he knew Rikuo was gone. He just never pressed for answers from Rihan, something Rihan was grateful for.
But now that everything was out…
Rihan took a deep breath and recounted the story he heard from Setsura, his mouth dry and his voice small. Thinking about it was never easy; the story was even harder to tell.
When he finished retelling the tale, silence had fallen over the remains of the castle.
Perhaps it was also because Rihan was in his human form, as human emotions were so confusing at times, but all the stress, emotions, and utterly human feelings Rihan had pushed to the back of his mind for centuries spilled forth.
"If only I'd been there, if I had known about it-" The guilt Rihan had been hiding from everyone else spilled out. He couldn't hold it in anymore.
"...Oyaji." Rihan heard a voice call out to him. He snapped his head up and looked at his second son.
"It's not your fault, what happened to Rikuo." Rihan averted his eyes. "You didn't know. There's nothing you could have done back then." Rikun continued. Rationally, Rihan knew Rikun was right. But that didn't really ease the guilt in his heart.
"...But Rikuo's back isn't he? He wouldn't want you to blame yourself." Rikun continued when his father didn't say anything. Rihan looked at the face of his first son. Rikuo's face was still tight and pale.
...Is that what Rikuo would want? Rihan asked himself. Is that what you want, Rikuo? Rihan wanted to ask.
"That's right, Rihan. I'm sure he'll forgive you after he wakes up." Rihan relaxed slightly at the voice of his father.
I'm so stupid. Rihan wanted to laugh at himself. Even after so long, I still can't understand my own son.
Rihan groaned when he felt the drain of power from using his healing ability.
"Second! It's alright, you can rest now. I've got him stabilized." Zen suddenly cut in. Hearing that, Rihan nodded tiredly, a huge weight off his shoulders. He really shouldn't have been surprised when he fell backwards, too tired to hold himself up, but Rihan was surprised. Rikun had to support him when he fell backwards. Ugh, his head felt weird, like he was swimming in a sea of clouds...or something. Wow, he was tired if his brain was coming up with weird analogies like this. Rihan blinked and shook his head to try and get rid of some of the fuzziness in his head.
When he finally got his brain to function somewhat, Rihan immediately wished he hadn't, as the tension in the air became almost stifling as the Kyoto youkai and the Nura Clan had a brief, but fierce standoff regarding which side Rikuo should be taken to.
...Really. Was asking for some alone time with a son he lost centuries ago so much to ask for?
It was Hidemoto who came up with a solution. An absolutely horrible solution, but it was one that both sides could agree to. Temporarily.
Rihan breathed a sigh of relief. He looked back at Rikuo.
What did Rikuo think of him? What would Rikuo's decision be when he woke up?
For the first time in a long while, Rihan was scared. He was genuinely scared of Rikuo's answer.
But being scared won't change anything. Rihan walked with the rest of the Nura Clan towards the Keikain main house. Kubinashi, who was supporting him as he walked, said nothing, but eyed Rihan silently. Rihan shook himself out of his thoughts.
No use pondering over what Rikuo might or might not say. The only thing they could do was wait. Wait for Rikuo to wake up and give his answer to the rest of them.
And no matter what Rikuo decided to do after he woke up, Rikuo was still his son. Rihan would respect his decision. That was what Rihan decided.
Rihan could only hope that Rikuo would wake up soon.
Me: Ya gotta stahp putting putting in OCs into your stories ppl read fics for the existing characters!
Also me: OC's make the world go round~~ (trust me, this story would make a lot more sense with an OC. later on anyway)
Also, I know that in the first chapter Rikun was in his youkai form on that day, but for the sake of this story he is going to be CANONICALLY in his human form. Please ignore whatever bs I wrote 4 years ago in the first chapter. If i ever go back and change/update all the existing chapters i'll be sure to change it, but for now let's just say Rikun was in human form when the incident happened.
By the way, is anyone else bothered by the explanation of Rihan dying in the omake? Like, I get that you feel guilty and stuff but what about your other family? Wakana? Rikuo? Sorry, but for me, Rihan's reaction in the omake was pretty selfish. Makes me feel like his relationship with Wakana wasn't really deep. I know it's because the manga got axed but still... And so that's why I added the selfish part into the story.
Thanks for reading!