A.N/ So here's the actual first chapter. Honestly I don't know how I feel about it but I do hope you all like it, there's not much drama yet but because I absolutely adore Rikuo and Tsurara, this first chapter is very important in cementing their blossoming relationship right now and throughout the whole story.

Tsurara's POV

"...run! keep running! get out of here! go! run!"

The familiar voice was laced with pain and I looked down at my running legs. My surroundings were a blur, as if everything was going in slow motion.

I wanted to look back but fear gripped at my limbs, unable to do anything as my body continued to run forwards, small footprints marking the snowy ground.

I wondered... where was I?

Another scream echoed in the air, this one more frantic and excruciating, and my heart clenched at the pain that surged through my chest and my head. I could do nothing as I felt myself fall forwards, tripping as I clutched my head, the screaming repeating over and over in a tortuous pattern.

I couldn't take it. And then all I could remember was the feeling of suffering as the darkness engulfed me.

My body jolted up awake. A dream? I thought to myself, frowning.

I was suddenly alarmed at the feeling of wetness cascading down my cheeks and the sounds of small ice balls falling to the ground. I clutched a hand to my heart, wondering why in the world I was crying. Why did I feel so much pain? My heart felt heavy and suddenly it was harder to breathe. I was clawing at my lungs, grabbing at the invincible hold around my neck.

I needed air...

Slowly I slipped out of the covers, being careful to be quite as to not disturb the sleeping Kejoro besides me.

I slid the doors open and walked out, the light from the moon instantly hitting me. The night was at its peak. I had no doubts that it was most probably only midnight.

Walking over to the garden, I sat down on the wooden floor as I took in the peace that only the night seemed to create. The moon above was full, its rays brighter than usual as it shone across the whole city, accompanied by the millions of stars that littered the dark blue night sky. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

I let myself bask in the moonlight, unconsciously taking off my blue scarf and setting the item next to me as I exposed my neck to the soft caresses of the cool wind. In that moment I had forgotten everything. My dream was pushed to the back of my mind and the pain I had felt eased and was replaced with a sense serenity.

However this was cut short when a sudden fear approached my direction, a fear so powerful that it had caused a shiver to run through me. But my worries were calmed when the said fear came closer and instead familiarity overwhelmed me, even more so when the owner stepped out of the shadows and into the light.

"Master..." I whispered.

Surprise was evident on my face as I stared at my young master's night form, his yukata more open and dishevelled than usual exposing his chest that were adorned with fresh new cuts. Had this been under any other circumstances I would have gawked with my faced abashed but the blood seeping out of the master's wounds shook me out of my stupor and I immediately dove into action as I ran towards him, gently guiding him to sit on the wooden floor as I grabbed the first aid kit.

Coming back with the first aid kit at hand, I watched as Rikuo sported a nonchalant look, his top half now fully bare as his yukata laid sprawled around him.

I scanned his body, noting the bigger cuts on his back and biceps and I frowned, what in the world had he been doing? I moved over to sit besides him and he turned to me, eyes scanning all of me and I couldn't help but to feel self-conscious when he gave a slight smirk, becoming fully aware that I had come out here straight out of bed. I inwardly groaned, I was out here in the open simply wearing a thin, short silk blue yukata tied with a simple belt (with the summers being hot, Kejoro had vehemently insisted that I stop wearing such thick layers of clothing to bed whilst I had argued that being a yuki-onna I had unnaturally low body temperature, but her ferocity in our argument had won in the end).

My cheeks felt warm as I kept in mind Master's roaming eyes, my free hand tightening the belt around my waist. After a while I risked a glance at Rikuo-sama's face only to see that the amusement in his eyes were gone and replaced with a hard look, his lips upturned into a frown. The sudden change caught me off guard but as his gaze focused on my probably puffy eyes, I knew that he knew. Ignoring this I busied myself with treating his wounds, disinfecting the cuts and wrapping them in bandages whilst I stitched the bigger cuts closed.

"Tsurara..." My name slipped from his lips and I shivered, his chuckle resonating at my sudden reaction.

"H-hai waka..." I replied, avoiding eye contact, perfectly aware of my beet red face.

Master reached out, his right arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me closer. The intimacy had caused me to shriek in surprise as I struggled in his grasp but he wouldn't budge, indicating that he had no intention of letting go as he tightened his grip further.

"You've been crying" He stated.

I gulped at this, making no comment. Lying was futile when it came to master Rikuo, he was able to see right through me, therefore I stayed quiet, not all up for admitting my moment of weakness.

However Waka's sudden growl and his fingers gently grasping my chin had made me think otherwise. Clearly not pleased with my lack of response he asked once again, voice holding a much sterner tone, "Why were you crying Tsurara?"

I heaved out a deep sigh, my yellow eyes staring into ruby red orbs.

"Nightmare..." I muttered.

His gaze softened and master nodded in understanding, hands coming up to my head and stroking my hair in an attempt of comfort. And was pleasantly surprised when I felt master's soft lips reach down and plant a kiss on my forehead. I sat there stunned as he turned away, a dust of pink on his cheeks whilst he stared at the moon above us.

I gave out a small giggle at his actions. Letting my eyes settle on his figure, my thoughts drifted along as I realised just how much he had truly grown.

It had been 2 years since the defeat of Abe No Seimei and a lot of things had drastically changed since then. Master now at 17 years of age had succeeded the position of being the third supreme commander, officially becoming the head of the Nura Clan and the lord of the pandemonium. Fortunately nothing tragic had encountered the Nura Clan since the Nue, and so master spent the majority of his days tightening the bond between humans and yokai, as well as going out every other night to recruit more worthy demons to join our ranks.

I smiled, pleasantly happy with how much the young master had grown into a fine young man. And although no one had dared to say anything nor had the young master every really breached such the topic, everyone knew that Master Rikuo had changed. Day after day, he became more accepting of his demonic which may have been the reason as to why his day and night form had slowly merged together. As Rikuo grew older his human gradually morphed into his night form, now he was the spitting image of his yokai counterapart, tall, broad and lean, with sharp features, albeit his hair that had grown longer but stayed the same brown and black. It was also during the time that he had discarded his glasses, arguing that he never needed them anyways and was only an instrument that concealed his superior sense of sight, now he no longer had any reason to hide such an advantage. But despite all these physical changes the younger master stayed the same in mind and heart, Rikuo would always be our Rikuo-sama... well almost all the same, it would have been a lie if Tsurara had said that he hadn't become much more confident in his approaches to MANY things. Hell be damned, but this past year alone had everyone suspecting that their gullible little Rikuo wasn't so oblivious anymore, he really was starting to become more sly and a lot more like his night counterpart in that department.

I pondered hard, knowing how hard this year had been in concealing my raging jealousy. I never hid my feelings for the young master, despite knowing that my chances were slim and that he would more than likely mate with a human (with Kana Ienaga being a promising candidate) even though the fox's curse had been nullified. I always did my best in showing him the care I had towards him every day. He was the most important person in my life after all. But contrary to popular belief, I knew my place, therefore when that dreaded time comes and he chooses to give his heart to another then I would gladly take my rightful place as his trusted aid, and only as his aid.

I knew that Master had an inkling of how my feelings for him ran deep, yet he has never said anything, something that I was glad for as I wasn't big on confrontation but lately Master's unusual sweetness had watered the budding hope in my heart, that maybe he could feel something for someone like me? Yet of course I knew to be careful but the hope was there.

And so I smiled at Rikuo-sama, my heart on my sleeve as I watched him place his yukata back on before turning to me.

"You took your scarf off..." he points out, his gaze pin pointing the blue scarf that I placed behind me.

I nodded and gave a small hum in reply.

Master didn't say anything else, his eyes lingering on my neck and the heat of his stare had me clasping the area, covering it. This seemed to have brought him back to his senses as he shook his head and turned to anything but me.

Shrugging off his odd behaviour I opened my mouth to ask him a question.

"Master, what happened? How did you hurt yourself?" My voice was laced with concern and Master's eyes softened at me as he patted my head in reassurance.

"I'm fine, it wasn't anything I couldn't handle." I snorted at this to which he raised a brow at me.

I glanced at his bandaged up body as if to prove my point and he sighed, "This is nothing and you know it. You should've seen how I left those bastards" I bit my lip, truth be told these cuts were mere grazes in comparison to the injuries master had received 2 years ago, but that was then and this was now, it was just unusual for him to come home this hurt nowadays.

Rikuo gave out a deep sigh as a worried look still hovered over my face, "Hmm, my Yuki-Onna needs to stop worrying about me so much. I'm sorry if I've worried you alright, I promise I'll be more careful next time, okay?" The soft tone in his voice and his promise had me whipping my head to look at him, a small smile had graced his lips and god forbid that I swoon. Seemingly entranced by Waka's smiling face I found myself nodding my head in agreement.

Silence ensued between us before my yawn broke the peace of the night. Sleep was catching up to me once again. I tried to rub the sleep from my eyes but my eyelids felt heavier, wanting to shut.

"Sleepy?" I heard master ask. I nodded my head at him, half dazed from sleepiness.

Not paying attention, I didn't give notice to when I suddenly felt like I was floating as my whole body was lifted off the floor and into the air. Strong arms wrapped around my tiny form and I snuggled closer to the source of warmth that was reaching out to me, my eyes giving in as they shut close and darkness consumed me.

a/n. edited version.

friendly warning: some bad words will be used here and there and it's rated m for a reason even though it might not look it right now, so I advise the underage to turn away BUT I can't exactly stop anyone, so at least please proceed with caution :) much love my readers!