Marisay-chan here! Thank you once again to those who kept on reviewing! And thank you, soul vrazy! Your review really made my day!*Chuckles* Regarding about the question I posted on the previous chapter, it seems like most of you likes Rihan!

Rihan: This is to be expected! *Grinning from face to face*

Marisay-chan: Um…Rihan, you are not supposed to come out until the story starts. *Sweatdrops at the really bright smile he's giving*

Rikuo's night form: Hn.

Nurarihyon: …

Marisay-chan: Ah! Don't be upset Nurarihyon-sama. You still have Yohime!*Smiles*

Nurarihyon: …So you don't want me as well.*Changes into his yokai form, grabbing Marisay-chan's chin*

Marisay-chan: …Uh…*Blushes really hard*...U-Um, a-anyways, l-let's move on!

To Zylia16: Nurarihyon is in his old man form in this story. But as I have told RainAlchemist201 in the previous chapter, that is only his human form. As for your question of whether this story will change to M-rated…my, did you read my mind? I have actually been thinking about it ever since I wrote the last chapter…hmmm…How about this? Why don't you tell me why you think of that in the first place? And whether or not you want it to be M-rated?

Disclaimer: I do not own any of characters of course, only the story. ^_^

Please note: Once again there will be a lot of shifting of places in this chapter! ^_^

In italics are thoughts

In bold are flashbacks

In bold and italics are thought in the flashbacks

~Story Starts~

~Saturday Night~

Kana was packing clothes into a small sling bag. She checked around to see if there was anything forgotten, before letting out a small sigh.

Why…does it bother me so much that Rikuo-kun is close with another girl? …They are probably just friends…but why didn't Rikuo-kun tell me anything like that...?

An image of Tsurara feeding Rikuo came to mind, and then, suddenly, a pair of crimson eyes replaced the image.

Kana gasped at the unexpected image, "…W-Why did I suddenly think of that person…? It can't be that, I actually…" She trailed off, blushing slightly.

Her thoughts were cut off as her phone suddenly rang. Slightly startled, she reached over to the phone, looking at the screen to see who is calling.

"Rikuo-kun?" She said, surprised as the word 'Nura' appeared on the screen. Pressing the button, she answered, "He-Hello?"

"Ah, Kana-chan? Sorry to bother you so late at night," Rikuo's voice came through the phone.

"N-No, it's all right. Um…is something the matter?" Kana asked.

"It's regarding about tomorrow's trip. Uh…what do girls normally bring?"

"Eh?" Kana blinked. "W-Why are you asking that?"

~With Rikuo~

"Uh…Ahaha…just asking to get some idea as to what to bring…" Rikuo sweatdropped slightly, turning his head around to look at Tsurara, who was packing bags of ice for the trip.

Rikun, who was sitting beside him, sweatdropped as well at the amount of ice she was packing. More sweatdrops appeared at Rikun's head as he saw Wakana brought even more bags of ice to Tsurara, before she return back to the kitchen, probably to get even more ice.

Oi…does she need that much ice in just one day?

~With Kana~

"Um…all right then...well, a set of clothes to change, toiletries, and…" Kana started numbering things as she looked into her bag.

~With Rikuo~

"Un. Un. Night cream? All right," Rikuo nodded, writing down the things that Kana was telling him on a black notebook, while holding the phone between his ear and shoulder.

Rikun leaned his head on Rikuo's other shoulder to see what he was writing. However, he ended up hurting his chin, as Rikuo suddenly jerked up when Tsurara's voice called out to him.

"Whom are you talking to?"

~With Kana~

That voice…!

"Rikuo-kun…? That voice…" Kana asked in disbelief, eyes widening slightly.

"Ah…uh…i-it's my mother's voice! Uh…thanks for telling me all of this, Kana-chan. I will see you tomorrow!" Rikuo told her, before he hung up hurriedly.

Kana flinched at the sound of the phone hanging up, looking at the screen of the phone.

But…that was certainly the voice of that girl's that afternoon a few days back…

~With Rikuo~

Rikuo sighed, placing the phone down before turning to Rikun, who was rubbing his chin in pain.

"Sorry Rikun. Are you all right?" Rikuo reached forward to touch his chin.

"I'll live," Rikun closed his eyes, leaning against Rikuo's warm hands.

"So, you two will be leaving tomorrow then," Wakana said, coming out of the kitchen, passing the bags of ice to Tsurara. "Is this enough, Yuki-Onna-chan?"

"Yes, Wakana-sama!" Tsurara smiled at her, before taking the offered ice and placing it inside her bag.

"Un. Kiyojuji-san said that he received an invitation from a professor he admired a lot. The invitation was just enough for all of us, so he wanted us to go as well," Rikuo told Wakana, while Rikun was looking at Tsurara packing the ice.

Rikun turned his head at the last statement. "Just enough? For all the eight of you, including Yuki-Onna?"

"Hm? Un," Rikuo nodded at Rikun. "Now that you mentioned it, it was kind of weird. Kiyojuji-san said that it was specifically only for eight people. He actually planned to ask someone in our family, since there were only seven of us. So he was actually quite happy when Yu-er…Tsurara asked to join in," Rikuo told him, trying to get used to using Tsurara's name, so he would not make any mistakes when he was with his friends.

Rikun narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard that.

"So, where are you going?" Yamabuki asked, stepping into the room.

"To a place called Ume Rakuen," Rikuo said.

Both Yamabuki and Wakana blinked in surprise.

"Ume Rakuen?" Wakana whispered.

Rikun noticed that, "Do you know of the place, Okaa-san, Wakana-Okaa-san?"

"Hmmm…it sounds quite familiar…" Wakana placed a finger on her cheek, while Yamabuki stayed silent, covering her mouth with her sleeves.

Rikun blinked at his mother, seeing that something was troubling her. Seeing her son looking at her, she forced a smile on her face, before excusing herself.

"I will go and prepare some snacks for you," Yamabuki told them, walking towards the kitchen.

"I will come and help you, Okaa-san," Rikun stood up, following her.

Rikuo blinked at the spoken words, watching them disappear into the kitchen.

Rikun…helping in the kitchen? That's rare…

"Well, enjoy yourself, Rikuo-kun, Yuki-Onna-chan," Wakana smiled at them.

"Yes!" Tsurara grinned happily, lifting up her bag that was dripping with water from the melting ice.

Rikuo sighed seeing that, before showing Tsurara the notebook, the page on the list of things that he had copied down.

Dangers are actually warnings

"…" Rikun could only stared at his mother, after hearing what she had said when he questioned her earlier reaction.

"…It is just a rumor though, Rikun-kun…maybe I had misheard it or something…" Yamabuki told her son, looking at him worriedly.

Rikun closed his eyes, thinking of something, before he reopened them. "…Has this rumor reached Jiji and Oyaji?"

Yamabuki tilted her head, "I am not sure…I don't think the other yokais know anything though."

Rikun nodded, "…Thanks Okaa-san." He then turned around, walking towards the door, before he paused, his hand on the door.

Yamabuki stared at his back, the silence stretched for quite some time, so she was quite startled when Rikun suddenly started talking.

"…Don't worry Okaa-san. Everything will be all right. Tell that to Wakana-Okaa-san as well," Rikun told her, before sliding the door open, walking out and sliding the door closed behind him.

Yamabuki then continued looking at the door as she heard Rikun's footsteps fade away. She then smiled ruefully, "I sure hope so, Rikun-kun."

Dangers are actually warnings

Rikuo glanced to the side at Rikun as they walked along the corridor.

"Erm…Rikun?"

"Hmm?" Rikun replied without looking at him.

Rikuo stopped walking, staring at Rikun's back as he continued walking.

Noticing the lack of respond, Rikun stopped walking as well, turning back to Rikuo. Rikun blinked at him as he saw the worried expression on Rikuo's face.

"What's wrong, Rikuo?"

Rikuo looked at him for a while longer, before letting out a sigh. He then walked towards Rikun, standing in front of him before hugging Rikun, clenching his hands on the back of Rikun's kimono.

"Wha-! R-Rikuo?" Rikun stammered out, surprised at the sudden intimacy, his hands touching the shorter boy's shoulder in reflex.

Rikuo laid his head on Rikun's chest, closing his eyes, "…You are not going to tell me what's going on, are you?"

Rikun's eyes widened at that, looking down at his brother's brown hair, before his eyes softened. Rikun then wrapped his arms around Rikuo's shoulder, resting his chin on Rikuo's head, pulling him closer.

The two of them simply stood there, enjoying each other's closeness in contentment.

"…Sorry for worrying you like that, Rikuo…I was just trying to keep you out of harm's way, but…" Rikun tightened his grip. "It's just not possible, is it?"

Rikuo looked up at Rikun, smiling softly as he saw the slightly defeated look on Rikun's face. He then reached a hand up to caress Rikun's cheek, getting his attention.

"You can't keep me caged forever, Rikun. And you can't always protect me. As long as I am a yokai, or rather, the grandson of Nurarihyon's," Rikuo chuckled at that part. "I will always be in danger…and I am not the only one you know." Rikuo looked at him meaningfully.

Rikun snorted at that, "Don't worry about me, I will be fine. You are the one who is more delicate," Rikun frowned slightly.

"Don't go treating me like a girl now," Rikuo hit Rikun's arm playfully. "Besides, what exactly do you think we have been doing for the past two days?"

The both of them smiled at each other at the reminder.

Rikun then patted Rikuo's head, "However, that is only a precaution," Rikun looked straight into Rikuo's eyes. "Be careful, all right? I don't want to see you like that again…"

Rikuo nodded, knowing he was referring to the Kyuso incident. "Don't worry so much. Because…" Rikuo's face turned a bit red. "I know that I will be able to contact with Rikun whenever and wherever you are, should something happens."

Rikun blinked at that. "What do you…Ah." He suddenly remembered something. "Oyaji told you about our telepathy ability."

Rikuo nodded, face still a bit red. Rikun smiled in amusement at the reaction.

"What are you so shy about?"

Rikuo blushed even further. "B-Because, I feel that, even since Rikun became the Third Heir…w-we have been getting closer and closer..." He whispered the last part.

Rikun smiled at that. What Rikuo had said definitely rang true. On the day he became the Third Heir, he found out about Rikuo's insecurities. The following days have been Rikuo displaying some of his yokais attributes, and it seems that the said attributes have to do with him, like how he knew about Rikuo's instincts, or somehow connects with him, like their newly discovered telepathy ability. Rikun smirked at the conclusion.

It was almost as if that we want each other so much that, even our powers are trying to connect us in everyway possible.

Rikun smiled gently, "I feel the same way." He planted a kiss on Rikuo forehead, hugging him close again.

The moment was broken by a cough behind Rikun. Rikun looked behind him while Rikuo looked over his shoulder, to find Karasu Tengu at the corner a few steps away from them.

"Ahem…apologies for interrupting, Third Heir, Young Master," Karasu Tengu coughed into his fisted hand. "But, you called for me, Third Heir?"

"Ah, Karasu Tengu," Rikun said, letting go of Rikuo, as if there was nothing out of ordinary. However, the same could not said for Rikuo, who was blushing a lot at being seen. "Indeed, I called for you. There is a favor I need to ask of you."

Rikun turned to the still blushing boy. "Go and get some rest, Rikuo. You still need to wake up early tomorrow."

Rikuo nodded, still blushing. Rikun looked at his blushing face for a while, before smirking suddenly. Rikuo tensed up, getting a bad feeling from the smirk.

"Hey, Rikuo."

"W-What?" Rikuo said, looking warily at him.

"Open your mouth for a second." Rikun told him with quite a serious tone.

Rikuo blinked. "Wha-? Why?"

"Just do it."

Rikuo frowned but did as he was told. However, the moment he opened his mouth, Rikun suddenly leaned down, covering Rikuo's lips with his, thrusting his tongue inside the opened mouth.

"...Mn!" Rikuo widened his eyes at the sudden invasion. He quickly broke the kiss by stepping backwards, covering his mouth with his right hand, staring at Rikun in shock while blushing madly.

Rikun licked his lips slowly, as if trying to lick Rikuo's taste off his mouth, and smiled slyly at the flustered boy.

"Rest well, Rikuo," Rikun chuckled. "Come on, Karasu Tengu," He told Karasu Tengu, who was looking off to the side, face slightly red, before they walked off, leaving Rikuo behind.

"S-S-S…" Rikuo trembled, unbelievable at what just happened.

I-It was in front of Karasu Tengu too…!

"STUPID RIKUN!" Rikuo's shout rang throughout the Nura main house, reaching a certain white-black hair yokai, who was chuckling away, pleased with himself, while his companion simply sweatdropped.

Dangers are actually warnings

~The next day~

"Haaa…This is boring…" Saori complained as they rode the train to Ume Rakuen. "Is there anything we can do while waiting?"

Kiyotsugu laughed, "I am glad that you brought this up, Maki-kun!" He then went to search around his bag.

While Kiyotsugu was searching inside his bag, Kana was observing how close Tsurara and Rikuo were.

"This is very exciting! My first trip with humans!" Tsurara told Rikuo, hands placed on the window.

Rikuo chuckled, "Try and control yourself, Tsurara. Otherwise ice will start forming again."

"Yes, Young Master!" Tsurara told him with a big smile.

"It's Rikuo," Rikuo reminded her, smiling back, getting infected by her cheerfulness.

Kana was biting her lips unconsciously at the scene. From her perspective, it seems that those two were smiling quite romantically at each other, with sparkles as their background.

What exactly are they talking about…?

"Behold!" Kiyotsugu shouted, getting all of their attention. "This is a game that I have came up with. I called it: Yokai Card Game!" He showed everyone a deck of cards he held in his hand.

"…Not very original, is it?" Natsumi sweatdropped.

"The rules are very simple!" Kiyotsugu spread the deck in one hand, which only has 13 cards. "Each of us simply had to pick a card from the deck and show it once all the others had picked their cards. The one with the highest point," Kiyotsugu pointed at the top right hand corner on one of the cards, where a number five could be seen. "Wins!"

"Well, it's better than doing nothing, I guess," Saori said, making a weird face at the picture on the cards. "So, who's playing?"

"Shall we, Youn-er…Rikuo-kun?" Tsurara asked Rikuo.

Rikuo nodded and was dragged to sit at the end of the seat, with Tsurara at the middle and Kana at the other end. Jiro moved to sit in front of Rikuo, with Natsumi at the middle and Saori beside her. Kiyotsugu looked towards Yura, taking a seat that was perpendicular to them, as there are no seats left.

"Are you not playing, Yura-kun?"

"No, I will pass. Thank you," Yura told him, before turning back to the window to view the scenery.

Kiyotsugu shrugged and started shuffling the deck. He then spread it, all the cards facing downwards. "Well, choose your cards!"

"Well, are all of you ready?" Kiyotsugu asked them, once everyone had picked a card. All of them nodded. "At the count of three then. One, two, three!" Everyone flipped his or her cards at the same time.

"…It would seem that Nura-kun has won," Kiyotsugu's eyebrows twitched at his own card, which shows a picture of Natto Kozo, with only one point, which is the lowest point.

Rikuo smiled inwardly at the card he had picked. The card he holds shows a picture of a Nurarihyon, with 13 points, the highest point.

Coincidence?

"All right! Let us continue!" Kiyotsugu pumped his fist in the air, getting all fired up all of the sudden.

~Half an hour later~

Kiyotsugu was found lying on his seat with a defeated air around him. The rest of the group sweatdropped at the sight.

"…I do not know whether to be amazed or simply laugh at his bad luck," Saori scratched her cheek.

Natsumi nodded, "After all, getting the lowest point of the cards for 25 consecutive game is really enough to shock anyone."

"The same can be said to Nura," Jiro stared at Rikuo's card, which was once again a Nurarihyon, in slight frustration. "You really have yokai's luck, don't you? Winning all 25 of them with the same card."

"It was just a coincidence," Rikuo rubbed the back of his neck.

Tsurara looked at Rikuo in admiration.

As expected of Young Master! As the grandson and son of the Master of yokais, he would definitely have no problems getting the master of the cards!

Kana looked at Tsurara as she continued to stare at Rikuo in awe.

She's staring at Rikuo-kun with quite a look…exactly what is the relationship between them?

Dangers are actually warnings

"And here we are! Ume Rakuen!" Kiyotsugu announced to the group, standing at the front of the station.

"Urgh! My back is killing me!" Saori touched her back. "Why do we have to change so many trains just to get here?"

"Uwaaaa!" Tsurara exclaimed out suddenly, looking excitingly at the view in front of her.

Everyone followed her direction and was greeted with the sight of plum blossoms blooming, as well as a mountain ahead.

"It's quite a spectacular sight!" Natsumi said, looking at the mountain in awe.

"Well then, let's go ahead and meet with Adashibara-sensei! We are suppose to meet him at a shrine: Umewakamaru's Shrine!" Kiyotsugu told them.

"A shrine?" Rikuo blinked.

"And where is that?" Natsumi asked.

Kiyotsugu smiled confidently at them. "I have no idea!"

Everyone stared at Kiyotsugu, who was beaming very brightly at the declaration.

"Don't say something like that so confidently!" Saori yelled at him, pointing a finger at him while the rest of them sweatdropped.

"Well, it's somewhere around that mountain," Kiyotsugu pointing at the mountain, totally dismissing her complains. "We will just have to use our own strength to find it!" He then walked off in high spirit.

"Ehhhhh!" Saori sighed, following him with Natsumi.

Yura clenched her hand on her frog purse as she stared at the mountain.

This feeling…If there are really yokais here, I must keep my guard up at all times and not ended up like last time…

She narrowed her eyes in determination, following the others. As they walked, Jiro turned his attention to Tsurara.

Th-This is my chance!

He then rushed to Tsurara's side, "U-Um, O-Oikawa-san?"

"Yes?" Tsurara smiled at him. Jiro felt his heart pumped faster at the smile.

So cute!

"U-Um, y-your bag looks heavy, do you want me to… " He trailed off, gesturing at her bag.

"Oh! I will be fine, thank you," Tsurara declined politely, before rushing forward to catch up with Rikuo, who was already walking quite far from them.

Jiro hung his head at the straight out rejection, looking dejectedly at Tsurara's direction. Kana stopped beside him, frowning slightly at the closeness of those two.

Dangers are actually warnings

"Are…we there yet?" Natsumi panted out after having climbed so many steps.

"Keep your eyes open! We do not want to miss it!" Kiyotsugu told them, looking from side to side.

Rikuo mimicked his actions, before he spotted something ahead towards the right.

Hmmm? What's that?

It seems Yura saw it at the same time as he did, "Eh? There's something there."

"What? Where?" Kiyotsugu turned to Yura, looking around frantically.

Yura pointed to the right, "There seems to be something written on it, I will go and have a look." Yura started walking to the direction.

Rikuo placed a hand above horizontally his forehead, as if to look at the words from his position. Suddenly, something incredible happened. The moment he did that action, he felt his eyes zooming in, blurring out the surrounding trees and onto the spot where he saw something. His eyes then focused on the words that Yura spoke of.

"It's written, 'Umewakamaru'," Rikuo told them, before blinking in slight surprise.

What was that? Another yokai trait?

"Eh?" Everyone turned to Rikuo in shock.

"How come you can see it?" Kana whispered in shock.

All of them went to have a look at it after Rikuo said it. Upon closer look, it was a small shrine with a Jizo statue inside. In front of it was a stone tablet, where the name 'Umewakamaru' craved on it.

"Umewakamaru," Rikuo read it again to confirm what he said.

"It's true," Yura looked at the stone tablet.

"Job well done, Yura-kun! This is where we are suppose to meet with Adashibara-sensei!" Kiyotsugu clapped Yura on the shoulder.

Rikuo frowned slightly, looking around at the environment.

Something…feels wrong…

Yura felt the same way as Rikuo do. A bead of sweat rolls down her cheek, showing her apprehension.

"Young Master…" Tsurara whispered to him.

Rikuo nodded at her, before looking back at the shrine.

There are probably yokais here in this mountain…

A sudden sound from behind startled them, causing them to look at that direction. They saw a silhouette walking towards them. Both Rikuo and Tsurara tensed up while Yura took out one of her shikigami paper, getting ready to attack. The figure then slowly comes closer into the light, revealing to be a middle-aged man. All three of them relaxed upon seeing him, relief that it was not a yokai. The man smiled at them, showing all of his teeth.

"Just who is that perverted-looking old man?" Jiro asked to no one particular.

"I-Idiot!" Kiyotsugu scolded him. "That man is a renown yokai researcher and novelist, as well as the one who sent me the invitation, Adashibara-sensei!" He said, before rushing forward to the professor.

"My, you are faster then me in finding the place! As expected of the Kiyojuji Squad!" Adashibara praised them.

"It is truly an honor to meet you, Adashibara-sensei!" Kiyotsugu shook his hands with Adashibara.

"Um, excuse me. May I ask who is this 'Umewakamaru'?" Rikuo asked the professor, glancing at the shrine.

Adashibara grinned at him, "He's the main character in the legend that goes around in this mountain."

"Legend?" Rikuo repeated, getting a weird feeling at seeing the grin.

Adashibara chuckled, "Follow me." He then walked off in another direction.

Dangers are actually warnings

~Evening approaching~

"…Repeat that, stupid children of mine," Karasu Tengu spoke to the three silhouettes outside of the door as he kneeled inside the room.

"It's not confirmed if it was his doing. The crows in the town simply saw one of his underlings, that's all." The tallest of the silhouettes replied back.

"However, due to the rumor that is going around, the chances of him being involved are high," The second silhouette spoke.

"…I see," Karasu Tengu closed his eyes. At that, the three silhouettes spread out their wings and flew away, leaving Karasu Tengu to think about the information he had just received.

"Hmm…things are getting complicated…"

Dangers are actually warnings

Rikun slowly opened his eyes as he rested on one of the branches of the cherry blossom tree. He looked up at the darkening sky, as if searching for something, before he looked down at the house, where he could see his family sitting at a distance away, drinking tea.

Rihan noticed his gaze, "Oi, Rikun! What are you doing up there alone? Come and join us."

Rikun simply stared at him for a while, shifting his gaze to his mother, who was looking at him with a worried expression, then to Wakana, who was pouring them tea, and finally landed his eyes on his grandfather, who was drinking his tea with his eyes closed.

"Rikun?" Rihan called out to him again.

Rikun looked back at him, making Rihan raised an eyebrow at the stare, before he closed them, standing up on the branch. He then leaped off the tree, landing his feet on the ground, walking off.

"Oi! Rikun! Don't ignore me!" Rihan sweatdropped as Rikun continued walking away out of their sight, as if he had not heard a thing. "Jeez…I swear that he is getting ruder as time passes."

Yamabuki looked at the direction where Rikun left with worried eyes. She turned her husband, who sat on a rock in front of them, drinking his tea with a huff, put off with Rikun's attitude. "Um…Rihan?"

"Yes, Yamabuki?" He looked at her.

"Um…uh…" Yamabuki hesitated, glancing at Wakana, who was humming away while pouring more tea for Nurarihyon. "…It's nothing."

Rihan blinked and was about to question her when he heard footsteps coming towards them. Turning his head to the side, he saw Karasu Tengu walking along the corridor, pondering about something with a serious look.

"Ah. Karasu Tengu," Rihan called.

Karasu Tengu glanced up to see the Nura family having tea. He bowed to them in form of a greeting.

"Why don't you join us, Karasu Tengu?" Nurarihyon asked him.

Karasu Tengu stared at them for a while, "…If you do not mind." He then sat beside Nurarihyon as Wakana poured him some tea.

"By the way, where's Rikuo?" Nurarihyon asked as Karasu Tengu sipped on his tea.

"Oh! He went to a place called, Ume Rakeun," Wakana answered him with a smile.

However, the moment Karasu Tengu heard that, he spitted out the tea he just drank, hitting Rihan, who was in front of him, right on the face.

"Uwah! K-Karasu Tengu!" Rihan coughed out, wiping his face with his sleeves.

"Ume Rakuen?!" Karasu Tengu exclaimed, ignoring Rihan for now due to the importance of the information. "Is that why Third Heir…? This is bad!" Karasu flapped his wings in panic. "I got to inform him! Third Heir!" He shouted out, running towards the direction he had came from. But he was stopped short as he bumped into someone along the way.

"What's with all the shouting, Karasu Tengu?" Zen suddenly appeared from the corner.

"Ah! I don't have time for this! I need to find Third Heir immediately!" Karasu Tengu told him, going around him to continue towards his destination.

"Eh? Rikun? But…" Zen followed Karasu Tengu movement with his head. "He just left the house."

Karasu Tengu tripped over his foot at that, sliding across to the edge of the floorboards, and fell out of sight to the ground. The Nura family, including Zen, sweatdropped at the careless movement that was made by the Overseer of the Nura clan.

"What!" Karasu Tengu flew up, staring at Zen in shock.

"Un. He just suddenly came to me, saying that he was leaving for a while and left before I could question him," Zen looked towards the Nura family. "I came to ask about it."

"Urgh…at a time like this?!" Karasu Tengu held his head with his hands. "Oooooi! Stupid children!" Karasu Tengu flew off, calling out for his children.

Zen and Wakana blinked at that while Yamabuki looked on with a troubled look, glancing at Rihan and Nurarihyon, who simply drank their tea.

Dangers are actually warnings

~With Rikuo and friends~

After walking for a while, they finally reached an open area.

"W-What is that?" Kana stuttered out.

Right in front of them, were huge claws embedded into the surrounding trees, as well as the ground near the steps, where a 'Do Not Enter' sign was erected.

"Those are claws!" Adashibara told them with a grin.

"Claws?" They repeated with a gasp.

"That's right! This is a mountain where yokais live after all. It shouldn't be that surprising to see things like that here." Adashibara said, his grin never faltering.

"Whoa! Th-This is amazing!" Kiyotsugu exclaimed out, getting excited. "There are really yokais here!"

"W-What will happen if yokais really appear?" Kana got a little scared at the prospect.

"Shall I tell you more about this mountain?" Adashibara turned his grin at Rikuo, before walking off to the side, where a huge looking statue stood. Rikuo blinked at that, watching him walk away, before following him.

"A statue?" Natsumi muttered, as all of them stood in front of the statue, which has a face of a bull and a body of a spider.

"Long ago, this mountain went by another name," Adashibara began his story. "During that time, there was a rumor spreading around, that of a vicious man-eating yokai living here."

"Man-eating yokai?" Jiro turned wide eyes at that.

"Because of the rumor, not people come to this place. So, in order to dispel it, the people here changed it's name to Ume Rakuen, which means 'Paradise of plum blossoms'. The previous name of this mountain is," Adashibara's glasses glinted. "Mount Nejireme."

Rikuo widened his eyes at that.

Mount Nejireme…! That's-!

"Young Master, could it be that…" Tsurara trailed off.

Rikuo nodded, "Ah. The yokai that lives in Nejireme is none other then," Rikuo looked at the statue.

"Gyuki."

Dangers are actually warnings

Gozumaru stepped into the main room, bowing at Gyuki, who was seated at the front.

"They have arrived, Gyuki-sama," He reported.

Gyuki slowly opened his closed eyes, revealing determination within them.

"Mezumaru?" Gyuki asked.

Gozumaru grinned, "He's currently welcoming them."

Dangers are actually warnings

Adashibara turned to look at Rikuo with that grin of his. However, Rikuo was too distracted by the information he just concluded to notice it.

Mezumaru chuckled as he watched the scene from a tree nearby, "Everything's going well." He moved his hands, which has strings connected to it. The strings eventually reached Adashibara, controlling him like a puppet.

Dangers are actually warnings

Gyuki nodded, "Do not stray from the plan. And be prepared for any changes."

"Yes, Gyuki-sama," Gozumaru bowed, leaving the room to meet with Mezumaru.

Gyuki glanced at the sword that he had placed on his lap.

"…Apologies, Young Master. This is for the sake of the Nura clan."

Dangers are actually warnings

"Ah. That's why I feel that I have heard of the name before," Wakana placed a finger on her cheek. "It's where Gyuki-san live, Mount Nejireme," She then prepared some tea for Zen, who decided to join them.

"I wonder if Gyuki-san will welcome Rikuo?" Wakana smiled.

"Of course he will!" Rihan sipped his tea. "And it will be a big one too."

Zen kept silent throughout the whole conversation, choosing to glance at Nurarihyon, who continued to drink his tea without a care.

Yamabuki did the same as well, but glanced at Rihan instead. She then switched her glance to the cherry blossom tree, at the branch that Rikun sat earlier.

…Please be safe…

Dangers are actually warnings

~In a dark room~

"Hahaha. I wonder if he could get out of this one?" The figure poured sake into his cup. He threw his head back, drinking it all in one go, the cup covering his face. Finishing his drink, he placed the cup down, revealing himself to be Nyudo Hitotsume, the head of the One-Eyed Demon clan.

"I can't wait for the result."

~To Be Continued~

Whew! Done with another chapter! Hahaha, Rikun certainly likes to tease Rikuo! And Kana sure gets really jealous.

So, the place that Rikuo ended up going is where Gyuki lives! Why does everyone seemed worried? Isn't Gyuki supposed to be a good person? Why is he targeting Rikuo? What rumor has been spreading around? Where did Rikun go? And what exactly is Hitotsume talking about?

That sure was a lot of questions.

Things to note:

Jizo = One of the most beloved Deities in Modern Japan.

That's all folks! Do remember to review and tell me what you think! Also, if you can, please do answer my question that I have given to Zylia16 above. I would really like some opinion!

Edited on 13rd December 2014