Marisay-chan finally writing again! Whew…I am really dying here…so busy…I will probably get even later in updating T_T
To CrescentFlame: I am still thinking about it, it might change at the later chapters ^_^
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of course, only the story. ^_^
In Italics are thoughts
In bold are flashbacks
In bold and Italics are thoughts in the flashback
*In Italics within stars are Telepathic thoughts between Rikun and Rikuo*
~Story Starts~
The next morning, Rikuo went to school as usual…with a few additionals.
Rikuo sweatdropped as he stared ahead, while walking to school. Glancing behind him, he could spot Tsurara and Aotabo following closely behind him, not getting seen by other people, as usual.
That itself is already very uncomfortable…
Rikuo faced the front again, the sweatdrop on his head grew bigger as he saw three figures near him. Those three figures belonged to, Kejoro, Kappa and Kubinashi.
Why are they trying to disguise as humans when they could just do what Tsurara and Ao is doing right now?
Rikuo held his head on his hand at that. Looking at Kejoro first, another sweatdrop formed on his head.
…Why is she wearing a school uniform?
As he watched on, he could see that Kejoro was enjoying the clothes she was wearing, twirling her skirt around, and not realizing that she was attracting the attention of some males whom were walking along the path.
Rikuo gave a blanked look when he saw that, before looking at his next bodyguard, Kappa. For the first time trying to blend with humans, Kappa have great taste in clothes, looking to be a normal boy with headphones and reading a book in hand while walking.
…Except for that…
Rikuo shut his eyes when he saw Kappa's webbing between his fingers. As Kappa was still quite young, compared to Tsurara and his father, he was unable to fully transform into a human, therefore, retaining some of his yokai features. Rubbing his temple, he turned to look at the last yokai guarding him.
…What is the sunglasses for?…
Instead of his usual clothes, Kubinashi decided to wear an olive-colored robe with a scarf to cover the fact that he is neck-less, as well as a pair of sunglasses.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind past by, making Rikuo raised a hand to block the wind. Rikuo narrowed his eyes, staring after the unnatural wind before he sweatdropped, noticing that Kubinashi was now chasing after his head that was blown off by the wind.
…Will things really be all right?
A threat with no warnings
~Nura main house~
Rikun and Zen walked along the hallway with agitated expressions, mostly for Zen. Following behind them was Kurotabo and a bird yokai. After a while of following, Rikun and Zen turned to the two yokais,
"Stop following us!" Zen shouted.
"But I am Zen-sama's bodyguard," The bird yokai said.
"And I am Third Heir's," Kurotabo said, holding onto his hat.
"I hate being followed!" Zen gritted his teeth, before coughing into his hands, which caused the bird yokai to run up to him.
Rikun looked at the Zen and the bird yokai, before facing his own trouble, who was staring back at him.
"…Kurotabo…"
"Please do not make things difficult for me, Third Heir. I am just following orders."
"It's not like I am leaving the house…besides, I'm with Zen, so that should be fine, right?" Rikun asked, pointing at the still coughing Zen. "Also, I would have thought that you would be guarding Rikuo instead of me, since he was the one who was attacked," He frowned.
"Actually, both Kappa and I was suppose to guard you, however, after thinking through and due to yesterday's incident, it was decided to have Kappa go with Young Master as it will be more dangerous for him, since he is moving outside," Kurotabo explained. "…and I do not think that you will always be with Zen-sama, Third Heir."
Rikun huffed, "I can take care of myself." He then grabbed Zen by the arms and started to move him into a room, so that he could rest.
Kurotabo merely tipped his hat, before following Rikun, along with the bird yokai.
At a tree that the four yokais just passed, sat Gozumaru and Mezumaru, watching them.
Mezumaru glanced at Gozumaru, a small sweatdrop forming on his cheek.
"Um…Gozumaru?"
"What?" Gozumaru bit out, glaring after the four yokais.
"…Are you all right?"
Gozumaru turned to him, "Why wouldn't I be?"
Mezumaru stared at him, and slowly lifted his line of vision to the top of Gozumaru's head, where a huge bump stood, the top part was slightly red, as if it was delivered by a really harsh hit.
A silence came between them.
A vein then popped on Gozumaru's forehead. Gozumaru then stood up on the branch and landed a quick punch at Mezumaru's horse skull.
"Ouch! Why did you hit me?!" Mezumaru held onto his skull.
"I will get the Third Heir for this," Gozumaru promised, an evil aura came from behind him to support the statement. "I can't believe he actually hit me, like I was a two year old child, and said 'That's your punishment for hurting Rikuo'. Then he went on telling us that we will be staying here to strengthen the Nura clan, like nothing had happened earlier!"
Mezumaru scratched his cheek, "What I can't believe is that, it is still there after one day…besides, like a two year old, Gozumaru? Did you hit your hea-I mean, Third Heir hit you very hard, you know. I don't think a two year old will be able to handl-" Mezumaru stopped his sentence when he saw Gozumaru directed his glare at him. "-Err…I wonder if we will become bodyguards as well!" Mezumaru quickly changed the topic.
"Hn. I will only guard those who are of a higher rank," Gozumaru folded his arms.
The both of them then looked to the side when they saw Nurarihyon, along with Rihan and Karasu Tengu, coming their way.
"Now, we just need to find some strong bodyguards for both of the Supreme Commanders," Karasu Tengu said, flying beside them.
"Ahhh, you are so uptight, Karasu Tengu," Rihan told him, holding the back of his head with his hands. "The one who needs protection the most is Rikuo, not us."
"Which is why I placed three more bodyguards for him. If it was not for that, I would have Kubinashi guard you, Second Supreme Commander." Karasu Tengu looked around the place and spotted Gozumaru and Mezumaru at the tree near them. "Ah, great timing. Oi, the both of you, since you are employed here, might as well do some work."
"Hoooo! That's fast!" Mezumaru stood up at the branch, getting excited. "So, who are we guarding?"
"The two of you will be guarding them, so I hope you will do your job properly," Karasu Tengu told them, gesturing behind him.
Gozumaru blinked while Mezumaru tilted his head to the side, as if confused.
"What is the matter?" Karasu Tengu asked, seeing their reaction.
"Um…who?" Mezumaru asked, a bead of sweat appearing on his cheek.
"The both of you are from the Gyuki clan, and you do not know who they are?" Disbelief flooded Karasu Tengu. "They are the leaders of the Nura clan, the First and Second Supreme Comman-"
"There is no one behind you, idiot." Gozumaru cut in, feeling slightly insulted.
"What?" Karasu Tengu whirled around, to see that what Gozumaru had said was true. Both Nurarihyon and Rihan had disappeared while he was talking with Gozumaru and Mezumaru. "AHHHHH! First Supreme Commander! Second Supreme Commander! Where did you go!" Karasu Tengu panicked, and quickly flew away to find them.
"Idiot," Gozumaru commented.
A threat with no warnings
"Haaa…that Karasu Tengu worry too much," Rihan sighed, walking along the town in his human form, with Nurarihyon by his side. He then spotted some women looking at him with sparkling eyes. Smiling brightly at them, he greeted them, "Good day to you."
"Kyaaaa!" was the respond Rihan received, along with fainted bodies.
Rihan smirked, "As good as ever."
"Pervert," Nurarihyon snorted, continuing walking.
"What?" Rihan sweatdropped. "Oi…I only greeted them, how is that perverted?"
Nurarihyon glanced at him, "You were looking at something else when you were greeting them, aren't you?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Rihan walked ahead of him. "Hm? What's this building for?" Rihan looked at the high building that was in construction.
Nurarihyon frowned, "…Always building useless things…"
Rihan looked back at him at that and was about to comment when a gust of wind came by, rustling their clothes as well as the skirts of the girls in front of them. Rihan closed his eye in an attempt to block the wind. After the wind died down, he sniffed the air and frowned, before turning to his father.
"Oi, Oyaji, perhaps we should…" Rihan trailed off, seeing Nurarihyon staring at the girls with a huge grin.
"Ho, ho. Building winds, huh? High buildings are not so bad after all," Nurarihyon said, walking off.
"…Now, who is being a pervert?" Rihan deadpanned.
"I don't want to hear that from a person, who greets people by asking how their breast are."
"Oi!"
A threat with no warnings
…But why are they attacking us? What are their motives? And why now?
Rikuo bit his lips as questions after questions erupted in his mind, as he was walking towards his classroom.
"Rikuo-kun?"
Rikuo jerked out of his thoughts when he heard someone calling his name. Turning to his side, he saw Kana looking at him in concern.
"Y-Yes?"
Kana tilted her head, "You look worried. Is something the matter?"
"Ah…no, it's nothing. Just thinking of something insignificant…" Rikuo smiled at her. "Don't worry about it."
"If you say so…" Kana hesitantly dropped the subject. "By the way, Rikuo-kun, you still remember the trip we went a few days ago, right?"
"Hm? U-Un," Rikuo nodded, getting slightly nervous at the question.
"Um…" Kana twirled her hair. "During the trip, I have seen some yokais…so I started to think that, yokais do exist, even Natsumi and Saori confirmed it as well…and I remember you used to say that, you like yokais a lot, that they are good…so I was wondering…if you are actually…" Kana looked at him.
Rikuo felt his heart thumping loudly against his chest, his eyes swirling around.
Did she found out? That I am a yokai! What should I do? What should I do?
"…A friend of a white-black hair yokai," Kana finished.
…
..
.
"…Eh?" Rikuo's jaws dropped. "F-Friend?"
"Un…" Kana nodded, looking out at the window. "Remember? There was a yokai that came to save us when we were captured, I also met him during the trip…and it was always when you are around…so, are you friends?" Kana told him.
Rikuo shook his head frantically, still stunned by the question.
"Is that so…?" Kana frowned.
Rikuo sweatdropped as he watched Kana walked away.
Sorry for lying Kana-chan…well, technically I am not lying, seeing as Rikun and I are NOT friends. We are brothers…and…
Rikuo's cheeks turned pink, as memories of them doing things, which are definitely not brotherly like, floated in his mind.
…Because we are yokais…this sort of thing does not really matter…so…
Rikuo lifted his right hand, to cover his face, which was totally red.
…Why am I blushing so hard?
A threat with no warnings
Rikun sat at the branch of the cherry blossom tree, his legs dangling from the branch, looking at the view from there, with Kurotabo at the bottom.
Kurotabo watched as Rikun suddenly tilted his head to the side and smirked.
"Is something the matter, Third Heir?" Kurotabo was curious.
"Hm?" Rikun turned to him, the smirk still in place. "It's nothing," He chuckled. "Just did not expect Rikuo to be that kind of person," His smirk widened.
Kurotabo blinked, "Young Master?" That confused Kurotabo, wondering why Rikuo was brought up in the conversation.
Rikun only chuckled, sparking Kurotabo's curiosity even more.
"There you are, Rikun-kun!"
Rikun and Kurotabo turned towards the voice, seeing Yamabuki walking towards them, with Natto Kozo following her.
"Okaa-san," Rikun greeted her, jumping down from the branch, while Kurotabo bowed.
Yamabuki smiled and turned to Kurotabo and Natto Kozo.
"Do you mind if I speak with Rikun-kun alone?"
Kurotabo and Natto Kozo glanced at each other, looking conflicted by that.
Rikun understood what his mother was trying to do, "Just leave us alone for a while. You don't want to listen to a mother-son talk, do you?"
Kurotabo frowned slightly, before he bowed his head. "As you wish. We will be at the other corridor, please call for us if you need anything." He then left, with Natto Kozo, who keeps looking back nervously.
Rikun and Yamabuki let out a sigh of relief when they are gone. Rikun then smiled teasingly at his mother.
"Even my mother, who is normally patient, gets irritated at the constant following, huh?" He sat down, leaning against the bark of the tree.
Yamabuki sat beside him. "Even the most patient person have their limits," She smiled. "Aren't you with Zen-san?"
"He's resting in the room," Rikun pointed to a room near them.
A comfortable silence descended upon them after that.
Yamabuki glanced at her son, who had his eyes closed. "…Do you want to talk about it?"
Rikun snapped his eyes open, and stared at Yamabuki, who was smiling gently at him.
Rikun sighed out again, "I see what they mean when they say that, mothers are really vigilant in regards to their child."
Yamabuki giggled at that.
Rikun looked up at the cherry blossom tree, "I just simply wished that, I could protect him from any harm, even without me being at his side. Nurarihyons could only distort the enemies' senses, and without a weapon, we are as good as being useless…"
Yamabuki smiled sadly at the forlorn look Rikun had. She then watched as a cherry blossom petal floated down. Catching the petal, she called for Rikun's attention.
"Then…do you mind if your mother teaches something to you?"
"Eh?" Rikun looked confusingly at her.
Yamabuki merely smiled, and showed him the petal she held in her fingers.
A threat with no warnings
~Meanwhile, with Nurarihyon and Rihan~
Rihan sweatdropped as he witnessed his father getting sweets and desserts from an old lady at a shop, acting like a child.
Rihan sighed, looking at the construction building. He then frowned as he heard slight rattling coming from the shop's signboard.
"…Why do I get the feeling that we are being followed?"
A threat with no warnings
The Kiyojuji Squad, except Yura, gathered around Kiyotsugu, who was typing something in his laptop, in a classroom after school had ended.
"Look at this!" Kiyotsugu grinned, clicking one button on his laptop.
"A map?" Kana asked, as the group witnessed a map, with bars coming out at several areas.
"A statistic that shows the sighting of yokais around Japan," Kiyotsugu explained, looking very proud.
Rikuo scanned the map, "There seems to be a lot from the west of here. Particularly in Shikoku and Kyoto… " Rikuo frowned.
I remember Jii-chan mentioning something about Shikoku…and Kyoto…
A person smiling at him suddenly flashed through his mind.
Rikuo blinked in shock.
What was that?
"That's right, Shikoku is a wonderful place for yokai sight-seeing!" Kiyotsugu agreed. "Do you know that…"
Rikuo tuned out the rest of the sentence when he saw something flying past the window. His eyes widened when he saw Karasu Tengu zooming past, as if in a hurry.
Karasu Tengu! Did something happened?
A threat with no warnings
Karasu Tengu looked around frantically at the ground as he flew by, trying to spot two certain someones.
"First Supreme Commander! Second Supreme Commander!" Karasu Tengu cried out in distress, his tears falling from his cheeks like waterfalls. "Where are you?!"
A threat with no warnings
Rihan peered at what was in Nurarihyon's arms as they walked.
"So, what did you get, Oyaji?"
"This and that. Mainly desserts," Nurarihyon smiled at him, before his smile fade away.
"I will bring back some dessert once I am done."
Nurarihyon suddenly went quiet, staring off at a distance, "That fool…"
Rihan, noticing the change in atmosphere, turned to the side, scratching his cheeks.
"…I know it's a bit hard to just sit around and do nothing, Oyaji…but," Rihan narrowed his eyes. "…We will definitely find the one who did this and…I am talking to no one," Rihan deadpanned, as he turned back to Nurarihyon, only to find that he was not there.
Rihan looked around and found his father lining up together with some of the human women. Rihan went to him, a vein on his forehead, "You just had to ignore me when I am about to say something important, don't you?"
"You were?" Nurarihyon raised an eyebrow.
"You…" Rihan's eyebrows twitched, before he sighed. "…Why are you lining up here? It's not like there is anything-" Rihan blinked when he spotted something, or rather, someone, in the line. "Isn't that…"
"Hm?" Nurarihyon followed his line of vision. "Oh. The Onmyoji."
Yura was standing at the line as well, seeming to look a little apprehensive.
"Eh? Onmyoji?" Rihan was surprised. "Rikuo is friends with an Onmyoji?"
~With Yura~
Yura clenched tightly to her frog purse.
I must do my best! Otherwise…
Yura tightened her jaws.
No dinner tonight!
"We are now starting the promotional sales," Three saleswomen stood behind a stand that was filled with muffins.
At that announcement, all the women rushed forward to the stand. Being young, Yura managed to get to the stand first. However…
Urgh! Which one is better?
Yura could not make up her mind, as there were two types of muffin and were sold at different price. While she was hesitating, the other women had started taking the muffins.
~With the two Supreme Commanders~
Nurarihyon watched as the women fought to get the muffins, while Rihan had a big sweatdrop at the back of his head.
"…Women are so scary…" Rihan commented, recalling about what happening between Wakana and him.
Nurarihyon snorted, before making his way to Yura after the sales were done.
~With Yura~
Kuuuu...while I was hesitating, it was all taken away…
Yura slumped to the ground, a gloomy aura around her.
"…Must be hard."
"Eh?" Yura turned around, to see Nurarihyon holding a bag of desserts to her, with Rihan standing nearby. "Ah! Nura-kun's grandfather and father!"
Nurarihyon grinned at her.
A threat with no warnings
"Hooo. So you came here to do some training alone then, away from the Keikain house?" Nurarihyon asked her, as the three of them sat at the railings, with Nurarihyon at the middle, at the playground.
"Un," Yura replied, eating the desserts that Nurarihyon had given her. "You don't seem surprised by the fact that I am an Onmyoji, Ojii-chan. Did Nura-kun told you that?"
"Hm? Un," Nurarihyon smiled, while Rihan glanced at the sky, sweating slightly.
When did Rikuo tell him that?
Yura nodded, "I actually came here because I heard that, Nurarihyon, the great yokai that commands the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, lives here. My mission is to defeat him."
"Hoo. Nurarihyon, huh?" Nurarihyon glanced at Rihan, who had a hand placed on his mouth, his shoulders shaking as though he was repressing laughter.
Yura then sighed, "…Was what I intended to do at first." She placed what she was eating on her lap.
"Hm?" Nurarihyon and Rihan looked at her.
"Things had been happening lately, making me having second thoughts…" Memories of Sanba Garasu apologizing to them came to mind. "Especially getting…" Yura bit her lips as an image of Rikun coming to save them turned up.
…I can't say it…getting saved by a yokai is just too shameful for an Onmyoji…and also, I can't say that I'm actually having some weird theory on their grandson and son…to add on, it's just a ridiculous theory.
"Getting…?" Rihan prompted.
"N-No. It's nothing," Yura quickly smiled to assure them, before frowning slightly. "Erm…Ojii-chan, Nura-kun's father-"
"Just call me Rihan," Rihan smiled charmingly at her.
"…Ah…Rihan Oji-san," Yura was confused when she saw Rihan flinched slightly and Nurarihyon chuckling, but dismissed it. "Yokais are evil, aren't they?"
"Ah?" Nurarihyon and Rihan blinked at that question.
"Yokais are evil…that was what I was taught since young…and yet, being here…seems different…" Yura frowned.
Why did that yokai saved us?
"Hahaha! You are thinking way too much. Yokais are bad, nothing else to think about. That's why they are called yokais," Nurarihyon told her.
Rihan merely chuckled and nodded at Yura.
"…That's right," Yura nodded, finishing eating her food and jumped off the railing. "Thank you. It's like everything was made simple after talking to you. Next time, if you need help with yokais, don't hesitate to find me!" Yura smiled at the both of them.
Nurarihyon nodded, as Rihan grinned. "Just help us take care of Rikuo. That's all we need."
"Un!" Yura smiled, before raising a hand to block the wind that suddenly came. "What a strange wind."
"Must be building winds, because of that, right?" Nurarihyon pointed at the constructing building. Rihan, on the other hand, frowned deeply.
"…Oyaji, I think we should-"
"Be careful!" Yura shouted.
Nurarihyon and Rihan widened their eyes when Yura tackled them to the ground, just as winds passed by the top of their heads, crashing the swing that was behind them. They slowly sat up. Rihan coughed into his hand as dust surrounds them due to the destruction.
"Ojii-chan! Rihan Oji-san! Are you all right?" Yura asked in concern.
"Don't worry, we are fine," Nurarihyon told her, while Rihan waved in front of him to clear the dust.
"Some instincts you have there."
The three of them looked towards the voice, seeing five men standing there in suits, the one in the middle was wearing a hat and glasses, and winds was surrounding their legs.
"But, I won't miss a second time."
"What's with those people? Kamaitachis?" Nurarihyon asked, placing a hand on his chin, while Rihan narrowed his eyes at those yokais.
"You sure know a lot about yokais, Ojii-chan," Yura said, taking out ofudas from her purse. "But it's probably different then a normal Kamaitachi. I read it in a book somewhere, where a yokai could create poisonous winds to strike like a whip and anyone who received a wound from the wind, face death. A yokai from Shikoku, Muchi!"
Rihan jerked up.
Shikoku?
Rihan glanced at Nurarihyon, who tightened his jaws.
The man with the hat, Muchi, raises his arms and strike downwards, causing the winds to rush towards them.
Yura quickly spread the ofuda in front of the three of them, blocking the winds and causing it to be deflected to the building behind them, breaking the windows.
The five yokais quickly surround them.
"Wind Formation, Sand Strike Whip!" Muchi said.
At that, the five yokais started whipping their hands around, creating a windstorm. Some rocks were raised up by the wind and were heading towards Nurarihyon.
"Ojii-chan!" Yura shouted and quickly moved the ofuda around Nurarihyon to protect him, but she got injured as a result.
"Oi! Don't worry about me!" Nurarihyon told her, seeing her wince at the pain. Rihan clicked his tongue, witnessing that, and was about to unsheathe his sword, not caring about revealing the fact that he was a yokai, when he heard Yura said,
"I can't do that! Please, hang on to this, Ojii-chan, Rihan Oji-san!" Yura threw a shikigami paper on the floor. "Rokuson!"
"Whoa!" Nurarihyon and Rihan were shocked when they were suddenly on the back of a deer.
Rokuson then jumped higher and higher to the roof of a building.
Nurarihyon and Rihan went to the ledge once they landed.
"Oi, oi! Are we just going to leave her there?" Rihan questioned. "Even if she's from the Keikain house, facing them would be-" Rihan cut himself off when he saw Yura holding out two more shikigami paper and summoned Tanro and Bukyoku.
"Three shikigamis at her age?" Nurarihyon raised his eyebrows. "She is extremely talented."
They watched as Yura pulled out one more shikigami paper. "Rentei!" A koi fish appeared from the paper.
"Four of them?" Rihan widened his eyes, looking at Yura merging with the shikigami, forming a cannon on her left hand.
"Do you think that you will be able to defeat me like I am just some little girl?" Yura mocked the yokais.
A threat with no warnings
Rikuo rushed out of the school, meeting with his bodyguards.
"Did something happen?"
"We do not know…I assumed you saw Karasu Tengu flying past earlier, Rikuo-sama?" Kubinashi asked.
Rikuo nodded, "He seem to be in a hurry too…" He clenched his chest, feeling the burning feeling again.
"That's cause both of the Supreme Commanders went missing," A voice came from above them.
"Ah! Gozu, Mezu!" Rikuo called, seeing the two yokais standing at the roof of a storeroom. "…What happened to you, Gozu?" He pointed at the bump Gozumaru had.
"That's none of your concern! And who gave you permission to nickname us?" Gozumaru twitched his eyebrows.
It's like he totally forgotten about our previous confrontation! Speaking like we are friends!
"I quite like it, though!" Mezumaru grinned, only to be hit by Gozumaru.
"You are being rude to Young Master!" Tsurara glared at Gozumaru, who scoffed.
"It's all right, Tsurara," Rikuo calmed her, turning to Gozumaru and Mezumaru. "Well, your names are quite a mouthful, so I thought that shortening it, would help. Besides, you are family now, so it makes us feel closer that way," Rikuo smiled at them.
"…You should ask first before making such decisions," Gozumaru grumbled out, slightly uncomfortable with the smile Rikuo was giving.
"Ah…I'm sorry. You don't like it? I won't call you that way anymore if you do not like it…" Rikuo looked downcast.
Gozumaru flinched slightly as Rikuo's five bodyguards glared at him for upsetting Rikuo, and at seeing the depressed look Rikuo had.
"…Do as you wish…"
"Really?" Rikuo brightened up at that, smiling happily at that.
Gozumaru turned to the side, unable to face Rikuo.
…I see why Third Heir is enamored to him…
"Anyways, we will be searching for the Supreme Commanders now, so there is nothing for you to worry about," Gozumaru told them, getting ready to leave.
"Un! I am counting on you!" Rikuo said with a big smile.
Gozumaru blinked at the trust Rikuo had in them, before turning to Mezumaru. "Come on."
"Ah! Gozumaru is all embarrassed!" Mezumaru exclaimed.
The slightly flushing Gozumaru hit Mezumaru's skull head. "I'm not! Let's go!" Gozumaru growled out, grabbing Mezumaru by the back of his shirt and jumping off the roof.
The other six yokais watched as they leave.
"What was that all about?" Rikuo asked, turning to his bodyguards, whom were all either scratching their heads, coughing into their hands, or glaring after the two yokais.
"…It's not important, Rikuo-sama," Kubinashi smiled awkwardly.
A threat with no warnings
Muchi frowned at Yura, who stood in front of him. All of his subordinates had all disappeared due to the shikigamis.
"…I have no time to play around," He said and sent a gush of wind at Yura, sending her flying to the ground, before going to where Nurarihyon and Rihan were.
"Ah! Wait!" Yura tried to go after him, but was stopped by Bukyoku, as well as the pain on her arm that was hit earlier. "Bukyoku?"
"You can't, Yura-sama. Summoning four shikigami at the same time takes a lot of your energy, going after the yokai would be reckless! To add on, you are injured!" Bukyoku said.
"But-!" She was cut off as Rokuson came flying down, turning back into a paper due to the injuries. "Rokuson!" She turned to the building. "I have to get up there!"
~With Nurarihyon and Rihan~
"Well, he made things easier for us!" Rihan grinned as they dodged the winds Muchi was recklessly throwing at them.
"You are dodging it! You are afraid of my wind, aren't you?" Muchi grinned, getting excited as he backed the both of them to the corner of the building.
"What is he prattling about?" Rihan tilted his head. Nurarihyon merely blinked, folding his arms in his sleeves.
"Now, I will kill you, just as I should have when attacking one of your members!" Muchi grinned.
A short silence came after that declaration.
"My…that was you?" Nurarihyon asked calmly. However, that did not fool Rihan. His father was really protective towards people, whom he deems as his family, after all.
"That's right! And now, I shall do it to you!" Muchi then unleashed winds towards the two Supreme Commanders.
Rihan closed his eye, as Nurarihyon took out a katana that was almost the same height as himself, and sent the wind back towards Muchi.
Stunned, Muchi took a step backwards, avoiding the wind. Blinking, Muchi turned to the other two yokais.
That's impossible, he sent my wind bac-huh?
Muchi widened his eyes as he only saw Rihan sitting on the ledge, and Nurarihyon was nowhere to be seen.
"Wha-?"
"Jeez…you really picked the wrong yokai to mess with," Rihan told him, swinging his legs around. "Although it's not obvious, Oyaji is really angry, you know?"
Muchi looked around frenetically, trying to spot Nurarihyon. He then suddenly felt his heart stopped a beat when he heard footsteps in front of him.
He's in front of me! But I can't see him!
"Your fighting style has no class, simply flaunting off whatever skills you had," Nurarihyon, Muchi assumed, said. However, his voice seemed deeper then before. "When a yokai starts to feel fear, they will then turn a blind eye towards the one causing it. That's the main characteristic for a Nurarihyon."
Muchi trembled as the footsteps got nearer and nearer towards him. Then, for a split second, he though he saw a goldish-white-black hair, before-
"I call it: Meikyo Shisui."
Muchi could only stare in shock as Nurarihyon stood in front of him, his sword piecing through him in the stomach.
"How's that? It definitely has class in it, no?" Nurarihyon smirked.
"Hooo! You almost turned into your yokai form, Oyaji!" Rihan clapped his hands at the brilliant performance.
"What's so surprising about it?" Nurarihyon pulled his sword out roughly, causing Muchi to cry out at the pain and fall to the ground. "Now, feel like telling me what's going on at Shikoku? And why you are attacking us?" He asked Muchi.
Muchi gasped out, giving one last smirk at Nurarihyon, "The wind has not died yet…" He then faded off into ashes, carried away by the wind.
"My, my. Looks like things are getting complicated," Rihan commented, going towards Nurarihyon. "Seems like what you heard was true."
"Hmm…"
"Ojii-chan! Rihan Oji-san! Yokai! I will exter-errrrr…" Yura finally reached the top, her cannon in pose, only to be greeted with the sight of Nurarihyon and Rihan blinking at her, some parts of the building scattering around them due to the Muchi's wind. "…Where did the yokai go?"
"Ah…about that…" Rihan sweatdropped, while Nurarihyon had a bead of sweat on his cheek. "He…ran off?"
Yura took that as an answer though, despite Rihan saying it as a question, "Ah…I'm so sorry, Ojii-chan, Rihan Oji-san…if only I was stronger, this wouldn't have happened…" Yura dispelled her shikigami and clutched on her injured arm, looking depressed.
"Don't be so hard on yourself. If it wasn't for you, we would be even more injured." Rihan went to Yura and placed his hand gently over Yura's, which was on the injured arm.
"You really think so?" Yura looked at Rihan, who nodded, releasing his hand from Yura.
Yura looked downwards, thinking about something, "I know! Ojii-chan, Rihan Oji-san, why don't the both of you join me for dinner…eh?" When she looked up, both of them were gone. "They must have gone off already…hm?"
Yura moved her injured arm, rotating it. Blinking confusingly, she said,
"It doesn't hurt anymore…"
A threat with no warnings
"Thank goodness that her wound is not that deep, otherwise the poison would have killed her," Rihan said, walking on the street. "Although, is it a good idea to just leave her there like that?"
"…I am going to Shikoku," Nurarihyon suddenly told him.
"Ah?" Rihan blinked at the sudden decision. "Now?"
"Let's buy some sake first, before we leave," Nurarihyon said, going into a convenience store.
"We?" Rihan sighed, following Nurarihyon. "Yamabuki and Wakana will get angry at me again."
A threat with no warnings
"That Gozumaru! How dare he be so rude to Young Master!" Tsurara fumed, walking beside Rikuo with Aotabo, Kubinashi, Kejoro and Kappa beside her.
"There's no need to be so angry about it, Tsurara. It's fine," Rikuo assured her, smiling awkwardly.
"It's not fine!" Tsurara told him angrily. "Young Master, you ought to get angry once in a while too!" Aotabo nodded in agreement, while Kappa gave his usual relaxing face.
"I think you are angry enough for the both of us, Tsurara," Rikuo sweatdropped.
"…I would rather he don't."
"Eh?" Everyone turned to Kubinashi, who said that, in surprise. Kejoro glanced at Kubinashi, covering her mouth with her hand, looking a bit sad.
Kubinashi smiled ruefully, going towards Rikuo and patted him on the head. "I would rather see Rikuo-sama smile happily everyday, then to be burdened with emotions like anger."
"Kubinashi?" Rikuo questioned, sensing that something was off.
Kubinashi just continued to pat his head, still giving the rueful smile.
"That's right! It would be sad to see Young Master lose his smile! Come, let me give you a hug!" Kejoro proceeded to push Rikuo's face on her breast, causing Tsurara to fume even more.
"Ke-Kejoro!" Rikuo tried to release himself.
"Let go of Young Master!" Tsurara shouted.
"Jealous?" Kejoro smiled mischievously at her, before twirling both Rikuo and her. Kejoro then gave a look to Kubinashi, as she twirled around, to which Kubinashi looked away from.
"Ahhhh! Let Young Master go!" Tsurara stomped up to Kejoro, mist coming out of her mouth. Kejoro quickly let go of Rikuo for fear of being frozen. However, Rikuo was not prepared for it and ended up tripping on Kejoro's foot, causing him to surge forward.
"Ah!" The five bodyguards gasped.
"Whoaaa!" Rikuo closed his eyes, waiting for the impact. Suddenly, he felt a pair of hands holding on to his shoulder, preventing him from falling.
"Eh?" Rikuo opened his eyes to see who caught him. "Ah. Sorry about that, and thank you," Rikuo told the boy, who had short black hair, light brown eyes and was wearing a school uniform. Beside him, was another boy, who had his tongue sticking out.
The boy who caught him, smiled, "Nura Rikuo-kun…huh?"
"Eh?" Rikuo said in shock and quickly stepped away from him. The other five yokais stood in front of him protectively, getting tensed.
"Um…do we know each other?" Rikuo, being polite, asked.
"We will soon know each other very well, Rikuo-kun," The boy smiled. "…My…I suppose it's not surprising that the Third Heir have him as a weakness, he has a very cute face."
Rikuo widened his eyes at that, while the other five yokais tensed up even more.
"Who are you?" Kubinashi demanded, holding his strings in front of him.
"My name is Inugamigyobu Tamazuki," The boy, Tamazuki, introduced himself to Rikuo, ignoring Kubinashi, who narrowed his eyes. "We will be seeing each other more often, Rikuo-kun," Tamazuki placed two fingers on his lips and showed it to Rikuo, who blinked, causing the five bodyguards to growl lowly, before leaving together with the other boy.
The six yokais watched as they left. Then, they widened their eyes.
"Wha-What?" Aotabo stuttered.
"They-They were not there earlier!" Tsurara gasped out.
Along with the two yokais, stood six more people, wearing white clothes and straw hats.
"Hm? So you have all arrived." Tamazuki glanced around him. "Seven Phantom Travelers of Shikoku," He grinned, continuing walking off with the yokais, leaving Rikuo and the others to stare after them.
A threat with no warnings
~Evening, during dinner~
"Words sure spread fast," Rikun said, eating his dinner while listening to Rikuo talking about what happened today. "So, who is this yokai again?"
"He called himself, Inugamigyobu Tamazuki," Rikuo replied, sniffing him a little.
Rikun blinked at the action. "…What are you doing, Rikuo?"
"Eh?" Rikuo blushed slightly. "Er…well, were you at the cherry blossom tree the whole day, Rikun? You smell like the petals."
Rikun blinked again, and glanced at Yamabuki, who winked and took a sip of her tea. "Something along the line."
Rikuo tilted his head in confusion at that. Wakana, who was sitting near Rikuo, tilted her head as well.
"And did something else happened?"
"Eh?" Rikuo turned to Rikun. "Something else?"
"I sensed some unease coming from you…you seem to have left some information out while talking about how that Tamazuki yokai knew that you are my weakness…" Rikun raised his eyebrows at Rikuo.
"Ah…" Rikuo blushed again. "Erm…he said that…" He twiddled his fingers. "…I have a cute face?"
A silence came after that statement.
Then, a giggle sounded.
"It's not funny, Okaa-san!" Rikuo covered his blushing face. "That's the first time, someone said that I have a cute face! A boy at that!"
"But you do have a cute face, Rikuo-kun!" Wakana smiled, with Yamabuki nodding in agreement.
"But I am a boy…" Rikuo whined slightly. "…And what does this mean?" Rikuo then placed two fingers on his lips and showed it to them, just like Tamazuki had showed him.
"My…where did you learn that, Rikuo-kun?" Yamabuki asked, surprised by that gesture.
"Hmm? That's what Tamazuki showed me when he left. Kubinashi and the others seemed unhappy when he did this…"
"…Perhaps I should kill him. That Tamazuki yokai," Rikun suddenly commented, breaking his chopsticks slightly.
"Eh?" Rikuo blinked at the hostile aura coming from Rikun. "W-Why? What exactly does that mean?"
Yamabuki coughed slightly, "…To put it simply, Rikuo-kun. That gesture is a form of…showing playfulness in the yokai world."
Wakana and Rikuo blinked at the term.
"In other words, Rikuo," Rikun said, displeasure could be seen on his face. "He is flirting with you and is asking you to flirt back."
…
..
.
"EHHHHHHHH!" Rikuo shouted, his face went totally red.
"Although humans do it as well, it has a deeper meaning for yokais. Two fingers represents the one doing the gesture and the one he is showing it to, placing it on the lips means, the one doing the gesture is initiating a relationship for…" Rikun eyebrows twitched. "...playing around with the one he showed it to…if shown within families, it's to have a relationship that is platonic, mainly to show a close bond. Between strangers, especially meeting for the first time, however…" Rikun narrowed his eyes. "He is asking you to 'play' with him for amusement sake, not caring if he hurt you in the process…you did not place your fingers on your lips, did you?"
Rikuo shook his head, "Why? What will that mean?"
"It will mean that, you accepted the relationship, Rikuo-kun," Yamabuki told him, causing Rikuo to flush.
"But why would he do that? If he heard about me being the weakness, he should also know about the relationship we had, that we lo-Ah!" Rikuo quickly shut his mouth and look down, embarrassed that he almost confessed in front of Yamabuki and Wakana.
He blushed when he heard both of them giggled, before he felt a hand under his chin, lifting it up. Rikuo found himself face to face with Rikun.
"That's right. He should know that you are mine, Rikuo, and that I am yours, hm?" Rikun smiled at him.
Rikuo blushed harder at the words spoken, his heart started pumping really hard at the close proximity.
"Which reminds me, Rikuo. I heard an interesting internal dispute today," Rikun smirked.
"I-Internal dispute?" Rikuo asked.
Rikun leaned closer to Rikuo, brushing his knuckles on Rikuo's cheek. "…Does it stirs you in here?" Rikun placed a hand over Rikuo's heart. "Knowing that your big brother is that one touching you, loving you like that."
Rikuo widened his eyes, realizing Rikun was talking about the time when he had a conversation with Kana. "Y-You heard-!"
"You were thinking so loud, that I can't help but overheard," Rikun chuckled. "It's a good thing we are yokais huh, Rikuo? Otherwise, it would just be forbidden…" Rikun laid his forehead against Rikuo's. "…Or perhaps, it's the forbidden feeling that you like, Rikuo?" He smirked.
Rikuo trembled as Rikun got closer and closer, their lips almost touching. Rikuo slowly closed his eyes, about to let Rikun kiss him, when he heard giggles. Rikuo snapped out of the moment, quickly grabbed the cushion he was sitting at, and pushed it onto Rikun's face, blushing really hard.
"St-Stupid Rikun!" Rikuo shouted, standing up and leaving the room, completely flustered.
Rikun slid the cushion off his face, rubbing his face in pain, before turning to the giggling women. "Okaa-san! Wakana Okaa-san!"
"Sorry, Rikun-kun. But it was just so cute, that we can't help it!" Yamabuki giggled.
Rikun pouted slightly, "You could have at least waited a bit more." Rikun then sighed, standing up. "I'm going after him."
"Try not to tease him anymore, Rikun-kun." Wakana called out to him, as he went towards the door.
Rikun merely waved and left.
Yamabuki and Wakana looked at each other and chuckled at their sons' antics.
A threat with no warnings
~At Ukiyoe town~
"First Supreme Commander! Second Supreme Commander!" Karasu Tengu could be seen flying through the night sky, shouting for the two missing Supreme Commanders.
~To Be Continued~
Ahhhhh finally done with this chapter! I was grinning like mad at the last parts hahaha! You are such a tease, Rikun! And Poor Karasu Tengu! And we should all agree that both Nurarihyon and Rihan are perverts, right? We also caught a glimpse of past Nurarihyon too! And yes, Rikuo, you do have a cute face ^_^
Now, now, so the one attacking was from Shikoku! What exactly is Tamazuki's motive? Who are the Seven Phantom Travelers? Also, what did Yamabuki taught Rikun? And who did Rikuo saw in his mind? To add on, Kubinashi and Kejoro was acting weirdly, what are they hiding?
Things to note:
Kamaitachi = A yokai with long sharp, sickle-like claws who appears to ride a whirling wind.
Wind Formation, Sand Strike Whip = A technique where Muchi and his subordinates surrounds an enemy from all side and stirs up a whirlwind.
Ojii-chan = Grandpa
Oji-san = Uncle
Meikyo Shisui = A technique that frightens enemy with a huge amount of Fear, making them unable to sense Nurarihyon's presence.
Well, That all Folks! Reviews makes me happy ^_^
Edited on 14th December 2014