Author's Note: My longest chapter yet, which means its content filled and action filled!

Actually, I re-read this story, found the flaws and decided to work on them. Mainly, that this story does not solidify its stance that this is a fanfic sequel to Nurarihyon no Mago. This story takes place in the future, 25-26 years after the main story ends (Which I never ever mention throughout the story.) And really the only element that made this setting in the future, was Rio & his life. This chapter attempts to change that. Characters from the original series re-appear, become important or get cameo mentions.

Also, if I get anything wrong, I'm sorry its been a while since reading the manga of Nurarihyon (since it ended + omakes I recently read). I've been doing more research on content for the story. I'm not familiar with Arthurian Legend but I'm aware it is a famous work of fiction, so I do a bit of skimming on backgrounds for those characters as well as Demons.

Now enough of that, enjoy this chapter! :D

"A Phoenix?! Those fire birds that live for more than 1000 years?" Misaki stared in awe of the Phoenix.

"Its hot." Ren, still in her Ame-Onna form, began to cool down by spraying water on herself.

"I was reading up about these things when learning about zombies. A Phoenix is technically a Youkai, Demon, whatever you want to call them." Ryuuji glared at the flame bird. "The Shikigami that Onmyoujis use aren't Youkai. A Shikigami is supposed to be an Onmyouji's familiar."

"Wahahaha! So you're saying I created a super awesome familiar?" Toru had a goofy grin on his face and gave everyone the peace sign.

"I guess so." Ryuuji scratched an itch on his cheek, "Why this kid?"

"You're wrong, Onmyouji. I am the real thing. A genuine Phoenix. A Phoenix who willingly became a Familiar or a 'Shikigami' as you call me. " The Phoenix settled itself down beside Toru.

"AHHHH its…" Toru immediately settled down, "Not hot?"

"Of course not. I could never harm my master. Oh and please call me Fotia." The Phoenix told Toru.

"Matoi?" The Exorcist looked intrigued, "That's a nice technique you've got there. Seems a bit over the top though. I wanted a one on one and would prefer if your little girlfri-.."

"Wife!" Tsurara's puffed her cheeks, looking irritated as she was hoisted on Rikuo's back. "I'm his wife!"

"Okay, I would prefer if that ice woman over there," The Exorcist pointed at Tsurara, "Just stay still like a good little wife as we battle it out."

"I would suggest you treat Tsurara with some respect." Rikuo brought Nenekirimaru over his shoulder. Snowflakes gently swirled around the sword. "Frost Scythe!" Rikuo slashed in the direction of The Exorcist and a blade of ice was sent flying towards The Exorcist.

The Exorcist swung his lance at the ice and it smashed into pieces, he faked a yawn, "Maybe I was expecting too much from this 'Matoi' technique." He pointed to his lance, "This is made of gold you know, it won't break that easily." He assumed a defensive stance, "I'm waiting."

"Don't let him talk to you like that! You're the Master of All Spirit, Rikuo!" Tsurara rubbed Rikuo's shoulders than pointed at the Exorcist. "Charge!"

Rikuo sighed, "I'm not a horse you know." Rikuo took an offensive stance, "But I'm tired of waiting too, for your name that is."

"Is it really such a big deal?" The Exorcist asked in a deep, smug tone, he tilted his head and creepily smiled, "Be honoured that I'm telling filthy Demons like you. It's Lance."

"Fufu! That's so lame! Sorry Rikuo, we're gonna have to un-matoi for a bit." Tsurara immediately cut off the link between the two and she immediately fell on the floor laughing, "Your name is Lance and you're using a lance? That's horrible! It's such a bad pun!"

Rikuo crouched himself down beside Tsurara who was still on the floor, "It's not a pun, its his name."

"ITS NOT A PUN! ITS MY NAME!"

"It's both! Don't tell me you felt obligated to use a lance because you thought it'd fit your name more, fufufu?" Tsurara continued to uncontrollably giggle.

Lance blushed and dared not to make eye contact, "I-I did."

"Hahahaha!"

"I thought your laugh was 'fufufu'!" Lance screamed at her.

"I-I" Tsurara was trying to get some air, "I'm s-sorry Rikuo! You gotta face him without me."

"Uhh…yeah I'll do that." "Note to self, make pun jokes for Tsurara." Rikuo charged towards Lance who was distracted by Tsurara's comments.

Lance took notice and thrust forward with his lance. Rikuo ducked and held down on the spear with his left hand, and thrust his sword at Lance. Lance used all his strength to regain control of his weapon and pulled it back with him as he jumped back from Rikuo's attack.

"You're in my range," Lance fwipped his lance downward then upward towards Rikuo.

Rikuo jumped in the air and as gently as a feather, landed on the length of the lance. He began running on the lance and as he was about to slash at Lance, Rikuo used his fear to vanish from sight.

"I've heard about this technique, he uses his Fear to disappear!" Lance surveyed his surroundings, and then used his spear to pole-vault himself. As he was in the air he jabbed rapidly at the ground multiple times. Rikuo's fear began returning back to him, his body becoming more and more visible as he kept dodging each jab.

"He knew where I was? No, maybe it was instinct." Rikuo took a few steps back, away from Lance's range. "I guess I gotta bring that out." "Are you ready? For the Nurarihyon signature move, passed down from generations."

"I thought using your fear to vanish from sight, was the signature move." Lance smirked at him.

Rikuo smiled slyly, "Oh, I'm still gonna vanish from your sight." Rikuo raised his sword up in the air and brought it down.

Lance moved his lance sideways to block the attack, the sound of their weapons repeatedly clanking against each other could be heard by Tsurara. The two grit their teeth in their struggle. Rikuo took a deep breath.

"What is he going to do? Here it comes!"

Rikuo made a V-sign with his free hand, Rikuo jabbed Lance's eyes.

"Gahhhh!" Lance took multiple steps away from Rikuo. "A-an eye poke?!" His eyes were still closed, teardrops dripping down his face, "I-I-I'm not crying! This is just what happens when you poke someone's eyes." He used his hands to rub his eyes. "This isn't a signature move, it's dirty!"

Rikuo turned his head towards Tsurara with a smile; she shook her head, "That's dirty." Tsurara had a disapproving face.

"B-but gramps taught me it! He said he had to use it against a bat-like Youkai from Europe!" Rikuo tried to explain himself.

"Dr-Dracula got caught off guard by an eyepoke, too?" Lance was irritated, "I can't believe something that pathetic got me. I see you're just playing games with me. I've just about caught my second wind."

"Your second wind? There's more?" Rikuo asked him.

"He's lying!" Tsurara disagreed as she kept wagging her finger up and down.

"I'm not lying," Lance's eyesight recovered and his eyes opened up, he lifted his lance up, to display its attributes. "This lance is called Gae Bolg, maybe you've heard of it? They say that this spear was crafted from the bones of a sea monster. Now I really can't do any Exorcist spells except summon my weapon to my side, but this spear changes that."

Lance looked at the ground, the ice from Tsurara had melted. Lance made the tip of Gae Bolg touch the water on the floor, it formed a water ball and he shot it at Tsurara.

"Fwa!" Tsurara blew a gust of air that froze the ball and then she smashed the water ball.

"You can control water now?" Rikuo raised an eyebrow.

"Gae Bolg is more than just manipulating water, it can create water for me to use at my disposal." Lance hoped to see impressed reactions; "It's perfect for our combo."

"Fotia, why would you want to be a Shikigami? Exorcist or Onmyouji, I'm sure they would hunt you down." Ryuuji wanted answers.

"Humans have tried, there are rumors that consuming a Phoenix feather would grant immortality."

"A single feather?!" Ren gasped then brought a hand to cover her mouth.

"But those rumors aren't true, are they?" Toru asked concernedly for Fotia. He touched her feathers and the Phoenix allowed it.

Fotia wrapped his wing around Toru, "You have your dad's eyes. You act concerned but I can tell, your eyes tell me. You're excited aren't you?"

"Wh-what? You knew my dad?" Toru unwrapped himself from Fotia's wing. "A-and I'm not excited."

"Don't lie to me. More than the concern you feel for me, you're excited to see what I'm capable of. Just say it, tell me you want to see my power." Fotia tempted Toru.

"Toru don't, who knows what might happen, we're in a open grassy field, surrounding by forest, its dangerous." Misaki seemed frightened of Fotia.

"You can't control Fotia yet!" Ryuuji warned him.

"Aren't you tired of feeling inferior to your best friend?" Fotia continued to taunt her master.

"Shut up Fotia!"...Shut up and show me." Toru turned around to his friends and mentor and saw their surprised faces, "Don't worry, I trust Fotia."

The Phoenix screeched loudly, brought her wings together and flapped them outwards. A flaming ring flew out from her body. A few seconds later, the trees surrounding the group, began to catch on fire.

"Are you serious?" Ryuuji clenched his teeth, "Tch! Ren! Help me put this out before it becomes a large forest fire!"

"Y-yes sir!" Ren saluted him and pushed her arms to the sky. The weather turned from sunny to cloudy and then it began to rain.

"Misaki, Ren, can you two leave us alone for a while?" Ryuuji asked them, but it was really an order.

The fire had been extinguished, Fotia disappeared on Toru's command and Toru was currently tied up swinging upside-down from a tree.

"I should kill you, right now." Ryuuji glared at him, "You put everyone's life in danger. You told a Youkai to do what it wants."

"I-I'm sorry, I really trusted her. S-she knew my dad." Toru explained, "At home its just me and my mom. My mom told me that he left when I was two, and that she wasn't allowed to say anything about him."

Ryuuji shook his head, "A single mother raising a troublesome kid like you, I pity her. That bird tempted you."

"I was so excited that I got to be useful for once. But I'm really sorry."

"Don't let temptation take over. There's no need to be jealous over your own friends. Friends are there to support you, not be a hurdle that you have to surpass." Ryuuji's voice began to be more and more quiet. "When you think that you're by yourself, you start to isolate yourself from others." Ryuuji jolted his head up, "Sorry about that, I was just thinking about the past."

"The past?" Toru's eyes lit up, "I wanna know! Male bonding! Y-you could tell me stories! I wanna hear them! Ou ou ou PLEEEEEASE?"

"Shut up, I won't tell you everything. I'll just keep it short." Ryuuji sighed, "Why am I telling him?" "The advice I just gave you is something I've always wanted to tell my best friend, he was my Onmyouji partner."

Toru seemed reluctant to ask but curiosity got the better of him, "D-did he die?"

"Who knows?" Ryuuji continued looking up towards the sky, still filled with smoke left over from the fire. "He left the Keikain household on his own. This happened when we were 22 and Yura, my little sister, was 19. Yura broke his heart. He was absolutely in love with her. When we were kids he was always so cheery and a dumbass like you."

"H-hey!"

"But one day, he became obsessed with exterminating Youkai, this was before Rikuo took over as the 3rd commander. Sometime after the battle with Abe no Seimei took place, Yura and my friend dated, but she broke up with him. He wasn't only obsessed with exterminating Youkai but also with my little sister." Ryuuji took a deep breath.

Ryuuji then continued on with his story. "He was adopted by the Keikain house, Yura was the one who saved him, it was only natural he fell for her. But the other members of the household didn't approve of a kid with unknown origins to stand side by side with members of the main family. He eventually got tired of being beneath me in status, and fed up with Yura."

Toru kept nodding his head, "So you're saying he got jealous of you, but what was he tempted by?"

"My sister's body. He pushed her down, and that's all you need to hear." Ryuuji held his forehead as if he had a headache.

"What? What'd he do? Did he pushed her down and kiss her without her permission?!" Toru was struggling along with the rope that tied him up.

"Well nothing really, happened, she used her Onmyouji powers to prevent it from happening." Ryuuji answered his question, but still hid some facts. "So, in the end, he left the Keikain house without saying a word. I haven't heard from him or about him since."

"Does Kiyoshi know about this?" Toru wondered, feeling snug in his ropes, despite the blood rushing to his head.

"Huh? No he doesn't, I've never had to tell him because I don't have to worry about being betrayed by him." Ryuuji stared in Toru's direction with a disappointed expression on his face. "But I also needed to get that out of my system."

Toru smiled widely, teeth showing and his eyes closed, "So I guess this will be between us? I can keep a secret!"

Ryuuji returned a gentle smile back at Toru, "Yeah."

"Great gramps. Why are you teaching me this? I don't have my own Hyakki Yako." Rio slouched over lazily, palm of his hand under his chin.

Nurarihyon and Rio were in an underground dojo, beneath the Nura house.

"You have that Ame-Onna beside you. She's Half-Youkai like you. I believe her name was Ren Shimizu." Nurarihyon smirked at him, "She's pretty cute."

"Ren? I barely know her. I can't trust her enough to perform Matoi with her. That's why I should something besides Matoi." Rio explained to the first supreme commander.

"You just learned how to become a Youkai, the learning curve will take too long to become strong. Matoi is the only way to be considerably stronger over the period of one week." Nurarihyon tried to reason with his great-grandson.

"Even if Matoi is the only way, there's no point if my only option is to Matoi with Ren." Rio scratched the back of his neck. "I just don't trust her quite yet."

"Ahhh I see." Nurarihyon nodded his head up and down quickly. He used three fingers to rub his chin. "But if I remember, the other day, you two were about to sleep in the same room together. Things happen behind closed doors." Nurarihyon used his elbow to nudge Rio's arm.

Caught off guard, Rio jumped back away from Nurarihyon, "W-what? That's Ren's fault! And nothing even happened, Vampire and his team attacked us before we went to sleep!"

"You sound a little disappointed about that." Nurarihyon took a deep breath, "I wonder how your mother would respond if I told her."

"I'M NOT DISAPPOINTED!" Rio began to cry frozen tears, "And why are you blackmailing your own great-grandson?!"

"Because there will be a time when you will trust Ren. When that time comes, you will be forced to perform Matoi." Nurarihyon pointed a wooden sword in the direction of Rio. "With Rikuo still alive and kicking, you don't have to worry about succeeding him anytime soon. But if you want to embrace your Youkai blood, if you want to become a great leader like your father, then you will learn to trust those around you."

"Ehhhh, I guess I can see where you're coming from. But I don't see the point if its only with Ren." Rio glanced away from Nurarihyon.

Nurarihyon smiled as if he had just thought of something ingenius, "Well what about Kubisuke and Amaterasu?"

Kubinashi threw a piece of his string at Kiyoshi and when the string made contact, Kiyoshi's body turned into smoke.

"How many times are you going to fall for it?" Kiyoshi sounded pleased with his Shikigami's clone technique.

The two were fighting outside in the garden of the Nura household. Kurotabo sat on Kappa's pond, extending his weapons to protect the house from any harm.

"What are you doing Kurotabo?!" Kubinashi began yelling at him, "We were supposed to train him together!"

"Are you telling me that you need my help with one little Onmyouji?" Kurotabo turned his eyes to the entrance of the Nura house, "Besides my wife and daughter are coming here soon. They can't see me in a scuffle."

Kubinashi surveyed the garden, the garden had deadly weapons scattered all the area. "That explains why the assault officer duo broke up. Look at you trying to be a good role model. Trying to earn the respect of your daughter?"

Kiyoshi took advantage of a distracted Kubinashi and threw a card at him aimed at his feet.

"Kami Himogiri!"

The card split in half, avoiding Kubinashi, who immediately turned around at he saw cards flying by his feet.

"Wh- Hey! I wasn't ready." Kubinashi shook his fist at Kiyoshi.

"Hmm? You didn't stop my attack?" Kiyoshi looked confused, "Then who did that?" Kiyoshi began to move his head left and right.

"Age must be catching up with you, old man." The young man stood beside Kubinashi, he had the same hairstyle as Kubinashi and his head was also detached from his body but he had brown hair and wore a red robe with no scarf wrapped around his neck.

"Ah," Kurotabo's eyebrows rose, "Talking about respect."

"Kubisuke! How many times have I told you not to call me old man?! It's dad, papa, father, something along those lines!"

"Whatever pops." Kubisuke began playing with his hair.

"Hnnnng." Kubinashi seemed too tired to argue with his son while Kurotabo just laughed to himself.

Kiyoshi pouted and leaned back against a wall, "What about my training?"

"That'll have to wait, this little delinquent showed up." Kubinashi referred to Kubisuke.

"What was that, you shitty old man?!" Kubisuke's forehead touched his father's forehead. He shook his fist and gritted his teeth together. "Calling me a delinquent! If we fought right now, you wouldn't stand a chance."

A door from the Nura household opened loudly, catching the attention of the four. Kejoro stuck her head out of the door, "Why is it so noisy outside?" She took note of the Youkai that had just arrived, "Kubisuke you're back!"

Kubisuke's facial expression changed, his anger disappeared. He smiled with his eyes closed, opened his arms widely and ran towards Kejoro, "Mamaaaaaa~"

Kubisuke and Kejoro were hugging each other and then began to walk inside the house, Kejoro spoke in a hushed voice, "Hey hey, tell me all about what happened." The door shut behind them.

"That was…interesting." Kiyoshi commented with a blank expression on his face.

"You're about to see more." Kubinashi pointed in the direction of the Nura mansion's entrance and connected his head back to his body and Kurotabo immediately hid all the weapons scattered around the garden. A middle-aged woman was holding her daughter's hand.

"Wow, I'm surprised Kurotabo was able to land such a pretty wife. She's a human too." Kiyoshi continued to comment on the situation he was watching.

"Yeah she's the 3rd commander's friend from junior high. She's 37 just like him." Kubinashi told him.

"O-only 37? She looks younger, like 28, maybe." Kiyoshi seemed even more surprised.

"Hard at work?" Natsumi Kuro held a lunch box wrapped in a small blanket. Even over all the years, she loved to style her hair in a ponytail.

"No, we were just about finished." Kurotabo told his wife.

"Liar…!" Kubinashi and Kiyoshi had the same thought.

Kurotabo's expression changed similar to Kubisuke's. He smiled with his eyes closed, crouched down and opened his arms widely. "Come here to papa." Kurotabo gestured his hug towards his daughter who was holding Natsumi's hand.

The little girl stared at her dad blankly, ran towards him and then jumped over his arms, running towards to Kiyoshi. She stared at him in awe.

"I-is something on my face?" Kiyoshi used one finger to scratch his cheek; he spoke in a gentle tone, "Hey there, what's your name?"

"Natsu Kuro! Seven years old!" Natsu looked identical to a young Natsumi.

Kurotabo rested his head on Natsumi's shoulder and began sniffing, "W-why doesn't she want to take notice of me?"

Kubinashi spoke in a mocking tone, "Talking about respect."

"Why do you wear weird clothes?" Natsu pointed at Kiyoshi's Onmyouji attire.

"I-I'm an Onmyouji. I get rid of bad, scary Youkai." Kiyoshi answered her question. "W-w-weird clothes?!"

Natsu looked at Kiyoshi as if he was an idiot. "Youkai don't exist."

Kiyoshi had a straight face, unable to believe what he just heard. He slowly rotated his head like a robot towards Natsu's parents. He mouthed the words, "But she's a Half-Youkai!"

"Ahahaha…" Natsumi laughed nervously, "The boy's just joking Natsu," She grabbed her daughter by the hand. "Com'on let's go."

"Since we're finished, let's go home together." Kurotabo put his arm around his wife, and the family began walking out the mansion grounds.

Kubinashi yawned and when stretched, "Well since he's gone, I guess I'm done too. Time to see what kind of trouble Kubisuke was up to." Kubinashi opened the door to the Nura house and slammed it as he closed the door.

Kiyoshi stood still in the garden of the Nura mansion, all by his lonesome, "But what about my training…?"

"Perfect for your combo? What do you mean by that?" Rikuo couldn't keep his eyes off Lance's Gae Bolg. He had become alert to the fact that it was enchanted with a water element.

"You've earned my respect, you'll see soon enough, Rikuo Nura, 3rd commander and leader of the Hyakki Yako." Lance gave an unsettling smile.

Lance pointed Gae Bolg straight at Rikuo, "Hydro Pulse." Three rings formed in front of the spear, and then a jet stream of water shot out.

Rikuo dodged the first wave, but Lance kept repeating the same move, five times consecutively. After the sixth time it was about to hit Rikuo, however, Tsurara interfered and pushed Rikuo out of the way. In an attempt to freeze it, Tsurara sucked up some air but Rikuo purposely tripped Tsurara, allowing them both to dodge the attack.

"That stream is too powerful to freeze instantly." Rikuo explained to her, "We're gonna have to Matoi again if we want to end this quickly."

"That's not going to happen." Lance slammed the tip of his lance against the ground, "Water Geyser!" Multiple fountains of water shot up out of the ground.

A geyser formed between Tsurara and Rikuo, preventing them from using Matoi. As Rikuo jumped back to avoid one geyser from hitting him, Lance created another geyser behind Rikuo that was unavoidable. The geyser shot Rikuo up into the air and left him soaking wet, but Rikuo was unharmed.

"Was he trying to make my clothes wet, so I'd move a bit slower?" Rikuo kept analyzing the situation.

Lance smirked, and then snapped his fingers, "My condolences, human of the Nurarihyon bloodline."

An Exorcist dashed out from the shadows, his hand created a spark and then he touched the ground, soaking wet from all the geysers. The Exorcist electrocuted the floor, which conducted onto a soaking wet Rikuo.

"Ahhhhhhh!" Rikuo screamed in pain of being electrocuted. He couldn't move, he was paralyzed from the pain.

"Yomi Okuri, Yura MAX: God Arrow!"

A bright arrow shot through the clouds and it was aimed at the Exorcist. The mysterious Exorcist jumped back to avoid the shot, but the sound of Rikuo's screams reverberated to everyone's ears.

"R-Rikuo!" Tsurara cried, knowing if she tried to save him, she'd be electrocuted too, and thus could only stand there watching her husband in pain.

A furry humanoid Youkai crept out from the shadows and tackled Rikuo, the electricity stopped damaging Rikuo and he had time to catch his own breath. The Youkai that saved Rikuo was holding him like a princess.

Rikuo opened his eyes and looked up at his saviour, "H-Hagoromo Gitsune? What are you doing here?"

"Hmph, what am I doing here?" Gitsune propped one hand on her hip. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm saving my favourite son." Gitsune lightly flipped her hair and waved her tails, "Beside, they're in my territory, I was looking for the one in charge of this assault." She looked down at Rikuo, "And they've just added more fuel to my anger."

"I came here to see the Exorcists from this so called King's Group." Yura still held her bow, formed by the God Arrow. "And I can't let an outsider handle this. This is Keikain territory." Yura looked at the two Exorcists, "But what are you doing here?!"

"So what'd you think, Rikuo? Quite the nice combination we have here." Lance laughed manically at the pain he caused to Rikuo.

"Quiet Lancelot. This combination is no different with my previous partner." The Exorcist calmly told his partner.

"Tch! Don't use my ancestor's name so lightly." Lance bellowed out at the mysterious Exorcist. "But things aren't looking so great for us anymore, don't you think, Mamiru?"

"Mamiru?!" Rikuo and Tsurara gasped in unison.

Mamiru emitted electricity from his hands; he gave the leader of the Keikain house a cold stare, "Long time no see, Yura."

Chapter 19 - Kyoto's Strongest

*That's all I plan to reveal, there's not much more for Mamiru's past, if many people ask for it, I will write a chapter based on that flashback, which will expand on Mamiru x Yura, how things went wrong, joined the Exorcist, etc etc. If there is enough demand, it will be released a long while from now. When *spoilers spoilers* happens LOL