Hey guys! Thank you so much for all the reviews! Also, I'm sure that all of you are keen to see Yohime mature and get stronger - I assure you she will, so please bear with her - and me - at that. Thank you for reading my story - I know that Nurarihyon No Mago isn't very popular, and it makes me happy to know that there are people out there who appreciate my work.

When I had finally regained my bearings, I found myself perched atop the back of a giant snake.

"A-Ah!"

For one precarious second, I nearly toppled over, but a warm arm snaked itself around my waist, hauling me up to safety.

"You're seriously clumsy," He commented nonchalantly, keeping his arm there to make sure that I didn't fall off.

I huffed, but made no reply, instead choosing to look down below at the twinkling blanket of city lights.

"That is pretty…" I breathed, surprised at how different the place looked in the night.

The Ayakashi said nothing, merely watching as I oohed and ahhed at the scenery below.

All too soon, we reached a traditional Japanese style-house, old and enormous, with a froth of pretty pink sakura trees taking pride of place.

"This is it," He hopped nimbly off the back of the snake, and I was insulted when he lifted me off its back like a parent would a child.

"I could have done it on my own…" I murmured, patting the nose of the snake in thanks and smiling at it gratefully.

"Come on in. I'll introduce you to everyone else." He waved me in, but I stopped short.

'"Everyone else' as in… More Ayakashi?" I backed away, shaking my head vehemently. "No, no, no. I refuse."

"Are you scared?"

I looked away, admitting quietly, "… I do not want them to eat my liver…"

"They won't. I won't let them hurt you, I promise."

Since I could detect nothing but sincerity in his voice, I nodded, and tightening the wrap around my shoulders, entered the house.

Whatever I had been expecting definitely wasn't this. Groups of Ayakashi making merry, playing with cards and indulging in treats and sake. Boisterous laughter filled the air, giving the whole place a very cheerful atmosphere.

However, the moment I walked in, all conversation ceased. The whole place was as silent as a graveyard. All eyes were on me, and I gulped.

The Ayakashi was unconcerned, and raised a hand in greeting.

"Yo! Everyone, this is Yohime. I know she smells good, but none of you are allowed to touch her, got it?"

I blanched; that was incredibly blunt!

However, positive affirmations rang out around the room, and I relaxed.

"Come play with us!" A tiny white yokai tugged on the hem of my dress, and I followed it over to its friends.

For the first time in my life, I was at the centre of things. I felt myself being pulled into the circle, smiling timidly as everyone vied for my attention, shouting and screaming their names at me.

"W-What are you playing?" I asked, folding up my legs beneath me.

Natto-Kozo looked up from the cards in his hand.

"Menko."

Then he frowned.

"You look just like –"

"WAKA!" Before he could finish his sentence, a young girl with flowing blue hair and bright eyes of gold burst into the hall, and I flinched at the volume of her screech.

"Is it true? Did you really bring a human here?!"

"Oh, Yuki-Onna! Yeah, I-"

"Y-You TWO-TIMER!" She shrieked, turning bright red and flouncing off in a huff.

I hastily rose, pulling my wrap around me.

"Where are you going?" Natto-Kozo asked, eyeing me curiously.

"To find her and explain, of course!" I eyed the Ayakashi, askance. "I most certainly do not think that he will."

I slid the door open, and hurried outside. Even with my wrap on, it was bitterly cold, and I was shivering badly. But I persevered, huddling deeper into the cashmere, and padding down the dark and gloomy corridor. My skin crawled like it was trying to get away from the shadows as I tiptoed down the hallway, feeling like an intruder.

"You shouldn't wander around alone. It's dangerous, you know."

I shrieked in surprise, twisting round to find an old man staring dryly at me.

Though his body had aged, Nurarihyon's eyesight was as sharp as ever, and the moment he laid eyes on the girl, he thought he had seen a ghost, for she was the image of his late wife when they had first met. The same long neck, the same fine aristocratic face, the same ivory complexion, the same elfin features. Her eyes, instead of the warm brown he had come to love, were as blue as the sky, and looked so clear that she almost looked myopic. Her hair, though straight as well, was a lustrous shade of milk chocolate, and tumbled down her back in heavy masses.

No wonder that foolish boy got involved with her, Nurarihyon snorted. Looks like my grandson did something right, for once.

"Um…" I hesitated, wondering why the old man was staring at me so intently. "I am really sorry for intruding."

He waved my thanks away. "It's no problem. What's your name?"

"It is Yohime." I smiled as brightly as I could at him. "And it is a pleasure to meet you!"

Cue the sharp intake of breath.

"… I see." He nodded, apparently unsurprised. "So I was right…"

"Excuse me?"

"No, it's nothing. So, did that Ayakashi bring you here?"

My mouth fell open.

"You know him as well?"

"You'd be surprised." He started walking, and I trailed along behind, eager to find out more.

"So? How did the two of you meet?"

I looked down, explaining in a soft murmur. The old man laughed when I was done, and after a left turn, led me out onto the porch.

"He is so infuriating. He is cocky, he is a jerk and he is insufferable -"

Nurarihyon watched, amused, as Yohime continued to rant.

Well, maybe she isn't exactly like her namesake…

"- But he isn't all bad. He helped me and my cousin, and I'm grateful for that. He's kept his promises, so far, and everyone here seems to like him. So he has to be a good Ayakashi… Right…?" I looked questioningly at the older man, who sighed, deep in thought.

"You're thinking too hard about this, you know. Everything will work out in the end." From what he had observed, he believed that like her predecessor, she possessed a pure heart, and good judgement along with it. Though she was currently confused and uncertain, her heart would guide her along the right path.

I pondered a moment before asking him a question that had been bugging me for some time now. "Uncle… Is it bad that I want to bring this cheerfulness home with me?"

He laughed, like I had asked a very silly question. Which, in all truth, I suppose I had.

"No, I suppose not."

We fell into a comfortable silence. Outside, the wind blew insanely through the trees, and I shivered, scooting behind a pillar. I wasn't sure when the scenery dissolved, or when my head started nodding against my shoulder.

A low baritone chuckle.

"'Insufferable', huh?"

"You heard?"

"Everything."

"Well, it looks like you have inherited some of my charm, so-"

"Ah, shut up, old man. I don't need or want any of it."

"- Or not. A real man actually keeps his women warm."

"Ha? What're you talking about?"

"Your woman is shivering! Aren't you supposed to give her your jacket?"

"… Shitty old geezer…" The Ayakashi grumbled.

Something warm was wrapped around me, and I snuggled into the warmth gratefully.

There was a short silence.

"This one's special."

"Yeah, I could tell. She was able to see me in the day."

"… Is that so? Well, she is the reincarnation of your grandmother after all. I'm not surprised."

"My grandmother…? Wait, how did you-"

I wanted to tell them to stop talking about me like I wasn't there. The conversation had taken on a dreamlike quality, and I wasn't really sure if I was really awake.

"Well, look at the time! It's late, and you should probably get Yohime home. Don't want to wake her up now, do we?"

"… This conversation isn't over."

"It is for now."

The Ayakashi picked me up gently, and turned to leave, but Nurarihyon stopped him.

"Make sure you look after her."

"… I will."

Despite my growing discomfort with this whispered dream, I sank deeper into unconsciousness, into dreams that made better sense.