Gekko no Senshi (Moonlight Warrior)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 9

"YURA!"

Suddenly a pair of icy blue eyes shone in midst of the darkness. Rikuo felt that thrill in his heart whenever he encountered a powerful youkai. But once again, he didn't want to jeopardize his friends because he was a youkai, though if it came to too much, he'd have to do so to protect them.

Like when Yura found out about 'him'…

The crisp November night fell good on his skin as he and his brother, alongside with Kurotabo where investigating a sighting of some rogue youkai causing trouble near the water plant. He had heard about it earlier that day when Yura mentioned it to the Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol. Obviously, Kiyotsugu wanted to go 'take a look' but Yura forbid it with fervor. And knowing how headstrong she was, he knew she would be there trying to fight the youkai by herself.

Deciding to stay in the sidelines waiting, just in case it got out of hand, which by the way, Rihan wasn't to keen; he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible and go back to see his Wakana, who has not being feeling well for a while.

Rikuo shook his head at how his brother had gotten all wired up after learning that his 'girl' wasn't going to live long. She had acquired a serious lung infection after visiting a relative in China. She was never a sickly girl but this disease had come and didn't seem to let go of its host. Seeing this, Rihan had her stay at the Main House for a while, praying that his mother would help her. But she was too far-gone for anything to be done. He even tried, but being half demon his healing powers did not prevail. His mother Yohime tried but there was nothing she could do. She had commanded her son to send her back home to die near her family. Rihan wouldn't have it; an intense fight broke between the two.

And there they where, chasing after a rumor. What bothered Rikuo the most was that his brother only seems to come to escape the reality of the present pain. He knew he was going to loose her. He understood his pain; he really wanted a miracle to happen so that she could get better, but he knew that wasn't going to happen.

After they arrived to the water plant, Rikuo halted at the entrance, feeling the massive youkai aura in the air. Kurotabo had already gone in, while Rikuo and Rihan hesitated at the entrance.

"You say your friend might be here," said Rihan, more as statement than a question.

"Yura is as stubborn as a wild horse; she'll be here 'training' even if she knew she where to die," answered Rikuo.

"I think that's rather foolish," said Rihan. Rikuo just gave him a stern look.

"Anyways, I can feel a human presence, but it's not quite equal to any human. I sense great power coming from it," he continued.

For the first time in days, let alone ages, had Rihan said something smart. He gave him a smirk and sprinted inside the plant. They both met Kurotabo at the entrance of one of the mayor water treatment pools.

"She's down there, my lord, but she seems very tired," said Kuro, pointing done to one of the left pools.

There she was, standing at the edge of the pool, with a white wolf by her left side and a giant deer at her right. She was also holding a fish looking cannon, which seemed to merge with her own frail body.

"Is that your friend?" asked Rihan. He scoffed.

"Hn," Rikuo just nodded.

"Even though she seems very frail and skinny, she can hold up three shikigamies at once, I think that's commendable," said the eldest of the Nura boys.

"I would never struck you as the smart one, brother," smirked Rikuo. I'm surprise he even knows what shikigamies are, he thought.

"You may be surprised of the things I know," Rihan shrugged his shoulders.

Rikuo ignored Rihan, "I wanna see how this puts out…"

"I'm sorry, waka, but it seems like she doesn't have much longer," Kurotabo pointed out. All three men looked back to where Yura was standing. Her feeble body seemed to be giving in at any moment. But she was very determined.

"Youkai! Be gone!" Yura yelled as she fired her cannon. But after she fired; which by the way did nothing to the youkai; she fell to the ground.

"Yura!" Rikuo yelled as he ran to her. "Are you all right?"

"Get off me, you pest!" as she pointed her fish cannon towards Rikuo.

"Ah, she's a feisty one," smirked Rihan as he launched himself towards the youkai and with one blow of Nenekirimaru, he finished it.

Yura scrambled back after Rikuo gave her his hand. She smacked it and just laid dead eyes on him. Because she was so tired all her shikigamies had disappeared.

"I do not mean to hurt you, Yura," said Rikuo, kneeling before her. Her eyes popped.

"How do you know my name?" she stammered as she sensed the great youki from all three of them, especially the other two who seemed to be from the same kind since both sported long, gravity defying hair. They resembled the stories of old about the Great Commander of all Youkai, Nurarihyon. Could they be related to him?

"I thought you guys where in the same school, ain't that right, Rikuo?" said Rihan, nonchalantly.

Her eyes became as big as saucers. Rikuo closed his eyes, sighed and shook his head.

"What is this madness?" she stood up. Rikuo stood up too. "We do not go to the same school!"

"Yura, I can explain…" Rikuo's eyes where sad. Seeing this, she felt her heart sink.

"R-rikuo?" she stammered. He nodded.

"I thought she knew who you were," Rihan said, understanding what was going on. Countless times had Rikuo brought his friends to the House and begged them to just be normal. He wanted his identity concealed from the ones he cared for, fearing it would hurt them.

"Now, I have to kill you, Rikuo, I... I don't have a choice," she said. With sadness she takes out an ofuda. Rihan puts a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"No you don't! I am your friend, Yura. I would never hurt you. I would never hurt humans. Please Yura, you've got to understand…" Rikuo begged. Rihan scoffed.

"Shut up, you idiot!" Rikuo nearly bit off Rihan's head.

"But you're a youkai, I don't understand…" she pondered. "How can you defend humans?"

"That's easy, because our mother is human," said Rihan. Rikuo threw him a deadly glance.

"Your mother is human?" she asked. Rikuo nodded.

Rihan has never seen his brother look so vulnerable. Rikuo tends to put up a tough exterior but this was the first time he has ever seen Rikuo explain himself to a human, let alone a girl, let alone an onmyoji… the list could go on. So he decided to let it be.

"Kuro, let the kids handle their business alone. Let's go back to the house. Rikuo I prevail that we'll see you there later?"

Rikuo nodded.

"Very well, master," said Kurotabo.

After they left, seeing that there was no more danger, Rikuo turned back to his human side. Yura gasped marveled. This was the first time she ever saw Rikuo more than just a boy. She could only see a sweet kid but now that she knew who he really was, he was no longer a boy but a man. For some weird reason, she felt proud.

"Rikuo I still can't believe what my eyes have just seen," she started.

"Yura, look," he interrupted, "I'm sorry it had come to this… don't think I was lying or anything…"

Yura stepped forward, rubbed her hand on his cheek. "You are my dear friend, Rikuo; I could never think you are lying."

He smiled weakly. "I would never, ever hurt you."

"I know you wouldn't. But what I still can't understand is how are you fond of humans?" she asked.

"Well, my father married a human girl and my brother and I are half demon, half human. Because of this, our clan doesn't bring harm on humans," he answered.

"I see," she chuckled. "I'm sorry for saying I was going to kill you. It's just that I have being trained to think that humans are white and youkai are black. But there seems to be a gray area when it comes to you… I'm a bit confused, that's all," she smiled.

"Thank god, Yura cause I would hate to fight you," he said putting a hand on her shoulder.

"That's 'cause you know I'd win," she smiled.

"Ha! We'll see about that!" he laughed.

Fiery blood flowed through his veins, as he locked eyes with this blue-eyed demon. It all occurred in seconds but it seemed like time stopped:

She gracefully moves towards the youkai who was holding Yura by the neck. Her face was turning from red to blue to pale. Rikuo knew that she would choke if they didn't do something fast. If I don't do something, Yura dies!

Kiyotsugu was struck by her beauty and marveled at her like a creature from heaven. All the rest were also in awe.

"Give the girl to me," the demoness' voice caressed the wind. Her voice felt like soft velvet.

"Why?" the dark cloak clad youkai growled.

"Because I say so, that's why," she softly threaded.

"He! Stupid little girl, you think you can beat me?" said the youkai as he saw the girl charging with her sword.

And just then, the youkai started inhaling Yura's soul? Rikuo stared dumbfounded at what was happening. Suddenly, two more soul-suckers appeared and started sucking away the souls of his friends. Kana's face was that of pure horror. Rikuo couldn't take it anymore. Cherry blossom petals enveloped him as he changed into his youkai. Tomoe had her back against him, but she felt a wave of youkai aura that just made her stop what she was about to do.

I've never felt something like this… it's overwhelming, she thought. Yura! I need to save her!

The youkai was trying to steal Yura's soul but she was doing her best to not relinquish it. Her feet dangled in the air as she tried to fight it but soon enough her arms slumped beside her.

Rikuo and Tomoe yelled at the same time, "YURA!"

At that precise moment, both demon and demoness locked eyes. There was a kind of reassurance that surfaced in between the stares. Rikuo felt he could trust her. Tomoe felt she could trust him. Even though none knew each other's identities.

But just for the moment…

A/N: Thank you so much for your support to my story, means a lot! Now, review moreeee! I'm greedy!

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