Gekko no Senshi (Moonlight Warrior)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: I feel like it's being ages since my last update though it has only being a few days. I've got a lot going on, a lot of studying, dealing with a lot of issues (writting is the only thing, apart from the fact that I believe in God, that keeps me sane), so I haven't even noticed the days passing. So I feel compelled to post chapters 12 and 13 (even though I said I wasn't going to post anything if I didn't see a new review), I understand people are too busy, I've certainly being. On with the story...

Chapter 12

Why do I see Yamabuki when I see that girl?

Rihan tossed and turned that night as he tried to sleep but no matter what he did, sleep evaded him. All he could do was to think about Tomoe.

Tomoe…

Otome…

Strange, both names sound similar… might they be connected?

It can't be coincidence that she had a yamabuki garden in her backyard.

A small smile crossed his face as he remembered how her blue eyes shined with the moonlight.

The moonlight warrior… what's her take in all this?

He couldn't help but think of her when he thought of 'monkey face.' He smiled as he promised not to call her that but yet again it was a nice moniker, a way to get on her nerves. Why did he always do that? Get on their nerves? That's how he met Wakana…

My dear Wakana, why did you leave me so soon?

He tried not to cry as he remembered holding her fragile hand and how the disease ate her up inside, taking her away from him. He missed her so much, but some how Tomoe's laugh reminded him of when Wakana used to laugh out loud for some crap he did. Or how she and his brother teamed up to make his life a living hell. Even though he 'hated' it, he loved it. How ironic, isn't it? How he yearned for those days when he would take it on Rikuo for making him his laughing stock (of course, with Wakana's help) but not for one second thinking of reproaching her. She was his angel, the one that took him out of his misery. How could he say or do something to her?

But at least I know what happened to her…

Rihan pondered on the words of Zen. Should I go after a rumor or should I just let it be? He wanted to but he was afraid to learn that she left him just because she didn't love him anymore. I mean, who marries at that age? Not in this era, you don't. These times people only thought about their own personal growth and wealth, not about finding love. Maybe his human side was talking and yearning. But that's what made him more passionate about protecting humans. He had inherited his father's traits. And of course, he loves his human mother. But why go after love, when it had clearly failed not only once but also twice. Though, if you think about it, the human girl loved him back. At least that's what she said in her dying bed.

I love you, Rihan….

I love you too, Wakana-chan… you have made me so happy…

Rihan-san, please promise me that you'll be happy… and find love again…

I couldn't, not without you…

Promise…

I promise…

Her words where engraved in his brain forever. He promised her and he wasn't going to fall away from that promise. He loved her. He couldn't possibly think of loving someone more than he loved her, but yet again, he thought the same when Otome left him.

Could Tomoe be that 'love' that he was looking for? He definitely had a thing for younger girls, that's for sure. She was Rikuo's age. But she seemed to be more mature than his hotheaded brother, and much more mysterious. Just like the moonlight warrior…

He wanted to see her again, see her in action, and see how her body flowed in the air, as she was about to pound the final blow to her victim. How her cold stare made his blood boil…

What am I going to do if I have to decide between Tomoe and the moonlight warrior? Oh, see, that's easy… why not have both?

He laughed to himself. How silly of him. Tomoe never would let that happen. He barely knew her but she knew she wouldn't like the idea one bit. He laughed again just remembering her 'monkey face.' He didn't have any second thoughts when he revealed himself to her. And weirdly enough, she didn't seem to be scared. She was more surprised… something that really ticked his attention. How does she know about youkai? Has she encountered any before? He would have to ask her when he meets her again.

I might pay her a visit later today…

"Ohayo, Kana-chan!" Rikuo called out after his friend.

"Ohayo, Rikuo-kun!" Kana responded. "How was your weekend?"

"You know Kana, it was uneventful and that's weird by itself…"

"Your brother didn't harass you?" Kana asked.

"He didn't and that's the weirdest thing. I didn't even see him this morning."

"Well then, it's a good thing!"

"It is," he answered. I wonder what's going up with him? Kubinashi said he was asleep when he called him up for breakfast. And that's strange.

Both arrived school without any trouble. They said hello to their friends and sat on their seats making small talk to their other classmates. Rikuo noticed that Tomoe's seat was empty.

"Has anybody seen Tomoe?" he asked. All of them shook their heads.

Just then she bursts in with disheveled hair. "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry I'm late." She panted as she threw her books on the table, sat down, and tied a messy bun of her dark locks.

"Is everything ok, Tomoe-chan?" asked Kana.

She was startled, "Yeah I'm fine, I just overslept."

Class started after that and it was another uneventful day, but with tons of new homework. Tomoe groaned as she had more geometry and Kana and Yura whined because their English teacher wants them to write a poem; yep, that's right, in English.

But what struck Rikuo out the most was that Tomoe kept avoiding and ignoring him all day. She talked to the girls, shared some youkai insight with Kiyotsugu but she evaded him completely and he didn't like it.

When school ended for the day, Tomoe packed her stuff and left immediately. Yura kept wondering what was her deal but didn't confront her or anything. He rushed to catch her, making Kana a little upset because this was the second time he was running after her. He found Tomoe just walking through the gates.

"Hey, Yatogami-san, wait up!" he called after her.

She closed her eyes. Shit. She turned around and said, "What's up Nura-san?"

"What's wrong? You've being avoiding me all day. Did I do something wrong that I haven't realized or something?"

"No, it's nothing. Has nothing to do with you. I just have to go, I have a lot of geometry and you know I don't like geometry," she smiled weakly.

"Well, if you need help with that I can help you. Why don't you come over to my place and we can do homework together?" he offered.

She blushed at his offer. Rihan might be there… but I can't go.

"Thanks Rikuo-kun, but I can manage by myself. It just takes me a little more time than usual."

"You would let me know if you need anything, right? We are friends, you can tell me…"

She smiled genuinely. He was such a kind boy; you wouldn't imagine he could be a fierce youkai.

"Sure, I'll let you know. I gotta go, I don't wanna miss the bus to the Library," she pointed to the bus stop.

"Ok, see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Rikuo, I'm sorry I've avoided you all day, but I don't know what to make of this new discovery… Rihan is a youkai and he's your brother. Whenever I think about him I get sad and lonely and I don't know why…

It was really hard to concentrate and do her homework. She shifted on her seat as she tried not to think about him. She advanced very little so she vowed to ask Rikuo's help tomorrow. It wasn't due for tomorrow so she had a chance on getting it right before turning it in.

Sunset was a beautiful sight in this town, though it doesn't match that of the glorious mountains of the North. It made her miss her father. I wonder how he's doing?

She walked into the house, greeted her new family and went into her room to change. They had dinner and soon after Tomoe excused herself so she could go back and write her father a letter. His army had new technology that 'helps' them fight youkai but Tomoe knows that it doesn't help at all. Youkai needed to be defeated the old way: one on one combat. No new technology could surpass youkai power. Bullets have proved to be of some help but with ayakashi and daiyoukai it did nothing. So she did everything the old-fashioned way.

As she finished reading her letter, giving it a nod of approval, she felt a strong youki. Rihan…

She turned around to see him sitting in lotus position on her bed with one eye opened and the other closed.

"Yo, Tomoe…"

The way he said her name was so sexy and enticing, that it made her legs feel buttery. But to hell if she was going to let that show…

"What are you doing here, Rihan?" she asked dryly.

"Why the hate? I haven't even said 'monkey face'?"

Her forehead formed a scowl and she threw him the first thing she saw: her geometry book. Obviously, with great reflexes, he avoided the hit. It hit the wall with a great thud.

"Tomoe-chan! Is something wrong?" she heard Inoue call from downstairs.

"It's all good, I just dropped my book!" Tomoe yelled back. Rihan stifled a laugh and Tomoe hit him the arm.

"What was that for?" he whined.

"For being an idiot!" she whispered.

"But you where the one who threw me the book!"

She just looked at him and pouted. "Pouting monkey: that's what I should call you next," Rihan said.

"Oh my god, Rihan would you stop!" she said this a little too loud. Soon after she heard footsteps and she knew it was Tsubasa-sama.

Unannounced he walks in. Tomoe fearing for Rihan turns around to see that he had disappeared. How did he do that?

"Is there somebody in your room?" he asks sternly. Her eyes grew as big as saucers.

"No, Tsubasa-sama. It was nothing. I was just on the phone." She lied.

"Hm," was all he mustered as he looked once again into the room. Without a word, he left. Right after that, Rihan reappeared.

"Oh, you bad girl," he said as he shook his head. "Tsk, tsk."

"Shut up, asshole. I would've gotten into big trouble if I hadn't lied. I never lied and you made me, you idiot!" she shoved him away from her.

"I can make you do more than just lying, if you know what I mean," he winked. She blushed tomato red.

"You disgust me!"

"Of course I don't. You wouldn't let me in if I disgusted you."

"You barge in without my permission! It's not like I can do anything about it!"

"Keep it down, Tomoe. Daddy's gonna come and spank you if he finds a man in your room."

Oh, she's had it. Her eyes grew cold. Her hair unravels by itself and she let some of her youki flair. But before she lost it, she controlled herself. She then turns around and gives him her back.

"Rihan, please leave."

There he was, lost for words. He just looked at her mesmerized. Her aura was intense. What the hell just happened? Does she have youkai blood in her?

"Rihan…"

"But…"

"Leave… now!"

He gets up from her bed, she still has her back turned. Without anything else to say, he disappears. When she senses that he's gone, she just plummets on the floor and cries till she falls asleep.

Please Review!