Gekko no Senshi (Moonlight Warrior)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: I love this chapter so much, I don't even know why...
Chapter 13
I have no idea why seeing Rihan makes me so sad…
Tomoe woke up in her bed with heavy eyelids and a much heavier heart. She found herself sleeping in the floor with her day clothes on, then changed to pj's and went to her bed. Thinking dreamland would be more forgiving than the imminent headache soon approaching; it made her feel worse.
All night she kept dreaming about this beautiful woman with dark hair near the yamabuki flowers. In other instances, inside her dream, she found herself walking close to a stream of water and when she looked down at her reflection, she saw the same woman with dark hair and dreamy black eyes. It kept going on and on; she barely had enough sleep.
Damn you, Rihan! What have you done to me?
She got ready for school, had breakfast, and when she finished she grabbed her stuff. The moment she was about to leave, Inoue called her.
"Yes, Inoue-sama? Do you need me?"
"I just want to make sure that you're ok?"
"I'm fine. I just… miss my father," she partially lied. She did miss her father but not to the point of crying.
"I know it can be hard. I already scolded Tsubasa for walking into your room like that, it was very disrespectful, I apologize."
"It's ok, I didn't take any offense on it," Tomoe smiled weakly. With a nod and a wave from Inoue-sama, she walked out to a gloomy morning. It was a bit chillier than the day before. She debated if to go back for her blazer but decided against it; she was already late.
Walking to school didn't make her thoughts go away. All she could think of was her reflection on the water. Why is it that every time I see my reflection in a dream, it's somebody else?
As she approached the school gates, she heard someone call her out.
"Yatogami-san?"
She turned around to see Yura. Tomoe didn't know if to be surprised or astonished or amazed, which in the end it's the same thing.
"You seem rather gloomy today. Is everything all right?"
She came out of her daze and quickly responded, "I'm ok. I had a rough night, didn't sleep well, hence the dullness."
"Tomoe-chan, if I can call you that," Yura stopped, Tomoe nodded to continue, "I want to thank you for the other night… I overstepped a little."
"I am the one who should be sorry, Yura-chan. I call you out and it wasn't nice, I apologize," Tomoe chuckled.
"Rikuo made me understand that even though there's a fine line between humanity and youkai, there are some of your kind that care deeply about humans and that wish not to harm them. It's being really hard for me to come to terms with that but I've come around," she smiled weakly.
"I've had my own share of insecurities and doubts, I wasn't always a youkai. I was born human," Tomoe conferred.
"You were?" Tomoe nodded.
"Both my parents are human. My father still lives though he's old and my mother died when I was young," Tomoe croaked a little but held her ground.
"I miss my family too, specially grandpa and brother Akifusa and brother Mamiru… Ryuuji, that prick, I don't miss him," Yura made a funny face. Tomoe laughed.
From afar, Rikuo was looking at the pair walking into the school building. He smiled.
Another school day was done. Tomoe sighed as she closed her Biology book. She loved Bio but it wasn't the kind of subject you had at the end of the day. Remembering to talk to Rikuo at the end of the school day, she packed her stuff to hurry after him. Kiyotsugu and Saori had classroom duties so there was no Kiyojuji Paranormal Patrol meeting.
"Nura-kun!" she called after Rikuo. He turned around and smiled at her. Tomoe felt her cheeks burn but tried not to show as much.
"Yes, Yatogami-san?"
"Hey, I… ah couldn't finish my Geometry homework and I was wondering if… you could help… me?"
Rihan might be happy to see her… hmm, I wonder if I can play this my way, a smirk was forming in Rikuo's face. Tomoe looked at him bewildered.
"Oh, sorry, yeah sure! Why don't you come to my place? Let me call so that I can have some tea ready," he said, looking for his phone and making a call. Tomoe didn't even have time to say no. She meant to tell him that they could go to the library.
Oh god, what if Rihan is there?
Oh no no no!
"Ready?"
"Wait, what?" Tomoe got caught off guard.
"We need to take the bus, then we walk from there, if it's ok with you."
"Oh, yeah sure," she smiled.
As they hopped off the bus and walked what was left to Nura's house, Tomoe prayed silently to all gods existing that Rihan wouldn't be home. What have I got myself into?
As they neared the house, Tomoe could see it from a distance. It resembled one of those ancient palace houses: too small to be a palace but pretty large for a regular house. It had certain grandeur to it; it took her breath away.
"You live here?" she asked.
"Yes, with my father and mother, my annoying brother and other youkai," Rikuo answered.
For a moment, Tomoe felt intimidated. She had no idea what to feel. Her heart fluttered like a hummingbird's wings.
"Rikuo, I think it would be better if we…"
Tomoe was interrupted by a beautiful woman wearing a red imperial kimono who was walking towards them. She suddenly felt self-conscious. She started fixing her hair and straightening her skirt.
"Rikuo, son, welcome home. This must be your friend Tomoe," she bowed.
His mother? But she looks so young! I guess his family thrives for the traditional 'cause she's wearing a kimono.
"Tomoe-chan?" Rikuo nudged her.
"Oh, gomenasai, I am Yatogami Tomoe," Tomoe bowed.
"She's beautiful, Rikuo. Well done!" his mother said, clapping. Both Rikuo and Tomoe blushed tomato red.
Yohime grabbed the girl by the arm and showed her around the house, with Rikuo at their heels begging his mother to stop.
"Rikuo has never brought a pretty girl to the house!" Yohime beamed.
Rikuo rolled his eyes, "Mother, you know that's not true…"
"But this is the first time you bring a girlfriend, right?"
Both of them stopped right in their tracks. Rikuo face palmed and Tomoe gulped. What the hell?
"Mom, she's not my girlfriend…"
"That's right she isn't," all three of them turned around to see Rihan walking towards them, in youkai form. Tomoe's eyes grew big. Oh shit…
"Why?" their mother inquired.
"Because she's mine," he said. He focused his eyes on Tomoe. She blushed and looked away. Rikuo took this opportunity in his hands.
"Tomoe and I are very good friends, in fact she asked my help for geometry," he said, getting closer to her. He looked at Rihan. Rihan stared back. Rikuo, don't you even try…
"Yeah, gomene okaa-sama, I asked Rikuo to help me with my geometry homework. I am not very good at it," conferred Tomoe looking down, her skirt seemed interesting.
"I have being visiting her every night," said Rihan nonchalantly. Rikuo seemed annoyed. Damn him!
"It was only 2 times!" Tomoe intervened, crossing her arms.
"Oh c'mon, don't be angry at me monkey face…"
"I told you not to call me 'monkey face' anymore! Gosh, you annoy me!" she huffed, walking away. All three of them stared at her wake. Two seconds later she comes back, "I don't know where I'm going!" and she pouts. Rikuo, Rihan and their mother just laughed at her antics. Tomoe blushed and wished to disappear. What have I got myself into?
"I will have tea ready. Rikuo, take Tomoe-chan to the dojo," Yohime commanded.
"Yes, okaa-san, thanks," Rikuo showed Tomoe to the dojo. Rihan followed behind.
"Rihan, Tomoe-chan and I are going to study so if you could please make yourself scarce and leave, that would be helpful," said Rikuo.
"Why? She's in my house, why can't I just enjoy her company?" whined Rihan.
Tomoe was getting tired of this argument. "Rihan, please let us study; geometry is very important to me. I will look for you and we can talk when I'm done."
He smirked, "As you wish my dear." He mocked a bow and left. Rikuo sighed.
"Sorry about that. He can be a little intense sometimes."
"A little? Your brother has appeared in my bedroom two nights in a row. You call that a 'little' intense?"
Rikuo sweatdropped, "I guess not!" No wonder he has being sleeping in all morning!
Soon enough, they both got emerged in Geometry. Within the first 10 minutes of Rikuo explaining, Tomoe felt she saw the light of day. He was way better than their professor Mr. Nakagawa.
"… and that's how you state that these two triangles are congruent."
"I never thought I would get it this fast! Rikuo you're awesome!" she lifted her hand and they high-fived. "We make a great team." She meant it.
"So, before we finish our homework, have you had any thoughts of what I just asked you?" his face got closer to hers, a tint of pink appeared on her cheeks.
She looked away, "What do you mean?"
"What I asked you 'that' night?" he got closer. Her cheeks became a brighter pink. Rikuo, please don't do this…
"I can't give you an answer, Rikuo-kun. I have a reason to be here and it's not to join you. I don't mean to harm, if that's what you're thinking. I can't tell you yet."
"Why?"
She leaned closer to him, "Because I would have to tell you all about me and I can't do that with your brother lurking around like a stray dog looking for food."
Rikuo couldn't help but laugh out loud. Rihan opened the doors and stepped in with an angry look.
"What did you ask her? What night are you talking about?" he barked. "And by the way, I am not a stray dog!"
Tomoe burst into laughter. "Sorry, Rihan-san, but I felt your presence and I just thought that it would be a great opportunity," she stood up and changed her tune, a little more angry now, "to get back at you for waltzing into my house without my permission and almost getting me into trouble!" she paused, "And because you made me waist perfectly good ice cream!"
Now it was Rihan's time to laugh. "Did daddy spank you after I left?" Tomoe scowled.
"That was low, Rihan," stated Rikuo.
"You shut up, I'll deal with you later." Rihan pointed at Rikuo. The latter stood up.
"Don't you want to deal with me now?" his voice became darker and before Tomoe's eyes, Rikuo turned into his youkai, with magnificent anti-gravity white vs. black hair. She slowly turned away, for this seemed like a standoff between brothers and she didn't want to be in the middle.
"Stay away from her," Rihan growled.
"She's not your property," Rikuo hissed.
"Ok, boys enough!" both of them stopped to see their mother walk in. Tomoe relieved a sigh.
"Mother!"
"She's not a toy and you guys are not kids anymore, so knock it off!" Yohime was adamant.
"Rihan," Tomoe stepped closer, "let me finish with my homework and as soon as I am done, I'll come talk to you, ok?" she bargained.
"There's no reasoning with this asshole," Rikuo scoffed.
"That mouth of yours, Rikuo!" Yohime yelled.
"Mother, I apologize," he lowered his head.
Rihan just stared at Rikuo; then turned to Tomoe and walked away. She sighed again and gave an apologetic look to Yohime.
"Okaa-sama, I am so sorry you had to see this," she apologized.
"Don't worry child, I've seen worse," and with that she walked away. Tomoe turned towards Rikuo expecting an explanation.
"Tomoe-chan I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me."
"Sibling rivalry, I guess?" she asked. He shrugged his shoulders. "Don't make me be in the middle of whatever's going on between the two of you."
With that said, they returned back to Geometry. It took her 1 hour to finish her homework; otherwise it would have taken three, at the very least. She was elated with the results. According to Rikuo, all the answers were correct.
"Aren't you going to talk to a certain someone who might be sulking near the yamabuki flowers," said Rikuo as he picked up his books.
He has a garden with yamabuki flowers too, wondered Tomoe. She nodded and walked over to where he was. She sensed his presence. He did nothing to hide it.
She saw him sitting in a lotus position overlooking the garden. Tomoe felt like her heart tanked. She set her books down and sat beside him.
"Why do I feel like shit every time I'm around you?"
That was an opening statement he was not expecting to hear. Rihan turned towards Tomoe and saw her beautiful face looking at the flowers.
"Every time I see them, it reminds me of how much it hurts."
"What hurts?" she asked. She laid eyes on him. Their eyes met.
"She left me, and it hurts," chocked Rihan. He wasn't sure why he was opening up to her but he felt like he should. She reminds me so much of Otome…
Tomoe just looked at him and then turned back to the garden. Should I tell him who I am? I don't think it's the right time…
"Tomoe, where are you from?" Rihan asked.
"Rihan-san, I don't think that really matters…"
"Then what do you have to hide?"
She looked at him. Sighing she answered, "I'm from Sapporo, Hokkaido but my family quickly moved to Otaru. Happy?"
"Not really, but go on," he urged her to continue.
She nodded, "My father comes from a line of great warriors, the Yatogami. They fought in the Genpei War. Our family has being highly regarded by the government, a government that never paid back for what they did for their country. But that's not the case here."
"Are you here as a spy?" she kept quiet so Rihan continued, "What does Ukiyoe town have that needs to by spied on?"
"I do not work directly with the government, I'm here because my father sent me."
"Tomoe, please make me understand 'cause I certainly don't get where this is going," Rihan pleaded.
Tomoe looked down at her skirt and sighed, "The government has an army fighting against youkai."
This quickly grabbed Rihan's attention. "Wait… what?"
"Yes, the government knows about the existence of youkai and they want to eradicated them."
Rihan took a while to take it all in. "So, what you're telling me is that they have a group of humans giving their lives to protect us from youkai?"
"Rihan-san, this is classified information that I cannot be sharing with you, and for the record, we never had this conversation," she looked at him. He nodded.
"So, let me get this straight, you are here to spy on God knows what, and you are telling me this, a youkai, in a house full of youkai. Not to brag, but we are the most powerful youkai yakuza family in the country and you come and tell me that we are in danger because of bunch of humans are scared of us?"
Tomoe shook her head. "You don't get it, do you? Youkai are a threat to society. People are afraid of them, and you know what humans do when they are afraid? They go ape-shit crazy. A frenzy starts, they blame the government over everything and soon enough our country is in uproar."
"Are you saying I'm a threat?"
"You came into my room in the middle of the night almost getting me into trouble, if it weren't for your youkai skills I'd be sent back ashamed. Who knows what else youkai do!" she then stands up from the veranda and starts pacing on the ground, Rihan turning towards her. "You know what else youkai do? They kill people! They murdered and crucified a whole town, leaving nothing but desolation. I saw the corpses of my father's soldiers lying dead on the ground, some of them burnt and some of them without their limbs! Who will take care of their families? Tell me Rihan, who!"
Tears where streaming down her face. Rihan got up and went to her. He held her shoulders. Many of the small youkai where approaching the couple; Rihan shooed them away.
"Master," Kubinashi came in. "Is everything ok?"
"Yes, please give us a minute."
As Kubinashi walks away, Rihan shook Tomoe a little. She chuckled and mumbled a 'sorry.'
"Your fear is understandable. But you still haven't told me why you were sent here?"
She sighed. "There is a group of youkai, like an army, the one the wiped out an entire town in one blow. We have the fear that they might move down south. We don't know what they want, we don't even know who's leading them but we need to figure it out."
"We?" he still hadn't let go of her. She welcomed it.
"Shut up, wiseass. Yes, we. You, me and Rikuo."
"Why do we have to include that derp?" he hesitated.
"Because he's your little brother and he's good in tracking things down," she patted his chest and looked up to meet those beautiful golden eyes. She felt her knees buckle. He frowned.
"How do you know that?"
"Let's just say a little bird told me," she smiled.
Does she know the Moonlight warrior?
"Ok, fine. He can come." If that gets me to spend more time with her, then why not? That way I can keep tabs on Rikuo…
"Are we good now? You happy?"
"Meh, a little I guess…"
"Hey!" she slapped him in the arm.
"Ok, fine! Yes, but we'll work together on one condition," he let go of her.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Stay for dinner. Meet my father."
"And who's you father?" she asked inquisitively.
"He's name is Nurarihyon, the Supreme Commander of All Youkai."
Ok so here's the thing: I've already written chapter 14 and 15, but I will withold them until I see a new review! I know, I know, it feels like a threat but well... I don't know if people are actually liking what they read and If I don't know that you love it (or hate it), I can't continue writting... or posting... I might continue writting as I want to see this story to the end but there's no matter posting if I don't know your opinions. Thank you!