Gekko no Senshi (Moonlight Warrior)
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A/N: I feel so humbled by your reviews! Thank you so much! I can't believe how good you guys are to me. I really hope you like this chapter :)
Chapter 14
"His name is Nurarihyon, the Supreme Commander of All Youkai."
Tomoe stood there flabbergasted. His father is Nurarihyon? THE Nurarihyon? Nura… oh, I get it…
Rihan looked down at Tomoe, who still had an astounded look on her face. Tomoe looked up to him, his eyes were so tender, and she forgot the time of day.
Tomoe, come back to your senses! She shook her head. Rihan chuckled, "You silly. What's going on in that head of yours?"
"Oh, you don't want to know," she said, looking away.
"Oh I do," he said. His smoldering looks with that velvety voice were killing her. A fire inside of her ignited and the first thing she thought was kissing those lips curved in a slight smirk. Tomoe gulped and turned away, to see some small youkai hiding behind some bushes and trees, spying on them.
"Some of the little youkai are spying on us," she whispered into his ear.
He smiled. "Oh, Tomoe-chan, don't call them…"
He was interrupted by sound of rustling and bustling coming from his left. A group of small youkai came out of it: one with the head of a natto and the body of abnormally small person, a red youkai with horns, an one-eyed goblin, and another one with eyes on his hands. Tomoe laughed cutely as she saw them run up to them.
"We are not little!" the one with the natto head yelled.
"Natto Kozo, stop screaming at our guest or you'll start sprouting natto," Rihan said purposely. It seemed like it was a scolding but it felt rather sweet.
Tomoe bent down, saying: "What's your name?"
It said, rather proudly: "My name is Natto Kozo!"
She chuckled, "And the rest?" she said pointing at the others.
"Tofu Kozo, Ko-oni and Te no me," introduced Natto Kozo.
"Nice to meet you all," she said bowing.
"Rihan-sama, she's very pretty," whispered Natto Kozo, making Rihan laugh.
"I apologize for calling you little, I am sure you are of great help to Rihan, Rikuo and Nurarihyon-sama," Tomoe said, bowing again.
Rihan was looking at her interacting with them. She was smiling. She reminds me so much of Wakana… it's like she's the best of Wakana and Otome. Kami, how can I be so lucky?
"We are! We are part of his Night Parade of a Hundred Demons!"
Tomoe was surprised. She looked at Rihan with a questioning look. "Tomoe-chan, I know what you're thinking and it's not that. We are not the army of demons that attacked that village…"
"We rule over Edo, or what its called now as Tokyo. We have nothing to with the rulers of the northern lands, we have our limits, and we sure as hell don't go out trespassing our borders. Unless we are asked to help, that is…" he finished.
Tomoe only nodded. He hugged her closer to himself said and said, "We will help you find this youkai army and we will annihilate them if they cross our bounds."
"Thank you, Rihan!" she perked up.
After Tomoe made a call to her family, she joined Rihan and Rikuo in the dining room. Night had already fallen and both of them where in youkai form. The Sodaicho wasn't in the room yet but she could feel their power; it was overwhelming. I am going to meet the Supreme Commander of All Youkai! I would've never thought that he would be Rikuo and Rihan's father!
Looking at both brothers made her feel, let's just say a little swamped: both of them where highly attractive and fearsome. Rikuo's hair was a statement of it's own: white top over black bottom. Also, it defied gravity. Rihan's was the same though it was all black and the bottom half was grabbed in a ponytail. They couldn't be more different but so alike. Rihan wore a green-stripped kimono while Rikuo wore a black one with a blue haori. They seemed rather important. It made Tomoe feel underdressed.
"Tomoe-chan, so glad you could join us!" chirped Yohime. "I am sorry, I never told you my name, I am Yohime."
"Yo… hime?" Tomoe stuttered. She's a princess? She's a freaking PRINCESS? Why the hell didn't Rihan tell me this?
Tomoe put away her tea and knelt before her, "I'm so sorry for my rudeness, your highness."
Yohime just stared at her dumbfounded while Rihan and Rikuo belted out a loud laugh. In the corner of her eye, Tomoe could see Rihan nearly crying of laughter. Rikuo was literally rolling on the floor.
"Tomoe-chan, I am not a princess in today's society. Yohime is just a name now, but I used to be a princess before I married their father," then she turned to her sons, "The two of you quit it!" They stopped laughing immediately and regained their composure by clearing their throats. Tomoe nodded and went back to seat between the brothers.
"You'll pay for that," she hissed. She was as red as beet.
"But why?" both of them whined at the same time. Yohime just rolled her eyes.
"So what's all this faffing about in the dinning room?"
A tall man with hair protruding to his back walked in. Tomoe nearly fainted when she saw him. His hair was similar to Rikuo and Rihan's fashion but the top was a golden-white with dark markings while the bottom was black. His face was godly just like Rihan's but older and manlier. He also had dark markings under his golden eyes. Tomoe felt the need to bow but she wasn't sure what to do now. She was before Nurarihyon, the Supreme Commander of all Youkai and she had no idea how to behave. She looked at Rihan for help.
"Father, I want you to meet my friend, Yatogami Tomoe," intervened Rikuo. Rihan gave him a look that could kill thousands. Rikuo just smirked.
Tomoe saw this. I don't know what game they're playing but I'm sure as hell won't fall for any of it!
Rihan thought, do that one more time Rikuo and I swear to God I'll make sure you never see the light of day.
Tomoe could feel Rihan's fear and for the first time, she trembled. She looked up to the side and put a hand on his arm and motioned a 'no.' Rihan seeing this was surprised, but gave her a small nod before calming down.
"Welcome, Yatogami-san! I see you haven't swoon over my great looks so I take it you do not fear youkai?" Nurarihyon spoke up.
Tomoe immediately retreated the hand from Rihan's arm and said, "No, Sodaicho, I do not fear youkai."
"Hm, I see… I see," he said rubbing his chin, looking conspicuous. Then he gave her the trademark smirk. Seriously, this guys need to label this… I see where these two knuckleheads get it…
Yohime gave him a rash look making Nurarihyon compose himself. Rikuo just rolled his eyes.
"So what's the order of business that brings you into this youkai house, if you don't mind me asking?" continued Nurarihyon.
"Oyaji, she's here because she needed my help with Geometry," Rikuo explained.
"And because she wanted to see me," Rihan continued. Rikuo gave him a look. Rihan smirked.
"Is she the lady you've being visiting this past couple of days?" asked Nurarihyon.
Both Rihan and Tomoe jumped in their seats with surprised look on their faces, without forgetting Tomoe's face was changing from pale to red in a beat.
"And you know this because?" asked Rihan.
"Boy, please. Those are my old tricks from when I courted your mother. Besides, I know everything that goes on in this house and in this town."
Rihan just slumped in his seat and humphed. Then he remembered something and perked up again.
"But you didn't seem to know about the 'Moonlight Warrior'?"
It was Rikuo's and Tomoe's time to jump in their seats. Tomoe's face turned from red to pale. Rikuo just made small eye contact with Tomoe. Nurarihyon caught this.
"Rikuo, son, you seem to know more. Have you being able to track down this moonlight youkai?"
"Eh? No, I don't know anything," Rikuo stuttered. Oh hell!
Bad move, Rikuo. You know more than you're saying, thought Rihan.
"Hm, ok enough with this moonlight youkai thing. Let's eat!" Yohime intervened, relieving Rikuo and Tomoe.
You're not getting off the hook that easily, little brother, thought Rihan.
They enjoyed a healthy dinner, in between jokes and laughs, Tomoe felt at home. It was a sense of ease and tranquility. I would've never thought I'd feel safe in a house full of youkai, having dinner with a youkai family. It's a little surreal…
Tomoe felt she could open up with this family. She was about to open her mouth when,
"Tomoe-chan, would you like some tea?" asked Yohime.
"Thank you, Yohime-sama."
"Is everything ok dear?"
"I'm good. Thank you for letting me stay for dinner," Tomoe smiled.
"Oh no dear, anytime! You go to school with Rikuo and are friends with Rihan, plus you don't mind a house full of youkai. That's what I found endearing when I met Ayakashi-sama," she looked over to her husband who was 'wrestling' with Rikuo and smiled, "I feel we could be friends too!" she chirped.
Tomoe blushed and smiled. "Thank you. I feel the same way." I don't think she knows I'm a youkai…
"Good, 'cause having to deal with those three is a pain in the ass," confessed Yohime. Both of them giggled. This caught Nurarihyon's attention.
"What's so funny, you two?" he said, while having Rikuo locked by the neck with one arm and grabbing Rihan by the ponytail with the other hand. This made Tomoe laugh harder. Both brothers blushed.
"Oyaji, let me go!" wailed Rihan.
"Otou-san, you're embarrassing me," whined Rikuo.
"Oh c'mon, I remember when you two where little you loved wrestling with me. Don't you remember, Rikuo you used to love it!" Nurarihyon sang. Rikuo just blushed into a deep strawberry color. "And you Rihan, are not far away from it."
A visible vein popped on Rihan's head. "Oyaji!"
"What? Just because there's a pretty girl here, you want to look all manly and shit."
Tomoe laughed so hard, her sides' hurts. Tears where coming out of her eyes. Rikuo and Rihan just looked at her.
"I'm sorry, it's just that you two look so cute!" she made a baby face, both brothers sweatdropped.
"This isn't funny anymore," Rihan released himself from his father's grasp, got up and walked out of the room. Both Yohime and Tomoe stared at his wake.
"For the first time, I agree with him," Rikuo also got up and walked out. A few seconds later he comes back saying, "I should probably walk you home, Tomoe."
Tomoe chuckled, "It's ok, I can go by myself. No need to worry."
Just then Rihan walks back in, with Tomoe's books in one arm, her backpack swung over his shoulder and grabs her by the hand with his free arm. "I'm taking you home."
"Hey! I was going to walk her home!" Rikuo demanded.
Not this again, Tomoe thought.
"I, little bro, have a better idea," with that Rihan drags Tomoe out to the patio and before her appeared a flying centipede with a monstrous head.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Rikuo groaned as he face palmed.
"Because you're slow, I in the other hand, I'm a fast thinker," Rihan responded with a wink and a smirk. Tomoe nearly fainted.
"Whatever," Rikuo scoffed.
Rihan puts Tomoe's things on the head of the flying beast, grabbed her by the waist, she yelps and he sits her. He climbs up, grabbing her by the waist again, closing the distance. His body felt warm. Tomoe blushed like mad. Oh my god!
"Off we go, Omukade," said Rihan and the beast lifts up in the air. Tomoe can't help but grabbed Rihan by his haori for dear life.
"Are you scared, Tomoe-chan?" he said in an endearing voice. Tomoe blushed even redder, if possible.
"No," she quivered. "I just prefer the ground."
Rihan chuckled. "You are cute when you wanna be."
"Shut up and get me home, please."
He laughed again. "All righty then."
Tomoe has no idea how the beast knew where to go but she arrived to her house in no time. It floated outside her window. Tomoe feared Tsubasa or Inoue-sama would see it.
"Ok, ready?"
"Wait!"
"What? You're gonna kiss me goodnight?" Rihan smirked. His golden eyes shown so much brighter when he was in his youkai form. It took a lot of Tomoe not to just kiss him right there and then.
"No, you idiot. I can't just appear in bedroom out of nowhere. That'll be suspicious." Tomoe whispered.
Rihan nodded in understanding. "You're right. Omukade, lower us please."
The flying youkai lowered them to ground level. Tomoe was in the ground in no time. She looks up to Rihan and smiles. For the first time, she felt safe in his arms. She had no idea why the feeling of warmth came over her. Usually being around Rihan made her feel sad and lonely but this time was different. He gazed at her radiant beauty. Even though it was dark outside, her face shown with her smile. They have no idea how long they stayed like that, but it felt like forever.
Just then a front light turns on, Rihan steps back, winks and disappears, along with Omukade. Tomoe just stares at the space left behind, wishing he had never left.
"Tomoe-chan, is it you?"
Tomoe's thoughts where interrupted by the voice of Inoue. "Yes, Inoue-sama it is me."
"But child come inside, it's cold out there."
Tomoe smiled again for she felt nothing. The gelid breeze blew, not only lifting up her dark hair, but also her spirit.
Finally some sugar! Well, not really but a little . Hope you like it and please review! You guys are AMAZING!