AN: So far, I've had a couple good reviews. Thank you so much :D Its been such a long time I was worried how I would go. Without further ado, second chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Maybe Kasai no Koneko. She's mine D:

…..

Gods are Fickle Things

….

"First things first!" Rikuo called, silencing the loud rambling of his kin. He smiled softly to himself, pleased that his human self he could rally his men so easily, even in such a tense situation.

Everyone was on edge. It hadn't been a day since the divine visit from the Sun Goddess, and tensions had gone through the roof. No one knew what was coming, not even the Lord Master of the Hyakki-Yako himself. The only Yokai that seemed to know what was going on was kneeling in the middle of the room, surrounded by his most rusted of his followers. Kubinashi had taken the initiative and had tied her hands together tightly with his signature string. What annoyed Rikuo at the moment was that she seemed more at home tied up then any of the other times he had seen her.

"Kasai no Koneko, is it?" She nodded confirmation, though her face twisted at the name. Must really hate it, huh. Rikuo mused to himself before continuing. "Your...mother was rather vague last night. Would you mind telling me what's going on?"

Kasai sighed softly. She was dressed in the same short kimono, white with soft gold embroidery that looked like fire dancing across the fabric. Her tails were sprawled out around her. It seemed that, like many other Yokai that he knew, she never bothered assuming a human form.

"Weeeeellllll…" She cocked her head lightly to the side, her ears flicking side to side. "The truth is… I really don't know myself."

If he had been drinking something, he would have spat it out all over himself. As it was, it took all his will power not to reach out and slap Kasai across the face. He could hear a soft chuckle from somewhere. Dark eyes flittered to see his personal aid watching from the door and frowned at her softly. The Yuki-On'na shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, blushing profusely. Really, did he look that amusing through this?

Turning his steely gaze back to the kitsune, he frowned at her. Once again, she cringed away, feeling the Fear emanating from the man in front of her. "What is it you do know?"

Once again, the girl sighed. Her legs parted, and she sat back on her bottom, sprawling out those tails haphazardly. "Okay, okay. Look, I'll tell you what I know. I just want to say though. This is your all fault. If you hadn't shown up yesterday, Mother would not have found me again."

Tsurara pipped up this time, ignoring another look from her Master. "You attacked us, though!"

Kasai scoffed at the Yuki-On'na. "You came into my home unannounced. What would you have done in my stead, missy?"

"Certainly not burn the place to the ground, for one!" Oikawa growled back.

"Oh nooo, you would have just fr-!"

"ENOUGH!" Rikuo snapped, sick of his question being ignored. He looked over to Tsurara, his face softening for a moment. "Oikawa-san, please don't interrupt. Kasai no Koneko, please, from the beginning."

She bit her lip and gave in with a whine, the sound making Rikuo twitch in annoyance.. "Y'know the story of my Mother. Y'know, she has two brothers, Tsukuyomi and Susanoo, and the sibling rivalry between them is kinda… er…"

"Screwed up?" Zen offered helpfully, earning a nod from Kasai.

"To be frank about it." Kasai giggled, her tails flicking a little as she looked over to the bird Yokai. "From what Mom tells me, my 'uncles' are as bad as each other. Moms never gotten on with Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi has a tendency to egg it on. "

"About a year ago, they all got together, like they do once every decade, and, in lack of a better word – got a bit stupid. Susanoo and Momma got into a tiff over who was held the most worship." Kasai sighed softly at the questioning looks that she was getting. "It's like… your Hyakki-Yako. The god or goddess who holds the most worship has the seat of power. It's not the same as it was in the past. People still worship the sun, and the moon, and curse the seas and storms, just in a whole different manner."

Rikuo's mouth twisted a little. "Like Fear and admiration. It's not the same anymore."

"I guess so." Kasai mused softly. "Anyway, it sort of settled after a little bit. Susanoo has a bad temper, but he calms down fast and Mom… well, you saw how she was when she was here. Her attention span isn't exactly the greatest. It was going really well, when Tsukuyomi pipped up. He told mom that she would never be able to win a fight against Susanoo."

"Long story short, Tsukuyomi made a deal with Susanoo. If he could beat Amaterasu in a game, then he would boost the power of the sea three-fold by gifting him worship. Susanoo took the bait, and challenged Mom to a game. Kinda like a game of chess."

"Lemme guess." Groaned the Young Lord. "We are the chess pieces?"

Kasai smirked a little. "Of course. The Gods can just go smacking each other around. That's no fun. Why fight each other, when you can show your power through manipulating mortals to do your bidding? It gives them a boost in worship, and it settles an argument. Two birds with no stone."

He felt his hand pushing through his hair, his head throbbing with the new information. Without taking his eyes of Kasai, he signalled for Tsurara to fetch him a drink. "So where do you come in?"

Kasai frowned lightly. "The game is this: each one of the gods creates a champion, stick them somewhere in Japan, and tell them it's their destiny to 'defend their parents honour and all that bullshit."

As Tsurara appeared at his side, Rikuo started, holding his hand up to Kasai to stop her in her tracks. "Wait, I thought there was only one of you we have to worry about. Now you're telling me there are two? Ah, I'm sorry, Oikawa-san, thank you."

"Hai, Master." The ice maiden smiled softly at him, returning to her place.

The kitsune looked at the Yuki-On'na closely for a moment, before returning her gaze to the brunette. "It's a two against one fight, Pandemonium Lord. At the current time, Momma's divinity has grown much more than her brothers… and she kind of rubs it in their face."

"What I know of them, Susanoo's son is a brute. He was born a few years before I was, to some Yokai hiding in high class society somewhere. Tsukuyomi, because he really isn't supposed to be 'influencing the fight', gave Susanoo's son a pet of sorts. Don't ask me what."

Kasai looked down at her hands, tugging lightly at her binds. "Then there's me. Momma made me about seventeen years ago. I was raised hidden away from my uncles. Tsukuyomi would have had a fit if he discovered Mother's weakness of men. So when this came about, she kinda dumped me in Kanto, told me to find Susanoo and Tsukuyomi's army, and kill them."

"Just like that?" Rikuo questioned, not quite sure if he should be believing what he was hearing. Kasai nodded, her tails wagging in the air happily. "So.. wait, you said earlier if it wasn't for us, your mother wouldn't have found you. What in Kami's name have you been doing?"

A proud smile came over the kitsunes face. "Hiding, of course. " She saw Rikuo opening his mouth to yell, a dark look coming over his face at her answer. "Hey, look. I didn't have a choice in this either. I've heard about you. You and your Hyakki-Yako. You have this natural talent for battle, and your mates are all real powerful. But I've never picked up a sword in my life. And then suddenly, my mother, who's supposed to be this divine lover of life, tells me 'Hey, guess what, theres a fucking army out there lead by two warmonger's that killed before you were in diapers. Go get then, baby!'"

She groaned and slowly, slumped down to the floor, lying on her side, looking like a child throwing a tantrum. "I don't even know why I'm heeeerrre. Stupid Yuki-On'na and her stupid ice. I just wanna go home. I miss my cats."

"Eh?" Tsurara stiffened up, insulted by the fire elemental's mutterings. "What does this have to do with me?"

Dragging herself back up, Kasai glowered at Rikuos second –in-command darkly. "The fuck should I know? You tell me. What is it that I need to learn from you? Hmm?"

The ice maiden looked panicked as the question was pushed back on her with such spite. "I… I uh… I don't know w-wh-what you're talking about." She stammered, covering her lips with the sleeves of her furisode.

"My personal attendant is simply an ice user." Rikuo confirmed, earning a relieved smile from the rescued Yuki-On'na.

"Hmm…" Kasai cocked her head lightly, raising her hands up to her mouth, tugging lightly at the strings that tethered her hands. "Perhaps Mother would like me to learn how to control ice? Its possible that Susanoo's son is a water Yokai.. But I couldn't tell y- Look, mate, can you let me go now?" She whined suddenly, looking up to Kubinashi with a pout. "I've just gotten used to not being chained to a rock."

The string assassin looked at her for the longest moment, glancing up to his Master questioningly. Rikuo shrugged and nodded his permission. Gently, without him moving, the string gently fell away from the Kitsune. She cheered happily at this, stretching her arms out with a almost purr. Then, calmly, she got to her feet, looking Rikuo in the eyes.

"Look, shadow sneak. I told you. I don't know why my mother wants me to learn here." She said, her voice suddenly flat, and serious. "What I can tell you is that, whether Susanoo's son knows I'm here or not, he will be coming to you anyway. His instinct is to rule. And now he is free to do so without Tsukuyomi's or his father's interference, he will find the biggest, baddest assholes he can find and either put them under his command, or kill them."

"So it won't be long til he comes to challenge the Nura clan." Rikuo murmured softly, crossing his hands over his chest and looking to the ground, lost in thought. "Do you think he knows of us?"

The kitsune shrugged lightly. "The gods don't take much notice of mortals, even Yokai. Mother found you through me. It doesn't take much to see who you are, Nura Rikuo. Not for the Goddess."

She scratched her head lightly. "But know who you are from looks? No. We're not Gods, only their children. Although, I don't know how far his reach has spread…I..I am fairly certain he is here, in Tokyo. I don't know how close."

"I.." Kasai suddenly looked very small, her tails tucking between her legs, ears folding down over her hair. "I don't want this. But… Let me find out what my Mother wants me to learn from the Yuki-On'na. Use me as your weapon, shadow sneak. You have no choice. I…Have no choice."

Slowly, as the silence finally fell, Rikuo got to his feet, drawing himself up to his full height and looking slowly around the room. Currently, only his most trusted of the Hyakki-Yako and advisors were in the room. They were all watching him intently, waiting on baited breath for his command. Slowly, he looked to his right, where his grandfather sat quietly smoking his pipe.

Then, to his left, to Tsurara, who looked nervously at him, waiting. Whatever this was, it involved his precious friend directly. If was to come, then he would protect her. He would protect everyone, just like before.

Looking over at her encouraging, albeit uncertain smile seemed to calm his mind enough to think clearly. Right. Forget Gods. Just take them out of the equation. Some asshole is coming for his throne of Pandemonium, and like Hell was he going to give it up. Kasai no Koneko was just a new trump card.

"Alright." He said, clapping his hands together lightly. "Right now, as far as I can tell, we have the initiative. I suggest we use it as much as possible, but the last thing we want is to get this guys attention. Whoever our enemy is, if he is truly an offspring of a God, then we're going to have to expect possibly someone close to or surpassing the Nue."

There was a collective muttering of gasps and groans. The Nue was their greatest of enemies, and Rikuo barely scrapped through with his life. If it was possible that someone was stronger than the Celestial Yokai…

"Let's try being as subtle as we can. All patrols are to be as normal. No changes, understand? No one is to speak of what was said or seen last night and today outside this room. Until we know who our enemy is, there not much we can do. Sanba Garasu!"

The three crow Yokai merged from the shadows, coming to kneel down before him. "Master Rikuo. At your word."

He looked at each of them one at a time. "Sasami. I need you to go to Kyoto, and speak to Yura or Ryuji, see if our onmyoji friends have heard of any unusual activity amongst the Yokai. Tosakamaru, to Tono Village. Hopefully, the lure of powerful Yokai will drag our enemy to them. Kuroumaru, gather as many spies as you can, and spread them out as far as we can reach. Don't let on what we're looking for. I don't want this guy rocking up on our door step without us knowing."

"Sir!" In a flurry of black feathers, the three siblings took off. Rikuo turned his attention to Kasai

"As for you, Daughter of Amaterasu." He looked over to Tsurara and gestured her to come to his side. Blushing, the ice maiden followed his orders without question, standing at his back loyally.. "I want you close by until we work out where the attack is going to come from. If you're not with me, you need to be with either Tsurara or Aotabo." He nodded over to the looming form of the degenerate priest, who grunted softly in acknowledgement.

"One thing." Golden eyes focussed onto the ice maiden. "Yuki-On'na."

There was a soft chill pressing into Rikuo's back. Turning his head a little to look at his friend, he saw the mistrust in her amber eyes as they narrowed down on the kitsune. "Hai."

For a moment, the silence was deafening, then, slowly, Kasai moved down to one knee, bowing her head low. "I don't know what I need from you, but my existence relies on it." Kasai bit into her lip, drawing blood. "Please, help me. My life is yours."

Tsurara gasped a little, just as surprised by the gesture as Rikuo was, her hand coming to her lips uncertainly. Ever kind, the snowy haired beauty moved to the kitsunes side, taking her arm and pulling her to her feet, smiling widely.

Tsurara. There was something about her that could inspire people. It wasn't like the way he did, a cocktail of fear and trust, rather, the Yuki-On'na was simply so insistent in her eagerness to please, it sort of… imprinted on all those exposed to it.

Rikuo smiled to himself. His personal body guard had the most beautiful charm to her.

"Kasai-san, of course I will help you!" Tsurara sung, beaming at the surprised kitsune, taking Kasai no Koneko's hands in her won. "We will find out what it is together, okay?"

Kasai stared at the Yuki-On'na for the longest moment. Taking advantage of break in tension, Rikuo brought the attention of his Hyakki-Yako with the clap of his hands. "Does everyone understand their orders?"

"Yes, Young Master!"

….

One thing about living with Yokai was that nothing could dampen their mood when it came to drinking.

The sounds of the celebration followed the Yokai Rikuo into the court yard long after he had slid the door to a close. He held a cool bottle of his favourite sake, Yuki-On'na chilled Juyondai, that Kejoro had handed to him on his way out of the room, yet the bottle failed to hamper his ascent into the Sakura tree. There, he settled back, deep in thought, trying to ignore the urge to return to his birthday feast. Instead, she sipped on his fragrant sake bottle and stared up to the moon.

Tsukuyomi. Susanoo.

Amaterasu.

It just didn't make any sense. Never before had he heard of divine beings interfering with Yokai on such a huge scale. Not even his Grandfather could recall such an intrusion on mrtal lands. Oh, there had been old human legends of old warriors that had been blessed with gifts from the gods, or divine powers, but mostly it was just someone running their mouth, or a Yokai earning himself a bit of extra Fear.

So why now? What was it that the Kitsune said….every ten years or so the God Siblings get together for…what? A reunion? Did they sit around playing Cho-han, drinking themselves into a stupor and enjoying a bit of debauchery? Then, when the sake got too much, as it has a tendency to do, do they just start throwing punches?

A dark, humourless smile crossed his lips. It wouldn't be the first time a war had been started like that.

"Uuugghhh!" He suddenly screamed, scruffing his free hand across his face in frustration. "But why, damnit!?"

"It's really pissing you off, huh, Shadow Sneak?" a soft, feminine voice called from below.

Annoyed by the intrusion on his solitude, Rikuo turned his crimson eyes to see the Kitsune standing at the foot of his tree. "What is it, Koneko?" He growled, turning back away from her. In the back of his mind, he made a mental note to chide someone, anyone really, for not keeping Kasai under watch. It was difficult to sense her presence. It was like she didn't exist. And that was dangerous.

Kasai shifted on her feet awkwardly. "Uh… Look. I know this is getting to you..." She murmured softly, making him strain his ears in order to hear her words. "If you're looking for a reason for this, you're wasting your time."

Frowning darkly, the Young Lord turned his steely gaze back to Kasai. "Explain yourself."

It looked like she was about to burst into tears under his intense glare, her pointed wolfish ears folded down through her hair, tails tucked between her legs. When she spoke, it was barely audible above the din.

"There is no reason for it. Humans, Yokai, it doesn't matter to the Gods whether they live or die. For every death, no matter how violent it is, there is always someone else being born to replace them."

"Mortals are just..toys. Fragile things that make very little impact in the long run. In fact," Kasai gave a soft, dejected whine. "Wars are usually a time of prosperity for the Gods."

"Our lives should matter to them." Rikuo stated firmly, moreso to himself then to Kasai. "And what about you? Surely as her daughter, your life must matter to the Lady Amaterasu."

There was a sad scoff of laughter. "Master Rikuo, my mother is a whore. I was born on a whim, because Amaterasu wished to see what 'proper' motherhood was like. Momma's attention span isn't exactly that great. Now, I'm simply a convenient weapon of choice."

"Master Rikuo!" Tsuraras voice surprised both of them as she jogged from the main the house, catching Rikuos attention immediately. "Master! I cant fin-Oh! There you are, Koneko-san."

The Kitsune looked about guiltily, blushing under the gaze of the Yuki-On'na as she walked up close."Uh..Uh.. I'm sorry, Tsurara-san." Kasai muttered, fidgeting with her kimono. "I needed to tell Master Shadow-sneak something."

"Oh?" A concerned, half suspicious look came over the snow-haired woman face as her eyes darted back and forth between the two. "What about?"

Kasai gave her a smile that could have equalled that of her mothers, dark and beautiful. "Just that my mom's a bitch." She said simply. "Ah. The noise is too much. I'm going to hide in a bedroom somewhere."

"Eh?! Wait..what?" But Kasai was already leaving, heading back towards the darker areas of the main house. Tsurara moved to go after her. "Ah! Koneko-san! Koneko-saaaaa-"

"Tsurara?"

Her head snapped back towards the sakura tree, looking up to her friend a little panicky , her face flustered by Kasai's abrupt departure. Remembering herself, she straightened. "I'm sorry, Rikuo-sama. She just got away from me."

Shaking his head lightly, the Night Yokai offered her a kind smile. "It's okay. I don't think she's going to leave anytime soon." He said softly, swallowing down the pity he felt in the pit of his stomach. Pity was something for his human side.

"Oh.." He watched Tsurara gaze off into the shadows to where Kasai had disappeared. "She always looks so sad, even when she's smiling."

The observation surprised him a little. "Yeah… I guess so ." A soft sigh escaped his lips and he sat back, taking a deep swig from his bottle. "Tsurara?"

"Yes Master?"

"Come sit with me."

"Eh?!"

…

The words were almost too strong for him to hear, rumbling like a summer storm breaking over the raging seas in his ears. Bowed to one knee, his eyes to the ground, the man could not suppress the uncomfortable feeling of this unfamiliar submissive position. It was unlike him.

"Yes, Father." He said firmly. "I will find the Sun's Champion and finish them."

A growl of pleasure echoed from behind the faded screen. There was a sudden gush of wind, pushing past him, almost knocking him from his place. Katsuro made a face. His father was gone, leaving him only a clear and simple order.

"Victory or death."

"Ah. Fuck. He could have at least given us some intelligence." A voice said from the darkness as Katsuro slowly moved to stand, dusting his Hakama off lightly. He glanced to his side to the darkness, feeling a dark power throbbing softly from where the voice had come from. "Y'know, like a map, preferably with an arrow saying 'attack here.'"

A laugh, soft and feminine, came from his left, catching his attention. "Hah, that would be too easy."

Katsuro frowned darkly. "It doesn't matter. My father's goal can wait. We don't have the power to take the Nura clan yet. We will have to this… tactfully."

The man to his right chuckled softly at the suggestion. "We don't have to have all out war. We could easily just take them out, one by one."

"Or recruit those who aren't that loyal to the Nura's cause." The woman suggested from the shadows. "Our…position may be weak, but it can easily gain power if word gets around."

Katura nodded, pushing back ebony hair from sapphire blue eyes, a wry smile on his lips. "I hear they have a wonderful night life in the 1st District."

There was a groan from the woman, but it was suffocated by a load cheer from the man. In his exuberance, he frightened several birds that had gotten into the building. "YES! FUCK THE WAR. LET'S GO GET DRUNK."

Katsuro, son of Susanoo, sneered darkly. "Yes. Let's!"

…

The young lord of pandemonium could feel himself starting to fall asleep. Somewhere, on the horizon, the sun was beginning to rise up, bringing a strange, golden light to the world. In the light of the awakening morning, there were bodies of Yokai scattered haphazardly all around the yard, drunk, or passed out, or passing out, from the previous nights festivities.

He was still seated in the sakura tree, stretched out with one leg hanging down slightly from the thick branch, the other supporting the weight of a sleeping Yuki-On'na, who had long since fallen to slumber against her Master. He knew that his day self would not approve, but the strange cool warmth of her body kept him content, like warm water snuggled in his lap. It was a good thing that the Sakura tree had grown so much that two people could easily sit into the bend of the thick branches, and be surrounded either side by smaller, newer branches, twisting their way to the sky.

His head lolled to the side against the main body of the tree. A sudden warmth splashed against his face as the sun broke over the buildings. As the feeling caressed his face, Rikuo sneezed softly, a symptom of his human self stepping into place for the day. Although, lately, his duel personality, the Yokai Rikuo and the Human Rikuo, was becoming one and the same as he got older, with only a few exceptions. Tsurara was one of those exceptions. His night form had a tendency to be much more touchy-feely with the Yuki-On'na then his human self.

Tsurara seemed to put up with the extra attention she received at night without complaint. Once, Rikuo questioned her, after waking to them both in the same exact position as they were now. She had laughed at him. "Mom says being handsy is normal for Nurarihyons." She had giggled teasingly at him. "And you don't give me much choice in the matter."

Human Rikuo cracked his eyes open blearily, shifting himself to readjust to the sudden change in form, removing Tsuraras elbow from his hip, before settling back, turning his face from the sun. Around him from below, he could hear snores from intoxicated Yokai, most likely passed out in the courtyard from last night. He could feel his friend cuddling closer against his chest, burying her face from the light.

There was a soft fluttering of wings, catching his attention. Sleepily, the young man turned his head til it sighted a black crow, perched on the branch to his left. In its beak, a piece of parchment, rolled up tightly to prevent damage. Frowning, Rikuo reached out, taking the letter with a soft thank you. There was a poof, and a young, lithe male Yokai perched where the crow had just been sitting, scattering black feathers everywhere.

"Shoji reporting from the capital, sir." He said firmly, his loud voice making Rikuo cringe and hush him crankily. The crow-spy blushed, flustered by the demand, but nodding softly anyway. "Sir, you won't like it."

Rikuo felt his brow quirk up curiously at the bird Yokai, turning dark eyes to the parchment. Careful not to wake Tsurara, he unrolled the parchment, and slowly read the report, trying hard to keep his concentration against the blinding morning sun.

About half way down the page, something caught his eyes. Immediately, he felt himself straighten, a tight knot raising to his throat. There was no way in Hell. He had to read it again.

Dark eyes turned to the messenger spy sharply. "Are you certain? You need to be certain. If this is what I think it is..."

"Yes Master. I was off duty, visiting Aonyobo when I overheard."

Master Rikuo took in a deep, slow breath, trying desperately to stop the rising panic in the pit of his stomach. There was a soft moan from the woman lying against his chest. He froze, glancing downwards to see the Yuki-On'na. His sudden movement must have disturbed her sleep. His sudden panic was replaced by amusement. Right. He was the Nurarihyon. Maybe not the original, but a definitely improved on. With his Hyakii-Yako at his back, Rikuo could defeat anyone.

Even….this.

He handed the parchment to the crow, leaning back onto the tree with a sigh. "Can you make copies of that and hand it out to each of my advisors. Find the Kitsune, and give her one too."

The messenger bowed gently. "Yes master."

"Also, gimme your hat."

The crows eyes widened for a moment, before reaching up, quickly untying the straw Kasa that sat on the nape of his neck and handed it to the Young Master, who cheered softly before dismissing the crow, thanking him for his good work. Smirking a little, he leaned back, pulling the kasa over his face, shading it from the sun, his arms wrapping protectively around his friend, one of his hands loosely falling over her eyes so she too wouldn't be disturbed by the sun.

It was his birthday today.

Today, he saw the coming war. Things would be different from the other times. This could not be settled with just the sword.

"Heh." He smiled under the darkness of the hat and closed his eyes.

This was going to be difficult.