AN: I struggled a little – writers block D: It's my chronic disease. I know where I'm going now. Let's go!

(just note: I did warn you guys, darker Rikuo. I have this notion that as he got older, he began to lose a lot of his humanity, or sacrifice it so he could be a better leader. I do promise he will get better though. D: please forgive me. )

Disclaimer: I don't own Nurarihyon no Mago.

…

The Anger Inside

…

"Okay. Come here. This is the plan." The soft baritone voice woke her, calling her from a sleep that was fitful and full of her mothers' disappointed face. Eyes that felt like that they had been through a sandstorm cracked open, falling on the sleeping form of Tsurara Oikawa. Softness surrounded her, lush and comforting, a large king sized bed that they were laying in. In smelt funny, rich sandalwood and spices, but there was an undertone of copper. Koneko shifted gently, moving to sit up, but a cold hand shot out, gripping her. Hiding a whine of surprise, she settled back into the softness of the pillows. Tsurara placed her fingers to her lips, signalling for absolute quiet, amber eyes full of worry.

"Our master wants us to split into two groups." It was the same voice that Kasai had heard before she had fallen unconscious. The demon that had saved them. He must have taken them from the streets. "We can't take all of the districts in one night, but what we can do is take the main house."

"Now, the Prince has plans to isolate all the main players here. There will be some sort of distraction that the Asami-bitch is planning, some great play. I dunno." There was a general chuckle in the room, voices of countless men muttering their amusement. The hush cam quickly though, a foreboding din in the quiet. "It will leave the main house unprotected. That doesn't mean I will leave that force unprotected. Most of you guys will be heading with the main force to the house. I will be sending Hiroto with you. Try not to get under his feet, okay? I want a smaller team to help me with the figureheads."

"What about the kid?" One voice pipped up curiously.

"If the prince holds up his end of things, he'll be here, with the rest of them." He sighed softly, sounding dejected. "Frankly, I don't think the idiot can do it. But hopefully the Nurarihyon's clan head will be at the Noh."

Koneko watched Tsurara's eyes widened in recognition. Quietly, Koneko moved closer to her, feeling the temperature around them dropping at an alarming rate. The kitsune reached out timidly and touched her cheek, her fingers instantly frosting over. Without making a noise, Koneko mouthed a soft warning. Cold.

"Y'know boss. This sounds all sorts of stupid." Someone grumbled, his words bringing a sound of agreement amongst the voices. "I feel like we're walking participating in some old fashioned ninja shit."

"Yup." The baritone voice seemed amused. "Poison darts and everything. Let's just get this over and done with."

"Oi, boss." Another voice, this one amused more than anything. "What's with the girlies in the bed? Here I thought you were supposed to be scouting the gambling district, not picking up?"

There was a roar of laughter, men congratulating their captor jovially. It ended abruptly. "No. They got mobbed by a few jerks. Silly things were so drunk they could barely stand." He chuckled softly. "Never less defend themselves from a bunch of perverts."

"D'aaaww boss." The laughter was echoed everywhere. "You have the biggest weakness for girls."

"Aaaahh well. I gotta have something, yknow. Besides. That Yuki-On'na literally shattered one." The baritone exclaimed. "I was hoping I could sign 'em up one they woke up. Izanami knows we need the extra members."

"Oh? What if they are Nura clan?"

There was a snort, but the laugher was growing faint. "What kind of man lets his women be raped on his turf?" There was the sound of a door opening. "How bout we go get a feed. I hear the All-You-Can-Eat here is brilliant. I'll charge it to the Prince!"

The loud roar of cheers faded with the slamming of the door. The two girls' lay dead still for the longest moment, before Kasai slowly lifted her head, looking about the huge room suspiciously. Empty.

It was a beautiful suit, filled with expensive modern furniture that had clothing and paperwork scattered around, making it a mess. The bed they lay in was in the upper corner, elevated from the rest of the room, with a wide view of the city outside. A door to the balcony was wide open, letting a cool breeze flow through the room. To the left the bathroom seemed to be to the left, separated from the rest of the suit by a shoji screen, seeming too exposed for Kasai's good health.

"They're gone." She murmured, sitting up on the bed, "He swears by Izanami."

A soft sob caught her attention, and Koneko turned, surprised to see the tears in Tsuraras' eyes. She gasped, worried and placed her hand on the snow maidens slender shoulders. "No no, please don't cry again, Tsurara-san. I'm sorry!"

"Gods" Tsurara sobbed softly, throwing herself back into the bed. "What have you gotten me into?"

The kitsune whined, fidgeting with the bed covered, a guilty look on her face. "…I'm sorry… I never thought this would happen." She said. In all honesty, it was the truth. There was no way that she could have predicted that they would end up in the arms of enemy.

Tsurara glared at her furiously. "Is this the man that you have been warning about? How did this happen? Koneko!"

Slowly, the kitsune slipped out of the bed. Someone had redressed her in a soft silk mans shirt, too big for her, falling over her thighs. The room spun a little as she got to her feet and it took a moment for her to steady herself. She heard the Yuki-On'na get to her feet, groaning softly, her hands bracing her head, sitting back on the bed hard. She too had been redressed into a mens' shirt. It was black.

Black didn't suit her very well.

"No, Tsurara-san. It's okay. This is a good thing." Kasai finally said, pacing the room around her, her tails flicking in the air as she peeked at the map that was spread out on the table. "This is a good thing."

"A good thing?!" Tsurara cried indignantly, throwing herself to her feet. "I abandoned my Master… no, worse than that, we practically attacked him! I couldn't even defend myself last night because you kept stuffing drinks down my throat. And now, your enemy has us Gods knows where, and my clothes are gone!"

Koneko gave her a look of disapproval. "Are you seriously more worried about someone has seeing you naked then the fact that we've been literally saved by someone planning to kill the Nurarihyon?"

"Kind of!" Tsurara screamed, picking up a lamp and throwing it across the room at the kitsune, trying to vent her frustration

Koneko ducked easily out of the projectiles path, letting the lamp sore over her head and smash into the wall. "Tsurara! Just think about this for a second, please!"

"Think about what?! How you've completely screwed me over?" The Yokai snarled, throwing her hands in the air. "If it wasn't for you and your stupid hol-"

"Tsurara! I know what I need from you!" Koneko yelled over the Ice Yokai half way through her rant.

"-e could've been….Wait." Tsurara stopped mid sentence, turning on her heel to look at her charge, who was grinning broadly. "What... do you mean?"

"Last night, when that pervert kissed you..." Kasai paced about, unable to stop herself from moving about the room. "I felt all that anger. I need it."

Anger? Well of course she was angry. Her first kiss had been stolen from her by someone trying to violate her. But it still didn't make sense. "You need what?"

"Your Fear. Let me take it." Koneko turned to look at her finally, a darkness on her face that Tsurara had never seen before. "Kiss me."

…

Kubinashi and Kurotaba stood just behind the yellow tape, invisible within the in the crowd that had gathered around, waiting patiently, trying to ignore the blood that was splattered all over the pavement.

"Are they sure they saw them here?" Kubinashi muttered under his breath to the assassin, eyeing a lifeless body with pebbled skin with the look of disgust. "This doesn't look like something our Yuki-On'na would do."

Kurotaba stared ahead of him silently for the longest moment, before shaking his head slowly. "No, the bakaneko girls said they headed in this direction, that's all." He said flatly, walking back through the crowd. "Young Master isn't going to like this."

Humourless laugh escaped Kubinashi before he could help it. "Kejoro says he is in one nasty mood."

"He's been in a nasty mood since that goddess showed up." Kurotaba grumbled, running his hand through his deep blue hair. The roar of motorbike caught his attention "Ah, speak of the devil."

The black and red Kawasaki bike came to a screaming stop inches from their feet. The Young Master leaned back in his seat, pulling his helmet off. Muddy brown eyes looked up to his companions questioningly.

"Hello Young Master." Kubinashi smiled cheerfully, waving. "How are you feeling?"

There was a soft groan in the depth of Rikuos throat. "This shit." He shook his head lightly, kicking the bikes stand out and sliding off the seat a little less gracefully then he should. "This entire thing has been just getting completely out of hand."

Kurotaba shared a glance with Kubinashi, following loyally as Rikuo made his way through the crowd. "We've had some strange reports coming in about last night, sir."

If Rikuos' glare could have killed, it would have. "I don't want to hear about any rumours about that bloody festival, understand?"

"Young Master," Kubinashi interjected, the accusing edge to his voice making Rikuo twitch. "We believe that after Oikawa-san…err…"

"Left... Yes, I know, go on."

"After Oikawa-san left," Kubinashi continued cautiously as they came to a stop at the border of the yellow tape. "The two were sighted in a few of the Bakaneko establishments. It's believed that they drank themselves into a stupor and left with a considerable amount of money."

Rikuo frowned softly, staring at the mess that lay in front of him. Police were everywhere, surrounding the bloody scene with grim faces. Without thinking, Rikuo pulled a pipe from his pocket, the stress making him crave the habit his Yokai self long ago started. There was blood everywhere he looked, splattered on the pavement. There was a body, big with skin like pebbles, lying long dead in the middle of the road. In front of it, a large body of bloodied water.

"Money?" He murmured curiously, staring at the strange puddle of water, seeing it familiar. "So that bastard kitsune did still my pouch. I'll skin her when I find her."

"Master. The girls tell us that a few rogue ayakashi had been gambling at the tables with kitsune." Kubinashi continued softly, fingering his string absently as he watched the Young Master assess the scene before them. "They left soon after Oikawa-san and Koneko."

Rikuo took a deep intake of his pipe, and let out a sigh, the smoke curling about his face. "So, you tracked them here?"

"This is where their trail ends, my Lord." Kurotaba sighed softly, frustrated. "We found pieces of fabric simular to the kimonos that you described on the road before the human authorities got here."

Swearing softly, he turned his back on the crime scene, stalking away from crowd, chewing on the stick of his pipe. "Tsurara was here." He said blankly, heading back to his bike in a furious stride.

The two Yokai trotted to keep up with him. "Sir, if that's true," Kurotaba called to him. "Then we have nothing to track them with. Even our best tracker can't find a trace of them past this point. That water puddl-"

Rikuo slammed himself down into his seat, looking back at his companions with a glare. "Don't tell me that you can't. This is Tsurara we're talking about."

"Suddenly you're so caring." Kubinashi muttered under his breath. The weapon assassin elbowed him, making him jump. But it was too late. Rikuo turned his head to them, an eyebrow raised dangerously.

"What was that?"

"We just…" Kurotaba stumbled on his words for a moment, and then frowned at the hesitation in his own voice. "We were told what happened at the festival."

Rikuo frowned softly. "I see my grandfather cannot be trusted with my secrets."

"You shouldn't have played with Yuki-On'na emotions like that." Kubinashi chided, crossing his arms tightly. "We all saw how you treated her at home."

"She doesn't deserve this behaviour from you, Young Master." Kurotaba added casually, causing the string assassin to snigger softly. "What you do with the humans is your business, but Oikawa-san is a part of our family."

Rikuo turned his face from them, staring down at handles of his bike. Guilt. It was coming from everywhere at the moment. The look on his grandfathers face when he told him about Tsuaras' abandonment could have turned him to stone. The look on Kana's face last night at the party… If he had been his human self, it would have never happened. But his Yokai self was practically devoid of conscience.

"Yes, I know." He said slowly, refusing to meet his friends' eyes. Swallowing the sick feeling in his throat, he put the pipe back into his pocket, "Let's get her home, safe." Rikuo gave them a crooked smile, but it was met with impassive faces. "I will beg for her forgiveness when we do."

….

"Kiss you?" Tsurara couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the kitsunes demand. "What would kissing you do?"

Kasai frowned softly, struggling to find the words that she was looking for. "You and I, Tsurara-san. We are opposite elements. But haven't you ever noticed that when you're angry your power is so much…out of control?"

The ice goddess stood back, blinking at the suggestion. When she was angry? There were so many few times that she had felt true anger or true hatred that she struggled to find the answer. Then, she remembered last night. It was like the ice had taken over her. Everything had been numb, her limbs, her body, her heart. All emotion had left her, save this sharp, stabbing pain in the pit of her stomach, wanting to get out, wanting to kill.

She had never wanted to actually kill before. It was an unfamiliar feeling. Yet, strangely, it had felt so good to watch that ayakashi simply shatter before her.

And then there were the simpler times. A raise in her stress levels freezing Master Rikuos' meal, an embarrassing tease from her friends meant that they would be frozen by her, or even a fit of jealousy causing a wild blizzard through the middle of summer.

"…Yes." Tsurara said finally, her voice shaking just a little as her amber eyes settled on the kitsune. "I can't control my Fear. It's not like you're any better."

Koneko smiled softly. "Do you hate me?"

The question caught her by surprise and put her off balance. Amber eyes turned away from gold. Things had been so peaceful; the angry thought came unbidden to the ice maiden, surprising her. Until you came along and ruined everything.

"Yes…"

Koneko giggled softly, but it was a heartbreaking sound leaving Tsurara with a guilty twinge in her gut. It must have shown on her face. "It's okay, Tsurara-san." Kasai murmured, moving in close, her pointed wolf ears laying flat on her head. "You were so kind to me. I've never experienced that before."

Tsurara felt her cheeks go red, embarrassed and ashamed by Koneko's words. "Koneko-san… I.."

"Tsurara-san was so kind." Kasai interrupted, holding her hand up gently. "You shouldn't have this pain, this anger inside of you. The snow is always so beautiful, so unforgiving that nothing should be able to stop it. The snowstorm comes without bidding and it shouldn't be controlled by such anger and hate. "

"But how will a kiss help?" Tsurara asked again, not quiet understanding.

"You put all your emotions into it, all that negative feeling," Koneko chuckled. "And kill me."

Tsurara gasped, her hands coming her lips, shaking her head furiously. "No!" I don't want to!

"So sweet." Koneko gave her a broken smile, raising her hands to take in the room in a gentle movement. "Look where we are, Tsurara-san. Do you think this was all just by chance?"

Amber eyes narrowed dangerously, anger starting to boil up in Tsurara's throat. "Don't tell me tha-"

"No!" Kasai yelled, cutting her off quickly, sounding like she could have cried at the suggestion. "I would never put you in danger, I swear. It's Mother. I can see her handiwork."

"…Amaterasu?" The Yuki-On'na breathed, looking around the room suspiciously. "But…how?"

"Izanami knows. She's probably been putting ideas in our heads." The anger on Koneko's face could have rivalled Rikuo in one of his worst tempers. "There is no way Momma would simply leave things be. She never did play fair."

"….She wants you to burn Susanoo's champion from the inside out." Tsurara whispered breathlessly, remembering how the man had simply shattered from the kiss. "Koneko, how will you ever get close to him?"

"Let me worry about that." Koneko said calmly, offering her hand back to Tsurara, her eyes begging. "Please Tsurara-san. Let me take that pain from you. If I do this right, you can go back to your Masters side. You will never have to see me again."

It all sounded so absurd. But somehow, watching the kitsune hold out her hand, those golden eyes begging her to trust her, Tsurara couldn't help but believe her. Ever since they had seen her in the temple, things had been going to chaos. Her Master had been so tense since his birthday, and that festival, that kiss. And after last night, and the situation is now, Koneko wasn't the most trust worthy ayakashi.

But there was something about her. An innocence, perhaps? No. Sometimes, when Tsurara looked at her, all she could see was chaos.

Yet she felt her hand reach out, hesitant, unsure. "I…"

"Tsurara?" Koneko called softly, sounding so distant.

The Yuki-On'na looked up, meeting the eyes of the kitsune. "….Y-yes?"

"Hate me."

Konekos' hand shot out like a snakes' strick, gripping Tsurara around the throat and pushing her back against the wall heavily, her slim body crushing against the Yuki-On'na. Tsurara screamed in surprise, completely taken off guard by the sudden assault, her hands coming up to claw and wrench at the tight grip. For a moment, all she could feel were hands, Koneko's and her own, fighting, slapping each other away violently. For a moment, she was free, but Kasai was so much faster than she ever expected and her hand went around Tsuraras' throat.

The kitsune was suddenly too close, panting heavily into Tsuraras' face. The Yuki-On'na whimpered softly, staring up into gold eyes that were filled with such deep sadness. "It's okay, Tsurara-san." She breathed softly, leaning heavily into her protector. "Think of every frustration, the moments when you thought you could kill, and use them. Kill me."

Her lips crushed against Tsurara's.

It came unbidden from inside the ice maiden, like Konekos' very words had pulled them from the depth of her soul. Anger, cold and furious, pooled into her chest, growing, spreading. It was exactly like last night, only this time, all she could see was Koneko, crying softly as she kissed her.

Amaterasu, in her blinding beauty, taking their hard fought for peace away with her shining smile, like it was a childs' toy.

Koneko, those golden eyes burning through her, understanding so much yet knows nothing. She offers her a drink of sweet liquor and promises salvation from the pain.

Rikuo, smiling, charming, taking Kana into his lap, throwing Tsuraras' love away as if it was worthless to him.

All those years of silently loving her Master, waiting, accepting. Wanting nothing more than to be useful.

She watched as the ice flooded from her body into Kasai, pouring all her anger and frustrations into kitsunes touch. Tsurara could hear the pained whine from her, but she didn't care, she wanted her to feel the pain. She wanted to torture her, to feel her body freeze under her touch. She wanted everything to freeze under her touch. Every one that has ever hurt her, taken from her, discarded her.

Amaterasu with her beautiful smile.

Koneko with that dark innocence.

Rikuo with his charming ways.

Master Rikuo…

He had always been so kind to her, always thankful, always grateful to have her by his side. But there was always Kana there, wanting him, her subtle advances only evident when the Master was in his Night form. She was nothing, a fickle, weak human being. Hell, Tsurara would have been happier if Yura Keikan had been the one to kiss him, but not that creature. Yes, she was his treasured childhood friend, but every day, Rikuo came home to Tsurara. Not that human.

Something was burning against her lips.

No. A kiss meant nothing. As long as he didn't love her, Tsurara would win. She wanted to be selfish for once. She would fight for him, no matter who he chose to kiss. And she would show Rikuo her heart, and what he could have had.

Koneko suddenly threw herself away from Tsurara, staggering back, her entire body encased in a strange red fire, looking like fresh blood dripping from her. She was screaming, her hands covering her face as she staggered away from the Yuki-On'na, who slid down the wall, feeling strange.

The kitsune was in agony. It was like her body was breaking apart and reuniting itself slowly. Tsurara's fear had been forced down her throat, feeling like cold metal prying her oesophagus open and draining molten steel, a burning sensation that almost mirrored that of her fires. She had swallowed it, feeling the intense freeze spread out through her body. The anger came next, building in her chest, taking the ice through her entire system. The fear, the jealousy came second, an afterthought, egging the fury onwards until it touched her very soul.

Then, a spark. The burning freeze seemed to stop where it was, squeezing her heart painfully, trying to crush it. She could feel the fire inside of her fighting back, consuming the wild emotions that were inside her, making them apart of her very being, using them to fuel the struggle against Tsuraras' consuming Fear.

And then, the pain was gone. All there was left was fire, burning gently, waiting for its victim.

…..

"You know this is a trap, right?" His grandfather grumbled, staring down at his ramen with a look of discontent. "You're going to end up getting yourself killed.

Rikuo frowned softly, staring down at his own ramen with the same look, plucking at the shitake mushroom with his chopsticks. "I couldn't say no." He said calmly, gently putting the mushrooms gently on the table beside him. "The man was insane."

"Do you know who I am, Master Nura?" The smiling face reminded him of the sharks that he had seen in the aquariums when he was a child.

"No, in all honesty." He lied out rightly, looking the man up and down. Next to him, dressed in the tradtional Haori, the Lord of Pandemonium looked too small.

A burst of pain came from the left side of his head. Hissing in pain, Rikuo looked up to see the warm eyes of his mother, a playful smile on her lips. "Just because Oikawa-san isn't here, doesn't mean you can get away without eating your vegetables, young man."

A burst of laughter came from the Nurarihyon beside him as Rikuo grumbled an apology, placidly putting the mushrooms back into his plate. "You know, he actually told me outright what he was?"

The old Supreme Commander choked on his sake in surprise. "Are you shitting me?"

"Nope."

"I am Prince Katsuro Mikoto." The deep base voice could easily get on ones nerve. He seemed to shout everything, even when the person he was talking to was right next to him. "Heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne, Crown Prince of Japan!"

"Oh?" Nura gave him a surprised look, pulling his pipe out of his Haori, thanking the Gods it had not been stolen along with his money pouch. "And I'm the Lord of the largest Hyakki-Yako seen in an era." The sarcasm dripped off his tongue, even though every word was the truth.

"I know! Isn't this great?" The huge hand clapped on his back, making Rikuo lurch forward a little, sure that the 'friendly gesture' had just broken something. "You, the son of the Mighty Rihan himself, and I, son of Susanoo, God of Storms and Sea, soon to me Master of all Spirits, meeting here of all places! Humans, eh?!"

"That kitsune said he was a dumb brute." Nurarihyon laughed, tossing his lightly. "To think he would openly tell you what he was."

"Gods, even if this was a trap," Rikuo grazed his hands down his face in frustration, "I don't think he'd have the brains to pull it off."

"So…" the Young Master said calmly, leaning up against the balconies railings, taking a deep intake of his pipe. "Are you challenging me?"

"Why yes!" The Prince roared happily, a handsome white toothed smile on a handsome face. "My family is long steeped in ayakashi bloodlines! I think it's about time we stand on the very top of them all."

"Your family, huh?" Rikuo raised an eyebrow at the older man, taken aback by the openness of it all. "Which one, the Emperors, or the Gods?"

"Both of course!" He chuckled softly, his laugh sounding like a rolling storm on the horizon. "Though, technically my mother doesn't know that I'm here doing this."

The Grandson and the Grandfather sat back, their heads up against the wall to the house, staring up to the sky as clouds floated by. There was a comfortable silence between the two, an understanding that nothing had to be said. Slowly, Rikuo dragged himself up off the ground, sighing.

"I'm going for a walk." He said finally said, stretching out casually.

"Going to look for them, again?" The Nurarihyon looked up curiously.

"Looking for…." Rikuo started, before falling quiet, his mouth hanging open, a familiar sound ringing in his ear as his eyes hit the sun-

He will take her from you.

…..

She was so bright, shining in gold fire. When their eyes met, hers were that of pure molten gold. No iris, no whites, just gold. Tails looked like true flame, several more seeming to come from her tail bone, looking like that of Hagoromo Gitsunes. Slowly the flames died down as she let out a soft sigh. Those extra tails disappeared with the fire as she turned to look at the Yuki-On'na.

"Do you feel it, Tsurara?" Koneko whispered softly, a wry smile on her face.

A soft laugh escaped the Yuki-On'na lips as she looked up to the kitsune. What she felt was this intense calm inside her, a field of the purest fields of snow inside of her mind, untouched. It's said that the Yuki-On'na never leaves foot prints in the snow fall. She felt she could dance forever, and leaver leave a dent.

"Yes." She smirked, liking the serenity that she felt. Like everything before her was clear. "I feel it."

"Oh… Your eyes." The kitsune murmured softly, bending down to stare at Tsurara, an awed look on her face. "They've changed…"

"Eh?" Tsurara got to her feet, trotting over to the mirror in the bathroom to stare at herself. What she saw was her mother, well, at the very least, her mothers' eyes. "They're red…."

She could see Koneko come up beside her, looking over her shoulder, a curious expression on her features. "How odd. Maybe you've awakened something."

There was a snort of laughter from Tsurara, straightening up and glaring at the kitsune softly. "You've corrupted me." She accused, pushing the kitsune playfully so she wasn't so close. "You and your perverted ways!"

The kitsune squeaked, and danced away to the bed, diving over the other side, hiding, her tails flicking in the air. "Someone has too!" she called teasingly, peaking over the bed, her ears lying flat back on her hair.

Tsurara gave her a funny look, crossing her arms over her chest, her hips cocking a little, looking like a mother gazing at her naughty child. "Really?" She said calmly, an amused flint in her eyes. "You look like a scared puppy."

"I a-"

Yelling from the corridor caught their attention, and within seconds Koneko dashed to Tsuraras' side, gripping her arm tightly, as if nothing at all had passed between them minutes before. They leaned into each other.

"We must not show force. We're just weak girls, who got too drunk for our own good." Kasai whispered in Tsuraras' ear fervently. "If this guy really is connected to Susanoos' chosen, we can use him." Tsurara nodded quickly, her eyes hard as they stared at the door expectantly.

The dark haired man crashed through the door, the darkest red hair a mess on his head as he stalked though, a handsome face knitted with frustration. Behind him, a tall, olive skinned woman, stunning to look if not for the fury on her face.

"Don't fucking tell me your problems, Asami!" The dark haired man yelled heatedly, completely ignoring the two younger Yokai in front of him. "Your girls, your problem."

"My problem?!" The woman, Asami screeched back at him, her voice so high pitched that it made Kasai painfully uncomfortable. "If your men hadn't run them off in their drunken state last night, there wouldn't be a problem."

"You shouldn't have brought them in the first place." The dark haired man rounded on her. Beside Tsurara, Koneko whined, her tails tucked inbetween her legs. The Yuki-On'na looked at her, frowning, wondering what exactly had she done with all that anger. "They were your geishas, not even Yokai! Gods give me strength, you can't do that, Asami."

"You changed the rules, Myo!" The woman snarled. Her skin seemed to shimmer as the light caught it, pebbled like scales of a lizard.

Kasai leaned in a little closer, pressing her lips to Tsuraras' ear. "She looks like a snake." She murmured, making the Yuki-On'na snigger despite herself.

Green eyes turned to them, sharp as knives making the two girls jump. "Who are these whores?" The woman began stalking towards them, her eyes more serpent like then they realised. Her hand raised up, claws like teeth growing from her fingertips, ready to strike. Tsuraras' now crimson eyes narrowed dangerously, muttering a quick prayer under her-

Then, without warning, the man was there, standing in front protectively, startling both of them. Koneko screamed softly, tugging the ice Yokai as far back as she could, wisps of fire starting up around her.

"No, bad Asami." The man said firmly, talking to her like she was a dog. "Do what you want to your own girls, but I will not have a bitch like you harm them. They are under my protection."

Koneko stared at him openly, before turning her eyes to Tsurara, mouthing her confusion: Who the Hell is this guy?

The snake woman, for that was what she was – Tsurara would recognise a Nure-On'na anywhere – hissed her frustrations at this Myo, but never the less stepped away from them, giving the two captured ayakashi a last icy glare.

"Fine. You can keep them." Asami finally grumbled, her slit emerald eyes focusing on the man. "On one condition."

"What?" Myo cried indignitely, sweeping thick strands of blood red hair from his eyes. "I don't answer to you, mistress. The Prince is my contractor, not his whore woman."

"Oh, this is for the Prince." A wicked sneer spread across Asami's face, her eyes turning on the cowering Yokai. "I need them to dance.

…