Disclaimer: I do not own Nurarihyon No Mago (sobs…)

Hey guys, here's a new chapter for you! Sorry it's been so long since I updated but to make up for it, this chapter is a fluffy chapter (Heh). Thanks for all your kind reviews and support! Enjoy~

Amber eyes stay glued to the wooden floorboards as they flittered from left to right. Right now, Tsurara was having a profound interest in the intricate designs and gaps in the floorboards as a pair of deep-set red eyes seem to pierce into her very soul. She was sitting in a kneeling position opposite the taller, muscular man whose eyes were studying her at the very moment. Her hands fidgeted with the floorboards and traced the gaps, feeling the need to be occupied for fear that he could sense her anxiety.

Nura Rikuo's eyes roamed upon the stunning beauty that sat before him. Her soft wavy hair that used to cover till her chest area now cascaded down her back, to her waist. Her red lips were now thicker and fuller and her facial features were breathtakingly beautiful. Her flawless skin glistened in the moonlight as Rikuo stared in adoration. The person in front of him no longer had a small frame but a larger one, one that did not, daresay require any protection. Rikuo finally realized that Tsurara was no longer the girl that he used to tease but a fully-grown lady and he was now extremely conscious of her. His eyes however, caught a glimpse of her trembling hands as she sat before him.

"Tsurara…"

He gently called her name, a voice so sweet and tender that caused the ice princess to shiver. Her hands stopped shaking for a moment and her body twitched slightly.

"Why…why didn't you tell me you were back? That day, it really was you wasn't it? I thought I was imagining things…"

Tsurara gulped. Her hands started to shake again. Her eyes slowly shifted from the floorboards and met with crimson ones. She managed to stutter one word.

"Ri-Rikuo-sama…"

Her eyes locked with his for what seemed like an eternity before her vision blurred. Crystal water flowed from her eyes and quickly turned to ice cubes as it landed on the floor. Her cheeks were wet and the tears wouldn't stop as she tried to focus her vision on her master.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't ready to meet you. I was afraid, that you wouldn't want to see me again. I kept thinking that if we met, you would reject me again. But Rikuo-sama, I'm stronger now so please…"

With quivering hands, Tsurara boldly held onto Rikuo's blue haori. She lowered her head and her eyes once again moved to the floorboards. The room was engulfed in eerie silence as neither spoke. Then, the yuki-onna took a deep breath and broke the silence.

"Please…let me stay by your side once again..."

The sound of glass crashed onto the floor, emitting a sharp, piercing echo as it shattered into bits.

It was the sound of Rikuo's self-restraint.

He grabbed the unsuspecting yuki-onna and pulled her into an embrace so tight she found it hard to breathe. Her eyes were wide with shock as he held her close to him, as if telling her with his body that he would never let her go, never again. And he meant it.

"Stay with me Tsurara. I was wrong before; I shouldn't have let you go then. I'm sorry for being so selfish but this time, I won't let you go."

The Third Heir whispered those words almost like a confession into Tsurara's ears. Her heart beat so fast she thought it might jump out of her chest.

What does Rikuo-sama mean? Does he actually… towards me?

Tsurara silently shook her head as she brushed off the thought.

No…I'm sure he doesn't mean it that way. After all, to him, I'm just an important subordinate that's all. There's no way Rikuo-sama feels the same way I do…

She hesitantly wrapped her arms around his firm back, just glad to be finally reunited with her most precious master.

From a distance, Kou clenched his hands into tight fists. His silver hair flowed down his back freely as he did not bother to tie it up. He longed to be the one embracing his princess, longed for her to look at him the same way she looked at the Third Heir. But he knew, deep inside that she would never love him. As he painfully watched the scene before him, a pair of hands shrouded his vision.

"You don't have to hold back, at least not when I'm here."

Kou's shoulders tensed as he swiftly turned back and buried his head on the person that was always with him. Soft sobs could be heard as she felt her kimono become damp. She gently patted his head.

"You know, you could have stolen her away the past four years if you tried hard enough. She would have definitely fallen for you."

"Don't patronize me Reina, you and I both know that no matter what I do, she could never forget him."

A sad smile formed on Reina's lips as she continued patting Kou's head. She turned away from the scene of master and servant holding each other and returned to her room with Kou. He continued to remain in her embrace, lying on her lap with no ulterior motives other than consolation for his broken heart. A cold breeze entered the room, causing Reina's deep crimson hair to sway. Her scent wafted with the wind and for the first time, Kou noticed how sweet-smelling Reina was. His now-red eyes slowly began to close as he drifted off into slumber. As soon as soft snoring sounds were heard, a droplet of water landed on Kou's face. Surprised, Reina lifted her hands to examine her face. She traced the trail of water and brushed a tear away from her eyes but more began to pour. Soft sniffing filled the peaceful night as Reina spoke to the sleeping figure.

"You'll always have me Kou. I'll always stay by your side, even if you don't notice me. I'll always be your shoulder to cry on."

She roughly wiped her tears away and a radiant smile emerged on her face.

"I'll always love you…"

The bright yellow sun shone on the Nura household, urging its tenants to wake up as a new day begins. Tsurara raised her hand up to cover her face, as the light that shone through the sliding doors was glaringly bright. As she adjusted to the morning, she felt a tight grip on her waist. She froze as she sensed light breathing coming from behind her, the released air tickling her ears. Her face quickly turned rosy pink as she slowly shifted to turn around. What she caught was a magnificent picture of her beloved master sleeping and she couldn't help but stare at his angelic face.

"Is my face that nice to look at Tsurara? You've been staring at it for ages."

A brown eye peeked out to look at the surprised yuki-onna as a wide grin escaped the Third Heir's lips.

"Ri-Rikuo-sama! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to- I mean, sorry! I'll get up now!"

A flustered Tsurara awkwardly squeezed her way out of her master's arms and rushed out of the room to prepare herself for the day. While watching her clumsily walk out of the room, Rikuo couldn't help but laugh to himself as he thought of how adorable Tsurara was. However, his enjoyment quickly turned to embarrassment as he recalled how he awoke that morning. Seeing Tsurara's face up close really took him by surprise, not to mention the fact that he had been hugging her whilst in his sleep. Rikuo's face flushed pink as he hid himself under the covers.

"Really, what am I doing? We're no longer kids, Tsurara is more wo-womanly now, how could I just hug her to sleep like that? Baka-baka-baka!"

As the Third Heir silently cursed himself in his room, in another room an awkward silence hung between a silver-haired man and a crimson-haired woman.

"Rei-Reina about what happened last night…Um… nothing happened right?"

The silver-haired man's back was facing the woman, as he dared not turn back. The woman gave a smirk on her eyes shone with glee.

"What? You mean you don't remember Kou? Last night, to me, you… did this and that… You have to take responsibility."

Using her most sarcastic voice, Reina continued to tease Kou.

"What?! Don't make up weird things! Last night, we just hugged because I was feeling down okay!"

Kou's face was red now, he could feel the heat emitting from his cheeks. Reina smiled and slapped him on the back.

"If you can argue back, then I guess you're alright now."

Kou turned back to face Reina and he let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks Reina, for last night. Don't worry about me, I'll get over it."

His ears were still red but Reina thought that not admitting defeat was one of the things she loved about him.

The room was filled with a tense atmosphere as the Supreme Commander addressed the four people sitting in a crescent shape before him.

"Since the culprit Mitsukage Yaho was captured, he has been held captive in one of our cells here. So the question at hand is, what shall we do with him?"

"Pardon me Supreme Commander, if you don't mind, we would like to bring him back to our home country where he will be judged and punished accordingly."

The first to answer was Kou. The Supreme Commander scratch his head and nodded.

"Yes, yes. That make sense, after all he is the one who…"

The Supreme Commander stole a side-glance of yuki-onna's face. For some reason, her face was really red.

"Yuki-onna, are you alright? Do you have a fever?"

The ice princess replied in a very unnatural high-pitched voice.

"N-No. It's nothing Supreme Commander! If-If that is settled then we will immediately bring him back."

All Tsurara wanted to do now was to stay away from her master because her heart felt like it could explode from yesterday's events and also this morning.

"Wait. I'll accompany you."

"Whaaaaa-?"

Tsurara turned to the source of that decision and various thoughts ran through her mind.

"Ri-Rikuo-sama! There's no need for you to travel all the way there! Please do not trouble yourself!"

But with determination in his eyes, Rikuo fixed his gaze unto Tsurara. A genuine smile emerged from his lips.

"Didn't I tell you already Tsurara? This time, I won't let you go."

"Alright it's settled then! Rikuo will accompany you to your country and see that justice is done!"

The Supreme Commander announced, declaring that the meeting was over. As the participants exited the room, Tsurara pulled Rikuo aside.

"Really Rikuo-sama, you don't have to do this. This is my problem."

"What are you talking about Tsurara? You're my subordinate so your problem is my problem too. Right?"

Tsurara felt a blush creeping up a face as her master innocently smiled at her. She nodded her head and smiled back but it disappeared as soon as it was formed.

"Rikuo-kun? Where are you going?"

A pair of wide khaki colored eyes stared at the Third Heir.

"Kana-chan…"

Wow, I didn't think I could write a long, fluffy chapter. I hope the characters aren't too OOC! Hope you guys like this chapter, please review and give comments! I want to finish up this story soon and make Rikuo and Tsurara all lovey dovey. HEHEHE! ;)