Me: Hey, Rikuo. Today's been a tough day for you, hasn't it?

Rikuo: Yeah, now that you mention it-

Me: Yeah, yeah. Awesome. Now, ladies and gentlemen, listen to me talk! I don't own Nurarihyon!...Anything to add, Rikuo?

Rikuo: Why? You're just going to interr-

Me: Here's the next chapter!

Rikuo: Ugh!

Rikuo was staring at Tsurara who was staring at Yura who was staring at Rikuo. "Is that ice pack making you feel better, Rikuo?" Tsurara finally asked, not being able to stand the silence any longer.

Rikuo shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, it's really helping with the swelling."

Yura shifted her gaze to Tsurara. "Where did you learn to make such valuable healing items, Oikawa?"

Tsurara glanced upward, blushing. "I'm just really good when it comes to ice, I suppose. I can heal minor injuries with it sometimes." She paused, then added, "I think it's an Oikawa family trait."

Yura nodded. She knew what it was like to have a legacy pass down from generation to generation. "I have always wondered, Oikawa, and I hope I'm not intruding too much, but why are you with Rikuo so much? You're always at his house and around him at school and on field trips. Many of the girls at school think you have a crush on him."

Tsurara's blush deepened, covering her entire face. "W-Well, I, uum-"

"Her family was hired long ago by my grandfather to help out. Something like a mutual contract, right, Tsurara?" Rikuo interjected. She nodded eagerly, silently thanking the Third. "The contract became null recently, but Tsurara and I have known each other since childhood, so we enjoy each other's company."

"I see," Yura said. She slowly got up. "Would you mind if I took another look around the house, Nura?"

Rikuo's eyes bulged. "Um, sure, Yura. Just let me escort you-Oh!" Rikuo slumped down. Somehow, his bruises and cuts seemed to hurt more now that he had relaxed a little than when he had been fighting with them. However, he ignored it, wincing as he got up.

"No, Rikuo! You should rest!" Tsurara violently shoved him back down. Rikuo grunted. "Oh no! I'm so sorry, Rikuo-sa –um, uh- Rikuo! But you really should stay and rest. I know this house well enough to escort Yura. You just heal." When Yura had left the room and went outside, she whispered, "We can't have you hurting yourself. Something in my gut tells me that the yokai aren't done yet. You must be strong enough when they come. I can handle Yura and the main household."

"Oikawa?" Yura called from outside.

"Coming!" Tsurara called, her eyes momentarily flashing as Yuki Onna's. "And you stay here, Rikuo!"

Rikuo sat back and watched the two girls leave. Boy, are you lucking out today. First Yura saves you hiney, now Yuki Onna is protecting you. What's next, I wonder? Oh, wait! I know what's coming next! Would you like to know?

Rikuo sighed, trying to block out his night form. But then, Wait, you're just going to tell me?

Sure, why not. It's too late for you to try anything that you wouldn't have thought of during the fight. Rikuo gulped, staring at the shadows that entered the room. By the look of things, and the watch on his wrist, it was five o'clock in the afternoon. Fifteen more hours until this horrible deal was over with. You should be wary of the one-eyed man, Rikuo. He and the wind have a reputation.

With that, Night Rikuo left subconsciously. Inside Rikuo's mind, he smiled. It will be fantastic when I win this bet. Plus, who doesn't love a good fight?

Rikuo, in the meantime, stared frantically around the room. "The one-eyed man" could be anyone, but in the main house, there was only one. Hitotsume Nyudo. But, as far as Rikuo knew, he had always been loyal to the clan.

So was Gyuki, though, and look how well that turned out. I had to fight him practically to the death.

Um, I had to fight him, Night Rikuo clarified, momentarily stepping out of his mind-box of silence.

Rikuo got up, adrenaline making him forget his injuries. He started pacing around the room. When he saw that his wound in his leg had reopened, though, he sat back down. "Ugh, this is hopeless!" Rikuo exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. He started anxiously tapping his foot. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself down. "Don't worry. This isn't so bad. I mean, I planned the defeat of the 88 Demons of Shikoku when they attacked the main branch, I can most definitely defend myself for a day."

Rikuo looked up at the ceiling. "I just hope that Yuki Onna is doing okay with Yura. And I hope the other yokai in the house are behaving."

…

There was a party in the meeting room of the main house. "Come on, Kurotabo! You can't possibly be done already! There's still a whole n'other cake to finish off here!" Ao chided his frenemy. Kurotabo responded by digging his entire face, minus the hat, into the platter, somehow managing to keep his clothes spotless.

"Take that, Ao!" Kurotabo exclaimed.

"Now, come on, guys. What are we even celebrating tonight?" Kubinashi asked, stepping around the multitudes of smaller yokai.

"It's a Friday! What's not to celebrate?" Kejoro exclaimed, daintily reaching the middle of the room to the boys. "The dishes for the weekend are all prepared and I've finished cleaning! That in and of itself deserves a celebration!"

Kubinashi rolled his eyes, but joined in the fun. After all, it wasn't like that omnyoji was there or anything. Nope, his master hadn't brought her or any of his human friends in a while. It was time to relax.

…

"So, nothing unusual has happened around the house lately? It is rather old and yokai could be lurking anywhere in a place this huge."

"Nope," Tsurara answered, getting tired of answering the same questions over and over again. "Yura, nothing unusual ever happens in this house. Why do you constantly come over to check?"

Yura smiled. "So, you do have a crush on Rikuo!" Yura turned, smiling. "Don't worry. I'm not trying to use yokai as an excuse to get close to him or anything. I simply want to protect him and every other human in this town from yokai who would do them harm."

Tsurara wasn't sure whether to blush or to hide. Instead, she decided to just ask a question. "Why does everyone assume that I'm in love with Rikuo?" Whoops. She hadn't wanted to continue that conversation.

Yura gave her a dubious look. "It's the way you stare at him. It is obvious that you admire him. He is a nice guy, Tsurara. But, I'd be careful. You aren't the only girl in Ukiyoe Middle to have a crush on him. I see Kana staring at him the same way."

Kana. Now there was a name that Tsurara really didn't feeling like talking about. It was just something about her…

Yura gasped. "I sense a yokai presence. No, several. And, it's right nearby." Tsurara started, swiveling her head left and right. The only building in the area was…the meeting room.

No! Those doofuses can't be having a party now! Acting excited, Tsurara ran ahead of Yura, calling out, "Ooh! Yokai! I can't wait to see one! This will be fun, YURA KEIKAN!"

…

"YURA KEIKAN!" Everyone in the meeting room stopped, pausing for a moment, registering that name.

Natto Kozo was the first one to react. "Omnyoji!" He exclaimed, running wildly. When he accidentally hit a wall, everyone else followed suit, panicking, trying to find a place to hide, not quite covering up their yokai aura.

"Ah, great. Right when I was thinking that we wouldn't have to deal with her!" Kubinashi exclaimed, exasperated. He picked up an unconscious Natto Kozo. "By the way, you might want to look before you run next time."

…

Rikuo was calm now. He had managed to slow down his overworked mind and find peace in his small room. Yuki Onna would be fine. Yura would be fine. He would be fine.

Everything would be fine.

Then the paper door flew open as a huge gust of wind swept through the room, rustling Rikuo's hair. Taking a deep breath, he grasped his katana tightly.

Okay, so maybe not tonight, but still, everything will be fine…Right?

Please review and tell me what you think! Next chapter will be a battle, possibly two simultaneous ones if I feel like it. But, the moral of this whole paragraph thing? Press the button below and leave a message after the username! Till next time!