Insert obligatory Mushu "I live" gif here.
My deepest apologies for taking so stupidly long to get this chapter completed. Life and all that. But I can't tell you how much it means to me and brightens my day to get reviews from y'all. You're amazing, and I can't thank you enough.


Quotes:

"No matter how dark the night, morning always comes, and our journey begins anew."
–Lulu, Final Fantasy X

"I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be."
–Charles Dickens, Great Expectations


At the sound of his footsteps, Kagome had whirled around and pressed her back against the wall, her eyes blown wide, chest heaving.

"Shit…" Rikuo wanted to slap himself. "I didn't mean to scare you. Sorry 'bout that, blue eyes."

Though color had yet to return to her ashen face, she shook her head. "You don't need to apologize." Something that looked like guilt and shame flashed across her face, and she dropped her head and hugged one arm in tight, rubbing her other hand distractedly up and down its length. "So, um—"

"Cold?" Rikuo interrupted. Without waiting for an answer, he removed his haori, draped it over her shoulders, and then wrapped his arms around her. When he kissed the top of her head, inhaling the faintly floral scent of the shampoo she'd used, she stiffened but didn't pull away. He heard her take a breath and let it out slowly, shudderingly, as if she were fighting tears.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he murmured into her still-damp hair. "And I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

"Huh?" With her face against his chest, her voice was somewhat muffled, but with his yokai hearing, he'd understood her. "What are you talking about? If it weren't for you…"

"I should've been there sooner," he said tightly, bitter guilt and self-disgust like acid in his throat. "Actually, it shouldn't have even happened at all."

Kagome didn't speak for a moment, and he started to say more, to apologize again for allowing her to be harmed in his territory, when she pushed gently away from his chest. It didn't escape his notice that she'd curled her hands into the sleeves of the pale-pink borrowed yukata, blocking her fingers from touching his skin directly.

"It's not your fault, okay?" she said, starting down the hallway.

He grabbed at her sleeve, nearly dislodging the haori he'd covered her shoulders with, to prevent her from going very far. Damn, but she really does look good in Nuragumi blue.

"Hey." She glanced over her shoulder when he spoke, and he arched an eyebrow. "Same goes, you know? It wasn't your fault."

She turned away from him again, giving a slight shrug. "Yeah, sure, if you say so."

"Oi."

With a frown, Rikuo used his yokai speed to put himself directly in her path. "I do say so, blue eyes." When she looked away, he placed a hand gently under her chin, tugging until she would meet his gaze, waiting for her to speak.

"Whether I meant to do it or not…" She exhaled audibly, a trace of annoyance evident on her face. Clearly she did notwant to continue this discussion. "I am still at fault, Rikuo. My powers that did…that." She gestured toward his arm.

"What, this?" He removed his hand from her face to shove his kimono sleeve back, showing her smooth, unblemished skin. "It's already gone. I told you then that it was nothing, and I meant it. You know I've dealt with worse." When she only gave a half-hearted shrug, Rikuo sighed deeply and crossed his arms over his chest. "Look, for one, I'm absolutely positive that had you been in your right mind, there's no way you would have lost control. And before you object, yes, Zen gave me his 'professional opinion' that it's extremely unlikely you were lucid."

"Yeah, but—"

Rikuo ignored her interruption. "Two, remember when I told you about the Gokadoin? And the fight with Seimei?" Kagome nodded. "So when the Gokadoin forced yokai against one another, friends against friends, who was to blame for that? The yokai or the person who caused them to do it?"

Her expression told him that her knee-jerk instinct was to argue, to say that was different, yet she didn't reply. Instead, Kagome shut her eyes, rubbing the bridge of her nose as she blew out a breath. "Look…I get what you're saying, but you have to understand my perspective. I hurt you, and I barely even remember doing it. That scares me, okay? Really, really scares me…"

As she spoke, her voice grew softer until he almost couldn't hear her, her eyes glistening with the sheen of unshed tears.

He pulled her into his embrace and hugged her close. "Hey…talk to me. What about it scares you?"

"Seriously, Rikuo? You're asking me that?" Despite the fact he couldn't see her, he could all but hear the eye roll in her tone. "Isn't it obvious? I'm afraid of hurting you—again—or someone in your clan with my reiki."

Rikuo tugged on her ponytail until she tilted her head back and looked up at him. He cupped her cheeks, hoping she could read the sincerity in his eyes as his gaze met hers. "You won't. It won't happen. Promise."

"Ugh, please don't make promises you can't keep. I'm not an idiot, Rikuo. You can't tell me there aren't members of your clan who're afraid of me or who don't trust me," she scoffed.

"Listen, I'm going to tell you what I told my clan members while you were bathing—Ryūji is just as much of a threat as an onmyoji as you are as a miko. So if they can accept his presence here, there's certainly no reason yours should be a problem. At least you actively like yokai."

Still she persisted. "Yeah, but, has Ryūji ever…" Kagome faltered, likely recalling Rikuo telling her the story of him meeting Ryūji, and the fact that Ryūji had actively tried to kill him.

He couldn't prevent a smirk from forming as he said, "Has he ever what? Tried to hurt me? Uh, yeah. I'm not entirely convinced he won't try it again someday." Then he stepped back slightly, clasping her hands in his and entwining their fingers before she could retract them, squeezing gently. "But, blue eyes, the reality is, I don't give a fuck if anyone in the clan doesn't trust you or is scared of you."

"But… As their supreme commander, isn't it sort of your duty?"

"Sure, if you were genuinely a threat. But you're not. And they'll come around." When she still looked skeptical, he shook his head, a huffed sigh escaping him. "Mattaku… Let's get something straight—I'm always going to be on your side, Kagome. Whether they trust you or not is irrelevant. I trust you."

Rikuo hoped that she would believe him, that she understood that he wouldn't ever lie to her, had no reason to lie to her.

Emotions warred on her face—doubt, guilt, hope, and finally something that appeared to be relief. A huge breath whooshed out of her, the tension releasing from her, and her lips curved into a slow smile. Lifting up on tiptoes, she gave him a quick kiss. "Thank you. I'm still probably too freaked out to use my reiki anytime soon, but…it means a lot that you trust me. Even after—"

"Stop. That horse is dead, Kagome, so quit beating the hell out of it." He pressed his lips to hers momentarily, before saying, "Now, we better get you back so Zen can reexamine you, 'cause if he has to come looking for us, he'll get pissy."

She nodded, and they made their way out of the hallway and along the engawa, Rikuo's hand never releasing hers. As they neared his room, a few clan members peered at her curiously, yet all kept their distance.

He'd told them to behave themselves, and shockingly, it seemed that they were going to obey. For now.

"I asked them not to overwhelm you right now," Rikuo said, when Kagome gave him a questioning glance. "But they're…uh…pretty excited to…" Embarrassment washed over him, and he gave a nervous laugh before continuing, "To officially meet 'Rikuo-sama's miko.'"

She froze in her steps, turning to face him. "They aren't afraid of me?"

Rikuo jogged his head from side to side, considering. "Told ya—some probably are, some aren't. Apparently being a group of nosy bastards takes precedence, though. C'mon, blue eyes, we can talk about this later."

When he slid the door to his room open, it was unexpectedly crowded. Zen, Tsurara, Natsumi, Kurotabō, Ryūji, Tsurara, Kejōrō, Kubinashi, and Aotabo.

"About damn time," Zen grumbled, which made Rikuo direct an "I told you so" look at Kagome.

Zen pointed at a cushion on the floor as he coughed into his sleeve, and she sat hastily. Rikuo sat next to her, initially so close his hip was pressed up against hers until Zen glared at him—presumably because Rikuo was in his way—and Rikuo scooted over a couple inches, albeit somewhat unwillingly.

"You know Natsumi, and you've met Kuro, Kejōrō, Zen, Tsurara, and Mister Congeniality over there, but I don't know that official introductions have been done for these two. Kagome, meet Kubinashi and Aotabo. Guys, this is…" Here Rikuo paused, and grinning widely with the unmistakable pleasure at being able to call her his, he said, "my girlfriend, Kagome."

Some of her nervousness seemed to ebb, and Kagome smiled. To them, she said, "Rikuo speaks highly of you, of all of you. I'm so happy to finally meet you."

Kubinashi nodded, a movement that really should've been odd for a floating head, but Rikuo had long grown accustomed to it. "Likewise."

"Good to see you again, Kagome-sama. We wondered when Rikuo-sama would bring you home, but we didn't expect him to do it quite so dramatically…" Kejōrō said, eyes sparkling and a playful grin across her lips.

"You didn't?" Kubinashi snorted. "As if any Nura man wouldn't be dramatic."

Aotabo barked a laugh, nodding in agreement.

Rikuo groaned, rubbing the back of his neck, which had started to grow warm…as had his face. "Oh, come on."

"Hmmm…" Kurotabō affected thoughtfulness. "Now that you mention it, Rikuo-sama's behavior does seem to align with that of his father and grandfather…"

"Seriously, guys?" Rikuo's face no longer felt warm. No, it was definitely hot.

"Rikuo-sama, you look very flushed! Are you feeling ill?" This came from Tsurara, who looked as guileless as ever, her expression the perfect portrait of proper concern for her sandaime. Yet there was a tiny twinkle in those golden eyes, which had Rikuo narrowing his.

"Oi, oi, Tsurura, you too?"

She covered her grin with her sleeve as several of the other Nuragumi snickered. Ryūji sat through the banter silently, though his face bore a mixture of amusement at Rikuo's expense and mild annoyance… So not that different than usual, Rikuo thought.

Although they were teasing him specifically, pink suffused Kagome's cheeks as well. Her blush only fueled his subordinates razzing of their sandaime, but Rikuo attempted to block it out to focus on Zen's examination of her. Kagome, for her part, reddened further when their eyes met, and she quickly looked away. Unfortunately her gaze landed on Natsumi, who had been notoriously mischievous even before her affiliation with the Nura clan.

Her friend beamed at her. "Your, ahem, color is better after your bath, Kagome-chan!"

Rikuo stifled another groan, and Kagome muttered something that sounded akin to "traitor."

After Zen had reapplied the thin bandages to her neck, Natsumi passed Kagome a tray of food she'd prepared for her. Ryūji had started to look increasingly more impatient, and finally he sighed audibly. "Right, well, as much fun as this is, can we please address the reason we're all crammed in here together?"

"Piss off, Keikain," Zen said tiredly. "As far as I'm concerned, I am the one calling the shots here, as the person you want to speak to is a patient under my care."

Rikuo cleared his throat, and Zen's bloodred gaze shifted to him. "Yeah, that means you too, Sandaime." Zen was clearly in one of his more irascible moods, as he jerked his chin toward Ryūji and snapped, "The hell are you still doing here, anyway?"

It wasn't there long, but Rikuo saw something flicker in Ryūji's gray eyes. Worry. And guilt.

"Wanted to ask her some questions, if that's all right with you, Doctor?"

Zen rolled his eyes and shrugged.

"And you were worried about Kagome-sama," Tsurara added in a singsong tone, the barest hint of a smile gracing her lips.

"Tch. Sure, I guess. Anyway…to get back to the topic at hand," he said, his attitude as aloof as always, "I'm going to assume no one has updated you on what happened after you passed out."

Kagome shook her head, and as she ate, Ryūji and Rikuo both filled her in.

"They're dead?" Her voice quavered slightly as she asked, and she shoved the food aside. "How?"

When her gaze shot to Rikuo, he held his hands up in protest. "Hey, I didn't do it!" He'd tried to keep his tone was light, almost playful even, but he couldn't deny the flash of hurt he felt. Surely she didn't think he would murder humans…right?

Ryūji answered Kagome. "Their necks were snapped. An officer was assigned to them, and he claims a so-called Detective Yurei relieved him of duty. Evidently the woman gave every appearance of being a cop but was otherwise unremarkable."

Kubinashi piped up. "And unfortunately for him, there is no Detective Yurei in Tokyo PD."

"Given the circumstances, I'd say we're looking for a yokai," Ryūji said.

"Possibly," Kurotabō said placidly, "or perhaps someone attempting to frame a yokai…or yokai clan."

"I just…" Kagome shook her head. "I can't believe they were murdered."

"It's not your fault, blue eyes," Rikuo said, curling an arm around her waist tightly and pulling her closer against him. "They were drugging people and abducting them, and very possibly murdering them, or at least aiding the murderer. The lowest of low." He clenched the hand against her hipbone into a fist. "And they hurt you. The bastards got what they deserved." Unbidden, his youki rose in concert with his anger, making his blood burn in his veins.

Kagome seemed to sense his agitation, and she tentatively reached down to cover his fist with her right hand, rubbing her thumb over it in a soothing fashion when he didn't pull away. "I'm fine, Rikuo."

"You are now…" he muttered, but her touch made him relax marginally.

"Rikuo-kun is right," Natsumi said. "They don't deserve your pity."

"If I might ask," Kurotabō began, "why did you use your reiki? Was it a conscious decision?"

Ryūji nodded, adding, "And did it have any effect?"

"I used my reiki? Right, it was…" Kagome closed her eyes, as if trying to piece her splintered memories together. "Ugh, I can't really remember why. I must have thought they were yokai?" She shrugged. "So I guess it was a conscious decision…?" she said, trailing off. "But…I don't think it had any effect?"

"No, it wouldn't have. They were human. Did you sense anything off about them?" Ryūji asked.

"I don't…think so? Damnit, I don't know. I can't remember it clearly."

"Try to remember. Any supernatural powers or other unusual energy? You clearly defended yourself—did they have any abnormal strength, speed, you know, that kind of thing?"

He was as irritable—and irritating—as ever, and though Rikuo knew he was asking for the case, Ryūji's manner of questioning, acting as if she were purposefully hiding something, had his own annoyance growing again, his protective instincts rising within him.

Kagome's blue eyes flashed as she crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. "I'm so sorry, Ryūji," she said, in a tone that conveyed how very not sorry she was. "But I was a little too busy trying to prevent myself from being kidnapped to do an in-depth analysis of their ki. I'll be sure to remedy that next time."

"Hilarious. Seriously, though, you can't remember any other details? Anything that stood out to you?" he persisted.

Kagome flung her arms up, very nearly hitting Rikuo in the chest. "No! I don't remember, okay? Obviously, since the jerks had to drug me, they weren't even abnormally strong humans. I assure you, I know how to fight. Under normal circumstances, yokai or human, I wouldn't have needed rescuing."

Ryūji's eyes narrowed. "And how exactly do you know so much about the way yokai fight? Firsthand experience?"

"It's…" She looked at her lap. "It's…complicated."

Ryūji hesitated, and Rikuo could all but see the conflicted desires warring within him. To give the bastard credit—when he did ask, it was far more politely phrased than usual. "Can…you elaborate on 'complicated'?"

But Rikuo's patience with Ryūji's questioning of her had grown perilously thin, and unable to help himself, he growled, "'Complicated' like it's none of your damn business. Unless you'd like me to break your jaw?"

Kagome's head shot up at his harsh words, clearly caught off guard. No one else spoke, but Zen coughed; whether due to his health problems or to break the tension in the room, who knew. Rikuo suspected the latter when Zen followed it by saying, "Right, so I think you've established they were human. Super. And—"

Whatever else he was going to say was interrupted by Natsumi yawning loudly. "Sorry, long day at school." She let Kurotabō help her up and then looked over at Kagome. "And speaking of long days and classes…"

"She's not going tomorrow," Rikuo said. And maybe not the day after. Not until they could be certain she was safe.

"Excuse me?" Kagome swiveled to regard him, raising both brows.

"Not happening, blue eyes. You need to rest, and we need to guarantee your safety before you return."

"And just who are you to tell me—"

"Rikuo-kun is right," Natsumi broke in. "And seriously, Kagome-chan, you hardly ever skip class even though none of your professors take attendance. Just get notes from someone. Besides, you hate math."

Kagome rolled her eyes, crossing her arms with a huff. "Ugh. Fine."

"And before you ask, you're staying here," Rikuo added.

"But I need—"

"Anything you need from your apartment, one of my clan members can get. This isn't up for debate, Kagome."

When she opened her mouth, ostensibly to argue, Tsurara piped up with "I'll go!"

Rikuo tilted his head toward the yuki onna, as if to say "See? There you go." Kagome didn't respond, simply acquiescing with a thin smile and a brief nod.

Natsumi and Kurotabō left, followed by Kubinashi, Kejōrō, and Aotabō. Then, Rikuo turned to Ryūji, his lips twitching as he suppressed a smile. "Ne, Ryūji… We've got guest rooms here, you know. You're always more than welcome to stay."

As Ryūji stood, he made a face like he'd bitten into an unripe persimmon. "Last time I did that, I woke up to unsolicited sharpie art decorating my face, so you can keep your damn rooms. I'm going back to my yokai-free hotel, thanks."

"You may think it's yokai-free…" Kagome added snarkily, "but is it really?"

Rikuo snorted, and Ryūji looked insulted. "Of course I know, miko. Don't be stupid."

With that, he left, leaving the door open, and to their surprise, Rikuo's grandfather strolled in, accompanied by a harried-looking Karasu Tengu.


When Nurarihyon and Karasu Tengu returned to the clan house, they hadn't anticipated finding it in such a tumultuous state. Granted, it was always a little bit unruly, but tonight there was an undercurrent of somethingout of the ordinary.

Nurarihyon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Something's up with that grandson of mine…

Nattō Kozō, ever the loyal follower, darted up. "Sōdaishō! You won't believe what's happened! Rikuo-sama's miko, she's here, and she—"

Other clan members swarmed around him, all speaking over the top of one another. Nevertheless, due to centuries of practice dealing with the at times easily excitable yokai, Nurarihyon was able to piece together what had occurred.

"I see…"

The calm manner with which he processed all the information apparently agitated Karasu Tengu, for the diminutive crow flapped unhappily and squawked about clan safety and dangerous friends and this and that. Nurarihyon wasn't really paying attention.

No, he was preoccupied, contemplating this Kagome girl that his grandson had quite clearly fallen head over heels for. He'd only had the one encounter with her, but she'd piqued his interest.

It was strange. Her reiki was not uncomfortable like that of priestesses he had encountered in the past, but then, of course, perhaps it had something to do with the fact that this rather unusual miko seemed friendly to yokai. Still, he had no doubt that if she were to feel threatened, or if she simply wanted to, she was perfectly capable of harming him. Her youki, on the other hand, was what bothered him.

No, bothered is too strong a word… It reminds me of something.

He just couldn't quite put his finger on it yet… Some long-forgotten memory that refused to surface. Perhaps…

"Sōdaishō! Are you listening to me?"

Nurarihyon blinked. "Ah…" He cleared his throat. "Sorry, what was that?"

Karasu Tengu's feathers ruffled as he huffed. "Sometimes you're as bad as Rihan-sama and Rikuo-sama were as children. Speaking of, shouldn't we check in with Rikuo-sama? I'm concerned about whether or not he's actually reading his…"

Karasu Tengu continued to grumble as they went to Rikuo's room, not that Nurarihyon heard much of it, having tuned him out. There were perks to being both the first generation and retired.

Before they could open the door, it slid open, revealing a familiar and rather peeved-looking onmyoji.

"Yo, Ryūji. What, leaving so soon?" Nurarihyon's grin didn't falter, not even when Ryūji ignored him and kept walking.

When they entered, Nurarihyon saw that the miko was seated next to his grandson, wearing what he presumed to be Rikuo's blue haori over a light pink yukata—heh, mental note to give him hell later—with Zen sitting on the other side of her and Tsurara across from them. Rikuo all but radiated overprotectiveness, Zen looked slightly annoyed and fatigued, and Tsurara alert and ready to assist in whatever way she could, though none of that was necessarily anything out of the ordinary. But the girl…

Hmm…

Her smile was tight, forced even, and her vibrant blue eyes were pained. While it would have been easy to assume that was because of the injuries she had bandaged, Nurarihyon had seen that look before. Soul-deep hurting, grief, guilt. In a way, it reminded him of Yohime when he'd first met her.

There also appeared to be some poorly masked irritation, and Nurarihyon snickered internally. If his instincts were correct, Rikuo was about to learn the joys of what happened when you pissed off your strong-willed woman.

"Oi, where the hell have you two been?" Rikuo asked, interrupting his thoughts. "And don't you know it's rude to just barge into someone's room?"

"Door was open," Nurarihyon said, shrugging. Then, just to needle Rikuo, who was definitely strung way too tight, he gave an overly dramatic sigh, saying, "Karasu Tengu…we're gone for not even five hours and all hell breaks loose."

The tengu clicked his tongue, though it was highly possible his chastisement wasn't a joke.

A muscle jumped in Rikuo's jaw. "No, really—Kubinashi said something about you looking at property to sell?"

Nurarihyon rolled his eyes. He'd expected the brat to be distracted, knew he'd been shirking a bit, but Karasu Tengu was not liable to be nearly as understanding.

As anticipated, Karasu Tengu gave an indignant squawk. "Rikuo-sama, did you not read the email I forwarded you? It's a very important meeting, and this has potential to be quite a lucrative business venture for the clan—"

The rant grew increasingly more shrill, and Nurarihyon watched with some amusement as Kagome's eyes widened, and her gaze darted anxiously back and forth between the crow and Rikuo, while Zen and Rikuo ignored him completely.

"Tried to catch up on them earlier, but the financial statements and other paperwork took up most of my free time before meeting up with Ryūji. And then of course, Kagome was attacked…" Rikuo said, unconcerned, as he presumably scrolled through the unread emails on his phone.

Karasu Tengu hovered midair over Rikuo's shoulder. "Stop, there, that one!" he snapped, thrusting his finger toward the screen.

Rikuo made a shooing gesture. "Okay, okay, I'm reading it."

"You know, Karasu Tengu," Nurarihyon said casually, "you could always just tell him what the email sa—"

"Holy shit."

Nurarihyon saw his grandson swallow hard as he looked at Kagome. In response, she lifted a questioning eyebrow, though he could tell she'd not entirely lost whatever annoyance she felt toward Rikuo.

But with Rikuo's next statement, her expression blanked and her hands tightened around the teacup she held, knuckles going white from the force.

"It's…from Sesshōmaru."


Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I appreciate the hell out of each and every one of you 3 I apologize for not responding to your comments individually as I usually do; it was just a lot and overwhelming (in a good way!) and I prioritized getting the chapter done. I hope you don't mind!
And I promise to do my very very best not to take another two and a half years to get the next chapter posted. It would help if the universe could have some modicum of chill though... *sigh*
Also just an FYI I'm working on minor edits throughout the rest of the story, just to adjust some things for stuff (that I haven't written yet) to come in later chapters. Anything revised/changed will be noted in revision notes at the end of the chapters.