Standard Disclaimer applies.
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Silence hung in the air as the meeting room was filled with the presence of high-ranking yokai that belongs to Nurarihyon's Hyakki. They have been told beforehand about the circumstances that led to the death of Setsura. Nurarihyon calmly blew smoke from his pipe as Rikuo entered with the rest of his Hyakki.
"Okay, I see everyone is gathered already," the third leader commented in his yokai form. Kejorou, Ao, Kuro, Kubinashi, Kappa and Tsurara took their respective seats as Rikuo sat beside his grandfather. He noticed how everyone gave Tsurara at least a single glance and although it might not mean anything, he felt troubled a little. Normally, no one paid attention to his Hyakki when they gather. They still consider the Third Generation's Hyakki as children despite how many times they have proven their own strength against the enemies they faced in the past.
Immediately, Nurarihyon cut to the chase. "That yokai in the north – is a parasitic yokai."
Only Tsurara and Rikuo shared a knowing look while their companions were looking at the former leader with question. "What yokai in the north?"
He laid his pipe down and crossed his arms together. "Those yokai who attacked you are not actually your enemies but they can treat you as their foe if you don't join them, right Tsurara?"
Tsurara raised her head seriously and those who worked with Setsura before can't help but see her in her daughter's form. It's rare to have a glimpse of a serious Tsurara. "Yes. However, I have no intention of joining them for whatever they came for."
"I figured you would say that. Anyway, it's a parasitic yokai that could transfer from one host to another. The last host he entered upon was the wolf yokai. Like I have said before, Rikuo, they are not that strong but still they are dangerous. There's a major difference between the two."
He stood up. "If you go to that northern part, you'd find quite a wonderful scene. You'd understand when you see it. In the middle stood a mirror-like ice where that yokai was sealed by your mother and we went there to investigate and truthfully, it's weakening and one can feel the yokai's aura strengthening. "
"Why do they want Tsurara?" Rikuo asked.
"Because Tsurara's power is part of this. The yokai of the west – they are all elemental save for that one who uses the shadows. The parasitic yokai never dies. I'm telling you that. It can be sealed but it never dies. It's for Tsurara to find out how her mother played a vital role. But here's something I'd like you to know Tsurara – to help you get prepared for this on in case you are to face that situation too."
Tsurara gave him a questioning look and it appeared as though it was only Tsurara and Nurarihyon in the room at the moment. Rikuo, annoyed at his grandfather for suspending the moment, spoke instead when he understood that look from him. "Oh no. No one is going to die from my Hyakki, old man."
"Eh?" Kejorou turned to Tsurara who remained looking at Nurarihyon.
Nurarihyon sighed. "That's not for you to decide, Rikuo. That's for Tsurara to do so."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded hotly.
"In the world of yuki-onna, there are those privileged to be acquiring a power superior to their clan. Setsura knew that and she knew her own strength. You know that too right, Tsurara?" he asked casually at the yuki-onna who didn't utter a single word. Rikuo glanced at her and cursed at that shift. How is it that she can easily shift to different personality the past few days? It annoys him to no end to see the jovial yuki-onna vanish and replaced with this stoic persona.
"I do."
Her answer was short and terse. Nurarihyon turned to his personal hyakki. "Our discussion is finished. But I'd like to further talk with Tsurara."
"You're not going to exclude us, old man," Rikuo interjected as the elderly yokai stood and left. Rikuo turned to his Hyakki who were about to leave. "The rest of you remain."
"But – "
"If it involves one of our members, then you have the right to listen to it," he said and frowned when he glanced at Tsurara who remained rooted on her seat. She did not attempt to make any move and she still locked gazes with his grandfather.
Nurarihyon stood up and walked towards her. "Every yokai has a special ability. It's up to you to decide on it."
"You don't mean that's how she died," Tsurara finally spoke carefully and shook her head slowly.
"I'm sorry. This fight is something you can't escape from. Even if you don't wish to fight alongside those elementals, you will be forced to fight nonetheless when he successfully escapes from the seal. You're the only yuki-onna left alive, Tsurara and everyone was made a sacrifice to weaken that seal."
Tsurara stood up and nodded. "I understand. I'd like to have a moment by myself," she said and turned to her friends and master. "Pardon me."
She fled from the room and Rikuo turned to his grandfather. "I thought this would be a talk where you'll tell us everything. Why do you withhold it?" he demanded.
"I don't but she doesn't want to talk about it. Besides, if you really want to know, you can ask her about it. Tsurara after all is an honest one."
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And thus he tried to look for her after an hour only to find her sound asleep. He could guess it's her way of avoiding questions coming from them. So he allowed her what she wanted and went to sleep while the conversation earlier bugged him. He wondered if there is any way to avoid their involvement with those troublesome yokai.
When he awoke that morning, he learned that Tsurara left early and so he walked with Ao towards the school. "Everyone looked troubled one way or another," Ao commented when they were near the school compound.
"You were with my father already right? Were you there during that battle?"
"We were. We were all involved with our own fight. By the time we finished, we learned Setsura's life is hanging on the edge. If you mean to ask me if I knew who killed her, I don't. I'm sorry Master."
He shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I'll talk to her later."
He shivered a little when he felt the cold chill. "Her power is leaking unconsciously again," Kuro appeared behind them. They both hurried only to find Tsurara sleeping soundly on her desk.
"I wonder what kept her all night," Yura spoke from the door and Rikuo gave his friend a delighted smile. He rarely sees her now. "It's really leaking and I worry about that."
"Yura – when did you arrive?" he asked the onmiyouji.
"Just last night. I'd like to pay you guys a visit then I'd be gone later this afternoon," she said and turned to the yuki-onna. Rikuo needed to remind himself that Yura and Tsurara had formed a bond after the Kyoto incident. Though their friendship would include unnecessary squabbles. "So, what happened to her? Leveling up?"
"Something like that," Rikuo admitted and turned to Ao. "I seriously needed to talk to her about last night."
Yura's head shot up and gave him a weird look. "You and her did something last night?" she asked and Rikuo blinked at her, not getting what she meant until it dawned on him a few seconds later, causing his face to turn beet red to the amusement of Ao.
"It's not what you think!" he said in reproach and gave Yura a half-hearted glare. "Stop jumping into conclusions."
She gave him an innocent look. "W-What did I say? I only…" she trailed and she also blushed in embarrassment. "That did not go out right. I meant to say – did something happen last night?"
"Nothing at – " the three of them were suddenly alert at the unwanted presence around them. Rikuo looked around and found that woman – Neve – standing at the doorway in school uniform.
"A yokai," Yura concluded, prepared to defend.
Tsurara woke at the presence as well and forgot everyone around her. She stood immediately, her chair clattering on the floor and stared at Neve who stared back. "You don't know when to leave me alone," Tsurara coolly spoke.
For her part, Yura thought something was off about the yuki-onna so she gave Rikuo a questioning look.
"Ah! Neve! You didn't tell me she's quite a beauty." The amused statement came from another girl, red in hair and she was actually beaming. Unlike Neve, she wasn't giving a killing intent. She stood beside Neve and waved at them.
"They just keep popping out when they felt like it," Rikuo commented and gave Tsurara a worried glance.
"Neve, you really should learn to smile a lot." The familiar voice belonged to Teidi this time as she appeared as well. She gave them a V sign then patted Neve before she walked towards them. "We apologize."
"You don't happen to have forgotten my warning, do you?" Rikuo asked and stepped beside Tsurara, his left arm holding her shoulder and he immediately pulled away at the freezing cold. He gave her a glance and saw that look once more. Didn't they talk about this last night?
Teidi smiled – perhaps it was the first smile he saw from her. "I haven't. We all started at the wrong foot and it was our mistake. Because of that, you can't seem to trust us. My name is Teidi. The blond one is Neve and the new one is Aki. Kari is just at the hall and the same is true with Sasha."
Though not letting his guard down, he acknowledged the introduction. "You already know two of us here – the other guy is Ao and this is Yura."
"Great," she clapped her hands and turned to Tsurara. She sighed. "I'm really sorry you know. We did not mean to cause this big change around you."
Tsurara sighed and to all their surprise, she slapped her face and a few seconds later, she was now smiling at Rikuo. If Rikuo acknowledged them with his own greeting, then there is no point upping her guard up.
"Ah, Master! I'm so sorry I came ahead of you," she apologized in that girly fashion and she bowed her head a little to the amusement of Teidi and Aki.
"Did she seriously hit herself?" Aki asked when she now stood beside Teidi and watched the scene play out in front of them. Then she sighed. "She doesn't look like the typical yuki-onna."
"Hmm."
"I told you guys you did a wrong approach and now they can't even trust all of you." Aki looked over her shoulder to see Neve still standing there. "I'd like to remind you and tell it to the rest as well – Tsurara is not our enemy and you have to go about this differently. We only have a few months left."
"What's your role on this one?" Rikuo asked Aki.
Aki smiled. "Unfortunately, I'm only a human who saw them before. I've no role here except to give them a few advices – one of which they ignored." She turned to Tsurara and bowed humbly. "It is my deepest apologies that they hurt you. I told them to approach you nicely but in the end, they wanted to test how strong you really are."
Tsurara shot a hostile look, although unnoticed, to Teidi and Neve before she shook her head. She smiled, feeling that this new person somehow is different and she truly felt human. Ah, humans with their compassionate heart. "That doesn't matter now, just make sure not to come across my way." With that, she ignored their protests and turned to the student she hadn't seen for a while. "Yura, you came?"
The onmiyouji smiled. "Yes but I'll be leaving early this afternoon. I just dropped by for a short visit."
Before any of them could talk further, the bell rang, signaling everyone to go to their respective room. Rikuo glanced at Tsurara worriedly and the yuki-onna gave him a reassuring smile.
"Once again, I've forgotten about my old self. I'm sorry master. But please don't worry about me. I'll be fine here."
She had always been sincere and honest and he trusted that about her. So he nodded. "But we'll talk later."
"Yes master."
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During break, two female stood on the rooftop, one was carefully and secretly studying the other and after a few moments of silence, she couldn't help but voice out her thoughts. "Somehow, you changed," she commented.
Tsurara turned to her and her eyes prodded the onmiyouji to continue. Yura sighed. "Sure, years passed after Kyoto incident and that with the Hundred Tales clan – you matured and wizened from both incidents. But you never truly lost yourself. Earlier, you were different when those yokai appeared. What happened?"
For a moment, Tsurara stared at her before she giggled. "You haven't realized that you also matured, have you?" she retorted and stretched her hands in the air. "We don't even argue anymore like we used to." She stared at the clear sky. "I'm just confused, that's all. And those yokai truly brought out my other self – one that is supposed to be the yuki-onna, the cold and heartless one."
"But you are not heartless," Yura pointed out.
Tsurara gave a grateful smile then looked down at the school building. She could see Kuro from his spot, watching over Torii and she wondered how he too had attached himself to a human that he would request to look after her. She saw Rikuo with the rest of the Kiyo group, all sitting together under a tree. They all looked so carefree, so happy – as if yesterday, they weren't almost eaten by the Jirogomu.
Yura cleared her throat and asked innocently. "What did you and the yokai Rikuo do last night?"
Tsurara glanced at her before her face turned beet red. "What's that supposed to mean?" she growled a little.
"I don't know, you tell me, are you and him hitting each other?"
Horrified, Tsurara turned even darker shade of red. "Has your brother influenced your way of thinking too?" she asked back.
Yura gave a gleeful grin. "Not that much. So, you and him…"
"Not you too," she groaned while covering her face. Yura actually chortled, enjoying this shift from her personality. She remained smiling even when Tsurara managed to recover and stare at her. She leaned away from the railing. "He treats you differently than the others, the night demon, I mean." Before Tsurara could ask, she continued as she glanced at her watch. "Well, I'm truly glad you guys are all doing well here. I've got to go meet my brother because we have someplace to go first."
"Eh? You're leaving so soon," Tsurara whined a little.
Yura nodded. "I'll come back again when I find enough time. Let's go down before the others worry about where we wandered to." She waited for Tsurara to catch up to her and as they both descended down, she glanced at those yokai who were huddled in one classroom, looking obviously bored. "They'll be troublesome to deal with. Just take care of yourself around them."
Tsurara merely gave them a sideway glance before shrugging her shoulders. She can't continuously worry her master due to their presence. Yura glanced at her when she acted nonchalantly. "I supposed you can take care of yourself. A real yuki-onna's strength goes beyond what mere yokai perceive of you. Your mother was recorded to be the last user of that technique – the Sacred Art of Ice and the Forbidden Art of Ice power."
Tsurara remained nonchalant about it, not giving away her thoughts even if Yura mentioned two techniques she doesn't want others to know. They finally stepped out and walked towards the Kiyo Squad.
"There you are! We've been looking for both of you!" Kiyo exclaimed in his usual way of speaking.
"Ah, we just had something to talk about," Yura answered and scratched her head a little. "Ah, listen, I have to leave this soon to meet my brother."
"Eh?"
"But we didn't even catch up with the few years that passed by," Kana argued. She secretly felt envious towards Tsurara now – not only does Rikuo worry about her more than the others but she's also closer to Yura now too.
"Yes but I'm pretty sure, we'll have one of those some other time," she glanced at her watch once more. She waved her hand. "Take care guys." She turned to Rikuo in his human form and wondered if there really is going on between him and Tsurara now. "Ja."
Rikuo nodded and walked towards her. "Take care too and thank you, it seems Tsurara looks better than a while ago," he whispered the last part.
"She'll be fine."
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Tsurara was walking back home from Nikigoi district. It was her usual routine, making it a point to visit the yokai there every day and help them with the works. At the same time, they train her at least an hour. And she found it helpful, relieving her from her stress.
"Yo."
Surprised, she found him leaning on one tree – in his yokai form. She beamed. "Master!"
He smirked at the lively voice. "Enthusiastic now, are you?"
She nodded as he walked towards her. "Yes. Not only was I happy that Yura came but also because I feel relieved after a short training with the Arawashi brothers. Fetching me again, master?"
He couldn't help but be amused at her air of candor. Sometimes, she really is so oblivious of the things going on around her. But perhaps that's one thing that separated her from the rest of yuki-onna. She had a distinct personality, a personality that stands alone when compared with the ice clan. And he hates the fact that she's losing that distinction – that gradually albeit unconsciously, she is turning into one of those things that truly defines a yuki-onna.
"Something like that. Did you have a nice chat with Yura?" he asked in his detached manner.
"Yes sir." She followed her words with a gleeful nod.
They walked in silence until they turned left. "So, your powers – how will it help them?"
They both stopped at the question. Then Tsurara gave an uncertain smile. "Well…"
His eyes hardened and Tsurara took a step back, thinking he is angry at her. Realizing it, Rikuo's gaze softened but there is still a hard glint there if you look closely. "I know what the old man was implying last night. You are going to throw away your life?"
Stunned, she stared at him with wide eyes. "O-Of course not. But if it's a life meant to be thrown to protect the master, then I will."
That resolve to protect him, even if she's weaker than him. That desire to do something for him and the Hyakki. Not once had she ever thought about her very own life.
"Let's go home, Master," she slowly turned away from him only to feel shocked when he pushed her on the wall, both his arms were now pinning her from two sides. His eyes were hard and angry as he gazed down at her while Tsurara's eyes was filled with surprise and confusion.
"Back when I saved you in Kyoto, I told you this, haven't I?" he slowly spoke the words, his eyes not leaving hers. "I remember telling you that you don't have to protect me anymore."
She gulped. "Am I so insignificant that you do not wish me to protect you when I have the means to do so? Do I only have to become bait to lure you?" she asked, quite angrily, much to Rikuo's surprise especially when she started crying.
He gripped her shoulders tightly now as he wondered how this yuki-onna started to make him lose his temper. The first time he did was when they were all defeated during their arrival in Kyoto and when he thought she died. That was the very first time he felt his anger boil inside him as he carefully laid her down on the ground. Not only was she hurt but his entire Hyakki was defeated then. He felt so powerless even though he knew he was strong.
"Remember this, you are not insignificant if that is what you led yourself to believe. You are one of my trusted subordinates. And I definitely do not want the enemies to keep on using you as a bait against me." His words were delivered in controlled anger. Damn those yokai from the west, coming here and destroying her. "The reason why I don't want you to protect me anymore is because it's the leader's job to protect his subordinates." His eyes sharpened. "Or do you not trust me enough to protect all of you?"
Horrified at the question, Tsurara shook her head vehemently. "No! You don't understand…" she trailed off. She blinked back her tears. "Master, we protect each other. You also said that before. The burden of protecting someone does not rest primarily on the leader. It's a burden shared by leader and subordinates. You seem to have this kind of mutual understanding with the rest of the hyakki…except me. I know of the times you followed me after what happened to me. I first thought it was just imagination on my part that I felt your presence somewhere. I brushed it off. But it would appear to be true…why can't you trust me enough to know that I can protect myself as well. I want to protect you. That's all I ever want. I don't want to be protected by you if it means putting you in danger and involving our family in a fight where you're not part of it to begin with."
He released her shoulders but still kept her locked on the wall by his two arms on either side of her head. "I know your strength and I know you can fight strongly too. You think I do not know of it? You say you want to protect me. But do you not realize that I want to protect all of you too? Especially you?"
Great, he was forced to say the words he wanted to keep to himself. And what does he get for that? A confused look. "Eh?"
"You are very important to me – more than you'll ever know, so don't throw away your life so easily even if it means protecting me. I'm definitely not going to forgive you if you do that. If you did, it only means I'm still not strong enough to protect the one dearest to me. Let's go." He pulled her hand and they walked away in an awkward silence. Tsurara does not know how to react to his words while Rikuo, the night demon who defeated the Nue, felt like he had spilled more than what he should have. But if there's anything to thank for, it's Tsurara's naïveté, interpreting his words as his kind way of saying she's just as important as the hyakki. He couldn't help but wonder if the woman will ever realize it.
They haven't both realized how they walked hand in hand as he held her protectively. So much for the cool and detached yokai that he was known for. This yuki-onna brought out his gentle side.
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Fluffy on the latter part. So sorry for the late update, I've been busy. I truly hope after more than a week of waiting, this did not come as a disappointment. I thank those all who reviewed and I'm sorry to not put your names here but I know you know who you guys are. I promise to acknowledge all your names in the next update. I'm in a rush. FeuWitch, sorry for not keeping up with my promise about updating last sat.
Take care everybody.