Master and Yokai
Hmm... What utter chaos shall I create this time. Oh just a note, if there's any yokai here that is not in the manga or anime, then I just made it up. I really have no knowledge in folklore.
Reviews:
Yu-na milan: Thanks, I was a little iffy on who should show up though. I put Yohime in because I had an evil thought to torture Nurarihyon. Rihan, well why not? I don't really guarantee they'll show up again.
FeuWitch: Yohime and Rihan sure are loved. Haha. Rikuo must have some pranking left in his blood, though very unexpected coming from a goody-two shoes.
SkyGem: This plot just kind of come out of nowhere and hit me on the head when I was reading the lastest chapters. Ideas sure come around at the strangest times. I guess I was mean to Mezu, but it's so fun to mess with them! Ahem, yeah he's really feminine. Him dressing as a guy without the mask will just be awkward. Rihan is really loved. Yeah, chapter 3 is my favorite.
...
Chapter 4 WHAT!
Rikuo just sat there in his dojo, wide-eyed, staring at his friends. He was frozen still, and it's not because of Yuki Onna who's currently freaking out thinking it was her fault. Kurata, Shiranami, and Aoi were also shocked, but not as much as their master. "I'm sorry. Come again?"
"Well, Yokotani-sensei and the school sure pulled a fast one on us," Shima began again. "Turns out the early start in our vacation was just a prank. That day was shorter only for the purpose of the prank, and today will start late because everyone was just informed. Our real break isn't until another week or so..."
"I thought it was odd..."
"Anyways, you should get changed. We have to hurry or we'll miss the bus in five minutes," Kana ushered.
"F-five? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" The yokai and their master hurried to change into their uniform and out of their kimono.
"You made me repeat five times..." Shima complained. So, it was his own fault. As soon as they finished, they hurried off to the bus. Unfortunately, they were a minute late and had to run their way to school. They actually had it easier, even if they had to make that distance within fifteen minutes. You see... Gozumaru and Mezumaru were barely informed after Rikuo was, so they had to hurry to change and run all the way to school from Mt. Nejireme. It's a much greater distance. Another thing they all had in common that day was that, they forgot their lunch. Are they trying to starve themselves by forgetting food? Not to worry! Someone will bring it eventually. Although... It kind of makes me wonder if they remembered breakfast... Oh yeah! Remember Kejoro? Yeah... She wasn't late because she was stuck there all day. She finally got some food so she's satisfied. Why didn't the administration inform her?
At school, they all made it at the same time with 5 minutes to spare! I guess they could have slowed down a little. Panting heavily, they took their seats without a word and drink some water from their water bottle. Wait, they remember water but not their lunch? Blasphemy! Well with water alone, they'll survive longer than just a meal. The group managed to recover before their teacher entered. Just upon entrance, she received a lot of outraged remarks and questions. They weren't the only ones who had to run there.
"Calm down, class. I know you're upset about being pranked, but don't take it out on me. It wasn't my idea," Yokotani attempted to restore order in her room. The head of Ukiyoe Middle School must be immature and not professional at all... Who is the head? "Okay, I shall begin class now. I have very light plans because I knew you all be irritated by this. First things first..." Every looked dead and the atmosphere was certainly worse than the appearance. Such a lackluster class. "I'll let you rest for an hour, and then we'll move onto something else." Without a second to spare, they all knocked out.
Rikuo had quick adaptation ability, something he needs if he wants to overcome all sorts of possibilities he would face as the lord of the pandemonium. He didn't need extra recovery time. Instead, he used this time to think through thoughts that had been bothering him for some time now. His attendants were restored soon after he was, though they didn't budge. They just sit there observing everything. Every object, every person, every movement. Freaky. That hour was very long for them, but not long enough for everyone else. This is what vacation means to students: partying, all nighters, no care in the world while messing around.
"Alright, it's been an hour. Be glad I actually gave you this, most others wouldn't."
"Thank you, sensei," the class replied in unison, now with their normal vitality.
"You're welcome. The only thing planned today is our only assignment for the next two weeks." Did she say two weeks? Wow, that's minimum length of time they have before being free from pris- I mean school. "Our class is required to participate in the next school play. Participation for each student here is mandatory. Unfortunately we only have the two weeks before it's performed."
"What is it on?"
"Kiyotsugu," she began. Oh no, please tell me it's not on him! "I hope you will help me on this. You'll be the assistant director, next to me of course."
'Why do I have a feeling that this is going to involve yokai...?' Rikuo panicked.
"Our topic, I did not pick, is Nurarihyon and the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons."
'Oh someone just kill me... It's on grandpa?' Rikuo seemed horrified by this. The other yokai were shocked too. Kiyotsugu on the other hand, looked more than pleased.
'For a play to be based on such a topic... I don't want to be a part of this! But it's Rikuo's grandfather, so it can't be that bad, could it?' Yura thought. If an onmyoji such as herself has to play the part of a yokai, it'll be a nightmare for her! Just the very thought that sickens her a little.
"Alright! I'll make this the best play in history!" the fanatic exploded with energy.
"Let me finish first," Yokotani-sensei interrupted. "It's focused on Nurarihyon's love story and greatest battle. Does anyone have any knowledge on this?" A few of them had quite a bit of info on it, not that they'll share it.
"No worries! I have more knowledge than everyone on yokai!" Sure he does... Wait, did he just degrade his classmates and friends? Such confidences. Some of them shot glares at him for calling them stupid, but they let it go 'cause he knows more about yokai than most of them anyways. Before they could continue, someone opened the door. Tall. Long dark hair. Traditional garb.
"May I help you?" Yokotani asked the stranger.
"No," his deep voice responded. "I'm just here to deliever lunches that were forgotten."
"Oh okay." He step in revealing his face. Well, what wasn't covered by his hair.
"Gyuuki-sama?" the yokai whispered so low that no one could hear. He strided over to his underlings and placed the lunches on the desks and turned to leave. "Thanks." Gyuuki made his exit, and now the students are wondering if Gozu and Mezu are related. Sure let them think that, I really don't know. Since there others hasn't gotten theirs yet, that means someone else will come too.
"Well, we'll need everyone to play a part. Kiyotsugu, would you select the potential students playing each role?" As he was deep in thought examining everyone and comparing them to the info and pictures, the door opened once more. There entered a really tall guy in a more casual attire except hooded. He appeared somewhat albino with his white hair, despite the orange highlights, light skin color, and red eyes rather than pinkish eyes.
"Excuse me," he spoke. Everyone was staring at his hieght, a very obvious feature.
"Ah it's you. Did someone else forget his lunch?" She aimed that directly towards Rikuo who told her that he's a relative. Okay, she wasn't supposed to meet him yet, but I'm really following the manga anyways.
"Yes, quite a few actually." He walked in and gave the lunches to Rikuo, Tsurara, Shiranami, and Aoi.
"Thanks, Shouei," they responded. He just gave a small nod and left. He stopped by Kurata's first. Now the class is wonder if those four were related to each other too.
"Yosh! I got it. For Nurarihyon, it shall be Rikuo!"
"Eh?" Rikuo jumped. He had to play his grandpa? Now if he tells him this, he'll never let it go and claim that he still follows his footsteps. What a day and day is still young.
"Though he's kinda short, he looks the most like him and he could probably act like him."
'There's a reason why he looks the most like him...' everyone who knew thought.
"Now for the antagonist, Hagoromo Gitsune should be... Saori Maki." She stood up in outrage.
"Now you're just bias!" she complained.
"No, I think you just fit the role best." In what way? "Now that I think about... The guy that first came in looked like one of Nurarihyon's entourage... Looked like the yokai Gyuuki."
'Ack! Does he realize that was Gyuuki? This is bad... Really bad!' the yokai started panicking.
"Kiyotsugu, there's a lot of people who look alike or they're cosplaying," RIkuo pointed out, trying to delude his friend.
"Yeah... Hey, you think he could help us out on that part?" Kiyotsugu looked at the teacher.
"I really don't feel comfortable bothering others with this assignment. If it just doesn't work out, I'll request another option," she confessed.
"No! I'll make it work!"
"Eh..." everyone else was less willing.
"Okay, let's vote. Raise your hand if you wish to continue this one." I think you know what happened. Majority rules. All but one refuses to continue. "Alright, stay here. I'll go request another." The teacher left room. The one in charge is probably the student council president or Rikuo.
"Why didn't you want to the yokai play?" Kiyotsugu whined. No one said anything, but sure thought some stuff.
'I don't want to follow my grandpa's footsteps... Especially not like this...' Rikuo thought, looking to the side.
'If we actually went through with it, I have a feeling that I'll be portraying my mother like Rikuo's portraying his grandfather... I don't really want that...' Tsurara thought. It's not like she doesn't like her mother, but she doesn't want to live in her shadow.
'If Ao was here, then he might end up playing himself... That's kind of awkward...' the other yokai thought. Kind of awkward or really awkward?
"HELLO? I want to know why?" Kiyotsugu demanded.
"Well, how are we even suppose to the attacking effects?" one of the students pointed out.
"Yeah! Make shift cardboard and moving it around is lame..." another added.
"There are probably too many people too!" it continued.
"It'll be too violent and gory!"
"Your casting sucks!" Saori complained. Now that's just bias. Everyone looked at her for a moment then resume to complaining.
"Too much props to make within two weeks!" Well, if Rikuo helps, it might be possible. If you know what I mean.
"The stage isn't that big either! Too many problems, too little time!" It goes on much longer, but we'll get to the point now. Kiyotsugu asked, and he got his answers. He gave up, he couldn't change their minds or solve all the problems.
"Fine! Fine! I get it... But if the next one's worse, don't blame me!" Kiyotsugu warned. Then Yokotani-sensei returned with a stack of paper.
"Okay class, we got approved for another, but we cannot change it anymore. This time it's..." She waited a moment for suspense. Okay, not for suspense, she's just merely looking for where she wrote it down on her papers. "Oh, here it is. It's Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs." Folklore and fairytales, what's next.
"Whaaat?" some complained.
"Too late to change now. All the other classes are doing plays too and they each only have one other option." I'll explain why later.
"For unbiased selection, we'll just draw the roles from a hat," Kiyotsugu directed this towards Saori who glared at him. It's really only eleven roles. Perfect! If you count twelve, that's because you counted Kiyotsugu who's still assistant director. (Proceeds to drawing, yes I'm actually doing this.) La la la.. Wow... It's already turning weird...
Results...
Snow White: Mezu... (I did draw that out, it's creepy...)
Prince: Gozu (Now you know why I said weird earlier. Don't worry, I'm change a lot of the story just to avoid any yaoi or more creepiness.)
Queen: Tsurara (Yes, I was shocked too.)
Hunter: Shiranami (He actually had a better role.)
Doc: Yura
Happy: Rikuo
Sleepy: Kana
Grumpy: Aoi
Bashful: Shima
Sneezy: Saori
Dopey: Natsumi
PRACTICALLY NONE OF THESE FIT! What will happen? This won't be good for... Eh, all of them. Reaction time.
"I refuse!" Mezu shouted. He still has to cross dress, but as the main character now.
"Don't complain! I only drew it randomly from the hat!" Kiyotsugu argued.
"I don't want my role either!" Gozu stated. Now they wish they did the other play, don't they? Well, I'm not drawing again! It was hard enough to grab one in the first place...
"Why am I the wicked queen?" Tsurara asked disgustedly. She was hoping for princess with you know who as prince. It kind of does make sense that way. Kubinashi didn't complain, he actually had a decent role. Lucky guy.
"Doc...?" Yura tested the word on her tongue. She was okay with it. Rikuo was content with his. Kana questioned hers. Kappa as grumpy? That's not right at all! But he said nothing. Shima as bashful was okay. Saori was against being Sneezy. Natsumi was against acting dumb. Well, they have no say in this! I would change it, but I'm just too lazy. Now the problem for the dwarves is that they have to walk on their knees, so that's gonna hurt. Also, they have to pretend being infatuated with Mezu. (Shudders) Everyone else was in charge of props. The actors just need to learn their roles, of course, this will be a twisted version of the fairytale that should not even be considered an alternate version fit for Disney (I'm using that one rather than the Grimm one).
After all that commotion, school was out for the day. There was just too much happening that the investigation meeting just had to be put aside and cancelled for the day. The yokai walked home; some annoyed at the roles, others neutral. Aotobo walked with them.
"My class is doing Robin Hood," Ao explained. Oh, a role fit for Kubinashi. Why? Go look it up. "What are you guys doing?"
"... At first it was going to be grandpa's love story, but we said no to that. So now it's Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs and we can't change it again," Rikuo replied.
"Oh. The first one would have been interesting yet awkward at the same time. The second might be interesting."
"No, Aotobo. The second one is worse, far beyond awkward and creepy..." Mezu corrected.
"Is that so? Why?" He never got his answer because no one said a thing. When they got home, they could see Nurarihyon using Seishin to talk to Yohime.
"Grandpa! That's no way to treat Seishin!" Rikuo felt that it was too much trouble.
"It's okay. This is my purpose. Besides, I get to hear all the stuff they say to each other. Ku ku ku ku..." Seishin explained. Before Nurarihyon could say anything, it continued, "Hey, you use me, I get to hear. Even if I didn't want to hear, I hear it anyways." He said nothing about it and turned to his grandson.
"So how was school, Rikuo?" he asked.
"Weird..." He didn't even want to mention the plays. Unfortunately, they're all holding their scripts so it that just screams 'play'.
"Oh what play are you doing?" He's curious.
"You'll never know!"
"Aw come on!"
"What's going on?" Gyuuki asked.
"They're doing a play, and Rikuo won't tell me a thing!" Err... Who's the mature one again? Then, Kejoro entered.
"My, my. Every class doing a play..." Kejoro said. The school kids gave her a look that says, 'don't say it'.
"Kejoro, what play are they doing?" Can't refuse to the master.
"Well, Ao is doing Robin Hood. Waka-sama's class is suppose to be doing-" Rikuo gave a look pleading look, but she couldn't oblige to it. "a play based on your love story." Nurarihyon burst out laughing while Gyuuki attempted to hold it in.
"No one could ever pull that off! But Rikuo might come close." The day just got longer for them.
"So now they're doing Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs."
"Fairy tales... So do you need a place to practice?" Oh, he just wants to see them suffer.
"No." Of course they're not going to act there. Before anything else happens, the school kids ran out of the room. They really don't want to reveal their roles.
"They must have gotten roles they don't like... Whatever, I'll find out eventually..." Nurarihyon returned to talking to Yohime, and everyone else went back to what they were doing.
In Rikuo's room, he laid down on his futon and pondered. 'I don't think the play will even go on peacefully... I have a bad feeling that something will happen... And it'll involve yokai...'
'Like I said before, you leave the yokai to me.'
'We both can't be out at the same time though.'
'Hey! It's like you don't know me. I'll find a solution.'
'That's what I'm afraid of...'
'Why? You are me and I am you. You don't like yourself?'
'I'm not a narcissist.'
'That's not what I meant... Fine, fine, I'll rephrase for a simpleton like you. Don't you trust yourself?'
'Depends. And you just called yourself a simpleton.'
'You know what I mean! Ugh, why is it so difficult to work with myself...? That's not right at all. Well, you just leave it to me and get some rest.'
'Not yet, I still have plenty of things to think of.'
'You just leave that to me. Just sleep!'
'But it's only seven!'
'Don't care, just get some rest. Don't make me knock you out.'
'Now how are you go-' He was unconscious before he could even finish. Now how did he do that? What is he up to? Night Rikuo took over and walked over to the room with Seishin. "Hey Seishin, could you bring out Rihan?" Rihan came out.
"Whoa! I'm back again. Oh hey, dad!" Rihan greeted, incorrectly.
"... I'm not your dad... You can't even recognize your own son? Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Rikuo shook his head disapprovingly.
"WHOA! Rikuo, what a growth spurt and change! Didn't I just see you yesterday? Hey wait a second. Why do you look more like dad than me? That's not right!"
"Dad, were you always this stupid...?"
"Tall, different, and mean... This is horrible..."
"This is my night form. I'm not answering the rest."
"Night Rikuo is so mean~!" Rihan whined and tears coming out.
"Act your age!"
"You want me to act like an old man? Okay but-"
"Dad!"
"Fine. Why you call me out?"
"What? You don't want to see me?" What is going on...?
"Of course I do! I can't call you out just to talk to you? Fine then."
"NOOO! Wait! Papa wants to talk to his son!" It just gets weirder.
"Then act mature already!" After a moment of silence, he continued, "So, what do you want to talk about?"
"You called me yet you have nothing to say?"
"No no, you see. I did say what I wanted to say."
"... How did you manage with you life after I was gone?"
"It was hard and sad at first, but we all helped each other through. I made friends, humans and yokai alike. It took me a while to realize that I must take over as the Third to protect the ones I want to protect."
"That's a good boy. I would pat you on the head, but I can't."
"Don't. That's just too weird with me being this big right now."
"Fine fine. You'll become a great leader one day. So how many have you exchanged sakazuki with so far?" Rikuo started counting with his fingers. That's not a good sign. That just means not a lot.
"Seven, but one of them is 5-5."
"You've got a long way to go... No worries, it shouldn't be much of a problem for you."
"My blood is the main reason really."
"Eh. They'll look pass it. Mine and and your grandpa's blood's in there!"
"Such arrogance. I'll do my best. Later." He got up to walk, and Rihan disappeared back into eternal sleep. He paused in his steps. "Tomorrow huh..."
...
Another chapter done! Weird huh. Yeah I needa think upon how to change the fairytale. Yohime and Rihan are back in this chapter, but Yohime didn't have any lines. For the second play, this is what I did. I grab the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales collection (it was that or Shakespeare) and opened to a random page, which just so happens to be Snow White. I did draw the parts randomly. I wrote the names down on tiny pieces of even paper, put them in a bag, shook the bag, and reached in for one of the papers. It was kinda hard just trying to grab one without pulling the others. I was typing "dwarves" instead of "dwarfs" until I realized it was wrong. As I typed, I keep switching the w and r. If you want to suggest something, like who you want to see next, go for it.
R&R please