A/N: Yaaay! I'm very happy that many of you actually read this story! XD I'm glad… then my idea and talent aren't wasted AT ALL! XDDD. Yes! Because you are so very-very excited and want to read more of this story~ XD There it is! The chapter 1! Please~ do read XP, and if you're done, constructive criticism is always welcome!
Disclaimer: Shiibashi-sensei owns Nuramago. Luna only plays with the characters.
Warning: the usual AU, foul language, violence, hints of yaoi-incest, a bit oOC… (sorry for that), etc…
Chapter 1: Hide My Real Identity!
A sound of morning glory was marking the arrival of a new day in Nura Gumi household. A group of cute canary birds were chirping one another, singing their beautiful song. The fall of many pinkish white Sakura petals beautified the large yard. The warm soft sunshine swept the entire ground, creating gorgeous sparkling reflection on the surface of a Koi pond near the biggest Sakura tree inside the backyard.
There, inside the stunning large house of Nura Gumi, beside that big Sakura tree was Nura Rikuo's room. In that room, our cute main character was still sleeping inside his futon (1). After all, it was still 6 a.m.
"Nnh…." Rikuo was turning slightly in his sleep as the first sunlight hit inside his room, directly on his face from the slightly opened curtain of the window. He sighed and snuggled closer to the pillow he was hugging. It smelled really nice… sweet like Sakura flower. Moreover, it was really soft and warm… and thumping in steady reassuring rhythm.
….
Huh?—Rikuo paused at that thought. Thumping in steady rhythm?
The brunet quickly opened his eyes in a heartbeat and was instantly stoned and cracked as his sight was met by another beautiful sleeping face; a very gorgeous male face that belonged to none other than Nura Rikuou, Sandaime of the Nura Gumi, as well as his accursed half brother.
In fact, their faces were so close to each other, too close! He could actually feel the gentle waft of Rikuou's steady breath on his own face.
The silence was continued befalling inside the room for some more seconds before "GYAAAAAAAA!" Rikuo screamed bloody murder in absolute horror, successfully shooing all the birds to fly away in a surprise at the rude ugly interruption of their pleasant chirping and waking up the entire people staying inside the house with a shock.
Well, except Rikuou of course; the bastard was just slightly turning while Rikuo, the source of the commotion, was trying to back away as far as possible from the still sleeping boy, until his back slammed into the wooden wall of the room and made a very loud banging noise.
"Nh… so noisy…!" the still half-sleeping boy in the futon whined lightly while yawning, slowly waking up before stroking his slightly opened eyelids with the back of his left hand.
"Y-y-y-you—!" Rikuo, his back still pinned on the wall, was totally speechless, having no idea how to express his shock and mortification at the fact that his half brother had actually snuck into his room and been cuddling him the entire night on the same mattress under the same blanket.
"What…? Riku… it's still…," Rikuou paused and narrowed his still slightly blurry crimson eyes to look at the alarm clock beside the futon, "…6 in the morning? It's too early! What are you doing up?" he actually protested.
The jackass is protesting about early rising!
Rikuo's veins popped up on his entire head. "You!" He shouted and pointed at his half brother's face with trembling forefinger because of the rage. "What are you doing sleeping inside MY futon! How did you even get in last night!"
"Now, now, Riku-chan…—("Don't call me 'chan'!"—Rikuo protested at the girly remark)—don't make a scene…" Rikuou just yawned again carelessly and putting his head on his palm while he was laying with his right elbow on the mattress, supporting his upper body. "Isn't it okay?" He then opened his still slightly sleepy eyes, stared at the angry Rikuo, and smirked cunningly.
"It's NOT okay!" Rikuo argued with red face, not sure from fury or embarrassment now after seeing Rikuou's sexy feature. After all, he also realized that the entire night, Rikuou was sleeping very close to him, probably without any distance at all between their bodies. They were snuggling each other just now. God knew what he had done last night.
"What are you so pissed off about?" Rikuou pouted slightly at seeing Rikuo's seriously mad face.
"Don't pout! And don't change the subject!" Rikuo shouted some more. "What the hell are you thinking, sneaking up on people like that…!" He absolutely had no idea what made his brother went as far as this.
Yes, Rikuo was painfully aware that his silver haired half brother had a slightly unhealthy obsession towards him… but he never thought that it would go to this extent. He meant… they were BROTHERS for heaven sake! Even though they only shared half of it from their father, it was still impossible to go anywhere! He thought all Rikuou wanted to do was harmless— Okay, sometimes he harasses Rikuo, but still!—flirting and teasing! He had to be more careful from now…-
Hey!—Rikuo already locked his door last night! So how did he…!
"How did you get in?" Rikuo asked again with more curiosity than accusation now. "I already locked the door," he continued, slightly explaining why he asked.
"Heh…," Rikuou closed his eyes and smirked more widely. "Do you forget who you're talking to? It's me, the Sandaime of the notorious Nura Gumi, Nura Rikuou. Picking lock is just a small prank technique, a piece of cake for someone as awesome as me," he proudly confessed his felony.
"Picking lock is a bad habit! Breaking and entering!" Rikuo protested in annoyance, totally attacking him vehemently.
"Not for a hobby I do inside my own house," Rikuou argued back cleverly, still with that teasing evil-evil smirk.
"What a horrible hobby! Don't you know the term of personal space and privacy!" Rikuo made a face at him, sweat dropping as well in the process. He really didn't get this guy.
Well, he wasn't about to give up though. Rikuo had already been patient enough for being groped and fumbled by the drunken Sandaime when they were partying last night, but this… this was just going too far even for the yakuza.
Where in this entire world would a yakuza boss lust after his own half brother anyway? Rikuou is NUTS!—Rikuo's mind couldn't help screaming at that.
"Personal space? Privacy?" Rikuou chuckled amusedly at that. "Now, now, lil bro—,"
"I am your older brother!" Rikuou cut curtly, but was of course, entirely ignored.
"—it's overrating. We already share half of the same blood. What's the use of personal space and privacy when we're practically one?" Rikuou sighed, getting up to sit now.
"It's not the same. You and I are different people despite what you think inside that crazy, thick skull of yours," Rikuo huffed in irritation.
Rikuou softened his smirk into an amused smile now. "Well, you've got a point there. Since we won't be able to do anything if we're the same person… I'm happy that we're in the different body," he teased the cute sandy haired boy some more.
And the lewd implication went really noticeable since Rikuou's crimson eyes were blatantly leering at the dark-chocolate eyed boy's slightly bare chest. Because his sleeping yukata was a loan from the Sandaime, it was too big for Rikuo that the obi (2) was slightly loosened, and part of Rikuo's shoulder and chest were revealed from where it was slipping.
"Ugh—!" Rikuo's face was blown up, turning into a few sheds of red. "You pervert!" he shouted loudly and embarrassedly at the laughing Rikuou while trying to save his remaining dignity for being harassed like that. He clamped his own body with both hands to tighten the sleeping attire.
"T-that's really interesting face you make—!" and Rikuou's laughter was continued harder while his body was rolling back on the blanket, hand holding his painful stomach because of too much laughing.
"Gaaah! You're so—, so annoying! Come here, you evil brother! I'll beat you up!" Rikuo, face redder than before, wasn't about to let the insolent ass got the last comment of this. He would give him a very valuable lesson.
The brunet then dashed from his spot and launched himself at the taller, silver haired boy who was still rolling around on the futon. However, because Rikuou was faster and more agile than his half brother, he could perfectly turn the sudden attack into his own benefit. The Sandaime caught Rikuo's lunging hands with both of his before using the kinetic power of that attack to roll their bodies until he slammed Rikuo's back to the soft futon while he was pinning both of Rikuo's wrist down and held Rikuo's lower body using his own body weight.
"Not so fast, Riku…. Don't forget I'm stronger than you," Rikuou said smugly while leaning his face closely to Rikuo's.
"You—! Are you still drunk!" Rikuo blushed hard at the sudden advance and had to struggle hard so as not to let Rikuou got any closer than this. But it was difficult! The guy was a lot stronger than him!
"Not a chance. You remember that I can hold my alcohol really well, and I don't do drunk," Rikuou smirked mischievously while getting closer and closer to him.
Rikuo panicked, totally realizing what his half brother was about to do as that crimson gaze lowered to his lips alluringly. He was about to get kissed by force! "N-No—!" Rikuo shut his eyes and was about to yell at the very infuriating, dangerous proud guy when the door of his room was slid open with a slam.
"Waka! Are you okay!"
"Waka!"
"Waka!"
Three people, Kubinashi, Kurotabou and Kurata, made their entrance in unison while shouting in panicky and ready to fight; probably thinking that their young boss, Rikuo, had been attacked by their rival families or enemies after his scream earlier. Although the attack part was probably not so far from the truth, it seemed they didn't expect to find their Sandaime was the attacker. Pun totally intended.
Those three of the older guys blushed at seeing their leader and young boss' very provocative position on the futon while Rikuou completely ignored them and continued with his ministration.
On the other hand, Rikuo was shocked for a brief moment at the interruption before realizing how their position would look like, seen by the other people's perspective.
"Gaaaah! GET OFF!" In the heat of the moment, the shorter boy' self defense technique accidentally kicked in, and he kneed the Sandaime on his left side hard.
"OW!" Rikuou was so surprised at the sudden sharp pain attacking his left stomach that he involuntarily released his hold from his brother's wrists to roll down beside him and crouch, while groaning painfully.
Rikuo hurriedly got up while pointing at Rikuou, and yelled "That's what you got from trying to harass me!" very loudly before walking away with really pissed embarrassed, very red face.
"Wa-waka…, Sandaime…!" Kurotabou looked torn between running after his young boss and helping his injured leader.
"Aaah, Sandaime… why are you so wicked towards Waka…," Kubinashi seemed already guessing what happened from the one framed very humiliating situation alone while covering his face in shame.
"Sa-Sandaime…, are you okay?" Kurata seemed perfectly okay with everything despite his initial embarrassment and quickly walked inside the room to help their still crouching leader.
"I'm fine," Rikuou's voice was slightly muffled by the mattress where his face was dipped. He looked up slightly after that with a slight annoyed look. "Why are you guys here? It was just getting good too," he sulked.
"Well, Waka screamed so loudly. We were surprised and half-asleep and a little panicked, thinking that he was in danger!" Kurotabou reasoned.
"True… but Waka seemed really in danger just now…," the 'by you' implication wasn't mentioned out loud by Kubinashi, but everyone could totally read it. "The cavalry was already here," he continued while opening the door further, where many people crowding in the hall, some curious, some worried and some actually still sleep-walking.
"Are you guys idiots?" Rikuou's sweat dropped seeing all of them.
Meanwhile, the other Rikuo was still fuming when he was stomping down the hall on the complete opposite direction of where the cavalry was coming and crowding.
"That simple minded idiotic ass of a brother…! Always does what he wants without considering the consequences…!" Rikuo muttered darkly while remembering the shocked red faces of those three older guys that saw him in that kind of embarrassing position with his dense, very stupid half brother.
Nooo! How can I face them again after this!—Rikuo wanted to cry at that, still very embarrassed.
"Waka?" Someone called Rikuo from his right side where there was a turning hall.
Rikuo stopped to look at the owner of that slightly sexy alto voice and was met with a vey gorgeous lady with beautiful, long, wavy, dark brown-reddish hair that was left to fall freely passing her shoulders and eyes in light aquamarine color, wearing a kimono that was slightly opened in the chest area to reveal a bit of her very nice cleavage.
"Ah… Kino-san*!" Rikuo knew this woman as 'Kejourou' Kino, again he believed it wasn't really her real name, but she was called that way anyway, so Rikuo would call her like that as well.
Kino was a former geisha that had been bought by Nura Rihan, Nura Gumi's Nidaime (3), after seeing her skill with strings that was hidden inside her hair. Now she worked at Nura Gumi as a spy and a discreet body guard of the leader (meaning: Sandaime), who was frequently away for social gathering with the fellow Yakuza families' leaders.
Those guys from other rival families sometimes would do the idiotic things like putting Rikuou's life in danger despite saying that they would not bother him and his family. Well, it couldn't be helped. They felt threatened by Rikuou's presence alone. Kino was there to guard him. She was an expert in stealing information and mind game. Though, Rikuo only knew that because Sandaime told him, not from Rikuo's firsthand knowledge.
"Why do you look so upset, Waka?" Kino asked with a small smile, showing her gentle motherly personality.
"Uh… it's Rikuou! Please do something about him!" Rikuo felt that he could burst out all of his frustration to her, since she was a great listener as well. Well, being a former geisha, it was one of her professional skills.
"Sandaime? Oh, right… when I wanted to wake him up this morning for his morning practice, he was nowhere to find…," Kino put her forefinger on her chin. "Waka knows where he is?" she asked then with wondering look.
"He sneaked into my room and snuggled me the entire night," Rikuo answered with a pale sweating face, feeling totally disturbed.
Kino chuckled, seeing Rikuo's ridiculous look.
"Please don't laugh. It's not funny!" Rikuo protested desperately at the older woman, still totally feeling embarrassed. "That guy can be a total jerk sometimes, but this was too much even for him! Kuro-nii, Kubi-nii* and Kurata saw us in embarrassing position, you know! I don't think I have any face left to look at them in the eye again!" He felt like crying for real now.
"Now, Waka…, that's a little bit overreacting," Kino said, sweat dropping while smiling a little.
"It's not!" Rikuo pouted cutely. "And the bastard is totally careless about this, sound asleep like a big baby like that while I was panicking…! He's so maddening!" he added while sulking slightly.
"Heeh, Rikuou-sama (4) was asleep like a baby?" Kino's eyes were slightly widened in surprise. She put her fingers in front of her mouth to cover the slightly surprised gesture.
"What? He's always like that, right? Doing everything without considering other people's feeling. He must often sleep without care of the world," Rikuo huffed, a little bit wondering of why Kino seemed intrigued by that.
"Not quite right, Waka. Sandaime is a very light sleeper," Kino said while putting her hand down again. "He's easily woken up when there's something not right inside his room no matter how small it was. I know this from firsthand knowledge because it happened between us once."
"W-what happened?" Rikuo was interested in this.
Rikuou is a light sleeper? Yeah, right.
"See, when Sandaime had just been appointed to succeed the family, I snack into his room to provide more securities because there was a rumor of ongoing plan to assassinate him in the black world. He was already asleep when I entered the room quietly because I didn't want to wake him. The second I looked away from him to install the security he already had his katana on my back. It happened so fast I didn't even realize it was him at first. I thought he was the intruder. We struggled for awhile until he realized it was me and called my name. I was really surprised that he could fight that well even though he just woke up and in the darkness too. Even my technique couldn't be compared."
"Eeh? Really?" Rikuo couldn't help doubting that.
"That's the truth, Waka. Sandaime is a bit paranoid of the people that sneak up on him. He even said: 'Don't sneak up on me ever again like that or it'll cost your life,' with a very stern look. I guess he was worried if he already hurt me or not…," Kino said while remembering the event, even using her slightly altered voice when she said Rikuou's words to add the dramatic effect.
Kino wasn't the type of people who would lie for something like that. So, maybe, it was an actual story. "Whoah, scary…," Rikuo sighed long and slumped again. "Then why does he act like a spoiled brat in front of me?" He didn't get it. His half brother was an enigma. He was complicated and full of contradiction.
"I guess… probably Sandaime trusts Waka with his life," Kino smiled warmly at him.
Rikuo couldn't help blushing slightly. But he wasn't really sure of why he was blushing; because of her smile or because of her words… stating that Rikuou trusted him with his life… more than anyone else, until the yakuza boss could act that freely in front of him.
"I… I guess…," Rikuo begrudgingly agreed with it.
Of course… earlier Rikuo had conveniently forgotten that Rikuou wasn't an ordinary boy. He was a head of yakuza family. If he wasn't alerted easily, he would be dead thousands time by now. And yet, even with so many dangers around threatening his life and people wanted him dead, Rikuou still could trust Rikuo with all of his heart like that… without the slightest doubt, bearing his feeling and affection until it suffocated Rikuo a little.
Well, Rikuo guessed, it seemed that the saying was true… that gesture spoke more than words.
That cunning little…!—Rikuo had to look away or Kino would notice his pink troubled face. Again, his half-brother had successfully stunned him without even trying.
However, it seemed Kino already did notice because she giggled again heartily at him while saying "Waka… you're so cute~!" She even hugged him affectionately to emphasis her amusement.
Rikuo had to blush again at that. He was just called cute by a woman. So embarrassing!
"So… Sandaime is still in Waka's room?" Kino asked again with a calm smile.
"Yes… please do something so he won't do crazy things again. I have to go to school," Rikuo said, feeling worn out already, and this was only the second day of his new life as a senior high school boy. He should be excited because there was plenty of interesting things he could do to maximize his youth capacity.
Rikuo said good bye to her while walking to the family room, still in his yukata, to have a breakfast. He hoped the kitchen staffs already prepared him something because he couldn't be too long in the house. He would rot if he still had to wait for that stupid evil brother to have breakfast together. After all, he had to go home to his mother first to grab some text books before going to school today.
"Good morning…," Rikuo slid the family room door open and…
"You're so late, Riku. I'm tired waiting for you to eat," Rikuou had already been there, waiting, making the shorter boy slip and fall down on the ground face first in shock.
Well, he quickly recovered though. "You! How did you get in here so fast!" Once again, Rikuo protested while pointing at his half brother with disbelieving expression. He was supposed to be still in his room! How come he arrived first before Rikuo? Did he use a secret passage or something?
"It's because you're too slow, right?" Rikuou was already taking his chopsticks, and then said "Itadakimasu (5)," before he began to eat.
Aside Rikuo's astonishment of his brother's unpredictable act and ability to sneak up on people and to vanish and appear like a youkai, he completely recovered after hearing the teasing remark. "Whose fault do you think it is…?" More veins popped up again on Rikuo's head.
Really, even though Rikuo was a bit touched by his half brother's gesture of complete trust and affection, it didn't change the fact that he was an impossibly annoying bastard.
"Good morning, Waka," then Tsurara came out to chill the heating moment. Her sparkling golden eyes looked at his chocolate ones with so much affection he thought she had a crush on him. But then again, she only had feelings for their Sandaime, and not for his half brother. "You yelled so loudly this morning, Waka. I thought you had a nightmare," she said while holding his hand and leading him to sit with the leader to have their breakfast together.
Oikawa Tsurara was the former head and the last member of Yuki Onna Gumi, yakuza family which only had girls in their family. The group was disbanded after creating uproar by making enemies of the entire yakuza families in Japan and the Japanese Government with their specialty in 'kill for money' policy. In the desperate moment during the crumbling of the family, Yukina, Tsurara's mother, came to Rihan, asking for a protection for her only child, Tsurara, when the child was still five.
Rihan actually wanted nothing to do with them after what they had done, but then his first wife, Yamabuki Otome, Rikuou's mother, convinced him to take the little girl in to their family for Rikuou's 'playmate.' He then agreed to take Tsurara and protect her as a hostage, and in exchange, Yukina had to disband Yuki Onna Group and surrender herself and all her members to the police since all of them are hit-women.
Well, Tsurara was still too little to understand what happened to her own family, so she didn't have any problem adjusting to the new surroundings. Moreover, she was very cute when she was still a kid so many people in the Nura Gumi adored her. Eventually, even Rihan got a soft spot for her and then raised her like his own daughter.
Tsurara was supposed to be only a friend for young Rikuou, but she actually possessed her mother's talent and intelligent in combat, so Rihan didn't want to waste it for just a 'playmate.' He trained her personally to become a valuable asset for Nura Gumi. Now, like Kino, Tsurara was also one of Rikuou's body guards.
But, because Tsurara was still so young, the same age as Rikuou and Rikuo, Sandaime asked her personally to guard the young boss when he was outside his field of vision. Besides, with his power and his men now, Rikuou didn't really need more bodyguards.
Tsurara went to all girl school next to Rikuo's senior high school in undercover to observe and gather 'information' (rumor) in the students' circle (since Rikuou didn't attend formal school, he needed someone inside to regulate the information). And then, together with Kurata who ran a Takoyaki vendor nearby, they tried to discreetly protect Rikuo from any danger. They were quite good with their job too since no one actually noticed. Even Rikuo if he didn't overhear Tsurara and Kurata's conversation the night before the first party two days ago.
After knowing all of that, Rikuo was rather reluctant to be near them. Not that he despised them for what they did. After all, they indeed tried to protect him, but he didn't want to know what they had done when they were on mission either. He only wanted to know them as Tsurara and Kurata; that was quite enough for him.
"Ha, not so far from the truth," Rikuo said with a weak smile. "That guy is a total NIGHTMARE," he turned to the smirking Sandaime and narrowed his eyes in irritation.
"Well… Sandaime and Waka are so close, huh?" Tsurara giggled happily while filling Rikuo's bowl with white rice and then prepare his hot green tea.
"Where?" Rikuo deadpanned at the remark.
"Tsurara can see the chemistry between us, huh?" Rikuou was visibly pleased with that.
"Whatever, I don't care anymore," Rikuo sighed long in defeat. "Itadakimasu." He then began to eat as well.
On the way to get out of the Nura Gumi main house after changing into his school uniform again, he ran into one of the leaders from family alliances, Gyuuki Umewakamaru, the head of Gyuuki Gumi, Rikuou personal home tutor as well as the strongest alliance of Nura Gumi.
"Oh, Gyuuki-ojisan* (6), good morning," Rikuo bowed slightly in polite manner in front of the tan middle aged man with straight long jet-black hair. Part of his very soft looking hair fell in front of the right side his dandy handsome face, covering one of his amber almost red colored eyes.
Gyuuki was usually cold and aloof, and he was kind of scary because he always had this gruff serious expression, but Rikuo could see something deeper in him. A gentleness… a loyalty that wouldn't be deterred by anything… it was all in his eyes. Even though he was often expressionless, his eyes spoke his feelings in loud volume. Moreover, the color of his eyes was almost similar to Rikuou's… so he felt familiar with him when he looked at the older man pools of reddish amber.
"Rikuo? You're here again today," Gyuuki said with slightly raised eyebrows finding the young brown haired man there.
"Yeah, Rikuou… ah, Sandaime invited me to a party again last night," Rikuo scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Sandaime forced you again to do all night party?" Gyuuki looked slightly displeased at the news.
"Well, can't be helped. It's tradition. Since tomorrow is a big day for him," Rikuo smiled again gently before he realized that he didn't have much more time to chat. "Ah, I have to go now. School is waiting. It's nice to see you, Gyuuki-ojisan. I'll see you again sometimes," he said before continuing his run to go home first before going to school.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
"Haaah," Rikuo sighed while supporting his chin with both arms on his desk in the classroom at school.
"Nura-kun, what's with the long sigh? Youngster should act full of spirit like a youngster supposed to be!" Kiyotsugu exclaimed with fiery eyes, full of vigor as always.
"Oh, Kiyotsugu-kun… It's nothing…. Just a problem at home…," Rikuo said while sighing more.
"Problem at home?" Kana suddenly interrupted and stood in front of this desk. "Something happened to Wakana-san?" she asked with worried look.
"Kana-chan!" Rikuo, surprised by the sudden response, instantly sat straight before the girl. "Uh… it's not about my mom… it's…-"
Crap! She doesn't know about Rikuou and my relationship with him! I have to be more careful with my mouth!—his mind screamed in panicky.
"Uh, um… you know, boy's stuffs…," he continued while sweating profoundly.
"Boy's stuffs?" Kana tilted her head aside, looking a little bit confused, and Kiyotsugu looked surprised, like he just realized something.
"Ah!" The black haired boy stole Kana and Rikuo's attention instantly. "Do you know this school has seven horror stories?" and just like that, the supernatural-maniac changed the subject completely with a totally eager expression.
Both Kana and Rikuo's sweats dropped at that. Yet, Kana decided to entertain him. "What horror stories?" she asked with a chuckle.
"You know…," Kiyotsugu then glanced at Rikuo discreetly before making a gesture by raising his right thumb and winked at him as if saying 'I know what you're going through in puberty, my friend! Leave it to me to protect your shameful secret!'
What's that supposed to mean?—Rikuo made a face at his friend indignantly. Moreover, what's with the voice inside my head that sounds like Kiyotsugu's just now?
Rikuo didn't know which was scary, he actually too good in reading Kiyotsugu's mind or he imagining Kiyotsugu talking inside his head. Both were disturbing.
"Hey, Rikuo's house is still there, right? At the top of the hill… that big, old, Japanese style house?" Jirou asked suddenly out of nowhere, surprising everyone, and of course shocking Rikuo most.
What!—Rikuo's face paled slightly.
"You're wrong! My house isn't even near that hill!" Rikuo quickly deflected that risky information. "Right, Kana-chan?"
Rikuo had to use a back-up for this. He didn't know where Jirou got the idea that the main house of Nura Gumi was Rikuo's home, but Rikuo had made sure to never be seen near the house except maybe when Rikuou invited him over.
But! Even when Rikuo had to go to the main house, he always hid his face with jumper or sunglasses, and he always used the difficult long humanly impossible way so as not to get followed. There was no way he could be identified that easily!
"That's right. Rikuo's house is near the Ukiyo-e central hospital. It's a small beautiful house beside the stairs that lead to the O-Inari temple, right?" Kana smiled, supporting Rikuo's answer.
Thank god! Kana-chan remembers!—Rikuo could hug and kiss the girl in joy and relief for her cooperation, but that would be really embarrassing, so he just smiled in relieved face at hearing it.
"Eh, really?" Jirou chuckled guiltily. "Sorry, it seems I've mistaken your house with someone else's." He seemed a little unconvinced while trying to remember something Rikuo didn't know what, but he couldn't let him because it would be really bad if it had something to do with the fact that Rikuo belonged to Nura Gumi.
Time to deter everyone to another topic!
"Oh yeah! What about that not so new club Kiyotsugu wants to create again?" Rikuo then asked Kiyotsugu in the hope he would be responding with much-much needed spirit to force them all to entertain him and his crazy ideas.
"Nura-kun~! I'm impressed with your enthusiasm!" Kiyotsugu immediately held Rikuo's hand with sparkling shining eyes, looking completely excited with the prospect of the planning in creating Kiyojyuji Supernatural Investigation Club again.
"Jeez, Rikuo-kun! Don't remind him of that!" Saori came up to protest to Rikuo and Kiyotsugu at the same time. "We'd been doing him favor and joining his stupid club for three years! Do you actually believe we will do the same thing again this year?" she glared at Rikuo and pointed at Kiyotsugu with so much heat in her eyes that scared Rikuo a little.
An angry woman was always the scariest thing ever after all.
"Sa-Saori-chan…!" Natsumi tried to stop her making a scene, but it was completely futile as the opponent that had just been challenged responded to the bait.
"What are you saying Mika-kun? You'd also ENJOYED the club's activities for three years!" Kiyotsugu argued back with so much vehemence, not losing to her.
"Enjoy?" Saori made a disbelief expression. "You brought us to dangerous run down building to look for GHOSTS!" She then shouted indignantly.
"Well, where else would any ghost appear aside the abandoned old building?" Kiyotsugu rationalized that.
"Guh! Not only that, you actually forced us to break our curfew to visit a CEMETERY at night!" the blond girl shouted with more annoyance.
"Every productive activity always comes with a risk, right?" the black haired boy responded with completely cool remark.
"Productive…? You even made us saying crappy mantras to call POLTERGEIST! Who in this entire world in their right mind would do something as CRAZY as that! It's scary and dangerous!" Saori was panting when she finished her outburst.
There was a heavy silence in the class as Rikuo, Kana, Jirou and Natsumi could only look at the two with odd troubled expressions, totally confused of why this became such a huge problem between the two childhood friends.
Kiyotsugu then narrowed his eyes before breaking the silence. "Are you satisfied?" he asked Saori then, calmly.
Saori could only fall back to her seat. "Gaaah! You're so frustrating!" she scratched her head curtly in total irritation.
"Isn't it okay? If Saori-chan doesn't really want to join the club or wants to join other clubs, that will be okay too. The extracurricular activities aren't exactly a must do. You can choose whatever you want, right?" Kana said with a reassuring smile, trying to break their fight.
"That's right, Saori-chan. We can join other clubs if we want to," Natsumi said with a smile too, completely supporting Kana's opinion.
"I'm not complaining about the club, Natsumi-chan, Kana-chan. Truly, I love supernatural things as much as that freak," Saori pointed at Kiyotsugu who just yelled how rude she was. "It's just… he always do things so… so unbelievably hazardous and takes things too far! He's completely disregarding the safety protocol and just charges into the fire!"
"In other word… you're just worried about him, huh?" Rikuo, suddenly able to see where this quarrel was going, said while punching his own palm.
"Ah?" Kiyotsugu looked up in surprise while Saori turned a bit pink at that.
"Wa-wait! How come this becomes that!" Saori protested again with blushing face now.
"I see… so it's because you so care about me, Mika-kun…, and I can't actually see that. I fail as an observer," Kiyotsugu said while sighing in rather disappointed expression.
Is he for real?—Rikuo laughed with an odd face seeing Kiyotsugu's weird reaction. Normally he would question the girl's feeling, right?
"You! Just shut up!" Saori was getting redder and more embarrassed by the time Jirou spoke.
"So it's completely okay if we pay more attention to the preparation detail, right?"
Once in awhile even Jirou could say something useful as well.
"That's right. We will look for more information before visiting any dangerous place. And we will use extra precaution and discussion before charging in. We have right to refuse Kiyotsugu's methods of investigating and we will decide the next move with the major opinions, okay?" Rikuo said again, expanding Jirou's opinion.
"Well… as long as what we do aren't endangering ourselves…," Saori seemed satisfied with how Rikuo passed his idea.
Rikuo smiled. "How do you think of that, Kiyotsugu-kun?" He turned to Kiyotsugu now, who seemed thinking seriously.
"Then how do we investigate if we don't even go there?" the leader of the soon to be created club was mumbling lowly under his breath.
Well, it seemed what Kiyotsugu wanted for the 'investigate' definition was by witnessing the supernatural things with his own eyes. This would never work. Rikuo had to sigh at that. Well, he could try explaining what 'investigation' meant to the supernatural-otaku, but… it would take much more time.
"Anyway, we can start creating the club. Then we can decide what mysteries we will investigate, yes?" Rikuo decided it would be a good time to end their conversation and started eating lunch. He was hungry. And his mom already made a delicious bento for him.
Eat first, think later!—Rikuo decided as everyone agreed with him in unison.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
"So… to create a club we need at least five members, right? We already have Kiyotsugu-kun, Jirou-kun, Rikuo-kun and me. If Natsumi-chan and Saori-chan are joining too, then it's more than enough to submit the creating-club application to the school board and Executive Committee," Kana said with happy face.
"I don't know you two always go home together," Jirou asked while following Rikuo and Kana who were still talking about creating the club.
"E-eh?" Rikuo blushed slightly nervous with the implication.
"We don't, Jirou-kun. Just sometimes," Kana said with a sweet smile, totally negating the idea.
Of course… we're just childhood friends after all…—Rikuo was crying inwardly at that.
Well, Rikuo used to have a crush on Kana, but they'd been friends for a long time now… it's hard to envision him dating her anymore. Probably because he didn't really want to go there? He was supposed to be interested in that 'sort of thing' as a teenage boy, but oddly, he didn't… or hadn't. He might be a late bloomer. Who knew?
Or… it could be because Rikuou always sexually harassed him. Rikuo was sort of afraid to have that kind of relationship with other people now because of the trauma?
Curse you, Rikuou!—Rikuo was pissed off again thinking about that half brother of him.
"I know!" Kiyotsugu who was unusually quiet the entire time after lunch earlier suddenly spoke, surprising the other three.
"What is it, Kiyotsugu-kun?" Rikuo asked with raised eyebrows.
"About the method of investigating the haunted area!" he shouted in an excited voice again.
"Kiyotsugu, you've been thinking about that since lunch?" Jirou looked at the taller boy in disbelief. Their club leader seemed the kind of person who could focus on one thing the entire time without being distracted by anything at all until he got the answer. That was a kinda scary in the strange way.
"Hear me, everyone! We can plant something like recorders to record the activities inside the haunted site and will observe it in other place! How does that sound?" Kiyotsugu opened his both arms aside smiled widely at his own brilliant idea.
"Oh…," Rikuo then realized he could totally expand that idea. "I've ever read that somewhere…. Supernatural activities sometimes can be seen and recorded using the right tools. A digital camera with night vision will do, but it will be better if we have something like temperature recorder," he continued, beginning to get excited as well.
"You're right, Nura-kun! I've also read that the spot where ghost appears will be colder than its surrounding! And where poltergeist happens, it will be warmer! So camera with temperature vision is also needed. And microphone to record the sound appearing in site, completed with sound system in our main base so we can hear it clearly later!" Kiyotsugu clenched his fists on front of his heart with really thrilled expression now.
"And we only have to visit the place in broad day light once to install the instruments, and let the tools do the rest while we're observing the tape from a monitor in the safer place! This is good! Saori and Natsumi will join us immediately after hearing this!" Rikuo said again with happy look as well. "It's actually a really brilliant idea, Kiyotsugu-kun! Awesome!" he continued while grinning widely at the black haired boy and Kiyotsugu grinned back joyously.
See, if it was being thought thoroughly, this club activity could be fun after all. Rikuo could already feel the rush of adrenalin in anticipation of it, but then…
"Um…," Jirou raised his right hand, letting both of the excited guys know that he was there and needed their attention right now. "How do we obtain such… many expensive looking instruments?" the blond asked timidly.
"Ah~, Jirou… you're such a kill joy!" Rikuo protested as the reality of poor high school kids wouldn't be able to buy those things crashed in with Jirou's comment.
"Don't worry about expenses! That's why I have my family, right?" Kiyotsugu proudly presented himself as the benefactor of their activities later, as always.
"Problem solved!" Rikuo gave the taller boy and the now grinning blond boy high fives then.
"Boys," Kana chuckled at seeing all of the boys around her seemed really animated at the prospect of their club activities later.
After that they were still chatting happily while walking on the slightly unsafe neighborhood, when they ran into something really troublesome.
Kana was the first to notice. "Huh… what's that?" She narrowed her eyes and pointed in the far front, a few meters ahead.
"What?" Kiyotsugu, Jirou and Rikuo followed her line of sight and forefinger and saw them as well.
Some shady looking strangers with dangerous looking face were passing something on someone… some kids… probably middle schoolers, and with forceful method as well.
"What the hell is that?" Jirou set his horror look at the scene.
"Did they just choke them with some kind of weird powder?" Kiyotsugu also looked sick and pale.
"What should we do? We can't just run and let them get away with hurting kids like that," Kana said with awful scared expression.
What are those bastards doing in Nura's territory!—Rikuo also witnessed the horrible deed with mortification. They had to be stopped!
"Hey!" and without thinking, Rikuo already rand to them while yelling angrily at those terrible people. "You bastards! What do you think you're doing to those kids!"
"Nu-Nura-kun!" Kiyotsugu, Kana and Jiro looked totally shocked that Rikuo would just call those scary guys like that and shifted their attention to him. Now they couldn't follow him because those guys would see them too and they'd get in a really nasty trouble.
"What is it… another middle schooler?" one of those guys, who seemed like the leader, said while staring down and sneering evilly at Rikuo who already arrived before them, alone.
"Let go of those kids! Do you know what the hell you're doing!" Rikuo shouted at them angrily, not really thinking that he put himself in danger with this. He was not only angry because the kids getting hurt but because he was worried as hell as well.
This area is under the protection of Rikuou! And from all of evil things… he HATES drugs the most! He had ever beaten up drug dealer until the guy went into coma…! If these guys get caught by Nura's people here dealing drugs… especially to the KIDS… Rikuou will not think twice and kill them for sure!
As much as Rikuo hated those guys either for their evil doings, he would hate it even more if Rikuou had to stain his hands with their blood. If he could chase those guys away, Rikuou didn't have to know and probably, Rikuo could save his half brother from killing.
All of the evil guys started laughing at Rikuo. "Did you guys hear what he said? Did we know what we're doing?" And they laughed harder at that, pissing Rikuo a lot.
"What's so funny! This is completely bad! Let those kids go and get the hell out of here at once!" Rikuo's face got paler because the passerby around the road started to look at them funnily and these people were completely making a commotion by shouting at them to go away.
If this goes on… one of Nura's street spy will spot us for sure!
"Kid… if you want some of our 'candies' you've got to pay first," one of the guys grabbed his collar and pulled Rikuo roughly.
"You don't understand, do you! This place is—!" But before Rikuo could say anything informative, a shadow fell upon them and an eerie chilling baritone voice was heard.
"I found you… drugs mice…!"
Crap!—Rikuo knew he was already too late.
"WHAT!" Those guys seemed really surprised when they were suddenly surrounded by people whom Rikuo knew as members of Nura Gumi. Kurotabou, Kubinashi, Aotabou, and three more Rikuo recognized as Neko Ryouta, Hihi Shouhei, and Sanba Kuromaru.
"How dare you running rampage in our family's territory…! You scumbags!" Kuromaru, a young man in early twentieth with short straight jet black hair and night black eyes roared in anger at the evil guys. His eyes were slightly covered by his long bangs, but he still appeared imposing.
They're heeeere!—Now Rikuo was officially panicking for real because there would be bloodbath on the road after this.
"It's them, right, Ryouta?" Shouhei, a cool looking teenager boy in red jumper with a really tall muscular body, hair in silver color with strands of red in the front and eyes in amber-reddish color asked the shorter man beside him.
"Yep, I'm sure. These guys are new in town. And they're making our neighborhood unsafe with their weird dangerous and deadly drugs," Ryouta, a young man with soft neck-length brown hair and light tangerine color eyes dressed like a waiter in a teashop, answered seriously.
"You've got guts trying to do your evil operation in our area without our permission…," Kubinashi said with a pissed look.
"Seems they want to die very painfully, Sandaime," Kurotabo spoke later while smirking evilly.
"Moreover, hurting little kids…! Unforgivable!" Aotabo growled as well.
"That's right…," and then there he was, the most important person of all of them, talking form above, standing on the wall with the hilt of his bōken in his right hand, and the tip of it on his shoulder, looking completely regal and powerful. Long silver hair flowed elegantly as he jumped and landed on the ground between his men and those evil guys without even making any noise, just like ghost.
"If you want to bully people, bully someone on your own size. Seriously, hurting kids who will become the future of our country… moreover, using DRUGS I despise most…! You've got some nerves there…! State your Group's name, rats! I shall cut off your fingers and send them to your boss...!"
Nura Rikuou hissed furiously while drawing his wooden sword on the evil leader's neck. His eyes were so red as if they were blood on fire, face was so cold and impossibly inhuman that even Rikuo got a little bit scared seeing him.
Just like on cue, after the people from Nura Gumi appeared, all the passerby hurriedly ran away to hide, not wanting to have any to do with them.
"What's with this guys! Who the hell are you!" Surrounded by seven very intimidating people, the leader of the evil guys yelled rather panicked.
"How dare you talk to Sandaime like that! You insolent bastard!" Kuromaru was ready to bash the guy's head with his staff, but Rikuou stopped him. "Sandaime?"
"Let them feel the fear of being killed very slowly and painfully…! They're mine!" Rikuou smirked very evilly and Rikuo had to look away so as not to have to witness the brutal violence done by his half brother.
It was too late. Rikuo felt the dread gnawing at his heart at knowing that Rikuou would… those guys, but first he had to take those kids away so as not to get caught in the crossfire.
"Come on, let's go!" Riko pulled the middle schoolers who were quite stunned by the fight that was about to happen and probably was happening right now. "Don't look. They're dangerous." He then led them away to his friends place, or where they were hiding behind the dumpster.
"Rikuo-kun! That's so reckless of you!" Kana scolded him with teary worried eyes.
"Ienaga-kun is right! That's a crazy thing to do when you're just alone!" Kiyotsugu agreed with her, completely berating Rikuo for acting so thoughtless like that.
"You could have been killed!" Jiro shouted as well, sweating really badly, totally apprehensive.
"Yeah, I know… Sorry, but these kids were in danger. I can't just let them be preyed at like that," Rikuo said with a guilty look for worrying and scaring his friends like this.
"We should really call the police! That fight will end up with dead bodies!" Kiyotsugu said in panicky.
"That… that guy that just appeared… and those people as well, they're so brutal," Jirou said with trembling voice.
"Kyaaa! I don't want to see!" Kana covered her eyes in fright.
"Ssh, it's okay. We shouldn't make sound. They're not aware of us. Too focused on their own fight," Rikuo said while trying to block their sight from the fight happening there.
"Is he…, are they yakuza?" Jirou asked again with pale face.
"Maybe… but it's not our business. We already got the kids away from them. Let's just go. It's bad enough we encounter something like this. We shouldn't really get involved with those guys further," Rikuo said seriously.
"Y-yeah… going away sounds good enough for me," Kiyotsugu agreed.
"Okay, let's get going," Rikuo was about to reach for those middle kids again when he realized they were gone. "Huh? Where are the—!"
Rikuo completely dropped his jaw in shock when he saw those kids already out there once again, approaching Rikuou who apparently, while they were talking earlier, had already finished all those evil rats and now was standing more closely to where they hid. His face was still cold, expressionless and there was visible enemies' blood on his cheek and hands, while his men were cleaning up the place.
He does really look like a youkai!—Rikuo really cried now, literally, totally scared himself.
"Oh no! Those kids are—!" Kana covered her mouth with both hands, face paling visibly.
"Nura-kun! They'll get beaten up too!" Kiyotsugu almost choked Rikuo neck, totally alarmed.
"Waah, what are they doing! Hieeee!" Jiro was already kneeling on the ground and covered his face in terror as well.
What should I do…? Should I just yell at him not to touch those kids?—Rikuo himself was in dilemma. He didn't want those kids to get hurt because after fighting, Rikuo remembered, his half brother could get too agitated and sometimes he would lash out unnecessarily.
Yet, if Rikuo just called out like that, Sandaime would spot him and would go to him, and then acted really friendly with him, and his friend would find out about their nature of relationship. He couldn't let that happen as well!
Rikuo then saw those kids said "Thank you for saving us!" in unison while staring up at Rikuou despite looking rather scared. Rikuo could see their body slightly tremble.
Rikuou only looked down at those kids with unreadable expression.
Crap! There's no time!—Rikuo was mortified when Rikuou reached out his hands to those kids.
"WAI—," and he was already in the process of yelling out and running out to the scene when the silver haired Sandaime just ruffled those kids' hair. Immediately, after seeing that, Rikuo tripped his own feet and fell down face first to the asphalted road, surprising all his friends, as well as the Sandaime and those kids.
"Ri… Riku?" Rikuou called him with wide eyes, sweat dropping slightly at the clumsiness of his half brother's nature.
Daaaaamn! I was tricked! Curse his expressionless face!—Rikuo was very annoyed that he could get fooled that easily. It was so damn HARD reading that guy's expression!
However, it didn't make any sense at all! Rikuou wouldn't ruffle those kids' hair! He wasn't that kind of person! He was cold and cruel and uncaring about other people and more so for kids! Rikuou hated kids. He said so last time Rikuo saw him dealing with one!
What the hell just happened! Since when does Rikuou become like this!—Rikuo couldn't help sweating at the fact that Rikuo could get friendly with kids of all people.
"Nii-chan (7), a-are you okay?" One of the kids asked while helping Rikuo stand.
"Y-yeah," Rikuo didn't dare look at his half brother.
"Umm… thanks for standing up for us earlier," the other kids said with smiling grateful smiles.
"That's right, Riku. You're quite a hero back there," Rikuou said with a wide mischievous grin on his face, his both hands still ruffling two kid's hair. He looked totally thrilled at his half brother's heroic act even though Rikuou knew he wouldn't be able to defeat them all by himself.
"Y-you…," Rikuo gulped slightly, "Tell me you didn't… those drug rats…," he asked quietly and carefully, still worried about it.
"What, killing them? Of course not. We're not like that anymore, you know. That's in Grandpa and Dad's Era. We're just like business men now. We beating the troublemakers up until half dead and then bring them to police station like always to protect our neighborhood was just part of the job, protecting business. Aren't you the one who said it would be nice to help our government officer sometimes?" Rikuou smirked now, looking totally cool and amazing.
"Oooh! Nii-chan so cool!" and it seemed Rikuou had dazzled those kids in front of him. They looked worshiping him that instant as if he were a superhero.
W-who is this guy and what has he done to my brother!—Rikuo couldn't help thinking if his brother had been nuts… or he had been possessed by alien.
"Rikuo-kun?"
And now things got even more complicated because Kana decided to come out as well, thinking that Rikuo was in trouble.
CRAP! I forgot about them!—Rikuo panicked again as one by one his friends came out from their hiding place.
"Who are…," Rikuou stopped his words as he saw the uniform. He was silent while looking at Rikuo's panicked horrified sweating face and then to those three high schoolers in front of him.
No! NO Rikuou! Please don't call my name and blow my identity in front of my friends!—Rikuo couldn't help glaring dreadfully at Rikuou and prayed to every deity around that his half brother could read his mind.
But it seemed, even though Rikuou could, he still would make this Rikuo's personal hell by smirking knowingly at him.
NOOOOO! He's totally going to blow it!—Rikuo already shut his eyes in extreme anxiety.
"Your friends, huh?" Rikuou asked teasingly.
"Rikuo-kun… you know this person?" Kana asked with a bead of sweat on her cheek, still looking worried and scared.
"N-no way! I… I only make sure that the kids would be okay! I don't know him," Rikuo said hurriedly while placing his body facing Rikuou and back on his friends instinctively, not wanting them to get too close to the man in front of him.
Rikuo didn't know what possessed him to do that, but then he felt something squeeze hard inside his chest as he saw Rikuou's expression in that instant. His half brother widened his eyes for a moment before his face reverted back to teasing again.
"That's right. There's no way a guy as honorable as me know this wimp," Rikuou smirked confidently.
Ah… what was that… just now…?—Rikuo couldn't help wondering. It happened so fast, he didn't think the others noticed but… impossible.
He looks… hurt?
But then Rikuo realized that he was just called a wimp by Rikuou. "Huh, who are you calling a wimp! How rude!" Rikuo shouted at him in annoyance now, momentarily forgetting what he had thought the moment before.
Thank god… Rikuou played along and didn't blow it…—Rikuo sighed slightly in relief as he realized that he was safe now.
Rikuou laughed out loud at that. "Ha, whatever; I'm done here. I expect all of you will just shut up about it after this right?" Rikuou asked with attractive, positive and slightly nerve-racking smile that everyone, even Rikuo had to nod in agreement.
"Well, you indeed save us, so… okay," Rikuo said, slightly pouting, still completely annoyed.
"Go home, kids. Don't take this route another time. This place is a little risky lately," Rikuou turned his back and waved at them as he walked away elegantly while his dark blue hakama (8) was fluttering, following his graceful movement.
"T-… that surprised me…," Jirou who was silent the entire time because he was still scared now fell down on his butt quite weakly.
"Y-yeah… surprisingly… he's not a bad guy…," Kiyotsugu was holding his still thumping chest, relieved as well.
"Up close… he's not that scary," Kana said with a dazed expression, still staring at the retreating figure.
"No, he's definitely a bad guy! Believe me! You shouldn't get too close to him!" Rikuo was sensing an impending doom that his friends started to idolize his half brother. A dreadful feeling once again gnawed inside his heart. He wouldn't be able to protect his identity if these people wanted to know more about Rikuou. "Look, guys… he's a yakuza. We really, really shouldn't get involved with him," he said with finality.
"I guess you're right…," Kana said with guilty smile. "But… those guys from his family… all of them are handsome, huh?" she grinned at that.
"Now that you mention it, indeed, Ienaga-kun, those men led by that silver haired superhero are all pretty faces… well, except one, but still…," Kiyotsugu also noticed it.
Handsome? Superhero? Pretty faces?—Rikuo was shocked.
"Yeah, they're more like a bunch of models, their appearance that is," Jirou said with a little jealous smile.
Models?—Now Rikuo slam his own head on the wall. His friends were really carefree! It was yakuza family they were talking about, damn it! If they could this be lenient towards those guys after that kind of brutal event, maybe they would just dismiss his real connection with the yakuza family?
As soon as the hope rose, it was shot down a second later. "But still… they're yakuza. That's just too scary, right?" Kana said with a sheepish smile.
"Totally," Kiyotsugu agreed.
"Definitely," Jirou supported fully.
"Hahaha…," Rikuo laughed oddly, crying inwardly again in disappointment. That was an impossible hope after all. "Now… let's just go home. I'm tired," he said then. "You too, kids. Go home, and no side trip anywhere, okay?" he told the younger boys considerably.
"Okay," all of them said in unison as well.
"See you tomorrow at school, Nura-kun!"
"See you, Rikuo."
"Bye-bye, Rikuo-kun."
"Bye…!" Rikuo waved at them before he turned on the alley that led him to his mother's house.
While walking on the road home, he couldn't help thinking about the event earlier. That Rikuou actually helped him covering his identity was beyond him because they guy really liked harassing him and making him miserable. But, then….
Rikuo remembered Rikuou's face when he denied knowing him in front of his friends. His expression was so alien. It was strange and disturbing.
Well, Rikuo couldn't let his friends know that he had a yakuza family, right? Since they were just civilians, being acquaintances of yakuza family would endanger their life, right?
RIGHT?
However, even though Rikuo knew he shouldn't dwell on this further for that logical reason alone, he couldn't help thinking about it. He kept feeling… guilty for some reason.
Rikuou made that kind of expression because of him… Rikuo really didn't like it for some reason. His half brother was always confident, mischievous and imposing, that expression didn't suit him at all in the slightest even though he only had it for the strings of a second.
"Damn it!" Rikuo turned his body 180 degrees of his former destination. He had an urgent work to do first.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
"Ah, crap… putting this thing in order really did take time…!" Rikuo was running to the main house of Nura Gumi now. It was almost midnight. The party inside the house should be at its peak because just for thirty more minutes… Rikuou would be official as Sandaime of the Nura Gumi.
Yep, it was a tradition in Nura Gumi. A person that was pointed to be a leader in the family was tested as probationary leader for a year before he became official head. Those times were the most vulnerable time in the family because the pointed leader would be subjected to any problems and dangers that came along with the leader's responsibility. Many opposition groups in the family would attempt to drag him down or many would be mean enough to create problems for him. Though, Rikuou had already earned everyone's respects and admiration in the Nura Gumi's people, the heads of families alliances were in different league.
Rikuou had worked hard for a year to please all of them with his leadership skill, helped by the entire Nura Gumi of course, and Gyuuki who had become the most trusted teacher for him.
Rikuou was pointed exactly a year ago this night. And beyond midnight, the test would be over and it would be Rikuou's victory. And these parties… three days before the big days were usually spent in these pre-celebration pasties.
Rikuo came to the main house and was immediately welcomed by everyone.
"Waka! You came!" Kurotabo, had been slightly drunk, hugged the chocolate haired boy happily.
"Of course, Kuro-nii. It would be rude not to. It's facing Rikuou's big day after all," Rikuo said with a grin on his face.
"Waka! It's so nice to see you!" Kubinashi also came along and hugged him for a moment before releasing him again. "We're very sorry for scaring you and your friends earlier. We just got so angry that that newbie family tried to mess with ours," he continued with a huff.
"Oh right… what's with those guys anyway? They attacked kids you know. That's so not like yakuza at all, more like hooligans," Rikuo saw it strange. Even yakuza had ethical code that shouldn't be broken. Those guys earlier… they broke so many codes at once.
"They're from Kyuuso Family. Those scumbags had decided to worm their way into our territory a few days after Nidaime passed, when our family's security was still unstable. They circulated some kind of weird drugs that got people crazy and lower their inhibitions and logical sense to the lowest level that people could turn so brutal and without the slightest conscience could kill other people or commit suicide," Kurotabou, in his drunken daze and arms still around Rikuo's shoulders, said with awful, hateful expression.
"They didn't target specific ages. That's why it was so hard to track them down to the source. Ryouta and his gang had gone undercover in the pleasure district to look for information and finally, we found the enough evidence that the mastermind of the family circulating that evil-very nasty drugs was from Kyuuso. Sandaime interrogate those people we caught earlier and prepared those proofs that will send those guys from Kyuuso down the hill and off the street. He made sure every family in central Japan will hunt them down if they escape from behind bars." Kubinashi continued the report dutifully, as if he were reporting the leader.
"I see… all of you have worked hard, huh. Great job, everyone," Rikuo smiled sweetly and cheerily at them both. Those guys were so reliable. He could feel relieved now since there were so many securities around the street.
"No, no, it's all Sandaime's plan. After the incident with that drug dealer six months ago, you know… and Waka got so angry at him for being so thoughtless and brainless for endangering the entire family doing what he did, he began to discuss more things with us and trust us a little bit more. Sandaime really took your words into his heart, and he didn't want to disappoint you anymore, that's why… he was patient enough to tune down his anger and investigated things first before acting," Kubinasi said with a pleased smile.
"Sandaime is sooo cool when he acts so diligently!" Kurotabou slurred dreamily in the background and Rikuou and Kubinashi's sweat dropped at that.
"Hahaha…," Rikuo laughed a little in amusement observing those drunken people in the main hall before he realized that Rikuou wasn't there. "Huh…, where's the guest of honor?" he asked, looking around, but still couldn't find his half brother.
"Ah… he retreated early," Kubinasi said.
"Eeh!" Rikuo was honestly shocked at that. That party whore retreated early from his biggest day party? The world would end soon.
"Yes, he said he was quite tired after the earlier event. It seems he has something in his mind, but he just wanted to drink quietly in the back, rest and sleep," Kubinashi said.
"He's in the back, huh? I'll go look for him first," Rikuo said before walking down the hall.
The backroom was actually a tea ceremony room. It wasn't used often but the wall was thicker there, and it was quite convenient if someone wanted to hide from the crowd and had a peaceful moment. The patio had a direct view of the biggest Sakura tree in the backyard, and at the night of a full moon, it was quite a sight to behold and enjoy.
Rikuo found Rikuou drinking from his sake bottle on the branch of the Sakura tree while staring peacefully at the town night scenery. He remembered that his half brother really liked high place. He had ever said that seeing form above eased his worry, because from high place you could see all of the problems so clearly that the answers were already there and he had only to find them accordingly.
"What's the guest of honor doing in a place like this instead of the party?" Rikuo asked loudly before walking down near the tree, looking up at his beautiful gorgeous brother from below.
Rikuou put down his sake bottle and looked down at the intruder of his peaceful rest. "Riku… I thought you wouldn't come here today," he said with raised eyebrows, looking quite surprised seeing him there.
"No way… it's your big day tomorrow, ah… I mean… ten minutes from now," Rikuo grinned at Rikuou widely. "Come down here and accompany me for a drink, Sandaime," he continued with a pleased happy smile.
Rikuou looked stunned for a moment before smirking as well. "Ha, kids shouldn't drink sake."
"I don't want to be told that by you of all people," Rikuo deadpanned now, and the guy up on the tree chuckled humorously.
"Fine, just a moment, Princess," Rikuou said before he steadied himself and jumped down to the ground, soundless as always while Rikuo pouted slightly for being called a woman by him.
Yet, he couldn't help this one thing. "How did you do that?" Rikuo wondered out loud.
"Do what?" While Rikuou just raised one of his eyebrows in inquiry.
"That," Rikuo pointed at his feet. "You always jump around and move without sound. It's rather creepy, like you're not human, but totally awesome as well," he said with amazed look.
Both were walking to the patio when Rikuou laughed slightly. "When you're born and raised inside this kind of family, you'll learn it will be really useful to erase your presence and sneak up on people sometimes," Rikuou said with a cocky grin. "It's just because I'm used to it. Nothing really important," he continued while sitting on the wooden floor.
"Really?" Rikuo also sat down beside him and took his own sake cup before pouring some of the warm liquid on it. "Cheers," he said before he tossed with his half brother's bottle and drank quickly. "Ugh… This stuff tastes awful as always," he cringed at the burning taste. He never enjoyed drinking the alcoholic beverage.
"And you're just a light weight as always as well," Rikuou said, chuckling at the funny face Rikuo made. He looked like swallowing down a cockroach or something.
"Shut up. I will never become a drinker. Ever," Rikuo pledged out loud and put his cup down.
They were in comfortable silence after that, enjoying each other company and the cool breeze of spring night for awhile before Rikuo remembered.
"Oh yeah… there's something I want to give you," Rikuo said while fishing out his pocket, and then brought it up. "Here," he offered a small box warped in sparkling ruby colored paper.
"What is this?" Rikuou took it from Rikuo's hand.
"Open it," Rikuo said.
Rikuou looked puzzled for a moment before taking off the warping paper. Then, he slowly opened the soft red filament box to be met with a very nice antique looking round pocket watch in sparkling golden color with an emblem of 'Nura' character carved on top of the cover.
"Ah, just right on time," Rikuo looked at his own watch. "Midnight just passed. Congratulation for officially becoming Nura Gumi Sandaime, Rikuou," he then looked up at his half brother, smiling softly and genuinely happy for him who looked widening his eyes totally speechless at this.
"This… this is…," Rikuou's hand slightly trembled as he caressed the soft surface of the golden watch.
"You always want one, right? Just like Dad's when he became the head… well, not as expensive as his, but I tried to make it little by little in that antique shop I've been helping out for four years now. The owner taught me to choose the right spare parts and to engrave the letters on the metal. He also taught me to put the parts in right order to make the clock works. It's my best work so far…," Rikuo said while grinning sheepishly, a little bit embarrassed.
"It's… it's custom made… by yourself?" Rikuou looked up from the watch to Rikuo in total disbelief.
"Yeah, you like it? I even put your name in the back," Rikuo then reached the pocket watch on Rikuou's hand to turn it over, and the Sandaime saw the engraving letters of his name and a line of supporting words:
'Don't lose, Nura Rikuou!'
"Heheh, I got a lot of trouble in choosing the words with limited space, but it came out alright, don't you think?" Rikuo ran his delicate forefinger on the engraved letters and Rikuou couldn't help noticing the small cut wounds here and there on Rikuo's hand.
Rikuou silently touched the cuts.
"Ah, these… They're nothing. Just an occupational hazard," Rikuo grinned happily at him and a second later, suddenly Rikuou pounced at him without warning.
"Whoah!" Rikuo's body had been pushed backward when he blinked in confusion, and when he came to it he had already had his both arms full of Rikuou who hugged his body so tightly his chest hurt.
"E-eh, wait a—, Rikuou!" Rikuo was really surprised and caught off guard that he couldn't resist when Rikuo pushed him further until his back hit the floor. "Wait a sec—! I didn't mean it can turn into something like—!" He was honestly panicked that he was attacked again. He was about to struggle when he heard his brother low whispers.
"Thank you…, thank you so much, Riku…. I'll treasure it always…."
Rikuou's voice was trembling a bit and Rikuo could feel his warm breath on his neck. His body felt weak suddenly and he couldn't start his initial struggle. Maybe it was the sake. It had to be. If not, he wouldn't feel like this. His face felt hot and had to be slightly red from embarrassment and slowly… so slowly… his hands and arms moved on their own accord to envelope Rikuou back.
"Stupid… it's just normal. You've worked hard for this position in a year. Many things happened… with or without me knowing, you've become the rightful splendid holder of Nura Gumi's Sandaime title. Giving you something in return has always been in my mind right from the start when I give my rights as an heir to you. I've… asked you to do something that was originally my responsibilities. I put you in this mess… this is just a little gratitude for that…."
Rikuo also became much more honest than he wanted to be. The alcohol was lowering his inhibition, apparently. He really was a light weight, just like Rikuou said. He even went as far as caressing Rikuou's back and hair gently.
"That's really cunning of you, Riku," Rikuou mumbled as he slowly released his hug and stared down at Rikuo with glassed crimson eyes, troubled look in his expression. "Why are you tempting me like this… without having any intention to return my feelings?" he asked while stroking Rikuo's soft bangs away from his face.
"What are you saying? I care about you as much as you care about me," Rikuo said still with gentle smile. He couldn't believe that he could act this calmly while being pinned down by Rikuou on the floor. The usual Rikuo would have been freaking out about now.
"Yeah, well… but that's not what I meant. I'm asking you to be mine, Riku… mine and mine only…," Rikuou said while leaning his face much closer to him again, and Rikuo was tempted to let his half brother have his way. However, before it went further and crossed the line, Rikuo's sense kicked in and he raised one of his hands to cover Rikuou's crimson eyes.
"Um… what are you doing?" Rikuou asked, sweat dropping.
"It won't go anywhere, Rikuou," Rikuo said with a solemn sigh. "We're brothers," he reasoned.
"So if I'm not your brother, you will?" Rikuou took Rikuo's hand away from his eyes so he could see the shorter boy's expression.
"Fortunately, we are brothers, and share a half of the same blood," Rikuo had already looked away from Rikuou's serious expression, he could feel himself blushing again and his heart also thump so loudly, Rikuou must have been able to hear and feel it too. "But… not really because of that. It's because I'm human, Rikuou, not a possession. You can't… possess someone entirely. You understand that… right?" He looked at Rikuou's eyes again and touched the paler boy's cheek softly. Sometimes… he also hated how reasonable he was.
"Not fair…!" Rikuou then mumbled in exasperation. "You… you can speak so sensibly like that while making the cutest expression ever!" he continued while hugging the slender boy again tightly.
"There, there…, you can depend on me for a little bit. When you're tired… or just need someone to lend you a shoulder, I'll be there for you, Rikuou. After all… we are family," he kissed Rikuo's hair with a smile of an older brother. Yes, they could only have this kind of platonic, brotherly affection toward each other. No more… but absolutely no less.
Because…
"Noisy… You really should just stay in the main house with me…," Rikuou sulked, still not releasing his hug from Rikuo's body.
Rikuo chuckled at the impossible wish. "Not a chance," he declined it on spot as always of course.
Because Rikuou, I…
"Why?" Rikuou asked again more somberly now.
"Hm… because I have a life outside Yakuza world of course…," Rikuo said while closing his eyes slightly. "Hey… maybe sometimes you have to feel it to… living… as an ordinary… civilian…," he yawned slightly feeling pretty tired all of sudden.
I… actually…
"Then who will lead the family if I do that, stupid brother?" Rikuou asked with a huff.
"Ah, you're right…," Rikuo chuckled slightly again at that, realizing the error of his sleepy alcohol induced brain. "Oh yeah, earlier… I want to thank you for saving me and those kids… and… for protecting my secret… in front of my friends…," he added slowly, remembering the surprisingly bittersweet event. "I feel bad… that I have to deny… knowing you… in front of them…. Sorry… and… I want you to know…," he whispered now… his consciousness was fading.
Since a long time ago, I….
"To know what…?" Rikuou's voice was getting far and he didn't know if he really said what he thought he said or he just thought about.
"I've… always loved you…."
By the time he realized it, Rikuo was already drowned inside his peaceful slumber.
Rikuou stared at his sleeping half brother underneath him and smiled gently as well. "I know… because I've also fallen for you… since that day… ten years ago…," he spoke lowly in soft whisper before closing their small gap with a tender kiss on Rikuo's pink kissable lips….
End of Chapter 1
Notes:
1)Futon: Japanese traditional style bed, made of soft mattress and thick blanket that are easy to fold and move around.
2)Obi: a kind of thin, small, long clothing to tie the waist part of a yukata or a kimono to hold it up on the body.
3)Nidaime: the 'second generation'.
4)-sama: honorable suffix to call to someone who has higher social status than the one calling.
5)Itadakimasu: literally meaning 'I accept'. It's an expression commonly said before eating that apparently, in Shinto belief it's a prayer for the life that's sacrificed for the continuation of the eater's life. In complete phrase, it means: 'I accept the life of things sacrificed for me to be a part of me and continue living inside me.' It's a very good prayer ^_^
6)Ojisan: literally meaning 'uncle'. To call a man who's a lot older than the caller or to call the younger brother of the caller's father.
7)Nii-chan: from the full word 'Onīsan', meaning older brother. It's the way you call an older brother or just plainly an older boy or older young man. Usually used only in family, but sometimes kids use this to call any older young male person as well as long as their ages aren't too far apart.
8)Hakama: formal male kimono.
About the * inside the story: If you are wondering what that star means, I'll explain it here. Just ignore it if you don't really want to know. Here, Rikuo called Kurotabou, Kubinasi, Kejourou and Gyuuki with suffix –nii, –san, and –ojisan. As a young boss, it's actually uncommon to call people with lesser social status using any suffix, but Rikuo here was raised by Wakana to be polite toward older people, so he can't really cease the habit away.
Oh yes, I also want to apologize for the slight mistake I made in the prolog. Gyuuki's name is pronounced Gyūki, it should be written with double 'u', but I just wrote it one because I only copied the source of my research without cross-checking it with the other site. Sorry. And the place where the Nura Gumi HQ is also different. That was deliberate. I want them in Chubu Region, near Nagoya, and not in Kanto near Tokyo because that has something to do with the plot.
Well then, this is the end of first chapter. Heheh, when I realized it, the word-count already exploded. I hope you like a long chapter. If it's too difficult to read, tell me. I'll divide it into two chapters. Anyway, I still need your opinion guys. I know you want to comment ^_^. And I'm extremely happy reading your comments. Oh, and from now on you can count on me updating this story every Saturday or Sunday. Once a week guys, once a week I'll bring you new chapter.
Okay, I think this is it for now. See you in next chapter XD.