Disclaimer: Uh… Nuramago belongs to Shiibashi-sensei…
Warning: AU, a little bit of oOC-ness, yaoincest, violence
A/N: I'm sleepy… Ah, anyway, please enjoy this chapter. A little bit news… another installment for Yakuza Brother Series was already posted again. The title is 'Red Strings on Their Pinkies'. It's a story of how Rihan met Yamabuki Otome and Wakana… and how he could land his hands on both girls as his wife ^_^;
Chapter 3: Yura Arrived! A High School Detective from Kyoto!
Rikuo opened his eyes slowly, and was immediately greeted by the sight of a white ceiling. He blinked several times to make sure that he indeed woke up in his own room, at his own house this morning. Well, it was quite a surprise.
"Huh…?" the chocolate haired boy tilted his head aside. His brain was still clouded and his memory was kind of fuzzy for some reason. "Why am I in my own home today?" he mused out loud while holding his chin, trying to remember what happened the night before.
If I'm not mistaken…, yesterday was Rikuou's Maturity Ceremony… and I helped the preparation before Tsurara hurt herself while practicing the dance and…—Rikuo halted his thought, widening his eyes when piece by piece of memories from him taking her place in dancing until the incident with Rikuou began to enter his brain and created a plotline that was too unbelievable to digest by his poor brain.
By the time Rikuo got the complete recollection, he was already as red as boiled shrimp and his expression was so priceless.
GAAAAAH!—Rikuo held both of his reddened cheeks and smokes came out from his head and ears. That… that wasn't a dream, was that? How in the hell—! How on earth did I let myself be led by my hormone and did something as shameful as that with my own BROTHER for GOD's sake!
Embarrassment couldn't begin to explain Rikuo's feeling this time. He felt so humiliated beyond compare. He just… with Rikuou… in the closet to boot! What the hell was he thinking!
Rikuo had to hide his own face behind his knees that he was hugging with both of his arms under the blanket of his bed. He had messed up really bad this time. Even though he had promised himself not to get swayed by that evil brother of his…! He had broken an oath he had made to himself since he was thirteen. He had let himself be pulled into the forbidden feeling he knew he couldn't have. Not to Rikuou… never to him.
"My God…! What have I done…?" Rikuo was trembling with fright. He had carelessly opened his heart completely and Rikuou had stolen it all over again. This time… he was even the one that urged the younger brother to do it. He had offered himself to him… knowing completely well that Rikuou wouldn't reject him.
He took advantage of Rikuou's feeling. He had done it this time… and he was completely aware of what he was doing. He was the worst!
Rikuo was very pale now, feeling completely like shit. He couldn't believe that he was so easily moved by Rikuou's words… even after all this time… after holding his feeling back, not wanting it to grow… and detaching himself from his brother's infatuation… he was still…!
"This is bad…! Really… like really bad…!"
Rikuo was trying not to let himself get too panicked. He had school in… Rikuo paused and looked at his alarm clock. It was still 5 a.m., his alarm hadn't even gotten off. He still had three more hours to get ready to school. But he couldn't get back to sleep. Not when his brain was working in the speed of light, maybe more, to think of some… ways out of his current problem.
Rikuo really wanted to run away from all of this. He didn't have any confidence to solve the puzzle on his own. He had fallen in love with Rikou… and he couldn't trust his own judgment anymore after yesterday's event. Yet, it was impossible to avoid his half brother. Two years ago had proven him everything… that he really couldn't run. He never wanted to go through that kind of feeling again.
"Aah, jeez…! It'd be so much easier if I just gave in and had sex with him…!" Rikuo scratched his head curtly. However, he also knew that if they did, it would tear apart the family. Not only that, it would destroy himself and Rikuou because of the guilt. They were brothers and a romantic relationship between brothers by blood was wrong.
Moreover..., Rikuou's reputation was on the stake…, what they had almost done the day before could destroy the entire Nura Gumi if it was found out. Thank GOD Rikuou could think rationally… when Rikuo was losing to his own feelings. Rikuo had to do something with his messed up feelings as a reward for Rikuou's amazing self control yesterday.
Well, they kissed alright… and some more… Rikuo blushed hard again remembering what happened and quickly, he shook his head hard to clear his mind.
Rikuo had decided that he couldn't stay in love with Rikuou. He had to do something… anything… without having to disappear again from Rikuou's side!
Rikuo got up from his bed with determined face. "I have to get a girlfriend!" he shouted with determined look. "Wait, that's a wrong expression. It will be bad if I get a girlfriend I don't even like. It won't be fair for the girl…," he bit his lower lip and thought again in concentration before getting it. "Let's rephrase it… I must fall in love with someone else!" He nodded this time, sure that this would be the best solution to his problem with Rikuou... for now at least.
If you can't avoid the temptation… then just try to make the temptation unavailable.
Rikuo then went to the bathroom to get ready for school. He wanted to arrive early and helped his classmates to do their cleaning duties… and maybe some errands from student council. Then he could probably scout around to look for someone… candidates with whom he could fall in love.
It was a long shot… but it was better than nothing.
Finishing his preparation, Rikuo came down the stairs to greet his mom who was already up and now was probably cooking in the kitchen. Wakana knew best that her son often woke up and started the day earlier than most of people in his age, so she was ready with breakfast and bento every time Rikuo decided to do so.
"Good morning, Mom!" Rikuo smiled happily seeing his cheery mother, humming her favorite old song while preparing the breakfast on the table in the kitchen.
"Very early as always," Wakana smiled as well as she spotted Rikuo entering the room. "Good morning, Rikuo," she kissed her son on the forehead and Rikuo blushed a little with their routine.
Sometimes Rikuou thought that his mom still considered him as an elementary kid with her over passionate motherly love.
"What's the breakfast today?" Rikuo asked while peering at the food on the table.
"Some tamagoyaki (1), misoshiru (2), and grilled fish," Wakana answered while putting the last plate down on the table. "I made a surprise bento (3) as well for you to eat with your friends," she added with a knowing grin.
"Surprise bento? What for?" Rikuo then took his seat, said "Itadakimasu", and then took his chopsticks while looking at Wakana inquiringly.
"Isn't it today… the reformation of the supernatural club you're talking about last Saturday?" Wakana took off her apron and then sat in front of Rikuo to have her own breakfast.
"Ah… that. Yeah…, Kiyotsugu-kun will definitely do that today… regardless what the school says," Rikuo chuckled imagining how his black haired childhood friend would fight his way to create the club. He probably would bribe the student council to put his application a priority. His friend was indeed a maniac like that.
"That's why; a surprise bento to celebrate it! I hope your friends will accept it happily," Wakana said while taking a first bite of her own cooking. "Oh, this recipe actually works! It's delicious," she said happily, slightly proud of her creation today.
"Isn't it the usual cooking?" Rikuo already finished half of his food and didn't notice the difference in taste or anything.
"No, this time I put something special in the seasons. I'm glad it's delicious," Wakana giggled while taking another bite and moaned delightfully at the taste.
Rikuo laughed slightly at that, sweat dropping a little. He really couldn't tell what was different. But then again, his mother was a traditional dancer and was pro at house work. She loved cooking very much and her cooking was legendarily delicious that some people in the house had ever said… that his dad married her for her cooking skill.
Well, that couldn't be the only thing his dad loved about Wakana… since Rihan took her as his wife despite already having a wife whose beauty was like Aphrodite… or Venus. Rikuou's mom was truly a beautiful and gentle woman. Rikuo had met her…, Yamabuki Otome, a few times before she passed away when Rikuou and he turned thirteen.
Thinking about that now… Rikuo was kind of sad that she passed away so quickly…, leaving Rikuou who was still a child. And a year later… it was Rihan's turn. Rikuou was in mess at that time… despite being aloof and cool; he was still a kid after all. The feeling of losing someone he loved… it must have been hell for Rikuou. Even Rikuo couldn't imagine if he was in Rikuou's shoes. Himself… being alone without Wakana…, thinking about it always made him shudder in terror.
But after that… the hell began for Rikuo because Rikuou made him as a distraction to numb his own pain. That was very nasty…. Rikuo didn't even want to remember about that.
Rikuo shook his head and came back to reality, finishing all his food. "Thanks for the food. I'm going to go to school now," he said after putting his chopsticks down and stood.
"Ah, wait," Wakana touched Rikuo's hand which was still on the table. Rikuo turned his face at her and titled his head questioningly. "I haven't asked about Rikuou-sama," she said then, with a small smile again. "How is he doing? He's now official as Sandaime, right?"
The moment Rikuou's name was mentioned, Rikuo's memory went back to yesterday event in the closet and the images of Rikuou panting heavily with messed up clothes attacked his brain so greatly that he blushed again furiously. "Eh…?" Rikuo then covered his face in shock.
No way…! Hearing his name makes me…!—Rikuo's heartbeat increased in speed and intensity and he couldn't control his body reaction that he stumbled and went back to sit heavily on the chair.
"Rikuo?" Wakana looked confused for a moment seeing Rikuo's weird reaction and just for a split second after that, she widened her eyes at the flush on Rikuo's cheeks, before her expression went back to puzzlement.
"Eh… err… I…," Rikuo was stuttering. He had never been good with lying to his mother. No, he couldn't lie to her. Even though Wakana looked just like a carefree mother, she was very perceptive and sensitive to the mood and the feelings of others. Her innocent look was very deceptive. He bet his mom had already formed some guesses just from his obvious reaction just now.
"Something… happened in the main house yesterday?" she asked suddenly, her tone wondering, but her words stabbed Rikuo's conscience like a spear of justice.
Rikuo was getting pale, and sweating profoundly in a total panicky. He didn't know how he could tell his mom… about the mess he had made, and about his surprisingly not newfound feelings towards Rikuou. Lying was impossible, but he also couldn't just tell her that he was in love with his half brother, could he?
What should I do…?
"Rikuou," Wakana called her son once again and Rikuo snapped out of his reverie. He looked at Wakana's somber look and he knew that he was totally busted!
Damn! Why didn't I have an expressionless face like Gyuuki-ojisan?—Rikuo cursed his 'too easy to read' expression and he wanted to cry for real now. He didn't have any choice now. He just had to tell her and dealt with the consequence after that.
"Mom, I—," Rikuo began desperately, but then Wakana raised her hand, stopping him immediately, surprising him. "Mom…?" he didn't understand why she stopped him.
"I know…," Wakana said with a small solemn smile, making Rikuo widen his eyes hearing it. "I've known since both of you were still kids…," she continued closing her eyes slowly. "It must have been hard for you… bearing that kind of feeling all alone… all this time…," she then stood and walked slowly to her still shocked son's side before putting one of her hands on his cheek, and the other on his shoulder. "It's okay…, Rikuo. You don't have to tell me everything if it's too hard. I understand it," she looked at Rikuo's chocolate eyes deeply with accepting expression.
Looking at his mother completely understanding visage, suddenly tears started to pool on his eyes and bead by bead of crystal clear droplets began to fall on his cheeks and his mother's hand.
Wakana smiled caringly before hugging her beloved child in her arms. "You'd fought it well until now…. It's okay, Rikuo. It wasn't your fault...," she whispered gently while tightening her hug and stroking Rikuou's soft hair.
Rikuo just sank his face on her chest more deeply and cried silently in relief, succumbing into the warm cocoon of Wakana's embrace and love. She didn't hate him for what he felt. She wasn't even angry. Even though it was clearly a mistake, something wrong in morality and ethics, and even Rikuo felt he had to apologize repeatedly for it, she didn't blame him at all, not for even a bit. She understood his hard feelings and struggles in it and she even comforted him with her tending words.
This was Rikuo's mother… warm, caring, understanding and loving. The best mother in the entire world. Rikuo believed… that his dad loved her because of her personality... Because right now… Rikuo also loved her very-very much he couldn't even measure how much.
"Thank you…, Mom…." Rikuo whispered back in a poignant little smile.
Wakana ruffled her son's hair fondly before kissing the top of his head again. "Now… please smile cheerily again, Rikuo. Because seeing you happy will make mom Happy as well," she said encouragingly and Rikuo hurriedly dried his tears and looked at his mother confidently.
"Okay!" Rikuo said in spirit and a wide smile that was as bright as a sun, shining and lightening the entire room.
"That's my son," Wakana kissed his cheek then, before releasing him entirely. "Now, aren't you supposed to be in hurry to help your classmates cleaning the classroom before the lesson starts?" she tilted her head aside and Rikuo just realized that.
"Ah, yeah! I'll go to school now," Rikuo then grabbed his bag and yelled "Ittekimasu (4)!" before leaving the house.
Wakana waved at his son with a cheery smile until after she heard the front door was closed. Then she put down her hand and sighed with a cheerless expression before she got up and went to the living room. She stopped in front of a mantle and the reached out one of the photograph before removing the front layer of the picture, revealing another picture behind it.
Wakana then stared at the photographed memory in the past, where she was smiling with little Rikuo on her lap and a smiling Rihan beside her, holding her shoulder lovingly. On Rihan's other side was Yamabuki Otome with young Rikuou on her lap. Rihan also held her close and warm with his other arm.
"It seems what you were afraid of some years ago has happened now, Dear," she said while taking the framed photo and then hugged it with a small smile on her face. "Just like me back then… fighting a Nura's charm is impossible after all," she chuckled slightly. "Please forgive those boys… and protect them from any danger that will come along together with their feelings for each other, Rihan-sama…."
Wakana then closed her eyes and tightened her hug to that photograph with a tender loving expression.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO
Rikuo entered the school ground an hour before the class started. Surprisingly, it was later than he had expected. Now he only had time to clean the classroom and took the attendant book from the teacher lounge.
Rikuo then got inside the building of his senior high school and was about to go to his class when he saw a girl with short dark hair, wearing dark blue sailor uniform, a different uniform from Ukiyo-e Senior High School standard girl's uniform, looking at the announcement board. She looked serious and slightly troubled, and was looking around as if she were trying to locate something.
Rikuo, being a good student and a good person, approached her slowly. "Can I help you?" he asked then, after he was just three feet before the girl.
The dark haired girl then turned around to face him. "Good day," she said with a strange accent.
Huh…? Kansai's accent?—Rikuo thought immediately.
"Hello," Rikuo then smiled friendlily at her. "You look troubled, can I help you?" he offered.
"Ah, yeah, I'd like to go to teacher lounge," she said with visible relief on her expression.
"Sure, I'll take you there. Please come here," Rikuo said while motioning her to follow him.
"Thank ya*," she lightened up visibly and hurriedly followed Rikuo.
"What's your name?" Rikuo asked again then, while walking beside her.
"Yura, Keikain Yura," she introduced herself with a smile.
Keikain? What a strange name…—he thought again unconsciously.
"I see, I'm Rikuo, Nura Rikuo," Rikuo smiled back and introduced himself too. For a moment, he thought he saw the girl widen her eyes in a split second after hearing his name, but then she smiled again.
Huh…? What was that, just now…?—Rikuo couldn't help wondering, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
Silence.
"Keikain-san… came from Kansai?" Rikuo asked again then, to fill the sudden uncomfortable silence.
"Yeah, Kyoto," Yura nodded shortly. "How da ya know?" she narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Err… from your accent?" Rikuou answered unsurely.
"Oh…," Yura nodded again, and then the silence fell again between them.
It's getting slightly weird…—Rikuo thought again, faintly awkward.
"Ya should go to Kyoto sometimes," this time, Yura was the one breaking the silence. "It's 'specially beautiful in fall season," she smiled at Rikuo again.
"Um… yeah, sure, thanks," Rikuo smiled back and they arrived just in time in front of the teacher lounge. "This is the place. You can ask for the teacher here," he said pointing at the sliding metal door in front of him.
"Thank ya very much for yer help," Yura bowed politely. "Can't wait to meet ya again, Nura-kun," she added while looking up at Rikuo's face with a slightly strange knowing glance.
"Yes, you're welcome," Rikuo also bowed slightly before turning away to leave her there.
Weird girl…—he couldn't help thinking again while going to his class.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO
"Good morning, everyone," the teacher greeted his student with a spirited smile before the students greeted him back in unison, less excitedly. "We have a new transfer student today," he said, still with cheery smile.
Hearing the news, the student began to get a little animated and whisper to each other, totally interested.
"New transfer student!"
"Is it a boy or a girl?"
"What kind of person?"
"Huh?" Rikuo tilted his head aside. "Impossible…."
"What's wrong, Rikuo-kun?" Kana looked over her shoulder to him.
"Ah, no… I just think that our new classmate will be a girl," Rikuo chuckled slightly, remembering Yura.
"Come one in," the teacher waved at someone outside the class to come in and the class went exceptionally silent after that. The moment the new student entered though, some guys began to whistle between their teeth.
"It's a girl!"
"Whoah, she's kinda cute!"
Yura stood in front of the class and glanced around slowly until she met Rikuo's eyes. She smiled at him before bowing slightly. "Good day! Name's Keikain Yura. Nice to meet ya!" she said.
"Kansai accent!"
"Interesti~ng!"
Everyone laughed slightly at the rare funny accent she produced from her speech. The teacher even chuckled slightly with everyone's sudden liveliness. "A good thing she came here from Kyoto, huh?" he said before tapping Yura's back. "Now, class will start. Keikain-san, you can sit at the empty desk behind Nura-kun over there. He's a nice guy with a helping tendency, so you can ask him anything if you want to know something," he said with a smile.
"Eh?" Rikuo pointed himself, sweat dropping a little.
"Yeah, thank ya, sensei," she nodded at the older man before walking to her own seat. She stopped just beside Rikuo's desk to greet him once again. "We meet again, Nura-kun," she said with a confident peculiar smile.
"Um… nice to have you as my new classmate," Rikuo said smiling back welcomingly, but he couldn't help the awkward feeling he kept getting from her vibe. It was strange… like he wasn't supposed to get too close to this girl.
Yura's smile widened slightly, and then she went to her own seat when Rikuo, somehow, couldn't help feeling that the girl was staring at the back of his head for the entire time.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
The new girl was quite popular in the class because of her unusual speech accent and her witty response to her new friends' question. And now she was sitting in the center of the class, telling a story while being surrounded by her those said new friends.
"Eeh? So then, who killed the girl?" one of the classmate surrounding Yura asked.
"It's surprising, but it was actually her own husband," Yura said with a serious face. "And he kept the proof in his own pocket. The remaining of the ice cube he used to preserve the poison… the one he didn't eat himself, he disposed it in his own pocket, and I noticed because the coin he took from the pocket changed color as a result of chemical reaction," she smiled confidently.
"That's awesome, Keikain-san!" the class was impressed with her story.
"You actually solved a murder in your home town!"
"Ah, we from Keikain family is quite famous for our detective agencies and police forces," Yura smiled. "I'm actually here for a practice," she continued slightly while glancing at Rikuo who was together with Kana, Kiyotsugu and Jirou.
Rikuo shivered suddenly. He couldn't help thinking that someone's eyes were hot on his back. He turned slightly and saw Yura's attention was on him… again.
"Huh… that new girl looks at us again," Kiyotsugu actually noticed that as well.
"Eh… really?" Rikuo tried to act dumb. He didn't know why she kept looking at him. Well, she had no reason to, actually… so he would just ignore it. Might be if he just ignored it long enough, she would stop.
"Yeah, she's totally looking at us…," Jirou supported Kiyotsugu's words.
"Huh… she might be interested to join our club? If Keikain-san joins, we can submit the application now," Kana said with a smile, suddenly getting an idea.
"Oh…! That's a very incredible and brilliant thinking, Ienaga-kun!" Kiyotsugu held her hand with sparkling eyes. "I'll ask her to join us, NOW!" he hurriedly approached the girl and started to ask her to join.
There was a brief silence after Yura heard the proposition. He looked at Kiyotsugu's excited look, and then to Rikuo's slightly troubled look before saying something very disturbing to Kiyotsugu. "Nura-kun's in the club?"
Kiyotsugu seemed not really paying any mind in the strange question and answered it with vigorous spirit. "Of course! He's quite the fanatic of occult!"
Rikuo fell down from his seat hearing that. "Hey!" and he protested indignantly.
"Well, there's no such things as spirits and monsters, only one creature creates the mysteries in this world…," Yura then stood and walked to the group, Kiyotsugu behind her, looking slightly confused with the utter denial spouted from Yura's mouth. "Human," she stopped and smiled confidently.
Kana, Jirou and Rikuo looked at her with surprised expression.
"Eh… there's no such thing as ghost?" Kiyotsugu frowned in displease.
"No such thing. Everything is… human's doing," Yura tapped her own head with her forefinger. "Ghosts, spirits, monsters… everything is a product of human's mind. It's called… brain 'reflection'. It's not real. It's just a reflection of what human wants or doesn't want to see most, a shadow of extreme terror that clouded human's logic and sense," Yura explained slowly, but seeing the dumb expression her friends made, she added. "It's quite simple. Sometimes even environment can play tricks to human's mind and sense. In the dark abandoned pace for example, the situation is scary, so they thought something unwanted might come out. And because of the extreme terror and believe of the existence of that something, they begin to see something that isn't there. Just like an illusion."
"Ooh…!"
Didn't know since when, but everybody in the class had been listening to her explanation as well of what was supernatural beings were… or at least, one of the explanations that was quite rational and the only one that she believed.
"Then… how do you explain rapping? Poltergeist? What about ESP?" Nura challenged her with slightly displeased look. How dare she deny the existence of supernatural beings…! It was a roman of Japanese history. The one thing that beautified their nation before modern era took control of the night life.
Well, it wasn't like Rikuo had ever seen one of the real things…, but just because they couldn't see, didn't mean those things weren't there!
"Everything is just hoax. Rapping often happened in the building made from woods. The woods is rotten, old, or even eaten by termites, just choose. They all make the pillar or the structure of the building weak, that's why it creaks, creating sounds like rapping. As for poltergeist, it's caused by the imbalance of the grounding where the building stood. The difference in height of the building, even if it was just in millimeters are enough to make things sometimes move, or it's caused by local earthquake, take yer pick. And for ESP… just how many people can read minds? Oh, right… that's behavioral analysis studies! Seeing the future? As if ya can't make that future happens like ya want to, just exactly like what ya conveniently see? Right," Yura rolled her eyes after finishing her long explanation.
Everyone was speechless hearing it and Rikuo was trying his best not to just retort back childishly at her for killing his joy in finding spirits and the mysteries surrounding them. Then he got an idea to turn the table over.
"Well, then… why don't you join us to prove your theory, Keikain-san?" Rikuo smiled at her while vein popped up on his head. If she wanted to be the rational one, let her experience the extreme terror and see for herself what was called the spirits!
"That's my initial point in joining you," Yura smirked. "I want to prove that every mystery is solvable… because all mysteries are manmade," she continued intrepidly.
"That's good," Rikuo smiled cheerily. "Kiyotsugu-kun, we can submit the application now!" he turned to Kiyotsugu who was still speechless with their interaction.
The leader of the unofficial supernatural investigation club then jerked and replied, "Surely!" before writing Yura's name, asking for her signature and the flying away to student council office before the lunch break was over.
"Rikuo-kun… did you just convince her to join us despite her disbelief of supernatural existence, or you did it unconsciously?" Kana looked impressed at Rikuo's manipulation skill.
"Oh…? I didn't even realize it…," Rikuo widened his eyes slightly, but of course deliberately. He didn't really care if Yura didn't believe that supernatural beings exist or not. He just wanted another team member to complete the requirement to apply for creating a club. It went very well, apparently. And now he could get more info from Yura as well, since she seemed really interested in him for some reasons.
"Can't wait for the first club meeting," Yura said with a challenging look before walking out of the classroom.
"And now our new friend got into the strange club…," the class chuckled and laughed at that.
"Well… how should we welcome the newest member of our still unofficial club?" Jirou asked while titling his head aside.
That's really not what I'm concerned about…—Rikuo thought, sweat dropping slightly.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuou was reading a report paper on his hand seriously. The more he read about it the more his expression became irritated. At one point, he couldn't hold it anymore and exploded. "GAAAH!" and he threw the pile of papers impatiently that they scattered on the floor.
"What's wrong, Sandaime?" Kubinashi turned over at his leader with wondering look. What was Sandaime so angry about?
"It's that Shikoku Yakuza fellow! They're getting so cocky and arrogant! It irritates me so much!" Rikuou glared evilly at the scattered paper with blazing red eyes that Kubinasi thought the report would catch fire if Sandaime stared at it long enough.
"What are they doing?" Kubinashi looked down to the paper and saw some the writing of activity that was quite disturbing. "Uh… they're recruiting people with unique talent?" Well, it didn't really have anything to do with Nura Gumi. Kubinashi didn't really understand why Rikuou was so mad.
"I have no idea what they'll do, but those tanuki guys are sly and devious. They must be up to something no good," Rikuou was so sure of it, he couldn't be wrong. After all, even though Shikoku Yakuza was quite calm all this time because of their problem and dispute within the family, one or two people there were quite ambitious and greedy. Especially that Tamazuki guy…. Ikh, just looking at his smartass face was enough to make Rikuou's blood boil.
"Are you talking about the 88th son of Inugamigyobou family?" Kubinashi guessed slightly after seeing Sandaime's expression.
"There's nothing in that family irritates me more than that guy," Rikuou huffed in annoyance as he took the paper back from the floor to his hand. "Even though he was quiet the entire time when my dad went there to negotiate and take them as one of our alliance… you should see how that guy looked at me. The bastard actually sneered and mocked me in silence. He looked down on me despite being weaker…!"
"Huh? Something like that happened?" Kubinashi was a little confused. He couldn't recall if the Sandaime had a fight with one of the Inugamigyobou's heirs. Even though they weren't exactly friends, Inugamibyou Gumi had never intervened Nura Gumi's operation. They were always quite and never sniffed on something that wasn't their business.
"I'm not that stupid to start a fight between families, Kubinashi. Even though I hate that guy at first sight for provoking me like that… I'm not going to fall in his trap. He's planning something dangerous and stupid… and I'm going to find out!" Rikuou crushed the paper on his hand, expression so serious and determined.
Kubinashi sighed seeing his leader. It was just a day after his coronation becoming Sandaime, and yet Rikuou had started to look for some smaller families to decide if they would become comrades or rivals. It seemed he had decided since his last visit to Shikoku that he would make the Inugamigyobou Gumi his enemy no matter what.
But… Sandaime was quite in a bad mood since morning today. Probably because he woke up in the wrong side of his mattress... or because Rikuo wasn't there to amuse him. The young boss of Nura Gumi decided to go home to his mother's house last night after attending the party of Sandaime's Maturity Ceremony. He said because he had school today, he didn't want to be late by staying too long at the main house.
Well, Rikuo was often there to calm his half brother down when he was too angry over things. But since he wasn't there this time, it was Kubinashi's job.
"Well, we have our best guys spying on Shikoku Yakuza's activities. They'll get us more information if you're so fixated in finding what they are doing, Sandaime. I'm sure we can set a necessary precaution to face their unwanted advance," he smiled at Rikuou with assuring expression.
Rikuou was contemplating the suggestion for a moment before sighing reluctantly. "You're right…. Getting ahead of myself and decide something without proof will just make me a laughing stock," he then took another paper and began to read again. "I'll just take a look at the other reports…," he was then concentrating once more on his task as a leader, now with a calmer expression.
Kubinashi smiled small at him and began to read his part of the report.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuo was getting slightly annoyed. He was being followed not so subtly by none other than Keikain Yura, the new classmate and student of Ukiyo-e Senior High School. She was completely interested in Rikuo for a strange reason that Rikuo didn't understand.
"Why are you following me?" Rikuo asked then, stopping his step to look over at Yura behind him.
"Who said my home's not that way?" Yura smiled while tilting her head slightly.
"You're staring at me again, you know…. Some people will say that's kind of rude," Rikuo said with a troubled expression.
"Nura-kun's interesting," Yura said while walking closer to him. "I want to know ya more," she continued while reaching her hand at Rikuou's sleeve. "Don'tcha want to be friends with me, Nura-kun?" she looked at Rikuo straight in his eyes, but Rikuo didn't get that 'I want to be your friend' vibe from her. What he could catch from her action approaching him was purely curiosity.
Rikuo was confused of why she would feel such thing about him. Did he do something strange that arouse her suspicion or something?
"Why are you interested in me? Have I done something…?" Rikuo then lowered his gaze and asked with slightly somber face and tone.
Yura widened her eyes for a moment before she shook her head. "No…, it's just… yer name…," she said honestly then with an inquisitive expression. "Nura… Rikuou…, the heir of Nura Gumi family, a yakuza family that controls the black world which main base is in Ukiyo-e," she continued, explaining. "Yer… that person, aren't ya?"
Rikuo widened his eyes now hearing that, completely surprised. How come that high school girl knew so much about the family? But she was wrong about one thing. "Just because my name is Nura, doesn't mean I'm the same as that family. You've got the wrong person. Besides, my name isn't Rikuou, it's Rikuo," he had to explain again the common mistake people could get from hearing his name.
It was kind of getting old and boring, this kind of thing. Rikuo sighed in defeat at that.
"What…? Yer… not—!" Yura looked totally surprised at that.
Rikuou shook his head. "No, I'm just Nura Rikuo, an ordinary high school boy," Rikuo said with a sheepish smile. "Sorry to disappoint you, Keikain-san," he continued as Yura was just speechless on her spot.
"What…, yer actually not him…," Yura sighed in relief after that. She closed her eyes and put her hand on her chest, seeming like calming her heartbeat or something.
"Keikain-san… why did you think I was the heir of Nura Gumi? Indeed they're quite a popular Yakuza Family in this area… but don't you think it's too bold to put the heir of a family in a public high school?" Rikuo then asked, trying to gain an insight of Yura's thought.
"Eh… well," Yura looked sheepish for a moment. "It's actually a secret, but I'm here in a mission," she whispered lightly with a slightly blushing face.
"A mission?" Rikuo was baffled. "A mission of what?"
"Ya know that my family is quite popular with the police forces and detective agencies, right?" Yura began to explain.
"Huh… your family is… WHAT?" Rikuo widened his eyes in shock at that. He hadn't heard that!
"Eh… I already told the class that though…," Yura seemed surprised of Rikuo's reaction.
"No… I meant, I wasn't listening to your conversation with the class when I was discussing or club with Kiyotsugu, Kana and Jirou so… Heeh, your family is Government family huh…? That's kind of great!" Rikuo said with a smile even though inwardly he was sweating in panicky.
This is bad…! This is really-REALLY bad! Who knows that Keikain family is the mortal opponent of yakuza family!
"Yeah, my grandfather's a head of police chief in Kyoto and my brother's a private detective, so is my cousins and uncles and aunts, everyone works to bring justice with law to this world," Yura spoke with a proud smile on her face. "I'm here for a mission… to spy the activities of Nura Gumi. Because this family is so big and has so many branches until the tip of Kansai Region, their activities in the south are quite concerning yet the police can't obtain any hard proof to prosecute them. Moreover, since Nura Gumi main base is in Tokai, it's outside Kyoto's Police Department Jurisdiction. Their hands are quite tied to do a thorough investigation. That's why; I took the initiative and asked them to send me here. If it's me, then they don't have to get worried about the borderline. After all I'm just a high school girl, not a part of the police force. I'll look for evidence that they have done something bad, and by turning the evidence to Kyoto Police Department, they can get a warrant to do an open investigation to Nura Gumi in this region as well," Yura explained again with a blazing spirit, turning Rikuo's face pale and paler with every word of her brilliant ideas.
Surely, Yura's idea of doing this closed investigation was extraordinarily bright…, he could totally see the prospect of it succeeding, but it was utterly scary for Rikuo. She had a purpose to bring down Nura Gumi! Even though she was just a high school girl… this Keikain Yura girl was dangerous!
So…, Rikuo's initial guts feeling were correct. He wasn't supposed to be close to this girl at all. She could find out about his relationship with Rikuou! Rikuo had to do something to deter her purpose… anything…!
"Um… is it okay telling me all that?" Rikuo asked then, sweat dropping a little.
Yura then looked startled and slapped her mouth shut with both hands. "Damn…! I wasn't supposed to say all of that—!" she looked slightly panicked now.
Aah… how gullible…—Rikuo instantly found the solution to the problem. Well, he felt slightly bad for her though, but he couldn't let her be too close to Nura Gumi.
"It's okay, I won't tell anyone. You can discuss things with me and I'll help as much as I can secretly," Rikuo smiled then surely.
"Really?" Yura looked really surprised at the offer. "You're going to help me investigate Nura Gumi?"
"Of course. Your plan is quite amazing and truthfully, it might actually work. Helping each other is friend's nature, and it's a duty for good citizens to help the government. Moreover, doing it alone will be difficult for you, right? Keikain-san is a girl after all," Rikuo smiled warmly at Yura and the girl blushed slightly before looking away.
"Huh… why am I…?" she mumbled something with a confused look.
"Keikain-san?" Rikuo tilted his head aside, rather wondering seeing her reaction.
"Huh? Ah, yeah…, thank ya, Nura-kun…," Yura replied slowly with still a perplexed expression. "I-it's nice… to have a friend in this…," she added then, looking a bit shy so suddenly that Rikuo felt his own conscience stabbing him in the chest.
Suddenly I feel really-really bad for manipulating her…! She's so trusting…!—Rikuo tried to maintain his 'I'm a nice guy!' smile as long as he could before it faltered.
But… it was the life that he chose. He didn't want to be involved in Nura Gumi's yakuza activities, but they were still his family no matter what. He wouldn't let anyone bring his family down. Even though he had to lie to his friends all the time, even though he knew if one day they would find out about it and then hated him for lying to them, protecting Nura Gumi was one of his so many dreams.
Rikuo didn't have the pledge and oath to be loyal to Nura Gumi, but he loved his family for who they were and not for what they were.
Rikuo clenched his fist in determination before speaking again to Yura. "Keikain-san, please call me Rikuo, so then you won't mistake me for Nura again."
"Oh, then ya shoulda call me Yura as well, Rikuo-kun," she responded happily with a smile.
"Surely, Yura-san," Rikuo grinned at her cheerfully as well, and Yura's face was turning pink again, seeing his natural cuteness. She had to look away once more, but this time she seemed understanding something.
"As I thought…," she mumbled again with rather alarmed look.
"What's wrong?" Rikuo set his concerned look towards her and she immediately shook her head again.
"No, it's nothing," Yura said with a smile before she bowed slightly. "Um, I'm sorry for getting the wrong idea about ya. I'll need to go now. Bye, Rikuo-kun," she said before she ran away in a hurry.
"See you tomorrow!" Rikuo responded back to her while waving as she ran.
Then Rikuo's face turned slightly serious after she wasn't in his sight anymore. "This becomes really bad…. I have to inform Rikuou about her and warn him not to attract too much attention for awhile…," he sighed before turning once again to change direction from his own home to Nura Gumi main base.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
When Rikuo arrived at the main house, the sun had almost set. The orange-red color illuminated the yard and the pond, creating such beautiful sparkling light. Rikuo was always fond of the main house yard. It was spacious and beautiful with the plants and flowers. His families really loved the beautiful things too.
Rikuo then heard a loud activity in the dojo area where some people crowded around the patio and stared inside the dojo with such lively expression. Their spirit was burning and he could only guess there was a training session between two most powerful members in the family.
"Heaaah!" Rikuo could hear his brother voice, full of spirit and searing as usual when he trained. Rikuo walked closer to look who was his half brother was fighting and was greeted by the sight of Gyuuki who deflected Rikuou's vicious attack with his wooden sword.
"Wohooo! GO for it, Sandaime! Bring Gyuuki-sama DOWN!" all the member was cheering for their head while Gyuuki was facing Rikuou with cold expression. He gave nothing away if he was thinking, but his reddish-amber eyes were assessing every move Rikuou produced.
"Hm… Gyuuki-ojisan is as strong as ever," Rikuo chuckled seeing the scorching fight from outside the dojo, and in a split second, he thought Rikuou's concentration was broken, and suddenly…
"An opening," Gyuuki said calmly before fluidly moving and entered a hard attack to Rikuou's stomach.
"Gaaah!" Rikuou was caught off guard and was thrown back several meters from his spot. He was actually down.
"WOOOW! Gyuuki-sama, so strooooong!"
"Sandaime, almoooost!"
"Don't give uuuup!"
"Shut up, all of you! You're ruining my concentration!" Rikuou yelled at those barbaric guys while glaring and hissing angrily.
"Gyaaah! We're sorryyyy!" and everyone instantly scrammed away in a speed of light, not wanting to get caught in Sandaime's wrath if Rikuou decided to blame them for his defeat from Gyuuki… again. They didn't even notice that Rikuo was there as well, watching the show amusedly.
"Jeez, those guys…!" Rikuou grumbled in annoyance as he tried to stand up.
"You're still immature as always, Rikuou," Gyuuki said with a serious expression, slightly looking down at the young Sandaime. "Your momentary lapse of concentration didn't have anything to do with their cheer. It was because you're always over-conscious whenever he is around, am I right… Rikuo?" the older man then turned his face at Rikuo who was chuckling sheepishly from the outside.
"Sorry for interrupting the training session," Rikuo said guiltily, while walking closer to the patio and then removed his shoes before entering the dojo.
Rikuo was aware that Gyuuki was probably displeased at his sudden disruption, and Rikuo really didn't want to be on the bad side of this man because he was scary, so he tried to act as polite as he could.
"It's not your fault. It's Sandaime's own doing for getting distracted," Gyuuki sighed with a frowned eyebrows.
"It's not like I can help it…," Rikuou grumbled again with a blushing face. Rikuo also blushed slightly seeing Rikuou's disheveled appearance. He was sweaty and his usually pale skin was slightly pink, looking totally hot.
Huh?—Rikuo berated himself for thinking like that again about Rikuou and coughed slightly to hide his embarrassment, and then tried his best not to look at Rikuou's eyes while flushing like a school girl in love.
Rikuou seemed looking at Rikuo intently, probably trying to look for something… anything from his expression, but Rikuo just didn't want to look at his crimson eyes, and the Sandaime looked totally frustrated at this.
"I thought you wouldn't come here today," Rikuou then said… the same expression he threw at him from the Sakura tree two nights ago.
"I didn't plan to," Rikuo said slowly.
"So… what brought you here at this hour, Rikuo?" Gyuuki asked then.
Rikuo looked at Gyuuki and then smiled slightly. "Obento… Mom made it too much. I'd like to share some of it with Rikuou and Gyuuki-ojisan," he said while showing a big warped box on his hand.
"Wakana-san's…," Gyuuki widened his eyes for a moment.
"Ooh! Mama Wakana's cooking!" Rikuou was back in spirit at the mention of Wakana's homemade bento. His face was glowing in happiness at the prospect of eating something delicious, and he seemed totally forgetting his displeasure earlier.
"She made it for my friends at school, but it's still too much. I hope it's okay to eat it here with you guys," Rikuo scratched his cheek with a wide grin while sitting and then unwrapped the box.
"Hmm… it's been awhile since I tasted her homemade cooking," Gyuuki said with a small smile while sitting down as well. Rikuo didn't really know why, but Gyuuki seemed always having a soft spot for his mom.
"Kaaah! It must be delicious! I want to eaaaat!" Rikuou instantly sat as well while waiting for Rikuo to open the box, revealing extravagant and delicious looking foods.
"Please do and eat," Rikuo said after preparing the disposable chopsticks for Gyuuki and Rikuou.
"Itadakimaaasu!" Rikuou said before taking a huge bite of the perfectly cooked tamagoyaki and he moaned at the first taste of exquisite food after awhile. "So delicious~," he appeared like he could die in happiness.
Rikuo chuckled slightly seeing it before he turned his gaze at Gyuuki who also took a bite on the karage (5), but unlike Rikuou he ate in silence. "Hm, it's good… no, it's better than her usual cooking. She improves her skill anymore, huh?" Gyuuki looked really pleased and Rikuo couldn't help feeling that the older man really did like his mom.
"Mom will be very happy if she heard that, Gyuuki-ojisan," Rikuo said with a happy smile.
"You think so?" Gyuuki smiled back at Rikuo slightly in tender gaze.
Whoa~!—Both Rikuo and Rikuou seemed shocked seeing the poignant look Gyuuki had just made. That was so freaking RARE!
"Gyuuki… I don't know you can make that kind of face," Rikuou said boldly with baffled expression.
Rikuo turned at his half brother with horror expression. What the hell is he doing!
"Huh… only a few people can make me do that expression and certainly, you're not one of them," Gyuuki replied with cool tone and voice that seemed annoying the Sandaime.
"Stingy!" Rikuou thrust his tongue out at Gyuuki in total exasperation.
Rikuo just laughed slightly as well. He actually wanted to ask some things about his mom and Gyuuki's relationship, but he felt it was a subject that shouldn't be brought up. There was still a mystery of why he wasn't raised in the main house and some other things as well, but he didn't know how to voice his questions without raising alarm.
Rikuo didn't want everyone thought he was jealous of Rikuou. Nah, no way. Well, he had ever been jealous because Rikuou got his dad, Rihan's attention all the time, unlike him who only got to meet his dad in the weekend when he was still a kid, but he had grown up from that. Moreover, it wasn't a pressing matter anyway. Someday… if the time was right, one of them might tell their story….
It was best if Rikuo just enjoyed speculating and guessing. It was funnier that way.
"So… why are you here again? I don't believe you came here just for the food," Rikuou asked then, after finishing his share of food.
"Well, there's something I need to tell you," Rikuo said slowly… actually, I need to tell the whole family," he corrected.
"About what?" Rikuou was visibly worried. He probably thought the worst scenario about Rikuo actually leaving far-far away or something, because Rikuou looked paler considerably. After what happened yesterday, it wouldn't be strange for Rikuo to take that decision.
"I got a new classmate today," Rikuo paused.
…Silence.
There was more silence befalling the dojo as Rikuou made a dumbfounded expression and Gyuuki was still waiting for Rikuo to continue.
"From Kyoto," Rikuo continued, "From Keikain Family," he paused again and this time Gyuuki responded to the name.
"Keikain?" Gyuuki actually looked surprise. Rikuo nodded.
"Huh? So what?" Rikuou seemed not understanding what was going on as the atmosphere began to get tense.
"Keikain… is the ultimate opponent of Yakuza," Gyuuki said. "People from Keikain Family… work for a government as police officers, head detectives, chiefs, even private detective agencies. They are the people with a purpose to bring justice with law to this world… and yakuza isn't exactly an example of good citizens. They have been trying to bring our family down from since the first generation, but because of their jurisdiction doesn't cover Tokai Region, they couldn't conduct an open investigation to our family without pissing off the head of Chubu's Police Department," he looked serious for a moment before he looked up at Rikuo again. "You said… one of the Keikains is in your class?"
"Yes," Rikuo nodded. "She's still a high school student, not part of the police's force, but she has deductive ability and brain as scary as detective, and she's here for a mission to spy Nura Gumi activities… and obtain some evidences for the police to get a warrant so the police can openly investigate this family and prosecute the members… and shut down the family operation permanently," he continued, leaking all the information he had gotten from Yura earlier.
"I see… if it's a spying activity… then Tokai Police Department can't say anything to prevent them…. What a scary but brilliant idea. Kyoto's Police Department can't be looked down, huh?" Rikuou who began to catch up with everything from Gyuuki's explanation and Rikuo's information, said with a challenged smirk. He had never had the urge to expand his territory to Kyoto… but if the police there wanted him anyway, why not?
"Actually… it's her own idea," Rikuo said again. "She came with the initiative, and despite still being so young, she's entrusted with the mission anyway. Her deduction and observational ability are the real threat for this family now. I want you to lay low for awhile, until I can persuade her to drop her closed investigation," he said with serious worried look.
"Aah? You want us to do nothing while you're trying to distract her attention to something else?" Rikuou was ready to protest, but Rikuo quickly added his explanation.
"She also said something about the concerning activities of Nura Gumi's branch in the south. I'd like to know who's in charge of the south part of Nura's territory," Rikuo said seriously.
"You mean at the tip of Kansai's region?" Gyuuki confirmed further.
"Yeah…, what kind of concerning activity could arise the suspicion to our family that Kyoto Police Force went that far to send their spy… moreover…," Rikuo glanced at Rikuou now," You can't touch her, Sandaime. She's one of my friends, so I'd like to handle her myself," he looked so determined and serious that Rikuou couldn't say no to his request.
"Ugh…," Rikuou looked slightly intimidated. It was the first time his half brother looked like that. He looked really worried for some reasons.
The south part of Nura Gumi Teritory… Gagoze Gumi?" Gyuuki said suddenly.
"Gagoze? We already crossed their name from our alliances list!" Rikuou said with a surprised look.
"I know, but you didn't exactly eliminate them, you know. You just told them to get lost and never return to your side after you found out what his family was doing with those children and after the leader and big shots in the family went to jail, we just assumed that the family was disbanded," Gyuuki said.
"Those bastards…! Did they do something again…?" Rikuou was getting pissed off again thinking about the ex-alliance of Nura Gumi.
"Let's not jump into conclusion," Rikuo said with calm expression. "Can you send some people to find out what happened in the south? I'll get more information from Yura-san as well," he continued.
Hearing the name from Rikuo's mouth, Rikuou couldn't help twitching slightly. "Yura-san?" That was a girl's name, definitely**.
"It's Keikain Yura, the government's spy I just told you about," Rikuo said, rather confused of the displeasure in his half brother tone.
"A girl?" Rikuou narrowed his eyes.
"That's right. You have a problem with that?" Rikuo stared back at the Sandaime deadpanned.
Rikuou stared at Rikuou hard and deep in silence, neither blinked until Rikuou gave up. "I don't like it if you get too close to a girl," he sulked then.
"You'd say the exact same thing even if the opponent is a boy," Rikuo said with a vein popping out his temple. "And we don't have a choice in this. I'll try to gain more information while deterring her from investigating Nura Gumi, so please do find something out in Kansai," Rikuo then stood up after collecting the boxes back and wrapped them again to bring home.
"Rikuo…," Rikuou called from behind as Rikuo stepped out of the dojo. "About yesterday…," he started but Rikuo cut him.
"Let's talk about that after we know what happened in the south," Rikuo didn't look back as he went out and away from the dojo.
Rikuou sighed long in despair after that. "He's totally angry and avoiding me…," he said with tears on the corner of his eyes.
Gyuuki who was silently watching the interaction between Sandaime and the young boss couldn't help asking after seeing Rikuou's face. "Something happened yesterday?"
Rikuou's heart skipped a beat hearing that, but he didn't look at Gyuuki's direction when he responded to the question. "What are you talking about? No such thing happened to anyone yesterday."
Rikuou then stood as well and went out without caring how Gyuuki looked at him.
Gyuuki was still silent while looking at Rikuou's back as the Sandaime was walking slowly to the Sakura tree and then to Rikuo who was walking to the gates.
"It seems… the storm will hit our family dead on… Rihan…," Gyuuki whispered lightly in slightly worried look.
End of Chapter 3
Tbc…
Notes:
1)Tamagoyaki: scrambled egg usually seasoned with sugar, but sometimes with salt depends on the preference.
2)Misoshiru: kind of soup made from tofu and seasoned cut up eggplant
3)Bento: packed lunch.
4)Ittekimasu: a Japanese expression uttered before the speaker leaving home.
5)Karage: fried chicken with special seasons and flour.
About * in Yura's speech: Those are not misspellings. I deliberately use it to show a little of Yura's accent. I hope it's alright….
About ** in the story: Rikuo mention Yura's pronoun using 'aitsu' a general word for him/her, and it doesn't distinguish gender. That's why Rikuou is surprised hearing Yura's name as he just realized she's a girl.
Err… sorry for the late post…. I've been quite busy in the weekend that I didn't quite have time to write it… so please forgive me if there are many spellings or grammar errors in this chapter because honestly, I don't check it before I post it. T_T. Please do point out where I made mistakes, I'll fix it immediately. Oh, and if you're wondering why there isn't any fan-service here… that's for the plot sake, so… I'll replace it with a LOT of it in the next chapter. You have my word ^_^ And finally, I put Yura here! XD I love her, really~, and probably some of you notice the chemistry between Yura and… oops…. Anyway, what do you think? Please do and tell me in the review! I'll be waiting for your response!
See you in next chapter!