Disclaimer: Shiibashi-sensei OWNS Nuramago.
Warning: AU, oOC, yaoincest, violence, use of chemical, blood, ...oh yeah, I didn't check this chapter again. So sorry if you find a lot of miss spells or grammar errors. Notify me in review, I'll fix it immediately. Okay, maybe that's all for now
A/N: AAAAAAAAAAH! I'm very sorry for being late again in updating. Have I told you how I got really busy starting 1st June? Yes… that's true, but your encouragement in the reviews pushes my button to continue writing! Seriously, thank you very much, everyone! I LOVE YOU guys… And I'm getting more and more excited because the preview of Nuramago Anime Season 2 has already come out! KYAAAAA! RIHAN-SAMAAAAA! *fan girl mode ON!*
Anyway, ignore my useless ramblings and please do read!
Chapter 5: A Thorn on the Side
Rikuo was woken up by the sound of a loud rumbling. When he opened his eyes, he realized that it was his own stomach, protesting to be fed because he remembered that he hadn't finished his lunch earlier and hadn't eaten anything after that.
"Uh… why did I fall asleep again…?" Rikuo wanted to move, but something heavy on top of him prevented him to. "Huh?" he then looked down a bit and a mop of silver hair entered his vision. "Heh?" He then began to remember what happened and blushed very hard as the image of very sensual Rikuou attacking him in front of Zen.
T-this idiooot! How come he's still asleep after all of that!—Rikuo was really tempted to hit his half brother in the head, or kick him on his shin, or at least bite his hand so the younger boy wouldn't even think of trying something as shameless as that ever again.
However, Rikuo also remembered that Sandaime's back was still hurting because of the tattoo and he didn't really want to wake the guy up because their position right now was truly awkward. It was too embarrassing that he momentarily forgot about his hunger.
Speaking about hunger… Rikuo had also just remembered that he had promised Yura to bring her some food his mom would make today.
Geeh! What time is it then?—Rikuo panicked because the sun already set, and the room was quite dark right now. He tried to locate the clock, but he couldn't find any in the darkness. Damn it… I ought to really wear a watch from now on…!—Rikuo sighed long before he decided to try getting himself out of Rikuo's embrace.
Rikuo moved very slowly, untangling Rikuou's hands from his body. After some failed attempts, he finally escaped Rikuou's clutch at the fifth try. He sighed slightly before moving the blanket to cover Rikuou's bare back, careful enough not to disturb the obviously hurting back too much, but making sure that he wouldn't get cold as well.
"Jeez… how come he could sleep like a log when it's with me?" Rikuo pouted slightly as he poked Rikuou's soft cheek. "If he's asleep like this…, he actually looks kinda cute," he then smiled amusedly before ruffling Rikuou's hair lightly. Then he stood slowly to leave. "Have a nice sleep, Rikuou," he whispered softly before walking out of Sandaime's room.
On his way out, Rikuo met Kubinashi and Kejourou who insisted that he had dinner in the main house.
"Mom's waiting for me to eat dinner at home today. I can't disappoint her, can I?" Rikuo smiled guiltily.
"Eeh, but we made a lot of food for dinner today. We thought Sandaime and Waka would eat here… and Gyuuki-sama suddenly went home before dinner too…," Kino looked really disappointed at that.
"Sorry…," Rikuo felt bad that he would waste some of the food prepared for him, but then he got an idea. "Then… would you please pack some for me? I think mom will like to try some too," he smiled cutely at her and Kino immediately fawned over him while blushing lightly.
"Waka is so cuuuute!" she said happily.
"Jeez, Kino! Don't tease Waka like that," Kubinashi scolded her, sweat dropping.
"It's fine, Kubi-nii. That means Kino-san really likes me, right?" Now Rikuo smiled cheerily at Kubinashi and he had to blush as well seeing the natural cuteness of the boy.
"Aah, Waka… how can you be so cute like this?" Kubinashi asked while hugging the boy as well.
"Then, I'll prepare the packed dinner for you and Wakana-sama, Waka!" Kino said with a smile before she went to the kitchen.
"Waka, how is Sandaime?" Kubinashi asked after Kino left. "Everyone seems unconcerned because this is Rikuou-sama, but we're actually pretty worried. Is he okay? Zen-sama went home directly after the ritual, so we couldn't ask him anything…," he said with slightly concerned look now.
"It's okay. He's sleeping off the pain anyway," Rikuo grinned widely. "Don't disturb his sleep, and make sure not to make him angry these days, at least until the pain in his back subsides, okay? He'll be grumpy for some times after all," he warned playfully.
"Okay," Kubinashi nodded, seeming taking notes in his head.
"Ah, Waka!"
Rikuo turned around and found Tsurara running to his direction. "Tsurara," he smiled at her too and Tsurara blushed slightly.
"Um, if…, if you don't mind, I will walk you home," Tsurara said shyly.
"Ah…," Rikuo's sweat dropped a little. "That's… a little reversed don't you think?" he asked while chuckling. "I'll be fine, Tsurara. On the other hand, you should entertain Rikuou later. He'll need that," he continued, ruffling Tsurara's hair fondly.
"Waka…," Tsurara looked up at Rikuo's smiling face, looking slightly disappointed.
"Tsurara-chan really likes Rikuo-sama, huh?" Kubinashi chuckled behind her and the girl blushed harder.
"Shut up!" she shouted at Kubinashi, looking totally embarrassed. Rikuo just laughed feebly at that.
Not long after that, Kino approached them again with two packs of dinner. "Please give our regard to Wakana-sama," she said with a soft smile.
"Sure. I'll go home first. See you tomorrow," Rikuo accepted the packs, waved at them and went out to go home.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuo fished out something from his pants pocket. It was a piece of paper, containing Yura's address. He decided to go to her place first because it was already 8 p.m. She must have been waiting in hunger, and Rikuo didn't want to make her wait any longer. Besides, he already called his mom from the payphone and said he'd be late because he had something to do first.
Rikuo didn't tell Wakana he would go to a girl's place. After this morning heart to heart talk, Wakana was totally aware of Rikuo's feelings towards his half brother. Telling her that he would go to an apartment that belonged to a girl who happened to be living alone and at a time like this would only complicate things. He wasn't running away from his own feelings…, but Wakana would surely think that way.
Because… even Rikuo wasn't sure with his own reasoning. He had to do something fast. Falling in love with another person would still be his number one choice. There was no future for Rikuou and Rikuo's feelings for each other. He absolutely understood that.
But still…, it wasn't easy to get rid of the feeling that had already been there since he was little. It would be really hard…, really-really hard. It also would hurt very much. But Rikuo had to do it… for Nura Gumi and for Rikuou's sake as well.
Rikuo was brought out of his own musing as he recognized the street to Yura's apartment. "Huh… she actually lived in a pretty nice area," he was quite surprised. But then, Yura's family was probably quite prosperous since almost all of them are government employees.
Rikuo followed the road until he found a little three floored apartment building. Well, it's not as big as the other apartments, but at least the place is well maintained. The garden was quite beautiful as well.
"Okay… Yura-san's room will be…," Rikuo looked at the paper again before turning up to look at the second floor and found the door with 208 numbers. "There it is," Rikuo smiled and went inside the yard before he went up from the outer stairs to the second floor and then to in front of Yura's apartment door.
Rikuo knocked three times and heard "Just a moment!" voice coming from the inside. He also heard the sound of steps nearing the door and a second later, the door was opened. "Ah," Yura's feature appeared, her hair still wet, probably from the shower, and she only wore a plain white shirt and a knee length trousers. Her face looked lovely and fresh; Rikuo actually blinked a couple of times in surprise seeing her in casual appearance.
"Good evening, Yura-san," Rikuo greeted with a calm collective smile. "I brought you your dinner," he brought up the two packs of dinner from Nura Gumi's main house.
"Nu…, Rikuo-kun!" Yura looked really surprised. "I thought yer' not going to come tonight," she then opened the door wider and stepped back a little. "Come in. I'll make you tea," she offered.
"No, thank you. I'm kind of in a hurry," Rikuo declined politely. "Maybe some other times," he said with a sheepish grin while offering the packed dinner.
"Hmm…," Yura was humming flatly for a moment as she stared openly at Rikuo from top to bottom while receiving the packs. "Rikuo-kun is still in school uniform… but ya left school early today. Ya didn't even bring yer bag," she said suddenly, making Rikuo wince for his own stupidity by acting so rashly just because he was worried about that stupid Sandaime.
I really need to rethink all my priorities!—Rikuo thought, berating himself.
"Ah, yeah…, emergency came up so suddenly," Rikuo scratched his head lightly, a bead of sweat breaking on his cheek.
"Emergency? Something happened to yer mom?" Yura looked worried now.
"No…, not my mom, just… an acquaintance," Rikuo spoke again slowly, with a weak smile on his face. He couldn't tell her about Rikuou, but lying to her would be bad as well, so he just spoke vaguely like that.
"Acquaintance…? Ah, that girl, huh?" Yura asked suddenly.
"Eh?" Rikuo looked up at Yura in a surprised look.
"That long haired girl…, she picked you up this afternoon and you went with her, right?" Yura asked again.
"Eh… h-how did you…?" Rikuo began to sweat profoundly being confronted directly like that.
"I saw it…, Ienaga-san too, she was with me just before the door when you two took off. She told me the uniform that long haired girl wore belonged to the all girl's school near ours," Yura explained.
"Y-you saw?" Rikuo was horrified at that. Did that mean they heard what Tsurara and he were talking about as well?
"Don't worry, Ienaga-san and I told the teacher ya were sick suddenly, so ya needed to go home. Yer bag was kept by Ienaga-san. She said she would deliver it to yer house. Have ya received it?" Yura asked again.
"Sure, my mom received it," Rikuo said with a smile, knowing that it was the truth even though he didn't know better.
"Ah, she also copied the notes for ya. Ienaga-san is really kind, huh?" Yura smiled joyfully at that.
"Yeah… I'll call her later to say thank you," Rikuou was thoughtful for a moment before "And Yura-san as well, thank you for covering me," he smiled more softly at the girl. Yura visibly blushed at seeing Rikuo's gentle expression.
"I-it's fine…," Yura looked away slightly, looking a little bit shy.
"Anyway, I have to go. See you tomorrow at school?" Rikuo said as he began to move back slowly, waving before turning away.
"Ah, w-wait!" Yura looked up and quickly followed him out of the door. "That long haired girl earlier… is she yer girlfriend?" she asked so frankly that almost made Rikuo topple over his own foot.
"What? No!" Rikuo denied it immediately, totally shocked by the question. Where did she get that kind of idea? "She's just a childhood friend, nothing more," he added convincingly.
"Oh… okay then. I was just curious," Yura said with a sheepish smile, still a bit blushing.
"Okay…, then… see you tomorrow," Rikuo said before hurriedly went downstairs. He really didn't need Yura to ask more about his personal matter right away.
Anyway, why is she curious of who I'm dating?—that was a little unnerving. It was impossible if she was already suspicious of whoever he had a connection with. Rikuo mentally groaned. He really couldn't let his guard down in front of that Kyoto girl.
When Rikuo was exiting the apartment building area, he didn't notice that Yura was still outside her room, watching Rikuo's back (literally) carefully from the second floor with unreadable expression on her face.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
On his way to go home, Rikuo passed a bridge near the river. When he was about to cross it, he saw something… someone, sitting on the side of the road just beside the bridge. "Huh?" Judging from the head cover, the small built and the kimono style, it was a girl. She seemed in trouble, so Rikuo approached her quickly.
"A-are you okay, Miss?" Rikuo kneeled in front of her, trying to check on her.
"Ah… I'm sorry…. I fell when I was about to cross the bridge, and I sprained my ankle," she said quietly, Rikuo almost couldn't hear what she said.
"Do you need me to call an ambulance? I'll go to the payphone," Rikuo was worried and he stood quickly, about to go make the call when the girl's small hand held the tip of his sleeve. "Miss?"
"I'm sorry…, but can you stay for a moment? I'm scared…," she said while looking up slightly, making a pleading look. Dark blue sapphire of eyes met Rikuo's. Her face was so pale and her feature was so delicate. Her hair which had the same color as her eyes was tied in two ponytails. She looked really cute.
"S-sure… but it's better if I call for a help first. Your ankle needs treatment," Rikuo said reassuringly while persuading her to let go of him for a moment to look for help.
"It's fine. I've compressed it with cooling pack. If I just rest for awhile, it will get better," she said with a soft smile.
"How long have you been sitting here?" Rikuo asked then while sitting beside her. He couldn't really leave her alone in a place like that without protection. What if he got harassed by perverts?
"Um… a couple of hours… probably," she spoke while looking down.
"Oh yeah…, I'm Rikuo," Rikuo nodded slightly at her.
"Mezu-…, I meant Mezami," she nodded back. For a split of a moment Rikuo thought she looked almost panicked, but it was probably because she wasn't used to give her name to stranger. Typical young lady from rich family….
Huh?—then that was odd. If she was a young lady, how come she was travelling alone? Unless…!
"Why are you walking out alone at a time like this in a place like this, Miss? Isn't it a bit dangerous?" Rikuo asked, a little bit suspicious, but he didn't show it in his face.
"Ah, I'm not actually travelling alone," Mezami said with a soft smile on her face. "I was looking for someone… and I just found him," she continued while opening her head cover a little.
"Eh…? Who were you loo—!" Rikuo was totally shocked and caught off guard as two hands suddenly appeared out of nowhere, one grabbed him, circling his neck from behind and the other covered his nose and mouth so suddenly.
Crap!—Rikuo didn't have time to react whatsoever. He had let his guard down because he was facing a woman. The hand that now was covering his was covered with something like handkerchief, and Rikuo could smell something from the handkerchief when he involuntarily inhaled the substance because he needed to breathe. Chloro-...form…?
Rikuo's sight began to blur as he inhaled the stinging smell that hurt his nostrils and instantly clouded his consciousness. In the verge of passing out, he could see the smiling face of the girl who looked down at him now.
"…m …rry… kuo-sama…,"
Rikuo also could see her lips moving and he vaguely heard her voice, he just couldn't make out the words. After that, her shadow disappeared completely from his sight, but he caught a glimpse of familiar scent just right there, wafting around the one catching his body when he collapsed, unconscious.
Who…?—was his last thought when the darkness swallowed him completely.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuou was woken up from his slumber as the first sunlight hit him right on his face. He frowned and scrunched up slightly and opened up his eyes slowly. He sighed before he tried to turn over and then sudden sharp sting attack the entire surface of his back.
Fuck!—Rikuou was about to yelp in pain but quickly covered his mouth to prevent it. He didn't want to wail like a baby just because of the stupid tattoos. Oh, he was so gonna kill Zen after his back was better, Just wait for it!
Rikuou then felt something amiss. He believed that last night, he had slept, and he meant just slept, with Rikuo. He didn't find his half brother near him today. Rikuo was such an early riser. And he didn't wake him up before leaving….
Must have gone home. He has school after all…. As I thought, Riku is probably still mad…—the Sandaime sighed long and covered his forehead, feeling the headache coming, and not just because of the tattoos.
"How can I apologize properly to him…?" Rikuou mumbled lowly as someone suddenly knocked at his door.
"Sandaime-sama, something has come up."
It was Kuromaru's voice. "Get in," Rikuou said while covering his body with his blanket and sat up slowly as he heard the phrase 'excuse me' from the door and a man with short black hair and night eyes appeared behind the door.
"Good morning, Kuromaru," Rikuou greeted the older man casually.
"Good morning, Rikuou-sama," Kuromaru greeted him back formally, even with slightly bowed head.
"Then… what happened? You said something has come up?" Rikuou yawned slightly while enduring the sting on his back before setting his calm face at his subordinates.
"Yes, actually… there's an unsettling movement from the west part of our territory," Kuromaru said evenly with serious look.
"West…? Shikoku is in the west part of our…., huh, they're outside our territory. What do you mean inside?" Rikuou frowned at Kuromaru's report, totally confused.
"Yes, apparently, it's not from Shikoku. It's closer… inside our territory," Kuromaru's face had gotten more serious now, totally concerned.
"That's impossible. Our west territory is in Gyuuki's control. If something like that happened, he'd have already taken care that off," Rikuou said, his frown deepening. And when he had a headache too…, it added his stress. What the hell was Kuromaru saying?
"Rikuou-sama… the movement had started last night," Kuromaru said with really worried look now. "Just after Gyuuki-sama went home," he added, as if he were trying to tell Rikuou something he didn't dare mention out loud.
Rikuou understood the underlying message perfectly; it was just too absurd to actually comprehend. "Don't imply something so stupid," Rikuou scoffed in annoyance. Gyuuki was his most trusted person beside Rikuo and Zen. There was just no way in hell would this have something to do with him.
"Rikuou-sama…, I know this is unbelievable. I myself wouldn't believe if I didn't see it with my own eyes," Kuromaru said with totally pained look. "Gyuuki-sama wasn't exactly there but… the young head of Gyuuki-Gumi, Gozumaru-sama was leading some people and making a mess in some places leading to Ukiyo-e," he added with desperate expression now.
"Then contact Gyuuki. I want to hear from him directly," Rikuou stood and went to his fetch his yukata he had worn yesterday and just got dressed there, in front of Kuromaru who instantly looked away as the blanket fell off Rikuou's perfect body.
Finishing taking on his clothes again, Rikuou turned back and looked at Kuromaru in annoyance. "Why are you still here? Hurry and contact Gyuuki," he said sternly.
"About that… Tosakamaru and Asami have already tried to contact him since last night…, but they can't get through," Kuromaru said, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
"What?" Rikuou was surprised. "We can't get hold of Gyuuki at all?"
"Yes," Kuromaru nodded anxiously.
That's strange… Gyuuki won't ignore the direct call from the main house… What the hell happened after I fell asleep last night?—Rikuou thought, slightly worried now. The young head of Gyuuki Gumi… Gozumaru… is he trying to do something and Gyuuki's not at a liberty to move?
Rikuou couldn't dismiss the probability that they would have a traitor in the family, but for the young head of Gyuuki Gumi to pull something like this just after Rikuou inherited the official title of the Third Head of Nura Gumi Alliances was quite STUPID. Even more moronic if he were doing this without Gyuuki's knowledge, Rikuou already mentioned in his speech that he wouldn't tolerate any betrayal.
"What about Grandpa? He said something about this?" Rikuou asked.
"Ah… Shodaime said it wasn't his problem anymore since he's officially retired now. He said Sandaime had to do something about this on your own term," Kuromaru's sweat dropped as he recited what the old man said.
Rikuou made a face at him. "That infuriating old man…," Rikuou muttered under his breath before he sighed long. "Fine, call all the generals and make appointment to gather, and try to contact Gyuuki again. If he's not answering, send people there to fetch him. We have to discuss this," he said as he moved to open the window.
"At once," Kuromaru bowed low to him before removing himself from Rikuou's presence.
Rikuou then went out of his room to go to the bathroom when he met Kurotabou on the way.
"Ah, sandaime-sama," Kurotabou greeted him, looking a bit flustered and hurry.
"Good morning, Kurotabou. What happened, you look disconcerted," Rikuou raised his eyebrows at the slightly taller man.
"Ah, Good morning to you too, Sandaime. Um…, I was just about to go to wake you up," Kurotabou said while bowing. "It's Wakana-sama," he then looked up slightly. "She's here, looking for you," he said slowly, looking totally worried now.
"Eh?" Rikuou widened his eyes in a slight shock. "Wa-… Wakana Mama is looking for me?" He couldn't help feeling uneasy suddenly.
It was possible that Wakana was here to berate the Sandaime for touching Rikuo. According to his half brother and his own personal experience, it was almost impossible to lie to Wakana because she was very perceptive and sharp, so she probably already found out about what had happened between Rikuou and Rikuo three nights ago. But…, Wakana was a very gentle person, she wouldn't resolve to violence….
Rikuo suddenly felt very-very perturbed. He had heard the rumor that before becoming Rikuou and Rikuo's dad's second wife, Wakana was a special bodyguard that was guarding Yamabuki Otome, Rikuou's mom. Wakana was a traditional dancer that was an expert in using staffs. Moreover, she was a direct descendant of Nura. She was considerably powerful before becoming a housewife.
Am I going to get out alive?—Rikuou was dreading it a little. But! Rikuou was a man, the official Sandaime of Nura Gumi Alliance. He would take responsibility of what he had done. Moreover, his feelings for Rikuo was real, and nothing would change that, ever, even if it was Rikuo's mother.
"Where is Wakana Mama?" Rikuou asked Kurotabou, paling slightly.
"Um… she's outside. She insisted to stay outside even though I already asked her to come in," Kurotabou answered.
"I see…, I'll see her right away," Rikuou changed his direction from the bathroom to the front door, leaving the worried Kurotabou on the hallway staring at Rikuou's back.
Arriving in front of the door, Rikuou gulped slightly. "Hotoke-sama (1), even though I don't really believe in You, please don't let me die in her hand today," he couldn't help mumbling a quiet prayer with sweating face. Besides, the throbbing on his back was very bothering him.
Rikuou then hardened his heart and resolution, and then opened the sliding front door slowly. The person waiting just in front of the door was a very beautiful lady with soft chocolate hair and dark caramel eyes, just like Rikuou's beloved half brother. This lady, Rikuo's blood mother, was a total beauty even in her thirties.
"Ah…, good morning, Rikuou-sama," Wakana greeted him politely with a soft gentle smile.
Rikuou blushed slightly seeing the motherly softness of Wakana and stuttered a little. "G-good morning, Wakana Mama! It's been awhile since I met you…," he greeted back nervously and then added, "Ah… and Wakana Mama, please don't call me with –sama, Mama is my mother too."
Wakana blinked several times hearing the sudden outburst and then chuckled amusedly. "Okay, then, Rikuou," she said softly.
"Ah… then, why don't we talk inside? Isn't it uncomfortable talking while standing like this?" Rikuou offered his hand at Wakana while smiling charmingly as well and Wakana was captivated for a moment.
"Oh my…, Rikuou has already grown up this much. You look really similar to Rihan-sama," Wakana giggled happily.
"Eh… really?" Rikuou laughed again, slightly flustered.
"Yes… really, Rikuou is very charming. A lot of women must really like you," Wakana smiled sweetly, but somehow her smile looked slightly frightening for some reasons.
"Err… well…, but I never really pay attention to something like that, so…," Rikuou scratched his head, sweat dropping.
"I see…," Wakana's smile looked normal now. Very strange.
"Ah, anyway, let's get inside, Wakana Mama," Rikuou said again.
"Ah… I have something to do today, so I can't stay longer. I just came here to deliver Rikuo's school bag and obento," she said while bringing up the bag and a box of packed lunch.
"Eh…?" Rikuou looked surprised. "Why bring the bag and obento to the main house?" he was a little confused. That was unusual. He assumed Rikuo had already gone home this morning.
"Actually… Rikuo called me that he would go home last night, but… for some reason, he didn't come home," Wakana said while holding her cheek with worried look. "I thought he decided to stay the night here and forgot to call, but it isn't like him at all… I'm a bit worried," she continued.
Rikuou gulped slightly and looking at how worried Wakana's expression was, he shouted at the back. "Hey, whoever is there, come here this second!"
Kubinashi and Kino hurriedly came out to see him. "What happened, Sandaime?" they asked in unison, rather surprised because Rikuou's voice was very loud.
"Where is Riku?" Rikuou asked seriously, feeling very anxious so suddenly.
"Eh… Waka said he was going to go home last night…," Kubinashi looked at Wakana's figure with slightly concerned look. "Um… Wakana-sama, Rikuo-sama went home last night, right?"
"He didn't," Wakana shook her head with really apprehensive look now.
"Then… where is he?" Rikuou's face paled, his heart thumping loudly now, but not in a good way. The sickening feeling was pooling inside his gut, churning it up, almost making him want to wretch.
Does it have any to do with the movement Kuromaru was talking about earlier…? Did he somehow get involved and taken away?—Rikuou was totally worried now. He didn't want to believe that, but his paranoia got the better of him.
If something happened to Rikuo without him knowing…!
Rikuou gritted his teeth. "This is serious…! I need to do that emergency meeting now! You two, go help Kuromaru inform the heads of other families in our alliances. Tell them it's emergency and I need all of them here, NOW!" he said tensely before he turned to Wakana. "Wakana Mama, I want you to stay in the main house for some times. Something has happened, and I can't risk your safety as well," he held Wakana's small shoulders and convinced her to stay, with very serious expression.
Wakana was silent for a moment before she nodded, "I understand," she said slowly.
Rikuou nodded and pulled her to come inside the house. "I'll tell the junior staffs to prepare a room for you," he said, holding Wakana's back gently.
"Rikuou," Wakana called the Sandaime weakly, earning the silver haired boy's attention. "Rikuo… is going to be okay, right?" she looked at Rikuou's face with pleading expression.
"I won't let anything happen to him," Rikuou said, deadly serious. "And… we don't know yet if he's gotten himself involved in this either. Don't worry, Wakana Mama. Rikuo is going to be okay," he added reassuringly.
Though…, not being able to locate where Riku's right now is very worrying… and I'm not very convincing at all…!—Rikuou thought, totally dreading. He hoped very much that his awful feeling was wrong this time. I really hope he's not involved in this… I even will look away if he's on a date! Just… please be safe, Riku!
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
"Rikuo…," someone's voice tickled his ears.
Huh…?
"Papa!"
Who…?—he couldn't see his face, but it was familiar to him. Very….
Rikuo twitched as the vague memory was playing behind his closed eyes as a dream. Slowly… very slowly, he began to regain his consciousness even though he hadn't opened his eyes. His eyelids were very heavy and he felt slightly sick, dizzy as well. He knew he was in a very cold place… at least, the place he was laying down right now. It was hard after all; his stomach, hands and arms could feel it, the cemented ground.
"Oi, wake up."
Rikuo twitched again; even vaguely able to hear someone's voice for real now, at least he was aware that it wasn't the fragment of his memory.
"Is he dead?"
Two people's voice. They were having conversation about Rikuo. The latest voice, Rikuo could make out as the girl he tried to help yesterday.
"Impossible. We only drugged him a little," the unrecognizable voice scoffed.
"That's true…. He'll be totally useless if he's dead just because of chloroform," the girl's voice snickered. "I'm so much better than this runt, nah, Gozu?"
Wait… did the girl just refer herself as 'ore'? (2)—Rikuo sweated a little, still stubbornly closing his eyes. Then… she's a he then? Damn…! I got duped…!
"Oi, I said, WAKE UP!"
A moment later something very cold hit Rikuo's head. "Gyaaah!" Rikuo yelped in surprise, totally in shock for suddenly getting very wet and freezing. Those guys actually threw a bucket of ice water on him!
"Works all the time," the girl's voice snickered again.
"You—!" Rikuo gritted his teeth a little, feeling unexplainably mad. "What the hell…, so suddenly like that…!" he tried to move, but his hands and feet were bound. Moreover, his glasses were totally wet, he couldn't see clearly in the dim lit room.
"It's your own fault. We're getting tired waiting for you to wake up, 'Young Master'," the other voice, the lower one, said with a sneering scoff.
"Damn it…! It's cold…!" Rikuo began to shiver. The icy feeling on his now soaked uniform clung to his body bitingly.
"Serve you right, spoiled brat. How do you feel, huh, bound and helpless like that?"
Rikuo felt something below his chin. It seemed it was a shoe. The bastard was lifting his chin with his foot! Rikuo tried to see the face of his attacker and vaguely looked at the dark blue eyes. The guy kneeled with one of his knees and stared down at Rikuo with an evil smirk.
"Who are you guys?" Rikuo glared at the young man, probably in the same age as him. His dark blue hair and eyes were similar to the boy who looked like a girl standing behind him with a smug face. The difference was this boy had short hair and part of his bangs covered his right face, but not exactly covering his eyes because the strands were thin, and the longer part of his hair was clipped behind. While the pretty boy had his longer hair done in two pony tails.
"Ouch, he doesn't know us," the girl-boy said with a fake offended look.
"How arrogant…, people from the main house are absolutely useless and supercilious," the boy looked disgusted.
People from the main house?—Rikuo narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Why do they speak as if we belong to the same family? Impossible… is this treason?
Rikuo gulped slightly, his face getting pale. "You… you two… belong to Nura Gumi Alliance?" he asked with widened eyes.
"What, shocking? Never knew we're strong enough to take the main family down?" the cute boy sniggered more at him, with a face like a kid getting a new toy to play with.
"They actually putting a guy as weak as you are in the main family are dubious. Moreover, we heard you became Sandaime's plaything. Seriously, that's disgusting. You're just a nuisance. Be gone," the serious boy added with a nasty sneer.
"What the—! A PLAYTHING?" Rikuo opened his mouth in shock at that. "Who the hell spread that wicked rumor!"
"He's more worried about the rumor than the 'be gone' part, Gozu," the cute boy said, sweat dropping.
"Let's add that he's also a moron," the boy who was called Gozu by his friend commented, deadpanned.
"Hey! That's so rude! Untie me at once!" Rikuo protested at the two while grimacing. The ropes on his wrist began to hurt his skin. "Besides, you've got it all wrong! I'm not Rikuou's plaything, damn it!" he added disagreeably. He wanted to shout that he was his brother, but he didn't like sounding desperate enough to use Rikuou's name to save himself.
"Ooh, then what are you?" Gozu smirked again at him, totally underestimating him.
Rikuo glared heatedly at him. "You two…! Despite being in Nura Gumi Alliance… where is your manner? State your names before you knock someone out and then kidnap and interrogate him in secluded dirty place." Even though he knew he wasn't in the position to give order, this code was well known and common enough that both his assailants would do just what he asked without much protest.
"Ah, that's right… where's our manners?" Gozu chuckled before he grabbed Rikuo's hair and pulled it up to look more closely at his face. Rikuo had to wince and yelp in pain at the rough treatment to his head. He really wasn't used to this kind of thing. "Probably a good thing we only used drugs to knock you out. You really don't want to know what we could do other ways," he spoke eerily so near Rikuo's ear before licking it.
Shit—!
"Let go of me!" Rikuo jerked his head back to get away. He had had enough with this harassment! That was very repulsive, just now. He instantly decided that Rikuou's sexual harassment on him all this time was much-much better than this. This was sickening!
"Try to get out of this yourself," Gozu said while smirking evilly and releasing his hand from his hair. "Let see what the Sandaime will do if he knows his toy gets taken away," he then laughed hard maliciously, as if he had lost his mind completely.
Damn… what's with these people? Actually… what the hell is happening? Why am I always involved in something I don't want to get involve with? Damn it…! Damn it all! If only I can move my hands and legs…!
Rikuo scanned the area to find something that he could use to cut the rope on his hands. Anything with sharp edge would be fine. Survival training he had received so many years ago had taught him to save his own life with any means necessary. But he always hated holding sharp object, so he never brought his pocket knife. Unfortunately, he never learned even though he had been kidnapped repeatedly in the past. He couldn't help it! He hated carrying around an object that could be used to hurt other people!
While looking… in the mean time, I should prolong our conversation to deter them!
"Just your names…,"Rikuo said slowly, pretending to be downcast. "Just tell me your names so I can address you properly," he continued, appearing to surrender with his fate.
"Mezumaru," the cute boy answered confidently.
"Mezu!" the Gozu boy glared at his friend warningly.
"Isn't it okay? He isn't going to get out alive anyway. At least as a parting gift…, the code says our opponent ought to know the name of the person who will kill him, right?" Mezumaru said convincingly with carefree smile.
"Well…, that's not wrong. Okay, I'm Gozumaru, the Young Head of Gyuuki Gumi," Gozumaru smiled malevolently while looking down on Rikuo.
Wha—!
"I'm Mezumaru, the Head Assistant of Gyuuki Gumi," Mezumaru followed and introduced himself more formally again.
Gyuuki-… Gumi, he said?—Rikuo widened his eyes even more at that.
"You lie…," Rikuo couldn't believe this. There was just no way…! No way in hell that Gyuuki would…, something like treason! "YOU LIE!" he shouted intensely, so fiercely that Gozumaru and Mezumaru looked startled for a moment before they jerked back to reality.
"Why would we lie about something like this?" Gozumaru asked spitefully.
"There's just no way…! You two can't be from Gyuuki Gumi! Gyuuki-ojisan will never allow something like this! Not something like treason! Gyuuki-oojisan will never betray Nura Gumi! EVER! That's just simply IMPOSSIBLE!" Rikuo refused that idea with all of his heart. He believed from the bottom of his heart that Gyuuki would never do something as horrid as treason.
Gyuuki loved Nura Gumi much-much more than anyone else. He loved that family dearly. He would never betray Nura Gumi!
"Treason? What are you talking about?" Gozumaru then looked at Rikuo as if he were nuts.
"Eh…?" Rikuo looked at him back, confused.
"This isn't treason at all," Mezumaru continued Gozumaru's denial of the treason accusation. "We're saving Nura Gumi," he continued.
"What… do you mean by that…?" Rikuo was getting more confused by the second. He didn't understand at all what they were saying. If it wasn't treason… then why they kidnapped Rikuo who was practically the next in throne if something happened to Rikuou…?
Ah…!—suddenly Rikuo got it.
"Saving Nura Gumi from you," both boys then said with serious expression now.
They…, Gyuuki Gumi… saw Rikuo as a threat to Rikuou. He was… a thorn on the side to Nura Gumi. They wanted to get rid of him… so Rikuou's position wouldn't be in danger because of Rikuo.
"I never want… the head position of Nura Gumi," Rikuo spoke slowly, seriously as well.
"That's what you say, who knows what you think?" Mezumaru taunted.
"I swear! You've got it all wrong…! I never want to get involve with Yakuza Family! I just want to live a normal life! I don't have the slightest desire to bring down Rikuou and Nura Gumi!" he shouted desperately now. It was scary. Really scary to be distrusted by his supposed to be ally, much-much more frightening than getting kidnapped by the enemy.
Rikuo's loyalty was challenged just because he shared the same blood as their leader. In the common sense, it was probably normal to think that way. After all, envy and jealousy had become the most powerful motive of doing the misdeed like hurting other people, but still! Rikuou was his half brother, and Rikuo loved Sandaime! He was even in love with him! He would never want to harm him!
Rikuou would never…!
I'm in love… with Sandaime Rikuou….
"Did Gyuuki..., did Gyuuki-ojisan plan this? Kidnapping me…," Rikuo asked slowly, quietly while biting his lower lip hard, until it bled.
"That's right," Gozumaru said with more serious look.
"Gyuuki-sama's wish is our order," Mezumaru added with a wicked smile.
Rikuo's head hurt, really-really hurt… badly. Gyuuki must have found out about his feeling for Rikuou. He broke the promise two years ago. His promise with Gyuuki.
"Please… let me see Gyuuki-ojisan…," Rikuo looked at the two boys pleadingly.
"No can do. After this… there'll be war between Gyuuki Gumi and the Nura Main HQ. They probably have found out what happened. I tore apart some places on my way to Ukiyo-e last night after all," Gozumaru said.
"You hurt innocent people for this?" Rikuo was horrified with that. "This is so absurd! There's no need to do all of this! Let me talk to Gyuuki-ojisan!" Rikuo bowed his head low. He didn't mind lowering his head if it was to save a lot of innocent people. This was dispute inside the family. It was really unnecessary to add casualties from the outside as well. "Please…! I beg you…! Let me talk to him!"
"Weaklings don't have right to talk back," Gozumaru said cruelly. "You're weak…! A flaw to our strong family. A burden…! And Sandaime favors you too much. He'll be subjective in his decision to lead the family because you're holding his foot down. You're an unnecessary element in Nura Gumi!"
"You're wrong!" Rikuo shouted hard, objecting all of the accusation. "I'm NOT weak! I'll show you if you give me a chance! I'll never be a burden to Nura Gumi!" He struggled and struggled hard to free himself from the ropes that bound him. "I love Nura Gumi! I want it to prosper always!" Rikuo screamed so loudly, pouring out his feeling and resolution and finally, in a moment of adrenalin rush, he broke apart the ropes from his bleeding wrists.
Gozumaru and Mezumaru gaped at him wide eyed, totally in disbelief that Rikuo would do something as rash as bare handedly freeing himself from the rough rope that normally wouldn't budge holding 200 kg weight. The blood dripping from Rikuo's and wounded wrist because of the scratch and the cut of the rope.
Rikuo looked at his hands and then hurriedly untied his feet as well, not particularly caring about the bleeding wound. Gozumaru and Mezumaru were still frozen on their spot watching the spectacular event of a person they thought a weakling beginning to stand and look at them with cool eyes.
"I will protect Nura Gumi and Rikuou…," Rikuo said tensely, deadly serious. And he meant every word he had said. "Rikuou is protecting everyone in the family… but I…, I will be the one who protect him," he then took an abandoned wooden staff which was conveniently laying there, near his feet. "I hate violence, and I always try not to use it to solve problems. Please step aside. I have to talk to Gyuuki-ojisan," he continued, narrowing his eyes in intimidating manner.
Well, it wasn't as good as Rikuou, but it would do the trick. Even more, if it was coming from someone like Rikuo who was usually clumsy and cheery.
"And if we refuse, what will you do?" Gozumaru, who was the first to come back from his reverie, asked challengingly, with a bead of sweat breaking out on his cheek.
"Yeah, what'll you do, runt?" Mezumaru provoked as well, but he was visibly gulping.
Rikuo narrowed his eyes even more at the two boys. "Then I'll have to force you to step aside with any means necessary," he brought out the wooden staff up to his front with both hands, stance mimicking kendo.
Rikuo's dad, Rihan, had taught him some basic self defense using sword some years ago. It'd been awhile since the last time he used it, and he didn't have any sword now, but the staff would do. He didn't really want to cut those boys down anyway. Just to subdue them, so he could get pass through them and find Gyuuki.
Rikuo had some explaining to do… and some questions he wanted Gyuuki to answer.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
In the main house, every head of the Nura Gumi Alliances were gathering. Zen also came, even Shouhei despite saying he wasn't really interested in Yakuza World, just like Rikuo.
"What's the emergency that you have to call all of us so suddenly, Sandaime?" One of the Heads, precisely the head of Daruma Gumi, asked the questions all of them had wanted to ask.
"All of us are here today to discuss the destruction that happened last night in west area of our territory leading to Ukiyo-e," Rikuou said in serious face. "The possibility of treason in our family," he continued and everyone gasped in shock.
"Hey, hey…, seriously?" Zen asked with wide eye.
"West area…? Impossible, are you talking about Gyuuki, Sandaime?" Another head, now from Hihi Gumi, the father of Shouhei, asked in disbelieving tone.
"As you can see, Gyuuki's the only one who's absent in this meeting. Even though I already sent some people to fetch him, for some reason, we can't contact him at all. And now all my errand boys' whereabouts are unknown as well. I don't want to believe this either, but some spies also saw the lead of the disturbance last night was the young head of Gyuuki Gumi!" Rikuou slammed his hand down on the small table in front of him grimly. "I want information, and it has to be fast! Gyuuki is my trusted mentor. He's like a father to me too. I still can't believe he pulls something like this! If you've heard anything… anything at all about this, tell me!" he shouted hotheadedly.
Zen looked at Rikuou with worried face. He probably could sense that something more urgent also happened, but Rikuou didn't mention it in the discussion.
In the end, no one really knew what happened, except might be the Hitotsume Gumi's Head, but he didn't say anything either even though his body language screamed 'I know something you don't, but hell if I tell you~!' completed with smug expression.
Rikuou was really pissed off. He shouted and yelled and he wasn't like his usual cool and collected self. He looked so tense and worried that Zen had to grab his kimono's collar to calm him down.
"What the hell actually happened?" Zen asked with deadly serious expression.
"Riku…, Riku is missing…!" Rikuou said while gritting his teeth.
"Wha—!" Zen looked so shocked now.
"Wakana Mama is here, saying Rikuo didn't come home last night after he left the main house. And I don't know if he somehow got involved in this and taken away…! If something happened to him, I…!" Rikuou shook his head. He began to get panicked and Zen had to slap both of his cheeks lightly to make him look at Zen's eyes.
"You said, you've been trying to contact Gyuuki, but can't. And you said, you've sent people to pick him up, but those people are now missing as well. Then send more people to look for them!" Zen said with calming voice. "Don't panic. You're scaring everyone," he whispered the last line while jerking to the other heads that were already pale and looking at Rikuou and Zen's direction warily.
"Ah… yeah…, my bad…," Rikuou covered his face shamefully. And he was the head of their alliance too! "If it's about Riku… I lost my composure so quickly…. I'm worried…, I'm so worried I thought I'd get sick…!" he gritted his teeth again, trying his best not to lash out again.
Zen knew that Rikuo functioned as Rikuou's stopper and tranquilizer. Not having the boy here was really a disadvantage for everyone who had to confront their leader face to face. Moreover, taking the only one who could stop Rikuou in doing what he was capable of doing was very clever of whoever caused this disturbance. They successfully aggravated Rikuou and when he was losing his cool like this, Nura Gumi was vulnerable.
"If Gyuuki really did this… what would you do, Rikuou?" Zen asked seriously. Gyuuki was really important to Nura Gumi Alliance. Losing Gyuuki would like losing limbs to Nura Gumi. Gyuuki Gumi was the strongest fighters in Nura Gumi beside Rikuou. They were tough and very good in guarding territory, not to mention in battle.
"I won't forgive treason… especially… if he involves Riku in this… I'll kill him!" Rikuou looked really furious, his eyes blazing bright red in anger. He couldn't think clearly, especially if his beloved one was taken as hostage. He couldn't think anything aside hurriedly saving Rikuo.
"This will get very ugly…," Zen mumbled to himself in worried face as well.
"Huh? Did you say something?" Rikuou looked at Zen, distracted.
"No, I'm talking to myself," Zen said while looking away. "We really should wait for the informants to get ba-…"
"Sandaime!" someone suddenly opened the door of the meeting room while shouting, surprising everyone in the room and cut Zen's words.
"You insolent! Don't you know we're having a serious and important meeting!" The head of Hitotsume Gumi stood and yelled at the intruder, who turned out to be Asami, the youngest daughter of Sanba Gumi.
"I'm very sorry, but this is urgent! I've just got a word back from my brothers, Sandaime. They're hurt badly when they tried to pick up Gyuuki-sama," she said with very distressed look.
"What—!" Rikuou paled at that and his expression turned more dreadful.
"And once again, they said… they saw Waka in the Gyuuki Gumi's HQ, fighting the young head and the Head Assistant. And it seemed Waka was injured pretty bad-…!"
Rikuou couldn't hear any more of this. He clenched his fists and turned his back. "I'll go there myself," he said with surprisingly calming voice.
"Hey, wait a—," Zen wanted to say something but he stopped as he saw the dripping blood on Rikuou's hand. Rikuou was trying really hard not to go berserk now. He was… holding himself back.
"I'll leave HQ for the time being. I trust all of you can manage yourself and our family when I'm absent, right?" No one said anything before Rikuou turned his face back and looked at Zen, "Zen, Shouhei," and then to Shouhei.
"Y-yes!" Zen and Shouei were surprised as they were addressed personally like that, but they had to answer.
"In the mean time, I'll leave Nura Gumi Alliance in your care. Work together, manage the guys and keep our territory safe. I'll go get what's mine back," Rikuou ordered.
"Y-yes, Sandaime!" both Shouhei and Zen said in unison.
"And all of you behind the door," Rikuou glanced at the door which was suddenly opened to reveal some of his subordinates obviously eavesdropping the conversation. They paled and gulped slightly facing Sandaime after getting caught doing something prohibited. "This is an order. Zen and Shouhei's words are mine as well. Obey them!"
"Y-yes! Sandaime!" everyone outside said in unison as well.
"This is okay, right, Gramps?" Rikuou then looked at Nurarihyon who sat beside him with his knowing silence since the beginning of the meeting.
"Do as you wish. It's now your reign, your family, after all," he said with a confident smirk. It seemed he completely believed that Rikuou would do the best solution.
But honestly, everyone including Zen and Shouhei seemed worried. The Rikuou right now…, could he think with his head and not with his heart? Would he do something to solve problem for Nura Gumi's best interest, or do something simply because he was outraged by Gyuuki's betrayal? Or even because he was so worried about his half brother?
"Then, I'll go now. Step aside," Rikuou then walked to the door and everyone made a way for him to go through, except one person who stubbornly stood on his way.
"Rikuou-sama," Tsurara brought herself out to confront him. "Take me with you. I want to save Waka too," she spoke surely.
Rikuou smiled small at her and ruffled her hair fondly. "Thank you, but I need you here to help Zen and Shouhei guarding the HQ and probably some areas too, in case it's just a trap to lure me out so the main house will be vulnerable for attack. This is important job. Protect the weak ones, okay?" he asked while looking at Tsurara's golden eyes straightly. "I know I can trust you too, Tsurara," he continued surely.
"Y-yes…, as your wish, Sandaime," she stuttered with red face, completely caught off guard by the tense but gentle look Rikuou gave her.
Rikuou nodded and slowly released her shoulders before he walked away from the meeting room.
"W-why won't Sandaime let us accompany him to the battle?" Kurotabou asked, not understanding why.
"Because it's Sandaime… and the opponent is Gyuuki Gumi," Kurata said with serious, but worried look.
"Then shouldn't it be because Gyuuki is the opponent, we have to help him even more?" Kino protested as well. "Gyuuki Gumi is powerful. Even though this is Rikuou-sama, fighting the entire family alone is reckless!"
"That's right. That's too much even for Rikuou-sama," Kubinashi agreed completely with her.
"You might be right," Zen said while also looking at Rikuou's back.
"Z-Zen-sama?" Kino looked at the Head of Yakushi Gumi with a bewildered look because he suddenly joined their not so quiet conversation.
"Rikuou-sama is… trying to solve this problem without raising too much uproar. Gyuuki Gumi is our alliance, if the rival families know there's dispute within Nura Gumi Alliances, they'll use it against us," Shouhei also said with a sigh.
"He's learned a lot that Family comes first. He doesn't want to endanger us for his personal problem," Zen said again.
"Personal…? What do you mean by that, Zen-sama?" Kurotabou asked with wondering look.
"Despite what it looks like, I don't think Gyuuki did this for personal reason," Zen said with thoughtful look. "I've been getting a strange vibe from him after Rihan-ojisan died…, I'm not sure what it is, but probably… it has something to do with what he's trying to do now," Zen explained slowly. "And probably… only Rikuou and Rikuo can solve this problem."
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
"Gozumaru!" Mezumaru was shocked when his young boss was defeated by the man they referred as the weakling. "How…? What did you do!" he screamed in anger at Rikuo.
"I'm not as helpless as I look," Rikuo said with serious tense looks. There were cuts on his left cheek, right arm and both shoulder as he fought Gozumaru who had to draw out his katana because he didn't think Rikuo would put up much fight, but they were shallow. The blood that wouldn't stop oozing from the open wound came from his wrist. It seemed the ropes nicked his radial artery. Rikuo had to do something fast before he bled to death.
"How dare you—! I'll make you kneel once more!" Mezumaru fought used strings, just like Kubinashi and Kino, and he was pretty good at it too.
"I'm sorry…, I can't do that," Rikuo said with sad face. "I actually… don't want to hurt anybody…," he moved fluidly because of his basic training in traditional dance and quick footwork. He combined his kendo technique with his dancing technique. Even if his physical power wasn't that great, he knew where to hit to make his opponent stay down. Luckily, both Gozumaru and Mezumaru were still teenagers and there were a lot of weak spots to exploit. Rikuo wasn't really sure if he could fight a grown up with this level of power.
"You…! How could you move… that… fast…!" Mezumaru was down as he was hit just behind the back of his knees. He crouched down and groaned in pain.
Rikuo was panting and his face was pale as he leaned against the wall. "The blood… runs inside my veins…," he said with harsh rough breaths. "Even if I'm like this…, I'm a direct descendant of Nura…. Nura Rihan and… Nura Wakana," he tried to stay up as he moved to the hall, to where Gyuuki was.
Strange… there's no one guarding this place…? Isn't this supposed to be a HQ of Gyuuki Gumi?—Rikuo thought oddly. This was really unusual.
"Gyuuki-ojisan…! Ojisan!" Rikuo shouted. "Anybody!" but no one answered him. Rikuo had to walk around with blood dripping from his wrists. He had tried to stop the bleeding by ripping some of his clothes to tie the wound, but it wasn't enough. His head began to sway and his sight blurring.
Finally, Rikuo tried to open a room. It was dark and the smell of plum was strong from the inside. Yet, Rikuo could see the figure sitting in the middle of the room, meditating. It was Gyuuki with all his composure and calmness.
"Gyuuki…ojisan…," Rikuo called him with quiet almost weak voice.
Gyuuki opened his eyes slightly and turned his face at Rikuo on the doorstep. "You came here… Impressive, I have to say, for ordinary person like you to defeat my successor and his assistant, and now looking for me to challenge me as well? You've got guts," he said with expressionless face.
"You're wrong…! I came here to talk… Gyuuki-ojisan," Rikuo said with desperate look.
"There's nothing to talk about," Gyuuki said while closing his eyes. "The force has already been in motion," he continued slowly, not moving from his spot.
"Please hear me out first. I can explain… about that promise…!"
"You broke that promise already," Gyuuki cut him quickly, not even looking at him.
"I know that…! That's why; Rikuou and Nura Gumi shouldn't receive damage of something that's originally my responsibility…!" Rikuo reached to Gyuuki while slowly walking even though he had to drag his legs. "Please…, please stop the 'attack'. I'll do anything, anything at all… ojisan…!" Rikuo's legs gave out and he collapsed, but strangely, instead of hitting the hard ground, something caught his body first.
When Rikuo looked up with hazy sight, he saw Gyuuki's face, vaguely looking at him solemnly, but there was that gentleness, that gentleness that was so familiar for him in his reddish amber eyes.
"Rikuo…,"
Rikuo widened his eyes as he remembered the voice, the smell, the familiar plum smell. "Pa…pa…," he called out without meaning it and slowly, his vision began to darken and darken until he could only see pitch black as once again, the darkness of oblivion engulfed his consciousness.
Gyuuki's hands were trembling as he held the small boy close to his chest. "I'm sorry…, Rikuo…," he closed his eyes and buried his face in the crook of Rikuo's neck and shoulder…
End of Chapter 5
Tbc...
Notes:
1)Hotoke-sama: Budha, common belief in Japan. Besides it there was Kanon-sama in Shinto, but…well, the tattoo on Rikuou's back is a Budha and in the anime there's a reference that Nurarihyon loves collecting Budha statues so… well, just on a whim ^_^
2)Ore: the most masculine way to refer to ourselves as 'I', usually only used by boys.
About this chapter: I know! There are so many unexplainable things here…, actually, it'll be explained in the 'Red Strings on Their Pinkies', in its chapter 3, but I haven't posted that yet. I will as soon as I finished editing it. Don't worry. You'll still get the full story.
So… what do you think of this chapter? Too rushed? Nah… there's still more to come XDDD. And the reason why Gyuuki did what he did…? Hm… in the next chapter of course XDD. Well? Comments will be much appreciated. Actually, please do comment. Because reading your comments makes my day, and I'll get even more excited to write the continuation of this story.