Disclaimer: Nuramago isn't luna's and never will be. I Love the characters though… so I use them to play XD
Warning: blood (seriously, a lot of blood), shounen ai, yaoincest, language, some confusions (I recommend you to read Red Strings on Their Pinkies for background story if you're indeed confused), violence, oOC-ness... oh, and fan service in the end *winks*
A/N: I got a lot of reviews for the previous chapter! *dancing happily* Thank you very much! You guys are the BEST! XDDD Now, because I'm happy, I meet my deadline *smacked* heheh, now please do and enjoy the new chapter!
Chapter 6: Invincible! Nura Rikuo and Rikuou
Rikuou was on his way to Nejireme, a remote place in the borderland between Tokai Region and Kansai Region, where Gyuuki Gumi Main House stood still. Yes, it was in the foot of a mountain and yes, the view was spectacular because plum trees and flowers filled the place like heaven that many people knew this place as Umerakuen (1). They were in full bloom right now. It was so blissfully beautiful and stunning, hardly believable that this place was a lair of a yakuza group.
As usual, Rikuou's appearance brought most pairs of eyes to his graceful and ethereal feature. It wasn't as bad as when he was still a kid, but it was still a little uncomfortable to be stared at so blatantly like that by strangers. Though these days, most of the time they stared at him with awe. Well, he was strikingly gorgeous. He didn't blame them for ogling him. They couldn't really resist his beauty after all.
However, even though on the outside he appeared cool, calm and collected, on the inside, his feeling was totally in turmoil. Rikuou still couldn't believe that Gyuuki was behind this incident. He didn't want to believe. He had to make sure with his own eyes. Gyuuki couldn't betray him. Not him… only Rikuou he wouldn't betray.
Rikuou knew that Gyuuki was in love with his dad… and Rikuou was his dad's son. Gyuuki wouldn't do this to the one man he had ever loved so dearly, even though Rihan already passed away. Moreover, among everyone else who had guessed that Rikuou had special feelings for Rikuo, Gyuuki was the only one who had heard firsthand about his confession three years ago.
Rikuou still thought that that was a stupid move… but he couldn't care less. He was on the verge of bursting out in frustration because his childish crush and obsession to Rikuo wasn't reciprocated. And the years after that was the worst because Rikuo literally left him. He was gone without saying anything to anyone and Rikuou was almost broken apart by the fact that Rikuo left because of him.
Gyuuki was the one who brought Rikuo back for Rikuou. He found Rikuo and brought the boy back to the grieving Rikuou after his mother passed away. It was the angst period and the darkest time for Rikuou. However, despite being rather afraid of him, Rikuo held his hands and pulled him out of the darkness. Rikuou owed Gyuuki for that. He had found the one person who could make Rikuou a better human.
And now… suddenly this. Gyuuki didn't have any reason to pull this off. It must have been his subordinates… or his successor… or whoever wanted to frame him. And Rikuo was an easy target. Aside being Rikuou's half brother, he had no direct connection to Nura Gumi because he was raised outside and living as civilian all this time. They must have known that Rikuou really loved his half brother because he didn't make any effort to hide it. They wanted to throw him off his game.
Like hell Rikuou would do that…! He was the head of Nura Gumi Alliances. He had powerful subordinates he could trust. If it was their way to make him out of the picture when they launched their attack, he would make sure they didn't succeed. He wouldn't choose between Rikuo and Nura gumi. He chose to protect them both.
Call him naïve, but that was the truth. The moment Rikuou accepted the head position, he had vowed to protect everyone in the family even if he had to die trying. And Rikuo was on the list of people he wanted to protect most. If it turned out that Gyuuki indeed betrayed him this way… even though it was unlikely, Rikuou already made up his choice.
Rikuou would choose Rikuo.
"Hang on, Riku…! I'm coming…!" Rikuou spoke surely while continuing his travel.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
"Papa…!"
"Hey, Rikuo…."
Another fragment of memory…, another blurring face and another familiar fragrance prickled Rikuo's sense.
"Nn…," Rikuo moaned slightly as he felt the painful twinge on his hands, his wrists, and some other places on his right side and his shins. He opened his eyelids slowly, catching a blurring sight of Gyuuki meditating, and when he wanted to move, he couldn't.
Crap…— back to square one, Rikuo was tied up on the pillar this time, with a sitting position. And the pattern of him waking up to begin his part was getting pretty old.
Rikuo also noticed, despite being subdued and bound once again, his wounds were already treated somehow. There were bandages and the smell of chemical, probably antiseptic, wafting around in the air. Gyuuki must have stopped the bleeding on his open wound, but the fact that Rikuo was still dizzy spoke volume.
"You've woken up," it was a statement. Gyuuki was just like Rikuou sometimes. He seemed having eyes on his back.
Rikuo chuckled bitterly. "Yeah… in this pathetic position again," he responded weakly.
Gyuuki slowly opened his eyes and turned to face him. His beautiful visible reddish amber eye looked straightly into Rikuo's chocolate ones and Rikuo didn't know how to react to what he saw there. He didn't know how to read Gyuuki anymore. Gyuuki didn't seem like disliking Rikuo in general. Hell, sometimes he even felt that Gyuuki had a soft spot for him. But a guy who had a soft spot on him wouldn't kidnap him and order his subordinate to maim him either. He didn't understand why Gyuuki did this.
"Take it easy. You lost a lot of blood," the older man said with flat almost uncaring tone, but if Gyuuki really didn't care at all about him, he wouldn't even bother to tell Rikuo not to move.
"Why…, why did you do this…, Gyuuki-ojisan…?" Rikuo couldn't help asking. "Nura Gumi and Rikuou… never did anything wrong…. The succession went smoothly…. Even if there's still struggle here and there, Nura Gumi is safe… Why…would you disturb the peace by creating dispute inside our own family…?"
No matter how hard Rikuo thought about it, it didn't make any sense. Unless Gyuuki really want to destroy the current Sandaime, his action had no meaning. Yes, Rikuo had broken his promise not to fall in love with Rikuou no matter what, and yes, Rikuo could affect Rikuou's judgment if he wanted to, but Rikuo never intended to do anything about it.
Rikuo wouldn't cross the line more than what he already had. He loved Nura Gumi just as much he loved Rikuou. He wouldn't try to destroy his family.
"The resolution isn't enough," Gyuuki spoke suddenly, jerking Rikuo out of his reverie.
"What…?" Rikuo couldn't catch the message in his words.
"The resolution… to choose the most important thing," Gyuuki continued while closing his eyes again, back to his meditation. "I'm just going to wait and see… which is more important…? You… or Nura Gumi."
Hearing that, suddenly Rikuo understood everything. It clicked like a piece of puzzle. The force movement… the kidnapping…, considering Rikuo as a threat wasn't everything. It was part of it, but the actual reason of this reckless rebellion was…! "It's a test…! You're serious… Gyuuki-ojisan…? You want to test Rikuou…?" Rikuo widened his eyes in total shock, tears beginning to gather in them too, but he refused to cry like a baby in front of him. He gritted his teeth, seething in anger of his own helplessness. "You used me… for his test…! Do you think he's going to forgive you with this? What are you thinking, Ojisan!" Rikuo shouted now, feeling pained, betrayed, and used.
Gyuuki would exploit Rikuou's love for Rikuo to test his capacity as the Sandaime. He would make Rikuou choose between Nura Gumi and Rikuo.
"I'm sorry…," Gyuuki spoke slowly and Rikuo widened his eyes even more as he heard the regretting tone. "I always hoped… that I wouldn't have to resort to this… that's why; I told you not to fall in love with him and lead him on to pursue his feelings further," he continued, but not turning his face to Rikuo, so he couldn't see his expression. "Your promise played a great part in it… I never thought you'd actually break it."
There was that stabbing ache in his chest when he heard it. He knew that his and Rikuou's feeling for each other was taboo, but hearing it firsthand that how wrong it was from the person he respected was absolutely painful.
"I'm sorry…," Rikuo looked down on his lap, feeling helpless because what Gyuuki said was true. He did break the promise… But…!
"Don't be. I was in the wrong first," Gyuuki said suddenly, surprising Rikuo with his unexpected words.
Rikuo didn't know why Gyuuki said it was his fault. He fell in love with Rikuou or the other way around had absolutely nothing to do with Gyuuki.
"I thought getting you out of the family was the best way that time to avoid crisis of the multiple successors…. I never expected that you would fall in love with each other rather than being rivals-siblings. That possibility never occurred to me," Gyuuki spoke lowly. "We couldn't help… with whom we fall in love… I should have known that more than anyone else. After all…, I was in love with a person I knew I would never get as well…," he appeared looking down now, looking deflated.
"Gyuuki-ojisan…," Rikuo had never thought Gyuuki would speak to him like this. This wasn't like Gyuuki at all. Something must have happened.
"I was young and naïve once you know…, so I know perfectly well how it feels to love someone but also to realize that I'll never have that person whatever I do. How I deal with that sense of loss is probably wrong, but I shift my love to something else. Something closest to that person… the Nura Gumi," Gyuuki spoke again, still not looking at Rikuo. "Nura Gumi becomes the love of my life. I vow to protect it, to let it prosper until the day I die. I won't let anything, anything at all, weakens and destroys the Nura Gumi I love. I'll never allow that, not even if it's you… or Rikuou… or both of you. Before that happens… I'll make sure to take care of everything." Gyuuki's back was straight once again now, his tone and voice sure and strong. Even though his words were polite, Rikuo knew the simplifying meaning of that 'take care of everything'.
Gyuuki was prepared to kill Rikuo and Rikuou.
But then, before panicking over his own safety, Rikuo began to mull over everything in his head. He never knew that Gyuuki had someone he loved so much before. So much… even more than Nura Gumi…. From his words and explanation 'that person' was probably from inside the Nura Gumi. Gyuuki said the family itself was the closest thing to that person. It… could it be…?
"Papa…!"
Rikuo jerked as the memory began to play again in his head.
"Rikuo…,"
Vaguely…, Rikuo knew that man. He couldn't see his face clearly, but his voice… his smile… and the plum fragrance…. It was….
"Papa…," Rikuo totally saw it when Gyuuki twitched slightly. He reacted to the call. He knew it!
"Gyuuki-ojisan…, Papa!" Rikuo called him surely now. Gyuuki turned his face at him looking totally troubled. "You'd been in our house several times…. No, more than that. You actually lived together with me and Mom for the first three or four years… and I mistook you for someone else. I called you 'papa'. It was you…! That man… who smiled and laughed with us whenever Dad wasn't around… it was you…!" Realization dawned on Rikuo in a fierce brutality. "The one you love most… is it my mom?" he asked then with a widened eyes. Gyuuki didn't answer, just looking at him with conflicted expression. It was the first time Rikuo saw Gyuuki like this. "Is it true then…?" He widened his eyes in disbelief. "Then… am I actually your…?"
"Too bad, you've got it wrong," Gyuuki cut him quickly before Rikuo could say it. "You're Rihan's kid. Rihan and Wakana-san's…. Heh, it would probably have been easier to do this if you had been mine and Wakana-san'…," the older man said as he smiled solemnly. "The fact… that I have to kill Rihan's son with my own hands terrify me to my core…," he stood slowly then, before starting to walk approaching Rikuo who didn't release his gaze from Gyuuki. "To kill the children… of the man I love most… to protect the family he and I love most…," he kneeled in front of Rikuo now, with faraway look. "Not even my love for you… can rival my love for Nura Gumi and him." The head of Gyuuki Gumi then reached his hand at Rikuo's cheek.
It was my dad!—Rikuo's mind screamed in shock. He never knew that Gyuuki swung that way! So… it wasn't actually the problem of both him and Rikuou being men at all. It was because they were brothers? But Gyuuki and Rihan were also like brothers even though they weren't brothers by blood but by oath. The idea was still the same…!
"Liar," Rikuo said with fire in his eyes, making Gyuuki widen his eyes in surprise and stop his hand from touching him. "Exactly… what can Rikuou and I do… to destroy this family you and dad love so much?" he asked then, pressuring Gyuuki to tell him more. "Exactly… what can two kids do… to destroy the most powerful yakuza family in Japan, Gyuuki?" Rikuo dropped the –ojisan suffix to make his point across.
"You've become quite impolite these past years…," Gyuuki said, probably trying to deter him or to avoid answering his serious question.
"Rikuou's influence, probably," Rikuo wasn't that dizzy anymore. And he knew exactly what he was doing. When he talked to Gyuuki, he had tried his best to loosen the sash tying his hands behind the pillar. It wasn't as biting and rough as the rope Gozu and Mezu used to tie him earlier because the material was soft. And while talking, he had already loosened some of the tight knots. He could free himself now if he wanted to and run, but it wouldn't solve this problem. Now he was in the brink of the real answer from Gyuuki. "Hey, Gyuuki… what is it that you're trying to protect so hard… that you almost destroy the Nura Gumi you love most?"
Gyuuki jerked and stood back.
"Is it really Nura Gumi you want to protect… or is it Nura Gumi in your idealism?" Rikuo asked again while trying to stand even though his legs were still quivering. Losing blood really was inconvenient. Gyuuki widened his eyes in disbelief as he saw it. The kid was actually standing now and the binds were falling from his hands.
"Heh… as expected from Rihan's child…, you're truly… like your dad in so many ways," Gyuuki said with a smirk.
"Answer me, Gyuuki," Rikuo set his serious gaze at Gyuuki. "According to your answer, I may not have to beat the shit out of you," he said again while glaring heatedly at Gyuuki.
Gyuuki chuckled slightly at the empty threat. "You're not going to kill me?" he asked back, provoking and fueling Rikuo's anger as well.
"I'm not a killer," Rikuo said seriously.
"Even if you're about to die?" Gyuuki touched the hilt of his katana and stared down at Rikuo, the killing intent evident in his tone and eye.
"I don't care what happens to me… but I won't forgive you if you hurt the people I love…!" Rikuo glanced around slightly and found another katana in the room, just beside him.
Huh?—Rikuo thought oddly. Not once, but twice… it seemed no matter where he was kept in this HQ, he always found a weapon to defend himself laying around. Moreover, he also felt something else. There was something… a third presence in the room. Eh…? Isn't that…?
However, before Rikuo could mull it over further, Gyuuki had already drawn his katana and his attention was back to focus on the head of Gyuuki Gumi. It felt more and more like a set up. Something was definitely wrong. Of course, Gyuuki's reasoning was probably making sense at some points, but no matter how much Rikuo looked at it, it was still too much.
Getting rid of Rikuo and Rikuou were easy if Gyuuki seriously wanted to do it. He actually only had to ask someone or rival families to do the killing. They'd be glad to help. Kidnapping Rikuo here, setting trap and mobilizing his own men to make Rikuou choose between him and Nura Gumi…, it was as if… Gyuuki made sure he would get blamed if something really happened to Rikuo and Rikuou.
Suddenly a thought occurred to him. It seemed unlikely and impossible, but looking at the circumstance…. "I see now…," Rikuo smiled in understanding look. "I understand it all, Gyuuki…!" he took the katana beside him and drew out the sword as well.
Gyuuki was silent for a moment and raised his eyebrows at Rikuo's stance before asking "About what?"
"You want me to fight my way out of here," Rikuo said, now smirking lightly as he could read everything now, really reading Gyuuki for his honest feeling. "This isn't a test for Rikuou… it's a test for me," he said confidently.
Gyuuki was stunned for a moment before a smirk bloomed on his face as well. "As expected… from Nura Rikuo, the genius kid in Nura Gumi," he said coolly and Rikuo could see a flash of pride in the way he called Rikuo a genius.
"Then… if I win, you'll stop your men from attacking Nura Gumi and Rikuou?" the chocolate eyed and haired boy asked seriously again, ready to attack Gyuuki with his sword technique now.
"Heh, you think I'd lose to you?" Gyuuki looked intrigued by the confidence in Rikuo's face and voice.
"Oh please… be realistic. I perfectly realize that I'm not that strong. Defeating you, the head of Gyuuki Gumi who Rikuou even can't defeat alone? That will be a joke for seven generations… but," Rikuo stepped up for a bit before he launched his first attack at Gyuuki who deflected it with his katana fast.
Rikuo was thrown aside a bit, but what Gyuuki didn't expect then, someone else suddenly took Rikuo's place and another attack of a katana almost cut Gyuuki in half if he didn't jumped back fast enough.
"What—!" Gyuuki looked so much in shock as a figure… precisely a very pissed off looking Rikuou attack him just a moment after Rikuo's attack was deflected. "Rikuou!"
"You call?" Rikuou glared at Gyuuki heatedly.
"Not yet," Rikuo said as he began attack again and Gyuuki had to deflect it once more in reflect as Rikuou also followed and launched a second attack.
Gyuuki had to use the sword sheath to defend himself from Rikuou's katana. The older man looked like he was still in astonishment and in disbelief as Rikuo and Rikuou began to simultaneously attack him with power and agility both had never shown before, especially Rikuou whom he was training this whole time.
What Rikuo's lack was power and fierceness, and that was covered by Rikuou's sharp and powerful cuts and stabs. Rikuou's lack in speed was covered by Rikuo's dexterity in moving like dancing. Their attacks seemed in total opposite, but it created a harmony of perfecting each other, like Yin and Yang.
"I'm not alone, you see," Rikuo said while smirking in victory at Gyuuki's speechless feature. "Because Rikuou will always be beside me... When Nura Rikuo and Rikuou fight together side by side… we're invincible," he continued and Rikuou agreed in his stern glare and silence as their attacks got even more brutal, vicious and faster.
Gyuuki had never seen something like this before. Heck, he didn't even know that Rikuo and Rikuou were capable of doing something as complicated as a harmonic attack! He was totally amazed at their speed and fluid moves. It was very frightening and beautiful at the same time.
Gyuuki couldn't follow their movement at some point and was slashed by Rikuo's sword on his chest. The wound was shallow, obviously, because it came from Rikuo's blade, but it was enough to make Gyuuki stay down because it had to hurt like a bitch. However, when Rikuou was about to do the job to finish Gyuuki off, Rikuo quickly deflected the last blow.
Both Gyuuki and Rikuou seemed shocked at that.
"Riku… why did you stop me?" Rikuou looked at his half brother with a slightly confused look.
"That's right… why did you stop him?" Gyuuki asked as well, looking at Rikuo with thrown look.
"No killing please, we've already talked about this," Rikuo said with an annoyed huff.
"This man kidnapped you, hurt you, and almost killed you to boot!" Rikuou pointed at Gyuuki angrily. "You expect me to LET IT GO?" he protested, looking totally enraged by the idea itself.
"He did it with a probable cause," Rikuo said calmly.
"A probable—!" A very big vein visibly popped out of Rikuou's head, looking like almost bursting out. "You called TREASON a PROBABLE CAUSE!"
"Stop shouting, my head hurts you know," Rikuo's sweat dropped and his head began to sway again as he almost fell, but Gyuuki hurriedly caught him before his body hit the floor.
"GYAAAAA!" Rikuou, just about to do the same thing (catching Rikuo), looked totally mortified because Gyuuki was still able to move and now he had Rikuo in his arms. "Let go of Rikuo, You BASTARD!" But Rikuou was totally refrained from attacking Gyuuki because Rikuo could get hurt in the process.
"Why… don't you let me die by his hands, Rikuo? Looked at every aspect, this is a treason. I have to take responsibility, you know…. Now I can't face my subordinates and my successor who have bet their lives on me…!" Gyuuki completely ignored Rikuou's screeching and asked Rikuo in his arms instead.
"Don't be silly, it's just a test, right? A test… to determine whether my resolution is enough or not, how far I'll go to protect Nura Gumi and Rikuou…," Rikuo chuckled while holding Gyuuki's kimono.
"A test that almost SENT YOU to NIRVANA!" Rikuou added, apparently hadn't given up his screaming act yet.
"Rikuou's right…. I intended to kill you for real if you didn't pass this," Gyuuki said slowly, looking at Rikuo's eyes deeply.
"And then… after killing me… what would you do?" Rikuo asked with a solemn smile on his face. "You'd… kill yourself as well, right?" he asked then, surprising both Sandaime and Gyuuki himself. "Whether I passed it or not… in the end, you'd take responsibilities by killing yourself…," Rikuo clenched the material on his hand more tightly.
There was a brief silence before Gyuuki said "I won't let you go by yourself…," with a look that could rival Wakana when she talked heart to heart to her child.
Rikuo was entranced by Gyuuki's tender expression. A happy smile then bloomed on his face. "That's… very you… Gyuuki-ojisan…. I'm lucky…. we're lucky… to have you here… as our guardian…," he sighed slowly while closing his eyes. "Don't die… because I… don't want to lose anyone… anymore…." He whispered the last line quietly before losing his consciousness again.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
"Riku!" Rikuou's face paled visibly when he saw his half brother faint. He dropped his katana and surged forward to see Rikuo's condition in Gyuuki's arms.
"It's okay. He's just exhausted," Gyuuki said reassuringly.
"I don't want to hear that from you!" Rikuou hissed at Gyuuki angrily. "I'm still mad at you! Don't you think I'll forgive what you have done to Rikuo just because he has!" the younger Nura then grabbed Gyuuki's collar and pulled him with shaking hands. "How dare you…! You…! WHY Gyuuki? I trusted you! How could you do this to us! You're like a father to me… and yet… why, damn it!"
Rikuou shut his eyes and clenched his teeth. Rather than very angry or enraged at Gyuuki for what he had done…, to Gyuuki's eyes, Rikuou looked more like a child that was hurt very-very deeply by his betrayal. Rikuou the Sandaime of Nura Gumi… looked like almost crying. He was still a kid after all.
"Just like Rikuo said… it was a test," Gyuuki said.
"Rikuo is a civilian! He shouldn't be subjected to any test from Nura Gumi people! I AM the Sandaime of Nura Gumi! What gave you the FUCKING right to do something like this to him!" Rikuou was still screaming at him, now looking very angry.
"I didn't have, I still don't. That's why I was prepared to die no matter what the outcome of this test," Gyuuki held Rikuo's unconscious body closer to him. "I never thought… that he'd save me at the very end. He… always surprises me, just like your father," he continued.
"I still don't get why you need to test him. Riku is fine the way he is! He's not associated with Nura Gumi's operation whatsoever! Aside being my half brother, he's just ordinary high school boy!" Rikuo still looked mighty pissed off at Gyuuki.
"Ordinary… you might be right. I brought him and Wakana-san out of Nura Gumi. I wish he'd live civilian's life for the rest of his life…, but…," Gyuuki looked down at the sleeping boy in his arm sadly.
"What but? Isn't he always living a civilian's life?" Rikuou humped, still looking annoyed.
"He's volunteering himself to be a spy to help Nura Gumi dealing with Keikain Family," Gyuuki said, and Rikuou winced visibly. "He came to Nura Gumi Main House almost every day since Rihan's funeral," Rikuou looked like he had just been slapped in the face as Gyuuki continued, "And most of all… you kiss him, and he doesn't fight you as much anymore."
Rikuou was as red as tomato (probably from embarrassment that Gyuuki knew about something as private as that, and probably wondering whether Gyuuki had stalked them and put them under surveillance in the house or something) by the time Gyuuki finished the list of Rikuo's involvement in Nura Gumi. Sandaime couldn't say anything to retort back.
"Even though he always claims himself wanting to be a civilian… he fights just as hard to protect Nura Gumi," Gyuuki continued again. "And he broke the last barrier I set up for him two years ago."
Rikuou looked surprised as he heard the last one. "What barrier?"
"I made him promise me… that he wouldn't fall in love with you no matter what," Gyuuki said and Rikuou almost choked over hearing that.
"WHAT!" the Sandaime looked totally baffled at that. "What the hell did you do that for!"
"Obviously… because you confessed to me that you love him as in… romantically," Gyuuki deadpanned at Rikuou.
"You…! You're going to fight that till the end, aren't you?" Rikuou looked at Gyuuki like he was about to strangle the older man and Gyuuki just huffed.
"I don't give a damn whatever you want to do with each other as long as you keep it in private," Gyuuki looked at another way.
"Ah, so, yeah right," Rikuou threw his face away from Gyuuki as well, and there was silence for a moment before Rikuou seemed realizing what was said just then and turned to face Gyuuki again with a very surprised look. "Wait! Did you just say…, you're not against it?" he almost dropped his own jaw as he stared at the older man in disbelief.
"Not really, who am I to talk? With my own history, I really can't say anything, can I?" Gyuuki ruefully smiled at Rikuou.
"Then why did you make Riku promise not to fall in love with me?" Rikuou continued asking with a totally confused look now.
"Because… he said he wanted a civilian's life," Gyuuki said surely. "He absolutely must not fall in love with you if he wants a normal life, must he? Because the moment he falls for you… he's bound to you, a yakuza boss. Do you think he's willing to wait like a good wife while you're fighting your battle in maintaining the family?" Gyuuki paused to give Rikuou time to think his words over for a minute before continuing. "Very unlikely, Rikuo is a boy… a man, the type of person who will jump into the pit of fire or cross the ocean following the ones he loves… to protect them. Surprisingly, he's a lot more like me than I thought before. I realized this when he offered himself to be our spy to look for information," he sighed long now. "He just… has a lot of people he wants to protect already, civilian friends… his mom. Adding you in the picture is just…," he sighed again, totally beaten.
"I'm going to protect him," Rikuou said with certainty.
"That's not what he said to my successor," Gyuuki argued. "He said… you are already protecting everyone else… so he'll be the one to protect you."
Rikuou widened his eyes hearing that. "Riku… really said that?"
"Why are you surprised? Don't tell me you don't realize what he had to give up to do that," Gyuuki narrowed his eyes at Rikuou.
"What?" Rikuou looked slightly panicked.
"Seriously?" Gyuuki stared at him disbelievingly. "That thickness of yours is so like Rihan it's annoying," he huffed.
"Hey!" Rikuou yelled at Gyuuki in irritation. "Don't you dare mock me and my dad! I'm the Sandaime, damn it!"
"Doesn't mean all of you are perfect," Gyuuki sniped lightly. "And I'm not going to tell you. Find out yourself if you really love him like you say so," he continued while closing his eyes calmly again.
"You…!" Rikuou glared daggers at Gyuuki, totally looking aggravated.
There was a moment of awkward silence after that before Gyuuki began to speak again. Gyuuki didn't know why. He usually wasn't keen to talk so much… just right now… he felt it would be the right thing to do after all of his escapades. He felt he owed the kid an explanation after all.
"I get what Rikuo wants to do… what he thinks… after all, I already walked the same road once. What I fear most for him… it's that, he's too kind," Gyuuki said, slowly ruffling Rikuo's soft chocolate hair.
"Sure he is. That's because Riku has a heart of a saint! I can't believe he even forgave you that easily," Rikuou muttered the last line in a sulky manner, totally not satisfied.
"Huh, his decision doesn't have to affect yours, you know. You're the Sandaime of Nura Gumi. If you wish to kill me right here and now as a punishment of this treason, I won't move even a muscle to defend myself," Gyuuki said with a small smile, totally resigned to whatever fate wanted to do with his life. "Because, you're right, I'm guilty as charged."
There was a heavy silence where Rikuou only stared at Gyuuki with serious look. "You're so eager to die… and you wish Riku or I killed you in this stupid stunt," the younger Nura then spoke lowly with eerie tone.
Gyuuki had to admit, even if he wasn't as bright as Rikuo, that Rikuou was quite sharp in his own way. Gyuuki realized that he really was provoking the Sandaime to do that.
"Normally, I would just do that, but knowing Riku, he would definitely be very-very upset if I did," Rikuou continued. "Moreover… I heard that you actually raised Riku for some early years of his life. It must have been killing you… that you had to do this test to him. Maybe letting you live will be the cruelest punishment ever because you have to live the rest of your life with that guilt eating at you from the inside," Rikuou smirked evilly at him.
"That's… really spiteful indeed…," Gyuuki's heart sank. He knew Rikuou wasn't that kind, but in a way, his harsh words contradicted the meaning of his action. Rikuo and Rikuou were like day and night, but their kindness wasn't that different even though the ways they delivered it were in total opposites. In the end… both brothers let Gyuuki live.
"A heart of a saint huh…? What I see there… is the lack of resolution…," Gyuuki closed his eyes. "Saving me despite committing treason…, he's still not prepared to kill for protecting what he loves. When you're prepared fully to defile your hand for a good cause… Rikuo doesn't have that. What would happen if it wasn't a test? What if I really wanted to kill him? He blocked your sword, giving his back to me despite in that kind of situation. What if I picked my sword and stabbed him right there on his back? His naivety… someday is going to kill him for real," Gyuuki closed his eyes then, pained by the future if Rikuo stayed this way.
"There's a time when a man has to harden his heart and do something cruel, to kill or to be killed. There's also a time where situation forces someone to break his principle as well. Rikuo is too idealistic. He won't survive in a world as hard as yakuza world."
"Then I'll just make sure… that he doesn't have to face that kind of situation," Rikuo spoke suddenly, surprising Gyuuki a little that he had to look up at him. "This is my promise to you, Gyuuki. I absolutely won't create a situation where Rikuo has to dirty his hands for my or Nura Gumi sake. This…, I swear I'll never break this promise. Because I want Rikuo to stay the way he is. Naïve, innocent, just the way I love him…."
Gyuuki was impressed when he saw the absolute conviction in Rikuou's blazing crimson eyes. Sandaime was serious. He would do just about anything to maintain Rikuo's innocence.
"You're also naïve, Sandaime Rikuou," Gyuuki pointed out coolly.
"Hn, you won't get it because you're an adult. I can do anything to make Riku safe. Istill don't have that boundary to limit my potential," Rikuou continued while huffing proudly. "Because I already decided… the day Rikuo dies… I'll die together with him."
"Shodaime… why did you pick Rikuo first to fill the position as an heir?"
Gyuuki was feeling faint now. He looked down, and was just realizing that the blood from the wound on his chest hadn't stopped oozing out. It seemed… he was cut quite deeper than he thought.
"Gyuuki…? Hey…," Rikuou called the older man, but Gyuuki really couldn't respond to him right now. "Oi, Gyuuki? Geeeh! The blood! Oi! You're still bleeding out! Oh crap!" Rikuou looked and sounded totally panicked, but Gyuuki couldn't understand why. His brain couldn't process what was happening anymore in front of his eyes and what he heard.
"Isn't it already decided that Rikuou will fill the position, and not his older brother?"
Even in the verge of passing out himself, Gyuuki couldn't help remembering his conversation with the First last year, just a week after Rihan's funeral and when it was the time to point a new head.
"Don't you realize? Rikuou isn't exactly stable."
I've always been wondering why Shodaime spoke that way in an apologetic expression…. Now… I think I understand why…—Gyuuki thought before he closed his eyelids because it was getting too heavy to lift again. That's right… something like 'that' happened just after Otome-san died… strangely, it didn't happen after Rihan passed…. Maybe… no, probably… it was because… Rikuo was there for Sandaime…?
"Hey, Gyuuki! Wait a min—! Don't pass out, damn it! I need the phone! THE PHONE! Need to call ambulance…—hey!"
"Crap… seems I'm going to fade soon… my men… I haven't… stopped them…!" Gyuuki muttered drowsily. In the background, Gyuuki could hear Rikuou's shouting voice, but it was getting really hard to stay awake, so he just closed his eyes completely and let himself sink in the bliss of nothingness.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuou was sitting beside Rikuo when the older shorter boy was still sleeping soundly on his futon. Both Gyuuki and Rikuo had been brought back to Nura Gumi, along with Gyuuki's successor, Gozumaru and his assistant, Mezumaru who were still hospitalized in Yakushi Gumi Private Hospital because they insisted on taking on Rikuou to fight despite their already injuries courtesy of Rikuo.
Those boys were really stubborn till the end. Despite knowing Rikuou as the Sandaime, they didn't give Gyuuki up easily when Rikuou asked where to find him and his kidnapped half brother. He was kind of feeling bad for hurting them even more while knowing they had already been injured, but he had to because they were in the way. Who knew that Rikuo was still strong enough to feel his presence after he sneaked up inside the room? Even Gyuuki didn't feel his presence. Rikuou knew because Gyuuki looked so shocked when he attacked himjust after Rikuo did.
Rikuou was even more impressed that his half brother's skill hadn't rusted at all. They had been trained to fight together with their own specialty by their father when they were still kids. Even though Rikuou loved Rikuo, he hated losing, so he still tried his best to train even though it was difficult and troublesome to match his skill with other people. Rikuo wasn't as strong as Rikuou, but his speed and technique was better. He could totally used Rikuo's skills to complete his, and the result was unbelievably satisfactory. Both Rikuou and Rikuo worked it out outstandingly after those years of hardship.
The mobilized Gyuuki Gumi men that were about to attack Nura Gumi main house were subdued by Nura Gumi people under Shouhei's lead. No fatalities. When the men heard that Gyuuki was defeated, they tried to commit seppuku. They were stopped though, because Rikuou already called. Even though he hadn't had the slightest idea of what those people were about to do, he ordered Nura Gumi men to stop them even though it was the act of committing suicide.
The wounded ones were treated by Zen indiscriminately. He was a doctor wannabe after all. He couldn't pick his patients could he?
Anyway, everything was okay, at least for now.
Sandaime still couldn't believe that something like this had to happen in his watch. Gyuuki had to test Rikuo because he was in love with him… what a joke. Gyuuki was too serious as always. Well, he had probable cause indeed. Though the act of treason was still treason whatever the reasons were. He still had to hold General Meeting to deal with Gyuuki's punishment.
Rikuou wanted to let Gyuuki live… not off the hook, but live nonetheless. Maybe he would take hostage of his successor and his head assistant. Gyuuki was fond of those two. He wouldn't try anything else while knowing those kids' lives could be in danger if he did. Sandaime could also use more hands to guard Rikuo, and those kids had a lot of potential despite their nasty personalities. Moreover, they were at the same age as Rikuo, it wouldn't be bad to let them transfer to Rikuo's school. Then Rikuo could protect his civilian friends as well using Gozu and Mezu's help.
"Nn…,"
Rikuou was brought back from his musing as he heard the audible sigh coming from Rikuo. He turned to look at the slender boy. Rikuo was opening his eyelids slowly before he blinked several times to focus his sight. It didn't take long until Rikuo set his sleepy gaze on Rikuou.
"Good morning," Rikuo said with a small smile.
"It's not morning," Rikuou mumbled slowly while looking at his half brother, pouting a little.
"Why are you pouting?" Rikuo chuckled slightly seeing his face.
"I'm not," Rikuou glowered slightly.
"You totally are," now the chuckle escalated into a laugh.
Rikuou huffed while waiting Rikuo's laugh to die down. "Don't laugh…, it's totally not funny seeing you get hurt like this…," he looked down now, totally shamed. "I'm sorry…."
Rikuo reached out his hand to stroke his half brother's hair. "Why are you apologizing now?"
"It happened because of me…. You had to be tested too because I involved you too much in Nura Gumi problems…," Rikuou closed his eyes in aggrieved look.
"You're so full of yourself like always. You think I will do something just because you make me? As if…, I did what I did because I wanted to, Rikuou. It was my own choice. Breaking the promise… f-falling in love with you…," Rikuo paused and looked at another way slowly with a blushing face.
Rikuou looked up as he heard the shy confession. He widened his eyes and opened in mouth in disbelief. "Do you… really…?"
"Moron, don't ask something as embarrassing as that!" Rikuo hit Rikuou's head now, hard, while blushing madly.
"OW! Why are you getting so violent when I'm asking you seriously?" Rikuou nursed the painful bump forming on his head.
"It's still embarrassing for asking something like that whether you're serious or not…. I'm not going to repeat myself!" Rikuo covered his face with one hand, totally hiding from Rikuou.
"Riku… you're the tsundere (2) type aren't you?" Rikuou chuckled slightly at that.
"Shut up!" Rikuo sat up and threw a pillow at Rikuou who readily caught it in fron of his face. Rikuo's face was still flaming in embarrassment that the silver haired boy laughed even harder.
"Well… I guess it ended quite well. At first I thought I had to kill Gyuuki for this, but… I found another way," Rikuou sighed slowly. "I'm still a bit angry with him for what he did though… but killing him would be a waste of manpower," he continued.
"Well, aren't we learning?" Rikuo smiled looking totally proud at Rikuou's decision. "You're making the right choice. Losing Gyuuki means weakening Nura Gumi force. His area was an important section of Nura Gumi. Gyuuki Gumi is the first strong barrier we have to defend ourselves from any attack from the west part outside our territory. As long as Gyuuki is there, you don't have to worry about any intruder, because he'll die protecting his area," the older Nura continued with a sure expression.
"You know him very well," Rikuou responded to that accordingly.
"Of course I do. He did raise me for three years… well, sort of. I don't really remember much, but I called him 'Papa' once," Rikuo grinned slightly.
"I really want to see his face when you did," Rikuou chuckled again, totally interested in what kind of expression Gyuuki would make when Rikuo called him Papa.
"I still can do that. I have to pay him back for the test after all. Let's pull prank on him sometimes," Rikuo smirked wickedly as he thought something totally funny in his head.
"Why do I get a feeling that you've changed to the worse somehow?" Rikuou asked; sweat dropping as he thought that Rikuo became more and more mischievous day by day. It wasn't like Rikuo to plan a prank on someone else.
Well, considering that Rikuo was almost killed by Gyuuki, it could be… he did feel angry with the older man and holding a grudge as well, just… not in the nasty kind of way. Rikuo's sense of humor was always interesting after all, and fun as well. More and more, Rikuou couldn't help feeling that Rikuo was more like his dad and grandfather. Even though his appearance was like a normal next door type of boy…, Rikuo was indeed, a Nura.
"I don't want to be told like that by you," Rikuo dead panned at Rikuou and the younger Nura just closed his eyes and sighed in a relieved smile. "Why are you smiling again? It's creepy," he added then.
"How rude," Rikuou pouted again before he reached his hand to Rikuo's cheek. "I'm just glad… that you're home… safe and sound," he caressed the skin tenderly while smiling gently again, earning a light blush from Rikuo.
"W-what are you doing?" Rikuo asked, rather in alert, a bead of sweat prickling out of his temple.
"Hmm… I really want to kiss you right now," Rikuou smirked teasingly now, making his half brother blush harder as he leaned his face closer.
"I-idiot! Sto-… not in a place like this…!" Rikuo looked like he wanted to avoid it, still completely flushing in total embarrassment and panicky. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Rikuou wouldn't have no for an answer, so the Sandaime ignored Rikuo's protest completely and kissed him anyway. Rikuo couldn't really help but to close his eyes and kiss him back after several futile attempts to escape.
Rikuo's lips were soft as always, a bit dry this time, because he just woke up, but kissing him was still good and enjoyable. Just like Gyuuki said, Rikuo completely stopped struggling when he kissed him now. Even though he was still protesting, he didn't fight Rikuou as much as he used to anymore. It seemed… Rikuo was indeed in love with him now… just like he was with Rikuo. He even confessed. Rikuou wanted to chuckle, but he couldn't when he was still kissing Rikuo.
Rikuo was holding onto the front part of Rikuou's kimono and Rikuou's hand was on Rikuo's cheek, the other circling his waist. Their kiss was long, but Rikuou kept the kiss quite innocent until he felt Rikuo shyly opening his mouth, a silent plea for Rikuou to deepen their kiss even more. Facing a very powerful temptation and pleasurable offer like that, of course Rikuou couldn't turn it down.
Rikuou was slowly dipping his tongue into Rikuo's mouth, savoring the sweet flavor of Rikuo's cavern. Just like the first time they kissed, he tasted like chocolate on the inside. He wondered why Rikuo could taste this delicious. It was hot, intoxicating… making him crave even more for Rikuos unique tang.
The need of oxygen was quite annoying at this point, but Sandaime had to admit that he was beginning to get a little dizzy. He slowly released his kiss, panting softly. So was Rikuo. They gasped in and out each other's breathing and when both opening their dazed eyes again to look at each other's Rikuou smiled fondly and lovingly at Rikuo.
"We… really shouldn't do this… anymore…," Rikuo said, looking slightly conflicted. He was still feeling guilty apparently.
"It's okay…," Rikuou reassured his half brother with shower of little kisses to his forehead and cheek before coming back to his lips.
"It is not…," Rikuo looked at another way.
"It is," Rikuou insisted, bringing Rikuo's face back to look at him. "Gyuuki said it was okay."
Rikuo widened his eyes at that. "He did?" he asked in surprise.
Rikuo grinned slightly. "Actually, he doesn't care as long as we keep it to ourselves."
"Really?" Rikuo still looked skeptical.
"Yeah. Besides, he feels he doesn't have right to tell us that we can and can't do," Rikuou stroke his big brother's neck softly now while nuzzling his cheek.
"Ah… because of dad…," Rikuo punched his palm lightly.
Rikuou then pulled out slightly. "You know about that story?" he asked, surprised as well.
"Well… he kind of… blurted that out when he was testing me…," Rikuo smiled apologetically.
"Gyuuki can be such a woman sometimes," Rikuou snickered at that.
"Hey, he's going to kick your ass for calling him a woman," Rikuo scolded him.
"Then don't tell him… it'll be our little secret," Rikuou said again with a naughty smirk, making Rikuo flush again. "Hmm… A little secret along with our big secret…, sounds very poetic don't you think?" he continued his ministration by kissing Rikuo's sensitive neck now, finding the hickey he had made two nights before and kissing the sensitive spot just above.
"Nn…," Rikuo whimpered lightly. "Hey, don't…! It's ticklish," he said, still blushing sexily, fueling Rikuou's already leaking desire to touch him even more.
"Damn…! If you make that kind of face and sound… I won't be able to hold back…!" Rikuou growled as he pushed the smaller boy's body to lay back down on his futon.
"Hey, wait a—, isn't this too soon?" Rikuo asked, totally in alert now as his sweat was breaking out his entire face. He looked totally panicked and embarrassed. He was just so cute and tempting in Rikuou's eyes.
"No… I've waited long enough. I think I deserve something for my reward," Rikuou winked at him while loosening the obi of Rikuo's night Yukata.
"Wha—! No, wait a sec—!" Rikuo tried to struggle but it seemed his body was still weak as his hands were shaking slightly.
"Don't be afraid of me, Riku…," Rikuou said slowly, stopping his hands just for a moment to look at Rikuo's eyes softly. "You know I'll never hurt you…," he continued, leaning just a little closer to kiss Rikuo again on the lips, reassuring as well as promising something more pleasurable.
"E… even though you said that…, the-the first time… will still be scary whoever the opponent is…," Rikuo said while looking like he was about to cry.
My GOD he's so endearing…!—Rikuou almost got a nosebleed seeing the very sexy, cute and innocent look Rikuo was making right now.
Rikuou then resorted to hug the boy tightly. "No way…! You're too fucking adorable! I can't stand it!" he said while trying so hard not to laugh.
"S-shut up!" Rikuo yelled at the taller boy on top of him in annoyance.
"Oh god…! I really-really love you, Riku…!" Rikuou was shaking holding himself back not to laugh like a lunatic, and Rikuo was still berating him for teasing his older half brother too much.
After Rikuou was satisfied with his teasing and able to keep his desire for touching Rikuo under control, Rikuou made Rikuo drink his medicine and eat something to regain his strength for recovery. They talked some more until it was time for Rikuo to sleep again to clear the remnant of his fatigue.
In the end, Rikuou never left Rikuo's side the entire time, and now they just laid together in the futon, Rikuo in Sandaime's arms, drowsily asking "How's your back?" It seemed Rikuou still remembered about the tattoo and how hurting Rikuou's back before.
"It doesn't even itch," Rikuou lied.
"Liar," Rikuo scoffed at that, but he let it go for now in favor of asking a more important question. "How's Gyuuki-ojisan?"
"He's okay. Losing a lot of blood, and still unconscious, but that's just because he's old," Rikuou said, snickering again.
"I see…. I want to be there… when he wakes up tomorrow," Rikuo said while closing his eyes.
"Still got something to say to him?" Rikuou asked, stroking Rikuo's back ligtly, unconsciously tracing circle pattern there while once in awhile kissing his hair.
"Yeah…," Rikuo said quietly and sleepily. "He has… given up everything he had for Nura Gumi… I think it's time for him… to get something he truly wants for himself now…."
"What do you think he wants…?" Rikuou asked again.
"Hmm… don't know… but… me… and you… his child'n…," Rikuo didn't really make sense with his words as he was falling asleep again, but Rikuou felt like knowing what Rikuo meant.
"I see…," Rikuou smiled small before he also closed his eyes. And then… he let Rikuo's sweet scent and comfortable warmth lulled him into a dreamless slumber as well…
End of Chapter 6
Tbc…
Notes:
1)Umerakuen: the Heaven of Plums
2)Tsundere: derived from two words 'tsun-tsun' and 'dere-dere' which literally meaning 'grumpy' and 'shy'. This type of personality is a mix of 'hard to approach' (when there's a third party) and 'totally into it' (when they're alone). It' hard to explain, honestly ^^;
A/N: A lot of the facts mentioned in this chapter have a background story in 'Red Strings on Their Pinkies' like the 'confession' Rikuou made to Gyuuki about himself loving Rikuo as more than a brother, the fact that Gyuuki was in love with Rihan, and the promise Rikuo made with Gyuuki, even the background story of why Gyuuki had to raise Rikuo for three years. If you haven't read that, I think you should so you can understand more.
Okay… I got a hard time making this chapter, because you know… despite only Rikuo, Gyuuki and Rikuou speaking in this chapters, there were actually a lot of people involved in this part. I'm sorry if the other part like why Rikuou was suddenly there with Rikuo in the room and his fights with Gozu and Mezu weren't detailed, but the main character in this fic is Rikuo, and I got too caught up writing in Rikuo's POV that I didn't find any crack to insert Rikuou's POV in the middle of Gyuuki and Rikuo's conversation. I tried to make it up by giving explanation through Rikuou's POV in the last scene… I hope you're okay and not too confused with that.
So… review please. Let me know what you think, okay? Constructive criticisms are always the best, but letting me know that you are still reading and wanting to read more is always nice as well ^_^. Fuel me to write more, please? *puppy eyes*