Disclaimer: Nuramago belongs to Shiibashi-sensei.
Warning: language, hints yaoincest (Rikuou/Rikuo) and shounen ai (of Zen/Rikuo, Shouhei/Rikuo, Inu/Tama), hints het (of Kana/Rikuo, Yura/Rikuo), oOC-ness, and mistypes plus grammar errors (didn't check it again, sorry).
A/N: Gaaah! Sorry for being SO LATE in posting this. Seriously, I SWEAR I was going to update at last Sunday, but my real life kept being a bitch and I only just had time to do it now *sighs*. I even hadn't had time to read the two latest chapters of Nuramago! XO. I had to go out of town for several days last week for a seminar… and by the time I went back to the hotel, I already got no energy left except to sleep. And this week (30th June to 4th July) I have to go again for another seminar, you can't expect me update at those time (I'm very-very sorry).
Anyway, enough about my real life being a bitch and keeping interfering with my network life. Your reviews from the last chapter are totally AWESOME! Thanks a lot for everyone! Now, please do and enjoy this chapter XDDD.
Chapter 8: A Threat from Shikoku! Inukami Shiba and Inugamigyoubu "TANUKI" Tamazuki
Somewhere near the border of Nagoya City and Ukiyoe Town…
Eight people were walking down the street, two of them with the brand new uniforms of Ukiyo-e Senior High School under the jackets with Kanji "Bad Tanuki" branded on the backside, the other six also wearing the same jackets, but without the uniforms.
A beautiful slender looking teenage boy with average height, silk short jet black hair, dark golden eyes and flawless pale skin, wearing the school uniform, was leading in the front row, followed by a considerably taller, spiky short chocolate haired boy, who looked like in the same age as him, also wearing the school uniform.
A woman with long spiky bluish hair followed behind the two boys, and then a very big bald man, a creepy, very short, bald old man. An ugly short man with long spiky greenish hair walked closely behind, and then a man with thick body hair and face that looked slightly like a chicken, and a tall, classy looking man with long blond hair.
"Finally… we're here," the teen up the front said with a sly smile that could be mistaken for a relieved one as he saw the main road leading to Ukiyo-e Senior High School. "It takes me three years to pull myself off of those weak unmotivated brothers of mine. After meeting you guys… they're finally willing to admit that I don't need them anymore to run my own family…," he stopped walking and turned to his 'friends'. He smiled charmingly at them. "You guys are the best friends I finally have. I'm so glad all of you are following me to come into this town."
"Tamazuki-sama, of course we'll be following you forever," the bluish haired woman said with a seductive smile.
"The one who will conquer this 'main island' is you, Tamazuki," the chocolate haired boy, who in closer look actually had a dark reddish amber eyes and a slightly longer tongue than normal people, added with a very confident look and an excited lick on his red-plum lips.
"Not just this main island. Tamazuki-sama will conquer Japan," the very big bald man grinned, showing off his not so white teeth.
"Tamazuki-sama is the best," the old man snickered creepily.
"Tamazuki-sama is the only one who can lead us," the man with green hair followed.
"That's right. Tamazuki-sama will bring us to a very bright future, right, Muchi?" the hairy man glanced at behind him to the blond. The blond just closed his eyes and smiled coolly.
"All of you…. Your trust in me is very encouraging," Tamazuki looked totally pleased with them all.
"Of course…," the chocolate haired boy moved closer to the pale boy and hugged his waist from behind and rested his chin on Tamazuki's left shoulder. "Because you…, Tamazuki, are going to show us a whole new world," he whispered gently before he licked Tamazuki's ear and bit softly on the earlobe.
"Don't get too close to Tamazuki-sama, Inugami!" the woman scowled at the younger boy.
"It's Inukami (1), auntie Kakibari (2)," Inukami growled back at her.
"What did you say?" she sniped back and the both people glared at each other heatedly. The others' sweat dropped seeing them.
"Come on, you two… don't fight because of me. We're all friends, right?" Tamazuki chuckled while holding Inukami's arms closely but looking friendly at Kakibari.
"Tamazuki-sama…," Kakibari smiled dreamily at him.
"Back off, woman! Tamazuki is mine!" Inukami narrowed his eyes at Kakibari and snarled possessively. Tamazuki just smiled amusedly at this display of extreme affection.
"Now, now, Inukami boy, don't forget, Tamazuki-sama is the leader. He belongs to all of us," the creepy bald wrinkly old man intercepted before Inukami could resort to violence because he had that mood swing which was very dangerous for all of them. Apparently, the boy was a little unstable.
"That's right, Inukami. Tamazuki-sama is the leader. You can't hog him all to yourself," the blond man said with a rueful smile at him. Everyone nodded in agreement and Kakibari humped at that, seeming proud of her support.
Inukami turned to the old man and then and the blond man. "Moki-jii (3), Muchi…," he looked minded as he was cornered by the majority of their group and sighed long. "Fine, okay," he huffed as he released Tamazuki and backed off. "Tamazuki belongs to us," he grumbled, looking a little bit unsatisfied.
Tamazuki turned slightly to the obviously displeased teen and smiled apologetically at him. Inukami then perked up slightly after seeing something in the other boy's golden pools. They seemed communicating with their eyes, but the rest didn't notice that as Tamazuki turned to them again. "Come. Let's go to our new base. I already 'rent' a building for us to stay here."
"As expected from Tamazuki-sama. You've always thought one step ahead," the green haired man said with a wide grin.
"Oh, not just one step ahead, Kangikou (4)?" the hairy man corrected him. "It's ten steps ahead," he looked totally proud as he looked at their leader.
"Inuhou," Tamazuki smiled at the older man. "Thank you. Now, can we move? I want to hurry because I have to prepare for the school transfer later," he reasoned rationally.
"Of course," everyone, except Inukami who just nodded, answered in unison before they began to walk again to continue their journey.
"Ah," Tamazuki then seemed remembering something. "Where's Yosume (5)?" he asked Inukami who was walking closely just a little bit behind him.
"Dunno. She prefers moving alone so as not to be regarded as our group," the chocolate haired boy shrugged. "That girl's always more like a ninja after all," he snickered then.
"Well, that might be a good idea… since we need our spy anyway," Tamazuki chuckled again and just stared ahead of him with totally confident look and smirk featuring his face. "We'll definitely conquer the 'main island' by defeating the family in charge. Nura Gumi…. Just wash your neck and wait for our surprise attack."
0oo—Inukami x Tamazuki—oo0
Rikuo was waiting for Rikuou to finish his General Meeting when Tsurara came to sit with him on the patio. "What are you thinking so seriously, Waka?" the long haired girl asked as Rikuo turned his face at her to greet.
"Oh, Tsurara…. Well, I'm just waiting for the verdict to fall. I really want Gyuuki-ojisan to be able to leave the room 'alive'," the young boss smiled ruefully.
"Waka… truthfully, I don't understand why you can be so indifferent about this. Gyuuki-sama was obviously serious when he kidnapped you and attacked the main house," Tsurara asked with frowned brow. "We still don't know why he betrayed our family…."
"He didn't," Rikuo hurriedly objected, surprising Tsurara who looked at him in a perplexed look. "He honestly didn't," the glasses wearer boy softened his expression slightly.
"But… Gyuuki-sama kidnapped and was about to kill you. That's just wrong whatever his reason is!" Tsurara looked like totally protesting.
Rikuo blinked slightly at the heated argument from Tsurara. He knew that she kind of liked him, maybe a little too much for platonic brother-sister like, but it was still surprising to see her so upset. Well, he was grateful for her concern and affection though, so he just smiled gently at her. "Thank you, Tsurara. You're so nice to me."
Tsurara blushed lightly at that. "That's a normal thing to do. After all, Waka is…," she didn't finish her sentence as she smiled small. Rikuo tilted his head aside, wondering what she was about to say as she shook her head. "We all know Waka is always nice to everyone. But this time… Gyuuki-sama is out of line. Even though he has to do it for whatever reason, Waka is a family. He was supposed to protect you, Waka."
"You might be right…, but even I can't stay oblivious forever," Rikuo looked down slightly. "The time to choose is getting closer…," he mumbled under his breath so as not to be heard by Tsurara beside him, but she seemed catching some of it and she looked at Rikuo with a confused look.
"Choosing what?" Tsurara asked slowly.
Rikuo just smiled solemnly at her, but he stayed silent until the uproar in the meeting room started, surprising everyone in the close proximity of the area.
"What-what's wrong?" Kubinash,i who was holding a bucket of water to water the flowers, dropped the container at the commotion. Rikuo and Tsurara even almost fell from the patio because of the surprise.
"It came from the meeting room. Did something happen in the General Meeting?" Tsurara looked really worried now.
"WHY THE FUCK WON'T YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING OLD FART!"
So suddenly, Sandaime's yelling was heard from inside the room, shocking Kubinashi, Tsurara and Rikuo with the very harsh words.
"W-what the hell was that for?" Rikuo was already mortified, thinking that Rikuou was talking to the other heads like that.
Is he INSANE? You don't talk to your ally that way!—Rikuo panicked.
"Excuse me. I have a brother to kick," Rikuo stood; face totally pale as he walked to the direction of the meeting room to see what happened inside with his own eyes.
"I told you Gyuuki had his own reason to test Riku! I decided to let him live because even though I'm angry with him and really wants to kill him, losing him will be a very BIG LOSS to our alliance!"
Rikuou was already standing and having a screaming match with none other than the head of Hitotsume Gumi, Hitotsume Nyuudo (he was seriously a thorn in Sandaime's side) when Rikuo decided to let himself in because no matter how loud he tried to tell the people inside to notice him behind the door, they freaking ignored him. Okay… probably it was because his voice wasn't loud enough compared to the obviously uncivil 'meeting'.
"I don't care if you're angry or your civilian brother gets killed! The fact that his men attacked the main house and you weren't there was proof enough that he got your weakness and he might do that again! Gyuuki got guts enough to do that in the first place is already bad, but he getting away with it is too much worse! It shows your incapability in leading our alliance and punishing people who disobeys you! It's bad example to the other families because they will think they can get away as well pulling something like this!" the old man Nyuudo argued heatedly as well, making his points which were actually 'by the book', but sometimes, he was just too dictator for anyone else's taste.
Huh? What did that old man say? He doesn't care if I'm dead?—Rikuo dropped his jaw for a second before narrowing his eyes at the head of Hitotsume Gumi. From the start Nyuudo seemed not liking Rikuou (and probably Rikuo as well, but that beside the point) at all. It got worse after he was pointed as Sandaime and now… that was just crossing the line.
"You bastard—!" Rikuou was totally growling, looking like he almost exploding in rage at Hitotsume's words, but Rikuo beat him to it.
"That's pretty cruel, Nyuudo-jisan," and it seemed Rikuo's presence there was unexpected because everyone seemed really surprised seeing him just in front of the door.
"Riku?" Rikuou widened his eyes as he turned his face at Rikuo.
"Rikuo…," Zen also looked surprised, even Shouhei who was sitting behind his father.
"What are you doing here, Rikuo? You're not part of Nura's Generals. Heck, you're not even a part of yakuza families. Civilian should stay outside," Hitotsume frowned at Rikuo, looking totally in displease seeing him there.
"Jeez, Nyuudo-jisan is really strict as usual. Isn't it okay? After all, I'm Sandaime's brother," Rikuo smiled ruefully at him. He noticed that his grandpa wasn't in the room. So, all hell broke loose when Nurarihyon wasn't around, huh? That was a very Hitotsume Nyuudo thing to do.
"Half brother," Hitotsume corrected dutifully, while huffing as.
"That might be true, but dad's blood is in me too. So, I guess that makes me part of this family," Rikuo smiled sweetly at the older man and he just humped and looked away, looking slightly nervous.
"Riku… why are you here?" Rikuou was also asking, but more confused than anything else.
"Your voice is too loud. Everyone outside is scared if something happened. Actually, what's with the ruckus? I thought there was a war in here before I came in just now." Rikuo looked at Rikuou wonderingly.
"Ah… it's pretty difficult to convince this BLOCKHEAD-," Rikuou pointed at Nyuudo who was protesting at his manner, but of course was totally ignored, "-that Gyuuki is necessary for our family's well being," he glared at Nyuudo heatedly as well.
"Letting Gyuuki live will only open a chance for him to attack us again!" Nyuudo was still insisting.
"I see…, then… Gyuuki-jisan," Rikuo then turned to Gyuuki. "Do you have any intent left to attack us again?" he asked.
"No," Gyuuki calmly answered.
"Hah, he can say whatever he wants and doesn't mean it," Nyuudo sneered at the black haired man.
"Then… what are you suggesting?" Rikuo asked the older man patiently.
"What?" Nyuudo looked taken aback.
"What are you suggesting we should do to him for his punishment?" Rikuo asked again while moving towards the older man.
"Isn't it obvious? The punishment of treason is death penalty!" Nyuudo pointed at Gyuuki who was slowly closing his eyes, looking resigned. "Right, everyone?" Nyuudo then turned around to the other heads that were whispering and mumbling with the person next to them.
Daruma and Hihi's heads were frowning in displease at Nyuudo's antics.
"How idiotic," Zen muttered lowly with an annoyed huff. "Doesn't he understand what he's trying to do?"
"Zen-dono," Shouhei sat closer to Zen now. "Why is Nyuudo-dono really desperate for Gyuuki-dono to be punished with death penalty? I mean, of course his treason is unforgiveable, but… killing Gyuuki-dono will make the entire Gyuuki Gumi our enemy…," the senior high school student with reddish amber eyes asked in a whisper.
"Hmm… well, we'll probably know the answer soon," Zen spoke back quietly.
"I see…," Rikuo nodded slightly.
"Wait, Riku…?" Rikuou was about to say something, but Rikuo raised his hand and turned to him surely, sending silent message that he should trust him.
Rikuo then turned back to Nyuudo and smiled. "Well, as expected for a man from Grandpa's era. You're running everything straightly by the ancient rules, huh?" he asked.
"Ancient—?" Nyuudo was about to protest at that, but Rikuo didn't give him any chance to cut him.
"Then… what will you do after that?" Rikuo asked again.
"Huh?" Nyuudo was distracted from his protest as he heard the question.
"After Gyuuki's gone, what will you do? Taking his area as yours?" Rikuo asked again and everyone else gasped in shock at that. Even Gyuuki opened his eyes and looked at Rikuo with peculiar expression.
"Of course not! What the hell are you thinking?" Nyuudo looked mortified by now. "Gyuuki's area is the west border! Mine is in the east! That will be impossible!"
"Then… what will happen to Gyuuki's area if he's dead?" Rikuo was thinking with a finger on his chin. "Oh right… we're opening our strongest defense to the world outside and implicitly asking the other rivals family to take it over?" he suggested.
The realization seemed having just downed to Nyuudo's face as he heard that.
"So… who will attack us this time, after Gyuuki's gone?" Rikuo turned serious now. "Shikoku? Kyoto? Do you think we can survive their direct attack without Gyuuki Gumi force?" he asked while moving even more closely to Nyuudo, making the older man step back, looking slightly intimidated now. "Worse… what will Gyuuki Gumi do after we kill their leader? Turning us into their number one enemy?" he added even more and Nyuudo was totally cornered now.
"That… I don't know about something like that!" Nyuudo shouted at Rikuo, totally in panicky as he realized that every pair of heads' eyes in the room was glaring at him heatedly. Everyone had heard how bad the effects of killing Gyuuki for Nura Gumi now. No one would support Nyuudo's idea anymore.
"As expected from Rikuo," Zen smirked in pleased look before chuckling amusedly.
"Rikuo-kun… is totally awesome…," Shouhei looked dazed as he stared at thewonderfulness of the older Nura.
"That's right. You don't know because you're not thinking," Rikuou the Sandaime gave the follow up now as everyone in the room seemed already turning against Nyuudo. He smirked evilly at Nyuudo now, feeling his upper hand. "Riku is so smart, right? He's totally mine—, um, I meant, my brother," he amended the last part as everyone's sweat dropped at that.
This idiot…! He's ruining the serious atmosphere!—Rikuo covered his face while blushing lightly.
"But, Sandaime," Daruma began to speak now, earning Rikuou and Rikuo's attention now. "We know that killing Gyuuki will only worsen our situation, but letting him off the hook just like that will really set a bad example for the others," he stated that Nyuudo's reason wasn't entirely nonsense.
"What are you saying, Daruma, of course not! I will never let him off the hook that easily. Gyuuki almost killed Riku for god sake! Even if heaven forbids, I'll still punish him!" Rikuou huffed. "But first, I'll make him swear his loyalty once again," he turned at Gyuuki now. "No matter what happens… you will protect your own area, right, Gyuuki?"
"Even if I have to die in the process… I'll never let even single enemy set their foot passing our area," Gyuuki answered it seriously.
"That's wonderful," Rikuou nodded. "Then, to ensure you keeping your words, I'm going to hold something very dear to you in my possession," Rikuou said.
"What do you have in mind?" Gyuuki looked up at Rikuou.
Rikuou smirked. "Gozumaru and Mezumaru. I want those two in the main house," he said, making Gyuuki widen his eyes. "If you do something that endangers us again, Gyuuki, remember you're endangering those two as well. You have no objection about that, right?" he stared down at Gyuuki's eyes now, seriously.
Gyuuki was silent for a minute or two, not severing their eyes connection until he closed his eyes and bowed lowly at him. "As your wish."
"Good. Now," Rikuou turned to the other heads who looked at him expectantly. "With this, it's decided that Gyuuki will regain his position as General. His successor and head assistant will serve the main house as hostages to pay the price of their mistake! Any objection?"
Rikuo looked around from his spot as he watched the interaction between Rikuou and his generals. It seemed, no one wanted to object again because they obviously didn't want to end up being humiliated like Nyuudo (let alone, not by the Sandaime himself but by his genius half brother, Rikuo).
Rikuo was totally smiling in satisfaction as Sandaime shouted, "The meeting's over. You can all leave."
Everyone stood and left the room with impressed expression, even Nyuudo who obviously was still grumbling in irritation that he was beaten in argument by a teenage kid. Rikuo felt a bit bad about it and was about to call the old man to have a little friendly chat, but he was snagged by Rikuou, Zen and Shouhei.
"Well done, Rikuo! You're awesome!" Zen hugged the smaller boy so suddenly that Rikuo was surprised.
"Hey, Zen! I might have forgiven you for being too close to Rikuo that one time, but don't expect me to repeat my virtue, damn it!" Rikuou protested indignantly at Zen's familiarity to his Riku and tried to pull the older man away from his half brother.
"You're very amazing, Rikuo-kun, for standing up in the middle of the meeting even though you don't have to," Shouhei bowed slightly so he can level his eyes to Rikuo who was a lot shorter that he was and tapped his shoulders gently with his two big hands.
"Well, someone has to stop the yelling and screaming match between this guy and his antagonist," Rikuo chuckled slightly at that. "Ah… but it seems I've been too hard on him. I hope he doesn't hold grudge towards me…," he was a bit worried of that. If Hitotsume decided to harass him after this, as a civilian, he wouldn't stand a chance. That old man was from old family after all.
"But it's still awesome, Rikuo-kun. You've really proven yourself that you're a legitimate Nura Gumi people!" Shouhei spoke with an excited smile on his face.
Rikuo widened his eyes in surprise for a moment, feeling mildly surprised at Shouhei's words. Did he really… look like wanting to prove himself as one of Nura Gumi people?
Rikuou seemed noticing the conflicted expression Rikuo must have been making, because he reached for Rikuo's shoulder and pulled him closer. Rikuo tilted his head up and looked at Rikuou's face wonderingly. "You are who you are regardless what other people think. Don't make them make a choice for you," he whispered slowly so only he and Rikuo could hear.
Rikuo was surprised even more hearing that. Did Rikuou really just say that? He couldn't believe it. Weren't his half brother always pushing him to be his right hand man? To be his? What was with the sudden change of heart?
Is it because… he already felt that I'm his conquest now? Just because I confessed to him how I feel towards him?—suddenly, that thought really pissed Rikuo off. If Rikuou really considered that his half brother was so easy like that… oh, Rikuo would prove how WRONG he was!
Rikuo narrowed his eyes dangerously at Rikuou with a total annoyance. "Of course I decide who I want to be by myself," he said while glaring curtly at Rikuou who looked totally taken aback by the defensive tone Rikuo threw at him unconsciously. He looked really confused as Rikuo shied away from his touch as well.
"Um… Riku," Rikuou called his half brother, as if he wanted to say something, a bead of sweat breaking out on his cheek. However, Rikuo decided to ignore him and turned to face Shouhei and Zen.
"It's been awhile since we're talking, right? How about we go out together and have a picnic or something?" Rikuo asked the two older men with a nice smile and Shouhei and Zen looked totally up for that very nice idea, indeed.
"Eh, what about me, Riku?" Rikuou's tone was totally protesting and he seemed abashed at the sudden cold shoulder Rikuo gave him.
"You still have a lot of duties you haven't finished, right? Sandaime-sama?" Rikuo sniped with sarcasm so obviously clear in his tone that both Shouhei and Zen seemed noticing there was something totally wrong with the picture.
"Ri-…," Rikuou looked liked he had been slapped on the cheek by Rikuo's hostile response.
"Let's go, Zen-nii, Shouhei-nii," Rikuo didn't even want to look at Rikuou's face right now. He knew he was probably overreacting to something that wasn't true essentially, because the thought he had about being just a conquest for Rikuou was only based on his irrational fear of being played by his half brother. But still…, in the past, Rikuou was capable of joking on something like that, no matter how cruel the joke was.
Shouhei and Zen looked slightly appalled at the odd exchange between Rikuou and Rikuo, and could only look at each other in total wonder before following Rikuo out of the room while glancing behind to the very bewildered looking Sandaime who could only open and close his mouth speechlessly.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
Rikuo was still frowning in complete irritation at his own thought as he ate his lunch at the school the next day.
In the end, after talking for awhile with Zen and Shouhei about random unimportant things, Rikuo declared that he was tired and wanted to go home, to Wakana. He didn't even say goodbye to Rikuou and just went home to his usual civilian house.
Now… because Rikuo's own problem of being angry at Rikuou wasn't resolved just yet, he felt more and more irritated at himself for being so bothered by the thought of him being played by his half brother. It happened all the time, surely, but Rikuou wouldn't… for something like this. Rikuo knew that totally, but still… after pursuing Rikuo for so long with constant harassment so Rikuo would choose Nura Gumi over his civilian life, Rikuou just… said something that was unlike Rikuou at all.
"Don't make other people make the choice for you…."
What the hell was that supposed to mean? He's the one who dragged me into that world in the first place! Now he wants me to be neutral and think this dilemma of choices for myself? After everything he has put me through?—the more Rikuo thought about it, the more annoyance he felt.
Rikuo clenched his wooden chopsticks so hard that they cracked.
Rikuo's school friends, who were eating lunch together with him on the rooftop, were staring at Rikuo with wide eyes, looking taken aback at the dark aura collecting around Rikuo's body.
"Um… Rikuo-kun?" Kana who looked slightly worried called Rikuo, but he didn't hear until her third call because it seemed, he was day dreaming about kicking Rikuou's ass for being an absolute asshole about all of his problems. "Huh?" he then blinked once, his vision coming back to reality as he realized that everyone was staring at him funnily. "What? Did I miss something?" he asked while looking at Kiyotsugu, Shima, Kana, Yura, Saori and Natsumi one by one.
"You're looking… like you have constipation and mumbling about something very creepy," Saori answered helpfully, a bead of sweat dropping off her cheek.
"Eh? No way…, what did I say?" Rikuo laughed nervously. He couldn't have been saying something that he shouldn't right?
"Um… something about mutilating someone… and drowning them in Pacific Ocean…," Natsumi added with slightly paling face, looking slightly frightened.
Seriously? That bad?—Rikuo couldn't help the sweat dropping as well from the back of his head.
"Ya can't be serious about killing and drowning someone, right, Rikuo-kun?" Yura had set her mortified look as she heard that.
"What? NO! Of course not!" the young chocolate haired boy responded quickly while shaking his head frantically. "No… it's not literally killing…, just… just a thought, you know, when you're really- and I meant REALLY pissed off at someone until you want to kill that person…," he tried to explain, but whenever he thought about it, it made him angry again.
"Ah, I know that feeling," Kiyotsugu supplied suddenly. "When you're frustrated because someone doesn't listen to you while you're talking seriously, you really want to kill that person just to make him listen," he nodded slightly while closing his eyes, looking totally understanding.
"Normally, people don't want to kill other people just to make him listen to you…," Jirou's sweat dropped at Kiyotsugu's reply to Rikuo's thought.
"You're angry at someone, Rikuo-kun?" Kana asked again, looking even more worried now. Well, it was very rare to see Rikuo angry at someone else. He had earned the title of the nicest boy in the school after all.
"Eh… it's not anyone from the school…," Rikuo smiled apologetically at Kana. "Um… that person has always made my life a living hell up until now just to get close to me…. And then that person just… stopped, even saying something so uncharacteristic that it pissed me off. I meant, that person was the one dragging me in, getting me involved in something whether I want it or not, and then… when finally I considered the option, that person just told me off of it, saying that I should become someone that I want to be, not because of anyone else…! Such a hypocrite's line…!" Rikuo knew he was rambling at this point, but he was really-really mad!
If Rikuou was serious when he wanted him on his team, he should fight a little bit harder to win Rikuo over! Not telling him off! What the hell was that ass of a brother thinking anyway?
Kana and Yura looked at Rikuo with widened eyes. "That's…!" they both spoke at the same time and closed their mouths as they heard the other one said the same thing. They then stared at each other for a moment before Saori continued what they started.
"A problem with your lover?" the blond girl asked with raised eyebrows.
"Huh?" Rikuo looked up at the girl and blinked twice before "WHAT?" he shouted, completely shocked as he processed the question. "L-l-l-lov-...! I don't have any lover!" he denied while blushing very hard at that accusation.
What the hell! How…? No way! How come the talk about Rikuo's dilemma in choosing his future life became the talk about his lover anyway? Rikuou wasn't Rikuo's lover, damn it! Not yet… and he still doubt if he would ever be. He was thinking about Rikuou as his legitimate half brother just now, not a lover!
"Eeh, but anyone hearing your heartfelt ranting just now would guess that you have a problem with your lover who has been chasing you the whole time, dragging you to know about her better so you'll fall for her. But then, when you finally consider that girl as potential lover, she gets cold feet and wants sometimes apart and tells you off to consider other options, right?" Saori turned to Natsumi and the black haired girl beside him nodded surely.
"Saori-chan's version is clearer, but it sounds totally similar," Natsumi said.
Rikuo could feel his face heating more and more. "B-but… I wasn't talking about a lover! Heck, it's not even a girl!" he protested hard, very embarrassed that the way he talked could be mistaken that way…. Well, maybe it was because he didn't use a clearer pronoun for 'that person', but still!
Yura and Kana plus Kiyotsugu who burst out his drink and Jirou who choked on his bread, almost dropped their jaws at the confession.
"You're stalked by a man!" they all shouted in shocked looks.
"What—!" Rikuou wanted to protest more, but… thinking it clearly, he was INDEED being stalked by his half brother… since they were still little children even. "Eh… err…, kinda…," he had to amend his denial a little, and everyone gasped at that.
"Nura-kun… you should call the police if that man harasses you all this time…!" Kiyotsugu looked really concerned as well now.
"That's right, Rikuo! Stalking people is against the law! That man should be in jail!" Jirou spoke as well, holding Rikuo's hand.
"Eh… but, even if he's stalking me…, he's not a bad person…," Rikuo stopped again as he realized the flaw in his words. Thinking it further, Rikuou was a Yakuza boss. He was totally a bad person, right? "Well… what he does isn't exactly clean… but he isn't crimi-… I mean, he has to…,"
Crap. He really has no good point in CIVILIAN standard!—Rikuo was getting perplexed now. Rikuou had tender side that was very good to him, and honestly, Rikuou indeed loved him. But looking it closely, the type of 'love' Rikuou had for Rikuo, wasn't exactly healthy. Yet…, Rikuo was happy when his half brother had that special feeling for him. It was honestly confusing.
"Anyway, even though he's bad…, essentially… on the inside, he's a fragile, kind man…," Rikuo continued while looking down, wondering by himself, what he was actually doing? Getting defensive when it was about Rikuou…. It wasn't like him. Totally not the used to be Rikuo….
Even Rikuou had changed Rikuo characteristically now…, considering yakuza life…, wanting to get in so Rikuo could get closer to him…. Rikuo's mind…; since when had it been only filled by the thought about his half brother?
Rikuo had stopped talking now, and he kind of spaced out again, thinking about how it was totally decided now, that he couldn't go back to the way he was. Not right now when he already realized that he no longer had the capability of thinking like normal civilian again.
Whenever the boy heard about some information, the first thing Rikuo thought was if the information would be useful for Rikuou especially and for Nura Gumi generally. He wanted to be useful for that family now… not just because he believed he could be one of them. He wanted to be….
It was no longer about pride as Nura's descendant anymore…, it had morphed into a 'desire' to be part of that household… the 'craving' and 'longing' to have them as a family….
Rikuo… had become one of Nura Gumi people… fully, completely: heart, body, and soul.
"Rikuo-kun…!" Now Yura held Rikuo's other hand and stared at him very anxiously. "Yer' having a Stockholm syndrome…!" she said in mortification.
"Sto-… what?" Rikuo looked at Yura in puzzlement.
"Stockholm syndrome…. Ya've been abused so badly that ya start to think that what he's doing to ya is right and appropriate to cope with the harshness of reality! What he's doing isn't right! Ya don't deserve to be harassed just because that man doesn't know how to love normally!" she looked totally frantic, panicked and scared, that Rikuo realized he had made another mess with his careless action in telling his civilian friends about his true feelings.
"We should really report that stalker to the police so he won't bother Rikuo-kun again!" Kana also looked grim as she said that, totally supporting everyone's idea.
"That's right, Nura-kun, police can protect you from that nasty, horrible stalker!" Natsumi and Saori also encouraged him again to report the 'felony'.
"Rikuo! We'll even help guard you so you won't have to face that stalker alone!" Jirou looked serious as he said that.
"I'll even hire a body guard for you if I have to! That damn stalker! Hurting my friend like that…! He won't get away with this…!" Kiyotsugu looked angry as well and Rikuo just… he was just really touched that his friends really, really did care about him.
But… it wasn't that easy. He didn't know if he really got that whatever syndrome Yura was talking about because of the harassment part, but he was pretty sure of his own feelings towards his half brother, Rikuou. Even though Rikuou didn't harass him…, for a long time ago…, since Rikuo's chocolate eyes met those cherry orbs of Rikuou… his heart had already been seized.
Rikuo couldn't do this anymore… living dual lives was exhausting…, lying to his friends who really loved him as their true friend… and really-really cared and were worried about him was becoming very painful now….
No. Rikuo knew telling them about himself… his true identity… would change their opinion about him. He couldn't risk that…! He didn't want to…! He still didn't want to let them go….
Yura was another thing because she was a new friend and a potential family enemy even though she seemed really liking Rikuo genuinely, but Kana and the others… Rikuo had been friends with them more than eight years. They were very important for him. Losing them would be very devastating; Rikuo couldn't afford to do that. He just… couldn't.
"I'm… gifted enough already," Rikuo said while smiling very gratefully at his friends. "To have… such wonderful friends as all of you…," he didn't even realize that the tears were pooling in his dark honey colored eyes. "Just by realizing that I have you guys… I still can fight a little bit more…,"
"Rikuo-kun…," Yura looked stunned as she saw the very pleasant, glassily amazing and wonderfully breathtaking smile he gave everyone.
"Don't worry… I'm so going to deal with that man," Rikuou tried to reassure them now."I don't know if I've really got that syndrome, but I know what's right and wrong. And if I really feel what he's doing is wrong, I'll try my hardest to stop him," he said with resolution in his slightly wet eyes.
Everyone seemed still not satisfied with Rikuo's decision to deal with the 'stalker' alone, but they couldn't really force him to go to the police. There was an issue of good name as well. For a guy… being stalked by another guy was quite humiliating after all. But, because Rikuo's smile and expression were so sure of himself, they seemed wanting to trust their friend.
"Okay…, but if you need us for anything… anything at all, just say it. We'll help you. That's what friends do after all," Kana said surely while gripping Rikuo's sleeve. Kiyotsugu nodded as well surely. Saori and Ntasumi also move closely to him and tapped his shoulders.
"Thank you," Rikuo grinned happily and everyone sighed in relief that Rikuo was back to the usual him: cheery, positive, with smile that could enlighten the darkest room even.
Just like that then, the bell of their next class rang.
"Ah, damn. We have to go to class now," Kiyotsugu then said as he cleaned up his lunch. The others quickly followed his example and Rikuo as well closed thelid of his lunchbox while smiling small, very grateful and thankful that he could have such amazing friends around him.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
After the bell of the last lesson ended and everyone left the class, Rikuo stayed longer to accommodate the presence list and to submit their class project proposals to the teachers' office. Kana and Yura decided they wanted to help him, but Rikuo declined politely by saying that it'll be easy and fast so they don't have to. They insisted wanting to go home with him though, so he asked them to wait him in their new club room (Kiyotsugu really pulled that out. He probably used his parents' money, but still, it was amazing).
Rikuo put down together his books in his bag and closed it before he grabbed and lifted it on his back. He took the presence list and the project proposals and then left the classroom quietly to go to the teachers' office.
When Rikuo was about to go inside the office, someone came out so suddenly, and bumped him that he dropped the lists and proposals to the floor.
"Oh, sorry," the boy (Rikuo assumed, since he was wearing the same uniform as him) said as he kneeled to take the scattered papers and books.
"Ah, I'm sorry too," Rikuo quickly responded and kneeled as well to do the same as their fingers met when they were about to take the same paper. "Ah, sorry," Rikuo pulled his hand and looked up slightly at the boy who looked back at him with his dark golden eyes.
Whoah…!—Rikuou couldn't help staring in awe for a moment seeing that guy's feature. The boy's skin was very pale and flawless. His smooth short black hair looked really soft to touch and his expression was totally friendly.
"It's okay. I'm the one who bumped into you," the dark haired teen said with a smile.
Rikuo was taken aback slightly as he saw the smile. Even though this guy looked friendly, his smile didn't reach his eyes at all. "No, well… I'm sorry for not seeing where I'm going, though," Rikuo smiled back at him apologetically.
"Then, we'll be okay, since we're sorry," the dark grey eyed boy chuckled, looking slightly amused. "Ah, but I'm not sorry for touching your hand," he said as he reached Rikuo's hand and grabbed it lightly. "Tamazusa," he continued, shaking Rikuo's hand.
"Eh?" Rikuo looked at the taller and (probably) older boy confusedly.
"My name, it's Tamazusa," he explained.
"Ah, I'm Rikuo," Rikuo hurriedly introduced himself as well after realizing that the older boy, Tamazusa, was trying to introduce himself earlier.
"Eh?" Tamazusa looked taken aback for a moment before repeating. "Riku…ou?" he asked with unreadable expression, slowly releasing Rikuo's hand as well.
"Hum? Ah, not Riku-ou, its Riku-o, with Kanji Ōki at the end," Rikuo corrected with a rueful smile, feeling slightly strange at Tamazusa's reaction.
"Ah, I see…. Seems troublesome, huh?" Tamazusa smiled again hearing that. But, again, Rikuo noticed his eyes didn't. He didn't know why this Tamazusa had to fake smile. It was good. Everyone would be fooled, but not Rikuo. Because Rikuo's instinct to read people was a little bit abnormal.
"Well, people often mistake my name, so I'm used to it by now," Rikuo chuckled as he continue collecting the papers and proposals.
"But still, it's troublesome, right? People can mistake you for someone else who has the name similar to yours," Tamazusa commented while continuing helping Rikuo pick the papers and books.
"Ahaha, yeah, that can happen," Rikuo laughed nervously as he put down the collected papers once again in order and the accepted Tamazusha's offer of the proposals he had collected. "Thank you for your help, Tamazusa-san," Rikuo bowed slightly in appreciation after both he and Tamazusa stood up again.
"You're welcome," Tamazusa said.
"Then… I have to submit these to the teacher, excuse me," Rikuo said before he walked once again to go inside the teacher's office.
"Sure, let's meet again soon, Rikuo-kun."
Rikuo heard the reply and turned back to look at Tamazusa again, but he wasn't there anymore. "Huh? That's strange…," he tilted his head aside, confused. But then he decided that he was probably imagining things.
Anyway, it wasn't really strange if Rikuo would meet Tamazusa again. They were in the same school after all.
0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0
"Sorry for making you wait," as promised, Rikuo met Kana and Yura in the club room to go home together.
"What took you so long, Rikuo-kun?" Kana asked as they got out of the club room and Yura locked the door after that. "As I thought, we really should help you in the class just now, too much work?" she continued looking like she felt bad.
"No, no, it's not because of that. I bumped into someone in front of teacher's office and dropped the papers and proposals, so we have to collect it first," Rikuo answered as they walked down the hall to go to the security office to submit the key of their clubroom.
"Who?" Yura asked as well, joining in Kana and Rikuo's conversation.
"It's a guy I've never seen before, but he's wearing our school uniform, so he must have been a student. He's tall…, taller than Kiyotsugu, and he has pale skin and dark golden eyes," Rikuo described Tamazusa's feature to the girls. Then he tilted his head aside.
Huh? He…, Tamazusa-san looks… like Rikuou?—Rikuo scrunched up his nose at the sudden ridiculous thought. He was nothing like Rikuou. Well, maybe the pale skin and the height, but other than that… his eyes and his hair were totally different….
Ah… their ethereal impression...?—Rikuo just realized that both his half brother and Tamazusa had that impression that they weren't human.
"Rikuo-kun?"
Rikuo blinked once as he looked at Yura and Kana who looked at him strangely. He must have been spacing out. "Uh… sorry," he shook head slightly, "Ah, and he looks older as well. He's probably a senior," the boy nodded, finishing his words.
"Oh, okay…," Kana nodded, looking totally understanding.
"Ya asked his name?" Yura asked sometimes later after they dropped the key to security office and headed to the entrance.
"Yep. His name's Tamazusa-san," Rikuo nodded with a smile.
"How did that Tamazusa-san feel?" Kana asked again, looking slightly interested.
"Huh?" Yura turned at Kana with strange look on her face. "Wait, wait. What's with that question? What do ya mean how he felt? Impossible…! Did Rikuo-kun feel him up?" the girl looked slightly blushing in horror at her own words.
"It's not like that!" Rikuo shouted, blushing and sweat dropping at her accusation.
"Jeez, Yura-chan, it's not like that," Kana shook her head, sweat dropping as well at the jumping guess of their new friend. "Rikuo-kun always has that sharp instinct to feel people's character. He's good at reading people's nature. And it's strangely accurate," she explained.
"Oh…, I see…. That's why all of ya decided to trust him when he said his stalker wasn't a bad person?" Yura nodded, looking like understanding it for the first time. "Actually, I'd still insist that Rikuo-kun should go to the police and report the stalker," Yura then huffed slightly. It seemed the justice inside her, as a member of a police family, still couldn't accept it. "He hasn't done anything yet that worth reporting, right, Rikuo-kun?" she then turned at Rikuo and stared at him seriously and closely.
"Ahahaha… luckily…," Rikuo laughed nervously at that, more beads of sweat breaking out of his face.
If Yura knew what Rikuou had done to Rikuo…, the glasses wearer shuddered at the thought. He couldn't imagine what kind of charge she could come out with to prosecute the Yakuza boss. He had to be careful if he wanted to talk about it in front of her… not that he would ever again.
"Then…, you have to fight him," Yura nodded surely.
"I will, really," Rikuo ensured her that he would do that. He already had been doing that all his life. He just had to resume it after his slip of 'accepting' Rikuou and his love to bloom more. There should be something he could do.
Falling in love with other people seemed still becoming Rikuo's only hope to escape the mud of forbidden love, really.
"But…, Rikuo-kun, you've never said anything that you were stalked before. How long has this been going on?" Kana asked again then as they walked home. Their conversation seemed revolve around that since lunch time.
Rikuo had hoped that his meeting with Tamazusa would steer their attention to the older boy, but it seemed that the topic would stay as a hope now. It only lasted for several minutes after all. The chocolate haired boy sighed slightly. "It's been awhile," he answered vaguely. He hoped they would just stop already.
"Awhile…. A week? A month?" Kana pried more, looking totally curious to know more.
"Kana-chan…," Rikuo smiled ruefully at her. "I really… don't want to talk about him in my free time," he had to say it even though he knew it was kind of mean, but she really needed to stop because… honestly, Rikuou couldn't talk about Rikuo to anybody else. He just brought it up in the first place because he was mad at Rikuou and nothing more.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Rikuo-kun…," Kana looked guilty. "Um… I didn't mean to pry… I was just…. I'm worried… because Rikuo-kun is always so reserved, and never talks about yourself that much, so…," she looked down at her feet, looking lonely.
Rikuo acted in instinct and held her hand before pulling her into his arms, hugging her, earning a surprise look from Kana and Yura who widened their eyes at his gesture. Rikuou smiled softly at the sweet chocolate haired girl who was at the same height as him. "Thank you, Kana-chan for being worried about me," he tightened his hold on her and Kana visibly blushed at that.
Yura was speechless seeing it and she could only look as Rikuo released Kana slowly. Kana looked at Rikuo's eyes and Rikuo only looked at her tenderly. "You're a very good friend," he said again.
"Just a friend?" Kana asked slowly, surprising Rikuo slightly. Yura gasped at that, but Rikuo couldn't care at the moment. "Rikuo-kun… how long have we been friends?" she asked again with desperate expression. "Will we always… be just friends?" she looked dazed and hopeful as she stared at Rikuo's darker chocolate eyes.
Rikuo truthfully… didn't expect this development. Surely, he liked Kana. He did a lot, and he had a crush on her once, but… he never thought that Kana would want something more from their relationship. "Kana-chan…," he softened his eyes even more before saying "I'm sorry…," and releasing her slowly.
Kana looked startled at his apology so did Yura. "I like Kana-chan… I really do, but yes… we'll stay friends always." Rikuo smiled solemnly at her.
"Oh…," Kana pulled herself and stepped back. "No way… what was I saying? Of course we'll always be friends, right?" she smiled small while tucking her hair back. Rikuo knew that was a sign that she was upset. Of course he knew her little gesture meant. He had been friends with her for more than eight years after all.
"Yeah," Rikuo closed his eyes for a moment before opening it again. "If you don't mind… I'd like to stay as your friend. But if it's too hard…," he looked down. "If it's easier for you if I'm not around…."
Rikuo hadn't even finished what he wanted to say when so suddenly he was hugged tightly by the girl in front of him. "I'll always want to be your friend!" Kana shouted, holding Rikuo closely. "More than anything… if I can always be by your side, even if it's just as a friend… I'll be happier that way, rather than not having you as anything at all. That's why… please don't think of going away…!" she tightened her hug even more as she said it and closed her eyes shut.
"Kana-chan…," Rikuo looked at the girl wonderingly. What was she saying? "I wasn't… going to go anywhere," he said slowly, still curious why Kana thought about something like that.
"Really?" Kana loosened her hug and looked at Rikuo closely. "You're really going to stay close?"
"Yeah, I love you guys too much to stay away," Rikuo smiled softly at that.
Kana sighed long, looking slightly relieved before she seemed realizing their position and hurriedly released Rikuo. "Um… sorry, I just thought… I meant… Rikuo-kun is always thinking about other people's needs first before himself…, so I felt… if Rikuo-kun thought it was going too hard for me to face you everyday only as ordinary friends…, you'd definitely go away," she looked sad as she said it.
"Well, Kana-chan isn't exactly wrong about it, but…I won't stay away for long. Because Kana-chan will smile again and if Kana-chan is alright, I'll definitely come back," Rikuo smiled at her friendlily.
Kana looked surprised for a moment before smiling as well. "That's… very Rikuo-kun," she giggled after that, looking totally amused. "Ah…, finally…. I've been bolting it up inside this whole time, thinking that I'll destroy our relationship as best friends if I confess," she turned and looked up at the sky. "It's a little embarrassing, but now… I feel relieved."
Rikuo closed his eyes slowly. "Thank god...," he whispered lowly so as not to be heard by anyone, but Yura seemed hearing it as she stared at Rikuo agape. Realizing that he was being ogled at, Rikuo turned to Yura and gasped.
Crap—! I forgot about Yura-san!
Rikuo blushed slightly that the confession was being watched by their new friend. Yura was staring at him so intently now, and he didn't know what she was thinking. She was probably angry that he turned Kana down. She seemed really close to Kana lately…. Anyway, why was it very hard for him to read Yura anyway?
"Rikuo-kun…."
Rikuo jerked up at the call of his name, and turned at Kana's direction again. "Yes?"
"I'll head home first. Thanks for today," she said, not even once looking back, but Rikuo understood. She needed time. Even though he turned her down politely, she was still rejected after all. That fact didn't change at all.
"Sure," Rikuo smiled small. "Take your time as much as you want," he continued softly and he saw the back of Kana's head bob, showing that she nodded. She then walked away slowly, even though Rikuo knew she probably wanted to run away as fast as she could.
After Kana was gone from his sight, Rikuo then turned at Yura, looking sheepish. "Sorry, you have to see that," he said.
"That's… the first time I saw a confession," Yura looked totally amazed now. "Intense…," she continued while holding her slightly reddening cheeks with both hands.
"You okay with it?" Rikuo asked again carefully.
"Why won't I be?" Yura asked back, tilting her head, looking puzzled.
"No… I meant, you seem close to Kana-chan and all…, maybe you'll be angry with me too because I reject her…," Rikuo scratched his head while laughing nervously.
"What're ya saying? I'm a new student. It's clear that yer history together is longer and deeper than mine with her. It's not my place to get angry, right?" Yura asked back. "Moreover… rather than being close to her, I feel closer to ya, Rikuo-kun…," she smiled softly at Rikuo now.
"Really?" Rikuo chuckled. "Well, probably because I was the first student here to whom you talked?" he guessed playfully.
"Probably," Yura laughed slightly at that
Both Rikuo and Yura were chatting about every mundane thing and nothing while continuing their walk home. However, in the middle of their journey to Yura's apartment (Rikuo insisted to take her home first because he was a gentle man, Yura totally laughed at his reasoning), they stumbled upon something disturbing.
"What's that? What's with the commotion?" Yura asked, totally curious seeing the crowd in front of them.
Huh…? Isn't that…!—Rikuo was bothered seeing the ambulance and some faces he actually recognized standing between the crowd. They were people from one of the General Families. If he wasn't wrong that symbol was…
Rikuo snapped as he remembered. Shouhei had that symbol on his clothes. It was from Hihi Gumi.
A dreadful thought and feeling suddenly churned inside Rikuo's head and heart. What the hell happened there? Was there anyone from Hihi Gumi hurt? Why did they need the ambulance?
"Yura-san, do you want to see it closer?" Rikuo asked in the hope that she'd say yes because… he really wanted to know what happened.
"Sure…," Yura seemed noticing something in Rikuo's eyes and face, but she didn't say anything as she followed him to the center of the crowd.
"Excuse me, what happened?" Rikuo asked some people who were there earlier than him.
"Ah, someone was stabbed. It was pretty bad," a man answered Rikuo and he began to feel even more worried.
Who is stabbed?—Rikuo thought fearfully as he slipped forward, getting inside the crowd further to have a better vision.
Then Rikuo saw it. The man being lifted into the ambulance… it was… Hihi…ojisan?
Riku gasped in shock and was paling at the sight. Even from afar, he could tell that the head of Hihi Gumi, Shouhei's father, had been attacked, and the wounds were quite severe judging from the blood he saw on the ground and the scar left on Hihi's skin.
What the HELL happened here? Why was Hihi-ojisan attacked…? WHO did this?—the question was spinning in his head and he was totally anxious and worried. He was about to get panicked when he remembered he was with Yura. He couldn't afford to let her know that he knew the victim.
"No way… is he going to be okay?" Yura asked from beside him, looking slightly worried as well. He didn't know since when she had arrived there, but right now, he couldn't care. "Rikuo-kun… you know him? Your face is so pale…," now Yura turned at Rikuo and looked at him concerned.
"No… not personally… I just… hate blood," Rikuo said slowly, covering his mouth. He was feeling sick, not because of the blood, but because his thought was still reeling at this incident.
Someone actually stabbed Hihi Gumi head despite him being a Nura Gumi Alliance. Who could have done this? Hihi was strong. Well, of course he was, or else he wouldn't be one of Nura Gumi Alliances' Generals.
"Then let's go. We don't really have to see this," Yura said, grabbing his sleeve to pull him away from the scene. Rikuo relented, slowly walking away together with her.
"No, but…, I thought Yura-san wanted to know more? I meant… Yura-san is a detective in training, no? Maybe… maybe Yura-san can help the police's investigation here too…. I'd really like to see Yura-san in action," Rikuo said with a forced smile. Well, he felt he forced his smile, but Yura seemed pleased hearing his words. He hoped she didn't look at his expression enough to know.
"Yeah… actually I kinda want to know more…," Yura stopped walking just on the roadside outside the crowd, and put her forefinger on her chin, seeming thinking. Then a light bulb seemed appearing on her thought as she punched her palm lightly. "Rikuo-kun stays here, I'll ask around to get more information, so ya don't have to see the blood," she said with a confident smile.
"Is that okay…? I meant, Yura-san is a girl after all… seeing blood doesn't bother you?" Rikuo set his concerned look.
"I'm totally fine. Living in a family like mine, ya'll get used to seeing blood every day," Yura grinned slightly before she went off to ask some more to the people around.
"Be careful, Yura-san!" Rikuo waved at her from his spot before his face turned serious, and then he turned around to run. He had to look for a phone and contact the main house about this attack. And then… Shouhei as well….
This is totally an attack…! I don't know who did it, but personal attack to Hihi Gumi Head is an attack to Nura Gumi! I must inform Rikuo about this!
End of Chapter 8
Tbc…
Notes:
1)Inukami Shiba: The name I thought for 'human' Inugami. Well, Inukami sounds less youkai, than Inugami, and 'Shiba' is one of a lot of dog races existing in Japan. Personally, I'd like to imagine Inugami as a 'hunter' type, like Doberman or German Sheppard, but he is considerably softer as human, so Siberian type will do. Anyway, chocolate hair and eyes… definitely Siberian type XD.
2)Kakibari: I just change Kagibari Onna (Hari Onna in the anime is called Kagibari, so…) into Kakibari because… well, no important reason. I just feel like it.
3)Moki-jii: grandpa Moki, a name I thought for Sodemogi-sama. The Sode will stay as 'Sode' for family name, but the 'mogi' is changed into Moki for easier pronunciation. Muchi can stay as Muchi. His name is human enough after all *laughs*.
4)Kangikou: Gangi Kozou's human's name. It's pronounced Kang-gi-kou. It's easier this way. Inuhou will stay Inuhou (minus the 'Ou' part of Inuhou-Ou).
5)Yosume: Yosusume's human's name. I change Yosusume into Yosume because Yosusume is too weird to be a name for human. No deeper reason for it.
A/N: Yah, minna-san? How is this chapter? Heheh, a trouble in paradise for Rikuou-Riku, I know, sorry for that. And finally Tamazuki and Inugami (Inukami) are out! XD. One o my favorite pair! XDD Aaah, can't wait to write mooore! If only my DAMN real life wasn't interfering so much… *sighs*.
And… oh yes. I just want to remind you guys that the poling for 'Nura's Golden Days' and 'Kill The Curse' are still open for voting! For whoever hasn't voted, please do! Some personal messages and reviews for voting are also being put into account!
Well then, I think this will do for now. See you in next chapter!