Disclaimer: Nuramago belongs to Shiibashi-sensei

Warning: AU, language, oOCness, yaoi

Beta: mittens_220 (LJ) or pika318 (ff net), thank you very much for your hard work, dear! XD

A/N: Hiya… I'm so sorry for taking so long to update this. Firstly, thank you for all the reviews, the faves and alerts. For some unfathomable reasons, I'm getting bored to write this one. I meant… since the second season of Nuramago ended, you know. I'm dying to know if they will make season 3! Well, it seems some of the readers also left this story (I know, you're bored too, so I can understand), but looking at the readers that are still reading and following, I can't leave it unfinished T_T. Ah… and now I'm rambling. Just ignore it.

Now, enjoy the new chapter (for whoever still follows~)

Chapter 19: Kyoto

Rikuou almost spurted out his tea unceremoniously as he heard what his older half brother said. "W-what…?" he couldn't help asking, his face pale. They were both seated at the table in Rikuou's chamber and he didn't expect that the first thing he would hear after Rikuo came home from school to be something like that.

Rikuou thought his ears had played a trick on him.

"I said, a new teacher in my school made a pass on me," Rikuo said, looking concerned.

Well, apparently, Rikuou's ears were not playing any tricks. He had indeed just heard that Rikuo was getting molested by his teacher.

A fire of wrath blazed behind Rikuou instantly, surprising Rikuo a little. "Which one?" the silver-black haired Sandaime of Nura Gumi asked, his eyes glinting dangerously that Rikuo gulped seeing them.

"I'm not telling, because you'll do something stupid like setting that guy's house on fire or something," Rikuo huffed and Rikuou twitched hearing that.

"But that pervert molested you!" Rikuou roared emotionally, totally enraged and mortified at the same time.

"Wha—! Who the hell said I was molested!" Rikuo threw a note book at Rikuou's face, which was of course, expertly dodged. "I said he made a pass on me! Not molested me! Are you even listening to me? I haven't even gotten to the important bit yet!" the older half-brother then berated the younger one for jumping to conclusions.

"A teacher is trying to have a go with you, Riku! You're telling me that there's something more important than that!" Rikuou wasn't in the mood to listen to his half brother anymore beyond that point. His mind was set dead on trying to figure out how to exterminate the particular 'bug' that tried to land on his 'flower'. Moreover, he was doing it in the place where Rikuou couldn't touch. A SCHOOL, damn it!

"There is! Listen to me, you-idiot!" Rikuo smacked Rikuou's head with another book. Now the younger one was on the floor, nursing the large painful bump on his top. Rikuo huffed. "That teacher I'm talking about… he seems to know about me," he said, more seriously.

That, of course, earned Rikuou's full attention. He forgot the pain on his head and sat up straight again, ready to listen to Rikuo's story more seriously. "What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"His name is Keira Shou. He came from Kyoto," Rikuo said, informing Rikuou.

"Keira Shou…" Rikuou repeated the name, thinking and recalling if he had ever heard of the name, but he didn't find him anywhere in his memory. "Never heard of him," he mumbled.

"Of course, he's just a teacher, but somehow… he's acting a little strangely, Rikuou. Besides his flirty behavior, he seems to… be trying to observe me," Rikuo said again, looking bothered. "Moreover, he already saw you and me once, on a date, in Niigata last Sunday," he continued.

Rikuou widened his eyes at that. "He was there? He followed us?" He couldn't believe this. They were actually being stalked without Rikuou knowing?

"I'm not sure, but he also made a pass on me at that time. You know… that guy with long light brown hair," Rikuo reminded his half brother of the specific guy and Rikuou immediately recalled the guy's face.

"That creep is your new teacher?" Sandaime almost cracked the end of the table that he was holding for support.

Rikuo nodded and sighed deeply. "He knew that you and I are brothers, Rikuou," he said, looking anxious. "I don't know if he recognized who you are at that time, but you introduced us to him as 'brothers'. What will happen if he knows you are a Yakuza Boss?"

Rikuou frowned and looked down. That would be bad for Rikuo. Moreover, Rikuo's friends already knew that he was dating Rikuou. If they found out about the incestuous relationship then, Rikuo's entire life which he had built all this time could be destroyed.

This definitely could become very awful for Rikuo.

"Should we get rid of that guy?" Rikuou asked then and Rikuo looked up at him in shock.

"Rikuou!" the older brother scolded him with a disbelieving tone.

"But, Riku… that guy could be a threat to your entire life. I'm not going to just sit idly when you're in danger like this! I will get rid of him if that's the only way to protect you!" Rikuou said seriously. He was capable of doing that. He was a Yakuza Boss of the notorious Nura Gumi after all.

"How are you supposed to do that? By killing him? How many times do I have to remind you that I don't want you to kill anyone, Rikuou?" Rikuo frowned at his half brother.

Despite the happy feeling he felt inside because he was so loved and treasured by Sandaime, until he was willing to do something very awful for him, Rikuo still didn't want Rikuou to dirty his hands. Rikuo would be very sad if Rikuou had to do something as horrid as killing people for him.

"There's another way to get rid of a person without killing him," Rikuou said, looking totally serious.

"Eh?" Rikuo widened his eyes at that. "How…?"

"Sending him overseas… for a lifetime vacation, maybe?" Rikuou said, thinking.

Rikuo's sweat dropped. "And whose money is going to be used to pay for something like that?" He asked, deadpanned.

"Or we can just beat the shit out of him and threaten him to shut up," Rikuou shrugged, giving up with the too nice idea for a guy who had tried to touch what was his in the first place.

"Hey!" Rikuo shouted at Rikuou again, looking at him ridiculously.

"As long as we don't kill, then putting him in a coma is justified, right?" Rikuou suggested while smirking creepily, imagining what kind of torture he could do to the perverted teacher.

"I'm the idiot for talking to you about this in the first place," Rikuo sighed deeply in defeat, a big bead of sweat dropping from the back of his head.

Rikuou then looked at the whining half brother with a small smile. "Or… you can just forget about school and stay here as my right hand man," he said again, still gazing at Rikuo gently and yet possessively at the same time.

Rikuo seemed about to protest, but looking at Rikuou's expression, he blushed instead. "Idiot… you know perfectly well that I can't do that…" he pouted afterwards and it was so cute in Rikuou's eyes that he couldn't help pulling the boy beside him to hug him. "Hey!" Rikuo protested and struggled, but Rikuou's hold was very solid.

"Ah… I'm very worried. Why are you this cute, Riku? If only you're invisible to everyone else but me…!" Rikuou said, holding the half older brother closely, not minding the struggle one bit.

"Then I won't exist anywhere besides in your imagination, moron," Rikuo huffed, but his struggle was receding and instead, he returned Rikuou's hug.

"Don't care… that way you'll become mine and mine alone…" Rikuou whispered, closing in Rikuo's neck to nip and suck at his sensitive spot, making the smaller teen gasp in surprise at the sudden assault.

"Hey, wait a—! It's still too early for that!" Rikuo scolded in undertone, struggling again, but the taller Sandaime held him even more tightly.

"It's fine. No one will hear," Rikuou said slowly before he backed off a little bit only to kiss Rikuo on the lips now.

"Nnh…!" Rikuo moaned slightly while closing his eyes in reflex, his hands clutching at Rikuou's arms, not exactly trying to push the silver-black haired teen away.

"School is the only place I can't touch, Riku…" Rikuou then whispered after he pulled back from the kiss. Rikuo opened his eyes slightly with dazed look. "I can't help you very much besides looking for information about that guy from the outside, so… please be careful. I placed Gozumaru and Mezumaru there for a sole reason: to guard you. You should use them more," he continued before snuggling Rikuo's nape contently.

Rikuou knew that Rikuo and Gozumaru's relationship was a little bit complicated right now, so his older brother might not want to use him too much, but that was the exact reason why Rikuou sent both Gozu and Mezu there. Rikuo should be able to set aside his personal feelings to protect himself using whatever means he could use.

Rikuo was silent for a moment before saying. "Don't worry, Rikuou… I might not be very strong in combat, but I have my own way to protect myself," he said, stroking Rikuou's hair gently.

Rikuou sighed deeply in defeat. He knew his brother would say that. "Just don't cheat on me, okay?" he just warned for a good measure.

"Idiot," Rikuo chuckled, sounding amused, before he kissed Rikuou's cheek lovingly.

Ooo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO

Thus, because Rikuo knew he couldn't count on Rikuou to solve this very irritating problem civilly, he had to resort to the classic ways, reporting the teacher to the head master.

"So… Keira-sensei flirted with you… and with other dozens students?" the Head Master asked.

Rikuo cringed. "I don't know if he flirts with anyone else, but seriously, Sir, that guy is dangerous! He makes me very uncomfortable!" the glasses wearing chocolate-black haired boy insisted that the school did something to Shou. After all, it was inappropriate for a teacher like him to flirt around with the students.

"Hmm… but he doesn't actually do something that can be considered sexual harassment, right? Did he ever touch you inappropriately?" the Head Master looked concerned.

Now, Rikuo sweated. Shou never touched him inappropriately. "No, well… he hasn't. But that's because I always try to avoid being alone with him, Sir! I know he's planning something! It's clear in his eyes!" he argued.

The Head Master could only sigh deeply at that. "I'm sorry, Nura-kun, but I can't do anything unless he does something that breaks the rules. If he actually tries to do something to you, you can come back here and report, Nura-kun," he said, looking sorry that he couldn't help.

Then something has to happen first? Can you at least take a precaution?—Rikuo wanted to protest, but then he knew that the Head Master's hands were also tied by the rules. Firing the teacher that hadn't done anything wrong would be unfair, but Rikuo was really worried that Shou was really planning something.

Rikuo's civilian's life was at stake here!

"Can you at least transfer him to other schools with good recommendation or something?" Rikuo tried to appear slightly desperate now, and it seemed the Head Master looked even more concerned.

"I'm sorry. He's still a probationary teacher. He should at least be here until the end of this semester," Head Master said while smiling apologetically.

Rikuo clicked his tongue while looking away. He thought for a minute before sighing in defeat.

"Understood… so if I find proof that Keira-sensei is a creep and a pervert, you'll get rid of him, right?" Rikuo asked, feeling worked up and extra serious after finding some ideas to get rid of that guy for good.

The Head Master's sweat dropped seeing that. "But no setting him up, Nura-kun," he warned.

"Don't worry, Sir. There's no way that I'll do something like that," Rikuo smiled nicely and convincingly at the old man, and he seemed to buy the act.

When Rikuo got out of the office, he smirked. "Now… what kind of scandal can I create to get that bug kicked out of this school?"

Ooo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO

"Sensei, if you don't stop sexually harassing me, I'll report you to the police," Rikuo almost cracked his pencil case as once again, Shou had made remark about him which could be taken the VERY wrong way.

"My, how hostile, exactly what kind of sexual harassment are we talking about here?" Shou grinned playfully and a vein popped out Rikuo's temple. He almost snapped at him when the bell saved the day (and Shou) from his wrath.

"Okay, that's it for now. Make sure you don't forget to practice the dialogues in chapter 7. We'll try to rehearse it tomorrow and study what meanings are conveyed in the dialogues," Shou said with a nice smile and the girls swooned at him.

"Aww~ Shou-chan is very romantic~!"

"Only Shou-chan can make studying Classic English into a very fun game like this~!"

"Kyaaa! Sensei, we love you!"

Shou just waved while smiling enticingly at the girls before he focused his gaze on Rikuo and winked while licking his lips suggestively and teasingly at him.

Just get out already!—Rikuo wanted to scream at him, but he held himself down and gritted his teeth in total annoyance.

"Shou-chan doesn't give up easily, does he?" Saori commented from her desk, a bead of sweat dropping from her head.

"Aww, Nura-kun, you're so very lucky to have him like you~!" Natsumi squealed.

"It's not fun at all! It's nightmare!" Rikuo huffed in irritation.

"By the way, have you guys decided where to go to the school trip?" Jirou, noticing the foul mood Rikuo was in, asked suddenly to change the subject.

"Isn't that decided by the school?" Kana asked back.

"Ah, the school gave us three choices for the destinations, and we have to pick one of them. Then the final decision will be picked from the majority of the students' choice," Kiyotsugu explained.

"Hmm… then, what are the destinations in the choice?" Yura asked. She was already talking to Rikuo again now, even though their conversation subject was pretty limited and strict due to the family secrets they had to keep from each other.

"Kyoto, Sapporo, Hawaii," Kiyotsugu said with a grin.

"Then it's already decided, right?" Rikuo said, deadpanned.

"Hawaii of course!" the three girls shouted in excitement

"I'm about to say Kyoto…" Rikuo sighed, sweat dropping. He didn't get why the girls loved ocean and beaches so much. After all, they would be going on the trip in winter. It would be extra chilly on the beach in the middle of winter, right?

Yes, the time when Rikuo's school held a study tour was slightly unusual for any school. It was decided that they would go during the winter vacation, unlike the others schools which usually went in autumn. He knew from student council that in that time, it would be easier to get rooms at the inns or at the hotels they would be staying and the fee would be cheaper.

No, their school wasn't exactly poor, but there were a lot of students with scholarships in Ukiyoe Senior High School. It would be very unfair for the students who didn't have the money to go if the cost of the school trip was too high, so judging from all of those, it was almost certain that Kyoto would be the first choice. It was far cheaper than Hawaii and it already covered the study tour material.

"Eh, but I thought Hawaii will be nicer!" Jirou supported the girls' idea immediately.

"I happen to have a villa in Hawaii," Kiyotsugu said proudly.

"Kyaaa! Kiyotsugu, you're the greatest!" the girls, especially Maki, squealed in total excitement.

"Jeez… you guys…" More beads of sweat threatened to fall from the back of Rikuo's head seeing his friends' reaction.

"Hmm… if the school trip is in Kyoto, then I guess I can go home for awhile before joining the others…" Yura mumbled quietly and then looked at outside the window with slightly concerned look.

Rikuo noticed that Yura was quiet so suddenly. She seemed to be bothered and concerned about something as well. "What's wrong, Yura-san?" he asked then, curious.

"Eh?" Yura turned to face him, looking surprised. "No… it's just, there's a problem at home and… my brother has been nagging me to go home to Kyoto," she sighed.

"Eh?" Rikuo was surprised. "Did something happen?" he asked.

Rikuo had heard from his brother that Kyoto was slightly dangerous these days. He didn't go into the detail, but it had something to do with Yakuza activity in Osaka's Underworld. Osaka was outside Nura Gumi territory, so they couldn't intervene with what happened there, still… for the Keikain to actually call Yura, a mere student on training, to go home… it must have been something big.

Yura turned a little bit sad at that. "There was… an accident," she whispered slightly.

"Accident?" Rikuo asked, very worried seeing that expression in Yura's face.

"Yes… it killed two people from the Keikain's Family," Yura continued, looking very depressed.

"Oh… I'm so sorry to hear that," Rikuo felt very bad now. He didn't know. "When did that happen?"

Yura sighed deeply before answering "A while back… a few weeks after we turned sophomore."

Rikuo gasped, very surprised at that. That was even before he broke up with Gozumaru. My God… I was so focused on myself that I didn't even realize that one of my friends had lost two important people in her life…!

"Yura-san… I'm very sorry…" Rikuo set his very sad look as well and Yura looked at him with a sad smile.

"I'm fine… it's just… the way it happened was so sudden, they said, that they didn't know if it was really an accident or there was a foul play… after all, both of them were in the middle of a mission," Yura said, looking very regretful.

"Yura-san… the reason you're called is…!" Rikuo widened his eyes slightly as he began to see what this was about.

"Amongst the others in the family… I'm the one most gifted with observation and deduction skills. They want me to investigate their deaths." Yura clenched her fists then.

Rikuo nodded. "Then you should go home," he said, encouraging her. "Do you want me to go and help around?" he offered then.

Yura looked upward in surprise at that. "What?" she asked staring at Rikuo in disbelief.

"Yura-san is my friend. I want to help," Rikuo smiled at her softly then.

Yura blushed slightly hearing the sincere tone. "But… what about the trip?" she asked then.

"I'll just join everyone later on like what you're planning to do," Rikuo grinned easily now and Yura sighed with a chuckle.

"Thanks, Rikuo-kun…" Yura said, reaching to hold his hand. "But ya don't have to. This is a family matter, and yer connection with Nura Gumi could complicate things. I'll just try to solve it myself," she then declined the offer as gently as she could, but still… the Nura Gumi comment stung a bit.

Well, of course Rikuo was just silent for a moment, thinking of how to reply before he smiled again. "If you really need help, don't hesitate to call, okay?" he said.

"I'll remember that," Yura smiled optimistically now and Rikuo was glad that she seemed to be okay. They seemed to be okay. Yura didn't mean anything bad. She was just being careful. It didn't mean Rikuo would just do nothing though, despite what she said.

However, despite his relief and his personal decision to help her, Rikuo didn't expect that… that was the last day he saw Keikain Yura at school….

Ooo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO

Somewhere outside the school, Keira Shou was walking down the street to go home. He stopped by the convenient store to buy some packed dinner to eat at home. He was just about to get inside his house when his cell phone rang.

Shou took out the phone and his expression brightened as he read the caller id. He quickly accepted the call and say "Hello, My Lady."

"Shou-kun, it's been awhile."

"That's my line. You never contacted me again after sending me off to Ukiyoe, My Lady. You're quite mean." Shou opened the door and brought his things inside while speaking.

"Sorry, I have my hand full with Sei-sama these days."

"Really? I'm so jealous. When will I be able to go home? I meant… the target is right in front of me, but I can't touch him without your order. That's very tempting and sad at the same time. I want to clean him immediately to suit your taste, Gitsu-sama," Shou said, closing the door again before locking it.

"Well, enjoying your meal slowly can be wonderful too, Shoukera?"

"Ah… it's been awhile since I'm called that way. Gitsu-sama, you're really my angel… no, that's not quite right. You're my Goddess," Shou sighed while shivering, his face flushing as well in excitement.

There was a chuckle on the phone before the other party spoke again. "Really, you are indeed a nut job, but that's what makes you adorable. So… how is it with our little dear Rikuo-chan?"

"Ah… he's as stubborn as the rumors say. By the way, I also met the other one, the Silver Haired Demon of the Nura Gumi," the light brown haired man reported. "And he seems as dangerous as the rumors say as well. I might be in a grave danger for trying to snatch away what's his," he continued.

"Fufufu, the other one is for me, Shoukera. Your job is to erode the little one's principle. Once I'm done with the entire plan, the demon won't have any place to return to. That will be his most helpless and hopeless situation… I can't wait to see what kind of face he'll make in that kind of anguish…" and then the girl laughed sounding as evil and as regal as always.

"Ah… that cruel side of you is making me shudder with total excitement, Gitsu-sama… This Keira Shou will bring you best of the best prey you can get," and Shou said with total awe in his expression. Oh how he loved that woman.

"Then, make sure the boy goes to Kyoto, along with the demon," was the order Shou received from the phone.

"Anything for you, My Lady," Shou said, worshiping her. "Anything for you…"

Ooo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO

Rikuo was quite surprised when he found Yura's seat empty the next morning. What shocked him even more was the news from his home-room teacher that Yura wouldn't come back for several days because of the 'family matters'.

It was odd because the exam was held the next week and her seat remained vacant even after the final exam ended.

"Is Yura-chan okay, I wonder…?" Kana asked with a concerned look as she and Rikuo went home together.

Kiyotsugu said he needed research to look for haunted spots in Kyoto because it was finally decided that they would go there for the school trip, and Kiyo Cross Supernatural Investigation Squad should spend their 'free' time to investigate those places rather than playing around or buying souvenirs.

Shima said he had a soccer practice, so he had to stay in school for awhile. Maki and Saori said they wanted to shop for winter clothes which were on sale at their favorite stores.

So, it left only Kana and Rikuo now.

"I don't know… but she is a tough girl. She'll be fine… maybe," Rikuo wasn't sure either, but he couldn't tell Kana about the sudden death of Yura's family members. It would only cause her worry.

"We really should visit her during the school trip," Kana said in determination.

"I'm more concerned because she didn't attend the exam… What will the teachers do about her grade?" Rikuo sighed, feeling sorry for their dear friend.

"Well, our school is pretty lenient about things like this. I think they will let Yura-chan attend the extra classes and exams or more homework to make up her absence," Kana said.

"That's possible," Rikuo smiled at her, agreeing.

But, Rikuo couldn't help feeling worried. She didn't give any notice at all before going away suddenly like that. It seemed she was in such a hurry to go home. Maybe the situation in Kyoto was direr than what she told Rikuo.

Rikuo was very curious. He had to tell his half brother about this. He didn't know what Rikuou would do, but he wished he would agree to help Yura. Even though Nura Gumi and Keikain Family aren't in such good terms, Rikuou still had the heart to grant Rikuo's specially made request, right?

"But she could have said something if she had to leave before," Kana-chan huffed slightly, her tone sounding annoyed, but Rikuo could see the worry in her honest eyes.

Rikuo smiled. He remembered why he had a crush on the girl in their old days. It was because of her caring personality. That's why he liked her very much. "Don't worry, Kana-chan. We'll help her if she needs our help," he said, tapping Kana's shoulder gently.

Kana also smiled seeing Rikuo's reassuring look. "Yeah…" she nodded.

Ooo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO

"What?" Rikuou almost dropped his jaw as he heard what his half brother was saying.

"I won't be coming to the main house for the winter vacation," Rikuo repeated the part that his brother might have (or not) wanted to hear in even tone.

"No, before that," Rikuou corrected, sounding demanding.

"I have a school trip?" Rikuo blinked, not expecting to be corrected.

"After that," Rikuou looked very serious now.

"To Kyoto," Rikuo said, feeling slightly confused of Rikuou's unexpected reaction. He looked like he was about to protest, but then he turned slightly away, seeming to think about something, or considering to do something.

"Riku… how long will you be going to and staying in Kyoto?" Rikuou asked after five full minutes of silence.

"A week… no, I probably will stay there during the entire vacation," Rikuo amended, remembering that he needed to see Yura first if it could be helped. Then like he intended to, he would join the school trip when everyone from his school arrived in Kyoto at the next several days later.

"Hmm… a week or more…" Rikuo mumbled slightly before nodding. "Okay," he said and that almost made Rikuo drop his glasses. He expected that Rikuou would protest harder or even whine more at him for choosing the school trip over Rikuou. It was really surprising.

"Okay?" Rikuo asked, still in shock.

"Yeah, but I'm coming too," Rikuou grinned.

Now, there was a catch after all. "Hey! It's my school trip! You can't come!" Rikuo protested.

"Isn't it okay? I'll use my own money to go there and book a hotel near the inn where you stay and we can have our winter vacation together," Rikuou was still smiling, and it was honestly creepy in Rikuo's eyes.

The chocolate haired boy's gut couldn't help telling Rikuo's head that there was something important that Rikuou was hiding from him. He couldn't imagine that Rikuou would want to go around Kyoto, surrounded by tourists and giggling high school girls. This was very odd.

"What are you up to?" Rikuo finally asked, feeling suspicious.

"Riku! You're so mean! I just want to spend more time with you! I've been working very hard this past year to save money! I need a break once in awhile and I want to spend my free time with you! How could you accuse me of planning something when all I want to do is spending more time with you?"

And Rikuou continued ranting while the chocolate haired boy sighed deeply in defeat, knowing that he wouldn't get an answer when Rikuou started to act like a brat. "Yes, yes, I know… stop with the 'wanting to spend more time with me' excuse. You've repeated it twice already," he said, closing his ears in annoyance that he had to endure this.

Rikuou immediately stopped to grin at that. "So… which hotel are you staying in?" He looked so damn cheerful now that his older half brother couldn't help sighing in defeat.

Ooo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO

"You've got to be kidding me…" Rikuou looked at the very big mansion in the uptown area of Kyoto, eyes wide and expression in disbelief. "Keikain Residence, really?" He read at the name on wall on the outer gate. Classic big golden letters of Keikain on top of chrome colored marble greeted the Nura brothers.

Rikuou then immediately turned to face Rikuo who seemed to be fiddling with his cell-phone, looking completely at ease and calm. "Yeah, I have contacted Yura-san and she said she would provide us with rooms," he didn't even look up from his phone he had received as a birthday gift from Kiyotsugu when he turned 17, as he said that.

"But, Riku! This house is filled with my natural enemies!" Rikuou protested, rather hard now.

"So behave. You're not Sandaime of Nura Gumi 'Nura Rikuou' right now, just plain 'Yoru' Rikuou. Isn't that why you're wearing casual attire right now?" Rikuo asked, looking upward at his half brother after closing the lid of his cell-phone.

As the chocolate haired boy said, Rikuou wore a light brown sweater under a long black coat and black long pants. "You even dyed your hair black… you must have been very excited doing this under-cover work thing," Rikuo's sweat dropped as he added, his glasses lowered slightly.

Rikuou flinched slightly at the under-cover word. "Well, I'm too famous for Keikain in Kyoto, so I have to disguise myself, right?" he then hid his nervousness with a smirk.

Truthfully Rikuou was indeed very giddy. After Ryouta returned home from Kyoto, Rikuou had been dying to go himself to confirm if the rumors that were happening in the old city were true. Of course he had voiced his idea at the meeting and obviously, everyone objected to it with a passion.

"It's dangerous, Sandaime!"

"There's just no way will we let you endanger yourself unnecessarily!"

"We have people to do that job!"

Rikuou knew that those people were just worried, but Rikuou, being himself, wouldn't give up so easily. When Rikuo mentioned that he would go to school trip at Kyoto, Rikuou passed the message that he would go just so he could shadow and protect the boy. And it seemed everyone in the house was very lenient if he included his very cute older brother in the equation. They thought it was just Rikuou being childish again, so they just said 'do whatever you want' in the end.

Though, of course Rikuou didn't come alone with his little brother. He brought some his trusted body guards like Kubinashi, Aotabo, Kurotabo, Kejorou, even Zen and Shouhei. Oh, and a new member he had exchanged Sakazuki with when he went to Sapporo for 'business'.

Rikuou left the main house to his grandpa, the Sanba Family and even Gyuuki. Tsurara had her own agenda for her own school, so he couldn't ask her to come along. Now, he could play around with Rikuo in Kyoto and investigate the events that had been going on for the past year in the down town safely.

"Yeah, yeah, it's good that you thought about disguising yourself, but Yura-san will still recognize you, you know… You refused to use your contact lenses," Rikuo sighed again in defeat.

Of course Rikuou knew what Rikuo was talking about. His red eyes were dead giveaway. No human in this entire universe had eyes as crimson as he did after all.

"They make my eyes itch," Rikuou huffed, repositioning his sunglasses to cover the eyes.

"And after I prepared such rare golden colored lenses too…" Rikuo pouted.

"That would make me look exactly like dad. That's creepy," Rikuou's sweat dropped and Rikuo chuckled.

"But, really… you do look like dad very much, Rikuou," Rikuo said, smiling so adoringly at Rikuou which made the other boy blush slightly.

"You think so?" Rikuou asked, feeling slightly happy. After all, he really adored their father.

"Um! If you use the sunglasses, people will have a hard time realizing that it's you and not him," Rikuo added the compliment. "If only you were taller…"

Rikuou almost fell over at the addition. "Hey!" and he protested hard as Rikuo laughed.

It seemed they were noisy enough because the high gate was suddenly opened from the inside, earning both Rikuou and Rikuo's attention.

"Oya, we have guests?" Someone came out from the slightly opened gate, revealing a very beautiful man with long platinum blond hair and reddish amber eyes. The man wore a police uniform and both Rikuou and Rikuo froze as he looked at them with curious glance.

"What's wrong, Akifusa?" Another male voice came out from the gate as another person came out, following the beautiful man that was called Akifusa just then.

"Ah, Masatsugu, there are two strangers in front of the gate," Akifusa said before he turned to his caller, a serious looking man with slightly spiky black hair and dark grey eyes behind an oval shaped glasses.

The dark haired man, Masatsugu, fixed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose before he glanced at the two frozen boys in front of Akifusa. "Can I help you, gentlemen?" Unlike Akifusa, this man wore white shirt under a long furry coat in light green color.

"Oh, I'm Rikuo. I want to visit my friend, Keikain Yura. This is her house, right?" Rikuo asked.

"Ah, Yura-chan's friends?" Akifusa smiled as he heard the girl's name.

"Yes, this is my… cousin, Yoru, here to accompany me," Rikuo smiled as well, introducing himself and 'Yoru' to Akifusa and Masatsugu.

It seemed the one called Akifusa was a friendly person, unlike the other one who looked more like a body guard than a detective. Rikuou just assumed, since the two came out of Keikain Family's house, they must be Keikain too.

"I'm Keikain Akifusa, this is my cousin, Masatsugu. You must be the close friend Yura made during her training in Ukiyoe, correct? Come in. Masatsugu will guide you. I'm afraid I have something to take care of first before I join you," Akifusa said very politely, making Rikuou uncomfortable. He wasn't used to speaking and hearing such formal language even though the dialect sounded a little funny. After all, he was surrounded by Yakuza all the time.

"Ah, thank you very much," Rikuo, on the other hand, was like a fish in a pond. He looked perfectly composed and 'at home' in a situation like this. In the end, Rikuou opted to stay silent while letting his half older brother handle the conversation.

They were immediately brought inside the yard and Rikuou had to hold a gasp of awe when they were greeted by a palace… or maybe just a VERY BIG traditional Japanese fortress, Kyoto style with the high big pillars and everything. The yard and garden was as stunning with a lot of trees and bushes which were currently dry because of the season.

"This is incredible…" Rikuou couldn't help mumbled quietly. He didn't know how Rikuo reacted to this implausible view, but he assumed Rikuo was as amazed as himself.

"Wow, the house is very big and stylish!" Rikuo exclaimed and Masatsugu chuckled.

"Many people said that," the host replied with a smile.

As expected of Rikuo for already warming the guy up, only by making light conversation with Masatsugu and smiling at him…. Really, Rikuou couldn't get enough surprise of his brother's special ability to entice people around him and to lower their guard.

Moreover, Rikuo did that very easily too…. Sometimes Sandaime was very envious of his older half brother's nature.

"Yura-chan is doing an investigation right now. You two can wait for her in the living room," Masatsugu said after bringing them inside the very magnificent house and then led them to a room with large wooden table and a lot of pillow seats around it.

It was more like a dinner table in Nura Gumi, but he said this was a meeting room?

"It's rather unusual meeting room, but we usually have a family meeting over dinner, so…" Masatsugu explained slightly, seemingly to reading the silence.

Rikuou honestly didn't know why Masatsugu needed to explain. It wasn't like he was protesting. But, it seemed Rikuo had casually asked a bunch of questions to the host again. "I see. It's Riku's doing, huh…?" A bead of sweat dropped from the back of his head.

"What would you like to drink?"

Rikuou blinked slightly as he heard the question. "Eh?" he was slightly dumbfounded, still standing as well while his half brother had already seated, looking upward at him curiously. "Um…"

"Yoru, Masatsugu-san asked what you want to drink," Rikuo repeated. "And why are you still standing? Come sit down. Aren't you tired?" he asked again, rather concernedly.

"Ah, my bad—, err, I meant, sorry…" See, Rikuou was really not used to such hospitality. This was awkward. He then nodded before seating himself beside Rikuo.

"I'm sorry, my cousin is a little wary of strangers," Rikuo turned to speak to Masatsugu again with a sheepish look.

"No problem. It's normal that way… I think you're the strange one because you can be so friendly with strangers," Masatsugu said while chuckling slightly, looking amused.

"Not at all, after all, Masatsugu-san isn't exactly a stranger to me; you are Yura-san's family, and Yura-san is such a nice girl. You must be a nice person too," Rikuo smiled angelically at the taller man and Rikuou immediately knew that Masatsugu was hooked.

Rikuo was very good with playing his words and expressions that it was scary, added with that super cute face… no once could stand wary against Nura Rikuo. How such pure person ended up in Yakuza family… well, Rikuou wanted to have Rikuo in his family, but really… looking at Rikuo interact with people like this made Rikuou reconsider his idea.

Maybe Rikuo was really better off without the Nura Gumi….

But I love him too much to let him go…. There's just no way can I bear not being with him….

"So, what do you want to drink, Yoru-san?" Masatsugu addressed Rikuou's fake name with friendlier smile and Rikuou smiled slightly as well.

"Green tea is fine," he replied as politely as he could.

"Please wait for a moment," Masatsugu then stood up to leave the room.

Now, it was only Rikuou and Rikuo in the room and they were quiet.

"This house… even though it's very big, don't you think it's very vacant?" Rikuo asked, breaking the silence suddenly.

"Huh? Ah… now that you mention it, we didn't bump into anyone in the hall or in the yard earlier," Rikuou just realized that. Wow, Rikuo had noticed something he didn't even though he was busy making small talks with Masatsugu!

Rikuo then turned to Rikuou slightly, looking worried again. "Is it that hard and upsetting for you to come to Keikain Family residence?" he asked then and Rikuou was surprised.

"No! No… it's not like that. I just… have a lot of things to think about, you know…" Rikuou looked away slightly, not wanting his half brother to know that he was thinking over something stupid. But, even though this did sound stupid, Rikuou couldn't help feeling 'inferior' outside his own territory.

Civilian life was totally outside Rikuou's territory and they were outside Nura Gumi territory. He hated feeling insecure and not like himself. Look at him! He was disguising himself for God's sake! It wasn't like him at all!

"You're weird lately, Ri—Yoru, what's wrong?" Rikuo then reached his hand to Rikuou's cheek, but Rikuou didn't feel at ease when Rikuo called his fake name instead of his.

"I don't like this…" Rikuou sighed deeply, suddenly feeling helpless.

"What?" Rikuo blinked in confusion.

"This… undercover thing," Rikuou admitted. "I can't stand the fact that I need to be someone else to be with you. This just sucks…" he continued.

Rikuo chuckled slightly. "It's just one day and you're already whining. Imagine how those guys you ask for doing undercover tasks feel," he shook his head at that.

"But… I can't even speak normally in this disguise. It's very awkward…" Rikuou was getting depressed now and he put his forehead on Rikuo's shoulder to sigh again after removing his sunglasses.

"Really… what should I do with you…?" Rikuo chuckled again while stroking Rikuou's dyed hair softly, assuring and comforting him.

"Excuse me for the long…" Masatsugu had just come back and opened the door only to be greeted by the sight of Rikuo and his 'cousin' being affectionate to each other. "-…wait…" the taller glasses wearing guy blinked several times at that.

"Ah, welcome back, Masatsugu-san," Rikuo turned to the man with a smile and Rikuou tensed slightly on Rikuo's embrace. "I'm sorry; my cousin isn't feeling good right now. He's weak to air transportation," he lied so smoothly again and Rikuou was having a hard time not laughing at that.

Rikuo pinched his side and Rikuou almost yelped, but he held it down by shivering in Rikuo's arms.

"Oh, my… is he okay? Do you need to lie down, Yoru-kun?" Masatsugu asked, sounding concerned.

"N-no, I'm… fine… just need… some rest…" Rikuou was still trying not to laugh, so he hid his face in the crook of Rikuo's neck.

"It's fine this way, Masatsugu-san. I'm used to it," Rikuo smiled at Masatsugu, seeming to tell him to leave Rikuou alone.

"Okay, then… just don't hesitate to ask for something if you need anything. Yura-chan's friends are important guests for us," Masatsugu said with a friendly smile again.

"We will," Rikuo chirped cheerily and then Masatsugu seated himself in front of Rikuo and Rikuou before he let the servant come in bringing Rikuou and Rikuo' cups of tea.

So they do have servants…—Rikuou noted.

"Ah, is that a surveillance camera?" Rikuo asked so suddenly, still holding Rikuou close while speaking to Masatsugu.

Surveillance? Shit! I didn't notice that! What if our conversation was heard?—Rikuou panicked inwardly.

"Yes, it's just for security. But no worries, they are just pictures, no audio, so the private conversations can stay private," Masatsugu said, reassuring.

Thank Goooooood!—Rikuou almost danced in joy at that.

"Oh, I see," Rikuo mumbled slightly, sighing in relief as well.

Ooo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO

"So… are both of you Yura-chan's school friends?" Masatsugu asked, fixing the position of his glasses again while Rikuo and Rikuou were sipping their tea.

"No, only I am. Yoru is just an acquaintance of her since he is my cousin," Rikuo answered dutifully

"Hmm… so Yoru-kun goes to different school?" Masatsugu raised his eyebrows.

"Something like that," Yoru, already having his sunglasses on again, nodded slightly, keeping his voice down to appear more reserved than he usually was.

"How is Yura-chan in school? Does she have many friends?" Masatsugu asked again.

"Err… I'm under the impression that Ryuuji-san or Yura-san has at least told the family about her progress in the training…" Rikuo tilted his head aside, looking at Masatsugu with a questioning look.

"Ah, I don't mean about her training. I'm just curious because she doesn't really tell about her life as a high school girl. After all, Yura-chan is the only 'girl' in the family, so we kind of dote on her too much, so she always tries to avoid questions of her private life," Masatsugu explained rather sheepishly.

"Hmm… Yura-chan is best friends with a girl named Kana-chan, and she's friends with Maki-san and Torii-san, and of course, me. Oh, we're in the same club too. It's called Kiyo Cross Supernatural Investigation Squad, though she's there only to deny the existence of supernatural beings," Rikuo chuckled while telling stories. "We have Kiyotsugu, our leader in the squad who's so crazy about youkai and supernatural occurrence, you see… and we…"

Rikuou had mostly tuned down the school conversation from his brother at this point, because he knew Rikuo wouldn't stop for another hour speaking about his and Yura's lives as high school boy and girl. It seemed his older half brother had decided to become a very chatty and cheery person. He didn't know what Rikuo was up to with creating such an impression, but he hoped it wasn't about something bad.

"…and so, we thought Kappa might exist and installed a camera near the river. Yura-san scolded us because it was useless and dangerous, the camera could be stolen or something," Rikuo chuckled as he told Masatsugu.

"I see…" Masatsugu's sweat dropped and he looked like he was about to bolt.

"Ah," Rikuou suddenly understood what Rikuo was trying to do. He wanted to scare Masatsugu away with his tendency to speak uncontrollably like that so the older man wouldn't want to ask something else that would cause him having to endure another long unnecessary blabbing from Rikuo.

As expected of Riku! How smart!—Rikuou smirked.

"So… what about you, Yoru-kun? You're in any particular club?" Masatsugu turned to Rikuou, looking uncomfortable, seeming to ask for help.

Rikuou chuckled slightly at that. "Not really… I'm a domestic person after all," he said before quieting again.

Masatsugu seemed to be in trouble because of the very contrasting personalities, and before Rikuo could add another rambling about his high school life, the taller older man quickly excused himself. "I'll take a look to see if Yura-chan's home," he said before fleeing the room.

Rikuo thrust his tongue out in a sheepish look after Masatsugu left. "Sorry, Masatsugu-san…" he said, looking rather guilty.

Rikuou couldn't hold it down anymore and laughed pretty hard at that. "Oh man… his face…!" he couldn't stop until he had to bury his own face on his arms on top of the wooden table.

"My bad… but I don't want him to pry more about us. That will be very troublesome," Rikuo said, huffing out a long sigh.

"I know… It's just so funny how you do it," Rikuou was still laughing.

"Wasn't half bad, huh?" Rikuo grinned.

"Not at all," Rikuou grinned back, still completely chuckling.

Ooo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO

Unfortunately for both Rikuou and Rikuo, Yura wasn't yet home. Masatsugu tried to entertain them, but it seemed Rikuo and Rikuou were 'hard to approach' –the older man's words because Rikuou was too quiet since he was bad at pretending, so he opted to stay silent most of the time; and Rikuo was too chatty… about other people, but he didn't let any information about himself slip out.

"Why don't you walk around here while you're waiting for Yura? I'll contact you when she's home, if you leave your cell-phone number," Masatsugu offered while smiling awkwardly.

Rikuo and 'Yoru' glanced at each other for a moment before they looked back at Mastsugu and smiled (smirked). "Okay! What's interesting in the uptown area?" Rikuo asked cheerily.

"There are a quite big mall and a center park at the end of the road, at the west of this house," Masatsugu said.

"Thank you, Masatsugu-san. We'll come back later," Rikuo nodded slightly before he stood up and rummaged through a small back on his waist to take out a paper and a pen. He scribbled something on the paper before tearing it and offered it to Masatsugu. "Here's my number. I'll be expecting your call," he said with a small smile.

"Okay," Masatsugu smiled as well, receiving the small paper.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Rikuou nodded as well at Masatsugu and he nodded back before he sent both Rikuo and Rikuou out of the house.

Walking down the road, Rikuo fiddled with his cell-phone again, while Rikuou took off his sunglasses to clean the lenses. The taller of the two then glanced at the chocolate haired boy and sighed. "You played with your cell again," he huffed.

"Well, it's the first time I got one, so forgive me for being curious," Rikuo grinned.

"What are you playing anyway?" Rikuou scooted closer to his half brother and Rikuo moved the screen so Rikuou could see it better.

"I'm texting Kiyotsugu. He's been whining since we departed this morning because I went first before all of them," Rikuo chuckled as he sent the text message.

"He's coming here too with the rest of the sophomores in your school right?" Rikuou asked.

"Yeah, but not today," Rikuo closed the lid of the cell phone again and then kept it in his pocket. "They will come next week. In the mean time, I want to help Yura-san with whatever she needs," the glasses wearing boy smiled now, quite contently.

"What happened to her? I was so busy thinking a way to come here to Kyoto so I haven't heard why she got back and why you insisted on helping her," Rikuou asked out of curiosity and Rikuo looked down as he remembered the reason.

"Her close relatives died," Rikuo whispered, "two of them."

Rikuou widened his eyes as he heard that. "What…?"

"She said… the family informed her that those people died in accident, but… since both of them were on a mission of some sort, their family suspected foul play. Yura-san was called back for an investigation as well as for the funeral, it seems," Rikuo explained.

"Oh…" Rikuou went silent then, unable to help feeling sympathetic. He knew how it felt to lose someone important.

"I want to help her… since it's tough to go through something like this when you are alone…" Rikuo said again, looking up to the sky with a solemn expression.

"I know…" Rikuou whispered, agreeing quietly.

Ooo—Rikuou x Rikuo—ooO

They reached the mall twenty minutes later and they couldn't help widening their eyes because the mall wasn't like what they both expected.

"This is a mall?" Rikuo asked, feeling slightly ridiculous.

"Well… a mall is usually in the downtown area, so… this is supposed to be a mall in uptown area… maybe?" Rikuou replied, but his tone wasn't sure either.

"This is more like… a tourist spot, right?" Rikuo looked at the market which wasn't inside a building, but designed like a market place in the old days with stands here and there, selling specific items of some sort.

"Aren't they cold being outside in this kind of weather?" Rikuou also asked, looking curious.

Rikuo then snorted slightly before laughing. "Well, we're already in Kyoto. Let's just enjoy this together before we have to do something later," he said, reaching out to hold Rikuou's hand.

Rikuou seemed to be surprised for a moment when he saw his hand which was now in Rikuo's firm grip. He then softened his expression and smiled slightly. "Surely… shall we look around? Who knows? Maybe we'll find something interesting here," he gripped Rikuo's hand back as firm.

"Yup!" Rikuo grinned before he stepped forward, leading his younger half brother inside the market…

End of Chapter 19

Tbc…

A/N: Okay, I have no excuse for cutting it here, but it's getting hard to straighten the track of which way I should go from this point. I have two options, forgetting about the fan-services and move forward to finish this story quickly so I can make new story that's been dying to be written, or I keep the slow pace with a lot of fan-service but the plot will be in stagnant. Whichever you want, guys…