Chapter 15
We arrived at the inn and much to our surprise many people came running up to Ryuji. 'It's Bon,' one spoke, 'Bon came back.' Another cheered as Ryuji and the other Kyoto born boys continued in. 'Bon welcome back, and Konekomaru and Renzou,' 'this is great go get the Okami.' 'No I'm not back for a visit I am here as an exwire, listen!' Ryuji attempted to explain as a beautiful woman in a kimono came running our way. 'Ryuji…' she spoke as Ryuji gulped in fear. 'You… you died your hair, what are you trying to be a chicken when you grow up?' She yelled as she came charging towards him. 'Didn't you say you'd never come back here? Well didn't you?' She continued to shout, 'Yeah but the order just happened to book us here! And did you just call me a chicken? It represents my dedication!' Ryuji shouted back, it didn't take me long to see the family resemblance. 'Dedication? You used to be so handsome I will never forgive you!' The crazed lady continued to shout. Renzou just started to laugh, 'I knew this would happen.' He mumbled to himself, 'hi ma'am it's me Konekomaru, it's been a long time.' Koneko stated as he bowed in respect. 'Long time no see ma'am,' Renzou smiled. 'Neko, Renzou I'm so glad you're back safe and sound. I bet babysitting Ryuji was hard.' She stated as Ryuji barked back, 'they don't babysit me!' The woman then turned to face the rest of us, 'oh my where are my manners you must be the other students. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance; I'm Ryuji's mother. Thank you for looking after my son.' She smiled politely, 'his mother? You're Suguro's mom?' Rin questioned in disbelief, 'so this inn is Bon's house?' Izumo questioned as Ryuji's mother went on to explain some of the history. Shura came in and introduced herself after giving Ryuji's mother a gift. She then told the boys to say a quick hello to their families and get to work. I on the other hand was worried about Ryuji; I could tell he didn't want to be here. We all went on to do some separate jobs and soon enough it was nighttime. I decided to take a little walk outside to get some fresh air when I saw Ryuji sitting alone on the deck.
'Hey…' I spoke as I sat down next to him, 'how are you doing?' I asked as Ryuji just sighed, 'I just, Mira I'm sorry for everything. I wasn't mad because you didn't tell me, I was just jealous because you and Rin were close enough to share things like that.' Ryuji blushed as he turned his head to the side and took another sip of his drink. 'Oh Ryuji, I just don't want to see you and Rin fight anymore, he needs you and so do I.' I spoke as I lay my head against his shoulder. 'Mi Mira?' Ryuji stuttered as I tightened my grip around his hand. It went silent for a bit until Ryuji placed his hand on the side of my face staring deep into my eyes. The normal scowl he usually wore was relaxed as a blush dusted across his cheeks. His warm brown eyes were filled with sadness, I could see all of the pain he had been holding back lately. I wanted him to share his feelings with me, only me… His hand slid from the side of my face to the back of my head brushing through my hair. His eyes continued to be fixed on mine as he brought my face closer to his. 'Ryu…Ryuji?' I spoke under my breath; I could smell the alcohol he had been drinking. He was drunk, unaware of what was going on yet I couldn't resist, couldn't say no. I knew it for a while now that my feelings for him had gotten stronger; I missed him so much in the time that he didn't talk to me. His lips now brushed against mine, they were warm, soft, and I let my feelings go as I passionately kissed him back. After a bit we broke for air as he collapsed and fell on my lap. His eyes were closed and I could hear a light snore and quickly realized that he was sound asleep. My heart continued to race as I brushed my hand through his streaked hair, I grazed his ear feeling over all of his piercings as I heard him mumble 'I… won't run away.' The poor guy had been through so much lately, I smiled as I continued to stroke his hair. 'I wont hide anything from you again… I love you Ryuji.' I whispered as I stared up into the star covered Kyoto sky.
The next morning I woke up to Ryuji screaming, 'what are you yelling about it's 5:30 in the morning you idiot!' I yawned as I pulled off the covers in Ryuji's bed. 'But, I uh I don't remember anything and why are you in my bed and where are your clothes? We didn't do anything did we?' Ryuji continued to freak out as I yawned once more. 'First off you got drunk so a nice follower of your temple helped me carry you to your room, second I got tired and didn't want to go to the other end of the temple so I decided to crash in your bed. Third I tend to take my clothes off in my sleep if I get too hot and sleeping next to you kept me warm enough. Forth nothing after you fell asleep,' I responded very calmly. 'What do you mean after I fell asleep?' Ryuji's face turning a dark crimson, 'if you can't remember I'm not going to say anything.' I smirked as I grabbed one of Ryuji's T-shirts off the floor to cover myself. 'Damn it I can't remember anything!' Ryuji continued to yell, as all I could do was laugh. 'So I figured and no don't worry I didn't deflower you,' I winked as I grabbed my clothes off the ground and headed for his washroom. Leaving a very confused Ryuji with his mouth hanging wide open. After listening to Ryuji constantly asking me what happened we arrived at breakfast to meet up with Rin, Renzou and the others. I took a seat beside Rin who apparently didn't remember what happened last night as well. Looks like Shura got the drinks mixed up. Renzou took a seat across from Rin and was talking to him like nothing ever happened, which made me happy. I was relieved to see the whole Satan thing wasn't becoming too big a deal. 'Ren…zou,' a voice spoke as I saw Renzou being kicked across the room. Nothing unusual so I went on with eating my breakfast.
'What was that all about?' Renzou yelled back at the attractive blonde who sent him flying. 'What I kicked you, are you stupid?' he responded as an older guy behind him laughed. 'You're the stupid idiot dummy,' Renzou yelled in reply. 'Renzou you're looking good,' the guy spoke. After a bit more conversation between the three they finally turned to look at Rin and myself. 'Who are these two?' The blonde asked, 'these are my friends from school, Rin Okumura and Mira Sakurai.' Renzou stated with a smile, 'oh right, I'm Juzo, Renzou's big brother.' The darker hair male replied. 'That's Kinzo, my younger brother, he's a moron.' Juzo laughed, 'Renzou's the runt of the litter as well as a real perv, go easy on him.' 'Yeah we are well aware of that, but seriously Renzou you never told me you had any siblings and not to mention hot ones.' I laughed in reply, 'oh I like this one, you're not involved with Renzou now are you?' Kinzo smirked as he received a glare from Rin. 'Nah she's Bon's girl.' Renzou laughed in reply making me turn bright red and making Rin twitch. 'Who said that?' Rin replied, 'okay let's call it a love triangle then.' Renzou added backing off a bit. I just sighed after all he was right. The boys kept going on about swimming until Shura showed up and grabbed Rin by the collar dragging him off for his special training. Afterword I went to go help Ryuji's mother with preparing snacks for everyone. 'I don't mean to be rude but could you tell me a bit about what's going on between Ryuji and his father?' I asked as she turned to look at me with a gentle smile on her face. 'Well Ryuji and his father have never really seen eye-to-eye, as Ryuji got older he wanted to restore the temple and felt that his father was a coward. I know he loves his father but I think right now there are secrets about our temple that even he can't share with his son. Ryuji left here without our blessing and coming back has stirred up his anger again.' She sighed as she continued to make onigiri, 'I can tell though, you care a lot for my son don't you?' She smiled as a red blush crossed my face. 'He's very important to me and I want to be there for him but I don't know how.' 'What you are doing now is enough, I'm sure Ryuji will see all that you do for him.' She continued to smile as I felt some relief.
Later on that night I went outside to cool off when I saw smoke rising from the far end of the temple. I couldn't explain it but I knew something was wrong; I started to run when I ran into Rin and Shura who were heading in the same direction. 'Sakurai you saw the smoke as well?' Shura questioned as I tried to keep up with their pace. When we arrived in the building there was a huge crowd of people. We budged through to see Ryuji grabbing an older man by his shirt and had a look on his face that screamed this was the angriest he could get. 'Is Mamushi right, have you betrayed us?' Ryuji yelled, as the older man smiled back, 'of course not.' He replied, 'if that's true then tell me the truth, right here in front of everyone!' Ryuji demanded, Shura turned to look at Rin, 'who's the bald dude?' She questioned, 'Suguro's dad…' Rin responded as I froze in shock, that was Ryuji's father? No wonder he was mad. 'It's a secret I can't even tell my own son, it'd be better if I never have to tell you so…' his father smiled with a look of innocence. 'Despite all this you still won't tell me?' Ryuji responded with disappointment, 'anyway I have to go after Mamushi. Ryuji listen to your mother and your teachers, be a good boy okay?' The old man responded as he looked at his son with love. 'Enough with the caring father act! If you leave without telling me I will no longer recognize you as my father!' Ryuji yelled out as Rin and I froze, he really meant it…
'Well gotta go… sorry,' the old man responded as he walked away, before I could do anything Rin grabbed the man by his robes and yanked him back to his angry son, much to his surprise. 'Why are you leaving? You're Suguro's father!' Rin yelled at him, 'Rin…' he responded, it seemed that the two knew each other already. 'And Suguro you jerk!' Rin yelled as he punched him right in the face, knocking him to the floor. 'Rin, Ryuji!' I called out as I ran towards the two of them, bending down to see if Ryuji was okay. 'I don't know what's behind all of this but you'll regret it later! Got it? Now apologize to your father!' Rin demanded, 'this is none of your business, so shut up!' Ryuji yelled back as I used all my strength to hold him down from attacking Rin. 'You can't disown your father!' Rin belted back, his words cut deep after all he just lost the man who raised him… 'Like you are one to talk! You say you're going to defeat Satan…' Ryuji barked back, 'Rin, Ryuji enough of this!' I yelled holding Ryuji in my arms as tears streamed down my face. 'Get lost and never come back!' Ryuji yelled as Rin's face showed the hurt of the older boys words. 'I thought you were cool… I guess I was wrong Suguro!' Rin screamed out as he let loose the blue flames. 'Rin stop it right now,' I cried out as Ryuji pushed me to the side as Rin charged at him. Ryuji put up a defensive barrier as Shura ran towards Rin in order to stop the demon's rampage.
'I don't want to be Satan's son, but you're different right?' Rin yelled as he pulled Ryuji closer to him trying to get his words through. Juzo busted through separating them as Shura used a spell knocking Rin unconscious as some elders took him away. I cried out, 'Rin!' as Ryuji helped me to my feet; I looked him in the eyes. Tears continued to stream down my face as he pulled me into a tight hug. 'I … I'm sorry Mira, I just… please don't cry.' Ryuji responded, he pulled apart as Renzou and Koneko ran towards us. 'Bon are you okay?' Renzo asked as he then turned to me. 'What happened Mira?' 'We'll explain later,' Ryuji replied. The four of us headed to the kitchen to get Ryuji some ice where we ran into Izumo and Shiemi. 'What happened,' Izumo asked as Ryuji held the ice to the side of his face. 'The Right Eye was stolen, and they arrested Okumura.' He responded as everyone's faces turned to shock. 'They did?' Renzou questioned, surprised we didn't say something sooner. 'He let his flames loose, everyone saw it.' I replied while grabbing a new ice bag and handing it to Ryuji. 'What are they going to do with him?' Koneko asked, 'I don't know… Ms. Kirigakure used a spell to knock him out and they locked him in a cell.' Ryuji responded as he sighed, 'That means Okumura is in trouble?' Renzou questioned, 'Rin…' Shiemi spoke looking like she would cry any second now.