SEEING YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME

Chapter 4B: Rihan's Flash of Emotions

Disclaimer: Nurarihyon no Mago characters are not mine. Also, the last name of Wakana is just a fictional name that was added for the purpose of the story. There are also some original characters created for the purpose of the story.

Please read and review, keeps me motivated to write. Thank you!

Author's note: The story is slightly different than usual. However, I will not move away so much. The overall plan is to end up in the same story. About the onmyoji characters, wait and see.

Note for the chapter: Sorry to the readers that it took a while, been a little busy, but here goes the next chapter. Again, it will be divided into three, hope you'll be patient with me.' And it really did take a while. So hope you guys enjoy!

By the way, thanks for the reviews. :) I promise to finish this.

Annoyance and disbelief

Sheer freaking annoyance and disbelief

Anger and Frustration

Pure seething anger and depressing frustration

Worry

Strong nagging worry

The myriad of emotions has gone through Rihan for the past minutes ever since he watched that Sakuya guy vanish in thin air with Wakana. He could not get himself to accept the fact that he was worthless he could not even strike a small blow against this so-called demi-god. He may not be serious during the battle, but he was desperate. He needed to fight; he should have fought better, because this time, it happened again.

Images kept flashing in his memory. That memory of his former wife as she left that letter before he vanished from the Nura clan. That emotion that built inside him is still there. He felt his entire being got cold, as if feelings were being thrown away. He knew of her frustrations and the curse of the family but he chose to set it aside, because to be honest with himself, he was content with her.

Yes, the pressure of having an heir is strong, but it did not matter to him then, he was content with having her by his side. He knew that his loyal demon parade understood. But there was always that external pressure from the growing politics in the clan.

But, he was the second heir; second only to strength to Nurarihyon the first. No one would dare fight against him. But, she still left him. A part of him bore that grudge against Yamabuki. Though it was a small part, but there was that hurt. He was willing to exchange the future of the clan for the present, which was she, but she chose to leave.

That decision did not only break his heart, it also broke his dreams. He lay wasting his life just going on seemingly unending parades, checking on other demon clans, signing some sort of paperwork for the family's internal politics, and most of all, strengthening his position as the second heir.

And yet, he understood where she came from. The very essence of a woman is to be that light in the family-to be a mother. Yamabuki was very clear with that. She wanted to become a mother to the children of the second. But alas, the curse of the fox did not allow that. He knew how desperate she was and how she dreaded being the cause of this. And she was driven to leave.

He honestly tried looking for her. But she was pretty good in avoiding her, until he heard of her passing. That was the final blow then, it dealt the strongest attack to Rihan more than any battle he faced. It broke his heart, his life, his soul. But he knew he could not end there. He stood up and moved forward. He was grateful of the support he got from his demon parade—his friends. Kubinashi and Kejoro bought him joy on seemingly hopeless days. Even the small demons came to drink with him when he was so down. He thought that he could forget, that he could be happier as time flew.

But, happy? No he was not.

Content? No he was not.

Until that day when he met this teenage girl. Wakana bought in emotions he thought he would never have again.

That day at the park, when they first met—by the park, he sat there on the tree seemingly lost in thought when she arrived. When he jumped down the tree after his so called private reminiscing moment, he was surprised she could see him. Her surprised look under the evening sky with the streetlights illuminating her figure, he could not help but speak to her.

"You know it's bad to stare." He said then. But to be honest, he was the one doing the staring. Something about her attracted him to her. It was not that sort of attraction wherein you would want to immediately ravage her like a deranged man, but it was just that slight tug in your heart.

He could see, almost at least literally see, her fear of him. The surprise got to her and she was unable to move. Perhaps self-preservation came to her, trying to think of a way to run as fast as she could and at the same time, trying not to surprise him with her movements. But, from his perspective, he was the one who was surprised, and somehow, afraid.

He was not afraid of her, he was afraid of this slight tug in his chest. This made him more curious so he always went there where they met. He observed her as she wrote in her diary. Day one, two, and three passed as he was filled with curiosity and somehow an ounce of glee when he noticed her somewhat playful antics. The binoculars were hilarious. As if he would be seen with that. But then again, it gave him room to be more—human.

And then, there was that day she was attacked. When he saw the threat, he didn't hesitate to intervene and to ruthlessly kill those worthless demons. As she struggled in his arms, he knew he had to knock her out. He was pretty worried with the current situation and he did what a warlord would do, rage war against those worthless assailants.

And then he bought her home. To be honest, that was a rather unconventional second heir move. Bringing a woman home is already a testament to everyone as to who she is. But then, he was simply focusing on her safety—nothing else mattered. The teasing, the annoying questions, everything else were irrelevant. The only thing that mattered was making sure that she was safe. For him, the Nura household bought that.

Then more encounters came. He followed her to where she lived. He entered school as a substitute teacher. He organized with the class the ghost house. And then there was that kiss. That black hole pulled them together as if every single moment was meant to be. His insides were firing up like mini firecrackers as their lips met. He felt a blush crawl to his face similar to hers. Her body felt like it was meant to be with his.

It was uncontrollable. That moment of romance, that moment where he felt that he had all there was in the world, like he was some sort of the luckiest and most content man, was the best in a hundred years. When he saw her hair flowing down her face towards his, his hands immediately went up to twirl them. Though unreal, it felt so good.

Her hands on his chest bought a wave of feelings both possessive and borderline obsessive. He wanted her then. His human side wanted to touch her gently, his demon side wanted her possessively. He needed to control them, and thus resulting to the gentlest of all romantic movements—the kiss.

Her lips with his were perfect.

His arms wrapped around her svelte body, again perfect

Her body relaxing over his, dreamy, again perfect

And then she gets kidnapped…

Rihan placed a hand on his forehead, his eyebrows creasing in utmost worry and somehow tolerating an invisible pain. He did it again. All the flood of memories and emotions when Yamabuki left came back. It almost suffocated him as he stood there at the school's rooftop gazing at the fast setting sun.

I'm such an idiot…

I did it again…

She's…

Gone…

Rihan gritted his teeth and felt the blood spill from his lips. The slight pain and tangy taste of blood made his blood boil even more. He could no longer understand himself. He knew he cared for the kidnapped girl, but losing her like this made him realize that care was such a light superficial word. Right now, he can't still place it, but he would gladly settle for intense care.

But, intense care was too humble a word to describe what he felt.

So what was it?

He could not put it into words at all.

Right now all that there is in his mind, is he wanted to go after her. He needed to go after that demi-god and beat him senseless.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't feel the arrival of the Supreme Commander, Nurarihyon as he stood there a three to four steps away from the non-moving second heir. Nurarihyon took in the image of his lost son. He felt his sadness and the uncontrollable emotions. To be honest, he was happy that Rihan found someone important to him after years of losing Yamabuki. He felt relieved to see sincere smiles and happy strides after patrols in the city. He felt happy to finally see Rihan enjoying the moment with someone else.

But, right now, there was no happy second heir.

"Rihan." Nurarihyon spoke surprising the second heir a bit at his arrival.

"Dad…" Rihan looked up, his gaze still hazy. He focused his gaze on the commander who stood a few steps from him. He didn't even bother asking him how he got there.

"I felt it." As if to answer Rihan's curiosity, "I felt a strong surge of killing intent and demonic aura from this direction."

"Tsh…" Rihan snorted, "I'd rather call it god-aura this time."

"What do you mean?" Nurarihyon looked at his son. Rihan held the hilt of his sword so tight, he was sure that it'd break to tiny pieces.

"A god, dad. Some sort of demi-god came here…" Rihan looked at the now darkened sky. "…and took her."

Her…

As in that female he was bringing for patrols.

That woman he bought home…

Ahhh…

Realization sunk to the Supreme Commander as he looked towards the direction that Rihan was looking. He narrowed his eyes to sense if the enemy might be near, but to his dismay, he could not sense anything. The commander shifted his gaze back to his son who was still intent on looking at that direction.

Nurarihyon was about to say something when Rihan suddenly spoke.

"I let it happen again." Rihan almost laughed. "Dad. I'm really really stupid…"

Rihan's body trembled. His shoulders shaking and his hands formed to knuckles. His eyes narrowed into slits with slight amber hints. Nurarihyon knew what he was talking about. It was like what happened before, he again lost that one important person. At that time, when Yamabuki left the Nura Clan, Rihan didn't show much emotion—he was relatively frozen in his place holding the letter she left. Years, he was expecting him to go on a rampage, perhaps rebel, or become a demon warlord in his anger, but nothing happened. He just became more calm and lonesome. He spent nights alone thinking. He spent days alone, still thinking still somewhat blaming himself for her leaving him.

The hurt was intense then, and as a father, he felt the pain. He too felt guilty with the situation his son was in. It was the curse given to him by the kitsune and he then didn't know how much pain it would cause him. But the second was always more mature, more leader-like compared to him. As the first, he was rather arrogant and simply likes more fights, more battles. He enjoyed parties, drinking, of course, women before his wife appeared.

The second was more leader-like, and everyone respected him. He had the perfect life, the strongest parade of demons, the support of all the leaders of the clan, until they started questioning her ability to sire an heir. Rihan then stumbled when she left. The clan leaders still respected him, but they were all growing impatient. They needed to have him finally have an heir.

Rihan knew of the pressure, so he stood strong. Turning down engagement proposals and introductions with various female demons became almost a weekly habit. He just politely declined and focused on his responsibilities, never even opening up to anyone about his feelings. Until today…

That's why, today looking at Rihan like this, made Nurarihyon felt more at ease. It was a first in a few hundred years wherein he showed and expressed how he really felt. But, playful as he is, he's not about to cry in front of his son. So he responded in the most Nurarihyon way he could—and Nurarihyon way is "cool".

"Yeah, you are." The supreme commander answered, agreeing to what Rihan said.

Rihan was quite taken aback from his reply. He, to be honest, didn't really expect his father to agree so quickly. He is for all intents and purposes looking for comfort.

"Wha…" Rihan looked at his father who now has a cocky smile.

"You really are stupid." Nurarihyon grinned. "How could you forget that you belong to the strongest demon clan in this country?"

Nurarihyon looked towards his son, demon lord to demon lord. His eyes stared intently at towards his second heir.

"You are the son of this Nurarihyon. It does not matter if you're against another demon lord or some demi-god, my blood flows in yours. And WE, do not like losing." Nurarihyon pointed at Rihan's chest where his heart is. "And most of all, WE do not like losing the ones we LOVE."

Love?

Rihan's eyes widened as his father said the simplest word to describe how he feels. His heartbeat became faster, as if to respond to the challenge that his father gave him. The eyes of his father grew into dangerous slits as if challenging the demon in him.

"Yes, Rihan, love. It's about time you stop dwelling on letting go, but focus your energy into fighting for what you really want to HAVE." Nurarihyon gritted his teeth with a strong emphasis on the word 'have'. "Rihan, we are the lords of the Pandemonium, demon lords with our own demon parade."

As if on cue, Kejoro, Kubinashi, and rest of his parade stood there behind him. All of them looking at him intently as if waiting for him to give his instruction. Rihan's eyes widened in surprise but at the same time his heart felt a warm feeling of appreciation.

"Rihan-sama, let's go get back your woman." Kejoro smiled.

"I've been itching for a battle." Kubinashi's eyes narrowed, "Especially after feeling my head roll a couple of times during the ghost house thing."

The demons laughed at Kubinashi's comment and Rihan turned to look at them.

"Everyone…" Rihan smiled.

"Save the thanks for later, Rihan-sama." Kubinashi replied. "Let's save Wakana-sama,"

Rihan took out his blade and raised it.

Tonight, he will claim what is his.

Tonight, Rihan embrace love in his arms.

Rihan is finally stepping out in the past

Ready to claim the future.

To be continued.

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