Chapter 8 is finally up! I will admit, I got lazy. And then my internet kept crashing for a couple days, and since I do everything on Google Docs, it was driving me crazy. -_-

Oh, and Happy Late Chinese New Year! Perhaps I should also add in Happy Groundhogs Day!

Disclaimer: I do not own Nuramago in any kind of way. Hiroshi sensei does.

"What you're saying doesn't even make sense!" Awashima yelled at the woman. "If that was the case, then why are they still here?!" He jabbed his finger at the direction of Yamabuki, Hagoromo Kitsune, Tsuchigumo, and Rihan.

"First things first," The woman replied, pointing a finger at Rihan. "He, I brought back for real. And they," She shifted her finger to the other three. "Are still here because they didn't actually 'die'."

"What do you mean they didn't 'die'?!"

"Both Hagoromo Kitsune and Tsuchigumo were thrown into hell, right? Well, that isn't really considered 'dying'. They went to hell, yes, but they were alive when they were thrown in. You could say they were simply 'alive' in hell. So when they escaped, they weren't pulled back. As for Yamabuki," She continued, cutting off some of the other youkai. "Yamabuki and Hagoromo Kitsune's spirits have semi-intertwined with each other's. That's why if one comes back, then the other one does as well."

"That's…" Awashima looked at the white cloth that covered Rikuo's body. Rihan was kneeling beside it, his hair covering his eyes. Many of the youkai, Nura Gumi or not, had gathered around it. However, they seemed to steer clear of Rihan. Whether it's because they wanted to give him some time to think to himself, or because he was supposedly dead, no one could tell. It was probably a combination of both.

"Sad? Cruel? Not quite in my opinion." The woman replied.

"You knew, didn't you?" Rihan spoke up, his question directed towards his teacher.

"Hmm?"

"You knew he was going to die from the very start, didn't you?" Silence followed his statement. Slowly, a murmur spread through the crowd of youkai.

"Rihan-sama's not serious, is he?"

"If he is, then…"

"If that's the case, finishing her off would be a better choice, right?"

The woman slid her sword, sheath and all, out of her belt and slammed it on the ground. The sound reverberated throughout the area and shut everyone up. Rihan stood up, and slowly turned around.

"I said, you knew he was going to die from the very start, didn't you?" He asked more sternly. His fear started seeping out; it was obvious that he was trying his best to hold it in to prevent himself from destroying the surrounding area. His teacher gave a wicked smile.

"So what if I did?"

A collective gasp rose up from the thousands of youkai.

"So it's true!"

"How could she hide this from us?!"

"So Rikuo-sama's death was her fault then!"

"SILENCE!" Rihan yelled with an aura of authority around them. It worked surprisingly well, considering they all shut up faster than the sword bang earlier.

"I know you and your word play. Now answer the question. Did you know whether or not he was going to die?"

Instead of simply answering the question, Rihan's teacher waved her hand nonchalantly, like she wasn't under any sort of danger.

"Gotten sharper, haven't you? Usually you'd take the bait and just leave like everyone else would've. But," she quickly put in as she saw Rihan's hand fly to his sword handle. "As for the answer to your question…

Yes. I knew he was going to die. But knowing he's going to die and whether or not I am able to save him are two completely different matters."

"So, Rikuo-sama would've died even if you told us?" Tsurara's small voice rose up from the corner. Her voice was cracking, and her eyes were puffy and red.

"I never said that."

"Oh, will you cut it with the stupid word play and just give us a straight answer, woman?!" Aotabou yelled impatiently.

"Hey, I am answering your questions. Or is it too complicated for that tiny brain of yours to handle?"

"Why you-" Aotabou started as he stormed towards the woman. A black-sleeved arm stopped him.

"Aotabou, calm yourself! Surely this is no way to talk to a woman like that!" Kurotabou scolded.

"Really, Kuro? Flirting at a time like this?!" Was Aotabou's response. Kurotabou pulled him to the side and whispered very angrily to him.

"You idiot! She's a woman. And women tend to be nicer and give you what you want if you treat them well enough. And besides…" Kurotabou lowered his voice even more. "She is really beautiful." Aotabou couldn't deny that. He had seen both Nurarihyon's and Rihan's wives before, and this woman could rival each and everyone of them. She didn't necessarily dress better than any of them (she didn't), and she had many stray strands of hair in her face that she seemed to never brush out of the way, but it was just… something that made her seem so natural and beautiful at the same time.

"...Fine." Aotabou grumbled, to which Kurotabou immediately released him from the headlock, and walked back to the group.

"I'm sorry for his idiocy, uh…" Kurotabou left the statement hanging. The woman hmphed.

"I don't usually give out my name to anybody. But since it'll be complicated talking to you guys without giving my name, I suppose I have no choice." Her expression soured. It seemed like saying her name was a sin or something.

"Shizue. Most people call me that. Well, that and 'Moron!', 'You!', or 'Please-spare-me!'" Kurotabou sweatdropped at her answer.

"Yes." He said, stretching out the word. "Anyway, Shizue-dono. Would you mind telling us-"

"Flattery will get you nowhere with me. If you want something, just say it out loud. And if you don't know how to do that; be blunt."

"Um, okay…."

"This will get us nowhere." Itaku finally spoke up, tired of watching this stupid conversation.

"Yes or no? Could you have saved him?" He asked.

"Short and straight to the point. You guys could really learn from him." She said while looking back at the two monks.

"Hey!"

"The answer?" Itaku pressed again, his hands ready to pull out his sickles if the answer didn't please him.

"Yes. I could've saved him."

"And why didn't you?" Itaku was already unsheathing his weapons.

"And why would I do that? It's just tiring myself out even more." She replied. Suddenly, she tensed up and sidestepped to her right. A sword cut through the air where she was just standing.

"You! We had a deal!" Rihan yelled.

"Yes. And the deal was to protect the Nura Gumi until Rikuo died."

"And how does letting the Third die count as 'protecting the Nura Gumi'?!" Many of the other youkai had stood up, grabbing their weapons in the process, ready to attack. They were not going to let the murderer of their Third Head off that easily.

"Protecting the Nura Gumi basically just means that I have to ensure that the clan will continue on. Now that Nurarihyon has regained his former glory, the clan will still continue on for a couple centuries at least, right?"

Speechless, the youkai slowly starting sitting down, one by one. Suddenly, Kejoro snapped her head up, just remembering something.

"Wait, were you the one who brought Rihan-sama back to life?"

"Yes. Didn't I say that already?"

"In that case, can't you just bring Rikuo-sama back the same way?" Her words were like a glimmer of hope for the other youkai. If the Second can be brought back, then surely the Third can be brought back, too.

"...I could." Shizue said.

"But I'd really rather not. Resurrecting someone isn't easy, you know?"

"What?! But-but…" Tsurara started.

"Besides, it's not like I have an obligation or reason to do so."

"Can't you make an exception just this once?" The ice maiden pleaded. "...Please?"

"Give me a valid reason why, and I'll do it. And keep in mind that whether or not your leaders die is none of my concern; I'm not a part of the Nura Gumi." Upon the mention of the challenge, nobody could think of a good enough reason for Shizue to act. Just when there was a chance for the leader to come back, it went away just as quickly. Everyone cast their heads downwards, hopelessness filling the surrounding area. Shizue looked at their helpless faces.

"...Fine. I'll do it." Shizue suddenly said. That immediately snapped everyone back into reality.

"There's something in the main house that I want anyway. And it's definitely worth the brat's life. So, if you let me take it, I'll resurrect him, deal?" Everyone eagerly nodded their heads.

"Good. Now meet me back at the main house in one hour. And don't be late."

Aaaaannd there's the 8th chapter!

I should be writing more often.

Plz Review!