A/N: Hello! What's up, people? This chapter is posted in commemoration of the new NuraMago manga, I can't help myself. :)


There Rikuo stood, his calmness unbecoming after having witnessed Hagoromo Gitsune's tails impale Yoru right before his eyes. Yoru was alive, but incapacitated from the severity of the wounds.

What Hagoromo Gitsune did to Rikuo left a scar forever in his tainted soul. But he wasn't going to let his own fears conquer him. Not this time. His eyes closed, he took a deep, long breath. This is… what you made me become. This is what I am now.

Yoru's eyes widened, a shiver going down his spine. This is…


"I think I already said it, but I'll say it again anyway: I choose both."


Rikuo attended summer classes and hung out with his friends during the day. And at night, Rikuo trained under Nurarihyon. It was possible, after all. Balancing two sides of one coin; the living epitome of co-existence between two worlds.

Then one day, while Rikuo was walking back to the clan's residence, he sensed a presence following him. Instead of putting his guard up, he walked in the direction that had been a part of his routine ever since his family's move. The sharp turn to the left, followed by the ascension of stairs towards a particular destination was a drastic change in what he was used to.

There was no better and more appropriate place to talk than in a shrine. Rikuo stood in the center of the vacant lot, the leaves swaying along with the summer breeze. He dug his hands into his pockets, his smile sheepish.

"This is fine now. Right, Keikain-san?"

Moments of silence passed. Rikuo remained unwavering in his stance, relaxed- and even welcoming. His current disposition must have changed her mind, as sleeves of pure white revealed themselves from behind the shinto gate.

"Why are you putting yourself at risk like this, Rikuo Nura?" Yura entered through the gate, keeping adequate distance from him out of mere habit.

"I remember what you told me before, when I turned into a yokai. Besides, we don't really have many chances to just… talk like this." Rikuo rubbed the back of his head. "If you give me a chance to explain myself, then I'll be able to understand your point of view, too."

"Fine," she huffed. "But I still stand by what I said."

"That's alright. You're doing what you're meant to do." He nodded, placing his hand over his chest.. "Ever since I became what I am, I believed I could keep it up, you know? To be honest, your words made me feel bad back then." His admittance caused Yura to feel a pang of guilt as she recalled what moment he referred to. "I get it, though. No matter how much I try to deny it, I'm different now. And until now, I don't know what I am, or what I'm supposed to be."

Clenching his fist over his chest, Rikuo's gaze met hers, his expression that of determination. "So if I cross the line, if I ever hurt humans… you know what you must do, Keikain-san. Please don't even hesitate for a second."

His declaration caught Yura off guard for a moment. Perhaps in all of Keikain history, this must have been the first yokai to entrust his own life to an onmyoji, in case he became a danger to everyone and to himself. While she still had her own suspicions, it must have taken so much courage to tell something like that to her, of all people. She could respect him in that regard at the very least.

"You didn't have to ask. I'll be more than happy to serve my purpose for the protection of mankind."

"Thanks, Keikain-san." He smiled, letting a comfortable silence between them. "Say, do you want to pay a visit to the clan's mansion-"

Without hesitation, Yura took out a talisman, her glare piercing. Rikuo chuckled nervously, holding his hands up in submission. Ahhh… That's on me for thinking I can already make jokes like that to her.


Recently, their lessened time together due to their respective endeavors made Yoru feel on edge. It was Nurarihyon's insistence that he personally trained Rikuo. Rikuo put himself out there by going on missions with other members as a way to get accustomed to his life at night as a yokai.

Instead of letting it get to him like it used to, this inspired him to step his game up as the leader that he was born to be. Assessment of possible enemy encounters once they storm the castle, contingency plans, recruitment of other branches to add their strength in numbers, truces to be made for the sake of the greater threat in the world…

A result of his past mistakes leading to his own betterment, after going through turbulent low points in his life not too long before. Needless to say, this change of mindset from Yoru impressed the leaders of the allied clans. At first, they were concerned that his relationship with Rikuo would be Yoru's priority indefinitely. But over time, it seemed Yoru got his head out of the clouds, realizing the bigger picture where the balance of the worlds was at stake.

In this night's meeting, Nurarihyon decided to drop in, and so did Rikuo. Their entrance didn't cause any disruption, but Rikuo's choice to sit by the door perplexed Yoru. On the other hand, Nurarihyon had no problems taking a seat at the front to listen in, as well as provide his own inputs (or just make fun of his long-time friends mid-meeting out of boredom).

Whenever Yoru and Rikuo's eyes met, Rikuo smiled in a gentle manner, acknowledging Yoru. And until the end of the meeting, the space next to Yoru was vacant, a place that should have been meant for his significant other.


While he and Yoru left the meeting together, Rikuo started a conversation with a jest, "I can't believe you're finally swallowing your pride to make amends with another clan." A chuckle left his lips.

"Hey, you saying it doesn't make it any easier for me," Yoru argued, his voice tired just from thinking about the image of a punk's face contorting into the cheekiest of grins. He then opted to stir the topic to a different direction for his own sanity and pride. "By the way, you didn't sit next to me earlier. You know that everyone accepts you already."

Rikuo folded his arms behind his back, a sheepish expression on display across his visage. "I love you, Yoru. That's how it's always been, human or not." The sudden confession caught Yoru by surprise, his cheeks flushed as a result. "But as a new member of the clan, I want to climb up the ranks like anyone else. Besides, going on missions with Yuki Onna and the others is fun." He tucked hair behind his hair, nodding. "Most importantly, I've decided a while ago that I'll be loyal and devoted to the clan, and do my best to follow you." A warm smile then formed on his lips. "And I, and everyone else, are proud to have you as our leader."

The heartfelt acknowledgement from Rikuo was what Yoru least expected from him after he teased him just now. Although his face felt burning hot, there was unbridled happiness and relief, to hear from Rikuo, that he was proud of him as a leader; and that he loved him through and through. He found the emotions that were all over the place overwhelming at first, until he realized he wasn't the only one who worked hard to get to where he was now.

After Yoru managed to compose himself, he smiled in Rikuo's direction. "Don't you even dare sell yourself short, Rikuo," he started. "Your own resilience and convictions proved to everyone that nothing is impossible. You're the living proof of balance between worlds. And I couldn't be prouder of you for your efforts." The happiness prominent on Rikuo's face was everything Yoru could ever want.

As he and Rikuo reached the veranda with the view of the mansion's garden, he wore a knowing smile. "Speaking of efforts, shall we put what you and the old man have been working for to the test?"


"I hate to admit this, but the old man worked you hard. During our last sparring, you were out of breath," Yoru pointed out, not bothering to hide the annoyed expression on his face. "You can breeze through the nationals if you wanted to, you know."

Rikuo raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "As if I'd stoop that low. I might be a yokai, but my moral compass is how it always has been." At this point, he couldn't see his future winning tournaments or the like. He would always have the upper hand, so what was the point?

"Well, since you're strong enough, I might as well teach you a thing or two myself." Yoru assumed a relaxed stance, simply standing with a bamboo sword in hand. "Bet he didn't teach you about this yet."

"About what?" His eyes widened, his answer in the form of Yoru vanishing before his eyes. Is it the same trick he did back- He gasped when he felt like a menacing aura was about to swallow him whole. But then, as he snapped out of it, Yoru was back in his place, standing in his position as if he never left. "Y-You did this before. And this time, it felt like something was gonna happen to me just now. W-What the heck was that?"

"You answered your question," Yoru chuckled, shrugging. "For your information, it's called 'Fear'. And it's not just the feeling. In a face-off against another yokai, it's that pressure and intimidation in order to have the upper hand." He then pointed his bamboo sword at Rikuo. "Since you're one of us, you might as well learn to manifest and cut it down yourself. Who knows when we'll reach a point where it's a matter of life or death?"

Since Rikuo had seen and experienced Fear himself, he realized that he was stepping deeper into yokai territory, as if moving to a path he couldn't turn back from. But with a glance behind his shoulder, there would be the light of his own humanity that would never disappear from his line of sight, even with the growing distance.

And with that, Rikuo found his resolve. "Please teach me, Yoru." He bowed his head formally. "After everything goes according to plan, we'll have to go back to the castle." The very thought of Hagoromo Gitsune was unnerving. Some nights, he would wake up to nightmares of being drenched in blood on repeat that felt like pure torture. But he knew that stopping the very threat was not only for his own good, but for the balance of the two worlds. Revenge was merely a dish on the side now.

Sensing Rikuo's nervousness, Yoru ruffled the other's hair in reassurance. "Sure. And don't forget that I'll protect you, and you'll protect me. No matter what happens, each and every one of us in the Hyakki Yako will watch each other's backs. That much, I promise you as your leader, and the one who loves you the most."

As they exchanged smiles, they reached the point where gallant affection between them seemed to almost be a thing of the past. Their past and present circumstances contributed to their emotional growth and maturity. Their love, once playful and juvenile, became profound and indomitable.

Not even death would tear them apart.


Rikuo's expression was unreadable, catching Hagoromo Gitsune off guard for the slightest moment. (It was all that Rikuo needed.)

"This is the end," he muttered. Without missing a beat, the tails of Hagoromo Gitsune went towards Rikuo, as the flurry of strikes caused debris and dust to fly around. As the room cleared, both Hagoromo Gitsune and Yoru couldn't see or sense Rikuo's presence.

But to Yoru's horror, he saw blood on the tips of her tail. He felt his throat dry. "Rikuo…?"