Nura Rikuo, his wife and his friends escorted the young yuki-onna inside with all her baggage. Kiyotsugu kindly took Tsurara's baggage and brought it to Kejoro (as they still think that Kejoro is Rikuo's older sister) finally when they entered the sliding shoji doors all 6 of them sat in zabutons. everyone was silent. Tsurara was grinning to herself glancing at the 3rd commander every now and then. which kana found rather unpleasant.
"So.. yuki-onna where have you been? why have you returned so suddenly without informing us?" Rikuo asked.
Tsurara frowned she didn't really want the young master to know her whereabouts for the past couple of years seeming it wouldn't be appropriate. Not that she came back to steal her Master. Even she is not aware why the 1st commander ordered for her to come back. So she simply said
"Aahaaa... I've been busy ever since...and I really don't know why the 1st commander summoned me.." she sing sang in a nervous voice.
The Kiyojuji patrol was a bit confuzzled. They didn't know tsurara's true identity very well except for Ienaga Kana. and Yura oh hell she knows the whole thing going on around the mansion especially about the yokai thing and Nurarihyon.
"I'm sure she has her reason" Yura interfered. she knew if they go on further they would eventually managed to hand-pick a few information about the mansion's mystical aura... something suspicious... Ienaga Kana nodded her head as an approval. Rikuo changed the topic due to the sudden change of atmosphere.
"Well Tsurara might be very tired so why don't we all call it a day?" Rikuo proposed.
"Oikawa-san lives here?!" shima yelled.
"Sou, that's right~! Good evening everyone" Tsurara said
"it's really getting late so maybe we could deal with this some other time." Ienaga coaxed,
so then they called it a day. Rikuo sent the confused Kiyojuji patrol out the gate to see them off and then Yura stayed for awhile to discuss with both Rikuo and Kana
"why's Oikawa-san back?" Yura said
"I don't know Yura even she herself doesn't know," Rikuo said
"she claims so." Yura scoffed which made kana chuckle.
Kana looked at her husband and invited him that it's time. Yura knew this gesture so she simply greeted them goodbye and left. NOT.
"Oh, I see! ya'll must be having to go lovey dovey very much! I should leave~~~~ but what about Oikawa-san! why's she even here." Yura started,
"Calm down would you Usami-san, besides why is it your concern. is any of the Nurarihyon's yokai raising a flag against the omnyouji clan" Rikuo said,
"hmph! well, no... but Oikawa-san... gah! nevermind!" she retorted. "anyway I'm leaving goodbye!" Yura took her coat and headed out for the door. Rikuo and Kana just sat there like a loving couple would do. then suddenly Rikuo changed his form to Yoru Rikuo (Night Rikuo) by then all the yokai who had been hiding all showed up at once. Nurarihyon sat by the nearby zabuton, which is the one in the centre. by then Tsurara had also entered the room and sat right next to where kana and Rikuo sat.
"So all of you must've been wondering why the Yuki-onna has returned to the Nurarihyon's clan." The 1st commander announced. "Well anyway. the reason is I was concluding to when the time that Kana-chan might be begetting a child to be next commander... and... The Oikawa's had always been loyal to serve the Nurarihyon's for generations. and I thought it'll be a good idea for the next heir to have a care dependent.
"HUH!?" Tsurara yelled in surprised,
"That's right yuki-onna! you'll be the new guardian of the next heir!" Nurarihyon declared smugly.
"Bu-bu-but! 1st commander I-I..!" Yuki-onna stuttered.
"What is it... huh? Tsurara?" he smirked at her, he knew at that sound that yuki-onna didn't want to be any care dependent of the next heir. Rikuo didn't notice whatsoever but Ienaga Kana did. she didn't say anything but Tsurara was having a meltdown. she couldn't really reject the offer as the Oikawa's are loyal to the Nurarihyon' having exchanged the sakazuki. little did they know that the Nurarihyon had something in mind that nobody even truly knows. except the surface level, which his intentions shows that he only wants the yuki-onna to be the guardian of the next heir, basically that's how the nurarihyon want's the household to know.
"So it's settled then? Tsurara-chan will stay under the care of the Nurarihyon clan to be the Care-dependent of the next heir." again with the smug face, the 1st commander stood up and start heading out for the door leaving a dazed Tsurara
"Eh!. but 1st commander!" Tsurara yelled.
"Don't worry Oikawa-san I will handle this with the 1st commander" Ienaga Kana smiled at her. Tsurara gave her the confused look but anyhow. Tsurara wasn't really looking forward to taking care of the next 'heir'...in the very depths of her heart. all she ever wanted was to see her master again. and not to take care of the spawn of her rival counterpart!. It was outrageous, the yuki-onna has a kind heart but this is pushing her towards her limits.
Everyone finished off their discussion so The trio walked slowly along side each other towards their respective quarters.
"I don't know what has gotten to that old man. We haven't even planned for a child." Rikuo mumbled.
"Yeah.. that's right" Ienaga added. Not that she was pleased to hear those words coming out from her husband's mouth. Because In all honesty kana do want to have a child with Rikuo, though the problem is that he doesn't seem ready. Time is running a bit fast and soon kana will reach her golden age.
"Hehhh. Maybe so... but I still don't know why I must be the care dependent... I mean there's kejoro.." Tsurara muttered. sighing to herself
"Huh? Is Oikawa san seeing a person?" Kana asked.
Tsurara half spitted her saliva as she reply " Aa! No not at all. I'm not seeing anyone!" She blushed
Kana was a bit surprised seeing how much her past rival had grown. She hates to admit it but she's looking much better than her at this point. Back then they matched 'cuteness level' but now tsurara is just... even more daring than she could ever be.
"Huh is that so? But Oikawa san is very pretty" kana said.
"Hhhaaah. Thank you Ienaga San but I already lova-va-va I-I mean I just haven't found the right person yet." Tsurara stuttered making her blush further. She knew what she was talking about. And it almost slipped right through her mouth. considering that Rikuo was also walking along side them,
While the 3rd commander was just listening to his wife and aide conversing,hearing their conversation right about when the yuki-onna mentioned her incrohensible love for someone . It immediately gave him chills to his spine. Which is rather odd since it is really not his business to know of the yuki-onna's love life
finally when the room that Tsurara previously shared with Kejoro came into view, she bid them a rather cheerful good night.
"Good night waka! and Ienaga-san!" as the yuki-onna slammed the shoji doors awkwardly.
looking at her old room that she shared with Kejoro. she slid down unto the floor, recollecting herself from the recent plight. she thought to herself, aaaaaaaah! what have I gotten myself into! ughhh I never came here to take care of a child! nooooo TT~TT I really just wanted to reunite with waka again. bu-buuuuubu-but-t they seem so happy together what am I going to do now the yuki onna sobs.
"huuuh? yuki-onna why are you wheeping." Kejoro blurted, surprising the cute snow woman that was by the floor.
"Kejoroo..." Tsurara sniffed. Kejoro raised her brows, but at her further examination at the yuki-onna she finally got it
"is it because of the nurarihyon?!" kejoro helped herself and sat right next to the wheeping girl. then she pulled her into a hug "It's okay it's okay.." she consoled. "how bad can it get... I mean taking care of Rikuo-sama was a hard-earned years right..?" she cooed at the young yuki-onna but it made her even despair more kejero didn't know what to do "then its not that?!" kejoro cajoled.
still no reply, Kejoro thought of all the possibilities as to why Tsurara is crying. she recounted about the times she was living with her... well there are only a few things that made the yuki-onna cry since she was always cheerful. it was the third commander always pulling up pranks on her, back when he was really young but then again that doesn't count to why she's crying now but kejoro thought it could've been long-term digging deeper she also noticed how she cries over Rikuo's well-being such as being sick and what could have had happened to him. well yuki-onna really cares about the young-master hmmm she was just cheerful when she entered the mansion so it could be either the 1st commander's decision or something about the third commander. but hmmm maybe because she misses the oikawa clan already? what is there to be sad about we're yokais! hmm but she really did care for young master...an awful LOT... huh could it be!?.. Yuki-onna loves master Rikuo?!
"Hey Tsurara! could it be that you love master Rikuo?!" Kejoro yelled, suddenly Tsurara released herself from her grip and covered kejoro's mouth.
"shhhhhhhh!" Tsurara hushed
"hehh, so you do have feelings for master Rikuo?" Kejoro smirked nudging at the blue haired girl.
"uhhh... I-I" Tsurara blushed
"I'll take that as a yes!" Kejoro beamed "There's no problem about loving Master Rikuo but as the conditions given, he's married to that human girl." Kejoro simply said in a disappointing manner.
"human girl? you don't refer her as Ienaga-san?!" Tsurara yelped
Instead of a nod and a yeah Kejoro stared unto the void.
"Hey Kejoro-san? does it mean that you don't like kana?" Tsurara asked, which seems to make Kejoro wince it seemed clear that Kejoro loathed the human girl but is unable to express herself since she is part of the nura now she deserves to be at-least respected.
"to be frank with you yuki-onna. I don't like the young commander's wife she's just too.. ughh what's the nicest way to put it... she's...she's... INFURIATING!" Kejoro complained,
Tsurara seems to relax a bit more, not that she has something against Kana it just made her relax because Kejoro seems to be the person that she can trust and tell how she feel towards people. after all they've been together for the last 50 years of her lifespan.
"did Ienaga-san do something horrible to you?" Tsurara questioned
"not personally.. but she's annoying in many ways.. like one time Master Rikuo's party.. she insisted that she'll have it her way since she's his wife so she invited quite plenty of humans to the mansion. Master Rikuo doesn't seem to find any trouble into this but as for the rest of us... the yokais who resides in this mansion had to deal with everything.. it was very tiring... and then that time when..." Kejoro kept on going as Tsurara listened to a few of her complaints concerning about Ienaga and the yokai's in the mansion "and I'll tell you this yuki-onna most of the yokai that lives here doesn't like her either!"
"hehhhhhhh" Tsurara gasped
"not that we hate her.. we just don't like her.." kejoro silently complied
"anyway... knowing that you hold feelings for Master Rikuo. I would rather much root for you" Kejoro added which made the young yuki-onna erupt and collapse to the futon
"hehe, it's good to have an old face once in awhile, I'm glad that your back yuki-onna" kejoro whispered, as she laid down at her own futon. preparing herself for her slumber
"me too kejoro... I miss you all... I'm glad that I came back.." Tsurara said as dozes off to sleep
WELL THAT'S THAT. LOL NEXT CHAPTER IS A HEATED TENSION INSIDE THE NURA'S MANSIONNNN
