("word") normal speech

('word') thought

("wordbold") speaking in English

WARNING: Slight OCC and a bit of Crossover

Disclaimer: I don't own Nurarihyon no Mago

A/N : Douzo~

Chapter 6

Calm Before Storm Part 2

-Rikuo's Room-

"Damn, why did Kana go home with that transfer student. This is the second time she avoided me at school!" Rikuo shouts to no one in particular in his room while changing his clothes.

"Rikuo-sama, the others are waiting for you now," Kubinashi said from behind the shoji door.

"Tell them I'll be there soon"

"As you wish, Rikuo-sama."

'I'm going to find out who you really are, Walker Rikku, even if it's the last thing I do' Rikuo swore in his head. 'But first, I still need to finish with the situation on the northern borders'. With that, he leaves his room to rejoin his fiancés at the entrance to the main hall.

- At the Main Hall-

There is chaos the moment Rikuo enters the main hall with Tsurara and Yura at his sides. His subordinates and allies are shouting at each other, panic clearly shows on their faces.

"Waka what do you think happens?" Tsurara asked worried.

"That is what I wanted to talk to you about before, but let's settle this before everything gets out of hand," Yura said grimly.

"You're right" Rikuo then took his place beside his grandfather at the front where the Nura Clan Head sat, with Tsurara and Yura taking a seat at his left side.

"SILENCE!" Nurarihyon shouts to silence them once Rikuo settles down. "Now report all of your findings, starting with you Karasu".

"It's horrible Supreme Commander, there is an enemy that we've never seen or heard of before, they…they…kill Muchi-sama…both Tamazuki-sama and I barely make it out alive …" Karasu's statement makes everyone in the hall suddenly turn quite before there is an uproar once again.

"Explain yourself!" Nurarihyon shouted, so his voice was heard throughout the chaos.

"Well…" Karasu then starts to tell them.

(Flashback)

-Somewhere in a city near the northern border-

"Well, it sure is peaceful tonight with no yokai to worry about," Tamazuki said to Karasu once their patrols ended.

"Why did you leave me alone again" Muchi suddenly appeared out of nowhere and scared both of them. 'Shit he always does that' both of them thought at the same time.

"Because you're such a slowpoke, that's why" Tamazuki answered. Suddenly, they hear a woman scream, not far from where they stand. "I think we spoke too soon, let's go we have a damsel to save." What they find when they arrive is something they've never seen before, an entirely different yokai –a giant ball with a canon shape that comes out from its back- floating above them and busy firing at a bunch of teenagers. Every time its canon ball strikes someone, they have a black star all over their body and then turn into dust.

"What the hell?!" Muchi almost exposed them to the enemy if not for the quick thinking of Tamazuki to shut him up. "We don't know what type of enemy we're dealing with, so we must take every measure to take this one down and fast" He starts to panic when he sees the yokai begin to take another form, and it starts to look like a human.

Once it starts to take on the form of a human, it suddenly disappears. 'Where did it go?' they all thought. "Well…well…lookie here another delicious meal" came a voice from behind them. Before either of them could react, the yokai put his hand around Tamazuki's neck and threw him away into a nearby wall, rendering him unconscious. "I'm not supposed to play with my meal, but I can make an exception for you two." It was mocking them. "What are you, you're not a Yokai" Karasu asked timidly - recovering from his shock- and calculating his next move.

"I prefer the term Akuma and I can assure you that at the end of this, I will devour you and get myself stronger for Earl," he said excitedly before attacking them again, this time with impressive speed charging at them. Barely dodging him, Karasu asked again, "Who is Earl?".

"Well Earl is my maker…my god….and…my master" The akuma tried to intimidate them with every step he took, his eyes gleaming with intention to kill. "I've been playing with my food a little too long, I should just finish with you and start searching for another meal" Then he attacked them. Barely dodging, both Karasu and Muchi split up, So the Akuma chased one of them and made the other kill him –with Karasu going and trying to wake Tamazuki up and Muchi trying to distract him-, but what they didn't expect was that the Akuma moved a little too fast and they realized it too late when Muchi -didn't have time to dodge- get pierced with an arm, holding his heart and thus made all his skin have the same black star before turning to dust. Scared they would be next, Karasu –still holding the unconscious Tamazuki- tried to run away, but the Akuma stood in their way, laughing manically.

"Here I thought, you would make me earn my dinner, but sadly you are only a bunch of weaklings"

But, before the Akuma can attack them again, suddenly his surroundings stand still –like time himself has stopped it-, it was eerily silent before someone broke the ice.

"My…my…look what we have here, Earl's little toy came out to play, sadly he can't come home to his master" A man in his early forties suddenly appeared carrying a big hammer on his shoulder mockingly saying.

"An Exorcist….I haven't had a delightful meal in a long time and will enjoy eating you…." Before the Akuma finished his sentence, he had already turned to dust.

"Idiot, he was so full of himself he never even noticed when Krory-chan sucked his blood."

"Well, he is delicious, I haven't had any Akuma blood in a while," a man in his fifties –Karasu identified as Krory- replied cockily. "What are we going to do about them?... Wait where are they?" Hidden behind a tree in a nearby park, Karasu and Tamazuki –now conscious and very weak- look at their savior, but are too scared to even approach them. "Come Tamazuki-sama let's get you treated and we must alert the others about this Akuma," Karasu said, still holding onto Tamazuki.

(End of Flashback)

"Everything happens so fast Nurarihyon-sama, we already lost Muchi-sama because of them Tamazuki-sama –who is still resting– took his death the hardest, but if that red-haired guy with his big hammer and that Krory guy –who looks like a vampire- don't arrive and save us, then both Tamazuki-sama and I will never survive it and tell the tale. I'm grateful they appeared, but this opponent is powerful and very fast, we almost couldn't make it alive. How will we defeat this Akuma?"

Chaos erupts throughout the hall after hearing Karasu Tengu's story because, for once there is an enemy that the Nura Clan can't defeat.

'This gonna be a long night' Rikuo thought worriedly, looking at both his fiancés who mirrored his.

-Minimarket-

At the same time

"Okay, what should we have for dinner tonight?" Alex asked his companion. "Since we already have omurice for lunch today, I said we go for steak as the main course and salad for the side dish with garlic bread," Lena answered her brother after she thought about today's lunch. "Don't forget banana split for dessert," Rikku and Kana said excitedly.

"Well, I think it is decided, but we won't be having banana splits for dessert" Alex answered while looking at his younger sibling's crestfallen look. "We're having molten cake with ice cream" He emphasized in the last line, that did the trick because his younger sibling started to get excited again. "Okay, we have to split up so, we can finish and get home earlier to cook." Alex gave the list of things he needed for the dessert and to stock up their sweet tooth for his younger siblings, while he and Lena went to buy the ingredients they needed to make dinner.

"Hey Kana are you okay?" Rikku asked her out of the blue after a few minutes of walking in silence. Snap out of her thoughts, she answered with less enthusiasm than before "Yes, I just had a lot on my mind right now. I tell you when we get home." Kana then pulled her best smile so as not to get Rikku worried. Rikku suddenly held her hand and smiled back at her. "You promise to tell me?".

"I promise," Kana smiled more genuine this time. "Let's buy the necessary ingredients before we make Alex-nii wait too long," Rikku said happy to make Kana smile again. After they finish with their part of the list, they wait for both Alex and Lena to finish near the cashier. "What took them so long?" Kana is starting to get too impatient.

"You wait here while I check on them, I still need to buy the chocolate syrup that we forgot," Rikku said to her while searching through the grocery bag for the chocolate syrup -he swore he had already put it in the basket- "I won't be long".

"Okay"

Suddenly, someone bumped into her, making her almost fall. But with good reflexes, the person catches her before she hits the floor. "So sorry, are you okay?" Kana is looking at a man in his mid-20s with handsome chocolate eyes and a dark complexion. The men then ask her again, seeing she is not answering him. "Are you okay? Do you hurt anywhere?" Snapping from her trance, Kana awkwardly stands on her feet and replies "Yes I'm fine, thank you for catching me."

"You're welcome miss and I'm truly sorry for bumping into you," he said while kissing the back of her hand. "No, it's okay no harm done," Kana said, flustered at the men. "I still feel bad though, how can I make it up to you?"

"You don't have to," Kana said while shaking her hands in front of her. "You already caught me, thus helping me avoid embarrassing myself if I ever crash on the floor," She said, she was trying to convince the other person that she in fact alright.

"Okay if you insist, I think I'm best to be off then and once again I'm sorry"

"Apologies accepted"

"Well, see you when I do see you," the man says, giving Kana his most charming smile before he starts to run again, but this time he makes sure he doesn't bump into someone again.

"So sorry, are you waiting long for us, sweetie?" Lena suddenly appears beside her clearly out of air. "To tell you the truth I'm quite hungry." Suddenly, her stomach agrees with her. Embarrassed she tries to hide it, but not before Lena hugs her and calls her cute for trying to hide her embarrassment. "Well since someone is already hungry, I think it's time we go home and start to cook." Alex appears beside them, having paid for their share of the list, with Rikku just behind him ready to carry the rest of their purchases. "Oh almost forgot, here you go Kana" Alex pulls out a chocolate bread from his bag and gives it to her, "It will help with your hunger in the meantime."

"Thank you nii-san, let me help you carry the eggs," Kana said while munching on her bread.

With their older siblings in front of them, Kana notices Rikku going at a slower pace behind them all, clearly something is going on in his head. Making sure their steps are in perfect sync, Kana then asks him "Penny for your thoughts Rikku?"

Startled because he never sees when Kana is beside him, he starts to cool his expression before answering her "I'm fine, just a lot on my head"

"Want to talk about it?"

"Nothing Kana, maybe I just miss our parents that's all," he said. He tried to smile, but Kana saw right through him. "I'm sorry, you have lived far away from your parents. I don't mean to make you sad"

"No, it's okay, sometimes we have to live without them for a full year, so just a couple of months won't hurt," he said trying to lighten the mood.

"Then what about you? Will you tell me what is on your mind? Are you still sad because of this Rikuo guy?"

"How….How….Do you know about that, I never told you about Rikuo?" Kana was shocked.

Only an idiot can't see that. Your feelings are written all over your face for this guy" Rikku said as an undeniable fact. Before Kana can object to his statement, Rikku is already muttering to himself "I won't hand you over to the guy who just knows how to make you cry, I will make sure to make you smile every day." And that makes our heroine speechless, her heart racing for the rest of their journey home.

-At Walker's House-

"Kana-chan please put the egg in the fridge, and then come help me with dinner, while Lena and Rikku sort the rest of our groceries," Alex said while preparing their dinner. "Nii-san what can I help you with?"

"Well you can start by preheating the oven, then stir together the room temperature butter, olive oil, minced garlic, then add garlic powder, this chopped parsley, and lastly a pinch of salt. Make sure there are no lumps so it is silky smooth, then cut the loaf in half and lay it facing up on a baking sheet. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly, and then bake the bread for 10-15 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Next, you can make the salad, there's a dressing inside the fridge."

"Is this one?" Kana asked while showing Thousand Island dressing.

"Yes, that's the one."

"Nii-san I'm done sorting, what can I do to help? Want me to make the lava cake or do you want to make it? Rikku asked while washing and drying his hands.

"I can take care of it, you just need to flip this steak so it can cook on the other side" They switch tasks easily and continue working harmoniously, making the atmosphere warm for Kana -who is an only child- to see for the first time, what it is like to have siblings, 'being with them is like having a sibling I never had', suddenly a lone tear escapes Kana's eye, making both Alex and Rikku stop what they're doing.

"What's wrong?" Rikku unease, suddenly pulled Kana into his embrace and kissed her crown calming her, "Why are you crying, Princess?" silently crying, Kana buried her head into Rikku's chest, replies "I don't know but I can't stop my tears from falling, I'm such a crybaby"

"Just let it out," Rikku said with a mix of feelings running through his face. Silently he nods to his brother –who looks quite awkward standing there– "Kana-chan is okay, do you need time for yourself, or do you want to tell us what's on your mind?" Alex patiently asks Kana, who is still in Rikku's embrace. But before Kana can answer, Lena who hears the commotion appears "What's going on here?" looking at Kana's crying face, melts her heart, she gently takes Kana from Rikku and makes her sit on the stool in their kitchen. "What's wrong Kana, why are you crying?"

"I'm sorry nee-san, nii-san, I don't know why but my tears won't stop falling, seeing all of you so attentive to me, making me part of your family, making me realize how long I dream of having siblings. To bicker, to cry, to laugh, and to do everything together. It's making me cry knowing I can't have that, and…and… not only that, but just last week, the person that I love the most, just announced that he was engaged to be wed with both of our friends. Both of them are beautiful… and strong…and…and… smart, why does he even want to be with a plain-looking me? I feel so lost right now, these pent-up emotions just caught up with me and I don't know how to deal with it" By the time Kana finished explaining she was openly crying into her hand, looking quite pitiful, all her sadness, her worry, her fear, her anguish. She throws it all in the open –bare her soul and heart– to the people she sees as her friends and family. All of their heart goes to her, Lena took Kana into her arms and gently rocked her back and forth to try to calm her down, while both Rikku and Alex silently put away their dinner for later, not a word exchange, while they waited patiently for Kana to calms down, and they can eat their dinner. It took 30 minutes for her to finally calm down, and by that time everyone was already hungry, so they ate their dinner in complete silence since none of them wanted to speak or address the topic that just happened because they knew Kana only wanted to let all her pent-up emotions, that she was hiding from them free. Dinner time passes quietly with everyone having a lot on their mind, after dinner, they just retire to their respective room with only one word in their mind 'What have I done?'

-Somewhere-

In an abandoned building, faint footsteps can be heard walking in a corridor before they stop at a wooden door, a faint knocking was heard before the door was open.

"Hey squirt" a tall man was leaning against the door.

"Don't call me that, you buffoon, I will tell Master that you've been bullying me" a short girl,with a lolita dress screamed at the intruder.

"Now…now…don't be like that, I bear good news and this is how you treat me?"

"What good news?"

"I found her"

"REALLY!" screamed the girl. "That is a good news…We need to go bring her back to our master, he will be thrilled to have her back….oh…ohhh and we need to tell our master right now" the Girl said excitedly jumping around.

"Don't worry, let her stay for a while, she needs to know about us before we bring her back to our master. After all, I too miss Kana, my dear wife…and for our Master, we need her first before we contact our master, it won't look good on us if we fail again"

"Okay, whatever you said buffoon" and that was the last thing she said before her head was adorned with a big lump. "MMEEAANNIIIEEE, that hurts"

"Whatever squirt, don't stay up too late… I'll be going now, so be good" Closing the door he makes his way back, whistling until he disappears into the night.

つづく

A/N: I'm back guys and still kicking, it's been what? 6 Years already since I write, please accept my deepest apologies, I know I've been gone for so long without leaving a note. Sadly to say, lives happens for me and my muse just won't give me something to write about, it's been sitting in my laptop for quite a while and recently, I just found inspiration to write this down again. I hope the next chapter won't be this long; I assure you that I will finish this story. So dear readers (I know I've been obsess with Bridgerton for a couple of month now) if you truly enjoy this story, please leave me a comment down below, because it will help me greatly what to write for the next chapter.

Sincerely yours

Crest