AN: Hello! I'm back with another chapter. I'm sorry for the cliffhanger at the end, but I thought this was a good place to stop. Hope you'll enjoy the chapter despite my reservations about it!

Rikuo is Yoru, and Yoru is Rikuo.

Tsuna's mind comes to a halt as she processes the revelation. Intuition's whispers that she met this ayakashi before on that first night, the insistence that "Yoru" is a fake name, Yoru's familiarity with her despite never meeting once before; him appearing only at night after she spent time with Rikuo during daylight, him sending that trio of Tengu, though only her childhood friend and the Squad knew about the trip and location; Rikuo's sudden cockiness and smugness, bruises in the same places, eyes flashing red, nervousness whenever someone mentions Lord of Pandeonium. It all made sense now as the puzzle finally clicked in place. Ha! And she wondered on the date what kind of connection the two had. They were one and the same since the beginning!

Wait, then that means… Her mind recalls the night when Yoru came to her, and she had to patch his bleeding injuries… Technically, she had been patching up Rikuo! He had been paying her night visits in disguise this whole time, and no wonder Yoru started to affect her too, in spite of her long-time crush! Her face grows hot as she realizes it all. She doesn't know whether from anger or embarrassment. Maybe both.

Because… Gods, how embarrassing! And that shameless flirt! We met before in dreams, her ass!

Yoru—Rikuo, dammit — has the audacity to smirk wider as if he knows what she's thinking at the moment. She glares in response.

"You owe me an explanation, don't think you're getting out of it, mister," Tsuna promises darkly. The ayakashi in front of her takes it in stride.

"Your wish is my command, Tsu," that smooth talker winks before turning serious. "But first, let's take out the trash. Ladies first."

"Oh, so you can be a gentleman in this Form," the brunette utters sarcastically with a roll of her eyes as she enters the Hyper Dying Will Mode. He's right, answers can wait, first they need to defeat those snakes. "And here I thought the flirt was the only option. You really must be Rikuo."

He merely laughs at her jab in amusement. Tsuna huffs in reply before taking to the skies. The majority of the attackers follow suit. Only some remain on the ground to handle their former master.

Gee, she must really hurt their pride if their focus is that intense, and they consider her a more serious threat compared to their pissed-off master. And Rikuo is really pissed off, despite the easy-going remarks he threw her way earlier; she can tell it by the way he grips the weapon he brought with him, white-knuckled; the way his expression became thunderous and how his Fear writhes, barely under control and ready to snap at any moment.

Those guys are done for. Either, by her hand or his.

But regardless of their stupidity and inevitable demise, this is the second time Tsuna faces off against yokai. The difference between those at the abandoned building and these ones, is that these are better trained and have combat experience. In that case…

Responding to her intent, Natsu materializes on her shoulder.

They cackle. "Do you think some kitty will save you?"

"Let's find out, shall we? I think this is long overdue. Natsu?" the young Decimo looks at her companion. Understanding her, Natsu roars. Those who did not jump out of the way fast enough turned to stone, plummeting to the ground.

"Are we decorating the Wisteria Alley with statues?" Rikuo asks casually, as he cuts another opponent in half, and looks at the petrified hebi critically.

"Maybe," Tsuna responds in kind, pretending to think the idea over. "I heard ashes were good for gardening too."

That was the last straw as their enemies snapped and finally make the move at last.

Between the Flames and Rikuo's Fear, the attackers began to dwindle, but were still an annoyance. Maybe she could use Zero Point Breakthrough on them?

Nah, too problematic to freeze multiple targets like that — they were no massive Gola Moscas for it to work. X-Burner is an option, but she doesn't have lenses and headphones with her for perfect X-Burner, plus, she'd be open during preparation.

Still, this fight dragged long enough, and she wants to finish, so X-Burner it is.

"I know how to wrap this," the brunette informs her childhood friend as she hovers beside him in the air after being done with her opponents. Natsu, knowing what she planned, returned to his Ring form. The remaining ones watch warily, but are cautious to charge in after their comrades met their end so recklessly. "But I'm going to be vulnerable and open, so cover me?"

"Always," he swears, the adoring look in his red eyes, making her heart skip a beat. Without waiting for the reply, he covers them in Fear.

"Dammit, he used that trick," one of the snakes curses as the couple disappears from sight. "We are done for."

Rikuo smirks. "Their first smart thought perhaps in their whole lives. Your turn, Tsu."

"Got it," Tsuna nods resolutely and gets into the position. It's not easy to guess the right amount without the program, and just by feeling, but with the help of Intuition and instincts, she feels the right moment, and utters the phrase.

"X-Burner."

One single roar of Flames; a bright flash, shaking of the ground. When Rikuo opens his eyes and dispels the Fear, only ashes of their attackers and burnt grass greet his sight.

"Holy crap," he breaths out. Rikuo turns to his girlfriend, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. "Remind me to never get on your bad side."

"What, did I scare you, Lord of Pandemonium?" Tsunami asks with a quirk of lips. She isn't mad at him anymore. After all, how can she? He had his reasons for his secret. And he's still Rikuo.

Even with different looks, and mannerisms, and all that.

"Immensely," he drawls, moving closer, so their faces are centimeters apart. "I'm shaking and feel ready to fall into your arms, take responsibility, Princess."

The young Decimo is about to retort when her Intuition gives another warning. "Someone is coming."

"Must be my lot," Rikuo says, having recovered from his shock and turning in the direction of yoki. He smirks. "Yep, it's them," he says to Tsuna, who relaxes and dismisses her Flames, landing by his side. If it's Rikuo's Hyakki Yako, there's no need to worry.

Hopefully.

"Rikuo-sama!" One of them exclaims, some kind of neckless yokai that looks like a man with dirty blonde hair. Beside him is a beautiful woman in a kimono with long wavy dark brown hair and green eyes. Slightly behind them are two… monks? And Tsurara, whose cold aura is more prominent now. So she was right, she's a yokai, more precisely Yuki-Onna. "Are you and Sawada-sama alright? We heard an explosion."

"We are okay," Rikuo assures, wrapping an arm around the brunette. "As for the explosion, that was Tsu. The bastards went out with a bang."

"Sawada-sama did!?" at this, the group looks at the result of the attack; the ashes that can only be former traitors, then at Tsuna. She blushes at the attention.

"Why did you have to put it like that?" the young Decimo grumbles.

"Hey, everyone should know my girlfriend is a badass," Rikuo says, proud and smug, all in one. "Besides, I only said the truth."

And before Tsuna can come up with an answer, she ends up in Rikuo's arms, bridal style.

"W-What are you doing?!" she sputters, blush increasing tenfold. Rikuo's confidants look away, masking amusement behind a cough. Well, except Tsurara, that is. She looks like she will blow up like a whistling teapot on a stove.

Tsuna shares the feeling, though not out of jealousy, but embarrassment.

"You need to be checked out just in case," her boyfriend says with a grin, she has an itch to hit him for. "Plus, I owe someone an explanation, a certain princess said so."

Tsuna rolls her eyes as they take off.

Yokais are impossible.

Tsuna visited Nura Mansion exactly on two occasions — some of Rikuo's birthdays and to offer condolences when his father passed away. Years passed since then, but it's still as big and grand as ever.

Kyoya and others would have liked this place if they were here, Tsuna thinks with a smile.

And it's also full of yokais, various kinds, and types.

"Don't worry," Rikuo soothes when Tsuna presses closer to him due to the whispers around them. "They are just excited to meet you."

"Just hope not too excited," Tsuna murmurs. "You can put me down now."

"Nope!" was the cheeky reply.

"You're so shameless like this," Tsuna sighs. She sees Wakana coming their way. "Hello, Wakana-san."

"Hi, Tsu-chan, it's been a while," the woman greets warmly, looking at her son next. "I'm glad you're both safe. Are you taking her to Zen?"

"That's the plan," Rikuo nods. "Why?"

"Grandpa wants to see you both first," Wakana says, to which Rikuo frowns and Tsuna gulps in worry.

Meeting Rikuo's grandfather in such an official capacity. Scary.

Though her Ring is glowing faintly. It's both a gesture of comfort and excitement. But why the latter?

"Guess we better see old geezer first," Rikuo says reluctantly, bringing Tsuna out of her musings. "Ready, Tsu?"

"I guess," the brunette agrees uncertainty. "It's not like this can get any more shocking."

Unknown to both of them, they'll get proven wrong soon enough.

Rikuo's grandfather isn't alone when they meet him. He's in the company of a small tengu, one-eyed oni, and human-looking ayakashi.

"What is the meaning of this, old geezer?" Rikuo asks, irritated. His grandfather just smirks.

Ah. So, it's a familial trait.

"Is it wrong of me to meet the girl you love?" the old man asks, amused.

"With Hitotsume, Karasu-Tengu and Gyuki?" Rikuo asks a question of his own with a raised eyebrow.

"What, ashamed, Sandaime?" the one named Hitotsume. Rikuo growls.

"One more word, and you'll lose the only eye you have," he threatens.

"Ooh, touchy," the older yokai taunts. He looks at tense Tsuna at Rikuo's side. "To be honest, she's kind of mou—Oi!" he exclaims in pain as Gyuki hits him. "Gyuki! What was that for?"

"Fool," Gyuki scolds. "Don't you see the resemblance?" with these words, he bows to Tsuna. "My apologies, Tsunami-sama, he talks without thinking."

"It's fine, I heard worse," Tsuna accepts the apology awkwardly, while calming down her irritated boyfriend. "But what did you mean by resemblance?"

"Noticed did you, Gyuki? Shrewd as ever," Nurarihyon says before addressing Tsuna. "If not for the gender and the coloring, you would have been a dead ringer for him. Tell me, Tsunami-chan, who's Ieyasu to you?"

"Huh?" Tsuna is taken aback by the unexpected question, and Rikuo is just as confused. "How do you know that name?"

"She's my great-great-great-granddauther, you sly bastard," a male voice replies instead with amusement, seemingly from nowhere. Before anyone can react further, a column of Sky Flames appears in the room. A moment later, they reveal a ghostly young man in a suit with a great resemblance to Tsuna. The stranger smiles at Nurarihyon.

"Hello, Nurarihyon," he greets. Happiness is evident in his whole being. As if he just reunited with a friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Hello, Ieyasu," Nurarihyon responds in kind. He's just as happy to see the person in front of him, but Rikuo notes with great shock that there are tears: tears of pain and relief. "Long time no see, old friend."