UPDATE! Fic: Nura's Golden Days 28!--My Time for Yours (Rihan/Rikuo; Pg-15)
Nura's Golden Days
Fandom: Nurarihyon no Mago
Rating: T/15+ (negotiable-maybe up in later chapters)
Genre: Humor/Drama/Romance
Pairing: Nura Rihan/Nura Rikuo
Summary: Blasted away by the force he can't imagine before, Rikuo finds himself thrown to the past, where Rihan's still alive and devastated because of Yamabuki Otome's disappearance. Can Rikuo bring his spirit back alive once more? It's his mission now… while trying to find a way to go back to his own time.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Nuramago isn't mine and never will be.
Warning: the usual things… shounen ai-yaoi-ncest, slight oOC-ness, AU, language, etc…
A/N: Oh-oh… finally my beta is up for beta-in again~ XDDD Thank you mittens_220. I hope your vacation is WONDERFUL! XD Now, I'm sorry for not updating for two weeks… I was really busy and I just got the time to finish this yesterday. My beta beta-ed this very quickly, she's AWESOME!
Okay, now it's time for you to enjoy! ^_^
Chapter 28: My Time for Yours
A moment of pleasure
You are fulfilled
But every dream has its time…
…to die…*
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
"Setsura-san… is leaving Nura Gumi…?" Rikuo said that in a disbelieving whisper, eyes widening in total shock.
Everyone started to murmur to each other after that and Rihan was silent, looking distressed. "What… was that…?" he asked a minute later, still in shock. "What do you mean Setsura retiring?" He looked at Nurarihyon, his father, with an alarmed expression.
"It's just like what I said. Setsura wants to leave Nura Gumi. She already decided it and she will make a formal announcement shortly," Nurarihyon informed, looking slightly depressed himself. "I just thought giving you guys a notice ahead so you won't be too shocked later," he continued.
Rihan remained silent as he heard that. Nurarihyon couldn't be joking, right? Even though he was a master of mischief and pranks, joking about something like that to his own son was too cruel. So, he must have been serious.
"Why…?" Rihan asked then, frowning deeply. "Why did she decide to leave Nura Gumi, us…?"
Me…?
Rikuo could almost hear what Rihan had thought despite the impersonal pronoun. "Rihan-san…" the chocolate haired boy looked at Nidaime concernedly. He was also shocked by Setsura's sudden decision to leave. But, like he said, he knew she would. He just didn't expect it to be so soon.
"Don't make that kind of face."
Someone suddenly said from behind the door of the recreation room. A woman with long bluish hair and snow white colored kimono then entered the room, a baby girl sleeping peacefully in her arms. "It doesn't suit you, Rihan," she said, still with that arrogant act that had become her trademark.
"Setsura!" Rihan stood and hurriedly walked towards her. "Actually, what happened? What was that about? Did you really decide to leave?" he then immediately bombarded the Snow Woman with questions, obviously looking anxious despite his struggle to remain calm.
"Easy, one by one, Rihan," Setsura huffed, rocking her baby gently. "Yes, I decided to retire," she said slowly before Rihan could retort after her earlier statement. She then motioned Kejorou to take her child so she could speak more freely to Rihan.
"Why?" Rihan repeated the question he had thrown to his father earlier.
"Well… some of you must have realized it, right? My life time is coming to an end. Soon, I will fade away and return to nature," Setsura said.
"So? What does that have any to do with you deciding to leave?" Rihan asked again, not catching the meaning of her words.
"I'm no longer useful here. I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I refuse to become a burden to you guys," Setsura said again regally, as if she was of royal blood.
In a way, Setsura probably was of royal blood, seeing that she was the direct descendant of the Snow Queen.
"What do you mean being a burden? You're not a burden! You're my family! A very dear, dear family member to me… and you're precious to us!" Rihan protested. He still refused to listen to her reason. He probably wouldn't want to hear whatever her reason was. He just wanted her to stay until her time ended.
Setsura sighed deeply at that. "You're so brazen… but you don't understand how a woman's mind works at all," she reached up and stroked Rihan's head as if he were a child.
"Setsura…?" Rihan stared at her in confusion.
"A woman… doesn't want to look ugly in anyone's mind. My form when I fade away… I won't let you guys see me in that state," she said, looking slightly pained. That was the truth anyway. Despite being a youkai, she was still a woman. She wanted to be eternally beautiful and the last thing she wanted was being seen as she faded.
"You are beautiful no matter in what state you are!" Rihan was still stubborn apparently.
"You haven't seen it yet. Don't say something you don't even know about," Setsura's sweat dropped. "Anyway, you can't stop me, you know. I already decided it after all," she said, chuckling lightly.
"Setsura…! You're… going to leave me too, huh?" Rihan couldn't help asking it, his face looking like he was suffering and it was as if he blamed himself for this.
"Moron. Even though we're not physically together, I'll still be here, watching over you guys through the snow. I'm a Yuki Onna, the embodiment of winter. In a sense, I am winter. I'll always be here even though my form will be different," Setsura flicked Rihan's forehead before she stroked his hair again softly.
"Setsura…" Rihan still seemed to want to protest, but he held his tongue and nodded, respecting her decision. Although he was the boss, the will of the youkai in his Hyakki was free and independent. He had promised his subordinates that he wouldn't chain them down with his own selfishness and rules if they had slightly different principles.
Yuki Onna was a Nature Youkai. Unlike some youkai which was born from human beliefs, she was there even before humans existed. She had her own principles that Rihan probably wouldn't understand even if she told him what they were.
"It's okay. I'll stay in Spirit Realm for some time, so you can still find me there if you want," Setsura said with a smile. "And I will leave Tsurara here, so you will have the next generation of Yuki Onna in this family," she continued.
"You're leaving her here?" Kejorou snapped from her duty in babysitting the baby girl and looked at Setsura in shock.
"Yes, that's why, you have to work hard raising her," Setsura said with an amused smile as she saw the other youkais' totally speechless expression.
"Are you serious, Setsura-neesan? She still needs her mother, right?" Kubinashi also asked as he stared at the baby and then to Setsura's still amused expression.
"No, she already has what she needs to survive as a youkai. It's in her natural instinct. It's just… she needs to be taught what's the purpose of her power, whether it is for good or for bad, it's up to you guys how you want to mold her personality," Setsura explained.
"Setsura… you're really… serious and have thought about it carefully…" Rihan widened his eyes as he realized how grave the situation was. Setsura must have been pretty desperate that she had to leave her daughter in Nura Gumi's care, right?
"I have… and before I really leave, I need to speak with Rikuo," Setsura said suddenly, glancing in Rikuo's direction. "Privately," she added for a good measure.
Rikuo flinched slightly and looked at Setsura perplexedly. He didn't know why she wanted to speak to him, but if what he was worried about was true… if her reason leaving Nura Gumi had something to do with him somehow… then…!
"Understood," Rikuo nodded somberly before he stood up as well. "Where do you want to go?"
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
Although we'll go our separate ways,
I will constantly be thinking about you
I won't ever let our hearts feel lonesome…**
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
Setsura and Rikuo walked together on the road. It was still quite bright in the afternoon, but the hint of orange was already there in the sunlight.
Rikuo glanced at the Snow Youkai who walked on his right side. She was unusually quiet. Well, she was a cool woman, but calm and quiet weren't in Setsura's normal trait. She was easily provoked after all, a little hot-headed and yet she always appeared majestic. Just like Nurarihyon, she was full of contradiction… probably it was Nurarihyon's influence.
Rikuo shook his head as he tried to clear his mind. The silence between them became slightly uncomfortable, so he decided to break it. "Where do you want to take me, Setsura-san?" he asked.
"Somewhere quiet, where no one can listen to our conversation," Setsura said, glancing shortly to Rikuo before shifting her gaze a little behind.
Rikuo tilted his head aside as he glanced behind as well and noticed some youkai from the main house who were nosy enough (translate: Kubinashi, Kejorou, Aotabo and Kurotabo) to follow them, trying to be invisible, but they were terrible at it.
Some things never change…-Rikuo's sweat dropped seeing that, remembering how bad his subordinates' stealth skills were when they were tailing him during the dispute with Shikoku Youkai.
"And… what are you going to do to lose them?" Rikuo walked closer to Setsura now, whispering slightly.
"We will lose them, don't worry," Setsura smirked as she reached to hold Rikuo's hand and then pulled the chocolate haired boy to turn at the corner suddenly, surprising Rikuo and their supposedly secret followers.
Rikuo widened his eyes as he saw a hole on the wall and both Setsura and he went through it before Setsura sealed the hole with her ice. "Now run," she said and Rikuo nodded as he immediately ran together with Setsura.
Some minutes later, they arrived at the side of a forest where there was a small shrine with a big rock just behind it. Setsura sat on the big rock and patted the spot beside her, gesturing Rikuo to sit there as well.
Rikuo, rather tired after the run, complied and sat beside Setsura. They both sighed in relief for being able to find a spot where they could talk without disturbances.
"They are quite persistent sometimes… but I really hope they can read the mood once in a while," Setsura muttered slightly, leaning back on her hands as she looked upward at the slightly darkening sky now.
"Um…" Rikuo nodded in agreement at that. "So… what do you want to talk about, Setsura-san?" he continued, asking to the point.
Setsura chuckled slightly. "You suck at chit-chatting," she shook her head at that and Rikuo's face turned a little bit pink.
"S-sorry…, euh… by the way, don't tell me you're just want to chit-chat?" Rikuo said awkwardly, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
"No, but I expect to have a little chat about life somehow, before I tell you the real reason why I decide to retire," Setsura closed her eyes and relaxed a bit, while Rikuo was looking at her worriedly.
"Setsura-san… about your decision to suddenly leave… that…, does that somehow have something to do with our previous conversation?" Rikuo shifted his gaze down, looking at his lap. He didn't want to think this way… that the reason of Setsura's disappearance actually had something to do with him… that he was the reason was Tsurara was motherless.
Setsura was quiet and Rikuo was dreading her answer the longer he waited. "Actually," Rikuo perked up as he heard her voice. Then he looked upward to her slowly. "It indeed has something to do with it," she confessed and Rikuo's heart sank.
"Setsura-san!" Rikuo cut before she continued again. "You don't have to care about my problem! I don't want to cause any disturbance in this time. You shouldn't have to do something like this for my sake!" he protested hard as well.
"Idiot, it isn't for you," Setsura said with a huff and a whack to Rikuo's head, earning a painful and surprised yelp from the boy who was trying to nurse his injury now, crying slightly while muttering 'You don't have to be so violent…'.
"T-then… why…?" Rikuo covered his head carefully lest she decided to hit him again.
"It's for Rihan," Setsura said slowly, softening her expression.
"Ri-… Rihan-san?" Rikuo looked at Setsura perplexedly.
"For the future… where he can live in happiness…" Setsura continued closing her eyes calmly.
"Setsura-san…?" Rikuo didn't understand.
"I made a deal with Ryuujin-sama," Setsura said suddenly, surprising Rikuo. "A hundred years ago, Ryuujin-sama offered to make me a deity so I can stay beside Him. Of course I declined the offer on the spot because I wanted to be with Nurarihyon and Nura Gumi. Ryuujin-sama warned me that I used too much of my youki for Nura Gumi and for giving birth to Yuki no Ko. And that doing all that will suck my life-energy away… and if I didn't stop that, I'd fade faster than I had to…
"Actually, the Mountain God also told me the same thing, but I didn't really care at that time because I only cared about living without regret. And my passion… my only passion that could warm the cold world I live in was… still is, having a family such as Nura Gumi." Setsura smiled nostalgically now, seeming like reminiscing her life in flash back. "But lately I realized I couldn't do that anymore. The world is changing… the existence of the youkai is getting pale in comparison of the growth of humans. Science is replacing superstition and the belief for youkai is slowly decreasing… we became weaker, that's the hard truth of this world. Back then, I could depend on the belief of humans in Yuki Onna to create winter, but with what's left with my power now… I can't even do that anymore. My life is wasting away… and yet I don't want to disappear…
"I can't disappear… because then… he will become so sad… and I don't want to make him sad… I don't want to do the same thing as that woman who left him devastated…" Setsura looked at both of her hands now with expressionless face.
"Setsura-san…" Rikuo looked at the woman sadly.
"But then you came along…" Setsura put down her hands and turned to Rikuo. "You make him smile… and the moment I see his expression when he's laughing with you, I know he'll be okay as long as you're around," she reached out to Rikuo's head and the ruffled his hair softly. "But then… unfortunately you turned out to be some time-traveler… and somehow you have to go away as well sooner or later, that… isn't acceptable. Rihan will be devastated once again if you're gone…. So… I made a deal with Ryuujin-sama. If I'm to accept His proposal to become a deity and stay beside Him, He'll let you stay in this time for the rest of your life," she continued.
Rikuo widened his eyes at that.
That was a lie… that couldn't be… because… Rikuo had decided to come back home. When he finished his mission… and was ready to go home… the portal time would open, and he would be taken back to his own time.
"But I figured, you wouldn't want that, would you?" Setsura asked as she seemed noticing the pale look on Rikuo's face.
"I… decided to go home after I finish my mission…" Rikuo mumbled slowly, suddenly feeling very bad about all of this.
Setsura smiled at that. "Ryuujin-sama told me… even though you went back to your own time, there's a big chance that Rihan and you will see each other again," she said and Rikuo paled even more hearing that.
"Eh?" Rikuo widened his eyes in disbelief. Did Ryuujin tell Setsura who Rikuo was?
"Rihan will live for a long time… and you're only 60 years apart. You won't even feel that time when you get back to the future, right? It will be slightly hard for Rihan, but as long as there's chance for meeting each other again, Rihan will be okay," Setsura said again.
That was true. But…, Rihan then would know who Rikuo was in the future… then what would become of it? Rihan would become his father… and what if Rihan couldn't fall in love with Rikuo's mother because of his hope on 'finding' Rikuo again in the future?
"Setsura-san… I-…" Rikuo couldn't say it. Setsura looked so hopeful and thought this was the best solution, but she didn't know the facts that could complicate the idea. If Rihan didn't marry Wakana, Rikuo wouldn't be born in the future. He would disappear after getting sucked by the portal. But… if he told Setsura the truth…, if she knew who Rikuo really was, what would she thought about it? Even in youkai circle, incestuous relationship was forbidden and despicable.
"Besides… when I become the deity, I'll be immortal… I can watch you guys from beside Ryuujin-sama," Setsura said with a small smile.
Rikuo instantly remembered about Youhime who had become void of emotion when she became a deity.
Setsura-san… is willing to turning into that lifeless being for this…?-The words of protest was at the tip of Rikuo's tongue and he would have denied all of those hopes if it weren't for the fact that Setsura had brought something out from her sleeve. A thing… that distracted Rikuo's attention completely.
"Here," Setsura offered a ball of sparkling crystal to Rikuo. It looked so much like diamond, but it was circular, the size of a golf ball, and it shone quite brightly from the inside.
"What… is that…?" Rikuo reached for it and took it into his own hand. He stared at it in awe, unable to take his eyes off of such beautiful thing.
"It's me… part of me, at least. I converted half of my life that I have right now, and turned it into giant Rokka (1). As long as it's not used, I'll live through that thing and it can last eternally," Setsura said.
"Eh? It's your…?" Rikuo was so surprised when he heard that. "Then… what are you doing giving it to me?" he panicked as his hand began to sweat holding such important object. What if he dropped it for god's sake!
"I want you to keep it for me," Setsura said.
"Why?" Rikuo dropped his jaw now, getting even more shocked.
"The half of me right now will also turn into something else. This physical container will disperse and become one with the snow in winter, and the other half of my life which is still here will fuse with the object of Ryuujin-sama's choice. The source of the energy will be different with the one in your hand, and there will be a slight change in my personality depending on how much influence Ryuujin-sama will give me during the transformation. I don't want to lose the 'me' right now, so keep that. Because that is me in another form," Setsura explained.
"Ugh… Setsura-san… it's too difficult for my head to comprehend…" Rikuo was totally confused now. He had lost the understanding of her explanation somewhere after 'the source of the energy that was different', but he wasn't even sure about 'the converting life-thingy'.
Setsura sighed. "I was the one at fault for thinking you can understand this…" Setsura's sweat dropped seeing Rikuo's eyes which had turned into spiral in dizziness. "In simple way, I store my power in that crystal to survive… so I won't change into completely different being when I turn into deity later," she cleared that up and Rikuo understood that.
"Oh… so you will turn into deity then?" Rikuo asked again, getting somber once more and Setsura nodded. "So… you will stay beside Ryuujin-sama as His… what? Attendant?" he continued.
Setsura looked aside, flushing slightly with a bead of sweat prickling out her cheek.
What's with that reaction?-Rikuo wanted to ask, but Setsura coughed slightly and cleared her throat before saying,
"He just wants a 'friend'." Setsura didn't look convincing when she said that, more like… she seemed trying to convince herself. And for some reasons, Rikuo could see the apostrophes on the word friend.
Rikuo was silent for a moment, putting two and two together and his face flushed furiously as well in embarrassment and anger. That perverted deity!
"Why are you blushing?" Setsura asked, looking indignant as if she could read what Rikuo was thinking. But that was stupid because if she could, she wouldn't ask why he was blushing in the first place.
"It's nothing!" Rikuo quickly replied, still flushing and sweating trying to control the inappropriate mental images that had invaded his head.
Rikuo quickly shook his head to clear his mind then, while distracting himself (and Setsura so she wouldn't ask more about what he was thinking) by asking another question. "But… Setsura-san, you're really okay doing this? I meant… even if you don't so this, I can still go back to my own time after I finish my miss-!"
Rikuo gasped and widened his eyes when a realization suddenly hit him in the face.
Ryuujin's… beloved one...-Rikuo then stared at Setsura disbelievingly.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!" and Rikuo couldn't help shouting in shock as the idea clicked in his head.
"Wha-! What? What happened, Rikuo?" Setsura looked very surprised as Rikuo yelped so suddenly.
"I got it… my mission… is finally done!" Rikuo couldn't believe it that he freaked out.
"Huh?" Setsura looked at Rikuo ridiculously now.
"My mission… is to get you agree to be THAT PERVERTED deity's… and the one the future PERVERT wants is actually…!" Rikuo looked at the crystal in his hand which was trembling because of the rage.
THAT BASTARD!-Rikuo almost could see Ryuujin's manipulative and cunning face laughing at him from His throne for falling to His trick, and Rikuo vowed that he was so going to kick that deity at least once before he could be exterminated by Him for being so disrespectful to the strongest deity in Japan.
Anyway, what in the world was that deity was thinking? Using time-travel and another person (to boot) to look for a wife was out of line even for the Great Dragon of Fujiyama, damn it!
Wait, Ryuujin was a deity and Rikuo certainly didn't know how a deity's mind worked! But still… turning his life upside down for something like this…! As Rikuo thought… he DETESTED Ryuujin!
"Rikuo…?" Setsura looked at Rikuo with slightly concerned look.
"Setsura-san… you shouldn't spoil Ryuujin-sama too much… He's despicable…!" Rikuo's eyes were still blazing with fury and the youki was starting to pouring out of his body as he could feel the slow transformation of his human self into his youkai self.
Yoru was as angry as Rikuo, probably more and he didn't hold back in showing his distaste by cracking the rock where he sat despite the surprise look in Setsura's face as she witnessed the change.
"Wow… you really change into youkai at night," Setsura was somewhat impressed. "And so similar to my Supreme Commander when he's young too…" and there was that love-love eyes she usually reserved for Nurarihyon back then, when the grandpa was still single.
Yoru's sweat dropped as he saw Setsura's expression. "I'm not Jiji (2), you know," he said, slightly calmer now after taking out his contempt to Ryuujin to the rock under him.
"That's fine… but you are really like Nurarihyon… it's as if I was staring at his descendant somehow," Setsura laughed at that and Yoru's heart almost leaped to his throat. Despite telling Rikuo that he wasn't worried about being found out as Rihan's son, apparently, he shared Rikuo's feeling about not liking suspense.
"Stop saying that, you're making me sick, comparing me to that wrinkled old man," Yoru sulked, his heart still beating really hard.
Setsura laughed again, harder this time. "Oh jeez… you're so different from Rikuo… it's quite funny to think that you guys are the same person."
"Shut up. We are different personalities in one body," Yoru said, correcting her.
Setsura was still laughing and chuckling for a moment or two before she calmed down once again and sighed slightly. "That was wonderful…" she chuckled once again for a good measure.
"Hey, Setsura… you will really give this crystal to me?" Yoru asked, making sure if she was serious while bringing the shining crystal on his hand upward to look it under the moonlight. It sparkled even more and it was very pretty indeed. No wonder humans fell in love with this thing. The one who took the other part in the future might have seen this and was drawn by it.
"Yeah. Take good care of it… and Rihan… and my child too even though you suck at babysitting," Setsura said again with a snicker for her last comment.
Yoru flushed slightly, bringing the crystal down and kept it safely in his sleeve. "Noisy," he huffed and couldn't help smiling small as well when he saw the soft happy smile in Setsura's look as she took his hand on hers.
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
For me… there's only one answer
I only want to protect you…
…till the end of time…***
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
Rihan looked at Setsura, still with a sulky frown on his face when she was ready to go.
Setsura smiled at Rihan… or smirked, actually, with a mischievousness twinkling in her eyes. "What's with that expression? Can't you at least smile while escorting me?" she asked in amusement.
"I still don't get the idea why you need to leave. No one cares if you look old," Rihan pouted.
A vein popped out Setsura's head as she deliberately stepped on Rihan's foot for mentioning the taboo again in front of her. Rihan of course yelped painfully at that and the others' (including Rikuo) sweat dropped at the ridiculous scene in front of them.
They probably knew though, it was just Rihan didn't seem good with parting and she didn't want this parting to be sad for the man that she had raised since a baby.
"Rihan-san never learns…" Rikuo said, sighing in exasperation before Setsura also turned to him and hugged him. "Eh?" the chocolate haired boy seemed surprised.
"Good luck," Setsura whispered and ruffled Rikuo's hair before she turned back to Rihan and hugged him as well. "Be happy with the little one, Rihan," she whispered to Rihan and the Hanyo blushed slightly at that.
"W-what are you saying?" Rihan seemed embarrassed, but he looked cute like that.
Setsura grinned. "Where's the Supreme Commander?" she looked around, but she couldn't find the small grandpa.
"In here," Nurarihyon's voice from the Ghost Carriage surprised Setsura a little, but she turned to him anyway and she smiled happily.
"Going to escort me to the mountain, Nurarihyon-sama?" Setsura teased slightly in amusement again. What more fitting way to go than being escorted by your first love?
"Yes," Nurarihyon said seriously and Setsura blushed faintly as she saw the intense gaze he gave her. She went quiet for a moment, feeling nervous now and her heart beat quickened all of a sudden.
"Jeez… you have never failed to surprise me…" Setsura whispered as she walked to the carriage and went inside.
"Sayonara, Setsura-neesaaaaaan!"
"Take caaaaaare!"
"Don't worry about us and Tsurara-chan! We'll raise her to be the best Yuki Onna ever!"
"Be happy there till the eeeeeend!"
"Nee-saaaaan!"
"Setsura-saaaaaaan!"
"Setsuraaaaa! Don't forget us! We will never forget you as well!"
Shout after shout came and all the guys and girls yelled their goodbyes in unison. So when Setsura looked back slightly, a tear had to escape from her beautiful reddish amber eyes falling down to the ground and turning into crystal diamonds.
"You bastards…!" Setsura wanted to smile… she wanted to go with a smile, but everyone's feelings were flowing inside her, how she was loved in that family, how they would miss her after this, how they were grateful for her being in their family and now she couldn't smile anymore because it was so warm… and painful to actually letting it go, it was hard for her to go and to leave them behind.
Setsura was sobbing when the carriage brought her away from her home all this time and Nurarihyon was there beside her, not saying anything and letting her cry her heart out…
End of Chapter 28
Tbc…
Additional Notes:
*Taken directly from the lyric of a song titled 'Cape of Storm' sung by Hyde
**Taken from the English translation of Japanese song 'Hajimaru no wa, Sayonara' (Beelzebub anime 2nd Op song), sung by ON/OFF
***Taken from the English translation of Japanese song 'Answer' (Beelzebub anime 1st Ed song), sung by No Sleeves
1)Rokka: snow crystal
2)Jiji: the informal way of calling grandpa, granddad, grandfather
A/N: Oh maaaan! This is almost done! XD One or two more chapters to go! XDDD Yes, yes, I know, it's somehow anticlimactic, but I still have something under my sleeves, everyone! Just wait for the next chapter! So… what do you think of this? I hope you can enjoy this chapter as well~! Saa, review, everyone! Give me more fuels to hurry and write the next chapter! XDDD
Next: Chapter 29
Previous: Chapter 27
Fandom: Nurarihyon no Mago
Rating: T/15+ (negotiable-maybe up in later chapters)
Genre: Humor/Drama/Romance
Pairing: Nura Rihan/Nura Rikuo
Summary: Blasted away by the force he can't imagine before, Rikuo finds himself thrown to the past, where Rihan's still alive and devastated because of Yamabuki Otome's disappearance. Can Rikuo bring his spirit back alive once more? It's his mission now… while trying to find a way to go back to his own time.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: Nuramago isn't mine and never will be.
Warning: the usual things… shounen ai-yaoi-ncest, slight oOC-ness, AU, language, etc…
A/N: Oh-oh… finally my beta is up for beta-in again~ XDDD Thank you mittens_220. I hope your vacation is WONDERFUL! XD Now, I'm sorry for not updating for two weeks… I was really busy and I just got the time to finish this yesterday. My beta beta-ed this very quickly, she's AWESOME!
Okay, now it's time for you to enjoy! ^_^
Chapter 28: My Time for Yours
A moment of pleasure
You are fulfilled
But every dream has its time…
…to die…*
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
"Setsura-san… is leaving Nura Gumi…?" Rikuo said that in a disbelieving whisper, eyes widening in total shock.
Everyone started to murmur to each other after that and Rihan was silent, looking distressed. "What… was that…?" he asked a minute later, still in shock. "What do you mean Setsura retiring?" He looked at Nurarihyon, his father, with an alarmed expression.
"It's just like what I said. Setsura wants to leave Nura Gumi. She already decided it and she will make a formal announcement shortly," Nurarihyon informed, looking slightly depressed himself. "I just thought giving you guys a notice ahead so you won't be too shocked later," he continued.
Rihan remained silent as he heard that. Nurarihyon couldn't be joking, right? Even though he was a master of mischief and pranks, joking about something like that to his own son was too cruel. So, he must have been serious.
"Why…?" Rihan asked then, frowning deeply. "Why did she decide to leave Nura Gumi, us…?"
Me…?
Rikuo could almost hear what Rihan had thought despite the impersonal pronoun. "Rihan-san…" the chocolate haired boy looked at Nidaime concernedly. He was also shocked by Setsura's sudden decision to leave. But, like he said, he knew she would. He just didn't expect it to be so soon.
"Don't make that kind of face."
Someone suddenly said from behind the door of the recreation room. A woman with long bluish hair and snow white colored kimono then entered the room, a baby girl sleeping peacefully in her arms. "It doesn't suit you, Rihan," she said, still with that arrogant act that had become her trademark.
"Setsura!" Rihan stood and hurriedly walked towards her. "Actually, what happened? What was that about? Did you really decide to leave?" he then immediately bombarded the Snow Woman with questions, obviously looking anxious despite his struggle to remain calm.
"Easy, one by one, Rihan," Setsura huffed, rocking her baby gently. "Yes, I decided to retire," she said slowly before Rihan could retort after her earlier statement. She then motioned Kejorou to take her child so she could speak more freely to Rihan.
"Why?" Rihan repeated the question he had thrown to his father earlier.
"Well… some of you must have realized it, right? My life time is coming to an end. Soon, I will fade away and return to nature," Setsura said.
"So? What does that have any to do with you deciding to leave?" Rihan asked again, not catching the meaning of her words.
"I'm no longer useful here. I'm not as strong as I used to be, and I refuse to become a burden to you guys," Setsura said again regally, as if she was of royal blood.
In a way, Setsura probably was of royal blood, seeing that she was the direct descendant of the Snow Queen.
"What do you mean being a burden? You're not a burden! You're my family! A very dear, dear family member to me… and you're precious to us!" Rihan protested. He still refused to listen to her reason. He probably wouldn't want to hear whatever her reason was. He just wanted her to stay until her time ended.
Setsura sighed deeply at that. "You're so brazen… but you don't understand how a woman's mind works at all," she reached up and stroked Rihan's head as if he were a child.
"Setsura…?" Rihan stared at her in confusion.
"A woman… doesn't want to look ugly in anyone's mind. My form when I fade away… I won't let you guys see me in that state," she said, looking slightly pained. That was the truth anyway. Despite being a youkai, she was still a woman. She wanted to be eternally beautiful and the last thing she wanted was being seen as she faded.
"You are beautiful no matter in what state you are!" Rihan was still stubborn apparently.
"You haven't seen it yet. Don't say something you don't even know about," Setsura's sweat dropped. "Anyway, you can't stop me, you know. I already decided it after all," she said, chuckling lightly.
"Setsura…! You're… going to leave me too, huh?" Rihan couldn't help asking it, his face looking like he was suffering and it was as if he blamed himself for this.
"Moron. Even though we're not physically together, I'll still be here, watching over you guys through the snow. I'm a Yuki Onna, the embodiment of winter. In a sense, I am winter. I'll always be here even though my form will be different," Setsura flicked Rihan's forehead before she stroked his hair again softly.
"Setsura…" Rihan still seemed to want to protest, but he held his tongue and nodded, respecting her decision. Although he was the boss, the will of the youkai in his Hyakki was free and independent. He had promised his subordinates that he wouldn't chain them down with his own selfishness and rules if they had slightly different principles.
Yuki Onna was a Nature Youkai. Unlike some youkai which was born from human beliefs, she was there even before humans existed. She had her own principles that Rihan probably wouldn't understand even if she told him what they were.
"It's okay. I'll stay in Spirit Realm for some time, so you can still find me there if you want," Setsura said with a smile. "And I will leave Tsurara here, so you will have the next generation of Yuki Onna in this family," she continued.
"You're leaving her here?" Kejorou snapped from her duty in babysitting the baby girl and looked at Setsura in shock.
"Yes, that's why, you have to work hard raising her," Setsura said with an amused smile as she saw the other youkais' totally speechless expression.
"Are you serious, Setsura-neesan? She still needs her mother, right?" Kubinashi also asked as he stared at the baby and then to Setsura's still amused expression.
"No, she already has what she needs to survive as a youkai. It's in her natural instinct. It's just… she needs to be taught what's the purpose of her power, whether it is for good or for bad, it's up to you guys how you want to mold her personality," Setsura explained.
"Setsura… you're really… serious and have thought about it carefully…" Rihan widened his eyes as he realized how grave the situation was. Setsura must have been pretty desperate that she had to leave her daughter in Nura Gumi's care, right?
"I have… and before I really leave, I need to speak with Rikuo," Setsura said suddenly, glancing in Rikuo's direction. "Privately," she added for a good measure.
Rikuo flinched slightly and looked at Setsura perplexedly. He didn't know why she wanted to speak to him, but if what he was worried about was true… if her reason leaving Nura Gumi had something to do with him somehow… then…!
"Understood," Rikuo nodded somberly before he stood up as well. "Where do you want to go?"
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
Although we'll go our separate ways,
I will constantly be thinking about you
I won't ever let our hearts feel lonesome…**
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
Setsura and Rikuo walked together on the road. It was still quite bright in the afternoon, but the hint of orange was already there in the sunlight.
Rikuo glanced at the Snow Youkai who walked on his right side. She was unusually quiet. Well, she was a cool woman, but calm and quiet weren't in Setsura's normal trait. She was easily provoked after all, a little hot-headed and yet she always appeared majestic. Just like Nurarihyon, she was full of contradiction… probably it was Nurarihyon's influence.
Rikuo shook his head as he tried to clear his mind. The silence between them became slightly uncomfortable, so he decided to break it. "Where do you want to take me, Setsura-san?" he asked.
"Somewhere quiet, where no one can listen to our conversation," Setsura said, glancing shortly to Rikuo before shifting her gaze a little behind.
Rikuo tilted his head aside as he glanced behind as well and noticed some youkai from the main house who were nosy enough (translate: Kubinashi, Kejorou, Aotabo and Kurotabo) to follow them, trying to be invisible, but they were terrible at it.
Some things never change…-Rikuo's sweat dropped seeing that, remembering how bad his subordinates' stealth skills were when they were tailing him during the dispute with Shikoku Youkai.
"And… what are you going to do to lose them?" Rikuo walked closer to Setsura now, whispering slightly.
"We will lose them, don't worry," Setsura smirked as she reached to hold Rikuo's hand and then pulled the chocolate haired boy to turn at the corner suddenly, surprising Rikuo and their supposedly secret followers.
Rikuo widened his eyes as he saw a hole on the wall and both Setsura and he went through it before Setsura sealed the hole with her ice. "Now run," she said and Rikuo nodded as he immediately ran together with Setsura.
Some minutes later, they arrived at the side of a forest where there was a small shrine with a big rock just behind it. Setsura sat on the big rock and patted the spot beside her, gesturing Rikuo to sit there as well.
Rikuo, rather tired after the run, complied and sat beside Setsura. They both sighed in relief for being able to find a spot where they could talk without disturbances.
"They are quite persistent sometimes… but I really hope they can read the mood once in a while," Setsura muttered slightly, leaning back on her hands as she looked upward at the slightly darkening sky now.
"Um…" Rikuo nodded in agreement at that. "So… what do you want to talk about, Setsura-san?" he continued, asking to the point.
Setsura chuckled slightly. "You suck at chit-chatting," she shook her head at that and Rikuo's face turned a little bit pink.
"S-sorry…, euh… by the way, don't tell me you're just want to chit-chat?" Rikuo said awkwardly, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.
"No, but I expect to have a little chat about life somehow, before I tell you the real reason why I decide to retire," Setsura closed her eyes and relaxed a bit, while Rikuo was looking at her worriedly.
"Setsura-san… about your decision to suddenly leave… that…, does that somehow have something to do with our previous conversation?" Rikuo shifted his gaze down, looking at his lap. He didn't want to think this way… that the reason of Setsura's disappearance actually had something to do with him… that he was the reason was Tsurara was motherless.
Setsura was quiet and Rikuo was dreading her answer the longer he waited. "Actually," Rikuo perked up as he heard her voice. Then he looked upward to her slowly. "It indeed has something to do with it," she confessed and Rikuo's heart sank.
"Setsura-san!" Rikuo cut before she continued again. "You don't have to care about my problem! I don't want to cause any disturbance in this time. You shouldn't have to do something like this for my sake!" he protested hard as well.
"Idiot, it isn't for you," Setsura said with a huff and a whack to Rikuo's head, earning a painful and surprised yelp from the boy who was trying to nurse his injury now, crying slightly while muttering 'You don't have to be so violent…'.
"T-then… why…?" Rikuo covered his head carefully lest she decided to hit him again.
"It's for Rihan," Setsura said slowly, softening her expression.
"Ri-… Rihan-san?" Rikuo looked at Setsura perplexedly.
"For the future… where he can live in happiness…" Setsura continued closing her eyes calmly.
"Setsura-san…?" Rikuo didn't understand.
"I made a deal with Ryuujin-sama," Setsura said suddenly, surprising Rikuo. "A hundred years ago, Ryuujin-sama offered to make me a deity so I can stay beside Him. Of course I declined the offer on the spot because I wanted to be with Nurarihyon and Nura Gumi. Ryuujin-sama warned me that I used too much of my youki for Nura Gumi and for giving birth to Yuki no Ko. And that doing all that will suck my life-energy away… and if I didn't stop that, I'd fade faster than I had to…
"Actually, the Mountain God also told me the same thing, but I didn't really care at that time because I only cared about living without regret. And my passion… my only passion that could warm the cold world I live in was… still is, having a family such as Nura Gumi." Setsura smiled nostalgically now, seeming like reminiscing her life in flash back. "But lately I realized I couldn't do that anymore. The world is changing… the existence of the youkai is getting pale in comparison of the growth of humans. Science is replacing superstition and the belief for youkai is slowly decreasing… we became weaker, that's the hard truth of this world. Back then, I could depend on the belief of humans in Yuki Onna to create winter, but with what's left with my power now… I can't even do that anymore. My life is wasting away… and yet I don't want to disappear…
"I can't disappear… because then… he will become so sad… and I don't want to make him sad… I don't want to do the same thing as that woman who left him devastated…" Setsura looked at both of her hands now with expressionless face.
"Setsura-san…" Rikuo looked at the woman sadly.
"But then you came along…" Setsura put down her hands and turned to Rikuo. "You make him smile… and the moment I see his expression when he's laughing with you, I know he'll be okay as long as you're around," she reached out to Rikuo's head and the ruffled his hair softly. "But then… unfortunately you turned out to be some time-traveler… and somehow you have to go away as well sooner or later, that… isn't acceptable. Rihan will be devastated once again if you're gone…. So… I made a deal with Ryuujin-sama. If I'm to accept His proposal to become a deity and stay beside Him, He'll let you stay in this time for the rest of your life," she continued.
Rikuo widened his eyes at that.
That was a lie… that couldn't be… because… Rikuo had decided to come back home. When he finished his mission… and was ready to go home… the portal time would open, and he would be taken back to his own time.
"But I figured, you wouldn't want that, would you?" Setsura asked as she seemed noticing the pale look on Rikuo's face.
"I… decided to go home after I finish my mission…" Rikuo mumbled slowly, suddenly feeling very bad about all of this.
Setsura smiled at that. "Ryuujin-sama told me… even though you went back to your own time, there's a big chance that Rihan and you will see each other again," she said and Rikuo paled even more hearing that.
"Eh?" Rikuo widened his eyes in disbelief. Did Ryuujin tell Setsura who Rikuo was?
"Rihan will live for a long time… and you're only 60 years apart. You won't even feel that time when you get back to the future, right? It will be slightly hard for Rihan, but as long as there's chance for meeting each other again, Rihan will be okay," Setsura said again.
That was true. But…, Rihan then would know who Rikuo was in the future… then what would become of it? Rihan would become his father… and what if Rihan couldn't fall in love with Rikuo's mother because of his hope on 'finding' Rikuo again in the future?
"Setsura-san… I-…" Rikuo couldn't say it. Setsura looked so hopeful and thought this was the best solution, but she didn't know the facts that could complicate the idea. If Rihan didn't marry Wakana, Rikuo wouldn't be born in the future. He would disappear after getting sucked by the portal. But… if he told Setsura the truth…, if she knew who Rikuo really was, what would she thought about it? Even in youkai circle, incestuous relationship was forbidden and despicable.
"Besides… when I become the deity, I'll be immortal… I can watch you guys from beside Ryuujin-sama," Setsura said with a small smile.
Rikuo instantly remembered about Youhime who had become void of emotion when she became a deity.
Setsura-san… is willing to turning into that lifeless being for this…?-The words of protest was at the tip of Rikuo's tongue and he would have denied all of those hopes if it weren't for the fact that Setsura had brought something out from her sleeve. A thing… that distracted Rikuo's attention completely.
"Here," Setsura offered a ball of sparkling crystal to Rikuo. It looked so much like diamond, but it was circular, the size of a golf ball, and it shone quite brightly from the inside.
"What… is that…?" Rikuo reached for it and took it into his own hand. He stared at it in awe, unable to take his eyes off of such beautiful thing.
"It's me… part of me, at least. I converted half of my life that I have right now, and turned it into giant Rokka (1). As long as it's not used, I'll live through that thing and it can last eternally," Setsura said.
"Eh? It's your…?" Rikuo was so surprised when he heard that. "Then… what are you doing giving it to me?" he panicked as his hand began to sweat holding such important object. What if he dropped it for god's sake!
"I want you to keep it for me," Setsura said.
"Why?" Rikuo dropped his jaw now, getting even more shocked.
"The half of me right now will also turn into something else. This physical container will disperse and become one with the snow in winter, and the other half of my life which is still here will fuse with the object of Ryuujin-sama's choice. The source of the energy will be different with the one in your hand, and there will be a slight change in my personality depending on how much influence Ryuujin-sama will give me during the transformation. I don't want to lose the 'me' right now, so keep that. Because that is me in another form," Setsura explained.
"Ugh… Setsura-san… it's too difficult for my head to comprehend…" Rikuo was totally confused now. He had lost the understanding of her explanation somewhere after 'the source of the energy that was different', but he wasn't even sure about 'the converting life-thingy'.
Setsura sighed. "I was the one at fault for thinking you can understand this…" Setsura's sweat dropped seeing Rikuo's eyes which had turned into spiral in dizziness. "In simple way, I store my power in that crystal to survive… so I won't change into completely different being when I turn into deity later," she cleared that up and Rikuo understood that.
"Oh… so you will turn into deity then?" Rikuo asked again, getting somber once more and Setsura nodded. "So… you will stay beside Ryuujin-sama as His… what? Attendant?" he continued.
Setsura looked aside, flushing slightly with a bead of sweat prickling out her cheek.
What's with that reaction?-Rikuo wanted to ask, but Setsura coughed slightly and cleared her throat before saying,
"He just wants a 'friend'." Setsura didn't look convincing when she said that, more like… she seemed trying to convince herself. And for some reasons, Rikuo could see the apostrophes on the word friend.
Rikuo was silent for a moment, putting two and two together and his face flushed furiously as well in embarrassment and anger. That perverted deity!
"Why are you blushing?" Setsura asked, looking indignant as if she could read what Rikuo was thinking. But that was stupid because if she could, she wouldn't ask why he was blushing in the first place.
"It's nothing!" Rikuo quickly replied, still flushing and sweating trying to control the inappropriate mental images that had invaded his head.
Rikuo quickly shook his head to clear his mind then, while distracting himself (and Setsura so she wouldn't ask more about what he was thinking) by asking another question. "But… Setsura-san, you're really okay doing this? I meant… even if you don't so this, I can still go back to my own time after I finish my miss-!"
Rikuo gasped and widened his eyes when a realization suddenly hit him in the face.
Ryuujin's… beloved one...-Rikuo then stared at Setsura disbelievingly.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!" and Rikuo couldn't help shouting in shock as the idea clicked in his head.
"Wha-! What? What happened, Rikuo?" Setsura looked very surprised as Rikuo yelped so suddenly.
"I got it… my mission… is finally done!" Rikuo couldn't believe it that he freaked out.
"Huh?" Setsura looked at Rikuo ridiculously now.
"My mission… is to get you agree to be THAT PERVERTED deity's… and the one the future PERVERT wants is actually…!" Rikuo looked at the crystal in his hand which was trembling because of the rage.
THAT BASTARD!-Rikuo almost could see Ryuujin's manipulative and cunning face laughing at him from His throne for falling to His trick, and Rikuo vowed that he was so going to kick that deity at least once before he could be exterminated by Him for being so disrespectful to the strongest deity in Japan.
Anyway, what in the world was that deity was thinking? Using time-travel and another person (to boot) to look for a wife was out of line even for the Great Dragon of Fujiyama, damn it!
Wait, Ryuujin was a deity and Rikuo certainly didn't know how a deity's mind worked! But still… turning his life upside down for something like this…! As Rikuo thought… he DETESTED Ryuujin!
"Rikuo…?" Setsura looked at Rikuo with slightly concerned look.
"Setsura-san… you shouldn't spoil Ryuujin-sama too much… He's despicable…!" Rikuo's eyes were still blazing with fury and the youki was starting to pouring out of his body as he could feel the slow transformation of his human self into his youkai self.
Yoru was as angry as Rikuo, probably more and he didn't hold back in showing his distaste by cracking the rock where he sat despite the surprise look in Setsura's face as she witnessed the change.
"Wow… you really change into youkai at night," Setsura was somewhat impressed. "And so similar to my Supreme Commander when he's young too…" and there was that love-love eyes she usually reserved for Nurarihyon back then, when the grandpa was still single.
Yoru's sweat dropped as he saw Setsura's expression. "I'm not Jiji (2), you know," he said, slightly calmer now after taking out his contempt to Ryuujin to the rock under him.
"That's fine… but you are really like Nurarihyon… it's as if I was staring at his descendant somehow," Setsura laughed at that and Yoru's heart almost leaped to his throat. Despite telling Rikuo that he wasn't worried about being found out as Rihan's son, apparently, he shared Rikuo's feeling about not liking suspense.
"Stop saying that, you're making me sick, comparing me to that wrinkled old man," Yoru sulked, his heart still beating really hard.
Setsura laughed again, harder this time. "Oh jeez… you're so different from Rikuo… it's quite funny to think that you guys are the same person."
"Shut up. We are different personalities in one body," Yoru said, correcting her.
Setsura was still laughing and chuckling for a moment or two before she calmed down once again and sighed slightly. "That was wonderful…" she chuckled once again for a good measure.
"Hey, Setsura… you will really give this crystal to me?" Yoru asked, making sure if she was serious while bringing the shining crystal on his hand upward to look it under the moonlight. It sparkled even more and it was very pretty indeed. No wonder humans fell in love with this thing. The one who took the other part in the future might have seen this and was drawn by it.
"Yeah. Take good care of it… and Rihan… and my child too even though you suck at babysitting," Setsura said again with a snicker for her last comment.
Yoru flushed slightly, bringing the crystal down and kept it safely in his sleeve. "Noisy," he huffed and couldn't help smiling small as well when he saw the soft happy smile in Setsura's look as she took his hand on hers.
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
For me… there's only one answer
I only want to protect you…
…till the end of time…***
0oo-Rihan x Rikuo-oo0
Rihan looked at Setsura, still with a sulky frown on his face when she was ready to go.
Setsura smiled at Rihan… or smirked, actually, with a mischievousness twinkling in her eyes. "What's with that expression? Can't you at least smile while escorting me?" she asked in amusement.
"I still don't get the idea why you need to leave. No one cares if you look old," Rihan pouted.
A vein popped out Setsura's head as she deliberately stepped on Rihan's foot for mentioning the taboo again in front of her. Rihan of course yelped painfully at that and the others' (including Rikuo) sweat dropped at the ridiculous scene in front of them.
They probably knew though, it was just Rihan didn't seem good with parting and she didn't want this parting to be sad for the man that she had raised since a baby.
"Rihan-san never learns…" Rikuo said, sighing in exasperation before Setsura also turned to him and hugged him. "Eh?" the chocolate haired boy seemed surprised.
"Good luck," Setsura whispered and ruffled Rikuo's hair before she turned back to Rihan and hugged him as well. "Be happy with the little one, Rihan," she whispered to Rihan and the Hanyo blushed slightly at that.
"W-what are you saying?" Rihan seemed embarrassed, but he looked cute like that.
Setsura grinned. "Where's the Supreme Commander?" she looked around, but she couldn't find the small grandpa.
"In here," Nurarihyon's voice from the Ghost Carriage surprised Setsura a little, but she turned to him anyway and she smiled happily.
"Going to escort me to the mountain, Nurarihyon-sama?" Setsura teased slightly in amusement again. What more fitting way to go than being escorted by your first love?
"Yes," Nurarihyon said seriously and Setsura blushed faintly as she saw the intense gaze he gave her. She went quiet for a moment, feeling nervous now and her heart beat quickened all of a sudden.
"Jeez… you have never failed to surprise me…" Setsura whispered as she walked to the carriage and went inside.
"Sayonara, Setsura-neesaaaaaan!"
"Take caaaaaare!"
"Don't worry about us and Tsurara-chan! We'll raise her to be the best Yuki Onna ever!"
"Be happy there till the eeeeeend!"
"Nee-saaaaan!"
"Setsura-saaaaaaan!"
"Setsuraaaaa! Don't forget us! We will never forget you as well!"
Shout after shout came and all the guys and girls yelled their goodbyes in unison. So when Setsura looked back slightly, a tear had to escape from her beautiful reddish amber eyes falling down to the ground and turning into crystal diamonds.
"You bastards…!" Setsura wanted to smile… she wanted to go with a smile, but everyone's feelings were flowing inside her, how she was loved in that family, how they would miss her after this, how they were grateful for her being in their family and now she couldn't smile anymore because it was so warm… and painful to actually letting it go, it was hard for her to go and to leave them behind.
Setsura was sobbing when the carriage brought her away from her home all this time and Nurarihyon was there beside her, not saying anything and letting her cry her heart out…
End of Chapter 28
Tbc…
Additional Notes:
*Taken directly from the lyric of a song titled 'Cape of Storm' sung by Hyde
**Taken from the English translation of Japanese song 'Hajimaru no wa, Sayonara' (Beelzebub anime 2nd Op song), sung by ON/OFF
***Taken from the English translation of Japanese song 'Answer' (Beelzebub anime 1st Ed song), sung by No Sleeves
1)Rokka: snow crystal
2)Jiji: the informal way of calling grandpa, granddad, grandfather
A/N: Oh maaaan! This is almost done! XD One or two more chapters to go! XDDD Yes, yes, I know, it's somehow anticlimactic, but I still have something under my sleeves, everyone! Just wait for the next chapter! So… what do you think of this? I hope you can enjoy this chapter as well~! Saa, review, everyone! Give me more fuels to hurry and write the next chapter! XDDD
Next: Chapter 29
Previous: Chapter 27