Tsurara didn't know what else to do.

Rikuo-sama was being cold with her, and not the nice kind.

Ever since the chair incident at school he had been distant and whenever she tried to bring the subject out or whatever other type of topic, he just went away giving petty excuses, he had a meeting with his grandfather! With the Nura clan! Help his mother! Do homework! Things like that. It had been two weeks and she hated it

Stupid, stupid Tsurara, stupid, stupid, STUPID

She should've never said anything, but how was she going to know it would cost her the precious relationship she had with her master?

"Ne, Tsurara-chan, is everything alright?" Wakana asked, ever oblivious "I haven't seen you with Rikuo lately, what did my silly son do now?"

"U-uh… Actually…" what was she going to do? Lie? Tell her that her son was an absolute idiot? Tell her that she was an absolute idiot? At first she went for the lying but, Rikuo-sama was her son, she should know him better than anyone, right? "…Has Rikuo-sama mentioned me lately…?"

"No, not really" answered the brunette thoughtfully, the answer was a little more hurtful than she thought it would be "But then again he has been very distant from everyone these last couple of weeks…"

Tsurara felt her heart flutter in hope… And then realized she was being a piece of selfish ass and proceeded to apologize as many times as she could for Wakana's confusion

What if he's sick?

She thought, getting worried

What if there's some evil ayakashi who is threatening him to do something horrible and he cannot tell anyone?!

She laughed out loud, even if there was an ayakashi doing that, Rikuo-sama would just cut him to pieces and dance over his body, there was no one stronger than him after all, every ayakashi who tried to hurt him, or worse, tried to hurt his loved ones, was in serious trouble. She breathed deep, and felt better after brushing that idea off but the question was still in the air

What was wrong with him?

Everything was wrong with him, he was an IDIOT.

We agree on something…

Shut up Yoru!

The third commander had been a mess for two entire weeks now, and the worst of all is that everyone was starting to notice that, especially Tsurara

Tsurara…

Just let me go out and do the job for you geez….

NO! YOU'LL DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT HORRIBLE NIGHT WHEN YOU FLIRTED WITH EVERYBODY AND I HAD TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCES!

I was drunk for Kami's sake…

Don't care, you are not coming out until I talk to her or until a demon attacks

Abe no seimei will be reborn before you talk to her

The mumbling voice in his head was right but he kept right to his word, he was the one who almost kissed Tsurara, he would fix it

If only his stomach didn't do the thing every time he looked at her now, actually, it always did, but he was just noticing it, what a pro

Just think she was the one who said…

I was the one who tried to kiss her shut up!

Ugh, humans

He rolled his eyes, but he was right: he had to talk to her, explain her that…

What? It wasn't your intention?

Dammit

He was so concentrated on his inner turmoil that didn't realize to who he was walking to until he bumped into her

"I'm so sorry I wasn't…" he looked up and his face went red while his stomach just decided to go hiking

"Oh, Rikuo-sama! I am sorry! I was just thinking about… I-I mean! I should have looked where I was going, are you alright?" she asked, her worried eyes were really pretty, like molten gold, and her hair looked so soft, the past two weeks he imagined what it would be like to just grab it, pull it back and ki… "Rikuo-sama…?"

"WHAT… Oh my god sorry, what were you saying?" the yuki onna took this as a chance, he brought his guard down after all and she would freeze hell over before she let it go up again

"I was just wondering if you were alright… Have I done something wrong?" she was afraid of the answer, what if she pushed him too hard? What if everything was just a mistake?

Looking at her, with those sad and guilty puppy eyes made him feel like trash, he had been evading her without realizing that eventually she would blame herself, she always did

Idiot

He agreed with his inner demon for once

"No! You… you would never… I… I was the one who… um…" he was panicking now, perfect. The girl was now more curios than afraid so, as always, she waited patiently for him to get out of his stupidity "…Tsurara" he finally said, calming himself as better as he could

"Yes Rikuo-sama…?" she said in almost a whisper, full of hope. He was talking to her again, everything was getting back to normal, everything would be alright and even if he didn't want her that way she would be fine with it, as long as she could be by his side

"We should…?"

Oh my god

"RIKUOOOOO" Of course Zen had to appear out of nowhere, followed by Shoei, Kubinashi, Abotabou, Kurotabou and Kappa

"Zen-san! Guys! What…What are you doing here?" the third heir said, with a smile a little too forceful noticed only by Shoei

"We've been thinking and…" Zen started

"Your human self is also of age, Rikuo-sama!" said Kubinashi, he seemed way to cheerful for his usual calm self, this wasn't good

"So we were thinking about getting you out for a party and girls!" roared Aboutabou, without being able to hide his absolute pride

"What" the Yuki Onna hissed, bringing all the attention of the male ayakashi to her.

Apparently they hadn't see her

"…Hello nee-sama!" luckily for sweet innocent Shoei, Tsurara nee-sama loved him very dearly, so he was out of her murder list. The other guys though…

"See ya!" they all exclaimed, while Aotabou took the third heir for hostage before disappearing as fast as they could, ignoring their master's protest. If they were all going to die, at least they would party.

Shoei was the last one to leave, saying goodbye to the snow woman apologizing all the times he could before he had to part, and leaving her planning bloody freezing murder as she watched them leave.

"Disappointed much?" someone snickered; she glared at the form in the sakura tree, Rikuo-sama's sakura tree

"Get down off there, Gozumaru" she said, still glaring

"Take me down if you can" he mocked, his arms supporting his head in the branch looking at her sideways.

"Damn straight I can…!" she was ready to send a full time blizzard to him, but he came down in one jump, landing in front of her almost glaring. What is it with him?! He's the one teasing I should be the one mad!

"Oi, don't take it on me if your precious Rikuo-sama doesn't find you useful anymore" he said. And with that, he finally broke her.

"…You're right, I'm sorry" she mumbled, lowering her head and taking him by surprise, he was expecting an insult, a punch, a raging storm over his head, anything, NOT THAT

The worst came when he realized behind her bangs she was crying, she could've gotten away with it, if the tears weren't frozen and falling heavily to the ground.

Oh my Gyuuki, Rikuo-sama is gonna kill me, everyone is gonna kill me, I wanna kill me what have I done. He thought horrified; it wasn't supposed to go like that! Come on! He had said worst things to her, she was supposed to punch him make a cute pout and then leave indignantly! Maybe those two were really angry at each other? Even if he enjoyed watching from a distance (Because it was as close as he was going to get to her, and he knew it) he didn't thought it was that bad, they hadn't talked much and all but still…

Yuki onna's whimpers brought him back to reality

"Oi, oi, OI! It was a joke, okay!? Stop it, stop crying!" the blue eyed demanded, it was in vain though

"I-I'm not crying!"

"Yes, you are!"

"UGH!" she stormed off leaving a freezing trail behind her, probably headed to her room. For a moment Gozumaru was just going to brush it off, it was none of his business, he didn't care, why should he? She was annoying… And he made her cry.

Gyuuki-sama wouldn't be happy if he heard he was messing around with the precious Nura subordinates though, he thought, as he followed the freezing path and convinced himself he was only doing it for his master's peace.

I'm gonna kill them

No, you won't

You're right; I'm just going to leave their asses in the deepest and creepiest Toono hell hole that I can find

Human Rikuo could agree to that one, the one where he killed his friends sounded good too, but kind of… unfixable

"How about that one!?" asked Zen

"That one looks interested in you, Rikuo-sama" noticed Kappa

"No, she wants to eat him his in his human form, you should probably change yourself master" sighed Kurotabou

Yes, you should

No way in hell

Boring

Shoei was the only one who looked not as cheerful as the others, even more, he looked concerned for him, and the brunet was thankful for that, he was even more when the giant kid said:

"We… um… We should drink some; maybe…uh… maybe Rikuo-sama will change with the sake!" the rest of the ayakashi roared in agreement with that, and asked for more bottles of sake that he could count, bringing a sweat drop to Rikuo's head

Don't drink

I know!

By midnight they were drunker than he had ever seen them, come to think of it, he never had gone out with them in all these years, even if there were always plenty of parties in the Nura house to go around.

"Kejoro…" whimpered Kubinashi, almost in the point of passing out with his head on the table. Kuro and Ao where fighting for girls somewhere in the bar, Kappa was with his headphones on, probably without even drinking a drop with Zen by his side snoring unceremoniously. And Shoei, he was just drinking as calmly as if it was his first cup (Which he knew it wasn't)

"You should go with onee-sama" he said, Rikuo looked at him alarmingly and the demon boy tilted his head in confusion "Did something happened?"

"I…uh…well…she…" This was Shoei he was talking to, GOD if he couldn't help him no one could "I almost kissed her" he said a little bit too fast, his face turning red. Zen and Kappa miraculously paying attention by his side

"ABOUT TIME YOU DUMBASS!" the poison demon yelled, followed by a coughing attack

"Zen-san! What did I told you about overreacting?!" scolded the brunet, jumping the table to get as fast as he could to Zen and at least hold him

"I'm…not…UGH… overreacting" he glared and with a last cough he squinted at Rikuo "And what do you mean by almost?"

Shoei and Kappa were with his heads so close to the two of them that they looked like a fort. Rikuo wanted to die

"Well I shouldn't…"

"SPILL THE BEANS RIKUO" Zen growled, a little too high for the third's liking, and just for the sake of the whole bar not finding out he talked

"Well… Tsurara helped me fix some chairs in the gym…and they fell on top of me…and I…" he looked at his little crowd, they were even more energetic than usual geez"…on top of her" their eyes opened wide. He felt that thing again in his stomach, just remembering it made him uneasy, what worried him the most, was his blood boiling, that was what gave Yoru free passing every time… and he didn't want that, it wasn't fair, he wanted Tsurara to know how he felt about her now, and even if his demon-self also felt it… It just seemed to him that the human side needed to leave things clear; he didn't want Tsurara thinking his perverted-self wanted her for the wrong reasons

What is that supposed to mean?

"So?! What happened!? Why didn't you kiss her? Did you chicken up you pathetic demon lord?" Zen inquired, growing more annoyed by every second that passed and the idiot of a master he had said nothing

"…Ao came in the gym screaming I don't remember what about my fear and we coul… ZEN SAN?!" Rikuo screamed in horror as his sworn brother was hold back by the other two screaming bloody murder

"THAT IDIOT! DOESN'T HE KNOW HOW TO READ THE MOOD!?"

"He was worried about me! Shhhh! Zen-san! You are going to get bad again!" he almost pleaded, Zen glared at him

"Yuki onna has been a little off lately"

Oh sweet karma…

You shouldn't be happy! It's both of us he's mad at!

Don't even think about it I would have fixed this mess the very same day that it happened

He had to give him that

"Is it because of you?" Zen hissed

"…I don't know…?" he thought it was the safest answer

It was not

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW YOU ALMOST KISS HER AND YOU HAVEN'T ASKED HER?!...WAIT. Have you even talked to her?" Zen was scary when he was angry

"Uhh…"

"GET YOUR ASS OUT OF HERE!" he roared, while Kappa and Shoei watched him pitifully from a distance wishing him good luck

"Y-yes!" so much for a supreme commander of one hundred demons

Good, finally, don't be a coward and just tell her you love her okay? It will be fine

Are you nervous?

Are you an idiot of course not, it's Tsurara after all

You are me, Yoru, I know you are nervous

Shut up, just don't ruin it or I will take care of it, we can't leave her hanging like that anymore

I know…

Good

He was scolding himself now, perfect.

By the time he got to the Nura house everything was dark… especially certain moving shadow that went for the exit

"Grandpa! Stop sneaking to our neighbors houses!" the third admonished, seriously, as if he didn't have stuff to deal with already

"Leave me alone, Rikuo!" Nurarihyon complained, disappearing completely to his grandson annoyance

Just leave him be, we have more important things to do that being his nanny

Rikuo just rolled his eyes and went directly to Tsurara's room, he completely froze when he felt someone else in there, and it wasn't exactly Kejoro

Let me out

His blood was boiling, and he couldn't control it… not even if he wanted to

Let me out

It would be the easiest way to just…

"Oi, useless lord commander, I know you are there, you should probably come in and stop stalking" to this day Rikuo didn't know how he managed to keep his demon blood in check while opening the door and seeing Gozumaru holding a sleeping Yuki Onna in his arms

"What are you doing here" hissed the brunet, the scorpion demon almost ran as far away as he could, feeling the third's fear all around almost choking him And he's just in his human form he realized to his dismay.

"She…was crying… and I just came to see what was wrong… And she fell sleep and I don't want to wake her up okay!?" Rikuo knew something didn't really fit in there, starting for the fact that Gozumaru lived for the sake of teasing Yuki Onna, but Tsurara had been crying, obviously because of him, and that's what mattered now, so he just glared at him with the clear intention of not wanting to see his face again for as long as it was possible and took Tsurara from his arms being extremely careful in not wake her up.

Before going out, Gozu gave the girl and the commander one last look with any hopes he had of the Nura not being interested in her completely crushed, it was obvious just looking at him… but it still hurt… a little WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT GOZUMARU

Rikuo was still glaring at the door long time after Gozumaru left until he felt Tsurara shift in his arms. He looked at her expectantly but she was still sleep, he didn't know if this or her awakening was worse.

"Rikuo-sama…" she whispered after a while opening her eyes a little, without really seeing him, but it smelled like him and it also felt like him…she was surely dreaming

"I'm here Tsurara…" he said, not being able to stop himself from stroking her cheek, it was freezing and that was kind of calming especially when his inner demon would take over in any moment now

"Mhmm…?" the demon ice mumbled, now fully awake seeing him "OH MY GOD! R-rikuo -sama!? What are you doing here!? Where's Gozumaru!?"

Rikuo snapped his tongue making her gulp

"What was he doing here?" the chilly tone he used took her by surprise

"…Huh? Well, he was… uh… W-we were talking…!" what would she think of him?! She didn't feel anything for Gozumaru! And the idiot made very clear he despised her, he just wanted to make sure she was alright so no harm would fall into the Gyuuki clan, after that she was just too emotional and talked about everything that happened with Rikuo-sama for some reason… until she probably fell sleep, because she didn't remember anymore. But why did she have to mention that Gozumaru was there!?

"He was here…Holding you" he said quietly, he was almost scared of the anger he was feeling, sure he had felt it before in the heat of battle, especially when Tsuchigumo took Tsurara and left everyone for dead, but not for something so petty as to find his guardian in somebody else's arms.

His hold of her went tighter

"…H-he was!?" she exclaimed horrified

"Yeah, you just talked?"

"Of course! Of course! He just came in and I was crying and…!" she spoke too much Stupid, Tsurara, stupid!

"Why were you crying?" the third asked, his anger replaced by guilt

I told you

I know!

"…I… I… I'm sorry Rikuo-sama" Tsurara whispered, freeing herself from his embrace looking to the floor as respectfully as she could, taking him by surprise. What was it with the sudden politeness? "I shouldn't have said that, it's obvious that it made you uncomfortable and…and… It doesn't really matter, I will be happy just to be by your side forever so please…please... please don't…"

That was it, he closed the space between them in a second, hovering over her with one hand over her jaw and cheek to tilt her head in his direction and the other one next to where she was sitting to keep himself steady. At first she didn't know what to do taken aback by the surprise, until he bit gently her lower lip and with a little moan she kissed him back, putting her arms around his neck and pulling him as close as it was possible, but his skin was on fire and, unconsciously, she let out some of her coolness to keep herself from getting dizzy, he shuddered and she pulled back mortified

"I'm so sorry I shouldn't have…" she started to apologize, mortified but her master gave her a simple kiss to calm her leaving his front head pressing hers

"It's okay… I like it" he reassured her softly, the blushing yuki onna looked at his eyes and even if they still were of that beautiful chocolate brown his human-self had, she could swear they were tinted red and full of something she couldn't place… but damn it was hot "I love you, Tsurara… " her heart stopped, she couldn't stop looking at him, her breathing erratic and her mouth hanging from her jaw "I'm sorry I made you cry…" he apologized, kissing her again, a simple sweet kiss before talking again "I was so nervous… You are kind of intimidating" he said, giving her that teasing, beautiful, crooked smile that would be normally seen in his demon form. He was in between his transformation, Tsurara noted, as she saw part of the top of his head now white without whipping completely the light brown off "But I got myself together… And I love you, I know that much"

It was her turn for kissing him, and contrary to the soft sweet kiss he had given her, the snow woman's kiss was demanding and it took no prisoners as her cool breath invaded him everywhere, he chuckled at this, especially when she sat herself in his lap to get more access to him. Their eyes closed with their other senses coming to the fullest, their breathings erratic, Tsurara's hums and soft moans driving him insane and the frosty air that emanated from her sending delicious chills up and down his spine.

"Say it again, waka" she demanded, her lips teasing his and her hands in his hair

"The what…?" he couldn't even think straight to breath properly how did she expected him to accomplish any other task

"That you love me" the third smiled and gave her another butterfly kiss

"I love you, Tsurara…"

Yooooo! So, yeah, I needed to get it out from my system, seriously who leaves a finale like that for Gods sake! Not sure if I should keep writing episodes, like little one shots with the important parts that follow? Just tell me what you think in the reviews!

Thank you for reading!

Nurarihyon no mago © Hiroshii Shiibashi