Sorry, I need to re-post my work. don't know why it suddenly went out of the list. :(

PARANORMAL

By Treasure

06052011

Rikuo followed what Tsurara was looking at out in the school grounds during their physical education class. She was supposed to keep an eye on him being one of his bodyguards, but ye, she was looking at something else.

It seems that the ice maiden was keen on observing Shima and Kiyotsugu. Rikuo could see how Tsurara's eyebrows move up and down as the two boys exchange words while Kiyo would laugh once in a while and Shima would only sag his shoulders.

Rikuo could also see that Tsurara would smile a bit and lower her head to hide her excitement, and at that moment she looked his way and that smile vanished in her lips and she just bow her head apologizing for having smiled at what he knows nothing of. "Maybe Yuki-onna is having a crush on Kiyotsugu, she look excited on every word he says." His conclusion of what he had observed.

It had been two months since their first year at senior high but the Kiyo Cross Squad had always been active since it was established by Kiyotsugu about two years ago, it had been their link even the likes of Maki and Torii had been transferred to another section. Kurata and Oikawa were transferred to Rikuo's class to Shima's delight.

One afternoon, a week later, Rikuo noticed that the ice maiden was not with Aotobo (Kurata) waiting for him at the tool shed, their meeting place after school since the young master always help with the other students clean the rooms and school grounds and throw the trash at the main depository.

'Where's Tsurara?' asked the young master as the ice maiden was not in sight.

'She said she'll drop by the library before it closes. Here she comes.' Aotobo pointed to the girl approaching them.

'Hello master.'

'Were you able to borrow the book you wanted from the library?'

'Yes master.' Her short answer.

'I'll just push these trash bins on the far end and we'll be off.'

'Let me help you with that Waka!' Aotobo carried three of the seven trash bins in one haul. Being a huge guy is a big help with these activities.

'What book did you borrow from the library Yuki-onna?' Rikuo asked as they walk towards the metro rail station.

'Ano . . . I borrowed a paranormal book.' She shyly told the young master.

'Whoha, are you as addicted as Kiyo about other entities besides human that inhabit earth?'

'Not really, Rikuo-sama, but it won't hurt if I could learn other things humans have researched about us yokai. At least I won't be so clueless what Kiyo is discussing during the paranormal meeting.' She lowered her head at the last words, afraid she might offend the young master with her statement.

'You really are enjoying the group's activity aren't you?' (Is that admiration for Kiyo turning to affection?)

'Hai! Even that trip to Mt. Nerijime did scare me a bit at the beginning.' She's smiling to herself.

'I've heard Kiyo was planning to go on a yokai hunt again two weeks from now, would you be coming?' Aotobo told the other two.

'Yes!' The ice maiden answered without hesitation. Then she remembered that she is still accountable to her master.

'I'm sorry master, I got carried away.' She felt that she would like to vanish into thin air t that very moment.

'Come to think of it, it was really fun going out of town except when Kiyo would search for yokai in the dead of night.' Rikuo aired what annoys him with their activity because this endangered not only Kiyo but the others as well.

'But who would look for yokai at daylight, master?' Yuki-onna defended Kiyo.

Rikuo felt annoyed not with the statement but for the fact that she was defending the reckless actions of Kiyo. He decided to brush it off. 'Here's your train ticket.'

~~~~ o ~~~~

The paranormal group destination this time was an old temple near Mt. Fujiwara.

When they boarded the train, the ice maiden did not hustle to be seated next to Rikuo, instead she chose the seat fronting Kana, Rikou and Kiyo. (Yuki-onna really wanted to look at Kiyo face to face so she chose a seat fronting him instead of seating beside me.)

Yura and Shima was seated in the next isle and he was inviting the ice maiden to sit beside him because it was vacant but she declined.

They still played the yokai card game, but when they got bored, Tsurara got the book about paranormal and Kiyo almost jumped beside her and told Torii to exchange places with him so he could see what Tsurara was reading. (Now I get it, she borrowed that book from the library so she could use it at the moment like this to get Kiyo's attention, hmph!) There was a smirk in the young master's face.

Kiyo talked non-stop, while the others try to get a nap, and Kana happily put her head on Rikuo's shoulder. (Waka looks happy with Kana's head was on his shoulder, I should have stayed beside him but if I did I won't be able to see an attack from behind not that I expect one on this peaceful trip.) Tsurara was able to learn a few things from Kiyo's non-stop blabbering, now she won't be clueless at those meetings.

Kiyo's laughter intrigued Rikuo that he move Kana's head to the other side and asked Maki to change seat with him sandwiching Tsurara in the next seat pulling the paranormal book towards him. 'Let me see that!'

'Kiyo was telling me that he read somewhere that the bird clan "Zen-Ippa" are doctors of the yokai!' The ice maiden explained to her master part of Kiyo's blabbering. (As if we don't know!)' Tsurara was surprised to hear annoyance form the master. 'Here, Rikuo look at this picture, some relics of the Zen clan were feathers with unknown chemicals, said to be used to cure or kill other yokai!" Kiyo proudly informed the Third Heir.

'It looked a thousand year old feather of some ordinary bird.' Rikuo tried to slow down Kiyo's excitement.

'But they were collected on a yokai infested area at that time.'

'Still, if it was in the forest, it could be from a bird that had not escaped its hunter.'

Kiyo would have protested but the warning whistle has been blown, informing everyone that the next station is on sight and they should prepare to disembark.

'Oikawa-san, let me help you with your backpack.' Shima offered.

'Thank you, but it's alright.' She politely declined.

(Is it what I think it is? A love triangle? I need to do something about this or someone will be emotionally hurt before this trip is over.) Rikuo told himself. He moved quickly, grabbed Tsurara's backpack and carried it on his other shoulder. 'Go follow the girls!' He told her so she won't ask question about the backpack, but two other person have two different statements for his action, the first one, from another boy – Awkk, he beat me to it again. The second, from a girl – why is he so attentive to her? Both their faces show amazement.