A/N: I'm so sorry for taking a long time to update again. The date for my examination is drawing nearer and nearer, and I am freaking out.

*Put the subject of my study aside* Well, it's refreshing to know that I've finished chapter 10! Now I want nothing more than throwing a party ^_^ This chapter is the longest one by far, and I'm giving myself a reward right now (with a cup of chocolate :D)

It is also sad to think that this is the last chapter, I had fun writing and posting, thanks to all my readers. :) And for those who was, is reading my story(s), thank you so much! I appreciate it. Love you all 3!

Hope you enjoy this chapter too!

Disclaimer: Nurarihyon no Mago does not belong to me.

Chapter 10

Stay... or return? For a long time, that question kept repeating in her head. She did not know what to choose. Which way was the solution to her love? Which way would get her out of this heartache?

Deep in those red eyes, she thought she saw the light of love. But he hadn't said anything. She didn't want to hope, didn't want to dream anymore. When she woke up and discovered it was all an illusion, pain would tear up her heart.

But her inside was in conflict, because she wanted to live that reverie again. That was all she'd done for the past few years, and even though it hurt sometimes, weren't those days with the Nura Clan the happiest moments in her life?

Now, at this moment, she noticed how much she had changed. Three years ago, she would have held tightly on the idea that one day Rikuo would look at her more than a servant. She would've laughed at herself if she'd ever thought about leaving him. But at this moment, she even doubted if going back was a good idea, even after he had come for her.

Fool

What the hell was she doing? Where was the fearless girl that did not hesitate to show her undying love and loyalty?

Looking at his face, she smiled. She knew the answer. She didn't know whether she would still get hurt in the future, but she knew that she would be more regretted if she let him go back alone. Her position in his heart should be more than a servant's, the proof was his being in front of her.

"Rikuo-sama?" She whispered to him gently. "I'll..."

"I don't allow it."

Tsurara did not notice the familiar youki drawing near, or the sound of her mother's footsteps heading towards her room until it was too late. Standing at the shoji door, Setsura glared at the Sandaime of the Nura Clan.

"I let you to be in this house for the past nights because I think you would make her happier. But I won't allow you to just walk in and take her back to the place that she felt upset enough to leave."

"Okaa-san!" Standing between her mother and her master, Tsurara exclaimed. "It's my decision, I want to..."

"Are you sure it's what you want? Are you sure you won't get hurt in the end?" The questioning tone echoed throughout the small room, evoking an uncomfortable silence. Setsura had easily unveiled the doubt in her daughter's heart, successfully putting the younger Yuki Onna in speechless state.

"I... I..."

"You don't know. If you're not even certain what future your decision will bring, how can I allow you to return with this man?" Said Setsura, who continued to glare at Rikuo. "And he should not make you decide when he was the one who made you leave."

"Okaa-san!"

"It's the end of this. You should go." The latter statement was directed to the Sandaime of Nurakimi.

The ruby orbs held the older Yuki Onna's stare without faltering for a moment. There was not a hint of giving up, instead the determination seemed to get stronger. They continued to fight with their eyes until the smirk cracked up on the young Head's lips.

"Setsura-san, even if you said so, it won't change the fact that I will take Tsurara with me."

"Nani! You..." Setsura was one step away from freezing the man before her to death, despite him being more powerful than her. However, he still kept his smirk as he looked calmly at the angry woman he'd just provoked.

Seeing how the situation was getting worse, the young Snow Maiden looked worriedly between both of them. One was her own mother, one was her beloved master. Whose side should she be?

As if knowing her anxiety, Rikuo turned his head in her direction. His smirk was replaced, and she had to convince herself that she didn't imagine, because he was smiling gently at her, which was a weird thing when he was in this form.

"Tsurara, it's okay." His tone effectively chased her worry away. "This is Tsurara's choice, if she chooses to stay, I won't stop her. However, if she wants to return with me, I won't let anyone stop me from bringing her back."

"Setsura-san, please calm down and listen to what she wants to say." Now he returned his eyes to the older Yuki Onna. His eyes shone, making Setsura stunned from the seriousness in them. Maybe... He too...

Hesitantly, Setsura nodded, then looked at her daughter, who seemed to be at difficulty to find something to say. Finally, after Tsurara had gathered a long breath, she lifted her head and stared in to her mother's eyes.

"Okaa-san, I will return. I have made a promise to protect him before, and I almost broke it. Now, I want to continue to keep my promise with Rikuo-sama."

"Just because of a promise? Your feeling does not matter?" Right after the question was asked, Tsurara dismissed it by a gentle shake of her head.

"I still value my own feelings, okaa-san. But returning does not mean I abandon them. If I stay here and do nothing, I'm sure I'll regret it in the end. I don't want to give up that easily. I want to do what my heart tells me to do, just like you always tell me."

"Just like what Tsurara said, do you have anything to oppose, Setsura-san? She wants to return on her own will." Both of the Snow Maidens could hear the smugness in his voice. When Setsura's anger once again arose, muscular arms were curled around the younger Yuki Onna's waist, quickly adding oil to the fire.

The sudden feeling of a solid chest against her back flushed Tsurara's cheeks with clouds of pink. She knew she should escape from his hold because they were standing right in front of her mother, but the warmth around her made her forget. She sure had failed as a Yuki Onna, for she always craved for this warmth, this feeling of heart beating uncontrollably inside her ribcage. She was a cold creature, why did she keep wanting for this? She had asked herself that question a thousand times, but there was no answer, only the sense of rightness coming from her supposed frozen heart. And now, she dismissed all of it, because she'd learned something else. It did not matter anymore, she existed because of him. It was always him.

Facing the blizzard coming from her mother, Tsurara swallowed hard before opening her lips to speak again, "Please allow me to return, okaa-san."

On Setsura's part, it seemed that the older Yuki Onna was having difficulty not to drop the temperature and freeze a certain someone to a block of ice. However, the rational part inside of her still remained as she looked at her daughter's expression.

Determined. There was determination emitting from her, her gaze never quivering as she stared straight at her mother.

Closing her eyes, Setsura was silent for a moment. Her eyebrows knitted together as she seriously thought over what her daughter'd just said.

Tsurara was sure to be nervous as hell, but the tightening of someone else' arms told her to relax. She believed it when he said there was nothing stopping him from taking her away. However, she wanted the encouragement from her own mother.

Finally, when the older woman had opened her eyes once again, she immediately turned and left the room.

"Okaa-san!" Tsurara yelled after her mother's back. She made a point of struggling from her master's embrace, but he still kept a firm hold around her.

The older Yuki Onna stopped after she reached the door, but only to close it behind her. Utter sense of defeat flooded in the young Snow Maiden's heart as she acknowledged the fact that her mother did not approve with her choice. However, before the sliding door was completely closed, the voice of her mother reached her.

"Do as you want."

The tranquility inside the room was established, even her master was quiet, waiting for her to digest the meaning of her mother's statement.

Turning herself in his arms, she embraced her Waka as relief washed over her. Raising her head, she gave him the best of her smiles.

"Rikuo-sama, I'm returning with you!" She finally finished what she wanted to say earlier.

And to answer her smile, he also gave her one of his own and tightened his arms further, bringing her impossibly close to him.

"Yes, we are returning home."

As Setsura sat on her porch and looked up at the full moon in the sky, she sighed. Smoothing her own dark hair, she thought over what just happened.

She was worried about her daughter, extremely so, and for a reason, of course. The reason called "heartbreak" she herself had experienced before. But she knew if her daughter had chosen this path on her own, she as a mother could not stop it. Now it all relied on time.

Yet, some parts of Setsura believed that not everything was in vain, because of what she had witnessed. The young Sandaime's feeling was not simply a master's towards his loyal servant. And though he and her daughter might not realize it yet, he was slowly acting out his love by his action. She trusted that Tsurara would take hold of his whole heart someday.

Watch it, Nurarihyon. Your grandson will fall hard for my daughter. Setsura triumphantly thought.

It sure did satisfy some of her old wishes as she watched the rising of the cart and the disappearing of it into the night. Secretly, she whispered her words of blessing to her daughter. The young Snow Lady still had to walk on her path to happiness, but it was not a long walk anymore. Maybe the next time her daughter return, she would come with the news of her wedding. And the future of a new heir with the blood of Yuki Onna was not far at all. As the image flashed into her mind, Setsura chuckled quietly. She looked forward to the day when her daughter brings her children to see their grandmother.

To say Setsura was proud of her daughter would be underestimating to her love for the young Yuki Onna. Tsurara was Setsura's biggest pride in her life. Tsurara had managed to do something she could not do.

She sure knows how to catch her beloved's attention. Thought Setsura. It reminds me of those days when she kept running away and waiting for me to look for her. A smirk bloomed on her lips.

'Tsurara, you may not notice it yet, but you are a very smart girl. And Rikuo, you should watch out.'

"Fufufu…" Thinking about the future, Setsura's mood seemed to be flying up by every second.

'Hm… it would be a shame if I was not there to witness the interesting days coming. But it's such a trouble to come back…'

As she watched a crow followed after the cart towards the Nura Gumi's mansion, Setsura found the solution to her dilemma.

'Ah yes! Why do I never think of it?'

A bigger smirk came to her lips instantly as she thought over her plan. 'It will be very interesting.'

Inside the cart which was flying through the night sky, Tsurara was fidgeting with the hems of her kimono. She didn't know what to say now. Her cheeks flushed with the thought of staying alone with her master in such a small space.

"What's on your mind? Tsurara…" The whisper was very, very light. It was teasing her ear, and she realized it was because he was deadly close to her.

"I-it-it's nothing!" Stuttered Tsurara, who immediately averted her eyes to the outside of the small window. But it barely hid her embarrassment as the person behind knew the meaning of her action right away. It was too dark for her to see anything after all. He chuckled.

Tugging on her kimono, Rikuo captured her in his own arms. The feel of her was cold, but he still felt warmth from inside of his heart. This feeling, he could not explain it now, but he knew that it was very important. She was important.

Lifting up her blushing face, he gave her his signature smirk. The sense of victory filled him every time he replayed the scene she talked against her mother to return with him.

Watching her finally giving her smile back after trying to fight off the blush, he slowly lowered his lips. When their lips met, the sparks whenever he felt when he kissed her before instantly ignited. He knew he could not let her go again, because nothing felt more right when she was in his arms.

Mine. The thought came to his head, and he knew it was the truth. She was his, even he could not deny it anymore. He took a quiet vow, he would never let her leave again.

Being fed from his warmth and his kiss, Tsurara smiled to herself. Maybe, just maybe, leaving was somehow a solution to her love.

Sequel?