Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Nurarihyon no Mago

...

Black and White...and Something In-between

...

Nurarihyon: Valentines' Day

...

He lived long enough to know what Valentines' Day meant and, though he might not like it so particularly, Nurarihyon would, on a whim, go and get himself some of these 'chocolates' on this day anyway.

Not that he didn't receive enough from his daughter-in-law and other female yokai because, really, he did – every year, too. The reason he got all these 'chocolates'… well, the occasion called for it? He wouldn't be a Nurarihyon if he didn't act on whims, would he?

But could this be considered as one of his whims? Was it on a whim that he accepted this chocolate from her and was now eating it with the girl herself sitting right next to him, crunching away the senbei he gave her?

He bit on another thin piece. Good thing that she won a bitter chocolate rather than a sweet one. He might have to force Nattou Kozou (who was hiding in the bag as usual) to eat them for him, otherwise.

"But rather than sharing chocolates with an old man like me, don't you have someone to give them to, ojousan?" asked Nurarihyon conversationally.

Keikain Yura swallowed and took out another senbei from the plastic bag. Her eating speed hadn't dropped since they saw each other last, it seemed.

"I suppose there are people whom I can give to," said Yura, cracking the senbei in two. "But I really rather not give them. Valentines' Day is so troublesome. Why do we girls have to give boys chocolates? Not only it takes a long time to make, it's expensive to make and sometimes the efforts are not all that appreciated."

"So, you have given out chocolates before?" he was surprised.

"To some of my brothers. I was told that I should do so because it's a custom. It's such a pain since I have so many brothers and I have to make them myself. Ryuuji-oniichan said it would be impolite to give relatives bought chocolates."

Nurarihyon looked at the chocolate box between them. So this was why they were sharing and not her giving it to him.

But wouldn't this be even stranger? After all she found out already that he was a yokai - not just any yokai either but the Nurarihyon that she had wanted to defeat. For such a black-and-white person that he knew she was, this was something that shouldn't have happened at all. The situation was strange. Quite strange, indeed.

Then, breaking the brief silence that had fallen between them, Yura said. "Ojiichan, this has nothing to do with Valentines' Day, all right?" she took a piece of chocolate from the box and bit on it. "If I were to give you a chocolate, I would make them and then give you."

Nurarihyon blinked.

For the third time that day he was surprised. First, he didn't expect to be stopped on his way home from shopping by her of all people. Second, she said she wanted to share chocolates with him on this day of all days. And now she said…this.

Something must have happened. Something must have happened to have changed this black-and-white girl so. He strongly suspected the change to have something to do with that grandson of his. There must be something else that that boy hadn't told him.

It's not a bad change, though, thought Nurarihyon, observing with some amusement how she turned to attack the senbei viciously, frowning and blushing at the same time.

Back then, he had liked her determination and thought she would become a fine onmyouji one day. But hearing these words now he believed that she would definitely become an onmyouji who might even surpass Hidemoto. Even though she was a girl and so young, she had her goal set clear in sight and had both the talents and wills to see it through. Despite being taught what to believe, she chose by herself what she would believe and she stood by them. According to what he had heard, her will was strong enough that she would go so far as to protect his grandson from her own brother while knowing he was part yokai. She dared to defy her onmyouji family's strict, passed-down teachings in order to protect her important friend.

Compared to this girl, he was sure he had been too overprotective of Rikuo. After losing his family one by one, he was just too tired to lose anymore. Rikuo was the last one he had left and if it meant he never became part of the youkai world, if he chose to live as a human, living long and happy, then he would accept it. But…

That boy also had grown and, out of his own will, he wanted to go out and learn more of the world outside. He needed to think and choose for himself, walking on his own paths and facing things that will challenge his person and beliefs. Now that he had chosen, as his grandfather and the Supreme Commander of the yokai he had been leading till now, he just had to provide the very best of 'environment' for him to grow. Sending him to Toono was the right decision.

Nurarihyon took the last piece of the chocolates and popped it into his mouth.

He smiled at the girl who was now looking at him anxiously.

"I'd be very happy if I were to receive a chocolate from you, ojousan." He reached out and patted her head. "Thank you."

Yura blinked, seeming surprised by his action. She didn't look happy about it but she didn't pull away from that aged hand either.

"It's getting dark," said Nurarihyon, standing up. "It's time to head home."

"I…"

He was picking up bags but turned at that quiet voice.

"I believed that you were good. You and he were good people and very kind."

Her head was slightly bowed so he couldn't see her face but he thought he had a fairly good guess of what expression she was wearing at the moment.

She looked up then, and met him straight in the eyes.

"Ojiichan and Nura-kun…I don't believe you two are bad."

Nurarihyon stared at her. For the fourth time he was surprised. For the fourth time he didn't quite know what to say – how to respond to her simple honesty.

"I'm going home," said Yura, hurriedly picking up bags from the ground. "Goodbye, ojiichan. Please take care."

She ran away. Yes, it could be said that she ran away from him, though not without making a quick customary bow first. This girl was one who really observed manners and etiquettes, wasn't she?

Nurarihyon chuckled.

Nattou Kozou's head poked out from one of the bags. "Would you really accept a chocolate from her, Supreme Commander? She's an onmyouji, isn't she?"

"All the more reasons for me to accept, isn't it?" said Nurarihyon, turning to go home. "If an onmyouji dares enough to give a yokai a chocolate, then it would with the same daringness that I, as the Master of all Yokai, should accept it. I doubt that I will receive it, though…"

"Why?"

"By next year, she might already have someone she wants to give chocolate to, you know."

"But who?"

"The other Master of all Yokai, of course."

...

...

...

Afterthought

After reading the Valentines' omake in volume 9, I just couldn't help myself but wanting to write it out. I like Yura's interaction with grandpa Nurarihyon and Hidemoto too much. I think her personality is quite similar to Rikuo and, to me, if Nurarihyon was to have a granddaughter, I think it would be someone like Yura.