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

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Rihan: Reminiscence (part II)

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Did he say that this was a run-down mansion? It really was so, looking from the outside. The inside, however, was a completely different story.

When he came in, he expected it to be like any other haunted place that he had seen and been to before but this one…

This place was well-cleaned, well-repaired, and well-lit, despite using only a few small lamps and candles. He noted how the lights were strategically placed and was strongly reminded of Karasu Tengu, who, if he could be here, would have clapped and cried with joy from finding someone who understood "the art". Funny as it might sound but in such peaceful times as they were having now, Karasu Tengu seemed to have taken it upon himself to see to it that the Nura household was in proper order. Some called him the Steward and he couldn't agree more.

"Sou!"

The mouse yokai was wringing water out of his kimono into a bucket nearby. He looked up and called back. "Chizu-neesan, I'm back."

They actually prepared a bucket for this? thought Rihan while staring incredulously at both the boy and the bucket. Well, good thing he had the forethought of wringing his kimono first before coming in. Sloppy evidence like trails of water wasn't a Nurarihyon's style.

"Why are you back so late? Are you injured anywhere? Leave the sandals there and clean your feet here. Come, give me your kimono. Sei and Sen are both still in the bath, so go join them quick."

"Neesan, I'm hungry," said Sou almost whiningly.

"You didn't miss dinner," said Chizu, using the sleeve of her kimono to wipe his face. "Sensei, Chika-neesan, and Hishou-niisan are still cooking. I'm sure they would be done just when you three finish taking a bath. Go. We don't want you catching a cold at this time when things are so busy."

The yokai, Sou, nodded and hurried toward where he supposed would be the direction to the bath.

Rihan watched him rounded the corner and disappeared before turning to consider the yokai girl in front of him.

She appeared like a 12-13 year-old human girl. There were no ears nor tail nor other marks to give away her race but he had a suspicion that she might belong to one of the bird clans.

Chizu walked to the bucket, wrung the kimono over it again, and then picked it up, walked to the opened door, passing him, threw the water out, closed and locked the door behind her, then turned and...

She froze on the spot, staring at where he was standing.

Rihan raised his brow. He didn't think she could see him. He was sure that she couldn't see him. But then… maybe – just maybe – there's an improbable possibility that she was able to sense him?

The girl then let out an exasperated sigh. "That boy, why can't he ever remember to wash his feet properly before he comes inside?"

Rihan shrugged, going over the muddy mess, and went to borrow a fresh cloth from the basket she had taken some out for the boy earlier to clean his own feet.

He might be a yakuza and the Second head of the Nura clan and he could have not cared to do such things but he had been taught manners by his mother. Then, if he was to put manners aside, leaving footprints behind in a clean house such as this one was a dead give-away of his presence, so, as annoying as this was, he would do what he must do.

Done, Rihan threw the dirtied cloth to the pile and strolled down the corridor, leaving the Chizu-girl behind to clean the mess of her little brother at the terrace.

…

The house wasn't as small as he thought it would be but not big enough to make one-fourth of his home either. He was still impressed how the place was kept spotlessly clean. He might recruit this yokai specially for Karasu Tengu. This might put him in a good mood enough to stop tracking him for a while.

Small and young yokais in both natural forms and human forms rushed passed him, laughing and screaming as they ran from two young mu-onna who chased after them, laughing and enjoying the play themselves.

Going into this room and out of that, he soon became familiar with the place and was able to conclude that there were no real vengeful spirits and yokais here. They lived like a family much the same way as those of his clan at home. What made them and his folks different was that they were quite diligent beings as those who had hands if they weren't busy fixing and repairing parts of the house, they could be found cleaning rooms and mending clothes. Others either looked after the small ones or helped with chores using their different ayakashi techniques. Really, this sight would have touched Karasu Tengu so much to call for another spring cleaning at the main house. This was the first time he saw this many ayakashi together, helping and working with each other, living lives that were more humans than what they truly were. Just what kind of yokai was it that could get them to become this way?

His contemplation was broken suddenly when instinct rang warning bells. Rihan jumped, landing on a beam high above, and hid in the shadow where light couldn't reach, his presence completely erased.

"Akagane-nii!" a rabbit yokai bounced toward the figure at the opened door. "Dinner's ready?"

Akagane appeared to be a spirit yokai. Judging from his clothes, he could have been a servant of some rich family when he was still alive. Most of his face was bandaged. All that was shown was one kind brown eye and a mouth that smiled down gently at the small yokai who had gathered around him and were all asking about dinner.

"Did you hear Chika calling for dinner yet? Be a little patient. I'm sure it won't be long now. Let me see how you've made the straw sandals. Good, you've made a lot. Will you take these out to the terrace so that those who are to go out tomorrow can take with them?"

The little yokais argued among themselves about who made the most and the prettiest. He helped them put the sandals together and ushered them out.

Sliding the paper screens close, he turned around and looked up.

This one had a keener sense, it seemed. Rihan looked down at him, waiting to see what the ayakashi would do.

It was difficult to tell if he was frowning or not but Akagane's eye narrowed.

"Strange," he murmured. "Even without those sandals and the little ones and this room still smell of rain and mud…"

This was the first time in a very long time Rihan felt like kicking himself for being noticed for things such as wet clothes and some little mud that had stained his kimono. It wasn't that the yokai had a keen sense. He just had a good nose and he happened to be the prospect assistant of Karasu Tengu that he had intended to recruit!

Akagane stared at the dark ceiling a little longer then sighed. "Must have been my imagination."

That said, he opened the screens and exited the room, not forgetting to close them behind him before going away to where somebody was calling for him.

Leaning against the wall, Rihan grimaced. He had been wandering about and became so interested that he forgot about erasing the practical things that would give him away.

First thing first, he needed a bath, a change of clothes, and then…

His stomach growled.

…and then I need food. Damn it, I haven't felt this humiliated since I was caught by mother those years ago. Now, just where is the bathroom?

…

Breathing out the sweet scented smoke, Rihan tilted his head back and absently considered the broken ceiling and holed roof above.

Thinking back to that time now, he was really young then, wasn't he? Young and wasn't too serious about the Hyakki-yakou. At that time he could only think of how to give his worriers of underlings slips to go wander around seeing things and meeting people and yokai. He wondered sometimes, as he did now, what if on that day he didn't take the wrong turn and go the wrong way through to the kitchen? What if that day he turned just right, found the bath and took it, changed his clothes, ate some food, and left? Would he then be able to avoid the pain of loss, this sorrow and this regret that he was suffering at this moment?

A small sad smile graced his mouth. The answer remained the same no matter how many times he asked and wondered.

"I would have regretted it more to not have met you and never experience all the things that we had shared together. Still…still…" Rihan rested the back of his hand over his eyes. "You should have told me. You should have waited a little longer. Yamabuki, I say, you are quite a cruel woman."