Dry pitch-black darkness rolled around the town of Ukiyoe. The evening air was devoid of any moisture, no trace of clouds could be seen on the deep sky and a feeling of drowsiness floated to the mind of the humans. The night gave off a feeling of sick drought as the stale air drafted people into an ill-feeling. It was a terrible case of lack of humidity.
However, despite the empty atmosphere of the night, life in the city continued. Men, women, and unsupervised children ran amock the streets getting their life done. It was a bustling time, a time that even the usually cheery Reiji didn't want to be a part of.
On top of an empty building, a leg hung on the ledge, dangling dangerously close to the cold embrace of empty air and death. Carelessly swinging his leg around, Reiji observed the crowd of people with a solemn look.
It wasn't every day that a boy would once again meet his 'long separated' family and somehow still get along with them.
It was a terrifying feeling.
The moment Reiji peacefully talked to Rikuo face to face, Tsurara clearly expressed her concerns, and the time the Lord of Pandemonium, Nurarihyon lost his patience. It was not right. Something was different, it felt off.
Despite his quick switches between cold and calculating to a cringe moron, Reiji was never the person to feel terrified with personal interactions. No matter how high a person's status was or how much a bullshited and lied to get through a certain situation, Reiji wasn't the type to get nervous with something so small as a conversation.
As long as it is not something you can fail in, there was no need to be worried.
So Reiji feeling like a sense of nervousness was completely unlike his usual self.
Reiji gripped his head with a hint of anxiety, "Their personality. . . It's changed."
"Well, shouldn't that be natural?" A voice asked from behind, appearing from the shadows of the night, holding a can of soda beside Reiji.
Taking a small glance at Inei, Reiji silently accepted the beverage.
"I mean, you guys haven't spoken in like seven years, they are bound to be different than you remember." Inei said in a matter of factly as she sat down beside him on the ledge, "The experience of losing a family member should still be fresh from their minds, you can't blame them for changing."
Listening to Inei's words frustrated Reiji, sensing she clearly didn't understand what he meant.
"Yes, I know alright-- It's supposed to be like this." He sighed, somewhat tiredly, gaining a weird look from Inei.
"You alright, pal? The last time I saw you being a wuss was when you met mom and me." Hearing such a strange yet oddly fitting example, Reiji laughed dryly. There was a few seconds of silence before he spoke.
"I expected them to change," he said in somber, "but I didn't want them to." Reiji then slowly looked up in the sky, a wisp of exhaustion visible in his eyes. "But I guess it's to be expected, not everyone gets what they want in life because somehow it wants to fck everyone over."
Even though Reiji was reincarnated and had almost remembered all the major plot points in the story, that didn't mean he had control over the lives of every character in this world. Especially after being left alone that faithful day, Reiji finally figured out himself that the world he was in was now his reality, he couldn't have avoided being kicked out.
The world wasn't a picture book that he could control. He couldn't just suddenly walk up to a random person and murder him in broad daylight, and he can't control laws, he can't even summon the damned nine-tailed beast even if wanted to.
Because now, the world of Nurarihyon no Mago was his earth but with supernatural beings walking in public. It was an exhausting thought trying to control everything.
Turning his head to Inei, he said, "When you expect something to help you gain an advantage but one way or another that advantage becomes an uncontrollable variable. How the hell do you expect me to be happy. . ?"
Reiji would have never known how the Nura clan changed.
"Welp," suddenly understanding his situation, Inei chuckled in her seat. She seemed like she was enjoying his dilemma or just finding it funny. "This is why I don't plan sht."
Reiji frowned with her non-serious attitude, "I call lies. You're the head of information something-something for a reason," he joked. Completely eradicating the previous heavy air.
To which Inei gasped exaggeratedly, "You dare-- Treason! This is treason, man! I'm telling Seo you forgot the name she gave us! She's going to pummel your ass, I know it!"
"Wait, I'm kidding! Don't go suddenly telling Boss whatever you feel like it!!"
"Too late Reiji, I'm heading over to her and reporting this IMMEDIATELY!!!"
"Inei, you little--!! I'm telling *Team 1's leader about this!"
"SHT- No!"
Perhaps as a way to ease her friend's trouble, Inei let herself hold the short end of the stick and be the butt of the joke, or maybe the Rabbit yokai simply didn't understand his troubles and messed around like the usual. Whatever the reason was, it had lifted Reiji's spirit to continue his goals in creating a better future for the Nura clan and himself.
And just like that, a pair of childish yokais disappeared unto the night in their Fear.
______
*I'm telling Team 1's leader: Inei is the leader of Team 2, meaning T1's leader is her superior.
A/N: From here on out, I'll slowly explain the back story. Bit by bit. Thanks for reading.
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Reincarnated as Rikuo's Twin Brother | Nurarihyon no Mago
FanfictionAfter dying to a deadly disease, Reiji, the fanboy of the past life, was reincarnated as Rikuo Nura's younger twin brother. As a 3/4 yokai, he seems to have much more respect from the council members than Rikuo. But after a surprising incompetency R...
