The Beginning of the Fourth Heir

The Mystery of Ishikawa Harada

Chapter 20

Three weeks after she enrolled at Ukiyoe High, Riyui decided to join the Kendo Club. However, Rikuo denied her request. This infuriated her immensely. She almost burned her twin brother's head in anger.

"WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?! I'M NOT SOME DELICATE FLOWER THAT BREAKS DOWN WHEN TOUCHED!" Riyui shouted angrily at her brother. Rikuo faces her but the deadly glint on her eyes made him shut up. He breathes first before speaking with his enraged sister.

"Riyui-chan, I didn't mean to put it that way. I think you're an amazing swordsman but-"

"But what?!" Riyui spoke through gritted teeth. She was clenching her fists and it didn't take Rikuo long to realize his sister is giving her all not to punch him in the face.

"It's just that...I don't want you to get hurt. You're a girl after all. There are other clubs you can join besides Kendo." he stuttered.

"Wrong answer." Riyui growled and sends her twin brother flying through the roof. The inhabitants of the mansion just sighed at the current mishap the Third Heir just got himself into. Nurarihyon shook his head and went to the porch overlooking the cherry tree in the backyard. He saw his grandson dangling on a branch and fell in to the pond.

He approached him and stood by the pond before speaking.

"You know Rikuo, that's not the way to speak to a lady, especially if it's the angry kind. Why did you say that to her, of all things? You know it will offend her." Nurarihyon asked. Rikuo sighed and pulled himself out of Kappa's pond.

"I don't know, Grandpa. I haven't got used to this Riyui-chan. She used to be so sweet and gentle. But now, she's strong and independent. And that kind of worries me. She might be stronger than I am, like you said before. I don't know why but I'm feeling insecure because of her." Rikuo confessed. Nurarihyon thought it strange for his grandson to feel this way around his own sister. He pats him on the shoulder and went to the porch. He saw a tray with food and green tea for two people.

"Say Rikuo, would you like to have some tea?" he offered. Rikuo accepted and both of them sat down and drank tea.

Meanwhile, Riyui is blowing off some steam by the river. She was trying hard not to break down and cry. But her frustration makes it impossible not to break down. Tears went down anyway and it totally sucked for our heroine. It didn't help matters when Ishikawa Harada, her classmate, saw her crying.

"Nura-san?" he called out softly. Riyui lifted her head up and Harada saw her tear-stained cheeks. He didn't say anything.

'What do you want?!" she snapped and Harada took a step back. Infuriating an enraged girl is not advisable according to his uncle Hitotsume.

"Uhm... I...I just wanted to know what's bothering you." he replied. Riyui glared at him but told him about the matters with the Kendo Club and her brother's rejection of the idea of her joining the said club. Harada didn't say anything until Riyui finishes her story.

"So, you need your brother's approval for you to join the Kendo Club, eh? Why? You can enter a club even if your brother doesn't want you to." Harada pointed out but Riyui shook her head.

"No, that's not the reason why I asked for his permission." Riyui said.

"What then?" Harada asked.

"I just want him to accept me as I am now. He thinks I'm his cute and adorable little sister who happens to be scared of things unknown to her. I'm not that girl anymore. And I also want him to be a part of my life now that I've returned after 12 years. Was it so much to ask?" Riyui said in exasperation.

"You know Nura-san, he was just worried not because you're a girl. He's worried about you because you're his sister. I can't blame him though, with you acting without thinking first. Kendo is a contact sport, just in case you didn't know." he said. Riyui raised an eyebrow.

"Ishikawa, you're starting to annoy me." Riyui spoke. This made Harada laugh.

"And you're interesting." he smiled. Riyui became suspicious and she detected a very small amount of demon aura. She jumped like a ninja and drew out a kunai out of her weapon pouch. Harada's eyes gleamed with amusement and pulled out a ninjato.

"Oh? You liked to play with me, princess? All right. I'll play along. Let's go." Harada challenged and made the first swing. Riyui blocks it and drew out her shortsword in a fast motion that Harada barely managed to dodge her attack. He separated himself from her before making his next move.

"Ara? I didn't know you can fight. Something tells me you're more than meets the eye. Tell me, who are you working for?" Riyui asked. With the sun setting in the west, her yokai self slowly emerging. Harada smiled as he unleashed his yokai form. His jet black hair turned white and pointed ears sprouted from his head. A long fluffy tail can be seen from his behind. His once brown eyes turned gold. Riyui smirked.

"Well, well, well. I didn't know you're an inugami." Riyui said. Harada's dog ears twitches and she couldn't help but go "Awwww..."

"What?" Harada barked. Riyui, however, was in a trance because she finds his ears cute.

"Kawaii..." she spoke. This ticked Harada off.

"Are you insulting me, woman?!" he growled. Riyui snaps back into focus.

"I'm not insulting you. I'm complimenting you. You look so adorable with dog ears!" she said in an honest way. Harada looked at her intently and he can see the sincerity in her eyes. He saw them sparkling with admiration that he scratched his head in resignation.

"You're weird, you know that?" Harada spoke and smiled playfully. Riyui smiled back.

"I know. So, do you want to tell me who you work for?"

"And risk my master's identity? No. But I can assure you that we're allies. Anyway, why did you show me your yokai form? Aren't you afraid that I'm going to expose you?" Harada teased.

"I showed it to you for reasons I haven't quite understood yet. But know this: if you ever expose me to humans, I will not hesitate to clip off your cute dog ears and tail. Then, I will make it my own ornaments. Clear?" Riyui said in a voice so threatening, it made Harada squirm.

"Okay, okay. Jeez, for a girl, you've got some nasty temper." Harada made a placating gesture with his hand.

"Whatever. See ya around, Inu-kun." Riyui said and scratch Harada behind the ears before she left. His ears twitched angrily but it passed. Now he knows what Riyui is capable of. So he went back to his master and reported the incident.

"I see. So the rumors are true after all."

"Yes. But she didn't use any techniques or magic spells so I'm not entirely sure if the magic and jutsu stuff were true." Harada explained.

"No matter. At least, we know that Riyui Nura is a strong hanyo. We can use her to eliminate the Third Heir." his master said.

"But the Third Heir is her twin brother, Master. From what I know about her, she will never do something that will hurt someone important to her."

"We don't have to involve her directly. We just have to create an accident for the Third Heir and blame her for everything. Once we got rid of her and her twin brother, I will take over as the new leader of the Nura Clan. And you, Harada, will become my successor." he said.

"I will help you in any way I can, Master." Harada replied.