The Girl That Yokai Loves ((mainly) Nura Rikuo x reader)

Chapter 21

It was around afternoon when you woke up, you could feel yourself dehydrated and somewhat hungry. You got up from your room and walked outside and saw Rikuo, seating, just watching the trees, he seemed like in a daze, so you tapped his shoulder and smiled softly.

His eyes widened and he quickly engulfed you in a warm hug, "I'm so glad you're okay (name)-chan I was so worried". You could feel blood rushing to your cheeks at the contact.

Then he pulled away to look at you, and frowned slightly, "are those dried tears? You shouldn't be standing up after 2 weeks of lying on bed".

"what??? I was staying in bed that long???", you mouth went hanging at the thought of it.

He stifled his cute laughter before smiling widely, "I'm just joking, you only slept for 4 days.....you did miss a lot of things though, but it's fine".

Then you hear a tray fell, both of you turned around to see Tsubaki looking at you with a surprised expression, "m'lady!". Tsuoki who heard what his older brother said, quickly and clumsily rushed to you, he even slipped on the ground due to the drink that fell when the tray fell.

You giggled and helped Tsuoki up, "missed me Tsuoki-kun?".

He rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue, "why would I?".

"Tsuoki is being obvious", Tsubaki tried to hold his laughter. "you.....", and he started attacking his older twin brother but Tsubaki disappeared already knowing how his younger brother behaves.

Both you and Rikuo erupt into fit of laughter.

You then stopped and looked at Rikuo with a smile, "ne(hey) Rikuo-kun". He turned to look at you with a small blush on his face, "yes?". "what happened while I was asleep?", you asked.

He rubbed the back of his head while having those usual awkward smile, "well....first thing first....the day you passed out, on the evening our friends came to pay a visit at your shrine, Torii-san said while in the midst.....", he continued and continued until it was already nighttime.

"I have to go back to my house okay, (name)-chan", he looked at you and smiled, before patting your head, "thank you for being safe, next time I won't force you to do what you can't....I was really worried". You giggled and tilted your head, "it's fine anyway, besides I wanted to help, and I'm also relief that you didn't acquire any injuries during your fight with Inugami".

His hand still lingered on the top of your head, before he leant down and kissed your cheek softly, making your pale cheek turns into shades of red.

"good night, (name)-chan", he said while walking backward and quickly walked down the flight of stairs as a ghostly smile played on his lips. Boy was he happy.

You were still bewildered at his action, since you didn't even expect it. Then again you couldn't help but like the feeling, although you didn't know what to do in that situation.

"(name)-sama, let's get back inside, it's going to get cold", Tsuoki ushered you to go inside as he placed a small blanket over your shoulder. You look behind you at what used to be a cherry blossom tree, the flower was about to bloom. "Tsuoki-kun, what happened to the tree while I was away?", you asked to him while tugging his sleeve.

He raised an eyebrow before looking at the cherry blossom tree, "when you fell sick, the flowers began to fall, and the scent was getting stronger than before to the point it attracts a lot of yokais", he explained.

"it fell.... What scent are you talking about, Tsuoki-kun?", you tilted your head to look at him with a wondering look on your face. He stared at your face before he look away, "it's nothing, but all I know, the cherry blossom follows you (name)-sama...it also happened when you went back to Kyoto, when you got worried of your father...the tree starts to show a different dull colour...it was as if it's the fall season".

You look back at the tree and wondered by yourself, "I didn't know...".

That night, you decide to walk again around Ukiyoe town with Tsuoki.

"ne (hey), Tsuoki-kun...", you called out to him.

"yes?", he answered.

"have you seen a woman with jet black long hair, pale skin, and dark black eyes? She's very pretty.. have you ever seen her? Or maybe heard of her?", you asked while still cuddling onto your scarf which hugged your petite figure. "where did you met this person, (name)-sama?", Tsuoki frowned at the description of the said woman.

"she was in my dream.... That's all", you shrugged your shoulder.

Tsuoki groaned, "(name)-sama, why did you actually go to this place again???", he facepalmed. You giggled and skipped into the house like a ghost but can be seen clearly as day. You went and greeted Wakana who was still in the kitchen making dinner, "Konbanwa(hello/good evening) Wakana-san", you smiled up at her.

"(name)-chaaaan, I wondered why you didn't come to our house when the others are here, I heard from Rikuo that you were sick and had to guard your place, it's understandable (name)-chan... and you can rest here too! He's being pressured since the elderlies are relying on him", she continue to talk and talk, to the point you just helped her making dinner for the others.

While you two were making dinner, yokais keep on peeking at you two, especially you, since they couldn't help but like the scent you were emanating, that's why Tsuoki is guarding from inside the kitchen, to make sure no one is making any unnecessary move.

Then you could hear stomp of someone running outside the door, when they arrived at the front door, Tsuoki glared even more as they open the kitchen door. However Tsuoki didn't make any move to stop them, since he knew very well who it was.

"(name)-chan, wh-what are you doing here??? You should be resting at your shrine", he held your arm, checking if you have any injuries while Wakana, his mother, was just smiling and looking at how caring her son was to her future daughter-in-law. She then remembered, "Rikuo? Help me carry dinner".

Rikuo looked at his mother and nodded his head, "okay".

After helping along and eating together, despite the fact you gained lots of attention from the yokais and the elderly yokais, you continued to speak and joke normally. Kejoro even tried to learn more about Tsuoki, but he kept a straight serious face while watching you, for your own safety.

You noticed someone at the corner, along with his katana and dark red hoodie that covered his face. You never seen him before, so you asked Rikuo, "Rikuo-kun, is he new?".

Rikuo let out an awkward laugh, "you remember Hihi-san? He is Hihi-san's son". You nodded your head in acknowledgement, "he must've been really sad and angry for his father's death....just continue to watch him, okay? Usually people would take revenge on the killer..I mean most do that, so I hope he doesn't go for it".

He looked at you with a straight face, "I feel jealous (name)-chan".

You tilted your head with a smile, "why so?".

"your sudden caring towards someone you just met", he puffed his cheeks and looked away. You stared at him with a small smile, before poking his cheek and giggling cutely, "Rikuo-kun~", you cooed softly with a gentle smile on your face, as Rikuo's heartbeat was thumping loudly, "you don't have to be jealous you know", you continued.

'I like you, (name)-chan', he thought to himself, 'that's why I'm jealous'.