needed to get this out of my drafts. this has been sitting there for YEARS
i stopped reading the manga at some point (i remember it was way past the anime thou) but I'm so glad rikuo x tsurara is canon (or semicanon if you must)
I wish i had the willpower to finish this fic idea :( also first time posting on tumblr!!!
Drabbles about Rikuo being a bit jealous and paranoid.
Rikuo has been noticing recently a lot of things about Tsurara, the yuki-onna of his clan. He became more and more interested in her affairs and daily activities (probably too much to his liking). While it’s completely normal to want to know more about the girl that he likes, this pure feeling has transformed into some type of obsession and paranoia.
***
After becoming the third commander, Rikuo finished high school and had to take gap years to focus on recruiting his own hyakki yako and strengthening the nura clan. 3 years later, Rikuo has finally been able to properly live his life as a human and continue college.
Rikuo started to pay more attention in his college life as well as other aspects such as romance and finding a partner. He decided that now is the proper time to convey his feelings to Tsurara! (He wanted to do that a long time ago, when he almost kissed her but then Rikuo couldn’t do it, because his future had yet been secured in his hands, that's why he decided to spend the last 3 years focusing on his duties as the third commander.
However it seems like Tsurara is satisfied with how they are right now, being by her master’s side and supporting him is already the biggest wish in her life. She is also (not) surprisingly oblivious of the Master's feelings towards her.
Tsurara has always loved Rikuo ever since the day he was born. Even though she was the main victim of his pranks during his entire childhood, she still loved him unconditionally. It is because Rikuo is her master, it’s only natural for her to devote herself entirely to him. She never bothers to even think about labeling these emotions, she loves Rikuo, that’s all it matters. Perhaps it is also why she never expected him to return those feelings as she is satisfied.
“Be my woman,” Rikuo finally said. Although it took him being in yokai form to muster up the courage, he still felt really proud and relieved after all those years of waiting, harboring this burning love.
“Master…” The yuki onna was left speechless, many thoughts ran through her mind. “I’m already yours though? Don’t you remember we made our oath under the cherry blossom tree, just like the others?”
".. That’s not what i meant.”
***
Rikuo noticed that Tsurara is oddly close with Shoei - the son of the late senior head Hihi. After asking Kubinashi, who is also acquainted with him, he found out that similar to himself, Tsurara knew Shoei ever since he was a child thus they became close friends. It turns out Rikuo wasn’t the only one who was by Tsurara’s side since earlier ages.
One time, Shoei had to deal with some troubles in the north and asked Rikuo to give him permission to bring along Tsurara. Rikuo disliked that idea. Why would his attendant, his woman, have to go on missions without the master? What took him by surprise is that the yuki onna herself wanted to go with the yokai. He couldn’t reject her request.
The mission took more than 1 week and it left Rikuo uneasy. He has never been this far away from Tsurara since he went training in Tonto village. Is this how she felt while waiting for his return? He missed her so badly and more than anything, he was worried that she might get hurt. Shoei is a capable yokai and so is Tsurara, but this uneasy feeling wouldn’t leave him.
Not only that, Rikuo couldn't find the reason for Tsurara deciding to accompany Shoei, were they this close? WHy are they going on a mission together? Why did she volunteer? Rikuo was certain that Tsurara loves him more than anyone on this earth, but what if her concept of love is different from his romantic feelings towards her?
Overthinking really isn’t his style, sitting on the cherry blossom branch as always, he grabs the sake bottle and chugs it down, hoping that alcohol could do something to help him forget those trivial thoughts.
After finishing the 4th bottle, at this point, he wasn’t sober but not drunk enough to relieve himself from this agony. It was at that moment, the carriage yokai ran through the main gate and stopped right at the front door of the clan’s house, it was them. Tsurara is home.
Rikuo couldn’t hide his excitement, he immediately jumped off the tree and ran towards it, only to find Tsurara, his yuki onna, unconscious in the arms of the big and tall Shoei. She was cozily tucked in a warm blanket, her cheeks were slightly pink. A strange feeling was harboring in his stomach. He hated this scene. It left a bitter taste on his tongue.
‘Oi, Shoei. Why is she unconscious.” Rikuo’s voice was slightly trembling, hinting some anger behind it. Shoei immediately explained. ‘Everthing is fine, Commander. Nee-san is just sleeping, she had too much alcohol on our way back so I had to carry h-”
Shoei couldn’t finish the sentence when Rikuo approached him and took Tsurara into his arm, he couldn’t see his expressions but the fear emitting from him was telling Shoei that his commander wasn’t content about this.
‘I’ll report the mission detail tomorrow, please take care of nee-san for me.’ With that, Shoei dashed to his room.
‘Dont tell me what to do… tsk”
Seeing the woman he loves, soundly sleeping, so defenseless, in the arms of another man made his blood boil like a volcano, he hates it so much. Luckily he was able to suppress it and not end up take it out on Shoei. Nonetheless, he expects an explanation from him tomorrow.
Rikuo carried Tsurara to his room and gently put her down on his futon, he threw the blanket that was wrapping around her in the corner od the room and then tucked her in his blanket, warm and full of his smell.
‘Ah… I missed you so fucking much but what I get is seeing you in someone else’s arms. It pisses me off."
This fic really sat there for over a year...
