Nura Clan Main Residence.
Nurarihyon, having played around all night, yawned as he walked down the corridor towards his room.
For yokai, night was their day while daytime meant rest. So to Nurarihyon, 8am was no different from 8pm.
For an old man like him, early to bed and early to rise kept one healthy.
Yet as he traversed the hallway, he sensed something and looked up at the sound of flapping wings:
"Supreme Commander, the SDS has sent negotiation correspondence."
The Nura Clan's intelligence officer, Karasu Tengu, held a letter, his expression inscrutable as he addressed Nurarihyon:
"There are matters in this letter requiring your attention."
Noticing Karasu Tengu's odd demeanour, Nurarihyon beckoned his old comrade closer and accepted the letter.
His face shifted slightly after skimming the contents, before asking:
"Has the message only reached me? Does Rihan know yet?"
"This subordinate has yet to inform the Second Head." After speaking, Karasu Tengu paused before adding, "The Second Head drank heavily last night and was taken back to his room by Lady Wakana."
"Wake him up," Nurarihyon said coldly.
"Supreme Commander!!" Karasu Tengu's eyes widened in disbelief. "You can't possibly mean for the Second Head to participate in these negotiations?"
Nurarihyon's expression remained stern. "And why not? Should this old, frail man go instead?"
Karasu Tengu was dumbfounded. "But... the one attending these negotiations is that Hagoromo Gitsune—the one possessing Lady Otome's body."
"Precisely because it's Hagoromo Gitsune that the brat needs to be here."
Nurarihyon snorted coldly before continuing:
"If he can't overcome this hurdle in his heart, how can he lead the Nura Clan? Should he raise his hands in surrender every time he sees Hagoromo Gitsune in the future? Go wake him up, now!"
"...Understood!" Karasu Tengu's face twisted with complexity as he acknowledged the order, then turned and flew towards Nura Rihan's quarters.
Meanwhile, Nurarihyon glanced at the envelope in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, the contents vanished. Using Fear as his brush, he penned a reply on the paper, then summoned a crow to deliver it to Luo Shu and confirm the meeting time.
Afterwards, Nurarihyon turned and pushed open the door to his own quarters. Without looking up, he walked to the incense-lit altar, clapped his hands together, and explained the situation before pressing his palms together in prayer:
"Yōhime, forgive me. Later, I may need you to come out and restrain that brat."
"If you agree, give me a sign."
Before the altar, the slowly burning candle flickered with an unsteady flame.
Seeing this, Nurarihyon smiled apologetically before heading to the wardrobe to change into formal attire for the negotiations.
"Damn it, I forgot to have Karasu Tengu summon Setsura. Otherwise, there'll be no one to calm Rihan down later. Though with Setsura, the stimulation might be too much... Maybe I should call little Tsurara instead. That brat cares about his pride—he won't embarrass himself in front of his junior."
As Nurarihyon muttered to himself, time crept steadily towards the appointed hour.
...
Morning, 8:50 AM.
"Yaaawn~" Nura Rihan stretched, a fox-fur cloak draped over his kimono for warmth, as he shuffled sleepily into the living room. Before he could even step past the sliding door, he was met with Nurarihyon's stern face:
"Old man, what's the big idea sending Karasu Tengu to drag me out of bed?"
"Even Wakana couldn't help scolding you. Just because you're lonely sleeping alone doesn't mean I can't get my rest, does it?"
At this, Nurarihyon's eye twitched before he retorted irritably:
"Brat, talking nonsense about your old man like that—your mother isn't dead yet."
Nura Rihan rolled his eyes.
'Dead or not, you'd know best, wouldn't you? Sleeping with a ghost in your arms—aren't your hands cold?'
After cursing under his breath, Nurarihyon looked at his son and sighed:
"Director Luo from the Hidden Management Department wishes to negotiate with us—as a mediator, of sorts."
"Oh? Him?" Nura Rihan recalled the man who had previously visited the Nura Clan's main house, though they hadn't crossed paths. Frowning, he asked, "Who's he trying to mediate for?"
Hearing this, Nurarihyon's lips twitched before he sighed:
"For Hagoromo Gitsune."
Nura Rihan's previously drowsy eyes instantly sharpened like blades. He laughed in exasperation:
"Oi oi oi, is that guy genuinely clueless or just pretending?"
Hagoromo Gitsune and Nura Rihan currently shared the grudge of stealing his wife's body. Just how thick-skinned must Director Luo be to come here playing peacemaker?
Seeing Nura Rihan's anger, Nurarihyon quickly said, "He wants to discuss with us how to deal with Nue's problem."
At these words, Nura Rihan was truly dumbfounded.
"Old man, what did you just say?"
"That Director Luo is bringing Hagoromo Gitsune to discuss with me how to handle Nue?"
"This Nue... is it the Nue I know? The one who's Abe no Seimei?"
Nurarihyon nodded at this, then sighed:
"If there isn't a second Nue, then it must be him."
Now, Nura Rihan was at a loss for words.
Bringing Hagoromo Gitsune - who'd stolen his wife's body - to discuss cooperation. Bringing Nue's mother to discuss how to deal with her own son.
"Heh, this Luo Shu... what a complete bastard!!"
Nura Rihan didn't even know whether to be angry anymore. Both sides were victims here - how could he stay angry?
Could they really team up against Luo Shu?
Teaming up with Hagoromo Gitsune would be disgusting, but not teaming up and letting Luo Shu have his way would be even worse.
"Old man, maybe you should reconsider this cooperation with the SDS?"
Hearing this, Nurarihyon's face darkened:
"Stop messing around, boy. Just hold it in later."
"Don't worry, I can hold it in." Nura Rihan paused, then emphasised: "I'll make sure to thoroughly explain to Hagoromo Gitsune a hundred different ways to kill Nue. I'm very familiar with dealing with him!"
Nurarihyon rolled his eyes but said nothing, simply instructing Nura Rihan to wait patiently in the parlour.
Within minutes, lively voices came from the direction of the main entrance.
The Nura Clan members immediately understood...
"Hagoromo Gitsune has arrived!"