"But even if you say that… this humble monk has never claimed to be a good person."
Caught red-handed, the "Nura Wakana" reclining on a tree branch showed not a hint of guilt. Instead, she covered her red lips with her sleeve and smiled charmingly. With a soft sway, she floated down from the branch.
The movement scattered a few sakura blossoms, which drifted down like little boats onto the pond below.
Her flowing sleeves caught the moonlight. Clad in wooden sandals, her dainty feet touched the water's surface, sending out ripples as she stepped gracefully across the petals. Her reflection shimmered beneath the moon-drenched sky.
Then, "Nura Wakana" stepped onto the bank, walking with quiet poise until she stood beside the real Wakana.
"And besides… it's been ages since this humble monk last acted as a man. Got a little excited. If that's caused you any trouble, then allow me to apologize, Miss Wakana."
The laughter that now escaped her lips was no longer sharp or mocking. It rang like wind chimes stirred by a gentle breeze.
Two women stood side by side with identical faces—and yet, somehow, "Nura Wakana" seemed more feminine than the original.
Nura Wakana thought so too.
"Wow… Limbo, you really are captivating."
She circled around her double with delight, marveling aloud.
"Even though you look exactly like me… I never knew I could be this attractive!"
Of course she was attractive. Limbo had played many beautiful women in his time—Yōran, Artoria, Ash, Bāvanshī, Okita Sōji, Nero, Kiichi Hōgen… wildly different styles, but all top-tier fantasy beauties, each with their own charm: elegant, fiery, noble, sweet, playful.
"Miss Wakana is already plenty charming. There's no need for self-doubt."
"Nura Wakana" narrowed her eyes slightly, sweeping a glance at the yōkai watching from the shadows.
"To be purely human, and yet marry the Second Head of the Nura Clan… and to be so deeply trusted by its members… every time I see it, I can't help but gape."
"That's just because everyone's so kind," Wakana replied with a smile. "Haven't you gotten along great with them these past few days too, Limbo?"
"Mmmmmm… Do you really believe that, Miss Wakana?"
"Nura Wakana" shook her head with a subtle smile and said no more.
If he revealed his true nature, any strong yōkai would deck him on sight. The weaker ones would flee in terror. If it weren't for his credited role in saving Wakana—and her personal assurance—he'd have been kicked out of the clan ages ago.
That alone spoke volumes about Wakana's standing. She was just a normal human—no healing powers like Yōhime, no spiritual strength to speak of—just… overwhelmingly cheerful. Yet even that was enough.
Bathed in moonlight, the two identical women walked side by side, like a pair of childhood twin sisters—warm and close.
Many of the clan's yōkai noticed and began murmuring among themselves.
"Lady Wakana's with that outsider again."
"She looks so happy though."
"I still don't get why she's letting such a suspicious person stay in the clan—though the First Head signed off on it, so…"
"I dunno, she did save Lady Wakana's life."
"Maybe they've known each other for a long time. Why else would someone risk so much just to save her?"
"Well, Lady Wakana is amazing. Even outsiders probably can't help but like her."
In any large group, there'd always be some whispering. But most of the Nura Clan held faith in their own, and what "Nura Wakana" heard were mostly voices of trust.
"Hehe… this feels kinda nice."
Wakana raised a hand to her lips and chuckled, genuinely joyful.
"Walking with you like this, Limbo… it really is like having a sister. I've always wanted one. Everyone in the clan's so sweet, but they're always so formal with me…"
"Nura Wakana" frowned slightly—he, too, felt a bit helpless against Wakana's boundless optimism.
"Normally, when someone with your face shows up out of nowhere, the natural reaction should be fear, right?"
After all, if someone could become your exact double, they could replace you. Like Sanmoto's puppet Tsuzumi, or the urban legends of doppelgängers and imposters. Humans instinctively feared their perfect mirror.
"Why be afraid? Isn't it super convenient?"
Wakana tapped her lips, then raised her arms with an excited grin.
"If I had a sister who looked just like me, I could have her go to school when I wanted a day off—then I could sneak off and have fun!"
"Nura Wakana" instinctively retorted, "What about your sister? She'd have school too, right? If she covers for you, who covers for her?"
"Eh? Oh…"
Her pose froze. The grin faltered.
"…Guess I didn't think that through."
So naïve. So lighthearted. Looking at her, you'd never think she was a mother—or someone who'd faced down deadly threats to protect her son.
"Nura Wakana" lowered her lashes in thought.
Not long ago, after the Hyaku Monogatari Clan was defeated, Rikuo had returned home with his men. Wakana had found the idea amusing and insisted he keep his disguise—to see if his comrades could tell who was real and who was fake.
And so, at her request, Limbo had remained in her form, wandering around the estate. The chaos he caused at first? Entirely what Wakana had wanted.
...
Inside a sparse, traditional Japanese room.
Tatami floors. A low table. Nothing else.
The estate had many such rooms. After all, this place housed yōkai invisible to ordinary humans. The more powerful ones had their own territories outside the main house, while the weaker, often more timid ones remained here.
Hence, space was essential—otherwise it'd get too crowded.
"Delicacies from Bakeneko's shop, and a pot of piping hot tea…"
Seated across from "Nura Wakana," Wakana smiled and pressed her palms together.
"It's a tea party! A special sister-edition tea party!"
The idea had struck her suddenly. She'd dragged Limbo here on a whim—and of course, all the other yōkai in the room had been politely kicked out beforehand.
For their own safety, really. Even a flicker of malicious aura from Limbo could easily flatten them.
"I've always wanted to have a tea party with a little sister. Thank you for making that dream come true, Limbo."
As she spoke, she rose slightly and poured deep green tea into two beautifully aged teacups. The fragrance of fine leaves wafted through the room.
"Hm… these teacups… I see. Tsukumogami, are they?"
Though the name had "kami" (god) in it, tsukumogami were actually yōkai—tools that, after a hundred years of use, gained a spirit and personality. They weren't usually strong fighters—after all, a comb or an umbrella didn't make for a very fearsome monster.
But a sword or spear might inherit its wielder's skills and become deadly.
"Mhm! You noticed?" Wakana beamed and cradled the cup with care.
"They're adorable, aren't they? The tea they brew has this unique, lingering fragrance—I just had to take them home. Drinking from them is so refreshing!"
"Well, they are gods now, in a sense. Some special powers are only natural."
"Nura Wakana" glanced at the tsukumogami teacup, then looked at her companion.
"Say… you really see this humble monk as your sister?"
"Why not? Come on, say it—'Onee-chan.' Just once?"
"…Why would this humble monk call someone who's lived barely a tenth of his years 'Onee-chan'?"
"Nura Wakana" blew gently on her cup, then took a sip, her tone listless.
"Besides, making someone like me your sister… it'll only bring you misfortune."
"There you go again. Limbo, why do you always put yourself down?"
Wakana reached for her tea, but it was still too hot, so she put it back with a frown—and stared sternly across the table.
"Nura Wakana" raised a faint brow, unfazed.
"Mmm… It's not self-deprecation. Just the truth."
"Not true at all! Limbo, you're a good person!"
Wakana's tone was firmer than expected.
"That's only because you're an ordinary human. You can't see my true nature."
Propping one elbow on the table, "Nura Wakana" spoke nonchalantly.
"Look at the Nura Clan. They're always wary of me. Because they can see it—the darkness, the malice that surpasses any yōkai. If I had to give it a name… I'd say I'm a black sun made of pure evil."
"Hmm… but…"
Wakana furrowed her brow like she was solving a difficult riddle.
"All that darkness… it's just a disguise, isn't it?"
Then she shook her head.
"No, not a disguise. It's more like… a coat. That's right, a coat! Like how people wear thick jackets in winter—you're just protecting yourself, right? You wrap yourself in that darkness because you want to keep something important safe."
"…"
Wakana's smile blossomed. She didn't notice the flicker in Limbo's eyes.
"Why do I think that? Because… you just don't match all that scary stuff."
She leaned on the table, resting her chin in her hand. Her eyes gleamed with warmth.
"You said earlier that you're like the sun. I think that's true. But not some black, evil sun—you're the kind of sun that brings warmth to spring."
Smiling, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
"Even if you're covered up in that scary stuff, even if no one else sees it… you can't fool me. Hmmph~!"
Steam curled from the teacups.
"Nura Wakana" looked at her, then gave a long, slow sigh.
The smile on his face seemed to say—
"I give up."
"You really are… an unusual woman in every sense."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean? Still, thanks for the compliment. Hehehe~!"
Was that a compliment? Even he wasn't sure anymore.
But seeing her laugh like that… it might as well have been.
The tea party went on for quite some time. With Wakana's flights of fancy, the conversation kept veering wildly off course.
Eventually, they ended up talking about Rikuo.
"Rikuo's off doing something dangerous again…"
Wakana stared into her half-empty teacup, worry etched across her face.
"Before I realized it, he'd grown up—just like his father. It's been so long since he curled up in my lap and whined like a kid…"
She trailed off, then slowly turned to her double—and heard:
"Nope. This humble monk refuses."
"I haven't even said anything yet!"
Wakana pouted, clearly annoyed by the premature rejection.
"…Fine. I'll let you say it. Go on—what did you want to ask?"
"Well, since you can look like me, you can probably turn into Rikuo too, right?"
Her eyes lit up like stars.
"So… I want you to turn into little Rikuo and snuggle in my lap. Just once!"
"That's exactly why I said no!"
"Nura Wakana" looked genuinely distressed—he even forgot to use "this humble monk" for once.
"Ehh? Really? What a shame…"
Wakana sighed with disappointment—then suddenly smiled again, the sorrow completely replaced.
"In that case, I'll make a different request."
She gazed at him softly.
"I want you to protect Rikuo. Make sure he comes back safe… please?"
"Nura Wakana" propped his chin on his hand and stared at her serene face. Then he lowered his eyes with a quiet nod.
"That's a much more reasonable request. This humble monk sees no reason to refuse."
After all, it was the heartfelt wish… of a mother.
Protecting Nura Rikuo? That was hardly difficult. He could agree to that without issue.
Oh, right—
Should I go ahead and deal with Nurarihyon's problem too…?
He began to seriously consider it.