Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It is not talked about in the Nura clan, to the point that most have forgotten. But once upon a time Nurarihyon had a daughter, once upon a time Rihan had a little sister. Unlike her big brother or her father she did not choose to stay in the yokai world, she in many ways took after her mother's side of the family more than her father's. She was a beautiful young woman, she had brown hair like her grandmother. She has her mother's kind heart and soft nature, all those in the Nura clan adored her, and she adored them in equal measures. 

But she was not made for the world of Yokai and Ayakashi. Her closest friend and confidant was her older brother's fiance and eventual wife. 

While she inherited much from her mother, she did inherit traits from her father as well. The Supreme Commander; Nurarihyon, a yakai most well known in the human world for their tendency to sneak into houses; steal their food and play pranks on the poor humans. To the Ayakashi he was the Supreme commander and yakuza leader. To them he was the Supreme Commander who earned that title through defeating great, powerful, and terrifying opponents. She inherited her fear, her inability to be touched when it suited her, and her stubborn, strong willed nature from her father. 

She stayed in the Nura clan manor and home-base for most of her life, that along with her uninterest in fighting, evil deeds, and most yokai things other than freedom and fun pranks led her to be considered the spoiled half Ayakashi princess of the Nura clan. There were no deeds that would gain you the anger and wrath of the Nura quicker or more thoroughly then hurting or messing with the little Nura princess.

When Nurarihyon and princess Yōhime had their first child they named him Rihan; Ri meaning carp in hopes that he would grow to be a strong and courageous young man like his father. Han; meaning companion or partner in hopes that he will never be alone and his night parade would never leave his side.

Even as Rihan Nura grew, Yōhime and Nurarihyon began to worry. He was half yokai, he was a question that none truly knew if it had been asked before. And they worried their son was lonely being an only child of such an unlikely pairing of an Ayakashi and a Human. And honestly their son was very independent and strong willed, traits he got from his father. Making Yōhime miss his more clingy and childish days.(not to say that her husband and son don't both have days of being the most childish people in the mansion.) She also worried for both of her boys, they were Yokai, ghosts, spirits, monsters, even if her son was only half he would still live so much longer than she herself had any hopes of. 

So she hoped that giving her boys just one more piece of her, just one more person to share that feeling with, would make them even the slightest bit happier when she is finally gone.

Nurarihyon loves his wife and son very much. But after their son was born he thought that he would never have another. That birth was hard on Yōhime, and he thought he would never put his Princess in that state ever again. He thought that they agreed that one was enough, especially with the curses that Hagoromo Gitsune put on his blood that they still didn't quite know what it did. But then came the day that his woman, the most beautiful being in the universe, begged him for another. He tried to stand firm… to tell her that he couldn't risk, almost losing her before her time, just like last time. But she was persistent, she begged, and he gave in, because he is weak to his family, and especially his wife.

The birth of their daughter was not easier than their son, but she miraculously recovered quicker. They named her sari; sa, meaning Blossom, for she was the Nura clan's little flower. A hope for them to always be together, and the yet unseen potential that she holds. Ri; meaning white jasmine, absolute grace, amiability, and compassion, in hopes that she will enjoy those traits whether she decides to be a Yokai or a human. Just like her mother.

When Yamabuki left, leaving only a poem and a branch of the Yamabuki Rose, Sari Nura felt empty. She was still young, and never really fell in love but she loved Yamabuki Otome like the sister she never had, she was her closest friend, and she left her without even saying a proper goodbye to any member of her family. She stayed though to take care of her aging mother and her broken hearted older brother…. Her best friend was gone, her mother died of old age, her father was doing well, and her brother was healing. She stayed for 65 years after her friend and sister in law left to never be seen again. And she was getting restless. 

Sari Nura long decided that she preferred the world of humans and humanity to the world of Yokai and Ayakashi. So her brother and father left her out of most of that business. But the world had just gotten so much bigger. There was so much of the world to see and explore. And she wanted to do so. She talked to her brother and father about going to see the world outside of Japan and Asia. They didn't like the idea, it took almost 30 years for them to allow her to go, and almost 50 to let her go alone. She had to continuously prove herself capable of defending herself that whole time. But she was now allowed to see the world on her own, to learn who she truly is without the Nura name.

Throughout her travels she learned it was best to change her identity every once and a while to not make too many people suspicious. She learned that humans can to be just as bad and evil as ayakashi. She learned that Yokai and the supernatural creatures she grew up with were not the only pantheon to exist. She was sitting on a beach in New York(Montauk she thinks it's called), planning to go home, to finally stop wandering when she met him for the first time.

He came out of the waves, like a dragon in mortal disguise, his hair was black like the fear she inherited from her father that she keeps hidden away, like the nights she spent with her family under the blossoming flowers. Like the deepest part of the seas. His eyes; sea green, a shade no human could or should have, seemed to be pools made from the waters he emerged from itself. His body is that of a fighter, who takes his enemies by surprise( like her brother, like her father, like herself, like the sea.). He would not look too out of place at one of her family's meetings with the highly ranked Ayakashi of the clan. For the first time she fell in love at first sight. But growing up a Nura and along her travels she knew how to spot one who isn't human, and how to spot one more powerful than yourself. 

And she could tell at a glance at this man's fear, no, aura? That he was both more powerful than herself and very much not human.

He turned to her, feeling her staring. She bowed politely, not too much, but enough for both of them. She did not know who the attractive man was, or what he was doing here, but she would not bother him, or get in his way. She walked away from him as the grace given to her by being born to the Supreme Commander and a noble woman of the late Sengoku period to the early Edo period allowed her in front of a more powerful individual with no backup. 

After that she saw him every once and a while at the beach. They did not talk, but every encounter had them drawing closer and closer together. Until one day Sari saw a group of teenagers harassing a lone baby seal. “Hay!” She yelled with all the authority of one who could have, at any moment, made her own night parade of a hundred demons, but chose not to. “Leave them alone.”

“Or what?” one of them had the strength or stupidity to ask. To that she released a small portion of her fear. Making them run away immediately. Sometimes every once and a while she considers her original decision in being human and not yokai, and thinks she should have chosen differently. Seeing the human youth torturing innocent creatures is one of those times, she always considers how easy it would be to be more Ayakashi then human, to make them pay. But she is afraid of going too far. Her brother is strong and he made the clan flourish in the Edo period. Her father destroyed Hagoromo Gitsune, and became the lord of pandemonium. She… she just wanted a normal life. She made it very clear that she wanted no part in being in the line of succession to lead the clan. She had no delusions that she would make a good leader for the Yokai. 

She walked closer to the yung seal, but not too close. “I'm sorry if I scared you little one. I'm going to stay right here and make sure no more evil humans will touch you while we wait for your mother.” She smiled kindly at the baby seal as it paired up at her with its sea green eyes, as she sat down on the beach not too far away. “I would try to help you more, but sadly I didn't inherit my mother's talents with healing.” She smiled sadly at the seal, it still hurt, even a hundred years later, but the pain was dulled. “Don't worry little one, I'll keep you safe.” 

sari didn't know when it happened but at some point she fell asleep. She woke to the beach being quiet, dark, the moon reflecting clearly in the dark calm waters of the sea… and the baby seal gone, in its place was the man she had been seeing around. “The seal's mother took him back home a while ago. He's safe. I figured you'd like to know.” The man's voice was deep and strong, the sound of tidal waves crashing into the land, the sound of danger, the sound of restrained energy, the sound of fear. Of power. The sound that reminded her of home. Of a power you can feel but not touch.

“Thank you.” She gets up to leave. With the grace that still hasn't left her even through her travels.

“Wait.” he said, almost commanded. “What is your name?”

Sari Nura thought for a moment, on what she would tell the obviously non-human attractive man. Her standing with her back to him. “My name is Sally Jackson, and if our destinies deem it fit we will meet again stranger.” and with those parting words, a subtle and clever use of the fear she inherited from her father. She vanished from his sight. Maybe she will stay in New York a little longer. 

Chapter Text

There was a pattern that the youngest Nura, now going by Sally Jackson consistently, was starting to notice. She would see a sea creature in trouble, her bleeding heart would make her help it, then the stranger would appear. They would talk, and she would disappear like how her father did after going into someone's house eating their food, taking their belongings, and pulling at least one prank on them.(she absent mindedly wonders if mythologies from outside Japan had beings like her father. She didn't really keep track, she was always more interested in the human side of things anyway.) Apparently the attractive man with the voice of the deep found her kindness, and mysteriousnus, charming and entertaining. “So, gorgeous, if you find me so interesting. Why? Do I remind you of someone?”

The man sighed. “You do… to an extent. You slightly remind me of 2 of my nephews; they are mischievous pranksters, especially the youngest of the 2.”

She let out a small breath of a laugh. “I'm the youngest in my family, and everyone there likes to pull pranks. You could even say that is how my father got my mother's hand….” She trailed off in memory. “I miss them.”

Sensing that it may be best to change the subject he continued. “But you are bright and brilliant in so many ways like the other one. Unlike most in my family though you are kind. Kind, caring, calm, but strong and mysterious, like the oceans waters on a summer's day, where the children play. You are more of a queen then most people I've ever seen with that title, and that's what is so interesting about you.”

“Well thank you.” She got up. “I guess it's gonna be time for me to leave soon.” 

“Wait.” He grabbed her wrist. “Where are you from? I can't place your accent.”

She gently removed his strong fingers. “I'm a traveler my dear storm, a mirage of the moon on the water, the mist that always slips through your fingers.” She cups his face in her hands “I'm the visitor that you mistakenly invite into your house, only to find that your things are missing, your food eaten, and pranks pulled. I'm a mystery wrapped in an illusion.” She uses her fear once more to hide her presence. “At least that's how my father describes us.”

The man laughs loud and mirthfully. “You are really like my little nephew! If I didn't know better I would think you too were one and the same, or at least related.”

She kisses him on the forehead and whispers. “I'll see you around Allen.” Then she walked away.

“Poseidon.” He couldn't take it any more. He needed this mysterious woman… he needed her too…

She dropped her fear. “What?”

The man made direct eye contact with her holding each other's gaze. “My true name is Poseidon.” And with that for the first time he disappeared before she could.

Poseidon is 90% sure that Sally Jackson is a distant forgotten descendent of his nephew Hermes, and or maybe Nyx. But she was definitely not a demigod, so he is sure that she is a mortal. She could also just be from a blessed bloodline from one or both of the previously mentioned gods. That they as the long living immortal beings that they are, just forgot about. And Poseidon is glad that he was the one to find her. She was the most beautiful and interesting mortal he had met in centuries. She reminded him of his wife when they were younger. When the free spirit of the sea was more visible.

Being near Sally almost made him forget about the oath. 

He promised himself that he won't do anything. That he wouldn't destroy a child's life just for a few nights of pleasure and fun. That he wouldn't doom a child to the fate that the prophecy foretold. Just because this mortal was more beautiful than the light shows that the bioluminescent creatures of his kingdom put on at night, and are more mysterious than the deepest parts of his oceans. He couldn't risk a child's future to forever misery and tragedy just because this mortal had the poise, aura, and regalness of a queen unlike anything he had seen since machine grease.

But before he knew it he was testing her the way he started to test all his lovers for a few centuries now. Maybe he was trying to find a flaw in her. Maybe he was trying to find something that would sink his interest in her. Maybe he was hoping that the young woman would prove herself lacking in some way. But she never did.

He convinced himself that it would be ok. Maybe they could be in a relationship just as long as they never had a kid. That they could be close, just never take that last step. And it worked for a while. They started dating.

Then came the day everything changed.

His little brother and youngest of his sisters were both acting strange. Zuse was leaving Olympus more than he has in the last 80 years. And Hara has been more volatile and moody, then she has been for a while… so. Well never say that Poseidon isn't a curious god. Many of the creatures in his domain are known for their curiosity. So it isn't his fault that one day he decided to follow his little brother to see what he was up to. If he had to be worried about the youngest of all of his siblings' health. 

Spoiler alert he didn't. 

While following his brother, he found out that his little brother, his king, the man that forced him and hades to take an oath to no longer have any more mortal children. No more demigods… had sired a little girl, now 4 year old. A little girl that was born, against the oath the three brothers had taken, at the behest of her father. She was small, taking almost all of her looks from her father. This girl was cursed with the weight of the prophecy already crushing her, she would either die before 16, or by the day of it.

Poseidon should have been angry. He should have felt injustice. He should have felt betrayed. 

But instead he felt relieved. Zuse had broken the oath. If he were to have a child the prophecy would not be theirs. He and Sally could actually be together instead of dancing around each other like they have been doing for almost a year now. Poseidon wouldn't have to fear for Sally and their child's life. It would all be on Zuse's little girl and Zuse himself would have to come to terms with the pain of losing a child so soon. 

Poseidon should have pity on the girl. But all he could feel was joy and gratitude for her. Thanks to her he could be with the treasured queen he found in the mortal world with only the amount of fear, trepidation, and dread that he felt for all his halfblood children. She may have been intended as a gift to either his brother, Zeus or his brother's lover… but he thought that her existence was one of the best gifts that he could ever ask for. Because as long as she lived, any demigod children that he had, would be safe.

That night he went to Sally and let her know that he was ready to take their relationship to the next level. Something they were both very happy about. Sally didn't know what had changed his mind, and he didn't feel the need to tell her. They were happy to just be them, on their little private stretch of beach, in the little cabin in sand. Everything in their little world was perfect. Poseidon could love her with no restrictions. His brother could not complain if anything happened, for he broke the oath first, and the prophecy was his problem. Not Poseidon's. Not Sally’s. Not any child that came from his love for this mortal woman. All the consequences, and horrors of that prophecy were Zeus's and his daughter's problem. And it would not be theirs.

Chapter Text

Ok, so it might have been a good thing that Poseidon came back to their little beach house and basically immediately shouted. “Let's try for a baby!” for multiple reasons… A majority of those go back to the fact that she is both half yokai and raised by them. There is a good reason for them to be considered evil by both humans and fellow ayakashi after all. Most Yokai took pride in that fact. That she was spoiled by her clan and had the word ‘no’ barely used on her growing up did not help matters. On the upside she preferred her human half so she didn't take pride in her evil deeds. 

As much as she loves Poseidon she could not bring herself to tell him that a child was not in their future. She knew that the curses on her father's blood would not allow her to have a child with an Ayakashi. The suffering that her friend Yamabuki Otome suffered because of it told her as much. Her only hope of having children was with a human. For Hagoromo Gitsune's curse did not factor humans into the equation, only yokai. Sari would tell her love someday, and on that day she would also tell him her real name. Maybe she would even take him home to meet her father and brother. But until then they would have their fun together.

Apparently she should have taken into consideration, that Poseidon wasn't a Yokai. Or from Japan. Maybe, when she heard the name Poseidon, she should have done any research. Maybe she should have been smarter. But she wasn't. That's okay, she's half human, she can adapt, she can learn and do better in the future. That doesn't change her current predicament though. 

Her love. Her Arashi . Her first love. Was a Greek god. 

And apparently Greek gods are not close enough to being Ayakashi for that damned foxes curse to actually be useful. She was not expecting to get pregnant. She was honestly expecting to never get pregnant. While she preferred the human world to the Ayakashi one, she also got her mother's taste in men. Free spirited, and strong. Someone she could rely on. Someone that like her father did for her mother would stay by her. Sadly that was not Poseidon. 

“Sally, please.” He begged. “Come live with me in my kingdom. I'd make you a queen, I'd give you a palace beneath the waves.”

She shook her head. “I'm sorry but I can't.” She left the Nura clan to find herself. She left to see the world. But one day she would like to go back. To see her big brother, to hug her father, to let her clan hear about her adventures from her own mouth. For the clan to see her for more than her titles, for more than her blood. If she accepted his offer. That all would mean nothing. She may have inherited her taste in men from her mother, but her stubbornness and free spirit was from her father.

“Why not? You and your child can stay safe and if you accept then you could be immortal in my cort forever. You would never have to struggle.” He was sweet, and kind. Holding Sally’s hands in his own.

But all she did was shake her head, as she still sat on the couch. “Oh, Si, being human is exciting, fun, and always a new experience, the struggle, the tribulations, all the things that the world throws at us, that keeps us changing, and adapting… Si, that's the fun of it. That's what living is all about. And who would I be if I take that choice, that experience away from our child forever? Before they can even comprehend what they would be losing?” Sari was half yokai, she knew the feeling of being trapped in between 2 worlds and not cleanly fitting into one or another. But she also knew the power of being different and having the ability to choose. She wants that freedom for her child. She wanted them to be free to be themselves in whatever form that may take.

Poseidon sighed and moved from his spot in front of her, so he could instead sit next to her. “If you are sure about this.”

“I am.”

“Thare are a few things that you need to know.” Sally raised an eyebrow in questioning. “One of my titles is…. Well… they, the mortals I mean, as well as my worship as the ruler of the seas, earthquakes, and storms, I also created horses, but they also-”

“Sidin, Waga Arashi , you are rambling.” She took one of her hands out of the sea gods and placed it on his cheek instead.“As much as I appreciate a good deception, once and a while, please get on with it.”

He took a breath that he biologically didn't need, and nodded. “I'm called the father of monsters for a reason, Αντανάκλαση.” 

Sally almost laughed, she grew up with Ayakashi, her father was Nurarihyon; ‘the General of monsters’, ‘the Supreme Commander of all yokai’. And she ends up having a child with ‘the father of monsters’? How was this not funny? He thought that she might abandon their child just because he was different from a ‘normal’ child? That would never happen. “Oh, don't worry, no matter if they turn out as the most ugly and evil creature in the universe I will still love them. Just as much as if they turned out to be the most beautiful and kind being in the world. They will be my pride and joy.”

Poseidon smiles at her with a pained look. Like he has hurt the same promise broken, one too many times. “I hope so. But that's not all.” He takes another deep breath that they both know he doesn't need. “They will be a demigod, half mortal half god,” that was fairly obvious. “The children of the gods or ‘halfbloods”, as they have taken to calling themselves, have been cursed for a long time.” That made Sari's blood run cold, she knew what curses could do, and her baby would have 2. But, the sea god was on a roll now getting as much information out as he could. “They attract monsters, the more powerful the godly parent the more powerful the halfbloods, the stronger the scent that attracts them. I'm one of the strongest and oldest in our pantheon. This child will always be in danger. No matter where you go or how you hide.”

It was Sally’s turn to take a deep breath. “Is there a safe place for us?” She couldn't take her child home, monsters roamed in the Nura estate freely. And some of them are already known for their taste for children's flash. She couldn't risk the curses that affected the child of the Greek gods to have the same kind of loophole as the curses from Hagoromo Gitsune had. She couldn't risk it, she wouldn't. But that meant that her family couldn't come to see her either. And her father would definitely come as fast as he could once he heard news of a grand baby. 

Poseidon winced at the question. “Thare is a safer place for our child.”

“Good, then we will go there together. My child can be safe there with me.” She said firmly.

“I'm sorry.” What was he apologizing for? “Only the children of the gods are permitted to enter. It's a training ground for them. A place for them to learn how to survive anything that the fates may weave them into.”

Sally squeezed her eyes shut. “How effective is the training?"

“They live longer with it than without.” he sounds pained.

She let the couch take even more of her weight. “And how long do they tend to live with it?”

“Most still don't make it to adulthood.” That confession physically pained her, making her let out a small hurt noise. He took her into his arms to comfort her.“I know I'm so sorry…. I only have a few more things you should know, though I don't foresee one being an issue.”

She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. “what?”

“Thare was a prophecy given almost a century ago, saying a child born from one of my brothers, or I, will either save or destroy the world, and the the way we will know who it is is by them living to their 16th birthday.”

“HOW DO YOU NOT SEE THAT AS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN?!” She shrieked in fear for her baby 

“Because, Αντανάκλαση.” He soothed, “my brother has a baby who is already a year old. They can take the prophecy. Our little one can just be a normal demigod.” He cooed at Sally Jackson's still flat stomach.

And as much as she wants to get mad at Poseidon for not caring about the safety of his niece or nephew. As much as she wants to care for the child who has been sacrificed to such a fate. As much as she wishes she would be sad or concerned for the child. She, sadly, was only half human. And could only feel glad that such a terrible destiny did not extend to her child. In the privacy of her own mind, she thanked the child for their sacrifice. Thanked them for taking on the burden, so her child didn't have to. “Enything else?”

He stared silent for a long time. “Poseidon?”

He did not look at her. “Waga Arashi?”

“Once the child is born I will not be able to see you again.”

“Why?”

She could see the pain in his posture and eyes, even though he refused to look at her, and heard it in his voice. “It's an ancient law. If I break it something bad may happen, and I don't think I could take it well if it did.”

“It's ok.” She said with all the strength and resolve of one born to the the Lord of Pandemonium. “I'll protect them and keep them close until they have to go. You gave me a child, that is a gift I honestly never thought I would receive. And I can't thank you enough for it. I'll take care of them from here.”

He looked at her with hurt and sadness. “Are you kicking me out?”

“No, Waga Arashi.” She kisses his forehead. “I'm making sure we can keep our child safe. We need to make a plan. Please get me as much information as you can. I have some preparations to make.” She walked away from the god in her living room. It is time to see if she can disappear so thoroughly that not even Nurarihyon can find her.

Chapter Text

Percy Jackson was never a normal child. Sally knew that her child had no hope of being a ‘normal child’ even if he didn't get dyslexia and ADHD from his daddy. He may have possibly had a hope if Sari managed to have a child with a normal human. If she did then her son would have been ¼ Ayakashi, and ¾ human. But no, she didn't. And that is on her. 

She should take this from the beginning. So you lovely readers can understand just why the idea of her son ever being ‘normal’ was an impossibility from the moment he was born. 

On August 18, after 9 months of making sure no Ayakashi could find her especially from the Nura clan, researching everything she can get her hands on that has to deal with the Greek pantheon, as well as making sure that the humans would not figure out that ‘Sally Jackson’ did not actually exist. She went into labor, and made her way to the cheapest hospital that she could afford. After suddenly cutting herself off from the support of her clan completely. She could not risk them tracing it back to her, to her son. It took hours of painful torture, of pushing, of wishing and crying out for her mother, her big brother, her father, Yamabuki Otome, anyone to help, to comfort her. But no one came, she made sure of it. As she cried out a storm rage harder, the storm had started as soon as her water broke. She cried out for Poseidon once and only once he did not appear either, he couldn't, if he did one or both of his brothers could find out. And they had discussed… only bad things would come from his siblings learning about their child. 

Sally was alone.

But not for long, Hagoromo Gitsune's curse had been weakened due to the unpredictability of Nurarihyon's line. An unpredictability that would probably only be boosted by adding in not only human blood, but that of a god of the seas. As she pushed for one final time the earth gave a little shake, and the cry of a newborn was heard through the chaos. Finally as they gave her little boy to her, the storm and earthquake settled down. 

Sally looked upon her baby boy with love and care. She knew the importance of names after all she was born and raised in Japan in the Edo period after all. In Japanese culture names are profound markers of identity, heavily rooted in Kanji, meaning, and heritage, often reflecting parental hopes and societal values. She had once thought about naming her child something from her homeland. She thought about Mako (真子) meaning ‘child of the ocean’, Kaiji (海司) Combineding Kai (ocean/wave) with Ji (leader), suggesting a strong, leading force like the ocean. She also thought about naming her son Rento (漣翔), using Ren (ripples/waves) and To (fly/soar), symbolizing graceful but powerful movement. But she knew her son was destined to at the very least be connected to his father's world. She had read all the myths she could during her pregnancy, and she saw how almost all of them died painfully and tragically. She did not wish that fate for her child. 

So being the child of a being that could be considered a spirit of manipulation, she decided to name her child Perseus, after one of the king of the Greek gods favorite demigod children, in hopes that it would curb his rage at his nephew's existence. After one of the only demigods that didn't have a painful and or tragic ending, in hopes that her little boy could have even a portion of that old hero's luck. After Danaë's Destroyer, in a warning to all that would try to hurt her boy, for in one way or another they will be destroyed. She would make sure of it.

When Percy was 3 years old he started preschool. The other children were split, some of them thought he was weird, that his habit of taking any chance he could to play in the water, or how sometimes they would suddenly not be able to see him. Was scary, unsettling, weird, something other, something that they didn't like. And when children decide that, they do not tend to be kind. Human children can be cruel when they find something different. These children would tease him at any chance they got. They would do what they could to stay away from Perseus, and take every opportunity to point out his differences. From his odd behavior, to his weird name, to his harder time paying attention, or reading.

The other children though… They looked up to Sally Jackson's son.

Where their peers saw a strange, weird, and unnerving fellow child. They saw the coolest and most aww inspiring person they have ever seen. They saw Percy as a leader, something that he himself was not aware of. They would ask Percy for permission, before ever asking the teacher, or if the teacher and Sally's son do not agree on something, these children would defer to Perseus's judgment. 

Some of them turned away from the child of the sea when they found out about Percy’s trouble reading and paying attention. Others did not mind or care about his struggles, not affecting how they treat Sally Jackson's son one way or the other. Then there was the final group of children, the ones that once they learned about the struggles that Nurarihyon's grandson faced in his learning career, they claimed that it didn't matter because they would take care of it for him. This small group did not just see Percy as a potential friend, a leader, someone to look up to. No this small group of children were the few that for one reason or another could feel and or since the ora, the authority… the fear… that he inherited from both the king of the seas, ‘the king of Yokai’, the yakuza leader the became the lord of pandemonium, the god who rules over 71% of the planet.

The teachers did not like the son of Ms. Jackson. Ms. Jackson was a single mother, a young woman who had a child out of wedlock. Other than that the teachers and school administration had nothing bad to say about her. Her child on the other hand… Most authority figures in the school did not like him. He had a way of looking at you like you forgot to ask him for permission. When he smiled, he looked like he either just got away with something, or was about to cause trouble. He didn't take orders or commands. Perseus was willing to fight if he thought he saw injustice, no matter who he believed was responsible. Perseus, was both a child that exudes authority, in everything he does, and a free spirit that despises any restriction. Most adults feel that the boy undermines their authority, and like children that tends to make them lash out.

Sally did not know if the incident, that happened halfway through Percy's first year at preschool, was on purposely done by such adults and or children. Or if like they claimed, it was an accident. But no matter what, it doesn't change the fact that Sally was upset.

Sally had had a good day at work, and she went to her son's preschool to pick him up at the end of the day. The preschool had a specific schedule, as they got closer to the end of the day they would put the children down for a nap. So that they would not be cranky, when the parents came to pick them up. 

Did it always work? No. 

Was it helpful most of the time? Most of the time, yes.

To try to combat the children being grumpy when woken up to go home, they wake the children up about fifteen minutes before the parents are supposed to come to pick up their children. 

When Sally walked into the classroom to pick up her son, something felt off. All though all seemed normal. The teacher let her into the class, and as she looked over the room, looking for her child, sadly her child took almost all his looks from his father. Maybe Sally could give at least partial credit for Percy’s black hair to her parents though. Unlike Percy’s normal behavior of playing with fellow children, fighting with a child who was bullying another, or playing with water from a water fountain or faucet. He was sitting on his cot, and playing with something, his back facing the door. She walked up to her child, realizing that he was subconsciously using a little bit of his fear, to hide himself from his classmates and teachers. “My little Ningyo, what are you to doing?” she softly asked him using her pet name for him.

“Playing.” He said, while trying to hide the thing he had.

Sally smiled down at him, crouching down to his level. “Oh? And what are you playing with? I don't see any of your friends around.”

Percy looked around, for the first time taking notice of the other children who weren't around him. “Why they keep forget me?” Sally’s heart broke a little at that, her son didn't know that his powers were making it so they couldn't perceive him. She would need to teach him how to use his powers. But, at the same time, it would be dangerous for him to note that he had them, so she'd have to teach him to subtly. Percy’s face then changed, remembering his mother's questions. “Toy.”

“Oh?” She prompted her child. “What kind of toy?”

Percy’s face screwed up in concentration. Making him even more adorable.( in Sally's opinion) He was obviously searching for a word, and she wait for him, let's get it. He had ADHD, and was being taught two languages at the same time. He would obviously have trouble finding the words he wanted to use every once in a while. “Rope?” he said with his cute toddler voice, obviously still frustrated on not getting the word he wanted.

“Is that the word you want to use?” She asked.

He shook his head ‘no.’

“Do you want to try it in Nihongo?” She asked, the preschool preferred for their students to all speak English. But Sally would not let her child not know the language of his grandparents.

Percy thought about it… looked at the teacher, then nodded ‘yes’

“Sate, sore wa don'na omochadesu ka?”

He thought for a little bit longer, then decided on. “hebi-san.”

Sally’s blood went cold. “Nanite itta no, ningyo-chan?”

“Hebi-san” Percy chirped happily.

Sally made sure to keep a smile on her face. “Mama ni misete kureru?” Percy was so happy at finding the correct word, that he nodded and brought out the ‘toy’. It was a dead snake. “Mama ni sore o kashite moraemasen ka? Watashi ni hitsuyōna no.” 

He hesitated but nodded. “Hai, mama”

Percy put it in her outstretched hand. “Arigatō, ningyo-chan. Mama wa kore o sensei ni watasanakya ikenai no. Omocha o ie ni mochikaeru no wa damena nda yo.” her son, hesitated for a second then nodded his ascent and understanding. And with that with the dead snake in hand, she calmly walked to the teacher that's supposed to be in charge of this class. “Excuse me, Mrs. Moth?”

“Yes, Ms. Jackson?” The teacher, of her son's class terned to her, a polite smile on her face. 

Sally made sure that her back was obscuring her son's view of the teacher. “Can you please tell me why my son was playing with this.” She held out the snake's body inbutween them. Her voice calm, and almost gentle, but her smile and eyes are sharp, calculating, and cold. 

Chapter Text

Hi, my name is Percy, spelled P.e.r…. Is it s or c next? English is hard, Japanese is so much better. Anyway, I'm in 1st grade and currently 7 years old. I've been having fun at this new school, my last one flooded, I don't know why. But I think that bully Kevin got what was coming to them. (It was really funny to see the water just shoot out of the pipes at him.)

I don't think the kids at the new school like me all that much though. A bunch of them keep avoiding me, and calling me weird names. Sometimes when I get really sad or everything just starts everythinging, I pretend I don't exist. That I'm just a… what is it? That I'm just something everyone else made up. So I can just sit in the corner of the playground until things stop hurting my head. Everyone must know what I'm doing because they play along. They stop talking to me, asking me to do things, and just let me be alone until I stop pretending. Mommy did tell me that I'm not allowed to pretend for too long… because if I'm not actually real then that would make her sad, and I wouldn't get any candy. 

Anyway, today was just one of the days I wanted to be left alone. So as I was walking to the fence of the playground I started to pretend. Finally as I got to the part of the fence furthest away from the other kids, everyone was leaving me alone. I sit down right next to it, watching as the people walk by. Then as this super big guy is walking past he stops. He is wearing a suit that he is obviously not comfortable wearing, and a really big hat. He is looking around like he is looking for someone but can't find them. “Saikō No Nakama Ishiki ? Iya , Chigau . Moshi Kare Da~tsu Tara , Watashi Wa Kidzuka Naka~tsu Ta Hazu Da . Kore Wa Osanai yāo No Kyōfu Da . Wakasama ? Iya , Kare Wa Ichizoku No Yashiki Ni Modo~tsu Te Iru Shi , Mada Yō Sugiru Shi , Ningen Sugiru Kara , Kyōfu O Ayatsuru Koto Wa Dekinai . Jā , Ittai Dare Nan Da?” The ginormous guy continued mumbling to himself, and I couldn't even really understand what he was saying through all the noise.

“Are you looking for someone sir?” I don't want to stop pretending yet, but this guy is interesting, maybe I can try to do both?

The guy jumps ( which is a really funny sight), then looks at me. I frowned up at him, his stupid big hat won't let me see his face even though he is the biggest person I've ever seen. “Soko ni iru no wa daredesu ka?” He boomed.

Oh! I know that language! “Okyakusama,-dō ni mayowa remashita ka?”

“Watashi wa michi ni mayotte imasen.” He says gruffly, he might be blind because he's not looking right at me.

But that works for me because I didn't want to be acknowledged anyway. “Anata wa mayotte iru yō ni miemasu.” O point out. Because he did. “Anata mo sugoku ōkīdesu ne! Dō yatte son'nani ōkiku natta ndesu ka?”

He gritted his teeth, then a really big blasting wind seemed to come from him. Then his gaze on me became different, before he was just looking at me, even though I can't see the top part of his face, I can tell he could now see me. “Dō yatte nihongo o oboeta ndesu ka? Anata wa nihonjin ni wa miemasen yo.” He grinned sharply at me. He seemed to be inspecting me, like he's looking for something.

I shrugged. “Anata wa michi ni mayotte inai hito ni wa miemasen.”

The big guy glared down at me, and leaned over the fence. Finally giving me a clear view of his face. And right there in the middle of his forehead was… “Hey! Getaway from the kid!” Mr. Anderson, ran over. “If you don't get away from the children I will have to call the police.” Anderson tried to pull me away from the large man, but I was too caught off guard by his face.

The man stood up straight, no longer leaning over the fence. “Ochitsuite kudasai, ningen no kata. Watashi wa tada jibun no buzoku no ojōsama o sagashite iru dakedesu. Anata no hogo shite iru hito o tsuresarou to shite iru wakede wa arimasen.”

“Sir, I don't know what you're saying or who you are but you are in America, speak English.” Of course Mr. Anderson would say that he didn't like it when I spoke or wrote Japanese. Honestly the size difference between the two men was hilarious, and I would have laughed if not for me being distracted by the larger guy's face, and what was in the middle of his forehead. “We are going inside, come on Perseus.” He pulls me with him as he calls out to the other kids. “Jackson, come!”

My eyes are still on the gigantic man. As he hears my name he shakes his head, deciding something, then walks away. Leaving the memory of his one eye and large frame, in my memory only to be remembered much later.

Hitotsume Nyudo, did not like America, he did not like human civilization, and he definitely did not like this ‘New York’. He missed the Sengoku period, when Yokai, like him, could do whatever they wanted. But he came to this kami forsaken city for one reason and one reason only, to find the Young Lady of the Nura clan. To let her know that her older brother, the 2nd heir of the clan, had died leaving behind his 4 year old son. There is a chance of her being dead as well, but most of the clan did not believe so. If Hitotsume Nyudo could not find Sari Nura, on this trip she would be assumed to be dead as well. He may not like the strong human nature in the girl, but she would be a better leader than the Young Master.

He stopped suddenly… “Supreme Commander? No. If it was him then I wouldn't have noticed. This is the fear of a baby ayakashi. Yung Master? No, he's back at the clan estate, and is too young and too human to use fear. So who?” He continued to look around. This fear, it was that of Nurarihyon and his blood. Subtle, but strong, delicate, but sturdy, fluid, but almost crushing. It couldn't be of the supreme commander, because it wasn't that intense, prevalent, or artful. It couldn't be the Young Lady, cause she is even more subtle and controlled…. She didn't take to her Ayakashi blood as much as her brother, deciding instead to focus on the control and subtlety. So she could use it in pranks, tricks, and everyday deception, rather than the battles that the second heir tended to prefer. And the Young Master has yet to awaken his blood. “Who could it be? This makes no sense. Maybe it's a very weak and young uni buzu? We are still fairly close to the sea.”

“Okyakusama, donata ka o o sagashidesu ka?” A small Yung voice squeaked from below and beside him. For some reason a small misty laugh followed.

Looking at the place the sound came from. And internally sneered, it was a human school yard. Hitotsume Nyudo only ever truly liked 2 humans in his long life. The princess of pearlescent tiers, and the supreme commander's late wife. Humans are weak, annoying, rude, dirty, and have only gotten worse as the decades pass. “Who is there?” He commanded. If this is a misplaced Yokai then he has to be firm so they don't try to manipulate him.

“Are you lost sir?” The voice spoke again, this time in childish but proper Japanese. 

How dare this little rogue monster brat accuse me, one of the highest ranking members of the Nura Clan, of such a thing as being lost. “I'm not lost.” I glared at the direction the voice was coming from.

“You look lost.” This brat. If we were back in Japan I'd fight them. “You're also really big! How did you get so big?”

That's it. Hitotsume Nyudo uses his fear to cut through the fear of the probably very young uni buzu, revealing a small child on the other side of the fence. It did not look like a uni buzu, or the supreme commander. Honestly the child looks like a normal human child about 3 years older than the Young Master. He looked closer, maybe the child is related to the missing Young Lady that he is looking for, but the harder he looked the less similarities he could find. “How do you know Japanese? You don't look like you're from Japan.” Nothing about this kid gave even a hint of Japanese descent. 

The child shrugged. “You don't look like someone who isn't lost.” the child said it calmly like it, with authority, with mischief, and for a second maybe the child's eyes look like The 2nd hair's, like the Young Lady's, The Supreme Commanders. Hitotsume Nyudo leaned closer to the child over the fence, to get a better look. To see if his eye was playing tricks on him. There is no way that this obviously human child could be- 

“Oi! Kodomo kara hanarero!” A human adult ran up to them, interrupting Hitotsume Nyudo's inspection of the child. “Moshi kodomo-tachi kara hanarenainara, keisatsu ni tsūhō sezaru o emasen.” The humans continue to spout that garbage language, what was it called? Englandish? It looked like the adult human was trying to protect the child? That makes no sense with how thin and scrawny he is. The weakest of yokai could take down this man. Even the human child he was talking to earlier was giving the human adult trouble, and all they were doing was looking at him.

Hitotsume Nyudo stood to his full (shortened) height. So the human adult knew who was really in charge. “Calm down human. I'm just looking for my clan's Young Lady. Not take one of your charges.” Honestly, why was the human freaking out? He didn't do anything. 

The stupid human ran away saying more things, while tugging the little one away. One-eyed giant yōkai did not leave; he was still trying to figure out the strange green-eyed apparently human child with the eye shape of the supreme commander's blood. Then the presumably instructor of the children called the child ‘Perseus’ and with that he knew that the child could not be related to the missing Young Lady. She took pride in her heritage. It only became even more apparent.When the adults called the child ‘Jackson’.

So he walked away. He was here to find Sari Nura, and make her aware of her brother's death. Not, puzzle over for some random child.

Chapter Text

Sally is having trouble.… she honestly didn't think that raising a ¼ Ayakashi, demigod would be this hard. Or that she would go through 1 school per year. Then there were the times that Sally would catch her son talking to another child that was obviously a yakai (at least it was obvious to her). These children had a tendency to latch on to her son and be the only friends he had in any of his schools. That would be all well and good if she could figure out if they are getting attached to Percy because of some kind of natural charisma he inherited from his grandfather, or them thinking that he smelled really tasty and wanting to trick him into letting them take a bite. (Conversations with the children did not clear anything up). Sally thinks she might have even seen a Raiju near her son one time, that was scary considering that a Raiju was a thunder dog yokai.

She even could have sworn she spotted a Bake-kujira in the distance one time they visited Montauk. 

Sometimes due to the mist so tightly wrapped around her son, he got accused of things he wasn't directly responsible for. Like the time he made friends with a probably half kitsuna girl that loved to steal shiny things. Apparently she gives some of her hall to those she likes. And that includes Percy. But with that and the mist so tightly wrapped around him, he got all the blame. Sally does not blame the girl, once she found out about the trouble it caused she tried to take responsibility. Sadly the adults did not choose to believe her.

Now, dear readers, we don't want you to believe that Sally Jackson; Sari Nura, wouldn't take her vengeance on the adults that have failed her baby boy. The fate of Mrs. Moth is one of her favorites. You see she wasn't careful enough with her baby. So Sally made it her responsibility to make sure that she would suffer for it. She started slowly, causing fear in the woman, so she couldn't see the half yokai. Then she started to move things, making noise at night. Taking Mrs. Moth's food, finally, right before the old preschool teacher finally broke, she left a snake in her bed. Maybe then she would be more careful with other people's children in the future. 

Of course those who harm her son never know that Sally is behind their torment. Except for the children, she leaves that to her son to handle. 

She also did her best to teach her son how to use his fear, how not to be afraid, so not to be affected by others fear. It was hard to do so without telling her son outright. But she had to keep it subtle for his own safety. Speaking of Percy’s safety, apparently his scent is getting stronger. She has started to spot Greek monsters around, starting to sniff out the son of Poseidon. She will have to find a way to disguise his scent soon. But she doesn't know how, she could always try to fight off the monsters herself, but that could cause problems in the long term. It could risk revealing her son and herself to the Ayakashi world, as well as the Greek. 

Both sides pose a threat to her son. And she can't have that. She will probably have to contact Poseidon to get some ideas; she is not willing to lose her son, not yet.

So after she dropped Percy off at his first boarding school. He was 9, going into 3rd grade. So she had to bribe her son with a whole day hangout with each other ending in an ice-cream sunday at a small family owned dinner. (She had found out quickly after having Percy that chain stores are more likely to have monsters in them.) Her son was still not happy about being dropped off at a school he had to stay at for the full year. He said and she quoted “I would never do this to you.” and “I'd rather let a Gagoze take me!” (She really regrets telling him modified stories of the yokai back home.) Honestly Sally didn't want to leave him there either, but she didn't have a choice, this was the closest school that was far enough away from Olympus so hopefully less monsters will notice him. 

It was a long drive back to the apartment. She closed the door behind her taking a deep breath, sliding down the door, she collected her thoughts. As she hit the floor she looked around, she worked so hard for this small 2 bedroom apartment. Hard then she had ever worked for anything, all for her child. All For Percy. If only she could give him the life she had, the life he deserved. A life where he's protected. Where he is safe. Or the name that he inherits from his family could be a shield. But she couldn't give him that, the only thing she could give Percy was more danger. 

She looks to the small kitchen where she learned to cook and bake for her child. Where she had almost burned down the entire apartment complex multiple times, before getting the hang of it just in time( she might have prayed to Hestia to make that happen). She walked over the stove top and for the first time in almost 9 years caught some food on fire. Just this time it was on purpose. ‘Poseidon, Waga Arashi, please I need your help… it's…’ 

She didn't have to finish her prayer.

She could tell when the scent of a fresh sea breeze appeared behind her. Yet she didn't turn. And he didn't say anything. “.... you look different.” She almost laughed, of course she looked different when she had a kid. She was wearing a light blue soft net sweater, (Because Percy loved hugs and the intricate patterns, but hated scratchy material.) And brown pants. Very unlike her style that she usually war when they weren't swimming back when they were dating. Back then she would wear leather jackets, with plaid skirts, she even would bleach half her hair to make it resemble her father's just a little bit more, to feel more connected to the family that she decided to leave behind. Now she looked almost nothing like that woman. Honestly she looked like a punk, a teenager or young adult rebelling from her family in the most exaggerated way she could… because in a way, she was, while trying to keep them close. She was free in every way back then, just like the sea. Did seeing her like this make Poseidon regret their time together? Make him finally realize that she was never the woman he thought she was? Would he leave without helping her? Helping their son? “Yet still as Beautiful as last time. Will you still not come… with me to my kingdom?”

That actually did make her laugh and finally turn around. “I'm sorry Waga Arashi, but the answer to that is still a no.” Sally smiles at him. “And sadly I have found even more reasons for that answer.”

His eyes darken, but not in anger, well mostly, it was sadness, and what anger that was there wasn't for her. It was for his family and himself who made up the stories that would cause her to make that choice. “Why did you call me, Αντανάκλαση?” 

His confucian did make sense. She had not called upon him in 9 years, since the birth of Percy. “He's gaining atenchen…” She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to gain some sense of purchase. “From your side… and I need to know how to keep him safe.”

Poseidon looks away from her. “It sounded like it might be time to take him to camp then.” Something is wrong. He said their son would be safe with the daughter of Zeus around, but he was acting like there was no child. No one to shield their son. Like he had personally, thrown Percy into a den of monsters ready to eat him.

“What happened to the girl?”

Poseidon flinched. “She didn't make it to camp…. She was lost 2 years ago.”

The monsters being even more attracted to her son started two years ago. The fate brought on by the prophecy was focusing on Percy now. And that scared her. “He is not going, not yet.” He is too young, they would not let him be free, not let him be himself. “I want him to know himself, before your family tries to make him into something he may or may not be. They will try to make him into what they want, be that a tool, a weapon, a monster, or a threat… he needed to know who he was before that. And that camp will not let him be that.”

Poseidon was quiet. 

“What can I do instead?”

He did not answer.

“Waga Arashi.”

He keeps his silence.

“POSEIDON.” 

He looked at her with so much pain. That if you told her he was being physically torture she could believe it. “The only other way is temporary, and dangerous.”

She stares at him with a hard look. “He is half god and part human, that makes him a demigod. Nothing about his future will be safe. Until he has no other choice than to enter your world, I will take all the dangers onto myself.”

“Sally, my Αντανάκλαση, please.”

“Tell me, father of monsters.”

He flinched, he hated that title. Not because he wasn't known for his many monstrous children, but it hurt all his children. Just because they were monsters did not mean that they didn't have feelings, that they didn't cry out to their father. “The only way to mask his scent is to mask it with that of a mortal. It is easier to mask the scent of a child of a god the weaker they are… for a child of the big 3…. You would need the worst of the human kind.” And with a spray of sea mist, he disappeared.

“Thank you Waga Arashi.” She whispered into the silence making a plan. If she needed the worst of the human race to protect her son, she would get one. But she would do everything she could to make sure that even that kind of beast would not touch her child.

Chapter Text

Percy Jackson may not have liked Central Valley School for Boys or CVSB, for short. Which was stupid for many reasons, not least of which was that the school wasn't ‘Central’ to anything, or had a valley anywhere near it. Percy hated it. It was loud, cramped, scary, big, and he just wanted his mom. This school was stupid, why would anyone want to send their kids to a glorified prison for an entire year?! 

…. Well….

Apparently his mom didn't want to, CVSB was just the closest, and best school that was willing to take him after being kicked out of his last 2 schools. He still didn't blame Kasuki for what happened last year. She just wanted to show him all the shinies she collected. It wasn't either of their faults that some of the stuff she let him keep was lost by others.

At least she didn't get all the blame.

But anyway, new school, new rules. Apparently this school was something called a boarding school, which just means he's going to be living at the school.(shudder) That also means that he will apparently have a roommate or more. That makes him nervous, Percy had never slept anywhere without his mom, let alone with someone other than his mom. (Yeah, yeah it's sad.He never even had a sleepover before. Get it out of your system.) 

So there he is pulling his suitcase along, with his meager belongings in it. Till he got to the room number that was his. He took a deep breath, what was the worst that would happen? His roommate hated him? 

That would be fine. Living alone with a kid that hated him with no supervision was fine. He was fine. He would probably be kicked out before it became a problem anyway.

“Are you going to stand there all day?” A voice came from behind the door.

He opened it to find a thin boy with a skin tone somewhere in between a dark olive and porcelain, his hair was black with white almost light dusty green tips. It looked artificial, like it was professionally done, but with a close look you could tell his hair was all natural. His eyes were 2 different colors, one ruby red, the other golden, but they were foggy... unseeing. With a jolt of realization Percy realized that the other boy was completely blind. “How did you know I was there?” Percy was stunned he didn't know what to say, and only after the words left his mouth did he realize that that could be rude. “ Shit, sorry, shit, I mean-” he was struggling. Could the kid tell that he was struggling? Kamis above, he was blushing so hard, he was so embarrassed. Maybe it's a good thing the guy is blind, maybe you'll keep Percy from making too much of a fool of himself.

He laughed. “ I…. What was the word? Anata o kanjita. In English?”

“You sensed me? What does that mean? Wait! You know Japanese?!" He was so excited, maybe this year wasn't going to be that bad.

“ Of course I do, I'm from Nihon.” The boy said proudly. “What about you?”

Percy smiled. “Born and raised New Yorker sadly. Okāsan's from there though.”

“Oof, sorry about that. I'm Zhenniao Kouya by the way, but you can call me Kouya. And as you probably figured out by now,” he moved his hand up to wave his hand in front of his face. “I'm blind, yes, I've been blind since birth. No, I don't need your help, I'll let you know if that changes.”

Percy put his hands up in defense, belatedly realizing that the other boy wouldn't be able to see it. Slowly putting his hands back down, he said, “ I'm Jackson Perseus, you can call me Percy, Is this room 329?” well that was a stooped question. 

Kouya snorted. “Sōda to ī. They kinda just left me here, for all I know they could have left me in room 327, or 325, all I know is that we are on the third floor.”

Percy laughed along, and popped his head out to double check the room number. “I may be Hella dyslexic, Demo, sore wa tadashī yō ni mieru.”

Kouya gave an obviously fake sigh. “That's good Hitomi doesn't have to find a new murder to temporarily join.”

Percy didn't get the joke. “Hitomi? Your sight needs to join a murder?”

Kouya gives him a mischievous smile. “I'll introduce you too later. How did you end up here anyway?"

Percy shrugged. “Got kicked out 1 too many schools 1 too many times, you?”

“One to many years on the streets, apparently.” The 2 laughed together. They are going to be great friends.

Kouya never really quite fit in with the rest of the zen clan. He and his older brother Zen eventually attributed this fact to him only being half Yokai like their father's friend; the second heir to the Nura clan. (They didn't want to be attributed to Kouya being blind. I mean he could see in a sentence.) Zen swore up and down that the man that their father took home; Kouya's other parent; a man that went by Tsuguya, was not human. Their father; Zhenniao, never really confirmed his oldest son's theory, but he doesn't deny it either.

Another reason Kouya never fit in with his clan is because he just wasn't like them. He doesn't mean that in an emo ‘No one understands me, woe was me.’ Way. No he really means he isn't like other members of his clan. You see, his species of yokai is a Zhenniao(yes his dad and big brother are named after the species, he knows it's weird.); they are bird Yokai, who came from China. They are a group of bird yokai whose feathers are extremely poisonous; specifically the Zhenniao is a Chinese Yokai described as a bird with green-tipped feathers and a scarlet beak, whose feathers are so poisonous they can kill a person instantly if dipped in alcohol. 

This poisonous ability makes them weak and sickly, the poison of their wings slowly affecting them. But all medicines can be poisonous if too much is applied, or it is taken incorrectly. Hence their clan specializes in medicine.

Now you may be asking, how is Kouya different from his fellow Zhenniao?

Let's start with his wings, most of his brethren(including his brother and father) had misty blue/purple wings with black vans, and or green/black striped with white her feathers, reminiscent of a chinese crane. Now Kouya had wings like a Chinese crane… just…. Inverted? Where the white of the bird's wing feathers usually was, it was black, and vice-versa. 

Now that isn't too different. You could brush that off.

How about the fact that his wings poison does not affect him. It did not make him sickly and frail. The poison of his wings did not slowly take his health and vitality, instead from the moment he was born his sight was robbed from him. He could not see. 

Because of this his big brother Zen was his closest friend. It was a little awkward them being 10 years apart in age, but his brother was always there for him. And hence they were very close.

Only 3-4 years after he was born the 2nd hair of the Nura Clan; Nura Rihan, had his son. A little ¼ yokai boy Zen had instantly claimed as his youngest brother. When Rikuo was 3, Zen was 16, and Kouya was 6, they found something out. While Kouya could not see much of anything, he could see a couple of things….

Souls.

Auras.

And yakai fear.

No matter how hard they try to hide themselves.

Around this time the 2 brothers of the zen clan met and befriended the 3 children of Karasu Tengu, all of which were close in age to Zen. Actually, Kuroumaru, Tosakamaru, and Sasami(Karasu Tengu’ 3 children), had just joined the 2nd hair's night parade not that long before Kouya met them, and decided to take him under their wings, as a little brother. Looking back on it they probably assumed that he too would just attend the Nura clan's night parade when he was older.

His ability to identify fellow ayakashi even when they are hiding their presence was invaluable. (Aspeshely, when he wasn't the best at the healing side of the arts, he was not terrible by any means, but his brother was better.) Kouya's stronger than the average body for his species, and almost instinctual affinity for fighting, made him pick up the lessons that the 3 Tengu siblings gave him very easily. He liked the almost elegant, and subtle, fighting style he developed for himself, aided by his wings. Though he did have to learn how to not just rely on his ability to see aura's, fear, and souls. 

Plants had souls but barely, making them hard to see. On the other hand inanimate objects didn't have souls, until they turned into yokai, ayakashi, or deities. So they were invisible to him until that point, making him have to learn how to use his other senses in a fight. This made him a truly impressive fighter.

Though he wouldn't reach this level during his time in Japan.

Shortly after he turned 7 he met the Supreme Commander, Nurarihyon. “Hello there, are you one of Karasu Tengu's little ones?”

Kouya ‘looked’ at the old man, his soul was an interesting color and texture; like a living shadow, the reflection of the full moon on the surface of a dark pond, and the mist of midnight sneaking into your house. “No sir, I'm Zhenniao's youngest son.”

“Oh, is that so?” He sounded like a senile old man, but his soul was far from fading. He was faking, pulling a prank, messing with him. “Would you like some candy?”

“Yes please.” He was pleasantly surprised when he put it in his mouth and he found out it was chocolate. The heavenly treat melting in his mouth. He almost didn't hear what the supreme commander had to say.

“I heard from Karasu Tengu's children that you were good at fighting, and have some…. Interesting talents.” The old man's ruse, completely forgotten. Making the young bird Yokai freeze in place, his unseeing eyes staring down at the old yakuza leader. “Would you consider being my grandson Rekuo's bodyguard?” If Kouya could see, he would have seen a glint in the old man's eyes. 

He had to think how to respond. This was the Supreme Commander, the leader of you basically oh yokai, the ayakashi that was in charge of multiple clans, including his own. He couldn't disrespect him. He bowed slowly and deeply. “I'm sorry, Supreme Commander, but I can't.” He was friends with Rekuo, but he wasn't as close with him as Zen was. The idea of being the bodyguard of the grandson of the Supreme Commander felt right, but when the old Yokai said the name ‘Rekuo’ it felt wrong, like a misplaced step, or your favorite food made by the wrong person. It was still good, just not right. “I… it can't be my place. I'm sorry, Supreme Commander.”

He laughed. “It's quite alright, you're still young, just think about it would you?” he walks away.

“Yes, Supreme Commander.”

It wasn't long after the 2nd's murder, that Zhenniao fell deathly I'll; his wings poison finally catching up to him. It wasn't truly a surprise, but still… Zen, and Kouya could do nothing but watch. Zen tried, oh, how he tried to find something, anything to save their father. 

One day, when it was just the youngest son and father together. The son kneeling, at his father's sick-bed, his father spoke. “Kouya, my youngest child, my little death phoenix, you have to leave.”

“what?!” He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His father, on his deathbed, was pushing him away.

Zhenniao coughed, it was nasty, horse, and just by hearing it you could tell it hurt. “You must go to America, your future and fate tie you to that land. The land your other parents' family resides in.” His coughing fit got worse. “There's a place there though, I do not know where you must go.”

Kouya's heart sank. What could he do? This was his father's dying request. He couldn't refuse. “When do I need to go?”

“As soon as possible.” The dying Yokai turned to his son. “You look so much like that beautiful man and those hot springs.”

He left at night, but before he did he had to say good bye to all his siblings. Zen felt betrayed, but made sure that he had enough medicine, and helped him pack. Sasami being the quiet yung lady she is, didn't say much, but gave him a crushing hug, and one of her feathers as a charm for good luck. Tosakamaru, being the most wild of his siblings, gave him a sakabatō to keep him safe. Kuroumaru, true to his place as the eldest of his siblings, was somehow prepared for Kouya's departure… he gave him a crow, named Hitomi, to keep him company, and to help around when he can't even see souls. 

Kouya thought about saying good bye to Rekuo, but one look at his friend made him reconsider. The younger boy was the one to find the 2nd dead. They were the closest in age, and Kouya didn't know if they could take it. The good bye would break one or both of them, so he didn't.

Sneaking onto the plan that Hitotsume Nyudo took to try to find the lost flower of the Nura clan, was easier than he thought it would be.