Suki smiled at hearing he knew the bartender and asked Tasuki to get them all a Long Island iced tea. Tasuki gave a blushing wink to Kyoko, nodding and telling them he would be right back. He took off to retrieve the girlsâ drinks as quickly as possible.
Kyokoâs eyes rounded as she stared at Suki. âLong Island iced tea? But we are...â Suki waved a dismissive hand to shush her.
âCome on Kyoko. Live a little! Finals are over and besides⦠weâve drank before,â Suki tried to lighten Kyoko up by grinning and rolling her eyes. Hoping to change the subject she added, âI have to admit Kyoko that in that outfit and your curves⦠you do not look underage.â She laughed out loud at the startled look on Kyokoâs face.
Kyoko looked at Suki skeptically. âTwice, Suki. I have drunk twice, and I barely remember either time⦠and I donât need to dress like this to prove I am of age.â Kyoko blushed at what she could remember from the last time her birthday had rolled around. Because of Suki, she didnât remember much about her own birthday party.
She remembered the giant bowl of fruit Suki had handed her with such an innocent smile. She had known Kyokoâs weakness for fruit and played on it. Kyoko had eaten almost the whole bowl not even realizing it had been soaked in alcohol.
âSheâs going to get me in trouble again⦠I just know it!â Kyoko silently whined to herself and mentally slumped in defeat. The others had only joked about that night, something about Kyoko forgetting how to walk⦠or talk!
Suki smirked, shrugging her shoulders, âSo this makes the third time.â She smiled happily at Tasuki as he brought the drinks back, eagerly grabbing one for herself.
Kyoko bit her lips then mumbled something about âthree strikes and you are outâ but turned and smiled at Tasuki anyway. There was such a thing as peer pressure after all and being the sucker that she was, she gave in.
âThree Long Island iced teas as requested.â Tasuki sat down between the girls and took a sip of his drink. He felt the heat suddenly rise within the room because the drink was so strong. Glancing past Kyoko he looked at his cousin behind the bar. The mischievous grin on his cousinâs face let him know the drinks were stronger than normal.
Tasuki shook his head and looked back at the girls. âTo finals, may we pass them all with flying colors,â he offered as a toast. Then looking into Kyokoâs eyes added, âAnd may we never lose touch with one another, no matter what.â
Kyoko blushed and smiled shyly as she took her drink from his outstretched hand. Hastily taking a sip, her eyes widened when she decided she actually liked the flavor. âIf you canât beat them, might as well join them,â she winked at Suki good-naturedly.
She plunked a straw into the drink and within the next ten minutes of laughing and cutting up, the Long Island iced tea disappeared. Color bloomed in Kyokoâs cheeks as the effects of the alcohol slowly began to flow through her body.
Tasuki, having drunk his just as fast as Kyoko, now felt more at ease and a little bolder as he asked the girls if they wanted to dance. His eyes darkened attractively as he took Kyokoâs hand and led her onto the dance floor with Suki holding Kyokoâs other hand.
He just knew this night was going to be the best night of his college days and he would never forget a single moment of it.
Not but a few feet away, Kyou watched the young man named Tasuki reach out and take the green-eyed girlâs hand and felt the need to rip the offending fingers from the young man daring to touch her. The manâs innocent feelings for the girl could be read clearly in his eyes and thoughts, but he still did not trust him.
Kyou had seen it play out many times watching the nightlife. A young man giving the girl drinks and then taking advantage of her naivety. His eyes tinted crimson as he watched the boy lead the girls onto the dance floor. Kyou felt the need to take the auburn haired girl and hide her from any who would harm her or want to possess her.
He wondered off handedly at his own possessiveness toward the girl. If she was the one who held the Guardian Heart Crystal, then what should he do? One thing Kyou knew for sure⦠before he would let Hyakuhei have her, he would first kill her with his own bare hands.
If the legend was true and Hyakuhei got his hands on the power of the Guardian Heart Crystal, there would be no stopping him.
*****
Kamui sat invisible, on top of one of the huge speakers in front of the DJ as he watched the dance floor where Kyoko and Suki were dancing with a young man. He cocked an eyebrow when he noticed just who this guy was. A very secret smile tilted his lips seeing the amethyst hue that clung to the boy.
His attention reverted back to the other man that was stalking the priestess. He had already tried to stop the attraction once when Kyoko was still in line but the oldest guardian was just as stubborn as always. The vibes Kyou was giving off were heavy and slightly tainted.
âKyou, what are you thinking?â Kamui wondered aloud knowing he couldnât be heard or seen. Watching Kyou watch Kyoko he recognized fate when he saw it. Fate had always drawn the guardians toward their priestess⦠no matter what world or lifetime.
He secretly wished he could arrange it to where Toya and Kyou would see each other but he knew better than to try and use any of his powers on Kyou. He felt the cold chills run up his arm at the thought of pissing the dangerous golden guardian off.
His gaze scanned the crowd again knowing Kyou wasnât the one he should be worried about. There were others within the club who were not human, but he could feel the true darkness getting closer by the moment. He wondered if Kyou could feel it too.
Kamui nodded to himself. The best thing he could do for now was help hide Kyokoâs powers from prying eyes. With that thought he jumped from the speakers but his feet never hit the floor of the dance club.
Chapter 4
As the trio entered the crowded dance floor, Suki and Kyoko immediately started moving their bodies to the rhythm of the music leaving Tasuki to watch in fascination. The heated bodies all around them made their skin flush as the alcohol flowed through their veins.
Sukiâs body moved closer to Kyokoâs as they wrapped their arms around each otherâs necks and started to grind. Laughing at each otherâs antics, they danced like lovers losing themselves to the beat of the music. They had taught each other to dance like this in grade school long ago.
Caught up in the moment of just pure unadulterated fun, the girls had momentarily forgotten about their third companion.
Tasuki gazed at the two friends dancing passionately together and felt heat warm his cheeks. âWow!â His body was reacting to the scene being played out before him. It felt as if the breath had been knocked from his lungs. Watching Kyokoâs body rub against Sukiâs as their hands wandered across each otherâs bodies was almost more than he could bear.
Deciding that he wanted in on the fun, Tasuki forced his feet to move before he lost his nerve.
Stopping right in front of Kyoko, he could see her eyes were closed as she moved against Suki. His gaze locked with Sukiâs as she smirked and dipped behind Kyoko, slowly making her way back up, caressing her friendâs thighs. She hoped Tasuki would get up enough nerve to dance with Kyoko like this.
Stopping right in front of Kyoko, he could see her eyes were closed as she moved against Suki. His gaze locked with Sukiâs as she smirked and dipped behind Kyoko, slowly making her way back up, caressing her friendâs thighs. She hoped Tasuki would get up enough nerve to dance with Kyoko like this.
âWhy donât you join us? This is way too much fun!â She laughed as she grabbed Tasuki by the belt loop, yanking him flush against Kyoko.
Kyokoâs eyes widened in shock as she felt a hard, definitely male body slam against her in a very intimate manner. A blush burned her cheeks when she realized Tasuki was holding her closely. âHeh,â she smiled shyly, deciding that she liked the way his body felt against hers. She knew that she could trust him not to over step his bounds. He was always the gentleman.
Feeling a bit daring, Kyoko continued to dance with Suki moving behind her as she put one hand on Tasukiâs shoulder⦠silently encouraging him.
Tasuki didnât need any more than that one motion as he gripped Kyokoâs hips and began to move with her body. He felt like he was in heaven having the girl of his dreams dance seductively against him. Feeling every curve of her body rub against him was a sweet torture that he had never experienced.
His brown eyes softened seductively as his entire body felt like it was on fire and he wanted to feel as much of her as he could. Pressing closer against Kyoko, he started to grind against her, moving his heated body with hers like a long lost lover.
Kyoko looked up into Tasukiâs eyes and noticed for the first time there were lovely flakes of amethyst sprinkled in his chocolate orbs. âBeautifulâ¦â was the only word that came to mind. The deeper she looked⦠the more he reminded her of Shinbe.
*****
Toyaâs mood had not gotten any better since going to the college dojo hoping to work off some steam. He had decided he had better leave quickly when he had busted the five hundred dollar punching bag. Itâs not his fault he had been picturing Kotaroâs face when he hit it.
âStupid girl!â he growled. âWhy did she always have to be so hard to handle?â He glared at nothing in particular as he thought about the annoying security guard that Kyoko had gone out with.
He still felt livid from when he had heard Kotaroâs voice in Kyokoâs apartment earlier. He would have liked nothing better than to rip the manâs head off and shove it where the sun would never reach it. Toya had always had a sixth sense about things, and his senses were telling him that Kotaro was not what he appeared to be.
âA wolf in sheepâs clothing is more like it.â He smirked, then instantly felt a little guilty himself because he also hid things from Kyoko. Things even he couldnât explain.
He had learned as a small child to hide his unusual abilities from others, abilities such as his inhuman strength and speed, as well as his heightened senses of smell and sight. The only problem was they came and went whenever they wanted. He couldnât call on them at a moment's notice and maybe that was a good thing.
Lost in thought, Toyaâs skin tingled as he spotted the guard leaning against the door of the security building. âSpeak of the devil and he appears.â Toya glared at Kotaro, almost walking past him, and then stopped in his tracks. âWhat the hell are you doing here?â he growled.
Kotaro leisurely stood to his full height and walked to where Kyokoâs supposed date stood growling at him. Looking around and not seeing her anywhere, his relaxed demeanor became tense and Kotaro pierced Toya with an angry glare. âWhere is Kyoko? I thought she was with you tonight.â
If there was one thing Toya hated, it was being confused and right now he wasnât in the mood for it. âYou stupid prick⦠I thought she had a date with you,â he snapped without thinking.
Kotaroâs cage was now seriously rattled. Kyoko had told him she was going out with Toya and it had been a lie. âDamn!â
Without giving Toya a second glance, he took off in the direction Kyoko lived, straining against the need to use his unnatural speed. Why had she lied to him? If he had known she wasnât with dickhead, he would have followed her.
Toya felt a moment of panic when he saw the worry seep into his rivalâs eyes and the way he took off at breakneck speed didnât make him feel any better. Something within him trusted Kotaro completely but he would never tell him that.
Without even thinking about what he was doing, he took off after Kotaro to see where he was going. Easily keeping up with him but noticing the speed they were both using, some of Toyaâs suspicions were confirmed. Kotaro was more than he seemed⦠did they have the same DNA or something? He gritted his teeth not liking that thought.
Within a minute, Kotaro was banging on Kyokoâs apartment door hoping against hope that she was actually there. Slamming both palms against the innocent door he yelled. âDamn it, Kyoko! Where are you?â Dread and worry seeped into every pore of his being. âThis is not good,â he growled.
âWhatâs not good?â Toya demanded stepping up behind Kotaro.
The vibes Kotaro was giving off were making Toyaâs chest hurt with their intensity. If he had known Kyoko wasnât with Kotaro, he would have come over just to be near her. He should have just followed his instincts and came over anyway. He would have to put a damn leash on that girl sooner or later.
Kotaro swung around having forgotten about Toya altogether in his rush to get to Kyoko. Now having someone to vent his anger on, he lashed out, âI thought she was with you!â Kotaro clenched his fist and drew his rage back within himself before he went too far. âAnd how the hell were you able to keep up? Never mind, donât answer that.â
Toya stared at him, surprised the security guard even noticed but shrugged it off. âIâm just that fast dickhead.â
Calming his dominant half, Kotaro opened his piercing ice blue eyes, locking them with the person who was going to help him find âhis Kyokoâ. It was bad enough Toya hadnât been reborn a vampire so they could just duke it out, but now Toya was regaining his abilities from the past and didnât have a clue why. To top it all off Toyaâs best friend was Shinbe and Shinbe didnât have a clue to his past either.
Kotaro smashed the palm of his hand against his temple wondering why on earth he would trust Toya to look after her⦠for a second time, when he had failed the first. The fact that Toya remembered nothing made it impossible for Kotaro to rant out loud. He inhaled deeply at the truth⦠they both had failed her. His lips thinned as he silently glared.
Toya gave a halfhearted smirk. âSo, she lied to you and ditched you saying she was going out with ME. Ha!â Even though he knew she had pretty much done the same to him, he wouldnât let Kotaro know that.
Kotaro took another deep breath trying to keep his temper in check. It was like talking to a damn child. âThis isnât a freaking game, punk. Girls have been turning up missing right and left from campus and from the city for over a month. Now, neither one of us knows where Kyoko is.â Kotaro could hear the panic in his own voice but ignored it. âDo you have any idea where she could have snuck off to?â
Toya could feel his chest crushing with worry thinking about Kyoko being in danger. âDamn it!â He turned to Sukiâs door and started pounding until he heard the door give a slight cracking sound making him lighten up on the beating. No answer.