Kyou raised his hand, forming a glowing ball that became oblong as he moved his hand from side to side. Slinging his hand out, the shape streaked across the room, stretching out to form a whip and lashing itself around the head of the demon. Jerking his hand back, Kyou ripped the demon off Toya, but he had to struggle with it to keep it from returning to Toya as the silver guardian picked himself up off the floor.
âWhy the hell is it only after Toya?â Kamui complained. He quickly raised his hands, whispering words as he added the odd sign language to give the spell strength. The demon skittered sideways and back, trying to avoid the coming strike, but Kamui turned, following its every move. Coming to the end of the chant, his palms turned outward and the last word echoed across the room, slamming the spell into the demon.
The demon screeched, reaching for Toya as the force of the blast sent it plowing through several rows of seats before it smashed into the wall. Its legs instantly turned inward as it braced itself against the wall to use it as a backboard for rebounding.
Before it could jump, Shinbe was in front of it, casting another spell that held it against the shattered sheetrock while the other guardians surged forward and literally tore it limb from limb. Shinbe noticed the shadow demon trying to slither up the wall and escape them.
In the blink of an eye, he leapt up the wall and was like a cage around it. âHey Nasty, just where do you think you're going?â he growled as a crystal blue barrier appeared over it like a half bubble. Shinbe pushed himself off the wall, landing easily on his feet. The mutilated body of the arachnid that was scattered on the floor twitched several times then caved in on itself as it turned to dust.
âYou canât just leave that there,â Kamui threw his thumb toward the odd sight of the shadow slithering around inside of⦠what was starting to look like a see-through blue egg sack.
âYe of little faith,â Shinbe smirked watching the sack get smaller and smaller. âBy the time itâs done shrinking, itâll take a microscope to find it. Nowâ¦â he turned and walked straight up to Toya and sniffed.
Toya gave him a look that should have sent him running. When his brother was stupid enough not to take the hint, he reached out and grabbed Shinbe by the throat, lifting his feet several inches off the floor to back him up to armâs length. âDo not ever do that again.â Toya dropped him non-to gently.
Shinbe pushed himself off the floor with a knowing smirk. âAnd you call me a pervert. No wonder Spiderman wanted you so bad. You have Kyokoâs scent all over you.â His amethyst eyes narrowed as his humor vanished. âWhy is that?â
âSpeaking of Kyoko,â Kyouâs voice caused the temperature in the room to drop several degrees. âIf we are all here⦠then who is watching her?â
*****
When Kyoko asked Tasuki if she could use his cell phone to call a cab, he had quickly offered her a ride anywhere she wanted to go. Kyoko gratefully accepted, not really wanting to venture out for the first time in a strange town all alone.
âThe mall? Sure. Hey, if you want, I can help you pick out a costume for the masquerade ball.â Tasuki started picturing all kinds of things he would pick out for her. Then he quickly backpedaled, realizing he wouldn't want others to see her in half of those costumes. âIs that the reason weâre going to the mall? A Halloween costume?â
Kyoko sighed and looked out the car window debating on whether to tell him the truth or not. As they passed in front of the school in the slow traffic, she noticed that same guy from this morning was once again standing alone on the sidewalk. She wondered what it was about him that kept drawing her attention.
As she gazed at him, she realized that all the other students milled around him⦠yet he was the stillness in the middle of a raging storm, and he was looking right at her with eyes as black as sin. It saddened her seeing she was wrong about them being green.
She leaned closer to the glass to get a better look at him as they drove closer and slowly passed. He was watching her with such hunger in his eyes that Kyoko felt it clear down to her soul. It made her want to reach out to him. He turned his head slowly as they passed; keeping his eyes on her and Kyoko saw his lips move.
âWhat?â Kyoko whispered trying to understand then she felt Tasukiâs hand on her shoulder.
âDo you know him?â Tasuki asked still glaring in the rear view mirror. Something about that guy was just wrong. He knew everyone at the school, but heâd never seen that guy around until today. âHeâs not a student.â
Kyoko sat back in her seat but quickly glanced over her shoulder unable to help herself. Luckily, Tasuki turned the corner at the stop sign and the stranger was lost in the distance. âNo.â Kyoko shook her head wanting to drop the subject, âIâm just nervous because Iâve never been to a mall⦠or any other kind of store really.â
âWhat?â Tasuki said a little too loudly. âYouâre kidding⦠right?â
âI wish.â Kyoko smiled at the look on his face. âIâm going to tell you a secret, but you have to promise to keep it to yourself.â
Tasuki nodded gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. âI would never do anything to hurt you Kyoko, so if you want to trust me with anything⦠youâre safe.â
âThanks.â Kyoko settled back in her seat looking straight ahead and slowly told him the whole story⦠leaving nothing out. âSo the first thing I need is a new wardrobe.â
Tasuki had been parked at the mall for the last ten minutes listening to her. It was the saddest thing heâd ever heard. âYou mean you have never even been kissed?â When she looked at him strangely, he smiled and closed the distance between them.
Kyokoâs eyes widened as his lips caught her bottom one between his and he kissed her. He then moved to do the same to her top lip. She was at a loss for words when he pulled an inch away and inhaled as he watched her reaction to her first kiss. He must have liked what he saw because the corners of his lips hinted in a satisfied smile as he returned to his seat to stare at the mall in front of them.
âYou know what Kyoko?â Tasuki glanced over at her as if he hadnât done anything. âWe are about to give a new meaning to the words⦠shop till you drop.â
*****
Tama stood in the doorway of the abandoned gym watching the guardians leave the auditorium. They had killed the spider demon that had gone in search for them just as theyâd planned. It had only been a test and they had failed miserably.
âThe guardians are easily distracted thinking they are keeping her safe.â Hyakuhei was not worried about the demon theyâd lost. Before he entered this world, heâd hidden many of his most powerful demons away were no one could find them⦠deep within his own soul. For now, he would use the weakest demons as cannon fodder and lure the guardians into a false sense of victory. âLet them think that they are protecting her to the best of their ability.â
âCan I go to her now?â Tama glared at the guardian known as Toya. While theyâd fought the shadow demon inside the school, Hyakuhei had linked with the demon's mind, letting Tama view the battle through the eyes of the demon. He knew Toya had Kyokoâs scent on him more than the other guardians. Hate burned in his eyes as jealousy entered his wounded heart.
âOnly fools rush in dear boy,â Hyakuhei warned him. It was hard for Tama to share her with the enemy, but what Tama didnât understand was that it would be even harder for the guardians to share her among themselves. The closer bond she has to them⦠the more possessive they will become until they are at each otherâs throats. It would only be a short amount of time before the brothers started to self-destruct. They were no different from him and Tadamichi.
âWill you let me talk to her soon?â Tama asked remembering the way she had looked at him from the car window. âShe wants to.â
âHer soul is curious about you⦠it knows you are its sibling, even if she does not remember. It is the tie that binds her to us all.â Hyakuhei felt the longing Tama was feeling meld with his own. âSoon Tama⦠very soon. You will have your sister.â
*****
Hyakuhei stood at the top of the mall escalator watching Kyoko glance around the shopping center in amazement. She had always been an innocent and it seemed in this life she was no different. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
âCome to me,â he whispered within his mind knowing she would hear the summons without realizing it.
Kyoko glanced up toward the second floor and then eyed the escalator as if it was an amusement ride at the fair. âCan we?â she smiled at Tasuki then back toward the moving staircase.
âSure,â Tasuki smirked then laughed when she made him get on first. âOh sure⦠sacrifice me⦠why not.â He shrugged as if it didnât matter then held on to the railing as if he was terrified.
Sticking her tongue out at him, Kyoko gripped the rubber on the handrail and stepped behind him. âStop watching me like you're expecting me to run back down the steps.â Kyoko warned when he kept glancing over his shoulder at her. She looked up pretending she had done this before, but when her gaze locked on the man coming down the escalator parallel to hers, she forgot to breathe.
Long dark hair framed the most beautiful face she had ever seen. The only people who could even come close where the new guys sheâd met today at school. His lips were relaxed but she could feel them against hers in a heated kiss. His luminous dark eyes where framed by thick dark lashes.
As he grew closer on his downward slope toward her, Kyoko felt her heart skip a beat and everything slowed down. She could feel him reaching for her and she wanted him too. His hand left the rail to move the couple of inches that separated her side from his. The second he laid his warm hand across hers, time caught back up with itself and she was at the top of the escalator.
Kyoko felt disappointment rush through her when she swung around to find him but he was nowhere to be seen.
*****
âSheâs home,â Kamui called from the front porch then flinched when his brothers joined him so fast he hadnât even seen them move. âAnd look whoâs with her.â
âTasuki,â Toya said in a voice that was way too calm to match the heat in his eyes.
âLooks like she went shopping,â Kotaro stated.
âI would have been fine with the short skirts,â Shinbe sighed longingly.
âYou would.â Kyou coldly glanced sideways at him, causing Shinbe to move to the other side of Kamui for safety reasons. One of them being the fact that he was scared.
âShe canât just run off like that.â Toya crossed his arms over his chest wondering what was taking Tasuki so long to get the hell back in his car.
âBut she doesnât know that,â Kamui pointed out, âAt least she came home at a decent time.â
âA decent time would have been before dark,â Kyou said flatly.
Toya started down the steps but Kyou reached out and placed his hand firmly on his shoulder. âTasuki is only carrying her bags in. He is almost finished.â
âIâve told you to stay out of my head.â Toya glared back at Kyou, âOne day youâre not going to like what you find crawling around in there.â He jerked his shoulder, making Kyou let go of him. The last thing he needed was Kyou listening in on his thoughts. Having part of Tadamichi within him was creepy enough. He made sure his mental defenses were up then glanced back across the street as Tasukiâs car pulled away from the house.
âI wonder if she thought to stop and get something to eat,â Toya mumbled, thinking out loud.
âWhy would that worry you?â Kyou asked curiously knowing Toya was not one to say random things.
âShe almost passed out during drama class today. I overheard her tell Tasuki that she hadnât been eating because of the move,â Toya informed him before adding, âTasuki also asked her to go with him to the masquerade party Friday night at the school.â
Kotaroâs lips thinned as he pulled a long-bladed knife from the waist of his pants and started flipping it through his fingers like a baton. âI think Tasuki has appointed himself her bodyguard in hopes of being a little bit more.â
âIf heâs not careful, he will be a little bit dead.â Knowing how that sounded, Toya quickly added, âHeâll only find himself a target for the demons if he becomes too close to her.â
âThere are five of us⦠I think we could outnumber his advances if we tried.â Shinbe smirked.
âWe failed today.â Kyouâs voice held no emotion, but the look in his golden eyes was angry. âWe are her guardians and she is only a human girl that is more fragile than most. If she keeps putting herself in danger by disappearing, then we will have no choice but to reveal ourselves for what we are⦠her real guardians.â
âAnd tell her what she is?â Kamui shook his head. âShe isnât ready for that⦠think about it. Our priestess isnât even eating right because her world has been turned upside down. Give her time to adjust to that first. In the meantime, maybe we should become closer to her so that when we do tell her the truth, she wonât think weâre crazy⦠or worse, see us use our powers and think weâre some kind of aliens.â
âI still think your wrong about that. She needs to turn to us if anything happens. Right now, the only person she would turn to would be the Shinbe wanna-be that she seems to like so much,â Toya pointed out.
âHey, I resent that,â Shinbe said trying to hide his grin.
No⦠you resemble that,â Kamui elbowed him good naturedly.
Toya kept his gaze across the road, but in his mind he was remembering how sheâd almost melted in his arms. âSheâs our priestess. Weâre drawn to her and I think sheâs also drawn to us. I doubt sheâll freak out as much as you guys fear she will.â
âLet us compromise,â Kyou said. âIn case something does go wrong⦠she needs to know we are right across the street.â
âAgreed,â Toya said.
âFirst⦠she needs to eat.â Kyou pulled his cell phone from his pocket.
Chapter 6 âWhat Demons Fearâ
Kyoko had just finished putting away her new clothes when the doorbell echoed making her jump. Rushing downstairs, she looked through the peephole and saw a delivery guy holding five large boxes of pizza. Opening the door, she frowned knowing it was a mistake. Before she could say anything, the guy held a hand up to stop her.