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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. “Hey Nasty, just where do you think you're going?” 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.

      â€œYou can’t just leave that there,” 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.

      â€œYe of little faith,” Shinbe smirked watching the sack get smaller and smaller. “By the time it’s done shrinking, it’ll take a microscope to find it. Now…” 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 arm’s length. “Do not ever do that again.” Toya dropped him non-to gently.

      Shinbe pushed himself off the floor with a knowing smirk. “And you call me a pervert. No wonder Spiderman wanted you so bad. You have Kyoko’s scent all over you.” His amethyst eyes narrowed as his humor vanished. “Why is that?”

      â€œSpeaking of Kyoko,” Kyou’s voice caused the temperature in the room to drop several degrees. “If we are all here… then who is watching her?”

      *****

      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.

      â€œThe mall? Sure. Hey, if you want, I can help you pick out a costume for the masquerade ball.” 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. “Is that the reason we’re going to the mall? A Halloween costume?”

      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.

      â€œWhat?” Kyoko whispered trying to understand then she felt Tasuki’s hand on her shoulder.

      â€œDo you know him?” Tasuki asked still glaring in the rear view mirror. Something about that guy was just wrong. He knew everyone at the school, but he’d never seen that guy around until today. “He’s not a student.”

      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. “No.” Kyoko shook her head wanting to drop the subject, “I’m just nervous because I’ve never been to a mall… or any other kind of store really.”

      â€œWhat?” Tasuki said a little too loudly. “You’re kidding… right?”

      â€œI wish.” Kyoko smiled at the look on his face. “I’m going to tell you a secret, but you have to promise to keep it to yourself.”

      Tasuki nodded gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “I would never do anything to hurt you Kyoko, so if you want to trust me with anything… you’re safe.”

      â€œThanks.” Kyoko settled back in her seat looking straight ahead and slowly told him the whole story… leaving nothing out. “So the first thing I need is a new wardrobe.”

      Tasuki had been parked at the mall for the last ten minutes listening to her. It was the saddest thing he’d ever heard. “You mean you have never even been kissed?” When she looked at him strangely, he smiled and closed the distance between them.

      Kyoko’s 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.

      â€œYou know what Kyoko?” Tasuki glanced over at her as if he hadn’t done anything. “We are about to give a new meaning to the words… shop till you drop.”

      *****

      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 they’d planned. It had only been a test and they had failed miserably.

      â€œThe guardians are easily distracted thinking they are keeping her safe.” Hyakuhei was not worried about the demon they’d lost. Before he entered this world, he’d 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. “Let them think that they are protecting her to the best of their ability.”

      â€˜Can I go to her now?’ Tama glared at the guardian known as Toya. While they’d 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 Kyoko’s scent on him more than the other guardians. Hate burned in his eyes as jealousy entered his wounded heart.

      â€œOnly fools rush in dear boy,” Hyakuhei warned him. It was hard for Tama to share her with the enemy, but what Tama didn’t 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 other’s 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.

      â€˜Will you let me talk to her soon?’ Tama asked remembering the way she had looked at him from the car window. ‘She wants to.’

      â€œHer 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.” Hyakuhei felt the longing Tama was feeling meld with his own. “Soon Tama… very soon. You will have your sister.”

      *****

      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.

      â€˜Come to me,’ 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. “Can we?” she smiled at Tasuki then back toward the moving staircase.

      â€œSure,”

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