Toya clenched his teeth knowing all the guardians had been in her bedroom separately last night, but the thought of how close Shinbe must have been to cast that spell was grating on his nerves.
Kotaro put on his shades and threw his leg over the back of his motorcycle. âLast one there has to do everyoneâs homework.â
*****
Wanting to see his sister for himself, Tama sat on the three-foot tall brick wall in front of the high school. He glanced at Hyakuhei, who was leaning against the brick right beside him though Tama knew no one else would be able to see him since he was a shade. So far heâd been silent as they both watched the students entering the school.
With his skater-boy haircut and new clothes, Tama blended in with the other students as he watched and waited. His emerald green eyes where hidden behind the darkness of his thoughts for a moment as he felt the power of the guardians pass close by and enter the school. He didnât look at them for risk that his loathing would show.
Last night, heâd sent one of his demons to watch her house and alert him if his sister left. Sometime in the early morning hours, one of the guardians had killed it. As the demonâs master⦠heâd felt its violent death. He knew controlling demons wasnât the same thing as having pets so it didnât bother him when one died. Sometimes, he felt like killing them himself when one of the demons would escape their power and injure a human⦠or worse.
Feeling a spike in the energy around him, he turned his head to see a girl walking away from a taxi that had pulled up to the front of the school. Tamaâs lips parted knowing without a doubt that it was Kyoko. She had long auburn hair with large, loose waves that bounced as she walked. Part of it was up in a ponytail near the top of her head, while the rest was left hanging almost to her waist. She glanced toward him with bright emerald eyes then quickly looked away as if she were nervous.
Hyakuhei kept his aura hidden as she neared them. Just seeing her again so soon sent a sudden need slamming through him. He could hear Tamaâs heartbeat speed up as the boy whispered in his mind⦠âItâs here, isnât it?â
âYes.â Hyakuheiâs voice was a mixture of emotions as memories resurfaced to haunt him. âIt is time to leave our present for the guardians.â
Tama gave a wicked smile as he reached up and pulled the black widow off his shoulder, setting it down on the brick beside him. He watched as Hyakuhei passed his hand across the poisonous arachnid, making it look more like a caress then what it truly was. The shadow that the spider cast in the morning sun opened its blood red eyes.
*****
Kyoko was a nervous wreck as she walked into the building. It felt like someone was watching her and the sensation left cold chills across her arms. This place was nothing like the boarding school. Some of the kids she just passed were doing everything from smoking cigarettes, to making out right there in front of the school. As if that wasnât enough⦠what they were wearing made her feel almost inferior.
Nearly losing her nerve, Kyoko turned around and put her hand against the door wanting to make a run for it. Looking out at all the students, her eyes returned to the boy sitting alone. Sheâd noticed him watching her as sheâd gotten out of the cab and he was still watching her. He was taller than her, but around the same age, with a lethal body that the alternative fad didnât quite hide.
He reminded her of something that you know is dangerous, but you craved it anyway. Seeing the sun glint off his eyes as he tilted his head, she could have sworn his irises changed from black to bright green. Figuring it was just her imagination, Kyoko turned around and sighed knowing it was time to face the music.
Trying to avoid eye contact with anyone, she headed for the glass doors with the word OFFICE posted beside them. She tilted her head at all the girls that were milling around the doors looking in and whispering. She caught all kinds of remarks from, look at that ass, to I call dibs.
Once she was inside the room with the door closed behind her, Kyoko glanced around noticing it was even noisier in here than itâd been out in the hall. She started toward the long desk but pulled up short seeing several students in front of her.
The secretary clucked her tongue in annoyance. âI havenât even had time to check the fax machine yet so youâll just have to take a seat until I can get your schedules together.â
âOur schedules are already approved and should be with the rest of the paperwork.â Kyouâs voice was icy. If the old woman had known him better, she would have been tripping over herself to do as he asked. With a glare at the fax machine, it clicked on and started printing.
Kyokoâs gaze locked on the guy whose voice had given her the shivers, but as soon as she took the sight of him in, her lips parted. No wonder there was a throng of girls peeking in the doors. He had the longest hair sheâd ever seen on a guy and it was white-silver⦠not like the color of an old man's, but soft and vibrant looking. His clothing was that of a rich kid and it seemed he was used to getting his way. The smile he gave the secretary was wicked and cold, but his face was sheer perfection.
He looked like he should have been at a photo shoot somewhere for those Calvin Klein underwear ads. Her cheeks heated up when his expression instantly softened and he glanced toward her as if heâd heard her thoughts. Kyoko took a step back, looking away from him. The carpet was much safer to look at.
âAre you Kyoko Hogo?â The lady practically yelled from behind the desk.
Kyokoâs gaze jerked up and she nodded, not liking the spotlight.
âHere is your schedule.â The lady held the paper out but kept her eyes on the guy in front of her. âYour lawyer had the forethought of sending your information last week instead of last minute.â Her voice couldnât have been sweeter if sugar had been poured on it. Kyoko knew the sarcasm was meant for the guy she had been arguing with and not her.
âYou may go on to your first class.â She waved Kyoko toward the door then turned back to the others, âI canât believe I have six new enrollments to do in one day.â
Kyoko turned and rushed for the door only to find one of the guys holding it open for her. She had been embarrassed enough, so without even looking directly at him, she quickly murmured, âThank you,â as she slipped past.
She stepped back out into the hall and put several feet between her and the drooling girls before she finally felt the tension level plummet. Looking down at the piece of paper then back up at the huge hallways, Kyoko noticed them leading off in different directions, even up the steps. âGreat⦠so how am I supposed to find room 101?â
âUp the stairs and the first door on your left,â Tasuki said as he leaned over her shoulder looking at her schedule. âHey! We actually have the same classes.â Watching her whirl around like heâd scared her, Tasuki gave her his âIâm so innocentâ smile. âIâve never seen you here, and I know what a screw-up that office can be. So, I thought I would come over and introduce myself in case you needed some help.â
He stuck his hand out. âTasuki⦠and you are?â
Kyoko couldnât help the smile that tugged at her lips as his warm hand took hers and held it. Curiosity entered her mind feeling like she knew him from somewhere. She blinked when the feeling didnât disappear although she knew there was no way she had ever met him before now.
His hair was so dark that it had strange blue highlights running through it in the light and it hung in haphazard layers past his shoulders. She could see a dangling cross earring peeking out one side and thought he looked like the lead singer of an 80âs rock band. One of the girls at her