only other family he had was his sire⦠Tadamichi. As of late, the masterâs attention had turned from him⦠to the twin brother that had returned to the city.
Wanting to get his new family away from the hyper nightlife of the city and the danger of the approaching conflict between the twins, Yuuhi had decided to take a trip outside the city, where their attention would be solely focused on him.
The city was a crude place to learn the basics of their kind, and he thought the suburbs would be best to test their abilities. The city breed of new vampires was sloppy, and reminded him of nothing more than hungry animals. During their outing within this small town, they had actually been able to bring on new recruits. But, the newbie vampires kept vanishing without a trace.
Yuuhi at first believed the new half-breeds had just moved on⦠abandoning him. But now he knew differently. They were being killed one at a time by nothing more than a human female. The demon child hid his emotions well as he watched his self-made brothers being killed. Deep inside, he was somewhat angry⦠but more curious.
Maybe this would get Tadamichiâs attention away from his twin brother. Would he care that someone was killing off his family?
Kyoko watched with satisfaction as the last vampire began to melt and she knew it would only take about an hour before the puddles were gone without a trace. She rubbed the back of her hand across her cheek, leaving a trail of smeared blood in its wake as she jerked her gaze back around to look for the creepy little boy.
Yuuhi moved into the shadows where she could no longer see him. Some sixth sense told him he did not want to tangle with the girl right now, though he did not take his eyes off her or the way she was holding that strange glowing weapon hard within her hand.
Kyoko blinked into the darkness thinking that it was disturbing on many levels that the child had vanished.
âDid I scare him off?â She asked herself refusing to move. She stared at the spot where the child had been standing. Minutes passed⦠hours⦠or maybe it was just a couple heartbeats. Finally releasing her clenched fist and letting the spirit dart disappear⦠she shrugged her shoulders.
Yuuhiâs lips hinted at an evil smile as Kyoko picked up her discarded books and started walking again. He noticed as she came close to the objects around her, their appearance shifted and changed until she had passed it⦠like a halo of magic. He glanced at the trees ahead of her. The tops of the trees were like black claws reaching for the sky⦠but when she came closer to them, they became a thing of beauty⦠until she was once again out of its reach.
His black gaze leveled on her as if she were a target. Moving through the still air, he followed her. She would make a powerful new addition to his family of darkness⦠a gift for his sire. She had a high survival instinct unlike the careless fools sheâd just killed. Even now there was a small trail of blood on the sidewalk; as if it was stalking her but she paid no notice of this. She held magic within her and he wanted to be a part of it⦠to see things he had not seen since his turning.
*****
Grandpa paced back and forth in front of the window wondering where Kyoko was. It wasnât like her to not tell him if she was going to be out late. He ran his hand through his white thinning hair in worry. They had an arrangement and she was supposed to always tell him before she went hunting for the creatures of the underworld.
He swung around when the phone rang and grabbed it up before it could wake the rest of the household.
Tasuki hadnât been able to shake the weird feeling he had since leaving Kyoko alone in the parking lot. He drove around for only a few minutes before swinging back by and finding it empty. He cursed silently as he hit his steering wheel in frustration. Doing a doughnut right there in the parking lot, he left the library⦠but instead of going home, he staked out Kyokoâs place.
The longer he sat there⦠the more unnerving it got until he couldnât help himself⦠he had to call. When she answered her phone so fast he smiled. âThank god you made it home Kyoko.â
âYouâre sick⦠you know that?â Grandpa glanced back out the window as he held the phone to his ear. He raised an eyebrow seeing Tasukiâs car parked only a couple houses down. âCalling a young lady this time of the night!? What are you, a pervert?â
Tasuki almost dropped the phone as all the color rushed out of his face then quickly raced right back up his body making his ears burn. Only the old man could make him feel like a total idiot this often. Closing his cell phone, he continued to watch Kyokoâs house waiting for her to get home. The phone call verified that her grandpa was definitely not picking her up.
Tasuki rubbed his temples and sighed wearily. Sheâd lied to him⦠but why? Staring angrily at the only target within striking distance, he slapped the steering wheel with both hands then one more time for good measure. When was Kyoko going to face the fact that he could take care of himself? Well, maybe not as well as she could⦠but still well enough to help her out in a jam.
He was distracted from his silent rant when he heard a noise close to his car and was about to look around, thinking it was Kyoko. He felt something strike the side of his neck, just behind the ear, making him inhale sharply as stars burst within his eyesight.
Tasukiâs head fell forward on the steering wheel, rendering him out cold.
Yuuhi reached through the open window for the young man but jerked his hand away when an amethyst spark shot between them. The demon child calmly looked down at his fingers, then slowly back to the young man in the driverâs seat. Being told no only made him want it more and the corner of his lip curved upward in the hint of a cunning smile.
Hearing distant footsteps, he pushed away from the car and looked down the street feeling her closeness. Stepping back into the darkness again, Yuuhi waited.
Grandpa hung the phone up with a knowing grin. He tapped his chin wondering when Tasuki was going to get up enough nerve to take Kyokoâs virginity. He had read in the ancient scrolls that as long as the priestess was a virgin, she would be an even bigger target for the demons. But so far, he refused to tell his granddaughter to have sex. He just wished Tasuki would hurry up and hit puberty or something.
Seeing movement from down the block, he focused his old eyes back on Tasukiâs car⦠wondering if the boy was going to grow a set of balls and get out. There was something outside the driverâs side door but it was too little to be Tasuki, and it was too quick for him to tell what it was. His attention was taken by another shadow on the other side of the street as it came closer.
His eyebrows drew together as her injuries came into view. What had she gotten herself into? Something appeared behind her and his gaze latched on to it.
As Kyoko stepped in front of the house, the motion detector lights came on and she looked up at the window and waved to her grandpa. When he didnât wave back, she noticed the look on his face and the wideness of his eyes. He was looking directly behind her.
âWell⦠thatâs just creepy.â Swinging around, she sucked in a chilled gasp seeing the eerie boy not but a couple feet from her. He was standing as still as a statue in the middle of the street. The only life within him was his unruly silver hair blowing in the night breeze. She gritted her teeth at her own carelessness⦠âHow could she have been so stupid?â
Yuuhi could smell her panic and was surprised by how quickly it was replaced by fearful anger. His gaze curiously rose to the old man gaping out the upstairs window at them. She was protecting him? He let his mind wander throughout the house and detected two more life forces⦠one was a child. Bringing his gaze back to the girl, Yuuhi wondered if the male child was her brother. She had taken his brothers away⦠it would only be fair if he took hers.
âDonât even think about it,â Kyoko warned, seeing his interest in her home. Her eyes narrowed with determination as the spirit dart formed in her palm.
A