Chapter 21: Reisho

Sadly, that victory did not last long. That very afternoon, I was outside, studying from Suzuka's scroll. I felt like I was close to mastering the Jaou Ensatsu Ken when something hit me in the head, knocking me out. I woke up later, finding myself in an unfamiliar hotel room. Looking around, I saw no one, and I decided to leave before the room's occupants returned. I went for the door, but suddenly, I was cornered by this pale, creepy looking youkai. He looked familiar…but I couldn't place it.

"Good afternoon."

"Wh-who the hell are you!"

"I'm Reisho, the leader of Team Mashotsukai." I didn't like the way he was looking at me. "You're Naoko, aren't you?"

"Y-yeah…"

"So sad…the only real demon on a team of morons."

"Wh-what!"

"All your teammates are useless. You're the most powerful…" He played with a few strands of my hair as I backed against the wall, "…and the most beautiful." That was it. I read his mind to see what he had planned for me…and it was not good. Instinctively, I bolted for the door, but Reisho tripped me and my head slammed into the wall. What happened next I later learned from Jin and Touya. The door opened and a certain ice shinobi found his team captain leaning over an unconscious youkai (yes, that would be me) Reisho glanced up and snickered.

"Oh, Touya." he said mockingly. "What are you doing here?"

"Leave her alone, Reisho."

"And are you going to make me?" Then, the scarlet haired master of wind appeared beside Touya, rage blazing in his cobalt eyes.

"If Touya doesn' stop ya, I will." Reisho glared at the two of them before walking past them and out the door. Touya closed the door as Jin looked at Reisho's near-victim.

" 'Ey, Touya, this is your lil' friend from th' match today."

"Huh? Oh, it's the little kitsune?" I heard them talking and I opened my eyes, finding myself understandably nervous. Standing up, I pressed my back to the wall and stared at them.

"Wh-what…Please, don't hurt me, I'm sorry I defeated you, Touya!" I thought I was as good as dead, so I went to my very last panicking resort: plead for my life. Jin smiled warmly and I calmed down a little.

"Don' worry…Naoko, right?"

"Y-yeah, my name's Naoko."

"Well, don' worry. We're not gonna hurt ya."

"Y-you're not?" Touya remained silent, watching me like a hawk.

"A'course not. I could never hurt anyone outside a fight, 'specially not a girl." His long ears twitched, eerily reminiscent of Kuronue. "Here, sit down, that's a nasty lil' scrape y' got on your head." Complying, I took a chair, eyes still locked with Touya's.

A few minutes later…

I enjoyed listening to Jin's fast-talking accent as he told me what had happened while tying a white bandage around the bleeding cut on my head. With him, it seemed like the world was a big joke and only he knew the punchline, if you know what I mean.

"There ya go…Hey, Touya, she could prob'ly use a lil' ice, if y' get my drift." Sighing, the youkai brushed a few green strands of his dual-colored hair out of his face. Walking over, he lazily rested his hand against the side of my head. The feeling was a sudden chill comparable to a gentle shower of freezing rain, until he moved away.

"…Thanks, Touya. Listen…I'm sorry about today."

"Whatever." I stood up and looked at both of them.

"I really appreciate what you've done for me, and if you ever need it, I'll be more than happy to return the favor." Jin smiled again, and Touya looked surprised. "Until then, I should leave before my elder brother gets worried."

" 'Kay, foxgirl." I blushed. Why? Well, let's see. Who else called me foxgirl?

"Y-You guys can call me Naoko."

" 'Kay, Naoko-chan." Touya was silent, so I turned and walked out the door. As Jin told me later, he looked at his friend and smirked.

"Looks like you've got a lil' crush, Touya-kun."

"…Hn. Shut up, Jin."

end of chapter twenty-one