Chapter Eight

Kazahaya sat in his bed, the dream book closed in front of him as he thought about his dream. He thought back on the definitions that he had found. Blood-the rich red stuff of life itself, Crow-a messenger that brings warnings of ill intentions, Dark-the unknown, Eyes-the windows to the soul, Punishment-subconscious guilt or shame, and Red-a color suggesting strong emotion. Kazahaya, however, didn't have time to consider his dream, since his cell phone rang. He ignored it, letting the voice mail get it, and then picked it up to listen to the message.

It was Tsukiko.

"Hi Kazahaya," She said in a breathless voice as though she had just finished a run, "Rikuo told me how he feels and so I'm leaving tomorrow. I…I just want to tell you how sorry I am for butting into your love life. I now…I know that Rikuo will never love me. Please, meet me." She then left her address. Kazahaya scribbled the address down and then stared at it.

"I don't trust you, Tsukiko," he muttered, "But I don't think I should let Rikuo know about this, it's between you and me now."

He stood up, pocketing the address, and then snuck out the window just as he had the day he had run away to head over to Tsukiko's place.

As he approached the apartment building, Kazahaya started to think that it wasn't such a good idea to face Tsukiko and whatever evil plan she had waiting for him all by himself. However, he made himself continue walking forward.

As he climbed the stairs to the apartment, Kazahaya noticed how nice a place it was. It was clean and very well decorated. However, the building looked a lot bleaker as he reached Tsukiko's door.

He paused and then knocked three times before waiting for what seemed to be an eternity before Tsukiko answered the door. Her face was blotchy and tearstained, her eyes red as she cried.

Kazahaya couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl, but what made him feel even worse was that he himself had never gone through what she was going through.

"Thank you for coming," She sobbed, "Please come in." She held the door open for him and Kazahaya hesitantly stepped into the room.

Boxes covered the floor, making it obvious that she was in fact trying to pack and leave. "Um, Tsukiko," Kazahaya asked tentatively as she shut the door, though jumped as he heard her slide the chain into place.

The girl turned to face him and all traces of pity for her fled Kazahaya in a flash. There was a glint in her eye that he had never seen in a girls eye, though had seen once before even though he had been drugged at the time he had witnessed it. It was the same look that Tsuki had had…

Images from his dream flashed in his head as Kazahaya stumbled backwards away from the girl.

"Don't worry," Tsukiko said softly, "I'm not going to do anything to you…much," She said, her tearstained look fading quickly as she approached Kazahaya. She grabbed Kazahaya's arm, her grip amazingly strong for such a sweet looking girl, and pulled him close. "Don't worry," She said in such a way as to make Kazahaya panic more.

She pulled his head down and kissed him as Kazahaya fought, though Tsukiko seemed possessed and held him tight in a strong grip.

"Don't fight," She snarled as she pulled him down to the floor on top of her and kissed him again.

There was a sudden pounding at the door and then Rikuo's voice. "Tsukiko! Kazahaya!" He called before pushing open the door, which only opened a few inches due to the chain. This didn't stop Rikuo, he slammed his shoulder into the door with enough force to break the chain just as Tsukiko released Kazahaya, Kazahaya taking the change to get away from Tsukiko and rolled off of her to stare up and his boyfriend.

"Rikuo!" Sobbed Tsukiko, "He…Kazahaya…he tried to…" She threw herself in Rikuo's arms.

Rikuo gave Tsukiko a suspicious look and then turned it to Kazahaya. "Rikuo…it wasn't…it's not…" Kazahaya stuttered, but Rikuo said nothing and only wiped at his lip as though trying to remove something. Kazahaya flinched as he realized what he meant and reached up to his own lip with a finger, which withdrew covered with lipstick.

Kazahaya watched as his fingertip became blurred as he started to cry. "But I didn't…Why would I after Tsuki-"

"You don't have to explain yourself," Rikuo said firmly, making Kazahaya give a sob, "It's Kyo's fault."

Kazahaya went ridged and then wiped the tears from his eyes and looked up at Rikuo in surprise. "But Rikuo," He said slowly, "Kyo's dead…"

Rikuo gave a knowing smiled and grabbed Tsukiko and then took her shirt roughly in his grip as though to tear it apart.

"No! Rikuo! She's a bitch, but don't rape her!" Kazahaya cried out.

Rikuo gave Kazahaya an odd look as Tsukiko writhed in his grip.

"What are you doing?" Tsukiko asked, trying to squirm from his tight hold.

"Revealing you," Rikuo said before ripping open her shirt. Kazahaya stared in shock as he saw that below the feminine clothe, the bra and the…padding, there was the chest of a man.

"Kazahaya," Rikuo said, "Meet Kyo."