Juri and Kiyoni struggled a bit to carry Shuuichi to Kiyoni's dressing room. It really didn't help that Shuuichi was completely out of it.
"Baby! Whoa whoa whoa," he drunkenly uttered, "Need to know whoa whoa…whoa."
"Ugh, I can't believe…" Juri admitted, "Aiko would do...ugh, he's heavy! What is he talking about?"
Kiyoni remained silent until the trio made it to her room. Once Shuuichi was dropped off on her couch, Kiyoni prayed to whatever gods that would listen for Shuuichi to make it out of this situation okay. Juri pulled out her phone and called for an ambulance while Kiyoni sat next to Shuuichi trying to keep him conscious.
"Suu'chi? Suu'chi, hey. Hey, it's Kiyoni. Wake up. Wake up, Suu'chi. C'mon…"
Shuuichi could hardly keep his eyes open. However, whenever he did, he smiled upon the lovely vision sitting in front of him, "Hey... Kiyoni...Hey, beauti-... beautiful…"
"Yeah. That's right. It's me. It's me, Suu'chi. I'm so sorry this happened to you. We're gonna get you to a doctor, okay? You're gonna be fine."
"An ambulance is on the way," Juri announced.
"Thanks, Juri," Kiyoni guided Shuuichi towards her bosom where he could rest.
Feelings of guilt, anger, resentment, betrayal, fear, and vengeance brewed within her lust-stained heart. How dare Aiko? How dare she go so low? What was the point?
"Smell...nice," Shuuichi whispered.
Any ideas of retaliation were set aside for Kiyoni to break out a small smile for the deacon. Even when inebriated, Shuuichi could be a sweetheart. She showed her appreciation by playing with one of Shuuichi's ears.
"What are you going to do," Juri asked.
"Easy," Kiyoni responded, "First, make sure he's okay. Second, kick Aiko's big-breasted, no ass-having ass. Third…well, I'm too pissed to even think about a third."
It also didn't help that Kiyoni has been feeling a bit queasy ever since she caught Shuuichi with Aiko.
"Well, I can't say that I'm surprised," Juri stated.
"Why? Has this happened before?"
"Sadly, yes. I can't remember all of the details but I was told a story where there was a woman who came here for one of the incubi she was obsessing over. Anyway, he didn't care too much about her but entertained her anyway. While he was away, she slipped something in his drink much like what happened to him [Shuuichi]. Thing is, she succeeded in…sleeping with him. Months later, she had his baby, he didn't wanna deal with them anymore, and as a result, she killed herself and the baby by drowning. Rumor has it that the baby was deformed and that's why the incubus turned it away."
"That's ridiculous. Sad but ridiculous. Do you think that's what Aiko wanted to do?"
"Have his [Shuuichi] baby? Oh, no. Aiko would rather drop dead than be a mother. Kiyoni, we both know why Aiko did what she did. She's getting to you and by the looks of things, it's working."
Kiyoni held Shuuichi like a baby doll she used to own. It did seem that Aiko really wanted to gain and keep an advantage over Kiyoni. Not this time. Sooner or later, Kiyoni will show Aiko why Kiyoni is the wrong one to mess with.
The ride to the hospital was tense on Kiyoni's end. As paramedics worked to check Shuuichi's vitals, Kiyoni grabbed his hand and didn't let go. It really broke her heart to see Shuuichi like this and she felt like it was all her fault. If only Kiyoni never invited Shuuichi to her world… If only Shuuichi stayed in his…
At the hospital, Shuuichi was subjected to a stomach pumping treatment to rid himself of any and every part of the tainted drink he consumed. Preliminary tests show that the contents did contains samplings of GHB, the date rape drug, and a bit of opium to keep him awake. A dangerous combination.
In the hallway, Kiyoni explained all she knew to the doctor, "Next thing I knew, I found him on top of my coworker. He was...he was sloshed. Completely sloshed."
"Can you tell me the symptoms," the doctor questioned.
"Eh...slurred speech. He...had a hard time keeping his eyes open. Definitely drunk as hell. Eh...definitely on the deadweight side when my friend and I carried him away."
"You said he was drinking. Alcohol?"
"Yeah. I assume that's what it was. What he was drinking, I don't know. Doctor, is he going to be okay?"
"Well, tests did conclude that he was under the influence of GHB and opium. It's a good thing he didn't consume too much. Even the amount he took was cause for concern. We'll have to keep an eye on him, check his vitals every now and then. However, I think after we get his stomach pumped, he should be fine."
"Thank you, doctor."
After the doctor turned on a heel to leave, Kiyoni grabbed a seat on the chair next to Shuuichi's room. She clutched her stomach wondering why the hell was she feeling this way. Maybe she needed her stomach pumped. Those plans would have to be put on hold, however. Kiyoni had a phone call to make.
"Moshi Moshi," Aiko answered from her own dressing room.
"You have some fucking nerve," Kiyoni stated, "A roofie? You slipped Shuuichi a fucking roofie. What the fuck were you thinking?"
"I believe we've already answered that question," Aiko sat in her room, smoking a cigarette, "I was just doing it to kill time."
"Kill time? Kill time?! You must've had a lot of fucking time in order to get the whole damn place involved. I should have you and the rest of the club arrested for being accessories for the shit you pulled. How did you even manage to get Shuuichi to come in on my night off?"
"You should get a new phone…" Aiko suggested after taking another tobacco-filled puff, "or fix your phone's security. Also, if you had studied the playbook that was your brother, you would've known that incubi and succubi can glamor themselves to be whoever their clients want them to be. I believe the entity did that for you the night of your initiation. Consider that payback for what you did during the new year week, you sticky-fingered bitch."
"Bitch, please. No one wanted to see your big-tiddied, pea nipple, hoe ass at that club anyway. Tuh! At least, Suu'chi and I made it fun."
"Riiiight and how did that turn out for you, hm? How's that scar on your cheek?"
Kiyoni grazed a finger over the scar Risho gave her for driving his car. Thanks to Shuuichi's ointment, it's hardly noticeable.
"Better than the pain I'm going to give you the next time I see you," Kiyoni threatened.
"Ooh, I'm scared," Aiko sarcastically replied, "While you're at the hospital, maybe you should get a doctor to check you out."
"What are you talking about? I'm fine."
"Are you? Are you sure you're not feeling...queasy? Like those proverbial butterflies are becoming more realistic? Maybe it's your heart that's feeling the pain. Heartburn-like symptoms?"
Kiyoni clutched her stomach again, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Like I said, Kiyoni. Tick. Tock. I wonder what's going to happen first. Your Suu'chi popping his cherry or him living the rest of his life in regret knowing you died because you loved him," Aiko ended the call right then and there.
Chills crept up Kiyoni's spine after that call. Could that be the reason why she's feeling so sick? Is she falling in love with Shuuichi? If so, how would she take things from there? How much time will she have to live, to even accept and enjoy that love? Kiyoni has never been in love before and she became a succubus before experiencing the joys of falling in love with someone. This was becoming just as scary for Kiyoni as someone going on their first flight or childbirth for first-time parents. The fear of the unknown was real.
After he was suitably treated, Shuuichi was incredibly weak and tired. However, Kiyoni was allowed inside to check on him. The room provided a fair view of the city at night outside but that was the least of Kiyoni's concerns. As she lightly tugged on the room curtain, all Kiyoni did was observe as Shuuichi slept. Aiko was right. Kiyoni is a succubus. She's not supposed to feel the way she's feeling for someone other than the urge to take them to bed. It could kill her. However, Kiyoni was born a human. A human with emotions and feelings and desires. How in the world is this one man, this one person able to trigger her emotions and feelings and desires other than lust all at once?
Forgoing all sense of rationality, Kiyoni gently linked her hand with one of Shuuichi and tried hard not to cry, "Suu'chi…? Shuuichi, can you hear me?"
Shuuichi could hardly keep his eyes open but he could hear.
"Kiyoni," he mumbled.
Kiyoni displayed a relieved smile, "Yeah. I'm here. I'm here. Shuuichi, I'm so sorry. I'm so...so sorry. I didn't know any of this was going to happen. I didn't think any of this was going to happen. I should've kept you away from that. I should've kept you...out of my world. Shuuichi, please forgive me."
Afterwards, Kiyoni raised Shuuichi's hand to her forehead, her "third eye", and said a prayer for him, "God...Sekhmet, I come to you now...praying for healing. Please bless and heal this beautiful...beautiful soul and give him the strength...to find forgiveness within his heart. In God's name and by the word of Amun. Amen."
Kiyoni spent a few moments crying and praying for the person she cared for most. By the time she saw the light of the hospital room, Kiyoni noticed a few black drops on Shuuichi's hand. After wiping her face, she figured out those dark tears came from her. And she wasn't wearing any eye makeup.
What the hell?
She hadn't seen black tears since Aiko cried at her brother's funeral a year ago and didn't think much about them back then. Now, they're coming from Kiyoni and she didn't know why.
At the same time, Kurama could hear Kiyoni just fine even though Shuuichi was slipping in and out of consciousness. He heard Kiyoni's cries and prayer and developed a pang within his phantom chest. Kiyoni was hurting and Kurama knew it. Not only that but he wanted to join Kiyoni in knocking Aiko senseless if he could. It was one thing to put someone under just to steal a precious item or two. He's done that before. However, a line was crossed when Kurama bore witness to someone wanting to steal his human host's purity just to be petty. Something Kurama has never done and will never do. He does have morals despite his past. He also knew he had to do something at this very moment. It's known that both Kurama and Shuuichi will completely merge one day. Might as well get more of a head start with it.
"Shuuichi," Kurama called, "Shuuichi...wake up."
Shuuichi slowly opened his eyes, finding himself within a space of emptiness with nothing but the swirls of his consciousness around him, "Where…? Where...am I?"
"The void, Shuuichi. This is where we go whenever we switch our minds," Kurama appeared in front of his counterpart like a phantom.
"Yes. I remember now. Wait, I can see you now?"
For the first time ever, the owners of one body meet each other face-to-face. Shuuichi appeared in front of Kurama as ghostly as the fox.
"Nice to finally meet you in person…sort of," Kurama welcomed.
"You bastard," Shuuichi shouted, "Do you realize how much you've made my life a living hell?! The nightmares, the internal fighting, the mental torture…? The…what did you call it…the dreams where I'm…treated like a cuckold as you say? Kiyoni was right. You are the absolute worst!"
"First of all, I'm not as much of a fan of our situation as you. Second, whether we like it or not, we're in this for the long haul. Third, those cuckold dreams are hilarious and classical and you enjoy them more than you think. Fourth, you ought to be grateful you're still alive because of me. I told you how we came to be."
"Grateful? Grateful?! What do I have to be grateful to you for?"
"How about your damn life, you idiot! Think about it! The day I entered this body, everyone, including Shinobu and myself, all thought you were dead, leaving me to occupy your corpse. To my surprise at least, your soul didn't separate from your body."
"Then how did I manage to stay alive? Why am I still here?"
"I was too weak to take control of your body. My soul had been separated from my own body too long to retain all of my power. Because of that, I gave you what little I had to revive you. Fortunately, due to your age and openness to the supernatural, you were able to take my power well. Young people, especially infants, are more susceptible to the other side due to their naivety and ignorance of the world. That little bit of energy was what revived you. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I needed you alive so I could regain my strength."
"So, you used me as a scapegoat. Using others to get your way seems to be your M.O. A trait known within the yokai community."
"Don't get it confused. I've done more for you than you realize. Not only did I save your life, I've shared my strength with you, giving you confidence whenever you needed it."
"Confidence? Like I needed confidence from you."
"Yes you did, Shuuichi," Kurama stated nonchalantly, "Honestly, would you have been able to handle someone like Kiyoni without me? No. She was out of your league and we both knew it."
"Still on her? She's not as carefree as you. And for the love of God, she's not a plaything. You and I were both there when she explained herself."
"I realize that. Especially now. I've already deduced her as different from a typical succubus. Perhaps, superheroine should be added to the list."
"You think so? How?"
"Just listen."
Silence takes over the space for a moment until both Shuuichi and Kurama listen in on Kiyoni's words.
"Suu'chi," she said, "I hope you make it out of this. I promise you, Aiko is gonna get hers for what she did to you. You have my absolute word."
"See," Kurama affirmed.
"Kiyoni…" Shuuichi whispered, "She's… Why is she saying those things? What happened to me, to us?"
"Shuuichi, listen to me. This body lies unconscious at the moment. However, I think with our combined energy, we can get you back to the forefront. Do you understand?"
"How?"
"Just...work with me," Kurama opened his hands towards Shuuichi. Shuuichi followed through with the offer.
Consciousness restored, Shuuichi woke up to find Kiyoni keeping his hand close to her lips as if she was still praying for him.
Kiyoni looked his way and displayed a wide, grateful smile, "Suu'chi!"
"Hey...beautiful…"
"Oh, Suu'chi…! You have no idea how happy I am to see those emerald eyes of yours."
"Kiyoni...what happened? Where am I?"
"The hospital. You were…" Kiyoni paused for a moment to contain her anger, "Why don't you tell me what you remember?"
"I remember...seeing you."
"Me?"
"You...were angry or...you were smiling? I remember...a drink...a nun? Things are just...so blurry."
Kiyoni kissed Shuuichi's hand and forehead, "That's good. That's really good. We'll leave it at that for now."
"Kiyoni, what happened? Why am I in a hospital?"
"Let's not think about that now. Think about getting well and getting out of here. That's your number one priority, okay?"
"Kiyoni…"
Kiyoni rested her forehead against Shuuichi, "Shhhhh. Not now. Just rest. For now, it's just me and you."
Her grip on Shuuichi's hand tightened as it was held against Kiyoni's heart. As much as she wanted to haul ass back to Aphrodisia and put a hurting on Aiko, Kiyoni's number one priority was Shuuichi and his health.
Hours later, Kiyoni stumbled a bit upon escorting Shuuichi to his dormitory. It was the least she could do. The communal living room was the first stop. It also didn't help that Shuuichi yelped a few times along the way. Kiyoni would have some serious explaining to do should their cover be blown.
"Okay, Suu'chi. I need you to stay silent. Okay? Please? Keep quiet."
Based on the zero level of feedback on Shuuichi's part, Kiyoni performed a test of strength. At the foot of the steps leading to the second floor, Kiyoni played the role of a firefighter, carrying the deacon to his room. Unbeknownst to Kiyoni, a sister witnessed the succubus's feat of strength and was amazed by it. By the looks of things, not all succubi were bad.
Shuuichi collapsed like a sack of potatoes before the door to his room was closed. Kiyoni wasn't too far behind but refrained. At least the shoes were off. Before she could make an escape, Shuuichi reached out for her hand.
"Suu'chi…just…just fall asleep."
"...Don't go," he breathed.
Kiyoni was at a standstill. For a moment, she didn't know what to do.
"Just sleep. The sooner I'm out of here the less trouble we'll be in."
"I can't. Please…stay."
And then, it hits her. The only way Kiyoni knows to have her way with him. She removed her coat and shoes, positioned herself on top of the deacon, leaned forward and reached for his head. The same position from the very first sleepover the pair had together. Once those fingers caressed those ears, Shuuichi began to relax. A deeper massage around the ears and crown of the head and Shuuichi melted even more, becoming putty in Kiyoni's hands. Kiyoni's eyes glowed brightly the longer her fingers swam in the sea of this beautiful ginger.
Yes. That's it. Sleep. Sleep for me.
"Sleep," she whispered, "Rest your eyes and sleep. Think of nothing but pleasant thoughts."
The enticing lavender glow of Kiyoni's stare within the darkness of Shuuichi's room entranced the deacon like a child watching television for the first time. She was magical, she was charming, and she deserved every bit of attention Shuuichi could give her. Unfortunately, his drowsiness prevented him from doing so. By the time, Kiyoni's fingers found their way at the back of Shuuichi's neck again, it was lights out.
"That's it, Suu'chi," Kiyoni encouraged, giving baby kisses to Shuuichi's forehead, "Rest now. I'll see you in the morning."
The way the energy swirled around her hands was radiantly beautiful, a vibrant shade of rose glitter pink. Remembering her rainbow mat, Kiyoni thought of the seven chakras and the importance of maintaining balance. It seemed that most of Shuuichi's energy lies within the throat and crown chakra, the points for honesty and spiritual connection, respectively. What does Shuuichi know that Kiyoni doesn't? Or is it Kurama with the secrets? No time to think about any of that. For as long as it took, Kiyoni spent a considerable amount of time balancing out the remaining energy points while Shuuichi drifted off to sleep.