Chapter 23

Kuon was livid. He couldn't believe the little bastard decided to show up on set and think that flowers and candy would make up for the way he had treated Kyoko. His runes started to glow and caught Kyoko's eye. In an instant, Kuon was between the pair just as Sho reached to grab her.

What the...? Sho screamed in his head. It can't be. He can't be! He shivered at the revelation of Kuon's runes. He stumbled back and fell on his backside trying to get away from the two Djinn. Kuon picked him up effortlessly by his collar and brought him close. "Just because she hasn't done anything of note to you doesn't mean that I won't. Stay the fuck away from my woman." He hissed quietly.

"Why she's just..." He started but couldn't finish. For some reason, only he could guess, his voice stopped working completely. The only thing that came out was a breathy squeak.

"Fuwa-san..." Kuon started as the terrified teen looked at him. "I suggest you leave and do something about that voice of yours. You are a musician after all. It wouldn't be good for you to lose the use of your voice... Permanently." Kuon smirked and Sho's eyes went wide.

After Sho had left and the entire cast and crew approached to make sure that Kyoko was okay after the young man had obviously tried to attack her, Kuon spirited her away to her dressing room to calm her.

As she sat on the small sofa, he knelt before her. "Kyoko..." He whispered as he took her small hands in his. "Look at me please."

She shook her head with her eyes closed. "I... I can't." She whispered sadly. Her intricate little gold runs that ran up and down her arms and on her temples as his did, were lightly glowing a cold blue.

"Kyoko..." He commanded her softly as he gently ran his thumbs over the little markings. "It's not as bad as you think it is." He smiled.

She glanced up in surprise. "H-How could you say that?"

He sat back on his heels and smirked. "Hmm... How about we talk about this later at home? This time, don't shut me out?"

"I-I'm sorry." She whispered as she traced the faintly glowing runes on his temples.

He shook his head. "Can I tell you a secret?"

She looked at him with curiosity and nodded.

He smiled brightly and leaned to her ear. "Don't apologize for giving me such a wonderful gift." He kissed her just below her ear and slowly pulled away to observe her reaction.

She gasped. "Kuon! I almost forgot!" She jumped from he seat and grabbed the gift that she had purchased for his birthday. She held it out as one would an offering. "I saw it and thought you would like it."

He took it from her and looked at the beautifully wrapped package in his hands as he chuckled. "May I open it now?"

She looked at him sheepishly. "It would probably be better if you waited."

He smiled mischievously. "Then for you, I'll wait but tonight after work, we talk..."

"Okay..." She conceded.

"Promise?" He asked.

She gave him a small smile and nodded. "Promise, but first one more thing." She waved her hand over the table and a feast appeared before them. "We cannot skip lunch."

He chuckled. "No, I suppose we can't."

He was livid! How dare that pin-head do that to him? "You are so going to regret that Tsuruga! Don't think I will keep quiet on this one!" He spat out as he stomped into his dressing room and sat roughly on his sofa.

A tall strangely dressed raven-haired teen male with golden eyes appeared before him in a pillar of fire.

Sho looked on in terror with wide eyes. Who was this strange very imposing long-haired male, dressed in silk? He almost looked like Kyoko's male twin. "Who... Who are you?"

Huba Syd laughed at him. "Shotaro Fuwa... You do not merit the name of a Djinni. Not mine nor, my sister's nor, the other."

Sho sat up. "Who the hell is your sister?"

He smirked at him. "The one that you freed with your last wish."

Sho's face fell. "What do you mean my last wish?"

Huba Syd's smile turned sinister. "You never asked what price you would pay... Did you?" He walked toward him and stopped just close enough to be eye to eye. "Your descendants... Your years... Your affections... All of which you sacrificed for your demands. All of which cannot be returned to you. Do not trouble my sister any longer or, I will turn you to the insect that you are. You are not worthy of the Djinn. If you lay hands on her again... You will be crushed." Huba Syd told him.

Sho scoffed at him. "Genies can't kill people. She told me herself."

Huba Syd smirked at him. "That is true for one that is bound; however, neither she nor, the other nor, I am bound and I will take enjoyment from watching you suffer. I am not as gentle as my sister. I will not allow you to harm her again."

Sho stared at the ground, contemplating all of the information that had just been thrust upon him. "Is there any way I can get it back?" He whispered.

Huba Syd stared at him in disbelief. "What?"

"I'll do anything. I'll give all of this up. Just tell me what to do. I don't want to die. Please help me and I'll leave her alone." He begged.

A mischievous glint sparked in her brother's eyes. "Anything?..."

"Yes! Anything... Please..." Sho begged.

"I may have a solution to your dilemma, Fuwa-san..." The ancient teen told him as he flipped a little gold coin in his hand. He tossed the coin that an ancient sorcerer had given to him, to Sho and Sho clumsily caught it.

"What is this?" He asked in confusion.

Huba Syd smirked. "That is your one and only chance. It will give you your desire. Hold the coin to your lips and say the words of your deepest desire. The one thing that you want with all of your heart and soul and it will grant it unto you." Huba Syd had a pretty good idea what the greedy boy would wish for.

"It won't kill me?" He asked nervously.

"Not unless you wish for it." Huba Syd told him.

Sho took in a deep nervous breath, brought the gold coin to his lips and kissed it gently. "I wish to live forever." He breathed out.

Huba Syd watched as Sho screamed in agony as gold runes of sealing were burned into his skin and his tawny hair lengthened. He winced when the shackles were firmly forged hotly around his wrists and ankles and the chains snaked from the shackles to the coin. He was stripped and pulled down forcibly into a dogeza by his new solid gold collar. An ominous voice boomed inside of his mind. "Servant of the coin, stand." Sho stood, but not of his own volition. Sho tried to move and speak. "You shall only do as you are commanded by your masters. You shall only speak when spoken to unless the privilege is granted. Servant of the coin... From now until the end of time, you will be known as Sawt. I command you to take your proper place, slave of the coin."

Lory watched as a screaming Shotaro Fuwa was pulled into the coin. Lory shook his head in pity. He remembered the painful beginning well. "You wished poorly." He sighed. "You should have just accepted your fate and left my sister alone." He whispered sadly to the small glowing gold coin as he picked it up. "At least you will have time to contemplate your actions."