Chapter 8:

It was the reception.

Kyouhei scowled at the marvel of loosing a bet to Yuki. Sunako was actually being sociable with the others. She was capable of being sociable, but she was no longer "a creature of the dark." She refused to wear anything brighter than the scarlet red that framed her, her lips painted equally scarlet, bringing out her violet eyes.

"So, ready to give in."

"I'm still hoping that a pervert will show up and start sexually harassing the girls so that she could beat the hell out of them."

"The only pervert in the room is Ranmaru. Now, you remember our little bet."

"Fine, who shall be my first victim?"

"For old time's sake…Sunako," Yuki said. Kyouhei whimpered, but decided to follow through.

He approached Sunako cautiously, then he wrapped his arms around her. "Hello, my kitten," he said in a perfect imitation of Ranmaru.

BAM!

Kyouhei fell to the ground, holding his nose. Every women in the room, save for Sunako, Noi, Machiko, and Tomao screamed in terror at the fact that Sunako had hit Kyouhei…in the face.

"What in the world are you doing?" Sunako asked him, not feeling guilty for hurting him at all.

"Why you little…"

"Ah, ah, ah, Kyouhei, remember our little wager," Yuki taunted.

Kyouhei wanted to cry. "Forgive me, darling," Kyouhei said, half hoping that Sunako would beat the crap out of him. His voice sounded funny and he was certain that she broke his nose. "I was mesmerized by your elegance," he looked at Yuki, who waved his hand as if to say, go on. "I believe I am staring at the beauteous Diana of the Hunt," Ranmaru would actually have said Aphrodite, the goddess of love, but he didn't want to get any more injured than he already was.

Yuki had obviously filled in Takenaga and Ranmaru. While Yuki and Takenaga were beside themselves with laughter, Ranmaru was scowling over in the corner.

"Will you accept my kiss as a token of my apology," he said, taking Sunako's hand and kissing it. The look on Sunako's face was priceless; she shoved Kyouhei and walked away.

Kyouhei sighed and stood, holding his nose as the blood poured down.

"Yuki," he said, "What was the point of this again?"

"There wasn't really any point, was there, other than to prove to you that Sunako has definitely changed."

"Well, I see that now, so can I be excused."

Takenaga nodded. "I think he paid his dues."

"Well, go clean yourself up and rest. Something tells me that you got yourself into a hard life, Kyouhei," Takenaga said, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I just hope you're up to the challenge."

Kyouhei smirked, despite the pain. "I'm always up to it." That said, he made his leave.