Chapter 9: My brother the ASSassin
She was so excited that she almost blurted her surprise to Yui. Miaka had been silenced not long before Stephanie and Ryan distracted her. "Miaka it is supposed to be a surprise." Stephanie sounded firm only to be responded with a soft "Sorry" from Miaka as they walked into the next store. Miaka had put on some weight and her old clothes refused to fit. Besides she had not been to a club in ages.
"This one should do." Stephanie pointed to a white halter neck mini dress. Miaka tried it on and decided it was the best one of the lot. "Aren't you buying anything?" Miaka asked quizzingly as Steph paid the bill. "I have my share of club dresses." She said with a half – smile on her face.
Within minutes, Steph calling a familiar number, "Hey Chang Lee, we would like to book the VIP section. Hmmm. Bachelorette party. Three. Thanks." *click* "Well that is done." Steph smiled as Miaka was pinning her with her best impression of The Scream painting by Edvard Munch. "H.. How.." she stammered. "Easy. We are friends." Steph chimed.
The boys decided to go to a strip club to celebrate Glen's bachelor party. Keisuke had gotten them into the best one in town. They started a drinking game which ended up with Keisuke, Glen and Taka getting hammered. Andy just shook his head disapprovingly as Glen somehow managed to get on the stage and pole dance (or at least try and fail miserably) while Taka kept chanting that he loved someone called Kate. The next thing Andy noticed was that Taka was drunk dialling somebody and was mumbling, "... I I.. love youuuu... Kate. I.. wanna ma.. marry youuu..." before falling unconscious.
"Damn these people. Taka could never really handle his drink nor could Tasuki" Andy muttered as he sat patiently as Glen made a fool of himself. He did not refrain from videotaping the whole bachelor party so that they could laugh at their antics later.
Miaka, Steph and Yui played a dangerous game of truth or dare with alcohol. Yui was so wasted as she came back from her dare at the karaoke machine (she could still hold a note as she slurred badly to Adele's Rolling in the Deep). Few more minutes and she was talking to herself about how much she loved Glen.
"Yui – chan you were never good with alcohol." Miaka said matter – of – factly as she tried to put her best friend to sleep so that she can regain her sobriety.
Miaka suddenly jumped when her phone began to ring. The screen flashed *TAKA* written in bold letters. Answering her phone she was met with a drunken Taka confessing his love to a girl called 'Kate'. 'I wonder who is this Kate is.' Miaka thought as she put the phone away filing the information for later.
"Miaka can I ask you something?" Stephanie sounded serious all of a sudden.
"Yeah sure." She said wrapping her best friend in a coat she had carried to keep her warm.
"Why do you call my brother Nakago and Ryan, Nuriko?"
Miaka was kind of taken aback with the question. She had expected Steph to know about the book and their past life. Nonetheless she decided to enlighten her dear sister – in – law. "I shall tell you a story about a book called The Universe of the Four Gods..."
An hour or so and another five drinks later, Steph spoke after patiently listening to the story, "So let me get this straight. My brother tried to kill you and your friends on more than one occasion – that sounds like Nick, my boyfriend was a cross dresser and Yui and you were priestesses of different demon Gods and were rivals of each other. Besides Ryan looked really good in that dress." She smirked.
"Beast Gods" Miaka corrected.
"I guess it's time to go home now. Yui needs the rest." Stephanie chimed in swaying elegantly to her feet as both Miaka and she dragged a sleeping Yui to the car.
Andy drove a semi sober Keisuke and passed out Taka and Glen back to Keisuke's place. He had to literally drag Glen and Taka into the living room before they were sprawled unceremoniously on the floor. Keisuke stumbled to his bedroom. The moment he shut the door, a car screeched to a halt. Andy walked outside to find Miaka and semi sober Steph struggle to pick up Yui from the back seat. He walked over to them and picked up a sleeping Yui and cradled her close to him. She shifted slightly in his arms as he walked back to the house. Laying her gently on the sofa, the rest of the occupants found a place to sleep for a bit before daylight struck.
"Rise and shine Glen!" came a voice came cutting through the early afternoon silence. Both Glen and Taka woke up with a start and with the mother of all hangovers as they took in the different surrounding. Andy was already awake and was outside taking on the phone to someone. Miaka was still asleep and so were Keisuke and Steph.
"Kurt? Is that you?" Glen's voice was hoarse.
"Well hell yeah!" Kurt yelled "What the hell happened?" he asked amused.
"Party. And can you please stop YELLING. You are giving me a fucking headache." Glen practically screeched.
Within the next fifteen minutes all the occupants of the house were awake. Miaka and Steph were in the kitchen preparing hangover remedies for the boys. Yui somehow managed to stick to the cold porcelain of the commode since she had woken up. A few moments later, Ryan appeared at the doorstep worried.
"Steph where were you?" his deep British accented voice cut through all the din that was going on to leave a very stunned Andy, Taka and Glen gaping at him as though he had grown another head. He was amused at the sight of three grown men stating at him as he crossed the room placing his hands on Steph's waist and holding her tightly.
"Is th... that... Nu.. Nuriko?" Taka managed to stammer.
"Yes" Miaka gestured to Ryan but gave a flat gaze to the three of her former seishi "He is called Ryan but he does not remember Nuriko." She finished flatly.
"He does not remember us?" Glen's eyes filled with tears.
"Well at least he is back." Andy said coldly as he walked over to the sidelines.
"Ryan this Keisuke, Kurt, Glen, Andy and Taka." Miaka introduced Ryan as he smiled at everyone.
"What is the matter Glen. Why are you crying?" Ryan asked worriedly. "Is something wrong?"
"Nuriko!" he screeched as he ran towards the unsuspecting man and giving him a bone crushing hug. "You are back."
"Huh?" he muttered but a flash of recognition crossed his eyes.
"What is going on here?" Yui walked into the room confused.
"Nothing Yui – chan, Ryan decided to visit." Miaka finished.
"Let's not get carried away with this reunion." Steph's voice cut in. "Here have some tea."
She had missed her meeting with her brother this morning and was on her way to meet him at work. She didn't know what possessed her to drag Ryan along but she was glad she did. Nick had stepped out of his office and she found herself alone with the man she loved. The next thing her mind registered was that she was pinned lightly on the wall and Ryan's soft lips were pressed against hers.
"What are you doing?" she murmured into him as he brought one leg between hers and lifted a thigh slightly to lock with his.
"Keeping you entertained." A faint teasing half smile was seen on his face as he resumed locking his lips with hers. Slowly his hand drifted to the side of her breasts as his lips moved to nip her on the side of her neck softly soothing the newly forming bruise with his tongue as his other hand slipped slightly under her shirt trailing on her hips.
"What the hell is going on here!" Nicholas Raine's voice was loud and authoritative.
"Hey Nicky you wanted to speak to me?" Stephanie said coldly.
"What have you done to her?" Nick sent one of his patented icy stares towards Ryan before charging at him. He sent a chi blast directly at Ryan who sidestepped the attack as a glint of fear crossed his eyes. Seeing that he was unaffected, Nick used speed and tried to punch Ryan who caught him mid punch and flung Nick onto a desk which shattered to bits.
"Damn he is strong." Nick said as he wiped the blood that trickled down his face before charging back at him.
"STOP!" Stephanie yelled coming between her brother's outstretched arm and her boyfriend's tense posture. "That is enough Nick." She caught Nick's arm and that revealed some more bruises on her arm. It seemed that he got the point because the protective Nicholas Raine walked calmly to the other end of the room.
"I will leave you two to talk like mature adults. I will be outside." Walking to her brother, her silver eyes cold as ice, looked him straight in the eyes and said, "Don't kill him this time around." She knew she hit home with that comment because a wave of recognition went through his cold eyes and his shoulders stiffened.
The moment she closed the door behind her, Nick walked over to Ryan who was standing still, dazed at the feat he just accomplished. "She has never stood up against me before. Keeping that in mind, I am going to give you a chance to prove yourself." His voice was distant and his eyes were piercing as he looked down into warm amethyst ones, "Screw it up, however, and no one will find your rotting corpse." His cold voice threatened. Ryan only nodded curtly before the tall blonde man opened the door to let his worried sister in.
"It is done." He said leaving his sister and her new man to themselves.
"Oh boy" Ryan gasped as Nick shut the door clutching the nearest chair for support. He was so sure that his knees would give way. "That escalated quickly."
"He didn't kill you." Steph said with relief.
"Fia? Are you ready? You are already late!" Ryan's voice called from the living room.
"Coming Ryu" she called as she stepped into the living room. Her elegant one shoulder sky blue gown dress was a perfect fit with its cut riding high up her thigh. Her dark brown hair was tied up in complicated braids, courtesy Stephanie and Miaka. They were right, it did bring out the colour in her turquoise eyes.
"Come on Ryan, we need to leave now." Stephanie's American accent brought him out of his ramblings.
"We will be going out for dinner. We will pick you up from school by twelve." Ryan's deep accented voice commanded his little sister.
"Ok" she said as they left for the school.
It was almost the end of the first set when she entered and his eyes never lost sight of her. She was indeed drop dead gorgeous. How he wished to be by her side. He finished the last song of the first set as he saw her dance with another one of her classmates. He wanted to put as much distance with that boy and her as possible. It had been a really long time since Andy Wong felt jealous of another man holding his woman.
By the middle of the second set, he realized something was wrong. He couldn't see her around as he looked across the dance floor only to find her cornered near the wall by the same boy. She appeared to be fighting his forceful advances. Something had to be done about it and without thinking, the rock star Andy Wong walked off the stage towards the frightened girl, much to the amazement of the band members and the crowd of female fans.
"... stop, please ... James... No!" she said frantically jerking the semi drunk James away from her to no avail.
"Oh come on baby..." this James slurred, "It is jus... just one night"
"The lady asked to be left alone." Came a commanding voice from behind James. Spinning around, he was met with a very pissed off Andy. At this time, he looked a lot like Hotohori before challenging Tamahome who was under the influence of kudoku.
"Who are you." James slurred as he turned to face the musician. He still managed to pin the girl to the wall. "Go finish your work. You have no business here."
"The lady wants to be left alone." Andy repeated.
"Or what?" James took up a defensive stance.
"I will not challenge you. You are not in your right mind. Talk to me when you are sober." Andy tried to push the drunken man away only to be pushed further. Soon he found himself on the receiving end of a punch, that he managed to sidestep.
"If it is a fight that you want. So be it." Andy's voice was calm as another fist came close to his pretty face. He caught the punch in mid – air and broke the attacker's wrist while pasting a powerful roundhouse kick to the perpetrators' face, sending him flying to the wall and out cold.
"Are you ok, malady?" Andy asked turning to a petrified Hayden, who involuntarily ran up to him and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Thank you." She said after a long moment. "Why did you help me?"
"You deserve so much better than a drunkard." Andy replied calmly. Their faces were barely inches apart and he was fighting the urge to kiss her there and then. "You haven't told me your name." He said suddenly.
"Hayden, and you?" she had absolutely no clue who her saviour was.
"Andy."
"Thank you Andy." She said as she placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "I need to go home now."
"I will drive you." He said solemnly.
"It's ok. My brother will be here any moment."
"I will personally see you out." He hadn't realized that every female in the hall was jealous of the young lady in the blue dress as Andy escorted her out to the parking lot. Not long after a black Lexus drove in to which Hayden's blue eyes lit up. "That is my brother." She said as she walked towards the car as Andy turned back to the party thinking of 'Houki.'
A/N: I know it has been ages. Real life is finally getting to me and keeping me so occupied. Please let me know how you like this chapter.
Happy reading
PP