Chapter Nine

Ryo didn't like most of the guests at the party, but his right to complain went the window ages ago. He was uneasy with the man who was Iron Man, and the man who was Captain America, in the same building. He looked at his phone, it had only been an hour since the party started. Seito and Kento were no where to be found, the idea that those two were not alike was dumb. Sure, Seito was brilliant like Rowen, but he was just as hard headed as Kento, he just happened to be more clever. He saw Sage mingling with girls on the other side of the room, Cye was dancing with his wife nicely, and Hoshi was with Tony trying her best not to be obvious. It was a bit of a scandal that their queen was sleeping with the man, he asked her why when he found out and her answer went as such, "he doesn't remind me that I'm dying."

Junko was having fun with some of the girls of senators, she was wearing a beautiful sea foam green dress. He liked her a whole lot more than her irresponsible brother. She saw him leaning against a wall and made a bee line for him, "uncle Ryo, aren't you having fun?"

He smiled falsely, "crowds are just not my thing, kiddo."

She grabbed his hand, "come dance with me. Daddy is too busy, and I haven't seen Mom for a bit."

He sighed, Junko was a really good kid. If anyone was going to be hurt, the young woman was going to be. He let her drag him onto the floor and he spun her making her laugh, he remembered when she was little and he went to her daddy daughter dance because Rowen and Kento were too busy. Despite being the black sheep of the group then and now, she never treated him that way. She laughed as he dipped her, and he saw Seito and Kento arguing in the back of the room. He picked her up and spun her the opposite way and saw Hoshi talking to a man who was a general. What was his name? Something ridiculous, Thunderbolt Ross?

"May I cut in to dance with the birthday girl," asked a man who tapped on his shoulder.

Ryo looked at the goateed face of Tony Stark, and handed her hand over, "try anything and you'll be leaving here with one less hand."

"Uncle," Junko hissed as Ryo stepped away. Who was he going to go talk to, Kento or Hoshi. Who his 'queen' talked to was unimportant to him but Kento seemed furious. He did not want a scene at the party.

Sage broke from the girls who surrounded him, "oh brother, not today."

"They call us the crazy ones," Ryo said with a roll of the eyes. "Have you seen the Captain?"

Sage shook his head as they came to the two men, it was strange to see Seito next to his father. They were almost identical, except Seito was lean and thin like his mother with a lighter shade of grayish colored hair. Seito smiled at them, "look dad, traitors."

Ryo disliked the young man indefinitely, "Kento, Hoshi asked for no drama."

Kento glarred at the man, "the day you get to tell me how to run my family, is the day I end up like Rowen."

Sage didn't like his attitude, "buddy, calm down..."

Kento grabbed him up by the shirt and lifted him off the ground, reminding Sage the man could probably lift a small car easily. "We aren't buddies."

Seito snarled, "that's what I'm talking about! You and your can do, will do, actions. No wonder mom is uninterested in you."

Kento dropped Sage, and cracked his knuckles, "you may be eighteen, but I'm not afraid to spank you still."

Ryo stepped between the two, "what's going on. Seriously, not cool at this party."

Kento crossed his arms and then stopped to look at the stairs and raised an eyebrow, "well..."

Sage got to his feet as Ryo looked up and his eyes grew big. Kayura looked beautiful on the arm of the blonde man. She glided down the stairs next to him, with all the poise of the goddess she had every right to be. She smiled up at the man and he felt his heart ache, no he gave her up ages ago for a reason. Kento came to his side and smiled as he mocked, "Hoshi asked for no drama."

Ryo rolled his eyes, "she looks good with him."

Sage saw Seito dash through the crowd to his mom who looked displeased that the woman was alive and he said, "does she look unhappy?"

Ryo rolled his eyes, "she's never happy with any of us."

Tony went to the stairs and Ryo started to inch closer and heard him address the captain, "well, aren't you two cute."

Kayura rolled her eyes, "hello, Mr. Stark, you look well. I haven't seen you in a while, how have you been?"

"I am well, care to dance while the Cap goes to mingle with the birthday girl," he asked and smiled at his old friend.

Steve smiled at Kay, "its alright, it looks like you have someone looking out for you."

Ryo looked away as Tony glanced over, and said loud enough for him to hear more than clearly, "looks like there's still some competition waiting in the wings."

Kayura didn't say anything as she took Tony's hand as Steve left to go talk to Hoshi and Junko who had wandered together. Tony pulled her close and she stepped back, "please, Mr. Stark, I prefer to have breathing room."

He turned her around, "she was certain you were dead."

Kayura smiled, "I was certain you had changed."

He laughed as they spun, and looked at her hand. He could see the shape of a ring under the glove, "lucky man, you should be careful around him."

"I think I feel safer around him than here with you," she replied as he spun her again and then dipped her. She felt his hand drift low down her back and she turned that dip into a flip. "Looks like we're replicating the party from a few years ago Mr. Stark, remember to keep your hands to yourself at all times."

She heard Ryo laugh at her smart remark and noticed all three men looking her over, "and please put your eyes back in your heads boys."

Kento grinned and grabbed her into a hug, "even in heels, you're one hell of a dame."

She hugged him back, "stop being dumb, please."

He laughed as Sage complained, "leave anything to the imagination would ya?"

Ryo socked him and then said, "you're alive."

"Of course I am, its going to take more than a false god to bring me down," she smiled at him.

She noticed Cye coming over and he hugged her tight, "that was smooth."

"What was?"

"How easily you dropped Stark on his ass," he laughed. "I'm really glad you are alright. How did you make it back?"

It was complicated and she wasn't sure they would understand, "let's just say I was motivated."

Kento grinned, "Dais said that he proposed."

This was the first time Sage or Ryo had heard anything about it, and Sage spoke first, "you've known him for all but a week."

She smiled at the man, "when someone nearly crushes your ribs to pieces, it really puts in perspective how close your friends for years actually are."

He looked away angrily as Cye said, "I figured he cared about you."

She raised a brow, "excuse me?"

"He thought I kissed you and seemed upset about it," he laughed. "Only someone who's smitten by our beautiful little ogre would assume such a thing."

She remembered that conversation and realized how obvious it should have been, "yeah..."

Kayura paused her conversation with the boys as she noticed Hoshi walking towards her. Kayura noticed Junko fangirling in the background as she pulled Steve over to her group of friends. Seito stood back uninterested in who her beloved was and more interested in Tony putting ice on the back of his head.

Hoshi heard the boys quiet down as the woman approached, Kayura bowed, "my Queen, I apologize for not letting you know about my arrival."

Hoshi glanced at the men who were quiet, "I am just glad you are well. After all, you have been more loyal to me than anyone else here."

Kayura looked at Ryo, "then you wouldn't oppose if I nominate a second hand then?"

Kento crossed his arms and Cye mumbled, "he's a traitor though..."

"Why would you trust him?"

"I don't," she said looking at Ryo who had crossed his arms. "But, he does bear the other inferno, and would you prefer to have us at war or have us at peace. Will your warriors put their pettiness aside for the sake of staying hidden."

Hoshi narrowed her eyes, "fine, I leave you in charge of them. If things get out of hand, I will blame you."

Kayura smiled as she watched her walk away, "boys, we have a problem. Are you ready for an old fashioned party?"