A/N Okay, so sorry for the late update. My laptop is sick and is in the shop. I don't know yet if it can be saved. The good thing is, I was able to back up my files into an external hard drive. (remember writers…always back up your work every few weeks.) So I didn't lose much work when it crapped out. Until then, I'm stuck using the Desk top in the front room. It's nearly impossible to write in there with my family playing Rock Band and Guitar Hero three feet from where I'm trying to write. So my updates my take a little while. But at least you know I'm not giving up on the story. Hehe
I'm glad to see some of you that reviewed my oneshot "Midnight Phone Call" It did so well and their's so many asking to continue it, that I'm thinking of making it a multi-chapter. But I want it to have the same emotion as the first chapter so I'm REALLY taking my time on it. But thank you to all those that reviewed it.
P.S. I'm addicted to Fable 2...someone save me!
Disclaimer, I don't own Kenshin or the work of Feehan
I give this chapter a PG-13 rating for swearing.
Saitou stood in a shadowy corner watching young people mill about. No one noticed him; no one would see him unless he wanted them to. The buildings around him each pounded out a different beat. Night clubs, bars, and far worse places took root here. This was not his normal stomping grounds. He caught a scent on the air. Someone he knew rather well. Yahiko.
Saitou started off, stepping onto the sidewalk and finding Yahiko with ease. The man sat out in the open on a bench, reading a newspaper. Yahiko was a married man now with one child and a second on the way. He seemed out of place in an area filled with pink haired girls and boys with spikes everywhere. He casually made his way over to his friend. No one dared to bother him, people hurried to get out of his way as he walked by. He sat next to the man and looked over at him. Yahiko kept reading the paper.
"A married man of your age should not let himself be seen in this part of town. Likewise I myself do not like to spend much time here. Save to get an easy meal."
"I may be almost 35 years old, but I think I still got what it takes to "Hang" with these kids." Yahiko lowered the paper and flashed a smile at Saitou.
"What did you call me here for, old friend?"
Yahiko winced. "You know, there was I time I hated being called a kid…but I think old friend is worse." He leafed though the paper for a moment as a pair of giggling young women on cell phones walked by. "I thought you would like to know, I followed the trouble twins in there." He nodded with his head in the direction of a large brick building. A sign over the door read The After Life in drab yet wicked looking red and purple script. A line of people wrapped around the building waiting to get in.
"A rave club?" Saitou knew Tokio and Kenji liked to frequent the numerous clubs in the city, but a rave club? "They shouldn't be in there."
"I know. I just happened to overhear their plans tonight and followed them. It was rather easy. I didn't want to upset Kenshin or Kaoru. I don't know how they would take it. I thought I would let you know, maybe you can talk to them." Yahiko folded the newspaper. "Hey, did you hear about that kid who got murdered?" Yahiko pointed to the front page. Saitou shot him a look and Yahiko cleared his throat. "Right… off subject. Well I got to get home before I'm the one getting yelled at. See ya later Saitou."
Saitou only bowed his head slightly and watched as the man stood and silently vanished in the shadows of the buildings. Being around Carpathians so much must have rubbed off on Yahiko. He displayed many of their stealth skills and it was difficult at fist glance to be able to tell if he was human or not.
Saitou cleared his thoughts. If the young Carpathians were in the club, he was going to have to go in there and get them. Saitou made himself invisible to humans as he stalked the shadows, keeping close to the buildings as he made his way to the club. He passed the line of strangely dressed people and ignored the bouncers as he slipped in undetected. He had never been in such clubs and was unprepared for the onslaught to his senses. The building was packed with humans. The mass of smells was just so overwhelming; Saitou had to take a moment to ignore the attack of scents. Music blared loudly, yet clear. A massive beat made the floor tremble like a giant heart beat. A second faster, more flowing beat sounded like blood rushing in his ears. It was as if he were inside a giant living thing. Masses of humans moved in unison; pressing together and flowing like tall grass in the wind. Laser lights of green and red shot out from one end of the building and seemed to bounce off the walls to every corner. Man-made smoke made the floor hazy and mystical.
Saitou took a moment to scan the room of humans. Glow sticks and all manner of blinking lights almost hypnotized him. No wonder this place was a trap for young humans. It was like walking in a dream world where no one cared about anything but the beat. Suddenly he caught the scent of not one… not two… but three Carpathians. He couldn't see them, but he knew just where they were. Saitou took a small set of steps down to the main dance floor. The dancing humans parted ahead of him, even though none noticed him. He was dark power, a hunter, and they subconsciously made room for him to pass unmolested.
Finally he found his way to one side of the dance floor and his breath caught in his throat. Tokio stood dancing in perfect rhythm to the pounding music. She was dressed in shiny black, tight, latex looking pants. Her top was blood red; the sleeves were long and flared out at the cuffs and the blouse cut off just over her belly button. Her long deep red hair was weaved into countless braids and ponytails. No less than five necklaces and a dozen bracelets graced her. She wore sky blue lipstick and blue earrings blinked on and off on her earlobes. Her whole body was covered in glitter. She nearly shimmered in the flashing lights. Saitou stood rooted to the floor as life around him seemed to fade away. Tokio had two blue glow sticks on strings, one in each hand. She waved them around in perfect unison to the music, weaving a pattern in the air that only other Carpathians could follow. The strange pattern of light spoke of joy, sadness, and youthful abandon. Saitou nearly stumbled when a human bumped into him. He had never been so disoriented. So much color.
Dancing beside her was another woman, Itsuko, daughter of his Prince. Saitou blinked out of his stupor and stalked over to the pair. The women felt him before he reached them. They paused and turned their eyes to him. Itsuko wore a short latex skirt and a hot pink top that covered only her breasts and little else. She was also covered in glitter and blinking jewelry. She had on black high heels with leather straps that wrapped up her calves and stopped at the knee. Her hair jet black hair was striped with shocking blonde and thin strips of pink divided every block of blonde. Her hair hung free nearly to the back of her thighs. She had Hiko's height, emphasized by the heels she wore. She was nearly as tall as Saitou, and was all legs.
Both young females were exotic, alluring, a living dream. All humans near them had eyes only for them. Both males and females were captivated by their light and beauty. Saitou found it hard not to gaze at them in the same way. The women held still, looking around as if trying to find a way out of the mass of humans, but Saitou held them with his gaze. Once he reached them, he planted his feet wide and crossed his arms.
"You're fathers would kill you if they saw you right now." He said, his voice flat. Yet on the inside he was a pot boiling over.
"Saitou what are you doing here?" Tokio asked. Her glow sticks dangled lifeless from the straps on her wrists.
"Yeah, how did you get in here? That outfit is so not cool enough to get past the front door." Itsuko said with a smile.
"I hardly need permission from an overgrown human. I go where I please." Saitou growled. "What are you doing here?" His eyes burned holes though the females as he scolded them. "This is not a place for young females. It's a disgrace."
"Aww, lighten up Saitou." Itsuko relaxed, letting her body move to the music. "I'm twenty-four. Not young at all."
Saitou scoffed and turned his eyes to Tokio. "Where is your good-for-nothing brother?"
"You leave him alone Saitou. He's right there." Tokio pointed to her left. "He's having fun, for once. Don't bother him."
Saitou tried to ignore her but it was impossible. Instead, he turned his eyes to where she was pointing. When he spotted the male, Saitou nearly gasped.
Kenji lounged back in a chair; he had the same latex type pants as his twin sister, as well as the same color shirt. Except his shirt was skin tight. The sleeves had no flair; instead the wrist cuffs were tight. The shirt looked like it had been sliced open. Most of Kenji's chest was exposed, nearly down to his stomach. Chains and other necklaces draped from his neck to hang on his bare chest. His boots were clunky black leather that reached his knees and had many buckles, the top half of them were left undone. His bright, blood red hair was pulled back, held in a ponytail by a leather strap at the nape of his neck and let the rest hang down his back. It was nearly as long as his sister's hair.
No less than half a dozen young human females clutched at him. Each one was trying for his attention. But his bright purple eyes were glaring at Saitou, just as he was glaring at him. Kenji was a statue, he held perfectly still as the girls jabbered on around him. He turned his head, keeping his eyes on Saitou as he spoke to the girls. He then stood and made his way to his sister. He was only slightly taller than his sister, giving him the same height as his father, Kenshin. His boots gave him an extra inch over Tokio's head, but still more than a head shorter than Saitou.
"What do you want?" Kenji muttered as he took his sister's side.
Tokio looked up at Kenji. She was worried for her brother. He tried to act tough, but Saitou had become so skilled in giving him tongue lashings. Kenji was often left an angry, shamed shell of himself.
'Please don't press his buttons Ken.' She said in his mind. They never shared blood with each other, but being twins, they had a connection with each other unlike any other Carpathian siblings.
"As a male Carpathian, your top priority is to protect. Most of all to protect the females. Yet you allow your sister and cousin to come here?" Saitou started, swinging all his attention and intimidation on the young man. Tokio could almost feel the power rolling off Saitou, smothering her brother.
"Hey, I have my eyes on them. Besides, they're big girls; no one in this place can do any harm to them." Kenji snapped back. He tried to ignore the pressure of Saitou's power washing over him in waves.
"You are but a fledgling Kenji, a child Carpathian, and will be for some time. You have no idea the evil that is out there. Just because you started going out with your father to hunt down a few young vampires does not give you the right to be cocky. Nor the right to dress in such a way. Your mother would weep in shame if she could see you now." Saitou never raised his voice over the music or chatter of the humans. Never once did he show the anger crawling under his skin. Yet each one of the fledglings felt the impact of his anger.
Ouch, that was low. Tokio swung her eyes back to her brother. 'Don't listen to him Kenji, He's just being Saitou again. You know he can't help being an ass.'
'Hush little sister, I can fight my own battles. And watch that mouth.' He added as an afterthought. Kenji didn't let Saitou's words deflate him. He stood, legs wide and arms relaxed at his sides. He didn't let anyone see how much Saitou stung him. "Stop treating us as children Saitou."
"If you act like children, I treat you like children. All of you." Saitou caught both Tokio and Itsuko with his burning dark eyes. "You are the future of our race. The mothers of generations to come. Mothers don't look like this." He waved a hand at their outfits.
"We're not mothers yet Saitou!" Itsuko protested.
"Thank the gods." Saitou sighed. Even though it was very hard for their females to have children, they would be better off childless until they got their act together. "We're going home, all of us, right now." His tone told them they had better not argue with him. But as young people, they seem to live to disobey.
"No we're not." The look in Kensji's eyes and stance changed, he knew he was picking a fight.
Saitou swung his eyes full on to Kenji, his power flaring out. The females combated the anger instinctively with their own pure auras. Kenji pulled his sister behind him protectively. In the face of an angry male, Kenji knew he was no match for the elder, but he wasn't going to let Saitou push his sister around. The power rolling off of Saitou was like the heat of a fire, burning his skin and sucking up all the air from his lungs. He wanted to step back, acknowledge the more superior male, but his ego wouldn't let him.
Saitou didn't want to flex his powers. It was an immature action better left for fledglings. But there was always something about the twins that drove him to displaying his authority. He hoped they would comply with him, just once.
Tokio could feel the discomfort of her brother. The pain, anger and embarrassment. Saitou had belittled his ability to take care of her and Itsuko, and then had to throw his lack of powers in his face. She felt torn. Stand by her brother, or throw in the towel. She loved Kenji, but she also admired and understood Saitou.
"You are coming home!" Saitou ordered. The humans around them edged further and further away. Nothing looked amiss, but they didn't like the black feeling settling over their souls.
"Go to Hell Saitou!" Kenji shot back.
Tokio took one look at the fury in Saitou's eyes and decided she had better save her brother from killing himself. "Whoa, okay, okay." She stepped from behind Kenji and planted herself between the males. "Let's go home okay?" She looked from one to the other. "Okay?"
"Fine with me" Itsuko whispered. Though she acted tough, she was unnerved by the males.
A moment went by before Kenji relaxed his stance. He clenched his fists, upset at himself.
"Let's go." Saitou said through clenched teeth. He turned on his heel and stalked away. Itsuko immediately followed behind him. Tokio wrapped her arm around Kenji's arm and gently tugged at him to get him moving. She let her hand wiggle its way into his hand, forcing her brother to let go of his fists. They held hands as they walked out of the club.
Just like they use to as children.
… . .
"Keys."
Tokio looked at the open hand and lifted her eyes to the owner. Saitou demanded the keys to her car. "You're driving?"
"Of course I am. I saw you out of the club and I'm going to see you home." He snapped his fingers. "Keys." Too bad they were too young to transform and fly like their parents could. The three of them had been practicing, but still unable to master such an art. They were forced to use other means of transportation.
'Give him the damn keys Tokio.' Kenji gripped her hand tightly, trying to control himself.
Sighing, Tokio pulled her keys from her tiny, sequence covered purse and slapped them in his hand.
"Thank you. Now get in."
'Bastard.' Tokio grumbled as her and her brother climbed in the back seat. Itsuko sat in front with Saitou.
'Watch your mouth.' Kenji warned as he buckled up.
'How come you get to curse but I can't, huh?' her seat belt clicked into place just as Saitou pulled out into the dark street.
'Females shouldn't use foul language. No sister of mine is going to use such unclean words.'
'Unclean?.... you sound like Aoshi.' He was trying too hard to be the mature male everyone expected him to be. But Tokio wasn't about to tell him that. She held his hand tightly and merged her mind with his to soothe the harsh words Saitou spat. They sat in tense, awkward silence. All too soon they reached Prince Hiko's home.
"Hey, I had a great time." She said over her shoulder to the twins.
"I know you are of age where humans are concerned. Reality is, you are still a fledgling Itsuko. You will have strength in time, but you must take care until then." Saitou warned as the girl climbed out of the car. Hiko and Tomoe took their daughter to the homeland for her coming of age ball. Declaring her eligible for a lifemate. Dozens of males showed up, but none was the one for her. Itsuko returned to Japan not as excited about being a lifemate as when she left. Saitou had a feeling she was relieved. She had a few more years to be on her own before a male would eventually find her.
"I know, I know." The young woman rolled her eyes before leaning down to peer into the back seat. "I'll be over tomorrow night kay Tokio?"
"Sure Itsuko." Tokio smiled. She was not going to let Sour Saitou put a damper on her plans.
"It'll be fun." Itsuko promised before closing the door. Saitou waited until he was sure Itsuko was in the house before driving off.
All three of them sat in silence. Yet Tokio was bombarded with such feelings. Violent anger from her bother, and disappointment and the same slow, deep burning anger from Saitou. Tokio was gifted with empathy, like most females of her kind. She was able to pick up and feel the feelings of those around her. Sometimes, she felt as if her gift was a curse. Harsh thoughts flashed in her mind, and she had urges to act out and strike someone.
... . .
Saitou pulled up to the house and waited for the gates to swing open. "I had better not catch you two anywhere near that side of town again." Saitou mumbled.
"We only went there to dance!" Kenji sputtered, outraged. "What's the harm in that? You know human drugs and alcohol has no affect on us. Why are you being such an ass about it?"
'Ken.' Tokio hissed in protest.
"It's the principle of the matter. You two are far better than those humans. You do not herd yourself into a building to move about like sheep." Saitou was starting to sound like his father. He had almost forgotten receiving his own such speech hundreds of years ago. For different reasons, obviously, but strangely, much of the words never changed. He felt terrible for yelling at them, but they were the future of their race. They had to be molded to fit the lives of who they were going to replace. "In the homeland, Carpathians your age are not out having a good time Kenji. They are out hunting, protecting, always on the look out for the growing threat." He added as he pulled up into the property and parked the car.
"How many times do I haveta say it? We're not in the homeland!" Kenji threw open the door and slammed it.
Saitou followed in calm, but no less furious manor. Tokio scrambled to undo her seat belt and followed them. Saitou grabbed Kenji by the shoulder and spun him around.
"I know we are not in the homeland, you infant. But the danger here is just the same as there. Take some re-"
"Responsibility." Kenji finished for him, pushing his hand off his shoulder. "Tokio and I turned eighteen three nights ago, we have been of age for three nights. Give us a break Saitou, we're not going to die tomorrow."
"You could." He had no idea what was out there, the boy. Saitou could show him horrors that would have him clutching at his mother's skirts.
Kenji cocked his head to the side. "Yeah, well I hope so. So I don't have to listen to you!" Kenji spat and in an instant, was gone.
"Childish." Saitou let his body relaxed, not realizing just how much adrenalin was pumping in his system. What was it about them that made Saitou lose it?
"You should talk, look at yourself." Tokio snapped as she stalked past him. Her shoes made little noise on the grass. Unlike her bother, Tokio had yet to learn how to transport herself. She was forced to walk. Not that she cared much; just now she had Saitou following her. God she hated that man, why couldn't he just leave them alone. Every time he showed up, it was to say something nasty about them.
"I think you're parents have given you far too much leeway." Saitou growled behind her as they reached the side door.
Tokio felt something inside her snap and she whirled around on one foot. Surprised, Saitou had just enough time to stop before slamming into the young woman. He scared her, he had always scared her. With his narrow eyes and too tall body. But she was so angry, all those childhood fears of him vanished.
"Thank the gods I don't give a damn about what you think. Nothing is ever good enough for you Saitou." If he was shocked by her words, he didn't show it. His face was the same mask of arrogant darkness and it made her want to scream. "Face it Saitou, We're never gonna be good enough." She jabbed at her chest with her finger. "I'm happy about that. I'm not going to be a Carpathian robot for some male to program. No male is going to get me to play by "the rules." She turned to open the door but Saitou reached around her and took hold of the doorknob. He stepped closer, sandwiching Tokio against the door and himself. She felt his breath against her ear.
"One will."
Tokio felt her heart miss a few beats, only to start back at a racing speed. Heat rolled off of him, she could feel it pour into her whole body. She felt herself blush. Imagine, blushing because Saitou was whispering in her ear! Confused and still very upset, Tokio turned in the little space she had. Her hand swung out.
The sound of the slap was surprisingly loud in the darkness. Tokio jammed herself against the door. Saitou's head was turned just slightly from the force of her blow, yet his eyes stayed glued to her. His damn yellow eyes that glowed in the darkness. How she hated those eyes. She always found herself watching them, gazing, never wanting to look away from the mesmerizing sight. Even now, with him only a foot away from her, she couldn't rip herself away from his eyes. They burned in anger and something Tokio feared.
Suddenly the door behind her was wrenched open. Tokio yelped in surprise as she felt herself tumble back as her support was gone. Kenji caught his sister by the upper arm and kept her from falling. He shot Saitou a look of death before dragging his sister inside and slamming the door in his face.
… . .
'You okay?' Kenji silently made their way through the house. It was quiet, their parents must be out.
'Yeah. M'fine.' Tokio muttered. The rave clothes shimmered for a moment transforming into something more appropriate. Jeans, and a white poet blouse. Her hair was braided and all glitter and makeup vanished; leaving her looking more like a fifteen year old, rather than eighteen. Kenji followed her lead, turning his rave clothes into normal teen garb. Jeans, and a deep red long sleeved shirt that matched his hair.
'What did he say to you Tokio?' Kenji demanded. He felt her emotional upheaval, he knew the moment she hit him…but why? He had no clue. 'Tell me.' Kenji wanted any reason, any excuse to kill that bastard.
'Nothing important.' Tokio insisted. It was very difficult to lie to her brother; indeed it was as if they were connected with the same mind. But Tokio truly believed what Saitou said was just rubbish to upset her. But why did it upset her so? Tokio knew there were worse things out there than having an overbearing lifemate. Was it because Saitou said it? Because he whispered it in her ear? His breath teasing her neck and suddenly making her feel far too alive. Tokio gave her head a mental shake. Eck… no. just thinking about Saitou in such a way felt so…so wrong.
She ignored the strange look her brother was giving her as she pounded up the stairs to her room. If Kenji knew what she was thinking about Saitou he would label her a betrayer and insist Saitou forced such thoughts on her. It would start trouble and the last thing Kenji needed with Saitou was more trouble. Once in her room, Tokio collapsed in the chair by her desk and forced her hands to rest on the smooth wood surface. Scattered all over the desk were papers full of her drawings for future projects. Normally, just looking at her ideas brought a feeling of calm over her. But right now they did nothing. Kenji followed her and sat on the floor and lounged back against her bed. He was eyeing her critically and Tokio fought the urge to squirm under his gaze.
'I know you would tell me if something was wrong.' He gently pressed.
His experiment with compulsion was not lost on Tokio, she felt him trying to convince her to spill her guts. Suddenly there was a rush of anger out of no where, she wanted to shove him from her mind. Scream and yell for him to mind his own. The urge was nothing like Tokio and it startled her. The feeling faded almost as soon as it had flared.
"Of course I would Kenji. Right now I'm just upset. Our night out got cut short and we almost got Itsuko in trouble with the Prince." Tokio sighed, speaking out loud. There own private link was personal, deep, and right now Tokio wanted to be anything but.
Kenji shrugged. "She's a big girl. You know the Prince is soft when it comes to his only kid." He was not convinced this was what was bothering her. He was damn sure Saitou had said something to piss her off enough to make her this stressed. He felt the rush of power flow off of her as he tried to wiggle deeper in her mind, effectively blocking him. The thought of his sister blocking their connection disturbed Kenji. They had always a deep emotional, physical, as well as mental connection from the day they were born. Suddenly being without that seemed inconceivable to the young male. He knew it would happen sooner or later when someone would come to claim his sister and take her away to whatever life he had out there. But it had not happened yet, there was no reason for her to suddenly withdraw from him.
"I know, I still feel bad about it though." She sighed deeply. Damn that Saitou. She wasn't going to let a heated whisper in the dark mess up her good mood. This was their birthday week celebration before they left to the home land. Sighing, Tokio looked at the clock by her bed even though her internal instincts told her that it was hardly the middle of the night. It was far too early for her to go to bed. "I'm going to the shop." She pushed out of her chair and grabbed a random drawing from the desk. "I need to clear my head."
Kenji nodded silently as she walked past him and out of her room. The twin didn't bother following, he knew better. His sister most always wanted to be alone when she worked, and she always wanted to be alone when she worked to clear her mind. Kenji respected that and left his sister to her space.
… . .
Saitou didn't feel very comfortable walking up to Kenshin's home. The spat he had with the twins the night before hadn't been bad, but it was up there. He wanted to talk to Tokio before she left for the homelands. He didn't want her to leave with bad feelings for him. Why did he care? Saitou paused just outside the side door. Why did he care? Tokio was leaving in a few days and she very well may find her lifemate while in the homeland, it could be decades before he saw her again. He didn't want the last memories between them to be a fight. Saitou rested a hand on his check. The slap stung for hours longer than it should have.
The safeguards dropped to allow him inside and Saitou wasn't surprised to find Kenshin in the dinning room waiting for him as he stepped inside the house. Saitou didn't want to beat around the bush with the man.
"Where is Tokio, I need to talk to her." Saitou asked Kenshin as Kaoru greeted Sano and Megumi at the door. Funny how that brat always showed up when Saitou least wanted him to. "What's he doing here?"
Kenshin gave him a slightly confused look. "Megumi is researching for reasons why our females struggle to get pregnant. She's been talking often with Kaoru and Tomoe."
"Why does Sanosuke have to follow her around?" he grumbled, knowing very well why he followed her around. She was his lifemate and it was his right to do so. Saitou rubbed at his forehead. Why was he in such a bad mood? He was often curt, but hell…this was… this was different.
Again Kenshin eyed him. "She's upstairs with Itsuko. Did something happen?" He didn't press the question, he respected Saitou and it was obvious that he was having a problem.
It was this respect that Saitou found it difficult to look the ex-samurai in the eyes. "I may have been harsh with her and her brother last night while you were out. I wish to apologize to her. She did nothing to deserve such wrath."
"And Kenji?"
Sano snorted. "Kenji did everything to deserve it. That boy of yours…." He trailed off, refusing to insult the man's son right in front of him. But Kenshin only smiled.
"Kenji is like most his age. Suddenly considered a man yet is still a child."
Saitou's sour expression never changed as Kenshin excused himself to greet his best friend. The Carpathian turned and made his way up the steps to the second floor. He instantly felt the two females and pin-pointed what room they were occupying. Tokio's room. He slowed his pace and silently stepped to the open door. He paused just before reaching it and rested his back against the wall and eavesdropped on their conversation.
… . .
"So what's it like? In the homeland." Tokio asked. Itsuko sat on the bed beside the younger female, running a brush through her thick black-red hair. Tokio didn't think she would feel nervous, but suddenly, with hardly a few days left before they were scheduled to leave, Tokio felt herself getting edgy. She didn't know if it was because it would be the first time she traveled such a distance, or because suddenly she was going to be thrust into a world where there were more than six males in it. Most her life she only knew of six Carpathian men, all more powerful than the next. But in the homeland she was sure to meet dozens of men.
"Hmm." Itsuko paused for a moment to think. "It's way different from here. That's for sure. Slower…older." The young woman railed off as she continued to brush her cousin's hair.
"How so?" Tokio asked in curiosity.
"I don't know. It's hard to explain. It's very old fashioned. A blast from the past you might say. Men are men and women are submissive. Everything is old and charming."
Tokio stuck out her tongue. "Eck, submissive? What's so charming about that? I don't think I'll enjoy that very much."
"It's not so bad." Itsuko countered in a thoughtful voice. "The men are very chivalrous, not to mention hot." She added and the two girls shared a moment of giggles.
"Really?" Tokio knew very well that all of her people were pretty good lookers. She couldn't wait to get out there and see more of her kind.
"Obviously far better than the old fops we have here." Itsuko made a face of mock disgust a she quickly wove her cousin's hair into a braid.
"Oh, they aren't that bad; we're just used to them is all." Tokio fished out a blood red elastic band from her box of hair things and handed it to Itsuko over her shoulder. She couldn't help the thrill of excitement and fear that went through her. The idea of so many people, so many men. Just having the crew over was enough to overwhelm the young lady, now she was going to a place where there could be a hundred of them surrounding her.
"Yeah, I see your point." Itsuko finished with her hair and moved to face her cousin. "But all the men there are single, which adds to there hotness." Again the girls laughed like school children. "No really, the men there are so deprived; you think they'd never seen a girl before."
Tokio's smile froze on her face, suddenly realizing the reason behind this ball…her mission in life. "Well, from what dad says, many haven't seen a Carpathian woman other than their own mother. Some not even that." She paused, the next question stuck in her throat. "Where you afraid?"
"Afraid?"
"Of the men?" Tokio refused to meet Itsuko's eyes.
"Tokio are you scared?" Itsuko gasped in near disbelief. Her cousin shrugged a little before nodding. Itsuko went silent for a moment, her eyes showing that she was diving back into the past. "At first I wasn't. I was excited, happy. But when it came right down to it and I was put out there…it seemed like I was being sold."
"Sold?" Tokio asked, startled.
"Yeah, like… here is a fine female specimen, who wants her? them men all pressed closer…many reached out to touch me. Nice touches like taking my hand to kiss it or tucking my hair behind my ear and taking me by the elbow to guild me somewhere. There were so many hands, and I could see the disappointment in all their faces." It was the most horrible few moments of her life.
"Were you upset that you weren't the one to save one of them?" Tokio pressed, having never heard this side of the story before.
"At first I was, but now I'm a bit glad that I have my independence. Still, I ache for someone to bond with. Mother said it's natural when a Carpathian woman comes of age. The need to find our other half grows as it does for the males. But females can last far longer alone than males can, though they are not always happy." She shook her head, ridding it of the thoughts and turning a bright smile to Tokio. "But it was so worth the trip to see the homeland and hear our history. All the men there were painfully polite, even knowing I wasn't the one. They gladly took me around to teach me our past. They took me to the most beautiful places. Tokio you can't even imagine what it's like to walk in an ancient forest thick with mist, the moon full and four gorgeous, powerful men around you for protection. It was so archaic."
"It sound wonderful." Tikio sighed, her fears somewhat held at bay. Suddenly there was movement at the door and her far off dreamy look was instantly replaced by stark surprise. Saitou stood at her doorway, leaning one shoulder against the door frame and his arms clasped behind his back. A cigarette hung from his lips. Tokio wondered how she didn't smell the tobacco earlier.
"What do you want?" She snapped, jumping up from her bed. Tokio suddenly realized that Saitou had never been inside the personal space of her room and she found it completely unnerving to have him here now. She was suddenly aware of how childish and little girl-like her room seemed with Saitou's powerful form there.
"I heard you and your cousin talking." He started, his voice low and soft.
"Eavesdropper." Itsuko muttered, placing the hair brush back in Tokio's little box and snapping the lid over it.
The male cleared his throat.
"You will not go to the mountains." Saitou said, crossing his arms, expecting full compliance. He watched Tokio's face as she blinked in confusion then twist into that tell-tale teenage rebellion.
"Oh, so like, you're putting your foot down about me going to my homeland?" She snapped. Itsuko got off the bed and stood beside her. Her face was the same utter confusion as her cousin's.
"Yes, exactly."
"Well screw you Saitou. You're not my father, you're not even related to me." Now Tokio crossed her arms as she glared back in almost mirror image to Saitou.
Saitou's dangerous wolf eyes narrowed. "You will listen to me." he growled, stepping further into her room, flooding it with his masculine power.
"No, I will not listen to you. I don't have to." She argued back, ignoring the murderous glint in his eyes. With that she stomped out of the room. She thought about clipping Saitou with her shoulder on the way out, but knew she would be the one to get knocked around. So she just side stepped around him and stomped down the stairs. Itsuko followed silently at her heels. As soon as the bottom step came into view her father appeared and turned his face up to her.
"What is going on?"
Tokio sighed, it was nearly impossible to hide anything from her family, especially when they have excellent hearing and she was shouting as loud as she could at Saitou. She wished this once they would give her some space. Tokio tried to ignore her father, stomping past him and into the living room where four more sets of eyes turned in her direction. Tokio had to suppress a groan as Sano, Megumi and her mother gazed at her in curiosity. Kenji stood from where he was sitting by their mother, anger made his eyes glow.
"What did he say to you now Tokio?" Her brother asked. Tokio knew darn well that her brother knew what was said. She also knew that the adults would block out their argument out of curtsey. Her father moved to stand beside her. His gentle purple eyes were full of question and concern. It did little to ease the fire burning in her center. The tension in the room grew as Saitou entered the room.
"Tokio" Her brother pressed and sent her anger burning anew.
"He's banned me from going to Romania to have my ball." She blurted, pointing an accusing finger at Saitou, who looked indifferent.
"What right do you have to demand that Saitou?!" Kenji spat in a nasty tone. Saitou's head snapped around to his direction. His power flared like heat from an oven door. It startled Kenshin and Sano.
"I have every right." Saitou said, calmly though his body nearly trembled.
"Who the Hell do you think you are!?" Kenji roared. He was like a wild animal where as Saitou was tame, but no less wild. His younger body shook with anger, his developing power rising in fits and starts.
"Saitou?" Kaoru asked in a soft, unsure voice. She was uncomfortable with the suffocating tension between Saitou and her children. And she wasn't comfortable with the strange looks Sano and Kenshin were giving him.
He turned his glaring eyes on Tokio but spoke to Kenji. "I have every right to demand that she stay away from the homelands."
Now Sano stood. "Saitou you better explain yourself, because where I'm sitting I don't see how you have any right to tell her anything." he said in a threat-less tone, yet his hands clenched into fists.
"I have every right becauseI claim you as my lifemate. I belong to you. I offer my life for you. I give to you my protection, my allegiance; my heart, my soul, and my body. I take into my keeping the same that is yours. Your life, happiness, and welfare will be cherished and placed above my own for all time. You are my lifemate, bound to me for all eternity and always in my care."
A/n And here we go…cue the drama. You can almost taste the explosion that's coming…can't you? Oh, By the way…the music that inspired the Rave scene is called Sandstorm. I downloaded it CoughLimewireCough…I love music. Hehe. Anyways. Thanks for reading, reviews are loved!
