~DAVE~

Chasing Yesterday

By: Lucas McDrake

Chapter 8-Siege

Here I was again, stepping into my house as I did before. Jen skipped to Mom's side to converse while I retreated to my bedroom, falling on my face as I crashed onto the bed.

What a day.

What made it a day? There wasn't so much action as there was yesterday... Minus, of course, the stunt I pulled off about fifteen minutes ago.

What was I thinking? I wasn't sure myself. Just that I needed a quick solution to escape Vivi's questioning presence, and it was only too obvious at that moment in time how head-over-heels she really was for me...and, to put it frankly, she actually did look somewhat cute with her neat, glossy brown hair and blue eyes popping our behind her glasses. So the answer came easily: kiss her.

But how would I deal with the consequences tomorrow? Just act like nothing had happened? That was a tantalizing card that lots of guys liked to pull...if they planned on actually hooking up afterwards. But what else could I do? Act like it had happened? What then? I guess I could pretend I didn't like the kiss, but that would make the act even crueler than it already was.

To say the least, no quick escapes were coming to my mind now.

Flipping over in bed, I let out a long exhale, imagining the stress disappearing through the motion. Nope, still there.

A glow in my peripheral vision caught my eye, giving me a much needed distraction.

It was definitely uncalled for, however; the mirror was the source of brilliance. Jumping up from my bed, I grabbed the closest weapon-a bat-and wielded it the best as I could against the next spear-wielding teddy that was about to climb through. How many could this invisible enemy conjure? For once, I wished I actually had let Kuin make me his "medium", or whatever you called it.

Talk about instant wish gratification; Kuin was the one to splash through.

Stepping daintily onto the desk underneath my mirror, he turned his gaze upward at me, warily watching me with his iron irises. It would take me forever to cope with those eyes of theirs, I swore to myself.

"I have to admit, your eyes are the freakiest part about you guys," I laughed nervously, dropping the bat.

A smile flashed across his features, emerald specks dancing across his irises. As quickly as the disturbance appeared, it was gone. "I could sense another assault coming here, so I thought I would come and assist you."

"Another assault?" I instantly regretted dropping my weapon, immediately bending down to pick it up.

"I'm not sure if that bat will help you much," Kuin stated, jumping off the desk. He was already by my bat by the time it was in my reach, so he assisted me.

"Uh, thanks." I held the bat with two hands again as if it were a sword.

Kuin giggled. "Yeah, I didn't think so."

"What's wrong? My weapon choice? My skill?" I felt embarrassed, being criticized by a child. "You know, you haven't even seen me with a bat before-"

"Your grip," Kuin simply replied, ignoring my statement. "Compared to Yuan, your handhold is simply... There isn't a word to describe the disparity, really." He laughed again.

"Well, it's the best I can do," I mumbled, facing the mirror.

"I guess it will have to do," Kuin giggled, turning to face the mirror, as well. "I'll be doing the work, anyway."

Ignoring the jabs at my pride, I asked, "How do you 'sense' assaults, anyway?"

Kuin's smile faded to a degree. "All of the Rozen Knight dolls are connected... If I concentrate hard enough, I can open those connections." Kuin's expression became inquisitive. "So far, it's just Je-Muzu, Yuan, myself... Wait. Could it be...?"

The mirror began to glow once more.

"Stay back," Kuin ordered, stepping forward. "I'll take care of this."

I observed him-his perfect childish innocence. It seemed that any force thrown at him could crush him within a heartbeat. To say the least, how could I just abandon him? He seemed so helpless.

Kuin gasped. "What is-"

A stuffed elephant emerged, brandishing a sharp spear.

"Je-Muzu!" Kuin fell to his knees, his arms stretching toward the elephant. Vines grew from the wooden desk, reaching around the elephant's legs. However, it jumped out of the vines before they could tighten, rendering them useless.

"No!" A volley of black feathers launched from Kuin's illuminated hand, narrowly catching on one of the elephant's arms as it dodged expertly. Stuffing bulged out of the new opening.

Still, the elephant continued towards Kuin. "It's too much!" Quickly, he formed rose petals, and they slashed into the elephant's form. The elephant was apparently still intact enough to continue on its pre-destined course. Kuin collapsed, his cheek resting on the ground.

He was so suddenly weary! I didn't hesitate to take a hit at the daemonic toy, forcing it to fly into a wall from my blow. The head fell off, ending its short life as an assassin.

"So...much energy," Kuin breathed. "Energy intake... Je-Muzu is attacking Vivi...as well..." He groaned, squinting his eyes shut in agony. "But Teddo should be helping... I hope..."

"Teddo?"

Kuin smiled at what seemed to be an inside joke. "Another Rozen Knight... Another brother."