Chapter 8

Tiffany just finished her workload before she went to go on break. She let her co-workers and boss known she was going on break and went to the backroom to get her purse. She walked out of the store, a smile spreading across her face when she saw Ryo walking towards her. She started to walk over towards him when something grabbed hold of her arm. Turning around, Tiffany saw a man gripping her arm, a cruel smile on his face. "Hello, darling."

"Let me go," Tiffany demanded, tugging her arm from his hold but his grip only tightened.

"Why? I think you and I can have some fun together." He pulled her close, wrapping an arm around Tiffany's waist. "Besides, I think we can-" He didn't finish the sentence for Tiffany elbowed him in the stomach and then punched him in the face. He glared up at her, wiping the blood from his nose. "You're feisty." He smirked. "I like that."

Tiffany shuddered at him, holding the arm he gripped close to her chest. She sensed someone behind her and turned around, but she relaxed when it was only Ryo standing there.

Ryo glared daggers at the man, gently placing a hand on Tiffany's shoulder. "Leave." His voice was low, trying to keep his anger at bay.

"I'm not going anywhere unless that sweet piece of ass comes with me."

Tiffany sucked in a breath, her fists clenched together. If they weren't out in public right now, she so would have struck him down right where he was standing. However, she had to keep herself in check especially since they were already drawing a crowd. She looked up at Ryo to tell him to leave and just ignore him but the look on his face shook her to her core. His face displayed nothing but pure rage and Ryo wanted to kill him. The smile on the man's face made it even worse.

Before anyone could do anything, another man came up and gripped the back of the man's neck, pushing him down so it looked like he was bowing. "I apologize for his behavior," said the newcomer, bowing slightly to the couple. "He has mental issues and today was his first day out in public. He means no harm." He then proceeded to drag the man away from the couple and the crowd parted for the two men.

After they were gone, Ryo turned to Tiffany. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, just a little shaken up." Tiffany gave him a smile. "Let's just get lunch and forget that this happened."

"I don't know. Something just seemed off about him."

"You heard that man, he has mental problems so I'm not going to take it personally."

"Ok." They turned and started walking towards the food court. "What do you have a taste for?"

Kai punched Karver in the face, making the later fall on the ground. "What were you thinking?! Do you realize what you could have done?!" They were on the roof of the mall for Kai didn't want to go back to the Nether World just yet.

Karver scoffed. "Please, I wasn't going to do anything. I just wanted to put a little fear into her. Besides," Karver stood up to be eye-level with Kai. "This armor feeds off fear. The more I scare her, the stronger I get."

"It's only when you have the armor on." Kai shook his head in disbelief. "But seriously, if they would have figured out you took over the ex-warlord's body, we would have had a bigger problem on our hands."

"I don't understand why we have to wait. We can just attack now and capture the Priestess."

"The Ronins will be on high alert especially since they know we want the Priestess. That's why he brought the girl back to life, to use her to distance the Ronins from the Priestess. With them distracted, we could easily surround her and capture her and the Ronins wouldn't know a thing."

"What if it doesn't work?"

"Then we'll ambush them and take her by force." Kai gave Karver a stern look. "But only when Lord Sephiran gives the order, understand?"

"Yes," grumbled Karver, looking at the ground. He glanced up at Kai. "You're not going to tell Lord Sephiran about what happened, are you?"

"No, I'll keep it between us. But if it happens again, don't expect me to be this nice. Now come on, let's go back." Kai teleported both himself and Karver back to the Nether World.

"A new student?" Tiffany asked, taking a bite of her fried rice.

"Yeah, she just moved here and is trying to find her way around the campus. I told her there was a campus map in the library to help her find her way."

Tiffany nodded. "But other than that, everything was good?"

"Yeah, same old, same old. What about you? How's work so far?"

"It's good. Hasn't been that busy today which has been nice." Tiffany paused and she grew serious. "Have you felt any…disturbances lately?"

"No, and it's making me feel a bit uncomfortable. Someone attacks us, says they want you, and never appears again is strange. They are planning something and I know when they unleash that plan, I'm not going to like it."

"That's why I've been training myself to use my powers more easily. I have gotten a better control over the powers you and the others have given me with the Inferno armor. I could probably use those powers when I'm fighting instead of using them for defense."

"Remember, I want you-"

"To be careful, I know." Tiffany reached over to grabbed Ryo's hand, squeezing it. "And just you remember, I lived on my own for a few years before I met you guys. I can take care of myself."

"I know." Ryo smiled at her then brought her hand up and kissed it. "And that's why I love you."

Tiffany smiled back. "Me too." They continued their lunch date until they had to leave. The two wished each other a good day, shared a parting kiss, and left their separate ways.

Mika was in the library, looking over the campus map but her attention wasn't on it. Instead, it was on the warriors still in the library. Sage and Kento had already left while Cye and Rowen remained. She was waiting until one of them was alone to talk with them about Ryo and his "girlfriend." The thought of Ryo with another woman made her sick, especially since she was only using him. He deserves better, Mika thought.

Rowen stood up, gathering his things. He said something to Cye, probably a goodbye, then left him alone. Mika watched him go and once he was out of sight, she walked over to the table, putting on a smile. "Excuse me," she started once she was close.

Cye looked up, smiling at her. "Hello."

"Hi, I was wondering if you could help me? I'm new here and I don't know my way around here yet."

"Sure, what do you need help with?"

Mika sat down in the chair next to him. "Just about the area in general. I met a guy named Ryo earlier and he just told me to go to the library and look at the campus map. I asked him if he could give me a tour but he said he was meeting his girlfriend for lunch."

"He's one of my friends actually. He and Tiffany meet for lunch whenever she's working."

"Tiffany is his girlfriend's name? Is she…different?"

Cye was silent and he gave Mika a sideways glance. "What do you mean by different?"

"Oh…um…never mind." Mika silently cursed herself. She should have known better than to just outright ask about this girl, Tiffany. Mika dug through her bad and took out a piece of paper. "But here's my class schedule but I don't know where all the buildings are exactly. The map is so small compared to the actual size of the campus."

Cye took it and examined it. "Well, most of your classes are here." He pointed to a building on the east side of campus. "But your next class is in the same building that I have my class. I can walk you over if you want and then show you the direction of the building your next class is in."

"That won't be necessary but thank you for the offer." Mika stood up, taking her class schedule and campus map. "Thanks for helping me."

Cye nodded at her and then Mika left the table. She walked out of the library, taking another look at her map, when she spotted Ryo walking across campus. She smiled and started to hurry over towards him. "Hey, Ryo!" she called out. He turned around and smiled as she came over to him. "Hey. Mika, right?"

"Yeah. How was your lunch with your girlfriend?"

"It was fine. Were you able to find the map?"

Mika held it up. "Yup, but could you give me a little tour of where the buildings are at? This map is so small compared to this big campus."

"Sure. My next class isn't for another hour." Ryo lead Mika around the campus, showing her the different buildings as well as pointing out the ones that her classes were in. During that time, the two got to know one another and Ryo kept on having this feeling of déjà vu. This girl looked so familiar to him but he couldn't place where.

"And that building is the cafeteria and there are some coffee shops as well. That's everything."

"Thank you so much, Ryo." She surprised him with a hug. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah, I'll see you around." Mika started to leave and Ryo watched her go. He rubbed a spot on his neck as he turned around, thinking something had pricked him because it itched. Suddenly, he started thinking about Mika and he wanted to see her again. He turned back around. "Mika, wait!" He called, running over towards her.

Mika turned around. "Yes?"

"Do you want to hang out sometime?"

"I'm free after classes. Want to get some coffee?"

"Sure, I'll just tell my friends I'll be coming home late."

"Great. See you then."

They bid farewell and Mika watched him leave. She smirked and looked down at her hand, holding an empty needle. Mika chuckled to herself as she started walking, throwing it in a trash can that she passed.