Vampire Gemini

As he stepped to the sidewalk, his gaze slowly turned in the direction she’d taken. For the first time in a long time, Hyakuhei felt a stirring within his blood. Tonight he would hunt and before dawn… he would taste her.

*****

Kyoko groaned seeing the mob still milling in the doorway of the Underground. It was the weekend and the place seemed to be a hot spot. She slipped around the line and headed toward the bouncer, giving him a mere nod before ducking under the arm that held the door open for her. All the bouncers knew her on sight because she lived above the club.

Once inside, she headed straight for the door that read, ‘Do Not Enter’. Punching in the code on the door lock, she reached out and opened it, letting it close behind her. She breathed a sigh as soon as the noise became a dull roar. Feeling the wad of cash clutched tightly in her hand, she headed up the stairs. Demons were not the only dangerous thing in the city and she was not walking around all night with her rent money in her bra.

Stopping by the small lock boxes at the end of the hall, she punched in another code and opened it to check her mail. Normally it was empty but Kyoko smiled seeing the lone envelope resting inside and pulled it out, recognizing her grandfather’s handwriting on the address label.

Closing the mailbox locker, she headed up another flight of stairs. The secret to staying in shape… living on the third floor with no elevator. She stopped before hitting the top floor and counted out the money seeing she would only have twenty dollars left after giving Yohji her rent money.

Yohji… she cringed. Kyoko knew he wanted her to ask him for more time to pay the rent but she’d be double dipped if that ever came to pass. Yohji was scum as far as she was concerned, but she had to be nice to him since he was the one who collected her rent every month. It was also up to him to fix things and he had the say so in who rented and who got kicked out.

She walked to her door and barely got her key in the lock before the door across the hallway opened. Kyoko inwardly groaned before turning around and giving Yohji a strained smile. What was he… psychic?

“How’s it going Hot Stuff?” Yohji asked as he leaned against his doorframe as if acting all cool.

“It’s going,” Kyoko answered, suddenly wishing she were wearing a huge trench coat that hid everything he was so leeringly looking at. “Oh, I got your rent money by the way.” She handed the money she’d carefully counted out toward him knowing better than to get close to his doorway. The last time she had gotten to close, he had invited her in.

Yohji’s shoulders visibly slumped as his eyes trailed down her again, “That’s good, come on in and I’ll get you a receipt.” He’d hoped she would come up short this month and beg him to let it slide. The corner of his lip lifted in a smirk.

Kyoko shook her head as she counted to ten. “I can wait out here for it.” She folded her arms in front of her as if she were bored out of her mind waiting on him.

Yohji shrugged knowing that little game… they’d played it before. He would go get the receipt and she would be gone before he made it back out. “I’ll give it to you later.”

“That’s fine,” Kyoko turned the key in her lock and opened the door to her apartment trying for a quick getaway.

“Has anyone told you how hot you look in that skirt?” Yohji asked suddenly right behind her.

Kyoko glanced over her shoulder at him and arched an eyebrow. “Are you flirting with me Yohji?” She’d always wondered what he would look like flat on his back… with a bloody nose.

“Does it matter?” He asked, running a hand through his spiked hair and grinning, thinking he was finally going to get lucky.

“Actually it does,” Kyoko stated. “I don’t think my boyfriend would like it very much.”

Yohji smirked at her knowing she spent her time inside the apartment alone, “Now we both know you don’t have a boyfriend, Kyoko. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to avoid the inevitable.” He pressed his large hand against Kyoko’s open door so she couldn’t close it. “What’s wrong? Afraid I won’t be man enough for you, or are you saving it for that imaginary special someone?”

Kyoko glared at him, her emerald eyes turning stormy. If he was tired of being nice… then so was she. “I’m sorry Yohji, but I’m more into guys that don’t dip into a different flavor of sauce every night.”

Kyoko gasped when Yohji suddenly grabbed the hand she had on the doorknob and pulled the door closed then pressed against her backside, pushing her body into the unforgiving wood.

“You can’t tell me that you’re not the least bit curious Kyoko,” Yohji whispered in her ear while grinding his arousal against her bottom. “I won’t tell your imaginary boyfriend if you won’t.”

“He’s not imaginary. In fact, I’m meeting him downstairs in a little while,” Kyoko ground out knowing if she lost her temper with the dumb ass… she would definitely get kicked out and he would leave in an ambulance.

“Oh really? Tell me what he looks like,” Yohji demanded as he felt himself strain inside his jeans. He liked the ones that put up a little fight.

Kyoko took a deep breath. “He’s got long black silky hair, pale skin, very dark eyes and a body to die for.” She described and mentally smirked. ‘Take that you ass!’ “And he’s very possessive.”

Yohji made a sound that was supposed to be a growl. Kyoko almost busted out laughing… if Yohji only knew what the real thing sounded like. She finally decided she’d had enough and was about to turn on him when a door further down the hall opened.

Amni stepped out in a pair of tight jeans and black T-shirt that accentuated his athletic body. His sky blue eyes narrowed and the muscles in his jaw jumped as he took in the so-called landlord virtually mauling Kyoko. He watched as Yohji quickly pulled away from Kyoko and the auburn haired woman turned around with a glare.

“Let me know when you want the rent,” she said sweetly. “On second thought… maybe I’ll start mailing it to your brother Hitomi so I won’t bother you anymore… okay?”

Before Yohji could stop her, Kyoko slipped into her apartment and bolted all the locks behind her. Tossing her jacket onto a nearby chair, Kyoko ripped open the letter from her grandpa and started reading it. She slid down onto the sofa and rolled her eyes at its content.

“Oh, this is rich,” Kyoko growled softly. “Not only am I an eighteen year old virgin… but that’s the reason vampires can sense me?” She huffed in disgust just before her eyes widened at the last line in the letter. “You want me to WHAT?” Kyoko screeched.

Her grandfather had just ordered her to find a boyfriend or he would tell Tasuki where to find her.

“Grandpa…” She seethed as she crumpled the letter in her fist. “YOU PERVERTED JERK, YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME THIS A LONG TIME AGO!”

Amni had stared Yohji down until the creep went back into his apartment. “I’ll get even with you for touching her later,” he informed the closed door then turned to knock on Kyoko’s. His hand halted in midair wondering who she was yelling at.

There was a soft knock on her door and Kyoko stormed across the room. She quickly undid all the locks and nearly tore the apartment door off its hinges before glaring at the poor soul on the other side.

“WHAT?” She demanded.

Amni backed up a step and raised his hands in front of him. “Calm down Kyoko, I was just making sure you were all right.” Although he would admit anger looked very sexy on her, especially when her breast rose and fell like that.

Kyoko sighed and leaned her temple against the door jam. Amni was the bartender downstairs at the club. They’d struck up a type of friendship not long after she moved in. Amni was very cute with blonde hair that hung in layers around his face and down his back… the longest layers barely touching his upper thighs. His skin was clear of any blemishes and had a silky appearance that Kyoko was sure any girl could get used to.

He would have been her first choice for what Grandpa Hogo had suggested… too bad he was a vampire. That was an odd, if not disastrous relationship waiting to happen if it ever came to pass… which it wouldn’t. Amni had never made any moves to kill her or bed her for which she was grateful. It was all for the best anyway, because she wouldn’t be caught dead with a vampire as a boyfriend, not in a million years.

Amni stood patiently outside her door and studied her tired expression. He’d first met Kyoko in this very hallway the same night she moved in. It still made him a little high when he realized the full implications of that very meeting.

She’d just come out of her room and was locking it when he stepped out of his. They both froze and stared at each other. Her right fist was balled up and he saw the glowing spirit dart clenched tightly within it. After staring at him for a few moments, she turned to face him but stayed next to her door, leaning on it.

Amni carefully walked down the hall toward the stairs and breathed a sigh of relief when he finally made it down to the club. Later that evening, or early that morning if you will, he’d come upstairs ready to shower off the smells of the bar from his body. Again he saw Kyoko standing outside her door and remembered wondering if she’d stood there all night.

As he walked by her toward his own door, she finally spoke to him.

“I know what you are,” Kyoko said softly.

Amni stopped but kept his back to her hoping she would see it as a sign of trust. “I have a pretty good idea what you are as well.”

“Then I purpose a truce,” Kyoko stated.

Amni finally looked back at her curiously. “Why didn’t you kill me last night?”

Kyoko crossed her arms over her chest having thought about it off and on all night. The truth was… she simply didn’t want to. “You don’t kill humans to feed,” She had been more than grateful to find all the empty Red Cross blood pints in his trash.

“My sustenance is delivered once a week,” Amni explained secretly wondering how she already knew.

From that point on, Amni had become Kyoko’s friend, brother, protector… maybe more. He wasn’t really sure what word he would use to describe their relationship. All he knew was that they sort of looked out for each other.

“I’m all right,” Kyoko answered, drawing his attention back to the present. “Just a bit stressed out.”

Amni grinned, “Yeah, Yohji can do that to you. Would you believe that he actually came onto me the other night? Talk about bent.” It was a lie but the look on her face was worth it. The truth was, he had caught Yohji in the bar coming on to a girl that had already told him ‘No’ way too many times… but he would leave out that little detail.

Kyoko’s eyebrows shot up into her hairline and a disbelieving grin spread across her face. “Oh my god, you’ve got to be kidding me?”

Amni shook his head, “Nope, I wouldn’t kid about something like that.”

“What did you do?” She asked, wishing she had been a fly on the wall.

“I knocked his drunken ass out and deposited him in his apartment.” His smile widened, “I would have loved to have seen his face when he woke up though.”

Kyoko’s eyebrows raised a notch, “What did I miss?”

“Instead of putting him in his bed… I put him under it.” His blue eyes sparkled mischievously.

Kyoko laughed and shook her head, “You are priceless Amni.”

Amni smirked, “Now don’t go telling everyone that… they might think I’m a nice guy.” His face softened knowing he had made her happy. “I guess I had better head on downstairs before the place gets too wild without me.”

“You are a nice guy,” Kyoko informed him. “I’ll see you downstairs in a little while.”

Chapter 3 “Hunger”

Hyakuhei stood in front of The Underground. Normally he stayed away from this area of the city because it was heavily infested with half-breeds. It was also closer to his brother’s underground lair, making him wonder just who had named the small, overcrowded nightclub. It was not a good place for the girl to be.

He vanished and reappeared within its walls, taking a seat in the darkest corner.

Amni was still smiling when he opened the door and entered the club only to stop dead in his tracks. Something wasn’t right. His head snapped to the side and his eyes widened. Tadamichi? Jerking his gaze away, he took off behind the bar, completely disturbed.

Why was the Master here… in his bar?

*****

Kyoko stood looking in the mirror wondering just how drunk she would have to get before she could go through with it. She fluffed her hair and started to change but didn’t… deciding what she was wearing would hopefully do the trick. She would just have to stop herself from punching whoever came on to her for once.

She nodded at her reflection, giving herself the pep talk of her life. “Ok Kyoko… you can do this. Think of all the vampires you will be able to sneak up on if they don’t sense your virginity coming.” She rolled her eyes at the strangeness of that conversation. “Alcohol… that’s what I need.”

Within minutes she was sitting at the bar thinking about what Grandpa had said. She glanced up at Amni as he worked at mixing all the weird drink requests. She frowned wondering why he seemed so nervous. She tilted her head a little as she watched him completely miss the cup he was aiming for with the scoop of ice.

Hyakuhei felt her presence the moment she entered the room. He was in no hurry as he leaned back in the chair surveying her. The girl seemed not to pay attention to anything around her, leading him to believe she didn’t want to be here at all… so why was she? He watched her in the mirror as she took a wall seat at the bar, confirming the fact that it appeared she would rather be alone.

He followed her line of vision and realized it was the bar tender that held her attention… the blond vampire that had been nervously eyeing him.

Amni glanced again wondering if it was his imagination or not, but it seemed that corner had gotten even darker. Trying to pretend it wasn’t bothering, him, he leaned his hands against the bar and gave Kyoko a distracted smile, “Want a drink?”

“Yes,” Kyoko informed him, the determination in her voice nearly making Amni fall over. “Long Island Iced Tea… strongest you can make it.” She announced.

Amni faltered and looked around wondering if he’d stepped into the Twilight Zone for the evening. First, the vampire lord walks in and sits down like he owns the place, then Kyoko asks for an alcoholic drink. What next… Polar Bears performing the Nutcracker Suite?

His hand unconsciously went to his neck, remembering the night Tadamichi had turned him so long ago. Was he here looking to take another life? He pushed the thought forcefully from his mind.

“Kyoko,” Amni said quietly. “I don’t believe a drink is what you really want. Why don’t you go back upstairs and get some sleep? That’s better for stress then a hangover. I’m sure everything will look better in the morning.”

Kyoko had told him many times that she was a non-drinker and there were already enough alarm bells going off tonight for her to be changing her mind. On many levels, he was glad she hadn’t noticed the atomic bomb of all vampires hanging out in the corner… and he would like to keep it that way.

“No can do,” Kyoko said with a pout. “I’ve got some baggage I need to get rid of tonight and it’s going to start with that drink you’re going to give me.”

“All right, all right,” Amni said now that she held his full attention. “Retract the claws and stop hissing at me or you won’t get any.”

Kyoko glared and Amni chuckled. He wished he could fix whatever it was that was bothering her enough to make her drink. She was the only one he knew whose life seemed to be just as complicated as his. Trying to cheer her up, he winked and turned on the charm.

“Well, it’s true,” He said while pouring the rum. “All that’s missing is the fur, tail and ears. You’ve already got the temperament and the attitude.”

Kyoko clawed the air in front of her playfully with a grin on her face. “Maybe I should go stand out in the alley tonight meowing off key and waiting for a furry boyfriend.”

Amni placed the drink in front of her before shaking his head. “And here I thought I was the only man in your life. You wound me Kyoko… I may need comfort.” He placed his hand over his heart for added affect, though somewhere deep down… he wasn’t joking.

Kyoko paused with the drink half way to her lips. “Amni… stop flirting with me. It’s a bit disturbing.” She looked up still playing but as she held his eyes a second too long, her breath stilled within her chest. If only he wasn’t a vampire. Closing her eyes, she took a very, very long drink from the glass.

“I’m being serious,” Amni continued as they locked gazes in a silent battle of wills. “If you can’t tell me what is going on, then who can you tell?”

“I need another drink first.” Kyoko batted her lashes at him sparring for more time and courage to tell her dirty little secret.

Amni slowly made her another drink. He cringed at the urge to jerk her upstairs and lock her in her room for the night. By the time he glanced back up and handed her the drink… her first one was empty. He started to press her but someone at the other end of the bar called out. With an agitated growl, he took off.

Kyoko watched him as he worked. Amni was right though… if she couldn’t tell him, then who could she tell? In the entire city, he was the only one she could freely talk to… the only one she would call a friend. She felt her eyes water and wondered if she would be what they called a crying drunk.

“No!” She scolded herself and lifted the drink in a self-toast. “Here’s to losing one’s virginity.” She turned it up and didn’t stop until the glass was once again empty.

Being a vampire had many perks and really good hearing was one of them. Amni pushed the mixed drinks in front of the noisy crowd but his wide eyes were on Kyoko as he watched her down her drink like it would save her. “Lose what!” He practically flew to her end of the bar and was staring her down when she opened her eyes.

Kyoko flinched seeing Amni so close so suddenly, then her lips parted as she realized… “You heard me?” She gulped trying to get over the burning sensation left over from the alcohol going so quickly down her throat. By the time she caught her breath, Kyoko could feel the drink start to work its magic.

“Another, please.” She pushed the glass back at him ignoring the giant elephant in the room that was now sitting between them.

The sudden anger that shot through Amni was tempered with pain. His blue eyes became a shade darker. His hands shook while he fixed ANOTHER drink for her. It didn’t have the calming effect he was hoping for.

“Yes I heard you… this is not the place for you to be getting drunk and horny. Keep drinking those iced teas tonight and you will be in the alley singing off key while a faceless male...”

Kyoko’s emerald eyes glowed defiantly, “Sounds like fun… keep ‘em coming.”

Amni made a face. “Oh that’s low.”

Kyoko grinned at Amni over the rim of her glass and the vampire couldn’t help but return it. He had decided how he would solve this problem. He would let her get drunk… but he would not let her leave the bar… not in a million years. For now, he would play her little game of lets lose my virginity.

Kyoko sighed when Amni went back to the other end of the bar again. She reached across the counter and grabbed a straw this time. Why does it have to be something like virginity giving her away to the demons? It’s not like she can ever fall in love with anyone. If she did love a guy… then she could never be with him because she would only put him in danger.

A face flashed in her mind’s eye and she closed her eyes wanting to savor the picture… Tasuki. If she didn’t love Tasuki then he would be her choice. It’s because she did love him that she couldn’t call him up and… let him help her solve her little problem. Slipping the straw between her lips, Kyoko started drinking faster, trying to get up enough nerve to turn around and play ‘Eeny meeny miny moe’.

“You’re really looking to get laid then?” Amni questioned as he made her another drink.

“Of course I am,” Kyoko stated. “But I don’t want to look like a slut by turning around.”

“Then use the mirror,” Amni offered and breathed a sigh of relief when Kyoko brightened at the prospect. He didn’t want her turning around and spotting the vampire lord sitting in the corner. The ancient had been watching her since she came downstairs… and in her current state, Kyoko was in no shape to protect herself and Amni wasn’t strong enough to fight him off.

“What about that red head?” Amni asked deliberately picking the worst looking guy in the room. If she were going to dream, then he would make it hard on her.

Kyoko squinted at the mirror before shaking her head. “He’s got no ass.”

Amni rolled his eyes, “Who the hell cares if he’s got an ass?”

“I care,” Kyoko slurred. “I need something to grab onto.” For a moment, she remembered the imaginary guy she had described to Yohji a couple hours ago.

“Okay,” Amni conceded. “How about the one with the spiked hair?”

“Can we just put an ‘L’ on his forehead and cross him off the list?” Kyoko asked as she wrinkled up her nose then added, “And you happen to have crappy taste so far.”

“That blonde over there is cute.” He grinned knowing that guy only dated other guys… she didn’t stand a chance.

Kyoko shook her head and nearly fell over with the motion. “What are you trying to do Amni? He’s about as unattractive as Yohji.”

“You don’t think the king of the third floor is cute?” Amni faked a look of horror then laughed at her deadpan expression.

The next twenty minutes were spent looking at the different guys in the club. One was a player, one was too thug, another was too old, too young, too fat, too skinny, too nerdy, too preppy and so on. Amni finally threw his hands in the air in surrender.

“That’s almost every man in the club Kyoko,” He informed her. “You’re too drunk to really tell a good looking man and wouldn’t know one if he bit you on the ass right now.” He silently added, ‘thank god!’

Kyoko smiled drunkenly, “If he bit me on the ass, I wouldn’t care what he looked like.”

Amni’s eyes widened knowing Kyoko was only trying to talk tough because he could smell her innocence.

“Big talk coming from a virgin who has never even been kissed properly,” He grinned hoping he was right.

Kyoko coughed when the drink went down the wrong way. “What did you say?” She demanded then blinked refusing to bring Tasuki into the conversation.

Amni smiled, “Don’t be worried. I won’t tell a soul unless you piss me off.”

“What would you do if I pissed you off?” Kyoko demanded starting to really enjoy the high.

“Well, I’d probably stand up on the bar and announce very loudly that we have a virgin in house tonight and the bidding starts at five thousand dollars. Of course, you would only get twenty percent of it and the rest would go to me.” He gripped the edge of the bar knowing he would outbid everyone.

“Why would I only get twenty?” she asked. “It’s my virginity… I should be the one getting paid for it.”