A/N: Standard disclaimers applied.
Chapter 9: Lover's Tiff
The first ray of the sun peeked out of the horizon as birds and animals begin to stir. Mists hovered around, the air was fresh and the last indication of last night's rain was gone like yesterday.
In the outskirts of Kanagawa, a large mansion stood majestically in the heart of the forest. Five people stood at the highest balcony of the mansion as they stared out into the awakening city.
A light breeze blew and a strand of bluish silver hair wafted in the air. "The air is reek with evil."
The other four people turned and faced the woman. "What do you think we should do?"
"What we have always done in the past centuries," a silver haired swordsman answered.
A dark haired man in a black sleeveless body fitting battle gear shifted away from the pillar he had been leaning on. Straightening, he commented, "Do we wait for him?"
"That depends on the situation," the woman answered.
A brown haired teenager frowned. "But I thought Kaoru-sama said he had recovered all of his memories. Why can't we just continue without him?"
"That's because we are only to help as and when needed."
The second-in-command of Sacred Warriors scowled. "You mean wait until everyone dies then we shake our butts in. If that is your intention, Tempest, then you better revise your plan. I am not going to see them get killed again!"
The bluish silver haired woman sighed. "I know how you feel, Gau. She was like a sister to all of us, to you especially. But remember that during that time, someone betrayed us and foiled the orders."
All of the warriors looked sullen as they remembered the last battle on Moon Kingdom.
"But know this, if I see that there is a need to intervene, then I shall gladly join all of you." At this, a sigh was heard from the dark haired warrior.
"So when will get all the action?" a brown haired teenager piped in excitedly.
"How dare she... How dare she! How dare she!!!" the mantra was repeated again and again as a blunt knife was plunged into a raven-haired doll repeatedly.
"He is mine! How dare she took him away from me! That bitch! Shinei!!" again the knife was plunged into the doll, a place where it was supposed to be the heart.
"My child... My child... I feel your pain..." a dark light pulsed and swirled around the room.
Crazed hazel eyes watched in fear as the darkness pulsed more strongly. Ducking, a ribbon of the light nearly singed her. Then the pulsing stopped and an orb of darkness hovered in the center of the bedroom. Slowly, the orb began to mould and took form.
"My child... I feel your pain..." a baritone resounded.
Dark depthless eyes met the hazel eyes.
"Why do you hurt? Do you want to share the pain, child?"
Hazel eyes stared in horror as she tries to comprehend where the man had come from. This man with ebony hair fell passes his broad shoulders and sharp chiseled face that many would fall for. But his eyes were so chilling to look at. Who is he?
"I am a friend. Your friend who wishes to share your hurt," the ends of his full lips quipped upwards.
The girl gasped. How did he know? Could he read her thoughts?
A chuckle was heard from the man. "I know everything. I even know what you are thinking."
"How? What is it that you want?" the girl had brought up the knife in front of her as if to seek whatever meager protection it would give.
The man smiled as he began to saunter towards her. "I want to be your friend. I want to share your pain... share your hurt," his hypnotic voice surrounded her and slowly, the girl let the knife down. A meter away from her, he stopped and raised a hand to her.
"Come to me... let me share your pain... let me ease it away from you..." he persuaded as he stared intently into her eyes.
Slowly the hazel eyes began to glaze. Then ever so slowly, Haruko Akagi, took a step forward. And another.
The man smiled as he took her hand. "Yes... let me share your pain..."
"Wait for me!" Hotaru shouted as she hurriedly entered the car.
A sandy haired man adjusted the rear mirror. "All set ladies?"
Turning the ignition, the engine purred to life. The BMW seven series glided along the winding road, as it headed to its destination, Kanagawa GP Stadium. Every once in awhile, passersby and drivers will look their way.
After a long while, the BMW pulled over. Three women and a sandy haired man stepped out of the car.
Hotaru couldn't help being awed by the sight of the stadium. It was huge! "Sugoi! So are you going to compete here this time, Haruka-papa?"
"Hai. If you think this is huge, wait until you see the tracks," the sandy haired man took off his shades.
"Come on, my blood is pumping for the track," a grinning Haruka led the way as they entered the stadium.
"Are everything in place?" Yohei looked up and saw a red haired guy sauntering towards him.
Grinning, he wiped the grease onto a cloth that had long ago lost its color. "All in place and ready to rumble!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi clapped his friend's on the back appreciatively as he put on his helmet. Mounting his prized possession, he turned on the engine. Just as he was about to ride onto the track, his heart began to beat rapidly not from adrenaline but something else.
"Hanamichi daijoubu ka?" Shaking his head, he dismissed the thought and began to ride the track.
"Michiru, you heard that?"
Immediately, the teal haired woman stopped her work and listened. Her eyes widened as she remarked, "It sounded like someone is racing!"
Slender brows creased into a frown. "I thought Ruka-papa said that he is the only one that is using the tracks today."
Just as they were about to call for the sandy haired racer, he appeared.
"Haruka, someone is using the track," Setsuna announced.
"Yeah I heard. Come on lets check it out."
Leaning onto his right side, the rider precariously shifted his right knee to the ground as he and the bike rounded a corner. Again he did the same thing but on the opposite side a he skillfully maneuvered the machine. Whenever he had a chance on a straight road, he would lean into his bike, molding his body to it. They seem to gain more speed as the rider and the machine became one.
Hotaru was totally captivated by it. She had never seen such expertise in handling a racing bike before.
Haruka came up beside her. "That's Lightning Falcon. Captivating isn't it?"
Hotaru was lost for words. So this is the most talked about Lightning Falcon, the mysterious racer that seems to hold the first place in all the racers.
"I think he is in the last lap. Want to meet him?"
Hotaru watched as the rider speeds up on his last few distance to the finish line. A man in jeans and thoroughly dirtied shirt came up to flag him down. Violet eyes narrowed as she took note of the man's build. He looks familiar.
Finally both the rider and the machine stopped. He slowly rode his bike to the side bench where the other man stood. When the quartets finally reached the racer, the other was grinning from ear to ear. Both of their backs were facing them and the racer was about to take his helmet off.
"Hey guys!" Haruka greeted.
Both of them turned and somehow Hotaru couldn't remember how to breathe. The racer waved and slowly took off his helmet. Soft red hair tumbled out and long strong fingers combed them. A heart-stopping smile touched his face and Hotaru was surprised that she didn't faint.
Her boyfriend is the mysterious racer! And he didn't even tell her about it!!
A smile plastered on her face, she tries to suppress her mounting irritation. Well if he wants it that way...
Hotaru walked towards the trio as Haruka motioned her to join them.
The red haired racer's eyes widened at the sight of her. He was not the only one who was surprised. The raven-haired man beside him was also in the same state.
"Minna, I want you to meet my lovely daughter, Hotaru. Hotaru this is Sakuragi Hanamichi and his mechanic, Youhei," the sandy haired man smiled.
"Konnichiwa Sakuragi-san, Youhei-san," Hotaru smiled sweetly as she bowed.
Youhei smiled sheepishly as he fingered his collar. Casting a glance at his red haired friend, he was surprised to see him nod, his expression back. What are you going to do, Hanamichi?
"So are you guys practicing?"
"Yeah. Just finished as a matter of fact," Sakuragi answered but he didn't bother to tear his gaze away from the beauty before him. Haruka went on asking and commenting on the upcoming racers and he answered them politely, all the while staring intently at the beauty that was standing beside his opponent.
She was staring intently pass him and never once glanced at him. Furthermore she was smiling sweetly, too sweetly for his liking.
Kuso! Why didn't she acknowledge me?
"Why Sakuragi-san, what a pleasure to meet you here!" a new voice greeted him.
Sakuragi was forced to tear his gaze away. Two new women joined them. One was teal haired and the other was a dark green haired. Both smiled at him once they've reached Hotaru's side. Sakuragi returned their smiles and bowed deeply.
Haruka was lost. "You know him?"
Michiru turned towards her boyfriend. "Of course. Who wouldn't know the one who had captured Hotaru's heart."
Youhei watched as the sandy haired man's eyebrows creased into a frown as he tries to absorb the information. A bewildered look soon replaced it as the man opened his mouth only to close it a moment later.
A chuckle escaped Youhei as he amusedly watched the drama enfolds before him.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi is her boyfriend? The one who kissed her in the park?" Haruka shouted.
An eyebrow arched. Kissing in the park? Throwing his friend a sly smile, he once again watched the drama.
The teal haired woman nodded serenely at her boyfriend as the other smiled in amusement. The only one who wasn't affected by the outburst was Hotaru and Hanamichi. The red hair had gone back staring intently at his girlfriend while Hotaru was still intent on staring pass her boyfriend.
"Yes he is," Michiru nodded again.
"I don't have a boyfriend, Michiru-mama. Those are all my short time flings." Hotaru smiled sweetly as she began walking towards a smirking raven-haired man.
"What?! FLINGS?!! Hotaru when did you become....." Haruka looked like he was about to have a heart attack soon. His face was blotchy red and his hands were shaking as he tries to reign in his anger.
Michiru frowned. What is the matter with her? She could have sworn that a few hours ago the sweet daughter of hers was practically head over heels over a certain red haired boyfriend of hers. She opened her mouth to question her daughter when Setsuna elbowed her suddenly.
"Let them handle this themselves. Why don't you calm Haruka while I watch the show." Her friend smiled.
Youhei watched the scene with great amusement until his friend's girlfriend turned and began walking towards him. He frowned in confusion at her motive until he got a good look on her face. She had a seductive look and damn does she look sexy.
Is she swaying her hips?
His instinct screamed that something was amiss and was proven right when the seductress enticingly pressed her soft body against him. He was too shock to move especially when she wound her arms around his neck.
Youhei looked frantically at his friend for his help. That was when he felt his throat went dry. Instantly he tries to peel Hotaru from him only to have her pressing up to him more closely.
"Hotaru-san, I don't think we should be doing this." Youhei protested as she again tried to peel her off.
Smiling seductively she caressed his neck. "Why shouldn't I?"
Did she just purred?
Youhei could feel holes boring into him as Hotaru continued to cling to him. "Because you have a boyfriend."
Sakuragi watched in mounting irritation as his tempest wreck havoc on his friend's senses. He was highly irritated at first when Hotaru announced that she was single. Instead of cooling off the fire in him, she had turned towards his best friend and did all the things that she should be doing to him and not others!
Sakuragi growled in mounting irritation and jealousy when he saw her caressing Youhei's face. He couldn't help but glare dangerously at his poor friend. He could feel something rising and it was only a matter of time before he complete snapped. Taking a few calm breaths, he tries to calm himself.
Then he saw his woman kissing his friend's cheek.
Damn it!!!
"I didn't know you are that desperate love," a cold voice sliced through the air.
Hotaru momentarily paused her seduction while the rest of turned to look at the red haired man. Since her back was to him, she had failed to notice that a pair of burning ruby eyes had replaced the pair of onyx eyes that she had loved so much.
But Setsuna didn't. Her eyes narrowed as she observed the red haired man.
"That is my problem. Why do you care? Your time with me had long ended," Hotaru stated haughtily.
Soft footsteps clicked onto the tarred ground. "That's because you are mine. If I had not mistaken, I believe we had an agreement, if you would recall."
Hotaru barked out a laugh. "I don't think I remember." Silently dismissing him, the tempest reached out to continue what she had started.
She didn't have the chance. A strong arm caught her wrist. Hotaru winced visibly from at the vice grip hold. Thinking to lash out her wrath at him, she turned around. Warm hard lips clamped onto hers in a possessive kiss as the man before her wrenched her away from the flustered Youhei.
Finally able to wrench herself away from him, she glared angrily and opened her mouth to chastise him but only a yelp came out. Sakuragi had tossed her over his broad shoulders.
"Put me down you jackass!!" Hotaru screamed as she pounded on his back.
"My... aren't you a feisty one." Sakuragi spanked her on her derriere only to have the black beauty screaming again.
Turning to the gawking audiences, he nods his head. "Pardon us for a while. I shall send her back home once I'm finished."
"Put me down Sakuragi Hanamichi! You are gonna get it from me if you don't. PUT ME DOWN!!"
"Is that so? I must warn you that you will be very sore after I'm through with you," Sakuragi coldly stated as he began striding away from the group.
"Will she be ok?" a worried Michiru asked as she watched her daughter's still screaming form.
"He can never holds his temper long with her. Anyway she is his greatest treasure.... Yeah she will be fine," Youhei answered as he joined the group.
Opening the door, he entered his personal lounge. Walking across the room, he stopped in front of a large sofa bed. Moving his hands onto the baggage on his shoulders, he gently lowered her onto the plush sofa.
Moving to the bar, he opened the fridge. "Want anything?"
"A katana. A premium one!" Hotaru snapped as she glared daggers at the red haired man.
Onyx eyes with faint streaks of red looked at the fiery violet-eyed beauty as he poured himself orange juice. "Still feisty eh?"
"Hmph!" crossing her arms, she began imagining slowly man slaughtering a man named Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Holding two glasses of orange juice, he sauntered across the room and stopped in front of a still fuming tempest. "Have some orange juice. Don't worry, its not spiked so you need not worry about being that feisty wench just now."
Sakuragi saw her stiffened and she slowly raised her eyes and gifted him with a death glare. Taking it as a no, he placed the glasses on a nearby table.
"Silent treatment is unbecoming of you, koishii."
"You started it!" Hotaru spat out.
An eyebrow arched. Walking back to the sofa, he asked. "Me? I didn't remember asking you to behave wantonly." He could feel his temples throbbing mercilessly.
"You pushed me to!" Hotaru retorted.
"The hell I did!" Sakuragi bellowed as he faced her, letting her see his wrath.
Hotaru had never seen this side of Sakuragi before. His eyes blazed in anger and it was only then did she see the streaks of ruby in his onyx eyes. Hotaru had never felt so scared before.
"I didn't ask you to go up to Youhei and seduce him. I didn't ask you too cling onto him as if you have no legs! I didn't ask you to caress his face!! I didn't ask you to kiss HIM!!!"
Hotaru knew what she did was wrong and could feel the tears in her eyes. "But you kept the secret you being Silver Falcon," she whispered.
A strong hand ran through his red hair. A frustrated sigh escaped his lips as he tries to reign in his temper.
"Damn it love, I wanted to tell you tonight. I even had it all planned. You didn't even let me explain."
Kneeling down, he cupped her chin and brought her eyes to his. "I love you so much sweetheart. You are my heart and soul. I can't live without you. Did you ever think I will keep all of my secrets to myself?"
A tear trailed down her cheeks. On seeing it, he kissed it away. "I have been living alone for a long time, love. I had never value my life but the moment you came into my life, it changed. I valued my life because I want to be with you every second of your life."
"Sumi masen Mi-kun," Hotaru sobbed. More tears trailed down her cheeks. Instead of chastising her, the red haired lover enveloped her in his arms, rubbing her back soothingly as she sobbed into his broad chest.
After a long moment when her sobs had subsided, Hotaru snuggled deeper into her boyfriend. During the comforting process, Sakuragi had carried her and settled himself on the sofa and her on his lap. Suddenly an image flashed through her mind but before she could grasp it, it disappeared leaving her confused.
Shaking her head, she looked up and stared at her loving boyfriend. Kami- sama! He is so loving! How could she have acted so foolishly? Reaching out, she caressed his chiseled face.
"I love you hus..." her eyes widened. She nearly called him husband!
Sakuragi smirked on seeing her blush. "Care to share the thought?"
"Ie. I just want to say that I love you."
A calloused finger traced her lips. "I love you too koi." Leaning down, her captured her lips.
"My lord, when will strike? The troops are almost ready." All eyes turned towards the man that sat at the head of the table.
The lord cocked his head to one side as his eyes slowly opened. A pair of chilling green eyes stared back at the speaker. "Soon."
A reptile looking creature with a body of a bear and a head of a lizard stood up. An emblem of three claws over a wolf face branded on his chest. "When will that be, milord?" the creature slithered.
"Patience commander. I have my informant to bring me reports of the other world."
"Informant? Who is the he?"
A cold smile touches the lord's lips as he raised his left hand. A figure stepped out of a dark corner. A sleeveless dress with a deep cleavage and slits that went up to the upper thighs clung to her body as she walked towards the lord. Hazel eyes softened as she clasped her hand onto the upraised hand.
"Gentlemen, meet Haruko. My new pet," the woman smiled as she leaned down and kissed the lord thoroughly while his hands gripped her soft buttocks.
A/N: hehehe.. so hows the chapter? I didn't expect the chapter to end this way but oh well.. its down and typed...
Till next time
zackire