Soul Stealer

CJ Berrymore’s was packed like it normally was these days on a Wednesday in the summer. Mostly kids were there to have birthday parties, or meet up with friend’s and have fun for the day. Blowing away all their hard earned money on the newest arcade games that came in. Sure CJ’s had more than just the video games area. Outside they had Go-Karts for the adults, kiddy karts, putt putt golf, and then there was the baseball pitch they’d added in about a year ago. That wasn’t used much, most of the time people were standing in long lines for the Adult Go-Karts. That was the top attraction they had from the minute the weather was warm in Michigan till, well, it was too cold to use them, but during the winter the arcade’s were packed on Friday’s and Saturday’s.
Not as bad on Sunday’s. The latest thing for the past few months had been the Dance Dance Revolution 4th Mix game. If your wondering what this game is I’ll tell you. Dance Dance Revolution is a game which consists of one or two dance pads, depending on how good you are.

Anyway, if the dance part doesn’t mean something, then here we go. You use your feet to control the game. Still lost? I guess if your bobbing your head up and down like a horse, you must be. The game as I said, consists of one dance mat and then it has songs you pick from on a list on the screen to dance to. You follow the arrows to the beat of the song, and the person with the highest score wins, but if you bomb right away into the first song, then ouch. I pity the dollar you wasted. Every Wednesday for the past month they’ve been hosting DDR battle dance matches. As the current rankings stand, Sano and myself are the top ranking finals. The other competitors are not the best, but most do it for fun, but again, some are really foolish and choose such a difficult song to dance to they fail instantly, and are only out to try and get praise for themselves, where’s Sano and I do this, as if out very lives depended on it.

I know it sounds crazy, but we do take the game seriously. Each step you make could be right or could be wrong, you can never be sure if you’ll get that perfect, or boo rating for missing the wrong note. The dance we all do each day, the one of life and death, will we hit prefect’s all day, or hit a mix of different notes to lead us down the road to uncertain fortunes in our lives? I cannot be entirely certain, but I know this, we cannot always foresee the outcome of everything. Then again, this is life, we mortals are only met to live one entire life, and no more, so we may as well not fear death, but accept it when it comes to greet us with open arms. I don’t know why I’m bothering telling you this, but I feel, that I must.

The top floor where they keep all of the new arcade games was where they had, Dance Dance Revolution. Like it had been for the past few weeks the entire section of the floor on the top was filled to the brim of kids of all ages, and even to adults that wanted to play this new interesting game. The people that were here, were contestants from the previous weeks that had managed to make it to the semifinal rounds.
Though after today with only four groups of two, would advance to the last round. Many hoped to take home the grand prize, which was the latest version of the PlayStation two games Dance Dance Revolution Max. The winners would also receive with their first place prize for two metal mats exclusively from Konami Games, a well known Japanese gaming company, which is growing every day in the U.S.

Sano and Ryo made their way up the staircase, well tried if you could say that. It was so difficult to get up the stairs Sano had to grab Ryo’s wrist and pulled her through the sea of people. They noticed some familiar faces as they made their way up towards the rating board. Like always they were greeted by the owners of the C.J. Barrymore’s whom wished them luck. Sano simply offered a grin, and took the offered numbered tags, which was what they went by when they were called up to dance.

“I wonder what the others choose as their dance songs, today.” Sano commented, as he pealed off his tag and stuck it on his shirt, and without thinking pealed Ryo’s number tag off and stuck it on her chest, and blushed a deep shade of red when his hand touched something soft.

He looked up slowly into amused blue eyes, and then a smile that slowly began to spread across Ryo’s face meaning danger. “Sorry! I didn‘t mean it!” He all, but shrieked, not wanting to suffer Ryo’s wrath for touching her nice, round, soft, breast.

Ryo cocked her head to the side in amusement, “You know Sano, you shriek like a girl.” A laugh followed that comment as the two friends made their way through the thorn’s of people to go eavesdrop on some of the other dancer’s that were competing.

“So are we still going to do the song B4U(glorious style)?” Sano asked, knowing they weren’t doing that great with it on heavy just yet. They had managed to master the standard song two weeks ago, but the heavy they needed a lot more work in.

“Yes, but standard only, I hardly doubt we’d get a good enough grade on it in heavy.” Ryo admitted, as she watched some of the other teams, mostly amateurs were up on the dance pads getting in some last minute practice.

“We do good up to the middle of it. At least, we can handle Rhythm and Police in Heavy.” Sano pointed out. However, snorted as the blonde haired girl failed Butterfly in light mode. “If this is what we have to deal with, we’ll win for sure.” Sano pointed out to the girl’s companion who was nagging at her.

“True, but don’t forget we got those two Chinese boys we have to go up against. They’re the ones whom we’ll get a run for our moneys worth.” She stated calmly watching as another group went up to try their luck on a warm-up with, Wild Rush.

“I think those guys go to Pankow with us, their Seniors at the Lance Cruise High School, the two Chinese guys your referring to.” Sano said looking around, and sure enough spotted the two guys. “If I recall their names are, Chang, and Ming. They are the top kids in the computer database classes offered at Pankow. And three time champions at BPA.”
Ryo was clearly impressed. “I didn’t take you for keeping up on people in computer classes.” Ryo stated, looking at her friend for an answer where he got all his information from.

“Oh, Mike takes the computer database class or whatever it is next to your Webpage Design room. He was bagging last year how much of a show off the two of them are.” Sano shrugged.

“You mean Computer Information Networking?” Ryo corrected, but she knew well for a fact last year for her junior year the kids in the two hours class at Pankow in, CIN, had been quite loud and rambunctious, to the point their teacher, Mrs. Iris, had to go over in the other room and, all but yell at that class to settle down and be quite till their teacher returned. However, shortly after that, all the chairs in their Webpage Design class had begun to disappear, which led to another scolding, and the culprits that did it, two days kicked from Pankow.

“Yeah, yeah. I really am not into computers; well save for when we have to edit our movies in creative video, and when I can get answers to some of my English work. I hope we don’t have to read any lame novels this year, the last ones I read last year made me fall asleep. They need something we could at least agree on as a class.” Sano argued.

“I heard we might get one called, The Alchemist. Supposed to be good, but starts off boring, and ends good.” Ryo stated, as she did also make a silent prayer they weren’t forced to endure anymore lame books.

“Gotta admit, Tuesday’s With Morry was good.” Sano piped up. Almost everyone in their freshmen year had read that book, and seen the movie.

Ryo had been fortunate to see it three times. Once for English class, once at home, and once while she’d been doing teacher’s aide. It was a good story, but a little to depressing, but non the less it had been a good insight into what a man perspective on daily life, and then up to death.

“Yeah it was.” She calmly stated watching their main opponents closely as they finished up on a dance song on heavy. Paranoia Remix could be quite difficult, but these two were doing at it, like it was nothing.

“The only way we’ll mange to tie those two is if we both get A’s or double A’s on our songs we dance to.” Sano commented, not wanting to loose to the two guys from their VO-Tech school.

“You got a point, we’ll have to do the two heavy songs we know and B4U, since that’s the required one this week the judges picked. I hope they bomb that one. That’s one song I rarely see those two do, when we’re here.” Ryo answered back.

“All we can do at this point is hope.” Came a gruff response from Sano, as he eyed their opponents like hawks do their prey, and there was no doubt those two boys, Chang and Ming were the prey.

“Must be that Japanese blood in us calling out to do battle.” Ryo laughed, and pat her friend shoulder, dragging him off to go get some of the free bottled water before it was all gone.

“Could be, but I’m the general of our army.” He grinned, and draped an arm over Ryo’s shoulder. “We’ll go get decked out in our samurai gear and go take over Japan, and from there the world!” He laughed, trying to do an impression of some lame Saturday morning cartoon villain.

“You need to find a new line Sano, that’s not been used before.” Ryo mused, and took a bottle of water for Sano and shoved it in his face, and got one for herself, opening it and took a long swig from it, enjoying the cool refreshment sliding down her throat.

“Hey! Quit picking on me missy.” Sano grumbled, as he snatched the bottle of water from her hand she’d so kindly shoved in his face. Opening it he took a quit drink of it himself, and held onto it in his left hand, idly swirling the water around inside of it, to pass the time.

“I can’t help it Sano. Your just so cute, to get all riled up. That and you’re a bit of a sissy for some reason around me, I just don’t know why you are.” She gave a dramatic sigh, holding her head in her hands. “You act more like a woman then you do a man.” She replied in an even tone, which contained just as much humor in it, as you would if you were laughing.

Sano’s left eye twitched slightly at that comment, and grinned quickly locking his friend in a headlock giving her a noogie. “Take it back Ryo, or I’ll let you walk home.” He grinned, and messed up her hair, knowing how she hated to have to have to fix it, once she got it to her means of liking.

“Sano! Unhand me at once! If you don’t I’ll give you a good swift kick.” Ryo growled at her companion, as she struggled to get loose of his headlock.

“Na, I think I’ll just keep you in this position till you can get out of it.” He teased, stilling messing with her hair.

“Baka.” She muttered, and looked downwards at his arm and opened her mouth and quickly latched onto his arm, digging her fang tooth into his flesh.

Sano released her, and flinched. Holding his arm, he looked down to see the skin was already bruising. “Didn’t need to bite so hard, Dracula.” He grumbled in that sulky tone he was well known for.

A grin spread across Ryo’s face as she watched her friend tend to his arm. “What can I say, I vanted to suka your blood.” She ran her tongue over her lips, tasting the remaining salt like taste of Sano, that had managed to linger behind. “Hm, little more salt, and your just right, Sano my boy.”

Sano arched a brow at her, “You really do worry me sometimes Ryo.” He shook his head.

“Oh, but you love me this way, and you know it.” She teased, as she clung to his left arm, batting her eyes at him, in her best sweet adorable expression.

“Now, you’re starting to worry me.” Sano laughed, finding the look she was giving him, to be just to priceless.

‘Member’s participating in the Dance Dance Revolution Showdown; please get in line accordingly by your number, by the game here. Tonight’s game will determine our top five dancers to proceed to next week’s final DDR: Showdown game!’ One of the owner’s of CJ Berrymore’s announced over the PA system.

Ryo and Sano looked at one another and grinned. This was it, now was the time to show their moves off, and proceed to the final match with the other top contenders. They were players eight tonight, their pal’s Mink and Chang players five.

People who had come to watch the third round of this contest, gathered around eagerly to see who the top five dancers were going to be out of the fifteen tonight. Some regular customers leaned on the walls near the DDR machine to get a better view of how this game worked, and some just wanted to see who could fools of themselves first. When the first round of the game began two or three weeks ago, most of the people who had been trying to impress those in the crowds watching, had either ended up falling off the dance mat, or picked the hardest songs off the list, and failed them in under 30 seconds, unable to keep up with the beat, and the pace of the arrows.

Either way it was going to prove to be a good night, this was now down to just a handful of the best dancers out of the previous weeks, and tonight would determine who could handle picked songs, then one’s they enjoyed. Each team was allowed two songs of their choice, and one chosen by the owner’s of CJ Berrymores. Tonight they’d picked B4U(glorious style). However the rest of the catch was you could only do the song in standard or heavy. You could do light if you wanted, but you’d be disqualified for it.

Sano looked around, seeing everyone was all their now for them to begin. He just hoped their songs they picked of their choice Ecstasy, and Rhythm and Police would get them ahead of Ming and Chang. If not they were sitting ducks in the last rounds next week.

“Looks like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb are right behind us.” Ryo grumbled to Sano, her arms crossed over her chest in annoyance the two boys had to be this close to them.

“Huh?” Sano asked, snapping out of his trance watching players one up on the dance mats, and turned his attention to Ryo. Seeing her finger pointing behind them, he turned his head to come face to face with Ming.

“Hey Richmond boy, get bored milking the cows?” Ming sneered.

Sano flashed his usual grin and draped an arm over Ming’s shoulder. “Why I reckon I did, but to tell ya the truth, I didn’t know I owned a farm, let alone those cows. Must’ve got me mixed up with Doug Egling.” When it came down to it, Sano could be a smart ass, Ming and Chang were no exception to the matter.

Ming made a disgusted face, and used his index fingers to remove Sano’s arm from his shoulders, as if it were a piece of trash. “Please reframe from touching me, inu.” Ming stated brushing his shirt off of the imaginary dust.

Sano smiled flashing his teeth, trying to cover up the eye twitch. “You trying to say I’m gay?” He asked.

Chang grinned. He remembered that time when he’d had to drop a note off to the teacher in the Auto class last year Sano and some other boy had been struggling to put something away and landed on top of one another in a very compromising position. “Oh yes Sano, we all know you adore beautiful men.” Chang supplied in a snarky way.

“Yes, so do reframe from touching me fag.” Ming supplied in a purely aristocratic tone.

Sano balled his right hand into a fist at his side, oh he’d had it with that comment. Every since January and that incident in class with his friend, he’d never heard the end of it from the kids in the, Computer Networking class. He’d about had it with that, and all the vulgar comments behind it.

Ryo simply arched a brow, at the two smart asses, “I didn’t know he was gay.” She said to innocently, and moved over to Chang and wrapped her arms around him, looking up at him. As she allowed her left palm to travel up the other boys chest. “Maybe you could be a real man and give me what I want sometime…” She purred in a low seductive voice.
Chang grinned and allowed his right arm to curl around Ryo’s waist, and allowed his right hand to travel down by her firm ass, to cup the cheek. “Oh, I’m sure I could show you a good deal then what that fag could, and pleasure you quite well.” Chang supplied and could feel Ryo’s hand drawing circle’s around his hard nub in his silk shirt. “Hm, you’re a feisty one.” He lowered his face to kiss her, but never got the chance as he hissed through clench teeth feeling sharp fingernails dig into his nipple, and violently twist it.

“Na, I’ll pass. I’ve got all the man I could want, and he’s much, much better then you could ever be.” She stood up on her tiptoes to whisper the remaining words in Chang’s ear. “You wouldn’t last long with me anyway, but I could always use a submissive bitch. To use, whenever, I so choose.” She purred, sinking her fingernails a little more into Chang’s nipple and gave it a good tug before she pulled away releasing the neglected nub.

Moving over to Sano, she pulled her friend down towards her face and kissed him hard on the lips, pushing her tongue into his mouth, without his consent in the manner. Ryo knew Sano would have a hissy fit over this later, but at the moment she didn’t care. She wanted to see the look on the two prat’s faces. She felt arms wrap around her, drawing her closer, as a firm chest pressed against her body, causing a faint moan to slip from her lips as Sano finally responded, returning her kisses now, but with a more fierce passion, demanding to claim her lips.

To say Sano was shocked was quite the truth, in a way he could tell what Ryo was doing this only for show. Yet Sano took pride in the fact he was the one kissing his friend. He wondered if he could truly bring himself to tell her before the Homecoming dance, he loved her, and wanted to be more then just her friend, but her lover.

His hands draped lower around her waist as he drew her closer to him. His right arm wrapped around her firm body, as his hand pushed her closer to him, feeling the firm breasts pressing on his chest. The moan he had managed to draw from her was, what all the more enticed him. Had they not been in a public place Sano would have pinned Ryo to the floor, and went further, but they had a game to play, and weren’t about to let the two idiots beside them get any further.

Ryo made a protesting noise as Sano withdrew from the kiss, and looked at him, with half glazed blue eyes. Clearly Sano had managed to push the right buttons on her, as she choose to stay molded into his chest, not wanting to leave his arms.

Chang was slack jawed, he couldn’t believe Ryo would choose Sano over him! “Fine, keep you gay bird of a boyfriend. I’m sure I can find a much better girl then you.” Chang bragged.

Sano pulled Ryo along with him to the front line. Casting an amusing look over his shoulder at the two males he smirked. “Would that be little girls? You sick, twisted, molesting, child monger.” Sano more or less stated, then asked.

“At least we aren’t submissive to a woman.” Ming flung back.

“Who said my boyfriend was submissive? I’m only submissive to him, when I choose to be.” She said, running a fingernail over Sano’s chest. “I love it ever so much when he’s dominating me.” He purred, seductively.

Sano knew he’d have to have a long talk with Ryo later, on where she learned to talk, and act so. Sexy, was the word maybe? Either way he loved the looks the two prats behind them were dishing out. “Just do yourselves a favor, and try not to think to hard. You wouldn’t understand the fundamentals of bondage, unless it came up and cracked you on the ass with a whip.” Sano stated.

The teasing soon came to an abrupt halt as Sano and Ryo were told to be prepared in the next seven or ten minutes it would be their turn up on the dance mats. However as they waited, a man and a woman, up in the rafter part, stood on the long platform looking down at the line of people entering the contest. Or rather awaiting their turns to try and bomb.

“I feel the dormant power of the Guardians residing within them.” The man stated, as cat like eyes studied Ryo and Sano.

“As do I. There is no denying it. They are Ryo and Sano from Hiroshi’s past.” The woman known as Cassandra replied.

“Shiido will find them soon, though they are still without their powers, it is only a matter of time for the demon Lord to show himself and attempt to kill them again.” The man stated, as he watched Ryo and Sano take the stage and began to dance to their first song of choice, on the dance mats.

Brown eyes stared down, watching the two former lovers enjoying themselves. Living normal lives a teenager should have in these ages, but their destiny was more important, not only for them, but their leader and the rest of Earth as well. “Shinji will be pleased to hear of this information. At least we have two of them, this will do a great deal in aiding to the demon’s destruction, as well as Shiido.” Cassandra stated softly.

“Yes, but even with three guardians, it does not match to the full power of four. Okita must be found, and soon, as Shinji’s soul needs to be repaired by his lover. Had our Mistress and Master, not found him all those years ago, he would have turned dark. The white purity of his soul, which the dragons have blessed him with would have been soiled, and his mark he bares would have darkened.” The man calmly stated, as he watched the two below them finishing up on their second song.

“Yes this is true. The Fates do nothing, but play with him, as if he were a doll. Pulling his strings, till his woes begin to eat at him, and then he heads to the Mistress for a relief. Had he never been introduced to the vampires kiss he would most likely be a walking bundle of eggshells.” Cassandra leaned into her lover’s arms, long brown hair dropping over her shoulders, as she stared at the couple trying their best to their third song.

“Sooner or later they will respect him. When he has all four of his warriors, the New Orleans and Michigan clan’s have offered to aid them in the final battle.” He supplied, stroking Cassandra’s hair in a loving matter.

“Hopefully then the demon world and Lord Shiido will perish and give up on their methods of trying to take Earth for themselves, I just hope I will live to be their at that last battle.” Cassandra confessed, as those brown eyes, seemed to dim slightly.

“You will live Cassandra, the reaper’s chimes have not yet begun to sound, and until they do, you will live to see this battle through, as will we all. Everyone’s lives depend on the Guardians, without them we will surely fall.” He told her, as blue eyes locked with blue, a pale hand reaching out to cup his beloved’s face.

“Many have died these past 50 years looking for the guardians; more shall die until they are in their powers.” Cassandra told her beloved, reaching up with her own pale hand to touch the scar on Katze’s face.

“I know, but the vampires are the only one’s willing to help the higher beings in power to protect this world. We are the last line of defense.” Katze told her.

“And all our hopes lie in the hand of Shinji. Until they reach the age of twenty-one when their powers awaken within them.” Cassandra stated, and reached up on her tiptoes to place a soft kiss on the other vampire’s lips.

Cool lips like death, brushed over the soft petal like lips, as he drew his beloved closer to him, both of them ignoring the two guardians below them, as their shared a brief moment of contentment. “You must report this to Hiroshi.” He whispered, pulling away a little from their kiss as he stared into the brown eyes with his own blue orbs.

Cassandra sighed, “Very well. See to it, they remain safe until they are both safely back in their own home.” Cassandra pressed, as she drew away from the warm arms of her lover.

A gentle smile crossed Katze’s face, as he nodded. “I promise. Now hurry. Hiroshi need’s to be protected as well, as he will be powerless, until the full moon is over with.” Katze reminded her.

Brown eyes went wide as she nearly forgot about that, “Thank you for reminding me, I forgot he looses his power on these nights.” Cassandra took one last look at her lover, and turned hurrying off to report the news of their finding to Shinji.

Katze watched her leave, his blue eyes returning to Sano and Ryo, whom were laughing, and obviously bragging about their victory. “Enjoy the lives you have, for they will soon be changed forever.” Katze whispered more or less to himself, and proceeded to head down to follow his two charges he was to keep safe.

TBC......