Clarion leaned back and let out a chuckle as a mournful riff tore through the room. "Ugh, right now I hate this song."
Yoshi looked up at the woman that still straddled her hips and grinned. "That's why they call it the Blues."
Clarion smiled and lightly drew her index finger across the moist flesh of Yoshi's lips. "One more, and then I have to go take a cold shower." Clarion didn't wait for an answer as she leaned in and took possession of Yoshi's lips once more. If Clarion was trying to release her tension, the kiss they shared only served to create a long evening for the blonde. Clarion tugged lightly on Yoshi's bottom lip as she finally came up for air. She watched as Yoshi slowly opened her eyes and they broke into small giggles.
Yoshi let her giggles subside before she spoke. "Can I join you in the shower?"
Clarion let out a "hoo yah!" as she shook with laughter and removed herself from Yoshi and stood up. With her hands on her hips, she glared without malice at the grinning woman. "You're trying to kill me right?" Yoshi lowered her eyes and stuck out her bottom lip just enough to make her look as innocent as possible. At her shameless display, Clarion let out a loud groan and shook with amusement and frustration. "That's it, get out." She broke into a smile as Yoshi laughed and ran a hand through her hair. "Take your pie and go or I won't be responsible for what happens."
Yoshi stood up and smoothed out her pants. "Oh really now."
Clarion instinctively took a step back, for fear getting too close to the woman in her living room would cause her to strip naked and attack her. "I'm full of food and a little drunk, so I may be liable to lash out at you. Besides the witching hour is upon us."
Yoshi glanced down at her watch and watched as the minute hand settled on the one, reading 12:05. "It is late isn't it?"
Clarion folded her arms across her chest and nodded. "And I'm keeping you."
Yoshi visual searched for her jacket and then focused her eyes back on Clarion. "Somehow, I don't think that work…"
Clarion held up her hands. "Don't say it." She turned to her side and grabbed Yoshi's jacket from the wall hook and handed it to her. Clarion leaned on the wall next to the door as Yoshi put on her coat.
"Um, I had a good time tonight."
"So did I." A moment of silence passed and then they both spoke at the same time. "I'd like-
"Can we-" Yoshi shook her head. "You first."
"I'd like to see you again."
"Well I'm always at the store by twelve and if not you can call me."
"I can?"
"Don't have my number I take it." Clarion shook her head. Yoshi dug into her coat pocket and retrieved a felt tip pen. "Hand." Clarion held out her hand and willed away a shiver as Yoshi reached out and cupped the backside. "I know you haven't done this since grade school probably, but bare with me."
Clarion only laughed as Yoshi took the pen cap off with her teeth and proceeded to write her phone number down on Clarion's palm. "Now don't lose that."
Clarion drew her hand into her body and smiled. "Wouldn't dream of it." She stepped back and opened the front door. "Hey, do I need to give you a lift somewhere?" Yoshi shook her head. "Um, okay, then I'll give you a call or call me or come by or whatever or-"
"Clarion, stop babbling and kiss me once more." Yoshi grinned as Clarion's features flushed red with embarrassment. She waited until the smaller woman looked back up at her and then she leaned in. It was a less ravenous kiss compared to the others they had shared earlier, but somehow even in its soft insistence it was the most passionate and promising of all their kisses. Clarion still had her eyes closed when Yoshi finally pulled away. The tall woman smiled at the blonde and was even so bold as to trace the side of her face with her fingers before stepping back. "Think you can stay out of trouble before we see each other again?" Smoldering green eyes looked around the empty hallway in avoidance. Yoshi shook her head. "Don't answer that. Bon nuit, Clarion."
Clarion bowed her head as she spoke. "Oyasuminasai, Yoshi." Clarion stood at the door and watched until the doors closed on the elevator and carried a grinning Yoshi out of her building.
Clarion closed her front door, walked to her couch, and collapsed on to it with a mind clouded by sexual tension. She sat up with a laugh as she turned up the volume on her stereo and poured herself another drink. She nodded her head in agreement the music as she lit a match and let the sweet smell of Cannabis fill her lungs and her apartment. She spoke out loud after she took a deep drag on her joint. "You are so right Jimmy, I was born under a bad sign." Clarion closed her eyes and laughed at her own thoughts, which mostly included a certain dark haired Hunter. She raised her glass high toasting a dead mans genius and thought not of her transgressions but only of thick hair, deep blue eyes, and the warmth of a certain pair of lips.
* * *
CH 10: Into every life a little rain must fall
Yoshi had seen Clarion for two days straight and the usually unexpressive woman still wore the silliest of grins on her face, that she would immediately drop the moment Nate and Tully walked into the store. The boys would smile at each other and share inside jokes at the older woman's expense, but Yoshi just didn't seem to care. It was going on three in the afternoon when the two boys returned from lunch to be witness to what Nate clearly felt was a sign of the coming apocalypse.
It wasn't as if Yoshi would have heard the bell ring on the doorway since the store shook with heavy percussion that could best be described as Latin. Nate and Tully both wore looks of complete confusion as they crept through the front store room only to come to dead stops as they stood at the entrance to the back room. Tully had all ready forgiven the normally reserved woman for the music since he surmised that it was probably Santana. He whispered to Nate, "She likes guitars, so it's okay?" It was more a question than a statement, but Nate seemed to accept that for the moment. And it wasn't as if they had never heard her sing before. Even though she bitched about it, she was always willing to sing Happy Birthday and other such cheesy songs when the feeling came upon her. But as the two boys stood there with their eyes wide and chins on the floor, the vision before them was beyond all explanation.
They had seen a few demons, read about the mutations of nature, and even seen their share of Vampires in the flesh, but here and now in the back store room was a complete anomaly. Spikes of blue hair seemed to rise higher as Nate watched. "It's a pod person right?" Tully could only shake his head in reply as he watched mesmerized. Both boys agreed that Yoshima was extremely attractive in that, ‘I'll rip your arms off and beat you to death with them if you ever touch me' kind of way. She clearly had the attributes. She had the eyes, the smoldering look, the full lips, the hair (which when worn loose, became THE HAIR), she had the attitude, and she clearly had the body. The thing was, she never displayed it…until now.
Long legs clad in black slacks moved with precision and grace to the beat. Hips that were visibly accentuated due to the low waist of the pants and the fact that when she raised her hands above her head it lifted the hem of the short sleeve shirt. Thick black hair swung in loose curls as she swayed with the music. Neither boy had ever seen this much of her body and they both knew that if they didn't move soon she would probably rip their eyes out of their head. Tully motioned for them to move, and both boys began to step back delicately in order to exit the room, hopefully unnoticed. In retrospect, Tully probably shouldn't have said anything to Nate as they walked backwards, but then again even if she hadn't heard Tully's voice she clearly heard the tumbling of boxes. It all happened in one swift motion as Tully leaned in and whispered to Nate, "I didn't know she knew how to Salsa." Apparently, Nate was too busy following the swirl of Yoshi's hips to reply or to pay attention.
Black hair whipped around and blue eyes blazed as they made contact with the still wide eyes of Nate and Tully. Tully squealed and Nate was all ready crashing into the pile of boxes behind him. Luckily, they were empty so he probably wouldn't have a concussion, all though he would definitely fake it for his safety. A long arm snaked out with speed as Yoshi cut off the stereo and none of them moved. Tully fixed his eyes to the floor and Yoshi rested her eyes on Nate's shoes that protruded from the pile of boxes.
A long span of silence passed in the room as Yoshi slowed her breathing and bit hard on the inside of her lip. She took deep breaths as she willed away the blood that rushed to her face and then spoke in a low alto. "Not a word." Tully looked up, but he didn't dare look her in the eye. "Are those boxes empty?"
At that, Tully turned towards the heap of cardboard boxes that were wearing size 8 1/2 Vans.
Tully bent over, resting his hands on his knees. "You alive in there Nate?" No movement. Yoshi sighed and crossed the floor to the pile mumbling to herself. "Great, the boys come back early, I kill Nate, and now I'm going to be late for my date." Tully held in a smile as her words tickled his ears as he helped Yoshi toss off boxes. Finally, the ruddy cheeks of the pudgy boy were revealed and it was pretty obvious from how tightly he was closing eyes that he was still alive. Yoshi let out a huff of air, stood up to her full height, placing her hands on her hips, and scowled down at the blue headed boy. She practically growled as she spoke. "Get up Nate, you're not dead." Ever so slowly one pale blue eye was revealed as Nate began to open an eye. Yoshi shook her head. "One word about this and you'll be dead." She turned towards Tully with a snap. "You either." Neither boy breathed until Yoshi exited the back office and made her way to the front of the store and out of the front door.
Tully helped Nate to his feet and both boys shared small smiles. Nate opened his mouth to speak and brown eyes went wide. "Don't say it man, she can probably still hear."
"But-
Tully covered his friends' mouth as they walked from the back room. "Later. When we are away, out of the city, and she is playing tonsil hockey with blondie. Okay." Nate nodded and Tully released his hand. "For now, let's just make nice and fake like nothing happened, ya dig."
They touched fists. "I'm there with you my brother, I'm there with you."
__________
Thank God D.C. tended to share weather patterns with Maryland or else Yoshi would have been sorry she bolted out of the store without her jacket in the dead of December. Instead, it was a freakishly comfortable 62° and the sun was shining. Yoshi was fuming at her own embarrassment and had briskly strode down Connecticut Avenue, out of Dupont, past the church, and up the hill. If she kept walking she'd end up in the high rent district. She should have known something was about to go very wrong when she found herself standing in line at a Starbucks all too ready to give an order for some prissy concoction that she really didn't want. At the last moment, she turned on her heels more at the urging of her hackles standing on end than the coffee, and she left. She picked up a bottled water form a vendor on the street and started walking back towards the store. By the time she was halfway there, the uneasy feeling had subsided and for a split second she was almost ready to laugh at herself. She'd just go back and tell the boys that she and Clarion had gone out dancing the other night and well, that was all they needed to know.
Six stores away from her own Yoshi stopped to guzzle some water and smile at her own behavior. She closed her eyes as she drank, seemingly soaking up the sun, and let her mind roam over the previous night's festivities. The tall woman couldn't even remember the last time she had gone dancing but she wasn't about to forget last night. She had plans to take Clarion out to her house tonight and possibly let Clarion read through some of Gregor's books just to get her take on it. Not that she expected the blonde to be able to translate the archaic language of the Aramis books, but she might be able to make some sense out of some of the artwork. Yoshi rationalized her inclusion of Clarion in her work on the fact that it was all in an effort to help the woman, and the slightly selfish action of hopefully helping herself to the young blonde as well. Yoshi opened her eyes and shook off her salacious thoughts only to have them replaced by an emotion of extreme anxiety.
She took two swift strides and passed the trees to give her a clear view of the street. Hard blue eyes began to search the street for whatever was tensing her muscles. She turned her head from side to side as she stood in place, oblivious to the people who were stepping around her. Two hundred yards away and on her right, a glint of chrome caught her eye. She took a step forward to the right and a familiar smell made its way to her nostrils: another Hunter was near-by. Yoshi dropped her bottle of water like a reflex and looked back to the left and she saw him. There was no way he saw her on the account that he was running full out down the other side of the street. She searched for runners, but it was only the sound of screeching tires that followed him. Yoshi looked back to the right and the runners she was seeking were on their way.
She took off, eating up the sidewalk with long strides that carried her to the front of her store. She threw open the door causing Tully to hop the counter and reach for the bat, which he immediately dropped seeing Yoshi's harried expression. "Give me the tanto." She held out her hand as she instantly decided that walking out into broad daylight brandishing a 38" katana might not be such a good idea. A small train was formed as Nate tossed the 15" dagger to Tully who tossed it to Yoshi. She blew out of the door in the same frenzy, leaving behind a trail of words that prompted the boys to call the police.
The warrior knew she could do nothing about the speeding car, but she could get to the runners. She knew they were wannabes even without seeing the brands on their arms or the insignias on their earrings. She caught a glimpse of the other Hunter, as she dashed across the street. It was Colin. She growled in frustration as she slid across the hood of a moving car and used the momentum to plow into a leather jacketed young man. Her shoulder slammed into his solarplexus like she was at try-outs for the Redskins. It was only through the mercy of the lack of time that she crushed his windpipe and kept moving. Unfortunately, they were prepared for her just as she was prepared for them. As her fingertips found a weak grip on the collar of one of the wannabes she found herself sailing through the air with the aid of three large bodies. She lost her grip on her tanto as her hand slammed into a trashcan. Her eyes tracked the handle as it landed in the dirt. She reached out for it ignoring the kicks and punches being directed at her body.
She regripped the handle and swung her hand backward making a swift slice through an achilles tendon. A warm spray of blood from the gaping wound egged Yoshima on with a fierce battlelust that was focused on her remaining attackers. What appeared to be erratic waving on Yoshima's part were actually precise choreographed slashes and thrusts. In a matter of moments the only movement that could be seen in her attackers were the involuntary muscle spasms caused by lack of blood and impending death. Yoshi quickly sheathed her blade and placed it in the small of her back as she ran towards Colin. Whatever chance she had of reaching him was taken away in time spent disposing of her three attackers. Yoshi managed to make it 50 yards up the side walk when she watched Colin leap a park car into the street only to be upended by a speeding black Jeep.
At the sound of broken glass and screeching tires, the people on the street all gathered at the sidewalks to gape at the accident. Yoshi used her six-foot frame to her advantage as she plowed through the gathering crowd, all the while keeping her eye on Colin's body as he lay still in the indentation his large frame made in the windshield. Yoshi heard a few awe filled gasps around her as Colin began to move. As Colin lifted his head he caught the blue-eyed gaze of the dark haired woman and managed to get out a nod before his chest exploded.
The crooked smile fell away from Yoshi's face as a blast from a shotgun blew Colin back into the windshield. Yoshi stood her ground as people stumbled past her in a rush to get away from the gun fire. She could only stand and watch, as she watched three gunmen converge on Colin's body firing rounds into his body. When the sidewalk seemed to be clear Yoshi reached behind her back to retrieve her blade, but the whirring blare of sirens stopped her motion. Yoshi watched through slitted eyes as four police cruisers came to screeching halts and the officers piled out of the cars; guns blazing. Whatever gun battle they were prepared for never came. The gunmen did as expected and turned their guns on themselves ending the showdown in the blink of an eye. Yoshi eased back into the confines of an alley as the steady whir of sirens and the even pulse of a helicopter became the only sound on the city street.
Yoshi watched as the color of the different uniforms became too much for her eyes and she simply squared her shoulders and walked across the street. It wasn't as if a six-foot woman splattered in blood and carrying a dagger was normal, but the chaos of the moment was quite perfect for a patient getaway. Tully immediately locked the door and drew the shade behind the woman as she entered the store and headed straight for the back. Neither boy said a word as the dark woman silently changed clothes. When she re-entered the front of the store, she was wiping what blood remained, from her face. She dropped the red stained towel down on the counter and sat down in order to put her shoes on.
Both boys knew better than to question the tall woman, so they merely went back to their tasks, only deviating to turn on the tea pot and sit out a mug for the brooding woman. After twenty minutes and a mug of tea Yoshi spoke. "We need to find out what hospital Colin went to and then we need to get me in." Tully nodded and grabbed his jacket as he walked out of the front door and joined the onlookers on the sidewalk. Nate shoved his hands in his pockets as he waited for her request. "You got your camera Nate?" She didn't wait for a reply. "I need a list of insignias and then I need to find out who those boys belong to."
Nate shook his head and then stopped as he reached the door. In a whisper he asked, "what are you going to do?"
Yoshi kept her eyes affixed to the waterfall in the corner as she spoke in a deep rumble. "I'm going to stay off the street and go find Clarion. Call me when you know something."
The door closed behind Nate and Yoshi slid off the stool, grabbed her long jacket and headed out of the back door. She took to the rooftops as she headed towards the museum. This path kept her off the streets and gave her a chance to firm up her thoughts. Colin was one of three people she had ever considered friends, the other two were dead. She met Colin back in the beginning when she was still in Athens. Even though he was the second oldest Hunter he still looked like a kid, only marred by the faint scar that ran from his right eye curving out to meet the corner of his mouth in an eerie sideways smile. It had been made by the only thing that could harm any Hunter; their own sword. And she had given it to him. That was 50 years ago and that was actually the last time they had seen each other face to face. However, the age of technology had brought them together in the last couple of decades.
It wasn't that she was unused to the presence of other Hunters in her area, but Colin's appearance as well as the circumstances around it spoke to something far larger than missing girls. Colin's presence meant one of two things. Either Colin had found the Daywalker or the Daywalker had been found. Either way both options led to the one man they all searched for: Goethe Alexi Stolova. At nearly 1500 years of age, he was the oldest living Vampire, the most powerful, and searching desperately for a way to become a Master Vampire. There hadn't been a Master Vampire since 89A.D., and as far as Yoshi was concerned there would not be another.
* * *
CH 11: Who are the people in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood...
9:30p.m.
Clarion almost fell off her chair as Riley came barreling into her office his hands in the air, his face all aglow. "Holy shit girlie, you are so in for it!" Clarion pushed away from her chair with a frown as the excited man plopped down in a chair. He didn't wait for her to ask as he began his rant. "I hate to be the one to say this, but I think your girlfriend just went on a murderous rampage."
"What!?"
Riley gestured wildly with his hands as he spoke. "That's what I said. Turn on the radio, turn on the net, turn the t.v. on, do whatever just get some news." His high pitched orders made Clarion move with a quickness to the radio in her office. She perched on the edge of desk and listened.
"Hi, this is Mike Reader with WBAL and I say again there has been a horrendous display of violence this afternoon in the Nations capitol. So far I've gotten mixed reports as to what actually took place only 20 minutes ago, but all reports share a description of a pedestrian being chased, struck by a car, and then executed by three men, who consequently turned their weapons upon themselves." Clarion shrugged her shoulders and looked at Riley with a frown. He held up his hand and raised his brow expectantly. "Reports also describe a tall dark-haired knife wielding woman who got into a scuffle with four men who are now dead. No one is sure if she was attempting to reach the man struck by the car or if these two incidents are separate or not. At present there are at least seven people dead and…."
Clarion snapped off the radio and turned to a wide eyed Riley with wide green eyes of own. She began running her hands through her hair as she stood and paced the room. "Jesus Christ Riley." Clarion spoke in a breath. "I need a t.v."
Riley stood up. "What for?" He frowned as he touched her shoulder. "Do you need to see if it's her?"
Clarion turned towards Riley and almost laughed. His voice held so much concern it was odd to hear it coming from the usually cynical man. "I just need to see that's all." Clarion was too busy looking for her keys to notice that Riley had stopped moving. She turned towards the door and walked into wall of black. Clarion looked up into cold blue eyes and realized she never wanted to see this woman angry at her. Green eyes held fast to blue and Clarion watched in relief as warmth seemed to seep back into Yoshi's features as Clarion laid a gentle hand on Yoshi's chest. She didn't take her eyes from Yoshi as she spoke to Riley. "Ri give us a minute." She heard the sharp intake of air and spoke before he could say something that she was liable to slap him for. She gritted her teeth as she lowered her voice. "Just do it Riley. Stand outside, I swear it's fine." She waited a heartbeat, still not breaking her gaze with Yoshi. "Please Ri." At the sound of him sucking his teeth, she knew he was agreeing. She didn't have to look to the slender man to see the glare he was giving her tall visitor as he exited the room and slammed the door just for unspoken emphasis.
Yoshi spoke first. "Awfully protective."
A wisp of smile raised Clarion's features. "He's knows I'm prone to trouble." Clarion grinned and raised up to her tiptoes attempting to kiss the dark woman only to be denied as Yoshi stepped back. Clarion frowned and crossed her arms across her chest as she regarded the woman before her.
Yoshi pushed her hands in the pocket of jeans and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I just need a clear head right now."
Clarion smiled fully as she leaned back onto her desk. "I cloud your mind?"
Yoshi looked up from the floor and groaned. "In a good way, I promise."
Clarion decided to leave it at that. "Are you okay and do I get to know what happened?"
Yoshi shrugged leather clad shoulders. "I'm fine and I'm still not sure what happened." Yoshi shook her head and smoothed out her ponytail. "Do you know what wannabes are?"
Clarion took a deep breath and nodded. "Sure, um, they're pretty much Vampire lackeys. Modern-day Renfields. Why?"
"That's who died today."
Clarion creased her brow. "Who was the pedestrian?"
Yoshi looked around before answering. "A friend." They shared a moment of silence.
"A Hunter." It wasn't a question. Yoshi nodded. Clarion stretched out her arms with a snap and then stood. "Okay, so does this have something to do with me?"
"I'm going to find that out."
"Okay." Clarion walked towards Yoshi until she stood in front of her. Clarion reached her hands out and rested them on Yoshi's hips. "You do that and then you come see me." Clarion stepped into Yoshi so that nothing could pass between them.
Yoshi closed her eyes at the exquisite feel of Clarion's body pressed into her. For the briefest moment she thought of scooping the woman up in her arms and fleeing the continent. Yoshi leaned down so that their foreheads touched and then she wrapped her arms around the small blonde and pulled her into an embrace. A perfect fit. The thought came without prompting to the dark warrior and it warmed her insides with its truth. She pulled away as she felt like she was losing control and stepped back, but not releasing Clarion fully. "I'm going to take you home and then I want you to stay put, okay."
Clarion smiled. "Awfully protective."
Yoshi gave her a lopsided grin. "Hey I'm not the beacon."
Clarion giggled and leaned in to give Yoshi a small hug. She nuzzled the woman's chest and pulled away stepping out of her arms. "Damn you smell great." Clarion frowned and shook her head.
Yoshi raised a brow and tugged at her the material of her turtleneck. "I do?"
Clarion waved a hand through the air, not yet aware of the possible impact of her comment. "Whatever. Look, you go take care of your business and Riley will take me home." Yoshi looked over her shoulder and saw two beady hazel eyes boring into her frame. She grimaced and turned back to Clarion. "He's harmless, but he may try to claw your eyes out." The two shared a faint giggle.
"I don't know Clarion, I'd feel-
She cut her off. "And I'd feel better if you go check on your ‘friend'." Clarion gave Yoshi a hard look accented by raised brows.
"Okay, point taken, but I'll be by to see you later."
Clarion smiled widely. "I'm planning on it. Now go before he breaks down the door." Yoshi turned towards the door, stopped, and held up a finger. Clarion grinned as she met the woman at the door and craned her neck up to receive a mind-bending kiss from the tall woman. Clarion barely heard the words "see you later" as she rocked back on her heels in a flustered haze of arousal. Whatever dirty thought she was about to contemplate was completely shattered as Riley burst back into the room complete with slamming the door. Clarion avoided his puffed out cheeks and glaring expression as she walked around her desk and sat down. "We're not talking about it." She didn't look up as she began opening her desk drawers and shuffling papers.
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