Kotori and developing feelings for her, he would have done it. That he disregarded the regulations and had admitted to it…
"How did he take it?" she asked quietly. Kotori wasn't smiling anymore either, recalling the way his face had crumpled when she reacted with rejection and revulsion, leaping away
from him.
"Like I'd ripped his heart out from his chest and I was holding it in front of him gloating."
"That bad?"
"A thousand times worse than that, actually. I felt like I had betrayed myself too because that was exactly how I'd felt about him too. But… I didn't want to hear it. Not like that. I
had always just fantasized him asking me out for pizza, or a mock hunt, not Jane Austen spouted at me while I was having tea with him on his living room floor!" She let out her
captured breath so fiercely that wisps of her hair floated over each other like a midnight fog. "So I ended up saying something corny and apologizing again and sitting back down
next to him and saying the one thing that I never wanted to tell anybody."
She didn't continue so Beth prodded her gently. "And that was…"
"That I was scared. That I was terrified." She lifted her eyes from watching her dark hair slide back into place to look at Beth. "I was in a panic that something bad was happening
to you, and no one wanted to talk about it. I couldn't tell my parents because I was afraid I'd let something slip about Daybreak, and Nick was too busy looking to talk, and
Goddess, Eliza! Eliza was a wreck. She tried going to work at the hospital and they sent her back because she was making mistakes. They said she was more of a danger than a
help, even though they understood why. I don't ever want to see Eliza like that again. We were all sacred shitless that the next time we saw you, you were going to be dead."
She paused and licked her lips, stalling. She felt silly admitting all of this to Beth. Kotori really wanted nothing more than to forget those days where Beth was missing. She wanted
to forget how much of a wreck she had been and the cold fear that had numbed her mind and body—until she saw Michael Richmond and then the fear changed to searing hate when
she recalled his statements about how all the shifters needed to be found dead. Kotori didn't know how she had kept herself from ripping off his head whenever he was around.
She smiled, however, when she recalled what came next in her story. "And then he reached out and touched my cheek gently…" Her voice softened, as if she were reliving it. "And
he told me that… that was why he always picked on you and tried harder than anything to keep you safe. He said that he wanted to protect the thing that was dearest to me, the
thing that would cause me the most pain if anything ever happened to it… and the thing most dearest to me was you."
Their eyes met. Beth could keep her cheeks burning. Kotori's gaze was intimate, her dark eyes so deep that they seemed more black than brown at the moment. For one terrible moment, Beth imagined those eyes in Kaneonuskatew's face and she had a sudden thrill, imagining that intimacy between them. With Kotori it made Beth uncurl from her position
to join the friend on the bed, snuggling up to her.
The birdshifter wrapped her arms around Kotori's slim body, holding the smaller girl close to her. It was the kind of thing she'd longed to do since Kotori had learned Beth had
come home, safe and sound. Kotori allowed herself to foolishly believe that so long as she held Bethany than no harm could come to the other girl. Beth hugged her back, wishing
to believe it too. She didn't like the outside world, with all it's strange dangers. She knew now that she couldn't protect herself from everything, and neither could her friends. But so
long as they were together, then they could work as a team.
So long as I'm near Kotori, Cain can't hurt her, she realized, tightening her grip on Kotori. Cain would never hurt me. So long as I'm between them, Kotori is safe.
Kotori sniffled. When she spoke again, the delight in her voice sparked a frightening, deepseated jealousy in Beth. They were so tightly intertwined that when Kotori spoke Beth
could feel her friends' breath stir her hair. "And then, the next thing I knew, I was crying because I felt like finally, finally, someone other than you understood and accepted me. Mom and Dad never understand our relationship, Beth. How can they? They don't know that we learn, and play, and fight and bleed together. But Nick does."
Beth's hands tightened into fists as she held on to Kotori's pajamas. Yes, they had bled together—on more than one occasion. "Blood sisters," she reminded Kotori. Both of them
only children and looking for an acceptance and understanding that neither's parents had been able to give had found it in each other. They had thought of themselves as blood
sisters since their first battle.
"Blood sisters," Kotori reaffirmed. She lifted a hand and began to stroke through Beth's hair. "Nick was completely frazzled when I burst into tears. I would have been too. Angry
one minute, and bawling the next… and then I kissed him, Beth."
"You what?"
"Kissed him. It must have felt horrible for him. I mean, I probably smelled of salt and I was sniffling and crying… and then… oh, Beth, Beth!" Her friend's voice was melting with
happiness. Beth kept a tight reign on her anger, hiding her face under Kotori's chin as they snuggled on the bed, so Kotori couldn't see it. "Beth, Nicolas is my Soulmate."
For a moment Beth didn't think at all. She just stared at the fabric of Kotori's shirt. Slowly, however, he head rose. "What?" Kotori repeated it for her. Beth pushed away from
Kotori, propping herself up with her elbows. "But… how do you know?"
Her dark eyes were dancing and she sighed wistfully. Beth could understand why, but she still felt it sounded strange coming from Kotori, who had never really had an interest in
boys before… or at least had never shown one. "When we kissed… I could hear and read all of his thoughts and memories. Everything felt kind of warm and fuzzy and he could hear
all of my thoughts. And then, there was… like this sudden jolt and we could see each other—really see each other, Beth. I could see how scared he was about telling me and his
worries and his thoughts about me and that he was so happy that there was this connection between us now. And he could see all of my worry and I was so mad because he was
seeing parts of me that I denied, even from myself. He could see my worry and my doubt and everything in me that I ignore daily.
"And in that place—that strange, pink other place where we were just Nicolas and Kotori—he took me in his arms and he hugged me and just… I don't know! It was like he poured all
of his love into me and I could feel my self doubt about myself evaporating because I suddenly knew who I was.
"But even though all of my selfdoubt was gone, there was still the fear and he couldn't erase that. We both had it. I mean—we're Soulmates now. We know about it. If we didn't, if
we had never kissed, then maybe we could have had someone else. Maybe I could have learned to forget about him and marry some Japanese shifter the way my parents want, but
I can't now. I mean, I can't do that and be happy. No one would ever understand me the way that he does now, and no one knows Nick the way that I know him."
She paused in her story, thinking and chewing on her bottom lip as she worried. Beth was staring at her friend. Her face was sad, but Kotori was writing it off to Beth knowing that
there was someone out there new who knew her best friend more than she did. Kotori patted Beth's hand as it lay on her cheek. Her dark hair was fanned out behind her on the
bed.
"You'll always be my best friend, Beth. You know that. No one could ever come between us."
"I know," Beth nodded. She was choosing her words carefully. "I just… I'm jealous, Kotori. I wish that I could know my Soulmate was well as you
know yours."
Kotori smiled. "You're a good person, Beth. Fate would never risk being mean to you. I'm sure it's just karma, Beth. You're a good person, so you'll meet him and it will be romantic
and you two will live happily ever after."
Beth didn't dispute the idea so Kotori assumed she accepted it. After a moment, Kotori spoke again, and her voice wavered with uncertainty. "Beth," she said slowly, "what would
you suggest I do? I don't know anymore. You know I've never liked lying to Mom and Dad about Daybreak. They should know about Nicolas, but I'm even more worried that they'll
reject him. Maybe they'll say that we're lying and we're not Soulmate or they'll think it's a trick… And what do I do about aging? I want to grow up more, but Nick won't ever age. Would it be better to keep aging and die and leave him all alone or for him to change me and to have forever together until something happens…"
She knew what she wanted to say and desperately wished that she could say it. She wished she tell Kotori the problems with her Soulmate, that way Kotori's wouldn't seem so bad.
Neither did Beth have any advice to give. Telling Kotori to tell her parents that she loved a white vampire and had been a member of Daybreak for years was liable to cause just as much trouble as keeping the lie going. So Beth just held her friend and listened, wishing there was something she could do to stop the tears falling from Kotori's cheeks.
Beth's second period was history class. They were just closing the Great Depression with a review for an upcoming test and then they were going to be starting World War Two.
There was a new boy in her class, sitting a few rows ahead and to the left of Beth. She saw him only briefly as she walked into the room, but he looked cute. Native American, he
had dark, tanned skin and jet black hair, which he wore up in little spikes.
Her mind traveled while she let her hand take notes. It felt weird being back in school. It felt since she was trying to force herself back in school. It felt since she was trying to
force herself back into normalcy and she couldn't fit into it anymore. What did it matter about the Great Depression or how credit helped to create it? There was a war coming, on
two fronts now, and Armageddon coming, and these people weren't aware of it yet. She felt pity for them, worrying over things which no longer matter, and was angry at them too. Why didn't they know? Why did she have to know?
She couldn't wait for the day to be over. Class was dragging on. Beth just kept taking notes, set on automatic. The teacher was asking questions. Beth's hand froze, poised over her
notebook when she heard Miss Stein call out a name. The new boy's hand was in the air.
"Yes, Cain?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what the answer is to your question, Miss Stein, but I was wondering if perhaps you would be kind enough to answer a question for me."
Miss Stein at first appeared almost affronted that one of her students had lifted their hand to speak and openly admitted ignorance only to ask a question. She leaned her back
against her desk at the front of the class. Miss Stein decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, expecting some kind of a ploy. "Go ahead, Cain."
"I went home last night and read the chapter on the Great Depression so I would prepared for the upcoming examination this Friday. I found, however, that I did not care about the
chapter. There was nothing in it which related to me."
Some of the other kids in class were nodding, having felt the same way. Some of the other students, the shy ones, were looking pleased and appreciative that somebody was finally
saying something about it. "How did the Depression impact the reserves? Were Natives, as a working minority, able to find jobs the same way women were, because they were
willing to work for long hours at low pay just to survive? How did they survive through the Depression?"
Beth felt completely frozen? She couldn't see his face, and the voice was different, but she knew that mind, that tone of speaking. Kaneonuskatew! What was he doing in her school?
What was he doing in her classroom?! Her heart pounded in her chest, and yet she was hoping, rather desperately, that he would turn and look her way. She was still scared of
him, but she knew enough about him to figure out, as she sat in class, that part of why he was there was to protect her. It was easier to protect her from danger if he was right
there with her.
The teacher appeared impressed and nervous all at the same time. Miss Stein went pale with nervous shame. "I'm afraid I don't know that, Cain. But I'll try to look it up for you.
Now, back to the lesson. What events occurred to end the Great Depression?"
No one answered as the bell rang. Stein's voice was almost drowned out by the sound of chairs squealing as they slid along the floor and books slammed shut. "Don't forget to study
for the test! Tomorrow we start the time period of 1939 to 1946. Please read the introduction to chapter nine in your textbooks. Cain, a moment?"
She pulled him aside. Beth was still in the room, packing up and she could hear the conversation with her acute senses. "I'm sorry that I didn't have an answer for you," she was
saying. "I don't have an answer for everything. I'm a teacher, not a robot. I'd like to encourage you to ask more questions like that. That is what historians should do—but I dislike
being put on the spot. I don't want to be discredited as a teacher. I'm still new. When you have a question like that, please ask me after class. Then I can go home and research it
and try to incorporate it into the lesson plan for the following day. I want to teach all my students. Understand, Caine?"
He nodded. "I shall try to be more respectful." Beth was walking from the room. He nodded courteously to the teacher and then hurried after Beth, sliding up next to her in the
crowded hallway. That close, Beth wondered why the scent didn't give him away earlier. He smelled the same. "I think I enjoy history class," he said, smiling.
"Good for you." Her voice was sharp. She turned down the hallway, heading to her locker. "You seem smart enough in it. Are you here just to keep an eye on me, Cain?"
"No. I'm here to learn. I was told one comes here to learn. If I am to fight these people, I must know who they are and of what they are capable. What I'm having trouble
understanding is arithmetic. However, my teacher tells me that you have a talent for it. He suggested I ask you for further teaching."
Beth stopped at her locker, laughing. Her fingers effectively spun the lock. "I don't think so, Cain. Help you learn…" She stopped suddenly. The hallway seemed too crowded. She
scanned the crowd, looking for familiar faces. "You… you're here alone?"
"No. Fala has joined me, much to my chagrin. Learning would be much more pleasant if I didn't have to hear her complaining whenever I return home." His eyes were hazel in this
form, but they were still closed with the deep, intriguing mask. He stared at Beth. "Would you like to know what the best part of school is?"
"What?" She pulled her math text out of the locker after throwing her history stuff in there. Beth smiled, sticking her pencil behind her ear and leaned her hand on the door of her
locker. "The joy of cafeteria cooking?"
"Hardly. It's getting to see you every day."
Beth froze again. He'd whispered it in her ear. Just his body being that close to her made her skin feel warm and a little fuzzy. She hated how he made her feel safe. It was
unsettling and wrong because, unless Cain left Mac, he was her enemy. She wasn't supposed to let her guard down.
"Who's the new guy?" Beth jumped at Kotori's voice, slamming the locker door closed. Kotori was staring quizzically at Cain. Slowly, she extended the hand in greeting. She knew
something was going on between the two of them. "I'm her best friend, Kotori."
Beth winced, wondering what Cain was going to introduce himself as. He smiled charmingly at Kot
ori and shook her hand. "My name is Ryan Cain. Everyone and their dog is named
Ryan though. Please, call me Cain. It will avoid confusion that way. I would hate for someone like Beth to call out my first name and draw unwanted attention to herself."
Kotori lifted an eyebrow. "Someone like Beth?"
"Yes. Someone pretty. Pretty girls need to be quiet and hidden if they want to remain attracting unwated attention. That's how Beth gained my attention. She spoke raw spitfire to me—and did it well." Beth was silent, her blood from her blush closing her throat. Kotori itched her nose. Kotori was picking up his scent. Her eyes scanned his body, looking for a
foxglove sign. Kotori pursed her lips when she didn't see anything. Her voice dropped lower. "Shifter?" He nodded, smiling innocuously.
"Well, well!" Michael passed by, snickering with friends. "Another animal in our school. Which one do you like more, new boy?" He darted over to lean on Cain. "I can arrange for a meeting, if you wish. A big strapping lad like you… You want adventure, right." He slapped Cain's shoulder. "How about I give you both of them? After all, you people marry sisters,
don't you? They're close enough for sisters… kissing cousins, if you will. Why, you can even get them both together for your own entertainment."
Beth was gritting her teeth in anger. Kotori was gripping her books to keep from lashing out, hugging them close to her chest and accidentally making them look more prominent. Michael eyed them and then let his eyes wander to Beth, meeting her eyes brazenly.
"Let me tell you, my friend. I've had them both. I'm not sure which one was the worst conquest. Kotori's so skittish she kept flapping to get away and I had to lash her down." Kotori
growled and Beth grabbed her shoulder to keep her from jumping on Mike. She could feel her connection to Kaneonuskatew humming. He was angry, but nothing showed on his
face. "But Beth—she wanted it. She just went flat on her back and welcomed me in. She knows her place."
Beth dropped her book to grab Cain's arm as he tried to lash out. Her grip was tight, and the cloth kept the link from opening up. "He's not worth it, guys. Besides, we're going to be
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