Bikinis and Bandages

The smell of meat being cooked and vegetables in a stew roused Kano from his slumber. He groggily sat up and the straw poked his hand as he rested down upon his bed. Chelandria, I must have fallen asleep in the sun while laying with my girls. Hope I don't burn.' The fact that time had no meaning to soul travel still confused him, but it was true and indisputable. Though, he sometimes wondered if he could go backwards to a previous day if he tried... Better thought, what is that delicious smell? He glanced over at the stove and found that his 'guest' was actually up and about already. He looked her over and found that she was not swaying or acting strange in any way. She acted like she was at home, just cooking like it was any other day. As he watched her, he could not help but take in her form, she was a little shorter than himself, she came up to his chin. Her auburn hair looked very wifelike in it's tied up bun, her bonnet lost in the stream he assumed. The peasant dress she wore did nothing to hide her 'child bearing' hips and he was pretty sure her bust was reasonably ample as well, based on her falling against him yesterday. It was at this time that she turned around with a bowl that had steam rising up from it.

"Oh! You're awake. I didn't mean to intrude, but I had to do something for you for saving me." She appeared startled for only a moment before grasping her composure quickly. She seemed extremely timid, like she was ready for a beating and beratement at any time. From his classes he was pretty sure she was a victim of spousal abuse. The black eye and mark on her chin were further evidence of such. Kano could not stop himself from striding forward and staring intently at the evidence as his hand came up to cup her chin. She flinched and he stopped short, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I just don't know why a full grown man would do such things to a woman. Especially when they are wonderful as you."

Alice blushed at the compliment, "I'm not so wonderful." she whispered shyly.

"You made food, without any prompt from me. You would rather take your own life versus give your own despicable husband shame for what he did. It tells me a lot about you and just as much about who your sister was."

She brightened for just a moment, but that faded as she thought about her sister. "Her fate has become my own."

"No. Not if I can help it. Forcing someone to lead a life as terrible as that is tantamount to murder. And this is something I will not tolerate."

Confusion mixed with helplessness and a small flicker of hope crossed her features. She seemed resigned, but at the same time to actually die is still something that most living people will cling to when given the opportunity. Any candle in the darkness, no matter how small, is a safe haven for those lost. Tears came unbidden as she broke down, falling into Kano's arms. He held her there until she eventually passed out from exhaustion. His bed served as her own as he placed her there to rest while he cleaned up the bowl that had fallen from her grasp. It didn't take him long before the cottage was returned to its original state. 'Guess I'll study a grimoire until she wakes. Not much else I can do anyway. Maybe a nap so I can check on the girls...'

***

The San Diego sun beat down lazily as Kano woke up. The various techniques of casting reverbrated through his mind as he looked over his two ladies. One of them had rubbed some sunscreen on him, and he was thankful for that. Sarah was currently swimming nearby while Vicky was still next to him while sipping at her drink. Seeing they were still fine, he pondered over what he read earlier. It brought to mind what his mentor Bill had said. 'Words of power will affect you when you master them. They change you to suit them as well, like dwelling that you redecorate. Be careful of the choices you make.' Then it struck him that maybe mastering <Mein of an Incubus> was a bad idea. He needed to find an actual grimoire that had it written within. Maybe then he would know more about the various changes he has gone through. One he was certain of was his confidence, or possibly arrogance that it was becoming. Either way, it was too late now to worry about it, he needed to figure out how to keep it under control. Otherwise, he would end up like the Darkness had warned him, and his thoughts returned to the event that led to his break up with Vicky in the first place. Quickly, he thrust it from his mind and wrapped Vicky up in his arms. She squealed as he caught her off guard and almost dropped her drink.

"Kano! What are you doing?!"

"Pulling you close, what else?" she giggled at his response and set her drink down on the table next to the loungers they were sitting on. "Oh, was I too far away?"

"Yes." She giggled again as he pulled her closer and planted his lips upon hers. Kano really felt like he needed to reign in his impulses more and end his random philandering. Why could he not stop himself? Was it truly because of some words stuck at the back of his mind? Were they truly that powerful? Bill had mentioned they were the words of creation itself, like they were the embodiment of power. Maybe it was true, maybe he could use a little magic to help him along... no, that is exactly what got me into this trouble to start with, he thought. Still, if the shadows in his vision meant anything, he was in for far more trouble before it was over.

"So, Kano-kun, what is going on in your head right now?" Vicky asked as she noticed he had become lost in thought.

"Oh, the usual, admiring your beauty, being amazed at how you could ever want to be with a guy like me, especially since I've screwed up before." he breezed back at her, not wanting her to know his true thoughts... just yet. She was about to respond, but then they heard Sarah's voice getting louder. They both looked over and saw that she was talking with a rather handsome young man that seemed to be trying to get her to join him and his friends nearby for a game of volleyball.

"I said no! Asshat! Get away from me or I'll kick you in your balls so hard they fly out of your mouth, creep!"

Even Kano grimaced at the idea as he gently pushed Vicky away as he strode purposefully over to Sarah. As he drew close, he detected the wonderful scent of alcohol coming from the young man that was accosting Sarah. His golden curly locks were tied back in the now infamous man-bun and his blue colored shades hid his almost certainly blue eyes. "Sarah, problem here?"

As soon as she realized that Kano was there, Sarah immediately latched onto him, her arm encircling around him from behind as her other gripped onto his bicep. He became her shield, yet she still hung out far enough to the side that she could spit vitriol at her would be pursuer. "No, just a turd that won't flush."

Her words brought some heat to the man's face as he puffed his chest up a little more. "Hey, butt out! We were talking, not you. You don't need us in your business, go back to your girlfriend over there!"

"We were not, you were talking and I was trying to ignore you!" Sarah yelled back just as Vicky walked up and encircled Kano from his right. "We are both his girlfriends, boys."

The blonde guy was taken aback for a moment and Sarah took the opportunity to hit him with another attack. "S'matter, can't handle two at once?" She even stuck her cute pink tongue out at the drunkard and the two women started pulling Kano back towards the loungers they had been on before. Vicky had recognized that Kano's face had started turning cold and he was growing angry with the punk kid. She had seen this face numerous times in the past and knew what would happen if things were allowed to escalate.

"Kano-kun, lets go get something to eat. The beach isn't as fun as it was." Vicky mewed into Kano's ear and he shuddered at the sensation of her breath. "I can do that too, and more." Sarah took his left ear and then nipped at his lobe. Heat quickly built up in a very different matter within his body.

"Ok, I'll take you back to the hotel to change while I head back to the barracks to do the same." He gulped as he thought of the sisters undressing and had to think of boring things to control himself.

"Or, you could order something and have it delivered to our room." Sarah gave him a seductive wink and he knew he had to get some distance from her or else he knew he was in for a wonderful and then terrible time. "Sarah, tease him too much and he won't be any use tonight." Vicky returned as she was fully aware of Kano's libido. She actually believed that he could probably take them both on numerous times before collapsing himself, but she was not going to let her sister know that. She could find out on her own, as odd as that thought felt to her, she discovered that it was not as bad as before. Seeing Kano stand up for her today and feeling the strong emotions he had to both herself and her sister, she was starting to understand Sarah's logic.

Sarah herself had a different thought and immediately pressed her luck. "So, does that mean we both get a ride tonight?"

"No!"

***

Unbeknownst to Kano, Margo had a different plan for her night than she had let on. She had realized that Kano was a playboy before she hooked up with him, having the intention of just a one night stand at first. But then after the mind-blowing sex throughout the night and the serious conversation they had the next morning, she began to feel a little stronger about the man. He had a good head on his shoulders which she found lacking amongst many of his peers, both older and younger. His looks were an added bonus and his abilities in the bedroom were off the charts. Margo could not place why he was so attractive that he seemed to invade her thoughts more and more with each one planting him deeper and deeper into her psyche. No wonder he had so many women after him. He became everything to them rather quickly.

Thus she found herself sitting at a wonderful outdoor cafe sitting across from Kano's partner Li Ruolan. Margo had on one of her favorite sundresses with a purple lilac motif that allowed her slender shoulders to view the sun and just a tease of her ample cleavage. Ruolan was dressed rather simply, fashionable jeans and a tied up t-shirt that sported her midriff and a ball cap that had her hair in a ponytail.

"Alright, Ms. Levy-"

"It's Nickles, my maiden name. And please just Margo is fine."

Ruolan's eyes narrowed slightly as she paused. "Ms. Nickles then. Why is it you asked me here, anyway? Surely the company of my partner would be more 'appreciated."

Margo gave a musical sounding laugh and took a sip of her water. "Well, I would much prefer his company, however, he has other duties to attend to."

"Such as, two sisters, I'm assuming." Margo smiled slightly as she watched Ruolan's eyes narrow even further as she mentioned Kano's girlfriends. "Is it because he is dating them both, or that he is not dating you? I wonder what causes such a reaction."

Ruolan's eyes opened in surprise for just a moment before resuming the narrow suspicious look. "A philanderer and playboy? Why would I want such a man?"

Margo laughed as she held her drink to her face but did not drink this time. "For the same reason I do. He's strong, capable, and good looking. So he is a little overzealous in his adventures, but what woman would say no to him? Honestly, he doesn't go looking for more, but it seems that we are drawn to him."

Ruolan rolled her eyes and took a drink of her own water. She did not want to admit to herself, let alone this cougar of a woman, that she actually liked Kano. It was against everything she believed. Yet at the same time, she did feel a kernel of truth to what Margo was saying. Women were indeed drawn to him, and the dumb bastard probably did not even know it. And yet, Margo was wrong about one thing, she was more interested in why Kano's eyes seemed to be a different color when he talked with women than his looks. Sure, he was indeed handsome and rather dependable outside of a relationship. But Ruolan had noticed that his eyes seemed purple when looked at in her peripheral vision while he was talking to people of the female persuasion. Maybe he did know what he was doing after all.