Читать книгу Raging Hearts - Amy Blankenship, Amy Blankenship - Страница 4

Kyoko gritted her teeth, the tension between them was almost tangible and it was really starting to unnerve her. Toya sat on a branch in the tree near the fire and Kyoko sat at the fire by herself. They still hadn’t said a single word to each other and now he wouldn’t even look at her.

She frowned feeling slightly insulted. Was kissing her really so bad?

Toya sat in the tree sulking. He’d seen her frown. Had him kissing her been so bad? She hadn’t said a word to him about what he had done. He’d rather her yell at him or something but he didn’t know what to think about her not saying anything. Was she that mad at him? Should he apologize?

His lips thinned in denial. He wouldn’t apologize for something he hadn’t meant to do. Should he just ignore it and act like it didn’t happen? At this point, he just wished everything would go back to the way it was, although he himself would not forget the kiss. Toya glanced back down at her wondering what she was thinking.

Kyoko watched the sky as it started to get dark. She wished Kamui was here but knew he wouldn’t be back until morning. The company would’ve been welcome. Right now, she would even settle for Shinbe and Suki starting a fight between themselves. She grinned... now that was always amusing.

She played with the idea of going home, but it was already late and it would take hours to get back to the Heart of Time, unless Toya took her. Remembering the way he acted every time she wanted to go home kept her from asking him to take her. He seemed to think it was a sin to leave this world even for one day. The last thing she wanted to do was start a fight with him right now.

She reached into her duffle bag and pulled out her thin cover, not knowing what else to do. Maybe if she hurried and went to sleep, when she woke up, someone would be there… someone besides him. He acted like he’d already forgotten about kissing her and that annoyed her. He didn’t say he liked it. And he didn’t say sorry. He just didn’t say anything, like it never happened.

Kyoko tossed the sleeping blanket and stretched out on it, deciding to just stare up at the stars that were slowly starting to appear. She couldn’t help it, but she’d been kissed twice in the last twenty-four hours, and after never being kissed before, that was all she could think about. She began to compare the two kisses.

Kyou’s kiss was powerful and exciting, although it kind of scared her because of who he was. Still, his lips were warm, where she thought they’d be cold. His hands on her body were hot, instead of the chilling touch she’d assumed he would have. She groaned as the memory sent a wave of heat through her body.

Toya twitched as he heard a faint groan come from Kyoko. Looking down at her, he noticed she seemed lost in thought. His eyes darkened to a molten gold. Her scent was changing and it was drawing him to her. He inhaled the sweet smell. Was she thinking about him?

His thoughts flashed back to when he’d gotten his senses back, after changing from his cursed form. Her lips were soft and she wasn’t fighting him. He could still taste her. Nothing had ever affected him like that. Kyoko was a different story. When she wasn’t yelling at him, she was one of the happiest people he’d ever known. Not that he’d known many humans but still, she was like his light in the darkness.

He secretly loved protecting her and keeping her close. It almost made shattering the Guardian Heart Crystal worth it… almost. Now he had to protect her from Hyakuhei and every demon around. He glanced back down at her sensing she’d fallen asleep. He knew if they didn’t stay focused on gathering the talisman, than things could become very deadly… too deadly for her to be in the middle of it all. That’s why he constantly pushed the group to keep searching.

Toya lightly jumped from the tree and landed quietly near her. He stalked within reaching distance of her and sat down. He often did this after she went to sleep so he could be near her if anything happened, that and the fact that he just simply liked being close to her. He relaxed into a light doze. The slightest sound would wake him and he would be ready.

Kyoko tossed in her sleep… dreaming. Toya had just killed Hyakuhei and was smiling as he walked up to her, crushing her to him. He looked larger than life. Gazing deep into her eyes, his lips came closer to hers as his eyes softened. She could see the love shining in them. She hesitated, suddenly unsure of what was happening.

"What about the time portal… don’t I need to take the Guardian Heart Crystal back to my world?" she whispered worriedly.

Toya just smiled at her and shook his head. "Don’t you know that I love you and would never let you leave?" He lowered his lips to hers and the kiss took her breath away. It was deep and passionate. It felt so real. She closed her eyes and the kiss changed.

The kiss was hungry and sensual, all at the same time. Realizing the difference, she opened her eyes and gazed into the golden eyes of Kyou. She could feel his hands on her body, slowly moving and tempting her to respond. She gave in to the feel and closed her eyes once more.

That’s when it all changed and Kyoko felt a chill crawl up her spine. The warm lips turned scalding and she sensed evil radiating from them. The hands caressing her body were like fire and the claws drew thin streaks of blood everywhere they touched. Her eyes flew open to look into eyes of midnight… Hyakuhei.

She heard him whisper in a soft, seductive voice tainted with evil, "no one can save you."

Kyoko started to struggle and could hear herself screaming but he was too strong. He was holding her down with a death grip. She screamed again, trying to fight him off. The hands holding her down disappeared and she felt herself being raised up and pressed against something solid.

"Kyoko, wake up… Kyoko.” Wait… that wasn’t Hyakuhei… her struggles slowed. She felt a hand sliding through her hair, cradling her and making her feel safe.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and could see the dark hair with silver highlights. She was pressed against Toya’s chest and he was holding her… slowly rocking her back and forth. Thinking she was still dreaming, Kyoko snuggled into him and closed her eyes again not wanting the dream to end.

As long as Toya was holding her then Hyakuhei wouldn’t come back to her dreams to haunt her. She was almost in his lap and she could hear him. "It’s alright, Kyoko. I’ve got you. It’s all right now. Shhh…” She could feel her body still shaking from the dream but she calmed at Toya's soft voice. The sound of his heartbeat lulled her safely into a dreamless sleep.

Toya could feel that she was slowly calming down. She’d nearly scared him to death, thrashing and screaming in her sleep like that. Whatever it was had scared the hell out of her and she had scared the hell out of him. He pulled on her until she was all the way in his lap. He held her tight as her trembling slowly subsided. Her cheek was pressed against his chest and he was cradling her body in his arms. She was light as a feather to him and Toya loved the feel of her cradled again him.

"Shhh… I’ve got you. Nothing is gonna hurt you. I won’t let it. Now go back to sleep, Kyoko." He gently rocked her as his fingertips brushed her hair from her face. She was flushed from the dream and had her eyes closed… but he could sense that she knew he was the one who held her. His heart skipped a beat thinking Kyoko knew he was holding her and still she didn’t object.

She was already falling back to sleep as he lightly touched her cheek, tracing the outline, feeling her silky skin. In her sleep, she looked like an angel in his arms… his angel. This was what he wanted. He’d never let anyone take her from him, not the demons and especially not his brothers.

Slowly, so as not to wake her, Toya leaned back on the blanket and laid them both down, pulling the top up over them. He kept a hold on her, keeping her body against his and curled around her in a protective embrace. It was the most comfortable he’d ever been in his life and it only took a minute for him to fall into the first deep sleep he’d had since… forever.

It was several hours later that Kyoko felt warmth and reached for it. She froze. Slowly, as if afraid to know the truth, she turned her head to the side just as Toya sat up.

Feeling her stirring he frowned, knowing he should’ve gotten up and away from her hours ago.

Kyoko gazed at him curiously, trying to see his eyes but his head lowered and his hair fell across them, shielding their expression. He stood up without saying anything and walked into the foliage surrounding their camp.

Kyoko’s brows lowered in confusion. He slept here with her last night? Then a memory came back to her. She remembered dreaming and Toya… She gasped. It wasn’t a dream. He’d held her last night. She looked down at the blanket that still had his imprint on it. He must’ve fallen asleep beside her. She smiled her secret smile, reaching over and tracing her fingers over the imprint he’d left behind.

She glanced up as Kamui came into the clearing, "Hi, Kamui. Glad your back." His tussled hair glinted with purple highlights in the morning sun and his eyes shown the most beautiful colors. Those who were close enough to see knew they held multihued glitter within the shining orbs but to Kyoko, it was his smile that made him irresistible.

Kamui glanced around seeing she was alone and wondered why. "Where is everyone? Are Suki and Shinbe not back yet? And where’s Toya?” Kamui pulled a sack from his shoulder and placed it in front of Kyoko with raised eyebrows.

"Nope, not yet, but Toya should be back in a few minutes. What do you have here?" Kyoko watched as Kamui started lifting food from the bag.

"Sennin sent this with me and said to enjoy it since we hardly ever get a really good meal unless you bring it back from your time.” Kamui looked up at her with his big eyes sparkling with an array of colors and beamed at her expression when she spotted the sweets that came with the small feast. "Come on, let’s dig in.” Kamui announced.

"Well, you’re back early this morning, Kamui,” Toya said lazily as he walked back into the clearing. He glanced at Kyoko with some unreadable emotions reflecting in his golden eyes then quickly looked away.

Kamui glanced up at Toya. They fought a lot but in truth, Kamui looked up to Toya. He’d changed a lot since spending so much time around Kyoko. In Kamui’s opinion, Kyoko made Toya a better person.

"Sennin said that the forest to the east has had an uprising of demons terrorizing the area within the last week. There might be talismans involved so we should check it out." The last was said as Kamui stuffed his mouth with a flavorful piece of bread.

“Hey, you’re gonna save me some of that, right Kamui?" Toya sat down beside them and started grabbing some of the food for himself.

Kyoko grinned as she watched them fight over a strawberry rice ball Sennin had sent. The normalness of it didn’t last long though.

Toya tensed up, catching a scent riding the breeze. "Damn it!" He jumped to his feet as his eyes narrowed. "What the hell does he want?"

Before Kyoko could ask who, a rush of air blew across the clearing and stopped less than a foot in front of her, knocking Toya off balance. Kyoko found herself staring into the ice blue eyes of Kotaro, one of the five guardians. Much like Kyou, he hunted the talisman alone, searching for clues to where Hyakuhei was hiding.

He was perfection, with lean muscles and windblown ebony hair that hung down longer in the back and ice blue eyes. He was wearing all black with a purple undershirt showing through. He and Toya couldn’t stand each other but it was mostly because Kotaro had told everyone that Kyoko belonged to him.

"Good morning, Kyoko," Kotaro said in a soft, masculine voice, taking her hands in his and raising them up in front of him. "How is my future mate this morning?" He gazed deep into her eyes making her blush.

No matter how many times Kyoko had told him she wasn’t his or anybody else’s, he still called her his future mate with such confidence and charm.

"Kotaro, damn it! Let go of Kyoko and why don’t you ever watch what you’re doing?” Toya growled at him as he pushed himself off the tree he practically had been shoved into by Kotaro’s guardian winds.

Kotaro wrinkled his nose not even bothering to look at Toya and just glared in the general direction of his sibling. "I knew I smelled you somewhere," He said insultingly.

Kamui watched in amazement as Toya bristled and could tell he was getting more pissed off by the second. He slid closer to Kyoko whispering. "Ah, Kyoko, you might want to stop this before it starts." Knowing that Kyoko was the only thing keeping them from tearing each other apart, Kamui took a safe step back from the trio.

Kyoko knew Kotaro was harmless… well, to her anyway. She took her hands from his… still blushing from the way he was looking at her. She could actually see the love and devotion shining in his ice blue eyes.

"Kotaro, what brings you this way?" She asked to get his attention off of Toya.

Kotaro smiled, forgetting Toya at once and answering her question. "I heard there’s trouble in the east area near the forest. I was hoping to find Hyakuhei and kill him for you so you could hurry up and become my mate, my sweet Kyoko." Oh, he did love Kyoko but he also loved rattling Toya's cage.

Kyoko turned a couple of shades pinker at hearing his words. Her lips parted to say something, but losing her train of thought she simply gave up.

Toya had heard enough nonsense from the stupid blowhard. Stepping in front of Kyoko to shield her from Kotaro’s view he growled low in his throat, “Back off!” He narrowed his golden eyes and scowled. "We don’t need your help to get rid of Hyakuhei. So why don’t you just try to stay out of our way and leave Kyoko the hell alone?"

Kotaro acted as if Toya wasn’t even there. In a blur, he moved around Toya to lay a chaste kiss on Kyoko’s cheek. With a wink, he was gone just as fast as he’d appeared.

Toya balled his fists up at his sides. He was so mad it felt like he was going to explode. Why did everyone all of a sudden want to kiss Kyoko? She was his damn it!

“Kotaro, get back here and fight you bastard!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

Kyoko turned to Kamui as if nothing had happened. "So, I guess Sennin's information was right."

Toya gave up and turned around. "Come on, let’s get our stuff together. We can collect Suki and Shinbe on the way. We have to pass by where they are to get to the east forest anyway," He ground out still mad at his lecherous brother for spouting lies about Kyoko. He’d never let Kotaro have her and he couldn’t wait to run into him and beat the crap out of him to let him know it.

Kyoko knew Toya was jealous of Kotaro. However, the way she saw it, at least Kotaro could tell her his true feelings, where Toya just kept her confused. She bent down and started gathering up the remaining food that they would later share with the others.

Toya stooped down in front of her waiting on her to climb up on his back. They’d make better time that way and it was the only time he could get away with holding her without anyone raising an eyebrow.

Kyoko held her breath for a second then let it out slowly not wanting to make it any different from the other times she’d done this… but it was. She wrapped her arms around his chest as his hands when under her knees to hold her tightly against his back. She glanced up at the sky wondering if the fates were having fun yet.

Kamui silently laughed to himself at Toya’s actions every time someone else tried to get Kyoko’s attention. Picking up the sack of food after they’d disappeared, translucent wings shimmered into existence, sending a shower of multihued stardust across the campsite that magically erased all evidence that anyone had ever been there.

Feeling Kaen’s presence behind him he commented, “It looks like it’s going to be an interesting day. Shall we join them?” His feet left the ground as he glided along behind them unseen.

Secretly, Kyoko loved riding on Toya’s back when they were in a hurry. She could feel the muscles tighten and stretch under her. She laid her cheek on his strong shoulder and held on as his long hair flowed around her, tickling her face. He acted as if she didn’t weigh a thing as he bounded from limb to limb, sometimes landing on the ground, only to shoot back up into the trees again. He seemed to have a thing for heights.

Toya loved it when Kyoko rode on his back but he would never tell her that. It made him feel good when she clung to him in an effort to hold on. Sometimes he would go even faster just so she would have to hold tighter, with her legs bracing against him and her arms around him. He’d never shown his wings around her for this reason.

Sometimes, she would lay her cheek against his back and he could sense that she also enjoyed it as much as he did. His mind turned back to the forest in the east. The Guardian Heart Crystal was already half collected and Hyakuhei had most of it at this point. Things were getting very dangerous and he would have to stay on guard.

He felt he had to protect Kyoko with his life, especially when there was danger everywhere they went. The demon he’d fought yesterday had been a wakeup call. Toya sped up, hoping to run into Suki and Shinbe on their way back to camp, so they could hurry and get to the east before Kotaro and Kyou did.

High above them, Kyou flew across the sky without expression, as if an apparition of a deity. His clothing floated around him as he scanned the east in the distance. So the eastern forest is where the presence of Hyakuhei had disappeared. This is also where Toya and the priestess were headed. His lips curved upwards in the barest hint of a smile.

"Yo!” Toya called out when he caught a flash of movement in the distance. Leaping down from tree to tree and branch to branch, he landed gracefully in front of Shinbe and Suki.

Kyoko slid off Toya’s back and quickly walked to them, smiling at her friends. "We just got word that the east forest is where we should be heading,” Kyoko informed them.

Shinbe’s head snapped up looking over at Toya. "Oh, yeah? What’s happening in that area?" He asked moving closer to Toya to discuss the matter. Kamui stepped from the edge of the forest to join the guardians with the planning, nodding when Kaen showed up from nowhere, as he often did just when the time was right.

Kyoko whispered to Suki, pulling her to the side and away from the others, “But anyway, how was your visit?" She cocked her head to the side, grinning.

Suki rolled her eyes in the direction of Shinbe. "Can you believe that idiot tried to kiss me?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared daggers at the wayward amethyst guardian.

Toya twitched with his exceptional hearing. He’d heard Suki's remark and when Kyoko heard it she had looked directly at him, locking eyes with him. She turned her face away to hide the blush that was creeping across her cheeks but not before Suki and Shinbe both took note of it.

Shinbe leaned toward his brother keeping his voice low. "What happened between you two while we were gone, Toya?” he felt a bolt of jealousy shoot threw him but tried to ignore it knowing it was a lost cause. Kamui also took a step closer waiting to hear the answer.

Toya's eyes widened and the small fine hair stood up on the back of his neck, making him back up from them with a guilty look. “Heh, nothing happened," He crossed his arms and glared at them, daring them to call his bluff.

Suki grabbed Kyoko's arm and pulled her a good distance away from the guys this time. "Okay, spill it. What’d I miss?" She asked with her lip twitching with barely hidden mirth. For as long as Suki had known Kyoko, she felt like she had known her forever. She loved her like a sister, and right now she could tell something was up.

Kyoko wouldn’t meet Suki's eyes, and her face was still high in color.

"Kyoko, give,” Suki pleaded.

Kyoko looked up at her best friend who was at least a couple inches taller and shrugged. "Okay, I have now been kissed, that’s all,” she quickly rolled her eyes trying to play it off as no big deal.

Suki glanced at Toya. "So, he finally kissed you, did he?” Turning back to Kyoko, she smiled a knowing smile until she saw the shake of Kyoko's head. Suki frowned. "It was Toya that kissed you? Wasn’t it, Kyoko?" she cocked an eyebrow in confusion.

Kyoko groaned. "It’s a long story, so I’ll make it very short. Three different guys have now kissed me and all within the time that you were gone. And no, I didn’t ask a single one of them to kiss me. So again, it’s No Big Deal!" She put emphasis on the last three words.

Suki's lips parted as she stared at her friend. Meanwhile, Toya had tensed up hearing Kyoko say it was no big deal. ‘Well, now I know what she thinks,’ Toya thought to himself with a frown as he turned back to his brothers and concentrated on telling them what he knew about the area of the east forest.

Suki finally found her voice but kept it low, "Kyoko, who kissed you?" Seeing Kyoko's lips press together, Suki sighed. "Okay, I want to know who kissed you first."

Kyoko squeezed her eyes shut. "Kyou was the first."

"Kyou!” Suki yelled then snapped her hand over her mouth cringing.

Toya's hand curled into a fist at his side in an effort to restrain his anger. He turned and gave an evil look in Kyoko's direction before quickly closing the distance between them, not liking the turn of the conversation. "We don’t have time for this shit!" He huffed, glaring at the girls. "We need to go find the talismans before the enemy gets his hands on all of them."

Kamui nodded, "Yeah, Kotaro came to the camp and said he was on his way to the same area right before he kissed Kyoko on the cheek and took off."

Toya cuffed Kamui in the back of his head with a quick growl.

"Oww, what’d you do that for? I didn’t do nothing,” Kamui rubbed the knot that had formed on his head, his big, stardust eyes watering. It was a show obviously, because inside he was in the middle of laughing his ass off at the look that had crossed Toya's face.

Suki's eyes rounded. "Kotaro, too!" she jerked her head in Kyoko’s direction wondering what in the world was going on.

Shinbe slid toward Toya. "So what’s the big deal?"

Toya just glared at him as if daring him to say another word.

Suki grabbed Shinbe’s arm and pulled him away from Toya before he wound up like Kamui, with a lump on his head.

Toya turned his glare on Kyoko.

She bristled and glared back. "What’s your problem? And don’t hit Kamui!" She yelled, stepping in front of the guardian as if to protect him. She didn’t have a clue that Kamui now stood behind her, smirking at Toya as if he had just gotten one over on him.

Suki knew there was going to be a fight. Grabbing Kyoko's hand, she started dragging her up the path. "Come on Kyoko, walk with me for a while,” Suki didn’t give her time to argue as she pulled her along.

Not feeling so safe being left there within Toya’s reach, Kamui took off with the girls, leaving Toya staring at their retreating backs.

Once far enough away from Toya, Suki turned to Kyoko. "Now, would you please tell me what the hell happened? Why did Kyou kiss you?” Suki nearly shouted, eyeing her friend with concern. The thought of Kyou kissing anyone was just… disturbing.

Kyoko shrugged. "I haven’t the foggiest idea why he did it. I was swimming. He floated down and scared the hell out of me. Before I knew what he was doing, he was kissing me, then he left without saying a word."

Kamui felt like someone had just punched him in the stomach. He quickly stepped behind Kyoko, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “Kyoko, did he mark you?" He asked in a strained voice.

Kyoko frowned. Spinning around, she pinned Kamui with a confused look. "Toya asked the same thing. What does that mean? Mark me? How?"

Kamui's lips thinned. "For Kyou to kiss you out of the blue like that, it means that he’s thinking about making you his life mate."

"What!” Kyoko yelled putting her hands on her hips. “You have got to be joking.”

"No joke… with that kiss, Kyou has already started laying his claim on you.” Shadows entered Kamui's eyes as if lending affect, “Now he will stalk you, little by little, ‘til he marks you and makes you his.” He let is hand fall from her shoulder. “I guess you would think of it as dating."

Suddenly understanding more then he wanted to, Kamui whistled through his teeth. "That’s why Toya is so upset, and then Kotaro comes blowing in and kisses your cheek. That’s the same thing. He’s dating you, too."

Kyoko didn’t know what to say. She just stood there for a minute. Then looking over Kamui’s shoulder, she noticed Toya and Shinbe trailing behind them, still lost in planning their next move as they headed east.

Suki pulled Kyoko's attention back. "Okay, you said three, Kyoko. So, Toya kissed you too, right?"

She nodded then shook her head. "But Toya didn’t really want to kiss me. It was kind of… an accident.”

Kyoko glanced over her shoulder again, noticing the others were catching up. "We got into a fight with a demon and Toya lost his daggers and his demon blood took over. He killed the demon and I ran for one of the daggers but he caught me just as I reached it. I thought he was gonna kill me, but instead… he kissed me. Then the contact with the daggers sealing spell changed him back."

Suki looked over her shoulder at Toya, then back to Kyoko. "Wait, you mean he changed back while he was kissing you?" she cocked an eyebrow when Kyoko nodded.

Kamui smiled, "I knew it! He really does like you. That’s why in his other form he kissed you instead of killing you. He did it because it felt right to him.” Kamui stepped back from them knowing Toya was now within hearing range.

"Well, let’s keep them company." Suki decided to follow Kamui's example and let it drop for now… to bad Shinbe wasn’t that smart.

Shinbe turned to Kyoko, hearing Kamui’s last statement. "So that’s why he’s so testy!" He grinned wondering if he should add his kiss to Kyoko’s dating line before it got to long.

Toya turned on them, scratching his neck. "Will you guys quit talking shit about me, damn it!"

His neck was already red and Kyoko giggled. She knew when Toya’s neck started itching like that, he thought someone was talking about him behind his back and it irritated him to no end.

Toya's fingers twitched as he heard Kyoko giggle. It sent a jolt of pleasure through his body and made him wish she’d do it more often. He glanced around noticing everyone had finally stopped chatting. Satisfied no one was talking about him anymore, he dropped his hand.

"Come on. We don’t have time to play around. We have to stop Hyakuhei and collect the talismans before he does." Toya leaned down in front of Kyoko. "Come on, let them find their own way and you ride with me. It’ll be faster." He waited for Kyoko to climb on. At least this way he wouldn’t have to hear about his rivals.

Kyoko smiled and climbed on. Then she put her arms around him and gave him a gentle squeeze to let him know she was ready.

Facing away from everyone so no one could see, Toya closed his eyes as he savored the hug he’d just gotten. Opening his eyes back up, silver lights glittered within his golden irises and he took off at a speed that would rival his wind brother Kotaro.

Chapter 3 ‘Wicked Kisses”

The breeze was growing colder by the minute and Toya slowed down noticing an evil aura in the distance. Kyoko's blood ran cold as the unnatural feeling overwhelmed her. Toya leapt down from the high branches, coming to a skidding stop at the top of a hill. She slid to the ground as the others quickly appeared behind them looking into the distance.

Kyoko watched as an ominous cloud loomed over the area. "I feel a talisman." She shook her head. "Not just one, there’s more," She said breathlessly. “The evil surrounding the fragments is stifling.”

Suki walked up behind Kyoko, adjusting her weapon across her shoulder for easier access in case of battle. "I wonder if it’s Hyakuhei you’re sensing?" She glanced at Shinbe as he walked up beside them, his trench coat and long midnight-blue hair blowing in the wind that was now picking up.

Toya’s eyes narrowed and change to molten silver. Sensing danger close to them, he glanced to the left and slung his arm downward. The metallic blade of a dagger flashed to life within his palm. "Come out you bastard, I can smell you!" Toya growled, stepping in front of Kyoko and the others to protect them. The hillside and valley below held the heavy stench of evil.

A form wearing a billowing, black robe materialized out of nowhere, right in front of them with a wicked tilt to his lips. "So, you have answered my summons."

Kyoko shuddered when his dark eyes met hers. The memory of the dream she had the night before slammed into her, giving her the creeps. She took a step back, hiding behind Toya and peeking around him at Hyakuhei. She had a bad feeling that the only reason he was there was her and the talismans she carried.

Toya noted Hyakuhei’s attention was centered on Kyoko and he felt a mental snap. He growled, gripping the handle of his dagger and flinging himself forward to slash at the enemy. The black cape fluttered to the ground as expected. He’d known it was only one of Hyakuhei’s puppets anyway.

“Will you ever have the guts to truly face me!” Toya raged.

"The priestess’s powers will be mine, so… come to me…” Hyakuhei’s cold voice slowly blew away in the wind.

Kyoko felt chills creep up her spine from the words Hyakuhei had spoken. “Come to him? Is he nuts?” she whispered feeling the coward inside rear its frightened head.

Toya came to stand beside her. He knew that the guardians were in charge of keeping the crystal out of the hands of evil but he didn’t like the fact that it put Kyoko in harm’s way. Hyakuhei had killed many innocents for the talismans. He’d be damned before he let Kyoko become one of the casualties of this war.

He would protect her. His need to protect Kyoko was so strong, it had become his sole purpose for existence and right now, he had a very bad feeling. He could hear Kyoko’s heartbeat speeding and could smell the fear coming from her in waves. Toya watched in amazement as she turned to him with a frozen smile.

“Well, shall we go collect another talisman?" Kyoko lifted her chin in defiance of the fear she was feeling and straightened her shoulders.

Toya looked behind her and could see that the others were also ready. The others… the only people he’d ever trusted.

*****

Hyakuhei gazed into the mirror his underling Yuuhi held up for him. The mirror of souls that enabled him to watch Kyoko’s every move. This girl was his focus for the moment. She alone held the power to control the Guardian Heart Crystal and he needed that power.

But… he also needed her to help him fuse the talismans back together. To do that, he would have to find a way to get her to come to him… willingly. He wanted her… not dead… instead, he wanted her on his side.

As if reading his master’s mind, Yuuhi spoke in the quiet, emotionless voice that belonged to a child. "You want the power the girl wields but she is pure and will not come to you willingly.” The ghostly-white form of the boy peered at Hyakuhei with black eyes that held the knowledge of thousands of years.

"To capture her is to capture a pure heart. To do that, you will need to snare her in a web of deception." The eerie boy gazed into the mirror, watching Kyoko with eyes the color of death.

Hyakuhei smiled a tainted smile. His unblemished, perfect body and face hid his malevolence. His long, dark hair cascaded around him in gleaming waves. He was very sensual, with slender muscles rippling under his skin with every movement. This priestess that the guardians protected held the likeness of the only one he had ever loved.

He knew Kyoko was a reincarnation of the one he had lost so long ago… the one taken from him without mercy.

His hand fisted as the memories tried to come back to him of another time. He pushed them away with a growl and focused back on the priestess before him. How could he make an untainted heart fall in love with him when he was pure evil? She had the power he’d given to her ancestor so long ago. This is what drew him to her, the thought of corrupting that kind of purity. First, he would have to ensnare her.

"I will call upon the magic of Tenshi to cast a spell on the priestess and she will fall in love with me." Hyakuhei then began to laugh but the sound held no humor. Closing his dark eyes, he summoned forth the angelic figure of one of the inner demons he had consumed within his body and now controlled.

This demon Tenshi could weave a spell around the girl, unknowingly making her fall in love with the one who has her in their possession. Also calling forth a demon of immense strength and a mass of flying evil spirits to keep Toya and the others at bay, Hyakuhei sent them to meet the group as he watched it all through the mirror of souls.

*****

As Toya and the group closed in on the sinister aura within the valley, Kyoko stopped. Malevolence… she could feel it all around them but she couldn’t see it. “Something is here with us,” Kyoko whispered as she took a frightened step back. Her wide emerald eyes lifted to a hill in front of them just as an enormous demon rose from the ground as if climbing out of some unmarked grave.

Toya growled at the smaller demons also coming from the ground. It looked like someone had opened a gate from hell. The twin daggers quickly shimmered to life as Shinbe and Suki stood on each side of him. Kaen bared his fangs as Kamui darted over to Kyoko to stand in front of her incase some of the demons made it past the others.

Toya sprang forward yelling. “Kyoko! Do you see a talisman in the main demon?"

Kyoko looked at the demon hard and saw a soft glow coming from its forehead. "Forehead!" She yelled back at Toya while Suki started slashing at the wraiths that were flying toward them ahead of the main demon.

Kyoko watched Shinbe start to unwind the amethyst beads from around his hand to open the cursed void Hyakuhei had gifted him with as a child, the same void that could swallow him whole if its powers ever became out of control. The vacuum of the void would suck the demons into its depths in waves, making it one of their best and most dangerous weapons in the battle against Hyakuhei and his minion.

Kyoko saw a shadow fly past her and glanced above them. "Shinbe! Don’t do it! A changeling," She pointed and Shinbe glanced up, quickly closing the cursed void and nodded his thanks for the warning just as a swarm of demons came at them. The changelings were the voids solitary downfall.

Shinbe had almost died the last time he’d accidentally sucked in one of Hyakuhei’s changelings. Their power reflected within the void, spinning it out of control and putting Shinbe’s own life in danger of being consumed by the cursed vacuum.

Suki’s bayonet zoomed through the air at the last second, killing some of the advancing lowborn demons. Shinbe threw wards and cast spells at the rest that were attacking them.

That’s when everything started happening all at once, Kyoko watched as the group fought off a large swarm of ground imps. Airborne demons attacked Toya with movements too quick to track, giving the mammoth demon an opening to attack. Toya was thrown across the field only to rise back up and come at it again.

Kyoko raised her crossbow, intending to help as much as she could when something caught her attention… stilling her movements. An illumination descended around her, repelling Kamui as if he had been thrown away from her. It was so bright that Kyoko shut her eyes tight and threw her arm up in front of her to keep from being blinded.

Toya saw the light sphere descend on Kyoko. His heart thudded in his chest… his attention on her instead of the fight with the demon as he picked himself up from the ground yet again.

Finally opening her eyes, Kyoko gasped when she saw a man right in front of her. He was beautiful… with wings of light… just like in her literature books at school. They would have said he was an angel. This man was in no way an angel… she could feel it. She pulled back the string of her crossbow and a spirit dart formed as she remembered the story about the most beautiful angel being kicked out of heaven because he was evil.

Kyoko steadied her aim as she looked into the crystals that were his eyes but was unable to shoot. How could she hurt something so precious? With his long, white hair flowing around him, she’d never seen anything so lovely in her life. He slowly approached her, whispering words that she couldn’t understand.

Between Suki and Shinbe, they’d wiped out almost all of the free flying spirits and turned to help Toya with the enraged demon that was slamming him into the ground because he wasn’t paying attention to the fight. He was too busy trying to see what was happening to Kyoko.

Suki threw her weapon and it slashed across the demon’s cheek, getting its attention fixed on her. Shinbe grabbed her out of the way just as the demon attacked, sending debris flying as its claws missed and swiped the ground. He yelled to Toya. "You go help Kyoko. We’ll deal with this thing!”

Toya raced to the radiating light, seeing the image of a man with wings floating toward Kyoko inside the barrier. He ran to it but the barrier repelled him as it had Kamui. Small lightning bolts the color of black light sizzled across his skin. Flying backwards, he hit the ground with a bone-jarring thud. He lay there for a minute, stunned and trying to catch his breath.

Kamui stood on the other side of the sphere, franticly casting every magic spell he could think of to destabilize the barrier but it wasn’t working. He growled in frustration as he again tried to breach the shield and get to Kyoko. Placing his hands together in front of him, he chanted his most powerful spell and released it, only for it to reflect off the wall of the barrier and slam back into him, sending him skidding across the grass in irritation.

Kyoko was trying to fight the pull from the apparition-like form in front of her. She could hear him whispering enchantments and she could feel a strange sensation starting in her chest. It wasn’t painful… but still… it felt like it would burst. Not with pain… it was a loving feeling. She was still lucid enough to feel fear at the same time.

She tried to step back as he drew even closer and that’s when it dawned on her exactly what he was doing. This mischievous demon was casting a spell on her… and now it was too late. Kyoko blinked slowly. She felt the overwhelming feeling of being in love. She would do anything for that person but she didn’t know who that person was. Who was it she loved so much that it hurt?

She felt the ground shift under her feet and she began sinking into a void just as the alluring demon finally came within a hairsbreadth from her. His silky lips brushed across hers and her world turned black.

*****

Hyakuhei gazed through the mirror and witnessed the spell being placed on Kyoko. He knew when she awoke, the person before her would be the one she loved. His eyes glowed a faint, crimson light as he opened a portal under the barrier sphere she was trapped in and started pulling her to him.

"Yes, come to me. I am the one you truly love.” His thoughts became distorted and he felt like she was finally coming home to him. “As it should be,” he whispered.

Yuuhi watched Hyakuhei without a flicker of emotion crossing his pale, young face. "She will not come, for Toya will stop her.”

Hyakuhei’s eyes narrowed on the boy before he turned back to the mirror.

*****

Toya stood over the barrier-sphere that kept Kyoko from him. With his whole body shaking from fear and anger, he gathered his guardian powers and let it pulse into the twin daggers.

"You will not take her away from me!" His eyes instantly changed to molten silver as his powers surfaced, sending a shockwave out around him, causing his hair and clothes to flutter wildly from the blast. Holding the twin daggers together, the crossed blades turned a vivid blue as the Tenshi kissed Kyoko’s lips.

The demon looked up just as Toya descended. In a flash, the barrier shield disappeared and the blades made contact with the Tenshi, killing it in an instant.

Toya reached down and grabbed Kyoko around the waist, pulling her up out of the void that had formed under her. He jumped clear of the void just as the massive demon Suki and Shinbe were fighting tried to attack him again.

Seeing that Kyoko was unconscious and not knowing what the winged demon had done to her made Toya see red. Raising his fire dagger with a furious growl, he felt the heat build within his guardian blood and released it back on the advancing demons, blasting them to smithereens.

*****

Yuuhi lowered the mirror of souls from Hyakuhei, who had looked away in disappointment.

Hyakuhei’s voice remained calm. “No matter, the spell will only last a couple of hours since the Tenshi was destroyed." There was no regret, for he would have many more chances and he would capture the priestess. He opened the palm of his hand revealing the small fragments of crystal that would eventually bring her within his grasp.

"She will still come to me." He said in a seductive voice as Yuuhi looked back into the mirror.

*****

Toya was so upset that he didn’t even notice the dark clouds had disappeared and the sun was once again shining its late day rays. He reached out, pulling Kyoko closer so that her head rested on his thigh as he knelt. He couldn’t see any wounds but the fact that she had passed out was scaring the hell out of him. He paid no attention to the others as they crowded around him.

Kamui knelt by Toya's side. "Is she all right?” He gazed down at Kyoko with a catch in his voice. “I was supposed to protect her,” He whispered as he reached out and touched her cheek with the tips of his fingers. “Kyoko, please wake up… for me… come on… why won’t you wake up?” The quiver in Kamui’s voice gave away the guilt he was feeling for not saving her.

Shinbe was the one to answer. "I recognized the lovely demon that was with her. I studied its secrets a while back. It’s called Tenshi. It’s very weak in physical attacks and can be destroyed easily. Its real power is a deceiving love spell." He directed his next question toward Toya. "It didn’t kiss her did it?”

Toya nodded, remembering the flash of jealousy that had shot through him when the beautiful male creature dared to kiss Kyoko.

Shinbe sighed and smacked his hand over his eyes before peeking through his fingers, "Then we may have a problem when she wakes up.”

Toya felt his stomach quiver at the thought of Kyoko being hurt somehow. "Shinbe, what’s wrong with her? What kind of spell was it that the bastard put on her? Is there any way we can help her? An antidote or something?" He asked calmly, never taking his eyes from her for fear of her breath stopping. He’d never felt so numb in his ageless life.

"Well, the Tenshi put a love spell on her when he kissed her. That much I know. He was probably going to take her to Hyakuhei when they started down into that void that had opened up. But since you killed the demon, the spell shouldn’t last very long.” Shinbe cast a worried glance at Toya, hoping his studies had been accurate… for all their sakes.

Toya frowned as he moved a couple inches away from her and stood up. His heart kicked up its tempo as he asked, "What kind of spell is a love spell and why would Hyakuhei want Kyoko under it?" Then it dawned on him what Hyakuhei’s intentions had been. His hands balled into fist as his eyes widened then instantly narrowed, "Damn that bastard! I’m gonna kill him!"

He sat down hard on the ground beside Kyoko. "Well, what’s gonna happen when she wakes up now that Hyakuhei's not here?" Toya tried to hide the fury he felt at the thought of Hyakuhei wanting Kyoko.

Shinbe leaned over her. "Let’s find out." He tapped Kyoko on the cheek softly. "Kyoko, sweetie. Wake up." He smiled when her eyes started to flutter. Suki sat down beside him waiting for Kyoko to focus, waiting to see if she was all right.

Kyoko's vision was blurry as she opened her eyes. Her chest hurt. She raised her hand, putting it over her heart and squeezed her eyes shut for a second. Then she heard Shinbe.

“Kyoko, are you alright?" Shinbe leaned over her, now coming into focus as she gazed up at him.

Kyoko stared at him for just a moment, feeling every nerve in her body come to life. God, Shinbe was beautiful with his long, midnight blue hair hanging down around his perfect face. His eyes looked like amethyst crystals as he watched her. "I’m fine." Kyoko pushed herself up into a sitting position and wrapped her arms around his neck wanting closer to him. "Oh, Shinbe. I love you so much."

Shinbe’s eyes flashed pure joy as Kyoko pressed herself against him. Forgetting everyone was watching, he smiled back at her and asked, "Kyoko, darling. Will you have my child?"

Kyoko smiled, "I would love to." She waited as Shinbe started forward with his amethyst gaze on her lips. About that time, Suki's weapon landed on Shinbe's head making him dizzy. He gasped in pain as he passed out.

Kyoko frowned as Shinbe landed in a heap beside her. In slight confusion she turned to look at Suki who was laying her weapon back on the ground with a smug look. "Aaah, Suki," Kyoko crawled toward her, smiling sensually the whole time. Reaching out, she cupped Suki's cheek with the palm of her hand. "You are so beautiful.”

Suki’s eyes became huge as she crawled backwards trying to get away but Kyoko crawled forward following her, still smiling.

Toya sat there, too stunned to do anything. He just watched Kyoko stalk Suki with infatuation.

"Toya, will you please call her off!” Suki sounded like she was more scared of Kyoko than any demon had ever scared her, even in battle.

Toya grinned as he reached over and grabbed Kyoko from behind, wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her off Suki, setting her right in his lap. He was grinning at Suki until Kyoko turned around on his lap, straddling him.

His world came to a crashing halt as Kyoko held his gaze. The love shining in her emerald eyes for him made his lungs ache and his heart felt like someone had kicked it. Toya couldn’t breathe. It was the look he longed for and had often dreamed about. Now here she was, staring him in the face. Kyoko… was in love with him.

"Toya…" She whispered softly, "Please, kiss me." Before he could even comply with her sweetly spoken request, Kyoko had leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She murmured the words, "I love you," just as her lips descended on his.

Toya felt a jolt of pleasure pass through his body as though he’d just died and came back to life. When she opened her lips to him, he couldn’t help but drive his tongue deep into her, giving in to the kiss of a lifetime, searching out all the hidden places he had longed to find. He sucked in her hot breath when her kiss tried to dominate his.

His arms coming up around her brought them closer still as a wave of possessiveness rushed through his veins. Her small hand had wound its way up into his hair, where she grasped it, holding him captive.

Shinbe regained consciousness. Sitting up, his eyes followed the stunned gazes of Kamui and Suki. Turning to look, his jaw dropped. They looked like two lovers totally into each other and not knowing they were being watched. Shinbe reached over and grabbed Suki's arm, shaking it to get her attention although his eyes were still locked on the couple.

Suki turned her face slightly to let him know she acknowledged his shaking her arm but her eyes were still transfixed on Toya and Kyoko. Neither one of them could believe what they were witnessing.

Shinbe tried to snap out of it by shaking his head to clear the dirty thoughts that threatened to take over. Using his better judgment, he leaned toward Suki. "Don’t you think we should stop him before it goes too far?" He whispered honestly feeling like a voyeur. "I mean, once the spell wears off and Kyoko is back to normal, she’s gonna be angry if she isn’t still in one piece.” Shinbe knew Suki would catch the double meaning.

Suki blushed as she glanced over at him. “Yeah, I’m just glad he stopped her before she did that to me." She grinned.

Shinbe cocked an eyebrow, wondering what the hell he had missed.

Kamui, who had been silently watching in astonishment, heard Suki's remark. He couldn’t help it… the thought of Kyoko getting Suki in a lip-lock like that. It sent him into a fit of laughter that he tried to keep quiet but couldn’t.

Shinbe and Suki snickered as Kamui laughed his fool head off but then Suki glanced back at Toya seeing how his body was already starting to move in a seductive rhythm against Kyoko’s. She knew they had to intervene somehow.

Toya was in heaven, taking all from the kiss that he could. He took the kiss even deeper as his passion began to flame. The need to make Kyoko his sizzled within his guardian blood. He gave a low growl as his hand gripped the back of her head. His fingers splayed through her hair as he pulled her farther into the now demanding kiss.

The way she was sitting on him with her legs on each side of him, he could feel her heat against his rising need. Toya put his other arm lower on her back as he ground himself up against her. The sensation was making him lose control. He was oblivious to everything except his need to have all of her.

The stimulating smell of desire she was giving off let him know she was ready to become his… forever. All he needed was to be inside her… deep inside her.

Shinbe and Suki realized it had gone far enough and they could tell neither was in control anymore. Shinbe stood and Suki rose beside him, their smiles now gone. Both too scared to approach. It wasn’t funny anymore.

"Toya, please stop this at once. Remember… Kyoko is under a spell and doesn’t know what she is doing. Toya!” Shinbe called out, hoping he wasn’t too late. He took a quick step back when Toya's head snapped up.

Toya’s eyes turned silver then tinted red as he growled, sending a warning for them to back off.

Shinbe took a step in front of Suki protectively. “That’s not Toya,” He hissed as he gripped his staff so hard that his knuckles turned white. He needed to find a way to snap Toya out of his present state-of-mind before things went too far.

“I’m not scared of Toya's demon side,” Kamui frowned and started for them with every intention of taking Kyoko from his brother. He was stopped short when Suki grabbed one arm and Shinbe grabbed his other.

“No, Kamui!” They cried in unison.

Suki’s heart was beating fast out of fear for both her friends. “Damn Hyakuhei and his curses!” She tried once more to make him understand. "Toya, she will hate you if you take her while she doesn’t know what she’s doing. Please try to get yourself back under control.” she hardened her voice, “You have to let her go."

Toya’s gaze turned on Suki angrily as the words slowly reached through the haze of desire and penetrated into his subconscious. The dangerous color receded from his eyes, turning them back to liquid gold. He reluctantly returned his attention to Kyoko with a shattered heart. He almost lost it again when she pressed herself downward, searing heat across his rock hard erection.

Kyoko’s eyes were glazed over with unrestrained passion and he could smell the scent of her need. Toya’s gaze softened in understanding. She was waiting on him to make love to her. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.

It was all he could do to not grab her up and leave with her. But with all the willpower he had left in him, he understood the truth of Suki’s words. Kyoko would hate him. He’d already kissed her against her will, and now this? Toya gently pushed her off him and stood up; closing his eyes to the rejected look she was now giving him.

Kyoko didn’t understand why he was leaving her. She reached out to grip his shirt, wanting him to stay. It felt like her world would shatter if he left her. "Toya, please, I love you." Her eyes misted as she tried to get him to look at her. She whispered in a confused voice, “Don’t leave me.”

Toya had frozen in place, unable to pull away from her hand. He tried to remind himself that she would have said the same thing to Hyakuhei had he not broken the barrier before she disappeared into that void. His claws dug into the palms of his hands drawing blood and he tried to focus on the pain to help stabilize his willpower.

Suki came up behind Kyoko and holding on to her, she looked at Toya. "Maybe you should go away for a little while until the spell wears off and you are both under control again.” She nodded her head toward the trees, hoping he would listen for once.

Toya hung his head… his dark hair barely hiding the need in his eyes from everyone watching. God, he wanted to claim her, wanted to mark her right there and then… but Suki was right, Kyoko wasn’t herself right now. She’d only hate him for it later and he didn’t want that. He gritted his teeth with his restraint. If he ever took Kyoko for his own, he’d never give her back. She would be his… for life.

Suki gasped at the look on Toya’s face when he finally raised his head up to look at Kyoko. It was a look of enlightenment and barely suppressed hunger… the silver within his eyes matched the silver highlights that streaked his ebony hair.

He stepped forward, his eyes only for Kyoko as he leaned down, gently kissing her on the lips before whispering the words, "I’m sorry," against them. Then with all the self-control he held within his body, he turned and disappeared into the forest.

Suki sighed as Kyoko started crying. Her small body trembled as she whimpered. She placed her hand on Kyoko's shoulder and looked over at Shinbe not knowing what to do. Her own bottom lip trembled when she noticed Shinbe’s back was now turned to them and his shoulders were tense.

Kamui had also become very quiet; no longer thinking it was funny. There was too much truth behind this situation and it was breaking his heart.

*****

Kyou inhaled the air that had only a moment ago held the stench of his enemy’s spawn. The scent had quickly changed as the sun returned and he could smell the priestess. Her scent drifted to him, carried by the breeze but he could also detect the unmistakable scent of her tears. Following the bittersweet scent, he searched for her.

He did not want anyone upsetting her and for some reason, the thought of her crying made his anger surface. What had she befallen to bring tears to her emerald eyes? His calm face showed no emotion but his protective instinct surfaced as he flew in the direction Kyoko’s scent was coming from.

Toya hadn’t gone far when he felt someone approaching. He gave an angry hiss… his unease mounting. Kyou’s scent grew steadily closer. It was unhurried and calm as it passed over him, moving in Kyoko's direction. With a snarl, Toya turned and raced back to where he’d left Kyoko and the others.

Within only a few fleeting seconds, Kyou gazed coldly down at the group from a height where he would not be detected. The woman-child was on her knees crying while the demon slayer was laying a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her. Shinbe and Kamui seemed calm and only stood by watching them from a distance.

He could smell Toya’s lingering sent but couldn’t see him anywhere. He could also smell Toya's desire still hanging thick in the air.

Surely, his stupid brother had not tried to harm the girl. Kyou silently willed Kyoko to look up at him, sending the thought into her mind as he gazed down at her quietly, no emotion showing on the outside. His heart beat faster when she raised a tear-streaked face to meet his gaze.

Kyou glared coldly down at the ones standing around her. All eyes turned to him as his voice descended from the air. "Who has dared to hurt this girl?” His calm voice belied the danger they were in… for whoever had hurt her would pay.