Chapter 4 "Dangerous Feelings"
Kyoko glanced up hearing the voice in her mind telling her softly to do so. Her tears reflected the light like glittering diamonds as she watched Kyou floating above her and she sent him an adoring smile.
Suki tensed up at Kyou’s deadly question and glared up at him. She shook her head, "It wasn’t any of the guardians that hurt her. It was your uncle Hyakuhei. He had a spell cast on her.” Suki squared her shoulders, angry with him for accusing them of hurting Kyoko. “We killed the demon who cast the spell so Kyoko will be alright within a couple of hours."
She stepped in front of Kyoko, trying to block her friend from Kyou’s view. After Kyoko told her earlier about Kyou kissing her... Well, she didn’t want Kyoko getting any ideas right now. She would let her kiss Shinbe first if it came to that, so she blocked his view and folded her arms across her chest as if standing guard.
Kyou smiled coldly at Suki but his eyes narrowed, which sent a warning into Shinbe's heart. He stepped up to stand beside Suki, adding to the blocking of Kyoko’s vision of his powerful brother, but also to get his attention off Suki and onto him.
Kamui stood silently behind all of them and started to move forward to join them but Kaen stepped in front of him out of nowhere in warning. He glared at the fire sprites back before shifting that glare to his oldest brother.
Kyou was secretly impressed with the courage they showed in front of him… although it would not do them any good. Once again, he summoned the priestess to look at him.
Kyoko stood up and walked around her two would-be bodyguards to be able to see Kyou. Suki grabbed her arm to try to stop her but let her hand fall when Kyou gave a warning growl.
Kyoko watched Kyou with affection. To her, he was like the most angelic creature she had ever seen, floating there with his white silky shirt fluttering around him. His platinum hair swirled, lending an air of sensuality to his unmatched beauty. And his golden eyes... God, she loved him.
And that was what Kyou saw and heard within her thoughts… love… and she was bestowing it directly at him. His breath hissed as he inhaled, staring intently at her, his gaze darkening with desire.
"She wants to come to me, so let her." Kyou looked down at Suki and Shinbe dispassionately. The tone of his voice was enough to let them know they were treading on thin ice as he shifted his gaze and watched the priestess stare at him adoringly. She reached up to him with her arms out stretched, beckoning him to come get her. Within her mind, where only Kyou could hear, she whispered his name longingly.
Suki and Shinbe jumped into action before the guardian lord could do it. They both grabbed an arm and lowered it back to her side. Kyoko turned and looked at them both… still with love in her expression as the spell demanded.
Kyou gave a slight frown, narrowing his eyes on them. "What kind of spell is she under?" He demanded in a stern voice.
Shinbe glared up at him. "A Tenshi kissed her right before we destroyed it.” He knew this was all he had to say, for Kyou had more knowledge then all of them combined when it came to demons and spells.
Kyou's lips held a whisper of a smile on them, now understanding. "Let her go,” He instructed in a deadly tone as he descended closer to her. Kyoko watched his approach giving Kyou a loving smile that would have melted the heart of the most evil of demons.
Suki and Shinbe dropped Kyoko's hands and took a step back knowing they couldn’t stand against him. He was too powerful. They watched in horror as he slid his hand behind Kyoko and pulled her body flush against his, lifting her up into the air to hover there.
For an instant, she registered the hard strength of the thigh that parted her legs, feeling the heat of his skin through his silk clothing. Kyoko wrapped her arms around him, pressing her body even closer, loving the feel of his powerful leg between hers.
Kyou watched her lips part as she pressed herself against him. There was another way to describe the demon spell as he was sure Shinbe knew. The spell had sent her into heat. He pressed back hearing her sigh in response and felt a jolt of scalding hot lightning flash into his midsection as he watched her in wonder. No one had ever affected him in this way… no one else ever could. He’d never allow it.
He touched her flushed face as she strained against him seeking more. He knew she didn’t know what she was doing, for he was aware of the spell she was under and her innocence. Innocent or not, her passion would be a force all its own once it was released.
Kyou knew that she would remember everything that happen once the spell wore off so he ground his thigh against her, giving the pressure she was seeking. He slashed his lips across hers in a demanding and hungry kiss. He would set her on fire with need… need that would carry past the spell.
He felt her small hand slide into his hair and her fingers grip him. The sensations it was causing made him almost lose control as he devoured her mouth and rocked against her… letting her know the rhythm he would one day show her. Striving for control, he reminded himself he would not take her like this. Not when the spell was interfering.
The others nearly jumped out of their skin when Toya crashed out of the forest and landed right below Kyou and Kyoko. His eyes were now blood red with anger as he watched Kyou passionately kiss the girl he loved more than life itself. And he itched to kill him for it.
"Kyou! Let Kyoko go." Toya growled feeling his demonic blood pulsating dangerously close to the surface. “Now!”
Kyou broke the kiss and his golden gaze took in Toya with little sympathy. "You are the ones that let this happen to her… are you not?" He turned back at the girl, her eyes watching him longingly and her lips thoroughly kissed. This was not the time or the place. He could feel that the spell was already starting to wear off and knew it was now safe to leave her with the others.
Kyoko frowned up at the unreadable emotions reflected in his golden eyes. She lifted a hand to gently touch his lips, remembering the kiss. He swept his lips across her fingertips then whispered his hot breath in her ear making her quiver. "Soon Kyoko. We will finish what we have started. I will be inside you."
He left her standing there watching him as he shimmered backwards then vanished. Kyoko felt someone come up behind her and pull her hard against them. Turning her head to look up, she saw it was Toya. He was holding her possessively and she leaned back against him still watching the sky where Kyou had faded.
"Kyou," She breathed wishfully. She felt Toya’s body tense against hers and closed her eyes in confusion. Her chest hurt. Putting her hand over her heart, she felt herself falling and welcomed the relief from the pain as her world turned black.
Toya felt Kyoko relax against him but he still tightened his hold on her not liking what he’d just witnessed. Then she melted into his arms. He caught her, scooping her up bridal style, he carried her back to the others.
"Here, take her.” His husky voice shook with emotion as he handed her over to Shinbe, who in turn laid her down on a blanket Kamui had spread out for her.
Shinbe turned to see that Toya now had his back turned to them. It was somewhat humbling seeing his brother show his true heart for the first time.
Toya sighed with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Shinbe, will she remember anything?" He half turned around glancing at Shinbe over his shoulder then flinched when he saw his brother give a hesitant nod.
Shinbe was well aware that it wasn’t what Toya wanted to hear but he had to be prepared for the truth. "Everything, she will remember everything.” He felt bad for Toya as he saw his brother’s shoulders slump in defeat.
"What are you going to do?” Shinbe asked, knowing Kyoko was not going to be happy with any of this. He really wouldn’t want to be in Toya’s shoes when Kyoko realized what had almost happened. Shinbe touched her soft cheek, secretly wondering what it would be like to kiss her like that. His amethyst eyes softened. Even he was secretly in love with her… but sadly, it wasn't meant to be.
Toya had no idea what he was going to do, but hide was not one of them. He sat down next to Kyoko, giving Shinbe a warning look that made him quickly remove his trespassing hand from her cheek. It was bad enough that he already felt like jumping out of his skin, sitting there… waiting for her to wake up. His fingers twitched, “Shinbe, how long ‘til she wakes up?"
Shinbe cocked an eyebrow as he walked over to sit down between Suki and Kamui. "Why don’t you wake her now. That’s all it will take."
Before Toya thought about it, he leaned over and gently shook her shoulder. "Kyoko," He whispered, than drew his hand back quickly when her dark eyelashes fluttered. "Are you alright now?” he asked her quietly. Her eyes flashed wide and Toya held his breath.
"I’m fine," Kyoko whispered then cringed knowing that had been what she said the last time she’d woken up. Both times she’d lied. Refusing to look at Toya, her gaze traveled to Suki and Shinbe and she could feel her face changing color rapidly. She felt like she was going to die of mortification.
Kyoko quickly closed her eyes and drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them, and hid her face. "I’m sorry you guys. I’m so sorry," She mumbled from her hiding place.
Toya reached out, putting his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. When she flinched, he removed it quickly, balling his hand into a fist and lowering it back to his side. The pain of rejection shattered in his golden eyes as he glanced over at the others.
"It’s alright, Kyoko. None of this was your fault. It’s Hyakuhei's. That fucking bastard.” The words were whispered calmly but it was the calm before the storm and they all heard it loud and clear. Toya stood up and stared down at the curtain of hair that was hiding her from him. Without another word, he once again turned and headed into the deep foliage of the forest.
Kyoko wished a hole would develop and she could just sink into it and stay there where no one would ever find her. How was she going to face them now? Then out loud she cried, "Oh god, I want to go home."
Suki stood up, wanting to ease her friend’s pain. "Kaen and I can take you back to the maiden statue, if that’s what you want.” Suki walked to her as Kaen stepped out of the shadows already in his dragon form. She climbed on and reached her hand down to Kyoko. "Let’s go."
Kyoko slowly stood up, unable to look at anyone and whispered guiltily, "I’ll be back in a couple of days." She ran to Kaen and they took off for the heart of time shrine and her way home.
Toya stepped back into the clearing and watched as Kaen faded from his eyesight. He didn’t want her going home. He felt his heart fall a couple inches. What if she didn’t come back? Turning on his heels, Toya took off at a dead run, hoping to beat her to the time portal that would take her from his world.
***** On the way back to the maiden statue, Kyoko didn’t say anything so Suki tried to draw her out some. "Kyoko, I really wouldn’t worry about anything. We all know it was the spell and not you. So it’s really not as bad as you think.” Suki glanced back, smiling at Kyoko.
Kyoko gave a feeble attempt at smiling back but didn’t join in the conversation. She was too busy dying a thousand deaths every time she thought about what she’d done, especially the way she had kissed Toya and Kyou. Kyoko put her hands over her face, again wishing she could hide. She just wanted to go home and crawl as far under her covers as she could and stay there for a while.
She remembered the way it felt to kiss Kyou and sighed. ‘What must he be thinking?’ She couldn’t blame either one of them because she had practically thrown herself at them. She also wondered about the response she’d gotten from Toya. He had kissed her back… no… he’d done more than that. She twitched remembering the feel of his hardness under her.
Kyoko shook her head. If she had to pick anyone right now, she’d pick Kotaro. At least she hadn’t thrown herself at him!
Pressing her forehead against Suki’s back, she knew she’d enjoyed the kiss from Toya, and yes, from Kyou too. But what must they think of her now. Kyoko looked down as the ground blurred under them. They’d been flying for a while and were getting closer to the Heart of Time. "Suki, will you let me off here? I’d like to walk the rest of the way by myself.”
Suki patted Kaen and he dipped lower and landed. Kyoko slid off and so did Suki. "Are you sure you don’t want us to walk with you?” Suki asked worriedly.
Kyoko shook her head then stepped forward and gave Suki a hug. "I have my crossbow if anything happens and it’s not too far. I’ll be back in a couple of days. Tell the others for me. I’ll bring back everyone something good to eat." Kyoko tried to smile but the corners of her lips wouldn’t cooperate so she gave up. Turning around, she started in the direction that held the maiden statue… and her way out of this world.
She relaxed a little when she heard Kaen take back to the air, giving her the solitude she needed. The more Kyoko walked, the more she felt like herself again and instead of being ashamed… she started to get mad. Not so much mad at herself but mad at Toya and Kyou for taking advantage of her while they both new she’d been under that spell.
"That does it, the next person that tries to kiss me is gonna get decked and I don’t care who it is! I don’t have a boyfriend, and at the moment I sure as hell don’t want one!" There, with that said out loud, she felt a lot better about herself. She would go home and relax for a couple of days and come back as good as new.
Kyoko decided she would happily kick Hyakuhei’s butt from one side of this land to the other when she came back. She owed him one.
***** Toya landed in the clearing hoping to catch Kyoko before she went home. His silver wings shimmered then disappeared without a trace. His heart started to thump nervously as he smelled her scent coming closer. Standing his ground, he watched as she walked into the clearing. She hadn’t looked up yet so he just stood there… between her and her only way home.
Kyoko had almost walked all the way to him before she looked up, stopping dead in her tracks. "Toya," She managed to get out before dropping her gaze again. She wasn't in the mood to talk to him yet. Not with those strange feelings so fresh in her mind. That spell had put her in heat, for the lack of a better term, and even though the spell was gone, she still felt the heat.
Damn it, she’s taking this too hard. He knew he had to do something to relieve the tension before it all blew up in his face. "Kyoko look, you don’t have to go home right now, not with us this close to finding Hyakuhei. Don’t let a little thing like a kiss stand in our way."
There, he’d said it. It was no big deal and she should just come back with him… where she belonged. Yeah, that would be better. He started to fidget when he noticed she’d stopped right in front of him.
Kyoko heard his words. Don’t let a little thing like a kiss stand in our way? She growled inwardly. So, he thought it was no big deal, did he? He thought he could just do that anytime and she wasn’t supposed to pay it any attention. Ha! Her anger had surfaced and now she had an outlet for it.
"Toya," She said in the sweetest voice she could muster.
"Yes, Kyoko?” Toya had to force himself not to take a step back when ever instinct he had was telling him to get the hell out of there.
Kyoko leaned forward as if to softly say something to him and he leaned a little forward so he could hear her. Kyoko smiled. "NO!"
Toya couldn’t stop the pull of the Taming spell as his body grew heavy and he smacked the ground. He instantly struggled to get up but she stood there, extending the spell until he felt like he was going to break his back fighting it.
"For the love of god, please stop!” Toya shouted.
Kyoko stomped her foot but didn’t cast the spell again. She was biting the hell out of her tongue to keep from doing it. Then she let it all fly but it wasn’t the binding spell. It was all the feelings she felt at that moment.
“How could you Toya? Kyou I can understand kissing me like that, but you? You were supposed to be protecting me! That means my feelings too! You shouldn’t have done that to me! Not when you knew I couldn’t help it! The last thing you should have done was kiss me… like that!”
Toya felt the spell start to get lighter and he fought to raise himself from the hard packed ground. "Kyoko let me explain."
"No!” Kyoko screamed. "I can fix this problem. I don’t have a boyfriend in this world and I don’t want a boyfriend in this world! If I get a boyfriend, he will be from my own world. And don’t follow me! I’ll be back in a couple of days and when I come back, I don’t want anyone to ever mention this again! Understand? It! Never! Happened!" She yelled the last part just as she touched the maiden’s hands and disappeared.
By the time Toya pulled himself up from the ground, he was fuming. "Damn it!” She didn’t let him get a single word in. She wouldn’t let him tell her he didn’t want her to go home or that he wanted her to be his or anything. ‘So, she doesn’t want a boyfriend in this world.’
Toya’s eyebrow twitched. "What did she mean by that? She didn’t want a boyfriend in this world… that she would get one in her own?" He turned to look at the maiden statue, screaming at the top of his lungs. "What did you mean by that Kyoko? You get back here right now, damn it!"
Toya sighed, knowing she was way past hearing him. It’d never dawned on him that someone who was from her world would maybe claim her as a mate. He got a chill just thinking about it. No, she was bluffing. She had to be bluffing, and if she wasn’t, he knew how to solve that problem. He would just get rid of the guy. No, then Kyoko would hate him for life. She’d never forgive him if he hurt a human.
“A human could never protect you,” Toya growled in frustration then sensed a presence and looked toward the maiden statue. Kyou’s calm form materialized in the clearing in front of him. ‘Damn! He needed this about as much as he needed a hole in the head.’
"The priestess has run from you and returned to her world." His emotionless tones were more of a statement instead of a question.
"It’s none of your damn business Kyou, so why don’t you… go kiss some other girl and leave Kyoko alone." Although they were brothers, both guardians over Kyoko and the guardian heart crystal, Toya still didn’t trust him… especially with Kyoko. "Kyoko is mine, understand? Just leave her alone.”
"She is yours, you say?” Kyou’s tone was almost bored. "She is pure and has no mate. She is not yours." The wind began to blow through the clearing and Kyou vanished with it, leaving Toya standing there with a sinking feeling as he watched one of Kyou’s golden feathers land in the statues outstretched hands then vanish.
Toya leaned back against the side of the maiden statue and slowly slid down it until he was sitting… waiting. Minutes turned into hours and Toya blinked up at the sky. When had the sun gone down? He knew that the others were on their way. He could smell their scent coming in on the breeze. He just stayed there, waiting for them to show themselves.
Suki nudged Shinbe forward into the clearing whispering, “Go talk to him Shinbe. Maybe it will help. We’ll go down a ways and make camp, okay?" She gave him another nudge forward.
Shinbe knew Toya was probably not in a good mood. He never was when Kyoko went back to her own time but he would do anything for Kyoko and Suki. Right now, one of them wanted him to find out what happen and see if he could say anything that would help. Taking a deep breath, he approached quietly, secretly hoping Toya was asleep.
"What do you want Shinbe?” Toya said, startling the amethyst guardian.
Shinbe made his way to Toya and sat down beside him. "So, she still mad?"
Toya slowly looked over at Shinbe. "What gave you that idea?"
Shinbe pointed with his staff to the Toya shaped hole in the ground. "Well, that’s a new one, isn’t it?” he couldn’t help but smile at his own joke. Toya glared over at him and his sibling quit smirking. Shinbe sighed. "Did you get to talk to her at all?"
Toya shrugged. "She wouldn’t let me say anything. She was too mad to listen. Now she’s gone back and I have a bad feeling. We need her here." In his mind he silently added, ‘I need her here.’
Shinbe nodded. "Maybe it would help if you just went to check on her. After all, you are the only one of us who can do it. And next time, don’t try to explain things. Just say you’re sorry, okay?" he stood up and walked away a couple of steps before stopping and adding. "If she does give you a chance to explain, make sure you tell her that you love her. After all… she’s not a mind reader.”
Toya waited until Shinbe was well out of sight before standing up and heaving a sigh to steady his nerves. Looking down into the face of the maiden statue, he secretly wondered if Kyoko’s look-alike from the past was as hard to handle as her descendant. In order to find that secret out he’d have to ask Hyakuhei and that was out.
Reaching for the maiden’s hands, he disappeared into the engulfing blue light. Jumping through the time barrier always gave him the willies. It reminded him of drowning… but without the water.
The other guardians often griped about him being the only one who could do it but Toya had come to his own conclusion on that… the Taming spell. Fair was fair. He was the only one Kyoko could use the spell on, so he was the only one who could chase her down in her world and drag her back.
‘What am I doing? She’s just going to use that damn spell if she catches me following her,’ Toya climbed up the small flight of stairs and out of the shrine house that set in Kyoko’s back yard. He’d never been very good at listening to that little voice in his head so why start now. The night was calm and cool, helping steady him for the confrontation.
Looking up at Kyoko’s house and seeing none of the normal lights on, he decided to walk around her house until he saw her bedroom window. This wasn’t the first time he’d chosen this entrance. Besides, it would just be his luck to run into that freak of a grandfather she had.
Swiftly climbing the tree outside Kyoko’s bedroom, Toya smiled when he noted the window was cracked and her light was out. He put his hands on the window and quietly opened it the rest of the way, cringing when it gave a slight creaking sound.
Climbing into her room, Toya crept over to her bed. She was half covered, with her small hand curled under her chin, lying on her side with her auburn hair fanned out around her on the white pillow. He slowly sat down on the edge of the bed and leaned over her, watching her breathe.
He loved to watch her sleep. Being a guardian, he didn’t sleep as much as a human so he had many opportunities to just sit and watch her without her knowing. Toya’s thoughts drifted back to the kiss… both kisses.
The way he saw it, he’d still been himself, even when his demonic side took over… both sides were a part of him. And although she was under that love spell… it was still her. Besides… it was just a kiss. His golden eyes sparkled with silver at the memory of the passionate kiss, making him flinch as the hunger slammed back into him.
Did she not understand that he could never turn her down, not when it came to her wanting a kiss from him? What actually saddened him was that neither kiss had been real. He growled inwardly trying to chase that fact away. For him, it had been real.
When the first streaks of dawn came, Toya climbed back out the window and sat on a limb of the tree… waiting.
Kyoko woke up stretching and opened her eyes. She instantly felt that something wasn’t right. Sitting up and looking around her room she frowned feeling the hot spot under her hand. She instantly noticed the imprint where someone had been there… beside her. She couldn’t help the small smile that graced her lips. Toya had been there with her.
