Toya watched Tasuki and Kyoko greet each other. Still in the tree, he reached over⦠grabbed a good size twig and threw it at Tasuki, hitting him in the back of the head.
âOuch,â Tasuki jerked then touched the back of his head, looking around in confusion. Not finding any more flying objects, he glanced back at Kyoko. "Are you ready? I thought we would catch a movie then get something to eat."
Kyoko nodded and took his hand, leading him away from the house before Toya decided to throw something that might actually hurt her friend.
*****
Later that evening, Tasuki walked Kyoko home. They were laughing and having a great time when they made it to her front door. "Tasuki, I canât thank you enough. I had a wonderful time today." She smiled up at him, seeing how happy he was. She had really enjoyed herself.
Tasuki stepped closer to her, closing the distance until they were nearly touching with each breath. "Kyoko, may I kiss you goodnight?" He asked in a soft voice somehow knowing she was going to disappear again.
Kyoko glanced around warily, hoping no one was watching. She nodded to Tasuki thinking to herself, âwhy not⦠everyone else has kissed me, why not let Tasuki since he was the sweetest one of them all.â
She raised her face to him and closed her eyes waiting. Feeling his lips glide across her cheek in an innocent kiss she quickly opened her eyes to see him blushing as he thanked her and turned to leave. Kyoko stood there thinking how funny things work out. The one person she gave permission to kiss her didnât even give her a real kiss. She giggled to herself as she turned to go back into the house.
She felt better about everything thatâd happen in the last two days. She even felt like she could face the group again, so she started packing a bag to take back with her. She had promised Suki that she would bring some goodies back to them.
Besides, Toya was right. She shouldnât be so selfish as to make them all wait for her. She stuffed in as much as the bag could carry and wrote a note telling her family she had gone back to the other world and would return as soon as she could. They would understand⦠they always did.
*****
After kissing Kyoko, Toya had gone back to the camp where the others were waiting, deciding he wasnât going to worry anymore. He wasnât going to let it bother him that she was out with that Tasuki person. He could care less. He paced angrily back and forth beside the fire theyâd built for the night.
Kamui eyed Toya warily, still rubbing his head where Toya had hit him only moments ago. All heâd done was ask if Kyoko was all right⦠Toya didnât have to hit him. Suki looked over at Shinbe and shrugged as Shinbe somehow got up the nerve to ask. "Toya, did she happen to say when she was coming back?"
Toya turned and narrowed his eyes at Shinbe. "How the hell should I know? Sheâs not exactly talking to me right now and as far as Iâm concerned, I donât care what she does.â He continued pacing back and forth.
Shinbe grinned. "Yeah, we can tell you donât care by the way youâre wearing a path through the camp with all your pacing.â
"Shut up," Was Toyaâs response, knowing he wasnât fooling anyone⦠not even himself. If he knew she wouldnât reject him, heâd just tell her how he felt about her. Right now, what was really bothering him was the fact that he might lose her completely. That was scarier than anything else could ever be.
He stopped pacing seeing evidence of the path Shinbe had just pointed out and sighed. Heâd never really said it out loud before or even in his mind but Kyoko was under his skin now and it was driving him crazy. Toya took off at a fast pace to check the shrine and see if she was back yet.
*****
Kyoko came from the time portal so quickly that the heaviness of her backpack threw her off balance. Right before she fell, a hand reached out and steadied her. Kyoko blinked up at Kyou who stood there glowing in the moonlight, regal as any prince. Why did he keep showing up like this?
Taking a step back from him, she gulped nervously. "Kyou, what are you doing here?" This thing with people sneaking up on her was starting to get out of control.
Kyou watched the emotions flickering across her face seeing wonder and a trace of fear in her eyes. He knew she feared him and he didnât mind as long as it was only a slight fear, for he would not hurt her. He would slowly show her that.
Without turning his head from her, he glanced from her to the maiden statue then back. âWhy did you go home knowing the guardian heart crystal is still here?" His tone was soft.
Kyoko bit her lip. She really didnât want anyone to know. "I⦠I was⦠embarrassed." For some reason, she just couldnât lie to him while staring into those golden eyes.
"It is good that you do not lie to me, priestess." Kyouâs voice was almost seductive sounding and Kyoko felt like it was trying to draw her to him. How did he know she was thinking about lying to him? She knew he wouldnât hurt her. "You should never feel the need to lie to me. After all, am I not one of your guardians?"
âThere he goes again,â she thought. âItâs like heâs reading my mind.â Her eyes widened a little as she watched him. She tried not to think about it but the memory just popped in there. The kiss theyâd shared while under the love spell. Kyoko couldnât look away from his gaze as she remembered the way he tasted and the way he held her with his thigh between her legs.
She felt a jolt of heat go through her at the memory of it and blushed when her gaze lowered to his perfect lips. She gasped when he reached out and pulled her into his arms, slashing those magical lips across hers in a kiss that took her breath away. As soon as she started to respond to the kiss, he released her and she looked up to see his eyes darkening to a deep gold.
"Why are you doing this, Kyou?" She asked in a shaky voice. "You donât even know me really, much less like me. You even tried to kill me when I first came here with the guardian heart crystal. You said I was nothing but a human and unworthy. So why are you doing this now?"
In an instant, Kyou had her, lifting her up to eye level. "If I wanted you dead⦠then you would be dead."
Kyoko could feel her heart thudding against her chest. She looked into his normally emotionless eyes and thought she saw a flicker of emotion but he quickly hid it.
Pulling her further into his arms Kyou chastised, "Donât presume to know how I feel." He skimmed his lips across her cheek as he pulled her deeper within his thrall. He would fan the flames that were buried with her until she couldnât take it anymore. "Soon you will see just how much a guardian can love."
With that, he took her lips in another kiss that set her soul on fire with want⦠or was it pure need? He released her lips and with one hand stroked her cheek with feather light touches.
Kyoko was stunned that such a powerful guardian lord, capable of killing so many could be so gentle. When had she started looking at Kyou in a different light? She glanced up at him questionably, wondering what had changed him.
"What is it you want from me, Kyou?" She asked in a whisper.
Threading his fingers through her hair, Kyou gripped a handful and placed his cheek next to hers, whispering in the shell of her ear. "Everything that is you I will have."
His breath was so hot against her skin and it felt so good. Kyoko closed her eyes and sighed.
His breath was so hot against her skin and it felt so good. Kyoko closed her eyes and sighed.
A hint of a smile appeared to grace Kyouâs lips as he watched her close her eyes but his smile faded when he caught the scent that was coming closer. He sat her down on the edge of one of the surrounding stones. Without another word, Kyou left her sitting there in bewilderment knowing Toya would fine her while she craved him.
Kyoko was still in a daze when Toya stepped into the clearing. He gave a low growl as he watched a show of golden feathers rain down around her. Setting his sights only on her, he slowly approached. She looked like she was half asleep. Toya narrowed his eyes at the sky above him in warning. Kyou was playing a dangerous game here and he didnât like it.
He knew Kyou was only taunting him by coming and going as he pleased. He understood why Kyou wasnât threatened of him being around Kyoko. Tadamichi had tried to get Hyakuhei to share the priestess so long ago and Toya knew that was also Kyouâs reasoning, but he didnât want to share Kyoko with him or anyone else. And he didnât think that Kyoko would go for it either.
âI loved her first,â Toya confessed softly, knowing she was past hearing him at the moment. âKyou and his damn enchantments.â He reached out to touch her cheek but before reaching its goal, his hand fisted and lowered.
Instead, he reached out for Kyoko's pack then helped her down from the rock. Taking her by the hand, he led her toward the camp without a word being spoken between them. Soon, Toya thought, very soon they would have to talk⦠and this time she would listen to every damn word.
Chapter 6 "More Than Jealousy"
Kyoko still felt like she was in a trance but the feelings she was having were so nice, she really didnât mind. What was Kyou doing to her? Itâs like⦠little by little he was building up to something much bigger, getting her ready for something. Either that or he was putting her in heat.
Kyoko glanced down at her hand. They were holding hands? She followed the arm with her gaze up to the face of Toya. Toya was holding her hand? She smiled. Then thought lamely to herself, 'when did he show up?â Shaking her head to clear away any remaining fuzz, she glanced at Toya in confusion. His eyes looked a bit softer than before⦠and worried.
"Toya, whatâs going on? Why do I feel like Iâm coming out of a heavy fog or something?â When he didnât respond, Kyoko pulled back on her hand so that Toya either had to let go or answer her question.
Keeping his back to her, he let go of her hand and took another step but the next step faltered. "Kyoko, I think we should wait to have this conversation." Toya didnât turn around to say it. He didnât think he could look her in the eyes right at this moment as he noticed her sudden shift in moods.
He needed to talk to her about him and his overbearing brother but right now, as high as his jealousy was, he wasnât sure he could control himself. "Come on," Toya tried to sound annoyed with her so she wouldnât push it.
Kyoko didnât want to give up that easily, after all⦠it was her they were discussing and she needed answers. Last thing she needed was to make a fool out of herself again and not even know about it. "Toya, why is Kyou after me?"
She spoke the words softly but they rang in Toyaâs ears like a well-placed threat. He growled silently at the thought of Kyou wanting Kyoko and she was just standing there waiting on him to answer her.
Unable to fight the need thumping under his skin, Toya turned around and pulled her into his warm embrace⦠then, just as quickly, he let go of her, taking a step back and hanging his head in silent defeat.
âDo we have to talk about this right now?" Toya glanced up at her, only to swiftly look away from her curious gaze.
Kyoko sighed. "This is what I was afraid of, you jerk. You canât even look me in the eyes anymore. You hated the kiss so much that now you donât want anything to do with me, right?" she balled her fist up at her sides and lifted her chin up a notch to show defiance. "Well, I donât care what you think of me. Just because you didnât like kissing me, doesnât mean others wonâtâ¦"
Before she knew what happen, she was crushed in Toyaâs arms and his lips were taking hers fiercely. She dug her fingers into his hair in an effort to keep her weak knees from buckling under her.
He wanted her, frighteningly so at times. Toya tried to get himself back under control. It was just that when sheâd mentioned others liking her kiss, it made him want to make her forget the other kisses. He released her lips, their eyes locked in a silent war and a wave of possessiveness rushed through him.
"Kyoko, I do like your kisses." His gaze dropped back to the pink lips heâd just let have their freedom.
Kyoko felt her heart strain toward Toya, needing him. No matter what, she could never stay mad at him. She searched his golden gaze seeing the silver glittering there, trying to fight for dominance but something was needling her senses⦠telling her they werenât alone.
Toya felt Kyoko tense up and thought it was because he had told her he liked her kisses until he felt her lean and look behind him. He let go of her, turning quickly, not knowing what to expect.
Shadows within the darkness took shape with distorted movements. "Shadow demons? Here?" He whispered. Just as he said the words, the shadows begin to flee as if taunting him to follow them.
"Go back to the camp with the others where itâs safe." He pointed in the direction of the camp then took off through the forest not wanting to lose them. He could only sense two of them but it was still not a good sign that theyâd been spying on Kyoko. It made him wonder if Hyakuhei was closer than they all thought him to be.
Kyoko didnât have time to say anything before he vanished from sight so she took off in the direction of the camp, thinking maybe he didnât want to be around her. After all, it was only a couple lowborn shadow demons and in such a small number they were virtually harmless.
âThatâs fine!â Kyoko quietly ranted. âJust fine⦠The next time he even thinks of kissing me Iâm gonna deck him.â She pasted a smile on her face as she walked into camp.
Kamui was the first to see Kyoko and he quickly closed the distance between them, grabbing her in a welcoming hug. "Look guys, Kyoko's back!" He gave her a kiss on the cheek and a wink.
Suki smiled, happy to see she was finally back but Shinbe narrowed his eyes at the kiss Kamui had just snuck in there. What the hell was that boy thinking? Toya would kill him first.
"Iâm sorry I made you guys wait so long but Iâm back now and Iâm fine with what happen so, no worries, okay? Oh and I brought you guys some goodies too.â She put her backpack in front of her and started rummaging through it, handing out their favorites to each of them.
They all sat there, smiling, eating goodies, and drinking soda like they didnât have a care in the world. All except for Shinbe, who looked off into the forest wondering what had been so important to make Toya leave Kyokoâs side.
*****
Toya followed the two shadow demons, knowing they were purposely leading him away from the others. He didnât care if it was a trap and almost hoped it was⦠with the mood he was in. Seeing the shadow demons fade into the ground right in front of him, Toya growled as he skidded to a stop.