He felt he had to protect Kyoko with his life, especially when there was danger everywhere they went. The demon heâd 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!â 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 Toyaâs back and quickly walked to them, smiling at her friends. "We just got word that the east forest is where we should be heading,â Kyoko informed them.
Shinbeâs head snapped up looking over at Toya. "Oh, yeah? Whatâs 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, âBut 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. Heâd 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?â 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. âHeh, 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. Whatâd 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 wouldnât meet Suki's eyes, and her face was still high in color.
"Kyoko, give,â 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, thatâs all,â 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?â 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? Wasnât it, Kyoko?" she cocked an eyebrow in confusion.
Kyoko groaned. "Itâs a long story, so Iâll make it very short. Three different guys have now kissed me and all within the time that you were gone. And no, I didnât ask a single one of them to kiss me. So again, itâs 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. âWell, now I know what she thinks,â 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!â 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 donât 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, whatâd you do that for? I didnât do nothing,â 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 Kyokoâs direction wondering what in the world was going on.
Shinbe slid toward Toya. "So whatâs the big deal?"
Toya just glared at him as if daring him to say another word.
Suki grabbed Shinbeâs 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. "Whatâs your problem? And donât hit Kamui!" She yelled, stepping in front of the guardian as if to protect him. She didnât 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,â Suki didnât give her time to argue as she pulled her along.
Not feeling so safe being left there within Toyaâs 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?â Suki nearly shouted, eyeing her friend with concern. The thought of Kyou kissing anyone was just⦠disturbing.
Kyoko shrugged. "I havenât 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. âKyoko, 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 heâs thinking about making you his life mate."
"What!â Kyoko yelled putting her hands on her hips. âYou have got to be joking.â
"No joke⦠with that kiss, Kyou has already started laying his claim on you.â Shadows entered Kamui's eyes as if lending affect, âNow he will stalk you, little by little, âtil he marks you and makes you his.â He let is hand fall from her shoulder. âI guess you would think of it as dating."
Suddenly understanding more then he wanted to, Kamui whistled through his teeth. "Thatâs why Toya is so upset, and then Kotaro comes blowing in and kisses your cheek. Thatâs the same thing. Heâs dating you, too."
Kyoko didnât know what to say. She just stood there for a minute. Then looking over Kamuiâs 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 didnât really want to kiss me. It was kind of⦠an accident.â
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. Thatâs why in his other form he kissed you instead of killing you. He did it because it felt right to him.â Kamui stepped back from them knowing Toya was now within hearing range.
"Well, letâs keep them company." Suki decided to follow Kamui's example and let it drop for now⦠to bad Shinbe wasnât that smart.
Shinbe turned to Kyoko, hearing Kamuiâs last statement. "So thatâs why heâs so testy!" He grinned wondering if he should add his kiss to Kyokoâs 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 Toyaâs 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 sheâd 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 donât 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. Itâll be faster." He waited for Kyoko to climb on. At least this way he wouldnât 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 heâd 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 âWicked Kissesâ
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, thereâs more," She said breathlessly. âThe evil surrounding the fragments is stifling.â
Suki walked up behind Kyoko, adjusting her weapon across her shoulder for easier access in case of battle. "I wonder if itâs Hyakuhei youâre 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.
Toyaâs 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 Hyakuheiâs 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. Heâd known it was only one of Hyakuheiâs puppets anyway.
âWill you ever have the guts to truly face me!â Toya raged.
"The priestessâs powers will be mine, so⦠come to meâ¦â Hyakuheiâs cold voice slowly blew away in the wind.
Kyoko felt chills creep up her spine from the words Hyakuhei had spoken. âCome to him? Is he nuts?â 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 didnât like the fact that it put Kyoko in harmâs way. Hyakuhei had killed many innocents for the talismans. Heâd 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 Kyokoâs 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.
âWell, 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 heâd ever trusted.
*****
Hyakuhei gazed into the mirror his underling Yuuhi held up for him. The mirror of souls that enabled him to watch Kyokoâs 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 masterâs 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.â 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.