Shinbe pointed with his staff to the Toya shaped hole in the ground. "Well, thatâs a new one, isnât it?â he couldnât 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 wouldnât let me say anything. She was too mad to listen. Now sheâs gone back and I have a bad feeling. We need her here." In his mind he silently added, âI need her here.â
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, donât try to explain things. Just say youâre 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⦠sheâs not a mind reader.â
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 Kyokoâs look-alike from the past was as hard to handle as her descendant. In order to find that secret out heâd have to ask Hyakuhei and that was out.
Reaching for the maidenâs 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.
âWhat am I doing? Sheâs just going to use that damn spell if she catches me following her,â Toya climbed up the small flight of stairs and out of the shrine house that set in Kyokoâs back yard. Heâd 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 Kyokoâs house and seeing none of the normal lights on, he decided to walk around her house until he saw her bedroom window. This wasnât the first time heâd 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 Kyokoâs 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 didnât sleep as much as a human so he had many opportunities to just sit and watch her without her knowing. Toyaâs thoughts drifted back to the kiss⦠both kisses.
The way he saw it, heâd 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 wasnât 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 couldnât help the small smile that graced her lips. Toya had been there with her.
Chapter 5 "Uninvited"
Kyoko hurriedly dressed for school. Since she was back, she was definitely going today. Sheâd already missed so much and besides that, she missed her friends from this world. Brushing her auburn hair until it shown, Kyoko promised herself that she wouldnât think about what happen in the other world and just enjoy today for what it was⦠normal. Dropping the brush back to the vanity, she went downstairs, coming into the dining room.
Grandpa looked up in surprise, "Kyoko, your home? Are you going to school today? I already thought of a good excuse if you need it." He grinned at her.
The family had gotten used to the fact that Kyoko was the priestess their ancestors had written about so long ago. The maiden shrine behind the house had belonged to their family as far back as they could trace it and they kept the secret safe.
Kyoko groaned. "Thanks grandpa, but I want to go so just save it for next time okay?" She knew her grandpa was only trying to help but some of the illnesses he came up with to fool her school and friends were really stretching it.
Tama smirked knowing their grandfather often made it hard for Kyoko to even show her face at school, especially after saying she had some unknown disease that was contagious. Tama coughed into his hand to hide his laugh then grabbed a piece of toast from the plate and headed out the door.
âI guess youâll just have to save the idea of her being pregnant for next time grandpa.â His knees almost buckled at the look on both Kyokoâs and his grandfatherâs face. Quickly changing the subject, Tama started backing out of the room. âSis, you might want to hurry if you donât want to be late again." He waved to her as he ran out.
After spending a few minutes catching up, Kyoko kissed her motherâs cheek then headed out the door. The day was already perfect, not too cold or hot as she slowly made her way up the road toward the school. The breeze felt good on her face and it was a nice break to not have to keep alert incase demons were lurking just around the corner.
This was one of the reasons she always went back into the time portal. In order to keep this world safe and free of demons, she had to find the rest of the crystal and bring it back to this side of the time portal before all hell broke loose⦠literally.
She hadnât gotten very far up the street when her friends came into view. They stopped walking, waiting for her to join them. Kyoko quicken her pace to catch up to them smiling. Being normal had never felt so good.
Toya watched Kyoko leave her house and out of curiosity, heâd followed her, intending to leave once he knew she was safely at school. He watched as several girls waved to her and she caught up to them, seeming to be all talking at once. Toya wove through the trees unnoticed so he could hear what they were saying.
One of the girls told Kyoko that somebody had been asking about her. Toyaâs head snapped around when he heard a guy call Kyoko's name and run to catch up with them. Toya tensed up when the guy held his hands out to Kyoko. She smiled at him, nodding, then she laid her books in his out stretched arms.
"Thank you Tasuki.â Kyoko blushed. He always wanted to carry her books as if they were too heavy for her and after turning him down so many times in the past, sheâd finally given in, realizing he was only going to keep asking until he got his way. He was very persistent but not pushy and she liked that about him.
Toya watched Tasuki with cold, piercing eyes. He didnât like the fact that the boy was walking so close to Kyoko or the way he looked at her. He could tell Tasuki wanted her and it pissed him off even more when Kyoko smiled back at him like they were more than just friends. The other girls had walked on ahead, leaving Tasuki and Kyoko to walk in private. Toya stalked them closer, trying to hear what was being said. Using his guardian hearing, he caught every word.
Tasuki gazed down at Kyoko as they walked. She was the most beautiful girl heâd ever met and heâd had a crush on her since the first day theyâd met. Thatâd been first grade but he had made up his mind even then. He only hoped one day she would feel the same way about him. He knew she wasnât sick like her family always made the school think but he didnât let in on that fact.
âKyoko, want to go out this evening? I meanâ¦â Tasuki switched the books from one arm to the other in a nervous gesture. âI hardly ever get to see you anymore." His soft eyes met hers in a hopeful stare.
Kyoko wasnât sure if it was a good idea to just run off on a date with all thatâd been going on lately in the other world. Still⦠at least he was normal and from her world. He looked so cute staring at her with hopeful eyes. How could she say no to him? "Alright, can you meet me at my house this evening around seven?" She gave him a winning smile.
Tasuki beamed at finally getting his way. âIt would be my pleasure.â He innocently took her hand as they walked a little faster to catch up with the others.
Toya was seething with anger after hearing that guy ask Kyoko out and hearing her say yes. His eyes burned a hole in the boyâs back as they disappeared up the road. âShe will not go out with him, not now and not ever." He growled. âNot if I have anything to do with it.â
*****
Kyoko had made it through the day of school without messing up to much. She even made a good grade on her math test, which was great, since she hardly had time to study. Switching back and forth between worlds like she did, it was a wonder they hadnât kicked her out of school already. It was a nice feeling for her biggest problem to be about what she was going to wear and where Tasuki was going to take her. It beat the hell out of worrying about fighting demons.
She entered her house still lost in thought, waving at her mother and grandpa as she passed by the kitchen heading for her room. Glancing in the mirror, she shook her head at the school uniform she was wearing and opened her closet door to look at the clothes she had hanging up. Kyoko shrugged out of her shirt, ready to try on a couple outfits to see which would look best.
Just as she was reaching out to grab a pretty pink shirt she heard a noise. Closing the closet door some so she could look toward the window where the noise had come from, Kyoko gasped and held the shirt to her chest.
Toya was standing there, right in front of the window. He was just standing there with his arms folded in his normal agitated stance but his eyes were steady⦠too steady.
Toya finally broke the silence. "Kyoko, we need to go." He took a step forward and reached his hand out to her but she withdrew a step shaking her head.
"No, Iâm not ready to go back yet. And you need to get out of my room, Toya." She clutched the shirt to her breast, feeling heat rush into her cheeks. After all that had happened lately, feeling exposed was the last thing she needed right now.
Toya let his hand drop back to his side. "Why canât you just come back now? Everyoneâs waiting on you." He asked the question in a calm voice but Kyoko got the feeling there was an underlying meaning in it.
"I want to stay here for another day," She said as she looked away unable to meet his eyes. She gasped when Toya was suddenly inches from her.
"What plans do you have that are more important than finding the talismans, putting them back together, and keeping Hyakuhei from bringing demons here?" He asked as he stalked even closer, making her back up again.
His eyes held a dangerous expression but Kyoko could also detect something else hidden there. He was too close⦠bigger than life. Her gaze dipped down to his lips only to come back up to the silver sparks that now shattered within his golden irises. Was it her imagination or was he getting closer? Oh no! She was not about to let him make a fool out of her again.
"Toya, get out!â Kyoko's voice began to rise and Toya's eyes began to narrow. "Get out right now and donât come back unless invited!â She yelled as she pointed to the window.
Toya advanced on her as Kyoko backed up, this time against the wall. "Why canât you tell me why youâre not willing to come back right now, Kyoko? Whatâs so important that youâre willing to forsake everyone?"
Kyoko stared into his golden eyes, their faces now only a breath away from each other. He planted a palm against the wall to trap her as he leaned forward. Kyoko bit her bottom lip. What was going on here? Toya had never acted like this before. Just then she caught him looking down at her lips with a determined gaze and she suddenly forgot how to breathe.
He didnât want her to stay on this side of the heart of time. He wanted her to pick him over that stupid Tasuki guy but so far, she wasnât willing to do it. He backed her up to the wall, making it to where she couldnât avoid him. It was plain and simple⦠He didnât want her going out with Tasuki. His gaze dropped to her lips, remembering the kiss sheâd given him while under the spell. He wondered if sheâd kiss him like that without the pull of a spell.
Without any thought to the consequences, Toya dipped his head and captured her lips in a hungry kiss, trying to show her he didnât want her to stay here, but to come back with him. Since he couldnât seem to tell her with words, he pressed his body against hers making her gasp.
Toya took the chance and deepened the already demanding kiss, tasting the sweetness he knew was there. His body felt like it was on fire as he sought out every hidden spot he could find. The sudden need to drive himself into her surfaced within his guardian blood, trying to take over his mind. Pressing his thigh between her legs, his body rocked with the kiss, setting a rhythm that was taking his breath away.
Sensations jolted throughout Kyokoâs body and she knew she had to stop this⦠right now, or things would go too far. She pushed with all her might against his chest hoping he wouldnât fight her this time.
Releasing her with a growl, Toya stepped back, breathing hard and struggling with his loss of control. "Kyoko, I just want you to come back with me.â His softly spoken words were filled with the pain of rejection. His bangs had fallen down boyishly in front of his eyes, hiding all emotion from her.
She slipped behind the door of her closet and grabbed a shirt, putting it on quickly. When she stepped back out, Toya had vanished. Kyoko sighed then jumped when she heard her mother knock on her bedroom door.
"Kyoko, Tasukiâs here. I told him to wait, that youâd be down in a moment, okay?" Her mother's soft voice reached her. Kyoko took one last look at the window then back at the mirror. Reaching up, she touched her fingers to her lips still feeling the tingling from such a heated kiss. With a defeated sigh, she closed the closet door and went downstairs. Not finding Tasuki in the house, she walked to the door and found him standing outside.
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.