Years of love, heartache, and sacrifice⦠given all in an instant.
Angry tears streamed down Kyokoâs cheeks as she thrust every memory of love and friendship, pain and secret feelings she had for everyone that fought with her into Hyakuhei's mind. It was the only weapon she had left.
Instantly, Hyakuheiâs evil was destabilized. Everyone felt the shift in power as the crystal started to blink from dark light to a blinding white light, and the shadow apparitions holding Toya and Kyou disintegrated into thin air.
Kyoko watched as the angel of darkness became confused, his pale perfect face becoming distorted with pain.
Just as she felt herself slipping, Kyoko reached both of her small hands out and grasped the crystal, pulling it from his flesh. She knew what had to be done, because she could already feel her mind losing its struggle with memories she didnât want to forget. Crystalline tears ran paths down her already streaked cheeks.
She had given her memories away in order to save them all. Quickly, before she lost the thought, she held the guardian heart crystal against her own chest⦠parallel with her heart.
Turning to see Toya and Kyou both leaping straight for her she whispered, "Remember me⦠please⦠find me."
The last thing Kyoko caught a glimpse of as her sight began to tunnel was both of them screaming her name and reaching for her. One with liquid gold eyes and the other with molten silver eyes⦠then her world turned black.
Kyou could feel Kyoko fading and he thought she was dying. He leapt in unison with Toya, trying desperately to reach her when everything changed, as if a drop of water had hit the surface of his sight. Waves rippled outward from Kyoko and she vanished in midair. Then Hyakuhei screamed in rage as he also vanished.
Kyou's mind raced as his brotherâs scream that had joined his came to an abrupt stop, as if the sound had been cut with the blink of an eye, and he knew Toya had also vanished. Kyou landed gracefully in the empty spot that had only a second before held his intended target. His angry gaze flashed around him in denial. Everyone had vanished.
Kyou felt the adrenaline rushing through his veins and mixing with his highborn guardian blood. He had seen and felt it all. He now possessed all of her memories. Kyoko had given all of herself to save them, and at the last second he had heard her wish. She probably didnât even know what she had done⦠but she had taken them all with her, leaving him behind.
The spell he had cast around himself to keep the sacred crystal from being used against him, had kept him from following wherever the others had gone. With only a couple whispered words, she had taken everything from him.
His body stood tall and proud. His knee length silver hair fluttered around him and the white silk of his shirt trembled in the breeze as if he were standing in the eye of some unseen storm that matched the storm raging in his tormented heart.
His appearance was that of an angel⦠regal, powerful, and perfect, as he looked upon the deserted battlefield. Until he raised one hand to his cheek, catching the lone crimson tear that even he had not the power to stop.
Kyou's vision swam as golden feathers swirled past him from wings that had sprouted, surrounding him in a vast golden glow, revealing his true identity for the first time in his ageless life.
The only wound left from the battle was the slash that appeared across his heart⦠a heart that no one had thought he possessed. His gaze swung to the maiden statue that stood only a few feet away and he whispered, âKyoko, I have not forsaken you. The distance of over a thousand years is not enough to stop me from finding you againâ¦.â
Chapter Two "The Flip Side"
On the other side of The Heart of Time, two years later⦠and over a thousand years into the future.
The letter was addressed to the Hogo shrine. Grandpa Hogo looked at the elegant envelope the messenger had just handed him as he carried it back to the table where he had been sipping tea. Before the knock on the door, he had been enjoying the peace and quiet of the usually over active house.
Everyone else had gone out for the evening. Tama was at the game room in town with friends, and Kyoko had gone to the library to study, while Mrs. Hogo had taken off to do some grocery shopping.
Picking up a small knife from the table, Grandpa slid the sharp blade through the gold-rimmed envelope carefully. He reached in, pulling out a notarized letter on heavy-duty gold-rimmed paper, and started reading it. The more he read, the wider his eyes became. It was a scholarship, a full scholarship to a very expensive school on the outskirts of the other side of the city.
"K.L. University." His old voice held astonishment for the first time in many years. As it read, all would be paid in full, even the cost of the dorm she would be staying at, and it was signed by the founder of the school with his initials reading K.L.
Grandpaâs aged face lifted in the brightest smile it had in a long time. Kyoko was going to be beyond happy. He knew that she had been worried that missing so much school would keep her from being accepted to any academy, and now she would be going to one that surpassed any other academy in the region.
He frowned thoughtfully⦠It was the hardest school to get into, for he knew none that had ever succeeded when applying. It was also rumored to have very few students because of the extremely high requirements just to enroll. How had she been accepted into a place she hadnât even applied for?
His mind drifted back over the last two years. It had taken Kyoko awhile to get back into the swing of things after she had come back from the shrine house so disoriented. They had all been confused when she had suddenly returned, because she hadnât remembered much at all from the time she had been gone.
The Hogo family knew about where she had gone because she had slipped back and forward through the time portal many times⦠Kyoko was the only one who suddenly had amnesia about it.
She hadnât even remembered Toya. But to grandpa that was all right, because it was best if she forgot about that time-crossing guardian anyway. It was best she forgot all about the other side and the danger it had brought.
His eyes turned sad for a moment. Yeah, the family had known most everything that had happened because Kyoko would go back and forward between worlds and while on this side, she would fill them in on the latest happenings. He could also tell that she had hidden a lot of what she didnât want them to know. Things they would now never know because she had forgotten those secrets.
Even after her younger brother Tama had told her a lot of what he knew; she had just shook her head and lowered her eyes. She only remembered being alone in the other world. A world full of monsters.
Grandpa thinned his lips as he mused. He knew things had been set right because Kyoko said she remembered something about the Guardian Heart Crystal coming back inside her, and that it was over. After a couple weeks, she had thrown herself back into her schoolwork and was making excellent grades, and now all that had paid off. Grandpa heard the front door open and his grin widened.
Kissing the letter like it was some sacred good luck charm he watched his granddaughter walk into the kitchen⦠Kyoko was going to love this.
*****
Three weeks laterâ¦
Golden eyes watched as the girl from the past approached the academy. He had found her and somehow he would make things right once again. He felt his human shield slip for a moment as his eyes blazed liquid gold in memory of all that had happen that fateful day in the middle of a deadly battlefield.
*****
Three weeks laterâ¦
Golden eyes watched as the girl from the past approached the academy. He had found her and somehow he would make things right once again. He felt his human shield slip for a moment as his eyes blazed liquid gold in memory of all that had happen that fateful day in the middle of a deadly battlefield.
The rays of morning sunlight coming in the window cast a strange shadow behind him in the image of wings. He raised his clawed hand and narrowed his eyes, watching as the claws receded back to his human cloak.
Turning his haunted eyes back to the priestess, he calmed his inner powers. It was time, and with the purity of Kyoko, he also felt the awakening of evil around him. The unfinished battle would soon begin. This time⦠he would not make the same mistake.
Kyoko stared up at the huge building. To her it almost looked like a grand castle from some unknown past. She grinned to herself. She just couldnât help it. She was still so happy after finding out about the scholarship, and the fact that she would actually live here.
She looked back at Tama. He had been a big help coming to aid her with her bags and settling in. Kyoko was glad she had talked her mom and grandpa into staying home and saying their goodbyes from there. Now she felt almost lightheaded with this huge amount of freedom, and took a deep breath, savoring it.
âKyoko, are you gonna just stand there all day, or are we going to go find your dorm room?â Tama grumbled, even though the view impressed him too. He looked up at the gigantic archway leading to the main doors in astonishment.
Kyoko held up the map in her hand and pointed to the enormous building that connected to the right side of the academy. "That should be the right building." She turned and gave Tama a wink. "Thanks for helping me this morning."
Tama grinned, feeling a little embarrassed. "Sure Kyoko, after all, I get rid of you for a while, and thatâs payment enough." He ducked and took off trying to out run her all the while, dying laughing.
Kyoko started to chase after him but paused mid-step, feeling eyes on her.
As the breeze blew her auburn hair from her face, she looked up at the building wondering whose eyes were caressing her but couldnât see anyone. She had been able to sense odd things in the past few years, and she knew without a doubt someone was there ⦠watching her. She could almost feel them touching her.
She thought she saw movement in an upper window, but on closer inspection, she found it empty. Kyoko heaved an inward sigh realizing the odd feeling was now gone. She softly bit her bottom lip waiting on the disappointment to go away. Giving up, she finally caught up with Tama as he entered the doors. Both of them froze as they looked around.
"This place is awesome,â Tama whispered, as he looked up then leaned over to add in a serious voice. âYou might want to keep that map⦠knowing you, youâll get lost here.â
Kyoko appeared to not hear him as her eyes wandered over the interior of the main hall. The room they were standing in was at least three stories tall, with stairs that wound their way up to the other floors in a spiral. On one side, there was an enormous library, while on the other side it looked like a recreational area, and directly in the middle was a gigantic chandelier hanging from the high vaulted ceiling.
âI would really hate to see that fall,â she confirmed to thin air with a nod.
Below were sitting areas with plush furniture. There were students already up and busy doing things, although it was very early in the morning. She had wanted to be here as early as possible, and it was now 7:30 a.m. She quickly looked back down at the paper, wondering where she was supposed to go.
Groaning, she looked over her shoulder at Tama and pointed up the spiral stairs in front of them. They had four suitcases between them, since Kyoko was actually moving in, and they were very heavy.
Tamaâs expression fell. âYou gotta be kidding.â He let go of the handle of the biggest suitcase knowing the wheels on the bottom wouldnât help this time. âIâm only 12 years old for crying out loud.â
She squared her shoulders in determination.
Kyoko was startled when a masculine voice from behind her asked, "Are you Miss Kyoko Hogo?"
She instantly turned around saying, âYes.â
Her eyes widened as she came face to face with a very handsome-looking guy. He had startling ice blue eyes and long dark hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. As she stared in awe, she felt a strange breeze caress her face. The ends of her soft hair tickled her cheeks as the breeze caught it.
He was giving her a very charming smile. Then, to her amazement, he snapped his fingers and two guys came almost out of nowhere, took her bags, and started up the stairs with them. Kyokoâs eyes widened as she watched them, but before she could say anything, the other guy had taken her hand in his, and bringing it to his lips, he gave her a prince-like kiss.
"My name is Kotaro, and I would not want to see someone as fair as you have to carry anything so heavy. Now, if you will follow me, I will show you to your dorm room." Keeping her hand in his, Kotaro turned with confidence and started up the stairs.
The sudden heat that rushed through his fingers and up his arm seemed to continue spreading across his body⦠awakening his guardian blood. It was his secret to keep. Kotaro gave her hand a slight squeeze knowing she was the one he had so patiently waited for. Heâd felt it the second she had stepped into the room.
Kyoko raised a delicate eyebrow thinking to herself, 'Gods save me from chivalrous guys. What have I walked into?'
Turning, she shrugged at Tama who was standing there with his mouth open. Kyoko cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Tama be careful, you might catch flies like that." Then before he could recover, she turned and followed the lithe form of the guy known to her only as Kotaro.
She mentally chalked one for her on her imaginary chalkboard, where she was secretly keeping score for her and Tama. She heard him huff behind her as they walked up the stairs and new she was now winning the game.
They passed another guy on his way down the stairs, and as he passed her without even looking at her, she felt a flash cross her heart and her breath stopped. All sound disappeared as he passed her almost in slow motion. Then everything returned too normal as her heart skipped a beat then sped up.
A feeling of unease crept across her skin as if she was missing something⦠or more like she had lost something and missed it terribly. Trying to shake the strange reaction, she didnât even turn to look at who had passed her, feeling that at the moment she was better off not knowing.
âWell, at least there are enough guys around here for you to drool over,â Tama whispered making Kyoko growl mentally.
At the top of the stairs she turned, following Kotaro down a long hallway with lots of doors on both sides. She assumed these were the dorm rooms but he never slowed down or stopped at any of them. At the end of the hall there was a doorway that read DO NOT ENTER. She was a little confused when Kotaro and the two carrying her bags gracefully walked through them as if they belonged there, only to turn to another flight of stairs.
Tama closed in on Kyoko and taunted, âI think they are sending you to the dungeon.â
Kyoko smirked over her shoulder at him, âWe are going up not down you dummy.â
âAn empty cold room at the top of the tower then,â Tama flipped her on the back of the head.