Kotaro let go of Kyokoâs hand, "I hope everything is alright, Kyoko." He shot Toya a dirty look then turned back to her, "Make sure you watch out for freezer burn here. If he gets out of hand, Iâll take care of him for you.â Kotaro gave Toya a smug look then nodded his head to Kyoko and turned, going back down the stairs.
Kyoko heard Toya huff and she looked up to him as he turned and walked down the corridor, the same way she had gone this morning.
This time she hurried and caught up with him just in time to see him go through the doors that read, DO NOT ENTER. Kyoko wondered where they were going. As she followed his stiff back, it crossed her mind that he was taking her back to her own room. When he did indeed stop in front of her door, Toya turned to look at her and she gave him a pissed look until he waved his hand to the door straight across from hers and knocked.
Kyoko was in shock. The owner was in the room right across from hers? Again, the words of her brother came back to haunt her. âNo way!â Without waiting for an answer, Toya opened the door and pushed her inside in front of him.
Immediately, Kyoko turned on him. "I donât know what your damn problem is but would you please not push me," she made to shoo him away, "Or touch me. I havenât done anything to you." The hair again stood up on the back of her neck when she noticed Toya was staring behind her.
Kyoko's shoulders slumped. Now sheâd done it. Did she always have to pop off without thinking about where she was or who might be watching?
Toya saw Kyoko tense up and he smirked, lowering his eyes to the girl that seemed so small all of a sudden. "Didnât you want to talk to someone?" When Kyoko didn't turn around, Toya looked back up at Kyou and narrowed his eyes when he noted Kyou was leaning against the doorway of the living room staring at Kyoko as if he were in a trance.
'What the hell?â Toya thought to himself. Why was Kyou looking at her like heâd seen a ghost? On some level, he did not want to identify the jealous feeling it caused. It sent a creeping sensation across his gut making him want to step in between them and block Kyoko from Kyou's sight. He wanted to protect her.
Kyou was momentarily at a loss for words, seeing Kyoko this close for the first time in over a thousand years. The very air around her hummed with the force he remembered ⦠the same undeniable force that had drawn him to her in the past had not vanished.
His golden eyes took in the guardian behind her with a sort of detached indifference. "Toya, leave." A dangerously threatening tone could be heard in his voice.
A growl formed in the back of Toyaâs throat and his fists clenched in anger as some feeling seemed to rear up and haunt him from some unknown place hidden deep inside his memory. Without another word, Toya turned and stormed out the door, slamming it.
Kyoko watched Toya leave while her mind was going around and around in chaotic thoughts. All of a sudden, she felt the impulse to run out after him. Deciding not to be a coward, she tilted her chin up and found her courage, finally turning around only to not believe what she was seeing.
Instead of the older man in a starched business suit that she was expecting to see, she found herself face to face with⦠His golden eyes burned into her own making her feel like she could not look away. His silver hair spilled over his shoulders and perfectly chiseled body. He was tall, and beautiful, with a touch of arrogance surrounding his regal body and a face that could only be a gift from heaven.
Kyoko instantly closed her eyes. What the hell was wrong with her? She came here to ask questions, not drool. When she opened her eyes again he was much closer. She instantly took a step back from the nobility and superiority that surrounded him only to feel the solidness of the door against her back⦠trapping her.
Without realizing he had done so, Kyou started to walk toward her. But when he noted her retreat from him, he raised an elegant eyebrow, extending his hand toward the sofa. "Would you like to sit down Miss Hogo?" He knew she had questions for him. He would have been disappointed if she hadnât.
Kyoko swallowed nervously but haughtily raised her chin, edging her way over to the sofa, keeping as much distance between them as she could, if nothing else then in the hope that her brain would function normally. She inwardly gave a shaky laugh.
"First thing I want to know is, what makes you think I am a priestess?" She looked up at him warily and almost freaked out when he took a seat beside her on the sofa instead of the chair on the other side of the coffee table. Kyoko shifted her body and turned watching him, stilling herself from moving even farther away from him and showing her fear.
'So, she wants to play,' Kyou mused idly, but just as quickly shook off his intriguing thought. "What makes you think I would not know that you are a priestess?" he returned in an unnaturally calm voice. She was so small compared to him as he leaned toward her, looking down into her heart shaped face.
Kyoko watched the planes of his perfect face for any hint of emotion and was surprised to find none. He was like a sculpture of perfection and calmness, and that irritated her to no end.
"Do you always answer a question with a question, Misterâ¦?â she stammered not even knowing his last name.
Kyou smiled but only inwardly so she wouldnât see it. Well, he could tell she still had life in her and he wasnât disappointed in that. It only made him want to see more. "Mr. Lord, but you may call me Kyou, unless you like Lord better." He nailed her with a heated look.
Kyoko returned that heated look, "Why⦠Am⦠I⦠Here?" She said the words slowly and one at a time, as if she was talking to a child. There, letâs see him glide his way out of that one. âMr. Lord, my ass.â Kyoko huffed to herself, never breaking eye contact with him.
Having read her mind, Kyou's golden eyes glowed as they narrowed on her emerald ones. He leaned a little closer to her, knowing he would intimidate her by doing so. He could smell it.
"Your priestess powers are weak and untrained, or you would know why I know you are a priestess," he almost hissed at her, losing his composure for only a moment before his calm facade slipped back into place. "I will teach you martial arts along with strengthening⦠what you lack."
To Kyoko, the last of what he said almost sounded like an insult. Being the little hothead she was known for, she leaned in almost face to face with him, and the sarcasm was thick. "Maybe I only hide my true power, then when I find a deserving target, I release it." Anger was making her fearless, or stupid, at the moment she wasn't sure which one.
Kyou leaned in even closer, dipping his lips close to hers so his hot breath would caress her lips. He whispered in a dark voice, "Priestess.â
Chapter 4 "Pay Attention"
Kyoko jerked back from him, all of a sudden feeling vibes coming off him that she wasnât supposed to feel. Something was going on here and she felt like she was the last one to know about it.
"I need answers," she whispered in a nervous voice, biting her bottom lip in hopes of getting rid of the tickling sensation Kyou had created. She wished briefly that she could get rid of the breathtaking shivers that decided to take the bullet train through her nervous system.
Inhaling her scent and feeling his blood instantly heat, Kyou leaned back. He had seen the girlâs small body shiver but not in revulsion. Glancing down, he almost smirked when he saw her arms come alive with goose bumps.
âWhy are you suppressing your power? You need to be aware of your surroundings before the past is repeated." The slightly arrogant voice told her.
Kyoko gulped, "What do you mean by that?" She tensed up.
"You are aware there are immortals here at the school, are you not?" His eyes were glittering with something Kyoko had never seen, and his voice was harsh as if he were disapproving. âDemons are closing in around us as we speak.â
Kyoko's eyes widened then narrowed. Was he playing with her? "What would lead you to think that there are guardians and demons here?" she demanded with an indignant scoff.
In the blink of an eye Kyou had her by the arms and jerked her up, his head bowed down within an inch of her face. He growled angrily, "Pay attention."
Kyoko blinked, not believing what she was seeing. Standing in front of her was not who she was talking to just a moment before. She was looking into unnaturally bright, pissed off, golden eyes, and under them was the whitest small fangs, and she could feel the claws that were at that moment unknowingly digging into her arm.
His hair had lengthened to twice the length it had been only a moment before and seemed to almost float around him as if awaiting acknowledgment. With a startled yelp, Kyoko wrenched herself free from him and took a step back quickly, only for him to take a threatening step closer.
"Youâre a guardian?" she stuttered lamely.
"And you are the priestess that should have already known that," he hissed stalking her even as he felt his anger fade.
She turned to make a run for the door and instantly screamed when she felt strong arms wrap around her from behind.
Kyouâs body tightened around her as she struggled. He lifted her off the ground as her feet kicked the air in her attempt to escape him. Giving her enough time to realize trying to free herself from him was futile, he placed his lips near her ear and whispered, âYou will stay until you are strong enough to free yourself from these arms priestess.â
He then hauled her into the air, only to toss her again on the overstuffed sofa, where she landed with a slight bounce. Now that she was once again face to face with him, Kyoko gave him a furious scream and then blinked again when his appearance turned back to the man she had been talking to.
She glared at him angrily, balling her fist up, "What the hell is going on?"
Kyou stood calmly before her, the only difference this time was his eyes were still glowing, "You will stay here." He leaned down toward her, "You will let me train you." He placed his hands on the back of the sofa efficiently trapping her, "And this time, you will win without sacrifice." His nose was almost touching hers as he hissed the last of the statement, now showing his displeasure.
Kyoko leaned back into the sofa as far as it would allow, returning his heated gaze, but she still didnât sense any threat from him. Even if he wasnât human, he had no intent to harm her. She frowned at him realizing what he had just said.
"This time?" Her voice was soft, "What do you mean⦠This time?"
Kyou inhaled deeply, "You may have forgotten, but I have not." Her scent surrounded him and he felt the familiar twinge of pain around his forgotten heart, but she had to know the truth, "We have fought together in the past priestess, and the time is drawing near that we will have to do so again."
Kyoko's eyes softened for an instant, "Who are you?"
"Your guardian. Kyoko, I know you have forgotten because you sacrificed your memories of us in order to bring the Guardian Heart Crystal back to this world." His gaze searched hers and his voice became a mere whisper, "You must trust me."
Even though heâd just tried to frighten her everything within her was telling her to trust him. "I do⦠trust you." As soon as she whispered the words, she found herself pulled into his arms. At first she stiffened, then feeling the blanket of warmth that surrounded her, she gave in to the embrace relaxing against him in serene confusion.
Kyou couldnât help it. He had been carrying the worry of rejection for far too long, and hearing those words lifted the weight of the world off his tense shoulders. He crushed her to him, surrounding himself with her scent as he nuzzled his face into her hair.
"Stay this time," He whispered in a moment of weakness.
Kyoko could feel the tenderness in his words and in his arms but still, he had just scared the hell out of her a few minutes ago, and now he was holding her as if his very life depended on it. She was caught between fearing him and wanting to reach out and caress his smooth cheek.
She was full of questions and mumbled into his chest, "I want to remember what you say I have forgotten. What do I need to know?"
Kyou closed his golden eyes not wanting to return to the real world just yet⦠she was right where she belonged⦠in his arms. With a sigh, he unwillingly released her back onto the sofa and moved to sit beside her.
Running his hand through his overly-long bangs, Kyou took a deep breath to calm his raging instincts. Stilling his desires, he focused on the wall in front of him and began to tell her what he wanted her to know. Hearing something was not the same as remembering it.
"You will have help. All the people here that arrived the same way you did, on the scholarships, I have gathered for you. They do not remember you and you do not remember them, but they fought with you then, and they will fight with you again when the time comes," his voice was laced with a hint of memories of the past.
Kyoko's eyes widened, "Suki and Shinbe?" She asked wondering why she believed him so readily.
Kyou nodded, "I see you have met them. Yes, you were very close to them, as well as Toya who protected you like no other."
"Toya?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "You have to be kidding.â Then she mentally added, âHe doesn't even like me.'
Kyou sighed reluctantly, "Toya has not changed in this life, and is still the obnoxious, hardheaded, youth of the past. But yes, he protected you with a vengeance, and would have died for you if the need would have arisen."
Kyoko frowned, "He does not remember?" She felt like he was telling her the truth, and it made sense knowing she was missing part of her own memory. Her eyes searched his, wanting that knowledge back.
Kyou shook his head slightly, "I am the only one that did not come back with you. Therefore, I am the only one to carry the memories of what happened. Toya does not even remember he is my brother."
Kyoko inhaled at the confession, âbrothers? What happened that you are the only one to remember?" She had to know.
"You gave all your memories up in battle to destroy the evil of our world and save the Guardian Heart Crystal. In the same instant, you made a wish on the crystal to see everyone again. You did not want to lose them. When you instantly disappeared, so did everyone else⦠including the enemy. You had unknowingly brought them here⦠with you.â
He sighed regretfully. âI had cast a spell around myself that protected me from such wishes." his eyes grew distant as if he was reliving the memory.
"You took everyone with you, and you didnât even know it. They were all reborn here, in your time, leaving me alone in the past." His eyes focused and locked with hers. "So, I survived and waited on you. Once it was time, I gathered everyone that had left me. Now you have brought with you the crystal, and the malevolence that wants itâ¦" his voice became darker, "â¦evil has already started its search for you and I will not allow it."