Chapter 10 “Go Away”

Chapter 10 “Go Away”

Toya and the rest of the group turned to suspiciously watch Kyou as he landed with Kyoko still in his arms.

Kyoko didn't know what to think when her feet touched the ground and he simply released her. Turning her emerald eyes to the ashes of the demon, she quickly walked to where the talisman had fallen on the ground.

Feeling all eyes on her, she picked the powerful shard up seeing its size. ‘No wonder the monster had been so strong,’ she thought to herself. Pulling out the small sack that hung by the chain around her neck, she placed it safely with the other talismans.

Again she was reminded of the dream and sighed to herself… at least this time she wasn’t giving the sliver of crystal to Hyakuhei. She swallowed the shame that kept trying to rise up in her cheeks, reminding herself that it had only been a dream… right?

Kyou's cold eyes turned to pin Toya where he stood. "Kyoko is not to be put in danger. I have warned you of this." Kyou seemed bored and emotionless but his eyes were snapping with hidden fury.

"We didn’t need your help Kyou. I wouldn’t have let her be hurt by such a low life demon," Toya bristled back not liking the fact that Kyou was trying to take the upper hand and make him look bad in Kyoko's eyes.

Kamui had just woken up to find the demon gone and Kyou now in its place. He slid from Kaen’s back silently thanking his friend for the save. He took a step forward to stand beside Toya as if to silently tell Kyou whose side he was on. He smirked when he noticed an amethyst aura on Toya’s other side.

Not liking the looks of the standoff, Kyoko bit her bottom lip. Before she could change her mind, she took a step between them trying to defuse the tension.

"I trust Toya and the other guardians. They wouldn’t have let me get hurt if they could stop it.” She watched Kyou take a slow deep breath so she quickly added, “but thank you for your help. It allowed the battle to end quickly." She rushed through the words, hoping Kyou would hear her and recognize she spoke the truth.

Kyou's eyes softened as they fastened on Kyoko's worried expression and he whispered, "So protective." He took a step forward and was rewarded by her not taking a step back. He liked the fact that she did not show fear. He would see the truth with his next statement. "I have come to see your end of the bargain is kept as I have kept mine.”

Kyoko sighed. She might as well get it over with. If anything went wrong, she would just tell him to go away. "One hour," She informed him in a steady voice.

Kyou gave a slight nod. "Tis’ enough for now. Come," He demanded, holding out his hand.

Toya grabbed Kyoko's shoulder to halt her. "Kyoko, you know what to do if something goes wrong. If you are not back in one hour… we are coming for you. Understand?" His words were for Kyoko, but his narrowed gaze stayed on his brother so Kyou would hear the warning loud and clear.

She noticed the look on Toya’s face. He’d said the words softly, but she could hear the danger within the warning. Knowing he would do exactly that, she nodded trustingly, and then took a couple steps forward, bringing her within Kyou's reach.

She looked up at him uncertain. "I can trust you to keep your word?" Kyoko raised an inquiring brow at him.

Kyou didn't answer her as he took her into his arms and pulled her flush against his body. Before she had time to push away from him, he took to the air leaving the others behind. He smirked inwardly knowing he was the only guardian who could fly without showing his wings to the priestess.

He flew swiftly, enjoying the feel of her clinging to him. He could tell she was afraid of falling, but he would not qualm her fear if it kept her this close. He’d just let her think what she wanted. One day she would learn to trust him.

Kyoko gulped as she looked down. Everything rushing by so quickly made her cling to Kyou even tighter. She hid her face in the white silk of his shirt, hoping it would be over soon.

Kyou took her to a spot where there was a hot spring surrounded by a lush forest making it secluded, reminding him of the time he had found her within the hot springs of his own castle. He slowly lowered them to the grass in the center of the water where a small area sat nestled much like an island.

Kyoko felt her feet touch the ground and instantly pushed against his chest for release, stumbling a little when he let go so quickly. She hadn’t expected that and her eyes flashed up to his face trying to read his thoughts, but his expression was still the emotionless statue of an angel.

She sighed deeply, mentally creating an imaginary headline for the imaginary newspaper; ‘Guardian Found Strangled to Death by Priestess’, no jury in either world would convict her.

So, she just took another step back, not liking the feelings she had at seeing him again. It was as if she’d missed seeing him or something. The impulse to thank him for saving her from Hyakuhei threatened to override the fact that he had only done it within a dream. She shook her head and sighed, waiting. After all… unless she liked getting wet, it wasn’t as if she could take off running.

Kyou didn’t let her wait long. "Why did you run away from me?" He spoke with his unnatural calmness.

Kyoko straightened her shoulders and tilted her chin up a notch as if to defy him. "You know why." Her emerald eyes narrowed as she reminded herself of his treatment of her. She would teach him something he wasn’t willing to learn if he tried it this time. She felt a wicked smile coming on but stopped before he could see it.

Kyou smiled inwardly. Her little show of defiance shot a familiar jolt into his loins, a feeling he had missed since she’d left him. "I would not have harmed you. You did the harm to yourself by running from me," He stated flatly as if making a point.

Kyoko frowned at him feeling like she would be wasting her time arguing with a brick wall if she tried to make him understand. Blowing the bangs from her eyes, she told him sullenly. "Contrary to popular belief… there are many ways to hurt someone without drawing blood. What you did was wrong. I didn't want to be there but would you listen? No."

Kyou raised one eyebrow slightly as if to tell her that was not a good enough reason.

She felt her anger rising at him. "You had no right to keep me against my will, don't you know that?" She glared up at him, hoping he was getting the idea.

Kyou dared to take a step forward. "I am used to getting what I want." He watched as flames, caused by his words, shot into her stormy eyes. Did she not know her anger was only making her more tempting to him? "I wanted you, so what should I have done but take you?"

He decided against reminding her that Hyakuhei would have taken her if he had not… but it was a knowledge he would not soon forget. He watched as her lips parted and blazing sparks leaped into her eyes.

Before Kyoko had time to react, he had crushed her to him and his lips descended in a forceful kiss, making her thighs go up in flames. ‘Agreeing to be alone with him had been a big mistake.’ The thought lingered somewhere in the back of her mind as the feel of his kiss intoxicated her, leaving her unsure of herself. Hormones were traitors.

She did not return the kiss as she wiggled in his grasp trying to fight the pull of wanting him to kiss her and gaining her freedom at the same time. Wondering if she was having a meltdown, she leaned into the kiss. Realizing what she had done, she jerked back, causing him to release her.

Kyoko stumbled backwards to stare at him in confusion. She would have a lot of things to blame on the sudden return of her low-grade fever later. Then her eyes narrowed. "Here! I’ll show you what it’s like to have to do something you don't want to do."

A deceiving smile that should have warned him crossed her lips as the words formed. "Go away," She hissed then smiled happily as he disappeared.

***** Kyou was startled to find himself standing in the middle of the forest. He quickly came to the conclusion that she had done this to him and his calm facade slipped. His anger now as high as hers when he found he could not move.

It only lasted a few minutes, but during those few minutes, all kinds of thoughts crossed his mind. Most were centered on what he would do to her when he caught her. Then the spell wore off. A smile that could freeze a soul with fear appeared just as Kyou… disappeared.

***** Kyoko had started to grow nervous considering she didn't know where she was or how to get back to the others. She stomped her foot looking at the surrounding water not wanting to get wet.

"Now what?" she sighed then the horrible thought came to her. Kyou would be mad at her for doing that to him.

"But he deserved it," She argued back with herself. Kyoko then suppressed a shiver as he suddenly reappeared right in front of her with his eyes now slightly shaded red and a dangerous smile tilting his beautiful lips.

Kyoko took a step backwards, feeling irrational fear start to invade her. ‘Oh what have I done,’ she thought to herself. This somehow reminded her of playing chicken… no one had ever called her a chicken. She narrowed her eyes back at him, trying to give as good as she was getting.

"Now, it doesn't feel good to do something against your will, does it?" She crossed her arms in front of her as if proving a point. Feeling a little better now that she knew the spell would work on him, it made her feel a lot safer… more in control. Her eyes softened even if his didn't. "I'm sorry. I won’t do it again as long as you don’t do things… like that again."

Kyou slowly shook his head. "Not acceptable." The words sounded as if they had been chiseled in stone.

Before Kyoko had a chance to even think about saying the words again, Kyou’s arm snaked out and he drug her against him, his lips once again fastened to hers and she was held tightly against him. He devoured her lips and pressed in for a deeper kiss, stealing her breath away as his hand tangled in her soft hair, holding her head still so she would have no choice but to accept his passion.

Kyou's other hand began to drift across her skin in feather light caresses, bringing her body back to life as he’d done before and would do many more times. He could still feel what was left of her fever he had detected before. Using his healing powers as the kiss became more passionate, he couldn’t help the small animalistic sound that escaped him as he healed her completely with the kiss.

He would show her it would do no good to send him away. He would only come back to torture her body more soundly… as many times as it took before she stopped fighting him.

Kyoko couldn't help it. She knew this was wrong but she also knew it felt good and she didn't struggle. She didn't have the will to struggle, even as his lips finally left hers only to trace a path across her cheek to her neck. She heard him breathe sensual words against her heated flesh.

"You do not have the will to deny me in this. I will make you see your spell will only make me return to prove a point," His voice was a deliberate seduction.

She tilted her head slightly as her eyes widened. "What point?" She whispered breathlessly.

Kyou dipped his lips closer to her ear. "Even given your freedom… you are still mine."

His lips closed back over hers as if sealing the words with a kiss. He had wanted to do this the night before… when he’d entered her dream and saved her from Hyakuhei. Kyou silently wondered if she remembered the enemy’s touch and it made him deepen the kiss wanting to erase it from her memory.

Again, leaving her breathless, he withdrew from the kiss knowing if he continued he wouldn’t be able to hold back. Locking golden eyes with hers he could see the passion that lay hidden there. He was winning, even if she had not given up yet. As if he had not done anything wrong he simply informed her, "Now… you can send me away again or you can let me take you back to my brothers."

He waited a moment listening to her rapid heartbeat, knowing she was torn between using her banishment spell and wanting to go back to the others. Raising his elegant face upward so she wouldn’t see his smirk, they took off through the air back toward Toya and the small group.

Toya was pacing back and forth wishing he hadn’t let her go. Seeing the demon’s ashes staring at him as if the dust were still alive, he walked up to the head of the thing glaring at it. Its head had fallen to the ground when its body had exploded and still had its shape. That just annoyed him. Giving it one good kick, his foot went all the way through it and the face disappeared as it crumbled into a flat pile.

“I think it’s dead now,” Shinbe smirked then glanced up. “But I know something else you can kick if you feel up to it.” His amethyst gaze locked on Kyou.

Kyoko had regained her wits by the time they landed back in the circle of her friends and she felt a spark of anger at how he’d changed her feelings with that kiss. So, when he released her to stand on her own, she turned to him, feeling like getting even.

"Kyou," She watched as his golden gaze met hers. Then a small smile hinted at the corners of her lips as the words left them in a mere whisper. "Go away."

As he disappeared, Kyoko slapped her hand over her mouth when she realized Toya had also vanished. "Oops."

***** Toya ground his teeth in agitation as he realized what she’d done. "Damn it! Stupid girl! Shit!" Then he bristled when he heard the distinct sound of laughter coming from beside him. "Shit!"

Kyou's spell wore off before Toya's did and he stepped in front of his younger brother. Feeling no pity, he reached out a clawed hand and took hold of Toya's neck, squeezing slightly.

"The next time I find her so much as touched by a demon, you will not like the results." He released his hold and without another word left Toya, who was still cursing and unable to move.

***** When Toya bounded back into the clearing, landing right in front of Kyoko, the first words out of his mouth were. "What the hell was that for?"

He wasn’t mad, he just wanted to know what the reason was that she’d used the spell, but to Kyoko, he sarcastically asked, "Did you have to do it in front of me too… stupid?" He turned his head to the side as if angry but at the same time, his fingers twitched, waiting to hear why she had done it.

Kyoko gave him a small smile hoping for forgiveness. "I’m sorry Toya. For a minute there, I forgot it would work on you too. I only meant to send him away, not you. Sorry." She clinched her hands in front of her, staring hard at them so she wouldn’t have to see his angry face.

Her voice had been soft but Toya could tell she’d been avoiding the question and he leaned closer to her. "So you used the spell? Why." He still wanted to know and her avoiding the question only made him more curious.

"Twice," Kyoko said too fast, caught up in the satisfaction and not thinking that would just make him more curious.

"TWICE!" He shouted and watched Kyoko flinch and start to turn away from him, but Toya grabbed hold of her arm and swung her back around to face him. Feeling the feverish heat gone from her arm and replaced with a different kind of heat, his grip loosened as his lips parted. Kyou had healed her… he just knew it. The question was… did Kyoko know it?

"What did he do to make you say it the first time?" Toya’s voice softened with worry knowing the answer already.

Kyoko shrugged. Might as well go ahead and tell him now. She’d already dug a hole and knew he wouldn’t leave it alone until she told him. "He kissed me," She growled then turned her head away, her auburn hair flying around her.

Toya just stared at her for a minute, then asked in a confused voice. "Is that all?"

Kyoko swung her head back around balling her fist up at her sides, she narrowed her eyes at Toya, screeching. "Is that all?!" Then she smiled real sweet. "Toya."

He looked at her feeling the small fine hair stand up on his neck in warning.

”Go away!” Kyoko stomped her foot in retaliation.

Several minutes later Toya came running up, skidding to a stop behind her. "Damn it Kyoko, come back here.” He watched as she stalked off in a huff. He thought about what she said. So, Kyou was stealing kisses from her. That wasn’t as bad as what he ‘had’ been trying to do, right? What if she wasn’t telling him everything?

He glared at her retreating form then yelled, "Wait Kyoko."

Kyoko stopped in her tracks and stood there waiting on Toya to catch up to her. She silently wondered when she had become so mean. It wasn’t as if any of this was his fault. When she felt him behind her, she whispered. "I’m sorry."

Toya stood still for a minute not knowing what to say to that. It left him wanting to put his arms around her and hold her. Suddenly feeling selfish he asked, "Kyoko? It was more than a kiss, wasn’t it?" His bangs hung over his eyes, causing a shadow to hide them from her gaze when she turned and looked at him.

Kyoko was glad they were away from everyone because even talking about it made her nervous and Toya was right. She watched him thoughtfully. When Kyou kissed her, it made her feel other things and that was what scared her.

"Yes." She fidgeted nervously.

Toya scowled. So it was more than a kiss. He felt his stomach muscles tighten and for some reason, he grew angry. "So why did you let him kiss you like that? You could have just used the spell, right?" Jealousy was a powerful thing.

Kyoko's eyebrow twitched. "It’s kind of hard to say anything when someone is fastened to your lips and won’t let go, you know," She said sarcastically, feeling uneasy talking about it to him… then it dawned on her. Really, she had never been kissed by anyone but Kyou so what was she comparing it to?

She suddenly remembered kissing Hyakuhei in the dreamed then deleted the thought as soon as it tried to interfere.

Her gaze lowered to Toya's lips. She had always loved Toya… as long as she could remember. Sometimes she wondered if maybe she’d loved him long before she had even met him. She remembered throwing herself in his arms the other night in her dreams… she would have done the same if it had not been a dream.

All the tension left her as it dawned on her. She did throw herself in his arms as soon as she’d woken up and he had been there… holding her and making her world safe again.

Toya knew Kyou would not hurt Kyoko on purpose, but he also should not be kissing her like that. He glanced down at Kyoko and noticed she was oddly enough… staring at his lips and he felt his stomach tighten again along with things even lower. Without meaning to, he stepped closer to her… within inches of her. He would always be closer to her than his brothers were… as it should be.

Kyoko was lost in thought until he took a step closer to her and she was looking up at him. He wasn’t as tall as Kyou. Her eyes widened. Since when had she started comparing Toya to Kyou?

She raised her gaze to lock with his. Toya's irises were the same color as Kyou's but different at the same time. Kyou's eyes ran either cold or hot, but Toya's eyes had silver flecks in them and were full of life at all times. She knew during battle they would sometimes turn molten silver and then when he was angry… really angry, they would turn crimson.

For some reason, the thought of Kyou’s eyes made Kyoko sad. Kyou never really showed emotion. Maybe it was because he didn’t know how or had forgotten. Was that what he meant when he had asked her to teach him?

Kyoko tensed up remembering Kyou hadn’t really asked her… more like demanded it of her. Why was she feeling sorry for him after the way he’d treated her? And as far as his kiss, maybe all kisses were the same. How would she know? She tried not to think about the fact that she’d kissed Hyakuhei in her dreams… because dreams didn’t count… they could trick you.

She refocused on Toya's lips curiously and felt like her fever was returning.

Toya watched Kyoko stare at his lips and it made him want to kiss her… just once. He leaned in closer to her, smelling her sweet scent and the fact that she didn’t back away from him… he had always wanted this.

Kyoko watched his lips get closer. What was he doing? Was he going to kiss her? She couldn’t take her eyes off his lips. Maybe this would prove it to her. Maybe Toya's kiss was just like Kyou's. That would make her feel better about her tattered feelings. She closed her eyes, lifting her lips, offering them to Toya.

Toya died a thousand deaths all at once when he saw her dark eyelashes flutter down across her cheeks and her lips rise. She was saying yes, without being asked. He placed his hands on her shoulders and lowered his lips to hers, feeling with all his heart their first kiss. It was something he’d done a thousand times if only in his dreams.

Kyoko felt his lips touch hers and she instantly pressed against him waiting for the overwhelming sensations to start. His lips were warm and soft, not hot and demanding and his hands stayed on her shoulders instead of roaming her body. She felt a strange tingle when he slid his tongue across her lips as if hesitantly asking for entrance and she quickly gave him what he wanted.

His kiss was heated, as she knew it would be, but still she felt safe, whereas Kyou's kiss was passionate and demanding. Then it dawned on her… if it had been Kyou kissing her, she wouldn’t even been able to think right now and realizing that made her want to prove that thought wrong. Taking a step forward, she pushed her body flush against Toya's and leaned into the kiss hoping it would help erase Kyou’s kiss from her mind.

Toya felt his temperature rise by about a hundred degrees and his hands instantly wrapped behind her, pressing her body to his. He could feel the swell of her breast pushing against his chest and he tilted her head back with a more forceful kiss.

He did not want Kyou to have this… not his Kyoko. He would keep her. He would erase Kyou’s scent from her forever. Toya felt his dark side trying to take hold of his mind and knew if that happened he would take Kyoko and force her to be his. Even now he wanted to be deep inside her.

The curse Hyakuhei had placed on him was making him unstable and dangerous. He could feel the demon blood trying to override his guardian nature. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Kyoko. The problem was… he wanted her too much to fight the urge that was overpowering him.

Kyoko almost melted as she felt Toya's passion start to surface. His kiss changed so rapidly from attentive to trusting to passionate then hot, needy and dangerous. Pressed against each other, she felt the hardness of him pushed against her and she realized she had lost control of the kiss a few exits back.

Just as she started to push against him Toya thrust her away, holding her at arm’s length. Her gaze shot to his… seeing the tainted red rimming his golden irises and his breathing was labored. All at once she ran hot and cold. He hadn’t been kissing her at all… it was his cursed side that had been showing passion. Her eyes burned with tears that would not come and she turned, wrenching herself out of his grasps and took off running.

What had she done? She had kissed Toya hoping to erase Kyou’s kiss. It was all her fault. Why had she done that? After she’d run far enough to be out of his sight, she hid behind a tree, sliding down it into a sitting position and drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. Pressing her forehead against her knees, she hid her face from the world suddenly ashamed of herself. It was wrong… it was all… so wrong.

Toya was still standing where she had left him trying to calm the demon within him by clearing his mind. He had finally kissed Kyoko. But it had almost awakened the curse within his guardian blood. His eyes lifted in the direction Kyoko had gone.

He wished he could take it back. He wished he could take the kiss back and try it again. Somehow this time… he would kiss Kyoko with his own passion and not that of the beast that hid inside him. His dark side wanted her just as much as he did. His golden eyes swam in misery as he stilled himself from following her.

***** Kyou stood on a high limb watching Kyoko. He’d seen everything. His eyes were still blood red from witnessing his brother’s mangled attempt at kissing her. He had been to the point of killing his brother just as Toya had pushed her away. He’d noticed the eyes of the demon and knew the dangers.

He started to intervene, not trusting the demon’s rage so close to Kyoko, but he paused seeing her run. Leaving his brother to get his demon side back under control, Kyou turned and followed Kyoko.

He’d expected the priestess to cry but he smelled only a slight hint of salt mingling with regret that seemed to be radiating off her in waves. So, she had not liked the kiss from his brother. For this reason alone, he would let Toya live. He could also feel other vibes coming from Kyoko and he wasn’t sure he liked them.

Kyoko stood up but didn’t leave the spot. She still felt too undecided in truth. Now she felt horrible. The curse wasn’t Toya’s fault. Kyoko frowned wondering why kissing her had almost awakened the dark side of her friend… the dangerous side.

Maybe it was because of her intentions. Hadn’t she been comparing him to Kyou? "Oh Toya.” She felt her heart fracture and placed a hand over it… almost savoring the pain as her punishment.

Kyou's eyes changed to the color of blood. How dare she. The memory and the feeling of watching Toya pull her into his arms crept back into Kyou's mind. She was his and he would not have another touch her in such a way. She needed to learn he was the only one allowed to do that.

Kyoko was startled from her thoughts as she caught a flash of white descending from above her. She felt her heartbeat speed up when her eyes swept over him before locking with his riveting gaze. It was a gaze that was sending off warning signals… warning signals that should have had her running for her life.

She had seen Kyou in many moods over the last couple of weeks. Several of those moods were quite dark and frightening. But she’d never seen him truly angry. What she saw now in his eyes could have frozen a hot coal. He was angry all right. So angry, she couldn’t guess what he might do and that frightened her more than Toya’s demon side ever would.

Her lips parted to say something but couldn’t get anything past the tightness in her throat as Kyou closed the distance between them. She quickly took a frightened step back, only to come against the tree she had been hiding behind.

‘Oh god… what have I done now?’ she silently wondered as the breath shuddered from her lungs in a whimper.

Feeling the tree block her escape, her eyes widened and a nervous whisper finally left her lips. "Kyou?"

When Kyou heard her whisper his name, a feeling of warmth swept across his frozen heart but he had a point to make and he shook his head. "No Kyoko. You will not run from me this time."

His hands snaked out to lock around her wrists and he pulled her hands behind him, slamming her body against his, making her gasp, then her eyes widened at his words.

"Next time you want a kiss, make sure you remember who your lips belong to." A jealous growl could be heard just before he slashed his lips across hers demanding entrance.

Kyoko's heart was beating so hard she was sure he could feel it. When his lips captured hers, a moan escaped her and he took the sound into his mouth as he entered hers. This was the kiss she’d been searching for from Toya. The one only Kyou was capable of giving and for just once, she had fleeting thoughts of surrendering herself to it. His hands were leaving a trail of fire across her body and it felt so good.

Kyou's golden eyes slid shut as he made love to her lips and mouth. Without her being aware of it, he entered her mind in search of her hidden thoughts. He found her mental struggle to give into her passion. Passion he now knew that only he had the power to inflame within her.

His lips left hers and she gave a startled whimper at the loss but then her eyes met his. They were no longer tinged in pink but had turned a glowing golden. She could feel him looking deep within her own eyes, removing any walls she had around her true feelings and it frightened her to feel so exposed.

She closed her eyes to his intense gaze, only to feel his breath on her cheek and hear his seductive whisper near her ear.

"Soon Kyoko... I will be inside you,” Kyou breathed the warning.

Kyoko’s eyes flew open only to find she was now alone. She wrapped her arms around herself feeling cold now that the heat of his body was gone. She shook her head in denial of her feelings that were now growing for the strange guardian, the very powerful guardian lord who was used to getting his way.

***** Hyakuhei watched them through the mirror as they traveled, his dark eyes catching every moment as if one obsessed. His lips thinned as he noticed Kamui was keeping close watch over the priestess. After their last run in, he felt like he had a score to settle with the boy… his boy.

“You think the dream master is the only one who can make your nightmares come true son? You forget so easily.” He blew on the image causing a slight wind where the group was traveling to help push them toward their goal. They were headed right where he wanted them too.

Shinbe walked behind Kyoko still wondering at the darkness he’d felt within her… it was still within her though it did not plague her. She was oblivious to the aura and for the moment, he would let her remain that way. His soul was becoming full of secrets and it left him feeling a little disturbed.

His hair blew forward and he noticed so did Kyoko’s as the wind picked up. Shinbe’s gaze lowered to the exposed skin of Kyoko’s neck and he gripped his staff tighter. The sudden urge to press against her backside was stronger now and he once again resisted the never ending urge. Lowering his eyelids to half-mast, he pressed his lips together imagining what her soft skin would feel like beneath them.

Her hair moved a bit more as if purposely teasing him and he spotted a marking nearly hidden beneath her hair. His amethyst eyes widened. He dropped his staff when he saw the imprint of a feather right at the base of her hairline. Was that the mark of a guardian? How long had it been there and who would dare such a thing?

The sound of his staff hitting the ground startled Suki and she looked over at him. His normal calmness had vanished and he suddenly seemed untamed somehow. The blue highlights within his dark hair fluttered angrily around his face and his amethyst eyes appeared almost livid.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly.

Shinbe couldn’t answer her right away as he felt something dark and irate rise up in his chest. Who had marked Kyoko? As he stared openly, Kamui glanced back at him and then innocently put his arm across Kyoko’s shoulder… covering up the mark. Shinbe wondered if Kamui somehow knew it was there and was hiding it from him.

‘Or perhaps he’s the one that put it there,’ his mind whispered malevolently. Shinbe gave a shake of his head and smiled reassuringly at Suki. “I’m fine my dear Suki. I’m afraid I… how dose Kyoko put it… ah, went to La-La Land for a moment.”

Suki frowned at the strange light that still glowed in Shinbe’s irises. She’d traveled with him long enough to know when something truly bothered him. It saddened her that he would keep anything from her, but she shrugged it off as best she could. If he felt it was something the rest of them should know… he would say so, right?

“As long as you’re okay,” She said finally, feeling a sudden weight on her shoulders making her uneasy.

Shinbe didn’t hear her as he felt evil crowd around him… suffocating. At first he thought it was coming from Kamui then realized it wasn’t. Looking past them in thought, he quickly reached back down for his staff.

“Stop!” his voice was unyielding and everyone instantly turned toward him. He noted everyone looking at him curiously, waiting on him to explain himself… everyone except Kamui.

Kamui’s eyes changed from a sparkling array of colors to a deep stormy looking gray almost instantly… daring Shinbe to say something about what he had seen.

For a moment Shinbe stared back, meeting Kamui’s gaze head on. His heart clenched when Kamui squeezed Kyoko’s shoulder and he had to fight back the jealous growl that tried to break free. No, Kyoko belonged to Kyou… even he could see that. Apparently no one else saw it… especially Toya. Shinbe gave a mental sigh. Once more he would have to defy what his heart was telling him. Kyoko was his but he couldn’t have her… it was just a fact.

Toya had been so lost in thought that he wasn’t even watching where he was leading the group. His mind was still trying to cope with how to erase the strangeness that now lay between him and Kyoko. When he heard Shinbe call everyone to a stop, he finally looked up and realized he wasn’t even sure where they were.

Shinbe shook his head at the state the group was in. “Toya, are you trying to get us killed?” he asked with a straight face. Seeing Toya’s confusion he informed their fearless leader, “We are about to walk straight into a demon bone yard.” The amethyst guardian smirked seeing the dangerous look leave Kamui’s face and all the color drain with it.

Kyoko glanced toward Toya seeing his misery. He had been depressed since the kiss and it’d been her fault, so, deciding to stand up for him she shrugged, “So. It’s not like they can hurt us. I mean, bone yard does equal dead… right?” She started walking forward even though she could have sworn she could hear a voice inside her head chanting the word ‘stupid’ loud and clear.

As they passed the last line of trees, Kyoko stopped dead in her tracks as she looked down into a small valley. For as far as her eyes could see… there was nothing but bones. That little voice within her started sarcastically chanting ‘stupid’ a little louder and she whispered in a deadpan voice, “Oh shut up.”

The remaining members of the group gathered around her. They stared out at the landscape trying to determine the best course of action. The land was covered in a low shadowy haze that made them all shiver for different reasons.

“I think we should find a better path and go around,” Shinbe stated. “It’s not very wise to disturb the dead in their final resting place… especially the evil dead.”

Suki was gripping Kaen’s arm a little too tightly, but if the fire sprite was uncomfortable, he would never say so.

“The mist covering the bone yard is a protective seal,” Suki informed them nervously. “If we were to trespass… it wouldn’t be a good thing. The first bone out of place could bring bad fortune and possibly wake the sleeping demons that reside here.”

Toya snorted, “The whole lot of you are superstitious scaredy-cats. I say we just plow through and deal with the consequences later.” His golden eyes flashed silver, happy to finally have something take his mind off kissing Kyoko.

Kamui shook his head but remained silent. He hated bone yards… they brought back very bad memories of his childhood.

“I agree with Suki and Shinbe,” Kyoko said as she switched sides. Taking up for Toya wasn’t worth wading through demon decay… nothing short of a talisman could make her willingly go in there. “I think we should find a way to go around.”

Movement in the distance caught their eyes and they saw a demon shift amongst the bones. It lifted its head and Kyoko’s eyes widened when she saw the glimmer of a large talisman imbedded in its left eye socket.

Kamui gasped when he saw it too. His shoulders slumped and he hung his head low.

“Damn it!” they whispered in unison.

***** Hyakuhei smirked and placed the mirror in a safe place. He had left them no choice but to venture into his ambush. He slowly stood up. The party was starting and it was time to make his appearance. His instinct warned him of an intruder and he glanced up at the ceiling of the cave.

His ebony eyes narrowed as he felt Kyou’s presence closing in on him. Since the intrusive guardian had infiltrated the dreams he shared with Kyoko, he had been searching for the truth. Hyakuhei was not happy with this new development and heard the dream master cackle with glee.

Hyakuhei’s growl rumbled through the cave, bouncing off the walls and making the sound louder than it actually was. He would have to take his leave of this sanctuary… for now. Kyou was welcome to it because while the golden guardian searched through the caves, he would pay a visit to the priestess.

Exiting the cave, Hyakuhei rose into the sky and made his retreat. He had so many plans for the other guardians and they needed to come to fruition.

He desired the priestess with him and turning her against the other guardians may be the best course of action for now. This in turn would not only send the priestess into chaos, but it would also bring out Kamui’s fighting instincts. To test the boy’s ability was one of Hyakuhei’s goals.

If Kamui ever wanted to match him in all his strength and greatness… the guardian would have to admit that the priestess did not belong with Tadamichi’s spawn… only then would he take him back into his fold.

***** Kyou flew over the forest searching for the strongest point of Hyakuhei’s power. His translucent wings spread out in a spray of gold only adding to his angry beauty as he descended closer to the earth in hopes of finding the cave he’d seen in Kyoko’s dream. He passed over a crevice and frowned at the residual power coming from it… Hyakuhei’s power.

Folding his wings tightly against his body, he dropped down into the crevice like a spear before extending his wings once more to capture his fall. His feet touched down silently on a ledge where a light was coming from far within. Kyou folded his wings and they disappeared altogether in a shimmer of gold dust, momentarily lighting the walls around him.

Kyou dropped further into the cave and emerged in a large room where furs covered the middle of the floor and a fire pit blazing high, giving light to the underground cave. Kyou growled at the magic still contained within, feeling its pull on his body. Had he been a weaker being, a human, he would have succumbed to the trap Hyakuhei and the dream master left behind.

The trap was designed to keep intruders here, giving them a feeling of exhaustion and putting them into a magically induced sleep they would never wake from unless it was the master’s wish.

Kyou exited the cave, disgusted with the snare his uncle had left for him. Did Hyakuhei honestly believe he was that weak as to be pulled in by such a parlor trick? Kyou snarled and smashed his fist into the wall on the ledge. His wings emerged, once more lighting the rock walls around him.

He stopped when he noticed something on the walls and frowned. His aura blazed to life, illuminating the surroundings. He reached out a hand and ran it over a vein of emeralds in the wall that he remembered from the dream.

Stepping off the ledge, Kyou descended into the depths. He stopped, hovering over the lowest level of the cave trying to process what his eyes were telling him. Verification of the avalanche in the dream was present but appeared to have happened sometime in the distant past.

His sharp mind wrapped around this evidence as he withdrew into himself and his thoughts. The cave existed! This is where he had actually fought Hyakuhei. How was that possible if it was only a dream? Then he remembered Hyakuhei’s trap.

‘The magic transfers through the dream… the dream demon,’ He concluded.

An expression of rage crossed his features and he shot straight up into the bright sky. Kyou was half tempted to destroy the cave but fought against it. He held his hand out in front of him and whispered an incantation. His hand glowed golden for a moment and the rocks around the cave entrance were bathed in it momentarily before returning to their dormant state.

“You will not have her… not even in your dreams,” Kyou growled softly before taking to the skies once more. He needed to find Kyoko and warn her of this.