Chapter 9 “Bag of Tricks”

Chapter 9 “Bag of Tricks”

Suki’s shoulder slumped when she realized she was soaking wet. Looking around, she cringed noticing Shinbe was eyeing her intently … right below the neckline. Placing one arm across her chest, she threw the bayonet at him barely missing him then huffed, “Can we find somewhere to dry off?”

Shinbe looked innocently at her knowing he shouldn’t say it but he did anyway. “But I think you look just fine Suki.” He tried to dodge the rock but this time, he wasn’t fast enough.

Since everyone was now soaking wet, Toya looked around remembering something familiar about the area. “There’s a cave around here … somewhere,” he whispered trying to remember where it was.

Kyoko instantly lowered her gaze to the wet ground to hide her fear… she just hoped it wasn’t the same cave she was thinking about. If it was, then she would just die right then and there.

Kamui’s lips curved into a smile hearing his brother’s uncertainty. “I know where it is!” He nodded toward the thickest part of the forest then his face dropped as he noticed the darkness that seemed to surround the very path they would have to take to get to the cave.

He took a step back instead of forward suddenly wishing he had kept his mouth shut. He decided that scared was a good expression to have after just seeing Hyakuhei. The last thing he wanted was to walk down a long dark spooky trail… the same trail the enemy had just been standing at the start of.

Toya grinned seeing Kamui had lost his hero status. Grabbing Kyoko by the hand he started forward, leaving the others to join them or get left behind. Since Kamui had pointed in this direction, it had reminded him where the cave lay. He had never gotten to it from this direction, but that wasn’t going to stop him.

Toya sent a fleeting glance toward kyoko who was walking next to him and wondered just what he had missed between her and Kamui… not that he would ever ask. ‘Damn,’ he muttered inwardly.

Shinbe’s amethyst eyes narrowed at the murky darkness but before he could even disagree with the direction, he heard the happiness in Suki’s voice as she took off after Toya and Kyoko. “A cave! We can make a fire and dry off. Its late anyway so we should just spend the night there.”

Glancing over at Kamui, Shinbe frowned. The boy had lost a lot of color within the last few minutes. “You coming?” He asked as he took off after Suki.

Right before he entered the dense woods, Shinbe looked over his shoulder only to find Kamui and Kaen nowhere in sight. Shrugging and knowing he was in the best place for a nice view, he stayed several feet behind Suki as they made their way toward the cave.

Suki felt the hair on the back of her neck wiggle. It wasn’t a feeling of danger … it was the feeling you were being watched from behind by a letch type feeling and she whirled around. Sure enough, Shinbe raised his eyes to hers guiltily.

“What?” Shinbe asked trying to play it safe. “I wasn’t looking at your…” from the look in Suki’s eyes, he needed to figure out what the words ‘playing it safe’ actually meant again. Expecting her to pick something up and throw it at him, he became confused when her eyes widened and her lips parted like… like something was right behind him.

Shinbe cringed as he slowly turned to glance behind him. His face lost all expression as the trees and undergrowth began to rearrange its self, cutting off the path they had just followed. But that wasn’t the bad part… no. The bad part was that all the moving vegetation was making its way toward them at such an alarming rate.

“I think I know where all the demons went!” the amethyst guardian called out as he took off running.

“Let me guess,” Suki shouted back. ”Into the trees?”

“Very perceptive,” Shinbe caught her by the hand as he ran past and began pulling her along with him.

Hearing their shouts, Kyoko glanced behind her and saw Shinbe and Suki running like the banshees of hell were on their heels. Toya must have noticed at the same time because Kyoko was swept off her feet and placed safely behind him in one fluid movement.

“Stay behind me,” Toya growled as he pulled the daggers and turned to face the oncoming avalanche of demented forest. “Demon spawn! Don’t you know when you run away, you’re supposed to stay gone at least for a little while? Damn it!” He glared at the dangerously twisting vines that were right on Shinbe and Suki’s heals.

Shinbe pushed Suki past Toya, then quickly turned to stand beside his brother. Swiftly raising his hands, he created symbols with his fingers as the chants started.

Toya took a second to glance around making sure everyone was accounted for. Becoming frustrated, he yelled, “Where the hell did Kamui go?”

Shinbe smirked, “In this case… he was the only smart one.” Breathing a sigh of relief he added, “Look up.”

Kamui glanced down from the back of Kaen high in the air. He could see the danger his friends where now in. “I knew there was something wrong with that trail.”

The ground beneath them cracked and shook as roots sprang up all around them. Kyoko screamed when one of the vines slithered up her leg much like a snake. The small piece of earth she was standing on suddenly lifted up by the underground roots and tried walking off with her.

Toya ran after Kyoko when an onslaught of vines sprang at him. He dodged the strike and rolled to the right, jumping up with lightning speed. “Enough!” He yelled as he used one of the daggers to shoot fire directly into the hunk of earth that was trying to run off with his priestess.

Seeing more than the vines catch fire his golden eyes widened. “Heh?”

Kamui shot down from above and snatched Kyoko from the blazing ride. “Well that wasn’t very smart of him,” Kamui smirked as they watched the fireball leave a small trail of sparks behind it as it turned and started chasing Toya for revenge. Kamui looked up, his eyes becoming stormy. Whispering words no one could understand… the rain came back.

Kyoko’s lips parted when she realized what he was doing. He was saving the forest from burning by having the rain put the fire out. She looked down at his arms that were still around her and felt the strength hidden there. Kamui was stronger and more powerful than any of them realized. She leaned back into him, cherishing him for a moment in time.

Shinbe turned back to find Suki, and to his delight… she was now dangling upside down and the skirt she was wearing was following suit. Shaking the temptation out of his head, he quickly used his staff to slice through the vines holding her up. Suki fell to the forest floor, flipping over to land on her feet in a battle ready crouch.

Keeping his perverted comments to himself, Shinbe gripped his staff in both hands and stood slightly in front of Suki. The vines were writhing as though in pain and seemed to be screaming in agony from Toya’s attack.

Toya, for his part, was grateful for Kamui’s intervention in saving Kyoko and felt guilty for putting her in that amount of danger. Pushing that to the back of his mind for now, he made a mental promise to apologize to her later. He just thanked any entity that was listening that Kyou wasn’t around to see that happen.

If Kyou had witnessed it… Toya knew he’d be strung up with the very vines he was at the moment trying to fight. He snarled at a vine that suddenly wrapped around his leg and used the ice dagger to slice it away. This whole situation was really starting to piss him off!

“Shinbe,” Toya shouted over the rustling overgrowth. “Use that psychic hoodoo ability of yours and find the heart of this thing.” His lips thinned as a brier bush found a way around his arm and left a trail of blood in its wake.

Shinbe glared at Toya but nodded and drove the end of his staff into the earth. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on their surroundings. The world around them suddenly became black and white behind his eyelids.

Furrowing his brow, he continued to search. He saw a flash of pink showing him where Suki was beside him. Toya was glowing with an otherworldly silver glow. Kamui, who still hovered above them on Kaen’s back, was alight with every color known and unknown, while Kaen was a vibrant red. Kyoko sat behind him shimmering with a combination of bright blue and surprisingly… black.

Shinbe frowned at that but decided to go back to it later… he would watch her closer once they were safe.

Turning back to the surrounding forest, the landscape flew by his vision as he zeroed in on the source of their attacker. A dull green and brown aura was detected just a mere twenty feet from their spot… he couldn’t believe it was so close and they hadn’t detected it.

Suki used her bayonet to slash at the surrounding vines trying to keep them away from Shinbe. “Hurry up,” She exclaimed. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep these things off of you.”

“Toya, to your left!” Shinbe shouted opening his eyes.

Toya nodded and rushed headfirst into the writhing growth.

“Leave it to him,” Shinbe muttered before taking up his staff once more and assisting Suki in the battle. He smiled when a familiar spirit dart struck home on one of the thicker vines. Looking up, he grinned at Kyoko and Kamui and gave them a mock salute.

Toya tore through the vegetation, his daggers incinerating and freezing everything that came close to him. He was surprised to emerge into a clear area with what looked like a large deformed tree trunk with writhing branches and vines crawling all over its body.

“Ugly and stupid,” Toya smirked.

The vines wrapped around the demon stiffened, becoming razor sharp spikes before flying at him. Toya became a blur of motion and twisted around, carving the projectiles in half with his daggers only to growl when one of them grazed his cheek. His long black hair flowed outward, giving him an angelic appearance as it shimmered with silver highlights. His golden eyes bled to silver and he turned back to the tree.

Another smirk appeared on his face and he rushed at the demon, crossing the daggers in front of him. Their power began to radiate, illuminating the small clearing to the point of blinding. The vines retreated from the brilliance and wrapped around the tree demon, seeking to protect it.

“You can’t run now… the party’s just starting,” Toya exclaimed and pushed the crossed blades against the vine-covered trunk.

An inhuman wail resonated from the demon as the daggers began to freeze and burn through the vines. Toya’s hair whipped around him from the backlash of power and he had to close his eyes but he didn’t stop pushing. The demon pulled its roots from the earth in an attempt to withdraw but found them frozen as soon as they emerged.

Very slowly, from roots to top branches, the demon was frozen. The fire dagger ignited and blazed… melting through the ice and scorching the demon beneath.

Finally, the wails stopped and Toya pulled back from the demon. He looked up at the charred remains of the creature and realized it was still barely alive. Taking both daggers in one hand, he plunged them deep into the tree and released their power. The demon shook in agony before exploding in a shower of wood and splinters.

Toya felt the pin-sized pieces of timber imbedded in his skin here and there. ‘Just great,’ he griped silently. ‘I get to spend the evening pulling splinters out of my ass.’

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the vines had gone still and silent. He watched as they slowly turned brown before crumbling to dust. At least now the path to the cave they were looking for was visible. Hoping the danger had passed for the day, the silver melted from Toya’s eyes as they faded back to gold.

A few minutes later, Kyoko sat down throwing the backpack beside her. Shinbe stood at the mouth of the cave with his hands in front of him and a smirk across his lips. The very trees they had just fought were his targets, pieces of perfectly sized wood came floating into the cave one by one and landed right in the center, making a neat stack for the fire they were about to enjoy.

Toya still hadn’t cooled his temper off. Taking his fire dagger back out, he whispered a few words causing a very small stream of fire to shoot forth and ignite the wood.

Kyoko smirked, “well that will teach those mean old trees.” She pulled her bag onto her lap and started rummaging through it. With a grin on her face, Kyoko removed a few things she had brought from home and laid them out beside her.

“What kind of stuff did you bring this time?” Kamui asked curiously.

Kyoko was trying like crazy to keep from laughing at the prank she was about to play, so with a straight face, she opened one of the packs and held it over her hand letting several solid red balls roll out onto her palm. Fireballs…

“My brother gave me some candy before I left…” She was cut off as everyone grabbed one of them from her hand. ‘Suckers!!!’ Kyoko hid her grin as one by one each of them popped one of the flaming fireball candies into their mouths. She had known they would grab for it since the only candy she had ever brought them was chocolate.

Waiting to see which one would be the first to realize it was hot, she heard a crunch coming from Toya and quickly said, “No Toya, you’re supposed to suck on them.” She hadn’t realized what would break a human’s teeth wouldn’t put a dent in a guardians. Her eyes widened as Toya quickly stopped in mid chew. ‘Oh no.’

She scooted back from the look he was now giving her but her attention was quickly taken when Kamui jumped up and just stood there hopping from one foot to the other as if his feet were on fire.

Another crunch came from Toya’s direction but she was afraid to look, then Shinbe piped in with, “yummmm” making Kyoko almost fall over.

Suki started waving her hand in front of her mouth as tears sprang to her eyes and her cheeks flushed. “Hot hot ouch hot,” she chanted.

Kyoko should have seen it coming when Shinbe leaned over her and helpfully asked Suki, “If you don’t like it then just give it to me.” Suki started to take it out of her mouth but Shinbe stalled her hand, “put your lips to mine and I’ll gladly take it.”

Suki slapped at his hands and dove for the water bottle Kyoko had sitting next to her. Quickly unscrewing the cap, she upped the bottle and started drinking like she was dying of thirst.

Kamui ran over and tried grabbing the water bottle but Suki placed a hand on his head, keeping him at arm’s length while she continued to drink. Kamui flailed his arms helplessly as he watched the precious liquid quickly disappear down Suki’s throat.

“Just take it out of your mouth,” Kyoko managed, actually sounding a bit concerned, but on the inside she was laughing like a mad woman.

Kamui lifted his fingers to his lips and gingerly took the hot candy out of his mouth. Suki placed the bottle down to do the same but ended up spitting out the fireball instead when Kamui made a grab for the water. The young guardian growled in frustration and tackled Suki to the ground. Suki lay on her side with the water bottle held just out of Kamui’s reach.

“Get off of me Guardian,” Suki yelled. “Get your own.”

“But I need it!” Kamui whined while trying to blow on his own tongue.

They both stopped when Kyoko placed two more bottles of water in front of them. Kamui grabbed one while Suki grabbed the other and finished the first before tossing it aside and opening the second.

“What are those wonderful things?” Shinbe leaned forward and asked with a smile.

“Fireballs,” Kyoko exclaimed happily. “All they are is hot cinnamon candy.”

“That’s not cinnamon,” Suki rasped, glaring half-heartedly at Kyoko and pointed to the innocent looking red balls sitting in Kyoko’s lap. “That’s a deadly spice from hell itself.”

Another crunch came from Toya’s direction. “They taste pretty good to me.” He refused to be defeated by something so small even though his forehead had broken out in a sweat.

Kyoko took out a large plastic bag and dangled it in front of the wide eyed guardian. “These are firecrackers.”

Toya grabbed it out of her hand and opened it. Lifting it to his face, he took a deep breath, sniffing to make sure it was safe this time. Wrinkling his nose in disgust, he looked up at Kyoko and growled.

“What kind of shit are you trying to feed us?” Toya demanded. “It stinks and isn’t even fit enough to eat.” He tossed the bag into the fire before she could tell him it wasn’t food.

“EVERYBODY OUT OF THE CAVE!” Kyoko screamed, grabbing her backpack and running out into the rain.

Seconds later the powder in the firecrackers ignited and began to explode… looking much like lightning within the rock walls of the cave. Suki ran out after Kyoko, followed closely by Kamui, Kaen, and Shinbe.

“Where’s Toya?” Kyoko asked in a panic.

They all looked toward the cave with expressions of horror and wonder on their faces. The loud pops soon subsided and the smoke started to clear. Kamui began laughing so hard that he lost all ability to stand when Toya emerged from the cave. The black and silver guardian was covered from head to toe in the remnants of the powder in the firecrackers and his hair was disheveled.

Toya had more than a few burn marks on his clothing and a very odd look on his face.

***** Well into the night, Kyou descended just outside the cave’s entrance so no one could see him. He had left Kyoko alone these last few days so she would get comfortable back in this world and would be less likely to bolt at the first sight of him.

He had not been here for the obvious fight within the forest… his golden eyes searched behind him wondering just what he’d missed. He gazed back in where the fire was slowly dying down.

His brothers where asleep, but Kyoko was still awake. She lay very still but he could tell by her breathing… it was faster and mixed with soft sighs as she shifted silently trying to get comfortable. He knew why she was fighting the oncoming sleep… he knew it was at night when she was truly the closest to the enemy. He would not let her fight this night’s battle alone.

During the days he would allow his brothers to protect her as it had always been, but they didn’t know the nights were when she needed the most protection. He glared at their stupidity. She had kept that secret from them and he wondered why. She had no clue how much danger she was actually in. He could feel her almost fall asleep then jerk awake out of fear of it.

Dream masters… they were demons not to be toyed with.

He could tell by its strength when he had broken its bond with Kyoko the last time that this dream master had the power of a talisman. He knew his uncle thought he was in control of it but there was no controlling a dream sprite. They are bodiless creatures that reach beyond this realm… mere phantoms within one’s mind. One would have to kill it or leave it alone.

Hyakuhei thought too much of himself when he took one into his own soul.

Kyou’s thoughts were interrupted as Kyoko’s breathing leveled out… losing her battle against sleep. Cloaking his power so as not to alert his brothers, the golden guardian stepped into the cave, ready and waiting on the silent attack. The silhouette of his body shadowed the priestess as he felt the dream demon enter her mind.

The shadow of golden wings sprang out from his back as Kyou trespassed into the illusion.

Just as Kyoko slipped into the dream… she awoke within it also. Opening her eyes, she turned her head slightly and found herself still within the cave she had shared with Hyakuhei. As if remembering the last dream, she instantly reached behind her neck; feeling for the mark Hyakuhei had given her.

Her lips parted widened in wonder as she felt the outline of what she knew was a feather. She glanced around the dim light for Hyakuhei but with all the deep shadows, she couldn’t see much. Something about the room suddenly felt cold and dark and she became frightened. Pulling the black fur up around her like a cover, she sat up shivering.

“Hyakuhei?” Kyoko whispered. “Please don’t leave me.” The fear could be heard in the echo of her voice as it resounded off the walls making her bottom lip quiver.

Hyakuhei watched her from the darkness. He had wondered what she would do when she found herself alone. He’d never expected her to cry out for him. His sadistic smile instantly changed to something much softer. Something about the way she had said his name almost hurt feelings he’d thought he no longer had.

Kyoko raised her arms to wrap them around herself but felt other arms go around her first and she instantly closed hers over them knowing it was Hyakuhei. “I thought you had abandoned me,” She murmured as she turned her head and looked up into his soft brown eyes.

“Never,” His gaze met hers then trailed down to her pouting lips. Wanting so bad that he couldn’t stop himself, he slashed his lips across hers in a sensually demanding kiss.

Hyakuhei concentrated on Kyoko not realizing they were no longer alone within the cave. He deepened the kiss when he felt her willingly respond to him then flinched as he felt the white-hot heat of Toya's daggers slice through his shoulder. Disbelief mixed with disappointment as he jerked.

The brothers? Both of them? How had he not felt them? Hyakuhei’s gaze locked on Kyoko and he watched as she remembered that he was the enemy once again.

“No!” he hissed within the silence.

Kyoko stared into the heated gaze of Hyakuhei, even after the impact of the blades slicing into him. Her first instinct had been to reach for him… enemy or not. Remembering the crystal talismans she’d helped him gather… she knew what needed to be done. Her bottom lip quivering as she reached up and grasped his chest, drawing some of the shards into her hand, taking some of his power from him… power she had helped him to gain.

She could read the hurt in his eyes as he watched her take back the small crystals she had given him but then he was ripped from her by Kyou and tossed toward the entrance of the cave. Kyoko frowned when she noticed Hyakuhei wasn't even fighting back. He only kept watching her. Why wasn't he fighting back? Why did she want to run to him… to save him?

She heard Toya say the words with suppressed fury…. words that would let loose the dangerous attack from his daggers. Just as the lines of fire and ice started across the cave, Hyakuhei dropped off the ledge into the darkness below. Kyoko’s mind was going around in chaotic thoughts. Had he gotten away? She was glad.

Kyou clasped Kyoko to him. His hand caressed her cheek. A soft, gentle touch, which made Kyoko catch her breath in surprise. He bent his head towards her, smoothing his thumb along her cheekbone lightly in a sensual movement before dipping closer to whisper in her ear. "Come home, Kyoko.”

Kyoko breathed deeply of his warm musky scent. Understanding that she was safe, she nodded as she watched Toya walk closer to her and felt Kyou release her.

"Toya, take her… protect her. I am going to search out Hyakuhei,” His voice held a deadly note as he crossed the floor to the entrance. Kyou then dropped out of sight as he shot downward in search of Hyakuhei.

The whole time Kyou had been touching Kyoko, Toya hadn’t taken his eyes off her and the moment she turned her attention to him, he felt the tightness in his chest release.

Toya was about to ask if she was all right when she suddenly ran forward and threw herself into his arms. He stumbled back a pace or two at the unexpected impact. He then wrapped his arms around her as she tried to bury herself into his chest.

He held on to her tightly as silver wings shot from his back in a flurry of transparent feathers. He lifted both of them into the air and up out of the cave, away from the tainted smell of Hyakuhei. Toya lowered his gaze to the girl in his arms. He had almost lost her. He didn't just want Kyoko as a friend anymore. He wanted something much deeper and knew that he had to make her understand that he was not just a guardian.

Shifting her so he had a better hold on her, he sensed her heartbeat slowing and her arms weakening. She was sleepy, he could tell. He held her lovingly as she laid her cheek against his chest where she would only hear the sound of his heartbeat. Soon, he thought. Soon she would understand.

Giving himself a burst of newfound speed, Toya headed back to where they belonged.

Kyou kept his speed at a normal pace as he plunged straight down just as he knew Hyakuhei had also done. But he felt he was getting no closer to the demon than when he’d started and there seemed to be no bottom to the abyss. Then a thought came to him and he slowed, finally coming to a stop. Giving a slight kick, he headed back up.

Hyakuhei could feel the guardian lord giving up on the chase as he landed on a ledge deep within the crevice to wait. He was still angry at the interruption… this was a sacred place for only him and Kyoko. How dare they! Looking down at his chest, he could see that Kyoko had taken four of the shards from him, leaving him with four.

His anger surfaced and his eyes glowed dangerously in the darkness. “They are the ones who made you do this Kyoko. Soon they will not have this hold over you… even if I have to kill them to gain your release."

Hyakuhei heard a thunderous sound coming from above and moved back just in time to avoid the large rocks as they began to fall.

Kyou was in rare form as he shot powerful blast from his destruction sword toward the hole in the ground, dislodging everything he could. He watched as it caved in, hopes of burying Hyakuhei within. As he was looking down into the tunnel, he was slammed backward by a blinding light and Kyou was thrown backwards out of Kyoko’s dream.

Limping from the cave, Kyou fell to his knees just outside the entrance and glanced back at the group. The dream realm had shattered before he could kill Hyakuhei.

Kyoko was now sitting up silently crying and Toya was on his way to her. Kyou frowned wondering if Toya was also really there within the dream. Did the dream master have the power to pull them all in to watch the unraveling, or were Toya and Kyoko so close that his brother had somehow known she was in danger. Or worse yet… was both dream and reality becoming the truth.

Miles away, Hyakuhei lay silent, having just awakened. He could feel every nerve in his body as if it had a life of its own and he was suddenly calmer then he’d been in centuries. He had seen it in her eyes… even after the spell had been disrupted. For an instant… he’d seen her true feelings.

***** They’d been back several days hunting the scattered talismans without running into Kyou, so everybody had relaxed back into their old routine. The small group seemed fatigued and disheveled, but in a satisfied frame of mind. They made camp for the evening and Shinbe was sitting on a stump, while Suki sat beside Kamui.

Toya was resting on a low branch not far away from the group as he became lost within his own thoughts. They’d not mentioned the other night or the nightmare but it weighed heavily on his mind. He hadn’t said a word as he had held her but he’d listened to her broken whimpers and half sentences before she had calmed.

Had they really shared the same dream? He closed his eyes trying to block out the vision of Hyakuhei kissing her but he could still feel the anger the sight had caused. He could also remember the release of that anger as his blades had sliced into Hyakuhei’s back. Then when Kyoko had flung herself into his arms… Toya glanced down at her.

He still remembered how he had felt during the dream… he felt the same now.

Kyoko stepped to the other side of the campfire wanting a few minutes alone with her thoughts… thoughts that seemed to be getting harder and harder to keep straight. She had been keeping the secret that she hadn’t been sleeping from the group and so far no one had caught on to the fact that at night she was simply lying there awake as long as possible. But now it seemed to be catching up with her in more ways than one.

“This is all your fought Hyakuhei,” She nodded as if she had just told him off. She tried to relax knowing that tonight she’d be so tired that it would be okay to go to sleep because she was even too tired to dream. Besides… it wasn’t as if Hyakuhei or anyone had died in the dream. Would it be so bad to see him again? After all… it was just a dream. Right?

Facing out toward the dim light of the sunset, she relaxed feeling somewhat back to normal. ‘Normal?’ Come to think of it, she didn’t feel normal at all.

Shinbe sat quietly watching Kyoko. Everyone was acting as if nothing had happened and so far it was working. All day, he’d decided to walk behind the group, enjoying the solitude and secretly watching Kyoko’s every move. They had not known he was awake the other night. He’d just chosen to let Toya hold her for a while. The fact that Kyou had been just outside the cave and wounded had not escaped his notice either.

He couldn’t help but feel like everything that had happen within the last week had been his fault… he should have seen this coming. Normally he had premonitions… kind of like he knew ahead of time if something this big was going to happen. But even he hadn’t foreseen Kyou’s confusion or the darkness Kyoko was hiding from the rest of the group.

His amethyst eyes darkened as he realized that wasn’t the worst of it… there was a demon among them slipping in and out of the shadows when no one was looking.

Staring off in the direction Kyoko was in, Shinbe realized the southeast winds were picking up. A flurry of petals and leaves streamed past him, the insistent breeze made his midnight blue hair swirl about his shoulders, cooling him down and… ’Kyoko sneezed?’ Shinbe lifted an eyebrow. Kyoko sneezed again.

Shinbe raised both eyebrows seeing her totter precariously for a moment, then steady herself as she placed her hand against the tree she stood beside before lowering herself to one of its outstretching roots and sitting down.

Kyoko sighed as she sat down, pulling her knees up to her chest and laying her head down on them with her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. She gave a mental Toya-ish growl as she silently admitted she was catching a freakin cold.

The amethyst guardian stood up, dusting off his trench coat as he approached her. "Kyoko?" Shinbe asked worriedly, coming up behind her.

Kyoko sniffled. "I'm fine." She turned around on the root to face the fire as Shinbe took a seat beside her on the oversized root. Her softly spoken words made him frown again, noticing the misery in her voice.

Toya turned his head to stare down at them wondering what Shinbe was up to, but his features softened instantly. Kyoko's hair was flying all over the place and her cheeks were dangerously flushed. He quietly observed them from a distance, hesitant to intrude but knowing something wasn’t right with her. His golden eyes watched her every move as he listened to their conversation.

"What's wrong with you?" Shinbe asked, his voice edged with concern.

"Oh, ahmm… Nothing!" Kyoko lied, swaying a little and kind of enjoying the double vision until she tilted a little too far.

Lightning-fast, Toya caught her, lifting her into his arms. He frowned as she blinked trying to fix her vision and he could feel the heat rising from her body in waves. “Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” his voice sounded a little angry but it was more because she’d been hiding things from him lately and it was starting to unnerve him.

"You have a fever Kyoko?" Shinbe asked, reaching out to touch her forehead.

"No, I don't," she fretted, trying to push herself away from both Toya and Shinbe.

"What's wrong with Kyoko?” Kamui joined them as Toya brought her closer to the fire.

Shinbe could tell it was only a small fever, but even low fevers could be dangerous to humans. "We should return her to the maiden statue." Amethyst eyes collided with golden eyes, as they paid no attention to the girl within Toya’s arms.

"But I'm okay…" Kyoko narrowed her eyes at them seeing they were now ignoring her.

"Fine," Toya agreed.

"But I…" she was cut off again.

"You're faster," Shinbe insisted. "You take her back and we will catch up with you there."

"I… Does no one care what I…" Crickets chirped as Kyoko clamped her mouth shut when they both glared down at her for interrupting. “Damn it,” she mumbled to herself.

“You’re sick!” they both shouted at her.

The guardians were certainly perceptive when. No. One. Asked. Them. To. Be. “I have some pills in the little pack I carry with me… if…” she glared up at Toya “…his high-handedness will let me go for a minute, I’ll get them.” Kyoko quirked an eyebrow at Toya waiting for her release.

Suki grinned as she reached for the little sack Sennin had given Kyoko before they’d left. Handing it to Kyoko, she almost laughed at the look on her friends face. It was as if to say, ‘gee thanks, you just ruined my one chance of freedom.’

With a flustered exhale, Kyoko opened the string on the sack and fished out the little pills that were for fever. Holding them as if they were tainted, she tried again, “let me down Toya so I can get some water.” She almost growled when Kamui shoved a small cup of water under her nose.

“Damn it,” she repeated her earlier remark.

And so, in the spirit of procrastination, Kyoko grinned like a mad woman loving the idea that just popped into her head. “I refuse to take this medicine until Toya lets go of me and everyone BACKS OFF!” she would later blame the outburst on the fever.

Toya twitched then plopped her down between him and Shinbe with Kamui guarding the front escape.

Shinbe smirked knowing she was still waiting on them to move away. Knowing how to make her take the pills, he looked over her head at Toya who was busy glaring down at Kyoko.

“You know… I could go find Kyou. He is the only guardian with the ability to heal. Then she wouldn’t have to take the medicine.” He almost fell over laughing when Kyoko popped the pills into her mouth and swallowed quickly.

"I have a fever. Go away," she pouted then scowled at them, which sent Shinbe into another round of laughter.

"You were asking for it," was Shinbe's only defense.

Mortified, she lifted her eyes to his, searching for a reason to hate him but her expression softened. She would die for him… die for each and every one of them if she had too.

Toya just watched Kyoko as something very possessive inched its way through him. Shinbe could always cheer Kyoko up and in a way it made him jealous of the amethyst guardian. For a moment, an odd sense of déjà vu seeped through his mind. Reality was crashing in on him as if telling him for the hundredth time… his chest constricted, they all loved Kyoko and he would have to live with it.

Kyoko felt a shiver pass through her body and knew it wasn’t cold chills from the fever. This was all she needed… more demons bugging her while she was sick. She quickly stood up, sensing a talisman close by.

Toya who was always attune to Kyoko’s emotions jumped up beside her. He placed a hand on her shoulder not liking the fact that the color had just drained from her already pale face. "What is it Kyoko?" He asked anxiously, knowing it was probably a piece of the guardian heart crystal.

Kyoko turned around and pointed. "The good news is it’s a talisman and the bad news is it’s coming quickly.” Kyoko reached down and grabbed her crossbow. The thought of someone trying to take the crystals from her suddenly making her a little more clear headed. Sick or not… she was getting that talisman.

Kamui edged closer to Kaen, who was now burning his bright flame as he transformed into his fighting form. Suki and Shinbe stood up readying themselves. Toya, sensing danger, immediately pushed Kyoko behind him knowing she carried with her the slivers of the crystal they had collected so far.

Standing their ground, the group waited for the demon to show itself.

Crashing into the clearing, a huge demon landed not far from them, its beady red eyes searching the group until they landed directly on Kyoko. Then it bellowed in a deep hissing voice. "More power!"

The madness in the monster’s eyes when he’d looked upon Kyoko made Toya furious. He took a step forward with a growl, releasing his daggers at the same time. Why was it that everybody seemed to have their eyes on Kyoko lately?

Toya flexed his hands on the daggers, slightly changing the angles. "I don’t think you’re her type and she isn’t giving you the talismans either, so go to hell… unless you think you can go through me first," He taunted, feeling the power in him grow. His irises flashed molten silver as the ends of his hair started to lift in the currents sent off from his powers. “On second thought, we want what you have so bring it on!”

Kaen put on a burst of speed as he leapt into the air, landing with Kamui behind the demon to assist Toya, Suki and Shinbe who now stood on each side of it, weapons ready and waiting for the sign. They had it surrounded.

The dangerous tentacles that shot out from the demon had been so sudden that all five of them had been caught unaware as they fought off the razor sharp appendages. Toya was dodging and swiping with his claws while Suki stabbed one that was headed straight for Shinbe’s head with her bayonet.

What had first looked like a deformed throwback from the land of the rotting giants now looked more like a hybrid octopus on a rampage. Shinbe’s eyes widened seeing how close the blade like extension had come to him. With a twitching eyebrow, he used his telekinesis powers to lift up an oversized rock and crack the monster in the head with it.

“Serves you right!” He yelled hearing it howl in pain.

Kaen roared as one of the snakelike extensions wrapped around his throat causing a thin line of blood to instantly appear. As the dragon was thrashed about, Kamui was knocked off his back, hitting the dirt with a bone-jarring thud.

Rising up on his hands and knees, Kamui noticed the blood on his friend and something within him snapped. Reaching out his hand, he grabbed the offending thing and screamed. His eyes turned solid black as the wind rushed up around him adding to the sound. In the next instance, a rain of bloody chunks blew outward as the appendage burst.

Kamui swayed as his power rushed back into him knocking him out. Kaen caught him before he hit the ground.

Kyoko was watching the battle from a safe distance, her spirit dart already notched against the crossbow. Everyone was moving so fast she couldn’t get a clear shot at the beast. Hearing Kaen above the battle, her eyes widened when Kamui changed. Her lips parted in awe as what used to be the demons weapon flew past her in pieces.

She breathed a sigh of relief when Kaen returned the favor by getting Kamui out of harm’s way as the demon turned on him.

Seeing something shining in the fray she caught her first glimpse of the sliver of crystal that was lending the demon so much power. While concentrating on aiming her spirit dart she yelled. "Toya, the talisman is in the center of its chest!" Kyoko froze when the demons scarlet eyes turned and locked with hers.

The demon cackled dangerously. "You are the one Hyakuhei wants. The priestess who can control the talismans." Slinging its huge body around, it shot several long flat tentacles straight at her. Like whips they quickly clamped around her and lifted her up into the air before she could get a clear shot.

The sudden jolts to her body made her drop the crossbow, causing the spirit dart to vanish.

Toya roared with anger as he jumped high into the air and sliced through the tentacles that held Kyoko so tightly. Shinbe dashed under her, but before she could hit his arms, three more tentacles shot out from the monster, catching her in midair.

Kyoko was trying to pry the tentacles off, suddenly being reminded of duct tape. Her fingers latching on to it so tightly that her knuckles shone white. It was bad enough that she was sick and probably still running a fever, now she also felt like she was going to pass out. It reminded her of a ride she had once rode in an amusement park… the same freakin ride she’d sworn to never get on again.

Toya knew he would have to do something quick… but with her in the way, he glanced at Shinbe hoping he had an idea. Seeing Shinbe’s eyes widen on Kyoko, Toya’s gut clinched thinking the worst as his gaze swung back in her direction.

Trying with all her might to free herself, Kyoko blinked at the sudden change of scenery, becoming aware of two strong arms as they snaked around her, holding her firmly against a warm body. She looked down at the angry demon that she had just been freed from in complete confusion. It was getting further and further away.

Did Hyakuhei have her again? Were they going back to the hidden cave? Tilting her head upward to see who held her, Kyoko gasped. "Kyou." His eyes were bold and angry for a fleeting second as he glared down at the beast below them. He’d saved her… just like in the dream.

Kyou had been watching from a distance, hiding his aura so they would not know he was following them. Truth be told, this was not the first time he’d stalked them from afar… nor would it be the last.

When he saw Kyoko in danger once again, his blood had nearly boiled over. Before he knew it, he had her in his arms and out of harm’s way. Kyou’s golden eyes now drawn to hers, he informed her with a whisper, "I will not hurt you nor will I steal you away, as I promised… but you seemed to be in need of a guardian." He also made a mental note to rid her of the small fever that seemed to be plaguing her.

Kyoko's eyes widened as she felt the breeze cool her heated flesh and she wondered at it. Realizing the battle wasn’t over, she glanced back down at the fight below them seeing Toya turn back to the monster.

Now that Kyoko was no longer being held as a shield, Toya took all his anger and fed it into the fire blade he gripped. He screamed for everyone to get out of the way. His guardian blood now boiling at the thought of Kyou being the one who saved Kyoko heightened his firepower as he used his fire dagger to destroy the repulsive demon.

From the distance Kyoko was at, it looked even more amazing than it did from the ground. She watched as the rows of fire sliced through the ground toward the demon, coming to a stop only after it was far past its intended target. She groaned and turned away when it once again started raining huge chunks of cooked demon all over the area where it had exploded. She felt Kyou’s wings go around her as she turned her face up to his.