Chapter 8 “Enigma”

Chapter 8 “Enigma”

It was after two in the morning and Kyoko finally stood in the heat of the shower. She was glad she’d talked the guardians into letting her stay in her own house even though she figured she lost the battle to stay alone. She’d left the brothers downstairs with a mountain of blankets.

After seeing the demons that attacked, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be completely alone anyway. Demons… real demons… things like that weren’t supposed to be true. She had no choice but to believe everything that they’d told her now. So many secrets she would have to keep, but really… who would believe her anyway?

Her mind drifted from one guardian to the other. Kamui had seemed the most normal out of the five brothers. But after seeing him in battle, it was obvious he was just as dangerous as the others. Toya… he was the biggest enigma because she was drawn to him, even when the others were in the same room. He also seemed the most dangerous and possessive… but something told her that wasn’t all there was to him. Shinbe and Kotaro… she hadn’t cast a vote on them yet.

But Kyou… she felt her body heat up at the memory of what he’d done to her. He’d said he was just testing her power. The look in his eyes when she had pushed him away let her know right quick just who had the power, and it wasn’t her. She felt the sharp lightning bolts race up her thighs and down her abs as the craving he’d started returned with a vengeance. He’d awakened more than just her power.

Kyou may have been able to read her mind, but she was sure he hadn’t heard her talking to her brother in the cave. And there was someone there with him… an angel? She remembered the hushed tone of his voice. There had been two voices coming from Tama’s lips. She remembered those eyes when he had been startled and looked up. Green… his eyes had been emerald green just like hers.

“Was it really you Tama?” she asked, second guessing herself. It’d been so dreamlike that it was hard to trust any of it. But he did warn her of the demons and they’d been real… so he was real… right? He’d asked her to keep it a secret. “I won’t tell anyone.” She promised wondering if she could reconnect the link and try talking to him again.

Had Kyoko been paying attention, she would’ve noticed when the steam from the hot water began to fill the bathroom… exposing Hyakuhei's invisibility. He inhaled as she washed the taint of the guardians off her, leaving behind the purity of her own scent. The steam around him seemed to silently explode away from him as he remembered the passion he’d felt coming from her while she was in Kyou’s arms.

He’d watched the golden guardian as Kyou had watched Kyoko only moments ago, and it was all he could do not to try to kill the guardian prematurely. He knew it wasn’t Kyou who would crack first… it was the one that watched her with silver eyes. The most dangerous power in the world was true love, but it was also Toya's only weakness.

Kyoko closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. She could feel her power surrounding her like an aura. But as she tried to push it outward, it became heavier and wouldn’t expand past the rain of water she was in. She could almost feel the hands of someone holding it back and her eyes flashed open to find no one there. When she gave up, the power simply flowed back toward her as if coming home.

“Maybe I’m just tired,” she murmured as she reached down and turned off the water, knowing she only had a couple hours left before she’d have to get up for school. Taking a towel she frowned remembering what Kyou had said while he was touching her. “Or maybe I can’t use my powers without a guardians help?” She bit her bottom lip not sure if she was ready for another round with Kyou. Something told her that she could only push him so far before he would push back.

Walking back into her bedroom, Kyoko smiled softly as she picked up the silk nightie that only covered her to mid-thigh. Tasuki had tried to hide his blush when she’d asked him to help her pick out something a normal teenage girl would sleep in. She’d laughed out loud when he had quickly recovered himself by asking her if she wanted to model it for him.

Feeling the silk slide across her skin, she silently thanked him for selecting something so different from the thick cotton she was used to. She noticed the house was completely silent and she froze wondering if the nightmares would come. Crawling up on the bed she hoped fatigue would keep them at bay as sleep overtook her and carried her into a dream.

Hyakuhei could feel the priestess fall under the exhaustion that claimed her mind and body. The guardians were pushing her too hard and fast. It was draining her. None of this was her doing. Wanting to show her what she would soon have, he pulled her into a dream of his own making. This was a place where the guardians were uninvited. He smiled as he shared the gift of the dreamscape with Tama.

Kyoko once again stood on the steps of her front porch almost afraid to get any closer to the door. If she entered the house… would she be alone again or would the demons be waiting for her? Her heart hammered in her chest as she heard the front door open and she slowly looked up.

‘Kyoko, is that you?’ The boy from school watched her curiously from the doorway.

She frowned knowing she’d already heard the question asked in the same voice though his lips never moved. Remembering where she had heard it, Kyoko nodded as she nearly flew up the steps. Seeing his emerald eyes and that smile, she cried out wanting it to be true. “Tama?”

Tama reached out and took her in his arms, giving her the hug he’d waited so long to give. ‘Kyoko, I’ve been waiting on you for so long and missed you more than you will ever know.’ He pulled back to look down at her in wonder.

“Where have you been?” Kyoko felt tears of relief race down her cheeks. “Did grandpa hide you away too?” Her knees gave way and they both slid down to sit on the wooden floor still hugging each other.

‘No,’ Tama answered. ‘I was saved by someone else and I’ve been with him all this time.’

“Who?” Kyoko asked. “Tama… who saved you?”

Not wanting Hyakuhei to stop him from telling her, Tama leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. ‘An angel… but you mustn’t tell the guardians about us.’

Kyoko looked up at the window to see a man standing there watching her. He had long ebony hair that seemed to have a life of its own as it gently fluttered in some invisible wind. His eyes were dark and luminous as they locked with hers. Flawless skin and perfect lips that hinted at pure temptation. She knew him but at the same time… he was a stranger.

Just as she started to push herself up so she could run to him, Tama gripped her wrist. ‘No Kyoko… it’s too soon… the guardians will know.’ She stumbled in confusion and the house faded into the distance even as warm arms lingered around her seconds after the dream had ended.

Kyoko’s eyes snapped open hearing someone call her name. Her skin had a fine sheen of sweat on it and her breathing was heavy… it was only a dream. Had it been all in her mind or was her brother really trying to communicate with her? She almost sighed seeing only soft moonlight still shining in her bedroom window and she glanced over at the red glow of the alarm clock, 4:13 AM. She felt a silent tear run down the side of her face and moved to wipe it away.

“Were you having a bad dream?” a soft voice asked.

Kyoko flinched and jerked forward into a sitting position looking around the room. At first she thought it was Tasuki, but as her eyesight focused, she realized Shinbe was standing at the foot of her bed.

“Bad dream? No… Not this time,” Kyoko whispered. She was still rattled as the cover pooled in her lap allowing the cool air to chill her damp skin. “Where are the others?”

“Toya insisted they go demon hunting. I think the attack on you tonight shook him up more than we will ever know. I almost feel sorry for the demon stupid enough to cross his path tonight.” Shinbe tilted his head just a little while watching her curiously.

“So you got stuck babysitting me?” Kyoko wondered if that made him angry.

“You’re not a baby,” he smiled then shrugged. “And this is exactly where I wanted to be. I’m a master of protection shields. They know if we are attacked while they’re gone, as long as I am touching you, I can create a barrier the demons cannot break through.” His amethyst eyes darkened attractively.

“As long as you’re touching me?” Kyoko mused remembering the fact she couldn’t use her powers earlier in the shower.

“What’s on your mind Kyoko?” Shinbe walked around the bed and set down on the edge of the mattress. “You can ask me anything. It may surprise you how many times I have the answer.”

Kyoko looked down at her hands as she played with the edge of the cover. Deciding she had nothing to lose but sleep that she obviously wasn’t going to get anyway, she glanced up at him. “Tonight, before the demons attacked, Kyou was helping me learn how to use my powers.”

“He was, was he?” One of Shinbe’s eyebrows completely disappeared up and under his dark bangs. He hadn’t thought Kyou had it in him. He frowned at her nervousness, wondering just how far Kyou had gone. “He didn’t hurt you did he?” His voice was a mere whisper but it held dark intent.

“No,” Kyoko said a little too quickly then sighed letting the tension drain out of her shoulders. “Something happened… I could hear, feel, and even see things way off in the distance.” She shrugged, “But I tried it again in the shower and it didn’t work.”

“You could see things?” Shinbe frowned. That was a power even the guardians didn’t have, but he knew someone who did have such a power. “What… did you see?”

“Nothing…” She twisted the blanket in her hands nervously, “I mean… just the landscape and stuff.” She had never been very good at lying but if that really was Tama… then she would take the secret to the grave if he asked her to. “Why can’t I do it now?”

Shinbe knew what question she was asking and this was the one he’d been trying to avoid because he wasn’t sure what her reaction would be. She was still innocent… though knowing Kyou, she wasn’t as innocent now as she’d been a few hours ago. “The scrolls said it would be this way.”

He reached out and ran the back of his fingers down her arm, watching the cold chills disappear in its wake. “You have to be touching a guardian to use your powers.” He confirmed as his amethyst gaze slowly returned to hers, “And the closer you are to a guardian at that time… the stronger your powers are.” He removed his fingers knowing she would miss the warmth. “But this only awakens a small part of your power, and only for a little while.

“Only a small part?” Kyoko’s lips parted as she remembered what that power had felt like. Seeing the knowledge of secrets in his gaze she prompted. “It’s okay Shinbe. I want to know all of it.”

“This is a mistake,” his voice hardened as he slid from the bed. “You’re not ready to face this, and I’m not so sure my brothers…” Shinbe twitched wondering how quickly the guardians would rip each other apart if they had to share her. They had never played well with each other.

Kyoko scrambled out of the covers and cut him off before he made it to the door. “I am as ready as I'll ever be!” Her small hands fisted at her sides as she glared up at him, stepping even closer, “And if you don’t tell me, then I’ll consider it a lie and never trust you again!” She didn’t know where the anger had come from, but it left her feeling like she was going to snap.

“Kyoko...” It was all Shinbe could do to keep his jaw from dropping. He watched the fire blazing in her eyes before he lowered his gaze to the rapid rise and fall of her breast… he didn’t pause there seeing the silk stopping mid-thigh. He felt himself harden and strain against his pants. He jerked his eyes back up to meet her stormy ones.

“Priestess,” he warned knowing she was playing with fire.

“Get out,” Kyoko hissed as she took another step toward him. “Out of my room and out of my house.” If he wasn’t going to tell her how to use her powers, then maybe Tama was right… she shouldn’t trust the guardians at all.

Kyoko inhaled sharply when Shinbe grabbed both of her wrists and backed her up until she felt the cold wall against the silk she was wearing.

“The truth… is that what you want?” Shinbe kept her wrist in a firm grip as he placed them against the wall, trapping her with his body. “Your power is split between us… all five of us. We can awaken our part of your power by…” He pushed his knee between her thighs and raised it until he could feel the heat between her legs, “…arousing your passion for us.”

Shinbe knew he had lost control a few exits back, but when she’d told him to get out… it had rattled him more than anything and left him feeling a little bent. He jerked his hip forward, grinding his stiffness against the softness of her side in a slow seductive rhythm. “If you want to keep that power each one of us revives within you… then you have to become our priestess… our mate… heart, body, and soul.”

Shinbe stilled against her as his anger started to fade. Placing his forehead against the wall he whispered near the shell of her ear, “And we become yours for eternity. Truth is… we already are.” Releasing her wrist he took a step back and sighed, “Go to sleep Kyoko.”

Kyoko didn’t have to be told twice as she made a dash for the bed.

***** Kyoko was almost ready for school when she heard a car horn blow. When she leaned over to look out her bedroom window, her knees almost buckled seeing Tasuki’s car in her driveway.

“I completely forgot!” Kyoko actually cried out loud. She knew the guardians were downstairs and… and… Kyoko suddenly smiled. She’d been looking for a way to avoid them all morning. Well… she just found her ticket out.

Seeing Tasuki get out of his car and head toward her front porch, Kyoko grabbed her book bag and rushed down the steps hoping to cut him off before he had a chance to knock. She skidded to a stop halfway down the stairs seeing Toya jerking open the door.

Tasuki took a step back when he saw the guy from drama class glaring at him with those strange colored eyes. He’d noticed yesterday that all five of the brothers were into buying contacts from the ‘I’m A Freak catalog’.

“What are you doing here?” he asked as calmly as he could, all the while vividly seeing himself hitting Toya and stepping on his prone body as he entered the house.

Toya leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest as if he belonged right where he was. “I spent the night… what’s your excuse?”

Tasuki’s eyes rounded as he looked past Toya and saw Kamui come out of the kitchen.

“Kyoko, I packed your lunch for you.” Kamui caressed the lunch container as he smirked at Tasuki as if to say, I told you so.

Toya thought the look on Tasuki’s face was so funny that he actually let him in.

Kyoko cringed and slowly sat down on the stairs hoping she wasn’t going to pass out for real this time.

Tasuki did a double take when he saw Kyou through the dining room door. He was sitting at the table typing on a laptop. Noticing movement to his right, he spotted Shinbe pulling blankets off the sofa and folding them into a neat stack that already had at least seven covers in it.

“Kotaro, you’d better hurry up or you’re gonna be late,” Toya called knowing that would be the straw that broke the camel’s back. Sure enough, Kotaro came out of the downstairs bathroom with no shirt and his pants zipped but not buttoned.

Tasuki opened his mouth but Kyoko came around the corner and grabbed him by the hand, pulling him out the door. “Don’t say a word. Just take me to school.” Kyoko’s voice couldn’t have been less devoid of emotion.

He didn’t even look back at the house as he sped out of her driveway. Neither one of them said a word for at least five minutes. When they stopped at a red light, he finally turned his head and looked at her. To his amazement… she was curled up as best she could against the door and sound asleep.

Making up his mind, Tasuki made a right turn where he should have taken a left. One thing he knew about being a senior was that seniors’ skipped school, sometimes for no reason at all. He tilted his rear view mirror so he could keep an eye on her while he drove. She was so pale. He wondered if she had gotten any sleep at all. What had those guys done to her last night? He gritted his teeth and deleted the thought.