Chapter 6 "Enemy’s Touch"
He didn’t say a word as he drove and she almost fell asleep on the way back to the dorm. When he got her out of the vehicle, she looked up at him and for a moment they stood still, Toya holding her to him to keep her steady.
Kyoko gazed deep in his golden eyes and whispered, "Toya, I missed you,” her voice sounded so truthful.
Toya suddenly got the strangest feeling that he had missed her too, somehow, before now. He touched her cheek, frowning as something flashed in his mind. He saw her lying outside, under a tree, sleeping on a blanket… and him above her, sitting in that tree watching her sleep.
Toya closed his eyes for an instant, and the image disappeared but left him with a warm feeling. He steered her toward the building, knowing they really wouldn’t be safe until they were inside. He could feel shadow demons hidden within the darkness watching them and he wondered why they didn’t attack.
Kyoko looked up at all the stairs and groaned, then felt her world tilt. She giggled as Toya lifted her up in his arms. She threw her own arms around his neck as they bounded up the steps, two at a time.
"Hey, I remember this," she closed her eyes and snuggled against him. "Safe, you and me and … dreams." she whispered as she fell into a very light sleep.
Toya stopped at the top of the stairs and stood still, taking a moment to gaze down at the bundle now cuddled in his arms. He had a creeping sensation this was where she was supposed to be. Then he frowned. There was more going on here then what Kyou had told him. He started up the second flight of stairs, wondering at the sense of déjà vu he was getting from holding her against him.
Once they rounded the corner and stepped into the hallway they belonged on, it dawned on him, Kyoko's door was probably locked. Toya scowled as he drew closer to her room, wondering where her key was.
He looked at his own apartment door as he passed it, wanting to slow down, then shook his head, passing it up. He didn’t think that Kyou or Kyoko would appreciate her waking up in his room in the morning.
He was halfway to her door when he stopped, looking down at her. His voice, for once, was soft, "Kyoko. Kyoko, wake up. We’re here.” Toya shifted her to set her on her feet, and had to hold her flush against him to keep her from teetering.
Kyoko squinted, trying to keep her eyes open and focused on Toya. She was so drowsy.
"Hey, where'd you put your door key?" Toya looked her over, even turning her a little, checking for pockets but couldn’t find any. His eyes landed back on her face seeing her confusion. "Kyoko I…" His words died in his throat when he saw the look in her eyes. It was as if something had just dawned on her… more like she had just seen a ghost.
Kyoko was confused, 'something.' What had she been doing? It seemed so important. Her eyes focused on Toya's golden ones and it dawned on her, she had been looking for him... His eyes matched a picture floating around in her head, one she couldn’t clearly see.
"Toya?" She leaned up close to his face as far as she could, searching his eyes, telling him something, but without knowing the words. Her hand gave off a soft blue glow as she touched him.
Toya wasn’t sure what was going on, but when she reached up and touched his cheek with the palm of her hand, he felt something rush through his mind like a tidal wave. Fierce emotions that almost knocked him to his knees, and the one sane thought out of all of it was that he’d found her. The sensation sent a jolt of possessiveness through him.
Kyoko's eyes moved to his lips… she had always wanted to taste them. So close, her breath almost stopped and she wondered if she was still dreaming. Time abruptly started again, even though she hadn’t known it had stopped. She lowered her hand looking down at it. She felt drained. She hadn’t realized it, but she had unknowingly used her powers to try and explain what she was feeling.
"Kyoko? What was that?” Toya held her tighter now, not wanting to let her go, and not understanding why.
Kyoko looked around the hall now feeling strange. She felt like she missed something and it saddened her. "I don’t know...” Kyoko was looking everywhere but at him. She had come so close to kissing him and because she hadn’t… she now felt empty somehow. 'Must be the alcohol,' she thought. "I’m sleepy." She wasn’t lying. She hoped that would get her out of trying to explain what she didn’t know.
Without warning, Toya picked her back up, cradling her to his chest. "If you have your key, I’ll open the door to your room Kyoko,” his voice now unusually husky.
Kyoko blinked. Her key? Reaching down, she felt for it in the hidden pocket of the skirt and pulled it out, giving it to Toya, then relaxed. Her cheek was against his chest, again leaving things up to him. She silently listened to his heartbeat, the rhythm she had missed so much.
Toya glanced back at his room, really wanting to take her there instead. He even started in that direction, but sighed, knowing he shouldn’t. He had just wanted to keep her close to him… that’s all. He turned to go down the hall to her room, and did so as silently as possible, not wanting to alert Kyou.
Deep inside, he knew Kyou was already aware they had returned. He could feel him and didn’t like it.
Shifting Kyoko, Toya unlocked her door and took her inside, closing it behind them with his foot. He inhaled slowly. She hadn’t been in this room long and it already held her special scent. Bypassing the living room, he quickly went into her bedroom, and then did the strangest thing. He crawled up on the bed with her, still holding her, resting his back against the headboard.
At the moment, he couldn’t let go of her, pulling the cover up around her, wrapping her against his warmth. He closed his eyes, pressing her even tighter against him. What was it he’d felt in the hall? It felt like something was trying to wake up inside him, and he wanted to know what the hell it was. He desperately wanted to remember.
Toya opened his haunted golden eyes and watched Kyoko sleep. She looked like an angel. Her face was still flushed from alcohol, causing the corners of his lips to lift. ‘She wasn’t much of a drinker.’ His gaze darted to her rose petal lips, making his stomach muscles tighten, and he tore his eyes away, feeling heat spread across his face.
He could’ve sworn… in the hall just now… she’d been about to kiss him. Toya made up his mind. He moved to lay her gently on her pillow and covered her up, knowing he needed to leave before he did something even stranger. All his instincts were telling him that Kyoko was his, and he had to fight the need to lay claim on her. He stared down at her wondering… wanting.
Kyoko sighed in her sleep, reaching her arms out, she gripped his shirt. “Stay with me Toya,” she mumbled, still asleep.
Toya felt a stirring in his heart as he gazed down at her. He didn’t want to leave either. But he knew he had to… should Kyou find him here alone with her, all hell would break loose. However, at the moment, the idea didn’t sound all that bad. Shaking his head he sighed heavily and placed his hands over hers.
He silently pried her fingers from his shirt and then did something that surprised even himself. He slowly bent down, pushing her hair from her face and kissed her forehead. He stepped back when she mumbled what he thought was, ‘you found me.’
Shaking the weird feeling he was getting away, he walked to the door, turning one last time to look at her sleeping form. Toya grinned from ear to ear as he made his way out into the hall, only to come face to face with a very angry Kyou.
“Just what were you doing Toya?” Kyou’s face was devoid of emotion, although Toya swore he saw a faint flicker of fire cross his eyes.
Toya raised his head up in defiance, not afraid to face Kyou. “I was putting Kyoko to bed. She had a couple drinks too many.” He tried to hide the grin that crossed his face when Kyou’s eyes widened in surprise at his statement.
Kyou could smell the low-level demon blood on Toya and arched an eyebrow. "You fought." It was a statement not a question. "So they know she is here?" He looked over Toya's head and into Kyoko’s open bedroom door. "She was untouched?" Kyou asked, in a tone that made Toya wince.
Now that was a direct question, but Toya wondered at it then scoffed, "Yes, she was touched by many, but harmed by none. I wouldn’t let anyone hurt Kyoko." His voice had raised a notch as if he’d been insulted by the question. Even he hadn’t liked the fact that Kyoko had danced with others.
Toya gritted his teeth in annoyance, wondering again why all of a sudden he was so possessive over her.
Kyou watched the obvious emotions running across Toya's face. No matter what Kyou had taught him, he still wore his emotions so clearly that he could read his younger brothers feelings like a book. Kyou’s eyes narrowed knowing Toya was once again falling in love with Kyoko, even if he had not realized it yet.
He resentfully wondered if those feelings were so strong that no amount of time or space would ever be able to erase them. For now, he needed to see for himself that Kyoko was safe. Kyou silently walked into Kyoko's apartment and crossed to her bedroom. Stopping beside her, leaning down with an arm on each side of her shoulders, he inhaled her scent, then snarled in anger.
Toya had only hesitated a couple seconds before following Kyou back into her room. But when he entered, Kyou was bent over Kyoko. Instantly, Kyou snapped his head up and snarled, giving Toya a powerful death stare, his eyes bleeding into a crimson color. Toya could feel his blood almost freezing in his veins and panic filled his chest. Within an instant, Kyou had Toya by the throat, and pinned him to the wall.
"You dare to let the enemy touch her!" His eyes revealed the truth in his words. Kyou's voice was deadly as he tightened his grip around his brother’s throat, "Who touched Kyoko?"
Toya blinked, scowling, and shoved the stronger guardian as hard as he could. When it didn’t work, he just stopped and stared Kyou straight in the eyes, until finally Kyou loosened his grip, and tossed him sideways.
Toya hit the floor hard then slowly stood up, pissed off and rubbing his bruised neck. "What the hell are you talking about? She was watched the whole time, asshole!” Toya yelled at the enraged face still towering above him.
Kyou's blood receded from his eyes, as he stood there like an angry statue, glaring down at Toya. "Then you watched the enemy touch her." His face was etched in stone, and Toya could tell he was dead serious.
"How do you know?" Toya flew passed Kyou and leaned over Kyoko's still sleeping form, trying to tell the same way Kyou had, wanting to be able to tell.
Kyou watched as Toya tried. He was growling softly now, annoyed and impatient. "Smell past her scent to the ones that cling to her." His voice still held the sting of venom, but secretly he was impressed that Toya was showing signs of trying.
Toya ignored Kyou, needing to block him out completely. He concentrated everything he had on Kyoko, feeling her scent all around him, and then as if shifting through sand, he removed her sweet scent, and found others still there. Suki, he dug deeper, Kamui, Shinbe. Kotaro’s scent was strong and aroused, making Toya scowl. He was going to have a talk with Kotaro about controlling his urges.
Closing his eyes tighter, Toya concentrated. His eyes opened with shattering silver streaks shining within the vivid gold and just stared at her. He smelled it as plain as day. It wasn’t a human aura or demon either. It was just evil… the barest hint of it, but enough.
He felt Kyou's presence beside him. “But… when?” Toya whispered more to himself than to Kyou.
Kyou sat down on the edge of the bed, intently watching her for a minute. So, Toya had let danger near her and not even known it. He did not like this disappointment.
"No more." His eyes never left Kyoko's face. His words were clearly directed toward a now sullen Toya, "If you will not protect her, then I will."
Toya stood watching Kyou. He growled, not liking the feeling of failure and his eyes narrowed. "I know you haven’t told me the whole truth, Kyou. I’ll find out what you’re hiding, and I will protect Kyoko." His words held a soft edge as he said her name. "What am I missing?" the question was said aloud, but meant only for himself.
Kyou grew weary of Toya's confused presence. "Leave. I will stay and watch her." He dismissed Toya without another thought as he crawled up on the bed beside Kyoko, not touching her, but close enough to raise the hair on the back of Toya’s neck.
Toya didn’t like this, not at all. Still confused at the evil he smelled on her, and not knowing where it‘d come from had him mad as hell. Although, nothing compared to the sight of Kyou lying so close to her on the mattress. Toya stormed over to the chair that was in the corner of her room and sat down really hard.
Folding his arms in front of him in stubborn anger, he informed the prick in the bed, "I’ll watch, too."
The room was quiet the rest of the night, but the dull roar within their own minds was deafening. They could have been shouting and it still wouldn’t have been as loud. It had come down to this, both of them spending the entire night glaring at one another over Kyoko’s sleeping form.
***** Kyoko felt the light trying to peek through her eyelids and instantly turned her face to a darker side, moaning. Staying still for a minute helped.
'Oh please tell me I did not drink alcohol last night,' she mentally pleaded with herself.
Now she knew why she’d never bothered to drink the stuff. She’d seen a couple of her friends drink it, and had helped them when they drank too much. Now she knew their pain. "Please, I’ll never do it again. I promise," she moaned miserably, thinking she was alone.
Toya smirked when he heard the pain filled voice. He was still sitting in the same chair he’d fallen asleep in last night. Sometime before daylight, Kyou had slipped away. Toya breathed easier now that it was just Kyoko lying in the bed, though he didn’t know what her reaction would be when she noticed he was there with her.
Kyoko pushed her hands against the mattress, feeling how soft the bed really was. She hadn’t noticed last night. Her eyebrows furrowed as she thought about last night. She remembered coming back, but it was sketchy. She rose up and looked around, her movements stopping when she saw Toya sitting near her in a chair.
"Finally decide to wake up?" he still couldn’t help but smirk at her. She looked so miserable, and he could tell her head hurt by the way she was squinting at him. He watched as she started to say something, then closed her mouth and swallowed.
Toya got up and left the room, only to come right back with a glass of juice, "Here, try this."
Kyoko brought her legs up under the cover into a sitting position, and took the drink from him with a thankful smile. Taking a couple drinks and swallowing carefully, she closed her eyes.
'Geez, why do I feel like I ate my pillow?' She glanced at Toya then raised a delicate eyebrow, 'And why do I feel like he is laughing his head off at me?' She lowered the drink watching him with hooded eyes, "Thank you."
Toya took the drink from her and sat down on the bed beside her, "Kyoko, I know you probably don’t feel like it right now but we need to talk." He had so many things he wanted to ask her, but wanted her to be awake and clear minded enough to answer him. "Do you even remember coming back here last night?" he asked in a soft tone.
Kyoko nodded then grabbed her head, "Oowww!" She whispered, not wanting to make it hurt worse, "Did you stay here all night?"
Without answering her, Toya got up and left the room again, this time returning with a bottle and handing it to her. Kyoko took it, looking at it questionably, and then grinned seeing it was for headaches.
"Thanks… Can I take the whole bottle?" her voice was a little louder this time. She was already feeling somewhat better, but opened the bottle anyway. He handed the drink back so she could swallow a couple of the pills.
Kyoko frowned, realizing she’d slept in her clothes. Looking back at Toya she decided she didn’t want to talk yet. She wanted to take a bath first.
"Can this wait for a little while?" at his instant frown, she pleaded. "Please, I want to take a bath. Then, I promise we will talk." Her eyes drifted to the doorway of the bathroom longingly.
"Okay.” Toya didn’t mind waiting. He didn’t like the thought of that evil scent on her anyway. Kotaro’s smell either. He tried to ignore it, but now that he was paying attention, she even had Kyou's scent on her. He huffed, "Yeah, I’ll wait until you get out."
Toya left her room again and Kyoko waited to hear the door to the hall open, but the sound never came. Shrugging, she got up and headed to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her, and started the water running.
‘I wonder why he’s still here?’ she thought to herself. Trying to remember everything from last night, she undressed and got in the tub, letting the hot water fill it up very high while she relaxed.
Toya heard the water running for a long time and started to worry. Stepping back into her bedroom, he reached for the doorknob on the bathroom, and then jerked his hand back as if it had caught on fire.
'Damn! I’ve got to get a hold of myself. What the hell am I doing?’ He knocked on the door loudly.
Kyoko jumped, the water almost overflowing, "Oh god!"
Toya paused, his heart hammering, and then jerked the door open. Taking a step inside, thinking she was in trouble, he was hit full in the face with a wet rag and an ear-piercing scream. He ran out just as fast as he’d entered, yelling only after the door was again firmly closed behind him.
"Kyoko, what the hell are you doing in there?" He could hear a splash, and then everything went quiet again.
Kyoko glared at the door but relented enough to tell him, "You scared the hell out of me. What did you think you were doing?" She rolled her eyes and grabbed the sponge and soap.
Toya glared at the door, "Well, when I knocked, you sounded like you freaked out."
Kyoko looked at the water level and mumbled, "That’s because I was asleep and almost drowned." She didn’t think he could hear her until she heard his angry reply.
"You really are helpless, aren’t you? Do I have to come in there and watch you take a damn bath, or are you going to wake up now?" Toya jumped back when he heard something crash against the door.
"Fine, you have ten minutes Kyoko. If you aren’t out… then I’m coming in." He turned on his heels and left the room.
Kyoko sank under the water, wetting her hair. Ten minutes! Just who in the hell did he think he was, her keeper? She jerked back up, remembering him carrying her up the stairs, and then something about her hand glowing. Her movements quickened, now that she had some questions of her own she wanted to ask.
A few minutes later, with a huge towel securely around her, she peeked out of the bathroom and sighed thankfully when she saw the coast was clear. Coming out of the bathroom, she headed for her dresser drawers, pulling out an oversized T-shirt and a pair of black workout stretch pants. Right now, she just wanted to be comfortable. She headed back to the bathroom and closed the door.
Toya heard her go back into the bathroom and wandered back into her room, waiting on her. 'Girls are so damn slow,' he thought to himself as he sat down on the bed. Then throwing himself backward in frustration, he lay completely still.
Her scent now surrounding him. He closed his eyes but could still see, and what he was looking at he couldn’t figure out. Last night he had the same fleeting glimpse, but this one disturbed him.
He threw his arm across his eyes to block out the light and tried to hold on to the fleeting vision… Kyoko was standing there with a school uniform on. She looked maybe a year or two younger, but it was Kyoko and she seemed to be staring straight at him. The forest stretched out behind her as the wind ran imaginary fingers through her hair, and she smiled at him. It was a memory that he didn’t remember happening.
Hearing the door open, Toya pushed up on his elbows and watched her come out of the bathroom. "It’s about time." He tossed himself backwards again, now ignoring her until she came and sat down next to him. He glanced up at her, "Have you ever …spent time away from home… say deep… in the woods maybe?" He watched as she nodded and lay down beside him, turning on her side, propping her head up on her hand.
"Yeah, I have. I don’t remember too much about what happened during that time. Why do you ask?" She wondered if maybe he was remembering things that she didn’t. If so, she wanted to know what they were. But how could she ask him anything when she’d promised Kyou that she wouldn’t say anything?
‘What was she talking about?’ Toya lowered his eyes in confusion.
“You don’t remember? Why don’t you remember?" he watched her flop over on her back, looking up and away from him, as if hiding something, and it annoyed him. "Fine, then, I don’t care if you tell me or not." He jerked up into a sitting position and started to get up, but felt her grab his wrist to stop him.
"I don’t know why, but I have a type of… amnesia." She didn’t want to lie to him, and she wasn’t lying to him, not really. How did she know if Kyou was telling the truth about her past? Then she frowned. For some reason, she knew Kyou wasn’t lying to her but… “I wish I could remember."
"How did you get amnesia, Kyoko?” Toya's voice was again soft as he gazed down at her. Normally he didn’t like anybody, but with her it was different. He flopped back on the bed, putting his hands behind his head.
"I don’t know. There are about three years that I really don’t remember much of." She rolled back over to look at him, "That’s all I know." She said the words firmly so he wouldn’t try to pry any more information out of her. Besides, what could she say? She didn’t even remember him.
"You remember nothing?" Toya sighed, wishing she remembered more.
Kyoko closed her eyes, "Just a feeling, like I’ve lost something important and can’t find it."
Toya just lay there, watching her for a moment, and the picture became a little clearer in his memory. He lay back, staying still, when he felt her heartbeat slow. He realized she was going right back to sleep and closed his eyes.
Another image started to flicker behind his eyelids… She was standing on something, she looked angry and her hands were glowing. She raised them up in front of her, and to his amazement, she shot some kind of life force blast at something or someone. His eyes followed it, wondering what she was shooting at.
‘What the hell!’ Toya’s mind screamed. ‘Now I know I’m losing it.’ She had been aiming at Kyou. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes, only to wonder if he even opened them, because right in front of him, was the same very angry Kyou.
"Come," Kyou’s voice was cold. He left the room, leaving Toya with no choice but to follow him. Once out of Kyoko's hearing range, he turned on Toya. "Why are you alone with her?” Kyou snapped then calmed again. He really hadn’t meant it like that, but could already see Toya's eyes darken.
"Jealous?” Toya spat at Kyou. He crossed his arms in front of him, giving the older guardian his most annoyed look. "Who are you, my keeper?"
"It would not do for you to push me when it comes to the priestess." Kyou's voice dripped with venom. "This is not a game, Toya."
Toya smirked. "She trusts me, and that’s enough." It was Toya's turn to snap. Then he took a step closer to Kyou. "Why do I feel like there’s something you don’t want me to find out?" He watched a flash of guilt cross Kyou's golden eyes.
Toya stood rigid with the knowledge that he was right. Kyou didn’t have to answer him, he already knew. "What are you hiding?" he glared accusingly, remembering the flicker of whatever it was he’d just remembered while laying with Kyoko.
Kyou stalked him, forcing Toya to back up, scowling. His eyes narrowed into slits. "Do not bite off more than you can chew." He reached out, grasping Toya's exposed throat, then hissed, "You might find that you choke."
Toya's feet were off the floor by about a foot and he tried everything to gain his release, but he’d pushed Kyou too far this time. He knew he couldn’t beat Kyou. Still he had pushed, knowing the guardian had no tolerance for it. As Toya’s sight began to fade into darkness, his thoughts were on Kyoko. He really didn’t want to leave her alone with Kyou, not after seeing the images he had in his mind. True or not, he wanted to be sure… he wanted her to be safe.
Kyou released Toya after he was sure the guardian was unconscious. A sense of pride swept over him at watching his younger sibling hit the floor in a heap and crumble over, out cold. No, he would not kill him… that had never been his intent. He knew Toya could take a lot more than that.
He had just wanted time to think before answering his brother’s question, but the boy had no patience. Kyou just wanted quiet. He raised an eyebrow, almost smirking. Now he had quiet. He reached down for his younger brother. Picking him up swiftly, he flung Toya over his shoulder, and carried him out of Kyoko’s room and down the hall as if he weighed nothing.
Entering Toya’s room, he dumped him on the floor, none too gently, before closing the door behind him. Kyou turned and simply looked at the door with no emotion at all. The door turned from its off white color to a shimmering fluorescent blue, before fading back to white.
Kyou turned, his lips slightly tilting in the barest hint of a smirk as he walked away. The barrier he had just placed on the door would hold his fuming brother, at least for a little while.
