Chapter Two _The Flip Side_

Chapter Two "The Flip Side"

On the other side of The Heart of Time, two years later… and over a thousand years into the future.

The letter was addressed to the Hogo shrine. Grandpa Hogo looked at the elegant envelope the messenger had just handed him as he carried it back to the table where he had been sipping tea. Before the knock on the door, he had been enjoying the peace and quiet of the usually over active house.

Everyone else had gone out for the evening. Tama was at the game room in town with friends, and Kyoko had gone to the library to study, while Mrs. Hogo had taken off to do some grocery shopping.

Picking up a small knife from the table, Grandpa slid the sharp blade through the gold-rimmed envelope carefully. He reached in, pulling out a notarized letter on heavy-duty gold-rimmed paper, and started reading it. The more he read, the wider his eyes became. It was a scholarship, a full scholarship to a very expensive school on the outskirts of the other side of the city.

"K.L. University." His old voice held astonishment for the first time in many years. As it read, all would be paid in full, even the cost of the dorm she would be staying at, and it was signed by the founder of the school with his initials reading K.L.

Grandpa’s aged face lifted in the brightest smile it had in a long time. Kyoko was going to be beyond happy. He knew that she had been worried that missing so much school would keep her from being accepted to any academy, and now she would be going to one that surpassed any other academy in the region.

He frowned thoughtfully… It was the hardest school to get into, for he knew none that had ever succeeded when applying. It was also rumored to have very few students because of the extremely high requirements just to enroll. How had she been accepted into a place she hadn’t even applied for?

His mind drifted back over the last two years. It had taken Kyoko awhile to get back into the swing of things after she had come back from the shrine house so disoriented. They had all been confused when she had suddenly returned, because she hadn’t remembered much at all from the time she had been gone.

The Hogo family knew about where she had gone because she had slipped back and forward through the time portal many times… Kyoko was the only one who suddenly had amnesia about it.

She hadn’t even remembered Toya. But to grandpa that was all right, because it was best if she forgot about that time-crossing guardian anyway. It was best she forgot all about the other side and the danger it had brought.

His eyes turned sad for a moment. Yeah, the family had known most everything that had happened because Kyoko would go back and forward between worlds and while on this side, she would fill them in on the latest happenings. He could also tell that she had hidden a lot of what she didn’t want them to know. Things they would now never know because she had forgotten those secrets.

Even after her younger brother Tama had told her a lot of what he knew; she had just shook her head and lowered her eyes. She only remembered being alone in the other world. A world full of monsters.

Grandpa thinned his lips as he mused. He knew things had been set right because Kyoko said she remembered something about the Guardian Heart Crystal coming back inside her, and that it was over. After a couple weeks, she had thrown herself back into her schoolwork and was making excellent grades, and now all that had paid off. Grandpa heard the front door open and his grin widened.

Kissing the letter like it was some sacred good luck charm he watched his granddaughter walk into the kitchen… Kyoko was going to love this.

***** Three weeks later…

Golden eyes watched as the girl from the past approached the academy. He had found her and somehow he would make things right once again. He felt his human shield slip for a moment as his eyes blazed liquid gold in memory of all that had happen that fateful day in the middle of a deadly battlefield.

The rays of morning sunlight coming in the window cast a strange shadow behind him in the image of wings. He raised his clawed hand and narrowed his eyes, watching as the claws receded back to his human cloak.

Turning his haunted eyes back to the priestess, he calmed his inner powers. It was time, and with the purity of Kyoko, he also felt the awakening of evil around him. The unfinished battle would soon begin. This time… he would not make the same mistake.

Kyoko stared up at the huge building. To her it almost looked like a grand castle from some unknown past. She grinned to herself. She just couldn’t help it. She was still so happy after finding out about the scholarship, and the fact that she would actually live here.

She looked back at Tama. He had been a big help coming to aid her with her bags and settling in. Kyoko was glad she had talked her mom and grandpa into staying home and saying their goodbyes from there. Now she felt almost lightheaded with this huge amount of freedom, and took a deep breath, savoring it.

“Kyoko, are you gonna just stand there all day, or are we going to go find your dorm room?” Tama grumbled, even though the view impressed him too. He looked up at the gigantic archway leading to the main doors in astonishment.

Kyoko held up the map in her hand and pointed to the enormous building that connected to the right side of the academy. "That should be the right building." She turned and gave Tama a wink. "Thanks for helping me this morning."

Tama grinned, feeling a little embarrassed. "Sure Kyoko, after all, I get rid of you for a while, and that’s payment enough." He ducked and took off trying to out run her all the while, dying laughing.

Kyoko started to chase after him but paused mid-step, feeling eyes on her.

As the breeze blew her auburn hair from her face, she looked up at the building wondering whose eyes were caressing her but couldn’t see anyone. She had been able to sense odd things in the past few years, and she knew without a doubt someone was there … watching her. She could almost feel them touching her.

She thought she saw movement in an upper window, but on closer inspection, she found it empty. Kyoko heaved an inward sigh realizing the odd feeling was now gone. She softly bit her bottom lip waiting on the disappointment to go away. Giving up, she finally caught up with Tama as he entered the doors. Both of them froze as they looked around.

"This place is awesome,” Tama whispered, as he looked up then leaned over to add in a serious voice. “You might want to keep that map… knowing you, you’ll get lost here.”

Kyoko appeared to not hear him as her eyes wandered over the interior of the main hall. The room they were standing in was at least three stories tall, with stairs that wound their way up to the other floors in a spiral. On one side, there was an enormous library, while on the other side it looked like a recreational area, and directly in the middle was a gigantic chandelier hanging from the high vaulted ceiling.

“I would really hate to see that fall,” she confirmed to thin air with a nod.

Below were sitting areas with plush furniture. There were students already up and busy doing things, although it was very early in the morning. She had wanted to be here as early as possible, and it was now 7:30 a.m. She quickly looked back down at the paper, wondering where she was supposed to go.

Groaning, she looked over her shoulder at Tama and pointed up the spiral stairs in front of them. They had four suitcases between them, since Kyoko was actually moving in, and they were very heavy.

Tama’s expression fell. “You gotta be kidding.” He let go of the handle of the biggest suitcase knowing the wheels on the bottom wouldn’t help this time. “I’m only 12 years old for crying out loud.”

She squared her shoulders in determination.

Kyoko was startled when a masculine voice from behind her asked, "Are you Miss Kyoko Hogo?"

She instantly turned around saying, “Yes.”

Her eyes widened as she came face to face with a very handsome-looking guy. He had startling ice blue eyes and long dark hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. As she stared in awe, she felt a strange breeze caress her face. The ends of her soft hair tickled her cheeks as the breeze caught it.

He was giving her a very charming smile. Then, to her amazement, he snapped his fingers and two guys came almost out of nowhere, took her bags, and started up the stairs with them. Kyoko’s eyes widened as she watched them, but before she could say anything, the other guy had taken her hand in his, and bringing it to his lips, he gave her a prince-like kiss.

"My name is Kotaro, and I would not want to see someone as fair as you have to carry anything so heavy. Now, if you will follow me, I will show you to your dorm room." Keeping her hand in his, Kotaro turned with confidence and started up the stairs.

The sudden heat that rushed through his fingers and up his arm seemed to continue spreading across his body… awakening his guardian blood. It was his secret to keep. Kotaro gave her hand a slight squeeze knowing she was the one he had so patiently waited for. He’d felt it the second she had stepped into the room.

Kyoko raised a delicate eyebrow thinking to herself, 'Gods save me from chivalrous guys. What have I walked into?'

Turning, she shrugged at Tama who was standing there with his mouth open. Kyoko cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Tama be careful, you might catch flies like that." Then before he could recover, she turned and followed the lithe form of the guy known to her only as Kotaro.

She mentally chalked one for her on her imaginary chalkboard, where she was secretly keeping score for her and Tama. She heard him huff behind her as they walked up the stairs and new she was now winning the game.

They passed another guy on his way down the stairs, and as he passed her without even looking at her, she felt a flash cross her heart and her breath stopped. All sound disappeared as he passed her almost in slow motion. Then everything returned too normal as her heart skipped a beat then sped up.

A feeling of unease crept across her skin as if she was missing something… or more like she had lost something and missed it terribly. Trying to shake the strange reaction, she didn’t even turn to look at who had passed her, feeling that at the moment she was better off not knowing.

“Well, at least there are enough guys around here for you to drool over,” Tama whispered making Kyoko growl mentally.

At the top of the stairs she turned, following Kotaro down a long hallway with lots of doors on both sides. She assumed these were the dorm rooms but he never slowed down or stopped at any of them. At the end of the hall there was a doorway that read DO NOT ENTER. She was a little confused when Kotaro and the two carrying her bags gracefully walked through them as if they belonged there, only to turn to another flight of stairs.

Tama closed in on Kyoko and taunted, “I think they are sending you to the dungeon.”

Kyoko smirked over her shoulder at him, “We are going up not down you dummy.”

“An empty cold room at the top of the tower then,” Tama flipped her on the back of the head.

'Well at least I’m gonna stay in shape,’ she thought as they reached the top of another elegant flight of stairs, then they turned down another hallway but this one was beautiful. It looked like the floor was even made of marble. The doors were very far apart. There were only three rooms in this hall, and she worried to herself that maybe Kotaro didn’t know where she was supposed to be after all.

Kotaro walked to the last door, thinking to himself that she must be someone very special because there weren’t many people even allowed in this hallway, and he knew it to be the best room within the whole campus. He stepped in front of the door and waited on her and her young friend to catch up.

Kotaro smirked, she was nervous. He could smell it. He looked into her stormy emerald eyes and already felt his heart faltering, but for now, he would do as he was told.

He held his hand out, palm up. "Now I will take my leave, but if there is anything you need..." He handed her the key to her room, and giving her a look that made her blush, he actually bowed gallantly then motioned for the two men to follow him.

Kyoko and Tama both turned and watched them with raised eyebrows until they were out of sight, then Kyoko glanced back to the door and gasped. Right there on the door a nameplate read Kyoko Hogo in golden letters.

Tama tapped his sister on the shoulder snickering. "You know… you can catch flies that way."

Kyoko rolled her eyes as she mentally erased the point she had given herself earlier. Taking the key, she unlocked the door and timidly opened it, peeking inside.

Tama’s eyes got as big as saucers and he pushed his way past her. “No way! This room is almost the size of our whole house." His awe filled voice echoed in the silence. “You could open a freakin’ warehouse dance club in this joint.”

“So you like my dungeon?” Kyoko added the point back where it belonged.

***** Two hours later, long after she had thanked Tama and sent him on his way, Kyoko was standing in the bathroom putting her stuff on the shelves. She again glanced at the bathtub that was big enough for five people.

Groaning, she mimicked her little brother’s words, "No way!"

She could feel the hair standing up on the back of her neck as she wondered again if it was all a mistake. “Yeah,” she whispered to herself. Someone would show up any minute to tell her to pack her stuff. She just knew that she had to be in the wrong room.

Kyoko walked back out and looked around the bedroom. The bed was the biggest bed she had ever seen, and already fully made, complete with fluffy comforter and all. The room was beautiful with soft purples and blues that made up the shag carpet and the bed. There were splashes of deep red here and there, and a closet big enough to get lost in.

She stepped into the living room where everything was black and gold, equipped with everything a person could want. She had already checked the kitchen. It was fully stocked. Kyoko shook her head for the umpteenth time. "No way." She gnawed on her bottom lip wondering what to do now. It was Saturday morning and classes didn’t start until Monday.

“Well, I can’t hide in here all day,” she mumbled to herself.

Feeling like she was sneaking around where she wasn't supposed to be, Kyoko headed for the door and stuck her head out into the hall. Not seeing anybody, she stepped out and closed the door behind her, then quietly walked back toward the steps leading below.

Again she had the feeling of being watched and it sent shivers down her spine, but she kept walking, not daring to turn around and look.

‘She can feel me,’ Kyou thought to himself. Maybe her powers weren’t buried as deep as he‘d feared. He had known the second she left her room and he inhaled the lingering scent... savoring it.

The memory of her scent seemed to refresh other memories. "Soon priestess, we will uncover your powers again. You may choose to hide them… but not for long." He leaned against the wall in the hallway, his golden eyes following her until she was out of sight.

***** Kyoko could breathe a little easier once she found herself back on the bottom floor. She noticed that now it was hopping with people her age. Sighing and shaking off the last of the strangeness from upstairs, Kyoko stood there lost in thought for an extra moment.

She couldn’t stand it when her senses kicked in like that. Sometimes, she wished she couldn’t sense the things at all. She pushed it to the far reaches of her mind as she gazed around the large ground floor of the building. “I need an on and off switch for this thing,” she mumbled, still thinking about the strange vibes she’d gotten only a moment before.

She glanced over at the library, and then quickly looked back to the other side, deciding she wanted to know more about that area first. Working out had been a habit of hers for as long as she could remember, and she wanted it to stay that way. For the last two years, she’d taken up martial arts of any kind, and she loved the freedom of motion it gave her limber body.

Crossing to the rec rooms, she noticed there were many different workout areas in it. In one of the larger gyms, she could see through the glass. She couldn’t resist stopping and watching them for a moment. Two people looked like they were sword fighting. Hearing the clank of metal against metal, she raised an eyebrow. Heading closer to the door of the room, she peered in listening.

"You are not paying attention Suki." The one dressed in black spoke in a taunting male voice as he parried and tapped the other one on the bottom laughing.

Kyoko couldn’t see either one's face because they were wearing protective gear.

"Shinbe!" came a very angry but feminine voice. Then without warning, the person shot forward and tapped him on the head, well more like smacked him on the head with the fencing sword, then jerked her head shield off.

Kyoko was surprised to see long brown hair spill out and down the girl’s back as she marched up to the other and poked him in the chest hard with her finger, one eyebrow twitching. "It’s hard to fight seriously when you are such a letch.”

Shinbe pulled his headgear off grinning. In a sense of surrender he threw both his hands in the air, backing up. "I’m sorry Suki, but there it was… and you weren’t protecting it." Feeling a tingling sensation move in waves across his skin he frowned then slowly turned his amethyst gaze to the girl standing in the doorway, "Ahem, it would seem we have a visitor."

Kyoko watched as the girl named Suki actually blushed still glaring at her opponent then turn away from him walking up to her with a wide smile.

"Men," she rolled her eyes before sticking her hand out in a friendly manner, "Hi, I’m Suki, and this poor excuse for a guy is Shinbe,” she threw her thumb toward the guy who was walking up behind her, still grinning.

“Suki,” the young man named Shinbe exclaimed. “You wound me to the quick.” He emphasized his statement by placing both hands over his heart.

Suki frowned at him, “Shinbe… if I could wound you, your brain would have leaked out of your ears by now from all the hits you’ve forced me to give you.”

Shinbe wiggled his eyebrows, “You know I love the tough love you grace me with.”

“I’ll show you tough love here in a minute but I don’t want to scare off the new girl,” Suki shot back.

Kyoko already liked her, and taking her hand in a firm shake, she smiled. "Hi, I’m Kyoko Hogo, but please just Kyoko."

She glanced at the guy standing behind Suki. “It’s very nice to meet you both.” There was something about his eyes that drew Kyoko’s attention. They were amazingly amethyst color and very breathtaking. His hair was a little longer than shoulder length and very dark with blue highlights. He kind of reminded her of a singer from one of those 80’s rock bands.

Suki smiled from ear to ear. "Hey, I heard about you. Yeah, I knew you were coming today. I was going to come looking for you in a little while and show you around." She all of a sudden got a strained look on her face and turned her head to the side, pinning Shinbe with a hard stare, "I wouldn’t do that if I were you."

Kyoko tilted her head for a look. Sure enough… the guy’s hand had stopped in midair, almost touching Suki's bottom, and he was grinning with a starry eyed look.

Shinbe sighed and dropped his hand, "One day, I’m gonna figure out how you know, even when you’re not looking."

Suki just groaned, "I just do, that’s all!" Giving Kyoko a friendly smile she said, "Come with me and I’ll change real quick." She grabbed Kyoko by the hand and pulled her out the door.

Kyoko gave a glance back at Shinbe to see him waving. 'These two are going to be loads of fun,' she thought to herself as she was pulled into the women’s locker room.

Suki could already tell she liked Kyoko, and for some reason, she felt like she had known her without ever meeting her. "Kyoko, tell me a little about yourself while I change," She said stepping behind the dividing wall.

Kyoko sat down on a bench feeling completely comfortable around Suki. "Well, I come from a small town on the other side of the city. And for some reason, out of the blue, I received a letter saying I had a scholarship here." Kyoko could hear Suki’s “yep”, so she continued. "I really don’t know how I received a scholarship I didn’t even apply for."

Suki could hear the question in that statement and smiled, sticking her head out around the corner. "Don’t worry about that. You came here the same way I did." She disappeared behind the divider again as she added, “I never applied here either.”

Kyoko frowned, "But why? There has to be a reason. Do you know?"

Suki came back around, now fully changed. She sat down to put her tennis shoes on. “Yeah, I’ve figured it out. Well, some of it anyway. The guy that owns this school searches out people with...” Suki paused, tilting her head a little, “…unique abilities.” She shrugged adding, "You might have a lot to get used to when you start meeting the others that live here." She grinned, knowing she was right.

Suddenly, Suki stood up and threw a shoe at the locker room door, smirking in triumph when she heard soft cursing from the other side. Retrieving the shoe, she sat back down to pull it on. "So now, what unique ability do you have?"

Kyoko's breath seemed to stop as her mind went into overdrive. There was no way that anyone here could know about her being a priestess. She frowned at Suki guiltily and then quickly looked away as she answered, "None that I know of."

Suki lifted an eyebrow but shrugged knowing she'd find out sooner or later. "Come on, let’s go. Shinbe is probably waiting on us anyway." She opened the door and sure enough, Shinbe was standing there close enough to the door to have been listening to them. He smiled at them innocently, all the while backing up.

Suki closed the door behind them and pointed at the sign on the door. "Shinbe, can't you read? That says Women’s Locker Room." She gave him a pointed look.

Shinbe shrugged, "Yes, that’s why I was standing near it." He quickly jumped out of the way when she swung her hand at him. “Suki… I’m a male… I need affection. What better way to acquire it than to learn how the female mind works?”

“You can do your research in the library,” Suki said through gritted teeth.

Shinbe grinned. “Dearest Suki, every book on the female mind in that library… is blank.”

Suki smiled back, “That’s because all those books in the library were authored by men.”

Cocking an eyebrow at her, Shinbe leaned closer, “Exactly. I plan to be the first to write one that makes sense to those of us that possess testosterone.”

Suki flashed Kyoko a defeated look then glanced down at her watch. "Hey, are you hungry? Let’s go to the student restaurant and eat first."

Kyoko nodded. She had been too nervous to eat this morning, but with them she felt right at home and was now starving.

Shinbe waved a hand in front of him, "Ladies first." He yelped when Suki gave him another whack upside the head.

"I wasn’t too slow that time was I… now lead the way,” Suki gave him an accusing look. Once Shinbe was safely walking in front of them, she leaned close to Kyoko with a knowing smirk, "Just remember to keep him in front of you at all times, unless you want to be felt up."

Kyoko couldn’t help it. She started laughing and didn’t quit until they entered the built-in lunchroom, which to her looked more like a diner. Her eyes widened as she stepped closer to Suki. "You know, every time I turn around in this place, I feel like I’m in the wrong place."

Shinbe led them to a table near the back of the room. Suki and Kyoko slid into a bench while Shinbe took the other side, looking like he was the most innocent guy in the world. "You know, this place does take a lot of getting used to." He smiled at Kyoko making his amethyst eyes light up. "I’ve been here a year and still haven’t figured it out."

Suki nudged Kyoko's shoulder, "He arrived the same way you and I did. An open invitation." She shrugged as if to tell Kyoko to just accept it and enjoy.

Kyoko leaned forward with a confused look, "I don’t get it. Why would someone do that?"

Shinbe nodded knowing someone needed to tell her the truth. "I have certain abilities and so does Suki." He shrugged winking at her. "Everyone here with a scholarship does." He paused looking for the right word, "We are gifted in one way or another." He raised an eyebrow at Suki, "Have you told her yet?"

Suki gave a quick negative shake of her head then turned to Kyoko suddenly wanting to change the subject, "Hey, do you want a hamburger and fries?"

Kyoko nodded and Suki got up as if avoiding the question about the free scholarships, "Stay here, I’ll be right back and don’t worry. To those who have scholarships, the food is free and they even bring it to us." Suki went to place the order, leaving her alone with Shinbe.