The Heart Of Time

Kotaro was unaffected as he took her hand in his, "Is there somewhere else I can escort you to, Kyoko?" He looked deep into her emerald eyes knowing he had seen them before… somewhere. And he had a vague feeling he had once happily drowned in them.

Kyoko glanced up the stairs to see Toya had stopped and turned around, looking angry again. She could have sworn she’d just heard him growl at her or Kotaro, she wasn’t sure which.

Toya didn’t know what Kotaro was up to, but he didn’t like the fact he was acting so friendly with Kyoko. A deep growl came from his chest as he issued a warning, "I can handle it Kotaro, unless you would like to take her to go see Kyou." He gave Kotaro a hard stare, knowing Kotaro didn’t go around Kyou unless it was for class or he was summoned.

Kotaro let go of Kyoko’s hand, "I hope everything is alright, Kyoko." He shot Toya a dirty look then turned back to her, "Make sure you watch out for freezer burn here. If he gets out of hand, I’ll take care of him for you.” Kotaro gave Toya a smug look then nodded his head to Kyoko and turned, going back down the stairs.

Kyoko heard Toya huff and she looked up to him as he turned and walked down the corridor, the same way she had gone this morning.

This time she hurried and caught up with him just in time to see him go through the doors that read, DO NOT ENTER. Kyoko wondered where they were going. As she followed his stiff back, it crossed her mind that he was taking her back to her own room. When he did indeed stop in front of her door, Toya turned to look at her and she gave him a pissed look until he waved his hand to the door straight across from hers and knocked.

Kyoko was in shock. The owner was in the room right across from hers? Again, the words of her brother came back to haunt her. ‘No way!’ Without waiting for an answer, Toya opened the door and pushed her inside in front of him.

Immediately, Kyoko turned on him. "I don’t know what your damn problem is but would you please not push me," she made to shoo him away, "Or touch me. I haven’t done anything to you." The hair again stood up on the back of her neck when she noticed Toya was staring behind her.

Kyoko's shoulders slumped. Now she’d done it. Did she always have to pop off without thinking about where she was or who might be watching?

Toya saw Kyoko tense up and he smirked, lowering his eyes to the girl that seemed so small all of a sudden. "Didn’t you want to talk to someone?" When Kyoko didn't turn around, Toya looked back up at Kyou and narrowed his eyes when he noted Kyou was leaning against the doorway of the living room staring at Kyoko as if he were in a trance.

'What the hell?’ Toya thought to himself. Why was Kyou looking at her like he’d seen a ghost? On some level, he did not want to identify the jealous feeling it caused. It sent a creeping sensation across his gut making him want to step in between them and block Kyoko from Kyou's sight. He wanted to protect her.

Kyou was momentarily at a loss for words, seeing Kyoko this close for the first time in over a thousand years. The very air around her hummed with the force he remembered … the same undeniable force that had drawn him to her in the past had not vanished.

His golden eyes took in the guardian behind her with a sort of detached indifference. "Toya, leave." A dangerously threatening tone could be heard in his voice.

A growl formed in the back of Toya’s throat and his fists clenched in anger as some feeling seemed to rear up and haunt him from some unknown place hidden deep inside his memory. Without another word, Toya turned and stormed out the door, slamming it.

Kyoko watched Toya leave while her mind was going around and around in chaotic thoughts. All of a sudden, she felt the impulse to run out after him. Deciding not to be a coward, she tilted her chin up and found her courage, finally turning around only to not believe what she was seeing.

Instead of the older man in a starched business suit that she was expecting to see, she found herself face to face with… His golden eyes burned into her own making her feel like she could not look away. His silver hair spilled over his shoulders and perfectly chiseled body. He was tall, and beautiful, with a touch of arrogance surrounding his regal body and a face that could only be a gift from heaven.

Kyoko instantly closed her eyes. What the hell was wrong with her? She came here to ask questions, not drool. When she opened her eyes again he was much closer. She instantly took a step back from the nobility and superiority that surrounded him only to feel the solidness of the door against her back… trapping her.

Without realizing he had done so, Kyou started to walk toward her. But when he noted her retreat from him, he raised an elegant eyebrow, extending his hand toward the sofa. "Would you like to sit down Miss Hogo?" He knew she had questions for him. He would have been disappointed if she hadn’t.

Kyoko swallowed nervously but haughtily raised her chin, edging her way over to the sofa, keeping as much distance between them as she could, if nothing else then in the hope that her brain would function normally. She inwardly gave a shaky laugh.

"First thing I want to know is, what makes you think I am a priestess?" She looked up at him warily and almost freaked out when he took a seat beside her on the sofa instead of the chair on the other side of the coffee table. Kyoko shifted her body and turned watching him, stilling herself from moving even farther away from him and showing her fear.

'So, she wants to play,' Kyou mused idly, but just as quickly shook off his intriguing thought. "What makes you think I would not know that you are a priestess?" he returned in an unnaturally calm voice. She was so small compared to him as he leaned toward her, looking down into her heart shaped face.

Kyoko watched the planes of his perfect face for any hint of emotion and was surprised to find none. He was like a sculpture of perfection and calmness, and that irritated her to no end.

"Do you always answer a question with a question, Mister…?” she stammered not even knowing his last name.

Kyou smiled but only inwardly so she wouldn’t see it. Well, he could tell she still had life in her and he wasn’t disappointed in that. It only made him want to see more. "Mr. Lord, but you may call me Kyou, unless you like Lord better." He nailed her with a heated look.

Kyoko returned that heated look, "Why… Am… I… Here?" She said the words slowly and one at a time, as if she was talking to a child. There, let’s see him glide his way out of that one. ‘Mr. Lord, my ass.’ Kyoko huffed to herself, never breaking eye contact with him.

Having read her mind, Kyou's golden eyes glowed as they narrowed on her emerald ones. He leaned a little closer to her, knowing he would intimidate her by doing so. He could smell it.

"Your priestess powers are weak and untrained, or you would know why I know you are a priestess," he almost hissed at her, losing his composure for only a moment before his calm facade slipped back into place. "I will teach you martial arts along with strengthening… what you lack."

To Kyoko, the last of what he said almost sounded like an insult. Being the little hothead she was known for, she leaned in almost face to face with him, and the sarcasm was thick. "Maybe I only hide my true power, then when I find a deserving target, I release it." Anger was making her fearless, or stupid, at the moment she wasn't sure which one.

Kyou leaned in even closer, dipping his lips close to hers so his hot breath would caress her lips. He whispered in a dark voice, "Priestess.”

Chapter 4 "Pay Attention"

Kyoko jerked back from him, all of a sudden feeling vibes coming off him that she wasn’t supposed to feel. Something was going on here and she felt like she was the last one to know about it.

"I need answers," she whispered in a nervous voice, biting her bottom lip in hopes of getting rid of the tickling sensation Kyou had created. She wished briefly that she could get rid of the breathtaking shivers that decided to take the bullet train through her nervous system.

Inhaling her scent and feeling his blood instantly heat, Kyou leaned back. He had seen the girl’s small body shiver but not in revulsion. Glancing down, he almost smirked when he saw her arms come alive with goose bumps.

“Why are you suppressing your power? You need to be aware of your surroundings before the past is repeated." The slightly arrogant voice told her.

Kyoko gulped, "What do you mean by that?" She tensed up.

"You are aware there are immortals here at the school, are you not?" His eyes were glittering with something Kyoko had never seen, and his voice was harsh as if he were disapproving. “Demons are closing in around us as we speak.”

Kyoko's eyes widened then narrowed. Was he playing with her? "What would lead you to think that there are guardians and demons here?" she demanded with an indignant scoff.

In the blink of an eye Kyou had her by the arms and jerked her up, his head bowed down within an inch of her face. He growled angrily, "Pay attention."

Kyoko blinked, not believing what she was seeing. Standing in front of her was not who she was talking to just a moment before. She was looking into unnaturally bright, pissed off, golden eyes, and under them was the whitest small fangs, and she could feel the claws that were at that moment unknowingly digging into her arm.

His hair had lengthened to twice the length it had been only a moment before and seemed to almost float around him as if awaiting acknowledgment. With a startled yelp, Kyoko wrenched herself free from him and took a step back quickly, only for him to take a threatening step closer.

"You’re a guardian?" she stuttered lamely.

"And you are the priestess that should have already known that," he hissed stalking her even as he felt his anger fade.

She turned to make a run for the door and instantly screamed when she felt strong arms wrap around her from behind.

Kyou’s body tightened around her as she struggled. He lifted her off the ground as her feet kicked the air in her attempt to escape him. Giving her enough time to realize trying to free herself from him was futile, he placed his lips near her ear and whispered, “You will stay until you are strong enough to free yourself from these arms priestess.”

He then hauled her into the air, only to toss her again on the overstuffed sofa, where she landed with a slight bounce. Now that she was once again face to face with him, Kyoko gave him a furious scream and then blinked again when his appearance turned back to the man she had been talking to.

She glared at him angrily, balling her fist up, "What the hell is going on?"

Kyou stood calmly before her, the only difference this time was his eyes were still glowing, "You will stay here." He leaned down toward her, "You will let me train you." He placed his hands on the back of the sofa efficiently trapping her, "And this time, you will win without sacrifice." His nose was almost touching hers as he hissed the last of the statement, now showing his displeasure.

Kyoko leaned back into the sofa as far as it would allow, returning his heated gaze, but she still didn’t sense any threat from him. Even if he wasn’t human, he had no intent to harm her. She frowned at him realizing what he had just said.

"This time?" Her voice was soft, "What do you mean… This time?"

Kyou inhaled deeply, "You may have forgotten, but I have not." Her scent surrounded him and he felt the familiar twinge of pain around his forgotten heart, but she had to know the truth, "We have fought together in the past priestess, and the time is drawing near that we will have to do so again."

Kyoko's eyes softened for an instant, "Who are you?"

"Your guardian. Kyoko, I know you have forgotten because you sacrificed your memories of us in order to bring the Guardian Heart Crystal back to this world." His gaze searched hers and his voice became a mere whisper, "You must trust me."

Even though he’d just tried to frighten her everything within her was telling her to trust him. "I do… trust you." As soon as she whispered the words, she found herself pulled into his arms. At first she stiffened, then feeling the blanket of warmth that surrounded her, she gave in to the embrace relaxing against him in serene confusion.

Kyou couldn’t help it. He had been carrying the worry of rejection for far too long, and hearing those words lifted the weight of the world off his tense shoulders. He crushed her to him, surrounding himself with her scent as he nuzzled his face into her hair.

"Stay this time," He whispered in a moment of weakness.

Kyoko could feel the tenderness in his words and in his arms but still, he had just scared the hell out of her a few minutes ago, and now he was holding her as if his very life depended on it. She was caught between fearing him and wanting to reach out and caress his smooth cheek.

She was full of questions and mumbled into his chest, "I want to remember what you say I have forgotten. What do I need to know?"

Kyou closed his golden eyes not wanting to return to the real world just yet… she was right where she belonged… in his arms. With a sigh, he unwillingly released her back onto the sofa and moved to sit beside her.

Running his hand through his overly-long bangs, Kyou took a deep breath to calm his raging instincts. Stilling his desires, he focused on the wall in front of him and began to tell her what he wanted her to know. Hearing something was not the same as remembering it.

"You will have help. All the people here that arrived the same way you did, on the scholarships, I have gathered for you. They do not remember you and you do not remember them, but they fought with you then, and they will fight with you again when the time comes," his voice was laced with a hint of memories of the past.

Kyoko's eyes widened, "Suki and Shinbe?" She asked wondering why she believed him so readily.

Kyou nodded, "I see you have met them. Yes, you were very close to them, as well as Toya who protected you like no other."

"Toya?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "You have to be kidding.” Then she mentally added, ‘He doesn't even like me.'

Kyou sighed reluctantly, "Toya has not changed in this life, and is still the obnoxious, hardheaded, youth of the past. But yes, he protected you with a vengeance, and would have died for you if the need would have arisen."

Kyoko frowned, "He does not remember?" She felt like he was telling her the truth, and it made sense knowing she was missing part of her own memory. Her eyes searched his, wanting that knowledge back.

Kyou shook his head slightly, "I am the only one that did not come back with you. Therefore, I am the only one to carry the memories of what happened. Toya does not even remember he is my brother."

Kyoko inhaled at the confession, “brothers? What happened that you are the only one to remember?" She had to know.

"You gave all your memories up in battle to destroy the evil of our world and save the Guardian Heart Crystal. In the same instant, you made a wish on the crystal to see everyone again. You did not want to lose them. When you instantly disappeared, so did everyone else… including the enemy. You had unknowingly brought them here… with you.”

He sighed regretfully. “I had cast a spell around myself that protected me from such wishes." his eyes grew distant as if he was reliving the memory.

"You took everyone with you, and you didn’t even know it. They were all reborn here, in your time, leaving me alone in the past." His eyes focused and locked with hers. "So, I survived and waited on you. Once it was time, I gathered everyone that had left me. Now you have brought with you the crystal, and the malevolence that wants it…" his voice became darker, "…evil has already started its search for you and I will not allow it."

Kyoko nodded trying to understand, "So, everyone who is here the same way I am, I can trust?" He nodded and Kyoko continued, "Do they know any of this?"

Kyou shook his head, "They will feel a bond and it will grow, but other than that, I do not know the future, only the past. They will protect you, as they did then. It is what they were born to do… their reason for existence.”

He quickly looked away from her searching eyes knowing the truth of his words pertained to him as well. “We still have some time, but for now I want you to stop hiding your priestess powers, and become aware of your surroundings. I will watch over you, and have told Toya to keep a close watch also."

Kyoko watched him closely trying to remember anything she could about him. He seemed to know her so well. Looking deep into his eyes she whispered curiously, "How close were we?"

A fluttering of hidden affection crossed his golden orbs before Kyou stiffened and moved away from her. His cool exterior falling back into place, he growled looking at the door, then back at her quickly. "Do not repeat what I have told you for they will remember on their own."

Kyoko jumped when a hard knock came from the door, then it opened without permission.

Toya had started to worry for the girl’s safety and thought to interrupt, if nothing else then to save her from the iciness he knew Kyou capable of. His gaze was instantly drawn to her as he entered.

"Well, I see she survived her talk," his irises flashed silver still feeling that something was not right. "If you’re finished with Kyoko, Suki is waiting for her." Toya leveled his golden eyes on Kyou not aware of the silver flecks that had started showing within his orbs.

Kyou gave Toya his usual blank glance, and nodded silently.

Kyoko looked at Toya warmly, because now that she was using her senses, she could tell he had been worried about her, even if he did not act it.

'Would have given his life for you.' Kyou's words came back to haunt her.

Kyou watched her ease with Toya, and felt a distant, but familiar longing, causing him to scowl. He remembered this feeling well, and his eyes narrowed on the silver guardian. Would she always hold a special bond for his brother that she did not share with the others?

Kyoko stood up, nodding her goodbye to Kyou and flashed him a secret smile that Toya could not see, then turned to Toya and granted him with one of her sweetest smiles. "Come on, let’s not keep Suki waiting." She took off out the door leaving Toya standing there with a warm feeling. A feeling only her smile could cause.

He shook his head trying to shake the warmth away, and then scowled at Kyou, noticing he was watching him intensely. “What?” Toya asked in a hard voice knowing he wouldn’t get an answer. Deciding it wasn’t worth his time, he took off out the door again, slamming it behind him and hurried to catch up with Kyoko.

Toya watched the back of Kyoko as she walked hurriedly down the hall. She must be in a hurry to get away from Kyou. He smirked to himself, speeding up to catch up with her, which was not a problem, considering he was a guardian. His thoughts darkened a little, wondering if she even knew what he was. He doubted she did, or she would not have smiled at him like that.

At the top of the steps, Kyoko knew Toya had caught up with her because she could feel him behind her. Yes, she could feel his powerful aura, but it was a little different feeling than with Kyou. She closed her eyes for just a second. Searching the aura Kyoko decided no matter how mean he acted, his aura was actually very warm and made her feel … among many things… protected.

She understood that Toya was supposed to be younger than Kyou, but she also could sense the hidden power in him. A power that, if tapped into, could make Toya outshine his brother in a heartbeat... though she doubted either of them was aware of it. Kyoko was enjoying the use of her senses, now that she had flipped them back on again.

"So…" she turned to him, "…where are Suki and Shinbe?"

Toya narrowed his eyes at her now that he had been put on the spot with his lie. How the hell should he know where Suki and Shinbe were? He’d only gone back for her to get her away from Kyou.

“I don't know,” he drawled lazily.

Kyoko frowned at him, "But you said… "

Toya cut her off. “You should thank me for saving you," he informed her, leaning in closer as if to intimidate her.

"Saving me from what?” Kyoko growled right in his face, not liking his attitude. Geez, sometimes he could really come across as a jackass.

"From Kyou," Toya growled loudly back at her, clenching his fist. She could really piss him off with that pretty mouth of hers. ‘Pretty mouth?’ Where the hell had that come from? He took a startled step back from her in confusion.

Taken aback, Kyoko just stared blankly at him for a minute. Then softly at first, but growing louder by the second, she started laughing at him. "You did?" she asked, trying to breathe between giggles. "Why would you…" she trailed off, slowing down on laughing, and finally settling for a wide grin though her eyes still held a twinkle of mischief.

“That was very sweet. I didn’t know you cared," she wrinkled her nose at him, trying to keep a straight face.

Toya glared at her getting the feeling the joke was on him. "So, have you decided to stay after all ‘Priestess’?” he spat the last word as if it left a bad taste in his mouth.

Kyoko lost her smile and pushed her face within inches of his again, staring straight into his golden eyes. "Yes I have, ‘guardian’," she cocked an eyebrow at him then turned and raced down the stairs laughing.

‘YES!’ Kyoko exclaimed silently and mentally tacked a point up on her side of the chalkboard. ‘Kyoko one… Toya zip.’

Toya's eyes widened for an instant before he realized the little wench had gotten him. "Damn!" he hissed and took off after her.

Kyoko was almost at the bottom of the steps when she felt her priestess senses going into overdrive. Sensing another guardian besides Toya, she looked around. The only person close enough to cause that feeling was a student standing at the bottom of the stairs, watching her with interest.

Looking closely, she was mystified with the purplish highlights running through his untamed hair, and the most beautiful eyes. As she watched those eyes she could have sworn… she could see glitter of every color appear within his irises.

Toya now stood behind Kyoko. Seeing her sudden stop, he noted she was staring at Kamui. ‘So she can detect immortals now,’ Toya thought to himself. Reaching down, he grabbed her arm, "Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

Toya had found a soft spot for Kamui as soon as he had met the boy. All he really knew about him was that he had no parents and had grown up in foster care till Kyou had offered him a place here.

Kyoko let herself be half pulled and half dragged by Toya toward the stranger. She could tell he was also immortal, but could also sense an awesome kindness. She let her senses explore his aura and found warmth there and… a hidden innocence belonging only to a child.

"Hiya Toya, who you got here?" Kamui’s glittering eyes were watching her in fascination. He felt like he had been waiting for her for so long… even though he had no idea who she was. It was as if he had missed her terribly. It felt like he could suddenly breathe again and he even inhaled to prove that fact, but when he did he caught her scent and found it also seemed so familiar.

Looking at Toya, he asked, “What did you do… go capture yourself a girlfriend?” Kamui smirked as his eyes lit up with humor.

“Hell no,” Toya growled. “She’s not my type at all.”

“How would you know? You've never had a girlfriend.” Kamui laughed out loud at his own joke.

Kyoko tried hard not to giggle but seeing the mirth in Kamui’s eyes coupled with the dark expression on Toya’s face made it impossible.

"This is Kyoko," Toya turned to her, releasing her arm as if he just remembered he was touching her. "Kyoko, this is Kamui. He is also here on scholarship, and will be in the same classes that you are in."

“Yeah, I’m one of the freeloaders here,” Kamui said with a straight face, causing Kyoko to lose the ability to hold in the laughter she had barely contained in the first place.

She turned to Kamui and stuck out her hand. With a very friendly smile, keeping her secret inside that if he was here on scholarship, then she knew that he was her friend in the past, "Hi Kamui, it’s nice to meet you. How long have you been here at the academy?"

Kamui already liked this friendly girl. "About two years. So what’s hothead doing? Showing you around?" he looked at Toya smirking, then back at her, softening his smile. The mischievous side of his personality came forth and he took Kyoko’s hand in his own. Bowing down slightly, he brought her soft hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

Kamui almost laughed at the heated glare he was receiving from Toya. Only an idiot wouldn’t be able to see the obvious attraction the other man had for the lovely Kyoko.

Kyoko blushed slightly and giggled at the term ‘hothead’. Seeing Toya glare at Kamui, she grinned. "Actually we are trying to find Shinbe and Suki right now. Have you seen them any…"

Before Kyoko had even finished, someone grabbed her arm, pulling her from between Kamui and Toya. With a quick glance, Kyoko found herself looking into the worried face of Suki.

"Did everything go okay Kyoko? You are staying, aren’t you?" Suki sounded almost pleading.

Kyoko nodded suddenly hearing Kyou’s soft voice whispering for her to stay. "I’m not going anywhere." She nodded over Suki's shoulder at Shinbe seeing he seemed just as satisfied as Suki at her answer.

Toya lifted an eyebrow at Kyoko's words. He wondered exactly what Kyou said to her to make her so determined to stay. Now she was acting so different, she looked almost happy. Usually when Kyou talked to people alone… they would walk away unnerved for hours. The guy even had the ability to give him the creeps every once in a while.

Kyoko took Suki's arm and started for the stairs, “You have got to help me find something to wear tonight, if we are going dancing." The two girls huddled, talking as they walked. They acted like they had known each other forever.

Shinbe, Kamui and Toya watched the two girls disappear up the stairs. Shinbe asked Toya in a worried voice, "Does she know about what’s really going on here?"

Toya watched Kyoko’s lips moving as she talked to Suki, "Yeah, I think she does." Then turning back to them, he changed the subject, "Kamui, are you coming with us tonight?"

Shinbe did a double take. "Toya? Are you really going to come dancing?" his voice sounded shocked. 'That doesn’t sound like Toya,' he thought to himself.

"Hey, I was told to watch her like a hawk, so I guess I have no choice, now do I?" Toya acted annoyed so they would think he was doing this against his will. But in truth, he suddenly didn’t want to lose sight of her.

His pulse thumped under his skin, as if to tell him to protect her at all costs, no matter if he had been told to do so or not. It wasn’t helping that he now had a mental picture of Kyoko moving around suggestively to a thumping beat on a crowded dance floor. It made his protective instincts surface and he suddenly would rather she not go.

A soft growl made its way from Toya’s throat and he shook his head trying to rid himself of the thought of too many eyes on her… eyes that did not belong.

"Yeah, sounds like fun. I’m going too,” Kamui chimed in. "We have to do something on the weekends to take our minds off this place." He felt almost lightheaded with relief knowing Kyoko would be around from now on. “Plus we need to find a girlfriend for Toya,” he chimed in innocently.

“Who says I need a girlfriend, you little twerp,” Toya growled as he popped Kamui on the top of his head. “You wouldn’t know what a girlfriend was if she bit you on the ass.”

Shinbe grinned, “I think I’m the only one here who knows what a girlfriend is, but I can show you two virgins if you want the experience.” He took a quick step back when they both turned and gave him murderous looks.

Quickly changing the subject, Shinbe nodded then slid a little closer to Toya. "Kyou ordered you to watch after Kyoko?" his gaze drifted in the direction she’d gone. "You know… lately I have felt a shift in the balance around here, like something is getting ready to happen. Evil is getting closer. I wonder if she has something to do with it." Shinbe's instincts were almost always right and it worried him.

Toya had felt it too, and he wanted answers. "Well, no time like the present. Why don’t I just go upstairs and ask frosty for the truth?" He knew Kyou was hiding something and he was going to find out what it was.

Before Shinbe could stop him, Toya had already taken off for the stairs. Shinbe cringed, "I hate it when they are in the same room. I’ve seen it, and it’s not pretty. They act like brothers or something.” His amethyst eyes trailed the stairs, watching Toya take them two at a time.

Kamui nodded, knowing Kyou scared the hell out of him sometimes. "Better him than me. I’ll see you tonight." he took off, leaving Shinbe standing there by himself, still watching the stairs.

Deep within Shinbe’s mind where his guardian powers reflected within his mirror self, he wondered at the familiar feeling he had for the priestess who had just ascended them. He searched deep inside his soul for the truth as he closed his eyes.