Defy Not The Heart

Kamui nodded his head.

Suki sat with her back to Kyoko. “Tell Shinbe he better get well fast.” She sniffled and Kyoko suddenly felt really guilty. Letting go of Kamui, she set the stuff she had brought for the others by the door, not wanting to bother Suki again right now. She knew she would find the supplies and goodies later. She said goodbye, then headed back to the shrine alone, wondering where Toya was.

*****

On the other side of the time portal, Shinbe lay in bed with his eyes closed, trying to drown out grandfather’s senseless babble with his own thoughts. ‘When was Kyoko going to return to rescue him?’ he laughed like a madman in his mind. Yup, she was the only one who could save him now.

Even with his injuries, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. This must be God’s way of paying him back for his sins. He was well aware that if Toya had known the whole truth, he would not be breathing right now.

The others, including Toya, had always assumed that he wanted Suki only because that was exactly what he’d wanted them to think. Suki wanted nothing to do with romance and that had made her safe… unknowingly playing a huge part in his lie. He started to drift back to sleep as visions of Kyoko in his arms flashed through his mind.

*****

Kyoko walked slowly back toward the maiden shrine with mixed feelings. Why had Toya run off? And now she felt selfish for making the others worry for so long. It’s just that she’d thought Toya would have told them what had happened. This whole thing was starting to get out of control. They still had to find the scattered talisman and Hyakuhei was out there somewhere probably plotting all their deaths. At the moment, the whole gang seemed to be splitting up.

Toya watched Kyoko as she made her way back to the shrine. He’d smelled her arrival and sought her out when he’d noticed Shinbe was not with her. So the amethyst guardian was still in Kyoko’s time… and now it looked like she was going back to him.

Since returning, Toya had held up in a cave not too far away. He wasn’t sorry for the fight with Shinbe, but he hadn’t meant to hurt him as bad as he had. But would Kyoko believe him? His golden orbs watched her from the darkened tops of the trees. He knew he would have to talk to her before she went back to Shinbe.

Kyoko looked up, realizing she was already at the heart of time. She’d been so lost in thought that she hadn’t even been paying attention. She sighed, then raised her chin drawing courage and decided she would have to have a talk with Shinbe when she got back.

Kyoko stopped in her tracks when she saw a flash of movement from the corner of her eye. Before she could blink, Toya was standing between her and the shrine. He was looking at her hauntingly through the stray bangs that had fallen down to shield his eyes, his hair and clothes still fluttering from the quick landing.

Why was it that he could do the strangest things and her whole body would light up like an electrical shock wave was passing through it. The handful of butterflies flittering around in her stomach seemed to go on a mating frenzy. She didn’t know what to say or do so she stood still trying to read his expression. She could see all kinds of emotions, everything from guilt, to anger… even a hint of depression.

Finally finding her voice, though it sounded scared even to her own ears, she spoke, "I… Toy-ya?" Her eyes widened when his face snapped up into view and his eyes locked on hers. Kyoko didn’t mean to take a step back but she’d done it without thought. When she noticed his eyes narrow at seeing her retreat from him, she steadied herself to face him. Timidly, she took a step forward to let him know she wasn’t afraid of him.

Toya watched her silently, sensing fear in her. When she backed away from him, it made him angry enough that he actually felt his blood start to heat up. He waited to see what she would do and calmed when she again stepped closer, taking back the distance she’d created. He didn’t want her to fear him.

"Kyoko," his voice was steady and stern, "you know I would never hurt you." His hands fisted at his sides. "I know you know it," his voice was demanding.

Kyoko bit her bottom lip hearing the strain in his voice. Yeah, she knew he wouldn’t purposely hurt her… but she also remembered the fact that Hyakuhei had done something to his blood that made him extremely dangerous when angered. Drawing a steady breath, she started slowly walking toward him. "Where have you been?"

Toya could hear worry in her voice and his eyes widened, wondering at it. Had she been worried about him? He’d thought she would only hate him after what he had done. He’d driven himself sick just thinking about it.

"How is… Shinbe?" he gritted his teeth against the name.

Kyoko frowned, "He’ll live. But it’s gonna take a while for him to be well enough to come back. I haven’t even had a chance to ask him what happened, so why don’t you tell me. Why did you… do that?” Her voice trailed off for a moment and then she whispered, "Suki and the others thought he was dead." Her voice raised a couple notches becoming accusing, "You could have at least told them where he was."

She looked behind him at the maiden statue, avoiding his gaze. The rawness of his eyes was too much for her to take right now.

Toya felt cold and hot at the same time. The feeling itself was disturbing. All he could think about was that she would hate him, and that was the one thing he couldn’t handle. And the thought of her being alone with Shinbe in her time, was also too much for him to swallow. Especially after the things his brother had said. It was the same thing as threatening her.

Kyoko watched the emotions changing in his golden eyes, now darkening with thought. He was deadly calm, which was starting to creep her out. She took a couple steps, as if to go around him to the shrine, but he moved to block her and that rattled her even more.

"Look, if you’re not going to say anything, then I’m going back to check on the damage you did to your brother Shinbe," she yelled at him.

Toya couldn’t take it. In the blink of an eye, he had her, holding her trapped within his arms, his every instinct telling him not to let her go into the heart of time… back to the untrusted guardian.

"Kyoko, wait," his voice was still a little harsh and he tried to soften it as he felt her stiffen against him. "Kyoko, you don’t know why we fought. You don’t know what he said. You can’t trust him. I don’t trust him. He has changed, and I don’t like it."

Kyoko felt his arms tighten around her and she knew he was serious. Toya had never lied to her… but it just didn’t make sense. She tried to lean back in his arms to see his eyes. "What do you mean? He is the same as always."

Toya growled low in his throat, "No, Kyoko, he has hidden it from you. There’s something going on with him and I don’t know what it is, but I can feel it. He’s hiding something." Toya hoped she would hear his words and not just think he was making an excuse for beating him up.

Kyoko frowned. She had noticed little things about Shinbe. But to her, the changes had not been bad, but she knew Toya had very good instincts so she wouldn’t just dismiss it completely. Just to make sure she sighed, "You’re not just saying that because of the kiss, are you?" She felt Toya's chest vibrate against her.

"That kiss,” Toya growled and reached up to grasp her chin in his hand, bringing her face to his. There was one question that had been eating at him. "Kyoko, why would you kiss him for saving you, and not me? I don’t understand." His eyes lowered to her pouting lips and before she could reject him, he slashed his lips across hers, feeling for the first time her silky lips against his.

When she gasped at the sudden attack on her senses, Toya deepened the kiss, searching her reaction. He could hear her heartbeat speed up, and he could also feel her body heating up.

Kyoko was getting the kiss she had always wanted, but somewhere in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but think it was for all the wrong reasons. Was he kissing her because Shinbe had? ‘No, this was wrong.’ She pressed against his chest for more reason than just lack of air.

"Wait Toya," she gasped. "Stop, I can't think."

Toya smirked, relaxing his arms but not releasing her, "That’s a good thing, Kyoko." He’d felt something with the kiss, and it made him feel better knowing she did too. Maybe he wouldn’t lose her to Shinbe after all. He remembered the threat Shinbe had taunted him with.

"Shinbe should not be fully trusted. I’d rather you stay here with me and just let your family take care of him for now," his eyes drew hers in a silent plea.

Kyoko frowned, "No, I have to go back. He only woke up a few minutes before I came here to let you guys know he was going to be okay." Guilt crept up on her, "Besides, I feel like it’s my fault you guys fought, so I’m going to take care of him until he gets better, then I’ll bring him back." Her eyes narrowed, "And we have to get along if we are going to find the rest of the talisman."

She poked a finger into his chest and finally took a step back, out of the circle of his arms. "That means no more fighting. Do you understand? You almost killed him." Her eyes searched his for the truth.

"Then I’ll go back with you," Toya said tightly, folding his arms inside his sleeves and standing at his full height. "Shinbe reeks of guilt, and I don’t know why." Secretly, he was glad she hadn’t yet spent time alone with him, considering he’d just woken up. "I don’t trust him alone with you."

Kyoko blinked, "There is no way you’re coming anywhere near Shinbe right now. He’s still in a lot of pain, and you are the one that made him that way.” She wasn’t trying to be mean… she just wanted to keep them separated for now. "I’ll make you a deal. I’ll come back tomorrow and give everyone an update, if you promise me that you will go back to the group."

Seeing the stubbornness enter his eyes she looked down at the ground for a moment then whispered heavily in the air, "We are still a group… aren’t we? We still need to find the talisman before Hyakuhei does."

Toya's eyes glittered dangerously. "If he does something, and I’m not there… I can’t protect you and,” His voice raised a couple notches, "I’m your protector, not him!"

Kyoko's head snapped up at his words. It wasn’t often that Toya let his heart show but she could see it so clearly in the rare moments that his defenses fell.

She smiled, trying to calm him down, "Look, Shinbe is way too weak to try anything, so don’t worry. I’ll be back tomorrow." She took a couple steps toward the heart of time and saw him move to stop her.

"Toya!" she yelled, holding up her hand and casting the Taming spell.

Kyoko softened her voice, "Look, I know you don’t trust Shinbe, but at least trust me. I’ll be back tomorrow night. Everything will be fine… you’ll see." With that, she touched the hand of the maiden and vanished. She could still hear his string of curses as the heart of time took her to the other side.

Kyoko frowned thoughtfully as she found herself within the shrine house. She could still see the damage that had been done during their fight. As she turned around, she placed a locking seal over the maiden’s hands, deciding it was better to be safe than sorry.

Chapter 7 "Questions"

Kyoko made her way back through her darkened house to find Shinbe fast asleep. She silently wondered if she should tell him about her meeting with Toya. Sitting back at her desk, she set about to finish sewing the torn robes, but thoughts of Toya slowed her fingers.

He’d surprised her when he kissed her. She used to dream about him kissing her… she used to wish for it. She had to admit that kiss was exactly what she’d always imagined… it was the timing that had made it confusing. Maybe it was just Toya trying to distract her anger. He’d never tried to kiss her before, so why else would he do so now?

She thought about his lips on hers, and on instinct, she raised her fingers to her lips wondering at it… then another kiss invaded her mind. When she had casually brushed her lips against Shinbe’s, it was like an electrical shock ran through her. Had Toya not shown up when he did… she’d of liked to of experimented with that kiss a little more.