The Heart Of Time. Amy Blankenship

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.

      â€œI 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.

      â€œThat 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.

      â€˜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