The Heart Of Time. Amy Blankenship

      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?”

      â€œYou 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.

      Chapter 3 "Meeting Toya"

      Shinbe leaned forward with a serious look on his face, his amethyst eyes almost glowing, "There are some normal people here, and then there are the ones that have scholarships like me and Suki. There are others that have scholarships, but we all have some kind of special ability… like a power normal people do not have.”

      â€œMine is Telekinesis. I can move objects with my mind.” “And telepathy which means I can speak to others with my mind.” He said the words without making a sound, knowing she could hear him within her own mind.

      Kyoko’s lips parted when she didn’t see his lips move and his voice echoed inside her head. She suddenly felt warm all over like his voice was supposed to be there or … something. Her expression relaxed and her eyes softened as she gazed at him.

      Shinbe tried to hide his curious frown… when he had linked minds with her just then… it had taken all his concentration just to close the connection. It was as if his power wanted to stay with her. Trying to shake the feeling, he continued. “I can also cast spells and I come from a long line of monks." He stopped when Kyoko burst out laughing.

      Suki slid back in beside Kyoko not missing a beat, "I know it’s hard to believe, but he does come from a line of monks." She grinned then her look turned sober again, "And I have seen him throw things without touching them, and he is great at all kinds of martial arts."

      â€œPerhaps we should inform the lovely Kyoko of all my talents,” Shinbe said suggestively.

      Suki turned and glared at Shinbe, “No, I will not tell her you’re good at THAT!” She popped him on the top of the head for good measure.

      "But still, he acts like he is only human," A sarcastic voice came out of nowhere and Shinbe straightened up, scooting over to give room to the voice.

      Kyoko glanced up and her eyes locked with deep golden ones. The owner of the voice was good looking beyond anything she’d ever seen. Long black hair with silver highlights fell from his head in long layers. His sun-kissed skin seemed to glow with a healthy shine and his body was to die for. His eyes however, seemed to hold her captive even though he wasn’t looking directly at her.

      Suki huffed and crossed her arms in front of her chest, giving the newcomer a pissed off look. "Great, you’re all it will take to scare her away."

      Shinbe grinned at Suki then glanced at Kyoko to give introductions, "This is Toya. Toya meet Kyoko. Today is her first day here."

      Toya turned to look at Kyoko, and for some reason the way he was looking at her, as if sizing her up, annoyed her. Kyoko narrowed her eyes at him, her first impression of him shot out of the sky.

      "So, you’re the priestess?" Toya huffed and turned his head as if dismissing her as he sat down.

      Kyoko’s eyes rounded on him and she gasped. No one here knew she was a priestess. As a matter of fact, only her closest family members knew that.

      "How the hell do you know that?" she yelled at him, all of a sudden furious.

      Toya flinched feeling his blood spike. "Damn, don’t yell like a freaking maniac. I can hear you fine," he growled at her.

      Suki and Shinbe both winced, and kind of shrank in their chairs as Kyoko and Toya glared daggers at each other.

      Toya's senses started to pick up a ripple of power that came with Kyoko's anger and he tensed up, thinking maybe she did have a little power in that small cute body, though he'd be damned if he told her that.

      Silently, he appraised her appearance. Her auburn hair shimmered in the light around a beautiful heart shaped face. She had vibrant green eyes that were now looking at him in anger, which heated his blood slightly. He liked a woman with spunk and she was obviously full of it, but for some reason it set him on edge. What he didn’t like was the way she was glaring at him… he’d fix that real quick.

      He glared at her harder, trying to intimidate her. "You got a scholarship didn’t you… and HE said you are a PRIESTESS!" Toya growled in her face, coming closer with every word till they were almost nose-to-nose. He folded his arms inside his loose sleeves and huffed at her. "Bet you don’t even know what a demon is," He grumbled, suddenly realizing she was getting cuter by the second and that annoyed him.

      Kyoko flinched, her