Raging Hearts. Amy Blankenship

hurriedly dressed for school. Since she was back, she was definitely going today. She’d already missed so much and besides that, she missed her friends from this world. Brushing her auburn hair until it shown, Kyoko promised herself that she wouldn’t think about what happen in the other world and just enjoy today for what it was… normal. Dropping the brush back to the vanity, she went downstairs, coming into the dining room.

      Grandpa looked up in surprise, "Kyoko, your home? Are you going to school today? I already thought of a good excuse if you need it." He grinned at her.

      The family had gotten used to the fact that Kyoko was the priestess their ancestors had written about so long ago. The maiden shrine behind the house had belonged to their family as far back as they could trace it and they kept the secret safe.

      Kyoko groaned. "Thanks grandpa, but I want to go so just save it for next time okay?" She knew her grandpa was only trying to help but some of the illnesses he came up with to fool her school and friends were really stretching it.

      Tama smirked knowing their grandfather often made it hard for Kyoko to even show her face at school, especially after saying she had some unknown disease that was contagious. Tama coughed into his hand to hide his laugh then grabbed a piece of toast from the plate and headed out the door.

      â€œI guess you’ll just have to save the idea of her being pregnant for next time grandpa.” His knees almost buckled at the look on both Kyoko’s and his grandfather’s face. Quickly changing the subject, Tama started backing out of the room. “Sis, you might want to hurry if you don’t want to be late again." He waved to her as he ran out.

      After spending a few minutes catching up, Kyoko kissed her mother’s cheek then headed out the door. The day was already perfect, not too cold or hot as she slowly made her way up the road toward the school. The breeze felt good on her face and it was a nice break to not have to keep alert incase demons were lurking just around the corner.

      This was one of the reasons she always went back into the time portal. In order to keep this world safe and free of demons, she had to find the rest of the crystal and bring it back to this side of the time portal before all hell broke loose… literally.

      She hadn’t gotten very far up the street when her friends came into view. They stopped walking, waiting for her to join them. Kyoko quicken her pace to catch up to them smiling. Being normal had never felt so good.

      Toya watched Kyoko leave her house and out of curiosity, he’d followed her, intending to leave once he knew she was safely at school. He watched as several girls waved to her and she caught up to them, seeming to be all talking at once. Toya wove through the trees unnoticed so he could hear what they were saying.

      One of the girls told Kyoko that somebody had been asking about her. Toya’s head snapped around when he heard a guy call Kyoko's name and run to catch up with them. Toya tensed up when the guy held his hands out to Kyoko. She smiled at him, nodding, then she laid her books in his out stretched arms.

      "Thank you Tasuki.” Kyoko blushed. He always wanted to carry her books as if they were too heavy for her and after turning him down so many times in the past, she’d finally given in, realizing he was only going to keep asking until he got his way. He was very persistent but not pushy and she liked that about him.

      Toya watched Tasuki with cold, piercing eyes. He didn’t like the fact that the boy was walking so close to Kyoko or the way he looked at her. He could tell Tasuki wanted her and it pissed him off even more when Kyoko smiled back at him like they were more than just friends. The other girls had walked on ahead, leaving Tasuki and Kyoko to walk in private. Toya stalked them closer, trying to hear what was being said. Using his guardian hearing, he caught every word.

      Tasuki gazed down at Kyoko as they walked. She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever met and he’d had a crush on her since the first day they’d met. That’d been first grade but he had made up his mind even then. He only hoped one day she would feel the same way about him. He knew she wasn’t sick like her family always made the school think but he didn’t let in on that fact.

      â€œKyoko, want to go out this evening? I mean…” Tasuki switched the books from one arm to the other in a nervous gesture. “I hardly ever get to see you anymore." His soft eyes met hers in a hopeful stare.

      Kyoko wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to just run off on a date with all that’d been going on lately in the other world. Still… at least he was normal and from her world. He looked so cute staring at her with hopeful eyes. How could she say no to him? "Alright, can you meet me at my house this evening around seven?" She gave him a winning smile.

      Tasuki beamed at finally getting his way. “It would be my pleasure.” He innocently took her hand as they walked a little faster to catch up with the others.

      Toya was seething with anger after hearing that guy ask Kyoko out and hearing her say yes. His eyes burned a hole in the boy’s back as they disappeared up the road. “She will not go out with him, not now and not ever." He growled. ‘Not if I have anything to do with it.’

      *****

      Kyoko had made it through the day of school without messing up to much. She even made a good grade on her math test, which was great, since she hardly had time to study. Switching back and forth between worlds like she did, it was a wonder they hadn’t kicked her out of school already. It was a nice feeling for her biggest problem to be about what she was going to wear and where Tasuki was going to take her. It beat the hell out of worrying about fighting demons.

      She entered her house still lost in thought, waving at her mother and grandpa as she passed by the kitchen heading for her room. Glancing in the mirror, she shook her head at the school uniform she was wearing and opened her closet door to look at the clothes she had hanging up. Kyoko shrugged out of her shirt, ready to try on a couple outfits to see which would look best.

      Just as she was reaching out to grab a pretty pink shirt she heard a noise. Closing the closet door some so she could look toward the window where the noise had come from, Kyoko gasped and held the shirt to her chest.

      Toya was standing there, right in front of the window. He was just standing there with his arms folded in his normal agitated stance but his eyes were steady… too steady.

      Toya finally broke the silence. "Kyoko, we need to go." He took a step forward and reached his hand out to her but she withdrew a step shaking her head.

      "No, I’m not ready to go back yet. And you need to get out of my room, Toya." She clutched the shirt to her breast, feeling heat rush into her cheeks. After all that had happened lately, feeling exposed was the last thing she needed right now.

      Toya let his hand drop back to his side. "Why can’t you just come back now? Everyone’s waiting on you." He asked the question in a calm voice but Kyoko got the feeling there was an underlying meaning in it.

      "I want to stay here for another day," She said as she looked away unable to meet his eyes. She gasped when Toya was suddenly inches from her.

      "What plans do you have that are more important than finding the talismans, putting them back together, and keeping Hyakuhei from bringing demons here?" He asked as he stalked even closer, making her back up again.

      His eyes held a dangerous expression but Kyoko could also detect something else hidden there. He was too close… bigger than life. Her gaze dipped down to his lips only to come back up to the silver sparks that now shattered within his golden irises. Was it her imagination or was he getting closer? Oh no! She was not about to let him make a fool out of her again.

      "Toya, get out!” Kyoko's voice began to rise and Toya's eyes began to narrow. "Get out right now and don’t come back unless invited!” She yelled as she pointed to the window.

      Toya advanced on her as Kyoko backed up, this time against the wall. "Why can’t you tell me why you’re not willing to come back right now, Kyoko? What’s so important that you’re willing to forsake