Raging Hearts. Amy Blankenship

voice.

      Kyoko frowned. Spinning around, she pinned Kamui with a confused look. "Toya asked the same thing. What does that mean? Mark me? How?"

      Kamui's lips thinned. "For Kyou to kiss you out of the blue like that, it means that he’s thinking about making you his life mate."

      "What!” Kyoko yelled putting her hands on her hips. “You have got to be joking.”

      "No joke… with that kiss, Kyou has already started laying his claim on you.” Shadows entered Kamui's eyes as if lending affect, “Now he will stalk you, little by little, ‘til he marks you and makes you his.” He let is hand fall from her shoulder. “I guess you would think of it as dating."

      Suddenly understanding more then he wanted to, Kamui whistled through his teeth. "That’s why Toya is so upset, and then Kotaro comes blowing in and kisses your cheek. That’s the same thing. He’s dating you, too."

      Kyoko didn’t know what to say. She just stood there for a minute. Then looking over Kamui’s shoulder, she noticed Toya and Shinbe trailing behind them, still lost in planning their next move as they headed east.

      Suki pulled Kyoko's attention back. "Okay, you said three, Kyoko. So, Toya kissed you too, right?"

      She nodded then shook her head. "But Toya didn’t really want to kiss me. It was kind of… an accident.”

      Kyoko glanced over her shoulder again, noticing the others were catching up. "We got into a fight with a demon and Toya lost his daggers and his demon blood took over. He killed the demon and I ran for one of the daggers but he caught me just as I reached it. I thought he was gonna kill me, but instead… he kissed me. Then the contact with the daggers sealing spell changed him back."

      Suki looked over her shoulder at Toya, then back to Kyoko. "Wait, you mean he changed back while he was kissing you?" she cocked an eyebrow when Kyoko nodded.

      Kamui smiled, "I knew it! He really does like you. That’s why in his other form he kissed you instead of killing you. He did it because it felt right to him.” Kamui stepped back from them knowing Toya was now within hearing range.

      "Well, let’s keep them company." Suki decided to follow Kamui's example and let it drop for now… to bad Shinbe wasn’t that smart.

      Shinbe turned to Kyoko, hearing Kamui’s last statement. "So that’s why he’s so testy!" He grinned wondering if he should add his kiss to Kyoko’s dating line before it got to long.

      Toya turned on them, scratching his neck. "Will you guys quit talking shit about me, damn it!"

      His neck was already red and Kyoko giggled. She knew when Toya’s neck started itching like that, he thought someone was talking about him behind his back and it irritated him to no end.

      Toya's fingers twitched as he heard Kyoko giggle. It sent a jolt of pleasure through his body and made him wish she’d do it more often. He glanced around noticing everyone had finally stopped chatting. Satisfied no one was talking about him anymore, he dropped his hand.

      "Come on. We don’t have time to play around. We have to stop Hyakuhei and collect the talismans before he does." Toya leaned down in front of Kyoko. "Come on, let them find their own way and you ride with me. It’ll be faster." He waited for Kyoko to climb on. At least this way he wouldn’t have to hear about his rivals.

      Kyoko smiled and climbed on. Then she put her arms around him and gave him a gentle squeeze to let him know she was ready.

      Facing away from everyone so no one could see, Toya closed his eyes as he savored the hug he’d just gotten. Opening his eyes back up, silver lights glittered within his golden irises and he took off at a speed that would rival his wind brother Kotaro.

      Chapter 3 ‘Wicked Kisses”

      The breeze was growing colder by the minute and Toya slowed down noticing an evil aura in the distance. Kyoko's blood ran cold as the unnatural feeling overwhelmed her. Toya leapt down from the high branches, coming to a skidding stop at the top of a hill. She slid to the ground as the others quickly appeared behind them looking into the distance.

      Kyoko watched as an ominous cloud loomed over the area. "I feel a talisman." She shook her head. "Not just one, there’s more," She said breathlessly. “The evil surrounding the fragments is stifling.”

      Suki walked up behind Kyoko, adjusting her weapon across her shoulder for easier access in case of battle. "I wonder if it’s Hyakuhei you’re sensing?" She glanced at Shinbe as he walked up beside them, his trench coat and long midnight-blue hair blowing in the wind that was now picking up.

      Toya’s eyes narrowed and change to molten silver. Sensing danger close to them, he glanced to the left and slung his arm downward. The metallic blade of a dagger flashed to life within his palm. "Come out you bastard, I can smell you!" Toya growled, stepping in front of Kyoko and the others to protect them. The hillside and valley below held the heavy stench of evil.

      A form wearing a billowing, black robe materialized out of nowhere, right in front of them with a wicked tilt to his lips. "So, you have answered my summons."

      Kyoko shuddered when his dark eyes met hers. The memory of the dream she had the night before slammed into her, giving her the creeps. She took a step back, hiding behind Toya and peeking around him at Hyakuhei. She had a bad feeling that the only reason he was there was her and the talismans she carried.

      Toya noted Hyakuhei’s attention was centered on Kyoko and he felt a mental snap. He growled, gripping the handle of his dagger and flinging himself forward to slash at the enemy. The black cape fluttered to the ground as expected. He’d known it was only one of Hyakuhei’s puppets anyway.

      â€œWill you ever have the guts to truly face me!” Toya raged.

      "The priestess’s powers will be mine, so… come to me…” Hyakuhei’s cold voice slowly blew away in the wind.

      Kyoko felt chills creep up her spine from the words Hyakuhei had spoken. “Come to him? Is he nuts?” she whispered feeling the coward inside rear its frightened head.

      Toya came to stand beside her. He knew that the guardians were in charge of keeping the crystal out of the hands of evil but he didn’t like the fact that it put Kyoko in harm’s way. Hyakuhei had killed many innocents for the talismans. He’d be damned before he let Kyoko become one of the casualties of this war.

      He would protect her. His need to protect Kyoko was so strong, it had become his sole purpose for existence and right now, he had a very bad feeling. He could hear Kyoko’s heartbeat speeding and could smell the fear coming from her in waves. Toya watched in amazement as she turned to him with a frozen smile.

      â€œWell, shall we go collect another talisman?" Kyoko lifted her chin in defiance of the fear she was feeling and straightened her shoulders.

      Toya looked behind her and could see that the others were also ready. The others… the only people he’d ever trusted.

      *****

      Hyakuhei gazed into the mirror his underling Yuuhi held up for him. The mirror of souls that enabled him to watch Kyoko’s every move. This girl was his focus for the moment. She alone held the power to control the Guardian Heart Crystal and he needed that power.

      But… he also needed her to help him fuse the talismans back together. To do that, he would have to find a way to get her to come to him… willingly. He wanted her… not dead… instead, he wanted her on his side.

      As if reading his master’s mind, Yuuhi spoke in the quiet, emotionless voice that belonged to a child. "You want the power the girl wields but she is pure and will not come to you willingly.” The ghostly-white form of the boy peered at Hyakuhei with black eyes that held the knowledge of thousands of years.

      "To