meant to be.
Toya had no idea what he was going to do, but hide was not one of them. He sat down next to Kyoko, giving Shinbe a warning look that made him quickly remove his trespassing hand from her cheek. It was bad enough that he already felt like jumping out of his skin, sitting there⦠waiting for her to wake up. His fingers twitched, âShinbe, how long âtil she wakes up?"
Shinbe cocked an eyebrow as he walked over to sit down between Suki and Kamui. "Why donât you wake her now. Thatâs all it will take."
Before Toya thought about it, he leaned over and gently shook her shoulder. "Kyoko," He whispered, than drew his hand back quickly when her dark eyelashes fluttered. "Are you alright now?â he asked her quietly. Her eyes flashed wide and Toya held his breath.
"Iâm fine," Kyoko whispered then cringed knowing that had been what she said the last time sheâd woken up. Both times sheâd lied. Refusing to look at Toya, her gaze traveled to Suki and Shinbe and she could feel her face changing color rapidly. She felt like she was going to die of mortification.
Kyoko quickly closed her eyes and drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them, and hid her face. "Iâm sorry you guys. Iâm so sorry," She mumbled from her hiding place.
Toya reached out, putting his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. When she flinched, he removed it quickly, balling his hand into a fist and lowering it back to his side. The pain of rejection shattered in his golden eyes as he glanced over at the others.
"Itâs alright, Kyoko. None of this was your fault. Itâs Hyakuhei's. That fucking bastard.â The words were whispered calmly but it was the calm before the storm and they all heard it loud and clear. Toya stood up and stared down at the curtain of hair that was hiding her from him. Without another word, he once again turned and headed into the deep foliage of the forest.
Kyoko wished a hole would develop and she could just sink into it and stay there where no one would ever find her. How was she going to face them now? Then out loud she cried, "Oh god, I want to go home."
Suki stood up, wanting to ease her friendâs pain. "Kaen and I can take you back to the maiden statue, if thatâs what you want.â Suki walked to her as Kaen stepped out of the shadows already in his dragon form. She climbed on and reached her hand down to Kyoko. "Letâs go."
Kyoko slowly stood up, unable to look at anyone and whispered guiltily, "Iâll be back in a couple of days." She ran to Kaen and they took off for the heart of time shrine and her way home.
Toya stepped back into the clearing and watched as Kaen faded from his eyesight. He didnât want her going home. He felt his heart fall a couple inches. What if she didnât come back? Turning on his heels, Toya took off at a dead run, hoping to beat her to the time portal that would take her from his world.
*****
On the way back to the maiden statue, Kyoko didnât say anything so Suki tried to draw her out some. "Kyoko, I really wouldnât worry about anything. We all know it was the spell and not you. So itâs really not as bad as you think.â Suki glanced back, smiling at Kyoko.
Kyoko gave a feeble attempt at smiling back but didnât join in the conversation. She was too busy dying a thousand deaths every time she thought about what sheâd done, especially the way she had kissed Toya and Kyou. Kyoko put her hands over her face, again wishing she could hide. She just wanted to go home and crawl as far under her covers as she could and stay there for a while.
She remembered the way it felt to kiss Kyou and sighed. âWhat must he be thinking?â She couldnât blame either one of them because she had practically thrown herself at them. She also wondered about the response sheâd gotten from Toya. He had kissed her back⦠no⦠heâd done more than that. She twitched remembering the feel of his hardness under her.
Kyoko shook her head. If she had to pick anyone right now, sheâd pick Kotaro. At least she hadnât thrown herself at him!
Pressing her forehead against Sukiâs back, she knew sheâd enjoyed the kiss from Toya, and yes, from Kyou too. But what must they think of her now. Kyoko looked down as the ground blurred under them. Theyâd been flying for a while and were getting closer to the Heart of Time. "Suki, will you let me off here? Iâd like to walk the rest of the way by myself.â
Suki patted Kaen and he dipped lower and landed. Kyoko slid off and so did Suki. "Are you sure you donât want us to walk with you?â Suki asked worriedly.
Kyoko shook her head then stepped forward and gave Suki a hug. "I have my crossbow if anything happens and itâs not too far. Iâll be back in a couple of days. Tell the others for me. Iâll bring back everyone something good to eat." Kyoko tried to smile but the corners of her lips wouldnât cooperate so she gave up. Turning around, she started in the direction that held the maiden statue⦠and her way out of this world.
She relaxed a little when she heard Kaen take back to the air, giving her the solitude she needed. The more Kyoko walked, the more she felt like herself again and instead of being ashamed⦠she started to get mad. Not so much mad at herself but mad at Toya and Kyou for taking advantage of her while they both new sheâd been under that spell.
"That does it, the next person that tries to kiss me is gonna get decked and I donât care who it is! I donât have a boyfriend, and at the moment I sure as hell donât want one!" There, with that said out loud, she felt a lot better about herself. She would go home and relax for a couple of days and come back as good as new.
Kyoko decided she would happily kick Hyakuheiâs butt from one side of this land to the other when she came back. She owed him one.
*****
Toya landed in the clearing hoping to catch Kyoko before she went home. His silver wings shimmered then disappeared without a trace. His heart started to thump nervously as he smelled her scent coming closer. Standing his ground, he watched as she walked into the clearing. She hadnât looked up yet so he just stood there⦠between her and her only way home.
Kyoko had almost walked all the way to him before she looked up, stopping dead in her tracks. "Toya," She managed to get out before dropping her gaze again. She wasn't in the mood to talk to him yet. Not with those strange feelings so fresh in her mind. That spell had put her in heat, for the lack of a better term, and even though the spell was gone, she still felt the heat.
Damn it, sheâs taking this too hard. He knew he had to do something to relieve the tension before it all blew up in his face. "Kyoko look, you donât have to go home right now, not with us this close to finding Hyakuhei. Donât let a little thing like a kiss stand in our way."
There, heâd said it. It was no big deal and she should just come back with him⦠where she belonged. Yeah, that would be better. He started to fidget when he noticed sheâd stopped right in front of him.
Kyoko heard his words. Donât let a little thing like a kiss stand in our way? She growled inwardly. So, he thought it was no big deal, did he? He thought he could just do that anytime and she wasnât supposed to pay it any attention. Ha! Her anger had surfaced and now she had an outlet for it.
"Toya," She said in the sweetest voice she could muster.
"Yes, Kyoko?â Toya had to force himself not to take a step back when ever instinct he had was telling him to get the hell out of there.
Kyoko leaned forward as if to softly say something to him and he leaned a little forward so he could hear her. Kyoko smiled. "NO!"
Toya couldnât stop the pull of the Taming spell as his body grew heavy and he smacked the ground. He instantly struggled to get up but she stood there, extending the spell until he felt like he was going to break his back fighting it.
"For the love of god, please stop!â Toya shouted.
Kyoko stomped her foot but