across the campsite that magically erased all evidence that anyone had ever been there.
Feeling Kaenâs presence behind him he commented, âIt looks like itâs going to be an interesting day. Shall we join them?â His feet left the ground as he glided along behind them unseen.
Secretly, Kyoko loved riding on Toyaâs back when they were in a hurry. She could feel the muscles tighten and stretch under her. She laid her cheek on his strong shoulder and held on as his long hair flowed around her, tickling her face. He acted as if she didnât weigh a thing as he bounded from limb to limb, sometimes landing on the ground, only to shoot back up into the trees again. He seemed to have a thing for heights.
Toya loved it when Kyoko rode on his back but he would never tell her that. It made him feel good when she clung to him in an effort to hold on. Sometimes he would go even faster just so she would have to hold tighter, with her legs bracing against him and her arms around him. Heâd never shown his wings around her for this reason.
Sometimes, she would lay her cheek against his back and he could sense that she also enjoyed it as much as he did. His mind turned back to the forest in the east. The Guardian Heart Crystal was already half collected and Hyakuhei had most of it at this point. Things were getting very dangerous and he would have to stay on guard.
He felt he had to protect Kyoko with his life, especially when there was danger everywhere they went. The demon heâd fought yesterday had been a wakeup call. Toya sped up, hoping to run into Suki and Shinbe on their way back to camp, so they could hurry and get to the east before Kotaro and Kyou did.
High above them, Kyou flew across the sky without expression, as if an apparition of a deity. His clothing floated around him as he scanned the east in the distance. So the eastern forest is where the presence of Hyakuhei had disappeared. This is also where Toya and the priestess were headed. His lips curved upwards in the barest hint of a smile.
"Yo!â Toya called out when he caught a flash of movement in the distance. Leaping down from tree to tree and branch to branch, he landed gracefully in front of Shinbe and Suki.
Kyoko slid off Toyaâs back and quickly walked to them, smiling at her friends. "We just got word that the east forest is where we should be heading,â Kyoko informed them.
Shinbeâs head snapped up looking over at Toya. "Oh, yeah? Whatâs happening in that area?" He asked moving closer to Toya to discuss the matter. Kamui stepped from the edge of the forest to join the guardians with the planning, nodding when Kaen showed up from nowhere, as he often did just when the time was right.
Kyoko whispered to Suki, pulling her to the side and away from the others, âBut anyway, how was your visit?" She cocked her head to the side, grinning.
Suki rolled her eyes in the direction of Shinbe. "Can you believe that idiot tried to kiss me?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared daggers at the wayward amethyst guardian.
Toya twitched with his exceptional hearing. Heâd heard Suki's remark and when Kyoko heard it she had looked directly at him, locking eyes with him. She turned her face away to hide the blush that was creeping across her cheeks but not before Suki and Shinbe both took note of it.
Shinbe leaned toward his brother keeping his voice low. "What happened between you two while we were gone, Toya?â he felt a bolt of jealousy shoot threw him but tried to ignore it knowing it was a lost cause. Kamui also took a step closer waiting to hear the answer.
Toya's eyes widened and the small fine hair stood up on the back of his neck, making him back up from them with a guilty look. âHeh, nothing happened," He crossed his arms and glared at them, daring them to call his bluff.
Suki grabbed Kyoko's arm and pulled her a good distance away from the guys this time. "Okay, spill it. Whatâd I miss?" She asked with her lip twitching with barely hidden mirth. For as long as Suki had known Kyoko, she felt like she had known her forever. She loved her like a sister, and right now she could tell something was up.
Kyoko wouldnât meet Suki's eyes, and her face was still high in color.
"Kyoko, give,â Suki pleaded.
Kyoko looked up at her best friend who was at least a couple inches taller and shrugged. "Okay, I have now been kissed, thatâs all,â she quickly rolled her eyes trying to play it off as no big deal.
Suki glanced at Toya. "So, he finally kissed you, did he?â Turning back to Kyoko, she smiled a knowing smile until she saw the shake of Kyoko's head. Suki frowned. "It was Toya that kissed you? Wasnât it, Kyoko?" she cocked an eyebrow in confusion.
Kyoko groaned. "Itâs a long story, so Iâll make it very short. Three different guys have now kissed me and all within the time that you were gone. And no, I didnât ask a single one of them to kiss me. So again, itâs No Big Deal!" She put emphasis on the last three words.
Suki's lips parted as she stared at her friend. Meanwhile, Toya had tensed up hearing Kyoko say it was no big deal. âWell, now I know what she thinks,â Toya thought to himself with a frown as he turned back to his brothers and concentrated on telling them what he knew about the area of the east forest.
Suki finally found her voice but kept it low, "Kyoko, who kissed you?" Seeing Kyoko's lips press together, Suki sighed. "Okay, I want to know who kissed you first."
Kyoko squeezed her eyes shut. "Kyou was the first."
"Kyou!â Suki yelled then snapped her hand over her mouth cringing.
Toya's hand curled into a fist at his side in an effort to restrain his anger. He turned and gave an evil look in Kyoko's direction before quickly closing the distance between them, not liking the turn of the conversation. "We donât have time for this shit!" He huffed, glaring at the girls. "We need to go find the talismans before the enemy gets his hands on all of them."
Kamui nodded, "Yeah, Kotaro came to the camp and said he was on his way to the same area right before he kissed Kyoko on the cheek and took off."
Toya cuffed Kamui in the back of his head with a quick growl.
"Oww, whatâd you do that for? I didnât do nothing,â Kamui rubbed the knot that had formed on his head, his big, stardust eyes watering. It was a show obviously, because inside he was in the middle of laughing his ass off at the look that had crossed Toya's face.
Suki's eyes rounded. "Kotaro, too!" she jerked her head in Kyokoâs direction wondering what in the world was going on.
Shinbe slid toward Toya. "So whatâs the big deal?"
Toya just glared at him as if daring him to say another word.
Suki grabbed Shinbeâs arm and pulled him away from Toya before he wound up like Kamui, with a lump on his head.
Toya turned his glare on Kyoko.
She bristled and glared back. "Whatâs your problem? And donât hit Kamui!" She yelled, stepping in front of the guardian as if to protect him. She didnât have a clue that Kamui now stood behind her, smirking at Toya as if he had just gotten one over on him.
Suki knew there was going to be a fight. Grabbing Kyoko's hand, she started dragging her up the path. "Come on Kyoko, walk with me for a while,â Suki didnât give her time to argue as she pulled her along.
Not feeling so safe being left there within Toyaâs reach, Kamui took off with the girls, leaving Toya staring at their retreating backs.
Once far enough away from Toya, Suki turned to Kyoko. "Now, would you please tell me what the hell happened? Why did Kyou kiss you?â Suki nearly shouted, eyeing her friend with concern. The thought of Kyou kissing anyone was just⦠disturbing.
Kyoko shrugged. "I havenât the foggiest idea why he did it. I was swimming. He floated down and scared the hell out of me. Before I knew what he was doing, he was kissing me, then he left without saying a word."
Kamui