in a sea of tears they had caused. Tears he knew the twins still shed for their lost family, though they were coming less often than before. Occasionally, while resting, one or both would attempt crawling into bed with him to sleep. He did not understand this aspect of comfort but he allowed it, curious.
Slipping the necklace back into its hiding place, Kyou retreated back to the room he had placed Kyoko in and opened the door. Without stepping a foot inside, he could feel the room was empty and his anger grew. He had not told her she was free to leave. His expression hardened⦠She would have to learn her place if he was to protect her.
He inhaled slowly, detecting the scent of the twins mingling with hers. He walked on silent feet to one of the two balconies that lined the hallway just outside her room. This one led to the center of the castle and he looked down toward the hot springs that lay within.
Seeing her again, Kyou felt his anger cool. She had not fled as he had first thought. He silently watched her from the shadows as she spoke with the siblings.
*****
Kyoko walked to the edge of the enclosed hot spring, still undecided on whether or not she should be here watching the twins bathe or trying to find a way out of the castle completely. Seeing the childrenâs carefree happiness eased her worries for a few minutes. As long as they were with her nothing would happen⦠right?
Letting her mind relax, she sat down on the stone lining that surrounded the heated water, sticking her feet in while watching the set of human twins. She was still curious as to how the little children came to be here, with Kyou. "Hiroki, Hiraru, where is your mommy and daddy?"
The twins stopped splashing and turned to Kyoko with a tilt to their little heads. "The village was attacked and everyone disappeared in the flames.â Hiroki took a piece of cloth from the side, dipped it in a bowl on the side of the spring, and started rubbing his little body.
Kyoko was surprised to see that it made lather as he rubbed his skin. So, the twinâs parents were dead? "How did you come here to be with Kyou?" She watched Hiraru wade to her smiling.
His little face tilted up to Kyokoâs and she could see warmth in his eyes. "The demons would have taken us too but Kyou stopped them and now we get to stay with him." he turned and splashed water on Hiroki, getting rid of the soap while he continued to answer her question. "The demons canât find us now. They canât even see this place, Kyou said so.â Kyoko watched Hiroki struggle to wet Hiraruâs hair and lather it.
âSo⦠Kyou had saved them and now he watched after them much like a father would?â Kyokoâs eyebrows forwarded in confusion. That did not sound like the Kyou she had come to fear. Her gaze softened for a second wondering if she really knew him at all. âAn ice prince with a heart?â she giggled at her own joke.
Noticing the stream of soap making its way toward Hiraruâs eyes, Kyoko decided to offer her assistance. "Would you like for me to help you wash your hair?"
When the children nodded and laughed, Kyoko got up her nerve and removed her clothes then slid into the water to help them, completely ignoring the fact that at the moment she was supposed to be trying to find a way back to the other guardians and far away from the guardian who had become her jailor.
*****
âHow was I supposed to know Kyoko was coming back through the time portal in the middle of the damn night?â Toya yelled up at the sky as if Kyou could still hear him. It had taken Shinbe a while just to get him this calm.
They had all panicked at first when light traces of red started filtering into Toyaâs irises. When Toya started to destroy select trees around him, they had decided to step back a moment and let him work off some of his anger instead of letting it build up to such a dangerous level.
âAnd Hyakuhei showing up like that⦠she could have been kidnapped!â Toya continued to rage in confusion as his eyes turned silver in anger then reflected back to gold as worry reentered his mind. He looked back at the spot where Kyou had held her within the barrier against her will.
âWhat am I saying? She WAS kidnapped. Damn it!â he growled broodingly.
Shinbe was Toyaâs opposite⦠he remained calm in the face of their missing priestess. âKidnapped or saved?â He questioned as his hand tightened on his staff in uncertainty. What was Kyou thinking? He was sure there was more to this story than Toya was telling them.
His amethyst gaze watched Toyaâs every move in hopes that his cursed demonic side would stay dormant. The last thing they needed was Toyaâs demon blood taking over and making the situation worse. âKyou has never been known to be nice⦠even when he was actually helping. Maybe he took her just to keep her safe till Hyakuhei left.â
Toya clinched his fist knowing the others hadnât seen what he had seen. He didnât want to tell them. Somehow⦠saying it out loud made it that much truer but they had a right to know what their older sibling was up to. âKyou isnât bringing her back.â
âWhy not?â Kamui spoke for the first time since Hyakuhei had disappeared. âHe is a guardian⦠one of us. Why wouldnât he bring her back to us?â
Suki listened quietly while the brothers tried to sort it all out. She was still in shock with the fact that Kyou had shown up at all. Up till now, he had pretty much stayed out of this war as if it wasnât his problem. Her hopes rose at the thought that maybe now he had decided to help but Toyaâs next words made her cringe with dread.
âBecause he wants her all to himself⦠the selfish bastard wants her for his own. Heâs never touched another woman that Iâve ever seen like that⦠which means heâs probably chosen her for his mate.â Toya stopped pacing realizing what he had just said.
His eyes changed back to pure gold as he lifted them to look at the others. Shinbeâs jaw was dropped and Sukiâs eyes were the size of saucers but it was Kamui he was most worried about. Kamuiâs eyes were hidden behind untamed purple hair as the boy stared at the ground but Toya could see his fingers clinched into fists.
Toya started to take a step forward but stilled when Kamui took a step backward. âDonât touch me!â Kamuiâs voice had changed and the sound gave everyone a very uneasy feeling.
âKamui?â Toya gritted his teeth hoping Kamui would be able to hold it in for now. The boy was the most innocent of them all but only because he had chosen to forget the truth about his own past.
âDonât fall asleep Kyoko,â Kamui whispered warningly knowing the danger she was in if Hyakuhei and the dream demon could reach that far.
The puddles left behind from the rain seemed to shimmer with liquid speckled hues all around Kamui. âHyakuhei wants her⦠Kyou wants her⦠what makes them any better than all the demons that want her?â Kamuiâs voice quivered as his untamed hair swayed in the wind that seemed to be blowing only around him.
Suddenly the shadow behind Kamui took a different form causing the others to take a step back.
With a burst of energy that rippled the air and water around him, Kamui screamed, âThey canât just take her from me!â A shower of glitter fell from translucent wings that rebelliously appeared across his back.
Finally raising his tear filled eyes, Kamui glared at the others as the tips of his wings took on an ominous dark tinge. He shook his head as his voice became dangerously soft. âFathers⦠brothers⦠it doesnât matter. They canât have her.â
The guardians shielded their eyes from the flash of light that swept out from where Kamui stood. When they lowered their arms⦠Kamui was nowhere in sight.
âWhy do I have a feeling he didnât go after Kyoko?â Shinbe stated still wondering at the strange darkness that had appeared at the tips of Kamui's wings. That