LITMIR.BIZ

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Shinbe after all. He remembered the threat Shinbe had taunted him with.

      "Shinbe should not be fully trusted. I’d rather you stay here with me and just let your family take care of him for now," his eyes drew hers in a silent plea.

      Kyoko frowned, "No, I have to go back. He only woke up a few minutes before I came here to let you guys know he was going to be okay." Guilt crept up on her, "Besides, I feel like it’s my fault you guys fought, so I’m going to take care of him until he gets better, then I’ll bring him back." Her eyes narrowed, "And we have to get along if we are going to find the rest of the talisman."

      She poked a finger into his chest and finally took a step back, out of the circle of his arms. "That means no more fighting. Do you understand? You almost killed him." Her eyes searched his for the truth.

      "Then I’ll go back with you," Toya said tightly, folding his arms inside his sleeves and standing at his full height. "Shinbe reeks of guilt, and I don’t know why." Secretly, he was glad she hadn’t yet spent time alone with him, considering he’d just woken up. "I don’t trust him alone with you."

      Kyoko blinked, "There is no way you’re coming anywhere near Shinbe right now. He’s still in a lot of pain, and you are the one that made him that way.” She wasn’t trying to be mean… she just wanted to keep them separated for now. "I’ll make you a deal. I’ll come back tomorrow and give everyone an update, if you promise me that you will go back to the group."

      Seeing the stubbornness enter his eyes she looked down at the ground for a moment then whispered heavily in the air, "We are still a group… aren’t we? We still need to find the talisman before Hyakuhei does."

      Toya's eyes glittered dangerously. "If he does something, and I’m not there… I can’t protect you and,” His voice raised a couple notches, "I’m your protector, not him!"

      Kyoko's head snapped up at his words. It wasn’t often that Toya let his heart show but she could see it so clearly in the rare moments that his defenses fell.

      She smiled, trying to calm him down, "Look, Shinbe is way too weak to try anything, so don’t worry. I’ll be back tomorrow." She took a couple steps toward the heart of time and saw him move to stop her.

      "Toya!" she yelled, holding up her hand and casting the Taming spell.

      Kyoko softened her voice, "Look, I know you don’t trust Shinbe, but at least trust me. I’ll be back tomorrow night. Everything will be fine… you’ll see." With that, she touched the hand of the maiden and vanished. She could still hear his string of curses as the heart of time took her to the other side.

      Kyoko frowned thoughtfully as she found herself within the shrine house. She could still see the damage that had been done during their fight. As she turned around, she placed a locking seal over the maiden’s hands, deciding it was better to be safe than sorry.

      Chapter 7 "Questions"

      Kyoko made her way back through her darkened house to find Shinbe fast asleep. She silently wondered if she should tell him about her meeting with Toya. Sitting back at her desk, she set about to finish sewing the torn robes, but thoughts of Toya slowed her fingers.

      He’d surprised her when he kissed her. She used to dream about him kissing her… she used to wish for it. She had to admit that kiss was exactly what she’d always imagined… it was the timing that had made it confusing. Maybe it was just Toya trying to distract her anger. He’d never tried to kiss her before, so why else would he do so now?

      She thought about his lips on hers, and on instinct, she raised her fingers to her lips wondering at it… then another kiss invaded her mind. When she had casually brushed her lips against Shinbe’s, it was like an electrical shock ran through her. Had Toya not shown up when he did… she’d of liked to of experimented with that kiss a little more.

      Shaking her head, she bit her bottom lip. Where on earth had that thought come from? She glanced over at Shinbe. How could she ever forgive herself for causing this to happen? She hadn’t meant for anyone to get hurt. She slowly walked over to the bed, watching him as she sat at the edge and reached her hand out to smooth the ebony-blue hair from his eyes. At least he was sleeping peacefully.

      Her gaze roamed over his face, lingering on his lips. They were so soft in her dream, that’s what had caused her to try to kiss him when Toya had caught them. She had just wanted to know if they were as soft in real-life as in her dream… and they were.

      Kyoko looked down at the blanket that had fallen, exposing his shoulders and chest just below his arms. He still had a bruise on one shoulder and she unconsciously reached her hand out to run a finger over it. Shinbe moaned in his sleep and she jumped, pulling her hand back and putting it to her lips. She guiltily turned, looking away.

      Shinbe cracked an eye open, a smirk forming on his lips. He’d felt her weight on the edge of the bed and pretended to be asleep, but he’d secretly been watching her through his eyelashes, witnessing the emotions cross her face as she studied him. As much as his body hurt, he couldn’t help feeling aroused by her presence… it had always been that way for him. He hoped she didn’t look any lower, as he was sure a tent had formed in the lower regions.

      When she touched his shoulder, he involuntarily moaned. As soon as she turned away, he sucked in his breath. Slowly releasing it, his lips parted as he inched his hand toward her. Before he could say anything, she stood up, and he let out a disappointed sigh.

      Kyoko quickly turned around to see him looking at her, and his flexing hand didn’t go unnoticed. “Shinbe… what are you doing?” she stared at his hand, her head tilting to one side curiously.

      Shinbe attempted to hide his hand back under the blanket letting out a groan of pain. Kyoko was immediately by his side, running her hand over his arm, trying to ease his pain, not realizing that wasn’t the kind of pain he was in.

      â€œPlease be careful, Shinbe. I want you to get better, not hurt yourself even more,” she looked down at him with sympathy in her eyes.

      He smiled up at her, cherishing every moment of her tenderness, “it’s okay, Kyoko. I’m fine. Serves me right for my shameful thoughts,” He attempted a smile, and she frowned at him.

      He just admitted to it? Her mind was in turmoil as she sat back down on the bed next to him. The memory of what Toya had said to her in the clearing coming back to haunt her.

      â€œShinbe, we really need to talk about what you and Toya fought about. He thinks that you are hiding something, and he says I shouldn’t trust you.” She felt uncomfortable asking him this, but he was the one asleep in her bed… so she felt like she had the right to at least ask. “Are you… hiding something?”

      Shinbe’s thoughts went back to the night Kyoko came through the heart of time, drunk. What a predicament he’d gotten himself into. Not only would Toya kill him, but Kyoko would probably let him.

      He sighed, looking away from her as his cheeks flushed, “No, I’m not hiding anything.”

      Kyoko continued to study him. He wouldn’t make eye contact with her and she was convinced he was indeed hiding something. “You know I’m your friend, Shinbe. You can talk to me about anything,” she smiled and brushed her hand across his, causing him to shiver. She pulled the blanket up across his shoulders thinking he had gotten a chill.

      He watched her as she continued to stare down at him, her hands still on the edge of the blanket, lightly touching his shoulders.

      He whispered her name in a hoarse voice, “Kyoko.”

      She glanced up to his face, blushing when she realized where her hands were. She turned her back to him feeling her cheeks began to heat. She’d been staring at his neck, daydreaming about her dream, and feeling the urge to lean down and

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