Raging Hearts

Raging Hearts

The Guardian Heart Crystal Series Book Three

Amy Blankenship

Copyright © 2009 Amy Blankenship

English Edition Published by Amy Blankenship

Second Edition Published by TekTime

All rights reserved.

The Legend of the Heart of Time

The worlds may change… but true legends never fade.

Darkness and light have constantly battled since the beginning of time. Worlds are formed and crushed beneath the feet of their creators, yet the ongoing need for good and evil have never been in question. However, sometimes a new element is thrown into the mix… the one thing that both sides want but only one can have.

Paradoxical in nature, the Guardian Heart Crystal is the one constant that both sides have always striven to attain. The crystalline stone has the power to create and destroy the known universe, yet can end all suffering and strife in the same breath. Some say the crystal has a mind of its own… others say the gods are behind it all.

Each time the crystal has appeared, its guardians have always been ready to defend it from all who would use it selfishly. The identities of these guardians remain unchanged and they love with the same ferocity regardless of the world or dimension.

One girl stands in the center of these ancient guardians and is the object of their affections. She holds within her the power of the crystal itself. This is the bearer of the crystal and the source of its power. The lines often blur, and guarding the crystal slowly changes into guarding the priestess from the other guardians.

This is the wine from which the heart of darkness drinks. It is the opportunity to make the guardians of the crystal weak and susceptible to attack. The darkness craves the power of the crystal and also the girl as a man would crave a woman.

Within every one of these dimensions and realities you will find a secret garden known as the Heart of Time. There, a statue of a young human priestess kneels. She is surrounded by an age-old magic that keeps her secret treasure hidden and well preserved. The maiden’s hands are outstretched as if waiting for something precious to be placed in them.

Legend says that she is waiting for the powerful stone known as The Guardian Heart Crystal to return to her.

Only the Guardians know of the true secrets behind the statue and how it came into existence. Before the five brothers drew their first breath their ancestors, Tadamichi, and his twin brother, Hyakuhei, protected the heart of time during its darkest history. For centuries, the twins protected the seal that kept the human world from overlapping within the demon realm. This task was sacred and the lives of the humans as well as demons had to be kept safe and secret from the other.

Unexpectedly, during their reign, a small band of humans accidentally crossed over into the demon world because of the sacred crystal. During a time of turmoil, its powers caused a rip in the seal that had separated the dimensions. The leader of the human group and Tadamichi had quickly become allies, making a pact to close the rip in the seal and keep the two worlds locked away from each other forever.

But during that time, Hyakuhei and Tadamichi had both fallen in love with the daughter of the human leader.

Against Hyakuhei’s wishes, the rip had been repaired by Tadamichi and the girl’s father. The strength of the seal had been increased tenfold, separating the dangerous love triangle forever. Hyakuhei’s heart was shattered… Even his own blood brother, Tadamichi had betrayed him by making sure he and the priestess were separated by eternity.

Love can turn into the most wicked of things once it is lost. Hyakuhei’s broken heart turned to malicious anger and jealousy causing a battle between the twin brothers, ending Tadamichi’s life and splitting their immortal souls. Those slivers of immortality created five new guardians to take guardianship over the seal and protect it from Hyakuhei, who had joined the demons within the evil realm.

Imprisoned within the darkness he had become, Hyakuhei cast out all thought of protecting the heart of time… instead he turned his energy toward banishing the seal completely. His long midnight locks, reaching past his knees and a face belonging only to the most seductive, belied the true evil hidden within his angelic appearance.

As the war begins between the forces of light and dark, a blinding blue light is emitted from the sanctified statue signaling that the young priestess has been reborn and the crystal has resurfaced on the other side.

As the guardians are drawn to her and become her protectors, the battle between good and evil truly begins. Hence the entrance into another world where darkness is dominant within the world of light.

This is one of their many epic adventures…

"I just need to go home for a day or two." Kyoko sighed to herself as she leaned back against the bark of a huge tree. She drew her legs up in front of her and laid her chin on her knees as she sat between the tree’s outreaching roots. To say she was miserable would have been an understatement.

She was tired, dirty and getting aggravated because they hadn't run across any talisman in the last several days. That was a fact that had Toya sulking. Their small motley group had decided to take a break for a couple of days. Kyoko cocked an eyebrow knowing it was either take a break or strangle each other. She blew her bangs out of her eyes silently agreeing.

Suki had taken off for the closest town to see an acquaintance about more slayer weapons. Shinbe had taken off after her, walking next to her with his hand coming up behind her as if to feel her butt. The smack that followed had been the highlight of Kyoko’s day. She smirked knowing Shinbe had just not wanted Suki wondering around the countryside by herself. He was only trying to protect her but instead of saying that, he simply pretended to be the letch they all knew and loved.

Looking around, she noticed Kamui must’ve taken off with Kaen again. He’d been doing that a lot lately. Kyoko smiled to herself wishing she had that same freedom. Kaen was a fire sprite and could turn from human form into a dragon at will. Kamui would then climb onto his back and they would fly all over the land, sometimes staying gone for days at a time.

Glancing over at Toya, who was leaning against the tree beside her, Kyoko noted that his head tilted down quickly when he saw her look his way. 'He’s watching me again,' Kyoko thought to herself as she felt heat rise into her cheeks. He’s been acting strange for the last couple of weeks… but then… when doesn’t Toya act strange? She grinned at her own joke.

She glanced away as her hand came up to touch the small sack attached to the long leather strap she wore around her neck. She could feel the small slivers of crystal hidden within the thin leather. Her thoughts instantly turned to Hyakuhei, their enemy. She couldn’t understand how someone so strikingly beautiful could be so cruel and unpredictable. Kyoko cocked an eyebrow reminding her self that looks could be deceiving… especially in a land overrun with demons.

As Hyakuhei collected pieces of the talisman he became stronger, even though he was extremely powerful to begin with. With the ability to take the weaker demons within himself and thrive on their power, he became more dangerous with every battle. If he ever gained all the pieces of the talisman, he’d then be able to breach the barrier between the demon and human world. If that happened, he would let the demons into her world and the humans wouldn’t stand a chance.

Toya had been leaning there, pretending he was asleep for almost an hour now, waiting to see what Kyoko would do. After all, it wasn’t like he had anything to do now that he’d been overruled on continuing the talisman hunt. His breath seized in his chest as he watched her face tilt up to the sunlight and he felt his stomach clench.

It seemed everything she did lately made him think about… keeping her. Toya silently wondered if once this was over, if she would just go back to her world and forget all about him. Sometimes he found himself wishing this war would never end and that’s another reason he’d agreed to allow this break. His golden eyes softened with a hidden longing as she stood up and her long, silky auburn hair started blowing in the breeze.

Kyoko had never been good at sitting still for too long and her nerves were already starting to fray from boredom. Needing something to take her mind off the mess she’d made in this world, she stood up and started for a nearby path.

"Toya, I'm going to go for a walk, okay?" Kyoko called over her shoulder as she took off… to where, she didn’t know. She bit her bottom lip when she didn't hear him following her. Fine… she didn't want him to come on a walk with her anyway. She cocked an eyebrow at the silent lie. They’d been walking for days so why in the world was she doing it when she didn’t have too. No wonder he hadn’t offered to keep her company.

She slowed down, sulking. Toya had been acting so odd lately. She was getting whiplash from the sudden changes in his personality and was tired of obsessing over it. Kyoko decided to just keep going until she was so tired she’d just sleep for the next couple days.

Toya stood up, wanting nothing more than to follow her. He shoved away from the tree and took a step to do just that, than stopped mid-stride. He leaned back against the tree in a huff. "Oh no, I’m staying right here… where it’s safe." He breathed through clinched teeth forcing himself not to follow her like a stalker.

It was all he could do today to keep his distance anyway. He didn’t sense any demons nearby and figured she’d be safe for a while. The silver guardian inhaled deeply as he slid down the tree and settled against it. Kyoko’s scent was still in the clearing and it was driving him crazy.

It happened every time he spent too much time alone with her. He’d start acting weird and she’d get mad, than he would say something stupid and make it worse. If he knew for sure she wouldn't reject him, then he’d reach out to her like he’d wanted to do since the first moment he had saw her. Toya glared down at his hands wondering why every time he tried, something happened to ruin it.

Kyoko walked for quite a while thinking bashing thoughts about the male population in this world and her own world. The splashing sounds of cascading water brought her attention back to her surroundings. Looking around, she saw a crystal clear pool of water with a small waterfall constantly feeding it.

“It’s amazing how in a land of monsters, some things can be so beautiful,” She whispered in awe. Her emerald eyes lit up as she took it all in. Not sensing anything in the water that might hurt her or want to fight, Kyoko started stripping, knowing they were a long way from any type of village.

She couldn't believe her luck coming across this all by herself and she wasn't about to let the opportunity pass her up. Sticking her toes in first to test the water, she nearly melted finding it naturally heated.

Kyoko waded into the water and splashed it up on herself, loving the cleansing feel of it. She’d been so spoilt in her own world, taking for granted that she could take a hot shower whenever she wanted. This world was a completely other matter. Stepping closer to the waterfall, she let it shower down on her hair and felt more tranquil then she had in a long time.

She loved having something to think about besides Toya for a little while. She was tired of being in a funk because of him and his mood swings. Lately, all he had to do was look at her and she would blush. That made her angry. He was all about finding the talisman and killing demons.

When Toya faced the demons, sometimes he could be more frightening then the evil he was fighting. Truth was, most people thought Toya hated everyone… it was just his personality. She was constantly reminding herself that he was far from human and didn’t live by their rules… none of the guardians did.

However, sometimes she would get a glimpse of the man behind the guardian. It was in those rare moments that he seemed different… softer. He would accidentally do something that proved he cared for her more then he let on. He was the only one of the five guardians that could cross the Heart of Time into her world and she wondered why. Did it mean something? Were they secretly linked together more than her and the other guardians?

Kyoko huffed to herself in disappointment because she was still thinking about Toya after deciding not to. She scrubbed her skin and hair until it shone and then laid back on the surface of the water. She wasn’t ready to abandon such a lovely place just yet. There was no telling if she’d ever see it again.

She cleared her mind as she listened to the water lapping at her ears. Closing her eyes, Kyoko relaxed and let the water cradle her.

*****

Kyou had been following his brothers from a distance… often ridding the area surrounding them of the demons that stalked the girl’s every move. He’d come to the conclusion that either his brothers were growing lazy or the enemy was growing stronger. The demons that hunted them were gaining strength.

He could sense a separation within the group and growled disapprovingly. He inhaled deeply and followed the scent that called to him. Moments later he reached his target. Kyou looked down at the crystalline water’s as he hovered high in the air, turning his angelic face to the girl that lay on the water’s glittering surface.

No emotion showed in his expression as he let his gaze caress her body. His silver hair drifted in the slight wind as shimmering strands hung down his back all the way to his thighs. He could smell her sweet scent from the height he was at, where he’d come to a dead stop.

Kyou was addicted to her scent, this girl they were destined to protect. His golden orbs watched her as she laid upon the water like a naked water goddess beckoning him to her. She was the one who’d brought the Guardian Heart Crystal back to their lands, causing nothing but turmoil and danger. The shattering of the crystal had decided her fate quickly. She now belonged to the guardians though he doubted she realized that fact.

His lips parted as he watched the girl he’d tried to kill in the beginning but could never bring himself to do it. In truth, had he really wanted her dead… she would be dead. Instead, he protected her from afar while his brothers stayed closer to her. Such innocence should not be left alone without protection. His gaze narrowed at his brother’s incompetence. Maybe he should be the one protecting her so closely.

Kyou smiled, something that he almost never did. He liked the game of cat and mouse, and the priestess needed to be taught a lesson about being caught alone in such a dangerous land.

He slowly glided down to her seeing that her eyes were closed. Kyou lay stretched out above her without touching her, just hovering there in mid-air, letting his long hair create a curtain around them. The soft fan of her dark lashes across creamy cheeks gave him pause. His gaze slowly lowered to her full lips in wonder. He put his own lips to the shell of her ear and breathed his hot breath into it.

Kyoko's eyes came open in shock and she whipped her head around, causing Kyou’s lips to brush across her cheek in the process… coming to a stop right on her lips. She was looking straight into Kyou’s golden eyes. They were hypnotizing. It was like being kissed by an angel but… This was Kyou. Toya's brother was not an angel. He was the most feared and powerful guardian in the land. He was also one of her protectors, though she hardly ever laid eyes on him.

She lost all floating ability as she panicked. She began to sink into the water, but she didn't care as long as it got her away from his hypnotizing eyes. She stifled a scream when he suddenly reached out, grabbing her around the small of the back and lifted her clear out of the water until she was pressed flush against him.

Kyou could smell her fear of him and decided he didn’t want her fear. Everyone feared him… even his brothers. His golden eyes glowed as he held her tightly, ceasing her struggles. The Guardian Heart Crystal had decided long ago they were fated to be allies and he would not have the one he protected, fearing his protection. Kyou used his mind control abilities to peer into her memories and found that the priestess had never been kissed… until now. His eyes darkened attractively with that knowledge.

Kyoko was so shocked all she could do was stare into the liquid golden pools, waiting for… She didn't know what she was waiting for, but … God, he was beautiful. She thought she saw a slight smile tug at the corner of his lips. She blinked wondering if he’d just read her mind. Now she knew why she’d never been this close to the golden guardian… it was dangerous to the senses.

Feeling a pull beyond his control, Kyou slashed his lips across hers in a powerful kiss as if to seal some unknown bargain. Lasting only mere seconds but feeling like an eternity, he slowly ended the kiss, wondering what spell she’d cast on him to make him feel such alien emotions and cravings. Kyou held her closer… unwilling to release her just yet. He watched her with a strange look… almost in wonder, his golden eyes seeming to shatter from the reflection of the water.

He’d wanted to teach his priestess what could happen if she was caught alone and without protection, but somehow it became more. He should have known better then to touch her. His senses widened and he felt his brother approaching at a swift pace, making him silently growl at the intrusion. Kyou glided across the water to the bank, righting them and gently standing her on her feet.

Seeing she was still under his trance, he gently reached out and traced the pad of his thumb across her soft cheek liking the possessive heat stirring within his guardian blood. Giving into the pull one more time, he tilted her lips back to his for a last searing kiss before vanishing, leaving behind only the fluttering of a translucent golden feather that also vanished as it touched the water’s surface at her feet.

Kyoko stood there for a moment after Kyou had disappeared, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. Then she gasped and looked down at herself. She was naked and he’d been touching her, holding her. She couldn't help it, but something started in the pit of her stomach… heat. Something, that up until now… she’d only felt on those very rare moments with Toya.

Finally getting her wits back, she grabbed her clothes and held them against her. “How dare Kyou do that!” She felt her temper start to spark for the high and mighty lord Kyou. “Just who the hell does he think he is?” her face lifted to the sky as her fingers rose to softly touch her still tingling lips.

She tensed up when she heard Toya's voice calling her name. "Great," Kyoko shook her shirt out, quickly tossing it over her head. By the time it slid into place and she was able to see, she was staring straight at Toya, not five feet in front of her. Pulling her shirt down as far as it could go, she blushed ten shades of red.

"Toya, turn around!" She demanded then whined inwardly, ‘Geez, do none of the guardians have any sense of decency?’

When Kyoko had been gone to long, Toya had raced through the forest cursing his own stubbornness for not stalking her to start out with. Following her scent, nothing had prepared him for what he’d found… she was standing there like a goddess. Her breast lifted with her arms as she pulled her shirt down over her naked body. Toya had frozen.

Sure, he heard her say, ‘Turn around,’ but that didn't mean he could do it. All his heated blood had just raced to his midsection and he couldn't move. As his gaze moved up her body very slowly, it finally came to rest on her face. Oh hell, he’d seen that look before. Knowing she was about to use her Taming spell on him, Toya spun around. He could hear her grumbling behind him, something about…Guardians with no manners.

While burning that image to memory, something caught his attention. He could smell Kyoko's scent strongly but there was another scent clinging to it. Silver flecks appeared in Toya’s golden eyes as he slowly turned around making sure she was dressed so he had freedom of movement. He walked toward her hoping he was wrong. The closer he got to Kyoko, the stronger the scent.

Kyoko stood very still, waiting on him to finish. She knew he smelled his brother on her. All the guardians had enhanced senses and after all this time she was still trying to get used to that creepy little fact. She tensed up when Toya grew closer, feeling a slight panic as he placed his cheek almost against hers and inhaled. He then grabbed her chin and turned her face to his, staring at her mouth.

Toya saw her shiver and could smell her lingering fear. "Kyoko, was Kyou here with you?" When she nodded, he gazed down at her mouth again, his eyes narrowing on her lips, "Did you bite him?"

Kyoko was so taken aback when he said that… her knees almost buckled. Then, thinking about the question and mentally seeing herself bite the most feared guardian in the land, she began to laugh.

"No, Toya, I did not bite him! I was taking a bath and floating in the water with my eyes closed. When I opened them, there he was, practically lying on top of me and…" her voice dropped down to almost a whisper as she shrugged, "he kissed me." Kyoko quit laughing when she saw the silver override the gold within Toya’s irises.

Toya grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her, needing to know exactly what happened. "Kyoko, did he do anything else? Tell me now!" He could feel the panic building within him at the thought of Kyou kissing Kyoko… what the hell was he thinking.

She was shocked at how mad Toya was all of a sudden. Kyoko shrugged and with a confused look on her face, she nodded. "Yeah, he lifted me out of the water and brought me to the bank, stood me up here, and then… disappeared.” She nervously raised a hand and ran it through her wet hair as she looked away. Secretly, she wondered where Kyou was now and if he was still watching them. Usually Kyou’s presence was felt not seen. “He never even said a word," she added as an afterthought.

"Kyoko, did he mark you anywhere?" Toya asked in a calm voice while hiding the fact that his insides were screaming in denial. He pulled her hair back to look at her neck before she could even answer. He could feel his heartbeat strong and pulsing under his skin as he searched for any hidden marks Kyou may have left behind.

Kyoko tried to smack his hand away but he would have none of that, so she yelled, "No, he didn't! Why?" This was starting to freak her out a little. What did Toya mean, ‘mark her’ anyway? She felt her skin start to crawl as she envisioned a vampire scene from some old black and white movie in her mind. Then the scene twisted into one of the newer movies where the vampire was sexy and… and she quickly deleted the thought.

Toya let go of her hair after not finding any marks but gazed at her very intensely, his heart still hammering hard in his chest. "I don't like this." He watched as she put her arms around herself as if she was cold. Toya growled softly, deep in the back of his throat as he stood in front of her, looking down into her emerald eyes.

"From now on, stay close to me." He watched her lips for a minute, not liking the fact that Kyou had kissed them when he hadn't. It was making him mad and the fact that it was making him mad, was making him madder. He inhaled her scent again; smelling his brother's disturbing presence and that wasn’t making him happy either.

“Kyoko, go take another bath,” Toya said a little harshly, stunning Kyoko and pricking her temper.