Defy Not The Heart. Amy Blankenship

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СКАЧАТЬ before leaving because he’d tried to keep her from going back to her time. Toya had even stood in front of her, blocking her from the maiden shrine. In the end, she wound up putting that spell on him numerous times, more times than Shinbe was able to keep count of. But she’d promised to come back before dark the next day.

      Shinbe smirked remembering how Toya had fought the spell, cursing all the while about what he was going to do to Kyoko when he was able to move again.

      His gaze roamed over Kyoko’s form. This is why he found her so irresistible. She could be angry with Toya one minute, and love him the next. She held no grudge, no matter how much he hurt her.

      When Toya had first met her, he’d tried to kill her. Now things had changed, everyone knew that Toya loved her to death, would even die for her. But still he pretended he couldn’t stand her and it often hurt her feelings. It was just Toya’s way of hiding his heart.

      Shinbe placed his fingers over the bridge of his nose, trying to ease his mind. Honestly, he felt bad for Toya, and didn’t really intend on thinking bad things about him. It’s just that Toya had a chance with Kyoko and ignored it.

      He would have died for a chance like that. He’d treat her like a queen, if only she would let him. That’s the reason he lost it last night. The truth was, last night he’d just snapped. Now, after last night... Shinbe squeezed his eyes shut. Maybe she was better off with Toya, after the way he had betrayed her innocence.

      Shinbe jerked as Kyoko shifted once more in her sleep, exposing more of her thigh. He stared at her creamy skin, his hands twitching beneath his coat. ‘Why did she have to have such beautiful skin?’ He felt himself getting sleepier as he watched Kyoko's restless slumber and slowly crawled across the floor, never taking his eyes off the back of her head. He knew if he got any closer, she was going to wake up, roll over, and slap him.

      So far, so good. He leaned over her still form to gaze down at her face. Shinbe grinned. She still smelled of alcohol.

      â€˜Didn’t bother me last night,’ he smirked.

      A stray auburn tress clung to her shoulder. He gently reached down and slid it to the side with a soft sigh before laying down behind her, nuzzling into her silky locks. He dared not get any closer for fear of death but while she slept, he could at least offer her comfort. He reasoned with himself.

      If she were to wake up and find him there, he would just explain how tired he was, and that this was the only place to lie… while keeping an eye on her that is. He’d gladly take the slap he’d get for this. It would be worth it, just to lie beside her for a few hours and rest. He was too exhausted to worry about the consequences as his eyes drifted closed. He was right where he wanted to be and damn the consequences.

      Kyoko whimpered sleepily and rolled over feeling a pocket of warmth. She pulled her hands up under her chin and nuzzled into it. When she tilted her head and it stopped against something solid she sighed deciding she was probably just dreaming again. Testing the theory, she placed one of her hands against the warmth.

      Yup, very solid. She snuggled closer in her dream, and in her dream, the warmth wrapped around her waist. She smelled the scent of jasmine tea and a woody, earthy scent.

      â€˜Why can’t I get him off my mind? He smelled so good.’

      She remembered the first time he had held her in his arms. He thought he was saving her. She smiled in her sleep, he was so strong, and his concern for her welfare was truly sweet, even if his reasons were not quite legit. That was the first time she’d noticed how nice he smelled.

      She shivered at the memory, and the warm object around her waist tightened. She slowly wrapped her arm around the warmth, and froze when she heard the distinct rustle of material.

      â€˜What? Rustle of material? Did dreams rustle like robes?’

      Kyoko was suddenly wide-awake. Slowly, she barely opened one eye to stare in confusion at the bluish-gray trench coat her hands were entwined with. And she… shot up like a rocket, knocking his arm away with a thud. And he, he… moaned and rolled over onto his back.

      Kyoko was panic stricken, looking around from side to side. No one else was here and this most definitely was not a dream. Shinbe was sleeping on her mat. She had to think. What, what was going on? She stared at him frozen to the spot.

      â€˜It was just a dream, right? Get a hold of yourself Kyoko.’ She thought frantically. ‘Where was Toya? Suki? Kamui? Kaen? Where had everyone gone?’

      She nearly jumped out of her skin when Shinbe moaned in his sleep and tucked his hands inside his trench coat. When she’d jumped up, she had taken the blanket with her. Kyoko blinked, and then blushed guiltily. ‘He was cold.’ She was cold too now that she was standing. She remembered feeling like she was freezing off and on while trying to sleep.

      Is that why he’d lain down beside her? To keep her warm? Her blush deepened. ‘Aww, that was so sweet,’ she shook her head from side to side. ‘No, no, no! What am I thinking? Not sweet, not sweet,’ she sighed, smiling softly at him. ‘I give up.’

      She slowly, cautiously bent down, gripping the blanket, and froze when he suddenly moved in his sleep. She stood back, waiting to see if he would wake up. He didn’t. So, she quickly threw the blanket over his sleeping form, grabbed her bag, and then made a mad dash for the door.

      Shinbe opened one eye as he watched her retreat. Once she was out of sight, he laughed inwardly, 'Another lucky save.' Then he frowned wondering why he didn’t have a handprint on his cheek… or a crack in his skull. He slowly stood up and counted to ten, then followed to see where Kyoko had gone.

      Once outside, Kyoko leaned against a nearby tree realizing she should have probably stayed in bed. Her heart was pounding and her body was sore all over. She bent down massaging her legs. She remembered dancing with Tasuki last night after she’d ate the tainted fruit but it felt more like she’d been hit by a truck. A nice hot soak in the hot springs would ease the muscle cramps.

      She once again made a mental note to never eat fruit at a party again. Then a thought struck her. Toya will pick up Shinbe’s scent on her clothes. Ahh! The last thing she wanted to do was get Shinbe in trouble when he didn’t even do anything. She stumbled away from the hut, groaning at the lingering hangover but determined to wash not only her pain away but her clothing too.

      *****

      Toya growled deep in the back of his throat as he surveyed the village they had come to. He gritted his teeth knowing they were too late. The village was in shambles. It seemed that no matter what they did lately, they were always one step behind Hyakuhei and his demons. He scowled, searching the village for survivors.

      "There must have been a piece of the talisman hidden here for him to have bothered destroying the whole village." Toya's golden eyes grew dim with worry.

      "We need to help them," Suki said softly as she walked into the village with Kamui by her side. She bent down to check on a crying child that seemed to be sitting there lost and alone.

      For a moment, Toya closed his eyes to the familiar scene as his blood boiled. He knew Hyakuhei had almost every piece of the talisman in his possession and didn’t care whom he hurt to get the rest of it. After all, Hyakuhei had even killed his own brother. Now the guardians were trying to protect Kyoko from the same murderer.

      If СКАЧАТЬ