eyes watched as the girl from the past approached the academy. He had found her and somehow he would make things right once again. He felt his human shield slip for a moment as his eyes blazed liquid gold in memory of all that had happen that fateful day in the middle of a deadly battlefield.
The rays of morning sunlight coming in the window cast a strange shadow behind him in the image of wings. He raised his clawed hand and narrowed his eyes, watching as the claws receded back to his human cloak.
Turning his haunted eyes back to the priestess, he calmed his inner powers. It was time, and with the purity of Kyoko, he also felt the awakening of evil around him. The unfinished battle would soon begin. This time⦠he would not make the same mistake.
Kyoko stared up at the huge building. To her it almost looked like a grand castle from some unknown past. She grinned to herself. She just couldnât help it. She was still so happy after finding out about the scholarship, and the fact that she would actually live here.
She looked back at Tama. He had been a big help coming to aid her with her bags and settling in. Kyoko was glad she had talked her mom and grandpa into staying home and saying their goodbyes from there. Now she felt almost lightheaded with this huge amount of freedom, and took a deep breath, savoring it.
âKyoko, are you gonna just stand there all day, or are we going to go find your dorm room?â Tama grumbled, even though the view impressed him too. He looked up at the gigantic archway leading to the main doors in astonishment.
Kyoko held up the map in her hand and pointed to the enormous building that connected to the right side of the academy. "That should be the right building." She turned and gave Tama a wink. "Thanks for helping me this morning."
Tama grinned, feeling a little embarrassed. "Sure Kyoko, after all, I get rid of you for a while, and thatâs payment enough." He ducked and took off trying to out run her all the while, dying laughing.
Kyoko started to chase after him but paused mid-step, feeling eyes on her.
As the breeze blew her auburn hair from her face, she looked up at the building wondering whose eyes were caressing her but couldnât see anyone. She had been able to sense odd things in the past few years, and she knew without a doubt someone was there ⦠watching her. She could almost feel them touching her.
She thought she saw movement in an upper window, but on closer inspection, she found it empty. Kyoko heaved an inward sigh realizing the odd feeling was now gone. She softly bit her bottom lip waiting on the disappointment to go away. Giving up, she finally caught up with Tama as he entered the doors. Both of them froze as they looked around.
"This place is awesome,â Tama whispered, as he looked up then leaned over to add in a serious voice. âYou might want to keep that map⦠knowing you, youâll get lost here.â
Kyoko appeared to not hear him as her eyes wandered over the interior of the main hall. The room they were standing in was at least three stories tall, with stairs that wound their way up to the other floors in a spiral. On one side, there was an enormous library, while on the other side it looked like a recreational area, and directly in the middle was a gigantic chandelier hanging from the high vaulted ceiling.
âI would really hate to see that fall,â she confirmed to thin air with a nod.
Below were sitting areas with plush furniture. There were students already up and busy doing things, although it was very early in the morning. She had wanted to be here as early as possible, and it was now 7:30 a.m. She quickly looked back down at the paper, wondering where she was supposed to go.
Groaning, she looked over her shoulder at Tama and pointed up the spiral stairs in front of them. They had four suitcases between them, since Kyoko was actually moving in, and they were very heavy.
Tamaâs expression fell. âYou gotta be kidding.â He let go of the handle of the biggest suitcase knowing the wheels on the bottom wouldnât help this time. âIâm only 12 years old for crying out loud.â
She squared her shoulders in determination.
Kyoko was startled when a masculine voice from behind her asked, "Are you Miss Kyoko Hogo?"
She instantly turned around saying, âYes.â
Her eyes widened as she came face to face with a very handsome-looking guy. He had startling ice blue eyes and long dark hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. As she stared in awe, she felt a strange breeze caress her face. The ends of her soft hair tickled her cheeks as the breeze caught it.
He was giving her a very charming smile. Then, to her amazement, he snapped his fingers and two guys came almost out of nowhere, took her bags, and started up the stairs with them. Kyokoâs eyes widened as she watched them, but before she could say anything, the other guy had taken her hand in his, and bringing it to his lips, he gave her a prince-like kiss.
"My name is Kotaro, and I would not want to see someone as fair as you have to carry anything so heavy. Now, if you will follow me, I will show you to your dorm room." Keeping her hand in his, Kotaro turned with confidence and started up the stairs.
The sudden heat that rushed through his fingers and up his arm seemed to continue spreading across his body⦠awakening his guardian blood. It was his secret to keep. Kotaro gave her hand a slight squeeze knowing she was the one he had so patiently waited for. Heâd felt it the second she had stepped into the room.
Kyoko raised a delicate eyebrow thinking to herself, 'Gods save me from chivalrous guys. What have I walked into?'
Turning, she shrugged at Tama who was standing there with his mouth open. Kyoko cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Tama be careful, you might catch flies like that." Then before he could recover, she turned and followed the lithe form of the guy known to her only as Kotaro.
She mentally chalked one for her on her imaginary chalkboard, where she was secretly keeping score for her and Tama. She heard him huff behind her as they walked up the stairs and new she was now winning the game.
They passed another guy on his way down the stairs, and as he passed her without even looking at her, she felt a flash cross her heart and her breath stopped. All sound disappeared as he passed her almost in slow motion. Then everything returned too normal as her heart skipped a beat then sped up.
A feeling of unease crept across her skin as if she was missing something⦠or more like she had lost something and missed it terribly. Trying to shake the strange reaction, she didnât even turn to look at who had passed her, feeling that at the moment she was better off not knowing.
âWell, at least there are enough guys around here for you to drool over,â Tama whispered making Kyoko growl mentally.
At the top of the stairs she turned, following Kotaro down a long hallway with lots of doors on both sides. She assumed these were the dorm rooms but he never slowed down or stopped at any of them. At the end of the hall there was a doorway that read DO NOT ENTER. She was a little confused when Kotaro and the two carrying her bags gracefully walked through them as if they belonged there, only to turn to another flight of stairs.
Tama closed in on Kyoko and taunted, âI think they are sending you to the dungeon.â
Kyoko smirked over her shoulder at him, âWe are going up not down you dummy.â
âAn
