Chapter 23 “Sacrifice” Shinbe and Toya were still fighting the massive waves of demons Hyakuhei continued to throw at them, when Shinbe caught a glimpse of the other side of the battlefield. He could see Suki reaching out her hand, and her mouth open as if she were screaming, though all he could hear was metal clash against ripping flesh and bone as he fought. ‘Suki…’ his heart clenched painfully at seeing her muted cries. ‘Suki… I know you, survive! Don’t let him defeat you!’ Shifting with the next swing of his staff, Shinbe’s eyes widened as Kotaro came into his sight. His body was falling headfirst, back to the ground with blood running from his side where the talismans had once been. “Not good,” he whispered to himself as he blocked another attack. Kotaro’s talismans had been ripped from him, which could mean only one thing. “Damn it!” Shinbe shouted over his shoulder in Toya’s direction. “Kotaro has lost his talismans!!” His gaze fastened on Hyakuhei, seeing the s
Chapter 24 “Rebirth of Rage” Hyakuhei’s senses were alive and burning as the void’s opening screamed behind him with hurricane force winds. The suction pulled them through the air at such a speed that within seconds they could no longer feel the wind, nor could they hear the wailing sounds. They were now deep within the heart of the void. The wailing sound of the winds from the dying curse had been replaced with the dark sounds of demon souls trapped within the void. Their raging anger and malevolent auras felt like a personal homecoming for the vile guardian as they surrounded his still descending form. Hyakuhei’s eyes glittered dangerously within the confines of the void as he silently assessed this new turn of events. He would have an army of demons to assist him in retaining his priestess. There would be no saviors within this realm to protect her from him. Darkness encased him as Hyakuhei’s feet gently touched upon what seemed to be hard packed earth. His raven lo
Defy Not the Heart The Guardian Heart Crystal Series Book 2Amy Blankenship Copyright © 2006 Amy Blankenship English Edition Published by Amy BlankenshipSecond 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 t
Chapter 2 "Morning Frights" Shinbe jerked awake with a start when he heard Toya’s shout. He felt all the muscles in his body cringe at the thought of becoming shish-kabob on Toya’s twin daggers. Morbid fascination had him slowly opening his amethyst eyes to see what was going on. "Shut up!” Kyoko yelled, throwing her hand up and casting the taming spell, then instantly grabbed her head in panic as the pain rocketed through her brain. "What was that for?” Toya growled as he glared up at her from the floor. "Oww,” her mouth made a little ‘o’ as she cringed again. “Shhh,” She added hoping he would get the message. Shinbe sighed, knowing Kyoko most likely had a hangover, and Toya wasn’t helping the matter by being so loud. He was glad she could paralyze him, even if he did find it strange that the taming spell only worked on Toya. Sometimes he found himself jealous that she could put a spell on Toya at all. It also didn’t help that Toya was the only one who could leap b
Chapter 3 "Kiss of Jealousy" Kyoko set off in the direction of the hot spring. She was tired, sore, and couldn’t wait to just be able to relax in steamy water. She stumbled on a rock and wondered if it was going to take weeks to get her balance back after getting drunk only one time. “Damn it… Geez, now I sound just like Toya,” she said to herself with a giggle. Shinbe followed quietly, peeking out from behind trees ever so often. He had to stifle the laugh that threatened to escape him when he heard the comment about her sounding like Toya. It was great to find out he wasn’t the only one in the group that held complete conversations with their self. If he was crazy, then they made a great couple. He stayed back long enough to let her gain some distance between them. Finally getting to the secluded hot spring, Kyoko rummaged through her bag. Finding what she needed, she arranged her bathing supplies by the side of the water. She quickly undressed, easing her aching bod
Chapter 4 "Don't Go" Coming to the heart of time gardens, Kyoko slowly sat down in the grass in front of the maiden statue, looking up into the maiden’s face. She focused on the face that she knew mirrored her own looks. That image belonged to her ancestor that the statue was made in memory of. If living at the same time, they could have been twins. Kyoko shook the thought away, remembering why she was now sitting in the grass in the first place. Her thoughts began to battle amongst themselves as if she wasn’t even there to listen. ‘Toya is such a jerk!’ She had just come back and ‘all he could do was yell’ at her. Sometimes she just… ‘Hated him…. OK, maybe that was a lie.’ Kyoko sighed, 'I can't lie to myself. I do love Toya and when no one is around to witness it… he often proves that he loves me back.' Kyoko narrowed her eyes in thought. “But then he has to go and blow it.” She was going home and maybe she’d never come back. She jumped up with every intention of lay
Chapter 5 "Dangerous Jealousy" Kyoko was miserable. All she could think about was Shinbe and Toya and that stupid kiss. She lay under the soft covers wide-awake, pondering how she could possibly want to be kissed by either of them. One was Shinbe, the lecherous guardian that flirted with every woman he came in contact with. He’d probably had more women than she could count on her hands, yet just the thought of his kiss sent her swooning. The other was Toya, who yelled at her for little things and tried to always be the boss of every move she made. Still, sometimes he could be so sweet. They both could. She thumped her head back against the pillow and sighed. It was strange how she used to think of only Toya before she went to sleep, but for a while now, the thoughts had been slowly changing to Shinbe. Shinbe… She drifted off to sleep dreaming about him yet again. ***** Shinbe awoke in the middle of the night covered in sweat, another dream. He whimpered as he stood up. Wh
Chapter 6 "Misunderstandings" After finding grandfather and telling him that Shinbe was awake, Kyoko got her backpack and loaded it down with all the things she knew her friends would like. She packed beef jerky for Toya, chocolate bars for Kamui, and of course everyone’s favorite, chewing gum. As an afterthought, she put in some bottles of soda and chocolate covered almonds for Suki and Sennin. Kyoko grinned, feeling better now that she knew Shinbe would be well again soon. Still… she would have to have a heart to heart with Toya about fighting and the fact he could have killed his own brother. She silently wondered how Shinbe could have come through the heart of time. The shrine would not have let him pass without a reason. “Probably so I could break up the fight,” Kyoko mumbled under her breath. She also added the typical supplies she would bring them, like bandages and aspirin. Looking around the kitchen, she wondered if she should check on Shinbe one last time but