"The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire."
-Tielhard Chardin
"Third Desire"
By: FenixPhoenix (Giselle González)
Chapter 4: "Following"
Shinna Yuya's eyes darted from Kyo's to the man kneeling in the middle of the room.
"Good morning, Yuya-san," greeted Kenji heartily.
"Morning, Kenji-san," she responded a little less enthusiastically. Automatically, one hand shot towards the other and before she knew it, she began to rub the spot he had kissed not too long ago.
Onime no Kyo didn't like this. There was something in the whole situation that didn't seem right. He didn't know if it was the way his servant was looking at the pest or the fact that her eyes had left his so quickly and bored into Kenji's for so long.
"I'll go for a walk," he announced curtly, maintaining his indifferent façade professionally. Glaring at Kenji, he added, "I do not want to see you here when I come back."
"Don't worry, Onime no Kyo, you will not find me here," Kenji assured politely.
Satisfied, Kyo made his way to the door, his arm brushing against the static figure of Yuya. He dared not even look down at her. He was afr—no! He wasn't afraid. He was uninterested! Yes, that's the word! He didn't care about her or what he would find in her eyes. Probably weakness, anyways!
The grip on his sword tightened. He wished his hands were around Kenji's neck instead. Kyo grabbed the shoji door and slid it open. He hesitated for a second, wondering if she would follow. He told himself that she would. He reminded himself that she always did. Yet, still he was unsure. He fought the unreasonable impulse to just command her to follow him, as if he somehow doubted her loyalty.
What he felt… What he had felt at that moment when Yuya and Kenji were staring at each other was what? It was a threat mixed with some sort of fear of losing her. But could she really leave him? Would she dare…?
His life was a bloody comedy. The irony of his baseless fears and doubts did not elude him. Yuya had followed him even when he had threatened to kill her. She had continued to journey with him despite the danger surrounding him. She had remained with him even after she had seen the cross shaped scar on Kyoshiro's back. She had never wavered in her loyalty towards him even when Shinrei had planted the water dragon inside her body, shortening her life to mere days.
Yet, this time he was the one that wanted her to stay. He was the one that felt, deep, deep inside a tiny flame of fear at the thought of not seeing her again -at the thought of losing her and watching her back as this time she was the one that walked away.
It was ridiculous! But it was true! And he hated it. He hated this change that had come and found him unprepared. This change he could not fight or ignore anymore! He hated it all!
Would you dare leave me, woman?
Shinna Yuya woke from her trance when she felt Kyo brushing past her. She watched as he continued towards the door, ignoring her completely, as if she wasn't even standing there. Much as his lack of tactfulness irritated her, she could not simply let him go on his own. What if he left her?
She couldn't fight the transformation her feelings had undergone. She was in too deep and so Yuya felt compelled to follow him… and afraid to stay.
"Kyo, wait!" she called, almost trotting to catch up as he step out.
Onime no Kyo relaxed when he heard her. All doubts were swiftly swept away by her presence beside him.
"Who told you to come with me, woman?" he snapped, unable to restrain himself. He was trying to bring back some semblance of normality. By angering her, he was hoping things would go back to the way they were. Back when he didn't care whether she left or stayed.
It was an illusion, of course. He was aware that the change had taken place and that there was nothing he could do about it, but adapt. His irritation returned once he'd accepted the fact that his dependence of her was increasing and that –worst! It would continue to do so with each passing day.
"Why can't you just be thankful for my company, you stupid jerk!" she shot back, furious.
Kyo was content to share his irritation. He would have continued their banter, but he knew that he could drive her away if not careful. So he kept silent as they continued treading through the busy streets. Unfortunately, Kyo began to notice how a good number of men would stare at his property openly, their eyes leering silently. He had to fight the urge to kill them all for their boldness. How dare they ogle 'his' servant that way! How dare they demonstrate their lust for 'his' property!
"Kyo?" Yuya sounded concerned. Kyo wondered if she could feel his tension. Somehow the events of today had drove him to an edge and he felt his usual control slipping away easier than it would normally do.
Shinna Yuya felt his eyes boring into hers, rendering her speechless. She tried to hold her ground in this staring competition, but she couldn't. She diverted her gaze, looking at anything but him. It had been too much. His eyes were too deep, and she knew that if she had kept eye contact for more time she would lose herself in that cherry color. And, naturally, she did not want that… would she?
They kept on walking. Their destination, apparently, lay on the outskirts of the village. Yuya's mind was spinning with many thoughts, the main one concerning the fact that they were leaving the village!
They couldn't just leave everyone behind and, even if they did, then what about their stuff? She had forgotten to grab her weapon. Not that she really needed it since Kyo was enough to defend them, but she did not have any money with her and she was sure neither did he.
Not that he cares about money in the first place, she reminded herself.
Yuya chanced a look at her companion and, just when she was about to ask where they were heading, he stopped.
"I'll rest," he announced and promptly lowered himself to the grassy floor. He leaned back against a Sakura tree in full bloom with Muramasa lying across his lap. He closed his eyes immediately after his two-word statement, leaving her looking at him in befuddlement.
Yuya was tempted to go and leave him to himself. She hadn't considered wasting the entire day sitting under a tree while Kyo slept. Yet, against every sound reason to walk back to the Inn, she stayed.
She sighed. So many times Yuya had had the opportunity to just leave him, and still, no matter how hard she tried, she always ended up by his side. She wondered if that would ever change. Could it be that this thing she felt towards him was nothing but a crush? What did she know about love, anyways?
"Why did I follow you in the first place?" she murmured, sitting beside him and staring at the horizon before her. At least, the view was marvelous. She could see nature as it truly was, for the village was on the opposite direction, so that before her laid the huge mountains in the distance, the rising sun in the sky and the ocean of grass rocking back and forth.
Déjà vu. The situation seemed eerily familiar. Yuya was certain she had never in her life stepped onto this hill. She also could not recall visiting the village they were staying in during the past… so then why?
"Stop doing that," he snapped.
Was he not asleep?
"Doing what?" she asked between curiosity and aggravation. How was it that she managed to bother him even in his sleep! She turned to look at him when he didn't answer right away. His eyes were still closed and for a second she wondered if he'd spoken at all.
"That thing you've been doing lately," he answered curtly.
His response –not surprisingly- made absolutely no sense. Kyo usually did this… give incomplete answers that only led to more questions that would eventually baffle their receiver, if possible, even more.
"More information could be useful," she suggested sarcastically.
"Stroking that spot on your hand," he opened one eye and pointed at the back of her right palm, which she unconsciously had been caressing with her thumb.
"I don't know what you are talking about," she denied, even though she knew he would not buy it. She had, after all, been doing that quite often lately and -now that he had noticed it- she couldn't help but wonder about it herself.
"Sasuke should take a look at it," he suggested, closing his eye again.
"Why? There is nothing wrong-" she trailed off when she noticed something strange on the back of her palm. A red spot had appeared contrasting drastically with her pale skin.
After some time in silence, she scanned her surroundings reflectively. It seemed to her that Kyo had finally fallen into a deep slumber for he had stopped moving and his breathing had become soft and even.
Yuya sighed and stood up to stretch. Her legs had begun to ache. It was as if ants had decided to settle under her skin and were biting across their length. A strange and yet familiar feeling crept back into her heart a moment later. A gust of wind played with her golden locks and the mixture of feelings; the longing, the happiness, and the distress she had felt on her dream -a handful of hours before- were back again with full force.
Almost immediately, heat rushed to her face, coloring her cheeks. Her eyes began to ache, welling up with unshed tears.
"Kyo," it was meant to come out as a whisper but instead it was strained by a leaking sob.
Onime no Kyo's eyes opened at the sound of Yuya's voice. His heart was rising, fear showing its ugly head. The only other time he had heard her like this was when she had been on the brink of losing her life to Shinrei's dragon.
His eyes widened when she started shaking. It was as if she was having a convulsion! Just as quick as it started, it ended. Kyo sprang into action. He caught her before her head could hit the ground and lowered her gently. He knelt beside her unconscious form, checking her body for the injury that could've caused her collapse. Yet, the only unnatural symptoms were the rising fever and the bright spot on her hand. He assumed the latter was the cause of everything and he vowed he would find the one responsible for what had happened…And as soon as he did, that person would pay…
To be continued…
