Hello again. This is chapter 14. Wow. 0.0 A lot has happened to Yukimura but I also wanted to show how much has really happened. In some casees, these will be assumptions based on what would have happened in reality. (if this story were true.)

Additionally, I will be adding somethings from the Sengoku Basara manga that I read constantly. ^.^

So enjoy. I don't own Sengoku Basara...of course.

Masamune walked about the trees bordering Kasugayama thinking about the events that had taken place. He knew it aggravated Kujuro, but he was worried about his provinces. The ambush on Kenshin hadn't exactly scared him, it had only made him apprehensive. It was certain that the Toyotomi were behind the attack, but Masamune wasn't one to pass off something like this. The timing was too perfect. It could only be the Toyotomi.

Masamune scoffed, "I should talk to Kujuro about this." he said aloud. He knew his Right Eye would understand. Hell, he might be thinking the same thing. And if he was, there was no way this was just paranoia.

The Toyotomi were getting stronger with each passing day and bolder. It was shaking The Land, even the old geezers were watching their steps.

His mind made up, he turned heel and was about to head to his room when someone, quiet harshly, bumped into his shoulder.

"Ah shit!" the Dragon hissed, "Watch where you're going asshole-" he trailed off abruptly recognizing the rather round face of Yukimura. "Yu...Yukimura what the hell man?!"

"Masamune-dono?!..." Yukimura breathed almost frantically.

Masamune's smile to the Cub slowly left. The man was panting. Hard. His bangs were messier than usual, worse yet were his eyes. They were glossed over, shimmering, and puffy, like he'd been crying with abandon.

"Yu-" Masamune tried to say his name but was cut off when he tried to run off. Thankfully, Masamune caught him by the wrist just in time.

"Masamune-dono please let me go!" Yukimura bellowed. The man was frantic.

Just what the hell happened?!

"Yo Yukimura, calm down!" Masamune said in a panic. He'd never seen the man like this. "What happened man?"

"Nothing!" Yukimura choked almost with venom.

"Like hell that's true!" Masamune shouted trying to get the other to recognize who he was talking to. He pulled the man closer to him as best he could, but Yukimura seemed hell bent on escaping him. "Yukimura!"

"Masamune-dono please release me!" Yukimura begged almost in anger.

The Dragon inhaled then exhaled softly. Then, taking the man by the shoulder roughly, said: "This is an order, tell me what the fuck is wrong before I slap the shit out of you!"

The words pierced through the pain, panic, and confusion, and the Cub of Kai was brought back to reality.

The Dragon breathed a sigh of relief. He hated doing that, but at least Yukimura stopped trying ti run away.

"Thank goodness." Masamune snorted, "You scared the hell outta me-"

"Masamune-dono!" Yukimura cried about and embraced the Dragon for dear life.

Yukimura didn't want to. He really didn't. This wasn't right, for the only one that should hold him like this should be Sasuke. But the Cub couldn't think about these things, not clearly. right now, he wanted to drown his confusion and heart break. Drown them anyway possible. But the longer he clung to Masamune, the more worried he became. This was shameful and disrespectful. To embrace a powerful Landlord in this manner, in tears at that, rival or not, Yukimura felt so laughable.

He started to hope Masamune would push him away or scold him for being this vulnerable, but he didn't.

And Yukimura realized, almost with pleasure, that the One-Eyed Dragon was holding him tightly to his chest. This would have sent the Cub in deeper confusion if it weren't for the desperate need to escape this pain he was experiencing. yet, he couldn't help but relax and almost melt under the tender strokes the Dragon was applying to his back. One hand was holding the small of his back and the other was caressing the rest of it. Yukimura wanted so much to sigh, no moan even. The feeling came up suddenly, so he disguised it as a sob and muffled it in the other's strong shoulder.

"Do you feel better?" Masamune asked in a gentle voice.

Yukimura shivered feeling the other's breath brush his ear. He held other tighter and nodded.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Every thought told Yukimura to say no, yet, despite himself, his mouth said 'yes'.

The One-Eyed Dragon pulled away from Yukimura and grabbed the man's hand.

"Ma-Masamune-dono?"

"Let's go some place more private." Masamune explained looking back, "What ever made you upset has something to do with here..."

"Why? Why did I do that?!" Keiji bellowed to himself. He had gone back to his room that Kenshin personally gave to him. He paced back and forth, but tried not to disturb his companion and pet Yumekichi who slept in the corner of the room on a red pillow.

"I...I attacked my best friend! I'm a horrible person!" He said to himself feeling the words weigh on his heart.

He had always treasured Yukimura. He was one of few that accepted his way of life and even confided in him for advice, which also few do. Perhaps these reasons were small, but when you are ostracized by most of your friends and family, you learn to value these things. However, it appears he valued Yukimura too much and ended up hurting him in the end.

"Why?..." he asked himself again and sat down with his legs folded.

But Keiji already knew the answer. He loved Yukimura, and he couldn't stand someone like Sasuke having him. Regardless of the Cub saying they hadn't had sex yet, he felt as though his friend had still been dirtied.

But who was Keiji to tell someone how to live their lives?

"Now he'll think I'm repulsive...!" Keiji murmured to himself his face in his hands. "How will he ever forgive me?..."

Silence was his answer.

The Vagabond inhaled then exhaled softly. It was too late to regret, what happened happened. He kissed Yukimura-held him down and kissed him.

Keiji touched his reddened cheek slightly and winced in pain. "Heh...never been slapped before." Keiji noted bitterly.

"Really now?" asked a mocking cold voice laced with the slightest humor.

Keiji turned around quickly to see Sasuke hanging upside down from his ceiling. "S-Saratobi!"

"Yo! Keiji, long time no see!" Sasuke greeted in his usual passive tone. At this point, Yumekichi had woke up and was now scampering toward Keiji.

Keiji grimaced and turned away from the Camouflaged ninja. "What are you doing here?"

"Whoa now! A little cold aren't we?" Sasuke whined defensively. When Keiji refused to answer he dropped the nice guy act. "We got word in Kai that Kenshin was attacked."

Keiji's heart throbbed. How selfish he was forgetting that his dear friend was indeed harmed.

"Lord Shingen wanted me to check on him."

"He didn't send his people here?"

"Why would he?" Sasuke said sternly, "Regardless of him and Kenshin being on good terms, they're still warlords."

"Ah." Keiji closed his eyes with a bitter smirk, "And that's why he sent his spy here."

Sasuke eyed the man with anger, "The Takeda aren't cowardly like that. You'd do best to mind your tongue Keiji."

"Oh don't address me so politely. We're not friends." Keiji didn't mean to sound so petty...but something about the ninja's manner infuriated him.

Sasuke didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to take it as an invitation. "Ah good. We're on the same page then." Sasuke snickered.

Keiji could feel his cheeks flush in embarrassment.

"I only was nice since you're the General's good friend." Saskue said in a low whisper that seemed deadly and mocking at the same time.

"Hmph...you'd do anything for your lover huh?" Keiji smirked and felt triumphant in the silence that came.

"He told you?..." Sasuke murmured.

Keiji answered quickly with pleasure 'yes' feeling he had dealt the man a fatal blow. Oh how wrong he was!

In fact Sasuke laughed at him!

"About time! I was wondering how long it was going to take for him to say something about it." Sasuke smiled and shook his head. "to think it's been two years-"

"He said a year..." Keiji paused, "and a half!"

Sasuke furrowed his brow and looked up at the ceiling, "See, this is exactly why rumors spread!"

Keiji was horrified! Did this man already know? Did this man even care?!

As if reading his mind, Sasuke answered, "Yeah. I know. People gossip rather quickly these days...makes me miss my youth."

"Stop messing around!" Keiji bellowed.

The two stared at each other until one of them broke eye contact which was Sasuke. "I wonder where that person is..."

A sour lump formed in Keiji's throat, "Well...he's probably in his rooms."

"Really now?" Sasuke murmured no making eye contact with the Vagabond. "I actually thought he'd be with you."

"Hmph." a smirk appeared in Keiji's face making the ninja paused. "Not anymore. We had a little...agreement."

Sasuke eyed him critically, "What sort of disagreement. As far as I know, you two see eye to eye."

"Not this time." Keiji stood up making Yumekichi squeak and hide behind his long ponytail. "Seems like I scared him pretty bad this time."

Keiji gave the ninja points for actually listening and actually looking like he cared. But that could be a ninja trick...

"You know, what ever he's been going through has been stressing him out. I don't think I've bad it any better." Keiji continued purposely delaying the event that caused his cheek to still sting. "Though...I thought he'd realize how I felt sooner-"

"What did you do to him?"

It was the first time ever in Keiji's life since the reign of the Demon King that he felt such a killing intent. The man was indeed Sasuke Saratobi, a man to be feared.

Yet he didn't stop. As much as his nerves warned him that he would regret it, he didn't care. Keiji loved Yukimura. That was fact. And he hated how his feelings over the years hadn't reached the man. Keiji had already made piece with it. He may have ruined the best friendship he ever had and nothing could done to mend it. Even if Yukimura did forgive him, things would never be the same. So why not speak his mind? Why not let the man have it? Stick him where it hurt: his pride.

With unwavering confidence Keiji smiled and looked the man in the eye, "Why, I kissed him of course."

This was the second time in his life that he had been hit so hard he almost blacked out.

Now I know you guys wanted the nitty and the gritty of Keiji and Yukimura's kiss and I thought about it. In the end, I didn't like it. This is a MasaYuki, and even though Yukimura will experience different affections for people, I think it makes sense to detail his most potent relationships.

I also apologize to any Sasuke lovers. Believe it or not, like I've said, I like Sasuke, but the man is a ninja. So their relationship would be very thin in my opinion. Also, I think Sasuke may be an under cover jerk. (I refer to the manga and anime versions of him wen he's rather cold toward anyone that's not a ninja, Yukimura, or Lord Shingen.

Thank you for reading. ^.^ Comments make me want to continue this story.