So, I'm guessing you're a little annoyed about my cliffhanger?? –Cackles evilly- DHM strikes again…Anyways, I hope you enjoy. I haven't found time to update my other fics, so bare with me. Oh, and just so you all know, there is probably one, possible two other fics that make Yuya decently weapon equipped…-mutters something about not having enough swords…- By the way, you'll probably wondering why add charry's that…die…but I love em and it's fun…hehehehe. Plus Okuni rocks…Hint: She can beat Kyo…hehehehehhehehe

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't waist my time…

Episode 2: Pain & Memories of the Past

Yuya watched Kyo warily as he watched her with new interest. Her icy blue eyes watched him with the preciseness of an assassin. Kyo on the other hand gave a little smile as their silence increased.

"Now then woman, are you going to explain?" he asked, enjoying the glare he received from her.

"Go to hell." She hissed as she backed up. She didn't truly know if she could take him on. She was certainly not one of the usual pushovers, but being out of practice could get her killed. Taking a calm and steadying breath she relaxed her guard slightly.

"Don't make me find out the hard way." Kyo suggested, his demon eyes smiling.

"You don't know who I am or what I'm capable of so shove it up your ass." She muttered angrily as she walked over to a tree opposite and farther away from him, her eyes no longer watching him.

He was obviously annoyed with her ignoring him, and his patience was beginning to deplete rapidly. "Don't test me." He growled, eyes flashing in annoyance.

"No you ass, don't test me. I may be out of practice, but I guarantee I'm faster than either of the nit wits traveling with us." She hissed in a tone he had never heard her use before. Closing her eyes she seemed to try and calm the rage that was burning within her. "Please Kyo, don't push me. If I lose control, it won't be good for anyone." She said breathing heavily.

The inner struggle was hard. She had a darker side of her that had always been there. It had grown within her since her brother's death, and it only surfaced when either her life was threatened or when she felt a strong emotion like pain and anger. It was her way of venting that rage or pain, and she couldn't control it most of the time. When it took over, she'd destroy anything she could get her hands on to release the pressure of anger or pain. In the case of her life or her friends, she knew when she'd have to fight, or when she'd have to keep that side from taking control, because someone else would handle it.

Only one person had ever known about her 'training', and that person was dead. She had killed him. It had been an accident. She didn't even dare think of the memory of her master; else she'd fall into the anger and pain. She wouldn't, she couldn't. Her life along with anyone nearby depended on her control.

"Woman, don't make me hurt you." He hissed as well. He could hear someone, or what sounded like two or three people moving towards them, but dismissed it as Akira and Benitora.

Opening her eyes, the blonde looked at him as if she were fighting a losing battle. She couldn't stay and get harassed. She needed to calm down before talking to him, so she quickly stood and walked into the forest, her eyes taking in all forms of movement.

Kyo would have gone after her, but Akira and Benitora decided to show up just then with an annoyed Okuni. The woman glared momentarily at Akira and Benitora who were carrying three more bags besides their own.

"Kyo!" She yelled happily as she made her way towards him, only to get stopped by his obviously annoyed glare.

"Where is Yuya?" Benitora asked when he noticed she wasn't there. He wondered if it had anything to do with her 'secret'.

"The woman stormed off after I found out about her sword. Dumb ass bitch." He growled the last part, glaring icily at the dark forest around them.

"Oh…that…"Benitora said with several pauses as all eyes turned to him, the question 'What's that supposed to mean?' in their gazes.

"Well I kind of found her practicing this morning, and she well…she uh moved as fast as Kyo and when she found me I thought she was going to kill me. She had her sword at my throat before I even knew she had seen me." Benitora said after a few moments of stares. "I think she's an assassin, or at least trained to be one." He muttered quietly.

"I had the same impression." Kyo muttered.

Akira and Okuni exchanged somewhat startled looks. Sweet, innocent Yuya was more than she seemed. Much more from what they could figure out.

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Yuya sighed as she finally calmed down. She was dipping her feet into the cool water of a small, clear pond half a mile away from their campsite. She knew when she returned it would be nothing but demanding questions. Kyo was definitely interested now.

"I accepted this life, with its risks and hazards. I knew that when I began my training it was to kill and search for my brothers' murderer. I just hate it when people figure things out. As long as no one forces me to fight I should be alright." She whispered to herself as she stared in at her reflection in the water, cast by the moon above.

That's when she heard it. Soft, barely audible footsteps. They were walking slowly and stealthily on the dirt of the path, approaching her. She could hear three men; the slight sound of metal as they prepared to attack her. They came in quick, but she knew they were there.

All three attacked her at once, circling around to surround her. Yuya had bolted from her sitting position immediately and had already sliced one's arm off within the blink of an eye. His cry of pain filled the air, shortly followed by another comrade's which was cut short as her sword bit deeply into his side then sliced straight through, severing him in half.

The last was prepared and let out a whistle. Immediately, Yuya was surrounded by seven others.

"I warn you now. Step closer and you will lose your lives." She said, eerily calm. She could hear the approaching sounds of Kyo and the others who had obviously returned and were making a B-line for where the scream had originated.

"You will die for your sins that you have committed against my people." The man who had originally survived declared right after Kyo, Okuni, Benitora, and Akira arrived. They had quickly noted the two bodies and the eight men surrounding her.

"If any of you interfere," She said, not even looking away from the leader, "Then you will be next after I deal with them."

Kyo was interested to see her fight and decided it was best to let her get her energy all burned up before he tried to speak to her. He didn't want to have to hurt her if she got pissed at him, which he knew she would.

Without notice, the eight remaining men attacked. Yuya easily killed three in her first several attacks, and managed to get herself out of the others swings before they got too close.

One lucky man, she couldn't tell if it was the leader, managed to give hr a long, nasty cut on her thigh. That did it. She snapped.

Her eyes became stonier than they had been before, and an aura of anger enshrouded her. They could feel their deaths within her presence, and they were in trouble.

Kyo and Akira sensed the change quicker than Okuni and Benitora and all four exchanged glances of surprise; mild for Kyo.

The remaining men rushed at Yuya, but she was no longer there. Kyo had barely seen her move and had lost sight of her when she had dashed into the shadows cast by the moon momentarily before reappearing behind the small, huddled group. Beheading half, and delivering death blows to the other half.

Smiling slightly she sensed no more attackers before she turned to look at the group who had watched her.

"I'm sure you want to 'talk.'" Yuya said as she went to the bond and ripped off part of her kimono and dipped it in the water as she looked at the four inch long, bleeding gash in her leg. "Let's do it away from 'them'. I hate the smell of death." She grimaced standing and stalking past them back towards the camp, the others following behind closely.

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Yuya was exhausted, mentally and slightly physically when they reached the camp. Yawning, she sat down by a tree close to the fire and stifled another exhausted yawn as she looked more closely at her injury. She was losing blood; a lot.

Kyo sat himself down a tree opposite hers, and Okuni went to sit on the cart nearby. Benitora and Akira also positioned themselves near the warm fire and all positioned their eyes on the blonde who was applying pressure to the cloth over her wound.

Yuya knew she'd have to tell them, so putting her worries over her injury aside for the moment. She left the cool cloth on it as she looked at them before gazing into the fire.

"After my brother was killed, I became the apprentice to Hiako Misigushi. He taught me to be an assassin. Two years after he took me under his wing, I accidentally killed him, and that's when I began my life as a bounty hunter." She said simply.

"Misigushi was well known for his skill wasn't he?" Benitora asked, remembering something he had heard about the man.

"Yes." She said quietly. "I was trained to search for the man who had the cross shaped scar on his back, and that was all I focused on in my two years of training. During that time I killed over 100 people, and was labeled the best in his school. Unfortunately after his…accident…the people of the village and school were angry with me. I was forced out and as you know, became a bounty hunter. I haven't killed anyone in over three years," She said with a sad sigh, "Until tonight." She whispered the last part like it was a curse.

"What happened to him? I heard he was killed by one of his own." Okuni asked without noticing the look of pure anguish that crossed Yuya's already tense features.

"I killed him." She said continuing to gaze into the flame, all of her emotions forced into her gaze. She could not show pain or weakness to anyone, not even them.

"You?" Okuni asked in disbelief. "You may have been his student, but that man was first class, top of the line." She stated as if Yuya was lying.

"If you don't believe me," Yuya said glaring at Okuni as she forced her eyes away from the fire, "Then fight me." It was a challenge, one that Yuya would not take even though she had issued it. She would either kill Okuni or be killed by her, and she knew that Okuni was thinking the exact same thing, as was everyone else.

Kyo had remained silent until then, "So who were those men?" his question was straight to the point, and he sounded as if he had better things to do, but he had noticed her leg, and was actually wondering as to why she wasn't taking care of it. A wound like that could lead to major blood loss, and even death. Why did he care anyways though? He snapped out of his silent thoughts and focused on what she said next.

"They're probably from the village where the school was. I'm sure more will come; even some former friends and even pupils will be after me soon. They were common farmers. Nothing more and certainly nothing less." She said, her annoyance creeping back slowly, although she knew not why.

"Fine then." Kyo grunted. "Let's get to sleep. We'll talk more in the morning." With that he glared once at the others, before placing his muramasa in his lap and closing his eyes, the normal look of sleep for him.

The others sighed and nodded as they too took out their sleeping things and went to sleep. Yuya being left awake as she looked at her wound. She couldn't do anything now, not until morning when there was more light.
She tore off a piece of cloth from her kimono once again, and bound the wound together before resting against the tree she was on, sword by her side, and fell into a deep, and troublesome sleep.

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I hope you enjoyed it. If any of you are writing SDK fics, UPDATE!!!! I've practically read all of the good ones, and the idea of reading the ones that really annoy me is not looking good....hehehehhee....anyways, I'm still evil I know...I hope you like this 'episode'. I couldn't stand calling them chapters like my other fics....lol.

Back in the action

-DHM-