Alright, this chapter is going to be VERY interesting…MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!


Chapter 5: Feelings Relived

Kyo felt Yuya stir early the next morning. He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before due to her continual tossing and turning, not being able to sleep herself.

The bounty huntress had had nightmares of her past all night. She had tossed and turned, waking up in a cold sweat more than once.

Finally not chancing the threat of nightmares in her sleep again, Yuya decided to just get up and change, rather than face the threat of her past. Trying to be quiet, Yuya stood, grabbing her washing things and a clean kimono, she went to find a river or hot spring, desperately hoping for the warmer one.

Kyo had watched her go, her limp was less, but it was obvious that it still pained her. With a heavy sigh, he gathered up the supplies he had used to bandage it the day before, and followed after her, staying quiet enough so as not to let her know he was there.

Yuya found a hot spring not far from their camp, a small smile graced her features as she set her things down next to the water, and undressed. Leaving the bandage on, she slipped into the water slowly, letting the warmth of it sooth her aching muscles and clean away her nightmares.

Using a cloth and what was left of her soap, she began to scrub away the dirt that caked her after having traveled for so many days. She felt dirty. Not just the dirt on her body, but she felt the dirtiness of her past. The pain she had caused others, and the suffering she had endured. It scared her though as she remembered such an innocent childhood.

Her brother had always taken care of her, but now he was dead. He had taught her many of the things she knew now, but although her murderous training had come from a legend himself, she had learned patience and kindness from her brother.

She hated herself for not having been able to help him when he had been killed. She herself had been injured by the man with the cross-shaped scar on his back.

Without thinking, Yuya put her hand over the old wound and looked down at it. It was a clean cut, and had scarred, leaving her body permanently marred for the rest of her life.

Closing her eyes, she leaned against the side of the spring and wished all of her troubles away. Although it would never happen, she could always wish. She felt peaceful in the warm water for a while, until she heard soft chuckling behind her.

Damn it, she hadn't heard him come up behind her. Her senses had been down, giving him the perfect opportunity. Cursing in her mind, she gritted her teeth and crossed her arms over her chest, spitting into the water as she did so. Her eyes stared stonily ahead, knowing his full attention was on her reaction to his presence.

"What? Not going to invite me in?" His amused reply to himself came.

"Like I would invite a selfish pig into such pure water." She replied, proud of herself for her quick and cocky remark.

There was silence for a moment, and then Yuya felt herself suddenly being lifted out of the water by a pair of hands that had appeared at her waist, which was deep in the water.

Shrieking, she began to struggle, only to receive another chuckle from behind her, as her wet body was pulled against a clothed one.

"What the hell are you doing?" She nearly screamed, a death glare shooting its way in Kyo's direction as she turned her head to stare at him. She couldn't move, and she was pretty sure he was enjoying her temper tantrum.

"I'm going to dress your wound." He replied grinning. "Come to think of it, maybe…" He trailed off, and Yuya got worried for a moment before suddenly he trailed one of his hands down from her waist.

Gasping, Yuya moved to slap his hand away, giving him exactly what he wanted.

"You know," He said, that smile still plastered on his demonic face, "Yelling only stunts your growth."

Yuya flushed a bright red before angling her body so she turned and slapped his face as hard as she could.

Surprised, Kyo didn't have time to block it, and felt a stinging sensation on his left cheek. He stared at her for a moment, surprise written on his face before he seemed to realize what she had done.

Roughly, he sat her down next to a tree and through a blanket at her. She pulled it around herself glaring daggers at him.

Eyes dark, Kyo put the things he had brought with him down next to her, and pushed up the blanket from the wound.

Yuya squeaked in alarm, but quieted instantly at his glare. Even though she would not speak, she would still glare at him. With an icy glare, she hoped he would feel her gaze burn into him.

Not noticing her glare, despite his anger with her, his hands were gentle as he peeled off the old bandage and applied a new one.

Yuya only winced slightly as he applied pressure as he wrapped the bandage around her leg.

Finishing up with a firm tug he glanced up to see her face. She was watching him intently. Her glare had faded, replaced by a confused expression.

Noticing his gaze, she asked, "Why are you doing this?"

"Because if I didn't, you'd just slow me down." He replied putting the supplies back into a box.

"Why not just leave me?" she asked, a sad expression coming over her face, "Like everyone else in my life." She mumbled as an afterthought.

Kyo was a little shocked by her statement. Alone? Why would she think that. She had Benitora, Okuni, Yukimura, Sasuke, Akira, and although he didn't want to truthfully admit it, himself as well.

"You are not alone woman." He said, a little annoyed at her attitude.

She looked at him, sadness in her eyes.

"You have Benitora, Okuni, Yukimura, Sasuke, and Akira." He growled as she watched him scold her.

Looking away, she wrapped the blanket tighter around her. "You don't understand." She whispered, and without warning stood and ran back towards their camp.

"Dumb woman." Kyo muttered after she had disappeared. Gathering her things and the medical supplies, he made his way back towards the camp, knowing full well that she would be there, and not wanting to talk to him.

Something was eating away at her. Kyo could see it, but she obviously could not. Without meaning to, he had become worried. Her behavior the night before and her recently discovered past were starting to take a toll on her. He had listened to her whimper in her sleep, but he had not done or said anything about it. He would have to though, if he was going to make sure she was alright, both mentally and physically.

As expected, when Kyo returned to the camp, Yuya was busying herself with doing mindless tasks like repeatedly cleaning her sword and making sure her things were all placed correctly near where she was sitting.

Ignoring her mindless tasks, Kyo decided to take a nap, having not received a good amount of sleep the night before due to Yuya's continuous noise making.

Glancing briefly at Kyo, Yuya continued to clean her sword. She didn't want to talk about her past and about what she had meant by not having anyone. Closing her eyes and sighing deeply, she went back to her task.


Okay then, we have 2/3 chapters, one more to go…I hope you enjoyed.

P.S. The next chapter is the end of this fic...MWAHAHAHAHAHA

One more left and grinning,

DHM-