Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Deeper Kyo or any of the characters. Yeah, yeah you guys get the idea.

Love or Pride?
Author: Mickey Sin

"Talking"
"Thinking"
Flashbacks, ect.
(123456789) Separates certain parts of the story.

Chapter 2:
"So you finally decided to leave Kyo then?" Yuya was a little stunned by his sudden appearance and his words of somewhat concern, so she answered his question with a question.

"What does it matter to you? Why are you here?" Ok so it was two questions; but she got her point across, not that she really had a point. She was just confused for the billionth time that day.

"I was just taking a walk, it's quite a strange coincidence meeting you here, wouldn't you say?" Akira had his usual heart warming smile; Yuya had only seen him get angry a few times, and she doubted she had seen the full extent of his anger. She wanted to say something intelligent, but she just nodded. She had to slap herself in the forehead... "He's blind you idiot!" Mentally scolding herself wasn't going to do any good; at least he couldn't see her stupid little gesture.

"Yeah…what a coincidence!" Yuya started laughing nervously and just wanted someone to shoot her at this point. Why was she so nervous around him? She never was before; but of course she had only been alone with him once before, and he had asked her to go with him. Akira must have been just as confused as her about her nervousness because he took two steps back, and the look of confusion well.

"Are you feeling well Yuya-san?"

"Yes! Just fine!"

"Well that's good news I suppose."

(A/N: Que awkward silence.)

(123456789)

"Where'd Yuya-han go! She has been missing for a long time… what if something's happened!" Benitora was pacing back in forth going over every possible, and let's not forget, horrible reason for Yuya's disappearance. Well, at least he was giving the group some form of entertainment as they followed him back and forth with their eyes. Kyo seemed to be the only one that chose to ignore him… of course; he found the whole thing annoying.

He had said so once before, which had served to make Benitora stop his irritating pacing for about thirty seconds; so Kyo chose to just let the idiot work himself up over nothing, it's not like it was anything new. While the group worried about Yuya and continued to drink themselves into a stupor, Kyo stood and walked outside ignoring the questioning from Okuni about where he was going.

It was slightly breezy and there were signs that it would be raining later that night. Kyo didn't need to turn around to know that his nosey servants were crowded in the doorway watching him; no doubt that they wanted to see if he would go look for Dog-face. She truly was annoying, running off when he had things to do, and the others insisted on waiting for her to come back. And they all called him selfish.

Kyo was hoping for a quiet peaceful night, but that was interrupted when he saw something blowing in the wind towards him. Reaching out he caught it with ease. The curious group got even nosier and just had to run up and see what he got, Sasuke was the only one who chose to stay at the door. He could care less what Kyo had just caught. (A/N: Is this the best I can come up with? Scratches head whoa boy, this is gonna be a long night.)

"What is it Kyo?" Benitora leaned in closer as if he would be able to see through Kyo's hand if he got close enough. Kyo opened his hand to expose a small paper crane. "What is that?" Benitora poked it and then jerked his hand back as though it might bite him.

"A crane you idiot." Okuni gave him a look that told him just what she thought of him; which was something to the extent of "you're an idiot".

"It's a message." Kyo had ended that argument before it started and unfolded the crane to read what it said to himself, while Benitora read it out loud.

You cannot catch me for I am like smoke,
You can not harm me, kill me, or provoke.
Do not play games, for games are for sods,
You cannot defeat me, for you cannot beat gods.
-Kaynoyukioh

Kyo looked at the little piece of poetry with disgust. "Wow, he sounds tuff." Benitora scratched his head and turned his focus from the paper to Yukimura.

"No… He seems weak. Tee hee!" Yukimura swayed his head back and forth as everyone looked at him, their eyes clearly asking him to explain. "Anyone who writes poetry is always a soft, weak, romantic under the hard exterior." Well, at least they got some kind of explanation, but Yukimura was quite a strange man.

Benitora suddenly got a really disappointed look on his face and Okuni had to show concern. "What's wrong?"

"Oh man, there goes my idea of making a poem expressing my love for Yuya-han!" (A/N: Awe poor Benitora...his hopes and dreams are crushed.)

(123456789)

"So, is there any possible way you could show me the way to town? Well, I guess you probably wouldn't know, would you?"

"I'm sorry, but I do not." Akira had started walking not to long after the awkward silence, and Yuya had followed him. Akira hadn't shown or voiced any objections about her tagging along, not that she would've listened to him; there was no way in hell she was going to sit there alone in the dark, weaponless.

"So where are you going?"

"I haven't planned that far ahead yet."

Even though Akira was answering all of her questions, Yuya was running out of ways to try to start a conversation. Usually she could start a conversation with anyone… but he was Kyo's enemy, and it made her feel kind of bad walking with him. But why should she care? Kyo was off with a whore! There she went pissing herself off again. "Stupid jerk!"

Akira stopped and turned in Yuya's direction. "Have I done something to upset you?"

Yuya felt like an idiot now, she hadn't realized she had said that out loud. If Akira wasn't blind he would see her doing her best impersonation of a strawberry. "No, no! I wasn't talking about you, I was…"

"It's all right Yuya-san; I think I already know who you were referring to. Would you like to tell me what he has done thistime?" Yuya really didn't want to talk about it, but she might as well get it off of her chest. So they both sat down on the ground and Yuya began her extremely long list of complaints about Kyo… this could take awhile.

(123456789)

"So, do you think this guy's a Mibu?" Benitora look from person to person and the only reaction he got was Yukimura taking another sip of his sake. Well, that conversation died before it started.

"To answer your question, no I am not a Mibu." Everyone turned their heads in the direction of the door to see a man about Kyo's height standing there. He was wearing a dark blue haori with a black hakama and a light blue obi. He had short brown hair with a small pony tail in the back and piercing blue eyes. He also had small round glasses that sat at the tip of his nose that looked as though they would fall off any second.

"Well I suppose I should introduce myself…." He spun around and turned his head upwards pointing to himself. (A/N: Que special background of your choice.) "I am Kaynoyukioh…. I am honorable, loyal to my friends, handsome, strong…" He showed off the muscles he didn't have. "I am a lover, fighter, and all around winner! I enjoy drinking, gambling, and collecting money for the high bounties that I bring down with these soft and sexy hands."

He stopped for second to push his glasses up with his middle finger and cleared his throat. Then he threw his hands up and continued on. "My family has been bringing down criminals for a small price from generations to generations and now I am here to bring you down for the one million ryo bounty on your head. I must say that it is pointless to fight back for I am a master at every weapon, and I will bring you down by… any… means… necessary." His face had turned very serious with the "any means necessary comment", and when he looked up at the small group of people, all they did was blink.

Kaynoyukioh adjusted his glasses once again and cleared his throats as he waited for someone to say something. "Well since you don't seem to be a very talkative group I will get to the point… Demon Eyes Kyo, I am here for your woman and your life!" Kaynoyukioh stood with complete arrogance; surely the thousand man killer would have something to say about that. He had just threatened to take Yuya from him. He looked from person to person and then his prideful stance dropped.

"Hey, where's that blonde woman that follows you around!" He pointed at Kyo with a very pissed off look on his face.

"She's… gone." Okuni seemed to be the only one that wasn't too shocked to speak.

"Gone? Gone! What do you mean 'gone'!" Kaynoyukioh started tugging at his hair and sinking down towards the ground. Kyo was ready to just kill this guy, while the others were trying to figure out what to make of him, right now he seemed like an over reacting idiot…but who were they to judge? "No my plans are ruined; I can't fight you when you're not distracted. I need that woman! Now I have to devise a new plan and it's all your fault!" Kaynoyukioh pointed at Kyo once again.

"You know, it's rude to point. Tee hee!" Yukimura had kept quiet for far too long. Okuni giggled at that comment while Benitora tried not to laugh, and was failing horribly. Now Kaynoyukioh was furious; first his plans had been ruined and now these people were mocking him.

"I will return to collect your bounty when I get that girl." With that said the man turned to leave, the group sat stunned for a moment before they all started laughing; well except Kyo and Sasuke, they had found him to be a waste of time. Kyo left to go to his room and the others went about their business not even speaking about the man that thought he was hot stuff.

(123456789)

Akira didn't really know what to say or do as Yuya continued to rant on and on about everything that Kyo had done, said, or whatever. Akira was trying to let it all sink in, but every time he started to register all the information Yuya would start spouting off again. It was enough to give anyone a headache. But he just listened nodding his head when she stopped speaking, just incase she was waiting for a reaction.

"And then he stole my wal…" She paused to yawn rather loudly and she leaned back against the tree she had been sitting by. Akira figured she had to be pretty tired, it was going to be sunrise soon and she had been traveling with Kyo; that was a good enough reason alone for anyone to be exhausted. Now that she had stopped talking, and from what he had gathered fallen asleep. He leaned his head back against the tree he had already been propped up against.

Once he had gotten a little sleep he would decide what to do next. Akira listened to the sounds of the forest; the only thing he could hear was the sound of a few crickets and Yuya's soft breathing. Now that he was sure the area was safe enough, he let sleep overcome him without any more hesitation.

(123456789)

Kyo, Sasuke, and Okuni had gone to sleep a little while ago; but Benitora and Yukimura sat awake in the lobby area of the inn. Yukimura was to busy drinking, and Benitora was to busy worrying about Yuya to sleep.

"Do you think that guy will find Yuya-han?"

"Doubtful."

"Do you think Yuya-han's alright?"

"Absolutely."

Benitora had had enough, why was he the only one that seemed to care that Yuya was missing! He had noticed something else that bothered him, "Hey Yukimura? Why do you seem like you know something we don't?" Yukimura always seemed like that, but something about this situation made it seem more likely than it had ever been before. And it bothered Benitora more than anything, because dear sweet Yuya was involved. She was out there lost, cold, and alone and there was no way for him to protect her. He felt like a failure.

Yukimura still hadn't answered his question, and with his current mood, Yukimura completely ignoring the question, irritated him more than it should have. "Answer my question!" Yukimura took one more sip of his sake before he stood up and walked towards his room, when he reached the door way he paused and turned his head towards Benitora.

"Why would I know anything about it?" While Benitora pondered on that thought Yukimura went off to bed. After much debate Benitora decided to do the same. If he was going to try to find and defend Yuya, he was going to need his rest. Yukimura was quite a mystery; and it never really bothered Benitora before, but now, it was really pissing him off.

(End of chapter 2)

Mickey Sin: Ok, so there's the second chapter. I know that there wasn't much Akira in this chapter; I am still trying to get the feel of his character, but I promise there will be more of him and Yuya next chapter. I also had to make a villain, what is a good samurai story without a villain of some sort? So that's why I brought in that irritating guy. Thank you for all of the reviews and support!

Review Responses:
Mickey Sin:
Wow, I didn't think I would get as many reviews as I did. It makes me so happy to know that people are reading and enjoying my story. Thanks to all of you!

foxmagic: Don't you just feel so special. That's right I put this story up in honor of you and the part with Kyo sleeping with a whore, yup that part was for you to. You also must be so proud that you were the first review… well except you had the upper hand with that because you knew I was posting it. Well, thanks for all the help and support. I LOVE YOU! hugs

ravenfett: Thank you very much for the review, I am very glad you liked it. To answer your question, the story is manga-based, but it doesn't really have a particular place in the story line. I hope you enjoyed the second chapter and thanks again for the review.

LadyWater: I love Kyo as well. About the pairings… it's a secret. I know the set up seems like Yuya/Akira but I… can't tell you that information or a little midget with a club will beat the life out of me. Anyways, I am glad you like my story so far and thanks for the review. Thank you for the review, don't worry I will continue this story. )

Ginny-cry: Thank you very much for the nice review… I was very happy to read that you thought I had a good beginning. Hope you enjoyed the second chapter.

Violetjewelz: Yes, Beware the Ides of March. It is very cool that you and I share the same birthday. What will happen between Akira and Kyo is a secret and the unknown woman is nothing extremely relevant to the story line. Me and my friend were talking about all the times you see Kyo and Benitora in the lobby of an inn with whores, but you never see him take one to his room. So I did that in honor of her. So now you know. Well, I am very glad you liked the first chapter and thank you so much for the review.

The Muses Tk and Zv: Thank you for the information you emailed me and thank you for the review. Also thank you for beta-reading for me. As you can see I didn't use all of the corrections that you suggested, but I did use a few. I didn't want to use the punctuation corrections and a few of the sentence changes because then it doesn't make the story quite my style anymore. It changes it… well that's what I think anyways. Well thanks again, you're so nice! BYE!