Disclaimer: Hmp! Like a loser like me would ever own something as cool and spectacular as SDK… Ha! Give me a break.

Love or pride?
Author: Mickey Sin

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

Chapter 5:
"Yuya-san…" He turned to face her. "I think I'm falling for you."

Yuya was in complete shock; she didn't know what to say. She had grown to have strong feelings for Akira, but she still had feelings for Kyo didn't she? So what should she say, what could she say? Her heart was torn. "Akira-san... I don't really know what to say. Through out this time that we have been traveling together, I have come to have feelings for you too, but I don't know exactly how strong they are... I know that when I'm around you, I smile a lot more and I feel important and wanted... but..."

Akira left her little time to finish. Within seconds he had closed the gap between their faces, placing a gentle kiss on the unsuspecting girl.

Yuya was once again surprised during her travels with Akira; and what surprised her most, is that she found herself returning it. Before she even realized what was happening, she had lost herself in Akria's warm kiss.

After a few more moments, he broke off and pulled back from her. Her face was flushed as he opened his mouth to speak. "Yuya-san, I have to ask again. Won't you come with me? I know I can give you this happiness I've promised."

Yuya turned her eyes to the ground. This had all happened faster than she ever thought it would; in fact, she didn't think it would happen at all. She knew she had feelings for Akira, the butterflies in her stomach proved that; but did she have strong enough feelings to abandon her other friends. Yuya's eyes began to fill with tears as she weighed her options.

If she stayed with Akira she would have happiness, protection… more money. And if she went back to Kyo, she would have protection, a fair amount of happiness, and less money. Surely, Akira was the less stressful option... but Kyo, she had something she had to do. She had things to ask Kyoshiro, and she had to travel with Kyo until she was able to ask those questions.

So with the decision made. "Akira-san... I am torn." She began to explain, a single tear falling from her eyes. "Part of me wants to stay with you, and have the happiness you promise... but then the other part of me knows that I have things I have to do... and until I do them, I have to stay with Kyo and the others... I'm sorry."

"I see." He said. "I thought you might say that. You seem determined to fulfill your quest." He suddenly stood to his feet, holding out a hand to help her up. "I respect that determination, Yuya-san. But how about someday...we go on our own trip. Someday, when your journey is over."

"Yeah, maybe." Yuya said with a small smile. "Well, I guess we should keep going then." Yuya turned to walk off again, but now she was distracted; she couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. She blushed just thinking about it... damn him and his perfect kiss.

"Yuya-san!" Akira called to her. "Try through that hedge over there. I think you might find something..."

Yuya looked back at him suspiciously, but followed his directions anyway. Sure enough, standing there looking pissed, was Demon Eyes Kyo himself. Yuya smiled seeing him, but it faded when she saw the look he was giving her. "Oh no... Did he see us!" Yuya mentally scolded herself.

But when she opened her mouth to speak she was grabbed from behind and found herself lifting into the air. She looked up to see Kaynoyukioh holding her around her stomach. They landed on a tree branch; with the help of a rope of course, and then held his dagger at her throat.

"Akira?... Kyo?" Yuya looked from one to the other, not really knowing who to ask for help. After all, with how mad Kyo looked, she didn't think he'd help her even if she asked.

"Move and the girls die... and that would be quite a tragedy. I love the fact that she literally walked strait into my grasp. Now it appears I can kill two birds with one stone."

Yuya, for one, was not just going to stand for this. She was tired of being kidnapped, hurt, and being called useless. If no one else was going to help her, she would help herself. She raised her foot up and slammed it back down on Kanoyukioh's foot. He let out a dramatic squeal from the pain and dropped Yuya. She couldn't, and didn't really want to, keep her footing and began to fall. Kaynoyukioh reached to catch her, but only managed to accidentally slide his blade across her arm.

Yuya felt the sting of the cut, but that was the least of her worries right now... what was going to break her fall!

Sensing the girl drop, Akira quickly acted. With fluid motion, he caught Yuya as she was about to hit the ground. He stopped when he noticed her cut. "Yuya-san...your arm."

Kyo saw Akira catch Yuya, and resisted the urge to kill him right then and there. He had smaller threats to take care of first. Kyo smiled evilly at the thought of slicing this irritating man known as Kaynoyukioh to pieces. He leapt up, pulling his sword out, and swung at the man. However, much to everyone's surprise, he dodged the blow with ease. Kyo blinked in astonishment; perhaps he had underestimated this opponent.

"Oh no! I've hurt her! That wasn't my intention at all! But it's her own fault really; she just had to pull a stupid stunt! Are you alright woman?" Kaynoyukioh surprised everyone again with his concern for the cut on Yuya's skin. Yuya, who was still in Akira's arms, could only blink.

Checking her wound, Akira reassured her. "It doesn't look deep. With some bandaging it should be fine."

Yuya didn't bother to say anything in return; she just looked towards Kyo and waited to see what he'd do next.

"Is the girl ok!" Kaynoyukioh asked Akira.

"I'm fine!" Though the question was directed to Akira, Yuya had been the one to answer it. "And don't call me girl, I have a name damnit!"

Kaynoyukioh rolled his eyes at her. He was showing concern and she was scolding him about what to call her... how rude! He had little time to think of that though as Kyo charged him from behind. Kyo growled in irritation as his attack was dodged again.

"You're pretty fast." Kyo smirked.

"Have patience Demon Eyes Kyo! Can't you see the girl is hurt?" Well that only served to piss Kyo off even more.

"But you're the one who hurt me!" Yuya pointed out.

Akira groaned at the stupidity of the entire situation. What kind of villain was concerned about his hostage's wounds? Focusing in on Kyo, he then decided to liven things up a bit. Just for fun of course.

"Tsk tsk, Kyo. Do you need me to protect Yuya-san and defeat the enemy?"

Kyo sent a death glare in Akira's direction. "Akira..." He threatened through clinched teeth. Well, Akira would know it was threat at least. The young man smirked at having gotten Kyo riled up so easily.

"Could you two save it for later?" Yuya shouted holding the cut on her arm in a failed attempt to slow the bleeding. "Hell I think I could've killed him by now!"

Demon Eyes Kyo was having just about all he could take of this situation. Not only was Akira becoming increasingly more of a pain in the ass, but that damn broad wouldn't stay silent. Between the two of them, he was pretty well screwed over. Not to mention the fact that he couldn't seem to land a hit on this guy.

All at once, Kyo's stance relaxed. He would hit that moronic fool if it was the last thing he did. "Come on, bitch." He waved a hand at Kaynoyukioh.

His foe took off into the dense forest, clearly issuing a challenge. Who would be the fastest? And he'd be damned if he lost to anyone...especially him.

Concentrating all thought to that one moment, he saw the opening. There was a way in.

And he took it.

With a speed that surpassed all logical thought, Kyo swung his muramasa at a slanted angle, thus cutting off Kaynoyukioh. And one swipe ended it.

Kaynoyukioh had been sliced across the left side of his stomach, and fell to the ground in pain. Kyo smiled cruelly as he watched his enemy fall. Once again he had been victorious. Now all there was left to do was to wait until the man bled to death, which shouldn't take too long. So ignoring the dying man, he turned his attention to Akira. "What are you doing here?" Kyo asked, tightening his grip on his sword. Images of Akira and Yuya kissing flashed through his mind, causing his anger to rise.

"Who me?" The blonde man shrugged his shoulders, plastering on a look of pure innocence. "I was merely helping Yuya-san return to your company. She was lost, you see. Though it is beyond me as to why she would be so adamant to be back in your company so soon. What with that terrible temper of yours..."

"That's a load of shit!" Kyo knew this for a few reasons, but one in particular…he was putting the moves on Yuya. Kyo clinched his teeth as he continued to recall the event that had just occurred in front of him.

"Does it really matter why he's here Kyo, I'm hurt here!" Yuya would usually let him get on with his everyday events, but the cut on her arm hurt damnit! So she was going to try to stop these boys before they broke out into a fight. That could last hours. Hell, by the time they decided to call it quits she would've bled to death from this tiny gash.

"But really, Kyo. You might want to take care of that foe of yours before you decide to pick a fight with me." Akira ushered his sword in the direction of the wounded man, who now proceeded to crawl away.

Kaynoyukioh struggled to stand up, only to fall again. He knew he had to get away, or he would be killed here and now. He looked back; Akira's attention was on him, Kyo's attention was on Akira. If he looked out for Kyo he might be able to escape. He did the first thing he could think of... crawl faster. Soon he was about 10 feet away, but when he looked at Kyo this time he noticed that Kyo's attention had gone from Akira to him.

He took out a small round rock; at least it looked like a rock, and threw it at the ground. In an instant there was smoke everywhere hiding Kaynoyukioh from sight. Yuya began coughing while Kyo stood as still as stone.

It took a few moments for the smoke to clear. All of it was spent in silence. Well…almost. Yuya's coughing was an exception. There was nothing any of them could say really. He had gotten away. Now the only question was... "What the hell just happened?" This, of course, was asked by Yuya. She never really expected an answer; in fact she already knew what happened. The man had escaped, but what she didn't understand was how he escaped with those wounds.

"Well, you let yet another get away, Kyo."

This comment earned Akira another glare that he couldn't see, but from the intensity of it Yuya could tell Kyo was trying to make him feel it. Kyo had one of those glares that could melt steal. She was just happy it wasn't directed towards her. "How about you two stop pissing each other off and concentrate on my wounds damnit!" The pain in her arm was really getting to her, and what could she do about it with those two idiots looking for a fight? But neither Kyo nor Akira had any intention of letting it go just like that. Their feud was now more personal then ever, and the outcome would prove something that words could not.

With hand outstretched, Akira beckoned for Kyo to attack. "Come, Demon Eyes Kyo. Let's settle this once and for all."

(End of Chapter 5)

Mickey Sin: Sorry for the delay in updating, but my internet has been down for awhile. Anyways, I hope that this was a good chapter but the next one will be better… I hope. Well until next time (which will be soon hopefully) peace out and hugs to everyone.

Editor's note: Hmm, I must say. You're slacking a bit! I had to correct more for this chapter than the previous one. lol…but that's okay. The story still kicks ass.
-foxmagic

Reviewer Reponses:

SamuraiDeeperKyo: Thank you so much for the review. I'm glad to hear you like my story, and I hope that you enjoy the upcoming chapters.

KaraQ: I am so happy that you like my story so much, and that you think it's getting better by the chapter (I know this chapter was a little blah.) I like the Kyo/Yuya pairing, but I am also a big fan of Akira; he is just much sweeter than Kyo. And to answer your question about the love deeper community, I don't know what it is (nervous laugh). Well I hope that this chapter didn't disappoint you in any way and I will try to update sooner. Bye!

foxmagic: What can I say to respond to you? I talk to you all the time, but thanks for your support. There I said something, do you feel special now? I love you Elli!

QueenOfTheShadowFangs: lol. Yeah, sorry about that cliffy; I just didn't want to drag the chapter out to much. Akira appears in the fifth manga (I think), so it's understandable that you don't know who he is (but that might have changed since the last time I updated). Thank you so much for you review though, it was so nice (even the shaking, lol) and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the story.

Shinomori Kyo: Yes, Akira has a crush on Yuya; but who Yuya likes more is something I cannot tell you or the evil chipmunks might come hunt me down. (By evil chipmunks I mean my editor foxmagic.) But thank you so much for the review, I really appreciate it.

Streetwise Girl: Yes, I just had to pull a Akira-kisses-Yuya-just-as-Kyo-finds-them. It's just such a perfect way to piss Kyo off don't you think? I hope this chapter didn't disappoint, my villain scenes will get better when I figure out where this is going (nervous laugh). But thank you for the review, it means a lot to me. Buh-bye!

yami1: Thank you for the review, I am glad to hear that you like my story. :)

Murder of Mine: Thank you for your reviews and compliments. I hope you liked this update and hopefully the next chapter will come soon.

Thanks again to all of my reviewers!
foxmagic
ravenfett
LadyWater
yami1
Ginny-cry
Violetjewelz
The Muses Tk and Zv
KaraQ
Streetwise Girl
KittySamurai506
SamuraiDeeperKyo
QueenOfTheShadowFangs
Shinomori Kyo
Murder of Mine