(A/N: Thank you for reviewing minna-san, and to you new comers who enjoyed this story! Yes there will be Yuya/Kyo and some Yuya/Kyoshiro. Yes, I'm not a fan of that. But if you've read/watched the manga/anime, Yuya does care for both of them. And...nevermind I'll spoil to much. This chapter features more of Muramasa and family. Happy reading!)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Samurai Deeper Kyo characters or plot. But don't get me wrong, I WOULD SO LOVE TO!

However I DO OWN MY OWN CHARACTERS AND ALL OF MY IDEAS IN THIS FAN FICTION. ABSOLUTELY NO STEALING!

Rating: Well you know Kyo, he's a potty mouth sometimes. And Kyoshiro...he's...just...not exactly a gift to women, if you get what I mean.

Step Down From Grace—

Chapter five: Talks with Murmasa

Yuya walked down the stairs, careful not to step on the third to the last step. It creaked. Her large emerald eyes peered, adjusted to the dark dim light. Her golden caramel hair flowed freely down her pajama clad back. The darkness of her house still creeped her out, even though she was old enough to sleep by herself, and generally not afraid of the dark.

But tonight, tonight was different. Her brother was gone. He hadn't returned yet. Yuya's eyes darted towards the clock hanging the wall beside her. It was 10:45 pm. Nearly eleven. Why hadn't he returned? She had lain awake, waiting for his return, hoping to throw her arms around him and welcome him back. After their parents leaving them for the world above, she treasured her brother more than anything the world could offer.

Yuya paused on the second step, before walking fowards. The cold surface of the uncarpeted floor touching the sole of her bare feet. She walked to the door infront of her, unlocking the safetly lock and stepping into the night air.

She gasped.

There he stood. His back faced her. Her brother stood out in the street, looking at a dark figure ahead of him.

Yuya squinted for a closer look at the dark character. He was drenched in moonlight, wearing dark clothing, his face covered, and in his hand he carried a long skinny package.

She stood in the open doorway confused. She began to speak, in barely a whisper.

"Brother..."

He continued to ignore her, she knew he knew she was standing there. He seemed afraid yet determined. She was about to race to his side, before he started running. He ran away, to her horror straight for the myterious figure the distance away. Yuya was frozen to the spot, before she felt herself calling out for him and starting to race towards him, tears splashing down her face.

"Brother! Brother!"

He ignored her cries. She wasn't fast enough. She saw, dread reflecting in her eyes, the scene before her. The mysterious figure held the package in front of him, he reached on one side. Pulling out a long object, that shone off of the moon's light. A long blade. Like those of the Samurai, the ancient katana.

Still her brother charged forwards. Yuya's heart thumped. She knew what lay ahead. She called out again desparately.

Her vision blurred by tears,

seeing the two meet, the blade raised then brought down with immense power combined with speed.

The blood of the fatal wound pooled around her brother's motionless body; he was struck with surprise. He fell bonelessly to the ground, his head staring back at his sister. Yuya stood only three feet away, her heart almost dying, tears flowing, and her mind spinning. The killer didn't smile. He stood there also, noticing the young girl who saw her brother dead.

Upon her brother's face were his last emotions. He had an apologetic and sorrowful look before he was gone. Yuya trembled.

"Brother...no..no.."

The killer turned, his back was bare. It was there that Yuya saw it. A cross shaped scar. Perfectly in the moonlight.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

"NOOOOOOO!!!!"

Yuya sat up, screaming and tears flowing down her cheeks. Muramasa blinked confused.

"No you don't want breakfast?"

Yuya opened her eyes, breathing hard and inregularly. She looked up, her emerald gaze meeting Muramasa's own. She blinked. Where was she? Swallowing the bitter tears from the nightmare, she spoke in a quavery voice.

"B-breakfast s-sir?" Yuya asked before coughing and wiping her tears away.

The blanket tumbled off her lap onto the living room carpet. She made a reach for it, but Muramasa was quicker. He began folding the soft fleece, smiling at the confused girl before him. Murmasa finished folding, he walked around to the back of the couch and carefully draped the blanket over the back. Yuya's eyes followed his every move, who was this man?

She started to reach for something within her clothing, when a familiar head popped out of the kitchen doorway.

"Hey Dad! Mom wants to know where you put the extra-oh! You're awake! Good morning!" Kyoshiro smiled, his words muffled, a piece of toast and egg in his mouth.

Yuya stared at him, before smiling a little, mostly shy, being in the house of a complete strangers. Muramasa looked between his son and the girl. She seemed like a good kid, yet he was unsure about her earlier gestures. Reaching inside her shirt for an unconcealed object. Perhaps, it was the revolver that Kyoshiro mentioned the night before. Muramasa's thoughts were interrupted by someone pushing past him, rather roughly, as the person tried to get to the kitchen.

Muramasa smiled, it was Kyo.

"Good morning Kyo."

He was answered with a grunt.

Kyo had bed hair, his obsidian locks sticking up everywhere while some laid flat, plastered to his skull. He hoped Mayumi would catch the boy, so she could bully him into combing his hair. It would be rather untidy to appear at school, mostly in front of teachers and fellow students. But then again, it was Kyo, he could probably punch someone esle for insulting his hairdo.

"Umm...sir? Where am I?"

Muramasa turned his attention back to Yuya, as Kyo pushed past a protesting a Kyoshiro. The two disappeared into the kitchen, where Mahiro and Mayumi's voices could be heard. Muramasa shook his head.

"Oh I'm sorry, dear. I'm Muramasa, this is our house. I have a wife, Mayumi and two sons, and a daughter. That was Kyo just now, I am asuming you met Kyoshiro and he last night. And my daughter is Mahiro. Now, I don't want to seem intruding on your life, but I do have some questions to ask you Miss," Muramasa's tone was gentle, his pale blue gaze softening.

Yuya sighed and crossed her legs watching Muramasa sit down in an arm chair nearby the couch, where she sat. He rested his arms upon the rests, one propping up his head.

"My name is Yuya Shiina. I'm sixteen years old, I dropped out of school during after finishing the eighth grade," Yuya started rather rough around the edges, she felt strange talking to the pale blue eyed man, wearing traditional clothing, and semi spiky blonde hair, a lighter shade than her own.

Muramasa tilted his head. Dropped out of school? Education was highly valued, what caused her to take such actions? He pondered her words for a moment. His expression was still kind yet puzzled by her words.

"Ah, I see. Tell me Miss Yuya, what exactly happened last night? I heard Kyoshiro's story. He and Kyo both went out last night to that club. He said that's where he met you."

"Yeah. I was really upset. So nothing matters anymore. I went to the club, thinking it would make me happy or I'd find a way to comfort myself. But I got drunk on beer, and I don't really remember much after that. But then the world went black...next thing I knew I woke up seeing Kyoshiro and some weird snakey freak. He opened a box and he had a poisoness snake with him. I tried shooting at it but I missed. Then that really freaky guy showed up. He had those infamous red eyes..."

Muramasa listened to her words, chuckling a little.

"That would be Kyo. He's acutally a good kid, just a little dark and cruel like. I hope he wasn't too much trouble."

Yuya snorted. 'Of course that jerk was. He threatened me. Yet...I don't really know what to think of him. He spared me. Why?' Yuya still was confused about what Kyo spoke to her. Muramasa watched her expressions.

"I still would like to know what your living and family situations are. What caused you to take such actions?"

"Oh...I..."

"I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me if I'm getting personal."

There was silence. Yuya's head dropped, causing Muramasa to lean forwards. The girl's face was no longer visable. Her golden locks hid her face, her shoulders began to move a little.

"Miss Yuya?"

"He was murdered!"

Muramasa was taken back. Yuya's head lifted, she was crying again. Salty drops running down her cheeks, her hands balled into tight, clenched fists. 'I can trust this guy. He's nice. Something in me wants to trust Muramasa..'

"My brother! A two months ago my older brother was murdered! I saw it! I won't forget that! I saw his danm murderer. I won't give up, I swear I'll find him. I'll pump him full of lead with the gun my brother gave me! I will find that...that.." Yuya couldn't finish, she wiped tears away with her hand.

Muramasa got up, sitting next to her on the couch, a friendly and comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry Yuya, I understand know. It's clear why you have a gun and why you were drunk last night. I understand. Mayumi and the others will too. I'm glad that Kyoshiro and Kyo found you and brought you here. Now what we need to do is find out more things and straighten all this out," Muramasa spoke gently.

Yuya shook her head, "I have no home. Our apartment was rented out. I thrown out after my brother died. I had no money. So I started living where ever I could. Where no one would notice. I lost everything."

Muramasa nodded. Poor girl, perhaps there would be some hope. Her brother's murder seemed interesting. He remembered now, an article about a boy found dead outside of a apartment complex but little details were known. Muramasa was silent before he questioned Yuya.

"Perhaps Miss Yuya, you should stay here? With our family. Until we can see where someone can take care of you. Does that interest you?" he asked staring out the window, observing the backyard or something beyond.

Yuya looked up. Stay in their house? But wouldn't that be trouble? She hardly knew them, but where esle could she go? Yuya nodded and smiled, wiping more tears away.

"I'd like that a lot. Thanks, you're a miracle worker Muramasa," she blushed a little embarrassed from crying.

Muramasa blinked, his attention reverting back to Yuya.

"Don't worry. The three will be going to school soon. I'll go with you all. We should enroll you as well."

Yuya watched Muramasa get up from the couch and walk through the kitchen doorway. She thought so more. School? It had been a long time since she had last been in a classroom. Yuya hesitantly decided to follow Muramasa, she stood at the kitchen doorway.

'I'm going to pass through. I left the past. For the future. Here I come. So you better be damn careful, Yuya Shiina is coming.'

(A/N: That was sappy. I'm sorry. But the next chapter is involving school. Which means Yukimura, Sasuke, Saizo, Benitora, Akira, Hotaro, Okuni etc. And more peoples! YAY! So stay tuned and review!)