Don't Let Go
By Starian Princess

Chapter 2- Wait For Me

A month ago…

It had all finally ended; the fight against Nobunaga as well as the search for his body. He stretched his arm out, absorbing the feel of being under his own skin once more; how he had dreamt of such a sensation. And now, he was fully back to being who he was and always would be; Onime no Kyo- the red eyed slayer of a thousand men feared by so many.

He looked to his right and smirked as crystal-blue orbs met his fiery ones in turn. His other half was standing not even a meter away. He licked his lips in satisfaction. Another thing he had always been looking forward to was his battle against this man; the man who had sealed him away in his very own body- Mibu Kyoshiro.

He was just about to voice out his musings when a sudden shriek echoed around them. Everyone looked up frantically, each of them wondering if one of them was missing. And apparently, they didn't need to wait long.

"Yuya-han!" Kyo gritted his teeth, finally locating what the Tokugawa had seen. The bounty huntress was hanging on to a large tree hunk, dangling on for dear life and looking even more hysterical than how he'd ever seen her before. Slowly, the others- even Yukimura's- expression had turned just as frenzied as they realized what was pulling her in.

A massive black hole was swirling in midair, sucking everything remotely close to it and that included the poor girl. How she had gotten there to begin with, no one knew. He, for one, didn't care anymore. All he knew was that he had to get there in time, appearances be damned. He was not going to lose her.

Her eyes focused on him then, silently pleading that he reach her. And that only served to fuel him more; she was counting on him.

Absently, he heard Yukimura yelling for him to wait for the rest. And he growled. She was getting further away as the tree's roots could no longer hold it down; due to the immense force the cyclone was creating.

Finally though, he was only a few paces away. He could feel himself getting lifted off the ground slightly and he cursed under his breath. The armor he was wearing could only do so much. Without losing a beat, he grabbed on to the branch of another tree with more leverage and made his way up.

He was now just about an arm's length away from her.

"K-Kyo!" She looked so helpless that he almost winced at the sight. How badly he wanted to protect her then.

"Give me your hand." He tried to sound as calm as possible as he reached out, waiting for her to do the same.

She nodded, the distinct fear of what was to happen if she couldn't get a hold of him turning her pale. And yet still she tried hard, her own arm getting dragged away but still struggling to touch his. For a few tries, their fingers had merely brushed against each other and he could see the hope falling from her face. No, she just couldn't give up.

"You idiot! Don't you dare think of letting go." He pushed himself, using his legs to give himself some leeway. And at last, he was able to take hold of her cold limp hand.

Stronger gusts of wind signaled that the gap was getting smaller but was sucking in even faster than before. Kyo watched as her ribbon flew into it, her golden-like strands whipping around them. For some reason, the hole was coming closer as well.

For a brief pause in time, he noticed a lone tear going down her cheek. He hadn't the time to question her though as abruptly, her hand slid off his. His eyes widened; for the first time in his life, Onime no Kyo felt absolute fear.

"What are you doing?" His voice trembled as he watched her smile at him. By the gods, the blasted girl was smiling! How could she in this situation?

"Kyo, this is something I have to do." Her voice was trembling as well, her eyes glistening with even more tears and she brushed them off in haste. At the final moment, she had wanted to look tough.

He couldn't speak; cries from the others echoing in his head as he watched her. His servant, his possession, this woman who had taken from him something he never knew he had- his heart- with her as she jumped off the trunk she had been hanging on to and fell into the endless dark pit that had vanished as soon as it came.

"Yuya, are you alright?" Emerald met violet.

"Hmm… yeah, I'm fine. I just… remembered something, I think." She scratched her head and flashed her friend a smile.

"You're acting a bit odd today, aren't you?" Akane whistled low and grinned as she pulled on to the blonde's notebook, which was hanging conveniently off the table for her to snatch.

"Who's Kyo?" She blinked as she watched the girl flip the page up for her to see where she herself had apparently written the name about ten times. Where had she heard that name before to begin with?

"What? Ah, uhm… Kane-chan, in truth, I don't know." The brunette gave her a once over, her eyes tightening into little slits- an expression Yuya thought that made her look so much like the detectives they'd watched on TV. She returned the look with one of her own; a small innocent pout capable of making even the mightiest fall.

It could always work on her friend, for she gave up then with a sigh as the homeroom teacher came in at the same time; signaling the start of classes for the day.

"Are you all ready?" She had probably asked that question about a million times already. Kyo frowned. He couldn't take much more of this.

Yukimura managed out another smile and answered for all of them, "Yes, we're all very much ready Sakuya-san. Please, there is no need to worry. We'll all be back just in time for the given date, you'll see."

Sakuya nodded albeit quite wary still, but she began her chant anyway. Small crystal-shaped lights hovered around them as the entire group began to lift up in air. They all hitched their breathing. Somehow, he was certain that there was unease flying around them.

"Kyo-han, I think I'm getting sick." That was Benitora, ever the ice-breaker and he watched as everyone's tension faded a notch. He would have spared a smile.

Unbeknownst the rest though, Mibu Kyoshiro stared dead on, his eyes shimmering in determination for Kyo wasn't the only one looking to find the cheery bounty huntress that completed their little group.

'Wait for me, Yuya.'

-TBC-