I would like to thank the people who reviewed the first chapter. I greatly appreciate the format that the criticism was given as well as your honesty. Thanks so much for your help, I took it to heart. This chapter is still under revision. Any way here is part two, and as always I own nothing.

The Price of a Challenge

Chapter 2

By Catrina

00-00-00-00

"Kyo!" She yelled in terror and surprise asher body fell, quickly racing to the water below.She reached for him as she continued tofall and then shook her head slightly when she knew that she had no chance. Her body fellinto the water with a large splash. The second she hit the water the world around her went black as she seemed to sink lower into the dark turbulent water...

"Damn it woman!" Kyo yelled as he jumped in the river after her. He dove down and found her quickly enough. Her pink yukata stuck out in the blackish blue torrent of water. The river itself seemed to keep pulling her away from him just out of his reach. Twice he had to rise to the surface to breathe air into his lungs. But then her yukata caught on a tree root that was jutted from the side of the cliff. Her body slammed against the side of the cliff, doubtlessly there would be bruises along her body tomorrow. He grabbed her limp body and pulled it close and found his way to the other cliff face and pushed her up on a small ledge. He climbed quickly up after her. He placed a hand on her neck and felt her pulse beating weakly. He leaned down and hovered his cheek over her lips. He felt nothing. She must not be breathing, he concluded quickly. He tipped her neck slightly then placed his lips on her forcing air through her system. Her lips were freezing against his own but for some reason the thought of her dying angered him.

"Gods damn you," he cursed at her before breathing for her again. He pulled back when he heard a cough and quickly turned her to her side as her body rejected the water she had swallowed when she fell unconscious. He again checked her breathing and at least she was. "I hate you woman," he told her as the rain continued to pour down around them. "All you cause is problems," he continued his rant as he looked out to the river to see that amazingly the supplies that she had been carrying on her back were stuck to the same tree roots that she had been caught in. Debating slightly he tucked Yuya away under the slight cover of overlaying rocks and dove back into the water for supplies. His strong and steady stride broke though the torrent water easily and he grabbed the bag noting how heavy the bag really was. He threw it on the ledge beside Yuya and again climbed the slight rock wall to where they both lay. He lifted the bag of supplies securing it his back then lifted her and tossed her unceremoniously over his shoulder and slowly climbed up the slick cliff. When he approached the top he tossed her to the top and pulled himself up. She was still unconscious and she was turning blue from the cold. He picked her up and cradled her small body against his chest. He located a small cave rather quickly and figured luck was on his side when he found an old blanket and kindling to start a small fire with. After starting the fire he worked quickly to remove her clothing and wrap her in the old blanket. Maybe he should stop joking about how she was not endowed, because he noticed as he pulled the clothes away from her breast that she was larger then she looked. He smirked at his hentai way of thought as he brushed her hair away from her face and skin running his fingers and shaking it out lightly. Once he was done getting her as dry and warm as possible he removed his protective armor and spread her clothes out to dry. He dug out the supply bag and set everything out hoping to dry it by the small fire. Everything was soaked and while he had rung out the blankets and the extra clothes it would be a while until they were dry.

He shook his head and looked over to the cause of this mess. She was mumbling slightly and noticed that while her extremities were no longer blue she was still shivering, the damned woman could never be happy with what she was getting. Knowing that he would wake before she did, he lay beside her and she instinctively turned toward the heat his body radiated. Refusing to hold her he watched as her limbs, of their own accord, reached and entangled with his. Then he simply watched as she slept, the fire illuminating her face.

00-00-00-00

The first thing that she remembered was the darkness. She hated the dark, she wasn't scared of it she just hated it. Dark meant pain…the pain of her brother dying; the darkness that had filled her vision when Akira had encased her in ice, the dark that over took her heart when Kyo and Kyoshiro fought. Slowly her mind started to recover from the fog that it had settled; she remembered the rain, and the river. It had been cold. But she felt heat. She knew then that Kyo had saved her; like he always did…she knew that without him she would have been dead many times over…but then again it was usually his fault that she was in danger, mostly by association. Damn that man, he really was nothing but trouble. But for some reason she knew that she would never willingly leave his side. She must truly be a glutton for punishment.

"Kyo?" She whispered softly trying to open her eyes, but everything was blurry. She was alone, on the cave floor, nothing but a small fire to keep her warm. She raised a hand to her head noticing that her hair was dry and there were no knots that usually came when she would sleep with her hair down. She must have been out for a while for her thick blond hair to have dried. She took in the supplies, blankets and…her clothes? She let out a startled scream and quickly reached over to grab her clothes.

"It's nothing that I haven't seen before," Kyo stated his shadow filling the entrance to the cave making the inside even darker than before.

"Well you haven't seen mine," she growled at him before looking over to glare at him. There he was fully dressed and looking as normal as ever, while she felt tired, dirty, and sore. For a moment her mind flashed to when she had fallen into the water. She pulled the blanket away slightly and noticed that her body was covered with cuts and bruises. The strangest one was what actually looked to be a hand print around her ankle. She could remember nothing after hitting the water. Could it be that Kyo had bruised her?

"I saw it last night," he corrected. "You are still far too small, maybe worrying really does stunt development," he stated on a sneer. He watched in avid amusement as red flared across her delicate cheek bones and he waited for the come back…it never came. She was looking down where she had the blanket clasped to her chest. She said something and it was too raspy for him to hear. "Speak up woman," he demanded and watched as she lifted her head. She looked sad and scared and for a second he realized that he did like it when she looked like that.

"Thank you," she said again her jade eyes were serious. Her seriousness caused him to nod.

"Pack up camp…it looks like it will rain again today," he finished as he turned away.

"Next time you save me could you be a little gentler?" She asked on a little laugh and pointed to her ankle where the bruise shown in a light color. He turned quickly to bite back a response until he looked in the direction her finger was pointed in. He quickly strode to her and grabbed her ankle looking carefully at the bruise. He looked up to her and smirked when a red blushed raced across her cheeks.

She clutched the blanket tighter to her chest and looked down at Kyo as he held her foot in his large hands. Even her feet looked small and dainty when compared to him. His smirk turned to a glare.

"What happened down there?" He demanded.

"I…I don't remember…I just remember hitting the water," And reaching for you, she thought but didn't voice her thought out loud.

"This wasn't me," He stated, then with surprising gentleness placed his hand over the bruise seeing that his hand was larger then the bruise that graced her skin. She looked at him in confusion.

"There couldn't have been someone down there pulling me down. They would have died," her words were soft and full of confusion. She didn't know what to think, especially with Kyo hiding things from her. Was someone after him? Her? Them?

He grunted in response then reissued his order to pick up camp. She looked past him to beyond the cave to the horizon noting that grey heavy clouds were already filling the sky.

"It seems that the world is against us on this journey," she stated as she started to do what he said, for a moment dropping the issue knowing that she would get no where for the time being. For a moment he paused thinking back to his conversation with the white haired ninja yesterday. This supposed deity that the monks at Eiheiji release could control the Earth and the trees maybe it could control the atmosphere around them as well. Were they fighting a battle and he didn't even know it? He looked over his shoulder and debated about telling his travel partner. He watched in perverse pleasure as she pulled her yukata slowly up her naked back but not before catching a glimpse of her rear. No he wouldn't tell her, he decided…she really did worry too much already.

00-00-00-00

It wasn't more then an hour until it again began to rain. Yuya sighed already frustrated at the start of the day. Just yesterday she had fallen in a river, almost died, only to be traveling again at and increasingly fast past within 8 hours. Not only that but she was bruised and cut and she was still the one carrying the supplies. Could anyone really blame her for being a little tired and upset? Really? But for the most Kyo was simply letting her complaining go in one ear and out the other. He knew that she was happy simply allowing her to travel with him. But in a way she was hoping to get a rise out of him, or at least a glare, something to show that he was listening. But nothing, something had to be on his mind for him to go this long without insulting her. She wondered what was going on. She knew for a fact that someone had been at camp last night, but Kyo was staying hush about it. And she knew there was more about this change in plans. But he was saying nothing. She hated the strong and silent type. But Kyo wasn't like that. Granted he was strong and silent but he was no hero. What she loved so much about Kyo was that he was who he was and he was upfront about it. But there was something about this secrecy that was driving her insane, especially now that she was involved. But why was he hiding something from her. He never told her outright, that was true, but still when she would ask he wouldn't lie to her. And he was, she could tell. After spending so much time with Kyo she knew him better then any other person, or so she would like to think. But she could and never would relate to the bloodlust, and she didn't want to understand it.

"Kyo, should we seek shelter?" She asked looking through the torrential rain seeing her partner blur.

"No," he told her not bothering to look at her; he already knew that it wouldn't help. Besides when he was lost in thought like he was today he didn't even feel the rain. He was unsure why she couldn't block out the rain like he did. When he did finally look back at her, he noticed that she still looked pale and the cuts and bruises on her face were more pronounced. She must be uncomfortable

"Its not like we are on a schedule, you know?" She told him blinking the rain out of her eyes. "Or did you make an appointment that I don't know about?" She asked again thinking that maybe he would divulge more information. Kyo paused for a moment, feeling the skin on his neck rise slightly. They both noticed when the rain around them started to turn into a heavy mist, simply hanging in the air. Something around them seemed slightly unnatural. Not only that but he felt threatened it was something he rarely felt and recognized it for what it was. Quickly he stepped back putting his arm out and grabbing Yuya causing her to step back as well, around them light seemed to fill the air as lightening lit up the sky. The thunder quickly followed and it was so loud that Yuya could not even hear herself think. It rolled around them vibrating the air and shaking the ground. The first bolt came down only a meter away. Yuya grabbed onto Kyo's arm yelping in surprise. But it didn't stop with one bolt; soon the area around them was filled with light as electricity flowed around them, the mist around them seemed to only create more electricity. Yuya gasped as the hair on her arms and neck stood on end. She felt an arm around her waist and another under her knees and she was lifted off her feet. A blush crept over her cheeks, but as they quickly raced across the territory, and as tree limbs started to fall she paid no mind to her modesty. Trees and limbs fell around them their collisions with the ground blending with the sound of thunder that seemed to echo though out the forest. Yuya held on to Kyo burying her face in his chest as she feared to look to see how fast they were actually moving. Around them the trees and the forest blurred and for a moment she even wondered how Kyo could even tell where they were going. But as always she trusted him with her life.

Kyo held the woman close to his chest and felt her clutch tighter to him. There was no way that she could keep up with the pace he was setting, even if she was at full strength, but he knew that was not the case. He feared that if he set her down, she would be struck dead, and again for some reason, like in the past that idea did not settle well with him. Again he felt her pull herself tighter to him and gasp as then fell about five feet to the ground below. If he didn't have to concentrate to jump from limb to limb on the trees he was currently bounding through he would have made a comment about it. But currently he was not in the mindset to do so. The more and more he thought about it the more Yuya's words rang true. The world was against them, the rain today and most likely the night before was due to this new threat, not to mention the current in the river, and the bruise on her ankle. This power seemed to be able to tap into nature itself and use it as a weapon. This was something he was unsure of how to deal with. He had never been this unprepared for a battle before. Sauske vaguely mentioned something about the land eating people and the trees coming alive but he was having a problem wrapping his mind around that idea. It seemed in a way impossible, but he had seen and even accomplished the impossible before. He wondered if this nemesis realized that he was simply making them travel at an even faster rate. Continuing this pace they would be at Eiheiji within another day. And it was with that though the lightening around them calmed and the sky started to clear. Within less then a breath, the sky had gone from deathly black to bright blue. If it wasn't for the destruction behind them Yuya almost thought that it was her imagination. And the fact that Kyo was still holding her. And she was holding him. A crimson stain crept up her cheeks making her face feel hot. For a moment she didn't move and simply waited on him.

Looking around Kyo saw nothing…even his heightened senses told him that nothing was there. He piercing red eyes looked for anything around him that seemed out of place. But there was nothing. Hell, even the birds were singing. Finally he looked down to see he was still holding the woman. Her cheeks were flushed and she wouldn't meet his eyes. Yuya…shy? No… was she embarrassed?

He paused and smirked.

"Impure thoughts?" He asked gazing down at his companion.

"Huh," the question was evident in her voice and even more obvious when she raised her jade eyes to his amused red eyes.

"You're blushing," he accused. "You must like this." He said dropping her legs and crushing her to his chest with both arms, her feet still dangled off the ground. He was toying with her. "What are you thinking about?" He could feel her chest straining with each breath that she took, and he could see her pulse throbbing in her neck.

"Kyo," she started, then realizing exactly what he was talking about, she took her hands away from his shoulders and placed them on his chest to push him away.

"The last person I would be having impure thoughts about is you!" She yelled getting her temper back glad that she had found words when she was unsure of her name. Something about being this close to him made her mind foggy. For some reason, her limbs felt heavier, her breath came quicker, and her heart always raced when he would touch her. Always rare, and always by accident; whether they were simply reaching for the same item or she would simply accidentally touch him, her heart would race her and her stomach would host a family of butterflies.

Was she having impure thoughts of him?

Most likely.

Was she going to tell him?

Never.

"The last person," he repeated her statement then leaned down closer to her. His nose almost touched hers and all she could see was anger in his crimson eyes and something else. "I'm the only person you should think of like that." She could feel his warm breath on her face, it caused her to blush again and discreetly her tongue came out to damp her suddenly dry lips.

"Only person?" For some reason it seemed unreasonable to be out here fighting with him. She was sure there was something else that they could, should be doing.

"I own you, you belong to me and you know it." One arm still held her tight to while the other moved away up her body to the back of her neck, to ensure eye contact. She watched as his eyes darkened. "You know where you belong," he repeated, is fingers were slightly entangled in her hair and he noticed that her hands seemed to grip his shoulders instead of trying to push him away. "You follow me with no thought of why. You serve me without question. Do you know why?" He waited silently for her to answer. Finally she shook her head. There was a feeling something that she was completely foreign. What was this feeling? Her stomach…no below her stomach was warm and tense and his voice whispered in her ear spread flames through her blood. She could hear his smirk in his voice. Again she shook her head.

"Because part of you knows that you are mine. Since the day I spared your life…you became mine." Shivers raced across her body as his words hit home.

"I belong to no one," she whispered defiantly.

"You belong to me," and for a moment a single moment, barely a breath, his lips touched hers, before a sound had him dropping her to her feet on the ground and pushing him slightly behind him. But as his meticulous eyes searched the area there was nothing.

"Get moving," he ordered as he started to walk away. For a moment Yuya stood in dazed confusion as her companion walked away. Then as realization came upon her she searched for the words to express herself.

"Kyo…You BASTARD!"

00-00-00-00

Calmly she sat at the fire combing her hair. The blond locks glowed red in the fire light and hid most of her face in shadows. She looked to Kyo to once again see his intense red blood gaze already locked on her.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on Kyo?" She asked idly stroking her wheat colored mane.

"We're meeting Sanada," he stated taking out his slender pipe and placing it between his lips.

"So is there a new enemy?" Her question filled the air. Since the attack earlier today they had been in the clear. He wondered if this 'enemy' realized that his tactics were only making the duo travel faster.

"So it seems," he gazed at his younger partner and wondered if she realized that she was tempting. Her legs tucked to the side, her blond hair down and cascading over her shoulders and down her back, her green eyes bright with light from the fire. She made quite a picture. And he realized that he fully meant those words stated earlier today. She was his possession and he made no qualms about the fact that she belonged to him. Even if she was unaware of the fact herself. She was a truly strong and independent woman, with a pure heart and beautiful soul. And he knew that all the goodness in her balanced out all that was evil in him. He enjoyed watching her watch him as she was now. As her jade eyes peered at him with nothing but questions, and he knew one that question would come up soon.

"Is this new enemy what's been doing all the weather stuff the past two days?" She asked again bring Kyo's mind somewhat back to the conversation.

"I assume," he watched as his woman slightly worried her bottom lip between her teeth and when she released it, it was slightly red, and he was having the thought to soothe it with his own lips, but he was waiting for that question. The question he knew that she would be brave enough to ask. Finally she looked at him her green eyes eerie in the fire and moonlight.

"Why did you kiss me?"

Why indeed he mused to himself…why indeed?

00-00-00-00

So that is the end of chapter two, not a lot of action yet, but I thought that I would work to give the characters a little more depth and then start working into the evil plot on the next chapter…so many ideas. Thanks for all reviews and please take note that as long as criticism is posted respectfully, I consider it an honor that there are people out there who take the time to really READ and help me as an author. And I don't have a beta reader if anyone is actually interested please let me know.

Thanks for reading!

Cat