Price of a Challenge
By Catrina
STANDARD DISCLAIMER: I own nothing…really absolutely nothing…
A/N: Thanks to those who have reviewed. I appreciate it so much. It motivated me to this chapter out to you as soon as I could and it was really nice to see repeat reviewers…its nice to know you're still reading. Anyway…Enjoy!
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It was intriguing. The whole idea of facing an enemy that really had no form, no shape, or no body; it was an enigma. He was just a mind or a soul, devouring other souls. Theory was that he would gain more power with each soul he ate. And guessing by the dozens of bodies that Sanada's little runt had found, he was gaining more power. The idea if him being still trapped in Mahiro's body was slim to none. No self preserving creature would stay trapped in a body that was dying. And that had truly been her goal. He couldn't understand why her loyalty ran that deep. And to that idiot no less, what did he do to earn such loyalty from a girl. But then again Yuya was fiercely loyal as well. Though he knew that she would not take her own life, but leave it in his hands as she had done many times before. Her trust in him was complete, and it seemed to be the only thing that unnerved him.
For a moment he paused in thought, after he had angered Yuya he had not followed her inside. Instead he sat out on the step letting his pipe burn in his hands as he drifted in thought.
It was truly fun and an intriguing challenge. One that he had not faced before. Sure he had fought to get his own body back, that was one thing, but to fight someone that could jump bodies. That was another thing completely. In a way it was more of a mental challenge then it was an actual physical challenge. But it was still a challenge… something that he had been longing for lately, but still her words were ringing in his head…
"I don't know. He was calling me. I could hear him, when we were here the first time and at the inn. He was driving me insane"
Was this presence after Yuya, and if that was the case would it truly come down to whether or not he would be able to kill her. The thought made his blood run cold. It was not something he could consider. Of the years that they had traveled when ever he had seen her sick or pale, it wasn't right… that was when he had first felt real fear. When she was sick, pale, and asleep, when he couldn't wake her and the doctors didn't know what was wrong. He had sat by her side, and even once held her hand telling her that she was not allowed to leave, not with out his explicit permission. So far she had listened, and she had never been that sick again, but still. The thought of it made him wonder if it was all worth what may happen.
But knowing Yuya she wouldn't have it any other way. He could almost hear her now.
"Kyo, you have to protect them. They are innocent; we can't leave them to defend themselves. You can help them. Please…"
She would put herself on the line to protect others. He knew that already. She had scars from times she had tried to help him. Not that she was useless in battle; she could hold her own with her gun and knives against a normal opponent. But when it came to these supernatural people, she was not at an advantage.
But still the idea of this enemy was…
"Thrilling, in a way, isn't it?" Yukimura asked sitting beside the sullen samurai with a spare bottle of sake in his hands.
"Hmm." He didn't pretend to not understand.
"Miss Mahiro seems to be gaining her color back."
"What do I care?"
"I thought you could tell Miss Yuya. She will be pleased."
"You tell her."
"It doesn't mean as much from me."
"Sanada," he turned finally looking at his companion. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I see the truth," he smiled as he said the words. Not a fake smile, that was sometimes on his beautiful face. But a real smile one that echoed in his eyes. Kyo noted that that was the first time that he had ever seen that look from Sanada.
"What truth is that?" He asked intrigued.
"Miss Yuya is such a good person, inside and out. She is truly beautiful, from the crown of her head to the tips of her pale toes. Curvaceous too… in all the right spots," he took a sip of his sake and looked at his companion. The glare in his eyes, was threatening, his lips were pressed into a thin line and Yukimura noticed a hand on his weapon. He laughed.
"What's so funny?" Kyo growled.
"I know she is your woman, Kyo. But one of these days you may want to let her in on what that means. While she knows you well. She has no idea how much you care." He finally went to stand giving the rest of the sake to Kyo.
"I don't care," he grumbled, head bent, much like a child admitting when they had done something wrong.
"Liar." When Kyo turned to face him he was gone.
"Damned bastard," he drank the rest of the sake in one swallow then went in the inn.
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"What the hell! You can not make me stay here!" Yuya seemingly thought that she was very righteous in her anger.
"I can and I will!" was Kyo's growled response.
"Damn it he is my enemy too. There is no reason for me to stay behind." She shook her head. Barely dressed and hair still unbound it swung around her shoulder as she yelled at him. Her jade eyes burned with a fury he was all too familiar with.
"I said so. You will do what I say, damn bitch. I said stay you stay."
"I am not your bitch!"
They stood across the room from each other while Yukimura, Sasuke, Benitora, and Migeira looked from one to the other while they bickered. One of the staff members of the inn had peeked in only to quickly shy back out of the room when they receive first a red glare then a jade.
"I will not just stay, not without a good reason," her hands were fisted and her body vibrated with fury.
"Yuya, I need you to watch Mahiro for me," for some reason Benitora thought that would help, but he got sucked into her temper.
"And you, why should you go? You're injured! You stay and help Mahiro. She would rather see you when she wakes then me." Benitora fell silent when he realized that she was right. He looked to meet first Kyo's gaze then Yukimura's. He shrugged his shoulders.
Finally Yukimura, ever the diplomat, rose and walked over to Yuya. Gently he placed his hands on her shoulders and smiled tenderly. "Miss Yuya, we would like you to stay and watch Mahiro and the monk. One of us needs to be here in case they wake. You had a very emotional day yesterday, and we would worry if we were to distracted to protect you, you are very important to us." His simple but quiet words seemed to calm her. The three by the wall blinked unsure of what was said, but could see Yuya relaxing. She looked over Yukimura's shoulder to see Kyo glaring at the other warrior. She blinked. He looked upset. She noticed that he was looking at her and followed the stare to where Yukimura's hands rested on her shoulders. She blinked again and looked into bright blue eyes. All her temper disappeared and she lowered her shoulders.
"All right." When she looked at Kyo he looked more angry then she had ever seen him. Could he…no not him…he would never…was he jealous?
No…
…Not possible…
But she liked the idea.
She glared at their backs as they left her by herself. She shook her head mad that she had given in but she had known that it was a losing battle. Kyo had had that look in his eye; she knew that she had no chance of winning. But still the way that he had glared at Yukimura when he had touched her, something was beneath that glare. Why was he so upset? They fought like that all the time. She had learned a long time again that they both seemed to enjoy their verbal battles. But lately all she seemed to feel around him was tension. Was it because she just wanted to stare at his lips and make him tell her why he had kissed her? Why had he touched her? Held her? Ask him to do it again…
She had so many questions, and he never answered them… She thought that she had an idea, but the last thing she wanted to do was approach him about it and have her be wrong. She couldn't stand to be around him after that, if he knew that she loved him, but that he didn't love her back. She would never be able to look him in the eye again.
She climbed up the stairs slowly, and first peaked in the room with the monk. He looked almost dead, pale in color and skin spread tight over protruding bones. She shivered as she thought about what could be in that body. Everyone had been a little apprehensive of touching him, so he was still in his robes. An attendant was in the room so she smiled and closed the door, before moving into Mahiro's room. Luckily the girl had gained back most of her color and the salve that they had used on her wrist had them healing cleanly so far.
"You are so brave; I could have never done what you did." Yuya spoke softly walking into the room. Kyo had convinced her last night that this was not her fault; some part of her still wanted to take the blame.
She had lost so much blood so quickly that it had almost been unreal. Almost as though she had been trying to push the blood out of her body so that she would die faster. She was so in love with Benitora. Yuya could see it, but she wondered if the man had noticed.
She sighed as she took a seat beside the resting girl and took her hand comforted by the pulse that she could feel. She smiled as she whispered.
"You and me…we are both in love with stupid and impossible men. But what would they do without us?" Yuya was startled as she felt her hand squeezed and looked up to see dark violet eyes opening slowly. She quickly stood looking her in they eye.
"Mahiro…" She paused when she saw Mahiro's eyes widen and then her world went black.
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She had made the mistake of touching the monk's forehead. They had said not to touch him…but he was a monk, he wouldn't hurt her. But she cried out as her soul was pushed away, and her mind made room for another presence in her body. Now she realized why they couldn't touch him.
He wasn't a monk at all.
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She could feel pain at the edge of her consciousness. Her head hurt and her wrist burned, and she couldn't talk. She noticed that when she went to moan pain. Not possible. Finally opened her eyes and blinked. She hadn't been out long. Just a couple minutes, but still it was enough for her to be tied up and tied to the horizontal brace that ran across the top of the room. Her wrists were bound tightly with a rope and her she was dangling from the rafter.
Why did this always happen to her? Kyo was going to mock her a long time over this one.
She looked around the room and was startled to see a woman sitting on the bed. She had a slight frame, and long black hair pulled back in a braid. Her dark eyes were watching her as she slowly woke. She mumbled through the gag that was in her mouth, but nothing coherent came out.
"I'm taking her with me. If she means as much to that man as he does to her, then he will give his body to save her. Then I won't have the problem of killing the soul, you see that's why I can never stay in a body to long. Those damn human souls. But he would sacrifice himself." The girl smiled a cruel smile showing white but crooked teeth. For some reason it gave her a little pleasure knowing that he had most likely not chosen that body, more likely moved out of necessity. She noticed that he was wearing a spare pair of Mahiro's gloves, and was almost covered from head to toe.
To prevent an unwanted body switch perhaps?
She looked over the girl's shoulder and noticed that Mahiro was again dead to the world and was wrapped in a blanket. Blinking again Yuya noticed that the girl was the same girl that had been looking over the monk when she had peeked in. This transfer had just happened!
Again she tried to speak but nothing happened. The gag in her mouth was causing her mouth and lips to dry out and induced a soundless cough.
"I think that it's a good plan. He has a strong body and with my spiritual energy I may be able to stay in that body. He is the only one that is truly human. The others are too strong. But with this girl," for a moment she patted Mahiro then played with the black hair around her shoulder, "She is my key. Well either of you, but I don't know what would happen if I took you. You are too unpredictable; while…well she's unconscious." A cruel smile twisted thin lips.
Again a muffled response.
"Well I will be on my way. I still have to find your boys; anyway…I'm sure that I will see you later." The girl smiled and for being as small as she was, took Mahiro and slung her over her shoulder. She left the room quietly, and locked the door behind her. Yuya heard a faint laugh and started to struggle. The ropes burned into the wrist and she bit down into the gag. He feet were free but useless. She had left her gun in her room, but it wouldn't do her any good anyway. There was really nothing that she could do. A glint of silver caught her eye. She looked at the night stand and saw Mahiro's kunai sash, luckily with kunai, left on the table. She looked up at the rope and knew that it would never happen but it was worth a shot. Swinging her body back and forth, and tried to grab a kunai with her feet. She tried once and resulted in getting cut. Again and again she tried but blood started slowly dripping from her feet. Finally she grasped it between her feet, swinging again to create momentum she lost her grip on the kunai and it landed into the floor.
Sighing and almost in tears she again proceeded to grab a kunai with her feet. Several cuts later, she had another one in her grasp and using momentum she succeed in lodging it in the ceiling. There was no way that she could use that one to cut her ropes, process repeated until one kunai was left. Again she tried to reach a kunai but there was a knock on the door. She started to scream the best that she could and she knew that she succeed in making noise. Soon there was a pounding on the door. Within seconds the door flew open, the lock broken. The inn keepers gasped and raced to assist her letting her down.
"Oh you poor dear, are you all right?" Once down she grabbed the gag and ripped it out of her mouth.
"Honey your feet are bleeding let me get some bandages…"
"No there is no time. I have to go." Without thinking she ran to her room grabbed her gun and left. She didn't bother with shoes.
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"It's creepy here," Benitora stated looking around at the abused foliage that cut off the village of Eiheiji.
"Yes, it is, but intriguing isn't it?" Yukimura stated while looking over his shoulder to the other warrior. "Do you feel the power in the air? The threat hanging in the distance? Its wonderful is it not?"
"You're weird Yukimura," Sasuke grumbled.
"I know! Its what you love about me," With that cheerful note he put his hand in the white head of hair and shook the hair messing it. He got a grumbled response and young hands pushed his hand off of his head. Their amusing antics got glares from the only two serious ones of the crowd.
Red eyes again glared at the blue eyed samurai. How dare he touch his woman? And why was it she calmed when he touched her, talked to her? It wasn't right. She was supposed to obey him. He blink at that thought, Yuya…obey? There was no way that would happen. Granted he had a bad feeling leaving her behind, but she had gotten into so much trouble lately. This thing seemed to understand that the women were the weakness of the group. For some reason they would all do about anything that they could for these beautiful and slight creatures. He knew, though that they would never admit that to anyone else. Not even if his life was in danger…he never wanted that sign of weakness. Why was it that he could be jealous…oh yes, he knew this emotion, knew how to solve it. All it really would take was a talk with her, a revealing of emotion that he did have for the young woman. But he knew that it wasn't his way. She would figure it out sooner or later, hopefully sooner.
"Do you sense that?"
"Yes, it's odd. His presence seems to be felt in everything here. The trees, the monks, the ground they all glowed with his power.
"He must still be linked to everything here."
"He would be more powerful here." Migeira concluded. "He will lead us to a trap here. This is where he has a tactical advantage."
"Makes it all the more fun," Kyo stated brushing a hand over the tree there. It seemed to fight his touch.
"He's here!" Sasuke yelled causing the others to look up from their study of the area around them.
"Mahiro!" Benitora exclaimed taking a slight step forward.
"Where's Yuya?" Sasuke exclaimed looking for the vivacious woman.
"Oh she hanging around somewhere," they watched as their enemy lifted her hand and dangled a glove from it in a swinging motion.
"Go check your woman," the order was directed at Kyo, and he aimed a glare at Migeira who had issued the order.
"Yuya may be dying or dead as we speak go save her…then meet us back at the inn. This can be taken care of quickly." Yukimura stated pulling out his sword and looking at the enemy. The others squared off as well and Kyo looked at the slight girl that they were fighting against.
"Don't order me around," he growled but didn't pull out his weapon. "I will ensure she is doing as ordered." He turned and walked away, once out of earshot the others voiced the question.
"Did she kill Yuya?" Benitora asked.
"No, Kyo's stubbornness and arrogance would keep her alive…"Sasuke grumbled glaring at the path of the other samurai. His arrogance…
"Yes his arrogance is amazing…I have a feeling that the same will be coming from this fellow." A clearing of the young lady's throat pulled their attention.
"Can you chat with each other not even seeing me as a threat? Well believe it or not I will kill this woman." Mahiro was leaned against a tree bond by limbs into a sitting position. The black eyed, black haired girl kneeled beside her a dagger to her throat.
"So Benitora, shall I kill her or will you give me your body willing? She would die for you…" Benitora's words faltered, as did his step, for a moment he was at a loss.
"There is no need to bargain with you." Yukimura stated walking to stand beside Benitora, who had yet to bring his weapon into fighting position. Sasuke stood slightly behind his master before disappearing into the shadows.
Migeira stood back knowing that he was not needed in this battle. The white haired man leaned against a tree a ways away and blinked his dual colored eyes. With this crew he knew that it would be over quickly.
In the time Sasuke disappeared, he reappeared beside the black haired girl. His sword came down quickly cutting off the hand that held the dagger to Mahiro's throat, only to disappear again.
With a screech she quickly pulled up her arm clutching it to her chest blood rushing down the front of her body.
"Bastards!" The slight body yelled, and the nature around them started to twist in chaos. Benitora rushed forward grabbing Mahiro, and pulling her to his chest. Quickly he placed an arm under her arms and around her shoulders. The girl stumbled back and glared at the group.
"Did you forget how powerful I am?" She was now yelling over a wind of her own creation. Within seconds the sky was dark and with in the isolated area rain fell at an alarming rate. Lighting filled the area around them lighting the area with an eerie light. That little light was all that was needed speeding forward already knowing where Sasuke was, Yukimura stuck, sword ready, and plunged it into her thigh, at the same moment Sasuke sword went through her right shoulder. The wounds were clean, non-life threatening, but energy draining, none the less. Within a matter of starting the rain slowed.
"Bastards…You bastards…" Muttering she stumbled backwards blood running from her three wounds coloring the ground being washed by the rain. "This isn't over." With the last bit of energy the body possessed it ran and disappeared.
"Yukimura?" Sasuke asked expectantly.
"Yes, follow and report back to me."
"Of course." Then he was gone. The blue-eyed samurai looked to the others and smiled sheathing his weapon.
"You killed an innocent." Benitora looked at him.
"Her soul was already dead, when we defeat him, all those monks will die, anyone who's soul he's devoured to stay alive, they are all already dead. She had no life left."
"But still!" Benitora was a little upset, it seemed wrong, it was so heartless.
"It had to be done. Or is that woman's life worth more than the woman that loves you?" Benitora had never see Yukimura's eyes look as cold as when he walked past. "You and Kyo have no idea what treasures you hold." Not looking back he started back to the inn. The others followed slowly behind him, Benitora looking at his precious cargo in a new light.
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He refused to run no matter how worried he was. Yuya, maybe she had been right. They shouldn't have left her behind. But still he refused to run, she was. She was almost on him before he knew it. His fast pace soon met her run and before she processed what was going on she had wrapped her arms around his waist. Her joy at seeing him was immeasurable. He looked down surprised to see the blond there, her arms wrapped tight around him. Moments like this were rare, when he would actually allow her to touch him; usually when she was in some sort of emotional turmoil, which seemed to be the case today.
"You're okay…" she panted into his chest her arms holding him tight. He would never tell her how good it felt. Why did it feel so good to have her touch him, he grimaced when he realized that he was starting to ask those damned why questions too.
"Of course," his voice was gruff and he unintentionally grabbed her wrists hard and noticed her wince. He pulled them close and looked at them, they were rubbed raw. When he took in all her appearance he noted that she had rope burns on her wrist, burns on her cheeks where rope had been used to keep the gag in place, and looking down her feet were bloody and cut. "Woman, are you trying to torture yourself?" The blush that she already had already colored her cheeks from embarrassment increased ten fold.
"No, she snuck up on me, knocked me out, hung me from the rafters, and then when I tried to use kunai to get loose, but the innkeepers found me and helped me down. Then I wanted to find you guys. I knew you shouldn't have left me behind!" She ended on a yell, but then whispered, "Mahiro?" She looked behind him nothing that a small part of the sky was turning black, and the clouds changed from soft to heavy with rain.
"It's being dealt with." She was alright, relief flooded his system. It just hit him; she was their, cranky attitude and all. She was there, but she was tired and shaky.
"We should find the others…" She started, now that she had stopped all she felt was pain from her feet and her wrist…and it hurt to talk. She really needed a drink. She limped slightly and startled when Kyo walked in front of her and stopped. She ran into his back.
"Get on," the order was abrupt. For a moment she blinked confused.
"What?"
"Get on my back," this time he growled, "I won't repeat my offer," he turned his head and watched as he knelt down a little and she jumped and landed on his back. She placed her arms around her neck, and wrapped her legs around his waist. His arms went behind him and under her backside to support her. His armor was cold against her skin, she shivered slightly. She rested her head against his shoulder, breathing in the scent of his soft red hair. He shivered slightly when her warm breath breezed across his neck. He turned around and headed back to the inn, noting that her head was on his shoulder and her eyes were closed he doubted that she noticed.
"I'm sorry," she sounded broken and sad.
"Shut up."
"I am, I am sorry," she whispered again burying her head in his shoulder.
"For what?" She needed to stop that, breathing on his neck, touching his skin. He wasn't used to that much contact, but it was almost as thrilling as battle.
"Everything, I'm sorry."
"Shut up," he said it again. Didn't she realize that this wasn't her fault?
"It was me, my fault." At this point in time, annoyed with her he did the only thing he could. He dropped her. She landed with a screech on the ground.
"What was that for?" She yelled at him. He kneeled in front of her his red eyes holding an intensity that she had never seen before, not even in battle.
"Everything is not your fault. This 'thing' is demented and crazy. You are not the cause."
"Kyo…" She stood slowly wincing when her bare feet touched the dirt. Funny she had noticed how much damage she had done to herself when she was worried about Kyo and the others. But now it hurt like hell, but most of the injuries were most likely from running to find Kyo. He dropped to one knee before her and she again climbed on his back. She was surprised that he could still look haughty on one knee in front of her.
"Kyo?" She questioned again. He was so warm; the rhythm of his walk was calming.
"I'll drop you if you apologize again," he warned and he was serious.
"Thank you for carrying me," her arms and legs tightened around him.
"I'll always carry you," he muttered and she would have missed it had she not been so close to him. She decided not to say anything but instead kissed his neck gently. She could taste the sweat, and another taste; something that she had experienced before, when they had kissed before. She didn't really notice that her fingers were drawing shapes on his armor plate or that she had rested her legs. His arms were behind him again, under her barely covered backside.
"I'll always be with you," she whispered softly into his neck not sure if he noticed or not. He didn't answer. She knew he wouldn't. She would never hear him say anything like that. The fact that he had said what he did was something that she would treasure for the rest of her life. "Where are we going?" She asked louder, fighting off the fatigue.
"Back to the inn."
"You're missing a battle." He could hear drowsiness in her voice. She must be fighting to stay awake; with out a doubt the last few days had been rough on her.
"In that body it will not provide a challenge, but soon he will try to lure us into a trap, when his power is highest is the only time I will fight a worthy adversary."
"He's not worthy of your time as is?" He grunted in agreement. "I'll never understand you, Kyo." By the time they made it back to the inn, she was asleep on his back. Her breathing was smooth and steady on his neck and her hands had stopped tracing patterns and interlaced together on his chest. As he walked in, the elderly inn keeper rushed forward as quickly as she could.
"Good, she found you. She rushed out of her, we really couldn't check up on her."
"She's fine."
"You better clean up her wounds,"
"I know that!" He said gruffly. His voice and the vibrations in his neck woke the slumbering girl.
"Thank you, I'm fine." She whispered. She was so warm, being carried by him. He walked up the stairs to the room that Mahiro had been in. When he walked in, she felt him pause and looked up. He looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow, and she looked around the room. While most of it had been tidied up, there were two kunai in the ceiling were she had hung, one on the other side of the room, two dropped at her where she had hung.
"Don't say a thing." She ordered, hiding her blushing face into his neck. For once he said nothing as he picked up the bandages in the room and took her to his room. Gently he let her off his back.
"It was a good idea at the time." Yuya looked to him trying to defend herself. For a moment when he looked at her he simply saw someone who needed to hear that it was okay, to get approval from someone. He simply nodded as she sat down on a futon
"Rest, I will wake you when the others arrive." Sleepy she turned and looked at him.
"But…" She stopped when she felt her feet lifted into his lap.
"Sleep," he ordered again, and was relieved when she did. He worked slowly cleaning and bandaging her feet, stopping when she would flinch in her sleep. He shook his head. He was getting soft; this woman was making a place for herself in his life. She was worming her way in, and the problem was he didn't mind. It felt nice to be connected to another human being. He felt needed and wanted, and not just for his fighting power or amazing skill, but because he was who he was. Maybe that's why he had said what he said today.
"Damn you woman, I don't like this at all."
From the lobby below he could hear the others arrive, but he could also tell the brat was missing.
So he had got away.
Then he would still have his challenge, but looking at the girl before his he slowly started to wonder.
What was the price of this challenge going to be?
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My chapters are getting a little longer, I hope that's okay. This chapter took a little less time to write then the others, so I'm posting sooner then my normal thirty odd days… But consider it a gift for the holidays. (HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!)
As always please let me know what you think. I noticed that the reviews per chapter have slowed down a little bit (not that I'm complaining…I'm honored to have so many reviews), I hope that everyone is still reading…is the plot moving to slow? Too little Kyo Yuya interaction? Are the characters in character? Please let me know.
Also it was mentioned in a review about Yuya and Akira pairing, I don't really feel like I know Akira's character well enough to write about him, I'm just now starting book 5 of the manga, so if I continue to learn more about him I may write him in the future.
Thanks for reading!
Cat