"They taught me to prey,

They taught me to feel

They taught me to love

And because to love is to suffer

I also learned to cry."

-José Maria Gabriel y Galán-

"Third Desire"

By: FenixPhoenix (Giselle González)

Chapter 2: "Sleepless"

Shiina Yuya tossed and turned on her futon, trying to find a position that would enable sleep. To her disappointment and subsequent irritation, she failed. With a heavy sigh, she gave up on trying to sleep, despite feeling the accumulated exhaustion of all the walking she'd done the day before. Her only consolation was that Kyo had decided to stay in the city for at least three more nights. Hopefully tomorrow sleep would claim her.

She stared at the ceiling, noticing how the paint was peeling off in more than one place.

"No wonder this place had been so cheap!" She shook her head, already bored.

At least when they were inside Mibu territory they had all slept together, so even when she couldn't sleep, she'd been able to entertain herself by studying her slumbering companions. But that was in the past. Lately, Kyo had granted her some privacy and, as a result, here she was… staring at the ceiling, alone in a dark room.

"What a weird day," she sighed, recalling what had taken place not to long ago inside the small store. Sakaki Kenji's face gazed at her from within her memories. His beautiful smile, sky blue eyes, handsome face and raven hair… they were all a flawless combination. In a peculiar way he reminded her a little of someone… of Kyoshiro, perhaps?

She frowned in self-reprisal. She wanted 'nothing' to do with that murderer anymore! He was the man with the cross shaped scar and he was, therefore, the man who had slaughtered her beloved brother!

The memory of a gentle smile and she receded to her previous thoughts. Her left thumb began stroking the back of her right palm. The spot where he had planted his lips still felt warm… her own feeling of vulnerability towards that simple gesture still lingering in the surface of her skin.

When the realization of what she was thinking -or rather, feeling- finally hit her, she froze. She brought her hand up and stared guiltily at her it. She felt as if that hand wasn't hers anymore. As if, by kissing it, Kenji had somehow claimed it –her!

That's ridiculous! She snorted, sitting up. I'll just take a walk and get some fresh air.

She stood up and slipped her feet into the white slippers provided by the Inn. She debated bringing her coat, but decided she wouldn't be out for too long and opted not to bring it.

I should not go far, she told herself, for even if they were no longer in immediate danger, there could still be someone out there who would want to harm her and she was not about to become a burden to Kyo. That was definitely the last thing she wanted or needed. She would not give him a chance to push her away.

With a determined mind -and a somewhat tensed body- she stole her way through the darkness of the room and into the crispness of the corridor outside. She padded down the empty hallway, grateful to be alone. Eventually, she reached a garden and decided this was a good a place as any for reflection.

She strolled leisurely into its heart, and stood before a fountain that was alight with floating fireflies.

"Yuya-san," she heard his gentle voice coming from somewhere behind her, and not knowing why, she froze on the spot. "What a coincidence," he added once he'd reached her side, "don't you think?"

Emerald eyes found sapphire ones. They stared at each other for what felt an eternity and, just when she thought she could take it no longer, he graced her with another one of his gentle smiles before adverting his eyes to take in the dancing lights.

She sighed inwardly. For a moment she had felt completely exposed, her soul naked to his piercing gaze... Yuya had realized, in that moment, that she was utterly helpless and at his mercy. She lowered her gaze, zeroing on his image reflected on the water. He was close. Too close for comfort. Yet, she couldn't move away. Or rather, it was as if part of her didn't want to. The thought scared her more than she was willing to admit.

"So," he said after a pause, "have you forgotten me already?"

She blushed… but why? Why did her heart fluttered erratically at the sound of his voice? Why was her skin coated in goose bumps? Why did her face flared? Why did her body tremble with both trepidation and excitement?

"N-no… of course not," she answered, mentally slapping herself for strutting. "Kenji-San".

Kenji leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "I'm relieved."

Yuya's body tensed even more but her eyes closed as if in pleasure. His voice sounded intimate, caressing her like a lover would. She felt him move away soon after, his warmth replaced by the coldness of the night. The spell was broken and she turned around, part of her afraid to find him gone. She gazed at his retreating back with absurd yearning.

"Good night, Yuya-San," he called over his shoulder, before melting into the shadows of the corridor.

Yuya stood there, panting, looking at the spot where he'd disappeared. She'd been unable to even wish him goodnight as he had done. Her tongue felt numb and heavy inside her mouth. Her strength deserted her in a rush and she crumbled boneless to her knees; her fingers stroking insistently the spot Kenji had kissed.

In the back of her mind, something whispered she'd been marked.

-o0o-

Sarutobi Sasuke was on his way back to the room, after visiting the latrine, when something in the garden caught his attention. He narrowed his eyes, already reaching for his knife, just in case it was an enemy. He moved closer and noticed there was a kneeling figure there, as immobile as a statue. He felt his blood draining from his face when he recognized Yuya. He closed the distance with three wide strides, falling to his knees beside the girl he'd come to regard as a sister. She made no move to acknowledge his presence. It was as if she was in some kind of bizarre trance!

Placing a firm hand on either shoulder, he shook her. "Sis…?" he called softly, worriedly. "What are you doing? Can you hear me?"

Yuya stirred as if she'd been awakened from slumber. "Sasuke?" she looked around in disorientation. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be the one asking you that," he said, content for the moment to see she was back to normal. Could it be she'd fallen asleep with her eyes open?

"I…," she fell silent and he could tell she was contemplating something. After a pregnant pause, she confided, "I don't know."

"Sis…are you by any chance a sleepwalker?" Sasuke suggested, finding the new possible explanation a bit amusing considering how he had worried over her not a couple of minutes past.

"I don't… think so?" Her tone indicated she herself wasn't convinced. "Anyways, I better return to my room. I'm freezing here!"

"I'll walk you," he offered and was glad she did not refuse him. Even if this had been nothing more than a false alarm, he was still a bit shaken by how empty her eyes had looked. Sasuke was not going to take any chances. Better safe than sorry, wasn't that what they said?

-o0o-

Sarutobi Sasuke woke when he heard Kyo's voice ringing loud, clear and hostile.

"Who are you?"

He opened one eye, curious to know who he was so curtly addressing. A raven haired man was standing just outside their door. Without waiting for an invitation, he stepped inside with a confident stride. He was either very stupid or very brave to so blatantly ignore Kyo's cold stare. Sasuke's intrigue doubled.

The stranger made his way to where Kyo was sitting. He sat on his knees, samurai style, placing his two katanas on the floor beside him. Sasuke noticed how the blades were not fully secured onto their scabbards. He had no doubts the man could draw them in a blink if given cause.

Kyo, who'd remained put the entire time, merely raised an inquisitive eyebrow. If he was annoyed or worried, he hid it well.

"What is Yuya-San to you… Onime no Kyo?" he asked simply, gently even.

Sasuke jerked up. Benitora, who had been sleeping, was now wide awake. Yukimura sat up and openly stared at both men with lips quirked in silent amusement. Akira, who was the nearest to Kyo, tilted his head to the side in interest. And Kyo…? Kyo's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, suggesting that the question might end up being answered with blood.

To be continued…