A Samurai's Touch

Disclaimer: I do not own Samurai Deeper Kyo

Chapter Five: Saizo's Challenge

"Ahh the morning air!"

Yukimura was standing on top of a rock and looking over the horizon. Miyuki was sitting up on a tree and she glanced down at her arm.

It has been about two days, and they finally decided to depart from the forest and try to find a way around to get to the Sea of Trees. It's been two days since Yukimura forced the Sanada bond upon her. Now, Miyuki can't leave Yukimura no matter what. And it was just what Yukimura intended.

Saizo watched the two from a distance and wondered to himself.

Why would Lord Yukimura do such a thing? It was uncalled for.

He recalled what happened the night when Yukimura told him to help him perform the Sanada bond.


"Lord Yukimura! You can't be serious! You were told to never use that bond!'

Yukimura simply just smiled and looked up at the stars. He ran his hand through his hair and then sighed a little.

"I wonder what it feels like…"

"How what feels like?"

"To have her hand run through my hair, touching my cheek, to have her embrace me…"

"My lord…"

"Saizo, I know I was told to never use it…but I can't help it. She's everything I've ever wanted. She's…the one I want to marry."

Saizo had never heard Yukimura speak this way. He only ever cared for sake and playing with women. He never thought Yukimura would want to marry someone.

"Are you sure…my lord?"

Yukimura gave him a glance and stood up.

"This is the only way to ensure that she won't ever leave my side. Yes, I'm sure."


Saizo peered over at Miyuki and watched her. She was a beautiful woman. Intelligent, excellent fighter both in combat and with a sword. But why? He was sure there were other women out there like her. At the same time, Yukimura knew something about her that made him attracted to her. Addicted to her. Yukimura first met her two years ago, has Miyuki following him made him feel this way? Or did she…seduce him?

Saizo thought about it and decided on what action to perform. He had to be sure of just who this woman really was.


Miyuki and Yukimura approached a village and decided to stay there for a few nights, to regain their strength. The streets of the village seemed quite busy even though it was already the evening. But people appeared to be running away from the village. Miyuki decided to stop one of the villagers and ask of this.

"Excuse me, could you tell me what's going on? Is there a festival of some sort?"

The villager simply shook his head and then pointed the other way.

"A demon is coming tonight. He threatened to destroy the village if we didn't pay up. And it turns out, we don't have enough! So we're fleeing the village before he comes. I suggest you do the same even though you are just visitors."

The villager rushed off and Miyuki just turned to Yukimura and shrugged.

"Looks like we won't be able to stay here for the night."

Yukimura looked over to the where the villager pointed. And motioned Miyuki to get closer to him Miyuki crossed her arms and gave him a look of disapproval.

"No way I'm coming near you. Not after what happened two nights ago!"

"Come on, I'm being serious right now."

He smiled at her and she sighed and moved toward him.

"Well your face expression doesn't seem serious."

"That's because I'm happy that you're actually coming close to me."

Miyuki sighed again and then turned to face the direction. There was slight breeze and before she knew it, a Kenyou was standing in front of her. He roared and Miyuki coughed.

"Boy…that is some breath you have there…"

"Who are you?"

The Kenyou could speak, and that was a first for Miyuki anyway. Yukimura just stood there smiling and then laughed.

"Let me guess, you're the monster who threatened to kill the villagers if they don't pay up correct?"

Then Kenyou stared at Miyuki and growled at her.

"Who are you?"

Miyuki smiled and lifted up her sword. She unsheathed it slowly and then raised it in front of the Kenyou's face.

"I don't think you want to know."

"What?"

The Kenyou raised its claw and slashed at Miyuki. Yukimura jumped away and landed upon a rooftop.

"Miyuki…"

Dust covered the area now, but when it cleared, there was a chasm where the Kenyou had landed his claw. Miyuki had disappeared. The Kenyou glanced around searching for Miyuki, but she was nowhere to be seen. Yukimura also scanned the area and couldn't find Miyuki.

Where did she go?

"Everyone up here!"

Yukimura looked up and smiled. Miyuki had jumped up into the air and was floating down now. She brought down her blade on the Kenyou and sliced it in half. Its corpse fell to the ground and made a sickening "thud".

Yukimura came down and landed next to Miyuki. He placed his arms around her and leaned on her shoulder.

"Still as skilled as ever, didn't even let it spill a single drop of blood."

"Tch, it wasn't even a challenge. And let go of me!"

Yukimura tightened his grip and smiled.

"No, not unless you say you're sorry for scaring me."

"Why the hell were you scared? You should know that I'm not going to lose to such a thing!"

"Come on!"

"No!"

"You know you want to…wait…"

Yukimura turned his attention to the Kenyou. Its body was just lying there, but something was still moving inside of it. They approached slowly and Yukimura drew his sword. He jabbed it into the corpse without warning and the movement stopped. He pulled his sword back out and something came out as well. It fell on the ground and it appeared to be a shell.

"Umm…I don't want to know what is…"

Miyuki leaned in a little closer, but made sure to keep her distance. The shell cracked open and black liquid began to leak out.

"Any ideas?"

Yukimura just shrugged and then pulled Miyuki back. The liquid melted into the ground and made dark circles on the ground.

"Ieyasu…"

"Huh?"

Miyuki gave Yukimura a confused look. Yukimura turned around and glanced down the forest. He narrowed his eyes in the direction and grabbed Miyuki.

"Let's go."

"Umm okay then."

Miyuki went with Yukimura and entered the forest. He had a serious look on his face, it the first in a long time since Miyuki had seen. As they ran through the forest together, Miyuki noticed that the trees and vegetation were all the same. It felt as though they were running around in circles.

"Ne, Yukimura! Are we lost?"

Miyuki turned her attention back to Yukimura only to learn that he was gone. She stopped and glanced around. The forest was too quiet. She could hear distant footsteps. The footsteps suddenly changed and were now running, coming from behind Miyuki. She drew her sword and turned around to block an attack.

"What?"

It was to her surprise that it was Saizo who had attacked her. Saizo jumped back and landed a few feet away from her. Miyuki lowered her sword and looked angrily at Saizo.

"Saizo! What's the big idea?!"

Saizo simply looked back and let out a battle cry and swung his weapon down at Miyuki again. Miyuki blocked it again and pushed Saizo back against a tree, forcing his weapon to go up against his neck.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Proving why you are not loyal!"

"Say what?"

Miyuki forced the weapon further onto Saizo's neck. He coughed and tried to push back, but Miyuki had the advantage and held it tight against his neck.

"You're attacking your own comrade!"

"You are not worthy to be Yukimura's friend! Nor his wife!"

Miyuki stopped pressing the weapon against his neck and stepped back.

"His wife? What are you talking about?"

Saizo took a hand to his neck and tried to sooth the pain. He coughed a few more times and then stood back up.

"Yukimura has decided to make you his wife…"

"Hah! Yeah right. He would never marry knowing him."

"You're wrong. Why do you think he put that bond on you? If he didn't want you, why would he?"

Miyuki looked down at her arm and then turned away.

"Simple, because I'm a good protector. He probably sees me nothing more than a servant that he wants to keep around."

Saizo shook his head and looked up directly at Miyuki.

"You're quite simply minded…"

"Wait, why did you even attack me?"

"I…I wanted to confront you…to make sure it was all on Lord Yukimura's own will to choose you…"

Saizo fell down and Miyuki rushed over and assisted him. He was probably on a shortage of breath due to how Miyuki forced the weapon on his neck. He was still breathing and had his eyes opened.

"Don't be crazy…I wouldn't fall for someone like him. Not like that…"

Saizo smiled slightly and closed his eyes.

"Please…forgive me Miss Miyuki…I only wanted to be sure. Please don't tell Lord Yukimura about this."

"Eh, don't worry."

Saizo silenced and Miyuki picked him up. She sighed and looked up at the sky.

"Yukimura, you've got a lot of people who care about you…"


Miyuki trekked through the forest and finally managed to get out. She laid Saizo on the ground and checked his pulse and his breathing.

"Hmm, he seems to be just fine. Maybe I went a little to hard on him before…"

Yukimura was still nowhere to be found, so Miyuki made sure that Saizo was at a stable state. She looked up at the sky, realizing that it had now become dark. The stars were clear and she sighed. She lifted up her left arm and thought about the night before.

"Does he really think he can keep me around with a bond like this? I can leave whenever I want!"

Her suddenly burned and she cringed slightly. In fact, if she even thought about leaving Yukimura, her arm would burn. She touched the marking of the dragon as it disappeared.

"Am I really that important to you, Yukimura? Or do you simply see me as another servant?"


Morning came and Miyuki was still asleep. Yukimura found her sleeping against a trunk and Saizo nearby. Saizo was starting to awake and the moment he saw Yukimura, kneeled and bowed his head.

"Lord Yukimura!"

"Saizo…"

Saizo did not respond and continued to have his head lowered. Yukimura approached him and then looked down on him.

"Saizo…if you ever do anything like what you did to Miyuki again, I will never forgive you…"

"Yes…my lord…"

Saizo was shocked that Yukimura indeed was aware of what happened, but he knew that he would find out sooner or later. Yukimura approached Miyuki and picked her up.

"Let's go Saizo, we still have quite a ways to go."

"Yes my lord!"

Yukimura walked ahead and continued to hold Miyuki, as Saizo disappeared back into the trees. Miyuki continued to sleep soundly and Yukimura continued to carry her. He looked at her and admired her. He stopped and just looked at her. She was truly someone Yukimura had never encountered before. He smiled to himself and then started to walk again.

"Now that we share the Sanada bond, you will forever be by my side…Miyuki, I will marry you."


Later that morning, Miyuki woke up and found herself in the arms of Yukimura. At first, she thought she was just imagining it, but then when Yukimura smiled and said good morning, she immediately jumped out of his arms and landed on her feet away from him.

"Aww, come on now. I was just fine holding and carrying you."

"Yeah, because I was asleep!"

Yukimura smiled and laughed. He moved toward her and leaned in close.

"You know you that you liked it."

Miyuki gave him a looked and then turned away blushing slightly.

"Whatever, let's get going."

"Okay, sure!"

They walked a little bit further, and Sasuke soon dropped in to give Yukimura a report. Miyuki also listened in and then decided to walk off for a moment.

"Wait! Sister Miyuki!"

Miyuki stopped and then turned around. Sasuke was running up to her and smiled. He handed her a single flower. It was a lily, one of her favorites.

"Aw, Sasuke! Where on earth did you find this?"

Sasuke realized that he was still smiling and then turned away in an embarrassed manner.

"Uhh, I just found it and I thought you would like. You like it right?"

"Of course, it's one of my favorite flowers."

Miyuki smiled at him and he gave her brief glance, then turned away. Yukimura smiled at the both of them and then laughed.

Looks like Sasuke is trying to tell Miyuki something.

"Umm Miyuki…"

"Hmm?"

"Do…do you have a younger brother?"

Miyuki tilted her head in an attempt to understand where Sasuke was going with this. Then when she did she smiled.

"Sasuke, would you like to be my younger brother?"

Sasuke turned to her and looked down. He immediately whipped his head away from her.

"What…what are you talking about?"

Miyuki laughed and patted his head.

"I'll take that as a yes then."

She glanced over at Yukimura and just saw him standing there. There was slight breeze and it blew upon them. From this view, Miyuki thought he looked quite noble and stopped patting Sasuke's head and walked toward him. Yukimura watched as Miyuki approached him. She was looking at him in a way she had never before. She was smiling at him and she looked like she was about to kiss him.

Miyuki stopped in front of him and smiled. She reached up a hand and brushed some of Yukimura's hair aside.

"You look quite cute right now. You should have this look more often."

Miyuki smiled and then started to walking ahead, leaving Yukimura speechless. He turned to her and watched as she walked. He turned back to Sasuke and gave him a smile.

"Ne Sasuke, what did I look like just now?"

Sasuke shrugged and ran after Miyuki. Shouting after her as well. Yukimura stood there for a moment longer and ran his hand through his hair and then smiled.

So, she does care about me…

End Chapter Five


Celsius 13 Degrees: Wow this story is taking a longer time to write than I thought it would xD Sorry about that! Keep on reading! Thank you!