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Chapter 2

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“Sorry for what, Yuya-san?” Yukimura looked down on the girl in puzzlement, quirking his brow. The apology came as somewhat of a shock to him. Straight out of the blue. What did she have to be sorry for? He just thought she was crying because of his seemingly uncontrollable perverseness, he didn’t think just because she had never been touched like that before...except the occasional grab from Kyo-san...would cause so much trouble. But now he saw there was another reason for her tears, most likely something he had indirectly caused. Damn it all...

“Because, I’m sorry for...” Being the cause of your pain. Dang it! She hated it when she cried, especially in front of people. It seemed like she could never choke out the right words. As if all her thoughts scrambled into her head at the same time and churned into one ball of meaningless babble. That’s why she always put on her tough-girl front, even if people always saw right through her. At least it made her feel better.

Eventually, after some time of her trying to explain her inexplicable sorrow, Yukimura seemed to pick up on the gist of her guilt. It was the only other thing he could think would be the cause of her problem. “Yuya-san,” Tucking his finger under her shaky chin, he forced her to look at him. “Don’t forget that I would willingly risk my life for my friends. Thus, the pain that results is something unavoidable and unregreted.” Yuya heard his voice and felt a hand rest gently on her shoulder, it was reassuring and friendly. She looked up at him somewhat dumbfounded. How did he know what she was feeling? Was she that readable, obvious and predicable? Well, he was the best friend to all women, she reasoned. Maybe he could read their minds... Nah! What a bunch of rubbish.

Although the guilt of his current state still lingered within her, she felt amazingly better. The satisfaction of knowing he knew what she felt gave her security. That even though he was in bad shape, he would have done it again...for her. And when he winked at her, she couldn’t help smiling back.

Then, Yuya felt those butterflies begin to flutter in her stomach again. Why was that happening so much lately? “Yukimura-san, I...” Strangely she felt like hugging him, squeezing him so tight to show her gratitude. Now, normally Yuya would have ignored this alien feeling and ruled it out, calling it nothing more than the fact she was just tired and not thinking strait...but lately she was feeling far from normal.

Without giving it a second thought, Yuya bolted forward and threw her arms around his upper waist. Squeezing with a minimum amount of pressure to avoid reopening his wounds, she rested her cheek on his chest and let out a content sigh. “Thank you for saving me.” She snuggled a little more. “My hero...” She sighed in exaggeration, suppressing the urge to laugh at that label and the general way she said it.

Yukimura held still, understanding and yet somewhat confused at her strange behavior. Yuya had never hugged him before, sure she had clung to him for dear life in the river. Silly girl, he had even heard her utter the word ‘pretty’ in reference to the late evening sky before they hit the water. But that was under different circumstances, it was life or death. He didn’t want to encourage her strange show of appreciation, yet he didn’t want to dissuade it either. He couldn’t abandon his gentlemanly demeanor and rudely push her away, but was it really his demeanor that didn’t want to back off from the chit?

She really was a cute little thing, even down to the soft hiccups she made when she had been crying were rather adorable. Her heart was as soft as a flowers petal, yet strong enough to hold up against the toughest of life’s trials. Of course, he would have done the same thing for the rest of the group that he did for Yuya-san. But the fact of knowing it was for her seemed to make him feel like he enjoyed it more than he would if it was, for example, Benitora-san he had rescued...he felt like slapping himself in the face. He didn’t do ‘cute.’ He did prostitutes and loose, fun women.

“Um...Yuya-san?” He inquired, placing his hand cautiously on her shoulder to gently guide her away.

“Oh!” He heard her suck in an embarrassed breath and quickly lean back onto her haunches. “I apologize for my weird behavior, Yukimura-san!” She smiled brightly up at him and let out a giggle, feeling oddly embarrassed and giddy at the same time.

Something in the way she looked caused Yukimura to snap. He froze as a flood of memories washed over him, memories of someone from so long ago...but, was his eyes deceiving him. Was it really her? What kind of cruel trick were the gods playing on his mind?

“Mi...Mizuki!” He uttered softly at the smiling girl before him. It wasn’t even plausible that he saw her in the way Yuya-san smiled, was it? They did seem to have a striking resemblance in both face and heart, but then again maybe it was just his imagination. It had to be.

“Huh?” Yuya opened her eyes to him, his face was pale and distorted in confusion. His brow furrowed in concentration. “What did you say?” She asked in surprise. It seemed as if had just said somebodies name, whispered it too quietly for her to hear properly...that and he was spacing out big time. “You called me Mizuki just now, didn’t you?” She asked, wondering who this mystery girl was that she had been mistaken for.

Then his grip on her shoulder began to tighten and Yuya started to worry. She had never seen him act like this-so spacey. “Yukimura-san.” She put her hand on his, hoping he’d snap out of his daze. But he didn’t notice, instead his grip tightened and his jaw clenched. His eyes held a strange quirk of madness, or was it disbelief...confusion? Yet, she could see an emotion that she knew all to well. It was that of the sadness one feels after the loss of a loved one. Did he love this Mizuki? It was hard for her to imagine him, Sanada Yukimura actually truly loving one woman. At times she even thought he might have loved one or two men with the flauntingly floozy way he acted. But, that wasn’t fair to think like that about him...everyone has loved or loves someone.

He was starting to hurt her now and she began feeling a little uncomfortable. Never once had she felt awkward in his company...well, except maybe that one time when they were first properly acquainted. At the hotel in Edo when she simply knew him as Genjiro-san, he had mistaken her for one of the...ladies there. Of all the gall to think she was a prostitute, or whore, or whatever they were called. No matter, he got what he deserved with a good wack to the south.

“Ow!” Yuya jerked, trying to get away from him. He wasn’t himself and whatever triggered this strange behavior was defiantly a tender subject. One thing was for sure, she didn’t want to spend the rest of the day with a man gone crazy. “Yukimura, you’re hurting me! Let go!” She raised her voice, dropping the ‘san’ on his name. She made a quick mental note never to hug him again, at least if this was how he’s gonna react to it. Talk about needing your personal space.

In an instant he released her and looked down at her confused face. He had just blanked out and in that time all he was thinking of was the past and her... “Yuya-san...” He uttered in surprise. She was obviously frightened-either by him or just his actions, he did not know. And there on her shoulder was a clearly imprinted red mark of a hand, his hand. Guilt immediately engulfed him. She scooted away another inch when he looked back to her face.

“Are you normal now?” She asked wide-eyed and shaky, slightly scolding herself for such an odd choice in words.

“Normal?” He blankly asked. If what he just saw in her face was real, when he saw Mizuki and how he had hurt Yuya-san, then no...he wasn’t feeling normal. He was just tired, he still had a lot of healing to do from his extensive wounds and the sun was beginning to heat up drastically. He began quickly making up reasonable excuses. That was all, his brain was being fried by the sun. There was no possible way she reminded him of Mizuki, it was just...impossible. She was just Yuya-san...not Mizuki.

His brow creased sympathetically, he realized that was the second time today he had scared her. This time he hurt her, not badly at least. “I must apologize, Yuya-san.” He uttered as he stood, offering her his hand as soon as he was up. “I don’t know what came over me.” He whispered more to himself than anyone else.

Cautiously she placed her hand in his as he easily hoisted her up to a standing position.

“Like I said before...we should rest for a while before we begin to travel.” He stated simply, quietly, before turning and limping to the shade of a near by tree to sit under it, never to talk of the incident again.

She eyed him wearily, he was defiantly out of that strange trance, but now he seemed distant. Reserved. They had been asleep all night and yet he wished to rest for the time being. Well, he did have bad wounds...but she could see the sadness that was in his eyes earlier was still there. Maybe it had always been there, maybe she never took the time to notice before today.

Yuya slowly made her way to the same tree he was under. He was sitting on the lush, grassy, ground, his back leaning against a large log that looked rather freshly fallen only a few feet away from the mother tree. He had his feet planted firmly into the ground, his knees up, elbows resting on them, his forearms and hands hanging carelessly in front of him. He looked...tired.

“You should rest and enjoy this time off, Yuya-san.” He smiled. “We’ll leave early tomorrow morning for the camp. It’s currently too hot and at night the baddies might come out.” He let out a laugh and winked at her again. Like she was just a child who needed reassurance. Hmph...

Placing his hands behind his head, he leaned further back to stare at the blue sky and occasional cloud that passed by. Taking in a deep breath, he started thinking of more important things...like the best brothel in Kyoto.

Yuya blushed and looked away, only noticing how the muscles of his stomach flexed when he laughed. “Um, okay.” She said quietly, taking a seat against the trunk of the tree as she folded her legs beneath her seat carefully, just in case Yukimura was eyeing her from the side.

Baddies? She thought to herself...Yukimura was definitely back to normal.

--

“What do you mean we’re moving on!” Both Benitora’s and Sasuke’s voice rang through the forest.

“You heard what I said.” Okuni stated with a sly smile. “Kyo-sama says so.” She giggled, her breasts actually bouncing with the laughter. Was it natural to be that bouncy?

“Why?” Sasuke asked, suspiciously narrowing his eyes. “What about Yukimura and Ne-chan? He seems hell bent on leaving them behind.” He accused, playing with his ever present wooden toy/weapon for smacking Benitora in the face with.

“Oh! That’s not it at all Sasuke-kun...” She swung her hips as she circled around behind the short boy, leaning down to wrap her arms around his shoulders. “He just wants to make sure we don’t fall too far behind Akira!” She said seductively. “You wouldn’t want somebody to take your body, now would you?” Okuni whispered into his ear, moaning erotically at the word ‘body’ and pressing her breasts against his back. Sasuke blushed and let out a mumbled ‘hmph.’ Looking away from the promiscuous woman. He would not let himself fall prey over something so ridiculous. And at her age!

“No way, Okuni-han!” Benitora snorted. “I don’t care what ya’ll do, I’m staying right hereuntil they return!” Forcefully landing in a sitting position upon his declaration and crossed his arms.

“Are you so sure you want to do that Tora-san?” She walked up behind him as well. This time with a different approach, knowing that only with Yuya-san the sexual seduction approach would work to convince him. “Being here all by yourself sure sounds awful scary. After all, the trees of these forests are said to be...haunted by...ghosts.” She ran two fingers up his neck in a spider-like motion giving him goose bumps.

Benitora’s eyes widened as he looked back and forth frantically. “G-g-g-ghos-s-ts!” He asked, his face going pale and blue under the eyes.

“Flesh eat ghosts.” Okuni blew softly in his ear sending eery chills down his spine.

“M-maybe on second thought, we shouldn’t let Akira get too much of the upper hand, Okuni-han!” Benitora jumped up rather flustered, threw all of their belongings messily into the wagon and took off down the path only to leave a trail of dust in his wake. “I’ll see ya’ll in Kyoto!” He called over his shoulder.

“Well...that was easy.” Okuni blinked, surprised by such cowardice. Then turned to face Sasuke as a softer expression slid over her features. “Don’t worry,” She smiled more honestly this time. “Kyo really is doing this for the best interest. If we wait too long, we’ll loose our leads on his body. I’m sure he’s worried for them...” She said evenly. “Even for Yuya-san.” She whispered.

Turning to stare into the lush forest, Okuni truly wondered how their comrades were fairing...and how on earth Kyo thought they would catch up with them. It didn’t make sense, maybe he knew something she didn’t. Either way, all she prayed for was her young friend to be safe and for Yukimura to survive his wounds...

--

The day went by terribly slowly and it wasn’t long before Yukimura, bored with staring at the sky and thinking of naked women, saké and killer battles, looked over to see a sleeping Yuya curled up in the soft grass. Her fist wrapped around a small wad of the green blades. He smiled to himself and returned to staring at the late evening sky, letting out a deep sigh. He hadn’t gone to sleep and wasn’t planning to until they were reunited with the rest. Truly he wished they could begin the journey back now, but his injuries most likely wouldn’t allow that...neither would Yuya-san with the shape he was in. Sure, the weather was fine, but darkness would be here soon. And without a path or road, it really would be like hell to find their way back. They’d probably end up getting more lost.

And tomorrow? In the scorching weather of the mid-day sun trying to make their way through the dense, humid forest wasn’t going to happen. So, the nice, cool, well lit morning was the best candidate.

He closed his eyes for a moment and released another small sigh. I doubt that even Saizo knows where we are. He thought amuzedly. I don’t think the others have abandoned camp to look for us. Kyo would know that’d only separate us further if Yuya-san and I had unknowingly gone through a fork in the river and they chose the wrong path. It’s highly possible they’ve already moved on...Kyo-san most likely wouldn’t want to skip the chance to find his body. He knows how I think, and I...

Yukimura’s thoughts were cut short as a soft moan made its way to his ears. He looked over to see the blonde with a secret smile on her face as she slept, a glow of innocent pleasure over her peaceful face. Cute. He thought as she gave another mewl. He started to return to his thoughts of regrouping, but he couldn’t help but stare at the girl in front of him who was beginning to squirm restlessly in her sleep. He watched intently as she rolled from her side onto her back, resting one hand on the dip of her stomach and the other stretched above her head. She slowly bent one leg up, the short yukata failing its job and revealing the soft curve of her...

Yukimura’s eyes were glued to her form now. He tilted his head ever so slightly, studiously, as she released a tiny, quiet giggle. What on earth was she dreaming about? Probably food or something, they hadn’t eaten all day so he couldn’t blame her. Besides, Yuya ate more than all of them combined. That was his best guess, he didn’t get into the mind of teenage girls that often. Maybe she was thinking of fuzzy kittens or flowers. But if she was dreaming of food, kittens and flowers, she sure did seem to enjoy it like a grown woman enjoys...

Yuya’s head rolled to the other side as her smile widened. If he looked hard enough he could see the makings of pink nipples protruding from the fabric of her thin yukata. She moaned again and her breathing started to pick up. Yukimura was beginning to have doubts on his food theory.

“Mmm...” She opened her pink mouth a fraction to gasp in a breath of air. Her back curving off the ground as her thighs squeezed and rubbed together restlessly. “Yuki..mura...!”

Yukimura almost choked on his own tongue as he swallowed hard. Did he just hear what he thought he heard...the way he heard it? He closed his eyes as he let out a small laugh, shaking his head. To think he had corrupted such a sexually innocent little things dreams. It seemed that as a direct result of his little ‘dream sequence’ it had, in turn, affected her sleeping habits as well.

He glanced at her as she shivered heavily and then suddenly shot up, eyes wide and her breathing labored. He quirked and eyebrow. Intrigued to see how she would act now after having such a dream.

Yuya stared ahead of her for a moment, seemingly in disbelief that she would ever have such a nightmare. She was with Yukimura and he was...well, she didn’t need to recall all the details right now. She glanced over to Yukimura, who was currently staring at her strangely. Her fingers began fidgeting in the grass around her as she blushed, wondering if he knew. Had she made noises in her sleep? Did he hear her? Did she...say his name like she did in the nightmare?

“What’s the matter, Yuya-san?” He asked innocently.

“Um...” Her blushed deepened as she quickly looked away and placed her hands in her lap, twiddling with her fingers as a distraction. “Nothing!” She answered too quickly. There was a moment of silence that only seemed awkward for her as she abruptly stood, adjusting her yukata as she did so. Horrified to find she was a little moist between her legs like before when he affected her. As if on cue, Yukimura stood as well, chuckling at how nervous she seemed over such a small gesture.

“I need a drink.” She stated as she began walking back towards the river in a rush, clutching her thin yukata shut around her tiny body. But as Yuya’s non-exsistant luck would have it, her clumsiness always took the upper hand in the situation as she stumbled over a small tree root protruding from the ground. Yuya closed her eyes and tensed as she prepared to hit the ground. Instead, she felt Yukimura’s tight arms easily catch her and hold her against his hard, bare chest. Dammit.

She glanced up and felt her heart pound faster than she ever imagined possible with nervousness. Her cheeks were burning red, she just knew it.

“You should be more careful.” He smirked more than smiled down at her from their awkwardly kneeling position.

“I...I know.” She turned her face down and away, unable to look at him. Too engulfed in her embarrassment and his nice hard chest, not even thinking to make a move back to her correct standing position now that she was safe from falling. The only thing that seemed to register in her mind was the way he caught her...his clothed thigh was between her legs and pressed against her womanhood. More like girlhood. She thought, too caught up in the moment to even think that he had done that on purpose.

“Did you hurt your ankle?” He asked in a low voice, moving his leg in just the right way...knowing exactly where it was and what he was doing.

“Ahh-I d-don’t think so.” She gasped out rather quickly, slurring the ‘ah’ and the ‘I’ together in a futile attempt to make it sound normal and not like the moan it would have morphed into. She thought her hands began shaking, but Yuya wasn’t exactly sure what was happening to her. He was just so close.

He let out what Yuya thought was a strange kind of laugh as he met her eyes. And instead of releasing her he moved his leg again, this time in a more upward motion and harder. She clenched her teeth and whimpered against his chest as he hit a strangely sensitive area. She watched as his eyes darkened every time she made a little noise. She didn’t mean to, it felt so good that they just left her throat. Was he getting mad because she sounded so weird? His stare was getting more intent.

Yuya’s breathing deepened as she felt the hand on her back slide down to grab her rear. He squeezed it slightly before pulling her back to the big log he was once leaning against. He couldn’t take his gaze off her big curious eyes or her quivering lips. Yuya, however, made no movements whatsoever. Rather let him place her where she needed to be, too nervous and too amazed to do otherwise.

Almost fluidly, he shifted her immediately to straddle him as he sat on the fallen tree, a dark look across his face. It was as if she naturally sank into her spot and molded against him, wrapping her arms about his neck and sliding her face up from his chest to rest on his shoulder. Oh, yes, this was far better than a dream. She took note of everything, like his hard chest pressing against her breasts, the way his hands were on her ass, even how his dark black hair hung over his shoulders and covered his eyes only allowing his sly smirk to be seen. How many women had he seduced with that smirk?

Slowly, Yukimura slid both hands up her thighs as the short yukata had to oblige in gathering around her waist. Leaving her lower body open to the elements when his hands once again found her derriere. Gently, he pulled her exposed area down to meet his groin, earning a small gasp from the girl. “Yu-Yukimura-san?” She asked, somewhat frightened, yet intrigued after remembering what it was like before near the river.

“Hn?” He answered, repeating his movements. Grinding each time the contact was made.

“What are you doing to me?” She asked breathlessly, finally beginning to add to the movement herself.

“Don’t worry Yuya-san...” He whispered into her blonde hair, taking in her wonderfully sweet smell. His voice was so different, it was deeper and raspier. She hadn’t heard him talk to her or anyone else like that before. “I’ll make you feel real good.” Placing a kiss at the crook of her neck and pushing harder on the word good.

Yuya whimpered as his simple grinding got more and more intense, she lolled her head to one side, letting his mouth devour her neck. She moaned his name loudly, leaning back to see his face as his strong hands supported her. His motion changed, just like before-turning into violent thrusting rather than the simple grind. But he wasn’t necessarily thrusting up to her, he was controlling her hips with his hands to move up and down and in circular motions. The torrent continued as he leaned forward, exploring the flesh of her chest with his hungry mouth. In no time his tongue found her soft breast, reaching one hand up he moved the white material to the side to roam over the young, pale mound. Her back flexed into him almost as wildly as the muscles in her core were reacting-trying to get him inside her.

Yukimura would have given anything at that moment to have a mirror in front of him. To be able to watch from behind, to stare at the way he was teaching her inexperienced little hips to push themselves against his. His large hands covering and cupping her ass, digging into her skin. To watch as his mouth encircle her erect nipple. Slightly biting down on the tip to send shivers down her spine and gently toss her head back with pent up desire.

Yuya leaned back up into the man, staring into his eyes as his thrusting courteously bounced her gently atop him. His dark, lust ridden glare seemed sink into her innocent green eyes, changing her. Affecting her. She was almost unbelieving that this was happening, this wasn’t supposed to happen. Her loyalty to love didn’t exactly lie with anyone, but she had always thought somewhere in the back of her mind that her and Kyo or Kyoshiro had felt something. But Yukimura, he was so...so...thoughts were just so hazy now and she wanted to concentrate more on feeling rather than thinking. And this feeling was making her do crazy things. Crazy things she was greatly enjoying.

Her hands trembled as they made their way through his hair, grasping at the dark strands as he led his own mouth back down to her breast. “Ah! Yukimura!” She couldn’t contain herself, it was so powerful this feeling she had. It could bring tears to ones eyes. Yuya felt one of his hands creeping around her thigh and instead of smacking him as she had earlier, she allowed it...just to see what would happen. And he touched her...

Yukimura thought the girl was going to come at the very brush of his fingers. She immediately bucked into his hand as he caressed her soft folds. He pushed a finger against the bundle of nerves he knew she would enjoy and Yuya whimpered, clenching her fists in his hair in response as he continued to pay homage to her breast.

When he entered a finger into her body, she couldn’t contain her screams of pleasure that must have echoed forever into the forest. He pushed it in slowly, allowing her to get used to the intrusion. And in no time, his finger was moving in and out of her like his hips had suggested. Something no one had done and he just kept getting faster, watching her face during every second of it, her every reaction. As he placed a second finger next to the first she squirmed as it began to stretch her passage. He paused, realizing the mistake only to slowly began again.

Yuya moaned in ecstacy as she began to appreciate the sensation and reached one small hand down to grasp his forearm, her hand not even large enough to encircle it. She could feel his muscles flex and move beneath the layer of his skin as his arm moved with expertise to pleasure her.

“Yukimura! Please...Don’t stop!” She whispered helplessly in between gasps as he moved his large fingers faster. His teeth bit down ever so slightly on her nipple and when he pressed his thumb to her clit she felt what had been building up all this time explode and wash over her shivering body. She dug her nails into his arm and clenched at his hair. Her walls gripping his fingers as her legs tightened mercilessly around his waist. Yuya’s hips went crazy as she felt the power of her first climax.

He smirked and chuckled as she screamed his name into the darkening sky. Her tiny pants escaping from her over worked body. He, however, who should have known how to keep his own erection in check after years of loving women, knowing how to pleasure them without going overboard himself, was hard pressed to rip off his own clothes and slam homeward bound into her body. He would pleasure this young girl...but he would not allow himself to pleasure his needs on her.

Yes, he was hard and tempted, but not to the point it was overly noticeable...just enough to enjoy a good grinding-at least, that’s what he kept telling himself despite painful throbbing in his groin that needed to be released impromptu. Besides, he had heavy, large, bagging clothes (or what was left of them) to hide the evidence of his unsettled manhood. Still, his self-control did not go unwavered by this girl. He...almost lost it. He had always been able to control himself and he did, but it had been extremely difficult. Maybe it was because she reminded him of...no, that wasn’t fair. To compare them would be rude of him and unfair for Yuya-san.

Slowly, he slid his fingers out of the girl and noticed she had began to doze off. Utterly unbelieving that she was falling asleep again and wondering how one person could sleep so much, he leaned down and whispered into her ear. “Did it feel good?” He asked smoothly, his warm breath tickling her ear causing wonderful little tremors to travel up her spine.

“Mmm...yeah.” She answered hazily with a sigh of content as she finally fell completely to sleep, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck.

Yukimura carefully held the girl as he picked her up from her straddling position above him to cradle her in his arms. Slightly wincing at the pain in his injured arm and the heavy pain in his side. Walking over to her previous spot, he lay her down on the cool grass to let her sleep. To let her awake and find it was just another dream.

One hour later...

Yuya swore she could smell food and the warmth of fire against her skin. As all of her senses began to awaken she could hear the crackle of the fire as well. She opened her eyes to the red, warming flames that she expected to be there. Sitting up she noticed it was already night and there were fish being cooked over the fire. Yukimura, however, wasn’t to be found. Yukimura-san... She thought and her eyes widened in recollection. Did that really happen?

No way! I would never let myself be led into a trap like that. Besides, he’s like ancient. What is he...37? Rather good looking for his age, though. She added on as a last thought. But, she couldn’t ignore a sticky feeling between her legs that she had no idea as to why it was there. It made her want to take a bath.

Yuya turned her head as a loud clatter caught her ear. Yukimura had just returned from wherever he had been and dropped a load of wood by the fire, fuel for later she assumed.

“Yuya-san! ” He said rather cheerily. “You’re finally awake! You’ve been asleep so long...since this evening, you know. I thought you’d never wake up.” He smiled as he took a seat across from her by the fire he had made. “If you’re hungry, the fish should be ready to eat by now.” He leaned back against his favorite log and closed his eyes. And that was that.

“Oh...thank you.” She said quietly as she took a fish to munch on. She wasn’t too hungry, one fish would due her just fine, besides...she didn’t like the after taste of fish. Yuya let her eyes examine his figure...he didn’t act like anything had happened. He seemed like the same old Yukimura, like usual. She had noticed he had retrieved the sword from the beach and cleaned off the blood.

Yuya concluded it was nothing more than a silly dream she had due to the circumstances they were in. Alone, together, in the woods. Secluded from the others where no one would find them, she mused at his body as he ‘slept.’ Yuya swallowed a piece of fish as she looked away from him...that fire sure was getting hot. Maybe she should back away a bit.

“So...Yukimura-san, did anything interesting happen while I was asleep?” She inquired, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. Yukimura could not stop the evil smirk that crossed his mouth, this did not go unnoticed.

“Like what?” He asked casually, eyes still closed in his relaxed mode.

“I don’t know, just anything I guess.” She eyed him carefully, his smirk now gone.

“I saw a shooting star tonight, if that’s what you would like to know.” He opened his eyes to the night sky. “It was rather beautiful.”

Yuya blinked at the man. “Don’t tell me you’ve never seen a shooting star?” She asked wryly.

“Not like this one...” He simply answered back. “Too bad you missed it.” He grinned.

“I don’t know what’s with you today, Yukimura-san. But you’re acting weird.” She stated as she stood up. “I’m gonna go get a drink. I’ve been thirsty since...since.” Yuya paused for a moment, contemplating the lat time she had intended to go to the river for a drink. “I’ll be right back.” She paused again and left for the water.

Yuya reached the edge of the river and stared up at the night sky. It was a beautiful night, although the moon was nowhere to be found, it gave the stars a chance to shine their brightest without the light of the moon to dull them. She looked down in the water as her hair fell around her shoulders and let out a deep sigh. What she wouldn’t give to be staying in a nice hotel right now. And a hot springs, to boot.

Yuya knelt down next to the water and took a copious amount into her hand, bringing it up to her mouth to drink. After she had her fill, she took a few more handfuls of water to swish it around in her mouth to rid it of the aftertaste of the fish.

When she was done, she looked down at her reflection more closely this time. Her brow furrowed. It looked like she had a large spot of dirt on her neck in the dim light that she had to see with. Wetting her fingers with water, she brought them up to scrub at the pesky spot that wouldn’t go away. Looking back down to see if it was gone, she noticed she had another one on her chest.

Opening her yukata wider she saw it wasn’t dirt, but they rather looked like bruises. Now how did those get there? She asked herself. On closer examination, she noticed her breast had a stranger mark on it. What on earth? It looked like...like a...bite mark.

“YUKI-MUUURAAA!”

He heard her angry battle cry as he saw her petite figure appear out of the shadows. Her eyes held no kindness or innocence to them anymore. What he saw was a blood-thirsty warrior ready to strike fury upon her prey. And in an instant he knew he had been caught. Instead of playing along with her little hissy fit, he simply ignored her and went about his business of ‘sleeping’ with his arms ceremoniously behind his head.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” She growled. He ‘slept.’

Yuya’s eyes immediately shot to the sword protruding from the ground and instantly grabbed the hilt, pointing it accusingly at the man laying against that stupid log. “Yukimura-san! You took advantage of me!” She shouted angrily. “I knew something was up, even that crap about the stars!”

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” He said casually, not bothering to even open his eyes to her...and he had to admit he didn’t exactly enjoy being this cruel. However, it was this or give into her wrath, which he had no intention of doing. Yuya could have the vehement vengeful qualities of a rabid animal.

That was it, Yuya decided...she was going to kill him!

“Oh yeah, then explain this!” She knelt next to him, keeping the sword tightly grasped in one hand and opened her yukata wide to expose the marks he left behind as evidence. Now, this he peeked an eye open at. Yuya blushed and quickly closed her yukata realizing her mistake.

“I thought men didn’t have to explain themselves to the women they sleep with casually.” He remarked just to tease the confused little thing.

“S-s-sleep!...Casually!” Yuya’s face paled drastically and the grip she had on his sword loosened. D-did I sleep with him? Why did she feel faint all of a sudden?

Yukimura could clearly see the dilemma cross her features and suppressed the urge to laugh. Grabbing her shoulders and pulled her close to his chest to whisper in her ear. Once again noticing just how good she smelt and how soft her skin slid across his fingers. “If I had slept with you, Yuya-san, you’d be feeling a lot more than that stickiness between your legs.”

--

TBC