Author's Note: The starting point of this fic is directly at the beginning of episode 15 (The Gun and the Calm). I'm going to explore what may have happened had Kyuzo been a little distracted on his scouting mission and the changes that would happen because of it.

Warnings: This fic will earn its M rating - language and graphic content ahead. You've been warned.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, am making no money from this, and am doing it purely for enjoyment.

A Distracting Change

Chapter 1

Kyuzo felt that the assault on the airship had gone reasonably well. He wished they'd been able to take out more of their opponents before having to retreat, but such was always the case when any were left alive. Standing on the rock face, waiting for the priestess and the amateur to join the rest of them, he closed his eyes and reveled in the cool mist brushing his face and the smell of smoke in the air. While this was infinitely more interesting than being Ayamaro's bodyguard, he still wasn't really sure why he was here. He did know that his presence here had nothing to do with saving farmers and everything to do with Kambei. Why or what exactly that meant, he wasn't sure.

Glancing impassively at the older samurai, he watched him offer a helping hand to Kirara. He was about to turn away when the way she was looking at Kambei caught his attention - a light blush staining her cheeks, eyes shifting demurely down. Something twisted inside of him and he looked away quickly, keeping his face blank even as he internally balked at this unknown feeling. Why should he care what the farm girl felt for Kambei? The answer struggled up from the dark unused depths within him, but he brutally pushed it back down.

Thankfully, the low whir of approaching machinery provided the perfect distraction from his thoughts and he gladly lost himself in the familiarity of battle and the comforting scent of oil and blood. It was over far to quickly in his opinion. The sudden sharp ping of a bullet ricocheting off Kikuchiyo echoed through the canyon, making him regret his earlier wish for more opponents.

"A sniper!" Katsushiro shouted needlessly.

Kyuzo could hear Gorobei and Shichiroji discussing this new development behind him but the fact that Kambei had a protective hand on Kirara was taking up all his focus. What was this? It bothered him to see Kambei's hand on her. It bothered him a lot. He kept his eyes straight ahead, but could still see the two of them from the corner of his eye.

"We send out a scout," Kambei's low calm voice brought him out of his frustrated musings.

Kikuchiyo offered to go first but was denied, soon followed by Katsushiro's declaration that he could "take care of it". Kyuzo very nearly snorted at the idea of the boy on such delicate mission. His tendency to scream like a maniac when he attacked was definitely not a quirk that would be advantageous in a stealth mission.

"You will die," he said bluntly.

This was the perfect opportunity; he needed something important enough to keep his thoughts from Kambei and these confusing new feelings, losing himself in the familiarity of war provided exactly that. Kambei's heavy gaze weighed on him as he stood, duel blades in hand. Forcing himself to meet the older samurai's eyes, he was surprised to see concern. He smirked cockily, amused by the fact that Kambei would worry over him.

How absurd…

This type of work was what he excelled at. His slim light body enabled him to move quickly and silently among the enemy. It was his specialty in the Great War. In fact, given the amount of espionage missions he'd undertaken and his exceedingly young age at the time, it truly was a wonder he'd made it out of the war alive.

As he bounded down the cliff face, dodging bullets, it never occurred to him Kambei may be worried because he cared, not because he doubted his abilities.

x-x-x-x-x-x

Kambei watched the slight figure of Kyuzo disappear into the fog. A tight feeling in his chest.

"Don't worry, he'll be back."

He hadn't really meant to say those words aloud, they'd just been so loud in his mind they'd come out. Ticking his eyes to Kirara, he hoped to give the impression his words were meant to comfort her instead of himself. He continued, both to cover his slip and in an attempt to convince himself of the blond samurai's return.

"He still has a score to settle with me."

A score indeed. There was more than the promise of a future battle brewing between the two warriors and Kambei meant to have it all out in the open before either of them found death.

While his declaration of "love" when they'd first faced off had been purely a manipulation in the heat of battle, he had definitely been attracted to the red clad samurai. And that attraction had only grown. The more time he spent around Kyuzo the more fascinated he became. He wanted him then and he wanted him even more now. His skill with his blades, the way he moved, how he said only what needed to be and nothing more, the way those crimson eyes took in every detail in a single disinterested glance. All of these things and a hundred more made Kyuzo an irresistible temptation for Kambei.

Now, as he stared at the place Kyuzo had disappeared from, the smell of sweat, smoke and gunpowder floating through the air, he felt fear. Fear that he'd never get to unravel that puzzle. Never get to-

He shook his head. This was not the time.

"The smoke and mist will be his allies."

With those parting words of hope he turned away from the foggy canyon in front of him and concentrated on leading the others back to the village.