Alright, it's been a while! I'm really rusty at this, so I hope this is alright. It seems like I've only had two good fics out of all the ones I've attempted to make. I hope this suits you guys, R&R please!

Disclaimer : I DO NOT OWN KA. I wish I did.

Chapter 1: Boy VS. Girl Round 1

"Ah, the young knights are here," a Roman commander said quietly as the young men filed into the training grounds behind the stonewalls. His eye drifted carefully over them; they seemed to be just a bunch of children, and he wasn't sure how well they would do as knights. He snorted softly as he turned his horse and began to move down the line of boys. "Now is not a time for games and play like you are used to. You are here to train, and work hard to protect your pathetic skins while you serve the Empire."

The boys shifted uneasily on their horses, while one in particular just stared at the commander, as if challenging him. He was obviously displeased with this little arrangement, and wasn't looking forward to his time at the Wall.

"Father! Father!" a young girl's voice rang as she ran across the training grounds, a note firmly grasped in her hand.

The commander turned around to see his daughter. "Kana, you are not supposed to be here," he said quietly.

"Mother told me to give you this," Kana said, reaching up to hand him her note.

He took it gently from her hand, flipping it open to read it. "Thank you, daughter. Hurry on home now." He tucked the note under his armor, and then turned his horse as his little girl went running down the path towards their home.

"That is my daughter. You will be seeing her frequently, but you are not to talk to her unless I give you an order to do so. Now, you will be shown to your quarters for some rest." The commander made a wave of his hand and the boys were taken to their quarters, their horses to the stables.

"Marcus," one of the other commanders said. "What is going through your head? You have a look that says you're plotting something."

Marcus looked at his comrade, and then shook his head. "That Sarmatian was looking at my daughter."

"Sir? If I remember correctly you despise the Sarmatians," the other said quietly.

"I do, but my daughter needs a strong man to protect her, and who better than a knight? She wants no Roman here at the Wall," Marcus answered, turning his horse to face his comrade.

His comrade shifted uneasily, but then nodded, still unsure of Marcus' planning. However, he had no say over what the man did, and so he could only back him up and offer his advice. He bowed his head before departing, leaving Marcus to his own thoughts.

&&&&&

"Kana, this is Lancelot," Marcus said, his daughter standing in front of him while his hands rested on her shoulders. "He is a bright young man, and I believe you'd like to be friends with him, yes?"

Kana eyed Lancelot, and Lancelot eyed her back with an equal gaze. "We'll get along just fine, Father," she said, attempting to please him.

Marcus smiled. "Behave," he said and left the two alone.

"No way am I hanging around you," Lancelot growled.

"What makes you think I want to be around you?" Kana threw back at him.

"Roman."

"Sarmatian."

"Stubborn mule."

"You fight like a girl."

Lancelot glared at her, obviously not pleased by what she had just implied. He folded his arms over his chest and looked at her. "I could beat you any day."

"You wouldn't hit a girl," Kana growled.

"Just watch me," Lancelot shot, looking at her again. "You Romans are weak, needing us to defend your land."

Kana glared at him. "We are not weak! Meet me at the sparring field tomorrow, and then we'll see who is weak," she said, straightening up. "Good day to you, Sir Lancelot." She held her head up and began walking away from the young man.

Lancelot snorted. "Good day, Lady Kana," he snarled and turned around, stomping off towards his quarters.

"The nerve of him!" Kana huffed as she bustled into the tavern where her mother was working. At the sight of her mother's belly, it reminded Kana that she needed to keep herself out of trouble so she wouldn't stress her mother.

"Kana, there you are sweetheart. You're late," her mother said affectionately, handing her a tray to take to a customer.

"Father introduced me to a boy," Kana said quietly.

Her mother gave her a sympathetic smile before sending her off, but offered her no comforting words. Marcus had not told her yet of his plan, only that he had one. She would most likely have no say in the plan, but at the moment she had enough to worry about.

Kana fumed to herself as she gave the tray to the customer. She wasn't too fond of boys, and Lancelot's arrogance wasn't exactly helping that fact. His ego was the size of Britain, and that was certainly something she despised. Pushing her hair out of her face, she walked back to her mother to see her conversing with Vanora's mother. "Is Vanora here?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, she's around the corner washing pots," Vanora's mother said softly.

Looking up to her mother for permission, Kana stepped back. "Go ahead," her mother said, making a motion with her hand, which sent Kana bolting towards her friend.

"'Nora!" she exclaimed, halting beside the other girl. "Have you seen the knights? Ugh, there's this one who is absolutely arrogant, 'Nora."

Vanora looked up and then blushed slightly, pushing her long hair out of her face. "Yes, I've seen them. One of them isn't too bad. He helped me today while I was carrying water to wash these pots." She then looked down at the pot she had just rinsed.

Kana faltered, looking over at her. "Y-You like him?" she stuttered, watching her friend for a moment. Shaking her head, she looked down. "What was his name?"

"Bors," Vanora said quietly.

"Well, that wasn't the one I talked to. Lancelot was his name," Kana said, relieved that they were not talking about the same person.

"Oh, he is an arrogant one," Vanora said, shaking her head. "He was talking big to the other knights. Why did he approach you?"

"Figures," Kana mumbled. "My father introduced us."

Vanora tilted her head, frowning. "I thought your father hated their kind."

"Me too, but I guess not," Kana said quietly, shrugging. "Here, let me help." She kneeled down and grabbed a dirty pot, taking some soap to scrub it with.

"Thanks," Vanora said quietly.

Kana only nodded. She needed to take her mind off of her match with Lancelot tomorrow. She just hoped she wouldn't lose, for that would be horribly embarrassing for her, and her family.