(A/N): Next up on the list is Akali! Akali is without a doubt my favorite champion in the game and I absolutely love Riot for releasing her; she's a ton of fun to play. Needless to say also is that she's going to be the longest amongst all the stories I'm going to be writing (likely a two or three shot) and will be the only story in which their sweetest moment is also their lemon.

Akali has quite a few skins (I'm really annoyed that All-Star Akali and Crimson Akali got shoved into the legacy vault and still got art changes) and my favorite without a doubt has to be Blood Moon (the new art makes Akali look so beautiful and so much more real though it's widely argued that her previous Blood Moon art is better but I'm indifferent about it). Nurse Akali is just barely in second place behind Blood Moon and I preferred the old art compared to the new one.

Anyway, enough of my rambling and let's get this show on the road! I apologize for any OOCness in advance once again (Akali doesn't have that much of a personality so it was tough to write this).

I'd guess I should also take the opportunity to say that each of the stories in this series will now be two-shot lemons. I'm going to publish all of them as rated T so all of you add them to your alerts list so you will know when the lemon is up (unless you're the kind of reader who always changes the rating to all then that's fine but for those who don't do that, add each of the stories to your list so you'll know immediately).

Thanks for all the support thus far everyone! I've been having so much fun writing these and I'm thankful to be a part of the community!

A Second Chance

I swung my kamas at my opponent but he swiftly backflipped out of the way. I continued to try and land a strike on him but he was able to block or dodge all of my attempts. He seemed out of breath as he held his katanas in the traditional Zattochi style of combat. I turned to my right to see Shen watching us spar. He came at me and swung his swords only to meet one of my kamas. I threw the blades off of me and swung again but he rolled out of the way before swinging his leg at me. I stepped back to allow the blow to pass harmlessly in front of my face. He sprang to his feet before kicking off the ground to lunge at me. A frenzy of blocking followed with neither of us able to best the other until I managed to trip him with a quick sweep. Just as I held my kamas to his neck, he held his sword over my heart.

"Excellent work," said Grandmaster Reiko.

I moved the kamas out of the way and he lowered his sword before I held out a hand to him. He took it and I hoisted him to his feet. Reiko called Shen to join us.

"I want the three of you to participate in the Lunar Festival this year with all three of you performing the Blood Moon traditional dance," he said.
"Yes Grandmaster," said Akali and I in unison.

Shen simply bowed; he was a higher rank than Reiko but was still respectful enough to bow.

"Shen, I'd like you to spar with Takashi," he said.

Shen turned to me as Akali stepped off of the platform.

Akali's POV

I had no idea why Grandmaster Reiko wanted Shen to spar with Takashi because everyone knew that Shen was undoubtedly one of our best swordsmen. I was only barely able to seize the opening that Takashi unknowingly gave me and it was still a draw. I was still in training as I have not reached the level of my mother as The Fist Of Shadow so I understood how I could draw to Takashi; we've been training for nearly the same amount of time. Takashi joined our school two years ago when he wandered here all the way from the deserts of Ionia in search of masters to train under. Grandmaster Reiko took him in immediately upon seeing his dedication to his craft and here we were two years later. Takashi wasn't as great a fighter as he is now seeing as he was capable of holding his own against most of the other shinobi here but he has never fought Shen before.

"Begin!" said Reiko.

Shen unsheated both of his swords and began to circle. Takashi kept his sword in the sheath but pulled out a shortblade he usually kept in his offhand as he eyed Shen's movements until Shen suddenly dashed and swung his swords. Takashi managed to block both of them with the shortblade as he flipped back and drew his signature reverse blade katanas and put the shortblade back in it's sheath. Shen attacked again and Takashi blocked all of the strikes before managing to kick Shen hard in the stomach. Shen however wasn't one who felt pain very much and seized the chance to kick Takashi directly across the face, sending him to the ground. Shen was a brutal fighter and The Eye Of Twilight is expected to be nothing less during the heat of battle. Takashi jumped to his feet and to my surprise, practically vanished before appearing behind Shen and striking him hard in the leg. Shen fell down to one knee but swung his fist backwards and connected with Takashi's chest. He tried to recover from the wind being knocked out of him but Shen dashed again and struck him in the chest with an open palm. Takashi fell to the floor, groaning in agony as he struggled to regain his footing. He dropped his swords and Shen charged again. Takashi looked up and rolled out of the way before turning and firing a roundhouse kick, connecting with Shen's chest. Shen shrugged off the blow and continued to swing. Takashi blocked one of his blows with a kick before launching another to knock one of the swords out of his hands and repeating the same thing for the other.

Reiko watched them with a smile as Shen attacked. Takashi countered his punch by grabbing his arm and striking him twice in the stomach before giving him a spinning back kick into his chest. Shen grabbed him and flung him to the floor and Takashi just barely managed to move out of the way of a stomp. Takashi panted loudly while Shen remained silent. Takashi charged again and appeared as if he were going to throw a punch. Shen took a defensive stance but Takashi again vanished. Shen was met with a kick from above into his back but he grabbed Takashi before slamming him into the ground. I felt my heart skip a beat when Takashi was unable to get up.

"Enough," said Reiko.

Shen bowed to him and sheathed his two swords. Takashi struggled to his feet before replacing his swords and bowing to Shen. Shen nodded at him.

"You still have much to learn young one," said Reiko.
"Yes master," he replied.

Reiko smiled at him.

"I haven't seen someone give Shen such a fight before and that is an admirable feat," he said.

Takashi didn't respond as he gripped his chest.

"Go and get some rest, Akali will tend to your wounds," said Reiko.

I bowed to him as Takashi went inside.

Fifteen Minutes Later

I found his door open as I entered with a first aid kit in one hand and a tray of food in the other. His room was just like any other in the school though it sported it's own bathroom and enough space to practice martial arts forms. I found Takashi deep in meditation as I put everything down silently.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

His violet eyes locked onto me and I felt my heart skip a beat. He focused particularly on my face; he and I were close enough that I had no problems in being around him without my mask. He didn't have to answer as I learned how to read his emotions through his eyes and body language. I opened the kit and took out bandages and ointment before sitting in front of him.

"Turn around so I can apply the ointment," I asked politely.

His eyes closed as he removed his gi top and turned his back to me.

Takashi's POV

I felt ashamed to be in her presence after losing that fight to Shen and I felt even more ashamed that Grandmaster Reiko tasked her to treat my wounds; I knew Reiko did that because he knew how close she and I were. I felt the cool ointment on my back as I looked in the mirror in front of me.

Akali was a remarkably beautiful woman and even though she's a year younger than I am, she was much more gifted as a shinobi than I was. Her long black hair that was usually kept in a long ponytail was pinned up in a bun that resembled that of a geisha and she wore a red kimono with cherry blossom patterns decorating it. I had no right to be ashamed because Akali would've come to take care of me regardless but Grandmaster Reiko just made me so frustrated by proving once again that Shen is a much more capable warrior than I was.

She was so gentle that it sometimes made me wonder how she was able to be such an efficient killer with the same hands. She finished my back and softly requested for me to turn to face her. I obeyed her as she began to rub the bruised areas. I just couldn't take my eyes off of her though everytime she seemed to want to look at my face, I turned away pretending to be interested in something else.

"Are you going to return to the League anytime soon?" she asked.
"Not for a while; I need a break from being a Summoner," I replied.

Akali and I occasionally worked together on The Fields Of Justice but I've been slacking in that regard to further my training as a shinobi and as a swordsman. I became a Summoner at the request of my good friend who was also a Summoner and though it was a great experience, I preferred my life here in the Kinkou school. She soon began to wrap bandages around my body and once she secured them, she looked to my face and began to apply the ointment to the bruise.

"Shen is undoubtedly one of our best fighters but also the most emotionless of us all," she said.

I knew she was trying to comfort me from my loss and I smiled.

"Thank you Akali," I said softly.

She smiled as she finished applying the ointment. She pulled the tray of food in front of us.

"I made it myself," she said.

I nodded as I took up the pair of chopsticks and began to eat but my right arm ached in pain from Shen's earlier throw. Akali noticed and put her food down before picking up my chopsticks and scooting in front of me.

"Your arm will likely be sore for a day or two; I'll feed you," she said.

The side of her that caused her to volunteer as a nurse during that contagion outbreak in the Institute Of War was showing itself. I wordlessly allowed her to feed me the noodles. I felt like a burden to her; ever since I joined the school though not officially as a Kinkou, she's been looking out for me and taking care of me as if I were her own flesh and blood and I never seemed to be able to return the favor in the same extent. She was always happy when she was with me and I took pride in my ability to make her laugh; she had such an adorable laugh.

She shoveled the last of the noodles into my mouth before I took the bowl from her and swallowed the hot soup. I let out a hot breath of satisfaction as I placed the bowl down. She smiled at me.

"I take it that Master Reiko makes you do the cooking?" I asked.
"Sometimes...usually Kennen does the cooking," she said.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Kennen knows how to cook?" I asked.
"Believe me...when you taste his onigiri you'll be in awe," she said.

I chuckled softly.

"It seems I'm always the baby here," I said suddenly.

She smiled and lay a hand on my cheek.

"And I'll always be here to take care of you," she said.

For once, I blushed profusely. My feelings for her suddenly intensified beyond all those times I watched her train or see her do what she loves to do. I came to the realization that I wanted much more than for us to be just friends. It wasn't allowed in the life of a Kinkou...which was the only thing that kept me from acting on my feelings. I also had no idea how she would take it; she was more than capable of being a cold individual especially to something that could threaten her place in the Kinkou.

Akali's POV

I was mentally frozen in place. I knew that I shouldn't care so much for a single person especially as The Fist Of Shadow who was required to be cold-hearted and remorseless but I just couldn't help myself around him. He's always been there to talk to me about anything that was on my mind and we shared the Summoner to Champion bond. I knew everything about his past and he knew everything about mine. I don't know how he was able to open his memories to me considering that every other Summoner made it one-sided but he trusted me enough to reveal everything about his past.

Takashi was almost orphaned at the age of 7 when a freak military accident caused by the Demacian military destroyed their home. Takashi was outside when the explosion happened which killed his father instantly but his mother survived. Back then, he already had an affinity for magic and killed every single one of the soldier that too his father away from him under the veil of a cloak that his father made for him during his job as a tailor. He then took his mother and made a desperate trek towards Ionia. He was assisted by a wandering merchant who carried them to Ionia and he made it just in time to save his dying mother. The same merchant was the one who sold Takashi his signature swords. Takashi then trained viciously under an Ionian swordmaster for seven years while working in an Ionian blacksmith to support his mother. His exploits even got him the recognition of Irelia. She urged him to seek out other masters as there was much more to the sword than Ionia teach. At the age of 16, he left his mother in the care of his cousins and wandered all Ionia in search of masters. He spent two years in the desert region of Ionia training under a man who was a master of the art of Shi An style martial arts which I discovered to be the hand to hand combat while wielding weapons in Zattochi Style. He then wandered here in hopes of learning more.

I wasn't friends with him at first and I didn't ever go easy on him once Reiko accepted him into our school. Despite me being cold and harsh, he somehow managed to slip past my barriers. He was there for me whenever I got injured and whenever I needed an ear, he would always be there. He even supported me when I decided to volunteer at the Institute Of War as a Nurse.

All in all, he's the best friend I've ever had. It was difficult to accept that I felt something for him but if we were found out by the elders, I would never be able to show myself here again as a Kinkou. I looked down and closed my eyes as I scooted away from him and began to eat my food. His face was emotionless but those eyes of his showed the longing he held for me. I knew he had feelings for me for months but I really and truly never had a chance to stop and think about my own feelings until recently. I finished my food and put everything in the tray. To my surprise, he grabbed my hand. I looked to see his eyes hidden beneath his hair.

"Akali...I need to ask you something," he said.

I felt my heart rate double and I struggled to free my hand.

"You've been there for me ever since I first started here...and...I was wondering if maybe..." he began.

He was a whole new level of nervous in his voice.

"You'd...reconsider...to go on a date with me?" he asked.

My hand became still as I looked at his face in surprise. His eyes were shut tightly and the shade of red was evident enough to be seen from a distance. A smile found it's way across my face and the hand he held found it's way to his cheek. He opened his eyes just in time to see me plant a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"Okay," I said.

I knew I turned red from accepting considering that I dismissed his advance one year ago. I turned him down last year because I knew it would interfere with his role as a Summoner in addition to it being hard to mask in the Kinkou school but now...I realized I didn't care if the others found out because...he's the most important person to me besides my mother.

Takashi's POV

I couldn't believe my ears and I had to mentally punch myself in the face to know this was actually happening. One year ago, Akali turned me down but not coldly like those women who enjoyed breaking hearts; it was more like her saying it would be a bad idea at the time. One year later...she accepted. I opened my eyes to see her looking at me with a smile and a deep blush. I embraced her. She flinched at my sudden affection but wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me closer as she let out a heavy breath. This was the first time I ever heard Akali sound nervous. I released her upon noticing footsteps and I nodded as we sat down and pretended to be having a conversation.

The door opened and Kennen stepped in.

"I've been looking for you Akali," he said.

He looked at me and his eyes indicated he was happy to see me.

"We have to go to the League Akali, a summoner contacted me through telepathy and you, Shen and I are needed," he said.

Akali looked at me, her eyes indicating how sorry she was about having to leave.

"I'll join you in a moment Kennen, let me change," she said.

Kennen nodded at her and closed the door. Akali turned back to me.

"Saturday at 7?" I asked.

She smiled again.

"That sounds wonderful," she said.

She rose to her feet.

"Do your best," I said.

She turned to me and smiled before she left the room.

Akali's POV

After all he's gone through and after how close we've gotten over the two years...I had to give him a second chance. Before he was clearly just infatuated with me (especially my looks; Shen never ceased to remind me just how he used to look at me) but now he's matured and he's a lot more wise than he was before. The training he underwent while he's been here has done nothing but harden his resolve despite how tough it is on someone who hasn't been exposed to this from birth like Shen, Kennen and I were.

As I changed into my Kinkou uniform, I thought about what this could mean for us. We'd have to keep it a secret from the higher ups. Shen and Kennen would likely have no problem...in fact Kennen tried to encourage me at first saying that "you don't find someone as balanced as him" much to my chagrin. Though it took me a while to realize them...I've had feelings for him deep down. Symmetry in all things? I suppose this counts as one of those things.