Authors Note: Just letting you all know I don't own Gundam Wing, just the story's plot.
I walked into a stadium, going up the steps; leading my group of friends to the top. At the top there was a row of kneeling Samurai, dressed in both red and white robes. I was dressed in the red of lower ranking samurai, as were my friends. We bowed as was expected while toying with the idea of using my sword; but I rose and respectively kept my head bowed. Upon my group reaching the last white robed samurai the word "attack" was heard and the ringing of swords clashing was heard echoing throughout the stadium. I was able to defend against the white robed samurai closest to me, in the end defeating him, killing him. I then fled from the battle raging in the stadium, towards the main building of the doujou where I lived and studied.
Once inside the door that led from the steps into the doujou's main building, I was attacked again, but this time by a red robed samurai. This one I knew, her name was Michele, once a friend. After a good fight, I killed her, as well. One of the white robed sensei samurai's commented on my good victory, making me feel proud yet sick, as I had just killed a person who I had viewed as a friend.
I ran through the practice rooms of the doujou crying, about having killed twice, my first. In the first few rooms I saw people practicing either hand to hand combat skills or swordsmanship, as I had narrowly avoided being hit with a sword, an a couple of the rooms. In the next room a little girl was being shown dance moves, and how to step quickly in a box, even through my tears I smiled as I remembered the first part of my own training, in that same way; but I kept moving. In the next rooms there were more, older students practicing their swordsmanship.
After exiting the training rooms I entered the restroom. I went to the toilet and sat down crying. A person walked in, surprising me even in my distress. She said something, which drew me out of the stall I was hiding in, because it sounded like a man, in the ladies restroom. Stepping out of the stall I asked, "Who are you?"
He replied, "Duo Maxwell, I may run and hide but I never tell a lie. Who are you; I did not think anyone was in here?"
"My name is Bushi Sakura. I am sorry; I am hiding from the battle, and was in need of time before I returned to it." I responded, as formally as I could.
"Well I just stopped in here to make a quick call to check on the progress of the battle, I got turned around in this building. I am sorry for disturbing you. The battle is over for now, if you are interested in knowing." Duo replied surprising me.
"Thank-you I should go, and find out what I can do now then." I replied, moving towards the exit to leave and go see who among the samurai were left.
Upon exiting I was met by a white robed samurai, I recognized him as one of the leaders of our compound. Upon seeing him I quickly bowed to him formally and greeted him. He responded by asking, "Sakura, you fared well in the battle, not too injured, I hope. I understand you defeated two in mortal combat, you shall have your wounds cleansed and you shall be promoted to a samurai of the white robes, becoming of the samurai ranks. May your honor grow."
I responded with a bow and a quiet, "Thank-you Sensei, you honor me, beyond what I deserve." Accepting my new sword, a full samurai sword, I quickly left to go have some time to meditate and reflect on what has been going on as well as my new station in life, a station I never thought I would be honored to hold.
After I left the white robed samurai watched as Duo came out of the restroom, and greeted him. Duo replied in kind and asked, "Where is Sakura Bushi? She was going to see what she could do to help now that the battle is over."
He explained by saying, "When one is promoted from red robe to white robe samurai after a battle the one who was promoted must go and pray and or meditate for at least five minutes alone, before all the samurai gather to pray for all the battle dead, as well as ourselves who had to take a life.
"Thank-you, please let her know that I would like to talk to her more when she is ready," Duo said, leaving to go find his friends.
When I was finished I quickly joined the other samurai in clearing the remains of the battle so that we could see who we lost. Of the many that were lost in the fighting few were people I had been close to for which I was grateful. The bodies that were at the bottom of the stairs in the stadium and in the entrance to the main building were moved to the top of the stairs were the remains would be identified as well as giving over to the gods.
A white robed samurai, he was easily recognized as the elder white robed samurai in the compound, asked, "Bushi-san please come with me, Heero Yui as well please?"
I responded with a bow and moved to follow, but I saw a young man who had dark brown hair who I could tell was this Heero Yui undecided and called over to him; "Come quickly Heero."
We followed the elder to the morgue, at least the one that had been set up temporarily until we were finished cleaning and taking care of everyone who had died in the battle. When we were there, the elder asked, "Do you know why I asked the two of you here?"
"No Sensei, may I ask why please?" I questioned.
"Yes Bushi-san. I have asked you both here because I need you Bushi-san to give Heero and his group a tour and also keep an eye on them while they are here please help them with anything as it comes up. I thought it better to introduce the two of you here. Bushi Sakura, Yui Heero, Heero Yui; Sakura Bushi. I understand you met one of his team, Duo, who would like to see you again. Have fun Sakura, you have not had much time to do that so enjoy some time with them. Your escape tunnels are well supplied and ready in case anything happens tonight, correct?" The white robed elder asked.
"Yes Sensei. They were restocked yesterday and are fully ready should anything happen tonight." I replied.
"Thank-you Bushi-san, enjoy your evening." The elder responded before leaving.
I turned to this Heero Yui and said, "Yui-san, your team, do you know where they are so we can meet up with them." I was kind of excited to meet up with Duo again I admitted to myself.
"Bushi-san, do you mind if I and my team use your first name I think it would be easier than if we continue to use last names. Yes they are right were we left them before coming here with the elder?" He responded.
I thought over his suggestion quickly before replying; "That would be fine Heero-san, let us go and return so that we may begin."
We had returned to the doujou area were we had left his team. Heero said, "This is Bushi Sakura, she has given us permission to use her first name. She'll be helping while we stay here. Sakura, you've met Duo before, next to Duo you have Trowa Barton, Quatre Winner, and Wufei Chang."
"Hajimemashite." I said softly giving a quick bow to the group, before continuing, "Shall I give you a tour first?"
"A tour would be wonderful, please lead on Sakura." Duo responded.
I lead the group around the compound, often pointing out places of interest. In the last room that I was going to show them on this tour I was surprised to find a young girl in the room. "Kiseki, what are you doing in here alone, do you not have a class right now?" I asked her.
"Please do not be angry, Bushi-san." Kiseki said, "My class was dismissed at the beginning of the battle, I was told to come here to hide, as Sensei Shiro. He said he would come and get me when it was over and we would finish my lesson then." Kiseki finished with her head bowed.
"Kiseki," I said with a smile on my face, "I can not be angry at you imouto-chan. It is alright, let me introduce you to my companions and then we will go see if we can find Sensei Shiro, alright?"
"Yes, Oneechan." Kiseki replied, feeling beter about what was going on.
"Alright, Duo Maxwell, the one with the braid, next to him is Heero Yui, Wufei Chang, Trowa Barton, and Quatre Winner. Now let us continue on and try to find Sensei Shiro." I said, in a happy trill.
Shortly we had wondered back to the front of the building where we found several white robed samurai, who I caught up to and respectfully asked, "Sensei do any of you know where Shiro-Sensei is?"
"Sakura! I am glad you are alright, is Kiseki alright? We haven't seen him but we heard from elder that Shiro-Sensei is no longer among the living, not to long ago, but he was clearly worried about Kiseki who was supposed to be with him." One of the group said, relief evident on his young face.
"Ani-san! Kiseki is fine, she is with me, I found her while taking Heero and his friends around the compound and we thought we would look for Shiro-Sensei because he was supposed to come and get her when the battle was finished." I replied, happily moving closer to my brother.
"Kiseki, Heero, Duo, Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei, come over here!" Kenji called, waving them all over.
"Ani-san!" Kiseki called and came running over followed more slowly by Heero and his group.
Over the course of the day I had learned that Wufei was an accomplished swordsman, and I had asked if he would like to practice some with a practice bout after the tour was over. He had agreed so now that we had met up with my brother and the tour was over he asked, "Not to be rude Sakura-san, but are you sure you wouldn't mind having that practice bout?"
"I would enjoy it very much and not mind at all." I responded happily.
Kenji of course just laughed at our conversation, before saying, "Sakura, be careful, do not get hurt. Good luck Wufei."
He used a wooden version of his sword and I a wooden version of mine, which Kenji found and handed to us for the match. After many blows between us he tried a move that with a true sword would cut a person in half but I easily dodged the sword and tripped him, putting him on his back with me over him and my sword at his throat. To which he yielded and Kenji just smiled. While trying to keep Kiseki from falling over in laughter, at the way the match had ended.
Shortly after we finished it was dinner time and so we all went to the dining area to enjoy our meal of rice and fish. Before calling it a night we gathered in the common room closest to where we all would be sleeping to just hang out before bed. As we were sitting there Duo said, "I think Quatre is most like you Sakura, expect he's the youngest and he does not have any older brothers."
"Very interesting Duo," I responded. During the course of the conversation that was started all because Duo said that I learned that most of their group thought that if one of them was to win my heart it would be either Quatre or Trowa, or possibly Wufei who I also learned held a grudging respect for me, especially after our match before dinner. Soon our conversation was interrupted frequently by yawns so I showed them where they would be sleeping tonight. Before they entered their shared room, Heero asked, "Should we keep our weapons with us tonight?"
"Keep them close, we do not know if we will be attacked during the night but it would be better to be safe rather than sorry. I'll be in the next room if you need anything tonight. If anything happens I'll be over to get you all. Good night, sleep well." I said, before heading to my room.
"Good night, sleep well." Duo responded before he turned into the room with the others, to turn in for the night, I could only hope that we would have a quiet night.