The Way of the Sword

A Naruto fanfiction, By Serenanna

Lesson 10, Gaiden – A New Chapter

Warnings and Disclaimers: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters. I'm just borrowing them to play with. I'll return them later, promise. There is adult content, and sexual situations in this story involving sharp, pointy objects. So, if you're under 18, leave now before your virgin eyes are scarred forever, if you're over 18, enjoy!

Story Notes: This is a Kakashi/Sakura fic, while other pairings may come and go. This story is a continuation of Ronsmyhero's Respect and Understanding. Reading that fic is a good idea in order to understand this one as there will be references from it. It was with her knowledge and stamp of approval . . . but I've since lost contact with her (Ronsmyhero, if you're reading this, e-mail me!). Mulling my options, I am going to continue as planned.

In case she ever makes her own sequel, this is an AU take. I know a fanfic of a fanfic probably isn't a good idea, but I'm giving it a whirl. Ronsmyhero, this is in honor of you.

This part is taking a break from the main plot to delve into Takeo's imagination, which is why it's being bundled with lesson 10 as a gaiden. If that sounds weird, you'll see why as soon as you read. Just indulge the authoress a little eh? Also, to all the fantasy nuts and Dungeons and Dragons-playing crazies in the readership, this is a good chapter to play spot the reference and the anagrams. In jokes will abound.

All warnings and such still apply! Refer to other chapters for full notes.


Takeo closed the apartment door behind him, and glanced around at the darkness. In his entire existence, that one evening felt like his happiest moments in . . . forever. When had he laughed so much last? Or flirted with a woman that much last? Or the last time he didn't entirely clam up about himself? Or didn't try to run? For one night, he had felt at peace with himself enough that he could almost feel like a normal person.

But the night was over, and Takeo wasn't sure how he should have felt about it. On any other day, he would have been relieved to be out of the public eye. But, now that he was home, it didn't exactly feel like the place he remembered leaving. Something felt like it was missing or someone more specifically. He had a friend, that much was for sure, but a feeling nagged at him when he thought about the certain woman he could now call friend. The more she went through his head, the more interesting the feeling became and the more pain it brought, especially when he thought back to her hands.

What the hell was wrong with him?

Taking a step forward, he flicked on the switch of a burnished lamp sitting on his desk, bathing the room in golden light, and began to pace. Back and forth Takeo went, mulling over a certain kunoichi with purple hair. Lavender and vanilla, sweet and clean, he could still remember that scent. He nibbled on his lower lip nervously, sure that he could even still taste her skin from where he had kissed her hand and wrist.

What the hell was he thinking?

The heavy tread of his sandals stopped on the hardwood floor. He had kissed the inside of Sasaki's wrist, and she had absolutely no idea of the meaning behind it. At the time, the action had felt good, really good, like he's been waiting to do that since meeting her. And to Takeo, it felt worth every second, including the slap he'd be getting if she ever figured out that a kiss that particular spot was meant as a come on. Ok, so maybe the slap wouldn't be worth it as he started to pace again, but for the moment, getting slapped by the sword-wielder had its appeal too.

He stopped again. Since when had he started thinking about her like that, wanting her to touch him? Then again, the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to touch her too, and to taste her skin again, breath in her scent, hear her laughing at his joke, smiling at him with those big, dark eyes shining.

The tightening pain in his chest didn't let go until he came to the realization that there was something very un-friend-like in the way he thought about Sasaki. With a frustrated stomp, Takeo pulled and clawed at his long hair with a rough shake, utterly ruining the once neat ponytail, "Gah! I didn't want you in my head in the first place!"

But, alas, the memories of the kunoichi stuck, weighing heavily enough that he collapsed into his desk chair with an exhausted huff.

He hunched over, brooding with his arms propped on his knees with his head in his hands. This was bad, very bad. What had started as a simple case of mutual curiosity had pried open the last of a series of emotions he never wanted to encounter. This was not happening to him. He wasn't in love. And even if love did pushed at him, he could and would push back, no matter deep into denial it drove him. It wasn't love he felt for her . . . It wasn't lust either.

It could not be anything else but his heart conspiring with his body against him. He didn't like her like that, couldn't like her like that, or at least that was what he kept telling himself. No matter how wonderful, beautiful, strong, incredible Sasaki was, no matter memorable the night had been, and no matter how he felt about seeing her again when training resumed, he would not screw their friendship up so completely or so soon with something called love. Takeo nodded emphatically to himself, conviction keeping his head moving in agreement.

There was nothing there in her smiles or stares anyway to tell him that what he was feeling was mutual, no desire for more. If there was, he didn't notice it, and if she ever did decide to show interest, he would ignore it. Sex, women, and love were the last things he needed screwing his life over. Beside, when was the last time any relationship he ever had went right to begin with? Something always happened. It was almost inevitable as he winced in recollection, and usually involved his past in one way or another. He frowned. Sasaki may not have known his past, or may have claimed she didn't care, but she would care once she ever found out the truth. The very thought made his frown deepen. What was the use of getting his hopes up that this time could be different when they could be shattered so easily with one admission?

And yet, the feeling of mutual pain and elation still pricked at him the longer his thoughts centered on her, leaving the ninja growling in frustration, "Women . . . as infectious as a damned virus . . . I can't believe I called her my heroine. How corny can I be?"

Sighing, he slumped back in the chair and stared up at the ceiling, watching the shadows. What was he going to do about her? What could he do?

Could they go back to being just teammate? Unlikely.

Could he even go forward with a relationship if the feeling didn't go away? Very unlikely.

Could they just be friends? Takeo had absolutely no idea, even if that had been his purpose all along, to be just friends with her.

What was he going to do when he did see Sasaki again? Could he even handle training with her, watching her dance around him, figuratively, in those body hugging ANBU outfits? He groaned, pounding his forehead with the heel of his palm to purge that image from his head. There had to be a way to get his thoughts of her out of his system, discreetly.

The only thing that came to mind immediately was masturbation, but somehow he knew that would just make the problem worse.

Takeo kicked at the floor, rubber sole of his sandal sliding suddenly on one of the fallen pages from earlier. Curiously, he looked down at the freshly scuffed piece of paper, squinting as he read a part of the handwritten passage without his glasses. When finished, the dark-haired man scowled to himself. No wonder he'd been so disgusted with it earlier. The characters were as flat as what it was written on. With a resigned murmur and a groan, he bent over to pick up the papers, tossing them haphazardly onto the worn desk. Maybe he could salvage it in the morning when he could think straighter and without at least three cups of sake in his system.

Getting up from the chair and rubbing his temples, Takeo shuffled across the floor, stopping only when he reached the bedroom door to remove his tall sandals and toss them aside. He moved just inside the doorway when he stopped cold, some fuzzy thought jolting the back of his mind. Sapphire eyes widening, the thought turned into an idea that hit him like a hammer to the head.

She could be his heroine, literally.

It was a crazy idea, but it just might work. Sasaki was perfect already as a character, hell, so were half the people in the village. Why should he struggle developing fake people when he had a whole town full of them to study and borrow from? No one really read his books anyway, especially his teammates. Parts of himself and his past already seemed to invade his writing anyway, so why not consciously make those choices? Takeo drummed his fingers on the door frame as his thoughts went deeper. He just needed a plot. He needed something epic, romantic, with intrigue and action, and something more realistic than what he'd written previously. He needed a plot without dragons, unlike the last series. That one had gotten old quickly in the second book after he changed plot to the one about that second city under siege by the fire-breathing plot devices. Usually, plots just came to him and stuck like glue.

Yet, nothing else brilliant seemed like it was coming to him the longer he stood there.

Grumbling and shaking his head, Takeo wandered into the bedroom, stripping as he went, "Morning, morning is good. It's not like a plot is just going to jump up and scream write me."

And yet as walked naked to and from the dark bedroom after retrieving his reading glasses, that was almost what happened. As he went to grab the pair of worn-out sweatpants he wore earlier from the floor, he stopped while noticing something, "How did-?"

It was a book that had somehow fallen under his bed, now covered in dust bunnies.

Picking up both the pants and the old book, he tossed the former onto the covers before sitting down, thumbing the pages. Vaguely, the ninja started to remember what exact that particular novel was about even if he didn't remember ever dropping it under his bed. It wasn't a bad book either, about a team of thieves that rescued a princess caught in a civil war. The entire set up was as clichéd as it could possibly get, with nutty mages, magically fixed plot holes, and a sappy, tacked on romantic sub plot, but the writing was good, better than his at that time and place. That had been a while ago, years ago, and he'd improved since, or so he liked to think.

Takeo flipped another a few pages, and read, stopping only to pull on his pants and to walk back towards his desk. If he could update the plot, throw out the clichés, and twist the flow of the story to where it fit the characters in his head . . .

He stopped in the middle of the floor and suddenly tossed the book aside, knocking it into another shelf. Moving quickly, he grabbed the remains of the one destroyed manuscript and dumped it in an empty box. In a matter of a minute, he sat down with a fresh supply of black pens and an empty notebook in front of him. This time, it would be a good story. He was sure of it. And it would start like any other adventure, like that night in his life was supposed to start, in a bar among friends . . .


He winced at the sounds of the brawl emanating from the rest of the tavern below them. There we decided perks to being friends and good patrons of the owner of the most well-trafficked dives in all of Rainhaven, one of which was good seats away from rowdy, drunken masses. Of course, that was the beauty of a place like Acamikhi Hall, for a fee or a favor, the best of the city could co-exist with the worst with only a staircase and a band of well-paid half-orc bouncers to separate the two. There were decided perks indeed. He leaned over the railing, an elbow propping up his chin as he watched the fight with idle fascination. Why was it that fights broke out regularly like that anyway? It wasn't like they solved anything, or that there was honor in the challenge, or that anyone came out the clear victor.

The dark-haired man sighed, frowning. At least the noise wouldn't last too long now that the bouncers had sprung into action. It was too bad really. The fight was getting kind of interesting compared to the other amusements that resided around the bar. It was one of those night where not even an ale or a smoldering glance from a bar wench could peek his interest. He had no reason to be uninterested either. The day had been a good one. The bandits they were after had been found, dispatched, or turned in without any of his company being injured. Their client was supremely happy with their effectiveness and rewarded them more than the original agreement. And on top of it all, they could use the pay to relax and not have to worry about finding another job.

That was if they didn't blow it all on food, drink, lodging, and baths first. Being a sword-for-hire was more expensive than regular folks thought, and paid less, not to mention the income wasn't even remotely steady. He grumbled, ruffling a handful of long, pitch-black hair in annoyance. Why would he be interested in women or drink when there were such other pleasant diverting matters to think about anyway?

"Hey Tacao! Quit moping and join us already!" a feminine voice yelled across the expansive landing, ending with a giggle that was too tipsy to be sober.

Then again, there was also the sickening fascination that came over him everything he watched his friend make a drunken fool of himself with their feisty female 'follower'. Well, ok, so Saruka made the third member of their duo for about three years now, but that didn't mean she was a part of them, really? Tacao turned around slowly as the giggling increased followed by a dark chuckle that was too indiscreet for public. From the way the petite human woman hung all over the lap and torso of the much taller, and older, elf, it was really too intimate a position they were in for him to continue to think of her as a separate entity in the party. On the plus side, watching the two of them knee-deep in the drink and each other reminded him so much of why he tried to avoid both indulgences, except in moderation.

After a year of putting up with them, he wouldn't have been surprised if they took their clothes off and tumbled together right there. Nothing they did anymore could shock him more than the initial realization that his two friends were more that just friends with each other. It had been a morning like any other in another town in another inn and on another mission when he made his discovery. She was gone from her room when he went to check on her before breakfast. He panicked like it was the most natural thing in the world, only to find her in the elf's bed, quite naked, when he went to tell his friend. How in the void was he supposed to know that Saruka has snuck into Kashi's room in the middle of the night? How also was he to know they'd been doing it for at least three to four month already on a daily basis? Really, he couldn't tell there was any sexual tension between them till it was up and shoved itself in his face.

He'd never pictured that his friend would fall for the pink-haired sword vixen either, especially with as much trouble as she had given them in the past.

That hair had been the trait that betrayed her lineage each and every time they ran into trouble, as lovely as that fall colored the perfect shade of peony pink it was. If it had been any other color, no one would have suspected that she was the daughter of Ruhano, the deceased barbarian Greatking of the eastern country of Wavecrest. After her father was killed, Saruka had run from her tribe and the usurper that took command of her people by force. Her tale hadn't surprised either of them when they helped her fend off a horde of would-be assassins that had followed her. What did surprise them was her insistence that she follow them in exchange for help in drumming up support for her cause of taking back her father's throne. Honor dictated that she had to avenge her family, and by honor, she would do just that for her people. After three years though, they were no closer to that goal then they had been that day, and all they seemed to get in return was one group or another of attackers after the princess.

It was all the elf's fault that the girl was tangled up with them.

Kashi must have been smitten with her immediately as he said agreed to test her battle competency without hesitation. With that hair, those jade green eyes with their wide stare, that alabaster skin as clear as water, a stature as dainty as a fae maiden, a figure could put both goddesses of lust and the sword to shame, a temper more fiery than a forge fire, and a punch that could snap most men in half, who wouldn't be at once both attracted and repelled by her? After she had passed the test easily, Tacao had been weary of her since beautiful women tended to be a lonely man's downfall, but since she proved more than her worth in combat and as an herbalist and medic, Saruka was too useful to be left on her own. Besides, Kashi's word was final among the three of them, and now that he was lovers with the girl . . .

Arms crossed over his chest, Tacao's eyes drifted over to their leader, Kashi, his friend, mentor, and hero. Even if he didn't like Saruka for all the trouble she attracted, he could never tell his friend otherwise. He owed the man too much, including his life. It happened when Tacao was twelve and his family's farm was raided. His father had died fending off the bandits and his mother fell when they broke into the house. He had gone off into the forest before the raid to check the animal traps. If he had stayed there that day, if he hadn't mulled his father's order, what could have happened? When arrived back at the farm, the house was on fire. The bandits were still there, gathered around his two younger sisters whom they'd drug up from hiding in the cellar, and their intent was clear.

He started to charge towards them across the clearing, knowing he'd probably be killed in the attempt anyway, when something shoved him off his feet. A dark shadow whirled past him and into the midst of the raiders. One by one they fell dead, turning the dirt red with blood. When the last man had dropped to the ground, there was only one person left standing, an elf with silver hair and mismatched eyes, masked and dressed in perfect black as if he was part of the shadows itself.

On the worst day of his life, he had met the person who changed it from a simple existence to something more. That was how he became indebted to Kashi Takeha, master of the Elven Thinblade duel-wield style.

As Tacao learned that night, Kashi was hired by the village down the road to find and kill the bandits plaguing them. He was late, a constant problem with tardiness he had when left to his own devices, but at least he was on time to save someone for once. The elf dropped the three children off in the village where they were taken in . . . except that wasn't where Tacao wanted to stay the rest of his. At first, he hadn't wanted to hear anything about life debts or students or anything of the kind from the kid. But, there must have been something in what he said that wore the elf down to agreeing to at least test his worthiness as an apprentice that many years ago. He passed the test, of course, but it wasn't easy, and once he left his sisters behind, their time training wasn't a pleasant learning experience either.

Still, he didn't regret the choice he made, ever. Not even now that they were living from pay day to pay day. At least his two friends were happy about their existence since they had each other, intimately, no matter how often he felt like the odd man out in their lives. Saruka giggled again as Kashi whispered something into her ear, both of them eyeing the human man with the dark hair leaning back on the railing. Tacao's eyes rolled in the knowledge that he was the one they were laughing over, "What did he tell you now, Pinkie? Something along the lines that I should hire a woman?"

"More like you'd attract more women if you keep pouting like that. He's right too. You are kind of cute when you're grumpy . . . for a sour puss, of course" she laughed, grinning wickedly as she curled all over the elf's body like a living accessory. The man didn't seem to mind even if his pointed ears turned a hue as pink as Saruka's hair. It still amazed him that the one woman could his once stoic, sometimes silent, and somewhat sarcastic sensei into complete and utter mush with just her presence. Then again the elf had destroyed his heroic image with his student long ago. He was, after all, as imperfect as the next man. Tacao smirked, watching with only mild interest at the snuggling pair, "Kashi, how did she ever pass your accursed test with those damned bells anyway?"

She opened her mouth, about to answer, when she yelped in a high-pitched squeal instead, swatting a hand from her rear. The elf chuckled, reaching across for a large mug of ale, "That's for me to know and you to never find out."

Suddenly Tacao had a very good idea on how Saruka did pass the test. His eyes rolled upwards, about to turn away from them again when the woman asked another question, "Really, what's got you down tonight? It was a good day after all, made some money, saved some people, and none of us got hurt, so what's nipping at you?"

"Poverty."

The elf snorted, "Of course, like roughing it a little has ever been a problem before."

"I don't need money to be happy," Saruka said with a languid stretch before turning to her silver-haired lover with a look of total adoration, "I have all I need to be happy."

From the way his one dark eye and one red eye marred by a long scar creased, the elf agreed with her. Tacao frowned, smelling the hypocrisy thick in the air like blood, "What about your birthright, oh great dethroned princess? You cannot tell me you've decided to give that up."

She sat up as straight as a rod at the accusation, chin proudly risen and arms fold matter-of-factly over her chainmail clad chest, "That has nothing to do with money or my happiness. It is my duty to my people to kill that usurper and avenge the proud name of my clan . . . I just need some time to persuade the people I need to persuade."

"And till then, Saruka, someone needs to keep you in skimpy chainmail dresses and short leather skirts."

The barbarian princess huffed, getting up from Kashi's lap to take a seat again next to him. Pointedly ignoring both men, she took a hold of the onyx-hilted bastard sword that looked about a hand taller than she was from where it leaned again the table. Effortlessly, she swung the blade precisely around her hand and set it down across the surface with a heavy, rattling thud. Seconds later, she produced a dirty pink rag and bottle of oil from her pack then proceeded to wipe down the blade with a methodical precision that only came over her when she was truly angry. The elf glared at his human student, arms crossed, "This is your fault."

Tacao groaned, "I didn't mean it like that, Saruka."

"Sounded like you did from here," she muttered under her breath, not ignoring him after all.

"You know what I meant. You both do. It isn't about the money, not really."

She whipped the rag down on the table and leaned back with a heavy sigh, "Then what is it about then, because I for one am dying to know what goes on in that little head of yours?"

Tacao walked across the landing and turned a chair backwards, straddling it as he took a seat, "Bigger jobs are usually the ones that make a difference. I feel like we're going in circles, no further to any of our goals than the day we all joined up, I want-."

"You want something more, don't you? Like being a hero?" Kashi asked, one eyebrow quirked. His face fell, fidgeting on the chair nervously. His mentor didn't have to put it quite like that, but yes, it had been something of goal of his, much to the elf's disappointment. And that disappointment was clear on the silver-haired man's face and in the droop of his pointed ears, "How many times do I have to tell you that ideals won't make you think clearly about dangerous situations? Just because something appears to be happening one way doesn't mean it's really happening in the context you think."

"I know, teacher, but you've also said to follow your gut instinct before as well, and my gut is telling me that I'm meant for more than retrieving stolen property or killing bandits. It's good work but . . ."

"It's not one of those sappy things those annoying bards romanticize about," Saruka smirked, shaking her head and wiping the oil into the steel for vigorously, "I personally still feel you just need to find some pretty wench and get laid then you might not be so lonely."

Tacao's eyes rolled, "Since went have you been getting relationship advice from Enma and Okna?"

"Since their advice wore down Kashi's rough exterior."

"I'm still at the table, blossom," the elf grumbled, putting his ale back down before turning to his friend, "She has a point though. A woman could solve all your idealistic problems. I've learned the hard way that a life of celibacy can lead to all sorts of disasters."

"Like falling for feisty, pink-haired barbarian women?"

"Exactly."

The rag whipped through the air at the both of them, nearly knocking over the drinks, "Hey! I'm still at this table too! You both should be grateful I allow you to protect me when you both know I can knock you two into the middle of next week! And another thing-!"

Before her tirade could build up more speed and momentum, Kashi cut her off but grabbed her around the waist, hauling her off the chair and back onto his lap. The scream she gave was almost deafening, but thankfully she stopped as soon as his arms locked over her squirming figure. With a heavy sigh, it was abundantly clear to the sword maid that she wasn't going anywhere any time too, "Pointy-eared bastard."

An amused smile crossed Tacao's face. Maybe they both had a point in what they said. Could he be as happy as they were with a woman in his life? He didn't know, and part of him was sure it wouldn't change a thing of how he'd been feeling lately. There had to be something more out there, waiting for him to get off his duff and do something about it. He could almost feel his threads being spun and plucked, as if it was Fate working her magic over him. For once, he wished that something would happen to change his life over again, but in a way worth remembering. He looked down at the mug of ale he had drunken from earlier, and found it emptier than when he left it. Tacao glanced at the elf and the woman, who both shrugged. Of course none of them would admit to drinking it, neither of them had before. Grumbling, he got back up to his feet with the empty mug in hand, "I'll be back. I need another drink."

"Pick me up three more will you?" Saruka yelled after him. About halfway to the stairs, he turned back to wave in acknowledgement when someone slammed into him, knocking him clear off his feet. Whoever it was tumbled down with him, what felt like plate armor ramming into his gut. The world blackened a moment. No, wait, it hadn't. He knew that much as his head cleared. Instead, the world stared back at him in the form of the darkest pair of eyes he'd ever seen surrounded by long, sooty lashes and pale skin marred by a deep flush, "Woah."

Purple hair the perfect shade of violets fell in a thick braid from underneath the hooded cloak as the person struggled to get off of him. Takao then realized his hand was on a metal-covered chest too full and round to be that of a man. It was a woman, a beautiful woman from what he'd seen of her face before she turned away. He slid out from under her and surged back to his feet quickly, pulling her up by the forearm as well, "I'm terribly sorry. Are you alright?"

The woman gawked at him, dark eyes blinking blankly, before a shout went up from the floor below, "In the name of the Imperial Order, hold that woman!"

Looking over the railing, a troop of men in plate and blue tabards pushed past the hall's bouncers, clamoring up the staircase. There had to be at least a dozen of them, and all were outfitted in the same uniforms as the Imperial Temple guards. If that many were after this woman, then she must have been in very big trouble. The purple-haired woman twisted in his grip, trying to break free and run even as he held her back. "Let me go!" she cried out, frantically pulling at the hold on her wrist, "Please, let me go!"

"What do they want with you?!"

"I don't have time to tell you! Now, let go!"

"Not till you tell me!"

She wheeled on him, the cloak's hood flying down. Her dark eyes fell to the two thinblades strapped to his legs, "You fight?"

Tacao then noticed the longsword sheathed in a doubled wrapped belt over her hips, along with the mixture of chainmail and plate she was clad in, "And you don't?"

"I don't have time for this," the woman murmured as she pulled the blade free, "They'll kill me if they catch me unless I kill them first, so help me fight them off or get out of the way!"

Tacao's hand sprung open and not a moment too soon as a sword sliced between where they stood.

The entire landing suddenly seemed to notice that there was a battle starting and collectively panicked.

In his peripheral vision, he could see Saruka leap up onto the table, her massive weapon in hand, and heard the hiss of Kashi's short, thin blades being drawn. The air by Tacao's head whirled and he ducked just in time to avoid the mace aim for him. With a swift, sweeping kick, he knocked the man off his feet. The body came crashing down, slamming into another guard as they were both bowled over. He looked up to see the purple-haired woman dive into the thick of the oncoming crowd, "Where are you going?!"

How had he gotten them into this mess?

Tacao leaped back up and pulled his thinblades loose, following after her as the guards charged towards them. He could barely keep up as she seemed to dance among opponents towards the center of their midst. It didn't seem like she was heading for the stairs. Where was she doing? Those she turned aside turned themselves towards him, striking the floor or air as he dodged their blows and parried their blades. The point of one of his swords cleanly skewered one through the side of his chainmail, making him wince as he heard the man gurgle blood. He tried to pull the blade free again as the body sunk to the floor, but it became hooked on the broken links. Taking advantage of the situation, another guard chopped downwards. Tacao barely got how sword up in time to block the shot, unable to block all of it as the sharp edge bit into his shoulder. He cried out in pain as he was forced to his knees.

This could not be happening. So much for fate after all. Gritting his teeth, ripped his other sword free and jabbed at his oppressor up and sideways. The sharp tip easily slid underneath the breastplate and into flesh. The pressure threatening to chop his arm off suddenly let up as he pushed the dying man aside. Standing up again, he couldn't see anyone immediately coming towards him as the majority of guards crowded around the cloaked woman while Saruka and Kashi were trying to break through towards them. There was no way he'd be able to break through that many men to save her.

Suddenly, Tacao could feel the air snap with a pull of magic. There was a mage among them? Only a talented few ever learned spellcraft. The knowledge of the weave was jealously guarded by the priests and priestesses of the Imperial Temple, who taught and governed the entire country of Waterhold. One had to become a devotee to that ruling religion or already be a part of the nobility. He'd only felt it once before, when they fought a mage that had stolen another mage's something-or-other. It didn't matter what magical thing it was as they were just paid to retrieve it, some stupid little crystal globe. And yet, they'd barely made it out that time. Tacao never wanted another job dealing with magic again, but there it was, ripping through his spirit once more.

He glanced around trying to find the mage in the crowd, but then stopped as his eyes met the dark pair of the lady. A touch of fire danced in her obsidian depths and suddenly the room felt warmer. She pivoted, raising the sword high and across her body while looking directly at him from across the room. Suddenly, her head bowed quickly in a jerk. What was she trying to tell him? The blade in her hands glowed, growing brighter by the second until it took on the same burning red-orange as freshly-forged steel. Tacao's sapphire eyes widened, "Oh shit . . ."

Kashi must have seen it too as he suddenly ducked, pulling Saruka to the floor with him, "Tacao! Down, now!"

The human man dropped into a curled up ball. All around him the air cracked and hissed, mixing with the ongoing shouts and screams before it was all silenced with a blast overhead. He could feel the rush of heat over his back, and he hazarded to look up. A wave of flames rushed forth from the woman's sword in as an arc as she slashed through the air of the guards surrounding her. The fires engulfed the men with devastating results as they dropped with piercing screams from burnt fabric and melting metal. Too soon though, the cries of pain stilled and a deadly silence fell over the entire tavern.

Tacao looked up to see the woman in the middle of it all, her longsword lowered and smoking as she panted, wobbling slightly on her feet. She looked at him and gave a wane smile. In spite of the carnage she had just wrought, he smiled back. She laughed softly, deliriously, and then abruptly stopped. Her eyes rolled upwards into the back of her head. Dropping his blades, he leapt to his feet and rushed forward to grab her as she collapsed, dropping into his arms like a dead weight. Caught under her body, he sunk again to the floor, holding the passed out woman to him. Who was she?

Hearing steps around him, the dark-haired man looked up to see Kashi looming over them, frowning in disapproval, "I hope you're very happy in your choice of pretty women. She looks like a handful."

Tacao scowled, "Oh do shut up?"

The peevish look on his face turned into contorted mask of pain, hissing as something unbearably cold touched his bleeding shoulder, "Damnit, Saruka! Warn me next time!"

He looked over to see the barbarian woman pressing the rag into the wound, the scent of herbs and blood drifting upwards. She smirked, pulling another bottle filled with a murky concoction from her bag. Tacao hissed at the astringent sting as she squirted the liquid on his wound, "Don't be such a baby. I've patched you up how many times now?"

"I try not to keep count . . ." he grumbled, looking down at the unconscious woman. Kashi was right. She was pretty, ok, not merely pretty, beautiful was a better description even if he felt it was overused. How could such a woman who looked so fragile when she was out cold pack such a punch? And with magic no less? Whatever she had done with that fire and her weapon was not something he had seen before. Mages did not fight like they did, but she combined the two. Tacao winced as he felt a cold paste being smeared across his shoulder followed by linen bandages. "No more being a hero for you tonight," Saruka scolded him before moving around to look at the woman he held, brushing purple hair from her face, "Fainted . . . must be exhaustion."

"What in the void have you three done now?!" a gruff voice shouted from stairs as the stunned crowd stirred. Tacao looked up to see an overweight dwarf glaring angrily at them then down at their attackers.

Normally, Jichou Acamikhi appeared as a gregarious fellow before the patrons of his tavern, with his thick brown hair and beard permanently unkempt, rotund body, short stature, and over indulgent appetite. He was without a doubt usually the easiest man to please in all of Rainhaven so long as you were pleasing him with ale in one hand and a plate full of roasted meat in the other. Actually, anything edible in one's hand would give you the tavern keeper's undivided attention. It was part of why he ran the family's ale hall. He liked the business the most and spent all of his time there anyway. And normally, the three of them, Kashi, Saruka, and Tacao, knew just how to please the dwarf by bringing back any exotic delicacies they could to curry favor. Elven chocolate truffles had gotten them up on the landing that night, and from the way Jichou steamed nearly out his ears, more truffles wouldn't help to get him to calm down any, "I knew it! I knew you're all a lot of trouble! I'm going to have Imperials breathing down my neck for sure! And for truffles!"

Kashi moved to intercept him, mismatched eyes creasing, "We're really very sorry for the mess. You see these gentlemen just wouldn't let us buy them drinks and discuss our problems, and the bouncers were no use, so-."

"Save it, you lanky, pointy-eared sneak thief! I am not listening to your canned excuses this time! Every time you three cause a problem, my damage bills go up! If it weren't for those golden goddess apples from Flametree, I'd never let you back in again, just-! Argh!" the dwarfed stomped angrily, pointing towards a set of back stairs in the far corner, "Go, now, before more of them show up, and take that girl with you!"

Tacao started to get up, hauling the woman up with him and moving her till she was carried across his uninjured shoulder, "He's right, we need to go."

A pale eyebrow shot up on the elf's face, "You sure, lad? Those weren't even regular city guards . . ."

"I know."

"And they only want the girl . . ."

"I know . . ."

"Ah, such as well, we'll never be able to show our faces in this town again for a while," he moped, picking up their fallen weapons, "Might as well bring along another mouth to feed. She might even be useful."

"And I really like the mead here too," Saruka scowled, already moving to grab their gear, "She better be extremely nice when she wakes up, or I'm going to be the one pissed enough to skin a cat."

The three of them moved quickly, the crowd parting in their wake as they emerged into the night on top of the steps. Instead of taking them back down to the street, Kashi leapt onto the hand railed and kicked off of the wood to land on the tavern's roof easily, "We'll take to the sky route. Guards won't follow up here. Step quickly."

Saruka and Tacao followed, the latter with more difficulty as the body on his shoulder suddenly shifted. "Got her, tallness?" the petite woman asked, starting across the rooftop.

"Sure thing, short stuff," he chuckled, "Light as a feather."

"Your feather wears a tin can." Kashi added, moving after her.

He stood on the ledge, watching them walk off, and snorted in derision. As typical, he brought up the rear. Tacao took a step to follow when the shifting body became more jarring; threatening to spill them both off the roof, "What the-?"

"Put me down!" the woman's voice squeaked as feet thrashed against his thigh. He unceremoniously dumped her onto the tiled roof, a loud thud sounding through the ceramics. Kashi quickly turned back, glaring at him while hissing, "Tacao! I suggest keeping it down unless you do want to get us all pinched!"

He shrugged helplessly, motioning towards the fallen woman as she flapped her cloak in aggravation, "You could have been more gentle, you brute! How in the hells did I get up here?! And who are you?"

The pink-haired barbarian shouldered her pack and heavy sword harness, frowning deeply at the pair, "We'd like to ask you a similar question or twenty?"

The purple-haired woman just glared back, "I don't have to tell the three of you anything."

Tacao winced as Saruka started to growl. Growling from the little woman of their troupe was never good, especially when it was directed at another female. Before violence become anything but a palpable feeling in the air, Kashi put a hand on his lover's shoulder, forcing her back down. The elf then took a step forward, hanging over her as he stared down. She didn't wither or look away under a gaze that Tacao knew could reduce most bandits they encountered to pleading for mercy. "Kashi . . . don't . . ." the dark-haired warned, hesitantly moving sideways, "She's just scared . . ."

The elf's eyes stopped looking so dangerous and creased, too happily, "I'm sure she is, but she still has to talk."

"You can't make me do-."

The silver-haired man's thinblade sliced through the air, stopping at the woman's throat, "You are in no position to remain silent."

She gulped, "Leave me then. I'll only bring you all more trouble. I've made it this far on my own . . ."

"A wise choice," Kashi said, sheathing the short sword as he turned away, "Leave her then."

"Thank you gods and divinities above," Saruka muttered under her breath.

"But we can't just leave her!" Tacao shouted, following as they moved towards another roof at a quicker pace.

"She's made her choice, and she's more that capable of taking care of herself with that finger-waggling mumbo-jumbo and superior sword skills."

"But . . ." he slowed down as they jumped across, stopping at the edge, "I didn't even get her name . . ."

"Saiki . . . my name is Saiki."

The dark-haired man slowly turned, glancing over his shoulder. She smiled at him, pulling up her hood before looking down, "Thank you, for helping me back there . . . and I'm sorry, for causing you and your friends trouble in the first place."

Despite of how much trouble she had caused them, and the lovely attitude moments ago, Tacao couldn't stop the goofy grin that spread across his face, "It's alright, trouble seems to find us anyway when we least want it . . . Are you sure you'll be alright on your own? Imperials are bad news to most people."

A look of fear crossed her black eyes, or was it disappointment he saw. Somehow, he couldn't tell the difference. No sooner had he seen it on her face when she turned away, walking back towards the stairwell, "Your friend, Kashi was it? He's right. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself to get where I'm going. I need to do this, but it won't be easy. Not much of a choice I'm afraid. Besides, it'll only bring you greater trouble."

Tacao's eyebrows knitted together, puzzled as he stopped following his friends to follow her instead, "Hey, let us decide for ourselves what's worth the trouble or not. Where are you going anyway?"

"To Flametree, to see Queen Unna-day."

Kashi stopped mid-step as he was nearly halfway across the next roof over, his pointed ears twitching at the name. For once he wanted to curse his excellent hearing, "The Goddess of the Leaves? You're going to see her?"

The cloaked woman blinked at the elf then nodded. A long stream of curses flew from his mouth, half of them not sounding so rough as they flowed in the lyrical tongue of the People, as elves liked to call themselves. Groaning, he wound down, rubbing a hand over his face as he muttered, "Well, voidspawn and damnation. She's about the last person I would have thought a mage would want to willingly see."

Her head bowed, turning back to face them, "As I said, I don't have much of a choice in my quest . . . This land depends on my meeting with her."

"Well, then let us help you!" Tacao yelled out, much too excited. The dour look on Saiki's face lifted, the dim smile growing into a very wide grin as she regarded him. "You're eager to play the hero, aren't you?" she asked coyly.

He grinned back, "It isn't every day that a beautiful woman needing help falls into my lap, literally."

Across the roof, his two friends snorted and chuckled. His eyes rolled upwards as the woman laughed, trying not to as she covered her mouth with her hand. Tacao couldn't help but laugh nervously too, "Well, at least I'm sincere about it . . ."

"Sincerity and corniness are two different things, tallness," Saruka joked as he groaned, "Why is it so important for you to see this queen anyway?"

Saiki fidgeted on the ledge, "It's a long story, one I should probably tell along the way, and-," she stopped, noticing Tacao's intent stare at her, "What is it?"

Why hadn't he noticing it before? Maybe she had it hidden under her armor. Maybe it was the moonlight shining on the precious metal that finally made him notice it. A silver medallion hung around her neck, seemingly simple as it dangled from a leather cord, but the design engraved in it was anything but simple. It bore a spiral of flames, the signet of an Imperial order. Not thinking, he moved forward, reaching out to grab it, "Where did you-?"

Saiki backed away quickly, clutching the medallion, "Don't touch it! You can't!"

"But that seal, it's-."

"I know exactly what it is!"

Kashi blinked at the pair before catching sight of the medallion himself as her hand lowered, "Oh, void . . . that's . . ."

The elf leapt back across the roof, advancing the purple-haired woman quickly. Before she could bring her arm up to push him away, he snatched the hood down from her head. She grabbed his wrist, but couldn't stop the stronger man from pulling her long, messy hair away from the side of her face. Tacao moved to stop him, but halted as soon as he saw Saiki's ears with their delicate, blunted point, "Hells, she's . . ."

"Half-blooded. And she's a mage as well as a swordmaiden. And she carries the insignia of the Shakugan Order," Kashi explained, backing away as he ran a hand through his silver hair, crumpling it further, "Voidspawn, she's an Imperial priestess, no high priestess."

"Shakugan, the Burning Eyes, is she-?" Saruka started to ask until she was cut off.

"I am Lady Saiki of the Order of the Burning Eyes, The Shakugan," she said, head bowed again and standing absolutely still, "High Priestess of the Ways of Fire for the Imperial College."

"You forgot to add Imperial Princess to your list of achievements," the elf muttered.

"Hime . . ." Tacao whispered, staring at Saiki in awe, and wondering if he should have been bowing or on his knees.

A flash of pain crossed her face, "Don't call me that. I'm not a princess, at least not after tonight. I've . . . I've betrayed my family, my order, my way of life to do what I must, which is why seeing Queen Unna-day is of grave importance . . . Will you help me?"

Kaishi rubbed the bottom of his chin thoughtfully, "I don't know about that . . . Flametree is a long way from here. Half the Imperial army will probably be looking for you, and us now by default. Those bastards are mean to kill too. We're not well supplied at the moment, and under-funded. The trip will be exhausting and dangerous too getting through the Fire Veils. Then there's actually getting in to see the Queen through a castle under tight security. And really, I really don't feel like going, so-."

"Of course we'll help you!" Tacao shouted exuberantly.

The elf's jaw dropped, "Well . . . damn."

Saruka burst out in laughter, pointing at her lover, "You really should see the look on your face. Shocked as all nine hells looks adorable on you."

Kashi glared at her and growled, "I am not adorable . . ."

"But you are!"

For a moment, the dark-haired man could have sworn his mentor was about to hit something, namely him, until he leapt back across the roof top, stalking off with a hunch to his shoulder. The elf's ears noticeably drooped as he grumbled, "Fine, we'll go. But if one thing goes wrong, I reserve all rights to say I told you so. You still owe me your life, brat, and now you owe me even more."

"Then I hope repayment doesn't come for a while."

The silver-haired man stopped, taking another look at the half-elven lady they were now stuck with. She was trouble alright, a worse kind of trouble than Saruka ever was. He shook his head and looked over at the pink-haired barbarian princess as she caught up to him. At least her trouble was more of a nuisance than certain doom. She looked at him concerned, and he sighed, ". . . Why do I feel that it'll come sooner than both of us think?"

She tried to smile reassuringly to him, but it didn't lighten the elf's mood at all. Even the tender kiss she planted on his rough cheek couldn't make his worry disappear completely. He took her hand, pulling her along as he headed for another roof, "Come on. We need to get out of the city before word spreads. We should be able to make it to Enma and Okna's farm before dawn then we can plan and set out tomorrow."

There wasn't any arguing with the elf, not when he set a plan. The pair set off ahead at a fast pace, leaving Tacao and Saiki to catch up. The human man leapt across, stopping to turn and help the lady over when he noticed that she was already beside him. "You didn't have to do that . . . really, I'm not worth it, even if my cause is."

He blinked at her, still in awe of everything he had seen and heard about her in the course of one fateful night. The gods of fate really must have been tugging his strings after all to give him a princess to defend, even if she appeared to need little defending. She looked like a princess too, poised, graceful, soft-spoken now that he knew what she wasn't given him a cold shoulder, and beautiful. Tacao shuffled his feet, starting to walk across the tiles, "But I wanted to . . . you're worth everything I can give."

Her lips parted, obviously shocked before she looked away and pulled her hood back up, "You barely even know me . . . I don't even know your names."

"Well, the elf is Kashi. You've heard that already. And the petite thing with the big sword he keeps with him is Saruka. You don't want to make her mad."

"And you, what's your name?"

"Tacao . . . just Tacao . . ."

"Well, Tacao . . . thank you . . . and you listen to too many bard's tales to think rescue a princess in distress will make you a hero."

"Hey!" he yelled, offended as she laughed softly, "I'm not that dumb to believe some spoony bard's tongue-waggling lies . . . but it is nice to have a goal."

They both laughed, an edge of nervousness in the air. He still couldn't keep from looking at her eyes. What once reflected flame earlier now looked like nothing more than pools of darkness, slowly sucking him in each time her lashes fluttered. Was this how Kashi had felt the first time he saw Saruka? Or was it just those silly bard stories of romance working on his head again? "Hey! Catch up will you!?" the barbarian woman yelled back to them, already at least three rooftops ahead.

Saiki gave him one last smile then bounded ahead, springing from roof to roof. Whatever he was feeling, he didn't want it to go away, not any time soon.


To Be Continued in Lesson 11 of the Way of the Sword, Dirty Laundry.