Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Tennis or any of the characters related to it. They all belong to Konomi Takeshi. Also, I do not own Fire Emblem or any of the elements from the series.

Rating: T for implied adult themes in certain chapters. K for the rest.

Author's Note: Okay, I'm happier with this now. Now things are going to start coming together as the plot gets rolling. *wishing self luck through the upcoming chapters*

And I played the last five chapters of Radiant Dawn today because I like doing the last five with a slightly different party each time. 16 slots is not enough to fit all of my favorite characters (especially if some are pre-determined for you)! This time I took my original team because I love them, and finally managed to make it through without saving AND without accidentally killing a character. The Dragon laguz chapter is the bane of my existence... it's that one chapter where so much can go wrong.

Reviews are much appreciated! :)

Part 1 - Chapter 9 - Road to the Empire

"Man, we are almost there!" Marui exclaimed, raising his arms up towards the sky with a big smile. "I can't wait to be home!"

"I thought you said you like adventure?" Jackal questioned, taking a look at his surroundings. They were on the outskirts of town where there were primarily farms and forest nearby.

"I do, but I'm craving a homemade meal with tasty deserts," Marui admitted as he cheerfully waved to some of the villagers. "I love baking. I'm genius at that too."

"I would have never guessed that you liked to bake," Jackal said as he nodded to some other people that would staring at him curiously and they were instantly relaxed.

"Sweets are my favorite things in the world. I know exactly what I like so it's better that I make it myself."

"Well, I like to cook. Would you mind if I made dinner tonight?"

Marui shot him an astonished look, which only made Jackal confused about his question.

"Would I mind?" he repeated, laughing as he skipped a few steps. "Anything that requires less work from me is perfect. You any good?"

"Yeah, I did grow up on a farm. I'm used to making food," Jackal said, observing the fact that the houses were getting bigger and more closely put together. The castle in the distance was also developing detail and it was quite the impressive sight.

"Awesome, isn't it?" Marui asked, following Jackal's gaze. "Whoever built it had really good taste. And a great architect."

"You said you live near the castle?"

"Yeah, in a small house. My family lives sort of close by in a much bigger house. We're an aristocratic family so we don't have a problem with money or anything."

"So why did you move out?"

"Like I said, I like to come and go as I please," Marui reminded him as they passed through the local market, looking at the items with interest. "And besides, they wouldn't be too happy if they knew I was involved in mercenary work, now would they?"

"I suppose that is true," Jackal acknowledged, halting in his stride to look at some carrots. "These look good… how does beef stew sound?"

"Hearty and filling," Marui answered, picking up some potatoes and sizing them up. "Sounds like a plan!"

They didn't discuss their personal lives for a while as they perused through the stands looking for ingredients for dinner. Marui was happily chatting away with everyone that he saw since they all knew him, and he did not hesitate in introducing Jackal as a friend he met on a trip. They all welcomed him warmly and Jackal smiled enjoying the friendly atmosphere.

Once they were back on the main path towards the castle again, they started talking about their plans to have a daily spar practice, how they were going to obtain food for meals, and where Marui goes to get firewood for the house. Hardly anyone was out and about past the marketplace since nightfall was fast approaching and so they were able to converse without being bothered.

During their journey back home, Marui had already discussed with Jackal at length about Rikkaidai as a country. He told them of their powerful military force and their strongest units. He mentioned that they were spearheaded by the legendary Three Demons that Jackal had heard of. He told them all the details he knew of their ruler, their commander, and their strategist and Jackal found himself in awe of their abilities.

Marui also talked about his deep-rooted respect in his country and the peace and prosperity that was felt across the land. They took pride in everything they did and swore by hard work and perfection to lead them to maintaining the glory of their nation. Once again, those beliefs stemmed from Lord Yukimura and all of the Yukimura rulers before him, and Marui was always happy that he was born and raised in a country as magnificent as that one.

Jackal had told him from where he was from as well and he couldn't help but be very interested in his story. The town he was from, although on the border, was in Yamabuki territory rather than Hyotei. Yamabuki was a smaller nation, but was formidable in its own right. Most of its population consisted of laguz - people that had the ability to transform into powerful animals. In Yamabuki, they had tiger, cat, and wolf laguz that spent most of their time roaming the land, hunting, or enjoying nature. They were generally laid back and friendly, but could tear you apart in a matter of seconds if you were their enemy.

Marui expressed that he would like to visit sometime during their upcoming adventures. He had never seen a laguz before, and after hearing some tales about the ones that Jackal had grown up with, he had to meet some of them. Plus Jackal mentioned they like to demonstrate their skills in mock battles and other displays of strength and that sounded like something right up Marui's alley. He hoped they were prepared to be amazed by the genius of his sword work.

"Here we are, home sweet home!" Marui proudly announced when they arrived in front of the house. He pulled out a key, unlocked the door, and opened it for Jackal. As he entered after, he reached onto the small table by the door and picked up a candlestick.

"So, this is the living room. It's got some chairs and a long table with a fireplace. Working on finding a small couch I like to put in," he explained as he lit the candles with a match. "Kitchen and dining area over here."

"I like it," Jackal said as he looked around. "It's cozy and neat."

"Thanks, I do what I can," Marui said cheerfully as he started to head down the small hallway. "This is the guest bedroom. You'll be staying there. Everything should already be set, but if there's something you need, don't hesitate to let me know."

He pushed open the door and worked on lighting the candles in the room as Jackal put down his large backpack and axe against the wall. All of the furniture had been donated by his parents because they wanted to re-do a few rooms in their home and Marui accepted their gift graciously. It meant that he could save his money for basic supplies and his adventures.

"This is perfect. Thank you for your hospitality," Jackal said genuinely and Marui beamed.

"Not a problem. And thanks for agreeing to keep me company for a while. We're going to have some fun adventures, me and you," Marui concluded excitedly, heading out into the hall. "Have a nice sleep because in the morning, you're going to deal with the bitter taste of defeat!"