Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Diablo 2 except my character. Everything belongs to Blizzard. Again this entire story is dedicated to the best barbarian ever, WallsofJericho. =) Thanks to Tenshi, my boyfriend, for helping me with ideas and reading my stuff. ^^ R and R is appreciated!! ^^

Lut Gholein was a large port for trade. It was a thriving city in the middle of a desert. There were tall buildings the color of sand, and even a palace. Everywhere there was hustle and bustle. Fara, the local smith, sold and fixed weapons. Drognan was a wise old man who knew much of the city's goings-on. Greiz, was the leader of the local mercenaries, and would hire out his team, for a price. Atma ran the local pub, and Jericho could tell from the moment he saw her that she had some favor to ask him. This proved true when later on she took him aside and asked him to go into the sewers to kill the monster that had killed her family. The monster was easier the Jericho expected, but the monsters here in the desert, were much different from the ones back near the Rogue Encampment. Seems the farther you travel, the uglier they become.

Jericho was out one day, running across the desert, practicing his skills, when he ran across a demon. It looked like giant cat in roman armour. Jericho remembered that these were called Spear Cats, and they tended to throw green or orange portions at people, making them cough and gag. And in that one moment of weakness, they throw their spears, instantly killing their victims.

While Jericho was killing one of these Spear Cats, another one sneaked up behind him. Jericho spun around as fast as he could, but he knew it was too late, any second he would feel the spear sink into his skin, instantly killing him. But it never came. Jericho opened one eye slowly. The Spear Cat was dead on the ground, beaten to a bloody pulp. Someone cleared their throat and Jericho hurriedly looked up.

Standing in front of him was a paladin. There was no mistake about it. He was dressed in armour and Jericho was vaguely reminded of a knight. The paladin's face was hidden by a pale green helmet that had horns sticking out of it. Jericho recognized it as the infamous Vampire Gaze Grim Helm. Jericho's jaw fell open; those were extremely rare and expensive!! Underneath the helmet he could see the paladin grin.

"H-Hi, I'm Jericho," he said holding out his hand. The paladin took it with his own gloved hand.

"Hi, I'm Tenshi." There was something wrong with the paladin's voice. It was too high. It came as a shock when the paladin pulled off his helmet and was instantly identified as. a woman! Jericho's eyes widened to the size of saucers.

She had long red hair pulled back into a bun. There were little wisps of hair that had come loose and were flying away with the breeze. She had a pretty face, slightly tanned, and the deepest gray eyes Jericho had ever seen. She smiled friendly at him. She seemed just about the same age as Jericho. In her eyes, Jericho saw a pride that matched his own. But still.. She was a woman!

"B-But you're a woman!"

"Oh?" Tenshi looked vaguely amused. "Really? I wasn't aware of that." Jericho's eyes turned to mere slits. He had been bested by a woman! He turned away angrily and stomped away. Tenshi as left standing there in the sun, looking confused and yet too prideful to show that she was hurt. She turned away and stomped off in the other direction.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

How dare he! How dare he be so arrogant! Just because she was a woman didn't prove anything. She took out her anger on the monsters of the desert. She was so pissed, it seemed the monsters could tell it and were steering clear of the pissed woman. But that didn't save any of the poor demons that she stumbled upon from getting the shit beat out of them. That Jericho! What an arrogant bastard! She would show him! No one left Tenshi standing in the sand!!

It wasn't until the hot desert sun was sinking below the desert dunes that Tenshi finally decided to end the day. She had gained several levels, and learned a few new techniques. She would show that Jericho who was the better demon killer! She stopped off at the pub for a few drinks. Drognan, the wise man, came and took a seat in front of her. He whispered to her an old legend, of a giant labyrinth underneath the city. He called it the Arcane Sanctuary. Tenshi knew from the moment Drognan told her of it, that she had been chosen to find out the secret of the Sanctuary. Drognan had mentioned the entrance was inside Jerhyn's palace. She fell asleep that night thinking of a giant labyrinth, and in her dreams she saw the face of Jericho, but instead of hate and loathing, she felt some other emotion.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jericho woke up the next morning was the still was high up in the sky. He jumped out of bed and dressed hurriedly. He remembered Drognan telling him of a secret sanctuary underneath the city. He headed straight to Jerhyn's palace where it was rumored that the entrance was. He took the stairs down to Jerhyn's harem and gasped in surprise. Everything was in tatters. The decorations had all been ripped down, the walls were stained with blood, and giant monsters called Maulers were everywhere, wandering around with their giant clubs, the size of a human's body. Jericho sweeped through the harem and the palace cellar until he fell upon the triangular portal. He turned the wheel and the portal opened. It was a giant blue gateway, ready to whisk him off to wherever. But Jericho would not let his fear stop him. He stepped into it bravely and it transported him straight to his destination.

The Arcane Sanctuary was a marvel in itself. Standing in front of him was a set of stairs leading to a platform. On the platform was a wave point, ready to take him back to town if he needed it. Four paths branched out from the platform. And beyond those paths. was nothingness. It was like the Arcane Sanctuary was in a dimension all its own. There was space and stars soaring past him. All around him, space and wonderful air. The Arcane Sanctuary truly could not be of this world.

Jericho decided to take the left path. There were stairs and paths leading up and down in all directions. He encountered several new monsters here. Evil red centaurs, which were called Blood Clans. Dark, towering, sorcerers called Dark Lords. And little ghosts, flying up in the air almost invisible. Jericho decided they were called Specters. It wasn't very long before Jericho was seriously lost. He didn't know if he was coming or going. He decided to sit down and take a short break. Maybe enjoy the scenery. That was when Tenshi appeared.

"What are you doing here?!" a feminine voice shouted. Jericho turned quickly and there standing in front of him was the paladin from yesterday.

"What do you want?" said Jericho coldly.

"What do I what? No, what do you want! I'm going to solve the Arcane Sanctuary. So just but out!"

"You and what army?" Tenshi glared at Jericho with fire in her eyes. But Jericho only sneered back. "Why don't you go back home and bake a cake or something?" Tenshi gritted her teeth.

"Fine," she said haughtily. "Then I wont show you the way to the Summoner." She turned away and began to walk. Jericho gritted his teeth. He refused to let this woman get the best of him. He'd just use her to find the Summoner, then kill it and get all the fame. Simple.

"Wait," he said slowly. He jumped up and stumbled toward her. Tenshi grinned a victorious smile. She led him farther and farther away form where they had come. It was while Tenshi was fighting against a Blood Clan, that a Dark Lord came out of nowhere and shot a fireball at her. She fell on one knee and in that moment, she might have perished, if it hadn't been for Jericho. In that one moment, Jericho threw his sword, which flew straight through the Dark Lord killing it instantly. Tenshi gave a sigh of relief.
"Guess that's 1, 1 then right?" Jericho just smiled.

After several more minutes of fighting monsters, a large platform loomed in front of them. Silver stairs led up to it, curling around to touch the edge. They could feel a dark, ominous power emanating from it. Jericho looked over to Tenshi and nodded. At the same time, they both charged up the stairs toward the platform.

The Summoner was an evil looking demon, not much different from the Dark Lords. His robes were blue and held a golden staff, glowing with blue light. He laughed as he saw them charge toward them. Blue fire hissed forth from his staff knocking against Tenshi. She became frozen but refused to give up. She changed her aura to Cold Resist and the cold instantly went away. The aura touched Jericho as well and when the blue fire grazed past him, he was unaffected. He slashed at the Summoner with his sword, making him bleed blue blood. Tenshi came up from behind and began to beat at the Summoner. It almost became a routine. Dodge, hit, rush away, dodge hit, rush away. It was Jericho who dealed the final blow, but there was no doubt in either mind, that without Tenshi, it wouldn't have been possible. The Summoner fell to the ground. His bright blue robes began to disintegrate. Jericho went up and touched the journal standing in the middle of the platform. The journal told of the Seven Tombs of Tal Rasha, and how 6 of the tombs were false. Tenshi fell onto Jericho, bleeding badly. Jericho smiled shyly and held her up. He opened a town portal and helped her through. For a girl. Tenshi wasn't so bad.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You know. you're not as bad as I thought you were," Tenshi said with a smile. Jericho refused to admit that he was starting to become just a little bit fond of his partner. He glared at her, but Tenshi could see past his façade. It was kind of nice having a partner. But who knew what perils laid in the future. And could they really beat this Tal Rasha? Maybe. Only time could tell.