Here's the third. Again, do not own Soul Calibur characters, wish i did.

Enjoy!

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Chapter 3: Meeting of Black and White (Taki's thoughts)

'Why is this foreign woman helping me?' Taki could only think this as she could better see the emerald gaze of Sophitia's eyes as they gleamed in the moonlight. Sophitia's eyes drifted over to the side and stopped as her eye caught something.

"Erm, I think you might want that." Taki followed her pointing finger and noticed that her Rekki-Maru was still lodged into the tree. She gasped as she realized that she completely forgot about it. As she ran over to get it, a black bird flew ahead of her and landed right on the hilt of Taki's Rekki-Maru. The bird just turned and looked at her in an innocent fashion while Taki looked at it with annoyance.

"Shadow, where have you been!?" Taki scolded. "You've been gone for three week and now you decide to show up?" The bird was silent as it just cocked its head to one side in reply.

"Um, I beg you pardon?" Taki could hear Sophitia behind her. She turned to see Sophitia with a face of curiosity. Taki merely chuckled.

"Don't worry, it's not another demon, it's just my raven, Shadow. I use him to send messages and scope the nearby lands for evil energy." Taki explains as she turns back to the bird with her hands on her hips.

"I see." Sophitia replied plainly. Taki walked over so that she was more than an arms reach, staring straight at her raven as if waiting for it to get the hint.

"Do you mind?" Taki gestures for the bird to get off, which it does a little reluctantly, flying onto a nearby limb of the tree. 'Why do you always have to be such a pest?' She shook her head at the bird as she reached for her Rekki-Maru.

"Wait!" Taki jumped slightly as Sophitia yelled and ran towards her.

"Problem?" Taki questions with a slightly annoyed eye.

"Didn't you see what happened to that demon when it touched it? What if the same happens to you?" Sophitia asks with worry in her voice.

'What a strange person this foreigner is. She's a little naïve, but at least she's careful.' Taki mentally noted to herself. "If I had it in its sheath, which as you can see is on my back..." Taki pointed at the sheath with her thumb. "And nearly using it against the demon before you showed up, then it obviously isn't dangerous... well, at least not to me." Taki stated as she reached up again and wrapped her hand around the hilt.

Indeed, nothing happened. Taki turned back to Sophitia with a smirk saying 'I told you so'. Sophitia just narrowed her eyes and folded her arms as she switched the weight on her legs in response to the smart-alac look Taki wore. Taki turned back to her Rekki-maru with a smirk in response to Sophitia's look. After a few light tugs, she wedged the blade out of the tree and sheathed it behind her back.

"So... will you take this accept this offering?" Sophitia asks as she picks up the Sword that Taki left behind when she went to get Rekki-Maru. Taki placed her index finger and thumb on her chin in thought.

'Hmm, I could use the extra force of power against the demons; less work for me and I can travel and not worry about the shrine being corrupted again.' "Sure, could use the extra help." Taki walked over to Sophitia and takes the sword into her own hand.

She swiftly jumps to the shrine's large roof and thrusts the blade deep into the center of the roof. 'It'll be like a scarecrow in the middle of a harvest field.' Taki looked about the woods around her. 'I'd like to see one demon stupid enough to try and get near this blade or this temple now.' Taki smirked with pride at the though. She looked down to find Sophitia stare at her with surprise. "What?" Taki asks plainly with raised eyebrows.

"How in the world did you get to the top of that roof in a single bound?" Sophitia had a tone of stunned surprise. Taki just rolled her eyes slightly as she looked to the side as if it was the most basic question she'd ever heard.

"I've had practice." Taki replied plainly as she looks back to the young blonde. The air stayed silent for a few minutes not counting the gentle rustle of the trees. 'What now?' Taki questions herself during the utter silence, until she suddenly decided to break it. "So... now that your quest is completed... what are you... or what does your god want you to do now, eh?"

Sophitia's eyes narrowed at her question. 'Oh, I might have hit a nerve on that one.' Taki became a bit concerned and intrigued, wondering what this well-mannered girl will do.

"Don't speak of my gods like they're a joke to you! You know nothing about me! You might not believe in other people's gods, but I certainly believe in mine! If you have a problem with it, then I suggest you get used to it!" Sophitia's sudden outburst surprised Taki. 'She's quite a spitfire when you hit a nerve.'

Sophitia turned around on her heel and walked onto the center of the platform, turned back to Taki with still narrowed eyes. "You want to see what my gods can do!?" Without waiting for Taki's answer, she brought out her own sword and shield, jumped back a very short distance and whipped her sword up into the air so that it was pointing to the sky. "BY THE POWER OF THE GODS!!" Just as Sophitia finished, a small lightning bolt broke the silence of the forest by searing through the sky.

Taki was startled a bit but not shaken enough that would make her grovel for mercy to her alien gods. The only thing that could be heard after that was the lightning's echo and Shadow fluttering its wings a bit in the far tree due to the sudden shock. "Impressive." Taki commented plainly. "But that still doesn't answer my question of what you are going to do next."

Sophitia pulled back slightly, lowered her head a bit as she continued to hold the ninja's gaze. She remained silent. Taki could only guess what her thoughts were, but said nothing about the previous argument. "You have nowhere to go... do you? You haven't been given your next task?"

Sophitia lowered her gaze. "...No."

Taki let out a sigh. 'I suppose she can stay with me... These forests are too dangerous for a foreigner as young as her, even if she does have that sword of hers. I'm surprised she made it this far into the forest, and at this time of night.' Taki rubbed her nape in a nervous fashion as she thought. 'This is going to be a new experience, I'm used to being alone... but what can I do with a vulnerable beginner weapon-wielding woman? I might as well travel with her back to the Japanese ports so that she won't get hurt. I owe her that much for getting that demon out of me.'

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Well, I'll see what i can do on the next chapters, i'm running out of ideas, but some will turn up eventually.