Chapter 1:

"Xena, I can handle myself just fine! Besides, you should learn to trust me more."

"I trust you as much as I need to. You're lucky I trust you at all after that nasty experience with those thugs…"

Gabrielle winced. She remembered when those brutish punks mugged her the other day in that town. Just the thought made her groan. "Xena…" Gabrielle tried to retort, but she couldn't think of anything to say. Xena tended to have that affect on people.

Xena and Gabrielle were travelling in Japan. Xena said that she had 'old business' there and, of course, that was the end of that. Gabrielle had no idea what that meant, but she had a hunch that it would mean another big adventure.

"So Xena," Gabrielle began, "tell me more about this 'business' that you were talking about."

"It's my own business. Don't worry about it, Gabrielle," Xena said. Gabrielle was sly, though. She knew that Xena was going to try to beat around the bush. But Gabrielle wasn't about to fall for that again. So she stared at Xena until it made her so uncomfortable that she had to say something.

Falling victim to Gabrielle's dirty tactics, Xena sighed heavily and said, "since you're probably going to bug me about it until I tell you, I'll give in. I have a score to settle, okay?"

Gabrielle looked intrigued. "What kind of a score? What do you mean?"

"The Japanese city of Tokyo," Xena began. "I traveled there with my army, to continue my eastward expansion into Asia. Nearly the entire city was turned to ruin. But this one man… a renegade samurai… he took down my entire army without suffering a single injury. Not even a scratch on him. It was amazing. I offered him a spot in my army, but he rejected my offer. He and I had a battle, and he defeated me. He said to always remember that day when I met… the Battosai… Kenshin Himura."

"Kenshin… are you feeling okay? You've been moping around a lot lately and I'm beginning to worry." Kaoru sat by Kenshin and poured some tea.

"Kaoru… I have some rather unsettling news." Kenshin's eyes narrowed. "I was in town yesterday and I overheard some townspeople discussing a rumor… a rumor that the Warrior Princess is riding into Tokyo again."

Kaoru looked worried. "Who is the… Warrior Princess?"

"She is a very dangerous warlord who destroys cities and leads a powerful army. I have defeated her before, but she may have improved her fighting skills since then."

Meanwhile, Sanosuke and Yahiko were listening to Kenshin and Kaoru's conversation outside. "Shh! Shut up!"

"You shut up, rooster head!"

Kenshin turned around and laughed. "I see you've been listening to our conversation, hmm?"

Sanosuke stood up. "Hey Kenshin… is this warrior lady all she's cracked up to be? I mean, I've heard stories about that thing she throws around… I forget what it was called."

"I believe it was called a chakram," Kenshin replied. "But if she is indeed coming to Japan… we must be ready to defend whoever she attacks."

"Hey Kenshin," Yahiko stood up and asked, "it sounds like there're some people in there." He pointed to the forest. "Maybe I should go check it out…"

"No, Yahiko," Kaoru interrupted. "What if that warrior woman is in there? You could get hurt."

Yahiko glared at her. "I'm not a kid! I won't get hurt! I can handle myself."

Kenshin smiled. "You're right, Yahiko. Perhaps it would be wise if you did go to see if there is anybody in the forest."

"Kaoru, we need to give him some room to be independent," Kenshin whispered to Kaoru. "Otherwise, how can he perfect the Kamiya-Kasshin style and eventually pass it on?"

Kaoru sighed. "I guess you're right, Kenshin. I just… I just don't know what I would do if anything happened to him…"