Disclaimer: All of the characters and everything belongs to Tammy. Only the stuff I made up (Yhani, Shunika, Emonyiu, Donikiu, all of those guys) are mine.

A/N: Please R&R this, I want to know what you think. I've had this idea in my head for a while and I finally decided to write it.

Yhanisi: Crossing Boundaries

1. Chapter I

"Mama! Mama! Make him say yes!" ten-year-old Yhanisi screeched, startling her mother, Yukimi, a full-blood Yamani. Yamanis hid their emotions.

"Yhani, Yama bless you, what's wrong?" she asked her daughter

The young girl wept openly and ran to sit in her mother's lap, something she hadn't done in years. "Mama, you have to make him say yes. He won't even let me try for my shield!"

"Shh, shh. You go play a game of fan toss with Shunika while I speak with your father," Yukimi said calmly. Yhani left the room to fetch her shukusen, the heavy, razor-sharp-edged, elegant lady fan, and her younger sister.

Yukimi found her husband, Sir Nealan of Queenscove, in the library. "Neal," she said. "What is this with your daughter?"

"No. Yuki, listen," he said, pacing around the room. "It's, well… it's—no. Just no."

Yuki walked over to him. "Neal, that's no reason. She's tough, strong, smart. Yhanisi wouldn't say she wanted to do this unless she was sure. You know her. Just do this one thing for her. Sakuyo doesn't dance in her palm. Yama save us, I let you run off and chop up Scanrans. I didn't say 'just no', now did I?"

Neal kept wailing and throwing up his hands, trying to say something, but each time found himself speechless. Finally Yuki stood, saying, "You don't control this family's decisions. At dinner we will all decide." She kissed him briefly and left. So I have the whole day to think it over, Neal thought. I'm just lucky Kel's visiting Corus the same week we are.

Not even an hour later, Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan opened the door of her parents' city house to loud knocking. Neal's hand stopped mid-knock. "Kel!" he breathed. "Mithros, I'm glad you're home! They're all against me, I swear."

Kel steered her longtime friend to a chair. "Cider?" She offered him a glass, which he gulped down. "Um, remind me again why you're here? Not that you aren't welcome or anything…"

Neal explained his dilemma, and received the answer, "And why can't she? She's a smart girl."

He replied, "Of course she is; she's my daughter." More seriously, he added, "You think I should let her?"

"The one time Sir Neal asks for my advice I should think he'd take it," Kel joked. "I know for a fact you and Yuki are planning on having little Emonyiu train once he's old enough. Don't tell me all of a sudden you think we girls aren't emotionally or physically strong enough. Oh, I'm warning you, don't go sexist on me!"

"No, it's just… I mean, you're—well, you're you." He stopped.

"Irnai did say you would be far from calm."

"Isn't she some child-seer? She knew Yhani would try for her shield? Mithros, you knew?"

The two of them talked for a good time. Kel did most of the talking; Neal tried, but couldn't find the words he needed. He invited her to join them for their evening meal. Kel, far from busy, agreed to go, and as they left, she sent up a prayer to any god that would listen. He needs more guidance than Yhanisi at this point. I just don't want him to get too hurt.

"Kel!" Yuki embraced her friend. "Oh, I haven't seen you in so long! We're going to be eating in around ten minutes. You are staying, right?" After confirming Kel would be joining them, she ushered Neal out of the room. Kel decided to go talk to Yhani before dinner.

Yhani lay on her bed, face in her pillow. Hearing a knock on the door, she sat up and said, "Come in." Who could that be? she wondered.

"Can I sit down?" Kel asked. Yhani nodded and scooted over on the bed. "So. You want to be a knight. You know it's going to take a lot on your part, don't you? Well, pack your bags; we'll get him to agree."

Yhani was lost for words. Whatever some of her playmates might say, this was not some random idea she'd recently thought of. It wasn't so that she could escape going to the convent or being married at fifteen. It was more than that. And Kel was going to make sure it really happened.

A/N: R&R!!! I'll have the next chapter up in a couple of days, whenever I grab some time.