Title: Enter the Samurai

Author: loveoftheblue

Pairings: Ryo x Sakuno and Sakuno x Fuji (more pairings coming later)

Rating: T

Chapter One: Enter the Samurai

Ryuzaki Sakuno sat in the shade offered by the trees planted in her family's huge, private gardens. Her father was the local lord of all the surrounding land for hundreds of miles around, and Sakuno was like the local princess. She had lived all her life surrounded by beauty and wisdom. This in turn had made her into beautiful and smart young lady, and the marriageable girl on the island of Honshu.

Sakuno sat there dressed in an elegantly stitched lavender kimono and white obi completed by a delicate obi-jime. Her lush black hair was pulled back from her face, revealing her snowy-white complexion and cherry-red lips. Before her sat an intricate wooden table, set with paper, a brush, and ink. A pink sakura blossom drifted from high above her, and landed on the half-finished haiku that showed on her paper. A nearby stream tinkled as water flew over a miniature waterfall, and went on following its course.

Sakuno put down her brush and smiled, lulled into a sense security by the peaceful surroundings. Suddenly, a head poked through the sliding door that led out to the garden.

"Sumimasen, gomen nasai, Ryuzaki-san, for startling you. It is time for your daily kendo lessons," called a servant.

The Ryuzaki family was unique in the fact that all members of the family, both male and female, learned swordsmanship to protect themselves. Sakuno loved the afternoon lessons, and she admired her sensei, the famous Echizen Ryoma that served her father. Sakuno quickly stood, and went to her chambers to change into her practice outfit.

From there, she made her way to the training dojo, and greeted her teacher.

"Greetings, Echizen-sensei. Arigatou for waiting for me." Sakuno looked down at the ground as she said this, embarrassed that she had been late for her lesson.

"Apology accepted, Ryuzaki-san. Next time just remember not to fall asleep in the gardens," Ryoma said with a knowing smile.

Ryoma was dressed in a clean training outfit that fit him perfectly, with the top slightly open, revealing his chest, and allowing him to move more easily. His baggy pants hung from his trim waist, and contrasted with the wooden dojo floor with its bright pattern. His unique black hair had natural green highlights that matched his mischievous cat-like eyes that were deep green with lighter green flecks.

As the two began to spar, Sakuno slipped on the overly polished dojo floor, and began to fall. She braced herself for the impact, and was surprised when the fall was broken by something soft and warm.

She opened her surprised dark brown eyes, and stared into an unmistakable pair of beautiful green eyes…

A/n: The first chapter of a new fic! It always exciting to start writing a new story, at least for me it is. I'm sorry that this first chapter is so vague, and I promise to do better. Thank you for reading, and please review! It's just that little button in the bottom left corner of the page… You know you want to click it…

Plum-chan