Disclaimer: I do not own BB, just the OCs.

A/N:The Ookamikei talk in Italian... Dragons talk in Dutch... if there are spelling mistakes... >> sorry... I proof read... but I miss cause I know in my mind what I'm trying to say....

Summary: The war between two empires has gone on long enough. Now the Emperors pass down their grudge to their grandchildren. But what happens when they find themselves escaping their worlds, and finding love between one another?

Key:

"Talking"

"Thoughts"

:: Communicating with Sacred Animals ::

Chapter 11

Reconciliation

Dawn cracked upon the heavily wooded section of Poseic. The light crept through the dense branches and leaves, sprinkling across the emerald carpet and over the peacefully resting mates. They had remained still through the lingering night in each other's arms, Kai holding onto his woman tightly and securely. Mika's hair lay scattered upon their bodies, lightly blanketing them. Her hair was growing and was quarter of the way to where it was when Tala captured her and Hiromi. Mika was fast asleep, oblivious to the calling of the spring sun.

Kai cracked one eye open as he felt the warmth of the sun absorb into his body. Strange enough both Mika and he were covered by two blankets. He became suspicious of either Hiromi or Takao knowing of his and Mika's night festivity. But no, the faint traces of heat emitted from the blankets were not those of either human.

He could feel Mika stir upon him and shift around a bit, until she raised her head and looked at Kai, showing just the same confusion that he currently felt. Kai pushed himself up to lean against a tree trunk and Mika proceeded to lie back on him with a content smile. Kai's hand returned to start stroking Mika's burgundy hair absentmindedly.

"It really happened," she finally managed to say after a few more minutes of silence. Kai's fondling with her hair never missed a beat as he closed his eyes, remembering the bliss of it all. He leaned his head forward to plant a kiss on the top of Mika's head. "So, now what?" Kai sighed. "We can't tell Hiromi or Takao… can we?"

"If they hadn't figured it out already…" declared Kai letting his voice drift off. "We have been out all night long…"

"And where do we stand, Kai?" asked Mika. "Does this make us mates? Lovers?" Kai could sense the slight tremble in her voice. She was nervous, no doubt about it.

"I don't know, but all I do know is that I want to be with you. You're a toxin," he replied with a smile, holding her tighter in his grip. Mika turned her head up to him, revealing her happiness.

"How are we going to reveal this to them?" Mika sat upon her own, wrapping her body in one blanket. "Them" being both Takao and Hiromi and Dranzer and Beo. Mika didn't want to know what Beo thought of her, knowing that the ookami wasn't too peachy when it came to Kai.

"Time, beloved. We will have time," said Kai. "We will need to figure this out ourselves more before we formally reveal anything to either of them."

"I agree," she whispered back. "Kai, where are we going to go? I'm sure Poseic won't be safe forever…" Kai frowned remember the war his grandfather and the Ookamikei Emperor were waging.

"We'll figure that out too," he said, claiming her lips his once again. Mika moaned into the kiss until they heard a branch snap. Both turned to see the agile white ookami staring at them with a quizzical look on his face. Mika could feel her face flush like there was no tomorrow. She awaited a scolding from him, but instead, the sacred ookami turned and talked off, revealing a piles of fruits and berries on the ground. Kai and Mika looked over to each other, and Mika smiled at the offering of her sacred guardian.

After filling themselves with the food Beo had brought them, the two lovers clothed themselves and pulled the grass and leaves from each other's hair. Once they felt they looked respectably, Mika gathered the blankets and walked back to the campsite, handing in hand until they came within sight of their two friends.

Takao and Hiromi were cleaning up the area, trying to make it like no one had ever spent the night. With Dranzer's help they had been able to deal with the soot and remains of the fire and ashes. All four turned when they heard the russel of the bushes, revealing Kai and Mika.

"And now you two decide to come back…once we were done cleaning up!" exclaimed Hiromi. Mika blushed and bent down to help Hiromi with the last few bits and pieces left of the campsite.

"So, I guess you to worked out whatever barrier was between you?" asked Takao. Kai looked at him. Had he figured it out? No, there was no suggestion of that in the Dragon's voice.

"Yes." With the campsite cleaned up, Mika swung her Hiraikotsu over her back and with Kai's help, mounted upon her horse. Hiromi had wanted to ride with Mika, so she was helped into the saddle and rested comfortably in front of the rugged princess. Kai and Takao were soon on their horses as well, leading the way with the phoenix and ookami close at hand.

"Principessa. (Princess)" said Hiromi meekly, speaking in their natural language. Mika recognized it right away and looked down to Hiromi.

"SàHiromi. (Yes Hiromi)"

"Perché lei ha corso ieri sera?(Why did you run last night)" asked the ookami girl to her princess. Mika's brow furrowed and she thought hard about that. Hiromi didn't know…she couldn't know…Mika didn't blame her for wondering.

"Sono spiacente se la sono preoccupata.(I'm sorry if I worried you)" Mika replied. She didn't want Hiromi to fret over her.

"Lei ha rappezzato realmente delle cose su con Kai?(Did you really patch things with Kai)"

"Si.. Il Hiromi, ha fatto sia lei o Takao è venuto e porta Kai e me una coperta ieri sera? (Yeah. Hiromi, did either you or Takao come and bring Kai and me a blanket last night) "

"Non no, che ricordo, perché? (No, not that I remember. Why)" asked Hiromi, glancing back to Mika. The princess bit her lip.

"Nessuna ragione. (No reason)"

Kai couldn't help but continuously replay last night in his head. The bliss of it all warmed him deeply inside. Then he recalled that fire in him rise as they had made love. He was about to question Dranzer about it, when he heard a crackling of laughter around them. Kai reined in his horse and Dranzer flapped her wings in worry on Kai's shoulder. Mika pulled her horse to a stop as well, pulling one hand up to the handle of her Hiraikotsu. Hiromi took the reins from Mika and lowered her body to the neck of the muscular creature. Beo's fur stood on end and he lowered himself to the ground, baring his deadly white teeth. Takao stood next to Mika, hand ready to unsheathe his sword.

Kai growled as he looked around trying to locate the voice of laughter. "Where are you? Show yourself! Only cowards hide!" he cried, his right hand ready to draw his own sword too. Their eyes continued to look between the trees, but all they had was laughter. A noise crossed Kai's ears and he snapped his head towards Takao. "Duck Takao!" The Dragon did not question Kai and leapt off his horse just in time to miss the arrow piercing the ground.

"That was close," said Takao, sweating. Kai nodded, keeping his surprisingly keen sense awake and alert.

"You were lucky that time. I promise we won't miss the next time," said a man walking into their sight dressed in old armor and mangled clothing with a brandishing new sword on his hip. Takao growled from the ground towards this man. Kai reached for his sword, grasping the handle in his grip. "I wouldn't do that. Once your sword is drawn, this area will rain of arrows."

Kai was gritting his teeth as his hand shook on the handle of the sword.

"Bastard…" growled Kai. The bandit only let his grin grow larger and larger as he had the Houou Prince in between a rock and a hard place. "What do you want?"

"Well, Houous, all my boys and I want are those horses and weapons of your. Of course that does include your women and money as well." Kai's growl slowly turned into a hardy laughter, confusing every other person around him, even Dranzer.

"Like hell are you getting them." The bandit frowned and shrugged her shoulders.

"Fine. Then you choose death."

:: Kai, there are two archers, one just above the leader, and the other to your right. Besides that, Beo and I can see at least 20 other men armed with swords. ::

:: Thank you, Dranzer… ::

With that, Kai drew out his swords and shifted his horse so the leader could get a good view of his weapon. The musky man growled in anger as he waved his hand down.

"Michi, shield your right side!" cried Kai as he sensed the arrow's friction. Mika quickly withdrew her Hiraikotsu and as she placed the barrier, they heard a thud.

Kai sensed the one archer in front of him release his arrow. Swinging his sword, Kai intercepted the weapon, knocking it to the ground. Given the opportunity, Mika let one strong swing of her weapon, sending it flying through the tree tops. They all heard the crackling of branches and then a cry of a man. A bow and arrow fell to the ground, along with a sliced body. The weapon hot the second marker before returning to Mika's hand. She nodded her head t Kai, as the army of men came towards them.

These men were no match for the five fighters, and they started dropping like flies. One man was able to unseat both Mika and Hiromi from their horses, Hiromi rolling opposite of Mika and into the brush. The ookami princess was weaponless, her Takao sliced through another man and started to run over towards Mika, but another man came running from behind him, sword up to attack.

Hiromi wanted to cry out, Mika was busy trying to locate her boundaries, and Kai was busying himself with his own battles. Hiromi's hand brushed over something. Looking down she recognized it to be that bow and arrow the one bandit dropped. Then she looked behind her and wanted to throw up, seeing the gory body. But there was no time when her eyes laced over the weapon. Swiftly picking it up, Hiromi expertly set the arrow and sent it flying, sending smack into the bandit's back. He let out a cry just before he could strike at Takao, and fell to the ground dead.

Shaking, it finally hit her… Hiromi killed another individual. Takao turned around to see the arrow sticking out of the dead man and looked up to see Hiromi with a ghost face, and bow clutched in her hands…

"Hiromi…"

He didn't get the time needed to run to her, as another group came at him. Mika got her settings and her weapons by then, as Hiromi dropped onto her knees, hidden once again by the bush.

Beo and Dranzer were double teaming the men who came to them. Beo's jaw was coated in their blood, and Dranzer was scorching all who came close to her.

Kai continued to slash through what he could and then he came face to face with the leader. His teeth were rotting and made Kai's senses go haywire. The man charged at Kai, and Kai leapt off his horse to charge as well. Holding up his sword, Kai ran with all his might towards the man. It was like a fire surrounded his sword, catching the bandit leader off guard. He halted, staring at the sword as Kai swung it, slashing through the man.

The little battle was over soon, and the three humans were panting as well at the ookami and phoenix. They had regained their composure to see the bodies of the bandits scattered along the forest floor. Hiromi still held the bow in her hands just staring in the recognition that she had killed someone. Takao wiped his blade clean on the floor before returning it to the sheath and slowly prying Hiromi's clenched hands from the weapon.

Picking each individual finger off, Kai, Mika, and Takao watched as Hiromi started to shake. The bow fell to the ground in a clatter as Hiromi reached out and jumped into Takao's chest. Grasping his tunic and shirt in her hands, she buried herself into the cloth, her tears pouring into him. Surprised, the Dragon wrapped his arms around her, holding the bawling girl.

"It's OK," he told her in a soothing voice. Kai and Mika looked at each other. Hiromi wasn't a killer and it was obvious she never would be the same after this. Mika hung her Hiraikotsu over her shoulder and leaned into the Phoenix, who wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close. Beo walked over towards her, ear flattened in sadness for the pain of one of his people was facing.

"No…no…it's not…I…I…I…" she stuttered through her tears into Takao's chest.

"You did what you had to in order to save me," he replied. "You were brave. I commend you on that."

"But…but I took another's life…"

"Who was intending on taking yours," reasoned Takao, justifying Hiromi's actions for her. Resting by Hiromi's side, Beo nudged her with his regal head. Looking up through blood-shot, teary eyes. Hiromi tried to cease her tears. Beo continued to rub his head into Hiromi's arm, trying to comfort her.

----

The next day, Hiromi was still utterly shaken up by the previous day's activities, but she had calmed down extremely. She cried again at night while they ate, and while they tried to sleep. She cried when she awoke. They didn't run into anymore confrontation since, and they were glad.

Coming in about noon time, the group halted hearing the russel of foot steps in the distance, making Hiromi tense up in Takao's arms. The Dragon left an eerie presence amongst them but he couldn't tell in which direction and at what length. Kai felt it as well. The girls were total oblivious to whatever the boys felt. Dranzer and Beo felt it as well, but kept to themselves. Kai's eyes carefully scanned through the trees but he couldn't see anything so they continued.

Every so often that chill went down both Kai and Takao's back. The forest was strangely quiet except for the occasional snort of the horses or cry of a bird overhead. That was when Kai heard it; snapping his head to the back of the group, his eyes narrowed. Unsheathing his sword an array of arrows came. Mika took her Hiraikotsu and gave a mighty swing letting it tear up the surrounding trees. Hiromi shook in Takao's hold as the Dragon withdrew his sword.

"De aanval! (Attack)" cried a voice Takao was taken back. That voice, that language. A mass of soldiers came running out towards them, swords and clubs raised. Kai shifted his sword in his hand and Mika caught the returned Hiraikotsu. Beo started forward, as did Dranzer.

"STOP!" cried Takao, causing the two animals to halt, but the onslaught still came towards them.

"What are you doing?" demanded the angered Phoenix. Takao put his sword away and jumped off his horse. Walking a few paces closer, he cupped his ands around his mouth.

"Het einde! (Stop)" The strangers did, surprised to hear their language from this stranger. Riding towards them was a large man with light blue hair, warrior panting on his face and a sacred mask over his eyes. Following him was a rather small storm dragon, eying them all.

"Wat is de betekenis van dit? het Kruis in onse regufe legt en een zwaard bloot? (What is the meaning of this? Cross into our refuge and bare a sword)" demanded the man halting his black horse aside of Takao. The Dragon's face expressed a growing smile as his eyes locked onto the storm dragon.

"Wij zijn niet bewust deze landen waren heilig. ..dragoon?( We weren't aware these lands were sacred...Dragoon)" The little draong seemed to spark when he saw Takao. Worming passed the man, the light blue storm dragon coiled himself around Takao. "Ik ben een van u. ..or ik was.. Ik werd door de Enpaiahouou soldaten tijdens het seige tien jaren geleden gekidnapt. Ik werd Takao Kinomiya geroepen..( I am one of you...or I was... I was kidnapped by the Enpaiahouou soldiers during the seige ten years ago. I was called Takao Kinomiya...)" The man's harsh eyes softened at the mention of his name.

"Ta…Takao?" repeated the man removing his mask. Takao's eyes popped wide open as he looked into the other Dragon's eyes. Through the war paint and weather beaten skin he saw the face of a memory. Dragoon purred loudly in his face. Kai, Mika, and Hiromi were filled with the utmost confusion.

"Hitoshi?"