Hello everyone out there! Nice to see you've come back for more (poor fools). Oh did you hear that? Not much to say this time around, another big thank you to PimpTroyce and Jemuil. Anyway, this chapter is more about the past, so no severed heads (gosh darn it). But there is some humor, you just either have to see it or have a dirty mind and if your reading this story then you have the second one (just kidding). Ok enough of my senseless and random typing. Read and enjoy the unfolding tale of a samurai and her love for a ninja.

Chapter Five

I looked around to find five pairs of eyes, minus one from Kakashi, staring down at me. Some faces where surprised, while others were relieved.

"Ok, it's really uncomfortable with all you staring at me," I jokingly said.

Kakashi shook his head, "so how long were you listening?"

"Long enough to hear describing me as some sort of Moon Maiden. It kind of made me think that you had dirty little..."

"Ok, you may stop there. Whatever you two have between yourselves, it's not appropriate for the young ears," an elderly man in odd clothing said.

"Umm... yes, anyway, how are you feeling?"

I feel like I had a sword in my stomach, how do you think I feel, "I feel alright, there's some pain, but I'll live." I snuggled into the blanket that covered me.

I tried to hide my pain, but it was obvious.

"So you're alright huh? I guess that wincing and clinching is a way to say that you're fit as a fiddle," Kakashi looked down at me with a sympathetic eye.

I tried to hold back my giggles, but they soon escaped.

"Ha... ha... ouch! It hurts to laugh... ouch, it hurts to complain too." I held my stomach. I could feel where the blade had enter my body... hey wait, where's my clothes? "I have one question, why am I naked?"

The old man nearly fell out of his chair, Sakura, Naruto and Sasuke went completely red and Kakashi would have fallen out the window if his legs hadn't fastened to the windowsill. He quickly pulled himself back into the room.

"What? It was a simple question," I said, trying desperately to hold back my laughter.

"The doctors of the village needed to clean your wounds, so your clothing... need to ... umm... be removed," the still off balanced old man explained.

"Ok, I won't have to bust some heads then. But I would rather get dressed, I'm just a little uncomfortable," I pulled the blankets around me more securely.

"Here," Kakashi held out my backpack by its single strap. I reached out, but he pulled it away, grr.

I pulled his foot from underneath him and he landed with a thud right next to me.

"I deserved that," he admitted.

"Among over things," I said as my bag disappeared under the covers.

The old man got up from his seat, "I think we should allow Lady Lian to dress in private, come."

He exited through a sliding door, while the others followed after him.

Kakashi picked himself and exited through the door, but he peeked back in, "sure you don't need any help."

A shoe landed smack in the middle of his forehead, "guess not." He closed the door and I uncovered myself.

I wasn't completely naked, I still had my thin silk chemise on, thank my ancestors. I opened my bag and pulled out my thin kimono, under garments and hakama pants. I always preferred wearing these over that stuffy armor... where is my armor?

Kakashi walked down the hallway rubbing his forehead, why didn't I catch that?

"Kakashi I would like to speak to you alone," Hokage-sama asked in a grave tone.

Kakashi raised his eyebrow, "of course, you guys wait outside."

They looked a little confused, but exited with some hesitation.

"I know you have certain feelings for the young lady, but you must keep your head about you. You've been sitting in there for the past three days and your students have been idle. I'm just worried that with her around, you won't be able to do your duties."

Kakashi leaned up against the wall and folded his arms; he had been neglectful of teaching his students lately.

"I know she won't do anything, but I worry about what the other villagers will do. Many of them have seen the horrors some clans of samurai have committed. She must always be escorted and when she is healed, she must leave."

Kakashi released a heavy sigh; he knew that Hokage-sama was right; he too had seen what samurai could do and what she could do. I don't think even I would piss her off, Kakashi thought as he remember the shoe that landed in the middle of his forehead.

I wish that Sakura had stayed here, I need her to tie my Obi, I thought threw my moments of pain.

Carefully, I finished tying the lilac Obi and smooth out my hakama pants. I looked down at the rest of my usual attire, some beads of jade, charms and little silver bells; I haven't worn those types of things since my days as a Lady and Lord.

With a light sigh, I began to put up my hair up and thread beads on single strands, might as well try to present yourself as a Lady and not a warrior.

From past experiences, I've learned that sometimes being a woman had more advantages then trying to be a man. I threaded the last bead and slowly got up; I didn't know if I should leave or not. I could hear Kakashi and the old man talking about something, but it was muffled.

"So who is going to escort her?" I think that was Kakashi. "

I was thinking that since you and her have a past, you would be the only one that knew how to... handle her."

Handle me!... no wait, he used the right words. I silently giggled to myself, but they heard me anyway.

"Lady Lian? Is that you?"

"Yes," I pulled open the door, "sorry."

She gave a small bow and slowly straightened herself with obvious pain.

"Greetings oh Lady of the Lotus Blade Clan, I welcome you to the Village Hidden in the Leaves." Hokage-sama returned her bow.

"I thank you for kind greeting and for your even kinder heart." She smiled shyly.

Kakashi glanced up and down; she still wears a kimono, ever traditional.

She wore a very simple kimono that had, of course, lilac colored lotuses that patterned her long sleeves and slowly fade as they disappeared under her lilac Obi, her hakama pants were an off white color and her sliver hair had little beads and charms hanging about, she still is a vision of beauty.

Kakashi stared longingly at her; she took noticed and began to blush.

"I advise that you get your mind out of the gutter and back into that... never mind there isn't much of a difference." She smiled as she fluttered her sapphire eyes in Kakashi's direction. "Anyway... umm... please forgive me, I don't know your name," Lian nervously said.

"No please forgive me for not introducing myself, I am Hokage-sama. It is good to see that your alive, we almost lost you a few times."

"A true samurai will survive anything if they still have a duty to either their Lord or their people," she answered in a proud tone.

"Duty huh? What duty is that?" Kakashi leaned closer to Lian.

"One that I shall complete when I'm recovered," her eyes seemed to dull as if a painful memory surfaced.

It must have to do with the loss of her clan, Kakashi thought as he put his hand gently on her slender shoulder.

I put my hand on top of Kakashi's, "I'm alright, just experiencing both physical and mental pain at the same time is very draining."

"Mmm, please Lady Lian..."

"It's just Lian, I'm not a lady anymore... no wait... that didn't come right," I said as I began to blush.

"That's alright, you'll always be a Lady in my opinion," Kakashi gently lifted my hand to his covered lips and pressed them against my hand.

"Amen. If you aren't to tire Miss Lian, I would like to speak to you. Kakashi you may come if you want," Hokage-sama motioned for us to follow.

"Can we come too," Naruto asked as he looked around the corner along with Sakura and Sasuke.

"No, this is a matter for adults and nothing for you to be concerned with," he said as began to walk down the hallway.

"Oh ok, I'll go..."

"No, we'll consider you an adult for now," Kakashi put his arm gently around my waist and led me along the hallway. We followed Hokage-sama down the hallway and into a room that was lined with all sorts of books and scrolls.

Sort of remains me of the old palace library, I thought as I read the many titles.

Her eyes traced along the books and room, it seemed to bring back good memories.

"Please take a seat, make yourself comfortable," Hokage-sama said as he seated on a nearby chair.

Lian sat on a cushion close by and Kakashi sat down next to her.

"I know you just woke up from a terrible experience, but I need to know..." He had a distance look in his eyes, Lian seemed to understand.

"How much trouble I'm in and if it will effect your village."

"Yes."

She heaved a heavy sigh, "it's still hard to talk about, but you need to know how much I know. Which isn't much." She looked out the window, "it was about two years ago when the Valley of Lotus was attacked."

A single tear rolled her delicate cheek, Kakashi wiped it away. She looked at him and smiled.

Keep it together; maybe telling them will help with the pain. "I remember that night well, it still burns a hole in my memory. It was a few nights after our clan celebrated the Blooming Festival, a night where all the lotuses bloom in unison. The watchmen had noticed a plume of smoke approaching from the east. The next morning the smoke had moved closer and closer and the air began to smell of brimstone and burning flesh. I assembled my council to see what they thought we should do. All they did was argue whether or not the smoke was the sign of an approaching army or if it was a forest fire, which was common during that time of year. I looked out the window at the smoke that hung menacing in the air. At the time I had been doubting myself, I had gone on an escort with some merchants to a neighboring village, in disguise of course. It hadn't gone to well; we were attacked by Samubi, a samurai clan of the north. Ten out of twenty-seven of my men were killed and most of the merchants."

Hokage-sama narrowed his eyebrows, "the Samubi, they are worse than the Unteki. But they use two swords, right?"

"Yes and they are much worse. Anyway we barely made it back to the Valley with our lives. I was even injured badly enough to keep me bedridden for a month. After that I was never was sure of my skills or my leadership." I sighed; you really lost your honor before that night. I slumped down, "that didn't matter though, my samurai would follow me into hell and back. Unfortunately, I was the only one that came back alive. You see, after a day and night of the council arguing, I finally decided to get all the villagers out of the village."

She slowly got up, holding her stomach, and went to the open window. Her arms nestled in her sleeves, her eyes seemed soulless as her memories stirred and twisted her every thought.

"They were escorted by a hundred samurai. Leaving me with about five hundred left to fight."

"How did you know that a fight was going to occur?" Hokage-sama asked as he shifted uncomfortable in his seat.

Kakashi rest his chin on his fist, samurai know when a fight and their death is approaching.

"The full moon on the eve of the attack turned blood red, the wind kept whispering terrible things and the perfume of lotuses had disappeared. These are the signs of an approaching battle that wouldn't take pity on anyone. As the night continued we could hear the clashing and banging of armor and swords, then everything went quiet. I thought that maybe we were hearing echoes, but I was wrong. Out of nowhere arrows and throwing stars reined down on us. Then men in black armor seem to materialize from the very air."

Tears flowed down her snow white cheeks. I wish I could hold you and tell you everything is going to be ok, but you need to do this, to become stronger.

I looked back at Hokage-sama and Kakashi, they both looked at me with sadden eyes.

"If you want..."

"No, the last chapter of my clan must be known. I and my samurai fought as hard as we could, but when we managed to kill one, five more would replace him. During the battle, I was injured pretty badly. One of the black armored demons, as I call them, slashed me right down the side," I pulled down my kimono to show them where my body length scar started.

They drew back, their eyes filled with both fear and anger.

"He was about to finish me when several of my elite samurai blocked the attack, their lives ended. Some others grabbed me, desperately trying to get me out of there, but I kept screaming for them to let me go. I would have rather died along side them, then be living my life in shame."

"Wasting your life would not do anyone any good," Kakashi remarked in an angry tone.

"You have no right to judge, you do not know our honor codes. Anyway, my samurai reached a river that flowed out of the valley, they meant for me to go, but I resisted. The sound of a thousand warriors came closer and closer, so they began to hit me, hoping that I would lose consciousness. The last thing I remember is them loading me on a raft and them... them running to... their noble deaths." I fell to the ground; the pain of the memory was too much. So many years and you still can't relive the memories. "I should have died with them, they were my clansmen," I banged my fist against the floor.

A pair of gentle arms wrapped around me, "just let it all out."

Kakashi pulled me closer to his chest.

Just let it all out... no, I can't do that, not without losing myself to the darkness, I thought as I cried into Kakashi's vest.