YOU GUYS ARE SO AWESOME! The hit counter hasn't been reset since this went up and guess what. It's only five away from 600! That's so cool. Since I'm posting that number will probably up more (dances about room). Really, you guys are awesome; give yourselves a pat on the back. Anyway, I'll catch my breath and you can do what you came here to do... read I hope.

Chapter Eight

I rested my head against the smooth bark of the weeping willow. My temper had cooled down since my little fight with Kakashi. Now that I had time to think over the events, I realized that Kakashi had every right to scold me.

But should I admit it... maybe not right now, then again. I think he was still sulking on the over side of the tree.

"Hey Kakashi?" I called out.

He didn't answer. Either he's still mad or it's something else. I hunched over, resting on my head on my knees; I breathed in the fresh air of the night. The moon hung low in the sky; she was at her peak of fullness. Her light was so bright that I could see every detail of the meadow, every leaf, every flower and every blade of grass.

I wonder where my blades of steel are.

"Hey Kakashi, I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean to be so... difficult. I'm just use to doing things on my own." He still didn't say anything. "If you're going to be that way..."

"Please come over here," his smooth voice came from the other side of the tree.

I sighed, "Can you come over, I'm still hurting from beating the crap out of that guy."

I heard him get up slowly.

"You also scared the crap out of him too," he peeped around the trunk.

I smiled, "ya, look I'm sorry about before. You were right, I shouldn't have..."

"You don't have to say anything," he sat down next to me and put his arm around my shoulder.

Lian snuggled in closer to Kakashi.

"I'm sorry," she said as she laid her head on his chest.

"It's ok. I should have known that a big, bad samurai like you wouldn't back down."

She just giggled into his vest, he couldn't help but smile. She just had that kind of effect on him; he held her tighter.

"You know, this is like the last night you were in my village, except you were hurt," she looked up at him with her sapphire eyes.

Her silver hair wisped about her moon like face.

"Ya, it is, but there is another difference."

"What's that," she asked in an innocent tone.

"We haven't kissed." Lian turned her head, trying to hide her blushing.

"Yes, but...," she looked down at her feet, "why does that have to change?"

She turned back to Kakashi; her cheeks were like little red roses. She lifted her hand up to Kakashi's face and gently pulled down his face mask.

I pulled down Kakashi's mask to reveal his tender, soft lips. Just like I remember them, I thought as I put my arms around his neck.

He, in turn, wrapped his arms around my waist. Our lips met with equal passion, him crushing his mouth into mine and me returning it. His hands pulling me closer to his chest, nothing could have separated us. We seemed to have melted into one mind, body and soul.

It's exactly like I remember it, the flame of love and life lit anew in my heart.

Our lips slowly parted, I nestled into his neck.

"That was breath taking," he said as he drew in a deep breath, then pulled up his face mask.

I was too taking deep breaths.

"I wish I could hold you forever," he looked down at me.

"Me too, but I think we would need to eat sooner or later."

"We don't need food; love will be our food, our shelter and our life."

"Which one of those dirty books did you get that from," I giggled.

"Vol. 2," he remarked sarcastically. I put my head on the willow's trunk and looked out into the seemingly endless sky.

I do really wish he could...

BOOM! There was a huge explosion came from behind us.

"That was from the village!" Kakashi jumped up, "stay here!"

He disappeared into the surrounding forest.

"Be safe... my love," I whispered into the wind.

Kakashi ran and jumped his way through the thick forest; the smell of smoke began to fill the air as he moved closer to the village. With one bound, he was on a high branch that overlooked the village. Smoke was coming from the gate area, but the village seemed alright.

Good, but who's attacking us, Kakashi thought as he surveyed the scene.

"Sensei? Kakashi Sensei, where are you?" A group of voices came from below.

"Up here," Kakashi yelled back as he jumped down.

"Ah, Kakashi Sensei we're glad to see you're alright," Sakura came running up to him with Naruto and Sasuke following right after.

"What's happened, is everyone alright, who's attacking?"

"There was an explosion at the gate, the village is in one piece and some guys in black armor set off the explosion," Sasuke explained quickly.

Black armor? Could it be... no, it can't or at least I hope it's not. Kakashi thought back to Lian's story of demon like men in black armor.

"What do we do and where is Lian," Sakura asked with a hint of fear.

"You guys go protect Lian; I'm going to the village and see what I can do. She's right back there," he pointed straight behind himself.

"But I want to fight," Naruto said angrily.

"No, go protect Lian; she is unarmed and still injured." The team reluctantly ran in the direction where Kakashi pointed. He released a heavy sigh; I hope I can do something.

Kakashi jumped from tree to tree, rooftop to rooftop until he reached the front gates. The ninjas of the village had all assembled. Just outside the gate stood about ten men in black armor, their leader in armor that seemed to reflect a blood red hue. His armor had huge spikes jutting from all over and the pattern of skulls was etched on his breast plate.

He called out in a spine tingling voice, "where is the female samurai of the Lotus Blade Clan? Give her to us and your village will be spared."

Kakashi pushed himself up to the front where Hokage-sama stood. "Kakashi, where is Lady Lian," he whispered as Kakashi came up on his left.

"She's in the woods with my team."

Hokage-sama released a heavy sigh, "I fear that we might have to hand her over."

Kakashi took a step back, "forgive for my words, but she is a guest of the village and under my protection, we just can't..."

"Kakashi, I can not allow the lives of many to be sacrificed for one woman." Hokage-sama didn't look at Kakashi, but he could tell that he didn't want to give up Lian.

There must be something that I can do, he clinched his fist. "Kakashi Sensei! Sensei, Lian gone," Naruto and the rest of the team came running up.

The ninjas began to whisper, "She must have left to save herself" and "she probably doesn't even care if we all die." Kakashi looked towards the men in black armor; I wouldn't blame her, their pretty mean looking.

They had returned the black demons that haunted my sleep and honor. I was observing from the room that was my residence.

I can't allow more people to die for a damned samurai like me. I looked down at my bag of earthly things and then to my armor and swords. With a silent prayer, I grabbed my bag, armored arm braces and two swords. It's time I face my demons, I thought as I jumped out the open window.

Quickly walking to where the action was, I sheathed my swords into my Obi and put on my arm braces. Everyone had gathered about, just trying to either see or hear what was going on.

"Well? Are you going to hand her over or are we going to have to rip this place apart?" A familiar menacing voice came over the crowd.

"She's not here, look else where," Hokage-sama answered back.

"If you're going to play that game then men, ATTACK!" I could hear the unsheathing of multiple swords.

I began to push through the crowd and finally emerged, "no, stay your swords! Here I am, Lady Lian, Lord and last Samurai of the Lotus Blade Clan."

The leader's mouth twisted into a terrible grin. It sent chills up and down my spine.

Lian stood there waiting to see what the black armored warriors would do.

Kakashi came over to her, "don't do this, we can..."

"No. Too many lives shall die if I don't give up myself. I wouldn't want to be the cause of another extinction of a noble clan." She glared up at him with intense eyes, they glowed a fiery red.

Nothing would change her mind, "Hokage-sama, I thank you for your hospitality; I thank your entire village for allowing me to stay. It is time that I repay you, tell your ninjas not to engage the warriors; their lives hang on my sword now."

Hokage-sama motioned for the ninjas to back down with much reluctance.

"We can't let her do this, they'll tear her apart," Sakura came up to Kakashi.

I know, but we can't, she wouldn't let us.

"There's nothing we can do now, it's between them and only them," Hokage-same said in a grave tone.

Kakashi looked on in horror as Lian walked towards the men in black armor. Be careful...

She bowed low to the apposing warriors and they returned it. Are they samurai?

Drawing out her sword, she signaled for them to attack. Two came running straight for her, but she just stood there. The first one was met a sword across his chest, but it didn't penetrate the armor. He fell back and the other brought down his sword, but he only cut through air. Lian moved so quickly that Kakashi couldn't keep track of her. With a quick thrust, her blade went through the warrior's armor and straight through his chest. He fell down and ceased to move, that's when the rest of the warriors charged.

There's no way she can handle all those guys on her own! Kakashi stared on as the calm Lian raised her sword, ready for another attack.

She charged forward, swinging and slashing her sword through metal and flesh. The charging men stood still for a second then fell back into a pool of their own blood.

The leader began to clap, "excellent. You truly are perfection in both beauty and killing."

"Beauty yes, killing no. There is no such thing as killing perfection, not as long as someone suffers from the loss of that person." I was desperately trying to hide my anger.

The warrior stared at me with unemotional gray eyes. He seemed to not have a soul; his grin couldn't even describe the evil that was held within.

"Noble like a true samurai, to bad I have to kill you," he drew his sword with a serrated edge.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I have a duty to finish to my people," I held my blade next to my ear; it was still humming from the last blows that I inflicted.

The blood of my opponents trickled down my katana and onto my hands, don't kill him in revenge, take him with honor. Take him in the way of a true Samurai. I drew in a deep breath and center myself; I was going to have all my strength to defeat this foe.

With one final breath, I began my charge and the black armored demon returned it.