Hello all you wonderful people! I wasn't expecting for the hit counter to go past 700. It's so awesome! Whew... ok, I'm done, I'm down... ok, nothing much to say this round. Just my usual reviewers, you know who you are, my thanks and love go out to ya. Ok, I'm really done this time, so sit back, relax and read the end to the cliffhanger from last chapter.

Chapter Nine

Our swords met with sparks and a heavy clank. I nearly fell back from the sheer weight of his sword.

"What? Can't handle a little push," he said mockingly.

I gritted my teeth and dug my feet into ground. He began to push harder; I could feel that my knees would give out at any minute. Sliding my sword away from the serrated edge, I rolled to the right as my opponent's sword hit the ground. It hit with such force that it knocked me off balance; I couldn't get a good footing and just kept rolling. I landed on my back; I slowly got up to find myself ducking again.

"You dare strike at someone's back and when they lay on the ground?" I quickly turned around and got up on my feet.

He swung at me, our blades met with more sparks. All I could do was defend myself against the heavy blow.

His lips curled into a wicked smile, "put down your blade and no harm shall come to you."

"Never! I am Samurai! My honor shall be intact after this battle, but I do not carry the same guarantee for you," I said through my teeth.

Bold words Lian, but can you carry through, Kakashi thought as he watched helplessly.

She was straining to hold back her opponent's attack; her wooden sandals were being pushed further and further into the ground. Putting her left hand on the blunt edge of her sword, she began to push with all her might. The black armored man pushed as well but couldn't hold her to the ground. With one mighty push, Lian managed to throw her foe off balance. She shot up and rushed towards him. Lian's sword seemed to glow a fire red as she brought it down across the armored foe's chest. It merely cut the armor, not the man.

"Very good, your skills are a good as you are beauty," he said in a grim tone.

Lian was taking to catch her, how much more can she take?

"Tell me, what is your name? I wish to know the name of the man whom I'm going to kill."

He began to laugh, "Or who is going to kill you. If you must know, I am known as Kasuro."

Lian cautiously stood up, breathing in and out slowly, and bowed lowly with folded hands.

Kasuro returned the bow, "let us fight as samurai, following all the rules of Bushido."

She nodded her head.

"Bushido? What's that?" Naruto asked.

Kakashi didn't take his eyes off the two engaged warriors, "Bushido is the ethnic code of the samurai, like never strike a man when his back is turned to you. It also consists of Seven Virtues, Gi- Just Decision, Yu- Courage, Jin- Benevolence, Rei- Respect, Matoko- Honesty, Meiyo- Honor and Chugi- Loyalty. They play a big role in how battles are fought. They both have agreed to act accordingly, so maybe Lian will have a chance."

Kakashi clinched his fist; I hope she'll have a chance.

They both again their charge, Lian was much fast so she met him first. He swung his heavy sword but she ducked at the last moment and brought her sword along the same cut she made earlier. This time she made contact with flesh; she quickly rolled through his legs and stood up, waiting for another attack.

Kasuro stood up, "you're good. It's been a long time since anyone has made me bleed." He smiled evilly.

That was good, but not fatal, I thought to myself.

He turned around and raised his sword, his blood flowing from his wound.

I too brought up my sword, he can't seem hit me after he strikes.

We charged at one another again, he brought down his sword and I ducked underneath. I was about to bring my sword when he grabbed it.

"I don't think so, little girl," he said as he pulled his sword from the ground.

He brought up his serrated sword and brought it down on my left shoulder. The pain was intense; I clinched my teeth in anguish. He pulled it slowly across my shoulder, cutting deeper. I had to do something. Pulling my sword from his hand, I flipped it over to the blunt side and pushed it into his throat. He staggered away, holding his throat in pain.

"Low blow," he coughed out.

"Not a true samurai sword," I pointed out.

The pain in my shoulder was so intense; I could barely hold my sword. My blood began to mingle with the lilac lotuses on my kimono, slowly turning it red.

"Lian are you alright!" Kakashi called out.

What do you think genius, "I'll live."

"Not for long," Kasuro called out.

He was right, if I didn't die from the injury, I would most certainly die by his hands.

Time to show the true style of the Lotus Blade Clan, I looked down at one of the fallen warriors.

His sword was lying right next to my foot.

"Sorry to say this, but I've been holding back." I flipped up the sword into my hand.

"So the rumors are true about the double sword techniques of the Lotuses. This will make it more fun," he threw his head back and laughed.

He positioned his sword for an attack and I crossed the two blades in front of my chest. He will fall with my next attack.

Two swords? Kakashi stared on in amazement as Lian held the two blades to her chest. In his time with Lian, he never knew that her style revolved around two swords.

"How is she going to attack when her shoulder is so injured?" Sakura was nearly in tears.

Kakashi looked to his students, they were all about to cry, even Sasuke.

He'll be the one hit the worse if Lian dies because he fears the same fate for himself.

"Don't die out there Lian! Remember what you said, you have a duty to your people!" Sasuke burst out.

Lian slightly turned her head and gave him a small nod.

"AGG," Kasuro yelled as he began his charge.

She clinched her teeth and returned his charge. They met with sparks and a loud clang.

"It ends here, Lotus Blade! When I'm done with you, I'm going to kill every single one of your ninja friends. Every man, woman and child. Just like your village." He glared down at her hoping for a reaction, but she just stared back at him with unemotional eyes.

A cracking noise could be heard.

"What? How are you doing this?" Kasuro drew back in fear as Lian's swords formed a V-shape around his serrated sword.

"First technique, Sword Breaker." She pushed her swords together and broke Kasuro's sword in half.

"HOW? HOW COULD YOU?" He fell back onto the ground.

She stared down him, her two swords down at her side, "do you give up?"

He gritted his teeth, then he grabbed hold of something.

"No, bitch!" He thrust it up at her chest, but she mere sidestep.

He landed on his hands and knees, "I wasn't suppose to lose... I wasn't to suppose to LOSE!"

Kasuro bolted up and turned to slash at Lian.

"Technique Two, Kiss of a Thousand Petals." She raised her two swords and began to stab Kasuro repeated.

She did it so quickly that Kakashi couldn't count how many times she stabbed him. She stopped, her swords were in his chest and he was gasping for air. Quickly drawing them from his chest, she stepped back as he flew on his hands and knees.

"Give... gasp... me an honorable... gasp... death," he said through his heavy breaths.

"First tell me, does all this have to do with the Blades of Green and Blue Jade?" Kasuro nodded his head. "I give you an honorable death."

Lian dropped one of the swords and brought up her own. With one fast movement, Kasuro's head laid two feet away from his lifeless body. Lian just stood there, she looked up into the sky, tears began to flow down her face.

I stood there, trying to catch my breath. The pain in my shoulder had numbed a little, but it still burned great intensity.

"Lian? Lian are you alright? Lian?" A familiar voice came from my side.

"Lian, your shoulder. We better get you back to Hokage-sama's." He gently pulled at my good arm.

No Kakashi... I began to shake my head, "no. Not this time Kakashi. I have to go," I began to walk away, but Kakashi pulled harder.

"You're injured and you'll loss a lo..." I pulled my small sheathed katana and smashed it horizontally in his throat. He fell back, gasping for air.

"What did you do that for?" His team came running up.

"To stop him from dying. For him to follow me would mean his early death. You need him as much as he needs you." I began to walk, "tell him... that I'm sorry." I glanced over my shoulder, "and don't follow. Just forget that you ever knew me." Just forget about the damned Samurai of the Lotus Blade Clan...