Update: Sorry this is out a little later than anticipated. I hope you enjoy and thankyou for reading & reviewing :D

Let's Party

Yukimura and Masamune stood opposite Mego and Aki feeling a bit uneasy as it was unusual for them both to pair up unless united by a common cause, and unlike Masamune, Yukimura had no reason to be fighting them. If anything he'd rather be protecting Aki than fighting with her. He could tell that Masamune had his heart set on fighting Mego though and his Lord had approved of Mego's request so his honour demanded he fight. "What harm could come from a friendly match with Aki anyway" he thought. If she was truly a trained warrior as Mego claimed her to be,then he'd like to see what she could do for himself. He looked over to her at was greeted by a warm smile from her. His cheeks heated up as he gulped what felt like a large ball of air knowing this time he couldn't lose his cool. But during their gaze he seemed to start to connect with her on a warriors level, feeling a stirring inside him that he felt before a battle.

Mego and Masamune stared at each other from across the distance as they both unsheathed their swords and got into their battle stances. The tension between them crackled in the air and they were so focused on each other that even if a meteor came down from the sky they wouldn't have broken eye contact. Aki watched Yukimura closely as they followed suit to their partners in getting in their battle stances. Unfortunately Masamune and Yukimura were at a disadvantage as Aki and Mego had trained as partners for years and acted together as a single unit without even an utterance. Becoming inpatient with the tension, Masamune charged ahead "Let's dance!" he shouted as he headed straight for Mego. Yukimura slower to the start charged right beside him with his eyes set on Aki. Mego gave Aki a quick glance and nod in which she responded back in a nod and then set her eyes back on her target. She'd thrown her feelings to the back of her mind, she had something to prove here and she wanted to also prove to Mego she hadn't gone soft. As Masamune and Yukimura landed in the spot where Mego and Aki had been standing, both girls dodged to opposite sides avoiding the attack and effectively leaving Masamune and Yukimura to charge into empty air. Mego let out an audible chuckle, "You have to be quicker than that one eyed dragon and young tiger of Kai if you want to catch us." she teased.

Using their agility Aki and Mego doubled back approaching them from behind going in for the attack whilst they were still startled. Working in unity they both charged their respective opponents driving them into the defensive. Whilst Aki wasn't as aggressive as Mego she still held her own against Yukimura's two spears using her agility to dance around his return blows with admirable elegance. In the hypnotism of battle Yukimura couldn't help but find her fighting style admirable and mesmorising... Yukimura was finally able to lock into a standstill with Aki as they stared intensely and were caught in a moment. Meanwhile, Mego was on full assault at Masamune, which was being equally returned by Masamune. There were sparks flying everywhere as their blades clashed attack after attack. Finally, Mego and Masamune locked swords, blades shaking at the force they were exhorting and eyes piercing at each other, when Mego suddenly saw Aki struggling backwards in her peripheral vision. She gave a burst of strength pushing Masamune back and rushed to just narrowly block an attack that would have left Aki's arm with a gash. "Aki what in the hell are you doing?" demanded Mego. " Get yourself together, you're stronger than this, don't let you're feelings or doubts get to you." she encouraged as she began to defend off two attacks coming from Masamune and Yukimura.

"Tempest wind" yelled Mego as she began to spin around quickly lashing out blades of wind and managing to send Masamune and Yukimura flying ten feet away. By then Aki had gotten her wits about her and started showing her true fighting spirit as her aura flared into visible life. At that point, the battle had apparently become more serious with Mego pulling out her wind techniques and Aki's aura flaring into action. All four warriors began to omit their aura's as they all began to step the battle up to enter it's ultimate phase. They started their second round of attack by sending flurries of blows at each other in a constant circle of attacking and defending with Mego and Aki constantly covering for each other from attacks and using new counter attacks they'd developed as a team. Their synchronization was admirable, the acted as if they could read each others minds. Jumping, dodging, blocking and assisting with each other. They looked like they were dancing as their bodies moved fluidly through their onslaught. Masamune didn't know whether to be frustrated or impressed at their footwork and skill as fighters.

As Shingen, Keiji, Kojuro and Sasuke watched the battle from afar they all couldn't help but enjoy the intensiveness felt coming from the fight. Keiji took this time to fill in some of the blanks of Aki and Mego's history whilst they were watching giving Kojuro and Sasuke especially some valuable information on the mystery girls past. Both were fostered at a young age as they had no parents and had grown up together under the watchful eye of Lord Yoshitsugu until they were nine years old. At this time Lady Hikari had seeked to take them in to relieve Lord Yoshitsugu of them and to teach them how to be real ladies. Her real intentions however, having predicted the coming war was to protect the girls from being involved in the waring states until they were old and strong enough to fend for themselves. Despite this however, Shingen was more so enjoying the fight laid out before his eyes. The girls were keeping their own with the One eyed dragon and his young tiger through their teamwork. It was almost flawless the way the didn't even need to communicate in order to perform a tag team attack or defense. It was impressive and he had seen more than enough of what Aki could do to know that she would be a valuable addition to the Takeda clan. Lady Hikairi had trained them well, almost too well but luckily for these two there were men in this world strong enough to at least compete with them and wed.

Mego and Aki stood back collecting themselves as Masamune and Yukimura were preparing their special attacks. Mego knew that Aki and her were beginning to tire out. No matter how much training they did, it was inevitable that in a battle of stamina, men always had the upper hand when it came to trained samurai and lords like Masamune and Yukimura. "Aki, we need to use that move" Mego insisted as she knew the next round of attacks they'd set on them would be tougher to counter in their growing weariness. Aki nodded to her partner knowing she was on the same track in her mind and satrted twirling her Naginata around summoning heat around her. It was always a good feeling having heat surround her and keep her warm, she always felt protected whenever she was around fire. Likewise Mego started to twirl her blades creating gusts of wind around her as she calculated counter moves in her head with prowess. Masamune and Yukimura came running at them with fully charged special attacks and auras flaring. "Death Fang!""Flare Storm!" shouted Masamune and Yukimura as they attacked Mego and Aki at the same time. Aki and Mego retaliated with their own attacks "Blades of Wind!" "Ring of fire!" they shouted, countering their attacks with their own. The resulting clash ended in a blast of energy as Mego and Aki were blown back having to regain their footing whilst Masamune and Yukimura had managed to get blown up into the air. This gave them the upper hand as they both prepared a second onslaught. "Aki get up, we have to do that move NOW!" exclaimed Mego as she began to panic at the incoming attack staring down at her. Aki jumped to her feet and together with Mego began to run and jumped up to meet Masamune and Yukimura in mid air. "Shit" thought Masamune as he saw what they were doing. They were preparing a combined attack of wind and fire with Mego having used the running start as a means of propelling more air into the fire Aki had built. Yukimura noticing the same threat that they were heading towards put more power behind his attack putting trust in Masamune to . "Blazing wheel!" "Phantom Dive" they shouted as Masamune and Yukimura put all their might behind their attack. " Volcanic tornado" shouted Mego and Aki in unison as they combined their fire and wind in one huge blast letting out a fire whirl towards Yukimura and Masamune.

From the spectator side it was a marvelous display seeing these ferocious attacks collide together but for an instant before they clashed there was an even bigger miracle. As they put their all behind the attack you could see the spirit of the tiger and dragon not only backing up Yukimura and Masamune, but also Aki and Mego respectively. Like their souls had reflected onto each other. At that split moment were it could be seen Keiji realised for the first time what it meant. He turned to Shingen who had the look of knowing on his face. "Did you see that Lord Shingen?" he asked. Shingen nodded his head and closed his eyes like he did before he said something deep and important. "It is said when a woman marries, she takes her husbands last name. But when a female warrior marries, it is said she takes on her husbands spirit. The men who marry those girls are going to have very powerful woman behind their backs keeping them tall." stated Shingen, opening his eyes at the end of his message and continuing to watch the fight unfold. Keiji, Kojuro and Sasuke all looked back to the battle absorbing in Lord Shingen's words.

The intensity of the blast sent all four flying and hitting the ground hard as dust flew up into the air. Mego got up on her feet, every inch of her body screaming in pain from the harsh landing that she had had no time to soften with wind. She was going to pay for that landing harshly over the next few days. She looked over to find Aki only to see that she laid on the ground unmoving as she couldn't even find the strength to get up. This wasn't good. With Aki out of commission and her present state she wasn't going to last long against the two of them. She pondered her options as Masamune got to his feet and scanned the battlefield with his ever seeing eye till he found her. He noticed that Aki was down and out which was a fortunate outcome for them. By this time Yukimura had also gotten to his feet by this time but instead of rushing in to finish the battle the noble young lord rushed to Aki's side in fear she might be dead. "Akihime, are you alright?" He shouted with fear in his voice as he pulled her into a seating position. Her eyes fluttered open as she looked up into Yukimura's eyes with a slightly dazed look. "Sanada Yukimura is that you?" she asked weakly. She'd been knocked around pretty bad but she just needed some rest. "Don't worry Akihime, I will see you receive the appropriate medical attention." he announced as he picked her up bridal style and carried her off the field to seek medical attention for her. Good thought Masamune. He really had only wanted a one-on-one fight with Mego anyway. The tension on the battlefield grew as Masamune and Mego were locked in a stare off with each other. "This is it tough guy, the final round." Mego proclaimed as she panted from exhaustion but still managed to smirk at him. Her body had at least stopped aching from the initial pain of hitting the ground hard but she was spent and the look on Masmune's face told her he knew that too. "Go figure" she thought. She wasn't facing just any old opponent. Date Masamune was no pushover, he was known for his military prowess and observant nature. They usual basics for a successful warlord in these times. Masamune studied Mego who was showing clear signs of weakness and openings due to her exhaustion. He had her and he knew it. "It's been fun but now it's time to finish this party" he said wickedly. He charged towards her as she mustered her strength to give her one last burst of speed and strength. If she was going to go down, she was going to give it all she had. As he came in close she dodged around his attack. As he turned around to face her and swung his swords at her she swung her own. In a flash they stopped and from the distance it could be seen that they both had swords at each others throats. Mego was panting rapidly and could feel the shudder of her muscles that were demanding her to rest. She looked straight at the one eyed dragon and flushed him a genuine smile. "You know Date Masamune, you're not so bad." she said staring into his eyes. He looked straight back at her with an intensiveness in his eyes. "You rock" he replied flashing her his cocky smile. She felt her face flush a little from the look he gave her and then without a word she twisted and fell down to the ground on her back looking up at him still smiling and still holding her swords in her arms. "You win this round one eyed dragon, but I'll get you next time." She said confidently as she pointed a sword towards his chest before she closed her eyes and let the sword fall thus letting her muscles relax. Masamune sheathed his six claws. "Not bad, Megohime. You put up a bigger fight than any girl I've ever met." he complimented. She gave a chuckle back in response. "And I don't think you'll meet another girl who does." She stated looking straight into his eye as she said it. "Heh" replied Masamune as he extended her hand which she accepted as helped her up. As he did she stared into his face and for a moment they stood there locked in eye contact. Suddenly Keiji appeared beside them and interrupted the moment as they broke apart both feeling slightly embarrassed at the moment. "Mego are you ok?" Keiji asked with a concerned look on his face. "I'm fine Keiji just very tired and sore." she replied giving a hearty laugh as she rubbed her lower back emphasizing a spot that hurt. "It's the best workout I have had in a while." she joked earning a laugh from Keiji. They walked back together to the Takeda castle where they were reunited with their respective companions.

"How is Aki doing?" Mego asked Shingen. "She is fine, Yukimura is seeing she gets the appropriate medical attention." replied Shingen. Mego smiled and Shingen returned a knowing smile back. "Aki would probably be as red as a tomato from all the attention she was getting from Yukimura" thought Mego.

Masamune had started getting ready to leave again having already delayed their trip home a few hours now when Kojuro came up to him. "Lord Masamune, whilst you were fighting I was able to talk with Maeda Keiji. I have been told that Megohime will be traveling around with Maeda Keiji to see the lands and lords of Japan. Keiji stated that if you would allow it, he'd like to show Oshu to Megohime in a few months time." he reported. Masamune looked towards the horizon with his hands crossed over his chest as he contemplated the idea. He couldn't help but feel a stirring inside at the thought of her company and the chance of another battle together. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to know more about this woman and he couldn't help but be amused by her presence. Masamune mounted his stallion and headed over to where Mego was talking with Lord Shingen. Admiring her show of energy in conversation even after battle. He approached her on horse back. "Kojura informed me that you have intentions of traveling around and seeing Japan with the vagabond." he said cool and calm like. Mego turned towards him giving her full attention. "You would be correct." she replied. "If you have time you should stop by Oshu so I can beat you again." he said with a slight cheekiness to his voice. Mego, finally succumbing to the cool collected charisma of his gave him a chuckle. " I look forward to it, one eyed dragon." she said in a soft voice with a slight gleam in her eyes.

Happy with her response, Masamune left Takeda on the long trek home to Oshu. However this time rather than having conducted good business, being what made the trip worth it in his mind, it was beating the blonde mystery girl and obtaining a new rival in Mego that had made this trip memorable to him. He couldn't wait till they could clash swords again. Kojuro saw the excited expression on his lords face and smiled to himself. The naive dragon didn't seem to know that not only did he win a battle back at Takeda which always left him in a good mood, but he'd found something more that had been missing from his life for a long long time which had lighted a spark in his eye. The beginnings of love.