A/N: Whew! It's been almost three months since I updated! I don't like doing that. Ugh. I had a ton of school work fall on top of me this past month though, so now that it's over with it should be smooth sailing from here on out. Thanks again to AbbyKat for beta-ing for me. =)

Also! I just wanted to give you guys a recommendation for a story. I read Snake Bite by nyanyagirl last night and it was amazing. If you want a good Sekhmet fic, go check it out!

And here is some more shameless advertisement…I have a second Ronin story up and going. Go check out Honoo No Messenger. =)

Last time on Loyalty and Love, God I sound like a crappy television announcer, the history of the Ronin's armor was revealed and Ryo agreed to help Anubis as much as he could. Artemis tailed the Senshi to Toyama and is resuming his role of guardian. The Ancient asked Minako and Makoto for their help with training Anubis, but what does this training entail?

Chapter 8: Taming of the Beast

Minako quirked an eyebrow at the Ancient's last statement.

"Train him? What could he possibly learn from me?" Minako asked a little unnerved at the idea.

She grew a bit uncomfortable as she sensed his icy blue eyes locked onto her frame. She did not dare look at him, lest she find herself caught up in those beautiful eyes.

'What am I thinking?! Stop Mina. Stop it now.' She thought, mentally berating herself for thinking that anything to do with Anubis was attractive.

Anubis studied the Sailor Senshi leader with great interest. He could not help himself. She was spirited and brave. He gave her points for that in itself. He found himself fighting a smirk as he watched her reaction to the Ancient's statement. She was a spit fire, and a damned beautiful one at that. He would have been lying to himself if he said otherwise. Her cobalt eyes were wide and questioning of the man that stood before her. Her small hands were clenched into fists at her sides as she confronted the older man.

'She is feisty indeed. I shall have to keep a close eye on this one.' Anubis thought to himself as he tore his eyes from the petite blonde and back to the Ancient.

The Ancient's lips curled into a smile beneath the brim of his hat.

"Anubis has much to gain from each of you. He is not from this era and knows nothing about it. You each possess skills and trades that will aide him greatly." He answered.

Minako just stood there gaping at the Ancient, trying to figure out what this grand skill was that she had to teach him. Mako's brows furrowed in thought and then she titled her head to the side when an idea came to her.

"I could teach him how to cook, I suppose…is that what you mean Ancient?" She asked.

The Ancient nodded. "That would be an excellent area to train Anubis in."

Mako grinned and crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Anubis.

"I'm ready whenever you are Ginger."

Anubis narrowed his eyes at her challenge. Certainly something as domestic as cooking couldn't possibly be that challenging.

"I accept your challenge Makoto." He answered, not really liking this whole nickname thing.

Mako quickly shook a finger at him.

"Ah! If you're going to be my pupil, you're going to have to do what I say. The first task in your training will be to call me Mako like I asked you to." She said with a quirked eyebrow.

Anubis narrowed his eyes at the finger that was too close to the bridge of his nose.

"I accept your challenge…Mako." Anubis gritted.

Mako smacked Anubis on the shoulder with a grin, earning her a glare from the feared Warlord.

"See, it wasn't that hard now was it?" She laughed.

Minako just watched the exchange with her mouth hung open.

"Are you seriously going to teach this crazy, demon ninja samurai assassin how to cook?!" Minako shrieked.

Anubis raised an eyebrow as Minako, as he found her shrieking a little amusing.

"Demon ninja samurai assassin?" He asked.

"You know what I meant!" Minako spat. Mako laughed at her.

"C'mon Mina, it'll be fun and give us something to do when we're not doing Senshi stuff." Mako said. Minako just gaped at her.

"You should start right away if you have the time Makoto." The Ancient offered.

Mako lit up and punched her arm up in the air.

"Alright! I'll have you cooking in no time. Come young grasshopper! Man, I've always wanted to say that!" Mako said, heading off from the group.

Anubis' eyebrows went up at her statement.

"She is a very odd girl." Anubis breathed.

"You have no idea." Minako breathed as she watched her friend walk away. The Ancient smirked at the departing Senshi of thunder and gestured in the direction she was walking with his staff.

"Go on Anubis. She won't hurt you unless you threaten her. Besides, she has no idea where the kitchen is so go and fetch her before she gets lost."

"Oh please threaten her…" Minako whispered.

Anubis glared at her and bowed to the Ancient before following the path that Mako had taken. The Ancient watched Anubis depart for a few moments before turning back to Minako.

"Dear one, you must try and be understanding. If we are to help bring Anubis fully onto the side of the Ronins, you must not treat him with distrust and suspicion." He said softly.

Minako's shoulders slumped as she listened to the Ancient speak. She looked up at him with a defeated look in her eyes.

"But why us? Why do we have to be the ones to train him Ancient?" Minako asked.

The Ancient stepped forward and placed his hand onto her head.

"That is yet another secret I must keep from you Princess. I will tell you when the time is right. All I can ask is for you trust me and to trust the goodness within Anubis."

Minako sighed but nodded her head.

"I will try." She said.

"That's a good girl. I assure you that you will not be disappointed young one." The Ancient replied and took his hand off of her head.

They stood in silence for a few moments as Minako tried to think of something that she could teach Anubis.

"You will not make me wear that thing! I refuse to traipse around here looking like a damned woman!"

"Oh lighten up Red; it's not going to kill you!"

"Stop calling me that at once!"

"Get over it and put it on!"

"I will not, I tell you!"

Minako peered past the Ancient with a confused expression as she heard yelling coming from a nearby building. Artemis chuckled.

"It appears Anubis is not taking too fondly to Mako's directions. He has much to learn."

Minako continued to hear shouting and the sounds of a brief scuffle. When she heard Mako shout, she instantly took off towards where her Senshi and Anubis were. "Come on Artemis!"

'Has he already rebelled?' She thought as she flew up the path to the kitchen and heaved the sliding door open. She placed a hand over her mouth to control her laughter when she saw the scene before her.

Anubis was on the floor on his stomach with Mako's knee in his back as she tied the strings of a white apron around his waist.

"That's what you get when you trifle with me fire crotch!" Mako said triumphantly as she got off of Anubis.

"Fire crotch?!" He bellowed.

Minako couldn't hold back at that statement and burst out laughing, leaning against the wall and holding her sides as she did so. Mako made a gesture with her hands as if she was brushing dirt off of her hands and then tied her own apron strings around her waist.

"Why must you do things the hard way Anubis?"

Anubis glared at Makoto and leapt to his feet. He was contemplating striking her when the Ancient appeared in the doorway behind Minako's wheezing form. He cursed inwardly at the fact that he would indeed be forced to wear the God forsaken apron and pretend like he liked it. He glared down at the obnoxious lettering that said, 'I Love 2 Cook' in big bold letters.

He prepared to shoot daggers at Minako's recovering form as she let out a few more peals of laughter but stopped short. Anubis couldn't help but find her to be rather charming when she laughed. The bridge of her nose was crinkled and her lips were parted in a bright and open grin. He questioned his sanity when his subconscious thought her laughter to be cute.

He shook it off and shot a brief glare at Minako before turning back to Makoto.

"Fine. We'll do this your way. What are you going to teach me?" Anubis said through gritted teeth.

Makoto gave him a bright smile and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Before I am finished with you today, you will know how to make vegetable soup from scratch!" She replied triumphantly.

"That shouldn't be too hard." Anubis muttered as he walked over to the stove.

Before he could reach it a basket was shoved in his face. He glared at the woven object in front of him and then at Mako that stood near him.

"You have to get the ingredients first Mister. Go out to the garden and pick all the vegetables that are ripe. That way we'll know what we have to work with." She stated.

Anubis was about to tell her to go pick her own damn vegetables when he heard the Ancient clear his throat. Anubis growled and snatched the basket from Mako's grip before stalking out the door towards where the garden was. Mako put her hands on either side of the counter behind her and pushed herself up to a sitting position on the edge.

"Now I'll just sit here and wait till he comes back." She said with a smile.

Minako finally ceased her laughter and patted her friend on the knee.

"On second thought, maybe this whole training Anubis thing isn't such a bad idea. I'm going to come around just to watch the sparks fly. I'm good at being a spectator." Minako giggled.

"You aren't going to get off that easy Princess. You will have your turn on Thursday." The Ancient remarked.

Minako rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. So, is Mako to teach him for the next two days as well?" She asked, resting her back against the wall.

The Ancient shook his head. "No, tomorrow it will be Ami's turn and Wednesday it will be Michiru's."

Minako was relieved that they were all being forced to help train Anubis and got a small sense of pleasure in knowing that he didn't like it one bit. But what could she teach him? She had to come up with something!

~*~

Minako smirked at the look on Anubis' face when she and Makoto left the temple later that afternoon. His arms were crossed over his chest and his lips formed a thin line as they exited down the temple stairs.

"He didn't do that badly. He had to remake the soup three times, but that's alright." Mako joked once they were out of earshot.

Minako giggled as they took the last step and turned the corner to walk back to Mia's.

"I still don't know why you volunteered."Minako said, stopping so that Artemis could climb up onto her shoulder.

"Mina, the Ancient asked for our help so quit whining over it and trying to come up with a way to get out of it." Artemis scolded.

"You're one to talk Artemis. You don't have to do anything but lie around in the sun all afternoon." Minako grumbled.

"Like you did any more than I did. Lazy." He muttered under his breath.

Minako glared at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Keep it up fuzzy or I'll feed you to White Blaze."

With that Artemis remained quiet for the remainder of the walk back to Mia's.

~*~

LOL. Not that long of an update, but I kept you guys waiting for a long time. I had to give you something! Check back for the next chapter in a few days! Please review!