Author Notes: I want to thank those who reviewed for this latest chapter and those who are still reading , sorry for all the lag but tests are upon me in late, I've been running around a lot and haven't been able to sit and write as long as I'd like to these days. But all has been coming into effect. I will be taking some of your reviewer ideas. I like the mention of Aisha's pregnancy; we shall see what comes from it.

But now onward with the chapters! Here we go, hang on for the ride.

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Chapter 15: The Battle for Life: Duel of the Warriors' Spirit

Haomaru stepped back and had let his clawed fingertips draw the end of the blade up, he looked up to the strange warrior. "I find it odd about you...you are surely of the Kei Pirates, but what..? Why slaughter the crew? They were your men-" he was cut off rudely, this making him drop to a lower position; hand on his sword firmly.

"Heh...so ready for battle, we'll get to that in just a minute; as for that group I killed. They were working for the Tendo King, I work for Lord Hazanko." he said it coldly, glaring at Gene immediately then, who laughed at his words.

"Hazanko? Sorry to burst your bubble! But your 'lord' has already paid tribute to the Leyline and he's in the next world." Gene said with a smirk. "We'll be sending you to meet him shortly, that's a promise." Gene pointed both guns at him, he knew the senjutsu was a pain to deal with; this guy was probably some elite. He considered having to use the Caster, but wouldn't unless he was forced.

"Yes Gene, I know you sent him to the next world as you'd like to think. My Lord has returned at his own will, the power of his expressed through Leyline...while not commanding the Leyline he has still returned and he wishes me to send his regards to you and Melfina." he said it while he had started to step towards him, he looked over to Aisha and Haomaru. "You two wait okay? You're next." though he had only a moment to react, he found himself blocking Aisha's fist with the flat of his sword.

"Like Hell! You stupid muck bastard! Where do you think your going? Nyah! We're sending you onto the next world as well!" Aisha had gotten faster, her foot slammed across the flat of the blade and shot the assassin back in his tracks; her force was very incredible. As she rested airborne for a minute, she grinned and had thought to herself. 'Well...looks like my sweet Hao's training is good for something.' she was liking the results, she was faster, more alert, and more dangerous.

"Ah...you've had some kind of training? I heard you were brash, hot headed, and quite stupid; you Ctarl Ctarls are too proud." he was trying to provoke her, based on her past profile he'd studied it was very easy to provoke her.

"Why you-" she was stopped as she landed, Haomaru stepped in front of her then and hunched lowered to the ground. "Hao, move out of my way; I'm going to rip his throat out for that! I know you tell me to be calm, but like I told you; No one mocks the Ctarl Ctarls!" her pride was fierce and stronger, but her lover's tail stroked her chin and calmed her down a little bit.

"Please Aisha, will you allow me to defend your honor? I am only half, but I am a Ctarl Ctarl as well; he has done three things I cannot forgive. One: he directly insulted the woman I love, Two: spoken in an ill manner of our people, and Three: He has ignored me as a warrior and that...is my pride there." he said as he looked to her. "Will you allow me to defend your honor?" he said as he looked to her, he did want her approval; he saw her smile because he respected her enough to ask and wait.

"You may, but for one pass only alright? After that, we'll be fighting back to back." she made it clear what they would be doing shortly after this, he gave a soft nod to her then and had let his fingers return to the hilt of his sword.

"Well, I suppose I'll kill you in one pass then fighter or should I call you a Samurai? You possess the spirit and presence of one...so much to my annoyance, I will be eliminating you here; without Senjutsu." he said it then, he was bold wasn't he?

Haomaru ignored him and prepared for the only pass he'd get, really he was preparing it to be all he needed; he wasn't fooling around with this foe...he was going to use the blade and his sacred technique to take this guy down. He was going to bury him if he could on the first slash, this was getting too far along and it was far enough now.

Then the moment came, both warriors racing at each other with great speed; Hao had used a burst of speed from a surprise left foot then swift switch to the full out right, then he struck.

Clang!

The clash of the swords was brief, they had met and both were standing past one another, while Haomaru turned first; his side was bearing a thin line of red. "As I can see you have amazing skill." Hao immediately was forced to block a slash, the impact from it driving him into a backwards stumble.

"Damn Cat-boy!" He said as he swept the zweiihander from his rightside, trying to cleave him in two; though he Haomaru leaping over it and a foot forcing him to stumble back. "Ha, not bad; if it weren't for the armor I am wearing that would've been critical." there was a special wrapped layer of ringmail exposed now, it was a sweeping slash along where his lower intestines woudl be. "This is going to be fun!" he was excited enough to grin, while turning in time to block Aisha's fist with the hilt of his blade.

"You wounded him...that's gonna be the last mistake you ever make!" Aisha's foot slammed into the mysterious assassin's chest and shot him to the ground, during this mention she landed on his chest; one foot on his sternum and the other on his face. "Die!" she stomped down on his face, but yelped as she slid down over his face and fell against the brutish creature's chest; before then she was immediately struggling to get loose.

The assassin put the blade to her stomach. "One false move Samurai...I end your livelihood." he said nothing more, but Haomaru didn't move.

"Get him already! I won't be hurt by some stomach wound, this stupid sword cann-" she was stopped by the pressure of the blade pressing down more firmly.

"I was right about you Samurai, you can tell that her cradle of her life holds something can't you? It's nothing more than a fetus to science...but you can tell." he grinned and pressed harder, this making Haomaru take another stance.

"I'm going to rip your face...with my next strike, you are threatening our sacred union!" he hissed, gripping the sword tightly...as his body was eminating in a strong aura...the whipping blades of a powerful qi growing within him.

"Tut tut! What did I say? One false move from you and...the end." he said as he grinned.

"Hao..., you mean..?" She was looking at him tenderly, she kneed the blade from her stomach and caught the flat with both of her heels. "My god! You dared to...even consider taking my happiness from me?" She was in tears...tears of rage, her tail now lashing about violently; where had it come from...there was certainly no moon here. "You'll die for this." she said it, a heavy passion in her voice that spoke that she meant it every bit as much as Haomaru had; she was with child only after 48 hours and was clueless at first. Now she was upset, not with Haomaru for not telling her; but this monster daring to use her as some kind of hostage.

"I still have you kit-" his face was silenced, as several shots struck the center of his face, Gene was dual wielding both of his laser pistols now; the never failed aim of the famous Gene Starwind was more than enough to free his friend.

"Like hell you're doing anything!!" He had been standing back, for the sake of both the full Ctarl Ctarl and her mate's honor...for some reason he was respecting it; but when this assassin made the move he knew he was jumping in.

"Gene...thank you." she said as she had leapt free, landing aside Haomaru's side, while her new tail's formation was a result of her own growing anger and being upset. "You are free to help us now, he's got to die...your just the man to ensure we all kill him." Aisha sounded cold, her fists were clenched; she was preparing to transform to deal with this.

"You know that's all I had planned, this guy...he's going to the next world one way or another." he was prepping the Mana Caster now, this guy...he was as bad as Hazanko, maybe even more twisted; these thoughts running through Gene's mind.

Haomaru noticed the change of the atmosphere, and had given one deep breath, as if preparing to speak as the qi gathered inside of his sword and body; but he was stopped by a soft press of Aisha's fingers.

"Don't say a word, don't you dare apologize...I doubt you knew it consciously, we Ctarls pride ourselves for knowing bodies well; it has only been two days since...we came together Haomaru. Don't you dare apologize to me for something you only just found out, no...what we just found out okay? Just be happy about it...and also transform with me; it's about time that we showed him our true nature." just as before Aisha was giving the commands, letting him know who the lead of the relationship was; but more so also why her position had once been so high in the Ctarl Ctarl Empire.

The battle had just taken a step for the better...or had it? The assassin got up, pointing the sword at the three of them; he was laughing...almost giggling madly at this.

"Oh yes...yes yes yes! I get to play...I get to play with you, no longer fooling around!" He released the barrier holding back his Senjutsu art. "Let's take the stage lady and gentlemen..., the major act is about coming into play; Now...let's begin." his words were spoken with the shivering edge of excitement.

Now the field is at 3 vs 1, yet the composure of the mysterious assassin remains unshaken. After a quick skirmish, he still bares no major wounds; just what does this assassin have in store and what secrets of Senjutsu has he unlocked? It may all be seen as he unleashes his glee.

(End Chapter)

Well now quite a fun change isn't it? Seeing that the assassin was playing games up to this point, while that might not be a surprise; how about the fact that he is wishing to fight them so seriously? Well I suppose you'll find out.

And how about the twist? The creature had insight on Aisha's new pregnancy, to the way that Haomaru and Aisha herself were unaware of? What kind of Omniscience does the Kei Pirate assassin have? Stay tuned.

Until the next Chapter, Adieu

-Quentix