AN:

Elysis: Yes, Sasuke is the name I took from Naruto cause it sounds similar to Syusuke.

Moon: I took your review in consideration. I also think 25 is kinda old, so I changed it to 20. =)

Saeki was getting bored from sitting in the watch tower, having nothing to do. There was no more disturbances or suspicious movements after the assassins retreated a few hours ago. He volunteered to watch at the castle gate after the incident. …fhuu fhuuu His idle whistle flowed with the wind and suddenly stopped when he saw a shadow disappearing around the corner of the parapet walk to his left. "Who's there?" He spoke out calmly as he slowly approached the corner.

Then, the shadow jumped out in front of him, startling him at first. He looked at the figured in front of him with a defensive stance. The figure was wearing a black cloak covering his whole body and a hood that draped over its face. "Who are you?" Saeki asked again with wariness.

Saeki stood unblinkingly as the figure reached up and pulled off his hood. His eyes widened in acknowledgment. "Fuji-san!?" The figure moved closer to the faint moonlight area. "What are you doing up this…early?" The sun had yet to rise. Morning dews were only starting to form on the trees, readying to drip to the ground.

"I need to go somewhere." He walked to the chemise and rested his hands on the cold stone.

"Where to?" He moved up behind Fuji.

"A visit to my kingdom." He turned side way and looked at Saeki. "I'll be going now." He turned to the keep, approaching the stockade.

Saeki stood with his brows furrowed as he looked at the retrieving figure. Wait…does he even go into combat? His enemies are camping there. He thought for a while, and then spoke up. "Hold up!" He ran to Fuji.

"What is it?" Fuji asked confusingly.

Saeki grinned like a Cheshire cat. "I'm coming with yah."

"Why? Don't you need to stay at your post?"

"To back you up in case something happens. And, wait here. Let me go get a sub." He said and ran off without further comment from Fuji.

What a bothersome guy. Fuji smiled and walked away slowly.

They lurked through the heavy terrace road that leads to the kingdom located on the mountain. At the base of the mountain, guards from Doryou camped at every snitch of the ground. Half were sleeping and half were on patrol. Fire was lit occasionally within the trees.

"So…how are we getting up there?" Saeki asked after interpreting their surrounding.

"Most of Doryou's men are shadow users. We can't move around like this because they'll be able to detect our movement. So, we will need to distract them." Fuji replied faintly.

"Air?" Saeki guessed.

"Hai." Fuji nodded. Slowly and silently, they mumbled their air spells and sent them flying in scattered directions on their left.

"What was that?" A guard said.

"It came from over there." Another guard pointed to their left. "Hurry." The guard left with several others.

"Now this side." Saeki whispered pointed to the opposite direction. Fuji nodded and another gust blew through the trees. There goes another group of guards.

"5 left, what should we do?" Saeki asked.

"Make them sleep." Fuji smiled mischievously. He brought his palm to his mouth and blew. Dusty pink gust flew forward toward the guards.

"Mhm…that smells good." Saeki looked drowsy.

"Don't sniff it." Fuji whacked Saeki on his back, bringing him back to focus.

"Hehe. My bad." He scratched behind his head. Slowly the rest of the guards collapsed to the ground joining the others in their slumber.

"Come on." Fuji jumped off the tree and onto another, heading to the palace with Saeki trailing shortly behind.

The streets and palace showed no trace of movement when they got there, not even a hint of any attack taken place from the last few days of turmoil or so. People, no doubt, were still sleeping. All lights are flickered off except for the small temple on the little hill. They stopped and looked around.

"This place seemed to be normal." Saeki said as he scrutinized their surrounding.

"That's because none of Doryou's men have infiltrate our kingdom yet." Fuji replied as he picked up a steel knife rested on a street stall and placed it down after he looked at it.

"Who's there?!" A voice suddenly yelled out from behind them, and they turned around to see a young man in a blue robe in fighting stance.

"It's me." Fuji said assertively, pulling off his hood. Saeki followed.

"Fuji-sama?" The young man said surprisingly.

"Hai."

The young man sighed a relief. "What are you doing back here? We received a message a few days ago. Duke Mizuki said he wanted to compromise with you, but you weren't in so we didn't reply back. He suspected that you're not here and sent men searching for you all over the places." The man explained. "This place is dangerous, you shouldn't be around here."

"I see. I got ambushed earlier, and it was probably them. By the way, how's everything here?"

Saeki got bored, so he left the two standing to go explore on his own in this new Kingdom.

"We're doing okay. The senior officials and Masters are keeping them from infiltrating our bordering walls."

"That's good." Fuji went over to the man and put his hand on his shoulder. "I need to talk to the High Priest, so I'll see you when this is all over."

"Okay. Be careful."

Fuji nodded and flew off.

Saeki saw Fuji leaving, and he immediately followed after. Sheesh, he forgot about me already. When he reached the temple up the high platform, he saw Fuji talking to a rather old man, wearing all white, holding a staff and his beard was also white. Hm…what are they talking about? He sat on a rock pondering.

After a few conversing moments, Fuji bowed to the old man and left through the door.

"We're leaving?" He asked Fuji joined his side.

"Hn." Fuji grunted. "I think the guards should figure out what's going on by now." He sat down on a rock next to Saeki.

"That means we need to move fast since they've been alerted."

"Yeah. Are you up for a fight?" Fuji smirked, with confidence in his eyes.

"Anytime." He scooped up an amount of dirt in his palm. "The soil is fine." He released the dirt; some was carried off by the zephyr.

"Our people cultivate our own food supplies, so we rarely transport any from outside, only materials do we buy from outside resources."

"Is that why you have flawless skin?" Saeki said with hint of teasing. Fuji chuckled. "They say your beauty comes from the food you eat. I went around earlier and saw some really peculiar looking vegetables that I have never seen in my life before."

"I'm flattered. If that's envy, then you should feed on our diet and see what the outcome would give you." Fuji stood up, pulling out the sword that tucked behind his back. "Let's go?"

"Right behind you."

As they neared the kingdom's bordering walls, panicked voices beyond the wall can be heard loudly with shuffling feet on the ground. Saeki looked over at Saeki. "Can you fight or do you want me to protect you?" He said with a sly grin.

"I haven't engaged in a battle for so long, but I'll manage. Thank you for asking." Fuji looked ahead. His face was still as calm as ever, only, his eyes were opened with incisive focus. "Don't forget, I am not called a Sage for nothing." He gave out a chuckled with hints of maliciousness that promised the work of hell.

Scary. He thought.

"They're here!" One of the men shouted from the ground as Fuji and Saeki flew over the great wall. Flying swiftly through the trees, they managed to dodge all the flying shadow balls thrown at them.

As they reached the clearing, a group of 3 men stood waiting calmly for them. Fuji and Saeki were stopped abruptly as 3 shadow blasts shot up from the ground in front of them. The two dodged them and landed on the ground safely. "We were waiting for you." The man in the middle said; his voice was taunting.

"Shadow is a special ability only Doryou's men acquire. It is also ranked like the basic elemental users like you." Fuji explained to Saeki, eyes as sharp as ever. "I can sense that they are highly ranked. So be careful."

"Yosh! I love challenges." Saeki said enthusiastically.

"And I love your surge of energy." Fuji grinned. "Also, water, earth, and air won't have effect on them."

"Sure thing." Fuji nodded and they both flew forward.

The battle began with close-ranged physical attacks with Fuji and Saeki fighting back to back against their enemies.

After some clashing, the irate leader of the 3 commanded loudly to his men. "Kill them!"

Saeki and Fuji moved apart. Just when they were about to leap away, the 3 shadow users elicited a shadow ability that Fuji immediately recognized potent. "Dark Pulse!"

"Saeki, flame shield." Fuji shouted from 5 meters away.

Saeki nodded. "Fire Spin!" A whip of fire coiled around him, he looked over to Fuji, who did the same thing. Thus, they were saved from dark pulse. They received more dark attacks afterward with both Fuji and Saeki using fire attacks to counter them.

After bashing and flashing, Fuji and Saeki joined up again. "We should leave soon or back up is going to arrive. It'll be more problematic for us then."

"I guess." Saeki sighed, breathing a little faster than normal. He looked over at Fuji, who by chance didn't even break a sweat. You are something, Fuji-kun. "What do you have in mind?" He asked curiously.

"I'm going to paralyze them." Fuji answered smoothly.

"How?"

"Just watch me."

Saeki stood back and watched Fuji as he started to glow so bright that he could see in between the trees. Saeki flinch when sparks of lightning flashed around him; he thought he was going to get electrocuted.

"Zap Cannon!" Thunderbolts zapped straight at the 3 shadow users as fast as lightning, paralyzing them from any physical movement, even their inner mast of energy was drained completely.

Saeki stood dumbly with his mouth agape at the remarkable sight in front of him. Jolts of thundering lights danced with great motility of grace, yet deadly.

"Shall we go?" Fuji turned around to give Saeki a victorious smile.

Saeki nodded with an accompanied chuckle. "Yes, let's go genius." Saeki ran up to join the Sage's side going back to their base.

o0o0o0o0o

Morning came.

As if on cue, both of the Masters' doors opened at the same time and out stepped Shiraishi and Sanada looking as confident as ever.

"Morning Sanada!" Shiraishi grinned broadly.

"Same to you." Sanada said blandly, his stoic face didn't change.

Then all the other doors slammed open simultaneously.

"Morning, everone!" Eiji yelled. They all exchanged greetings.

"Hm? Where is Fuji-san?" Jirou asked while looking around.

"Inside probably?" Yanagi shrugged.

Shiraishi turned to the door and knocked: knock knock knock…no response. "Hm?"

"He must be tired from yesterday." Sanada said, walking off. "Let him be."

"Where are you going?" Shiraishi shouted, looking at the departing figure of Sanada.

"Blacksmith!" Sanada shouted back. "Let's go. Marui. Jirou." The two ran after him.

Shiraishi sighed. "They always run off." He looked to Yanagi and Kaido to see them engaging in a quiet conversation. "What about you two?"

Yanagi stopped and said, "We're going to meet up with Inui and Oshitari." Kaido just nodded.

Sheesh, these two are so…peaceful and isolated. Kaido and Yanagi never talk much unless they absolutely had to. "Can we go?" Kaido asked with bareness in his tone.

"Sure. Go, go." Shiraishi waved them off.

"Don't you think it's a little odd for Fuji to be sleeping this late?" Eiji said as he moved to the door. knock knock knock. "I can't hear anything from inside." He pressed his ear onto the door.

Shiraishi walked up to the door and pushed it. Surprisingly, it opened without difficulty.

"Eh??" Eiji stumbled forward. He looked around the room when he regained his balance. "Fuji's not here." His eyes widened, and he looked back at Shiraishi who just stood at the door as if contemplating something.

"Ne, what are we going to do?" Eiji asked.

"I don't know. I wouldn't be worry; he can take care of himself." Shiraishi thought for a while. "Let's have a battle." Shiraishi shrugged.

"Okay. Since we have nothing to do." Eiji agreed and they both headed off to the battle ground at the back of the castle.

o0o0o0o0o

Sanada, Jirou, and Marui left the castle. They asked around for the best blacksmith in the Central City. Hence, the people recommended the old blacksmith lived around the mine, so they took off toward that direction.

"Should we take the horses?" Jirou asked after the left the porcelain shop, where they got the lead to the blacksmith.

"Not unless you want to walk for a mile on a rocky road." Marui said mordantly.

"Marui, don't start it." Sanada warned walking ahead.

"But Jirou could be so dense sometimes." Marui scoffed. "It's irritating."

"No I'm not." Jirou protested. "You're just grumpy this morning. Got up on the wrong side of the bed or you're tripping?"

Marui stopped in front of Jirou, glaring at the coolly-mannered boy. "I am not tripping!" He shouted.

"You are right now." Jirou murmured under his breath.

Sanada got annoyed at the two in front of him bickering like little children. "Either both of you shut up or you're going get it from me later." Sanada bellowed. Boy, they sure got attentions from market place early in the morning already. "Cool it." He chided.

Both boy sighed and apologized at the same time. "Sorry." They resumed walking to the stable to get their horses.

"I couldn't sleep last night." Marui chuckled lightly as he scratch his head.

"It's alright, no harm done." Jirou flashed a forgiving smile at the red head.

o0o0o0o0o

Yanagi and Kaido walked to the garden in the back. They walked along the stream talking in hushed voices; that was their way of conversing.

"Kaido."

"Hm?"

"What do you think of Inui-san?"

Kaido looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"You and Inui-san seemed to be really close. It's like I'm not your best friend anymore." Yanagi said faking sadness. "Are you attracted to him?"

"What!!? That's not true." Kaido blushed, waving his hands around.

He blushes so easily. Yanagi smirked. "I was kidding."

"Really?"

Yanagi nodded. "You need to control your bashfulness because some people will get the wrong message that you like them."

"What do you mean?" Kaido looked at Yanagi with confused innocence.

"Nothing. Nothing." Yanagi smiled and looked forward, leaving a puzzling Kaido in his own thoughts.

Soon, they reached the spot where they were supposed to meet up with Inui and Oshitari, who were found leaning against the trees, talking.

"Good Morning. Inui-san. Oshitari-san." Yanagi greeted them. The two nodded and smiled in return.

"How do you want to begin today?" Oshitari asked.

"Let's have a final round-up." Yanagi suggested. "We're ready for elites standing."

"Is that so?" Inui commented. "Then we expect you both to go all out."

Yanagi and Kaido looked at each other. Don't we always?

The four moved to battle ground and began another heated battle.

o0o0o0o0o

Shiraishi and Eiji engaged in a skill battle, but they were careful not to damage any botany life. They stopped clashing when a group of people approached them.

They bowed reverently to the King. Accompanied with him were Tezuka and his men, and Yukimura and his.

"Morning walk, your Majesty?" Shiraishi asked politely.

"Ah, yes." King Kutei nodded and moved to the rotunda-shaped structure and sat down at the stone table. "Did your night go well?"

Eiji scratched his head and laughed lightly, "Yes, thank you."

"Hn." King Kutei smiled satisfyingly. "I haven't seen Fuji-kun this morning. Is he well?" Curiosity etched on his face.

Eiji sent a nervous glare at Shiraishi.

"Fuji-kun went out at the dawn of light." Shiraishi took over for the nervous boy, without flinching.

Shiraishi frowned when he received questioning and doubting stares. What's up with the staring?

"Where to?" Kuwahara inquired.

Before Shiraishi could answer, Kirihara scoffed with a reply. "He's probably off with the enemies concocting a plan to take over your kingdom and possibly ours as well."

"Is that an accusation?!" Eiji flared up with anger.

"That relies on what you think. It is explicitly obvious to us all that he let the intruders get away yesterday with a phony excuse about his missing brother." Kirihara glared back as he calmly spoke. "What a coincident. His long lost brother showed up just in time. Don't you think so?"

"It has been the truth." Eiji couldn't stand by letting an insolent outsider accuse of his respectable friend. "Coincidence as it was. It wasn't Fuji's fault or doing. Don't speak without sensible knowledge!" Eiji berated.

"Kirihara!" Yukimura warned with a death glare. Even though Kirihara was his subordinate, he couldn't tolerate the behavior of disrespectful.

"Sorry." He mumbled, retreating to the back, but not without a scowl of reluctance.

"But why did he leave without telling you anything?" Momoshiro asked. "It's pretty dangerous to go off like that. Don't you think it so since he was attacked yesterday evening?"

"He doesn't need to inform us of his whereabouts everywhere he goes." Shiraishi was getting tired of the questions aiming at them. "He doesn't need a reason to do anything and we respect him and whatever his decisions may be."

"Don't you ever suspect his actions?" Kuwahara launched.

"No. He's a respected figure in our kingdom." Shiraishi answered. "If you deemed him suspicious, then you are outright a fiend in broad daylight."

Kuwahara frowned, but didn't there to speak up any more provocative.

"I still think he's suspicious." Kirihara coughed out, receiving another glare.

"Don't speak without logic." The King stood up regally and walked to the lake nearby while the others stood still. "Fuji-kun is our guest here. No matter what he does, we cannot assume his intention until we know the whole truth from all sides." He turned and looked at the 2 offended Peaceans. "Please forgive the rashness. We are all honest men, and men do make mistakes often times."

"My apologies." Kirihira said weakly.

"We do not hold any grudges because we understand what the situation called for." Shiraishi replied truthfully. It was true. A true warrior never took pity grudges to heart.

"Is it illogical to ask why Fuji-san didn't engage in the combat yesterday?" Echizen asked and no one objected.

"Yeah. I thought he's a Sage." Niou said, looking confused. "Isn't a Sage supposed to be powerful?" He looked to Yukimura.

"I don't know." Yukimura said smoothly. "Maybe Shiraishi-kun and Eiji-kun can provide the answers." He smiled at them.

"…We…actually don't know." Eiji hesitated as if each word was selected carefully to form his reply.

"What do you mean?" Oishi asked.

"Well, you see…we haven't seen him fight before." Everyone gave the two confused looks. "We only heard that he's incredibly powerful, but never did we witness it." Eiji smiled sheepishly.

"It is only normal. He's an important person in our kingdom, so there are always bodyguards around to protect him." Shiraishi stated as a matter of fact. "The intruders die before they even touch a strand of his hair. He's a legend."

"That's true." King Kutei agreed as he sat down at the table again. "I rarely enter a battle unless it is necessary."

"But yesterday was necessary and he didn't even move an inch." Momoshiro protested.

"That's not true! He dodged." Eiji disputed.

"I meant in general." Momoshiro retorted as Eiji glared at him.

"I even doubt he's a legend." Ezchizen said dryly. Before Echizen could be given a disapproval call, a sound of new arrival caught their attentions.

"You doubt me, Echizen-kun?" A sweet and soft voice came from between the trees. All eyes turned and saw the new arrival as he walked toward them in graceful strides.

"Fuji-kun!!" King Kutei and some others were surprised, but able to keep their facial expression unlike the others who were gaping with their mouths open like a fish out of water. "When did you get here?" His voice regained its sturdiness.

"Good Morning, Your Majesty." Fuji reverently bowed. "I have just arrived." He smiled as Shiraishi and Eiji came to join his sides.

"Nya, Fuji. Where'd you go?" Eiji's forehead creased in worried lines. "We were worried."

"I'm sorry." Fuji said softly to his two friends.

Echizen, unexpectedly, walked forward and stood in front of Fuji with haughtiness. "Prove it!"

Still smiling, Fuji's left eyebrow quirked upward with an innocent expression. "By what do you mean by proving it?" His voice's melodious, yet toxic.

"They said you're a legend." He said looking straight at the Sage without blinking. "Why don't you show us all? I'm curious."

"Proving is not necessary since it's unnecessary." Fuji blandly replied as he held his gaze steady on the haughty younger man in front of him.

"You're not making it…clear-" Momoshiro tried to remark but was shut up by the dark glare that Fuji sent him. "Sorry." He squeaked out as he moved back.

"I just think you're either a coward or the legend is a bluff." Echizen snorted.

Fuji's eyes twitched open immediately. A slit of his eyes could send his opponent a chill of death sentence. "Cocky, eh? You're the first to tell me that I'm a coward."

"Then show me." Echizen said with the same confidence. His arm extended and point at Fuji with his drew sword.

"Are you proposing a challenge?" Fuji raised his brow.

Echizen smirked.

"Echizen, don't be rude." Tezuka scolded from the back.

"Che." Echizen withdrew his sword and walked away. "It seems like you always have someone come to your rescue every time." Now Fuji's eyes were wide open.

"Fuji-san, please don't mind him." Oishi said trying to cool the pressure. "He's just overconfident because he's our youngest Master wielder."

"Hm…" Fuji's eyes began to shut and his sweet smile back on his face. "I see. He's just a brat trying to prove himself above others with his cocky attitude." Fuji said calmly, making Echizen froze in his steps. Heh, that made him stop. "I don't even think you're any good."

"What did you just say?" His voice twitch with annoyance, turned around with a serious face.

"Nothing, just don't try to act too superior because when you fall, its going to be very painful." Fuji smirked evilly.

"That's it. I'm going to beat you so hard that you won't be able to keep your pretty face anymore." Echizen's voice was shaky with anger.

"Thank you for your comment." Fuji said playfully to even piss fuming boy even more.

"Challenge me!" Echizen moved to the clearing.

Everyone's eyed the Sage, expecting an answer anytime now. But, he just stood there looking at Echizen through his close eyes, and smirked evilly through his sweet smile. A moment later, he made his way to the clearing.

"I accept." Fuji said with confidence. "I'm going to teach you some manner."

AN: This chapter doesn't have much romance. I don't plan to insert a lot until after the big fight. But there will still be some romance scattered here and there. Feel free to correct me on any errors or ask any questions. I'll be sure to answer them all.

Please Review and Comment. It makes me happy to hear from you. =)