Honor

-The Reaper larva glared at Shepard as she stood up from cover with her Mattock in hand, aiming for its chest, the most vulnerable target on the thing. For a moment, Shia'va could almost feel the cold hatred this thing had for her. She could almost hear it hissing her name. Damning her. Time had seemed to slow to a stop as its hand was raised to bring down its killing blow.

Shia'va braced herself, pulling the trigger to fire. "Jigoku ni anata o sanshō shite kudasai. (See you in hell.)" Was all she said as she fired at the glowing chest of the larva. Still, as if in slow motion, the bullets launched from the Mattock, impacting their target. The Reaper larva's eyes exploded as its power core was ruptured, sending a massive feedback through its body. It tried reaching for something to grab onto, but did so in vain. Its hand came down and slammed on the platform that Shepard, Garrus and Samara were standing on. Garrus started to slide towards the endless abyss below. He desperately was grabbing at anything he could to stop his death slide. Shia'va leapt after him, sliding down reaching for him. Just as Garrus reached the edge and started to fall, she grabbed his hand and held on tight to him. She would not lose the man she loved. But as the two started to stand up on the platform, another platform from above slammed into theirs.-

Shia'va slowly opened her eyes and looked at the clock. Five-thirty. She looked down and noticed Garrus' arm draped over her waist. A soft smile broke across her face. She shivered as Garrus playfully nipped at her neck, and then planted soft kisses on her skin. Shia'va rolled over to see her lover still with her. "Good morning." The soft words escaped her lips.

"Sleep well?" Garrus ran a talon over her cheek.

Shia'va nodded. Her arm was still sore from being dislocated in the Collector Base. When their platform slammed into the cliff, Garrus was trapped under a girder. Samara was caught under a panel. Shia'va had landed hard on her side and tried to brace herself as she slammed into a wall. The impact dislocated her shoulder. But she was still able to get everyone on their feet. No one in the group had died in the assault. "Knowing you are here when I wake up, Garrus, I always sleep well." She smiled at his soft touch.

"Thank you, Shia." Garrus said quietly.

"For what, Garrus?" She couldn't figure out why he was thanking her. He did just as much as she did. In truth she should have been thanking him.

His eyes looked deep into her brown eyes. "For not leaving us again. For not letting the Reapers take you from us…from me…again."

Tears started to form in Shia'va's eyes. That meant more than anything to her. That someone needed her as much as much as she needed them. "Garrus…"

He smiled and pulled her close. For a few minutes, they enjoyed a long and loving kiss. A long and loving embrace. Garrus couldn't remember a time Shepard had ever let her guard down. She had always seemed so strong and forced her emotions away so few if any could see what she was feeling. But in the past few months, she seemed to open herself only to him. And maybe Kelly. But that was unlikely. He got the feeling she was not enjoying her sessions with Kelly. She probed to deep sometimes and it more often than not pissed Shepard off. But it seemed there was more to it. Garrus was going to ask her someday. But not today. This was a day of levity for the Normandy crew. A day for everyone to try and put the battle at the Collector Base behind them. Or…what was left of the Collector Base. "What are your plans for the day, Shia?"

Her eyes were still closed as she reveled in the kiss they just shared. "I..I need some time to find my balance."

Garrus blinked. "Uhh…Shia, you seem to stand up just fine. Why do you think you need…" He tilted his head as she giggled.

"It's not the same type of balance, Garrus. It means I need to find my inner peace. To find my harmonic center. With everything that's happened, I just feel I need to settle my mind." Shepard ran her hand along his mandible. "I was going to spend some time with Samara. She reminds me so much of the samurai of ancient Japan. She seems so at peace."

Garrus nodded, almost understanding. "That almost sounds like something our clans would do." He wasn't entirely sure on that. He swore to himself to make it a point to understand more about Shia'va's heritage. He had noticed several paintings on the walls of her quarters. But the paintings were odd. No color. Just black markings. He even noticed a statuette of a dragon on her desk. But he wasn't sure what it was. Just an odd lizard-like…thing. Garrus watched as Shia'va got up from bed and stood at the door to her private shower. She wiggled her finger at Garrus. He smiled and joined her in the shower.

After the shower, Garrus and Shepard walked down to the mess area and had breakfast together. Garrus was going to make sure the weapons of the Normandy were still operating at nominal levels. The damage to the Normandy was severe from their fight against the Collectors. They would have to dock at either the Citadel or Illium for repairs. Illium seemed like the safer bet. But the trip would still take several hours. After breakfast, Shepard looked around and stole a kiss from Garrus. She smiled and headed for the observation deck where Samara was. With Samara was Kasumi Goto. The asari and the assassin smiled as Shia'va joined them.

"I thank you both for joining me. A Justicar's life can be very lonely at times. Even during times of meditation." Samara nodded her head to the two.

"After this last mission, I think it's safe to say we all need some peace of mind." Kasumi sat on the floor on one side of Samara. Kasumi and Shia'va had spent some time together as of late. Mostly just girl talk but also, both speaking in Japanese to each other. Remembering the ways of the old world. It actually warmed Kasumi's heart when she learned Shepard was half Japanese. Through their talks, Kasumi had also learned of Shepard's love of the samurai and their code of honor or Bushido, how her father was from Japan but was disowned by his family for marrying Shepard's mother. In a way, Kasumi had found a sister in Shepard.

Shia'va sat on the other side of Samara. She closed her eyes and placed her hands on her knees as she sat in the meditation sitting position. Samara could feel the tension slowly receding into the Great Dark Void from the two. She could tell Kasumi had already found peace within herself. But sensed so much turmoil in Shepard. Even with everything that's happened, there was still a great deal that weighed the young Shepard down. So much was asked of her, and yet she never asked anything of anyone. Just to do their best. Samara looked over to Shia'va. "Shepard. Is everything alright? You seem so troubled."

Shepard looked over at Samara. "To know that the Reapers are still coming. I just…" She sighed. "I just have my doubts. I shouldn't have them. I can't afford to have them." She rubbed her eyes, her words seeming to weigh her down even more.

Kasumi went over and sat next to Shepard, holding her. Samara put her hand on Shepard's. Both of them lending their inner strength to her. Kasumi spoke softly in Japanese. Whatever she said was bringing Shia'va to the edge of tears. Samara could see Shepard holding back. She commended Shepard's strength, but worried the strain of holding so much back could harm or even break the young woman.

"Shepard, you are one woman. You needn't fight this alone. I know many people believe in you. You are their hope. But let us help you as well. Was it not your own Samurai that believed in the code of helping others? Even among their own? That no one warrior could face an entire army alone? That among their ranks, they were all brothers and not just warriors?" Samara knew a great deal about the samurai. In a way, a Justicar was just like them.

Shia'va smiled a bit. "You're right, Samara. I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound…it wasn't what I meant." Shia'va had always been afraid to say these kinds of things to Garrus. She didn't want him to think she was weak. But with Samara and Kasumi, she confided in them. "Thank you, Samara, Kasumi."

"Shepard, you have shown honor in all you do. But please, don't let this consume you." The Justicar stood and helped Shia'va to her feet.

"I have an idea, Shep. What do you say we practice some hand to hand with the boys?" Kasumi smiled.

"That could be fun." It was at least something to take Shepard's mind off of things.

Garrus had finished with the maintenance checks on the Normandy's weapons systems and was researching some things about Japan and the Japanese. He couldn't believe how many nationalities humans had. But he could see why Shepard felt so comfortable with who she was. The history of Japan was long and very steeped in tradition. He was pulled from his research when Jacob came over the comm.

"Garrus, Kasumi and Commander Shepard are looking for a little hand to hand combat practice. You up for it?" Jacob asked.

"Sure, could be fun." Garrus chuckled. What was it Shepard said to him one time? 'You might have reach, Garrus, but I know I have flexibility.' The thought made him laugh. He met up with Jacob as they walked down to the Cargo bay that housed the Kodiak and the Firewalker. Garrus noticed Kasumi wearing her normal outfit. When Shepard came out from behind the Kodiak, his mouth fell open as he saw her wearing tight shorts and a tank top. 'Oh this could definitely be fun'. He thought.

Shepard and Kasumi stood together. They bowed to Jacob and Garrus. Jacob looked over and shrugged at Garrus. Neither sure what this was about.

"Don't worry, ladies. We'll go easy on you." Garrus chuckled.

"Don't hold back on our account, Vakarian." Shepard shot back.

Garrus nodded. Shepard was in training mode. But her stance was all wrong. He had never seen her in such a peculiar stance. Her hands out and off to the side just a bit. Garrus moved forward and charged at Shepard to lock into hand to hand combat. But as he got close enough to grab her, Shia'va took his hand and literally flipped him over. Sending him flat onto his back. She literally just was not there for him to grab onto. Shepard let his hand go and floated to the side, still standing in that odd stance. "Lucky move, Shepard." Garrus grunted.

Shepard didn't say anything. She just stood their silently. Kasumi was tossing Jacob around like a rag doll in the same way that Shepard just tossed Garrus. He stood up and cracked his neck. "Alright, Shepard. You won't get so lucky this time." Garrus again came at Shepard. She went low and took his legs out from under him with a sweep. Garrus pounded the floor. He was getting aggravated. "Dammit, Shepard! This is hand to hand combat! Not dancing lessons!" Garrus snapped at her.

Shepard narrowed her eyes. That hurt. Garrus was known for being a hothead. But this might have cost him. As he came at her one more time, Shepard sidestepped and grabbed his arm, twisting it behind him and again taking his legs out from under him. This time was face down with Shepard's one knee on his back and his arm still twisted behind him. Shepard leaned down. "Tae kwon do is hand to hand combat, Vakarian. It's a defensive style of fighting. Next time you decide to say something in ignorance before understanding it, you might have a broken arm." Shepard released him and grabbed her towel and walked away.

Garrus got up and shook his head. "Great work, Vakarian. Open mandibles and insert foot." He knew better. Dammit he knew better. Why did he say it in the first place? Because he couldn't lay a hand on her is why. He's never been beat like that. And it bothered him to no end that he couldn't even touch her. He would have to make this up to her. And really apologize.

Later that evening, Garrus went up to Shepard's quarters. He chimed the door and Shepard answered. But she didn't look happy. This made Garrus feel even worse. She walked back to her desk.

"Shepard," Garrus was nervous. He didn't want things to be like this. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I did. It was wrong." He shook his head. "My own damn pride gets in the way sometimes. I shouldn't have gotten upset with you. I don't think I've ever seen a human move like that or even fight like that. And to not know what to do, or even how to counter it." This wasn't helping. He felt like he was digging his own hole even deeper.

Shia'va sighed. "No, Garrus. I'm the one who should apologize. I know you don't know about the different styles of human fighting. And that's my fault for not telling you." She walked back over to him and placed her hands on his chest while he placed his talons on her waist. "I have to remember that you're still learning about humans. And I should be as patient with you as you have with me."

Garrus was shocked. But at the same time, relieved.

"Forgive me?" Shepard asked.

"Always, Shia. Always." Garrus held her close.

A/N: The next chapter will deal with events at the end of the Arrival DLC. I hope you are enjoying the story.