Disclaimers: See Chapter 1

Additional Note (Please Read): This story is tied in with, The Conqueror & Ri: A Twist of Destiny. Enjoy! ;-)

Xena & Gabrielle

A Turn of Fate

By Ahkiken

Chapter 5: Bushido Code

The sun had already switched places with the moon as five horses made their expedition to Scione's seaport.

Xena was assiduous of everything in front of her; the four steeds, the three Samurais, and Kenji, the messenger who induced this mission. While she and Gabrielle trailed behind, the Warrior Princess thought of her impending return to Japa; the country she'd never wanted to go to again. A location that filled her with so much strife, sadness and failure. All stemming from one person.

'Akemi.'

A tap on Xena's arm had suspended her assiduity.

"Xena, what's going on?" Gabrielle queried. "You seem tense."

"Not now, Gabrielle."

The bard wouldn't relent. "Should we be following these guys when it could be a setup to ensnare us? And who is Akemi?"

"Gabrielle." Xena said in a recognizable tone that booked no room for an argument. "How about you try focusing on our surroundings so we don't get trapped, and stop with all the damn questions."

The perplexed Amazon didn't understand her soul mate's attitude towards her. Things were peaceful between them since the proposal in Thebes. They talked, shared their feelings, and made love more. They'd participated in sex like they were already newlyweds, even having coitus earlier in the afternoon of today, and not too long ago, was close to doing it again.

Removing her left hand off of Xena's waist to inspect the silver ring, she sadly wondered, 'Did I make a mistake?'

The blonde believed their love would blossom, but now she feared it would plainly be that way when Xena wasn't facing any type of adversity and was happy. Gabrielle wasn't positive she could put up with a fickle wife. No matter how dire the situation, communication should always be the key to providing a strong relationship. Regardless, she did what was told; tuning herself to the locale whilst remaining quiet.

Effectively silencing her young fiancée, Xena continued her concentration. The steeds that belonged to each Samurai wore matching armor similar to their rider. Kenji's horse was the singular bare animal out of the rest. It had nothing on, not even a saddle.

'Fits his position as a monk perfectly.' Xena summed, staying leery.

The dark-haired woman prepared for a double-crossing. Anyone who'd dare pronounce the name of Akemi had to know of not just hers, but her entire family's fate. To declare she was alive wasn't simply foolish.

It was inconceivable.

By the time they'd arrived at Scione, it was midnight. Gabrielle looked at the closed trader-markets and merchant shops. If they'd made it early, and their original itinerary didn't get altered, she wouldn't had missed her chance to haggle with them. Then she realized they had little money because of spending majority of it on Xena's bonding ring. She avoided that small detail with Xena in the stream, yet knew she'd soon have to break the news to her lover that they were near dinar-less.

Not long after entering the port, the six riders approached a giant warship. Xena, once being a pirate of the seas herself, admired the gigantic ship, nonetheless, her uneasiness hadn't rescinded. She remained cautious as Kenji and his companions dismounted their horses.

"When we are boarded, I will take your mare to the stables and someone will show you two to the quarters you'll be lodging in until we reach Japa. The Shogun will probably speak with you at first light tomorrow, if not tonight." Kenji explained, walking over to take Argo's bridle, howbeit Xena pulled away from his grasp, confounding him. "What is the meaning of this, Xena-Sama? Are you to help us or not?"

"Tell me, Kenji." Xena stated, yanking the monk off of his feet, impelling him to drop the staff.

'What are you doing, Xena?' Gabrielle mentally prodded, but kept silent.

The Samurai adorned in sunfire armor went for his wakizashi .

"No." Kenji threw up his hand to halt the Samurai's actions in advance of addressing Xena, "What is it you wish to learn?"

"You and I both know Akemi couldn't have sent you to me. So you better start telling me the truth before everyone here has a really bad night."

"I am not lying to you, Xena-Sama. Akemi did send us for you." The bald foreigner replied, suspended in air.

"And she dispatched you directly to me? Uh-uh. How did you discern exactly where I would be? Greece is an enormous place for a sole individual." Xena affirmed, her grip tightening.

"Akemi told me not to venture farther than the Corinthian Sea. We were lucky to land in Scione when a younger woman pointed your direction out once we'd debarked our vessel. She avowed you were last seen between the middle of here and a town called Mende." Kenji answered.

'Must've been Tanya.' Xena deduced, lifting the poor monk closer to her face. "I believe half your story. Notwithstanding, I remain having a hard time accepting that a ghost asked for my aid."

'A ghost?' Gabrielle internally questioned.

"I swear by the sun Kami, Amaterasu, it's all truth. If you don't assist us, the daemon, Yodoshi, will consume more souls. He'll ravage all of Japa."

Anger spread across Xena's features, shouting while throwing the monk to the ground, "They're all dead!"

Fortunately no bones were broken on Kenji, and he was free from major pain. He ruminated how much longer though, as Xena alighted the tanned-colored horse, unleashing her blade.

"I seen them die." Xena growled. "With my own two eyes."

Unsheathing their katanas in a synchronous fashion, the three Samurais felt they couldn't tolerate anymore of Xena's disrespect and eminent harm to Kenji. Gabrielle noted them immediately and jumped off of Argo II. Drawing her sais, she readied herself to engage the ironclad warriors.

Next, the short-haired blonde noted the silhouette of a person standing at the top of the ramp that was connected to the warship.

"Enough!" The aged sounding voice yelled.

Instantly, the few Samurais detected the figure atop the ship. Sheathing their weapons, they genuflected, and Kenji picked himself off of the ground to do so as well.

Xena just glared at the man who started to make his decline down the incline. Gabrielle kept her twin weaponry trained on the shadowy figure, even when the moonlight illuminated him. He was adorned in a crimson helmet and armor also, with two Japian swords equipped to both sides of his hip.

"We came a long way to find you, Warrior Princess. Surely we deserve better honor and respect." The mysterious male spoke.

From his tonality alone, Xena determined a couple of things; the man was old, and from the way he'd commanded the Samurai warriors, he was either a Daimyo or a Shogun. She, on the other hand, didn't give a damn.

"I want answers." Xena pointed her sword at Kenji. "This monk claims to have descried a dead female. He states that a beheaded man is absorbing souls. From such ludicrous intel, why should I step foot onto your vessel? Make me believe these dubious fascinations."

The red armored arrival moved closer. "Kenji, tell her everything."

"Yes, Shogun."

'So he's their commander-in-chief.' Xena mused, her sword tarried on the monk.

Kenji dusted himself clean from the dirt, thus beginning his account. "My friend, Gaija, and I are from the Shinto valley. We are monks who exalt the great Kami of the celestial sun, Amaterasu. All of Shinto is under the feudal protection of the Shogun, Harukata."

"That would be you?" Xena scanned the Governor, cutting in Kenji's story for a full confirmation.

Harukata nodded in response. "Resume, Kenji."

"Whilst we were traveling from the Asakura Shrine to get back to the Imperial Palace, we were caught in a drenching rainstorm and noticed a garden that outlined a surreal teahouse. It was strange, 'cause we haven't espied it during our trek to Asakura. My fellow companion became amazed by it, and decided we needed shelter from the rain. I advised him that we should keep to our journey home. It was dark, and to be honest, I became uneasy concerning the miraculous appearance of the dwelling. It was all unnatural to me. Gaija ignored my words. He ran into the house and I reluctantly followed behind him."

Xena grew impatient. "What occurred inside?"

He breathed in deeply to steady his nerves. "In its inner structure were three geishas. One was playing a beautiful melody from a shamisen. The other two were naked within a huge tub that was filled with water and lily pods. They flirtatiously beckoned for us to join them, but I held steadfast in my faith as a monk. Gaija...did not."

Kenji paused, and his facial expression was saddened, coaxing Xena into losing her composure. "I could care less about a monk's renouncement of his belief. Get on with your tale."

Gabrielle felt that Xena was grinding too hard on Kenji, who'd lost a friend easily to worldly vices.

Dispersing his morose comportment, Kenji recommenced the forthcoming, horrific recitation, "He stripped off his robe and splashed in the water. While they were frolicking, I turned my attention to the beautiful woman playing the lovely tune. Suddenly, she stopped, thereon telling me I was a good man and should leave. She pushed me out the back door, but I would not leave Gaija... I wish I had."

'He must have spectated something awful.' The petite Amazon opined, lowering her sais.

She glanced at Xena, and could see that the stoic warrior showed no emotion.

"A strong gust of wind blew the front entrance of the teahouse open. I presumed it was from the storm, until I observed a super-sized snake with the head of a deformed man enter through the gaping entryway. The scene was terrifying...but I became scared stiff and watched it all happen."

'A fucking man-snake? Now that's not trite at all.' Xena caustically praised Kenji's narrative.

"The geishas had gathered themselves collectively to the side wall as the snake's body transformed into some kind of fiend. I could hear and see my friend screaming, nonetheless, my mind wouldn't allow the muscles to react. The daemon expelled an icy wind from its mouth, freezing the water and Gaija. Then...then the evil spirit inhaled greatly, sucking Gaija's soul right out of his body. I viewed his spirit fighting to hang onto the ethers of the mortal plane prior to getting swallowed up by that monster." A teardrop cascaded down the monk's eye from the memory he'd described.

'This isn't plausible!' Xena deemed, unreasonably, that Kenji's story was becoming more incredulous.

"Once the daemon's nefarious glare perched upon me, that was when my feet carried me far from the demonic teahouse. The storm was at its worse and I fell into a pond. Climbing out of the pool, I gazed upwards at the exact geisha who played the musical instrument and tried to warn me. She told me I needn't fear her, saying I had a compassionate heart and that's why she'd spared me from suffering the same fate as my friend. She revealed to me that the daemon who took Gaija's soul was Yodoshi, Lord of the Darklands, and she, along with others, are forced to seduce souls for him to entrap. Giving me a katana, she'd bade me to go west, beyond the setting sun; there I would find Xena, the Warrior Princess." Kenji finished.

All was quiet, 'til Xena made an intemperate display of clapping her hands in mock applause. "Brilliant fable. But Akemi, Yodoshi, and her whole family tree is dead. I will no longer listen to drivel."

She spun on her heels to mount Argo when Harukata inquired, "You don't trust the word of a monk? How about the word of a Samurai?"

Xena knew that Japa's military caste were bounded by their Bushido code of honor. Albeit on the contrary, every Japian fighter didn't live by it the way they should, and she'd been tricked before.

"I don't trust anybody I do not know." She professed. "I'm hardly trusting of the few whom I consider close to me."

"Will you trust this?" The Shogun withdrew one of the katanas, stabbing it into the dirt. "The blade she'd presented to Kenji."

"It can't be?" The bronze-skinned warrior whispered.

Xena walked towards the marginal curved sword to analyze it, hoping her eyes were deceiving her. It was the same Sacred katana Akemi had coerced her into locating all those years ago.

"It is, Xena..." His impatience won out. "Yodoshi is growing powerful everyday. Soon he will attack Higuchi. Thereafter, Shinto, then all of Japa. Akemi is not the single soul that needs your help. Many do, with me being one of them. My Samurais and I cannot handle the daemon by ourselves. If you come with us, you'll have my guarantee as a Shogun Samurai that you, and every possession you bring along, will be under my protection. No harm will come to it."

The Warrior Princess couldn't comprehend what was transpiring. How was it possible? Akemi was dead. She was more than sure of it, recalling her anguish at watching Akemi's ashes get scattered by the unforgivable, chilly breeze.

"Xena." The Shogun settled his hand on her stiff shoulder. "It is my destiny to destroy Yodoshi, but I can't do it alone. I am in need of your assistance. Please."

Her steely gaze abandoned the sword to spy the decorative helmet that covered Harukata's visage. Xena was hopeful he would honor the art of Bushido, and secretly, she desperately wanted to have faith that she'd see Akemi again.

With a slight nod, she reluctantly acceded.

"We will be forever indebted to you. Thank you." A hidden smile sprouted on Harukata's lips. "Forgive an old soul, for I am tired. We will make formal introductions in the morning. Kenji will stable your horse for you. Also...keep the katana, Xena. Akemi meant for you to have it."

The Shogun whirled, traipsing to the ramp. He quietly chatted with the Samurai in blue armor preceding his and the other two Samurais' ascension to the deck of the warship.

"Thank you, Xena-Sama. And you, too." Kenji showed gratitude to Gabrielle as well.

Scooping his staff in a single hand, and taking Argo's reins in the other, the monk led her up the gangplank. Reaching the top, Kenji emitted a shrill whistle for the remaining four steeds to follow in a straight line, and the Samurai, whom the Shogun had conversed with, lingered.

Gabrielle sheathed her weapons and Xena did the same with hers.

"Wow. I'm glad we got through that without a scuffle. Well, except for what you did to Kenji." The bard averred, not knowing what else to say regarding Japa's conundrum and their newest objective to quell it.

"Yea." Xena muttered a short remark.

Gabrielle looked in the lone Samurai's direction. "What's with him?"

"Let's find out." The ex-warlord asserted, tugging the katana out of the ground.

When the duo had gotten nearer to him, he inclined his head slightly. "My name is Zicalus. I am to escort you both to the cabin you'll be residing in."

Cerulean irises eyed the Samurai from top to bottom before she strolled up the gradient. Zicalus glanced at the Warrior Princess while she ascended.

Trying to discern what to make of her, a wondrous vocal disrupted his observation, "Thanks, Zicalus. My name's Gabrielle."

Although it was dark, he could distinguish a pretty grin and greenish-blue eyes that sparkled. "Pleased to meet you, Gabrielle-San."

"Let's go!" Xena commanded.

They both had begun trudging the slope, and Zicalus silently probed, "Kinda bossy, isn't she?"

Gabrielle smiled. "You have no idea."

The cropped blonde perceived that the Samurai's accent wasn't quite strong in contrast to Kenji or Harukata's. Taking steps beside him, she imagined what his countenance consisted of underneath the mask.

{X&G}

They were lodged three tiers below deck. Their quarters were nice, specifically in comparison to the outdoors when the weather or area was unwelcoming. The wooden floorboards could be refurnished, but with that aside, the cabin had sufficient amount of space for Xena and Gabrielle. Foregoing Zicalus' departure, he did offer the Amazon her own room, but she rejected the propound proposal.

The cot was a bit smaller than she'd liked. Nevertheless, it would suffice for what Gabrielle had planned to do on it with her soul mate, even if it was simply to chat about the circumstances surrounding an island she never seen.

'Now I have to manage getting her on here to lay closer to me.' Gabrielle cogitated.

Since they'd occupied the abode, Xena took off her weapons and scabbard. Ergo, she sat on the floor with the Sacred katana in front of her to meditate, whilst Gabrielle removed her sais and boots to relax on the cot. That was nearly an hour ago with neither of them speaking during that time.

A light knock resounded on their door, breaking Xena's focus, to her agitation and Gabrielle's delight.

The bard quickly opened it. "Hello, Kenji."

"I understand it is late, yet I wanted to ask did you and Xena-Sama require anything?"

"Thanks, but we're okay for-"

"Wait." Xena interjected, arising to move towards them. "Where's my mare?"

"In the stables on the bottom fourth tier." Kenji proclaimed, wanting to put her cerebration at ease by adding, "She is being well taken care of."

"I'll be the judge of that myself." She retorted.

Kenji loitered a little longer, unaware of what to do next.

"You can leave now." Xena snapped.

Kenji speedily bowed, shutting the cabin's door.

"Xena." Gabrielle's pupils stared at her lover in disappointment.

The Warrior Princess purely gawked back before Gabrielle exited the room, shadowing the monk.

"Kenji."

Turning to face her, he prompted, "Have you changed your mind anent to wanting something?"

"No. I wanted to apologize for my lo-" Gabrielle caught herself. "For Xena's behavior. She's dealing with a lot."

"She is making a monumental sacrifice."

"Yes, she is." Gabrielle agreed, thinking only of their shelved wedding and honeymoon. "Still, bad manners will always be improper. I'm sorry you're catching most of her vexation."

"All will be set right." Kenji apprised. "I accept your apology on her behalf."

Smiling sadly, Gabrielle commented, "I'm also sorry for your lost friend, Gaija. Sometimes a person believe in something greater than themselves, but succumb to foibles. Trust me, I know firsthand. In case you're upset with Gaija's final choice in life, don't think any less of him."

The Amazon was ruminating on her own learnings with Eli. She accepted the Way of Love, just to subsequently throw it all into the proverbial void to temporarily save Xena from the Romans. Gabrielle hadn't merely pushed it to the side provisionally, she'd cast it away permanently after being resurrected.

Kenji really studied the nimble female, and was ashamed that he hadn't bothered to learn her appellation. "You are very generous to have shared that with me, and must be wise to be a close confidant of Xena-Sama's. Pardon me for not querying sooner, but what is your name?"

"It's Gabrielle." She announced, holding her hand out.

The monk happily shook it in his. "Thank you, Gabrielle-San."

"You are welcome." The blonde uttered, disengaging from him.

"Gabrielle."

The bard's head tilted to espy her fiancée standing in their shared threshold with an expressionless mien.

"Coming, Xena." She rejoined, prior to nicely saying, "Goodnight, Kenji."

"Night, Gabrielle-San." He exchanged, watching the scarlet, velvet-clad Amazon saunter into the room.

Finally his eyes connected with Xena's glower, chilling him to the bone. The monk wasn't entirely certain what he was feeling once Xena slammed the door. Whereas, if he was a betting man; his wager would be on relief.

To Be Continued...