Disclaimers: See Chapter 1

Additional Note (Please Read): This tale is a companion with, The Conqueror & Ri: A Twist of Destiny. If you haven't read both story's chapters preceding this one, you should do so now. Thanks to all my readers and a shout out to my lovely beta, Jinxie 2013. When y'all get a chance, check out her Post Episode Series and its continuation, Weighing of the Heart... But, read my stories first, she'll understand. ;-)

Xena & Gabrielle,

A Turn of Fate,

By, Ahkiken

Chapter 24: Justified Secretiveness

The water inside the wooden tub was borderline cold when Gabrielle got out. She once had faith that Xena would tell her the truth and now felt foolish for believing it. Her ex-lover would take her secret death in Japa to the grave. As the bard dried herself off, she knew there were others matters of importance to dwell on; for instance, the Omphalos stone and the threat of being teleported away to the Conqueror's world.

Gabrielle remembered the cell, the powerful presence of the elder Xena, the fact Japa had fallen, and Yodoshi thrived; but she had no memories of how she'd wound up in prison. Eli cautioned Gabrielle to keep her identity concealed, and the petite blonde was very good at being incognito, so what could've happened to make her reveal who she truly was? What could have taken place between the Conqueror and herself to cause the Amazon to feel remotely amorous towards the woman whom resembled Xena?

'And why did I refer to Xena as my fiancee?' Gabrielle ruminated, pulling on her undergarment and scarlet leathers. 'Did I forgive her? No way I'd done that! She refuses to be honest with me! I owe her nothing, other than resentment!'

Gabrielle roughly pulled on her boots in aggravation. 'Who does Xena thinks she is? Giving me a half-assed apology like I'm supposed to eat it up and take her back. She doesn't realize she's pushing me farther from her.'

Gabrielle scooped her sais, twirling them while stewing in anger. 'I saw that look in her eyes, staring at my breasts with lewd intent, she wanted me. Why did she come to my cabin in the first place? Neji didn't hurt me and who the hell told Xena where my room was?'

Sheathing her twin weapons, Gabrielle lifted the sky blue kimono noting a tear in the back of it. She traced the small laceration, deducing something did happen on the top deck, but Gabrielle had no knowledge of it. Conveniently, for Neji's sake, her mind was sent off into a vision that left her susceptible to harm.

Setting the silk robe down, she gazed at the silver ring as assumptions ran amok in her brain. 'Given the circumstances of Higuchi; if the Omphalos shard gave me a vivid glimpse of the future so profoundly, the Korei-den temple might be destroyed.'

Gabrielle tried in vain to take off the immovable jewelry that wouldn't budge. "Morimoto and his Samurai... They're probably dead and I'm one step closer to leaving this world."

Falling to her knees in perturbation, the bard started to pray for aid. 'Eli, please help me. I fear the temple of Higuchi has met its destruction at the hands of Yodoshi. If so, its power is being drained by whomever's causing this and empowering the Omphalos stone also. I am extremely wary that my time in this world is coming to an end. I require your assistance in removing the shard off my ring... Please.'

Gabrielle ceased the prayer and kept her eyes shut as she waited, but nothing happened. Her angelic mentor didn't make an appearance, coaxing the blonde-haired woman to feel desperate in her plight.

Gabrielle grabbed the katana, and then she placed her left hand on the table, exposing her index finger. 'I'm not going to be a pawn of an unknown goddess and this shard any longer.'

Raising the katana after taking aim, Gabrielle slashed at the digit in which the silver circlet was on. Before the blade connected, the Omphalos shard released a greenish barrier, reflecting the sharp steel from severing Gabrielle's finger. The Samurai was surprised, but not deterred as she raised the katana again to repeat the process.

For a second time, the shard shielded the wearer's appendage from damage and Gabrielle lost patience. Repeatedly she attacked her ring finger, getting the same results when the Omphalos shard reflected the blade every time.

"Damn it!" She shouted in growing frustration at the Omphalos shard forming a protective force, demarcating the katana from having contact with her flesh.

'I can't separate it at its source.' Gabrielle thought gloomily, becoming hysterical. 'Perhaps I can cause the separation by severing my wrist.'

Other than concernment of her disfigurement, Gabrielle was afraid she could bleed to death, but frightening aspects of going to the Conqueror's world worried her and she had no intentions of being a prisoner to that mysterious fate. Aiming the katana once more, Gabrielle was about to bring its blade down onto her wrist when a knock sounded on the cabin door.

"Go away!" She answered.

"It's me, Gabrielle." Tanya replied.

"Not now, Tanya. I'm in the middle of something and do not want to be disturbed."

The door opened anyway as Tanya stepped inside. "What could be more important than celebrating my-"

The auburn-haired teen's sentence died after glancing at Gabrielle holding her sword upwards. "What are you doing?"

The Amazon quickly brought the katana down, slicing the wood of the table and turned her head to acknowledge the intruder. "Nothing. Why are you in my cabin? I told you I don't want to-"

"What is that on your back." Tanya interjected with vocal awe.

Tanya moved closer to Gabrielle to get a clearer view. "It looks like a drawing of some kind."

"Exit my room, Tanya. I'm not in the mood for company." Gabrielle ignored her, setting the katana on the table.

Tanya reached out to touch the indistinct tattoo showing on Gabrielle's upper back. "It appears to be a snake of some kind."

Gabrielle whipped fully around, capturing Tanya's inquisitive hand. "I want you to leave. Now."

Tanya yanked free. "What has gotten into you, Gabrielle? On the deck you were excited for me, now you're acting as if you don't like me."

"Did you tell Xena I was lodged here?" Gabrielle asked.

"No." She asserted. "Why would I do that?"

"I don't suppose you'd told Xena I love her either." Gabrielle retorted.

"Xena came to you and said that?"

"Tanya, don't play. I didn't tell you how I felt about Xena. What would possess you to lie to her regarding my feelings?" Gabrielle queried.

"We talked once the trials were over. I mentioned that you'd trained me for my duel and one topic led to another. She looked so sad, Gabrielle. Xena misses you, and I'm sure you do too."

"That doesn't matter." Gabrielle admonished. "I warned you to stay out of my affairs just before this afternoon. You'd agreed you wouldn't overstep your bounds."

"Forgive me, Gabrielle." Tanya professed. "Y'all belong together. I don't understand why you both can't makeup."

"God, Tanya." Gabrielle huffed. "You have tipped the balance of power in Xena's favor."

Tanya was dumbfounded. "How did I do that?"

"You don't know Xena and her ways."

"You're not telling me what I've done exactly." Tanya responded.

"Never mind. You've lied to her. Depart my cabin, Tanya. I don't want you near me at this moment."

The young teenager began trekking towards the exit in advance of saying, "Maybe, that's the problem between you two; both of y'all has to have a dominate control over the other."

Next, she left the room while Gabrielle cogitated on what Tanya conveyed. 'She doesn't understand. Xena and I have always been in contention when it comes to power over each other. Xena prospers when knowing I'm inclined by her will. She uses it in a way to manipulate me. She's doing it now! Lying to me about wanting Akemi! Lying about her death!'

'Sometimes, a lie created for good, isn't necessarily a bad one.'

Gabrielle sat on the cot, bringing forth the memory when Xena explained the benefits of some fabrications.

I open my eyes to find myself ensnared by my gorgeous, nude warrior sleeping beside me. Her soft snores tickles my brow as I'm cradled in her strong arms. It's funny how she's worn out and I was the one playing the slave tonight. Gods, my back is killing me, somewhat, from her having me folded up for long periods of time. I can't wait till the day when I get to play the master and Xena's the slave. Glimpsing the moonlight, I can discern I haven't slept long. I should visit Joxer down the hall and see how he is coping. I slip out my lover's grasp and the cozy sheets of the bed, to adorn my yellow attire I've acquired while in India. Athough Xena and I ran into major tumult, I really miss that place for its spiritual guidance in our lives.

After returning to Greece, we've bumped into Joxer and Najara, causing significant woes. Joxer made his first kill by accidentally killing a warlord. I believe he's just as scarred as I was from mine. Then it's Najara, the former crusader whom claimed to have learned from Eli's teachings, embracing the way of peace and love. Instead, it was me she coveted, wanting to take me away from Xena again. I even defended her against Xena's accusations, trusting Najara's words to be a follower of Eli.

"I was wrong." I admit aloud, tying the sari around my waist while looking outside the Inn's window.

"Wrong about what?" Xena's groggy voice inquires.

I spin on my feet to gaze at Xena, who was sexy from the afterglow of our grueling love session. "Our trip to Amphipolis to see your mother. I could be wrong about her figuring out we are sexually intimate."

"You are a terrible liar, Gabrielle." Xena smirks briefly, sitting up on the bedpost. "You're dressed? Where are you going?"

"For a walk."

"At this hour?" She asks.

"My back aches a bit, along with my lower parts also. I was going to walk it off and grab a tankard of wine for you." I respond.

Xena looks apologetic. "I'm sorry for being a tad rough tonight."

"It's alright." I walk to her, kissing Xena's lips tenderly. "You're tired, rest. I won't be long."

Xena grips my arm, pulling me onto the bed. "Talk to me. I know a lot has affected you today. Is it Joxer?"

I lean into her. "Yes. I want to ensure he's okay."

"Joxer's travelling with us, there'll be plenty of time for you to check on him, Gabrielle." Xena says.

She begins to lift my yellow belly shirt. "Oh, Xena. I'm not in a condition to accommodate another performance."

Xena takes my top off anyway. "Be quiet and lay down. I'm gonna give you an oil massage."

It's not rare for me to get pampered by Xena nowadays. Ever since we had reunited in Potidaea, she's been sweeter to me more than before. Still, we have our days when we're despondent, but never detached. Willingly, I do as she says, lying face first on the bed. Xena rises and rummage through the saddle-bag for the scented oil. Acquiring what is needed, she sits comfortably on my rear and commence heating the oil in her hands.

"Is Joxer the only thing bothering you?" She rubs the slippery liquid on my bare back.

I stifle a groan, turning my head to the side. "No. I'm worried for Arman's future."

"Is that all?"

Her fingers and palms work magic on me as I reply, "And-"

"The convert." Xena snorts in disdain.

"Yes." I accede. "Najara had me fooled. You were right, Xena. When I said no to her, Najara showed her true colors by preventing me from helping you. She planned to open a Hospice and wanted me to join her in running it like last time, but I expressed to her that my place is with you."

"Najara is highly desirous of you, Gabrielle."

"You mean, was desirous of me. She's catatonic now." I can't suppress a small moan once Xena massage the middle of my back. "Mmm, right there."

"Yeah. I don't think she'll be moving for a while." Xena concedes.

"I feel like it's my fault."

Xena's hands halt momentarily, then press on. "Why'd you say that?"

"I draw these people to me, just for them to receive either death or an unhappy outcome." I reply.

"You aren't to blame." Xena protest. "Gabrielle, you have a caring and gentle soul. Tons of people in the world are attracted to that. Problem is, not all of them are good souls like yourself. There are rotten ones as well."

"I really believed Najara changed."

"Some people aren't capable of change." Xena proclaimed.

"You did." I challenge.

"On the surface, yes. Nonetheless, it isn't possible for a person to change totally and completely."

"You've changed deeper than just the surface, Najara was being superficial. I wonder did she tell Arman the truth because he deserved to know, or to make trouble?" I query.

"Do you agree Arman had the right to know who murdered his father?" Xena counter.

"Of course, but now the view of his father is ruined."

"Should he have remained in ignorance of his father's true nature?" Xena questions me.

"No." I vacillate. "He... Arman should be aware of the person his father was. Lies are worse."

"Hmm..." Xena hums, making me ponder on it.

"What?"

"I'm in agreement that most lies can be horrible." She affirms.

"Can be?" I am in slight disbelief.

"Well, there is such a thing called justified secretiveness." Xena applies more pressure on me.

I moan loudly, relieved of pain and feeling her massage alter to an erotic caress. "What is that, Xena? Some lies are okay, instead of truth?"

"If Najara hadn't spoken to Arman and revealed that Joxer killed his father, he wouldn't have learned of his evil deeds. Would it have been terrible to withhold the truth?"

"Yes. Arman has the right to know. Even you told Joxer he had to tell Arman what truly occurred." I profess.

"I did, however, looking at the other side of the coin; if Najara would've stayed out of business that didn't concern her, we could have advocated for Joxer to keep silent, and Arman would still think his father was a hero." Xena elucidate.

"But, what if he found out from someone else that his father was a murderous warlord?" I asked.

"And what if he didn't, Gabrielle? What if he never found out the truth about his father for the remainder of his life? Arman would be happy."

"Arman's father will still be dead, his death remains on Joxer's hand." I become engaged in our battle of wills. "What would we had said to them?"

"We'd tell Arman his father was killed saving innocent villagers. For Joxer, we'd apprise him of the damage it will cause by declaring he murdered Kryton and the effect it would leave on a young man aspiring to be like his heroic father."

"So, added lies on top of others." I shake my head in the negative. "Tell a fib today, you'll be telling more tomorrow."

"Sometimes, a lie created for good, isn't necessarily a bad one." Xena's coral lips touch the side of my neck and she whispers. "You have a point, withholding honesty from Arman, things could go wrong, but you can't fully dispute it would definitely be terrible. It's a fifty-fifty chance everything could've gone smoothly."

"Vice verse too, Xena. You just make sure you don't try any of those schemes on me." I reverse my position and Xena settles on my stomach. "You know they never pay out well."

She places both her hands on my breasts, leaning closer to my mouth. "I won't as long as I don't have to."

Xena's response is ambiguous and before I can begin my chastisement, her tongue is inside my mouth. I enliven for her to control me again as I return the kiss.

Darn, I'm going to be very sore in the morning.

"Sometimes, a lie created for good, isn't necessarily a bad one." Gabrielle recited with a dark grin. 'Xena must've forgotten, I didn't agree with that logic at all.'

The velvet clad Amazon looked at the katana and the notion of self-mutilation vanished. If it's her destiny to be sent to the Conqueror's world in Ri's place, so be it. Her silence was interrupted by another knock on the cabin door.

"Who is it?"

"Kenji." He stated.

Gabrielle arose off the cot to let the monk inside. "I have finished bathing. Thanks for preparing it for me."

"You are most welcome, Gabrielle San." Kenji bowed. "I'm here to relay a message from the Shogun. You should bring your katana as well."

{X&G}

"Did you talk to Neji yet?" Xena inquired, standing outside the galley on the fourth tier.

"Yes." Harukata pronounced. "He admitted to attacking Gabrielle San."

Xena's ire grew. "Why does he remain breathing?"

"Gabrielle San must bear witness. I've sent Kenji for her."

"Now?" Xena was on alert.

Harukata nodded. "Is there a problem?"

Xena didn't have the nerve to see her soul mate, especially after their encounter. "Gabrielle doesn't have any memory of Neji's attempt to kill her."

"Why is that? Was she asleep throughout the occurrence? I think something else is at work here, Xena. I will get to the bottom of this when Gabrielle San arrive."

"What will happen with Neji?" Xena asked.

"He tried to murder a fellow Samurai. His life is forfeit."

"Good, then we can continue on our journey." Xena started to walk away.

"Aren't you staying?" Harukata called out.

"Nope." The Warrior Princess replied. "I'm gonna visit Argo."

Harukata watched her disappear down the tier while waiting for the petite blonde. He wasn't keen on halting the warship's progress to Japa, but Neji's insensate behavior had cause for the galley workers to cease rowing, so it could be used for his sentencing. The Shogun had no volition of broadcasting Neji's severe castigation to anyone other than Xena, Gabrielle, and his elite Samurai.

Several minutes later, Kenji walked towards him with Gabrielle in tow.

"Shogun, you requested my presence." Gabrielle announced.

"Come with me, Gabrielle San." Harukata said. "Thank you, Kenji. You may go."

Kenji bent his head as Harukata and Gabrielle went into the area of the galley. Waiting there were Koska, Zicalus, Moku, and Neji, the latter was kneeling on both his knees.

Neji gazed at his Shogun and the kimono-wearing woman he swore was a daemon. "Don't have her come near me!"

Gabrielle's footsteps stopped some distance away from the screaming man.

"She's unnatural!" Neji shouted.

"Enough, Neji!" Harukata commanded before turning his attention to the Amazon. "Gabrielle San, I've been informed that you have no recollection of what happened on the top deck this afternoon. In short, Neji committed an act against you that could have resulted in your death. Miraculously you've survived after Neji claimed he plunged his tanto into your back."

"That's when it shattered!" Neji yelled. "Right on her back! They're not normal! Her nor Xena! Both of them are Greek daemons!"

Koska unleashed his wakizashi. "If you disrespect the Shogun by speaking again, I will cut your tongue out."

Neji hushed up and Harukata queried, "What can you recall on the upper platform, Gabrielle San?"

"Tanya won her match in Xena's trials and I trekked to the other side of the ship's railing to gaze at the ocean. Zicalus came over to me, asking if I was okay. I conveyed that I was all right and wanted to be alone. He said a few words and left. Then everything went black. The next thing I know, I'm waking up on Zicalus' cot, inside his cabin." Gabrielle explained.

"You hit Gabrielle San on the head, Neji?" Harukata questioned.

"No, Shogun. The only thing I did was seize the daemon-"

Neji's comment was cut off when Zicalus slapped him across the face. "Gabrielle San is a Samurai. You will respect her."

Neji wasn't solely shocked by the announcement, Koska was too. He hadn't been aware of Gabrielle becoming part of their warrior clan.

"I grabbed Gabrielle's hair and aimed my tanto for her back. Once the blade touched her, it shattered to pieces in front of my eyes. I've never seen such a sight. I couldn't move and stood there, holding the handle of my weapon in horror, until Master Zicalus took it from me." Neji responded.

"Gabrielle San, can you remove your kimono, that way we can observe your back?" Harukata requested.

Gabrielle took the sky blue robe off and displayed her back for them to see.

All the observers quickly noticed the tattoo.

"Can you lower your top, Gabrielle San?" The Shogun insisted.

The bard was quizzical, but knowing they couldn't view her assets, she began removing the straps, revealing the tattoo fully. All the men's eyes went wide at the design.

"Ryujin!" Neji exclaimed. "The water Kami protected her. I'm doomed... I'm doomed!"

Zicalus stared in awe at the dragon that seemed alive. 'I knew Gabrielle Chan was special, but this is amazing.'

"Where has this come from, Gabrielle San? You didn't have a dragon tattoo when you first boarded." Harukata declared.

"I don't know." Gabrielle lied while straightening her halter. 'The Muses. They left their protection on me, but why in the form of a dragon?'

Neji crawled to Gabrielle on his knees. "Please forgive me, Ryujin. Please. I didn't know she had your blessing. Forgive me. Forgive me."

Gabrielle moved backwards from the pathetic man. "Shogun, if that's all, I would like to be excused."

Harukata was barely able to wrap any sense around these strange events. "Soon, after the sentence is carried out."

The Shogun unsheathed his tanto and tossed it to the dishonorable Samurai. "You have acquitted yourself of honor, Neji. In order for you to resolve this shame, you are sentenced to death by seppuku."

Neji swallowed his fear and accepted his punishment. "Will you honor my death, Gabrielle Sama?"

'Sama.' Gabrielle mused in bafflement.

She knew Neji was giving her great respect by calling her that. Gabrielle also acknowledged his proposition. To deny it, would be a discredit to the requestor.

'That's why Kenji told me to bring my katana.' Gabrielle ruminated, drawing her Japian sword. "I will honor you."

"Thank you, Gabrielle Sama. May Ryujin, the water Kami protect you always and forgive me my trespass." He confessed.

Next, Neji gripped the tanto and entered the sharp knife into his abdomen, slicing his left side to the right while releasing a muffled grunt. Gabrielle raised her katana above her for the umpteenth time today and brought it down with swift force, decapitating him without staining the blade with his blood.

Sheathing her weapon, Gabrielle uttered. "You are forgiven, Neji."

To Be Continued...