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 stories' chapters preceding this one, you should do so now.

Xena & Gabrielle,

A Turn of Fate,

By, Ahkiken

Chapter 34: Menacing Affinity

Eyeing Harukata, a mirthless laugh erupted from Xena's mouth. "You must be kidding... You're gonna actually kill me? Me, the only person who can succor you and your pathetic country from Yodoshi's devastation? I don't think you're as dumb as Zicalus when he challenged me. Now, lower your katana and leave me alone."

"Your insults and sporadic, menacing affinity has gone too far this day." Raising his blade, he touched the Warrior Princess' neck with it. "As for the daemon that's cursing Japa, you're correct; we do need you. But if your dissent is to simply cause you to terrorize me, my men, and Ri-Kun, then your help isn't warranted any longer."

Leaning her head back from his sword, cerulean orbs slotted at the Shogun's blatant threat. "You better take your fucking katana away from my neck, before I cut off the flow of blood to your brain again... And this time I won't remove it."

The red armored Shogun mentally sighed in disappointment for what he felt had to be done. He couldn't continue to allow Xena to carry on with her malign and contentious attitude.

'Forgive me, Gabrielle-San.' Harukata entreated to the spirited cropped blonde, preparing his arm for the thrust into Xena's throat.

Sensing the tension in Harukata's muscles, Xena knew she had to act fast to prevent her impending death. Hastily, her palm connected with his wrist, swatting the sharp steel from jabbing her neck. However, it still managed to marginally gash her, leaving a thin, horizontal line of blood on Xena's tanned-colored skin. Disregarding the slight pain, Xena knew she had to distance herself from the retaliating Shogun, but being unarmed and pressed against the starboard's railing of the ship, she was left with a single option.

Performing an aerial backflip, she'd administered a soaring knee to Harukata's helmet, making him teeter. Completing a balanced handstand atop the wooden rail, the sable-haired woman propelled from it, and her recovering assailant slashed out only to hit air. Landing behind him to gain more freedom in her movements, Xena retreated from the current deck to the bottom one by blaring a melodic war cry and somersaulting over the railing instead of taking either staircases.

Once her feet had touched the platform in front of the observing Samurai, whom were standing with awe and ignorance, she became more aware that a weapon was needed. Noting two men who were nearest to her, Xena quickly snatched both of their katanas from them, while espying the old Shogun descending the stairs.

"Move out-of-the-way and give us space!" She shouted, twirling the double swords and coaxing the men to give her more than enough berth. "Enjoy this, second squad! It's not a normal occurrence to see your Shogun get defeated!"

Overhearing Xena's disrespectful declaration, Harukata dashed toward her, stating, "I've grown antipathetic to your impertinence."

His sword became obstructed by Xena's dual blades, and she sneered, "I don't care about your antipathy. You are inaptly injurious, and will pay for it."

"You're the sole person who's been baneful." He corrected, swinging his katana to once more be encumbered by hers. "You could have killed me, and there's no telling what you would've inflicted on Ri-Kun."

"That bitch is the reason my fiancée has vanished from this world to another!" Xena growled, striking out with her twin weapons, putting Harukata on the defensive.

Xena's attacks began reflecting her ire and it caused the Shogun to backpedal. He had never faced an opponent quite like Xena before, foreseeing that it would soon take its toll. Nonetheless, he couldn't afford to lose this battle in the presence of his Samurai, because not only was his life in peril by Xena, but they would view him as being weak for losing against a foreign female. The same could be extrapolated for the Greek warrior who'd trained them for the past month, but Harukata didn't dwell on that, for his honor was at stake.

'She has to be stopped.' The reinvigorated Shogun mused, impacting Xena's ferocious katanas with his own, gaining the offense.

"This is incredible." Anzio gushed, watching the two skilled combatants. "No wonder Xena-Sama told me 'not now' when I'd approached her about our trials. She was readying herself for her duel with the Shogun."

"And we are privy to it." Oni gleefully responded, seeing Xena regain the offensive over his leader. "They probably want to inspire us with their tactics so that we can be infused by it during our contest."

"Yeah." Anzio agreed to Oni's mistaken assessment.

Harukata dodged the left-handed strike directed at his waist and hindered the right-handed attack with his katana, pushing Xena backwards. "You haven't altered your path from the warlord who had set Higuchi in flames. You remain rancorous and cruel."

"You've no comprehension of my pillaging days, Harukata." She retorted, blocking his lunge. "If I was the Destroyer of Nations at heart, I wouldn't have removed the pinch off of you. You'd be dead, and Ri would've been trailing you to whatever afterlife awaits."

An overhanded strike was haphazardly impeded by Harukata and Xena swiped his chest-plate with her second blade. The Shogun recoiled from the contact, knowing his armor protected him from injury.

"That's my attestation, fool." Xena smiled egotistically. "I'm knowledgeable of the susceptible spots on your armor, notably below the chin. I could have sliced your windpipe open, like you tried doing to me on the top deck, but I chose not to... For now."

Harukata's eyes gaped temporarily, realizing the truth of her explication, until he started focusing on Xena's advancement. Aiming an underhanded blow this time, Harukata barely deflected it, getting kicked in his covered torso for the effort, making him stumble momentarily. Instantly, a slash came across his armored shoulder.

"That could've been my blade severing your head, Harukata." Xena's irises lit up in amusement, settling on toying with him, akin to Zicalus. "Maybe I need to make more examples."

Harukata didn't have the luxury to consider the fact that he wasn't on par with Xena as the egotist executed an amazing, handless cart-wheel over his low slashing sword, and landed in a crouch, kicking the back of his knee above the armored-clad boots. The Shogun nearly buckled, nonetheless, steadied himself. Afterward, he backtracked a few steps and gripped the katana more firmly in both of his hands, ready for Xena's next onslaught, whilst she slowly arose to her full stature.

"I'd offered you a chance to be granted revivification by Amaterasu, and this is the thanks I get in return?" Harukata dejectedly inquired.

"Don't pretend like you were being benevolent." She accused, priming her assault. "Getting resurrected remains up in the air; pending on your sun goddess and keeping you alive."

"It was benevolence." He asserted. "Compassion for Gabrielle-San's-"

"How dare you speak her name!" Xena interrupted loudly, dampening the mood to dally with him. "You're protecting Ri; the cause of what has befallen Gabrielle."

The Shogun discerned Xena's arms tensing, knowing that her attrition would attribute to his inevitable loss. He didn't want it to come to this with Xena. All Harukata wanted was for her to show an ounce of remorse for what she had afflicted on him and Ri, hoping that she'd swear to forgo inflicting further virulent intent. For the safety of everyone aboard his vessel, killing the Warrior Princess was the final resort.

'How can I defeat Xena, or get her to listen to reason when she's dexterous and, I must concede, eclipses my abilities?' The Shogun questioned internally, till an idea formulated in his mind. 'Still, she has a foible, and it's her arrogance. Perhaps I can use her supercilious behavior to my advantage.'

"Before you fucked with me, I was feeling guilty for what I'd done to y'all in Gabrielle's cabin, and ceased my inclination on going back there to bash Ri into submission." Xena swirled her Japian swords again, prepared to recommence their fray. "But now, after I triumph over you, I'm gonna search her out and finish what I should have earlier. She will tell me Minerva's plans and how to utilize the power of the Omphalos shards, so I can save Gabrielle."

'No, not her audaciousness... She has a greater weakness, and it is Gabrielle-San.' A new ploy entered his rumination. "Why?"

"What?" Xena was perplexed by Harukata's deliberate, enigmatic query.

The Shogun expelled a breath, praying to his Kami that the plot of coercing Xena's deviation wouldn't backfire. "Why do you want to rescue Gabrielle-San? Have you forgotten how you'd neglected her for almost an entire month?"

Xena struck out with fury and the Shogun concentrated on just guarding against her, refraining himself from attacking back.

"Gabrielle-San told me a lot during our training." He taunted, continually fending her off. "She said that you had chosen Akemi over her."

"You know nothing!" Xena bellowed, becoming incensed.

"So y'all reconciled last night, withal it doesn't change how she was feeling throughout those lonely days and weeks without you, while you tarried on lying to her."

"Shut up!" Xena felt compunction for her past stupidity. "I wanted to shield Gabrielle from the knowledge of my death. You'd assented to concealing my secret, then one of your men revealed it to her anyway!"

The exertion of repelling Xena's igneous blows were beginning to overwhelm Harukata, yet, seeing openings in her aggressive strikes, he pressed on with his scheme.

"I had cautioned you to be honest, Xena, but you..." His breathing hitched from her repeated attacks. "You decided to continue your mendacity, causing Gabrielle-San to avow that you were nothing to her... Even saying that you were dead to her."

"No!" She lost herself in anger, and kept onward with her charge, raining pummeling, thunderous clashes on Harukata's katana.

The Shogun's words were tinder, setting Xena's heated cognition aflame, damning her with the retention of denying her lover the veracity of the sacrifice she had to face; ultimately not trusting the lithe Amazon. Also, she'd dismissed Gabrielle's worries apropos of the visions that the Omphalos shard had divulged, because she allowed herself to be immersed in concernment for Akemi, as well as the mission to Japa, knowing that it pertained more to her selfish desires of righting a wrong than the Greater Good itself. After their first night on the ship, whilst inside Argo II's stall, she didn't give her soul mate's vexing, prescient dream a profound thought until it was much too late, writing it off as a wild fantasy.

'It probably was your imagination running away from you.'

'It's all my fault.' Xena had succumbed to self-reproach. 'If I hadn't given Gabrielle that ring, she wouldn't have exchanged places with Ri.'

Distracted by her musings, the Shogun capitalized on Xena's contrition by parrying both of the dark warrior's weakly swung blades, spinning and hitting the back of her neck with the hilt of his sword. Although the force of the sword's pommel wasn't strong enough to down her, she fell onto bended knees. For a split moment, the will to fight had seeped out of her, while beating herself up over the estrangement between her and Gabrielle, plus how much the bard had suffered alone due to the Omphalos ring on her finger.

Dropping one of the borrowed katanas, Xena bowed her head, surrendering to whatever fate Harukata's disposition wielded, until her dark side reined in control.

'This is Harukata's fault, not mine!' Xena alleged. 'If he hadn't come to Greece seeking my help, Gabrielle and I wouldn't have argued! We could have focused on the Omphalos shard, finding a way to negate its effects!'

A sudden burst of renewed vigor coursed through Xena's veins as Harukata raised his blade, contemplating on what to do. Xena did impart that she was feeling rueful for her pugnacity, and if he hadn't accosted her on the upper deck, it's plausible that their contention wouldn't have occurred. Before he could foster his introspection, the Warrior Princess commenced thrusting her singular weapon upwards with marvelous swiftness, cutting the side of his red armor.

Bringing his katana down to deal a wounding stab into her shoulder, the Shogun's counterattack was a tad sluggish, giving Xena ample time to elude it by swaying sideways to deliver another ascended stroke on the opposite side of his armor. Methodically, she'd ruined the fastened buckles that kept Harukata's chest-plate closed and it became loosened, only held together by its shoulder clasps, howbeit, both his sides were now vulnerable.

Xena did a backward roll and stood a short distance away, pointing her sword at him. Gazing into her enraged eyes, the Shogun wearily inhaled and got into a defending stance, yielding to the acknowledgement that their deadly skirmish wasn't concluded. Nevertheless, ere to them locking swords once more, most of the second squad Samurai presumed the exhibition was complete, applauding Xena and Harukata for what they'd demonstrated.

The loud cheers shattered the haze of Xena's bellicose temperament and she'd begun paying heed to the men's whoops of approval, understanding that they were oblivious to the seriousness of her and the Shogun's conflict. Feeling the darkness diminish within her and choosing to let Harukata's benighted Samurai abide in it, she let go of the katana. Harukata listened to the weapon clatter onto the platform's floorboard, allaying his conscience while he watched the raven-haired female turn and walk below deck.

Xena traipsed back to Gabrielle's lodging, shedding the excess bloodlust that remained burning beneath her flesh, begging to be unfettered so it could create carnage. Albeit, she speedily entered her soul mate's cabin. Shutting the door, she leaned on it, letting the remembrance of the events that unfolded during the twilight and morning roam freely in her brain. She had given herself over to vindictiveness by attempting to endanger Harukata and Ri, breaking a meaningful pledge to Gabrielle that she'd made at a campsite in their first year of travelling together after the Amazon's affirmation.

'No... No, look, you promise me. If something happens to me, you will not become a monster. There's only one way to end this cycle of hatred, and it's through love... And forgiveness.'

'I'd reserved that troth before, when I thought you died with Hope, Gabrielle.' Xena cogitated, closing her orbs to suppress the tears. 'But you are gone now... How can I forgive someone who's possibly responsible for your disappearance?'

Xena's antagonism for Ri had flared, and her optical spheres opened, seeking the target. Noticing the lantern's candle was doused, she used the sunlight that shined into the room and became assuaged that the storyteller no longer occupied it after scanning its space. Next, Xena glanced at Gabrielle's clothing that was randomly splayed out on the floor.

Pushing off of the door, she walked forward to gather up the garments and the ornate silver belt, baffled how the normally immaculate bard could discard her attire in a disorderly manner, unlike Gabrielle's two metal gauntlets, as well as the armband that rested beside the wooden tub. Carrying the load, she trekked over to the table, knocking the two basins off of it with a roundhouse kick to lay Gabrielle's scarlet apparel and girdle onto its surface in a neat array. Running her hand over the red halter, it dawned on her that the sky blue robe wasn't inside the cabin.

'Must have worn the kimono when you'd went to sleep, and it got teleported with you, didn't it, Gabrielle?' She derived.

Ruminating on the said blue material that clung loosely on Gabrielle's nude, trim frame from last night, brought unwanted memories of their lovemaking. Xena recalled every expression of her lover's mien as she gave Gabrielle oral pleasure, cognitive of her passionate groans and the iron grip she had on the Warrior Princess' mane whilst moaning Xena's name.

'Xena...'

She drove the memory away, 'cause it became too painfully surreal, reminding her of the predicament that had to be tolerated. Xena knew who the instigator of their woes was, and it coaxed her wrathful battle-lust to urge for emancipation again. By a thread, she held it at bay, but its shackles were deteriorating. Battling Harukata once more seemed optional, notwithstanding, non-prudent, so Xena addressed a being who could be of service.

'Eli...' Xena kneeled, starting her orison, 'I'm not one for doing prayers, unless it's absolutely necessary and I am desperate, which is the case now. I know the culprits that are using the Omphalos stone. It's a goddess named Minerva from the other world. She's behind this, and is using the Conqueror also. I implore you to intercede in this matter.'

The disquiet silence made Xena become despondent.

'Please, Eli. Your warning has come to light... Gabrielle has switched with Ri, and I'm at my wit's end. You're cognizant of how secured Gabrielle and I are. Our souls are one, inextricable for eternity and I need her back... Please.' Receiving no answer, she was beginning to feel asinine for her prayer, demanding aloud, "Fucking do something, damn it! You've shown yourself to Gabrielle, now appear to me! I'm apprising you of the ones whom are disrupting my life and Gabrielle's! Command your angels or God, and make this right!"

Quietness was her only reply and Xena felt assured that nobody was listening. Forsaking the supplication, she wallowed in grief instead.

'I'd give anything just to see your smile again, Gabrielle... To hear your laughter. Maybe Eli isn't answering me because I'm accusing Ri, Minerva, and the Conqueror, when it was I who'd done this to you; to us, by presenting the ring to you.' Xena affirmed, holding herself accountable for her forlornness, as tears cascaded down her cheeks. 'Forgiving them isn't imperative. The real question is how can I forgive myself for your disappearance... How?'

Muteness greeted her inquiry, numbing Xena with its absence of sound.

To Be Continued...