23 Chelandria, Chelandria, we love thee!

Kano awoke to a brilliant sunrise... well, moonrise... and that moon was his mentors rump waggling in front of him before a noxious and foul odor exploded forth.

"Gah! What's wrong with you old man?!" He cried out as he leaped from his bed to escape the monstrosity attempting to envelope him. He waived his arms maniacally as his mentor fell to the floor in laughter.

"You been asleep for two days, boy! Wasn't sure how long you were back on Earth. Figured I would give you a warm welcome!" Bill continued to guffaw, muffled as it was through his mask.

Kano quickly removed himself from the cloud of stench and went outside to start his chores. Maybe a bath first, he thought as he changed direction and headed towards the creek nearby. It was the same creek that he and Bill fished in often. He stripped of his tunic and breeches and stepped into the bracing chill of the stream. "Shrinkage!"

Soon, he adjusted to the temperature and lowered himself further. The water soothed his nerves as he thought about the past few months back home... or was this home? It still gave him a strange feeling, for when he was here, in Chelandria, Earth felt like a dream. His entire life was a really vivid dream that he only half remembered. He knew it was there, like a memory. But it was always somewhat blurry in general, except for a few specific people and details. His parents and his loved ones... the faces of Victoria, Sarah, Tiffany, and now Li Ruolan appeared in his thoughts. Strangely, another two women were there as well, but he could not see their faces clearly. He did not recall meeting them in this dream... maybe because it was a dream, it meant that he would meet them later. But since he could remember these women clearly, it meant they were obviously important to him there. But what about here? He contemplated the implications of it all. If Earth was a dream here, and Chelandria was a dream there... did that mean he was technically two different people, or did it mean that what he did in one did not affect the other? Could he live another life here... with or without other women? Well, he was certain he wanted at least one woman here. It would be truly dispiriting otherwise. Kano loved women, he found that he loved their looks, he loved their scent, he loved their touch, and he loved their personages... oh he loved them all... Some a bit less than others, obviously.

During his reverie and contemplation, he failed to notice a figure slowly moving closer to the stream. If he had been more attentive, he might have noticed it much sooner than the moment when it attempted strike. At that very moment, his instincts kicked in and he dove to the side. A large splash of water was displaced as he quickly threw out his arm to block a fist that strove to injure his good looks. The two went back and forth for a bit, blow for blow countered and blocked or dodged and grabbed. With a great amount of force, his adversary kicked away and landed safely nearby, only then did he manage to get a good look at his attacker as the spray from their battle settled down.

"You! Why in the Hells are you here? What are you trying to do? Kill me again?" he cried out as he recognized his assailant. It was the monk again. The same one that sent him back to Earth the first time.

"Hmph, evil one. I know you have some plan against our village. I knew it from the minute I saw you. It is my duty to protect the innocent of this world from fiends like you! Now prepare your soul for the tortures of the Nine Hells!" She cried out as she settled into an aggressive stance. Kano immediately recognized it and wondered if she truly had no battle experience whatsoever. It was the exact same thing she had done to him previously. Now, however, he had the physique to actually contend against her this time. Not to mention some passive abilities to help.

Sure enough, she sprang forward, her foot leading the way to pulverize his chest, but at the last second he managed to lean aside and she landed just behind where he was. "Arrogance." He stated calmly as he twisted himself downward to dodge her next attack, which he was sure was going to be a kick upwards. She followed through and flew high into the air, spinning until her heel pointed at him once again and like a meteor she shot down. "Never, ever." He continued while he pirouetted out of the way. He stood there as the water cascaded upwards from the impact of her attack. The water fell like rain around them. It was at this time as her eyes fell upon him, that she realized he had been fighting her entirely naked, and her face turned beet red. "Perform the same attack on an opponent." He still spoke even as he darted forward, grasping her biceps and pushing her straight into a nearby tree. It shook and leaves fell as her back collided with its trunk, yet he maintained his grasp upon her. "As they will be looking for it." He finished with ice in his voice.

Kano felt lucky that she had become paralyzed for that instant, allowing him to gain the upper hand. He quickly thrust his knee between her thighs and pressed his chest against hers. He felt he was stronger than she was and felt this would give him time to alleviate her killing intent.

"Let go of me, bastard!" She struggled but he had her pinned in the most classic and simple way... brute force. She could not get her legs around enough to strike, since wrapping around him would only place his lower region against her own, she did not want that. It was embarrassing enough for her as it was. His hands had somehow during their flight moved to her wrists, which were now held above her head. If he moved, she would be able to, so she decided to wait for the perfect time.

"Nope. Not until you stop this nonsense. I haven't done anything."

"I know how you necromancers are! You want to use this graveyard as a base to terrorize this region!"

Kano stopped short and looked at her incredulously. Truly, he did have that thought initially when he first arrived in Chelandria... but as of late, he had forgotten about those plans. He suddenly wondered if that rabbit was still running around out there. Either way, he started to laugh. Not in an evil way, but more in a humorous fashion as he found the idea quite hilarious. She wanted to stop him from committing atrocities in the future. "How cute."

She stiffened as he spoke these words... dread and disgust filling her entire being. "Don't you dare!"

"Dare I what?"

"You know what you are planning to do!"

"Planning to do? You mean finish bathing and then fetch water to the house? Clean my mentors home a bit and then make some breakfast? Insidious indeed." He teased her as he waggled his eyebrows at her. She was cute, now that he had a chance to really look at her. Her jet black hair was pulled back into a braided ponytail which seemed to accentuate her slender yet fierce face. It gave her a superior look, one that screamed to be kissed in order to bring her back down to earth and maybe soften those hardened features. She reminded him of his new partner, strong and full of purpose, no time for silliness or fun.

"I don't believe you! Evil lies very well and is adept at appearing innocent!" The monk maintained her vigil, but he still had not changed the amount of force he placed upon her. It was strange, he had good control over his muscles, not at all what she had experienced before. He was nothing then, but suddenly, he was her equal in close combat. She renewed her resolve and had to get stronger.

"True, it can and does. Therefore, how about an agreement?" He responded, fully guessing what her thoughts were. Monks were all the same apparently, or at least, that is what he thought about them.

"I will never make a deal with scum like you!" She spat in his face and prepared herself for the worst.

"That, was not... nice." Kano blinked at her in a little bit of disbelief. "Well, my name is Kano. What's yours?"

She watched as he still did not move, and her arms were starting to get a bit numb. Even her legs were still unable to touch the ground as her womanly region was resting upon his knee. She had no leverage. Clearly, he had done this before. Surely he was evil! "Never. If you know my name, you would be able to use magic to find me anywhere."

Kano stopped and blinked at her ignorance again. "No, if I wanted to track you down, all I would need is a good image of you in my mind. That is how divining works. Mental... plenty of people have similar names or even the same name. If I wanted revenge, I could have done that long ago. Hell, I could have followed you yesterday or even last night. Now, lets try again... Don't attack me, and I'll let go."

She glared at him in defiance and ignored his words... it was a trick, she was certain of it. "Okay, I'm stepping back now." And he slowly released the pressure he held upon her arms and started to remove his knee from her thighs, then he felt her tense up and her fists tried to strike at his face once again. Before she knew it, he had slammed against her once again, his face barely an inch away from hers and they were back once more as they had been only an instant before.

"That was not nice. Since being nice didn't work, how about a threat. If you don't stop this, I will kiss you."

Her breath held in her throat, she knew it was a trap, but did she really want her first kiss to be stolen by this bastard pervert? She had taken a vow of chastity, and today it was being tested, she knew it. However, she was not certain how that vow was in the face of being forced against her will. Her virtue had to be maintained, but what if it was taken and not given? Suddenly she began to fear for her power... Quietly, she nodded and relaxed her muscles. Though, her lower body was not cooperating with her as his knee had been continuously pressed against her most private of areas. With the suddenness of his leg sliding against it had created a strange sensation that she was unfamiliar with. She had never been this close to a man for any length of time, usually long enough to break one during a duel. But a warmth had begun to creep outward from deep within and the fact that he was still naked before her only furthered that warmth, as well as her own embarrassment. Slowly, he slid back and away once more, a tingling sensation flowed upwards from between her thighs, but this time, she waited until he was almost away before tensing and striking once again! Only to be slammed against the tree once more. "Have it your way." Before she could retort or even attempt at screaming, his face pushed against hers. But instead of her lips, he kissed her forehead and leapt away, laughing. "What now?" He cried out as he stood in the center of the stream, arms held out to his sides in an invitation to follow him. She was in shock as she had expected her lips to be ravaged by his vile tongue... yet he kissed her as one would a child...

"I am no child!" she screamed at him in fury and launched herself forward to attack again. He continued to block and dodge. She felt that he had wronged her and desperately wanted revenge, and the slight disappointment she felt was surely his vile nature assaulting her resolve. Yet, still, she managed to only strike him a few times during their many accosts. He had experience in battle, this she was certain. He probably had it before but had let it go to survive in the wilderness. Now, he had recovered, obviously and had the power and speed to back up his experience. Slowly, she begrudgingly respected his ability as they fought on. As her own stamina began to wain, she felt that his was still at its peak. She need to end this fight quickly and decisively. She feinted and then threw herself forward, her legs wrapping around him as the water blocked his vision for the briefest of moments. Then she twisted with all of her strength to throw his upper body to the bank. Just as she was about to release him with her legs, she felt his hands grasp about her waist, pinning her to him and they both tumbled in the air towards a log that lay along side the stream.

Kano saw it as well and at the last possible moment he jerked his head backwards, forcing their spin to interrupt for the briefest of moments, just enough to force him to be the one to impact the log. His head crashed through it, splinters flying everywhere... They lay there for a few seconds... Her breathing calmed as she looked into his eyes, she had seen something as they flew... it was fear. Not the kind that was afraid for a person's own life, but the kind that signified being afraid for another. She had felt his twist, keeping her from being the one to hit first... He had taken the impact himself.

As the adrenaline was still pumping through her veins, she felt lightheaded and confused. He seemed to be relatively unhurt as well, and was that relief in his eyes now... Then she felt an increase in pressure upon her, they were mostly hugging before, but now, his lips were on hers... and she answered... a moan escaped from her chest as she felt his tongue enter her mouth. She did not stop it. In fact she responded with her own, encircling it and lasciviously entreating past his teeth. Such heat, she had never felt this before... then she felt something touching between her thighs and dangerously close to her buttocks. It was at this time she recalled that he was still naked and rationality returned in a rush. She leaped up and away, glaring at him from a distance.

Kano laid there upon the ground and merely rolled his head to the side to look at her. "Well, at least tell me your name? You can't just run up and kiss a man and not give your name."