The Test of Peace.

Lee usually marched in front of Aetri, with the gate of a soldier. But today she was beside him, a kind of sorrowful smile on her face as they made their way to the Oxen Corals.

"Everything alright?" He eventually asked

Lee nodded "I am going to miss going through this with you..." She rubbed the cold from her arms uncomfortably "Come, we don't want to keep Alfred waiting."

Alfred was an old and dear friend of Aetri, easily the one He could rely on to keep him strong.

The Two came to the great Oxen corals were the dozen or so Giant Bovine beasts slept and sat Lazily. The Oxen were huge, so huge that when the time came to slaughter one of them for the meat, a single Oxen Cow could feed them for months; nearly 10 feet tall and just as broad. They had bright blonde coats of long bushy fur and since all were female, they had hornless heads buried in their yellow hair, save for the huge mouths and button noses that they used to snort, moan and eat with all day long.

They were cute really, and very friendly as long as You didn't mess with their feeding bales of hay and White-Reed that Lee grew in her crop. Aetri shivered as He took off his coat and detached his sword in its belt, handing them to Lee as He slipped through the tall wooden fence, ready to work on his usual routine.

Walking over to the corner of the Grassy coral, Aetri leant down to take the cold handle of the large icy bucket into his hands, and turned with determination, because rising from the group of slothful Oxen, came the biggest of All: Alfred.

Uld Village, 4 years ago.

Aetri shook because of the Cold and because of the sight that grew before him, the Biggest of the Oxen in the Coral stood, easily 15 feet in height and with shorter fur that displayed it's intense muscle "What are your Orders, Boy?" Lee called as Aetri tightly gripped the frozen bucket in his hands with fear deep in his chest.

"T-To Milk the Female Oxen and fill this bucket, Master!" He cried, watching as Alfred the Oxen Bull lifted his head, tipped with thick spiralling horns like battering rams on it's hardened crown.

"And...?" Lee proded as the Boy shook

"...And... without spilling a drop, Mentor." The Bull scrapped it's cloven hooves against the grassy ground as it let out a low, angry grumble.

Lee chuckled "Well, you'll have to get through Alfred first. I don't want you out of that Coral unless that Bucket is full or you've broken bones, Understood!?"

"Yes, Mentor!" He cried obediently, quivering as the Bull prepared to charge at him.

This was pure insanity, Alfred charged and cried out in a deep roar as time and time again He tried to run Aetri down, the Boy only managing to dodge a hair before the great beast collided with him.

Lee watched from the sidelines, swigging her bottle as per usual as Aetri cried out in fear, too consumed to even try and get to the Oxen Cows.

And before long... *Crunch* He had begun to tire, and that hair space between dodges grew small enough, that Alfred met his mark, and the Boy's left arm was caught by the staggering blow, breaking it harshly.

As Aetri screamed, Lee stood straight, whistling widely "ALFRED, BEDTIME!" She shouted, and as quick as a switch, The Huge Bull relented, backing away and sitting among the Cows, immediately falling into a gentle sleep.

The Break was painful, horribly so, but Lee tended to him, silently caring for him while using her Eastern healing techniques to quickly heal his arm... which was just as painful as having broken it.

Three weeks later, there he was again, in the coral, bucket in hand, shimmering with fear, but Aetri had a plan in mind this time. He placed his fingers between his lips, whistling loudly "ALFRED, B-BEDTIME!" He called, hoping to the Saints and the Goddess that it would work.

It did not.

Alfred charged as Lee laughed "do you have any idea how long it took to tame Old Alfie? Years and years, He won't listen to you, good effort though, kid." She chuckled as Aetri ducked and dodged.

This time he charged at the females, trying and failing multiple times to pull the precious milk from their teets, The Cows didn't resist they were very docile, but before He could even squeeze a drop, Alfred was already half-way through his charge.

...10 times He failed, an arm, a Leg, his ribs, his hip, Aetri broke many bones, suffered many concussions under the Bull's charge, but every time Lee restored him, caring in her strangely motherly way, in healing his wounds.

It was not until 5 months had passed, and Aetri had fully healed from his broken leg that He took the time to visit the coral one night, he was curious, unsure of exactly why.

Oxen enjoyed the nighttime, they were active, and as Aetri moved over to the coral, leaning on the fence as a few came to nuzzle him friendly. But He flinched as one approached him... Alfred... He walked over slowly and rubbed his horns against the fence.

Aetri looked curiously, He looked so friendly now... Stepping forward, Aetri looked in awe as he actually managed to touch the Beast, stroking his forehead and touching his rigid horns as Alfred's black eyes watched him lazily.

His fingers rubbed the bushy neck and moved upward where he scratched behind Alfie's huge fluffy ears.

The Beast trilled like a happy kitten and immediately sat, placing its head on the ground and rolling unto its side... Aetri couldn't have ever been happier to have been a curious soul.

Aetri knocked on the door of his Mentor's room... no answer, He took it upon himself to sneak in, seeing her dark form in her bed. Lee was in a black nightgown and wrapped in thick sheets... she shivered even in her sleep, curious... "No... N-No... I'm sorry Lord Wulda... p-please... I cannot stay, release me, please... I c-can't take it..." Aetri grimaced, she was talking in her sleep... and she said... Aetri grabbed Lee and shook her.

"Mentor, Mentor Wake up!" He said.

Lee roused violently from her sleep, grabbing him around the neck and pulling him into a close and tight headlock "Wuh, Huh!? who are you, think you can sneak up on me huh--- oh, Boy... don't you know it's rude to walk into a lady's room uninvited?" She said calmly, Aetri clawed at her powerful arms, choaking as Lee cleared her throat "Oh, sorry."

Aetri gasped for air as she let him go, going limp and laying weakly across her tall body "I... I just... I want to take on... phew... Alfred, I think I can beat him."

Lee smiled at the boy, sighing as she sat up, making him slip further down her body "Very well, come on get dressed, we'll head out right away."

Aetri's face was buried in Lee's cleavage, his Mentor flushing and she pushing him harshly out of her bed.

And so the Boy stood once again in the coral, bucket in hand... He smiled widely and watched without fear as the giant Bull made his usual stand.

Lee relaxed on the fence, she could see the recognition in his eyes, and she too smiled widely as the Bull made its charge.

Springing out of the way with his featherweight, Aetri spun out of Alfred's path, able to utilize his full speed and tact without the barring terror. Alfred was not only getting tired but irritated.

The Beast was ready to give a final charge, one where He absolutely would not miss, and that was just what he needed "Come on Alfie, godspeed." And so He did charging at Aetri with all of his might, where the Boy twisted around at just the right time, spiralling elegantly in the darkness, his sly gingers ruffling at the beck of Alfie's ears.

The Bigger they are the harder they fall, and damn did that giant bastard fall, the Oxen bull sliding to a screetching halt and rolling over on the ground as Aetri smiled, scratching the Giant's ears until he huffed with satisfaction.

Lee hopped the fence easily, watching as Aetri began to fill his bucket with the ivory Oxen milk, a grin on his face. He saw his mentor crouch beside him, her Black mane blowing as she flashed him an expectant look, the boy rolled his eyes "I should have a portrait made of that face... I might not see it ever again." He muttered

She knocked his shoulder, with a serious air "Some battles are not won with violence alone, Kid. Old Crow used to say, Life is your creation, find the right tools to deal with things and your sword doesn't have to leave its sheath and your fists can remain unclenched. it is understanding, knowledge, and tactics that win the battle, when Sword and shield cannot."

He understood the lesson then, and He understood it now. The Only difference was, that Aetri was faster and strong enough to take on the mighty Alfred, after many years of weaving in and out of his attacks, even though the Beast grew hastier and angrier, Aetri managed to get to his weak point, and now Alfred sat beside Aetri, having been dodged and wrestled into exhaustion, happy to have his ears ruffled from his long battle compatriot.

Aetri milked the Oxen Cows as He always did, quickly and effectively, although Lee stayed at the fence this day, a kind of forlorn look on her face "Those Beasts love you almost as much as the Cave-girl, boy." She shouted from the side as Aetri walked over, his bucket full and his spirits high.

"I'm going to miss them." He said, seeing his Mentor's sadened face.

Lee took the bucket from him, nodding quietly "They are going to miss you too... idiot boy."

Aetri slipped through the fence, putting his heavy coat back on and knocking Lee just as she always did him "I have half a mind to take them with me, they belong by my side."

The Eastern Warrior softened, it was strange to see her like this, Lee-fu Ector was not the sentimental sort... and He was even more surprised to see her push the welling tears out of her eyes as she shook her head "They don't belong in Britannia, Boy... this is their home, whether they like it or not."

They weren't talking about the Oxen, he knew, but before He could try to convince her further, she stood straight resuming her soldier's visage "Listen... I will take care of the White-reeds today, how about... You run along and find your Cave-girl, make amends."

"What?" He said curiously, she never let him skip on his training routine "I don't recall ever not slicing those damn crops a day since you tasked me with it, and Kara... I thought you hated her, didn't trust her."

"I trust you. You say you love the girl then go and get her, that is an Order." She said harshly, He puzzled at her, but Lee reinforced her stare "Go."

Looking with an odd uncertainty, Aetri bowed his head hesitantly "Yes, Mentor." and in a swift turn, He left his Mentor, leaning on the fence of the Oxen's coral, heading northward to the Blackwood.

Lee stood in melancholy for a moment, with her thoughts. She didn't know that she could get so attached to a person, she hadn't ever had feelings like this for anyone "With his blood... I suppose it's only to be expected." Lee knew that she wasn't jealous of the Cave-girl, she didn't have to dig deep to know that, but as she walked onward to her crop, she summoned the deep instinct that yelled at her everytime that she saw the red-headed Outcast, that something about her was very very wrong.

"Was that wise?" Lee sighed, looking to see Crow's dark form beside her

"It's not my place to decide what He does with his life, I promised only to prepare him, what He does with what I gave him is his own choice." She thought aloud, discomforted by the Former Spymaster's presence.

Crow tilted her head, the Black shawl wrapped about her neck hiding all but her Black eyes and her pale cheeks "I imagine Jealousy is only natural in this circumstance."

Lee scoffed "I didn't realise an unfeeling creature like you would understand 'natural emotion'"

Crow was still as a statue, her silent breaths flaring rhythmically in the cold air "It is only logical for a person to feel jealousy."

"I am not Jealous. You know what his kind are like, he'll have many more than Kara before his time comes."

"Including You?" Crow asked coldly. Lee turned to the Vatan, staring with wrathful eyes

"What did I tell you about spying on me, You lifeless little wretch! Emotionless, logical; yet here you are acting like miss high and mighty, don't think I haven't seen you staring with your twitching eyes, I was General of 50 score sneaky thieves and cut throats of the legion: I've seen your little stalking trips after him, heard you flicking your little bean around the corners when you think no one is looking, so don't you dare judge me!" Lee flushed with rage, Crow didn't even blink, she merely looked up at Lee blankly.

"A Shadow does not desire." Her almost silent whisper was enough to set Lee over the edge

"あなたはただの影ではありません、アキラ (You are not just a shadow, Akira)" she growled, it had been a while since she spoke in her native tongue, and Crow looked curiously as Lee poked a finger at her "I... I cannot do this anymore, I can't think about his coming struggles with the hollow image of My sister walking beside me at the same time. every time I see that face, I just want to grab you and cry... but when I hear that voice, look into those eyes, it's like watching you be taken away all over again. We are Blood of the Genryu, soul of the Imperial, we were supposed to Rule together... but everytime I wake up and see your face, that dream we had dies, every. Day." She growled, trying to hold her cool, and failing miserably.

Black-crow just stared, and Lee shook her head "Just leave me alone. Go take care of your, Master." Lee went to march away, but heard a furtive whisper from behind her, a whisper that made her eyes well again.

"私はマゼンタの葉の木の下で、すぐにお会いしましょう、切れ目のない私たちの絆 (I'll see you soon, under a magenta tree, our bond unbroken)"

Lee whipped around, hoping to see the Sister that would whisper that old Haiku to her before sleep, only to see nothing but snow, and the air of her absence.