"So… what do you think of this one, Yukino?" Kagura asked, as she practiced with another sword, swinging and thrusting it with the vague image of a certain blue-haired scoundrel at the back of her mind.

"Uhm... Kagura-sama…. I still have no idea how to judge a sword" Yukino deadpanned.

"Oh… yes, of course. I'm sorry. I suppose I'm not entirely sure how to make conversation with you yet."

Yukino laughed shyly and responded "It's okay. I enjoy some quiet in conversations. Don't feel like you need to force yourself to speak on my account. Besides, being friends can just mean enjoying each other's presence". Kagura nodded at this and went back to testing her current blade. The merchant said it was one of his finest blades, and Kagura couldn't argue that it was masterfully crafted, but it just didn't feel quite… right. It was certainly a fantastic blade when used on its own, but for some reason, when Kagura tried to use it in tandem with Archenemy, it suddenly felt cumbersome and useless. Even as a novice to dual wielding, Kagura knew the most important part of the art was that the two swords complemented each other perfectly. Like the Moon and the tide, the sand and sea, light and shadow. After another few futile swings, Kagura shook her head and returned the sword to the owner.

Kagura faced the owner directly and said "It's a good sword, but it doesn't fit what I need it to be to reach my goal."

Kagura lifted up Archenemy and slowly unsheathed it. "I need my sword to be a perfect fit for my already perfect partner." Kagura said. "Archenemy and I are already totally synchronised as master and weapon. This new sword must be able to instantly match this connection if I am to be able to wield them both simultaneously".

The store owner looked at Kagura and Archenemy sternly, gazing into her eyes as if to check her resolve to gain power. After a second, he turned around and nodded toward the backroom of the store, prompting Kagura to follow him, as Yukino watched on all the while. "Wow, I never realised how much time and effort went into choosing a sword." Yukino thought to herself. "Come to think of it, I've seen Rogue carry around his own sword. I wonder if he was so particular when choosing it. I don't think I've ever seen him use it, so probably not."

In the backroom, the owner made his way over to a small black case. Kagura stood at the door, waiting for him to reveal his intentions. Eventually, the owner returned and handed her the case, instructing her to open it, before saying "This is a sword I never intended to sell. The legends behind this blade say that it's a ceremonial blade from olden times. It was meant to be used for the coronation of new monarchs, but the kingdom it was a national treasure of was destroyed and remodelled long ago, into the nation we know today as Fiore… Or so goes the legend, anyway"

Kagura's look at the owner hardened. Why give it to her then? "It sounds like a sword like this would have quite the asking price. So, why are you showing it to me?"

The owner let out a short chuckle, before giving his answer "Because of the second part of the legend. It's said that the blade was designed for dual wielding, and that's why it was only used ceremonially. Look at its design." Kagura did so, noting the somewhat glitzy appearance of the blade, with a jewel embedded in the guard and pommel, one a pale peach colour, the other dark as dusk. Of particular note to Kagura though, was the light weight and slightly smaller size of the sword compared to normal katana. "You can feel it, can't you?" The owner asked "It's not one of your garden-variety blades. It's its own beast. It's a lonely blade that calls out for a partner to join it." Hearing this, Kagura had an uncomfortable memory of her own small conversation with Yukino earlier that day, when she let slip why she'd invited her on her shopping trip and felt a sudden kinship with the sword. Even so, the residual embarrassment from that earlier moment crept up on Kagura and she cleared her throat, coughing into her mouth to cover her growing blush. "That still doesn't answer my question. Kagura got out eventually "I can't be the only swordswoman wanting to dual wield that you've met. So why let me have it?" The owner only closed his eyes, before replying "It's quite simple. It's because she wants to be with you. That blade of yours there. Archenemy, was it? It looks like it's very compatible with this sword here. Of course, there's only one way to check that, isn't there?" and he looked at Kagura expectantly. Kagura for her own part felt a strange warmth in her arms as she held Archenemy and its prospective partner in each hand and made her first practice stroke.

"Wow… now that's a katana" Kagura thought.

Kagura absently rubbed her thumb on the back of her new sword's blade as she ambled through the city streets with Yukino. She was actually able to find her new weapon pretty quickly that day, which pleasantly surprised her. Kagura closed her eyes, remembering the feeling of the katana in her hand as she held it for the first time. She felt an almost primal connection with the blade, as if it had been made for her since its forging. This feeling only grew more intensely when she started trying practice strokes with it in tandem with Archenemy. It was almost as if these two swords were twins separated at birth, and were now crying out with joy at being reunited. Even the name for Archenemy's new sister came to Kagura rather easily. She decided on Renewal- a title that she gave to the sword, in the hopes that it would help her accomplish her goal and perhaps *finally* be able to let it go and move on with her life. They made a good pair, it seemed. Archenemy- a blade steeped in the darkness of her own heart, and Renewal- a new blade that she wished to help carve her a new life. Together, they would weave a brand new dance of steel and soul.

Yukino saw a nearby diner and pointed it out to Kagura. "Ah, Kagura-sama, I think after all that work, we deserve a lunch break." Yukino suggested. Kagura nodded and led the way in, where they were greeted by their waiter, a slightly stressed out looking young man, who was probably being run ragged by the lunch rush. As they sat down at their table, Kagura looked around the rapidly filling diner and said to Yukino "With how many people are here, it'll be hard for bigger parties to get seated. We're lucky it's just the two of us" Those words made Yukino remember Sting back at the Sabertooth accommodation, and she briefly wondered how he was doing, before giving a small sigh, to which Kagura raised a brow before letting it go. The two of them kept a relatively low-level conversation going as they ordered and eventually got their meals, grilled fish and salad for Kagura, and pasta salad for Yukino, before settling into a comfortable quiet to eat.

"Mmm!" Yukino quietly squealed after a mouthful. "This pasta salad really is very good. How's your fish, Kagura-sama?"

"I have to say, it's excellently prepared. Though I can't help but think Millianna would enjoy this even more…" Kagura responded with a hint of a smirk on her face.

"Oh really? Would you like to share some of our meals with each other?" Yukino asked.

"Hmmm… Sure. I don't see the harm in it."

The two of them exchanged pieces of their meals onto each other's plates and proceeded to try each other's food, with both of them sharing a look of surprised pleasure at the other's meal.

"It appears we have winning food all round" Kagura declared.

"It does seem that way… We should be sure to bring our other friends here if we have the time" Yukino responded, to which Kagura nodded.

"Ah, speaking of which. I said I was going to introduce you to the rest of my friends at Sabertooth today, didn't I?"

"So you did." Kagura replied "I suppose now's as good a time as any. Let's go once we've finished here"

"Mhm!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter came out a fair bit later than I was intending it to. The life of an unemployed graduate is a lot busier than you'd expect. Thanks to all for your patience on that. I've actually been wanting to get back to this for the last week and a half, so I'm glad I've finally got to scratch the itch, so to speak.

I honestly wasn't expecting to write so much about Kagura getting her new sword. I was initially going to just use the sword as an excuse to put her and Yukino together and not really talk about it, but I actually found it had some potential for setting up future themes in the story, as well as being generally quite interesting to write about. Speaking of which, some of you may have been scratching your heads when Yukino mentioned Rogue having a sword. I wouldn't blame you for not noticing, but he actually does carry one around all the time, even though he hasn't used it once. Jeez Hiro, you wanna make an even more subtle hint that Rogue and Kagura belong together?

I'm joking around now, but I will say this. You can expect Rogue and Kagura to meet very, very soon. Like, I'm talking in the next 1-2 chapters. It's about time to begin the love story for real. So yeah, get ya bodies ready for that.

Soma

(P.S Bonus points to anybody who gets the hidden reference in the chapter and the one in the title)

UPDATE: Heh, I couldn't leave the chapter the way it was without pushing the story forward at least a little more. I figured I'd drop in a little more.