Author's Note

Originally written on April 17th, shortly after the airing of Episode 5 of the fifth season.

This will be the first chapter in a series of silly, sweet, and sometimes steamy stories. (Alliteration!) Something about old friends meeting the new people in their respective lives gives my imagination the tingles.

I actually like this story better after the airing of Episode 8. I'm going to assume here that Jack and Ashi have already shared their first kiss but made up some dumb ass excuse as to why they did what they did, refusing to confess their true feelings to each other. Ah, young love. It makes you stupid.

Enjoy!

Jack and the Reunion

Chapter 1:

Reverence

Synonyms: awe, admiration

The day was peaceful. Well, as peaceful as a reunion with a clan of wild Scots can be.

Rather, this moment was peaceful. A moment of stillness. The Scotsman accompanied the samurai and his companion to a shady hill less than a mile from the rambunctious castle. While it had been a delight bringing his old friend back to his home and introducing him to his beautiful heather blossoms, the Scotsman respected his friend's fondness for peace and quiet.

Jack placed the basket next to the base of the tree that shaded them. He removed a small teapot and three cups. An odd expression passed his face.

"I," he began, turning to his ghostly friend. "I suppose you won't be needing a cup then, yes?"

The Scotsman burst out laughing. "Even if I could still drink, I wouldn't be savvy to any of that leaf juice you're always putting away."

Jack smiled sadly and nodded. He placed the third cup in front of him anyway. "We'll call it ceremonial," he said.

"If it'll make you happy, you sentimental patsy."

Ashi covered her mouth as she snorted. The two men looked at her and she tried to hold in her laughter. Jack looked at her with a particularly questionable expression.

"What?" she said sweetly. "You are kind of a sentimental patsy."

The Scotsman slapped his hand on his friend's back, hard enough to make him cough, as he cackled. Jack quickly recovered, closing his eyes and putting a hand over his chest dramatically. "Ashi. You wound me."

"I'm sure you'll be fine," she retorted. Their eyes met. They smiled.

The ghostly warrior eyed the two of them. It was abundantly clear that something deeper was going on between them, but the mere mention of their relationship reduced them to a couple of mim-moothed, milk drinkers.

'We are… companions' was all they offered.

A moment passed. A moment too long. The pair's eyes widened and looked away from each other embarrassingly. Jack mumbled something about tea leaves. The Scotsman shook his head in amusement.

Jack went about pouring hot water into each of their cups. He removed a small bamboo vial of tea leaves from the breast of his gi and tapped the leaves into Ashi's cup. She let the leaves steep for a few minutes while he prepared the others and brought the cup to her lips. She breathed in the scent before taking a sip.

"How is it?" Jack asked.

"Good." They smiled at each other again. Another moment. At this point, the Scotsman rolled his eyes. These two were pathetic.

Jack was just about to bring his own cup to his lips when a breeze passed. The three warriors paused their movement. Something was approaching.

They looked out towards the horizon and spotted a group of men marching towards them. As they approached, as far as the three could tell, they appeared to be human. Of, perhaps, taller than average height. Their bodies were covered in markings made from richly colored paints, contrasting sharply with the pallor of their skin. Each was armed with short, curved blades and round shields made of a dark wood.

Jack sighed. "I recognize these warriors."

"You do?" Ashi replied.

"Yes. They are quite-"

"Samurai Jack!" the leader of the trope yelled out. "We finally meet again!" The leader took in a deep breath and proceeded to dictate, what they could only assume, was the full and complete history of their tribe. The phrases 'proud and esteemed warriors', 'feared by all', and 'you humiliated our former leader so deeply he tarred and feathered himself' were among the highlights.

"-talkative," Jack finished.

"-and when the glorious moment of your fall occurs, we will collect your head and fashion your skull into a goblet with which we may drink the finest wines!" The warrior had finally finished his tirade. The other warriors cheered.

"I'll take this one," Ashi spoke up.

"Are you sure?" Jack asked.

"Oh yeah. Need to stay limber, you know? Plus, you just got your tea. Enjoy it."

Jack smiled. "Very well," he nodded his head to blow the steam from his drink. Ashi stood up smoothly, stretching her arms above her head, before calmly making her decent down the knoll.

"Wha-!" the Scotsman cried out. "You're just gonna let that woman fight your battles, eh?! Look at her! The lass is but a wisp! I half expect her to blow away in the breeze."

"She is no ordinary woman."

"She doesn't even have a weapon!"

"Ashi!" Jack called out. "Do you need a weapon?"

"Nope! I'm feeling hands-on today," she grinned as she cracked her knuckles.

The Scotsman gawked. He turned to continue his protest but the words caught in this throat when he saw the look on his friend's face. The samurai carried a slight smile. Sly, even, as though he held a covetous secret.

Ashi stood before the line of warriors. One of them attempted to make a quip about her stature. How she was a frail, little female who should run back and let the men do the work. She let the words fall from her like rain from a leaf. She said nothing.

Silence enveloped them. The tension of imminent battle hung thick in the air.

A breeze blew by. The leaves rustled.

She took a deep breath in. And out.

The first warrior charged, scimitar out, aiming for her head. She dodged easily, swiftly bringing her leg upwards to knee him in the stomach. The warrior had the good sense to block with his shield, only to be stunned when it shattered. Her momentum carried her forward, her knee finally meeting his gut.

He hunched over, stunned, the wind knocked out of him. She raised her arm above her and delivered a sharp blow to the back of his head with her elbow. He was rendered unconscious immediately.

"Anyone else?"

The Scotsman raised his eyebrows in awe as the other warriors cried out and charged, and she proceeded to beat the living shit out of each one. Gracefully. Mercilessly.

Easily.

Now only one warrior remained. He looked around at his fallen comrades and eventually shrugged.

"No, thank you," the warrior spoke. "This is way above my pay grade." He turned and walked away.

Ashi smirked in satisfaction.

"I can't believe it," the Scotsman breathed, dumbstruck. A few moments passed. Then he burst out laughing. "That's your woman, alright! Should have known, really, you'd take up a companion that wasn't a total ass-kicker, eh, lad?" He looked over at Jack who seemed quite content staring at Ashi.

"Lad?" No response.

"Laddie?" he said a little louder. Still nothing.

"Jack!" he practically shouted in his ear. The samurai jumped, finally looking away from her. He blinked up at the taller warrior. The Scotsman began laughing once again. He slapped his hand on his old friend's shoulder.

"Wow. You've got it bad, laddie." The samurai blushed. Blushed!

The samurai cleared his throat, trying to regain some dignity. "As I said," he spoke softly, turning his gaze back to her. He watched as she brought up a hand up to her shoulder, rolling her head back and forth and she massaged her neck. She looked up at him and beamed. He smiled back.

"She is no ordinary woman."

Author's Note

Oh, Ashi. You beautiful badass. How I adore you.

The next [few] chapters have been written. Just needs some tender, lovin' editing. The next chapter will feature the lovely Flora! And awkward-around-girls!Jack.

Thanks for reading!