Author's Note: This will just be an outlet for my ShinKyoukai pairing which has kept me at the edge of my seat for the whole time I've been reading Kingdom. So far, all the small details are definitely pointing to a ShinKyoukai ending, if only one or the other doesn't die first (fingers crossed). They will be real ending of the KyouxOuki pairing that did not come true. I'm claiming it and calling it since they are perfect together.

Title: Standing as Equals

Rating: T (may change to M somewhere along the way but mostly T)

Summary: She had been there as he first stood on the battlefield as a soldier with a mighty goal and here she stood years later beside that same man whose dream was right within his grasp. Unbeknownst to him, she planned to remain with him even after everything.

Disclaimer: No. No. I have the highest opinion of the Kingdom manga and as much as I want Shin to end up with Kyoukai it seems I don't have to do much for it. Huehue.

PROLOGUE: The Present

Kyou Kai silently cooed her horse with gentle strokes to his mane. She watched Shin in the corner of her eye, staring fixedly at the horizon on his mount. His stance was relaxed but his eyes were alert and alive. After countless fights together with this man, she knew what Shin was doing. He was already preparing himself mentally and physically – but he was also enjoying this last bit of peace before he would immerse himself in fighting once more.

The sun was setting and by tomorrow another war would begin. The soft rays of red, orange and yellow glinted against Ou Ki's glaive which rested on his thighs and against the hilt of Hyou's sword strapped to his back.

She wondered what he was thinking now that the last war had come upon them.

War against the super state of Chu.

After warring against all the other states, the only one that had yet to submit was Chu. Only Chu hindered the realization of King Ei Sei's dream of unifying China. It was against that Chu that Kyou kai and Shin would be fighting together as the main assault force.

"Just one more…" he mumbled but Kyou Kai's hearing was acute enough for her to catch it. She didn't comment, however – because she knew Shin would talk to her directly if he wanted her opinion.

So she just waited. He would talk to her soon enough. Surely enough moments later, he turned around and addressed her.

"Kyou Kai," He said her name the way he always did, with that distinct sense of familiarity.

"Can I ask a strange question?"

"Coming from you, strange is pretty normal." She responded lightly to alleviate the doubt he heard in his voice.

Shin snorted. "Geez, gim'me a break Kyou Kai." He gave a not so Shin-like half smile and she knew he was still in that pensive mood. She prompted him with a look to continue what he was saying.

"Have you ever… thought about what you're gonna do after we finish this war?"

She gazed back at him, questioningly. Seeking an explanation.

Shin scratched the back of his head and looked a bit embarrassed.

"Well, Bi Hei asked me the same question a few days back after we received the dispatchment order from Shouheikun." He turned his gaze away from her and stared once more at the setting sun.

"…and what did you answer him?"

This time Shin gave a short laugh. "I wasn't able to answer him. I didn't know what to say." He responded simply.

"Y'see when I was with my best friend Hyou, I just didn't wanna keep being a slave for the rest of my life. When I lost Hyou and I met Sei, I wanted to become stronger to be able to protect what I couldn't. When Ou Ki died, I wanted to become a Great General of the Heavens like him. Further along the road I held the same goal as Sei and I wanted to become his sword that would cut down all of the enemies of Qin…" Shin's voice slowly trailed off and Kyou Kai waited for him to continue. She knew all of this from fighting with him all this time.

Shin had shared to her many a story throughout the years of their companionship in the same unit. As his sparring partner, Kyou Kai had witnessed Shin's exponential growth in fighting. As his Lieutenant, she had witnessed all his battles and she had seen him on the brink of death many times.

"Both of us are already part of the Six Generals of Qin. Now we're at the final stand, and we're so close to realizing the unification of all China. But if you ask me what I want after that – I don't really know."

Shin turned back to look at her. "So I was wonderin' if you had an answer."

She stared long and hard at her long-time comrade. In one swift movement, she tugged the reins of her horse, turned around and began trotting back to camp.

"O-oi!"

She stopped but didn't look back at him. "I do. But I'm not telling you. And we need to get back to camp, if the Generals are gone too long, the new soldiers might become uneasy."

"That's cheating! Can't ya at least give me a hint?" She could hear him following after her.

"No," she said resolutely and continued at the same pace. She heard him heave a heavy sigh behind her and hid the small smile gracing her lips.

She'd never tell him face to face but he would find out sooner or later. Especially since her plans after largely involved him – and one or two little children who looked uncannily like the both of them.

-oOo-

Endnote: As always, Shin and Kyou Kai make me happy. Tremendously so. :) I was grinning like a mad thing in the latest chapters ESPECIALLY when Shin picked up Kyou Kai from the ground on his horse. That was a total OTP moment and I was like asjdbhalfhbkdjbhabweiugh. Hahahaha. Anyway, hope you enjoyed a bit of er, not so fluffy fluff? You'll know if I actually pursue this plot bunny.