All C&C is welcome, though there might be a slight
delay. I have vowed to have e-mail access only twice 
a week.
(Must stop... addiction...try to... fight... ^_^)

Disclaimer:

Rurouni Kenshin is owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki. All 
licenses belong to the proper people. This is used without 
permission.

Sailormoon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi. All licenses 
belong to the proper people. This is used without 
permission. 

This disclaimer also applies to several intellectual 
properties referred to in the text. Please be guided 
accordingly.

This file can be freely distributed so long as it 
appears in its complete form and proper credit given. No 
part may be reproduced for monetary gain without permission 
from the author.

*******************************************

"From now on Enishi will also atone, consulting not with 
death, but with life. If he doesn't, Tomoe won't smile... If 
he himself doesn't smile, the Tomoe within him will never 
smile..."

                    - Kenshin Himura referring to Yukishiro 
                       Enishi, from Professor Nobuhiro 
                       Watsuki's historical novel series
                       "Meiji Kenkaku Romantan", based on his
                       research on the history of the Kamiya 
                       Kasshin Ryu Dojo.

*******************************************

A Temple Meeting

A Rurouni Kenshin/Sailormoon vignette

Part of the "Dances Set To The Music Of Time" sequence

by Elsa Bibat

*******************************************

1997: 

It was a temple just outside of Kyoto. A simple place 
tended alone by one man.

Standing tall, the temple priest still managed to 
radiate an aura of majesty for someone who was sweeping 
leaves from temple steps. White hair, tied back in a 
ponytail, fell to his midback. A simple pair of glasses 
adorned his handsome, wellworn face. A few wrinkles around 
the eyes and the mouth told of time's passing. Callused 
hands held the broom with a steady grip as the holy man did 
battle with his dry and dead invaders. The crispy sound of 
dead leaves on stone along with the rasp of broom against 
the hard temple steps accompanied by the light whistling 
breeze created a natural symphony that would lull anyone 
into peace.

The idyllic scene was shattered when the hands that 
held the broom suddenly changed grip and the air whistled 
with the speed of wood clawing through air. The old man had 
shifted his stance and sent the broom for a strike at a 
place several feet up and behind him on the temple steps.

The meaty thwack of wood against flesh and the jarring 
vibration of solid contact made the priest turn around. 


"Getting better at this, aren't you?" A dainty-looking 
hand held the broom shaft a few inches from an enigmatically 
beautiful face, framed by sinfully long hair that played in 
the breeze. "If I were a normal person that would have 
shattered my hand and still have enough momentum to break my 
jaw, if not totally demolish my face."

"That was the intent, Lao Xiaojie." 

"That was a long time ago, Yukishiro Enishi. In this 
age and place it is Mei'ou Setsuna."
  
The old man just grunted and pulled the broom back and 
changed his grip again, returning it to his side. "The name 
is Tomoe Enishi now.As if you didn't know."

"Yes. In atonement and in forgiveness."

Silence reigned as the two stared at each other. Then 
Tomoe Enishi, shrine priest, turned his back on the most 
irritating person he had ever met with a snort and started 
sweeping again.

"Looking good for a person past the hundred year mark, 
Enishi."

The priest ignored the back-handed compliment.

"Is this another one of those times when you send me 
out to battle the random demon or Elder monster, Lao? Maybe 
it's another one of those ancient artifacts again?"

He could almost feel the Old One smile at his back 
before she responded. "Your time is long past, Enishi. 
Others do what you once did. Besides, your line has produced 
quite a few interesting individuals that I use well enough."

"Yes, I know. I received a visit from my cousin awhile 
back. A good person for someone who has to suck blood."

"Miyu is the last to hold the office and the name, 
Enishi. Your ancestress had two children, both blessed in 
their own ways and have been quite useful in their time. But 
she is not the reason I have come here."  

"Then what brings you here, Old One."

"How is your son doing?"

At this the old man stiffened and turned to look at 
his uninvited guest. His piercing stare would have made a 
mortal make peace with his god and ready itself to die.

Pity that he wasn't talking to someone mortal.

  "What has my son got to do with this?" The question 
was delivered in a tone as cold as the Arctic winds.

"Because he is about to visit and he brings with him 
your granddaughter." 

The shock on his face was so evident that the Old One 
was tempted to say the obvious. "Surprised?"

"I have a granddaughter?!"

"By the name of Hotaru. Nice girl. A bit delicate. 
Reminds me of your sister. Which is one of the reasons she's 
coming here."  

Enishi's eyes narrowed. "This is all part of some 
convoluted plan of yours isn't it?"

A smile and twinkle in her eye came with her answer. 
"Not just a plan. It is _The_ Plan, Tomoe Enishi. Something 
that has been waiting well nigh twenty millenia to complete. 
And it requires that you train your granddaughter in the 
Art."

"And you're dragging my kin into it!?" 

"Not dragging. Hotaru was born for it. And you will do 
what I tell you, Tomoe Enishi, for it is both your 
obligation and your debt to me and mine." She gazed the old 
priest with a look that said that told him that she would
not take 'no' for an answer.

Enishi was silent as the Old One looked at him. He was 
trembling with controlled fury and it seemed that he was on 
the verge of attacking his guest. 

Then he sighed in surrender, shoulders slumping in 
defeat. 

"Do not worry, Enishi. She will only be in as much 
danger as neccessary."

"And that is supposed to comfort me?"

"No. But, she has warrior's blood in her and she has 
the steel will all of your family seem to possess. Take 
comfort in the fact that she will survive the trials she 
shall face and more. For that to happen, however, she needs 
a bit of training in the arts of war."

"You are sure of this?"

"Yes, quite sure."

Silence reigned as the two regarded each other. It was 
Enishi who first spoke again.

"Then I will train her. But I do not make any promises 
on her skill."

"You might be pleasantly surprised at your 
granddaughter. By the way, you should have her visit her 
aunt. Hotaru is quite talented in a way that might help 
her."

Enishi barked a short laugh. "Her aunt has been in a 
coma for two decades. AEGIS has sent their best and none 
could break it. I doubt that the child would be able to 
help."

The Old One just smiled. "I should say it again, 
Enishi. You might be pleasantly surprised at your 
granddaughter."

"We shall see, Lao. We shall see." With that the old 
priest returned to his sweeping of dried leaves. 

A silent breeze kicked up once again and he knew he was 
alone once again.

*******************************************

Author's Afterword:

Another vignette for the Dance sequence. Short and a bit 
rough I know. The obvious references are to RK, Vampire
Princess Miyu and Gatekeepers. The ancient ancestress of
the Yukishiro clan is from Shinsuke Kurihashi's Nocturne,
albeit a modified version to fit into the history of the  
sequence.




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