Disclaimer:
Gatekeepers is owned by Project Gonzo. All
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used without permission.
Sailormoon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi. All
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used without permission.
This disclaimer also applies to several
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Please be guided accordingly.
This file can be freely distributed so long as
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without permission from the author.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Temple Duty
A Gatekeepers/Sailormoon Vignette
Set in the "Dances Set to the Music of Time" Sequence
by Elsa Bibat
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1992:
"Kaji-san."
Someone was calling him.
"Kaji-san."
He heard it like a voice from the heavens. The voice
held an ancient tone to it, like the voice of an old man.
Like the voice of God.
"Kaji-san, if you do not open your eyes, I will be
forced to throw you off the bed."
He opened one eye to see a rather diminutive old man
at his bedside. The sterile whiteness of the infirmary made
the old man's black business suit stand out.
"Good. You're awake."
Kaji Yuuichiro both eyes and felt a headache
coming on. Hunger made his stomach growl and made him
woozy.
"Still a bit weak, I see."
"Do I know you?" Kaji snapped as he looked around.
Food was left on the small table next to the infirmary bed.
Taking an apple, he bit into it, the sweet taste filling
his dry mouth.
"My name is Hino Akira. I think you've heard of me."
Yuuichiro blinked. The Hino family had a reputation
in AEGIS Far East Branch. This wasn't what he was expecting.
"What's a Hino visiting an Omega for?"
"Omega? Ah, yes. I forget that you fellows have all
this jargon for such things, even for such things as sole
survivors."
Yuuichiro gave the old man a withering glance. The
short old man met the gaze equally. The younger man flinched
and turned away.
"What do you want?!"
"You."
"What!?"
"I want you for an assignment."
"Gramps, in case you haven't heard what I said
earlier, I'm an Omega. I'm not-"
"Kaji Yuuichiro. Rank: Major. Born February 24, 1970.
Recruited from the JSDF Special Science Division for AEGIS
after an incident involving several cryptozoological
creatures encountered at Special Quarantine Island 3.
Served with distinction for three years-"
"Until I got my entire team killed. I'm up for a
board of review in a few weeks. I'd be lucky if they didn't
send me to prison for life. I'm not exactly up for
assignment right now."
The two men were silent, one looking down at the
white sheets of his bed, the other with a considering look
on his face. The older man broke the silence.
"It was not your fault, boy. Anyone could have lost
their team in the same situation. That board of review is
going to agree with me on that. I think your real problem
is the fact that you survived. Which is why I'm offering
you this assignment."
Yuuichiro looked up and looked at the old man.
"What do you want me to do?"
"A simple enough job. I think you've heard of the
Juuban incidents?"
"Yeah, dimensional intrusions at what used to be one
of the most quiet ward in Tokyo. The intrusions are similar
to those happening in New York, London, Paris and several
other major cities. Only here in Tokyo we got a non-
interference order shortly before a P 10 rating individual
starts to trash the dimensional intruders."
"That's right. We can't interfere overtly but the
Commander would like an observation post set up. I'm
already there so I got saddled with the job. I need a
good assistant. Someone who know what he's doing and good
enough at the job..."
"You mean me, right?"
"Correct. All you'll have to do is slip on the cover
identity, do a bit of leg and surveillance work. Just that.
Consider it a paid vacation."
Yuuichiro rubbed his chin, considering.
"Who do I have to be?"
"First, look at this picture." The older man pulled
out a picture of a pretty young girl dressed in a shrine
maiden outfit. "What do you think?"
"She's cute. But a little young."
"Good. You're in love with her."
"What!?"
Pulling out a folder, seemingly out of nowhere, Hino
Akira started reading out loud.
"'Kumada' Yuuichiro. Slacker and wanderer. Out looking
for himself and his sense of identity. Goes to the Hikawa
Shrine and falls in love with, Hino Rei, and chooses to
stay for awhile."
"Er... she's your granddaughter?"
A nod was the old man's answer.
"Then she's-"
"No, she hasn't manifested any Gate abilities that I
know of. Currently, she's a P 3 rating, almost verging on
P 4."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Sure, I'm sure. I've already had the paperwork
finished. Your brother Ryuuji will be taken care while you
do this. Besides, it's just a simple observation job. All
you need now is to grow your hair long and not shave."
Yuuichiro gave the old man a skeptical look. "And the
fact that I'm supposed to be your granddaughter's suitor
doesn't bother you?"
"Ha! Rei is fourteen. She should have a boyfriend by
now. A fake one would make no difference."
"Fourteen!? I'm not some cradle-robber!"
"Don't worry. It's just for show anyway. A good cover
for staying over at the shrine."
Yuuichiro sighed in defeat. The old man was adamant.
It seemed he was going to be living at a shrine for awhile.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's Note:
What does Yuuichiro _do_ at the Hikawa Shrine anyway?
I know, I know, assistant and acolyte and all that. But
hey, in the Dances sequence there are a lot more serious
things afoot.
Anyway, here's a bit of a cooler reason why Yuuichiro
shows up. It also gives a hint of who Rei's parents are.
As always, C&C is welcome.
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