Author's note:

Still don't own anything.

This is a small series that I worry will spiral into an ungodly beast of a story. I will be following what's probably going to be an odd mix of the manga and anime later on.

I probably need to seriously look for a beta. So... any volunteers? :P

No? On with the story then! (That's right. Suffer my writing.)

Directory:

Kaoru's side of the tale

Chapter 1- A little goddess part 1

Chapter 2- A little goddess part 2

Chapter 3- A little goddess part 3

Chapter 4- A little goddess part 4

Chapter 5- A little goddess part 5 (End)

Kenshin's side of the tale

Chapter 6- A boy and his goddess part 1

Chapter 7- A boy and his goddess part 2 (End)

-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-

Gods had existed far before humans came into being. Each one carried a specific purpose such as insuring the sun's travel, providing safe passage for all beings that died, and protecting areas. Eventually human beings came into existence, and with them, came a new type of god. Ones that depended on the belief, prayers, and offerings of humans to live.

Located in a small circle of mountains is a small village. The people are poor, but content with what is provided in their life. They may be cut off from the outside world, but there is always food from their crops and plenty of materials to make their small huts and clothing from. Unlike other villages, who have long forgotten their local deities, this isolated village depends on their goddess enough to provide offerings and prayers daily.

There are too few people to make their goddess powerful, but they provide what they can for her anyway. Kaoru will always provide what she can for them because of this. Her only purpose in her life is to bring rains and grant small wishes for her little village and it's people.

-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-

Kaoru floats in her river. Today, she has already sent a blessed rain to the fields. Her villagers have been especially generous this year, and she is able to provide an even larger blessing because of it. She grins and flicks her tail in pleasure. They'll have a bountiful harvest this year. Kaoru has outdone herself.

Gentle prayers whisper in her mind. Almost all are for a good harvest, and a rush of pleasure floods her senses. Until the jarring sensation of a desperate prayer brushes across her senses. Her tail flicks in agitation and she quickly dives into her river. Her shrine is downstream and she can feel the prayer's origin is there.

They built her shrine on a dock so that it seems to hover over her river. A staircase descends into her river. She supposes they built it so that she could walk into the shrine with ease. Kaoru is able to focus on the desperate prayer better under the shrine.

Please, I beg of you. Please help me.

She can feel how the voice is begging her. It resonates within her until she can feel it vibrating in her chest. Kaoru strokes the weathered wood of the stairs in thought. She had never used them or turned her tail to legs, but she's tempted. Kaoru can only feel vague sensations of what the prayer is about.

This specific desperation tinged prayer is calling her strongly enough to override any misgivings over doing these new things. Well, there's a first time for everything. She has a surplus of strength this year so she can afford to use up a little more than usual. Kaoru hisses through her teeth and wills her tail to change.

A soft glow hides how the change takes place. It's easier than she thought it would be to turn her tail to legs. To her immense surprise, walking isn't difficult for her either. She peeks into her shrine's entry with curiosity over which villager is praying to her.

A heavily pregnant woman is trying to bow on the floor of the shrine in prayer. Her words are slurred with tears. "Please. I don't know what to do. I can't lose this one too. I can't bear it." Kaoru recognizes this woman as her most devout villager. This is the woman who lost two babes and her husband.

Kaoru utters a soft sigh in resignation. "I am here. Why does this pregnancy trouble you? Is it not further than the other two?" The woman jerks back in surprise at seeing the deity. Nobody had ever seen her before. Or, if they had, had never spoken of it. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that the strange woman with blue-black hair and cloud-like clothing is a goddess.

She doesn't notice that she's whispering. "Just like the others. The baby stopped moving." Those words open the way for aching hope. "Please. Can't you help me?" It's like a dagger is twisted in Kaoru's chest. She is not a strong goddess, and had never tried to do anything other than bring blessings and a gentle rain.

As well as grant an occasional wish, but nothing of this magnitude. She's not even sure she can. To make matters worse, the woman is still silently praying. Unaware that Kaoru will be the only recipient. Kaoru meets her eyes when she answers. She will not shy away from telling her devout the truth.

"A god is only as strong as the amount of offerings, prayers, and believers they have. For many years, I have felt the other gods fade from existence due to the lack of these things." The woman begins to look alarmed, and Kaoru continues, not wanting to give the woman time to panic. "I am in no danger of fading, but I am only able to grant small wishes, occasional blessings, and rain. I don't know that I can help you."

The woman's prayers cease at the news. Kaoru has to will herself to not look away from her when she presses her fingers to her mouth and starts keening. Eventually, the keening fades into sobbing. It's a while before the woman is able to speak in a dead voice. "I have served you faithfully my entire life. Ever since being given the job of keeping your shrine in good condition. Is there any way I could convince you to try?"

Kaoru is still trying to desperately think, but her hand reaches out to touch the rounded belly seemingly of its own accord. What is she supposed to do? She's never tried to do anything like this before. With her closeness to the unborn babe, she can sense how sluggish it is. What she can't sense, is the cause for this.

Nutrients are flowing and everything feels right. It almost seems like the babe just gave up. Her thoughts halt as an idea gently appears to her. What if she tries it as a blessing? So, she whispers in the language of her people and follows with the word that the blessing will attach itself to.

"Live."

The mother's prayers had been humming in the back of her mind ever since she touched the skin separating the unborn child from the outside world. This time they felt of hope. The hope faded as a few minutes ticked by without any reaction from the unborn child. Kaoru feels so tired from the amount she had put into the blessing.

"Thank you for trying. Even if it didn't work." As if to contradict her words, a strong kick was delivered to her side. Her hands flew to her belly unwilling to believe in it should it be a fantasy brought on by desperation. This time a foot kicked against her fingers, and hot tears of joy ran down her face.

Kaoru left without the woman noticing. She was so tired. It hurts less to change back to her tail. The woman stumbled to the shrine's entrance only to see a shimmer of sapphire scales as the deity swam away. Another kick had her sinking to her knees and murmuring a prayer of gratitude.

It tickled the back of Kaoru's thoughts as she swam back to her favorite part of the riverbed. So tired. She wants to nap so badly, and the blessing on the crops earlier will guarantee the harvest this year. Just a short nap…