Hello, hello! Lady Katsu-hime here! Well, I decided to get away from Sailor Moon fanfics (actually, fanfics in general) so I went scouting for a new anime series to pick on. Of course, I find the two most phenomenal works of Kaishaku: Kannazuki no Miko and then Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora. Of course, I see the continuation of Himeko and Chikane in Himiko and Kaon. Of course, I MUST write a fanfic formally connecting the two. So, here we are! Welcome to Test of Time: Kannazuki no Miko!

Prologue
Remembering Past Lives

"Hey, Himiko," Kaon said to her blonde lover as they stood on the beach.

Himiko turned purple eyes up to Kaon's face. "What is it?"

"Please tell me your real name. Would you?"

Himiko smiled and removed her glasses, looking up at the sky before answering, "My…My name is…

"Kurusugawa Himeko."

Kaon's smile faded and her eyes widened. "Kuru…sugawa…" Abruptly, she clutched her head as memories that were not her own flooded her mind.

FLASH. "Himeko, wake up!"

The mechs are battling above, but Himeko is here on the ground in front of me, and she won't wake up. I rip open her shirt to resuscitate her, and blush at the sight of her small but perfectly formed breasts. "I'm sorry," I apologize to her, just in case she can hear me, and reach out to touch her chest. I thrust my hands into her chest, trying to make her breathe, and when she coughs, I sigh in relief. I cradle her in my arms and behold the beauty of Kurusugawa Himeko…my love. Suddenly, I know what I have to do, before she wakes up completely. I lean in slowly, closing my eyes, and whisper, "Happy birthday," before letting my lips meet hers.

FLASH. A girl with sandy-blonde hair is walking up the steps, trying to catch up with her friend. She is shoved aside by another girl, and begins to fall… I reach out my hand and grab her wrist before she can hurt herself, and pull her into my embrace. "Are you alright? You're not hurt?"

"Umm…no…" Abruptly she pushes away from me, blushing furiously. She picks up my bag and dusts it off, handing it to me. "I'm sorry."

I smile. "Have a good day, Kurusugawa-san." As I walk past, I murmur out of the corner of my mouth, "At noon, in the rose garden."

FLASH. I walk in the rose garden, admiring the beauty of the flowers that bloom there, enjoying my solitude. This is the only time I can be away from the other students who shower me with fake affection, for none of them dare to draw close and get to know the true Miya-sama. Even Oogami-san, my rumored lover, knows nothing about me.

A rustle in the bushes. I stop and look at the spot just in time to see a small puppy dash through the roses, followed by an eager girl with sandy-colored hair that's in two neat plaits. She catches the puppy and looks up, blushing slightly as she locks eyes with me. Her purple eyes are beautiful, and her innocent expression catches my heart.

Mustering all the grace I have in me, I walk over to her and take her hand, smiling gently at her. Her eyes crinkle and she smiles back as she stands with my assistance. "I'm so sorry, Miya-sama…"

"It's fine. You're Kurusugawa-san, right?"

She looks down, blushing furiously. "H-How do you know me, Miya-sama?"

"Please, call me Chikane. I know you because Oogami-san talks of you all the time." Reluctantly I release her hand, and she clutches the puppy softly.

"Oogami-kun does?" Her eyes widen in surprise. The puppy squirms, and she giggles at its antics. "Maybe I should take you back to your owner now, if I can find him."

I suddenly have an idea. "Would you like me to come with you?"

She looks at me, her face lit up with joy. "Oh, would you, Chikane-chan? It would be nice to have company, wouldn't it?"

"Ch-Chikane-chan?" I'm surprised she would address me so informally. No one has ever done that…not even Okaa-san and Otou-san.

She nods. "That is your name, isn't it?"

FLASH. "Himeko, Himeko, I just want to talk with you. Himeko!"

The horse's hooves pound underneath me as I urge him on to the cliffs where I knew she would be. I have to see her, I have to talk to her, to tell her how I feel, even if she rejects me. I have to see her face, and I have to see it now.

"Stop, stop!" I yell crazily at the horse as I see Oogami-san's giant mech standing in the water. What happened?

Two figures are standing on the outstretched hand of Take no Yamikazuchi, the masculine one of Oogami-san, and the smaller, much frailer one of Himeko. She spins to face him and they talk. She attempts to step forward and trips, falling oh-so-conveniently into his arms.

"Himeko," I whisper, my eyes unable to look away as Oogami-san leans in…

Their lips meet, and her arms fall limp to her sides as he kisses her. Jealousy rages within me but sorrow overcomes it. How can I compete with Oogami-san? She loves him, and she does not love me. How can I…

The vision of a blue haired priestess stabbing a blonde priestess swarms my mind. Suddenly, I know what I have to do, to get Himeko to kill me. It's the only way…the only way to save the world…

The Lunar mark shines brightly on my neck, and my hair blows around as I kick the horse into galloping back to my mansion, tears stinging my eyes. I've lost her, lost her to him…

FLASH. "Do you know how you were talking about the shells, how there's only one perfect match for each shell?" Himeko smiles gently and touches her lips. "I think…I think Souma-kun is my match."

FLASH. "Chikane-chan, why? Why are you doing this?"

FLASH. "NOOOO! CHIKANE-CHAN!"

I feel the sword in my flesh, and I feel unimaginable pain but somehow, a great relief grows in my heart. I've saved her. I've saved them all, and the destiny of Kannazuki no Miko is fulfilled. My death at her hand for her life.

"Be happy, Hi…meko…"

FLASH. "Chikane-chan, I don't want to! I don't want to separate!" Tears fill her eyes as she holds desperately to my hand, her bloodstained bandages flying around our linked hands like the red string of fate.

"Himeko! Himeko!" I squeeze her hand tighter, not willing to let go, to go away…

"Chikane-chan!"

"Himeko! I'll reincarnate! I'll come back! Look for me, Himeko! Don't ever stop looking for me!"

The unearthly wind grows stronger, and her tears fly out of her purple eyes. "I will! I will, Chikane-chan! Nothing will stop me from finding you! Our feelings will stay the same!"

My hand slips, and I know that there is no time. "Himeko!"

"Chikane-chan!"

In one single moment, our cries escalate as our hands slip from the other's grasp and I fly upward, all the way to the Lunar Shrine. Slowly, I ascend the steps and take my place in the temple. Tears stream down my face, and my only thoughts are of…

"Himeko."

FLASH.

"Kaon-chan, Kaon-chan!" Himiko slowly, carefully dropped to the ground where her beloved Kaon had fallen, letting her crutches thump against the sand. "Kaon-chan!"

"Himeko…Himeko!" Kaon whispered, her hands clutching her face so tightly it hurt. Tears slipped between the cracks in her fingers, silently hitting the sand. "Himeko!"

"Kaon-chan!" Himiko placed her hands on the trembling Kaon's shoulders. "I'm sorry. It was my fault. I'm sorry, Kaon-chan…"

Kaon slowly stopped shaking, and her tears slowed. She remembered everything, but she was here. She was Kaon, she was the Absolute Angel Murakumo, but she was also Himemiya Chikane, the Lunar Miko.

She brought her head up to face Himiko. "Himiko…I…"

Himiko leaned in and tenderly kissed Kaon. The navy-haired girl began glowing as she absorbed Himiko's sweet energy, and Himiko smartly broke it off before she was depleted of energy. "I'm sorry, Kaon-chan."

Kaon shook her head. "It's not your fault. I asked. Do…" Kaon shook her head, dismissing the thought. "Where are your crutches?"

Himiko reached around her, grabbing one of the wooden crutches. "Here's one."

Standing, Kaon quickly found the other one and helped the frail Himiko up. "We…Let's go in."

Himiko nodded, but her smile wasn't as ready as it usually was. Kaon assisted the crippled Himiko up the beach and into the Academy while the blonde contemplated what she had just done.