Kenshin softly padded over to the reading room of Kamiya Dojo and stepped through the doorframe, sliding the door shut silently. He lit a lantern and sat down to read the letter that the energetic, honest, and loud-mouthed ninja friend had sent to him in such a hurry.
Why would Misao be so worried that she would seal this letter? He wondered, concerned.
Sighing resignedly, Kenshin popped open the scroll-carrying tube, broke the seal, and started to read:
[ Dear Kenshin,
I'm writing directly to you because I know that you are the only one who can properly handle this situation. Please discuss this with no one, not even Kaoru. Aoshi-sama has no clue; I don't want him involved. Now to business. Himura Kenshin, by the powers that I as the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu command, I declare that you have an ancient danger heading toward you and everyone you hold dear. My clan, we call it the Jin Bu Shi demon, a powerful spirit from the underworld summoned by a traitorous fool four hundred and seventy-six years ago. It has the power to possess any living being, and with possession it grants their bodies with a supernatural ki. The Jin Bu Shi was created to destroy pure souls, and has targeted my people and our related clans since the beginning of its miserable existence. A sword cannot defeat it. To vanquish this force you must find the talisman and melt it in the forge of the Temple of Sacred Spirit on the shining side of Mount Fuji. This can only be achieved when the twin phoenixes journey toward the rabbit on the eve of the autumn dawn.
What is the talisman, I know you are asking. But even Okina and the other elders do not know, for the Jin Bu Shi has not been a threat to the world since my grandfather and seven other mages exiled it for as long as the sun shone in the day. To keep anyone from summoning this foul spirit to our lands again, my grandfather and his companions vowed silence and told no one. Unfortunately, neither my grandfather nor these mages had ever experienced an eclipse. It is coming soon, and when it does if you have not succeeded in stopping the Jin Bu Shi our world will fight a war to the death with all Hell.
Okina has only been told that the talisman contains the essence of the guardian spirit, but that the guardian has turned faces. It could be a huge monument, or simply a thin band of a ring. One thing that is certain is that it is made entirely of gold, pure gold. Please keep safe, and sound of mind. I know that you can do this, Kenshin. I am putting my faith in you. May kami help us all.
Makimachi Misao ]
Kenshin took the lantern from its hook on the ceiling and set it on the table. Then he burned the letter and blew out the light.
Moments later, the shoji slid open. Stepping out into the crisp night air, Kenshin looked at his sakaba. He slowly pushed an inch of the blade from its scabbard and stared at his reflection in the metal. Two golden eyes stared back at him.
Jin Bu Shi… he said calmly.
The night wind howled.
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4:48 PM (EDT) Monday, September 17th, 2001. -TBO~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why would Misao be so worried that she would seal this letter? He wondered, concerned.
Sighing resignedly, Kenshin popped open the scroll-carrying tube, broke the seal, and started to read:
[ Dear Kenshin,
I'm writing directly to you because I know that you are the only one who can properly handle this situation. Please discuss this with no one, not even Kaoru. Aoshi-sama has no clue; I don't want him involved. Now to business. Himura Kenshin, by the powers that I as the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu command, I declare that you have an ancient danger heading toward you and everyone you hold dear. My clan, we call it the Jin Bu Shi demon, a powerful spirit from the underworld summoned by a traitorous fool four hundred and seventy-six years ago. It has the power to possess any living being, and with possession it grants their bodies with a supernatural ki. The Jin Bu Shi was created to destroy pure souls, and has targeted my people and our related clans since the beginning of its miserable existence. A sword cannot defeat it. To vanquish this force you must find the talisman and melt it in the forge of the Temple of Sacred Spirit on the shining side of Mount Fuji. This can only be achieved when the twin phoenixes journey toward the rabbit on the eve of the autumn dawn.
What is the talisman, I know you are asking. But even Okina and the other elders do not know, for the Jin Bu Shi has not been a threat to the world since my grandfather and seven other mages exiled it for as long as the sun shone in the day. To keep anyone from summoning this foul spirit to our lands again, my grandfather and his companions vowed silence and told no one. Unfortunately, neither my grandfather nor these mages had ever experienced an eclipse. It is coming soon, and when it does if you have not succeeded in stopping the Jin Bu Shi our world will fight a war to the death with all Hell.
Okina has only been told that the talisman contains the essence of the guardian spirit, but that the guardian has turned faces. It could be a huge monument, or simply a thin band of a ring. One thing that is certain is that it is made entirely of gold, pure gold. Please keep safe, and sound of mind. I know that you can do this, Kenshin. I am putting my faith in you. May kami help us all.
Makimachi Misao ]
Kenshin took the lantern from its hook on the ceiling and set it on the table. Then he burned the letter and blew out the light.
Moments later, the shoji slid open. Stepping out into the crisp night air, Kenshin looked at his sakaba. He slowly pushed an inch of the blade from its scabbard and stared at his reflection in the metal. Two golden eyes stared back at him.
Jin Bu Shi… he said calmly.
The night wind howled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
4:48 PM (EDT) Monday, September 17th, 2001. -TBO~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~