Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Rurouni Kenshin.
The Wandering Girl: Welcome to Kyoto!
Himura Kenshin[1] laughed as he watched his two friends bickering with each other. Days like these were pretty normal in Kyoto and that's why he loved it here and he especially loved a certain Kamiya Kasshin Ryu sensei. She was courageous and beautiful in every way. His cheeks turned rosy at his thoughts.
"Are you okay Kenshin?"
Kenshin's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as he looked up and the Kamiya dojo owner, "I'm fine Kaoru" he assured her by plastering a smile on his face.
Kaoru blinked then smiled. "Good, because you, Sano and Yahiko need to get some supplies from town or we won't have anything to eat today."
"I'll rather starve than eat more of Kaoru's cooking." Myojin Yahiko whispered to the tall brown haired standing next to him.
Sagara Sanosuke nodded. "I agree with you, Yahiko"
"I heard that!" Kaoru said as she glared at the two.
"Good"
"Grr..I've had enough of you two moochers all you ever do is complain and you two don't even try to help around here!" yelled Kaoru as she seem to tower over the two males.
Kenshin laughed nervously and quickly decided to save his two friends from the wrath of Kaoru.
"Oro[2], we'll go purchase the supplies now" he chuckled and grabbed his two friends leaving a very angry Kaoru behind at the dojo.
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"While we're in town we should visit the kitsune[3]" Sanosuke said and he chewed on the fishbone which was hanging from his mouth.
Kenshin nodded his agreement. He knew Sanosuke was referring to their doctor friend Takani Megumi whom they had recently saved from the clutches of the Oniwabanshu a group of spies for Edo's castle during the revolution.
"Hey what's going on up ahead?" exclaimed Yahiko.
The three males stopped and stared at was was taking place in front of them. Up ahead there were four men all carrying sticks in their hands and they had surrounded a woman. What caught their attention though was the small girl who sat behind the woman trembling in fear, several bruises marring her skin.
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She narrowed her eyes as the men surrounded her, she didn't want any trouble but she just couldn't stand by and watch four grown men beat a small child to death.
"You made a big mistake lady." The one whom she assumed was leader growled. He was tall and very muscular, he also had no hair on his head and piercing black eyes.
When she didn't respond the other three men laughed. Unlike their leader they were thin and of average height.
"She's so scared she doesn't even know what to say." one of the said.
The leader smirked, "Let's teach her a lesson men."
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Yahiko's eyes widened as he saw three of the men charge at the girl their sticks raised and ready to strike.
"We have to help her!"
Kenshin placed a hand on Yahiko's shoulder and stopped him from advancing any further.
Sanosuke raised and eyebrow at this action, this wasn't like Kenshin at all allowing a fight to happen right in front of him?
Kenshin kept his eyes on the girl, he had noticed how she was studying the men and could tell she just wasn't and ordinary girl she knew how to fight and if they were to interfere it would only create turmoil.
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She jumped out of the way when the first man brought down his stick and landed behind him. She swiftly did a spin kick to his back sending him flying against the ground for a good 6 feet. The second man took this opportunity to attack but soon found himself covered by the cloak which the woman was wearing and without his sight he ran straight into a tree.
The leader frowned, two of his men were down and out, he had underestimated this woman greatly. His frown deepened even more when he noticed that she had a weapon strapped to her back. Did he have to do everything himself? He let loose an animalistic cry as he ran towards her stick high above his head.
"This is for the kid" she said as she pulled the metal staff from her back and twirled it around she waited patiently and when the man was close enough she slammed the staff into his abdomen.
The man wheezed and fell to the ground clutching his stomach. The only man left standing began to back away and was soon running in the opposite direction.
When she was sure the man was gone she turned her attention to the small girl cowering behind her but before she could say anything the little girl attached herself to her leg and began to cry.
She stared down at the girl and patted her on the head. "It's okay, the bad men are gone"
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"Wow..she's probably better than Kaoru" Yahiko said.
"What do you think Sano?"
Kenshin didn't get a response and when he glanced beside him Sanosuke was no longer there but instead was walking towards the woman and the child.
"Hey Sano wait for me!" Yahiko said as he ran after the older man.
Kenshin soon followed behind, he was just as curious as they were. Who was she? And was she an enemy?
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She heard footsteps behind her and turned quickly ready to protect the child with her life she stopped reaching for her staff which she had returned to her back when she saw two men and a boy standing behind her.
"Hey how did you do that?" the boy asked.
She merely rose an eyebrow at his boldness and turned to the two silent men her eyes taking in every detail. One was short and had red hair and purple eyes and he was shorter than his brown haired companion.
"Are you ok miss?"
"Fine."
"We saw what you did to those men, who are you?" Sanosuke said getting straight to the point.
She seemed offended by his bluntness but just smiled. "Tsukino Usagi"
Sanosuke snorted. "Never heard of ya"
She blinked, she had not expected that response and made a note to herself that this man was rude; a true male pig.
"Nice to meet you Tsukino-san Sessha[5] Himura Kenshin and this is Myojin Yahiko"
"Himura Kenshin? The legendary Battousai?" Usagi said.
"H-hai" Kenshin said. He didn't like when people called him Battousai it usually led to trouble and people getting hurt.
"Ah..you're cute." Usagi said and smiled when he blushed.
"Arigatou"
"My sensei told me about you before I left the dojo."
"Your sensei?" Sanosuke questioned.
"Hai, she's very good and taught me everything I know" Usagi said proudly.
"Could you teach me how to fight?" Yahiko begged her.
"Maybe later..right now I challenge you to a fight,Battousai."
Kenshin was shocked at her challenge, there was no way he was going to fight a woman and didn't she have other matters to take care of like the child clinging to her leg?
"So what do you say?"
"Oro.."
Sanosuke pushed Kenshin aside. "If he won't fight you I will. I haven't had a good fight in weeks."
"No thanks" she pouted.
"Are you afraid?" teased Sanosuke.
"Afraid of a you? Ha!" Usagi laughed. "I accept your challenge Sagara and when I beat you, you have to give me all your money"
"It's a deal."
Kenshin, Yahiko and the little girl moved under the shade of a tree as Sanosuke and Usagi got into fighting stances.
"Sano is going to kick her butt." Yahiko said.
"Usagi will win." The little girl said.
"Sano"
"Usagi"
"Sano"
"Usagi"
Kenshin sighed at the two bickering children then turned his attention back to the fight which was about to begin.
Sanosuke ran towards Usagi and swung his fist at her face, she was able to dodge the first blow but not the next and it connected with the side of her face. Sanosuke smirked in satisfaction.
"I'm going to have a bruise there" Usagi said to him as she dodged another of his blows and before he could give off another she grabbed him and kneed him in the crotch which sent him down to the ground.
"I win!" Usagi said as she laughed at the writhing Sanosuke.
Yahiko looked shocked and Kenshin was chuckling to himself as he watched the little girl prance around a happy look on her face.
Sanosuke struggled to his feet when the pain resided. "You cheated."
"You didn't make any rules..so I win now give me all your money."
"I don't have any money"
"What?!?" Usagi screamed.
Sanosuke shrugged and began to walk off ignoring the ranting Usagi and laughing Kenshin and Yahiko.
"You won't get away from me Sagara! I will follow you till I get my money!" she swore as she lifted the little girl onto her back and ran after the man.
"Great another nut to the Kenshingumi[5]." Yahiko sighed.
Kenshin laughed at that comment as he and Yahiko began to follow Sanosuke and their new friends.
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Kaoru: Our new friend is in trouble and just who is this girl who shows up and how does she know Kenshin? Find out next time in Samurai Past – The Wandering Priestess: We Meet Again.
[1] – The Japanese say their last name first for all those who don't know. E.g. Himura Kenshin is actually Kenshin Himura.
[2] - Kenshin uses this term for surprise, shock, nervousness and all other feelings of the sort.
[3] – A fox, a nickname which Sanosuke uses for Takani Megumi.
[4] - I, what Kenshin uses instead of Watashi wa and Atashi.
[5] – Kenshin Peace Force.
AN: Just because she met the group first this is not a Usagi-centered story. Also the senshi don't have powers of any sort. And did you all guess? Usagi is not the girl from the prologue if you didn't notice.