Mizukagami de kokoro no kage wo mireba, sore wa ai ga unda

******************************************************************************

There's a beautiful maiden who controls water and lives within a small temple. Her lips are red and her eyes are sad. Everything happens when she searches for beloved young men. Kaguya. She appears out of nowhere. Sword in hand, looking for a man she can adore for his strength. Looking for a man who can defeat her in combat. Kaguya.

One likely prospect seemed to be asleep when Kaguya found him. Soon, she though raising her katana over the still form, Very shortly will I know if he poses a challenge. Either he will dodge my blade or he will die. Either way it will be an interesting night. The sword, reflecting a small patch of moonlight, made a slight whistling as it was thrust downward and…

Hit only the space Kenshin had previously been occupying. Luckily the warrior was save by keen senses and god-like speed.

"Hello. And who are you?"

"You dare mock me?!?"

"No of course not, that I don't. But I usually like to know the name of pretty ladies who try to kill me in my sleep, that I do," Kaguya growled and flew at him, but again her thrust was deflected. She was only a shade slower than Kenshin but their skill was an even match. She attacked savagely, her calm face a violent contrast to her rapidly spinning and slashing blade. After a moment she noticed that her quarry had changed. His face was no longer that of a cheerful young man. His blue eyes had turned purple and weren't as wide as before. She had seen a face like that before…but where?

Kenshin fought with his brain, maintaining a defense, watching for a mistake, memorizing the woman's fighting technique. She smiled prettily.

"No one wins a battle fighting defensively."

"I know, that I do," they exchanged a flurry of blows, their fight taking them outside and onto the rooftops, neither one gaining an advantage.

"Do you always add 'that I do' to the end of your sentences?" Kenshin gave it a moment's thought and nearly lost a hand.

"I still don't know your name."

"Nor will you. I'm going to defeat you and then I'll probably kill you."

"Oh. Alright then," suddenly Kenshin saw and opening that seemed to scream "attack!" so he did. He attacked in a series of harsh blows that, if he had any other sword, would have cut the woman in enough places to bring about a quick death. Since he didn't have such a sword each blow instantly created a dark bruise on her porcelain skin. Still, she was persistent and cut Kenshin in couple of places until she found herself kneeling before him with her sword flung from her hand and his sword against her throat. The woman closed her eyes.

"You've defeated me. After so many years of searching…" she reopened her eyes and the fury that had so recently resided there was replaced by sadness.

"Searching?" Kenshin wanted to know, his face returned to its good-humored countenance as he helped the battered woman to her feet.

"You asked me my name, it is Kaguya," Kenshin nearly dropped her.

"Lady Kaguya? The Maiden of Flowing Waters? How can that be?" for the first time Kenshin gave her a good, hard look. He hadn't noticed the long hair, turned silvery-blonde in the moonlight, and startlingly pretty ice-blue eyes before, "Lady Kaguya," he started but got no further. What was he supposed to say anyway?

"It just isn't fair…that you are…the second man to have defeated me…." She turned to him and bowed gracefully, "I will see you again samurai. Count on it," she blew him a kiss and disappeared into the night, leaving Kenshin to blink bemusedly.

************************************************************************

"Why are we going to visit some snot nosed kid in the middle of a rainstorm?" Sanosuke asked with a touch of irritability in his voice.

"Because I told her that I'd bring friends to met her, that I did," Kenshin replied.

"Besides it's only rain. I doubt it will kill you," Karou added.

"Easy for you to say Missie. You are under an umbrella," Karou grinned slyly to herself. They came to the foot of the temple steps only moments later.

"Kind of run down isn't it?" Yahiko said scornfully.

"It's run by a ten-year old girl," Sanosuke replied, "What were you expecting?"

"The ten-year old girl heard that you know," the group turned around, standing behind them was the little priestess. She was dressed in a pretty sky-blue kimono, with a sheathed katana at her side and held a sack of rice that was only slightly smaller then she was, "I'm glad you came back Kenshin-sama. In truth I wasn't expecting it. And you brought friends!" her face split into a smile as she carefully bowed, "Konnichiwa and welcome to my home. Please come in," she began walking up the stairs, after two or three steps she noticed that only Kenshin was following her and turned around, "Are you not coming?"

"I am," Karou said, giving Yahiko and Sanosuke a nudge in the back, "So are these two," the two boys had been staring at Akemi. She shrugged and continued walking up the stairs.

Yahiko was right, Akemi's temple was a little run down but all the same, it was cute, just like the priestess that ran it. She chatted gaily with the small group as if they had been friends forever, as she began serving tea.

"Why do you carry a katana?" Yahiko asked as Akemi settled herself down after seeing that her guests were well taken care of.

"Protection. And I use it in my training."

"Training?"

"You shouldn't sound so scornful Yahiko-chan. I am competent with a katana."

"I'm not a 'Chan'!" Akemi caught and held him in her ice-blue gaze.

"Then you shouldn't act like you are," she retorted as the others chuckled and Sanosuke ruffled Yahiko's hair.

"Careful she might beat you up next," he joked. Akemi scowled.

"You shouldn't make fun until you've seen what I can do," she informed him glacially, "I can assure you that I am a match for you," she paused, sizing the larger Sanosuke up, then added, "If not more than a match," Sanosuke began laughing, much to Akemi's obvious annoyance.

"Yeah right."

"Are you willing to back that up?" she asked angrily, hands balled in her kimono.

"Wouldn't want to hurt you," Akemi slammed her hands down, "But if you're so eager," he stood up and placed a hand on her head, "I promise I'll go easy on you. Wouldn't want to hurt a kawaii little thing like you," Akemi growled and stood up herself.

"Give me a moment to change. I wouldn't want to get your blood on my kimono," she walked off muttering foul words about stuck-up bakas, and returned moments later dressed in practice clothes similar to the ones Karou wore.

"She's smaller than you are Sanosuke," Yahiko said, "Try not to hurt her or anything."

"Ah relax. I won't use my full strength against her," Akemi narrowed her eyes.

"I must admit I haven't decided whether or not I will use my full skills on you. You may get hurt."

"Yeah ok," Sanosuke replied getting into a defensive stance. He charged at Akemi but she was already moving. The small girl's raven black hair brushed Sanosuke's cheek as she passed him by. He turned around just in time to see her leap into the air and land on the statue of Lady Kaguya that was surrounded by the small pond. Holding her katana in a two handed stance she closed her eyes. The water beneath her rippled as she raised her sword above her head.

"Kamikaze special attack!" she shouted charging at Sanosuke, "Divine Slice!" she rushed past him and sheathed her sword. Sanosuke stood there stunned for a moment then turned around.

"Who are you trying to kid? You didn't even tou—" he quickly shut up as several slice marks appeared on his exposed chest and neck. They were quite shallow and bled only a little, "You little. And you were holding back weren't you?" Akemi smiled slightly, eyes sparkling.

"I was. I wasn't about to kill you on sacred ground," Sanosuke touched one of the wounds and grinned.

"Alright, you win," he held up a hand, "I'll never joke about your skills as a fighter again," Akemi nodded.

"I'm glad. Next time I wouldn't have held back as much as I was," she flicked an errant strand of hair back over her shoulder and Sanosuke grabbed her arm.

"Where did these come from? I didn't do this,' he said, pushing the sleeve of her practice clothes back to reveal several bruises. Akemi blushed.

"They're nothing," she said, yanking her arm away.

"C'mon little girl. Are you trying to protect someone?" Akemi looked away and Sanosuke pressed further, "Who're you trying to protect?" Akemi was silent for a moment then looked at Kenshin.

"I'm protecting him," she whispered.