(Hello everyone. Just to let you know, if you or read anything here at all whether it be here or any previous chapters that needs work, then please let me know so then I can correct something or improve it. Thank you. And thank you to those who have read so far. And thank you very much for continuing to read this fic if you have Crystal Gundam because I often feel likepeople hardlyreads my work.)

Chapter 9

The Vajrapadma temple was vibrating with life at sunset and people began to attend for the big party now taking place, which was both inside and outside the temple. Everyone split up and wandered around. Relena, curious to learn more about the customs and traditions of the Japanese was being toured by Megumi and Kaoru and was being accompanied by. Duo, for once leaving Heero alone left off in the vastness of the party with Shuibao. As for Kenshin and Sanosuke, they went inside the temple to meet a friend of theirs while Yahiko went off to enjoy the party outside thinking he was old enough to. Rashid, Quatre, Catherine, and Trowa, not wanting to burden the three that had taken them there decided that they would explore the temple and learn about the culture here separately. As for Miroku, well he was just about to make his appearance right now.

Miroku walked around the campus of the Vadrapadma keeping an eye out for 'things' to play with. He smiled to any girl around his age and even dared to make a move on those whom he felt was attractive enough. But all of them rejected him, surprised that a monk would even think about flirting, especially with women. Hungry, he went over to a stand that said 'Hot dogs for sale'. He had heard about hot dogs before, a food from the west and wanted to try one. He bought one and put a odd looking yellow sauce that the salesperson called 'mustard' and a little square cut up pickles which the westerners called relish. He tasted it finally and thought it was delicious! The mustard gave the hot dog a spicy flavor and the relish made it sweet! After finishing it, he spotted Relena, Kao, and Megumi walking around. By the looks of it, they were heading for inside the temple.

"Hey, so you three came!" he called over waving his hand to them. They turned over to face him and greeted him back.

"Hi Miroku. By the way, when will you remove the evil spirit from my house?" Kaoru asked. Nervously, he stood there thinking of something to say. "Uh,..I'll be there right away as soon as my...uh…duties for today and tonight are finished ok?" he answered them chuckling.

"So what have you been doing all day?" Kaoru asked. Miroku thought for a moment to think of something 'acceptable' to say.

'Uh…just helping the temple prepare for the festival. So, what are you three doing right now?" he asked.

"We were just about to give Relena a little tour around here" Megumi explained. A thought hit Miroku. He could do the touring couldn't he? For Relena? Of course he could!

"Why don't you two go enjoy while I kindly take the burden of giving the tour for Relena?" he asked them. The girls who already knew enough about Miroku's nature refused. "But I bet you don't even know anything about this place" Miroku said proudly, his arms folded. Relena, because it was her first time here had no reason to be ashamed. But Kaoru and Megumi couldn't hide the fact that they didn't come here often. Miroku knew it to be true. Since it was his home and the fact that he had to abide by the temple's rules for monkhood (well somewhat…hehehe…), he had stayed often and as far as his memory could trace back, never saw either Megumi or Kaoru. Knowing that, Miroku thought of an even better idea. Three times better.

"I could give all three of you a tour in this temple, and I'll even be nice to show you areas that I normally wouldn't show others"

They refused and went about their business and ignored him as they did so. Miroku still didn't give up and undiscouraged went about continuing. While walking around, he saw a chick that he felt was quite pretty enough. Long silky hair braided up, young, glowing dark eyes, and one helluva radiant smile. Yeah.

After taking a quick look around outside where the party was taking place, Heero went inside the temple hoping to see something more interesting. He noted how Duo and Shuibao had taken an interest in each other. And for some reason, Heero was sure Duo had lost whatever interest he had in Relent very recently.

As most Mahayana temples were, this was very decorated inside with jewels and ornaments and precious metals. He despised the luxury he saw. Why did these monks who had devoted themselves to Buddhism desired such material value? This couldn't be a path to enlightenment at all if you kept desiring these kinds of things.

"Care to make a donation to the temple?" asked a monk walking up to him. He held a bowl that was stuffed with yen notes and coins. 'What a fool.' Not wanting to be a rude guest, Heero reluctantly took out a few coins and placed it in the already full bowl.

He walked to the temple's cafeteria and there were people partying and feasting on the ambrosia prepared specially for today. Since he hadn't eaten since breakfast, he decided now would be a good time to eat. Getting a plate, a pair of chopsticks, he put a combo of noodles of rice, vegetables, noodles, chicken and beef and got a cup of water. Heero went over to a table and sat down.

Little did he know, a pair of eyes were watching him as he ate.

"So he was reborn many, many times over and over?" Relena asked staring curiously a statue of a man with several arms on both sides. "Yes, that's supposedly true" Kaoru explained. They had been walking inside the temple together until Megumi saw Sanosuke and wanted to go see him. They let her. Later on as they did so, Relena saw a statue she was looking just now. "His name was Avalokitshvara and he's one of legendary Bodhisttvas. First, he was born as a male in India, and in his next life he was reincarnated as a Chinese girl named Guan Yin, who was also a Bodhisattva" she continued on. "So what does your religion say about life and death?" Kaoru asked her. "Oh, well if you've been a good person, you go to heaven, but if not, then you go to a place which I shall not utter" Relena explained because she would be sinning if said 'hell', or even mentally think it. "I see" Kaoru said a bit puzzled.

The two continued walking on and were now sightseeing in the temple's exterior where people stood staring at the now slightly darker evening sky. But now, the sun's remaining time to stay up was shining radiantly and passionately as a bright red orange.

"Relena?" Kaoru asked.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Have you…have you ever…been in love?" she asked as she stared at the early evening sky.

"Well…no" she answered.

"Have you ever met an interesting guy?"

"…no…" Relena answered.

"I think you need a life Relena!" Kaoru said shocked but giggled. Since she had asked her, Relena decided to ask what Kaoru had.

"Well, Kaoru what about you?" she asked her. At that, Kaoru's eyes lit up and her hands were held together. Yes, she could picture a dreamy Kenshin, strong and clearly in her mind. "Have I?..." she asked as though she were dreaming a girly kind of day dream. "Yes, of course" she said now being more mature. Relena nodded. After a few moments of silence, Kaoru saw that she didn't seem interested for some reason. "Well, aren't you going to ask me about it?" she asked her not expecting Relena's disinterest in it. "Well... not unless you'd like to…" she answered not really understanding what Kaoru was getting at.

"Am I interrupting?" asked a voice. The two girls turned around behind them and saw that it was Quatre. "Of course not Quatre. What is it?" said Kaoru. "I'm very sorry to say but I just happened to be around and overheard you a little bit" he explained. Kaoru's friendliness gave way to a short temper. "Why I oughta…" she said as she tried to step forward to give Quatre a smack on the head as she had with Miroku, but Relena had a hand around Kaoru's arm restraining her. She cooled off not too long after that. "Well, what is it that you want?" she demanded still having some annoyance left in her because of Quatre's violation of her privacy. "I'd very much like to hear what you've to say, that's all." "Huh? Why would you be interested in that?" Kaoru asked. "Because… I know what it's like to love someone, but have to… keep it a secret" he said to them. Kaoru was surprised that a guy would actually talk like that and Relena, who now had an idea of what she was talking about was also surprised as well. "Ok…but you tell us your story first" she said willing to accommodate Quatre along with herself and Relena.

"Hey, partner how's it going?" asked a stranger. Heero turned around from eating and saw that it was a westerner with brown fuzzy hair, a slim and tall body, and wore a Japanese poncho over himself. On his head also was a Vietnamese straw hat. The westerner took a seat across him on the table. "What do you want?" Heero asked wasting no time. "I don't see many good fighters around here or back in my country. I'd like to have a duel with you so I have an opportunity to learn something" he explained. Heero felt something inside him, but was it good or bad? He was sure it had something to do with this stranger. "What makes you think that I'm a good fighter?" he asked as though he weren't paying attention and continued eating his meal. "I'm a fighter myself you know" said the westerner. "so I know that unique look about you tells something, and plus you've got a sword on you too" he explained. "By the way, the name's Spike Speigal. What's yours?" the westerner greeted. "My name is unimportant" Heero said not really trusting him. "and as for your practice duel, I'm sorry but I'm not available" he said. "Oh? 'Tis a shame" Spike said. "I was hoping for one."

As soon as he finished those words, Spike unexpectedly and seemingly as fast as light punched Heero in the stomach from under the table. He aimed his blow carefully so that it would result in Heero passing out. And it did. Taking all the time he could in his fractions of moments left to stay conscious before collapsing, he stared at Spike. As expected, Heero's eyes closed shut and his head was on its way of slamming his head on the table, but Spike quickly caught it. Some people had seen the part where Heero passed out, but he made sure no one saw him make the blow. "It's ok people, my friend here just had a little too much sake, so I'll be bringing home" Spike said to the bystanders as he put Heero over his shoulders carrying him.

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