Midoriko finished sweeping the shrine.
A group of children ran to her.
"Lady Midoriko?" Toshi said. "My mom says you make blessings."
"Yes I do." Midoriko said.
"Can you make a blessing for my baby brother to be born safe?" Toshi said.
"Babies are a blessing." Midoriko patted him on the head.
She carefully scripted onto an ofuda, then blessed it.
"There. Now you will have no worries." Midoriko said.
"Lady Midoriko!" Mii ran to her. "My dog isn't moving! Bless him! You can save him! You're the great priestess!"
Midoriko shook her head. "I cannot."
"You...you! I hate you!" Mii ran off.
"Mii..." Midoriko sighed.
"Children are fickle." Kenshin said. "Don't worry, she'll come around."
"I'm not." Midoriko said. "She's made herself vulnerable. She's upset and won't let me bless her."
"What are you talking about?" Kenshin said.
"There's a demon preying on children right now." Midoriko said. "Three disappearances already. The people need me to stop the demon."
"Not everything is up to you, little miko." Kenshin attempted.
"Mii is their next victim!" Midoriko said, taking out her sword. "You don't have to help. But it is my job to banish evil from this world."
With that she ran out into the night.
Xxx
Midoriko ran up Sendai Hill, and disappeared into thin air.
Kenshin followed.
There sat the children, shivering and frightened.
There was a Kappa standing there, chewing on a bone.
Midoriko threw and ofuda at it, but the Kappa laughed and dispelled it.
The priestess drew her sword, then collapsed. She felt like she was drowning.
"Demon traitor." Kappa addressed Kenshin. "My battle is with you."
"So you kill children to draw me out." Kenshin's eyes flashed gold. "Despicable."
"Draw your weapon." Kappa said.
"I have no need." Kenshin said. "Tensaiga would be wasted on you."
Insulted, the Kappa lunged, but in a flash of a whip, the water bowl on his head was spilled, killing him.
"As I said." The whip turned into a rose. "No need for a sword."
Kenshin looked down at Midoriko. "Little miko...can you breathe."
He leaned down, but she coughed and spat up water in his face.
Kenshin laughed, all the children laughed, and he wiped his face.
"Everyone. Let's go home now."