Ruroni-chan: Hi Readers! Sorry it's been so long since my last post… Live got in the way… Um… You all should really thank my lovely editors for all their hard work, in getting you this chapter.

Gerry-sama: (Already working on something else) Just have them send me a thank you note.

Twilight-kun: (With college text book) Shut up I'm trying to study.

Ruroni-chan: Okay… Let's just go ahead with the chapter… if they're feeling generous later… maybe they'll grace us with a few kind words… I hope…

Hiraru stopped at the entrance of a large gate. She and the Kenshingumi had been traveling for the past week, making good time due to the many people Hiraru managed to beg rides from. The last two days she'd insisted they go on a goat path, saying it was faster than the road. Her feet had healed a lot on the journey, enough that she could walk distances with just her sandals and socks on. Thanks to her visits to the lumber yard, grain store, and smithy she'd been able to afford a new pair of hakama and looked much better in the black and blue kimono/hakama set than she had in the faded blue and cream one.

Sano almost ran over her after her sudden stop, and Kaoru, Kenshin, and Megumi had stopped to look back at her. An hour earlier, she had stopped after they'd gotten back on the road and looked up a tall set of stone steps. This stop had nearly caused Yahiko to fall off Katsu, as he still hadn't figured out how to balance properly and was taking his turn riding the patient animal. Before Kaoru could ask what was wrong she'd started up the steps with a quick 'this way', once again causing a sudden lurch for Yahiko. After the first one hundred steps she'd ordered Yahiko off Katsu, saying it was already hard enough for him, and then continued up.

Now one thousand steps after starting (Yahiko had counted), she stopped in front of the main gate of a large temple. The gates were open, allowing people to come and go, though the group had seen no one on the steps, and there had been no one in the fields they had passed, either. It was easy enough to see inside the main courtyard, where a large group had gathered, their heads bent in prayer as the monks chanted. The buildings themselves were the typical, well cared for buildings one saw in any other temple, just a little bigger than most. The trees surrounding the gate were at full leaf, and appeared to have been left to grow wild, giving ample shade to anyone walking the steps, but the ones inside were still showing full blooms for the late spring, before the rainy season.

Hiraru took a deep breath, drawing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand. "Welcome to the Temple of Light," She said, a weak smile on her face. "This is where I stop being fun Hiraru, and start being Hiraru-chan the priestess in training. Do me a favor and try not to call me Haru, the monks already make fun of me enough as it is." She sighed, "Get ready for anything, it's been a while since I was home."

She took another deep breath and made that one step forward into the temple's boundary, her head held high and her shoulders back. Kenshin, however, noticed the unhappy way she set her eyes, and the cold mask she tried to place over it. By the time they reached the gathered crowd, the chanting had become much louder, being joined by the voices of others besides the monks'. Hiraru stood at the back edge, flanked by the others, Katsu behind her, Yahiko and Sano on one side, Kenshin, Kaoru, and Megumi on the other.

"What are they doing?" Yahiko asked in a low voice, making an attempt to be respectful.

"It's a prayer," Hiraru said, then listened. "They're asking for the gods' protection, the shrine maiden's safe return… And for the long life of the Hiraru's Guardian… My grandfather… He really is getting worse…" She breathed, before closing her eyes and loudly joining the chant, changing the pitch, as she was the only female voice that could be heard. The other chanters stopped as eyes went to her. Soon a monk poked his head out of the main shrine. The others saw him pale, before he stumbled to get back in. Other monks came to the doors and porch as Hiraru finished the chant. She looked straight at priests, apparent by their robes and red sashes. There were two specific monks that stepped forward, one much younger than the other, both with their heads were covered with a traditional hat but shaved bald. The elder man descended the wooden staircase to the courtyard, followed shortly by the younger one. Gently he put his hand to a farmer's shoulder, and the man moved, others following his example until there was a clear path between the old man and Hiraru.

The priest crossed the ground smoothly and with little hurry, but his gaze never left Hiraru. He stopped five feet from her. "Hiraru-chibi, I see you have yet to change your ways…"

Something similar to a smirk passed over Hiraru's face before she bowed politely, "But I thought it might be nice to add a little femininity to the prayer, Wrinkle Head, oh! I mean Keeper of the Shrine, Priest Taki." She batted her eyelashes at him innocently, "Excuse me, nicknames die hard, wouldn't you agree?"

The priest chuckled, and gave her a respectful bow, "That they do, but you shall always be the 'little light' of this temple to me, allow an old man his pleasures, won't you."

Hiraru sighed dramatically, "Well, since you are Uncle Taki, I suppose there's no harm." She looked over his shoulder at the other priest, "I see you've chosen your successor… Was Uki really the best out of all the monks up for priesthood?" She pouted slightly.

The priest chuckled again, "Even if you believe he was not, he was the choice I made, and the choice of the Keeper line is left to the current Keeper." He raised his eyebrows making a point, "Now is not the time to be suggesting such things, especially in front of guests." He moved so she could see the gathered crowd still on their knees behind him.

Hiraru gave him a look before smiling warmly and stepping forward with a seemingly practiced fanciness. "Blessings be with you," She called out to the courtyard. "Your prayers have come to me through the gifts of the Shrine, and I return at your request. Prayer has ended, may you now go with peace, and your fields grow ripe with this year's gifts." She bowed to the crowd, and they slowly rose to leave, each bowing his or her head at they passed. The children pointing and holding on to their mothers' skirts, wondering who Hiraru was.

The priest smiled brightly at her, "That was very good of you. You are definitely your grandmother's grandchild, though I did doubt it for a moment." He looked up at her from under his raised eyebrows, a practiced look apparently. "Come, this is no place to speak," He gestured broadly and ushered her forward.

"I'm sorry, Taki," She waved a hand apologetically, "We've been traveling all day, and all we'd like to do is go up to the main house and rest. I'd love to speak with you, but I really must see Grandfather, Shiro, and Sozo-chan."

The priest nodded, and bowed to the rest of the group, "Some other time then. Forgive me for taking up your time, travelers."

They all bowed, and Hiraru caught his sleeve before she led the group away, "Oh and Taki? Don't have them ring the bells, those are for when a Hiraru becomes The Hiraru, not for when the Shrine maiden returns."

The priest smiled, "What makes you think we would ring them?"

"Because you did it when Mom brought us here," She said, raising an eyebrow.

The priest laughed out loud, "Alright, Hiraru-chibi." Hiraru took up the forgotten reins of Katsu and led the way deeper into the temple, but the priest called out to the group, "Gentlemen, please, don't cause too much trouble."

Kenshin, Sano, and Yahiko all looked back at the smiling man, wondering what he'd been talking about. The priest just waved, before turning and speaking to the other priest and monks.

Ruroni-chan: Yeah, I know… Slow chapter… But the next one is a little better, I hope…

Twilight-kun: What? You don't remember?

Ruroni-chan: No… Now don't you have some college exam to study for… or work?

Twilight-kun: Oh S**t… You're right! (Runs off)

Gerry-sama: You just to that to mess with him don't you?

Ruroni-chan: (Crosses fingers behind back) No… What would make you say that?

Gerry-sama: Whatever… (Goes back to his computer work)

Ruroni-chan: Okay everybody… Please remember to REVIEW!!! So the little voices in my head will stop complaining!!!