I don't own Rorouni Kenshin (oh, did you already know?!) and this fic is only for my own amusement. Note: Be warned. It will include violence, some use of profane language, and will include some extent of explicit sexual contend . So keep on reading at your own risk. The story begins few month before the events of Kyoto Arc, so it will include spoilers and some elements from it as well as from the Revenge Arc too, although my fic will not follow neither the anime nor the manga, and I will break some rules Remember I'm not a native English speaker, so if you do have complains about my spelling, please, don't flame me, but help me to improve... Note : Paragraphs between < > mean unspoken thoughts . 88888888888888888888888888888888888888 Note: I want to express my gratitude towards Mir, from the Tales from Meiji Era site.( http://tfmeijiera.tripod.com/ ) Mir has been helping me with this and the improvement in the vocabulary and grammar through this chapter is due to Mir's kindness and supervision. Thanks, Mir! I hope there are more people like you around! 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Of Legendary Creatures and Mystical Beasts By Firuze Khanume (firuzekhanume@hotpop.com) Part 1 -- Temptations 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 The room was barely illuminated. Three old ladies sat on high throne-like chairs. Wrapped in rich dresses and jewels, they regarded the younger woman with utmost severity. She seemed to be in her late teens, and she knelt on the ground in a submissive stance, her head bowed, almost touching the floor as if she were waiting to hear a sentence to be pronounced over her. The eldest woman finally spoke, a barely suppressed tinge of censure on her voice. "Out of the question. Humans are trouble." "Besides, he's a male," a younger member of the trio hissed in disgust. She seemed to be the second-in command, and she wore the pearls hairpin woven into the hair on top on her head. She shuddered slightly at the sickening thought "But I've found he is not a pure human... The spirit of the Great Tiger roars through his blood," the youngster retorted, trying to justify herself. "Uf! A half-breed! Even worse...." Finally the third old lady spoke, frowning in a deep loathing gesture. "Mystical Beasts should be locked away once and for all. When they breed with humans, catastrophes befall both Kingdoms." "This further defines our decision and makes the outcome even clearer," The oldest woman spoke again. "But...But...he is almost as our own...at least part of him is. We shouldn't let him die there!" The girl raised her head and her voice, her mood changing abruptly from submissive to defiant. "This is outrageous, silly girl! It's almost unforgivable that you, a mere child, barely over the two hundred years, speak to the Elders in such disrespectful manner!" The distress in voice of the older woman was evident. "Asiyah, you came to us fifty years ago, asking for sanctuary when your own Western clan expelled you. We had accepted you because you are our cousin, hoping you would learn a lesson from the painful experience of being cut from your kin and friends and everything you loved once. We had hoped that you would become an useful and obedient member of our community. We were advised by your own people to send you away because of your stubbornness and your constant violation of Laws and rules. We were told about your insolent demeanor, but we thought it was only because you were an impulsive young lady. We thought you'd eventually change after several decades of reflection far away from your loved ones. However, you have indeed changed, but not in the way we expected you to. You are even worse now than you were the moment you were accepted among us. This is the last impertinence we'll take from you. This is your final chance to come to terms with that which is the basis of our society and the last warning we will give to you, young lady. The sentence of the Elders is final. You won't interfere with the human's fate, no matter whether he is half-breed or not. No male is allowed to taint the sacredness of our realm with his presence, either human or other nature. If you ever break our command in either way, even slightly, you'll be banished from this Clan forever, as well as your own, and you won't find any shelter within this Kingdom. You'll have to live among humans for the rest of your natural life as an outcast from your own kind. There is only other Clan you can look for, but they have been our mortal enemy for the past millennium, so you had better stay away from them. Think about your future carefully, little one, before you suggest anything so rash again. Because of your nature you haven't allowed us to give you a smoother path. So be it! As for your insolence, you'll be banished from the community for the next thirty days in complete isolation. Maybe silence, as your companion will help to regain your senses and to become humbler. Now, you are dismissed," Concluded the old lady, waving his hand for the girl to leave. The knuckles of the young girl called Asiyah were white as she clenched her hands in tight fists, but she bowed herself and retreated out to the gate, keeping her head low -- although not as a gesture of repentance or humbleness, but to avoid meeting her enraged and defiant gaze with theirs -- even through she was aware that the Elders knew her well enough not to be fooled by the false gesture. Growling curses and profanities under her breath in all the languages she could think of (and she knew those both of humans as well as from her realm), she took some clothes and books for her forced vacation, which would be in a the place she knew too well from the past chastisements dealt upon her. At any rate, this was the longest penitence she ever got, a whole month without any company. But before leaving the room she saw the glowing reflection of the magical mirror hanging on the wall. She couldn't help herself against temptation, and she decided she would give a last glance to the source of her present misery. The man was reeling among the dunes. He fell on his face. She suppressed an anguish cry coming from her throat at the sight. She saw him rise, only to fall again shortly afterwards. She was positive he'd never get up again. < God dammed old hags! > Why on Heaven couldn't the Elders can't be more open-minded and reasonable? He was just a mere man. He was certainly not a threat to any of their kind, much less to them personally. Besides, he had a connection to their Kingdom through the blood of the mystical beast in his veins. But males were always viewed as unworthy creatures in the kingdom, and the Elders thought they were dangerous enough to prefer them dead than alive. They have a one and only use for them, and when they had produced offspring they were banished if they were lucky enough or even slain to avoid complications of a long-term association with any female. But the girl was not thinking of him in such way. She wanted to save him, to keep him alive unaware of his surroundings, and then to set him once again on his way after his recovery. Quite simple. Quite uncompromising, and a good gesture of mercy to these poor creatures she was fascinated with. No she couldn't allow him to die that way, all along in the sand... but what could she do? Moreover, she was now under complete isolation, and all people were to be kept away from her. She'd be in isolation... nobody could have any contact with her... neither her with anyone.... A sly smile crept over her face. That was the answer to her problem. She'd save the young silver-haired man. She left her frivolous luggage and packed the little trunk she used to protect all her magical treasures and books. She'd surely have a good use for them for the next thirty days.....