Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Dangerous Alliance ❯ Blind Man's Bluff ( Prologue )

Prologue

"Kaoru," King Kamiya said with a smile as his ten year old daughter stopped right behind him. Ever his little shadow she was. "Why don't you go play in the courtyard while I speak with King Hiko?"

"Ok daddy!" she said with a smile and followed the page boy out of the palace corridor with a hop and a skip.

"No doubt she's your's," the other man said as he stepped from the shadows. "What brings you to my palace, Kamiya?"

"I apologize for the abruptness of my visit, Hiko. I am afraid I must ask for your aid."

The taller man nodded, turning toward his private study, white cape fluttering in the wind he himself created. Few kings simply commanded presence like him. Funny how he could just as easily disappear.

Kaoru thanked the page boy and stepped into the garden. She could hear giggling and voices. It was the private royal garden so all those here were only invited by the King himself. No harm in meeting these people.

The garden was very large, full of various plants. Following the many trees and brushes brought her to an opening. A flat grassy area had a couple of benches and a lovely old fountain. Several teenage girls and boys were running around. A tall one with brown hair had a blindfold over his eyes.

"Come here my pretty!" he called out, blindly chasing after squealing girls. One did not quite manage to get away fast enough. He gave her a sound kiss on the lips before raising the blindfold.

"Ah! Megumi, what luck!" He bent to give her another kiss and she pushed him away.

"Only one, Sanosuke! You know the rules!" She ran away giggling though.

What an odd game, Kaoru thought. I wonder what it's called.

No had noticed her yet as she hung back in the shadows. All these kids were older by at least three or four years. Teenagers did not always want a ten year old playing with them and Kaoru was not sure she wanted to play whatever they were doing anyway.

"Kenshin, your turn," Sanosuke called out.

"Already?" a small red head squeaked out. The boy looked ready to bolt. Most of the girls were happily giggling.

"How is it you are a prince and not a womanizer?"

"Sano!"

"It's a disgrace to prince hood I tell you. Put the damn blindfold on. All right ladies, you know the rules! Start running!"

"Mou, Sano….why can't we play a different game?" Kenshin asked, wandering around blindly.

"Nonsense."

One of the other girls nearly ran into Kaoru standing at the edge.

"Oh look, we have another player! Common. What's your name?" she asked, pulling her in.

"She's looks kind of young, don't you think?" the girl Megumi asked, crossing her arms in a huff.

"You're never too young," Sano said, walking up. He had to kneel down to look Kaoru in the eye. "Besides, she's kinda pretty. Do you want to play?"

"What's the game?" Kaoru asked.

"You have to not let that boy, Kenshin, catch you." Kaoru looked at the red head who was stumbling around the other side of the fountain, hands extended in front of him. Girls went running and giggling.

"Ok."

Kaoru was smaller than everyone else but happily ran away in the small area as Kenshin went stumbling around.

"Oh look, blind man's bluff," King Hiko said with a grin and he looked down upon the garden. "Baka denshi."

"The infamous Prince Kenshin. His reputation is great for a fourteen year old boy."

"It may be, but he's still stupid. Look at him now. You'd think I taught him nothing," Hiko said with a snort. He leaned over the window. "BAKA DENSHI!"

"Shishou," Kenshin said with a shiver. That man never gave him a moment's peace.

"If you don't catch a girl in the next minute you have an extra five hours of practice later!"

"Shishou! I can't see!!"

"Don't use your eyes fool!"

"Hai, Shishou!"

Kamiya looked down with a smile. Kaoru was happily running with people quite a bit older than her and still having fun. She fit in anywhere. One day she would be Queen. It was a good trait to get along well with other people.

"Daddy!" she said, waving up at him. He smiled and waved back.

Kenshin stopped and focused. He had no sight so he had to reply on what he did have. Smell and hearing. He could hear Sano laughing at him. Sano never had to do five hours of practice with Hiko, of course he would laugh. Megumi was laughing at something else. Tae was giggling not to far away.

"Daddy!" he heard nearby. An unfamiliar voice, but sweet and pretty. Hmm, a girl he didn't know. That would probably be someone he'd never see again. Guests always came in and out. Kissing her wouldn't be bad. She'd probably forget in another week or so and he would not have to blush every time he saw her.

He could hear the rustle of her skirt. Court skirt. Large and heavy. Perfect. The air around him shifted a bit. His muscles tensed. Then he suddenly moved.

One second Kaoru was waving at her father. The next strong arms were wrapped around her small waist. She gasped and looked up. The boy with the blindfold, Kenshin, had caught her. Uh oh. She forgot to ask what happened if he caught her.

"Gotcha," he said. His fingers found her chin and warm lips pressed onto hers. Kaoru was in shock. This boy was kissing her!

Kenshin could feel the girl was definitely surprised to be caught. She didn't giggle or squirm or anything as he laid a soft and gentle kiss on her lips. Her lips were slightly open and smelled like jasmine. Jasmine did not grow in this kingdom and was extremely expensive. Just who was he kissing?

"You finally do something right, Baka!" Hiko called out. Kenshin wipped off his blindfold and looked up at his mentor.

"No practice?"

"Of course not. You just kissed the Princess of Edo. I'm sure her father will happily beat you."

"Oro?" Kenshin paled. He looked down at the girl in his arms. A very young looking girl looked up at him, face still in shock. Very expensive court dress, small coronet nestled in perfectly arranged black tresses and big blue eyes. Oh shit.

"Sano!" Kenshin bellowed. "I know you had something to do with this." The tall boy was laughing his ass off. The girl pulled out of his arms, blushing madly. He turned back. She was obviously very embarrassed. Megumi was laughing hysterically.

"Cradle robber!" Megumi said, her vicious laugh hitting both of them.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Kenshin began. "Are you ok?"

Kaoru was frightened out of her wits. She looked up at her father. He was frowning. Great. He was mad. If there was one thing Kaoru hated it was disappointing her father. Tears welled up in her eyes. Kaoru did something she almost never did. She ran.

Kenshin felt like someone had ripped out his heart. Great. Now he made a princess cry. Her father, King Kamiya, was one of the greatest swordsmen known to man. His ass was going to hurt in the morning.

Kamiya looked at Hiko who was laughing. The kiss did not bother him. It was all in fun. What bothered him was Kaoru's reaction. Whenever someone grabbed her or did something she did not like she beat the hell out of them. She should have decked the prince, surprised or not. And the kiss. She had been surprised….but not horrified. Kamiya knew his daughter well.

When she ran she did not do it because of the action. She did it because she thought he would be mad. She thought he would be mad because she enjoyed it. She shouldered some of the blame. Otherwise she would have happily beaten the boy up or told her father to. She was confused because deep down she was happy it happened.

Kamiya was not mad at his daughter. He could never be mad. Why she had chosen to like the prince was beyond him. Kenshin was not much to look at. Kaoru had never seen him before or even spoken to him. Why him?

"Hiko…I want to add something to the treaty."

"We already signed it. What else do you want in it?"

"Upon my death I want Kaoru to have to reaffirm the treaty." Hiko raised an eyebrow, but one king did not question what seemed to be a personal matter. It was no loss on his part.

"All right. We'll add the clause at the end."

"Good. Now before I go I want a crack at this apprentice of yours."

Hiko flashed his cocky smile. "Beat him well. He'll expect nothing less."