Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Fairen Destiny ❯ Chapter 15

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kesnhin is © to Nobihiro Watsuke, Shounen Jump, and whatever other manga/anime publishing company has the rights to him. I'm not one of `em.

 

Hi-lo! Guess what? I'm updating after only two weeks! Gasp! I know shocking. Run for you lives I updated early, the worlds coming to an end. We're all going to die.

 

Just kidding. Hehee.

 

I have finals this week and should be studying but here I am writing a new chapter. Be happy.

 

This chapter's kinda a filler chappie and I didn't really get anything I said last time done. Next chapter I guess, but I really hope you like it!

 

And anyone else who thought chapter 15 was a let down or boring or whatever I am sorry and I'll try not to let it happen again. I'll also try to update sooner. This is my last week of school! I Finish finals then I have summer break! At long last it's here! WOOHOO!

 

Ok that's all for right now so read on!

 

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Misao and Aoshi landed gently on the garden path, just returning from the forest after many, many detours thanks to Kenshin and his curiosity. Where is he anyway? Still flying around probably. Misao looked up and sure enough, Kenshin was indeed still flying. He was staring avidly at the castle and its grounds, greatly enjoying his new perspective. At least he's having fun. Though he didn't look as if he was coming down any time soon. Wasn't he tired by now? He had been flying a good part of the day. He should have been exhausted.

 

“Kenshin! Come down. You can fly tomorrow if you want. You need to rest your wings!” she knew he heard her-he wasn't that far up-but he gave no response to her. She growled. Chill Misao. All new flyers are like this. It's to be expected that he'd disregard what I tell him and ignore me... Although new flyers are children and he'd an adult and even most of the children do stop flying if you're stern enough with them. But it's okay. Let him ignore and blatantly disregard me and…what was my point again?

 

Kenshin still had yet to come down. Misao was officially annoyed now. “Aoshi make him come down.”

 

“He will when he wants to” Aoshi went inside, leaving Misao to get Kenshin. “Kenshin! Get your sorry self down here and come inside. NOW!” Kenshin stopped midair and stared down at her. He blinked and flew down so he could hear her better, still not landing though.

 

“Why are you so mad all of a sudden Misao?” Had he really not heard her before? “Just get down Kenshin.” Must keep temper. A prophetess wouldn't lose her temper over something so trivial. I'm spending too much time with Kaoru and her horrible temper. She strode towards the castle, the large doors opening to allow her inside before slamming shut behind her.

 

Kenshin blinked at her sudden departure. He really had no idea why she was so upset. He didn't want to push her temper any farther though. Kenshin flew towards the ground, pulling up before crashing into the hard brick path and landed. He landed harder than he meant, stumbling slightly before regaining his balance and a stinging sensation shooting up his legs. Ow.

 

Still, it was a good landing he thought. He didn't crash or anything and was uninjured. That was the important thing. Right, anything else will just get better as I improve. I think.

 

He approached the doors, mindful to keep enough distance as they swung open on their own, and walked inside, the doors closed behind him. Misao or Aoshi were no where in sight. Great. Hope I wasn't supposed to follow them. Guess I'll just go to my room.

 

He was just passing the library when a servant girl stopped him. “Excuse me, Lord Kenshin. Your presence is asked for by Lord Aoshi on the sixth floor drawing room. I can show you the way if it is needed Lord Kenshin.” She bowed before turning and walking up the stairs to an opened window and jumped and floated out of it. “It is this way my Lord.” He blinked and nodded then walked to the window. The servant girl waited, floating, as he jumped out the window, falling for a moment before catching himself and gliding back up to follow the servant.

 

It was a quick flight from the third to sixth floor, much shorter than if they had taken the stairs. Explains the reason all these windows are so big. They flew in through another opened window, this time on the sixth floor. He stumbled again but the servant girl didn't notice, or at least pretended not to, and led him to the drawing room. She opened the door for him and bowed again. He thanked her and walked inside, the servant girl going back to her duties.

 

Inside Misao and Aoshi were sitting on couch in front of a fireplace along with Megumi, Sano and Kaoru. They were all talking and hadn't seen him yet. Megumi was the first to notice him standing halfway between them and door. “Kenshin. What are you standing there for? Come over here. Misao was just telling us about your flying lessons today. I trust they went well for you?”

 

“Uh yeah, pretty good. I can fly now anyway.” He walked over to them, sitting in a low backed chair next to Kaoru. Sano and Megumi were sitting on the same couch, Sano sporting a few bruises and add an odd green tint to his skin. Megumi was currently healing him. She was acting like Sano covered in bruises was perfectly normal and that she had nothing to do with it. Aoshi sat next to Misao, marking his place in a book he had before closing it and setting it down on the center table. Kaoru and Kenshin were the only two with their own chairs. Kaoru looked slightly tired and was watching everything with mild interest.

 

She turned her head away from Sano and Megumi and faced him instead. “So anything worth mentioning we should know about today? Or did you just take to flying right away?” Misao answered before he could. “He had some trouble taking off. But he did get it. Sano stop groaning you big baby, you're fine. Anyway I'd say the most amusing thing today was when he fell straight into the water on his first attempt. Remember when you told me to see if he'd actually try flying before instruction? Well…”

 

She was cut off as Kaoru burst out laughing. “He tried that?! Ha! I didn't think he'd actually be fool enough to do it. Kenshin were you that desperate for food?” She continued laughing and Kenshin felt his face heat, turning his head to hide it and glaring out of the corner of his eye at Kaoru. “I knew that was something you'd do. Evil wench.” Sano and Megumi stared at the others, waiting for an explanation.

 

“Aoshi hadn't shown him how to take off yet and when I was eating lunch with Kaoru, she told me to see if he would try it on his own. I'm sorry Kenshin but it sounded too funny to resist. He did end up doing it. He took off but never flapped his wings and ended up crashing into to the water and getting soaked. I can show you guys if you'd like.” They all crowded around Misao, except Kenshin who stubbornly stayed put and glared at her and Kaoru.

 

A light sphere formed in the middle of everyone and beams shot out of it and touched everyone's forehead. A picture immediately formed in Kenshin's head and blocked everything else out. It was the clearing he, Aoshi and Misao were at earlier with him standing in the center, facing the lake.

 

It replayed what had happened to him this afternoon on his first try to take off. Everyone was already giggling when the image-Kenshin started running to the water but ended up roaring with laughter when it poked its drenched head out of the water and swam back to shore. The scene replayed at the request of Sano and Kaoru then winked out as the light beams retracted back to the sphere. Everyone was still laughing and Kenshin still sulking.

 

Megumi recomposed herself though still smiling from amusement. “Don't feel bad Kenshin. It was funny. And you're not the only one who's embarrassed themselves in flying lessons. I remember Sanosuke took a whole week before he got as far you and that he couldn't stay airborne either. Instead of water he fell into a big mud pile though. He was covered in it. And everyone saw. Some great high lord.” She began laughing again and Sano scowled.

 

“Oh I'm funny huh? What about you Megumi? You had no coordination and then you're control was a joke. I crashed into some mud but you knocked over the whole armory. She was stuck having to put everything back and had to polish it all for a week. So ha.” It was his turn to laugh and Megumi's to scowl. Everyone else had cracked up at the two's bickering and embarrassing flight memories.

 

Aoshi told Kenshin. “We all have some story to go with our flying lessons. You're no exception. So don't feel bad.” Kenshin was laughing as well and felt less embarrassed now that he knew he wasn't the only one to ever mess up.

 

They had dinner brought up and continued talking for another couple hours before Megumi announced she was going to bed shortly followed by Sano. Misao and Kaoru giggled and smiled knowingly at each other. Aoshi had picked his book up again and didn't seem to notice what anyone else was doing. Kenshin excused himself and went back into the hallway and out a window, flying up to his room. It took a little longer than he expected to find his room outside but find it he did.

 

His landing was still less than perfect and the force of his landing still stung his feet. He was just walking into his bedroom when something whipped behind him. He spun around just in time to see a blurred Megumi whipping past. He blinked once and this time it was Sano who was shooting past him. He blinked again. The hell…?

 

Neither of the two had seemed to notice him or just didn't care if they had seen him. Either way, Kenshin found himself rooted and couldn't help but watch Sano and Megumi chase each other around over the gardens below. He barely noticed as Kaoru and Misao showed up on Kaoru's balcony, one over from his own, and giggled and watched Sano and Megumi as well. He was at least trying not to be too blatant about snooping and keeping a slight distance from the edge but Misao and Kaoru were leaning right over the balcony, making no attempt to stay unseen.

 

This was not something he should be doing and if Megumi and Sano, especially Megumi, saw him watching he was fairly certain the consequences would be less than enjoyable. Megumi had access to potions and knew magic that could result in things. Bad things, that he would prefer not to think about.

 

He shouldn't have been watching this. Snooping on others' private business was bad. Especially with a high risk of being caught. He knew this; it kept running through his head. But he just couldn't look away. Why was he watching them in the first place? He was behaving no better than Kaoru or Misao, though at least he wasn't giggling like a madman.

 

Sano had caught Megumi now, Megumi giggling atypically. She didn't seem the type to be so….giddy. Sano had his arms wrapped around her waist, supporting both of them in the air since Megumi's wings had apparently gone limp from Sano's ministrations. He was burying his head into her hair and kissing her neck. Neither noticed anything around them except each other, caught in their own world.

 

Kenshin couldn't help but look on even though he knew, or at least had a good idea, of the painful consequences should he be caught. It wasn't likely Megumi or Sano would notice him anytime soon though. They were both a little…involved at the moment. A meteor could crash two feet from them and they wouldn't notice. And Misao and Kaoru were much more obvious than he was at the moment. Louder too.

 

Sano and Megumi broke apart resorting to chasing each other again. Kenshin watched as they disappeared around the castle. Well that was certainly interesting. Time to go inside now. Kaoru and Misao still were talking in excited whispers to each other. Odd, he didn't think Kaoru would act like that.

 

“Exactly how long do you two plan standing there, jabbering?” the two jumped when he called over to them. They hadn't notice he was there before. Kaoru retort. “As long as we want, thank you very much. It's none of your business anyway. Why are you out in here in the first place?”

 

“Enjoying the fresh air. Sano and Megumi's little show is done. How about you go inside.”

 

“Last time I checked you didn't decide what I do and don't do. It's none of your concern. You were out here watching too I bet, so don't you try to lecture about it.”

 

He wasn't really planning to. Well maybe a little just to tick her off…. “Whatever. Then how about you go follow them if you're so interested in watching. I could actually enjoy a little peace out here for once.” Kaoru stuck her tongue out at him. “You're the one who's always out here when I am. I don't have to go anywhere. I want to stay out here so I will.” She sat on the balcony ledge and crossed her arms, refusing to budge.

 

Misao had just kept quiet and watched the two's bantering back and forth. “You two come out here together?” “NO!” They both chorused. “He's always shows up whenever I'm out here. He must be stalking me.”

 

Kenshin blanched. “Hell no! You're the one comes out when I'm here. And I don't even want to think you're stalking me.”

 

“Like hell I would.” Kaoru stared out at the sky, scowling. Misao smiled at them. “You two probably both like being out here at night because it's so calm. Am I right?” They both nodded. “See? No stalking involved. You just share something in common, and like being out here. That's all.” They stared at her for a moment, making Misao slightly uncomfortable from their considering looks, before nodding and reluctantly agreeing with her.

 

“Well now that's settled I'll be going now. I'm going back to Aoshi. Kaoru, see you tomorrow if I can. You too Kenshin. Goodnight” She flew off to where he assumed Aoshi was, leaving Kenshin and Kaoru by themselves on their balconies.

 

“So you going in now?” Kaoru shook her head and swung her legs to dangle over the ledge with her arms still crossed. “Nope. Not moving.”

 

“Well, me neither.” He walked over to his banister and leaned against it. They were both too stubborn. Kaoru finally broke the silence between them by letting out a snort of amusement. “I still think it's funny that you fell into the water like that. Or that you'd try anything without at least someone showing you how.”

 

“Bloody hell, I didn't do it just because I was hungry! I figured the only way I'd learn was just going for it so I did.” She wasn't going to let that go was she? Kaoru smirked at him. “Well I guess in that incase it's not so bad. You're determined and willing, I'll give you that.”

 

He blinked, taken aback. Did she just give him a compliment? She did. That was unexpected. “Uh…thanks.”

 

“Though I wonder just how good you are. I have yet to see you fly. Aoshi said you were good but I won't believe it `til I see it.”

 

It was his turn to smirk at her. “Well if you're so interested, I guess I could show you.” Kaoru quirked an eyebrow. “Sure. If you can do it without falling and breaking something.”

 

“Let's find out then.” He leapt up onto the banister, jumped, and quickly spread out his wings. he fell a little before gaining balance and flying back up to circle around, go down to the gardens and weave in and out through plants along the paths, then going back up to hover right in front Kaoru.

 

“I believe that cleared any doubts.” She clasped her hands together, resting them on her legs and suddenly looking very prim, and stared straight back at him. “I guess so. You're pretty good. Though I think you're still a tad bit awkward flying but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say that's just because you're still a beginner. I can't really say anything bad though. Hate to admit but I'm impressed.” She grinned and clapped to show her approval.

 

Kenshin gave a mock bow and landed on her banister, without any mess ups this time, folded his wings and jumped down to casually stand next her. “So glad you approve. I can now rest easy tonight knowing I've amused you.” Sarcasm laced his sentence and she grinned at him, jokingly replying. “Of course you should. I wouldn't expect it any other way.” They both laughed.

 

A few minutes passed of comfortable silence. “I think I'll go to bed now. I'm tired.” Kaoru swung around and jumped from the banister, landing lightly on the balcony. “You're tired too right? I'd imagine after spending the whole day flying.”

 

He nodded. “Yeah I am. But just exactly how are you tired? I though you were inside all day.”

 

“I was. And it was horrible. You try trying on…..” she stopped to think how many dresses and gowns she had gone though. “…Um I stopped counting after two dozen but it was a lot trust me. And it gets really tedious after while. This is exactly why I don't like wearing dresses. Wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to go through this every time. And I just prefer breeches anyway.” she muttered the last two sentences. He wasn't sure if she was still talking to him or to just herself. “I'll take your word for it. I'm going to my room now. G'night Kaoru.”

 

“Goodnight.” She walked into her room and he flew back over to his. He had to wonder why it was they ended up like this more or less every night. They bickered a little and then got along pretty well. Kaoru wondered much the same thing as she changed for bed. They still joked and called each other names of course while getting along but it was different. They both thought the same thing. Maybe it's cause it's nice and calm at night like Misao said. Kenshin shrugged it off, changed and climbed into bed.

 

We'll both ignore it and still fight tomorrow.

 

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Kaoru walked down the hall, with the morning light shining in and a gentle breeze blowing through the windows. She yawned behind her hand and stretched, trying to wake herself up. Nnnn…why does everything to be so bright in the morning? Ugh, I should have stayed in bed.

She walked down the stairs, idly wondering what to do for the day. She stopped dead in her tracks as she saw who was walking towards her. A dark greasy haired man with grey Betroe wings, beady eyes behind a pair of glasses and cigar in his mouth strode towards her. He hadn't seen her yet though.

 

Kanryu?! What the bloody hell is he doing here?

 

A young boy walked with him, looking like he'd rather be anywhere than with in twenty feet of the man. She didn't blame him. the boy looked about twelve, maybe thirteen, and had pale leathery Doren wings folded behind him with defiance and contempt in his dark eyes for the man walking in front of him.

 

She wasn't about to go near Kanryu this early in the morning alone if she could avoid it. She backed away before he could see her and quickly ducked into an empty room, closing the door behind her and waiting until completely sure he was gone.

 

She hated that man. Just the way he looked at you…she shuddered. He was horrible and sleazy and…revolting and sneaky and a lying no-good-for-nothing son of a… the door opened and Kaoru jumped praying it wasn't Kanryu. It wasn't. She sighed, visibly relaxing. She looked up to see who it was and was met a pair of violet eyes. “Kenshin?”

 

“Kaoru?” what are you doing in here?” He stared bewildered at her, waiting for an answer. “Um...” She looked behind her to see where she was to come up with an excuse. Unfortunately an excuse was slightly hard to come by as her face heated and she momentarily forgot how to speak. She was in the washroom for men. She wanted to bang her head on the all.

 

Of all the doors to choose and I just had to pick this one? Idiot Kaoru. She turned back to Kenshin who was still staring at her. “Um I…well…I have a perfectly logical explanation…” I just have to think of one. “…I…I got lost.” She didn't sound very convincing. “Lost? In your own castle?”

 

“Yes. In my own castle. I can get lost or turned around or….” Her voice was higher than normal and Kenshin still didn't look convinced. Far from it. He'd have to be suffering head trauma to believe that. “Ooooo, Fine. I didn't mean to come in here. I wanted to make sure I didn't run into Kanryu…You don't him” Lucky you.

 

“….Are you going to me who that is?” He was supposed to know who that was how…? “Some sleazy noble jerk who has absolutely no reason to be here yet lo and behold he's here.” She stood from her crouched position and would have walked back into the hallway and out of the men washroom but Kenshin was blocking her way and he hadn't seemed to notice. This could be a very compromising situation if someone walked by right now. “Uh, Kenshin? As fun as it is being in the washroom talking to you, could we discuss this elsewhere? Preferably where we're not in here together where I really shouldn't be in the first place? If someone sees us they might just assume the wrong thing. Or hadn't you noticed?”

 

He realized what she was talking about and immediately leaped back, allowing her to walk into the corridor. Lucky for them, no was walking or flying by to see them. “Thank you. And don't tell anyone I was in there. I don't need any rumors spreading about me.”

 

“I plan on wiping it from my memory. Now who is Kanryu?”

 

“A noble.” She began walking down the corridor again, making a point to go in the opposite direction as Kanryu had with Kenshin in tow behind her. Kenshin narrowed his eyes. “Thanks you're so informative. So glad I know I can come to you when I need to know something.”

 

“You're welcome.” She returned his glare with a wide grin and quickened her pace. “now where are you going? Not going to peak in places you're not supposed to?”

 

“No, I'm going to the great hall for breakfast. I'll leave peaking in places you shouldn't to you.”

 

“But you're so much better at it than I am.” She flicked her hand to hit on the shoulder but he dodged. They walked into to the great hall and Misao and Megumi were sitting at one of the tables already eating. Kaoru rushed over to them. “I have bad news…”

 

“Kanryu's here.” Misao and Megumi both chorused. Megumi explained. “I saw him arrive today at the front gates on my way here from Lady Tomoe's.”

 

“So you've already seen him then? I saw him in a hallway but I hid so he didn't see me. There was a young boy I didn't recognize with him too.”

 

“Aoshi said he's here to talk to your father about something and I guess that boy is a servant from Megumi said he looked like.” All three looked less than happy that this Kanryu person was here. Kenshin still had no clue who he was but he couldn't ask between the conversation. “You don't think he's going to go to the ball next week do you?” Misao asked. “Are you kidding knowing him he'll probably weasel mom and dad into letting him stay in a guest house until then.” Kaoru looked completely appalled and Misao and Megumi both wrinkled their noses. Popular guy this Kanryu. Kenshin thought wryly.

 

They had finally paused and Kenshin took the opportunity to ask. “Who the hell is Kanryu?” all three swiveled their heads towards him and Kenshin felt his face warm. Misao and Megumi blinked only just realizing he was there.

 

“Takeda Kanryu is a noble and helps Lord Seji deal in diplomacies. But he's a really foul low life scum and is supposed to be a drug dealer and other illegal stuff but no one can ever pin anything him.”

 

“Thank you Megumi. Kaoru here thought it too nice to tell me. And he sounds so pleasant. I can tell you guys like him.”

 

“You and Kaoru are too sarcastic.” Megumi and Misao both chorused again then blinked and stared at each other before laughing. Kaoru raised her eyebrows and looked at Kenshin who shrugged.

 

The doors to the great hall opened and Aoshi and Sano both entered, heading straight for them. Sano said “Guess who's here…”

 

“Kanryu.” Kaoru and, once again, Megumi and Misao all voiced in unison. Kenshin stared at them. “Stop that.”

 

“What are they suppose to stop?” Sano slid onto the bench to sit next to Megumi and Aoshi sat across from Misao next to Kenshin. “They keep talking in unison. It's creepy.” He pointed to Megumi and Misao and they both just chortled.

 

Kaoru got the conversation back on track. “As fascinating as that is, Aoshi, Sano where id Kanryu right now if you know? Or where was he heading so I can be sure to avoid going there at all costs?”

 

“I believe he was going to the library with Lord Seji and Lady Kimiko.” Aoshi replied. Out all of them he was the only one who could actually stand being near Kanryu for extended periods of time. In other words, more than five minutes. “Darn and I thought that would be a good haven. Oh well I'll go visit Rayne today. I feel bad for Mom and Dad though.”

 

“Yeah they're gonna be stuck all day with that bastard. They must be saints or something for not attempting to kill him.” He actually sounded like he meant that as he leaned his head on his hand.

 

“Yeah not like that one time when you tried to smash his head in Sano. you're lucky no one was around to see that except us. And that Aoshi and Kaoru held you back.” Kenshin's eyes widened when he realized Misao was being serious. “You actually tried killing him?”

 

Aoshi explained for him. “When we were about thirteen, we dyed his skin green and gave him warts and horns. He found out it was one of us but Megumi was the first one he saw even though she had nothing to with the prank. Kanryu had said something to Megumi and Sano got rather ticked off and without thinking tried to beat him. I managed to hold him back and Kaoru talked sense into him. Kanryu didn't find out about Sano's outburst or he would have had Sano punished at the least.”

 

“He called her a common whore! I wasn't going to let him get away with it.” Kaoru and Megumi both swatted Sano's arms to shush him and keep his voice down. Kenshin could see why none of them liked Kanryu. “I got revenge though. The day after I managed to `accidentally' spill a potion on him and shrunk his head. Lady Tomoe said it was his fault for interrupting me when I was practicing. She fixed it for him after about an hour” Megumi giggled while reminiscing. “She did warn me not to do it again though.”

 

Each had gone on to explain other past tricks and pranks they had all played on Kanryu to Kenshin. They had come up with some very unusual methods of fulfilling mischief. They had done everything from catching a ghoul to trail him; replacing soap with hardened dung-Sanosuke had come up with that idea-, putting a potion in his drink to make all his hair fall out, setting juvenile trolls free in his room, even transfiguring him into a goblin for a day. Miraculously none of them had ever been caught.

 

Everyone made sure to keep his or her voice down as they talked so as not to be overheard as servants bustled in and out. There were others as well, visiting nobles and guests, even a few soldiers sneaking off from duty, ate their meals and talked to one another. It would have been very bad if the wrong person overheard and mentioned it to Kanryu, or worse, Lord and Lady Sagara.

 

Half the great hall had emptied by the time they decided to leave. Can't stay in one place if we're gonna avoid Kanryu. Though I could just leave the castle… Kaoru thought to herself. Unfortunately for her the opportunity never came.

 

Of course right when they were leaving, Lord Seji and Lady Kimiko had to walk in with Kanryu. Worse, they had seen Lord Seji had seen them too. “Ah, Takeda, here is Sanosuke and Kaoru. Kaoru! Sanosuke! Come and greet out guest.”

 

Sano and Kaoru, at the sight of their parents and Kanryu, had frozen in place and had looks of sheer horror on their face. It was amazing how quickly their demeanors changed when their father had called them however. Kaoru had a well disguised fake smile on her face and discreetly straightened out her tunic, putting on a more feminine facade. Sano stood upright and put on a proper yet falsely warm front.

 

They're good actors. Kenshin had to admit. He, Misao and Aoshi decided to keep at a distance unless called, which they prayed didn't happen.

 

“Lord Kanryu, it is a pleasure to see you again. I trust you are well.” Sano and he shook hands. Kaoru curtsied, adding “Welcome back to Amandil, Lord Kanryu.” Kanryu apparently bought it. Kenshin had to keep reminding himself they were pretending. Really good actors. Seeing Kaoru so polite was definitely new to him. Same went for Sano.

 

“It is good to see you both as well. You are still wearing breeches I see Kaoru. Does that mean still practice swords as well? Best watch out Sano or little Kaoru here might take you place as High Lord.” He laughed; Kenshin guessed he thought he was being funny. Lord and Lady Sagara chuckled politely and Sano and Kaoru were clenching their teeth through tightened smiles. Kaoru's hand twitched as if to clench into a fist but Sano brushed his arm against hers, whispering to keep her cool.

“I have heard rumors about the Battousai being found. I must if this is true or just indeed rumor?” Kanryu eyes glinted a moment. “Oh, yes Lady Tomoe had found where he was. it was Misao and Kaoru who brought him. He's right over there with Aoshi and Misao. Kenshin dear, Lord Takeda would like to meet you.” Lady Kimiko waved for him to come over.

 

Kenshin cursed to himself as he walked over. He hadn't met the man before but already, from what he had from Kaoru and the others, was dreading this. He managed to keep his cool and keep a falsely cheery grin plastered on.

 

 

“Kenshin this Takeda Kanryu. He deals in foreign diplomacies and trade.” Kenshin bowed and greeted Kanyru, not sure how exactly to speak to him. He didn't know how to speak to a noble, never having been around them before Kaoru and Misao captured him and no one here had really made a big deal about him learning.

 

“So you're the legendary Battousai, Kenshin was it?”

 

“Yes, Kenshin Himura sir.” Two seconds an already he wanted to leave. Kanryu put on a friendly front but there was still something…off…about him; it was suspicious, distrusting.

 

“So started on fulfilling your Battousai duty? Lady Tomoe must be grinding you to the stone by now.” He really didn't like this man. And his voice was oily and annoying. They had both been staring each other in the eyes the whole time, neither backing down.

 

“I'm afraid I've only learned to fly for now. I haven't been here long. So I'm afraid I know nothing of my `duties'…lord.” Kenshin still held eye contact refusing to break away. It was a battle of wills to Kenshin and he would win. Everyone else only stood listened, aware of the building tension. Sano and Kaoru were just glad they didn't have to talk.

 

“I see. Interesting.” Kanryu finally looked away. Kenshin kept his grin, inside smirking at his victory. “I have some things I need to go over with you Seji. I have a few new trading policies that need to be reviewed and signed.”

 

“Then let us go to the study. Kimiko you don't mind right?”

 

“No darling, you know I'm not one for that. Lady Tohru is in Amandil and I think I would like to visit her.”

 

“Are we dismissed then too mother?” Sano asked. Kaoru had to keep chanting `a lady does not speak until spoken to.' in her head so as not to burst out and ask to leave already. She glared at Kanryu though the corner of her eye; she wouldn't act this way if not for him being here. Kanryu knew it too. Luckily Sano could tell she was getting impatient along with him included and no doubt Kenshin wanted to leave based on the way he and Kanryu had that staring contest.

 

“Yes. You may leave. Enjoy the rest of the day.”

 

They began to walk off when Sano asked what they should do today. Kaoru turned and looked right at Kanryu, making sure he heard her and said. “I could use some sword practice. A sparring match sounds really good right now.”

 

She turned around and walked ahead of Kenshin and Sano, looking particularly smug with a large grin. Kanryu's taken aback expression was the highlight of her day.

 

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Yay it's done. Now I must upload and go to bed to study. I don't sleep a whole lot during finals. (gotta study sometime) -.-

 

Hope you enjoyed the chapter and if it was boring again, I'M SORRY! Please forgive me! If you like it then yay! I'm happy. n-n and whether or not you liked/hated it or whatever please still review! I enjoy reviews. I could use them to keep up m spirit once I get grades back. I'll need it.

 

REVIEW before you leave! `Til chapter 16, by for now! n-n