Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ In These Final Hours ❯ Slipping Out of Control ( Chapter 11 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I really, really don't own Kenshin. Promise. Ignore these puppet strings, really. No, I'm serious, ignore them ::sneak::

In These Final Hours: Slipping Out of Control

Kaoru stared at Tsubame in shock. Her hair fell loosely around her face, the navy ribbon in her hand forgotten.

"What was that, Tsubame?"

"Lady Yukishiro would like you to have breakfast in her room," the little maid curtsied again and her hands clenched the front of her apron.

Kaoru swiveled on the vanity stool to look at the younger girl straight on instead of through the mirror.

"Why?" She blurted before she could tell herself it was rude.

Tsubame shook her head and Kaoru pressed her lips together. No reason given, then. What could the other woman want? She turned back to the mirror and started at the dark expression on her face.

"Mou. I'm being unfair." She muttered and resumed gathering her hair into a high ponytail. Being invited to breakfast wasn't suspicious. Tomoe probably wanted some feminine company before everyone abandoned her for the trip to Nishimoto.

Still, she hesitated when she held her hand up to knock on the Lady's door. She berated herself again since it had taken a good minute of staring at the door before she could work up the nerve to even raise her hand. There was nothing scary about wood, but she'd had an awful time approaching it in the last two days.

A soft call answered her short rap and after another moment she steeled herself and slipped into the room.

"You wished to see me?" Her voice held more than one question.

Tomoe rose from the small table nestled beside the room's bay window and nodded. "I would like to talk to you a little more before you have to leave."

Kaoru nodded and glanced over the other woman's form. She had shed the finery of the previous evening in favor of a simple white and lilac dress. Kaoru felt her toes curl self consciously as she buried her fingers into the rough fabric of her training pants. She'd considered changing into something nicer before coming, but she wouldn't have time to change back before the procession left for Nishimoto. And the idea of a day-long carriage ride in a dress did not appeal to her. But the reasoning didn't dispel the feeling of being a sparrow faced with a swan.

She blinked when Tomoe gestured to the seat opposite of hers. She scowled to herself and marched across the room. People ate breakfast sitting at tables, not standing in doorways like scared waifs. She had nothing to be nervous about. Tomoe had already proven herself both in reputation and in person to be a kind, reserved person. The only thing standing between them was her engagement to the man Kaoru was in love with.

A trivial worry, at most.

She sighed at her own musings and settled herself in the offered chair. Tomoe inclined her head and they began serving themselves from the chilled platters piled with fruits, light pastries, and mild flavored cheese. Kaoru eyed her selections nestled on the rose-lined china. She'd need to nab something more substantial from the kitchens before they left. A few strawberries and grapes weren't going to last her until lunch.

She'd polished her plate and was reaching for her tea when Tomoe broke the serene quiet of their meal.

"Kaoru, I'm going to ask you an uncomfortable question. Will you allow me this rudeness?"

Her hand hovered above her tea cup as she turned wide blue eyes on Tomoe. Bluntness tempered by formal politeness. An odd combination, and yet the somber woman's words remained pleasantly neutral.

"Yes, of course." She nodded and pulled her hand back into the shelter of her lap. Her fingers laced together and she braced herself.

"Why do you love Kenshin?"

Kaoru felt her eyes glaze. Why do you love Kenshin? What's the weather like, today? Is that dress new? She fumbled back to the edge of sanity and took a steeling breath. Her lips parted slightly and a few puffs of air pressed past them, but nothing resembling a reason came to her.

"I- I don't know. I mean," she floundered, "I know that I love him, but I don't know how to answer that. Please don't think I'm just a stupid girl who's infatuated. I know it's more than that. Please. I just, I don't… mou." She pressed a palm to her forehead and squeezed her eyes shut. When she risked looking up again, there wasn't disgust or anger in the older woman's eyes, only sympathy.

"You probably haven't had much time to think about it."

"Well, no. Not really." She admitted. Her fingers were doing heinous things to the poor linen napkin in her lap.

"Then," she paused as she reformed her question, "Tell me what draws you to him. What is it that you notice about him that you don't about other men?"

Kaoru fidgeted in the chair. This was easier. But to reveal such intimate things to Tomoe? To his fiancé?

She sighed. The older woman didn't seem like the type to ask useless questions. She was obviously prepared for whatever answer Kaoru would give.

"Well," she let her gaze wander to the window and gazed blindly at the blur of green and splashes of brighter color. "His hands, I guess." Her own twisted in her lap. "They're always warm when he holds my elbow. And when he changed my bandages, they were strong and certain. He can be so dense sometimes and seem so helpless, but his hands are always firm. I think that may be why he always tucks them in his sleeves, so they won't give him away."

Her sight drifted inward and a small smile tugged at her lips.

"He smells nice, too. He insisted on carrying me everywhere when I was injured, and I didn't want him too. I was afraid I'd fall asleep. He smells like… home. Like I would never have to worry about being in a foreign place, because all I would have to do is be near him and I would be somewhere familiar and comfortable."

She floated between feelings for a moment before surfacing again. "I like making him laugh. He doesn't laugh enough. When he does he glows and I get this silly feeling in my chest and I can't help smiling, too. I like how he notices small things. He knows my favorite bath oil and I've never told him. He makes me feel special without even trying. He always knows when I'm nervous or upset. Not that I'm always very good at hiding my emotions, but he seems to have a sixth sense about it."

She frowned then and pulled in a shuddering breath. "In fact, the only thing that he doesn't notice is the one thing I want him to the most."

"That you love him."

Tomoe's voice shattered the spell she'd fallen into. Kaoru gripped the edge of the table as everything she'd said pounded in her ears.

"I'm sorry. I don't really mean that. I mean, I do, but I know I shouldn't. And I'm not going to do anything about it. It's better that he doesn't know. He'd do something stupid and throw away his own happiness just because he's so... so…" A few angry tears burned at the corners of her eyes and she swiped at them with the edge of her hand.

"It's alright, Kaoru," Tomoe soothed, "You have not upset me. I know you meant your promise last night."

Kaoru puffed her cheeks with a sigh and scowled at her empty plate. She was so girly when it came to him. Tears were an enemy. She'd seen girls in the village woo their way with crying and it had disgusted her. They were the kind of girls who would trick a man into marrying them. The kind she was protecting Kenshin from.

She would not be that kind of girl. She would not cry in front of Kenshin. Ever.

"Kaoru?"

Her head jerked up and her thoughts stuttered back into reality.

"Forgive me, I was thinking."

A tiny smile lit Tomoe's face, "You puzzle me, Kaoru. You are from a humble family, but there is a nobleness to you."

Damn. Kaoru plastered on a disarming smile. "Lady Kamiya. She took me under her wing when I was very young."

Tomoe nodded, "So Kenshin has told me."

She blinked, "He talked about me?" A nod. Kaoru's eyes narrowed, "He took that little bit of time you two had together last night and he wasted it talking about me? Mou, when I see him, I'm going to knock some sensitivity into that red head of his."

Tomoe chuckled and Kaoru flopped back into her chair. Her melancholy fled in the face of righteous anger.

"I'm am glad to have a rival like you, Kaoru." She plucked her tea from the table and sipped.

Kaoru gawked.

"Rival?" she squeaked.

"Mmm."

"But I'm not a rival! That would mean I'm trying to trap him or something."

Tomoe placed the cup back on the table. "There are different kinds of rivals, Kaoru. You are someone who sees the same sweetness in him that I do. It is a measuring stick. Something for me to gauge my feelings against."

Kaoru's eyebrow twitched, "Like a 'who likes him more' competition?"

Laughter quirked the older woman's mouth. "Yes, I suppose."

"Mou, that's silly. No matter what we feel," she paused as her huff lost its steam, "Kenshin is in love with you." She managed to keep a stoic face.

Tomoe's eyes widened in mild dismay and she bowed her head in apology, "You are right. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make light of our situation."

Kaoru rolled her eyes, "Mou, you're almost as bad as Kenshin, you apologize so much. But at least you speak like a normal person."

Speak his name and he shall appear.

"Tomoe? Ms. Kaoru?"

Their heads turned in simultaneous disapproval toward the door. The prince really knew how to interrupt a conversation.

"Come in, Kenshin," Tomoe called after a rueful glance at Kaoru.

He poked his head around the door and held his hands before him. Kaoru stifled a snort. A prince fearful of his fiancé and escort. Her country's future looked bright.

"I came to tell you that we're almost ready to leave, Ms. Kaoru." He folded his arms in his sleeves as he crossed the room to them.

She sighed. Part of her was glad that she wouldn't have to continue her conversation with Tomoe, but another was loathe to leave the peaceful woman's company. Even with her trampled feelings, she could feel the first stirrings of a lasting friendship.

"How long are we staying?" she asked, folding her napkin and setting it on her plate.

Kenshin moved behind her and pulled her chair out so she could stand. She flashed him a pink-faced smile and skirted a few paces away, smoothing the front of her tunic and pants.

"We will camp tonight and arrive in Nishimoto mid-morning tomorrow. The treaty will be discussed that afternoon and in the evening there will be a ball to celebrate the peace between our countries."

Kaoru's face twisted in disgust. "Just an excuse to drape their most available princesses and ladies all over you."

Kenshin rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. "You are very suspicious, Ms. Kaoru, that you are."

She jerked her chin primly, "Of course. It's my job to be suspicious."

"When will you return to the palace?" Tomoe drifted to the prince's side and faced him expectantly.

Kenshin blinked at her, eyes wide, before a gentle smile tugged his lips.

"We will leave the morning after the ball. If the weather remains pleasant, we should be back four days from now in the morning."

Kaoru couldn't help a wistful sigh at the regal picture they made. The shadows of past sorrow trailing from their figures complemented each other. A bittersweet smile touched her lips. There was a bond between them that she couldn't touch.

"Ms. Kaoru?" Kenshin moved to her and placed a steadying hand under her elbow, "Are you feeling well? You look pale."

She floundered under the brightness of his eyes. "I'm fine, Kenshin."

"I asked her too many questions over breakfast," Tomoe confessed. Kaoru flashed her a grateful look and picked up the thread.

"Yes, you worry too much. I'm not made of glass, you know. I won't break under a little strain."

He tilted his head, "Ms. Kaoru, almost dying is not 'a little strain.'" He nodded his head smartly, "You push yourself too hard because you don't want people to coddle you. But someone needs to look after you, that they do."

She scowled at him, but didn't argue. He really did have a sixth sense if he could read her that well. Or she was just painfully obvious. Either way, it was annoying that she couldn't think of a retort.

"Mou."

"You two should hurry. They might leave without you." Tomoe urged, a glimmer of humor in her eyes.

Kaoru grinned and stepped forward to wrap her in a light hug. "I'll keep all those foreign princesses off of him, don't worry."

Tomoe returned the embrace and caught her wrist when she stepped back.

"Thank you for answering my questions, Karou. You have given me much to think about."

Kaoru blinked, not sure what she meant, but nodded anyway. A swan always had her mysterious airs.

"I will send a man ahead to let you know when we are returning," Kenshin promised.

Tomoe graced him with one of her rare smiles and Kaoru felt the breath rush from her lungs. Those smiles were a balm to her heart. She could give her prince up if was to the arms of this woman.

Kenshin smiled back and caught Kaoru's elbow again. She let him steer her to the door and turned over her shoulder to wave a last little goodbye to her friend.

Her smile turned puzzled as she regarded the somber woman standing before the bay window. Though Tomoe raised a hand in farewell, the twist of her lips was rueful.

Kaoru frowned as they stepped into the hall and began the winding journey through the palace to the barracks.

"Did she seem a little sad?" She murmured, more to herself than the prince.

Kenshin glanced down at her and smiled, "Tomoe does not smile easily. Now who is the one who worries too much?" he teased.

She scowled at him and her lips thinned in thought. The only sound in the large hallways was the whisper of their pants as they strode. Most of the staff was in the yard helping the caravan prepare to leave, so her thoughts rang loudly in her head.

"I guess you're right," she said finally. She couldn't think of anything that might have upset her besides their conversation, and Tomoe had been at ease with Karou's answers.

She still couldn't quite come to grips with that. If she didn't already know how hopeless her longing was, she would certainly feel threatened by Tomoe's love for Kenshin.

A sudden thought hit her and she thumped a heel against her forehead.

"Kenshin, you idiot, you forgot to give her a kiss goodbye! Again!" she raged.

"Oro?!" His purple eyes widened in shock.

Kaoru fumed and her steps hardened, "Mou. You men are so clueless. I thought you were more sensitive than that, Keshin. I thought you were different!"

His head hung in shame, "I have been distracted this morning, that I have. I will apologize when we return."

"You had better. Tomoe is a wonderful woman, you shouldn't take her for granted," she scolded.

He flinched and his mouth twisted as he looked down at her, "You are right, Ms. Kaoru. I am lucky to have a fiancé like her."

Kaoru halted at the drop in his voice. His gaze was burning into her and something told her to keep her eyes on the rug stretching before her feet. But curiosity dragged her head around and she tilted her face up to look at him.

His eyes were laced with indigo. They drew her in until the only thing she was aware of was the harshness of her breath and shadows on his lips. He held her spellbound with his heavy gaze. There was something in his eyes, swirling beneath the careful layers meant to preserve his thoughts. She wondered what she'd done to make him angry.

He was watching her now, considering her. A crease pulled his brows together and he leaned forward.

"Kaoru, is there something you want to tell me?"

"Yes," she breathed. Her mind was lost at the feel of his hand curling around her upper arm.

"Tell me."

She opened her mouth and a million words tumbled to her lips. She loved him. She wanted him. She clung to every touch, every look he gave her, no matter how innocent. And she would do anything to make him understand the feelings ripping her heart to shreds.

But she closed her mouth over it all. Because, as much as she wished she could, she would say nothing and do nothing. He was not hers to claim.

"I just wanted to tell you…" she bowed her head slightly, "I will do everything I can to protect you tomorrow night."

She studied the trim on the collar of his shirt as she waited for him to respond. She wondered if he would confront her about the evasion. Her words were true, but they weren't what she'd wanted to say. He could probably feel that.

Kenshin sighed and his hand slid down to her elbow once more. They continued down the hall.

"You are very adamant about protecting me, that you are."

She risked a glance at his profile and winced. He'd seen the trick. Guilt gnawed at her. She didn't like lying to him. If nothing else, they had cemented a close friendship in the short time since she'd come and she didn't want to damage that bond.

"I made a promise," she replied lightly, "And I don't take promises lightly."

He glanced down at her again and chuckled. Why did everyone look so rueful this morning?

"You are right. Breaking a promise would be dishonorable."

She nodded and stared determinedly ahead. She wanted to say something else to break the uneasy quiet, but she was still flustered by whatever had just happened between them. He could see so far into her soul with those eyes.

She was amazed she hadn't been found out already.

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She hadn't worried at first. The extended silences between them hadn't bothered her. He obviously had something on his mind that needed a bit of solitude to puzzle out.

But when the quiet inattention to her presence stretched through the carriage ride and into the evening as the group made camp, she began to fidget.

"Hey, Kenshin." She settled next to him on the bench. His campfire was far removed from the cheerful bustle of the rest of the camp and he'd been sitting by himself all through dinner.

"Mm?" He didn't turn to face her and she tucked the inside of her lower lip between her teeth. The firelight painted his skin and hair into something wild and dangerous. Her stomach tightened at the sight, but the feeling dissipated. She couldn't get flustered when he was brooding.

"Can I ask what's bothering you?" She brushed a hesitant fingertip against his upper arm in a not-so-subtle bid to get his attention.

He turned to her. His smile was not convincing. "There's nothing bothering me, Ms. Kaoru."

The denial hurt. "Mou, Kenshin, you can tell me. I know I'm just the escort, but we're also friends, right?" He could tell her. She would listen. She gazed at him pleadingly, willing him to unburden himself to her.

Half of his face was shadowed, and the eye not lit with firelight flickered under her plaintive stare.

"There is nothing wrong." His voice was a chilly contrast with the warmth of reds and oranges washing over his face.

Kaoru felt like she was being hit with the arrow all over again.

Her patience snapped. "I'm not stupid, my prince. You don't have to lie. Just come out and say it, you don't want to tell me," she flung a finger in his face, "Well fine. I just thought since I was your friend I should offer to help." She drew herself up to her full height and glared down at him, "I guess I really am just a stupid princess shield."

She gave him what she thought was a fair amount of time to deny her words. The fire snapped and grumbled to itself and her chest rose and fell at an increasingly erratic tempo.

When tears began to prick her eyes, she knew she should go. He wasn't going to apologize. He wasn't going to dissuade her exaggerated assumptions. And the silence rolling from his still form was changing the exaggeration into a painful reality.

"Idiot," she spat. It came out as more of a choke, but the same venom was conveyed. Her throat was thick and sore with repressed tears.

But she wouldn't cry.

At least, not where he could hear her.

She pivoted on her heel and started to stalk off toward their tent. She'd have to be quick if she wanted to have time to calm down before he came in to go to sleep.

Firm fingers snaked around her wrist. "Wait."

Kaoru held her breath and willed herself to calm down.

"Why should I?" she bit back. This time she sounded more like herself.

"You're right, we are… friends."

"Don't sound so excited, Kenshin."

He tugged her arm until she had to sit down to avoid falling over. She sat stiffly next to him, even when he gave her wrist a light squeeze in mute apology.

"I am sorry, Ms. Kaoru," he murmured, withdrawing his hand. "Seeing Tomoe again after so long… There are some things I need to think about that I wasn't prepared for. They are things that, I'm afraid, I can only look to myself for the answers to."

"So just say so," she snapped, but she was already relaxing under the soothing rise and fall of his voice. His presence radiated peace to her. An irony not lost to the more objective part of her mind. Still, even with the violence she knew he was capable of, she couldn't bring herself to be anything but at ease with him.

"I'm sorry. I should not have been so cold with you. Can you forgive me?" He was so serious she couldn't help the little chuckle that bubbled to her lips.

"That's a silly question."

A smile curved his face and there was something knowing in the expression. He flowed to his feet and uncurled a hand to her.

Okay. Now she could feel flustered.

She muttered darkly under her breath and slapped her own hand into his without looking up at him. No one had a right to smile and move with such feline grace.

She dropped his hand as soon as she had her balance and stomped off toward the tent.

"Oro? What did I do now?" he wondered aloud. "Are you alright, Ms. Kaoru? You look flushed. Oro! Do you have a fever?!"

Something like that.

"I've been sitting too close to the fire," she shot back over her shoulder. A plausible, if extremely feeble excuse.

He was impossible.

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She was still feeling grouchy when their carriage rumbled up to the formal gates of the palace the next morning. A scowl pulled her mouth as she took in the lacing of marble and iron spikes. There was something unnerving about a place that hid its defenses behind a veil of beauty. Like a viper hypnotizing its prey.

At least King Hiko had the frankness to keep the battlements and towers of his own palace Spartan. The efficiency had its own stark beauty, she thought.

Her mood wasn't improved by the general unease she felt the moment their carriage trundled into the front courtyard. The face of the castle was stunning, and the healthy green of the lawn and brightness of the fountains suggested care.

She narrowed her eyes and forced herself to look past the beauty to find the source of her wariness.

There. The flat, reflective gaze of the young maid drooping beside the footman told her everything. He didn't look much happier, but he had the stiff acceptance of age in the line of his shoulders. She shook her head sadly. The true worth of a kingship was found in the contentment of the backbone of the country.

"The staff isn't happy," she commented.

Kenshin followed her gaze out the window and nodded.

"My Lord father does not like Nishimoto, but the treaty is necessary."

"I know. I was just hoping the trip wouldn't be a headache."

He made a pacifying gesture, "Now, Ms. Kaoru, you shouldn't jump to such conclusions. I'm sure we'll have a pleasant stay."

She shot him a dubious glance over her shoulder and turned back to the window. Since she'd come to the palace many of her perceptions had been altered and some downright smashed. She no longer considered all nobles to be selfish, egotistical, lazy hypocrites. She'd met people like Kenshin and Tomoe, after all. King Hiko almost counted, but the refreshing honesty of his comments didn't outweigh the arrogance behind them.

Then, she'd also danced with the Court…

So, in her new estimation, while not all nobles were to be despised and mistrusted, most were.

And then, not to disappoint her dark evaluation, the First princess of Nishimoto swept from the heavy doors of the palace just as their carriage grumbled to a stop.

"Welcome, welcome!" her smile glowed and she gestured for the footman to open the door to the carriage.

Kaoru sighed and followed Kenshin into the bright sunlight of the courtyard. She took the hand held out to steady her down the narrow steps and turned to flash Kenshin a grateful smile for his thoughtfulness. Instead, she found the somber footman averting his eyes to the ground.

"You must be Prince Kenshin," the same tinkling voice grated her ears and her smile stiffened.

She turned from the footman and found Kenshin being confronted by blonde hair and lilac silk and lace. Oh, how she loathed lace.

The princess fluttered her eyes shyly, "I hope you don't mind me addressing you so informally."

Kaoru slipped on a cool mask and allowed herself the luxury of a loud internal groan. Her prince was trapped already.

"Of course not. Forgive me, but I don't think we've been introduced before," he smiled.

Kaoru's eyes almost popped out of her head. She hadn't been expecting that sort of reaction. That was the closest thing to a reprimand she'd heard him give a Lady. Not introducing yourself was a basic Court no-no, and Miss Lace had just failed.

The girl had the grace to blush. "Oh, how rude of me! I am the First Daughter of King Jien, Princess Nisemono."

"I am honored to meet you." He bowed low again and motioned Kaoru over as he rose. "Allow me to introduce my escort, Ms. Seta Kaoru."

Kaoru curtsied, managing to keep the move graceful without the aid of a skirt to cover the gangly angle of her legs. An idle vicious thought wondered if the princess could do half as well.

"I am honored," she murmured.

"As am I." The princess shot her a calculating glance that belied her cordial tone.

Kaoru almost grinned. As much as she despised the players, she couldn't help the small thrill she won from the dance.

"Well, I'm sure you would like to hurry inside to find a bath and bed," she went on, moving forward toward Kenshin, "I'm sure you're exhausted from the long trip."

The prince favored her with one of his blinding smiles and turned to Kaoru, offering his arm. Kaoru molded her hand into the crease of his elbow and shot the princess a bland look. The other woman was frozen with her hand halfway extended toward where Kenshin had been standing. She recovered and snapped a glare in Kaoru's direction before flouncing to Kenshin's other side, trying to draw his attention again.

"Sanosuke, Saitou," the prince was again conveniently distracted from noticing the princess.

"Yo, my Prince," Sano waved lazily, his eyes traveling from Kaoru's neutral expression, to Kenshin's strained smile, to the fuming princess.

"I need to discuss a private matter with you before we separate for the morning, Prince." Saitou flicked the tip of his cigarette clean and raised it to his mouth as he strolled toward them. Kaoru pursed her lips at him. Smoking in the presence foreign nobility was rude, especially in their country. He met her disapproval without flinching.

"I apologize, but if you'll excuse us for a moment, Princess," Kenshin inclined his head to her.

Nisemono murmured politely and retreated back to the dark recess of the huge doors of the palace. Kaoru watched her with narrowed eyes.
"She is planning something," she announced. No one disagreed with her, though Kenshin did look faintly disappointed. She imagined it got tiring to be surrounded by people trying to deceive you.

She winced. She'd walked right into that one.

Soujiro trotted up to their little group then, appearing at Kenshin's other elbow. His smile was grim.

"Commander Saitou, do you feel it too?" He tilted his head to the side.

The older man trailed feral eyes over the front of the palace and nodded.

"My prince, there is a lot of magic used here." Soujiro took a moment to scowl. The change reminded Kaoru how dangerous the innocent looking young man was.

Saitou pulled in another draw of his cigarette. "It will be hard to tell when a new spell is being cast. It's a trap."

The verdict chilled Kaoru. She concentrated on the sunlight baking the graveled drive beneath her feet.

"Yo, Fox," Sano drawled over his shoulder.

The doctor's head peered from the window of the carriage in front of Kaoru and Kenshin's.

"What do you want, Rooster?" She quipped.

"Get over here. Top Secret discussions going on."

She rolled her eyes at him, but her head ducked back in and a few moments later she was gliding to join them.

Expectant, they turned to their prince. His head was bowed and from her angle, Kaoru could tell he was scowling.

"Keep on alert. Ms. Kaoru, Ms. Megumi, you will room together. Sano, you and Soujiro will take the room next to them. Saitou, take your usual position. I want a unit of guards at each room. Tell the rest of the men they are to be alert and ready to leave at all times."

"You are wary, Battousai." Saitou smirked behind the cloud of smoke obscuring his face. Kenshin's eyes flashed amber at the Commander of the Guard.

"He is here."

Kaoru felt a stab of phantom pain at her shoulder blade and repressed a shudder. She didn't want to know how Kenshin could tell Enishi was in the palace, but it was not welcome news.

"Give the orders, Wolf. Sano, escort the ladies to their room. Be with them at all times. Soujiro, you will accompany me to the meeting."

"Of course." Soujiro bowed low.

Saitou nodded and prowled to the impressive tail winding behind the carriages. Kaoru felt her sense of unease sharpen as she examined the faces of the Guard. The men were either rigidly still or fidgeting. No one looked comfortable.

Her brow furrowed again.

"Hey, Kenshin," she breathed for him only, "There's an awful lot of tension here. A lot more than you would expect for a treaty visit."

He rumbled approvingly and his hair brushed her cheek as he turned to join her scrutiny of the Guard.

"What are they planning," he muttered. Kaoru glanced at him and felt a thrill of something snake up her back at the steely edge to his eyes. If the Battousai was tempted to the surface, there was no mistaking her intuition.

"It reminds me of the fight with Enishi," she confided, "Like they are assaulting our nerves until we're too numb to see the real threat."

"He should know better than to try the same tactic with you around," he chuckled. Kaoru felt warmth uncurl in her cheeks and stomach. While it was flattering that the assassin in him approved of her sharp wits, the attention was scattering her senses.

"Mou, calm down, Kenshin. Don't let them know you are aware of their plan," she scolded.

He smirked down at her and she watched, bemused, as the blue faded from his eyes and his lips softened into a dopey smile.

"Do not worry so, Ms. Kaoru. I will be discreet, that I will."

"You are worse than I am in Court," she huffed.

"Oro?"

She shook her head, "Never mind."

"Hey, are we going?" Sano demanded. Kaoru flicked him a scowl before turning back to Kenshin.

"Be careful," he ordered softly, a finger brushing against her elbow.

She grinned, "I was about to tell you the same thing."

"Hurry it up, Missy! I hear a bed and free food calling my name."

She whirled on him. "Shut your mouth, rooster-brain! Unlike you, I'm more worried about my job than filling my stomach!"

His jaw dropped and he sputtered, "Hey! I'm doing my job!" his expression slid to mischievous and he glanced at Megumi, "I'm protecting Fox, here." He looped an arm around her waist and tugged her closer. "Ain't that right?" he smirked down at her.

Megumi recovered from the jolt of being moved and turned her face up to stare at him. With menace.

Sano unhooked his arm and took a prudent step away from the doctor.

"Just, uh, joking," he muttered. She kept staring. With a disgusted sigh, he turned and stalked toward the palace. "Come on, let's go."

"Mou, he should know better." Kaoru clucked her tongue.

"He should," Megumi snapped. She swept her hair over her shoulder and glided after Sano with a pursed mouth.

Kaoru followed and Kenshin trailed beside her, an absent hand curled under her elbow. She still didn't understand that habit of his.

"I said I don't need a tour of the palace, alright?"

They quickened their pace at Sano's agitated yell. Kaoru and Kenshin swept into the front hall of the palace and gawked.

A handful of stunning handmaidens stood clustered to one side of the hallway. At their head, and trying unsuccessfully to soothe Sanosuke, was the princess.

"This is a token of my father's goodwill," she placated, "Please, we only wish for you to not be bored while your prince is occupied with the matters of the country."

"I'm not gonna have some bimbo following me around everywhere!" Sano bellowed. Kaoru glanced at Megumi and was surprised to see the young woman impressed by Sano's behavior.

"Sanosuke," Kenshin warned, striding forward. Kaoru kept his pace and set a stern mask. The situation looked dangerous already.

Sano glared at the prince, but stepped back with a deferential bow.

"I apologize for Kamiya's behavior," he nodded to the princess, "May I ask what the misunderstanding is about?"

Kaoru noted the change in his speech patterns when he spoke with nobility. The politeness was harder, less charming; an interesting mix between the goofy man and the hard assassin. Though, an assassin's stealth and wits were as well suited for the ballroom floor as the dark alley.

Nisemono curtsied low. "No apology is necessary, prince Kenshin. My father simply provided escorts for your Circle so they would not have to wander the palace unaided."

Kaoru narrowed her eyes. She couldn't help but notice that all of the escorts were very young, very pretty, and showing a lot of cleavage. Escorts in the crudest sense of the word.

A presence at her side turned her head and she took an unconscious step into Kenshin's side. His grip on her elbow firmed and she felt him turn to follow her gaze.

A young man was bowing low to her. She stared at him in confusion until he straightened and held his hand out to her. She made a quick catalogue of what she was being presented: Dark hair, flashing smile, buff physique, chiseled good-looks, and a dimple. They were really going all out if they had scrounged up one with a dimple.

"I beg your pardon, Lady. My name is Ekubo. May I have the honor of escorting you this morning?"

She suppressed a sigh and sketched a curtsey. Kenshin's hand didn't leave her arm.

"I'm afraid you are mistaken, sir. I am Ms. Seta, and while I am grateful for your offer, I am afraid I am already escorting my Lord Prince."

There was no way she was leaving his side, now. Not with so many vultures hovering in the marble-carved place.

Ekubo looked startled, and a tad miffed, by her refusal. His glance darted to Nisemono for orders.

She stepped forward with a benevolent smile. "Ms. Seta, I can assure you that your services won't be needed during your stay in Nishimoto. You are among friends, here."

Kaoru's smile thinned in anger. The way she said 'services' made her want to take a fist to that pretty little face. She was not that kind of girl, and Kenshin was not that kind of prince.

"Ms. Kaoru stays with me." Kenshin's voice was oddly loud in the hallway. He hadn't pitched it above a soothing murmur, but Kaoru felt the vibrations bouncing in the domed ceiling.

The princess wasn't deterred. "But I'm afraid she can't be allowed in the meeting for the treaty, and since she does not know the way to escort you there, you'll have to settle for my meager company instead."

Kaoru shoved her scowl down. This one had brains. They were hamstringed by courtesy and decorum. The plan was simple, but effective. Divide and conquer.

She brushed a glance at Sano and caught his eye. He nodded and made it look like a cough. Then, she turned to Kenshin.

"What she says has truth," she breezed, "I suppose I won't see you again until after the meeting. Good luck." She gave him her most dazzling smile. He smiled back, but she could see the unease in his eyes. Enishi was somewhere in the palace, and they both knew it. Now that everyone would be separated, they were easy prey.

"Mm. Until this afternoon, then, Ms. Kaoru." He swept her hand up for a light brush of lips across her knuckles before turning to the princess. She almost grinned. He could be just as sneaky as the best of them.

She quirked an eyebrow at Nisemono. The casual gesture was a subtle assertion of territory, and the girl knew it. As much as Kaoru didn't like people assuming that she and the prince were lovers, the unspoken understanding would help in this pit of snakes. It would make the princess think twice, at least.

Ekubo was at her side the moment the prince stepped away. Kaoru pursed her lips in annoyance. He would be trouble.

"Would you like a tour of the palace, Ms. Kaoru?" he inquired in husky tones. She winced at the theatrics. He could try to be a little less obvious.

"That's Ms. Seta, sir. And yes, I would love to see the gardens." She said the last clearly, hoping Sano and Megumi would take the cue. They needed to regroup quickly now that the enemy's strategy was being laid out.

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By that evening she had a wonderful headache.

Several hours of dragging Ekubo over the layout of the palace had familiarized her with possible escape routes and uncovered several hidden rooms and stairs. The discovery had set her knocking on walls and floorboards in all three of their party's rooms.

The meeting in the garden had been pulled off smoothly, even if they'd failed to come up with any substantial plans. There was still too much in the air for suspicions to be pinned. She'd sent Sano away with instructions to find Saitou to put the Guard on even higher alert. Soujiro was still with Kenshin, whom she hadn't seen since the simpering princess had swept off with him earlier in the morning.

She scowled at her reflection as Megumi helped her twist her hair up in a simple style for the evening's ball.

"Mou, this is frustrating. I know they are planning something, but they're being careful. And I haven't run into Yukishiro at all. I searched this place top to bottom, too."

Megumi frowned delicately, "They're doing what you predicted, wearing our nerves down. You need to relax or you won't be of any use to Kenshin tonight."

Kaoru schooled herself under the advice. The doctor was right. She concentrated for a moment on just breathing, letting herself fall into the familiar pattern of light meditation.

Megumi left her quietly and Kaoru remained still and calm. She coaxed the knots in her neck and shoulders to unwind. A pleasant drowsiness stole over her mind and her headache faded.

She stirred herself only when she sensed Kenshin heading toward the room. Meditation did wonders for her ki sensing. She met him at the door and they stole down the hallway toward the ballroom. Kaoru led him in a winding fashion to give them a chance to talk and to avoid Ekubo. She was supposed to wait for her 'escort' to take her to the ball, but she had had enough of the buffoon.

Business first. "Sanosuke and Saitou are going to be hanging around the ballroom with a few of the Guard. I told Sano to find Soujiro so he could do the same. I thought we might put some wards on the rooms, but Sano said that's not allowed."

Kenshin nodded. "It implies that we don't trust them. The most we can do is keep Soujiro and Saitou close so they can sense any new spells."

"Right. I asked Saitou if he could check over the rooms before we went in for the night," she made a face, "He was a jerk about it, of course."

He frowned, "I will have to remind him about his attitude."

She rolled her eyes, "Mou, Kenshin, I can handle him. Now, did the treaty go well?"

She couldn't help sneaking glances at his profile as they ambled through the palace. The dark blue of his formal vest complemented his eyes and her fingers itched to stroke the soft-looking fabric.

"Very smoothly. I can't decide what they're planning. Everything is for our convenience and everyone is very polite, but there is a heaviness to the air." His eyes couldn't seem to shake the steely blue.

Kaoru sighed. Even with the meditation, she was tired. She wished they would hurry up and unveil whatever plot they were hatching. If they were quick, the Guard could clean up the mess and they'd be back on the road home in an hour.

"Maybe there isn't a plot at all. Maybe we are just on edge because there is so much magic hanging around," she suggested.

Kenshin jerked his head to the side and back. "No. He is here. And wherever Enishi is, there is a plot against me."

She glanced at him worriedly. His words were laced with fatigue. The meeting and the phantom threat were taking their toll on him as well. She decided to tease him into relaxing a little bit.

"Well, as long as I am here, you will at least be safe from that princess," she assured him lightly. He flashed her a bemused smile.

"I think she is the least of my worries, Ms. Kaoru."

She fisted her free hand on her waist, "Are you kidding? She is the biggest threat that I can see. Obviously the king will try to trick you into marrying her, and she will be trying her hardest to seduce you, of course."

"Oro?!"

She wagged her finger at him. "Don't play innocent! It's what all the court ladies try to do. She will try to steal you away into some dark corner so she can whisper her way into your heart," she shook her head in mock seriousness, "Well, not on my watch."

He laughed at her stern face and she could see the tension leaving his shoulders.

"I am glad to have such a loyal protector."

"Don't make fun," she said, her tone settling into amusement, "You really do need my help. You can't say 'no,' remember?"

He chuckled. "You are right. What would I do without you?" His eyes were warm on her face and his hand squeezed her elbow.

She smiled and turned to face forward. Pink dusted her cheeks and she fought the urge to give him a sound bop on the head. She would be doing so well to keep her feelings settled and then he would catch her off guard with something sweet like that. Mou.

"I don't even want to imagine," she said smartly, "You'd be engaged to all sorts of disreputable women, no doubt. Poor Tomoe wouldn't know what to do."

Well that was obviously the wrong name to bring up. Her browed wrinkled with worry as he started brooding again.

"I'm sorry," she comforted, "You must hate having to run all the way here when she just arrived to see you."

She could see him shake the heaviness from his shoulders. He nodded but didn't try to smile, and she was grateful for that. There was an understanding between them that didn't leave room for much pretense anymore. Another irony that was not lost on her cowering heart.

"Let's try to have fun, okay?" she nudged him with her arm. "Just stay close to me and I'll chase off all of your admirers."

He quirked a real smile at her then, "I believe I will, that I do."

They finished the journey in comfortable silence. Kenshin's presence was enough to relax her and by the time they reached the ballroom, she felt her confidence and spunk returning to her.

The sweeping room was lined with mirrors and crystal chandeliers glowing with mage-light. Kaoru's eyes widened at the blatant use of power, but no one on the dance floor seemed concerned.

The press of bodies here was even more intimidating than the other two balls she'd been to. The room shimmered with diamonds and expensive fabric. The mirrors made the swarm all the more intimidating.

She tucked her arms firmly around Kenshin's own and took in a steeling breath.

"Here we go," she murmured to him.

She felt him smile and they plunged into the fray.

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Kaoru let her forehead rest wearily on Kenshin's shoulder as he guided her through the simple pattern of a slow dance. Whatever stamina she'd recovered before the ball had been leeched in a hurry.

She'd never seen women so determined and vicious. Her view of nobles had shifted yet again. Nishimoto ladies were far more despicable than the breed in her own country. She was surprised their dance hadn't been interrupted yet. She'd barely had time to breathe the whole evening with all the flirting hands and fluttering lashes warring for her prince's attention.

He was weathering the storm well, she thought. Though, she bore most of the brunt by giving all the polite refusals in his stead. She'd let him take a few token dances with a handful of girls she'd deemed as harmless for appearances, but had rebuffed all others. And now she could barely stand on her own two feet, she was so tired.

The fog in her brain must have been what made her so unprepared for the next chain of events.

She felt him tense even before the princess spoke.

"Prince Kenshin, may I cut in?"

Kaoru lifted her head to glower at the woman, too tired to keep up an appearance of congeniality. The sly vulture had probably organized the other ladies to wear her down. More fatigue tactics.

"I'm afraid I must refuse."

She snapped alert at the dangerous tone of his voice. She glanced at his amber-flecked eyes and then back at the princess.

Her breath caught.

Nisemono's hair was laced up intricately with ribbons and flowers, the creamy white of the blossoms complementing her fair locks.

"Ai flowers," she whispered, stricken.

The princess glanced at her sharply and a hand snuck to check her hair.

"Why yes. I heard they were common in your homeland from Lord Yukishiro and I had a bundle imported especially for the occasion. I thought it would make you feel more at home," she remarked shyly to the prince. He stared stonily at her.

Enishi had suggested them? "You obviously don't know the meaning behind them," Kaoru snapped. Doe-brown eyes glazed in confusion.

"Meaning?" she echoed, "I just thought they were pretty."

Kaoru relaxed again. Either the girl was a brilliant actress, or she really had no idea about the double significance behind an Ai blossom. Kaoru suspected the latter. But any mention of Enishi was enough to send her nerves jangling.

"Are you sure you won't dance with me?" Nisemono pouted again to the prince.

"No-"

"Of course he will, princess. The prince is nothing but a gentleman."

Her insides froze at the mocking drawl. The prince hadn't tensed because of the princess. She didn't need to see the amber blazing in his eyes to know who was behind her.

Enishi.

Kenshin pulled her closer to his chest and his feet shifted into a defensive stance. Kaoru clutched at the front of his vest, her eyes glazing as the old wound on her back pulsed with the slow beat of the music. The couples swirling around them were oblivious to the silent war stewing in their tight circle.

"Yukishiro," Battousai acknowledged calmly. Kaoru shivered at the ice threaded in his words.

"Prince," Enishi mocked. They knew he could reveal his past identity to the princess, to Nishimoto, and he dangled the power with contempt.

"If you'll excuse me, I was dancing with my escort." His arm was curled around her waist in a way that could only be possessive. Kaoru pressed against him gratefully, gathering her shaken nerves in the strong warmth of his hold. She knew what was coming, and she would need every ounce of courage and strength she could steal.

"I'm sure you'll humor me by allowing me to cut in on the princess's behalf." She hadn't faced him yet, but she could feel confidence and arrogance washing against her back from his presence.

"No-"

"Kenshin," this time it was her that interrupted. "Dance with the princess. I will be fine. Lord Yukishiro will treat me kindly." She met his questioning stare firmly. Enishi couldn't touch her in such a large group with so many witnesses. And likewise, Kenshin couldn't risk making a scene by refusing the princess.

"Fine," he bit the word out, gave her one last burning stare, and released her.

She was swept up in strong arms and twirled away into the crowd before she could take a breath. She stumbled against his hold around her waist and turned defiant eyes to his face. He didn't have to drag her around like a rag doll.

She couldn't help but admire the strong set of his jaw and the pull of his eyes. If she didn't know what he was capable of, she would almost call him dreamy. He had the somber beauty of his sister, sharpened into masculine lines that would have any normal girl swooning.

Kaoru was many things. Normal was not one of them. Let the verbal sparring begin.

"It's such a pleasure to see you again." She fluttered her eyes.

Thrust

Enishi grinned and his teeth were startlingly white against his tanned face.

"Yes, I'm glad to see that your health has improved since then."

Parry.

"You flatter me, my Lord. Why would you worry about a low commoner like myself?"

He dipped her with the music and his glasses slipped down his nose, giving her a better glimpse of the amusement in his eyes.

"Please do not think so poorly of me. I was quite impressed by your devotion to your prince. It's a shame such loyalty is misplaced in a brutal murderer like the Battousai."

They circled each other, palms raised and pressed between them. She locked their eyes.

"Loyalty like Lady Tomoe has given him?"

Touché.

His gaze sharpened and the arm that pulled her back to the private circle of the dance was rough. But the voice was still as sweet and crooning.

"Do not presume to know my dear sister. Her trust was not freely given. It was stolen."

Ice dripped down her back. He spun her away from him.

She smiled, "Forgive my ignorance. I was under the impression that they were in love."

He yanked her back into his embrace and the hand around her waist crushed into her flesh. She bit her lip against the pain as her hand creaked in his grip. The battleground lurched beneath her feet and she struggled for balance.

"He has trapped her, girl." His breath hissed in her ear. "He has convinced her that he is the only one who can love her. He has spun her in sweet lies and she feels she cannot escape."

He released her hand and touched gentle fingers to her jaw. The move stunned her speechless. Her grip on her verbal weapon was loosening. He'd changed the rules mid battle and she couldn't tell how he'd done it.

His gaze was soft on her face. "He has spelled her, Ms. Seta. Just as he's spelled you."

Her eyes widened. Her sword skittered across the floor as he took dominance over the floor. He leaned in and his lips pressed against the hollow of her cheek. His breath was hot against her skin.

"You remind me of my sister, so I will give you some advice. Do not let him take you in. He is a murderer. No amount of atonement will change that. He stole her happiness and then stole her freedom. He will do the same to you."

"No," she choked. Her limbs were paralyzed in his arms. His words seeped beneath her tightly closed eyes and burned into her mind. Something was wrong. Why couldn't she move?

"Yes."

He leaned back and brushed a stray lock of hair from her face in an almost tender gesture. Her eyes fluttered open in surprise and he trapped her with the dangerous charisma rolling from his lips as he smiled.

"I will free her, Ms. Seta. I will give her back her smile."

"He loves her," she whispered, horrified by her paralysis. His gaze held her captive.

He shook his head. "That doesn't matter. He has taken too much from her." His voice crooned the words into a song. "How dare he think he is worthy of her."

"You're crazy." The revelation was like a splash of cold water to her senses. She stumbled away from his hold and he let her go with a smirk.

"I will free her." He promised again.

She pressed a fist over her heart and tried to calm the heaving of her chest. He had power and he'd just held it over her. She couldn't know if it was magic, but she knew it had to be more than simple charm. For a moment she'd almost been drawn into understanding his reasoning. Into thinking he was justified.

She clutched her head between her fists and hissed in a breath through her teeth. How dare he meddle with her emotions, using her own feelings for Kenshin to foster doubt. And he almost had. He'd almost mesmerized her with his eyes.

"You're twisted! She'll hate you if you hurt him. You know that." She was almost yelling at him. The other dancers were beginning to take notice.

"She will smile for me." He tucked his hands into the pockets of his pants and blinked lazily at her.

Fear clutched at her chest and she whirled away from him. She had to get out of here. She had to escape those beautiful eyes.

She pushed and shoved her way to the edge of the ballroom and groped along the mirrored wall toward the door. Her reflection was wild-eyed and panting.

She threw herself into the hallway and stumbled away from the dance. Her shoes drove nails into her brain with each click against the marble floor. She needed to find some place to collect herself. Anyone who saw her right now would think she was crazy.

As crazy as Enishi.

She stifled a wail and flung open the nearest door her fumbling hands found. Darkness wrapped her tightly and she collapsed against the wall immediately inside the door.

No one yelled or asked what she was doing, so she assumed the room was empty. Relaxing against the cool plaster of the wall, she focused on the ragged pull of her breath and tried to pull herself from the edge of hysteria. She moaned as the memory of his twisted smile filled the inside of her eyelids. She shook her head violently and pressed her knuckles to her eye sockets to dispel the image.

Eventually, she calmed down enough to realize that Kenshin was probably frantic, looking for her. He would have been keeping an eye on her and seen her frantic escape from the room.

"I should go back." The words made her shudder. If she went back, she might run into Him again. No wonder Battousai was so wary.

The door swung open and she jumped as light spilled into her little sanctuary.

"Here you are! I have been looking everywhere for you."

She flinched away when she realized it wasn't Kenshin. She'd already half-risen to meet him.

"Ekubo." She acknowledged. Her equilibrium was returning now, but she didn't feel like dealing with the nuisance.

He stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, still flustered enough that the new threat wasn't immediately apparent.

"I have been looking for you," he said again, but his voice dropped so the words sent thrills of apprehension down her spine. She shouldn't have left the safety of the ballroom.

"Have you?" She stalled, inching her way up the wall as he closed in on her.

"You are a very beautiful woman, do you know that?" he sounded almost casual as he gripped her upper arms and yanked her to her feet.

She grunted as his finger bit into her skin. "Thank you. Well, now that you've found me, shouldn't we head back to the ball?" She gathered her wits with the precision born of years of training. Hopefully he wouldn't make this hard for her.

"I think we should stay right here." He slammed himself against her and the words were hot on her face.

Kaoru wrinkled her nose. The last of Enishi's hold over her dissolved. She made subtle adjustments in her posture and centered herself, preparing for the fight.

"I really would like to go back to the ball," she tried again. Reasoning almost never worked in these situations, but it never hurt to try.

"You will stay here with me." He growled. "She said I could have you."

So the princess was behind this? Not surprising.

"I will enjoy this." His stubby nails were digging into her flesh.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. Such drama.

They never made it easy for her. At least she'd tried. Any broken bones he might get now were on his conscience, not hers.

"Well, I guess if you insist," she replied sweetly.

A/N: Let me just tell you, the ballroom scenes in this fic are by far my favorite things to write. I love it. But, oh no! I've left you with a cliffhanger! What dastardly plot is Enishi brewing? What the hell did he do to Kaoru? And who here thinks Kaoru will take out Dimple Boy without breaking a sweat? I know I do… mostly because I know what happens ::laughs:: But such is an author's privilege.