Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Love, Lies and Empire ❯ Prince and Princess ( Chapter 2 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is not mine. I have used the characters but they are not mine. There's no justice in the world

Love, Lies and Empire

Chapter 2: Prince and Princess

Konan

Dipping its head, the ebony horse gently lapped water from the forest stream. It raised its head to watch its rider sitting at the edge of the precipice, waiting. When the sun rose, swiftly running away from the folds of the night that had bound him, the slender figure rose, and watched the sun silently for a while before stretching both arms out toward the sun. The gesture was one of welcome, of worship and of love. The horse slowly ambled towards the figure and gently pressed its nose forward, making the figure turn around.

Kaoru smiled. “Did you see that Ko? What a beautiful sunrise!” she sighed, “The world looks so alive today…. and beautiful…don't you wish it may stay this way…forever…” The horse cocked his head to one side and regarded the girl with soft, brown eyes, what had gotten into his human today, she was normally so cheerful and noisy it took a command from the king to shut her up, and here she was, willfully staying silent. It wasn't natural, not for this human anyway.

Kaoru looked towards the sun one more time, then shaking her head turned away. She smoothly mounted the horse and urging him to a gallop, raced away towards the city. She had risen early today and left the palace secretly. She didn't want to wake anyone else because that would have meant smiling, and politeness and niceties, and Kaoru really was not in the mood for any of that today. Today, there would be just her and her shinai, and if anybody even tried to interrupt, well, there would be more than one bumpy head sitting in the Royal Infirmary. Enough was enough! Just how much tea did they expect her to serve anyway? It wasn't as though she wouldn't have any servants or that any of this even mattered, but no! Everything had to be proper, elegant, ladylike…my foot!

They just had to come to her bearing rolls and rolls of kimonos designed to make her walk slowly, so slow it would take her a week to make her way from one courtyard to another. She knew a conspiracy when she saw one. It was obvious from the way she was being told to behave, something was cooking…. and it stank. She wasn't a fool, she could see the signs, first it was her mannerisms, then her clothes, next they would come and tell her that she could no longer ride in public but that she had to take a palanquin the next time she wanted to venture out, then she would have to ask for permission to visit certain sections of the city…not that she went out into the city anyway, but still, it was a matter of principle.

And finally, they would present her to some pampered prince and expect her to nod her head and assent to marriage. Well she had news for them -it ain't gonna happen! Not this princess, any way! Marriage was the last thing she wanted right now. Just the other day Da had tried to broach the subject and she had thrown a fit. They would not leave her alone, everywhere she went, she could feel people following her, watching her every move. It was driving her insane! But today, nothing but her bamboo sword and the dojo or there would be bloodshed. There was enough time later on to act like a demented doll, but now was not that time.

Kaoru felt her heart catapult at the sight of the dojo. She drew Ko to the gate and jumped off gracefully. Whatever Kaoru might lack in temperament she made up with grace. Kamatari would often say that she was blessed with the grace and agility of a cat, no matter what the situation; Kaoru would land on her feet. She walked into the dojo, noting the emptiness and solitude inside. The abandoned feel of the place tore at her heart; it seemed as though every stone and brick in the building was accusing her of forgetting her promise and betraying her master. Kaoru gently flicked a tear off her left cheek, and purposely strode forward, shinai in hand. She took her stance solemnly and slowly began to go through the motions of her katas.

Swish…flashes of her training here ran through her mind even as she continued to swing the bamboo sword over and above her head then down in front of her body…. swish…. her sensei gently explaining the principles of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu…. swish…. her first test…. swish…. disciplining…. swish…. sensei adjusting her position…swish…the summons to war…swish…the letter to her father, the king…sensei was dead…. killed in action…swish. Kaoru stopped. She gently brought the sword down and held it in her hands, fingers caressing the smooth bamboo. This was hers. She had to carry it forward; she had to ensure this art did not die out. It was her sensei's legacy and she would not see it perish like this. It was time, for that conversation with her father. She knew her father would not approve, he would try to dissuade her, perhaps even get angry but in the end he would not refuse her, he could not. Kaoru knew she was her father's biggest strength but also his greatest weakness. He could not refuse her anything she set her heart on, he could not, and she just had to make him understand. That was all there was to it.

Nodding, Kaoru resumed her katas. Outside the dojo, another horse came to rest beside the ebony colored Ko. Ko neighed in greeting, the rider slid down his horse and walked towards Ko, stroking his head when he reached him. The man, if you could call him that, was very beautiful, in fact his appearance and mannerisms often caused people to believe him to be a woman. A fact that the man himself had no objection to, he prided himself on his feminine appearance. But for all purposes, appearances were deceptive. Kamatari looked to the dojo and smiled as he listened to his niece practicing.

“Ko…. your mistress seems upset about something, what happened?” Kamatari silently walked towards the entrance to the dojo. “What is going on in your head minxlette…I dare say you will be the death of me.” He opened the shoji and stepped inside. The figure that had been fervently practicing, her shinai slicing through the air, suddenly stopped. Pivoting on her left foot, Kaoru turned around with a combative look on her face. She smirked and took a defensive stance, challenging Kamatari to spar with her.

“A challenge?” Kamatari smirked as she curtly nodded. “Is this wise, Kaoru, crossing swords with me?”

“Humph! Don't try to get out of it by twisting words. You're always slipping away. But today there's nowhere you can run. Stand and fight! Or are you too scared, of being beaten by your niece?”

Kamatari chuckled. “It's because you are my niece that I'm even listening to your ranting. If you weren't you would have been dead by now. Taking that tone with me is not a smart thing to do.” He shrugged off his cloak, smiled at his fierce-looking opponent and slowly walked out on to the polished wooden floor that was covered with a film of dust due to the neglect. The shinai was not his preferred weapon and this put him at a slight disadvantage however he was a clever fighter; he never made the mistake of underestimating his opponent, especially if that opponent was his niece. She still had much to learn, but he would humor her, a real fight would probably leave her shaken since her weapon of choice was a wooden sword, with which she hadn't trained of late.

They squared off, each watching intensely, neither wanting to strike the first move. Sword fighting is not about the strength of the body but it depends upon the strength of the mind. The ability to keep a balanced and rational view is what often makes all the difference. Kamatari had spent years honing his ki ability and cooling his mind. Kaoru on the other hand was a spitfire, unpredictable, you never could tell what she was capable of, and this unnerved him.

While he was still lost in his thoughts, Kaoru moved, taking a high guard she lunged towards Kamatari who moved away just in time, swinging his own sword down diagonally to catch her back. Kaoru anticipated the move and using her shinai as support she pivoted and kicked, her leg connecting solidly with Kamatari's back. He winced and his knee buckled just as Kaoru came forward once more. He moved quickly blocking her attack with the sheath of his sword and shoving her back a few paces.

“Where did you learn that? It is certainly not Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. I remember every move you learnt from your sensei, this is not one of them.” All traces of camaraderie had left his voice. This was beginning to get interesting. His little minxlette was, perhaps improvising, the next stage in swordsmanship.

“Oh nowhere in particular, you remember how you and Da used to keep telling me not to play with the street kids, no good would come of it? Well that's where I learnt a trick or two. What's the matter? Can't stand playing rough?” Kaoru laughed with joy. Pulling one above her uncle didn't happen to her very often, in fact it never happened. Kamatari was too astute a fighter to let her get away with much.

“Street moves?” he chuckled again. I've been surprised by street moves. I better get my act together, or I'd never hear the end of it. All right minxlette, you want to play rough, do you, fine by me. He smirked and swung his sword from left to right, in sweeping motions, again and again, letting the rhythm calm him so he found his center.

Kaoru stiffened. What was he doing? This doesn't look good. That kick was merely a fluke I think, I just thought of it at the last minute, but he…what's he doing? I've never seen him try a move like this before. Or is it just to make me wary. Well, whatever it is now, can't back down. Or I'd never hear the end of it.

He stopped, too suddenly for Kaoru's liking and then when she least expected it, she saw the sword, hurtling towards her, a blurred circle. Kaoru did the only thing she could think of, swung to her side so she was out of the whirling sword's path and then struck down with all her strength. The sword clattered to the floor. Kaoru stared at it for a few moments and then slowly turned to look at Kamatari. She was furious. This had been no duel! He had been playing with her all along. She was enraged. Completely, totally enraged.

“What in the name of the seven heavens was that?” She roared. ”That was no duel and you know it! And you call yourself a warrior! You can't even fight your own niece without resorting to tricks! Explain yourself right now Kamatari!! I mean it!” She poked her finger in his ribs with the last sentence she spoke. Her eyes were blazing; she was red in the face, obviously not taking defeat very kindly. Kamatari yawned. So, it a mere flash of brilliance, Kaoru really hadn't learned anything new. Time to put the rug rat in her place.

“Yes, yes, I know I know. But, what did you expect I'd do? Look Kaoru, granted you surprised me a little but not nearly enough. And anyway, in order to be a swordsman of any caliber you really need to rein in that temper. If we were in a battle right now, you would have been history. How many times must I tell you? Never show your hand. Keep your emotions locked and throw away the key. But if you would rather behave like a gypsy, well, that's just fine with me”, having said this, he strode to his discarded cloak, shook it and swung it around his shoulders again. He looked at Kaoru who was still glaring at him, seething at her easy defeat. Kamatari suppressed a giggle.

“Come minxlette, don't sulk. You know I hate it when you spoil your pretty face like that”.

“I am NOT sulking, uncle”, said Kaoru, her voice dripping with poison. Kamatari couldn't contain his laughter any longer. He laughed heartily, getting louder as he observed the various shades of red running through Kaoru's face. She picked up her shinai and cloak in anger and marched out. Kamatari wiped his tears and looked around, “oh shit, I think she's upset”. He quickly made his way to the horses where he found Kaoru untying Ko's reins. He bit his lip to stop the giggles that were simply bursting to escape but to do so now, would make his little minx angrier and even though the prospect was entertaining, he didn't want to aggravate her. After all, she was the only decent female company in court. The rest of the women were as dull as ditch water… well perhaps he was being too cruel but there was only so much gallantry a man could muster at the end of a long day. The women who were involved in governance and the army were far more enchanting than the so-called butterflies of court.

He blinked when he felt his horse's reins being shoved into his hands. Looking down and then quickly up at Kaoru who was already mounted, he couldn't hide his confusion. “Well? Are you coming or not? Or would you rather leave Da languishing in hunger while he waits for us?”

In one fluid movement, he was mounted, reins in hand, urging the stallion to the road. Digging his heels into the sides of the horse, he smiled. “Does this mean I am forgiven?”

“No”

“Really?”

“Yes”

“You really need to start working on being sweet tempered and forgiving Kaoru, it does wonders in making your way to a man's heart,” Kamatari lightly teased her.

Kaoru grimaced. “Ugh! I don't need to make my way to a man's heart_”

“Ahhh yes I forgot, all you need to do is bat your eyelashes, bend your head a little, and if you're feeling really generous, you could always flash some leg_”

“Kamatari!! What are you talking about? I didn't mean it like that!”

“No…oh of course you didn't minxlette, I was just guessing”. Kamatari glossed over her arguments, in the manner of person refuting the obvious.

Kaoru sputtered.

“No! You do not understand, I never meant that_”

“Well, what did you mean then?” Kamatari arched an eyebrow.

Kaoru drew a long breath and spoke, “what I meant was that I'm not interested in men! Ok!”

“Oh. Well. I'm not sure your father thought about that possibility. I wonder what he'd do if found out that you…. well…don't you worry honey. I'll talk to him. It's just a matter of persuading him to find you a wife instead of a husband”, Kamatari went on talking with a deadpan expression, completely ignoring Kaoru who started out by shaking her head vehemently to going as red as a ripe tomato in the face and finally holding her head in her hands as she bent over her horse, resting her face in Ko's mane.

“You are despicable, Kamatari.”

Kamatari laughed, stroking her hair lovingly, “I love you too, minxlette”.

Kutoe

Aoshi hurried through the eastern wing, he didn't want to be called back to Hiko, if he could help it, seeing him once a week was more than enough. He wondered once again, like he had a thousand times since returning to the Palace, how on earth did Kenshin survive training sessions with him? His cousin had to be made of some element apart from the rest of them in order to stay so close to Hiko and still remain sane. Speaking of whom, he had reached his destination. Aoshi wondered at the lack of guards surrounding the chambers of the Heir Apparent. There was not a single soul visible.

Aoshi reached up to knock, but before his knuckles even reached the polished wood of the door, it swung open and the next instant Aoshi found himself buried in a tight embrace. He sputtered, and shoved the warm body away. Blinking he looked down, and promptly broke into a grin. “Sano! What are you doing here?”

A young man previously sprawled on the floor from the force of his shove, nimbly got to his feet, dusting off his clothes before looking at the man he had just attempted to wring out. He was as tall as Aoshi, had a lean body that was packed with muscles. His chocolate brown eyes twinkled mischievously as a grin formed on his cocky features. His spiky hair stood up contained by a red bandana. He laughed.

“Just got back this morning. Came here straight after reporting to Takasugi. Heard you were in the palace…and reporting to Hiko. That just blew the wind outta my sails and I hurried over here to find His Highness making up for his lost beauty sleep_”

Before he could finish, a pillow banged into his face, effectively shutting him up. He angrily glared in the direction whence it came from to settle on the occupant of the huge four-poster bed in the center of the room. Lazily lifting his frame from the bed, Kenshin glared back at Sano before turning to Aoshi and winking. “I heard you were back cuz.” Aoshi regarded the man with thoughtful eyes before smiling back. He had always been bit of an enigma to him. That Hiko chose Kenshin over himself to be the next emperor of Kutoe was a fact he had come to terms with long ago. He didn't hold any grudge over that. Aoshi was not one to obsess over things he could not help.

Every generation in a family has one spark, one genius child who gains the affections of all those around him or her. In the Seijuro dynasty, there were two, Aoshi and Kenshin had both impressed everyone who came into contact with them, with their quick wits, and later their skills with the sword. But where Aoshi was the master of the kodachi twin swords, Kenshin had surpassed all others to a level they could now, never achieve. The decision to train Kenshin in Hiten Mitsurugi had been the final signal. Hiko Seijuro had chosen his heir, and it was accepted with respect like everything else.

Aoshi's gaze rested on Kenshin's hair. His hair, like the color of dried blood, dark, brooding red, contrasting with his brilliant amethyst eyes. Most people avoided meeting Kenshin's eyes because they were wary of what lay there, his eyes, swirling pools of violet turned a dark navy when angry and when the bloodlust of battle and bloodshed took him they melted into molten pools of amber. His eyes. He had heard his victims, (the ones he sometimes left alive on a whim or more often on Hiko's orders) sometimes babbling, rambling about the eyes that had shown them horror even while his sword had not touched them, not drawn a single drop of blood, yet his eyes bore into them and broke them forever.

In the dungeons of Kutoe, where rebels, thieves, and prisoners of war languished in the dark of despair, these eyes were the last thing they remembered, everything else was lost to a mire of memory, never claimed, never called for again. Whispers of a demon with molten eyes and blood red hair wisped about the countryside, traveling down the trade routes to the southern lands where soldiers gripped their spears and swords tighter if someone so much as breathed his name. Battousai.

Aoshi started as a hand waved in front of his eyes. He focused to find Sano and Kenshin looking at him, concerned. Kenshin came forward and grasped his arm. “Aoshi. Are you all right? Did Shishou rattle you?”

Aoshi looked at him, the violet gaze centered on him, showing real concern. And yet, for his ghastly reputation, Kenshin had a heart. He genuinely cared for very few people in the world; he knew he was one of them. Growing up, the three of them had forged a strong bond, which no dojo or battlefield rivalry could mar. There had been times where they had almost killed each other before Okina pulled them apart, but those fights led them to understand each other completely.

When he was sent away for ninja training and Sano left to train with Anji, Kenshin was left alone to deal with the intrigues of court. Every step was a test laid out by Hiko, every conversation monitored by faceless spies who melted into the walls when he turned to face them. The extent to which Kenshin had transformed was revealed four year ago, when he had returned from camp to see his cousin. Kenshin had been twenty and seemed as though a steel curtain now existed between them. No word of his passed through it, he stared at him as though he didn't know him, and then Sanosuke had arrived and pounced on the two of them, bringing them to the ground. The mask fell away and the amber eyes turned velvet once more. In that moment, the three of them silently vowed, they could retain masks for the whole world but here, with just the three of them, nothing would be hidden.

Once again, he felt someone shake him; Kenshin was worried. Aoshi flinched as a hand struck his cheek stinging him. He immediately snapped out of his reverie to look sharply at Kenshin. “What the hell was that for? Will you never be patient?”

“And he's back.” Sano snorted. “Took you long enough, you blockhead. We've been talking to you for ages, while you were off thinking god-knows-what. Hey Aoshi!” Aoshi moved to the window “If you wanna be lost thinking legs first thing in the morning, give us some warning ok! We'll clear out!”

Kenshin smirked. “Let him be Sano, he's just met Shishou, that can't have been very comfortable.”

“It was not. Nothing is ever comfortable around him. I wonder how you do it.”

“I'm used to it. And he knows he can't get rid of me now, I'm the best student he'd ever find.” Kenshin stepped out from behind the polished rosewood screen where he had been dressing. “Don't let it get to you. You don't have to see him for another week. Forget him”

“Now”, Kenshin swiftly crossed the room and picked up a scroll that lay on a small lacquered table near the opposite wall. Spreading the scroll on the centre table, he looked up at Aoshi and spoke, “what news? When do we ride to battle?”

Aoshi frowned. “Not for another four or five months. I do not understand the need for the delay. Konan is weak and its armies are scattered. Shishio is wary yet he is not sure where our first strike shall land so he keeps rotating his armies around the perimeter. If we strike now, we can wrap the battle up in twelve days or less. But he just won't hear of it. Watch the perimeter that's it. That's all he said”.

Kenshin looked at the map carefully while Sano snorted, “Figures, The old dingbat's finally lost it. The council isn't gonna support this. They'll wanna hit as hard and fast as we can. There isn't any point in risking it. Konan may not have a great army, but those men can fight. And Shishio isn't a pushover, if Hiko thinks he can push Konan over, he's got another thing coming. He's lost his marbles I tell you.”

“No”, Kenshin's eyes narrowed and his eyes turned dark blue. He rose, rolling the scroll back into a cylinder, “he knows exactly what he's doing. Shishio refused his vassal offer, didn't he? Shishou wants to humiliate him. He won't strike now; he'll keep playing with Konan till it is too tired to fight. By the time, our armies enter their borders; they will be too weary.”

The three men stood silently. Sano looked at his friends' faces uneasily. Aoshi was fine but Kenshin, his eyes were getting darker; he could make out flecks of amber in the blue. He cajoled them to go out for the evening. The three then went their separate ways, there was plenty of time to kill before dusk, and they were needed elsewhere.

Kenshin made his way to the court. All along the way, he thought about Hiko's Konan strategy, there wasn't a loophole anywhere. When they struck, harvest would just have been finished. Festivals and ancestral rites would keep the Konan citizens busy. Aoshi's Oniwaban would slip by unnoticed and the army would circle around closing in silently, not letting a soul escape. The men would be killed, the women, taken as slaves. Some of the beautiful ones would be kept, others sold further a field.

The produce would be seized; it was after all spoils of war, booty, theirs by right of conquest. And the royal family…Shishio, he believed had a daughter. He had reached Hiko's door. It would be kinder if Shishio slit her throat himself, Hiko would probably just give her to his soldiers, or hand her to one of the generals if she were exceptionally beautiful. Why was he even bothered? Not like he would care what happened to her.

He paused before the door of the Court. He pushed it open, making his way to a seat next to Hiko's. He heard the gasps and bated breath of people who were seeing him for the first time. He smirked. Commoners, people who had no confidence, no sense of self worth were useless in his opinion. They were better dead, than alive; at least they didn't get in the way. He spied Aoshi, standing in the shadows behind Hiko's throne.

The Court had settled down. His uncle's chief advisor, Katsura began proceedings. Kenshin stifled the urge to yawn. He schooled his expression to one of attentive contemplation. Allowing his eyes to move across the hall, his eyes were arrested by the presence of one individual. Kenshin raised his head slightly, and a smirk tugged at his mouth.

The man's angled features, white hair were unmistakable, and round spectacles, perched on his nose completed the picture that was Yukishiro Enishi. So the crazed imbecile had returned had he? Interesting. Now if only he could find out if his delectable sister was in the city too. Tomoe was someone he wouldn't mind meeting again, no he wouldn't mind that at all. Damn this meeting! It couldn't get over fast enough.

The court proceedings were adjourned an hour later and Kenshin was about to make his way to Enishi when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. It was Hiko. “And where do you think you're off to, baka? I am not finished with you yet. You have a job to do, Get Sano and Aoshi, we need to talk”. Kenshin narrowed his eyes, casting his eyes down and then looking up seeking Enishi out, hoping he would catch his eye but Enishi was busy talking to Katsura. Hiko followed his gaze. “Don't tell me you're still mooning over that Yukishiro girl, aren't you bored of her yet?”

Having said this, Hiko turned away. Kenshin bristled. “Would you rather I do what you do, my liege, replace a mistress every month?”

Hiko stopped in his tracks. He smirked. “Do you know why I am emperor still Kenshin? Even though you are old enough to ascend the throne?” Kenshin felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand upright as Hiko's ki washed over him. “It's because you are predictable, bakadeshi, too predictable.”

Author Notes:

Did you like it? Please review. Guys it'll take you 1 teeny tiny minute but it'll put a HUGE, we're talking HUGE smile on my face!!!