Dear To My Heart
Chapter 1: Bodyguard
Hi! I'm back! After quite a long time of not posting, I am finally back. I meant to post this so much earlier, but somehow I never got the chance. This fic is AU, but I tried to stick to the canon personalities and stories, but there are some parts that will be off. Sorry if the first chapter isn't the greatest, it's kinda just setting the scene and giving some info, and introducing some characters. I've never tried writing AU before, so I'm hoping this is a success. Happy reading!
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me.
Princess Kamiya Kaoru plopped onto her bed with a sigh and leaned her chin in her palm. Such was a very inelegant action, but she didn't care. She was beyond bored, considering her parents refused to let her leave this jail called the royal palace. She knew that there had been assassination attempts toward her, being the future queen, but being cooped in her bedroom was the worst punishment she could imagine. In secret, just to let out some pent up frustration, Kaoru took kendo lessons from the instructor of the sword style her father developed, Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. To this day, her parents still remained ignorant of her little unrefined hobby. It started just to spite her parents, out of a desire to be different, but she grew to love the art. Today, though, she was particularly bored. Her parents insisted she stay put in her room until they called for her.
With a frustrated sigh, Kaoru stood and began to pace. Suddenly, she couldn't take it anymore and marched from her room to the throne room. She was going to plead that they let her out of this jail.
"Your Highness! What are you doing out of your room? Their Majesties gave specific orders to keep you there!" a passing maid who knew her well exclaimed.
"Anaka," Kaoru sighed. "Forget it. I'm just going to see my parents."
"Did they send for you, Highness?" the maid named Anaka persisted.
"Iie. I need to talk to them. Do you know where Komime-san is?" Kaoru inquired.
"Hai. She's actually with your parents, Highness," Anaka replied.
"Thanks, Anaka!"
"It was my pleasure, Highness!" she called to her disappearing back. When Kaoru arrived before the doors of the banquet hall, to her dismay, the guards would not let her pass.
"Excuse me," Kaoru first said politely.
"We are not to allow you in, Your Highness," one of the guards spoke.
"I have important business to discuss with my parents. Tell them I wish to speak with them," Kaoru commanded.
"Hai, Highness," the guard bowed and reported Kaoru's words to the King and Queen, unable to refuse a direct order. When the guard exited, he gestured for Kaoru to enter. Kaoru smiled a quick thank you to him and hurried inside.
"Ah, Kaoru-chan. We should've known you would come. Anything in particular you need to speak with us about?" Her Majesty Queen Kiara, Kaoru's mother asked gently.
"Mother! Father! I beg of you, allow me to leave the palace, please!" Kaoru bowed while pleading.
"Kaoru," His Majesty King Koshijirou spoke before his wife could. "We've said no.–"
"But, I have an idea," Kiara interrupted. "I will need time to discuss this with your father. Wait outside until we call you in." Kiara smiled encouragingly. Kaoru nodded, not daring to hope for more.
After Kaoru exited the room, Kiara turned to her husband and said, "Anata, why don't we get Kaoru a bodyguard? One who will follow her everywhere. She can even choose the man."
"Will he share Kaoru's room?" Koshijirou questioned, raising an eyebrow at his wife.
"If he is honorable, I see no problem," Kiara responded briskly.
"All right. If that's what you want, Kiara," Koshijirou agreed. He motioned for a guard to allow his daughter back.
When Kaoru once again entered the hall, Kiara smiled and began, "Kaoru-hime, we've decided to get you a bodyguard who will accompany you everywhere."
The glimmer of hope in Kaoru's eyes flared and she cried, "Oh, thank you, Mother! Thank you, Father!"
"Tomorrow, we will have candidates here for your choosing. You are not to leave your room until we send for you, understood?" Koshijirou said.
"Of course! Thank you so much! By the way, where is Komime-san?" Kaoru asked, puzzled.
"She left before you came, dear," Kiara replied distractedly.
"Oh," Kaoru merely said in disappointment. "Is Sano coming soon?"
"We don't know. Ask your sister. If she invited him, hai, he is. But, Kaoru, realize that no matter how close our kingdoms, Sanosuke is still the prince of another kingdom," Koshijirou warned.
"I know, Father. I just haven't seen him in forever," Kaoru sighed.
"Well, go see your sister then."
"Okay. I'll take my leave now, Mother, Father," Kaoru bowed and walked from the room to find Kamiya Megumi.
Just as Kaoru was about to give up, she saw Megumi leaving her own bedroom. "Megumi! What were you doing in my bedroom? I was looking for you."
"I was looking for you too. Do you mind that I invited Sano? I wanted to see him." Megumi blushed.
"Not at all. I actually came to ask you about that. Oh, Megumi! I've got splendid news! Mother and Father are letting me hire a bodyguard so I can leave the palace now!" Kaoru exclaimed.
"That's great! You know, I don't envy you. I thought I wanted to be queen someday, but really, after seeing you… well, I could do without everything you have to deal with. Who's your bodyguard? He's gonna live with you right?" Megumi commented.
"I suppose he'll have to. As for who it is, I get to choose tomorrow morning," Kaoru responded happily.
"Well, then –" Megumi was interrupted as her and Kaoru's younger brother, Kamiya Yahiko, came barreling into Kaoru.
"Kaoru! Megumi! In a rush!" he called as he ran away.
"Hmph! That boy! Can't even apologize!" Kaoru huffed indignantly.
"Yup, that's our Yahiko," Megumi agreed with a grin.
"Well, I'm gonna turn in for the night. I'm exhausted. When's Sano coming?" Kaoru stifled a yawn.
"Tomorrow night. He'll meet your bodyguard," Megumi answered with enthusiasm. Kaoru nodded and waved goodnight. Megumi gave a warm smile and returned the gesture.
The next morning Kaoru woke at the first rays of sun, excited about finally having the chance to leave her cage. She called for her personal maid and friend, Komime.
"Komime-san! Are you there? I'm awake now," Kaoru called with barely concealed anticipation.
"Hai, Your Highness. I am right here," Komime answered, walking into the room.
"Komime-san!" Kaoru scolded in mock anger. "How many times must I say it? I'm not 'Your Highness,' I'm 'Kaoru'! You've known me since birth, I see no need for you to use such formalities with me. Don't make me issue an order to you of all people, Komime-san."
"Understood, Kaoru-san." Komime bowed. "Now, we must get you dressed. I'm sure you are extremely excited about getting a bodyguard."
"I am, Komime-san! You know how much I want to be allowed out. Now, I can. Do you know when they'll be here?" Kaoru asked.
"I'm afraid not, Kaoru-san. You'll have to be patient, as always," Komime smiled softly at the childish glee in Kaoru's voice. The girl never changed.
Komime helped her princess don her undergarments and kimono. Then, she stood back to admire the young Princess Kamiya Kaoru. When she was satisfied with Kaoru's clothing, she sat her down in front of a mirror and began to brush her hair with deft strokes as she had for years.
Just as Komime finished, a guard knocked on the door, announcing, "Princess Kaoru, the King and Queen request you at the throne room."
"Thank you! I'll be right there," Kaoru leapt up from her seat and ran for the throne room, only slowing when she neared her destination. She could hear her mother now, 'Kaoru! Have you been running? You know how unrefined that is!'
As Kaoru entered the room, a dozen heads turned to stare at her. "Mother, Father, I'm here," Kaoru quickly announced with a bow to cover her blush, grateful for the curtain of hair that fell forward to conceal her face.
"Hai, hai. Minna-san! This is my daughter, Princess Kamiya Kaoru. If you are chosen, she is the woman you will guard," Koshijirou declared, his voice resonating through the enormous room.
Each man stepped forth one at a time to give their name and allow the princess to look them over.
Finally, Kaoru glided gracefully from her place by her parents to walk to one man. "May I ask your name again?" Kaoru murmured softly, stopping in front of a man with fiery red hair and the most extraordinarily entrancing violet eyes she'd ever seen.
"Himura Kenshin, Your Highness," the man replied in a low, husky voice, training his gaze on Kaoru, never once allowing his eyes to waver from hers.
That's the end of chapter 1! What'd you think? I have, I think, 17 chapters written, but not typed, already. I've been writing so much, but never typed. Sigh. Well, I hope I'll be able to update more often. Ja ne!
~RHRF