Disclaimer: I've never owned Rurouni Kenshin and never will.
Author's Note: Yeah I know, you hate these things. Why else do I put them up? Just kidding. TO THOSE WHO ALREADY READ THIS CHAPTER I FORGOT TO PUT UP A WEBSITE WHERE IT HAS KAORU'S KIMONO! IT'LL BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE!
I just want to warn you that the only reason I'm posting this is because I really wanna know what someone thinks of it, but my brothers would never do it and I wouldn't ever think of asking my parents! This means that I will NOT be updating this frequently. I am not a quick updater at ALL. I just wanted to warn you so you couldn't complain to me during the story about me taking too long to update. I've already had one person do that in one of my other stories and that just makes me go even slower.
Well, enjoy.
--+--
Unsheathing the Sheathed
Prologue 1, The Name's Kenshin
-~+*+~--~+*+~--~+*+~--~+*+~-
She stood there staring with wide childish blue eyes at the scene before her, mouth agape. Light black hair fell over her forehead, the rest pulled away into a slim ponytail by a white silk ribbon. Two strands of hair fell in front of her ears, stopping a good two inches over her shoulders, unlike her pony tail that reached her shoulder blades. Despite her young age of eleven she was taller then most girls her age. Her waist was slim, but her hips were barely rounded and she was still flat-breasted. In long-fingered hands was a pale ball made from sanded wood.
Wearing a sky blue kimono which faded into white at the end of it and the sleeves, a village was sewn into it intricately, bushy green trees about the village. A delicate white obi with three blue lines neatly spaced apart was tied beautifully around her back.
At first sight, if she was smiling at least, you could say the young Kaoru Kamiya was the essence of innocence. But if you took the time to look deeper, to observe her actions, you would see her loneliness, her need for just a friend. You would spot her forced smiles, her glazed eyes and how she rarely went anywhere unless her proud parents were trying to show off her growing good looks. For all she knew they could already have her betrothed to someone ten years older then her.
Kaoru had never been exposed to the outside world. Rarely did they let her out into the castle grounds, and because of this she usually snuck out, using her mother's powders afterwards to hide the tan till it would seem more appropriate. Kaoru was a princess of a medium quarter of land. She had become a tomboy none the less and many times had she not been able to stop the fire that would burst from her mouth in her youthful anger.
She had never seen this.
Kaoru had been receiving a lecture on the basics of being a young lady from her mother when a soldier had announced himself and pulled the enormous doors open. Two soldiers pulled a struggling figure inside the room and her father shot to his feet.
"What is this?" Kaoru's father bellowed. The third soldier who had announced their entry bowed at the waist respectively.
"Captain Toko Fujikama at your service, sir. We have successfully captured the man you wanted, your majesty!" the captain announced.
"Let me see this criminal!" King Kamiya ordered. The prisoner continued to writhe about in their grasps, but they pushed him forward, pulling his head back by the hair so the king could see his face.
His hair was as red as fire, maybe even darker, probably one of his most striking features. It fell about his face, longer on the sides, while the rest was pulled back into a long ponytail by a leather thong, reaching down to just below his shoulders. A youthful face was seen in the middle of the halo of fine hair, he couldn't be older then fifteen. His eyes were a piercing gold and if they had not been set in his face you would have thought them as such. His pink lips had been pulled into a grim line. His face was handsome, in a feminine kind of way, but his left cheek was marred. Upon it was a thin scar that trailed down his cheek, stopping above his lips to the side. Another scar crossed over it in an X on its side, yet it still bled slightly. He wore a dark navy blue fighting gi with a light gray hakama. The end of the sleeves and pants were tattered, torn everywhere. Where the gi lowered at the collar, Kaoru could see a well chiseled chest, lighting a blush across her face.
Kaoru stared in wonder, filled with curiosity and fear at the same time. This scene excited her; she had never witnessed such a showing. The ball in her hands slipped from her weakened grasp, clattering to the ground sharply, interrupting the pregnant silence that had over come the room. Immediately, his eyes flicked over to her staring ones, locking with them for what seemed forever.
His eyes were filled with rage and frustration. Sadness loomed over them, as if he had lost something important to him. He just stared into her blue eyes and she felt somewhat naked in his view, like he was searching her very soul.
"We have captured the Hitokiri Battousai. We have found his age to be around fifteen. We found him by a grave, probably digging some body up for fun. These were the weapons he carried" Captain Fujikama declared, holding up two sheathed swords, one of them obviously a katana by its length. The young man's eyes quickly averted themselves from Kaoru's, a new rage filling them.
Letting out a furious yell, his arms filled with new strength, he threw them off him, jabbing his elbow into a nearby soldier's gut. Pulling himself into his full height, Kaoru discovered he was fairly short, despite his age, reigning over her about five inches despite the four years age difference.
Grabbing what weapon he could, which happened to be an empty sheath from one of the soldiers, the Battousai slammed it against the side of the man's face. Grabbing the man's shoulders, Battousai rammed his knee into the man's gut. Twirling the sheath in his fingers, Battousai rammed it behind him into the other soldier's stomach. The man gasped at the sudden force and fell to his knees gasping for breath.
"I am not a grave robber!" he shouted in a youthful kind of deep voice, smooth as liquid.
So this was the Hitokiri Battousai. Kaoru let a small smile spread over her still agape mouth as she watched in wonder at the teenager's grace before her. He moved with immense elegance, even the way he held the sheath was refined in its own way. Kaoru had never seen a fight before, but she doubted any were anything like this. He moved with his very core, like some kind of violent, but yet smooth dance.
Guards stormed in and held their new western guns aimed at Battousai. He circled around, breathing evenly despite the fact that he had just taken out two full-fledged soldiers. Captain Fujikama approached him and smirked as he watched the guards chain the young man's arms behind his back. Battousai just stared back at him and he seemed so . . . so malevolent.
"But you are a murderer" King Kamiya spat. Queen Kamiya had long since sunk into her cushioned throne in her helpless fear, forgetting her daughter who stood so hypnotized by this man's strength.
"I prefer the term assassin" Battousai spat back, turning towards the king.
"It's no better then the other name. Shut your mouth. Don't you know you are in the presence of the royal family?" the king taunted.
"I kill because I have to" Battousai muttered. The king sighed. King Kamiya was truly a kind man, protective of his family and kingdom, but he had a hate for admitting he had done wrong. His family even had a way of the kendo sword style called Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu which's main priority is to protect the weak, but never kill to do so. Kaoru would always watch him since she was very young, observing how he moved so she could copy him. One day she was found out and her father, being gentle on her, decided she would teach her for her own safety.
"You are fifteen" King Kamiya stated, sitting onto his throne, propping his head up with his palm. Battousai looked at him in annoyance.
"Tell me something I don't know" Battousai taunted, rolling his golden eyes.
The king sighed again. "And arrogant"
Battousai just stared him down, his eyes cold and merciless.
"Oh behalf of the kingdom's best interest, I'm afraid you must be executed immediately by decapitation. This is my final . . ."
"No, Father!" Kaoru suddenly shouted. When everyone's eyes turned towards her, she hesitated. Biting her lip, Kaoru marched over to King Kamiya's side and looked at him pleadingly.
"Kaoru! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Madam Agati for your lessons?" King Kamiya hurriedly whispered. Kaoru winced.
"Well, I guess, but Mother was telling me something when this young man was brought in" Kaoru whispered back. King Kamiya sighed and buried his face in his hands.
"Why is it you don't wish him to be killed? Don't say you just said that for fun or else no more lessons for a month" King Kamiya ordered harshly, he was not in the mood for childish antics.
Kaoru's eyes rounded with fear and she fell to her knees, holding onto one of his hands. "Oh no Father! You know I could loose my form that way if I didn't have someone teaching me!
But see here Father! If he's an assassin, then he is paid to do his duty by the government or who ever he works for. If it tis' the government then if he didn't do that duty, wouldn't they either kill him or blackmail him in some way, especially since he has such a known name?" Kaoru pleaded, glancing back at the assassin, who had a rather perplexed look on his face. Kaoru giggled at his face and he quickly stoned his face again.
King Kamiya looked up at Kaoru's intelligent young face and then at Battousai. "Isn't there anything better then death you could give?" she murmured. King Kamiya smiled and patted her lightly on the head.
"Would being a slave to the castle do anything to make you happy?" King Kamiya asked. A smile lit about her usual sad features.
"Oh yes! Thank you! Anything is better then death!" Kaoru cried and threw her arms around her father's neck. He smiled lightly, but pulled her away. Blushing Kaoru clasped her hands together and bowed to him. "I'm sorry; such forwardness is not wanted in court"
"Now get your ball and hurry to Madame Agati. I do not want her on my tail about how you never go to the classes" King Kamiya shooed her away. Bowing again, she turned to go, but when she saw Battousai was watching her, she gave a small smile. He in return crooked his head slightly to the side and her smile widened. Crouching down, she retrieved her ball and scurried out of the royal court.
King Kamiya looked at the young man who watched his daughter leave. "I don't know why she defended you, but you owe your life to my daughter, and that's why I believe you will protect it with your own. You are an honorable man, are you not?"
"I do not hurt those who defend me" Battousai murmured.
"Good. You will protect her. But you will not touch her. You will not hurt her. You will not trick her. You will do everything she says. But you will not tell her that you are her protector, just her servant. Understood?" King Kamiya commanded. Battousai just stared at him.
"You're trusting her to me?" he asked. The king nodded. He rang a bell and a young maid hurried in and blushed at the sight of the handsome teenager with his hands chained together.
"Have this young man cleaned up and given a new gi. Also bandage his wound" King Kamiya ordered. She bowed hurriedly. He glanced at Captain Fujikama who looked like he was boiling with rage. "Take off the chains" Grumbling, Captain Fujikama unlocked the shackles. Battousai pulled his arms away and nodded towards the king. Looking towards the maid, her face grew warmer.
"Follow me" she whispered in a hushed tone. Walking away, Battousai followed her, contemplating what had just happened. Battousai growled under his breath, scaring the living daylights out of the young maid.
He had just been saved by a ten year old!
-~+*+~-
Battousai relaxed in the warm water and reached behind his head to slip the leather thong off, letting his crimson locks cascade down his back. They reached the water and became darker with the added weight. He dipped his head back, placing all his hair into the pleasing water. His golden eyes glanced around him, making sure there were no peepers. Just a few minutes ago he had heard giggling when he was changing and had quickly chased away a mob of maids with one glare.
Battousai closed his eyes and bent his head down to above his collarbone with a mournful sigh. But when he opened his eyes, he wished he hadn't. He could see his reflection in the water, and the slash on his cheek still bled, dripping onto the water. The water started to turn a light red and Battousai quickly jumped out of the water, grabbing a towel to wrap around his slim waist.
Picking up the pile of fresh clothes that had been given to him, Battousai quickly slipped on the loin cloth and a white hakama. He pulled out a white gi and pulled it on, pulling another light blue one over it also. He crossed the collar over each other before tucking it into his hakama, tying his hakama swiftly at the waist.
Spotting a brush, Battousai quickly ran it through his wet hair, undoing the snags that had formed themselves. When he was satisfied, he drew it back up in a high ponytail on his head, despite the fact that it was still wet.
Hearing footsteps, Battousai quickly opened the door to the inside bath to show the same young maid with her hand raised to knock. "Yes?"
Looking down at her getas, sandals with two blocks under them, the maid whispered. "I'm here to bandage your face" Battousai just nodded and she led him to a table with a chair beside it. Setting her materials down, she picked up a sponge and wet it in a bucket of water, then squeezed some of the water out. Raising it to his face, Battousai flinched away from the sponge. Perplexed, the maid reached up with the sponge again, only to him flinch again.
"I'm not going to attack you" she stated and he looked at her as if she was an annoying speck. "Just let me do this so I won't get in trouble" Rolling his eyes, Battousai finally let her sponge off the cut. Picking up a bandage, she pressed it to his cheek and used the new tape they had gotten from the west to keep it in place.
"There done. That wasn't so hard" she commented, smiling. Her smile faded at Battousai's bored look. "Okay, anyways. You are to report to Princess Kaoru's room and introduce yourself as her servant, slave and all"
Nodding, he stood up and approached the door, opening it. Looking back at her he lifted his eyebrows. "Where is it?" he asked threateningly.
The maid walked outside the door and pointed down a hall. "Go down that hall, then left and the first door on the right is her room"
Battousai nodded and walked down the hall she had pointed out. Observing it, he saw dozens of paintings. Most were of the previous royal families that had lived there. The hall stopped and Battousai took the left hall and stopped when he spotted the first door to the right. The room was silent, but Battousai could easily hear a pair of feet tiptoeing farther into the room's depths.
He raised a hand and knocked lightly on it. He heard someone yelp and took that as the "come in". Pushing the western door open he looked down to see the princess sitting on her bottom with her arms spread out behind her. She had changed her original attire to that of a pale cream fighting gi and a blue hakama. A bokken, a wooden practice sword, was clutched in her hand.
From where Kaoru sat she saw a towering figure over her. Dashing up to her feet, she scurried to one of the windows and forced it open. She couldn't even hear the footsteps behind her. Pushing herself through, she began to turn around so she could climb down the rope she had tied there when something wrapped around her waist and pulled her back in swiftly and effortlessly. Kaoru shrieked, but a calloused hand that was somehow soft was clamped over her mouth. She found herself sitting on her futon, free of the arm that had captured her. Looking up she gasped.
"Um . . . I . . . uh . . ." she began before laughing hesitantly. Battousai just let a small smile grace his lips.
"Thank you" he whispered and she looked at him quizzically. "For convincing your father not to kill me of course" Her mouth formed a small O and she nodded.
"Um, your welcome I guess" she replied shyly. She took in the picture before her. Battousai was sitting on his knees in front of her and she could tell by the way his hair was gleaming that it was wet.
"I'm supposed to report here to say I'm your servant, slave, whatever you want to call it" Battousai said with a shrug and Kaoru stared at him. "Something to do with my life being in you debt" Her eyes just got rounder. "You know if you stay like that for a while your face is never going to change back to its usual expression" He bent down and gave her a look that could rattle anyone's bones. "And trust me . . . I've seen it all too many times"
Kaoru shuddered and quickly closed her eyes. She didn't know if what he said was true, but at the moment she was just going to take his word for it.
"So um . . . Mr. Battousai . . . do you have a name other then that?" she whispered. When she looked up she was surprised to hear a chuckle rumbling from his throat. Kaoru's brow furrowed. "What? What's so funny?"
"What you called me. 'Mr. Battousai'! Makes me feel old" he muttered. "What were you doing?
"Oh, the window thing? Well . . . I wanted to see the view! Beautiful sunsets here!" she exclaimed.
"You aren't a very good liar" Battousai commented. "You don't suddenly change into a gi and hakama just to see the sunset, with a bokken"
Kaoru laughed nervously and hid the bokken behind her back. "You notice a lot of things"
"I was paid to" Battousai said with a shrug. Kaoru face darkened. For a moment there she had forgotten he was the Hitokiri Battousai, the man who could kill in a blink of an eye. And yet he was so young.
"How long have you been . . . you know, an assassin?" Kaoru asked sadly.
He bent his down so his hair shadowed his face and his glinting golden eyes. "Two years"
"My father didn't send you to be just a servant did he?" she whispered, clutching her legs to her chest. "How I hate this life" Kaoru muttered.
The door was pushed open to a woman's voice, making both Kaoru and Battousai jump to their feet. "Princess Kaoru what on earth are you wearing?!" she screeched.
A woman stepped inside. Her brown hair was pulled into a tight bun and she looked down at Kaoru with skeptical black eyes. She wore an expensive kimono made from purple silk with an obi tied so tight around her waist Kaoru was surprised she could breathe. She looked over at Battousai and lifted an eyebrow. Placing a hand on her hip, she looked him up and down pausing at the sight of his chest.
"And who is this?" she asked, placing a finger to her cheek. Kaoru sighed. That woman was always angry till she saw a good looking man and then she became sugary sweet. It disgusted her.
"Madame Agati this is Battousai. Battousai, Madam Agati" Kaoru introduced, her tone bored obviously. Madame Agati froze and turned towards Kaoru, eyes wide.
"The Hitokiri B-Battousai?" she stuttered. Kaoru just nodded. Madame Agati placed a quivering hand over her mouth. Kaoru looked up at Battousai who was clearly enjoying himself, despite the grim line he had set his lips in. "What is . . . he doing here?"
Kaoru bit her lip. She didn't want Madame Agati to know he was her slave. "He's a friend" she quickly said. Madame Agati gave her a surprised look.
"Princess Kaoru, what did I tell you about lying to me?!" Madame Agati shouted and Kaoru stiffened, tightening her grip on her bokken.
"What have you been told about raising your voice? Isn't that unladylike in itself?" Battousai taunted. Madame Agati froze and shivered when she spotted his golden eyes. Kaoru smiled and giggled when Madame Agati sent her a glare.
"I do not need lessons from one such as yourself" she scoffed, raising her chin. "Princess Kaoru, change from those . . . those things immediately!" Kaoru just nodded. Madame Agati stomped from the room, head held high.
"Why do you let her tell you what to do?" Battousai whispered. Kaoru sighed.
"If I do talk back it just means more lessons in her presence. I wish we could be rid of her, but she's like a leech" Kaoru insulted her.
"Makes you want to poke her eyes out" Battousai muttered, clenching his fists.
Kaoru looked up at him fearfully. "You aren't going to are you?" Battousai looked down at her.
"If you tell me to I will" he said and Kaoru blushed. "I'd be more then happy to"
"I don't think that's too good of an idea" Kaoru commented.
"I've done it before. Just know the offer still stands" Kaoru shivered as she was again reminded of his position.
"Did they give you back your swords?" Kaoru asked.
"No" was his simple answer. Kaoru nodded and smiled up at him.
"I can get them back for you if you like?" Kaoru offered. "It's not that hard. I'll just get weepy on them and they'll break" Battousai nodded.
"Sure. I'll go so you can change. Am I supposed to go with you to meet that woman?" he asked standing by the door. Kaoru nodded. "The name's Kenshin. Kenshin Himura. Don't tell anyone that" he added with a fierce glare.
"Alright . . . Kenshin" Kaoru said with a nod, feeling his name on her tongue.
"Princess"
"It's Kaoru" Kaoru corrected and Kenshin smiled softly.
He nodded towards her. "Kaoru"
--+--
Author's Note: Ah yes, the first chapter/prologue. There's three prologues I've already gotten written, this one of them. I'll probably put them up in around two weeks so I can see what kind of attention I get from this chapter/prologue.
I got on a specific website where they sold kimonos, obis, etc. I'm most likely going to use pictures from there for the kimonos Kaoru or someone else wears.
This is Kaoru's kimono or more specifically "Adorable Girl's Kimono Auspicious Motifs": http :// www .ichiroya. com /item /list3. php? no= 56779
Just take out the spaces.
It's my first Rurouni Kenshin story, so well, don't be too harsh, but tell the absolute truth.
Oh yeah, and one question. What the heck is a beta-reader?
Author's Note: Yeah I know, you hate these things. Why else do I put them up? Just kidding. TO THOSE WHO ALREADY READ THIS CHAPTER I FORGOT TO PUT UP A WEBSITE WHERE IT HAS KAORU'S KIMONO! IT'LL BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE!
I just want to warn you that the only reason I'm posting this is because I really wanna know what someone thinks of it, but my brothers would never do it and I wouldn't ever think of asking my parents! This means that I will NOT be updating this frequently. I am not a quick updater at ALL. I just wanted to warn you so you couldn't complain to me during the story about me taking too long to update. I've already had one person do that in one of my other stories and that just makes me go even slower.
Well, enjoy.
--+--
Unsheathing the Sheathed
Prologue 1, The Name's Kenshin
-~+*+~--~+*+~--~+*+~--~+*+~-
She stood there staring with wide childish blue eyes at the scene before her, mouth agape. Light black hair fell over her forehead, the rest pulled away into a slim ponytail by a white silk ribbon. Two strands of hair fell in front of her ears, stopping a good two inches over her shoulders, unlike her pony tail that reached her shoulder blades. Despite her young age of eleven she was taller then most girls her age. Her waist was slim, but her hips were barely rounded and she was still flat-breasted. In long-fingered hands was a pale ball made from sanded wood.
Wearing a sky blue kimono which faded into white at the end of it and the sleeves, a village was sewn into it intricately, bushy green trees about the village. A delicate white obi with three blue lines neatly spaced apart was tied beautifully around her back.
At first sight, if she was smiling at least, you could say the young Kaoru Kamiya was the essence of innocence. But if you took the time to look deeper, to observe her actions, you would see her loneliness, her need for just a friend. You would spot her forced smiles, her glazed eyes and how she rarely went anywhere unless her proud parents were trying to show off her growing good looks. For all she knew they could already have her betrothed to someone ten years older then her.
Kaoru had never been exposed to the outside world. Rarely did they let her out into the castle grounds, and because of this she usually snuck out, using her mother's powders afterwards to hide the tan till it would seem more appropriate. Kaoru was a princess of a medium quarter of land. She had become a tomboy none the less and many times had she not been able to stop the fire that would burst from her mouth in her youthful anger.
She had never seen this.
Kaoru had been receiving a lecture on the basics of being a young lady from her mother when a soldier had announced himself and pulled the enormous doors open. Two soldiers pulled a struggling figure inside the room and her father shot to his feet.
"What is this?" Kaoru's father bellowed. The third soldier who had announced their entry bowed at the waist respectively.
"Captain Toko Fujikama at your service, sir. We have successfully captured the man you wanted, your majesty!" the captain announced.
"Let me see this criminal!" King Kamiya ordered. The prisoner continued to writhe about in their grasps, but they pushed him forward, pulling his head back by the hair so the king could see his face.
His hair was as red as fire, maybe even darker, probably one of his most striking features. It fell about his face, longer on the sides, while the rest was pulled back into a long ponytail by a leather thong, reaching down to just below his shoulders. A youthful face was seen in the middle of the halo of fine hair, he couldn't be older then fifteen. His eyes were a piercing gold and if they had not been set in his face you would have thought them as such. His pink lips had been pulled into a grim line. His face was handsome, in a feminine kind of way, but his left cheek was marred. Upon it was a thin scar that trailed down his cheek, stopping above his lips to the side. Another scar crossed over it in an X on its side, yet it still bled slightly. He wore a dark navy blue fighting gi with a light gray hakama. The end of the sleeves and pants were tattered, torn everywhere. Where the gi lowered at the collar, Kaoru could see a well chiseled chest, lighting a blush across her face.
Kaoru stared in wonder, filled with curiosity and fear at the same time. This scene excited her; she had never witnessed such a showing. The ball in her hands slipped from her weakened grasp, clattering to the ground sharply, interrupting the pregnant silence that had over come the room. Immediately, his eyes flicked over to her staring ones, locking with them for what seemed forever.
His eyes were filled with rage and frustration. Sadness loomed over them, as if he had lost something important to him. He just stared into her blue eyes and she felt somewhat naked in his view, like he was searching her very soul.
"We have captured the Hitokiri Battousai. We have found his age to be around fifteen. We found him by a grave, probably digging some body up for fun. These were the weapons he carried" Captain Fujikama declared, holding up two sheathed swords, one of them obviously a katana by its length. The young man's eyes quickly averted themselves from Kaoru's, a new rage filling them.
Letting out a furious yell, his arms filled with new strength, he threw them off him, jabbing his elbow into a nearby soldier's gut. Pulling himself into his full height, Kaoru discovered he was fairly short, despite his age, reigning over her about five inches despite the four years age difference.
Grabbing what weapon he could, which happened to be an empty sheath from one of the soldiers, the Battousai slammed it against the side of the man's face. Grabbing the man's shoulders, Battousai rammed his knee into the man's gut. Twirling the sheath in his fingers, Battousai rammed it behind him into the other soldier's stomach. The man gasped at the sudden force and fell to his knees gasping for breath.
"I am not a grave robber!" he shouted in a youthful kind of deep voice, smooth as liquid.
So this was the Hitokiri Battousai. Kaoru let a small smile spread over her still agape mouth as she watched in wonder at the teenager's grace before her. He moved with immense elegance, even the way he held the sheath was refined in its own way. Kaoru had never seen a fight before, but she doubted any were anything like this. He moved with his very core, like some kind of violent, but yet smooth dance.
Guards stormed in and held their new western guns aimed at Battousai. He circled around, breathing evenly despite the fact that he had just taken out two full-fledged soldiers. Captain Fujikama approached him and smirked as he watched the guards chain the young man's arms behind his back. Battousai just stared back at him and he seemed so . . . so malevolent.
"But you are a murderer" King Kamiya spat. Queen Kamiya had long since sunk into her cushioned throne in her helpless fear, forgetting her daughter who stood so hypnotized by this man's strength.
"I prefer the term assassin" Battousai spat back, turning towards the king.
"It's no better then the other name. Shut your mouth. Don't you know you are in the presence of the royal family?" the king taunted.
"I kill because I have to" Battousai muttered. The king sighed. King Kamiya was truly a kind man, protective of his family and kingdom, but he had a hate for admitting he had done wrong. His family even had a way of the kendo sword style called Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu which's main priority is to protect the weak, but never kill to do so. Kaoru would always watch him since she was very young, observing how he moved so she could copy him. One day she was found out and her father, being gentle on her, decided she would teach her for her own safety.
"You are fifteen" King Kamiya stated, sitting onto his throne, propping his head up with his palm. Battousai looked at him in annoyance.
"Tell me something I don't know" Battousai taunted, rolling his golden eyes.
The king sighed again. "And arrogant"
Battousai just stared him down, his eyes cold and merciless.
"Oh behalf of the kingdom's best interest, I'm afraid you must be executed immediately by decapitation. This is my final . . ."
"No, Father!" Kaoru suddenly shouted. When everyone's eyes turned towards her, she hesitated. Biting her lip, Kaoru marched over to King Kamiya's side and looked at him pleadingly.
"Kaoru! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Madam Agati for your lessons?" King Kamiya hurriedly whispered. Kaoru winced.
"Well, I guess, but Mother was telling me something when this young man was brought in" Kaoru whispered back. King Kamiya sighed and buried his face in his hands.
"Why is it you don't wish him to be killed? Don't say you just said that for fun or else no more lessons for a month" King Kamiya ordered harshly, he was not in the mood for childish antics.
Kaoru's eyes rounded with fear and she fell to her knees, holding onto one of his hands. "Oh no Father! You know I could loose my form that way if I didn't have someone teaching me!
But see here Father! If he's an assassin, then he is paid to do his duty by the government or who ever he works for. If it tis' the government then if he didn't do that duty, wouldn't they either kill him or blackmail him in some way, especially since he has such a known name?" Kaoru pleaded, glancing back at the assassin, who had a rather perplexed look on his face. Kaoru giggled at his face and he quickly stoned his face again.
King Kamiya looked up at Kaoru's intelligent young face and then at Battousai. "Isn't there anything better then death you could give?" she murmured. King Kamiya smiled and patted her lightly on the head.
"Would being a slave to the castle do anything to make you happy?" King Kamiya asked. A smile lit about her usual sad features.
"Oh yes! Thank you! Anything is better then death!" Kaoru cried and threw her arms around her father's neck. He smiled lightly, but pulled her away. Blushing Kaoru clasped her hands together and bowed to him. "I'm sorry; such forwardness is not wanted in court"
"Now get your ball and hurry to Madame Agati. I do not want her on my tail about how you never go to the classes" King Kamiya shooed her away. Bowing again, she turned to go, but when she saw Battousai was watching her, she gave a small smile. He in return crooked his head slightly to the side and her smile widened. Crouching down, she retrieved her ball and scurried out of the royal court.
King Kamiya looked at the young man who watched his daughter leave. "I don't know why she defended you, but you owe your life to my daughter, and that's why I believe you will protect it with your own. You are an honorable man, are you not?"
"I do not hurt those who defend me" Battousai murmured.
"Good. You will protect her. But you will not touch her. You will not hurt her. You will not trick her. You will do everything she says. But you will not tell her that you are her protector, just her servant. Understood?" King Kamiya commanded. Battousai just stared at him.
"You're trusting her to me?" he asked. The king nodded. He rang a bell and a young maid hurried in and blushed at the sight of the handsome teenager with his hands chained together.
"Have this young man cleaned up and given a new gi. Also bandage his wound" King Kamiya ordered. She bowed hurriedly. He glanced at Captain Fujikama who looked like he was boiling with rage. "Take off the chains" Grumbling, Captain Fujikama unlocked the shackles. Battousai pulled his arms away and nodded towards the king. Looking towards the maid, her face grew warmer.
"Follow me" she whispered in a hushed tone. Walking away, Battousai followed her, contemplating what had just happened. Battousai growled under his breath, scaring the living daylights out of the young maid.
He had just been saved by a ten year old!
-~+*+~-
Battousai relaxed in the warm water and reached behind his head to slip the leather thong off, letting his crimson locks cascade down his back. They reached the water and became darker with the added weight. He dipped his head back, placing all his hair into the pleasing water. His golden eyes glanced around him, making sure there were no peepers. Just a few minutes ago he had heard giggling when he was changing and had quickly chased away a mob of maids with one glare.
Battousai closed his eyes and bent his head down to above his collarbone with a mournful sigh. But when he opened his eyes, he wished he hadn't. He could see his reflection in the water, and the slash on his cheek still bled, dripping onto the water. The water started to turn a light red and Battousai quickly jumped out of the water, grabbing a towel to wrap around his slim waist.
Picking up the pile of fresh clothes that had been given to him, Battousai quickly slipped on the loin cloth and a white hakama. He pulled out a white gi and pulled it on, pulling another light blue one over it also. He crossed the collar over each other before tucking it into his hakama, tying his hakama swiftly at the waist.
Spotting a brush, Battousai quickly ran it through his wet hair, undoing the snags that had formed themselves. When he was satisfied, he drew it back up in a high ponytail on his head, despite the fact that it was still wet.
Hearing footsteps, Battousai quickly opened the door to the inside bath to show the same young maid with her hand raised to knock. "Yes?"
Looking down at her getas, sandals with two blocks under them, the maid whispered. "I'm here to bandage your face" Battousai just nodded and she led him to a table with a chair beside it. Setting her materials down, she picked up a sponge and wet it in a bucket of water, then squeezed some of the water out. Raising it to his face, Battousai flinched away from the sponge. Perplexed, the maid reached up with the sponge again, only to him flinch again.
"I'm not going to attack you" she stated and he looked at her as if she was an annoying speck. "Just let me do this so I won't get in trouble" Rolling his eyes, Battousai finally let her sponge off the cut. Picking up a bandage, she pressed it to his cheek and used the new tape they had gotten from the west to keep it in place.
"There done. That wasn't so hard" she commented, smiling. Her smile faded at Battousai's bored look. "Okay, anyways. You are to report to Princess Kaoru's room and introduce yourself as her servant, slave and all"
Nodding, he stood up and approached the door, opening it. Looking back at her he lifted his eyebrows. "Where is it?" he asked threateningly.
The maid walked outside the door and pointed down a hall. "Go down that hall, then left and the first door on the right is her room"
Battousai nodded and walked down the hall she had pointed out. Observing it, he saw dozens of paintings. Most were of the previous royal families that had lived there. The hall stopped and Battousai took the left hall and stopped when he spotted the first door to the right. The room was silent, but Battousai could easily hear a pair of feet tiptoeing farther into the room's depths.
He raised a hand and knocked lightly on it. He heard someone yelp and took that as the "come in". Pushing the western door open he looked down to see the princess sitting on her bottom with her arms spread out behind her. She had changed her original attire to that of a pale cream fighting gi and a blue hakama. A bokken, a wooden practice sword, was clutched in her hand.
From where Kaoru sat she saw a towering figure over her. Dashing up to her feet, she scurried to one of the windows and forced it open. She couldn't even hear the footsteps behind her. Pushing herself through, she began to turn around so she could climb down the rope she had tied there when something wrapped around her waist and pulled her back in swiftly and effortlessly. Kaoru shrieked, but a calloused hand that was somehow soft was clamped over her mouth. She found herself sitting on her futon, free of the arm that had captured her. Looking up she gasped.
"Um . . . I . . . uh . . ." she began before laughing hesitantly. Battousai just let a small smile grace his lips.
"Thank you" he whispered and she looked at him quizzically. "For convincing your father not to kill me of course" Her mouth formed a small O and she nodded.
"Um, your welcome I guess" she replied shyly. She took in the picture before her. Battousai was sitting on his knees in front of her and she could tell by the way his hair was gleaming that it was wet.
"I'm supposed to report here to say I'm your servant, slave, whatever you want to call it" Battousai said with a shrug and Kaoru stared at him. "Something to do with my life being in you debt" Her eyes just got rounder. "You know if you stay like that for a while your face is never going to change back to its usual expression" He bent down and gave her a look that could rattle anyone's bones. "And trust me . . . I've seen it all too many times"
Kaoru shuddered and quickly closed her eyes. She didn't know if what he said was true, but at the moment she was just going to take his word for it.
"So um . . . Mr. Battousai . . . do you have a name other then that?" she whispered. When she looked up she was surprised to hear a chuckle rumbling from his throat. Kaoru's brow furrowed. "What? What's so funny?"
"What you called me. 'Mr. Battousai'! Makes me feel old" he muttered. "What were you doing?
"Oh, the window thing? Well . . . I wanted to see the view! Beautiful sunsets here!" she exclaimed.
"You aren't a very good liar" Battousai commented. "You don't suddenly change into a gi and hakama just to see the sunset, with a bokken"
Kaoru laughed nervously and hid the bokken behind her back. "You notice a lot of things"
"I was paid to" Battousai said with a shrug. Kaoru face darkened. For a moment there she had forgotten he was the Hitokiri Battousai, the man who could kill in a blink of an eye. And yet he was so young.
"How long have you been . . . you know, an assassin?" Kaoru asked sadly.
He bent his down so his hair shadowed his face and his glinting golden eyes. "Two years"
"My father didn't send you to be just a servant did he?" she whispered, clutching her legs to her chest. "How I hate this life" Kaoru muttered.
The door was pushed open to a woman's voice, making both Kaoru and Battousai jump to their feet. "Princess Kaoru what on earth are you wearing?!" she screeched.
A woman stepped inside. Her brown hair was pulled into a tight bun and she looked down at Kaoru with skeptical black eyes. She wore an expensive kimono made from purple silk with an obi tied so tight around her waist Kaoru was surprised she could breathe. She looked over at Battousai and lifted an eyebrow. Placing a hand on her hip, she looked him up and down pausing at the sight of his chest.
"And who is this?" she asked, placing a finger to her cheek. Kaoru sighed. That woman was always angry till she saw a good looking man and then she became sugary sweet. It disgusted her.
"Madame Agati this is Battousai. Battousai, Madam Agati" Kaoru introduced, her tone bored obviously. Madame Agati froze and turned towards Kaoru, eyes wide.
"The Hitokiri B-Battousai?" she stuttered. Kaoru just nodded. Madame Agati placed a quivering hand over her mouth. Kaoru looked up at Battousai who was clearly enjoying himself, despite the grim line he had set his lips in. "What is . . . he doing here?"
Kaoru bit her lip. She didn't want Madame Agati to know he was her slave. "He's a friend" she quickly said. Madame Agati gave her a surprised look.
"Princess Kaoru, what did I tell you about lying to me?!" Madame Agati shouted and Kaoru stiffened, tightening her grip on her bokken.
"What have you been told about raising your voice? Isn't that unladylike in itself?" Battousai taunted. Madame Agati froze and shivered when she spotted his golden eyes. Kaoru smiled and giggled when Madame Agati sent her a glare.
"I do not need lessons from one such as yourself" she scoffed, raising her chin. "Princess Kaoru, change from those . . . those things immediately!" Kaoru just nodded. Madame Agati stomped from the room, head held high.
"Why do you let her tell you what to do?" Battousai whispered. Kaoru sighed.
"If I do talk back it just means more lessons in her presence. I wish we could be rid of her, but she's like a leech" Kaoru insulted her.
"Makes you want to poke her eyes out" Battousai muttered, clenching his fists.
Kaoru looked up at him fearfully. "You aren't going to are you?" Battousai looked down at her.
"If you tell me to I will" he said and Kaoru blushed. "I'd be more then happy to"
"I don't think that's too good of an idea" Kaoru commented.
"I've done it before. Just know the offer still stands" Kaoru shivered as she was again reminded of his position.
"Did they give you back your swords?" Kaoru asked.
"No" was his simple answer. Kaoru nodded and smiled up at him.
"I can get them back for you if you like?" Kaoru offered. "It's not that hard. I'll just get weepy on them and they'll break" Battousai nodded.
"Sure. I'll go so you can change. Am I supposed to go with you to meet that woman?" he asked standing by the door. Kaoru nodded. "The name's Kenshin. Kenshin Himura. Don't tell anyone that" he added with a fierce glare.
"Alright . . . Kenshin" Kaoru said with a nod, feeling his name on her tongue.
"Princess"
"It's Kaoru" Kaoru corrected and Kenshin smiled softly.
He nodded towards her. "Kaoru"
--+--
Author's Note: Ah yes, the first chapter/prologue. There's three prologues I've already gotten written, this one of them. I'll probably put them up in around two weeks so I can see what kind of attention I get from this chapter/prologue.
I got on a specific website where they sold kimonos, obis, etc. I'm most likely going to use pictures from there for the kimonos Kaoru or someone else wears.
This is Kaoru's kimono or more specifically "Adorable Girl's Kimono Auspicious Motifs": http :// www .ichiroya. com /item /list3. php? no= 56779
Just take out the spaces.
It's my first Rurouni Kenshin story, so well, don't be too harsh, but tell the absolute truth.
Oh yeah, and one question. What the heck is a beta-reader?