Author's note: Hey! This is my first AoshiMegumi, done to the version of Pride and Prejudice during the Edo period!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Rurouni Kenshin, that's all to good Nobuhiro Watsuki and Pride and Prejudice goes to Jane Austen!

Things might get...REALLY weird in this one...so, yeah.

Pride and Prejudice

...a Megumi and Aoshi romance.

Chapter 1:

A Gentleman...I mean, Samurai, comes to Kyoto

It is a fact, everyone agrees, that a powerful samurai with wealth should have a wife. At least that's the way they thought in Japan during the Edo Period. This same idea most certainly included one Kashiwazaki Nenji, also known as Okina. His wife, Kashiwazaki Kaori, had passed away a year ago and it was left to this man to make sure that his five daughters were settled with appropriate husbands.

The man knew he was getting older day by day; his time to be reunited with his dear Kaori would be soon. He deeply cared for his daughters and vowed to find them perfect matches before he could see the beautiful face of his dear wife. He had promised her on her death bed…right before bonking him on his head, mustering enough strength that never ceased to astound her family, screaming "And don't you let your eyes wander, Okina!"

She had smiled at them all fondly then and gave her last breath.

Now his old time buddy, Dr. Oguni Genzai sat beside him in his house as they sipped tea. The doctor knew something was troubling his friend because Okina had not once complained about his eldest daughter's tea. Kaoru, a sweet girl, just wasn't blessed with her mother's cooking skills despite being named after her.

Dr. Genzai stared into the porcelain cup and decided the too bitter sensation in his tongue would disappear if he didn't finish his cup…

"My dear friend, Dr. Genzai, have you heard that the Aoiya is being rented out? It's practically being turned into a palace fit for royalty!" asked Okina suddenly interrupting the silence Dr. Genzai hardly got to enjoy with his long-time friend.

Dr. Genzai shook his head placing the book he had been reading next to him. "No, I have not heard, my friend. Do you know by who?"

Okina pulled at his beard as he settled the tea cup he had a long time ago given up on atop the low table. "The Hajime's say it is being reconstructed as a worthy summer estate by a wealthy young samurai from Tokyo and his friend. He is single and his name is Himura Kenshin! From what I've heard about the Himura family before this interesting renovation of our humble Aoiya, he is quite rich!"

Okina's eyes were gleaming and plotting. When Dr. Genzai was flipping through his book, leaving Okina to continue scheming, the other man stood dramatically. "I vow to have this man marry my Kaoru before the end of this summer!" he cried, most likely having the rest of the household hear this. "Then, I shall have four more of my girls to go!"

"Well, I suppose I should go over to the Aoiya and see this gentleman for myself." Dr. Genzai sighed, standing.

"What?" Okina blurted out. "But why you, I think I should be the one to introduce my daughters?!"

But Dr. Genzai was already sliding the shoji door closed when he said "I think this requires more than you getting distracted by everything wearing a skirt in the streets and begging this man to marry your eldest."

Okina pouted as the screen shut with a tap.

He wouldn't have begged him…and he didn't chase after everything in a skirt!

His thoughts went back to his daughters, the two eldest enjoying a walk through their blossoming courtyards. He smiled fondly. He'd die a very happy man with very happy daughters to leave behind. They'd forget him when he was gone and live happy endings.

"You know they will, don't you, Kaori?" he murmured before taking a sip of the cold, tart tea.

In the gardens…

Kashiwazaki Kaoru was having a stroll with her sister Megumi, arm in arm. Kaoru was a beautiful girl, only a year older than Megumi, with long dark hair she wore tied up in a delicate sash. Her dark eyes shimmered with smiles and joy, radiating the same feeling to whomever saw her. She was the spitting image of their late mother. But she was too trusting and naïve at times, always looking at the better side of people and being too forgiving. It made her a friend to anyone on the bright side.

Then there was Kashiwazaki Megumi, second oldest though usually mistaken to be the oldest. Though Kaoru was beautiful, Megumi was not lacking in loveliness as well. Kaoru was more cheerful and bubbly while Megumi was more subdued and thoughtful, observing people before she considered them friends. She too had long silky dark hair that she usually wore down to collapse upon her shoulders and chocolate brown eyes that glimmered with mysterious stars.

Both had gotten many suitors in the past years but Okina and his wife would not settle for anything that their daughters did not deserve, especially not boys who only liked their daughters for one night stands.

Sitting on the deck was Kashiwazaki Omasu, the third eldest and most quiet. Yes, most quiet, only in the presence of others. But there was no silence to her when she'd chase after Okina when he saw fine ladies. Over the years, she had put it to herself to keep Okina from going wild. She too was beautiful who acted the most like Kaori. Even if she wasn't the eldest, she was now the mother figure in the house, mostly when it came to scolding someone off.

Giggling on a bench in the gardens were the two youngest, Kashiwazaki Tae and Tsubame. They were at that tender age where they dreamed of boys and romance to no end. Tae was more outgoing, openly flirting with boys while Tsubame shyly talked to them, her only dream of a handsome young samurai dancing in her mind.

Okina felt like he needed something stronger than tea. He was somehow starting to get a migraine from imagining the task before him. Oh, how would this affect his delicate nerves! He turned to his last child…not a daughter, but a son. The youngest sibling born only a few years before his mother had passed away, Kashiwazaki Enishi. Okina, drowning in female mood swings and fashion emergencies, took comfort in his only son.

For years, they had thought nothing but girls would become of Okina and Kaori, until Enishi was born. Yet, the poor boy barely remembered his mother's time with him. Someone would finally carry the Kashiwazaki family name at least!

Okina and Enishi stood and rushed outside to the courtyard with his daughters when Dr. Genzai had returned. The smile on the old man's face told Okina that his mission had been successfully accomplished.

"Okina, tell our beautiful flowers they must get extra ready for the Hajime's Western Ball. Himura-san and his friends will be there." The girls instantly fell into excited chatter around their two father figures. "He seemed quite interested in Kaoru when I let her name slip…" Dr. Genzai whispered.

Okina slapped his friend on the back. "My daughters will shine at this…wait, Western Ball?" Okina asked flabbergasted.

"Yes, it seems our friend Hajime Saitou wants to give this western thing a try…but I'm not so sure you'll be happy with what the girls have to wear…"

Okina raised a brow.

A few days later all his girls had gowns and dresses, jewelry and fine silk gloves for the ball. Okina's mouth dropped open. Okay, so he's like to see other girls in these dresses but NOT his daughters. The necklines were too low! They showed parts of their arms that were being covered in silken gloves. They showed too much of their figure!

What was with these gaijin, anyway?!

He sighed, wearing the fine dark suit that the girls had picked out for him too. Dr. Genzai with his own western suit stood next to him. Little Enishi, four years old, stood scratching at his own black suit with a charming silk vest and tie. "I don't like this!" the boy cried, tugging on anyone's ball gown that would listen to him.

Omasu gave the boy a warning glare. "It took us nearly an hour to get you in that! You better not ruin them, Enishi-kun!" She warned. The boy pouted, similar to the pouts his father gave, but stopped tugging at his collar.

"I won't have fun there anyway," Enishi mumbled.

Tae turned to their father. "Do we have to bring him? We'll have to keep taking turns watching him when there will be boys asking to dance with us!"

"You know that the servants and the cook are out for the night, Tae-chan." Tsubame chided softly to her as she held Enishi's stubborn hand.

Okina was now getting over the whole skimpy dresses issue and was aglow like his daughters had never seen him before. "Once Himura-san sees my Kaoru, he'll be taken by her beauty and charm!" Thoughts about have one less daughter to worry about refreshed his energy, his nerves being upset all forgotten with the bright prospect.

Megumi gave Kaoru a smile as she blushed deeply.

"Just don't let her open her big mouth!" Enishi teased. Megumi held down her older sister (who only seemed to ever faze from her peaceful demeanor when Enishi opened his own mouth) before she could throttle their only brother.

Okina continued to chatter about how exactly he pictures Himura Kenshin was going to instantly kneel in front of the goddess Kaoru and propose as soon as she entered the Hajime's rented ballroom. He would proclaim he couldn't live without her, through tons of yen at Okina and Dr. Genzai before sweeping her in his arms and kissing her.

"You've been reading our romance novels again, haven't you, Okina?!" Tae and Tsubame asked. They only referred their dear "'Tou-san" Okina when they got angry at him…like when he chased girls in the street.

By the time they were there, Kaoru was almost a nervous wreck.

Inside, the grand hall had an orchestra and a wide marble floor for the dancers. All of the girls' felt their insides jump as they had never really danced these western dances with other men, only themselves when they taught each other through one of Megumi's books.

Megumi squeezed her sister's hand reassuringly. "Don't worry. Just forget about this Himura and have fun tonight."

Kaoru nodded nervously, a kind smile on her face. "I just hope that I don't open my big mouth, as Enishi said. I don't want him to see that side of me." she laughed nervously.

"But I like that side of you." Megumi said with a smile.

Soon Okina and Dr. Genzai had Kaoru in between them, waiting at the foot of the grand staircase to the entrance. They would wait there and wait, guarding over Kaoru if anyone else wanted to dance with her. They were scared away with one of Okina's glares of death. Megumi sighed, feeling sorry for her sister. The two older men beside her looked like vultures…

And now she would most likely go through the ball by herself…

She quickly turned to ask if one of her other sisters would like to get some punch with her but they were already on their way. Tae and Tsubame had giggled their way to a group of men their age, poor Enishi dragged along with them. He gave her a look of pure boredom. Poor thing… Omasu was already engaged in a group of women's conversation over very scandalous gossip. Their mother had loved gossip and Omasu had taken that trait too…

"Megumi-chan!" a voice called her.

Hajime Saitou, looking sternly over the rest of the guests as he walked with his wife, Tokio, was heading her way. Tokio smiled brightly at the girl she had come to think of as a close friend. Megumi felt the same, also being close to Saitou as a little sister to a big brother. He had been a distant nephew to the Kashiwazaki girls' mother.

Love, it must be wonderful, Megumi thought.

She couldn't stop looking at their hands entwined affectionately. Saitou was a very dark character compared to the soft spoken Tokio…yet here they were, still barely newlyweds and still deeply in love. Who would have thought them of all people? Saitou excused them as he led Tokio for a graceful waltz.

That was when they appeared.

Megumi had had her fourth dance after being asked to dance for the fourth time in a row. She was desperately trying to melt into the crowd while other men sought her out…

She glimpsed quickly at the top of the stairs, everyone's eyes had been attracted there. "It's the two men who are staying at the old Aoiya's site!" someone whispered.

Megumi flashed a smile in Kaoru's direction who was staring nervously in her spot at the foot of the steps. Her eyes had been caught on the red-head with a unique scar on his face. He was handsome, "And rich!" someone else whispered in the crowd, extremely polite as he spoke to everyone introduced to him and wore a pleasant expression. That made him a good person, good for Kaoru, especially, Megumi mused.

Strangely, Megumi glanced back at Kaoru to see Dr. Genzai introducing her to Himura Kenshin. She looked around again to find her father when she noticed not just her father…but the man he was talking to…

…he was incredibly beauty—"Meg nii-chan!"

Small hands tugged on her dress. "Enishi-kun, you should be with Omasu!" said Megumi, kneeling to his height when they reached a safe area beside the wall. The boy looked around the room as though the other people would trample him. She laughed as he screwed his face like a bad odor had come by his nose.

"Please don't send me back to Tae and Tsubame nii-san either!" the boy pleaded. His face lit up as she nodded.

"Are you going to dance with me then?" Megumi teased as she tugged his hand toward the dance floor. The boy resisted greatly though he wore a joyful smile.

"'Tou-san is coming this way!" Enishi pointed.

Megumi turned around, a pair of eyes catching her own in a steely hold. Okina was now talking with the red-headed Himura Kenshin who walked shyly next to Kaoru, also walking shyly next to him. Dr. Genzai followed next to Kaoru…

…yet it was the handsome man who walked quietly behind Okina and Kenshin that had caught her eyes.

Was it possible to have such beautifully cruel, blue eyes?

"Why is Kaoru's face so red?" Enishi asked her, tugging on her silk glove this time. Enishi frowned, confused. "Why is your face re—" Megumi hushed him before he could say anymore, hoping she really hadn't been blushing.

"And this is my second eldest, Kashiwazaki Megumi," Okina said proudly. Megumi thought about curtsying but decided against it and bowed. "This is my only son, Enishi, only four," Enishi gave an awkward bow, trying to decipher who Megumi had been staring at that made her bow.

He fought with Kaoru, disobeyed Omasu, played pranks on Tae and Tsubame…and he was protective of Megumi.

"Megumi, this is Himura Kenshin next to our Kaoru," Okina said, a wide smile, almost goofy on his face, "And this is Shinomori Aoshi!" He said this with more surprise as he nodded to the man behind him. "One of my most excellent men…more of a boy back then, really…when I was still in my fighting days! I can't believe I'd find you hear, looking for a summer get away, Aoshi!"

Aoshi was tall, a good head and a half taller than his friend, Kenshin, and the complete opposite in looks. He had midnight black hair that seemed a lot more tamed than the red head's. The icy blue eyes looked over the faces of the other guests, ever the alert warrior. He had a particularly handsome face, a face that even all the other women had endlessly talked about ever since his arrival. His dark suit complimented his lean figure though Megumi would have liked to picture him in a summer yukata.

Kenshin smiled at her, taking his eyes of Kaoru. Megumi knew he looked at her with admiration and not like some lechers that hung around here…already he was in love with her dear sister. "These are my sisters: Himura Tomoe and Makoto Yumi and her husband, Makoto Shishio."

Megumi bowed again. She tried to ignore cold eyes from Tomoe who had witnessed her staring at Aoshi while they had come her way. She moved next to the man and slipped her arm around his, though Aoshi took no notice of it. Megumi at once recognized that the other two mentioned were as much a loving couple as the Hajimes were. Yumi was a very alluring woman, her crimson painted lips turned in a seductive smile, a smile she was smiling at Shishio and Shishio only. Shishio, a strange looking man in bandages, though no one ever said it (he had a powerful and intimidating persona around him similar to Aoshi's) was giving the same attention to his wife.

At this point, Enishi was yawning rudely beside her. "I think I'd like that dance now, Meg nii-chan!"

Megumi smiled and bowed at them apologetically as the boy led her onto an open balcony instead of the dance floor. Good, maybe a little fresh air would make her think straight… What had come over her when she saw Aoshi? When Tomoe wrapped herself around his arm possessively?

She was going nuts; the expression on Enishi's face told her she was right. "Why were you staring like that, nii-chan?"

She shook her head. "I was not staring! …what gave you that idea?"

Enishi frowned more. She didn't like it when this kid frowned at her like that. "You were blushing, nii-chan, blushing! You never blushed at any man when you met him! Not before!"

Megumi smiled fondly at her overprotective little brother. She was lucky Saitou hadn't seen her in those last few minutes, then there'd be real interrogating.

She pulled him back into the ballroom with a little encouragement. Megumi scanned the room for her other sisters and saw Kaoru talking with Yumi and Shishio, Omasu now on the dance floor with their father, Tae with some boys and Tsubame talking to a tanned, messy black-haired boy her age. Dr. Genzai was talking with Kenshin and Aoshi listening.

She felt some relief as the men stayed away from her as she held to Enishi's hand tightly. But the boy was focused at Tsubame with a wicked gleam in his eye. "I think I'll go with Tsubame nii-chan, now! I'll see you later, Meg nii-chan!"

Megumi watched nervously as she made sure the boy got across the dance floor (dodging dancers with incredible reflexes for a four year old) and made his way to Tsubame. Suddenly, both Tsubame and the boy she had been talking to her were blushing redder than before Enishi had arrived. Poor Tsubame, dealing with the wrath of their little brother…

She smiled as she saw Kenshin take Kaoru onto the dance floor now, both smiling and talking friendly as they moved elegantly in unison. How nice it would be to dance with the love of your life for the rest of your life…

…okay, so she stole a few of her sister's romance novels every now and then…

Kenshin bowed gracefully to Kaoru, leaving a kiss on her hand. The girl blushed but couldn't help giving him a pleased smile. Soon the man was walking toward his friend who had danced with Tomoe once to get her to practically stop pushing him onto the dance floor. Kenshin gave him a pat. "You should join in; I know you know all these dances! You're better than me!"

"I don't feel comfortable dancing with strangers." Aoshi simply stated.

Kenshin wanted his friend to have a good impression on these people and have fun while they were here. People had already begun to speak of Aoshi's isolated and glowering attitude, only speaking when he found sensible. It was a miracle to get more than two words at once from the man!

"But dancing is also a good way to turn a stranger into something more, that it is." Kenshin said, nudging the man in the ribs teasingly. "I saw you looking at Kashiwazaki Kaoru's sister."

"That was for one second." Aoshi murmured dangerously to his friend.

"You know you find her to be attractive." Kenshin chuckled. "Go ask her to dance when you find her."

"She is pretty, but not enough to tempt me." Aoshi said in a bored tone.

Megumi, who had overhead unnoticed, slipped even farther from the two. Inside, she fumed mostly at herself. How could she think that a man so handsome, so rich, so alluring…he couldn't have been a good man at the same time! She found Kaoru who was without Kenshin or his guests for a moment. Kaoru instantly knew something was wrong.

"It's nothing," Megumi lied.

"Are you sure?" Kaoru asked firmly.

"Yes, yes!" Megumi answered her. "Please stop asking."

…just thinking about what he said… Stop. She wouldn't dwell on it…or else she'd break into tears.

So Megumi decided she had made her mind up about Shinomori Aoshi, changing it from whatever delirious fantasies she had hallucinated before. He was a cold, arrogant man with too much pride. She would never forgive him for hurting hers!

Well, I hope you liked Chapter 1!

If I could get recommendations for Lady Catherine De Bourgh, I'd be SO grateful! Any idea who might be Ann, her daughter? I could use some help! (Should I put in a Lady Ann?) And I desperately need a Charlotte Lucas! Wanna make up a character name for them (Japanese, of course) to go along with their personality? Go ahead! Credit would go to you, of course. Where should Aoshi's grand estate be? I was thinking Aizu...but what about Rosings where Lady Catherine lives? Know a good place in Japan?

I know Megumi is definetely older than Kaoru...but I wanted to make this fair to Pride and Prejudice too! Tomoe...Kenshin's sister? Enishi as a four year old? This is weird, isn't it? I had to bend stuff for both RK and P&P, sorry!

I know Okina having five daughters (and a son...ENISHI? STILL WEIRD.) and acting like Mrs. Bennet with those crazy nerves and Dr. Genzai as Mr. Bennet is also unusual but I got the idea and COULDN'T get it out of my head!

Mou...I need a Charlotte Lucas before I can finish the next chapter too...grr...

Please leave a review! ...and people recommendations. PLEASE!