A/N: I'm giving a try with writing an RK fanfiction because I always loved this show. This is an AU setting and the characters will be OOC. You will see what I mean when you read it. Tell me what you think about it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
Kasshin Kingdom
Brushing long bangs from her eyes, Kaoru Kamiya tilted her head while putting more weight on the balls of her feet to see the dark situation taking place in the royal court. The room was crowded by all sorts of people, traveling from distant lands or living within the castle walls and they, like her, wanted to witness a confirmation of a treacherous rumor. Two weeks ago, a rumor spread throughout the Hiten Kingdom about an illicit relationship between the Hiten prince and the Kasshin princess. Two sworn enemy kingdoms united in one room to discover the truth behind the foul gossip and this moment would be mark down in history since the revolutionary war two centuries ago.
"Is it true, Tomoe Yukishiro, that you are having an affair with Kenshin Himura?" announced a voice at one end of the room. The announcer sat upon a throne, clothed in blue velvet with gold trims along the edges to represent the Kasshin rule. Rich brown eyes stared at a young woman dressed in a silky white dress kneeling before him. When the woman stood up, Kaoru knew the white material would be soiled with dirt.
"Define affair?" the woman answered with her own question. Some people gasped at her directness, for questioning the king of the Kasshin empire. Murmurs began to echo throughout the room.
"Do you have an intimate relationship with Kenshin Himura?" the king rephrased his question.
The woman bowed her head as the room came to an abrupt silence. They were all waiting for her answer as she hid her face beneath long black hair.
"You still have not defined what you mean by an affair or intimate relationship," the woman said as she raised her head to meet the king's stare. All of a sudden people roared. Some were outraged by her defiance, others were shocked by her unpleasant manners because they knew her to be a demure and gentle lady. Kaoru was the one who was loud, brash, and acted unladylike in royal court.
The king unveiled a golden jeweled dagger from the side of his throne and unsheathed it so that the light shimmered along the sharp end. He tapped the blade against the arm rest of his throne, the clanging sound alerting everyone to stay quiet.
"You dare test my patience," the king warned menacingly at the woman staring boldly at him. "You may carry my blood through your veins and you may be my daughter, princess of the Kasshin kingdom, but you are on trial for committing a crime."
Everyone stilled, waiting for her reply. She inhaled a deep breath before lowering her head and Kaoru shook her head at the unfairness of the situation. Two days ago, Tomoe was receiving reverence from everyone at court for being a kind and beautiful princess whereas Kaoru was treated as an outcast for being considered a tomboy and now the crowd was shunning Tomoe and accepting Kaoru as the next princess to the Kasshin throne. "I understand."
"Then answer your father's question," another voice boomed from next to the Kasshin king. Kaoru's body shuddered in fear from such a commanding tone because the impact was meant for obedience. Hiko Seijuro was the king from Hiten Empire and his aura demanded respect and acquiescence from everyone, except from those who crossed the barrier of his patience. He was the type of man not to make enemies with and Tomoe was now facing that barrier.
Kaoru didn't miss how Tomoe's body flinched from the loud voice nor did she miss how the room became silent. Lowering her head further to the floor and splaying her hands out in front of her in a sign of submission to the Hiten king, she finally answered her father's question. "Yes."
The response was a mere whisper in the royal court that most people didn't hear her but Kaoru read the words from her lips and she gasped in horror. If Tomoe confessed having a relationship with the prince of the Hiten kingdom, then Tomoe's faith was already written in stone. She was going to die.
Mutters began filling the quietness as they called to hear her answer.
"They can't hear you," her father said, obviously meaning for her to repeat herself.
Raising her head to both kings, she swallowed before staring at them bravely. She repeated her answer loudly for everyone to hear. It was Kaoru's time to intervene before something bad happened to Tomoe. Lowering her body weight until her feet were flat on the floor, Kaoru scanned the crowds to determine a path into the center of the room without causing too much conflict.
"Then you know what your punishment is," the Kasshin king said. People started shouting out unpleasant names at the Kasshin princess. Hastily, Kaoru moved between people, shifting her petite body in the smallest of places before she reached the end of the crowd.
Then, a huge bang deafened the mass of people. The royal court doors opened to reveal a slender form with red hair. Kaoru instantly stopped moving as her breath caught in her throat. The atmosphere intensified as the figure slowly walked, no, glided across the room to where Tomoe knelt. His aura radiated throughout the room causing Kaoru to shiver and take a step back but her sudden reaction did not go unnoticed by him. For an instant her blue eyes clashed with burning amber eyes and she forgot where she was. Something deep in her warned her to stay away from him. He was dangerous, like a predator waiting to strike his prey at the right moment. And he may strike at her if she moved any closer to Tomoe.
When his eyes shifted away from her, deeming she wasn't a threat, she found she could breathe again. Her body began to tremble as she watched helplessly, the man dressed in a white shirt, black breeches, black boots, and his frame concealed with a red velvet cloak stopped beside Tomoe. Tomoe's eyes widened with astonishment as the man knelt before the two kings and bowed his head in reverence.
"I, Kenshin Himura, prince of the Hiten kingdom have come to confess that I am in love with Tomoe Yukishiro, princess of the Kasshin kingdom," he declared with a smooth and deep baritone that made Kaoru's legs give away and she fell onto the floor. Instantly, all eyes shifted from the red headed man to Kaoru. Her face flushed with embarrassment when she felt the kings' eyes upon her form.
"Sorry," she muttered as she hunched over in attempt to disappear in the mass of people.
"Kaoru!" Tomoe's voice shouted her name. Tomoe stood up and ran to Kaoru. Concern was written all over her lovely face that Kaoru had to shake her head. Tomoe was the one in trouble yet she came to her aid. No wonder, Battousai, the deadly nickname for the prince of the Hiten empire, fell in love with Tomoe.
"I'm fine," Kaoru whispered to her as she knelt beside her. Kaoru noticed Tomoe's silky white dress was dirtied by kneeling on the floor. Glancing at the side of Tomoe's face, she saw golden eyes staring at them but there was a seething rage as his eyes lingered on Tomoe's form. Apparently he didn't like seeing Tomoe dishevel or dirty. And she felt sorry for the kings because she somehow knew he was going to make them pay for the embarrassment they put Tomoe through, whether they were following the kingdom rules.
"Are you sure?" Tomoe questioned.
Kaoru nodded her head. Then Tomoe wrapped her slender arms around Kaoru and helped lift her from the floor. Kaoru swayed a bit before leaning some of her weight against Tomoe's side. Wearily shaking her head, she looked at the three men watching the both of them and instantly regretted it. The kings frowned with disapproval all while the prince stared at her with hard eyes.
Tomoe, not realizing his intensive stare on Kaoru, faced the kings with a new determination. Maybe Kaoru gave her some semblance of a fight because Tomoe raised her chin, straightened her shoulders despite holding some of Kaoru's body weight against her side and spoke with a clear voice for everyone to hear her.
"I, Tomoe Yukishiro, princess of the Kasshin kingdom am in love with Kenshin Himura from the Hiten kingdom and I am asking for your blessing in our union of marriage."
To say the crowd went berserk with the declaration was an understatement. They were shouts of disagreements; others shuffled closer to where Tomoe and Kaoru were located in the room with an intent to hurt. At that moment, Kaoru looked toward Kenshin's direction. She felt it more than saw his reaction. He moved with inhuman speed that Kaoru had to blink her eyes several times. One second he was in a kneeling position in the former place with Tomoe and now he stood next to them with his right hand clutching tightly at his sword. Golden eyes, as similar as burning flames, gazed around the room, daring people to attack them.
The area cleared as people backed away from them. Automatically, Tomoe helped Kaoru stand up on her own before she went to the prince. She lay her hand on his shoulder, easing the tension from his shoulders and when she felt he calmed a bit, she rested her forehead on his shoulder. And Kaoru realized among the three of them, that she was the outcast. Feeling alone and out of place, she stepped back, disappearing into the crowd.
"Quite a display the both of you produced," the Kasshin king spoke. His head tilted with curiosity as something glittered in his dark eyes. "I see that you truly care for him, daughter."
"I do," she replied while she closed her eyes, allowing herself a little rest before she opened them and stepped away from the prince but his hand grabbed her wrist so she had no choice but to stay at his side.
"I will protect and honor your daughter," Kenshin replied smoothly as he shifted his penetrative eyes on the two kings. "Additionally, if we marry, both rivaling kingdoms can be at peace."
There was small chatter between people. Some people were rejecting the idea of marriage, stating that they suffered long enough from the war two centuries ago. Some people thought the union might bring about a peace that was long overdue. Others were making assumptions that the marriage or the love wouldn't last long and both kingdoms would suffer for it. However, Kaoru knew the truth. It was the main reason she wanted to interrupt the confession.
"For the first time, my idiot of a son may have brought up a good point," the Hiten king finally spoke. His narrow lips formed into a hard smile. "Why not let the two love birds marry?" he asked while turning to look at the other king.
"I need assurance that my daughter will be safe and treated well in your kingdom," the other king stated while his eyes softened on his daughter.
"I guarantee that your only daughter will be cherished and safe guarded in my kingdom," the Hiten king promised. And Kaoru felt like someone stabbed her in the chest because she was the next one in line to become a princess in the Kasshin Kingdom but King Seijuro didn't acknowledge her existence. "Besides, it's about time my idiot of a son got married."
"My daughter is of marriageable age," the other king said lightly.
"Then let us discuss a peace treaty and marriage arrangements over a banquet," was the Hiten king's final reply. Both men laughed while the people in the royal court stared in amazement at what was suppose to be a deadly trial end with peace. They shook their heads, said their opinions and began to shuffle out of the room all while Kaoru watched the kings with a stunned expression. Her mouth was hanging open while she watched the easy bantering between two older men when moments ago, they were foes.
But Kaoru didn't know whether to be happy for her friend or ashamed. Someone was plotting a dangerous plan to get rid of Tomoe and the fact that the enemies were betraying their own kingdom by hurting the Kasshin princess to make the Hiten kingdom look at fault would begin a next war. And another war was something the Kasshin Empire couldn't afford.
Kaoru had to inform the Kasshin King before it was too late. As people shoved her around, she felt a weight pinning her down. Peering around the forms of people, Kaoru noticed boiling amber eyes staring at her. Gulping, she hid between people and decided against warning the kings about her information. The Hiten prince was intimidating and she didn't coward over anyone or anything easily.
Turning her back to the kings, she felt the penetrating gaze follow her out of the room. And she had to remind herself that she was temporarily retreating to plan how to reveal the plot of betrayal to the kings.
Kaoru felt like she could breathe again the moment she reached her room. Away from prying eyes and ease droppers, she walked into her room and closed the door but her relief was short lived when she came across a shadow standing in a corner. Kaoru opened her mouth to scream but the stranger breezed past her, grabbing her waist and pinning her to a hard form. A whoosh of air escaped her lips.
The person chuckled, the vibration passed through her form. She frowned as it sounded familiar to her. Stiffening with realizing who it was behind her, she made an attempt to move her arms. The person tightened his grip around her waist while he laughed louder.
"Go ahead. Laugh all you want, Soujiro Seta," Kaoru replied as she crossed her arms over chest while he loosen his hold at her waist.
When Soujiro calmed down, he unexpectedly let her go causing her to stumble. Ready to hit the floor, Kaoru splayed her hands to catch most of her weight on the floor but Soujiro grabbed her forearm and pulled her to lean against his form. With her other arm, Kaoru shoved her bangs away from her face to see Soujiro smirking at her. His blue eyes twinkled with laughter.
"I have to say, you have a way with making events amusing," he laughed.
If he was referring to her little slip in the royal court, she would hurt him. The only problem was she couldn't touch him if he didn't allow her to. He was a skilled swordsman and, being one of the top knights in the Kasshin empire, he was famous for his speed. His agility could rival the Battousai.
"I hope you're not talking about what I think you are talking about or else," Kaoru threatened as she held up her fists at him. Soujiro let her go and doubled over with laughter. She had to fight the urge not to hit him.
"You are such a klutz," he said while laughing.
"I didn't see you rescuing me from the mighty Battousai," Kaoru hissed through clenched teeth.
Soujiro stopped laughing but a smile still remained on his handsome face as he straightened up to look at her. "He was no threat to you or the princess."
"Are you sure?" Kaoru asked. All of a sudden the annoyance left her body as she turned grim. "I felt his intense stare follow me out of the room."
"Maybe you surprised him by falling over his voice," Soujiro said and he doubled over with laughter once again. Kaoru couldn't take any more of his childish behavior and marched over to hit him but he easily dodged her attack. When he stepped to the side, she followed to hit him with her other hand but he caught her wrist with ease and held on to it.
"Let me go!" Kaoru exclaimed. She pulled at her arm, huffing when Soujiro refused to let her wrist go.
"And risk you hitting me?" he questioned with a wide grin already knowing the answer. Kaoru shook her head. It annoyed her that Soujiro could smile with just about anything. It was creepy and at the same time, she found it refreshing. When Kaoru first met Soujiro, he was assigned to protect Tomoe. They were adolescences, Tomoe was making her debut, allowing her to make public appearances. Soujiro accompanied her and during some dangerous situations, Kaoru witnessed him kill people without hesitation all while smiling. Then one night he revealed to only her that he had an abusive past and he learned to smile to not worry anyone else. He didn't go into much details which left a lot to Kaoru's imagination.
So she let Soujiro laugh when he could because his mirth was real when he was with her. Inhaling a deep breath and exhaling it, she let herself calm down by listening to his laughter. When he stopped, Kaoru chanced looking at him. "Thank you for watching over me."
Soujiro's smile faltered as something flashed through his eyes. "Why would you say that all of a sudden?"
"Because you don't really have to watch over me but you choose to do it," she replied while shrugging her shoulder. He stepped closer to her, his face moving until he was eye level with her. Timidly, she stepped back while averting her gaze from his. If he still wasn't holding her wrist in his large hand, she would have further retreated from him.
"Of course, I would watch over you. Despite pledging my allegiance to Tomoe, you have my friendship," he said seriously. In one of those rare moments between them, Kaoru looked back at him to see his smile was gone.
"What I mean is, you don't have to protect me."
"Yes I do," he said immediately.
"Then we both know it's more than friendship," Kaoru whispered while looking away from him. His gaze was too intense for her endure. She felt like she was drowning in the depth of his eyes because he was one of the few people who knew the truth about the Kasshin kingdom.
"Kaoru," he said her name so simply but she felt as if her world was shaken up. "Part of the reason I protect you is because you're one of the closest people who know who I am. The other part is because I know who you truly are."
Lifting her eyes to him, she swallowed nervously from the seriousness in his face. "And who am I?"
He raised his free hand to run his hand through her dark hair. "You are Kaoru Kamiya, the last Kamiya left in your bloodline. Your family were the true rulers of the Kasshin kingdom until two centuries ago when the Yukishiro family ascended the throne. The Kamiyas were left to serve the family until it was due time that both families reunite to bring prosperity to the Kasshin land."
Kaoru gulped before turning away from him. "At least that's what the prophecy claims."
"You are a Kamiya. You carry the royal blue eyes, the thick glossy black hair and their gift runs through your veins."
Kaoru shook her head and roughly pulled at her confined hand. Although Soujiro's grip was not tight, it held her firmly. "That's the part that frustrates me. What gift?"
"I don't know but until we find out, you have to remain where I can protect you," Soujiro said.
"You can't always be there to protect me. Tomoe's safety comes first," said Kaoru looking into his eyes that reminded her of the sky on a clear day.
"If you're with her at all times, then I can do my duty to protect you and her at the same time."
"But if the both of us were in trouble, you have to choose to save her before you save me," Karou retorted, getting frustrated with Soujiro's simple line of thought.
"Well, let's hope the situation never happens," Soujiro said simply as he shrugged his shoulders. Finally, he let go her hand as he moved to lean against one of her bed post.
"That's the problem!" she exclaimed as she heaved her hands into the air. "Tomoe's life in danger and if we don't do something about it, she will die the night she marries the prince of the Hiten kingdom."
A frown marred Soujiro's face although the smile never left his face. "That's a serious accusation you're making. Are you saying someone from the Hiten Kingdom will kill Tomoe and make it look like someone from Kasshin kingdom did it?"
He folded his arms across his chest and Kaoru took a step back from his defensive gesture. When he didn't believe a word he heard, he usually crossed his arms. "No, you mean the opposite way," Kaoru tried to explain to him. Maybe if she could convince him to believe her, he could convince the kings of both kingdoms to postpone the wedding until they find the culprits who would murder Tomoe.
"Care to explain?" he challenged.
"Two nights ago I was wandering around the west section of the castle," Kaoru began. He lifted dark eyebrows at her with surprise. "I know I'm not suppose to wander near the king's chambers, but I found it strange that the guards were not in their assigned place to stop any trespassers. Curious, I snuck a little further when I heard two male voices discussing Tomoe's love affair."
Soujiro opened his mouth to say something, but she stopped him with a lift of her hand. "Let me finish."
He nodded his head. A smile deepening at the corners of his lips.
Inhaling a deep breath, Kaoru continued. "And then they discussed that the kings will let their children marry as though they already knew that the kings will consent to their marriage. If Tomoe marries the prince, there will be a time frame after the marriage ceremony and the banquet. There's a ritual where the bride must part from the groom to prepare for their nuptial night. They are planning on attacking Tomoe then and make the scene look as if the murderers were from the Hiten Kingdom."
Soujiro's face frowned even more as the smile left his face. "Do you have any idea what you claimed?"
Kaoru nodded her head. "Tomoe's life is in danger."
"No," Soujiro replied as he shook his head. Slowly he left where he was leaning against the bed post and slowly made his way to Kaoru. "What you just claimed is that people from the Kasshin kingdom are plotting Tomoe's murder? How will our kingdom look?"
The grimness reflecting in his eyes was frightening Kaoru. For every step he made closer to her, she took a step back.
"And you're talking about the night that will change the history between two kingdoms forever. Your claim will cause a head on war instead of peace."
Of all a sudden, Kaoru's back hit the wall and she jumped while making a squeaking noise at the back of her throat. Apparently, she took Soujiro's mannerisms and behavior too lightly. She forgot how he appeared when situations became serious.
Glancing down at his chest as both his arms were placed beside her, she noticed how he effectively trapped her between his body and the wall. If she were to push him away from using her bodily strength, her attempts would be futile. "I know what I'm saying sounds preposterous, but Tomoe's life is stake," Kaoru tried to tell him.
"No, you're making matters worse for both kingdoms. I advise you not to say anything," Soujiro said lightly. One of his hands brushed the dark hair away from Kaoru's cheek and she flinched.
"And if something happens to her?" Kaoru asked weakly as she closed her eyes. Her breathing became shaky as her heart thundered in her ears.
"Nothing bad will happen to her," he stated calmly.
"But if something does...-." Kaoru never got to finish her sentence. Soujiro hushed her with a finger against her lips. He leaned in until the warmth of his breath tickled against her ear. She trembled in fear. Her knees buckled and she would have collapsed on the floor if it weren't for Soujiro's hard chest leaning against her to support her whole body.
"I'm warning you Kaoru for your own good. Don't try to tell kings anything about what you heard. End this talk tonight because nothing good will come of it," he admonished her.
The air felt stifling for Kaoru as she tried to breathe and she still had her eyes shut tightly. She felt him move back a bit before something wet brushed against her forehead causing her eyes to quickly open. Staring at him with wide eyes, the pleasant smile returned on his lips before he pushed away from the wall, leaving Kaoru to be greeted with the cold ground.
