Hello again everyone, after some fantastic suggestions by niezzexx I have rewritten chapter one and parts of the other chapters. Hope you guys enjoy this new chapter one, please let me know what you think! As always, standard disclaimer applies!

Mia21

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a young prince. To his people, he was known simply as Prince Kenshin. He was a master of combat, and he used the art of swordsmanship to teach his people, holding classes that everyone wanted to attend. He was married to a beautiful enchantress named Tomoe. They loved one another, but their happiness was not to be, for Prince Kenshin's country went to war. He was on the front lines, trying to defend those in battle around him when he was struck with an evil sword, which left his face blackened and scarred, deathlike, and hideous to behold. In his pride, Prince Kenshin allowed the ugliness of his face to poison his heart, making it ugly as well. Ashamed of his monstrous appearance, Prince Kenshin concealed himself inside his castle, searching for one with a pure heart, whose love could break the evil spell, for he no longer had Tomoe's love as she had been killed shortly after Prince Kenshin had been disfigured, while she was coming home from a magical council. When she died, Prince Kenshin realized that someone didn't want him cured, and so closed out every hope he had of ever being cured.

Kaoru had been happy, along with everyone else, when the Prince had returned home. But he was never seen, and people began rumors that he had lost his mind in the last battle and was convalescing at the palace. When Kaoru saw the royal Proclamation, that anyone who owed the crown was being called in to pay their debt, she was glad because hopefully it would put some of the rumors to rest. She went home that afternoon to speak with her father as they were one of the many families who owed the crown. After explaining to her father what the Proclamation said, they sat talking about what they were going to do.

"We don't have the money, daughter. So we can't pay our debt." Her father said.

"There has to be something we can do. Can you get a loan from one of your friends?" Kaoru asked.

"None of them have the money either." Her father told her, beginning to cough.

"Don't worry Father. I'll think of something." Kaoru told her father, not wanting him to get distressed and even sicker. Honestly, she had no idea what she would do either. But the Prince was once kind, she hoped the rumors had been just that and there was still some of his kindness left.

The next day Kaoru herself went to the appointment with the Prince. She was shown into a great room where the Prince was already seated in a large overstuffed chair which sat deep in the shadows of the room. Kaoru sat in the chair facing the throne.

"You are not Koshijiro Kamiya." The Prince said, seeming confused.

"No, your highness, I…I'm his daughter, Kaoru Kamiya." She told him.

"So, he sent you with the money, did he?" He was seemingly unsurprised.

"We haven't the money, Sire." She confessed.

"Then your father will work for me here." He seemed to think that would settle the matter

"No, please, my father is sick. He'll die!" She begged the Prince.

"And so you've come to, what, beg me to erase his debt, spare his life? It's not going to happen -" He began as Kaoru's brain was scrambling.

"What if I take his place?" She asked.

"You? Ha!" He was apparently wondering what a mere girl could do around the palace.

"If I did, would you let him go?" She wondered.

"I will let your father out of his bargain on one condition, and one condition only. You agree to remain here in the palace and work for me, just as I would have him do." He told her.

"What about my father?" She queried.

"I will send someone to supply him with the needed medicine. Do we have a deal?" He asked.

"Come into the light." She told him, wondering what he was hiding. When he did come forward into the lamp light, she realized that his face was scarred, blackened and hideous. She gasped, not able to believe what she was seeing.

"You have my word." She told him, before she could change her mind or second guess herself.