Here is a chapter
of a story untold
regarding the legend of love and darkness.

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Hime No Kaoru
Prolouge .. Story ..

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A new storyline. New headaches. And a curse or two along the way.
Disclaimers are the characters belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki ne.

Just a small note: This fic is for Kenshin x Kaoru lovers, it takes place in history when Kaoru was supposedly known as a hime or princess of Japan.. (Wai!) Find out more? Read along.

Warnings? There are some waffiness along the way, maybe a lemon.. still considering ne. Fluffland. Silliness. Angst? Drama. Bloodshed. Blah

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Japan - A very traditional country, proud of its own way of life. The most westernised country in Asia, much influenced by Europe and North America. Japan had a strong military tradition and a class of soldiers called the samurais, they were expected to follow a code of behaviour.

This included loyalty to the emperor, honour and chilvary. Known amongst one of the most famous was a man known as Kenshin Himura or the merciless (Nope. not Battousai. Remember this is vveeery long ago), part of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu clan that proved loyal to the emperor.

During the year when military was the most important factor in Japan, and war was frequent. The empress had given birth to a daughter, Kaoru Kamiya. Her eyes were blue, like the sky in springtime. Like the calm sea that rushed upon the shores as the cries of dolphins, seagulls and all the creatures of the sea sounded together in perfect harmony. Like.. purity. Innocence.

Her eyes were often smiling, trustful that no one would hurt her, absolutely no one could ever dream of hurting this angel that nature produced. Her skin was smooth as silk and peach, rosy peach with a healthy colour that seemed to make this child stand out in all the crowd.

Hair as black as the nightsky, shining and gleaming under the sun and bouncy as the wind lifted it up with it's hands and blew it all over the place. It would never tangle but when the wind had finished playing with it, it would land gracefully back on her back, no trace of tangles visible.

Aa.... an angel indeed. An angel so pure that many a man yearned to touch her, just a tiny touch, that was all that was needed to fulfill their desires. Her nature was kindness, she never thought of mistreating anyone, everyone was equal before her eyes.

She was not dependable on her soldiers that guarded her night and day. She was dependable on herself, "I must be independant, I can't rely on others for the sake of my safety." She had declared in the awe of many.

Her mother smiled upon hearing this, she hoped her daughter would grow up into someone who could create the golden era of Japan.

As the years passed, Kaoru grew into a more promising woman they had hoped her to be. Adorned in simple clothes and humbility of a manner when outside the palace, she forbade anyone to kneel before her. They were all equal. They were just of different class.

For weren't they all human beings? What was the point of kneeling to another of equality? The one they should be kneeling and worshipping was God. Not noble classes. And her people loved her for it.

And even though they treated her as if she were a commoner at her command, deep down they would know her status respect her deeply. Even when a man who had leprosy appeared in Japan and was shunned by many, Kaoru had held out a steady hand of friendship, care, concern and love the man had never known, his eyes had filled itself with tears when Kaoru smiled at him and offered her help.

She had everyone know that just because one is ill or suffering from a disease does not mean he is a deadly animal that should be stayed away from. "If you believe that he will not harm you then he won't, but if you think that he is a killer than he will be."

Were Kaoru's words to the people who had gathered around to watch the whole scene. Some had cowered away in fear at the 'unclean' man but some like Kaoru had stepped forward confidently. She demanded loyalty to each other, faithful to one's husband or wife was important.

There was no killings in the country for adultery or any other sin. Because the people were obedient and prosperous. There wasn't a begger on the streets, charitable money was sent to orphanages, and no high tax was charged.

Indeed, she proved to be a great ruler.

When her father had died, she had wept and mourned of course. But not long enough to neglect her job as a princess. She readied herself as the new ruler and undertook all the responsibilities her father had left. Including ones of a war waiting to be fought.

The war which would determine who would be the new leader of the land, and who would take over the control.

Kaoru was constantly in training for military and on books. She was a diligent pupil who scored well in the examinations, there was no doubt. That Kaoru was the one sent by heaven to help Japan in the year of crisis and war.

"The Mandate of Heaven" the chinese said; was the ruler who had received a blessing from heaven and ruled the country. But Kaoru herself seemed like a goddess. She studied history and tried to think up new ways to keep to her people's needs.

Thousands of people across the country had come to Japan - Tokyo-fu to see this wonderous woman they called a angel. Suitors had clamoured over her, tried to get into her good books but a word from her stopped them, "No."

Kaoru wasn't the least interested in getting involved so quickly, especially since there was more pressing matters at hand. Including that of the final war. She had to gather the people quick; the people who were capable of fighting honourably.

She had already checked off the clan Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. Their loyalty proven great not once in their 40 years of existence did their faithfulness waver. But still the future remains to be seen, Kaoru never had doubts about the clan but once they hadn't proved her trust.

When Kaoru had given out the announcements for people to gather quickly, tens of thousands had volunteered but a few hundred had wandered away. "Bravery is not the main point in war, " Kaoru had said.

"What is more important is your loyalty to your country, your love for the nation you were born in, your cooperation with your neighbours, and your unwavering faith in winnning the war. If not for me, then for yourselves and the innocent souls residing here."

That little speech had brought out more people to join the throngs, people had been constantly seen practising at dojos day by day. Sparring and clashes of practising swords sounded throughout the country. Friendship bonds were strengthened, love for their 'goddess' Kaoru had increased.

Kaoru was no ordinary girl, woman or female. She was Hope. She was Love. She was Strength. And She was Destiny, Fate joined together to decide the future.


Now what about the story with the merciless?


He was born under a roof of poverty, unlike the richness that Kaoru lived in. His eyes were purple violet, the colour some pitying ones said, of royalty and rare flowers. But there were others who mocked him, cursed him, jeered at him and even tore at the strings of his already broken heart. His faith in men was lost, his family abandoned him to fend for himself. He was alone...

He would sleep in temple porches under the heavenly stars, wondering if there was an angel who would save him from all this. And as he thought, little did he know that his dream of a tenshi was coming true. The one to deliver him was real.

His food consisted of mice found running around and sometimes grass if food was lacked. People stayed away from him, they got out of his way, some jeered and threw things at him but he would calmly walk away, there was no honour in him, there was no more pride. Only oblivion.

And when he reached Tokyo, he didn't want to live anymore.

His eyes would move desolately in search of shelter and his legs would buckle underneath him many a times when there was famine or drought. Until the day... that a little girl met him. He was 10 as she was 6. Her eyes were moved with pity when she saw the sorry state of the boy who had endured so many.

Her first reaction was unlike those who had met him. She brought out the material from her skirt of satin and silk, she washed it in the river and cleaned his face. The lids covering his eyes fluttered open at the touch of cool water.

At first he thought he was in heaven. Was this young girl an angel? he reached out a hand to touch her face, wondering if she was real and his heart leapt when he felt smooth skin under his coarse touch. She didn't wince like many would when in close contact, she took his hand in his, her eyes brimming with tears of pity.

She asked the man beside her to take him back, at first the guard had refused. His angel had insisted. The guard shook his head and took away his angel from him with her struggling at the tight grasp of the guard's hand.

He had watched as she was taken from him. His eyes starting to water at the thought of his only hope disappearing from him. He clenched his fist that had touched her face and punched it deep into the muddy earth.

But the soft pattering of footsteps caused him to withdraw his hand and look up in surprise when the girl flew into his arms, sobbing and apologising. Her hands clutching tightly at the back of his tattered gi.

Slowly his arms surrounded her too, he didn't want his hope to disappear. He wanted to live. For her. For this girl who loved him. Silently tears from both the kids poured out as his grief was felt by the tenshi too.

His arms tightly almost protectively held the bundle closer, her body shaking with suppressed sorrow and sympathy.

The guard was shouting and his angel was crying. Tired he shut his eyes, warm fingers of the girl shook him hard when his arms fell from her waist. Her soft gentle voice deperately telling him to wake up.

He opened his eyes when he was lifted up by the guard and encouraged by the little girl running near his knees. And for the first time in all his years of existence did he feel a spark of a hope.

And only once did he smile. For the girl who brought him llife, for his angel.

Brought him into the palace did she, with him marvelling at whether such beauty could exist. He was changed into garments he never thought existed. The softness of it all left him wondering, his old gi was thrown away and unlike those on the streets, the servants had smiled when they changed him.

The care and love the princess and empress gave the servants was never washed away therefore they were not disgusted by a boy who was like them before.

Everyone in the palace grew accustomed to the strange boy who could make laughter in there frequent. It was almost as if life for him had just appeared again. When the clan came to take him for practising, it was not the last he ever saw of his saviour, his tenshi and he vowed never to forget her...

Trainings kept him busy, but at night he would rest on the dojo's roof and look up at the starry heaven once again, there was no tears, there was no thoughts of dying but a smile on face. His mind remembering the exact details of the face of a girl he loved.

So come now, sit by me and watch the fire of a story envelop the surrounding, so that you exist in a world where two people are predestined to fall in love. One a killer, the other a merciful. Watch now as these two clash together to create a love.

A love that time would grow to tell.

A love which was forbidden.

Supposedly, Love and Destiny met; they decided to give a chance to end the war of all wars and let the nation be in peace and harmony. But they are not going to let this be easy.

The duo are going to meet with hardships along the way and if their love did waver, there would be no chance for peace ever again. These two lovers had changed Japan, their love had touched the hearts of many and even the most heartless man did let a tear of many out after the story was relayed.

When one lover found out the other was her enemy, she didn't mind. True love doesn't care what race, country or religion one is. All that matters is that the love was once there.

How this story ends will be decided by the lane these two take, the lane to love? Or the lane to hatred? We'll see how strong their love is, if they can make it through the road which holds dangers for them.

Will they take each other's hand and brave the danger?

Only love will tell

:: {+End Prolouge+} ::

*Peeps* Comments please? I think it sucked... *runs*

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