Summary- Princess Kaoru is saved by the savage Hikotiri Battousai. Law of the land gives him her hand in marriage. Kaoru hates the idea, and tries to run away, but guess who catches her? And wait Battousai has a split personality that is actually… nice? B/K
another chapter redone (5/29/07)
Kaoru lay in the grass with her eyes lightly closed. She could feel the sun warming her pale skin as she rested. The smell of the rich dirt beneath her body and the prickly grass tickling her skin helped her remember how wonderful living was. Since her brush with death, Kaoru had become serene and pensive. She valued that had been given the right to life, and the right to live it how she chose. Could a young woman really be so lucky? Kaoru now believed she could.
"Majesty! Majesty! His highness requests your attendance in the throne room." A young servant broke her thoughts, and she slowly rose to greet him. Her parents had become stricter and often called her, if only to prove that she were still alive.
She followed the servant to the throne room. The servant boy lowered his head as he ushered her inside.
Kaoru ignored the outrageoulsly decorated room with gold and silver trimming inch of the room and crushed diamonds embedded into the wall paint, making the room glisten in the day. Two thrones decorated the center of the room. One throne was covered in silk and satin fabric, and had gold thread weaved in and out of the fabric, and the wood was of the best quality, and the other throne was mild in comparison and size. The larger one held Kaoru's father, and the other held her mother.
Kaoru gracefully went up to her parents and bowed at their feet. When her father gave her permission to stand, the princess got up, and stared at her parents expectantly. Under her gaze, Kaoru's mother, Queen Chiharu, started to cry. Kaoru felt puzzled, and looked at her father, confused.
"Father, what is wrong with mother?" The king's moved around in his seat, as though he were uncomfortable. His indigo eyes would not meet hers, as he spoke barely over a whisper. "What?"
"I said that you would be married, within the fortnight. I'm sorry, I know how you didn't wish to be married, but sometimes in life we must do things we don't wish to do. " He paused to see her display of anger, but found disappointment lingering in her eyes.
He cut his eyes quickly away; he couldn't bear to see the change in her. He mentally locked his shame into the depths of his spirit and readjusted his mind to compose himself as king.
"The seamstress should be in your room waiting to take your measurements." he commanded her silently to rue his authority with his strict tone and posture. He looked down at her brow with a commanding gaze, not willing to chance a second look into her eyes.
Kaoru stood there a moment with her mouth agape, then shut it tightly into a thin line, then stormed off to her room. Kaoru felt betrayed and confused. Her father had told her that she would never have to marry, if that wasn't her wish. How could she born of a man who did not honor his obligations? What kind of king had her father become?
The Imperial King and Queen watched as their youngest child stormed out of the throne room, with none of the grace that princess should have. The sound of her footsteps echoed throughout the deathly quiet room. The queen, with no lose of emotion, broke the silence.
"How could you do this?" His wife accused through her tears. "You promised Kaoru, and now you go back on your word without even explanation! How can you expect her to respect you, when you've given her no reason to? What have you become my king?"
"Quiet!" His majesty had never been spoken to in such a manner, and was not used to the shamefulness he felt. He was the king and her unbridled mouth would not keep him from his duties. "It was my duty. It is law that if a male suitor restores order he is given the ultimate honor of controlling a portion of this country and marriage is the key to that control."
His wife's eyes became larger and angrier, "You are the King! You could change the law any time you'd like! If you were going to give my daughter away in marriage, you could have discussed it with me. The Hikotiri Battousai is the most feared man in the world! He cannot provide for her, because he will have trouble not killing her- with shame. He will ruin her honor."
"Kaoru cannot be compromised. Do not make the appearance that I am satisfied with this arrangement. I am bound by my laws and my word."
"You seem oddly at peace with your unhappiness your highness. I wonder what you are to gain from your 'obligations'."
The Queen went to her daughter's chambers, and found Kaoru being stuck with pins and needles by the seamstress. The queen cleared her throat and the seamstress instantly got on her knees, and bowed to her queen's feet. "Leave servant, I wish to speak with the Princess." She said harshly to the seamstress.
The tiny woman grabbed her fabrics and needles and scurried out of the room. When she was sure that the seamstress was completely out of ear shot, the queen began to walk over to her daughter, then pulled her into a motherly hug, and began to comfort Kaoru.
Kaoru had been in tears since she had gotten into her room, and was still weeping when her mother had come. It hurt to see her daughter in so much pain, but nothing could be done. The king had already given his word in a formal document that Kaoru would be the Battousai's bride. He had hurriedly gotten the necessary contracts written and signed without allowing his family to know his plans.
"Kaoru, everything that is unbalanced will right itself. You will see in time." The Queen attempted to help her daughter to adjust. The best Kaoru could do was accept her fate quietly, although the Queen wished to see a fighting spirit within her daughter.
"It must be Shishio. Only he would have the evilness to plan out such an elaborate plot against Father to own our land." Kaoru could only imagine that her father had been seduced the Prince's wealth and power. She was sure that Shishio had made him an offer that he could not refuse.
"The Battousai." The Queen spat out the name with disdain and fear. She feared him for his past and hated him for what he would soon do.
Kaoru would have given a response if she were able to control her the agony coming from her mouth.
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