A/N Hello everyone! Nice to meet you again! I got five reviews for the last chapter! I'm so grateful! Thank you!

loveywhatever: yay! First reviewer! Well I'm glad you like it so far, please keep on reading, hopefully, this will get better!

kitty-cat: Thank you for your support! Again, please keep continuing to read!

Pego5678: Hm, were you talking about a HK series or something? Because I saw a remake of Cinderella called well…something…but jeez, that didn't even cross my mind…okay never mind I don't think we're on the same page, but thanks for reading!

BLONDE GOTH: oOo Yes, Kaoru's artificial burns are just so amazing to me too, considering that was a last minute put in to the whole story, and people cut off their noses to not get raped…?(never heard of it, but yes, it isn't the best thought ever..) Greatest part of all is "The Glass Maiden" is my own story that I created with my own mind, so it can relate to this fanfiction. I'm very proud of it, thanks for all the praise! Read on! (if you have time, I don't want to be a pushy author, but at times…)

Shadowkeepre: Yay! A fifth review! (Uotani is very, very proud and thankful) I'm glad you think it's a good start; I will try to make it better and better as the story proceeds!

Everyone, and, if I don't update often, I'm sorry, its just that…school is hard, pressuring, blah, blah, blah, and well, I'm just darn lazy sometimes. But I shall put up chapter 3 soon…very soon…uhum…cough

Please Review! There is a difference in the way I write and update depending on how much of this "support" I get, I know, I know, so dependant on comments and feedback, but…what's wrong with that -frowns-…-wink, wink-?

The Glass Maiden and the Blossoming Flowers of Kyoto

A Rurouni Kenshin fanfiction by Uotani the fishie

Disclaimer: I only write for my own enjoyment, these are all Watsuki's characters. The only thing that's mine is the storyline, and the hopeless hours of typing. If I owned Kenshin, shoot, this wouldn't be call "fan fiction," just "fiction." Or, if it was all pictures, it wouldn't be call "doujinshi" just regular manga.

From the last chapter…

Midnight had approached, Kaoru laid on the mat, looking at her wrist. Tied onto their since she was little, it was a small jade charm. On the front, there was kanji, which said, "Kamiya Kaoru." On the back was a tea cup. Before her parents had died, she remembered. The family specialized in making tea and teacups. What was so unusual about them was that they didn't use the usual ceramics. The Kamiya family always used glass.

Its green dullness yet uniqueness were what made her charm such a treasure to her. This was one of the three things she owned. As she lifted her pillow, she looked at the little glass form under it. She opened it in half, and there it was the letter.

All the dreary kimonos she wore were old, one day they would have to get trashed, to keep away the bad luck. Years ago, whenever geishas passed by her, all she saw were malicious stares and giggles, as they waved their fans gracefully about. They always covered their faces from her, saying an intended to be polite greeting. That is what they use to do. Now, they knew that she meant nothing. They did not care if they made fun of Kaoru right in front of her. It's not like she could ever do anything.

When they passed by now, they would push anything that she held out of her hands, saying that it was imperfect somehow. When she was not carrying anything, they would shoo their fans all over; saying those words that they thought could pierce Kaoru right then and there. "Ah! I sense bad luck my sisters, move faster."

As she was drifting in her sleep, the head lady came in, holding a broken cup and something behind her back. "Kaoru-chan. What have you done?"

Kaoru turned around, looking at the woman. "For once, I let you serve very well high classed men. Now, look at you, you broke an expensive cup like this! It was fine porcelain made by the best potters!"

"Tomoki-sama, the men pushed me to the door because they became drunk." She paused, waiting for the answer. It was true. The group of men she served today had drank very much with geishas playing music for them. They started getting into a debate on whether the shoguns were needed or not. As Kaoru approached, one of them grabbed her shoulder and pushed her against the shoji. Thus, the tea cup shattered.

"That is your fault for being so clumsy!" Tomoki pulled out her steel handled broom, raised it high above the girl's back, and slammed it down as hard as she could.

The morning bell rung as all the girls in the teahouse began to dress up in their vivid kimonos and obis. Makeup was scattered among the tables, as Kaoru watched them from behind the piece of cloth that concealed their room. Quickly she looked away, hanging onto her back that had bled all last night. Though, no matter it hurt, she never cried, not once. In fact, she as far as she could remember, she never cried in this place. The only ones that should be crying were the geishas here. Their whole life, they had only learned how to please people.

The pain you took in yourself didn't hurt as much as the pain you have to see in others. Wounds on the outside could heal, but what you had witnessed, and what was in your heart could stay there forever.

The scars in her heart began in the flames of her hands.

On that day, when the hitokiri emerged.

Her home was always small, filled with beautifully handmade cups and pots. It was always warm, because of the fire that burned all day in the stove. Every night, her Otou-san walked through the house, making sure nothing had burnt down. The houses in their village were all made of poles of wood and thick paper. One small candle falling from a table may mean disaster.

It was a cold evening, that day. Her mother was feeding her the broth that was meant for dinner. Kaoru remembered. That day, her mother seemed so sad, trying to conceal it with her smile. Then, she found out the secret that had been hidden from her for many years.

"Kaoru, what do you think of hitokiri?" she asked, slowly blowing the smoke from the heat of the soup.

"Kaa-san…" Kaoru didn't know what was going to happen on this night. "I don't know. I don't like them, they are so mean."

"Then, what if your father was a hitokiri?" There was a long pause, as drops of tears came down her mother's face.

"No, Tou-san couldn't be. Even if he was, he is kind to everyone, so I still love him."

Without any words, her mother came into her room for a long time, coming back out holding an object, handing it to her daughter.

"It's so beautiful, Kaa-san" In her hands held a lovely maiden of glass. Her mother didn't say anything. At that moment, the door slammed open. There was silence, as the dark figure approached slowly. On his side, he was clutching onto something. Immediately, the little girl recognized what it was. "Kaa-san! He's holding a katana! He's going to kill us!"

"Run, Kaoru!" Her mother screamed. Kaoru hesitated, but her mother pushed her aside. "Run or I will never look at you again! I will never love you if you don't run!" Without thinking, Kaoru did as her mother said, ran. But she stopped and turned when she reached the outside of their doorway. A scream went out, and she looked inside. The floor was covered with blood, the killer holding on to her mother.

"Kaa-san!" She ran to her mother, who was covered in blood. Kaoru looked at the face of the hitokiri. His face was wet, but his bangs covered his eyes. She took the small statue in her hand and threw it at his forehead. Blood came out, and his hands swiped through his hair. His face was so familiar. "Tou-san!" Kaoru could not believe her own eyes. Frightened, she took her figure and stepped back, colliding against the table. It fell, along with the candle atop of it. The fire quickly spread, but her father didn't move. She began to run out of the house, teapots clattering on the shelves. One in flames fell upon her, burning her face. As Kaoru made her way through the city, she stopped for a moment to look at the house that the older boy lived in. It was burning down; all she saw was a figure getting consumed by red flames. Even though she was only three then, she could make things out with her own small mind. She heard the cries of a mother, then silence. At that time, she knew that the boy whom she called "older brother" was gone. He was four years older than her, but he never left her out of anything. To him, Kaoru belonged. Now, he was long dead. Light rain fell amongst the village that night, but the fire's rage seemed to become endless.

The little girl kept running as far away as she could. Bleeding, and crying, not understanding anything, she collapsed in front of the teahouse in the neighboring town. After the fire had died down, that's when geisha Tomoki came out. She was young and beautiful then. Tomoki hadn't intended for a small girl to fall on her doorstep. The head geisha didn't want to go through the trouble, but many people were there to see it. That is why, for the sake of her own name, Tomoki carried the girl into the teahouse. From then on, every witness of that event knew Tomoki as the kind, caring geisha.

A long time ago, Kaoru had never understood why her father killed her mother. Not until she had one day dropped her glass statue while cleaning. It came apart; she thought that she had broken it. However, when she looked inside, it was meant to be opened. There was an old letter that was concealed for so long.

Dearest Kaoru,

When you read this letter, I know that I will be dead. In these last few moments of my life, I want to share you the secret of this family. Tea-making is just a disguise for your father. He was a real hitokiri, if you haven't yet found out. Two days ago, he had told me that he had an assignment. That assignment was to kill me. Do not blame him, it was his orders. I should have thought before I fell in love with a hitokiri. But he was so kind, so gentle and loving, just as you have said. But, his master forbade him to fall in love, for it weakened his incomparable skills. I never knew. There were two choices; both your father and I never see each other again, or for him to erase me from his whole life. I couldn't bear the fact not being able to see him again, so I told him to assassinate me tonight. I don't want you to see, but it is no use. Please don't hold a grudge against him. He will take care of you from now on, without me. I will keep you and your father in my heart always.

-Kaa-san.

Destiny had to be cruel to her parents. Her father did not move that night, he didn't want to leave her mother. He would rather die with his love.

This was all she could conclude. To this day, hitokiri were frightening men. Even if the last killing she had witnessed was years ago, those images never faded away from her mind. Then it struck her, tonight was the night-the only night in the whole year when she had the chance to leave the teahouse for a few hours. As Lady Tomoki walked by, she declared in a quiet voice. "Tomoki-sama, today, will the geishas be going out for the occasion?"

The lady bit her dappled red lips, and thought. Afterwards, she slowly nodded, clearing her throat. "Ah! Everyone! Close the teahouse! We are going to serve during the kabuki tonight!" Then, in a ruffled, hushed tone, she whispered to Kaoru. "You may come along. Just stay near the back. You might drive away our customers."

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The chilling wind blew through the window, waking the hitokiri up. His face was pale; the blood on his face had stopped falling like tears in the rain.

He pushed open the shoji into the open space ahead of him. It was a small inn, yet so many people stayed here. Some were merely farmers coming to the city for the first time for the one leisure times in their lives. Some were just poor maids dressed in lilac kimonos, serving meals with tea to the guests whom they either see often, or have never in their lives, met. Then, there was Kenshin. There weren't many people like him at the inn. Not every one killed, holding only thoughts of honor.

Samurai, it was just another class within the group of men in Japan. They were meant to be on top of the list, everyone had to respect them for their seemingly kind doings. In truth, the many villagers who respected samurai only did because of their fear of death, the fear of being erased from this world.

The Obun Festival was to be celebrated today. This was the time when the inn was booked, and empty most of them time. In all of Kyoto, people danced and sung. They watched balancing acts and magic tricks done across town. Lanterns were lit everywhere. All the time. However, the largest attractive was obviously, kabuki. Every year, the traveling actors did a different performance. Although it was lowly of samurai, or any killers at all to watch these acts, the townspeople could tell, on night the Obun Festival, there were in fact many swordsmen dressed up as regular men to see the plays.

Seikei walked into the entrance of the hallway, motioning his finger towards him. "Kenshin," his voice said sternly. The hitokiri, or samurai as some call it, looked up.

"The Obun Festival will take place tonight. There are no assignments. I suggest you go, it's rare to have a break like this."

Kenshin's expression did not change. He did not feel any use of the festival. Being dragged by Seikei every time the occasion came; it was always the same. False magic on the streets, vividly colored paper dolls, were just attractions for the greediness of money. "There is no use for me to go."

Seikei sighed. "Year after year I ask you to go but you don't cooperate. Fine, this year I won't drag you. However, I think a new kabuki group is performing this year. I heard they were good."

"That won't make a difference." Kenshin replied, in a low tone.

A twinkle went upon Seikei's mischievous face. "Well, you see the thing is, they're going to do this new play that has never been done before. Do you know what it is?"

Stillness.

"Well, I'm not sure if you are interested, but this year's play will be interesting. It's called, The Life of Genji Hirosaki, written by one of the more famous kabuki stars. I heard it was absolutely great, reflecting on the true life of a hitokiri, honoring his spirit. You might want toobserve it and follow it, seeing that you have gotten nowhere with your life." Seikei grinned, and walked out of the hallway. Then, his face popped up again. "Of course, you know, I was just kidding about not dragging you to see this. You have to see the possibility of your fate, after all…" It was those words that Kenshin never understood. It seemed as if it was only nonsense; nothing else.

Tonight, when fatewould be sealed, and a mere maid meetsthe deadly assasin.

End Chapter 2

Next update: When I have the time, and when more reviews shall come in. The quality of my work is on it! What joy. Thank you for reading, you don't necessarily have to review, I was just kidding, but it would be nice. Ja Ne, much thanks, Uotani the fishie!