Hi readers! Finally updated after a year... but I'm not happy with how this chapter turned out, at all. I hope I can get some feedbacks, both postive and negative. To boost my confidence to continue with this ficcie and to improve my writing. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own RK.

It was about 11:30PM at the Kamiya's Mansion. With all the servants napping and her father on a business trip, Kaoru felt free to cry. She sat in her room on her grandeur canopy bed in her silk pajamas, holding the only picture left of her mother close to her chest, and wept silently.

"Okaa-chan…" She whispered as she stared at her mother's kind smiling face. This was a picture of her mother taken before she got married to her father, during her graduation. "I miss you so much… Life is so hard—to the point I don't know what to do… Those boys… I hate them, I hate them so much. All they care about is my beauty and my body, but never do they actually care about me. But I'm starting to get tired… Do I have to continue with this charade? I just want to live as a normal teenager…" Her voice almost choked.

She slowly succumbed to sleep as she wept softly to herself. There was not a single night when she did not miss her mother.

"Kaoru-chan, Kaoru-chan," a voice repeated.

Kaoru felt as if she were floating. Her eyes were closed, and she knew she was dreaming. Too good to be true. Everything felt so weightless, as if all the hardships of life did not exist. Even the scent of the air was soothing and calming.

"My child, Kaoru…" the voice continued.

Kaoru opened her eyes to see the young and beautiful woman in front of her. Her eyes were dreary and she did not have a kind smile on her face—unlike the picture from earlier.

Her mother approached her, with her arms extended. "Child, you cannot give up. This revenge… Think back to how your father treated me. All men are the same—they feel attracted to you at that moment of heat, and throw you away after you've deteriorated. You must always remember to never fall enough, and continue what you're doing. Don't keep in mind what others think of you—it's for me child. This is revenge for me. Think of all that I've suffered before my death, onegai. Kaoru I love you so much, but I want you to do this for me. Please."

"Okaa-chan," Kaoru whispered. She glided, as if in air, into her mother's welcoming arms. "I understand what I have to do, but everything seems like a blur to me. Do you really love me? Is this really the right thing to do?"

"Kaoru," her mom whispered softly and held her tightly. "I…"

"Kaoru-sama, Kaoru-sama," A voice said.

Kaoru slowly opened her eyes and saw Tsubame, her personal maid, shaking her. "Kamiya-sama is on the phone asking for you," she said as she held the handset out towards Kaoru.

Him… Kaoru thought carefully to herself. She slowly sat up and received the phone from Tsubame. She glanced at the clock next to her nightstand and saw that it was already 9:30 AM. She was late.

"Gomen ne!" Tsubame said in response to Kaoru's action. "Shinomori-sama told us not to wake you up earlier because he said you should take the day off today. You're in no condition to go to school today, especially you have a Kendo tournament…"

Kaoru's head shot up and stared at the young girl's brown frightened eyes. "Tsubame, go prepare for me. I need to get ready."

"Hai," Tsubame replied and hurriedly left the room.

Kaoru sighed and stared down at the phone she held in her hand. At least he had some incentive to call me… She placed the phone close to her ear and listened for any background sound. Nothing.

"Hai," Kaoru spoke into the phone.

"You're at home right now," a stern voice spoke from the other end. "Why." Her father did not even make that a question.

"That's none of your concern," Kaoru replied. How dare he question her like that? He wasn't even present to know what's going on!

"It's every bit of my concern that you are not fulfilling your duty. You are to get up and get dressed for school at this moment." Her father remained calm and collected at the other end.

"Just because your family helped fund the establishment of this school doesn't mean I am responsible to act as a model student. What am I now? The nineteenth generation?"

"Go get dressed, now." Kaoru could almost hear the crack at the last word. "Before I ask for Megumi-sensei."

Kaoru grimaced. Megumi was not someone she needed to deal with right now. "Enjoy your business trip," she hung up the phone.

Kaoru sighed. She knew that if Megumi came over, her life will be hell. Megumi was the family doctor, as well as Kaoru's "nanny." Ever since Kaoru was little, Megumi not only acted as a teacher but as a mother as well. But Kaoru never accepted her because of her motherly acts. No one can be her mother than her real mother. She appreciated her efforts initially, but the fact that she was one of her father's pawns, she could never bring herself to like her. The one time when she straight out told Megumi to get the hell out of her life, the raven haired doctor became outraged. Gone were the fun tutoring lessons and the trips to the amusement parks. But her father made a deal with her—if she would start attending Tokyo Private Academy starting in middle school, he will no longer have Megumi as her mentor. She accepted the deal, despite never wanting to attend the academy in the first place because it was what her father had wanted. If she obliged to any of her father's wishes, it would be over her dead body.

Kaoru glanced at the clock again, 9:37 AM. Whatever, Kaoru thought as she got up and headed towards the bathroom. If I weren't Kamiya Koshijiro's daughter, they would've expelled me by now.

"Kaoru," I'm so sorry! I can't come to your Kendo tournament today," Misao said to Kaoru in the locker room as Kaoru was preparing to change into her Kendo uniform.

Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "Why?" She asked, half smiling.

Misao blushed profusely. "Well you see, tomorrow…"

"Is Saturday," Kaoru finished for her.

"Well yes… But…"

"But you have a date with Aoshi and you want to get your hair done, your nails done, and pick out the perfect outfit for tomorrow, and because it is the first date ever." Kaoru cited as if it were a poem.

"Kaoru-chan I love you!" Misao happily said as she gave her best friend a big bear hug. "Thank you thank you thank for being so forgiving!"

Kaoru chuckled lightly, the laughter sounding like music. "Misao-chan, you could've just straight out told me. I support you and Aoshi-kun 100%."

Misao pecked Kaoru lightly on the cheeks and smiled brightly. "Thanks again Kaoru-chan! I promise I will attend the next tournament. Promise promise promise!"

"Haha okay, Misao-chan," Kaoru replied. "You should go now; I'm sure you simply can't wait to get to that salon," Kaoru finished with a wink.

Misao bounced as she left the locker room.

"Shishou," Kenshin said sternly into the phone. "I'm not joining the Kendo class. I quit last week remember? My hopes and dreams would be to graduate from this school without anyone knowing who I am. It was part of our deal."

"Well you certainly achieved that with that red hair of yours," the tall and bulky man said in response. He was Hiko Seijuro, the thirteenth CEO of the Hiten Mitsurugi Company. Although he was very wealthy, he was also skilled at covering that up, especially to his adopted son. He wanted his son to experience the bitterness of life, making sure he grew up in a poor environment so that in the future, he would have the moral potential to take after the company.

"…"

"Baka deshi, those skills I've taught you cannot go to waste. You have never practiced these skills with anyone else other than me or practice dummies. Don't you want to see how exactly capable you are? There's finally a tournament today and it's the best opportunity for you."

Kenshin pondered for a second. Although he loved to practice the sword, he never wanted to show off per say. And the first two club meetings he attended were too tedious for his taste. Except when he would stare mindlessly at…

"I'm waiting for an answer," Hiko said into the phone.

Kenshin believed that the sword will be used to protect the ones who will be in need in the future, but never to display to others. But what if he was weak? What if he wasn't strong enough to protect the needy ones and those who are important to him? He definitely needed to test his skills.

"So I take that as a yes?" Hiko's voice repeated on the other line.

"I'll think about it," the red-haired young man replied. He knew that he will oblige but he did not want his father to get his way that easily.

"Welcome to the Tokyo Private Academy's fifteenth tournament of the year!" the Kendo coach said. The best of the best of the members of the class were present today, including Shinomori Aoshi and Seta Soujiro. Everyone present was sitting on the bleachers as the coach spoke with a loud and ringing voice. "We have a new student joining the class today. He will be participating in the tournament as well, just so we can see if he will belong with us."

This certainly sparked Kaoru's interest. Although she was the only female member of this class, and her father strongly detested her involvement in this class (much to her liking), the only true opponents of hers were Aoshi and Soujiro. Aoshi sparred with her frequently at home, and he always let her have her way. But she wasn't happy. She knew that Aoshi was much stronger and wanted to win against him for real one day. Kendo was something she truly loved and she will never let her father get in the way of that.

"Let us give a big welcoming hand to Himura Kenshin!"

Kenshin entered the gymnasium in his Kendo uniform and a sword and mask in each hand. His red hair was tied up in a high pony-tail. Kaoru stared at this young man with wide sapphire eyes—it was him, that young man she encountered the other day, yet at the same time, he wasn't. This young man standing ten feet away from her was handsome. Without his glasses, he looked very well defined, with an apparently handsome face. With the uniform, he appeared not as the wimpy guy from the other day, but as a brave warrior.

"We will begin with a voluntary match between Himura and another student," the coach said. "Any volunteers?"

Soujiro immediately sprint up for this opportunity. It's been a while since he sparred. Moreover, Kaoru was present today and perhaps he can show off some skills to her. He knew her strong interest in Kendo and would give it all to use it to his advantage. And perhaps she will get back together with me…

However, he was a split second late.

"Yes, Kamiya, you would like to be a volunteer?"

"Hai, sensei," Kaoru replied as she grabbed her mask and bokken. She walked to the middle of the gymnasium, where Kenshin was standing. While walking towards him, she smiled at him and waited for any sign of response. This is going to be interesting, Kaoru thought to herself.

Kenshin stared back at this raven-haired beauty with wide eyes. No, wait, this isn't happening. Kamiya Kaoru, the most beautiful girl of this school, is walking towards me. His heart was thumping loudly against his chest, ready to jump out and announce to the world his undeniable attraction towards Kamiya Kaoru.

"Ready?" Kaoru asked as she put her mask and got into ready position.

"H-hai…" Kenshin replied nervously. He was shaking as he put on his own mask and gripped his sword tightly. "A-ano… Are you going to use that bamboo sword?"

"Don't underestimate me," Kaoru said harshly as she charged towards him. With a flick of her wrist, her bokken reached his ribs with ease.

Kenshin, still in a daze, did not anticipate the attack. However, he was able to jump high enough to avoid contact. "Kamiya-san, you should never use a bokken in a sword match with a real sword," Kenshin suggested kindly.

Kaoru was not happy with his polite speech. How dare this man treat her this way! She aimed her bokken up towards his feet and managed to knock him out of balance. He landed unsteadily on his feet. Kaoru did not miss this chance and charged at him again. As Kaoru got closer, Kenshin could not help but to get a whiff of the pure jasmine scent. It was enthralling yet toxic. He tried to defend himself by extending his sword-less arm, however, to only have touched Kaoru's chest within that split second. In that split second, both of them stopped their graceful movements and stared unbelieving at each other. Kenshin was red, afraid that Kaoru will get angry at the inappropriate gesture. Kaoru was red, that this man was not as innocent as she perceived him to be. Kaoru, unwillingly to give in as an easy woman, gripped her bokken tightly and reached her target. She knocked Kenshin off balance by piercing right at his shoulder.

"Is that all you got?" Kaoru asked mockingly.

This angered Kenshin. Despite being spellbound by this beauty young woman, he was not going to let her insult his swordsman's pride. He jumped up again, aiming his sword down at her. With a battle cry, "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu! Sou ryu sen!"

The coach, Aoshi, and Soujiro all involuntarily jerked up. Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu?

Kaoru was not anticipating this sudden comeback as the sword hit her left ribs, hard. She fell backwards and hit the gymnasium floor with a loud thud. Everyone stood up from the bleachers and was astonished. The great Kamiya Kaoru was left defeated within less than ten minutes of a spar.

Kaoru was on one knee with her other knee under her chin. She was panting and holding her bokken tightly in her hand. She looked down at her bokken. Shock was written all across her face. The other half of her bokken was on the other side of the gymnasium, right at the coach's feet, and this half was battered. She could not believe it. Not only was she defeated, but the bokken she cherished the most, the bokken she always had faith in, was left in that condition.

She glanced up at the skilled warrior. Into those amber depths she stared—she felt something deep down her core, as if some strange connection with those deep amber eyes. Those amber eyes stared back at her with sorrow, as if seeking for some form of forgiveness. Instinctively, she knew she found her next target. Goal: seduce Himura Kenshin and make him pay for everything that happened to her today.