Disclaimer: Kenshin does not belong to me… Sadly he belongs to Kaoru… Hiks hiks hiks

Chapter 3

It had passed the middle of the day when Kaoru arrived in the Hiten territory. After Megumi reminded her for the fifth time, Kaoru used her veil.

A noble woman, Megumi insisted, should never show her face to men other than her husband and family members. It was a sign of purity and noble blood. To fail to do so would ruin her reputation and shame her family. Only commoner women could show their faces to the public.

It did not make sense for Kaoru. There was nothing dishonorable about showing a woman's face. She really itched to torn her veil. Yet, since the day she made her decision, nothing made sense for her anyway.

She tried to count her blessings to calm her temper once more. At least the veil material was see-through and she could still see the somewhat hazy view. At least her journey was smooth and safe. At least Lord Gensai, her father's best friend, had become the Governor for Kamiya. At least Tae, her nanny, would no longer pester her to get marry soon. Wait… the last one must not be count as a blessing. It's not like her soon-to-be husband would ever be a blessing.

She decided to concentrate on peering views in the street. She did not want to think about her gloomy marriage if she could help it.

She was reluctantly impressed when the road of stone made by Kamiya people changed into the marble road of Hiten Kingdom, showing off the richness of the country. The houses in Hiten Mitsurugi Kingdom were notably larger than the ones in Kamiya but she could not see much of them because all houses had high walls and gates. Yet, even the gates looked so luxurious. Their gates were made of silver carved into reliefs of wars events. Most reliefs showed men with beautiful faces and muscular bodies fighting men with less flattering depictions. There was no relief with women depiction.

Hiten had a breathtaking natural beauty. The soil was black and the grass was lush green. Small water streams gave life to many fruit trees and wild vegetable plants along the roads. People who walked along the road could easily pick apples and strawberries.

Three white eagles flown through the sky and she wished she could open her veil to marvel on their beauty. While Kamiya would forever be the most beautiful for her, Hiten was close to heaven.

Through her veil, she watched the men walking with their heads held high. Most of them were good looking, Kaoru admitted reluctantly. Their bodies were muscled under their gi and they walked with pride. Every man had a sword attached to his hip.

Yet, Kaoru felt that the men of Hiten were too stiff. They walked in hurry and did not take time to enjoy the beautiful day. Most of them use simple dark colored gi and hakama which in her opinion looked quite dull.

Every man looked like they were in strain and talked with each other with serious expressions. Kaoru felt that something was missing from the picture.

"Where are the women?" she asked Megumi.

"In the houses of course. Women in Hiten try to avoid going out of their houses as possible."

Kaoru eyes widened. "Why?"

"It is unladylike to do so."

"They stayed in the house all their life?" It did not make sense at all.

"No, that would be too extreme. Do you see the carriages?"

Kaoru nodded.

"Women are allowed to visit each other along as they are not seen in the street. Most of the passengers are likely women. We are also not allowed to go outside the house when the sun set."

"Okay. It still does not make sense for me. If there is an earthquake or a fire in a house after the sun set, a woman still cannot go outside the house?"

Megumi went silent for a while. "Hm… I really never thought of that. There had not been an earthquake in Hiten for centuries."

"Fire?"

"All houses have slaves to put the fire off as soon as possible and the women never need to run away. So the rule is never broken," said Megumi.

Kaoru sighed.

"Where are the children?"

"What?"

"I do not see any children playing."

"Well, it is because they don't play"

"What?"

"All boys over six years old join the Kingdom's Military Academy and live there until they reached the age of 15. They are given military trainings along with science. After they finish their trainings, they return to their families and serve the army during wars."

"They don't learn about religion or philosophy?"

"What is it to learn about religion? We all worship Mares, the God of War and Death. There are priests who lead the ceremonies for him and the people follow their commands. Philosophy is useless and only tends to make people think unnecessary things when the Kingdom needs them to focus on war," Megumi said.

Kaoru wanted to disagree but she had other more important questions.

"And the girls?"

"They stay at home since they were born. Noble families arrange that their girls visited girl academies in which they learn how to be a lady. They learn to sing, dance, paint, play music, and act with grace and elegance and then went back to their houses every day. They can read write, count, and have other ladylike skills. The lower classes mostly just let the girls educated by their mothers in the house," said Megumi with a lower voice. Kaoru caught a sad expression in her eyes.

"When the girls reached the age of 15, her family will choose a husband for her and she will move away," she added.

"So, I suppose you're already married Megumi," she said.

"I did. But my husband had passed away."

"Oh… I am sorry."

"No need. I am not."

Kaoru wanted to ask more but Megumi face was grim so she kept her silence.

How dull and lifeless the street was without children and women. She took a deep breath. The people of Hiten were strong yet strict. She had not heard any laughter from the street. She missed Kamiya more and more. How her life would be in this country?

XXXXX

Before they reached Ishin Ishi, the capital of Hiten, they took a break in a luxurious inn. After enjoying a relaxing hot bath, she used a formal white kimono with golden roses pattern and red velvet obi. She put face powder and reddened her lips. She added a bit of rouge and mascara. She did not like using cosmetics but as the Queen of Kamiya she could not afford to look less than the best.

A pair of tear drop jade earrings came next. A traditional gold necklace called mamoli accentuated her long neck. The necklace which symbolized a woman womb was a family heirloom given from mother to daughter.

While none could deny her beauty, she could not be delighted at that time. She felt like a warrior preparing for a war. It was not far from reality anyway. Since she was a child, she had been taught that beauty could be more deadly than war weapons.

But then she remembered that she had to use her veil. All her efforts would be useless. Well, there was no use to regret it now.

When the veil had covered her face, she looked at the mysterious lady in the mirror. She did not recognize herself. This woman had no face, no expression, no identity.

At last, she put the Kamiya's crown in her head. The crown was made from jade decorated with gold carvings. It was carved like the Lotus flower, symbolizing wisdom and knowledge.

The crown's weight in her head reminded her of all her responsibility. She was only eighteen years old yet she had to carry it just like her ancestors did.

XXXXX

She felt uneasy as she walked beside Megumi in the Hiten's courtyard. As a woman warrior, she could felt a ki that radiated power and confidence from the castle's main door. After walking through the stairs to the main door, Megumi whispered that she had to bow her head and walked to the front slowly. She was not allowed to see the king's face before he told her so.

When Megumi told her to stop, Kaoru did not doubt that it was the King's ki. It made her trembled behind her veil. Never did she felt such a strong ki. At that time, she was thankful for the veil that hidden her fear.

"Your Majesty, I had brought your bride. Please introduce yourself My Lady" Megumi said with a respectful tone.

She took a long breath and said a quick prayer to thank God for her training to control her voice.

"I am Kaoru Kamiya, the Queen of Kamiya Kasshin" Her voice was clear without a trace of fear.

It was silent for awhile before a sharp voice cut the atmosphere.

"You are no queen before I say so."

Before she realized it, her veil was torn and she could no longer feel the weight of the crown in her head.

"This Kamiya woman will be the castle servant before the wedding day. Let her learn more about respecting her king," his voice was as cold as the winter.

At first, Kaoru was too shock to react. She looked at the Kamiya crown in the floor. Her head was free from its weight. She felt the warmth of the sun in her face.

She was humiliated, stripped from the honor due to noble women. She was… an ordinary woman.

She knew it was inappropriate but she could not control herself.

She laughed.

Laughed so loud and so happy. Breaking all the protocol of a queen.

Even if it was only for awhile, she was free.