Hello everyone, really hope you are all enjoying the story so far! Reviews are always appreciated and standard disclaimer applies, Rurouni Kenshin, all the characters and everything about it belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki. I really wish it were mine but, alas, it's not! Thanks again!

-Mia21


Once the sun had set the next night, Kaoru was surprised when Shishio came to pay her a little visit, followed closely by Yumi, his ward. Knowing things always went better when she complimented him, Kaoru began, "Shishio, what a pleasant surprise. You found time away from your work to come and visit little old me?"

Shishio smirked at her, then asked, "I bet you think you're so smart don't you my pet?"

"Well, not often compared with you."

He laughed then, "Obviously. Have you forgotten about Diablo?"

Kaoru inwardly winced, cursing herself for letting his little spying bird slip her mind for even a moment.

"I know all about you're little prince and his companion. I also know about the empress's ball thanks to Yumi. But guess what, you're not going anywhere tomorrow night."

Wondering what he was going to do to stop her, Kaoru raised her eyebrows, "Oh?"

"I know you like the prince since his visits have you all befuddled, you used to keep better track of these things. Tomorrow night, there is no moon."

Kaoru sucked in her breath, staring up at the waxing crescent moon and realizing he was right, she had totally forgotten. Shishio was cackling, soon followed into laughter by Yumi, before he decided to twist the knife a little more. "But don't worry, you'll still be there."

Kaoru frowned, until he snapped his fingers in Yumi's direction, transforming her into a mirror image of Kaoru. "See? And once you spend the entire night ignoring the prince, dancing and flirting with everyone else, he'll be done with you."

Feeling sick to her stomach, and knowing that Yumi was once a prostitute, Kaoru lamented, "No, you can't, please."

"Obviously, I can." He told her, laughing again, before he and Yumi headed back towards the castle, leaving Kaoru on her own.


Kenshin and Sano found themselves being measured and fitted for a new outfit. He'd been told by his mother they all had to look their best, though he wasn't sure why until their friend Aoshi walked in and told them, "I just heard, the emperor is returning tomorrow afternoon and will be present for the ball."

"Ah, now my mother's perfectionism makes sense." Kenshin said, to which Sano nodded from his mass of seamstresses and measuring tapes.

"Did you hear if he's bringing help back with him?" Kenshin asked, to which Aoshi just shook his head. Kenshin sighed, the promise he'd made Kaoru weighing heavily on his heart. Realizing he'd just have to wait and see, he sort of shrugged before raising his arms back up and letting the seamstresses continue with him too.


The next nightfall, Kaoru floated gloomily on top of Swan Lake, watching as Shishio reminded Yumi yet again what and what not to do. Kissing him on the cheek, Yumi set off for Akita and Kubota palace, having to walk as Kaoru would.


Kenshin swirled a goblet of wine and watched the dancers whirl across the floor, knowing his parents were expecting him to be out there. He'd been ecstatic to learn his father had brought home with him an enchantress who'd agreed to help them face Shishio. Kenshin had high hopes she would agree to interview and help Kaoru as well. She was a very pretty woman, with long black hair and dark brown eyes, and Kenshin knew his cousin was already smitten with her as he would dance with no one tonight.

Kenshin found himself pondering Kaoru's smile and thick, slightly curling, black hair. Just then, the set of double doors that led into the ballroom were thrown open, giving entrance to none other than Kaoru who looked beautiful in a white dress with blue accents, the first dress Kenshin had seen her in.

He straightened at the sight of her, but upon observing her for a few moments, the way she was winking and throwing suggestive glances at some of the men, he narrowed his eyes, that wasn't like Kaoru at all.

Several of the other young lords went to ask her to dance, and she consented, pressing herself against them as they moved across the dance floor.

'This is not my Kaoru.' He realized quite suddenly. Leaning towards his cousin, he whispered what he had just perceived. Standing, Sano told him, "I'll notify the guards."

The soldiers slipped in to the ballroom, circling the Kaoru fraud. After a moment, they moved in with a unison that was impressive for those watching. Suddenly realizing she was surrounded, the Kaoru look-alike reached into a pocket of her gown and pulled out a black marble, throwing it to the ground. It cracked, and foul-smelling smoke spewed from it, drawing tears to Kenshin's eyes and making him cough. Some wise person threw the windows open, but it was too late. She had used the distraction to disappear.