Hey everyone, joust time. Hope you all like this chapter! Please review!

-Mia21


On arriving at the tournament grounds the following morning, Kaoru slipped into the stands with everyone else. The entrance was teeming with people, the profusion of color was dazzling, with bright hues of red, yellow, green, and blue. Kaoru simply followed everyone else in, and sat in the same blue striped pavilion as most did, although she pushed her way to the front row to better see. The gallery around her, as well as the one opposite, began quickly filling up with people.

The marshals of the tournament came out onto the lists on horseback to the flourish of trumpets. One of the marshals unrolled a scroll, and the crowd hushed to silence as he began to read the proclamation and rules of the tournament according to the King. He declared that all the usual rules of chivalry were to be observed, courtesy given to injured knights, and no unfair advantages were to be taken, such as intentionally injuring the opposing knight's horse. The tournament was to last two days, with the winner being declared on the second day. Kaoru noticed that each knight's shield with his coat of arms was displayed around the inner perimeter of the lists. The field marshal read, "Any knight may challenge any other by striking his shield." The two knights, the challenger and his opponent, would fight three courses. In today's jousts, if a knight was unhorsed, he was considered defeated and the marshals would proclaim the victor. They could not dismount to continue the fight. A ball would be given in the winner's honor on the night of the second day, over which he would preside.

Kaoru already knew the rules of a tournament, so she only partially listened as the rules of this tournament were read. Her gaze was drawn to Kenshin's shield around the perimeter of the field, and now flitted to the side he would emerge from. She yearned to see him riding out onto the lists on Aki. The knights began to enter the lists, mounted on their war horses, which were draped in the most spectacular colors. The knights themselves shone brightly, their highly polished armor glinting in the sun. They carried their lances pointed toward the sky as they paraded onto the grassy field and lined up facing Kaoru's side.

Each knight was introduced, his parentage and ancestry were declared, and the crowd applauded and called out approval for the local knights. But for the foreign knights, only a smattering of clapping could be heard, and even a few cries of derision arose for some.

Kenshin wore only his stripes of blue, silver and white. He wore no other scarves or any adornment on either his helmet or his arm.

When it was Kenshin's turn to be announced, he nudged Aki, and his horse made a gallant bow, bending one knee and lowering his head as Kenshin in turn bowed his head and dipped his lance toward the crowd. A roaring cheer arose.

When a knight from the area, Yousuke Kuwano, was introduced, a few hisses spread through the crowd, as his reputation as Kenshin's chief nemesis had proceeded him.

After all the knight's had been introduced, many of them walked their horses over and banged on another knight's shield. Kaoru watched as Yousuke Kuwano made his way to Kenshin's shield and banged it forcefully with the end of his lance. Several others tapped their lances on Kenshin's shield. After the challenges were made, the knight's dispersed to their pavilions to await their turn at tilting with their opponent.

Kenshin entered the lists mounted on Aki, and Kaoru's heart jumped into her throat. He sat so straight in the saddle, the picture of manly grace and strength. His armor was bright silver with intricate carvings and decorations, and his helmet was a pleasing shape, high and rounded at the top, the way the visor jutted forward. Kuwano's helmet was like an enormous beak. On the top was a spike, to which was attached a profusion of gray and black feathers. His armor was black as well, and a skull marked his shield.

Kenshin and Kuwano took their places, and Kaoru put her hand over her heart in a vain effort to keep it from beating so hard.

Aki stood perfectly still as Kenshin lifted his lance parallel to the ground. Kuwano's beast stamped his hooves impatiently until he noticed the marshal seemed to be waiting for him to get his horse under control. When it finally stilled, the marshal dropped the flag.

Kenshin and his mount leaped forward, and the opponents charged each other. Kaoru's heart seemed to stop beating altogether as each knight's lance crashed into the other's shield. Kuwano's weapon shattered and he was thrown backward and began teetering sideways. The crowd seemed to hold their breath until he righted himself.

Kenshin's lance held firm, and he sat facing his adversary. Kaoru watched as they both rode back to their places. The flag fell again and the two horses sprang forward. Kuwano seemed to be aiming for Kenshin's neck, while Kenshin shifted his lance's aim at the last second, from Kuwano's shield to his helmet. Each lance struck the other rider. Kuwano's glanced off Kenshin's helmet, and he kept his seat, but Kenshin's lance had apparently struck Kuwano's visor and wedged itself between the air slits. Kenshin kept hold of the lance, the other end stuck in Kuwano's visor, and Kenshin's surefooted horse moved to follow the foe.

Loud curses came from Yousuke Kuwano as he threw down his lance and, with both hands, tried to pull Kenshin's lance out of his helmet, but to no avail. His squire and two attendants ran to help him, but they still could not release him. Instead, they ended up taking off his helmet. Kuwano's face was red, his hair and beard wet with perspiration. He cursed Kenshin, at least Kaoru thought he did. She only barely understood Kurilian, but she assumed from the way he was yelling and glaring at Kenshin, that he was also cursing at him.

Kenshin sat mute, holding his lance with Kuwano's helmet still attached. They each went back to their end of the field. Kuwano's attendants placed a new helmet on his head, then gave him a new lance. Kenshin replaced his lance as well.

The two once again faced each other, waiting for the marshal to drop his flag. For their third and final encounter, Kaoru could feel the rage emanating from Kuwano. When the flag fell, Kuwano shouted as he spurred his horse toward Kenshin. There was a great crash as Kenshin's lance struck Kuwano's helmet and splintered, and Kuwano was knocked off his saddle onto his back. At the same time, Kenshin's helmet was knocked off with such force, it hit the ground thirty feet behind him. Kaoru was rather desperate to see Kenshin's face, to see if he'd been seriously injured. But his back was to her as he gazed down at his challenger.

Kuwano jumped to his feet, snarling like a wild animal, and he drew his sword. The marshals urged their horses forward but weren't able to reach the two before Kuwano swung his sword at Kenshin, and missed. Aki let out a wild scream and reared, his hooves flailing in Kuwano's face. One marshal on horseback placed himself between Kenshin and Kuwano, while another dismounted and wrenched Kuwano's sword out of his hand from behind. Kuwano spun around and yelled something indistinct, then walked off the field toward his pavilion, leaving his squire and attendants to bring his horse. The field marshal declared Kenshin the victor.

As Kenshin's squire brought him his helmet, Kaoru finally got a glimpse of his face. A bright red line ran across his forehead just over his left eye, from which a trickle of blood dribbled over his eyebrow and down his cheek.

The marshals conversed with Kenshin for a moment, and then Kenshin took his place at the end of the lists, while his squire helped him put his helmet back on. Another opponent emerged from the opposite side. After the flag fell, the two met in the center of the lists with a loud crash. Kenshin splintered his lance on his opponent's shield, while his opponent struck Kenshin's shield with only a glancing blow. The two lined up again. The flag fell and the horses charged forward, but the challenger's horse reared, then shied to one side. Kenshin could have taken advantage of the situation and struck his opponent while he was unable to strike his own blow, but Kenshin halted his horse and did not strike. It was a display of courtesy, according to the rules of chivalry. The crowd shouted their approval.

The marshals allowed them to return to their places. The challenger's horse whinnied, but then seemed to calm down. He stood still until the marshal again flung down his flag. Kenshin and the challenger met in the center again, and once again Kenshin's lance broke apart upon impact on the other knight's shield. The challenger was unhorsed, landing on the ground with a crash and rolling helplessly to a stop. He didn't move as they led his horse away. His squire and attendants used a wooden litter to carry him off the field. Kenshin waited at the end of the lists, accepting a new lance.

Feeling reasonably assured that he wasn't badly injured from the bleeding wound over his eye, Kaoru sighed in delight at his two decisive victories. She didn't know how many more challengers he would have to face.

A knight in black and gold armor with a bright blue scarf around his arm entered the lists. The two now waited for the flag to fall, then charged at one another. They both splintered their lances on each other's shields.

A woman on the same side as Kaoru, up in the stands, began to cheer and clap. Kaoru noticed she was wearing the same color blue as the scarf on Kenshin's challenger's arm, and Kaoru couldn't help but think mean things towards her. The two knights made ready for their second encounter. Kaoru, who was hoping Kenshin would conquer the blue lady's knight, held her breath as they met each other again in the center of the lists. Kenshin aimed for the knight's helmet and struck a good blow, while the other knight struck Kenshin's shield. Neither lance broke, and though the other knight tottered a bit in the saddle, they both stayed on their horses.

For the final tilt, Kenshin appeared to be aiming for the challenger's helmet again, while the other knight's lance was aimed too low and would surely strike Aki in the shoulder. But just before they could collide, Kenshin pulled his horse aside, avoiding the other knight's lance and missing his shield as he passed.

Normally, Kenshin would have been penalized for dodging the strike, but the other knight's lance was aiming for Kenshin's horse, which was against the rules of the tournament. So Kenshin was proclaimed victor of the round. Kaoru shouted with the rest of the crowd, applauding for Kenshin as he paraded around the field after which he paused in front of the stands and made a bow as Aki also bowed. Then Kenshin was allowed to leave until tomorrow when he would be expected to face the rest of his challengers.

Just a moment later, a man came into the seating area looking for her. She listened as he explained that he was a messenger from Prince Kohaku with a letter for the princess. Her brother had chosen his messenger well and the man had followed his instructions exactly, seeking out and delivering the letter to one of the princess's handmaidens for safe keeping until an appropriate time. He had no way of knowing that the handmaiden he'd identified was in fact the princess and she chose not to enlighten him, instead accepting his instructions with a humble nod and tucking the letter into her pocket before sending the messenger on his way.

Kaoru watched the second half of the joust with a distracted mind, her thoughts constantly wandering back to the contents of her brother's letter. What had he written? Why would he risk contacting her? She was aware that a local knight, Sir Hiromi, was doing quite well. But she still could not help thinking about her brother's letter. And so she slipped behind the stands and pulled the letter from her pocket, breaking the seal and opening the letter. She read,

Dearest Sister,

You must be surprised; I know my contacting you is dangerous. I also know that you may have already been caught in your attempt on the Prince's life, but having not heard from you or any news as to the success or failure of your mission, I write in desperate hope that my letter will find you alive and unharmed. No word from you has actually given me hope that I might yet sway you from your chosen path. Remember what I said about revenge being a vicious circle? Even if your mother's death was at the hands of the Kurilians, which I shall remind you we have no proof of, the assassination of the prince will only serve to make matters worse. Say you succeed in killing him. What then? His people will seek their revenge. Is that what you want, a war without an end? The blood will never wash off!

I pray that your time spent in Kuril has helped to soften your heart. If in fact you have changed your mind then you must heed my second warning: father believes that you have failed and has decided to take matters into his own hands. He has declared you dead, also at the hands of the Kurilians, and has begun the raising of the army to avenge your death and that of your mother's. They are set to begin marching towards the southern border in a week's time. I am making preparations of my own, but you must get out while you can. And please be careful about it, I'd like my only sister back all in one piece. Remember that I love you. Your brother,

Kohaku

He had written the letter three days ago, that meant she had four days left until her father's army arrived. She intended to tell Kenshin what she had just learned, though she wasn't sure how.

The next day, Kaoru was back in the stands, so that she could watch Kenshin. When he emerged, he rode out looking tall and powerful on Aki's back. First Kenshin jousted with another young local who had been knighted only recently. In their first encounter, he missed Kenshin's shield altogether, while Kenshin struck the young knight's shield so solid a blow, he fell to the ground with a mighty crash. The crowd cheered. Just then, Kenshin guided his horse over to the stands, where he lowered his lance onto the handrail, right in front of Mei who stood up, stepped forward, and tied a red scarf around the end of his lance. Again, everyone started clapping and cheering, for the fact that he was willing to wear her colors surely meant that the princess was his lady-love. Even Kaoru clapped. Then Kenshin rode back out to the lists to face his final opponent, Sir Junichi Okada. His armor was golden and etched with black designs. Sir Junichi was renowned throughout the land as a great tournament champion.

The challenger's gray horse snorted and stomped his feet from his place at the other end of the lists. Kenshin and Aki waited in perfect stillness until the marshal dropped his flag. Both horses charged forward, and both lances struck the shield of the other knight and shattered into pieces. The black and gold knight didn't waver in the saddle, but seemed to withstand the blow as if it were nothing.

The knight's squires brought them new lances. Kaoru pressed her fingers over her mouth as she watched them ready themselves for their second encounter. When the two destriers charged forward, both knights aimed their lances at the other knight's helmet, and both hit their mark. Kenshin's head was knocked sharply to the side by the other knight's lance, and Kenshin's lance knocked Sir Junichi backward, almost unhorsing him, but he kept his seat.

The two knights went back to their places. Then Kenshin and Aki, as if they were one being instead of two, leaped across the tournament field toward their opponent. Both knights once again aimed their lance toward the other's helmet. The impact was ferocious. But Kenshin kept his helmet and his saddle, and splintered his lance on Sir Junichi's helmet. But that knight did not fare so well. He ended up on the ground, and he lay perfectly still.

The crowd cheered. Kenshin's victory was indisputable as Sir Junichi's attendants had to come and assist him off the field. Kenshin was undeniably the winner of the tournament and as such would be awarded the prize.

Later, there was a flourish of trumpets as the day's tournament came to an end. Many of the knights came back out on the field in full armor to wave their banners and be recognized.

After the parade of knights, King Hiko called for his son to come forth. Kenshin rode over to the opposite side of the lists from Kaoru, where the King and the royal family were seated in the north gallery. King Hiko stood and declared, "The victor of the jousting tournament is… Kenshin Himura, Prince of Kuril. He has conducted himself with honor and valor, and succeeded in defeating all opponents. A ball will be given in his honor tonight at the palace."

Everyone started clapping and cheering, for the party or because Kenshin had won, Kaoru wasn't sure. She clapped along with the rest of the masses, not wanting anyone to think she wasn't happy for Kenshin, which she was. But she was already thinking of explanations about her brother's letter, and other than telling Kenshin the truth, she couldn't think of much. If she did have to admit the truth, she would do so tomorrow, and let him have a night of celebration with nothing weighing on his heart.

After the crowd started dispersing, Kaoru slipped off back to her rooms, and began looking for someplace to hide Kohaku's letter. She finally decided on her desk, underneath a stack of plain paper. She assumed no one would find it there.


Ok, so I know it's not strictly Rurouni Kenshin, but I hope you still liked the joust! Up next is the ball!

-Mia21