A/N: i am so sorry for making you wait so long for the next installment but as every student nows, school can take up pretty much a lot of time so again i apologize please dont think that i have lost hope with this fic. i've been busy with schoolwork nowadays so to make up for it there's no cliffie in this chapter. so ok enough yappin' enjoy!

Disclaimer: Kenshin's mine… mine, mine, mine! (Looks at angry mob surrounding her!) I mean NOT mine… (Geez! Whew!)

SUMMARY:

Kaoru is the princess of the Kamiya kingdom, she is the only daughter of King Kamiya, her older brother is Aoshi but he stepped down from the role of being the next heir to the throne because he wanted to become a better swordsman than the legendary Battousai. Thus leaving the throne to her sister when she comes of age. What would happen if Battousai were to kidnap the princess?

CHAPTER FOUR

Kaoru was mesmerized by the amber orbs in front of her that she forgot everything else. She felt as if she was drawn to the eyes of the man in front of her. it was the color of molten lava, she felt herself drowning in them. Her eyes then darted to the mass of blood red mane framing his face. She was brought back to reality when the man spoke up.

"Well, princess I see you are awake." He said breaking the silence between them. Kenshin smirked as he saw the woman's reaction to his presence amusement present in the glint of his eyes.

"Who… who are you?" Kaoru said suddenly aware that she was in the room with a man she didn't know and was so close to her.

"My apologies princess if I didn't introduce myself earlier but I had business to attend to. I my dear hime-sama am your abductor. Maybe you've heard of me… the hitokiri Battousai that your dear brother always told you about." He eyed her amused by the fact that he wasn't afraid of the legendary killer.

"What do you want with me?" she asked as she tilted her chin to face him. Eyes flashing defiantly. Sure Aoshi had told her about the legendary manslayer but that didn't mean she was going to let him do as he pleased with her. No! She wasn't going down without a fight. "Are you going to kill me?" she looked at him squarely. She wasn't going to show any fear in front of him even if she was trembling, and turning to jelly on the inside. She wasn't Aoshi's sister for nothing. She glared at him coldly sapphire eyes flashing.

"That my dear tanuki is something I still have to decide upon." He let his gaze rake through her whole body then went back to look at her eyes. His face slowly closing the gap between them. he could feel her ki radiating fear for the unknown, and yet he was amused at how this sapphire-eyed beauty tried to keep it from him. Had anyone else tried to talk to him in that way they wouldn't live to see the next sunshine. But something about the goddess in front of him intrigued him. 'This might just turn out to be fun.' He thought as he leaned closer to her so that their foreheads were against each other.

She shivered as he felt him lean closer to her. his breathe light on her face. "You will be an interesting price for me." He whispered to her. Then just as quickly as he said it he withdrawed himself from her leaving an utterly confused Kaoru. "Goodnight tanuki, sweet dreams you will need your energy tomorrow." She glared at his retreating back. Even as the door to her room closed behind him she continued to glare at the door. So that was Kenshin. The legendary Battousai, a cold-hearted killer. She knew of the strength that he possessed. She feared the fact that she did not know what to expect. She moved towards the bed. Thinking about the man that had visited her that night. Her last thought as she fell asleep was of a certain red-headed boy that made her shiver with his mere presence.

Misao woke up groggily, as she tried to take in her surroundings she was in her room once again. She sat up just as the door to her room opened.

"Good morning Rose!" Misao said genkily at the old woman who came in to take care of her.

"Lady Misao…. You're… you're awake!" the servant said dropping the basket of clothes that she had gathered for her daily cleaning.

"I must tell the prince at once." She hurried out of the room.

Misao's smile dropped at the mention of the prince as she remembered that she was about to tell him the news of Kaoru's abduction. She knew that she might be cast out of the castle when they learned what had happened. She blamed herself for leaving Kaoru alone to face the danger of that man. She knew that she was more trained in combat than the princess but she knew that it was the princess who called the stranger to come out. Kaoru was her best friend they were practically sisters and she couldn't believe that she let a moment of weakness take her friend away from her. tears fell from her eyes and yet she did not notice any of them. she was too caught up thinking what Kaoru would be facing because of her own stupidity.

She did notice however when a hand came up to her face to wipe the tears away. She looked up to see Aoshi's handsome face a stoic as ever. His eyes were another story however. And since Misao grew up with him she knew how to read his face or rather his eyes for emotions that he was feeling. What she read in his eyes was not one of resentment but one of concern. More tears flowed from her eyes as a sob racked her body. She clung to Aoshi. She didn't want him to hate her. she knew it was her fault. That if she had somehow stopped the princess' plans then everybody would be happy.

Aoshi held the girl close to him. As he comforted her as best as he could. He didn't know what to do to calm her down. He knew that she too was suffering the loss of Kaoru. They were the best of friends. He cursed inwardly and promised himself that whoever was causing them pain would pay he would make sure of that.

"Misao, calm down." Aoshi said in an effort to get her to stop crying. The young woman tried to control her crying by drawing in deep breathes. He took her chin and tilted her face upward so that she would face him.

"Misao," he tried again. "Misao, I need you to tell me what happened." Aoshi said as gently as he could, his eyes searching hers.

"I can't!" Misao wailed again. "I don't want you to hate me Aoshi-sama!" she knew it was childish of her to cry in front of him but she really couldn't control her feelings. 'get a grip Misao he doesn't want to be faced with a baby! You're a young woman!' she drew a deep breath of air in an attempt to calm her frazzled nerves.

"I'm sorry Aoshi-sama, that wasn't what I was supposed to act like." She said lowering her head but he refused to let go of her chin.

"Tell me, Misao, I promise I won't get angry. I just want to know what happened to you and Kaoru. you fainted as soon as you got here the doctor said that it was nothing but we were still afraid of what might have happened to you. You and Kaoru," Aoshi replied.

She sighed knowing she could do nothing to change his mind now. She just hoped that he would still look at her with concern once she told him the whole story. This was what she came back here for in the first place and there was no backing out now. She just had to accept whatever consequence she would be facing once this is over. And hopefully get through it in one piece.

"I'm sorry Aoshi-sama, I really am I don't know why I'm so stupid but I just am. I let Kaoru fall into the very trap that you've been protecting her from ever since she was young." She sighed her tears threatening to fall once more. She was about to begin the story of how she and Kaoru left the palace for the 'great' adventure when Dr. Genzai walked in.

"Tsk. Tsk. It is not good to overwork the patient your highness, she is still recovering from her illness." The doctor told the young prince as she ushered him out of the door, "You can interrogate her later."

Aoshi frowned at the fact that he was being accused of overworking the young woman when in truth he had tried to comfort her. he also knew that Misao was almost about to tell hi what had happened to Kaoru that might give them a lead as to where his sister was, and why she hadn't been with Misao when she came back. Growling in frustration he went to the temple in the courtyard to meditate and clear his mind.

The king was frantic, he thought about what his advisors had told him. He felt so helpless. He was the king of a kingdom and yet he could do nothing to protect his only daughter. He slumped in his throne. He looked a much older as he raked a hand through his graying hair.

"As we have mentioned before your highness we think that this is the work of one of your enemy kingdoms." Saitou said as he leaned back in his chair as he keenly observed his king. He was one of the king's loyal advisers.

"We agree with that theory your highness. We think that the princess was captured by the enemy so that our kingdom will be weak since the heir to the throne is out of the way it will make us sensitive to attack especially since you are growing weak your highness." Okina the oldest among the advisers spoke up.

"I understand that you have a point but what of Aoshi now that Kaoru is not here he will be given no choice but to take over the throne." Answered the king as he rubbed his temples feeling the faint traces of an upcoming headache.

"you forget your highness that when the prince gave up the privilege as heir to the throne he will never be offered the same position again, no matter what the case may be. That is the law." Saitou answered once more.

"the only problem is which kingdom would go to such extents as hire the Battousai just to declare war on our kingdom?" Okina queried.

"Since we have no idea who this mystery enemy could be, we must be prepared for any attacks that may come to us. Saitou as the general to my troops and my trusted advisor I want you to train our soldiers so that they may become fit and ready if a war actually breaks out. And I want all the seers, and wizards to be at their best if in case this doesn't turn out to be a physical war but a magical one." The king stated as he finally dismissed the meeting.

"I want to have a word with you alone Saitou."

Saitou waited for the room to clear before he finally replied.

"what is it that you want to talk to me about your highness?"

"I want you to assign a special troop to find the princess containing at least want wizard. I want you to find out as much as you can. The sooner you find Kaoru the lesser the threat to the kingdom will be." The king told him, his face contorted with great fury.

"I understand your highness, what should when we catch the culprit who abducted her?"

"Do as you please with the man just make sure that my daughter is brought back safe. You are my most trusted adviser and my most trusted friend. I want you to make sure that you'll do everything in your power to retrieve my daughter."

"It's as good as done."

"Good. Now leave me I have a brewing headache and I want ito rest."

Saitou stood and bowed in respect as he silently treaded to the door and shut it behind him. The king stood from his throne at the edge of the long table in the conference room and walked towards the fireplace. He ran another through his graying hair and murmured softly into the night air,

'I'm sorry Youko I could not protect our daughter better. Protect her Youko, help her'

A lone tear fell from his eye and dropped to the carpet beneath him, but he took no notice in it. He blamed himself for not having enough security to protect his daughter. He had been dreading this moment ever since the seer had told them of their daughter's fate. He felt do powerless, so useless.

'Oh Kami please don't let anything happen to my baby girl.' He prayed silently, as tears continued to fall from his eyes.

Katsura was lounging on a chair beside a window as he gazed at the pouring rain outside. Everything was going as planned. 'He will be very happy.' It would only be a matter of time before Himura contacted him about the princess. He knew that the man wouldn't harm the princess, he had known of the Battousai's vow a long time ago that he wouldn't kill women nor children. 'Besides his employer wanted the princess alive.'

He was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed the arrival of the figure who was currently watching him.

"Katsura," the redhead acknowledged him.

He nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of the man's voice. He turned to face the man who was currently leaning on a wall his head lowered so that his bangs covered his eyes. His face devoid of emotion.

"Himura, so good of you to drop by. I trust you have the princess with you?" Katsura said levelly.

The man eyed him slowly as he inclined his head to one side before replying.

"Yes, the princess is kept safe. What do you want me to do with her?"

"just keep her safe for a few more days, then you will deliver her to the Yukishiro kingdom." Replied Katsura casually as he observed the Battousai.

Kenshin kept his features expressionless as he nodded.

"You have to personally deliver to Enishi." Katsura added ad he turned once again to gaze out the window. The rain had stopped and the dawn of a new day erupted, a faint swish of the wind could be heard and Battousai was gone.

Kaoru woke up once again in the same room she had been in for the past two days. She was getting frustrated. She never did anything as she stayed cooped up in the room. the only time she would have a companion was when Tsubame came in to help her bathe and give her food. Sometimes she would read a book that the younger girl had left with her to entertain herself. She knew that she couldn't demand for anything else because she was still a prisoner awaiting whatever fate had in store for her. but the wait was getting to her it frustrated her.

She missed being able to train with Misao. The feeling of satisfaction when she got a particularly difficult move that Aoshi had taught her correctly. She even missed the way her father scolded her after the escapades that she and Misao went on was reported to him. A distant smile spread on her features as she thought of her father. She knew that she probably brought it on herself, after running away and facing the so-called prophecy. Her family was probably angry at her because of that last stunt that she pulled with Misao she knew that she had went over the edge. She really had nowhere else to go even if she had tried to escape. She blinked back the tears that threatened to spill from her cerulean orbs. 'No! I have to be strong. To be able to face my own problems on my own!' she chided herself.

Maybe she could get Tae to lend her a bokken so that she could practice here within the room. she really wouldn't try anything, if she could only get Tae to agree. 'Then maybe…' Her train of thought was interrupted when Tae came into the room.

"I thought you'd be awake by now." She said as she helped Kaoru get ready for the day.

"Um… Tae where's Tsubame? I didn't expect you to be the one helping me since as you have so many things to attend to."

"Well Tsubame had to do something important. Family matters, I think. So I gave her the rest of the day off."

"ohh…"

They continued in silence as Kaoru thought of the best way to ask Tae about her training in the room. finally when she was dressed, and she was about to leave when she turned to face Kaoru again.

"Okay dear I'll be leaving you now. I'll be up again later to give you your lunch."

Kaoru nodded. The older woman was almost at the door when she stopped.

"Oh, and dear, Kenshin will be up to see you later." She said over her shoulder.

At the mention of the man's name Kaoru stiffened. All her earlier thoughts fled her mind. The man hadn't come to see her since that night, two nights ago. She wondered why the man would want to see her. She plopped down on her bed as she once again picked another book. After a few minutes into the book, she put it down and growled in frustration. She couldn't keep her concentration. She kept staring on a line of the book but her thoughts seemed to wander off and the meaning of the words she read seemed to elude her. she just couldn't understand a single thing! She needed to burn her energy. She was bored out of her mind. Being stuck in the room she had nothing to do but sleep or read and since she couldn't understand a word she was reading, then that was out of the question. And she sure as hell was not going to sleep she just had too much energy in her to keep still.

She rose and took a seat near the window that was facing the courtyard. She was admiring the quiet of the scenery when she heard someone laugh. She shifted in her chair to get a better look. What she saw made her heart jump to her throat.

There he was laughing at something that somebody had said. His purple eyes shining with amusement. His hair was like fire when the sunlight hit it, a mixture of gold and red. As her gaze lowered to his body she noticed that he was wearing only his hakama and had a sword on one hand. Kaoru couldn't help but be amazed at how boyish he looked when he was smiling. 'He's magnificent.' She thought as she let out a breathe she hadn't known she had been holding. She watched as he resumed his training his body glistened with sweat. She noticed that he had a nice built, broad chest, and six pack abs. When he had finished his routine, he turned to look at someone Kaoru couldn't see and smile again. Something tugged at her heart, and she found herself wishing that she was the cause of his laughter.

'What the… where the hell did that come from? Are you out of your mind Kaoru? Your not supposed to be crushing on your abductor? he kidnapped you for crying out loud!'

'Yeah, but you did bring it unto yourself you know. If you hadn't ran away in the first place he wouldn't have kidnapped you. Besides, admit it he is sexy with that long red hair how it would feel between your fingertips, and his eyes that make you wanna turn into a quivering puddle of…'

"ENOUGH!" she scolded herself.

She must've said it out loud be or maybe screamed it out loud either way it certainly caught the redhead's attention he was staring at her from the courtyard a smirk on his face, he winked at her.

She blushed ten different shades of red as she moved away from the window thanking Kami for the fact that she was too far away for him to see her blush. She sat at middle of the four poster bed and began meditating, a habit she had picked up from Aoshi to calm one's mind and relieve frustration. She would have to do a lot of meditating because it felt as though she had just swallowed a basket full of butterflies she couldn't understand how any man could affect her like this.

Kenshin smiled inwardly as he saw the princess move away from the window and looked back at Tae who had been talking non-stop about how he needed to settle down. He had laughed when a boy about Tsubame made gagging sounds behind the older woman. Tae had scolded the boy, then teased him about how he kept giving Tsubame shy looks. He had continued his training routine until he had finished when he heard the a sound from the princess' room. he looked up to see a goddess with cerulean orbs staring at him. Her hair had been up in a ponytail with bangs framing her face.

His train of thoughts had been broken once again when he heard laughing. Looking back to Tae and the boy named Yahiko he saw that the boy was blushing like a tomato because apparently Tsubame had overheard him telling Tae that he liked her.

He smiled at the scene, he glanced once more to the window where the princess had been but she was gone. Sighing he went over to Tae to have a talk with her.

A/N: There, see, no cliffie. But at least they already have an attraction. Not Much I know but there will be action on the next chapter, so stay tuned. (That sounded just like a commercial didn't it? ahehe) oh and forgive me if the plot's slow but it's my first time to write a fic so I hope that you could be patient with me. Oh yeah and feedback would be appreciated tell me what you want or expect of the next chaps because I'm currently having my first ever writer's block. Waaahhh help me! Anyways I bet the reviews can make it go away so please…. Please review and hope you enjoyed it.