A/N: Wow! It's been quite some time since I last updated TGwSE! I probably shouldn't be updating now. But eh. What stress makes a freelance writer do...

Since it's been such a long time since I last updated, here's a recap from last chapter (a.k.a. copy and pasted material of the last few lines from the last chapter)

Recap from last chapter:

The sharp sword point of Kenshin's sword planted itself into the ground just centimeters from her face as Kaoru stared up at the warrior with shock and surprise.

The sunlight from behind casted his features with a shadow, but she could see that the warrior was relaxed and his eyes had lost it's amber tint. Kaoru was panting heavily as she stared up at the warrior leaning on his sword and towering over her as she held her breath anxiously. What…is he going to do now?

A warm and almost childish smile broke over his face as the redhead chuckled lightly, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"I win."


Chapter 4: Weird and Weirder

It had felt so natural to him during their spar. The effortless dance - he held back yes, but he treated her nothing more and nothing less than an equal and he was rewarded. It was perhaps the first time in his life that fighting could feel so peaceful and playful. So it wasn't really his fault when he got a bit too excited and carried away. He also wasn't surprised when a surge of defensive knights rammed him over and pinned him down on the ground.

He probably deserved it.

"Stop!" The princess' voice carried loud and clear, stopping the knights before they could split him into several unfortunate pieces.

"But he was about to harm you!" One of the knights protested and the pressure on his back increased slightly, wringing a pained wince from him as it pulled at his wound.

"With which eye did you catch our guest give any sign of wanting or trying to harm me?" Kaoru fumed and the knights shifted uncomfortably. Because despite the terrifying aura he emitted while fighting, neither saw nor felt any vicious intent from the redhead. He was always calm and controlled, aware of his and the princess' every movement.

The silence further emphasized the princess' point and the raven haired lady snapped as she strolled forward. "Release the guest!"

The pressure against his back gently eased off as one by one the knights stepped away, obeying their princess's wishes -albeit a bit reluctantly.

"I apologize on behalf of my soldiers' disrespectful behavior, they can be a bit too protective. I hope you're not hurt?" She questioned softly, ignoring the guilty shuffle of her knights.

Kenshin blinked, feeling sweat beading on his forehead as he untangled his limbs slowly. His mind was still stuck on 'I apologize'. A royalty apologizing to a lowlife like himself?

"I-it's alright." He managed to get out, swallowing to unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth. Things just gets weirder and weirder it seems.

"I apologize as well if I was being too rough on Your Royal Highness, that I do." he added slowly when the uncomfortable feeling of being apologized to didn't fade.

"Kaoru." the princess corrected immediately, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "And please don't apologize Kenshin-"

The male winced at the sarcastic stress on his name, hearing and feeling the heated jab behind her words.

"Did you enjoy it? The spar, did you enjoy it?" the princess asked, sapphire eyes searching his.

It took him a while, contemplating his answers before deciding to answer truthfully as he met her gaze. "Yes. Yes, I did."

"Then don't apologize for it." The male suppressed the urge to flinch when Kaoru's hand landed on his shoulder and gripped him. "Don't apologize for enjoying yourself."

The word 'stunned' was not enough to cover or clearly express how he was feeling then. Was this possible? Perhaps this was all a dream and Amura was just another part of his imagination - his dream of a perfect kingdom. This princess was not real. She's too strange, too understanding, too… weird.

Kenshin mentally grimaced at the word. She'd been nothing but surprises and 'weird' all morning and to his stunned horror, he found himself slowly getting used to it.

"I… thank you." He finally whispered, there was nothing he could say to that.

Like a ray of sunlight splitting through the clouds, her face immediately brightened as a brilliant smile graced her features. Her laughter, a soft mixture of bells and birdsong filled his ears traveling through his body and nestled deep within him. It won't be leaving his memories any time soon.

"Thank you too Kenshin, it's been too long since the last time I had to go all out on a spar." The warrior noted worriedly when a dull sheen came over her brilliant blue orbs, taking away their luster as the owner's mind fled into another world.

"Too long." She repeated with a soft sigh, and then just like that, the fiery princess he knew came back. The murky fog chased from her eyes and returned their lively sheen. However, her haunted look never left his mind and he was left yet another unsolved mystery about his curious princess.

"This one would offer himself as a sparring partner if Your Royal Highne-"

"Kaoru!"

"Kaoru," he amended quickly, "needs one in the future." he offered with a polite bow out of courtesy.

"As long as you're willing!" Kenshin raised his head at the poorly veiled excitement from the princess' words and bowed again.

"All you have to do is ask and I'll try to help." he murmured with a smile, sealing their impromptu promise and before he knew it, he was suddenly wrapped in arms and pulled into a hug.

A startled, strangled gasp escaped from his lips when he found himself enveloped in a hug. By a foreign kingdom's princess. Protocol told him to break away immediately and the redhead separated himself quickly, banishing the blush from touching his face as he took another step back - just in case.

He should really be getting used to these informal - and out of the blue - actions from the princess by now. He couldn't. Perhaps it was the kingdom's lack of stress on proper etiquette that conditioned the princess' bold actions. Amura's social boundaries were thin and easily crossed, which kept it a peaceful kingdom with less discrimination against class. However, if the shocked expressions on the knights' faces said anything, it was clear that Amurans do have some sort of social protocol to follow. It just seemed like the princess had no desire in doing so.

She gets weirder and weirder.

The princess didn't seem to notice his uncomfortable reaction and hurried retreat - or perhaps she was too used to such reactions - as she curled a lock of raven hair behind her ear.

"So…" Kaoru started slowly and Kenshin was surprised to suddenly find uncertainty and wariness in her eyes as she dropped her gaze from his.

"Kaoru?" he asked softly, her name stinging his tongue and he resisted the urge to recoil. It sounded too intimate, too… wrong. This was a princess he was addressing and strict protocols drilled into him demanded a proper title.

The silence edged on and he was starting to feel uncomfortable. The princess was suddenly subdued and unwilling to meet his eyes, looking everywhere but him.

"You won the duel." she finally murmured and Kenshin paused, confusion flitting over his face before realization bombed him. So that's why her chi suddenly spiked…

"You will keep your promise?" he asked softly, his eyes losing its playful glint as he turned serious. A playful and understanding princess would mean nothing if she lied and he would be disappointed if everything he'd seen up until now be destroyed by her dishonesty.

"Of course!" her heated snap came immediately as sapphire eyes flashed to meet his. "Whom do you take me as? I do not make promises I can't keep!"

"Then what's bothering you ma'am?" he asked softly, silently accepting her answer and covering his relief.

Kaoru was probably too tensed to correct his address as she wrung her hands together painfully. "What…" she took a deep breath, collecting herself before straightening her back and facing him with grim determination burning in her eyes.

"What did my mother make you promise?"

Kenshin paused and the princess sensing his hesitation added with a bit of heat, "I will keep my promise not to interfere with her decision, you have my word." she bit out.

I wonder why she's so scared? Kenshin nodded slowly, glancing at her grim form before deciding to tell her the truth. With her oath to uphold her side of the deal, telling her about his 'temporary' duty - he kept forgetting it lasts only until he's healed - wouldn't harm anyone. Hopefully, Her Majesty would understand…

"I promised Her Majesty to act as your bodyguard until I'm healed ma'am." He quickly went on one knee, bowing his head in a formal kneel. "This one apologizes for keeping it a secret from ma'am, Her Majesty didn't want you to be worried-"

"Bodyguard?" Kaoru's breathless and stunned voice interrupted him and the male looked up curiously.

"Just bodyguard?" she repeated again. Kenshin nodded slowly at the princess' shocked expression. What else was she expecting?

"No courting of any kind? No 'get her to like you' or 'woo my daughter's socks off'? No marriage? Nothing of that kind?"

Kenshin spluttered as he choked on air, understanding and bewilderment washing over him. "N-no! T-this one was asked to protect ma'am only! N-nothing else!"

Surprised delight and relief broke through her shocked mask when his words finally sank into the princess' mind.

"Oh god! Is that all?" she let out an exasperated sigh, chuckling lightly at her foolishness. "Just bodyguard duty, good grief. I was overreacting then, but oh my, phew!" Kaoru spluttered, combing her hand through her hair as she laughed in relief.

Kenshin stared at the princess, pieces clicking in place in his mind. No wonder she was so hostile when she noticed that I was following her around, she thought that I was… The male gulped, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his arm.

His violet eyes observed the princess as she laughed off her overreaction, her eyes closed in relief. The sun highlighted her slim figure and the beads of sweat from her workout. Several strips of raven hair had loosened from her ponytail and stuck stubbornly to her thin neck. It didn't take much to imagine her in a slim fitting dress that showed off her curves. She was beautiful lady with a bright and lively soul. So why is she single? So scared of courtship?

"You're not hiding anything right? It's just bodyguard duty right?" the tired wariness in her voice told Kenshin that she probably had been subjected to more than one of these 'arranged courtships' by Her Majesty before. Apparently, the princess didn't appreciate the gesture all that much.

"This one swears as a warrior that this one only promised Her Majesty to protect ma'am and nothing more." Kenshin dipped his head.

"Kaoru." The princess corrected absently and the warrior was glad things were smoothing over. A small frown pulled at her lips though as she crossed her arms on her hips petulantly.

"I don't need protection! I can protect myself!"

"This one did not intend insult your skills, that I did not. Her Majesty is just worried about ma'am."

"I can protect myself." the princess repeated stubbornly, her arms crossed against her chest in a childish pout.

Kenshin gave a soft smile, his hands coming out in a passive gesture. "This one knows and will promise not to interfere with your activities. This one only asks for permission to stay by your side until his left shoulder heals."

"As long you don't get any funny ideas and start coddling me like some fragile lady…" the princess muttered then sighed reluctantly. "I guess… I can't really reject your protection anyways…" she smiled wryly before extending a friendly hand towards him.

He let out an internal breath that he had been holding as he grasped the swordswoman's offered hand.

"Thanks for your hard work Kenshin." the princess smiled a smile full of teeth.

A sudden jerk pulled him closer and he couldn't help the hiss of pain that escaped when his wound jerked painfully. Kaoru turned a sympathetic eye to him as she apologized softly, pulling him closer a bit gently to look at his shoulder.

"You're bleeding." A frown marred her face when she saw the blooming red stain on his gi.

Shying away, the warrior stepped back, pulling his face from a pained grimace and was about to shrug it off as a small discomfort - but her strong hold refused to release his arm.

Serious sapphire eyes burned into his and the warrior stilled. "You need to get medical attention."

"It's alright, it's nothi-"

"If you're expected to protect me-" Kenshin winced at the sarcastic tone but smartly kept silent, "you'll have to be in top shape right?"

The redhead had a feeling that objecting to her statement would be very, very, unwise. And because Kenshin liked where his head was staying, he kept his silence.

The princess accepted his silence as agreement because she smiled and stood up. "Well then, let's take a visit to my doctor friend then. Follow me."

Her commanding tone left no room for discussion as she began walking towards the halls of the castle, leaving Kenshin struggling with his bewilderment and exasperation as he stood up and followed the princess.

It was his tiring duty to protect her after all.

x x x

"Oh you! Idiot!"

Kenshin nearly leaped off his stool as the female doctor vehemently pressed an alcoholic soaked cloth to his wound. Oh, his poor abused shoulder. The warrior shuddered in pain as the doctor rubbed harshly at his back, his bangs falling down to cover his pained expression.

Kaoru sneaked a sympathetic glance at him from the other side of the room but did nothing to appease the irritated doctor lest she decides to turn her scalpel her way instead.

"It's not too badly injured is it?" the princess asked curiously, her back leaning comfortably against the wall.

"What were you thinking Kaoru?" The female doctor snuck a glare at the princess before returning to the shoulder wound of the redhead. "Challenging him to a spar when he is barely healed! Look what you did to my hard work!"

Not his shoulder, but her hard work. Kenshin bit back another wince as the doctor poked a needle through his flesh.

"Hey! He was following and irritating me all morning!" Kaoru snapped, her arms crossed against her chest.

"Um.. excuse me…"

"And so you decided that opening his bloody wound would be the best solution?" the needle went through his flesh and pulled painfully.

"…anesthetics…?" Kenshin whispered meekly, his face pale and covered with a sheen of sweat.

"Oh it's only a bit of pain you buffoon!" Stab, pull, stitch. "I swear these idiots can suffer being slashed apart by swords but can't even handle a small needle."

Not when you're attacking the victims with such passion, this one thinks no- "Aack!" the male flinched at a particularly painful jerk and decided not to antagonize the doctor further.

"How bad is the wound?" Kaoru choked out as she muffled her amusement with her hand, turning her eyes away when Kenshin gave her a withering glance.

"How bad she asks." the doctor muttered as she finished the last of the stitches. "The wound was deep to begin with but it was healing fine until someone-"

Kenshin suddenly found the pattern on floor of the clinic very interesting.

"-ripped open the stitches and reopened the wound. It might take several weeks to heal and probably several more days before his arm can function properly again."

"So his arm would heal properly? He'll be able to swing a sword right?" Kenshin looked up this time, curious and worried about the doctor's verdict.

"Yes, I think so. As long as the idiot-" Said idiot, winced at the insult. "-doesn't reopen my hard work again. It should heal up fine without any after effects."

Kaoru nodded, seemingly satisfied with the doctor's verdict as Kenshin slipped off his stool quickly. Putting distance between him and the doctor, far away from the dark haired doctor's scalpel and needle's range.

"This one thanks the doctor for taking care of him." he bowed stiffly in gratitude.

Megumi - he heard was her name - flipped her hair haughtily before crossing her arms over her chest. "I don't want to see you in here again, get it?"

Kenshin quickly nodded his assent, not too eager himself to be placed back under Megumi's tender love and care any time soon. "This one will try to keep from being injured." he promised softly.

The irate doctor muttered something under her breath before waving them away. "Yeah, yeah, I'll be coming to check on the wound in a couple of days."

"I'm grateful for your hard work Megumi!" the princess laughed as the doctor herded the two guests out of the clinic.

"You better!" the doctor snapped before shoving his gi into his hands and slammed the door in their faces.

"Wow, is the fox on her cycle or something?"

At the new voice, Kenshin tensed immediately as he swiveled around to meet intense brown eyes sitting in a well chiseled face of a tall male. Everything from the male's muscular build to the way he carried himself while walking screamed 'warrior' to the world. Spiky brown hair stuck out in different directions, standing proudly and defying all laws of gravity.

"Sano!" The princess seemed to recognize the towering soldier and Kenshin let the tension seep out of his shoulders, warily shifting on his gi. He grimaced slightly when the blood soaked area stuck to his skin causing mild discomfort for the male, but he ignored it as he focused on the interaction happening before him.

"So I see the princess picked up another stray?"

Kenshin raised an eyebrow at the statement, violet eyes quickly glancing over at the princess' blushing face.

"What do you mean another stray!" Kaoru huffed, crossing her arms on her hips as she stared up at the tall knight. "He was injured on the road! I had to help!"

"Oh? Like the many other 'injured' people you find randomly dumped by the side I assume." the knight teased, gently stepping to the side to face Kenshin.

The two males stood across each other, silently assessing the other and probing for hidden intentions. Kenshin liked what he saw in the tall male. The male carried a heavy and dangerous aura, cleverly hidden under his teasing mask. He admired the way the newcomer seem to casually position himself beside Kaoru in a position that lets him shove the princess into the clinic room if anything were to happen. The man was a trained protector.

"I'm Sagara Sanosuke, captain of the royal guards. Nice to meet you stray." The smile on Sagara's face was terrifyingly sweet and held a hint of a warning as Kenshin shook his hand.

"The pleasure's all mine. This one is known as Himura Kenshin." his smile never wavered even as Sanosuke's grip tightened painfully around his.

"He's my bodyguard now." The princess sighed, missing the silent communication that passed between the two warriors.

"You? A bodyguard?" Sanosuke broke his intense gaze from Kenshin as he snorted in disbelief. "But you never let us offer you protection Kaoru!"

"I still don't need one!" Kaoru snapped, holding her hand up to stop the captain's next questions. "Mother set him on me and… I lost a duel with him. So he stays." she grumbled sourly and Kenshin hid his chuckle with a cough, quickly averting his eyes when the princess glared at him.

Sanosuke blinked, watching the flitting eye contact between the princess and the redhead guest. A smile broke over his face as he looped an arm around the princess. "Thank god for Her Majesty's orders and your stubborn attitude. Did you just say he won a duel? With you?" the knight whistled as he gave Kenshin another look.

"You must be good." Sanosuke said, his eyes taking on a calculative sheen.

"I only happen to win through pure luck, Her Royal Highness is quite skilled with the sword." Kenshin replied softly, noticing the faint blush dusting the princess' cheeks.

"Yea, our princess is one of the best. Aoshi is probably the only one who could beat her in a duel." the knight smiled, pretending not to hear Kaoru's indignant gasp. "At least until you came along…"

Kenshin swallowed nervously as he took a step back, a sense of déjà vu washing over him when the towering figure echoed his step. Why do I get the feeling that I know what's going to happen next?

"Let's have a spar together hmn?" A big hand came down and grasped his arm before he could move too far away.

"Miss Megumi said I shouldn't…" Kenshin stammered softly as he turned pleading eyes towards the princess. Kaoru sighed as she placed a gentle hand on Kenshin's arm, sapphire eyes looking up to meet his desperate ones.

"My bodyguard can't be injured if he's expected to protect me." Kenshin nodded quickly in agreement as he tried to wriggle his arm from Sanosuke's strong grip.

"Yes, indeed. I'm terribly sorry Sagara-"

"So try not to reopen those stitches as you lay Sanosuke flat okay?" Kaoru interrupted with a sinfully sweet smile.

"Oro?"

"Nice one princess!" Sanosuke hooted with laughter as he proceeded to drag the floundering guest towards the courtyard once more.

"But-but-but-"

"Don't worry, it'll be over soon so don't worry. Foxy won't know." Kenshin gulped when the captain's smirk turned to him, wicked and sinister.

"It'll be over before you know it."

x x x

Sagara Sanosuke didn't lie.

The duel ended in a matter of seconds with the captain of the royal guards flat on his back and his sword stuck meters away from his position.

It had happened so fast the princess barely had time to register the fact that Sano lost. She wondered what frightened her more, the fact that it took less than a few moves to disarm and intimately introduce the ground to Sano or the fact that Kenshin had kept his injured left arm crossed behind him as he fought.

She had expected Kenshin to win, however… Kaoru's face pulled into a slight frown as she observed the redhead guest help the captain back on his feet. It was obvious through their fight that he was more sympathetic with Kaoru than he was with Sanosuke.

He held back against me…

Kaoru sighed as the wind picked up and stirred the sweaty bangs clinging to her forehead. Her stray was turning out more and more interesting and it was only her first day with him.

What did I get myself into?

To be continued...


Well that's it! :'D I really shouldn't be writing and updating when I should be studying for exams. But writing this really took a load of stress from my shoulders so I don't regret it.

I think I'm going to keep all chapters this length from now on, unlike the monster chapter I bombed you guys previously xDD

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter C': Two more characters introduced into the story plot and more to come soon! Please tell me if you spot any mistakes! Sometimes I happen to skip over them unconsciously, despite rewriting each chapter several times before submitting them...

Tell me what you think! C':

see ya all next chapter!