A/N: A big thank you to all who reviewed! Here's chapter 9!
Chapter 9: Courting Trouble
Himura Kenshin pressed himself closer to the shoji screen, straining his ears to catch the conversation between two maids who were currently cleaning up the now empty Central Palace hall. It was not easy straining to hear the words exchanged over the occasional clatter of plates and the stacking of the trays, especially when he was also on the lookout for any guards who may be walking past.
He had wasted so much time waiting around for the dinner to end. Though he desperately wanted to barge into the hall and slit Akira's throat right there, he knew better than to enter an enclosed area to assassinate the emperor when highly-skilled people like Shinomori Aoshi were around.
Tomoe…I'm doing this all for us. Soon, we'll be back together…
"It is the Emperor's birthday in a fortnight, Tae," Tomoe's maid-in-waiting, Kana, said. "Please inform the imperial kitchen to prepare more desserts this year. Tomoe-sama has specifically requested the ones with sesame filling."
"I will, Kana." The maid, clearly by the name of Tae, answered. "How exciting! I always look forward to Mikado-sama's birthday celebrations. There's always so much song, dance, and food!"
So it is his birthday soon…In a fortnight, Kiyosato Akira, you'll find that your birthday is also your death day.
"Not to mention that it is going to be held outdoors this year! I heard that there are going to be fireworks! How exciting!"
Outdoors, huh? Looks like even Kami-sama is on my side, Kiyosato.
"Misao! What brings you here at this hour?" Kaoru asked, already getting ready for bed.
"I need to talk to you." Misao took a deep breath. Why did Kaoru's chambers have to be so far from the training grounds?
"About?"
"Baka-tori"
"Didn't he just come back from Aizu today?" Kaoru asked, confused, before realization took over on her pretty features. "I know! He must have gotten into trouble of some sort again and needs me to get him out of it. What did he do this time? Punched Yahiko on the head?"
"I wouldn't bother coming even if he gave that little brat of a Crown Prince a kick and threw him into the pond." Misao replied honestly. "It's something more serious, Kaoru. It involves Sanosuke, the new concubine-"
"Megumi-sama?" Kaoru added helpfully.
"Yes, yes, that's the one. And one more person."
"Who?"
"Yumi-sama."
"Kuso." Kaoru cursed.
Misao nodded gravely. "That's what I meant by 'serious', Kaoru." She said. "Oh, and don't ever let Mikado-sama hear you. Surely you haven't forgotten the time when he made you memorise Buddhist scriptures because of cursing? And kneeling in front of Kannon-sama's statue while reciting it out loud?"
Kaoru made a face. That sure was the worst punishment ever.
"Just don't tell him I did it again. Anyway, why of all people is Yumi-sama involved? What is going on?"
With that, Misao proceeded to tell Kaoru about her conversation with Sanosuke back in the stables that afternoon, including the lady doctor from Aizu he mentioned and how he rushed off in the direction of the Northern Harem after leaving her with the word 'Megumi'.
"So I was wondering, if this Megumi and that Megumi are the very same Megumi." Misao concluded dramatically.
"It is very obvious, isn't it?" Kaoru gave her an I-can't-believe-you-are-still-trying-to-get-it-figured-out look. "And not to mention that Sanosuke apparently likes Megumi-sama."
Misao nodded eagerly, glad that her instincts were proven right."But, Kaoru…what are we going to do? It's Yumi-sama who brought Megumi-sama in…there is no way we can just ask for Megumi-sama to be freed. If we offend her, God knows what she'll do to baka-tori."
"I know…and I definitely don't hold enough power to confront her. Especially when the issue does not concern me at all." Kaoru added glumly. "Onii-sama will just dismiss it as one of my pranks again. On the other hand, Megumi-sama appeared quite miserable just now at dinner…"
Misao's shoulders slumped as she gave a loud audible sigh, bringing a small smile to Kaoru's face.
She's always such a caring friend, helping others at the expense of her own emotions.
"Tell you what, Misao…I'll pay Megumi-sama a visit and try to understand more from her." Kaoru gripped Misao's hands in hers. "I promise, I will not let anything happen to Sanosuke. And Megumi-sama too."
Misao's frown turned up into a smile as she nodded to Kaoru.
Kaoru returned the smile, before walking over to the shoji door and sliding it open. "Now let me get my sleep," She yawned. "Dinner was so boring."
Akira sat in his study, willing himself to keep his mind on state affairs rather than Tomoe as he went through all the petitions and documents he had received. It was a difficult task, especially when his eyelids felt like lead and his mind was screaming in protest.
Earthquakes in Kobe…Requests for farming permission in Nagasaki…Riots in Aizu…Request for Tsubame-hime's hand in marriage from Korea's Crown Prince…Shortage of rice in Hamamatsu…Permission for trade of silk from China…Wait a minute, Tsubame? Marriage? Korea?
That jolted Akira to his senses, dispelling all hints of sleep. Practically throwing the other letters to the side, he rummaged through the growing stack until he found the one he was looking for. Scanning through the letter again, Akira confirmed its contents despite the slightly odd Japanese in which the letter was written.
Korea's Crown Prince wants to marry Tsubame after hearing of her beauty, kindness and generosity with the less-fortunate. Korea will be sending betrothal gifts in a week's time.
Akira smiled to himself; he always knew his daughter would grow up to become a fine lady with no lack of suitors. At the age of 13, she was already getting proposals. However, even through all that satisfaction and joy that a father would feel, a tiny voice was screaming for him to consult Tomoe and Tsubame herself before making the decision. The Korean Crown Prince was a fine young man well-versed in both martial arts and his studies, guaranteed to give Tsubame stability in her life and meet all her materialistic needs. Not to mention that as the ruler of a country, he cannot help but think of how this marriage would greatly improve the bilateral ties of the two countries.
As a father, he cannot stop worrying about how Tsubame might be neglected in Korea and live in solace until the end of her days. Just like how he is neglecting some of the women who spend their lives pining for his attention. The thought of his beloved little princess sitting alone in her cold, quiet chambers, waiting for a man who has grown tired of her was making him uncomfortable, till the point of being unbearable.
He'd have to discuss this with Tomoe, and of course, Tsubame herself. It should not be a problem, unless Tsubame has her heart set on marrying someone else.
To be continued…
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Nothing really major, but this chapter serves as a bridge to bring out the entire story in the remaining chapters.As forthose who are worrying aboutYahiko and Tsubame,how can I ever bear to let Tsubame marry some Korean dude and eat kimchi for the rest of her life? Do look out for chapter 10! And please review:):):)
Chapter 10:
"Onii-sama…why are you so angry?" Tsubame asked, casting a sideward glance at Yahiko, who by now had stopped throwing rocks into the fish pond.
She turned away from him for a second to shift herself into a more comfortable position on the rock, only to turn back and find a pair of lips pressing against her own.
Kami-sama – God
Baka-tori – stupid rooster
Kuso – Damn it
Kannon-sama – Goddess of Mercy
