AN: Wow! 147 reviews and more than 30 for the last chapter! You guys are so great! And I am so elated on how much you love this story, because I really love it too. Sorry I made you guys wait so long for this chapter, and I really have no excuse but blame it on the procrastination demons. I'm afraid you're not going to be too happy with me when you reach the end of this, so I think I'll go into hiding *sneaks away* Oh yeah! *comes back for a second to whisper* Read and review! =3
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters. Siiiiiigggh….=(
Sanjo Tsubame - 14
Kamiya Kaoru – 17
Seta Soujiro – 18
Yukishiro Enishi - 18
Himura Kenshin – 19
Sagara Sanosuke – 19
Shishio Makoto - 20
Takani Megumi – 21
Yukishiro Tomoe – 21
Yumi Kiyosato - 21
Akira Kiyosato - 21
Chapter 10
My dear friend Hiko,
I am greatly touched over your concern for me. I would like to once again thank you for the use of Dr. Gensai and the other medical requirements. Thanks to his diligences and constant attention, I have greatly improved and I feel better in spirits. Despite that though, the good doctor insists I remain in bed. You must understand how much this distresses me, as I have deeply expressed in my past letters to you, how much I want to return to my place as the ruler of Kasshin and relieve Kaoru of the great burden I have unwilling placed on her young shoulders.
My concern only grows deeper as the problems with that deranged little animal, who would like to call himself a king, increases. There are still raids on the Kasshin towns on the Juppon Gatan border and two days ago we found several of our patrol teams dead. All of them brutally torn apart. We still have no proof that showed that Shishio had anything to do with it, but we both know the truth. I am afraid I must take advantage of the offer you made before my friend. I was a prideful old fool to not accept your help, but I admit you were correct and more serious measures must be taken before this situation worsens. We will talk about it more on your next visit to Kasshin.
Despite the problems, Kaoru is handling everything magnificently. I am sure you have heard how well she has been doing for the past year as monarch of Kasshin. My heart is bursting with pride at how quickly she has taken to the position I had thought she was still too young to take. She's strong, insightful and my eyes still stare in awe at the mature, beautiful lady she has become. I wish her mother could see her. Oh Natsuki would have been so proud to see our little girl.
Unfortunately though, our predictions were right; Kaoru has become quite closer to young Seta. I am not sure she wants to marry him yet, but he seems to be coming down with what I had when I was feeling it was time to propose to Natsuki. What did you call it... 'pining for the old ball and chain'? I can feel any day now that the boy's going to come and ask me for her hand. It would be wrong to deny him the privilege; Seta is a prince of a well established, though small, country and is soon to be crowned as soon as he reaches of age. He is also an honourable, steady and reliable young man who would make a good husband for Kaoru. I have no real reason to reject him, except....he's not your Kenshin.
I am afraid that Kaoru animosity toward Kenshin has not cooled over these almost two years. I have tried, on a few occasions, to convince Kaoru to see him again, but every time I even mention his name, the girl growls at me. I know you will probably call me soft Hiko, but I cannot stand it when she does that to me. It wounds my fatherly heart each time. My sweet little shihandai is not too happy with her Chichi these past few days.
Even though I am not sure what I shall do if Kaoru keeps denying the idea of the merger between her and Kenshin, but I will keep trying. It is for the good of our kingdoms' and our children's future happiness. As I am sure you would readily agree, if it is one thing I have learned from observing our children together over the past years, is that they are perfect for each other and are meant to be forever united. Nothing should prevent such a destined union from happening.
I look forward to seeing you again my friend. Maybe by then we can both think of a way to convince my sweet Kaoru. I will continue praying to Kami-sama that we do.
Sincerely Yours
Kouhei Kamiya
Kouhei
I am happy to hear of your improved health my friend. And do not even try to thank me anymore than you have for Dr. Gensai. You have been my loyal comrade and my rival for years, and I will admit you have bested me a few times, but there is no way I am letting you reach death before me. I shall see the Grim Reaper's hideous face before you, and there's nothing you can do to change that.
The problems with that little yarou Shishio are also increasing here. I hate to say I told you so Kouhei. War weapons are still being smuggled into Hiten Mitsurugi, even though we keep trying to ambush the perpetrators, they seem to always know where we will be and manage to evade us. I am glad you have decided to accept my offer, but we will talk more of it on our next meeting.
Now on to the problem of our two extremely mule headed children. No matter how much she growls at you, my friend who has the many attributes of a jelly fish, you must continue to urge her to see Kenshin again as soon as possible.
It has turned out as we have feared, Kenshin has continued to get closer to Tomoe Yukishiro and I have a strong feeling he is going to propose to her on his Seijin no Hi. He is such a baka deshi! And so blind to his true feelings for Kaoru. The way he lets that Yukishiro girl tell him what to do, down to what he should have for breakfast, it's almost embarrassing to see him so repressed.
Yes, I know what you are thinking; Misaki could have ordered me to her side and I would have heeled, but you know she was my one and only sheath, no crude joke intended, and I needed that control or I would have surely gone mad. Tomoe though, is no good for Kenshin, if anything she cultivates his bad habits. She pets and praises him to no ends, and Kenshin's head has swollen to the point where I'm afraid I will have to widen the palace's halls.
I am afraid if Kenshin marries Tomoe that passion in him will eventually be lost. He needs someone like your Kaoru who would keep that fire to fight and win in him going, but at the same time she would not hesitate to correct him when he's at fault, to guide him when his pride blinds him. Someone like her is the only way he will grow as a leader and then to become an excellent King. And after seeing how Kaoru has taken care of Kasshin this year, I am even more certain of the fact that she is my son's perfect match. I would be honoured to be able to call Kaoru daughter someday.
It is only a week until Kenshin's birthday and then two days to his Seijin no Hi. We must work quickly my friend. You must do anything...don't make that face you baka, do you want Natsuki's ghost to haunt you forever if Kaoru ends up marrying the wrong man? Remember her temper, I'm sure as a ghost she would be a lot worse, so grow some walnuts and do anything you have to, down to the most unhanded thing you can think of. I know you have it in you to be a bastard my friend, after all these years I must have rubbed off on you somehow.
Till our next meeting.
Hiko Himura
Ororororororororo
Kouhei Kamiya gave a sigh of relief when his checkup came to an end. It had all seemed to be more agitating than any other time before. Maybe it was because he was getting a little stir crazy with being confined to his room so much; it had been the most time he had ever spent in bed in his whole life. He hated it down to his the bones that seemed to be aching more lately.
He had always been one to live his life actively and fully. The one his family would look to for strength and support, but how could he do that lying in bed. Every day he prayed to Kami-sama to get well soon, even if it was just well enough to stay out of his damned rooms for more than an hour. At least then he could help his daughter rule their beloved country.
"Well that is it Kamiya-san," Dr. Gensai told him, as Megumi removed the blood pressure cuff from the king's arm.
"One forty five over ninety one, sensei," she said and the doctor nodded and scribbled it down in his notes.
"Still a bit high," he said. "We will up your medication by one more in the morning."
Kouhei sighed wearily at having to take more of the irritating medicine. It made him feel so tired and so much like an old man. "Will I at least be able to go back to my duties?" he asked hopefully.
The elderly doctor gave him a sympathetic look before shaking his snow white head. "I'm afraid not Kouhei-san. For now I would like you to take your increased dosage and keep walking in the gardens every day. On your next checkup we will see how you are doing and then we will decide."
The king sighed again; he was feeling better than he had before and he felt that he had wasted enough time just lying around, but he knew he had to respect Dr. Gensai's decision.
Although, maybe if he turned on his authoritative kingly voice on one of the younger servants, he could once again bully one of them into letting him go to his study to do some work.
A mischievous smile formed on his face. This was one of the days Kaoru stayed longer down in the dojo, maybe if he was quick, he could pull it off.
"Don't even think it Kamiya-sama."
Kouhei looked up to see Megumi, fists on hips and her brown almond shaped eyes glowering down at him.
He withered a little. "Think what Megumi-chan? I have no idea what you mean." He tried to say as innocently as possible.
The girl's eyes narrowed further. "I'm not stupid; I know what you're planning." Her lips went into a wicked smile. "Maybe I should tell Kao-chan, and let her talk to you about it."
The king's face paled. "I-Iie." He gulped. "I'll behave, I swear on my honour."
Dr. Gensai chuckled behind them as his pen scratched across his notes. "Kami, bless that girl," he thought he heard the doctor murmur.
Megumi grinned triumphantly, and then with a satisfied nod she began gathering up the medical instruments. "Speaking of Kao-chan, she's right outside in the sitting-room waiting." She soon had everything in her arms, so she turned and headed toward the door. "I'll send her in."
A nauseous feeling suddenly caused Kouhei's stomach to squirm. Maybe it was something else that caused his unrest today. After Hiko's visit he had decided that he had stalled long enough, and this was the day he would finally convince Kaoru to attend Kenshin's Seijin no Hi. To say he was nervous though would be an understatement, but he summoned all the courage he had as a great and noble king, and steeled his nerves.
"Heart of a tiger, heart of a tiger," he mumbled repeatedly to himself. "You are extremely skilled in kendo, the founder and master of the Kamiya Kasshin style, and if that's not enough, think of how Hiko will tease you to the end of your days about not having enough cojones to stand up to your own daughter."
Dr. Gensai finished his writing and looked up to face the king. "I will leave you alone with your daughter." He bowed respectfully. "I pray for your fast and complete improvement, Kamiya-san."
The elderly man turned on his heel to leave, only to have to stop short and bow again. "Your highness."
"How is my father, Gensai-san?"
Kouhei's eyes immediately went to his daughter. And as usual on sight of her, his heart expanded to twice its size.
His little sakura blossom. The most magnificent one on the tree. He still could not believe how she had seemed to bloomed overnight into such an admirable young woman. Proud and confident, which one could observe by her regal and graceful movements alone. Strength and beauty radiated from her through her powerful ki and shone in her finely sculpted features like a work of art. Along with a wisdom in her stunning blue eyes, that Kouhei had only seen leaders gain after years of ruling. She was the reincarnate of her mother before her. The two women's spirits were clearly one, wrapped and woven around each other, forming one resplendent being that always brought a mistiness to his old eyes.
Along with tears though, a huge smile could not help forming on his face. When Kenshin saw his daughter again, the boy would not be able to stand a chance.
Dr. Gensai smiled at Kaoru when he straightened back up. "He has much improved. With more time and a little more rest, he will be his old self again."
Kaoru nodded and her eyes held relief. "I am so pleased to hear that. I don't know if I could ever thank you enough for your superlative help Dr. Gensai."
"You humble me with your praise, your highness. But please, no thanks are needed; it is enough an honour to be able to use my knowledge to serve you and your father." He gave another bow to both Kaoru and Kouhei. "I shall now leave. If you'll excuse me, your majesties."
As soon as the door closed behind the doctor, Kaoru made her way to her father. Smiling at him, she glided to his bedside and sat down in the chair placed there for her visits. She took his hand and squeezed it warmly.
"It is a great weight lifted from my heart to hear you are doing well Tou-san." She clutched his much bigger hand in her little one. "Ever since I saw you clutching your chest and then collapsing from your chair..." Kaoru's eyes were bright and wavering. She took a deep breath before going on. "Thank Kami, for Dr. Gensai and Hiko-sama for sending him to us, or I would have lost the most important person in my life."
A tear escaped from her eye and Kouhei met his daughter in an affectionate hug as she threw her arms around him and began sobbing in his neck.
"Ah musume," Kouhei soothed as he stroked Kaoru's hair. "I am sorry for putting you through so much anxiety." "And I am sorry for what I am going to do now. Forgive me." "But I'm afraid Dr. Gensai was just being kind."
"Nani?" Kaoru asked, pulling away from him to look into his face.
"Aa," he nodded, and he made his face crumble with sadness. "The truth is, it does not look good. My blood sugar is high, my liver is almost failing and my blood pressure is off the charts. Dr. Gensai says that he does not know how I've lasted this long."
"Dame. I-I don't understand. He just said...How could he lie to me like that?" Kaoru's expression had become distressed, confused and angry, all at the same time, and Kouhei felt the guilt stabbing into his heart, but he continued.
"I don't have long on this earth, my dear Kaoru." And he took her hand in both his, his eyes staring intently into hers. "But before I go, there is one thing that would make my old heart so happy."
"Anything Tou-san," Kaoru cried, her eyes glistening with more tears. "I swear on my honour that I will do anything to make you happy."
"Arigatou musume," he said with a contented sigh. "I suppose then you will be leaving on the first ship to Hiten Mitsurugi, so you'll be in time for Kenshin's birthday celebrations."
The dead silence that followed after was like a piano had been dropped from the room's ceiling.
Kouhei remained smiling at his daughter for a few seconds, but then his expression went into that of excruciating pain as Kaoru's hand began tightening around his fingers.
Panic filled Kouhei as he watched the vein in his daughters head enlarge and pulse, while her mouth pulled into a trembling sneer.
"Itai, sweetheart!" the fearful king squeaked. He tried to pull his hand free, but it did not budge. "You're crushing my hand."
"You...you..." Kaoru said between clenched teeth. Her azure eyes flashed with barely restrained rage. "Old, lying, son of a rat bastard!" she shrieked, and for a moment she was her old hot-tempered self. "How dare you scare me like that?"
"Musume, please understand..." he began pleadingly, but Kaoru yanked her hand from him and shot to her feet.
"What do you want me to understand?" Her voice was raising several octaves by the second. "That you are an underhanded serpent, who tried to trick me into doing the one thing I have clearly stated I will not do?" Her hands formed trembling fists of rage at her side as she glared at him. "But I will not do it. You hear me?" And she stomped her foot.
Kouhei smiled; he could not help it, seeing Kaoru act like the child of her past, put his fears of her growing up too fast at ease.
"But you have to my sweet," Kouhei said with a grin that would have made Hiko proud. "You swore on your honour."
Kaoru's eyes rounded in the sudden realization and her face instantly fell as her lips formed a small pout. "B-but you lied," she said helplessly.
"Aa, I did, but despite that, your exact words were, 'I swear on my honour that I will do anything to make you happy' and to fulfill that promise you must go to Hiten Mitsurugi and celebrate Kenshin's birthday and Coming of Age day." He nodded his head sagely. "Just look at this as a lesson on choosing your words wisely, musume. Such powerful words must not be spoken so lightly."
"But what about Kasshin? And Shishio? His people are still slinking around the country side."
"Do not worry about Kasshin. The Hiten Mitsurugi soldiers that Hiko brought and Misao's Oniwabanashū ninja are enough to keep that serpent and his pack of mad dogs at bay for now, and I am well enough to take care of our country for a few days." "They will have no choice but to let me do some work now." His grin became wider. "Surrender shihandai; you have been beaten."
Kaoru's glare was icy enough to lower the temperature in the room, and at seeing her anger darkened face Kouhei began sweating profusely. He wondered if he was going to get out of this alive.
To his relief Kaoru did not reach for anything heavy to throw like Natsuki used to so often do. The young girl just stomped her foot again and gave a frustrated shriek. She then glowered at him again and bit out, "Your next examination, I'll tell Megumi to use the biggest, nastiest needle to shove into your backside."
With that threat stated, Kaoru then stormed out of the room, and as she slammed the door with a thunderous crash, the paled face Kouhei could not help thinking that his daughter even did all that with undeniable grace.
Orororororororororo
Megumi dropped her book and nearly fell off the bed when her cousin crashed open the doors of her bedroom and came storming in.
"Kaoru," Megumi said breathless, trying to still her racing heart. "What in Kami's name is wrong?"
Kaoru did not answer. The young girl's face looked like a storm cloud, spitting great bouts of thunder and lightning to the earth. Her lips were formed in a sever frown, her face was flushed to her roots and her cerulean eyes were kindled with rage. Though, it did not do anything to mar her beauty. If anything it lit up Kaoru's features with energy, making it glow with life.
Megumi grinned; it was hard to believe this was the same girl who so many years ago used to make faces at herself in the mirror and cry into her shoulder about never finding someone who would want her.
"Rat bastard!" Kaoru screamed at her bedroom ceiling.
Megumi raised her eyebrow questioningly. She had not seen her cousin so vibrant since she had left Hiten Mitsurugi so suddenly, about a year and more ago. Since then, Kaoru had thrown herself into her responsibilities of taken care of Kasshin, but Megumi had noticed a severity forming in the girl's face and her eyes no longer danced in the way they used to.
Watching the girl shaking her fists and snarling, Megumi figured it had to be something huge that had brought out this level of temper in her cousin, but obviously Kaoru was not ready to answer yet, so she picked up her medical book and began to read again, keeping one eye on the furious tanuki.
A few minutes later Tae and two maids appeared at the door. "Your highness," they chorused, bobbing their heads in synchronized curtsies.
Kaoru rounded on them, and the maids squeaked when they saw her outraged face. "Start packing up my things," Kaoru barked. Her fists and her teeth then clenched tightly. "I'm going to Hiten Mitsurugi for a few days," she hissed.
Megumi did fall off of the bed this time. She quickly got to her feet, frantically fixing her disarrayed hair and clothes. She then stared at her cousin with wide eyes. She looked at Tae and the older woman only shrugged in response; she was clearly just as perplexed.
"Nani?" was all Megumi was finally able to say.
"You heard me Megumi," Kaoru snapped. "I'm going to that baka's stupid Birthday celebration and then I will stay for his stupid Seijin no Hi. I will be leaving in the stupid morning on the first stupid ship out."
Megumi blinked at Kaoru; she was still confused. "What has brought this on Kaoru?"
"I don't want to talk about it." Kaoru then turned to the maids who still had not moved from their position do to the fear of their mistress' sudden hostility. "Well," she snapped. "What are you two waiting for?
The two maids squeaked again, bobbed a quick curtsy and nearly tripped over each other as they ran to her drawers and wardrobe to start gathering her things.
Tae gave Kaoru a disapproving look. "Remember what Kamatari says Kaoru, 'You must show respect and patience with those who even stand below you, that is showing true honour and class.'"
Kaoru aimed a withering look at her sensei, but when the woman stared back levelly the young girl's face fell and she sunk into the chair in front of her vanity.
"Gomen nasai everyone," she moaned. "But having to go back to Hiten Mitsurugi and facing..." Megumi saw Kaoru stop herself just in time before the name left her lips. "Him again, puts me on edge." She moaned again and covered her eyes. "I don't know if I can do this. Just the thought of him makes me want to throw things."
Both Megumi and Tae shared a concerned look for their beloved Kaoru. The girl could make life altering decisions for her country and face down villains who threatened her people, but when it came to confronting her feelings for Kenshin, she showed her innocence of such things.
"Kao-chan," Tae said gently. She had learned from passed discussions to approach the subject of Kenshin cautiously. "I don't know why you decided..."
"I did not decide anything!" Kaoru growled behind her hands. "Tou-san tricked me!"
"Alright," the older woman continued. "But it's been almost two years since you've been holding this anger toward Kenshin. Don't you think it's time you let it go?"
Kaoru did not answer, but her bright blue eyes peeped at her teacher through her fingers.
Tae placed a gentle hand on the girl's hair and stooped so she was looking at her at eye level. "These pasted years you have gone through so much and achieved so much. So look at going back to Hiten Mitsurugi as another challenge you must face and overcome. It will be unpleasant at first, but like before you will defeat it, and think of how much stronger you will become when you do. As a person and a ruler."
Kaoru's hands had slipped from her face and her eyes were now looking out her window towards the sea. Hiten Mitsurugi was on the other side of that long stretch of water. And so was Kenshin. Over the long time, Megumi had seen that deep thoughtful expression in Kaoru's eyes before and she recognized it to be the one she had whenever she was thinking about Kenshin.
"Tae's right Kaoru. It's time you face this." Kaoru turned to her with her face uncertain and anxious. Megumi approached her cousin with a reassuring smile, took both her hands and held them to her bosom. "I know you are strong enough to do this Kao-chan."
"Besides," her sensei said. "No one is asking you to do anything more than be civil to Kenshin. It's just social politics; nothing different to what you're used to."
New determination suddenly formed on Kaoru's young face. "You two are right?" She got up and walked to the middle of the room, her eyes shining. "I will go there, cool and refined, and wish that yarou a most happy birthday and mean it to the bottom of my heart. You are so right. I don't know what I was so nervous about. My silly crush for him is long since gone, and no one is asking I reinstate our engagement."
Megumi and Tae watched as Kaoru went to the maids to help them pack, all the while whispering to herself 'Yes, it'll be fine. There'll be no restoration of our engagement'.
After a moment, Tae, without taking her eyes off Kaoru, leaned closer to Megumi and whispered, "We can only hope there will be."
And Megumi nodded in agreement. A smile eventually formed on her face as she continued to observe Kaoru.
"I'm not too worried," she whispered back to the other woman. "She still loves him." Just then Kaoru's giggle filled the room like a chime. She was talking good-naturally with the maids as she assisted them to fold one of her kimonos. Her eyes were bright and they lit up her face beautifully.
Megumi's smile became a smirk. "And I can't wait till Ken-kun sees our Kaoru."
Ororororororororororo
Kenshin was nervous. His hands passed over his formal dark blue kimono for the millionth time that afternoon because his hands would not stay dry.
At the huge hall windows, he frowned at his reflection, whose lavender eyes seemed too large and wide, and eyebrows seemed to high and alarming. He gritted his teeth; he had thought he had grown too much in maturity to let important events shake him, but as the proceedings under went for his Seijin no Hi and the time grew nearer for it to take place, he found an apprehension in him growing. The feeling made him want to lower his eyes and chin to the floor while gnawing his bottom lip like a little girl.
Today was only the introduction party, where all those attending the celebration would arrive. Tomorrow would then be his birthday and then a day after would be his Coming of Age day.
Kenshin swallowed. So many important people will be there, all of them observing him, weighing him to see if he was worthy of maturity and leadership. And then he was going to be presented to his people, no longer as the boy they once knew, but a man, and at that moment their hope for a prosperous and happy future would weigh even heavier on his head than his new crown ever would.
He sighed and let his forehead fall against the frosty surface of the glass window, and his eyes gazed at the snow covered lands of Hiten Mitsurugi that lay outside.
"Kami-sama and the blood of all my ancestors before me, give me strength," he whispered.
After only a moment, he sighed again, this time a little wearily, when he heard the footsteps behind him. They were soft and careful as they always were. Like sakura petals whispering across the grass in a breeze.
A hand soon came to touch his shoulder. He had expected it, but still he slightly flinched.
"Ken-san," Tomoe's gentle voice reached his ears. "What are you doing?" Her words took on an impatient tone. "You're still not nervous are you?"
Kenshin bit his lip. He wanted to say 'yes, I'm nervous. I don't know if I'm ready for all this, and I wish you would understand how hard it is to always have to hold this expression around you, even when we're alone', but he swallowed all those words and forced on the usual smile. He turned to aim it at her. "Of course not koishii. I am fine."
A satisfied smile touched the young woman's painted lips, but all the white make-up she wore hid if it truly affected her face. Along with the white kimono, and pale blue of the ornaments in her hair and shawl around her arms, she seemed to echo the extreme quietness and almost lifeless atmosphere the winter had brought.
In the months they had been together Tomoe had grown more stoic and passive. Before, when she got angry or joyful, it used to show on her face, the passion of the emotion would be in her eyes, but ever since Kenshin had finally found the courage to ask her to be his girlfriend, she had taken on this doll-like persona, saying it was how she should act since she was now an important emblem of a future king.
Still smiling at him, she straightened the collar of his kimono and smoothed back the bangs that fell in front of his face. "My handsome ousama," she practically purred. She had taken to calling him that lately.
Kenshin stared into her flawless features. Tomoe was truly beautiful. From as long as he could remember he had dreamed to be the one to be at her side. The one who got to feel her caresses and the one who those deep dark eyes focused on so intently.
He had finally had his dream come true; he had all of it and Tomoe was absolute perfection. What more could he ask for in a girlfriend and a future wife?
He leaned in to kiss her, but a happy cry suddenly pierced his ears.
"Ken-kun!"
When he looked away from Tomoe and turned around, he saw his tall friend and his girlfriend quickly approaching him with a young girl fighting to keep up behind them. All three were already wearing formal clothing for his party.
Megumi threw her arms around him as soon as she reached him. "Oh Kenshin, it's so great to see you again. It's been too long." She then pulled back slightly to look him up and down with a sly smile. "How handsome you have gotten! But still you are still too small. Have you been drinking more milk like I told you?"
Kenshin laughed. In truth, his eyes were actually on level with hers now. "Megumi, Nee-san," he said affectionately. "I have missed your outspoken statements."
He hugged her back tightly, but on a dainty and particularly loud 'ahem' from Tomoe, he immediately let go of Megumi and stepped back.
He gave his girlfriend a nervous look and then turned back to his friends. Megumi was openly glaring at the other woman, who also had a similar gaze on her painted face.
Feeling the tension in the air, Kenshin chuckled sheepishly. "It has truly been awhile since I last saw you. Six months is too long to wait to see you again."
"Well you know how busy I am," Megumi said, turning away from Tomoe. She then ran her fingers throuhg her long ebony hair in a playfully haughty manner. "And Dr. Gensai can't do without his number one apprentice, soon to be doctor."
Kenshin gazed fondly at the woman, who had been like a sister to him for all his life. He had heard that her skills in medicine were so beyond her years that Dr. Gensai thought she could take her medical examinations a year earlier than expected. The elderly doctor was certain Megumi would succeed, even having the highest score than anyone in the region.
A warm smile formed on his face. He still remembered that time when he had put a frog in her teapot and she had turned him over her knee for a spanking. She had grown much since she was that hot-tempered girl. Now she was an admirable young woman, soon to be a well-know physician and wife.
Kenshin eyes shifted to his best friend who was beaming proudly at his future partner for life. He had never seen Sanosuke look so blissful.
Kenshin smirked. He had thought he would feel resentful or sad when the time for his friend to get married came along because he knew everything would change, and he and Sanosuke would not get to spend as much time with each other as they were used to, but he found instead that he felt glad that his friend had found someone that he could share a lifelong supply of happiness with, and it made Kenshin wonder what it was like, and strangely very eager to find out for himself.
"Sanosuke's definitely been pining for you, Megumi." Kenshin shot a mischievous grin at his friend who was hovering behind his fiancée. "I think his words were, 'If I can't see my kitsune every day, I'm going to die'."
Sanosuke aimed a withering look at Kenshin. Megumi giggled and pet his spiky brown hair gently. "My poor tori atama-chan," she cooed. "Did you really miss your kitsune that much?"
The frown fell away from Sanosuke's face, and he slipped his arms around Megumi's waist. "You know how much I miss you koishii. Spending so much time with monks and then only having Kenshin as company." Sanosuke gave a tortured sigh. "I was starting to forget what a woman felt like." His hold on Megumi tightened and he kissed her cheek.
Kenshin and Megumi laughed. Tomoe made a disapproving noise.
"Konnichiwa Himura-sama," a voice whispered from behind Sanosuke.
Kenshin blinked as the young girl stepped into his sight a nervous smile on her face. "It's good to see you again. Uh..." Her eyes shifted to the side and she gave a quick bow. "Otanjou-bi Omedetou Gozaimasu."
He had to stare at her for a moment, but then recognition filled him. "Tsubame-chan!" He came forward and enveloped the girl in a hug. "There is no need to be so formal. It's been awhile, but we are still friends." He pulled away, looked at her for a moment and his smile tugged up on one side. "Oya! If I had known you would have grown up to be this beautiful I would have..."
This time the disapproving 'ahem' came from both Tomoe and Megumi. Tsubame's face was completely red to her ears.
"Only nineteen and you're already acting like a dirty old man, Kenshin," Megumi said with a shake of her head.
All three friends laughed again. Even the very embarrassed Tsubame placed her flushed face into her palm to giggle. Only Tomoe's expression remained still, her large eyes unwavering as they focused on Kenshin.
"So Tsubame-chan," Kenshin said. "If you're here, does that mean Tae-san is here as well?"
"Hai," the young girl answered enthusiastically. "Okaa-san is very eager to see you again. She's down in the kitchens now making you one of her extra special cakes for your birthday."
"Hee, sore wa yokatta ne!" Kenshin cried, unaware of how his glee to taste one of Tae's delicious cakes again was making his face light up like a child given an unexpected prize. "I think I might go down there right now and see Tae-san."
Suddenly Tomoe hooked his arm with her own. "Don't be silly, Ken-san," she said hastily and turned him in the opposite direction. "I'm sure Sanjo-san can bring it to you." She began pulling at his arm. "Come along now, we still have much preparation to do before your welcoming party and there isn't much time left."
"But Tomoe…" Kenshin began. He held his arm firm and looked back at his friends with a regretful look. When Tomoe did not cease her insistent pulling, he sighed. "Aa, you are right koishii." His face became apologetic as he addressed his friends. "I will see you guys later." He then allowed his girlfriend to lead him away.
"Oh Kenshin-sempai, I forgot to tell you," Tsubame suddenly called anxiously from behind him. "Kaoru-chan is also here."
Kenshin froze in his tracks, and everything, along with his breathing, seemed to stop as well.
"Kaoru."
He could not believe it. After all this time of never even setting a foot in Hiten Mitsurugi. Sending representatives with kind and acceptable excuses if she ever had business with them.
Kenshin's mind sprinted. Kaoru had finally come back. She was there to take part in the most important days of his life. What did that mean? Had she finally forgiven him? Would she even come to talk him? What would he say?
"Ken-san!"
Tomoe's voice was a velvet pillow, soft and beautiful, but still appropriate to suffocate a prince. It forced its way into his frantic thoughts and set everything around Kenshin moving again, including his now speeding heart.
Kenshin blinked into Tomoe's face. Her oval shaped brown eyes were like the frost on the windows and her painted mouth was turned firmly downward.
"She cannot keep her composure all the time," Kenshin thought, but he did not let that satisfaction seep onto his face. Instead he showed the sheepish smile, he seemed to be using a lot lately and laughed. "I suppose I shall see Kaoru tonight then." He hooked Tomoe's arm more tightly. "Shall we go koishii?"
He then led her away, down the hall, ignoring her piercing stare.
"Later Kenshin."
"Sayonara Ken-kun."
Both Sanosuke and Megumi sounded annoyed, and he knew that later he would again hear another lecture of how wrong Tomoe was for him, but just then Kenshin had no room in his mind to worry about his friends' disapproval. He was too busy wondering if Kaoru's smile was as striking as he remembered it.
Ororororororororo
Kenshin sipped a little more of the white plum wine. He had been on the same glass since the party started, and he barely tasted its heady flavour as he keenly listened to the announcements of each noble who arrived into the Great Hall.
The welcoming party had been going on for about an hour now. Most of his guest, down to the lowest ranking monarch was present. They were all currently around him, completely filling the extremely large room from end to end, all of them taking great comfort in the roaring fires in the fireplaces, that abated the sharp cold of the winter outside, as they partook in the generous food and drink supplied and mingled, as aggressively as polite protocol allowed, with those of higher ranking than themselves.
It was not that he could not socialize himself, but he found he was very distracted, and he gave very little attention to anyone wanting to converse or proclaim positive birthday wishes. It was poor conduct and he should have known better, and Hiko had already sent him several disapproving glares from across the room, but no matter how hard he tried Kenshin could not seem to focus on the smiling faces that approached him. His eyes kept straying to those coming in through the entry ways above the curved centre staircase.
At least Tomoe was in there somewhere among the crowds, 'making and ensuring connections' for him as she liked to put it. It was one of the advantages of having another half who could support you, and she was far better at schmoozing than him.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he hoped she did not meet up with Akira, who he knew was somewhere among the merging people.
"You think you're nervous about this whole thing," Sanosuke moaned and he pounded down his fourth cup of sake. "I'm getting married in a month." He gave a pitiful whine. "What was I thinking agreeing to marriage? I don't know how to be a husband?"
Megumi was obviously not there or Sanosuke would never have being talking so freely, for fear he would get a fist in the jaw from a very enraged kitsune.
"Presenting Lady Kao..." Kenshin nearly spilled his drink as his head swiveled around to the top of the entry stairs. "...ri Kimiyu, Princess of Kisshin."
Kenshin almost fell face down to the marble floor.
A young girl stood on the stairs, looking only thirteen years old and clearly excited over attending probably her first formal party alone, and judging how her fingers danced on the pouch in her hand, she was really nervous.
Kenshin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He was glad Sanosuke was already drunk enough to not be able to observe his foolishness.
His eyes observed the young girl whose expression was now even more apprehensive than before as she had just almost stumbled over her pretty pink kimono as she was descending the stairs.
When she saw him looking at her, her cheeks instantly bloomed red and she made a quick blow to him.
Kenshin grinned as he turned back to his still complaining friend; the girl reminded him of Kaoru when she was that age. She had been just as cute.
Sanosuke was already gulping down another cup of sake. He shuddered and aimed haunted eyes at Kenshin. "I can already feel the ball and chain Kenshin. Do you believe I will never be able to kiss another girl again?"
Kenshin was just about to open his mouth and tell his friend that ever since he had been together with Megumi all these years he had shown no interest in any other girl, so it was not like he had been kissing girls all over the place anyway, but just then the trumpets sounded the short resonating notes again, announcing someone else had arrived.
"Presenting, Lord Yukishiro Enishi, Prince of Watōjutsu."
Kenshin could almost feel his ears stretching to hear if an 'and' came after the boy's name, but the announcer went silent again.
Kenshin let out another rush of air. Megumi and Sanosuke both said Kaoru had grown extremely close to Enishi and Soujiro. He was not sure which of the two she liked best, or maybe it was someone else entirely, but who ever came as her escort would definitely answer the question.
Enishi had grown surlier over the years, and more aggressive as a fighter. The loathing was quite apparent in his eyes as their swords had crossed during the Tournament that year, and his sword point had struck at vital points on Kenshin's body time and time again.
The younger boy stalked down the stairs stiff backed, his face looking almost carved from stone, but when his sister approached him it softened a little and he encircled her in a close hug. Over her shoulder, he saw Kenshin watching them, and his platinum eyebrows immediately cut downward and his grip around Tomoe tightened.
Kenshin fought the urge to roll his eyes and turned away to sip more of his drink. As Sanosuke said often; Enishi needed to seriously get a life.
"Megumi is a beautiful, refined, accomplished Lady of high status Kenshin, and I am nothing but a lowly son of a soldier," Sanosuke was saying as he stared into the full sake cup in his hands. "What if she comes to her senses, sees how much of a hayseed I am and stops loving me?"
The redhead smiled reassuringly at his friend and placed his hand on top of Sanosuke's taller shoulder. "Sano. Megumi is crazy about you. I don't think it's possible for her to ever stop loving you, because she loves and accepts you for who you are."
"But I've never been a husband before; what if I do something stupid? What if I do something stupid and ruin our marriage?"
"I don't think that's going to happen, because even if you said or did the stupidest thing ever, it still does not change the fact that you and Megumi were meant to be together and nothing can stop that from happening." Kenshin smirked and patted Sanosuke's shoulder. "Plus, Megumi has never been a wife before, so that means you both can make stupid mistakes together."
Sanosuke stared into his drink for silently for a long time, but then he looked up and grinned at him. "You're right Kenshin." He put aside the sake cup, his grin fell slightly. "I guess I have to give that up after I'm married."
"Maybe only a little," Kenshin laughed. "I'm sure Megumi won't mind if you take a drink now and then."
"Speaking of Megumi," Kenshin thought, slightly irritated. "What's taking her so long?"
The young woman had said she was going to check on what was taking her cousin so long.
That had been almost fifteen minutes ago!
Kenshin's heart thudded in his ears. Had Kaoru changed her mind about coming? Maybe she had gone back home? He took a deep swallow of his drink. He had to loosen his grip on the glass for fear he might break its delicate shape.
Just then the familiar notes of the trumpet sounded again and Kenshin's ears perked.
"Presenting," the announcer called, his voice reverberated in the high ceiling of the Great Hall. "Lady Kamiya Kaoru, Princess of Kasshin!"
Kenshin's heart skipped a beat.
Sanosuke's eyes were staring beyond Kenshin's shoulder, and his friend's eyes were large and awestruck. "Oya," he whispered and then a huge grin formed on his face. "Look at Jou-chan!
Kenshin barely heard him, he was too busy preparing himself to see Kaoru. He put down his wine, took a deep breath and turned around.
"Ken-san." Tomoe suddenly appeared in front of him. Enishi was close at her side, and to Kenshin's dismay, the great big bastard was blocking his view of most of entry staircase.
Kenshin nearly snarled out loud as a million profanities, cursing Enishi and his height, went through his head.
"Enishi," he said with strained patience. "Step aside."
He had not meant for it to come out as a harsh command, but it was hard to sound polite when he was fighting not to wrap his hands around the boy's neck.
But Enishi did not hear him; his broad back was to him, and it was stiff as he stared toward the stairs where Kaoru was standing.
"And her escort," the announcer continued. The trumpets sang again. "Lord Seta Soujiro, Prince of Tenken."
Enishi let out a low growl and his fists gripped at his side where his sword would have been.
Kenshin nearly growled as well. "Seta!" he snarled in his mind. And Kenshin instantly remembered the conversation Kaoru had had with Megumi and Misao that night so long ago. Did she still think Soujiro would make an ideal husband?
His head dodged impatiently around Enishi's wide width trying to see, but to no avail and more people were already gathering around to see the princess of Kasshin.
"Kami-sama," someone exclaimed. "Is that her? The kendo princess? I thought they said she was an unrefined, little tomboy."
Kenshin ground his teeth and glared darkly at Enishi's back wondering if he should personally move the boy himself. He could easily sweep him off his feet and send the fool to the floor, flat on his back.
Tomoe made an impatient noise as she frowned at her brother and boyfriend. "There is no time for this Ken-san." Just as earlier, she snatched his attention by hooking his arm with hers and turning him around to face her and the centre of the room where the crowd of nobles was thickest.
"I want you to meet this new lord from a distant land. His name is Shogo Amakusa. They say he works miracles and has a sword technique that may even surpass Hiten Mitsurugi."
At another time Kenshin would have been eager to meet someone who supposedly claimed they exceeded the Hiten Mitsurugi style. Someone like that would have had to be a god to do that, but at the moment Kenshin was only interested in seeing Kaoru and did not care about ridiculous rumors.
He planted his feet firmly and strained his neck over the many heads, but it was too late. Kaoru had already come down the stairs and was now surrounded by a mass of people anxious to meet her.
Kenshin sighed, and as his body sagged with disappointment and weariness, Tomoe towed him away, and Enishi stuck close behind to give him unfriendly stares.
Sanosuke gave his friend a sympathetic look as Kenshin tried one more feeble attempt to see Kaoru through the crowds, but he himself was soon swallowed from sight as the sea of people came up around him.
Okay, unwrap your hands from my neck. Put the tar and feathers down. We're all friends here, and remember if you kill me you'll never know what happens next =P Seriously though I'm sorry for the cliffy after making you wait so long, and I promise in the next chapter Kaoru and Kenshin will meet. Hurrah! And I'm already writing it up so you should not have to wait long. So I ask you kindly to be patient.
Until next time my lovelies. Sayonara! =3
Translation List:
Chichi –Daddy or Papa
Yarou - bastard
Seijin no Hi –Coming of Age Day
Musume - daughter
Dame – That's wrong/no good
Ousama - King
Nee-san - Sister
Otanjou-bi Omedetou Gozaimasu – Happy Birthday (formal)
Hee, sore wa yokatta ne – Wow, that's great!