A/N Yay! The temperature dropped 2 degrees today from yesterday! Except, I was in another city not too far from my own, and it was 109 degrees. I miss the rain!!! *sigh*

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It's such a shame

I'm such a sham

No one knows

Who I am

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Chapter 9 - No One Knows Who I Am

"You'll do just fine."

Kenshin had been telling me this the whole way down to the ballroom. It was on the first floor in the southwest side, we were on the top in the east end, so we had a little bit of a walk.

"Just because you keep saying it, doesn't make it true or make me less nervous."

"Who says I was saying it for you and not for myself?" he said with a smirk. I stopped walking, causing him to stop as well, and hit him on the arm. He just laughed, kissed me on the forehead and said, "Did I mention how beautiful you look?"

I was wearing a royal blue gown that hugged at my waist and flowed out to the floor. The sleeves were off my shoulders, in the middle of my upper arms. My hair was all pulled up in a bun with some curls falling out, and being held back with a small diamond tiara. All of which was picked out and purchased by Kenshin. His overcoat was the same shade of blue as my dress, with a gold trim. He also wore white pants and brown boots. He looked so handsome.

"Flattery won't get you out of trouble," I said, crossing my arms. No matter how good you look. I added as an afterthought in my head.

"Neither will marrying you, it seems. I have a feeling I'm going to be in a lot more."

I hit him again, this time harder, and relished in the way he winced.

"It seems my training you has made you stronger. That's good for handling the Battousai, but will do me considerable damage."

"It was your idea to make me stronger."

"Hai, and I don't regret one minute of our sessions."

Seeing that our playful bantering had calmed my nerves a bit, he took a step towards me and gave me a light kiss on my lips.

"You'll do just fine," he said once again, this time with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"I will," I stated in a playful manner, making him smile.

He then took my hand, looped it through his arm, and asked the dreaded question.

"Shall we?"

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The ball room was beautiful. The wood floor had a pattern consisting of gold diamonds in the center area, making up the dance one was dancing yet, for the tradition was to wait for the honorees to start. Around that were twelve tables with white cloths and stocked with all different kinds of food. Each table had five attendants ready to assist you at any moment. The ceiling had five chandeliers, the largest and most magnificent one was in the center of the dance floor. As we entered, a herald announced us, causing everyone present to turn in our direction.

"Presenting, Lord Kenshin Himura and his fiancee, Kaoru Kamiya."

With more than two hundred pairs of eyes on us, I began to shake a little. Kenshin covered my hand in the crook of his arm with his free hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. I looked at him, and he stared back at me. His eyes gave me all the assurance I needed. I smiled at him, and he returned it with one of his own. He then led me around to greet the other nobles present. The first couple we talked to were a little older than Hiko. They were Lord Edmond and Lady Mercedes Dantes.

"My, aren't you lovely!" Lady Mercedes beamed.

"Thank you," I replied while blushing. I wasn't used to such praise. It took a while to get used to Kenshin's comments, it's harder to accept it from complete strangers.

"You're even more pretty when you blush! Isn't she, Edmond?"

"Indeed. If I had found you before Kenshin, I would have offer you to my son, Albert," Lord Edmond stated.

I didn't know what to say to that.

"Than I am certainly lucky to have found her first," Kenshin replied with a smile.

"Very lucky indeed!" Lady Mercedes replied.

"If you'll excuse us, we must greet the other guests."

"Of course!" Lord Edmond said.

"I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening." Kenshin and I gave them a bow with our heads, which they returned, and proceeded to mingle with the other guests.

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We had been visiting with the last couple when the herald announced it was time for us to start the waltz. As Kenshin led me to the middle of the dance floor, I was a bit nervous. I had only danced with Hiko, which was easier because he was taller than me. Dancing with Kenshin, our faces were so close to each other, and our bodies even closer when we were in the starting position. Butterflies welled in my stomach. You can do this! It's the same as with Hiko! I shouted in my mind. When the music started, we started to glide. As we continued, I relaxed more and more, just letting the music and Kenshin take over. After ten minutes of having the floor to ourselves, Hiko and his escort joined us and everyone else immediately followed.

Kenshin leaned closer to me and whispered in my ear, " I told you you would be wonderful."

"As I recall, you said, and I quote 'You'll do just fine.' So it seems I exceeded your expectations."

He chuckled at that. "You will always exceed my expectations. You're just too full of surprises not to."

When the dance ended, we had to dance with other people, to allow them to get to know me a little better. I was nervous about letting some other man hold me, but Kenshin assured me I would be fine.

"If anything happens, I'll be right there." His words gave me a little comfort, and the first man to dance with me after Kenshin was Lord Edmond.

"I thought I should be the first, to help put you at ease. You seem a little nervous about the other, younger nobles," he said with a small smile.

"Thank you. I really appreciate your kindness," I replied, smiling and relaxing a bit.

We danced for ten minutes, and were then interrupted by a young man. Lord Edmond gave me an encouraging smile. He was almost like a father reassuring his child that it was alright. Not wanting to be rude, I accepted the young man's hand, and was swept away. This became a routine, and I ended up dancing with twelve nobles to three different songs. After the last dance, I was feeling a bit fatigued, so I excused myself to get a drink.

As I stood by the wine table and sipped at my glass, a young noble with shocking white hair approached me. I didn't recall meeting him before, so I assumed he arrived late.

"So, you are Lord Himura's fiancee, hmm? I thought he would've chosen someone more suitable. It seems he has really low standards."

My temper was starting up. Who was this man?! How dare he insult me without even knowing me!

"It seems I'm not that low, considering that you were the one who started talking to me. Perhaps your standards are equal or less than his?" I said cooly, keeping my temper at bay.

"You sure have some nerve talking to a Yukishiro that way," he said through gritted teeth.

So, he was a Yukishiro. They were related to the royal family through the marriage of the queen's cousin.

"I don't care who you are! You act boorishly towards me, and I will treat you the same."

He seemed shocked by this, and then a scowl appeared on his face. He grabbed my upper right arm, and put his face in mine.

"You better be careful what you say, Miss Kamiya. You have no idea what I can do to you," he threatened in a low voice.

"Take your hands off her, Enishi," a low voice said. We both turned our heads in the direction it came from, and found Kenshin standing right there, his head bent and his bangs covering his eyes. Enishi released me. "Control your woman's tongue," he said. "Or I might have to do something about it myself." He then left us.

"Kenshin, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." I cut myself off. Kenshin had lifted his head and was staring at me, with golden eyes. "Battousai, I whispered. He didn't say anything, just walked up to me, took my hand, and pulled me out toward the balcony. Once we were outside, he closed the doors and led me to the corner where no one could see us.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I-I'm fine. Why are you here?" I asked. I admit, it was a stupid thing to say, but I was curious and I couldn't help it.

"No one touches what is mine," he growled. That was a strange statement coming from him.

"When did I become your pet?" I asked defiantly.

"You were never my 'pet'. You just belong to me."

"So I'm Just another being whose blood you wish to spill, and you don't want anyone contaminating me, is that it?" I challenged. He gave me a sinister smile.

"It may have started out that way, my dear, but I've grown fond of your spirit, so I've decided to keep you around, with one condition."

"What condition?" I asked.

"You have to fight me in a duel." I was shocked at his request. I could never defeat him! Or last long against him for that matter.

"So, Kaoru, will you accept the challenge?"

I thought about it more. If I didn't take this chance, I could lose Kenshin and Battousai would think me a coward. He's already taken a small step in accepting me, and I don't want to ruin that. I made my decision, and stared at him with a hard gaze.

"I accept, with one condition of my own."

"Oh? And what would that be?" he asked, looking a bit amused. I took a deep breath.

"You have to leave Kenshin."

He laughed. "Alright, I agree to your terms. I'll shall give you one week to prepare for our fight. Until then, I shall keep myself hidden."

Battousai closed his eyes, and then they opened again to reveal those amethyst jewels I loved so much. Relief washed over me, and I couldn't help but throw myself at Kenshin and cling to him with all my might.

"Kaoru? Daijoubu?" he asked, returning my embrace. He seemed confused as to how we ended up outside, but I decided to wait until later to tell him about my deal with Battousai.

"Hai," I whispered.

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We couldn't stay out there for long, as it is, everyone thought I was with Kenshin, they didn't know the Battousai, so having been out there for quite a while, we had to return to the celebration. I noticed that Enishi had left, which gave me some peace of mind, knowing I wouldn't run into him for the remainder of the night. Both Kenshin and I acted as if nothing had happened, and pretended to be cheerful for the sake of our guests.

I danced a few dances with Hiko, as well as with some other nobles, and my last dance was with Kenshin. One by one, our guests began to leave, but not before congratulating Kenshin and I one last time and bidding us goodnight. Once the last of the nobles had gone, Kenshin decided it was time for us to retire. He walked me to my room, and gave me a goodnight kiss. He turned around, and before he could leave, I grabbed onto his sleeve.

"Kaoru? Is something wrong?" he questioned.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to let him know exactly what happened on the balcony."There is something I must tell you..."

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"Absolutely not! I won't allow you to out yourself in danger!" he cried, rising up from the bed. I had decided it was best to hold this conversation in my room rather than in the hall, knowing how Kenshin would react. My assumption was correct, he was irate.

"I willingly put myself in danger just by being with you! This is an oppertunity to save you from him! I won't miss this chance!" I replied passionately.

Kenshin returned to me, sat on my bed, and pulled me into a fierce embrace. "I don't want to lose you. I don't care if I have to live with him until the day I die." I held him just as tightly.

"I've already agreed. There's nothing you can do," I said quietly.

"I know," he sighed. "But I still don't like it. I can't help you at all!"

"Actually, you can," I said.

"How?" he asked, a little hopefully.

"Train me harder and longer than before."

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