CHAPTER 11

disclaimer: i do not own rurouni characters or desert rouges

"I can't believe this is happening," Megumi said as the carriage moved forward. She perched uneasily on the edge if the cushioned seat on the open conveyance, her flowers gripped tightly in her hand.

Kaoru sat opposite and tried no to mind that she was facing the wrong direction. As the bride, it was right that Megumi face forward. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't mind. However, while her morning sickness seemed to have disappeared, her stomach often felt faintly unsettled, leaving Kaoru concerned that tossing-her-cookies portion of her pregnancy mighty make an unexpected return.

"Just smile and wave," Kaoru said, glancing at the crowd lining on either side of the road.

Their open horse-drawn carriage moved slowly, accompanied by cheers and whistles from those who had come out to watch. Mounted guards rode next to them, as much to be part of the spectacle as to offer protection. Kaoru figured it was unlikely that anyone was about to kidnap the king's daughter.

"I don't think I can do this," Megumi said softly, her face pale, her eyes wide.

"You'll be fine," Kaoru motioned to her dress. "I don't think you can return that."

Megumi laughed, and then smoothed the front of her designer creation. The long sleeved wedding gown looked like something out of a fairy tale. Hand-sewn beads caught the sunlight. Yards and yards of silk and lace cascaded to the ground. With her hair upswept and anchored by an antique tiara, Megumi was a true royal princess.

Kaoru figured even she didn't look half bad. Her rose colored gown had been cut low and fell straight from below her bonice. The empire style concealed her stomach, which seemed to have suddenly puffed out in the past couple of days. Megumi wore diamonds at her ears and her throat, while Kaoru was in pearls. Diamond and pearl earrings, decorated her ear lobes. A stunning circle of pearls draped down to the curve of her breasts.

"I'm going to throw up," Megumi announce

"You're going to be fine. Keep smiling and waving. It's not a big job, especially for someone with all your education."

Megumi laughed. "Okay. You're distracting me. I like that."

Kaoru switched her flowers to her other hand. "I'm having second thoughts about refusing the tiara. Do you think I should have worn it?"

Megumi glance at her hair. "Could we have anchored it?"

They had a detailed conversation about the pros and cons of hair accessories, then Kaoru switch the subject to shoes. They pulled up in front of the church before Megumi had a chance to realize where they were.

A uniform guard approached their carriage. King Hiko had ridden with the groom in a carriage in from of theirs. The princes shared the one behind Megumi's, with Tokio and her husband bringing up the rear.

The small door was opened and Kaoru rose to exit first assisted by the footmen. She managed to get down to steps without falling. Although she didn't actually look for Kenshin, she was aware of him. The man watched her constantly. She tried to take comfort in his attention, but knew that it had nothing to do with her and everything to do with the baby.

Don't go there now, she told herself. This day was about Megumi.

Her sister managed to get out of the carriage without mishap. Tokio joined them, urging them into the church. At the top of the stairs leading into the building, they turned and waved to the waiting crowd. A cheer rose.

"Keep breathing," Tokio said as they stepped into the cool darkness of the foyer.

Tokio husband had already escorted the groom and the princes up the aisle. The organ music began to play, cueing the women that it was time.

Tokio stood in front, with Kaoru to follow. Hiko stopped and kissed his daughter, then stepped next to Kaoru.

"You are beauty personified," he murmured, touching his lips to her cheek. "I am most proud."

Kaoru wondered if he was talking about the baby. As far as she could tell, the king still didn't know the father was Kenshin, but maybe his son had told him the truth. But this wasn't the time for a lengthy conversation.

She gave Hiko a smile. He squeezed her hand, then moved behind her to stand next to Megumi.

The twenty foot double wooden doors opened, reviling the crowded church and the long center aisle, Kaoru's stomach clenched.

Tokio turned around and winked. "If you get nervous, picture everyone naked."

yo its me again so i kinda forgot bout this story hahah a-_-; i rembered when i finally checked mt email =D

so i shall be updating more often...if time allows.