WARNING- This chapter contains profanity.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters.

The Heart of a Queen

By Sevick

When the shadows descend…

CHAPTER TWELVE:

Kaoru ran up the stairs, forgetting to hold the slit in her dress together for decency. She banged on Misao's door, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. If anything had happened to Aoshi… because of her…

A tearful maid opened the door, and Kaoru saw Misao lying on the bed, surrounded by a flock of maids flitting around her. Upon seeing Kaoru, Misao sprung out of bed.

"What are you doing here!?" she shouted, and the maid behind Kaoru quickly shut the door.

"Misao, I'm so sorry, how is he-"

"How is he? How is he? They don't know if he'll ever wake up, Kaoru. Some idiot bashed his head in instead of yours!" Misao glared at her through red, splotchy eyes. "Don't ask me right now if I wish the alternative was true, because you won't like the answer."

"What can I do?"

"Do? You can go back in time and listen to me!" Misao was held back by a few maids gripping her arms. "I could have prevented all this if I would have smacked some sense into you when I saw you going down this path. Why are you so selfish? Why are you only thinking about yourself, what you want?"

"I didn't do this," Kaoru said softly, and this time Misao really had to be held back, a few more maids running to grab pieces of her clothing to keep her from pouncing on the queen.

"That's my husband dying down there," she shouted, agony pouring down her face, "because you just had to fall in love with the fucking Tokugawan!" She burst into sobs, the fight draining out of her as she sank to the floor. Most of the maids sank with her, and they fell into a sobbing tearful pile on the floor. "The love of my life, Kaoru… what will I do if he dies?" she whimpered, hiding her face in her hands. "The love of my life…"

With tears dribbling down her own cheeks, Kaoru left the room, shutting the door behind her. She pressed her mouth into her palm and choked back sobs. Everywhere she looked, people hobbled by clutching bleeding wounds or mourning lost family.

She should have been here.

Gohei was directing traffic in the foyer, his own arm bandaged lightly. Kaoru moved right to him, trying to collect herself, not bothering with her disgraceful outfit.

"Gohei…" she said, just loud enough to get his attention. When she had it, she swallowed the lump in her head and looked right at him. "Do what you can to get the palace ready – I'm getting married tomorrow."

"Your Majesty," he said, shock written all over his face.

"I will give my people whatever they need – and what they need right now is a king. It doesn't need to be lavish; just get everyone ready for a wedding in the palace chapel tomorrow," Kaoru said without emotion. "If the foreign dignitaries are insulted, we'll hold a second ceremony when they arrive."

Then she turned and walked away, not even sparing Kenshin, who had been standing there the whole time, a second glance.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Darkness claimed the capital, and sleep descended upon the inhabitants. Except, of course, for the queen.

Moving on small dainty footsteps, Kaoru walked through the infirmary, looking down on her wounded subjects. Even some of the rebels lay there, so that they could get the best treatment in the capital. Kaoru insisted that all her people be healed.

Since the announcement of the impending wedding, the tremor caused by the revolt had eased. Emissaries of the court reported many of the formerly riotous areas of the capital had calmed since the announcement, though no one would give up their anger until the queen was married and they had their king.

She finally reached the final bed in the row, looking down at the tall man lying prone on the bed, and the small woman slumped over him, fast asleep. Aoshi's head was wrapped in bandages, but the rest of his body was uninjured. Misao lay practically comatose across his stomach, one hand reached out and entwined in his.

The doctors assured the queen that they had done all they could, and now they could only wait for him to awake. It could be mere hours, or days, or… never.

"It isn't your fault, that it isn't," a soft and familiar voice said as footsteps neared her. Kaoru glanced up and saw Kenshin approaching. "If anything, it's mine for ever coming to the capital."

"Don't say that," Kaoru said abruptly, stepping away from Aoshi's bedside. "I should have listened… but I couldn't help myself from…" Kaoru walked out of the infirmary, Kenshin following at her shoulder. "I should have been here."

"If you had been here, you would be dead."

"But the rebels would have what they want, and my people wouldn't be dead or injured."

"Don't say that," Kenshin said, repeating her words, as he grabbed her by the shoulders and halted her retreat. "Anger and frustration is no excuse for murder, Kaoru. The rebels were wrong, no matter what you did. They did this. Not you… and not us."

"Either way… I have to fix it."

"I know."

"So you understand why I have to marry Soujirou tomorrow?"

Kenshin released her shoulders and dropped his head, sighing.

"I understand, but I won't pretend to like it," he said softly before lifting his head. "Not that anything could have happened between us anyway…"

"It could have… and I have to pretend it still can. Don't leave, Kenshin," Kaoru said, pulling him into a less public area. She didn't release his hand as they found a private room. Kenshin looked away with a pained expression.

"I can't watch you walk down that aisle – to him."

"I need you there," she said. "Besides, I won't be walking to him. In my mind, I'll be walking to you."

"But you won't be, you'll-"

"I know," she said, leaning forward so that her forehead rested on his left shoulder. She twisted her head so she could look up at his jaw. "I wish it didn't have to be this way."

"I'll fight for you," he said, his jaw tightening. Kaoru smiled and pushed upwards to press her lips to his jaw.

"You've already won me," she said between kisses. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her away so he could look into her eyes.

"Then why do I feel like I'm losing… everything?"

He pulled her back to him, kissing her soundly on the lips, crushing her to his chest. Held in his arms, Kaoru felt safer than anywhere else in the world. But even he couldn't protect from the world. And now, unfortunately, was her moment to grow up and be the queen. Her people needed her more than he did… more than she needed him.

Kaoru pulled away, after a few blissful moments, and Kenshin wiped the tears from his cheek with his thumb.

"You'll be there, won't you?"

"For you, Kaoru," he said, "I will be there." He kissed her again, leaving his brand of fire on her lips, before he left the room.

Kaoru didn't sleep the rest of the night.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

The next morning moved so quickly Kaoru barely processed it. A wedding gown was brought in and tailored to her, and jewelry and decorations were chosen quickly. As the palace was overhauled for the wedding, Kaoru sat in her room, attendants surrounding her.

They pulled and twisted her hair into an intricate style, sticking bejeweled pins in and hanging a white lace veil from the top of the style. Her make-up was done to perfection, as a heavy diamond and sapphire necklace was draped around her neck, with matching chandelier earrings and bracelets. The necklace was more a choker than anything, and Kaoru wished for a moment it would cut off her breath and kill her right there.

Her wedding gown had long lace sleeves though it was off the shoulder, cutting beneath her collarbone with a fanciful neckline. It trailed behind her, made of white silk; and it fit snugly around her waist and bosom, though it hung loose from the waist down.

Once she was dressed up like a doll, and the guests were in their places, Kaoru heard the orchestra begin playing the song to announce her approach. For a moment, she lost her breath, gasping for air as nervous maids hovered around her, panicking. Then she saw Misao, standing alone, dressed in her finery and prepared to walk ahead of her as her bridesmaid. She hurried over to her.

"What are you doing? You should be with Aoshi," she whispered, but Misao held up her hand.

"I know you're doing this because of me and what happened to Aoshi…" She looked as though she were about to cry for a moment, then took a deep breath and looked at Kaoru. "I forgive you, Kaoru. I know what you're giving up… the love of your life."

The girls joined hands, saying nothing more, before Misao had to let go and move down the stairs.

"It is time," Gohei said suddenly from behind her, and Kaoru was reminded of her coronation. She took his arm and allowed him to lead her down the stairs.

Before she could even register it, she was standing at the back of the chapel, staring down the aisle at Soujirou's ever-present smile. Standing to the side, Kenshin watched her with unreadable eyes. Kaoru took a deep breath, swallowing her tears, and nodded to Gohei.

"I'm ready," she whispered.

The orchestra began the main part of the song, which would lead her down the aisle. As the guests praised her beauty in little whispers, Kaoru took step after step down the aisle. It was all too fast, and yet too slow. The gown dragged out behind her, moving over the rose petals the flower girl had spread before her. Misao stood at the end of the aisle, fighting her own tears as she watched Kaoru's approach.

Shishio, standing to the right of Soujirou, smiled as he watched the queen move down the aisle. Oh, but she was beautiful… too bad she would soon be dead. A shame, really. But it was all worth it.

He surveyed the guests before his eyes landed on the Tokugawan, whose gaze was fixated on the queen. Poor boy, he thought, as he noticed something very strange. The Tokugawan's eyes were… golden.

Shishio nearly fell over, merely swaying in his spot as he suddenly drowned in overwhelming memories. A night of blades and flame, fighting the red-haired devil with golden eyes… A night that had changed his life, ruined his body, taken his pride…

"Battousai…" he whispered to himself, fully recognizing the Tokugawan for the first time. Part of him wanted to grab his blade and kill the bastard right there, but he realized the queen had reached his son and they had begun their vows. Now was not the time – but later…

Kaoru looked up at Soujirou as the minister spoke before them, watched him smile and say his part. Then the minister turned to her, and spoke the age-old vows. It reminded her so much of the coronation; except then she had been happy to be queen. Now she wished she was anything but.

"Do you, Queen Kaoru of Meiji, take this man, Soujirou of Meiji, to be your lawfully wedded husband, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part?"

Kaoru risked a glance out into the crowd, locking on golden eyes, before taking a breath and turning back to Soujirou. This was it…

"I do," she said softly, not even paying attention as the minister announced them man and wife. All of a sudden Soujirou was lowering his head to hers, and as she felt his lips against hers, she thought of Kenshin. In the back of her mind she heard the people cheer, but all she felt were lips against hers that did not belong… She only wanted one man's lips against hers.

And he was standing in the crowd, watching them with dangerous golden eyes.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"To think he was under my nose the entire fucking time!" Shishio shouted, pacing the room. He twisted the hilt of his blade in his hands, growling with every breath.

"Calm down, Shishio," Gohei urged, as the two men prepared for the reception. "Look, tonight, your son will consummate the marriage and then kill that little brat – and then you can do whatever you want to the Tokugawan. But as long as the queen's alive, she'll protect him and pursue whoever kills him with the full extent of the law – which, like it or not, he still falls under as a guest of the queen. Once she's dead, no one will notice his death."

"He took everything from me!"

"You still have your wife and son – who just became king. Focus on preparing him for tonight; he can't kill her until he consummates the marriage. Trust me, they'll check her body, and if she's still a virgin the marriage is void. It's sick, but I've heard of it happening," Gohei explained, as Shishio took a breath and collapsed into a chair. "And if there's any sign he's forced himself on her that will void it too. It has to be consensual."

"So? Why wouldn't it be?"

"Look, just tell your son not to break the act until after they've consummated, then he can go psycho and kill her however he wants – but tell him to be careful. I'll make sure no one looks too deeply into her death, but I still don't want to have to do anything drastic to point fingers the other way."

"I've taught the boy well but I'll make sure he remembers himself and what he has to do," Shishio said, slowly calming down. "But as soon as that bitch is dead, I'm going to find Battousai and tear him apart… literally."

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Author's Notes: Oh boy, here we go. Hello everyone, and thank you for the reviews for the previous chapter. We're reaching the final chapters, and I know not everyone is going to like everything... if you love it, hate it, let me know. Shishio gets over his amnesia and fully recognizes Kenshin for the first time - as the lost prince Battousai! Soujirou and Kaoru are married! Oh the madness...

Next chapter:

Megumi leaned in close, whispering so only Kaoru could hear. "I ran into your little lover boy heading upstairs after the wedding. I hope you already said goodbye…"

The opening line/chapter title is from Celine Dion's "If That's What It Takes"