T.Anjel: Sorry for the late update~ ^^;; I've got no excuses. I'm just
lazy. Hehe. Of course I have to thank everyone for being patient with me
and reviewing all the same~ I love you all! And especially Kasumi-san and
XenoMark-san for editing the chapter. Enjoy while you can! Thank you!
Standard Disclaimers Apply
To Love the Hated - Chapter 12
Three were eliminated. Three were left. The decisions were hard to make, and Kenshin hated making them. Months flew by without anyone's consent, and before he knew it, Kenshin found only three remaining women in the dining room for breakfast one morning. As usual, breakfast was slow and dragged. The women conversed quietly and amiably with one another, already used to the silent prince.
Kenshin was feeling uneasy. He already knew the woman he was to pick to be his future bride. Her name was Yuri and she wasn't all that bad looking. He knew she made strong decisions made best for the sake of others and that she didn't have any lover waiting for her back at home. The other two that were left were Megumi and a quiet woman who never said a word, but Kenshin barely gave them any thought of possible marraige.
"Ou-sama," Megumi said, not having to strain her voice in the slightest to be heard above the quiet chatter.
Hiko looked up in response.
"May I be excused for the day?" Megumi asked sweetly.
Hiko didn't question her inquiry but gave a small wave of his hand in response. "Just be back by sundown."
Megumi nodded and gave a small bow in thanks, doing it all in one graceful movement. With one last glance at a solemn-looking Kenshin, Megumi walked away from the breakfast room with long strides. She passed guards and marble hallways, consciously knowing exactly where she was headed.
"Sanosuke," she said, making sure her voice was heard by the gangly guard.
"Oi! Kitsune! I knew you couldn't resist me," Sano said with a cocky grin.
"I don't want to hear it from you, Tori-atama," Megumi said, unable to control the small smile taking control of her lips. "Do me a favor, will you?"
"Depends on what it is," Sanosuke said, finding Megumi's suddenly serious tone something he shouldn't play with.
"Take me to the tanuki's place," Megumi demanded.
"Jou-chan's dojo?" Sano asked, clarifying Megumi's stern request. "I've never taken Kenshin there. Just the edge of the town."
"Then take me there," Megumi said with an impatient wave of her hand.
"It'll cost you, Kitsune," Sano drawled, sticking a fishbone from his pocket and straight between his teeth. "I can't just walk out on duty to ride a pretty lady down a hill."
"Then I'll ask someone else," Megumi said, flicking her hair of her shoulder and walking towards another guard, swaying her hips in an exaggerated motion as she did so.
"Oi! Kitsune!" Sano called, quickly outrunning her and putting himself between her target guard and herself. "Let's go to Jou-chan's place," Sano said, wrapping his arm around Megumi's shoulders and steering her away from the other guard.
"Hands, Tori atama," Megumi growled with a smile.
"Calm down, Kitsune!" Sano said, leading the woman to the stables. "So what are you planning to do at Jou-chan's place? Didn't think you liked her that much."
Megumi rolled her eyes. "It's business, baka," she said vaguely. "How fast can you get me there?"
"Pretty fast," Sano said with confidence surging in his voice.
"Good," Megumi snapped, seeing Yahiko come over to the two as they entered the stable area.
"I thought you were at Jou-chan's place, Yahiko," Sano said, saddling up a brown horse.
"I've got stable duty to do," Yahiko growled, unwillingly helping the taller man saddle up the horse.
"She kicked you out, didn't she?" Sano laughed.
"No," Yahiko replied, sticking his tongue out. "I'm going back tomorrow. I just wanted to check up on the horses."
"Sure. Anyway, see you Yahiko-chan," Sano said with a wave, helping Megumi on the horse and jumping on behind her.
"Don't call me CHAN!" Yahiko yelled as the two galloped to the front with amazing speed.
~*~*~*~*~
"Mou!" Kaoru growled, throwing her burnt breakfast away. It was worse than usual, and she was constantly having an unsettling feeling flutter about her stomach. "What's wrong with me today?" Kaoru said, stomping her feet on the floor like a child would if she didn't get what she wanted.
But she already knew the answer to her question. She knew exactly what bothered her and why. It was yesterday when she told Yahiko to go with Kenshin after his usual weekly visit. It was yesterday when Kenshin told her that he was going to marry some woman named Yuri. "She'll make a great queen," Kenshin said, his voice falsely displayed as one being happy.
"Congratulations," Kaoru managed to say, forcing the corners of her lips to go upward. "I hope you two will be happy together."
Kenshin still had the news to break to everyone, and Kaoru didn't know if she should've felt special that she was the first to know. "He's going to tell everyone today," Kaoru thought. "It's too late for you Kaoru. Stop being such a baka. You should be happy for him."
Kaoru sighed. "My worries should be with the dojo. Not for my non- existent love life." Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a loud knock bang on her door. She screamed at the sudden interruption, feeling her heart pace up at the fright. "You're paranoid, Kaoru," she berated herself as she rushed over to the front door on half-worn sandals. She hefted one of the large wooden door open, only to reveal Megumi and Sano standing next to a horse.
"You know how hard it was to find this place, Jou-chan?" Sano grumbled, walking inside after Megumi.
"With your sense of direction, I bet it was nearly impossible," Kaoru teased.
"Oi! That's harsh, Jou-chan!" Sano yelled.
"But what brings you here?" Kaoru asked, directing her question more at Megumi than Sano. She never would've expected a visit from the fox. "Tea?"
"Yes," Megumi replied to the quick offer. "I came to talk."
"Uh.sure," Kaoru said, still finding the sudden visit strange. She led the two guests to the spacious guest room and sat them down. "I'll be right back," she said, scuttling to the kitchen to prepare the tea. As she boiled the water, Kaoru felt the uneasy feeling in her stomach return. Megumi's visit was unsettling and definitely weird when it came to dojo visits. "What could possibly drive that woman out of the riches of the palace to her dojo? To talk about what?" Her thoughts were interrupted again, but this time with the boiling water sputtering and threatening to burst from the pot. "Ah!" Kaoru yelped, moving the pot from the small fire and preparing the tea.
Kaoru balanced the pot and three small cups on a tray and wobbled over to the guest room where Megumi and Sanosuke patiently waited. "Sorry for making you wait," Kaoru mumbled, pouring the tea and serving it to both people and then to herself.
There was a certain tension and stiffness in the air Kaoru could sense drifting around Megumi. "Is something wrong?" Kaoru timidly asked, finding the woman's usual cocky smile to be replaced with a stiff expression.
"I suspect Ken-san has already told you?" Megumi asked, keeping her sharp eyes glued to every twitch and movement made by Kaoru as she drank her tea with distaste.
Kaoru inwardly flinched at Kenshin's mention but hoped it didn't show. "Told me about what?"
Megumi flicked her hair over her shoulder, looking annoyed at the slow progress of the conversation. "Tanuki, I know you know that he has made a decision. And you know perfectly well that his decision isn't you."
Kaoru looked away, holding her cup of tea on her lap, not saying a word. "I don't belong in a palace, Megumi-san," Kaoru said. "He'll be happy with whoever he chooses."
"You're more of a baka than I thought," Megumi said curtly, finding that Kaoru stared straight back into her face, questioning her latest statement. Megumi took her time as she finished her cup of tea and slammed it down on the tray. "Stop being so selfish," she said, her voice low that even Sano had to strain to hear the woman.
"I'm not," Kaoru said, feeling her eyes brim with tears. "Kenshin's heart already belongs to someone else!"
"And who would that be?" Megumi asked, disbelieving the fact that Kaoru didn't already know.
"He never told me!" Kaoru said, her volume increasing as she spoke.
"Has it ever crossed your mind that it was you, baka?" Megumi asked, only to find shock written all over the girl's face. "How naïve," Megumi thought.
"Wha.no! He was telling me all ab."
"It's you, tanuki! Get is in your head! You hold his heart in your hands," Megumi said, her voice stern and leaving no room for arguments. "I've watched him for too long not to know, and I came over here to tell you to stop crushing the heart that you claim to love."
"Crushing.what.I." Kaoru stuttered, not able to comprehend Megumi's speedy words spoken with her sharp tongue.
"You know that today is the day he is going to announce his future wife and get married," Megumi said, her voice softening slightly. "Take Sano's horse and go before it's too late."
Kaoru took a minute to digest Megumi's words and shook her head slowly. "I can't. It's a wasted effort, don't you see? Even if what you say is true, I'm not suitable to be the queen and his wife. I'm a mere shihondai! I teach children to fig."
Megumi leaned over and slapped Kaoru straight across the face. It wasn't hard as to where Kaoru's face bruised, but it was hard enough to give her brain a jolt.
"I told you from the beginning that you're being selfish. You're doing it again, Tanuki. Face the possibility of rejection. This is the only chance you have," Megumi said, and her face softened, finding herself to be too harsh on the girl. "Do this for Ken-san and for the woman Ken- san has chosen as his bride. I doubt she wants to marry some prince she doesn't know."
"Just do as the woman says, Jou-chan," Sano said, finding yet another fishbone in his pocket and sticking it in his mouth. "There's no way Kenshin's gonna say 'no' to you."
Kaoru gnawed on her lower lip, staring at her cold cup of tea. Their offer was tempting, and it took every bit of will power for her not to jump up and ride the horse all the way up to the palace. "I love Kenshin. There is no doubt about it," Kaoru thought.
"Then what's stopping you from going back?" a voice in her head asked.
"I don't know," Kaoru replied.
"Then go! For crying out loud!" the voice yelled, sounding irritated at Kaoru's lack of movement.
In one sudden movement, Kaoru abrubtly stood up and ran out of the room, spilling her tea all over the floor as she did so.
"Good luck, Tanuki," Megumi said as she saw the retreating form run out through the front doors and fling herself over Sano's horse.
"She'll do fine," Sano grumbled with a smile, picking up Kaoru's fallen teacup. "Let's just hope Kenshin doesn't screw it up."
~*~*~*~*~
"Gomen nasai!!" Kaoru yelled quickly as she led the horse straight through the crowded roads of the town. She attempted to jump over the people and small markets, but she couldn't help in knocking down one or five.
"Kaoru-san!" Kaoru heard someone yell as she leaped over an old woman's fruit stand. Kaoru didn't have time to apologize. She rode Sano's horse with amazing speed, as a tight feeling in her chest wouldn't allow her to slow down. She was nervous, excited and scared at the prospect of going to see Kenshin. It wasn't as if she hadn't just seen him the day before, but it was for another reason. A totally different reason.
The hooves of the horse were a steady rhythm to her ears, soothing her quickening heart. She was already at the edge of town and ascending the long hill towards the well-known palace. "Kenshin.wait for me," Kaoru murmured, leaning forward on the galloping horse in hopes of speeding it up even more. Kaoru's right hand grabbed a tuft of the horse's flying mane, and the other hand patted its strained neck. "You're doing great.eto.Sano's horse," Kaoru said, attempting to encourage the horse with a mouthful of rushing air. It ended up being quite the difficult task.
Kaoru squinted through the piercing wind, and through her blurred vision, she saw that she was nearly there. "Great job!" Kaoru choked out, her mouth extremely dry. She jumped off the horse, her knees immediately buckling from under her at the sudden pressure her weight pressed on her legs. She gently pounded her legs with her fists, trying to get blood circulating through. When she felt she had enough strength, Kaoru dashed through the strangely open front gates and down the long walkway towards the front doors.
"C'mon Kaoru!" Kaoru yelled at herself, feeling her muscles tighten at the sudden strenuous movement. Her sandaled feet padded softly against the cobblestone of the road until she finally reached the large front doors. Four heavily armed guards stood in front of the doors, looking bored and careless as they stood with the weapons hanging loosely by their sides. "I." Before Kaoru could finish, they opened the door for her, remembering her face from months back. "Thank you," she said quickly as she rushed into the familiar lobby.
Without a moment's hesitation, Kaoru stumbled onward towards a marble stairway in search of a certain fool of a prince. "I'll search every room in this damn palace if I have to," Kaoru grumbled as she flung the first door opened with a burst of strength.
"I would rather you not do that, Kamiya," Hiko Seijuro said in a low, vibrating voice.
Kaoru ended up in Hiko's study. "Then tell me where that baka deshi of yours went," Kaoru growled, her hand still gripping the gold doorknob.
"It's good to see you back," Hiko said with a smirk and taking a sip of his sake.
"You're definitely not going to be of any help, are you?" said Kaoru in frustration, and she turned her back to search the rest of the floor.
"If I didn't know any better, that baka deshi is probably strolling in the garden, moping like his dumb self," Hiko said to Kaoru's back.
Without a word of thanks, Kaoru scrambled to run down the stairs in search of the door that led to the garden.
"Ungrateful woman," Hiko grumbled before returning to his paperwork with a small grin tugging at the corner of his stiff lips.
"Why do you have to be in the garden of all places?" Kaoru grumbled between breaths as she stumbled along marble hallway after another. "It's impossible to find anything in this place!" Kaoru growled and yelped as she tripped over her feet and smashed into the floor, face first. "Itai!" Kaoru yelled, feeling her cheek and elbows burn from sliding across the floor.
"Ah! Daijoubu?" Some cried out, dropping whatever was in their hands and rushing towards Kaoru's fallen form.
Kaoru just groaned as she sat up and brushed off her shaken nerves.
"Kaoru-san!"
Kaoru looked up to match the familiar voice with Misao's face. "Misao-chan! How are you?"
"I'm great, but what are you doing here?" Misao asked, seeing Kaoru was looking extremely exhausted and tired.
"Not important," Kaoru said, ignoring the slight heat rushing up to her cheeks. "Tell me, where's the garden?"
"Eto.just go straight down this hall and at the end of it take a right. On your left side you should see a big wooden door."
"Thanks, Misao-chan!" Kaoru yelled, sprinting down the hall.
"Anytime," Misao murmured, knowing Kaoru' wasn't going to hear her. Misao sat crouched in the hallway, something uncomfortable, tugging at her guts. "Ah! Sou da!" Misao cried out, smashing her fist into her palm. "That's not the direction to the garden!" Misao yelled, searching frantically around for Kaoru's already gone form. "Kaoru-san! You're going towards the dojo!" Misao yelled, hoping the woman was able to hear her from wherever she was.
Kaoru panted on, hearing a faint yell in the distance, but ignoring it as she went. She immediately found the big, wooden door and hefted it open by its large handle. "Ara?" Kaoru said, not finding any flowers in sight but a staircase leading to a lower level. "The dojo?" Kaoru pondered, finding herself climbing down the stairs to see if anyone was there. "Misao-chan no baka," Kaoru grumbled, finding the dojo to be completely empty.
Walking back up the stairs, Kaoru looked both right and left, making a guess as to which was the way to the gardens. "I say.left!" Kaoru declared to no one in particular and stormed off in that direction, the soft padding of her feet on marble in her ears again. "Why are you doing this to me, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked as she felt her legs go numb with the constant running. "C'mon Kaoru!" Kaoru repeated to herself but abruptly stopped at a familiar sight.
"The door," Kaoru mumbled, grabbing the familiar, metal handle of an old, splintered door and heaved it open.
"Kaoru-dono!"
"Kenshin!" Kaoru opened the door to see Kenshin's surprised face on the other side. He was obviously just headed back into the palace.
"What are you doing here, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked, willing himself not to scoop the woman into his arms and embrace her for the rest of eternity.
"Ah." Kaoru replied steadily, wincing at Kenshin's forced tone of voice. "I came here.to.eto."
Kenshin watched Kaoru intently, noticing the sweat trickling down her face and they way her shoulders heaved up and down as she breathed heavily. Her hair was a tangled mess, but her eyes shone as vibrant as ever.
"How should I put this," Kaoru mumbled more to herself than Kenshin. She fell to the floor with a loud thump, giving her legs some rest as she sat and pondered. She hadn't given any thought as to what she was going to tell Kenshin once she found him.
"Are you okay?" Kenshin asked, crouching level off with Kaoru's hunched figure.
Kaoru bit at her lower lip, and she took one of Kenshin's calloused hands and enveloping it with both of hers.
"Kao."
Kaoru silenced him with a finger set to his lips. "Kenshin.I." Kaoru stuttered, staring at her hands as she fiddled with his fingers. "Marry me!" Kaoru said loudly, forcing herself to say those words. She intended to tell him that she loved him, but found those words to be more awkward to say.
Kenshin, too, sat on the floor, staring at Kaoru's unblinking blue eyes in confusion.
"Marry me," Kaoru repeated in a more steady, sure voice. She suddenly regretted for saying such a stupid thing and so abruptly. "Kaoru no baka!" Kaoru thought, scolding herself. "Now Kenshin's going to think you're just some ditzy girl head over heels for him like every other woman that was here! Baka."
Kenshin, on the other hand, stared at Kaoru dumbfounded. She was nervously playing with his hands, but he didn't seem to feel her fingers holding his own. He wanted to pinch his cheek to check whether he was in a dream or not, but with Kaoru holding his hands hostage, he couldn't do such a thing. Kaoru averted her eyes at Kenshin's lack of response to her sudden request.
"Ano! Forget what I just said," Kaoru quickly said, cutting through the silence with haste. She fidgeted and retrieved her hands away from Kenshin's as if he burned her. "I just." Kaoru's stuttering was cut off by a strong set of lips pressing gently against hers. Kaoru's eyes were nearly out of their sockets by the time Kenshin pulled away, keeping his eyes locked on hers. She open and shut her mouth, finding words didn't seem to correctly exit from it.
"Kaoru-dono, marry me," Kenshin said, repeating Kaoru's former request.
Kaoru could only nod, and she flung her arms around Kenshin's neck as to confirm her reply. She buried her head into the crook of his neck and laughed. She laughed as if there was no tomorrow, feeling relieved and released from pressure she didn't seem to feel until just then.
Kenshin couldn't help laugh with the woman in his arms, wrapping his own around her slender waist hidden underneath a baggy gi. The day couldn't get any better.
"It took you two long enough!"
Kaoru retracted from Kenshin's embrace and looked up to see Yahiko hovering above them both with his arms stubbornly crossed. "Ah.Yahiko," Kaoru said quietly, standing up from the cold floor and dusting herself off. "Do you mind keeping this a little quiet for a day or two. I just want to get some breathing space with Kenshin before anyone knows."
"You sure?" Yahiko asked, smiling mischievously.
".Yahiko." said Kenshin slowly, finding the strange glint in Yahiko's eyes to be less than reassuring.
"As if I'm going to keep your engagement a secret!" Yahiko hollered, running down the hall, screaming the news to any ear that bothered to listen.
"I'm going to kill him!" Kaoru groaned, slapping her hand to her forehead.
"People were to find out sooner or later," Kenshin said, standing up and smiling at his future wife. "I was such a chicken not to have asked you before."
Kaoru shook her head in response.
"I just thought you still held a grudge on royalty, and I just thought it would be uncomfortable for you if I asked," Kenshin said awkwardly.
"It was a petty thing that I should have dropped years ago," Kaoru sighed. "But I really don't want to dwell on that now." She smiled and wrapped her arms around Kenshin's neck. Not needing to tiptoe, she turned her head upward for a kiss. Kenshin replied without hesitation, feeling Kaoru melt into his arms.
Kaoru pulled away slightly, her arms still around Kenshin's neck. He sent a small trail of kisses along her small nose, savoring the scent of Jasmine.
"I love you Kenshin," Kaoru murmured.
"I love you too, Kaoru," Kenshin replied.
Kaoru smiled, snuggling into Kenshin's firm chest. She now had someone to love and care for, who loved her back. She couldn't be happier.
~*~ FIN ~*~
T.Anjel: Hehe.did I forget to say that this was the end of the fic? Ohoho! Well, now you know! Thanks everyone again for reading! Until next time, ciao!
Standard Disclaimers Apply
To Love the Hated - Chapter 12
Three were eliminated. Three were left. The decisions were hard to make, and Kenshin hated making them. Months flew by without anyone's consent, and before he knew it, Kenshin found only three remaining women in the dining room for breakfast one morning. As usual, breakfast was slow and dragged. The women conversed quietly and amiably with one another, already used to the silent prince.
Kenshin was feeling uneasy. He already knew the woman he was to pick to be his future bride. Her name was Yuri and she wasn't all that bad looking. He knew she made strong decisions made best for the sake of others and that she didn't have any lover waiting for her back at home. The other two that were left were Megumi and a quiet woman who never said a word, but Kenshin barely gave them any thought of possible marraige.
"Ou-sama," Megumi said, not having to strain her voice in the slightest to be heard above the quiet chatter.
Hiko looked up in response.
"May I be excused for the day?" Megumi asked sweetly.
Hiko didn't question her inquiry but gave a small wave of his hand in response. "Just be back by sundown."
Megumi nodded and gave a small bow in thanks, doing it all in one graceful movement. With one last glance at a solemn-looking Kenshin, Megumi walked away from the breakfast room with long strides. She passed guards and marble hallways, consciously knowing exactly where she was headed.
"Sanosuke," she said, making sure her voice was heard by the gangly guard.
"Oi! Kitsune! I knew you couldn't resist me," Sano said with a cocky grin.
"I don't want to hear it from you, Tori-atama," Megumi said, unable to control the small smile taking control of her lips. "Do me a favor, will you?"
"Depends on what it is," Sanosuke said, finding Megumi's suddenly serious tone something he shouldn't play with.
"Take me to the tanuki's place," Megumi demanded.
"Jou-chan's dojo?" Sano asked, clarifying Megumi's stern request. "I've never taken Kenshin there. Just the edge of the town."
"Then take me there," Megumi said with an impatient wave of her hand.
"It'll cost you, Kitsune," Sano drawled, sticking a fishbone from his pocket and straight between his teeth. "I can't just walk out on duty to ride a pretty lady down a hill."
"Then I'll ask someone else," Megumi said, flicking her hair of her shoulder and walking towards another guard, swaying her hips in an exaggerated motion as she did so.
"Oi! Kitsune!" Sano called, quickly outrunning her and putting himself between her target guard and herself. "Let's go to Jou-chan's place," Sano said, wrapping his arm around Megumi's shoulders and steering her away from the other guard.
"Hands, Tori atama," Megumi growled with a smile.
"Calm down, Kitsune!" Sano said, leading the woman to the stables. "So what are you planning to do at Jou-chan's place? Didn't think you liked her that much."
Megumi rolled her eyes. "It's business, baka," she said vaguely. "How fast can you get me there?"
"Pretty fast," Sano said with confidence surging in his voice.
"Good," Megumi snapped, seeing Yahiko come over to the two as they entered the stable area.
"I thought you were at Jou-chan's place, Yahiko," Sano said, saddling up a brown horse.
"I've got stable duty to do," Yahiko growled, unwillingly helping the taller man saddle up the horse.
"She kicked you out, didn't she?" Sano laughed.
"No," Yahiko replied, sticking his tongue out. "I'm going back tomorrow. I just wanted to check up on the horses."
"Sure. Anyway, see you Yahiko-chan," Sano said with a wave, helping Megumi on the horse and jumping on behind her.
"Don't call me CHAN!" Yahiko yelled as the two galloped to the front with amazing speed.
~*~*~*~*~
"Mou!" Kaoru growled, throwing her burnt breakfast away. It was worse than usual, and she was constantly having an unsettling feeling flutter about her stomach. "What's wrong with me today?" Kaoru said, stomping her feet on the floor like a child would if she didn't get what she wanted.
But she already knew the answer to her question. She knew exactly what bothered her and why. It was yesterday when she told Yahiko to go with Kenshin after his usual weekly visit. It was yesterday when Kenshin told her that he was going to marry some woman named Yuri. "She'll make a great queen," Kenshin said, his voice falsely displayed as one being happy.
"Congratulations," Kaoru managed to say, forcing the corners of her lips to go upward. "I hope you two will be happy together."
Kenshin still had the news to break to everyone, and Kaoru didn't know if she should've felt special that she was the first to know. "He's going to tell everyone today," Kaoru thought. "It's too late for you Kaoru. Stop being such a baka. You should be happy for him."
Kaoru sighed. "My worries should be with the dojo. Not for my non- existent love life." Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a loud knock bang on her door. She screamed at the sudden interruption, feeling her heart pace up at the fright. "You're paranoid, Kaoru," she berated herself as she rushed over to the front door on half-worn sandals. She hefted one of the large wooden door open, only to reveal Megumi and Sano standing next to a horse.
"You know how hard it was to find this place, Jou-chan?" Sano grumbled, walking inside after Megumi.
"With your sense of direction, I bet it was nearly impossible," Kaoru teased.
"Oi! That's harsh, Jou-chan!" Sano yelled.
"But what brings you here?" Kaoru asked, directing her question more at Megumi than Sano. She never would've expected a visit from the fox. "Tea?"
"Yes," Megumi replied to the quick offer. "I came to talk."
"Uh.sure," Kaoru said, still finding the sudden visit strange. She led the two guests to the spacious guest room and sat them down. "I'll be right back," she said, scuttling to the kitchen to prepare the tea. As she boiled the water, Kaoru felt the uneasy feeling in her stomach return. Megumi's visit was unsettling and definitely weird when it came to dojo visits. "What could possibly drive that woman out of the riches of the palace to her dojo? To talk about what?" Her thoughts were interrupted again, but this time with the boiling water sputtering and threatening to burst from the pot. "Ah!" Kaoru yelped, moving the pot from the small fire and preparing the tea.
Kaoru balanced the pot and three small cups on a tray and wobbled over to the guest room where Megumi and Sanosuke patiently waited. "Sorry for making you wait," Kaoru mumbled, pouring the tea and serving it to both people and then to herself.
There was a certain tension and stiffness in the air Kaoru could sense drifting around Megumi. "Is something wrong?" Kaoru timidly asked, finding the woman's usual cocky smile to be replaced with a stiff expression.
"I suspect Ken-san has already told you?" Megumi asked, keeping her sharp eyes glued to every twitch and movement made by Kaoru as she drank her tea with distaste.
Kaoru inwardly flinched at Kenshin's mention but hoped it didn't show. "Told me about what?"
Megumi flicked her hair over her shoulder, looking annoyed at the slow progress of the conversation. "Tanuki, I know you know that he has made a decision. And you know perfectly well that his decision isn't you."
Kaoru looked away, holding her cup of tea on her lap, not saying a word. "I don't belong in a palace, Megumi-san," Kaoru said. "He'll be happy with whoever he chooses."
"You're more of a baka than I thought," Megumi said curtly, finding that Kaoru stared straight back into her face, questioning her latest statement. Megumi took her time as she finished her cup of tea and slammed it down on the tray. "Stop being so selfish," she said, her voice low that even Sano had to strain to hear the woman.
"I'm not," Kaoru said, feeling her eyes brim with tears. "Kenshin's heart already belongs to someone else!"
"And who would that be?" Megumi asked, disbelieving the fact that Kaoru didn't already know.
"He never told me!" Kaoru said, her volume increasing as she spoke.
"Has it ever crossed your mind that it was you, baka?" Megumi asked, only to find shock written all over the girl's face. "How naïve," Megumi thought.
"Wha.no! He was telling me all ab."
"It's you, tanuki! Get is in your head! You hold his heart in your hands," Megumi said, her voice stern and leaving no room for arguments. "I've watched him for too long not to know, and I came over here to tell you to stop crushing the heart that you claim to love."
"Crushing.what.I." Kaoru stuttered, not able to comprehend Megumi's speedy words spoken with her sharp tongue.
"You know that today is the day he is going to announce his future wife and get married," Megumi said, her voice softening slightly. "Take Sano's horse and go before it's too late."
Kaoru took a minute to digest Megumi's words and shook her head slowly. "I can't. It's a wasted effort, don't you see? Even if what you say is true, I'm not suitable to be the queen and his wife. I'm a mere shihondai! I teach children to fig."
Megumi leaned over and slapped Kaoru straight across the face. It wasn't hard as to where Kaoru's face bruised, but it was hard enough to give her brain a jolt.
"I told you from the beginning that you're being selfish. You're doing it again, Tanuki. Face the possibility of rejection. This is the only chance you have," Megumi said, and her face softened, finding herself to be too harsh on the girl. "Do this for Ken-san and for the woman Ken- san has chosen as his bride. I doubt she wants to marry some prince she doesn't know."
"Just do as the woman says, Jou-chan," Sano said, finding yet another fishbone in his pocket and sticking it in his mouth. "There's no way Kenshin's gonna say 'no' to you."
Kaoru gnawed on her lower lip, staring at her cold cup of tea. Their offer was tempting, and it took every bit of will power for her not to jump up and ride the horse all the way up to the palace. "I love Kenshin. There is no doubt about it," Kaoru thought.
"Then what's stopping you from going back?" a voice in her head asked.
"I don't know," Kaoru replied.
"Then go! For crying out loud!" the voice yelled, sounding irritated at Kaoru's lack of movement.
In one sudden movement, Kaoru abrubtly stood up and ran out of the room, spilling her tea all over the floor as she did so.
"Good luck, Tanuki," Megumi said as she saw the retreating form run out through the front doors and fling herself over Sano's horse.
"She'll do fine," Sano grumbled with a smile, picking up Kaoru's fallen teacup. "Let's just hope Kenshin doesn't screw it up."
~*~*~*~*~
"Gomen nasai!!" Kaoru yelled quickly as she led the horse straight through the crowded roads of the town. She attempted to jump over the people and small markets, but she couldn't help in knocking down one or five.
"Kaoru-san!" Kaoru heard someone yell as she leaped over an old woman's fruit stand. Kaoru didn't have time to apologize. She rode Sano's horse with amazing speed, as a tight feeling in her chest wouldn't allow her to slow down. She was nervous, excited and scared at the prospect of going to see Kenshin. It wasn't as if she hadn't just seen him the day before, but it was for another reason. A totally different reason.
The hooves of the horse were a steady rhythm to her ears, soothing her quickening heart. She was already at the edge of town and ascending the long hill towards the well-known palace. "Kenshin.wait for me," Kaoru murmured, leaning forward on the galloping horse in hopes of speeding it up even more. Kaoru's right hand grabbed a tuft of the horse's flying mane, and the other hand patted its strained neck. "You're doing great.eto.Sano's horse," Kaoru said, attempting to encourage the horse with a mouthful of rushing air. It ended up being quite the difficult task.
Kaoru squinted through the piercing wind, and through her blurred vision, she saw that she was nearly there. "Great job!" Kaoru choked out, her mouth extremely dry. She jumped off the horse, her knees immediately buckling from under her at the sudden pressure her weight pressed on her legs. She gently pounded her legs with her fists, trying to get blood circulating through. When she felt she had enough strength, Kaoru dashed through the strangely open front gates and down the long walkway towards the front doors.
"C'mon Kaoru!" Kaoru yelled at herself, feeling her muscles tighten at the sudden strenuous movement. Her sandaled feet padded softly against the cobblestone of the road until she finally reached the large front doors. Four heavily armed guards stood in front of the doors, looking bored and careless as they stood with the weapons hanging loosely by their sides. "I." Before Kaoru could finish, they opened the door for her, remembering her face from months back. "Thank you," she said quickly as she rushed into the familiar lobby.
Without a moment's hesitation, Kaoru stumbled onward towards a marble stairway in search of a certain fool of a prince. "I'll search every room in this damn palace if I have to," Kaoru grumbled as she flung the first door opened with a burst of strength.
"I would rather you not do that, Kamiya," Hiko Seijuro said in a low, vibrating voice.
Kaoru ended up in Hiko's study. "Then tell me where that baka deshi of yours went," Kaoru growled, her hand still gripping the gold doorknob.
"It's good to see you back," Hiko said with a smirk and taking a sip of his sake.
"You're definitely not going to be of any help, are you?" said Kaoru in frustration, and she turned her back to search the rest of the floor.
"If I didn't know any better, that baka deshi is probably strolling in the garden, moping like his dumb self," Hiko said to Kaoru's back.
Without a word of thanks, Kaoru scrambled to run down the stairs in search of the door that led to the garden.
"Ungrateful woman," Hiko grumbled before returning to his paperwork with a small grin tugging at the corner of his stiff lips.
"Why do you have to be in the garden of all places?" Kaoru grumbled between breaths as she stumbled along marble hallway after another. "It's impossible to find anything in this place!" Kaoru growled and yelped as she tripped over her feet and smashed into the floor, face first. "Itai!" Kaoru yelled, feeling her cheek and elbows burn from sliding across the floor.
"Ah! Daijoubu?" Some cried out, dropping whatever was in their hands and rushing towards Kaoru's fallen form.
Kaoru just groaned as she sat up and brushed off her shaken nerves.
"Kaoru-san!"
Kaoru looked up to match the familiar voice with Misao's face. "Misao-chan! How are you?"
"I'm great, but what are you doing here?" Misao asked, seeing Kaoru was looking extremely exhausted and tired.
"Not important," Kaoru said, ignoring the slight heat rushing up to her cheeks. "Tell me, where's the garden?"
"Eto.just go straight down this hall and at the end of it take a right. On your left side you should see a big wooden door."
"Thanks, Misao-chan!" Kaoru yelled, sprinting down the hall.
"Anytime," Misao murmured, knowing Kaoru' wasn't going to hear her. Misao sat crouched in the hallway, something uncomfortable, tugging at her guts. "Ah! Sou da!" Misao cried out, smashing her fist into her palm. "That's not the direction to the garden!" Misao yelled, searching frantically around for Kaoru's already gone form. "Kaoru-san! You're going towards the dojo!" Misao yelled, hoping the woman was able to hear her from wherever she was.
Kaoru panted on, hearing a faint yell in the distance, but ignoring it as she went. She immediately found the big, wooden door and hefted it open by its large handle. "Ara?" Kaoru said, not finding any flowers in sight but a staircase leading to a lower level. "The dojo?" Kaoru pondered, finding herself climbing down the stairs to see if anyone was there. "Misao-chan no baka," Kaoru grumbled, finding the dojo to be completely empty.
Walking back up the stairs, Kaoru looked both right and left, making a guess as to which was the way to the gardens. "I say.left!" Kaoru declared to no one in particular and stormed off in that direction, the soft padding of her feet on marble in her ears again. "Why are you doing this to me, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked as she felt her legs go numb with the constant running. "C'mon Kaoru!" Kaoru repeated to herself but abruptly stopped at a familiar sight.
"The door," Kaoru mumbled, grabbing the familiar, metal handle of an old, splintered door and heaved it open.
"Kaoru-dono!"
"Kenshin!" Kaoru opened the door to see Kenshin's surprised face on the other side. He was obviously just headed back into the palace.
"What are you doing here, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked, willing himself not to scoop the woman into his arms and embrace her for the rest of eternity.
"Ah." Kaoru replied steadily, wincing at Kenshin's forced tone of voice. "I came here.to.eto."
Kenshin watched Kaoru intently, noticing the sweat trickling down her face and they way her shoulders heaved up and down as she breathed heavily. Her hair was a tangled mess, but her eyes shone as vibrant as ever.
"How should I put this," Kaoru mumbled more to herself than Kenshin. She fell to the floor with a loud thump, giving her legs some rest as she sat and pondered. She hadn't given any thought as to what she was going to tell Kenshin once she found him.
"Are you okay?" Kenshin asked, crouching level off with Kaoru's hunched figure.
Kaoru bit at her lower lip, and she took one of Kenshin's calloused hands and enveloping it with both of hers.
"Kao."
Kaoru silenced him with a finger set to his lips. "Kenshin.I." Kaoru stuttered, staring at her hands as she fiddled with his fingers. "Marry me!" Kaoru said loudly, forcing herself to say those words. She intended to tell him that she loved him, but found those words to be more awkward to say.
Kenshin, too, sat on the floor, staring at Kaoru's unblinking blue eyes in confusion.
"Marry me," Kaoru repeated in a more steady, sure voice. She suddenly regretted for saying such a stupid thing and so abruptly. "Kaoru no baka!" Kaoru thought, scolding herself. "Now Kenshin's going to think you're just some ditzy girl head over heels for him like every other woman that was here! Baka."
Kenshin, on the other hand, stared at Kaoru dumbfounded. She was nervously playing with his hands, but he didn't seem to feel her fingers holding his own. He wanted to pinch his cheek to check whether he was in a dream or not, but with Kaoru holding his hands hostage, he couldn't do such a thing. Kaoru averted her eyes at Kenshin's lack of response to her sudden request.
"Ano! Forget what I just said," Kaoru quickly said, cutting through the silence with haste. She fidgeted and retrieved her hands away from Kenshin's as if he burned her. "I just." Kaoru's stuttering was cut off by a strong set of lips pressing gently against hers. Kaoru's eyes were nearly out of their sockets by the time Kenshin pulled away, keeping his eyes locked on hers. She open and shut her mouth, finding words didn't seem to correctly exit from it.
"Kaoru-dono, marry me," Kenshin said, repeating Kaoru's former request.
Kaoru could only nod, and she flung her arms around Kenshin's neck as to confirm her reply. She buried her head into the crook of his neck and laughed. She laughed as if there was no tomorrow, feeling relieved and released from pressure she didn't seem to feel until just then.
Kenshin couldn't help laugh with the woman in his arms, wrapping his own around her slender waist hidden underneath a baggy gi. The day couldn't get any better.
"It took you two long enough!"
Kaoru retracted from Kenshin's embrace and looked up to see Yahiko hovering above them both with his arms stubbornly crossed. "Ah.Yahiko," Kaoru said quietly, standing up from the cold floor and dusting herself off. "Do you mind keeping this a little quiet for a day or two. I just want to get some breathing space with Kenshin before anyone knows."
"You sure?" Yahiko asked, smiling mischievously.
".Yahiko." said Kenshin slowly, finding the strange glint in Yahiko's eyes to be less than reassuring.
"As if I'm going to keep your engagement a secret!" Yahiko hollered, running down the hall, screaming the news to any ear that bothered to listen.
"I'm going to kill him!" Kaoru groaned, slapping her hand to her forehead.
"People were to find out sooner or later," Kenshin said, standing up and smiling at his future wife. "I was such a chicken not to have asked you before."
Kaoru shook her head in response.
"I just thought you still held a grudge on royalty, and I just thought it would be uncomfortable for you if I asked," Kenshin said awkwardly.
"It was a petty thing that I should have dropped years ago," Kaoru sighed. "But I really don't want to dwell on that now." She smiled and wrapped her arms around Kenshin's neck. Not needing to tiptoe, she turned her head upward for a kiss. Kenshin replied without hesitation, feeling Kaoru melt into his arms.
Kaoru pulled away slightly, her arms still around Kenshin's neck. He sent a small trail of kisses along her small nose, savoring the scent of Jasmine.
"I love you Kenshin," Kaoru murmured.
"I love you too, Kaoru," Kenshin replied.
Kaoru smiled, snuggling into Kenshin's firm chest. She now had someone to love and care for, who loved her back. She couldn't be happier.
~*~ FIN ~*~
T.Anjel: Hehe.did I forget to say that this was the end of the fic? Ohoho! Well, now you know! Thanks everyone again for reading! Until next time, ciao!
