A/N: Hello my dear readers! I read every single review, you guys do have some great ideas there! And I took a bit of each, hehe oh well lets go to the story, which I hope after much thought, would be better.
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Once Upon a Time: Chapter 12
by white seraph
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Kaoru was nearly off the bed, after stretching of the lamp, and suddenly she lost her balance and tumbled clumsily off the tall bed, she felt the back of her head hit something hard. Vaguely seeing a redhead approaching, she decided it best to fall unconscious and so she did.
It was unknown to her that ironically her last attempt to struggle the king actually saved her very own life, for the king was indeed very intrigued and amused upon her behavior, not to mention her sudden attack broke the black magic. It was the first time any woman resisted him in a long while, and it very much reminded him of his dead sisters, who also shared the fiery spirit, determination and bravery in which the young girl possessed. He no longer saw her as an object; instead she was a challenging toy, a new game. He was now determined to force this woman to bend to him, fall in love with him, and then he will abandon her, like all the rest; he will teach her a lesson in the long, difficult way. (yes I intend to make kenshin the big meanie here :D)
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Bright sunlight spilled into the room, waking Kaoru up. Slowly stirring, knowledge soon dawned upon her; yesterday night… Kaoru widened her eyes, and quickly looked under the sheets, "Thank god" she sighed with relief, her kimono was still there, as it was before she fell, she then furrowed her eyebrows. "But that doesn't mean he didn't do anything to me! oh dear oh dear.." She looked around the deserted room, and wondered where he could have gone too, and if soujiro would be outside. Oh how embarrassing! As she pictured herself coming out of the room greeting her friend. Thinking it best to leave the room as soon as possible, before she had to confront with the devil, she quickly fixed her attires and left the room by herself.
Coming out of the room was easy, but what next? Kaoru wandered mindlessly across the long corridors, one after the other, but The palace was so big, there were so many rooms, so many corridors! Looking at court ladies and men walk past her, long the corridor, she felt quite helpless; after all this was a foreign place to her, and there were many vicious people who she knew she had to avoid, her mind wandered back to the strange but beautiful woman who claimed to be the king's favorite mistress, and mentally reminded herself to avoid this deadly woman.
Weaving herself through, she finally managed to find one of the small exits behind the palace, and after being through the large maze, Kaoru felt wonderful, seeing the ever so familiar building that at the very edge of the horizon. "The servant's head quarters!" she smiled broadly, finally, a break from the large prison they called palace.
Already, before she even reached the building, she caught sight of Yahiko who was apparently clearing the stables whilst the squires and soldiers were out training. "Yahiko-chan!" She cried out happily. The young boy was obviously surprised to see her.
"Eh?! Why are YOU here? I thought you left! And why are you wearing…oh! Have you come back to visit us?" Though he tried to act unhappy upon her return, it was written all over his face, his joy to see her again.
"No, no, dear, you got me wrong, I didn't leave in the first place." Kaory sighed "It's a long story"
"you got caught?" He asked
"No, even worse." She turned to the building "Well, I don't think I should bother you right now, maybe I can drop by Dr. Genzai's for a while."
"Dr Genzai went to visit this woman, who just gave birth a few days ago, don't think he'll be back until evening."
"Oh? Then is anyone around? I mean it's nearly noon and people should be having their first break…"
"Oh yeah, I'll be off when I'm done with the hay" the boy tossed the dried grass out of the wooden stables. "Care to help out? I mean I can finish sooner and hear your story." He took a string to tie the hay. Kaoru seeing her dear friend, rushed to help him, and soon enough, with one more pair of hands, Yahiko's job was done before noon session and both went back to the public cafeteria, which was a large room where servants sat to eat or rest.
"So, Busu, what happened after you left?" The young boy asked as he found two spare seat along the long wooden benches. "Why are you wearing that anyway?" He pointed at the white kimono as Kaoru took a wooden plate of vegetables and food and sat down next to the boy.
Kaoru looked across the room, she sure did stand out, whilst the rest of the poepel were wearing uniforms. Slightly embaressed, she lowered her voice, "Actually, I don't think it's appropriate to talk here." She whispered into Yahiko's ears "I'm not supposed to be here…I think so at least."
"Ho ho ho" A voice came from behind "What brings you here Kaoru?" The old man asked, "kao-chan!" The two girls chided in unison, glad to see her.
"Oh? Doctor genzai? I thought you had to visit yoru patients" Yahiko turned his head to meet the doctor and his grand daughters.
"The woman had a fever and so I left her so she could have a good rest, and-"
Suddenly, Kaoru pulled both the old man and Yahiko in front of her, "Hey busu what are you doing to-"
"Shh!" She hissed, looking at that man, she smiled, her mind was spinning, weaving a new plan that can keep herself away from that dangerous man.
Feeling her grip relax, the doctor asked "What happened?"
"I just saw the man who dragged me back to the palace." Kaoru explained "Actually I want to hide here for a while, I just…need to get out of that horrid castle." Her voice was quiet, trying not to catch attention. "Yes I need to wear a new uniform"
The group stared at her with confusion. "What are you talking about?" Yahiko asked.
"Why are you dressed like….like one of the king's mistresses!" The doctor asked, ignoring Yahiko.
"Well, maybe because I *am* one?" She looked around cautiously, and saw other people on the same table turning their eyes to her. "oh dear… don't draw attention!" She thought to herself. "I'll tell you guys the whole story later okay? I just need a new uniform so I can stay without any suspicion."
"What? If you want female's uniform, you have to ask Tae." The old man told her.
"She's still in the kitchen I think." The boy told.
Standing up, Kaoru grabbed Yahiko's hand "Come, lets go find Tae then." Turning to the doctor she told him "I'll be back soon, see you later!"
"Wait wait! What about your food?" He yelled after her, but didn't get a reply, the pair were out of sight already, weaving their way to the kitchen.
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Everyone was dismissed from the imperial conference room. The shinsengumi started to attack, at the southern parts. However, their rebel was futile, for it was against the imperial soldiers they fought. The king was smart and cunning, and knew what the rebels would do next, he would only need to use cruelty once again, to teach the others never to disobey him again.
Today, the meeting with the generals was a short one, for the king desperately wanted to dismiss them so he could go visit that girl. What's her name again? Ahh, he realized, he didn't know her name. Quietly, whispering into one of his personal guards that he wanted to see the girl, he saw the young man run. He waited impatiently, anticipating her presence and the conversations he could share with her. He now wanted to know more about this mysterious girl, who was a servant but wasn't affected upon the word 'money'. He smiled when he saw his guard running back, however, it soon turned into a frown. To his disappointment, he returned empty handed. She was gone.
White Seraph: HI! Wow that was short.
Kenshin: I think I'm sexy
White Seraph: oh shut up, I would like to thank all my reviewers and supporters, I rerally really REALLY thought about giving this story up, so it was so tangled and messed up, but with your help and cool ideas, I sure thought I should continue the story. Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciated it.
**************************************************
Once Upon a Time: Chapter 12
by white seraph
**************************************************
Kaoru was nearly off the bed, after stretching of the lamp, and suddenly she lost her balance and tumbled clumsily off the tall bed, she felt the back of her head hit something hard. Vaguely seeing a redhead approaching, she decided it best to fall unconscious and so she did.
It was unknown to her that ironically her last attempt to struggle the king actually saved her very own life, for the king was indeed very intrigued and amused upon her behavior, not to mention her sudden attack broke the black magic. It was the first time any woman resisted him in a long while, and it very much reminded him of his dead sisters, who also shared the fiery spirit, determination and bravery in which the young girl possessed. He no longer saw her as an object; instead she was a challenging toy, a new game. He was now determined to force this woman to bend to him, fall in love with him, and then he will abandon her, like all the rest; he will teach her a lesson in the long, difficult way. (yes I intend to make kenshin the big meanie here :D)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bright sunlight spilled into the room, waking Kaoru up. Slowly stirring, knowledge soon dawned upon her; yesterday night… Kaoru widened her eyes, and quickly looked under the sheets, "Thank god" she sighed with relief, her kimono was still there, as it was before she fell, she then furrowed her eyebrows. "But that doesn't mean he didn't do anything to me! oh dear oh dear.." She looked around the deserted room, and wondered where he could have gone too, and if soujiro would be outside. Oh how embarrassing! As she pictured herself coming out of the room greeting her friend. Thinking it best to leave the room as soon as possible, before she had to confront with the devil, she quickly fixed her attires and left the room by herself.
Coming out of the room was easy, but what next? Kaoru wandered mindlessly across the long corridors, one after the other, but The palace was so big, there were so many rooms, so many corridors! Looking at court ladies and men walk past her, long the corridor, she felt quite helpless; after all this was a foreign place to her, and there were many vicious people who she knew she had to avoid, her mind wandered back to the strange but beautiful woman who claimed to be the king's favorite mistress, and mentally reminded herself to avoid this deadly woman.
Weaving herself through, she finally managed to find one of the small exits behind the palace, and after being through the large maze, Kaoru felt wonderful, seeing the ever so familiar building that at the very edge of the horizon. "The servant's head quarters!" she smiled broadly, finally, a break from the large prison they called palace.
Already, before she even reached the building, she caught sight of Yahiko who was apparently clearing the stables whilst the squires and soldiers were out training. "Yahiko-chan!" She cried out happily. The young boy was obviously surprised to see her.
"Eh?! Why are YOU here? I thought you left! And why are you wearing…oh! Have you come back to visit us?" Though he tried to act unhappy upon her return, it was written all over his face, his joy to see her again.
"No, no, dear, you got me wrong, I didn't leave in the first place." Kaory sighed "It's a long story"
"you got caught?" He asked
"No, even worse." She turned to the building "Well, I don't think I should bother you right now, maybe I can drop by Dr. Genzai's for a while."
"Dr Genzai went to visit this woman, who just gave birth a few days ago, don't think he'll be back until evening."
"Oh? Then is anyone around? I mean it's nearly noon and people should be having their first break…"
"Oh yeah, I'll be off when I'm done with the hay" the boy tossed the dried grass out of the wooden stables. "Care to help out? I mean I can finish sooner and hear your story." He took a string to tie the hay. Kaoru seeing her dear friend, rushed to help him, and soon enough, with one more pair of hands, Yahiko's job was done before noon session and both went back to the public cafeteria, which was a large room where servants sat to eat or rest.
"So, Busu, what happened after you left?" The young boy asked as he found two spare seat along the long wooden benches. "Why are you wearing that anyway?" He pointed at the white kimono as Kaoru took a wooden plate of vegetables and food and sat down next to the boy.
Kaoru looked across the room, she sure did stand out, whilst the rest of the poepel were wearing uniforms. Slightly embaressed, she lowered her voice, "Actually, I don't think it's appropriate to talk here." She whispered into Yahiko's ears "I'm not supposed to be here…I think so at least."
"Ho ho ho" A voice came from behind "What brings you here Kaoru?" The old man asked, "kao-chan!" The two girls chided in unison, glad to see her.
"Oh? Doctor genzai? I thought you had to visit yoru patients" Yahiko turned his head to meet the doctor and his grand daughters.
"The woman had a fever and so I left her so she could have a good rest, and-"
Suddenly, Kaoru pulled both the old man and Yahiko in front of her, "Hey busu what are you doing to-"
"Shh!" She hissed, looking at that man, she smiled, her mind was spinning, weaving a new plan that can keep herself away from that dangerous man.
Feeling her grip relax, the doctor asked "What happened?"
"I just saw the man who dragged me back to the palace." Kaoru explained "Actually I want to hide here for a while, I just…need to get out of that horrid castle." Her voice was quiet, trying not to catch attention. "Yes I need to wear a new uniform"
The group stared at her with confusion. "What are you talking about?" Yahiko asked.
"Why are you dressed like….like one of the king's mistresses!" The doctor asked, ignoring Yahiko.
"Well, maybe because I *am* one?" She looked around cautiously, and saw other people on the same table turning their eyes to her. "oh dear… don't draw attention!" She thought to herself. "I'll tell you guys the whole story later okay? I just need a new uniform so I can stay without any suspicion."
"What? If you want female's uniform, you have to ask Tae." The old man told her.
"She's still in the kitchen I think." The boy told.
Standing up, Kaoru grabbed Yahiko's hand "Come, lets go find Tae then." Turning to the doctor she told him "I'll be back soon, see you later!"
"Wait wait! What about your food?" He yelled after her, but didn't get a reply, the pair were out of sight already, weaving their way to the kitchen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone was dismissed from the imperial conference room. The shinsengumi started to attack, at the southern parts. However, their rebel was futile, for it was against the imperial soldiers they fought. The king was smart and cunning, and knew what the rebels would do next, he would only need to use cruelty once again, to teach the others never to disobey him again.
Today, the meeting with the generals was a short one, for the king desperately wanted to dismiss them so he could go visit that girl. What's her name again? Ahh, he realized, he didn't know her name. Quietly, whispering into one of his personal guards that he wanted to see the girl, he saw the young man run. He waited impatiently, anticipating her presence and the conversations he could share with her. He now wanted to know more about this mysterious girl, who was a servant but wasn't affected upon the word 'money'. He smiled when he saw his guard running back, however, it soon turned into a frown. To his disappointment, he returned empty handed. She was gone.
White Seraph: HI! Wow that was short.
Kenshin: I think I'm sexy
White Seraph: oh shut up, I would like to thank all my reviewers and supporters, I rerally really REALLY thought about giving this story up, so it was so tangled and messed up, but with your help and cool ideas, I sure thought I should continue the story. Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciated it.