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Once Upon a time: Chapter 21
by white seraph
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For once, Kenshin was speechless. Unable to think of anything, but betrayal and anger, he wanted to kill the man. So the rumors were true, and he, acting like a stupid ignorant man thought he had a good chance in winning her heart.
Without thinking anymore, he pushed Kaoru to a side and rushed to Soujiro, wielding his sword out and struck. Kaoru, only seeing this from behind thought of the worst and screamed. "NOOOOOOOOOOO if you kill him I will never forgive you! Never!"
However, as sojirou turned to defend himself with a sheath, revealing himself, sound and alive, Kaoru realized, much to her relief that he was not dead, but the situation wasn't very good either, with Soujiro beneath him, defending his own life in vain, with one arm injured from the previous strike. Only he himself knew that, if he were only a second slower, his arm would have gone.
Kaoru tried to pull away Kenshin, but her efforts were futile. "Please" She begged him.
"Does he mean that much to you? So much that you are willing to put you life in jeopardy?" he whispered.
"Yes, please, let him go." Kaoru felt hot tears rolling down her face. Soujiro meant to much to her, her first trusted friend in the lonely castle. Never, had see known anyone in her life that died, except her mother. But that didn't count, she never really knew her in first place. Moreover, she really didn't want to believe that all the rumors she was told along ago was true. If he really did kill, then everything, all her trust built for him would collapse. no, somehow, deep down, she didn't want this to happen, didn't want anything to disprove her belief, that Kenshin was in fact a kind hearted person. "Please"
Soujiro took the initiative to extricate himself from beneath while his attacker was too shocked after Kaoru's response, taking his one and only chance, ran to the windows and jumped out. [sounds stupid, but believe me, you would do *anything* if you were in his shoes].
A sonorous sound rang, as he dropped his sword onto the floor.
"Kenshin, please let me explain." Kaoru place a hand gently on his sleeves, tugging.
"never exploit my feelings for you." He flung her hand off him, his eyes avoiding her's. The hatred and betrayal still boiled in him, not towards the boy, but rather, Kaoru. Yet it never came across his mind that he should kill her. "I don't want to see you ever again, go back and be the serf you once were." With that, he turned on his heels and left, still, unable to meet her eyes, afraid that if he did, he won't be able to expel her from his heart. "And one more thing, from now on, I am only the King to you, please refrain from calling me as if you know me"
Kaoru sunk to the floor sobbing quiety, everything turned upside down all so suddenly, soujiro gone, ken-the king misunderstanding everything.All because of the anonymous letter Soujiro received.
Unbeknownst to her, this was exactly what Yumi wanted, and all along, she had been just outside her room, watching them, just like a comedy show. Seeing her royal highness leaving feeling betrayed and angry, she quickly trotted tartly after him.
"Your highness! Please wait!" She called after him "I see that little wench kept a secret lover behind your back, how dare she! I knew the rumors about her little affair were true!" She waited for him to respond, he only kept walking, and never turned back to look at her. Biting her lower life, she tried again "You should have killed that little bitch! Teach her a lesson!" She caught up with him, "Your highness, how about spend a night with me? I really miss you" She turned to face him directly, fixing the edge of his gi.
But he only pushed her firmly out of his way and continued walking across the corridors. Yumi didn't give up, and obstinately followed after him, not caring if anyone caught sight of them.
The same lad came to great his royal highness, despite the dark, frightful look displayed on his face, without a response, he took the initiative to go and close the large wooden doors. That was when he saw her. The woman he so hated, ever since she became a favorite, she never missed a chance to berate him of his lowly birth, calling him nasty names like castrated serf and stupid eunuch. He gritted his teeth and greeted her. "Lady Yumi." He bowed, so she wouldn't see the seething hatred reflected in his eyes.
As if not noticing him, Yumi stomped forward, following the king. "Your highness, please wait! I cannot walk that fast" She whined tartly.
He didn't even turn his head to look at her, and ordered "Get rid of that lowly whore for me." The thought of indulging himself with forbidden pleasure faded ever since he met Kaoru, and now, there mere thought of it sickened him, even he himself couldn't believe how such a girl can change so much of him. But he would never admit it, never again. He had nearly allowed history to repeat itself. Thank god he found out of the truth before he fell completely for her.
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The dungeons were dark, wet and muddy, and worst of all, he stank like rotten eggs. Yumi still couldn't believe what the king did to her. How could he?! God, and she thought it was all because of his besot for that stupid plain servant girl. The only thing in her mind right now, was escape and revenge. To both.
Thank the lords the man guarding her cell until her execution really fancied her, she was able to trade her body with her life. She wouldn't know, wouldn't care how the guard was going to replace her body with another girls, but as long as she escaped alive and kicking.
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Kaoru plucked up her courage, which wasn't an easy thing to do, not when you just angered a deadly dangerous man who could easily have you executed. And it didn't do her much good either, after she was told, by Natsume, of Yumi's tragic fate.
For once, she wished time would stop, or, if it was to go, that it would happen so fast, she would wake up in the morning and everything will be settled. Anything. Anything but having to face him. But no, Kaoru felt a sort of obligation, to at least try to explain to him, that it wasn't like what he saw, that Soujiro had received a letter by her name, and so came to her. And she on the other hand, knew nothing about it until he came by her door soaking wet. No no no.how did this happen? Why did every possible thing that can go wrong has to happen on her?
She dragged her legs, heavily until they reached the ever so familiar doors. This time, she was the one who came, uninvited.
"His royal highness does not wish to see anyone." One of the men pulled an arm up, blocking her way.
She gave the men guarding the doors a sad look. "please" She told them allusively. "Please, this is very important" And without waiting for their response, which she could almost predict would be 'No, please leave', she pushed through and opened the doors, and entered, leaving the gaping guards outside.
The room seemed a lot quieter and dense than before, there was much tension in the air, she could almost feel it. "Ken-. You're royal majesty." She bowed lowing, showing formalities and respect that one should give.
"Why are you here?" He asked. Was his words not clear enough? Why did she have to come? To taunt him and beg him for forgiveness? After all she had done to him? What arrogance! To think she could play with and throw away his heart, just like a piece of meat? He wouldn't even bother to waste his time and efforts to end her pathetic life.
"It's. I mean.Are you angry at me because of what you saw yester'eve?" There really wasn't a point to go round and round, she'd rather get to the point, so the problem will be solved.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes, was it because he had seen to many of these dramas before? He gave her a skeptic look, but quickly turned back into a glare. "What? you are a very queer girl indeed, I have tried everything I can to pull you close to me, yet you betray me. no us and expect me to let it slide?"
"No. no" Kaoru shooked her head vigorously, as if it could shake away all his misunderstandings. "I.Soujiro and I, there is nothing between us, we-"
"I will not lie to you, like you did me, I bluntly tell you, I doubt every word from your mouth, I have no wish you talk to, or to see you again." He then turned, not giving her a chance to reply, to on of his personal servants "take her back to where she was from, she is no longer a lady of the imperial court."
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Lord Kamiya, with his younger daughter have been traveling for more than a week now, and finally, with the help of some charitable people, who were also on their way to the northern city, gave them both a free lift home.
However, things were not great, no it wasn't even good. Even before he had the time to go and take a nice warm bath, one of the servants, Megumi rushed to him and informed him of the visit of a messenger from the capital. Since no body knew where he went, the messenger assumed he was dead.
So, only having had a night's rest, Lord Kamiya left, back to the palace again, leaving Misao to tend to the household. So much for being a good father and a loyal lord.
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Soujiro ran blindly, without direction, without time. All he knew was, he had managed to escape the palace walls, which wasn't really a hard thing for a squire who had been trained to guard the castle walls.
The rain never stopped, clutching his injured arm, he ran, as fast as his legs could carry him, until he reached an old, tatty cottage,whre he finally let his body slump to the piles of hay and take a long rest.
"Hello kid, welcome to my domain" a deep voice rang, startling him.
Soujiro quickly sat up, he was so exhausted he couldn't even feel the presence of anyone else. "Who are you?!" He demanded
"Me? My name is Shishio" He replied.
Once Upon a time: Chapter 21
by white seraph
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For once, Kenshin was speechless. Unable to think of anything, but betrayal and anger, he wanted to kill the man. So the rumors were true, and he, acting like a stupid ignorant man thought he had a good chance in winning her heart.
Without thinking anymore, he pushed Kaoru to a side and rushed to Soujiro, wielding his sword out and struck. Kaoru, only seeing this from behind thought of the worst and screamed. "NOOOOOOOOOOO if you kill him I will never forgive you! Never!"
However, as sojirou turned to defend himself with a sheath, revealing himself, sound and alive, Kaoru realized, much to her relief that he was not dead, but the situation wasn't very good either, with Soujiro beneath him, defending his own life in vain, with one arm injured from the previous strike. Only he himself knew that, if he were only a second slower, his arm would have gone.
Kaoru tried to pull away Kenshin, but her efforts were futile. "Please" She begged him.
"Does he mean that much to you? So much that you are willing to put you life in jeopardy?" he whispered.
"Yes, please, let him go." Kaoru felt hot tears rolling down her face. Soujiro meant to much to her, her first trusted friend in the lonely castle. Never, had see known anyone in her life that died, except her mother. But that didn't count, she never really knew her in first place. Moreover, she really didn't want to believe that all the rumors she was told along ago was true. If he really did kill, then everything, all her trust built for him would collapse. no, somehow, deep down, she didn't want this to happen, didn't want anything to disprove her belief, that Kenshin was in fact a kind hearted person. "Please"
Soujiro took the initiative to extricate himself from beneath while his attacker was too shocked after Kaoru's response, taking his one and only chance, ran to the windows and jumped out. [sounds stupid, but believe me, you would do *anything* if you were in his shoes].
A sonorous sound rang, as he dropped his sword onto the floor.
"Kenshin, please let me explain." Kaoru place a hand gently on his sleeves, tugging.
"never exploit my feelings for you." He flung her hand off him, his eyes avoiding her's. The hatred and betrayal still boiled in him, not towards the boy, but rather, Kaoru. Yet it never came across his mind that he should kill her. "I don't want to see you ever again, go back and be the serf you once were." With that, he turned on his heels and left, still, unable to meet her eyes, afraid that if he did, he won't be able to expel her from his heart. "And one more thing, from now on, I am only the King to you, please refrain from calling me as if you know me"
Kaoru sunk to the floor sobbing quiety, everything turned upside down all so suddenly, soujiro gone, ken-the king misunderstanding everything.All because of the anonymous letter Soujiro received.
Unbeknownst to her, this was exactly what Yumi wanted, and all along, she had been just outside her room, watching them, just like a comedy show. Seeing her royal highness leaving feeling betrayed and angry, she quickly trotted tartly after him.
"Your highness! Please wait!" She called after him "I see that little wench kept a secret lover behind your back, how dare she! I knew the rumors about her little affair were true!" She waited for him to respond, he only kept walking, and never turned back to look at her. Biting her lower life, she tried again "You should have killed that little bitch! Teach her a lesson!" She caught up with him, "Your highness, how about spend a night with me? I really miss you" She turned to face him directly, fixing the edge of his gi.
But he only pushed her firmly out of his way and continued walking across the corridors. Yumi didn't give up, and obstinately followed after him, not caring if anyone caught sight of them.
The same lad came to great his royal highness, despite the dark, frightful look displayed on his face, without a response, he took the initiative to go and close the large wooden doors. That was when he saw her. The woman he so hated, ever since she became a favorite, she never missed a chance to berate him of his lowly birth, calling him nasty names like castrated serf and stupid eunuch. He gritted his teeth and greeted her. "Lady Yumi." He bowed, so she wouldn't see the seething hatred reflected in his eyes.
As if not noticing him, Yumi stomped forward, following the king. "Your highness, please wait! I cannot walk that fast" She whined tartly.
He didn't even turn his head to look at her, and ordered "Get rid of that lowly whore for me." The thought of indulging himself with forbidden pleasure faded ever since he met Kaoru, and now, there mere thought of it sickened him, even he himself couldn't believe how such a girl can change so much of him. But he would never admit it, never again. He had nearly allowed history to repeat itself. Thank god he found out of the truth before he fell completely for her.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
The dungeons were dark, wet and muddy, and worst of all, he stank like rotten eggs. Yumi still couldn't believe what the king did to her. How could he?! God, and she thought it was all because of his besot for that stupid plain servant girl. The only thing in her mind right now, was escape and revenge. To both.
Thank the lords the man guarding her cell until her execution really fancied her, she was able to trade her body with her life. She wouldn't know, wouldn't care how the guard was going to replace her body with another girls, but as long as she escaped alive and kicking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
Kaoru plucked up her courage, which wasn't an easy thing to do, not when you just angered a deadly dangerous man who could easily have you executed. And it didn't do her much good either, after she was told, by Natsume, of Yumi's tragic fate.
For once, she wished time would stop, or, if it was to go, that it would happen so fast, she would wake up in the morning and everything will be settled. Anything. Anything but having to face him. But no, Kaoru felt a sort of obligation, to at least try to explain to him, that it wasn't like what he saw, that Soujiro had received a letter by her name, and so came to her. And she on the other hand, knew nothing about it until he came by her door soaking wet. No no no.how did this happen? Why did every possible thing that can go wrong has to happen on her?
She dragged her legs, heavily until they reached the ever so familiar doors. This time, she was the one who came, uninvited.
"His royal highness does not wish to see anyone." One of the men pulled an arm up, blocking her way.
She gave the men guarding the doors a sad look. "please" She told them allusively. "Please, this is very important" And without waiting for their response, which she could almost predict would be 'No, please leave', she pushed through and opened the doors, and entered, leaving the gaping guards outside.
The room seemed a lot quieter and dense than before, there was much tension in the air, she could almost feel it. "Ken-. You're royal majesty." She bowed lowing, showing formalities and respect that one should give.
"Why are you here?" He asked. Was his words not clear enough? Why did she have to come? To taunt him and beg him for forgiveness? After all she had done to him? What arrogance! To think she could play with and throw away his heart, just like a piece of meat? He wouldn't even bother to waste his time and efforts to end her pathetic life.
"It's. I mean.Are you angry at me because of what you saw yester'eve?" There really wasn't a point to go round and round, she'd rather get to the point, so the problem will be solved.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes, was it because he had seen to many of these dramas before? He gave her a skeptic look, but quickly turned back into a glare. "What? you are a very queer girl indeed, I have tried everything I can to pull you close to me, yet you betray me. no us and expect me to let it slide?"
"No. no" Kaoru shooked her head vigorously, as if it could shake away all his misunderstandings. "I.Soujiro and I, there is nothing between us, we-"
"I will not lie to you, like you did me, I bluntly tell you, I doubt every word from your mouth, I have no wish you talk to, or to see you again." He then turned, not giving her a chance to reply, to on of his personal servants "take her back to where she was from, she is no longer a lady of the imperial court."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Lord Kamiya, with his younger daughter have been traveling for more than a week now, and finally, with the help of some charitable people, who were also on their way to the northern city, gave them both a free lift home.
However, things were not great, no it wasn't even good. Even before he had the time to go and take a nice warm bath, one of the servants, Megumi rushed to him and informed him of the visit of a messenger from the capital. Since no body knew where he went, the messenger assumed he was dead.
So, only having had a night's rest, Lord Kamiya left, back to the palace again, leaving Misao to tend to the household. So much for being a good father and a loyal lord.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Soujiro ran blindly, without direction, without time. All he knew was, he had managed to escape the palace walls, which wasn't really a hard thing for a squire who had been trained to guard the castle walls.
The rain never stopped, clutching his injured arm, he ran, as fast as his legs could carry him, until he reached an old, tatty cottage,whre he finally let his body slump to the piles of hay and take a long rest.
"Hello kid, welcome to my domain" a deep voice rang, startling him.
Soujiro quickly sat up, he was so exhausted he couldn't even feel the presence of anyone else. "Who are you?!" He demanded
"Me? My name is Shishio" He replied.