Disclaimers: You know the deal I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, yadda yadda yadda

*Last time*

"I know she is here. Someone said one of the palace guards brought her here." The voices were coming closer, until Kaoru saw them. There stood Kenshin carrying…

"YAHIKO!" Kaoru screamed.

*End of what happened last time.*

Chapter 8: Accidental Kiss

"Huh, who said my name?' Yahiko asked. He stopped thrashing in Kenshin's arms and began looking around for the source of the voice.

"Yahiko over here!" Kaoru called with delight. She left the garden and began crawling towards them. Kenshin noticed her first.

"Miss Kaoru, what are you doing?" Kenshin asked rushing to her side.

"I'm fine Kenshin."

"You shouldn't try to walk, that you shouldn't," Kenshin said helping her up.

"I wasn't walking, I was crawling."

"Walking, crawling makes no difference that it doesn't."

"Kaoru is that really you?" The now abandoned Yahiko asked.

"Yes it is Yahiko," She replied back. The boy stared at her, trying to figure out if it was true or not.

"Onee-chan it is you," deciding that it indeed was Kaoru. He rushed up to her and hugged her.

"Oro! Why does he call you 'onee-chan'? Miss Megumi said she only had one sibling and that was you." Kenshin stared suspiciously at the boy.

"She is right. She and I are the only related siblings. Yahiko here isn't really my brother."

"Oro!"

"You heard her. I told you my one-chan was here," Yahiko said, letting go of Kaoru and pointing at himself with pride.

"Yaahiiikooo!" Kaoru yelled as she fell. Once again Kenshin caught her before she hit the ground. Kaoru began to blush furiously.

"Kaoru what's wrong?" Yahiko asked. He noticed the blush and eyed Kenshin with a disdainful look.

"Oh nothing. Just a street fight and me not being able to use my leg for a month or so."

"What. What about the students?"

"It'll be fine Yahiko. Um ouji-sama, can we go back to the bench, I need to sit."

"Yes, of course Miss Kaoru," Kenshin said. He lifted her off the ground and started towards the bench. Yahiko following behind.

"He is the ouji-sama?" Yahiko asked with disbelief.

"Yes, he is. So show some respect." Kaoru said while settling into the bench.

"I don't believe you."

"Well, I really don't care."

"Oro. Must you two fight?"

"Hey ugly, your boyfriend is talking."

"Oro," Kenshin said shocked.

"Yahiko, he is not my boyfriend!" Kaoru screamed in embarrassment. The two started to bicker some more. But their fight was soon interrupted.

"Hello. Are you Kamiya?" Asked a tall guy with an expressionless stare.

"Yes, I am. Who are you?" Kaoru asked.

"My name is Aoshi Shinamori."

"What do you need Aoshi?" Kenshin asked.

"The lady Misao wishes to speak with Kamiya here. Sorry if I disturbed you Kenshin," Aoshi said turning to him.

"Not at all."

"Where is Misao?" Kaoru asked.

"She is in her room," he replied. "I'll be taking you," he added noticing her starting to rise.

"Fine. Man you all act like I can never do anything for myself." She said getting onto Aoshi's back for a piggyback ride.

"Well, hope you two have fun, and don't pester the ouji-sama too much Yahiko."

"Good-bye Miss Kaoru."

"Bye ugly!" But Kaoru didn't hear Yahiko's good-bye call. Lucky for him. "So you are the ouji-sama?" Yahiko asked, turning his full attention back on Kenshin.

"That I am," Kenshin replied. "Why don't you take a seat?" Kenshin asked pointing to the abandoned bench.

"Don't mind if I do." Yahiko sat down, soon followed by Kenshin.

"It is a beautiful day that it is."

"Yeah, yeah. Look let's cut to the chase. You aren't going out with Kaoru, are you?"

"Oro. No I'm not dating Miss Kaoru."

"Good. Cause I don't need no men going goo-goo eyes over my big sister. So you don't get any ideas. I don't care if you are the prince or not. Anyways I've got to go, tell Kaoru I'll run the dojo until she gets better." Yahiko said while getting up.

"Su-sure," Kenshin said bewildered. Pleased with Kenshin's reply, Yahiko left the garden and palace.

~~~~~**********~~~~~

(Kenshin's P.O.V.)

(Hour later in garden)

I started to walk towards my favorite spot in the garden. My thoughts still filled with what the kid said. 'Who does he think he is? If I wanted to date Miss Kaoru I could. I wouldn't for I'm engaged but if I wanted to I could.'  I kept thinking things like this until I reached my spot. But the spot was empty as usual.

"Uh…um…uh…" I tried to speak, looking at the unexpected person.

(Normal P.O.V.)

"Oh, hello ouji-sama," Kaoru said.

"Um… he-hello Miss Kaoru."

"Would you like to sit?" She asked patting the grass next to her.

"Um sure," he said sitting down.

"So, I'm guessing Yahiko interrogated you?"

"Oro." Kenshin said shocked. 'How did she know?'  He thought.

"Yup, that's Yahiko for you. Don't get me wrong or anything it's just you have that look on your face when you look at me. That's how I knew."

"Oro." Kenshin said surprised and confused.

"You don't know how you are looking at me do you."

"I'm sorry, that I do not."

"It's okay. I'll tell you. You are looking at me like… like you have something to prove to somebody. When I say somebody, I man Yahiko, and when I say something it's the fact you don't have to listen to him and if you want to go out with me you can."

"Oro?!" 'How could she know that look thingy?' Kenshin thought.

"I'm sorry how he acted. It's just he doesn't want e to get hurt, he treats all the guys I know like that."

"It's ok."

"No it's not! He should treat his elders with more respect. I know that he is looking out for me, but it gets annoying."

"That's what I treat Misao like. I know she gets mad, but it's my duty as her brother to do that, that it is."

"Yeah I guess all brothers act that way."

"Um… Miss Kaoru, Yahiko isn't really your brother is he?"

"No, he's not. But…"

"But what Miss Kaoru?"

"But he's been more like family to me, than my own sister."

"Why does Yahiko call you one-chan?"

"I've been raising Yahiko for the past 5 years. So basically since he was 10."

"But why did you have to raise him?"

"Because when I first met him, he was a pickpocket. I asked him why he would do such a bad thing."

*Flashback*

"It's not like I want to ugly!" He answered.

"Then why?"

"I'm being forced to." He said as he ran off.

*End of flashback*

"He was being forced?" Kenshin asked.

"Yes, it's sad the types of people we have," Kaoru said bowing her head. "I followed him to the gang making him pickpocket. When I asked why, they said 'Because he has to repay us for taking care of his mother.'"

"Oro."

"Well I asked Yahiko about that afterwards. It seems his mother became very sick when he was 5. Yahiko was running low on money to buy medicine so he asked the gang to help. They accepted and when Yahiko asked how he could pay them back, the jerks told him with cash. So Yahiko gave all the money he had, but they said it wasn't enough. So he began to pickpocket."

"That's awful that it is."

"No what's awful about it was his mom died when Yahiko was 6. The thugs didn't tell until I made them. So for 4 years Yahiko was pick pocketing for no reason, that like I'm saying he should have done it."

"So how did he get out of the gang?"

"I made a bet. If I could beat the boss in a fight I get Yahiko, if I lose I become a slave for them. As you can see I won."

"But didn't people talk?"

"Huh… oh yes the whole town talked on how a 15 year old single girl all of a sudden started to raise a 10 year old boy. But I didn't care. Like I said he's family."

"That's great that you took him in to raise that it is." 

"Yes, I guess it is. So did Yahiko give you the 'I don't care if you are the prince' speech?"

"Yes he did."

"Oh my, he really is being overprotective."

"It is okay that it is."

"So how are you and Megumi getting along?"

"Fine I guess. We don't spend much time together. She's to busy with studying and girl stuff."

"That's Megumi for you, such a hypocrite."

"Oro. Why would you call her that?"

"Remember that day we fought?"

"Yes."

"Well good, then you'll remember she was saying a girl should act like one. Well you don't see many female doctors do you?"

"No you don't."

"Typical. I guess maybe it's because people care more about gossiping about me than her being a doctor. Especially lately because of…"

"Because of what Miss Kaoru?"

"Oh nothing, just forget it."

"No really, tell me."

"I said it was nothing." He could see she was getting upset, so he decided to drop it.

"Okay, let's talk of something else. Oh yes Yahiko said he would take care of your classes until you are better."

"Well at least he has some responsibility. Good now I can relax."

"Miss Kaoru."

"Yes ouji-sama."

"Thank you for saving my sister."

"No problem, it's what I do."

"But what's bothering me is what were you doing there in the bad side in the first place?"

"I had business to take care of."

"Okay." 'I wonder what business.'

"I'm glad you get along with Megumi."

"I wouldn't say that just yet."

"Oh really?! Figures."

"Why?"

"Because Megumi isn't the getting along type. She still has issues with me and I'm her sister."

"Hmm, interesting."

"Sure." The two kept talking like this until they heard….

*Ding, ding*

"Oh the dinner bell. Come Miss Kaoru time for dinner." Kenshin announced, offering his hand. "Do you need help?"

"Nope, I've got this trusty walking stick."

"Okay." They began to walk in silence, until Kenshin heard a yelp. He turned around quickly to only be knocked down. After hitting the ground he opened his eyes and to his shock Kaoru's and his lips were locked together. Her eyes began to slowly open and when she saw the situation she quickly scrambled off him.

"I'm sorry ouji-sama, I'm so sorry." She kept saying.

"Miss Kaoru calm down it was an accident."

"I know, but still I kissed my sister's fiancé."

"It's okay that it is. We'll just act normal like nothing happened."

"Right, act normal."

"But why did you fall?"

"My dumb walking stick. Must've got caught in something and while I was walking it tripped me."

"Oh, how strange. Well I'm guessing you need help now?" He asked again offering his hand.

"Yes, I guess so. Well at least you aren't Sano. He is like a head or two taller than me. Always me walking on tiptoes or him hunching, either way is no fun." She took his hand and started to blush really badly, he could see that she was still tense after what happened.

"Well Miss Kaoru, shall we go?"

"Yes, of course."

~~~~~**********~~~~~

The two walked in silence all the way to the dining hall.

"Kenshin! Kaoru! So you guys finally decided to show up." Misao called.

"Misao, where are your manners?" King Hiko asked.

"Sorry father."

"So Kenshin, you finally decided to show up eh?"

"Yes, it took awhile," Kenshin answered.

"Sir Ken come sit next to me," Megumi called out.

"Yes, Miss Megumi. Um... Miss Kaoru where would you like to sit?"

"Um… how about that corner chair at the other end of the table."

"Are you sure? You'll be alone."

"Yes, better me alone than me fighting with Megumi."

"Well if you are sure." Kenshin helped Kaoru to her seat.

"Kaoru why are you sitting there, come down here."

"No thank you Misao. I would rather sit down here." Kaoru answered smiling sweetly.

"Then I'll come down there." Misao got up and sat down across from Kaoru.

"Hello Misao."

"Well Kaoru, did you have fun with my brother?" Misao snickered.

"What! No I met him at the garden and we um just talked."

"You sure you just talked?"

"Yes."

"Uh-huh, okay."

"It's true."

"Sure." Misao and Kaoru kept on fighting until a guard came in and whispered to the king.

"Kamiya, there's a letter for you," he said.

"There is?"

"Of course there is. Would I lie?"

"I don't know, would you?"

"Of course… not, anyway give her the letter," King Hiko commanded the guard.

"Yes, sir," the guard said. He then walked over to Kaoru and handed her a folded note. Kaoru began to read the note.

"What! This can't be!" Kaoru shrieked, after finishing the note.

A/N: I'll leave you off there. The kiss scene was a long awaited one huh. Well don't worry there will be more…hopefully. Kaoru is 20 now and Kenshin is 25 for those of you wondering. Next time: Kaoru goes to desperate lengths to prove that dumb note wrong. Will she succeed? Find out next time. Remember to review, ciao!