Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is not mine. Nor is the story Cinderella or Ella Enchanted or Ever after. (Which is all a version of Cinderella, and if you don't like it then don't read)

AN: THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR REVIEWS!!!!! ^^ (Even though it was mostly friends. oh well. ^^) arigato everyone! XPP

-Chapter 2-

Kaoru stared blankly at what was in front of her. well; actually she basically gawked at what was in front of her, unable to control her reaction.

If she had been holding everything she probably would have dropped it already, being in such a state of shock.

Her eyes blue widened as she remembered what she forgot to do.

She bowed her head quickly kept her position there, her eyes on the ground.

Unfortunately, his Highness didn't notice her. He was busy talking to one of her stepsisters.

Kaoru's stepsister, Megumi, was flirting shamelessly with the prince (Wish Kaoru's step-mom watching *and the reason she called Kaoru in was because she didn't want her outside causing a racket*). Batting her eyelashes and playing teasingly with her hair, she edge closer to the prince.

The prince yawned and averted his gaze, staring at the tapestries bored. He also wanted to pull away from Megumi but she had held onto his arm tight.

Megumi was starting to tighten her grip on his arm, but he couldn't stand it, so he decided to make up an excuse to get her away from him.

"Well can you please show me your garden?" The prince asked.

"Well," pouted Megumi, "Are you sure? I mean the garden is filled with insects and animals! It's disgusting."

Just then, Kaoru's other sister, Tomoe, came slowly down the stairs dressed in a fancy white and blue kimono; which was covered with tiny little pink flowers.

The Prince averted her gaze to her and froze.

She's so beautiful thought the Prince, just like a goddess.

He was lost in his thoughts as Tomoe was halfway through the stairs, careful not to step on her new kimono that she just bought yesterday at the market.

She looked at the Prince blankly and greeted him with an, "Ohaiyo."

The prince then remembered his manners and kicked himself mentally. He bowed, and then went over to Tomoe to help her down the stairs, leaving Megumi behind.

Tomoe graciously accepted his arm and continued walking down.

"Thank you, your Highness," smiled Tomoe as she bowed her head slightly, and lifted it again.

"No need to call me Highness," said the Prince, "Pease call me Kenshin." (AN: His full name is Himura, Kenshin but I don't know how I could fit that in.)

"Kenshin," Tomoe said, as if testing his name out on her tongue. "Very well, I will call you Kenshin if you shall call me Tomoe."

"I would gladly call you Tomoe."

Kenshin, realizing he was blushing, turned around, only to find Kaoru, still with her head bowed down in respect.

Kenshin saw Kaoru with her head bowed, and her jet-black hair falling elegantly over her shoulder.

Just then, Kaoru looked up to see what was going on and he got a good look at her sharp sapphire eyes and her delicate, perfect face.

But then, he caught sight of her rags, and turned his face back to Tomoe, his blush gone.

Kaoru saw Kenshin looking at her (And she knew his name because she heard him tell Tomoe his name) and felt herself blush, but he looked away before he saw.

Her mind went back to the part when his eyes met with hers, causing her to hold her breath as she saw his gorgeous eyes.

Just like in the dream I had last night Kaoru thought, as she started to blush.

When Kaoru's eyes landed on Tomoe's arm looped through Kenshin's.

Suddenly she felt the overwhelming need to rip Tomoe's arm from Kenshin's, even though she didn't dare. She knew she would get whipped for that.

What was just that I felt, looking at that servant girl? Kenshin thought, as he wondered about her. No matter, she is just a servant, no use of looking at her.

He felt that he had to make a rude comment, for no reason, so he snapped, "What are you looking at rat? Get back to work and do what your master hired you to do. Now move it!"

But no matter what Kenshin did, he couldn't get her out of his mind. so he decided to look at Tomoe instead.

She looked up at him with curious brown eyes, wondering what Kenshin was thinking about.

Just then, Kenshin asked Tomoe if she would like to join him for dinner that night, totally forgetting Megumi was there staring jealously at Tomoe.

She always gets the good ones, Megumi thought, totally jealous of Tomoe.

Tomoe accepted Kenshin's invitation as she blushed a bright pink on her pale face. Once Kenshin left, Megumi stormed up to her room and slammed her door, before Tomoe could speak another word.

Kaoru was still standing there, saddened by the fact that she thought that brief moment his eyes were locked with hers meant nothing to him.

She was sure that when they met each other's she felt a small spark emit from within her. but she guessed that that was probably her imagination.

Turning away sadly to go do her chores, she practically crashed into Misao who was coming in to see what was going on.

Quickly apologizing, Kaoru excused herself to go do her chores. She didn't know why, but she felt like crying.

Why are you crying over a boy you don't know? I mean, he was a bit rude around Megumi and then his attitude changed when Tomoe showed up. Also, he called me a rat! Kaoru was getting mad, crying over such an obnoxious, rude, ignorant, self-centered, pig.

Since she was getting mad, she started scrubbing the floor even harder and faster, causing her hands and knees to scream in protest.

To be continued.

^^" sorry no cliffhanger or something, but I couldn't think of anything. I hope you guys will like it ^^"