AN (Author's Note): This is my first time writing a story so no cruel reviews please ^^" arigato!

Oh yea. I'm not very good with dialogue so I'm sorry! ^^"

BWAHAHAHA BASICALLY ALL OF YOU THINK IT'S SOUJIRO!! But its not…

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)

Oh yeah, I'll most likely include Aoshi and Misao, but right now it's mainly about Kenshin and Kaoru… they'll be involved later on in the story… you'll see.

By the way, what's the difference between K/K and K/S?? Someone please tell me! I'm confused.


-Chapter 9-

Kaoru lay in her bed; her black hair in disarray and her blue eyes sparkled with tears. Her dirty old piece of rag called a blanket covered most of her, but most of her legs stuck out.

Her tear-stained cheek was red and her eyes were puffy. Closing her eyes, she remembered her 6th birthday. The best one she remembered.

She was playing with the servants since there were no kids her age on the block. Misao ran around with her, both picking delicate little pink and blue flowers and weaved them into little make believe crowns.

They played princess and ogre for 2 hours, and then went inside the mansion to retire.

Both went into the kitchen and watched curiously at the cook, who was baking a 6 layer chocolate cake.

Misao and her argued over who got to lick the spoon for the frosting, but it ended with Kaoru licking the spoon and Misao licking the bowl.

Misao's face was covered with soft brown sweet frosting and Kaoru's mouth was smeared with it.

They both smiled and washed their faces.

Then it was time for the party…

Her mom brought out a midnight blue kimono with a bright white sash around it.

The material was satin and tiny little pink flowers dotted the bottom and the sleeves.

It fit her perfectly, and her little face was red from excitement. Her black hair was tied up in a high little ponytail with a blue sash… her favorite.

The party was a blast… the cake was delicious, and everybody was happy…

Kaoru smiled at the memory, remembering it perfectly.

Back then she wasn't a servant, she wasn't an object that could be handed and traded from person to person.

Wiping away her tears, Kaoru told herself that she was stronger than this. It's not like the house was going to be torn down, and Misao was going with her to the new man's house.

She had heard that he wasn't the kindest of all men, and he had just returned from the hospital due to a recent fire in his house.

Some of his servants had become stuck and burned down with the house, their bones turned into ashes and never found.

So he was looking for replacements, and all of them had to be prepared to do whatever he wanted. Sing, set the table or eat with him, entertain him in some way, sew something… that's why he was sending them to finishing school.

So that they could do his every single bidding perfectly…

Kaoru was to be brought over the day after tomorrow and so she only had a day left to say goodbye to everyone, plus the usual load of work.

Thinking about her new life ahead, she tried to be optimistic as she drifted off into sleep…

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ Tomorrow ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Rushing through her chores, Kaoru made sure she did everything before saying goodbye to everyone. Thank god that Misao was going with her.

The saying goodbye was hard… Tae, Sae, and everybody else were trying hard not to cry as they hugged them one last time in their warm embrace.

Trying to smile, they remembered the old times… the happy times.

Confident, Kaoru turned away and was about to leave, but a voice stopped her.

Kaoru, curious, turned around and saw Megumi standing there, her elegant dark green hair flowing behind her back and she was dressed in a lighter green kimono with white Sakura blossoms scattered.

Megumi walked up to Kaoru, and gave her a watery smile. Smiling, she gave Kaoru a light hug and said, "Goodbye… step-sister…"

This gently touched Kaoru… Megumi had never once agreed that they were stepsisters… yet, right here she's standing here calling her exactly that.

Smiling back, Kaoru hugged her gently, trying not to get Megumi's kimono dirty by her rags.

A whip sounded outside as Kaoru and Megumi let go and smiled at each other. They would both remember that moment.

Kaoru rushed outside into the slave cart where Misao was already waiting for her and waved goodbye to everyone.

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ At Finishing School ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

The trip was rocky and rough, leaving bruises on Kaoru and Misao.

A man came out and told them to get off. His hands were black and greasy, his dirty face and hair were covered with a mask.

He rushed them inside a big house, and Misao and Kaoru scurried inside.

When they got in, the stood in awe, feeling ashamed that their dirty rough feet were touching the cool, polished marble beneath them.

They were in the finishing school, and it was beyond beautiful.

The ceiling was beyond beautiful… it had gold paint on the rims of the huge dome and had stained glass windows above that had come from America.

A staircase curved up to meet the second floor, and could overlook the first one.

Kaoru bet that there were more staircases to climb after that one.

The rail was an elegant black with twisted designs and a soft white carpet.

A chandelier was above them that had also been shipped from America.

Standing proudly in front of them was to be their teacher.

"Good day," she said curtsying.

"You are here to be taught for Shishio-sama… I am to be your teacher for the next month and we shall be practicing embroidery, singing, curtsying, and many other qualities one proper girl shall have…

"Even though you are servants…" She purposely said 'servants' with a look on her face of disgust.

She turned her back and was about to leave when Kaoru called out, "What's you're name?"

The teacher turned back around and stared coldly at Kaoru.

"Yumi…"

To Be Continued…

HAHAHA… you all thought it was Soujiro that was going to buy Kaoru… wrong XPP… hehe… anyways, one of you asked if it was a k/k fic or a k/s fic. ^^" I don't know the difference so I can't answer you.

Oh yea… sorry guys! It wasn't longer or better… T . T gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen gomen!!!!

Anyways… nonetheless…

Review!!! XPP