Disclaimer: Nothing has changed since last time . . . therefore I do NOT
own Rurouni Kenshin.
Definitions: . . . not too many this time . . .
¤ Nani - what
¤ Ojisan - uncle
¤¤**¤¤
A Love for One Hated
By: Mystic Song
Chapter 2 ~ Truth Revealed
¤¤**¤¤
Kaoru woke to the soft bustling of the maids downstairs and vaguely wondered what the commotion was about. She slid out of her bed and walked to the door, reaching for a crimson bathrobe as she went. Kaoru walked out of the room and down the stairs, tying the robe together as she went.
"Oh, good morning Kaoru-dono!" Tsubame chirped suddenly.
Kaoru looked up and smiled at Tsubame. "Good morning, Tsubame-kun. May I ask what's going on?" Maids and servants were bustling about, quickly dusting the furniture, mopping the floors, and cooking meals that were yet to take place.
"Oh! Well, we are expecting Ba-" Tsubame began but was immediately cut off by Sanosuke.
"We're expecting a visitor tonight, one of the Lord's most distinguished guests." Sanosuke said, and Kaoru noticed that he was wearing a more formal attire that consisted of the same white hakama yet a navy blue gi.
"Will I get to meet whoever this visitor is?" Kaoru asked, somewhat anxious herself.
Sanosuke paused, his brow furrowing in thought. "Well, Lord Seijuro would like you to come up and visit your father in the early afternoon, and judging by the time you come back, you might be able to see his arrival."
"I see." Kaoru said smartly, trying not to sound as overwhelmed as Sano obviously was: he was shifting from foot to foot and constantly readjusting the tie in his hakama.
"You should go eat breakfast, Kaoru-dono." Tsubame suggested, "And then Tae can help you pick out a kimono for this afternoon."
"Alright." Kaoru agreed and followed Tsubame into the kitchen.
¤¤
The morning passed by rather quickly to Kaoru. She had just barely finished her eggs and toast when she was hastily dragged up the steps to her room. There was a pale pink kimono and lavender obi laid out on the bed, and before Kaoru could question if that was hers to wear, she was rapidly dressed. Several maids rushed into the room and started applying white cream to her face while others did Kaoru's hair.
"Do you have any preference as to how your hair should be done, or make-up arranged, Kaoru-dono?" Tsubame asked.
Kaoru shrugged, "Whichever way pleases you. However, if you must put perfume on, could it be the scent of jasmine?"
"Why, that's the only scent we have for you." Another maid said as she opened one of the drawers and pulled out a crystalline bottle of jasmine scented perfume.
Kaoru looked questioningly at the bottle of perfume. "How strange," she murmured softly.
The maids finished with Kaoru and allowed her to stand up and admire herself. "Wow, what a beautiful job you did!" Kaoru praised the maids. The maids bowed in thanks as Kaoru went to inspect herself in the mirror. As she did so, Tae came up and tightened Kaoru's obi and readjusted the comb that had been placed delicately in her hair.
"You look wonderful, Kaoru-dono." Tae said as she stood back to admire Kaoru.
Kaoru smiled. Her make-up was done in such a way that she appeared to be defiant, allowing her to have an austere expression at all times. Kaoru appreciated this so that she wouldn't have to put much effort in hiding her anxiety around Lord Seijuro.
"Let's go, Kaoru-dono!" Tsubame called anxiously from outside Kaoru's bedroom. "You are being called for now!"
"I'm coming!" Kaoru called back, and after thanking Tae, she walked gracefully down the steps.
"Wow, Jou-chan," Sanosuke said just as Kaoru was about to exit the house, "You're looking good! Good luck with Lord Seijuro!"
"Thank you, Sano!" Kaoru said, smiling widely as she walked up towards the palace with Tsubame at her side.
"Kaoru-dono," Tsubame said softly as the two neared the palace. Kaoru looked down at Tsubame. "May I make a suggestion as to etiquette within the palace?"
Kaoru paused. "I have decided not to show proper etiquette to Lord Seijuro, but in case there are others present, please go on."
Tsubame hid her grin and bowed her head. "Do not talk unless spoken to. Allow men to kiss your hand in greeting. Do as you're instructed..."
Kaoru snickered and Tsubame looked up from the ground. "Those are the things that I was not going to do."
Tsubame's eyes widened in shock. "You can get into a lot of trouble for not obeying Lord Seijuro."
"Just how much trouble?" Kaoru asked stylishly, quickening her pace towards the palace. Tsubame's eyes revealed that she did not know. "Exactly, I am going to see how far I can push my luck."
Kaoru had arrived at the front castle doors. "Oh, please, Kaoru-dono, don't! I don't want to see you get into any trouble!"
"Relax," Kaoru said calmly, gently placing her hand on the girl's shoulders. "I will be back by sundown." Tsubame bowed and reluctantly left Kaoru's side as Kaoru entered the castle.
"Ah!" A loud voice boomed throughout the castle's entryway, "If it isn't Kamiya Kaoru." Kaoru knew it was polite to grant the lord a name of familiarity, but remained silent. A man with long black hair and a large cloak stepped forward to greet Kaoru, reaching out his hand to kiss Kaoru's. Kaoru pulled her hand back.
"Now, Kaoru-san, there's no reason to be so cruel." The man said, his seemingly young face held an expression of amusement.
"Kamiya-san." Kaoru corrected coldly. "And you are...?"
"Lord Seijuro, at your service!" Lord Seijuro said, giving a mock bow. "But please, just call me Hiko."
"Very well, Hiko-dono," Kaoru said defiantly, slightly turning her back to Hiko, "Please tell me where my father is. I would like to see him and get this visit over with so that I can return home."
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Hiko asked, "You are in my castle! You are surrounded with luxuries! You are safe."
"Safe from what exactly?" Kaoru said, spinning around quickly to try and catch Hiko off guard. Hiko, however, didn't do as much as flinch.
"Why, there are many dangerous men out there that would love to take such a pretty woman such as yourself home with them." Hiko said, his lips forming a knowing smirk.
Kaoru was fuming and her words were laced with venom. "Are you saying that I can not take care of myself? I am a Kamiya! I am a teacher of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu! I think I can take care of myself!"
"Then why couldn't you handle my two men yesterday?" Hiko argued back, his young features suddenly aging.
Kaoru just wanted to slap the man. "Because they cheated! Grabbing a woman from behind and then tugging at my waist! Honestly!" She folded her arms and meant to storm off when she realized that she didn't know which way she should go.
Hiko laughed loudly. "You are a lively young woman, Kaoru. Please, follow me, and I'll take you to your father."
"It's Kamiya-san to you." Kaoru muttered, eliciting more laughs from Hiko.
Hiko led Kaoru down long hallways that weaved in and out of each other, sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows. For some reason, Kaoru noted that everything seemed to be somewhat familiar. Kaoru became so confident from this that she in fact walked in front of Hiko and led the way for a little while; crossing across foyers and cutting through various quarters.
Hiko stopped and held out his hand to impede Kaoru as well. "How do you know where we are going?"
Kaoru shrugged and took another step forward. "If we're going towards the hospital wing, we should continue down this hallway and it will be somewhere on the left, am I right?"
Hiko's face was void of every other emotion except for bewilderment. "That's right, but how could you rem- er know?"
Kaoru stopped and shot Hiko a quizzical look. "I don't know, but I would very much so like to head back home sometime soon, so if you are not keen on having me lead the way, please do so yourself." She stepped back toward the wall and waved her hand forward.
Hiko regained his composure and briskly headed down the hallway, sharply swinging left as they reached what seemed to be a lobby. He pushed open a narrow door and stepped inside. Kaoru did so as well, noting the smell of peppermint within the room. She looked around the dim room with much wonder, how much of it seemed so familiar!
"Kaoru?" A weak voice came from a small bed at the far side of the room.
"Now, now, Kamiya-san, you must rest." Said a woman with long black hair.
"Megumi-dono, this is my daughter, I think I have a right to talk to her." Kaoru heard her father argue back.
"Yes sir." Megumi said once she saw that Lord Seijuro had already granted that permission.
Kaoru stepped forward, relieved that her father was all right, yet annoyed with the fact that she was in the same room as him. "Hello." Kaoru said stiffly.
Kaoru's father seemed to look much older than what he actually was. His black hair was graying at the temples, and multiple bags were layered underneath his eyes. "Kaoru," he said again, waving his hand for Megumi to leave him.
"I will leave as well." Hiko but in. Kaoru's father nodded his head and watched Hiko leave.
"Yes?" Kaoru said, wanting to hurry up with the meeting.
Kaoru's father looked sadly up at Kaoru. "There is something that I would like to tell you, though I'm not sure if this is the right time or place to say it. After all, this is the room where your parents died."
"Nani?" Kaoru said, clearly confused.
"Kaoru, I am not your biological father, I am your uncle, and godfather." He continued, running a bandaged hand through his fraying hair. "I am your uncle Keiji. I'm sorry Kaoru."
Kaoru's eyes were wide as dinner plates, not even her make-up could hold back her surprised expression. "You said my real parents died in this very room. Who were they, and why?"
Kaoru's Ojisan Keiji sighed. "They were Lord Seijuro's stewards. Soon after you were born, war broke out between Lord Seijuro and Lord Shishio. Of course, Lord Shishio was defeated three years later, but there are still some rebel forces out there that want to overthrow Lord Seijuro. Now, during this war, Shishio sent one of his assassins after the steward while Seijuro was at war. They hoped that if Seijuro was killed in battle, and the steward and his family assassinated, they could take over the throne. Their plan almost succeeded. Seijuro was injured in battle, and your parents were murdered. Seijuro returned quickly, and had his pupil become an assassin with the means of revenge."
"His pupil was the Battousai, wasn't he?" Kaoru said.
Uncle Keiji nodded. "I fought alongside the Battousai many times, he's a very strong man, Hiko taught him well."
"Then what happened to me?" Kaoru asked.
"Lord Seijuro never thought it was necessary to find another steward since you were still alive, so they kept you in the guest house for a while until I agreed to look after you for some time. But you ran away. Of course, we had people looking after you at all times to prevent your murder, because dear, you are still wanted dead." Kaoru gasped. "So Lord Seijuro recently came to a decision for you to stay here until you have found a husband and are prepared to rule when the time comes."
"To rule?" Kaoru asked, her blue eyes still wide. "I thought I was only a stewardess."
"Do you see any of Lord Seijuro's heirs?" Uncle Keiji asked.
"I thought that the Battousai..." Kaoru trailed off as Uncle Keiji shook his head.
"The Battousai is only his pupil. Yet they are very close. He wants him to rule, but the only way for him to rule is if he married you."
Kaoru scrunched her nose in dissatisfaction. "That's not going to happen." She muttered.
Uncle Keiji laughed. "Not all hitokiris are as bad as what you make them out to be."
"You sound like Sano."
"Ah, so you have met Sanosuke? What a good man."
"He's a gangster!"
"An ex-gangster."
"Still..." Kaoru stopped and realized how low she was speaking of Sanosuke. "You're right," she sighed in defeat, "He is a good man."
Uncle Keiji smiled in victory. "Now I want you to stay here for a while, let things straighten out with you becoming the stewardess."
"What?!" Kaoru yelled. "I have to teach my students! They don't know that I'm gone!"
Uncle Keiji looked disapprovingly at Kaoru. "What do you mean they don't know? Didn't you tell them before you left?"
"Like I had the time." Kaoru said sarcastically. Uncle Keiji gave her a look that told her to continue. "Two of Hiko's men came into the dojo and basically dragged me up to the guest house."
"You mean they didn't ask you to come with them?"
"NO!" Kaoru shrieked.
Uncle Keiji sighed. "Well, you best hurry home and tell your students. Your disappearance might hint the people that you could be the rumored stewardess, and that would put you in too much danger for the time being."
Kaoru nodded and stood up to leave. "Thank you, Uncle Keiji." Ojisan nodded and she dashed out of the hospital wing, having no trouble in finding her way back to the entrance.
¤¤
"Kaoru-san!" Lord Seijuro called just as Kaoru was about to push open to doors to the castle.
Kaoru whirled around to face the tall lord as well as a second man with ascetic features, thin hair pulled back, a jagged face, and a slim cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth. "Yes, sir?"
"I would like you to meet Hajime Saitou. He is the head of security in this palace." Lord Seijuro said proudly.
"It's an honor to meet you." Saitou said, his voice thick with a tone lighter than sarcasm.
Kaoru bowed her head and offered her hand to Saitou. "As it is you." She said politely, slightly flinching when Saitou's thin lips met her hand.
Once Saitou released her hand she turned to the Lord. "May I request my leave now, Lord Seijuro?"
"Hiko, please call me Hiko." Lord Seijuro said. He then looked Kaoru over with a critical eye. "I assume that you already know then?"
"K-know what?" Kaoru stuttered, trying to sound as if she had no idea what Hiko was referring to.
Hiko smirked. "Yes, you do know then. Well, you may go back to the guest quarters, but do not leave! I'm warning you, or else I will have to send one of my men after you."
"If it's just one man then it won't be a problem at all." Kaoru said harshly, turning on her heel and departing from the castle.
"She is planning to run, my lord." Saitou said, stating the obvious. "Who are you going to send after her?"
Hiko smiled mischievously. "Battousai."
.tbc.
¤¤**¤¤
A/N: Another chapter up! I apologize, I said Kenshin would appear in this chapter, but alas, he is in the next one in hopes that you now you understand a little more about Kaoru's past, and perhaps see what Hiko is getting at with sending the Battousai after Kaoru. :-D The third chapter will be updated Wednesday!
ARIGATOU!
Thank you to all the people that reviewed: XW, lil'angelblossom, Falconess106, the squirrel (I'm glad you feel that this story needs more reveiews :-D ), Bando-Eido no Megami-sama (hopefully it makes more sense now, but there's still more to come ;-D) , lizzee, amandahar! (haha, you're great! Thanks for reading!), Silver Eyes Bright, and Koishii Sweet (it was nice talking to you!)
Definitions: . . . not too many this time . . .
¤ Nani - what
¤ Ojisan - uncle
¤¤**¤¤
A Love for One Hated
By: Mystic Song
Chapter 2 ~ Truth Revealed
¤¤**¤¤
Kaoru woke to the soft bustling of the maids downstairs and vaguely wondered what the commotion was about. She slid out of her bed and walked to the door, reaching for a crimson bathrobe as she went. Kaoru walked out of the room and down the stairs, tying the robe together as she went.
"Oh, good morning Kaoru-dono!" Tsubame chirped suddenly.
Kaoru looked up and smiled at Tsubame. "Good morning, Tsubame-kun. May I ask what's going on?" Maids and servants were bustling about, quickly dusting the furniture, mopping the floors, and cooking meals that were yet to take place.
"Oh! Well, we are expecting Ba-" Tsubame began but was immediately cut off by Sanosuke.
"We're expecting a visitor tonight, one of the Lord's most distinguished guests." Sanosuke said, and Kaoru noticed that he was wearing a more formal attire that consisted of the same white hakama yet a navy blue gi.
"Will I get to meet whoever this visitor is?" Kaoru asked, somewhat anxious herself.
Sanosuke paused, his brow furrowing in thought. "Well, Lord Seijuro would like you to come up and visit your father in the early afternoon, and judging by the time you come back, you might be able to see his arrival."
"I see." Kaoru said smartly, trying not to sound as overwhelmed as Sano obviously was: he was shifting from foot to foot and constantly readjusting the tie in his hakama.
"You should go eat breakfast, Kaoru-dono." Tsubame suggested, "And then Tae can help you pick out a kimono for this afternoon."
"Alright." Kaoru agreed and followed Tsubame into the kitchen.
¤¤
The morning passed by rather quickly to Kaoru. She had just barely finished her eggs and toast when she was hastily dragged up the steps to her room. There was a pale pink kimono and lavender obi laid out on the bed, and before Kaoru could question if that was hers to wear, she was rapidly dressed. Several maids rushed into the room and started applying white cream to her face while others did Kaoru's hair.
"Do you have any preference as to how your hair should be done, or make-up arranged, Kaoru-dono?" Tsubame asked.
Kaoru shrugged, "Whichever way pleases you. However, if you must put perfume on, could it be the scent of jasmine?"
"Why, that's the only scent we have for you." Another maid said as she opened one of the drawers and pulled out a crystalline bottle of jasmine scented perfume.
Kaoru looked questioningly at the bottle of perfume. "How strange," she murmured softly.
The maids finished with Kaoru and allowed her to stand up and admire herself. "Wow, what a beautiful job you did!" Kaoru praised the maids. The maids bowed in thanks as Kaoru went to inspect herself in the mirror. As she did so, Tae came up and tightened Kaoru's obi and readjusted the comb that had been placed delicately in her hair.
"You look wonderful, Kaoru-dono." Tae said as she stood back to admire Kaoru.
Kaoru smiled. Her make-up was done in such a way that she appeared to be defiant, allowing her to have an austere expression at all times. Kaoru appreciated this so that she wouldn't have to put much effort in hiding her anxiety around Lord Seijuro.
"Let's go, Kaoru-dono!" Tsubame called anxiously from outside Kaoru's bedroom. "You are being called for now!"
"I'm coming!" Kaoru called back, and after thanking Tae, she walked gracefully down the steps.
"Wow, Jou-chan," Sanosuke said just as Kaoru was about to exit the house, "You're looking good! Good luck with Lord Seijuro!"
"Thank you, Sano!" Kaoru said, smiling widely as she walked up towards the palace with Tsubame at her side.
"Kaoru-dono," Tsubame said softly as the two neared the palace. Kaoru looked down at Tsubame. "May I make a suggestion as to etiquette within the palace?"
Kaoru paused. "I have decided not to show proper etiquette to Lord Seijuro, but in case there are others present, please go on."
Tsubame hid her grin and bowed her head. "Do not talk unless spoken to. Allow men to kiss your hand in greeting. Do as you're instructed..."
Kaoru snickered and Tsubame looked up from the ground. "Those are the things that I was not going to do."
Tsubame's eyes widened in shock. "You can get into a lot of trouble for not obeying Lord Seijuro."
"Just how much trouble?" Kaoru asked stylishly, quickening her pace towards the palace. Tsubame's eyes revealed that she did not know. "Exactly, I am going to see how far I can push my luck."
Kaoru had arrived at the front castle doors. "Oh, please, Kaoru-dono, don't! I don't want to see you get into any trouble!"
"Relax," Kaoru said calmly, gently placing her hand on the girl's shoulders. "I will be back by sundown." Tsubame bowed and reluctantly left Kaoru's side as Kaoru entered the castle.
"Ah!" A loud voice boomed throughout the castle's entryway, "If it isn't Kamiya Kaoru." Kaoru knew it was polite to grant the lord a name of familiarity, but remained silent. A man with long black hair and a large cloak stepped forward to greet Kaoru, reaching out his hand to kiss Kaoru's. Kaoru pulled her hand back.
"Now, Kaoru-san, there's no reason to be so cruel." The man said, his seemingly young face held an expression of amusement.
"Kamiya-san." Kaoru corrected coldly. "And you are...?"
"Lord Seijuro, at your service!" Lord Seijuro said, giving a mock bow. "But please, just call me Hiko."
"Very well, Hiko-dono," Kaoru said defiantly, slightly turning her back to Hiko, "Please tell me where my father is. I would like to see him and get this visit over with so that I can return home."
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Hiko asked, "You are in my castle! You are surrounded with luxuries! You are safe."
"Safe from what exactly?" Kaoru said, spinning around quickly to try and catch Hiko off guard. Hiko, however, didn't do as much as flinch.
"Why, there are many dangerous men out there that would love to take such a pretty woman such as yourself home with them." Hiko said, his lips forming a knowing smirk.
Kaoru was fuming and her words were laced with venom. "Are you saying that I can not take care of myself? I am a Kamiya! I am a teacher of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu! I think I can take care of myself!"
"Then why couldn't you handle my two men yesterday?" Hiko argued back, his young features suddenly aging.
Kaoru just wanted to slap the man. "Because they cheated! Grabbing a woman from behind and then tugging at my waist! Honestly!" She folded her arms and meant to storm off when she realized that she didn't know which way she should go.
Hiko laughed loudly. "You are a lively young woman, Kaoru. Please, follow me, and I'll take you to your father."
"It's Kamiya-san to you." Kaoru muttered, eliciting more laughs from Hiko.
Hiko led Kaoru down long hallways that weaved in and out of each other, sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows. For some reason, Kaoru noted that everything seemed to be somewhat familiar. Kaoru became so confident from this that she in fact walked in front of Hiko and led the way for a little while; crossing across foyers and cutting through various quarters.
Hiko stopped and held out his hand to impede Kaoru as well. "How do you know where we are going?"
Kaoru shrugged and took another step forward. "If we're going towards the hospital wing, we should continue down this hallway and it will be somewhere on the left, am I right?"
Hiko's face was void of every other emotion except for bewilderment. "That's right, but how could you rem- er know?"
Kaoru stopped and shot Hiko a quizzical look. "I don't know, but I would very much so like to head back home sometime soon, so if you are not keen on having me lead the way, please do so yourself." She stepped back toward the wall and waved her hand forward.
Hiko regained his composure and briskly headed down the hallway, sharply swinging left as they reached what seemed to be a lobby. He pushed open a narrow door and stepped inside. Kaoru did so as well, noting the smell of peppermint within the room. She looked around the dim room with much wonder, how much of it seemed so familiar!
"Kaoru?" A weak voice came from a small bed at the far side of the room.
"Now, now, Kamiya-san, you must rest." Said a woman with long black hair.
"Megumi-dono, this is my daughter, I think I have a right to talk to her." Kaoru heard her father argue back.
"Yes sir." Megumi said once she saw that Lord Seijuro had already granted that permission.
Kaoru stepped forward, relieved that her father was all right, yet annoyed with the fact that she was in the same room as him. "Hello." Kaoru said stiffly.
Kaoru's father seemed to look much older than what he actually was. His black hair was graying at the temples, and multiple bags were layered underneath his eyes. "Kaoru," he said again, waving his hand for Megumi to leave him.
"I will leave as well." Hiko but in. Kaoru's father nodded his head and watched Hiko leave.
"Yes?" Kaoru said, wanting to hurry up with the meeting.
Kaoru's father looked sadly up at Kaoru. "There is something that I would like to tell you, though I'm not sure if this is the right time or place to say it. After all, this is the room where your parents died."
"Nani?" Kaoru said, clearly confused.
"Kaoru, I am not your biological father, I am your uncle, and godfather." He continued, running a bandaged hand through his fraying hair. "I am your uncle Keiji. I'm sorry Kaoru."
Kaoru's eyes were wide as dinner plates, not even her make-up could hold back her surprised expression. "You said my real parents died in this very room. Who were they, and why?"
Kaoru's Ojisan Keiji sighed. "They were Lord Seijuro's stewards. Soon after you were born, war broke out between Lord Seijuro and Lord Shishio. Of course, Lord Shishio was defeated three years later, but there are still some rebel forces out there that want to overthrow Lord Seijuro. Now, during this war, Shishio sent one of his assassins after the steward while Seijuro was at war. They hoped that if Seijuro was killed in battle, and the steward and his family assassinated, they could take over the throne. Their plan almost succeeded. Seijuro was injured in battle, and your parents were murdered. Seijuro returned quickly, and had his pupil become an assassin with the means of revenge."
"His pupil was the Battousai, wasn't he?" Kaoru said.
Uncle Keiji nodded. "I fought alongside the Battousai many times, he's a very strong man, Hiko taught him well."
"Then what happened to me?" Kaoru asked.
"Lord Seijuro never thought it was necessary to find another steward since you were still alive, so they kept you in the guest house for a while until I agreed to look after you for some time. But you ran away. Of course, we had people looking after you at all times to prevent your murder, because dear, you are still wanted dead." Kaoru gasped. "So Lord Seijuro recently came to a decision for you to stay here until you have found a husband and are prepared to rule when the time comes."
"To rule?" Kaoru asked, her blue eyes still wide. "I thought I was only a stewardess."
"Do you see any of Lord Seijuro's heirs?" Uncle Keiji asked.
"I thought that the Battousai..." Kaoru trailed off as Uncle Keiji shook his head.
"The Battousai is only his pupil. Yet they are very close. He wants him to rule, but the only way for him to rule is if he married you."
Kaoru scrunched her nose in dissatisfaction. "That's not going to happen." She muttered.
Uncle Keiji laughed. "Not all hitokiris are as bad as what you make them out to be."
"You sound like Sano."
"Ah, so you have met Sanosuke? What a good man."
"He's a gangster!"
"An ex-gangster."
"Still..." Kaoru stopped and realized how low she was speaking of Sanosuke. "You're right," she sighed in defeat, "He is a good man."
Uncle Keiji smiled in victory. "Now I want you to stay here for a while, let things straighten out with you becoming the stewardess."
"What?!" Kaoru yelled. "I have to teach my students! They don't know that I'm gone!"
Uncle Keiji looked disapprovingly at Kaoru. "What do you mean they don't know? Didn't you tell them before you left?"
"Like I had the time." Kaoru said sarcastically. Uncle Keiji gave her a look that told her to continue. "Two of Hiko's men came into the dojo and basically dragged me up to the guest house."
"You mean they didn't ask you to come with them?"
"NO!" Kaoru shrieked.
Uncle Keiji sighed. "Well, you best hurry home and tell your students. Your disappearance might hint the people that you could be the rumored stewardess, and that would put you in too much danger for the time being."
Kaoru nodded and stood up to leave. "Thank you, Uncle Keiji." Ojisan nodded and she dashed out of the hospital wing, having no trouble in finding her way back to the entrance.
¤¤
"Kaoru-san!" Lord Seijuro called just as Kaoru was about to push open to doors to the castle.
Kaoru whirled around to face the tall lord as well as a second man with ascetic features, thin hair pulled back, a jagged face, and a slim cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth. "Yes, sir?"
"I would like you to meet Hajime Saitou. He is the head of security in this palace." Lord Seijuro said proudly.
"It's an honor to meet you." Saitou said, his voice thick with a tone lighter than sarcasm.
Kaoru bowed her head and offered her hand to Saitou. "As it is you." She said politely, slightly flinching when Saitou's thin lips met her hand.
Once Saitou released her hand she turned to the Lord. "May I request my leave now, Lord Seijuro?"
"Hiko, please call me Hiko." Lord Seijuro said. He then looked Kaoru over with a critical eye. "I assume that you already know then?"
"K-know what?" Kaoru stuttered, trying to sound as if she had no idea what Hiko was referring to.
Hiko smirked. "Yes, you do know then. Well, you may go back to the guest quarters, but do not leave! I'm warning you, or else I will have to send one of my men after you."
"If it's just one man then it won't be a problem at all." Kaoru said harshly, turning on her heel and departing from the castle.
"She is planning to run, my lord." Saitou said, stating the obvious. "Who are you going to send after her?"
Hiko smiled mischievously. "Battousai."
.tbc.
¤¤**¤¤
A/N: Another chapter up! I apologize, I said Kenshin would appear in this chapter, but alas, he is in the next one in hopes that you now you understand a little more about Kaoru's past, and perhaps see what Hiko is getting at with sending the Battousai after Kaoru. :-D The third chapter will be updated Wednesday!
ARIGATOU!
Thank you to all the people that reviewed: XW, lil'angelblossom, Falconess106, the squirrel (I'm glad you feel that this story needs more reveiews :-D ), Bando-Eido no Megami-sama (hopefully it makes more sense now, but there's still more to come ;-D) , lizzee, amandahar! (haha, you're great! Thanks for reading!), Silver Eyes Bright, and Koishii Sweet (it was nice talking to you!)