Author's Note: Please forgive the large stretch of time between updates but I've been swamped with work and hit a small writer's block on how I wanted to fill some holes in the plot synopsis. I promise that since this chapter ends at a pivotal point, the update will be no later than a week to ten days. And after careful consideration I've decided to do a tasteful wedding night, similar to the one I did in my Speed Racer story, "Days of Future Past". Also, I have considered the plot for the sequel, which will have the honeymoon and the conception and birth of Kenshin and Kaoru's son Kenji. Thanks so much readers (7292 hits) and the ever-faithful reviewers.
Glossary of Japanese words and terms:
Kokochiyoi—Sweet (pleasing)
Hanemun—Honeymoon or wedding trip.
Hakone—A resort town that is popular for its hot springs—Kenshin & Co were there in episode 78—it's also a popular honeymoon place.
Miko—Shinto priestess—in the wedding ceremony, the bride has miko attendants, like bridesmaids.
Konban Wa—Good Evening.
Genki desu ka—How are you?
Daijabou—I'm fine.
Kicho—Precious (beloved)
Gomen—Sorry (casual)
Kanzashi—Hair ornaments worn by the bride.
Tsuno Kakushi and Uchikake—traditional wedding garb that is part of the bride's ensemble—the tsuno kakushi is a hood worn to show the bride's obedience and the uchikake is the overgarment worn over the wedding kimono.
Haori—Coat like garment—the groom wears an ornate type over his wedding outfit or it could be any type of garment worn over regular clothes.
Owaru—Stop!
Sumimasen—I am sorry.
Tategoto—Lyre—a stringed instrument that is played with both hands as it lays flat on a surface.
Itachi—Weasel—Misao is referred to as "Weasel Girl"
A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER
The inhabitants of the Kamiya Dojo were extremely busy in the month and a half prior to the wedding of Kenshin and Kaoru, with the Oniwabanshuu and Hiko staying there. Preparations for the wedding were daily, as Tae would spend hours with Kaoru going over every minute detail. Understandably, this left precious little time for Kaoru to spend with her apprentice so Hiko offered to lend a hand. Yahiko was thrilled that the teacher of his idol, Kenshin had made the offer so his responses to the gruff commands barked at him were surprisingly docile, his temper held in check by awe. The 13th Master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu lent his comments to the eager yet volatile student as he drank his sake, his own days of being a teacher now behind him yet still having an instructor's way.
"Humph! Your stance is weak, boy. You're leaving yourself open for any multiple slash attack," Hiko commented as he took yet another swallow from the jug.
"Yes, sir." Yahiko corrected his stance as Hiko rattled off another kata while in the corner at the washtub, Kenshin watched with amusement as he remembered his own time as a youth, eager to please the man that rescued him from certain death.
"Yahiko, I've never heard you so agreeable, that I haven't."
Hiko glanced at his baka deshi and snorted, "You were never so agreeable as this one, Kenshin. There were times you fought me tooth and nail, challenging me at every turn and I wondered why I bothered taking the effort to bringing you into my home."
Kenshin's smile faded as his shishou again knew which buttons to push to get him riled. Scowling, he wordlessly turned back to the laundry and began scrubbing a gi with a vengeance.
Hiko commented as he set his jug down. "I see Kamiya-san has taken advantage of your domestic skills. I do remember that once you got the hang of it, we had very clean clothes. I guess some things never change," he said with a smirk.
"Whatever you say, Shishou." Kenshin saw the way Hiko was baiting him and he refused to rise to the temptation and give the man the satisfaction of having gotten to him. He rinsed the final garment and hung it on the laundry pole, wiping his hands on his hakama as Kaoru came to the doorway.
"Kenshin, are you done? Onegai, I need you to come into the parlor with us for a minute."
Kenshin smiled at his intended, welcoming the interruption. "Hai, Kaoru. I'll be right there, that I will." He headed into the house, following her to the parlor.
"How's Yahiko doing out there?" she wanted to know as they made their way down the hall.
"Yahiko's entirely different. There hasn't been one complaint or smart retort since shishou took over for you, koishii. He jumps to every command, that he does."
"I see," Kaoru said ruefully. She sighed as she remarked, "This is like a dream come true for him, he's always wanted to learn the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. Remember when we first took him in and he gave me such grief, about my being a girl teaching swordsmanship. Not that it was anything I hadn't heard before."
Kenshin placed a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. "But Yahiko has gotten stronger through the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and your teachings. Anything he has learned outside of that was just additional, it was you who gave him the foundation to build his skills on. Don't be so disheartened, koibito."
Kaoru smiled at him, her eyes lighting up and causing his heart to pound. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Arigatou, anata, for that." They came to the shoji leading into the parlor and slid it open to step in.
Inside, Tae and Misao were chattering over several lists as the couple drew close. Misao leapt to her feet as she said, "What took you so long? Himura, we have things that have to be decided and Kaoru wants your opinion."
Both took seats on cushions on the tatami and Kaoru giggled, "Misao, you're acting like it's your wedding we're planning."
The diminutive female ninja joined them as she said sheepishly, "Gomen, but I just want your day to be perfect, Kaoru-chan. Like everybody else, I can't wait to see you and Himura wed."
Kenshin and Kaoru exchanged glances and clasped hands. "Believe me, Misao-dono nobody wants that more than I do," he said, his violet eyes radiating at his love.
Tae sighed happily as she gushed, "Kokochiyoi." She then picked up a list and said in a no nonsense manner, "Now, we need your decision on this…"
Later that afternoon, Kenshin and Sanosuke were heading out of the shipping office, the former hitokiri pocketing two passages and bearing a letter. He stopped to read the missive, then with a satisfied smile he also slipped it in his gi with the passages.
Ever curious, Sano inquired, "That the ship passages for your hanemun, Kenshin?"
Kenshin nodded, "Hai. I've written that inn we stayed in Hakone when we were traveling back from Shimabara last summer and arranged for Kaoru and me to stay there for a fortnight. The innkeeper was only to happy to accommodate me considering how hard we worked for him when I lost our money."
Sano grinned widely as he remembered the way the five of them, him, Kenshin, Kaoru, Misao, and Yahiko all registered first as paying guests. Then when the bill came due, they had discovered that the money Kaoru had entrusted Kenshin with had fallen out of a hole in his pocket. Embarrassed by their suddenly penniless state, the Kenshingumi offered to work for the establishment, earning their keep and assisting just as the inn became filled with guests. The innkeeper faced with a shortage of staff to handle the crowd reluctantly agreed. By the end of a week, however, he was so grateful for their assistance, he invited them to return anytime and they would be welcomed.
"Yeah, that was quite an experience." He grinned as he continued, "Remember that artist guy that had the hots for Jou-chan?"
Kenshin grunted as he remembered the young man who became smitten with his Kaoru, wanting to capture her beauty on canvas and the intrepid youth's attempts to slay him as his rival. He frowned as he recalled the young man's spying on Kaoru and Misao as they bathed and how when the girls saw him and shrieked, the three men came quickly to their aid and saw more than they bargained for. A slow blush came to his cheek as the view of Kaoru in all her unclad ivory loveliness from that moment stayed with him and then became a major player in his daily fantasies.
Sano saw the mildly glazed look in his best friend's eyes and leaned in, a lascivious grin on his face as he nudged him. "I'm sure you're really looking forward to getting into that hot spring with Jou-chan, eh Kenshin."
Kenshin looked nonplussed as he protested, "Sano."
But the former street tough pressed his advantage as he continued with a leer, "C'mon now. You're a man, Kenshin and it's perfectly natural for you to lust after the woman you love. And the best part of the wedding is the wedding night. Besides, over the year Jou-chan has become quite a looker."
Kenshin halted in mid stride as he was filled with a sudden suspicious anger. "What exactly are you driving at, Sanosuke?" His eyes became cold and had flecks of amber swirling within. "Do you lust after her?"
Sano saw the dormant manslayer within the man he called his best friend and shuddered in spite of himself, seeing that his seemingly harmless remark had crossed the fine line that kept the hitokiri in Kenshin at bay. He diffused the potential powderkeg by holding his hands up placatingly.
"Maa, maa, Kenshin. Of course I don't, she's like a sister to me. I just meant that after all this time, you must be looking forward to making her yours. Forgive me."
Kenshin sighed as they resumed their trek and headed to the bridge that led to the road to the dojo. "My apologies, Sano. Yes, I'm quite eager to make Kaoru mine but I won't push her. I promised her I'd be gentle and I intend to keep that promise. She is young and must be handled with care and love."
Sano nodded, in total agreement with the older and wiser man as they continued the journey home in silence. . . .
While all the happy preparations for the upcoming nuptials were taking place, the dojo continued being the meeting place for Itikaku Mizu on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Kenshin and Kaoru were completely ensconced into the group, exercising their new faith as they drew closer to God as part of their pre-wedding plans.
Danjiro and Tamiko were as enthused as the rest of the Kenshingumi about the upcoming wedding, offering to advise and counsel the couple. Kenshin and Kaoru, both having been raised in the typical Japanese combination of the Shinto and Buddhist faiths, had consulted with the Kamioka couple as how to make their wedding ceremony reflect their new Christian faith. Danjuro offered to perform the ceremony, assuring them that the traditional rites would have Christian elements added.
Itikaku Mizo had enjoyed a reprieve of Akai Ryu attacks for the several weeks they had been meeting at the dojo. No threats either blatant or subtle had been detected, and everyone had breathed easier.
Aoshi and Misao had made several forays in the nights to check out leads provided by both Saito and the Tokyo branch of the Oniwabanshuu and discovered the hideout of the renagade group, an abandoned Shinto temple at the edge of town near the river rapids. They both had observed the goings on and daily met to share their discoveries with Kenshin.
Misao slid the shoji to Kenshin's room shut as she sat down and spoke, "Well, Himura, we found the place the Akai Ryu is holed up."
Kenshin waited as Aoshi took a seat and nodded. "It appears that Hashimoto is training an army. There appears to be instruction on swordsmanship going on nightly."
Kenshin frowned as he responded, "I thought as much. What else did you see?"
Misao replied, "We saw a room that has a stockpile of weapons including a Gattling gun."
Kenshin felt his heart drop as he surmised that Akai Ryu was indeed planning something of grave consequence for the entire populace, not just the harassment of a hanare Kirishitan group. There was an insidious plot afoot, he was certain and his senses as a former hitokiri were in a wary state of readiness.
He got to his feet. "We must keep our eyes open, that we must. I've got a bad feeling about them and we'd better stay aware."
Both Misao and Aoshi nodded in agreement as they too rose. Misao brightened with a smile as she said, "Well, I'm going to go and find Kaoru so we can go to the seamstress shop and get fitted. The wedding's a week away and I'm so excited that I'm one of Kaoru-chan's miko attendants." She turned to scurry off but Aoshi detained her with a firm but gentle hand placed on her slender shoulder.
"Misao, you must get some rest first. I'm sure Kamiya-san will understand and agree. You can go after you get some sleep." His soft tone brooked no disobedience.
She bit her lip and nodded demurely. "Hai, Aoshi-sama."
Aoshi nodded and released her. "Sweet dreams, Misao-chan."
Her teal eyes sparkled as she said softly, "Arigatou, Aoshi-sama." She headed to the shoji and let herself out, Aoshi watching her as she departed.
Kenshin smiled as he saw the soft gaze in the leader of the Oniwabanshuu's zircon eyes. "You care deeply for Misao-dono Aoshi, that you certainly do." It was a statement of fact.
Aoshi turned slowly, his visage impassive save for the warmth in his ordinarily glacial orbs. "Hai," is all he said as he too made to leave and Kenshin followed suit.
It was early September and the summer was at its end, evidenced by the random scattering of leaves, yellow and red among the grass. The weather had turned a bit brisker as well, as the change of season was imminent and the wedding date, the day of the autumn festival was drawing near. The wedding plans were nearing total completion with only a few minor details to attend to but at the dojo it was business as usual coupled with the fervor for the appointed day.
Even in the surrounding neighborhood, the impending union of the legendary Hitokiri Battousai and the well-known Kenjutsu Princess, only daughter of the esteemed Kamiya Koshijiro was common knowledge and according to the wagging tongues of the local matrons it was high time. They had waited zealously for Kamiya Kaoru to sport a rounded belly, evidence of her bearing the Battousai's bastard child since the titian haired swordsman came to reside at the dojo and seemed almost disappointed when even after a year of his living with her, her abdomen had remained flat. Although there were still some disdainful glances from sour hatchet faced spinsters, most everybody gave Kaoru and Kenshin their warmest wishes for the future.
The Wednesday evening just before the wedding, the Itikaku Mizu were gathering for their mid week service when Maita Hana approached Kaoru to chat. Kaoru was pleasant but wary as it had appeared that the disagreeable woman had an about face in her attitude toward the future bride, acting warm and friendly now for over two months, since the ill fated yui-no. Having been through so many battles by Kenshin's side, Kaoru was inherently suspicious, feeling uneasy about the woman but her kind heart prevailed so she gave Maita the benefit of the doubt.
"Konban wa, Kamiya-san," she said pleasantly as she came up to Kaoru.
Kaoru smiled politely bowing as she responded, "Konban wa to you, Maita-san.
The woman returned the bow and said, "I suppose you're ready for your wedding. You must be anxious."
Kaoru nodded as she replied, "Hai, I'm ready to become Himura Kaoru. Kenshin and I are both eager for the day to arrive."
Maita said amiably, "And it was so kind of you to invite all of us in Itikaku Mizu to share in your joy."
Kaoru shrugged as she said, "It was only natural. Since Kenshin and I have been part of this group, you all have made us feel so welcome as new believers we wanted you all to be a part of our day."
Maita smiled as she remarked, "You'll make a lovely bride, Kamiya-san. And I know you've chosen your attendants but if you need any help, please don't hesitate to call on me."
"Arigatou," Kaoru said with a bow as Kamioka Tamiko came toward the pair.
She embraced Kaoru as she said, "Konban wa, Kaoru-san. Genki desu ka?"
"Daijabou. And you?"
Tamiko smiled as she replied, " I'm so excited about your wedding. And arigatou for making me an attendant."
Maita leaned up from her bow and said, "Onegai, excuse me. I must attend to the children." She gestured to the little ones racing about and with another quick bow, left.
Tamiko and Kaoru watched her go and Tamiko commented, "Maita-san appears to have changed toward you, Kaoru-san. She seems to have a sweeter disposition."
Kaoru nodded as she responded, "Hai, I know. She even asked if I needed any help on my wedding day to let her know. Quite a change indeed." She studied Maita with the children, a thoughtful frown on her pretty face.
The 23rd of September came and it was very early in the day when the bride could no longer sleep so she donned a haori to cover her, the sleeping yukata too light to sit in the early autumn chill of the morning. Kaoru stepped into the light of the dawn and took a seat, looking off into the sky above the courtyard.
It's really the same, same courtyard, same well, same koi pond. But this day is a day that will forever change my life. This day I cease to be Kamiya Kaoru and become Himura Kaoru, Himura Kenshin's wife. Who would have known that foggy night last year when I went searching for Hitokiri Battousai that I would meet and one day marry the swordsman of legends.
She watched as a mourning dove, white against the periwinkle sky hovered above as if Kami himself were there to give His blessing on the day. Her eyes watched the graceful bird as it gradually flew away, entranced as two arms encircled her from behind. Kaoru sighed as she felt the warm breath and the clean scent of sandlewood that was her husband-to-be.
"Kenshin," she said softly as tender kisses were showered on her temple trailing down to her cheek.
"Hai," was the husky whisper. "What are you doing out here so early, koishii?"
"I couldn't sleep anymore so I came out to think. And you?"
Kenshin began gently stroking her head as he replied, "Me either. I heard your shoji slide open and figured you had come out here so I decided to join you." He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. "And what are you thinking about, kicho?"
Kaoru sighed with a dreamy look. "I was just thinking how that on this day, I will no longer be Kamiya Kaoru but Himura Kaoru. I-I still can't believe it."
Kenshin chuckled as he assured her. "Believe it, tenshi. Both of us have our dreams coming true this day, that we are." He cupped his hand around her cheek and drew in for a kiss, which she received, opening her mouth to accept his passion.
They remained locked in their affectionate expression for a period as if it seemed that time stopped and they gradually drew apart, still in each other's arms until a high pitched voice called out.
"Kaoru? Kaoru, where are you?" Misao's summons rang in the hall as Kaoru sighed and she and Kenshin got up off the porch edge.
He took her in his arms again as he said ruefully, "You'd better go see what Misao-dono wants before she wakes up the entire house." He leaned in to capture her lips for a small kiss.
Kaoru nodded as she said, disappointed, "So once again our time together is cut short."
"For now," Kenshin pointed out. "But after today, koishii, we'll have the rest of our lives together and tomorrow morning we'll wake up in each other's arms, with nobody else around but us."
Kaoru smiled, her eyes sparkling like sapphires. "Hai, anata. Our whole lives." She broke away and went into the hall where she called softly out, "I'm right here, Misao. Shhh, don't wake everybody up."
"Gomen, Kaoru-chan. I was just worried when I heard something and saw your room open and you gone…" The voices faded as both girls headed back to the bedrooms.
Kenshin chuckled as he heard the receding words and turned to head inside as well when he picked up an evil ki, subtle, yet present. His smile faded and his eyes narrowed as he scanned the courtyard, and the tree branches overhanging the fence. They were empty but like the other day with the men, he sensed it and his guard immediately was up. He cautiously made his way to the fence to make a more thorough investigation that was fruitless, the only stirring in the foliage was that of birds and squirrels. Grudgingly satisfied, Kenshin turned and headed in, with a firm determination that nothing, nothing would spoil this, his and Kaoru's wedding day. . . .
After breakfast, the bride and groom both headed to their rooms for the final preparations before the ceremony. Kaoru had bathed and was in her room, having her hair arranged with kanzashi in elaborate swirls about her head by Tamiko and Misao as Megumi applied rice paper to her cheeks, kohl to line her eyes, and a rose petal balm to her lips making them a deep pink. The wedding garments, the tsuno kakushi and uchikake, including the after ceremony kimono were hung on a screen having been painstakingly pressed so they fell in flawless folds. The tsuno kakushi and uchikake with the wedding kimono had formerly belonged to Kaoru's mother and both were fine watered silk, ivory colored and lavishly embroidered with scarlet roses and sakura flowers. The obi was the one Kenshin presented to her at the yui-no. Ivory tabi and sandals would complete the picture.
Satisfied, Megumi stood back to admire her handiwork. The lady doctor sighed as she commented, "Kaoru-chan, you are absolutely lovely. When he sees you, you'll take Ken-san's breath away." She felt a little pang as she admitted to herself that what she once referred to as the little violent tanuki girl was indeed an exquisitely beautiful woman.
Kaoru lowered her head and said shyly, "Arigatou Megumi-san."
"She's right, Kaoru-chan. You'll look beautiful when you're dressed," Tamiko agreed as she reached for the wedding kimono to get it ready.
Kaoru smiled in gratitude as she took a deep breath to calm her nerves and then she went behind the screen to put on her sheer silk yukata so she could begin donning her wedding finery . . . .
Across the hall a few doors down the groom was completing his toilette as well, fastening the fine linen hakama that his bride had gifted him as Sanosuke, Yahiko, Aoshi, and Danjuro were gathered around Kenshin, as they too were decked out in wedding garb.
Kenshin's wedding attire consisted of his new ivory hakama, an ivory gi trimmed with red and a black linen haori, embroidered on the back with a red and gold dragon, the sleeves trimmed in red silk. His appearance was formal and ornate but masculine, and he chose to wear his fiery locks in a topknot on his head, as he did when he was a samurai.
Sano gave a long, low whistle as he studied his friend's dapper appearance. "Whoa, Kenshin, I hardly recognize ya. Quite a change from that ratty old gi you wear everyday."
Kenshin chuckled as he said, "Well, a man doesn't get married everyday, that he certainly doesn't."
Yahiko stared at his hero with large chocolate eyes and inquired, "Aren't you nervous, Kenshin?"
Kenshin favored the boy with a benign smile. "Iie, Yahiko, I'm eager there is a difference. I cannot wait to give Kaoru my name, that I can't."
Danjuro smiled as he said, "I felt the same way on my wedding day. I was so anxious to make Tamiko-chan mine I walked to the shrine a hour before to make sure I didn't miss the ceremony." He reached in his gi for his bible and added, "I have the verses and passages to use for the ceremony."
"Hai." Kenshin nodded as Sano and Yahiko both stared at him strangely. Sano leaned over and looked at the book.
"That doesn't look like any Buddhist scroll or Shinto prayer book," he pointed out as he glanced at the volume, squinting at the print.
"It's not," Aoshi spoke up in his deadpan manner. "It's the Christian holy book."
"Christian?" Yahiko said incredulously. "Why do you want to use that during your wedding ceremony. You and busu aren't Christians."
Kenshin sighed as he responded, "Yahiko, please do not refer to my bride that way. And in answer to your question, hai we are Christians."
Both Yahiko and Sanosuke stared wide-eyed with their mouths open in astonishment. Sano gaped at the redhead and said, "You're yankin' me."
"Iie. Kaoru and I became Christians during our journey, that we did. I had found a copy of the Christian holy book on the ship to Shimabara and the words about salvation made sense to me. I shared them with Kaoru and she and I both said a prayer and accepted the Christ." Kenshin relayed the occurrence with a calm assured demeanor.
Yahiko said softly, "So that's why the Itikaku Mizu are meeting here. You and Kaoru are part of that group, aren't ya?"
Kenshin nodded as Danjuro spoke up, "Ken-san and Kaoru-chan have become precious to us. They allowed us to meet here when a fire destroyed our meeting place. We are honored to have them with us."
The two members of the Kenshingumi that had been out of the loop were both digesting this surprising news, their expressions reflecting their shock. Yahiko's gamin face became impassive as he turned and headed for the shoji to leave.
"I'm going out to the reception room to help Tae with welcoming the guests," he said flatly, stepping out and sliding the door back with a soft bump.
Kenshin sighed and then turned to the former fighter and tried to make amends. "Forgive me, Sano for not telling the both of you but Kaoru and I did not want either of you to try to talk us out of our decision."
Sano nodded blankly as he pondered over the revelation. Immediately, a picture of Sayo came to his mind and the conversation they had about the faith she had clung to. He remembered the light in her jade eyes as she taught the children and his own hardened heart had, for an instant, softened as he pondered her words of a God that loved and wanted to save. His heart constricted as he saw that same love for her God that made her sacrifice her life to save Dr Elgin when Santou fired at him. He shook his head as even now, he found it hard to conceive. Now Kenshin and Jou-chan were believers in the same God and he was intrigued and disturbed at the same time.
He was shaken from his reverie by Kenshin's urgent summons. "Sano? Sano!"
Sanosuke glanced at Kenshin and gave him a wry half grin. "Hey, you better get going. You're supposed to be getting married." He slapped Kenshin on the back as he sauntered to the shoji. He turned and stated softly, "You never pick the easy way, do you?" then left and headed down the hall.
Aoshi stepped forward and said quietly, "You must choose the way that is right for you, Battousai. Regardless of what anyone thinks." And with those words, he too left Kenshin and Danjuro alone.
Kenshin took a deep breath as Danjuro broke the tension in the room by saying, "Ken-san, let's say a prayer before the ceremony to ask God's blessings on you and Kaoru." He placed his hands on Kenshin's shoulders. "Let us pray…,"
Back in Kaoru's room, Misao, Tamiko and Megumi all were assisting the nervous bride with her trousseau, Misao and Tamiko tying the ornate obi around the wedding kimono and Megumi setting the tsuno kakushi carefully on her elaborately coiffed head. The clock on her dansu said a half to the hour of one o'clock, the time the ceremony was about to begin.
"Be careful!" Misao snapped. "Don't mess up her hair with the tsuno kakushi, it took us two hours to fix it."
"Quiet itachi!" Megumi retorted. "I know what I'm doing."
"Maa, maa. Let's calm down, Kaoru-chan is nervous enough," Tamiko said trying to soothe ruffled feathers.
Kaoru held a hand up to stop the commotion. "Owaru! Onegai, I'd like some time alone, if I may. So if all of you would leave me for just a few minutes, I'd be most grateful."
The trio of well-meaning yet feuding women all nodded. They turned and headed out, closing the shoji softly as Kaoru sighed and strolled over to her other shoji, sliding it open and staring out at the multicolored foliage of the sakura tree just outside. She watched the clouds meander across the early fall blue sky, her mind on what was about to take place.
Married, I'm going to be married she said in awe to herself, her mind so occupied that she did not hear the shoji slide open and the soundless footsteps of someone entering her room. She took a deep breath and was suddenly grabbed roughly from behind, her mouth gagged as her arms were tied and she struggled in the heavy uchikake, yet Kaoru managed to get herself turned so she saw who had captured her. Her sapphire eyes widened in disbelief as she looked into the cold onyx orbs of Maita Hana clad in ninja blacks as the woman gave her an evil smirk.
"Sumimasen, Kamiya. But your marriage to the Battousai is unfortunately postponed." Two other black garbed figures stepped forward and one took a club and struck Kaoru on the head, causing a white flash and then darkness as a stream of blood from the wound stained the tsuno kakushi, which fluttered to the tatami, discarded.
Maita hissed, "Get her outside now." And the men hoisted the bound and limp Kaoru like a sack of potatoes and hustled out the shoji as Maita took a dagger from her waist and jammed it to the wall with a note. She then joined her companions, leaving the shoji open as the autumn breeze blew some leaves into the room. . . .
The time was near for the beginning of the wedding ceremony, and the groom was kneeling on a cushion, waiting at the budusan that was set up for Danjuro, who was conducting the ceremony. Kenshin and Sano, who was standing up as his attendant were both there as the group of well-wishers were murmuring between themselves and a musician played a tategoto.
Dr. Gensai, who was giving Kaoru away and the miko attendants, Misao, Tamiko, and Megumi all left the room to go to get Kaoru. They headed to her room and Tamiko rapped at the shoji.
"Kaoru-chan, it's time. The ceremony is about to begin." When there was no answer, Dr. Gensai stepped forward.
"Come, Kaoru-chan, Ken-san is eagerly waiting for you." He knocked and then slid the portal open to peer in. "Kaoru-chan?"
The foursome cautiously entered the room and gasped as they saw the shoji that lead outside wide open and the tsuno kakushi laying on the tatami. They hurried over and Tamiko picked the hood up and saw with horror the fresh bloodstain on the material.
The four looked at each other in stunned silence as they all came to the same conclusion and then they all headed out to inform Kenshin. . . .
NEXT---THE BATTOUSAI UNLEASHED
Final Note: "Kenjutsu Princess" is the name Kaoru is called in volume 5 of the manga as she teaches in the Maekawa Dojo.