Here is chapter two. An entire week has passed, so hopefully I have not left you in too much suspense. Chapter Three will be out next Friday and I hope you all enjoy.

To answer some quick questions:

Nguardian-

Have you ever read the true version, the original, The Grimm Brothers' version of Snow White. I like it the best. They are really dark.

Damn. No can't say that I have. I think I will now though. Got to love all things dark.

BTW, have you ever seen the dark version of Snow White, the one Segorney(I know I spelled that wrong, but at 4:30 in the morning what do you expect) Weaver in it, that was pretty cool,

I have got to admire you for your resources. No, but once again, tracking it down seems like a grand idea.

And then last but not least, MP1 and her question about who is going to be the Seven Dwarfs. To that I would like to say one thing: 'What seven dwarfs?' to find out what I mean…you going to have to read it.

Enjoy.

Ravyn

Remember I do not own the Kenshin-gumi. A sad day but true.

Kaoru gathered the random shades of flowers into her pale, worn hands, her eyes keeping a close eye on her friend. Sano had seemed agitated since he had come to get her; a look of desperation had seemed to linger along his mouth throughout there time in the field.

A chance to get away, perhaps the same reprieve it was for her. Kaoru was cautious, however. A day free -as he had promised- was…deceptive in its innocence.

There was the chance that something in the romance he had been attempting to cultivate with the lady-doctor he talked about often had gone wrong. Perhaps he was using this trip as a distraction.

As children, before so much was demanded of her, they used to sneak off to this field and scare each other with the stories of the woods that ran along one side of the field. The Haunted woods, where a great many things roamed, magical things that were dangerous and beautiful; so very deadly.

Kaoru didn't think, however, that was what was on his mind. Kaoru sighed and stood; walking over to her friend. The weight of the skirt twisted around her legs, the fabric as soft as any in her childhood memories.

Her stepmother was behind this, somehow. Kaoru fingered the heavy embroidery on the gown and frowned darkly. She had been suspicious since Sano had handed her both the dress and the heavy cloak that covered her shoulders and arms from the sun. By staying the castle, however, she would have accomplished nothing in discovering her Queen-mother's scheme.

Sweat beaded on her brow and slipped down her temples. She was missing something; and Kaoru wasn't sure the missing piece was going to make her happy.

Kaoru turned to ask Sano a question and stiffened when her gaze landed on his still figure. He was standing behind her, a long knife glinting in his hand. His eyes were dark with conflicting thoughts and the pure desperation that radiated from him terrified her.

"She wants me dead." It was soft, matter of fact, a whisper of fear and understanding. Kaoru sighed and sat down hard. She beginning to hate being right.

Sano crouched in front of her; the knife held loosely between numb fingers. "Forgive me." The words were as un-Sano as the expression on his face, as unlikely as this possible betrayal. Sano was one of the most loyal people she had ever met.

Kaoru reached for his face, but he flinched away. "Kaoru your life is in danger."

Kaoru gave a mirthless laugh. "I know." Her tone was clipped, her eyes wide pools of mixed emotions.

Sano grinned then, but his good humor faded. "No. You don't. The Queen is very bitter, angry at some unimaginable fault of yours. She has started to meddle in the darker magics and for some reason sees you as a threat. She has ordered the death of any magic user that does not bow to her will. She fears something." He raked a hand through his dark hair, the strands already sticking up in disarray.

"I was ordered to bring your heart back to her in a chest."

Kaoru frowned. "My heart? Sano, I don't understand what you mean by meddling. The Queen hates magic, hates me. I thought she was content ignoring my presence." It had been a naïve hope, but Kaoru had clung to it.

Sano sighed. "There are a lot of rumors going around right now, and the least of them is of the country to our east possible moving against us. I think that it may have something to do with her wanting you dead. No competition for the thrown." He hesitated, his eyes dark. "There is something else, but I have no proof."

Kaoru's eyes widened. "War?" If they were forced to deal with another kingdom they would surely wonder about her living arrangements. Not all the servants would be trusted to keep their mouths shut on her status. Perhaps this was why Yumi was attempting to kill her.

"Something else?" Kaoru desperately attempted to piece together what Sano meant by that statement.

Sano shook his head. "Just rumors playing off a Queen's jealousies. No one would kill for mere vanity's sake."

Kaoru shook her head. "Sano, I…"

He stood suddenly yanking her to her feet with him. "Run Kaoru." There was a steel in his voice Kaoru had never heard before.

She gave him a wide-eyed look of surprise. "What?"

He shoved her, hard enough to cause her to stumble. "Run away. Go. Into the forest, it will be hard for her to find you. You have to survive Kaoru. I will do my best to keep her off your trail as long as possible."

Kaoru blinked as Sano turned and started to tether her horse to his. "Sano?" There was almost panic in her childhood friend's eyes. Fear. Sano was never afraid.

"GO, Kaoru." His voiced was pained. "Please."

"Sano…but how are you going to fake…" Her words dying when she realized he wasn't paying attention to her.

Kaoru watched as he swung into his saddle. He tossed one last almost agonized expression at her and then the horses disappeared into the distance. Kaoru felt a faint shiver of fear twist down her spine.

"Sano." Kaoru whispered in fear. "You idiot." 'You left me alone.'

Alone. Her one fear was to be alone, especially at night. She had always hated that small silence before you fears began to play off each other in the dark of night. Hated since the night she had gone to her mother and found her cold, unresponsive. She had been a toddler, barely three, and yet the memory was as clear as any from her adult life.

Kaoru scanned the endless fields, and then turned and started to walk into the endless forests. She had no other choice, but even that knowledge couldn't keep her feet from dragging. Haunted. Kaoru felt a shiver run down her spine as she past the first few trees.

Kaoru had no idea how long she walked. All she knew was that she couldn't go towards the castle, knowing that her friend had given her a chance to get away. All she could think about were all the stories she and Sano used to whisper to each other in an attempt to make the other scream.

Weaponless. Without water, food and a change of clothes. Her soft silk shoes had started to shred long ago, but she not worked a lifetime of labor to have soft feet. But the endless pine needles, sharp rocks, and fallen branches had taken their toll.

Kaoru shivered as the cool evening breeze teased the thick material of her cloak. She stiffened as something else played at her senses. Kaoru gave a yelp as she ducked, something tearing at her clothing. Long, twisted finger like branches that scratched and felt rough and old under her fingertips; her horrified scream echoed back at her from the growing darkness of the forest.

Kaoru raised her eyes to the trees, terror darkening her gaze. They moved. Scrambling to her feet Kaoru ran. Kaoru could count on a handful of times that she had been so utterly terrified.

The night her father died. The night of her mother's death. The first time she had slipped into her amber eyed stranger's dreams. That time Sano had tied her to a tree and left her in the woods alone.

She hated to be alone.

Kaoru new she was breathing too hard, knew that the dark was only as dark as she let it be. But it did nothing to aid her fears as she raced through the Forrest, adrenaline pounding through her veins.

Mentally she had almost calmed her frantic thoughts, some of her fear lessening with each foot step she put between herself and the enchanted trees. A howl split the air. Wolves. Kaoru gave a muffled sob and hitched her skits up over her knees, uncaring of the sharp earth that dug and cut at her feet.

Kaoru shoved through a large patch of bramble and thick foliage, and screamed when her feet dropped out from under her. Kaoru hit hard, her breath knocked out from her lungs.

Once she regained the air in her lungs, she rolled on her back and looked up. The fall had only been a few feet, which she was thankful for. But it only hit home exactly how desperate she really was. Curling into a small ball she did the only thing available to her, she cried.

Eventually she must have cried herself to sleep, because when she sat up, she was in a familiar darkness. This only caused her body to shake even harder with tears she did not have the energy to fight.

She was terrified, hungry, torn, and filthy. Being lost in the woods did not help her disposition and now she was going to be forced to deal with a man who name she didn't know who was likely going to yell at her.

Kaoru buried her head into her hands and wept.

Kenshin wasn't sure when he finally managed to fall into his bed, the plans and documents his spies had collected, finally enough to give justification of war.

It seemed that his old nemesis' lovers past had finally caught up with her. It had taken him near to ten years, but he was finally finishing what he started so long ago.

It was then that he heard the sounds of crying. Kenshin frowned and began to follow the faint noises until he found what he was looking for.

It was the girl again. Not a surprise, but he stood there for a moment, attempting to figure out exactly how to handle this situation.

His eyes glittered gold before he finally gave a sigh and reached down and hauled her to her feet.

Which was when she surprised him.

"Don't touch me!" the girl wailed -there was no other word for it- and she attempted to wrench herself from his grasp. Kenshin simply tightened his hold, exasperation leveling his voice.

"No."

Kaoru slumped against his shirt when she realized he had no intention of letting her go. Tears still slipped down her face, but the shock of being yanked to her feet had managed to pull her out of hysterics.

"Now," His voice was patient, but Kaoru caught the underlying exasperation. "Why are you huddled -once again- in my mind and crying, little bird?"

He had realized that he hated women crying. It bothered him more than he cared to admit. The fact that this particular woman was crying, it set his teeth on edge.

"Kaoru." Kaoru whispered, her fingers plucking at the buttons she found. "That's my name. Not little bird."

She missed the slow smile of triumph. A name meant she could be found. Found meant he would end this. Finally. She would either bend to his will or he would break her.

"She is trying to kill me."

Kenshin frowned darkly, "Who?" He shook her slightly, his lips thinning. For all purposes this little sparrow of his was connected to him. Which meant only he had the right to order her death. Someone's life was going to end in a very unpleasant manner.

"The Queen." Kaoru breathed her eyes wide and frightened as she stared up at his violent, amber gaze. Then the world gave a strange heaving motion and Kaoru found herself sitting up with a start.

Kaoru groaned and covered her face with her hands. Even being trapped in the dark surroundings of his mind was better than being here.

In the woods, by herself with strange noises and animals and her every movement tinged with a desperation that sat strangely in her mouth.

Kaoru pushed herself to her feet, wincing when put pressure on her damaged feet, and began to walk.

His King was in a bad mood. Shinomori Aoshi leaned against the wall and watched his liege methodically destroy everything that he could get his sword near in the practice hall.

Aoshi had served his King for many long years, both training for manhood at the same time, by some of the same instructors. Aoshi had been skilled in the art of the subtle, of leading. Kenshin had always been too violent, his passionate natures forcing him to burn too brightly for the mundane. No man, or woman, had been able to stand in his sphere of influence for long.

Perhaps this was why Aoshi was his first General and leader of the more…underhanded ways of taking care of the threats to his lord's people.

The Oniwabanshu were known for there abilities to stick to the shadows and eliminate any threat. Weather they did so in a manner that was acceptable to highborns or not was no there concern. They had no great fire to hide, or a great arch of power to disguise.

"You saw her again." It was a statement, one of thoughtfulness that led to bemusement. Aoshi rarely had to ask questions, his sources were by far the best. Most of his observations were more of a stating of fact.

Himura Kenshin was the King of perhaps the greatest kingdom of the Seven Realms. His people relied on his magic and his fire to maintain their way of life.

But Kenshin burned alone. Or had until a small blue-eyed woman had entered his dreams. Mind. There really wasn't a difference.

Seta Soujiro settled once again into his defensive stance. "You mean she is still getting through your defenses? Even after you upgraded your shields, I would have thought that impossible."

'It should have been,' Aoshi mused. Kenshin was King because of his mage talent as much as his leadership skills and impressive artistry with a Katana.

"Don't start." Kenshin warned his voice dark and dangerous.

Aoshi and Soujiro frowned. "Something is wrong." Aoshi guessed. His King wasn't the type to think of women, none of them able to meet him in skill or fire.

Aoshi wondered if that wasn't, perhaps, the reason fate had placed the two together.

"Aoshi, I want you to start searching for a girl by the name of Kaoru." Kenshin's voice was edgy, a shadowy flame that told of his ire. "She is in a kingdom ruled by a Queen." He looked at his friend, and Aoshi -almost- blinked. Kenshin never had that particular look in his eyes. "There can not be to many women with eyes the color of sapphire with mage talent named Kaoru."

Soujiro turned to Aoshi as Kenshin left, and frowned. "Should we be worried?"

Aoshi paused. "More than likely not; I have a hunch."

Soujiro blinked but Aoshi never explained himself so he shrugged and decided finding a healer was a wise idea. He was certain he had at least two bruised rips and his right wrist was aching.

His King was going to want another match if the meetings expressing his desire for war went badly.

Soujiro felt his eyes narrow.

Queen Yumi. His lips twisted into a hateful frown. Not for long, at least.

Aoshi neared the stream were he knew he would find her. He always knew where she was. Ten years of being lovers had done nothing to dull his senses were she was concerned.

Her laughter was the first thing he heard. He was content to stand there for a moment, listening to her splash and laugh, her joy of life apparent.

"Misao," Aoshi murmured softly, the name a talisman against the ice hold on his emotions. She was his emotion.

She spun then, her thick braid wrapping around her. Her eyes were wide, a peculiar shade of blue-green. Her skin pale, flawless and smooth under his rough finger tips.

"Aoshi!" She breathed, her face lighting up. She pulled her skirt from the water –dry and clingy-, and moved to hug him. Aoshi held her for a moment before sighing.

"I have a favor."

The nymph looked up, her eyes dancing. "You know I never say no." Her generous mouth was pulled into a smile he couldn't resist. Leaning down he kissed her lightly before raising his head back up. She smiled at him, a particular dreamy look in her eyes that always made his heart melt.

He allowed himself a smile then. "I know. But it's for Kenshin." His lover was not going to like it.

Her lashes lowered then, hiding what he knew would be there. A hint of resentment for the man who kept them apart, for Aoshi could not take her as his wife until his King also had a bride.

Aoshi tipped her chin up them, gentleness he only had for her. "There is a woman."

Her face lit then. "Where." Misao was never one to need too much explaining. The fragile hope he read in her gaze caused his chest to tighten. And then her smile took on a more impish look.

Aoshi -almost- rolled his eyes. Speaking before she could was the only way to save his dignity. Or his wits. "That's why I need you Misao-mine. She had been invading his mind at night, and he is finding it to be a problem." Aoshi kept his face perfectly straight, he knew his lover far to well. Any show of amusement from would set her off the next time she saw his King.

Misao's mouth formed a perfect 'O'. "A binding? His mate? Like the prophecy said would happen?"

Aoshi felt his face relax. She would have made a wonderful Ninja. "She must be a mage. Perhaps magic born." When she wasn't doing something crazy. Hopefully she would stay diverted and allow him some measure of peace.

Misao looked thoughtful. "Traces of a magic born are easy enough to follow. Do you have a name?"

"Kaoru," Aoshi muttered.

Misao wrinkled her nose in a way that made Aoshi want to kiss her, again. "Rather common. What was her family thinking?"

Aoshi shook his head. "Black hair, blue eyes, petite form; that is all Kenshin can give…apparently there is a Queen wishing for her death."

Misao blinked. "Yumi?" There was a hint of hatred coupled with a large amount of distaste in her tone.

Aoshi brushed her mouth with his. "We are not sure. There -are- other Queen rulers, beloved."

Misao rolled her eyes. "Not rulers who would kill a magic born. There are no words for that woman's stupidity. Of course the day someone admits to Yumi's brilliance is the day I kiss Soujiro."

"Will you look?" There was a touch of amusement in his voice, but the idea of her kissing someone turned his eyes to cool shade of blue.

Misao gave him an indignant glance. "For a chance to finally get this damn marriage on the road?"

Aoshi pulled her close then, the left corner of his mouth twitching. "I have an hour or so before I must be back."

Misao's response was to pull him close and kiss him fiercely, her gown clinging both to her lithe form and his legs.

Kaoru wasn't sure what she had done wrong in a past life, but whatever it was, it had to have been bad. Irritated with the wrong person perhaps? Maybe she was a murderess? An Adulteress? Didn't matter, whatever it was, it had come to bite her in the butt.

She had been trudging through the woods for a good day and a half now, following the stream she had –literally- fallen into. There was no sign of civilization and no sign of any more of those blackberries she had all but gorged herself on that morning.

Kaoru was thankful for a small measure of relief. Last night she had not had any running around in some inky haven of a strangers mind.

Kaoru kicked at a dirt clot as she rounded another bend and blinked when she looked up. A small cottage loomed ahead of her. Around it twisted the small stream she had been following and Kaoru decided right then and there they could be axe murders for all she cared.

The possibility of bath and something besides berries had her running full force towards the cozy looking place. Kaoru slowed once she reached the small bridge, the pain lacing her feet stopping her from running all the way to the front door.

Slowly Kaoru pushed the door open, her attempts at knocking having gone unanswered. The place was a mess, clothing strewn in all directions while dishes stacked up in the sink.

Years of being forced to do chores from dawn till dusk set her feet and hands into motion before she could stop to think about it. Perhaps if she cleaned the place whoever lived here would be more than willing to let her stay.

It took hours. Kaoru hadn't thought it possible for there to be so much dust, cobwebs or dirty dishes. She had spent a good portion of the day doing laundry, and finally had it hung on the line.

She had found a stash of apples and what appeared to leftovers from breakfast. The Fish was still rather fresh so Kaoru decided to chance it, and was a lot better off once she had food in her stomach.

Kaoru fingered a small shirt and frowned thoughtfully. The shirts would fit children, and if the pink ribbon in one could be believed, one of the two occupants (there were two beds) was a girl-child.

Kaoru wished she could do something about dinner (there was a whole assortment of vegetable in the garden she had discovered outback) but she had never learned anything besides the basics.

Her basics were simple. Don't touch.

Kaoru walked back inside and sighed as she grabbed the bar of soap she had found, and a cleaning towel. She figured there was an easier way, but would ask later. Heading towards the creek she managed a fast, but cold bath.

It wasn't until she heard the sounds of two boys arguing that Kaoru realized what time it was. She had been sitting on a small chair, attempting to find something to do when the sounds had interrupted her silence. Chewing on her lower lip, she fidgeted ; she was going to have to explain her presence now.

"I told you YUTARO that there wasn't any…"The voice died when the door opened and Kaoru found herself looking at three young, startled faces.

"Hi?" Kaoru tried. Two face turned bright red with both anger and embarrassment at having been caught fighting. Both were only a few handbreadths shorter than she, with spiky hair and dark eyes. But it was the girl's face that caught her attention.

Large eyes the color of mocha, and short-cropped hair, Kaoru couldn't get over the fact that she seemed familiar.

"Princess Kaoru." The girl whispered, her face pale. "What are you doing here?"

That statement led to more chaos than Kaoru had ever seen.

Both the boys started yelling, both arguing about her needing to leave, Tsubame was attempting to talk over them, and Kaoru wondered what exactly was going on.

As it turned out, Kaoru wasn't the only one hiding away.

Yahiko, Tsubame, and Yutaro had all run away from the Royal City close to a year ago. Tsubame was a jewel caller and the Queen had demanded her services. Yahiko was a gold worker and had worried that if the Queen wanted Tsubame for her gifts then she would want him as well.

Yutaro was simply a mage. Powerful enough that Yumi had ordered his death, along with the other two if they were ever caught.

So they had fled here. Tsubame was an excellent cook, and Yahiko had learned enough about traps to catch wild game, while Yutaro kept the garden going even in winter with his mage gifts.

Kaoru sighed in contentment as she pushed away her bowl of rabbit stew; attempting to ignore the dark looks Yahiko kept sending her way.

"So, Karou," Tsubame question, the hesitant touch to her question leading Kaoru to believe the girl still wanted to call her Princess. "Are you sure the Queen doesn't know where you are."

Kaoru sighed. "I don't see how she could."

Yahiko glared. "She had more power than you think!"

Yutaro nodded. "Its of utmost importance that you keep to yourself while we are gone during the day."

Yahiko rounded on Yutaro. "Its important that she leaves!"

Tsubame glared. "She stays."

Yahiko huffed and stormed out of the house. Yutaro and Tsubame both sighed and refilled their bowls.

"Don't mind him." Tsubame told her shyly. "But you must be careful. Traders do come with way, and I would hate it if word got to the Queen that you're alive."

Kaoru smiled cheerfully. "I don't see how that is possible!"

"Queen, you are full fair, 'tis true, but Snow White still fairer is than you." Then mirror replied as she twisted around the room, the taste of Kaoru's heart lingering on her tongue.

Yumi went utterly sill. "What?"

She twisted then, her face contorting in rage. "Show me."

The mirror lost its face and showed her the path in the great woods. It twisted along a bending river, a trade path here, and then a small cottage came into view. Yumi hissed when she saw a young and more importantly –alive- Kaoru cleaning a porch with a broom.

"Not for long."

Whipping around she headed for a place even her now dead husband had known nothing about. "And I WANT THAT HUNTSMAN DEAD."

Heading down to be basement she grasped a small candle and watched the wall shift upwards. "I will get rid of the brat yet."

Sano had never been accused of being overly bright. But when it came to survival, he knew a few tricks that no one else did.

Taking a deep breath he knocked on the door to the one woman who could either help him, or kill him herself.

The door opened and he was staring at the one woman who always managed to scar him senseless, and inflame him all at the same time.

"What do you want?" Megumi snapped, her apron clean and her hair bound tightly away from her face. Which meant that had not interrupted something.

"The Queen wants Kaoru dead. She hired me to do it, I helped her escape, and do you think you can hide me?" Sano rambled, attempting to get the words out before she killed him. She had that glint in her eyes that promised a sound chewing down, or perhaps some ear pulling to prove her point.

A healer was able to hide at least one patient from searching spells. It was part of the immunity of being a healer; it somehow canceled out the evil of whatever it was they were hiding from.

Megumi leveled him with a look and then yanked him inside the security of her home. "Are you insane?"

Sano shrugged. "She was going to make me kill Kaoru!"

Megumi spun around, her eyes flashing. "And now the Queen wants you dead!" Sano almost swore there was worry in her eyes, but she hid it quickly behind her normal temper.

Sano sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "Look Kaoru is the only one who can pull the Queen off her thrown, you know that!"

Megumi bared her teeth in a fierce expression. "And you and I know she has no desire for ruling!"

Sano shrugged, eying her fierce expression thoughtfully. "No need to get so worried about me fox."

Megumi went still and then hissed. Grabbing his arm she all but through him into the small room she kept hidden behind a moveable bookshelf. "And you can just stay there."

Sano grinned at her even as the bookshelf moved into place. "What, your not going to keep me warm?"

"AHHH."

Kaoru soon fell into the pattern of living in the cottage. Surprisingly it was very rarely that she was left only for long periods of time. Yahiko and Tsubame would disappear into vast caves near the surrounding area, looking for treasure they could trade with.

Yutaro would go into the woods to forge, or spend his time in the garden. Kaoru would clean the house, do the laundry –which she still detested- and attempt to learn the dangerous art of cooking.

Only if Yutaro or Tsubame was with her, Yahiko would have nothing to do with her attempts of 'turning his insides into mush.'

Twice a week Yahiko, Tsubame, and Yutaro would leave her in the cottage alone. They couldn't chance her being seen and reported. Yutaro swore that there was unusual mage energies surrounding her, and anyone with sense could sense them.

So they intercepted the traders and Kaoru would mend or collect fruit and nuts. It was on those days she would fill the great tub full of hot water and soak in the bath she was growing very fond of.

It was on one of those days that Kaoru got her first visitor.