Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and am just borrowing its characters for a few chapters. The main idea isn't my own, but what's in between and the dialogue is my very own. Most of you who are told Fairy Tales know that there is hardly any dialogue at all, mostly just words from the narrator. In my culture, family really, Fairy Tales are all told in a poetic sense and there isn't any dialogue at all, so therefore I had to add to it.




A Virgin's Curse

Written By Night Mistress



Part Three





The Princess of Japan twisted her fingers together nervously as she rode towards her wedding. Just because her guards of ten walked around her carriage protectively--swords at their hips--she did not feel safe or secure. She could only feel the dreadful knot within her stomach grow, threatening to make her vomit with the help of her tightly fastened obi. For some odd reason, she felt as if something terrible was going to happen, even with all the reassuring smiles that the people outside of her white carriage gave her. They were all happy; so why was she so…apprehensive?

As if on cue, the sound of a battle cry and the thundering of hooves reached her ears, making her snap her head up from under her crimson veil. She didn't bother to move it away to see what she knew was going on outside from all of the noises. Out of pure instinct and habit, her hands darted to her chest and she clutched the ruby pendant tightly in her small hands, praying that all would be alright. But she knew better when the door to her carriage was slammed open.

"The leader of Hanransha is here to escort you to your new home, Princess Kaoru," said a polite and youthful voice; it didn't seem like one of a rebel at all.

Unsure of what to do, Kaoru moved away slightly from the voice, far enough to find her back touching the other door to her carriage. The veil that she was under didn't allow her see or even noticed a red-haired man opening the door. She yelped as she almost fell and felt her breath catch when she found herself caught in a pair of very powerful yet comfortable arms.

Her veil slipping from her face, Kaoru gasped as she met the golden eyes of a predator, the very predator that had saved her from a fall and the wedding she was supposed to be attending to. From her shock, she didn't notice that he had her veil in his right hand, and didn't even perceive the recognition in the young man's eyes.

"As Katsu said, our leader shall escort you on his white stallion to our--and now your--new home, Missy," repeated a man of chocolate colored hair from behind his superior.

Blushing at the situation she was in, Kaoru felt the leader of the Hanransha group help her untangle her feet from her carriage and stand back on her feet. He didn't bother to let go of her left arm when she proved that she could stand up properly on her own.

"Arigato," whispered Kaoru. It wasn't right that she was thanking the very person that was going to whisk her away, but he did save her from falling flat on her rear end. She looked back down at the ground after her thanks; she couldn't bring herself to keep her head held high, especially now that she was a prisoner. Absent mindedly, she fingered the ruby necklace around her neck.

"The rest of you stack the bodies inside the carriage and let the horses run towards the Sapphire Meadows. Katsu, Sanosuke, I want you two to come with me back to the Akai campsite with our new guest," ordered their leader, making the men quickly get to work after a bow in his direction. He was clearly well respected by his men.

Utterly confused, Kaoru didn't move from her spot until she felt herself being lifted bridal style by the rebellious auburn haired man. She found herself blushing as deep as his hair color when he swept her so easily off her feet and carried her away. For someone not much taller than herself, the man was strong; he had managed to carry her up the hill to his mustang and lifted her and himself onto the back of his horse.

Finally able to look at what had happened, Kaoru hissed in a gulp of air when she saw the blood trailing after the bodies that were being pulled into the carriage without much care. The men below seemed like savages as they crammed the corpses into the small white carriage. She could feel her stomach knotting up again. A part of her sighed in relief when the horse was pulled to move in the opposite direction. The other part felt nothing more than guilt. None of them would have lost their lives if they hadn't been trying to save her.

Without warning, the veil she wore earlier was back in place. She was about to take it off when a calloused hand held onto her wrist, the other one clearly on the reins. Even if she couldn't see what was in front of her, she could still see what went on beneath her.

"I can't allow you to see where we're headed. Make it easier on yourself and relax," spoke the leader into the general area where her right ear was, his voice more commanding than suggesting.

Not wanting to fight, and knowing that even if she did struggle she wouldn't be able to get away, the Princess of Japan leaned back into the man's firm and finely chiseled chest. If she weren't trapped in such a beautiful kimono where she could only move in small steps like a lady was supposed to, then she would have thought about trying to escape from the three men. But since she was, she knew there was no chance of her defeating the men, and even if she somehow did manage to, she doubted she would have been able to find her way back home or to the Sapphire Meadows. Plus, she was certain she was a lot safer with these three than the creatures in the wilderness around her.

"So, Missy, who were you going to marry anyways? I'm Sanosuke by the way, the guy who opened your carriage door first is Katsu, and the one you're comfortably leaning against is our leader, Lord Battousai," introduced the one she easily recognized as the rooster hair like person from his laid back voice.

Kaoru couldn't help but flush at the man's comment and unconsciously sat up straight. From the sudden silence, she was sure that Sanosuke had gotten a very nasty look from his boss.

"As Sano had impolitely asked, who were you marrying, Princess? We caught your name, but we didn't catch the broom's," stated the one named Katsu. The question had slightly surprised the teenager, since almost everyone in the kingdom knew about her wedding.

"Prince Yukishiro Enishi of England," answered Battousai for her, making her jump slightly at his sudden reply. She didn't really think he'd speak up for the rest of the trip after his earlier command.

"Ah. So you were going to be sent off to England with the guy. Now I see why we had to get you before…"

Kaoru cocked her head when the unfinished sentence was replaced by an oomph sound. It seemed that either he was hit in the stomach by Katsu or the man behind her. She wasn't quite certain, but she was curious as to why they had captured her in the first place. Did they plan to use her for ransom?

"Now that you're hanging with us, we've got to make a few things clear before we get to our campsite. We're basically nomads," explained Sano once again, riding a bit behind his leader so that their prisoner could hear. "We travel once in a course of seven days along the river where the animals go to get a drink. There are over a thousand of us in one campsite, so don't expect to be treated like royalty there. No one knows you're the Princess of Japan but the three of us and those eight guys back there. They're not going to speak though, so you better learn to get use to life on the move."

She appreciated the advice, but she still wanted to know why they had captured her. Wasn't there another reason they wanted to take her home, besides making her get use to living a life outside the castle walls? She had no doubt that that wasn't the reason why they had kidnapped her from her wedding. There was definitely some other explanation as to why she was being led to their campsite.

Answering her silent question, Sano teased, "The reason why you're coming home with us is because our leader needs a wife, and since you're all dressed up and ready for it, we thought that you'd make the perfect bride!" Soon after his words, the sound of horse hooves racing off ahead was heard.

Unconsciously, Kaoru stiffened upon hearing Sano speak up again; she wasn't sure if it was a joke or not. Now she was afraid. She had gotten out of one marriage only to fall into another.



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The Emperor of Japan felt his breathing pattern go random as he looked inside the carriage that belonged to his daughter. He couldn't--wouldn't--believe the sight that he saw before his very eyes. His brain refused to process the fact that his daughter's carriage had been ambushed.

Only a few minutes ago, his driver had spotted and heard two familiar white horses ahead of them. After ordering two of his guards to go fetch the carriage and make it go to a stop, Hiko had felt himself get anxious as he approached the carriage. When it came into view, he found that he had to force himself to activate his lungs; the logo on the carriage was all too visible along with the blood stains on it. He was only half an hour behind his daughter's carriage, and looking around he knew that those that caught her were long gone. There were just too many directions that they could have gone and the mixes of horse footprints had already littered the ground everywhere in this section of the country.

Silence fell over the group for a few minutes before the Emperor ordered, "Find her. Go back to the castle and order a search party. I want every nook and cranny of Japan searched until she is found. One of you go and send word to the Sapphire Meadows to cancel the wedding; quickly. Do not say the reason why. I don't want my people to worry about their princess. Now go! I'll talk to Prince Enishi myself when he comes to see me for an answer."

Soon enough, his soldiers and servants did as he said, a few staying behind to look after their Emperor.

Hiko's eye lids suddenly felt heavy as he closed them. His hands subconsciously clenched to his sides in a silent fury. He dreaded the thought of what might happen to his precious adoptive daughter when her 18th birthday came and she was still with her virginity. Although the mere thought that she might lose it through force made him shake with a controlled rage that threatened to explode.

Within the comfort of his mind, the Emperor of Japan scolded himself. If he had listened to his daughter and postponed the wedding only a bit longer, then none of this would have happened. His daughter, the child he vowed to protect, was gone. Should anything happen to his adoptive daughter, he would never forgive himself.

"Oh Kaoru, I pray that you'll be alright," thought Hiko, looking to the Heaven's and sending a prayer her way.



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