Author's note: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. And I wish to say any cliché's in this fic I deeply apologize for because well I've been watching Rurouni Kenshin for sometime now and I have recently taken a liking to reading these fics and I have yet to see a plot anywhere near the same as this one so if it's the same then I guess it's true Great Minds think alike!

A/n: …. I guess I need to pick up my Shakespeare again. Anyway I should warn you a bit OOC for Saitou. But it won't last too long... especially when Shishio finally makes his entrance again.

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                She sat in front of the mirror looking at her reflection while Megumi brushed out her raven locks. She didn't look like herself. She was used to having her hair tied back, wearing something a little less soft and shiny and no make up whatsoever. She sighed; she had to admit she did look wonderful. Why is this the only time they're making sure she looks good this time? Oh Right she's supposed to be meeting two of three important suitors today and they're important ones…

"I don't see what's so important about men to begin with." She muttered.

"Kaoru…"

"I know, I'll be polite this time…" Kaoru sighed and Megumi went back to brushing her hair. Kaoru sighed and began thinking about what would happen should one of the two males that show up today be that red head… but she immediately brushed that idea off laughed at the thought.

"What is funny, Kaoru?" Megumi asked.

"Nothing… I'd rather into it."

"Good." The voice of Misao entered the room. "It seems that Saitou will be the first to arrive today."

"I don't know if I should do this that I don't." Kenshin said gritting his teeth as one of the servant around scrubbed Kenshin's fire hair.

"Hey listen she can't be that bad… at least she doesn't look like that ugly girl we met." Yahiko said. "Besides, it your father who decided to take Sano up on this and you could at least look decent for once."

"Trust me Kenshin I'm sure you'd like her." Sanosuke said. "You thought Megumi was something special… this is her younger sister…"

"But Sano, I don't think I could."

"Kenshin this girl is accepting."

"I'm sure she doesn't know about the Hitokiri…"

"She probably wouldn't care. Her father was war hero many times. He too had a problem with his blood stained hands…"

"But his Highness Kamiya has never been the Battousai." Kenshin said suddenly. "Then there's Tomoe…"

"Kenshin… Tomoe's behind you… quite frankly I think she wanted you to let go when she gave you the other half of your scar…" Sano said as the room grew heavy and quiet but then one of the servants came in with several outfits for Kenshin to choose from.

"So you will be gone all day?" One of the policemen had asked Saitou for the millionth time while watching the man pull his jacket closer to him.

"No most of the day, there should be no paperwork to be done and should there be a real emergency I will be at the Kamiya palace with several guards who can easily report any problems to me."

"Man, seeing you like this Saitou makes it hard to believe you run the crew here." One of the other policemen said adjusting the badges he wore. "Go get her…"

"I will be back tomorrow…" Saitou looked at the grinning faces.

"Unless you get hitched today…" Saitou rolled his eyes at the rest of the crew knowing where the conversation was heading. He got into the carriage and headed off to the palace. Once there he stepped out and was greeted by one of the king's servants. He followed the young girl who had introduced herself as Tsubame to the king's chambers. One there Saitou wasted not a moment before bowing to the king in respect.

"Please, Arise…" Lord Kamiya spoke watching the man carefully. Unlike the other suitors who have previously come for the same request, this man wasted not a moment to bow.

"Your Highness, I must say it is an honor for you to allow me to meet with your daughter."

"Yes, well my daughter Kaoru is a tough one to break. I will ask of you what I have asked of the many suitors before you; do you think you can break this fighting spirit of hers."

"I do not wish to break her." Saitou said accepting the seat at the table the servant has offered him. "Thank you." He told Tsubame who merely nodded before leaving the room.

"You do not wish to stifle her fighting spirit?" The king had asked.

"No, I believe such life in a woman can serve well in many areas."

"Such as those that pertain to the bedroom…?" The King couldn't help but ask.

"I suppose such liveliness could provide much entertainment and fulfill desires, but it wasn't what I had in mind. I see such liveliness will keep excitement bubbling within the palace. It could be such a change from the less than eventful days." He said.

"But still it could provide much in the bedroom." The king said watching Saitou shifted uncomfortably.

"Forgive me, your highness, while I have heard of the beauty your daughter holds, much like many other males in search of a female companion that is not the reason why I have shown such an interest." Saitou said simply. "I am looking for just that a female companion. True love in this era is very hard to find and I truly believe it is possible to have such emotions." Saitou paused. "I am not looking to stifle a woman's spirit nor am I looking to keep her for my own sexual desires. I myself believe there is much more to that in a unity of man and woman. There should be no reason to alter who you are or your morals for the sake of unity and providing an heir."

"It is a rare find to hear a man say such things aloud." Kaoru broke the silence. "But I cannot tell if you are speaking what you truly feel or hiding the fact that what you say and who you are conflict with each other."

"Kaoru, I wish to introduce you to Saitou Hajime." Her father stood mildly awed at how much beauty his daughter truly could posses. Her hair had been done in a manner that proved that only Megumi had done it and a sheer pink shine coated her lips. Her eyes had a bit of shimmer to it that only proved to accent her sapphire eyes. Instead of a plain Kimono she had opted for a light pink kimono apparently made of silk that had sakura blossoms.

"I say what is real…" Saitou said. "This is probably why my father had given up on searching for my bride long ago. I was much to picky and choosey when it came to true love." He said.

"That is very admirable." She watched his stance as he approached her. His face remained calm and his eyes never once left her face. 'Ok, not much of a lecher…' She noted mentally. 'Confident… very poetic with words…'

"The rumors have done no justice for your beauty…" He mentioned before gently grasping her hand before planting a feather light kiss on the back of it. She almost immediately felt her face heat up.

'Polite… and he's got smooth lips!' her mind raged on before she smacked herself.

"Rumors?"

"Surely you have heard about it from other suitors… The woman who has the spirit that can warm the heart even when the body is chilled to the bone, a smile that could light up the darkest night, beautiful eyes that makes it easy to get lost in…"

"Please stop, you make me sound as if I'm some sort of goddess…" Kaoru hadn't expected his words to flow so smoothly it would make her blush to complete embarrassment.

"No one has told you such things before?"

"No, I have been told many times that I have the soul of a male, but a body worth touching and caressing and…" She stopped when she realized she was going to babble. She waited for some sort of response but she received nothing more than a chuckle from the male in front of her. Her face turned into a scowl. 'Is he laughing at me?' She then heard Misao clear her throat before Kaoru sighed.

"Please come take a walk with me. It should be an opportunity to allow me to find out more about the man who wishes to earn my heart." She said. Saitou gave a short nod before giving a curt bow to both sisters and the king himself.

"That went well." Misao smirked at Megumi once the door closed.

"It did, didn't it?" Megumi admitted.

*!*!*!*!*!*!

"I see, so instead of staying within the walls of your home you'd rather go out and do something until the day for you to take over arrives?" Kaoru asked leading him through the garden.

"Yes, you see it's more productive and allows me to have a better handle on the power when I do receive it." He said stopping at a rose bush. He looked at the beautiful yellow roses. He gently tapped one of the buds that had only recently begun to blossom into its full beauty. "May I ask where has the legendary fighting spirit of yours gone to?"

"They made me store it away for the time being…" Kaoru said smiling at him when she realized he was trying to lighten the mood.

"I see…" He spoke softly. "I must say I am mildly interested in how much of will power do you have as a fighter."

"Why do you wish to make me a heroine as well?"

"Quite the opposite, I would encourage such a thing?"

"You would?"

"Have you not been listening to a word I've said back with your sisters and father?"

"I am sorry; it has slipped my mind momentarily." She replied as they made their way back to the entrance to the palace. "I must say it was a real pleasure meeting you."

"A pleasure meeting you as well, Tanuki, I am just sorry we haven't had much time together." He said smirking as her eyebrow twitched at the sound of the nickname he decided to dub her with.

"Must you call me that?" She asked watching his little arrogant smirk cross his face.

"I think it suits you well, Kaoru."  He said watching his carriage pull up. He lifted her hand once more to plant a gentle kiss on it once again. "…Until another time, Tanuki." He said gently before climbing inside smiling and the scowl on her face that quickly turned into a frown. On the way out another carriage has made its way to the palace grounds. 'Himura…'  Saitou thought rather darkly.

"Hey, Kenshin are you alright?"

"I am fine, that I am, Sanosuke. I just thought I saw someone I knew that is all." He said allowing his pleasant smile cross his face. He then glanced back out of the window not wanting to inspect his clothing once more. Instead of his usually ratty ponytail they had manage to make his fire locks  a lot finer and smooth like silk the had it's own shine in the ponytail they put it in at his request. His clothes had it's same color scheme but instead of his fighting GI he wore a shirt of silk and his pants were straight leg pants… almost like something you'd catch Sano wearing.