Disclaimer: I do not, in anyway, have ownership over Kenshin. No. And neither does RurouniNikkitch13!! Don't let her lie to you!! SHE'S LYING!! LYING I TELL YOU!!

:: blinks :: ........ I wuv you Nikki!! FUZZY-SAMA IS MINE!!

Author's Note: Okay. Enough with that odd little ranting......... I want to say THANK YOU to all the wonderfully beautiful reviewers. Hey! LOOK! I'M ONE!! LOL!! Okay, sorry. Crystal Renee is having a weird day. Shall we begin this story? Yes you say? OKAY! Here we go!!


Colors of Love: Crimson and Ebony Trails

Chapter 2

When Kenshin finally came out of his spontaneous 'oro' fest, he blinked a few times to register where he was. The surroundings were foreign until everything flooded his mind again.

'That's right. I've been given Chief Kamiya's daughter's hand in marriage. And I need a bath. And I really hate my beard' he thought to himself as the faces of Yahiko and the chief came into view.

"Himura? Are you okay?" Kamiya questioned, somewhat worried. "Is there something wrong with this arrangement?"

Kenshin wanted to scream that it was all wrong. He'd never seen this 'daughter' of Kamiya's in his life; he wasn't the kind of man prepared to settle down into married life. Even if he was twenty-eight, his soul was restless and not ready to house the emotions he would need for a wife. What if she wasn't what he wanted?

Or worse, Kenshin thought, what if she liked his beard?

He shook his head. "I am not ready for marriage, that I am not!"

"Nonsense." Kamiya stated. "I will not take no for an answer. So many have tried to take her hand in marriage, but my daughter has knocked them all down with her bokken for touching her."

That little hint of information caused a deep gulping sound to emerge from Kenshin's ever hidden throat. "Oro, violent is she?"

"Only when angered." Kamiya responded heartily. "You should be fine with her!"

"Busu's always being violent!" Yahiko complained. "I should know!"

Kamiya shook his head at his son as he grabbed his articulately designed headdress from the small perch within his tepee. "Yahiko-chan, I understand you are jealous that she is stronger than you........."

"Stop calling me LITTLE!" Yahiko exclaimed with anger.

Wringing his hands together nervously, Kenshin began to ponder things. If this girl was anything like her little brother, Kenshin visioned that he would be instore for a very......... exciting life, indeed. He knew better than to refuse the gift of the chief. It would dishonor him, and on top of it, the chief would have his head.

But something about just being given a woman he'd never seen before as a gift just seemed inhumane.

Kamiya led them out the flap of the tepee, walking slowly toward the longhouse and wigwam that would withhold his daughter. Kenshin felt odd mixtures of anticipation, horror, and excitement as they came closer toward the door that would either doom or bless his life. Worry interlaced the warmth he felt at the thought of actually having someone with him all the time; he had to admit, travelling alone wasn't extremely high on the happiness list.

His chin itched, and Kenshin lifted his had to scratch it away. Finding his fingers tangled within the thick red hairs, he growled under his breath.

'That's it, I don't care if she likes my beard, it's going!' Kenshin thought to himself, attempting to free his hand from the jungle bushy blood colored hairs. 'How can you lose your own hand in your own beard?'

Anticipation took control of Kenshin, and mixed with some final minute cowardice, he stood transfixed in his spot, staring at the backs of Chief Kamiya and Yahiko.

"Is there something wrong, Himura?" Kamiya questioned, turning toward his son-in-law-to-be. "Surely you're not afraid, are you?"

"No!" Kenshin proclaimed. "It's just that.......... I feel as if I am quite dirty at the moment, and wouldn't be better if I were to.......... Freshen up before I meet with your daughter?"

'That was close.........now, if only I could remove my hand from this Kami-forsaken beard.........'

Kamiya stood there, rubbing his hand upon his chin, considering Kenshin's offer. Yahiko looked at his new hero, glancing up and down to survey his appearance.

"You look fine. Busu will love you. Come on." Yahiko responded, turning to continue walking toward his sisters wigwam.

Sighing in defeat and finally finding a way to pluck his hand from the stubborn hairs that complied his beard, Kenshin followed the two again. He had attempted to find a way out of his predicament, but it hadn't solved anything. Now he just had to be the man and face everything head on.

'Stupid beard, look at what you got me messed up in. I could have been happily eating rabbit right now if I didn't have to worry about getting this stupid beard wet. Now I'm getting forced into marriage with a woman--- no, correction, more than likely, girl--- that I've never seen before.........'

To his surprise, Kamiya pulled the flap back to the wigwam, and a tall woman, with the complexion of snow and striaght, dark charcoal hair emerged from the building.

"Hello Chief Kamiya! What brings you here?" she questioned, a sly grin befalling her face. "And who is this......... flambouent man you have brought with you?"

Yahiko rolled his eyes. "Megumi, his name is Kenshin, and he's supposed going to be marrying Kaoru!"

"A violent tanuki like Kaoru?" Megumi stated, a stifling a small laugh. "I pity you, Ken-san! But, seeing as I am the village nurse, feel free to come to me when she decides to attack you!"

Kenshin gluped. So far, the words he was getting from everyone else had him frightened down to the toes of his boots. The images of the woman he was about to be tied to for life were not pretty, even with the colorful paints he tried to use to make her image. But he had to admit, he would probably be more frightened to be wedded to this Megumi character than the girl he was reluctantly being tied to. Megumi seemed just a little too.......... sly for him.

"Kaoru-chan, please come out." Kamiya stated, waiting patiently for his daughter to emerge.

Kenshin found himself shutting his amythest eyes quickly, and beginning to state a mantra over and over within his mind.

'Don't do something you'll regret. Don't do something you'll regret. I hate my beard. Don't do something you'll regret.'

"Kaoru-chan, I'd like you to meet Himura, the man I have chosen to be your husband!" came Kamiya's overjoyed voice. "Come now Himura, no need to be so shy!"

Taking a deep breath, Kenshin let his eyes slowly flutter open. Upon taking in the image of a woman before him, they grew wide.

Kaoru was the exact opposite of what he was picturing and dreading.

Blue eyes, thick black hair, slender yet muscluar build, and cute face. She was obviously not a young girl, more a young woman, accented with curves that were slightly hidden with the bulky deer skin she wore for clothing. Within her hand was a bokken, obviously something she carried with her at all times. He felt oddly out of place in front of her calculating gaze.

"He rescued your brother from a cougar eariler." Kamiya explained. "And therefore, to repay the deed, you and him are to be wed."

Kaoru turned her gaze away from Kenshin to Yahiko, and the michevious glint in her eyes was hard to miss. "So Yahiko-chan, can't even protect yourself from a cougar, huh?"

"Stop calling me –chan! I'm not little!" Yahiko cried.

Kenshin held his forehead. "Oro!"