Rurouni Kenshin: Cinderella Story
by: nyllemnev
Disclaimer: They are not mine...
Chapter 5: The appearance of one Yukishiro Enishi...
"What a very wonderful day!" Kaoru sighed as she stared at the blue sky, raising a hand to cover her eyes from the sun's bright light. "Wish I had more time to admire the morning beauty everyday." she sighed again as she continued scrubbing one of Kamatari's sleeping yukata.
"I have to finish this quickly. Aunt Megumi told me to clean the whole mansion." she said to herself. "Looks like they're expecting a guest or something like that."
"Ohayo, busu." Yahiko smirked at Kaoru who is bent on her laundry. "Working first thing in the morning? I thought you said that you'll practice with me."
"I already finished practicing, Yahiko-chan." Kaoru smiled back at Yahiko who narrowed his eyes on her.
"I see." Yahiko shrugged. "Guess they let you do more works than the usual."
"Something like that."
"We're the same." Yahiko sat on a pile of wooden bucket near Kaoru. "You can't believe what they want me to do."
"Eh?" Kaoru blinked as Yahiko handed Kaoru a long list of groceries. "What is all of this for? They're not expecting a whole army to visit, are they?"
"Yeah." Yahiko nodded. "Looks like they will make you do everything, that's what I'm afraid. Not that I care of course."
"Oh." Kaoru sighed. "Guess, I need to finish this quickly then." she said before concentrating on her laundry again.
"Guess I have to be going then." Yahiko yawned. "See you later." he waved as he left.
"See you later, Yahiko-chan." Kaoru smiled watching him leave. "I think it's all finished." she sighed as she carried a bucket full of her washed clothes, to be hanged on the clothesline.
"There you are." Tomoe and Kamatari emerged from the house, walking towards Kaoru.
"Have you seen the kid?" Kamatari asked, looking around.
"eh? Yahiko? He just left." Kaoru said.
"What?!? Why did you let him leave!!! Mou!!! You ignorant girl!!!" Kamatari gasped looking horrified.
"Eh? Is there something wrong?" Kaoru asked.
"I forgot to let him buy me a new hair pin. Mou! An important person will be coming here." Kamatari said, in a melodramatic voice. "I mean I have to look good in front of him! This person is apparently very close to the king!!! So I have to look good, you know... to give them an impression that I am really the right girl for the Prince."
"Oh, stop dreaming, Kamatari! The prince wouldn't give an eye for you! I mean, with all of those baby fats you got!" Tomoe smirked. "He will surely run away from you."
"You're just jealous because I'm cute and you are not!" Kamatari said.
"I'm not! You are the one jealous." Tomoe snarled, starting to fume.
"Ha?!? As if! Why would I be jealous of you, YOU OLD MAID!!!" Kamatari smiled. "I mean, the prince doesn't want a sugar mommy or something, he wants a girl who will make him happy."
"YOU-?!?" Tomoe was about to pull Kamatari's hair when Kaoru stepped in between the two sisters.
"I'll do it, okay." Kaoru said. "Just calm down. I'll just finish hanging your clothes dry."
"Really?" Kamatari smiled sweetly at Kaoru, like a child given her most favorite candy.
"Then you go buy me a new bottle of White Plums perfume." Tomoe added, coldly.
"Okay." Kaoru nodded with a smile. "You can go now and prepare for this very important guest, I'll take care of everything you need."
"Thanks!" Kamatari announced happily running back inside.
"You better get it quickly!" Tomoe, in contrast to her sister, just said coldly.
"Hai." Kaoru nodded again as Tomoe left. "Better finish this now." she sighed as she continued on her tracks.
***
"Working for a change, ne?" Sano smirked, picking up a folder from Kenshin's office desk to read it.
"Yeah. Father let me examine this documents." Kenshin nooded, looking really exhausted.
"Looking pretty complicated." Sano said, throwing the folder back to Kenshin.
"You say." Kenshin sighed before pushing a thick book in front of him aside. "I think I'm going to die now." he said, standing and walking towards the huge window to stare at the world outside the palace.
"If you're thinking of sneaking out the palace again, you better not do it." Sano said flatly.
"Oro? How come?" Kenshin frowned at Sano who nodded.
"Looks like you're most favorite person will be going back here."
"Eh? Yukishiro Enishi, you mean?" Kenshin growled. "How come?!?"
"Seems that his business in Kyoto in already finished." Sano said. "Looks like your father let him come back."
"Yeah, that sounds like my father." Kenshin sighed. "Hate to admit it but, even what a great man he was, my father was always like Yukishiro's puppet. He always listened to him, more than to me."
"Yeah." Sano agreed. "You better be careful now, the last time, your father told him to tail you everywhere you go, I guess he will do it again now. You see, he's the one who told your father that you should get married now, ne?"
"Yeah, I just remember." Kenshin nodded. "I can now see what will happen next. Grr... I wish he just stayed there in Kyoto! You know even if how much he tried to be nice, I can't get to like that man. I mean I don't trust him!"
"Yeah, me too." Sano said sternly. "I mean, I know there's something dark behind those mask that he used to show everybody. I just know it."
"I agree. Sano... can you do me a favor?" Kenshin asked and Sano nodded. "I don't know but I don't like this feeling... everytime that he's here something bad always happen. Remember that event last year, when he suggested that I go to Hokkaido?"
"Yeah, some pretty psycho swords man attacked you. Little they know that you are very good in using a sword." Sano smirked. "You beat them all in just a second."
"Yeah, and when my father planned to go to Yokohama?" Kenshin added. "A huge fire broke out in the place my father is supposed to go. Good thing he got some pretty bad dose of flu that he cancelled his appointments there."
"Yeah. I guess you have your reason to doubt this guy." Sano said. "Don't worry pal, I'll keep an eye on him."
"Thanks, Sano." Kenshin smiled in appreciation to his best friend.
***
"A pretty important person? Working for the king?" Tae sighed as Kaoru told her what Kamatari said earlier. "Just what they needed."
"eh?" Kaoru blinked at the older woman.
"A pretty good connection to the prince." Tae shook her head. "You see, Megumi wanted one of her daughters to become a princess, she will use that special person to make that happen."
"Oh." Kaoru nodded in understanding. "Maybe one of them will really become a princess then."
"Oh no, no, no, Kao-chan." Tae said, shaking her head, handing Kaoru a brown bag. "You always remember that the prince will never want some kind of girls like them."
"Eh? Why?" Kaoru asked, hugging the brown bag to her. "I mean, Tomoe-san and Kamatari-san are both beautiful. Why will the prince won't like a girl like them."
"You always remember that it's not the outside beauty that always counts, sometimes you inner beauty does counts." Tae winked. "... who knows, maybe someday you won't be coming here again since you will be living there, in the palace."
"Hey! That will never happen." Kaoru giggled. "I mean, I'm not beautiful, a prince will never give an eye for me. I mean I'm just a no one. Prince Kenshin will want a girl, his class, not me."
"Oh Kaoru don't say things like that." Tae waved a finger on her face. "You are beautiful, Kao-chan. You just still haven't found a way to show your inner beauty."
"Inner beauty?"
"You know, every person is beautiful in every single way, in every unique way." Tae smiled. "Trust me, my dear. I know... and, I don't want to hear you saying that you are a no one, coz you're not. You are ver wonderful girl, my dear. Your smile made many people happy, you are a bright girl, a smart girl, don't think lowly of yourself, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks." Kaoru smiled back at Tae. "So I guess I'll see you next time."
"Yeah." Tae smiled again widely, waving as Kaoru left the shop. "See you next time."
Kaoru walked towards the Kamoya mansion, smiling at everyone who passed by. 'Mou, I better go back quickly or Aunt Megumi will surely be mad at me. She told me to stay at home the whole day... and plus, I don't want Kamatari-san and Tomoe-san to get mad at me too. They can be pretty impatient at times.'
She quickened her pace, and when she was about to cross the road, a speeding carriage almost hit her...
***
"You stupid coachman! Can't you make it go faster? I still got an appointment with the king after I visit a friend." a white-haired, not so kind-looking man, snarled angrily at his coachman.
"Hai, hai, Sir Yukishiro." the coachman nervously replied. He knew how is master can be so scary when he gets mad.
"Stupid people." Yukishiro Enishi muttered under his breath. "If only my men will be more... wiser... maybe the entire Empire of Tokyo will now be..." his musings was cut off when his carriage puts on a sudden stop.
"WHAT IS IT AGAIN?!?" Enishi angrily yelled. "You stupid coachman! Do you want to get fired?!?" he added in annoyance, stepping out of his carriage.
"But... sir... it's the girl..." the coachman, said nervously to his master, pointing at the long haired girl on the ground. "She..."
"What the hell are you thinking, you stupid girl?!?" Enishi angrily went to the kneeling girl, trembling with fear.
***
"HEY!!!"
"Eh?" Kaoru blinked upon heaaring a man's voice yelling at her, and at the sound of a speeding carriage coming nearer and nearer. Her eyes widened both with fear and shock, when she turned her head, seeing a speeding carriage running towards her.
'No.' she thought as she run trying to avoid the carriage when she tripped on her foot, sending her tumbling forward, the things she have bought, scattered on the ground.
"Itai..." she bit her lips when she tried to stand up, but found out that she have twisted her ankle, making it hard for her. 'No...' she closed her eyes, afraid to see what will happen next.
"What the hell are you thinking, you stupid girl?!?"
"Eh?" Kaoru slowly opened her eyes when she heard a man's angry voice.
"You heard me, beggar!! If you want to die, don't involve other people!!" the man snarled again.
"G-gomen... g-gomen..." Kaoru said, trying to stand up but her ankle is killing her. "Ouch..." she bit her lips again, trying not to cry out in pain.
"Sorry!" the man growled in annoyance, almost kicking Kaoru on the ground. "You say sorry?!? You think that's enough?!? You see..." the man knelt beside her and she just trembled in fear of what this man will do to her. "... you're wasting my time?!? I am in an important meeting with the king after I visit some friends here!!!" she saw him frowning at her, in the corners of her eyes.
"I-I'm s-sorry... I was just..." Kaoru looked up at the white haired man, straight on his eyes. "I need to go back or Aunt Megumi will kill me. I am not supposed to be out here anyway. Tomoe-san and Kamatari-san only... Oh no!!!" her eyes widened in shock as she remembered what Tomoe and Kamatari have told her to buy. She looked down to see the things she bought for her on the ground.
"They're going to kill me!" she gasped, picking up a hair pin and a bottle of perfume, which was unfortunately broken, on the ground. "No..."
***
Enishi just stared at the young lady in front of him, picking up some things on the ground, forgetting about his anger. 'Kirei...' he thought watching her gasped as she picked up the broken pieces of a perfume box. 'Totemo Kirei...'
"They are going to kill me." she muttered again. "Not the perfume! It is very expensive! I can't replace it." she sighed sadly.
"How did you know Tomoe?" Enishi frowned at the girl.
"Eh?" the girl looked back at him with her shining sapphire eyes. "She is my step sister."
"You are Kamiya's daughter?" Enishi frowned again. 'I know Kamiya has a daughter but I never thought that his daughter will be this... beautiful.'
"How did you know my father?" the girl blinked again.
"I met him in the army. He is with the king's army, ne?"
"Hai." the girl nodded, "...ah! You must be that special guest that they're telling me! " she smiled when she remembered the special guest Tomoe and Kamatari told her earlier.
"Maybe..." Enishi shrugged, forgetting that he will be late for his meeting with the king. "What is your name?"
"Oh... Kamiya. Kamiya Kaoru." the girl smiled brightly at him again.
"Yukishiro Enishi." Enishi said. "Maybe, you could just go to your step mother's house together... since..."
"No! I mean," Kaoru said. "I still need to replace Tomoe-san's perfume."
"Where? I'll take you there." Enishi said.
"Uhm... no, I'll just walk, you go to Aunt Megumi now. They are really waiting for you." she tried to stand up but her ankle really hurt. "Itai..."
"Looks like you can't walk." Enishi grinned. "You should accept my offer then." he offered a hand to help her stand up.
"A-arigato..." Kaoru said, hesitatingly accepting his hand. "Guess so."
***
"You called, father?" Kenshin asked, entering his father's office.
"You know Enishi will be coming back here, ne?" King Okina said, his back to his son as he stared outside throung the window.
"Sano told me."
"You should welcome him."
"Eh?" Kenshin frowned at his father's back. "Why should I?"
"You should be nicer to him, Kenshin." King Okina said, facing his son. "You should be."
"Why? I am not acting bad towards him." Kenshin replied. "It's just that we're not getting along, well... pretty often."
"But everybody can see how you avoided him like he is a poison." Okina said again, sitting on his office chair. "You shouldn't be. He is one of my most trusted person. He is a big help to the army, his knowledge is a big help, specially when we're talking to diplomats... you should be nicer to him."
"But father... you can't change the fact that... I don't trust him." Kenshin said with a slight frown.
"How come? He is trying his best to be your friend."
"I don't trust him." Kenshin repeated. "I have my reasons, not to trust him. I mean... whenever he told you or me to go in a certain place, there is a disaster, or some bad things happen. Remember that last time he told you to..."
"Enough." Okina said. "Everything was just a coincidence. Don't blame everything on Yukishiro. All I ask you is to be nicer with him."
"I can't" Kenshin shook his head. "I'm sorry father but I can't."
"This is an order Kenshin." Okina stood up when his son turned his back to him. "An order from me."
Kenshin just stood there, his back facing his father. 'He is doing it again... he is doing it everytime...' not wanting to argue more with his father he nodded silently, before leaving the room.
'He is always like that.' Kenshin sighed as he left his father's office, going out on the garden, breathing in fresh air. "He always thinks that he could let me do everything he wanted me to do." he sighed again, as he sat on the wooden bench, staring at nowhere.
"Hey!" Sano smirked seeing his friend. "What happened?"
"My father wants me to welcome him." Kenshin said. "He told be to act nicer with him."
"Yeah." Sano sighed as he sat beside Kenshin. "So... what are you planning to do?"
"I don't know." Kenshin sighed again. "I wish he just leave the country."
"That's impossible." Sano said. "I mean. I know he is interested with the empire, ne?"
"Yeah." Kenshin nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised if Yukishiro led a whole army to overthrow my father for the throne."
"Sounds possible to me."
"Yeah." Kenshin sighed again. "Now, there will be no chance for me to go out again."
"And see that little missy?" Sano smirked as Kenshin nodded absent-mindedly. "I knew it! I knew it!"
"Oro?!?" Kenshin turned crimson in color at that. "Hey, it's nothing like that! Nothing like that!"
"Hehe! I knew it! I always do! Hehe!"
"Oro! It's nothing like that."
***
"Mou! I knew it!" Tomoe said angrily. "I shouldn't have trusted that girl with my perfume!" she frowned again, pacing back and forth on her room.
"She's not here yet?" Kamatari asked, entering her sister's room without knocking on the door.
"You know how to knock?" Tomoe asked coldly and her sister only snickered.
"Sorry." Kamatari said as she sat on Tomoe's bed. "She's not here yet?"
"Who knows where that ugly girl went?" Tomoe frowned. "I need my perfume!"
"And I need my hair pin." Kamatari said.
"You two!" Megumi emerged. "What are you doing here? Where's that Kaoru? Enishi-kun should be here by any moment."
"Mou!" Kamatari pouted. "Kaoru went out to buy me a hair pin but she never come back."
"What?!? you two send her out?!?" Megumi frowned at her two daughters. "You... Who is supposed to clean the porch without her?!?"
"It's already spotless." Tomoe said. "Kaoru already cleaned it up. Don't be so nervous, mother. It's only Enishi who's coming."
"We should make a good impression to him." Megumi said. "And plus, we can't let him see Kaoru! I mean... we should locked her up in her room."
"Don't worry she must be... oh my God! Mother!" Kamatari's jaw dropped upon seeing a carriage coming, from the window. "He's coming!"
"Oh!" Megumi said. "You two better, prepare yourselves. I'll entertain him, for a moment." she said before leaving her two daughters.
"Mou! I'm going to kill that Kaoru." Tomoe said evilly.
***
"Thanks for the ride." Kaoru smiled at Enishi.
"Are you sure your ankle is okay now?"
"Hai." Kaoru nodded. "You should come in now." she smiled.
"Okay. Come with me." Enishi offered a hand but Kaoru shook her head.
"Oh no, no..." Kaoru said. "I shouldn't use the front door." she shook her head again.
"What's wrong with that? Come." Enishi said, grabbing Kaoru's left hand and almost dragging her with him.
"Demo..."
"It's alright." Enishi smiled, knocking softly on the door.
"Enishi-kun." Megumi opened the door with a smile. "It's nice to see you again." her smile faded when she saw Kaoru standing beside Enishi.
"You-?!? What are you doing?!?" Megumi pulled Kaoru's arm almost painfully. "You're not supposed to be outside, ne?"
"G-gomen... demo..." Kaoru started to explain but Megumi silenced her with a look. "I think I should give Tomoe-san and Kamatari-san their things." she said before leaving the two.
"Why did you let her go?" Enishi asked Megumi when Kaoru left.
"Don't mind her." Megumi smiled. "Come in." she opened the door wider for him to enter. "A cup of tea?"
"Hai." Enishi nodded. "I never expect Kamiya has a very beautiful daughter." he said making Megumi, almost spill the tea on the floor.
"Nani?" Megumi raised an eyebrow. "Sorry? Did I hear you right?"
"I met her, earlier as I passed by." Enishi said. "She seemed a very nice girl."
"Don't talk like your interested in her. I mean, you can't like a girl like Kaoru. I mean she's just a..." Megumi smiled at Enishi as if he's telling a joke.
"She's wonderful. How can a man not like her?" Enishi said, showing all signs of interest he had on Kaoru. "Tell me, she already have someone? A fiance?"
"No." Megumi shook her head. "She's single."
"I see." an evil smile appeared on Enishi's face. "She's still available then."
"Eh?" Megumi blinked at Enishi as if he'd gone mad. Just then Tomoe and Kamatari emerged in the room, with confident smiled on their faces.
"Enishi-kun, how have you been?" Kamatari asked, smiling sweetly.
"Fine." Enishi nodded at her. "How about you?"
"Perfect." Kamatari replied.
"Nice seeing you again." Tomoe smiled at Enishi who smiled back.
"Pleasure is all mine." he replied. "You two both look lovely."
"Arigato." Tomoe and Kamatari both smiled in appreciation. "You look great too."
"Uhm... Aunt Megumi, more tea?" Kaoru entered the room too, a tray of foods and tea on hand.
"Hai, hai." Megumi suddenly smiled at Kaoru. "Thank you."
"Eh?" Kaoru blinked at Megumi's sudden change of behavior. "Arigato." she nodded, placing the tray on a table, before starting to go away.
"No, no. You join us." Megumi said, urging Kaoru to sit on a chair. "Join us."
"But..." Kaoru started to say, but Megumi silenced her with a look. She just nodded and looked down shyly.
"Mother? Why are you letting her join us?" Tomoe whispered when Enishi was not looking. "Look at her! She looked like a mess." she added, pointing to Kaoru's worn-out kimono.
"Enishi-kun seems to be interested on her." Megumi whispered back and Tomoe only made a face.
"How come?" Tomoe eyed Kaoru with disgust. "She looks rubbish."
"I don't know." Megumi whispered back, before saying out aloud. "Oh, I just forgot that I need to do something, with my daughters."
"Eh? Mother?!?" Kamatari gave Megumi a frown. "What are we going to do?"
"Come, you two." Megumi pulled Tomoe and Kamatari with her. "Kaoru, you entertain our guest."
"Eh?" Kaoru blinked while Enishi watched the three as they left.
"Tell me more about yourself." Enishi said flatly, turning to Kaoru.
"Eh? Nani?" Kaoru blinked at Enishi. "What about me?"
"You see." Enishi said, giving her a smile. "I want to know more about you."
"More about me? How come?" Kaoru asked, starting to feel nervous. She was now alone with a man she only knew for about an hour ago.
"I'm a very direct person, so I'm going to say it to you direct to the point." Enishi said, inching closer to Kaoru, who backed away a little. "I really think that you are a very wonderful girl."
"Eh?" Kaoru blushed a little. "N-nani…? S-sorry…"
"And I think that you are beautiful…" Enishi said. "I like you."
Kaoru only blinked at him in disbelief. 'How can this man be so… so… forward…' she thought.
"And I want to know you more." Enishi smiled.
***
"Grrr… that inconsiderate git!" Kenshin growled, pacing back and forth near the entrance of the palace. "What time is it Sano?"
"One o'clock?" Sano said, glancing at the huge clock outside. "He's late."
"Grrr… What time did he think he is going to come?!?" Kenshin said in annoyance. "He is not a very important person, you know."
"Seems like he is." Sano smirked. "He is your father's adviser, ne? Everything he says is done. Everything he wants… he got."
"Yeah, right." Kenshin sighed, "Ten more minutes, I'm going away." he added.
"Yeah." Sano nodded too.
Kenshin began pacing again, when he heard a sound of a carriage coming. He frowned at the man who came out of the carriage.
"It's nice seeing you again, your highness." Enishi bowed at Kenshin who narrowed his eyes on him. "What a pleasure to have you welcoming me back."
"What are you thinking?" Sano burst out in annoyance. "You made him wait for you for almost an hour."
"Oh, the great Sagara Sanosuke is here too." Enishi said sarcastically before turning back tp Kenshin. "I'm sorry for making you wait, your highness."
"Stop the formalities, Yukishiro-san." Kenshin said, trying to sound as polite as he could. "Come in. The King is waiting for you."
"Yes." Enishi nodded, after instructing his boy to put his things on the room provided for him. "Really sorry for being so late. You see, I visited a friend."
"A frined?" Sano raised an eyebrow. "…so that friend, is more important than your appointment with the King!"
"Shut up, Sagara!" Enishi glared at Sanosuke who glared back at him.
"It's alright, Sano." Kenshin nodded to Sano.
"As I was saying." Enishi continued. "I visited a friend. And on my way there, I met someone. A very wonderful girl, indeed."
"That's nice." Kenshin said, really uninterested with everything. 'Like I care.' he added mentally.
"A very wonderful girl, and beautiful. Come to think of it, she is the step daughter of the friend I'm supposed to visit. A very nice coincidence."
"Yeah, right." Sano said sarcastically.
"She is really nice and I really liked her." Enishi continued, ignoring Sano's sarcastic comments. "She is such a very wonderful girl, Kamiya Kaoru really is."
'Kaoru?' Kenshin frowned after hearing her name. "What is her name again?" he turned to Enishi, to make sure that he heard it right.
"Kamiya Kaoru." Enishi nodded.
Kenshin just stood there, staring at Enishi with a bewildered expression on his face. 'Kaoru-dono?'
tbc…
A/N: Another chapter done! What do you think of Enishi's appearnce? Hehehe... Hope you guys will leave me your reviews again. Till next chappies. Hope to hear more from you guys! Ja'ne!
by: nyllemnev
Disclaimer: They are not mine...
Chapter 5: The appearance of one Yukishiro Enishi...
"What a very wonderful day!" Kaoru sighed as she stared at the blue sky, raising a hand to cover her eyes from the sun's bright light. "Wish I had more time to admire the morning beauty everyday." she sighed again as she continued scrubbing one of Kamatari's sleeping yukata.
"I have to finish this quickly. Aunt Megumi told me to clean the whole mansion." she said to herself. "Looks like they're expecting a guest or something like that."
"Ohayo, busu." Yahiko smirked at Kaoru who is bent on her laundry. "Working first thing in the morning? I thought you said that you'll practice with me."
"I already finished practicing, Yahiko-chan." Kaoru smiled back at Yahiko who narrowed his eyes on her.
"I see." Yahiko shrugged. "Guess they let you do more works than the usual."
"Something like that."
"We're the same." Yahiko sat on a pile of wooden bucket near Kaoru. "You can't believe what they want me to do."
"Eh?" Kaoru blinked as Yahiko handed Kaoru a long list of groceries. "What is all of this for? They're not expecting a whole army to visit, are they?"
"Yeah." Yahiko nodded. "Looks like they will make you do everything, that's what I'm afraid. Not that I care of course."
"Oh." Kaoru sighed. "Guess, I need to finish this quickly then." she said before concentrating on her laundry again.
"Guess I have to be going then." Yahiko yawned. "See you later." he waved as he left.
"See you later, Yahiko-chan." Kaoru smiled watching him leave. "I think it's all finished." she sighed as she carried a bucket full of her washed clothes, to be hanged on the clothesline.
"There you are." Tomoe and Kamatari emerged from the house, walking towards Kaoru.
"Have you seen the kid?" Kamatari asked, looking around.
"eh? Yahiko? He just left." Kaoru said.
"What?!? Why did you let him leave!!! Mou!!! You ignorant girl!!!" Kamatari gasped looking horrified.
"Eh? Is there something wrong?" Kaoru asked.
"I forgot to let him buy me a new hair pin. Mou! An important person will be coming here." Kamatari said, in a melodramatic voice. "I mean I have to look good in front of him! This person is apparently very close to the king!!! So I have to look good, you know... to give them an impression that I am really the right girl for the Prince."
"Oh, stop dreaming, Kamatari! The prince wouldn't give an eye for you! I mean, with all of those baby fats you got!" Tomoe smirked. "He will surely run away from you."
"You're just jealous because I'm cute and you are not!" Kamatari said.
"I'm not! You are the one jealous." Tomoe snarled, starting to fume.
"Ha?!? As if! Why would I be jealous of you, YOU OLD MAID!!!" Kamatari smiled. "I mean, the prince doesn't want a sugar mommy or something, he wants a girl who will make him happy."
"YOU-?!?" Tomoe was about to pull Kamatari's hair when Kaoru stepped in between the two sisters.
"I'll do it, okay." Kaoru said. "Just calm down. I'll just finish hanging your clothes dry."
"Really?" Kamatari smiled sweetly at Kaoru, like a child given her most favorite candy.
"Then you go buy me a new bottle of White Plums perfume." Tomoe added, coldly.
"Okay." Kaoru nodded with a smile. "You can go now and prepare for this very important guest, I'll take care of everything you need."
"Thanks!" Kamatari announced happily running back inside.
"You better get it quickly!" Tomoe, in contrast to her sister, just said coldly.
"Hai." Kaoru nodded again as Tomoe left. "Better finish this now." she sighed as she continued on her tracks.
***
"Working for a change, ne?" Sano smirked, picking up a folder from Kenshin's office desk to read it.
"Yeah. Father let me examine this documents." Kenshin nooded, looking really exhausted.
"Looking pretty complicated." Sano said, throwing the folder back to Kenshin.
"You say." Kenshin sighed before pushing a thick book in front of him aside. "I think I'm going to die now." he said, standing and walking towards the huge window to stare at the world outside the palace.
"If you're thinking of sneaking out the palace again, you better not do it." Sano said flatly.
"Oro? How come?" Kenshin frowned at Sano who nodded.
"Looks like you're most favorite person will be going back here."
"Eh? Yukishiro Enishi, you mean?" Kenshin growled. "How come?!?"
"Seems that his business in Kyoto in already finished." Sano said. "Looks like your father let him come back."
"Yeah, that sounds like my father." Kenshin sighed. "Hate to admit it but, even what a great man he was, my father was always like Yukishiro's puppet. He always listened to him, more than to me."
"Yeah." Sano agreed. "You better be careful now, the last time, your father told him to tail you everywhere you go, I guess he will do it again now. You see, he's the one who told your father that you should get married now, ne?"
"Yeah, I just remember." Kenshin nodded. "I can now see what will happen next. Grr... I wish he just stayed there in Kyoto! You know even if how much he tried to be nice, I can't get to like that man. I mean I don't trust him!"
"Yeah, me too." Sano said sternly. "I mean, I know there's something dark behind those mask that he used to show everybody. I just know it."
"I agree. Sano... can you do me a favor?" Kenshin asked and Sano nodded. "I don't know but I don't like this feeling... everytime that he's here something bad always happen. Remember that event last year, when he suggested that I go to Hokkaido?"
"Yeah, some pretty psycho swords man attacked you. Little they know that you are very good in using a sword." Sano smirked. "You beat them all in just a second."
"Yeah, and when my father planned to go to Yokohama?" Kenshin added. "A huge fire broke out in the place my father is supposed to go. Good thing he got some pretty bad dose of flu that he cancelled his appointments there."
"Yeah. I guess you have your reason to doubt this guy." Sano said. "Don't worry pal, I'll keep an eye on him."
"Thanks, Sano." Kenshin smiled in appreciation to his best friend.
***
"A pretty important person? Working for the king?" Tae sighed as Kaoru told her what Kamatari said earlier. "Just what they needed."
"eh?" Kaoru blinked at the older woman.
"A pretty good connection to the prince." Tae shook her head. "You see, Megumi wanted one of her daughters to become a princess, she will use that special person to make that happen."
"Oh." Kaoru nodded in understanding. "Maybe one of them will really become a princess then."
"Oh no, no, no, Kao-chan." Tae said, shaking her head, handing Kaoru a brown bag. "You always remember that the prince will never want some kind of girls like them."
"Eh? Why?" Kaoru asked, hugging the brown bag to her. "I mean, Tomoe-san and Kamatari-san are both beautiful. Why will the prince won't like a girl like them."
"You always remember that it's not the outside beauty that always counts, sometimes you inner beauty does counts." Tae winked. "... who knows, maybe someday you won't be coming here again since you will be living there, in the palace."
"Hey! That will never happen." Kaoru giggled. "I mean, I'm not beautiful, a prince will never give an eye for me. I mean I'm just a no one. Prince Kenshin will want a girl, his class, not me."
"Oh Kaoru don't say things like that." Tae waved a finger on her face. "You are beautiful, Kao-chan. You just still haven't found a way to show your inner beauty."
"Inner beauty?"
"You know, every person is beautiful in every single way, in every unique way." Tae smiled. "Trust me, my dear. I know... and, I don't want to hear you saying that you are a no one, coz you're not. You are ver wonderful girl, my dear. Your smile made many people happy, you are a bright girl, a smart girl, don't think lowly of yourself, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks." Kaoru smiled back at Tae. "So I guess I'll see you next time."
"Yeah." Tae smiled again widely, waving as Kaoru left the shop. "See you next time."
Kaoru walked towards the Kamoya mansion, smiling at everyone who passed by. 'Mou, I better go back quickly or Aunt Megumi will surely be mad at me. She told me to stay at home the whole day... and plus, I don't want Kamatari-san and Tomoe-san to get mad at me too. They can be pretty impatient at times.'
She quickened her pace, and when she was about to cross the road, a speeding carriage almost hit her...
***
"You stupid coachman! Can't you make it go faster? I still got an appointment with the king after I visit a friend." a white-haired, not so kind-looking man, snarled angrily at his coachman.
"Hai, hai, Sir Yukishiro." the coachman nervously replied. He knew how is master can be so scary when he gets mad.
"Stupid people." Yukishiro Enishi muttered under his breath. "If only my men will be more... wiser... maybe the entire Empire of Tokyo will now be..." his musings was cut off when his carriage puts on a sudden stop.
"WHAT IS IT AGAIN?!?" Enishi angrily yelled. "You stupid coachman! Do you want to get fired?!?" he added in annoyance, stepping out of his carriage.
"But... sir... it's the girl..." the coachman, said nervously to his master, pointing at the long haired girl on the ground. "She..."
"What the hell are you thinking, you stupid girl?!?" Enishi angrily went to the kneeling girl, trembling with fear.
***
"HEY!!!"
"Eh?" Kaoru blinked upon heaaring a man's voice yelling at her, and at the sound of a speeding carriage coming nearer and nearer. Her eyes widened both with fear and shock, when she turned her head, seeing a speeding carriage running towards her.
'No.' she thought as she run trying to avoid the carriage when she tripped on her foot, sending her tumbling forward, the things she have bought, scattered on the ground.
"Itai..." she bit her lips when she tried to stand up, but found out that she have twisted her ankle, making it hard for her. 'No...' she closed her eyes, afraid to see what will happen next.
"What the hell are you thinking, you stupid girl?!?"
"Eh?" Kaoru slowly opened her eyes when she heard a man's angry voice.
"You heard me, beggar!! If you want to die, don't involve other people!!" the man snarled again.
"G-gomen... g-gomen..." Kaoru said, trying to stand up but her ankle is killing her. "Ouch..." she bit her lips again, trying not to cry out in pain.
"Sorry!" the man growled in annoyance, almost kicking Kaoru on the ground. "You say sorry?!? You think that's enough?!? You see..." the man knelt beside her and she just trembled in fear of what this man will do to her. "... you're wasting my time?!? I am in an important meeting with the king after I visit some friends here!!!" she saw him frowning at her, in the corners of her eyes.
"I-I'm s-sorry... I was just..." Kaoru looked up at the white haired man, straight on his eyes. "I need to go back or Aunt Megumi will kill me. I am not supposed to be out here anyway. Tomoe-san and Kamatari-san only... Oh no!!!" her eyes widened in shock as she remembered what Tomoe and Kamatari have told her to buy. She looked down to see the things she bought for her on the ground.
"They're going to kill me!" she gasped, picking up a hair pin and a bottle of perfume, which was unfortunately broken, on the ground. "No..."
***
Enishi just stared at the young lady in front of him, picking up some things on the ground, forgetting about his anger. 'Kirei...' he thought watching her gasped as she picked up the broken pieces of a perfume box. 'Totemo Kirei...'
"They are going to kill me." she muttered again. "Not the perfume! It is very expensive! I can't replace it." she sighed sadly.
"How did you know Tomoe?" Enishi frowned at the girl.
"Eh?" the girl looked back at him with her shining sapphire eyes. "She is my step sister."
"You are Kamiya's daughter?" Enishi frowned again. 'I know Kamiya has a daughter but I never thought that his daughter will be this... beautiful.'
"How did you know my father?" the girl blinked again.
"I met him in the army. He is with the king's army, ne?"
"Hai." the girl nodded, "...ah! You must be that special guest that they're telling me! " she smiled when she remembered the special guest Tomoe and Kamatari told her earlier.
"Maybe..." Enishi shrugged, forgetting that he will be late for his meeting with the king. "What is your name?"
"Oh... Kamiya. Kamiya Kaoru." the girl smiled brightly at him again.
"Yukishiro Enishi." Enishi said. "Maybe, you could just go to your step mother's house together... since..."
"No! I mean," Kaoru said. "I still need to replace Tomoe-san's perfume."
"Where? I'll take you there." Enishi said.
"Uhm... no, I'll just walk, you go to Aunt Megumi now. They are really waiting for you." she tried to stand up but her ankle really hurt. "Itai..."
"Looks like you can't walk." Enishi grinned. "You should accept my offer then." he offered a hand to help her stand up.
"A-arigato..." Kaoru said, hesitatingly accepting his hand. "Guess so."
***
"You called, father?" Kenshin asked, entering his father's office.
"You know Enishi will be coming back here, ne?" King Okina said, his back to his son as he stared outside throung the window.
"Sano told me."
"You should welcome him."
"Eh?" Kenshin frowned at his father's back. "Why should I?"
"You should be nicer to him, Kenshin." King Okina said, facing his son. "You should be."
"Why? I am not acting bad towards him." Kenshin replied. "It's just that we're not getting along, well... pretty often."
"But everybody can see how you avoided him like he is a poison." Okina said again, sitting on his office chair. "You shouldn't be. He is one of my most trusted person. He is a big help to the army, his knowledge is a big help, specially when we're talking to diplomats... you should be nicer to him."
"But father... you can't change the fact that... I don't trust him." Kenshin said with a slight frown.
"How come? He is trying his best to be your friend."
"I don't trust him." Kenshin repeated. "I have my reasons, not to trust him. I mean... whenever he told you or me to go in a certain place, there is a disaster, or some bad things happen. Remember that last time he told you to..."
"Enough." Okina said. "Everything was just a coincidence. Don't blame everything on Yukishiro. All I ask you is to be nicer with him."
"I can't" Kenshin shook his head. "I'm sorry father but I can't."
"This is an order Kenshin." Okina stood up when his son turned his back to him. "An order from me."
Kenshin just stood there, his back facing his father. 'He is doing it again... he is doing it everytime...' not wanting to argue more with his father he nodded silently, before leaving the room.
'He is always like that.' Kenshin sighed as he left his father's office, going out on the garden, breathing in fresh air. "He always thinks that he could let me do everything he wanted me to do." he sighed again, as he sat on the wooden bench, staring at nowhere.
"Hey!" Sano smirked seeing his friend. "What happened?"
"My father wants me to welcome him." Kenshin said. "He told be to act nicer with him."
"Yeah." Sano sighed as he sat beside Kenshin. "So... what are you planning to do?"
"I don't know." Kenshin sighed again. "I wish he just leave the country."
"That's impossible." Sano said. "I mean. I know he is interested with the empire, ne?"
"Yeah." Kenshin nodded. "I wouldn't be surprised if Yukishiro led a whole army to overthrow my father for the throne."
"Sounds possible to me."
"Yeah." Kenshin sighed again. "Now, there will be no chance for me to go out again."
"And see that little missy?" Sano smirked as Kenshin nodded absent-mindedly. "I knew it! I knew it!"
"Oro?!?" Kenshin turned crimson in color at that. "Hey, it's nothing like that! Nothing like that!"
"Hehe! I knew it! I always do! Hehe!"
"Oro! It's nothing like that."
***
"Mou! I knew it!" Tomoe said angrily. "I shouldn't have trusted that girl with my perfume!" she frowned again, pacing back and forth on her room.
"She's not here yet?" Kamatari asked, entering her sister's room without knocking on the door.
"You know how to knock?" Tomoe asked coldly and her sister only snickered.
"Sorry." Kamatari said as she sat on Tomoe's bed. "She's not here yet?"
"Who knows where that ugly girl went?" Tomoe frowned. "I need my perfume!"
"And I need my hair pin." Kamatari said.
"You two!" Megumi emerged. "What are you doing here? Where's that Kaoru? Enishi-kun should be here by any moment."
"Mou!" Kamatari pouted. "Kaoru went out to buy me a hair pin but she never come back."
"What?!? you two send her out?!?" Megumi frowned at her two daughters. "You... Who is supposed to clean the porch without her?!?"
"It's already spotless." Tomoe said. "Kaoru already cleaned it up. Don't be so nervous, mother. It's only Enishi who's coming."
"We should make a good impression to him." Megumi said. "And plus, we can't let him see Kaoru! I mean... we should locked her up in her room."
"Don't worry she must be... oh my God! Mother!" Kamatari's jaw dropped upon seeing a carriage coming, from the window. "He's coming!"
"Oh!" Megumi said. "You two better, prepare yourselves. I'll entertain him, for a moment." she said before leaving her two daughters.
"Mou! I'm going to kill that Kaoru." Tomoe said evilly.
***
"Thanks for the ride." Kaoru smiled at Enishi.
"Are you sure your ankle is okay now?"
"Hai." Kaoru nodded. "You should come in now." she smiled.
"Okay. Come with me." Enishi offered a hand but Kaoru shook her head.
"Oh no, no..." Kaoru said. "I shouldn't use the front door." she shook her head again.
"What's wrong with that? Come." Enishi said, grabbing Kaoru's left hand and almost dragging her with him.
"Demo..."
"It's alright." Enishi smiled, knocking softly on the door.
"Enishi-kun." Megumi opened the door with a smile. "It's nice to see you again." her smile faded when she saw Kaoru standing beside Enishi.
"You-?!? What are you doing?!?" Megumi pulled Kaoru's arm almost painfully. "You're not supposed to be outside, ne?"
"G-gomen... demo..." Kaoru started to explain but Megumi silenced her with a look. "I think I should give Tomoe-san and Kamatari-san their things." she said before leaving the two.
"Why did you let her go?" Enishi asked Megumi when Kaoru left.
"Don't mind her." Megumi smiled. "Come in." she opened the door wider for him to enter. "A cup of tea?"
"Hai." Enishi nodded. "I never expect Kamiya has a very beautiful daughter." he said making Megumi, almost spill the tea on the floor.
"Nani?" Megumi raised an eyebrow. "Sorry? Did I hear you right?"
"I met her, earlier as I passed by." Enishi said. "She seemed a very nice girl."
"Don't talk like your interested in her. I mean, you can't like a girl like Kaoru. I mean she's just a..." Megumi smiled at Enishi as if he's telling a joke.
"She's wonderful. How can a man not like her?" Enishi said, showing all signs of interest he had on Kaoru. "Tell me, she already have someone? A fiance?"
"No." Megumi shook her head. "She's single."
"I see." an evil smile appeared on Enishi's face. "She's still available then."
"Eh?" Megumi blinked at Enishi as if he'd gone mad. Just then Tomoe and Kamatari emerged in the room, with confident smiled on their faces.
"Enishi-kun, how have you been?" Kamatari asked, smiling sweetly.
"Fine." Enishi nodded at her. "How about you?"
"Perfect." Kamatari replied.
"Nice seeing you again." Tomoe smiled at Enishi who smiled back.
"Pleasure is all mine." he replied. "You two both look lovely."
"Arigato." Tomoe and Kamatari both smiled in appreciation. "You look great too."
"Uhm... Aunt Megumi, more tea?" Kaoru entered the room too, a tray of foods and tea on hand.
"Hai, hai." Megumi suddenly smiled at Kaoru. "Thank you."
"Eh?" Kaoru blinked at Megumi's sudden change of behavior. "Arigato." she nodded, placing the tray on a table, before starting to go away.
"No, no. You join us." Megumi said, urging Kaoru to sit on a chair. "Join us."
"But..." Kaoru started to say, but Megumi silenced her with a look. She just nodded and looked down shyly.
"Mother? Why are you letting her join us?" Tomoe whispered when Enishi was not looking. "Look at her! She looked like a mess." she added, pointing to Kaoru's worn-out kimono.
"Enishi-kun seems to be interested on her." Megumi whispered back and Tomoe only made a face.
"How come?" Tomoe eyed Kaoru with disgust. "She looks rubbish."
"I don't know." Megumi whispered back, before saying out aloud. "Oh, I just forgot that I need to do something, with my daughters."
"Eh? Mother?!?" Kamatari gave Megumi a frown. "What are we going to do?"
"Come, you two." Megumi pulled Tomoe and Kamatari with her. "Kaoru, you entertain our guest."
"Eh?" Kaoru blinked while Enishi watched the three as they left.
"Tell me more about yourself." Enishi said flatly, turning to Kaoru.
"Eh? Nani?" Kaoru blinked at Enishi. "What about me?"
"You see." Enishi said, giving her a smile. "I want to know more about you."
"More about me? How come?" Kaoru asked, starting to feel nervous. She was now alone with a man she only knew for about an hour ago.
"I'm a very direct person, so I'm going to say it to you direct to the point." Enishi said, inching closer to Kaoru, who backed away a little. "I really think that you are a very wonderful girl."
"Eh?" Kaoru blushed a little. "N-nani…? S-sorry…"
"And I think that you are beautiful…" Enishi said. "I like you."
Kaoru only blinked at him in disbelief. 'How can this man be so… so… forward…' she thought.
"And I want to know you more." Enishi smiled.
***
"Grrr… that inconsiderate git!" Kenshin growled, pacing back and forth near the entrance of the palace. "What time is it Sano?"
"One o'clock?" Sano said, glancing at the huge clock outside. "He's late."
"Grrr… What time did he think he is going to come?!?" Kenshin said in annoyance. "He is not a very important person, you know."
"Seems like he is." Sano smirked. "He is your father's adviser, ne? Everything he says is done. Everything he wants… he got."
"Yeah, right." Kenshin sighed, "Ten more minutes, I'm going away." he added.
"Yeah." Sano nodded too.
Kenshin began pacing again, when he heard a sound of a carriage coming. He frowned at the man who came out of the carriage.
"It's nice seeing you again, your highness." Enishi bowed at Kenshin who narrowed his eyes on him. "What a pleasure to have you welcoming me back."
"What are you thinking?" Sano burst out in annoyance. "You made him wait for you for almost an hour."
"Oh, the great Sagara Sanosuke is here too." Enishi said sarcastically before turning back tp Kenshin. "I'm sorry for making you wait, your highness."
"Stop the formalities, Yukishiro-san." Kenshin said, trying to sound as polite as he could. "Come in. The King is waiting for you."
"Yes." Enishi nodded, after instructing his boy to put his things on the room provided for him. "Really sorry for being so late. You see, I visited a friend."
"A frined?" Sano raised an eyebrow. "…so that friend, is more important than your appointment with the King!"
"Shut up, Sagara!" Enishi glared at Sanosuke who glared back at him.
"It's alright, Sano." Kenshin nodded to Sano.
"As I was saying." Enishi continued. "I visited a friend. And on my way there, I met someone. A very wonderful girl, indeed."
"That's nice." Kenshin said, really uninterested with everything. 'Like I care.' he added mentally.
"A very wonderful girl, and beautiful. Come to think of it, she is the step daughter of the friend I'm supposed to visit. A very nice coincidence."
"Yeah, right." Sano said sarcastically.
"She is really nice and I really liked her." Enishi continued, ignoring Sano's sarcastic comments. "She is such a very wonderful girl, Kamiya Kaoru really is."
'Kaoru?' Kenshin frowned after hearing her name. "What is her name again?" he turned to Enishi, to make sure that he heard it right.
"Kamiya Kaoru." Enishi nodded.
Kenshin just stood there, staring at Enishi with a bewildered expression on his face. 'Kaoru-dono?'
tbc…
A/N: Another chapter done! What do you think of Enishi's appearnce? Hehehe... Hope you guys will leave me your reviews again. Till next chappies. Hope to hear more from you guys! Ja'ne!