A RK Cinderella Story

by: nyllemnev

Disclaimer's Apply: They are not mine… blah, blah, blah…

Chapter 16: Actions pt. 2

Princess Sayo smiled as she examined her reflection on her mirror. Today, she's going to Tokyo to visit the palace and the prince too. 'I wonder if he'll be happy to see me there.' she thought while brushing her long tresses.

Honestly, Princess Sayo was quite surprised to have received the letter the other day from none other than King Okina himself. She was quite excited to see Prince Kenshin again.

"I just hope things will get better for me and my Prince." Sayo sighed. "Oh… how I wish…"

"The carriage is ready, Princess." the maid informed her.

Taking one last look on her reflection, she got up and went out of her room.

xxx

'I wonder when are they going to let me out of this room…' Kaoru sighed, staring sadly at her room's door. 'I've been in here for almost two days.' she shook her head, not wanting to cry again, just like what she's been doing for the whole time she's locked up in her room.

"I wonder what's going to happen now…" she sighed again.

tap, tap

"Huh?" some noise from her window made Kaoru look up. "Nani?"

tap, tap "Psssttt… Kaoru… you there?" a voice called which made Kaoru jump a little in surprise. She frowned and began crawling towards her window to see what's going on.

"Y-Yahiko?" she gasped as she found herself staring at Yahiko who had managed to climbed up the roof. "What are doing there?" she pushed her window open to let her friend in.

"Why… looking for you, of course!" Yahiko jumped inside the room and crossed his arms. "I haven't seen you for almost two days! I'm worried."

"Oh…" Kaoru nodded her head.

"So… you alright?" Yahiko sank, cross-legged on the floor.

"I think so." Kaoru sighed, sitting on her so-called bed. "I guess."

"You've been crying?" Yahiko frowned, noting Kaoru's red and still puffy eyes. "What is it this time? Why did they lock you up here?"

"I… Well… it's my fault…" Kaoru looked down.

"It's always your fault." Yahiko sighed. "So… are you going to tell me what happened? I'm worried… Kenshin's worried too."

"Kenshin?" Kaoru looked up. "What-?"

"I kinda bump into him last day." Yahiko shrugged. "It seems like he's looking for you all over the place…"

"Oh…" Kaoru sighed. "He must be thinking that he had gotten me into trouble…" she shook her head and looked at Yahiko straight in his eyes. "Please tell him not to worry… it's not his fault and I'm alright…"

"I'm not going to tell him anything if you're not going to tell me what's happened!" Yahiko said stubbornly.

"Okay…" Kaoru sighed. "It's just that… Aunt Megumi caught me with him…"

"WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING? ARE YOU- ARE YOU…" Yahiko stood up and pointed an accusing finger at Kaoru.

"No! No! No!" Kaoru shook her head, blushing furiously. "Not what you're thinking!" she stood up. "It was that he was walking me home and then, we stopped for a while and we talked and Aunt Megumi caught us."

"Oh…" Yahiko sat back on the floor. "So?"

"Aunt Megumi got mad." Kaoru sighed. "You see… they… they liked Enishi-kun for me, or something like that…"

"But you liked Kenshin?" Yahiko teased while Kaoru only looked down. "Don't tell me… you really…"

"There's no reason to hide it now… but yes,… I think I like him." Kaoru said, not looking up at her friend.

"I knew it!" Yahiko exclaimed. "I'm wondering when are you going to admit it."

"What will I do?" Kaoru looked up at Yahiko, her cheeks tinted with a blush. "I can't see him or Aunt Megumi will kill me… but I don't want to be with Enishi-kun because I don't really like him."

Yahiko frowned for a moment, thinking. "Then… I guess… you'll have to leave."

"Leave?" Kaoru stood up. "Are you kidding me? I'm not going to leave my parent's property! This is the only thing that I've got! I'm not going to leave…"

"But there's no other way…" Yahiko sighed. "If you stay here… well, who knows what that old witch can do?"

Kaoru paused, thinking for a moment. "But…"

"You can stay at my place… or Tae-san's… Kionji-san's…" Yahiko said. "Even Tsubame-chan's place… we are all willing to help you…" he paused for a moment. "And don't worry about this place… I'll look after it for you…"

"Yahiko…" Kaoru looked at Yahiko. "But how am I going to get out of this place?"

"Leave everything to me…" Yahiko smirked.

xxx

Kenshin lay all awake on his bed, his head full of thoughts about a certain raven-haired beauty. 'I wonder if she's okay… I knew I could go there and see for myself but… I don't want to cause her more trouble and it's not as if I could go out unwatched…' he narrowed his eyes towards the direction of his window.

'I wonder what Enishi is up to now…' he frowned, '…he seems to be marking my every move… how can I snuck out of the palace if he's always there around me…'

A soft knock on his door made him sat up. "Hai?"

The servant entered the room and bowed at him. "His majesty, King Okina, wants a word."

"Tell him I'll be there in a minute."

The servant bowed at him before leaving the room.

"What now?" Kenshin frowned. He's not in a mood for another matchmaking scheme from his father.

"Sano…" Kenshin called as he saw his friend walking in the halls.

"Hey." Sano grinned at his friend. "What's up?"

"Bad…" Kenshin said before lowering his voice. "I can feel someone watching my every move."

"Yeah… I can see suspicious people around the palace as well." Sano lowered his voice too, so it was only Kenshin who could hear him. "Is something going on?"

"I don't know." Kenshin shook his head. "But Yukishiro seems to be tailing me."

"That's odd." Sano frowned. "The servants are very busy too. It's as if they're preparing for something."

"Did you ask them?"

"I did… but they said that your father ordered them not to speak a word of it." Sano shrugged.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Kenshin rolled his eyes. "It's as if someone is going to go here or something."

"Well… watch you steps then." Sano said in a serious voice.

"I know…" Kenshin turned to a corner. "My father wants a word… So I guess, I'll see you later."

"Yeah." Sano nodded while Kenshin walked towards his father's office. He sighed when he finally reached the King's office.

"It's me Kenshin." He said after knocking on his father's door.

"Come in."

Kenshin entered the room and narrowed his eyes a little when he found the last man that he wanted to see – Yukishiro Enishi, talking to his father.

"The servant informed me that you want a word?" Kenshin said, after throwing a cold look at Enishi.

"Yes… I was just talking to Yukishiro about the details." King Okina gestured for Kenshin to take a seat.

"If you would excuse me sir…" Enishi bowed at the King, then at Kenshin, before leaving the room.

"What are you discussing with Yukishiro?" Kenshin asked in suspicion.

"Well… I guess, I should tell you now." King Okina smiled at his son. "Princess Sayo of Yokohama is going to visit our palace."

"Princess Sayo?" Kenshin frowned. "Is that why the servants seems to be very busy? Sano just informed me."

"Of course." King Okina nodded. "And that is also why the security's been raised. Yukishiro also suggested that…"

"Why do I have a feeling that it's another one of your matchmaking scheme?" Kenshin narrowed his eyes at his father.

"Oh no… didn't you tell me that Princess Sayo is a friend of yours?" King Okina asked. "So, I thought… it would be great if we invite her to stay with us for a couple of weeks… Plus, the celebration for the Dragon Festival (I don't know if there's such thing as Dragon Festival, but well…) is coming, so I guess it would be pretty normal if we'll invite her for the festivities."

"Well… there's nothing wrong with that…" Kenshin nodded. "When is she going to arrive?"

"I guess tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

"And you want me to greet her or something?" Kenshin raised an eyebrow.

"That would only be nice." King Okina nodded. "She did the same when you visited Yokohama."

"Fair enough." Kenshin nodded. "But I just want to make this clear, father… Princess Sayo is only a friend of mine…" he paused for a while before standing up. "…nothing more…" he bowed at his father before excusing himself.

"She's just a friend… as for now…" King Okina smiled, watching his son go. "You don't have to be shy, my son…"

xxx

"YAHIKO! Get the DOOR!" Kamatari's voice came ringing around the house making Yahiko cringed.

"Honestly… they can just open the door themselves." Yahiko rolled his eyes before going up to open the door. He frowned when he saw, none other than Yukishiro Enishi on their doorstep.

"Yukishiro-san… come in…" Yahiko bowed at him, opening the door wider for him to enter. "I'll just get the ugl-… er… Megumi-san…"

He led Enishi to the tearoom before going further inside the house to fetch Megumi and her daughters. 'I wonder what he's up to now…' he frowned.

xxx

Megumi gladly greeted the young man waiting on the room. "You received my letter?" she smiled, sitting on the chair across Enishi.

"Hai… the other day…" Enishi nodded. "I was very busy at the palace, so…"

"It's alright." Megumi smiled.

"Where's Kaoru?"

"She's inside…" Megumi said. "Don't worry… she'll be yours in no time." She took a sip of her tea before continuing. "All we have to do is to get everything in place. As soon as possible."

"Tell me what to do…" Enishi nodded as Megumi lowered her voice to tell him the details.

xxx

Yahiko stood rooted to his position as he have accidentally overheard everything that Megumi and Enishi were talking about. 'No…' he thought in alarm. 'I have to get Kaoru out of here as soon as possible…'

TBC…

A/N: So… It's been 100 years since I last updated… hehe… sorry guys… really, really really, sorry to the nth power! I'm just really busy at a moment.

For those who have PATIENTLY (really patiently) waited for this chapter, thank you… this is for you. And for those who reviewed in the last chapters (encouraging me to continue…), a million thanks to you… you're my inspiration guys (just want to tell you…). And for everyone… thank you! Thank you! And a million million of SORRY for late updates… GOMEN-NASAI!

So what do you think? Do you like this chapter? Are you mad at me :( ? Tell me what's on your mind…

And again… 'til next chapter! And don't worry, as promised, I'll finish this story (just be patient, ne guys?). :)