DISCLAIMER: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. But I wish I did…..

I am, however, the Rurouni Kenshin Freak of the 8o8 state.

FORBIDDEN LOVE CHAPTER 6

"HYAH!" Shouts were heard from the training grounds as the footmen were sparring with each other with sticks. Kenshin was watching them while also giving out tips to some who kept making mistakes. The men were growing tired and some fainted.

"Give them a water break, Sano." Kenshin said.

"'Kay." He said. Then, he bellowed, "WATER BREAK YOU BUFFOONS!"

"Our progress is very slow Kenshin. At this rate, Shishio will attack us and kill us with one strike." Kenshin sat down in a chair and thought. He remembered about what he told Kamiya-sama.

'I'll teach Sano a technique I know."

Kenshin got up. "Sano, come with me. Aoshi, after they're done with their break, make them train again. You're in charge for now until I come back." Aoshi nodded and stepped out of the tent. Kenshin led Sano to a secluded area of the forest where he used to train. "Sano. Today, I'll be teaching you a useful martial arts technique. I learned about it from my master's books. Pay attention." Kenshin picked up a small stone and shattered it easily with his fist. Sano was surprised.

"You know martial arts!" he exclaimed.

"I must be prepared if I am not armed with a sword, no?" he grinned and gave Sano the stone. "I take it that you can already break rocks?" Sano nodded and punched the stone, breaking it into two. "However," he continued, handing him another stone and picking one up for himself, "This technique is not breaking stones in two but shattering them." Kenshin did another demonstration for him. "Here's how it works. The movements must be made within a setsuna. Try it."

See Volume 9 of Rurouni Kenshin. If not, just think of it as REALLY REALLY fast. Not even a second.

Sano raised his fist and tried it. The rock just broke in two. "Aww! Why didn't it shatter?"

"Because you were too slow. I'll give you a week to master it. Make sure you master it with both hands and feet. I expect you to be done within that week. If not, I'll have to give you a punishment. As you said, we don't have time to spare. Meaning you don't either."

"All right…sir…"

"Kenshin will do, Sano."

"Okay then, Kenshin!" Sano started to practice with many other stones. As he practiced, he mumbled, "No time, no time, shatter, please…" Kenshin smiled and headed back towards the palace to train the soldiers who were very inexperienced. On the way, he bumped into Kaoru.

"Hey Kenshin!" she greeted, looking up from her lessons. She was learning flower arranging and hated every second of it.

Kenshin bowed. "Hello, princess."

"Mou! Don't call me princess! You know I hate it, Kenshin!" Kenshin smiled at her reaction.

"Indeed, I do. Yet, I must. We are of different class, you being a princess, and I, a knight." Kaoru frowned.

"So what? We're friends! Friends don't call each other by their status right? That'd be so weird! Wait….I know! Kenshin, I ORDER you to not call me princess!"

"Well, that wouldn't really work. That's defying a law. If I'm heard calling you by your name, I'll be beheaded for sure." He responded, laughing in his head at Kaoru's exasperated expression. "But I guess, just this once, I could call you Kaoru…."

"You're so annoying!" she laughed. Suddenly, an arrow was caught in Kenshin's hand. His eyes flickered amber but stayed lavender.

"Assassin. Get down, Kaoru. You too." He directed to the teacher who was getting annoyed because of the interrupted lesson. He blended into the shadows and heightened his senses. He heard a tree's branches creaking because of unexpected weight. He quickly went to work and killed the man. He was a skilled archer to have gotten so close from such a far distance. He searched the man's pockets to find a letter. "From Shishio…" he read. He went towards Kaoru and told her to stand up again. "Continue your lessons."

"Kenshin…are you okay? I mean…you caught that arrow and your hand is bleeding…."

"It's nothing, Kaoru." He replied, grinning. "I'll be okay." With that, he rushed off to the king. As he approached, Kamiya-sama looked up from his lunch, looking worried.

"Has another assassin arrived?" he asked.

"Yes. This time, he held a letter. As if he knew he would fail." With that, Kenshin passed the letter to him. When he quickly scanned the contents, his face fell.

"It says…the war will take place in….a month from now."

"Then I shall train the men harder until then. You should alert Yamagata-san with a skilled messenger. There could be assassins on the side. I recommend Aoshi or Saitou." Kamiya-sama nodded and dismissed him. Kenshin quickly arrived at the training grounds and took over for the rest of the day.

'They have a long way to go yet we have so little time.' Kenshin sighed as he lay down on the stone bench in the gardens. Then, he heard a rustle coming from the bushes. He heightened his senses and quickly got up. "Who's there?" he commanded sharply.

Just then, Kaoru popped out of the bushes. "Hi Kenshin! Why are you lying down on the bench instead of your bed?" she chirped.

faint "Kaoru! Um….Princess! What are you doing out here? And…don't do that ever again! I could've killed you! How would I know if it were you and not an assassin?" he exclaimed angrily. Then, he noticed the look on her face.

"Sorry…" she mumbled quietly, fiddling with her dress.

Kenshin sighed. "Sorry…I didn't mean to get angry. I just….don't want you to get hurt in any way. Especially by me. It would…hurt…" he trailed off.

"What?" Kaoru asked, not hearing the last part. "What did you say?"

"Nothing. Anyway, what are you doing here, princess?" he asked.

"No particular reason. I just wanted to see you!" she said happily. "You must be so tired to always be training those soldiers!"

"It is my duty to protect this kingdom." He replied. In his head, he thought, 'It is my most important duty to protect you.'

"Oh. But still! Overworking and stressing yourself isn't good! See!" she plucked a hair from his head.

"Ow!"

"Look at this hair! It's white from all that stress! That's a bad sign!"

He chuckled. "Well…" he couldn't really argue with that. "Well…..hmm….I know….but, I must train them. The war will be in a mon—" he stopped, and put his hand over his mouth quickly. He didn't want Kaoru to know about the war.

"What?" she asked, her ears perking up. "The war's going to be in a…month!"

"N…well…" Kenshin sighed. He could do nothing but tell the truth now. "Yes, we received a letter saying that the war will be in a month from today."

"Doesn't that mean you'll also be going into battle too?" she asked.

Kenshin looked away and didn't answer. He started walking toward the palace, ready for some rest. And he didn't want to talk to Kaoru about any fighting.

Kaoru turned him around angrily. "Tell me right now! I order you! I want to know, Kenshin!" She held his gi and he looked away. "Kenshin! Quit being so stubborn! Tell me now!" she demanded, shaking him.

"Yeah…I'll be going off to war with the soldiers. They need their leader to guide them and order them. They need to know what formations to use during ba—"

"I don't care! If you go…what if you die! You could get shot by an arrow! Get a deep sword wound! Get stabbed and slashed! Don't go!" she yelled into his gi.

Kenshin took her hands that were gripping onto his gi and made her fingers release him. He started walking again. Then he turned around again. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me and just take care of yourself. Besides, I still have a month of living in this palace." He smiled. "Stay safe, my princess."

Kenshin disappeared into the darkness.