Forbidden Love Chapter 7

Three weeks passed quickly and Kaoru was barely able to see Kenshin. She was scared that Kenshin would die in battle. She looked up to see Misao there, watching her.

"Kaoru, are you all right?" Misao asked.

"Well…Kenshin is going off to war…soon. In…one week." She replied sadly.

"Um…about the war. I'll also be going off to war. I was trained in ninjutsu when I was younger. By Aoshi too. He's one of the top knights."

"What! You'll be leaving too? But why?"

"They need as much help as they can get. And the footmen aren't really prepared. They are still pretty weak and would need much more time to be able to defeat Shishio's warriors. They are pretty strong from what I hear."

Kaoru wondered for a moment and an idea popped into her head. "Misao." She started. "Help me look like a boy."

"What!" Misao exclaimed. "Kaoru! Don't go crazy on me now!"

"I'm not going crazy." Kaoru snapped. "Just help me get into the army so I can stay closer to Kenshin and make sure he doesn't…die." She ended sadly. "Please, Misao. I beg you." I don't want him to die. I want to see him come back in one piece."

"Misao looked around. "But…" she looked at Kaoru's expression and couldn't help but think in her head that it would work and that her explanation was pretty good… "Fine. I will help you but don't blame me if you get caught."

"Thanks Misao! You're the best!"

"Yeah whatever. Hurry up. The last day for new recruits is today." She interrupted.

Kaoru nodded and sat in the chair that Misao pointed to. "I'm gonna cut your hair. So don't get mad at me when…all your lovely hair gets…snipped off."

"Can't I just wear a wig?" she asked sadly, rubbing her precious locks that took her whole life to grow to that length.

"Fine." But you have to be extra careful that no one finds out, got that?" Misao ordered strictly.

"Yeah. Just get on with it."

Misao quickly left the palace and went to the marketplace. "I want a black short hair wig." She said to the shopkeeper. He gave her one and she paid him 100 yen. She rushed back to the palace and gave it to Kaoru, teaching her how to put it on so it didn't have any lumps. Then, she brought some clothes for her. Male clothes that were fit for a warrior. They were a bit too big but it didn't look that bad. Finally, five hours, they were done.

"There! Now, go outside and quickly get recruited! The recruiting men are just outside the palace. I'll help you sneak out…I know a way….and you have to act like a guy and say you would like to help protect your king and join okay?"

Kaoru nodded her head. "Got it. Let's get going already! I don't wanna get….um….I wanna get recruited!" she exclaimed, rushing to her feet. Misao nodded and handed her a sword she'd stolen from the weapon seller.

They were outside in a flash and Kaoru went to line up in the back. She adjusted her sword on her belt and made sure her wig was on straight. She stepped up when it was her turn. "I'd like to sign up for the army and help protect our king." She said, reciting word for word what Misao had told her.

"Fine. But you do look very tiny for a warrior. Maybe you'll do good though. Sign your allegiance in this book. Then, go in and take a left to the training grounds." The man grunted. Kaoru quickly thought up of a name for herself. She signed the book as Yamata Kenji. She rushed to get in, trying not to arouse any suspicions. When she reached the training grounds, the guards pushed her in and told her to go to the tent located all the way in the back. 'Kenji' saw Kenshin and quickly turned her head away.

"Are you a new recruit?" Kenshin asked sharply, seeing the new young man in front of him. When he looked up, he gasped. The resemblance between this man and Kaoru were…were…very close. The young boy nodded. "Then, hurry up and start training. New ones aren't supposed to have their own swords…." He raised an eyebrow.

"I already know how to fight." She quickly replied.

"Really…then perhaps you'd like to spar with me. I'll test your strength." He said.

"Uh…I'm sure I'm not as great as you….sir." she responded quickly, not wanting to face his Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu.

"Nonsense. Besides, you wouldn't know right? What if I'm just a captain in name yet, an unworthy fighter?"

'Oh you're worthy, all right…' she thought in her head.

"Here." He said, snapping her out of her daze and passing her a bokken. "I'll use a bokken as well." Many soldiers started gathering to watch. They all watched her with their peering eyes. "Start." Kenshin whispered. He disappeared from sight and suddenly appeared behind her. "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu…" he mumbled, "Ryu So Sen!" Kaoru barely dodged it and fear struck her. She didn't want to get hurt and she knew when Kenshin's blows hit, they hurt like HELL. Kaoru lunged, not knowing what else to do. He dodged easily and struck her back.

Kaoru grimaced from the pain and got angry. She was about to scold him when she remembered she was a guy. So she got up and into a stance. She decided to try and copy one of his moves that she'd seen before. "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu…Ryu Tsui Sen!" she muttered as she jumped up and came down with some force. Kenshin blocked and hit her again.

"Don't try to imitate my Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. You'll fail and get hurt instead." He said. She looked up at him and he threw his bokken to the side. "We're done here. And from my inspection, you…" he snatched the sword from her belt, "aren't qualified to hold a sword. You might end up hurting yourself."

"Well, EXCUSE me." She said out of frustration and embarrassment. All the soldiers were laughing and went back to sparring with their partners. At her comment, they looked back. "I'm sorry if I don't suit your tastes with my fighting!"

"What?" he raised an eyebrow, obviously surprised at him for yelling at an officer.

"You heard me."

"Come into my tent." He ordered. All the soldiers started muttering to each other. "And all of you!" he shouted. "GET BACK TO TRAINING!" All the men started sparring again quickly to avoid any trouble for themselves.

He led the way to his tent and sat down on a stool. "Give me your name."

"Yamata Kenji," she stated boldly, not afraid of Kenshin.

"Sure…" he murmured.

"What?" she snapped back.

"Kaoru. Stop pretending. Take off that disguise NOW." He ordered.