Truth, Lies, Betrayal And Love

Chapter 7

"What do you mean my fiancé? Do you mean fiancé as in someone I'm about to marry!"

"Yes."

"No… I… I can't marry someone I don't know!"

"But that's why we're having her come today Kiyoshi, so you two can get to know each other before the wedding." Suki explained

"But… I don't want to marry… I want to go home to Kaoru and the others."

"You're going to meet her, Kiyoshi and that's that." Shiro said firmly

"No I'm not, I'm going home."

Kenshin turned around and left the room, missing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces. Suki turned to Naoto with pleading eyes, "Naoto will you talk to him?"

"Yes ma'am."

Naoto hurried to catch up to Kenshin and caught him on the bottom step, "Kiyoshi wait!"

"What is it?"

"What's wrong?"

"It's not obvious? I don't want to marry a girl that I don't love, let alone a girl that I've never even met before."

"I understand that you feel a little forced about this, but I don't think that it will turn out to be as bad as you believe it will. At least meet her, and if you decide that you still don't want to do this then I am certain Lord and Lady Iishikawa will understand."

"Naoto…"

"Please Kiyoshi, at least meet her."

Kenshin looked into the eyes of his double and sighed, "Very well… I'll meet her but I won't promise anything that I won't."

"Thank you, Kiyoshi."

At that moment a handsome young boy about sixteen or so came up to Naoto and bowed, "Good morning sir."

"Good morning Daigoro, what can I do for you?"

"I hate to ask you but… will you do a favor for me, sir?"

"Of course what is it?"

"Will you… give this to Rika?"

"Yes."

Daigoro handed him a note and bowed, "Thank you sir."

He headed off towards the kitchen and Naoto smiled at Kenshin's confused look, "Daigoro is one of the kitchen boys, he has a crush on Rika but he won't tell her so he gives her hints in letters."

"Oh I see, playing match making huh Naoto?"

"Why not?"

Rika came down the stairs and smiled at them, "Excuse me sirs."

"Hold on Rika."

"What is it Lord Naoto?"

He handed her the note and whispered into her ear, "From your secret admirer."

She smiled, "Writing me perverted letters again, Lord Naoto?"

"Well you do know how much I love you."

She giggled and tapped his shoulder before heading down the hall. Kenshin laughed, "She's not shy around you."

"No, she's pretty open with me she's grown up here so we've been friends for many years. She'll open up to you as well once she gets to know you."

"I see... she's awfully young."

"She is but she's a good worker and she brings some life to the castle, without her and the gardeners fighting I wouldn't have any source entertainment."

They laughed before Naoto started pushing Kenshin up the stairs, "Come on Kiyoshi we need to get you changed before the princess arrives."

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

Naoto just raised an eyebrow at him and gave him the once over and that told Kenshin all he needed to know, "Beggar?" he asked grinning

Naoto nodded, "Beggar… and a sleep deprived one at that."

About an hour or so later, after much arguing and complaints from Kenshin, Naoto finally managed to get the red head to choose an outfit that he liked. And through some sort of miracle Naoto somehow convinced Kenshin to wear his hair up in a high ponytail like he used to wear then they headed downstairs as Ryunosuke came to greet them, "Our Lord and Lady are awaiting you two in the main hall."

"Thank you Ryunosuke, are you nervous Kiyoshi?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry you look fine, I'm certain she'll like you."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Kenshin took a deep breath and followed Naoto down the hall, bowing to Shiro and Suki, "Aw you're here, good. Kiyoshi I'd like you to meet someone."

Kenshin looked in front of him and a beautiful young woman looked up and smiled at him. She had waist length pitch black hair and strange emerald green eyes; she was wearing a very elegant violet colored kimono and a small patch of pink flowers in her hair.

Shiro chuckled and patted Kenshin's shoulder, "This is my son and heir Kiyoshi."

He bowed to the woman and she returned the gesture before speaking softly, "It is an honor to finally meet you Lord Kiyoshi, my name is Kiyoko Kobayashi."

"It's nice to meet you Lady Kiyoko that it is."

"Well why don't you two go outside and get to know one another while we prepare for dinner."

"Yes sir."

Kiyoko followed Kenshin down the hall then outside to the courtyard. They decided to rest on one of the numerous benches and sat in silence for a long time until Kiyoko asked, "How old are you, Kiyoshi?"

"Huh… oh I'm twenty nine that I am."

"I see."

"How… old are you if you don't mind me asking?"

"I'm seventeen."

"Wow… I'm one of the oldest people here."

Kiyoko giggled and Kenshin couldn't help but smile, he could tell she was trying to be ladylike and he could sense a hidden strength in the young woman next to him, in a way she reminded him of Kaoru.

"I heard rumors that you were dead, Kiyoshi, what really happened to you?"

"I… was told that I was kidnapped, I really don't remember being here that I don't, I've grown up as a commoner."

"Really, have you had a good life?"

"I believe I have, I have wonderful friends and I get to do things for myself."

"Oh so you are one of those men who don't wish to burden others when you can do something for yourself?"

"Yes."

"That is rare among royalty, although I suppose you don't know anything else."

Kenshin smiled, "Being a commoner isn't that bad that it isn't, I've never had a reason to complain that I haven't."

"I'm glad."

She looked up and noticed his scar, frowning slightly, "How did you get that horrible scar?"

"I… I… got into a fight several years ago that I did."

"Oh… does it hurt?"

"No."

A cold breeze blew by and Kiyoko shivered slightly, "Do you want to go back inside Lady Kiyoko?"

"If you wish to."

Kenshin helped her to stand and they headed back into the castle but as they passed by one of the columns Naoto jumped out and grabbed Kiyoko by the waist, "Boo!"

"OH! Naoto! You brute!"

Naoto laughed as he slapped him on the cheek, "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"I do, your sense of security that I won't harm you."

"That may be it, so did you two have a good time?"

"Yes."

Kenshin cleared his throat to get their attention, "You two know each other?"

"Yes, unfortunately I have met Naoto before now excuse me gentlemen. It was nice chatting with you Kiyoshi we should do it again soon."

"Sure."

Kiyoko disappeared around the corner and Kenshin let out a sigh, catching Naoto's attention, "What's the matter Kiyoshi?"

"She's an interesting girl but I don't think I can marry her that I don't."

"Not your type of woman?"

"I don't know about that that I don't but… oh don't worry about it it's nothing."

Throughout the rest of the day Kenshin got the pleasure of watching Kiyoko and Naoto fight then that night he got a huge surprise from Shiro. He suggested that he and Kiyoko sleep in the same room to get more comfortable with one another and of course Kenshin protested against it but Shiro was insistent and won out in the end. As they were getting ready to settle in and go to sleep Kiyoko noticed Kenshin on the other side of the room leaning against the wall, she went up to him and touched his shoulder, "Kiyoshi… what are you doing over here aren't you coming to bed?"

"I am in bed, I sleep on the wall that I do."

"That must be terribly uncomfortable for you, I can find another room to sleep in if you wish me to."

"No, I sleep over here anyways and besides I can protect you from Naoto this way that I can."

Kiyoko giggled, "Thank you but if you change your mind you are more than welcome to join me."

"Thank you Lady Kiyoko."

Kiyoko went to the bed and settled in before quickly falling asleep. Kenshin looked out the window and smiled, he missed Kaoru and the others terribly and he couldn't help but wonder how they were doing. Wait… Kaoru… he didn't think about his situation until just now! What if Kaoru found out that he was sleeping in the same room with a strange woman? He knew that he wouldn't do anything but he didn't think about how Kaoru would see it. All of the sudden he felt even more nervous than before and looked over at the woman sleeping in the bed, he closed his eyes and sighed, "What's wrong with me? I know I'm not actually sleeping with Lady Kiyoko but… why do I still feel like I'm betraying my Kaoru?"

He looked to the moon once more and sighed again, whispering into the still night air, "Goodnight Kaoru… forgive me…"