It was dark.
From where she stood, Kaoru could see a faint, muted light. More like a feeble glow to be correct. It was the only spark of brightness in the otherwise all encompassing black that surrounded her.
She began to walk toward it. It did not grow brighter as she grew nearer but it remained constant and steady. Her feet did not seem to touch the ground; she seemed to float above it instead of walking over it. The feeling was disorientating when coupled with the dimness of everything around her. Kaoru felt half blind.
The light, she now saw, came from a dimly lit lamp. A few paces away just out of the reach of its glow, a woman sat in front of a loom, weaving a tapestry. The light seemed to stop as if it reached a barrier that surrounded the woman and she was covered completely in shadow. All Kaoru could see of her was a vague outline.
Kaoru felt a light tug on her arm looked down. She was clad in a sky blue kimono. A single thread ran from its sleeve and into the loom.
Looking closer, Kaoru could see the sky blue thread stark against a background of white in the tapestry. As her eyes moved upward Kaoru saw the thread became interwoven with another one, a violet edged golden one.
As the tapestry progressed the two became increasingly interwoven, until it was hard to distinguish which one was which. The background of the tapestry grew darker, gray, black, until the two colors had become obliterated.
Swallowed up and lost in the darkness.
"Tied together the two of you are," the woman said her voice soft yet drifting easily to Kaoru's ears.
"You share the same destiny, the same fate. Whether for good or ill, you two cannot be separated."
Kaoru's brow furrowed, "what are you talking about? Who is this 'he' you speak of?"
"I am talking about your fate child, your future. And the world's future, it is tied to your fate and only you and he can keep the world from falling into darkness. He is your heart. He is the lost piece of your soul. Together you two are one. You just do not know it yet."
Kaoru laughed," I'm not some character in a fairy tale and that is exactly what you're making me sound like. I'm not going to go riding off into the sunset in search of dragons to slay and lost treasure. I have no need or want for a soul mate. "
"No that you will not do but yes he is. Your destiny is different from those mythic heroes that you speak about, though child, if you accomplish what your destiny has in store for you, you will be spoken of in tales and ballads the same as those heroes."
Kaoru snorted the woman talked gibberish, "All those heroes died to be made into heroes." She pointed out. "I would rather not be regaled in tales if it meant I had to meet my death to warrant a place in them."
"We are all pawns to destiny, little one. Even I myself have no power against the threads of time. I merely try to make them fall into place as smoothly as possible with the least amount of tangles and frays.
"The tapestry that you and he weave is an especially fragile and delicate one. It is tied to many other tapestries and made of many other life threads. It contains the fates and lives and many and they all depend on the two of you."
The woman fell silent for several moments as if pondering something. "I have spoken too much so I have." She said after a moment. You must not know more than you are supposed to or all shall be lost. Be gone now little one!"
The dream ended abruptly then.
~*~
Kaoru woke to find sunlight streaming through the tall glass windows that took up one wall of the room – her room. She bolted upright in the bed and for a disorientated moment she fought down panic – she had slept late she must hurry to her chores! Then she remembered she was no longer a servant and would no longer be made to do chores.
With a sigh Kaoru fell back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Something tickled at the back of her mind – a dream?
Of what exactly?
She tried to remember and all she could recall was darkness, a weaving loom and a shadow-woman. Something about destiny… it all faded from her mind as she tried to grasp it.
There was a knock on her door, it held a purposeful sound to it and contained no hesitation. A second later the doorknob turned and a servant stepped inside her room holding a tray of food and a roll of cloth that Kaoru supposed were clothes – tucked under her (it was a girl) arm.
"You're up I see." The girl smiled, she couldn't have been more than ten Kaoru thought.
She bounded more than walked to Kaoru's bedside. "My name is Tsubame." She said politely.
"Where are Yahiko and Misao?" Kaoru asked.
"Still sleeping, I suppose. I'm not sure, I was told to tend to you." Tsubame shrugged. "This tray contains your breakfast and I have brought clothes since I think you might need to change. Would you like any help?"
"No thank you." Gods above I know I should be able to change into my own clothes after serving my relatives for so long!
Tsubame bowed, "if you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. I'll only be just outside." With that said she turned and left.
Breakfast consisted of some long grained porridge Kaoru had never seen in her life, crunchy still warm bread and several kinds of fruit that were unknown to her. Also on the tray was a mug and small carafe. It held a dark brown hot drink that smelled slightly of cinnamon and tasted faintly of vanilla.
It smelled delicious and her stomach woke at once to complain its emptiness. There were small, slender and highly arched spoons next to the plates and Kaoru supposed they were the eating utensils. Eating with them proved difficult as the porridge kept slithering off the spoon. Kaoru soon gave up trying to lift the food into her mouth and just titled the bowl towards her and shoveled the porridge into her mouth. Not exactly proper but it was effective.
The fruits were tangy and sweet and Kaoru found a neatly folded napkin which she used to wipe her face free of the juices. There didn't seem to be any butter of jam to spread on the bread and so Kaoru ate it without. It tasted faintly of honey with a nutty texture and Kaoru found it quite agreeable.
The hot drink Kaoru thought was their answer to coffee. It certainly tasted better than any she had, had before. It warmed her insides as she drank and seemed to be an eclectic mixture of flavors: vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, and caramel – it was absolutely lovely.
Setting her now eaten breakfast aside Kaoru unrolled the cloth. The cloth turned out to be a tunic and trousers the exact same shade of blue as her eyes. The material was unknown to Kaoru soft and silky to the touch but durable she supposed. Kaoru lifted them up and shook them out and heard a dull thud. A comb had been placed inside the clothes and Kaoru set to work on her hair first, brushing out the tangles and securing the mass into a ponytail at the nape of her neck.
She then donned the clothes. They flowed around her not exactly baggy but not too clingy either. They were comfortable.
A knock at the door brought her out of her musings and a second later it opened. A tall gray haired man entered followed closely by a black haired woman several inches taller than Kaoru.
"So this is the one they sent." The woman's voice was contemptuous as she surveyed Kaoru.
Kaoru bristled, if the woman's attitude was any indication she was one of the King's would-have-been-wife-if-not-for-her.
"Quiet, Megumi." The other man said. He had an eye patch over one eye Kaoru noticed and walked with a slight limp.
"My name is Okina." He said to her, inclining his head respectfully. "This is Megumi – the Court Healer."
"She's the one who's supposed to check my health?" Kaoru asked. "I have a feeling she'd poison me if given the chance."
Megumi's eyes narrowed. "Did they have no better princesses to offer? I feel sorry for dear Ken."
"Ken?" Kaoru inquired.
"Kenshin, the King," The words "you moron" were almost audible. "Do you not even know the name of the man you are married to?" Megumi's voice was disbelieving.
Kaoru glared at her," not exactly my fault. My… family didn't keep good records of who ruled which country, or maybe they didn't care. I don't know. They always referred to 'Kenshin' as the King."
"Well at least they were being somewhat respectable." Megumi sneered.
"Don't take your anger out on me." Kaoru retorted. "I could care less about them."
"Well that's a relief; you might not take after them then."
Kaoru opened her mouth to respond to the insult but Okina interrupted her. "Megumi, if you would examine her please."
"Don't worry," Kaoru murmured snidely. "I'm not diseased."
"A pity… though I would probably have to take care of you and if you died Kenshin would behead me." Megumi muttered.
She spent the next few minutes poking and prodding Kaoru she found her to be "healthy if a bit on the thin side."
"We will be your tutors while you live here." Okina said as Megumi completed her exam of Kaoru.
"Tutoring me in what exactly?" Kaoru asked.
"Our language, how to wield a sword," Okina shrugged. "Various things you should know about, our land since it is now your home: the history, people, customs."
"I know some words of the language," Kaoru said. About five words and phrases exactly hello, goodbye, thank you, you're welcome, excuse me. Quite pitiful really Hiten (the land) bordered Kasshin and but barely anyone Kaoru knew could speak the language of their neighboring country.
"And I can wield a sword somewhat decently," Kaoru had loved to watch the swordsmen practice during her few free moments and had mimicked the lessons and moves she had seen with a discarded bokken back home. She might be untrained but she could defend herself well enough if the occasion called for it.
"We shall begin your lessons tomorrow. First, I think a tour of the palace is in order."
That sounded agreeable to Kaoru, she would like to see the place where she would now be living.
~*~
For the next few hours they brought her around the palace pointing out various rooms and artifacts and giving information on them. Kaoru filed it away and remembered the location of everything. A servant had to remember which important guest was kept where and where to find whatever a person wanted. Knowing where everything was essential and Kaoru had developed a knack for keeping track of everything.
The palace was huge and clean, very well kept. Barbaric was not a word to be used to describe the place. Everything was as immaculate as it would have been at she been back home and everyone she encountered seemed to be in better spirits than those who lived at the Kasshin Court.
Upon inquiring about Misao and Yahiko she learned they were being taken around by others to see their new home. Kaoru was glad they were being looked after. Back home they had been her best friends and closest thing to a real family.
Yahiko the son of deceased nobles who had fallen out of favor and upon their deaths had been made into a servant. His pride had gotten him into trouble many times and despite his gruff, arrogant exterior he was sweet and Kaoru regarded him as the little brother she had never had.
Misao was the daughter of a pair of guards who had died in a skirmish near the eastern boarder. She had been just a child at the time and had been made into a servant.
It seemed to Kaoru anyone who had no relatives or no significance to the Royals was made into a servant. Bastard children such as Kaoru had also been made into servants except of course if the mother was a favorite concubine or pleased the father of the child in some way.
Still, even if they were given full status as Royal the children were never really considered royal by the true full bloods. The children taunted them and when they were older played wicked mind games and spread ghastly rumors. Many of the children upon reaching adulthood fled the castle to live their own lives.
Kaoru had envied them. Her life had she remained at the castle would have been one of eternal servitude to her family. A prince or lord might have taken an interest in her as bed mate – a prospect that did not sit well with Kaoru. Her life would have been miserable until the day she died, old, gray and worn.
Indeed her betrothal to Kenshin could be considered a blessing, an escape from the destined life she had in place for her.
Now Kaoru had choices. She could say yes or no without the fear of being beaten for being defiant and uncooperative.
Kaoru found her mind wandering as she walked behind Okina and Megumi. Their voices had faded into soft murmuring that she barely paid attention to anymore. She startled out of her thoughts as she bumped into something.
It was an archway that leads into a garden.
Curious Kaoru entered the garden. It was a lovely place. Flowers and trees of all kinds bloomed all around her. The ground under her feet was shining silver stone edged with lush green grass. A water fountain was in the center – a flower that spilled water into a basin. Birds perched on the rim drinking or bathing in the water. The air was fragrant with perfume.
A soft whisper of foot against stone alerted Kaoru to another's presence. She turned to see Kenshin standing a few feet behind her.
For a moment she just stared at him wondering what to say. Her usual quick tongue felt dead in her mouth. As she watched Kenshin held out his hand and a small blue winged bird lighted on his palm. It walked across his hand a few times then launched itself off and back into the air. He seemed to be ignoring her, either that or unconcerned about her presence.
"Is this your garden?" What a stupid question. Kaoru immediately flushed.
"No."
"Whose garden is it then?"
"It was the old Queen's garden when my father lived." Those ten words were probably the most he had ever spoken to her. He had a light voice, not as deep as some of the men's. It was like silk wrapped in steel, soft yet commanding.
"Your mother?" Kaoru asked.
"She was not my mother." With that said he turned and left leaving Kaoru to stare after him. Almost civil then suddenly cold. He confused her and confusion was not a sensation Kaoru neither liked nor wanted. Not the son of the Queen? What did that mean? Why couldn't she have been given to someone normal and uncomplicated?
From where she stood, Kaoru could see a faint, muted light. More like a feeble glow to be correct. It was the only spark of brightness in the otherwise all encompassing black that surrounded her.
She began to walk toward it. It did not grow brighter as she grew nearer but it remained constant and steady. Her feet did not seem to touch the ground; she seemed to float above it instead of walking over it. The feeling was disorientating when coupled with the dimness of everything around her. Kaoru felt half blind.
The light, she now saw, came from a dimly lit lamp. A few paces away just out of the reach of its glow, a woman sat in front of a loom, weaving a tapestry. The light seemed to stop as if it reached a barrier that surrounded the woman and she was covered completely in shadow. All Kaoru could see of her was a vague outline.
Kaoru felt a light tug on her arm looked down. She was clad in a sky blue kimono. A single thread ran from its sleeve and into the loom.
Looking closer, Kaoru could see the sky blue thread stark against a background of white in the tapestry. As her eyes moved upward Kaoru saw the thread became interwoven with another one, a violet edged golden one.
As the tapestry progressed the two became increasingly interwoven, until it was hard to distinguish which one was which. The background of the tapestry grew darker, gray, black, until the two colors had become obliterated.
Swallowed up and lost in the darkness.
"Tied together the two of you are," the woman said her voice soft yet drifting easily to Kaoru's ears.
"You share the same destiny, the same fate. Whether for good or ill, you two cannot be separated."
Kaoru's brow furrowed, "what are you talking about? Who is this 'he' you speak of?"
"I am talking about your fate child, your future. And the world's future, it is tied to your fate and only you and he can keep the world from falling into darkness. He is your heart. He is the lost piece of your soul. Together you two are one. You just do not know it yet."
Kaoru laughed," I'm not some character in a fairy tale and that is exactly what you're making me sound like. I'm not going to go riding off into the sunset in search of dragons to slay and lost treasure. I have no need or want for a soul mate. "
"No that you will not do but yes he is. Your destiny is different from those mythic heroes that you speak about, though child, if you accomplish what your destiny has in store for you, you will be spoken of in tales and ballads the same as those heroes."
Kaoru snorted the woman talked gibberish, "All those heroes died to be made into heroes." She pointed out. "I would rather not be regaled in tales if it meant I had to meet my death to warrant a place in them."
"We are all pawns to destiny, little one. Even I myself have no power against the threads of time. I merely try to make them fall into place as smoothly as possible with the least amount of tangles and frays.
"The tapestry that you and he weave is an especially fragile and delicate one. It is tied to many other tapestries and made of many other life threads. It contains the fates and lives and many and they all depend on the two of you."
The woman fell silent for several moments as if pondering something. "I have spoken too much so I have." She said after a moment. You must not know more than you are supposed to or all shall be lost. Be gone now little one!"
The dream ended abruptly then.
~*~
Kaoru woke to find sunlight streaming through the tall glass windows that took up one wall of the room – her room. She bolted upright in the bed and for a disorientated moment she fought down panic – she had slept late she must hurry to her chores! Then she remembered she was no longer a servant and would no longer be made to do chores.
With a sigh Kaoru fell back onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. Something tickled at the back of her mind – a dream?
Of what exactly?
She tried to remember and all she could recall was darkness, a weaving loom and a shadow-woman. Something about destiny… it all faded from her mind as she tried to grasp it.
There was a knock on her door, it held a purposeful sound to it and contained no hesitation. A second later the doorknob turned and a servant stepped inside her room holding a tray of food and a roll of cloth that Kaoru supposed were clothes – tucked under her (it was a girl) arm.
"You're up I see." The girl smiled, she couldn't have been more than ten Kaoru thought.
She bounded more than walked to Kaoru's bedside. "My name is Tsubame." She said politely.
"Where are Yahiko and Misao?" Kaoru asked.
"Still sleeping, I suppose. I'm not sure, I was told to tend to you." Tsubame shrugged. "This tray contains your breakfast and I have brought clothes since I think you might need to change. Would you like any help?"
"No thank you." Gods above I know I should be able to change into my own clothes after serving my relatives for so long!
Tsubame bowed, "if you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. I'll only be just outside." With that said she turned and left.
Breakfast consisted of some long grained porridge Kaoru had never seen in her life, crunchy still warm bread and several kinds of fruit that were unknown to her. Also on the tray was a mug and small carafe. It held a dark brown hot drink that smelled slightly of cinnamon and tasted faintly of vanilla.
It smelled delicious and her stomach woke at once to complain its emptiness. There were small, slender and highly arched spoons next to the plates and Kaoru supposed they were the eating utensils. Eating with them proved difficult as the porridge kept slithering off the spoon. Kaoru soon gave up trying to lift the food into her mouth and just titled the bowl towards her and shoveled the porridge into her mouth. Not exactly proper but it was effective.
The fruits were tangy and sweet and Kaoru found a neatly folded napkin which she used to wipe her face free of the juices. There didn't seem to be any butter of jam to spread on the bread and so Kaoru ate it without. It tasted faintly of honey with a nutty texture and Kaoru found it quite agreeable.
The hot drink Kaoru thought was their answer to coffee. It certainly tasted better than any she had, had before. It warmed her insides as she drank and seemed to be an eclectic mixture of flavors: vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, and caramel – it was absolutely lovely.
Setting her now eaten breakfast aside Kaoru unrolled the cloth. The cloth turned out to be a tunic and trousers the exact same shade of blue as her eyes. The material was unknown to Kaoru soft and silky to the touch but durable she supposed. Kaoru lifted them up and shook them out and heard a dull thud. A comb had been placed inside the clothes and Kaoru set to work on her hair first, brushing out the tangles and securing the mass into a ponytail at the nape of her neck.
She then donned the clothes. They flowed around her not exactly baggy but not too clingy either. They were comfortable.
A knock at the door brought her out of her musings and a second later it opened. A tall gray haired man entered followed closely by a black haired woman several inches taller than Kaoru.
"So this is the one they sent." The woman's voice was contemptuous as she surveyed Kaoru.
Kaoru bristled, if the woman's attitude was any indication she was one of the King's would-have-been-wife-if-not-for-her.
"Quiet, Megumi." The other man said. He had an eye patch over one eye Kaoru noticed and walked with a slight limp.
"My name is Okina." He said to her, inclining his head respectfully. "This is Megumi – the Court Healer."
"She's the one who's supposed to check my health?" Kaoru asked. "I have a feeling she'd poison me if given the chance."
Megumi's eyes narrowed. "Did they have no better princesses to offer? I feel sorry for dear Ken."
"Ken?" Kaoru inquired.
"Kenshin, the King," The words "you moron" were almost audible. "Do you not even know the name of the man you are married to?" Megumi's voice was disbelieving.
Kaoru glared at her," not exactly my fault. My… family didn't keep good records of who ruled which country, or maybe they didn't care. I don't know. They always referred to 'Kenshin' as the King."
"Well at least they were being somewhat respectable." Megumi sneered.
"Don't take your anger out on me." Kaoru retorted. "I could care less about them."
"Well that's a relief; you might not take after them then."
Kaoru opened her mouth to respond to the insult but Okina interrupted her. "Megumi, if you would examine her please."
"Don't worry," Kaoru murmured snidely. "I'm not diseased."
"A pity… though I would probably have to take care of you and if you died Kenshin would behead me." Megumi muttered.
She spent the next few minutes poking and prodding Kaoru she found her to be "healthy if a bit on the thin side."
"We will be your tutors while you live here." Okina said as Megumi completed her exam of Kaoru.
"Tutoring me in what exactly?" Kaoru asked.
"Our language, how to wield a sword," Okina shrugged. "Various things you should know about, our land since it is now your home: the history, people, customs."
"I know some words of the language," Kaoru said. About five words and phrases exactly hello, goodbye, thank you, you're welcome, excuse me. Quite pitiful really Hiten (the land) bordered Kasshin and but barely anyone Kaoru knew could speak the language of their neighboring country.
"And I can wield a sword somewhat decently," Kaoru had loved to watch the swordsmen practice during her few free moments and had mimicked the lessons and moves she had seen with a discarded bokken back home. She might be untrained but she could defend herself well enough if the occasion called for it.
"We shall begin your lessons tomorrow. First, I think a tour of the palace is in order."
That sounded agreeable to Kaoru, she would like to see the place where she would now be living.
~*~
For the next few hours they brought her around the palace pointing out various rooms and artifacts and giving information on them. Kaoru filed it away and remembered the location of everything. A servant had to remember which important guest was kept where and where to find whatever a person wanted. Knowing where everything was essential and Kaoru had developed a knack for keeping track of everything.
The palace was huge and clean, very well kept. Barbaric was not a word to be used to describe the place. Everything was as immaculate as it would have been at she been back home and everyone she encountered seemed to be in better spirits than those who lived at the Kasshin Court.
Upon inquiring about Misao and Yahiko she learned they were being taken around by others to see their new home. Kaoru was glad they were being looked after. Back home they had been her best friends and closest thing to a real family.
Yahiko the son of deceased nobles who had fallen out of favor and upon their deaths had been made into a servant. His pride had gotten him into trouble many times and despite his gruff, arrogant exterior he was sweet and Kaoru regarded him as the little brother she had never had.
Misao was the daughter of a pair of guards who had died in a skirmish near the eastern boarder. She had been just a child at the time and had been made into a servant.
It seemed to Kaoru anyone who had no relatives or no significance to the Royals was made into a servant. Bastard children such as Kaoru had also been made into servants except of course if the mother was a favorite concubine or pleased the father of the child in some way.
Still, even if they were given full status as Royal the children were never really considered royal by the true full bloods. The children taunted them and when they were older played wicked mind games and spread ghastly rumors. Many of the children upon reaching adulthood fled the castle to live their own lives.
Kaoru had envied them. Her life had she remained at the castle would have been one of eternal servitude to her family. A prince or lord might have taken an interest in her as bed mate – a prospect that did not sit well with Kaoru. Her life would have been miserable until the day she died, old, gray and worn.
Indeed her betrothal to Kenshin could be considered a blessing, an escape from the destined life she had in place for her.
Now Kaoru had choices. She could say yes or no without the fear of being beaten for being defiant and uncooperative.
Kaoru found her mind wandering as she walked behind Okina and Megumi. Their voices had faded into soft murmuring that she barely paid attention to anymore. She startled out of her thoughts as she bumped into something.
It was an archway that leads into a garden.
Curious Kaoru entered the garden. It was a lovely place. Flowers and trees of all kinds bloomed all around her. The ground under her feet was shining silver stone edged with lush green grass. A water fountain was in the center – a flower that spilled water into a basin. Birds perched on the rim drinking or bathing in the water. The air was fragrant with perfume.
A soft whisper of foot against stone alerted Kaoru to another's presence. She turned to see Kenshin standing a few feet behind her.
For a moment she just stared at him wondering what to say. Her usual quick tongue felt dead in her mouth. As she watched Kenshin held out his hand and a small blue winged bird lighted on his palm. It walked across his hand a few times then launched itself off and back into the air. He seemed to be ignoring her, either that or unconcerned about her presence.
"Is this your garden?" What a stupid question. Kaoru immediately flushed.
"No."
"Whose garden is it then?"
"It was the old Queen's garden when my father lived." Those ten words were probably the most he had ever spoken to her. He had a light voice, not as deep as some of the men's. It was like silk wrapped in steel, soft yet commanding.
"Your mother?" Kaoru asked.
"She was not my mother." With that said he turned and left leaving Kaoru to stare after him. Almost civil then suddenly cold. He confused her and confusion was not a sensation Kaoru neither liked nor wanted. Not the son of the Queen? What did that mean? Why couldn't she have been given to someone normal and uncomplicated?