Kaoru was back in the dream again.
The darkness pressed around her tightly, sliding across her body in chill fingers. It was almost tangible the feeling she got. It seemed to pulse around her like a living thing, something that breathed and moved though it was not quite alive.
Enchanted was probably what it was. Perhaps the darkness was formed by some kind of magic. Kaoru had never come into contact with a person who could use magic. It had been said they had all died out because of some unexplainable reason.
Three hundred or so years ago the Kasshin Court had been home to a witch or sorceress had been controlled by the Royal Family. Stories of her still were often told in times of celebration or when the wind howled outside the door in icy blasts in the middle of winter.
The lamp glowed softly amid the darkness, its light no stronger or brighter than it had been before. Still despite the dimness the light remained constant and steady. It felt almost comforting. It was a sole ray of light against the darkness.
The shadow-woman sat in front of her loom seemingly oblivious to Kaoru's presence. Her hands were never still, flying across the tapestry, the frame vibrated as she wove, her hands a darker than the surrounds, blur.
There was a violent tug on Kaoru's arm. Looking down she found the single thread running from her blue kimono's sleeve and leading to the loom until it disappeared among the many threads that made up the tapestry.
There was another jerk. One that was stronger than before. The force of it brought Kaoru to her knees and still its tug did not lessen. Kaoru found herself sliding forward as if drawn.
"It draws you in that your destiny does." The shadow-woman said her voice as soft and elusive in meaning as before. "You can feel it now, can you not? Though it has just begun the strength of the pull is astounding that it is. Even now your destiny swoops toward you like a hawk descending upon defenseless prey."
Kaoru found herself bristling. The analogy felt disturbing and she did not want to think of why she, the shadow-woman had chosen those exact words to use.
"You do not like what I say? It matters not as long as you listen to the words I speak to you." She paused and seemed to sigh. "Listen to the words I say yes - but your destiny demands you remain ignorant of the part you have to play in the coming events."
"You speak in riddles." Kaoru said flatly. The twisted way she spoke was irritating and difficult to follow.
The shadow-woman laughed. "Do not pout so little one - it does not become you that it does not. Your face is better suited for merriment and happiness, smiles and not tears."
The tugging had not stopped. The continuous pull was making her arm ache. Kaoru felt like it was being pulling out of its socket. Tears sprang to her eyes from the pain.
"Cry you will yes, many, many tears I fear will fall from those eyes of yours." The shadow-woman voice was full of resigned sorrow. "If I could I would save you from the time that is yet to come. Dam the rivers of pain that will flow across the land in rivers that run red.
"But as you know, as I have told you before I cannot do that. I am powerless, utterly subservient to the threads of destiny and time. I cannot manipulate them in any way." The sorrow in her voice grew as she reflected upon her predicament.
"Go now little one, our meeting has gone on too long. I must release you now from the fragile grip of my power. Be gone once more and wake! I shall await you until our next meeting that I shall."
The dream dissolved around her then.
~*~
Barely a fortnight had passed since Kaoru's arrival. Somehow the time seemed longer than it actually was. Her life had fallen into a routine that made the days blur together with its consistency. Perhaps that consistency was what was helping her cope. Her days did not vary much in the way they would go and the fact that Kaoru could almost completely rely on how they would go was comforting.
Her day started with Tsubame waking her up and bringing her, her clothes for the day and breakfast. The clothes were never the same ones as the day before. They were always brand new a fact that Kaoru found she could not get over. As a servant she had had, had about three outfits total and they had to become much worn before she would be given another. Her new clothes were a novelty she enjoyed.
Her breakfast stayed slightly more constant but she still found new foods she had never seen before much less tasted. A pale golden cheese that crumbled upon her touch and tasted creamy in her mouth, a round biscuit baked in honey and studded in nuts, pale pink fruits the size of her clenched fist and full of tiny black seeds. Almost every day there was something new.
Probably the only thing that did not change was the drink she was brought. She learned it was called ahvay. She gave it points over coffee for its taste and smell. Sometimes there would be a small saucer of whipped cream that she would top the drink and then let dissolve. The drink was addictive and Kaoru would have gladly have had it for every meal of the day without fail.
After Kaoru ate and dressed herself Okina and Megumi would arrive to begin her lessons. Okina she found later on had been the leader of the King's elite fighters the Oniwabanshuu until he had sustained injuries while protecting the old King and had been made to retire. He still walked with a limp and no longer had the use of one eye because of what had happened.
The day would always start off with Okina's weapon training. Kaoru had mastered daggers easily in the first few days, her eye and aim very good. The same went for kunai and throwing stars.
Satisfied with her progress Okina had introduced other weapons, staff, shinai and bokken - not yet trusting her enough to handle a katana or rapier. Kaoru's arms had been sore and aching for the first few days but had slowly begun to get used to the weight and she found they did not hurt as much as they had before when that part of the lesson came to a close.
Besides dealing with weapons Okina was teaching her how to fight with her hands and feet. Kaoru found she learned the moves with ease but when it came time to spar with him she usually ended upon her back within the first few moments. Okina did not hold back on her and she did not know whether to appreciate that or not. His humoring her and allowing her to win once in a while would not have been such a bad thing, at least Kaoru thought so.
To finish off the lesson there were horsemanship lessons. Kaoru might have considered herself a passable rider but Okina had told her flatly in contrast to the others she was a child, a beginner and must come up to standard with the those around her in terms of riding quickly. The people here were nomads, spending most of their time traveling around on horseback. The City was visited perhaps once a year or twice at most. Kaoru should get used to the fact that she would be in the saddle almost constantly once they moved out of the City.
The palomino mare she had ridden the first time she had arrived here was the horse she rode in her lessons. Her name was Karuna, a word that translated roughly to Sun-Runner in Kaoru's own language. She was spirited yet quiet and easily put up with Kaoru's bungling.
Okina had refused to let her ride at all until she learned how to groom, saddle and untack the mare and his lessons were full of horse lore and how to take care of them, what signs meant they were sick and which herbs and plants could be used as medicine to cure them of various ailments.
The horse was an important thing here and no one ever skimped on taking care of them Kaoru learned, to do so could be disastrous for a person whose horse had become injured or unable to keep going when traveling was often an invitation for death. The land here was not settled, small groups of rogue warriors and bandits roamed. This was no tame and settled Kasshin, Hiten was wild and unpredictable, and living here could be dangerous and frequently deadly. It had been in a skirmish with a small band of mercenaries that the old King had died.
Kaoru learned the basics quick enough to please Okina, her balance was good and she could easily sit a trot and canter without bouncing around much. But then again Karuna's paces were as smooth as silk and just as gentle.
Once she was considered ready by Okina Kaoru was begun being taught harder more complicated movements. Karuna was trained to fight as all the other horses were. To demonstrate Okina once mounted her and rode her around.
Kaoru had watched wide-eyed at what she had seen. The mare had whirled and lunged, struck as quick as a snake with both hind and front feet. Once she had rocked back onto her haunches in a half rear (AN: I know there is a name for this movement in high school dressage - the kind the Lipizzaner horses do but I can't remember what its called exactly) and then launched herself forward. Her ears had been flat against her head, mouth open and teeth bared. It had been such a change from her usual gentle complacent self that Kaoru almost could not believe it.
Okina had then dismounted and let Kaoru get back on. He told her which cues to use for which movements and when Kaoru had tried to mimic them she found she did not get anywhere near the results she had expected. Karuna was trained only to obey the exact cue in order to respond to it.
It made sense when Kaoru came to think of it - how else would she know to sidepass and not rear, flying lead change and not lash out with her hind legs? It was probably for Kaoru's benefit she had been trained this way or else Kaoru would have ended up nursing injuries after incorrectly giving her the wrong command and ending up being thrown from her back when she responded not as Kaoru had expected her to do.
After Karuna was groomed and turned out in the pasture with the other horses they broke for lunch. The food never stayed the same for two days in a row: soup one day, a thick sandwich the next, a crispy meat filled pastry, some odd kind of noodle dish that made Kaoru think it was more some kind of salad than actual pasta.
Afterward it would be time for Kaoru's session with Megumi and learning how to speak the language (Kaoru kept referring to it as the language, calling it Hitenese for instance sound queer to her ears). It was an easy language to grasp, hard to use. The majority of it was comprised of one to three syllable words and pitch in voice, speed of which spoken at and placement in sentence could alter and change the meanings of the words.
Megumi had used examples to help Kaoru comprehend how the language was to be spoken: wa was night, darv was the word for soul but wadarv meant nightfall. When said in a louder tone of voice jasr mean home and when said in a lower tone of voice it could be used as a word for death.
Kaoru found she had to be acutely aware of each word she spoke in order to convey the correct meaning. She didn't want to end up accidentally offending anybody or saying something that did not make much sense and end up looking like a fool!
Megumi was civil to her. Her words were still comprised very much so of veiled insults and she continually found amazement in how little Kaoru had been taught of their culture. Everyone in Hiten could speak Kasshin fluently as well as the other languages of the countries surrounding the land and had at least a basic grasp of their culture and traditions. Kaoru was found ignorant in all aspects of this. The fact that her family was self absorbed and cared little for anything else but themselves was glaringly obvious.
Misao and Yahiko she rarely saw. They were both in quarters far away from her own and were being given lessons just as she was. One time Kaoru had run into Misao in the hallways the other girl had not spoken much beside swooning over the current leader of the Oniwabanshuu, Aoshi and speaking about him in worshipful tones of voice.
Yahiko was quite content here. He was treated better than he had ever been at the palace and had become quite good friends with a boy his age named Yutaro. Once he had gotten over his gladness of seeing her he, (as was normal for him) started calling her ugly as he always had. Kaoru supposed he was doing well if his actions were any indication.
Her friends happy here Kaoru found herself liking the place as well. The ache of missing her old home quickly dwindled to a dull throb that would flare only when she remembered some (rare) sweet memory. No, she was finding she did not mind living here. She had people who thought she actually mattered and took interest in her, who did not belittle her (except for Megumi) and seemed to care about her - that was more than she could say about her old home.
Yes Kaoru found she was happy - enough to be content here. She only had one problem and its (his?) name was Kenshin.
She rarely saw him.
She might catch him out of the corner of her eye as she walked down one of the numerous hallways or see a flash of red as he disappeared around a corner. If she didn't know any better Kaoru would have said he was avoiding her but that was silly. He had requested for her (okay so not exactly _her_ but he had made it quite clear that whoever the Kasshin Royals had chosen must leave and come here) and for him to avoid her was ridiculous.
He probably had tons of responsibilities but how hard could it be to make a few moments time if even once a day for his (supposed? Kaoru certainly didn't feel like one) queen - consort or whatever exactly it was that her title was called? Kaoru had barely spoken a handful of words to him. How was she to get to know him if they never interacted?
~*~
Kaoru sighed softly, laying her head back to nestle against the soft grass. The sky above was blue studded with white fluffy clouds. The sun shone brightly and a soft breeze blue. It was a beautiful day.
Nearby the water fountain gurgled slightly. The palace was full of gardens of every shape and size. Some were even themed! Kaoru had laughed upon stumbling into one where everything seemed purple - even the bark on the trees had, had a purplish tinge to it.
Every one was beautifully kept, not a one over grown or neglected. Kaoru wondered when they would take care of them. She never saw anyone in the gardens (except for that one time with Kenshin).
A tall tree towered over her. It was full of red flowers in the shape of stars that gave off a slightly fruity perfume. One drifted down to land on the ground beside her and Kaoru picked it up and tucked it lazily behind an ear.
Closing her eyes she yawned and stretched feeling very much like one of those cats who curled up on the windowsills and slept in the sun. It was definitely comfortable enough to sleep here. She found her eyes drifting shut and then opened them upon hearing something.
It wasn't a sound exactly. It was more a whisper like the sound of displaced air. Getting to her feet Kaoru cocked her head curiously, listening intently.
There it was again.
Curious to find out exactly what it was she walked in the direction of which it came from. Her feet made no sound against the soft grass as she walked and Kaoru had the odd feeling that she was not walking but floating.
A moment or so later she found out what the sound was - and who was making it.
Kenshin stood with his back to her in a stance that she idly remembered was one that was used when sword fighting. Okina had gone over some of the different techniques that could be used and mimicked them as he had done so. This stance was one he had illustrated but its name eluded her.
As she watched his hand seemed to blur and faster than she could blink the sword that always hung around his waist was in his hand in an arch of silver. He was doing katas, his movements sharp, precise, blindingly fast and with a kind of deadly grace that she found fascinating.
He was wearing a golden gi the color of his eyes and an ivory colored hakama. The gi was open enough for Kaoru to get a very nice view of what was it was supposed to be covering. She gave herself a mental slap. So what he was good looking (gorgeous) - so had been many of the princes in the Kasshin Court. The vast majority of them (all) had been perverted snobs.
Beauty wasn't everything.
There was a blur out of the corner of her eye and the next second Kaoru found a blade pressed against her throat.
The darkness pressed around her tightly, sliding across her body in chill fingers. It was almost tangible the feeling she got. It seemed to pulse around her like a living thing, something that breathed and moved though it was not quite alive.
Enchanted was probably what it was. Perhaps the darkness was formed by some kind of magic. Kaoru had never come into contact with a person who could use magic. It had been said they had all died out because of some unexplainable reason.
Three hundred or so years ago the Kasshin Court had been home to a witch or sorceress had been controlled by the Royal Family. Stories of her still were often told in times of celebration or when the wind howled outside the door in icy blasts in the middle of winter.
The lamp glowed softly amid the darkness, its light no stronger or brighter than it had been before. Still despite the dimness the light remained constant and steady. It felt almost comforting. It was a sole ray of light against the darkness.
The shadow-woman sat in front of her loom seemingly oblivious to Kaoru's presence. Her hands were never still, flying across the tapestry, the frame vibrated as she wove, her hands a darker than the surrounds, blur.
There was a violent tug on Kaoru's arm. Looking down she found the single thread running from her blue kimono's sleeve and leading to the loom until it disappeared among the many threads that made up the tapestry.
There was another jerk. One that was stronger than before. The force of it brought Kaoru to her knees and still its tug did not lessen. Kaoru found herself sliding forward as if drawn.
"It draws you in that your destiny does." The shadow-woman said her voice as soft and elusive in meaning as before. "You can feel it now, can you not? Though it has just begun the strength of the pull is astounding that it is. Even now your destiny swoops toward you like a hawk descending upon defenseless prey."
Kaoru found herself bristling. The analogy felt disturbing and she did not want to think of why she, the shadow-woman had chosen those exact words to use.
"You do not like what I say? It matters not as long as you listen to the words I speak to you." She paused and seemed to sigh. "Listen to the words I say yes - but your destiny demands you remain ignorant of the part you have to play in the coming events."
"You speak in riddles." Kaoru said flatly. The twisted way she spoke was irritating and difficult to follow.
The shadow-woman laughed. "Do not pout so little one - it does not become you that it does not. Your face is better suited for merriment and happiness, smiles and not tears."
The tugging had not stopped. The continuous pull was making her arm ache. Kaoru felt like it was being pulling out of its socket. Tears sprang to her eyes from the pain.
"Cry you will yes, many, many tears I fear will fall from those eyes of yours." The shadow-woman voice was full of resigned sorrow. "If I could I would save you from the time that is yet to come. Dam the rivers of pain that will flow across the land in rivers that run red.
"But as you know, as I have told you before I cannot do that. I am powerless, utterly subservient to the threads of destiny and time. I cannot manipulate them in any way." The sorrow in her voice grew as she reflected upon her predicament.
"Go now little one, our meeting has gone on too long. I must release you now from the fragile grip of my power. Be gone once more and wake! I shall await you until our next meeting that I shall."
The dream dissolved around her then.
~*~
Barely a fortnight had passed since Kaoru's arrival. Somehow the time seemed longer than it actually was. Her life had fallen into a routine that made the days blur together with its consistency. Perhaps that consistency was what was helping her cope. Her days did not vary much in the way they would go and the fact that Kaoru could almost completely rely on how they would go was comforting.
Her day started with Tsubame waking her up and bringing her, her clothes for the day and breakfast. The clothes were never the same ones as the day before. They were always brand new a fact that Kaoru found she could not get over. As a servant she had had, had about three outfits total and they had to become much worn before she would be given another. Her new clothes were a novelty she enjoyed.
Her breakfast stayed slightly more constant but she still found new foods she had never seen before much less tasted. A pale golden cheese that crumbled upon her touch and tasted creamy in her mouth, a round biscuit baked in honey and studded in nuts, pale pink fruits the size of her clenched fist and full of tiny black seeds. Almost every day there was something new.
Probably the only thing that did not change was the drink she was brought. She learned it was called ahvay. She gave it points over coffee for its taste and smell. Sometimes there would be a small saucer of whipped cream that she would top the drink and then let dissolve. The drink was addictive and Kaoru would have gladly have had it for every meal of the day without fail.
After Kaoru ate and dressed herself Okina and Megumi would arrive to begin her lessons. Okina she found later on had been the leader of the King's elite fighters the Oniwabanshuu until he had sustained injuries while protecting the old King and had been made to retire. He still walked with a limp and no longer had the use of one eye because of what had happened.
The day would always start off with Okina's weapon training. Kaoru had mastered daggers easily in the first few days, her eye and aim very good. The same went for kunai and throwing stars.
Satisfied with her progress Okina had introduced other weapons, staff, shinai and bokken - not yet trusting her enough to handle a katana or rapier. Kaoru's arms had been sore and aching for the first few days but had slowly begun to get used to the weight and she found they did not hurt as much as they had before when that part of the lesson came to a close.
Besides dealing with weapons Okina was teaching her how to fight with her hands and feet. Kaoru found she learned the moves with ease but when it came time to spar with him she usually ended upon her back within the first few moments. Okina did not hold back on her and she did not know whether to appreciate that or not. His humoring her and allowing her to win once in a while would not have been such a bad thing, at least Kaoru thought so.
To finish off the lesson there were horsemanship lessons. Kaoru might have considered herself a passable rider but Okina had told her flatly in contrast to the others she was a child, a beginner and must come up to standard with the those around her in terms of riding quickly. The people here were nomads, spending most of their time traveling around on horseback. The City was visited perhaps once a year or twice at most. Kaoru should get used to the fact that she would be in the saddle almost constantly once they moved out of the City.
The palomino mare she had ridden the first time she had arrived here was the horse she rode in her lessons. Her name was Karuna, a word that translated roughly to Sun-Runner in Kaoru's own language. She was spirited yet quiet and easily put up with Kaoru's bungling.
Okina had refused to let her ride at all until she learned how to groom, saddle and untack the mare and his lessons were full of horse lore and how to take care of them, what signs meant they were sick and which herbs and plants could be used as medicine to cure them of various ailments.
The horse was an important thing here and no one ever skimped on taking care of them Kaoru learned, to do so could be disastrous for a person whose horse had become injured or unable to keep going when traveling was often an invitation for death. The land here was not settled, small groups of rogue warriors and bandits roamed. This was no tame and settled Kasshin, Hiten was wild and unpredictable, and living here could be dangerous and frequently deadly. It had been in a skirmish with a small band of mercenaries that the old King had died.
Kaoru learned the basics quick enough to please Okina, her balance was good and she could easily sit a trot and canter without bouncing around much. But then again Karuna's paces were as smooth as silk and just as gentle.
Once she was considered ready by Okina Kaoru was begun being taught harder more complicated movements. Karuna was trained to fight as all the other horses were. To demonstrate Okina once mounted her and rode her around.
Kaoru had watched wide-eyed at what she had seen. The mare had whirled and lunged, struck as quick as a snake with both hind and front feet. Once she had rocked back onto her haunches in a half rear (AN: I know there is a name for this movement in high school dressage - the kind the Lipizzaner horses do but I can't remember what its called exactly) and then launched herself forward. Her ears had been flat against her head, mouth open and teeth bared. It had been such a change from her usual gentle complacent self that Kaoru almost could not believe it.
Okina had then dismounted and let Kaoru get back on. He told her which cues to use for which movements and when Kaoru had tried to mimic them she found she did not get anywhere near the results she had expected. Karuna was trained only to obey the exact cue in order to respond to it.
It made sense when Kaoru came to think of it - how else would she know to sidepass and not rear, flying lead change and not lash out with her hind legs? It was probably for Kaoru's benefit she had been trained this way or else Kaoru would have ended up nursing injuries after incorrectly giving her the wrong command and ending up being thrown from her back when she responded not as Kaoru had expected her to do.
After Karuna was groomed and turned out in the pasture with the other horses they broke for lunch. The food never stayed the same for two days in a row: soup one day, a thick sandwich the next, a crispy meat filled pastry, some odd kind of noodle dish that made Kaoru think it was more some kind of salad than actual pasta.
Afterward it would be time for Kaoru's session with Megumi and learning how to speak the language (Kaoru kept referring to it as the language, calling it Hitenese for instance sound queer to her ears). It was an easy language to grasp, hard to use. The majority of it was comprised of one to three syllable words and pitch in voice, speed of which spoken at and placement in sentence could alter and change the meanings of the words.
Megumi had used examples to help Kaoru comprehend how the language was to be spoken: wa was night, darv was the word for soul but wadarv meant nightfall. When said in a louder tone of voice jasr mean home and when said in a lower tone of voice it could be used as a word for death.
Kaoru found she had to be acutely aware of each word she spoke in order to convey the correct meaning. She didn't want to end up accidentally offending anybody or saying something that did not make much sense and end up looking like a fool!
Megumi was civil to her. Her words were still comprised very much so of veiled insults and she continually found amazement in how little Kaoru had been taught of their culture. Everyone in Hiten could speak Kasshin fluently as well as the other languages of the countries surrounding the land and had at least a basic grasp of their culture and traditions. Kaoru was found ignorant in all aspects of this. The fact that her family was self absorbed and cared little for anything else but themselves was glaringly obvious.
Misao and Yahiko she rarely saw. They were both in quarters far away from her own and were being given lessons just as she was. One time Kaoru had run into Misao in the hallways the other girl had not spoken much beside swooning over the current leader of the Oniwabanshuu, Aoshi and speaking about him in worshipful tones of voice.
Yahiko was quite content here. He was treated better than he had ever been at the palace and had become quite good friends with a boy his age named Yutaro. Once he had gotten over his gladness of seeing her he, (as was normal for him) started calling her ugly as he always had. Kaoru supposed he was doing well if his actions were any indication.
Her friends happy here Kaoru found herself liking the place as well. The ache of missing her old home quickly dwindled to a dull throb that would flare only when she remembered some (rare) sweet memory. No, she was finding she did not mind living here. She had people who thought she actually mattered and took interest in her, who did not belittle her (except for Megumi) and seemed to care about her - that was more than she could say about her old home.
Yes Kaoru found she was happy - enough to be content here. She only had one problem and its (his?) name was Kenshin.
She rarely saw him.
She might catch him out of the corner of her eye as she walked down one of the numerous hallways or see a flash of red as he disappeared around a corner. If she didn't know any better Kaoru would have said he was avoiding her but that was silly. He had requested for her (okay so not exactly _her_ but he had made it quite clear that whoever the Kasshin Royals had chosen must leave and come here) and for him to avoid her was ridiculous.
He probably had tons of responsibilities but how hard could it be to make a few moments time if even once a day for his (supposed? Kaoru certainly didn't feel like one) queen - consort or whatever exactly it was that her title was called? Kaoru had barely spoken a handful of words to him. How was she to get to know him if they never interacted?
~*~
Kaoru sighed softly, laying her head back to nestle against the soft grass. The sky above was blue studded with white fluffy clouds. The sun shone brightly and a soft breeze blue. It was a beautiful day.
Nearby the water fountain gurgled slightly. The palace was full of gardens of every shape and size. Some were even themed! Kaoru had laughed upon stumbling into one where everything seemed purple - even the bark on the trees had, had a purplish tinge to it.
Every one was beautifully kept, not a one over grown or neglected. Kaoru wondered when they would take care of them. She never saw anyone in the gardens (except for that one time with Kenshin).
A tall tree towered over her. It was full of red flowers in the shape of stars that gave off a slightly fruity perfume. One drifted down to land on the ground beside her and Kaoru picked it up and tucked it lazily behind an ear.
Closing her eyes she yawned and stretched feeling very much like one of those cats who curled up on the windowsills and slept in the sun. It was definitely comfortable enough to sleep here. She found her eyes drifting shut and then opened them upon hearing something.
It wasn't a sound exactly. It was more a whisper like the sound of displaced air. Getting to her feet Kaoru cocked her head curiously, listening intently.
There it was again.
Curious to find out exactly what it was she walked in the direction of which it came from. Her feet made no sound against the soft grass as she walked and Kaoru had the odd feeling that she was not walking but floating.
A moment or so later she found out what the sound was - and who was making it.
Kenshin stood with his back to her in a stance that she idly remembered was one that was used when sword fighting. Okina had gone over some of the different techniques that could be used and mimicked them as he had done so. This stance was one he had illustrated but its name eluded her.
As she watched his hand seemed to blur and faster than she could blink the sword that always hung around his waist was in his hand in an arch of silver. He was doing katas, his movements sharp, precise, blindingly fast and with a kind of deadly grace that she found fascinating.
He was wearing a golden gi the color of his eyes and an ivory colored hakama. The gi was open enough for Kaoru to get a very nice view of what was it was supposed to be covering. She gave herself a mental slap. So what he was good looking (gorgeous) - so had been many of the princes in the Kasshin Court. The vast majority of them (all) had been perverted snobs.
Beauty wasn't everything.
There was a blur out of the corner of her eye and the next second Kaoru found a blade pressed against her throat.