A/n Hello dear readers! I got Some great encouragement from your reviews. I know there is some nervousness going around about the content of the story. If you like, I can give a warning before each chapter? Let me know if you think that's a good or bad idea. I know some might think it gives away the chapter. So we can have a vote and see. Please let me know!

I did post an update on Blossoms. I also posted a new story called A Knight and Her Page. It's also fantasy Kenshin/Kaoru romance and with dragons this time. Please stop by and read/review!

Chapter 2

"I can't believe I'm doing this." Kenshin muttered as he sat in the rocking carriage. A few weeks had past, and the joke he thought his father was pulling turned out to be true and taking place in mere hours. He was to marry some Water brat. He tugged at the uncomfortable high collar of the red and gold formal tunic. He was used to the more flowing garments of his fellow Air assassins.

Sitting across from him, Hiko didn't find any reason to comment. Kenshin had been pissed, boy was he ever. But even the teenager was mature and smart enough to see the reason behind their King's decision, and was smart enough to not disobey. "You'll suffer a wedding, then you can go back with your troupe of assassins. You'll return only enough to see that the Keep running smooth, and to bed that whelp when she's old enough. You'll have all the freedom of an unmarried Rurouni. And when Glendower passes, you'll be Lord."

Kenshin looked out the window at the thick green forest around them and the looming rocky keep in the distance. Anyone would be proud to be master of such a beautiful structure with such powers. But Kenshin, even as a teenager, never fancied himself married. Not at this age and not to a Water.

… . . …

"Take it back Chou!" Kaoru shouted as she and the slightly older boy rolled around in the dirt just outside the keep. Misao, Kamatari and Tae glanced at each other before shouting down at the two.

"Yeah, take it back Chou! You dirt eating Earth bug!" Misao shouted.

"Don't let her get ya!" Kamatari countered, clearly on Chou's side.

"Shut up, goblin!" Misao yelled as Chou and Kaoru continued to wrestle,

Kaoru managed to get the bigger boy under her and she sat on him, using her knees to pin his arms to the ground. She was covered in dirt, her hair was a mess, but she didn't care. Anger flashed in her blue eyes and she was ready to box Chou's ears. "Take it back Chou!" Point to Kaoru for getting the upper hand. Child battles, much like those of adults, had a point system. It was an unspoken way to keep track of the winner when most competitors where too young to really understand what they were fighting about.

"Why should I! My father didn't lie! You are gonna marry that Fire man and let his people rape our Keep!" The boy struggled to get out from under the girl.

"I am not! That Keep is under Water protection, Earth clans never owned it, BAKA! You shouldn't care."

"You're a sellout, your father's a sellout too. You're gonna lay with that Fire man and ruin everything!" Chou shot back.

Misao, Tae and Kamatari had their mouths fall open and they glanced at each other again. "Oooooooo" all three said in a low tone… Point for the Earth fairy.

Kaoru shrieked with anger. Summoning her power, she plunged her hand into the loose soil and pulled with it water from the underground. She mashed her hand against Chou's face, smearing him with slimy mud.

The young spectators howled with laughter. Point to Kaoru.

"Arrgh!" The boy yelled, using his legs he rocked to the side, throwing Kaoru off balance. The boy and girl wrestled some more, smearing more dirt and mud on each other. And again the three other children cheered them on.

… . . …

"What is that noise?" Glendower muttered to two of his personal servants as he peeked out the window. "Gods! Kaoru's fighting again!" he turned to one of the servants. "Get someone to stop her quickly! Huojin's brother and nephew will be here at any moment!" The servant didn't even take the time to acknowledge the order; instead he turned and ran before the Lord could finish speaking.

"Gods, it's too late!" The old man cringed as he saw the gates open for the approaching carriage. What a great first impression the bride was going to make.

… . . …

"What's going on here?" Hiko asked as they pulled past the gates to the Keep. Both father and son glanced out the window of the carriage to see a scuffle unfolding between some children. One of the younger ones spotted them and pointed, shouting something they couldn't hear. At once the fight stopped and a large boy stood, hauling his smaller opponent, surprisingly a girl, to her feet and he too pointed at the carriage. He said something to the girl which only seemed to make her more adamant in harming him. "Seems we may be the reason?" Hiko smiled over at his son.

Just then, a pair of maids dashed from the Keep and across the grassy lawn as fast as their legs could carry them. "Miss Kaoru! Miss Kaoru please!" they cried as they reached the muddy girl, taking her by the hands.

Kenshin jerked away from the window and slammed his back against the seat as his father chuckled.

"Well, seems that muddy girl is your bride."

Kenshin set his teeth to keep from saying anything as he glanced out the window. The girl was being dragged back to the keep, her muddy hair wild, clothes dirty and torn, and large blazing blue eyes glaring the deepest hatred back at him.

… . . …

"What could have possibly compelled you to start a fight?! Kaoru you knew they would be coming at any moment and you had to wrestle in the mud, look at your Kimono!" Glendower scolded his daughter as a bucket of hot water was dumped over her head by a maid. Two other maids quickly got to work on Kaoru's hair, washing the mud out and combing the snags and tangles.

"Chou started it!" Kaoru protested between the harsh scrubbing. "He said we were traitors! OW! Don't scrub my skin off!" she yelped at a maid who washed too hard along a scrap she had received in the fight. She didn't mean to snap, but she was mad and a mad seven year old didn't care who she was being rude to.

"If you don't marry this man then they will label us as traitors. We'll lose the Keep and everything we are, is that what you want?" He glared down at his daughter.

"No." Kaoru pouted.

Glendower softened a little. "Besides, you know better than to start a fight with an Earth boy…you know they are scatter brains when young."

"Yes, father." Kaoru said, her tone soft as he lowered her head.

The old man ran his hand through his hair. "Nice first impression." He half muttered to himself. "Guests are arriving by the cartload, seems half the countryside wants to see this union." He turned to his daughter. "Because of this, the ceremony will be late. You are to head straight to the altar, don't you dare cause any more trouble."

Misao sat silently in a chair beside the vanity table, and she looked over at her cousin as her uncle left the room. "Boy, you sure made him mad." She said once she was sure the elder was out of ear shot. Kaoru said nothing as she climbed out of the tub. The maids attacked her with plush towels. Once dried they rubbed perfumed lotion on her skin and dusted her with scented powder.

"Did you see him Kaoru? Did you?" Misao pressed.

She saw him all right, part of him at least. "Yeah." She admitted as a new blue and white kimono was wrapped around her.

"He had crazy red hair!" The younger girl gasped.

"Yes Misao I saw!" Kaoru snapped. Her hair was being tugged and pulled into the desired style. Pins and combs were inserted. Beads dangled from her hair, her obi was tied tight. A shimmering, glitter powered was dusted on her face, and her lips were painted an innocent pink, while her eyes had a lining of black. She looked like a beautiful bride, were it not for the fact that she was only seven years old. Misao was ushered out of the room as the ceremony was already underway. The maids scrambled, Kaoru let them pull her to and fro. But it wasn't until she was outside and she looked up the trail to the altar with hundreds of eyes turning to her that she stubbornly dug her heels into the earth.

… . . …

"Stubborn till the end." Hiko said under his breath as he moved pass his son.

Kenshin glared at his father before turning his eyes at the spectacle. Old Glendower it seemed was having a hard time dragging his daughter to her wedding. But Kenshin couldn't blame the girl. She was just as unhappy as he was, only she was young enough to act out her emotions, whereas he was old enough to "know better."

Kenshin's hair was pulled back tight and braided. He had on a black Kimono with brilliant red and orange flames on his back. Such attire was common place for Water clans, and being that he was in their territory, he was to wear their traditional clothes. At his hip was his sword and around his head was a gold circlet with a blazing ruby set in the center. He was the King's nephew after all.

Growling like an animal and cursing, his bride finally made it to his side. She was planted rather firmly at his left. Looking down at her she glanced up defiantly and unafraid. She had pale skin common of her youth, her hair was shocking inky, blue-black, and those eyes that had glared at him before, were just as impossibly large up close. As brilliant blue as he had ever seen, they flashed with a passionate hate. Once grown, this girl would be lovely to be sure. Stress pressed in on Kenshin, why was he the one who had to get married? Once away from this place, he would find himself a woman to spend a few nights with and forget about this whole thing. Once his father introduced him to the idea of hired lovers, Kenshin found it hard resisting learning the ways of pleasure making with skilled women with no emotional attachment. Once married, he was expected to honor his vows, as was the laws of Fire's. Fuck their laws, he didn't want to get married, not to a brat water-child.

"Ow!" Kenshin yelped as a slipper-clad toe kicked him in the shin. His pleasant thoughts vanished instantly. "What was that for?" he hissed as the holy man was making his way to the alter.

"Because you're a Fire, and you're starin' at me." She stuck out her tiny pink tongue.

Can't argue with the logic of a child. His jaw set, eyes glued ahead of him, he tried to block out much of the ceremony.

… . . …

Kaoru was afraid of him. She hated that. He had crazy fire for hair, and his eyes were yellow…Yellow! She didn't want to marry this scary man. Maybe she could run? But a quick glance around her told her that would be impossible. Not only was her father a few steps away, but there were hundreds of people all around them. Most were of the local Water clan, but there were also many Fire and Earth and a few Air clan members and many other clans she had never seen before. All where here to witness the union of the Elementals once and for all. The holy man approached the stone alter. He was a fae, like all of them, but blessed with the powers of all the Elementals, a gift given only to holy members, they were neutral, and thus could be trusted by all. On the altar sat two bowls, one with a crackling fire, and the other with churning blue water.

The holy man was speaking but Kaoru wasn't listening. She was too busy feeling hurt and sorry for herself. Of all the Water girls out there, she had to be the one forced to marry, it just wasn't fair!

They had to hold hands now, Kaoru almost refused, but one look at her father told her a fate worse than a sound beating would await her if she didn't. With a sigh, she took his offered hand.

Gods! Was he hot! She nearly yanked her hand away, but was only just able to fight her reaction. His skin burned! Did all Fire's have such burning skin? A second holy man stepped from behind them and wrapped a silk rope around their hands and down both their arms and back to their hands again. He tied the rope into a knot, making it into a loop and effectively tying them together. The silk rope was made with a braid of four colors. Blue and silver for the Water Clan, and red and gold for the Fire Clan.

Steam

Steam was rising from their clasped hands. Kaoru was startled, but He didn't look worried, nor did the holy men or her father or anyone, for it was obvious the cloud of steam rising from their hands. Once she calmed though, the steam also subsided, but only a little.

Suddenly they were walking, the ceremony was over and the holy men and their father's led them, still tied, to a rocky ledge on the side of the Keep. Here on this ledge a deep cave opened up. It showed the best of the Keep. It's glittering gems of many colors; fine metals, but best of all the many springs of clean, cool, magical water. The best spring was deep in the center of the Keep of course, but this small taste was enough to impress the Fires. Turning, the couple was centered on the ledge where all could see them. It was only then that Kaoru noticed just how many fairies turned up for the wedding. They were dancing, celebrating. War between them was over. Water and Fire danced together, steam rose up from all over the Keep. Turning the place into a humid jungle type of atmosphere.

Still tied together, the feast was served, but she didn't eat much, neither did he. Everyone ate; there was music and more celebrating. It was a hassle having her main hand tied to his, but he didn't argue or complain, and so she would rather bite her tongue off than to show her weakness.

But it was only so long before curiosity got the better of her. She found herself staring at the man tied to her. He noticed, of course. His ki flared, and the steam continued to rise from their hands. He stole glances at her before finally giving up.

"What?" he said, turning his full attention to her.

Kaoru wanted to pull away, but she refused to show the hot-head fear. She didn't blink but only took in the sight of him. He was cute, as a seven-year-old could understand. Yet scary with such a serious face and flashing eyes. But there was a more pressing concern she had on her mind.

"What's your name Hot-head?"

He blinked, obviously surprised. "They never told you my name?"

Kaoru shook her head. "They call you the "King's nephew." I've never heard your name." for a moment he looked angry. His eyes narrowed, but they were not directed at her, she could tell his mind was somewhere in that raging fire of a brain he had.

"Well, you know your name or not?" Kaoru pressed.

He blinked. "Kenshin Himura."

"Kenshin." Kaoru repeated. "I don't like it." She said with the absoluteness of one her age. The man snorted, yet gave a half smile.

"I hate to inform you, but you're now Mrs. Kaoru Himura, that you are."

Kaoru's eyes grew wide, her teeth flashed and she struggled to hold back her anger, but she failed from lack of experience. But she didn't say anything, no, she kept silent, she didn't even pound the table with her fist or anything of the sort. Point for her. Kaoru kept silent after that, refusing to talk to him or anyone for that matter, not that he had tried to hold anymore conversation.

It wasn't until Kaoru found herself nodding off at the grand table did she hear him whispering to her father. Only then was the rope gently untangled from his arm. Her father carried her up to her room where she was silently undressed. Her face-paint removed and her nightclothes put on before she was placed into bed. The multi-colored rope was hung by two pegs over the headboard of her bed. Proof that she was married.

Later on that night, when the celebrations had finally died down, a carriage rumbled past the gates. The groom and his father vanished into the night.

A/n Well,...it's done. Poor Kenshin and Kaoru are sealed together and now married. Kenshin is ready to forget the whole thing even happened. He's only a teenager after all. And poor little Kaoru. I'm not certain she really understand the importance of her marriage. Only that she needs to obey the King. Most seem happy about the union, although there are some that are not.
My Question is: Do you think the Water and Fire fae can get along? Would it be worth it for the Keep to have the security of the stronger Fire soldiers?

Thank you for reading! Reviews are loved.