Thank you to those who reviewed.

blush

I'm quite flattered by all your compliments.

And to satisfy those who want to know who my main pair is:

I'm not telling.

You'll just have to wait and see. I already know who my pair is; I just don't want to show it yet.

I will be quite busy for the next week, so if anyone sends any more reviews or want me to update more chapters, I probably won't get to it within the week since Interims will be going out. I have a lot of work to catch up on.

I am excited to put the 2nd chapter up.

And I am hoping for more constructive reviews.

Here's the 2nd chapter…

Enjoy!

Oh and I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

And none of this is plagiarized.

Chapter 2

Sapphire orbs squinted open as the morning rays of sunlight caressed a face. A yawn. A deep sigh. Another day.

Kaoru sat up, her raven-black hair falling about her white-clad shoulders. Out of habit, she caressed her stomach. She smiled. Though she may hold contempt for the father of her child, she can't bring herself to scorn the babe. After all, it wasn't the babe's fault that she was an imprisoned wife. Why the Battousai chose her, she couldn't fathom. There were dozens of willing, naïve princesses who yearned to be the bride of the "dashing and delectable" Battousai. Those princesses, who have never experienced death or saw blood, were blinded by the Battousai's past and thought him a handsome man with a shinning sword, rippling muscles, and great wealth.

Kaoru then got out of bed and stretched. Her maid had already came in a few minutes later and prepared a bowl and pitcher to wash her face. She attended to her private business and picked out her wardrobe for the day. She did not bother to ring for the maid to help her. She wasn't weak-willed and helpless like those other princesses. Her father taught her to be strong. She pulled on a simple deep blue gown with a square neckline embroidered with silver and long flowing sleeves. It was a suitable gown for a pregnant woman and it was stylish in its own way. She slipped into matching slippers and brushed her long hair. She put on her mother's necklace and walked out of her room. Two men were waiting patiently outside, one was dressed in a navy-blue uniform and other was dressed in a guard's black uniform.

"Good morning, my lady." The man with spiked brown hair and cheerful chocolate eyes in the navy-blue uniform greeted her with a low bow.

"Lord Sanosuke," she greeted with a low nod. "I did not know you can rise so early."

Sanosuke, a Lord of the Sagara House and Captain of the Royal Guard, laughed heartily. He was a good friend of the Battousai's and fought many battles alongside him. Why this man was friends with a killer she could not fathom. However, Sanosuke held a special place in Kaoru's heart. Handsome as he was, Kaoru would always think of him as an older brother. He was protective of her yet he let her have her own breathing space.

"I didn't drink last night, my lady." Sanosuke said.

"Oh?" Kaoru smiled. "Do I give credit to the charms of my dear physician?"

Sanosuke blushed at the mention of the palace physician. A beautiful lady adopted by the Takani House, Megumi had long gleaming dark hair and fox-like sea-green eyes. She was a sly woman who got her way, especially with Sanosuke. But it was not only her practice that made her known in many countries, she was the first female physician. The Battousai had recognized her special talents and proclaimed her the first female physician. She once hand a past full of death and the making of illegal and deadly drugs, but now as a certified physician, she is atoning for those sins. She admits she loves healing others with her heart and talent instead of fighting for survival through drugs and death. Though medicine is her passion, it is Sanosuke who holds her heart, even though doesn't admit it aloud.

Kaoru chuckled as Sanosuke struggled to deny her question. "Perhaps one day before I die I'll hear the pitter-patter of little feet around the palace?"

Sanosuke's blush darkened. "M-my lady," he muttered. He shifted from foot to foot in nervousness. "We should be going down to the dining room for breakfast."

"Very well. Lead the way." Kaoru caught the guard's eye. She winked. He smiled knowingly. He, too, knew of his captain's deep affection for the physician.

They walked down the white marble hallways of the palace. Large portraits of predecessors and recent kings decorated the long hand-painted walls. Kaoru always stared at each magnificent picture whenever she walked down these halls. She noticed that the kings of Liere shared two unusual traits: gleaming red hair and piercing amber eyes. There were smaller portraits of wives hanging by each king. Though these portraits were smaller, the women were painted in different backgrounds to enhance their beauty while their husbands had bland backgrounds.

Kaoru's favorite portrait was of her husband's mother. She stopped at the former queen's picture; Sanosuke and the guard stopped with her. The former queen, Sahara, was truly lovely. She had dark, wavy blond hair and sparkling amethyst eyes that held a hint of amusement, as if she was ready to burst out laughing. Her smile was warm and soothing. Her complexion was tanned and smooth, making her look young and vibrant. Behind her, a sun was raising. Its rays kissed her pinkish cheeks and highlighted her dark blond hair.

"She was a wonderful queen." Sanosuke murmured with a dreamy look in his eyes. "Very patient, very kind, very happy,"

Kaoru scoffed. "It makes me wonder if my husband was really her son."

Sanosuke looked at Kaoru and said with a serious look on his face, "Kenshin isn't as bad as you deem him, my lady. Hi mother Sahara was brutally murdered in front of his face and his father Kenya became a murderer and eventually committed suicide. You must believe me when I say Kenshin was a happy boy before fate took away his parents at a young age. It is because of Liere's enemies that made him so cruel and unkind."

"But does he have to take it out on my parents?" Kaoru murmured. "They have done nothing wrong. My country lived peacefully during his reign and his father's reign and so on." She paused. "What was it that my husband wanted from my father?"

Sanosuke's lipped pursed. "Something very valuable,"

Kaoru looked at him and lifted a brow.

He shook his head. "I apologize, my lady, but I cannot tell you."

Kaoru sighed. "Very well. Let's hurry before my husband wonders where we are."

They reached two large wooden doors with the story of how Liere came to be carved into it. Two formerly dressed servants opened the doors. Sanosuke stepped in first and announced Kaoru presence.

At the head of the long dark red polished table, the King of Liere stood immediately. His breath caught when Kaoru entered. Soft amber eyes watched his wife walk to him gracefully, her dark head held high and her blue eyes cast downward. When she reached her seat, Kenshin went up to her and lifted an elegant hand. He touched her chin ever-so-gently and made her look up at him. His loving ambers met dull sapphires. His heart dropped yet he offered a kind smile.

"Good morning, love," he whispered as he laid a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Good morning, Your Majesty."

"Kenshin," he corrected.

"Kenshin," she repeated.

"I trust you had a good night's rest?" he asked as he pulled out her chair on his right.

"Yes, I did."

"I apologize for not coming last night. I had matters to attend to that required my utmost attention." After that fateful night, Kenshin had given her a private room connected to his room. He knew she did not to be near him after she had conceived.

"It is all right."

Kenshin's jaw clenched. It was the same routine every morning. He would be the one issuing the conversation, trying to get her to talk with him, and she would reply with curt and short answers. She rarely said anything more than five words, but she listened attentively whenever he talked about the kingdom's welfare.

"The foreign merchants, as I was informed, want to introduce a new creature," he said as a servant placed Kaoru's breakfast in front of her.

"Thank you," she said to the servant and turned to him and asked, "What is it?"

"A Fahsar," he answered. "They are most delightful creatures. Cousins to the horse family, as I am told. They have all the characteristics of a horse yet their tail, hooves, and ears are different."

"How so?"

"Its tail is like a lion's, long and bushy at the end. Its hooves are actually three toe-like hooves to each leg instead of one hoof. And its ears are long like a rabbit's."

"I see."

"They have a pleasant disposition and know their caretakers well. They are also excellent judges of characters. They are sturdy on their feet and have the strength of two bulls, pulling five times their weight and carrying four times their weight. They mate only once in their lives, staying with their chosen mate until either or both dies. The females can mother one or two foals in their belly. Both are very protective of their offspring and rarely allow strangers near their offspring during the first six months."

"Is that so,"

Kenshin bit his lip and glanced at Sanosuke. His friend gave a nod. "In fact, the merchants were so eager to try out this new trade that they sent a mated pair to us."

Kaoru stopped eating and looked up at him.

Kenshin smiled. He caught her attention. He knew his beloved had a soft spot for animals, especially horses. "They have already borne two foals in the past. The female is with foal now."

Kaoru blinked.

"The female is yours." Kenshin said. "Her name is Fleur. Consider Fleur as a present. Her foal will be our child's." He laid a firm hand on Kaoru's as she started to get up. "You must eat first and then you can go see her."

Kaoru nodded and sat back down.

Kenshin looked over at Sanosuke, who grinned idiotically at him. It was Sanosuke who told Kenshin of the new breed of horse and bought the mated pair of Fahsar for Kaoru and the babe. Thank you, he mouthed to his captain friend. Sanosuke shook his head.

An hour later, Kenshin led his wife to the eight-stall stable where it housed four horses used by him and his wife. There was another large stable off to the side that housed the thick-bodied warhorses for the soldiers and the slim errand horses for the messengers. A small band of servants and guards followed them, including Sanosuke.

Kenshin eagerly opened up the royal stable and took his wife down to the stalls that housed the two Fahsar. One elegant head peeked out and watched the newcomers. It was rich black with a snow white mane and tail.

"This is my Fahsar, Horae." Kenshin introduced. He held out his hand to the male and waited as Horae sniffed his hand. When Horae's nose traveled upwards from his hand, Kenshin stepped closer, allowing the Fahsar to sniff his neck and face. Then, Horae's tongue shot out and licked Kenshin's nose. Kenshin jerked back with a laugh.

Kaoru's eyebrows lifted at the sight.

Horae nodded and nickered playfully.

"He is amusing, isn't he?" Kenshin said as he ran his hands along Horae's thick neck. "He has a strong personality yet he is quite gentle." He then held out his hand to Kaoru, who took it eagerly. He pulled Kaoru to him and placed her in front of him. He breathed in Kaoru's jasmine scent and smiled into her hair. He covered her hand with his and held it under Horae's nose.

As Horae sniffed her, Kenshin gently nuzzled Kaoru's silken hair. He took pleasure in feeling her warm body up against his. She had never so willingly allowed him near her like this before, except for that certain night. Though she smelled like jasmine, she also smelled like…like a mother. His heart swelled at the thought of Kaoru carrying his child. He inwardly laughed triumphantly as he thought of Aoshi. He didn't mean to feel like this, honestly, but he couldn't help it. He could see Aoshi's jealous face if he found out Kaoru was pregnant with Kenshin's child.

Horae licked Kaoru's nose, which caused her to jerk back with a musical laugh. Kenshin shifted his head out of the way before the back of her head collided with his nose. He grinned as he heard her laugh. Her laughter brightened her dull sapphire eyes and added a light pink flush to her cheeks. Oh how beautiful she looked.

"He likes you," he remarked.

"As do I," Kaoru replied as she looked up at him.

At that moment, time froze. Kenshin poured his love out into his eyes, hoping she could see it. He wanted her to see that he was truly sorry for taking her away, but he never regretted choosing her. He wanted her to see that yearned for her attention and her love. He wanted her to see that he wanted her in life, forever.

But that moment was ruined when Horae nudged them. He wanted their attention and they weren't giving it to him at the moment.

Kenshin chuckled. "All right, Horae. This is Kaoru. She is my wife, my heart, and my everything."

Something flickered behind Kaoru's sapphire eyes.

Horae nickered to the stall next to him. An angel-white head came out.

"This is Fleur," Kenshin said. "The most beautiful female Fahsar."

Fleur nodded her sky-blue highlighted mane, as if understanding Kenshin's flatter.

"The most interesting trait of hers is her eyes." Kenshin led Kaoru up close to Fleur. "See what color they are?" He lowered his head so that his cheek touched Kaoru's. "A dark blue hue, like yours," he murmured.

Kaoru turned her head to look at him and vice versa. "Thank you," she said. "For purchasing them,"

Kenshin smiled. "Thank Sanosuke. He bought the pair for us."

Kaoru glanced at Sanosuke, who shook his head. "No need for thanks, my lady. Your smile is enough."

Kaoru grinned and looked back at Kenshin. "Can I ride her?"

"I couldn't see why not." The womanly voice came from behind the party of servants and guards. They made way for the woman that was walking up. "Just no trotting and galloping." Megumi said with a warning.

Kaoru sighed, relieved. "Thank you, Megumi."

Megumi smiled. "You deserve this what with all the overly-cautious people around here." She glared mockingly at Kenshin, Sanosuke, the servants, and the guards, who all blushed.

Kaoru opened Fleur's stall door and brought the female out. The light taps of twelve toes sounded on the stone floor.

Kenshin watched with pride as Kaoru stroked Fleur's head and neck as a stable boy tacked Fleur. He looked back at Megumi and saw a look in her eyes that made him alarmed. He laid a hand on Kaoru's back and kissed her head before he walked up to the physician. "What is it?" he asked without preamble.

"Am I that easy to read?" she asked.

"I have known you long enough to know what's bothering you."

Sanosuke gently pushed them to the other side of the stable. "Go talk over there so Kaoru won't see."

Kenshin frowned. He didn't want to keep anything from Kaoru, but if Sanosuke said to move away and if Megumi had a very serious look in her eyes, then it must be very important.

Once they were on the side, Megumi took a breath.

"What?" he demanded impatiently.

"It's Aoshi Shinomori."

Kenshin's brows furrowed deeper. "What about him?"

"He wants Kaoru back."

To be with you, my life brightens with joy.

To be with you, my heart swells with love.

To be without you, everything fades into darkness.

-D