REVISED: 19 January 2020

1. The Run In

-;-

Once upon a time, when the ray of morning light came through the small window of her bedroom, Misao blinked and mumbled her annoyance. Not that she disliked the sun; she just hated her place in life.

She was an orphaned child, a servant, but hadn't always been. She was born from ninja parents who died fighting in Northern Kyoto when she was only two weeks old. According to her paternal grandfather Okina, they were the bravest ninjas that served Imperial Japan. He always told Misao in her bedtime stories that her parents shed blood for their beloved country - because one of the things that will make them happy was to see her grow up in a land of peace.

Okina, who was the head of the ninja clan called "Oniwabanshuu," was known to be a robust leader but was weak when it comes to women. His first wife, who was a skilled kunoichi, died in the war with Misao's parents. Okina found it very difficult to accept the tragic loss of his family members, which made him decided to remarry. Two years later, he tied the knot with the most beautiful geisha in Gion, whose name is Komagata Yumi.

Okina was the only living relative of the young Misao until one fateful night, he died due to incurable illness. Misao could not even believe it because Okina was very fit and healthy despite his old age.

The sudden death of Misao's grandfather revealed that Yumi had a real husband whose name is Makoto Shishio and a younger sister, Kamatari.

Before her grandfather was even cold in the grave, they had sold all her belongings. Even Okina's inn that was called 'Aoiya,' was not an exception to their greediness.

"I wonder what I shall do with you, hmmm…" Shishio murmured as he touched Misao's cheek, "throw you up in the street or work here? CHOOSE!" She had chosen the street but one freezing night in December forced her back to her home again.

That was a few years ago, and Misao was now in her mid-sixteen. Not that everyone cared about it anyway; she was glad to know that soon enough, she will pass the age of marriage and leave this place forever. That is if some decent man would be interested in a servant girl like her.

Sitting up, she brushed her hair and braided the rest of it. She went to the kitchen and began the work she always did every day. The warmth from the fire warmed her shivering body as she set the water to boil and began to prepare breakfast for the household.

She sighed and shook her head. She had now three meals balanced carefully on one tray. At the first door, she paused to tap it lightly and gently slid the shoji door open.

"Come in!" said by a woman, and Misao entered into her foster parents' room.

"Oh, Misao-chan…" Yumi said as she quickly covered her body with a blanket and fixed her disheveled hair.

"How very gracious of you to come so promptly," Shishio said in a deep voice as he pulled away from the naked woman on his futon. The words did not ring true, and he offered her a false smile. Misao could not help not to glare at them.

"Oh, you have some piercing eyes, dear!" Yumi added as Misao put their meals on the table, but Shishio quickly grabbed her wrist. The grip was so tight, and it almost made her cry.

"Misao-chan, my angel…" he said as Misao gave him a disdain look, "If you value your life, you must know how to behave properly."

She swallowed and pulled her hand free, stepping back while trying not to lose her calm composure. The silence was her only defense as she had discovered that under Shishio's thumb - speaking only made him angry!

"You're so ugly, girl." Yumi laughed while she waved her away.

At the second door, Misao was surprised to see it open. Inside was Kamatari in a new kimono; it was stunning with different colors of summer. The tall, short-haired girl stands in the front of a large mirror as she practiced the words of nobility.

When Misao put the last bowl on the table, she noticed a new painting hung on the wall – it was a portrait of the royal family with a lot of kanjis written below the image line.

She could not help but admire them! It shows the Emperor, his wife, and children who wore elegant hakamas and robes. The eldest one was a red-haired man with a cross scar on his cheek. Stories circulated around the country that this prince was not even a royal at all! He was an abandoned baby in the last civil war, and the Imperial couple decided to take him under their wings. There were rumors back then that the Empress was cursed, and her marriage to the Emperor was a match made in hell, thus, making her incapable of producing an heir!

Misao's eyes went to the other prince, who looked very different from the other one. He was very tall with jet-black hair, but there was a dead expression written on his face. Misao suddenly remembered the news that was circulating before - how the birth of the black-haired prince proved every rumor against the Imperial couple an utterly stupid.

"Oh, captivated by Aoshi-sama's beauty?" Kamatari's voice made Misao's gaze away from the painting. "He was the crowned prince and soon to be the next Emperor," she added and threw her fan on her bed. Noticing how Misao admired the painting, Kamatari said, "And with that figure and face of yours, I bet that he will just laugh at you."

Misao shrugged as Kamatari chuckled at her own joke. She refrained from speaking more, knowing that this sister of a whore would mock more at her.

"Oh, since wars are proliferating, the palace was now demanding Aoshi-sama's heir, and I planned to..." Kamatari paused with a dramatic tone, "…convince him that I am worthy of being his future wife." she laughed.

'Well, good luck then.' Misao thought, repressing the urge to shake her head before leaving.

Aside from doing all the household chores, she was required to gather some woods every noon. Misao now found herself walking in the forest.

It was still chilly despite the coming summer in Kyoto. The season of cherry blossoms had ended a week ago, but Misao was surprised to see some Sakura trees as she enjoyed the silence surrounding her. This day, she was now finished doing her tasks and was excited to bring home the woods she found and picked. She slowly sat on the bed of grass and looked at the town at the farthest distance. The thought of running away came into her mind, but she had no idea where to go. With a depressed heart, she let her dreams of freedom fly away like birds.

The silence suddenly broke with laughter that belonged to a group of voices. Misao turned to the source and was surprised to see familiar faces that were meters away from her.

It was Cho and his gang - the murderers whose painted images were displayed in every post of the town. They were the most wanted criminals in the country and famous for torturing people for fun. Worried, Misao would not let them touch her. She was thankful that she came from a family of ninja, and Okina taught her some necessary self-defense skills when she was only five. However, it was not enough to protect herself because she was obviously outnumbered.

Cho grinned when she saw Misao, "Oh, young lady!" he exclaimed with a massive grin on his face, "Are you a little lost?" his voice implied the dark plans inside his head.

Misao threw the bucket of woods at their faces and ran as fast as she could. She ran deeper into the forest, hoping that she had lost Cho and his friends. But she suddenly stumbled; a rock on her left foot caught her off guard. Misao looked up, and her face was filled with terror when she saw Cho stood before her.

She tried to punch him, but he quickly caught her arm. Summoning all her strength, Misao resisted his force, but Cho's grip was too firm, only her actions made them laugh. Suddenly, she was pushed to the ground, and both of her wrists were tightly bounded by their grasps.

Trembling, she screamed, and it filled the silence of the whole place.

Clink. All men stopped as they heard the sound of wielding swords. A pair of kodachi glinted her indigo eyes.

-;-

In the palace, Kenshin's eyes admired the pots in his father's study room. Like any other commoners, the Imperial Family was given a rest day once a week. Emperor Seijuro Hiko likes to spend it with pottery and while Kenshin likes to spend it with cooking. Kenshin's thoughts went to his younger brother, Aoshi. He was so committed to his duty that made the word 'rest day' sounds a dirty word for him.

Of course, as a member of royalty, Hiko, Kenshin, and Aoshi were taught the art of killing. Kenshin has always saddened the way a sword must be, no matter how much his fiancée sugar-coated it. It never changed the fact that he was taking away the lives of people – well, the lives of two certain people before.

"Kenshin!" a feminine voice cried from the shoji door of the room.

He turned around to face the lady he was longing to see these past few weeks. Touching her left cheek, he whispered, "The weeks felt like so many years of not seeing you."

Kaoru blushed. "Stop being poetic!" She answered and slowly placed a quick kiss on his lips.

"Your cheeks are red, young lady." He teased, and that made Kaoru pouted on the word 'young lady.' At first, Kenshin's parents were against his relationship with because of the 11 year age gap, but they accepted it as time goes by.

"How many times I should tell you that I am now a lady?" she answered and hit him playfully on his chest. Both of them were laughing when a deep voice said, "I hope I'm not interrupting something."

"Oh. Hiko-sama." Kenshin and Kaoru said in unison and bowed to the Emperor.

"Can I talk to my son for a minute?" The Emperor asked and smiled at Kaoru. She nodded and left.

"I have heard that four of our friends died." Hiko said as Kenshin gave the nod. Both of them sat on the brown tatami mat.

Looking out the window, Hiko glared at the distant forest, wondering what was happening to Aoshi, who was always distant to his family. Since the incident weeks ago in Northern Kyoto, Aoshi became more pensive, and his thoughts were always deep. He mourned for his four precious friends who died protecting him in the northern border of their kingdom.

"I hired a samurai whose name is Seta Soujiro as a temporary replacement. I know that Aoshi's trust for Hannya will never be replaced." Hiko said and lit the lamp to shred the shadows of the coming night. Hiko wondered where Aoshi was, he knew he left by noon.

The Emperor stared at the boy he raised and loved as his own. "Kenshin, I'm so sorry if you are not allowed to marry Kaoru for now, I…"

"I know Father that Aoshi must marry first and that he needed to produce his heir first. I have heard about it too many times." Kenshin said. In the next few days, he will be spending his third year of being engaged to the said lady, and Kenshin wanted to marry her as soon as possible.

"There are times that I want to force the title to you, Kenshin." Hiko took a deep breath and grabbed a bottle of sake, "But that was impossible." He took another gulp and slammed his fist on the table "As it was almost impossible for Aoshi to find happiness too!"

"I'm sorry father. I could not do anything to help you." Kenshin apologized, but Hiko just put a hand on his right shoulder.

"No, son, I'm always proud of you." Hiko said and smiled at the red-haired boy he raised, "If Aoshi failed to find a girl before the year ends," he paused and shook his head, "I will force him to marry Princess Emi!"

Well, Kenshin knew Emi, the only daughter of daimyo who lives in the Southern Kyoto. Everyone knew that the poor girl had fallen obsessively for Aoshi, but unfortunately, the ice block never felt the same way.

"But the Empress gave me an alternative option. Kaoru was involved with this." Hiko added, and Kenshin was surprised to hear his fiancée's name.

"And what would it be?" he asked, curious.

"Okon have asked Kaoru to organize a party. It will be a series of balls where all women will gather and dance with Aoshi so he can choose the woman based on his preference!" Hiko said.

He shook his head at his father's idea as he thought of his younger brother. Poor Aoshi, he will suffer through a lot of women who will chase him like flies to a corpse. He wondered if that idea would help his younger brother to find a bride, Kenshin just hoped for the best.

End of Chapter