Hey all, thanks for much for the wonderful reviews, hope they continue! And hope you all like this chapter!

-Mia21


The next evening after supper, Kaoru joined Enishi in the library as usual. They chatted about all sorts of things, but then Enishi trailed off from the anecdote he'd been telling, looking at Kaoru. There was a hunger in his expression that made her uncomfortable. He leaned forward then and grabbed her hand, kissing her palm.

"Kaoru, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He asked. The words dropped on her like stones. 'At least I was warned,' she thought. For a moment she couldn't utter a sound. Then she pulled her hand back, saying, "I don't know…" 'Be careful!' She told herself.

"You cannot have been unaware of my feelings. I have been patient with you, but I will wait no longer. We will announce our engagement at a Christmas party we shall hold for those in town."

His tone was peremptory. He had thought all this out and assumed it would roll forth as planned, with no contribution from Kaoru.

"Sir," She began. "I'm grateful for the honor you do me, but I cannot marry you."

"And may I ask why not?" He wondered, his face pinching into a frown.

"There are many reasons. I'm entirely unsuitable. I'm penniless. I care for you as a dear friend and protector who stands in place of a father, but I cannot love you as a husband."

"Are you afraid to marry me?" He asked.

"Afraid? No, not of you, of course, but of the responsibilities of being Madam Yukoshiro and mistress of the abbey." She told him.

"Have you considered your other options? On the one hand, you could be my wife, with all the resources I can provide. You have told me time and again you wish you could repay my generosity. I am offering the opportunity to repay me in full. On the other hand, you have no family and no other place to go. Of necessity you will have to obtain employment. There will be plenty of young men out there who will be happy to flirt but not offer marriage. Especially when it is known you lived here alone with me."

She gasped. "But nothing happened, we've done nothing wrong."

"Ah, but others do not know that. They will believe whatever they wish to believe. Just, think it over carefully."

Kaoru took the next couple of moments to do just that. And she slowly realized he was right, she had no other place to go. She would have to find some sort of paying position, and who would want to marry her, especially, as he said, when they found out her predicament. Even her friendship with Kenshin had been put on hold. Coming back to herself, Kaoru looked up at Enishi.

"Very well, Sir. I will marry you."

"Wonderful!" He said, sounding genuinely excited. "Now I'm thinking the ceremony cannot take place until after the New Year, once we've had some time to plan everything and find a suitable honeymoon location. I'm thinking perhaps Russia."

"I've heard Russia's amazing." Kaoru told him.

He went on about the many wedding details he had already thought of, Kaoru nodding and smiling. When he was finished, he came over and kissed her good evening, escorting her over to the stairway. Kaoru bid him goodnight with a regal nod, saying she would see him in the morning. That night, Kaoru reflected that at least she'd been able to make him happy, and she was looking forward to the Christmas party.