Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

"Kayuna, your next" a woman spoke from behind the shoji door and I got up from my sitting position where I had been praying to my mother and father for strength. I gripped the make up desk and took a deep breath, I could do this, all I had to do was be confident and it would all be over before I knew it.

"Kaoru" I spun around when I heard a faint voice whisper my name from the shadows of the room. I stared at where I heard the voice for a moment before I stepped back in surprise when Misao stepped forward towards me. She had an expression on her face I just couldn't read, was it a pained or fearful expression.

"Misao?" I breathed.

"I came to wish you good luck" she smiled lightly at me but I couldn't understand why her eyes looked so sad.

"Thank you my dear friend" I whispered back and stepped back slowly towards the door keeping my eyes focused on her sad ones.

"Kaoru, please be careful" she warned me and I smiled.

"I will, thank you" and with that I turned and left the room towards the main stage.

"Kayuna thank god I caught up to you, listen to me" Megumi held my shoulder and looked down at me with an unnerving seriousness to her tone.

"We have some special people watching you tonight, Lords of the British Queens Council" Megumi informed me and I felt my face become stiff.

"What?" I asked in total bewilderment.

"Exactly, they don't come around often so this is your big chance to show yourself, and you may even be rewarded with an offer" Megumi seemed to daze off with a smile spread across her face but I pulled out of her grip and frowned.

"But never mind of that your on next so go, this is your time to shine" and with that she left me standing there gob smacked.

"Lords?" I frowned and slowly walked to the main curtains and stood in position and waited for the music to stop and the dancers currently on stage to leave.

I wasn't waiting long, for I only had time to glance at the people behind me smiling at me encouragingly. The curtains opened slowly and I sucked in a quick breath wincing as the bright light stung my eyes. I was encouraged to move with the applause I got for just my appearance, and when the music started I found my feet gliding across the stage as if the music was controlling me. I couldn't see anyone out in the audience, the room was dark and the only light available was the single beam that shone down on me.

I looked up and on queue my silk umbrella with patterns matching my kimono, I smiled as it floated down to me and I caught it and swung it closed. I held it in front of me and spun around crouching and then let the umbrella open creating a mass of colours to swirl in the light.

I ended my dance with a light bow and soon showers of flowers were being thrown onto the stage as a reward for my performance. I smiled lightly as I saw a large bouquet of roses be tossed at the front of the stage.

"Kayuna you were amazing!" Megumi beamed at me as I left the stage and slowly made me way to the dressing room.

"Thank you Megumi, for all your guidance and patience, it wouldn't have been possible without you" I smiled back at my master.

"Let's get you changed, everyone is already headed to the after party" Megumi smiled lightly at me and we both entered the dressing room.

"Hurry now we don't want to waste time in a room when so many men are waiting to be entertained" my master grinned at me as I slid out of my kimono and into another but more appropriate to the occasion.

"Wasn't my performance enough?" I asked and as I dabbed a little extra make up here and there.

"Oh Kayuna, that was only to reel them in, now we must feed them with a little up close and personal entertaining." Megumi winked at me and I blushed as dark as my lips.

"Up close and personal?" I whispered wondering what on earth was meant by those frightening words.

One thing I do know is that if I could only see into the future, if I could somehow fast forward time to see the upcoming events, then I never would have gone to that party.

Because it changed my life.

So sorry for not updating in a while, I went on holiday. Thank you for all the reviews I have received, some I am not happy about but the rest I am over the moon with. I will answer everyone's questions in the next chapter when I have more time, I don't want to rush any of my answers. Thank you.