Disclaimer - I dont own Rurouni Kenshin
He wasnt here.
The look of disappointment on my face must have been obvious, as it was soon picked up on.
"Smile Kayuna, we are here to entertain not repulse" Megumi hissed through her forced smile as she waved at the men as we walked through the crowded hall.
"May I choose who I entertain?" It was brave to ask such a thing, but it was just too difficult to impress someone who looked like a deformed pig.
"Kayuna do not throw your chances away by scowling like that, we are here to entertain anyone who is willing to bid, and the higher the big the greater the reward" I didnt need to look at my master to know she was smirking, it was obvious in her voice.
"Ive already informed you of who was witnessing your dance, and rumour has it he has already placed a bid on you, and if it is true about the price he has declared then it will be impossible for any bid to be higher, so you must understand the importance of entertaining" Megumi took two sake bottles from a table and gave one to myself.
"Was my dance not enough?" I asked, all this entertaining was becoming hard work.
"Your dance was the bait, and now your entertaining will reel them in" Megumi smiled and winked at me. I didnt know if that was to give me a little confidence boost, but it just made me think more of Kenshin, and what he really thought of my performance. Was he not here because he was unimpressed?
"Ah General, how delighted to see you have made the event tonight" Megumi smiled and greeted a man with a beared and large puffy eyes, his uniform was not that of their own culture and neither was his appearance.
"Absolutely splendid performace there my darling, absolutly stunning you were and I must say I feel honoured to be allowed the pleasure of watching you dance" He was well spoken with a clear uptight accent, he was definatly not Japanese.
"General, my sister Kayuna, Kayuna this is General Darcy" Megumi introduced us and I bowed politely and was surprised to see his hand in my face. I looked up to see the General red in the face.
"Kayuna, in England it is polite to shake hands. I do apologise General, my sister is unknown of your cultural ways." Megumi stuttered apologetically.
"Its a pleasure to meet you General Darcy" I smiled and gently took his hand, I yelped when he gripped my fragile hand and shook violently.
"Oh the pleasure is all mine, I have never met such a fine beauty as yourself" he slurped his words out and I just managed to stop myself from cringing away.
"The Prince will be more than happy to buy you a drink my lady" the General grinned and winked at me, making me blush resulting in an unlady like frown spreading across my face.
"The Prince?" Megumi also held that of a look that knew no the wiser.
"Yes yes we are here touring this beautiful country, and the Prince was more than delighted when he saw your performance, Id be careful if i was you it seems the Prince has more than a keen eye on you" and with that the old General bellowed loudly. The sake was obviously rushing to his head quicker than his words.
"Oh do pardon me ladies, I must dash I have my eye on that fine cuisine being prepared over there" he smiled and gave me one last shake of his huge hand.
"The Prince is a charming fellow my dear Kayuna, many women would consider you very very lucky" he smiled and floated off unsteadily into the crowd.
I looked to my master who seemed to have paled slightly, when her eyes darted to mine the excitement that flashed through her eyes was almost a shock.
"Oh dear I think im going to pass out" Megumi held her hand to her chest quickly pulling out her fan and wafting herself.
"So there are Lords and a Prince that I must entertain now?" the thought made me almost sigh, It would certianly take some effort entertaining two parties.
"No Kayuna, I have misinterpreted what I was informed. There are no Lords here tonight, but the Prince is everything you could have asked for, Kayune this is very important you must understand that tonight you could be bought by the wealthiest man in England." Megumi put her hand to her mouth to stop the gasp of excitment from escaping.
"What good would it do me for an English man to bid for me, he would have to stay here" I thought of the prince living here in our small damp town where food was scarce and the value of goods were low.
"Our town is not fit for a Prince, that is why he will take you with him" Megumi smiled and my face faltered.
"Why would he be interested in visiting such a place if it is not to his standard of hospitality" I looked out to the crowd in search for this Prince. He sounded rude and obnoxious, ignorant even towards others.
"Kayuna your missing the point here" Megumi looked hard at me "If the Prince bids for you tonight then you are free of this enslaved lifestyle, and you will be whisked away were only the finest of royaltys may wander" Megumi seemed far away, but Kayuna had her thoughts elsewhere. Because as Megumi started her little speech her heart banged like a drum as handsome as ever and standing high with authority, was Kenshin walking in with several strangely dressed men, that is until she realised Kenshin was dressed incredibly alike, but with fabric she had never seen before. Her eyes followed him and he smiled and nodded to the crowd not yet noticing her.
He smiled.
He had never smiled like that before, never, even as a child he had always been serious and unwavered by any emotion other than anger.
"Kayuna stand tall, dont speak unless spoken to and whatever you do please stop shaking!" Megumi had spotted the strangely dressed and acting Kenshin, if that really was Kenshin. He was now shaking hands and chatting away to a man she didnt recognise. The over whelmed look of interest and genuine cheerfulness was incredibly disturbing, what had happened to him?
My face couldnt leave his, I was mesmerised with the new look, attitude, it was a total change. I felt the blush devour my face as he turned towards me with a smile and winked, my heart jumped and I felt winded, as though id missed a step on a staircase. The confidence shined from him as he approached, his smile was breathtaking.
"It is a pleasure to meet you your honour" Megumi had her head bowed, and I followed suit.
"The pleasure is all mine, I really enjoyed your performance out there" he was now addressing myself. I didnt dare trust myself to speak, instead I bowed my thanks, this was most certainly not Kenshin, the accent was the same as the Generals. But how could a Prince of England look the spitting image of her childhood friend Kenshin.
"May I know your name" his tone was deep and he held alot of respect in the way he stood, I wondered if this man had ever known the feeling of rejection, to feel powerless against the cruelty of human kind and its ways.
"Kayuna" I didnt smile, but nor could I tear my gaze away from his. His eyes were the same deep red as the shine of his blood red hair. I tried to think of Kenshin, to find any difference with the two, and my eyes wandered to his left cheek. He beared no scar.
"Shinta" The man standing in front of me bowed lightly, I was impressed with his manners. I lifted my sake jug and silently offered the man in front of me. It was going to be difficult entertaining this man when he looked so much like Kenshin.
"No thank you, my stomach doesnt seem to agree with that drink" He smirked as he held up a hand declining my offer for a drink.
My eyes had been so focused on this attractive man named Shinta, that I hadnt even realised my master slip away to the side of her danna.
"Kayuna" his voice was hypnotic, I instantly turned back to face him. "Will you accept the offer of a dance?" He brought his hand up wanting me to take it. I looked at the jug of sake in my hand and then back at his hand.
"I shall dance for you, but not with you" I declined his offer. I looked up to see the Princes smile falter, he slowly dropped his hand and coughed lightly. I nervously dropped my head not letting myself meet his frustrated gaze.
"Do you believe in fate?" his question suprised me so much I had to look up.
"Fate?" I asked.
"Yes Fate, where no matter what you do your future has already been decided for you" He answered me straight, looking at me intently.
"I always believe that your future is made by the choices you make" I replied with no lie. He smiled and walked to my side, leaning his head closer to mine so he could utter a whisper.
"Tonight, you will decide what future you wish to choose" his breath tickled my neck sending the little hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. He walked past me and I let out a held breath. I looked around to find the Prince chatting away to another geisha, it didnt bother me at all, in fact in suited me just fine, now atleast I could go and get my bearings together. I slowly poured a cup of sake, then in one quick movement I downed it in one. I quickly left towards a side exit and sighed in pleasure as the wind swept across my face and cooled down my flushed face. The sky was clear this late night, there wasnt a cloud in the sky, and the breeze was gentle.
"Kaoru" his voice made me jumped and I almost fell over from the shock but he steadied me.
"Kenshin!" I smiled and looked up to see the man I recognised and knew as the real Kenshin.
"You were amazing tonight" he smiled lightly at me, he still had his hand on my elbow from when he had caught me from falling.
"You were there, watching me?" I smiled shly.
"Your every move" he smirked. My heart skipped a beat as his face seemed to be moving closer to mine.
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