Summary: Drabbles from the Love, Lies n Empire universe. All characters. Situations and events referred to in the main story. Read n Review. This one is written from Misao's point of view.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. It is the creative work of Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Rating: T

Annals of Empire

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Drabble 15: Thirst and Hunger

A thief has no friends, save another thief. Misao smiled wryly. There was perhaps some truth to the saying. It had been a long journey from the streets of the Kutou imperial city to Kansan. She had been lucky to encounter a band of gypsies on the way. They had been kind enough to let her travel with them. The chores were plentiful and exhausting but she was guaranteed a hot meal and a safe place to lay her head, during the night.

The gypsies were a fine bunch. She learnt what she could from them, tricks of cards, light and flame. An old man among the company taught her how to throw kunai and poisoned needles from a blow dart tube. Another gypsy taught her how to fight barehanded in exchange for a kiss. Misao grinned. She didn't grudge him his price. He had been worth it.

Even now, the velvety feel of his tongue on hers sent shivers down her spine. She slapped her thighs and rose to her feet. The bazaars were full. Men thronged the tea shops and ladies stood in pairs to converse. Children could be seen racing after each other, starting a new chase before they finished the one they had first begun. Kansan suited her temperament. It was largely a safe, wealthy and well-fed city. There were no beggars, and pickpockets were rare. There was nobody to compete with and no territory to keep to.

Kansan lacked the feel of a large city. The streets were laid out like a chessboard. There were no gullies or alley to slink into. Escaping guards in a city like this was next to impossible. Pickpockets would find it a difficult place to live. Immersed in her thoughts Misao wandered through the large avenues till she reached the main square. There was a huge crowd near the water fountain. The fountain was sourced from a sweet water well underneath. It was one of four, one for each large square, and providing water for more than half the city.

Misao looked curiously. She ran up to the crowd and plunged straight in. Elbowing her way deeper into the crowd and relieving a few unsuspecting and unguarded individuals of their purses, she finally reached the head of the crowd. A crier was mounted upon a great stallion. Unfortunately for her, he was rolling up the parchment he held in his hand. He turned his horse and rode away. The crowd began to scatter.

She grabbed the elbow of the man next to her. "What was the message? I came too late."

The man grinned. "There is going to be a feast for everyone tonight to celebrate the princess's engagement."

She dropped his sleeve and bent her head in gratitude. "Oh. Thank you." The man walked away. She made her way to the fountain. The woman seated at the fountain smiled and handed her a cup. Misao dipped the cup into the water and drew it out. Splashing it on her face, she smiled back at the woman and left after paying her.

That night, she stood in a line swerving out of the grand tents where the feast was being held. She craned her neck to catch a glimpse. The line was getting shorter. Ten minutes later, she found herself seated at one of the thousands of low tables laden with food and wine. A dais had been constructed at one end of the tent, where the royal family was seated. The princess and her fiancée were seated side by side. Misao strained for a better view; she found one when the man in front of her moved forward.

The princess was beautiful; she wasn't surprised by that. What surprised her was the uninhibited smile that graced her features. She was happy. Misao smiled. It was a rare thing to see a royal person display that much emotion. It was unusual but admirable. She'd seen many aristocratic ladies in Kutou but they were undisguishable from one another because they all wore the same blank, stony expression. If they were animated within the confines of their palaces it would be a different story but she doubted it.

A sudden warmth near her fingers forced her attention back to the low table placed in front of her. The feast had begun. She glanced back at the royal dais; the princess was speaking to her fiancée. Misao

Smiled, clapped her hands together in gratitude for the food and dug in. As she held her rice bowl out for a second helping, her movements were arrested. The bowl in her hand trembled as she recognised the man seated a few rows away.

His eyes were fixed upon the dais. She followed his gaze. It landed on the Konan princess. She stared back at him, stunned. Seated before her, was none other than the Crown Prince of Kutou, Kenshin Himura the Battousai!

Misao swallowed and let her hand fall slowly to the side. What on earth was he doing here? She knew it was him. It had to be. Nobody else in the world had eyes as riveting as his. She had first seen him two years ago, when he had returned victorious after quelling the desert rebellion. A huge procession commemorating his triumph had come till the very gates of the Thieves Quarter. And now he was here, in Kansan, sitting in a line full of the dregs of society.

Misao looked up at him again. He hadn't taken his eyes off the girl sitting on the dais even for a second. This meant the invasion would happen soon. If the Battousai had chosen to make an appearance, it meant that time was over for Konan.

But for her, time had swung once more into a good spell. Under the steady stream of refugees that would soon hit Kutou, she could slip unnoticed at the borders and return to the imperial city. This time she was not the simpleton who had left, with law on her tail. This time, she would be prepared for the aftermath of a mistake.

Misao glanced at the princess. Fortunes change in a matter of minutes. The happiness that graced her face right now would be gone in a matter of days. She would have to flee from her home just the same as her. And there was no telling when the journey would end for her.