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 16: Waiting for you

Tomoe sighed and dropped her head back onto the pillow. There was no peace to be had anywhere in the imperial city. Everything felt mundane, commonplace and inconsequential. Without Kenshin, there really was no point in doing anything, going anywhere or even speaking. She sighed once more and turned to lie on her stomach. The city felt so empty without Kenshin. It was like a ghost town as far as she was concerned. The court was filled with imbeciles who had neither brains nor looks, completely worthless. It had been almost a week since Kenshin had left for Konan but she felt as though it had been years.

He hadn't even come to see her before he rode for war. She frowned. He did however go to see Megumi Takani. Why did he do that? Megumi was a nobody, the daughter of lesser nobleman, the only reason that Kenshin would give her importance was because of some nostalgic childhood memory. She felt a sharp pang of jealousy. Megumi knew Kenshin in a way that she would never be able to. She had shared her childhood with him. These were memories that she could never make with Kenshin. But it didn't matter. Childhood memories fade with time. For a man who has to rule an empire, it is the present that holds the keys to his heart not the past. Besides, once they were married, she would arrange it so Megumi never stumbled around Kenshin again. She would remove anything that didn't connect her with Kenshin, which meant Megumi would have to go. It was sad, but necessary.

Tomoe smiled. It really wouldn't matter much. Kenshin had an empire to worry about, and he had her. With her around, he didn't need anyone else. He wouldn't even think about anyone else; she would see to it. A small table stood beside the bed. Tomoe reached out and pulled the muslin curtains aside. A small jade peacock stunned with rubies and sapphires was placed on top of the lacquered table. She picked it up and gently stroked the lapis lazuli neck of the bird. The exquisite ornament was a present from Kenshin. It was just one of hundreds of pieces of jewellery the prince had sent to her over the past year.

She honestly didn't know what to do with them all. There were too many. When she had protested and asked Kenshin to stop sending her jewellery, he had laughed. "It is no rival to your beauty Tomoe." But he stopped sending jewellery, instead he began to choose outrageous ways of letting her know he was attracted to her. Walking through the palace corridors with her ladies, she would suddenly feel a jerk on her arm. When she turned to see who it was, he would be standing, half hidden by a curtain or guard. He would beckon to her and she'd quietly slip away for a few precious moments.

When she returned, hardly anyone would have realised that she had disappeared from their protection. Even the imperceptible blush on her features and the swollen tinge of her lips didn't make them any wiser. She laughed to herself; they probably couldn't even imagine her like that. This is why she missed Kenshin so much. He knew her like nobody else did. There was no pretence around him. She wondered what he was doing right now. How long would it take him to invade Konan and return?

This time when he returned, she was sure that the emperor would announce his ascension to the throne. After that, it would only be a matter of time before Kenshin was crowned emperor of the entire Kutou empire and more importantly, sovereign to his destiny. He could choose whomever he wished to be his queen. That was the law. The emperors of Kutou had the right to choose a bride from wherever they wished; she didn't have to be of royal birth. Kenshin would choose her and there was nothing anyone could do to stop him. Her heart pounded inside her chest.

It's only a matter of time.

Come back Kenshin. Come back quickly.

Author's Note

Guys, I am working on an update. BUt until it's finished, please be patient and keep reading the drabbles. I'll be posting drabbles every two days so keep a look out, also Chapter 12 of LOVE, LIES AND EMPIRE will be out by July 15th 2008.

Shukran.