The Faerie Chronicles of Kenshin & Kaoru, a Rurouni Kenshin fanfic series by Raberba girl

Part 4: The Sleeping Prince

This fic is dedicated to skenshingumi, whose suggestions drastically helped shape it from what it would have been to what it is now.

Summary: Loosely based on "Sleeping Beauty." Kenshin & Kaoru now reign as king and queen - when their first child is born, little Prince Kenji is placed under a terrible spell by the enchantress Tomoe, but she is not the real culprit. Kenshin must travel to Faerie to rescue her and his son, but Kaoru is not about to be left behind.

Prologue

A/N: Neesan is short for Oneesan, which means "older sister."

o.o.o

The country had enjoyed several years of gentle reign under the hand of its rightful king, returned to the throne at last; yet the shadow of the land's long oppression still lingered. As if to combat the darkness, any reason to celebrate was indulged in with more festivity than usual, but the people truly outdid themselves on this particular occasion. King Kenshin's bride had given birth to their firstborn, a son, the new heir to the Himura throne.

The people danced in the streets, music resounded from one corner of the city to the other, ale flowed like rivers, and complete strangers flung their arms around each other as if they were long-lost loved ones. On the morning of the little prince's christening, he had been presented in public to his adoring people, whose deafening roars of goodwill drowned out his infant wails.

"Kenji, calm down!" his mother had said in exasperation, jiggling him up and down in an attempt to quiet him. "They're happy to see you, silly."

"He does not hear the joy in their cries," the child's father murmured, affectionately brushing a finger across the baby's cheek. Prince Kenji angrily grabbed and bit it with all the strength of his newborn gums. "Ahaha...energetic, isn't he," the king remarked, to the amusement of his wife.

That had been hours ago, however. The child now lay asleep in the throne room for a more private viewing. Lords and ladies of the court stepped up to the cradle, the women cooing in delight, the men narrowing their eyes to study the small prince who would one day become their master.

"Guess he takes after you, Kenshin," Sanosuke observed as he peered into the cradle. Though continuing his duties as Kaoru's royal guard in this country, he had never been able to bring himself to address the king by any proper title. "He's even got a cross and everything."

"Not as big, though," Megumi noted with interest. "And it's only dark when he cries."

"It fades down through the generations as the enchantment loses power," Kenshin explained.

"Must be inconvenient," Yahiko commented, "having some mark on your face that shows your feelings." Kaoru laughed and playfully hugged her husband's arm; he smiled back and covered her clasped hands with one of his own, the cross on his cheek paler than ever.

There was no clap of thunder, no violent wind. The people on the dais were only alerted by the gasps of those farther down the hall. Everyone turned to see that a newcomer had appeared in the center of the throne room - a beautiful woman, unmistakable as the enchantress Tomoe.

Kenshin smiled to see her. "This one was wondering when you would arrive, Tomoe."

She smiled back, though the fey chill did not leave her eyes. "As you guessed, I have come to see the new Himura prince." Lords and ladies rather hastily made way for her. Only Kenshin and his immediate companions seemed unperturbed as Tomoe made her approach.

"The old traditions have not been forgotten," Kenshin told her quietly. "Tomoe of Faerie has been named the chief godmother of this child."

Her smile was sad as she looked at him. "Then you have done your duty."

The enchantress placed her hands on the edge of the cradle and leaned forward to look into it, her long black hair pooling on the silk blankets. As if he sensed her presence, Kenji's little eyes cracked open, staring up at her in silent fascination. Tomoe smiled and spread her hand over the baby, as sparkles of magic wafted gently down to him. "I now bestow a fey gift upon this child: a skill of swordsmanship to surpass even his father's. He shall but hear of the ways of the sword and be able to reproduce them."

There was a scattering of applause from the court, and Kenshin stumbled a little as Yahiko elbowed him. "As if anyone could be better than you, right?"

"Well, this one knows of at least one person who already has the potential for such a thing, that he does," Kenshin returned, with a wink that made Yahiko's face redden.

'He can't...he can't mean me, can he?'

"Thank you, Tomoe-san," Kaoru was saying, smiling as she looked at the other woman. Tomoe's gaze was so forbidding that Kaoru might have quailed under it if she had not known her as well.

"Please don't thank me, Kaoru-san," Tomoe murmured, and there was a note to her voice that seemed too heavy for mere modesty. She turned and made her way down to the center of the room, then stopped and faced the dais again. "Kenshin," she said solemnly. "I loved you once, as I know you loved me. That is why I do not expect your forgiveness for this."

Before either the king or the queen could react to this, the enchantress suddenly raised her arms. Her long hair and sleeves began to rise from the force of her magic, and her next pronouncement was in a loud and terrible voice. "A fearsome swordsman this boy would be, but never will he live to see it. For when he first draws a sword, he shall cut his hand upon the blade, and from this wound will die."

A cold wind shot through the hall; the candles and torches flickered wildly, and many of them were extinguished, plunging the hall into shadow. People were crying out in panic, and the stricken queen scooped her wailing child out of the cradle and held him tightly in her arms. Her guards had gathered close around her, weapons brandished; the king, paralyzed by betrayal, had only just begun to step forward.

At that moment, a black portal opened up behind the enchantress, as if it would swallow her. Instead, however, a man stepped out. His face was young but his hair was wild and white, marking him as a fae. He grinned as his arms encircled Tomoe, who stood with her face stiff and expressionless, her hands clasped together.

"You did well, Neesan," he murmured in her ear. Though his words addressed her, his eyes were fixed on Kenshin, who stared at the two of them with horror and fury drowning his heart.

"Enishi!" His hand leapt to his sword, but it was too late. The white-haired fae grinned and drew the enchantress back into Faerie with him, and the portal vanished in a gust of air. The last of the lights flickered out, leaving the horrified court in total darkness.

To be continued...