A/N This one-shot was inspired by the episode from season one of Downton Abbey, where Sybil gets knocked unconscious at the post-election riot, and Matthew comes to her rescue. I really wanted to write a RuroKen Edwardian/Downton Abbey fic because I could totally imagine Kaoru and Misao f*ing sh* up at a suffragette rally.

Kaoru: Sybil

Kenshin: Matthew (even though I'm setting up a Kenshin/Kaoru romance).

Sano: Tom

Megumi: Mary

Kenshin had forgotten that tonight was election night.

If he had remembered this, he wouldn't have stayed late at the office.

The results of the bi-election were being read aloud in front of the town hall. The crowd gathered in the town square was already getting out of hand when the office. Most rowdy was the young women wearing purple, green, and white sashes, pushing their way to the front of the crowd with a banner.

"Votes for women!" they shouted.

Kenshin picked out a distinctive straw hat loaded with bunches of blue silk hydrangeas at the edge of this group. In her stylish blue jacket and skirt, its wearer looked like she was at a garden party rather than a political rally. She seemed unphased by the violent shouting, pushing, and shoving around her but took it all in as if it were the most marvelous thing she'd ever seen.

A green uniformed chauffeur tapped her on the shoulder. "Milady," he said. "We should leave. Things are starting to get a little rough."

The Irish brogue of Sanosuke Sagara, the Kamiya family's driver, was unmistakable. So that must mean the girl with him was...

"But Sano," Kaoru gave the chauffeur the pout that made everyone from her father, Lord Kasshin-Ru, down to Tsubame, the kitchen maid, putty in her hands. "They're only just beginning to read the results."

Kenshin approached her. "Lady Kaoru, what on earth are you doing here?"

Lord Kasshin-Ru had expressly forbidden Kaoru from attending any more political rallies after a servant let it slip that she snuck out to go canvassing with her friend, Misao Makimachi, a member of a particularly militant branch of the WSPU. He complained that the Makimachi girl was a bad influence on his youngest daughter even though Kaoru needed no one's help to find trouble.

Sano, of course, had been Kaoru's accomplice. The chauffeur doted on his master's daughter like a spoiled, willful, beloved little sister. "I don't like the look of this, Milady," he said.

Around them, bottles were being smashed, and rocks were being thrown. But to Kaoru, the event had lost none of its shine.

"Do you think I'd miss this?" she said.

A drunk bumped into Kenshin, causing him to push Kaoru into Sano. Kaoru's hat was askew from being knocked about, her chignon was disheveled, and her blouse was rumpled. She looked like a crushed flower. "Couldn't you?" Kenshin said. "I bloody well could." He put an arm around Katara to lead her away.

A fistfight had broken out between a socialist and a Tory agitator (the Tories had started it). The Tory agitator threw a punch that hit Sano.

Kenshin stepped in to confront the tory agitator. "Excuse me," he said.

"What's your problem, Mr. La-Di-Da?" The Tory agitator grabbed Kenshin by his starched collar.

"My problem is you."

"Oh aye?"

A different scuffle nearby caused the Tory agitator to shove Kenshin and knock Kaoru over. Kaoru fell to the ground like a rag doll and hit her head on the paving stones. Kenshin and Sano rushed to her aid. Sano cradled her head in his arms while Kenshin felt her temple. His glove was stained with blood.

"Oh no," he said. "Oh god no."

They lifted her up to carry her away.

They brought Kaoru to Kenshin's apartment and sent for Lady Megumi, the girl's older sister. Lady Megumi's face went pale when she saw her sister lolling on the sofa. She glared at Sano, who put his hands in his pockets and whistled.

"You stupid, stupid girl," Lady Megumi said. She knelt by her sister's side and squeezed her hand.

Kaoru lowered her eyes. Later, after the danger had passed, she would get a scolding for the ages.

Kenshin stood behind the sofa. "I didn't know what else to do, so I had Sano bring her here."

"You did the right thing, Sir Ken. If Papa saw her like this..." Lady Megumi's eyes rolled toward Sano. "That Rooster-Head would get fired."

Sano whistled louder.

Lady Megumi cleaned the wound on Kaoru's forehead and changed the bandage. "There, the bleeding's stopped." She and Kenshin helped Kaoru to sit upright.

"Are you feeling well enough to go home?" Kenshin said.

Kaoru looked up at him with the adoring eyes of a young girl with a crush. "I am if you'll bring me.

He helped her off the sofa and offered her his coat to cover up the blood on her clothes.

"Lean on me," he said as he led her out the door.