Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin

I apologise in advance for any spelling errors that may (most likely will) occur in this chapter but I suffer slight dyslexia and i`m having to resort to the whimsy word pad which doesnt have a spell checker. All the same this is my early Christmas present to you all who like this story, I hope you have a pleasant read.

"Something is bothering you?" he whispered as we both stood there on the balcony that late night.

"Nothing that you must concern yourself with Kenshin" I wasn't and couldn't unload my burden onto my dear friend.

"But it does concern me" his reply was forceful yet full of worry, he turned to face me and I just suppressed a sigh from escaping.

"Do you believe in fate Kenshin?" I asked whilst looking out to the night sky.

"I do"

"Ive always believed fate was a path you drew yourself from the decisions you made in life," I frowned and turned to my close friend "but what if someone else starts drawing the path for you, leading you away from the path you want to take" I searched his eyes for any indication that he may understand my distress but I knew he would demand an example.

"Then it is the fate of the person who is leading you down the path they choose, everyone has a fate, and sometimes for good and bad reasons interruptions do occur" he spoke softly as though he was repeating something someone had once told him.

"I must go back inside" I glanced back into the active room were the celebrations were still continuing.

"There is something I must tell you Kaoru" I turned and saw his eyes plead with mine but his words faltered.

"Kenshin?"

"I haven't been very truthful with you, and for good reasons only. Ive never wanted to hurt you" he turned away from me.

"I dont understand" I took a step towards him and reached out to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Are you not suspicious now you have met him?" his body flinched when I touched him, but instantly I knew who Kenshin was talking about.

"Suspicious is not the word, confused, shocked, unsure and terrified" I admitted as I pulled my hands to my chest, the temperature and atmosphere had plummeted.

"I`m sure you have many questions" his gaze wandered over to my face.

"You know him?" suddenly the realisation of it all doomed on me, `how did Kenshin know I had met the Prince and if he did know this then surely he knew what was to happen`

"Yes" he whispered and my eyes widened, now I truly was suspicious.

"How?" my question was so quick his eyes met mine.

"You will find out soon enough, but for now I must go" his manner changed instantly, as though his worst enemy had just appeared and he turned harshly leaving me there with my mouth gaping.

"Kayuna!" it was Megumi looking furious as she thundered up to me.

"Tomoe is acting fast, now come!" she hissed as viciously and as quietly as she could.

We both moved quickly into the room and I picked up a fresh sake pot, I looked around and the Prince was nowhere to be seen.

"The Prince is interested in you Kayuna, you must keep him interested" Megumi nodded over to the corner of the room were I could just see the Prince laughing away with Tomoe and Misao. I caught Misao`s gaze and she quickly looked away.

"He is already being entertained" there was nothing I could do, Tomoe was his entertainment.

"Tell me Kayuna, what happens when there is an obstruction in the path of a flowing river?" Megumi muttered tucking her arms into the sleeves of her kimono.

"It will erode the obstruction" I whispered more to myself than anyone else.

"Exactly, now go!" Megumi whispered before walking off to her danna`s side, I clutched the sake pot tightly and with shaky legs slowly moved into the direction of the Prince.

"Kayuna" the Prince smiled and moved forward to great me.

"Your Majesty-" I was interrupted by Tomoe.

"Kayuna Misao here is going to play her shamisen for the Prince" Tomoe smirked and I looked to Misao who had her eyes focused on the floor.

"Would you care to join us Kayuna?" The Prince asked and I saw Tomoe`s face fall, so I nodded a yes.

Tomoe led us into a small room and a few of the Princes guards followed us but kept there distance as I sat down next to the Prince. Tomoe sat on the opposite side of the Prince and Misao positioned herself in front of us a good few feet away, the shamisen was handed to her and slowly her fingers flicked over the three strings.

"Such a pleasant sound" the Prince whispered to me and I smiled in agreement, it really was pleasant music Misao was gracious enough to play for us, but I knew it was all Tomoes doing to make sure the Prince bid for Misao and not myself.

"Tomorrow there will be a banquet at one of the tea houses in this town, I apologise for my lack of knowledge regarding your culture, but I would be honoured if you would accompany me to the tea house" the Prince moved closer to me as he whispered in my ear, it was obvious he didnt want to offend Tomoe but unforuntatly for him she did hear and her face seethed with rage. The o-chaya was the Okiya Tomoe so desired to inherit from the master of the house, the one I was trying to prevent her from acquiring.

"The o-chaya, you will meet many geisha and maiko there" I noticed Misao had stopped playing when she had seen the look on her masters face.

"That was lovely Misu and such a pleasure to be witness to your amazing talent" The Prince smiled at Misao and but the look of disappointment on her face was evident when the prince pronounced her name incorrectly.

"Kayuna, will you follow me?" he smiled and as he stood he held out a hand and I took it gently, he lifted me to my feet.

"Your Majesty it is tradition that Misao serves you tea now" Tomoe lied.

"I do apologise but Kayuna has just offered to introduce me to this green tea you so highly recommended" he also lied and with a hand on the small of my back which seemed to warm up my whole body we left the room, and a spitting Tomoe who was blaming Misao.

"Very intriguing young ladies" the prince glanced back when we were a safe distance apart from Tomoe and Misao.

"Tomoe is a geisha and Misao is my friend she is maiko like myself, she is looking for a danna" I smiled, Misao deserved a danna more than any geisha she knew.

"I`d like to know more about the ways of a geisha" his words spoke truth as we continued to walk away from the crowded room.

"I am not a geisha yet, only a maiko, I will not be a fully fledged geisha until I have a danna and spent at least 5 years entertaining, then I shall be blessed with the high class name of a geisha" I looked towards the prince and saw the huge interest held in his expression.

"What is a maiko?" he asked.

"A maiko is an apprentice geisha" I answered.

"What exactly is a danna?" he questioned.

"A man who is usually married and wealthy who offers his wealth to support the geisha, and in return the geisha will entertain him and accompany him wherever he wishes. Neither have to be in love, but if a geisha decides she wishes to marry then she must retire from her profession" I explained as much as I understood.

"How does a man request for a geisha to be his" the Prince was most certainly interested in the culture, his questions did not stop, and neither did my answers.

"Once a maiko has completed her training her profession is up for bidding, a man interested must bid to claim the geisha and prize her as his, then she will entertain him as he shares his wealth keeping her stable financially" I replied

"What do you call the dress you are wearing?" he asked as he gently placed a hand on my arm letting his fingers slide down the soft silkiness of my kimono.

"A kimono, the tradition attire of a maiko and geisha" I smiled feeling the shivers run up my back, the emotions this man was making me feel was powerful yet comforting.

"It looks expensive" he fingered the fabric of my outfit and I smiled looking out into the garden opposite the room we had entered.

"That is why a danna is needed to help us maintain such treasures as this kimono I wear" In the corner of the room the tea tray was set neatly on a table, I automatically made my way over and poured a cup of tea for the prince.

"Will you not drink with me?" the prince asked.

"If you wish me to" I smiled turning to him with his cup of tea, he smiled back.

"I would very much like you to drink with me Kayuna" and so I poured myself a cup of tea.

The gardens gentle flowing waterfall created a peaceful atmosphere as I sat beside the prince.

"Your country is so different from my own, everything seems so peaceful" the prince was looking out into the garden and I noticed a stork that stood in the waterfall pond had caught his attention. I too gazed at the stork and watched how it gracefully stood tall searching out the slithering fish that swam as quick as lightening.

"Why do you wear such white make up?" I hadn't noticed the princes eyes on me.

"My big sister told me that when candles were the only source of energy to light rooms and electricity had not been invented the white foundation worked as a reflector and the bright white face and neck came out of the dark so people could tell how pretty you were" I blushed averting my eyes from his intense gaze.

"You should not need to wear that make up for people to tell you that" his words sang true and I felt the blush thicken.

"The make up makes one look prettier, that is why we undergo extensive training to learn how to properly apply it. It is important for all maiko to be conscious of becoming prettier" I took a sip of my tea and returned it to my lap as I spoke.

"I have been travelling your countries towns and cities for many weeks, and I assure you I have not met such a beautiful lady as yourself" the compliments from the prince made me feel very special and I felt obliged to return his compliments but a niggling feeling that returning such private thoughts were out of bounds.

"Would you like more tea?" I asked seeing both mine and princes cups empty, but instead the prince rose and walked over the entrance to the garden.

"I would like to go for a walk" he smiled nodding to the garden.

So we walked, and we did so in silence. The prince was amazed by the beauty and peacefulness of the garden. As we walked the prince told me of life in England and the differences between our country's.

"Unfortunatly you would never find this beautiful blossom tree anywhere in London" he sighed and I looked up to the blossom tree and its highlighted pink petals shimmering down to earth once the wind got hold of them, a few petals landed on the princes shoulder and he chuckled, got out a napkin from his pocket and folded the petal inside it.

"When I go back I will have something to remember this place by" with this thought he turned and continued to walk.

"Your wife must be missing you" I mumbled quietly and he heard.

"I do not have a wife" his voice had dropped as quiet as my own.

"A prince without his princess, that's not what they tell in stories" I frowned as I looked at the prince, he stopped and stepped back so we faced one another.

"Stories my lady, that is all they are" he was also frowning and I spluttered out my apologises, Megumi would be furious if she could see me insulting the prince, this is not what I had been taught and I was letting my real personality show forgetting the professional figure I should be showing.

We continued to walk in silence side by side, I looked up at the clear night sky watching the stars twinkle down on us. I gasped and nearly lost my balance on the river bridge as the prince nudged me, I looked at him and he nodded to a quiet corner of the garden but it was completely dark. Nothing of interest seemed to jump out at me but there was surely something of interest as I saw the smirk on the princes face. Then my eyes grew wide as I heard giggling and light flicker over two figures trying to hide themselves amongst the ivy leaves scattered along the garden wall.

"Lets leave them" I noticed the prince had a slight blush grace his handsome face as he turned, I quickly walked after him glancing back at the figures disgracing themselves in the garden.

"I apologise for their behaviour" I felt this the polite thing to do but the prince just chuckled.

"How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?" he quizzed and I didn't mind at all.

"I have only recently turned the age of 19" I replied, my birthday had passed in the times I had been training as a maiko, it had seemed very unimportant to celebrate at the time.

"You have a mature face for such a young age" he smiled and I wasnt sure if this was a compliment or not but still I thanked him.

As we walked around the garden I suddenly noticed at the corner of my eyes a black shadowy figure following us, but whenever I turned around there was nothing there. Several times I was sure there was someone there.

"Kayuna?" I looked towards the prince confused, as if I wasn't aware of his presence, then I realised he had asked me a question. He gave me a quizzical look and I glanced over my shoulder.

"There is someone following us" I squinted hoping to see clearer in the dark but nothing moved.

"Ah that will be Jep my bodyguard, no need to worry he wont bother us" the prince smiled but still this Jep didnt have to sneak around as though I was his target.

"I presume you have never been to England before?" he asked as we neared the house, I could hear the party was still active.

"Correct, what is England like?" the thought had never crossed my mind but from what I heard it was a very beautiful, respectable and courageous country that fought for the right things.

"Hectic, greedy but very glamorous" the prince rolled the words off his tongue as though he had said it all before "Shall we head back for something to eat?" he asked and I nodded.

"Thats if there is anything left, your General had his eyes on the buffet hours ago" I giggled and felt my confidence grow slightly as the prince laughed out loudly.

Inside I noticed alot of people and geisha had already left the party, but as we moved through the hallway towards the buffet I couldn't see Megumi or her danna.

"This looks delicious" the prince eyed the few remaining plates of food on the long table and I was about to grab a plate but a servant of the house interrupted.

"Your majesty, this food is not fit for a king, we have a cook on hand ready and waiting for any order you wish to be served" the servant bowed and guided us to a private dining room.

"This is too much" the prince looked embarrassed as he was seated and I beside him.

"I am very impressed" I smiled wondering what freshly cooked food was on offer.

"You are?" he seemed puzzled.

"I am, it proves how important you are, you must be able to have everything you want" the thought was astounding.

"Not quiet, some things I have to struggle for" he raised an eyebrow at me "But if you could have anything given to you right now what would you want?" he asked whilst leaning forward and folding his arms on the table.

"As in a gift?" I asked and he nodded a yes.

"A danna" it took a while but it seemed the only realistic choice, at first I nearly blurted out that I wished to have my parents back with me, as I had done so many times in the towns temple but I knew this would only unveil emotions that were best kept sealed at this moment in time, and the prince did not need to be burdened with guilt for asking such a question. Then I thought back to my fathers dojo, the one I had sold for a pitiful price and regretted entirely, one day I vowed to buy it back and keep my fathers name hanging proudly on the door.

The prince ordered a lobster and I was surprised at how well his fingers peeled away the skin, shell and legs, he had most definitely dined on lobster before.

"In England lobster is a luxury" he informed as held the jelly meat between his fingers.

"That's something our country's have in common" I smiled and he played with the meat between his fingers before holding it out for me.

"And you can make as much mess as you like and because its a lobster its acceptable, ive always thought it rather erotic" the prince laughed as he picked at the meat with his sparkling white teeth.

"Erotic?" someone had once told me geishas were erotic.

"Absolutely, the whole point of using your hands is to feel and...... how about I show you?" the prince smirked as he picked up the lobster twisting it breaking off a leg and picking out the meat.

"Open your mouth" he was still smirking and the butterflies started but I did as I was told letting the prince feed me the meat, I kept my eyes focused on his as his finger traced the lower lip of my mouth.

TO BE CONTINUED

~*~*~*~* MERRY CHRISTMAS ~*~*~*~*

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