AN: If this story sounds familiar to anyone it's because I based it mainly on the beginning of the "The Swan Princess" animated movie (1994). I never liked the movie that much, but I absolutely loved the circumstances and feelings between Derek and Odette when they were forced to spend summers together since they were young to when they were adults. I thought it both romantic and funny, and it would have been perfect for my favourite couple. Also I rated this story T because it will get more mature as the characters do, nothing smutty though. Any way I hope I did this well, please don't hesitate to tell me so or otherwise. So read and review =)

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters. Siiiiiigggh….=(

The Swan Hime

Chapter 1

Once upon a time there was King named Kouhei, who ruled Kasshin. It was a large and mighty Kingdom, yet Kouhei was sad, for he was growing old and he had no child to inherit the throne. Then after years of disappointment, when Kouhei thought it would never happen, a beautiful daughter was born and she was given the name Kaoru and the king and the kingdom rejoiced.

Kings and queens from all around came to offer gifts to the newborn baby girl and among them was the widowed Seijuro Hiko along with his two-year-old son Prince Kenshin.

It was at that moment when Kenshin approached the cradle and presented baby Kaoru with a beautiful sapphire pendant, that Kouhei and Hiko was struck with the same idea. They both immediately turned to one another with a sly grin and gave each other thumbs up in agreement. The plan was brilliant; Kenshin and Kaoru would be brought together each summer in hopes that they would fall in love and both their kingdoms, Kasshin and HitenMitsurugi, would be joined together forever.

Six Years Later

Kenshin scowled darkly as he watched the carriage approach the gates. For the hundredth time he tried to make a break for it, but to his disappointment his father still held his gi by a firm grip, which only resulted in the small boy being roughly yanked back to his place next to his father.

As the carriage came through the gates, Kenshin grew more desperate. He knew it was no use trying to beg his father to let him go, he had tried that for the past few weeks, so Kenshin turned pleading amethyst eyes up to his tutor, Aoshi, who had come down to watch the long awaited event. The man had steel blue eyes and stood impassively by their side like a soldier. A lot of people thought him cold and emotionless, but Kenshin knew better, the man was like a second father to him and could be very kind when no one was looking. But to Kenshin's dismay his beloved tutor shook his head at him and turned away. Feeling betrayed and rejected Kenshin scuffed his sandals in the dirt path and sulked.

Finally the carriage came to a rumbling halt and the footman leapt down and opened the door. The man who stepped out was nowhere as tall and wide as his father, but the man was obviously strong and moved with the animalistic grace of a man that had a lifetime of martial arts training. He was King Kouhei, the king of Kasshin, and a close friend of Kenshin's father.

Kenshin really liked King Kouhei because he was one of the few adults who did not make you feel foolish; he did not look at you as a "little boy", but a man who he could talk to about mature things. Because of this, Kenshin usually enjoyed when King Kouhei visited, but at that moment Kenshin only saw him as another adult who he had thought he could trust. In Kenshin's mind, this whole predicament he was in was mostly the man's fault.

Kouhei inclined his head respectfully at Hiko, who gave a similar nod in return, and he then reached into the carriage and lifted down the object that was source of the young prince's misery.

"Presenting," King Kouhei said grandly. "Kaoru Kamiya, princess of the kingdom of Kasshin."

The little girl that stood in front of them was a beautiful child. On her head she wore a delicate crown of pink sakura petals, while her raven hair was left to fall loosely down her back like a dark curtain of silk. She displayed great elegance for one so young by the graceful way she stood next to her father with her chin level and her hands crossed demurely in front of her. She wore a simple powder blue kimono but truely complimented her azure eyes that were so stunning they made the sapphire pendant around her neck seem dull.

Kenshin did not see any of it, he just saw a girl who was there to ruin his summer. He detested girls. Girls were snobby, boring and always wanted to play stupid games and he had to 'play nice', as his father said, for three months, definitely not his idea of fun. And it did not help that she was slightly taller than him. He glared; hating her already.

"Hiko, my dear friend, thank you for inviting us to your kingdom" Kouhei said heartily. He then turned to Kenshin with a surprised look on his face. "And who is this handsome young man? Young Prince Kenshin, ne?"

"But King Kouhei, you know who I…"

"Yes," Hiko cut across Kenshin sharply. "Welcome to our kingdom Kouhei, and to you young princess."

Kaoru knew she was supposed to go forward then, but she looked back at her father uncertainly. It only took a reassuring nod and a gentle push from him, and she went forward. Kenshin on the other hand held back. "Father please don't make me," he whispered fiercely.

Hiko was not gentle; he whacked Kenshin behind the head and gave him the look that promised serious repercussions later, probably while training in the dojo, if he did not obey.

With a sigh Kenshin went forward to meet the disgusting girl. With his arms folded and the scowl still etched on his face, he said, as if he had a sore tooth, "Konnichiwa Princess Kaoru. I'm very pleased to meet you." Just as Aoshi had told him too.

"Please to meet you Prince Kenshin," the girl said politely with an elegant bow, but he did not wait for her to straighten up before he was heading back to his side. If possible his father's glare had grown darker and Aoshi looked disapproving. Kenshin looked at them in dismay; he did not believe they were going to make him do it, he thought it was a joke, but they continued to stare him down till he turned back to the girl.

He reached for Kaoru's hand, and at the same time Kenshin wondered what he had done to deserve this punishment. Kaoru fought to keep her face smooth. Her father had said she was supposed to act like a young lady, but this conceited looking boy was making it very hard. She allowed him to take her hand, and waited patiently. She frowned at the look of pure disgust on his face that showed that he dreaded what he had to do next. It wasn't like she wanted him to do it either, but she was a lady and had to allow it.

Kenshin's lips descended on the back of her hand, and as soon as they did he pulled back as if burned. He gagged and wiped his lips vigorously. He heard a disapproving growl behind him, but he did not care; he just kissed some slimy girl's hand, he had to wash his lips as soon as possible.

She stared at him levelly, clearly not happy with his reaction. He grinned in amusement; did this girl think she could challenge him? "I bet she can't even fight?"

As if she could read his mind, she let her ki flare, and he was taken back at how strong it was. It felt like the heat of a mini sun, but he refused to be impressed by this girl, so he simply yawned and turned away.

When she saw the boy's reaction, Kaoru's anger sparked her ki to a blaze. "I'll show him I'm not some weak little girl."

Orororororororo

Kouhei and Hiko walked through the palace corridors chatting about old times. They had not seen the children since they had told Kenshin to show Kaoru the palace dojo, so they were going to check up on them.

"So far I think the children seem to be getting along," Kouhei said rather uncertainly, but still trying to be positive.

Hiko gave a grunt of disbelief and Kouhei hung his head and sighed. "You're right, they hate each other. What are we going to do?"

"Don't worry Kouhei," Hiko said and patted his friend on the back. "Kaoru and Kenshin are perfect for one another. Even if not now, they'll learn to like each other. It's a good match." He then grinned and ribbed his friend. "And good politics."

A wide grin spread across Kouhei's face as well. "I suppose you're right, my friend. I bet right now they're getting along."

At that moment, as they approached the dojo, they heard a fierce yells. They rushed in the door in time to see Kenshin thrust a bokken at Kaoru, who easily blocked the attack with her own bokken and then smoothly strike at the boy's side. Kenshin dodged the blow but almost lost his footing in the process. He flushed in both anger and embarrassment when Kaoru giggled at him.

Both children had a knuckle white grip on the bokken handles, and were glaring furiously at each other with their ki flaring. Kouhei stepped forward to stop them, but Hiko stopped him with a hand and shook his head. The King of Kasshin looked at his friend incredulously. "This is not exactly getting along Seijuro."

"I want to see this," Hiko said simply.

As Hiko observed the children dance around each other he shook his head; it was obvious who was going to win. Kenshin had more training than Kaoru, but he was so busy trying to show off that he was leaving himself wide open, so it was no surprise, Kaoru, who was concentrating on doing simple forms of defense, finally brought the bokken down on the thick head of his baka desshi while he was wildly spinning around the girl like some kind of bloody ballet dancer. He could not wait to get that little baka in the dojo later for practice. "He'll be lucky to be able to move after."

"Oro," Kenshin warbled as he collapsed to the floor.

Kaoru bent down to look at Kenshin with a smug smile and laughing sapphire eyes. "Not so bad for a girl, ne?"

Scowling darkly, Kenshin jumped up and pointed the bokken at her. "One more time," he spat and went into an attack position. "Let's see how lucky you are this time."

"Kenshin!" Hiko barked angrily, but the boy did not seem to hear him, his lavender eyes were locked on the girl.

"That's fine with me, chibisuke," Kaoru sang back.

"Kaoru," Kouhei said disapprovingly, but the girl did not seem to hear him either.

If it was possible Kenshin's face turned redder than his hair. Kenshin had always been sensitive about his height; most boys his age were taller than him, but it was a pure insult to have a girl looking down on him. And no one called him short, especially not some dumb girl. He had been holding back all this time, but now he will show her what he could really do, maybe then she will learn some respect.

He held the bokken like a sheathed sword and stepped forward on his left foot. Kaoru gasped in surprise when she saw that the boy's eyes had turned from a cool lavender to a fiery gold, but she refused to let him see her nervous, so she firmly held her bokken in front of her, ready to counter him.

"HitenMitsurugi….." Kenshin began, but he did not get to finish, he felt himself being yanked back by the collar so hard that he dropped his bokken. He looked up to see his father's face dark with rage and he felt his little heart drop to the floor.

"Have you lost your mind?" Hiko shouted and gave him a not too gentle shake. "How could you use Hiten Mitsurugi? You could have killed her."

"I wouldn't have." Kenshin said sulkily.

"But you could have. How many times have I told you? Hiten Mitsurugi is not a game, and if you do not know how to use your sword responsibly, you're not a true warrior, you're just a child with a shiny toy." He glared down at his son, who had his head rightfully lowered to the ground with shame.

"Now you're going to apologize to Kaoru for calling her true skill 'luck'." Kenshin looked up at his father with eyes full of horror, but Hiko ignored him and continued, "She beat you fair and square. If you hadn't been dancing around like a bloody fool, maybe you could have stood a chance."

Kenshin reluctantly looked towards Kaoru who was also being lectured by her father. He glared at her fiercely, his small fists clenching and unclenching. At first Hiko thought the boy would refuse, but to his surprise Kenshin took a deep breath and marched towards Kaoru and her father.

Kenshin gave a rather stiff bow to Kaoru and said, "I apologize, Princess Kaoru, for calling your abilities 'luck'. You fight well for a gir-someone who has not trained long." He was going to say 'girl', but swallowed it just in time.

"Thank you Prince Kenshin," Kaoru said coolly; she had not missed his almost slip. "And I'm sorry I called you a 'half pint'." She gave a curtsy, grand enough to be mocking but so smoothly done that he almost missed the sly smirk on her face. Kenshin snarled in his mind, but kept his cool and was able to thank her with a convincing smile.

Both Kouhei and Hiko looked at one another over the children's heads with raised eyebrows. Their children may think they had not noticed the sour under currents of their apologies, but the two kings had been in politics for years and the two children might as well have openly gone for each other's throats. But instead of reprimanding them, the two kings smiled as if they suspected nothing.

"That's better," Kouhei said with a huge grin. "Soon you two will be playing nicely."

"Yes," Hiko agreed with a similar grin. "Now let's go down to dinner children."

Kenshin and Kaoru walked side by side while their fathers followed close behind them chatting about country borders and taxes. When they were deep in a debate Kenshin leaned toward Kaoru and whispered fiercely. "Tomorrow. Same time. Just you wait girly."

Kaoru gave him a level stare. "I look forward to it chibisuke."

Hiko rolled his eyes at Kouhei who just shook his head, but they continued talking without missing a beat, both knowing that it was going to be a long summer, with many more to come.

You like? I hope so. I'll try to get the next chapter to you soon. For now, I'd love to hear from you, so don't hesitate to review review review.