Fly With Me

Tired

2006-06-13T21:19:47Z

Finally, a chance to update my LJ!

I've had a pretty rough week now that I look back on it....

The only time I got to really relax and enjoy myself was when I got to hang out with my friends on Saturday. We watched Cars, which is about the coolest movie I have watched all year, because the cars were HOT--even though they were animated--and because I positively love Pixar movies. We also went to Borders, which is HEAVEN, and I bought a ton of romance novels. ^.~ Then we went on over to Cold Stone, and I have to say that Cold Stone has some of the best ice cream I have ever tasted. Pecan and Cream Passion is delicious! *Drools* Then we came home in time for my brother-in-law's college graduation party. It was an overall fun day.

The rest of my week I have spent laboring outside and picking weeds. ~.~;; The only fun part about that was when I got to drive the John Deere. ^o^V I have also been learning how to cook for the first time in my life. I am very proud of myself! I wasn't really allowed near the stove, because my mother is very picky when she cooks food, even when she's trying to teach others how to cook, but that's okay! I had fun, but cooking isn't as easy as it looks, so I salute all you people out there who can do so without injuries.

So my life isn't all that exciting, but it's busy enough that I haven't been able to get online for a while now. I am surprised that I actually managed to survive so long without Internet.... Someone up there must really love me. ^.^;;

Brain Malfunction

2006-06-01T17:32:42Z

*Sigh* Sadly, my attempts at writing my fanfics is becoming a horribly slow process. It's like pulling out teeth, particularly like pulling out stubborn molars. ~.~ I haven't written them in so long that it's becoming hard to get back into the groove of things. X.x It doesn't really help that I've forgotten what I've written. ~.~;; I've been rereading my fics just to try to remember what happened. Oh well, I'll get back into a writing frenzy soon enough--once I block out the rest of the world and focus solely on my fics. I'll do my best to update some time this month.

Oh, and I have also been doing community service for the past week or so. I've been volunteering at the local children's hospital and library! Mostly I've been organizing things at both places and playing with the children. At the library I read the kids books during storytime and at the hospital I play games with them, mostly building blocks and card games like gold fish. They're all so adorable!

Weekend

2006-05-30T18:23:20Z

@.@

This weekend has been absolutely CRAZY! I finally get the chance to sit down and write my much neglected stories, and my extended family decides to crash at my place and play cards and get drunk while singing karaoke. *Shudders from traumatizing experience* Each time I tried to get to my computer, they ended up dragging me back down to that hideous place called the living room, which currently has no carpet space that can be seen. ~.~ I'm a neat freak, I'll admit.

Anyways, my mind is currently filled with vampires and the desire to kill the horny plot bunnies in my head. @.~

As of the moment, I am trying to come up with a role playing idea with Jess, lone_child, for our TRADITIONAL role playing that we do every summer. It's practically an annual event! They usually start out great, and end with everyone slowly drifting off to reality. ~.~;; Perhaps we can get over that little episode and actually end the whole plot thing during the summer. Hm... I haven't quite decided what character I am going to use for it though.... I'll probably be another all powerful male again. XD!!!!

Ah well, off to go to slaughter the bunnies!

SUMMER BREAK!

2006-05-24T22:25:51Z

YAY!!! NO MORE SCHOOL!!!

*Dances*

Ah, the classes are done with, the finals taken, and now I am free to collapse and sink into a bag of chocolate! ^.~ I shall attempt to get back to writing my fics again, and should post a chapter of one of my stories some time in June.... Or so I hope. So far, my attempts at writing the next chapters of my Vamp fics have turned out to be rated M.... ~.~;; I blame it on Christine Feehan! She's a really good author that Taya, my sister-in-law, recommended to me. Feehan writes about, obviously, vampires! called Carpathians. All of her stories are steamy goodness. ^.~ So...my brain is kind of soaking in the gutters right now... And after what FF.NET has been doing to such stories as the ones that my mind wishes for me to process, I don't think I'm going to take the risk of posting them. I might... I got away with my other lemony stories.... *Sigh*

So, anyways, I'm off to go update my profile on FF.NET to tell everyone that I am alive! And post a link to my LJ. ^.~

Quizzes Galore!

2006-05-23T18:55:59Z

What kind of Angel are you?!?!!?(anime pic. & girls only)

Angel of Peace. You're always kind to people. Whenever there is someone in need you are always by his or her side.
Take this quiz!

?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??

Morpheus
Take this quiz!

What's Your Element(girls)? (PICTURES)

Your Element is Fire. You have a strong, independent, fiery personality and you obviously don't let others push you around. You like being in charge and don't care what other people think. In fact, you like to stand out and be yourself. You're probably shy when people first meet you, but you're a ball of energy that could explode at any given moment. You like to laugh, and whether you admit it or not, you like to fight. Your peronality is wild and untamable. Your beauty is physically fit and a little sexy and you have a very pretty face.
Take this quiz!

Which of the 5 Chinese Elements Are You?

You are the chinese element of Earth. People who are under the element of earth are sociable, responsible and reliable. Earth, you are a tactician, but you always crave acceptance and are usually hard headed. The color of earth is yellow and your symbol is the caldron. Inbetween all of the seasons is when Earth shines, and your months are March/June/September/and December. Your weather condition is windy. Earth is the center direction, and your day is Saturday, while your planet is Saturn. Animals under your element are usually naked. People under you are Manchu. Your sense is touch, your taste is sweet, your sound is singing and your virtue is good faith. Your organ is the spleen. You were created by Fire and you control Water.
Take this quiz

What season are you? (pics)

You're a Winter. You very much enjoy your time alone but do like other people's company sometimes. You just need your space. You have a few priviledged friends who saw past your colder exterior to find the true you. You can have pretty bad mood swings (though you hate to admit it) so you could be soft one second then storming around the next! But over all, you're a very pleasant person once people take the time to get to know you. You're a good friend for in-depth talks. You're very talanted when it comes to creative things.(If you can't see the pics, go to my homepage and look near the bottom and find your result)
Take this quiz!

Which of the Four Elemental Goddesses are you?(With Pics)

You are the Goddess of Water. You are a very loving, you show your emotions out in the open. You are full of wisdom. Also dreamy... You would rather be sleeping then awake. But are still very happy. You are most inspiration to the other Four Goddesses since without water there wouldn't be life.Other Water Goddesses: Aphrodite, Isis, Mariamne, Mari, Tiamat, Yemaya, Ran, Kupala, Salacia
Take this quiz!

What Mystical Creature Are You? (Pictures)

You're a Vampire. Vampires were the creatures of the night that were believed to live off of human blood. Count Dracula, being the most famous vampire, set the stereotype. They had dark hair and pale skin from being away from the sunlight. If they actually existed, it's very possible they had the skin disease that made you allergic to the sun so whenever the sunlight would hit it, it would hurt like crazy. They were usually snobbish and control freaks and kept werewolves as pets. (If you cannot see the picture, go to my userpage and look near the bottom. There should be the picture and description for all the results)
Take this quiz!

.::=What type of Mythical Sprite are you?=::. -With Anime Pictures and detailed answers-

Cruel, beautiful, ominous and evil.You are a sprite of Darkness: Most shiver at the sound of your name, you are ominous and something to be feared. Humans are playthings to you, toys for your own horrid uses. Heartless and cruel you love the pain and hardships of others, sometimes you are the cause. You are very beautiful on the outside which will entrance any mortal into believing what you lead them to, but sooner or later they will understand the deadly ways of your true nature. Despite your dark side you are very talented, you have many gifts that you leave locked up in favor of whatever else your doing at the moment. The feeling of love is alien and unwanted, it frightens you. Perhaps the only thing that does. You are quite brave and things rarely surprise or startle you.
Take this quiz!

What is the center of your dark core? (updated)

Your dark side is centered around Destructive Power. A strong powerful castel built above broken fragile glass, behind this setteled confident look there is a beautiful, innocent child waiting for someone to play with. All you want is an independent caring soul, completes you, no more lies or worries, just a strong connection bonded by trust so you can feel special and confident, find a new meaning for everything, life will be almost perfect like you want. You will find what you want when know that life is not always like we want it to be.
Take this quiz!

Got bored...so I completed a few more quizzes! ^.^

ALMOST OVER

2006-05-23T18:19:09Z

YAY!!!

SCHOOL IS ALMOST OVER!!! ONLY TWO MORE FINALS AND I AM FREE!!!

Oh, how I enjoy being in the Midwest! Good luck to those on the East Coast!

FREEDOM!!!

Zen Sarcasm

2006-05-12T23:19:36Z

I got this in an email...and I just had to share it!

ZEN SARCASM

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.

14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

17. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Gold Were

2006-05-12T22:41:36Z

You scored as Gold. You are a Gold Were. You are a good leader and critical thinker, you always know what to do and never rush into a situation. You are serious but understanding and love to take charge in a situation. You are fit, active, kind, and an all-around good person. I mean Werewolf ;).

</td>

Gold

95%

Grey

86%

Silver

86%

White

81%

Brown

76%

Black

64%

Red

50%

What Color Werewolf Are You??
created with QuizFarm.com

Hm.... I'm beginning to have an obsession with these quizzes. ^.~

Intelligence

2006-05-09T23:12:59Z

What's your inner power? (Girls only sorry. Beautiful anime pictures, lengthy results)

Intelligence- Your inner power is Intelligence! Youre the one who is the top of every class you take, and who people turn to when theyre confused with the work theyve been set. You a quiet person and like to keep to yourself. Rather than having heaps of friends, you only have a few, but those you have respect and trust you. You are possibly wise beyond your years, serious, and not at all interested in the petty popularity game that your peers play. You love to read and although homework is a pain, you can work through it with little or no trouble whatsoever. Boys and love so far have little interest to you; you think its a waste of time, and love isnt really all its made out to be. You probably enjoy puzzles, the way you have to search your mind for answers and the challenges they give you. You could possibly be pretty bored with life, and endlessly seek out things to test your skill. People may look down on you, and call you a nerd, but you no doubt brush them off. They arent worth your time, and in the future when theyre checkout chicks, and your working in a high paid, enjoyable job, youll be the one laughing. Dont think your intelligence is a bad thing, ever. Without people with this power, technology and so many other things humans rely on today simply wouldnt exist.

Boy/Girl who will sweep you off your feet: You arent all too sure about love. Yet one day, who knowsthat guy/girl of your dreams may come along and open up your eyes to the world of romance. For now, youre happily single, and be proud of that!

Your stone: Lapis Lazuli

Your power: Knowledge. Youre always thirsting for new knowledge. If the world was ending, everyone would turn to you and your vast mind stored information to save them.

Your element: Ice A quote that applies to you: "Believe in the incredible power of the human mind."

Take this quiz!

Wisdom

2006-05-09T22:59:24Z

Reflections of the Spirit?

You reflect the wisdom of the spirit. You shine as a wise and anicent sage who values intellect among the most. Your spirit brings guidence to those around you. You have accomplished your strength with age and time. Don't let your wise advice go to waste. Share it with all who are willing to listen.
Take this quiz!

Technical Failure

2006-05-04T22:12:41Z

I'M ALIVE!

And I blame my time away from the Internet on my stupid computer that decided to take on female characteristics and have PMS. *Kicks uncooperating computer*

I loathe Dell. So here's a suggestion: DO NOT BUY ANYTHING MADE BY DELL. It breaks down way too easily, and service is crap. When I attempted to reformat my computer using the disks they gave me along with the computer, I found out I was missing a few crucial applications. ~.~ I think it would be common sense to add in a disk that allows the user to have a 1024X768 resolution and high quality color! *Screams* I had to obtain major computer help from my brother-in-law, the Computer God. I bow before those who can fix computers without further ruining the hard drive.

Well, the good news was that I managed to save all of my files, including the chapters of stories I had started to write a few weeks ago. The other good thing was that while I was waiting to get back my internet, and reinstall everything onto my computer, I managed to read all of BLEACH and FLAME of RECCA. Both of which I really enjoyed! ^o^

Now, however, I must continue working on the essay that has consumed my soul. It has finally reached 30 pages, and I will post it here on LJ if I get a 5.0 on it. If not, I'm chucking it out the window and never ever again will I ever look at it.

Evilness

2006-04-09T23:51:11Z

I spent all weekend working on my evil essay and now it has expanded another five pages! ~.~ That is not even including my work cited pages. EVIL EVIL EVIL ESSAY!!! If I don't get a decent grade for this paper, I am going to scream! I'll probably end up using all of my printer ink by the end of this CRUEL AND UNUSUAL assignment. And the worse part is, this is just the draft! *Bangs head against desk* I despise essays. *Sigh* In another two weeks, I'll be finished with the stupid thing and my life will be much better! I will take immense pleasure in destroying each and every single one of my drafts, then I shall frame my final work, so that people may bow before it everytime they complain about me never writing anything. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Death to Essays

2006-04-05T22:07:12Z

ARGH!!!!!!!

I HATE WRITING ESSAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Stabs 12 page essay*

^
|
|
(Explanation for absence)

Horrors of Education

2006-03-31T23:55:22Z

Blah! It should be made illegal to assign projects over Spring Break. ~.~

*Sigh*

Tis the reason why I haven't been able to update my LJ for the past few days. *Grumbles* And this is suppose to be "light" homework too.

On the same note, I officially hate all of the reading that I have ever been assigned throughout my entire educational career. They're just so BLAH!!! Perhaps if the reading were interesting I wouldn't complain so much, but how in the world are you suppose to write an essay on a theme of a book if the author makes no sense and drones on and on about a road?!

I can just see my next conversation with my teacher.

Teacher: So, what did you all learn from the reading?
Me: That roads are really long and infested with dirt and gravel?

ARGH! I am going to get a 0% on this stupid essay. I don't even know why I'm even bothering with reading the darn book. I might as well go leech off of SparkNotes...

However, being the good student that I am, I will force myself to finish the book that should never have been published and write the EVIL essay, no matter how long it takes.

*Sigh*

Being good sometimes has it downfalls.

Movie Madness

2006-03-28T04:05:11Z

I spent more than half of today watching Scream I-III and Scary Movie I-III with ~~a bunch of maniacs~~ my friends! So now I'm all wired up and a bit hyper with nothing to take the edge off of a full day of popcorn, soda pop, Captain Crunch cereal, various peanut butter candies, and pringles with caramel! I should be sleeping right now, but every time I close my eyes, I either want to sit up screaming or laughing my head off. Ah, the joys of horror films and parodies.

Hanging Out

2006-03-26T05:34:33Z

I spent most of today just hanging out with my friends. It was one of guy friend's birthdays, so we went to his house and went a little crazy. We had pizza, cake, pop, chips, and lots and lots of candy. We watched AMVs, gambled a bit, played Monopoly Spongebob edition, had very interesting rounds of Truth or Dare, and laughed about 75% of the time. Oh! And we even played Charades. ^.^ Ah, such great times!

Oh, here's a little ficlet I started to write a while ago. I'll just post random writings on here. ^.^ At least then I can't be bugged to continue. I have a hard time ever ending a story I start. I hate endings, simply because I don't want things to end!

Anyways, the idea of purity being completely wiped out by darkness very much amuses me....

Here's a summary: Raised to become a priestess of The Holy Temple, prodigy Kamiya Kaoru was adored and envied by many. After being rejected by the one she loved, Kaoru ran into the arms of an Ancient One, uncaring of what she unleashed by doing so.

Spring had gone in a whirlwind of sakura petals, allowing Summer’s warm breezes to clear the paths it had covered until Autumn once again returned. So with Spring no longer filling the calm atmosphere, the Goddess of Love had no reason to stay, taking with her the hearts of many and the tales of all.

Among one of the many tales that the Goddess had gathered during her stay was the story of Kamiya Kaoru, the prodigy of The Shrine.

For as long as the young priestess could remember, she had always loved Spring, but now, as she sat beneath the shadow of a tree far older than herself, Kaoru found herself glad that Spring had finally gone. Ever since the Spring before last, The Shrine’s most beloved child no longer anticipated Spring’s arrival, no longer wished for the Goddess’s return, and no longer cared about what others thought of her.

Knees tucked beneath her on the green grass, which covered the forest glade she had come to call her own, Kaoru moved the palms of her hands together as if in prayer and closed her eyes. Her state of mind remained at peace as the wind played with her hair, settling on combing her lavender locks into silken perfection when it was unable to loosen them from her ribbon. However, her journey to Enlightenment was cut short when a soft voice reached her ears.

"Lady Kaoru! Lady Kaoru, where are you?" called out a voice several pitches higher than her own.

The bushes and thickets that had concealed the glade and prevented strangers from entering were slowly pushed aside as a younger girl no older than a dozen winters made her way into the glade.

"Lady Kaoru," sighed the brunette in relief upon seeing the said woman seated not far away.

"What are you doing here, Little Tsubame?" asked Kaoru as she stood up and walked over to the slightly panting child, her white robes outlined with sapphires flowing behind her.

"Please forgive me, Lady Kaoru," begged Tsubame as she went down on her knees and gave her idol a deep kowtow.

Bending down, Kaoru placed a hand on Tsubame’s shoulder and stated, "There is no reason to ask for forgiveness if you have done nothing wrong. Stand."

Looking up in surprise, Tsubame quickly scrambled to her feet, dusting her plain white robe of the dust she had collected during her kowtow.

"Tell me, Little Tsubame, why did you come all this way to find me?" asked Kaoru curiously. Not many dared to try and find her when she was outside of

The Shrine, not unless it was an extreme emergency that specifically needed her powers to resolve.

Biting her lower lip, the priestess-in-training looked anywhere but at the living goddess before her.

"I-I wanted to ask you a question, Lady Kaoru," whispered Tsubame, finally gathering her courage to meet Kaoru’s cobalt gaze.

"And that is?" encouraged Kaoru, a warm smile on her lips.

"I-I don’t want to be rude, but...w-why did you decline The Holy Temple’s offer, Lady Kaoru?" asked Tsubame curiously, unable to understand why anyone, even The Shrine’s prodigy, would give up the chance of becoming a priestess of The Holy Temple. It was every girl’s dream at The Shrine to one day be accepted into The Holy Temple as a Temple Priestess.

Staring up into the afternoon sky, Kaoru shook her head.

"The Holy Temple is a sacred place, meant only for the pure and good," reminded Kaoru as she looked straight into Tsubame’s questioning eyes. "I do not deserve to live in such a place."

"What do you mean, Lady Kaoru?" asked Tsubame incredulously, completely confused by what the older woman was saying.

"I meant every single word, Little Tsubame," said Kaoru seriously, "I am not worthy enough to even step a foot on the grounds of The Holy Temple."

"That’s not true! Out of all of those in The Shrine, you are the most deserving, Lady Kaoru!" protested Tsubame, her small hands clenching at her sides as she tried her best to reason with the older girl. "You’ve helped The Shrine in more ways than anyone else and you’ve traveled far and wide to help those in need, yet you say that you are unworthy of such an honor? Lady Kaoru, you deserve so much more than this! You deserve the blessings of an Ancient One!"

Clamping her hands over her mouth in horror at her sudden outburst, Tsubame threw herself at Kaoru’s feet in another kowtow, once again pleading for forgiveness.

Averting her eyes from the white trembling form on the ground, Kaoru internally flinched at the irony of the girl’s last words.

"Do not speak of things you do not understand, Little Tsubame," reprimanded Kaoru as she walked past the priestess-in-training, her robes rippling behind her as she stepped out of her bright glade and back into her darkened reality.

New Fic

2006-03-25T01:39:38Z

Anyways, I thought I might as well post the one story I've actually been working on for the past few months. I haven't been able to have time to even touch my other fics that I have posted up on FF.Net, but I'll eventually get around to them.

Cheers for SPRING BREAK!!!

Never Knowing
Chapter I

The whole ordeal started out the same way that every other predictable tragedy-stricken story did, with gray clouds hovering overhead as onlookers made the cliché assumption that the Heaven’s were preparing to mourn for the newly deceased, who lay unmoving beneath its all-seeing gaze.

Standing beside the ebony wooden coffin, Himura Kaoru stifled a sob as she looked down on her dearly beloved’s face for the last time.

Violet eyes that she remembered so well were now closed, red lips now blue, and skin even paler than the moon, all which greatly contrasted to the black outfit he now adorned.

Vision growing hazy from her unshed tears, Kaoru nodded her head reluctantly, giving the silent order for the men around her to close the lid of her husband’s casket and lower him down into the earth.

Unable to will her grief away, the widow finally allowed her sorrow to fall from her indigo eyes in an endless waterfall.

The sudden whimpering of a child caught her attention, temporarily making her forget her own agony.

“Ka-chan, Ka-chan, why won’t Tou-chan wake up?” asked the tear-stained toddler with fire blazed hair, his small chubby fingers clinging to his mother’s black gown as he rubbed his tears away with his free hand.

“Oh Kenji-chan, come here to Ka-chan,” said Kaoru as she knelt down to her three-year-old son, her arms extended to accept her only child.

Racing into his mother’s arms without protest, Kenji remained quiet as she hugged him, his cobalt eyes staring bewilderingly at the three men who were easing the rectangular box he had seen his father sleeping in into the ground.

Pulling out of their hug, Kenji once again asked his mother, “Ka-chan, why won’t Tou-chan wake up and tell those men not to put dirt on him?”

Kaoru gave her first born a weak smile, inwardly glad that his innocence had yet to be shattered.

The three-year-old was still too young to understand that his father was not playing a game, but it made Kaoru proud that he was already old enough to realize that something was terribly wrong.

Pushing stray locks out of her child’s face, and rearranging the boy’s red tunic and black breeches, Kaoru gave her son the best smile she could manage.

“Kenji-chan…Tou-chan is sleeping. Those men over there are making sure that nothing wakes him up. You know how cranky Tou-chan is when others interrupt his sleep,” said Kaoru, refusing to tell her only son that his sire would no longer be with them.

Somewhat understanding, Kenji nodded at his Ka-chan's reasoning behind his Tou-chan's stillness over the last few days.

Squeezing Kenji’s left hand with her right, Kaoru stood up straight and watched painfully as the men placed the last bit of dirt over her departed husband’s grave.

Seconds passed and lightning soon illuminated the graveyard, cueing the thunder that soon introduced Heaven’s tears, soaking both mother and child as they remained standing before the tombstone.

Kaoru gave the men a grateful nod when they picked up their shovels and left, leaving her alone with only her son and the dead for company.

The funeral had been a simple and private one, just as her husband had wished it to be.

Never wanting to publicize anything, Himura Kenshin had placed in his will that only his family members were allowed to attend his memorial service, and since Kaoru and Kenji were his only known relatives, they had had the honor of seeing his body put to rest.

Rain and tears obscuring her vision, Kaoru didn’t notice a man clad in a black, red, and white uniform walking over to them until she felt Kenji’s tug on her dress once more.

Staring in the direction her son was pointing in, Kaoru furrowed her brows in confusion as the unfamiliar man walked over to them, a black umbrella sheltering him from Heaven’s wrath.

When the man was but a few feet away from them, the widow noticed that in the man’s free hand was an unopened umbrella.

Cautiously, Kaoru asked, “May I help you with something, sir?”

Instead of answering, the dark haired stranger simply moved the spare umbrella within her reach.

If she hadn’t noticed that her son was beginning to shiver, she would have declined the polite offer.

Not wanting Kenji to catch a cold, Kaoru curtseyed at the man’s thoughtfulness before taking the item and shielding both herself and her son.

“Lady Himura, I presume.” stated the man when his icy blue eyes fell on her husband’s headstone, his deep baritone voice clearly heard despite the loud symphony around them.

“Yes, I am Lady Himura,” confirmed Kaoru, putting herself between the man and her son instinctively.

“I am Shinomori Aoshi, His Royal Majesty’s Private Chamberlain; the Duke of Aisu,” introduced the man as he gave an introductive bow to the woman before him.

Shocked to be in the presence of such a high ranking duke, Kaoru gave an even lower curtsey and lowered her head, motioning for Kenji to do the same with a deep bow.

“Your Grace, what is the honor in which I am able to be within your presence?” asked Kaoru curiously once she had straightened herself once again.

“No, the honor is all mine, Your Majesty,” corrected Aoshi, bowing again to make up for the curtsey she had given him earlier and her son’s bow.

Confusion was evident on her beautiful face as she tried to rectify the man as politely as she could, “You must have me mistaken for another, Your Grace. I am certain that I cannot hold such a title, for my husband was not His Royal Majesty King Battousai.”

Aoshi shook his head at her answer, but continued before she could speak, “Indeed, Your Majesty, the man you have been with for the past five years was not His Royal Majesty King Battousai, but instead His Royal Highness Prince Shinta.”

Stunned into silence, Himura Kaoru took an unconscious step back, unable to believe what she had just been told.

Shaking her head in disbelief, Kaoru turned her head to her lover’s grave, feeling another pang in her already aching heart as she realized the meaning of the duke's words.

The man before her had to be lying, but what reason did he have to lie to her? They had only just met and it could easily be assumed that he had been ordered to announce to her what she had never thought was possible.

Eyes staring at her husband’s name, Kaoru couldn’t help but wonder why.

Why did her husband keep, and almost take to his grave, the most important detail of his past? But that wasn’t what truly hurt her, oh no, the thought of him not being able to trust her enough with such information was much worse than any physical blow anyone could have given her.

“Ka-chan?” whispered Kenji carefully, his soft voice returning Kaoru back to the reality of the situation.

Feeling him squeeze her hand with his smaller one to try and ease her apparent distress, Kaoru returned the affectionate gesture with a reassuring smile before turning her attention back to the stoic man in front of them.

“I know that this may seem unreal to you, Your Majesty, but contracts written in blood cannot be broken, not even by His Royal Majesty King Battousai,” said Aoshi seriously, his expression grim. “It was only recently that His Royal Majesty found out about what His Highness Prince Shinta had done.”

“I do not mean to be rude, Your Grace, but I fail to see how this can possibly make me His Royal Majesty’s queen,” said Kaoru as she held her head up high and stared right into the King’s Private Chamberlain’s eyes. “For my hus--His Highness Prince Shinta had gone by the name Himura Kenshin, which, from what I know, is not His Majesty’s real name. Even if their royal blood is identical, blood oaths are not legal if the signatures are not accurately written,” added Kaoru, her heart tightening with each word she spoke. It hurt her to know that she could not even be considered a widow, for how could she if she was never legally wedded?

No longer wanting to continue the heart wrenching conversation, Kaoru tightened her hold on the handle of the umbrella before giving the Duke of Aisu an emotionless look.

“It is getting late, and I fear that my son shall catch a cold should we stay in the rain any longer with his clothes already drenched. If you would excuse us, Your Grace,” said Kaoru as she tried to lead herself and her son around the high ranking official.

She had only taken a step forward when she found herself surrounded by twenty or so soldiers, each one clad in a black and red uniform with rifles leaning against their left shoulders.

Despite the rain pouring relentlessly on top of them, the score of men didn’t even bat an eyelash, remaining perfectly still in their new positions.

“Ka-chan,” Kenji whimpered in fear, clinging once again to his mother’s legs for protection.

“What is it that you want? What is the meaning of this?” demanded Kaoru, anger clouding her better judgment when she felt her son’s terror. The fact that they were bringing weapons near her beloved’s grave didn’t help ease her growing temper.

Kenshin…no…Shinta had always been a person of peace. He would not appreciate having weapons near him or his family.

“Please, Your Majesty, you must listen to me. I would much rather speak to you in better conditions, without pointless threats, but you are giving me no other choice,” said Aoshi, taking a step toward her.

“I’ve already proven my point, Your Grace, so please, I’m begging you, please let us go. We’re merely civilians of His Royal Majesty’s great kingdom. I beg of you, let us leave,” Kaoru pleaded, taking a step back as the duke once again advanced on them.

No longer wanting to prolong their conversation, Aoshi told her what he should have told her from the beginning, what the public should have already known.

“His Royal Majesty’s name is not Seijuurou Battousai, but Himura Seijuurou Kenshin. The man you signed your life to is not the man you fell in love with, but his older twin,” stated Aoshi, continuing his explanation before Kaoru could interrupt him. “The Royal Council cannot deny the contract, for Prince Shinta had also signed his middle name, which is the same as His Royal Majesty’s. The signatures of both His Royal Majesty’s and his brother are so similar that one can never find any fault in either one. So by law, His Royal Majesty King Battousai of Meishu is married to Her Majesty Queen Kaoru and has an heir, His Supreme Royal Highness Prince Kenji.”

All at once, the soldiers that had encircled them got down to one knee and bowed out of respect to their queen and crowned prince.

Overwhelmed, Kaoru felt herself begin to sway when her mind finally processed the information.

“Ka-chan!” squealed Kenji out of concern, tugging at his mother's arm when he felt her begin to fall.

Steadying herself, the newly proclaimed Queen of the Meishu Kingdom merely shook her head.

Darkened sapphire pools met deep navy ones until the soldiers around them straightened again.

“What do you want me to do?” asked Kaoru almost helplessly, holding on tightly to Kenji’s hand. What could she do? Defying the law was the same as writing one's own death sentence, and she would rather live in poverty than leave her son alone at such a young age.

Relief flooded the duke's eyes before he answered calmly, “Your Majesty, you and His Highness must return with me to the castle to make this affair official.”

“Kenji is not His Royal Majesty’s son,” corrected Kaoru suddenly, remembering how the man had declared Shinta’s son as another’s so easily.

Raising a brow at the sudden change of topic, Aoshi answered accordingly, “His Royal Majesty might not have conceived the child personally, but nonetheless, His Royal Majesty and His Royal Highness share the same blood, which means that they could very well be father and son. Not even a blood test could prove otherwise.”

Kaoru pursed her lips at the Duke of Aisu’s logic.

“If Your Majesty and Your Highness would please follow me to the carriage,” said Aoshi as he gestured with his free hand the direction in which he had come from.

Still slightly stunned at what had occurred today, Kaoru led the way toward the carriage, her son right beside her.

“Ka-chan, where are we going?” asked Kenji curiously once they started moving.

“To see Tou-chan,” said Kaoru with a reassuring smile to her only child, unable to tell him otherwise about what was really happening.

“We are? But I thought that Tou-chan was sleeping,” said Kenji, tilting his head to the right in confusion.

“Tou-chan has just woken up, and I’m certain that he’s quite anxious to see us again,” reassured Kaoru, each word striking another slash at her already battered heart.

Beaming with joy at the thought, Kenji skipped out from under the safety of the umbrella and raced off excitedly toward the white carriage before them.

Following her son with her eyes, Kaoru noticed that the large carriage was surrounded by another score or so of soldiers, all dressed in the same outfit as those following behind them. She couldn't help but accept the King's Private Chamberlain's statements as each of the surrounding soldiers bowed upon seeing their King's miniature look-alike approach.

Upon reaching the carriage, Kaoru turned back one last time toward her lover’s grave before stepping into the carriage.

‘Shinta…what have you gotten me into?’

I might end up changing the first chapter again. I can't seem to decide between a purely human fiction world or...one mixed with magic. I've been getting in Mercedes Lackey books lately. ^.^

It All Starts Here

2006-03-25T00:03:13Z

Well...

Here I am! I finally have an LJ!

Perhaps I'll actually be able to keep this one alive and active for more than a month. ^.~