Jitterbug
By CrossedScarsX
Author's Note: This is a K/K AU Fic, set in 1943, United States. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt ordered all peoples of Japanese Ancestry imprisoned in concentration camps spread across the Midwest. Manzanar is one of the most famous of these camps. I got the idea for this story while watching an episode of Ally McBeal (Believe it or not!) when Elaine and Ling entered a Jitterbug (Swing Dance) contest. Since Ling is Asian (and dressed as a guy), I couldn't help but think about how funny it would be to have a K/K fic with swing dancing. My idea sort of started rolling from there. This is also my lil' protest against the whole internment thing too.
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does NOT belong to me…sniff…oh well just though you should all know that…oh wait Rick does I think…yeah he does…but he's not overly important…you can have him…not that I can see WHY you'd want him…okay I'm done.
* * *
Kaoru frowned as she looked out the window. It was raining, and the grayness of the horizon only served to remind her of the condition of her world. Looking back to her hand mirror, she applied the remaining touches of her makeup. She pulled on a covering for her hair and grabbed an umbrella from the corner of the small room before exiting the crowded building and into the muddy dirt road. Kaoru hurried as best she could to her destination.
She smiled as her friends and the flowing, smooth sound of music emanating from the open door to the hall greeted her. This was what she needed. She joined her friend Misao on the dance floor as the band began a new song. It was fast paced, just the way she liked it, and in the midst of the swinging rhythm of this wonderful sound of freedom, she danced.
Her father used to berate this behavior, saying she should pursue a more decent form of recreation. Now, those all to frequent reprimands of the past had ceased, and prematurely. She suspected that maybe from where he was now, he could understand. This was her release, the only thing that kept her going.
Kaoru moved and shimmied her hips, grabbing Misao's hand, and leading the smaller girl in a dazzling array of spins that could make any spectator dizzy. All too soon, the song ended and Kaoru felt a strong pair of arms lift her high off the floor. She squealed in recognition of her bother, Sanosuke. Laughing, he set her back to the floor.
"So you decided to come out tonight, after all." He stated.
"Yeah, I decided it was better than moping around in our room." She smiled for him.
He smiled in return, "Yeah I know what you mean. Listen don't stay out too late okay?"
"Mou, stop babying me, I'm eighteen."
"You're still my baby sis. Try to be home by ten."
Kaoru smirked. "Sano, you know as well as I do that, that is quite impossible."
Sano laughed heartily. "And I know just as well as you do that you know what I mean."
Kaoru giggled. "Yoshi, I'll be home by ten."
"Good. In the mean time I'll leave you to your friends," he gestured to Misao, "The Fox promised to save me a dance."
"How'd you blackmail her into that one?" asked Misao
"Oi, you think a handsome guy like me needs to buy beautiful women?"
"Handsome?"
"Shuddup Weasel."
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?"
Kaoru shook her head as her brother and her best friend began arguing—and much to her embarrassment—attracting much attention to themselves. Leaving the scene, she decided to get some air. Grabbing her umbrella she went back outside.
To be perfectly honest, Kaoru was glad for the rain. The moisture from the monsoons would help keep the dust down the following morning. It was the dismal gray skies that she could do without. It was then that she heard a vehicle pull to the gates in the distance. It was a transfer bus she realized, but who would be coming here at this hour?
Wanting to get a closer look she began walking toward the camp's entrance. She wouldn't get less than ten yards from the gate, for fear of being shot. She was close enough, however to see and young man with blood red hair be pulled roughly from the bus at gun point by two army officers. She saw him pushed into the mud and kicked once before he managed to drag himself back up and he was ushered roughly through the gates of Manzanar into a main building.
"HEY GIRL!"
Kaoru started and dropped her umbrella as she turned around. An officer had walked up behind her.
"What are you looking at? Go home!"
Without any further urging, Kaoru grabbed her fallen umbrella and ran back to her living quarters.
Home, she thought grimly as she recalled her earlier conversation with Sanosuke. You know as well as I, that that is quite impossible.
* * *
So…What d'ya think? Should I keep going? PLEASE, PLEASE R/R…They keep me going and inspired! CrossedScarsX
P.S. THANKYOU JASON M. LEE FOR NOTEING MY ERROR! I don't know WHAT possessed me to write Eisenhower before…CrossedScarsX no baka…Thanks again, I hate letting out false info!