~Christmas Stories of the Meiji Era~
A/N: December is here at long last and I'm most excited :D Not only will it snow, but with December comes Christmas and I'm anxious for the holiday to arrive! You all have been wonderful readers and or reviewers, there is no way I can think of to show my gratitude for you all taking the time to read and review my stories :) So, the only way I've come up with to thank you all is by giving you some Rurouni Kenshin Christmas Stories to get you into the holiday spirit this year :D It's the least sessha could do for you, the reader ^^ You guys are the reason why sessha is nearly glued to his computer typing these fanfics for you :) I could never thank you enough. Not even writing these stories does not seem much of a gift but I do hope you'll enjoy the drabbles XD I'm working hard on each and every one of these drabbles, making sure to check for spelling errors, grammar mistakes, and adding just enough emotion for you to feel what I'm hoping to convey within each chapter. With all this being said, I wish you all to enjoy these stories :) They're written especially for your enjoyment, so I hope you do enjoy them :D Merry Christmas!
P.S. I know they might not have celebrated Christmas in the Meiji Era, but please make for some allowances if you will. Thank you :)
~Disclaimer~ Whether it be the Christmas season or not, I, MrFoshizzleProTheWanderor, do not own Rurouni Kenshin ^^''
The Christmas Gift
Harsh howling winds coursed throughout the town, bringing with them an unpleasant gift of blustery snow storms. Through the tough sheen of snow, a young man stumbled awkwardly on the streets, clutching his arms, shivering. His auburn ponytail whipped violently in the stormy winds, and he could've sworn it would rip clear off his scalp in only a matter of time. His violet eyes were squinting against the cold. His breath came out in icy white puffs of frost.
Will I die out here, he wondered with distress. Out here of all nights...on Christmas Eve?
Each step was becoming more of an effort as he trudged painfully on. He had no idea where he was heading now. He was loosing all sense of direction, but worst of all, he was loosing the feeling in his numbing feet and hands. He felt on the verge of collapsing.
Never had he thought that he could feel so cold; so hollow.
Never had he thought that this could be the end of it all.
Never had he thought that his end would be caused by just a simple delicately wrapped box.
Finally, his legs decided for him that he just could move on no more. He made no effort to coax his freezing legs to keep moving. He knew even without using his brain that he had no strength, no will, to walk on anymore.
Dropping to his knees, he started to sway side to side. His vision began blurring.
So...this is how it ends...? He shakily reached his hand inside his gi, resting it upon the box with great regret. He caressed it close to his chest, closing his eyes, thinking, I'm sorry, Miss Kaoru...At this rate, it doesn't seem you'll ever get the gift I wanted so badly to give to you Christmas morning. But...if you can hear my thoughts right now...I wish the best for you and all our friends I've come to know through my time staying with you at the dojo...and I hope, even if I'm not there...I hope you'll celebrate the merriest Christmas you'd ever have.
Before he thumped painlessly to the snowy ground, he caught a final glimpse of a bright light further ahead of the road. He didn't give it a seconds thought. For in a matter of heartbeats, he blacked out on the road, allowing for the snow to come and bury him alive in its unforgiving nature.
~ Two Days Earlier~
A light haze of snow glittered down from the cloudy heavens above, shining as bright as any Christmas star Kenshin Himura had ever seen. He was relaxing quite comfortably outside on the dojo porch as the snow fell. His auburn bangs waved slightly against a shallow breeze, but not even Kenshin was fazed by the little cold that winter had to offer.
Three more days, he thought with glee. Three more days until Christmas day.
Behind him, a young girl with midnight blue hair passed Kenshin by without noting that he was there. When she did notice him, she whirled around and beamed.
"Kenshin!"
"Oro?"
The swordsman turned his head to look at Kaoru Kamiya. She wore a beautiful red kimono embroided with a mistletoe design. Her hair was tied back in a matching green ribbon, and as Kenshin's eyes traveled on, he noticed a gleam of happiness glowing brightly in her dazzling blue eyes.
Kenshin rose up to his feet and smiled kindly at Kaoru.
"Is there something you need, Miss Kaoru?" he asked politely.
Kaoru shook her head hastily. "Oh, no Kenshin!" she exclaimed. She stopped, shifting her feet and avoiding eye contact as much as possible with the confused rurouni. "Um...I don't need anything. I was just trying to find you so I could..."
"...could...?" Kenshin coaxed her to continue. He was growing puzzled by her odd behavior.
Kaoru looked at him, perking up and laughing nervously. "So I could...um...tell you...it's almost time for dinner! Heheh... erm...well, with that being said, I'm off!"
And like that, she was gone in a flash.
Kenshin's eyebrows were raised. Now he felt more perplexed by her behavior than ever. Miss Kaoru is certainly acting strangely today, that she is. Then another thought came and passed in his mind. He smiled softly and shook his head. She's probably excited about Christmas too, Kenshin finally decided. That must be what it is.
With that thought beared in mind, the red haired rurouni turned and headed inside.
XXX
Kenshin was now growing more curious than confused by Kaoru's unusual behavior change as the day wore on.
It all began during dinner time, when all their friends, Sanosuke, Yahiko, Megumi and even Misao and Aoshi, were at the table in addition to Kaoru and Kenshin.
When Kenshin had meerly asked Kaoru to pass the soy sauce, the woman blushed perfusely and proceeded not to pass it to him, but throw it at him instead. Kenshin didn't try and dodge it for fear of causing a mess, so he took the shot head on -literally head on- and ended up having the soy sauce drench his poor red hair.
It happened yet again after the soy sauce incident when Kenshin was washing the sauce out of his hair.
Kaoru had come into the bathroom with an unnecessary large load of towels. Kenshin warned her (much to his embarrassment) that he wasn't in a dignified position for her to be barging into the bathroom as he bathed. However, Kaoru hadn't listened to him and continued to ramble on and on about how sorry she was about the soy sauce and how he could use as many of her soft towels as he wanted to dry himself off with.
After that, Kenshin felt too awkward to see her again for the remainder of the day.
He sighed heavily and stared out the kitchen window at the light drizzle of snowfall. Now sessha is for certain Miss Kaoru's odd behavior isn't just his imagination, that I am most certain of.
If the upcoming of Christmas wasn't what was getting to Kaoru, then what was?
His good old friend, Misao, seemed to have appeared behind him from nowhere to answer his question. "Whatcha doin, Himura?"
At this, the suprised rurouni dropped the dish he was washing and his eyes nearly bugged from his head. "Oro?" Misao bonked him upside the head with her fist. Kenshin whimpered and rubbed at the forming bump as he faced an irritated Misao. "What is it you want from sessha Miss Misao?" he moaned.
"Kenshin Himura, you can be so clueless sometimes you swirly-eyed weirdo!" flared Misao.
"What on Earth are you talking about Miss Misao?" Kenshin snapped, giving up on cleaning the dishes and fully whirling around to face the young girl. Misao crossed her arms and glared at him through narrowed green eyes. "As if you don't know what I'm saying," she retorted. "I'm talking about all the signs Kaoru's been giving you all day."
Kenshin arched a brow.
Misao growled, facepalming.
"Kaoru has been hinting that she has a Christmas present for you and she can't wait to see what you got her."
Kenshin gaped.
Oh no! he gasped. She has a gift for me, but I don't have one for her!
He ran a hand through his red bangs. This could not be happening. This just couldn't be happening.
Misao pointed an accusing finger at the distressed rurouni. "Ha! So you didn't get Kaoru a Christmas present!" Her eyebrows furrowed. "Himura, I'm really ashamed of you!"
Kenshin looked at her. "I know..." he started.
"I mean, what kind of man doesn't buy a gift for his sweetheart?"
He sweatdropped. "Sweet...heart?" He groaned. "Miss Misao, Kaoru and I are certainly not..."
But Misao raged on. "You can be so cold-hearted Himura! You inconciderate, cross-shaped scar bearing, ponytailed, pink wearing-"
Kenshin let her continue no further. "It is not pink, it's MAGENTA!" he protested pathetically, then went on more calmly but with a shaky voice, trying to keep his anger concealed. "I...had no idea of knowing Miss Kaoru had bought a present for sessha until you brought it up, that I did not! Kenshin Himura is no cold hearted person Miss Misao, that I can assure you of right now. If I would've known Miss Kaoru had enough compassion to get me a present, don't you think I would have done the same for her?"
Misao snorted, "You shouldn't have to know Kaoru got you a present in order to get one for her! You should've just bought one without a second thought, you jerk!"
Kenshin knew Misao was right. He had his mouth slightly opened, ready to argue back at the weasel girl, but he closed his jaw after letting her words sink into his self concious. He felt an unpleasant sense of guilt cloud his thoughts.
What can I do now? thought Kenshin with much remorse. There is only three days till Christmas. That's not enough time to find a gift for Miss Kaoru...
"Why don't you just go into town and see if you can buy her something there?"
Kenshin looked at Misao. "Do you really believe I can find Miss Kaoru something in town?" he inquired.
She nodded.
"If there's any place I know to buy the things you need," said Misao, smirking. "You can usually always find it in town."
Kenshin dipped his head gratefully to her. "Thank you Miss Misao," he murmured, a new sense of relief washing over him. Misao just shrugged. "No problem Himura," she replied. Then she grinned mischieviously. "I can only imagine what your gonna get for Kaoru. It must be somethin pretty hot! Hehe."
A streak of blush found its way across Kenshin's face. He went past Misao hastily so she wouldn't see how embarrassed she'd made him, but somehow, Kenshin had a feeling she already knew by the snickering he heard behind himself as he left.
XXX
Kenshin studied the items on the shelves in awe.
He'd found a nice looking shop selling Christmas decor, food and gifts while walking along in town trying to find a decent place to shop. Kenshin figured he'd give it a try considering all around town, people were bustling and hurrying along at the other shops and the lines seemed endless as far as his wandering eyes could see.
Never before had he seen the strange objects he was looking at now. Bright multicolored orbs gleamed on a pine tree, held onto the pine tree's branches by small silver hooks. Kenshin stared intently at a red one, which in turn reflected his intent gaze back to him. Turning away, he moved along to look around at the other colorfully filled shelves.
Some shelves had fluffy brown teddy bears wearing Santa hats and holding fuzzy red and green boxes. Other shelves were filled with little trinkets and toys like spinning tops, sparklers, wooden trains, etc. but there was nothing that lied on the shelves that screamed, "Miss Kaoru will love this!"
Finally Kenshin heaved a deep sigh and exited the store, unsuccessful in his search for the perfect gift for Kaoru.
What am I going to do now? he wondered as he began strolling back to the dojo with his head hanging low. I couldn't find Miss Kaoru anything in that shop. He had no clue how he was going to tell Kaoru by the time Christmas morning would come. He could already picture it in his mind: Kaoru, with a cheerful smile, handing him his present, looking at him expectantly, waiting for a gift that would cease to come from him.
He shook himself begrudgidly. There had to be some way he could get Kaoru a present in less than three days. Kenshin stopped in his tracks, thinking over the possibilities in his mind.
I could always make her something... he thought. Kenshin tossed that idea out immediatly. No, sessha can't make her something, that I cannot. I don't have enough creativity to do that.
I could always give my money to Miss Megumi and she could go buy the gift for me... Then again, knowing her, she'd want something in return...and sessha isn't sure he'd be willing to take on that kind of commitment.
Another idea came to mind. Kenshin hesitated. Should I...really travel all the way to Kyoto? He remembered somewhere in Kyoto, he and Tomoe had taken a look at some western culture Christmas items, but he'd never given the place much thought until now.
Kenshin rose his violet eyes to the sky helplessly.
If I return to Kyoto, he wondered. Will I be able to find the perfect gift for Miss Kaoru...?
At this point in time, Kenshin didn't think he had another choice. If he traveled to Kyoto, he probably would still have enough time to return back to Tokyo by Christmas Eve at the least.
I'll find you a gift Miss Kaoru, he vowed silently in his mind. Even if it means going all the way to Kyoto...
Kenshin turned around, walking the opposite way of the dojo, on the road that would soon lead to Kyoto.
XXX
Christmas Eve arrived faster than Kaoru thought. Already, a heavy storm of snow was baralling from the sky, and the dojo was decked with bright Christmas decorations and a single medium-sized pine tree Sanosuke and Yahiko cut down in the woods earlier that day.
No one had seen any sign of Kenshin for two days. The more Kaoru thought about this, the more unsettled she felt.
I hope he's alright.
According to the people in town, no human being would be caught dead in a raging storm such as this. Kaoru's grip tightened on the half opened shoji door. Please Kenshin, she pleaded quietly. Where ever you are, please come back to the dojo safe and sound...
"Hey there Kaoru!" Misao's voice rose Kaoru from her deep thoughts. She twirled around to see Misao and Aoshi. Misao was wearing a bright festive outfit: a green kimono with little red ribbons embroided on it and a red ribbon tied in her pigtail. Aoshi wore a nice fitting black suit with a midnight blue tie. His face gave no way of guessing what was on his mind. He was solemn and quiet.
Kaoru drew her attention from Aoshi and turned back to Misao. Her blue eyes glinted with worry. "Have you seen Kenshin Misao?" she asked, hope rising in her chest.
Misao blinked, only to arch a brow and give a thoughtful frown. "No," she replied. "I haven't seen Himura since I sent him to town two days ago-"
"Two days ago?" Her eyes were wide with dismay.
"Yeah, so what?"
Kaoru drew in a trembling breath and stammered, "T-that's...impossible...If you sent Kenshin into town two days ago..." Her eyes turned glossy with unshed tears. "...then...he would be back at the dojo the same day you sent him out..." She felt her legs were going to give out. The room started spinning like a merry-go-round. Kaoru began feeling a pulsating pounding in her head.
"Kaoru...Kaoru!"
Thump.
The poor Kamiya girl had fainted onto the floor. A final thought ran through her mind before then:
Did Kenshin decide to become a wanderer once more...?
XXX
~Now~
A warm sensation flowed through the rurouni's body instead of the cold chills he once felt before.
Am I dead? wondered Kenshin.
He mumbled restlessly, forcing open his eyes and squinting through a bright light hovering at his side. He realized with surprise that he wasn't dead and he was no longer out in the freezing cold. Instead, he had been placed in a warm bed with a warm blanket draped over his body.
This is my bed... Rising into a sitting position, he gazed around the dimly lit room and noticed it was his room. The light he had seen was meerly a lit candle. He was wearing his usual night-wear instead of his favorite magenta kimono and light gray hakama. His favorite wear lied folded neatly close-by.
Kenshin smiled. He was back at the dojo at long last. No, he mentally corrected himself. I'm back home...
The shoji doors slid open. Snapping his head toward the sound, Kenshin's eyes lit and his spirits soared when he caught sight of Kamiya Kaoru at his door. Kenshin smiled softly. I'm right back where I should be.
He gave her a gesture telling her she could enter. Slowly and cautiously, Kaoru came in, her face plastered with mixed feelings as she sat at the foot of Kenshin's bed without a word.
Kenshin frowned slightly at this. He was expecting her to be somewhat happy to see he was alright. Instead, the face his eyes traveled over was only filled with anger and sadness. Finally Kaoru spoke up to penetrate the silence.
"Kenshin, you baka!"
"Oro?" He blinked.
"You had me worried sick about you!" she raged, eyes ablaze but welling with crystal tears. "How could you just run off like that without a word to anyone? I thought you were wandering again...or even dead!"
Kenshin could only stare at her in deep shock.
"If your expecting me to be relieved to see you back..." She tightened her eyes shut as a rush of tears flowed down her cheeks. "...then...then you can just forget it!" Kenshin's eyes softened to a pair of gentle violets and he leaned forward quietly, wiping the tears from her cheek with his thumb. Kaoru fluttered her dampened eyes open, seeing what the rurouni was doing, eyes stretching.
"I'm sorry to have worried you Miss Kaoru," murmured Kenshin. "I never meant to hurt you-"
Kaoru leered away. Kenshin's eyes widened at this. "Who said you ever hurt me?" she exclaimed angrily.
Kenshin was unfazed by her hostility.
"I can tell it by the look in your eyes. Your eyes tell sessha a whole new story entirely, that they do." He chuckled. "Your eyes give you away quite easily Miss Kaoru." Kaoru felt the need to slap Kenshin upside the head, but she let him continue on while she remained silent, blushing slightly.
"The only reason I left..." He looked about the floor until he spotted his kimono nearby. Stretching toward it, he grabbed the kimono, dragging it onto his lap and proceeding to dig into his gi. Kaoru arched a brow.
Kenshin pulled out something Kaoru hadn't expected to see: a small green gift-wrapped box tied together by a red ribbon. He finished, "...was to get you this, Miss Kaoru."
At first, Kaoru hesitated to take it from his outstretched hand. She still felt inwardly hurt by his unsaid leaving. Then she decided to put her resentment aside and took the box without a word. As if it were the most fragile thing in the world, Kaoru slowly raised her fingers to the red ribbon and pulled on it.
Kenshin went on to speak as she began unwrapping her present. "Sessha thought you deserved only the most perfect gift he could find, that I did. That is why I made a journey all the way to Kyoto to get it for you."
Under the ribbon and wrapping, the box was pure white. Kaoru lifted the lid off and revealed at last what lied inside. She gaped.
"Merry Christmas Kaoru," Kenshin whispered, smiling.
Inside the box was a silver locket gleaming in the halflight with bold black letters inscribed on the front: Love
"Oh Kenshin..." Kaoru was at a loss for words. "Its...beautiful..." She looked up to him with a new found feeling of affection. "Merry Christmas Kenshin," she whispered back.
She grinned. "Now its your turn to recieve your present baka."
Kenshin stared at her in surprise but heaved a happy sigh and said, "Alright Miss Kaoru..."
"But you have to shut your eyes first," she added, giggling.
"Oro?" Not wanting to defy the easily tempered tanuki, Kenshin did as he was told. Kenshin was overjoyed afterwards when he felt warm lucious lips press as gently as an angels wing upon his lips.
Though it was still snowing heavily outside, the two lovers inside had found comfort and warmth through the worst of the storm...in eachothers arms on a Christmas day morning.
Owari
I hope you liked this story as much as I liked writing it :) It was really enjoyable to type up ^^ Its a tad bit fluffier than I thought it would be, but I was amused by it in the end. Please dont be shy to review and give your critism. I'd be delighted to know your thoughts on the story. There is more to come! Until then, sayonara, and thank you for reading! Happy holidays!
P.S. Here is what her necklace looks like if you'd like to check it out for yourself :) Make sure to take the spaces out of the url when you copy and paste it in the search bar:
http: / www. google .com / imgres ?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1024&bih=451&tbm=isch&tbnid=HYg02xH-YXtY1M:&imgrefurl=.com/shc/s/t_10153_12605%3FtName%&docid=ZhD8v7jqjI-vyM&imgurl=.net/rpx/i/s/pi/mp/3343/5704226201p%253Fsrc%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%.com%25252FSilver%25252FSH%25252FNECKLACES%%2526d%&w=248&h=248&ei=j0vVTsHyDYL50gGZspH0AQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=623&vpy=136&dur=4543&hovh=198&hovw=198&tx=84&ty=219&sig=102672475052167739180&page=5&tbnh=103&tbnw=99&start=48&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:48
~MrFoshizzleProTheWanderor