Disclaimer: I don't own RK, it's characters or their emotional problems. Nor do I own Because I Said So (which the plot is based very very very loosely on) Nor do I own the song World Spins Madly On. The song doesn't fit the tone but I like the title so there
Alatre
World Spins Madly On:
Kaoru Kamiya was a pretty girl, well, woman. Long dark hair pulled up to the top of her head brought out her exquisite cheekbones and cobalt blue eyes. Her cheeks were unnaturally flushed while she juggled putting on a pair of silver heart shaped earrings and putting on the cute- yet-sophisticated-flirty-but-not-blatantly-asking-for-it-come-ravish-me-strappy heels. The heels matched her scarlet bridesmaid dress; the dress was strapless and came down to her knees with a sprinkling of silver rhinestones across her chest. She thanked the gods of matrimony Megumi had a sense of fashion lest she was draped with taffeta, tool, gaudy colors and other unmentionable horrors of the dress sort. She gave herself a once over in the floor length mirror, went over a mental list of today's happenings, wondered how her "blind wedding date" with Enishi Yukishiro would go, and with a groan called for her cousin the currently M.I.A Makimachi Misao. Kaoru went up the stairs with a sigh knowing where she'd find the twenty-two year old moping. She didn't bother to knock; instead pushing the door open to reveal her cousin sprawled out on the chaise lounge. Misao's legs were stretched out and she had an arm thrown dramatically over the top half of her face.
"Misao? In case you've forgotten we're due at a wedding in…less than ten minutes." Kaoru said raising the arm covering her dear cousin's eyes.
"Mou, Kaoru I hate men! They are SO infuriating with their hot bodies, and smiles, and chocolate giving and GOD they're BASTARDS! You know what just put the icing on the cake? Soujiro couldn't make out with that girl anywhere else, nooooooo it had to be right in front of the chocolate fountain. That's like defilement of a sacred space! And the worst part is that I really don't care, it was inconvenient but…jeez!" Misao pouted launching herself off the chaise and throwing her cell phone into the scarlet clutch, "That's it I'm going to be a lesbian and do lesbian things that DON'T include men! Ohhhhh but I'd miss men so much. Dammit! I want some chocolate." During Misao's rant Kaoru effectively moved her from the room down the stairs and into the car.
To be perfectly honest Kaoru had to admit they had the worst luck in men of the four girls. From oldest to youngest they we're Tokio, Megumi, Kaoru, and Misao. Tokio was Misao's older sister and had told the girls the week before her wedding it was 'only fair' she be married first, considering she was the oldest. She'd married her sweetheart, who was anything but, two years ago. They had known from the moment Tokio and Saitou met at thirteen they would wind up together. The two had been spitting fire at each other since the day she accidentally dropped a cupcake on Saitou's head. At first she apologized but when he yelled at her for being a klutz she yelled right back, and the rest is history. That is until the day of their wedding when Tokio decided it was completely in her rights to smash a piece of cake in his face which wound up with Tokio and Saitou floating in the swimming pool, both soaked and perfectly happy to kiss like they were the only two people on the planet.
Next was Megumi, Kaoru's older sister and personal matchmaker. She was a doctor which led to her meeting most of the loves in her life at the hospital. The first a sleazy doctor named Kanryuu who she interned under. She was naïve when she fell for his sweet compliments and went on a few dates with the man, but immediately dumped him when it became obvious his attentions were being spent elsewhere. Specifically on all the other female interns, she was naturally pissed and made a big deal of breaking up with him. Kanryuu, angered that his advances brought him nothing but a few dates decided to corner Megumi into giving him 'his due' as he put it. Unfortunately for him he did so outside the room of Sanosuke Sagara who was in for his 'semi-annual' fix-up. Sano had been trying to get to sleep when he heard what was going on outside his door. He got out of bed, punched Kanryuu and promptly passed out into Megumi's chest. The girls teased her for months after that it was a match made in heaven. They all had to admit that while the man constantly grated on Megumi's nerves and wasn't 'suave' or 'well-mannered' he was a loving and passionate man. Today was the day of the wedding and Megumi swore up and down if he messed up her dream wedding she'd take Kaoru's bokken knock him out and enjoy the honeymoon herself, trading in his ticket for the latest coach purse. The girl's crashed his bachelor party and managed to make all the attendants cough up cash for the purse just to be sure Sano stayed on Megumi's good side the entire honeymoon trip.
Misao had, until the day before, been dating a man named Soujiro Seta. The twenty-three year old looked like he was seventeen and irritated the hell out of Kaoru. He was always all smiles and empty stares. Once while wasted off her ass Misao admitted to the girls that Soujiro lacked everything she wanted in a man but she was staying with him because there was no one better. Evidently Soujiro only had passion when he was making out with one of the caterers at Megumi's rehearsal dinner. He was promptly asked to leave by the dinner party while Misao went off to the bar to get smashed. Soujiro wound up having to call his older brother-in-law to pick him up because he had been driven in by Misao. Upon hearing the circumstances of his brother's dismissal Shishio gave him a sound beating in the parking lot, going on and on about weakness and Misao being more than suitable as a woman to join the family. The girls couldn't understand why she had gone out with Soujiro in the first place. She preferred tall men with broad shoulders and smoldering blue eyes. Men who didn't talk too much and had a 'silky curtain' of black hair, more specifically Aoshi Shinomori; he had been their neighbor growing up and knew Misao from the age of two. Older than Kaoru and Misao he'd been in Megumi's classes but had joined martial arts at the same time as Misao. They'd formed an immediate bond that lasted through middle school but Aoshi had been sent to private school early in his high school career and their bond had been broken. All the girls realized that from her flings, Soujiro, Okita, even Kamatari, while he was bi instead of out, Misao was staying away from any reminder of her first love. Soujiro had been dumped from the wedding party and Kamatari had been asked to take his place. A change that Misao couldn't have been happier about, she was in no mood for men but Kamatari had always been able to keep a smile on her face.
Kaoru herself had dated a bit in high-school and during her college life but none of her various romances bared mentioning. That's why Megumi had taken it upon herself to set Kaoru up with Enishi Yukishiro, Sano's cousin who had gone to the same private school as Aoshi. Apparently he was an architect who was dedicated, suave, rich, and 'too busy' to go out and find the perfect girl. Misao made the comment that since he was so amazing why didn't Megumi marry him to which Megumi replied that the 'stupid rooster' couldn't live without her. A loving smile on her lips until said 'stupid rooster' stumbled into the room a planted an alcohol laced wet one right on her lips. Kaoru didn't know much about the man; just that he was tall had white hair and jade eyes usually covered by shades, he'd graduated top of his class and wanted to date a nice girl that was 'acceptable' and not another 'almost'.
"KAORU! You're late and you missed all the excitement! Megumi was freaking out, two of the groomsmen had hangovers, Sano couldn't get his tie right, and Yahiko couldn't find the rings it was a mess!" Kamatari, looking stunning in a tailor cut black tux with his hair slicked back to reveal the high cheekbones and long eyelashes all the girls envied somehow managed to get all these words out while preening himself, kissing Kaoru on the cheek, straightening her dress for maximum cleavage and checking out the cute cocktail waiter.
"It was all taken care of then?" Kaoru asked with a raised eyebrow, she recalled the mess Tokio's wedding had been before Saitou came out and threatened each person involved. The Wolf may have been unarmed but the wild look in his eyes swore pain if the wedding wasn't immaculate. Kaoru then saw a beautiful and entirely pregnant Tokio sweeping down from the stairs with Saitou at her back and knew it was in her best interests not to laugh.
"Anata, if you can't trust me to deal with the daily troubles of my family how do you expect me to raise your child?" Her cousin looked radiant and Kaoru saw the hint of amusement hiding in her exasperated look.
"Tokio, I trust you implicitly it's that ahou's friends I don't trust and the brat flinging things around wasn't helping anyone." Saitou always had an excuse to make those around him believe he wasn't over protective of his wife.
"Oh? So, it wasn't the safety of our child but the fact that everyone was annoying my poor wolf?" She poked him the chest with one dainty finger while he gave her a decisively wolfish grin. "Well, then you can extract yourself to let me speak with my sane cousin and her sane friend. Why don't you go and get me some punch, anata." He left with a nod to Kaoru and Kamatari muttering about crazy women and stupid roosters.
"Everything's under control then?" Kaoru asked she knew how persuasive her cousin could be especially with Saitou glaring over her shoulder.
"Mmmhmm. It was all relatively easy, especially helping Yahiko find the wedding rings well, after Saitou convinced him to calm down. Oddest thing he put them in his-"
"-kendo bag." Kaoru finished with a chuckle. Her brother hid everything important in there, even the box of chocolates he'd bought for Tsubame, when he finally found them again the box was crushed but Tsubame cherished them all the same.
"Yes, oh dear…I'd better go save that caterer from my husband. I think he may try to skewer the poor boy with that toothpick. I'll see you…HAJIME SAITOU PUT THAT BOY DOWN!"
She shuffled away looking very regal in a huffy pregnant sort of way, Kaoru and Kamatari waited until she was out of hearing distance to laugh at her. Kaoru collapsed against Kamatari in mirth, effectively ruffling her hair. While they tried to settle Kaoru's mother Keiko came upon them in disarray.
"Kaoru sweetheart, where have you been? You look rather tousled; Kamatari's been ravishing you I hope?" Keiko winked at Kamatari when he cringed. Kaoru gave her mother 'the look' and answered.
"Misao took a while to get ready, and no Kamatari and I were just sharing a nice laugh. Tokio's gone off to save some poor caterer from Saitou." At the mention of Saitou her mother seemed to sparkle and giggled like a school girl.
"Ah, now there's a real man all those muscles and those eyes that seem to burn straight through you, delicious!" She seemed to be caught up in her own little world while Kamatari and Kaoru almost made their escape.
Keiko Matsumoto, formerly Kamiya, was the youngest of three children. She'd divorced Kaoru's father when the girl's were four and two and had been living free since. That is to say she never remarried. She instead busied herself with matchmaking, she had tried several times to get Kamatari together with women, the latest were twins, Tae and Sae she figured if he liked their looks the personalities were different enough for one of them to keep him interested. Needless to say the results had been disastrous. She believed Kamatari to be too good of a catch to be gay. She decreed that just because Misao couldn't keep a man like that, not hearing any of the protest that 'no I really am NOT attracted to women', didn't mean he couldn't find a proper woman. She believed that he was women's gift from god and a woman would have him. He just needed a little help along the way. Kaoru knew as long as she kept Kamatari on her side she was safe from her mother. Apparently, her mother realized the same thing.
"Oh Kamatari dear I know you're still afraid I'll try to set you up with one of the many beautiful girls here. You just won't forget about my previous indiscretions, Tae and Sae were unfortunate BUT! There's a certain caterer whose been giving you the eye all morning, he's got a butt you could crack a walnut with and he's single. Why don't you go talk with him so my lovely single daughter can listen to her mother hmm?" Kamatari gave Kaoru a guilty look and then ran off to the direction Keiko was pointing. Kaoru's only thought was 'that bastard!' before her mother backed her into a corner for 'the talk'.
"Darling, don't look so scared I'm only out for your best interests. You're not getting any younger you know. I've heard enough excuses now it's time for you to get busy! That was an innuendo you know. I hear Megumi's got some young man lined up for you? Better bag him before it's too late! Now what's your plan of attack? Sweet, sexy, or mysterious or a mix of all three? We've got to keep him interested you know. Hmm, then we'll have to decide your song, the colors for your wedding…OH, and don't forget when you meet his parents be charming, and don't let on that you can't cook till he's all the way in hmm.. Oh and one child has to be named after Aunt Karin or you'll never get any of the will money. Megumi would never allow it but she's doing well as a doctor, then again with that husband to be of hers I might try convincing her again… "
Kaoru was left stunned in the wake of her mother's warpath. Something about the phrase 'better bag him' made her cringe, especially the fact that the words came from her mother of all people. Then she was talking about a 'plan of attack'? Kaoru was screwed.
"Well, mother. I was thinking I'd say 'Hi, I'm Kaoru. Why don't we find an empty room because my mother needs me to bag you, haven't you always wanted a shot gun wedding? Let's go to a restaurant after because I never cook before I get an engagement ring. I hope you like the name Karin for our first child I always have. By the way do you want me on my knees or should I go get my whip?"
"Kaoru! You have a whip?"
"…goodbye Mother. I have to go make sure Misao's not dead in a pool of chocolate."
AN: So, there's the beginning of a story I hope to be proud of. Any comments? Don't be shy, I'm not. This is M rated even if I don't put in citrus, which I probably will. I hope this is easy enough to follow. Hmmm, OH! The relationships were summarized just as a teaser the couples will be more active as the story continues. I don't plan on going over ten chapters or taking more than five months to complete it. I've always enjoyed setting personal goals.
Thank you so much for reading, and I hope to gain some reviews.
Alatre