A Fox for a Wife

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: This is from The Enchanted Island Stories from Shakespeare adapted by Ian Serraillier. I don't know Kaoru's father's name so I'm borrowing the name that Akai Kitsune used.

In the City of Tokyo, Japan there lived a wealthy dojo master named Kamiya Koshijirou and his two daughters, Megumi and Tomoe. Megumi, the older of the two, was known throughout Tokyo for her audacity and her fiery temper. She was so... outspoken that no one would marry her. The younger sister, Tomoe, was gentle, modest, and beautiful. In short she is the ideal Japanese wife. Tomoe already had more offers of marriage then she could remember. She already had a husband in mind though. Kenshin, her young tutor, who she loved dearly but her father prohibited them getting married before he found a husband for his elder daughter, Megumi.

On a fair, spring morning a young man named Sagara Sanosuke journeyed into the bustling city of Tokyo. He, an easy-going and high-spirited gambler, was on the look out of a beautiful and rich wife. He had heard about the perfect woman, Kamiya Megumi. Although he also heard that she could be loud and rude for a woman he wasn't swayed in his attempt to win her hand. Sanosuke wasn't one to be frightened of by a couple of rude remarks; he had been a soldier in the Sekihoutai and was used to the loud-mouthed soldiers noisy antics. It was enough that Kamiya Megumi was beautiful and, especially, she had plenty of money.

After getting lost more times than was humanly possible in a friendly city such as Tokyo He came upon the Kamiya dojo. e prepared himself for the battle to win Megumi for a wife. He wouldn't be deterred by something as little as first impressions. He boldly walked went to the dojo and called for a meeting with the lord of it. He asked him if he could court his daughter Megumi.

"Kamiya-san, I hear that your daughter is beautiful, is learned in the art of medicine and is well mannered," he offered graciously, taking in his reaction to his flattering words.

Kamiya-san, not used to such bluntness, thought that the man standing before him was a little misinformed about his elder daughter. Before he dismissed the young man he remembered an old friend of his also had the uncommon name of Sagara so he decided to let Sanosuke have a try at his daughters hand. "If you are willing to try, I will support you. She is in the next room having doctoring lessons by the dojo doctor. I am afraid you will be sorely disappointed when you meet her." Kamiya Koshijirou warned Sanosuke.
Sagara Sanosuke was not one to quit before he started. He requested about Megumi's dowry and was told that at Koshijirou's death he would receive half of his estate and twenty thousand gold coins.

Before he could ask any more he was interrupted by a loud explosion coming from the room that Megumi was in. The doctor, Gensai-san, rushed out of the room in a plume of smoke with half of his hair burned screaming all the way. "I told her her formula was wrong and she blew up the whole project in my face! She uttered horrible words, like ahou! And others! I've never heard such language from a lady before!" The doctor roared storming out.

"I admire her courage and spirit," Sanosuke stated rather blindly. "I want more than ever to meet you daughter, Kamiya-san."

Koshijirou hurried into the room before Sanosuke could change his mind to get Megumi so she could meet her suitor.

When they came out Sanosuke was astonished at her profound beauty and her elaborate kimono that spoke of profit. "Konichiwa, Megumi-san," Sanosuke greeted the haughty beauty.

She was in a bad mood from her lesson from Gensai-san and didn't want to listen to this guy anymore. She approached him smoothly, not letting him know her intent and slapped him across the face.

As he began to protest she moved in for another slap but this time he dodged and caught her wrist. She struggled to break free but her small frame was no mach for the one-time soldier. He pulled her close to him and told her that she was indeed going to marry him, whether she liked it or not.

Before he father came back he let her go. Megumi immediately ran to her father and demanded that he reconsider her marriage to Sagara. Koshijirou would hear nothing of it though. He was finely glade to have a suitable man that wouldn't be scared of easily becoming his daughter's husband.

"What do you think of her?" Koshijirou asked nervously.

"I find her pleasant, and well-mannered." Sanosuke said confidently. "We will have the wedding sooner than planed. It will be next Sunday."

"I'll see you stripped of any title you hold and have you serve out a penance first!" Megumi spit out heatedly. She wasn't used to not getting her way and this new guy, Sagara Sanosuke, had gotten away with too many things.

"She loves me!" Sanosuke went on right over her before she finished her threats. "She didn't want to leave my warm embrace and gave me kisses enough to last a lift time! I'll be leaving to Kyoto to buy things for the wedding. Will you help make arrangements, oji-san, and can you make invitations for the guests?" He looked hopefully for the nod that came with a little uncertainty. "Megumi, love, give me a kiss!"

She tries to get in a hard and well-deserved slap but he swiftly dodged it and gave her a quick kiss. Sanosuke was off before anyone could think twice.
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