A:N: Hello, there! I'm Kuro-mei (for all who don't know me). I couldn't wait to start this story. Okay, so it's another Rurouni Kensin story, but I'm kinda sticking to the well-known couple this time. Well, I hope this story will turn out better than the other two. And here I go with number three...
Ever the Same
Chapter 1
In the founding year of Genji, Himura Kenshin, the Battosai, at fifteen, and Yukishiro Tomoe at eighteen, meet.
After slaying the fiancé of Tomoe, the Battosai comes across this woman. They live together for a while in the care of Kenshin and other swordsmen.
After the fire in Kyoto, the Battosai and Tomoe find Katsura Kogoro among the remains of Kyoto. Kogoro tells the two that there is a house in a farm village just outside of Kyoto for them to stay.
The Battosai and Tomoe make their way to the village. Kenshin figured that Tomoe had no place to go. So, he made an offer, saying, "Stay with me. I don't know how long I can be with you, but..."
Tomoe looked at him with a perplexed look.
"I don't want it just for appearances," the Battosai continued. "I want you with me, until death parts us."
The two began their new life together in the small village, Kenshin only a few years younger than Tomoe.
One night, I'Izuka, one of Kenshin's comrades, invited him to a night out at one of the nearby teahouses for some sake and dinner. Kenshin looked over to where Tomoe was calmly sleeping. The young red-head agreed, and followed I'Izuka and other men down the empty streets of the village, and to a building. Kenshin read the sign that said "Ichikiri Teahouse".
The group headed inside, and were greeted by a few maids. The women led them to a room. Inside, there was a table that stood only inches above the ground, surrounded by tatami mats that the group would soon seat themselves on.
Each of the men seated themselves. The maids left the room, and later came back with the men's dinner and bottles of sake and tea kettles. The maids set the food on the table, and the feast began.
The Battosai, who was seated next to I'Izuka, turned with a bit of a frown, and asked, "Why exactly are we here?"
I'Izuka let out a laugh, and answered, "Just enjoy yourself, Himura-kun! That's why we're here."
Kenshin, still aggravated, reached for the bottle of sake, and poured some in his glass. He was about to take a sip of his drink when the plucking of a shamisen sounded. Kenshin placed his cup down on the table to see what was going on. His eyes met the back of a figure, who had jet black hair, which was tied up in such a unique way. She wore a light blue kimono with the image of two dragons floating above a temple on the back, and her obi touching the floor.
The woman held out both of her arms. She was holding a fan in each of her hands, which she opened, and turned only her head with her back still facing the men. The men replied with oohs and aahs.
Kenshin caught a glimpse of the woman's face. He saw that she was quite young; her face, though, was hidden by all the make-up she was wearing. But what caught the red-head's attention was the deep blue eyes she had. He sat there staring at those eyes. The girl turned the rest of her body towards the party, and began her dance, moving her fan from side to side and doing tricks, sometimes making herself look like she was floating.
Once the dance was over, the men clapped for her loudly, whistling and commenting.
I'Izuka, while clapping, turned to the Battosai, saying, "If you didn't know, that's what you call a geisha. She's an entertainer, but not the kind that first comes to mind. She's an artist."
The clapping died down, and the girl seated herself at the table, across from the men just a few seats down from where Kenshin was.
I'Izuka and Kenshin sat there, gazing at this girl, a geisha. I'Izuka leaned over to Kenshin, whispering in his ear,
"She's one of the pretty ones too."
The Battosai didn't reply, but just turned his attention away from the girl, and took up his cup of sake and took a few sips. He also took a few bites of his dinner, but never took another look at the girl.
Soon, the young entertainer seated herself in front of the Battosai. He looked up at her, and again saw those sapphire-colored eyes. She looked down at the teapot that sat between herself and Kenshin.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked, a bit timidly.
The Battosai lightly nodded his head. The girl reached for the teapot, pulling her sleeve back, and revealing the bare skin of her arm. She held the pot over Kenshin's empty cup, and started pouring.
As the geisha poured, I'Izuka focused his attention on this girl, and asked, "Why don't you tell us your name,
young lady."
While setting the tea kettle back on the table, the girl simply answered, "You can wait till I get to you."
The other men heard what was just said, and started laughing. One of them spoke out, saying, "She's a clever girl,
I'Izuka. Better not mess with her, or else she'll just find a way to get you back, and bad. You don't want that, now,
do you?" They continued laughing.
Kenshin turned to the girl, looking to see if she was embarassed by this, but there was no change in her facial expression. She only concentrated on handing the glass of tea to Kenshin.
The Battosai took the glass, and took a sip. When he put his glass down to return to his dinner, he saw the geisha still sitting in front of him.
The red-head smiled, and said, "Arigato."
The girl smiled, and made an effort to stand up, but she was having trouble getting up because of the heavy kimono she wore. Kenshin saw her struggle. He stood up and offered his hand to help the girl up. She looked up at the swordsman in wonder, but she finally took his hand. Kenshin easily pulled her up from the floor.
The girl smiled, and blushed under her make-up. This time, it was her turn to say thank you.
The Battosai, without thinking, asked, "Do you mind telling me your name?"
"Kaoru," she answered. "Kamiya Kaoru." She turned to help one of the other men, who was calling out for her. She purposely skipped I'Izuka.
"Hey, wait!" I'Izuka shouted out to her, as she took a seat across one of the other men. "Didn't you forget someone?"
Kaoru turned to meet I'Izuka face to face. "You can pour your own tea," she replied.
The other men broke out laughing, and I'Izuka sat there, looking like a fool as he poured his own drink.
While the Battosai walked home, he thought about this Kaoru. He remembered her pouring the tea, and exposing her bare skin in front of him.
Kenshin stopped himself from thinking of these thoughts. "Don't think about her," he thought to himself. "You have Tomoe waiting for you at home. So, just forget about what happened tonight."
An image of Kaoru performing her dance appeared in the Battosai's mind. His face went soft, once again. He erased the picture of the girl with sapphire eyes from his mind when he stepped inside the home where Tomoe still slept soundly.
A:N: Well, that's chapter one. I can't wait to move further on with this story. It's hard to listen to "Build God, Then We'll Talk" by Panic! At the Disco while writing this story. The song just has nothing to do with the story, but anyways... R&R. I accept anonymous reviews. Thanks for reading!