A Lonely Holiday Heart

By: Waterflash

Chapter 1: Dance at Dusk

"Kaoru-dono!"

"Yes?"

"Sessha is going into town to buy tofu. Sessha will be back soon, de gozaru!"

"Okay Kenshin. I might not be home when you return, so please start dinner for me."

"Where are you going Kaoru-dono?"

"That doesn't matter. I'll be back before nightfall."

I had reluctantly had begun to leave the Kamiya dojo. Kaoru's halfhearted responses had bothered me. She appeared to be very despondent the times that I had seen her today. Her unfathomable sapphire eyes were forlorn and longing…

I was startled by the sudden rush of cold as I stepped outside. It had overcome all my senses, and was overwhelming my body. Winter's breath was upon my face, pressing a frosty kiss on my lips. Snow fell from the gray clouds, wind whipping the white flakes through the air.

I took one step forward, my foot resting in the white powder. It had been so long since it had snowed… The last time was so memorable…

*Flashback*

                It was just a normal day where I was preparing dinner when I heard a voice call, "Kenshin! Kenshin, come outside!" I had hastily walked outside to find an ecstatic Kaoru dancing in the snow. Her face reflected that of a playful child. I smiled softly at her, watching the lonely Kaoru I knew disappear. Though I watched her so intently, I still wasn't prepared to get smacked in the head with a snowball.

                "ORO?!"

                Kaoru giggled, watching me swipe the snow from my face. "You look so silly like that." I bent down, scooped some snow into my palm and flung at her. She jumped in surprise as she dodged the snowball. "Ha, the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu, Snowball Spin!"

                And thus began our snowball fight.

*End of Flashback*

                Through my reminiscing, I had barely realized that I was already at the store. I walked up to the counter and rung a small bell. Immediately, a short old man came up behind me. He spoke kindly. "What can I do for you young man?"

                "Sessha came to buy tofu for Kaoru-dono, de gozaru." I said politely.

                "Ah yes, Miss Kamiya. You would like the usual amount, ne?" He asked.

                "Hai." I said. The old man limped over to a shelf on the wall and began to prepare the tofu.

                "Are you going to watch Miss Kamiya dance this year? I'm going to take my granddaughters. I know they'll love it."

                "N-nani?" I stammered. The man had an astonished expression on his face.

                "You don't know about Miss Kamiya's dance?!" He exclaimed. I shook my head. What exactly is this old man talking about?

                "It begun five years ago. When Miss Kamiya was only twelve years old, her mother was killed, a week before Christmas to be exact. Young Kaoru always admired her mother and wanted to be just like her." The man coughed before continuing his story.

"Kamiya Midoriko was a beautiful woman that danced for a living. She had even performed in front of the Emperor. Little Kaoru learned over time some of the dances her mother had done, hoping to some day follow in her footsteps." The man inhaled sharply.

"But after Midoriko died, Miss Kamiya was distraught. For awhile…" He paused. "We thought she would die of grief. Until she finally came out of her room and stepped outside. Surprising everyone, she began to dance. Her mother's most famous dance." I listened closer, amazed at what he was telling me.

"Every year since, she would return to that place that she had first danced. Right outside the largest shrine in Tokyo. Today is that day. Her dance will occur before dusk, when the sun shall reflect off the snow with an orange glow." He chuckled lightly. "If Midoriko was here right now, I know she would be proud of her little girl." He glanced over at me.

"You are… Hitokiri Battousai?" The man asked. I was dumbfounded. "Please, watch over Kaoru. You are the only one who can rid her of her loneliness and sadness during the holidays." He paused in thought for a moment, rubbing his finger under his chin. "How about this? I'll supply you all the things you'll need to throw a party on Christmas Eve. At the Kamiya Dojo."

"Y-you would really do that? You can't! S-sessha can pay for it!" I stuttered. He grinned knowingly at me.

"But you need the money for a wedding ring." I blushed deeply.

"Sessha is not that sure… of the love sessha feels…"

"When you're around her, your eyes glow, no, emanate with your love for her. This Christmas, at the party… Tell her." I nodded graciously as he handed me the almost forgotten tofu. "You may want to start heading toward the shrine. Her dance will start soon. I have to go pick up my granddaughters, so I'll meet you there." The old man had disappeared almost as quickly as he had appeared.

Swinging the tofu back and forth, I left the store. My steps were quick and rapid. Thoughts raced through my mind as I had gone through everything he had said to me.

I stopped suddenly, realizing something I had never knew before. "I… I love her…" I dropped down to my knees into the snow and released all those tears I had held back for so long. With a sob, I said, "Both Battousai… and the rurouni can love. And… sessha has hurt her. From staying away from her. Sessha… sessha will tell her on Christmas."

I had wiped the tears from my eyes and stood up tall. I begun to walk a little faster than before, trying to resist the urge to break into a run. I really want to see her dance…

*Twenty minutes later…*

                I had just barely arrived in time to the large shrine. I figured to wait with the large crowd forming before the stairway to the shrine. I had pushed my way into the group people, trying to find a place to stand where I could see, yet not be seen.

                I could hear calls of "It's glowing orange! Kamiya Kaoru is coming!" Everyone's attention was directed at a woman walking down the stairway of the shrine. It was Kaoru.

                Kaoru was dressed in a gorgeous white silk kimono that flowed behind her. Her silky hair was down on shoulders, the wind sweeping it up in the air. The way she walked, the way she looked, and everything about her made her a deity to me. She was a divine goddess in the purest form.

                When she had reached the platform, she began to dance. I watched in amazement as she moved with such angelic grace that it would have brought me to my knees if the people in the crowd surrounding me weren't holding me up.

                Swiftly and unexpectedly, she drew a bokken from the back of the kimono and twirled it. She tossed it in the air, spinning and jumping in the air to catch it in the opposite hand. Landing on her right foot, she twisted around before doing a back flip. Abruptly, she stopped, gazing at her audience before bowing.

                With that moment, I could see Kaoru's eyes and it hurt me… Because I could see how lonely she was. She left, her bokken in hand.

Apprehending that she had left meant that I needed to get back to the Kamiya dojo before she did. But before leaving, the old man I had met at the shop earlier grasped my shoulder and whispered "At my home on the river Christmas Eve." I nodded, running toward my home.

Home…

Whew, there's the first chapter for ya! I'm gonna put the disclaimer only in this one because I'm too lazy to do it in the next one.

Disclaimer: Me no own any of the RK peoples in this fic. NONE. I just borrowed them for a little while. I'll give them back at the end.

And this fic is dedicated to my friend B-chan! I loved Misunderstanding! It was sooooo good! Hopefully you'll love yours too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS B-CHAN! *makes it snow* It snows too much here… You can borrow some of ours…