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DISCLAIMER: *SIGH* I don't own Kenshin :(
Chapter 1:
What's that old adage? "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." This seems to be Kaoru's motto nowadays. Having grown up in a small suburban town, always on the cusp of poverty, God only knows how her parents managed to move to the nicer area with the better school district. Because of the fact that Kaoru's mom insisted that she attend Nardin Academy versus School #147, she was able to excel and get that much needed full ride to college. Even with the scholarship, working during school was a necessity for Kaoru because she loved her parents too much not to help out financially.
At that time, life couldn't have been better. Studying was second nature, and the sultry brunette was able to ace almost all of her courses, with the exception of Physics, but that is neither here nor there. She had a steady boyfriend, Seta Soujiro, of two years, and her parents were in perfect health so it would seem.
It wasn't until a few years after graduation when her life became a jumbled mess. In hindsight, perhaps computer art was not the best major to have chosen, but at the time, attending university was more about doing something you love versus being financially stable in the end. Not to mention that the "Great Recession" was not even on the radar screen. To Kaoru, as long as she had love in her life, money didn't matter. That still holds true now, but liking your work holds a completely different meaning at this point.
It's not that Kaoru wasn't able to land a good paying job after graduation; on the contrary, she was hired as the lead web and graphic designer for a local firm. In charge of creating all of the company's web interfaces and flash animations, as well as all of their print work, it was a dream come true. It wasn't until later that she realized that the owner wasn't all he was cracked up to be. Having never actually experienced any kind of real discrimination before, even with her partially Asian descent; Kaoru never expected to be laid off at six months into her first pregnancy.
And no, it isn't Seta Soujiro's baby; they broke it off last year. Shortly after the breakup on a night out with the girls, it was completely unexpected that Kaoru would lay eyes on the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. Tall, dark and handsome, that has always been her downfall. Shinta Himura was no exception. His eyes mysterious, a deep violet like none she had ever seen, and a face like a movie star. His hair a messy red pulled back atop his head, but somehow suited him perfectly. Meeting eyes, his statuesque figure glides up next to her at the bar, "can I buy you a drink?" It wasn't even a catchy pick up line or anything like that, but just the way his voice resonated a soft baritone next to her ear was enough to make Kaoru swoon.
The bartender came with the drink, and the rest is history. One thing led to another, and the next thing she knew, Kaoru invited him up for coffee. Cliché right? But, that's how it happened. It wasn't until about five or so hours of talking that they made their way into the bedroom. Kaoru knew that it was wrong, and they probably shouldn't be moving so quickly, but the connection she felt for him was too strong. Her heart tugged in her chest at the way he looked at her, like he could devour her, like they have known each other all their lives as opposed to only a few hours. Could this be love? She thought to herself, but dismissed the notion as simply too much alcohol.
It isn't until much later that she regrets that somehow she let him slip through her fingers. There was just something about him; something irreplaceable that Kaoru knows she will never forget. And, when she discovered that she is pregnant, she realized that there is no way that she cannot have his baby. Even though Shinta disappeared out of her life the following morning after their first and only night together, at least a part of him will always be with her. Of course she was upset that he left the next day, and she tried to contact him about the pregnancy, but a Shinta Himura didn't seem to exist anywhere. She searched online and in all the phone books in the area with no luck. Sad that she would have to raise the baby alone, that look of love in his eyes would never leave her memory. It was only a moment, but to Kaoru Kamiya, Shinta Himura will always be in her heart.
Now at a time that was supposed to be filled with only joy and anticipation for her upcoming baby's birth, Kaoru's world was littered with uncertainty. How will she possibly get a new job when her belly is the size of a watermelon? Not to mention the fact that she will have to take six or so weeks off of work after her little one is born. Stress is the last thing she needs, but at a time like this, it can't be helped.
Now, an onlooker might think that maybe the company was just downsizing, or perhaps she was slacking off as the lead web designer because, apparently, pregnant women become lazy and inefficient workers as they get closer to their due date. But Kaoru was always a diligent employee, and her skills with the computer far surpassed any of her male coworkers. To her, it was obviously a case of discrimination, especially when six months prior she was offered a higher paid position with a different company.
After putting in her two weeks notice, her douche of a boss practically begged her to stay on board. When the owner of the business says, "you'd have to kill someone before I will ever lay you off," and offers a six thousand dollar pay increase, well, who wouldn't have a heightened sense of job security?
Needless to say, six months after Kaoru announced to her fellow staff members that she was expecting, Joey Thorn, the business owner, tells her "I'm going to have to let you go." He doesn't seem to care that he is cutting off funds to a soon-to-be first time mother, and actually has the audacity to tell her, "The company isn't doing so well right now. As a matter of fact," his smile is poison, "I'm actually paying myself as much as your salary." That brings on a laugh in the back of her mind, really? Looking out the window at the man's Cadillac Escalade parked outside, Kaoru thinks, you own a multi-million dollar company, and you're only paying yourself my measly $33,000? Bull Shit! His car is worth more than what I get paid in a year. What an ass! Not one to burn any bridges, Kaoru puts on a smile as if her ex-boss' bold-faced lies have no affect on her emotional state. She doesn't know how, but manages to hide the fact that a lump is forming in the back of her throat, and takes the news in stride.
Even so, she can't help but want to key that perfectly white car of his, or at least punch that stupid grin off his chubby little face. Packing her cubicle into a small box, as the fresh air hits her skin on the way to her purple PT Cruiser, she takes in a deep breath. Breathe in, breathe out, a mantra that she must repeat to remain composed. It isn't until she drives a few blocks away before she has to pull over. Breathe in, breathe out, she thinks, but a choked sob escapes her lips as the little one growing inside her gives her belly a gentle kick.
Resting her head on the black leather steering wheel, long black strands of her hair float along the rim. What am I going to do now? She wonders, and the baby inside her moves a little more, trying to find a more comfortable position. Her bloated hand caresses her belly, "it'll be alright my little angel," a whisper more to soothe her own doubts than that of her unborn child. Sitting straight again in the seat, and feeling a bit winded, Kaoru takes another deep breath. Remembering what her mother has always taught her, that everything happens for a reason, and maybe being laid off isn't the worst thing that could happen. Emotions settling, she makes it home to her small house in suburbia.
Pulling into the driveway, she can't help but notice the misshapen, off colored, bricks that make up her tiny, three bedroom home. Gathering her work box and heading inside, Kaoru's senses are bombarded by the sweet and salty aroma of beef stew cooking in the kitchen. That has to be the best part of letting her parents move in with her. Even though it may be atypical for the parents to move in with the child, Kaoru wouldn't have had it any other way. Especially after getting pregnant, she knew she would need all the help she could get. Granted, she was able to afford the small house on her meager salary as a web designer, and thank her forethought to purchase property that was well below her means. Otherwise, there would be no way for her to remain living in this house after being laid off. As it stands now, she doesn't know how she will make her next mortgage payment. Of course her former employer, the aforementioned liar, scumbag, douche, whatever one should call such a man, tells Kaoru, "you will get any vacation pay you have left." Did he expect her to jump for joy at the additional four hours of extra pay he is so graciously going to bestow upon her? And how will her final paycheck with said four hours even come close to fulfilling her mortgage obligation? Sighing dejectedly, Kaoru puts on a smile as she enters the kitchen.
"Hi mom," plopping the cardboard container atop the expandable kitchen table gains a quizzacle look from the little woman tending the stove. Kaoru didn't mean to slam it down, but it just happened that way. She slips off her black flats and maneuvers her oversized rear into the welcoming cushioned seat beside the door.
"What's the box?" If you can picture a stereotypical, little, middle-aged Asian woman, that's Kaoru's mom. Short black hair, a tiny waistline, and a heavy accent that only Kaoru, her father, and siblings can understand bring life to an otherwise mundane household. Grace's finger points at the box on the table, waiting for her daughter's answer. No, Kaoru's mother's name is not really Grace, it's actually a much prettier Eun Ae. But, thirty years ago when she and Kaoru's father moved to the United States, the thought of Americans actually saying a name that didn't sound "American" was unheard of. So, she goes by Grace, which is a loose translation of her real name, which Kaoru feels is just ridiculous. As if it is too hard to pronounce Eun Ae…
Debating whether to tell her mom the truth, which Kaoru decides, what's the point in denying it really, there's no way her parents aren't going to find out what happened. It's not like she can pretend to go to work every morning, and instead, hang out at Starbucks all day. That definitely won't work considering the fact that caffeine is one of the many restrictions that comes with carrying a baby inside your belly. "I was laid off." It comes as a whisper, almost inaudible over the sizzling of the frying pan, but not too low for her mother's keen sense of hearing.
Immediately the burner is turned off, and the kitchen is engulfed by silence, with the exception of the remnants of oil on a cooling frying pan. She doesn't mean to sound accusatory, but it's just her way, "what you do?" Kaoru's mother asks while nonchalantly placing the cooked meat on an ornamental plate, and filling the rest of the small table with a bowl of white rice, and five various side dishes ranging from traditional pickled radish to fried eggs. And no, this isn't more food than usual, or anything special because Kaoru's pregnant. Grace always seems to make a feast regardless of how many people are eating, probably because she was used to cooking for four for so many years.
One of the major downsides to being pregnant is the crazy emotional waterworks that can come barreling down at any unforeseen moment. Of course, this is one of those times much to Kaoru's chagrin. Her vision begins to blur while cerulean irises become blocked with the formation of tears. Droplets flow freely as she hiccups "I didn't," this is so embarrassing, "do anything mom." Logically there is nothing to be embarrassed about, it's a completely normal reaction to be upset after suddenly losing a job, but Grace is the last person Kaoru wants to break down in front of. She doesn't want to be a disappointment, a failure. Not really even to her mother, but to Kaoru herself because she is just now realizing the gravity of the situation, and the fact that so much of her life is in limbo right now.
"I got pregnant," the words come out harsh and Kaoru fears she may have given the wrong impression. "He fired me because I got pregnant." It felt good to say it, that it wasn't because she did a bad job, or because she made a mistake at work. It was just good old fashioned evil, and she can't help picturing her old boss sitting in his oversized chair, in his gigantic office, laughing maniacally with wads of cash flapping about, enclosed in his chubby little fingers.
Grace is silent for a moment as she hugs her daughter. "It's better this way. Now you can relax for the rest of your pregnancy, and spend time with the baby after he's born." Kaoru never notices when her mom speaks with broken English, and her mind always seems to fill in the blanks, and her mom is right. She's always right, and Kaoru smiles, I hated that job anyway, which was true considering that Kaoru never quite felt comfortable there. It was mainly because the pay was pretty good that she even stayed there as long as she did.
In her two years of employment at BS Marketing Group, the name alone should have set off some red flags (especially when Joe, her old boss, refused to give any meaning to the letters "BS"), Kaoru never once wanted to spend time with her coworkers outside of the office. And needless to say, later that night, Kaoru immediately "defriended" them from her facebook account.
Cuddled up in bed with her newfoundland, Leo (if it's possible to imagine a giant pregnant woman snuggling with an enormous horse of a dog), whom was out for a walk with Kaoru's father when the newly unemployed woman arrived home, she clicks her way to the State's unemployment website. Thank God for her father too because without him, Kaoru wouldn't have even thought to collect unemployment benefits, and she is pleasantly surprised to see that 26 weeks is the maximum that she can get, from the local government anyway. But, it's better than nothing that's for sure. That's just enough time until the baby is born with a few months extra. At least her fears subside for the time being, especially the fact that she doesn't have to pay anything for healthcare because the state has a program specifically designed for single pregnant women.
After about an hour or so, Kaoru is finally able to close her eyes and get that much needed sleep she has been longing for.
A/N: Please review, and let me know what you think. I hope it was obvious that I was being sarcastic about that whole pregnant women being lazy workers thing. If not, let me know and I will revise it :) And this actually happened to me (minus the 1 night stand thing), so pregnant women do get discriminated against. I would really appreciate some feedback. Thanks! Happy reading ^_^x