Kaoru, Misao, Tae and Megumi: Through A Song I Will Win Your Heart!
Chapter 1- On My Own
~* Jo-chan
Disclaimers: Standard RK disclaimers apply. The song Lady Marmalade is not mine, if I'm correct it belongs to Sony music and the soundtrack of the movie Moulin Rouge. Sakura Wars is not mine too, there will be mention of that anime in this fic. Actually, there will be constant singing in this fic. On My Own is taken from the stage play of Les Miserables. I do not own it. Please bear with my crazy ideas, sometimes, I believe that some feelings are best expressed through a song. Please don't sue, I'm a good kid.
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//- Displays thoughts
Replays scenes from the Lady Marmalade
~ Aoshi's face by the time he translates is ash-gray. Concerned, Kenshin and Sano lean closer trying to squeeze the translation out of Aoshi's close-lipped face. Sano raises a fist and Kenshin lays a hand on the hilt of his sakabatou. "Well?" growled Kenshin threateningly. With dazed and scared eyes, Aoshi faces Kenshin and manages to gasp out, "It means, 'I want to spend the night with you!"
General face-fault and sweat-drops ensue.
With a wide smile on her face, Misao turned to face Kaoru who was clutching a huge bouquet of red roses. "Oi, Kaoru-chan, do you think our plan worked?" With a sly smile, she turned her head towards where Sano was kissing Megumi. Out of the corner her eye, Kaoru saw Kenshin and Aoshi standing not even five feet away from them, wearing an intense expression on their faces.
"Oh you'll see Misao-chan. You'll see," said Kaoru smugly.
***
Kenshin and Aoshi walk up to Kaoru and Misao still wearing their corsets and lingerie. With rather smug expressions on their faces, Misao and Kaoru flash their sweetest smiles at Kenshin and Aoshi.
"Konbawa!" chorused Kaoru and Misao as Kenshin and Aoshi stood directly in front of them, silent as a tomb and not saying anything. They stole a quick glance at Megumi who stood flushed and giggling-- yes, giggling at Sano's reddened face. Tae stood happily, receiving roses and reservations and employment offers from several enthusiastic young ladies.
"Kaoru--" said Kenshin as he reached out his hand. "Misao--" started Aoshi as he held his own hand out to Misao. Their hands were almost touching and when Kaoru and Misao looked up at Kenshin and Aoshi's face, the expressions on their faces can only be described as almost-- tender. But a rotund man wearing a tuxedo suddenly cuts in and grabs both Misao and Kaoru's hands in his huge grip. "Wonderful, wonderful show ladies! Such passion, such grace, such sensuality!" he cried out, with stars shining in his eyes.
The spell was broken.
Megumi glides over as she drags Sano by the ear. "Ohohohohoho! We know that already sir, no need to repeat such obvious facts!" said Megumi slyly stroking her pink wig. "Che! Kitsune, you have a head the size of watermelon already, don't make it worse, " sighed Sano shaking his head as he joined the rest. A quick punch rendered Sano toothless and dazed as Megumi flexed her fist. "Maa, maa," said Kenshin as Megumi whipped out a wicked looking syringe.
Tae bounded over and when she saw the fat man, she suddenly shrieked. "Masaka! You're the man who's promoting the Imperial Capital's Hanagumi actresses ne?" exclaimed Tae as the man blushed slightly and nodded. "Aa, I'll be sending the Hanagumi over by next month," he answered as Tsubame walked over, stars shining in her eyes. Yahiko looked irritated as he followed Tsubame up on the stage.
"Honto? You're the manager of the Hanagumi? I love Maria-san!" whispered Tsubame shyly. "Iie, I'm not their manager, I'm their publicist, their PR man in Tokyo. I've been looking for local actresses who are up to par with their skills for these past few months. You, my ladies, are exactly what I'm looking for!" he exclaimed as he pointed at Tae, Megumi, Kaoru and Misao.
"NANI?" chorused the rest of the RK cast except for Kaoru, Misao, Megumi and Tae who looked shocked. Misao cleared her throat as she answered, " Sou desu ne. I know we were really good out there tonight demo, we're not professional actresses." Kaoru nodded as she emphasized, "You won't believe this oji-sama but I own a kendo dojo and Misao here is the Oniwabanshuu's okashira. Megumi-san is a doctor while Tae-san is the proprietress of a restaurant. We're not cut out for acting."
The chubby man laughed as he said, "The Hanagumi are also the Imperial Capital's Defense team. So, you're in excellent company if you say you're not the average actress! A normal actress is way too boring," he said sniffing disdainfully at the idea. "Let me introduce myself, I an Kobuki Sabonya. Here's my card if you ladies are interested in earning 450 yen a night. Ja minna!" he said before looking at his watch and running off leaving everybody stunned.
"450 yen a night?" // Food and sushi every night!!// echoed Kaoru her eyes round as saucers.
// Sugoi! Think of all the new weapons I can buy with it!// thought Misao her smile growing by inches.
// Ohohohoho! New herbs and medical instruments// thought Megumi fox-ears pointing up.
"Shimatta! I can retire in no time at all with that money!" exclaimed Tae voicing the other girl's thoughts.
"Kuso, with that much money, no doubt the man would be asking them to strip. What a revolting idea!" said Yahiko shuddering as he whispered to Sano. A flash of amber and ice-blue eyes silenced Yahiko. When he looked up, he saw Sano wearing a dangerous look in his eyes. Frazzled, he stuttered, "Gomen-- I didn't mean it that way!"
Kenshin, Aoshi and Sano watched as the girls gripped their hands and giggled. "Oi, Kenshin, this is not good," he muttered as he scowled. "Aa, it seems to me like Misao wants to get that 450 yen a night," added Aoshi, his blank non-expression gone, replaced by a frustrated look of a man pushed to his limits. "Sessha don't like it either but I don't think we can dissuade them," said Kenshin, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Their grim expressions vanished and were replaced by their usual masks when the girls walked back to them.
"Minna, we decided to take the job," announced Kaoru as Misao gestured to the Oniwabanshuu. "Of course, we'll be pretty busy but we hope that whatever changes occur, it will be good ones," said Misao glancing briefly at Aoshi before averting her eyes. Sano elbowed Aoshi on his ribs when Aoshi remained stoically silent.
Kaoru turned to Kenshin who had his relaxed ruruoni face ready. " I oped you liked the show Kenshin, " said Kaoru shyly, searching for any hint of emotion in Kenshin's face. "Maa, maa. You dance and sing well Kaoru-dono," he said a little lamely much to Kaoru's disappointment. Misao turned to Aoshi with a hopeful expression on her face. "Aoshi-sama?" she asked but Aoshi remained silent and Misao sighed in disappointment.
"Let's go home now minna," said Kaoru in an overbright voice as Misao followed her back to the dojo where they would be staying temporarily.
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Kaoru and Misao were walking on a fire-fly lit path. It was a very familiar scene, with the moon so high up in the sky and the wind blowing sweetly through the trees. Aoshi and Kenshin were walking up ahead, as if oblivious to their presence. "What insensitive bakas!" muttered Misao as she shook her fist at Aoshi's back. Kaoru sighed as she remarked, " Mou! Those guys have feelings of a toad! They don't even have the initiative to walk beside us!"
Kaoru closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. The night was lovely, but she felt terribly alone. She spun around and began to sing. The breeze swept through their long-raven tresses, all brushed down after this evening's performance. They stood in the moonlight, as if framed by the stage's spotlight. With graceful pirouttes and extravagant gestures, they looked like a pair of nymphs dancing in the moonbeam.
Kaoru: On my own, pretending he's beside me
all alone, I walk with him till morning.
without him, I feel his arms around me.
And when I lose my way, I close my eyes and he has found me.
Misao: In the rain, the pavements shine like silver
all the lights are misty in the river.
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight.
And all I see is him and me forever and forever.
Kenshin and Aoshi stopped walking, captivated by the clarity and beauty of Misao and Kaoru's voice. The lyrics were poignant, sweetly reminiscent of the hard times they went through together and yet, survived. Scenes from Shishio's battle and Kaoru's captivity from Enishi flashed through Kenshin's mind. Misao's encounter with Shougo Amakusa and happy memories of their time in the past flashed through Aoshi's mind as well.
Misao: And I know, it's only in my mind
that I'm talking to myself and not to him.
And although, I know that he is blind,
still I say, there's a way for us...
I love him, but when the night is over,
he is gone, the river's just a river.
Kaoru: Without him, the world around me changes....
The trees are bare and everywhere
the streets are full of strangers...
I love him,
but everyday I'm learning
all my life, I've only been pretending
without me, his world will go on turning......
the world is full of happiness
that I have never known.
Misao and Kaoru: I love him,
I love him,
I love him.
But only on my own.....
They took a deep breath and bowed before their invisible audience. The night was dark around them and it seemed that Kenshin and Aoshi had gone on ahead back to the Kamiya dojo. "Kaoru-chan?" whispered Misao as she looked out at the vast night ahead of them. Kaoru smiled sadly as she answered, "Iie Misao, just don't say anything ne?" Walking back to the path that led them home, they were unaware of two shadows that watched them, hidden behind the silhouette of trees. One tall, one short. A flash of purple and ice-blue eyes showed briefly in the moonlight.
OWARI-- nah just kidding!
To be continued
Author's Notes:
Hello minna! Sorry, I thought this was going to be a short fic but it turns out to be longer than that. I can't seem to conclude their stories that briefly, sigh. Anyway, I hoped you liked my fic although its a bit angsty. But as I said, its just the beginning. My wisecracks would appear later on, so never fear, ne?If you have any suggestions to songs that you'd like to be features, just email me with the lyrics ne?
Here's a brief look on my next chapter:
The morning was more active than usual.
Maybe it was an aftermath from last night's performance but it seemed everybody was in tip-top shape of utter and complete RK-craziness. They all were sharing a sumptuous breakfast, courtesy of Tae who was sitting with them, trying to calmly drink tea but failing. There was a raging argument on-going.
"Give me back that rice cake!" raged Sano as he wrestled with Yahiko on the tatami, making Megumi sigh in exasperation. "Sano, darling, I think that's enough," she said in a firm voice that made Sano look up from his battle and the Kenshin-gumi smile in satisfaction. "Che! Fox, that kid stole my dessert!" he complained, dropping back to his seat next to Megumi.
"Here you can have mine," said Megumi smiling up at him. The girls sighed in envy at the sweetness while the men groaned at the sappy scene. Tae put down her tea cup as she addressed the table at large, "You know, we four should have a name." Misao gaped at her. "Huh? A name? What for?" she asked while shoving down her origiri. Kaoru clapped her hands in excitement. "That's a nice idea! Sort of like the Hanagumi ne? Why don't we call ourselves-- Kamiya-gumi?"
Megumi choked on her tea and began laughing, her fox ears sticking up. "Ohohohoho! Sounds more like a circus act to me!" she exclaimed making Kaoru's eyes turn round and pointed with anger. Misao began rolling on the floor, holding her sides as she laughed. She placed her elbows on the table as she made her suggestion, still snickering. "I think the Makimachi-gumi sounds way better and cooler than Kamiya-gumi!" she yelled giggling afterwards.
"Oh yeah, wanna bet?" challenged Kaoru as a threesome match between the weasel, the raccoon and the fox loomed, with Tae as their referee.
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Mr. Kobuki clapped his hands as he gestured for Misao, Kaoru, Megumi and Tae to be on the center of the stage. "All right ladies, I'm giving you free creative reign on the production. I see you're no ordinary talents and your skills are spontaneous. What's on your minds?"
Tae tapped her foot as she considered. "Hmm, I feel like singing something like this,
Tae: ( Missy Elliot style) Get your freak on up
Get your freak on up
Gitchie, gitchie gitchie up...
Megumi interrupts with her Ohohohoho laughter. She faced them with both hands on her waist as she smirked. "Ladies, I have a better idea. I feel like making a certain roosterhead lose it. Why don't we try this song?" asked Megumi with a sly wink.
Curious, the other girls crowded closer. Misao laughed uproariously while Kaoru grinned mischievously after straightening from their huddle. A catchy beat began playing in the distance.
TBC