And here it is! My new project that I've been raring to get at for a few months. In my head, the idea is wonderful. I just hope I can do it justice! It's different from my usual stuff if you've read any of my other things. Not so much fluff. It does exist, but with a considerable amount of angst too. It will be written in first person POVs which will be switching, but I'll let ya know who's POV it is. Anyway, read on and hope you enjoy!
Not really OOC, but you will see characters' thoughts which may seem OOC. But when they're interacting with each other I'll try to keep it close to character. Confused? Not as much as I am.
Oh, just assume it'll be OOC. Too hard to explain.
Disclaimer: RK doesn't belong to me. It belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki, Sony, etc. Used without permission, no money made, blah, blah, blah....
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
Prologue: An Invite To Kyoto
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Kaoru
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That baka hasn't even noticed yet. I won't name any names, but let's just say the 'baka' has red hair and carries a sword with him. I put on lip gloss today, another ploy to get some attention from him. I smush my lips together and...yep, still there. I can feel it so I know he can see it. Will I let him know I'm disappointed? Of course not! I've gotten good at hiding it when it comes to my relationship, or lack thereof, with Kenshin.
It's a good thing the tofu vendor begins talking to us before we even reach the shop. I would have just walked right on by, preoccupied with my thoughts. And then Kenshin would have known something was up, he probably already does, but I won't admit to it.
Kenshin conducts business and I stay behind him, listening as he talks with the old man. I much prefer to leave this sort of thing to Kenshin, he's better at it anyway. He finishes up business and we start the walk back home. More silence and more thinking. I hate that. I can't make my mind go blank and I would hack off my right arm this moment to forget all my troubles with Kenshin.
"Are you feeling alright, Kaoru-dono? You've been unusually quiet today." Kenshin eyes me with concern.
I force a smile to my shiny lips. "I'm fine, Kenshin. Can't a girl be a little on the quiet side once in a while?"
Kenshin smiles back, but I can see it in his eyes. I'm selling, but he ain't buying. How can I tell him what I'm thinking though? 'Kenshin, I'm nearly twenty now. I'm beginning to worry about my future and I want to get married. Now, get on your knees and ask for my hand, baka!' Yeah, that would be real smooth. I can just see him doing it out of habit though. 'Whatever Kaoru-dono asks, seesha will grant.' Great, now he's seesha-ing and dono-ing in my thoughts!
It's times like these when I need a friend nearby who can relate. Megumi would take great pleasure in embarrassing me in front of everyone, Tae would play matchmaker again and we all remember what happened last time. I still haven't quite recovered from the pain of the 'ring fiasco'. I truly believed Kenshin had proposed to me. I should have known better, but in my happiness I had forsaken common sense. The only person I could really talk to would be Misao, but with her in Kyoto and me in Tokyo, conversations were few and far between. We could write letters, but it isn't the same.
"I'm sorry, Kenshin. I'm just not hungry tonight. I have a horrible headache, I think I'll go and try to sleep it off." I smile at him slightly. He returns it, but it's even smaller than my smile. Sheesh, this guy's ability to read people is down right creepy sometimes!
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Kenshin
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I watch as Kaoru heads to her room. Something is weighing her down greatly and I do believe I know what it is. Kaoru's twentieth birthday is nearing, and I think she's ready to settle down. I've noticed the signs. I saw her lip gloss today, but I didn't want to encourage her. I know she has a crush on me, but I don't think it's true love and I don't love her in that way. She's an amazing person and I adore her, but it's a friend love. True, it's more than I feel toward our other friends, but I believe that's because she's the first person who didn't care about who I was or what I had done. And for that, she has my eternal gratitude and a special place in my heart, it just isn't the place she wants.
I head for the kitchen to start dinner and am greeted by Sano on the porch.
"Hey, Kenshin! Saw you eyeing Jou-chan with a little glint in your eye." Sano winked at me and I blushed, truly discomfitted by what he was implying.
So, everyone else thinks there's more to Kaoru and I than meets the eye. It's no surprise. They've all tried different set-ups and schemes. Luckily, none of them have gotten too far. After Tae's semi-triumph with that ring I've been on full alert. I know Kaoru was hurt by the truth, but it was better put to rest than let it go until we were married.
I turned to Sano. "Seesha was merely making sure Kaoru-dono got to her room safely. She is feeling a bit under the weather."
Sano chuckled. "Why don't you go make it all better, Kenshin?"
"Oro!" Raunchier than usual, eh, Sano? I merely use my catchphrase to evade the current line of conversation and decide to strike up a new one.
"Any news around town, lately?" Lame, I know. And Sano knows what I was doing, but he also gets the point that we aren't going to discuss Kaoru-dono and I any longer.
"Not much, Kenshin. But, while you guys were out this letter came for Jou-chan. It's from Kyoto, so I'll give you three guesses on who it's from, but you only need one."
I took the folded paper and looked at the bubbly script. "Misao-dono."
Sano nodded and leaned back on the door jamb. "I'll be waiting on the porch until dinner's ready."
I padded toward Kaoru-dono's room. She hadn't been gone too long so I didn't think she'd be asleep already. However, I didn't expect to hear sobbing from her room.
I jerked the door open without knocking in my alarm and felt bad about doing it right after. Kaoru had been crying for a while if the red eyes and dried tear streaks were any indication. At the moment I entered she was furiously swiping at her lips trying to get the gloss off. And then the angry sobs. "God, Kenshin! I swear a girl can't have any piece around this miserable dojo! I just want to be left alone for a while."
I put the letter in her hands and stepped back. "This came for you from Misao-dono today. It may make you feel better." I retreated from her room and made my way back to the kitchen. Whatever was hurting her, I hoped the happy ninja could cure.
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Kaoru
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How embarrassing! I'm throwing a tantrum in my room and Kenshin bursts in with a letter. I sighed and swiped at my eyes, trying to calm down. I quickly opened the letter, careful not to tear any of the letter itself in my haste.
Kaoru!!!!!!!!!!!
Misao here! But, then again, who else would it be from Kyoto? Just writing to invite you guys to Jiya's birthday party! The old geezer wants some huge affair, so I'm stuck with the job of inviting everybody. And I do mean everybody! Bring the brat and rooster! And on Jiya's order, the 'gorgeous lady doctor'. No surprise. He's such a pervert. Anyway, I figure it would also be a good time for us to have a chat about some things. I've enclosed train tickets just to make sure you DO come! See you soon!
-Misao Makimachi
Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu
I have to giggle as I read her letter. I could just hear her voice as I read and I even winced when I saw my name, hearing the screech she must have made while writing it. Watching Misao write a letter is quite entertaining. I observed her back when we visited last summer. She wrote to one of their contacts and she was talking to herself the whole time as if the person were right in front of her. I had to laugh outright when she would make a noise and then have to figure out how to spell it. I smile and wipe away the last of my tears. It seems my wish to have someone to talk to will be reality soon enough.
I cleaned up a bit so my face wasn't so red and went out to the kitchen to tell everyone the news.
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A/N: And there's the beginning. I may be slow on updating this at first. 'Kaoru...the Saiyan??' has been lingering in unfinished mode for too long and I need to just sit down and finish the darn thing. Anyway, please review and let me know what you think. Hope to hear from you! Hugs & Kisses!