Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its creations.
A/N: It's not often that I think of a good plot for a 'feel good' kinda story so to make the most out of this plot, I'll be starting when Kaoru is let's say…. Six years old. Her parents are still alive too. Lol. This is going to be entertaining to write. BTW, this fic will not be based on modern time.
Hidden in Study – Chapter One – By Cherry Chibi
It was a bright and sunny day and in the countryside, lived a small family. The Kamiya family were rice farmers and sold their crops every harvest season. Meanwhile, the family were having an afternoon break inside the small cottage.
"Mummy, Daddy, can I go to school?" Little six years old Kaoru asked her parents while placing a plate of cut fruit on the table. She flinched when her father scolded her.
"No Kaoru, you cannot go to school. School is for boys only, you can only learn to read and that's all." Her father's angry voice made her feel intimidated.
"But Daddy! I want to learn more…"
"No sweetheart." Her mother coaxed her, "You must understand that there aren't any schools for girls. They're all boy schools and they won't let you come home until you've finished." Her mother gave her a small smile.
"But-,"
"No buts Kaoru!" Her father scolded her.
Kaoru frowned and took her seat. She wanted to go to school badly. It was where she could learn more about the world and many other things that satisfy her taste for entertainment. "Then will you promise me something mummy?"
"What is it sweetheart?" Her mother asked her gently while stroking her daughter's hair.
"And daddy, will you promise me too?" Kaoru asked her father with pleading eyes.
After a moment of hesitation, her father replied. "Alright."
Kaoru smiled innocently. "Alright, promise me that if I trick the both of you that I was a boy, you'll have to let me go to school!" She eyed her parents with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Her mother glanced back at her father. There was a moment of silent communication between the two parents. Kaoru's father gave a chuckle to lighten the mood and then said, "Alright. Fine."
"Don't break your promise!" Kaoru leapt of her chair, gave her mother a kiss on the cheek, and her father a hug before running off.
"She is too naughty sometimes." Her mother said briefly afterwards.
* * * *
Little Kaoru dug through a large chest in the attic and searched for boy's clothes. "I know I can trick them…" She said, "All I need is some decent clothes." Then she held out a boy's robe that looked like it was from China. A smile stretched her lips when she realised that it would fit her.
She dug into the chest some more and during that time she had become so enthusiastic that she fell inside the chest with an, "Umph." She searched through and found a pair of shoes. She compared the shoe against her foot and smiled. "Great! These match that funny dress." She climbed out of the chest and gathered the items before bouncing into her bedroom.
Kaoru folded and hid the clothing inside her closet she looked in the mirror. "Uh oh…" She noticed her black hair that fell over her shoulders. "My hair… it's too long…" She gulped and cringed at the thought of cutting her hair. "No, no, no, think good." She imagined herself with short hair and laughed. "Alright! I can do it!"
With soft thumps, she rushed out of the room towards the kitchen. When she reached there, she searched through the cupboards until she found a small sharp knife. 'I guess this will have to do.' She rushed back to her bedroom and shut the door closed. "Mummy says that I should always be careful with a knife." Kaoru said under her breath.
She knelt in front of the mirror and took in so steady breaths. "Oh please…" She held out a lock of her hair and prepared to cut it when suddenly…
"What are you doing Kao?!" Another girl aged six entered the room with a loud bang. She was the servant girl who the Kamiya family accepted. Her blue-green eyes were wild. She had grown to love Kaoru as a sister.
"I'm gonna dress up as a boy." Kaoru replied. She let out a sigh to relax. She thought that she had shaved her head when Misao entered like that.
"Why? Don't tell me that you're gonna run away to go to school!" Misao eyes widened at the thought of her best friend running away. She hugged Kaoru and started crying. "You better not run away!!!"
"Calm down Misao, I made a deal with mummy and daddy." Kaoru said holding the knife away from the two.
"Oh, what deal?" Misao sat back.
"That if I can trick them that I'm a boy then I get to go to school." Kaoru said. "It's like playing dress up!"
"Oh, then I can help! I'll help you cut your hair!" Misao grabbed the knife.
"But Misao!"
Later…
Kaoru looked at the mirror with wide eyes. Her hair was short that was for sure but it had the scruffy look.
Misao sat back and smiled. She wrapped the knife in a cloth and placed it aside. "You look cute!"
"You're right! Misao! Thanks!" Kaoru ruffled her hair to make it even scruffier. "I must say, I think I like having short hair…" Kaoru smiled at Misao and then the two girls laughed.
"Let's finish dressing up!" Misao stood up while laughing.
"Yeah!" Kaoru rushed to her closet and took out the Chinese robe. "This is gonna be great!" She quickly changed and looked at herself in the mirror, "I look like a boy." She said with a satisfied grin.
"Uh oh," Misao scurried out of the room and came back with a pair of small rounded sunglasses. "You better put these on."
"Why?"
"'Cos how many people do you know besides your family and me have blue eyes?" Misao said.
"Oh," Kaoru put them on and looked at herself in the mirror. After a moment of silence the two girls laugh.
"Wanna play mud wrestling?" Misao asked.
Kaoru looked at Misao's wistful look. When Misao winked Kaoru got the idea.
* * * *
Kaoru's parents were working on the crops when suddenly they heard Misao scream. Alarmed, Mr. Kamiya picked up his bokken and followed the sounds. Mrs. Kamiya was also following close by. When they arrived at the scene, the found Misao wrestling a boy to the muddy ground.
"Got you!" Misao growled. "Mr. Kamiya is gonna beat you up for hurting Kaoru!"
"Hurting Kaoru?" Mr. Kamiya felt the urge of spanking that boy.
The boy shouted, "It was her fault!"
"What? She was playing dolls with me?!" Misao shouted.
"Alright kids, what's going on?!" Mr. Kamiya walked in with a stern face.
"Get this girl offa me!" The boy shouted. "I'm a son of a rich Chinese family! Get offa me!"
"Alright boy," Mr. Kamiya grabbed the boy by the collar. "You think that you are a smart mouth then…"
"Darling, you better not harm the boy." Mrs. Kamiya said.
"What's your name boy?" Mr. Kamiya questioned angrily.
"Hi daddy!" Kaoru took off her sunglasses and smiled. "Hi mummy!
Misao started laughing and she tumbled over. Her kimono was covered with mud. Kaoru's parents looked as if they had been spanked by their parents.
"Kaoru?" Her mother looked worriedly at her father.
"You have to keep your promises." Kaoru said. "I would like to go to school soon." She scrambled out of her father's reach and hugged Misao. "We tricked them!!!!"
* * * *
A/N: Yes… this is going to be one entertaining story. Please drop a review on what you think. ^.^
~Cherry Chibi