A Woman's Heart
Two
She Who Never Wavers In Her Belief
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Disclaimer: I don't, under any circumstances, own Rurouni Kenshin and its characters.
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Tokyo, Spring 1878
She sat in a perfect seiza, body relaxing in a meditative state as she breathed slowly, letting the air filling her lungs and settling the chaos in her mind down. A gust of wind breezed through the open shoji of the dojo, brushing away the bangs covering her forehead. Kaoru sighed deeply, then slowly blinked her eyes open, revealing a pair of brilliant cerulean orbs.
Everyone has left.
Since the murder began in their little town, Kamiya dojo had been affected the most. The remaining students her father had gained left one by one, either by their own accord or because of their parents'... concern. Kaoru bit back a sneer at that thought. Concern, yeah, right. Concern doesn't include an insult in pretty words for this mere shihandai who happens to be a woman.
If she could cry, she would have cried herself to sleep for the harsh words that thrown towards her; instead, she hardened her heart, and renewed her determination to a new height. She had had enough of the scorn looks from both men and women, the calculating looks she'd gotten whenever she met a member of a samurai family, or worst, the leering she got from her opponents in a fight.
Kamiya Kaoru was no longer a child. She'd lost her naivety a long time ago.
A soft pitter-patter against the wooden floor alerted her of someone's approach. Tensing, she readied herself for another argument with Kihei. It always left her frustrated and weary every time. It also made Kaoru think again of why did she invite the old man to stay at the dojo. Perhaps because she pitied him? Or because she was too depressed of her loneliness— did she hope Kihei could, somehow, become another parent figure for the lost child in her?
Or, because her mouth always betrayed her?
Whatever, Kaoru sighed to herself, rising to her feet. The sound of foot steps were louder, and then stopped right before entering the dojo.
"Kaoru—"
Kaoru turned around, blue eyes hard. She had enough of people stomping down her only pride as a swordswoman. No, she was not going to take another petty argument from Kihei. If he deemed her disrespectful towards an elder like him, so. be. it.
"Kihei, I am going." When he opened his mouth to protest, Kaoru shook her head, fingers circling the hilt of her bokken idly. "I am not going to stop to search for this man—I will not let anyone, even a murderer, to stain my family's honor.
"I am Kamiya Kaoru, and I have given my vow to protect," she declared in a firm tone. "Kamiya Kasshin-ryū has protected both the wielder and the one it protects, and this time—this time, it is my turn to protect it."
The man frowned, but kept his mouth shut. Kaoru would have thanked him for that, but the pounding in her heart had released the adrenaline to her veins. She needed to leave her home for a while, to go for another search for the murderer. She would not give him the satisfaction of killing innocents and marring her family's name—she would show him that no one messed with Kamiya Kaoru.
Stepping out of her dojo, Kaoru slipped her feet to her zori. She lifted her head up, glancing at the starlit sky. The crescent moon shone bright, its silvery light lighting the darkness around. Sakura blossoms scattered about, dancing in the wind as they fell gracefully from the auburn branch. Kaoru smiled a little, appreciating the beauty of nature around her. She felt refreshed, and ready to face anything... spesifically, the Battousai.
Father, Mother, Kaoru whispered to the wind, I will not fail—I promise you.
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On another side of Tokyo, a red headed man with a sword tied to his hip smiled up at the sky, oblivious of the fate awaiting for him... and a certain shihandai.
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Prompt: Childhood or Past, for the Women of Ruroken Week on Tumblr.
Originally Posted on: March 9th, 2015.
Characters: Kamiya Kaoru, Hiruma Kihei, and a bits of a soon-to-be-beaten Himura Kenshin.
Words: 658
