Lè Rose
By: BrokenSonnet32
Disclaimer: They are not mine.
Chapter 1: Déjà vu
The tiny dots of stars twinkled brightly as contrast to the night's dark sky. The moon – shining at its glory – sat in the midst of the stars as would a lovely queen among her loyal servants. The cold air blew – sending shivers at everyone's spines; and the quiet owl hooted so solemn in the night.
Kamiya Kaoru sighed as she stared up at the sky – her lone figure illuminated by the moonlight. Bracing herself up against the cold metal railings of the balcony, she craned her neck up and smiled as the cool night wind tickled her somewhat childlike face.
"Kaoru! Come and help us here!" her mother's voice boomed around the house – disrupting Kaoru's little sanctuary. With a small sigh, the young lady made her way out of the balcony and downstairs where she knew her mother was currently welcoming the guests.
This night – her older sister Kasumi would be coming back home and Kaoru's parents decided to throw the young woman a huge welcome party. Having just finished her studies and stayed a very long time abroad, Kaoru's parents thought that it would be really great if the motif of the party will be traditional Japanese party.
"Yes, mom?" Kaoru caught her mother leading another group of Kasumi's high school classmates inside the house. She bent her head down as the said group walked past her – Kaoru was never fond of her sister's circle of friends and former classmates.
"Can you entertain the guests?" Kaoru's mother, Kamiya Kumiko, said, "I'll just call your father to see if he's already got Kasumi in the airport."
Kaoru's eyes widened at the small request but was never given the chance to speak herself up when her mother soon disappeared further inside their house to use the phone. With a deep sigh, Kaoru went to the tearoom where surely her sister's guests were currently lounging.
The small, usually quiet room erupted with excited greetings as Kaoru pushed the door open. She watched, biting her lower lip nervously, at the disappointed faces of the crowd – they might have thought that Kasumi had finally arrived and they will finally see her.
"My mom is calling dad…" Kaoru started, all the while aware at how the crowd had started on with their own chatters to even stop and listen to her. With another sigh, Kaoru bent her head down and would have left the room if not for the familiar face of her friend.
'Finally… someone who actually wanted my presence in the room…' Kaoru happily thought as she made her way towards her friend.
"Kao-chan! Here!" it was Makimachi Misao who's just called her, beaming excitedly at Kaoru. She patted the empty chair beside her and Kaoru took the offered seat with a smile.
"That kimono looked good on you!" Misao said, eyeing Kaoru's bright-colored kimono with great satisfaction.
"No, it doesn't." Kaoru shook her head, "It makes me look thinner."
"The problem with you is that you don't have confidence in yourself." Misao rolled her eyes and frowned at her friend, "How many times do I have to stop you from berating yourself?"
"Misao-chan… it's really nice of you but you don't have to lie just to make me feel better." Kaoru said with a sigh.
"Fine…" Misao sighed as well, "Anyway… what happened to you yesterday? I've waited in front of your locker but you never came!"
"I'm sorry." Kaoru said truthfully, "My mother wanted me home early so that I can help with the chores. She wanted to make everything perfect for my sister's arrival, you see?" she said this with another sigh.
"But I have prepared everything as well!" Misao suddenly blurted out loud. Her eyes widened in an instant and her hand came up to cover her mouth – looking more like a child who just said something she shouldn't have.
"Is there something that I should know?" Kaoru said with that dangerous glint in her eyes. The suspicious feeling at the back of her mind grows at her friend's obviously paler face.
Her friend however was saved from further interrogations as the door burst open to reveal Kaoru's very surprised sister. Years abroad seemed to be very good for Kasumi for she became even prettier than she already was before she left. Kasumi's hair – which has grown in length over the years, was tied in a simple bun on her nape. A dark blue dress that reached her knees enveloped the woman's slim form.
'She can make even a dirty rag cloth look elegant…' Kaoru enviously thought as she stayed seated in her chair – the lone figure that has not run to welcome the newcomer.
The crowd soon settled down. Misao had soon returned to their table after managing to catch a small conversation with the star of the night.
"I love her dress! Simple yet very elegant!" Misao sighed dreamily, "I wish I'm as pretty as your sister, Kao-chan."
"Baby sister!"
Kasumi had approached the pair before Kaoru could even come up with a smart response to Misao's question. The younger Kamiya turned to find her sister's arms lacing around her unsuspecting form and before she knew it, she was enveloped into one strong bear hug that made breathing such a difficult achievement.
"Kasumi… air… can't… breath!" Kaoru managed to choke with great difficulty. Kasumi realizing her sister's dilemma released her and settled on the last vacant chair in the table.
"How've you been sister?" Kasumi asked and her eyes widened as it fell on Kaoru's kimono, "Wow! Isn't that the same kimono that I'd made for you? I knew it'd look good on you!"
Aside from pursuing her Business Administration course in the United States, Kasumi had gained quite a reputation as a fashion designer in her long stay at the said country. Her greatest pleasure is designing clothes and apparels for her younger and only sister, Kaoru.
"I told her that but Kao-chan would never believe me!" Misao said with a pout. Kasumi regarded her with a smile before turning back at her silent sister.
"I'm just fine…" Kaoru said with a small smile as her sister turned to her.
"So, finally got a boyfriend?" Kasumi asked as Misao took that as her cue to leave the two sisters alone for some 'catching up on old times' moment.
Kaoru's face burned at the question, she gave her sister a deep frown and firmly stated, "I have decided long ago that I'll die an old maid."
"That's just horrible." Kasumi shook her head, "Companionship is very important in life, you know. Especially once you've reached the ripe age of your life."
"I have friends. That's all that matters." Kaoru said resolutely.
"Do 'I' matter as well?" Kasumi asked and Kaoru's eyes widened at the question. Before the younger Kamiya could answer, their short moment of peace was disrupted by some of Kasumi's former classmates.
"Kasumi-dear! My… you've grown more gorgeous!" they said, taking some abandoned chairs. Kaoru saw her sister made a small disappointed sigh before turning to smile at her acquaintances.
"Thank you… so as yourselves." Kasumi said brightly. The group of girls giggled at the compliment.
Kaoru chose that moment to discreetly slip out of the room. She was to exit through one of the doors when she caught her parents talking in the corner.
"Oh, Koshiro… how Kasumi had grown over the years… I'm so proud!" Kumiko's happy voice could clearly be heard from Kaoru's position.
"Yes, my dear." Kaoru's father, Kamiya Koshiro, said in the same tone, "I always had my complete confidence on the child."
"I'm just happy she's finally staying with us for good. Our family would be happy again!"
"Certainly."
Kaoru finally made it out of the room and out of the house. She never cared whether it was already late or whatever – all the talk about her sister and everything is making her… She just wanted some fresh air, she really does. So here she was, out in cold night air, walking through their subdivision's silent streets to wherever her feet would take her.
'This is so childish…' Kaoru sighed, '…to be out here feeling all sorry for myself when there really is no need to feel like it.'
She found herself standing in one convenience store. With a small shrug, she entered the establishment – trying to ignore the odd glances she's been receiving from several people inside the store, 'Mou! I should have stopped to change into some normal clothing…'
Kaoru found herself purchasing a gallon box of her favorite Mocha Ice Cream – grateful that her purse had enough money to pay for her frozen delight. Sitting down on some random object, she opened her ice cream box and started to eat – glad that she had thought of buying one of those plastic spoons in the store.
'There really is no reason for me to feel like this, is there? I mean… compared to Kasumi…' Kaoru sighed and took one spoonful of her ice cream, '…I'm just a no one. An ugly duckling compared to a swan princess… Shrek compared to the Prince Charming…'
Kaoru giggled at the last thought, "Well at least Shrek is not the bad guy, isn't he?"
'I remember one time somewhat similar to this night… a night of some four years ago…' Kaoru sighed as laughter disappeared on her eyes, 'See? I was in a kimono back then, just like now. And I remember the color of my kimono back then is yellow just like mine is now tonight!' a small smile escaped on her lips as she popped another spoonful in her mouth, '…the same ice cream flavor… the same sad feeling…'
The girl shivered that has nothing to do with the cool night air, 'Déjà vu? Weird…' she rolled her eyes and sighed, 'If this really is just like one of those magical night in TV then my—"
"What weird flavor!" somebody had said and Kaoru almost dropped her spoon in surprise. She let her eyes trained on some imaginary spot on the ground as she continued to consume her ice cream. When the night stayed quiet again, she finally lets out the breath she never knew she was holding.
'Man… just my crazy imagination…'
"Coffee-flavored ice cream? Why not just drink coffee?" the same voice said again. But Kaoru still locked her eyes on the same imaginary spot on the ground.
"I don't really drink coffee." she found herself replying. There was a small chuckle beside her which made the young woman frown.
"But you eat coffee-flavored ice cream? That's just weird…"
"I like the feeling of my ice cream melting in my mouth… it makes the taste stays longer in my tongue—"
"Unlike in drinking coffee… the taste is gone as soon as you gulped the liquid down." her strange companion finished for her and this time Kaoru turned.
Long auburn hair still in the messy ponytail that Kaoru has remembered four years ago; beautiful set of amethyst eyes dancing with mirth stared back at her. Except for the light blue shirt and dark pants, and the absence of the strong alcoholic scent in air – he was still as Kaoru has remembered him.
"I had once had this funny encounter with this girl wearing yellow kimono four years ago trying to consume a gallon box of coffee-flavored ice cream." the redheaded man said with a smile, "You know what's even weirder than that? She eats coffee-flavored ice cream but she doesn't drink coffee! Weird, isn't it?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes, but found herself smiling at the slight hint of humor in the man's voice, "You know… there's something even weirder than that." she said, catching a glimpse of the man beside her out of the corners of her eyes, "I once met this strange drunk man with a weird-colored hair. He started talking nonsense and then suddenly dragged me into this really expensive-looking restaurant and told me that it'd be his treat."
"Really?" the man's smile turned wider, "That man must be really nice. And I bet he's really good-looking too, isn't he?"
"Hardly!" Kaoru snorted, "He's not really nice too! He left me all alone after that phone call…" she paused and frowned when the smile suddenly left the man's face.
"I'm sorry about that night." he finally said after some time of silence, "Something came up and I really had to go."
"That's alright… as long as you paid my meal." Kaoru smiled pleasantly at him, "If not, I would personally hunt you down and skin you alive!" she added with a fierce tone of her voice.
The man laughed, "Still the feisty little child, aren't we?"
"I'm not a child anymore!" Kaoru pouted.
"Only a child would consume a gallon-ful of ice cream without caring for all those calories and not worry about getting fat." he said with a shrug.
"Well… I don't really mind gaining some weight seeing that I'm rather a little underweight." Kaoru said staring down at her slim body.
The man chuckled again as he began to stand up. Kaoru found herself following as the man started to walk to who-knows-where, still carrying her ice cream box with one hand.
"You're following now?" the man said, without turning to look back at Kaoru, "You weren't very cooperative the other time, I remember."
"Well… What kind of girl would willingly go out with some strange drunken man?" Kaoru pouted.
"What kind of girl would willingly follow some unknown man?" he replied quickly. Kaoru found herself loss as to how to reply to that, so she just shook her head and continued eating her ice cream.
"Have I told you that you'll get diabetes is you continue trying to empty that thing?" he asked, tilting his head a little to watch through half-lidded eyes.
"I remember you telling me before." Kaoru shrugged, "Are you one of those health-maniacs too?"
"No." the man shrugged as he continued to walk, "Just a very nice person concerned for another's health."
"Well thank you for your concerns, but I can handle a few more spoonfuls."
"You better drink a lot of water after that."
Kaoru laughed, "You really are one of those health-maniacs!" she paused as he gave her one smile, "Can you give me some diet-tips on how I can gain more weight too?"
He chuckled at her and continued walking. Kaoru jogged (with great difficulty considering her current attire) until she was walking right beside the weird-headed man. She smiled, catching a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eyes and walked quietly to nowhere their feet would take them.
They ended up in front of Kaoru's subdivision – talking about almost everything under the sun. The man offered to accompany Kaoru to her house ('I will not let you walk all alone in the dark') but the girl declined with a gentle shake of her head. Kaoru had the feeling that the man would still insist on walking her home if not for his phone suddenly disrupting the silence of the night.
"Stupid phone…" Kaoru heard the man mutter under his breath as he finally answered his ringing cell phone. The girl took that opportunity to silently slip away from the man and walk to her house.
'Bye…' she thought, turning to give one last look at the weird-headed man before finally marching her way towards the place she called 'home'.
To be Continued…