Author's Note: I am sorry for those who are still waiting for Kenshin's arrival. Let him rest for a while, you know he's still tired from the Jinchu stuff. But I will introduce him and the other gangs later on. I just wanted to establish the sequence of events first. Click that 'Review' button down there! I'd love to read your messages about my story. Arigato de gozaru, minna-san! (*_^x)
CHAPTER FOUR
Miss Kamiya insisted that Tomoko should address her by her first name reasoning out that it makes her feel old and isolated when she hears 'miss.' I have a companion here at the dojo but he is not here at the moment but it freaks me out whenever he calls me 'Miss Kaoru.'" She remembered her saying after her outburst. Like her former assumption, it turns out that Kaoru is also the same age like her. She is 17 and the current assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin Style, which according to her father, is a sword technique meant for protecting people. She and Kaoru had already bonded together like real siblings; she showed her around the house and even gave her swordsmanship lessons so that she can defend herself once the goons' shows up again. In return, Tomoko let Kaoru explore her stuff. She showed her the latest technology in the future called 'smartphones.' Thanks to these gadgets, she was able to prove herself to Kaoru Kamiya. Tomoko went to Kaoru's side and immediately used her phone to take a selfie. Afterwards, she showed the picture to her. Kaoru, amazed with the latest technology, went to ask her more of the innovation from the future. Tomoko obliged; she showed her ID's, the money, the power bank.
"It can play music too?" Kaoru asked, astonished.
"Yes! Hmm… let's see what I have here." Tomoko searched in vain for some traditional Japanese music but found nothing.
She smiled apologetically, her left hand scratching the back of her head. "I'm sorry Miss…er…Kaoru, I do not have a traditional Japanese music here."
"Never mind. Just show me what music you have in there."
"Okay!"
"Okay?" Kaoru mimicked. "What is that?"
"Oh it is a futuristic slang meaning, 'I will' or something that affirms one's statement."
"Oh, okay!" Kaoru stated. "Did I use it right?"
Tomoko laughed, raising her right thumb up towards Kaoru. They both grinned together like long time comrades. "Here I have a music stored. Let me play it for you." Tomoko played the music of The Band Perry and One Ok Rock. Kaoru seemed to like the country songs but detested the second one. "Don't ever play the second song, it hurts my head." She remarked to the song of One Ok Rock.
"But why? It is a good song!"
"It is not! I don't like it; I'd much prefer Yahiko's shouting instead."
As if on cue, Yahiko's voice called from the outside. "Heyyyyy Ugly! Get out here and train me now!"
Kaoru and Tomoko stared at each other. "Yahiko's here!" Tomoko already knew Yahiko based from Kaoru's descriptions earlier. "Miss Kaoru, please don't let anyone know I am staying here! Rumors will start and they might find me here! I beg you please!" Tomoko pleaded to Kaoru, her eyes beginning to water again. In other circumstances, Kaoru doubted the woman's reasons but since she has already given proof that she is clearly not from this era, she needed to conceal her identity as well. She thanked the gods that no one saw her lying outside the Kamiya gate; she will use this as her method to conceal her identity. It is also possible that if the people who wanted her dead also have ability to time-travel in the past, they might be looking for a young woman with weird futuristic Western clothing.
"Do you think you can wear a male outfit?" she asked Tomoko.
"Like the kendo attire?"
"Yes! That's it, but not kendo attire. It's quite different but has the same style. Do you think you can manage to pretend as a boy? If you conceal your identity, might as well conceal your gender as well. I will hide your clothes. In that way, no one will know that you are living with me." Kaoru reasoned out.
Tomoko pondered at the thought. She never really liked the traditional male outfits in the Meiji period but what Kaoru had stated is rational. Tomoko does not know whether they are also here in this period or not. I'll have to endure it. Dressing up a man is the same as what my folks do. I need to find the book too and with a concealed identity, they will never doubt me. Tomoko agreed. Kaoru went to his father's former room and brought out his kimono and hakama. To conceal her identity, she let her wear her father's hat as well. "You stay there and dress up. I will hide you uniform. Yahiko usually goes to the dojo every morning so I am sure that he hasn't went to the storage house. I will deal with him, but make sure you put up your act and remember what we talked okay?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
Kaoru smiled and went out. "I will see you later. Just hide here for now. Don't let Yahiko see you or else our plan will be ruined. That brat is quite a loud mouthed punk you know."
"Thank you, Miss Kaoru." Tomoko saw a vein twitched on Kaoru's face. She gasped as she remembered what she had told her before. "Thank you Kaoru."
"Heyy Ugly get out of your room and train me now!" Yahiko called again, this time much louder.
"I'm coming there you little brat. Don't forget your assistant master still needs some time to freshen up. I'm still a woman you know." Kaoru yelled as she ran fast towards the dojo.
"No matter how you beautify yourself, you're still an ugly raccoon girl for me."
Later on, loud beatings and screams of a kid were heard from the dojo.
(Please review! Those who wait for Kenshin, it's over you will meet him in the fourth chappie! See ya! ("\(^_^x)
