Author's Note: Kaoru calls her mother "okaasan", as opposed to "kaasan" because in the play Juliet is very formal with her mother, but acts more like a loving daughter to the nurse, who actually raised her. In this fic it will be the same; Megumi raised Kaoru, so she feels more formal around Kamiya-sama. This will also show in the words she uses: less contractions, more formal language as though she is talking to a lady, not her mother.
One more thing: I really wrestled with how to write the Queen Mab speech, so I decided that Queen Mab would be Amaya-hime (Princess Amaya, meaning 'night rain'), and she would be, pretty much, like the Queen Mab, just... a princess, and Japanese.
Act 1, Scene 3
Kamiya-sama paused in her brisk walk to her daughter's room and looked in the mirror. Running her hand over her elegant red kimono decorated with pictures of dragons and tongues of fire, she nodded and deemed her reflection, if not perfect, then absurdly close. Throwing open her daughter's door, she was disappointed to find it empty of everyone but Takani Megumi, Kaoru's nurse.
"Megumi," she snapped, close to the breaking point on this most important of all days, "where is Kaoru? Run and fetch her, would you?"
The sharp, black-haired woman nodded and walked swiftly to the balcony that overlooked the garden teeming with life, as well as gardeners taming it for that night's festivities.
"Kaoru!" she called loudly, then, hearing no response from her charge, "tanuki! Where are you?"
Kamiya-sama huffed impatiently and stalked out into the hall, completely missing the lithe figure emerging from the dressing room. Her calm blue eyes lighted on Megumi, before wearily asking, "who calls?" as though she already knew the answer, but had decided to humor her nurse and ask anyway.
"Your mother," Megumi replied and pushed Kaoru gently towards the door, "you'd better answer; she's worn thin by tonight's party already."
Kaoru sighed, "Okaasan? You wished to speak with me?"
Kamiya-sama turned and smiled, "My dear! How wonderful to see you." Taking her daughter's hand, she pulled her into the room and stopped her at the mirrored dressing table. Megumi came forward and picked up a vibrant sapphire kimono patterned with seashells and crashing waves. Kamiya-sama stood back as Megumi carefully and skillfully dressed her daughter, and began to speak.
"Now, Kaoru, you are of a good age are you not?" she paused, then, hearing no reply, she asked sharply, "how old are you girl?"
Kaoru narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to speak sharply to her mother, but she stopped when Megumi pricked her gently with a pin and shook her head. "I am almost fourteen mother," Kaoru replied through gritted teeth, "Remember? My birthday is in two weeks or so. Why do you ask?"
Kamiya-sama clapped her hands like a child and cried joyfully, "Wonderful! How do you feel about... marriage?"
At this, Kaoru abruptly turned to face her mother and, clasping her hands tightly in frond of her, replied, "Marriage? Um, marriage is the last thing on my mind, Okaasan... I'd really like to live more before I wed."
Her mother snorted, "you've lived enough my dear. Women are married off younger than fourteen these days. You should be thankful your father and I love you too much to sell you off like a cow the day you became a woman!" Ignoring Kaoru's indignant huff, she continued, "Besides, the gentleman Hoji-san seeks to marry you, and what a fine and handsome man he is!"
Seeing the look on Kaoru's face, Megumi spoke to pacify the girl. "Tanuki... Hoji-sama is a good and kind man. Rich and handsome! He would be kind to you and love you all your life... you could not find a better man!" Megumi winked at Kaoru as she skillfully tied the aqua obi in a butterfly knot and moved to apply Kaoru's make-up.
Kamiya-sama smiled wryly and moved towards the door, eager to get back to the busy preparations of the party. "Just tell me," she said before she exited the room, "are you pleased with this arrangement? Hoji-san will be present tonight... will you at least give him a chance?"
Kaoru held still as Megumi smeared blue cosmetics over her eyelid, but she responded, "I will give him a chance. That's all I'll promise." Her mother nodded and turned to leave, only to be stopped by a servant.
"Yes?" she asked smoothly, patting her hair into perfection, "what is it?"
The boy bowed, "my lady, the guests are here and Kaoru-sama and yourself are wanted. If you would please follow me downstairs to make your entrances?"
Kamiya-sama nodded. "Kaoru, come when you are presentable, Hoji-san awaits you!"
Megumi put the finishing touches on Kaoru and pulled her up from the chair, "good luck tanuki," she whispered, kissing the girl on the cheek, "and have fun!" she finished, laughing at the face Kaoru gave her in response.
Act 1, Scene 4
"Aoshi..." Kenshin pleaded softly with his cousin as they walked down the dark streets leading to the Kamiya estate, decked out in traditional Japanese costumes, "are you sure that the Kamiya's will not be violent against us? Or does it not matter?"
Aoshi smirked and replied, "we will do no harm Kenshin, and as a result they will not harm us... Kami-sama willing."
Sagara Sanosuke, Kenshin and Aoshi's best friend, spoke up, "if they do us harm, we can fight back! I wouldn't even mind starting up a fight anyway….. even if they leave us alone….." clapping Kenshin on the back, he continued. "We'll go, we'll dance, you'll forget this love you are consumed by….. it will be a grand time!"
Kenshin sighed yet again, earning him a strange look from Sanosuke. "Are you alright Kenshin? Is there something more than this god-like woman that is bothering you?"
Turning soft violet eyes into Sano's comforting brown ones, Kenshin nodded. "I had a dream last night."
Sano snorted, "so did I!"
Kenshin, sensing his friend was mocking him, asked, "what did you dream?"
"That dreamers lie!" was the prompt response.
"My dream was true. I can feel it."
Sanosuke rolled his eyes "You have been hoodwinked, my friend, by..." he paused to think, "Amaya-hime!" Sano grinned, looking at each of his friends in turn, "yes... Amaya-hime is regent of the night! She flies about from country to country, house to house, on her wings of spider web. She sneaks into your home and dances her tiny feet upon your nose... and you dream foolishness and lies! Princess of nightmares, Queen of all Dreamland. She is a vile little witch who makes our Kenshin dream of untrue love and false faithfulness! Her looks change to fit the sleeper she comes to... young and beautiful to those in love, yet peaceful in sleep to dreamers who are old and long for death. Rotting and dead she comes to killers and sinners of old, to bring them dreams of their past, and haunt their futures! This is the evil meddling fairy, this is the annoyance of a cruel pixie this is... this is..." Sano broke off, burying his face in his hands as his mind was taken over by a Princess of the night whom he had made up not five minutes ago.
"Sanosuke..." Kenshin walked up to the shaking boy and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "you're speaking of nothing, that you are!"
Sano stood up, pushing his unruly brown hair out of his eyes, "you're right, Kenshin, I'm talking about dreams." He playfully pushed Kenshin aside and turned to Aoshi, "C'mon Shinomori! Supper will be almost done up at the manor... we won't want to miss the dancing!" Laughing, the group walked off, with Kenshin lagging behind.
I can't shake this feeling I have, he thought, I keep thinking that something will come from this party... something fateful. Kenshin shook his head, running to catch up with his friends, intent on ignoring his strange dream and enjoying himself at the party.
ZSilver: I'm sooooooooo happy you like it!! WHEE!! shrug I can't really make the chapters longer though….. unless I combine two scenes, which I think I'm going to do now, cuz scene three is really short. I'm sorta bound by what happens in the scenes though….. but I'll do my best!
Victoria: nervous laugh Um….. actually, they're meeting in scene five….. I'll write it up soon, cuz I know that everyone wants to see Kenshin and Kaoru meet! That's one of my favorite scenes in the play… I hope I do it justice!
Laurika: nice name! My real name's Laura, though Karrie (spazzinglights) calls me Ka-Lauraness-sama!! Hmmm….. reads over past chapters yeah….. I think he is a little OOC. But ya know… he IS depressed… I hope I can get him to be happier at the party!!
Himura Kamiya Kaoru: so happy so happy you like!! Whee!! The thing about romance is… I'm not overly good at writing it… I promise though; when I get ready to write it, I'll read up all the wonderful Fluffy McFlufferson-ness I can find, and hopefully I won't bomb!!
Crystal: I'm proud of you! I love Inuyasha… it's quite a work. Have you seen Kikyo yet? Don't worry. You'll want to kill her soon enough!! I recommend that if you're confused about anything Inuyasha-esque, just look it up on the net!! That's how I found out about the whole Kenshin/Tomoe thing and also Kenji
Merry Christmas all!
Rhapsody
