Kaoru, Misao, Megumi & Tae: Through A Song I Will Win Your Heart

Kaoru, Misao, Megumi & Tae: Through A Song I Will Win Your Heart

Chapter 5- Take My Breath Away

Disclaimers: Standard RK disclaimers apply. The following characters are NOT mine, I'm merely borrowing them for a few pages. The song 'Take My Breath Away' isn't mine either, please don't sue. I'm a good kid.

*******

It was a sleepless night for them.

"I couldn't sleep!" groaned Misao as soon as Megumi swept through their hotel room, looking as gorgeous, as unruffled and calm as ever. Critically, Megumi passed an eye over the two tired looking girls. Both wore grumpy expressions and menacing scowls on their faces. Gauging their reactions, Megumi suddenly smiled brightly.

"Ohayo gozaimasu! Rise and shine you two! Kabuki-san has come to the resort for some theater business!" announced Megumi as she threw open the draperies. Faint sunlight poured inside Misao and Kaoru's room.

Groaning, both girls rolled over and stuff their pillows firmly on top of their heads. "Go away Megumi! It's barely dawn!" snapped Misao from underneath a pillow.

Smiling widely, Megumi grabbed the pillows and said pleasantly, "Kabuki-san is commissioning a painting for us! There's a famous painter waiting out there for us!"

"Nani?" asked Kaoru sleepily, scratching her head. Misao sat up, stretching lazily. But her eyes looked clear, excited by the prospect of being painted. "Honto ni Megumi-san?" asked Misao curiously, still suspicious of everything since LAST NIGHT.

After Aoshi and Kenshin's abrupt capitulation, and instead of feeling triumphant, Kaoru and Misao looked upon Kenshin and Aoshi with suspicion and disbelief. Something in their guts told them that it's not over yet but the very thoughts of those two men were driving them to distraction!

"Kuso!" whispered Misao, remembering the entire events. Aoshi-sama seemed so... unnatural. Years of chasing after him had prepared her for everything... except of course his acceptance. "What the heck is he up to?" whispered Misao furiously.

Kaoru looked at her friend and nodded in commiseration. "Aa, I know what you feel," she said while Megumi looked at the two in disbelief.

"God Tanuki-chan! The carrot's right in front of you so to speak, can't you even get that simple little fact through your thick skull?" exclaimed Megumi incredulously. Looking stubborn, Kaoru shook her head in negation.

"Iie Megumi-san, the carrot is not in front of me so to speak! Kenshin was just probably clobbered over the head by Saitou last night, hence the odd behavior! And I resent you calling Kenshin a carrot!" muttered Kaoru. Misao laughed before she began teasing Kaoru.

"Demo, Kenshin is a redhead!" Misao protested as Kaoru gave her a killer look. "Now that was a blinding flash of the obvious!" retorted Kaoru before she got up. Whirling, she caught a glimpse of the long white gowns hanging over Megumi's arm. Stepping closer, she hurried over to a grinning Megumi who promptly held the gown up. "Kirei Megumi!" whispered Kaoru as she touched the fragile and lacy material.

"Kabuki-san gave these white gowns to us, all of us will be wearing similar gowns when Tokano-san paints us. He wants to paint us during midnight, something like 'shining brightly like a pearl' in the darkness of night," quoted Megumi as she tossed the gowns carelessly over to Misao and Kaoru. She shrugged dismissively, "I don't like white!"

Misao shrugged as soon as she caught hold of her gown. She liked white but somehow, being painted in a white gown during the evening seemed so... bizaare. Misao shrugged. // Oh well, business is business. //

"Come on, Kabuki-san said we needed to prepare for our publicity," coaxed Megumi before she straightened her silken white gown. Misao and Kaoru complied quickly enough but Megumi could see that the two were clearly distracted and pre-occupied. In exasperation, Megumi exclaimed, "You guys better get over your funk or our performances will be useless!"

"Aa, aa!" mumbled Misao and Kaoru before Megumi moved out of their room and winked at Kenshin and Aoshi who hovered somewhere down the corridor.

************

The day was relentless. It's either the sky started falling or Misao and Kaoru have lost their minds, maybe even both. It was already nearing down, with Takano having spent the entire night trying to paint them.

Tired and grumpy, throughout the long day and even longer night, they were working on a slogan for their poster-painting. Takano-san proved to be a rigid artist, demanding the best from his subjects and behaving like a child with fickle-minded decisions.

"Iie Iie Iie Iie! Your smile is wrong for the title! I said, the title is now 'Pearl of Midnight' not 'A Dusky Light' anymore! You, Tae-san, please, you look catatonic!" he criticized while Kaoru, Misao, Tae and Megumi lay in the sand for the past 10 hours.

Every thirty minute or so, Takano-san would change the theme, disrupting every single pose they worked hard to maintain. After 10 hours of muscle stiffening and back aching work, they were not even halfway to the middle of the actual painting. Kabuki-san stood in the sidelines. Even though Takano-san was a brilliant artist, he seemed to find difficulty in capturing the exact essence of Kaoru, Misao, Tae and Megumi's character. Even Tancho Kabuki found the white gown too ill-suited for the girls but he refrained from voicing his thoughts aloud.

" I don't like the setting of their white gown against the dark night," commented Aoshi as he gazed at Misao. All day, he tried to talk to Misao but it seems that the genki ninja girl was intent in giving him the cold shoulder. Kenshin stepped forward and scratched his head offering a similar comment, "Aa, white doesn't suit in these surroundings." Sano unfolded from a deck chair he was sitting on as he drawled, "Yare, yare. Fox looks furious underneath her smile, that Takano is certainly driving them like work oxen!"

With a frown creasing Kenshin and Aoshi's brows, they took a closer look at the girls who were being rearranged in a different position by Takano. "Well... they have been doing some tiring poses since 7 o'clock last evening," muttered Kenshin not liking the way Kaoru was posed, lying on the sand provocatively. All day long, Kaoru seemed strangely uneasy next to him.

"From the looks on their faces, those girls seemed to have numb feet," commented Sano with a chuckle. "I don't like the way Takano is treating them," stated Aoshi grimly as Misao was once again reprimanded for fidgeting. Kabuki nodded in agreement before Misao lost her temper in front of everybody.

"That's it! I've had it with this day! I'm tired, sleepy and my feet are numb! My gown is wet and soggy from lying in the tide all day!" she erupted as she stood up, tripping on the hem of her gown promptly. Aoshi was there in a second, catching Misao's elbows and steadying her. "Daijoubu yo Misao?" asked Aoshi as Misao braced herself against Aoshi, staring at him with widened eyes.

"Oh no Misao! The dress is ruined!" cried Tae as she saw the huge rip in Misao's hemline. Oblivious to other people, Misao stared at Aoshi, mute. "Uh.. uh..." she stuttered before Kabuki strolled over to them. Good-naturedly, he patted Misao's shoulder.

"Sou desu ne... why don't you all change into a spare dress I bought for you? It's skirt is somehow similar to the gown but it has less material and is A-line and I think, more suitable for your temperaments," he offered the girls with a smile.

"Yokatta," breathed Kaoru before she stood up shakily as well. Tae scrunched her eyes closed, feeling the onset of a headache. "Is our work done then Kabuki-san?" she asked while some people began to walk out of their cottages, obviously awake already.

"Iie. The painting will resume at 5:30 in the morning, it's 5 o'clock in the morning right now, you have 30 minutes to change and freshen up before sunrise," said Kabuki as he clasped his hands behind his back. Groans were heard from the girls, including Misao who stepped away from Aoshi, looking as bewildered as ever. There was something in Aoshi's eyes... she's never seen it before and it sends her heart spinning wildly.

With a smile, Kenshin walked over to Kaoru and offered her a cup of tea. "Tea, Kaoru?" he asked with a commiserating smile at Kaoru's exhaustion. With a startled look at Kenshin, Kaoru asked incredulously, "You finally called me by my name! Not Kaoru-dono any more!"

Looking into her eyes, Kenshin smiled. "Would you rather that I call you Koishi?" he asked while Kaoru's heart plummeted to her feet. With shocked eyes, Kaoru stepped away, mumbling an incoherent answer, something like, 'need to change my gown...' while Kenshin watched as Kaoru rapidly walked away.

"Oi Kenshin, looks like you have Kaoru pretty shaken up," teased Sano as he released Megumi from his arms and allowed her to go and change. Aoshi stepped forward and wryly said, "Yes that's right... now if only they'll believe us."

"Matte, I have a plan," offered Saitou before he crushed his cigarette, his wife Tokio looking skeptical. "Here's what you do..." began Saitou conspiratorically.

************

"I'm so tired," said Tae with a huge yawn. She was sprawled ungracefully on the bed while Megumi bustled about energetically, as if oblivious to the stress of the past day. Obviously, Sano has energized her.

With a long, bone-snapping stretch, Misao turned to look at Tae with sparkling eyes. "I agree, I just wish we'd get things over and done with!" she exclaimed but her eyes were far away, lost in memory of the look in Aoshi's eyes.

Kaoru who was looking out the window said, "Looks like Aoshi's swimming in the ocean!" even while she sought Kenshin with her eyes. With an excited squeal, Misao turned to look out the window, "Honto?! Doko ni?!" she squealed excitedly.

"I think he took a dive," said Megumi dryly when she peeped out but finding no trace of the former okashira. With a disappointed sigh, Misao flopped back down on the bed. Kaoru suddenly exclaimed, "Look, Kenshin is taking care of a black stallion!"

"Yadda, yadda. Let's get changed now," commanded Tae as she opened the trunk her feet were propped against. Gasps escaped. Inside the trunk was the most magnificent dress they had ever seen. They drew it out carefully, the material soft and shiny in the dim light. It was a solid color of midnight black, made in satin and simply elegant. The sleeved were short and off-shouldered, the neckline cut low. (Emma's gown in the video)

"Magnificent," whispered Megumi as she hesitantly touched the dress. It was so simple and yet so elegant and fit for a princess with its full skirt. "Let's wear our hair down," said Kaoru suddenly as she pulled the pins that held her hair in place in a heavy bun. Mute, still awestruck at the utter rightness of the dress, they all freed their hair from its confines.

Quickly, they pulled of the stiff white gown and wore the black dress. The neckline was lower than expected but it only made the dress seem more beautiful. It brushed the floor on their feet but the dress weighed so light, it seemed as if they wore nothing at all. They gave their hair a few brush strokes.

"Yokatta, we're done. Let's finish this job now," said Misao, looking strangely confident and mature as Kaoru smiled back serenely as well.

***********

The sight that greeted them took everybody's breath away.

Dressed in a hauntingly elegant dress, Tae, Misao, Megumi and Kaoru walked over the sand, the lightening sky providing such a perfect background for their luminous presence. Yahiko was strangely silent, and even Saitou and Hiko stared, overcome by the absolute beauty of it. Kabuki-san merely smiled as Takano-san looked at them with shining eyes.

"Yatta, I know the title now!" whispered Takano as he wiped a sentimental tear away from his eye. His artist's heart was alive the ideas and the need to capture the intense beauty of the four. He had been so frustrated, finding faults in the white gown and dark background, but now... this was so RIGHT.

"What's the title Takano-kun?" asked Kabuki as he gestured for the girls to move near the breaking shoreline.

"Take My Breath Away," said Takano solemnly as he pulled out his canvas and paint. By restraining and putting limitations on the girls, it had dimmed their beauty. He realized it suddenly that Kaoru, Misao, Tae and Megumi's beauty came from something more spontaneous than that, it was from how they released their feelings in a song.

***********

"God! No man has the right to be so gorgeous," muttered Misao as she watched Aoshi from the corner of her eye. Aoshi was so gorgeous, his muscular chest gleaming in the faint rise of sunlight and from the water as he swam a few rounds. Misao felt her knees knocking together in spite of herself. An hour ago, Takano-san asked them to pose in whatever was comfortable for them and started to paint as soon as they got settled.

Misao sat sideways, her knees tucked slightly underneath her. Her face was inclined slightly towards the sea, towards the sunrise, towards AOSHI. She sat next to Megumi who sat with her knees slightly bent in front, her arms bracing behind her. Tae was kneeling up, before she sat sideways and placed her hands on the sand. Kaoru was sprawled on the sand, her elbow holding her up as she faced Takano on her left side.

Misao couldn't help herself. She was in love with Aoshi for so long, loving him is as familiar as breathing. She loved his raven hair, his perfect face, the sorrow and experience in his eyes. But what she saw in his eyes this morning convinced her that maybe, just maybe, it was time to finally tell him how she feels.

Misao: (watching Aoshi as she sang) If I told you how I feel about you

Would you say the same?

And if I wrote it in a letter

Would you keep it or throw it away?

Kaoru lay silently, not taking her eyes off Kenshin's figure. Kenshin was looking better than ever, gaining weight and looking happier than when she had first seen him. He was brushing the black stallion's hide carefully, his hands strong yet gentle. Kaoru found herself watching his hands especially, remembering the way he so carefully and tenderly held her. She gulped, not knowing why his hands were driving her to a distraction.

Kaoru: (gazing at Kenshin's hands) I never thought I'd feel the way I'm feeling lately

When everything you seem to do just drives me crazy.

Megumi and Tae exchanged amused looks with each other. Those two looked so love-struck it was silly. But they understood their friends' need to express their feelings in a song. They joined the harmony, singing lower and allowing Misao and Kaoru's voice to dominate and control the range. With a smile, they realized that the strong wind was probably carrying their voices around the beach and that most were watching and listening to them. Including Aoshi and Kenshin of course.

Kaoru and Misao: (backgrounds Tae and Megumi)

Every waking day, you take my breath away.

With every word you say, you take my breath away.

Misao: You look at me that way, baby come what may.

Kaoru and Misao: (background Tae and Megumi) I hope that you'll always know

How you take my breath away

Kaoru: (second voice) How you take my breath away...

Takano-san was delighted. There was so much emotion present now, it was so easy to paint the girls. His paintbrush flew faster and faster, the early morning sun providing such a charming gray-blue background to the girls. The tide was rising and despite the waves that sometimes splashed against the girls, they were obviously enjoying themselves.

Kaoru: (gazing at Kenshin as Kenshin laughed when the stallion nickered)

If you told me how you feel about me, things I did not know;

You said you fill my heart with all your love until it overflows.

Misao: (watching Aoshi rise from the water with starry eyes)

I don't know the way you feel, but boy I'm hoping.

I always used to hide away, but now I'm open.

The sweetly caressing tone of their voices compelled Kenshin and Aoshi to approach them closer but discreetly. Misao and Kaoru's eyes were dreamy and bright, obviously thinking about nice things. Aoshi moved closer to Takano, rubbing his wet hair dry as he examined the portrait. Kenshin also peeked at the painting but Kaoru and Misao's eyes were already closed, in a daydream, in last night's images.

Kaoru and Misao: (background Tae and Megumi)

Every waking day, you take my breath away.

With every word you say, you take my breath away.

You look at me that way, baby come what may.

I hope you'll always know

How you take my breath away,

Misao: (second voice) how you take my breath away...

"I'm done with your poster-painting ladies!" crowed Takano as he began jumping up and down in happiness. He was at work for a mere two hours, and the sun was almost fully up. Kaoru, Misao, Tae and Megumi looked like fallen angels, albeit a little wet and with hair blowing in the breeze.

Tae and Megumi: Take my breath away, take my breath away, take my breath away.

With the wind blowing through their hair, Misao and Kaoru sat up and waded into the water, building small sand castles, scooping up seashells with eyes lost in memory. Both seemed oblivious to Aoshi and Kenshin who watched them, trying to come to terms with the intensity of their feelings. Slowly, their fears and insecurities were fading as the sun rose above the horizon. It was such a lovely morning.

Misao: (wading into the water and bending down to scoop up a conch shell)

Every waking day, you take my breath away.

Every word you say, you take my breath away.

You look at me that way, baby come what may.

Unaware that everybody else was clearing the beach and heading for breakfast, while Misao was examining the shell, she saw Aoshi's reflection beside her as she bent down to pick up another shell. Smiling solemnly, she turned to face him, holding a shell out to him as if in offering. Aoshi took it with a shaking hand as a breeze swept Misao's hair in front of her face.

With a serious look in her eyes, Misao looked up and said, "Aishiteru Aoshi-sama."

Kaoru: I hope you'll always know

How you take my breath away, how you take my breath away.

Kaoru was kneeling on the sand, building sand castles, cupping the sand between her hands and watching the golden grains trickle away in the wind. She saw Kenshin kneel in front of her, cupping her hands between his own as if to stop the sand from falling down. She smiled at him. He smiled back at her, his violet eyes warm and tender. A tendril of Kaoru's hair trailed across her face as she whispered, looking at Kenshin with vulnerable eyes, "I love you."

Both were gazing into the eyes of Kenshin and Aoshi. Kaoru's scene fades with her hair blowing in the wind, Kenshin's hands cupping Kaoru's hands, holding the sand within their joined hands. Misao's scene fades with Aoshi holding the shell as Misao looked up at him solemnly, her hair flowing in the wind.

Kaoru and Misao: (voice slowly fades away)

How you take my breath away......

Their voices fade with the wind, all emotions laid bared in the same moment as the wind caressed them, their hair flying in the spirited wind.

TBC

Author's Notes:

Wai! Gomen nasai minna for the late update. I've been busy with the finals but I assure you, the next chapter is definitely on it's way already. Please R&R, comments are useful whenever I write, I don't mind flames too. Ja matta ne!

~* Jo-chan