by Saku-Yume
Chapter One: Rose Among Thorns
Kaoru followed Kenshin through the market. She loved shopping with him. It gave her a reason to watch him for long periods of time and she was familiar with every movement he made now. The way his face looked when he found the perfect radish or the way the sinewy muscles in his arms flexed as he felt for the perfect tomato. Such deft fingers. Often she wondered what it would be like to be handled by his careful fingers. The thought made her blush. She knew Kenshin cared for her but she doubted if it was in that way. He cared for her like an older brother would for his younger sister, not a desired lover, and she was grateful for that at least.
Besides, she thought, Kenshin's probably seen more beautiful women than I in his life. He's probably even had a few of them…
Kaoru shook her head. She hated to think that way. It was depressing. But she couldn't help thinking that he might show more interest in her if she was… prettier. More feminine…
Kaoru sighed. She didn't know how to be. She was a tomboy. She'd never been very feminine – or at least not more so than she already was by nature. She could do kendo. She could do budo and wave around a bokken. She couldn't cook. She couldn't dance. She couldn't flirt. She couldn't do any of that pretty stuff, or if she could and did, she wasn't aware of it. She sighed again, depressed fully now.
Kenshin noticed Kaoru's change of mood – he was very sentient to her emotions. She'd gone from happy to desperately sad in a matter of moments. It bothered him when she subjected herself to these bouts of depression.
"Is there anything wrong, Kaoru-dono? He asked looking into her eyes.
Kaoru's heart simmered at the steady glance. She felt a little better already. "Nothing, Kenshin."
Kenshin smiled and watched her sideways. "Hmm… you're lying."
Kaoru's cheeks reddened a bit and she averted her eyes trying to find something else to talk about… anything… Her eyes rested on a group of very excited girls gathering around something or someone. "What's that?"
Kenshin followed her gaze. "I don't know."
They finished shopping and passed the group on the way home. Kaoru could see now that a very handsome man stood among them. He wore a western style suit that looked finer than any she'd ever seen. He had an expensive carriage behind him along with a driver. He must be very rich, she mused, eyes sparkling. Next to him a very beautiful woman in a fine satin kimono held a sign that read: Searching for young girls with potential to become models of grace and beauty for the Kurokami school.
A model. Kaoru began to feel depressed again. She surely wasn't model material. She had no poise. No grace. Nothing a handsome man like he was looking for. More importantly, nothing Kenshin was looking for…
Her spirits fell again and she sulked all the way home.
Kurokami Shouri watched the pretty, onyx-haired girl walk away behind a short red-haired man and was captivated. Such sadness, such youthful sorrow. She was immaculate…
"Ame, find out who that girl is and let me know where I can find her at once. She's perfect."
The beautiful girl next to him nodded and gracefully put down the sign and followed an inconspicuous distance behind the girl. She didn't quite see what Kurokami-san saw in the girl but he was a miracle worker. He'd taken the filthy farm girl she once was and had transformed her into the poised, proper, well read, pretty and graceful woman she was now. Fit for nothing more and nothing less than a noble marriage…
Ame followed the two to a large but slightly run down dojo just outside of town. They were greeted by a tall, strong, tree of a man; a little runt of a boy; two adorable girls; an older man; and a very beautiful woman dressed in doctors clothing. Perhaps Kurokami-san would be interested in her as well…
She retreated to report to him.
* * * * *
Kaoru was still in a foul mood the next day, which was bad for Yahiko, whom she took it out on in practice.
"No, baka-desshi! Stand like this!" she corrected his stance.
"You're being unusually mean today, busu. What, is it that time of the month?"
Kaoru turned beet red and promptly began thrashing Yahiko for speaking to her in such a manner.
Kenshin watched the scene from over the clothesline with a little smile. There was a strange comfort in the familiarity of their situation. He knew Kaoru was still in a bad mood since yesterday and he wasn't entirely sure why. He figured it must have something to do with the seeming lack of interest with which he treated her as far as matters of the heart were concerned. But he consoled himself that she was better off without him. She deserved more than he could offer her, even if he offered all of himself. She deserved something and someone as pure as she was – and pure he was not…
He was the first to see the tall, dark and handsome figure of the man from the market enter the Kamiya dojo gates. He watched the man warily who did not take his piercing blue eyes from Kaoru's form. He studied her with a strange interest and Kenshin felt something flare up within himself… was it… jealousy? Kenshin hardened instantly. Whatever it was he did not like the way the man's eyes roamed over Kaoru.
Shouri advanced stealthily. Kaoru was so into thrashing Yahiko that she didn't notice. "Excuse me," his voice reverberated, deep and sensuous.
Kaoru stopped abruptly and turned her gaze slowly to the man. She couldn't hold a tiny gasp in as she took in his attractive countenance. She dropped Yahiko and stood taller. She smiled and bowed. "I'm sorry, can I help you?"
"I just wanted to tell you, I think you're absolutely, perfectly beautiful. Breathtaking…" he drawled, eyes raking over her.
They were all speechless, even Kaoru.
She looked down at herself. She was in her practice clothes that were messy because she'd been fighting Yahiko, she was sweaty, she was sure she smelled of perspiration and she didn't even want to think about her hair… "Me?" she squeaked, unable to articulate anything else.
Yahiko rubbed his head. "Yeah, are you sure you're seeing right, mister? You can't be talking about busu here…"
Kaoru kicked Yahiko and looked indignant.
"I assure you, I can see very well. But surely anyone with half an eye can tell that this lovely creature is perfection in motion." He touched her cheek. Kaoru's eyes sparkled, totally swept off of her feet. She smiled brilliantly at him.
Kenshin bristled. How dare this man touch Kaoru like that? Look at her like that?! Cause her to look at him like that?!? His Kaoru!!! He stopped himself. She wasn't his. But that didn't stop him from saying something.
"It's impolite to be anywhere for so long without introducing one's self," he nearly growled, clenching the wet laundry.
Shouri looked over. He'd barely noticed the red head from the previous day. "Oh, I do apologize. I'm Kurokami Shouri. I run the Kurokami finishing school for young women. I can turn any girl into the perfect lady - a model for all women to follow. It would be a simple pleasure to do so with anyone such as this lovely flower here. Is she your… wife?"
Kenshin loathed what he was about to say more than anything in the world. "No, she's not."
Shouri looked pleased. Kenshin wanted nothing more than to slap the look off of his face. "Oh. Your sister then?"
"I'm the assistant master of this dojo. That's my student and Kenshin lives here," Kaoru said finding her voice, eyes never leaving Shouri.
"Not only natural grace and beauty, but you have ambition as well. You may not require my services." He smiled charmingly.
"What services?" Sanosuke asked coming out of the dojo.
"Finishing school. Allow me to bring out your natural, inner grace, my dear. What is your name?"
"Kaoru. Kamiya Kaoru," she breathed.
"Lovely. Please consider my offer. Just come by my school tomorrow at noon and take a look. If you're interested, I'll give you lessons for no charge at all."
"Okay," she breathed.
He caressed her jaw line with delicate fingers. "When I'm finished with you, you'll be the number one model in my school…" he took her hand and kissed it. Sano held Kenshin back with a firm grip. "Good day, Kamiya Kaoru." With that he stalked out of the yard.
* * * * *
To be continued…