Author's Note: ~*IMPORTANT*~ (Well, this is important to me.) Because
this story is coming to an end, I will begin a new one soon after. Will
you check out my summary on my bio for me? I really need some feedback!
Disclaimer: Did you just say that I owned Rurouni Kenshin?! *eyes light up* Oh, you didn't? *mood changes abruptly and looks crestfallen* So does that mean that I have selective hearing now?
The Love of Life
Chapter 13: Making Preparations
By CrismHeart
October 3, 2003
Because of Kenshin's past encounter with Saitou, the party that Okina and Hiko had intended on having was to be postponed. Actually, Misao had suggested that they celebrate the upcoming New Year's instead. For that, Kenshin was grateful to her. While he did want to make up for lost time with Hiko, he also had not forgotten what it was like to participate in such festivities with him. Who could forget those humiliating experiences Kenshin had? Obviously, Kenshin had not been hit on his head hard enough to allow that shameful fate. Hiko had always been blabbing about how Kenshin could not hold alcohol and how he had once managed to eat hallucinogenic mushrooms and was out for days, and that had been while Hiko was sober. Kenshin really did not want to be reminded of what Hiko might let slip while he was drunk, and especially not if Kaoru would be there.
Kaoru was Kenshin's main motivation for such a fast recovery. New Year's Eve would be the right time for him to reveal his feelings for her. New Year's, the day that marked new beginnings. Even if everyone would be there, he was certain that he could figure out a method to leave unnoticed and spend time alone with Kaoru.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As she swept the dust from her room, Kaoru could not help thinking about New Year's. She was more enthusiastic than usual, and it not unclear as to why. Normally, she did not like the holiday because each year that went by after her parents' death, Kaoru never found much to look forward to. She really appreciated her friends and family, but it would never be quite the same without her mother and father by her side. Kaoru just knew that this year was going to be different. Perhaps there was something in the atmosphere for she could see the world in a whole new light.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Knowing that Misao and Megumi were Kaoru's female friends, Tae called them to the Akabecko to discuss the New Year's celebration that would be held at the Makimachi household.
The three of them agreed that they would do all that they could to lend Kaoru a hand in her love life. Careful planning was of the essence.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Misao wanted what was best for Kaoru, however she was preoccupied with her own problems. For example, when would her Aoshi-sama realize how she felt about him? Misao was going to make sure he took notice her. Maybe this party was going to turn out a lot more interesting than she had originally thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru was overwhelmed by the choices. Tae had been so thoughtful as to bring over a selection of gorgeous kimonos for her to try on. Kaoru had not had any nice ones to wear since she had outgrown her older ones. There was a rose-colored one, a sunny yellow one, and a turquoise one. And even if Kaoru did know which one to wear, she would then have to find a ribbon and obi to match. Since when did finding the perfect outfit become so complicated?
As Kaoru began to lose hope, her grandfather came from across the street to her house holding a parcel wrapped in brown paper.
"Your mother always meant for you to have this." Dr. Genzai held the package out to her with a small smile as he thought of the daughter he had loved so dearly and lost.
Seeing her grandfather's sorrow, Kaoru reached over to hug him. His smile grew wider knowing that his granddaughter was so much like her mother, both were loving, compassionate people, who could have fiery tempers in the next instant if things did not go their way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After Dr. Genzai left the room, Kaoru examined what he had given her. She delicately removed the paper as if she were afraid of damaging whatever she should discover underneath it. Kaoru gasped as she uncovered the most exquisite kimono she had ever seen. It was made of pale blue silk with intricate silver pattern of jasmine flowers embroidering it. Kaoru held up to herself and stood in front of her mirror to see how it would look on her when an envelope that had been tucked in the folds of the kimono fell out. Glancing at the note, Kaoru saw that it was addressed to her.
Kaoru read the contents of the letter over and over in her mind, as if doing so would imprint the words written in it on her heart. Her mother had always wanted to see her grow up into the beautiful young woman she knew she would be. Her last wish for her daughter was for her to fall in love. When Kaoru did, she was to wear the kimono that her mother had made for her and know that although her parents may not be with her in the living realm, they were still there watching over her.
Noiseless tears ran down her face as Kaoru sobbed to herself. She cried for all the pain she had once felt, for the times she had thought she was alone, the times she had been angry with her parents for leaving her, and finally, she cried out of joy that her mother had given her in setting her free of her burdens of feeling forlorn, of blessing her with her last request to find love.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Okina, the organizer of what was assured to be the celebration of a lifetime, and Hiko, his "consultant" in these affairs, had already arranged for Tae to cater the food, and even more importantly, they had ordered the sake.
_____________________________________________________________________
Author's Note: Wow, now that was some writer's block! Sorry, if I disappointed you since this was mostly a filler chapter and it was a bit short at that.
I value all of your opinions very much. If you would honor me by answering a couple of questions, please do so. This may sound random to you, but: 1. I still need to know how to get italics and such to show up. Can you tell me how? 2. And now, will you please go read my summary and let me know about it?
I apologize if I was asking for too much or if reading my note annoyed you in any way.
pensquared: Maybe, I guess it'll be implicit then. I can't keep going on and on in this fic about their relationship as well, but Hiko and Tae would make an interesting couple, don't you think?
Mercses: Emilicious?! Well, I can't say it wasn't expected. I can't believe you actually care enough about my story to keep asking me when I update now. You don't know how much I'm laughing at your review right now!
Miroku's-Best-Lover: Of course Kenshin provides good entertainment! And, was that a threat to continue? What exactly would you do to me?
Kitsune KeNsHiN: Don't worry about not having reviewed in a while. As long as I know you still like my fic, I'll be happy. Besides, I, of all people, know the evils of school. I'm very sorry you have to put up with them too. I'm not sure, but I think there is only one chapter remaining and then it's time for an epilogue. Thanks for the long response!
Pauline: You reviewed, finally! What's with the KAK-ing? Are you trying to scare me again? (Yes, that was rhetorical so don't answer it!) And I thought I told you not to call me Emilibob! Argh, that name! Evil! Evil! Evil! Yeah, take over the wschool, great plan!
Disclaimer: Did you just say that I owned Rurouni Kenshin?! *eyes light up* Oh, you didn't? *mood changes abruptly and looks crestfallen* So does that mean that I have selective hearing now?
The Love of Life
Chapter 13: Making Preparations
By CrismHeart
October 3, 2003
Because of Kenshin's past encounter with Saitou, the party that Okina and Hiko had intended on having was to be postponed. Actually, Misao had suggested that they celebrate the upcoming New Year's instead. For that, Kenshin was grateful to her. While he did want to make up for lost time with Hiko, he also had not forgotten what it was like to participate in such festivities with him. Who could forget those humiliating experiences Kenshin had? Obviously, Kenshin had not been hit on his head hard enough to allow that shameful fate. Hiko had always been blabbing about how Kenshin could not hold alcohol and how he had once managed to eat hallucinogenic mushrooms and was out for days, and that had been while Hiko was sober. Kenshin really did not want to be reminded of what Hiko might let slip while he was drunk, and especially not if Kaoru would be there.
Kaoru was Kenshin's main motivation for such a fast recovery. New Year's Eve would be the right time for him to reveal his feelings for her. New Year's, the day that marked new beginnings. Even if everyone would be there, he was certain that he could figure out a method to leave unnoticed and spend time alone with Kaoru.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As she swept the dust from her room, Kaoru could not help thinking about New Year's. She was more enthusiastic than usual, and it not unclear as to why. Normally, she did not like the holiday because each year that went by after her parents' death, Kaoru never found much to look forward to. She really appreciated her friends and family, but it would never be quite the same without her mother and father by her side. Kaoru just knew that this year was going to be different. Perhaps there was something in the atmosphere for she could see the world in a whole new light.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Knowing that Misao and Megumi were Kaoru's female friends, Tae called them to the Akabecko to discuss the New Year's celebration that would be held at the Makimachi household.
The three of them agreed that they would do all that they could to lend Kaoru a hand in her love life. Careful planning was of the essence.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Misao wanted what was best for Kaoru, however she was preoccupied with her own problems. For example, when would her Aoshi-sama realize how she felt about him? Misao was going to make sure he took notice her. Maybe this party was going to turn out a lot more interesting than she had originally thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru was overwhelmed by the choices. Tae had been so thoughtful as to bring over a selection of gorgeous kimonos for her to try on. Kaoru had not had any nice ones to wear since she had outgrown her older ones. There was a rose-colored one, a sunny yellow one, and a turquoise one. And even if Kaoru did know which one to wear, she would then have to find a ribbon and obi to match. Since when did finding the perfect outfit become so complicated?
As Kaoru began to lose hope, her grandfather came from across the street to her house holding a parcel wrapped in brown paper.
"Your mother always meant for you to have this." Dr. Genzai held the package out to her with a small smile as he thought of the daughter he had loved so dearly and lost.
Seeing her grandfather's sorrow, Kaoru reached over to hug him. His smile grew wider knowing that his granddaughter was so much like her mother, both were loving, compassionate people, who could have fiery tempers in the next instant if things did not go their way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After Dr. Genzai left the room, Kaoru examined what he had given her. She delicately removed the paper as if she were afraid of damaging whatever she should discover underneath it. Kaoru gasped as she uncovered the most exquisite kimono she had ever seen. It was made of pale blue silk with intricate silver pattern of jasmine flowers embroidering it. Kaoru held up to herself and stood in front of her mirror to see how it would look on her when an envelope that had been tucked in the folds of the kimono fell out. Glancing at the note, Kaoru saw that it was addressed to her.
Kaoru read the contents of the letter over and over in her mind, as if doing so would imprint the words written in it on her heart. Her mother had always wanted to see her grow up into the beautiful young woman she knew she would be. Her last wish for her daughter was for her to fall in love. When Kaoru did, she was to wear the kimono that her mother had made for her and know that although her parents may not be with her in the living realm, they were still there watching over her.
Noiseless tears ran down her face as Kaoru sobbed to herself. She cried for all the pain she had once felt, for the times she had thought she was alone, the times she had been angry with her parents for leaving her, and finally, she cried out of joy that her mother had given her in setting her free of her burdens of feeling forlorn, of blessing her with her last request to find love.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Okina, the organizer of what was assured to be the celebration of a lifetime, and Hiko, his "consultant" in these affairs, had already arranged for Tae to cater the food, and even more importantly, they had ordered the sake.
_____________________________________________________________________
Author's Note: Wow, now that was some writer's block! Sorry, if I disappointed you since this was mostly a filler chapter and it was a bit short at that.
I value all of your opinions very much. If you would honor me by answering a couple of questions, please do so. This may sound random to you, but: 1. I still need to know how to get italics and such to show up. Can you tell me how? 2. And now, will you please go read my summary and let me know about it?
I apologize if I was asking for too much or if reading my note annoyed you in any way.
pensquared: Maybe, I guess it'll be implicit then. I can't keep going on and on in this fic about their relationship as well, but Hiko and Tae would make an interesting couple, don't you think?
Mercses: Emilicious?! Well, I can't say it wasn't expected. I can't believe you actually care enough about my story to keep asking me when I update now. You don't know how much I'm laughing at your review right now!
Miroku's-Best-Lover: Of course Kenshin provides good entertainment! And, was that a threat to continue? What exactly would you do to me?
Kitsune KeNsHiN: Don't worry about not having reviewed in a while. As long as I know you still like my fic, I'll be happy. Besides, I, of all people, know the evils of school. I'm very sorry you have to put up with them too. I'm not sure, but I think there is only one chapter remaining and then it's time for an epilogue. Thanks for the long response!
Pauline: You reviewed, finally! What's with the KAK-ing? Are you trying to scare me again? (Yes, that was rhetorical so don't answer it!) And I thought I told you not to call me Emilibob! Argh, that name! Evil! Evil! Evil! Yeah, take over the wschool, great plan!