~Chapter Two- A Dress and A Smile~
"Here we are, Miss Kamiya. We hope you enjoy your stay." The 2 servant ladies opened the doors to a large door, and bowed as the walked away.
"Thank you." She bowed in return for their kindness, and then shut the door large door behind her.
She turned slowly around and about died with bliss of the sight that lay in front of her.
A beautiful room, with soft tan carpet under her feet, lace curtains covering the 4 large windows, sunlight pouring in, a gentle bed with silk covers, an actual western-style gown that she had heard many women in England wore was hung nicely in the closet, which was opened, many other gowns and other outfits hanging neatly as well. Above her bed, a huge chandler hung with shimmering crystals dangling from it, and the walls were covered with art of all sorts, and a lovely wall-paper of light pink, with flower designs in the background of it all.
Karou had never seen such elegance in her entire life!!!
Her eyes were shimmering with the beauty as she walked over to the bed and sat down on it, immediately feeling the first-class comfort of the feathered padding underneath the silk blankets.
She let herself fall onto it, and she laid there for a good 5 minutes.
She smiled brightly as she recalled something.
*I just remembered……the old man named Mr. Orasumi had given Kenshin the gift of staying a few days here, not knowing that Kenshin had friends that may have wanted to go as well. Kenshin could have lied to us all that he was going on a trip alone, and that he would be back, and stay here at this mansion all by himself, just him and the old man, and not tell him about me or the others, but instead, he told Mr. Orasumi that he had friends…..and that's the whole reason why I'm here in this beautiful room, getting treated like royalty!*
She sighed.
"He wanted us to come. He wanted to be with us. He's so wonderful."
"Who is?" Said an awfully familiar voice from the doorway.
Karou jumped up and saw Kenshin standing there with 2 bags.
She immediately reddened and looked the other way.
"N…No one. No one at all! Hehe….yeah……"
Kenshin blinked.
"Well…..I came up here because you forgot your bags. Where do you want me to put them?"
Karou smiled weakly.
"Oh…just leave them by the door. I'll put my things away in a minute."
She said this without looking at his face.
"Miss Karou? Is something the matter?" Kenshin questioned, with worry in his voice Karou didn't notice.
Karou forced herself to look up at Kenshin.
"Nothing's wrong. Why do you say that! Things couldn't be better!"
She held out a smile on her lips and tried to keep it there until Kenshin left.
Kenshin wasn't completely satisfied with her answer, for he knew something was troubling her, but he figured she wanted to be alone, so he nodded, and closed the door behind him.
Karou noticed on his face a look she didn't like seeing, and she hardly ever did. It was a look of disappointment on his face as he shut the door.
He fake smile vanished exactly when the door was closed, and she sighed again deeply.
*Why didn't I say something like…. "Thank you so much for invited me here with you and the others"….or anything except pretending to smile so he would leave?*
She laid back down on her bed and put her hands over her face.
"I'm such an idiot. I hurt him. Why did I do that? Why am I such a loser?" She said aloud to herself.
Suddenly, a knock came at the door.
She sat up once more.
"Um….come in?" Was all she could think of.
She prayed it was Kenshin, but it turned out to be one of the servant ladies that had led her to her room.
"Sorry to disrupt you, Miss Kamiya, but are you going to be attending to tea time in the back garden?"
Karou suddenly remembered about the tea party, and her eyes widened.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I forgot there for a moment…..um…..could you answer something for me?"
The woman nodded.
Karou continued.
"Who all will be out there?"
The older woman smiled at her.
"Ah yes! Miss Misao will be joining Sir Orasumi, as well as Mr. Himura! Why do you ask?"
Karou smiled a bit.
"No reason, just wondering. Thanks. I have just one more favor to ask of you, though."
The woman blinked.
"Yes?"
Karou began to blush with embarrassment as she pointed to the western dress in the closet.
"Could you help me put that on? I've never worn one before, and….I have no clue how to do it!!! That must be a first for you to hear, right?"
The woman giggled a bit.
"Heavens no! Most of Sir Orasumi's guests do not have a clue as to how they're supposed to put those dazzling dresses on, but let me tell you, it's worth all the trouble of having help. One looks so beautiful in one!"
Karou was glad the woman was nice about it.
"Oh thank you! Could you help me put it on now?"
In just a few minutes, Karou was looking at herself in a giant mirror, the gorgeous light violet dress hanging with such grace down to her toes. The whole thing was flawless! Stunning laces of the same color all ran down across the design. It fell so perfectly over her shape too!
She felt like some kind of western princess in it!
"Thanks for your help."
She stated as the woman made a few final adjustments to the boa in the back.
The woman smiled at her in the mirror.
"You look breath-taking, Miss Kamiya! No wonder Mr. Himura had it especially made for you! Luckily for him….it was as free as a piece of dirt would be, but Sir Orasumi explained to be that Mr. Himura would have gladly sacrificed thousands of yen to have the dress made here in Japan, in your favorite color too! What a kind and most certainly gentle man Mr. Himura is."
Karou about fainted at the hearing of this!
"You mean to say that…..Kenshin had this dress made for me….especially for me…….in my favorite color…..with the most wonderful of fabrics and laces…….just for…..me?"
The woman nodded happily.
"Yes……that's why I got to thinking, and I quote…..Mr. Himura must truly, deeply think much of you. I'm sure it's the truth. It's nice that you're wearing this dress for him. He'd like to see you in it, I'm positive!"
Karou sighed with content.
*Kenshin…..* Her mind whispered.
"Well, there you are, Miss Kamiya! Come along now, and I'll take you to the garden!" The woman grinned as she began to walk out of the room.
Karou decided to leave her hair down, and left her boa behind as she rushed after the woman.
~Out in the Garden~
"WOW!!!!!!!!!! WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!" Misao repeatedly spoke as she sat there with a happy smile on her face, and shimmering eyes.
"It's just the coolest most fancy-wancy thing I've ever seen!!!! HEHEHE!!! I CAN'T WAIT TO TRY ONE OF THESE CUPCKAES!!!! OHHHHH, AND ONE OF THESE GOOD LOOKING MUFFENS, AND, OOOHHH, YUMMY!!!! ONE OF THESE CRUMPETS!!!! DELISIOUS!!!! SOO COOL!!!!!!!!!!" She exclaimed as she couldn't control her happy grinning with pleasure at the smell of everything that lay in front of her on the table.
Mr. Orasumi chuckled. "You can have as much as you like, Miss Misao! There's enough here for everyone of you!"
Misao's eyes filled with shine as she looked up at Mr. Orasumi.
"REALLY!!!! YOU MEAN IT!!!!!!!!! HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Kenshin sat quietly beside Misao's rustling form.
He smiled a small grin to Misao's excitement, but then frowned again.
The earlier encounter with Karou was still bothering him.
"Mr. Orasumi? I was wondering…….is Miss Karou going to be joining us?" He questioned while looking as if he was hoping for a positive answer.
Mr. Orasumi shrugged.
"I must tell you the truth, I really have no idea. I sent one of the servant ladies to ask her about 15 minutes ago, but I don't believe Miss Kamiya decided to come out since it's been so long. Why don't we go ahead and start eating."
"YEAH!!!!!!!!! LET'S START EATING NOW!!!! I FEEL LIKE SUCH A GOOF SITTING HERE IN FRONT OF ALL THIS FOOD AND TEA AND NOT TOUCHING IT!!!!!!!!!! COME ON HIMURA!!!!!!!!!! EAT!!!!!!!!!" Misao jumped up and stated as she patted Kenshin's head, then started to eat furiously.
As Mr. Orasumi and Misao began to eat, Kenshin just sat there.
For a moment he felt unsure if he should eat or not.
*What Miss Karou said to me back there in her room……the way she looked at me. I really don't think she wanted me there in the first place.* He thought to himself sadly.
He bit his bottom lip, and opened his mouth to speak.
"Well….I guess I'll go now…..I'm not very hungry anymore anyway, that I'm now. Sorry, Mr.-"
"Mr. Orasumi!!"
Kenshin was interrupted by the servant ladies voice.
The three looked up and saw the woman standing in front of them, with a smile.
"Sorry, Mr. Orasumi, for being so late with Miss Kamiya! She needed some help with something before we came down here, but at least she made it!"
Kenshin stared at the woman, then, from behind the tall, trimmed bushes, Karou stepped out as well, her eyes facing the ground, her cheeks blushing furiously.
Kenshin was speechless. All he could do was sit there and stare with astonishment at Karou, his mouth dropping open slightly, he saw the beautiful dress he had had made for her, fitting her so perfectly.
"Wow! Karou! Love the western dress! Where'd you get it from?!" Misao laughed and complemented at the same time.
Karou didn't look up.
Embarrassment had her caught big time, and she continued to blush an even darker red!
After a moment, Kenshin realized her situation, and smiled.
"Miss Karou…..please, come and sit down."
Karou's breath caught for a moment, then she slowly looked up.
Kenshin was smiled at her.
She smiled too when she figured out how to move her legs again.
She turned and bowed to the woman.
"Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it!"
The woman bowed back, and left.
Karou then turned back around to see Mr. Orasumi and Misao talking about something she had no clue what, and Kenshin looking up at her from where he sat.
His smile would not fade, she knew that.
She smiled too as she sat down beside him, and began to eat, pouring tea for both of them.
She loved his smile.
~Well, hope you like so far! Keep going baby! Hehehe!!!~
~Smile B~ ^-^