Disclaimer: Nobuhiro Watsuki is the owner of Rurouni Kenshin and all of its characters.
A/N: Yaaaaay, over 20 reviews! Thank you so much!! ^____^ Hope you enjoy this chapter!!
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
As One
Chapter 3: The Splendor
Misao had shaken Kaoru awake that evening, calling to dinner. As she sat up rubbing her eyes, Misao had noticed the sheet of paper on the coffee table, wide open and exposed for all who see it to read.
"OH! Ooh ooh ooh, could this be-"
Kaoru drowsily turned to the girl's excited expression as she picked up the note. After a few surprised blinks, she found herself lunging at Misao in attempt to take the paper back.
"Ack! Misao-chan, wait, WAIT!!"
Misao dashed out the door before Kaoru could even stumble to her feet. She heard her quick footsteps go pounding down the stairs to the family room, where everyone was gathered around the table in preparation for dinner.
"I GOT IT!! LOOK WHAT KAORU GOT FROM HER SECRET LOV-"
Kaoru cupped a hand over her friend's mouth just as they reached the doorway, immediately dragging her struggling figure into the dark hall. The group gave them odd looks as they shrunk back.
"Misao-chan, you shrieking big-mouth!!"
"Mmmmmrrrfff!!"
Kaoru snatched the note back from the girl's tight grasp and released her. Misao took in large breaths as she looked at the paper in her friend's hand disappointedly.
"Not even a peek, Kaoru-chan? Please? PLEA-"
Misao was ignored as Kaoru walked past her placidly and sat down at the table, stuffing the note into the pocket of her jeans. Misao snapped her fingers in frustrated gesture and sat down across from her. With disheartened sighs, dinner started.
Kaoru noticed everyone passing around sideway looks around the table, like a baton being handed around in a relay race. All the twitching of pupils was driving her nuts. Aoshi was the only peaceful, unemotional one who sat there like an icicle with its butt frozen to the floor, as always.
"Aoshi, is it just me or...are you feeling the tension here?"
He paused between chewing a piece of chicken and looked up. He stared back at her expressionlessly, causing awkwardness to built up between them.
"A-Aoshi...?"
He muttered something between chews, but unfortunately she couldn't interpret his words. His monotone mumbling was hard enough to comprehend anyway.
"Sorry?"
He brought his wrist to his mouth and swallowed. She barely saw his lips moves. His pupils merely shifted to the doorway behind her and he spoke naught but one word.
"Himura."
That sent a jolt of lightening through her spine, and like an automatic machine that had its 'on' button switched, her neck turned to the door.
No one was present.
She turned back to him with a scowl, only to find between his two fingers a piece of paper, neatly folded into fourths. Kaoru reached down to her pocket.
Empty.
"You are SO kidding..."
Swiftly, Aoshi had grabbed the scruff of Sano's neck next to him, causing the ex-gangster to be pulled away from his bowl of rice he was so hastily devouring. After doing so, Aoshi held out his hand expectantly, and Sano grumbled, pulling out a few Yen and placing it in his hand. In return, Kaoru watched her precious note get placed in his palm.
"Aoshi-sama, smooth move."
Mr. Icicle merely raised his eyebrows as he counted his new cash in reply to Misao's comment.
"YOU %$&#@%$#$%^&*!!!!!!!!!"
Kaoru lunged at Sano diagonally over the table, and yet her attempts of reaching him failed as Tae, sitting next to her, grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled. She remained in her position, struggling in Tae's unexpectedly strong hold.
"HOW COULD-GIVE IT BACK!!!! NOW!!!!!"
Megumi snatched the note out of Sano's hand just as he was about to open it. She held Misao back with one arm while the girl wildly thrashed her arm around to get at it. Their sly make-up artist fondled the paper in her hands, intimidating Kaoru's senses.
"Hmm...Aoshi-san, I didn't think you were so clever. Your witty method seems to have given us evidence that HIMURA-SAN just happens to be part of little Tanuki-chan's love life..."
"Megumi, I swear, someday I'm going to-"
"Now, let's see here, shall we...?"
Megumi slowly unfolded the note once. Misao was jumping around in her spot like corn kernels in a pot. Sano inched close to peer over Megumi's shoulder.
She unfolded it again.
The note was open.
Megumi was already on the floor, with her entire face wet with tears as she held her stomach, afraid it was going to spill out into pieces from her laughter.
*-.,.-*
"Kaoru-chan, please!"
"NEVER!!!!"
"We really didn't mean it!"
"NOT MEAN IT?! YOU INVADED MY PERSONAL SPACE!!! MY PRIVATE LIFE!!"
"Please! Stressing will cause acne!!"
"Let it be, then!!! I'LL LET MY FACE BE AN ACNE BROODING NEST!!"
"Kaoru dear, there's a SHOW tomorrow!!"
"I'LL SHOW MY UGLY SELF TO THE ENTIRE WORLD IN THAT CASE!!!!"
Tae sighed hopelessly as she looked down. Megumi, Misao, and Sano were with her, standing outside Kaoru's door. She'd locked herself in there for nearly two hours now...
"Megumi, if you only hadn't laughed so hard..."
"Yea yea, I get your point Misao-chan. But YOU were in for this plan too, you know."
"At least I didn't go as far as spilling the bottle of soy sauce on Kaoru's LAP..."
"YOU GUYS EVEN SPILLED SOY SAUCE ALL OVER MY LAP!! I'LL NEVER LISTEN TO YOU PEOPLE FOR ETERNITY!!!"
Misao held out a hand to Kaoru's outburst to prove her point. Megumi put her face in her hands and massaged her temples.
"I know, I know..."
Sano stretched and sighed, turning his neck side to side to relieve his stress points.
"She'll cool off, Tae. Don't you worry."
He walked off towards the bathroom. Megumi nodded at Tae's worried expression.
"Don't stress yourself too, Tae-san. I'm the main one who was responsible anyway. She won't be in her room for much longer. I'll apologize tomorrow morning and hopefully that will cheer her up in time for the show."
Tae closed her eyes and nodded, giving one last worried glance at the door before heading over to her room. Megumi shrugged off all thoughts momentarily as she stepped into her room next door. Misao hesitated to knock on Kaoru's door for the final time, but instead she stopped herself. She brought her mouth close to the crack between the door and the doorway, and spoke into it.
"Kaoru-chan..."
No response.
"Kaoru-chan, we're really sorry. We didn't want to hurt you this badly, and our intentions weren't this demonic as they seemed either. Kaoru-chan..."
Still, no response.
Misao, slightly more concerned, slowly slid the door open, revealing a small portion of Kaoru's room. It was dark inside, and no sound could be heard except what appeared to be ocean waves from outside.
Suddenly suspicious, she slid the door open all the way, only to see that no one was present inside the room. It almost seemed untouched, except the fact that crumpled balls of used tissue had piled in the trashcan. On the opposite wall, the large window was wide open, with the roof a reachable distance a few feet below, and the wind freely entering the cozy room.
"Kaoru...?"
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
Kenshin finished the remaining of his rice ball as he sat in the grass, hearing the cars along the road whiz behind him merely a few meters away. He had no sense of time, since he'd never owned a watch, but the sun at an acute angle before him, hovering over the ocean in the direction of west had him presuming it was close to sun set. He pushed off the ground and stood, reaching back down again to hoist his pack over his shoulder. Careful to avoid the cars, he made his way down the shoulder of the road.
It wasn't long before he followed the path to the entrance of a small town. The setting was clearly country-like, with the lack of buildings and the large number of elders with handkerchiefs tied around the brows, going to and fro on bicycles. Fields upon fields of rice crops stretched out endlessly. Kenshin, in the end, found himself asking around locals to find his way through.
He had no clue where he was going.
But still, strolling around in the hot summer noon along the green-filled atmosphere was refreshingly crisp, and it seemed to revive him of his senses. He'd always detested the thick stench of cars and city life back in Kyoto.
He finally found himself parallel to the coast, seeing small beaches in the distance. The sun was at an even smaller angle now, and the skies were growing rosy pink as if blushing. He quickened his pace and made his way down the slope in hopes to get a feel of the water.
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
Kaoru finally felt liberated when her small feet came in contact with the sand as she kicked off her sandals. The wind played with her hair, tossing it about like a horse's mane. She had it bound up in a ponytail, and her sleeves of her buttoned shirt were rolled up to her elbows, as well as her pant legs. The chilling shock of cold water sent a jolt through her fingers, at first, but soon she had her hands to her face, letting it drip down her cheeks. Smiling, she stepped out again, and she stood on the beach alone, staring out to the sun.
It was a gorgeous day, about to end.
The clouds coming forward to cover the sun's face were like curtains, drawing the show to its conclusion. It was almost as if the sun herself was a performer, bowing her lovely face to the crowd as she finally sunk below the ocean horizon, and the clouds finally blended in with the orange skies behind them.
Kaoru, in return, bent her knees so they touched, and she positioned her fingers as if a fan were present in her hand. Her feet made patterns in the sand as she glided about, moving in movement to the already memorized music, throbbing its rhythm in her head. Her head turned to the left, her eyes already imagining a male performer facing her in his position. He would move a few steps, and she, in partnership, would move towards him.
Instead, the beat in her head got cut off as she stumbled through what she was supposed to do next. Hesitating, she tried several options, but her memory would not clear itself.
It was then that she heard a voice.
"Kaoru-dono...?"
She froze in her position, and then suddenly twisted herself around 180 degrees.
He was standing there, looking at her with wide, amethyst eyes.
"Himura...san...?"
He dropped his pack, releasing a soft thud as it landed in the sand. He came forward to her, smiling.
"Are you having trouble with your dance steps?"
She couldn't prevent the fierce wave of crimson painting strokes across her face. She fumbled slightly with her words before calming herself, and letting reality sink into her.
"I...actually am..."
Kenshin seemed to pause for a moment, with his hand to his chin, and his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"I believe...the male part proceeds like-"
He positioned himself smartly, then moved forward several steps in motion, with his facial expression serious and concentrated.
Kaoru, startled, slowly hopped into the rhythm again and began to dance.
Surprisingly, her memory seemed to start anew.
His movements were directly parallel to hers, and not once did their eyes avert away from one another. One step counteracted another, and it seemed as though it were once cycle, moving in a beautiful prototype.
But Kaoru suddenly stopped, confused. She'd snatched a glance at his feet, moving so subtly and elegant, but it proved to be a distraction. She'd even forgotten her next movements. Her attempts failed at retrieving the beat.
Seeing this, Kenshin took her hand in his, and he stepped behind her. He took both of her hands, and slowly he began to move them in the correct actions. Astonished, she suddenly tensed up, making the movements jerky. And yet he continued, whispering in her ear.
"Relax, Kaoru-dono. Move with me. As one."
At his words, her limbs went limp, and two bodies together moved perfectly, as one person.
At the last, imaginary beat, he let go of her hands and smiled. She turned around to face him, but could find no words to say. She brought her hand to her mouth awkwardly and resumed with another blush. Kenshin suddenly stooped down and took her hand, and brought it close to his lips.
With great delicacy, he softly pressed his lips against her milky flesh. As he released, Kaoru stared down at her hand, then back up at him.
"You are quite a performer, Kaoru-dono."
Smilingly shyly, she bowed her head in thanks. He moved past her and picked up his pack once again. As though out of sudden panic, she began to speak.
"H-Himura-san...I'm so happy that...that we meet again. How-"
He grinned.
"I was hoping that you received my note."
Her response did not come immediately. She simply gaped at him for a few moments before her tongue even budged.
"You...were the one..."
He nodded and looked down at the ground, as if hiding his pink cheeks as well.
"I hope I didn't disappoint you...if you were expecting it to be from someone-"
Kaoru capriciously took his spare hand in both of hers, and courageously smiled up at him from ear to ear. His expression was pure awe, for the moment.
"Why should you expect such an answer, Himura-san? In fact..."
She gently pulled on his arm, up towards the slope back to the hotel.
"...I was expecting you."
With no more words exchanged between them, they walked back to the hotel hand in hand as the nightly curtain silenced the applause of the satisfied clouds behind their backs.
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
TO BE CONTINUED...
-___^
A/N: Yaaaaay, over 20 reviews! Thank you so much!! ^____^ Hope you enjoy this chapter!!
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
As One
Chapter 3: The Splendor
Misao had shaken Kaoru awake that evening, calling to dinner. As she sat up rubbing her eyes, Misao had noticed the sheet of paper on the coffee table, wide open and exposed for all who see it to read.
"OH! Ooh ooh ooh, could this be-"
Kaoru drowsily turned to the girl's excited expression as she picked up the note. After a few surprised blinks, she found herself lunging at Misao in attempt to take the paper back.
"Ack! Misao-chan, wait, WAIT!!"
Misao dashed out the door before Kaoru could even stumble to her feet. She heard her quick footsteps go pounding down the stairs to the family room, where everyone was gathered around the table in preparation for dinner.
"I GOT IT!! LOOK WHAT KAORU GOT FROM HER SECRET LOV-"
Kaoru cupped a hand over her friend's mouth just as they reached the doorway, immediately dragging her struggling figure into the dark hall. The group gave them odd looks as they shrunk back.
"Misao-chan, you shrieking big-mouth!!"
"Mmmmmrrrfff!!"
Kaoru snatched the note back from the girl's tight grasp and released her. Misao took in large breaths as she looked at the paper in her friend's hand disappointedly.
"Not even a peek, Kaoru-chan? Please? PLEA-"
Misao was ignored as Kaoru walked past her placidly and sat down at the table, stuffing the note into the pocket of her jeans. Misao snapped her fingers in frustrated gesture and sat down across from her. With disheartened sighs, dinner started.
Kaoru noticed everyone passing around sideway looks around the table, like a baton being handed around in a relay race. All the twitching of pupils was driving her nuts. Aoshi was the only peaceful, unemotional one who sat there like an icicle with its butt frozen to the floor, as always.
"Aoshi, is it just me or...are you feeling the tension here?"
He paused between chewing a piece of chicken and looked up. He stared back at her expressionlessly, causing awkwardness to built up between them.
"A-Aoshi...?"
He muttered something between chews, but unfortunately she couldn't interpret his words. His monotone mumbling was hard enough to comprehend anyway.
"Sorry?"
He brought his wrist to his mouth and swallowed. She barely saw his lips moves. His pupils merely shifted to the doorway behind her and he spoke naught but one word.
"Himura."
That sent a jolt of lightening through her spine, and like an automatic machine that had its 'on' button switched, her neck turned to the door.
No one was present.
She turned back to him with a scowl, only to find between his two fingers a piece of paper, neatly folded into fourths. Kaoru reached down to her pocket.
Empty.
"You are SO kidding..."
Swiftly, Aoshi had grabbed the scruff of Sano's neck next to him, causing the ex-gangster to be pulled away from his bowl of rice he was so hastily devouring. After doing so, Aoshi held out his hand expectantly, and Sano grumbled, pulling out a few Yen and placing it in his hand. In return, Kaoru watched her precious note get placed in his palm.
"Aoshi-sama, smooth move."
Mr. Icicle merely raised his eyebrows as he counted his new cash in reply to Misao's comment.
"YOU %$&#@%$#$%^&*!!!!!!!!!"
Kaoru lunged at Sano diagonally over the table, and yet her attempts of reaching him failed as Tae, sitting next to her, grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled. She remained in her position, struggling in Tae's unexpectedly strong hold.
"HOW COULD-GIVE IT BACK!!!! NOW!!!!!"
Megumi snatched the note out of Sano's hand just as he was about to open it. She held Misao back with one arm while the girl wildly thrashed her arm around to get at it. Their sly make-up artist fondled the paper in her hands, intimidating Kaoru's senses.
"Hmm...Aoshi-san, I didn't think you were so clever. Your witty method seems to have given us evidence that HIMURA-SAN just happens to be part of little Tanuki-chan's love life..."
"Megumi, I swear, someday I'm going to-"
"Now, let's see here, shall we...?"
Megumi slowly unfolded the note once. Misao was jumping around in her spot like corn kernels in a pot. Sano inched close to peer over Megumi's shoulder.
She unfolded it again.
The note was open.
Megumi was already on the floor, with her entire face wet with tears as she held her stomach, afraid it was going to spill out into pieces from her laughter.
*-.,.-*
"Kaoru-chan, please!"
"NEVER!!!!"
"We really didn't mean it!"
"NOT MEAN IT?! YOU INVADED MY PERSONAL SPACE!!! MY PRIVATE LIFE!!"
"Please! Stressing will cause acne!!"
"Let it be, then!!! I'LL LET MY FACE BE AN ACNE BROODING NEST!!"
"Kaoru dear, there's a SHOW tomorrow!!"
"I'LL SHOW MY UGLY SELF TO THE ENTIRE WORLD IN THAT CASE!!!!"
Tae sighed hopelessly as she looked down. Megumi, Misao, and Sano were with her, standing outside Kaoru's door. She'd locked herself in there for nearly two hours now...
"Megumi, if you only hadn't laughed so hard..."
"Yea yea, I get your point Misao-chan. But YOU were in for this plan too, you know."
"At least I didn't go as far as spilling the bottle of soy sauce on Kaoru's LAP..."
"YOU GUYS EVEN SPILLED SOY SAUCE ALL OVER MY LAP!! I'LL NEVER LISTEN TO YOU PEOPLE FOR ETERNITY!!!"
Misao held out a hand to Kaoru's outburst to prove her point. Megumi put her face in her hands and massaged her temples.
"I know, I know..."
Sano stretched and sighed, turning his neck side to side to relieve his stress points.
"She'll cool off, Tae. Don't you worry."
He walked off towards the bathroom. Megumi nodded at Tae's worried expression.
"Don't stress yourself too, Tae-san. I'm the main one who was responsible anyway. She won't be in her room for much longer. I'll apologize tomorrow morning and hopefully that will cheer her up in time for the show."
Tae closed her eyes and nodded, giving one last worried glance at the door before heading over to her room. Megumi shrugged off all thoughts momentarily as she stepped into her room next door. Misao hesitated to knock on Kaoru's door for the final time, but instead she stopped herself. She brought her mouth close to the crack between the door and the doorway, and spoke into it.
"Kaoru-chan..."
No response.
"Kaoru-chan, we're really sorry. We didn't want to hurt you this badly, and our intentions weren't this demonic as they seemed either. Kaoru-chan..."
Still, no response.
Misao, slightly more concerned, slowly slid the door open, revealing a small portion of Kaoru's room. It was dark inside, and no sound could be heard except what appeared to be ocean waves from outside.
Suddenly suspicious, she slid the door open all the way, only to see that no one was present inside the room. It almost seemed untouched, except the fact that crumpled balls of used tissue had piled in the trashcan. On the opposite wall, the large window was wide open, with the roof a reachable distance a few feet below, and the wind freely entering the cozy room.
"Kaoru...?"
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
Kenshin finished the remaining of his rice ball as he sat in the grass, hearing the cars along the road whiz behind him merely a few meters away. He had no sense of time, since he'd never owned a watch, but the sun at an acute angle before him, hovering over the ocean in the direction of west had him presuming it was close to sun set. He pushed off the ground and stood, reaching back down again to hoist his pack over his shoulder. Careful to avoid the cars, he made his way down the shoulder of the road.
It wasn't long before he followed the path to the entrance of a small town. The setting was clearly country-like, with the lack of buildings and the large number of elders with handkerchiefs tied around the brows, going to and fro on bicycles. Fields upon fields of rice crops stretched out endlessly. Kenshin, in the end, found himself asking around locals to find his way through.
He had no clue where he was going.
But still, strolling around in the hot summer noon along the green-filled atmosphere was refreshingly crisp, and it seemed to revive him of his senses. He'd always detested the thick stench of cars and city life back in Kyoto.
He finally found himself parallel to the coast, seeing small beaches in the distance. The sun was at an even smaller angle now, and the skies were growing rosy pink as if blushing. He quickened his pace and made his way down the slope in hopes to get a feel of the water.
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
Kaoru finally felt liberated when her small feet came in contact with the sand as she kicked off her sandals. The wind played with her hair, tossing it about like a horse's mane. She had it bound up in a ponytail, and her sleeves of her buttoned shirt were rolled up to her elbows, as well as her pant legs. The chilling shock of cold water sent a jolt through her fingers, at first, but soon she had her hands to her face, letting it drip down her cheeks. Smiling, she stepped out again, and she stood on the beach alone, staring out to the sun.
It was a gorgeous day, about to end.
The clouds coming forward to cover the sun's face were like curtains, drawing the show to its conclusion. It was almost as if the sun herself was a performer, bowing her lovely face to the crowd as she finally sunk below the ocean horizon, and the clouds finally blended in with the orange skies behind them.
Kaoru, in return, bent her knees so they touched, and she positioned her fingers as if a fan were present in her hand. Her feet made patterns in the sand as she glided about, moving in movement to the already memorized music, throbbing its rhythm in her head. Her head turned to the left, her eyes already imagining a male performer facing her in his position. He would move a few steps, and she, in partnership, would move towards him.
Instead, the beat in her head got cut off as she stumbled through what she was supposed to do next. Hesitating, she tried several options, but her memory would not clear itself.
It was then that she heard a voice.
"Kaoru-dono...?"
She froze in her position, and then suddenly twisted herself around 180 degrees.
He was standing there, looking at her with wide, amethyst eyes.
"Himura...san...?"
He dropped his pack, releasing a soft thud as it landed in the sand. He came forward to her, smiling.
"Are you having trouble with your dance steps?"
She couldn't prevent the fierce wave of crimson painting strokes across her face. She fumbled slightly with her words before calming herself, and letting reality sink into her.
"I...actually am..."
Kenshin seemed to pause for a moment, with his hand to his chin, and his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
"I believe...the male part proceeds like-"
He positioned himself smartly, then moved forward several steps in motion, with his facial expression serious and concentrated.
Kaoru, startled, slowly hopped into the rhythm again and began to dance.
Surprisingly, her memory seemed to start anew.
His movements were directly parallel to hers, and not once did their eyes avert away from one another. One step counteracted another, and it seemed as though it were once cycle, moving in a beautiful prototype.
But Kaoru suddenly stopped, confused. She'd snatched a glance at his feet, moving so subtly and elegant, but it proved to be a distraction. She'd even forgotten her next movements. Her attempts failed at retrieving the beat.
Seeing this, Kenshin took her hand in his, and he stepped behind her. He took both of her hands, and slowly he began to move them in the correct actions. Astonished, she suddenly tensed up, making the movements jerky. And yet he continued, whispering in her ear.
"Relax, Kaoru-dono. Move with me. As one."
At his words, her limbs went limp, and two bodies together moved perfectly, as one person.
At the last, imaginary beat, he let go of her hands and smiled. She turned around to face him, but could find no words to say. She brought her hand to her mouth awkwardly and resumed with another blush. Kenshin suddenly stooped down and took her hand, and brought it close to his lips.
With great delicacy, he softly pressed his lips against her milky flesh. As he released, Kaoru stared down at her hand, then back up at him.
"You are quite a performer, Kaoru-dono."
Smilingly shyly, she bowed her head in thanks. He moved past her and picked up his pack once again. As though out of sudden panic, she began to speak.
"H-Himura-san...I'm so happy that...that we meet again. How-"
He grinned.
"I was hoping that you received my note."
Her response did not come immediately. She simply gaped at him for a few moments before her tongue even budged.
"You...were the one..."
He nodded and looked down at the ground, as if hiding his pink cheeks as well.
"I hope I didn't disappoint you...if you were expecting it to be from someone-"
Kaoru capriciously took his spare hand in both of hers, and courageously smiled up at him from ear to ear. His expression was pure awe, for the moment.
"Why should you expect such an answer, Himura-san? In fact..."
She gently pulled on his arm, up towards the slope back to the hotel.
"...I was expecting you."
With no more words exchanged between them, they walked back to the hotel hand in hand as the nightly curtain silenced the applause of the satisfied clouds behind their backs.
*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*-.,.-*
TO BE CONTINUED...
-___^