A/N. Oh, and I forgot to apologize (again) for the sorta lame chapter titles. When I originally sent this to the KFFDiscML, I didn't put any chapter titles. But then FFnet demanded them, so I had to scramble for them just as I was uploading. ^.^
FYI, Japanese words included in a previous chapter's glossary will not be included in those of future ones.
glossary:
kata = a set of prescribed moves in a martial art, done repeatedly be a student so as to ingrain them into his/her reflexes
kitsune-onna = lit. "fox-lady"; a typical reference to Megumi-dono ^.^
ohagi = sweets made out of sticky rice covered with sweet bean jam. yum!
eeto = um... er... I mean...
-sensei = suffix denoting a teacher or mentor; also, with different kanji (Chinese/Japanese ideograms), denoting a doctor
yukata = light cotton robe worn around the house and at night; when it's summer-hot, also worn outside
miso = a salty paste made from fermented fish
ano = see "eeto" above.
sumanai = a slightly more formal form of "sorry" than "gomen nasai"
tanuki = a raccoonlike creature unique to Japan. Kaoru is compared to this ^.^
ohayou = good morning!
shinai = bamboo sword used by students of kendo/kenjutsu
arigatou = Thank you.
Kinou no Kakera (A Piece of Yesterday)
by Keishiko
Two: Comings and Goings
The next day dawned cool and crisp. Kaoru woke up with a lazy smile on her face, although she could not say why. Purring contentedly, snug in the warmth of her blanket, she rolled over onto her side and sighed. Sleep was so very delicious, she thought dreamily. She just *couldn't* get up quite yet...
Even though her eyes stayed shut she gradually came awake, as if breaking the surface of a great, still lake, gently buoyed by the whispering waters.
The sounds of another morning at the dojo came to her ears: The dull *thwop-thwop* of fresh laundry snapping in the breeze. The distant shouts of Yahiko, practising his kata in the training hall. The occasional low, laconic voice - probably Sanosuke, watching the boy train and offering a few tips. A coy feminine laugh from the courtyard was unmistakably Megumi's, although it had been some time since the kitsune-onna's last visit to the dojo. Kaoru heard the small voices of Ayame-chan and Suzume-chan and realized the little girls were playing a game with the woman doctor. She smiled and opened her eyes.
On a tray, not two feet away, was a flat, gaily wrapped box.
It had not been there the night before. Kaoru stared at it and crept closer to sniff at it suspiciously. It seemed harmless enough, but one never knew. She wondered how it had gotten into her room.
Carefully she unwrapped the elaborate packaging, unfolding the blue-and-silver paper, regretting the destruction of the ornate bamboo design.
A note was tucked inside. It lay on top of another box that opened to reveal an assortment of ohagi and sweet red bean balls, shaped like small swans and sparrows and painted bright red and brown and black. Nestled in soft rice paper, the sweets looked terribly tempting.
Kaoru resisted the urge to pop a delectable piece into her mouth and instead read the note.
/Kaoru-chan, eeto, Kamiya-sensei--
I do hope you like red beans as much as you used to at fourteen.
Kei-kun/
She smiled, sighed, and put away the note. Then she replaced the cover on the box - firmly ignoring the tantalizing sweets inside - and got up.
Her stomach rumbled as she exchanged her yukata for one of her favorite kimonos, an old dark blue one with gray and white butterflies. As she tied back her hair a familiar tangy-salty smell drifted past, and all thoughts of red bean delicacies drowned in hungry fantasies of Kenshin's miso soup.
"Good morning, Kaoru-dono," came Kenshin's cheerful greeting as she entered the kitchen. "I hope you slept well."
"I did, thanks," Kaoru answered absently. Following Kenshin's mildly curious gaze, she flushed when she realized he was looking at the small box in her hands. Feeling unaccountably guilty all of a sudden, she hid the box behind her back and feigned a bright smile.
"That smells wonderful, Kenshin!" She tiptoed nearer to the door. She had wanted to put the box in the cupboard, but somehow she felt she shouldn't, not while Kenshin was looking. "When do we eat? Where's Keisuke?"
"He's in the dojo with Yahiko-chan." Kenshin turned back to the soup, apparently not having noticed anything amiss. Kaoru breathed more easily. "Breakfast is in a few minutes."
"All right," and Kaoru, still clutching the box, slipped out the door with a sigh of relief. At least she'd escaped Kenshin's questions.
She didn't see Megumi rounding the corner of the house, hiding from Ayame-chan in their game of hide-and-seek. Oblivious to Megumi watching her with interest, Kaoru tucked the box into her sleeve and headed toward the dojo.
Kenshin was humming busily over his pot of fragrant rice as Megumi silently entered the kitchen. His back was turned to her, so she took the opportunity to appreciate his lean, well-built physique, the straight, proud back tapering slightly from broad shoulders to a trim waist that showed through the gi and hakama in the sunshine filtering through the window. Kenshin's long, billowing sleeves were tied back as usual, and the muscles in his arms shifted slightly, tensed and pulsed, as he stirred the soup.
Megumi smiled to herself and shook her head. Kenshin was gorgeous from whatever angle you looked at him.
Kenshin glanced at her uneasily.
"Ano... Megumi-dono? It's kind of unnerving when you stare like that..."
Megumi threw back her head and laughed. So hearty and so loud were her peals of laughter that a faint rosy color tinted Kenshin's cheeks. Hiding his embarrassment in his hair, he busied himself preparing the trays.
"Sumanai, Ken-san," Megumi gasped when she could speak at last. "It's just that... Well, it's been some time since we last saw each other, and I can't help appreciating the view from here."
The new flush that spread across his cheeks only made her laugh again.
Megumi's amusement finally subsided. Seeing that she had made Kenshin uncomfortable, she decided to make amends. "Here, I'll take care of these trays so you can finish up with that fish," she said, more gently. Kenshin smiled thanks at her and turned back to the fish that he had been slicing.
As Megumi arranged the dishes and bowls, she eyed him thoughtfully, and saw a slight frown crease his forehead - barely visible under the hair - and shadows cloud his eyes.
Something was bothering him, Megumi knew.
"Sanosuke told me about that Niimi-san fellow who visited yesterday," she began conversationally. Kenshin made no response. "Apparently he's an old friend of Kaoru's."
"Yes, he stayed over last night." Kenshin's voice was light, unconcerned. He placed the bright, translucent folds of raw fish on a plate, arranging them - with a few deft movements - into the rippling shape of a river.
"I see. Yahiko-chan has been training with him all morning." Carrying the trays, Megumi followed him into the dining area. "He used to be a student here after all."
"That's great." Kenshin laid out the pillows. "I'm sure Yahiko's really benefiting from Niimi-san's experience. Megumi-dono, will you come with me? I will call them to breakfast now."
A perplexed Megumi followed Kenshin along the corridor toward the dojo. Kenshin was acting as if nothing at all were amiss. He seemed determined to block her every effort to get through to him; Megumi knew him too well to be fooled by his pretenses.
She knew he had feelings for Kaoru-chan. So why was he trying so hard to hide them? Especially with this intruder appearing from out of nowhere and making moves on the tanuki girl!
It was frustrating not to know; and yet she knew that it was easy, instinctive even, for him to be so defensive. Kenshin had not been a simple, peaceful wanderer all his life. He was used to people trying to break through his defenses, trying to discover his
weaknesses. Megumi herself understood - understood and sympathized. She couldn't blame him for being so guarded.
It was just going to take a little more effort than she'd thought...
Sanosuke had been gloomy and grim as he'd related to her the events of the previous night. Megumi had been unwilling to believe that Kenshin could seem so unconcerned, but, now that she was seeing him with her own eyes, it seemed all too possible.
Megumi eyed the man walking before her - the man she had come to love and admire with all her heart, the man whom she most wanted to see happy - and wondered if what he was showing her was really all there was. Was he... Was Kaoru...?
"Megumi-dono."
"H-hai?" Megumi's voice came out in an unrefined squeak. Was it coming? The pained confession? The emotional outpouring?
"You're... um... staring... again..."
It was Megumi's turn to flush.
They had reached the side door leading to the training hall. Kenshin pushed it open and stepped inside. Interrupted in their lesson, Yahiko and Kaoru looked at him expectantly. "Ohayou de gozaru," he said politely. "Breakfast is ready now."
"All right!" Yahiko hastily bowed to Kaoru - the student concluding the lesson from his master - and, shinai in hand, ran out of the room. Sanosuke, with a satisfied grunt, got up from where he lay sprawled on the sidelines and followed Yahiko.
Quietly, Megumi caught hold of the tails of his headband.
Sanosuke's head jerked backward. His long legs, which had been taking great steps toward breakfast, met air. "Oei!" he managed to yelp before he crashed to the floor.
"Kitsune-onna!" Sanosuke growled. Yahiko rolled about on the floor laughing. "Shut up, Yahiko-*chan!*"
"Breakfast's ready. But not for you." Fox ears sprouted on Megumi's head as she pinched Sanosuke's ear. "Honestly, aren't you ever ashamed of mooching on the food Ken-san works so hard on?"
"Kenshin doesn't mind," Sano protested, rubbing his ear and trying in vain to tug free. "Well, if you're not going to let loose, I guess I'll just have to bring you along!"
And, in one deft movement, he scooped her up in his arms and ran. Megumi's shouts of outrage trailed in his wake as he sprinted gleefully to the dining room. Yahiko laughed even harder, staggering to his feet to follow them.
"Sanosuke!" yelled Kaoru, scandalized.
Kenshin smiled apologetically at Keisuke, who had come up behind Kaoru and now looked shocked at the antics of the morning. "Please excuse our friends' behavior. They're just hungry."
"Kenshin!" hissed Kaoru. She gave a weak smile to Keisuke, who had burst out laughing.
"They remind me of Taka and myself three years ago. Remember him?" He grinned at her. "Come to think of it, where is he now?"
"Yamino Taka," Kaoru answered, smiling back. "Of course I remember him. Come along, Keisuke. Kenshin's miso is the best - let's have breakfast while I tell you about Taka-kun."
"I'm afraid I'll have to refuse your kind offer." Keisuke bowed apologetically.
Kaoru stopped, stared at him, eyes bright and questioning.
"I should report back to my officer in half an hour. He might be worried since I didn't sleep there last night." Keisuke smiled, bowing again. "My stay has been most comfortable, and it is all due to my gracious hostess."
Kaoru frowned. "Kei-kun. Stop that. I'm not used to that from you. You're getting as bad as Kenshin, so formal." Smiling playfully, she glanced at Kenshin, expecting him to give her his sheepish smile, to scratch his head as he spluttered some protest.
But her smile faded when he suddenly turned away. Puzzled, Kaoru found herself staring at the bright fire of his hair. /Something's wrong,/ she thought, but Keisuke was laughing again.
"All right," Keisuke said cheerfully. "Then I'll be off. Sorry to miss out on breakfast - I'd love to meet everyone. But I'll come back. If you'll let me." The light tones belied the sharp, questioning glance he shot at Kaoru.
She smiled cheerfully back at him, though her cheeks were stained a light pink. "Of course. You're welcome to visit any day."
"Thank you, Kaoru."
Kaoru returned Keisuke's deep bow with a graceful one, then Kenshin accompanied him to the gate. As he prepared to shut the gate behind Keisuke, the young man unexpectedly turned and bowed.
"Arigatou, Himura-san," he murmured. "You have been most kind."
Hastily, hiding his pleased surprise, Kenshin returned the bow and the pleasantries.
As Keisuke walked away, his remarkable height drawing stares and glances from passersby, Kenshin watched him silently from the dojo gate.
It was not often that a high-born young man like Niimi Keisuke took notice of a seeming servant like him. Keisuke had treated him with respect, almost as if Kenshin were an elder. Eleven years ago in the Tokugawa era, outside the radical equality of the Restorationists, it would have been unheard of.
A man of Meiji. Kenshin watched until Keisuke's smart dark blue navy uniform was swallowed up by the crowd, lost amid the bright colors and striking patterns of kimono and gi.
Then, turning, Kenshin headed back inside.
* tsuzuku *
1. I just *had* to sneak in that little bit of Kenshin-ogling. ^.^
2. There are a few inconsistencies, I know--e.g. In referring to Yahiko, Kenshin shifts from "Yahiko-chan" to "Yahiko" and back again. Gomen nasai! @.@ But I intend to post this story on FFnet as I posted it on KFFDiscML (for posterity, you might say) so well, there it is... ^.^
FYI, Japanese words included in a previous chapter's glossary will not be included in those of future ones.
glossary:
kata = a set of prescribed moves in a martial art, done repeatedly be a student so as to ingrain them into his/her reflexes
kitsune-onna = lit. "fox-lady"; a typical reference to Megumi-dono ^.^
ohagi = sweets made out of sticky rice covered with sweet bean jam. yum!
eeto = um... er... I mean...
-sensei = suffix denoting a teacher or mentor; also, with different kanji (Chinese/Japanese ideograms), denoting a doctor
yukata = light cotton robe worn around the house and at night; when it's summer-hot, also worn outside
miso = a salty paste made from fermented fish
ano = see "eeto" above.
sumanai = a slightly more formal form of "sorry" than "gomen nasai"
tanuki = a raccoonlike creature unique to Japan. Kaoru is compared to this ^.^
ohayou = good morning!
shinai = bamboo sword used by students of kendo/kenjutsu
arigatou = Thank you.
Kinou no Kakera (A Piece of Yesterday)
by Keishiko
Two: Comings and Goings
The next day dawned cool and crisp. Kaoru woke up with a lazy smile on her face, although she could not say why. Purring contentedly, snug in the warmth of her blanket, she rolled over onto her side and sighed. Sleep was so very delicious, she thought dreamily. She just *couldn't* get up quite yet...
Even though her eyes stayed shut she gradually came awake, as if breaking the surface of a great, still lake, gently buoyed by the whispering waters.
The sounds of another morning at the dojo came to her ears: The dull *thwop-thwop* of fresh laundry snapping in the breeze. The distant shouts of Yahiko, practising his kata in the training hall. The occasional low, laconic voice - probably Sanosuke, watching the boy train and offering a few tips. A coy feminine laugh from the courtyard was unmistakably Megumi's, although it had been some time since the kitsune-onna's last visit to the dojo. Kaoru heard the small voices of Ayame-chan and Suzume-chan and realized the little girls were playing a game with the woman doctor. She smiled and opened her eyes.
On a tray, not two feet away, was a flat, gaily wrapped box.
It had not been there the night before. Kaoru stared at it and crept closer to sniff at it suspiciously. It seemed harmless enough, but one never knew. She wondered how it had gotten into her room.
Carefully she unwrapped the elaborate packaging, unfolding the blue-and-silver paper, regretting the destruction of the ornate bamboo design.
A note was tucked inside. It lay on top of another box that opened to reveal an assortment of ohagi and sweet red bean balls, shaped like small swans and sparrows and painted bright red and brown and black. Nestled in soft rice paper, the sweets looked terribly tempting.
Kaoru resisted the urge to pop a delectable piece into her mouth and instead read the note.
/Kaoru-chan, eeto, Kamiya-sensei--
I do hope you like red beans as much as you used to at fourteen.
Kei-kun/
She smiled, sighed, and put away the note. Then she replaced the cover on the box - firmly ignoring the tantalizing sweets inside - and got up.
Her stomach rumbled as she exchanged her yukata for one of her favorite kimonos, an old dark blue one with gray and white butterflies. As she tied back her hair a familiar tangy-salty smell drifted past, and all thoughts of red bean delicacies drowned in hungry fantasies of Kenshin's miso soup.
"Good morning, Kaoru-dono," came Kenshin's cheerful greeting as she entered the kitchen. "I hope you slept well."
"I did, thanks," Kaoru answered absently. Following Kenshin's mildly curious gaze, she flushed when she realized he was looking at the small box in her hands. Feeling unaccountably guilty all of a sudden, she hid the box behind her back and feigned a bright smile.
"That smells wonderful, Kenshin!" She tiptoed nearer to the door. She had wanted to put the box in the cupboard, but somehow she felt she shouldn't, not while Kenshin was looking. "When do we eat? Where's Keisuke?"
"He's in the dojo with Yahiko-chan." Kenshin turned back to the soup, apparently not having noticed anything amiss. Kaoru breathed more easily. "Breakfast is in a few minutes."
"All right," and Kaoru, still clutching the box, slipped out the door with a sigh of relief. At least she'd escaped Kenshin's questions.
She didn't see Megumi rounding the corner of the house, hiding from Ayame-chan in their game of hide-and-seek. Oblivious to Megumi watching her with interest, Kaoru tucked the box into her sleeve and headed toward the dojo.
Kenshin was humming busily over his pot of fragrant rice as Megumi silently entered the kitchen. His back was turned to her, so she took the opportunity to appreciate his lean, well-built physique, the straight, proud back tapering slightly from broad shoulders to a trim waist that showed through the gi and hakama in the sunshine filtering through the window. Kenshin's long, billowing sleeves were tied back as usual, and the muscles in his arms shifted slightly, tensed and pulsed, as he stirred the soup.
Megumi smiled to herself and shook her head. Kenshin was gorgeous from whatever angle you looked at him.
Kenshin glanced at her uneasily.
"Ano... Megumi-dono? It's kind of unnerving when you stare like that..."
Megumi threw back her head and laughed. So hearty and so loud were her peals of laughter that a faint rosy color tinted Kenshin's cheeks. Hiding his embarrassment in his hair, he busied himself preparing the trays.
"Sumanai, Ken-san," Megumi gasped when she could speak at last. "It's just that... Well, it's been some time since we last saw each other, and I can't help appreciating the view from here."
The new flush that spread across his cheeks only made her laugh again.
Megumi's amusement finally subsided. Seeing that she had made Kenshin uncomfortable, she decided to make amends. "Here, I'll take care of these trays so you can finish up with that fish," she said, more gently. Kenshin smiled thanks at her and turned back to the fish that he had been slicing.
As Megumi arranged the dishes and bowls, she eyed him thoughtfully, and saw a slight frown crease his forehead - barely visible under the hair - and shadows cloud his eyes.
Something was bothering him, Megumi knew.
"Sanosuke told me about that Niimi-san fellow who visited yesterday," she began conversationally. Kenshin made no response. "Apparently he's an old friend of Kaoru's."
"Yes, he stayed over last night." Kenshin's voice was light, unconcerned. He placed the bright, translucent folds of raw fish on a plate, arranging them - with a few deft movements - into the rippling shape of a river.
"I see. Yahiko-chan has been training with him all morning." Carrying the trays, Megumi followed him into the dining area. "He used to be a student here after all."
"That's great." Kenshin laid out the pillows. "I'm sure Yahiko's really benefiting from Niimi-san's experience. Megumi-dono, will you come with me? I will call them to breakfast now."
A perplexed Megumi followed Kenshin along the corridor toward the dojo. Kenshin was acting as if nothing at all were amiss. He seemed determined to block her every effort to get through to him; Megumi knew him too well to be fooled by his pretenses.
She knew he had feelings for Kaoru-chan. So why was he trying so hard to hide them? Especially with this intruder appearing from out of nowhere and making moves on the tanuki girl!
It was frustrating not to know; and yet she knew that it was easy, instinctive even, for him to be so defensive. Kenshin had not been a simple, peaceful wanderer all his life. He was used to people trying to break through his defenses, trying to discover his
weaknesses. Megumi herself understood - understood and sympathized. She couldn't blame him for being so guarded.
It was just going to take a little more effort than she'd thought...
Sanosuke had been gloomy and grim as he'd related to her the events of the previous night. Megumi had been unwilling to believe that Kenshin could seem so unconcerned, but, now that she was seeing him with her own eyes, it seemed all too possible.
Megumi eyed the man walking before her - the man she had come to love and admire with all her heart, the man whom she most wanted to see happy - and wondered if what he was showing her was really all there was. Was he... Was Kaoru...?
"Megumi-dono."
"H-hai?" Megumi's voice came out in an unrefined squeak. Was it coming? The pained confession? The emotional outpouring?
"You're... um... staring... again..."
It was Megumi's turn to flush.
They had reached the side door leading to the training hall. Kenshin pushed it open and stepped inside. Interrupted in their lesson, Yahiko and Kaoru looked at him expectantly. "Ohayou de gozaru," he said politely. "Breakfast is ready now."
"All right!" Yahiko hastily bowed to Kaoru - the student concluding the lesson from his master - and, shinai in hand, ran out of the room. Sanosuke, with a satisfied grunt, got up from where he lay sprawled on the sidelines and followed Yahiko.
Quietly, Megumi caught hold of the tails of his headband.
Sanosuke's head jerked backward. His long legs, which had been taking great steps toward breakfast, met air. "Oei!" he managed to yelp before he crashed to the floor.
"Kitsune-onna!" Sanosuke growled. Yahiko rolled about on the floor laughing. "Shut up, Yahiko-*chan!*"
"Breakfast's ready. But not for you." Fox ears sprouted on Megumi's head as she pinched Sanosuke's ear. "Honestly, aren't you ever ashamed of mooching on the food Ken-san works so hard on?"
"Kenshin doesn't mind," Sano protested, rubbing his ear and trying in vain to tug free. "Well, if you're not going to let loose, I guess I'll just have to bring you along!"
And, in one deft movement, he scooped her up in his arms and ran. Megumi's shouts of outrage trailed in his wake as he sprinted gleefully to the dining room. Yahiko laughed even harder, staggering to his feet to follow them.
"Sanosuke!" yelled Kaoru, scandalized.
Kenshin smiled apologetically at Keisuke, who had come up behind Kaoru and now looked shocked at the antics of the morning. "Please excuse our friends' behavior. They're just hungry."
"Kenshin!" hissed Kaoru. She gave a weak smile to Keisuke, who had burst out laughing.
"They remind me of Taka and myself three years ago. Remember him?" He grinned at her. "Come to think of it, where is he now?"
"Yamino Taka," Kaoru answered, smiling back. "Of course I remember him. Come along, Keisuke. Kenshin's miso is the best - let's have breakfast while I tell you about Taka-kun."
"I'm afraid I'll have to refuse your kind offer." Keisuke bowed apologetically.
Kaoru stopped, stared at him, eyes bright and questioning.
"I should report back to my officer in half an hour. He might be worried since I didn't sleep there last night." Keisuke smiled, bowing again. "My stay has been most comfortable, and it is all due to my gracious hostess."
Kaoru frowned. "Kei-kun. Stop that. I'm not used to that from you. You're getting as bad as Kenshin, so formal." Smiling playfully, she glanced at Kenshin, expecting him to give her his sheepish smile, to scratch his head as he spluttered some protest.
But her smile faded when he suddenly turned away. Puzzled, Kaoru found herself staring at the bright fire of his hair. /Something's wrong,/ she thought, but Keisuke was laughing again.
"All right," Keisuke said cheerfully. "Then I'll be off. Sorry to miss out on breakfast - I'd love to meet everyone. But I'll come back. If you'll let me." The light tones belied the sharp, questioning glance he shot at Kaoru.
She smiled cheerfully back at him, though her cheeks were stained a light pink. "Of course. You're welcome to visit any day."
"Thank you, Kaoru."
Kaoru returned Keisuke's deep bow with a graceful one, then Kenshin accompanied him to the gate. As he prepared to shut the gate behind Keisuke, the young man unexpectedly turned and bowed.
"Arigatou, Himura-san," he murmured. "You have been most kind."
Hastily, hiding his pleased surprise, Kenshin returned the bow and the pleasantries.
As Keisuke walked away, his remarkable height drawing stares and glances from passersby, Kenshin watched him silently from the dojo gate.
It was not often that a high-born young man like Niimi Keisuke took notice of a seeming servant like him. Keisuke had treated him with respect, almost as if Kenshin were an elder. Eleven years ago in the Tokugawa era, outside the radical equality of the Restorationists, it would have been unheard of.
A man of Meiji. Kenshin watched until Keisuke's smart dark blue navy uniform was swallowed up by the crowd, lost amid the bright colors and striking patterns of kimono and gi.
Then, turning, Kenshin headed back inside.
* tsuzuku *
1. I just *had* to sneak in that little bit of Kenshin-ogling. ^.^
2. There are a few inconsistencies, I know--e.g. In referring to Yahiko, Kenshin shifts from "Yahiko-chan" to "Yahiko" and back again. Gomen nasai! @.@ But I intend to post this story on FFnet as I posted it on KFFDiscML (for posterity, you might say) so well, there it is... ^.^