AN
(Author's Note): This is my first time writing a story so no cruel reviews
please ^^" arigato!
Oh yea. I'm not very good with dialogue so I'm sorry! ^^"
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is not mine. Nor is the story Cinderella or Ella
Enchanted or Ever after. (Which is all a version of Cinderella, and if you
don't like it then don't read)
-Chapter 8-
Kaoru blushed and pulled away, immediately bowing her head in apology.
The stranger laughed and smiled some more while putting his hand on Kaoru's shoulder temporarily. "It's ok," he said, "I don't mind at all."
Kaoru blushed to an even deeper shade of red and looked straight into the man's eyes.
They were an electric greenish – blue and Kaoru felt her heart go *bAdDuM… bAdDuM… bAdDuM…*
She tore her eyes away and looked down, embarrassed, and the guy laughed again. "My name is Soujiro. What's yours?"
Quietly, Kaoru stammered out, "K-K-Kamiya, Ka-Kaoru." She was reminded of her place as a servant, due to Soujiro's clothes, and she bowed her head lightly to show her respect.
Soujiro was wearing a fine shaniel guy kimono thing (I don't know what it's called! Please help! It's the one that Kenshin wears in the anime show) that was just plain white.
His smile widened, and he let out a low chuckle. "No need to be so polite," he said quietly, "Nobody is around to see anyways. How about I take you back to my place and you can change…"
Soujiro had seen Kaoru's clothes and they were still quite damp. Kaoru blushed, and shook her head slightly.
"I am but a servant, unworthy of your company. My master expects me home… I must leave or else I am to be punished."
Kaoru walked away, remembering the way Soujiro's eyes had bored into hers. She shivered in part joy and part fear and made her way out.
Kenshin had been searching through the forest and had found nothing, when he saw Kaoru talking to a brown-haired boy.
He slowly crept behind a tree and watched them, his violet eyes turning into a deep, fierce amber. Kenshin didn't know why, but he was jealous of the boy.
He let out a low growl of dislike and watched Kaoru and the boy.
When Kaoru left, Kenshin let out a sigh of relief. He didn't want Kaoru anywhere near that boy. For some reason, he had a bad feeling about this boy… he was here for something…
He just knew it…
When Kaoru left, she picked up Yahiko and her groceries and made her way back, totally forgetting about Kenshin.
Kenshin however didn't forget about her…
I can't feel anything for her… she's just a servant! He kept telling himself that, and after some time, he began to believe himself.
Smirking, he made his way back to the palace and prepared for Tomoe's funeral.
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ Few days later ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
Tomoe's funeral was somber. Everybody was dressed in black and wept. Everyone thought of Tomoe as kind and gentle, and a lot of people showed up just to meet the prince.
Kaoru and Misao were disgusted at the girls who were crowded around Kenshin, trying to get his attention. They didn't even know Tomoe, but when they heard Kenshin would be there, they went shopping.
Soujiro was there too. Kaoru spotted him after the funeral, placing a single white rose on her grave. He knelt down and stared at it for some time.
Kaoru looked away, for it wasn't proper for a servant to look at someone of higher class.
She was sad, yes, but yet she was ecstatic that she saw Soujiro again. Kaoru watched him for a while, and when Soujiro turned around, Kaoru momentarily caught his eyes, and then she looked away, blushing.
Soujiro smiled and made his way over. Oh my god! He's coming over! Thought Kaoru as she tried to make herself look busy.
She failed and dropped something and winced in embarrassment. Soujiro smiled even wider and picked it up for her.
Kaoru blushed, avoiding his eyes, and thanked him.
"No need…" Soujiro said quietly, trying to catch Kaoru's eyes.
She looked up at him and went red. He was so close to her!!
Kaoru could once again feel her heart beat as she felt drawn to him. He smiled slightly and leaned in closer.
Kenshin saw and felt something inside him spark as he made his way over.
Amber did flick in his eyes. When he was behind Soujiro, he coughed impatiently to get their attention.
Kaoru jumped and hit Soujiro's head. Oh my god I hit him!! Thought Kaoru. She glared at whoever made her do that but jumped again when she saw that it was Kenshin.
She remembered her position and bowed her head down. Kenshin gazed at Soujiro and whispered something in his ear that made Soujiro whisk away.
Kaoru kept her head down until Kenshin left, and when he did she felt sad for some strange reason…
When Kaoru's stepmother told everyone to go home, Kaoru and the other servants walked home together.
They chatted somberly and was usually quiet as they trudged home remembering the very few times Tomoe was nice…
~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ At Home ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
Kaoru was outside, trying to clean a rug unsuccessfully when Misao came running along.
"OOH MY GOD!! KAORU YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS!" Misao screamed.
Thinking that something went wrong, Kaoru rushed up and asked what was the matter.
"Oh, nothing's the matter, except for the itsy bitsy tiny piece of information THAT THIS NOBLE WANTED TO BUY YOU!!!"
Kaoru gaped in amazement. That meant she had to move out of this house, possibly out of this town. She stiffened and shook her head. "I'll never leave this house Misao… it was my parents and they loved it… and I do too. It's the only memory I'll ever have of my parents."
Misao understood. She nodded her head and ran off to tell her step-mom of her answer.
After a while, Misao came back, panting. She stood by Kaoru, catching her breath. After she did, she told Kaoru, "You're step-mom said that you have to go, but before that you have to go to finishing school for some odd reason."
Kaoru looked away sadly toward the house. Memories flooded her brain as she suddenly felt her knees go weak as she leaned onto Misao for support.
Thinking, Kaoru thought a way out of this situation. Misao looked at her and helped Kaoru stand by herself.
As soon as she did, Kaoru smiled… she had just thought of a way out of this!
To Be Continued…ACK!! Gomen for the short chapter guys!!! And it sucked too! But I promise the next one will be longer and MUCH better! ^^" I'll probably update soon… although you don't have to… please…
Review!! XPP arigato
