**************************************************
The Tale of A Proper Marriage : Chapter 13
by white seraph
**************************************************
"He ran back and forth, carrying the bucket the old man gave him" Soujirou read aloud the words above his finger to Kaoru, who was sitting lazily on the cushion, staring out at the artificial garden outside, with doors wide open allowing the sunlight to fill the room up. It was the famous 'The Tale of Genji" * he was reading, and despite it's lengthy chapters, and tiny words, the two did enjoy reading the story in turns to each other for the whole morning.
As the two were entertaining themselves with the Soujirou's book, they were quite unaware of the fact that someone, they least expected, had their eyes on them, spying tightly on their every action. Kenshin sat on the top of the old banyan tree for half a morning already. It was planted just next to the building, and continently gave him a view of all the rooms at the front row of the house, the doors were left open.
It was rather strange, he thought, how she could be so friendly and nice to his cousin, yet so hostile to him. Wait; does he even care? No. Asking why doesn't mean he cares, it only means he's curious. That's right, he was only curious. She's only nasty to him because she wants to hide his love for him? Though Kenshin had dismissed that idea long time ago, the return of it did seem to settle Kenshin's curiosity effectively, or rather, it was settled because that was the answer he wanted. Straining his ears in vain, Kenshin tried to listen to their conversation, though failing utterly, for if he did listen, he'd be jumping in rage.
"You know, the main character in this story reminds me a lot of that Kenshin" Kaoru said recalling the story.
"Oh? In want way?" Soujirou asked, as he closed the book and put it on the table.
"He's such a womanizer." Kaoru scowled.
"Oh, I'm sure he's not as bad as you think! Come on, just because he likes to socialize with women more than men doesn't mean he'll be a bad husband!" Soujirou tried to defend his cousin, but was, unfortunately, unsuccessful in attempt.
"Too bad he's rather selective at that too." Kaoru scoffed, and then added "apparently, he doesn't seem to realize I'm a woman either."
"Don't be so pessimistic about everything" He said, but had decided not to continue, when he saw Kaoru's uneasy expression. And then, suddenly, as randomly as it could get, "When are we going to visit the temples?"
And Kaoru, totally forgetting about her promise, remembered that she was supposed to ask Lady Himura for her permission. "Well.I think I can ask her later at lunch. but it's going to be very boring if we just go there but don't do anything. It's not new year or first day of season."
"It doesn't matter! We can go an get your fiancé a lucky charm!**
"Him? A Lucky charm?" Kaoru furrowed her eyebrows and gave Soujirou a skeptic look. "I may look virtuous, but I don't think I'm nice enough to wish that jerk who makes my life a living hell, good fortune."
Soujirou only chuckled "how can you expect him to be nice to you when you don't take the first step?"
"I.Well you do have a point there." Kaoru said softly, for the first time, realizing how selfish it was of her to expect her fiancé to be nice to her when she didn't even try to be nice herself. And perhaps the only reason why he was so hostile to her was because she herself was hostile to him! All right, she mentally reminded herself to ask Lady Himura for permission to go out later.
Little did she know, that though she had very kind heartedly decided to go to the temple to get her fiancé a fortune charm, and Soujirou's innocent attempts in trying to sooth the two's hatred, that Kenshin, no longer able to stand the two, was already off to his mother's room spinning tales about the two love birds in the other room.
"Mother! You just have to see them, I mean, what would be of my reputation?! What would people say if they find out that my fiancé is having an affair with my cousin?!" He told his mother, hoping she would do something about them, like sending Soujirou away, or maybe giving them a nice scold would be nice.
However, none of the expected happened, Lady Himura had seen through her son's sudden attempt in telling tales so completely, that she knew instantly that Kenshin was over reacting because of one little emotion called Jealousy.
"Honey, don't get overly angry over a girl who is nothing but a person you will call wife" Lady Himura attacked his pride subtly.
"It's.Its not about that wench! It's my reputation!" Kenshin retorted, making sure he made it clear that he had no concern for the girl whatsoever.
"Oh if it's your reputation, then I'm sure you have nothing to worry about, we can shut the servant's mouth with money, you won't tell, I won't tell, nobody will know!"
Kenshin thought for a moment. "Well, I just don't like to see the two together!" He concluded without any logical reasoning.
Lady Himura smiled smugly, knowing the source of her son's uneasiness. "It's okay, I'm sure there is nothing between them that goes beyond the innocent friendship." She reassured her son, but silently making a note to herself that she must have a word with the two later.
* * * * * *
The servants came into the dining room with plaques of food for lunch, and as if it was the most natural thing to do in the world, Kaoru took the seat farthest away from Kenshin again, and sat next to Lady Himura this time, which was rather convenient, as she had reminded herself to ask the hostess for permission to visit the temple tomorrow.
"Kaoru, dear you like fish don't you?" The older lady smiled as she moved the plate of steamed fish to Kaoru's side."
"Thank you" Kaoru replied, and then not missing her chance, she added. "Um. Lady Himura, I was wondering if Soujirou and I may go too visit the Heien Temple tomorrow." Everyone naturally had their eyes at Lady Himura, waiting for her to answer.
Lady Himura looked at Soujirou and Kaoru's pleading stares, and couldn't help but say yes, despite her earlier thought of telling Kaoru to stay away from her nephew when Kenshin was around. She sighed. "Alright, alright, but make sure you are chaperoned", she gave her son a quick eye, as if telling him not to worry. He didn't seem to have much response.at least externally.
Inside, he was burning with anger, feeling betrayed and hurt, yet little did he know himself that all this originated from the pure jealousy over the two. Though he displayed no response, inside, he was planning deviously how to get his revenge for his own hurt pride.
Though Kaoru could probably be the last person he could blame on, but she was surely the origin of all the trouble. If she didn't stupidly ask to go to the Temple with Soujirou, to publicly announce to everyone that he, Himura Kenshin couldn't not even tame his wife, then he would have thought of letting her off. But this time, she was going too far for her own good..
Yet it never really occurred to him that Kaoru was not as evil and malicious as he thought, and that her little request on the outing was out of nothing but the kind thought of settling Soujirou's curiosity as well as getting him a fortune charm as an act of kindness.
Lunch was pretty much a silent course for Kenshin, who was busy devising a revenge, whilst the others were chatting away about redundant subjects such as horses and farms, and books.
"Oh, have you read The Tale of Kenji?" Kaoru asked the older lady. "Soujirou and I were reading the book too each other this morning, and it was so interesting!"
Soujirou smiled, and as quiet as usually, agreed with a nod.
"I didn't know Kaoru was an accomplished reader!" Lady Himura looked rather surprised, because she was, indeed shocked. It was well expected that a noblewoman should be able to read, but only at a level enough to comprehend short notes, not sophisticated literature like that!
But it was all well, Kaoru had proven herself a good daughter in law, and Lady Himura was proud of her, she mentally noted to herself.
* * * * * *
The rest of the day was pretty boring for everyone, and as quick as time passed, Kenshin realized he was having the same argument with Kaoru as yesterday..or was it this smorning?
"Why don't we just draw a line in the middle of the room to make sure we don't have to fuss over this again?" Kaoru suggested as she pulled his futon back to the window side, she simply did not like the thought of having anyone sleeping so close to her.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" He called after Kaoru, "This is MY room, and if we are to draw a line, you'd only have a quarter of the room, and under the window, that is." He said as he pulled his bed back to the original place, next to Kaoru.
Kaoru rolled her eyes, very wisely, knowing this was an argument that could go on forever and ever, "Look, forget about the line thing, I only ask for you to keep your bed at the very least, one foot away from mine, alright?"
Now Kenshin felt like a complete idiot, like a little boy who just got told off by a mature sister. Knowing if he said anymore, it'd only make the situation worse, so he didn't reply at all, and just blew the candle out. Tomorrow he would not only have his revenge for her attempt in ruining his reputation, he'd only have his revenge for her lack of respect for him. No one ever challenged his dignity, no one ever challenged his pride, and this girl, for being the ignorant, arrogant wench she is, will pay for everything.
* * * * * *
It was a rather cloudy morning, despite the bright sunlight that spread across the town, it had little warmth. Lady Himura woke up early to make sure she sees the two off with a chaperone, but already, she had a feeling that there would be a big rainstorm coming, but not wanting to spoil the two's fun, she decided that it was far from important to tell them, instead, she only told them to return early, but had forgotten to ask them to take umbrellas. Huge mistake. [yes they had these weird bamboo umbrellas.]
After watching their carriage disappear at the turn, Lady Himura walked back into the house to get her son up. She was rather surprised to find an empty room, not to mention how messy it was, with the sheets carelessly tossed to a side. Obviously, Kenshin had, quiet out of his own nature, popped out of bed before the servants came to drag him out. But where did he go? The woman checked around the house, asking around, and finally, at her last stop, at the main gates, the guards informed her that they saw him leaving the premise shortly after the two left.
Now, now, was that just pure coincidence? Or was there some conspiracy behind all this?
* * * * * *
"This is near the center or Kyoto, and you see that tall building there?" She pointed at the green roof. "That's the Heien Temple." She told Soujirou, like a guide telling her travelers all the places around.
"Wow." Soujirou had his eyes glued at the tall monument "It's even bigger than I thought it'd be!" He said in awe, like a little child, but then quickly, tearing away from the window, he dropped the conversation completely. "So, how's everything going between you two?"
Kaoru looked confused. "What two?"
"You and Kenshin." He explained patiently, though it was rather rhetorical. "Yesterday night I had to admit, I was rather amazed how quiet your room was." He chuckled.
Kaoru raised an eyebrow "Was that sarcasm?"
The lad burst into laughter, "No, no, no I really do mean it." He quickly defended himself. "Besides, I'm very sure Kenshin is not as bad as you think, and you should be proud to have him as a husband." Soujirou truly wanted Kaoru to see the good.or at least better side of Kenshin.
"Proud? What is there to be proud of?" Kaoru scoffed "The fact that he is unaccomplished in everything but womanizing?" The path to the temple was rather bumpy and it drop Kaoru jumping up and down in the carriage.
"Don't assume that he is a complete idiot just because he looks like one" Soujirou looked serious "Kenshin may be a playboy, but he is also the smartest out of all of us, and utterly incomparable when it comes to swords- fighting." Soujirou praised his cousin out of genuine admiration, not just to try and persuade Kaoru to learn to accept her betrothed.
It was rather sad to see Kenshin drown himself in women and drinking, and no longer perusing for the best in everything anymore, but the salad days were not forgotten, and their training days together, when all their cousins and relatives of the same age used to go to stay over at their Uncle in Hokkaido over the summer who would teach them and train them how to fight, was still embossed in Soujirou's memory.
At the crescending volume of the people, and the crowding of the streets, Soujirou's mind drifted away from the old memories to this busy street. "Where are we now?" He asked Kaoru, still having his eyes glued to the window.
"This is the Temple street, and the Heien Temple is just down the corner of this street!" She said excitedly.
And indeed, just after she said it, the carriage pulled itself to the curb in front of the temple, and their chaperone came out of the front seat and opened the door for them. Kaoru hopped off, and Soujirou followed after.
As the two, with an old man, Kenshin recognized as the chief servant, following them behind went into the building, he himself quickly paid the driver and appeared from inside a public carriage.
The two were going on a wonderful outing? How cute. Too bad, he was going to ruin there day. He patiently waited and watched as the carriage driver unleashed the horse and took it for a walk elsewhere, and quickly taking this chance, he went up to the carriage and squatted behind the wheels to do the work. People walking past paid little attention to his crouching figure that hide well behind the carriage body.
* * * * * *
"Wow, this temple is larger than any temples I have seen in Edo." Soujirou stretched his neck across so view the whole masonry.
"We should go to the fourth floor" Kaoru pointed to the steep stairs. "You can see the whole of Kyoto from up there." They conversed freely, totally ignoring the old man's presence.
"Really?!" Soujirou's eyes glowed with anticipation. "Lets go up now!" He said as the chaperone, took the lead and started walking towards the staircase.
"Oh, no, no!" Kaoru pulled the boy's sleeve. "Not yet, let me ask the Gods for a lucky charm from Kenshin first." After all, it was one of her other reasons to come visit on such a mundane day. Although she still resented the way he treated her, but innately she knew she was to be blamed as much as he was, so Kaoru was determined, she would try to be nice to her fiancé from now on, until the day she manages to find a good plan to extricate herself from the marriage.
Strange to say, after the passing of a month, after all these things happening to her, Kaoru still had faith in herself, she still believed the chance was there, and she would one day manage to get herself out of all this. She would.
* [I just made the line up out of the blue, it's NOT from the book] ** [ aiight I vaguely remember how this thing works, but I think you pray and wish a person good fortune, then they give you this lucky charm, then you're supposed to give it to the person you prayed for (thnx Chiki :D)]
The Tale of A Proper Marriage : Chapter 13
by white seraph
**************************************************
"He ran back and forth, carrying the bucket the old man gave him" Soujirou read aloud the words above his finger to Kaoru, who was sitting lazily on the cushion, staring out at the artificial garden outside, with doors wide open allowing the sunlight to fill the room up. It was the famous 'The Tale of Genji" * he was reading, and despite it's lengthy chapters, and tiny words, the two did enjoy reading the story in turns to each other for the whole morning.
As the two were entertaining themselves with the Soujirou's book, they were quite unaware of the fact that someone, they least expected, had their eyes on them, spying tightly on their every action. Kenshin sat on the top of the old banyan tree for half a morning already. It was planted just next to the building, and continently gave him a view of all the rooms at the front row of the house, the doors were left open.
It was rather strange, he thought, how she could be so friendly and nice to his cousin, yet so hostile to him. Wait; does he even care? No. Asking why doesn't mean he cares, it only means he's curious. That's right, he was only curious. She's only nasty to him because she wants to hide his love for him? Though Kenshin had dismissed that idea long time ago, the return of it did seem to settle Kenshin's curiosity effectively, or rather, it was settled because that was the answer he wanted. Straining his ears in vain, Kenshin tried to listen to their conversation, though failing utterly, for if he did listen, he'd be jumping in rage.
"You know, the main character in this story reminds me a lot of that Kenshin" Kaoru said recalling the story.
"Oh? In want way?" Soujirou asked, as he closed the book and put it on the table.
"He's such a womanizer." Kaoru scowled.
"Oh, I'm sure he's not as bad as you think! Come on, just because he likes to socialize with women more than men doesn't mean he'll be a bad husband!" Soujirou tried to defend his cousin, but was, unfortunately, unsuccessful in attempt.
"Too bad he's rather selective at that too." Kaoru scoffed, and then added "apparently, he doesn't seem to realize I'm a woman either."
"Don't be so pessimistic about everything" He said, but had decided not to continue, when he saw Kaoru's uneasy expression. And then, suddenly, as randomly as it could get, "When are we going to visit the temples?"
And Kaoru, totally forgetting about her promise, remembered that she was supposed to ask Lady Himura for her permission. "Well.I think I can ask her later at lunch. but it's going to be very boring if we just go there but don't do anything. It's not new year or first day of season."
"It doesn't matter! We can go an get your fiancé a lucky charm!**
"Him? A Lucky charm?" Kaoru furrowed her eyebrows and gave Soujirou a skeptic look. "I may look virtuous, but I don't think I'm nice enough to wish that jerk who makes my life a living hell, good fortune."
Soujirou only chuckled "how can you expect him to be nice to you when you don't take the first step?"
"I.Well you do have a point there." Kaoru said softly, for the first time, realizing how selfish it was of her to expect her fiancé to be nice to her when she didn't even try to be nice herself. And perhaps the only reason why he was so hostile to her was because she herself was hostile to him! All right, she mentally reminded herself to ask Lady Himura for permission to go out later.
Little did she know, that though she had very kind heartedly decided to go to the temple to get her fiancé a fortune charm, and Soujirou's innocent attempts in trying to sooth the two's hatred, that Kenshin, no longer able to stand the two, was already off to his mother's room spinning tales about the two love birds in the other room.
"Mother! You just have to see them, I mean, what would be of my reputation?! What would people say if they find out that my fiancé is having an affair with my cousin?!" He told his mother, hoping she would do something about them, like sending Soujirou away, or maybe giving them a nice scold would be nice.
However, none of the expected happened, Lady Himura had seen through her son's sudden attempt in telling tales so completely, that she knew instantly that Kenshin was over reacting because of one little emotion called Jealousy.
"Honey, don't get overly angry over a girl who is nothing but a person you will call wife" Lady Himura attacked his pride subtly.
"It's.Its not about that wench! It's my reputation!" Kenshin retorted, making sure he made it clear that he had no concern for the girl whatsoever.
"Oh if it's your reputation, then I'm sure you have nothing to worry about, we can shut the servant's mouth with money, you won't tell, I won't tell, nobody will know!"
Kenshin thought for a moment. "Well, I just don't like to see the two together!" He concluded without any logical reasoning.
Lady Himura smiled smugly, knowing the source of her son's uneasiness. "It's okay, I'm sure there is nothing between them that goes beyond the innocent friendship." She reassured her son, but silently making a note to herself that she must have a word with the two later.
* * * * * *
The servants came into the dining room with plaques of food for lunch, and as if it was the most natural thing to do in the world, Kaoru took the seat farthest away from Kenshin again, and sat next to Lady Himura this time, which was rather convenient, as she had reminded herself to ask the hostess for permission to visit the temple tomorrow.
"Kaoru, dear you like fish don't you?" The older lady smiled as she moved the plate of steamed fish to Kaoru's side."
"Thank you" Kaoru replied, and then not missing her chance, she added. "Um. Lady Himura, I was wondering if Soujirou and I may go too visit the Heien Temple tomorrow." Everyone naturally had their eyes at Lady Himura, waiting for her to answer.
Lady Himura looked at Soujirou and Kaoru's pleading stares, and couldn't help but say yes, despite her earlier thought of telling Kaoru to stay away from her nephew when Kenshin was around. She sighed. "Alright, alright, but make sure you are chaperoned", she gave her son a quick eye, as if telling him not to worry. He didn't seem to have much response.at least externally.
Inside, he was burning with anger, feeling betrayed and hurt, yet little did he know himself that all this originated from the pure jealousy over the two. Though he displayed no response, inside, he was planning deviously how to get his revenge for his own hurt pride.
Though Kaoru could probably be the last person he could blame on, but she was surely the origin of all the trouble. If she didn't stupidly ask to go to the Temple with Soujirou, to publicly announce to everyone that he, Himura Kenshin couldn't not even tame his wife, then he would have thought of letting her off. But this time, she was going too far for her own good..
Yet it never really occurred to him that Kaoru was not as evil and malicious as he thought, and that her little request on the outing was out of nothing but the kind thought of settling Soujirou's curiosity as well as getting him a fortune charm as an act of kindness.
Lunch was pretty much a silent course for Kenshin, who was busy devising a revenge, whilst the others were chatting away about redundant subjects such as horses and farms, and books.
"Oh, have you read The Tale of Kenji?" Kaoru asked the older lady. "Soujirou and I were reading the book too each other this morning, and it was so interesting!"
Soujirou smiled, and as quiet as usually, agreed with a nod.
"I didn't know Kaoru was an accomplished reader!" Lady Himura looked rather surprised, because she was, indeed shocked. It was well expected that a noblewoman should be able to read, but only at a level enough to comprehend short notes, not sophisticated literature like that!
But it was all well, Kaoru had proven herself a good daughter in law, and Lady Himura was proud of her, she mentally noted to herself.
* * * * * *
The rest of the day was pretty boring for everyone, and as quick as time passed, Kenshin realized he was having the same argument with Kaoru as yesterday..or was it this smorning?
"Why don't we just draw a line in the middle of the room to make sure we don't have to fuss over this again?" Kaoru suggested as she pulled his futon back to the window side, she simply did not like the thought of having anyone sleeping so close to her.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" He called after Kaoru, "This is MY room, and if we are to draw a line, you'd only have a quarter of the room, and under the window, that is." He said as he pulled his bed back to the original place, next to Kaoru.
Kaoru rolled her eyes, very wisely, knowing this was an argument that could go on forever and ever, "Look, forget about the line thing, I only ask for you to keep your bed at the very least, one foot away from mine, alright?"
Now Kenshin felt like a complete idiot, like a little boy who just got told off by a mature sister. Knowing if he said anymore, it'd only make the situation worse, so he didn't reply at all, and just blew the candle out. Tomorrow he would not only have his revenge for her attempt in ruining his reputation, he'd only have his revenge for her lack of respect for him. No one ever challenged his dignity, no one ever challenged his pride, and this girl, for being the ignorant, arrogant wench she is, will pay for everything.
* * * * * *
It was a rather cloudy morning, despite the bright sunlight that spread across the town, it had little warmth. Lady Himura woke up early to make sure she sees the two off with a chaperone, but already, she had a feeling that there would be a big rainstorm coming, but not wanting to spoil the two's fun, she decided that it was far from important to tell them, instead, she only told them to return early, but had forgotten to ask them to take umbrellas. Huge mistake. [yes they had these weird bamboo umbrellas.]
After watching their carriage disappear at the turn, Lady Himura walked back into the house to get her son up. She was rather surprised to find an empty room, not to mention how messy it was, with the sheets carelessly tossed to a side. Obviously, Kenshin had, quiet out of his own nature, popped out of bed before the servants came to drag him out. But where did he go? The woman checked around the house, asking around, and finally, at her last stop, at the main gates, the guards informed her that they saw him leaving the premise shortly after the two left.
Now, now, was that just pure coincidence? Or was there some conspiracy behind all this?
* * * * * *
"This is near the center or Kyoto, and you see that tall building there?" She pointed at the green roof. "That's the Heien Temple." She told Soujirou, like a guide telling her travelers all the places around.
"Wow." Soujirou had his eyes glued at the tall monument "It's even bigger than I thought it'd be!" He said in awe, like a little child, but then quickly, tearing away from the window, he dropped the conversation completely. "So, how's everything going between you two?"
Kaoru looked confused. "What two?"
"You and Kenshin." He explained patiently, though it was rather rhetorical. "Yesterday night I had to admit, I was rather amazed how quiet your room was." He chuckled.
Kaoru raised an eyebrow "Was that sarcasm?"
The lad burst into laughter, "No, no, no I really do mean it." He quickly defended himself. "Besides, I'm very sure Kenshin is not as bad as you think, and you should be proud to have him as a husband." Soujirou truly wanted Kaoru to see the good.or at least better side of Kenshin.
"Proud? What is there to be proud of?" Kaoru scoffed "The fact that he is unaccomplished in everything but womanizing?" The path to the temple was rather bumpy and it drop Kaoru jumping up and down in the carriage.
"Don't assume that he is a complete idiot just because he looks like one" Soujirou looked serious "Kenshin may be a playboy, but he is also the smartest out of all of us, and utterly incomparable when it comes to swords- fighting." Soujirou praised his cousin out of genuine admiration, not just to try and persuade Kaoru to learn to accept her betrothed.
It was rather sad to see Kenshin drown himself in women and drinking, and no longer perusing for the best in everything anymore, but the salad days were not forgotten, and their training days together, when all their cousins and relatives of the same age used to go to stay over at their Uncle in Hokkaido over the summer who would teach them and train them how to fight, was still embossed in Soujirou's memory.
At the crescending volume of the people, and the crowding of the streets, Soujirou's mind drifted away from the old memories to this busy street. "Where are we now?" He asked Kaoru, still having his eyes glued to the window.
"This is the Temple street, and the Heien Temple is just down the corner of this street!" She said excitedly.
And indeed, just after she said it, the carriage pulled itself to the curb in front of the temple, and their chaperone came out of the front seat and opened the door for them. Kaoru hopped off, and Soujirou followed after.
As the two, with an old man, Kenshin recognized as the chief servant, following them behind went into the building, he himself quickly paid the driver and appeared from inside a public carriage.
The two were going on a wonderful outing? How cute. Too bad, he was going to ruin there day. He patiently waited and watched as the carriage driver unleashed the horse and took it for a walk elsewhere, and quickly taking this chance, he went up to the carriage and squatted behind the wheels to do the work. People walking past paid little attention to his crouching figure that hide well behind the carriage body.
* * * * * *
"Wow, this temple is larger than any temples I have seen in Edo." Soujirou stretched his neck across so view the whole masonry.
"We should go to the fourth floor" Kaoru pointed to the steep stairs. "You can see the whole of Kyoto from up there." They conversed freely, totally ignoring the old man's presence.
"Really?!" Soujirou's eyes glowed with anticipation. "Lets go up now!" He said as the chaperone, took the lead and started walking towards the staircase.
"Oh, no, no!" Kaoru pulled the boy's sleeve. "Not yet, let me ask the Gods for a lucky charm from Kenshin first." After all, it was one of her other reasons to come visit on such a mundane day. Although she still resented the way he treated her, but innately she knew she was to be blamed as much as he was, so Kaoru was determined, she would try to be nice to her fiancé from now on, until the day she manages to find a good plan to extricate herself from the marriage.
Strange to say, after the passing of a month, after all these things happening to her, Kaoru still had faith in herself, she still believed the chance was there, and she would one day manage to get herself out of all this. She would.
* [I just made the line up out of the blue, it's NOT from the book] ** [ aiight I vaguely remember how this thing works, but I think you pray and wish a person good fortune, then they give you this lucky charm, then you're supposed to give it to the person you prayed for (thnx Chiki :D)]
