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The Tale of A Proper Marriage : Chapter 15

by white seraph

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Kenshin was satisfied with his revenge, she completely deserved it, and this would teach her what it is, to ruin his reputation, by hurting his pride, by humiliating him. She was an evil wench, and just because her feelings for him were not reciprocated, she had to turn against him and fall for his cousin.

He couldn't help but feel rather.good, when everyone else was surrounding around the unconscious Kaoru, frantic and impatient for the Doctor to come. He had over heard the people who passed by his room talking, saying how Kaoru had developed high fever and that the doctor was still no where to be seen.

Kenshin could not help, but allow his mind to drift away from the books in front of him. Now, now, it was true indeed that he did want the girl to suffer for her actions, and the fact that she was lying down, sick in bed, a few rooms away pleased him a lot, Kenshin couldn't help but wonder..was he going a bit too far?

What if she didn't make it until the doctor came? What if she fell into a coma and died? Surely, he wanted to teach her a lesson, but what is the point of teaching her a lesson if she was not to survive it? Kenshin couldn't help but be cynical, and think of the worst possible consequences of his little prank.

If she died, it meant he'd have no one to marry, no one to tie him to, that was what he had always wanted; but it also meant he would have to carry the guilt forever, knowing he was the one who, whether indirectly or not, killed her. He shuddered at the mere thought of that. But no one would know that he did it, would they? Yes, no one but him, that is why he would be the only one suffering from the guilt.

"Kenshin!" his mother's sudden voice broke his train of thought. She was standing at the entrance of his room, looking impatient.

"I've been calling you for the fourth time! What is wrong with you, dear?" His mother came and sat in front of Kenshin, looking very concerned.

"I." Kenshin glanced at the scrolls still in his hand. "I was busy reading." He took a deep breath "Anyway, what is it?"

His mother sighed. "If you are hungry, you can ask the cook to serve you dinner first."

Kenshin pretended to be ignorant. "How about everyone else?" "Soujirou has gone to bed, and I need to see to Kaoru." His mother replied, getting up to leave.

""I see." Kenshin couldn't help but have his curiosity settled. "How is Kaoru?" He asked.

Lady Himura didn't turn to face her son because she didn't want him to know she was smiling. So he did care for the girl, that meant they still had a chance together. "Don't you worry, I'm sure she'll be fine after some rest." She wasn't cruel enough to make things up to scare Kenshin.

He made sure his mother was way out of sight, before he allowed himself to sigh with relief. Kenshin felt stupid for thinking of the worst. Why would she die so easily? He scoffed, it's just a stupid fever she got, and he's thinking she's dying? What had he to worry about? His plan was successful, he had taken his revenge.

* * * * * *

"Remember, she should have the medicine three times a day; once after each meal." The old doctor said to Lady Himura, as he put his shoes on, ready to go. "But all she really needs is a some good rest. I'll come again to see how she is doing."

The servant slid the thick wooden door open for the doctor to leave. "I see the rain has finally stopped" Lady Himura said. "Good night." She bid the doctor good bye.

"Good night to you, too" The old man replied and left with the coachman.

Lady Himura sighed, finally allowing herself to relax after the hectic evening. She had no idea how this happened and she had no idea how to tell Kaoru's parents what happened. Sure enough it was Lady Kamiya's idea to send Kaoru to stay here, but Kaoru was sent to here, and it meant she held full responsibility of the girl.

"Lady Himura?" A girl asked meekly.

She sighed. "What is it?" Lady Himura couldn't help but feel rather annoyed. It was way past evening and she still hadn't had dinner yet.

"Um.I found this in Miss Kaoru's Kimono" The girl held a thin piece of folded yellow paper up, neatly tied to a red string.

Lady Himura squinted her eyes to see what she was holding. "What is it?"

"I think it's a lucky charm, ma'am." The servant answered, as she flipped the paper over to inspect it before passing it on to the older woman.

"It is indeed a lucky charm." Lady Himura looked and saw at the bottom right corner, where her son's name was written. Smiling, she tucked the charm away. "I'll safe keep it for now." She told the girl, before she was dismissed.

She couldn't help but chuckle to herself. This was so sweet of Kaoru; to get him a lucky charm? The two were progressing rapidly, and she felt so proud that the two are finally trying to accept each other. It's a miracle! All her previous fears that the marriage will ruin their lives were washed away, and she was now very confident that the marriage will be very successful.

* * * * * *

Kenshin slid the door open, and wasn't surprised to see Kaoru already tucked in bed, sleeping soundly, but his own futon was no where to be seen. As quietly as possible, he walked to the cupboards, only to find that they were all empty. He scanned the room to see where the stupid servants might have left his bed sheets, but they were no where to be seen. What did the people do?! How dare they move his things around?! Kenshin stomped out to find the maid that usually cleaned his room.

The old lady he did not find, but the chief servant would do, "Hey, you! where is the woman who takes care of my room?!" he barged into the servant's chamber. "Where is my futon?!"

"Shhh" another servant came out. "What's with all the noise at such an hour?" She saw the young master, and quickly bowed. "Oh, Master Kenshin, are you looking for your futon?"

"yes!" Kenshin answered with annoyance.

Suddenly, another voice broke in "What's with all the commotion at such an hour?!" His mother appeared from behind them, dressed in her white night gown.

"Mother! They moved everything out of my room!"

The woman replied very calmly "Kaoru is very sick at the moment, now please, just let her have some solitude so she can recover."

"Then why can't she stay in the study room!" Kenshin boiled with fury, he was the heir of the house! He was the only child! And now, everyone's favoring this girl who doesn't even belong! Just because she's sick doesn't mean the whole world has to care! He couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

He was about to stomp back to the study room and sulk over it when suddenly, his mother pulled him back. "Wait, I forgot, I had something to give you." She said evasively.

Kenshin raised an eyebrow, and waited for her to elaborate.

"Oh actually, nevermind, it's just a lucky charm Kaoru got for you today." Lady Himura smiled deviously, knowing exactly how to toy with her son. "Coming to think about it, she did all this just for you, and now, I can't help but feel sorry for the poor girl." She sighed.

Now Kenshin was shocked, he thought that wench hated him, he thought she was a stupid strumpet who liked his cousin. That was why he did what he did. And now, he is told that this girl, this girl that he nearly killed, was actually out for him to catch because she wanted to get him a fortune charm? The irony! He breathed hard, trying to take this in.

Of course, Lady Himura was oblivious to everything that was going on in his mind, and took his blank expression as careless emotion, so she tried again. "Oh, no, wait!" She pretend to be surprised, "I think I actually have it here!" She pulled out the card, wrapped nicely with rice paper, and handed it to Kenshin.

She watched as her son gingerly fingered the corners of the rice paper wrapper, "Well?" She asked, surely, she'd expect at least a little response from him.

"Are you sure it's for me?" Kenshin still couldn't believe this, he didn't want to, for if it was true, then it meant that all the way along, he was the bad guy, and his successful plan was an attempt to avenge something that didn't even happen.

Dammit, where did all the satisfaction go now?

* * * * * *

"How are you feeling, Kaoru?" Lady Himura asked, as she passed the girl a cup of warm water.

"I'm feeling alright, just want to go out for a walk." She replied. It has been two days since the accident, and Kaoru had recovered nicely, with her fever gone, she felt much much better. Her mother, along with Sanosuke had come visit her yesterday, and brought her some new clothes. But still, her mother gave no sign that she was thinking of taking her back.

"Well, you can" Lady Himura said as she went to the wardrobe and pulled a jacket out. "But make sure you keep yourself warm" She said before passing it to Kaoru.

"It seemed like I've been sleeping here forever, I really need to come out of this pigeon hole. Anyway, do you know where Soujirou is? He said he'd come find me this morning" Kaoru put the jacket on and stretched, before getting out of bed. Indeed it seemed like forever, her meals were served in this room, people came to this room to visit her, and for two days, she stayed in the same old room sleeping, eating and then sleeping and eat again. Excluding the times when Lady Himura, Soujirou, and her family came to visit. There was no sign of her fiance.

Sure enough, just as she was about to leave the room, Soujirou came running down the corridor. "Good morning" He breathed heavily, catching his own breath. "Good morning, Auntie Himura" He greeted when he saw the lady behind Kaoru.

"Good morning to you, too, Kaoru wants to have a walk, would you be kind enough to take her around?" She asked.

"Yes of course." Soujirou replied.

Lady Himura did not say anymore, and left the two to tend to their own business. There was only three weeks left for them to enjoy their friendship, for she received a letter yesterday from Soujirou's relatives, they were coming back, and soon the boy can return home. She sighed. Soujirou was happy when she told her the news, but she wasn't, for it meant he wouldn't be able to attend Kenshin's wedding, which was only one month away! At that shought, she couldn't help but smile. How long has she been waiting for this day to arrive?

Lady Himura walked to the other side of the house to find Kenshin, but when she slid the study room open, there was unexpectedly, no one in the room. Where could he be? Of course she knew nothing of her son's little spying games, for if she did, god knows what plans she had in stock for him.

Kenshin didn't know what possessed him to do all this, but then again, if he didn't do it, he'd not feel satisfied. Staring in a far distance, he saw Kaoru walking side by side with his cousin. He couldn't quite hear the conversation, but by the looks on their face, they were probably telling each other stories again.

God, this girl was so ambiguous, one moment she does all these things that makes it obvious she likes him, and then another moment she goes and flirts with his cousin. But soon, his thoughts were cut short, when he saw them engaged in a brief embrace.

How dare they do it in front of him! He hadn't had a chance to embrace her like that, and his cousin did?! How absurd! He felt the anger burning within now, at the thought that his betrothed was betraying him, by acting as if she was a good girl in front of him and his mother, but having an affair behind their back! And he felt guilty for her, thinking she was trying to be nice to him! He can't believe what he was seeing.

Of course, actions just by sight are never accurate. If he had heard their conversation, he would have understood that the embrace was nothing but a mere gesture of friendship love. Soujirou had just told Kaoru that he would be leaving soon, and would probably not see her for quite a while.

But Kenshin, misunderstanding the entire scene, felt betrayed. If she could do this, then he had no excuse to try hard to keep himself away from the teahouses. Without another thought, he stomped away, determined to go out tonight, no matter what gets to his mother's ears, no matter what gets to Kaoru's ears. He was determined to have all the fun tonight.

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NEXT TIME: Things don't go the way Kenshin wants. Ending up in a fight, he returns home bruised and wounded. He wins unwanted empathy from Kaoru, who tends his wounds in the sleeping hours...:x

ADVERTISING: ALERT ALERT NEW B/K FIC *HINT HINT* :D if you like stories where our battousai seduces innocent little Kaoru then this would be a story for you! YAY