The usual warning and disclaimer applies, see chapter one.
Chapter 14
Kaoru hissed as, several weeks later when she was deemed fit to move around the flat again, even if she was to be careful, the new maid pulled the strings on her corset. True, the doctor had told her to not wear the damnable thing, but she was unable to wear any of her clothing other than her nightdress without it.
"Miss, you should not be wearing this. Your back is still not completely healed."
"Marie, you're a dear for caring, but I believe my back will be fine for the duration of the party. However, if I am late for tea, Mr. Himura will call out the national guard!"
"Alright, Miss." Then minutes of struggling with various layers of embroidered cloth later, Kaoru entered the parlor. Conversation ceased, which puzzled her. She had been a courtesan, and technically was still one, so why should she cause complete silence? Then, she saw Kenshin's face; he looked utterly stunned. As she had no idea of her current appearance, his expression caused her a great deal of consternation.
"Tell me, Kenshin," said a man sitting to his right, "where did you find her, how old is she, how much does she charge, and why oh why is she with you, of all people? Last I heard, you had no interest in women."
"Franc, would you have the grace and presence of mind to kindly curb your tongue?" Kenshin beckoned for Kaoru to sit on the sofa beside him, snaking an arm around her waist as she sat, but easing up on the amount of pressure with which he held her when she flinched slightly. "If you must know, Franc, I hired Kaoru to entertain my guests over a year ago. Due to unfortunate circumstances, I had to let her go before my travels. Upon my return, I ran into her on the Pont Neuf, to witness her being severely abused by her new employer. I offered her shelter here, as a friend, and she has been here ever since."
Franc smiled knowingly. Kenshin was not one to say it directly, and most likely did not realize what his current actions were saying to the others in the room. This woman was more than just a friend. He was possessive of her, however she most likely had enough spirit to combat his stubborn nature if he had let her go.
The party continued without any more disturbances. Kaoru played the piano, the men talked, cigars were passed around after dinner, she played again…the usual formalities at a business party. It was a shame, she thought, that Kenshin had no apparent interest in women. However, it did make the general atmosphere less threatening. Her affection for him, if it could be called that, was no les because of this fact. She sighed, rising from the bench. "Gentlemen, if has been a pleasure. However, the hour is late, and I must retire. Good evening." With that, she left the room and proceeded down the hall to draw a bath and then go to sleep. He back had started to hurt, and she was finding it difficult to breathe. It was several hours before she could fall asleep, however. The sounds of lovemaking from the next room, while something she was accustomed to hearing, generated images that haunted her even in her dreams.
It was high noon by the time she woke the next day, feeling far too lethargic to move. Pulling the pillow over her head, she tried to fall asleep again, to no avail. Her head had started to throb, and she knew that she'd had too much wine. The creak of the door opening alerted her to the presence of someone else in the room; Kenshin, most likely, she thought. Yes, definitely Kenshin. The mattress shifted as he settled on it, somewhere near the vicinity of her waist.
"Kaoru." The only answer he received was a low groan. "You should not have stayed up so long. Not while you are still…" he was cut off by a smacking him in the face. As it fell, her face came into view, flushed with fury.
"Perhaps you could have taken that into account when you bought gowns that could only be worn corseted!"
He smiled. Her enraged response was something he had been looking forward to seeing again, as her lack of spirit had been unsettling. Of course, she would misinterpret his expression.
"Oh, so I amuse you, do I? Well, I'm glad something does! You're quite the bore in company, always moping around."
"I do not mope."
"Alright then. Your pouting!"
"Nor do I pout, as you put it."
"Oh yes you do. You stick out your lower lip, huff, and walk around sullenly!" She suddenly went an even darker shade of red, realizing the words that had escaped her mouth. Glowering, as though her mortification were entirely his fault, she dove back under the covers, pulling another pillow over her head in the process.
Kenshin chuckled. She was an amusing woman. Her vile temperament, for some reason, did not grate on his nerves as much as it once had; she was a refreshing change from the men he took to bed, and the simpering women he met at social gatherings. Perhaps he really could become friends with her after all. And, as she was technically no longer in his employ, perhaps things would work out better than they had with Jean.