Disclaimer - Rurouni Kenshin is property of Watsuki-sensai and other companies. I am merely just borrowing it for this story.
Author's Notes – Thank you for all the great reviews! I recently watched the RK OVA (finally) I hated the way it was drawn but it was good…and so sad. Only thing that's got me wondering is why where Kaoru's eyes BROWN in it? Aren't they suppose to be blue? I'll stop nagging now. Please give me feedback about what you think about this chapter. Your reviews mean the world to me.
Chained in Fate Chapter III
By MizzLee
Blue eyes opened to the morning sunshine. Last night's events currently forgotten in her mind. Until she had come out of her room dressed in her training clothing. Realizing she was one day closer to meeting her future husband did not start her day well. Sighing we headed towards the kitchen to cook breakfast. When she reached her spotless kitchen she saw that there was already food set on the table. There was also a note under the bowl of soup. Kaoru gently pulled it out and read through.
Kaoru-chan,
I had already left to town and Tae had brought this breakfast over for you. I will be back soon.
"Tae-san would bring me breakfast?" she pondered out loud. Shrugging she carried her breakfast to the dining room. As she sat alone eating the delicious food that was of course from the akobato. She had already stayed up through most of the night going through her own thoughts about her arranged marriage. She was so confused, 'why would father unexpectedly arrange my marriage? What if I'm not ready to be a wife? How will this Himura Kenshin be like? How will he treat me? Will he actually love me…?' Unanswered questions went through her mind as she washed the dishes and began doing the laundry.
When Koshijirou walked through his dojo doors "Tadaima!" he called, waiting for his daughter to reply. "Ohayou Otosan!" replied Kaoru. She was sitting by the laundry tub washing articles of clothing. "Shall I prepare tea for you?" asked Kaoru as she took off the rope that tied her sleeves up. "No its okay Kaoru-chan. I can do it myself while you finish the laundry." Koshijirou headed towards the kitchen. The young women tied her sleeves back up and continued scrubbing one of her kimonos.
Kamiya Koshijirou watched his beautiful daughter finish hanging their clothing on the rack as he enjoyed his green tea. "All done!" cried Kaoru happily as she watched her work sway with the wind. She walked towards her father who had settled on the dojo porch. "Otosan, should I prepare lunch now before your pupils come?" she asked. "There is no need for you to cook today's lunch Kaoru-chan. I've brought back some sashimi from town. I left it in the kitchen so please prepare that for lunch." Kaoru smiled. "Hai!"
The two Kamiyas sat in the dining room enjoying their lunch. Kaoru silently chewed her food not knowing what to talk about. "What's wrong Kaoru-chan? Your being more quiet than usual today." Her father asked her. "Well…" she wondered how to reply as she fiddled with her chopsticks. Koshijirou read her mind. "I know, it's about the marriage." Kaoru could only nod looking down at her half done food. "Kaoru-chan, if your mother was still with us today she would tell you how proud she would be to see you finally become a wife of an honorable man. When you were still a small girl she had already hoped to see the day you wed. Even though she's no longer in this word, I know she is smiling at you from the heavens." Kaoru set her chopsticks down looking up from her delicate fingers. "Oh Otosan… I miss her so much!" tears welling up in her eyes. Her father pushed their trays aside and let her cradle herself in his arms. The last time Kaoru had been crying in her father's arms were when she was a small little girl. She had a taste of her childhood while hugging her Otosan and letting him stroke her hair whispering gentle words of courage to face her fears and doubts. He let her stay in his arms relinquishing her past feelings before she let them go and step forward into adulthood.
Koshijirou's pupils arrived after Kaoru had cleaned up their lunch. As usual everyone sat in the dojo waiting for their Sensei's instructions. Kamiya walked to the front of the room. "Today we will take a break from usual training and test out a different sort. Kaoru-chan will be handing out supplies to you all for you to clean the dojo and hallways until they are spotless." Kaoru was at the back of the room with empty buckets and many towels. She smiled as she held them up. "Nani?!" the class cried. "B-but sensei, how is this helping with our training?? This is just doing your housework!" "Carrying water and scrubbing floors will help you increase your strength. Besides, you don't want to work out poor Kaoru-chan before the day she meets her fiancé right?" He smiled proudly. Everyone eventually agreed to the odd training they had for the day. "Hai!" They cried in usion has they began to file out taking buckets and towels from Kaoru.
After everyone left the dojo room to wash the floors and sweep away debris Koshijirou followed out last. Kaoru gave him a respectable bow. "Otosan I will go change and help everyone with the chores." He held out a hand to stop her from going. "Today you will not strain yourself Kaoru-chan." He smiled. "I had asked Tae-san to go shopping with you to buy a new kimono to wear to meet Himura-san tomorrow. She should be here now" Kaoru felt butterflies in her stomach from the mention of her meeting her fiancé the next day but the idea of going shopping brightened her spirit. "Thank you!" she said happily. She gave him a polite bow as she walked towards the dojo gates where her friend was waiting for her.
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After many hours of going through stores Tae had picked out the perfect outfit for Kaoru. They finished their shopping trip walking back carrying many packages wrapped in brown paper all containing parts of Kaoru's new kimono or accessories. The dojo gates soon came into view. When the two women went inside Kaoru automatically called out "tadaima!" Her father replied her call. "Welcome back Kaoru chan, Tae san" Both girls gave a short polite bow when Koshijirou appeared. "Otosan, I got a really pretty Kimono! Tae-san helped me pick it out!" Kaoru continued blabbering on as they walked through the yard. Kaoru stopped explaining about her obi because she noticed that their yard was different. It seemed to have completely changed. Not a single weed was visible, every single patch of grass was in place, flowers seemed to have bloomed while she was away and even the dirt parts seem to look like it had been put together perfectly. "What the…" she turned look at her home and noticed that the floors were spotless the walls seemed to shine and even missing patches in the roof seemed to be filled in.
"um… the dojo looks very nice. You must of worked all the pupils hard…where are they?" Her father didn't reply and just kept the grin on his face. They continued to walk around the corner and Kaoru found her father's class all worked out lying around everywhere. Some were even asleep. As she walked past one that was asleep she heard him mumbling, "Scrub…faster…clean…" Kaoru couldn't help it but laugh. Her father then cleared his voice. "Okay! You had your break!" The ones that fell asleep woke up yawning while everyone else groaned. "Gomen nasai, for all the trouble my father had caused you all because of me. Let me go prepare a meal for you all." Kaoru said as she bowed to everyone. "Oh no its okay Kamiya-san!" some said. "Let's just say it's a token of our gratitude to you and your engagement." "Besides Yutaro had brought like this huge feast for us." Her father's pupils replied to her. Yutaro came up to Kaoru. "Congratulations on your engagement K-Kaoru sensei." He had said in a mouthful. Kaoru smiled and bent down so she could be eye level with him. Even though she was not happy with her own engagement she smiled because it had made others happy. "Thank you Yutaro chan and for the food too." The young boy blushed. "A-also please accept this as your w-wedding gift!" He thrust a wooden box into her hands.
Kaoru was surprised to receive a wedding gift. She slowly opened to find a very high quality looking boken. "My father said its one of the best ones in Japan!" "Oh…I'm not worthy of such a great gift" Kaoru smiled as she closed the box. "It's an honor to me for you to accept it." Kaoru had no other choice and accepted the gift. After having talks with a few of the young men they all began to leave each congratulating her. After bidding everyone farewell at the gate Kaoru walked over to her father who was having a polite conversation with Tae. She opened the box and picked up the boken. It felt light as a feather and when she swung it seemed to react to her moves and followed gracefully. A perfect weapon. She placed it back in the box and sighed. "Dear Yutaro chan wasted a fine weapon. I am no longer going to practice the sword arts after becoming a wife." Her father placed a hand on the box. "Well you may never know. Maybe one day you will use it. I have taught you the family technique for you to become strong and able to defend yourself. I don't expect you to though I pray it will never happen, die without a fight." Understanding her father's meanings she smiled. "Well now, let's see how your new kimono looks. Why don't you go in and change into it. Tae san can you help her?" Kamiya asked. "Of course!" Tae smiled and the two women headed towards Kaoru's room with the packages they had brought.
After a while Tae came out of the room first and stood by Koshijirou. Then stepped out a blushing Kaoru. Kamiya Koshijirou closed his eyes at the gorgeous site to keep the image with him evermore. The kimono was navy colored that went lighter as it traveled down towards the bottom. Which had an arrangement of pink, white and purple flowers in the middle. The same types of flowers were printed on the bottom of her long sleeves. Matched with a silvery obi that also had some white flowers printed on it. Her hair was tied in her usual ponytail except it was a bit higher and a pin was placed at where the ribbon was tied. It was a chain of sapphires that ran down. She also carried a white fan with a picture of a single lily type flower that was blue.
"Kaoru chan you look absolutely beautiful." Her father breathed. "Thank you." His daughter blushed. Then she realized something. "Oh Tae san I haven't paid you back yet because I left my purse when we left." Her friend smiled. "No, let this be my wedding gift to you." "Don't be silly! It was so expensive…" Kaoru had begun to argue but Tae cut her off. "I said that it's a gift and it let it be a gift. No more arguments Kaoru chan." The young Kamiya gave up, it was no use arguing with Tae when she had made up her mind. "Thank you." Everyone smiled. "It simply is so beautiful but only on you Kaoru san I don't think it would be as stunning on anyone else. I wonder if this Himura-san will like it." Tae said. "Well you'll find out soon enough" came an unfamiliar voice. Everyone quickly turned around.
There stood a tall man with spiky hair. "Who are you?" asked Koshijirou in a rather demanding voice. He was not happy with intruders. "Baka! Kenshin told you to knock first." Came a voice that belonged to a younger boy who came running in. "Kenshin?" Koshijirou asked. "Oh yeah… we're the escorts of Himura Kenshin. I'm Sagara Sanosuke and this is Myojin Yahiko." Yahiko gave a short bow out of respect. Though he usually doesn't to most people this man seemed to demand respect from others. "Kenshin is at the door. We were going to knock until this rooster head came rushing in." Explained Yahiko. Sanosuke gave him a look but did not say anything not wanting to be rude. He knew enough not to act like a fool in front of Kenshin's soon to be father in law. "Well then, let's not keep Himura san waiting and invite him in." Koshijirou boomed. He followed the two visitors towards the gate and Kaoru was too nervous to move. Tae gave her a nudge and Kaoru took a deep breath and followed behind her father.
Kaoru stayed hidden by her father's back and she kept her eyes to the floor. She was so nervous she felt like her fan was going to snap from the pressure she was giving it. "Ah, Welcome to the Kamiya Dojo Himura san! I see that you have arrived early. All the better!" Her father welcomed. "All the same to you Kamiya dono" came a deep voice. Kaoru guessed that was the voice of her soon to be husband, which she was about to meet any second. "It is an honor and this is my lovely daughter Kaoru." Her father sidestepped to reveal his daughter. Kaoru was still looking at the floor. She began to look upwards. Seeing a white hakama, traveling further up to see a dark blue gi then a single slash on his cheek and then amber. Sapphire eyes locked with his amber ones. She finally managed to find her voice. "Konnichiwa Himura sama."
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Finally another chapter up. I realized I really suck at describing things I didn't such an awful job on it for the Kimono please excuse me! I'll try to put up another chapter soon but I'm going to be moving soon so it may be a while. Hope everyone had a happy Easter! Don't forget… push that button and review!!