Disclaimers: Hail to all RK owners and this is merely for enjoyment and fandom.
--
I don't trust with fate anymore...
Kaoru's words haunted him all the time, and it bothered him a lot. What has become of you?
Kenshin leaned against the wall of the dojo, being as quiet as possible so as not to wake the girl beside him. Kaoru had practised diligently throughout the night non-stop, and then suddenly, she just collapsed with exhaustion next to him. They had talked for a while... and suddenly Kaoru's head landed on his shoulder, and started sleeping. Kenshin hadn't known why he didn't carry her back to her room. He didn't know why he just felt contented with her this way. It felt so alright. Her steady breathing had lured him to dreams, for the first time. He had never trusted anyone that much before as to sleep so soundly with others around, but Kaoru... that aura she has just allowed him to relax as much as to sleep, without even waking up once.
He had woken up to find her still there, sleeping as soundly. Sighing, he just sat there, listening to her breathing, feeling her warmth beside him.
A shuffle, and then Kaoru sat up sleepily and stretched. Kenshin watched from behind. So this is how she wakes.
WHAT THE HELL SESSHA IS THINKING OF DE GONZARU?!
But... in another way, he wished that it can last forever...
"Ken... KENSHIN?!" Kaoru's eyes widen as she turned and saw him leaning there.
"You fell alsleep yesterday half-way when you were taking a break." He told her.
"I did?!" Kaoru's mouth dropped. "Why didn't you wake me up? I mean, I could still last for a few more hours..." An impulse, and Kenshin placed his finger on her lips.
"Demo, Kaoru-dono, you were tired." He saw her face turn a rosy pink as she stared at him in disbelief. "Anyway, you still have tonight to practise, and I think that Yahiko and you would want your breakfast. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me." He smiled and got up, taking his finger back. Her lips' warmth still lingered on his finger, sending tingles up and down his arm. "I'll take my leave."
He walked out, turned and disappeared along the corridor.
--
Kaoru felt her blush was still there.
Did Kenshin...?
His finger had left its warmth there.
She touched it tentatively...
Kenshin...
She smiled. This day is starting off as a quite nice one after all. She got up, cleared the place, did all the necessary bowing and everything and left the dojo and headed towards her room, her steps lighter than usual.
--
"Is everything ready?" Keitaro's cold voice spoke to his servant.
"Hai."
"Good..."
He waved his hand, the servant exited the room respectfully.
He looked out of the room to the morning view outside, wondering whether she would be coming for the ball...
"Kaoru-chan..."
The door opened suddenly, and he sat up immediately, his tone changing abruptly.
"Do you have no respect? Father!" He got up immediately, pushing the chair back.
"Ah, Keitaro... got everything ready?"
"Hai. What about you, have your business here been alright, like those in Europe?"
"No good. Not many here still trust the way the outsiders run their business..." The old man went to the chair and sat down. Taking a pipe from his pocket, he lit it and puffed through it. Letting out a stream of smoke, he looked hard to Keitaro.
"Remember, there are other women out there that would die to be your bride. Do you still want her?"
"I have never been so sure in my life. She will be my wife, no matter what. I swear I will take any measures to have her..."
The man sighed.
Looking out the window, he commented casually.
"It's a nice day... I think I will have you in the open carriage. I will have the police to allow you to move through the crowd today. It may boost our reputation..."
"Hai, otouchan."
The old man snapped his fingers. A servant appeared instantly by his side. They knew that their employee didn't have patience as long as a normal person would have, and had the power to their jobs, their daily food supply and everything, even their life. No one could mess with Niimi Takura. No one dared.
"Prepare the grandest carriage. We will make a trip to the police station first, before going to visit some old friends here. Now, go."
"Hai." The servant bowed and left.
Both father and son watched the servant hurriedly got out and closed the door.
"Go on, prepare yourself for this afternoon's trip."
"Hai." Keitaro strode out. Closing the door behind him, he let his emotions into his eyes for a slipt second, before closing it's shutter once again, and following his servant to his room.
If anyone had even noticed, Keitaro, that cold man that now walked down the empty, long corridor, had shown his first emotion from the day he was born. A feeling of pure hatred.
--
Sanosuke woke up groggily, as he sat up, the room became strangely distorted.
"What the hell happened?" He clutched his head, and struggled to his feet. "Where am I?" He blinked wildly to get his vision stabilized.
Genzai's clinic.
"Kuso..." He swayed while he walked out of the empty room, slamming against the wall every now and then when he lost control of his legs. And then, he felt a gigantic lurch inside him.
"Oh shit."
He ran out, and all the contents he had last night came pouring out of his mouth.
"Daijubou, Tori atama? Ah... I guess not. With all that sake you had last night, it's no wonder that you will feel so horrible now..." He looked up and saw Megumi, her arms full of medicine to be brought to the clinic.
"Need you be so sarcastic?" He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "And don't chide me now, ya fox, cuz I'm feeling horrible and I need no more of your stupid remarks to make it better."
"Oh yeah?" Megumi angrily retorted. "Is this the way you repay me by helping you to a shelter for one night?"
"Oh... should I say thank you to you? But you should have done a better job than that." He pointed to his blistering cheek.
"So, you finally noticed that. Isn't it better then leaving you on the streets?" She retorted.
"Maa... maa..." Genzai-sensei came between the bickering couple. "It's early in the morning. I wouldn't want any more of it to ruin on fine day. And Takani- sensei? Mind making a sign and putting it outside? I'm planning to visit Kaoru-chan today. Sanosuke, it seems like you have gotten better, help Takani-sensei with the medicine. There are more patients to be treated now." He instructed both of them.
"Humph." In unison, they grumbled and turned their backs towards each other.
"Oh my." Genzai-sensei sighed, as the girls came out of their room sleepily and whined at the top of their voices.
--
"Let's go now, Yahiko, are you done yet?" Kaoru yelled, standing akimbo by the door.
"Yeah, yeah busu... you needn't shout so loud... I'm not deaf." He replied, appearing by the corner.
"Fine. Let's go. Kenshin! We're leaving!"
"Hai! Be careful!" Kenshin appeared to meet them, wiping his soapy hands on his hakama.
"Ja!" Kaoru closed the door behind her and headed off with Yahiko.
"Hey busu." The boy suddenly spoke as they crossed the bridge. "Remember this place?"
"This place...?" Kaoru looked around... and a familiar scene rose. It seems so long ago when she had caught Yahiko pick pocketing. "Aa. Naze?"
"Iie... just thinking..."
Kaoru felt his forehead. "Strange. This is the first time you are using your brains."
"Oi! I always use my brains, busu!" Yahiko swapped her hand away. Laughing, Kaoru walked in front of him and into the market place.
Yahiko watched her worriedly from behind. It was a direct change from yesterday. Is she really okay? She greeted people she knew with the usual enthusiasm, and blushed when anyone dared to probe into the relationship she and Kenshin shared. Looking in general, she was fine from every angle... damn. He can never figure out females. Especially ugly ones.
"Yahiko! Hurry up, will you? I've got a lesson to rush to!" She yelled from way in front, drawing stares. Yahiko ran up. "Can't you even lower your volume? Busu busu busu..." And a hard knock, he was out.
At least he knew she was her normal self. He should be at least be glad about that.
He fainted, and felt Kaoru dragging him to the dojo with angry steps all the way to the dojo, and finally arriving just in time to get trampled by the dojo students who were welcoming her arrival.
"Jeez. That old hag." He muttered. "Wondered how Kenshin managed to get along with her?"
And from the other end of the town, in the small and run-down Kamiya dojo, a red-haired man sneezed into the white cloth he was preparing to dry on the line.
"Who's talking about me?" He wondered.
--
The lesson went faster and more progressively than what Kaoru expected. And soon the lesson was over. All formalities done and she was out of the dojo, her cash in her bag. Knowing full well that Yahiko's going to find a short- cut to the Akebako, she didn't really note of him disappearing after the first bridge.
Taking her time strolling after a hard day's work, she couldn't help but resurface her worries just one more time. Her pain, her anger. Everything that has been out the past few days. Not knowing when the roller coaster would stop, she'll still have to get on with life anyway. She, as everyone knows, is the sole breadwinner of her own created "family".
Reaching the streets, she noted once again that most of the girls were in their best kimonoes.
"Mou... he really thinks he's some kind of big shot." She muttered with hatred.
And, on cue, an open carriage progessed its way slowly through the throng, and there he stood, coldly like a statue, waiting for people to prostrate before him.
Anger swelled like none before and she felt her throat stuck and her eyes filling with tears.
"Bastard..." she shook with anger, before turning away and running all the way back home.
But not before Keitaro spotted her.
"Kaoru..." He whispered, shocked. Then, he jumped down from the carriage in a sweeping motion and pushed past the group of girls and ran after her.
"Kaoru...I've found you."
TBC....
--
I don't trust with fate anymore...
Kaoru's words haunted him all the time, and it bothered him a lot. What has become of you?
Kenshin leaned against the wall of the dojo, being as quiet as possible so as not to wake the girl beside him. Kaoru had practised diligently throughout the night non-stop, and then suddenly, she just collapsed with exhaustion next to him. They had talked for a while... and suddenly Kaoru's head landed on his shoulder, and started sleeping. Kenshin hadn't known why he didn't carry her back to her room. He didn't know why he just felt contented with her this way. It felt so alright. Her steady breathing had lured him to dreams, for the first time. He had never trusted anyone that much before as to sleep so soundly with others around, but Kaoru... that aura she has just allowed him to relax as much as to sleep, without even waking up once.
He had woken up to find her still there, sleeping as soundly. Sighing, he just sat there, listening to her breathing, feeling her warmth beside him.
A shuffle, and then Kaoru sat up sleepily and stretched. Kenshin watched from behind. So this is how she wakes.
WHAT THE HELL SESSHA IS THINKING OF DE GONZARU?!
But... in another way, he wished that it can last forever...
"Ken... KENSHIN?!" Kaoru's eyes widen as she turned and saw him leaning there.
"You fell alsleep yesterday half-way when you were taking a break." He told her.
"I did?!" Kaoru's mouth dropped. "Why didn't you wake me up? I mean, I could still last for a few more hours..." An impulse, and Kenshin placed his finger on her lips.
"Demo, Kaoru-dono, you were tired." He saw her face turn a rosy pink as she stared at him in disbelief. "Anyway, you still have tonight to practise, and I think that Yahiko and you would want your breakfast. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me." He smiled and got up, taking his finger back. Her lips' warmth still lingered on his finger, sending tingles up and down his arm. "I'll take my leave."
He walked out, turned and disappeared along the corridor.
--
Kaoru felt her blush was still there.
Did Kenshin...?
His finger had left its warmth there.
She touched it tentatively...
Kenshin...
She smiled. This day is starting off as a quite nice one after all. She got up, cleared the place, did all the necessary bowing and everything and left the dojo and headed towards her room, her steps lighter than usual.
--
"Is everything ready?" Keitaro's cold voice spoke to his servant.
"Hai."
"Good..."
He waved his hand, the servant exited the room respectfully.
He looked out of the room to the morning view outside, wondering whether she would be coming for the ball...
"Kaoru-chan..."
The door opened suddenly, and he sat up immediately, his tone changing abruptly.
"Do you have no respect? Father!" He got up immediately, pushing the chair back.
"Ah, Keitaro... got everything ready?"
"Hai. What about you, have your business here been alright, like those in Europe?"
"No good. Not many here still trust the way the outsiders run their business..." The old man went to the chair and sat down. Taking a pipe from his pocket, he lit it and puffed through it. Letting out a stream of smoke, he looked hard to Keitaro.
"Remember, there are other women out there that would die to be your bride. Do you still want her?"
"I have never been so sure in my life. She will be my wife, no matter what. I swear I will take any measures to have her..."
The man sighed.
Looking out the window, he commented casually.
"It's a nice day... I think I will have you in the open carriage. I will have the police to allow you to move through the crowd today. It may boost our reputation..."
"Hai, otouchan."
The old man snapped his fingers. A servant appeared instantly by his side. They knew that their employee didn't have patience as long as a normal person would have, and had the power to their jobs, their daily food supply and everything, even their life. No one could mess with Niimi Takura. No one dared.
"Prepare the grandest carriage. We will make a trip to the police station first, before going to visit some old friends here. Now, go."
"Hai." The servant bowed and left.
Both father and son watched the servant hurriedly got out and closed the door.
"Go on, prepare yourself for this afternoon's trip."
"Hai." Keitaro strode out. Closing the door behind him, he let his emotions into his eyes for a slipt second, before closing it's shutter once again, and following his servant to his room.
If anyone had even noticed, Keitaro, that cold man that now walked down the empty, long corridor, had shown his first emotion from the day he was born. A feeling of pure hatred.
--
Sanosuke woke up groggily, as he sat up, the room became strangely distorted.
"What the hell happened?" He clutched his head, and struggled to his feet. "Where am I?" He blinked wildly to get his vision stabilized.
Genzai's clinic.
"Kuso..." He swayed while he walked out of the empty room, slamming against the wall every now and then when he lost control of his legs. And then, he felt a gigantic lurch inside him.
"Oh shit."
He ran out, and all the contents he had last night came pouring out of his mouth.
"Daijubou, Tori atama? Ah... I guess not. With all that sake you had last night, it's no wonder that you will feel so horrible now..." He looked up and saw Megumi, her arms full of medicine to be brought to the clinic.
"Need you be so sarcastic?" He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "And don't chide me now, ya fox, cuz I'm feeling horrible and I need no more of your stupid remarks to make it better."
"Oh yeah?" Megumi angrily retorted. "Is this the way you repay me by helping you to a shelter for one night?"
"Oh... should I say thank you to you? But you should have done a better job than that." He pointed to his blistering cheek.
"So, you finally noticed that. Isn't it better then leaving you on the streets?" She retorted.
"Maa... maa..." Genzai-sensei came between the bickering couple. "It's early in the morning. I wouldn't want any more of it to ruin on fine day. And Takani- sensei? Mind making a sign and putting it outside? I'm planning to visit Kaoru-chan today. Sanosuke, it seems like you have gotten better, help Takani-sensei with the medicine. There are more patients to be treated now." He instructed both of them.
"Humph." In unison, they grumbled and turned their backs towards each other.
"Oh my." Genzai-sensei sighed, as the girls came out of their room sleepily and whined at the top of their voices.
--
"Let's go now, Yahiko, are you done yet?" Kaoru yelled, standing akimbo by the door.
"Yeah, yeah busu... you needn't shout so loud... I'm not deaf." He replied, appearing by the corner.
"Fine. Let's go. Kenshin! We're leaving!"
"Hai! Be careful!" Kenshin appeared to meet them, wiping his soapy hands on his hakama.
"Ja!" Kaoru closed the door behind her and headed off with Yahiko.
"Hey busu." The boy suddenly spoke as they crossed the bridge. "Remember this place?"
"This place...?" Kaoru looked around... and a familiar scene rose. It seems so long ago when she had caught Yahiko pick pocketing. "Aa. Naze?"
"Iie... just thinking..."
Kaoru felt his forehead. "Strange. This is the first time you are using your brains."
"Oi! I always use my brains, busu!" Yahiko swapped her hand away. Laughing, Kaoru walked in front of him and into the market place.
Yahiko watched her worriedly from behind. It was a direct change from yesterday. Is she really okay? She greeted people she knew with the usual enthusiasm, and blushed when anyone dared to probe into the relationship she and Kenshin shared. Looking in general, she was fine from every angle... damn. He can never figure out females. Especially ugly ones.
"Yahiko! Hurry up, will you? I've got a lesson to rush to!" She yelled from way in front, drawing stares. Yahiko ran up. "Can't you even lower your volume? Busu busu busu..." And a hard knock, he was out.
At least he knew she was her normal self. He should be at least be glad about that.
He fainted, and felt Kaoru dragging him to the dojo with angry steps all the way to the dojo, and finally arriving just in time to get trampled by the dojo students who were welcoming her arrival.
"Jeez. That old hag." He muttered. "Wondered how Kenshin managed to get along with her?"
And from the other end of the town, in the small and run-down Kamiya dojo, a red-haired man sneezed into the white cloth he was preparing to dry on the line.
"Who's talking about me?" He wondered.
--
The lesson went faster and more progressively than what Kaoru expected. And soon the lesson was over. All formalities done and she was out of the dojo, her cash in her bag. Knowing full well that Yahiko's going to find a short- cut to the Akebako, she didn't really note of him disappearing after the first bridge.
Taking her time strolling after a hard day's work, she couldn't help but resurface her worries just one more time. Her pain, her anger. Everything that has been out the past few days. Not knowing when the roller coaster would stop, she'll still have to get on with life anyway. She, as everyone knows, is the sole breadwinner of her own created "family".
Reaching the streets, she noted once again that most of the girls were in their best kimonoes.
"Mou... he really thinks he's some kind of big shot." She muttered with hatred.
And, on cue, an open carriage progessed its way slowly through the throng, and there he stood, coldly like a statue, waiting for people to prostrate before him.
Anger swelled like none before and she felt her throat stuck and her eyes filling with tears.
"Bastard..." she shook with anger, before turning away and running all the way back home.
But not before Keitaro spotted her.
"Kaoru..." He whispered, shocked. Then, he jumped down from the carriage in a sweeping motion and pushed past the group of girls and ran after her.
"Kaoru...I've found you."
TBC....