(sigh) I can't believe it! I actually missed Evanescence in concert! Allow me to slap myself repeatedly... oh well, here's chapter six for you guys!
The sixth feather's touch
"Honestly, I like her!" Megumi said cheerfully, taking her chopsticks and popping a grain of rice into her mouth.
Kaoru fumed, "You would." The other raised a brow, "What's THAT supposed to mean?" Kenshin quickly broke into the conversation before his landlady could respond, "I do believe she feels out of place, and we should make her feel a bit more welcome. It's not a very comfortable position for her..."
"I have no intention of being warm to her, that will have to be up to all of you." Kaoru said, expressing for the thousandth time her dislike for the girl.
Sanosuke stopped wolfing down his meal for a second to put in his word, "She seems nice to me-" "Her personality or her appearance?" Yahiko asked, snickering slightly. Megumi raised a brow, while Sanosuke grabbed Yahiko by the collar, Kaoru shouting how sick all of them made her, Kenshin trying unsuccessfully to keep the calm.
All the while the newest visitor to the dojo sat quietly in her room, facing the wall with a blank expression on her face, uneaten bowl of rice sitting to the side. She had chosen to not eat dinner with the others, as she decided she would chose to do for her remaining stay there. Kenshin had made it clear that she was not confined to her room, but Cor seemed resigned to stay in her accommodation of present.
Of course she heard the voices, but they made little impact upon her. She already knew of Kaoru's dislike for her, and Kenshin's kind spirit. The others were not hard to figure out, as well... but that should make no difference to her. She did not hate any of them, nor even disliked. She simply had an air of indifference, as if resigned to her fate. Yet below the calm waters was a torrent that was slowly ripping her mind apart... how had this happened...
"Daddy, I miss you." She whispered, surprised at her own words. Her father...
"Just a moment, godmother! I have to say good-bye to Daddy one last time! He always waves as the ship sails! Always, always, always!" The ten year old exclaimed, giving a bright smile to her, green eyes sparkling. She had always resembled her father in everyway... at least, that was what she was told. She looked nothing like her mother, supposedly. Not that she would know, except for the picture in the locket.
"We don't have time! We have to be back at the parlor in time for tea!" "But-" "No 'buts'!" The elder snapped, grabbing the girl sharply by the arm and dragging her towards the carriage.
Ripping away from her godmother's grasps, she ran back to port, just in time to see a hand rise from the railing of the ship in the mist... then disappear.
"Miss Elenter?" Her head snapped up as she self-consciously wiped away the tears that had unknowingly appeared on her cheeks. "Will you not eat your rice?" Kenshin asked quietly. "No, thank you." Her response was slightly less stiff than usual. With a sigh, he bent to take the bowl, and then paused, "I am sorry for your predicament. If it was in my power to make it otherwise, I would. But please... we are all trying to make it comfortable for you, that we are. I'm sure there is a reason for all this, although unknown at this point."
He didn't wait for a response, knowing that there wouldn't be one, and quietly left the room.
Waiting until the sounds came of everyone else retiring to their rooms, she slipped down on her mat, facing the window for the first time during her stay, watching the stars in the sky... "It's a clear night tonight, eh?" One of the younger agents said in an attempt to break a conversation with their silent leader. "Yes." No other words were said, and the other soon left the man to be lost in his thoughts.
Indeed, Saitou Hajime was lost in the stars once again, thoughts troubling him under the stone exterior. Perhaps he shouldn't have left her there... what sort of influence would Kenshin and the household hold on her? He sighed, lying back in the grass. Once again, there would be no sleep. And once again, no peace. "Good morning." Kenshin sat up startled, soapy water spraying everywhere within a two foot radius, thankfully which the greeter was standing outside of.
"Miss... Elenter! Good morning, lovely day, isn't it?" He said, blinking rapidly. She smiled slightly at his surprise.
He chuckled softly, "About time you smiled at something, though it be me making an idiot out of myself, that it is." "Mm." She crossed her arms, glancing up at the sky, while Kenshin returned to the laundry.
"Thank you." "Eh?" he raised a brow, but did not look up. "For... helping me break out of my shell of self pity and rudeness. You all have been very kind to me here. I will do all I can to return the favor." "It was our pleasure, Miss Elenter."
She hesitated for a moment, "Please... call me Cor." "Alright then, Cor." He glanced up and gave her a cheerful smile. She returned a half smile, then walked away to span the grounds. 'I believe that's the most she's said so far.' He thought amusedly as he immersed himself once again in his world of soap bubbles. Kaoru watched, fuming, from the door of the dojo, 'How dare that little whore talk to Kenshin... did she just make him laugh? How I would love to rip her hair out-"
"Am I interrupting you in your quiet fury?" Sanosuke had been standing there for a good three minutes, the trademark fishbone positioned in the corner of his mouth. "WHY DID YOU SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT!?!? YOU... YOU SHOULD ANNOUNCE YOUR PRESENCE!" She shouted, hands clenched by her sides.
"Calm down. I highly doubt our visitor is going to seduce Kenshin... really, is that how little you think of him?" Sanosuke raised a brow, "I thought you would know better."
"I...I..." Kaoru blinked.
"And besides, this girl isn't exactly as her title would describe her. The reason for your temper is probably because she hasn't spoken to hardly any but Kenshin... the reason being is that you haven't been very approachable, looking to snap her head off every time she even tries."
Kaoru blinked.
"And as Kenshin said, this situation isn't ideal for her. From what I heard of his and Saitou's conversation, our visitor was in a very delicate situation. Of course, the idiot thought kidnapping her would be a good idea at the time. At you haven't really been helping her along, have you?"
Kaoru blinked.
Less than four seconds later, Sanosuke found a wailing woman clamped onto him, tears pouring from her eyes, "HAVE I REALLY BEEN THAT MEAN!? I DIDN'T MEAN TO, I DIDN'T!!! OH, I'VE BEEN SO HORRIBLE! I'VE BEEN SO CRUEL? HOW CAN ANYONE EVER FORGIVE ME!?"
"KAORU, calm down!" He said desperately, trying to shake the lump off of him, "I'm sure she'll forgive you! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!!!" "Women are weird." Yahiko said from a 'safe' distance, shaking his head as he hung up some of the clothes on the line.
"That's nice." Kenshin said distractedly, picking up a basket and humming on his way back to the dojo. "Glad you decided to join us for dinner tonight, Miss Cor." Kenshin said cheerfully, smiling as she took a seat at the table.
"Thank you for cooking, Miss Kaoru." Cor said politely, and Kaoru nodded meekly, attempting a smile.
"WAIT! KAORU cooked tonight?!?" Yahiko asked with a slight groan. A single chopstick smacked him in the head. "There's nothing wrong with my cooking you brat!! At least it's something to eat!" "IF IT DOESN'T COME RIGHT BACK UP, HAG!"
Kenshin was staring blankly at Cor, who had already shoveled half of her plate down. "What?" She asked, blinking, "Did I do something?"
"Wow, you must be super strong! Or at least, your stomach must be!" Yahiko said in amazement. Kaoru glared at him then glanced at Cor, "You... like it?"
"Yes, very much, thank you!" She said cheerfully. Kaoru smiled warmly, 'I'm starting to like her more already...'
Wow, Cor can stomach Kaoru's cooking. 0o
Kenshin: "I admire her..."
Cor: "Oooohhh... don't let Kaoru hear you say tha-"
frying pan: BONK
Kenshin: