Notes: I had some free time in my hands and decided to write something to post here. This is my first shot at fanfiction writing in this anime (RK). Actually it isn't my first idea, but the first one I scrapped cause it was just plain pointless. I was thinking of this kind of plot for a LONG time already and it took a lot of initiative to actually put it in writing. I also did think that this plot was suited for the RK characters. I dunno why. I do understand that this is one of the gazillions of fics entered and updated in the RK category in , so I am kind of in good at time budgeting this is somewhat my take on a possible solution to this crisis. Of course, it all depends on the free time, and unfortunately there isn't much, and if there is, I spend it gawking about how boring the day is and resting and sleeping and lying around. Unfortunately as well, the wonderful creative juices flow when I am busy and pressured with school and all that. One thing is for sure, I won't update unless the next chapter is finished. Maybe that will get my ass working.
I am worried that this plot might not be original as I think, but I brainstormed on the storyline to get it as different as it can from all the other fics with the same story flow (like the love-hate relationship, and other clichés). Comments and suggestions aka reviews might change the turn of events, but pretty much this is going to be a bittersweet story.
And yes I like writing long author's notes. That helps my artistic juices bubble. Forgive me if they are prolonging things.
Disclaimer: Everything but the storyline goes to their respective owners. shoos these talented minds off boo. Why do you have to think of nice things faster than I do? Oh yeah, so I can write fanfiction about them…Argh. Well at least the plot is something I can own.
Black Bride by fabulosa
The sky was irresponsive to a pair of hopeful azure eyes. There were no stars or light gracing the midnight. There was just uncertainty in the massive blanket of darkness, withholding the slightest slivers of light, even in the farthest corners. And yet, this unrelenting sky spoke to her words of comfort. Strange as it may seem, the pair of sapphire orbs loved the melancholic scene unfolding before her. At least, something in the cosmos was able to mirror her feelings, sharing her emotions to the world. But then she heartbreakingly sighed, knowing what was to become of this heartening sight.
You are unfair.
She found herself accusing the breathtaking night. She whispered her words of blame with closed eyes, and yet at the same time pictured that starless sky in her mind, transforming it into an infinite image within her mind.
Tomorrow, you will be bright and sunny again. She spoke to the sky that can only respond with its distressed lightlessness. But this time it wasn't that comforting anymore, and the sky seemed to ask why. But it need not know. She knew it wasn't important anymore, looking away, only remembering what her memory of the heavens had provided her. She prevented tears from flowing as she knew what would become.
Then I will be left all alone.
It was as if the Sandman knelt down and kissed Kamiya Kaoru goodbye, for at that very moment, her eyes fluttered open and a jolt of fiery energy raced through her body. She blinked the rest of drowsiness off of her system as she shifted her body to face the ceiling. She felt rather refreshed today.
It might be a good morning after all, one of the best in months.
With a swift but gentle run through her silky midnight hair, she twisted it and secured it into a loose bun, leaving no tendrils left sprawled on her pillow. A relaxed yawn parted her lips as she flexed her muscles and stretched her limbs, standing up after to open the windows and welcome this morning that she perceived to be wonderful.
"Good morning," A flat indifferent voice came from behind her. No sooner had it been said did the source of the apathetic salutation escape from view. Nonetheless, Kaoru knew who it was, and she didn't really mind. She looked at the healthy scenery before her, which she failed to get a glimpse of when the greeting was spoken. The trees welcomed the birds that rested on its powerful branches, and the sun gave off beams and beams of blinding light. Maybe, this morning she got her hopes a little too high up. Before turning away to fix her futon and do her chores, she closed her eyes and immediately saw last night's midnight sky and heard its sorrowful cries in the wind, harmoniously singing the melody of her aching heart. She looked back at the window and let out a whisper.
Unfair.
Kaoru was used to the hostility. It had been that way for months and months already, and she already ceased hoping that it would change. She considered it an everyday thing. Maybe even a forever thing.
Forever.
She didn't want to think of it that way. She closed her eyes tightly and convinced herself, like she always does when she doubted.
It will not reach forever. It will not be forever. There is no forever in us. There is no forever in this.
She repeated it to herself, until she felt secure. Taking a deep breath, she placed herself back to reality and went out of her room and start on her chores. She proceeded to the square table where they eat their morning meal, and laid two cups. She placed one on one side, and the other almost beside it. She knew it would be laid farther away, but she didn't care. She had always placed it like that. Rising, she went to the farther area of the room and entered the left door, almost bumping to him.
A pair of tawny eyes focused on her shocked face for a split second, and the next thing she knew, the same pair looked ahead, as if nothing happened. Well, nothing actually happened. Still, Kaoru was unmoving for a good second before realizing that it was the way he was, and went ahead to get a kettle and filled it with water for their tea. She set the kettle by the wok where their breakfast had been earlier cooked. She took the now empty wok from the heat for washing later. Being the frustrated cook that she is, Kaoru was deeply content in washing the tableware after breakfast.
Coming back with the pot of tea, she saw the tasty breakfast she was having. Some miso soup, wonderful steamed rice and fresh vegetables from the market cooked to perfection, it seems. She also noticed that the cup she set before was now farther from her own. She placed the pot somewhere on the table and sat down to eat. For reasons she never knew, they still ate together. Kaoru was looking at her left, for they never ate parallel to each other for her to look across. He wasn't across. He was eating silently in her left, sometimes staring ahead. Kaoru was the only one looking otherwise. Sometimes she just enjoyed watching him eat, even though expressionless and silent, and she stared at him so innocently as if thinking of something to say. But they were just silent. Conversations never last for hours. Almost everything was based on silence, and civility.
There is no interest in conversing with me. She had said to herself. It sounded almost like a self implied joke, but it carried a hurtful truth she didn't want to ponder further. She stopped staring and returned back to eating.
Finishing first, he took all the items he had used to consume his meal and walked back to where the wok is. Kaoru will clean it later while he is doing the laundry.
The sun seemed to desire shining for a few extra hours, and Kaoru felt her skin become hot and sticky. After washing the dishes, polishing the floors and just looking at the day and thinking, she felt like now is the time for a good bath. She went back to her room to take some of her personal items and hurried to the bathhouse to refresh herself. As she held the panel of the door, it swung toward her. Apparently he was bathing and thankfully, he was finished. Kaoru could only look at him and then away, looking apologetic.
"I'm sorry." She said quietly, even though she really didn't do anything.
"It is I who should be." She heard him say softly, and she almost didn't hear it. She looked back at him who just took a corner and now out of sight. The tone was still indifferent, but she never expected him answering. Entering the bathouse, she got a whiff of the aromas he had used to cleanse and perfume himself. She also found it clean and the floors dry, with nice tempered water in the tub for her. He did sense that I was evaporating from the heat as well, she concluded as she removed her garments and neatly folded them on one side. She lied down and relaxed for a few minutes. Yes, she needed more of this.
Coming out of the bathhouse, she realized that her few minutes turned to hours. The bright sky changed into a few darker shades of gray. In a few hours it would be nighttime. Her fingers and toes were like oversized prunes as she patted her body dry and changed into her nightwear. After drying her hair and tying it up in a ponytail, she went to the table and found that he was already eating in the same spot that morning and her food was by his side. She sat by his right this time, and again a meal in silence.
"I'm going to the market tomorrow, do you need anything?" Kaoru finally spoke up. Surely their relationship wasn't entirely based on silence.
"I would go to the market, Miss Kaoru. You need not worry." He replied from her right. Kaoru looked toward the direction of the voice. This was another short lived conversation.
"Oh, ok. I would stay here then… Tomorrow." There was no reply. Kaoru stood up from where she was sitting and walked to deposit her bowl and cup. She almost bumped him again, yet this time he didn't seem to notice. But she always noticed. After dinner she was outside looking far away, thinking about herself, her life, and him. He would also do reflecting of his own.
That was how it had been for a long period of time. Everything was done with minimum interaction. Kaoru didn't want to mind, but she was bothered. There was a huge part of her that wanted to see this person as a friend, and not someone who was forced to be what he is to her now. She thought it would make things lighter and easier. But she knew it wasn't for certain, rather, it can make things far worse, and that is why things have not changed much since the start of it all.
Later at night, Kaoru retreated back to her room, and he to his own, but before she closed the door, she waited, staring at his closed quarters intently. She heard a flow of garments, and then a plop on the futon.
He is tired…also. Very much tired of this.
Kaoru then slid her door slowly to a close when she could no longer recognize sounds of movement on the other room. Letting her hair flow on her back she looked at herself in the mirror.
I too am tired.
Author's Notes: READ THIS FIRST! If you liked this story and are in a hurry to review, WAIT A MOMENT. Okay. I hope you like the Prologue. I', sorry for the format, i haven't uploaded in a long time and am again now unfamiliar to how this works.Normally I would have a preview of what will happen in the next chapter, but I decided that it'll just be an extension of this same chapter. I just wanted the ending of the chapter and then I thought of this other one so I'll just add it in the bottom. So don't immediately press back after reading the story. You have to read further and also click review.
Unfolding her futon, she looked at her open window, revealing a once more dark sky. Comforting whispers circled her thoughts and she tried to envision a feeling of comfort and looseness. She wanted a loss of tension for a change. Before surrendering her mind to the Sandman in exchange for hopefully wonderful dreams, she was unaware that she said something tonight that she will indeed keep.
This all ends tonight.
TBC