Notes: Okay I'm back. This chapter will be more of a revelation of what's going to happen between Kaoru and Kenshin. However, it is still not a revelation of what will happen after the prologue. But if by now, you haven't caught up with the title, then you would know why it is that way. I just realized this will be a long story, and it might have lots of chapters. But…we'll see. Good ideas just zoom through my head these days and the chapter gets longer, and then the story gets longer and loose ends build up & become more complex. Sometimes I worry that I will loose track of those things I write. But I pretty much figured out the loose ends in this story, and I'd appreciate it if you tell me what you don't understand or something even in the later chapters so I can check if I left any out and fix it. Well, you won't know the answer soon, but rest assured that things will be revealed at the right time.
I have a question though, I tried searching for my username and this story on the search button and I didn't find it. Did I unable it or something? It just confused me. Ugh and I hate how i can't figure out how to create more spaces between paragraphs. I read this one and i felt the chapter was rushed because of the lack of space between scenes. Will probably resort to dashes and dots and whatnot.
Let me remind you not to PRESS BACK IMMEDIATELY! Fic extensions are available after the author's notes below, it will relieve you of some cliffhangers, but not without creating new ones. And you still have to review so pressing back isn't exactly the best idea, for me, that is. I also included thanks for the reviewers of the first two chapters who took time in reading this humble little fic. I appreciate it all!
Black Bride by fabulosa
Celebrating Tragedy
Kaoru forced a smile looking at the direction Kenshin's finger was pointed to.
"Oh," she blurted out trying not to sound disappointed. It was too good to be true after all and certainly, a man like him would have found a respectable woman by that time. Kaoru felt so stupid for not knowing, or even thinking of that possibility. Kaoru shook her head a little. She should've spotted the signs and figured that out sooner. Maybe her loss of sense of self was because she was greatly affected by the people earlier in the party, who were now gathered round the emperor, she supposed. Come to think of it, Kenshin and herself were the only ones not there, for a moment reminding Kaoru how their personalities were similar.
But he has a significant other! She mentally reminded herself. The evening discussion was merely a case of infatuation and Kaoru knew it, more than once wishing there was some other excuse for her emotions when she glanced at him. She didn't want to acknowledge her curiosity and ask anything related to it anymore, wondering up to what the relationship between Kenshin and his 'future wife' is, for Kenshin didn't specify if they were really lovers, but she also didn't want to make it look like she was affected too much. That would be too embarrassing. She resorted to humor then.
"That doesn't mean I couldn't talk to you does it?" she joked, but in truth, she just doesn't have anything more to say, except to cautiously, and faintly reaffirm their relationship as of that moment. His finger was stroking his chin now, pondering, what he would answer.
"Well, I suppose…" he said appearing enlightened, realizing what they were doing, and Kaoru's heart sank as she realized she screwed up again. She wasn't carrying the conversation the way she'd planned. She'd ruined the conversation as quickly as she started it.
But I didn't start it, he did.
Kaoru was obviously directed to a new trail of thought when she heard Kenshin speak. She turned to his direction as she stared at him, trying to absorb what he just said. What did he say?
I guess that's why we're having this conversation that I initiated, right? The ironic remark echoed in her mind, slowly for her to understand word per word. It took her a few seconds before she understood what he meant by his statement. Kaoru couldn't say anything except, 'oh' and tried to laugh at her stupidity. Kenshin, watching Kaoru laugh, joined in the amusement as well and gave beautiful smiles of his own.
"The tea was lovely by the way. I heard you took part in making it." Kaoru blushed at the compliment and quickly composed herself to reply.
"Thank you. It is not easy, but very worth it. I enjoyed making it as much as you enjoyed drinking it. I find it very meaningful in my life. My uncle never fails to amaze me, to be able to create something like that from almost nothing. It is just right that I continue doing it." She smiled.
"I think you should. You can even teach me sometime." He replied which shocked Kaoru, "Tomoe would love to have it." Kaoru smile faded for a split second before she flashed another one when he looked at her.
"Why not? I trust you will have fun. I will give you some tonight if you wish, to bring home to her." She answered, not knowing where to settle her vision. She decided it was time to change the subject.
"So, you were a former warrior…" she started.
After countless minutes, sweets served and gone, and teacups sipped and empty, the laughter subsided and the pair continued to talk about many different things. Kaoru told of her love for poetry and cuisine problems, and Kenshin talked to her about the soldiers he trained, and the people in the emperor's palace.
"I've never been there, well at least as far as I can remember. I probably was brought there when I was young, but as I grew older, I didn't want to meddle in my uncle's business. I don't think he showed any signs of taking me there either. He hid me from public view most of the time, after my parents died, never asking me if I wanted to join. And I didn't want to impose myself, even if some events caught my curiosity. I didn't mind it anyway, I knew it was of our best interest. Besides, I knew it won't stay that way anyway and this is a perfect example. I suppose now he wants me to meet everybody and be officially part of his duties."
"I do understand that you knew most of the people around here. You were just formally introduced, am I correct?" Kenshin inquired which Kaoru replied with a nod.
"Exactly. They used to visit at home, but it is my uncle they seek. I suppose the formal reintroduction if I might call it, represents my taking part in their affairs as an adult. Most of the time it is their sons who visit to see me, or their daughters who ask for tips for beauty and etiquette. But I really never formed bonds with them. Not unlike my childhood friends my uncle could not separate me from."
"Ah, including Miss Megumi." Kenshin remarked, "quite a character, that woman."
"Quite diverse, aren't we? She added.
"However, I feel that there is one personality missing. I can see that my image as a handsome ladykiller who is right about everything is currently available," he joked, receiving a playful slap from Kaoru.
"Well, that will just make our group completely diverse. There's the hardheaded, the bubbly, the overpossessive, the ladykiller, and…"
"the beautiful wallflower, coming out of her shell…" he finished, stopping Kaoru from speaking. She had a funny, unpleasant feeling about what was going on. She didn't know if Kenshin was finding something in her, or was just his arrogant lady killer self. Could it be that what she was feeling, that there is even a small possibility that they can be together, was mutual? They had been talking almost the whole night, and it was like they knew each other completely. Kaoru had a hesitant look on her face, and Kenshin an inquisitive one.
"I have to ask you, despite our wonderful conversation, you look like you're bothered by something the whole night. What is it?"
"To tell you the truth, I don't know myself. I feel like there's something that is going to happen, but I am at a loss as to what it is." Kaoru fumbled, realizing she wasn't thinking right that evening. Her throat seemed drier and there was a knot in her stomach and inside of her, even if she looked and acted fine, she was subconsciously feeling…
"Queasy?" he asked, as if continuing her thoughts. Kaoru nodded, adding, "and I fear what is to become of it." She took a deep breath.
"Well, that's just funny." He whispered and Kaoru had to squint her eyes almost missing what he said. "I think I am feeling the same thing." Kaoru's heart throbbed intensely. Kenshin?
"Katsura, I can't find your niece anywhere. My vision is still perfect, isn't it?" the Emperor murmured, sarcastically but not impatiently. Katsura was used to his remarks, always implying that sense of exultance, in this case on his vision.
"Your vision is absolutely fine, Ryuza," he replied, satisfying the former speaker. "Kaoru must have mingled with people around as you instructed. Don't worry about her."
"Indeed, Kaoru must know her place. You have done a great job raising her."
"No need for your praises, Ryuza."
"In any case, there is something I would like to point out to you."
"And what is that?" Katsura wondered what it could be.
"Everybody is here," he stressed, "they should be. Everyone who is anyone must hear my plans as emperor. What is your neice doing roaming around? "
"I completely understand. If you wish I will gather everybody in the room." He remarked, and with a gesture from the emperor, he left the room.
Starting with the people, near the room the emperor was located, he discreetly collected the people and gathered them in the room. At first some were hard headed or reluctant, but the mention of the emperor sent them on their way. Katsura found it very stressful by the minute as he searched the reception area, the dining area, the room where the tea ceremony was held, even the lavatory. The emperor ordered everyone after all. As people went in, he took note of who was left, and concluded that Kenshin and Kaoru were together. He saw them talking to each other in the wall before.
He turned to look at the same spot he found the two conversing and saw they were gone. Immediately, he informed his assistants to find them. He looked at the other rooms in his house and found more guests, which he ushered where the others were for the emperor's announcement. He let out a big sigh as he realized that his neice wasn't still found. He never felt this tense about the event before. There was something that made his stomach turn, and it was something that he did not like. Taking a white handkerchief he patted his forehead gently, trying to calm himself of the stress of the event, from the arrival of the guests, and now, his niece was out of his sight. He did not want to think of the worst as one of his assistants whispered to his ear and he rushed quickly to where he was directed.
Turning in every corner, rushing through room by room, he pushed his other men out of the way, to see for himself what has happened. Gasping, all he could do was cover his mouth, rush to his neice's side and telling people that the gathering was over and that everyone go home.
"Kaoru!"
A/N: Well, that's it. I hope you liked this chapter. It is pretty short compared to the first two ones, but the fic extension is long, so it made up for it I guess. The emperor is quite a character, though. Initially, it was supposed to be Shogou, but I changed it when I realized I had to insert Magdalia too. As much as I like a new love triangle (Sano-Magdalia-Megumi or Magdalia-Sano-Shozo) I fear it would change the plot of this story drastically. I will reserve that for a different storyline, when time comes. I want to keep this Kenshin-Kaoru, because that is what the story was initially. I could have also taken the option of excluding Magdalia altogether (since this IS fanfiction and I can do anything I want) but I just couldn't picture Shogou without Magdalia. In a different story, maybe. Okay, I want to thank the reviewers for the prologue and the 2nd chapter and then you can scroll down for the fic extension, if you don't want to be behind.
A huge message of thanks to :
scythe195 : the first reviewer is always distinct from all the rest. J Thanks for reading this story and commenting on it. Thanks also for appreciating my story and style. I will improve on it since I know it's not perfect yet (I am a frustrated writer you know). But again, unexplainable, sincere thanks.
gabby : thanks for reviewing. J
esthered : Thank you! Thank you! I am keeping your constructive criticism in mind. I do get a little too detailed. I think it's some sort of obsessive compulsive-ness since I get paranoid about not explaining myself too well. But I'm going to work on it. Thanks for being thoughtful.
Ame no Neko : thanks so much! I will be more careful, sometimes I just type so fast J thanks for your comments on this fic. It's ironic though cause I am known to not have a good grasp of grammar and then you comment that my grammar's almost flawless. I guess I've improved? Thanks anyway for your comments!
Nel : you said almost the same thing as esthered did so I guess that's really a problem. Well, I have a hard time not doing it, but I'll try not to be to detailed, all right? Thanks for the constructive criticism! I hope this has shorter paragraphs. I edited them with this criticism in mind…
Mellen : Wow, thanks for thinking my fic is different.
Thanks you guys! Fic extension below!
Guests left, the emperor most especially, and Katsura finally closed the door to the last of them. Nobody must know of what happened. As soon as he found out, he sent people to order everyone to leave. The emperor at first was surprised and angered, but upon telling him what happened, he was speechless and just left. Before leaving though, Katsura was warned.
"I don't know what happened Katsura, but fix this! Her reputation will be ruined, and even yours."
Though Ryuza's voice echoed in his head, however, it was not his well being he was worried about. He looked over to his side, to his beloved angel, sleeping soundly in the bed, moonlight shining down her face. The sight of her brought fear in Katsura's system. Questions ran through his mind at the same time and he worried he does not have the best answers. How will he tell her? What will she say? One thing was for sure, and he knew it more than anyone. His angel will be crushed when she finds out.
Remembering what the emperor told him, he inevitably wondered, what have we gotten ourselves into Kaoru?
It took a few seconds for Kaoru to wince at the bright light her face was exposed to, as she wiped her eyes and peeked through narrow slits. Morning. She felt weird though, like she had no knowledge of what happened after talking to Kenshin. Then flashes of images crossed her mind, images she never remembered doing, having Kenshin's strands in her fingers, Kenshin lying beside him, her face turned into a frown as she wondered where she was. Seeing her uncle looking at her in the corner of the room, she gave a small smile.
"Kaoru, you are awake." He only said. It was not his uncle's manner of greeting her. It sounded so distant. Kaoru's smile faded and instead, her face showed concern, fearing the words that will come out of his mouth.
"Uncle, what happened last night? I feel like…" she was shushed, her uncle's eyes gleaming of worry and affection.
"Kaoru, the party was abruptly ended. I don't know how to say this but… we saw you with Kenshin. The two of you were together the whole night and it seems that things got out of hand…"
Kaoru's eyes filled with tears as he continued speaking. Disbelief, guilt and sadness immediately took over her body. The last of his words broke her heart. She needed to speak with Kenshin after this, but for the meantime, it is herself and her tears that will accompany her. Even her uncle's hug was not able to comfort her one bit. There was nothing to feel except misery. After a few minutes consoling herself with her tears, she escaped her covers, broke free from his uncle's grasp, leaving the room.
Just at that moment, she saw Kenshin, his head bowed, his fingers on his forehead, and upon seeing her, his amber eyes glinted in a furious gaze as he walked nearer.
"You're awake. I guess you're happy now." He spat as he stopped in front of her. His manner and tone were not what Kaoru remembered of him. It was as if he was a different person. But who can blame him? What Kaoru could not understand was why he was angry at her. She was just as oblivious.
It was then that Kenshin moved for the door. Kaoru tried calling him to straighten things out but he refused to look back. Still at a loss as to what to do, realizing that she has thrown away a lot of things, his uncle's reputation, her very own, and the trust of everyone especially Kenshin, she kneeled down, hands wiping her tear stricken face.
"No…" she whispered, "It can't be."