Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Summary: A simple story of girl meets boy: Girl falls for boy; boy is thought to fall for girl's beautiful friend, Tomoe, and eventually they end up courting and finally engaged, but is it that simple?. Will Kaoru stand by a let herself be in Tomoe's shadow forever, or will she stand up and finally shine and show herself. Or will resentment and distress play their fatal card.
The Introduction
By: CrypticMaidenRK
Prologue: The Shadow
Maybe, it started when I was just a child, maybe later, but that is now far in the past. Simply, it does not matter, or to others it does not. Have you ever heard a person say the past is better left in the past? Well not in this case, not when your past goes by the name of Tomoe.
Tomoe. The name rolls off the tongue, does it not?
Tomoe, the perfect picture of feminine beauty that you are always compared to, and though you want to hate her it is utterly impossible to do so, for she is perfect inside and out. That picture of ultimate, unattainable beauty, in my case, goes by the name by that perfect, rolling name. A lovely creature she is indeed, or so that's what they say to me.
As I have mentioned before, I cannot hate this beauty. This beauty is my best friend, the girl who befriended me on the monkey bars when little boys picked fights with me when I became too much like them: tomboyish, plain, and simple.
Do you know what its like to have your own parents praise your best friend more than they do you? Of course, they do not know they are doing it, but, you see, that's what I have noticed when a person meets Tomoe. They simply forget about all else, too taken in by her award winning personality. Even I have to admit, that I was taken in as well.
Who could not be?
It is that perfection that has kept me down. It is her, Tomoe's, unknowing innocence and strength that draws people to her, completely ignoring me, until Tomoe politely has to say: Have you meet my friend, Kaoru?
Over the years, I have gotten use to those kinds of acts. Me, being ignored that is. I'm sure I would do the same. Sometimes, I even get the nerve to say to her, jokingly of course, as to not hurt her feelings, that she takes all the attention. Anywhere we go it's the same, men and woman look at her while being completely obvious to me. She even goes so far as to say that people look at me. I simply laugh and hug her; she is a good friend. The truth is harder on her than it is on me.
For so long, I have lived in her shadow. So many years have gone by in the dark that my soul has become a pale white. I guess, I could use a tan, and that's exactly what I'm going to do.
College, it's right around the corner, and I will be out of that beautiful shadow, but then again maybe not.
For you see, Tomoe's friendship is both a gift and a curse.
A fact that I cannot escape.
In truth, everything that I cherish always favors her more.
Purely, that is the way it is, the way it will always be.
A/N: Okay people, I know I have other stories to finish, but I promise for those who are reading Cherry Blossom Dream the next chapter is almost out!
Another thing is that I would like to see what type of reviews I get with this. For example, should I continue or not? Do you like the writing style, or not. If I do continue, later chapters will likely not be in first-person. Unless, of course, you would like it.
Okay, well I have to go now. So please review and make me happy and I will love you and honor you forever!
Respectfully Yours,
CrypticMaidenRK