Only A Mistress
Chapter Two: Unwelcome
"Young Lady! Young Lady! Your father arrives!" A servant sang in a warning tone.
"Oh no, my father is back so soon?"
"Yes, yes Kaoru-chan. His carriage lies just above the hill from here!" The old servant yelled. Her wrinkled face wearing her distress.
"So your father has returned early then. I take it our visit is cut short once more?" A male voice came from behind Kaoru.
"It would seem so," Kaoru rushed as she looked down at her current attire and then at the clothes the old servant had given her.
For the past few months Kaoru had been secretly learning the ways of her family's traditional style of swordsmanship. Though her father frowned upon the idea of her learning, one of his young, handsome, village students took it upon himself to teach it to her whenever it was possible and safe for them both.
"You must leave now if you want your head! And you, Kaoru, must change quickly. Be lucky the two of you didn't have to do anything that required much work today!" The servant lectured.
"Arigato Siya-san. We are both in your debt," the boy stated as he walked over and placed a gentle kiss on the servants' cheek and stormed out of the spare room. "Later Kaoru-chan!" He called over his shoulder as he dashed out of the room and out of the estate before anyone noticed.
"Now you must hurry Young Lady…You must change and we must redo your hair in a nicer ponytail. And all this must be done so you can greet your father as he arrives!"
"Okay, okay Siya-san I understand your demands!" Kaoru exclaimed softly.
Siya only shook her head at the young child before her as she hurriedly changed out of the gi and hamaka she was in and into the pretty yellow kimono she had brought to her to change into. The old servant ran a hand through her grey hair and walked over to help Kaoru tie her on her matching obi.
"I'm getting too old for this Kaoru-chan." Siya stated as silence had fell upon them since the boy had left.
"I know and it's like Ruyamo said…we both owe you greatly." Kaoru answered as they now tackled the new mission of fixing her hair.
"It is not so much the two of you owe me for all the trouble I go through to help you guys stay out of worse trouble...But more so I can't keep up! Every time you two decide to have these secret sessions, it seems we're getting closer and closer to getting caught," Siya said as she finished tying Kaoru's ribbon.
"I understand." Kaoru said as she looked at Siya.
"Well, let's go. Your father should be here by now," Siya said as she opened the door for Kaoru.
Kaoru walked briskly to the front of her home. As she made her way there she sighed in relief as he had yet to leave the comforts of the carriage. She stood perfectly still with her hands folded together, while a group of maids and servants stood behind her.
Finally after want seemed to be forever her father appeared from within the horse drawn carriage with a frustrated look about his face.
'Oh no…The meeting must not have gone well.' She thought as she prayed to Kami in her head that he wouldn't take his anger out on her like he usually did.
"Greetings father." Kaoru said as she and the other bystanders bowed to him. Mr. Kamiya disregarded the greeting as he walked passed everyone storming off in the direction of the kitchen. Slowly Kaoru lifted head and waited patiently for her father to tell her to follow him.
"Daughter!" Mr. Kamiya barked from around the side of the house like she knew he would do. Though as he did so she shook her head and jumped to do as he bided. The last she thing wanted to do at that time was make her father angrier than he was.
As she rounded the corner her sight met her father's angry glare while he tapped his foot impatiently waiting for her to slide the dining room door open for him.
"Hurry up!" He roared as his tapping grew louder.
Knowing what the tapping meant Kaoru lightly jogged over to her father and bent down by the door sliding it open.
"Took you long enough." He said smugly while walking inside. Kaoru only stared at the floor knowing the punishment if she looked up at him.
When he was inside she followed and began moving the food trays the servants had left before her father as well as pouring a small cup of sake to go with his meal. Once he was satisfied with the food before him she moved her tray to where she would sit across from him. Then again she lowered her head and waited for her father to let her know she could eat.
"Go ahead." He simply stated before shoving his chopsticks into his mouth greedily. With her permission granted she nodded her head and slowly picked up her chopsticks.
"How was the visit?" Kaoru asked bluntly.
"What business of yours does my visit concern you?" Her father inquired.
"I was simply asking out of curiosity."
"Why so curious?" Her father pressed further, suspicious.
"You looked angry when you returned, is all," she stated while taking a small timid bite of rice.
Mr. Kamiya only snorted at her remark. Feeling not in the mood to argue with his daughter, he decided he would just answer her.
"It went horrible...Why ask such a stupid question? Clearly it didn't go well." Mr. Kamiya said smartly as he took a sip of his sake before swallowing down the rest.
"Sorry…It was very foolish of me," Kaoru replied as her voice lowered.
"Don't give me that pathetic sounding voice," he said lowly as he poured him another cup of sake. "Besides there was some good to come out of the visit…Starting next month you'll no longer be under my house and care." Mr. Kamiya said as he swallowed down some more sake.
"What?" Kaoru asked, unsure if she heard him right.
"You'll belong to Mr. Himura IX in exchange for all the debts this village is under," Mr. Kamiya stated as he ignored her previous remark.
"But…I thought…"
"Well for once you were able to entice someone to even consider taking you in. Though I didn't get much money from you, you did help me retain the majority of my wealth and so that in its self is payment enough." Mr. Kamiya elaborated.
"So…you sold me as a…"
"In my eyes yes that's what I sold you as, but to Mr. Himura he thinks something else, though he didn't say what." Mr. Kamiya said as he finished his meal and stood up from his tray, throwing his napkin over his dishes. "I expect you to clean this up and prepare for your departure in two weeks." He said as he looked down at Kaoru who had her head hung low.
Kaoru suddenly heard him cough and she slowly rose to her feet as well. She walked over to the door and she kneeled down to slide it open for him. She bowed her head to the floor as she answered him while he departed.
"Yes father."
"Oh dear Lady," Kaoru's governess cried. "How much I will miss you when you're gone!"
"But I'm not gone now Siya-san," Kaoru reasoned as she took off her kimono while the old maid brought over a wash basin.
"I'm sorry Lady, but I can not begin to image life here in this mansion without you!" Siya said as she took a sponge and began to wash Kaoru.
"I wonder how my father would feel with me gone," Kaoru said to herself more than to Siya.
Siya momentarily stopped washing Kaoru to reply before continuing.
"Please, child, I think we all know the answer to that," Siya said with anger in her voice. "Sometimes I sit and wonder how a monster of a man like your father can have such a beautiful angel as you for a daughter. So kind and forgiving…Even at times naïve to the truths that stand before her."
"But Siya, it is not that hard. You say almost everyday you can see the resemblance in our stubbornness." Kaoru exclaimed, laughing slightly.
"And that's it!" Siya said as she nodded her head sharply. Siay then reached beside her and grabbed a soft towel to wrap around Kaoru.
"Young Lady you and your father only have that much in common and nothing more. Anything else about you is your dear mother's sweet, sweet soul that we miss so much here in the village." Siya whispered as she pulled out a fresh white yukata for Kaoru to put on.
"My mother died along time ago…I don't remember her much, so I can not agree with you on whether or not I resemble her in any manner." Kaoru said as she slipped into the simple garment.
"But my child you do in so many ways. You do not have to remember, but take my word and believe it true as I say you are your mother's double." Siya replied while grabbing a brush to begin working on Kaoru's hair.
While Siya retrieved Kaoru's brush, Kaoru walked over to the hanging mirror on her wall and stared at her reflection as she waited for Siya to come.
Her skin was fair and flawless as her hair was the most beautiful shade of black that it glowed a midnight blue radiance. Her eyes were beautiful sapphire crystals and her lips full and peach colored.
"Such beauty I hope you retain in such a house as the Himura's," Siya muttered to herself as she began to brush Kaoru's long hair.
"What was that Siya-san?" Kaoru questioned, unsure of what Siya had said.
"I said you don't change Kaoru-chan. Women like your mother and yourself comes around only so rarely and never had I seen them come in pairs like you two," Siya said as finishing Kaoru's hair.
Kaoru turned to face the elder woman who was like a second mother to her. Overcome with emotions she moved to hug her returned Kaoru's hug, rubbing her back.
"You need to rest Young Lady." Saiya replied as she stood back.
"Yes of course...Good night Siya-san," Kaoru said as she headed towards her vanity to put out her candle and hide her tears.
"Good night Young Lady," Siya returned, a distant look in her eyes as she watched Kaoru.
"How could you?"
"I had to."
" No…you didn't."
"Tomoe you're not being fair." Kenshin said as he sighed.
"Kenshin, I am your wife and you're bringing other women into our home…again." Tomoe stated.
"Look, first of all, I didn't want to accept her. Secondly, I was blackmailed and thirdly, I am the owner of this house. If I want to bring another woman, well then guess what…Another woman is coming," Kenshin spoke out in rage.
A hurt look over came Tomoe and guilt quickly began to wash over Kenshin.
"Tomoe I'm sorry." He quickly apologized.
"You need not apologize," she said numbly. "You're right, if it's two wives you want…who am I to stop you?"
"But I don't desire two wives! I only want one and you're my only wife!" Kenshin exclaimed.
"Then why accept the father's proposal of taking her as a second wife?" Tomoe questioned.
"But I'm not accepting her as one."
"Then a concubine or mistress then? So many of those you have taken in before," Tomoe inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Look…The ones from the past don't count. And even the other ones I don't touch and you know that!" Kenshin answered. "Before I could get it through Kamiya's big head I would accept her as a servant he mentioned your condition to me and made a comparison of your health to hers," Kenshin stated.
"And so because she's capable of-"
"Will you listen, Tomoe? For the sake of keeping our secret and retaining his daughter's honor he blackmailed me into accepting her as a mistress. Should we or I crave a child then she is to be the one to supply us with one, and only then would the thought of touching her cross my mind. And even then she's not you."
Tomoe didn't say a word as she reflected over her husband's words.
"And only then will you dare think of touching her?" she echoed.
"Hai." Kenshin said as he scooped her into his arms. "Nothing will come between us." Kenshin whispered to his wife as she laid her head on his chest.
"Should you decide to have a child then she must first become your second wife… I would wish not for her to have such children." Tomoe whispered. Kenshin, understanding what she meant, nodded his head as he continued to hold Tomoe close to him.
Two Weeks Later
This was the moment of that everyone had been waiting for. The carriage that contained the new member of the Himura household and someday second lady to the house lay just the short distances of the dirt road to the estate.
"Poor Tomoe! Such pain this day brings her."
"Well, Fox, it's not something we could help… We all knew this day would come." A tall man with spiky brown hair answered the shorter woman to his side.
"Humph," she said as she flicked some of her long black hair over her shoulder. "I don't know what got into Sir Ken, accepting another woman like that into his home," she fumed.
"But you weren't complaining when he took you from Kanruyuu," the man fired back. The woman blushed in response, as he knew she would.
"Well…That was different," she said as she turned to the side and crossed her arms.
"Besides, from what I heard he was forced to take her," the tall man spoke again, ignoring the woman's previous comment.
"What? It's not like someone put a blade to his throat saying to take her. Why, he would have slain the person on the spot if they even considered the idea," the woman remarked.
"That's quite enough you two," a voice came from behind them.
The woman jumped as the man cocked his head over his shoulder to see the very person he and his companion were talking about.
Kenshin took a big breath as his amber eyes hardened and his mind rushed back as to why he was standing there with his entire body of people standing around confused and mad. Many had not taken the news of Kaoru's arrival well, which he had expected. Still there were few that were just stunned and probably wouldn't register the days' event until the Kamiya girl got out of the carriage.
'It's too late to turn back…I should have just killed him and saved us both the trouble of having to go through this.' Kenshin thought as his eyes followed the carriage as it pulled through the gates.
"You men over here! When the girl comes out help carry her things to her prepared room!" Kenshin ordered the servants to the far left of him.
"Yes, my lord," both replied as they bowed to him. Kenshin slightly nodded his head back as he turned his attention back to the carriage.
Inside, Kaoru was trying to gather her nerves and be strong. Though when she heard Kenshin give out orders his voice was so demanding and intimidating sounding to her.
'Gosh…He has grown into his voice,' Kaoru thought as a small chuckle left her throat before she found the door to the side of her being opened so she could step out.
Her heart instantly went into her throat as suddenly she found it hard to breathe. There was sun light streaming in on her and as she climbed out more sun rays attacked her line of vision as she gracefully stepped out of the carriage.
Meanwhile, after waiting what seemed to be forever for Kaoru to come out, just as Kenshin was about to call another order, the driver finally got down and opened the door for Kaoru. From within Kenshin noted a slight jump and then slowly, yet gracefully Kaoru emerged into the light.
Kenshin had to swallow the urge to laugh as he watched her try to cover herself from the sun light with her arms, with her face slightly scrunched up.
As she climbed down her blue and white kimono first pooled around her ankle then cascaded down to her feet on the ground. Her hair flung wildly in her high ponytail as a wind blew by, also picking up Kenshin's red locks.
Kaoru looked ahead of her and watched as Kenshin and some of his servants she presumed stood and watched her back. Her back straighten and she placed her hands together in front of her as she bowed out of respect like she would do her father. Except this time she remained bowed until Kenshin spoke up.
By her bowing Kenshin smiled somewhat and bowed back in return, his servants following suite.
"You have traveled a long journey, no doubt." Kenshin said as he returned back to standing straight up, though his wife and servants remained bowed.
"Yes, a long journey it was." Kaoru replied politely, still bowing.
"You may raise Kamiya. A bath already awaits you and you shall follow me to your respective room. After you bathe and redress you will find a new governess awaiting you and from there you shall dine with me and the rest of my household counsel." Kenshin instructed as he snapped his fingers at the two manservants from before to gather Kaoru' s belongings.
Kenshin turned and began walking and when he realized Kaoru wasn't following him he looked behind him and saw Kaoru watching him expectantly. "You may follow," he stated simply and Kaoru timidly walked behind him.
"What a dunce!" Megumi muttered quietly as she watched Kaoru. Sano and a few other servants snickered. But apparently Megumi's comment was still loud enough to be heard by Kaoru, for she turned her head in the direction of Megumi, a slight angered look on her face.
Sano and most of the other people who looked caught Kaoru's reaction.
"You better be careful, Fox. I don' think she is just the type to sit around and let you tease her," Sano said when Kenshin and Kaoru rounded the corner.
A/N- Well that's all for now. I hope you guys like it as much as you loved the first chapter!
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