Disclaimer: I don't own RK. I swear! –shifty eyes-
A/N: Thanks again, reviewers!
StormHornet – Yes, Sir Brags-A-Lot. Hehe.
Jep – Yay! I'm glad you love it!
battosaichick – Yep, a total idiot. And yay! I'm glad you like it!
Reignashii – Thank you! –bows-
gabyhyatt – Thank you so much! –tears-
Recap –
I looked at Sakura and she shooed them out the door. As they were going I unconsciously grabbed Kenshin's arm.
He turned to me. "Hai?"
I blushed to the roots of my hair. "Ah… ah… nothing."
Before The Dawn – Chapter 3
As soon as they were gone I collapsed against the bedpost. "Oh Kami, I cannot believe I just did that…" I looked over at my little maid. "Sakura-chan, can I confide in you?" I asked.
She blushed, but said yes. "Sit on the bed, Kaoru-sama." She led me over to the bed and I sat. She sat on the floor.
"No, no," I said, "none of that." I pulled her up onto the bed with me.
She bowed and asked, "What do you wish to tell me?"
"I… I…" I swallowed and said, "promise this will not go beyond you and me?" I sounded like I was chatting to one of my best friends.
"I promise." Sakura sounded so serious that I almost laughed.
"Alright. You know that guy, Kenshin Himura?" I asked.
"Yes, of course I do, Kaoru-sama."
"Well, I used to think he was annoying because he would always brag about being good at swords. And…"
She nodded and said, "Take your time." Though her eyes said, "Go on, go on, go on please!"
"And, well, I think I have… I think I have," I took a deep breath, "I think I have fallen in… in… in love with him."
Sakura gasped and clapped her hands. "Really, Kaoru? Oh my goodness are you going to tell him! Oh, Kaoru, this is so exciting –" she stopped, her face becoming a mask. She got off the bed and faced me, eyes to the floor. "I'm sorry. I spoke out of line. I should not have used your name in such a familiar manner." Then she left the room.
"Sakura-chan! Wait!" I called. I frowned. She shouldn't be worried; I didn't care if she called me Kaoru instead of Kaoru-sama. I had absolutely no problem with that. "Sakura-chan! Come back! You did nothing wrong!" but she was long gone. Worried about her, I fell into a disturbed sleep.
The next morning I forgot about Sakura's unhappiness last night. I was too afraid that I would see Kenshin in town that morning and he'd come up to say hi and I'll just say, "I love you," or something like that. Oh, the humiliation!
I decided that I could never leave the house again. I just can't face Sir Brags-a-lot. I just can't. I mean, what if he comes up to me and I kiss him or confess? He probably would say, "Eww… Kaoru get away! I love Chizuru!"
AHHHHH!
"Kaoru-sama?" a voice shook me to reality.
"Nani?" I asked, turning around.
"K-Kaoru-sama… I am moving to Shiro," Sakura said, voice shaking. She looked up at me with sad eyes.
"Nani?" I said again, in shock. "You are leaving?" Everything came back. I could have smacked myself for forgetting how upset Sakura was.
"Yes. My Father found a job there and we m-must move. I – I will never see you again, Kaoru-sama."
"Iya!" I whispered. "Sakura-chan you can't be serious!"
"But I am serious, Kaoru-sama." Sakura took a deep breath and turned to leave. "Sayonara, Kaoru-sama." She left the room without a backward glance.
I tried to get up but the bed sheets held me back. They were wrapped solidly around my body and I couldn't move. "Sakura-chan! Wait!" I stretched out my hand after her.
I attempted to get off the bed, but ended up just falling off. "Sakur-"
Thump.
I sat, miserable, in my room for two days. Finally, on the third day, I was sitting on my bed in the same position I had held for two and a half days, when the replacement maid arrived. She seemed too cheery for the occasion. I could Tell just by looking at her that she could be stern as well. She looked about 40.
"Konnichiwa, Kaoru-sama!" she said. "My name is Mina."
I grunted.
"Up and at 'em, Kaoru-sama!" Mina said, "The afternoon is no time to be lying in bed!" and she came over and tried to pry me out of bed.
Before I could figure out what I was saying, I said, "My old maid never told me to do things." I knew that was rude, but it was true.
Her lips tightened primly. "Well, Kaoru-sama, I am not your old maid, am I?" Mina remarked. Her voice was happy, but her eyes shot sparks at me for the rude comment.
"Well you certainly are old and my old maid never got mad at me."
"I am not –"
"And she was better than you. Nicer."
"Well!" Mina glared at me.
"I can report you for acting above your status."
"I am not acting above my status, girl!"
"Now you are. You are being mean. I can have you fired for this." I knew I was being quite horrible and obnoxious and stuck up, but I wanted Sakura back. "I want my old maid back."
"Well that is too bad, Kaoru-sama."
"I don't like you."
Her nostrils flared in anger. I had to contain my laughter. Stiffly, she said, "Drako-san will be up to collect your late letter to him."
"I don't like him. Or you. Besides, I haven't seen him for three days. I would have not had the chance to hand it in. Its not fa-"
"Don't tell me. I'm not Drako-san, am I?"
I was tempted to reply, 'Yes you are.' But that was immature, and I did not. Instead I said, "Tell him that I'm sick."
"But you are not." Mina said matter-of-factly. Oh! That woman! Kami, did she annoy me!
"Tell him that I am."
"No."
"Do as I tell you." I knew that I was being a total brat, but since dear Sakura left and was replaced by this… this creature, don't I have a right to be bratty?
"No."
"Fine." After a pause I said, "Sleep." And made the elaborate sorcery that was the spell, 'Sleep'. "I'm sorry."
Mina immediately fell upon the carpet, her even breathing filling the room.
"Kaoru! You stupid girl! Give me your letter!" I heard Drako coming.
I looked at Mina, thankful that 'Sleep' permitted no sound to wake the one who is under the spell. "Arigato," I whispered to her, a small smile playing across my lips. I started to run toward the window when I realized two things.
First, I was still in my nightclothes.
Second, it would be much easier just to teleport to my Father's study, instead of creeping out the window and going around the house.
"Kamiya Kaoru!" Drako was nearly here!
Oh dear! I would not have time to get dressed! Unfortunately I would have to teleport first, get dressed outside my Father's study, then go in and confront him about Sakura's departure. "Teleport!"
I blinked, and realized I was in front of my Father's study. I smiled. I could not hear Drako going to my room, which is in a completely different part of the castle. "Excellent." I started to unfold my dress when my father's door opened.
He looked down on me, frowning. "What are you doing outside my study? Why are you in your nightgown?"
"Well…" I took a deep breath. I would have to talk to him in my nightgown. Oh well. By the look on his face I could see he was still angry with me. "I want Sakura back."
"She is not coming back."
"Onegai, Otousan? Onegai?" I pleaded.
"She couldn't come back even if I was allowing her too."
"Nani?" I felt a sense of foreboding. "Why not?"
"On the way to Shiro the carriage that she and her family was in was ambushed by bandits. There were no survivors."
TBC…A/N: Well, what did you think? Good so far? Review please!
