A RK Cinderella Story
by: nyllemnev
Disclaimer: They are not mine...
Chapter 2: The girl named Kaoru...
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!?!?" Sano angrily spit out seeing his friend, finally came back.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to come home late, you see..." Kenshin reasoned out but was cut-off by a really angry Sano.
"You're father almost noticed you missing!" Sano said. "He knocked on your room almost five times to asked you all about this stupid ball!"
"Oro? He did that? He's still up to that thing?!?"
"He kept on asking that. So I said yes."
"ORO?!? You said yes!" it was now Kenshin's turn to fume. "Why the heck did you do that for?!?"
"It's your fault baka! If you only show up here in time! But who knows where the stupid little site-seeing prince is up to out there."
"I'm sorry." Kenshin sighed. "But you see, I happen to walk in some kinda nasty guys bullying a girl."
"Eh? So you went there, saving the damsel-in-distress? Eh?" Sano raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah." Kenshin nodded. "Good thing I came there before those freaks did something bad to her."
"Yeah right." Sano sighed. "Anyway, let's just forget about it."
"But the ball." Kenshin said. "You know I don't feel like going there."
"As usual."
"What do you think I could do so... you know..."
"You're not going to run away this time, Himura!" Sano warned. "You have to show up! You're father is going to be there. They're expecting you to come."
"But I don't like to come." Kenshin said stubbornly. "Can you just think of something to cancel it?"
"I can't! Ask your father." Sano shrugged. "Anyway, it's getting late. Still got work to do tomorrow." he yawned and Kenshin only nodded.
***
(the next day)
Kaoru hummed softly as she started doing the laundry. "Gotta finish all of this as fast as I could." She smiled happily to no one.
"Why so happy, busu?" a spiky-haired boy, Kaoru's age said, grinning widely when he saw her frown at him.
"Good morning to you too, Yahiko-CHAN!" Kaoru greeted back through gritted teeth. "Please don't do anything to ruin my day, will ya?"
"I'm not doing anything. And don't call me a 'chan' !!!" Yahiko replied, fuming.
"Why so early?" Kaoru said, without looking at Yahiko who just sat near her, watching her scrubbed one of Tomoe's yukata.
"Nothing, just thought of checking you up." Yahiko said. "Did the wicked witches made your day bad?"
"Never knew you cared, Yahiko-chan." Kaoru giggled, making Yahiko blush a little.
"Of course not." Yahiko frowned. "So, did the witches gave you a hard time?"
"Nah… just the usual." Kaoru smiled. "Don't worry."
"Yeah, just the usual." Yahiko snorted. "Yeah, still got work to do, still need to feed the horses , you know. See ya later." He said before standing up and walking towards the hay loft.
"KAORU!!! You silly girl, what did you do with my ribbon?!?" Tomoe suddenly appeared, looking really pissed off by something, walking past Yahiko who stopped walking to watch her, walking towards Kaoru with loud thuds.
"Nani? Tomoe-san?" Kaoru stopped her tracks to stare innocently at Tomoe.
"What did you do with my ribbon?" Tomoe asked furiously
"Nani?"
"Look at this. It's all dirty! Did you use it or something?!?"
"N-no." Kaoru shook her head. "I would never touch any of your things, Tomoe-san, unless you ask me to."
"Don't play innocent on me, you ugly tanuki!!!" Tomoe snarled. "I know you did it because you are jealous of me!"
"Nani? Jealous?"
"You're jealous because you know that even you can come with us to the royal ball tonight, you don't have any decent thing to wear unlike me." Tomoe smirked. "You know that you will only looked rubbish when you come near me, wearing that old rugged… whew! Itf you can ever call that worn-out thing a kimono!" her smiled widened when she saw Kaoru looked down and sighed.
"I didn't…"
"I know why mother allowed you to come with us." Tomoe continued. "She only want to bring you, so that we can have someone to watch on our carriage. So that there will be someone who will take our things in case I changed my mind on using a pink ribbon over a blue one."
"I'll just clean it up…" Kaoru said, referring to Tomoe's ribbon. "It will be as good as new later."
"Oh this?" Tomoe said, throwing her dusty ribbon on Kaoru's face. "You can keep that trash. It will suits you. A rubbish thing for a no one like you." She said, feigning a smile of victory as she saw Kaoru's shaking hand clutch her ribbon tightly.
Kaoru just took a deep breath. 'A no one?' the thought came flooding in her mind as she fought to control her temper. 'A rubbish for a no one like you…' she took another calming breath before looking up at Tomoe and flashing a smile. "Arigato… I'll take it as a gift from you, Tomoe-san…" she replied as politely as she can, making Tomoe's smile fade.
"Whatever." Tomoe frowned at her before tossing her long black hair and walking back the huge mansion.
"You shouldn't let her do that to you, you know." Yahiko said, from a corner, arms croosed.
"Eh? I thought you were feeding the horses." Kaoru raised an eyebrow.
"I was about to." Yahiko replied. "But I just happen to see her walk towards you and heard everything she said to you."
"It's nothing." Kaoru looked at her soaked hands. "Just forget it."
"Forget it?!?"
"Hai."
"You are so… I don't know what word to describe you." Yahiko frowned at his friend. "Either you are a stone, not feeling any self-pity, or you're an idiot, letting them do this to you!"
"Forget it, it's all done."
"Yeah right, whatever." Yahiko turned his back to her. "Just one thing, Kaoru. It's not bad to fight back sometimes. You should learn to do that. They can't abuse you or treat you like a slave. You are Kamiya-sensei's only daughter. You have all the right to be respected, always remember that." He said before walking away.
"Arigato." Kaoru smiled at Yahiko's back. "I'm so lucky to have someone like you, Yahiko-chan." She added making Yahiko blush, ignoring the 'chan' part.
***
"C'mon, one more time, please." Kenshin said.
"No more. You're father is going to kill me if you don't show up in the royal ball." Sano frowned. "What's so special going out there, anyway?"
"It is very wonderful out there!" Kenshin said looking scandalized. "The people are great, they are so nice and kind. The sight is very good."
"The sight is also good from the huge window of your room." Sano said. "You can see the whole town from up there. Why waste time, walking around the town, if you can enjoy the sight from your room?"
"I just wanna go... you know, just for a break." Kenshin sighed. "I'm just getting tired of all of this stuffs. I have to read all of this documents!" he said pointing to a huge pile of papers on his office desk. "I have to go to different places talking with different aristocratic people. I have to act like this, like that. I have to deal with the problems of our empire. For once, I just want a break." he said.
"Yeah, and sometimes I pity you, seeing you do all of those stuffs." Sano sighed. "Okay. I'll cover you up, but this will be the last time, for this week, ne?" he sighed and Kenshin only smiled.
"You are so great Sano!" Kenshin said gladly.
"Go away now, and be sure to turn up in that stupid party or whatsoever!"
"Yeah, I promise." Kenshin replied, as he jumped out of the window.
***
"Ha! It's nice to be away of all of those papers. This is life!" Kenshin gladly said, as he walked around the town, eating an apple, he bought a while ago. He turned in a corner and saw a sign 'Kionji's Bakeshop For all Occasions…'
"Sounds good." Kenshin thought as he entered the shop.
"Ohayo gozaimasu." the storeowner, Kionji-san greeted, smiling warmly at his customer. "What can I do for you?"
"Ohayo… Can I have the best bread in your shop." Kenshin said, taking in the delicious smell of freshly baked breads and cakes from the shop.
"A minute sir." Kionji nodded as Kenshin took a seat in the counter.
"You are new here, right?" Kionji-san asked. "I never saw you here before."
"Oro? Ano… Not really." Kenshin said, scratching the back of his head. "Just that I rarely go out."
"I see." Kionji said, nodding. "What do you do?"
"Uhm… Work? Yes. That's it! Work! Hehehe…" Kenshin let out a chuckle. "I usually work all day. That's why I rarely go out! Hehehe…"
"Wow, that's pretty impressing. You work all day." Kionji smiled.
"You think so?"
"Hai." Kionji nodded. "I know a girl who works all day and night."
"Oro?"
"Though, you will never notice it by the way she still find some time to visit me rarely." Kionji sighed. "And by the way she smiled at other people. Who knew what a pretty hard life she is having now." he sighed again, closing his eyes. "Poor little Kaoru-chan. She is forced to work for her selfish step mother."
"Kaoru?" Kenshin blinked, suddenly remembered the girl he rescued last night.
"Hai. Come to think of it, when her father is still alive, he will never let Kaoru do anything like that." Kionji said. "You see, her father loved her so much that he always gave everything she wants and everything she needs. Tetsuro-sama even married that woman so that someone will take care of Kaoru when he is out for work."
"And now she works for the one who is supposed to be looking after her?" Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "That was mean. Really mean."
"Yeah." Kionji nodded. "If only I could help her. I would gladly accept her in my place if she want to, but the girl is just like her father... stubborn, hard-headed... but has a kind heart." he smiled at Kenshin. "I think you're order is already up. Let me just check on it for you."
"Arigato gozaimasu, Kionji-san." Kenshin bowed and smiled back.
***
"Mou! This is very simple." Kaoru sank to an old mattress where she sleep in the attic. "They will never let me go inside the palace if I'm wearing something like this." she sighed as she stood up again to examine herself in an old mirror. She was now in her mother's silk blue kimono with cherry blossoms and it's matching green obi. Her hair was tied in a green ribbon in a high ponytail.
"I looked so.. simple." she sighed again. "Sometimes I get to envy Kamatari-san and Tomoe-san. They have all of those beautiful kimonos and elegant dresses." she closed her eyes dreamily. "Ohh... how I wish I could wear something as elegant as those. Dancing in the royal ball... with my prince charming..." she sighed again and sank again on the old mattress. "But it will never happen. A prince charming? Who am I kidding? The prince will never give an eye for me! Not with an ugly tomboy that's me."
"Kaoru!!!! YOU SLOW POKE!!! GET HERE!!!!"
Kaoru sighed again as Kamatari's voice cut off her thoughts. "I could always dream though." she smiled to herself as she walked out of her 'room'.
"I could always dream being free to dance with my prince charming."
***
"Mou! Don't tell me mother that you will let her ride the carriage with us." Tomoe said. "I don't like her sitting beside me. She will ruin my dress. And duh... what will she wear."
"I'm here." Kaoru said, hearing Tomoe's last comment about her. "Uhm... can I really go with you? Are you sure, Aunt Megumi?" she asked uncertainly.
"I told you, right?" Megumi said. "Now let's go. We'll be late for the ball." she said and turned to look at Kaoru when she was about to get inside the carriage. "You're not getting inside. You take the place beside the coachman."
"H-hai." Kaoru nodded and she could hear Kamatari's loud giggle from inside the carriage as she took the place beside Yahiko.
"You look prettier than anyone." Yahiko smiled. "You don't need an elegant kimono to be better. For me you're the best."
"Thank You." Kaoru blushed as she smiled sweetly at Yahiko. "Thanks for always making me feel okay."
"It's alright." Yahiko turned to look away from her, blushing. "That is what Kamiya-sensei will say if he can see you now. And besides that's what friends are for, ne busu?"
"Arigato, Yahiko-chan." Kaoru giggled, seeing Yahiko frown.
tbc...
A/N: okay that was it. leave me you're reviews, onegai?
by: nyllemnev
Disclaimer: They are not mine...
Chapter 2: The girl named Kaoru...
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING?!?!?" Sano angrily spit out seeing his friend, finally came back.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to come home late, you see..." Kenshin reasoned out but was cut-off by a really angry Sano.
"You're father almost noticed you missing!" Sano said. "He knocked on your room almost five times to asked you all about this stupid ball!"
"Oro? He did that? He's still up to that thing?!?"
"He kept on asking that. So I said yes."
"ORO?!? You said yes!" it was now Kenshin's turn to fume. "Why the heck did you do that for?!?"
"It's your fault baka! If you only show up here in time! But who knows where the stupid little site-seeing prince is up to out there."
"I'm sorry." Kenshin sighed. "But you see, I happen to walk in some kinda nasty guys bullying a girl."
"Eh? So you went there, saving the damsel-in-distress? Eh?" Sano raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah." Kenshin nodded. "Good thing I came there before those freaks did something bad to her."
"Yeah right." Sano sighed. "Anyway, let's just forget about it."
"But the ball." Kenshin said. "You know I don't feel like going there."
"As usual."
"What do you think I could do so... you know..."
"You're not going to run away this time, Himura!" Sano warned. "You have to show up! You're father is going to be there. They're expecting you to come."
"But I don't like to come." Kenshin said stubbornly. "Can you just think of something to cancel it?"
"I can't! Ask your father." Sano shrugged. "Anyway, it's getting late. Still got work to do tomorrow." he yawned and Kenshin only nodded.
***
(the next day)
Kaoru hummed softly as she started doing the laundry. "Gotta finish all of this as fast as I could." She smiled happily to no one.
"Why so happy, busu?" a spiky-haired boy, Kaoru's age said, grinning widely when he saw her frown at him.
"Good morning to you too, Yahiko-CHAN!" Kaoru greeted back through gritted teeth. "Please don't do anything to ruin my day, will ya?"
"I'm not doing anything. And don't call me a 'chan' !!!" Yahiko replied, fuming.
"Why so early?" Kaoru said, without looking at Yahiko who just sat near her, watching her scrubbed one of Tomoe's yukata.
"Nothing, just thought of checking you up." Yahiko said. "Did the wicked witches made your day bad?"
"Never knew you cared, Yahiko-chan." Kaoru giggled, making Yahiko blush a little.
"Of course not." Yahiko frowned. "So, did the witches gave you a hard time?"
"Nah… just the usual." Kaoru smiled. "Don't worry."
"Yeah, just the usual." Yahiko snorted. "Yeah, still got work to do, still need to feed the horses , you know. See ya later." He said before standing up and walking towards the hay loft.
"KAORU!!! You silly girl, what did you do with my ribbon?!?" Tomoe suddenly appeared, looking really pissed off by something, walking past Yahiko who stopped walking to watch her, walking towards Kaoru with loud thuds.
"Nani? Tomoe-san?" Kaoru stopped her tracks to stare innocently at Tomoe.
"What did you do with my ribbon?" Tomoe asked furiously
"Nani?"
"Look at this. It's all dirty! Did you use it or something?!?"
"N-no." Kaoru shook her head. "I would never touch any of your things, Tomoe-san, unless you ask me to."
"Don't play innocent on me, you ugly tanuki!!!" Tomoe snarled. "I know you did it because you are jealous of me!"
"Nani? Jealous?"
"You're jealous because you know that even you can come with us to the royal ball tonight, you don't have any decent thing to wear unlike me." Tomoe smirked. "You know that you will only looked rubbish when you come near me, wearing that old rugged… whew! Itf you can ever call that worn-out thing a kimono!" her smiled widened when she saw Kaoru looked down and sighed.
"I didn't…"
"I know why mother allowed you to come with us." Tomoe continued. "She only want to bring you, so that we can have someone to watch on our carriage. So that there will be someone who will take our things in case I changed my mind on using a pink ribbon over a blue one."
"I'll just clean it up…" Kaoru said, referring to Tomoe's ribbon. "It will be as good as new later."
"Oh this?" Tomoe said, throwing her dusty ribbon on Kaoru's face. "You can keep that trash. It will suits you. A rubbish thing for a no one like you." She said, feigning a smile of victory as she saw Kaoru's shaking hand clutch her ribbon tightly.
Kaoru just took a deep breath. 'A no one?' the thought came flooding in her mind as she fought to control her temper. 'A rubbish for a no one like you…' she took another calming breath before looking up at Tomoe and flashing a smile. "Arigato… I'll take it as a gift from you, Tomoe-san…" she replied as politely as she can, making Tomoe's smile fade.
"Whatever." Tomoe frowned at her before tossing her long black hair and walking back the huge mansion.
"You shouldn't let her do that to you, you know." Yahiko said, from a corner, arms croosed.
"Eh? I thought you were feeding the horses." Kaoru raised an eyebrow.
"I was about to." Yahiko replied. "But I just happen to see her walk towards you and heard everything she said to you."
"It's nothing." Kaoru looked at her soaked hands. "Just forget it."
"Forget it?!?"
"Hai."
"You are so… I don't know what word to describe you." Yahiko frowned at his friend. "Either you are a stone, not feeling any self-pity, or you're an idiot, letting them do this to you!"
"Forget it, it's all done."
"Yeah right, whatever." Yahiko turned his back to her. "Just one thing, Kaoru. It's not bad to fight back sometimes. You should learn to do that. They can't abuse you or treat you like a slave. You are Kamiya-sensei's only daughter. You have all the right to be respected, always remember that." He said before walking away.
"Arigato." Kaoru smiled at Yahiko's back. "I'm so lucky to have someone like you, Yahiko-chan." She added making Yahiko blush, ignoring the 'chan' part.
***
"C'mon, one more time, please." Kenshin said.
"No more. You're father is going to kill me if you don't show up in the royal ball." Sano frowned. "What's so special going out there, anyway?"
"It is very wonderful out there!" Kenshin said looking scandalized. "The people are great, they are so nice and kind. The sight is very good."
"The sight is also good from the huge window of your room." Sano said. "You can see the whole town from up there. Why waste time, walking around the town, if you can enjoy the sight from your room?"
"I just wanna go... you know, just for a break." Kenshin sighed. "I'm just getting tired of all of this stuffs. I have to read all of this documents!" he said pointing to a huge pile of papers on his office desk. "I have to go to different places talking with different aristocratic people. I have to act like this, like that. I have to deal with the problems of our empire. For once, I just want a break." he said.
"Yeah, and sometimes I pity you, seeing you do all of those stuffs." Sano sighed. "Okay. I'll cover you up, but this will be the last time, for this week, ne?" he sighed and Kenshin only smiled.
"You are so great Sano!" Kenshin said gladly.
"Go away now, and be sure to turn up in that stupid party or whatsoever!"
"Yeah, I promise." Kenshin replied, as he jumped out of the window.
***
"Ha! It's nice to be away of all of those papers. This is life!" Kenshin gladly said, as he walked around the town, eating an apple, he bought a while ago. He turned in a corner and saw a sign 'Kionji's Bakeshop For all Occasions…'
"Sounds good." Kenshin thought as he entered the shop.
"Ohayo gozaimasu." the storeowner, Kionji-san greeted, smiling warmly at his customer. "What can I do for you?"
"Ohayo… Can I have the best bread in your shop." Kenshin said, taking in the delicious smell of freshly baked breads and cakes from the shop.
"A minute sir." Kionji nodded as Kenshin took a seat in the counter.
"You are new here, right?" Kionji-san asked. "I never saw you here before."
"Oro? Ano… Not really." Kenshin said, scratching the back of his head. "Just that I rarely go out."
"I see." Kionji said, nodding. "What do you do?"
"Uhm… Work? Yes. That's it! Work! Hehehe…" Kenshin let out a chuckle. "I usually work all day. That's why I rarely go out! Hehehe…"
"Wow, that's pretty impressing. You work all day." Kionji smiled.
"You think so?"
"Hai." Kionji nodded. "I know a girl who works all day and night."
"Oro?"
"Though, you will never notice it by the way she still find some time to visit me rarely." Kionji sighed. "And by the way she smiled at other people. Who knew what a pretty hard life she is having now." he sighed again, closing his eyes. "Poor little Kaoru-chan. She is forced to work for her selfish step mother."
"Kaoru?" Kenshin blinked, suddenly remembered the girl he rescued last night.
"Hai. Come to think of it, when her father is still alive, he will never let Kaoru do anything like that." Kionji said. "You see, her father loved her so much that he always gave everything she wants and everything she needs. Tetsuro-sama even married that woman so that someone will take care of Kaoru when he is out for work."
"And now she works for the one who is supposed to be looking after her?" Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "That was mean. Really mean."
"Yeah." Kionji nodded. "If only I could help her. I would gladly accept her in my place if she want to, but the girl is just like her father... stubborn, hard-headed... but has a kind heart." he smiled at Kenshin. "I think you're order is already up. Let me just check on it for you."
"Arigato gozaimasu, Kionji-san." Kenshin bowed and smiled back.
***
"Mou! This is very simple." Kaoru sank to an old mattress where she sleep in the attic. "They will never let me go inside the palace if I'm wearing something like this." she sighed as she stood up again to examine herself in an old mirror. She was now in her mother's silk blue kimono with cherry blossoms and it's matching green obi. Her hair was tied in a green ribbon in a high ponytail.
"I looked so.. simple." she sighed again. "Sometimes I get to envy Kamatari-san and Tomoe-san. They have all of those beautiful kimonos and elegant dresses." she closed her eyes dreamily. "Ohh... how I wish I could wear something as elegant as those. Dancing in the royal ball... with my prince charming..." she sighed again and sank again on the old mattress. "But it will never happen. A prince charming? Who am I kidding? The prince will never give an eye for me! Not with an ugly tomboy that's me."
"Kaoru!!!! YOU SLOW POKE!!! GET HERE!!!!"
Kaoru sighed again as Kamatari's voice cut off her thoughts. "I could always dream though." she smiled to herself as she walked out of her 'room'.
"I could always dream being free to dance with my prince charming."
***
"Mou! Don't tell me mother that you will let her ride the carriage with us." Tomoe said. "I don't like her sitting beside me. She will ruin my dress. And duh... what will she wear."
"I'm here." Kaoru said, hearing Tomoe's last comment about her. "Uhm... can I really go with you? Are you sure, Aunt Megumi?" she asked uncertainly.
"I told you, right?" Megumi said. "Now let's go. We'll be late for the ball." she said and turned to look at Kaoru when she was about to get inside the carriage. "You're not getting inside. You take the place beside the coachman."
"H-hai." Kaoru nodded and she could hear Kamatari's loud giggle from inside the carriage as she took the place beside Yahiko.
"You look prettier than anyone." Yahiko smiled. "You don't need an elegant kimono to be better. For me you're the best."
"Thank You." Kaoru blushed as she smiled sweetly at Yahiko. "Thanks for always making me feel okay."
"It's alright." Yahiko turned to look away from her, blushing. "That is what Kamiya-sensei will say if he can see you now. And besides that's what friends are for, ne busu?"
"Arigato, Yahiko-chan." Kaoru giggled, seeing Yahiko frown.
tbc...
A/N: okay that was it. leave me you're reviews, onegai?