Author's Note: Well, I'm getting back on track, Yay! Hope you enjoy this chapter. Okay, so I'm a brain dead idiot. There will be a change in Day 8, it wasn't her last class, but the final. That's all. You don't really have to re-read it, just changed a few words. Sorry if some of this gets confusing. I had my dates screwed up with when they would be at finals and classes, since most University's have an extended week just for finals, I did that in this story as well, but screwed some of it up in the story I think. Hm...sorry if it confused you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kenshin, Christmas, or the song 12 Days of Christmas. I do own the idea to this story, 12 Days of Christmas though, and I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've liked writing it.
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me: Nine ladies dancing
December 18
"Karou, where did you go after class?" Misao asked as Karou walked into the room.
"Kenshin took me out to Cho's family farm. To see the milking of the cows by his eight sisters." Karou answered her. Kenshin and she had returned to campus just a few minutes before. He had dropped Karou off at the dorm, and rushed off to his two o'clock class.
"Eight maids milking." Megumi said.
"Yes. I also got another painting to go with the other two." Karou said, taking the framed picture out of the bag and showing the other two the painting.
"Oh wow, Karou, this is beautiful! Are there only the three in the set?" Misao said, coming over to where Karou held the painting.
"I don't know. We'll have to wait and see." Karou answered her.
:---:
Two Days Later, Back at the Kamiya Dojo
"Karou!" Misao said, coming into the Karou's room holding a flyer.
"Back in my room!" Karou yelled.
"Hey!" Misao said. "How are ya?"
"Good. How about you?"
"Excellent. Hey, when are we leaving for the concert?
"About 7, the concert starts at 8:30, but by the time we get there, and wanting to get there early, Kenshin figured 7." Karou said, looking up from her suitcase that she was unpacking. They had all gotten home last night, enjoying the quite of the Dojo that Karou's parents had left to her when they died. Misao would stay with her until Christmas morning, then go home with Aoshi to Kyoto for their Christmas with their families there. Megumi would be staying with Dr. Gensai, continuing her internship as she did every break.
"Yeah. I just talked to Aoshi, we'll be going. We enjoyed it so much last year." Misao said, setting her stuff down.
The Tokyo University Dance concert was an event looked forward to every year. It was always after all the students had gone home for break, but many stayed in Tokyo for a few more days to enjoy the concert. This was the second year that the friends would enjoy the concert. It was an occasion to relax and have fun after the stress of the semester and finals where done, before the real stress of Christmas started the following week.
"So what are you wearing?" Misao asked, sitting down on Karou's bed
"I think I'm going to wear my black pants with that red satin top and my black half sweater with it."
"Oh, that'll look cute." Misao said. "Do you mind if I borrow that green top since your not wearing though?" She added.
"Sure, let me find it." Karou said, rummaging through her closet. "What are you going to wear with it?" Karou asked, handing Misao the shirt.
"My black skirt that goes just below the knee with my black boots." Misao said, folding the shirt carefully.
"Adorable."
"Are you going to wear the necklace?" Misao asked.
"Nope, not until Hiko's party on Christmas Eve." Karou said. "You really want to see it huh?"
"Yeah! It made you cry!" Misao said.
"Most of his gifts have!"
"Not like that." Misao pointed out.
"No, your gonna wait just like everyone else. I'm the only one that has seen it on me, and that is going to stay that way." Karou said, putting her emptied suitcase into her closet.
"Are you done?" Misao asked.
"Finally."
"Want to spar?" Misao asked. "I'd have to get changed."
"Sure, me too. I'll meet you in the dojo in a few." Karou said as Misao left to go to her room down the hall.
:---:
"Oh wow, look at the set!" Misao exclaimed as they took their seats about halfway back the auditorium.
"Thank you. The art department was in charge of all the sets for this production. Well, a few of us volunteered. Usually the theater department would do their own sets, but some are very complicated murals and such, so they wanted the art department to do them." Kenshin said.
"Hm. Very interesting." Karou said, as she sat looking through her program.
"What is it Karou?" Misao asked.
"I think I see. It is interesting." Megumi asked.
"What is it!" Misao asked as Karou pointed to something in the second act. "Oh, yes. I wonder..." Misao said as Karou shook her head as to say "don't voice it out loud".
"Kenshin?" Karou asked turning to her boyfriend.
"Yes?"
"Is this happen to be what I think it might be?" Karou said, pointing to the titled piece Nine Dancing Ladies.
"I don't know Karou. It is close to Christmas, maybe they are doing that song, you know the one on the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree...Is that how it goes?" Kenshin said, looking at her.
Karou gave him a blank stare for a moment, "I know you know that song like you can do the hiten mitsurugi in your sleep." Karou answered him. Kenshin just smiled and shrugged his shoulders as the lights went down.
:---:
"Ladies and Gentleman, as the beginning of the second act, we are participating in something very special that has been happening around campus the last few weeks for two of our students. Many of us have been witnesses to these acts, participated in them, and it is now our turn. It is the answer to a request that we had from one of the art students that worked on the set design and creation of the set. He also asked that this message be relayed, and the recipient would know who they are." The stage manager said, for the only time, ever coming out behind the curtain during a performance. "On the ninth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me, nine dancing ladies. You are my true love." She said, and left the stage as the lights where being dimmed.
Karou turned towards Kenshin, squeezed the hand that held hers, and placed a kiss on his cheek. The lights came up and the music started. There were nine girls, or ladies on the stage with white and blue dance costumes on, and the backdrop was reminiscent of the impressionist works. It was nine dancers, swirls of white, shades of blue, black and pinks depicting the nine ladies on a ballroom floor. The music that played as the live dancers swirled and floated across the floor was one of Karou's favorites, it was simple, by Beethoven, but absolutely peaceful and beautiful, Adagio from the 'Pathetique' Sonata. The dancers had a grace, agility and expression that fit the song beautifully, and that Kaoru fell in love with. As the song progress, she laid her head on Kenshin's shoulder and closed her eyes, just listening to the silence in the room, hearing the footsteps fall on the floor of the stage.
:---:
"Kenshin I love you!" Karou said as she, well, glomped him, when they got outside of the theater.
"Brilliant Kenshin. Very smooth." Sano said, as he thumped him on the back.
"Himura, very well done, you put the rest of us to shame with our gifts." Aoshi said, taking Misao's hand.
"Yours were very nice Aoshi! I loved them."
"Not quite done yet though, hold on the verdict." Aoshi said, kissing her hand.
"And what about you Rooster head? I haven't even received one yet!" Megumi said hitting Sano over the head.
"It ain't Christmas yet!" Sano replied.
"Have you even bought them yet?" Megumi asked.
"All but one are bought and wrapped."
"And what about that one?" Megumi asked as she poked Sano in the chest repeatedly.
"Waiting for it to come in the mail." Sano said, grabbing her hand and kissing it for every time she poked him.
"Don't you love our friends?" Kenshin whispered to Kaoru.
"I love you even more. That was great Kenshin, I really did love it."
"You'll be getting the mural too. That took me long hours in the prop room."
"You did that all by yourself?"
"Of course. I wouldn't let anyone else touch any of your gifts. It makes them all the more cherished and taken care of. From me to you, with all my heart, mind and soul. As you hold those as well." Kenshin said, kissing Karou gently.