The Betrayal
By: animechick001
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki. But Kenshin is mine, or so I thought. sigh
Author's Notes: Sorry for the late update. Gomen kudasai! I was supposed to post this last week but I forgot that we have an upcoming test, so I hurriedly began to study (really I did!) or else I'm going to fail Chemistry (which is unfortunately, is my weakest subject).
Just to make it up to all of you, I made this chapter a tad bit longer than it should be and I really hope you like it!
Enough with me, on with the story!
Chapter Three: Almost Kisses and Predictable Surprises
Hands. A pair of rough, calloused hands closed around her waist, protecting her from harm. Arms, tenderly nestling her in its embrace. Blood velvet strands, lightly brushing her flushed cheeks. Puffs of heated breaths, lightly tracing the hollow shell of her ear. Muted words of childish promises and vows, stitched to the inner confines of her soul.
Eyes. Ashen, passionate turquoise eyes. Eyes, pleading for her salvation. Soft deft fingers, nimbly brushing milky porcelain skin, to swollen cherry pink lips. Sinful silence never leaving, oddly comforting. Wordless assurance of love and fidelity, best left unsaid.
Kaoru is ought to choose between them. A choice, she alone would have to make. A burden, she alone, has to shoulder.
Kaoru slowly opened her eyes, to be greeted by the warm rays of sunlight drifting throughout the room. She awoke to find herself lying on her bed, lightly covered in small cuts and light bruises.
Kaoru felt slight aches covering her body, as she struggled to sit up and lie her head beneath a couple of layers of soft pillows.
She closed her eyes, trying to grasp what was left of her dream. She lazily put her hands on her both sides of her forehead tracing small soothing circles.
Hands and eyes. She could still feel as though the hands that held her were as real as they were meant to be. She could still see, in her mind's eye, the sheer intensity of the man's platinum gaze.
'Strange… what's that supposed to mean anyway?'
Again, she opened her eyes to survey the rest of her room.
Pink satin, suspended over her bed, held aloft on poles above her form. On top of her antique canopy bed, a thick magenta-colored comforter engulfed two-thirds of her form.
The curtain to her left, covered her view of the door, while the opposite one is slightly opened enough to let small rays of sunlight to pass through.
Kaoru hurriedly got out of bed, despite the slight pain coursing through her body. She visibly winced at that, but was slowly replaced by relief as the pain slowly receded.
Patterns of pink and violet flowers adorned the walls, together with several paintings done by anonymous artists. Soft, plush white carpets covered the wooden-laden floor.
She slowly made her way towards the full-length mirror to her left located near the door to the balcony, her steps stifled by the carpet beneath.
As she stood there, Kaoru began to scrutinize every detail of her body. Clad in a silk nightdress that flowed just above her knees, golden yellow in color, underneath a rouge red velvet robe. Her dress seemed to drape over her body perfectly as every move she made, caused the dress to flow languidly. The ensemble conveniently covered up most of the blemishes adorning her body.
Kaoru lifted her hands to tame her jet-black hair that really didn't need taming. Still smooth and unruffled even through her sleep, she managed to keep it in good condition all through out the night.
'What time is it anyway? I have to get ready. Kenshin's… supposed to arrive… later…'
'Kenshin…' Kaoru started to feel the beginnings of tears, but defiantly blinked it all away.
'I shouldn't be crying over him. After all, why should I? Kenshin no baka!'
Utterly frustrated, she stomped off to the bathroom, glaring at anything unfortunate that blocked her way.
When she reached the bathroom, Kaoru immediately stood in front of the mirror, her head bowed down. She tightly gripped the counter with both hands as her knuckles turned ghostly white.
'What do I do now… I can't really avoid Kenshin, he's going to arrive her later anyway.' Kaoru thought to herself.
'Avoiding him wouldn't help me at all. I should just act as if nothing happened. It would make it easier for me to deal with.'
'It's going to be hard. But I have to do it. Not for Him. But for me.'
Her chest slightly tightened.
'I have to.'
"Kaoru-sama?" a small voice queried.
'What on earth-?' Kaoru frantically thought.
She poked her head out the bathroom door, to see a small girl shuffling near her bed.
With the girl's back facing her, Kaoru couldn't see what she looked like. Step by step, Kaoru silently stalked towards the girl, either out of suspicion or curiosity. When she neared the girl she took a breath and…
"Ahem. Pardon me, but who might you be?"
Out of surprise, the girl hastily turned around to face Kaoru.
The girl had soft brown hair that reached above her petite shoulders. She wore a coffee-brown maid's uniform that reached halfway to her ankles, white ankle-length socks and black school shoes.
"Ohayou, Kaoru-sama. I'm Tsubame Sanjou, the new family maid." Tsubame said suddenly albeit shyly, with a cheerful undertone, as she bowed her head courteously.
"Ah, sou desu yo. Etou… I don't want to be rude or anything, but what do you need of me?" Kaoru asked.
"The head cook told me to ask what you may want for breakfast this morning so that she may be able to prepare it already."
"Umm… maybe I'll just have blueberry waffles with the side of bacon. And also some grape juice please. Thanks."
With a curt nod of her head, Tsubame strode towards the door and as she turned the golden knob of the door, she stopped and looked back.
"Anou, Kaoru-sama… someone's been expecting you downstairs." She gingerly added.
"Do you happen to know who?"
"I really don't know. One of the other maids escorted the man to the dining room, so I didn't get to have a good look. I'm sorry, Kaoru-sama." Tsubame ruefully muttered.
"Don't worry about it. But, could you do me a favor?" Tsubame nodded to let Kaoru continue.
"Could you please help me prepare my bath?"
"Of course Kaoru-sama." The younger girl went towards the door and opened it. Just when Tsubame started to disappear…
"And Tsubame," Kaoru added.
"Please call me Kaoru, just without the formalities." A cheeky grin donned Kaoru's face.
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As Kaoru made her way towards the living room, she can't help but feel nervous. She didn't know why, but she had her suspicions. Something's going to happen. She knew it.
Kaoru was wearing a white turtleneck top with three-fourths sleeves, a long blue jean skirt that cuts diagonally at one side halfway up her thigh, and brown knee-length boots. She was feeling a bit fashionable today, so she went with these and threw it on herself.
She contemplated on going back to her room and change, unfortunately, she remembered that someone has been waiting for her at least an hour.
Now, Kaoru stood in front of the two wooden doors, leading to the long awaited dining room, holding the two golden knobs. As she was about to turn them, the door suddenly flew open that Kaoru was pulled towards a lean, yet warm, chest.
Startled, Kaoru slowly lifted her gaze, starting from the neck, to his pursed lips, to a pair of amused turquoise eyes.
'Ara… He's the one… who… It can't be him.' Kaoru swallowed the nervousness stuck in her throat.
"Enishi-kun." She said, her voice coming out breathy.
Slowly and gently, Enishi released Kaoru from his grasp. His hands touching her arms a little longer than necessary, leaving warm trails in its midst. "Kaoru-san. Daijoubu you?"
Flustered, Kaoru tried to avoid looking at his eyes, rather interested with the marble floor. "Hai."
A tense silence followed, then Enishi spoke, "Why?"
"Why what?" Her forehead crinkled with confusion, as she looked at him.
"You know what I'm talking about–"
"I don't know what you're getting at Enishi. Nothing happened, ok!" Kaoru all but screamed at him.
"It's Kenshin, isn't it." His question, sounding more of a statement.
Trying to change the direction of their conversation, Kaoru calmed down, looked instead at the painting and said, "Anou… arigatou gozaimasu, Enishi-kun."
"For what?" A step echoed through the room, his voice sounding a lot closer but Kaoru didn't notice, her attention a lot more occupied with the potted plant to her left.
She bit her lip, contemplating on her answer. Then said, "Well… for everything."
Suddenly she felt a hand brush her neck, another holding her chin in place. Her gaze suddenly transfixed with a familiar set of eyes.
His breath, fanning her startled lips, "Don't worry about it."
Just when Enishi was about to brush his lips against hers, the door burst open revealing a most suprising sight.
Kaoru looked behind her and stifled a gasp. Kenshin stood there, watching the two in close proximity. His crimson hair a bit disheveled, his long-sleeved white shirt unbuttoned, his eyes surprisingly expressionless.
"Kenshin…" Kaoru softly said.
"I'd better go Kaoru-san. Take care." Enishi stepped backwards and walk towards the door. He stopped his strides when he stood beside Kenshin.
"Himura-san." He stiffly said, just with a hint of emotion.
Kenshin silently acknowledged Enishi with a nod.
She just stood there trying to calm herself, looked at Kenshin's eyes and saw a spark of molten gold. Then, it was gone.
Kenshin averted his eyes and strode towards a seat and said, "Kaoru-san."
To all my reviewers:
Iyaaaa! Kenshin's OOC! I didn't notice struggles to keep face straight! Sorry… had a momentary lapse of insanity there.
Kenshin IS intended to be a bit of OOC here (being such an insensitive prat), so does Kaoru (her being weak… blablabla). Please understand that this minor glitch is intended to be made for the sake of the story.
Hehehe… Kaoru's having slight mood swings! Sleepy, to angry, to curious, and to happy; She is weird.
Thanks for tuning in to this fic. Thousands of post-Christmas cookies to everyone who reviewed gets a post-Christmas cookie and to those who correctly guessed who the turquoise stranger is, gets a hug!
Don't worry everyone! This will be a KenKao story 'cause I am simply a fool for this pairing! But I warn you, there will be several other pairings on the way, rest assured that it WILL be KK all the way!
Please visit my profile if you guys want to know when I'm going to update this story, and post some of my upcoming stories.
PS. I LOVE getting what I want, and if I don't, something bad happens. And what I want, is reviews… or else. insert evil laugh here No more story! dodges several vegetables but suddenly got hit with a sack of potatoes lies unconscious on the wooden floor
--- animechick001