MY LITTLE PRINCESS
A/N: Hello everyone! Finally! Here's the next chappie. I'm sorry I didn't update soon cuz I was preoccupied in making my web site for RK. Bleh! It was a disaster! I used Microsoft Front Page to make the site and then, I planned to upload it in angelfire. Big mistake! I had to enable MS FP first, and, get this---I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!!! sighs The site is uploaded though, but only an index saying: "Under Construction". Oh, before I forget. Kenshin and Hiko lives in the dojo although Hiko's got a house. It's because Kaoru's father gave the property rights to him. Anyways, on to the story. Thanks to all my reviewers! Individual thank yous will be at the bottom of the page.
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is NOT mine.
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Chapter 3. Tanabata
"Ken-nii! Ken-nii!" Kaoru yelled as she ran around the corridors of the house looking for him while she held a blue yukata with rabbits in her hand.
Kenshin, from the laundry room, was feeding the dirty clothes into the washing machine heard Kaoru's little voice. He looked back and heard the heavy thuds on the floor slowly turning into footsteps.
"Oro!"
Kaoru was panting clutching the kimono with both hands.
Kenshin scratched his head. "Kaoru-hime, why aren't you wearing any clothes???"
Kaoru played with her lips and her eyes. She looked down. And then up to Kenshin. She wasn't wearing anything except for a pink panty decorated with candies. She looked at the yukata she was holding and then back to Kenshin.
"Well. . .I just wanted to show you this yukata Genzai jii-san gave me. I wanted to know what you'll say when I wear it!" Kaoru said excitedly not minding how she appeared to Kenshin. Heck! Why would she anyway? She's just a five year old girl!
Kenshin shrugged his shoulders and sighed. He bent down and slipped Kaoru into the yukata.
"I'm sure you'll look good, my little princess. You look good whatever you wear!" Kenshin commented as he tied the yukata's navy blue belt from Kaoru's back.
"How's that?" he asked.
Kaoru looked at her back twice and then fixed her front. "Very nice!" She turned to face Kenshin and hugged him ruffling his hair.
"Thank you!"
The girl's sudden force made Kenshin drop to the floor. Acting fast, he propped his elbows so that neither of them would be hurt leaving Kaoru cradled in his front still hugging him.
Kenshin chuckled. He looked at Kaoru who blew air to his face making him smile. "What are you gonna use the yukata for anyway?" he asked raising his brows.
Kaoru's forehead crumpled. She loosened her hold on his neck and looked at him with her limpid blue eyes. "Ken-nii!" she scolded. "Don't tell me you forgot!"
Kenshin scanned his memory to remember anything he had promised to his "little princess". Then it hit him.
"Of course not!" Kenshin tucked some strands of Kaoru's hair on the back of her ear. Kaoru's eyes grew amused expecting from her Ken-nii.
"Tell you what, I'll just finish the laundry, cook us some dinner and then we'll go to the festival, okay?" Kenshin said.
"Datte. . .Can you not just let Hiko-sama do that? He's a big man!" Kaoru whined pulling Kenshin's red locks.
Kenshin winced at her hard grip. "Now, now my little princess don't fret that much. Ken-nii promises to take you to the festival. Complete with cotton candies, lamps, balloons and anything you might want." Kenshin said calming Kaoru.
"Oh. . .Ohkhay. . ." Kaoru finally said removing her petite form from Kenshin.
Kenshin smiled and stood up helping the girl as she did so.
"Now, go inside the house and make yourself busy while I finish the chores." Kenshin stated while he pulled the wet clothes off the washer and into the drier.
Kaoru looked up at him. "I think I'll just stay here with you and wait until you finish your work." she replied.
"Sure?" Kenshin asked lifting a brow.
"Hai!" she chimed nodding her head.
Kenshin gave up. He knew he couldn't change the girl's mind once it was set. She was such a stubborn little gal. He wondered what she will be like once she gets older.
Before he could give those things more thought, the drier's timer beeped and he attended to it again.
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Kaoru deliberately placed her tiny feet covered with a white tabi into equally small getas. She was wearing the blue yukata she tried on earlier. Kenshin was at her side in a navy blue gi and white hakama. His tabi were of the shade of his gi too, matching Kaoru's obi. Flame red hair was tied up high in his head. It's end reaching his nape.
At last, Kaoru finished what she was doing. She shook her head to check her pony tail which was tied with a blue ribbon. "How do I look?" She asked.
"Gorgeous Kaoru-hime!" Kenshin observed making her giggle.
"You look good too Ken-nii! Saa! Ikou!" she exclaimed pulling Kenshin's hand and led him outside the gate.
From the window, Hiko was watching the both of them. He smirked. Kamiya, I think your daughter finally found someone who'll take care of her. . .
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The tanabata festival was set on a shrine uptown. There were plenty of gaming booths, foods, drinks, toys and others. There were different colored lights. Some blinked, others seemed to chase each other, and still, some stood still.
Kenshin and Kaoru were at a dart booth. In her hand was a pink cotton candy which she was munching while watching Kenshin with the darts trying to win her a stuffed teddy bear.
"Bull's Eye!" Kenshin yelled happily hitting the air with his fist.
"Yatta!" Kaoru proportioned his happiness.
The keeper of the stall handed Kenshin the stuffed toy.
"For you, my little princess." Kenshin said affectionately handing her the teddy bear.
"Doumo!" she exclaimed while hugging the bear. It was soft and was lightly scented with pine. Her eyes were closed relinquishing the smell and feel of the stuffed toy. Opening her eyes slowly, she saw boy, on the other side of the path walk looking at her. He was, from her point, the same as her age. He had jet black parted hair. . .and the blue eyes that she also had. For a moment the boy was staring at her and she was staring at him too. Blue eyes locked with each other. It felt strange. . .She wasn't scared. . .She was curious. . .about the boy. A couple of people passed in front oh him and then, he was gone.
Then she heard a loud yell from behind.
"Oi Kenshin!"
A cocky boy taller than Kenshin who was in some sort of a karate outfit with a red band in his head came walking in together with an elegant looking girl. Straight locks falling in her back. She was wearing a violet yukata while holding a purple fan.
"Sano, Megumi." Kenshin acknowledged them.
"Ken-san!" the girl's flirtatious voice rang and hugged Kenshin.
"Oro!" Kenshin tried to pry away from Megumi's hold.
Sanosuke ruffled Kaoru's hair making the little girl fume. "Why, hello there little girl!"
Kaoru swatted at his hands and glared at him.
"Woow! Such a hot headed girl you are. Yo, Kenshin, don't tell me this kid is your date?" Sano joked.
"I'm not his date! I'm Ken-nii's little princess!" Kaoru answered angrily.
"Ohohohoho!" Megumi's fox-like ears accented her teasing laugh. "Little Princess! Little, yes. . . Princess. .well, maybe!"
Kaoru grew irritated. This was supposed to be her and Kenshin's night together. Why are these two bothering them?
"Stop the teasing you too. She's just a little girl!" Kenshin said with a little anger in his voice. "Megumi, Sano, this young girl in front of you is Miss Kamiya Kaoru. She's like my little sister." he presented with pride.
She's just a little girl. . .She's like my sister. . . Why didn't he tell them I'm his little princess?. . . Kaoru said inside her. Her young emotions welled up inside her. She was hurt because Kenshin didn't even bother to complement what she said about herself earlier.
The first fireworks blasted in the dark sky displaying different kinds of light and color patterns attracting all people to look up and watch the "light show".
"Daikiraiiii!!!" Kaoru cried dropping the cotton candy and the teddy bear into the ground. Tears flowed down from her eyes. She was sobbing hard. . .Her young heart was hurt. . .She felt she was forsaken by Kenshin. . .
The three older people were shocked as Kaoru dashed off into the crowd of people and disappeared.
"O, ow. . ." Sanosuke muttered.
"Ken-san, I'm so sorry. . . I shouldn't have said those words to a little girl. . .How could I be so childish!" Megumi was guilty. She felt a pang of shame hit her insides.
Kenshin's feet seemed to be rooted to the ground. He was also shocked. What did he do wrong?
"I-it's okay, Megumi-dono. Don't worry. I'll talk to her later." Kenshin said not removing his sight from where Kaoru ran into. Emotions mixed up inside him. He wasn't that worried about Kaoru getting lost since the dojo was just a few walking steps from the shrine after the high concrete stairs, and he knew Kaoru could easily find her way home. He was worried about what has upset her. . .
Why? What did I do wrong?
Kenshin picked up Kaoru's teddy bear from the ground.
"Sano, Megumi-dono. Pardon me, but I have to go now." Kenshin said politely.
The two just nodded culpability evident in their faces.
Kenshin left the place while the fireworks continued to light up the sky.
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Kaoru smelled the aroma of hot chocolate. Opening her weary eyes which were tear-streaked, she saw a tray with a cup in it and some brownies on a saucer placed on the night table that was near her bed. Her stomach rumbled. She was still in her blue kimono and her hair was unbound. She slowly came out of her fetal ball position when she felt something, rather someone in her bed.
Turning her head, she saw Kenshin who was looking down at her his elbows propped up.
"Ohayou, Kaoru-hime." he greeted.
Kaoru was taken aback. She was hurt at how he said her name. "You promised Ken-nii. . ."
Kenshin knew what Kaoru was talking about. How could he be so forgetful and blithe?
"Kaoru-hime, I know I had hurt you. Please forgive your stupid Ken-nii. . . And do please forgive Sano and Megumi-dono for what they had said about you. They don't know know you the way I do, my little princess." Kenshin bowed his head low. He was remorseful.
Kaoru sighed. She was a stubborn girl, yet she was forgiveful, nonetheless. How could she not forgive her Ken-nii? He was there whenever she needed help or virtually almost anything!
She pretended to be angry which made Kenshin's spirits sink. Then, all of a sudden, Kaoru rode on Kenshins abdomen and trailed his small fingers along the sides of his ribs tickling him.
He was taken aback. He swayed and laughed without care.
Kaoru was amused. "You're ticklish Ken-nii!!!" She continued her childish torture to Kenshin.
Kenshin's movements sent Kaoru to fall over him until she was nose to nose with her.
"You won't deny me again, ne Ken-nii?" Kaoru asked tenderly.
"Never will, my little princess!" Kenshin replied earneslty.
Kaoru giggled and rubbed her nose against Kenshin's own. They both laughed and Kaoru hugged him tightly like she always does.
Kenshin sat up taking her with him. "I made you some breakfast. Let's get you fed up your highness!"
Kaoru laughed and stuck up her nose. "Very well, my slave!"
And the both laughed again.
Tsuzuko
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A/N: sighs Another mushy chapter, I presume? I think one more and then, some angst ridden chapters will rage like wildfire. Anyways, thanks for reading this. My thanks to the following readers and reviewers:
That sums it up for now! I've got to zip! Till next time!
diary15