MY LITTLE PRINCESS
A/N: Hello again minna-san! Please forgive me for not updating so soon. Well, I had been busy uploading stuffs in my site. It's officially open! Yup! So, please do visit and please do sign my guestbook! Neweis, as olwez, individual thank yous will be at the bottom part. I can't say much today, so, on to the story!
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is NOT mine.
Chapter 4. Birthdays
"Is that understood?!" Hiko's voice was echoed through the walls of the dojo.
"Hai!!!" The students replied in one accord.
Hiko nodded and the students began to stand up. The Kamiya dojo will participate in a tournament in the coming month and Hiko told them to have a rigid practice starting next week.
"Himura!" Hiko called out. "Stay and clean the hall!"
"Hai, sensei!" Kenshin returned. It wasn't new to him though. His uncle always "bullied" him inside the dojo. He didn't show any favoritism. Kenshin should have the shihondai status at the dojo, but Hiko gave it to another student. That "other student" openly admitted to Kenshin that he didn't deserve such a position and Kenshin should be the one. On the other hand, Kenshin humbly reasoned out that it was Hiko's decision and there was nothing to be questioned about the matter.
Thirty minutes has past and Kenshin was almost finished polishing the floor. He was placing the floor polisher back on the store room when he heard faint foot steps on the floor. Kaoru. . . his mind supplied. He always knew the sound of her foot steps. Timid and almost noiseless.
"Kaoru-hime?" he asked without looking at his back.
At that, Kaoru smiled and ran to his side. "Ken-nii! Ken-nii!!!" she said out loud.
Kenshin lowered his stance to meet the little girl. As always, with open arms ready to accommodate Kaoru's diminutive frame.
"What do you want from Ken-nii, Kaoru-hime?" he asked putting his arms around the girl.
Kaoru levated her head down right almost meeting her shoulder. "Well. . ." she grinned and looked at Kenshin with her blue eyes.
Kenshin widened his eyes as if questioning. "Well?. . ."
Kaoru pursed her lips. And then blurted out while pulling both of Kenshin's cheeks, "Teach me how to sword fight!!!"
"Oro!"
"Please, please, please, please?????" Kaoru pulled Kenshin's cheek at every please making them sore.
Kaoru finally released her grasp from his cheeks. "Well?" Kaoru asked again her forehead crumpled.
Kenshin rubbed his cheeks and then he heard Kaoru laugh. "What are you laughing for Kaoru-hime?"
"Ken-nii! (laughs) Ken-nii! (laughs) You look like you put make-up on!" and she continued to laugh with her mouth wide open.
"I do? Well, thanks to you my little princess!" Kenshin said and chuckled to himself.
Kaoru slowly stopped laughing and then remembered what she said a while ago. "Ken-nii, about what I said, please teach me, ne? Papa told me he was going to teach me, but. . .well. . .he didn't have the chance."
Kenshin gave out a sigh. He knew he couldn't talk his way out of this one. From Kaoru's look, she was dead serious.
"But, don't you think you're too young, Kaoru-hime?" he asked, just hoping he'd win.
Kaoru shook her head from right to left. "N.O.! Ken-nii, please???" Kaoru pleaded placing her head under Kenshin's neck.
The scent of Jasmine rose filled his senses. Such a young and stubborn little girl. . .And determined too. He made his mind up to teach her--but only with the basics.
"Okay, okay. I'll teach you, ma'am." Kenshin finally said.
"Yay!!!" At that Kaoru started to jump up and down thanking her Ken-nii. Waking up from her "stupor", something came to her mind. "So, Ken-nii sensei, when shall we start?"
"How about this Saturday? About 1-2 hours only so as not to exhaust you." Kenshin said.
"That would be very niiiiiccccceeeeeeeee!!!!!!!" Kaoru exclaimed hugging Kenshin in his neck.
----
"What are you planning uncle?" Kenshin asked from Hiko's back while he removed the dishes from the table.
Hiko rubbed his temples while looking at a white calendar which had a simple bamboo design.
"I have decided to give Kaoru a little party on her birthday. . .I was wondering if you wanted to celebrate your own birthday with her. . . A double-birthday, perhaps?" Hiko stated and looked at Kenshin who was placing the dishes on the dish washer.
"It's your choice Uncle. I don't mind at all. And besides, it's fine if I don't have---"
"So be it. A birthday party on the 28th day of June. Your close friends, and Dr. Genzai as our guests." Hiko cut him off.
Kenshin merely nodded. Hiko looked at his bulgari watch. It was fifteen minutes before seven. "I'll go to work now. Be sure you give Kaoru her breakfast and wait for Dr. Genzai before you go to school, baka deshi." Hiko commanded.
"Oro!"
"Don't oro me, Himura. Now, do as I tell you." Hiko plainly said and wore a brown coat.
Kenshin sighed. "Hai, hai. . ." he was about to get out of the kitchen when he heard Hiko speak again.
"Just don't tell the girl anything for now. I want it to be a surprise." and Hiko left without any word.
Kenshin was taken aback. Was there "softness" in his Uncle's eyes? Nah! Couldn't be!
----
"Hold the bamboo sword firmly with your hands, Kaoru-hime." Kenshin said as he arranged Kaoru's hold on the bamboo sword.
"Now, commence three swings!" Kenshin sternly said.
At that, Kaoru quickly executed the said command with all her might. Kenshin was amazed at how Kaoru delivered the exercise. Someday, you'll be a good---
"Ken-nii. . ." Kaoru called out meekly. Something was bothering her.
"Yes?" Kenshin replied.
Kaoru looked at the ground for some moment. A gust of wind blew sending Sakura petals down to the ground. Finally, she stared at Kenshin. "Isn't it your birthday today?"
"Well, yes. . .Why?" he returned.
"I was just wondering. . .Did Hiko-sama give you any gift yet?" She asked.
Kenshin smiled. "Enough practice for today Kaoru-hime. Why don't we go inside for some snacks?"
"Ohw, owkhay." Kaoru agreed with a little hesitation.
Once they were inside, Kaoru was surprised to see a banner hanging on the living room saying, "Happy Birthday Kaoru and Kenshin!" There to meet them were Dr. Genzai, Sanosuke and Megumi.
Kaoru remembered what she almost forgot. It was also her birthday tomorrow.
Dr. Genzai came closer to Kaoru. "Happy birthday, Kaoru!" he kissed her forehead and handed her down a paper bag. She opened it and found a yellow ribbon.
She smiled wide and reached up for Dr. Genzai's neck. "Oh, thank you Genzai jii-san!"
Dr. Genzai chuckled with his hoarse voice and patted Kaoru's head.
Later, Megumi came to Kaoru.
"Hi, Kaoru-chan. . . Do you remember me?" Megumi asked modestly. She lowered herself to the ground to face Kaoru. "About what happened last summer, look, I'm very sorry. . ." she put her hands on Kaoru's shoulders.
Kaoru smiled. "It's okay Megumi nee-chan! I forgive you!" and she hugged her.
Megumi's somber face turned gleeful. "Oh, I almost forgot. . .Here, I got you something. . ." and she handed Kaoru about five sticker pages of Doraemon.
"Doraemon!" Kaoru exclaimed. "Doumo!"
After that, Sano came to her too. "Jou-chan, ano. . .I'm sorry about what I said."
"Daijobou Sanosuke nii-san! It's Ken-nii's and my birthday today! We all have to be happy."
Sano smirked. "I hope you like this." he handed her down an elongated dog-shaped pen which was translucent blue. It's head had some fur-like projections. Kaoru thanked him and set aside her gifts neatly on a table.
"Yo, Kenshin we're getting old!" Sano turned his attention to Kenshin who came out from the kitchen with the foods. While they were having their "reconciliation" a while ago, he went to the kitchen to get the foods.
Two trays of lasagna, some cheese rolls, a bucket of fried chicken, cups of mashed potato, a gallon of vanilla flavored ice cream and cans of pine apple juice. Everyone was having a great time chatting, joking and the usual "bickering" between Megumi and Sano.
Then, Kaoru noticed something. He tugged at Kenshin's shirt. "Ken-nii, where is Hiko-sama?"
Kenshin lowered his lips to Kaoru's ear to whisper something. "Don't tell him I told you these. . .He's at the kitchen. He was the one who prepared the food. . ."
Kaoru made an "ah" shape in her mouth while nodding. "I'll go thank him then." she whispered back, and quickly got out of the sofa and ran to the kitchen.
"Hiko-sama, Hiko-sama!" Kaoru called out as she got nearer to the kitchen.
Inside, she found Hiko in an apron cleaning the mess in the counter table where he prepared the meal.
Kaoru instantly ran to tall man and embraced him not minding if she was embracing his knee. "Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu!" she chirped.
Hiko's heart melt. These are the few instances in where he has "emotions". "Happy birthday, Kaoru-chan." He simply said lowering himself and then ruffled her hair.
"Mou! Hiko-sama, you should be outside with us! Come with me, onegai?" Kaoru said taking his arm in an earnest tone accompanied by her beseeching azure eyes.
"N-no, Kaoru-chan. The party is yours. Go back to the lobby and---"
"Pleaaaaassssseeeee?????? Just this time? Join us? I won't go back without you." Kaoru austerely said.
Hiko couldn't deny to himself. He couldn't say no to this girl. How ironic. He told himself. He amazed at the situation. A young girl defeated Hiko Seijorou's stubborness!
He sighed accepting defeat. "Okay."
Kaoru returned back to the living room carried by Hiko. She was smiling wide when they finally reached the others. "Minna, I would like to present the cook of the delicious food we ate! Hiko-sama!" Kaoru huggeg Hiko in his neck. He gave her a half smile and then she gestured him to bring her down.
Kenshin drew closer to his uncle and said, "Thanks."
----
"Kaoru-hime, where are you? It's time for bed." Kenshin called out searching for Kaoru. It was about 20:00 o'clock. Kenshin rounded the corner that lead to Kaoru's room. He noticed that the tree house was lighted. He automatically knew Kaoru was up there.
"What are you doing here?" Kenshin asked calmly upon reaching the door so as not to startle her.
Kaoru was staring out the window with her palm supporting her chin. She turned to look at him.
"Nothing much. . ." she said and then turned to look back at the night sky. She was now wearing her pajamas.
"Don't you think you should take a sleep now?" Kenshin said entering the tree house and sat next beside her.
Kaoru caught sight of Kenshin's lap. She, was, after all, sleepy. And so, without notice, she made her head lie in Kenshin's lap.
"Let me guess, you're sleepy, ne?" Kenshin queried fixing his state so Kaoru will be more comfortable.
Kaoru yawned. "Muskoshi. . .Ne, Ken-nii, what's your birthday wish?"
"My birthday wish?" he repeated the question. "Well, to have a nice life in the future and, to watch you grow and be at your side every time you need me!" he pointed out. "How about you my princess?"
Kaoru blinked twice. "My wish is to become a very good girl like what Papa told me and to be with Ken-nii forever and ever and ever!" she giggled at her last word.
"I know you'll be a very good girl when you grow up, Kaoru-hime. I'm sure Kamiya-sensei will be so proud of you. I promised to take care of you, didn't I?" Kenshin shifted his gaze from the window to Kaoru. She has fallen into a deep slumber. Kenshin sighed. I promise. . .
He decided to put Kaoru in her room and get himself a rest as well. He carried her out and switched off the light.
Tsuzuko
----
A/N: It's 22:39 right now. My eyes really want to shut, but, I must go on!
Well, that's about it for now. You guys make sessha smile! You are all sooooooo goooooood to me! Many thanks!!!! Till the next chap!
diary15