Chapter Two
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin does not belong to me.
Author's Note: Here is the second chapter. Hope you guys like it. ^-^
Glossary:
oneechan: big sister
obasan: grandmother
minna: everyone
There was a chilly wind off the lake, and it met Kaoru full in the face as she started to walk the eight blocks to work. She knew her roommates thought she was nuts to walk. They teased her that she was used to walking ten miles to school and back, barefoot and in the snow. But she liked to walk, always had.
And she saved money that way.
Tokyo Now was a small, struggling alternative newspaper. Published once a week, it was given away for free and, as a result, it couldn't afford to pay its staff a big salary. Kaoru's was an insulting wage, really. She knew that she could make as much at McDonalds and would probably soon rise to supervisor there. But McDonalds wasn't where she wanted to be.
Ever since she had worked on the Atami High School Reviews, Kaoru knew that she wanted to be a reporter. She could picture herself, storming the mayor's office and confronting him about a scandal that would blow the city apart. She knew that she had a long way to go before this happened. She was naturally shy, and that would be a big obstacle to overcome. But she was quick and bright, and she certainly had an overdeveloped imagination. Her parents had always warned her that her imagination would get her into trouble one day, but Kaoru knew it was her ticket to success.
Taking personal ads was the first step on her road to the top. When she had saved enough money, she planned to enroll in journalism school. She also hoped she might one day get a chance to demonstrate her reporting ability to the editor of Tokyo Now ---- a quiet and calm man named Seta Soujiro.
In her wilder dreams Kaoru imagined that maybe a wanted criminal would place a personal ad. She'd be smart enough to sense that something was wrong. She'd alert the police and the criminal would be caught, red-handed.
"Thanks to the quick thinking of this young lady here, the city is now a safer place," the police would say, and maybe give her a medal. Soujiro would love the publicity it gave his paper and maybe give her a reporting job.
Kaoru was amazed by the clues she could pick up from personal ads. She believed she could sense a person's whole personality from the way he or she phrased an ad…or from his or her name.
Take for example a name like Himura Kenshin. That was the most intriguing name she had ever heard. What sort of person was called Himura Kenshin? A movie star, an artist…certainly not someone who worked for a bank or a supermarket.
Besides, his voice didn't make him sound as if he were ordinary. It had been a wonderful voice ---- a deep, gravely, haunting, sexy voice that had made her heart beat faster even before he gave his name or told Kaoru the wording of his ad.
She heard the voice now again, echoing through her head. "The name's Kenshin. Himura Kenshin. Have you got that?"
Kaoru trembled again at the effect those simple words had on her. Was it possible to conjure up a person in your mind, just from the sound of his voice? She had him pictured perfectly by now ---- well dressed, but not too conservative and he'd have arresting blue eyes that would make you melt when he looked at her.
Kaoru started at the sound of a horn and leapt back onto the sidewalk as a taxi took the corner at high speed, missing her by inches. That was the problem with daydreaming ---- once she started fantasizing, she was completely lost to the real world.
"Get your act together, Kamiya Kaoru," she told herself severely, "and forget about Himura Kenshin. You aren't going to meet him, so that's that. And even if you did meet him, you know that he wouldn't be interested in you. So concentrate on the important things, like getting to the office on time and in one piece!"
She was breathless and her cheeks were stinging from the cold wind by the time she reached the newspaper. Her hands were cold, too, and she wondered how much longer she could go on walking to work. If snow came early this year, as predicted, she'd have to give up and take the bus. Then she'd have no more chance to save money till spring.
"Well, don't you look the picture of health," Yumi greeted her as Kaoru stepped into the cubicle they shared.
"These rosy cheeks are totally numb with cold," Kaoru said. "The wind was bitter out there today. I don't know how much longer I can keep walking to work."
"All winter, as long as you don't mind frostbite," Yumi said. "You want me to get you a cup of coffee? I was on my way to the boss' office and I planned to sneak myself a cup as I passed."
"I'd love one, thanks," Kaoru said.
"Just take any calls if any come in," Yumi said.
"Don't worry," Kaoru said. "The sorts of people who place our ads don't get up before ten o'clock."
"Unless some of them haven't been to bed all night," Yumi said, chuckling. "I'll be right back."
Kaoru watched her fondly as she walked elegantly away. Everything about Yumi was elegant, from her smooth voice, to the way she draped her long, silk scarf around her head when she went out. Kaoru was glad that she and Yumi shared a cubicle.
From the very beginning she had made the big city and the new job less frightening.
Yumi was a tall dark haired woman in her late twenties, supporting her little sister alone. She had once been a nightclub singer but now she needed a day job while her sister's in school. Kaoru had been a little intimidated by Yumi at first. But after a few days she found that Yumi and her shared the same sense of humor, and that Yumi was rapidly becoming more like an oneechan to her.
"Here, drink that while it's hot," Yumi said, returning with a large, steaming mug. ""And don't go near Soujiro today if can help it. He must have had a disappointing night last night because he is in the mother of bad moods. I asked him if I could leave early on Thursday to go to my little sister's school concert and he said sure, if I wanted to look for another job while I was out."
"Yumi, that's ridiculous," Kaoru exclaimed. ""I could handle your work for one afternoon, and it's important to your sister that you go to her concert."
"I know," Yumi said, "but Soujiro doesn't feel the same way. I suppose it's because the accountant was by yesterday and the figures were worse than ever. We're losing money no matter what we do."
"I don't see how that's our fault," Kaoru said. "We just take down ads when we have a caller."
"Maybe the whole of greater Tokyo is already paired up except us," Yumi said. "Which reminds me. You didn't go to that place again last night, did you?"
"What place?" Kaoru asked innocently?"
"You know very well what place ---- Razzles."
Kaoru looked away as she nodded yes.
"Kaoru!" Yumi exclaimed. "And after all those words of wisdom from your onnechan, too. As my obasan used to say, 'You'll be the death of me child!'"
Kaoru had to smile. "It's okay, Yumi," she said. "Nothing has happened. He hasn't even shown up yet."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because I'd know him if I saw him."
"How would you know? He didn't give you a description, did he?"
Kaoru grinned nervously. "No, he didn't give me a description. I just ---- know what he must look like from the sound of his voice."
"He might be forty-five, fat and balding."
Kaoru shook her head. "Oh, no. He had a young, sexy voice. He was thirty at the oldest."
"Do you know how many radio announcers have young, sexy voices and are really old and bald?" Yumi asked. "A voice is nothing to go on. I bet he's come and gone and you never even noticed."
"I'm sure he hasn't been in once," Kaoru said firmly. "I've been watching all week and I haven't seen one romantic reunion or one fight, and I haven't heard the names Tomoe or Kenshin once, so that proves it, doesn't it?"
Yumi thought about this. "Well, I suppose the paper just came out, so there wouldn't have been much point in his going to Razzles before that. Unless he was a regular."
"I'm telling you," Kaoru said. "He wasn't there. I'd have a sensed it if he came in."
"Child, you are a hopeless romantic," Yumi said, "and I'm scared you're going to get hurt."
"You really don't have to worry, Yumi."
"But I do worry, honey," Yumi. "Did it ever occur to you to wonder why this Kenshin person's girlfriend ran out on him? Perhaps she wanted to escape from an abusive relationship. Perhaps he was kinky or paranoid or violent, and she couldn't wait to get away from him."
Kaoru didn't answer. She was studying her computer keyboard and thinking privately that Kenshin was none of those terrible things.
"You're not thinking of going back tonight, are you?"
Kaoru didn't raise her eyes. "I have to. Just once more," she said.
"And where's it going to get you? That's what I'd like to know."
Kaoru shrugged. "I guess I just want to see him get back with Tomoe and live happily ever after."
"No, you don't," Yumi said firmly. "You want him to wait in vain for Tomoe, so that you can have him for yourself. You've fallen in love with a person you've created in your own mind, Kaoru."
"No, I haven't," Kaoru said a bit too hastily. "I'm just curious, that's all. It's all part of my reporter's training. Don't you think it would make a great story? I'd call it, 'Reunited in Razzles.'"
"Huh," Yumi said again. The phone rang and Mary picked it up. "Yes, sir, would mind spelling that? With an F, I see. Now, let me read that back to you."
While she was working, Kaoru took the column she had cut from the last edition of Tokyo Now out of her purse and gazed at the ad she had highlighted in neon pink. She didn't need to look at it, because it was indelibly printed in her memory. Tomoe ---- please contact H. Kenshin. I miss you and need to see you. I'll wait for you at Razzles every night at 8:00. Please come, Tomoe. Please...Box 1234.
Kaoru sighed and stuffed the column back into her purse. The trouble was that Yumi was right. She had fallen in love with the mysterious Himura Kenshin.
TBC
Author's Note: Well, that's the second chapter. For those of you who haven't read this before, what do you think of it? For those that have already read this, I fixed some of the grammar and spelling mistake. If I missed anything, don't hesitate to tell me. Looking forward to hearing what you think minna!
I'll try to put up a chapter a week. Give or take a day or two. ^-^