A small bell rang as the shoji to the small silk shop, Tanaka Kinu, opened. Kaoru half skipped inside. Her bright blue eyes scanned the store for a split second, taking in the sight of the many fine silk items on display. "Miss Kaoru, it's so nice to see you this fine afternoon," a bright, chipper voice said from Kaoru's right. "Mrs. Tanaka!" Kaoru said, smiling brightly as she turned in the direction of the voice. She didn't have to see the face that went with the familiar voice of her good friend Naomi Tanaka. The young woman had been arranging a kimono on display when Kaoru had walked in. She stood completely to her feet when Kaoru walked in. Her cinnamon colored hair fell in graceful wisps around her face. Her dark chocolate colored eyes reflected a happiness, a vibrance of life, that made Kaoru smile. "How have you been doing Mrs. Tanaka?" Kaoru asked in a chirpy voice as the slender young woman approached. "Wonderful! I could not get better and you, Miss Kaoru? How has life been treating you?" Naomi replied, motioning for Kaoru to follow her. "Oh, same as always. Yahiko has been being a pest as usual, Sano still won't pay his tab at the Akabeko, and…" Kaoru's voice trailed off as she thought about any other complaints she might come up with. "And your handsome swordsman? Has he been causing you trouble?" Naomi asked, mischief twinkling in her energetic dark chocolate eyes. Kaoru blushed. "Um…no…Kenshin has just been doing chores," she said, looking at the floor to try to hide her embarrassment. Naomi chuckled at Kaoru's response. Then, she went behind a desk in the back of the room and pulled out a medium sized box. "Might this be the real reason you came to visit, Miss Kaoru? After all, I highly doubt you came only to complain about the boys," Naomi said, placing the box on the desktop. Kaoru's blush retreated to some unknown place, destined to return sometime in the near future. Her eyes brightened and she nodded in an answer to her friend's statement. She opened the box gently, then gingerly removed and unfolded its contents. She gasped in utter amazement at its beauty. The contents of the box were a silk kimono and a matching obi. The kimono was a beautiful sky blue with golden thread embroidered clouds. The obi was a slightly darker blue, but had matching embroidery. On the ends of each line in the clouds were small diamonds. Kaoru laid the kimono on the desk gently. She fingered the fabric with a delicate touch. Naomi smiled at Kaoru's excitement. "It…it's lovely," Kaoru said in a quiet voice. "I knew you'd like it," Naomi replied. "Oh, but it must cost a fortune," Kaoru said, her voice tinged with disappointment. Naomi picked up the kimono and folded it back up in proper order. She placed the kimono back inside the box, laying the obi down on top. Then with slender, experienced fingers she closed the box back up. Kaoru turned to leave when Naomi said," Miss Kaoru, you're forgetting something."
Kaoru turned to see Naomi holding out the box. Kaoru's eyes opened wide in surprise. "For me?" she said, excitement again rising in her voice. "Of course, silly. You didn't think I would just call you over here to see my newest kimono style just to taunt you, did you?" the young woman replied, walking around the desk and placing it gently in Kaoru's hands. "Consider it an early birthday present."
"Th…thank you! Thank you so much!" Kaoru said excitedly, caressing the package with care. "You're welcome, Miss Kaoru. Now then, why not go back home now? Those boys won't know what to do with themselves if they don't have you to tell them what to do," Naomi replied, winking at Kaoru in her usual, mischievous manner. Kaoru nodded with a smile, then skipped out the door, her hear skipping right along with her feet.
kinu - silk