Author's Note: To avoid any confusion, I'd like to state that this chapter is a direct continuation of the last. It's still the same day/same morning where I left off in chapter 2. Kaoru is still on her way back to Stirling Hall from those few hours of painting.
Hope everyone enjoys!
I'd like to offer a special thanks those who reviewed the last chapter (in order of who reviewed first): lere, Royal blueKitsune, Reignashii, crazy fanfic lover, unknown beedee, ChildlikeEmpress, sulou, ixchen, nebulia, ola, I Heart Edward Cullen (Alistair is a celtic/gaelic name meaning defender of men), Anonymous but very interested, toxiclollipop, Lendra-chan, MikaylaMae, and Andorea.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
A Soft Hope
Chapter 3
Stolen Moments
Kaoru urged Alistair into a fast pace walk, watching as his head rose in pattern with his extended gait. The morning activities had distracted her significantly, causing her internal clock to veer off course.
The midday sun was beginning to heat the air, the humidity causing wisps of hair at the nape of her neck to curl. Switching the reins to one hand, Kaoru relaxed into the smooth curve of the saddle, letting her body move with Alistair's recurring steps. She had abstained from donning her confining bonnet when she set off, and she didn't regret the decision. The weak breeze brushing her features did not help to disturb the uncomfortable air surrounding her.
Kaoru sighed when the large stable came into sight. Alistair's ears flicked forward and he lowered his head slightly, showing he was aware of the imminent ending to his outing. Letting her mind drift back to her conversation with Misao the previous evening, Kaoru felt a frown cover her lips, drawing the edges of her mouth down with consternation.
Apparently, tonight would be an evening of dressing up and parading around - one smiles and fancy cuisine. Though they were in the country, there were other established families in the middle of their own country getaway in the surrounding area that liked to host moderate gatherings while out of the presence of the city. Usually, these occasions ended up being house parties where a gaggle of people came and stayed for an inordinate amount of time in the host house. Thankfully the function they would attend tonight was only a mere night gathering with only a few select guests remaining overnight.
Kaoru found some comfort in knowing that tomorrow would be blissfully free of itinerary, allowing her plenty of time to relax at the estate. Nibbling her lower lip, Kaoru thought of the time when dinner parties and balls had been a new, exhilarating experience that she had anticipated and savored. The novelty of the outings had been particularly enlivening. In the past, she found she could attend numerous events in the span of a couple weeks without letting fatigue wrap around her. Now, that helpful stamina had deserted her, and Kaoru preferred to minimize her activities of party going, only agreeing to attend this particular gathering so as not to be rude to her hosts.
Blinking, her thoughts were disrupted as Alistair slowed his pace as they neared the opening of the stable, the sounds of other horses signaling their immediate arrival. Kaoru loosened her grip on the reins and gave Alistair extended freedom. Looking into the stable, Kaoru caught sight of Misao as the other woman readied herself to mount her own horse, obviously intent on finding Kaoru and dragging her back. Noticing Kaoru, Misao ceased her movements, sighing deeply and dropping her arms to her sides.
Kaoru dismounted with ease, pulling the reins over Alistair's head and then down so she could lead him to his stall so he could be unsaddled and later fed. Misao watched her friend with an ironic tilt to her lips, and finally moved away from her horse with an almost thwarted slant to her shoulders.
The sable boy hurried over, helping to remove Alistair's tack while Kaoru gathered her stuff. Misao stopped in front of the stall and placed her hands down on the edge of the stall's window.
"I thought you had forgotten again. You stayed out there pretty long today," Misao said, tapping her fingertips against the wood of the stall.
"I wanted to get more work accomplished than in the previous days," she responded. Kaoru exited the stall, closing the door firmly behind her. Clutching her supplies in her arms, her fingers struggled to keep their tedious hold on the loose items. Misao quickly took the canvas from Kaoru, helpfully making sure it hit nothing that would damage the surface.
Eyeing the splotchy mess Kaoru had made of her hands, Misao wrapped her free hand around Kaoru's arm and walked with her out of the barn. "Come on. We need to get all that paint off your fingers. We have some big plans for tonight."
"A dinner party?" Kaoru asked dryly, anticipating that announcement. "But, why? I thought the country was supposed to be quiet."
Kaoru swore she saw Misao roll her eyes. "No, not a dinner party like we initially believed," she replied, surprising Kaoru. "Tonight will be a rather formal affair."
Kaoru knew that look in Misao's eyes. Groaning, she leaned her head back. "Oh, no. Not a ball. Didn't we go to enough of those in London? I'm still tired from all that dancing…and my mouth is still sore from smiling at everyone."
"Oh, perk up, Kaoru," Misao replied, smiling soothingly. "You knew we were going to go to one eventually."
"In my inanity, I must have stupidly thought that ignoring the possible predicament would flush it away."
"I've tried it. It doesn't work."
"Obviously." Kaoru scrunched up her nose, crossly saying, "You're unusually excited about this."
"No, I'm not."
Eyeing her skeptically, Kaoru nodded. "Yes, you're definitely excited about something."
"I'm always interested in these things," Misao replied as they entered the house. "My excitement is natural."
Still not believing her, Kaoru found it hard to remain silent, but remain silent is what she did, letting Misao jabber on about something she'd done that morning.
Maybe Misao's excitement had something to do with the possibility of running into Lord Shinomori? Knowing how her friend's mind worked, Kaoru noticed that the chatter was more filler than informative, and though Misao was always animated, today there was something different about her expression…something that made her seem more feminine…not that she was masculine in any way. Misao had grown up as a tomboy who had fallen in love with dresses and girl paraphernalia later on in her teens…in fact her transformation had been after visiting Kent one summer.
Interesting, now that Kaoru thought about it. A coincidence?
Today Misao's excitement brought a pretty flush to her face, her eyes sparkling happily. Kaoru almost envied her friend of the carefree emotions that came so easily to her. But, in truth, she was content to watch her this way. Smiling to herself as they made their way upstairs, Kaoru listened to Misao and silently scrutinized her as she expressed poorly veiled anticipation.
Later that night, Kaoru stood in front of the full-length mirror in her room, a nervous menagerie of butterflies taking root in her stomach. She was dressed more regally than she had ever before, the dress adorning her body a beautiful sheer navy blue that complimented the darkness of her hair. She felt slightly uncomfortable in the fancy dress. Fidgeting, she ran a hand down the front of her gown, straightening imaginary wrinkles. She wasn't nervous about the high society situation per say, but mingling with a crowd of people she knew practically to nothing about had her mildly uneasy.
Misao cluttered around behind her, her own dress ruffling as she moved about almost frantically, readying herself for the long awaited event. She had been meticulously methodical in her countless preparations.
Turning away from the mirror, Kaoru watched her friend fondly. Moving over to place a calm hand on her arm, she raised an inquiring eyebrow. Misao slowed her pace, taking a deep breath and linking her arm through Kaoru's.
"I need to slow down, don't I," she asked, smiling sheepishly.
"Just a little."
There was small knock on the door and the baroness stepped into the room, a large, pleased smile pasted on her face.
"You two always made such a pretty duo. I'm still surprised neither of you have snatched a husband yet. Misao certainly has had some offers," she stated, proudly. She shot her daughter a mystified look as she thought of Misao's rejections of each suitor.
Reading her mother's expression correctly, Misao retorted, "I turned them all down for extremely valid reasons."
"You were holding out for someone in particular," Kaoru whispered only for Misao's ears. Misao surreptitiously stepped on the inside of Kaoru's foot without catching her mother's attention.
"I'll marry when the right man comes along. And Kaoru plans to do the same," she retorted.
Smiling and nodding for effect, Kaoru bit her lip to hold back her amusement at Misao's blatant brush-off of her mother.
"I'm sure Misao will be working hard on snatching, er, finding that perfect man," Kaoru told the older woman with a comforting smile. "But I do believe that we have someplace to be right now, and we are currently behind schedule."
Misao and her mother reacted at the same time, hurrying and pulling Kaoru forward, one purpose prevalent in their mind.
"Come, Kaoru. You'll be so excited," Misao's mother told her as they hastily walked down the hallway.
'Excited?' Kaoru thought two hours later as she settled wearily onto one of the cushioned chairs lining the large ballroom. Frankly, she could find no difference between this overcrowded, over anticipated event and one of the balls she had attended in London last year. There were entirely too many preening young woman, too many fawning young men, too many ambitious mothers, and thoroughly not enough air in the overstuffed room. Kaoru had slipped away from the two women she arrived with, leaving them to enjoy their evening without her tagging along and slowing down the frenzied-like pace they adapted.
Waving a hand in front of her to allow a semblance of a breeze to slip over her hotly flushed face, Kaoru leaned back and closed her eyes, going over the evening methodically in her cluttered mind. They had arrived, according to Misao's mother, stylishly late. Misao had been caught up in the flirtatious revelry the moment she stepped foot into the ballroom.
More sedate in her approach, Kaoru had not been lacking in dance partners, though she felt she did lack the uppity spirit needed to fully enjoy such a social and dynamic event. Her feet ached inside her dancing slippers and a small pain pressed tightly in the side of her head. She found herself wishing for a private spot where she could refresh her mind and body, and take in a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Opening her eyes, Kaoru scanned the room, her gaze going over the countless people. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of an open set of doors leading to an apparently vacant balcony. Deciding that was the cure to her increasing ailment, Kaoru stood and made her way through the throng of people to the private enclosure where hopefully she would be able to regain some inward composure.
The crowd of people she had to weave through was dense, and Kaoru hoped, as she made her way to her place of solitude, that no one would beat her there. Her desire was so great, she would be willing to fight for her privacy. But as she arrived, she decided that there would be no need for verbal tussling. The balcony was blissfully unoccupied, waiting for her to step out onto the suspended ledge. She closed the door behind her with a soft click, shutting herself off from the twirling enthusiasm of the ballroom. The thin glass doors effectively muted the fluttering music.
Closing her eyes, her face clearing as a dreamy breeze brushed over her features, Kaoru sighed happily.
How utterly refreshing.
Now this was the highlight of her evening.
The night was clear with a dazzle of stars peppering the sky in a scattered brilliance that Kaoru had not taken the time to admire in quite awhile. The balcony overlooked the massive courtyard garden at the back of the mansion. Though her eyes couldn't really see much through the darkness, she was able to enjoy the heavenly scent of a variety of blossoms that assaulted her senses. Kaoru laid her hands down on the balcony railing, the coolness of the metal seeping through her gloves. The fresh calmness of the night relaxed her tensed muscles and allowed her to take a deep, fortifying breath.
Kaoru felt her inner peace begin to splinter as she heard the door click open behind her, the music from inside flooding out into the night. She turned slowly, almost apprehensively, not wanting to go back inside and leave her place of solace. When Kaoru lifted her gaze, she jerked initially, her eyes widening a little.
After scanning the face of the man who had been plaguing her mornings, the soothing relaxation that had quickly fled marginally returned, accompanied with curiosity. Kenshin was dressed eloquently, like a man of his titled station. His hair remained the same in that loose characteristic ponytail, allowing her create a link between the casual man and the elegant earl.
A mass of swirling emotion was tightly packed into his violet eyes as he stared at her almost hesitantly. He held the door handle, his frame still filling the doorway as he stood between two very different worlds - one filled with societal revelry, and the other containing Kaoru's quiet night utopia.
Kenshin's eyes seemed to search hers, trying to read her mood. When she remained mute, he stepped closer, letting the door close slightly, but not fully. He stopped a few feet away from her, the breeze threading through his bangs.
Kenshin slowly cocked his head to the side, and said in his smooth voice, "Would you dance with me?"
Kaoru felt a small smile curl her lips as she eyed him curiously. After a second, she extended her hand towards him in a wordless acceptance. With his hand, he enfolded hers gently, the warmth of his palm pleasant against hers. Kenshin pulled her body away from the railing and closer to his so his other hand could rest comfortably on her waist. Kaoru's eyebrows rose with question as he urged her to follow silently.
"On the balcony?"
"You like it out here better, don't you?" Kenshin ascertained, his voice soft and only for her ears.
Kaoru nodded. She was unaware of how he knew, but she felt pleasure curl in her stomach at his unexpected response.
"Then we'll dance on the balcony."
Kaoru placed one hand on his shoulder, her arm lying against the sloping angle of his own. Though the music was soft, slipping sedately through the small crack left by the open balcony door, it was just enough for the atmosphere to be clouded with anticipation. Unconsciously, Kaoru held her breath, her proximity to Kenshin causing her heart to mildly accelerate and her stomach to clench with a surprising pressure.
His hand tightened on her waist as he started to move with her to the music, his lulling steps easing her sudden tension a little. Her dress swished against her legs as their easy movements carried them across the small balcony - alone except for the hushed sounds of the night and the background music.
Their heights were fairly similar, with him only an inch or two taller than her. In comparison to other, taller men, it was unusual that she could actually dance with someone and be able to look into their eyes without having to crane her neck. Though on another note, if uncomfortable, staring at the buttons of a man's dress clothes did help pass the time quite nicely. But as Kaoru felt her gaze touch Kenshin's she didn't have any wish whatsoever to have him grow a few inches so she could escape from an awkward few minutes. This dance was anything but uncomfortable.
As Kaoru settled in his arms, her mind relaxing more with the music, she felt the soreness of her feet melt away astonishingly, and she began to concentrate more on him than her fatigue.
With a half-smile, Kaoru tilted her head to the side. "You're lucky, you know," she started, breaking the encompassing silence. "You aren't expected to participate in all the dances." Kaoru eyed him inquisitively as she moved the hand resting on his shoulder closer to his neck, her fingertips brushing his hair.
"True. I can choose who and how many dances to partake in."
"Do you get bombarded by debutants vying for your title like many of the other titled men?"
"Not so much anymore. My public appearances are few and far between."
"Then why are you here?"
"I came with a friend."
"An escort?" she asked, questioning him none too subtly.
He hid his amusement quite well. "Just a friend. He's meeting a business acquaintance here, and asked if wanted to join him."
Kaoru impulsively breathed in deeply, her lips parting belatedly. Unconsciously, she noticed that he smelled of ginger and spices exotic to her. "Have you enjoyed your time here so far?"
Kenshin's eyes stared into hers almost pointedly, locking and holding for a moment before he answered, "There have been some special moments."
Not knowing how to interpret that comment, Kaoru replied, a sly smile on her lips, "Dance with that many girls, have you?"
"Only you."
Taken aback, she could only respond with a slightly dumbfounded, "Oh."
"But, I've only recently arrived," he told her, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"Ah, well that explains it. I was wondering why you would single me out. I really am a terrible dancer," she muttered, her bangs falling into her eyes as her gaze drifted down.
"You seem to be dancing fine," Kenshin told her, lowering his head to follow her line of vision and admire her small feet as she moved them in close unison with his.
"Well, don't talk to the majority of the men in there. I think I've left a wide collection of bruises that will keep them away from me forever."
"And that's bad, why?"
She laughed lightly. "Good point." Kaoru pursed her lips. "I'm a little surprised I haven't stepped on you yet."
"My unbelievable speed." Kenshin leaned in closer, his face in mere inches from her own. "I can anticipate mishaps."
"Well, you're going to have to teach me that," she murmured, admiring the small golden flecks interspersed through the violet in his vivid eyes. Funny…she had never noticed that before. He pulled back, and before she could react, took his hand off her waist and brushed her errant bangs from her eyes.
As Kenshin smiled sheepishly, she couldn't but help but be charmed.
He returned his hand to her waist, though slowed his steps, bringing them to a stop.
"I think the music has ended," he said. Kaoru slid her hand from his shoulder, but his steady grip on her other hand remained, and she didn't try to pull away. "Thank you for the dance, Miss Kaoru."
"It was a pleasure," she answered softly, her fingers slipping from his as he let go of her.
He took a step back. "I have to get back to my friend."
"Well, don't let me keep you."
As he was leaving, he placed his hand on the doorjamb, turning to face her once more. "And, Kaoru, a little bird told me the weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow morning."
"Well, imagine that," she murmured, watching him depart.
She stayed on the balcony a while longer, letting her mind untangle from the confusing web that was spun minutes ago. She stepped back against the railing, facing the glass windows.
Okay…so she had been wrong.
That dance was the highlight of her evening.
A cool breeze slid around her lone form, wrapping her in the brilliant tranquility of the night. Shivering slightly, Kaoru sighed and moved toward the door.
When she walked back into the ballroom, Misao caught sight of her immediately, and grilled her tirelessly her about her absence. Kaoru told her that mounting exhaustion had caused her to depart for a while, and now that she had revived her ebbing energy, she was fine. As Kaoru danced a few more times, her eyes unconsciously searched for a single red-haired man. She caught sight of him a couple times in the company of a man she didn't know. She was a little surprised it wasn't Lord Shinomori, but more disappointed for Misao's sake. The man with him was a toweringly tall brunette who had a voice that carried far.
She noticed that Kenshin didn't dance with anyone else. And a few times when she sought him out, their gazes locked, because he was already looking at her.
They left late…very late. Misao's energy had finally started to wane, and the baroness was weary from the full night. The second Kaoru sat down in the carriage, she slipped her sore feet from the prison of her slippers, and let out a content sigh. She stretched her legs a little under the cover of her long skirt, her toes curling with pleasure and her aching muscles relaxing.
Misao sat down heavily beside her as the carriage door slammed shut behind her, and slumped against the back of the seat. Kaoru turned to look at her friend. Misao seemed to be brooding, her mouth pulled into an uncharacteristically thin line. Guessing that she was annoyed about a certain person's absence, Kaoru placed a comforting hand on her arm, reassuring her silently and hoping Misao would bounce back as quickly as she usually did.
"Are you okay?" Kaoru asked, concern apparent in her voice.
Sighing heavily, Misao nodded. "Yes. I'm fine."
"Busy night?"
She smiled distractively. "Busy enough."
"He'll be at the next one."
A nonchalant look passed over Misao's features as the wall of the carriage became suddenly fascinating. "Who?" she asked.
Kaoru smiled in response, leaning back against the seat. "No one, I guess."
Misao sniffed. "That's what I thought." She was silent for a moment as she her mind wandered. "Besides, he never attends these functions."
"He?"
Caught, Misao frowned, pointedly glaring at Kaoru. "Oh, hush."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Kaoru sighed. "Don't be shy. You practically talked about him for months after you met him. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't notice?"
"Not a very good one," she grumbled in response.
"That's what I thought."
"I think he really is scared of me. Did you see the way he looked at me when we ran into him and the man you almost killed?"
Rolling her eyes heavenward at Misao's last little comment, Kaoru replied, "I honestly didn't notice anything. He didn't so much as blink an eyelash."
Misao frowned, sinking down into the seat. "I know. It's so frustrating."
"I don't think he's scared of you, though."
"Why is that?"
"He doesn't seem the type to be scared of really anything."
"I hope so."
"Just stick it out. He'll come around."
Eyeing her friend suspiciously, Misao replied, "And why do you think that?"
"Because once you set your mind to something, you don't give until you get what you set out for."
"That's true."
"Yes, I know. I've had first hand experience."
The next day, Kaoru rose early hoping to catch a glimpse of the sun as it rose over the horizon, spreading fingers of orange and yellow across the sky. In the previous days, she had arisen early enough to view the beautiful sight twice. Both times had taken her breath away. But, as her eyes opened, hazed with sleep, she noticed that the room was still shaded with darkness. Blinking confusedly, she lifted her upper body from the mattress and brushed her hair from her eyes.
She had left the window open last night and a breeze slipped through the opening, blowing the curtains out. They were damp with moisture.
Pushing the covers back, Kaoru got up from the bed, her bare feet carrying her to the window. A few feet away, she sighed when she caught sight of the falling rain. A small puddle of water had accumulated on the floor underneath the window. The water was cool on her toes as she slowly stepped through it to close the window, swinging the glass shut and locking the latch. Thick rivulets of rain slid down the windowpane, blurring her view of the outside.
Kaoru wrapped her arms around her waist, her fingers clutching the cotton fabric of her nightgown. Her loose, dark hair hung down her back as she stared at the gray morning, disappointment clouding her thoughts.
She didn't know what 'little bird' Kenshin had talked to, but obviously he needed a new source for information, seeing as said informant wasn't doing a very good job. Sighing, Kaoru rolled her eyes as she stepped away from the window. What was she thinking? No one could really predict the weather. He had just been trying to be nice. And, well, he had succeeded.
But, it stunk that the one time Kaoru had actually wanted to meet him at her painting knoll, there would be no way she could get there.
Deciding to take the day one step at a time, Kaoru returned to the welcoming comfort of her bed, burying her head into the pillow, a groan escaping her throat. Since there was nothing better for her to do at the moment, Kaoru flipped over on her side, pulling the warm blankets up to her shoulders and closing her eyes. Sleep would at least carry her further into the morning. Maybe she'd be lucky and the rain will have subsided by then.
A couple hours later, Kaoru woke again, this time her mind clear and wonderfully fresh. While she loved getting up early, there were also benefits to waking up a little late. She liked the complete feeling of rejuvenation that swept over her body.
Kaoru couldn't tell whether it was still raining from her vantage point in the bed, though. The room was still dim, but she had expected it to be shadowed from clouds. Getting up, she felt any hope of a mildly clear day slip from her mind as she saw that the heavy cloud cover that had dominated the sky earlier had gotten worse instead of better. Her mouth curling into a distasteful scowl, Kaoru turned away from the depressing scene, moving to her closet to get dressed. It was time she actually did something useful today.
Minutes later, dressed in a casual muslin gown, Kaoru made her way down the main staircase to the first floor. Her stomach growled loudly causing her to grimace with discomfiture. Food had already been laid out in the breakfast room, yet Kaoru was the only one present. She had either woken up very late, or despite sleeping in, she had woken up earlier than the other occupants. Piling her plate with food meant to sustain her, she moved over to a seat, settling down to eat the meal.
Beside Kaoru was a newspaper that was laid out for the baroness. Reaching her hand out, she pulled the paper closer to her, her eyes scanning the front page. Nothing interesting. Maybe a side article would be more entertaining.
She flipped through the paper as she ate the food, her preliminary dour mood lifting slightly. Good food always made her feel more in control.
The food was filling and when she finished, she picked up the plate, taking it through the side door of the breakfast room, which led to the warm kitchen. This had become her morning routine ever since she had arrived. At first the staff had chastised her, telling her to leave the plate at the table for them to collect, but since she was usually the only one there, it made her feel rude and untidy, so despite their protests she continued to bring them her dirty tableware.
A few servants stood near a window, their hands carefully washing the utensils and pots used to cook breakfast.
"Oh, Miss Kamiya!" a familiar servant named Polly uttered, catching sight of her. She was a plump middle-aged woman, her cheeks ruddy from work, and her eyes shining with benevolence. "I'll take those from you right away."
Kaoru smiled kindly as she handed over the dirty plates, watching as Polly gave them to the two cleaning girls.
"I can't decide if I ate early again, or if I'm just unusually late," Kaoru mused, leaning against the counter, her voice questioning.
"Oh, don't worry, Miss. It's still quite early. Only a little past the time you're usually here." Polly swiped a wet rag across the wooden counter in the middle of the humid room, her eyes on Kaoru. "I don't expect the baroness and Lady Misao to be down for awhile. They do enjoy sleeping late into the morning."
Kaoru's lips curled sardonically. "Yes, I know."
Kaoru moved away from the counter, walking to the window on her left.
"Not going out this morning?"
"No," Kaoru sighed in response. "The weather has decided not to cooperate today, so I'll have to make myself content inside."
"'Tis a shame, that it is. Myself, I prefer the nice weather as well. I like to garden and I couldn't possibly do any of that in this weather."
"Yes, I agree." Kaoru stepped toward the door leading to the hallway, her hands clasped in front of her. "I think I'll go explore a little bit. I'd like to be able to navigate around this place without feeling disoriented."
Polly smiled a farewell, watching Kaoru depart.
In the hallway, Kaoru walked slowly down the marbled interior, her eyes scanning the walls as she slowly got her bearings. Her mind was set on finding the library in the east wing. Scrunching her brow, she deduced her path carefully, determined to avoid getting lost.
The inside air was cool, making her wish that she had a shawl with her to blot out the chilliness spreading over her skin, raising goosebumps on her arms. The corridors were well lit thankfully and with a mercifully small amount of trouble, she was able to find the large blue doors that opened to the library. Pushing open the heavy door, her senses were suddenly assaulted with the wonderful scent of aging paper and bound volumes. If there was one thing her mother imparted to her, it was the love of books.
Kaoru had found that time to read these past few months was few and far between, and as she walked up to one of the large bookcases that swept up to the ceiling, she felt a reminiscent smile cross her face. She ran the tips of her fingers across the spines of the books, her eyes perusing the diverse titles. A pleased look crept into her eyes as she stopped, her fingers hooking onto one book in particular, pulling it efficiently from the shelf. It was a book she had read many times before, having almost memorized the entire contents. A sweeping longing of home hit her full force as she stared at the cover.
Clutching the book to her chest, Kaoru stepped over to a cushy couch in the corner. Snagging the thick blanket draped over the back, she wrapped it around her shoulders. She sat down heavily on the cushions, her feet tucked underneath her with the book warm in her hands. Settling back, Kaoru opened the cover, slipping her fingers over the familiar title before flipping to the first page and losing herself in the words.
Stepping into the library that afternoon, Misao lifted an eyebrow when she found her friend buried in a book, her face schooled with deep concentration and her eyebrows drawn in a straight line. Blowing a wisp of her hair from her eyes, Misao felt a mischievous grin spilt her features as she walked toward Kaoru.
"Kaoru," she started, breaking the heavy silence and her friend's intense absorption. "I have an idea."
Kaoru looked up immediately from her book, her eyes disconnected from what Misao had just said, her mind still on the book. "What?"
"I have an idea."
Blinking, Kaoru closed her book, keeping her fingers in between the pages to keep her place. "What kind of idea?" she asked confused, trying to integrate herself into Misao's conversation.
"For what we're going to do this afternoon. You've been holed up here for most of the day and I plan on actually doing something rather than vegetating."
Kaoru scrunched her eyebrows. "I'm not vegetating. But, Misao what…what are you wearing? Is that my painting smock?" she asked, bewildered, eyeing the paint splotched white apron over Misao's clothes.
"Yes."
"Why are you wearing it?" she questioned. Squinting, Kaoru leaned forward. "Is that paint on your face?"
"It's part of my plan," she replied, evading the second question.
Realization dawned on Kaoru as her face slackened and she put the book down, shaking the blanket off her shoulders. "You've gotten into my paints again, haven't you?" Brushing past her, Kaoru hurried out of the room, grabbing a hold of her skirts to keep from tripping.
"Don't act so concerned, Kaoru," Misao said from behind, amusement clear in her voice. "It's not like I've defaced your painting or anything. In fact, I haven't even looked at, because I know you hate that."
Darting her gaze behind her to glare at Misao, Kaoru retorted, "Then what were you doing?"
"It's hard to describe, really."
Not knowing what to think, Kaoru scurried up the staircase, muttering under her breath. Misao followed, a secret smile on her lips. Luckily, the room wasn't far off and the way was fairly straightforward.
Kaoru stopped in front of the closed door, a little afraid to go inside and see what Misao had done. The last time something like this had happened they had been 12 years old and…Kaoru shuddered at the thought of it. Holding her breath, she pushed open the door.
When she walked into the spare room that she kept her painting supplies in, Kaoru came to an immediate stuttering stop, her eyes widening and mouth opening slightly in alarm. The room, to put it nicely, was a mess. The neat organization of her supplies was destroyed, and in it place was now the tornado of disorder that seemed to follow Misao where ever she went.
"Wha-what have you done?" Kaoru blurted out, her voice unusually high.
The easel was lying on its side in the corner. Kaoru wasn't sure if that was because it had been knocked over or purposely placed that way because Misao decided it looked better that way. A bed sheet was spread across the floor, covered with stray splatters of various colors of paint. The spare canvas Kaoru had bought was leaning against the wall with sloppy stripes and unsymmetrical blobs of thin paint splatters. Open paint lay on the floor in erratic disarray. Her current painting seemed to missing from the confusion, thankfully.
"I've been having great fun this morning," Misao announced proudly, stepping past Kaoru's astonished form and walking over to the canvas propped against the wall. "You've always wanted me to try painting, and now I have. Isn't it great!"
Kaoru coughed, her wide eyes darting from Misao's face to the disorganized painting on the floor. "I meant a still-life, Misao. Not finger-painting."
"This isn't finger-painting," she replied in an offended tone. She stepped over to the paint, grabbed a paintbrush and scooped up a blob of blue paint. Walking over to her painting, she swiped the brush down quickly, slinging the loose paint on the canvas and created an irregular arch across an orange circle. "See. It's much more involved."
Kaoru was at a loss of words.
Misao leaned down and picked up brown cloth on the floor. Stepping over to Kaoru, she handed it to her. "Here. Put this on. We'll make one together."
"With what?"
"I have a sheet I'll attach to the wall."
"A sheet?"
"Yes. It will work fine."
Kaoru took the brown material from her friend hesitantly, her face etched with doubt.
"Don't look at me that way. You'll love it."
Misao turned away and walked over to a chair in the corner, pulling a large white sheet off of it and moving to the wall. Grabbing some pins, she stood on the tips of her toes, pinning the fabric into the plaster. Kaoru looked down at the brown material and raised an eyebrow.
"Misao, this is a potato sac."
"Mmm? I know," she replied, concentrating on adding the last few pins.
"Why did you give me a potato sac?"
She turned around, shooting Kaoru a look of innocence. "So you won't get paint on your dress."
"Why don't you wear the potato sac, and I'll wear my smock?"
"I'm already wearing the smock. It'll easier if you just go ahead and wear that. Besides, I cut holes for your head and arms."
Eyeing the coarse material, Kaoru felt her mouth curl. "Why, thanks…"
Misao admired the sheet on the wall, nodding slightly with approval as she finished. "We're ready!"
Sighing, Kaoru pulled the potato sac over her head, slipping her arms through the frayed holes. Straightening it against her dress, she bit her lip, admitting to herself that it fit relatively well. She held out her hand, taking a paintbrush from Misao.
"You are buying me new paint, right?"
"Oh, of course. I sent one of the footmen out about an hour ago to replenish your stock."
Together, they dipped the brushes into the green paint. Grinning, Misao swung the brush down, creating an arc of paint on the sheet tacked onto the wall. Kaoru followed her motions, creating a weak imitation.
Misao raised an eyebrow. "You can do better."
Frowning at her friend, Kaoru moved back to the paint and scooped up a glob. Turning, she swung her arm as hard as she could, slinging a widespread line of paint across the sheet.
Misao smiled, nodding her approval. "Now to mix the colors. I want it to get as muddled as possible."
"Yes, master," Kaoru muttered, watching Misao with smiling eyes. As they spread the paint across the sheet, Kaoru felt laughter bubble in her throat, thoroughly amused by Misao's intense concentration as she strategically planned every splash of color. Kaoru let loose, her paint scattered everywhere and in varying patterns. They continued the madness for about half an hour, paint popping up everywhere. Kaoru was quite proud that she had yet to get any on herself.
Turning from the sheet, her brush held loftily in her right hand, Kaoru nibbled her lower lip as she decided what color to use next. That was when she felt wet splash of paint against the skin of her face. She closed her eyes reflexively against the attack, her breath held. When she heard the muted laughter of Misao, she opened her eyes, a sour expression on her face.
Pretending to move past her friend stiffly, Kaoru reached down, spreading a large amount of paint on the brush. Turning, she moved to stand nonchalantly beside Misao…then wiped the wet bristles down her cheek, spreading a red steak down the side of her face. Misao immediately gasped, stepping away and shooting Kaoru an astonished look.
Kaoru smiled sweetly.
They stared at each for moment.
Then both quickly reached down, gathering paint and attacking each other with it. Instead of slinging paint on the sheet, they slung it at each other.
As the paint flew, the laughter intensified.
Kaoru was gasping for breath as she laughed while running away from Misao who was wielding a copious amount of blue paint. There was little to hide behind, so her fate was already sealed. Brushing stray hair from her eyes as she came to a jerky halt, Kaoru eyed her friend, shaking her head as she tried to deter her. Misao grinned evilly.
Stepping back, Kaoru's foot caught on something, causing her to lose her balance as Misao charged. Reaching out to grab a hold of the other woman's clothes, Kaoru pulled Misao down with her as a loud screech erupted from her open mouth. They fell side-by-side. Misao dropped the paintbrush on herself, the paint spreading across the front of the smock.
Placing a hand to her stomach, Kaoru closed her eyes as she was rocked with amusement.
It was the first time in a long while that Misao had heard Kaoru laugh with unrestrained merriment. She had missed that. Joining with Kaoru's happiness, she felt contentment spread through her limbs.
It was then that Misao turned to look at the doorway. She choked on her laughter, her face slacking with disbelief. Brushing her mussed hair from her eyes, she bolted up into a sitting position, words catching in her throat.
"Lord Shinomori," the butler announced weakly, clearing his throat awkwardly.
Kaoru gasped, her eyes widening as they snapping immediately to the doorway.
The butler stepped aside, giving them a better view of the quiet man. Aoshi held his arms motionlessly at his sides, his face schooled into an aloof expression. Misao pushed herself clumsily to her feet, tongue-tied and bright-faced with embarrassed discomfiture.
"Well, uh, w-what a surprise," Misao stuttered out, trying desperately to gain some much-needed poise. Kaoru got to her feet slowly behind her, clasping her hands in front of the potato sack she wore, her expression sheepish.
"How can I help you?" Misao asked, her voice low.
"I would like to speak to you privately, please, Lady Makimachi."
Misao stood there for a second, her mind wrapping around the announcement. Kaoru nudged her back when she failed to respond. "Yes! I mean… give me a minute, and I'll be right with you. George if you'll take him to the Blue Room."
Aoshi nodded in response, stepping aside to allow George to pass. Without glancing back, he followed him away. Misao let out a strangled groan when she was sure they were gone. Rubbing her fingers against her forehead, she tried to blot out the festering madness in her mind.
"Of all the days," she grumbled, stalking out of the room.
Kaoru watched her depart with a sympathetic smile before turning to gaze at the room with a mixture of amazement and dread. Oh, what a mess. She looked down at herself, and frowned. What an even bigger mess.
Brushing an absent hand down the coarse front of the potato sack serving as an apron, Kaoru walked to the doorway. She needed to clean up and get the paint off her face. Changing her dress, she decided, was her top priority as she looked down at the paint that had splattered all over the sleeves.
As she left, Kaoru brushed her bangs from her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. Her footsteps down the hall were hurried, her intent to avoid being seen in her current state of unkemptness obvious. Her room wasn't far away so it didn't take her long.
Opening the door, she stepped into the familiar interior, her feet moving to the closet. She reached down and grabbed the hem of her potato sac, pulling it awkwardly off of her and throwing it down on the chair beside the fireplace. Moving to the changing room adjacent to the closet, she disappeared inside to change.
It was a few minutes later when she heard the door open and shut roughly. Tucking her hair back into a tighter coiffure, she turned from the mirror, her eyebrows raised high as she watched Misao sink onto the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
"How did it go?" Kaoru asked, searching her face for answers.
"He wanted to talk to me about textiles," she muttered in a dour tone.
"Textiles?"
"That's what he ships. His company, I mean," she said. "My mother ordered some rare pattern from him a while ago and apparently she told him to come talk to me about it."
"And what did you say about the textiles?"
"I told him I liked green, and he left." She sat there for a moment, her mind lost in thought. "He's so…so...," she muttered, her expression becoming disgruntled. "He makes me want to hit him."
"So why didn't you?" Kaoru asked, sitting down beside her friend on the bed.
Misao sent her wry glare, causing Kaoru to smile at her innocently. "Maybe next time, I will."
They sat there for moment, taking in the silence of the room. Kaoru now wore clean clothes, the paint mostly scrubbed from her skin, though a few bits still lingered, while Misao remained in a paint-smattered smock, her hair, face, and arms dotted randomly with a rainbow of colors.
"I wonder what he thought of your new wardrobe," Kaoru started, her lungs filling with silent laughter, "You look rather…rough."
Grabbing a pillow off to the side, Misao hit Kaoru in the head with the fluffy material in response, catching her off guard. Kaoru let out a burst of laughter before scrambling to retaliate.