EVERLASTING
By : HCK Holy Reimaund
Author's note : Story is inspired by the melancholic theme of BoA's song of the same title. Rurouni Kenshin is also owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki, Shonen Jump, and Sony Productions. But the story plot is all mine.
And just in case you're wondering…
Kenshin– 25 yrs old
Kaoru – 21 yrs old
Aoshi– 21 yrs old
Misao– 18 yrs old
Chapter 3 : O-miai
Misao slowly opened her eyes and looked upon the room. Where is she anyway? She tried to remember what happened but her head feels so lightheaded. She closed her eyes again as she felt the world begin to spin in her eyes. She slowly touched her head and tried to sit up while her eyes are closed.
"Oi!! What do you think you're doing? Get some more rest, you baka!"
She slowly opened her eyes to look on the person who always calls her stupid. It's him, as she suspected. At times like this, his annoying-but-beautiful face is the last thing she wanted to see. She bowed her head and slightly massages her temples. What happened anyway? All she could remember was happily skipping in the hallway of the eastern wing of the Himura Manor when she suddenly felt dizzy. She tried to remember and as she did, her hands automatically flew to her nose where blood had flowed from earlier
Aoshi notice her gestures. He rolls his eyes out and breathed an exasperated sigh. Will this girl ever be careful? Seems like nowadays she always seem to be pale and sickly. She seems like not the energetic girl he grew up with, had been in-love with for the past few years. He replaces his worried expression into an annoyed one, concealing the emotions he had for her.
"Can you be a little more careful? You're getting on my nerves already! You seem to like to play a damsel-in-distress for the past few weeks and it's really annoying to those who are left to carry you to the nearest bed. Do you even have a slightest idea how heavy you are? I think my arms gave out trying to get you from east wing to infirmary. Do you know how long it is? I found myself stopping after every twenty feet just to adjust my arms!"
She doesn't really need this, not right now. Her head is still spinning and she just does not have the energy to continue their everyday routine. She sighed a resigned sigh as she shook her head, hiding her eyes to him. Her eyes bore annoyance, hurt and pain in them, something which confused her a lot. Why would she be hurt when she's already used to it. It has been their routine from the start of their lives. The only question she has is that why does he hate her so much, what did she do for him to act that way.
She looked up to him, never concealing the emotions she felt. Tears form in her eyes, not only because of pain but also because of anger. She really had enough of him and his witty remarks. Once and for all, she'll give him a piece of her mind. And maybe after this, he'll stop bugging her.
"Oh yeah? If it is so, why bother carrying me around when you could've called a servant of yours to carry me? Or better yet, you should've just left me there to sleep or something. I don't really need any help from you cause God knows you're the last person I would want to owe a favor from. If you really hate me, then leave me alone, cause I don't ever want to see or even feel your presence as you are with me. So if you're wondering, the feeling is mutual. Let's just do ourselves a favor and just ignore each other's existence! That would really do us both good."
With that said, Misao started to limp away. Aoshi tried to stop her but she avoided his touch. She refused to get anymore help from him and had successfully limped away from the room. She never saw the hurt expression the man she left behind wear. She never stayed long enough for her to hear his apology.
Aoshi sighed. When it comes to Misao he really is bullheaded some times. He couldn't help but tease her every time cause she really is cute when she's annoyed. He never expected for her to be this angry. The angry and hurt expression she had earlier is eating him alive. Maybe he really went too far this time.
Aoshi trudge back into his brother's room with a sullen look. He really never expected it from Misao. He thought she knew that he never really mean any word he says about her. He considers her his very close friend and that she will know that he's only joking around. Guess he was mistaken.
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Kenshin walks slowly back towards his room. He relished the feel of having Kaoru in his arms again. It's been too long since he was able to do that. The last time he saw was five years ago when his mother pressured him to go back for Christmas. He only had about a couple of hours spent with her during the time. Like ten years ago, that Christmas was spent in the balcony where the two of them are hiding from the party inside the manor's ballroom
Tonight, in his welcome back party he will tell all of his and Kaoru's relationship. He had it all planned. He will make the announcement just right after the dinner. He'll then proceed to ask her parent for her hand in marriage. He's very confident that everything will go smoothly. They may be rich but his parents are not the discriminating. His parents are not the type to judge who will they date and marry. Of course the reason he decided to hide the relationship is not because of how their parent will react but because Kaoru is so young during that time. He also gives Kaoru the time to change her mind if she really does want or not doesn't want to be with him. But because she stayed with him for 10 longs years and endured a long distance relationship, he now know that his decision is right. Kaoru is definitely the woman he will belong to forever.
He entered his room to find his gloomy brother sitting on his couch, a suit beside him. He chuckled, it's probably Misao again. His brother, though Aoshi didn't admit anything, had always been all over Kaoru's younger sister. He notice it and he know he only hides it with teasing words. Maybe he could give him few tips, not that he has too many experience on it. Before Kaoru, he need not woo any girl at all because they throw themselves at him. And after he and Kaoru got together, he never let any woman get 'that' close to him. It's just that everyone knows his brother's style is very elementary.
Kenshin slowly walks and sits beside his brother, who continued to stare far into the wall. Kenshin jokingly tries to look at what his staring and looking at his brother's profile back and forth. He then pats his brother's shoulder a little harder than he intended. Aoshi then acknowledge his brother existence by wincing in pain.
"What's the problem?" Kenshin asked as he moved closer to his brother. Aoshi sighed for about a hundred times already. He shook his head and made a sound. Aoshi don't even know how to begin. How can he when he knows how Misao felt about his brother? It would have been easier if it is another man. Aoshi shrugged and put on a fake happy face as he looks at Kenshin.
"It's nothing I can't handle. Here's your suit, I especially picked it up for you." With that said, Aoshi left his brothers room. Waving and smiling goodbye at Kenshin as he left, Aoshi never know that his brother knows the underlying meaning in his gestures.
Kenshin thought for a while. Aoshi was never really that silent before when it comes to his problems. He was always the first person Aoshi confides too. Never did he hide anything from him. He shook his head and decided that Aoshi is already getting old to confide too him. He is confident that his brother is already mature to handle his own affair. And if anything goes wrong, he'll never forsake his brother.
Kenshin picked the suit and stood up. He went to his Mirror to look on the suit and throw it back down to one of his side couches. He frowned at his reflection. He didn't think he look bad and he even had the confident to face Kaoru looking like this. He chuckled and went straight to the bathroom. Half way there, he took a little box out of his pocket. He looked at it as if his very life depended on it. He carefully sets it down on a table and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Tonight is the night he'd been waiting to happen for the last ten years. He'll make sure everything will be perfect.
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Kaoru is sitting in her bed with few dresses laid upon waiting for her to pick and try them out when Misao barges in. Kaoru stopped midway on reaching a particular dress in the other side of her bed and looked at her sister. She notices that Misao really looks upset and pale. This had her worried. Kaoru stood and walk up to her, quickly touching her sister's forehead.
"Misao are you alright" Kaoru said worried of how her sister looks like. Misao looked at her and her face show just how upset she is
Misao groaned and flop herself on the bed atop all the dresses Kaoru had scatter on it. Kaoru walked on one of the bed's post and lean on it. Crossing her arms, she proceeded to stare on her sister. She knows Misao would always crack on the look she's giving her. It always works all the time, though she already has an idea of what happened. She's just not sure why Misao would be that pale.
Her sister is giving her that look again. Misao can't help it, her sister would always crack her open with the authoritative look which only Kaoru could pull. Misao always wonder why Kaoru always have held an authority and discipline on her than their parents do. She always wonders why every time she fails a test, she's more afraid to show her test papers to her sister than her parents. She finds it very ironic
"It's Aoshi. I was walking on the third hallway in the east wing when I fell sick. When I woke up I was in the infirmary and Aoshi really had a mouthful. If he really resents me that much he should have just left me lying there. He totally spoils my happy mood." Misao related. What she missed is the very worried look on her sister's face when she mentioned her being sick.
"You fell sick?" Misao just shrugged nonchalantly. She was really very sick in the past few months but it was never a serious thing. She smiled up her sister assuring her that everything is fine with her. "I felt lightheaded and fell sick on the hallway but I'm good, the doctor said so. Nothing to worry about. See!" Misao Jumped from the bed and turned around.
Kaoru sighed. Lately something is up with their parent that concerns Misao. It really feels awkward that suddenly, the bouncing and cheerful Misao is getting sick all the time. Although their parents and the doctors assure her that nothing is wrong, she cannot help but worry. She really feels that something is up.
"Fine, let's just get ready for tonight" As she uttered those words, Misao suddenly went from annoyed to giddy going to her own closet and scattering more dress on the bed. She laughingly tries and twirls in front of the wall mirror. "I hope with this dress Kenshin will finally confess his feeling for me and we will live happily ever after and away from his annoying brother!"
Kaoru suddenly looked up. She always knew her sister's infatuation with Kenshin. She always passes it as a longing for an older brother since it was always Kenshin who save her from Aoshi's teases. But she can't help but wonder if Misao will get hurt if she knows her relationship with Kenshin.
The very reason for her to agree to hide their relationship is for Misao. She loved her sister very much. She know Misao will outgrow her childish idolism toward Kenshin. But now she can't help but think twice. What if Misao really does love Kenshin from the bottom of her heart? If so, how can she have a heart to reveal their relationship?
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The party was a blast. For Misao, this party is very meaningful, not only is Kenshin finally home but her parents said that there's a big surprise for her this night. She's very excited about everything. She found a perfect dresses and the soft make-up Kamatari did had accentuated her natural beauty. Kamatari did a light make up that almost look natural, she successfully brought out her youthfulness. Her dress runs just about her knees, halter top and red in color, simple yet elegant. She also successfully avoided that dreaded man whose name she dare not utter. Tonight is her night and nobody will ruin it.
Across the room stand a shy girl just beside the door leading to the balcony. Her head is swinging around trying to look for a particular man. Kaoru herself is very beautiful in her light gray Grecian style dress which only had one sleeve and high waist. The dress flowed out, making her look like a real Greek goddess. She carefully picked her dress so she could look beautiful yet simple. She felt uncomfortable though, she never wore a dress this elegant before. But she knows that tonight is an exception. She knows that tonight is very important not only for her but also for Kenshin. She has to look as presentable as she could be. God knows how difficult it is for a woman if her man is really very beautiful.
Aoshi, for himself, is still feeling somehow gloomy with his encounter with Misao earlier. Right now he found himself entertaining every guest and greeting them. Yet as he rounded the room, he simply couldn't trace where the girl is. He intended to say his apology but how could he if he cannot even see her. It would be impossible for Misao not to go. Misao is always a party girl, the more sociable between the two sisters. He knows she is here somewhere. Aoshi straightened his suit and walked up to every guest, as he did he find himself trying to look as far always as he could just to be able to locate Misao. And then maybe tonight, he could confess to her.
The three of them each have something on their mind to think about and get excited with for this night. Because for them, everything will change after tonight.
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Kenshin rubbed the velvet covered box in his hands. He felt nervous but he is confident that every thing will turn out right. He just prayed that everyone will not be that surprise on his announcement.
Kenshin stood up impatiently. How long will they announce his presence? As long as there's no announcement, he was instructed not to go out of this room. But he felt more nervous and excitement as second tick. Staying in this room and getting this much nervous not healthy for him. And just when he felt he could scream, the emcee starts to announce his presence.
On cue, Kenshin confidently steps out of the room and into the ballroom where their gusts awaits for them. He carefully scans the guest until his eyes rest on Kaoru, who is alone as always. He smile went bigger as his eyes rested on hers. This is the moment they've been waiting for.
Himura Hiko, Kenshin's father, proudly steps out of the crow and into the front beside his son. He's very proud of him as Kenshin is very man's dream of a son. He gestured few congratulatory words to his son for having successfully finish law. He then proceeded to get the microphone from the emcee. He smiled to his son. He very well know that Kenshin will understand what he was about to do, what he was about to announce.
Across the room, Misao, Aoshi and Kaoru looked up to the front. Each of them having a big expectation of what is about to happen. Misao is just too excited about Kenshin to notice Aoshi getting closer to her. While Kaoru silently wish for everything to go well.
"Friends, In-front of you is my son, Himura Kenshin, whom I'm very proud of. Kenshin had always made me and my wife very proud. A perfect son everyone could dream of. He was always a good brother to Aoshi and a loving son to my wife. I'm just so glad that he's finally back here with us. Friends, if you permit, I would like to announce a big surprise for my son." Hiko stopped for a while and look at Kenshin. Kenshin gentlemanly let his father finish. His own announcement can't wait a little.
Hiko looked more at Kenshin. He's happy to know Kenshin is a good son. He paused to get more confidence. He looked at the corner where another man, the man's wife and his own wife gives him encouragement. For them, this is the right thing to do. Kenshin will understand, he always do. They know Kenshin always follows them. Hiko look once again in the crowd. He breathed a deep sigh and proceeded with the announcement.
"I'm very glad every one of you is here tonight not only to welcome my son back but also to congratulate him. As all of you know, my son graduate law in very prestigious university in Berkeley. He was their class's top student. He had achieved a lot in the past ten years. But that is not the only reason that we should congratulate him."
Kenshin looks at his father, suddenly feeling nervous. Something doesn't sound right in what he had said. But as his father smiled at him his worries seem to die down a bit. Now he felt very anxious. What is his father is talking about anyway?
"Tonight, everyone, I would like to announce my son's engagement to the daughter of a very good friend of mine. Kamiya Misao."
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Uhh…
Am I an evil?
Hehe…
I don't think this chapter is very good. But please do review it. If you think some things are off, feel free to say so. But please, in a nice way. I do accept criticisms if you say it in a nice way.
Also, currently, yours truly had been confined in the hospital for the past whole month, So I'm very sorry for the long update. I hope this update will prove that I have not forgotten writing.
Will update soon, hopefully. Tatta!
Signing off…
HCK Holy Reimaund