Shattered Reminiscences
By Scarlet Rayne
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Chapter 2
"I'm going now, so remember to take care of yourself for me." He said slowly, as he leaned in for a quick kiss.
"And what if I forget?" she asked mischievously, pulling away.
"Then I'll see to it that all the articles that are heavily filled with glucose be demolished from your fridge." He said good-naturedly as her face twisted into a frown.
He chuckled in response, as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Well, Himura, that I would like to see you try."
"Oh you would, would you?" he replied as he grinned impishly, earning a delightful squeal from Kaoru when he motioned his hand in a ticklish manner at her sides.
"Now stop that Himura! Get your butt of my property and go h-ho…… hooomee!" she cried with a mouthful of giggles. He stopped his act of torment towards the flushing girl, as he stole another kiss. "Goodnight Kao,"
She smiled, as she fixed his coat. "I'll take care of myself. Anyway, I might just fix myself a snack later, I'm already hungry."
He instantly gave her a grim look in reply. "A snack? Do us all a favor Kamiya, and try not to burn down the kitchen this tim-"
She slammed the door to his face before he could even finish. "Good night, Himura."
"She's been seeing someone called Himura Kenshin for almost a year now," the plump man announced silently to the man who was sitting in front of him.
They were in his office, and it was already past twelve midnight. It was a big and posh room, with fresh white lilies at the far side of his desk. The drapes were made from fine and expensive material, while the clear glass window gave him a beautiful view of the city.
It was a very nice room, considering it was just an office.
"Himura Kenshin... What else?" he asked quietly, eyes never leaving the bouquet of pallid lilies.
"He's a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics team in the police force, and it seems that he is excellently trained. Here's his record, I've managed to dig it up from a source." He paused as he deposited a few pieces of paper which were clipped together on the table desk.
"His partner, Sagara Sanosuke, also seems to be well acquainted with Kamiya Kaoru. They (Himura and Sagara)make a solid pair as members of their team, and they are the ones who usually bring success to their mission. They've been working together for four years." He said, laying down photo shots of Sanosuke.
"They are also stationed at the Tokyo police department, which are a few miles away from where Himura Kenshin stays. He lives alone in an apartment on the third block, and he usually reaches home at approximately six thirty in the evening.
He has a cold personality towards his peers, but it did grow on them eventually. He is also extremely serious when he comes to his work, but despite his cool exterior, he is very much respected by his team members, as well as his commander who holds the rank of a lieutenant. He is also strict and bold in his decisions, hardly faltering or hesitating when it comes to choices.
To cut the story short, he really isn't someone you would want to mess with. Well, that's all I have at the moment, but I'll be back with more information as time passes."
Silence.
"Alright. Now, tell me more about her."
"No, left hand is a B flat, not an A sharp." She corrected her student, who was at her first attempt to play Gertrude's Dream Waltz by Ludwig van Beethoven. Kaoru hummed along with the melodious tune, as her student corrected her notes and fingering.
A few minutes later, her student managed to struggle the whole piece through, accompanied by many faults and mistakes. After a few comments here and there, Kaoru ushered her to the side, and seated herself down. She started playing the whole piece flawlessly, full of grace, altering the correct dynamics as she went along.
"You play it like Gertrude is having a nightmare, Tsubame. The poor girl is supposed to be dreaming, not running away from monsters in her fantasy!" Kaoru grinned and got up as soon as she completed playing the piece, leaving her poor student to blush in embarrassment.
"I'll go home and work on it," she mumbled.
"Now that's my girl. Lesson's dismissed, and I shall see you again next week!" she said, giving the teenager a warm smile. As Tsubame exited the piano room, Kaoru's cell phone sang in a sing-song tune, initiating that someone was trying to reach her. Flipping her phone over, she was immediately greeted by a cheery voice.
"Okay, I'll be there in five."
"How's your new job?" Kaoru asked, as she slowly sipped her watermelon soda, chin lazily resting on her palm.
"My boss sucks. He's this gloomy ol' guy, who would rather die in a pool of human-eating-reptiles than to spare me a small smile, that bastard." She sighed, fork fiddling with her creamy cheesecake.
"So does that mean you're finding another job?" Kaoru asked amusedly.
"Nah, I think I'll stick to this old geezer. I mean, he's bound to crack from all the cheerfulness that I'm shining towards him everyday. Anyway, he does look quite charming. No way am I passing out on that."
"I thought you said he was old?"
"Well, I assume he is, since he's got the attitude of a grouchy, lonely elderly chap. I mean, it's as if he's got a stick up his ass! Often times I'll get this desperate want to smack him across the face, but unfortunately, I'm obligated to suck it in. He'd better be thankful he was gifted in the looks department!"
Kaoru laughed in response, as something snapped in her memory. "Oh yes, I almost forgot. I need to go shopping for Himura's birthday next month."
"His birthday is next month?"
"Yeah. I'm not really sure what to get for him, that's why I'm starting early." She grinned. "Wanna tag along?"
"Hell yeah! Shopping is so my forte!"
"I can't believe this."
"What can't you believe?"
Kaoru slowly turned her head towards Misao, and eyed her from head to toe. Her perky friend was holding bags of ten filled with clothes, accessories, shoes, more clothes, CDs, and what not, on each hand while her newly purchased sunglasses were nested on her raven coloured hair. She then scanned herself from her feet to her hands, and all she was holding was a brown paper bag filled with Chocolate Chip Cookies.
"Well?"
"I thought this was supposed to be my shopping trip, not yours."Kaoru muttered enviously.
"Hey, it's not my fault that you can't shop if your life depended on it. I mean, hello?" her voice strained. "You have cash, credit cards, and what do you do with them? Keep them in your pockets? Seriously, Kaoru, you're the wor-"
"Save it, Makimachi. Just, save it."
"Here! Happy birthday," she exclaimed happily, giving him a noisy kiss on his cheek after handing him a red coloured envelope.
It was just the both of them in his apartment, quietly celebrating his birthday. Opening the envelope slowly, he took out at what looked like a home-made card.
A very… unusual card, to say the very least. It looked more deteriorated when some of the glitter fell out from the glue, landing on his khaki pants.
There were frilly things stuck on the front, with colourful water painted balloons hanging in the background. There was also a picture of a hand drawn, gleeful looking red-haired boy (in which he assumed was himself), sitting on a chair behind a table with his thumbs up. On the other side of the table was a girl with black hair, holding a plate of food.
He was so sure she was trying to tell him something.
Raising an eyebrow in question towards the woman who was sitting next to him, she all but peered behind his shoulders to catch a glimpse her pride and joy, and turned to make out of his expression. She grinned at him, face dancing with excitement. Eagerly motioning him to open the card, her impatient nature directed her hands to reach out and opened it instead.
He said nothing, but his eyes were laughing in hidden amusement, letting her open his card for him.
Inside the card, there was more glitter stuck everywhere, but this time the red headed boy was drawn hugging the girl, with a speech box next to his head. –"My, my, Kaoru! Thank you for this wonderfully-made card! As beautiful as it is, it makes me want to give you a kiss!"
Then on the other side of the paper, it said:
"Happy birthday! You're finally 25! Golly, you're so old, I might just leave you for some drop dead gorgeous hunk of a man! (and someone who appreciates my cooking, mind you.)
So tell me, Himura, why am I stuck with you again?
Anyway, isn't this card pretty? You'd better like it or I'll… I'll.. snip all of your hair off. I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything, because you seem to have everything you've ever wanted! (namely, me.)
Lots of love always, Kaoru."
"Well, well? What do you think?" she asked animatedly, as he put down the card on the table.
"Did you hire a six year old to draw that card for you, or did you actually dr-" he feigned a serious tone, but was cut off when she hit him on the shoulder. "ASS! How dare you insult the creative side of me!" she cried.
He laughed as he gave her a hug, gently whispering words of affection to calm his irritated lover. She pouted in response, making him pinch her cheek when he pulled away. "I can't believe you only gave me a card for my birthday."
"Well… I couldn't seem to get you anything. I couldn't even think of what to get you." she smiled, rubbing her cheek.
"… So you're going to dump me for a drop dead gorgeous man?" he asked monotonously, earning a giggle from her.
"I just might." She said jokingly, trying to keep her face straight.
To her surprise, he smiled mockingly in response. "Clearly you can't leave me, I wouldn't let you. I'd probably murder him first." He said it so casually, she didn't know he had actually meant every word. "You're my everything."
That he would keep her all to himself.
"Everything? Meaning.. I'm your more than sister, companion, mother, comrade, friend, girlfriend-" she exclaimed teasingly, but was hastily interrupted when he continued for her. "-lover, buddy, family, ..wife."
She stopped her silly grinning, as she starred at him in surprise. He, on the other hand, pulled out a ring from his pocket, deterring her attention to the shiny object. Drawing in a long breath, he looked up to her face with an expression which looked a little afraid, but his boldness was undeniably apparent. "Would you marry me, Kamiya Kaoru?"
Pulling her sleeping form closer to him, he stroked her raven hair as she shifted her body to a more comfortable position. Smiling lovingly at her, he hugged her tighter, as he switched off the television. Both were lying lazily on the couch, lights dim, with a chilly breeze blowing through the windows.
His perfect birthday gift.
At the end of the night, he had obtained her agreement, her permission, …her answer. She was going to be his to protect, to cherish, to love and to adore. She was going to be his, and she was going to be his to keep.
For as long as he lived.
Author's Note: Thank you for the lovely reviews! I was in such a crappy mood when I came home, but when I read the reviews I burst out laughing, for some odd reason. Wrong reaction, I know.
Footnotes: This chapter and the first are just to look into the bond and closeness that Kaoru and Kenshin shares. I remember in one review that I read, someone said that it was OOC. Yes, I admit that it is. But everyone tends to get a little OOC when you're with someone that you love, am I right?
Anyway, if this chapter seemed a little boring, have no fear. The fun begins in chapter three. (I'm working on it!)
Kindly leave a review, two simple words would do, if it's too much to ask :).