READ THIS FIRST!!! Umm you guys remember how I mentioned that umm dynamic thingie??? Umm well, it's heeeere! So uh, don't kill me!!! I promise in the end that ALL traditional couples will be kept! So just read and don't get upset . . .I may be over reacting maybe you won't get mad at all . . .but I think I would . . .Oh I can't believe I'm doing this! On to the disclaimer!
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or anything else ok? I just own my brain! Which isn't saying much!
Chapter 6: Welcome Aboard the Great Platoon
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The smell of wet rotting wood sharpened Kaoru's senses as she descended the narrow flight of steps. As she neared the bottom a warm glow filtered through the doorway. She stepped down onto the main floor, and was stunned at the number of women in one room. There had to be 100 or so fighting, shoving, laughing, shouting, singing, and trying to find a place to sleep. Kaoru stood there for a moment in utter dismay as she looked for a place to sit down and cry her eyes out.
She soon saw a corner of the room that was barren. So with precarious steps she stepped over and around every single obstacle. That is until she was bumped into which caused her to step on one lady's blanket.
"HEY! Watch where you're going Little Miss Priss!" The lady yelled.
Kaoru ducked her head and mumbled an apology and quickly retreated to the far corner of the room. 'Well now I know why this spot is uninhabited.' She thought with dismay. Because sadly in the middle of the corner was a puddle. But Kaoru didn't let this daunt her she just dropped her bag and curled up in a small ball right next to the puddle. And there she sat with her arms around her knees and her chin resting on top. Kaoru's eyes darted around the room watching the ladies. She listened in as some lady boasted about 'her man's' job. One lady claimed she would make her husband do her every bidding she'd teach him respect.
Kaoru just sighed and buried her face in her knees. 'Why did I ever come here?' She thought mournfully. 'It's not worth it.' Kaoru felt as cold tears slid down her face. She tried to stop them but try as she might the tears continued to flow with more force than before, and before Kaoru knew it she was sobbing.
She was cold and tired and she wanted to be back home. Then she remembered she had yet to open her packet. She groped through her bag until she found the wrinkled envelope. She stared at it for a moment as if she was afraid it would bite her. Then with trembling fingers she proceeded to peel back the top, that is until she heard someone approach 'her corner.' She looked up into some of the kindest, warm brown eyes she had ever seen.
"Excuse me?" the stranger asked, "is anyone sitting here?" She pointed to the empty space beside Kaoru. Kaoru shook her head no, and the lady sat down. Kaoru watched as the lady took out a blanket and wrapped it around herself. She looked to be about in her mid-twenties and Kaoru admired the glossy black hair and perfectly featured face. (A/N can you guess who it is???) The woman then turned to look at Kaoru.
"Hello, I'm Megumi. (A/N tadaa! Did you get it right?) You look like you're the only other woman on this boat with a sane mind. It's like a jungle down here."
Kaoru giggled a little as she wiped her face with her sleeve. "Yes I agree. I read a book about the jungle once and this how they said the animals acted." Megumi smiled.
"So have you been on the ship long?"
"No." Kaoru said I just got on about 10 minutes ago.
"Ahh, yes me too." Megumi then turned her head to watch some of the 'action' happen over near the door. Two ladies were arguing who was going to have a better husband. Megumi shook her head and said, "You know if we have two more stops to make . . .to pick up more ladies . . .then . . .we're going to have a major crisis on this ship."
Kaoru nodded this was not looking good. It was loud and the amount of people in such a small space wasn't going to add to the 'pleasant' aroma. Megumi and Kaoru both sat in 'their' corner enjoying just being able to be secluded for a while.
"So, where are you going to be living in America?"
Kaoru looked at Megumi in utter confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, in your packet . . .it tells you who you will marry their occupation and where they live."
"Oh." Kaoru said looking at the floor.
"You haven't opened yours yet?"
"No." It was given to me right before I boarded the ship.
"Oh, I see."
Kaoru once again stared at the envelope in her hands. "I . . .guess . . .now is as good a time as any . . .right?" She peeled back the top.
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~America~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:
"Hey Kenshin!" Sano shouted as he ran up to Kenshin's house.
"Sano? Why didn't you bring a horse?"
"Oh, I kinda forgot in the excitement of the moment you know?"
Kenshin smiled his friend really could be such a goof sometimes. "Well, what is it?"
"The packets have come in! They're at the courthouse! We can go see if we've got us a girl on the way!"
Kenshin stiffened. He was not prepared for this today.
"C'mon Kenshin lets go see what we got?"
"Alright Sano. Let me saddle you one of my horses."
"Thanks buddy!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *They arrived in town shortly and made their way into the courthouse, where they found the mayor along with others standing around talking excitedly.
"Ahh well, if it isn't Mr. Himura and Mr.Sagara. Come to check your packets boys?"
"Indeed we have mayor!" Sano said with a smile.
"Very well just give that gentleman your name and if you made the cut you'll have the information on your wife in no time." The mayor gestured to the nearby desk, which Sano promptly darted toward.
"Sagara, Sanoske"
"Let me see Mr. Sagara. Ahh, yes, here it is!" He handed Sano a large envelope. (A/N kinda like a manilla envelope except they didn't have those back then)
"Thank you Sir!" Sanoske smiled "Hey Kenshin!"
Kenshin smiled weakly as he walked up to the clerk. "Himura, Kenshin"
"Alright . . .Himura . . .Himura . . .ahh, here it is." Kenshin felt the envelope being shoved into his hands. His body went numb. This was it. He was about to 'meet' his wife.
"How 'bout we open them at the same time? Huh, buddy?" Sano suggested.
Kenshin gulped. " . . .ok . . ." Kenshin slid his finger through the opening and slowly pulled out the stack of papers. There on the top was a single name that would change his life . . .
"Her name is . . .Kaoru."
~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:The Boat~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~
'Kenshin . . .Kenshin Himura is his name . . .' Kaoru repeated over and over in her mind. Her eyes continued to scan over the page. "He's a farmer . . .in a rural town . . .he's 28 . . . Kaoru Himura . . .Kaoru Himura will be my name . . .'
"Kaoru?" Megumi watched as her friend was brought back from her reverie. "Are you ok?"
"Oh yes . . .fine . . .I was just thinking."
"Oh, so where will you be living?"
"Oh in some town called Berriesburg I think."
"You're kidding that's where I'm going to be!"
"Really!" Kaoru had to use every ounce of her willpower to refrain from hugging her newfound friend. She wouldn't be all alone. She would know SOMEONE! Megumi smiled.
"Well, what's his name?"
"His name is Kenshin Himura he's a farmer and he's 28 years old."
"Nice name."
"Thanks . . .I guess . . ." Kaoru and Megumi continued to sit there in their own thoughts when Kaoru thought to ask Megumi the same question. (A/N Ok PLEEEASE don't kill me . . .you told me to go dynamic! And I am. I PROMISE, PROMISE, PROMISE that it will end with the couples where they should be!)
"What about you Megumi?"
"Oh, his name is Matthew McConroy he's a doctor and he's 32 years old."
"Wow, a doctor!"
"Yes, I have to say I'm pleased."
They smiled at each other. For the first time since this morning things were not looking so bleak. (A/N well at least for them . . .I have a feeling you guys are gonna kill me!) Kaoru had decided she would try and get some rest when a wiry man stood up on a box and told the ladies that they were about to set sail.
"Now, now ladies please sit down and be quiet. We have some rules we have to discuss. You each are not to leave this room by yourselves at ANY time! Do you understand? We are solely responsible for your safety so it would be best that you go in a group or pairs. We will be sailing to two more ports before setting sail for America. I know it will be crowded but please try and make the best of things. WE will be arriving at Port Newlond tomorrow at midnight and Port Raphron two days later. From there we will sail straight to America. It should take about 2 and a half weeks total. When we reach the mainland you all will be given further instruction. Is everyone clear?" The ladies responded that they understood.
"Very well, Welcome aboard the Great Platoon ladies. Please have a pleasant journey." The man then exited and the room began to hum with excitement as each individual whispered and giggled and talked amongst themselves.
"Well, guess there's no turning back." Megumi said with a sigh.
"No guess not." Kaoru stated.
The two ladies smiled a comforting smile at one another as the felt the boat lurch beneath them, setting sail on a great journey, a journey to new hopes and new lives.
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Ducks as sharp objects are flung at head. Oh please, please don't hurt me!!! I promise it will end good! I think I'll go on to thanking my reviewers . . .
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~My Reviwers~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Koishii Sweet- I updated again! Well, don't get to upset with the 'pairings' right now . . .I promise that in the end all the traditional pairings will be together! I'm so glad you're enjoying my story!
Moonsilver- Oh I love your ideas. Even though I may or may not use them I love hearing them because it always gets my mind thinking of different aspects of the story. Please continue giving them! And no I had never even heard of that fanfic . . .which makes me feel stupid. 'Cause here I am thinking I'm brilliant for coming up with a great plot when low and behold someone's already done it. I don't think I'll read it though cause it's rated R, and I generally stay away from those fics, but mainly because I don't want my work to feed off another's. So all the stuff in my story will be my own that is unless I get ideas from my reviewers which in that case I would give them credit. Hope you don't get to exasperated with my ummm . . .pairings right now. It will be good! Thanks!
Lady Ann Kenobi- See nothing to worry about! She did not get Sano . . .but who did? Can you guess??? I promise the story WILL work out nicely! Thanks for reviewing!
Kakashi-fan- I AM keeping those pairings . . .it is just gonna take a while . . . Lol! Thanks for reviewing! And K/K action coming your way very, very soon!
Me, Myself, and I- I'm so sorry you're not feeling well, and speaking of rain clouds I've got some looming over my head today! And I really think all you guys are gonna kill me . . .lol. But like I said it will end good! Thanks for reviewing! It always makes me happy to read your reviews!
Bob-san- Oh I'm so glad you liked the last chapter . . .I hope you're not too upset with the way the story has taken on a different light right now . . . heh heh it should be quite a journey! Thanks fer the review!
ShaD0ws- I'm so glad you're enjoying it. And I've never read that fic. Oh well, hope you're ready for some interesting times ahead for the Rurouni Kenshin cast!
Ari- Yea it I think I know why it gets choppy though. It's because I get yelled at from the background of my house and pulled away from the computer. I got to write this entire chappie at one sitting so it should run smoothly. If it is choppy let me know the places in this chapter so I can fix it! Thanks for reviewing!
Maya-chan- I updated updated updated updated!!! Woo hoo! Hope you are ready for the new twist I added!
Nina- The main focus of this fic is K&K but I will focus a bit on other couples as well because the situations that the other couples face will effect how Kenshin and Kaoru respond . . .if you know what I mean. And plus I LOVE Sano! He's a fun character to work with! LOL! Well, thanks for reviewing. Hope you liked this chapter!
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Well, thanks again to my reviewers you guys are the reason I can update so soon! Please remain calm the couples in this story WILL be the traditional couples in the end . . .it's just gonna . . . errrrm . . .take a while. LOL! Hope you like the chapter and try and guess WHO in the World is Sano with for the time being??? Can you get it right??? We'll see, if you are the next time I update! So REVIEW so I can write more!!! And don't get too mad at me! Thanks!
~Kairi7~