Hey all, hope everyone is enjoying the story so far! Big thank you to those who did review, I would LOVE some more! As I said, we're almost done so stayed tuned!
-Mia21
Kaoru began meeting Kenshin at least once a week when he came for practice. After some enticement by Kaoru he brought an extra sword with him so she could practice too. She told Kenshin all about how her father used to teach students at their dojo. He asked about the style and she explained that her father used to sit in on other styles, taking what he liked from each one and blending them to create his own unique style. It was nice to finally have met someone who cared about her and what she had to say. She realized, talking to him, that Kenshin didn't scintillate like Enishi, but he listened to each thing she said with interest. Enishi was overly conscious of his own charisma, he knew exactly what he was doing when he set out to enthrall. She found she was rather enchanted by him, and looked, always, with pleasure to their next meeting. Sometime later, she realized she rather liked him and felt connected to him on a deep level. If he felt the same way she did, she wondered if eventually they'd discuss their possible future.
The next time she met him, Kenshin had a very serious look on his face, so Kaoru asked about it.
"Why do you look so severe?"
"I didn't know I looked severe." He told her.
"Normally you don't, but today you do. Have I done something to offend you?" Kaoru wondered.
He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Are you betrothed to Enishi-san?"
"What? Of course not. Where did you hear such a thing?"
"When his agent spent an evening at the tavern he claimed you were to marry him."
"Well, that's the first I've heard of it. No, I would never marry him." Kaoru said as her stomach plummeted, Shigeo could only have gotten such an idea straight from the Master.
Kenshin's eyes were searching, studying her face. She met his gaze levelly. He sighed then. "Well, he was drunk. I'll attach no importance to such rumors in the future. Is there no way I can court you honorably Kaoru-dono? If I could speak with Enishi-san -"
Kaoru shook her head. "Impossible. I believe he desires me isolated. Can't you see we're doing nothing wrong here? There's simply no way – no way –"
"I've tried to convince myself of what you say, but being with you like this, I'm putting us both in a compromising position. Can't you see its best if we don't meet again until your situation is different?"
Kaoru was angry now. "Best? Will you and the whole world stop trying to tell me what's best? What's best is for me is to have a friend on the outside of Enishi's household! One who is a good man that I have things in common with!"
Kenshin shook his head. "I wish I were the good man you think me."
Kaoru was nervous the next afternoon, walking into the bamboo grove. She wasn't sure if Kenshin had been serious about what he'd said, and though they had parted amicably, she didn't know what she would find today. What Kaoru found was a note pinned to one of the trees. She walked over and took it down, already nervous. She read,
Kaoru-dono,
In vain I have struggled over our situation, trying to convince myself that meeting you as we have been is fine. But I cannot reconcile my conscience to that. I have done many terrible things in my past, but none quite as bad as besmirching the name of an honorable woman. I know you will disagree with me on that point, but that is exactly the line we have been toeing. I hope our circumstances change someday. I'm truly sorry.
Kenshin Himura
After she had finished reading his note, Kaoru couldn't keep the tears from falling. Not only was this proof that he had been serious yesterday, but it was also proof that she was losing her only friend outside of Enishi's household. And she had rather liked him too. Oh well, what would be would be, nothing she could do to change it. She traipsed out of the forest, finding Naomi waiting for her. Naomi followed Kaoru around the gardens, until she was prepared to go back inside and face Enishi.
Poor Kaoru, now she had no one except Enishi, and he's not so great, always telling her what she should do. Three more chapters to go! Thanks for reading!
-Mia21
