Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, Memoirs of a geisha or the work of Arthur Golden
Chapter 3!
Kenshins POV.
My eyes widened at the sight of her, I hadn't even realised I had been holding my breath until she looked up and I gasped out her name. She looked just as shocked as I was, and after a moment of silence she quickly dropped her gaze to the floor and nudged my sake glass towards me.
"Kaoru" I breathed once more and she looked up at me with hurt evident in her crystal blue eyes.
"Please excuse him Kayuna, he has you mistaken for someone else" At the sound of my employers voice Kaoru jumped and averted her eyes to look at the Baron.
"Kayuna this is Battousai, Battousai this is Kayuna" As the Baron introduced us, all I could do was gaze at the beauty in front of me.
"B-Battousai" she stuttered.
"He is my new bodyguard, one of the best there is" The Baron carried on talking.
"It is a pleasure to meet you sir Battousai" she spoke out and bowed her respect.
"Kaoru?" I asked in question, I had finally found her after all these years and I didn't want us to act like strangers. So I gently placed my hand over hers and she jumped quickly pulling her hand back as though I had burned her at the mere touch.
"Please may I be excused gentlemen" she bowed and quickly left to the other side of the room and nestled herself next to my employers geisha. I watched her, how she poured tea for an old man spilling some as her hands shook. The old man looked disgusted at her and I saw her eyes fill with tears and she quickly left the room. I glanced at my employer for a moment but standing myself and leaving the room.
Kaorus POV.
I sighed as I leant against the wall and breathed in the cool night air, the sky was clear tonight and the stars looked bright as they smiled down at her. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure but to no avail, it was no good, I had been reunited with a friend I had lost so many years ago and the attraction I felt for him then slammed back but ten fold. We were so close but yet so far, we had to be introduced we knew so little about one another now and it hurt that I hardly knew him now.
"Kaoru?" his voice made me gasp out and I looked to my left to see him standing there looking as handsome as ever as his beautiful fiery red hair blew in the slight summer breeze.
"Kenshin" I turned giving him my full attention and he walked closer to me, stopping in front of me as I sucked in a sharp breath.
"It has been so long since I was last called by that name" his voice held no emotion.
"You've changed" I muttered quietly as I locked my fingers in front of me so I didn't fidget.
"And so have you" he leaned in closer and I dropped my gaze to the floor feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as he hooked my chin in his fingers and forced me to look in his eyes.
"I have thought about you every day and night" he whispered and I felt my lip quiver as I remembered all the nights I had cried over how much I missed him, and here he was now standing so close to me.
"It's nice to see you are well" I whispered a lame compliment and he smirked.
"You look beautiful" his voice soothed every ache and pain that lodged in my heart as a result in his departure.
"I've missed you" I couldn't hold the tears back any longer and it was a pleasant feeling letting them run free, but the sadness in his eyes made me gasp out and shudder. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close, and I gladly accepted his comforting embrace.
"Kayuna?" my eyes shot open and I pulled back as my master's voice spoke out through the night.
"I must go" I whispered the words I knew I would regret when I retreated to my cold bed feeling loneliness devour me once again.
"Meet me?" he asked and I couldn't deny the hope I felt when I looked into his pleading eyes.
"When?" I whispered.
"At the Sakura bridge, tomorrow, at noon" he spoke before stepping back from me and turning to disappear once again in the darkness of the night.
"Kayuna?" my masters voice became more persistent and I dabbed my face with the sleeve of my kimono, sniffing in my runny nose as a result of crying and taking a deep breath before heading to were my master called for me.
That night as I sat and drank tea with my master, I couldn't divert my thoughts away from Kenshin. I couldn't deny the ache my heart let out in punishment for not letting it have what it wanted, which was Kenshins heart. I tried to scold myself for feeling like a love struck teenager, reminding myself that we had both changed immensely and I had yet to find out whether it was for better or worse. Then I would blush at the memory of his soft touch as he gripped my chin, and then stroked my jaw line slowly leaning in demanding every ounce of attention. I was getting my hopes up and I knew if I didn't calm down and focus on my studies then bad luck would surely head my way.
"Kayuna, have you ever heard the tale of the eel and the cave?" she asked and I coughed with a mouth full of tea sending it splashing out all over my night wear.
"Of course, I lived with Tomoe! But is this a necessary topic?" I asked hoping she would get the idea that I was uncomfortable in discussing such a matter.
"It is, I have begun to orchestrate a bidding war, for your most precious attribute" she told me keeping her eyes closed as she sipped her tea.
"And what is that?" I asked unsure as to whether I really wanted to know.
"Your misuage" she spoke without any embarrassment but I on the other hand nearly dropped my tea as I brought a hand to my cheek as it flamed hotly.
"Your cave is untouched, men like that. So to become a full geisha we must sell this to the highest bidder" she said as she placed her tea back on the table and refilled it.
"Did you sell yours?" I mumbled as I forced myself not to feel ashamed at sharing such a personal conversation with my master.
"It was the largest sum ever paid, ten thousand yen" she smirked and I felt my mouth drop open.
"I freed myself from debt, and so will you" she told me and I thought of the huge debt I had raked up at my old home at the trouble I had so called caused, the escape I had attempted and brought myself to an injury as I fell from a roof, and the kimono that belonged to Megumi that Tomoe had framed me for destroying.
"Rest well tonight, tomorrow is an important day for you, your performance at the theatre, playing lead role will bring you a lot of attention, and hopefully plenty of keen bidders" she smiled at me before leaving to succumb to sleep.
Please Review if you want more!
Okay so the whole chapter isn't in Kenshins POV but I found it difficult writing in his POV, I dunno why but its easier when I write in Kaorus. Hope the chapter wasn't too confusing at the end, but basically if you haven't seen Memoirs of a geisha, then her misuage is her virginity, and she will sell it for a hefty price. But it is going to be interesting to write Kenshins reaction when he finds out her motive. Also at the beginning when Kenshin is named as Battousai, it's the same as the actual anime, he received the name because of all the men he slaughtered and the power he holds, but that's not important in this story.
Thank you:
Alwyzme – Misao will be revealed as an important character later on in chapters, and don't worry she will edge to the lighter side of life joining Kaoru back in a friendship. There was a war between two rival organisations, but not so much as a serious war that it should be described. I have no idea what era it is, I don't do dates as I will undoubtedly cock up somewhere along the way with giving the wrong dates and such so I leave that little minor detail out and let the story flow naturally without all the complications. Kaoru hasn't ended up in a tea house; she entertained there to perform her first debut as a maiko. Kaorus parents where killed but I'll explain the incident in later chapters, but its not important for the development of the story, but I will explain it. And I'm glad you did ask, because answering your questions makes me understand my story more, if you can understand where I'm coming from. It won't be an adaptation of such, but rather a new light to it all. I'm trying to fit the some of the knowledge of the film into the story but create my own plot. And only the feedback I receive will reveal what others think of my on going story. Thank you for the long review; hope I answered your questions.
Elune – Hope you like the new chappie : )
Happyloveygirl – Kaoru and Tomoe will have plenty more conversations like that, and Misao wont stay baddy two shoes forever, shell come round.
Lovette ngbeken – I will definatly be continuing this story, im very pleased with the feedback I have received.
Mikomimaru – Well this story will certainly hold a few spoilers as a lot of the dialogue from the first 2 chapters is from the movie, so I apologize for that. But I certainly plan on creating my own plot.
Sakuto 15 – Omg thank you so much, hehe : )
thealchemist'sdaughter – There wasn't much of Kenshins POV in this chapter, but I plan on writing more where I describe Kenshins feelings.
Gabriela – I have copied the dialogue, but that is it, I haven't copied the characters or the plot, because I do plan on 'unleashing my imagination', as you will see in future chapters, it will be incredibly different from the film. Thank you anyway, hope you like the new chapter.
Sulou – I like to update quick, if the reviews are good I am always ready to update with a new chapter.
Sestrilla – Thank you, im glad you liked it, and I hope you continue you read and review and let me know what you think of new chapters.
Cheetahara – Me too, I fell in love with it straight away! I hope it is going to be a great fic, I really do hope so.
Onhiro – As long as the feedback is good I will always keep on writing, hehe.