Please read notes, they have information on story details that were changed.
Alright, more info for my story was given to me, and I've done some research as well. Nothing extensive, so I doubt it is completely accurate or anything, but I had to do some modifying to my palace structure and descriptions. Thankfully so far it wasn't anything major, just a couple minor details that were incorrect.
One being the ceramic tiles on the roofs. They stopped using those around the time I've made Kenshin from, so they were typically cypress shingles instead, or thatching, but he's a noble, so the shingles are better. Secondly, they did not have two story structures, they had separate buildings for the residents of the house. So, Kaoru is not staying on the second floor of anything. She will have her own pavilion. The extent of information on this is exhausting, so I'm going to try and keep it simple, but at the same time I'm going to try and make it extensive. If that makes any sense. XD
Oh, and the dinning hall… which is more than likely something I made up, but am going to keep… would not have been so close to the kitchens. They would have dined in a different area, separate from the kitchen. So I have divided it by a covered walk, and the kitchens and washing room are a building standing alone connected only by the walks.
Everything else I've learned I am going to incorporate into the rest of the story, and so I hope you will have a better idea of what the palace grounds and layout look like after possibly this chapter, if not later ones. Thanks for the patience and attention to these ramblings. Enjoy the chapter.
Special thanks again to sirenmergirl… you've been a life saver.
Disclaimer: I have some… but this isn't one of them.
Chapter 6: The Lady's Accessories
Kaoru had the strangest sensation of déjà vu as she stared up at the shadowed ceiling above her. She had been dreaming, but she could not remember of what. Still half-asleep, her fuzzy brain gave up pretty easily and let her eyes drag back closed as she vaguely wondered why she was even awake yet anyway. It was still dark, after all, with not even the moonlight penetrating the crevices in her window. No need to be up.
Window? Eyes flying open as her mind snapped into wakefulness, she craned her neck around quickly to look for the window of her room. It wasn't there. This isn't my room! Scrambling out of the bedclothes, she felt panic rise in her chest when she didn't recognize where she was. Backing herself into a corner, breathing heavily, she searched what she could see of the dark interior, willing herself to remember and calm down. Slow and surly her brain clicked all the pieces together and she dropped her head with an irritated sigh.
Of course this isn't my room, I'm not at home any more, idiot. Well… I suppose it is my room now, but… oh you get the point! You are just fine so stop freaking out!
The necklace under her yukata brushed across her skin and she wrapped a hand around it, pressing its warmth against her cheek. It was peaceful, as always, and she sighed again as she felt her muscles relax. This is so disorienting, though. How am I supposed to tell what time of day it is if I can't see outside from here?
Fumbling her way across the room, she tripped over the futon before finding her way to the only door leading out of the smaller room of her pavilion. On the other side was the living space, and it was lightened considerable by the rice-papered panels and the one wall of shoji. With the amount of light she could see, it was apparent she was late for breakfast. Of course, she wasn't exactly sure when breakfast was served in this "noble" house, but at home her father was usually up before the crack of dawn, teasing her out of bed with the scent of food.
No morning light to tell the time and no sweet aroma of cooking food to lure me awake… I miss home. Suddenly mournful, she spent a moment feeling homesick and sorry for herself. This place was so foreign to her. What did she know of etiquette or nobility? She was a simple girl with simple wants and needs, most of which she could fulfill herself. This fancy house with separate quarters and covered walks was too wide spread for her and her familiarity with convenience and function. As it was, she was going to have to walk halfway across the palace grounds just to get to the dining room.
Oh, alright, so you've had your whining for the day. Just shut up and get over it. You've clearly misunderstood what the smaller room was meant for, and you were probably supposed to sleep out her in the larger room so you can wake up on time. And what's a small walk going to hurt? Besides, you're going to need that walk to clear your head before seeing that arrogant noble-boy again. Sticking out her tongue she stretched as she walked across the room, intent on finding something to wear for the day. Pulling out her training gear she let a slow smile tug her lips as she remembered what Misao had told her the night before. If he's so hell bent on propriety I'll just see how far I can shock him. This'll be fun. He deserves it after that spat last night.
Slipping out of her sleeping robe and into the gi, she adjusted it appropriately before jumping into the hakama. Tying it off with a deft knot, she made sure her breast bindings were covering all the right areas and tucked her necklace down under their soft linen where it lay warm against her sternum. Finding her comb, she untangled her hair and tied it up into a high pony tail. Deciding herself ready for the day, she let herself out the shoji and stepped down into the surrounding hall. Heading toward the north side of the house and to the exit she pushed open the outer tsumado, a pair of solid wooden doors that swung outward on hinges.
It was crisp and slightly cool outside, causing her to shiver and cross her arms over her chest to rub warmth into her arms. Something else she was going to have to get used to, the cooler climate up the mountain. Taking a left, she skirted around the edge of her own eastern pavilion, walking down the veranda and across the side of the northern pavilion at the back of the estate. Briefly she glanced at the closed tsumado, wondering what each of these buildings were used for.
As she came closer to the kitchens and the dining hall she began to smell the sweet fragrance of breakfast, and her stomach woke up to demand its due. Tae was a wonderful cook, and Kaoru was more than a little excited to see what she was going to get served today. The meal from the night before had been an experience unto its own. Yawning, she pushed open the shoji leading into the dining room before throwing both arms behind her head to stretch. Halfway to the table she noticed Kenshin was already waiting.
Feeling just slightly impish, she grinned as he eyed her outfit. "Good morning." He returned the greeting slowly, still taken aback by her clothes. When his eyes lingered a little too long on her breast bindings she lost her playfulness and crossed her arms instead. "Hey, pervert, eyes up here."
A roll of those amber eyes brought his head back forward toward the table and he snorted. "I'm surprised you had the decency to wear any underclothes."
"You're one to talk, walking around here half-naked!" Suppressing the urge to kick him, she instead stomped her way around him and to her own seat. Besides, with her luck, she would probably kick him right at the v-slit in his hakama, and since he wasn't wearing a kimono it was all bare skin. He's probably not even wearing a loin cloth. Ahh, now who's the pervert?
He didn't comment on her observation and she was left to stew in her own discomfort and indignity. It seemed they couldn't go even thirty seconds within each other's company without getting into a fight. Getting on his good side was becoming a distant dream by the minute.
Hands fisting in his lap, Kenshin stared down at the bare table. What was the woman thinking coming to breakfast dressed like a man? Surely that was indecent even for her era. Was she making fun of him, or was she just being stubborn? And now she was accusing him of being a pervert! Like she had enough there to be staring at anyway. It was the necklace that interested him. He could still see its shiny silver chain lying against her perfect white skin before it disappeared below the linen of her wrappings. She had said she wore it all the time, and even if she was ignorant of its true origin, the thought did please him.
Feeling a small smile tug his lips, he ducked his head further.
"I think I'll go see if Tae-san needs any help bringing in the food." Wanting to get out of the thick and awkward atmosphere, Kaoru started to rise.
"Sit down." His command was quick and he frowned at the challenging look that narrowed her eyes. "They will handle it."
"I just want to help." A delighted laugh interrupted their staring contest and Kaoru looked behind her to watch Tae and another come in with the tray between them.
"You are just impatient, my lady. We are coming and we haven't spilled a drop, I promise." A large wink of one brown eye made Kaoru smile and she sat back down on her cushion to wait for them to unload the tray of food in front of her. Two others filed in next with the second tray of food for Kenshin, and Tae left the first tray to her helper to personally serve her master.
Keeping his head lowered he whispered a quiet thanks to his cook and her smile was softer as she set his dishes perfectly before him.
"You are greatly welcome, my lord."
Unaware of any such exchange, or the way Tae had helped Kenshin to keep her from doing anything but what was expected of a guest, Kaoru let her eyes wander over the delicious meal. A few more seconds and the servants were leaving, her anticipation growing at the thought of getting to eat. Kenshin would start the meal, like he had the evening before, but before she could look up to wait her eyes caught sight of the chopsticks they had set out. A beautiful pair of pure white ivory chopsticks, to be exact.
Thinking of Kenshin's reaction to her suggestion of them the night before and of how easily they had broken with his temper, she turned with an inhaled breath to speak with Tae only to find the door shutting between them. Great. We've already had an argument this morning, his attitude's fast going downhill, and this will probably throw him off the deep end. I don't really feel like fighting again, but this is more than likely my fault, too. I did ask Tae about them last night, so she probably only set them out because she thought I wanted them. Looking up tentatively she found Kenshin still unaffected, his hands unfolding from his lap to reach for his chopsticks. Obviously he hadn't recognized the difference yet. Or maybe I'll get lucky and she only set them out for me.
The pair he picked up were unquestionably the same ivory as hers, however, and his eyes briefly looked them over as he situated them with his fingers. Then he began to eat; not a word, or a look, or a restrained huff of breath to hint at his anger. Staring in quiet wonder, she watched him continue to eat without one problem, not even because of his claws. At least they work like I thought they would. I should probably pretend I don't notice them, though, or he might decide to remember and throw another tantrum. Lowering her eyes quickly to her own meal, she picked up the chopsticks and ate.
Breakfast turned out to be rather uneventful and calm, and when it was over he excused himself from the table and left. Waving him off from her thoughts, she focused herself on the tasks she wished to accomplish. Namely a thorough scrubbing of every room she could get her hands on. First, she would help clean up the table.
Piling up as many dishes as she could carry, she let herself out the back shoji and balanced her load carefully across the walkway to the kitchens. Tae gave her an exasperated look when she walked in, but Kaoru merely smiled and sat them down where directed.
"At least I waited until he left." Tae shook her head on a soft chuckle.
"For that, at least, I will be grateful. But what are you wearing, my lady? They look like men's clothing."
"They are." Shrugging, she leaned into the wall. "They're more comfortable than my kimono, and besides, it'll be easier to help clean up around here in pants."
"I doubt the lord found them very proper, and I promised him that I would try to keep you away from anything unsuitable to your standing."
He didn't have one problem with the full view of my breast bindings, the pervert. "He doesn't have to look if he finds it offensive, and just because he's ordered me to live here doesn't mean my standing has changed any from the daughter of a simple dojo master. I am used to doing all the laundry and cleaning." The look of exasperation on Tae's face deepened into resignation, and Kaoru felt momentarily guilty. "Well, I can't cook or sew very well, so at least you won't have to worry about me trying to butt in on any of that."
The other's in the room began to giggle, which made Kaoru grin to hide her embarrassment, and Tae laughed. "I suppose the key word is try, my lady. Since he has ordered us to treat you just as we would a lady of the house, your word holds as much sway as his. However, so that it doesn't look like we have disregarded his orders completely, we shall simply turn this into a little game, hmm?"
"A game?" Intrigued and confused at the same time, Kaoru lifted a brow.
"To see who cleans the best and quickest. I shall assign you a number of servants to help you and then set others up against you on the opposite side of the palace. If you cross the halfway point first, you win, if they do, they win."
"Sounds like fun. I always like some competition."
"I only have one request. Your team will not clean the lord's quarters at the center of the palace grounds. To divide up that section evenly, I will have you clean the pavilion just to the north of his."
"Alright. So what's the prize?"
"Prize?"
"Of course. You can't play a game without a prize for the winner."
"Very well… I shall make a special dessert, but you do understand this isn't going to be a one day job. This palace is huge."
"Why do you think I'm so eager to work on it?" Fluffing her bangs, Kaoru half turned away, slightly sobered. "I need something to keep me busy, otherwise I'll have too much time to think."
"I understand, my lady." Wishing to dispel the sadness beginning to darken her pretty blue eyes, Tae shooed the others into the wash room, and waved a hand back towards the dining area. "Why don't you start on the dining hall while I hunt down your temporary staff?"
"Okay." Pulling herself out of her funk, Kaoru put the smile back on her face and stood straight. "Oh, Tae-san, before I forget. About the chopsticks…"
"Yes, I was meaning to ask you about that myself. The lord must have been very pleased with the pair you requested from me last night because he ordered them special at every meal from now on. But I seem to have misplaced a pair of them… do you know what happened to the pair I gave you?"
"Uh…" He specifically asked for them himself? What a confusing man. "I'm not sure, Tae-san. Have you asked Kenshin-sama?"
"No, I thought they were for you. Did you give them to him, then?"
"Well, I…" Stop stuttering like a fool and come up with a good excuse. It's obvious he wouldn't want them knowing about the problem he has eating with them so… "The pair he was eating with looked a little worn, Tae-san, and he has such a strong grip… I mean, I assume he does, since he's a samurai… that I was sure they weren't going to hold up for long. So I thought I'd ask for a stronger pair, and it was a perfect coincidence that you gave me something so pretty looking because then I would have a better excuse for him when I brought them back, because of his status as lord and all, but…" Tae's arms were crossed and Kaoru sighed in defeat as her stammering only twisted her around. "Oh, he got offended anyway and broke them on purpose. I'm sorry, Tae-san."
Tae sighed herself and grinned at the scene they had no doubt made over a silly pair of chopsticks. "No need to apologize, Lady Kaoru. I only wanted to know what had happened to them. Things get broken, it's a natural occurrence."
"But I was just trying to be nice to him and he threw it back in my face. I mean… you did say he was trying to be nice to me, so I thought… well, it would be a good idea to return the favor."
"Come here, my lady, and let me tell you a secret." Wrapping her small fingers around Kaoru's arm as she leaned close, Tae whispered her next words so that only the two of them could hear. "The young lord has a few things going against him that you must remember and take into consideration. For one, he is a spoiled child of a lord and is not used to strong willed women. For another, he is a man, and that should explain most of it on its own." Kaoru giggled and nodded her head in silent agreement. "But also, my lady, please remember that even though our lord has us here with him… he has been alone. I would say even before…" Tae trailed off as if uncertain she should say anymore. It was the second time Kaoru had seen one of the servants do this with her, and it made her wonder once more what about this place had made it the way it now was.
"Before what?"
"Before…" Searching for another way to word her sentence, she swallowed and continued. "he became our lord. I think, in my heart, he has felt alone ever since the death of his mother."
"Oh." So he lost his mother as well.
"If there is one thing I have learned, Kaoru-dono, it is to let a man come to a decision on his own. Most of the time all he needs is a soft amount of coaxing on your part and within a day at the most he will be suggesting your idea as if it were his."
"That sounds kind of manipulative." Skeptical, Kaoru leaned away from the cook.
"Perhaps a little, but for him it will also be patient and nurturing. After awhile he will begin to see the advantage of learning from your lead and act with more respect towards you as a person and friend. Hasn't our lord already shown growth of this kind?"
"What, by asking for the chopsticks himself?"
"Yes. Also, in this case, it is a way of apologizing for his actions towards you without hurting his pride."
"Well if you ask me he's got a little too much pride. An apology would do that man wonders."
Tae laughed and nodded. "All in good time, Lady Kaoru. You cannot change a man in one night."
X
Another day was past and it seemed to Kaoru that this lord she was supposed to be here for wanted little to do with her. Only at meal times did she see him, and even then he spoke only as much as necessary. Though his eyes displayed enough disapproval on their own.
It was apparently obvious what she was spending her time doing as she came to lunch covered in cobwebs and smudges of dirt. So it was only natural he would be upset to see her in such a state. Especially at the dinner table. A part of her was determined to teach him a different lesson than the one Tae had suggested, however. If she was going to live here for the rest of her life she wanted him to know she would do as she pleased, no matter what he thought of it.
It was nice to finally be clean, though, and Kaoru sighed in delight as she knelt in front of her small vanity and brushed her damp hair with a comb. Her rooms were clean as well, now, and she felt much better knowing she wouldn't have to worry about spiders or the musty stench of dust and decay. In a few days Tae had promised her they would get the palace artist to come in and redo the paintings on her screens. If she liked, she could request a different scene to reflect her personality. As Kaoru wasn't quite sure what the lord would consider appropriate, and she still thought of everything as belonging to him, she was going to content herself with the original design and call it good.
It was rather pretty, anyway. Everything about the palace was beautiful, and as she helped her new friends clean away the layers of dirt, she found herself falling in love with the olden structure. It was very traditional and elegant, and in a way she liked how formal it was. Strange for her to think so but sometimes the proper way Kenshin conducted himself was charming, too. Other times it was just annoying, but there were some appealing aspects to it.
Yawning, Kaoru set down the comb and began pleating her hair for bed. I did learn some new things about my host, though. He lost his mother. Probably when he was young, since Tae-san made it sound like she had died before he became the lord. From the sounds of it she was the only one that gave him any attention. I bet his father was really strict with him. I doubt there was much love between them. So I suppose… he really has been alone. I still need to remember to ask for a date, though. I don't have one clue how old anyone is here.
Pulling the long braid over her shoulder so she could finish the weave, a sparkle of light captured her attention by her chest. Smiling at the necklace, she tied off her hair, flipped it over her shoulder, and turned around so she could lean back against the vanity. She'd had one other encounter with the master that day, and it surprised her even now that anything he would say to her could make her happy. Kaoru had felt sure he would be as negative with her as always, what with the position he'd found her in.
Kneeling on the wooden floor, scrubbing the planking to let its shining surface show through, she'd looked up to find him standing over her. Since she was outside working on the walkways no one else was near, and they were free to speak in private. Perhaps it was the only reason he had approached her to begin with.
The look in his eyes was not angry, and he was once again not meeting her own irises but gazing just slightly south of her chin. Indignation rose swiftly, thinking of how rude he was being when she had already called him out on staring at her breast bindings once before. Before she could give him a resounding lecture, however, he had spoken over her.
"That is a beautiful necklace, Kaoru-dono. It must be… very valuable."
Surprised by his subject, and more than pleased by his compliment, Kaoru sat back on her heels and plucked the necklace off her chest.
"Thank you."
"Are you not afraid you might break it? Especially if you… insist on doing such menial chores?" His features twitched and she tried to keep herself from laughing.
"Sometimes, but I've always worn it. I would feel strange without it, and besides… I've had it appraised once and I was told it's not really worth much." When she looked up a frown was tugging back on the permanent lines around his eyes and mouth. Somehow he seemed offended by the knowledge. "It's not like I would sell it even if it was worth a lot, anyway. It's valuable to me, and I'm glad you think it's pretty, Kenshin-sama. I've never had anyone compliment me on it until I came here."
"Then perhaps no one else has any taste. Excuse me." With a polite bow and a side-step he was leaving her there, going off to do whatever passed the time for him.
Sighing, Kaoru played with the delicate bauble, running her thumb over the silver wire. Now that they'd had a conversation about the necklace, it was clear to her just where is interest had been directed before breakfast. And it certainly wasn't at her chest. Rolling her eyes, she stuck out her tongue, feeling embarrassed now about her outburst. Of course he wouldn't stare at her in such an obscene way. He actually had manners, unlike some of the boys in the village. It was beneath him to be so crude.
And he liked her necklace. Smiling, she let the bauble fall and stood to stretch. Perhaps he wasn't so bad after all.
X
"What are you doing, Kenshin?"
"I am making sure you never lose this."
"But what are you doing?"
Laughter filled the air. It was amused, slightly surprised by itself. Almost as if the laughter was not expected or had not been heard in many years. A hand came down on her head, ruffling her hair, and she pouted out a lip.
"I will let you keep this on one condition, little one. You must keep it with you, always."
"Okay… but what are you doing to my flower petal?"
"I am making you a necklace so that you may wear it around your neck. This wire will make sure the petal stays safe and protected. Is this alright?"
"Hmm… okay." Leaning over one of his crossed legs, the girl propped her chin on her hands, her elbows braced on his knee. "Will you promise to make it a pretty necklace, Kenshin? I want to show it to my mommy when I get home."
"I will try, little one, but I'm afraid… I do not know much about pretty things."
"That's okay, I'll help you learn, Kenshin."
"… I would appreciate that, Kaoru-chan."
X
A/N: I don't think this turned out exactly how I had planned, but it ended up being fun anyway. I'm trying not to get lost in obscure details, but this is turning out to be much more complicated than I had originally thought. I think I've said this before in one of my other stories, so I bet none of you are surprised…lol. Anyway, they've still got quite a bit of learning to do about each other, and I want to start bringing in some of the other characters and back story into this. Ever since I did some research on the Heian Period I've been having fun with Kenshin's dad and family, so his pretty simple back story has turned into a little bit of a complicated subject. Hope you'll stick around for it, and that I'm not losing anyone. Can't say I blame you at the moment, it's just a little slow right now. Promise I will be trying to make it more interesting after this. Leave a review and thanks for your patience with the details I had to change.